Descendants: The rise of red

A new beginning

The doors to the headmaster's office burst open with a sharp bang. Uma, entering after a five-year absence from Auradon Prep, strode in with palpable confidence, just as she had when she was a teenager. "Well, it's not my first time in the headmaster's office, but it certainly feels different," she remarked, looking around with a feigned sense of novelty.
Waiting for her was Fairy Godmother, dressed in a snug blue dress adorned with puffed sleeves. "I've prepared tea," she said, gesturing to a small table in the center of the room. "Please, have a seat." Uma accepted the invitation with exaggerated enthusiasm, flopping onto the couch while Fairy Godmother poured tea from an ornate teapot.
"It's not a difficult job, Uma," Fairy Godmother said gently, "but I hope you'll find it fulfilling." Uma took the offered cup with a sarcastic smile, "I've been leading a band of cutthroats since I was sixteen. Managing students should be a piece of cake," she said, bringing the cup to her lips.
"PIRATES!" Uma suddenly shouted. The door burst open again, and this time a crew of pirates entered. "Enjoy your retirement," Uma said hurriedly.
"I'm not retiring; I..." Fairy Godmother began, but the words died in her throat as she watched Uma's crew hang a massive pirate sail over the bookshelf. "Are you sure you want to put it there? Anyway, I'm about to become the new chancellor of Auradon University," she continued, turning to the desk, "and to facilitate our handover, I've already prepared a list with color-coded priorities."
Uma rose from the couch and approached Fairy Godmother, who handed her the list detailing all the students who would receive invitations to attend Auradon Prep. The pirate looked at the list, perplexed, then saw the bright and smiling face of the former headmaster. "My first task will be to ensure that students from all realms are welcome at Auradon Prep."
"Oh, that's already our policy," replied Fairy Godmother.
"I said everyone!" Uma exclaimed, smiling artificially. "Even Wonderland."
"Wonderland?" Fairy Godmother began to laugh, also falsely, then firmly said, "No," noticing Uma's nod. "No, that's a hostile realm. We already have enough problems with the kingdom of Arendelle; we don't need more conflicts," she continued.
"So they say, the queen is a tyrant, and besides, Arendelle won't be a problem. Mal has already informed me that the prince is on his way here," Uma continued to look around.
"The Queen of Hearts refused Auradon when we united; they had to seal the Rabbit Hole." As Fairy Godmother spoke, Uma seemed not to pay much attention, continuing to give orders to her crew to make changes to her new office.
"I really wish King Ben and Queen Mal were here!" Fairy Godmother said, saddened.
"Oh, but they're not, and why do you think Mal chose me if not to shake things up a bit?" Uma began to chuckle. "No offense, but you don't know Mal and Ben as well as I do," Uma watched her pirates hanging some pictures on the wall. "I hated Mal, you surely know that, you must know the story. We saw the goodness in each other. When she and Ben opened the barrier to the island, the villains got a second chance. Let's give one to that realm too!" Uma pulled a letter from the inner pocket of her blue leather jacket and handed it to Fairy Godmother. "It's for Princess Red."
Fairy Godmother took the letter in her hands, "Are you sure?"
Uma looked again at the wall, lingering on the photo of her old friend Carlos. "Carlos would have wanted it this way."
Tears began to slide down Uma's face, and Fairy Godmother also grew sad. "Do it..." she took a breath, "do it in his honor."
Fairy Godmother looked at the photo of Cruella De Vil's son and decided to comply with the pirate's request. She went to the desk, took her magic wand, and with a "Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo," the letter began to soar, flying out the window.