Descendants: The rise of red

You get more with sugar than with salt

Chloe and Red noticed a large black marble sign engraved with "The Merlin Academy." "Oh, right, Auradon Prep used to be called that before the Beast united the kingdoms and formed Auradon," Chloe recalled, remembering what she had studied. "How do you know all these things?" Red asked, surprised by the knowledge of someone she considered a shallow blonde. "I love history, don't you?" Chloe replied with a smile, while Red shook her head, visibly bewildered.
The two headed towards the great common room, where students spent their time after classes. Some studied, others read while relaxing, and still others practiced magic. On one wall was a large blue poster with a golden frame that immediately caught Chloe's attention. "I can't believe it, the Castle-Coming! My parents fell in love there. It's the biggest event of the year," she exclaimed enthusiastically, but was quickly brought back to reality by Red. "Sorry, but I'm trying to change history," she said.
A bell rang, catching the attention of the two, who decided to follow the sound to the atrium. "Late, young ladies?" asked a bearded man leaning out from the upper floor. "Stay there," he continued. "Oh my God, it's Merlin," Chloe noted, once again electrified.
Merlin descended the stairs to meet them, wearing rectangular glasses and a long blue coat that reached down to his ankles. "Actually, we're not students. Well, we are, but we were sent here from..." Chloe began to explain, but was interrupted by Red, who finished the sentence, "sent here from another place," giving her a warning look. "We just transferred," she continued.
"I'm Principal Merlin, I should have received the paperwork," he said, opening the coat filled with pockets from which parchments protruded. "Is it this one?" he asked himself, pulling one out. "Oh no, it's not this. Maybe this other one," he said, pulling out a still-lit candle. "My niece probably has it. You see, she's here to apprentice under me, one day she'll take my place. She's not very good at spells yet, but I'm sure she'll fulfill her dream one day," Merlin explained. "Is your niece the Fairy Godmother?" Chloe asked, but Merlin seemed not to recognize who she was talking about. Fortunately, he was distracted by the sword Chloe wore at her belt. Merlin drew a wand from another pocket in his coat and said, "You should know that the rule here is: no swords in our classrooms." With a flick of the wand, a blue spark made the sword disappear. "I transported it to the Stardust Room, which is where you'll be staying," the principal explained. "You'll settle in after school, there's an advanced alchemy lesson now in my office," he added, indicating behind him. "This way," he said, turning, but then quickly changed direction. "Oh no, sorry, it's this way. Follow me!"
As Merlin recounted some stories about the school's structure, the two girls followed him without paying much attention. "Here in Auradon, the rules forbid lying to teachers," Chloe reminded. "You must have memorized that old book. Remember, this isn't Auradon yet," Red responded.
They arrived at a door. "Here we are!" Merlin exclaimed. "Where's the key? Ah," he said, putting a hand behind his ear and finally finding the key, which he inserted into the lock. The doors opened as if by magic, revealing a room full of vines, vials, and various strange objects. "And off we go with alchemy," said Merlin.
The office quickly filled with students. "Alright, everyone, let's get started," Merlin said, taking a folder from his desk. "We have two new students today, so let's at least pretend this is an advanced course," he said, moving towards a girl with pink hair and another with blonde hair. "Bridgette and Ella, split up and help these two settle in." The two girls smiled and followed the instruction without hesitation.
"Bridgette?" Red approached the girl with pink hair. "MOM?" Chloe shouted at the blonde girl who turned to look at her confused. "Sorry, Ella!" The girl continued to look puzzled as she settled behind a workstation. "Nice to meet you," Chloe continued.
"Okay, new girl, let's get started," Ella said as she organized the materials for the lesson.
"No, wait, you're Bridgette," Red asked the girl, who nodded. "Bridgette from Wonderland? The Princess of Hearts?" At Red's question, Bridgette started to smile. "Yes, exactly."
Merlin took the wand and with a magic spark lit the fireplace. Meanwhile, Ella took a strange, foul-smelling plant and started squeezing it into a cauldron. Chloe pinched her nose to avoid the smell and not throw up. "Oh, it's disgusting," she said to Ella. "Come on, the pods won't squeeze themselves," Ella replied, continuing to squeeze them as one would with a cow's udders.
"Excuse me, can you pass the griffin claw?" Bridgette asked Red politely. "I need to stir a bit," the girl explained, smiling. Red handed her the claw. "I love your clothes, by the way," said Bridgette. Red didn't expect a compliment on her style from the one who would one day become her mother. The Queen of Hearts always scolded her for the way she dressed. "Why are you speaking this way?" Red asked, perplexed. "What way?" Bridgette asked in return as she stirred the liquid in the cauldron. "Well, it's just... you have a different tone," Red replied. "I think I have..." Bridgette started to reply, but Red interrupted her. "Sorry, but you are... all of this is absurd."
"I've never had to..." A splash of yellow liquid shot out of the pod Chloe was squeezing, and she made a sound akin to a gagging noise. "Are you okay?" Ella asked. "Sorry, it's just that..." Chloe trailed off, looking at her closely. "You're not what I expected," she continued. "Never worked with someone who's not of royal lineage?" Ella replied, evidently offended. "Afraid a commoner might infect you?" she asked in a sarcastic but annoyed tone. "No!" Chloe shouted, panicking.
"How many were there in your old school?" Bridgette asked Red. "Umm... one," Red replied, and Bridgette smiled even more. "Oh, I was homeschooled too, then I came here. You'll get used to it in no time," Bridgette said, spreading her arms wide. "Want a hug?" she asked, taking two hops forward. "I'm not into hugs," said Red, rejecting the offer.
"I have just the thing to make you feel better. I made them this morning," said Bridgette, but was interrupted by Merlin, who shouted over her soft voice, "I WANT TO HEAR ONLY THE SOUND OF VIALS!"
Bridgette took out a golden tray from under the table and lifted the lid, revealing pink-glazed cupcakes. "Fabulous cupcakes for the flitterlings," she said, placing the lid down. Red continued to look at her confused. "Are those flamingo feathers?" she asked, noticing the decorations on the cupcakes. "Oh, they don't bite, unlike the gingerbread men from last spring," she informed, giggling. "I'll never use that recipe book again."
"Come on, have a taste," Bridgette invited, and Red hesitantly took one and bit into it. Suddenly, her nails turned a bright pink, the same color as the glaze. "Mmm, they're really fabulous," she said, reaching for another, but Bridgette stopped her. "AH, only one, there have been... side effects," Bridgette covered the tray and put it back in its place. "Now, are you ready to do the assignment?" she asked sweetly. "Why are you being so nice?" Red couldn't believe that this sweet girl would one day be her mother. "You get more with sugar than with salt," Bridgette replied.