Timeless Bonds

the calm before the storm

Blanc's gaze shifted to the two princesses, her face a mixture of concern and weariness. Trying to keep her voice steady and non-judgmental, she asked, "What happened?"

Chloe stepped forward, her tone a bit defensive as she spoke. "They opened the book. We didn't do anything." Red stood beside her, gripping Chloe's hand tightly for support.

Blanc nodded slowly, her mind racing as she struggled to process the situation. Overwhelmed, she looked away from the princesses, feeling lost and unsure of how to proceed. Her thoughts were a tangled mess of conflicting emotions. She was relieved that Red and Chloe had managed to secure the book and thwart Uliana's plans, preventing her from further pranks on Bridget. Bridget, who had always been so kind and optimistic, had been a beacon of support for everyone in need.

At the same time, Blanc's heart ached for the villains. Seeing them frozen, unable to move or speak, stirred a deep sense of sympathy within her. The thought of them being stuck in this state for an indeterminate period was unsettling.

Blanc sank down next to Hook, her shoulders slumped in exhaustion. She looked at him, her expression a mix of regret and uncertainty. "What should I do, James?" she mumbled softly, her voice barely more than a whisper. Her question hung in the air, laden with the weight of her confusion and the gravity of the moment.

Red and Chloe exchanged skeptical glances but eventually shrugged it off, deciding to focus on their task. "Alright," Red said, taking a deep breath. She began to carefully open the book, turning the skull on its cover. When nothing happened, both of them let out a relieved chuckle, sharing a knowing look.

"Told you it would be fine," Chloe said with a proud smile, her confidence restored.

Meanwhile, outside in the pouring rain, Merlin trudged towards his office, grumbling to himself. "Blasted owl. Ooh, Archimedes better be right this time," he sang, his voice carried by the wind.

Perched high on a tree, Morgie was lost in thought when he heard Merlin's distant muttering. Panic surged through him as he spotted the approaching figure and realized the urgency of the situation. He started howling loudly, desperate to alert his friends. When his initial attempts went unnoticed, he switched to barking frantically. Merlin, startled by the noise, glanced around in confusion. Morgie, in a final attempt to get Merlin's attention, meowed loudly. He frantically waved a branch in front of his face, hoping to remain hidden as Merlin's gaze swept in his direction.

Blanc's ears caught the distinct howling, and she immediately looked up in alarm. Rising quickly, she went to the window and saw Morgie frantically waving his arms, clearly signaling that Merlin was approaching.

Meanwhile, Red and Chloe were deep in their own conversation. Red turned to Chloe, puzzled. "Wait, how did you know?"

Chloe shrugged nonchalantly. "Well, I was, like, 80 percent sure, max."

Red's eyes widened in shock. "80 percent? I could've ended up permanently frozen, and you were only 80 percent sure?"

Chloe's nervous chuckle was cut short by a loud sneeze from outside. Panic flashed in their eyes as they exchanged worried glances and then looked at Blanc.

Blanc, still trying to free the villains from their enchanted stasis, was focused on saving them from Merlin's impending wrath. But Red quickly grabbed Blanc and, with Chloe's help, dragged her away from the villains and toward the window.

Blanc struggled, desperately wanting to help the frozen villains, but Chloe and Red managed to pull her through the window. Blanc thrashed a bit, but Chloe kept her steady, helping Red get them both to safety.