Timeless Bonds

happy ending?

Red and Chloe found themselves back in the future, standing next to the familiar stairs they had just been on moments ago. Chloe stumbled into Red, who instinctively caught her, holding her tightly as they both tried to process what had just happened. Their hearts pounded with the adrenaline of their sudden return, and they looked around, confused by the abrupt shift in their surroundings.

Red's eyes widened as she remembered Blanc, and her grip tightened around the watch still clutched in her hand. "Chloe, we need to go back!" she exclaimed, panic rising in her voice. But before Chloe could respond, they were interrupted by the sound of Uma's voice, echoing through the courtyard just as it had before the Queen of Hearts' coup.

"That's Principal Uma to you. And you better get it straight, or you'll be walking the plank," Uma declared, striding confidently around the stage.

Red and Chloe exchanged a bewildered glance, realizing that they had somehow returned to the exact moment in time when everything had begun to unravel. Red hastily slipped the watch into her pocket as they hurried towards the stage, desperate to see how their actions had altered the future and if they had succeeded in saving their mothers.

As they approached, they saw Uma addressing the crowd, her eyes sweeping over the assembled students. "Now, I never got the chance to go to Auradon Prep. But as its captain, I'm proud to be charting a new course into a bright future," she announced, her voice filled with pride.

Just then, Uma's gaze landed on a figure seated nearby, casually playing with a deck of cards. The woman's elegant red hair caught the light as she stood up gracefully. It was the Queen of Hearts, but something was different about her. The front of her dress was white, a stark contrast to the all-red ensemble she had worn before.

"Excuse me. Do you mind?" Uma asked, her tone polite but firm.

The Queen of Hearts turned to face her, a soft smile playing on her lips. "I do, actually," she replied, her voice gentle yet playful.

Red's heart skipped a beat. "Mom, what are you doing?" she asked nervously, fearing that her mother might revert to her old ways.

"Why, playing my favorite game," the Queen of Hearts answered, her smile widening as she tossed the deck of cards into the air. The cards transformed into delicate, magical bubble hearts that floated through the air, captivating everyone who saw them.

The crowd gasped in delight, and even Uma's stern expression softened into a smile. "Aw! Well, nothing I say is gonna top that. So, have a great year, y'all," Uma said, her tone warm as she popped one of the floating hearts with a finger.

As applause erupted from the audience, Chloe turned to Red, her eyes shining with joy. "You saved our moms. You changed history."

Red looked back at her, a smile spreading across her face. "No, we did it," she corrected, pulling Chloe closer by the waist and pressing a deep, passionate kiss to her lips.

Their moment was interrupted by the sound of the Queen of Hearts' voice lifting in song, the melody familiar and nostalgic. Without hesitation, Red joined in, her voice harmonizing with her mother's as they sang the same beautiful song that had once filled the air in the past. The lyrics carried a message of love, unity, and hope, resonating with everyone present.

♪ The sun shines a little more brightly ♪

♪ When you live life a little more kindly ♪

♪ I know without even trying ♪

♪ You'll stay true to your heart ♪

♪ It's likely ♪

♪ You'll get to try something spicy ♪

♪ Our differences are uniting ♪

♪ 'Cause life is sweeter when we are ♪

♪ Yeah Life is sweeter when you are ♪

Red turned to her mother, her voice filled with genuine warmth and admiration. "You know, Mom, you actually are really wonderful," she said earnestly, her eyes reflecting the deep love and relief she felt at that moment.

The Queen of Hearts looked at her daughter with a mixture of surprise and tenderness, her expression softening as she took in Red's words. For a moment, the hardened edges of her personality melted away, revealing the loving mother beneath.

♪ The sun shines a little more brightly ♪

♪ Sun shines a little more brightly ♪

♪ The sun shines a little more brightly ♪

♪ When you take things a little more lightly ♪

♪ It's all going to turn out nicely with just a taste of your heart ♪

♪ It's likely You'll fall into something spicy ♪

♪ Just mix it up you'll keep finding that life is sweeter when you are ♪

♪ Life is sweeter when you Sweeter when you are ♪

"Mom!" Chloe cried out, her voice filled with a mix of relief and joy as she spotted her mother across the courtyard. Without a second thought, she rushed over, her heart pounding with happiness.

"There she is," Cinderella exclaimed, her face lighting up as she opened her arms to embrace her daughter. Chloe practically flew into the hug, her worries melting away as she felt the familiar warmth of her mother's embrace.

♪ Life is sweeter when we are ♪

As the song ended, Red and Chloe stood side by side, hand in hand, their hearts swelling with the knowledge that they had not only saved their loved ones but also forged a new path towards a brighter future.

"Aw! What a sweet, happy ending. Everybody got what they wanted," Uma sang out, her voice dripping with a mix of sincerity and playful mockery as she danced to the melody of the celebration. Her eyes, however, flickered with a hint of something darker, and as she twirled, she caught sight of a figure lingering in the shadows.

"Well, almost everybody got what they wanted," Uma added, her tone shifting to something more sinister. She smirked, her expression reverting to a glimpse of her old, wicked self. Her gaze fixed on a woman standing at the edge of the court, almost hidden from view.

The woman's long, glossy black hair faded into striking white locks, a haunting contrast that made her presence even more mysterious. Her eyes held a quiet intensity, the kind of gaze that had seen too much and understood too well. This was the woman who had almost singlehandedly raised Uma and Harry, shaping them into the people they were today. But that, as Uma well knew, was a story for another time.

Uma's smirk deepened as she watched the woman slip away, leaving the court unnoticed by most. Turning back to the crowd, Uma's voice grew more serious, her words a warning wrapped in playful menace. "But getting what you want can be dangerous. Especially when you mess with the fabric of time."

As the woman disappeared from sight, Uma's eyes followed her, a knowing look in her gaze. "You didn't think that was the end of this story, did you?" she asked, her voice low and filled with promise, hinting that the tale was far from over. The air seemed to thrum with anticipation, as if the very world was holding its breath, waiting for what was to come next.

please read the announcement in the next chapter