Timeless Bonds

Bonus 12: maybe teaser

"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.

Suddenly, a young boy approached Red and Chloe, startling them. "Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry, my sweets," he said with a mischievous grin. Red looked up, trying to place the familiarity in his eyes.

"Uh, it's okay," she replied, offering a tentative smile, though her mind raced. She had just arrived in Auradon, and aside from Chloe, she knew no one here—except for her cousin Blanc, who they'd left behind. But those eyes, she was sure she recognized them from somewhere. It couldn't be...

The boy's smirk widened as he noticed Red's growing realization. "Oh, did you already recognize me, little time traveler?" he teased, laughing when he saw the color drain from Chloe's face. He turned his mocking gaze towards her. "Oh, shocked?" he jeered.

Red took a step forward, her voice shaky with a mixture of confusion and suspicion. "How...?" she began, but he cut her off.

"Maybe I should introduce myself," he said, his eyes shifting to a serpentine glare. "Morgian. Son of Blanc, Morgie, and James Hook," he declared with a grin, bowing mockingly. "It's gonna be a blast visiting school with you both."

His laughter echoed around them, drawing curious glances from nearby onlookers. He turned and sauntered towards the entrance, where a woman—Blanc—waited for him. She turned briefly, smirking at the two girls who stood as if they'd seen a ghost.

"Chloe," Red whispered, her voice trembling with a newfound dread. "I think we have a problem."

Chloe could only nod, her shock rendering her momentarily speechless as the weight of what they were up against began to sink in.

Hehe I'm thinking about doing an alternate with Morgian visiting school with Red and Blue after I finish the Descendants book.