Rise of Red Re-written (Book 1)

Chapter 4

"Let's do Alchemy!" Students start to file in the classroom as Red and Chloe look around. "Alright class, let's get started! We have two new transfers here today, so let's at least pretend that this is an honors class! Um, Bridget and Ella, split up and help these two get sorted, won't you?" The two best friends part ways as Ella walks over to another desk. "Bridget?" Red stares at what she can't believe is a younger version of her mom. "Yeah." "Mom?" Chloe was floored. Ella glances at her as she makes her way around the desk. "Uh, i mean, Ella! Hi! Ni-nice to meet you!" "Ok new girl! Let's dive in!" Bridget takes off her coat and places it on the chair behind her. "So, wait. You're Bridget?" "Mhm." "Bridget. From Wonderland?" "Yup, that's me." She smiles. There's no way this was her mother. This frilly pink bubbles and sugar is her mother?!

Red takes off her jacket as she notices Chloe nearly in tears as she tries to hold whatever contents were in her stomach. Poor thing. "Could you hand me the griffins claw please? I gotta stir this up." "Huh? Oh yeah." Red was momentarily distracted. She blames the smell that was coming out of whatever pod Chloe was squeezing out and not Chloe herself. "Love your outfit by the way!" Bridget compliments her. "Why are you talking like that?" Bridget giggles. "Like what?" "You just....sound different." She pours in the potion as Bridget stirs. "I'm not quite sure I...." "No, it's me. I'm... you're....this is all just a lot." Bridget smiles. "It's ok. How many kids were at your old school?" "Uh, one." Red nods. Suddenly it makes sense to Bridget. "I was home schooled too! Until i came here. So you know, don't worry, you'll get used to it. Do you want a hug?" She tries to go in for a hug as Red backs away. "Uh, not really a hugger." Bridget, while a little hurt, smiles regardless. "I've got the perfect thing to make you feel better." She reaches behind her. "I made them this morning." She pulls out a tray and pulls off the lid. "Fabulous Flamingo Feathered Cupcakes." "Flamingo feathers?" "Don't worry, they don't bite. Not like those gingerbread men i made last spring." Bridget giggles. "I won't be using that cookbook again. Try one." She insisted. Red slowly takes a cupcake and takes a bite. Her once red and white nails were now bright pink. "These are fabulous!" She goes to grab another when Bridget takes the tray away from her. "Ah-ah-ah. Just one or there can be side effects." She closes the tray and puts it off to the side. "Now, ready to tackle the assignment?" She smiles. "Why are you so nice?" Red asks. Bridget chuckles. "You get more with sugar than salt." Is all that she tells her. They go back to finishing the assignment until the bell rings. Bridget grabs her tray while Ella pushes the cart behind her.

They all leave the classroom and head towards to the courtyard, Bridget handing out cupcakes along the way. Everyone that takes a cupcake has a part of their clothing turn pink momentarily. "Hey Fay!" They run into young fairy Godmother once again as she's struggling with her magic. "Charming!" They notice a young boy with dark hair on his skateboard coming up towards them. Chloe comes to the realization that this is her father when he was a teenager. He grabs a cupcake as he passes them, taking a bite before doing a trick. "Ok...." Red checks him out, apparently not realizing who this actually is. "That's my dad!" "Ooh....well he's not my dad...." "Red!" Oh, so she's bi, Chloe thought. The whole student body then breaks out in dance with Chloe and Red dancing opposite their young mothers. A young boy hands Bridget another tray of cupcakes as she giggles. "So you're friends with everyone?" Red asks her. "Oh gosh, no. My only friend is Ella. But with time and a few more treats, they will be." She smiles. The atmosphere changes drastically as the VK's stumble into the courtyard. They find Uliana's gang, which consists of a young Hook, Maleficent and Hades, queen Mal's parents, Morgie, the son of Morgana. And of course Uliana herself, Principal Uma's aunt. "She's Ursala's baby sister." Bridget tells them. "Oook." A small dance battle breaks out between the two groups. Neither one really winning or losing, it was more so intimidation and friendly greetings as the two daughters could tell.

Bridget holds out the tray as Uliana takes one. "Thanks." Red and Chloe standing closely by, something about just drew red flags, no pun intended, inside Red's mind. "Oh, sure. Of course, happy to-" "For all of them." One of her tentacles takes the tray out of her hands. "I mean, flamingo feathers are like, super rare, right?" "Hey!" Ella interjects. "Give that back to her!" "I'm sorry! I don't speak peasant girl." The other VK's laugh. "I love your outfit by the way. It's just soo..." She tears a part of Ella's shirt, "put together." They all laugh. "You said put together cause it's not!" Morgie points out. "My name's Bridget, and i have to bribe people with treats to be my friend cause I'm such a loner!" Ella shakes her head as she comforts Bridget. Chloe quickly grabs a paddle from one of the students. "Hey! Code of conduct prohibits theft and bullying!" She points it towards Uliana and her gang. Red rolls her eyes and tries not to smile. Of course Chloe would say and do something like this. "Easy lass." James uses his hook to push away the paddle. "I don't know where you come from, but here we don't fight until after school. Meet me then." Something about this exchange between the two, Red did not like. Was he flirting with her? She swears if she was part dragon or beast, she would most definitely be growling right now. Before she could do anything, Chloe shoves him away. But Red swears to herself that she will get her revenge later. "You wouldn't stand a chance. And no offense, well actually offense intended, you're not my type." Chloe smirks. James scowls before laughing. Red quickly steps in front of Chloe. James was one thing but Uliana was a different story. "Listen Squid face, give the cupcakes back or I'll rip that magic tongue out of your throat." She threatened. "Ooh girl. I only wanted the feathers." She uses her tentacles to pick out all of the feathers from the cupcakes. "You can have the rest!" She throws them on the ground as the plate shatters. The gang laughs as she goes to eat them. "Wait! That's too many." Bridget warns her. Uliana rolls her eyes before eating them anyways. Bridget sighs. "You shouldn't have done that." Uliana scoffs as she takes out her mirror. "You are just jealous of my fabulosity. You can't handle my-" Feathers start coming out of her mouth as she makes almost an animalistic noise. "What was that?" The squawking noise comes once again, like she can't control it. Slowly her hair starts to turn pink as she screams. "Are you alright Uli? You're looking a little...pink." James chuckles. "Shut up!" The effects continue to take it's toll. Her once human features started turning bird like until she's turned into a flamingo altogether. "Someone help her!" Fay shouts. "Yeah, someone should help her." Hades mocks before Maleficent smacks him. Morgie tries to help her up but she pushes him away.

"Uli, I...." Bridget tries to apologize when Uliana stands, looking like a mutated Flamingo, her eyes set on Bridget, and not in a good way. She chases her around the school "We....ok." "Yeah." Chloe hands back the paddle to the student she took it from earlier before they follow them around the school. "I tried to warn you!" Bridget tells her before she's pulled again. "Bridget, run!" They run towards the fountain before they run into Hook and Maleficent again, blocking one of the doorways. "Hey there, darling!" "I'm sorry, sorry, sorry!" He separates Ella and Bridget. "I just want to have a little chat with your friend." Bridget runs along the fountain before Ella pulls her down. "Watch out!" Uliana loses her balance and falls in, the effects of the cupcake finally subsiding. "I'm sorry, sorry!" Ella pulls Bridget away from the crowd. Everyone stares as Uliana struggles in the fountain. "Where's Bridget?!" She stands. "So, pretty sure we just found out who's gonna do the prank." Red tells Chloe. "I don't know, maybe that wasn't so bad?" Chloe asks. "I will destroy her!" Red looks at her. "Maybe it was." "Tell Bridget this isn't over!" Uliana goes back inside to dry off, the rest of her crew following shortly after. The crowd disperses after a while.

They hurry back to the main campus and try to find Bridget and Ella. "How's Uli doing? I feel terrible." Bridget sighs. "I should go apologize." She tries to turn around but they stop her. "Don't. She did it to herself. And it serves her right." Ella nods. "She's always bullying us." Charming walks up to them. "Ella, yo, that was amazing. You ladies bested Uliana! I don't think anyone's ever done that before. And that makes you braver than i am. And I'm a prince." He turns to Chloe and Red. "Though I don't really like to push the royal angle." Looking at him must closer now, Red can definitely see the resemblance between them and Chloe. Which probably explains why she found him attractive to begin with. Cause she found Chloe attractive. But she was still coming to terms with that. "And yet you always manage to find a way." Chloe watches as her parents interact with each other. It reminded her of her actual parents in present day. "You're the new girls, right?" I'm Charming." "That's debatable." Ella tells them. Chloe smiles at them. Yup, just like her parents. "Anyways, you guys picked the perfect time to come cause it's Castlecoming week." Bridget giggles. "Castlecoming is an outdated, elitist tradition." Bridget rolls her eyes. "Wait, does that mean you're not...." "Squeezing into a super expensive dress and painful shoes? No thanks." Charming sighs. "Well, if you happen to change your mind, I'll see you there." He smiles before leaving.

"Hey Ella, he seemed pretty interested in your plans for the festival?" Chloe smirks. "Am i sensing some chemistry there?" "Uh, no." Ella scoffs before Bridget gives her a look. "Ok yeah, everyone loves him, and sure he's gorgeous and he seems nice. But you know how royalty is, well, except for you B. You're different." Ella smiles. "I just wish someone was that interested in going with me. Everyone already has plans, so...." Bridget shrugs. Ella thinks before smiling. "Bridget, will you go to Castlecoming with me?" "But you just sa-" "I despise everything it stands for, but if we go as friends, maybe it won't be totally awful." She smiles. Bridget squeals. "We have to try on dresses right now!" She twirls into Ella's arms. "We only have two days!" Red and Chloe look at each other. Two days?! "I can't, i have to get back home, but maybe later." Ella tells her. "Ok." Bridget hugs her. "Bye!" She waves at Red and Chloe before skipping along. "Gotta find the perfect dress!"