Imagines || shows and movies characters x reader

We are at war || Red [Descendants: The Rise of Red] • part 2

The tension between Red and Chloe reaches a boiling point as they stand on opposite sides of the battlefield. The once close friends are now staring each other down like rivals. Red's face is hardened by anger, her fingers itching toward the hilt of a dagger she keeps strapped to her side. Chloe, however, stands tall and resolute, gripping the amulet Uliana gave her, believing it to be a symbol of his "reformation." Behind them, Y/n watches intently, ready to back up Red but still uncertain of the looming battle's outcome.

Red snarls, "Chloe, you don't get it, do you? He *killed* my father. He turned my mother into a monster. You really think you can redeem that?"

Chloe, ever the optimist, retorts, "People can change, Red. What good will come from killing him? More bloodshed? We can fix this without more violence. That's not who we are."

Red's eyes flare with rage. "You don't know what it's like to lose everything, to watch your whole family fall apart. I'm not letting him get away with it. Not this time."

Uliana watches the scene unfold from the shadows, a smirk creeping onto his face. He's always thrived on manipulation, and now his gambit is paying off. He whispers quietly to himself, knowing Chloe's compassion plays right into his hands. He doesn't need to lift a finger—her desire to see the good in everyone will keep him alive long enough to secure his victory.

Y/n senses the shift in the air and steps between the two girls. "Look," she says, her voice a mix of frustration and concern. "We can't waste time fighting each other. Uliana is still out there, and if we don't stop him, he'll keep twisting things, rewriting the past to his advantage. Red's right about one thing—he's dangerous."

Chloe's face softens, her uncertainty beginning to show. She looks over at Uliana, who stands quietly behind her, playing the part of the repentant villain, and then back at Red. Her heart is divided between her belief in redemption and her loyalty to her best friend. Before Chloe can speak, Uliana steps forward, ever so carefully.

"You're all right to question me, Red," Uliana says, his voice smooth and disarming. "I've made terrible mistakes. But Chloe believes in something better—something I never saw before. I won't fight you. I just want a chance to make things right."

Red's grip on her dagger tightens, the hatred in her eyes burning brighter. She steps closer to Uliana, her voice dangerously low. "You can *never* make things right. You took my father. You turned my mother into a tyrant. You deserve every bit of pain that's coming your way."

Chloe steps in front of Uliana, blocking Red's path. "No, Red. Killing him won't bring your father back. I won't let you do this."

Red's jaw clenches, and the tension is palpable. Y/n, sensing the conflict rising, nudges Red. "Let's think about this. We came to change things, not destroy everything. Maybe there's another way."

Just then, a voice cuts through the tension—the Queen of Hearts herself. Emerging from the shadows, the Queen is no longer the tyrant they know from the present. She is younger, softer, with eyes full of warmth and wisdom. But there's still a glimmer of the ruthlessness she would one day embrace. She looks at Red, then Chloe, and finally at Uliana.

"I've been watching," she says, her voice commanding yet measured. "And I've had enough of this game."

Red's heart skips a beat as she sees her mother—the version of her mother who still loved, still cared. But the Queen's expression is one of profound sadness as she addresses Uliana.

"Your cruelty twisted me, Uliana. You took something from me that I can never get back. But you've also taken something from *yourself*—a chance at redemption. Do not think for one moment that I will allow you to continue."

Uliana sneers, the facade of repentance dropping. "You're too late, Your Majesty. I've already set everything in motion. They'll turn against each other before you can do anything to stop it."

As Uliana speaks, the ground begins to rumble, and the pocket watch in Red's hand flickers wildly. Time itself is destabilizing as the past begins to collide with the present. Y/n steps forward, her voice steady. "We have to act now. If we don't, he'll destroy the timeline."

Red, her gaze locked on Uliana, makes a choice. She steps toward him, but instead of drawing her dagger, she grabs the time watch. "I'm not going to kill you," she says, her voice filled with defiance. "But you're not escaping this either."

With a quick motion, Red activates the watch, locking Uliana in a time loop—he's trapped, forced to relive his downfall over and over again, never able to manipulate the future or the past again.

Chloe looks at Red, her expression a mixture of relief and sorrow. "You didn't have to do that."

Red sighs, her anger beginning to subside. "Maybe not, but I couldn't let him get away. And you were right, Chloe. Killing him would've made me just like him."

The Queen approaches the two girls, placing a hand on Red's shoulder. "You've done well, my daughter. But remember, the future isn't written yet. You both have the power to shape it."

With that, the Queen fades back into the past, leaving Red and Chloe standing side by side, the weight of their journey pressing down on them.

Y/n, ever pragmatic, speaks up. "So... what now?"

Red smiles faintly, glancing at Chloe. "I guess we go home. And maybe—just maybe—things will be different this time."