The emergence of Hearts

The very day she arrived, Red quickly found herself summoned by Uma, the headmistress of Auradon Prep. As she made her way to the headmistress’s office, Red felt a lump of apprehension form in her stomach. She knew that her mother’s reputation, the Queen of Hearts, was well-known even here in Auradon, and she wondered what Uma wanted to tell her.

As she entered the office, Red was greeted by Uma, whose piercing gaze seemed to peer into the young girl’s thoughts. “Hello, Red. I’m glad to see you here,” Uma began in a calm but authoritative voice. “I’m sure your arrival in Auradon must have been a challenge, especially with the Queen of Hearts as your mother.”

Red remained silent for a moment, trying to gauge the headmistress’ intentions. Finally, she decided to speak vaguely about her situation. “Yes, it hasn’t been easy.” I had to sneak out."

Uma nodded, understanding. "I figured as much. Luckily, we were able to make some arrangements to help you. Cinderella came to see me, and together, we arranged with the merchants in town to take you in and let you leave with what you need. The bills will be split in two, half to Cinderella and the other half to Auradon Prep."

Red's eyes widened in disbelief. "They're willing to help me... without expecting anything in return?"

Uma smiled slightly. "Yes, Red. Here in Auradon, we believe in helping each other and being kind. Cinderella and I trust you."

Red, still wary, didn't know what to make of all this generosity. She had never experienced such an environment, and it unsettled her. “Thanks... I guess.”

Uma nodded encouragingly. “Take some time to acclimate. Auradon is your home now. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to come see me.”

Red felt disconcerted by this kind response. “I… I guess I’ll have to get used to it,” she murmured, more to herself than to Uma. The headmistress, picking up on Red’s uncertainty, smiled warmly.

“I understand that this may seem strange to you. It’s a world far different from Wonderland. But you’ll see, Auradon has a lot to offer… even for a rebel like you.”

A wry smile played on Uma’s lips. “You know, I wasn’t so different from you, once. I had my days as a pirate myself, and navigating between order and chaos wasn’t easy.” But here, we have the chance to change, to write our own story. I was given my chance, and today, I decided to give you yours."

Intrigued by the past and the director's sudden openness, Red felt a little more at ease. "A pirate?" she asked, curious. "It must be fun to tell the students that."

Uma chuckled. "Oh, I assure you it is! But there's nothing wrong with a bit of a tumultuous past, as long as you learn from your mistakes. And you've already started writing a new chapter here. I mean, look at you... there was really no obligation for you to use that letter, or even come here once you used it. And yet here you are."

Red, touched by this conversation, glimpsed a hope she had never dared to imagine. "It's hard to break habits... and mistrusts."

Uma nodded. "That's completely normal. But know that you don't need to be wary here. We're all here to help you."

Red felt a flood of conflicting feelings rise within her: gratitude, mistrust, hope... and a strange desire to believe in this new reality. She took a deep breath. "Thank you, Uma. I'll do my best to acclimate."

Uma placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "You're not alone on this journey, Red. We'll be there for you every step of the way. Never forget that you have the right to be happy and free. » But she added with a mischievous wink: "But if you act a little too rebellious and don't follow the rules, I'll put you on the plank."

Red, amused by this joke, replied with a smirk: "I'll do my best to avoid the plank, Captain."

Uma burst out laughing. "That's the spirit! Welcome to Auradon, Red."

Red, moved by these words, left the headmistress's office with a new gleam in her eyes. Auradon Prep was already beginning to shake her certainties and draw a future she would never have thought possible. She now had to learn to navigate this new world, one step at a time, with courage and determination.

*****

As she returned to her room, Red felt her mind swirling with conflicting emotions. When she entered, she found Chloe putting her things away with a radiant smile.

“So, what did the headmistress want?” Chloe asked, full of curiosity.

Red hesitated for a moment, unsure how much she could reveal. “She just wanted to check on me… and told me about the merchants in town who are willing to help me.”

Chloe exclaimed, delighted, “That’s great! Tomorrow, I’ll accompany you on a shopping trip and show you the best shops in the kingdom. It’ll be fun!”

Red, still unsure, nodded. “Okay… why not.”

Chloe was beaming with excitement at the prospect of spending time with Red. She was full of energy, and her joy was contagious. To her, every moment at Auradon Prep was a new adventure, and she was determined to share it with her new friend. She didn’t fully understand her feelings yet, but she knew she wanted to get to know her.

Red, for her part, found all this enthusiasm slightly unsettling. She had always been wary of those who were too friendly right away, especially coming from a world where kindness was rare. But something about Chloe intrigued her. This young girl, so different from anything she had ever known, seemed genuinely eager to help her.

As they were deep in their conversation, a knock sounded at the door. The two girls looked at each other, a mixture of curiosity and apprehension in their eyes. The knocking on the door echoed through the room. Chloe rushed to open it, enthusiastically greeting the girls behind the door.

A pink-haired girl, sparkling with joy, held a plate of freshly baked cupcakes. "Hi! We're your neighbors. I'm Bridget and this is Ella. I made cupcakes to get to know you!"

Chloe smiled widely and invited them in. "Oh, great! Thanks so much, Bridget. Come in, I'm Chloe, and this is Red."

Red watched the scene from her bed, her eyes scanning every detail. She had learned to be very observant during her childhood. This quality had saved her skin many times, like the time she had noticed a slight shift in the shadows of the throne room, revealing an ambush by guards. Thanks to this attention to detail, she had been able to narrowly escape.

As Bridget and Ella settled into the room, Red noticed the furtive glances the two girls gave each other without ever meeting their eyes. She saw Ella adjust Bridget's lock of hair with unexpected gentleness, and Bridget responded with a shy smile and a slight blush. Red could almost sense the affection between them, but neither Bridget, nor Ella, nor even Chloe seemed aware of it.

Bridget, still bubbly and enthusiastic, took the lead. "So, how was your first day at Auradon?" she asked, eager to hear their impressions. Ella, more reserved, but with a mischievous glint in her eye, added softly, "Yeah, I bet it's different than anything you've ever experienced."

Chloe, still full of energy, replied with a beaming smile, "It's amazing! Everything is so beautiful here. And you? You must know every nook and cranny of the school."

Bridget burst into contagious laughter. "Oh, you could say that! She and I have explored quite a few secret hideaways, haven't we, Ella?" Ella nodded with a smirk, her eyes shining with complicity.

Red wondered how these girls, who said they had known each other for so long, could have missed their feelings for each other. She had been able to notice it in only five minutes, and yet, she didn't even know what love was. But whatever, she wouldn't say anything. She didn't see why she would, anyway.

The evening progressed, the cupcakes disappearing quickly as the girls chatted happily. Red, although silent, listened attentively to each exchange. Bridget told funny stories about their past years, and Ella shared a few spicy anecdotes, triggering shared laughter. Chloe seemed particularly at ease with her new friends, and Red found herself feeling a slight desire to be part of this camaraderie.

Red noted every detail of their conversation, the nuances of their body language. She could see the depth of the friendship between Bridget and Ella in their gestures and words, an intimacy she had never known. This evening, full of new encounters and conflicting emotions, made her reflect on her own existence and the connections she could make in this strange place. Yes strange… strangely welcoming.

When the evening came to an end, Bridget and Ella returned to their room, leaving Chloe and Red alone. Chloe turned to Red with a warm smile. "They're really nice, don't you think ?"

Red shrugged. "Yeah, they seem... nice."

Chloe, noticing Red's reserve, decided not to insist. "Well, it's time to go to bed. Who's taking a shower first ?"

After a short debate, it was agreed that Chloe would go first. Red waited patiently for her turn, thinking about this strange and confusing first day. When her turn finally came, she headed to the bathroom with her clothes from the day.

A few minutes later, Red came out of the bathroom, still wearing the same red and black outfit. Chloe, finishing packing her things, noticed immediately. "Red, do you really have nothing to wear to sleep in?"

Red looked down, uneasy. "No, not really."

Chloe, with disarming kindness, went to retrieve a light blue pajama from her suitcase and handed it to Red. "Here, take these. They may not be your style, but at least you'll be more comfortable."

Red accepted the pajamas, a hint of sarcasm in his voice. "Thanks, these are... totally my style." 

Chloe smiled, amused. "Don't worry, we'll fix it tomorrow during our shopping trip."

The two girls said goodnight and went to bed. While Chloe quickly fell asleep, Red lay awake, lost in thought. Auradon was so different from anything she had ever experienced. Here, people seemed genuinely kind and willing to help without expecting anything in return. It was confusing and intimidating at the same time.

She thought back to Cinderella and Uma’s generosity, Chloe’s warm welcome, even Bridget and Ella’s affectionate glances. It was all new to her, almost inconceivable. She wondered if she would ever get used to this new life.

Red felt a wave of conflicting emotions wash over her. Part of her wanted to let go and accept this kindness, but another part, forged by years of mistrust and loneliness, rebelled against the idea of ​​abandoning her defenses. She had built these walls to protect herself, and tearing them down seemed terrifying.

But maybe, Red thought as she finally fell asleep, this trip to Auradon was an opportunity to discover a new side of herself. Maybe here, she could find what she had always sought without ever daring to admit it: friendship, love, and above all, the freedom to choose her own path.

Chloe, for her part, had fallen asleep with a feeling of satisfaction. She was happy to have been able to help Red and to get to know her. She felt that there was something special about this new comrade and she was determined to break through Red's shell to discover the person she really was. The plans for the upcoming shopping trip filled her with excitement, because she saw this as an opportunity to bring their budding friendship even closer.