The Last Days
Day One: The Realization of Fragility
The sun had barely risen when Red and Chloe found themselves on the training ground. Swords glinted in the early rays, and the air was thick with tension. They knew that every moment counted, that every move had to be perfect.
Red, his face focused, attacked with determination. Chloe dodged skillfully, but Red, in his momentum, slipped and the sword grazed Chloe's arm, leaving a thin cut. Time seemed to stop.
"Chloe!" Red shouted, immediately dropping his weapon to rush towards her. "I'm so sorry!"
Chloe looked at the cut, then at Red, and smiled weakly. "It's nothing, Red. Just a scratch."
But to Red, it was much more than a simple scratch. The sight of Chloe's blood filled her with icy terror. She suddenly realized how vulnerable Chloe was, how she could lose her at any moment.
“Please, Chloe, don’t join this battle. I don’t want to lose you,” Red pleaded, his voice shaking.
Chloe shook her head, determined. “I have to fight, Red. For you, for us, for our kingdom. I can’t stand back while you put yourself in danger.”
Red tried to insist, but nothing worked. Chloe was resolute. Finally, Red pulled her aside to tend to the wound. They sat in silence, Red applying salve to the cut with delicate movements. She seemed to have walled herself in silence, tears welling up in her eyes.
“Red?” Chloe tried. But she got no answer. “Red, please talk to me.” »
But despite Chloe’s attempts, Red remained silent. Her tears eventually fell down her cheeks as she finished bandaging the wound. Just as Chloe was about to wipe them away, Red suddenly pulled her closer. “I love you so much, Chloe… Please be careful.”
Day Two: Family Support
On the second day, a great commotion filled Auradon as the Charming family arrived. Chloe, intrigued and nervous, rushed to greet them, fearing that they were coming to dissuade her from participating in the war. But as soon as she saw them, she knew that was not the case.
"Chloe," her father said with a tender smile, "we know we can't dissuade you. We are here to support you, to fight alongside you."
Chloe felt a wave of relief and gratitude wash over her. Her mother hugged her, her eyes shining with pride. "We are so proud of you, my dear."
Red stood nearby, moved by this display of familial love. Chloe's father turned to her and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Thank you for looking after our daughter, Red. We know you'll do anything to protect her, and we'll do the same for you."
Chloe hugged Red, tears in her eyes. "I love you, Red. And I'm so grateful you're here with me."
Day Three: Support from Friends
On the third day, Bridget and Ella trained hard, their movements precise and determined. They knew that every moment of preparation could make a difference.
In between training sessions, they took moments to be with each other, to support each other. Bridget took Ella's hand and squeezed it gently. "Our lives have changed so much because of this war, but I'm so grateful to have you by my side."
Ella smiled and kissed her tenderly. "We will fight together, Bridget. For our future, for our friends."
They spent their evenings talking with Red and Chloe, sharing their fears and hopes. Their friendship was a pillar of support in this impending storm. Red and Chloe found comfort in the presence of their friends, knowing that they were not alone in this fight.
Day Four: The Last Moment of Calm
Night had fallen on Auradon, and Red and Chloe were in their room, in bed, pressed against each other. The silence reigned, heavy with gravity. They knew that this was their last moment of calm before the onslaught of the next day.
Red felt Chloe's heart beating against her, a soothing rhythm but laden with tension. She took a deep breath, searching for the words to express everything she felt.
"Chloe," Red began, her voice trembling with emotion, "I am terrified of losing you. Every moment with you is precious, and I can't imagine my life without you."
Chloe held Red tighter, tears in her eyes. "Me too, Red. But we have to fight, for our future. We have to believe in ourselves, in our love."
Red closed her eyes, letting the tears fall. “Promise me you’ll do anything to stay safe. Promise me we’ll get back together.”
Chloe nodded, a fierce determination in her eyes. “I promise you, Red. We’ll get back together.”
They stayed like that, holding each other in an emotionally charged silence. Every heartbeat, every breath, was a reminder of their love and their determination. The tension in the air was palpable, and they knew tomorrow would be a turning point in their lives.
Day Five: The Assault Order
On the fifth day, a large army had gathered in front of the rabbit hole. Red, Chloe, Ben, the Charming family, and all the soldiers stood ready, their faces serious and determined. The air was thick with tension and anticipation.
Ben stood before them, ready to give a heroic speech. He took a deep breath and raised his voice to address his troops.
“Citizens of Auradon,” he began, “we stand today on the threshold of a decisive battle. We fight for our freedom, for our future. Together, we will defeat this threat and bring peace to our lands. But do not forget, you will face guards, but above all terrified men! Forced to defend their queen to avoid suffering the worst of sentences!” Only kill as a last resort, and make sure as much as you can to put them out of harm's way, without killing them!"
Red had asked Ben for this clarification during a meeting. She knew her mother, and she knew the hold she had on her guards, and on everyone in fact. The vast majority of them only served her out of fear of losing their heads. Red did not want these innocents, who would fight out of fear and not out of conviction, to be killed. She had no illusions, she knew that there would be deaths... on all sides. Precisely because her mother's guards would fight fiercely to not risk their heads. But a small part of her was relieved to know that Auradon would at least try to minimize the deaths... Even if, of course, it was still a war.
Chloe was surprised by this statement, and she turned to Red who seemed fully aware of what Ben was going to ask. "It's you, right? You asked Ben to tell us to kill as little as possible?"
Red smiled weakly at her, "Yes, I didn't want to make innocent victims. Or at least, as little as possible. Chloe... those men, and those women... they only follow my mother because they're afraid she'll cut off their heads if they don't."
Chloe smiled and hugged her angel. "You're a good person Red. And I have to thank you... I wouldn't have liked to kill people. I mean... I would have, if I had to protect you, or save myself, but... I prefer to avoid it as much as possible."
"Same for me."
They came face to face again, then they took each other's hands, finding comfort and courage in each other. They knew that this moment marked the beginning of something great and terrifying.
Finally, Ben turned to Fay, his expression resolute. "Fairy Godmother... Open the passage."