Chapter Text
It was a little after 16:00 when Chloe turned toward the girls’ dormitory building. The day was cool, but she was wearing only a T-shirt. Her blood was still boiling from the three-hour training session. Sweat was still drying on her skin, her muscles ached slightly, and her mind was on autopilot. She just wanted to get back to her room and take a shower. To spend a quiet Saturday evening with her crazy roommate. Their exams had ended the day before, Charming’s head still hurt from the last study sessions. But she knew all the effort would be worth it when the grades came out.
But, as always, the conversations stopped when she entered the lobby. Everyone threw glances her way. She forced herself to keep walking with her head held high, but when she reached the stairs, she heard behind her:
“I wonder who she was with this time? I heard she was flirting with one of the freshmen yesterday. Poor boy should stay away. With Charming, you never...” Chloe hurried up the stairs.
She almost ran to her room door, opened it quickly, slipped inside, and shut it. When her forehead rested against the wood, she dropped her bag to the floor and took a deep breath.
“Hey, Blue.” Red’s gentle voice came from behind her.
But the blue-haired girl didn’t move. She took a moment to pull herself together.
“Hey. Princess, what’s wrong?” The voice came closer, and she forced herself to turn around.
When she did, she was met by two beautiful hazel eyes. The Princess of Hearts stood before her in black heart-patterned pajamas, her hair messy. Chloe smiled at the sight, it had always been an honor for her to see the rebel looking so relaxed.
“Nothing. Just the usual.” Red put her hands on her hips.
“The usual? And who did you sleep with this time?” Chloe sighed loudly.
“It’s not funny, Heart.” The rebel smiled.
“But it is, Princess… Charming. I mean, you’re just so, you know… charming. Hahaha!”
“Red!”
“Sorry, beautiful, but this will never stop being funny to me. You, a player? I still wonder how no one figured it out over the past year and a half.”
“We both know why, Red. For the same reason twenty girls kept pestering you to bake them cupcakes. You’re the daughter of one of the best bakers.”
“You’re right, Princess. But at least they stopped after they tried my green-surprise cupcakes.”
“And then Uma suspended you for three days. Aunt Bridget was furious.”
“Not as furious as I was when the student council simply decided I’d be making all the sweets for Career Day. They deserved it. Besides, the effect only lasted a few hours. Mom understood why I did it.”
“Thank goodness for her mercy. So, what are we doing tonight?”
“I was thinking we’d watch a movie and sleep. I’m still tired from all the studying. I don’t feel like moving.”
“We need to get dinner.” Chloe said, picking up her bag.
“Actually, I went to the café earlier. I get us food. I thought you’d be tired.”
“And that’s why you’re my best friend. I love you. I’ll take a shower, then we’ll eat and watch a movie. You choose.” Red opened her mouth...“But no horror movies, Red.”
“But Chloe, that’s no fun. Why let me choose if you’re taking away the fun?”
The princess grabbed a towel and left her bag by the bed.
“Tomorrow we’re having lunch with the family. Chad, Audrey, and your mom will be there. I need to rest for what’s coming.” She headed for the bathroom.
“What are you talking about? They tease you, sure, but my mom isn’t that bad.”
“Red, we both know your mom makes the worst jokes. She’s always comparing Chad and me to Dad.”
“She doesn’t mean any harm.”
“I know.” The princess called from the bathroom. “But that doesn’t change things for me. This last semester, it’s gotten really bad. Everyone whispers. Everyone stares.”
“You’re Princess Chloe Charming. People are jealous, that’s normal.”
“And what if I don’t want to be Charming anymore?” The blue-haired girl whispered as she stepped into the shower.
The next day, when the two girls met their families for lunch, everything started off well, pleasant conversation, discussions about school, work, and exams. Until Chad opened his mouth.
“So, sis, how’s the hunt going?” He smiled as he put his fork into his mouth.
“Yes, Clo. How are things? Have you found your prince yet?” Audrey added immediately.
The salad got stuck in her throat, but Chloe forced herself to swallow.
“No. Actually, I’m not really looking. There’s time, school is more important.”
“Yes, that’s right. That’s my girl.” Her father Christopher nodded approvingly. “But still, there’s nothing wrong with weighing your options, sweetheart. You know what your grandmother used to say.”
“For love, it’s never too early. I know.” Chloe toyed with her food, she no longer felt like eating.
“Come on, dear, don’t be like that.” Bridget began. “Tell your aunt how many dates you went on this week.”
“I was busy studying, Aunty. I didn’t have time.” The woman raised an eyebrow as if she didn’t believe her.
“Come on, big sis Chloe, you don’t have to hide it from us, we’re family.” Pink smiled.
“Pink, I’m not...”
“Big sis, how many dates did Chloe go on this week?” Everyone turned to Red, who was calmly eating.
She swallowed and looked at the people around the table.
“Dates? What dates?”
“You know, with someone special, dear.” Bridget winked.
“Ah… four.” The rebel replied confidently.
Chloe’s mouth fell open in shock. Everyone around the table began talking and laughing.
“Well, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.” Christopher nodded contentedly.
“Yes, sis, keep it up.” Chad agreed.
“You’ll have to tell me later which one was the cutest.” Audrey added.
“And who kisses best.” Pink laughed.
Chloe just stared at Red, who kept eating, unbothered by the chaos. Bridget and Ella exchanged looks across the table. Even her mother didn’t come to her defense. Cinderella simply chuckled.
/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
When the two of them entered their dorm room and Chloe closed the door, she simply exploded.
“Why did you do it?! Why, Red?!” The redhead tore off her jacket and threw it on the floor.
“Do what? What did I do?”
“Why did you tell them I’ve been on dates?!” The rebel sighed.
“Because it was true. You’ve been on four dates with someone special.”
“And who exactly was I dating?!” Chloe shouted, not caring about the neighbors.
“Tiago. As always. At least four times a week.” Red explained, and Charming’s brain simply stopped.
In practice, Red was right, Chloe did spend at least four times a week with Thiago. Tiago really was special to her, but as usual, the rebel skipped the details. She didn’t mention that was Tiago. Chloe’s sword Tiago.
“Red! For the love of stories! Don’t drag Tiago into this.”
“But it’s true. You train with Tiago every other day, and you forbade me from coming.” The redhead said as she sat on her bed.
“You’re forbidden from coming because you got into a fight, Hearts. The trainer warned you, and I just don’t want you ending up in Uma office again.”
“And still, it’s not fair. That guy attacked you dirty, and that pirate girl fights everyone over the boys from the island.”
“Red, you know Hazel is protective of them, just like you are of Pink. But that has nothing to do with today. You shouldn’t have played along with them.”
“Why not? It’s funny. They think you spend more nights out than in our room, your father must be proud.”
“You’re only making things worse. Mom will insist...she will insist, that I go to the gynecologist again. The last two times were uncomfortable enough. I hate explaining.”
“I don’t get why you take it so seriously, Blue. Just ignore them, like I do with the baking. If you go with the flow, it’s easier.”
Charming sighed and started pacing the room. Her thoughts were a mess, she was wondering how to explain.
“It’s not the same to be considered a baker and to be considered an easy girl.”
The redhead laughed.
“No one thinks you’re easy, princess. You’re just a player. If you ask me, it’s more like the boys are easy for you.”
Chloe sighed. That was Red, she just saw things this way. She didn’t care if people talked behind her back. She’d just cut off heads if she had to, just like her mother.
Mother. And Chloe remembered…
“Rebel, you did get your care package, right?”
“You ate Mom’s cookies on Thursday, you know I got it.”
“And what was in it?”
“The usual. You know, sweets, tea, a new blanket, paintbrushes, new oil paints from home, and more sweets.”
“And do you know what was in my package?”
“Ella’s amazing croissants that we ate in under an hour when you get them.” Chloe nodded.
“Yes, croissants, but not only. Besides those?”
“I don’t know. A new dress? Training gear?”
“Actually yes, but not just that. Want to see what I mean?”
“Okay.” Red stood up and went with the princess to her bed.
Chloe didn’t go to the wardrobe or the drawer. She reached under the bed, pulled out a large, unmarked box, and put it on the bed.
“What’s that?”
“Open it and you’ll see. That’s my problem.”
Red took out a knife and started cutting through the black wrapping. When she saw the lid of the box, she gently opened it.
And froze.
Confusion crossed her face, then she reached inside. Slowly, the rebel raised her hand and a strip unfolded from the box.
“What in the name of mushrooms, princess?” Chloe covered her face.
Red began pulling out different packages and kinds from the big box. Soon, half the princess’s bed was covered.
“Princess, why the hell do you have like 200 condoms under your bed?”
“That’s part of Mom’s care package.”
Red held up an XXL condom.
“Your mom has interesting taste.” The rebel laughed.
“My mom just wants me to have a choice. But that’s not the point. This isn’t normal. Mom thinks that… that I…”
“Ella just wants to make sure you don’t surprise her while living an interesting life. Don’t forget Chad, your parents get the job done early.”
“For the love of stories, don’t mention that!”
“She just wants you to be safe, Clo. There’s nothing wrong with that.”
The princess screamed into her hands.
Then she bent down and pulled out three more similar black packages. Red’s mouth fell open.
“Damn it, princess, why didn’t you tell me we’re more stocked than the nurse?”
“She sends me a package like this every semester, Red. She sent an extra one when I told her I’d be staying at school for Christmas with you.”
“That’s a bit much, but at least you’re prepared.” Red said, examining the condoms. “What’s an oral condom? Is that like… a condom for blowjobs?”
Chloe screamed into her hands again.
“And there are anal ones too, cool.”
“Red, please stop.” The rebel just laughed.
“But this is so interesting, and funny. Your mom really thinks you’re Charming,” She winked.
Chloe just sat down next to Red on the bed, tired, somehow resigned.
“My mom thinks I’m a slut.”
“That’s not true and you know it, princess. She just wants you to be safe. You said it yourself. Chad probably got the same thing.”
“But I’m not my brother.”
“No, but you are Charming,” Red laughed.
And in that moment, Chloe blurted out the only secret she’d kept from Red since their trip.
“I don’t even like boys.”
It slipped out before she realized it.
Red slowly turned toward her best friend, still holding a condom.
“You don’t like boys?” She repeated.
“Yes.” Chloe just nodded and held her breath, waiting for the reaction—the disgust.
“Cool.” Red said simply, smiling. “So, can I take some of these?”
The redhead pointed at the condoms.
“Yes. Take as many as you want. All the boxes are still in date. These things last forever.”
“Cool.”
Red started putting the different packets back into the box. Chloe watched quietly, calmly, until—
“Wait! Cool? What do you mean by cool?” Red smiled warmly.
“Boo, my mom’s a lesbian, you know that. This stuff doesn’t matter at home. But in Auradon you’re a bit behind. Pink has her eye on one of the new palace scribes. I think I mentioned her to you, really nice black hair.”
“Yes, you mentioned it, but I didn’t think… Stories. This must sound stupid to you.”
Red immediately moved closer. Without a word, she hugged Chloe, and the two of them sank onto the bed with the soft sound of the mattress.
“There’s nothing stupid about getting to know yourself, Boo. Your truth will always matter. Don’t you remember when we threw that party back home for cousin Gertrude?”
“Yes, during summer vacation, but I never understood what it was for.”
“She realized she only likes boys. That’s what we celebrated. What did they call it here? Ammm... straight.”
“Is that why your mom made a vanilla cake?”
“Maybe. Vanilla’s my cousin’s favorite. I don’t know and I’m not going to ask.”
“Cool” Chloe replied simply.
“So, want a party, Charming?”
“No. I want the whispers to stop and the girls to stop looking at me like I am the enemy.”
“Unfortunately, that’s what it’s like being a Charming. Thank your brother and your father.” Chloe sighed tiredly.
They stayed like that for a while until Red suddenly jumped up.
“Come on, stop sulking, Charming. Let’s go get cake. Then we can throw a small party, just our people. You, me, Tiago, a big bag of popcorn, music, and sweets. We can play cards?”
Chloe laughed softly and got up.
She gently leaned toward Red and lightly kissed her on the cheek.
“Okay, heart. Let’s get cake, but I don’t want to hear ‘Charming’ again today. A party at home doesn’t sound bad, but it’s more likely I’ll beat Mal in a staring contest than beat you at cards. And I want those lemon-and-blueberry cupcakes you make.”
“You got it, princess. Cake, supplies, cupcakes, tea, just us. No Charming.” Red followed Chloe to the door with a smile as they grabbed their jackets.
“And if it bothers you that much, Boo, you can always change it. You’re 18.” The princess laughed.
“Yeah. Haha, I’ll think about it.” And the two of them left the room laughing.
////////////////////////////////
But that joke kept returning to Chloe's mind more and more often after their conversation. Every time someone called after her with a mocking tone. She wondered what it would be like to be someone else. Still be Chloe, but not be Chloe Charming. What would it be like to have a name of her own, she wondered. That question stayed in the back of her mind most of the time until the following Tuesday.
She had just finished practice. Sweaty and exhausted. The weather was surprisingly warm, and she was wearing only a tank top. Then she heard it.
"Hey, Charming!" She slowly turned around.
A group of boys was walking toward her. She recognized a few of them from the Tourney team. She was just about to raise her hand and wave.
"Thanks for the great night on Sunday, Charming. Give me a call if you want more good time." One of the boys shouted, and they all laughed.
She simply froze. They were walking toward her. And she just stood there. Her mind stopped, processing. The laughter continued as they got closer, and when a few of the boys winked at her, she lost it. She simply dropped her duffel bag onto the ground and walked toward them.
"You want a good time?" She asked loudly.
"Yeah, beautiful, I wa..."
Her fist blow slammed into his jaw.
He fell backward, and when she felt a hand on her shoulder, she simply struck again and again. Rage had consumed her mind. She didn't feel the hit to her back or, later, the blow beneath her cheekbone. She just kept going. Kept going until two strong arms wrapped around her and lifted her off the ground. She fought aggressively and wildly, even against the person holding her. She managed to drive her elbow into them. The woman screamed, the grip loosened, and Chloe charged again. But soon she was pulled back once more. This time, red appeared before her eyes.
And she stopped.
Red was standing in front of her.
"Hey! Hey, Princess! Can you hear me?" The rebel spoke gently. "Breathe. Take a deep breath. Just breathe."
Chloe was led away from the fight, where most of the boys now lay beaten unconscious. The blue-haired girl was helped onto one of the nearby benches, wrapped in a blanket, with Red sitting beside her. It took Chloe a while to come back to herself and realize that her hands were covered in blood, that her knuckles hurt. She slowly returned to the present. When she looked up and saw the two ambulances nearby along with everyone running around, she blinked in confusion.
"What happened?" She whispered as tears streamed down her face.
"Nothing, Princess. Nothing happened. You're okay." Red whispered as she pulled the girl into her arms.
An hour later, after a kind doctor examined Chloe, bandaged her bruised knuckles, gave her ice and ointment for the bruises, they were sent back to their room. There, Red led the princess to the bathroom and left her to shower. Later, the two of them found themselves in the familiar office of principal Uma. The pirate sat behind her desk with a serious expression.
"You have three minutes to tell me what happened, Chloe." Said the pirate.
"Someone called my name when I came out of practice. I turned around. One of the boys thanked me... for... for the wonderful night on Sunday." The tears started again. "He told me to call him..."
"All right. And then what happened?"
"I got angry. They were laughing. They were winking at me, they th..."
"All right." The pirate stopped her. "I'll call your parents and..."
"You're not doing any such thing." Red cut in.
"Miss Hearts, I have eleven students with injuries. Five of them were hospitalized. This is serious. Miss Charming..."
"Chloe simply defended her honor. And she was hurt. She didn't do anything wrong."
"She resorted to violence. Two of the young men have very serious injuries. However, I will take into account that she was provoked and that this is her first offense." Red rose from her chair. She pulled out her phone and began scrolling.
"Miss Hearts, what are you doing?"
"I'm calling my mother. She and our lawyers will be very interested in how you ignored the complaints and reports Chloe and I filed about the bullying over the past year, but now you suddenly want there to be consequences."
Red lifted the phone to her ear.
"Red, that won't be necessary." Uma also stood up.
She knew things would turn ugly if Bridget became involved.
"It is if you're calling Aunt Ella. After all, it's important that the school has the full context of what happened. Including my two reports against the entire Tourney team for inappropriate behavior and harassment."
The pirate swallowed.
"Even if we keep this quiet..."
Red slowly lowered the phone from her ear.
"I'm listening."
"What happened will be recorded in the files of everyone involved, and Miss Charming will have to withdraw from the team..."
"I see."
Red dialed again.
"You want a war? You'll have a war."
The pirate and Red stared at one another.
"Yes. Good afternoon, Mom. I'm sorry for calling you during work, but do you have a moment?"
The pirate never took her eyes off the heir of Hearts.
"Yes, I'll wait until you come out of the war council. Yes, it's important."
Red lowered the phone against her chest and met Chloe's dark eyes.
"Don't worry about it, Princess. Mom will fix everything. Besides, the generals are there too. They'll just gather the legal department, and everyone will come. At last I'll have an excuse to go after that arrogant prince from Agraba."
"Red, we've talked about this. You can't kill Aziz's little brother."
"But he's not the heir."
"Red." Chloe scolded quietly.
"Boo! Wait."
She lifted the phone to her ear.
"Yes, Mom. No, I'm fine. No, I didn't blow up the school. No, I didn't curse anyone. That only happened once, and it wasn't even a real curse. It's about..."
"All right. All right. Don't involve your mother." Uma whispered. "We'll handle this."
Red looked over at Chloe.
"It's about Chloe, Mom. She needs to hear you. She's having a bad day. A really bad day." Red motioned for the princess to come over. "No, Mom, she's okay. At least physically. She's just having a bad day. No, she doesn't want to talk to Ella. She just needs an adult. Yes, I understand. Here."
Red handed over the phone, and Chloe accepted it.
"Yes, Auntie. No, I'm okay, I just..."
Chloe walked to the other side of the office.
Tears welled in her eyes. Red stepped closer to the pirate.
"It's enough for me that they made her cry to start a war and finish off their stupid asses, but Chloe doesn't like violence. And after all the bullying and catcalling, she finally snapped. So, Pirate, give me one reason not to level this school to the ground."
"I'll deal with the families. This won't go into Chloe's record, but someone will have to pay the medical bills."
"Consider it done. But what will the consequences be?"
"The consequences?" Red frowned.
"The consequences for those spineless cowards Chloe put in their place?"
"We'll give them a warning, and I'll speak to them personally." Red shook her head.
"Princess, give me Mom when you're done."
The pirate flinched. Red's icy eyes flashed crimson, and Uma sighed.
"Detention until the end of the year."
"Suspension from extracurricular activities and probation."
"Red, that's..."
"Red, here's Bridget."
Chloe walked toward them, wiping her eyes.
"Suspension from extracurricular activities and two weeks of probation." Red whispered.
Uma watched as she took the phone and held it to her ear.
"Yes, Mom. No, I'm fine. It's just..."
The headmistress closed her eyes for a moment.
"Suspension without probation." She said in almost a whisper.
The two children of villains looked at each other for a long moment.
"I love you. I miss you and Pink so much. No, Mom, nothing happened. Everything's fine. I love you. Give my Cotton Candy a hug from me."
After a brief pause.
"Yes, I'll take care of Chloe. Don't worry. If anything happens, I'll call you. Yes, okay, I'll make her some tea. Yes, I got it, two teaspoons of sugar. And just a friendly piece of advice, let me know when we're invading the Penguin Lands so I can come home and prepare the ice dungeons. Yes, Mom, I'll try not to start any wars. Yes, if I have to, I'll be merciless. Yes, I love you too. All right. Bye. Chloe, Mom loves you."
"I love Auntie too." She princess said quietly.
"She loves you too, Mom. Bye."
The call ended.
"So, do we have an understanding?"
"Yes."
The pirate nodded seriously.
"Have the bill sent directly to me. And this doesn't happen again."
"I want that even more than you do."
"So... what's my punishment?" Chloe asked.
"She is your punishment, Chloe." The pirate pointed at Red.
"Make sure she doesn't tear my school down."
"Of course, Headmistress." And they left.
Red led them back to their room. She held the blue-haired girl's hand tightly. Once they got back, Chloe was sent to lie down on the rebel bed while Red went to get food and scare the rest of the idiots. Soon they found themselves wrapped up in Red's bed with cafeteria food. The rebel turned on Snow White's talk show, Chloe's favorite.
But the princess barely ate.
"Come on, Clo. At least eat the salad. You like this one. I got extra dressing, just the way you always get it."
"I'm not hungry, Red."
"You are, Boo. Your body just can't show it right now. You barely ate lunch because you were rushing to practice. Eat this, then we'll have some tea and gossip about..."
"I don't feel like watching it, Red."
"Then what do you feel like doing?"
"I don't know. I just want to forget today."
"Okay. We'll eat, and we'll forget."
Red kept trying to distract the princess.
////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
But Chloe never forgot for the rest of the week. She was like a ghost, flinching every time she heard her last name. On Friday afternoon, she refused to go to practice because she couldn't bear the thought of hearing her own name, so she ended up alone in their room. Red was at dance club until six o'clock.
The blue-haired girl had flopped onto her bed, simply staring at the ceiling, when her phone rang.
It was her grandfather.
"Hi, Grandpa."
"Hello, sweetheart. How are you, my little girl? How's practice going?" He always called during her break.
"I... I'm not at practice, Grandpa." She said timidly.
"Why not? Are you okay?"
"I'm fine. I'm just tired today."
"You? Too tired for practice? What's wrong, my dear?" She remained silent. "Did something happen at school? Should I call your parents? I'll..."
"Don't call them. I... I'm fine."
Chloe could feel the tears coming.
"You don't sound fine, Little Blueberry. Tell your grandpa. What's wrong?"
"It's stupid."
She wiped at her tears, trying to stop them.
"It's not stupid if you're crying, sweetheart. What's wrong?"
"I... I hate it, Grandpa. I hate it." She cried quietly.
"What do you hate, sweetheart? Whatever it is, I'll..."
"I hate my name. I hate it, Grandpa."
"And why do you hate it, dear? Chloe is..."
"Not that, Grandpa. I hate my last name. I hate it."
The man fell silent for a moment.
"Why, Blueberry?"
"I... they whisper about me, Grandpa. They always stare at me."
"Who does?"
"Everyone. Everywhere I go, everyone looks at me and whispers. Everyone thinks I'm a slut, even Mom."
"What, sweetheart? What are you talking about? Your mother would never..."
"She'd never say it, but she sends me like three hundred condoms every semester, Grandpa. She thinks I'm like Chad and Dad. Everyone thinks I'm like them. Half the boys at school claim they've slept with me, Grandpa...and...And I'm a virgin."
The man was silent for several long seconds.
"Wait just a moment, sweetheart. Let me get your grandmother."
She heard his hurried footsteps.
"Honey! My love!"
"Yes, darling!" She heard her grandmother call softly.
"Honey, our granddaughter says our family name has a bad reputation."
"What are you talking about? Give me the phone."
The phone changed hands.
"What's wrong, sweetheart? What happened?"
"I didn't say our family name has a bad reputation. I said Dad and Chad..."
"...are very charming? Yes, unfortunately I know that. So, what happened?"
"All the boys claim they've slept with me, and all the girls look at me like I'm their enemy. And I'm not..."
"I know, sweetheart. You've never been like that. But unfortunately, my son's and my dear grandson's reputation is a little... questionable. Is it really that bad?"
"It's awful. And it's getting worse. I... something happened. I got into a fight. I don't want to hear my name anymore."
The woman sighed.
"If you resorted to violence, then things must be very bad. So, sweetheart, what do you need?"
"I don't know. I just don't want to hear my name anymore. Red joked recently that I should change it. We laughed about it, but... I've been thinking about it. Thinking about what it would be like if I weren't Charming. If I were just Chloe."
"Darling, come over here and sit down. Sweetheart, I'm putting you on speaker. Your grandfather is about to wear a hole through the carpet."
"So... does that mean you want to change your last name?" Her grandmother asked.
"I don't know. I just don't ever want to hear someone yell 'Charming' at me again. It's awful. But I don't want to hurt you or..."
"You're not hurting us, sweetheart." Grandpa Max said gently. "The question you've raised is a very important one. You're suffering because of the foolishness of your brother and your father."
The line fell silent for a moment.
Then her grandfather sighed.
"Our family has many middle names."
"I know that, Grandpa."
"Yes. And you're not the heir to the throne."
She frowned.
"I'm second in line. What does that have to do with anything?"
"You can change it." He simply said.
"What?"
"If you don't like it, you can change it. You can take one of my names as your surname. Or one of your grandmother's."
"Really?"
"Yes. People used to do that several generations ago, and quite often. Your great-great-great-grandfather had nine brothers and sisters. Two of his brothers took different family names, and so did three of his sisters. It helped avoid conflicts of interest. Though I don't know if your parents would agree."
"You could always just use Chloe Faye Grace, you know." Her grandmother added gently. "Our name carries a certain weight, but you don't need a name to open doors for you, sweetheart. You open them yourself. And you could always make Charming one of your middle names. That's an option too."
"You'd support me?"
The two of them laughed softly.
"As long as you're happy, we'll always stand by you, Chloe." The princess took a deep breath.
A warm feeling filled her. A single tear rolled down her cheek as she whispered.
"Even if I don't like boys?"
There was silence on the other end for a moment before her grandmother spoke.
"Your father brought your mother home when she was already pregnant. Sweetheart, no offense, but I think it'll be very difficult for you to outdo your parents' mistakes. I accepted that your brother was conceived out of wedlock, and I still love him. Besides, Chad has your grandfather's beautiful blue eyes. Sometimes everything happens for a reason. Whenever you fall in love, and with whomever, it doesn't matter as long as you're happy."
"As long as she's not related to Gaston. Honestly, I hate that guy. I'll happily welcome any other young girl into the family, just not that charlatan's daughter."
Chloe laughed softly through her tears at her grandfather's words.
"I love you."
"And we love you too, sweetheart." Гer grandmother replied. "If you'd like, I'll send you a list of all the family names."
"You can. I'm not sure I'll change it, but..."
"I know, sweetheart. Just be yourself."
"And always follow your heart."
"Okay, Grandpa."
"I'm glad I got to hear your voice. So, how are the driving lessons going? When will you be able to come visit us? I've already picked out a car for you."
"I passed the theory test, Grandpa, but because of exams I haven't had time, and honestly I don't really feel like driving much. I don't know. I'll talk to Red, we'll bribe Dizzy, and we'll come visit you."
"All right, sweetheart. Give my love to your cousin." Constantina said.
"And make sure Red doesn't start another war, Blueberry. Don't rush getting your license. When you're ready, remember that there's always more than one road to a destination. I love you."
"As always, Grandpa. And I love you both too. Bye." When the call ended, Chloe lay on her bed, somehow feeling lighter than before.
She knew that, at the very least, she had a choice.
///////////////////////////////////////////////////////
Later that evening, while she and Red were watching a movie, the princess's eyes stayed fixed on a beautiful woman on the screen.
"She's pretty." Red commented.
"Yeah." Chloe replied, still staring at the screen, looking at the black motorcycle the heroine was sitting on. "It's beautiful."
On Saturday morning, she called to ask what documents she would need to get a motorcycle license. After that, the weekend continued as usual. On Sunday, Chloe went into town to speak with the instructor. They agreed that she would start on Monday.
////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
That was how Chloe's little secret began. Not even Red knew. No one knew. She had told Uma that she had qualification classes. The pirate hadn't asked any questions. Plenty of students were getting their licenses. Besides, Chloe was the top student in their year.
After the first two weeks, it became clear that the princess had a talent for it. She compared riding a motorcycle to riding a horse. Her instructor told her she could take the exam the following week if she could ride every day and complete her hours as well as she had been doing. She immediately went to speak with her sword and shield coach. The new semester officially began in three days. He spoke with Uma, and Chloe was given special permission to go into town oof schedule .
So, after almost four weeks, the girl took her practical exam. The examiner was very impressed.
But she had a difficult moment when it came time to fill out the paperwork for her license. She spent five full minutes staring at the space where she was supposed to write her name. In the end, she apologized, and the staff were understanding. When her instructor heard about her problem, he suggested that she take a day or two to think about it.
The princess returned that same evening. Red was building a huge house of cards in the middle of the floor.
"Hey, Princess. How did..."
"I'm going to change it." She spoke clearly and confidently.
Red stopped just before placing the next two cards.
"Great. If you need help choosing, I'm here." The rebel didn't question it for even a second.
"I love you." Chloe said softly.
Red looked up.
"What did I do?"
"Nothing. You're just... you. I love you."
"And you're important to me too, Boo." Chloe smiled.
Red still didn't tell everyone she loved them. She only said it to Bridget and Pink. Occasionally. Once, Chloe had heard her say the same words to Maddox, but that was all. It was just those little things about Red that made Chloe love her.
"I love you even more."
This time, Red stopped what she was doing completely.
"Okay... and why?"
The princess smiled softly, almost mysteriously.
"Because you asked." Red watched as the blue-haired girl walked over to her desk.
She took something out and sat down. Soon she was writing.
Red didn't ask. And Chloe loved her for that.
//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
Three days later, Chloe went to her classes early, as she always did. Red was still walking around like a sleepy cat just before noon when Chloe showed up and dragged her away.
"Come on. You have to come with me."
"What? Princess..."
"Just come with me. I don't want to do this alone. I already did everything online, paid all the fees and everything. This is just one quick stop." Red nodded, and soon the two of them were in a car borrowed from Uma.
Red drove calmly, but she couldn't help noticing how excited the girl beside her was. Chloe couldn't stop smiling. The drive to Auradon City Hall didn't take long, but to Red it felt like an eternity as she watched her Boo. Chloe could barely sit still.
When they parked, the blue-haired girl practically ran out of the car. A moment later she was pulling Red toward the building. When they stepped inside, the place was almost empty. Only three people stood at the service counters besides the employees.
Chloe and Red got in line behind an elderly man. He received his documents after five minutes, and then it was their turn.
The princess was practically vibrating with excitement as she held the rebel's hand.
"Good afternoon. How may I help you?" The clerk asked.
"We're here to collect documents under Form No. 381, Article Six. They should have been sent from the capital of Cinderellasburg."
"One moment." The woman disappeared through a door.
Chloe was trembling all over.
"Hey, Boo. Calm down. We're here."
"Yeah. We're here." The princess replied a little too loudly.
Red looked around, trying to think of something to distract her excited friend. Then she noticed something about Chloe's outfit.
"Blue, why are you wearing a hat today?"
Chloe immediately looked at her as though she'd been caught doing something wrong.
"Ummm... no reason. Just for style. Why?" Red instantly knew her best friend was hiding something.
"I know you're hiding something. Come on, tell me. Tell Red."
The rebel leaned closer with a mischievous grin.
"No. Don't do that. Just wait. It's a surprise. Please?" Red sighed and stayed where she was, her grip tightening around Chloe's hand.
A few minutes later, the clerk returned carrying a small stack of documents.
"All right. Here you are. Everything has been completed, paid for, and certified. You paid for expedited processing. You only need to declare your new signature right here." She slid a form across the counter. "Then you'll wait about five minutes while I process everything, after which you'll sign the receipt documents, and we'll be done. Is everything clear? Have you made your choice?"
"Yes, I have." Red let go of the princess's hand, and Chloe immediately began writing on the form.
"The full name?"
"Yes. For the last time." Chloe completed the document, and the woman took it.
Then Chloe's hand found Red's again as they waited.
The blue-haired girl was no longer vibrating with excitement. Her posture radiated pride, and the gentle smile on her face spoke of quiet satisfaction.
"You're happy."
"Is that a question?"
"No, Boo. That's just a statement. You're really beautiful like this, with that look of contentment. I don't know what you've done, but if it makes you smile like this more often, then it has to be something good."
Chloe's dark eyes turned toward the rebel.
"I love you." She whispered softly.
A smile appeared on Red's lips.
When the clerk returned, she smiled at the two girls and handed them another sheet.
"Please sign at the bottom." Chloe signed immediately.
The woman took the paper, then pulled out a small folder and slid it toward them.
"That's everything, Miss Chloe Faye Grace Leopold. Here are all of your updated documents. I only need to remind you that you must submit the paperwork to update your bank accounts within the next three weeks. You'll also need to collect your remaining official documents, but those will be kept in the capital of your homeland."
"Thank you very much. Have a nice day." Chloe slowly turned toward Red, who was sitting there with her mouth slightly open.
The redhead slowly looked at the princess, who gently pulled her away from the counter because someone had already lined up behind them. Still smiling, Chloe led them outside to the car, the folder tucked beneath her arm.
When she stopped, she took the hat off her head. Her smile was gentle, almost questioning.
"So... do you like it?" Red simply stared into those dark eyes.
A tiny, mischievous smile spread across her lips.
"You actually...She laughed.
"Holy mushrooms. It's nice to meet you, Princess Chloe Leopold...Leopold...Grace Leopold." Red pronounced it as though she were tasting every letter on her tongue. "Chloe?"
"Yes?"
"You're still you, right? My goody-two-shoes princess with absolutely no charm?"
"Yes. That's me. The annoying girl you promised a date with the good old Jabberwocky." Red's smile widened completely.
"If that's the case...I love it."
Chloe's eyes went wide.
"Leopold. It's a little too fancy, but I love it. I love it because I love you, Chloe. And your name doesn't matter, as long as you're still you." Silent tears rolled down the princess's cheeks.
She threw herself into the rebel's arms.
"I love you."
"And I love you more, Miss Leopold. Ready to head back to school?"
Chloe didn't let go of Red.
"We have to make one more stop first. I have paperwork for Uma too."
"I can't wait to see the pirate's face when she sees those documents."
After that, they got back into the car and drove off.
Chloe told Red where to go. The princess hurried inside to submit the paperwork for her driver's license, then came back. The rebel drove them back to school. Lunch had already ended, and they were missing class, but Chloe didn't care.
When they entered Uma's office, the pirate was sorting through paperwork.
"Good afternoon, Headmistress." Chloe said sweetly.
"Pirate." Red nodded and tossed the car keys onto the desk.
"You're late." Uma said simply.
"We got delayed at City Hall. Sorry about that. I have something for you." Chloe stepped up to the desk.
"Of course, Miss Charming. What is it?"
She opened the folder and pulled out a sheet of paper.
"Actually... it's about exactly that." Uma looked at her in confusion.
"It's about my name. Here." She handed over the paper, and the pirate took it.
Uma stared at what was written for a long moment. Then she looked back at the girl standing before her.
"I understand. I'll make sure all of your records are updated by next week. I'll inform your teachers today, Miss Leopold."
"You'd like to be addressed as Chloe Grace?"
"Yes."
"Just Chloe Grace."
"And for your sword and shield uniform?"
"Leopold. But Grace during award ceremonies. I'd like to keep it quiet until I graduate, or at least for a little while. This is for me."
Uma smiled gently.
"It will be my pleasure to inform your coach, Miss Leopold. Please take the rest of the day off. And you, march back to class, Miss Hearts."
"Aye, aye, Captain." Red walked out of the office.
Chloe was about to follow her when she stopped.
"Thank you, Uma."
"Don't mention it, kid. Don't forget that your family was the first to open its doors to the children and people from the Isle. We take care of our own. I'm sorry I didn't take your complaints seriously sooner."
"There wasn't really anything you could do. You talked to them. They'd stop for a few days, and then they'd start again. I'd appreciate it if my parents remained..."
"They won't hear it from me. Leopold... it's a good name."
"Thanks. It was my grandfather's." And she left.
With slow steps, Chloe returned to her room, changed out of her clothes, set the folder on her desk, and lay down on her bed for a moment.
"Ahhhhh!" She shouted into her pillow with happiness.
Then she got up, sat at her desk, took out a fresh sheet of paper, and began writing.
She wrote a short letter to her grandmother and signed it with a beautiful "Chloe Grace Leopold." Then she sealed it and ran off to mail it.
When she returned to her room, she logged into her online banking to begin updating her information, and suddenly a thought struck her.
In seven days, she'd have a motorcycle license. But not a motorcycle. Chloe quickly updated her bank information with her new name, then began wondering where she should buy a bike. More importantly...
What kind of motorcycle?
She could think of only one person to ask, someone who wouldn't give away her secret. She picked up her phone and dialed.
"Hi. Do you have a minute?"
"Of course."
"Do you happen to know where Ben bought Mal's scooter?"
"Yeah. Why?"
"Well... sorry to bother you, Jane, but I need the address."
"Of course. But what do you need it for?"
"A gift."
"I see. Do you have a pen?"
"Yeah."
"The place is called..." The Fairy's daughter gave her the name of the shop and its location, adding that they mostly sold motorcycles.
Real motorcycles.
"Okay. Got it. That's fine with me. Thank you."
"No problem. Bye, Chloe. See you at the next tournament." When the call ended, Chloe looked at the clock.
Red wouldn't be finished with classes for another two and a half hours. The princess called a taxi and sprinted from her room to the school gates.
The drive to the shop took half an hour. She paid extra because she was in a hurry.
When she stepped out of the taxi, she found herself in front of an ordinary-looking house with a sign that read Automotive Treasures. She knocked on the door.
"Yeah! We're open!" A voice called from inside.
The princess walked in and found herself facing several finished machines lined up on one side of the workshop and several more being assembled by five men. A middle-aged man wiped his hands on a rag and walked over.
"Hello. The ribbon shop is across the street." He said calmly.
"Umm... okay. But I'm actually looking for a motorcycle shop." He looked surprised for a moment.
"Well, that's us. Welcome to Automotive Treasures. How can I help you? Looking for tires? Oil?"
"Actually, I'm looking for a motorcycle. A friend recommended you, so I came here."
"All right. Who's the motorcycle for? I'll need the rider's approximate height and weight. We don't sell monsters to dwarfs around here. And a preferred color?"
"Black. Definitely black. And the rider is standing in front of you. I'm 160 centimeters tall and weigh around sixty-two or sixty-tree kilos."
The man looked Chloe over.
"Kid... I'm not sure we have anything for you. Our machines are powerful, and you're a little short." Chloe sighed.
"Okay. I understand. In that case, recommend somewhere I can spend an indecent amount of money, because I need a machine, and it has to be a good one." One of the other men walked over, wiping his hands.
"Hey, what's going on? Who's talking about an indecent amount of money?"
"I came to buy a motorcycle, but they told me, tha you don't have anything for me."
"Do you have a license?" He asked.
"I have this."
Chloe took out the results of her riding exam and handed them over.
"I need the motorcycle for next week, when I get the actual license."
The man looked at the results in surprise.
"Okay... give me a second." He walked over to grab his phone.
"What are you doing?" The older man asked.
"She trained with Don. I'm calling him to find out if she's the real deal. Otherwise... she's got perfect exam results."
He made the call.
"Hey, Don. Do you know a girl named Chloe Leopold?"
The mechanic's expression shifted slightly.
"Yeah, she's about five-three, blue hair. Wait... you're saying she's... Oh. Got it. Is she good?"
Chloe looked around the workshop. She didn't want to eavesdrop. Her eyes settled on the more classic-looking motorcycles. There was something about their style that she liked.
"Got it, man. Got it." He ended the call.
"So? What did Don say?"
"He said she rides better than half the people we know. Good instincts, good reflexes. She's done fencing and horseback riding since she was a kid. And she's pretty generous with the throttle. During the exam she rode a motorcycle that weighed five times more than she does. She's good, Boss."
"All right. What did you say your name was?"
"Chloe. My name is Chloe Leopold."
"Leopold? That's quite a distinctive name. I am Sal. Who's your father, kid?"
"I got the name from my grandfather. His name is Maximilian."
"Maximilian who?" Chloe took a deep breath.
"Charming." Everyone in the shop stopped what they were doing.
She felt their eyes on her.
"You're Princess Chloe Char..."
"No."
"My name is Chloe Grace Leopold. If you'd like to see my full legal name, I can show you that too." The mechanics exchanged glances, and their boss nodded.
"I understand, Miss Leopold. My father knew your grandfather. He was a fan of classic models. What about you? What do you prefer?"
"There's something about classic motorcycles that has incredible charm. I'll admit it. Like that one over there." She pointed, and the man smiled.
"We like people with good taste around here. Especially women. So, Chloe, what exactly are you looking for?"
"Something that's not too big or too powerful, but something solid. Something that can carry two people. Something that's a beast but still stylish...Amm...Something black."
"Wouldn't you rather have something blue? It would suit you." The man pointed toward one of the bikes.
"Look at that color."
"No."
"My best friend is a rebel and a vandal. Black will match anything she decides to paint on it. And it'll suit her."
"Who are you picking this motorcycle for, kid? Yourself or her?"Ask one of the other men.
"For me. She's into more modern things. If she were buying a motorcycle, it'd be bright red to match her hair and her car." Chloe laughed softly.
The men looked at her with slight concern.
"That girl likes making a spectacle?"
"She's the daughter of the biggest drama queen to ever exist. Drama and theatrics are in her blood."
"Red isn't such a bad color. What's her name again?"
"Red." Everyone blinked at Chloe.
"Well... at least they didn't name her Pink." One of the men muttered.
"That's her sister's name." Chloe replied calmly.
"...Would you like to come take a look at a few models?" Sal asked.
The rest of the workers still looked completely stunned.
"Yes."
//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
When Chloe returned to school, it was past 19:00. She was late, but everything was already arranged, and she had even stopped to get Red’s favorite sweets and some sodas. The red-haired girl was lying on her bed, playing with a deck of cards. This was a clear sign of an upcoming scandal.
“Where were you?”
“To the bank. I was fixing my accounts and some other documents. I’m sorry I left without telling you, but there are a lot of things I need to sort out, and those few hours were valuable time. How were classes?”
“Boring. In two different classes they mentioned that you weren’t there, and one idiot asked me where you were.”
“What did you say?”
“That you were having tea with his mother.” Chloe smiled. She slowly took out the sweets and a can.
Then she moved closer to the rebel’s bed. Red’s hair was spread across the blankets like a halo. The Princess of Hearts was so beautiful that the blue-haired girl couldn’t take her eyes off her. Moments this peaceful were rare for Red.
She placed the treats on the nightstand, climbed onto the edge of the mattress, and simply stared at Red’s gentle features.
“What is it, Princess?”
“You’re beautiful like this... calm.” The rebel slowly turned toward the blue-haired girl.
“I’m not calm, Princess. I’m everything except calm.” Chloe smiled and slowly reached out, her hand brushing Red’s cheek.
“And that doesn’t change my statement. You’re beautiful. Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For waiting for me at home. For not yelling at me. For making that gentle, unbothered face. For playing with your cards instead of people’s heads. Thank you for being you. For being here. I love you.”
“I love you more, Princess. So, what are we doing tomorrow?”
“I don’t know. The usual. We’ll try to survive high school and eat the food from the cafeteria.” Red laughed as Chloe pulled her into a hug.
“Okay, but without the seaweed salad.”
“Red, nobody eats that salad.”
“It’s never too late to find legs.”
Chloe laughed, Red and the escaping food.
“You’re right. Let’s drink tea in the morning just in case the world ends.”
“Sounds like a solid plan.”
//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
The first days after the change, her classmates looked at her strangely whenever teachers said her name.
Chloe Grace, just that.
In the hallways, the name “Charming” could still be heard, but she didn’t move whenever she heard it. There had been several incidents after the change, like during Chloe’s first training after the change. The coach called her by the wrong name several times. She didn’t move. Her teammates threw dirty looks at her. But when she heard “Grace” the princess immediately answered.
The change did not stop the looks or the whispers, but it was like an invisible wall. An unspoken boundary. On Wednesday, she received a letter from her grandmother and grandfather. The old man expressed his approval of her choice, and Constantina commented on how beautiful the name sounded.
She called them later, and both of them were happy for her. They talked about school and everything else. Max was glad to hear that his granddaughter had not freed herself from the burden she carried. Constantina insisted on visiting or having Chloe visit them. They did not choose an exact date, but the princess promised she would visit.
The rest of the week passed peacefully, and the weekend was spent sleeping late and dragging Red outside.
On Monday morning, Chloe woke up early, got ready, and ran out of their room before Red even moved from her pillow. At 7:30, she knocked on the headmistress’s door.
“Yes.” The pirate was lying on one of the couches in her office with a hat over her face.
“Do we have a meeting scheduled?”
“No, Headmistress. I came to ask you something.”
“What is it, Char... sorry. What is it, Leopold?”
“Well... tomorrow I’m getting my license. And I was wondering if I could store my vehicle on school grounds?” Uma lifted her hat.
“Unfortunately, we both know that isn’t allowed. And even if it was, the garage is full and there isn’t room for a car.”
“What if it isn’t a car?” The pirate yawned. “Something much smaller.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Tomorrow I’m getting my motorcycle. But the truth is, I haven’t looked for a garage yet, and my family still... well...”
“They don’t know?”
“Yes.” The pirate sighed.
“I’ll see what I can do. When are you getting it?”
“I was thinking of skipping the last morning class, getting my license and my motorcycle during lunch.”
“Chloe, you know skipping class is against the rules?”
“I’m aware of the rules, principal, but for the last 18 years I followed the rules down to the dot, and it brought me here. A day when I am happy that I don’t carry my father’s name.” The pirate stood from the couch.
Uma towered over the girl by a few centimeters. Her face was unreadable.
“I owe you an apology, Chloe. I should have taken things more seriously.”
“It’s not like that. You did what was expected. You warned them, you spoke with them, you punished them, but they just stopped for a while and started again. Even now, after the incident, with all the rumors, some of them continue.”
“I should have taken more measures.”
“You did enough. There was simply nothing else you could do without evidence, without escalation. And even now it continues.”
“If you want, I can...”
“No. They can say whatever they want about Charming. I... I’m not Charming anymore. I’m not the perfect princess. I’m just Chloe. And as horrible as it is, I feel relieved.” Uma nodded with a gentle smile.
“I’m glad to know things are better, Chloe. If anything happens, my door is always open. I’ll arrange everything for tomorrow.”
“Thank you. And could this stay between us?”
“Of course, as long as you’re responsible and ride safely.” Uma placed her hands on her hips to show her seriousness. “If you end up in the hospital, I’m calling your parents.”
“My life just became good. I don’t plan on jumping off the board now.”
“Then everything will be fine. If Miss Hearts won’t burn the school down to the ground.”
“Uma, if I were you, I wouldn’t question Red’s skills. On Saturday she started a fire in the enchanted forest with wood that were enchanted not to burn.” The pirate rubbed her forehead tiredly.
“Alright. Now run to class while I figure out how to protect the king’s favorite place from a magical arsonist.”
“Red doesn’t burn many things outside the kitchen. She’s not an arsonist, she doesn’t have that sparkle in her eyes when she sees fire. She’s more of a vandal.”
Uma sighed. She knew Chloe was right.
“That doesn’t mean precautions shouldn’t be taken. Go find her before she destroys my school.”
“Aye! Aye, Captain.”
A little later, Chloe found Red in the dining hall wearing pajamas and juggling knives. Just another Monday.
///////////////////////////////////////////////////////yamaha xv1900 raider//////////////////////////////
Chloe ran to her room after Uma sent her out of class. She changed into black cargo pants and a thick blue sweater. Then she grabbed her things and rushed toward the entrance, where a driver was waiting to take her.
Chloe first picked up her license, smiling just a little too widely for the picture. The small card felt as if it weighed a whole ton in her palm. Her name beautifully written and the new signature. Then she directed the driver where they needed to go. When the car stopped in front of the shop, Chloe noticed that it had taken them much less time than the first time she came. Draver wished her a nice day and left.
She ran across the street and simply entered the shop. The bell announced her arrival.
“Hey, Leo.” One of the workers called out, polishing a motorcycle.
“Hey. How’s work going?” He smiled slightly.
“Good. The boss is in the garage.”
He pointed toward the door, and she waved at him before running through it.
The large space smelled of oil, a little bit of something burnt, and something sweet. As she crossed the shop, the workers greeted her, and she tried to make light conversation, but everyone answered briefly and guided her with a smile.
When she reached the back part of the shop, she saw the older mechanic fixing a yellow motorcycle.
“Good afternoon.” She greeted. “How are you today?”
Sal stood up and wiped his hands.
“We’re good. Quiet day, mostly routine maintenance. But yesterday an old friend came with a motorcycle that was more like a trash can on wheels. I was honestly surprised it was still running. He asked me to fix his fuel pump because he had a problem, and you know what I told him?”
“What?”
“I agreed. He stayed, and while the boys were fixing the problem, I realized they wouldn’t be able to put the machine back together because the frame itself was barely holding together. He blamed the boys and demanded that I give him a new motorcycle.”
“Seriously? What did you do?”
“I called his wife. She came and dragged him away by the ear. I asked when they would come to pick up the motorcycle, she asked how much I would buy it for, and that’s how I got a nice motorcycle for 600. It’s an old model, limited edition. Do you want to see it?”
“Why not?” Chloe forced a smile onto her face.
Behind her, a quiet laugh could be heard. The man in front of her also smiled guiltily.
“Alright, alright. I’ll stop. We’ve delayed enough. I’m excited too.” He led her to the left, where there was a covered machine.
“To be honest, it became a little heavier than I wanted, but on the other hand, it’s a real beast and it’s a little bigger.”
“How much heavier?”
“The plan was to keep it around 190, but after we talked about Wonderland, I called an old friend to ask for advice. Turns out we could make a hybrid fuel system.”
“Hybrid?”
“Yes. Meaning the beauty can run both on gasoline and fuel from Wonderland.” Chloe’s eyes widened.
“Really?”
“Yes. Also, my colleague sent me some wonderful things. So things went a little beyond the original plan, but I think you’ll like the result.”
“Okay, and what is the wonderland part?”
“Why don’t you see it first, and then I’ll explain?” Leopold immediately nodded.
The man pulled away the cover, and Chloe’s breath stopped.
The motorcycle in front of her was more beautiful than she had imagined. Black and silver together in a true work of art.
The silhouette of the motorcycle was everything she had asked for. The seat slightly extended, wide handlebars, not too high, but not lowered to the tank either. The engine was a true beauty, although it didn’t look exactly like the ones she had seen before.
“Can I touch it?”
“Yes, Chloe. It’s yours.” She slowly approached.
Her fingers gently brushed the cold metal. Her eyes stopped on the details, on the delicately engraved shapes in the metal of the handlebars, on the stitching of the leather seat, but her mouth remained open when she saw the emblem on the engine.
“This is...?” She looked at the mechanics.
“Yes. The Hatter’s mark. I thought you would like it. When my friend mentioned to his colleagues that I was interested in the automobiles from Wonderland, they called the royal scientist. A whole team gathered, they developed it and made it. I received it yesterday.”
“You know that Red, the girl I mentioned... she is the Princess of Hearts.”
“Huh?” The sound came from around Chloe.
Everyone looked surprised. The princess laughed genuinely.
“Don’t worry, the motorcycle is wonderful. It’s perfect, better than I imagined.” Chloe swung her leg over the motorcycle, lifted it upright, kicked the stand away, and gently moved the motorcycle.
The weight wasn’t too much.
“How much does it actually weigh if it’s over 200?”
“212 kilograms. But it’s twice as powerful as planned.”
“Okay. Can I start it?”
“Yes, the key is there. Just turn the safety switch here and turn on the ignition. Then...”
“Throttle, got it.” The girl unlocked the safety switch, turned the key, and turned on the ignition.
When she pressed the start button, the motorcycle beneath her came alive. The sound was surprisingly quiet, but pleasant. She gently made the motorcycle rev. The sound was like a song to her ears. Chloe relaxed her body onto the motorcycle, her torso perfectly fitting the silhouette.
“Incredible. But why is the motorcycle so quiet?”
“Oh, that’s because Wonderland added a silencer. If you look on the left, you’ll see a small lever. Right now it’s up, the motorcycle is quiet. If you push it down, you’ll hear it in all its glory.”
The princess reached out and pushed the lever. Then she gently twisted the throttle. The rev was like thunder. She hadn’t expected that. The men smiled.
The echoing sound made the princess realize what kind of monster she had climbed onto.
She turned the silencer back on.
“Stories.” She killed the engine.
Then she lowered the stand and parked it.
“So, what do you think?”
“The silencer was a good decision.”
“Everyone here agrees.” The owner approached.
“The controls are standard. The special thing is in the gears. Five gears. First one down, the others up. But if you look next to your speed screen, you’ll see there is a second screen. That’s the turbo screen. Tree more gears. You switch to turbo when you’re in fifth gear and press this button.”
He pointed to a button on the right side of the handlebars.
“Once you press this button, you switch to turbo and can shift up to eight. You turn it off by pressing it again. When you deactivate the turbo, it switches back to fifth. I tested the brakes. They aren’t too sharp, like you wanted. On the left, besides the headlight, quiet mode, and a quick-shift button. After pressing it, you only change gears with your foot. The small button below is for hiding the license plate, but you don’t know about that. We have a phone holder, of course. Stylishly integrated so it doesn’t stand out. At the back there is space for a removable bag. The pins are positioned underneath the frame. I think those are the main things. Everything else is like the standard models. Questions?"
“When will I be able to take it?”
“When you pay.” Sal said with a smile. “All the documents are ready, it’s already in your name and everything. Just like we agreed.”
“Great. Who do I pay? I can’t wait to ride it.” Everyone smiled.
“Come on.” Chloe followed the man into a small office. He handed her a blue folder. “Everything is here. Look at the documents first. The bill after.”
“Okay.” She sat down and looked through the motorcycle documents.
The truth was that the motorcycle was much more powerful than she had planned, but the lightweight parts and the other specifications were advantages she couldn’t deny. This was a true beast, elegant and beautiful. When she reached the bill, she expected a very large number, but she was pleasantly surprised.
“Okay. Can you add…”
“All the accessories are included. A leather bag, a helmet, and anything else you can think of. Everything is in the bill.”
“Okay. I’ll call the bank for the transfer.” She took out her phone.
“Are you sure? This amount is…”
“I wanted a good motorcycle, this is the price. I’ve been saving for years. I mostly buy equipment, shoes, and clothes. This is the first big thing I’m buying for myself. And didn’t you see it? It’s beautiful.”
“Thank you. We all put effort into it. Here is the account for the transfer.” She called the bank.
The transfer and signing all the documents took 15 minutes. When they returned to the motorcycle, the mechanics had gathered around a nearby table.
“We’re ready.” The man said.
“So are we, boss.” One of the boys called out.
The group turned toward them, and Chloe saw that they were carrying a leather bag.
“Here is almost everything. Do you want us to put the bag on?”
“Of course. I want to see how it works.”
“Got it, Leo.” The mechanics guided her through every step of securing it.
When the bag was properly placed, the mechanics gave Chloe their final gift.
“And yes, that’s it. The baby is ready for the road. Only you are left.” One of them pointed at her.
“Me?”
“Yes. Here.” The boss handed her a large black leather jacket.
“What is this?”
“A jacket. It will protect you from the cold, but also from falls.” The man nodded. “It’s tradition. We always give a jacket for the first motorcycle. Inside there are patches from the shop. A reminder that our door is always open if you have questions.”
Chloe put on the jacket, and it fit her perfectly. It was slightly loose around her body, but she liked that, and the sleeves were exactly the right length.
“Thank you.” She said after adjusting the collar. “Thank you for everything.”
“No problem, Leo.”
“It was a pleasure.”
“There is more.” A boy named Zack handed her a completely black helmet. “For you.”
Chloe quickly tied her hair into a bun and took it, but before she could put it on, another worker rushed over.
“Wait! Don’t forget this.” He was holding a second helmet in burgundy. “For your crazy friend.”
The men laughed. Chloe laughed too. Red would like the color.
“Guys! You didn’t have to.”
“Actually, we did. We don’t want anyone getting hurt.” He handed her the helmet, and it was placed inside the leather bag.
Chloe put on her helmet, adjusted it, and lifted the visor. She gracefully got on the motorcycle and straightened it.
“Don’t rush to run with the beauty before you get used to the brakes.” She nodded while inserting the key.
The motorcycle came alive with a quiet rev. The mechanics whistled. She laughed softly at them while getting comfortable and slowly shifting into first gear. The garage opened in front of her.
“Come on, let’s hear the beauty, Leo!” A voice called out.
“Yes.”
“Come on.” The motorcycle roared, and the princess smiled inside her helmet.
The men whistled and clapped.
“Bye!” She shouted as the motorcycle began moving.
“Enjoy the ride!” She heard behind her.
Chloe slowly went out onto the street, looking around, then stopped, stretched, pushed the lever, and the motorcycle roared beneath her. Then she turned on the silencer and left, knowing the boys were shouting behind her even louder.
She moved through the city slowly, without rushing. She took her time getting used to the machine beneath her. The balance and everything else.
She stopped at a traffic light and sat upright. She stretched while waiting and looked around. Two girls immediately caught her attention. They were looking at her, and she knew them. They were a year younger than her, from school. One of them took out her phone, and Chloe immediately pressed the button to raise her license plate and made an illegal turn to get away. She didn’t want anyone taking pictures of her, at least not yet.
The rest of the way to the school was calm. She dared to speed up a little once she left the city and briefly accelerated into fourth gear, just to feel the gears and how the motorcycle behaved.
When she approached the high school, she slowed down to 20 kilometers per hour. Then she stopped at the gate. The security guard looked at the motorcycle strangely.
“What is the reason for your visit?”
“I’m coming for class. I’m a little late, the principal knows.” The princess waved kindly.
The guard’s face was confused, but he used his radio. Soon Chloe entered the school grounds and stopped in the courtyard, waiting for Uma.
But she quickly realized she had made a mistake.
She saw a group of students walking through the courtyard. When they saw her, they stopped in place, and then one boy ran somewhere. Soon others came running, and Chloe realized that lunch was not over yet.
The captain of the Tourney team confidently approached her.
“Hey, bro. What’s going on? Who are you?” Chloe simply put her hands into her pockets so they wouldn’t see she was a girl and shrugged. “Are you from here? Where did you get this baby?”
But Chloe stopped listening when she saw Red sitting in the crown of a tree. Completely dressed in leather, as usual. One part of Chloe wanted to wave at her or take off her helmet and see her face, but the rational part knew she wasn’t ready. Not yet.
“Hey! Oysters, get to class. You, come here.” The pirate shouted and pointed.
Chloe started the motorcycle and slowly rolled away, making sure the motorcycle stayed quiet. She didn’t want to annoy Uma any more. They moved away from the main building, and the pirate pointed toward one of the smaller buildings on the side.
“Second garage from the forest side. The code is 2121.” Chloe nodded and drove away.
She followed the road to the garages and stopped in front of the second one closest to the trees. She turned off the motorcycle and got off. She left it standing while she entered the code. As soon as the door lifted, an aquamarine-colored car was revealed inside.
Chloe slowly rolled the motorcycle in and positioned it to the side, without taking much space, and so it couldn’t be seen unless someone entered the garage. She removed her helmet.
Then she put down the kickstand, took out the key, turned the safety switch, and slowly removed the bag from the back. She checked the ignition once more, as well as the safety switch. She placed the helmet inside the bag and put the key into one of the inner pockets of her leather jacket.
When she turned to leave, she saw a folded cover on a nearby bench. She shrugged, left the bag, and covered the motorcycle.
Chloe adjusted everything, took off the jacket, and packed it into the bag. She went outside and closed the garage.
As she was walking back toward the school, Uma was coming her way. Chloe stopped to wait for her.
“Is everything alright?”
“Yes. I covered it. I don’t know...”
“Yes, I was the one who left for you. And where are you going with the bag and the helmet?”
“These are things for the motorcycle and some documents. I was going to leave them in my room.”
“You wanted it to be a secret?” The princess nodded. “Give me those things. Take only the documents. I’ll put everything in the garage. I don’t really use it anyway, the car is just there. All the cabinets are empty. I’ll put them in the bottom right one?”
“Okay. Thank you, Uma.”
“No problem. It is a nice choice.” She simply said before continuing on her way.
Chloe only smiled and hurried back to their room. But the smile never left her face. Uma liked the motorcycle.
That evening, after she returned from training, Red was napping on her bed. The princess quickly went through the bathroom, changed into her pajamas, took a red blanket from Red’s bed, and lay down next to the rebel. She covered both of them with the soft blanket. Red shifted and moved closer to the princess. The blue-haired girl slowly wrapped an arm around the middle of the heir, careful not to disturb her too much. The peaceful features of the wild girl brought another smile to Chloe’s face. She gently moved closer to Red, her lips softly touching Red’s forehead.
“Princess?” The rebel mumbled as she adjusted herself.
Soon after, the princess drifted off as well. Truly calm and happy for the first time in a long while. She knew she was exactly where she was meant to be.