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If you were to ask Princess Magnolia ‘Pink’ of Hearts if she was upset, she would tell you without hesitation that yes, she was.
Yes, Wonderland was saved.
Yes, all of her friends were unharmed.
But, one thing lingered on her mind.
Pink didn’t understand why Red had been shutting her out lately. Why every attempt at a conversation was met with a sharp remark, a roll of the eyes, or a door closing before Pink could even finish speaking. They had always been different, that much was true. Red was fire and fury, a storm that refused to be tamed to be gentle. Pink was more with patience and grace, the kind of princess who believed every problem could be solved with a little kindness (and maybe a sweet treat.)
But lately, kindness wasn’t reaching her sister.
She doesn’t understand why Red is closing her off these days, she supposed because she was her older sister and naturally was loved more. But her mother wasn’t like that, she loved them both equally or so she thought. Pink had been close to her sister when they were younger, always chasing each other through the castle halls or sneaking treats from dessert tables when they thought no one was looking.
When they were younger, Pink and Red had been inseparable, Red had always been the brave one, the protective one, the sister who stood between Pink and anything that tried to hurt her.
Pink loved that about her, always being the one to put herself between her and what she cared about.
Pink didn’t want to compete with her sister. She didn’t want to be the favorite, the perfect princess, or the daughter who had to be as sweet as her mother was in high school. She just wanted her sister back, Pink had always looked up to her big sister and still does despite her cold heart towards her.
She doesn’t want to think about how her Mother had possibly called for Red first during her capture. Or when her Mother’s attention had fallen on Red after she was saved.
“Princess,” Pink turned to find Chessy sitting nearby, her familiar sly grin stretched across her face, with her shimmering tail flickering lazily about. “I believe your treats are ready.”
Pink blinked, pulled from her thoughts, her gaze shifted toward the oven, where the warmth of the oven enveloped the kitchen. Inside were the treats she had spent the night making, the very ones Red always loved.
“Oh…”
The realization snapped her out of her haze, the heat from the oven greeted her face, mixing with the dampness of tears she hadn’t even realized she had shed.
Pink quickly wiped them away, offering the Cheshire Cat a wide and grateful smile.
“Thank you oh-so much, Cheshire!”
Pink carefully pulled the tray from the oven, resting upon the parchment were dozens of little jam drops, each one delicately shaped into tiny hearts (obviously!)
Red’s favorites.
Pink had remembered, of course, even when Red forgot to say good morning, or when she walked past Pink in the halls as if she were a stranger, (orrrrr) when every attempt to reach her sister ended with another wall being built between them.
Pink still remembered the little things.
The way Red preferred strawberry jam over raspberry, the way she always took the tip of her fingers in the jam and decided if it was good or not. Pink found it silly that Red pretended she didn’t have a sweet tooth, despite being the one who would sneak into the kitchens after midnight looking for leftover desserts.
A small smile tugged on Pink’s lips.
She placed the jam drops carefully onto a little plate, making sure the heart shapes remained perfect. With a skip in her step, Pink left the kitchen, carrying the treats through the winding halls of the castle.
The halls of Wonderland were as strange as ever, its complexity designed for intruders but easy for the people of Wonderland were easily able to find their heart’s way out of any given maze!
At last, Pink reached the door to Red’s room, holding the plate close to her chest.
For a moment, Pink hesitated.
What if Red didn’t want to see her?
What if she pushed her away again?
The thought made her heart ache, but Pink took a quiet breath and reminded herself of something she had always believed.
A heart was meant to be offered, even when it was fragile.
So, with a gentle smile, she raised her hand and knocked.
“Red?” she called softly. “I brought you something.”
Pink was still met with silence.
Pink looked down at the little heart-shaped jam drops, their glossy centers shining like tiny jewels.
“I made your favorites.” She sing-songed, hoping that would be her key inside.
Pink waited a few moments more, waving to passing servants or guards.
“What are you doing here, Pink?”
The sudden voice made Pink jump.
She spun around to find Red approaching her bedroom, Red was a few feet down the hallway.
“It’s late.”
Pink's smile is wider anyway. “I know!” she chirped, lifting the plate outward. “But I made your favorite!”
Red's eyes flickered to them for only a second before looking away. “You didn't have to do that.”
“I wanted to.” Pink rocked gently on her heels, still holding out the plate with both hands.
She squealed in excitement when Red pushed past her to open her bedroom door, inviting her in.
“You really need to stop doing that.” Red glares at Pink over her shoulder, “I thought you’d be in bed by now considering we’d be heading back to school soon.”
“I know” Pink sighs wishfully, skipping over to place the plate of treats on Red’s nightstand. “Everything is back to normal now, mom is home and everyone is happy.”
“You can’t guarantee that everyone’s happy.”
Red scoffed as she rummaged through her wardrobe, pulling out a fresh change of clothes before disappearing into the bathroom.
“You can't just live in this fantasy where everyone gets a happy ending,” she called through the closed door. “That's not how Wonderland works.”
Pink was almost certain she could hear the smug smile in Red's voice.
She let out a dramatic sigh and flopped backward onto her sister's bed, staring up at the hearts on the ceiling overhead.
“Maybe not,” she admitted. “But that doesn’t mean I have to stop hoping.”
“Hope doesn't fix anything,” Red replied, her voice muffled by the bathroom door.
“No,” Pink agreed softly, “But, people do.” Pink smiled to herself.
“And if people can fix things” she continued, swinging her legs lazily over the edge of the bed, “then sisters definitely can.”
Then Red’s exasperated groan echoed through the room. “You’re impossible.”
Pink giggled, leaning over to open the vanity drawer. After rummaging around for a moment, she held up a familiar heart-shaped hairbrush. “Wonderland is known for the impossible becoming possible.”
The bathroom door creaked open as Red stepped out in a pair of dark crimson pajamas, her curls still slightly damp from washing her face. She shot Pink an utterly unamused look.
Pink’s smile didn't falter not one bit as she scooted over, patting the space beside her on the bed. “C'mon,” she said gently. “Let me brush your hair. Like we used to.”
Red crossed her arms. “We’re not six anymore.”
“No.” Pink said longingly. “We’re not.”
She lowered the brush into her lap, her fingers tracing the heart outline carved into the back of it.
“I just...” she murmured. “I miss when this made you feel better.”
Red’s gaze lingered on the brush.
It was the same one Pink had always insisted on using. The same one she’d stolen from their mother’s bedroom years ago because she’d declared it was “perfect for princesses.” The Queen of Hearts had pretended to be furious when she found out.
Pink (almost) bounced where she sat as Red begrudgingly crossed the room and flopped on the bed with a theatrical sigh. “Fine,” she grumbled. “Five minutes…”
Pink gasped as her eyes lit up, Red swore she could see little hearts in her eyes. “Really?”
“Don’t make me change my mind, Mags.”
“I won’t!”
Pink swatted Red’s arm at the childish nickname bestowed upon her. “Rosalyn Rose!”
She dropped the brush on the bed as she pouted at the laughter from the latter. “Oh, don't laugh!”
“I can't help it.” Red smirked. “You make the funniest face every time.”
“It’s not funny.”
“It is.”
Pink huffed, picking up the brush and began to comb through the crimson curls. “It isn't.”
“It absolutely is.”
Pink tried to hold onto her displeasure, but the corners of her mouth betrayed her, letting out a small giggle.
“There it is,” Red teased. “I knew you couldn't stay mad.”
“I can too!”
“For what? Thirty seconds?”
“A whole minute!” Pink groaned softly. “Or an hour.”
Red snorted. “Generous.”
Pink stuck out her tongue, though Red wouldn’t see it.
“You're mean.”
“And yet,” Red replied, reaching over to ruffle Pink’s hair, “you came all this way just to make me cookies and brush my hair.”
Pink gently moved her hand away, “Okay then, Rosie.” She mocked, knowing Red disliked that nickname.
Red picked up a soft pillow, hitting Pink’s side. “Oh you wanna fight now?”
Pink gawked at her sister as she dropped the brush, grabbing a smaller pillow to defend herself. “Really? A pillow fight.”
“You’re two years older than me, you’re supposed to be a role model for me!” Pink blurted, striking Red’s arm squealing in excitement.
“Says who?”
“Mom does!” Pink shot back, hitting Red square in the torso.
Red barked out a laugh. “Mom also says not to run in the halls.”
Pink whined. “…That doesn't count.”
Red snickered, “It definitely counts.” She hits Pink on the head with the pillow. “It only counts if she catches us.”
She swung her pillow anyway, earning a surprised laugh from Red as it bounced harmlessly off of her arm. Red darted off the bed with a laugh, narrowly avoiding the pillow as Pink chased after her.
“Get back here, Rosie!”
“Never!”
Pink took one more determined step, and her sock slipped against the polished floor.
With an undignified squeak, she tumbled forward, landing on the plush carpet with a soft thump.
The laughter died instantly.
A sniffle grabs her attention as she falls to her knees, gathering her sister in her arms, checking to make sure she has no injuries while gently helping Pink sit up.
“Hey hey,” Red panics, without thinking, Red brushes away the tears beginning to gather at the corners of Pink’s eyes. “Pink, c’mon calm down.”
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean for you to–” Red tenses up when Pink wraps her arms around her. “Pink?”
“I missed you, I missed this!” Pink admitted, crying into Red’s shoulder. “I miss us Rosie, you have so many friends and here I am, I feel so alone and–!” She hiccups.
“And sometimes...” Pink whispered, “it feels like you forget about me.”
Pink buried her face deeper into Red’s shoulder. “I just wanted my big sister back.”
After a long moment, Pink reluctantly pulled away. Her vision was blurred by tears as she wiped at her cheeks with the sleeve of her pajamas.
“I know these past few days have been so… eventful and I feel selfish, you have a future ahead of you and don’t need to worry about me all the time.”
She fiddled with the heart buttons of her pj’s. “You’ll be queen one day and like always I’ll be in your shadow.”
Red rubbed her shoulder, pulling her sister closer, now side by side. “I don’t want to be queen one day Maggie,”
Pink looked up. “You don’t?”
Red leaned her head on top of Pink’s, letting out a humorless laugh. “I want my own life, I know it doesn’t seem that way and I’m new to this whole ‘looking up to a perfect princess thing’ and honestly—”
Red squeezes their hands together. “I know it probably doesn’t seem that way. I know I’ve been awful lately, and I’m still trying to figure out... all of this.” She gestured vaguely between them.
“And I’m struggling to find my place here in Wonderland and Auradon...” Red sighed, biting her lip, “I wish I were you sometimes.”
Pink blinked in surprise. “Me?”
Red nodded. “You.”
“You wake up every morning and somehow find something to smile about. You talk to everyone like they’re worth knowing. You see the good in everyone.”
A small smile tugged at the corner of her mouth. “I wish I could look at the world the way you do.”
Pink's lips parted, speechless.
“I've spent so much time looking through you,” Red continued quietly, “that I never realized you were looking at me, just wanting me to help and guide you.”
She gave Pink’s hand a gentle squeeze, Red glanced sideways at her sister. “I have the most ridiculous little sister in all of Wonderland.”
Pink frowned, her brows furrowed. “Hey!” she crossed her arms with a dramatic huff, “I don't like where this conversation is going.”
Red chuckled, rolling her eyes. “But...” she said, her teasing fading into something more earnest, “she’s also the coolest person I know.”
“And she’s the joy in my life.” Red smiled softly, “I never thought I’d be lucky enough to have a little sister like her.”
Pink didn’t speak another word, only launching herself back into her sister’s arms. Red didn’t pull away this time, only tightening her grasp on her little sister.
“You’re also the coolest older sister I could ever have Rosie,” Pink added. “I love you, Rosalyn.”
“I love you too, Mags.” Red reassured her, though the words seemed strange to her. Red pulled away from her sister with a comforting smile, Pink watched her sister reached over and grab the platter of jam drops.
Red handed one to her sister, sitting beside her once more. “Now how about these treats?”