Chapter 1: Rosalind White
Chapter Text
Silence… Dianna had awoken in the hospital in almost total silence. The birth of her daughter was exhausting and both physically and emotionally taxing.Her husband Jason had left to make the announcement to the kingdom, so Dianna had decided to get some beauty rest after the doctor said they would clean and monitor the baby before returning her to the room. The labor had taken hours and had been just as grueling as the rest of her pregnancy. Despite the image Dianna had tried to portray to the people of the white kingdom of the beautiful graceful young queen, whose pregnancy was just as much of a blessing as she was, it had been hellish. Unstoppable morning sickness, debilitating cramps, and dramatic hormone shifts.
The royal physician had informed her that it was an extremely high risk pregnancy and had ordered her to bed rest for the entirety of her pregnancy, even moving to a room next to hers during the later months of her pregnancy to monitor and care for her.This had all led Dianna to give birth at a hospital rather than at her castle like most other Snow White’s, but she was willing to suffer through mingling with the, ugh.. common folk, if it meant that her heir had the best chance of survival. What's worse is that the Evil Queen, ugh Mariana , had gone into labor on the same day, and had given birth to TWINS. Twin girls from all of the whooping and hollering she had heard from King Liam. Dianna scoffed, ‘she’s always trying to upstage me, it'd be cute if it wasn’t so annoying . Due to the risk of giving birth to twins carries, Mariana also gave birth in the hospital and was even placed in the room across the hall from Dianna.
Dianna still felt a bit weak but tried to shake it off a bit, she had to be rushed into emergency surgery immediately after the birth due to the blood loss, but she was happy that she finally had her child. A beautiful baby girl to carry on the Snow White legacy. However, she was a bit nervous, the doctor’s had informed her that her little snowflake was having breathing problems and required some extra medical support, but was doing well. They had also broken the news that the birth had been so traumatic to her body that she physically couldn’t have any more children, and that even if she managed to get pregnant that her and or the baby would most likely perish.
Dianna shook off her nerves and brushed back her long ebony hair, she had her heir so she wouldn’t need to have anymore children, although having a spare or two would do well to boost her and the white kingdom’s image, at least she wouldn’t have to worry about her figure getting destroyed with another pregnancy. Straightening up Dianna slowly began to stand and got ready to see the fruit of her labor, then she peered into the crib.
The baby was beautiful, just as beautiful as her mother, she didn’t have any hair yet but she was sure that it would be just as ebony as hers, and she was so pale… a little too pale. Dianna looked closer, no movement. Worried she reached out and touched the baby, her baby, and they were cold. Horror, grief, panic, and cold, that was all Dianna was able to feel in that moment. She picked up her baby and tried to warm her up, get them to cry, cough, breath, anything. But it was no use. Her daughter, her one and only daughter was gone, and she hadn’t even gotten to properly meet or even see her.
Dianna broke down into silent tears. Seconds, minutes, hours; any amount of time could have passed and Dianna wouldn’t have been able to tell the difference. All she could do was mourn what she had lost and what she never got to have. Then came the emptiness, Dianna had cried, and cried, and cried until there was nothing left. She had revealed herself in her most vulnerable state possible, bearing her heart to her baby and an empty room, and afterwards…she just felt nothing. After the emptiness, the panic returned. What was she going to do, what was she going to tell Jason, tell the kingdom?! The heir to the kingdom had died less than 3 ft away from her and she had been asleep! The kingdom would become a laughing stock, SHE would become a laughing stock,a pariah! Although the White kingdom was already the butt of many jokes if the rumors she heard were to be believed. Some distant cousin or other would get the crown, could even become the next Snow White. Next came the anger, it would be shameful! Some obscure ill-bred member from a branch family swooping in to drive the kingdom into the ground, steal the Snow White legacy, HER legacy, it was unthinkable!
Then Dianna heard noise, the sound of a baby, the sound of hope. Dianna looked down at her dear baby, her snowflake, her rosebud; but she was still as silent and unmoving as the room around her. Confused, Dianna looked around and realized that the sound was coming from Mariana’s room. Immediately her last sliver of hope died, and was replaced by anger, indignant rage to be more appropriate. It just wasn’t fair, how DARE SHE! Dianna suffers through NINE excruciating months of pregnancy, 18 hours of torturous labor, only to have her rosebud die on her. While Mariana goes through her pregnancy and labor like a swan through water and gets to have not one but TWO perfectly healthy baby girls!
Dianna was moving forward without even thinking about it and entered Mariana’s room. She looked over at Mariana, fast asleep, then Dianna turned and looked down to the cribs. Two cribs labeled Queen 1 and Queen 2, two beautiful, healthy baby girls who had woken up and were moving within their cribs. Both babies were pale as snow but looking at the second one Dianna noticed a strong natural blush on the babies cheeks. ‘It’s typically the first born that takes over their parents' role’ Dianna thought. Then out of nowhere a wicked thought entered Dianna’s head, ‘you can make this right! Mariana doesn’t need nor would she care about her spare, and you’ll be able to keep the White kingdom and Snow White legacy pure and strong! Especially considering that, despite their wickedness, the Queen lines had a higher standard of breeding than any branch family would have. You’ll get to have your baby!’ Dianna paused, could she do this? Dianna looked down at her baby, then to the second crib. ‘I’d be saving a child from a wicked mother and they get to be heir to the Snow White legacy. It'd correct destiny’s mistake of taking my baby,’ her decision was made.
Dianna looked down to her baby, her rosebud, her Rosalind. Dianna paused and once again shed a few tears, she hadn’t decided what she was going to name her baby and now that she was looking at her, really looking at her, she looked like a Rosalind. Dianna straightened up and allowed herself one last moment of weakness and vulnerability and gave her Rosalind one last hug, placed one tender kiss on her forehead. ‘Good-bye… I’ll always love you, and I’ll make sure that your Snow White role is carried out just as you would have done it,’ this was the last thought Dianna sent to her baby before she steeled herself and straightened up once again. Dianna took the few necessary steps forward and reached into the second crib… and placed Rosalind inside, then Dianna took the second Queen baby into her arms and gave her a once over, ‘She’ll make a fitting Snow White, and with my love and guidance I can help her grow into the perfect princess,’ she thought then nodded as if to reassure herself that she made the correct choice.
Dianna quickly looked over to Mariana then scoffed ‘still asleep,’ Dianna slowly began to back out of the room keeping her eyes on the evil queen as if to assure that she wouldn’t wake up. Dianna came to the doorway, looked into the hall and saw that no one was passing through, she sent one last longing glance to her daughter, her Rosalind, then quickly retreated back into her room. Dianna sat in her bed rocking her new child in her arms to settle her down, then the girl began to cry. A young kind looking nurse quickly came to the room and paused at the entryway, then called out to Dianna happily, “Hello your majesty, sounds like it’s time to feed your baby! Would you like any assistance?”
Dianna nodded and the nurse strode over and instructed Dianna through the motions. After the baby began feeding Dianna looked up at the nurse and asked her “The umbilical cord and placenta were stored, correct?” the nurse, Marie her name tag read, nodded her head and replied “Yes, the royal physician informed us that the cord and placenta were to be saved as part of tradition for a royal birth,” “Good, you’ve done your job well, you may take your leave,” “I’m honored to serve your majesty, good night.” Marie curtsied then left the room. After Marie’s departure Dianna let out a relieved sigh, she’d have a proper memento for her dear Rosalind, then turned her thoughts back to the child in her arms “Now, what am I to call you little one?” Dianna watched the baby’s face and couldn’t help but focusing on her chubby flushed cheeks. “It’s like you have apples for cheeks little one,” Dianna spoke fondly to her new daughter, and drifted off into thought for her and the child’s future, her legacy, her Rosalind.”
In the morning, all news channels across the realms reported the elation of Queen Dianna White and King Jason Valiant-White, and announced the name of their new bouncing baby girl, Apple Rosella White, and the Kingdom rejoiced at the birth of the next Snow White. At the same time the Kingdom of Benecel, home of the Good King Liam and Queen Mariana reported the birth of Raven Morticia Queen and the unfortunate passing of Owlette Vampira Queen, announcing a day of celebration and a day of mourning to honor the two princesses. Although the Evil Queen was feared by all for her wickedness, the members of the realm, especially the mothers, couldn’t help but feel sympathy and grief for Queen Mariana, and the young princess whose life had been cut so short. Watching the news and rocking her Apple, Dianna couldn’t help but feel a small twinge of remorse and grief, especially when hearing the name of “Mariana’s” deceased child. Dianna looked down at Apple then spoke, “I’ll give you as much love as I would have given her,” she whispered, “...and I’m going to make sure that you are the perfect Snow White.”
Chapter 2: Raven Chick
Summary:
An insight into Raven's childhood growing up as the daughter of the Evil Queen
Chapter Text
Raven's childhood had been…difficult. She couldn't recall much of her mother, as she had been put in the mirror dimension when Raven was 5. Even years later, she remembered the scent of her perfume, which smelled like midnight air, and the smile her deep berry-painted lips gave her when she called Raven' her little black bird'. Raven was raised by her father King Liam, one of the 'Good King' roles from the StoryBook of Legends.
Liam is both a kind and effective king, and a wonderful father who forever dotes on his beloved daughter and truly loved his dear wife, Mariana. Liam hated what fate and some people had twisted his beloved wife into, especially when he remembered what she was like in the past.
Mariana had become truly horrible and was imprisoned in the Mirror Dimension after her siege on Wonderland. The entire realm of Ever After was terrified of the Evil Queen, and that fear carried over to her daughter. Inside the Benecel castle Raven was their darling princess, whose endless kindness was cherished by the staff and her caregivers; her smile was a gift that she bestowed upon them freely and often. Once she stepped foot outside the castle grounds, Raven became the future Evil Queen, the demon spawn who was destined to use her magic for evil.
It was hard for Raven to have relationships outside of her family, considering she wasn't accepted anywhere. Everyone forgot that Raven was a child who hadn't ever had an evil thought. The other fairy tale children feared her, the subjects ran from her, and the heroes and some royals taunted and teased her about her future life of crime. Raven couldn't find acceptance from villain kids either since Raven never wanted to be mean or pull pranks on the good kids. It didn't help her image that whenever Raven tried to do something nice with her magic, it ended up acting out and screwing it up.
However, Raven's kind heart won her friendship with Madeline Hatter and Cerise Hood. The two girls had seen how good Raven was and weren't swayed by the rumors of her supposed evil nature. Maddie and Cerise had welcomed Raven with open arms, and the three quickly became inseparable. Even when Raven was withdrawn from school by her father who was furious at the students' treatment of his daughter, and the staff's perpetuation of that treatment, and educated through castle schooling.
Raven's grades began to markedly improve once she began castle schooling since she no longer had to deal with the other kids' bullying and the prejudiced teachers. The tutors were shocked by Raven's intelligence. Her math tests, aced. Her book reports, above and beyond expectations. Her piano lessons had progressed to the advanced skill level by age 10, and later learning guitar and progressing at the same rapid rate. Young Raven had a thirst for knowledge of the outside world since her father had done his best to try to shelter her from others' cruelty by keeping her close to home. Many days Raven would go with Liam to work, watching him hold court and meet with his advisors, and began to pick up the ways of a good ruler. Raven was Daddy's Little Girl, and the two loved each other deeply. Liam was so incredibly proud of what a fantastic person his little chickadee had grown into, and Raven sincerely appreciated his respect and acceptance of her; he never feared nor pushed her to fulfill her supposed destiny as the next Evil Queen. Liam never got to spend time with their Owlette, so he had promised to give Raven enough love for the both of them; then when his Mariana was sent away, he vowed to give double the love to his chickadee. Although Raven didn't get to grow up with her sister, she wondered what she would have been like, and what kind of destiny they could have made together.
Raven soon grew from a sweet, smart, charming young girl into a kind, intelligent, and capable young woman, and when the time for high school came Raven decided to spread her wings and fledge from the nest and experience all that Ever After had to offer, taking the good with the bad. Liam of course, supported his daughter, although admittedly, he was nervous about how she would be treated, especially by the headmaster Milton Grimm and the other royal children.
However, if Raven made a well-thought-out decision to further herself, Liam felt his job as her father was to support her and help her fly. The two were incredibly close, and Raven finally leaving castle schooling and going to Ever After High wouldn't change that. Liam would never stop supporting his daughter, and he wouldn't let anyone force her into fulfilling some wicked destiny, not how they forced his Mariana into the wicked witch she had become. Raven was going to soar, and Liam would do everything in his power to keep fate from clipping his baby's wings the same way they had clipped his Mariana's and his Owlette's.
Chapter 3: Apple Blossom
Summary:
A brief glance into Apple's childhood before we get into their lives at EAH
Chapter Text
Apple's childhood had been…different, or at least different from what her subjects thought her life was. Of course, that's not to say it was terrible, but the commoners tend to think that royal life is all parties, dresses, and tiaras. However, Apple knows true royals are much more than such base parts of royal life.
Royals have so many responsibilities; they have to ensure the safety of their subjects, deal with the villainous scum and creatures plaguing their kingdoms, manage the economy, and country relations, have a perfect image, and so much more! Yes, parties and dresses are fun, and her BFFAs Ashlynn and Briar knew how much she loved to shop, but that doesn't help royals get any closer to their destinies. Except for assisting Apple in getting supplies to help her stay fairest, of course!
Being a royal is much more complicated than outsiders could possibly understand. Apple had a lot of work to do if she wanted to get her perfect happily ever after, and her work started when she was young . Apple began learning perfect poise and posture when she started to walk, learned how to speak 5 languages by the time she was 10, and Dianna had taught her about being a perfect princess, a perfect Snow White, practically since she was born . Apple scored hexcellent grades and was friends with all of her fellow royal and fairy tale children. She didn't even mind when her volunteer work brought her closer to the commoners!
And Apple was practically spoiled rotten with every step she took towards perfection! Apple was doted on by her darling mother and father, and she loved them back just as fervently. Dianna and Jason wanted nothing but the best for their daughter. After all, she was the next Snow White, heir to the White kingdom. Why should their daughter have to settle for second fiddle when Apple would be the leader and icon for the next generation of fairy tale characters!
Sure, there had been a bit of concern, considering that there had never been a blonde Snow White before, but she looked just like the perfect Snow White in every other aspect! Skin as pale as snow, blood-red lips, rose-red cheeks; what did it matter that her hair color was the polar opposite of ebony. Dianna always made sure that Apple knew the importance of being the perfect Snow White, and although her hair was…less than ideal, she would just have to work a bit harder to prove she would be the perfect future Snow White despite her flaw .
Apple was the apple of her parents and her kingdom's eyes, and even the subjects of other countries knew about the darling heiress to the Snow White destiny. She had grown into such a fair young woman and had been molded into the perfect princess and damsel, and now, Apple was ready to trace her roots back to Ever After High.
It's at Ever After High where Apple's life would really begin. The institution's halls had housed so many generations of fairy tale characters, of previous rulers growing into their destinies and fulfilling their roles in their stories. As a bonus Apple would even be able to spend more time with her future Prince Charming, Daring ❤️️. At Ever After High, Apple would, finally, officially receive her destiny as the next Snow White and sign her name in the StoryBook of Legends!
Apple was so excited to finally begin her destiny that she had pulled some strings with Headmaster Grimm to ensure that she would be roommates with her Evil Queen! Apple had heard Raven was a bit nervous about signing the book, but she was sure it was just stage fright! If Raven and her were in the same room, it would be so easy for her to help Raven fulfill her evil destiny!
Apple was so hextatic to fulfill her role and she felt so blessed to have such a caring mother to have supported her. Dianna was always willing to correct Apple when she made a mistake, always there to guide her into making sure she appeared and acted like a proper damsel princess, and make sure that she knew how important it was to be a perfect Snow White and protect the perfect Snow White image.
The stares Dianna sometimes gave Apple that she couldn't quite read, well, Apple knew that her mother loved her and her gaze must be one of love. And Dianna did love Apple, she was her daughter, she had raised her through her entire life. And if Dianna secretly stared at Apple and wondered what her Rosalind would look like and what she'd be doing at this age, well, she had enough love for Dianna to care for both and be proud of the perfect Snow White her new daughter was becoming. And if some of those stares held the tiniest twinge of fear and doubt over whether Apple would really become the next Snow White, they didn't exist. Because Apple Rosella White was the only daughter of the current Snow White, Dianna White, and who else would become Snow White other than the person who had been raised from birth for it!
Chapter 4: Raven's Reflections
Summary:
A bit of perspective into Raven's time at EAH
Notes:
Thank you so much for the Kudos and views! This is my first major story and I appreciate all of them. Please feal free to comment with criticism or thoughts. I hope you all have lovely days, take care and stay safe!
Chapter Text
After spending a year at Ever After High, Raven felt that her overall experience had been more positive than negative. Granted, there were a lot of villainy classes Raven had been forced to take. She constantly had to put up with the school-wide chatter about how evil she was and what she might do to them. Still, the food was good, and Raven was able to spend more time with her BFFAs Maddie and Cerise. She even expanded her friend group to include Cedar Wood and the other Wonderlandian children. Raven had felt touched that they hadn't judged her for her 'destiny' or the fact that her mother had taken over and cursed Wonderland.
Raven knew her second year at EAH would be even more complex than the last, because now it was time for her class to sign their pages in the StoryBook of Legends. Raven looked forward to learning new things and having more fun with her friends. However, she also knew that she would face a lot of fear, hatred, and criticism, both for her status as the Evil Queen's daughter, her destiny as the next Evil Queen, and for the fact that… Raven wasn't sure if she would sign the StoryBook of Legends.
After all of the damage her mother had done, the people she had hurt, and all of the fear and hatred spread by her destiny Raven knew that she didn't want to be the next Evil Queen. She didn't even want to be the next Evil Wicked Step-Mother! Raven hadn't ever wanted to do something mean or nasty to anyone; she never sought revenge on others, even after they tried to pick fights with her. All she wanted was to live her life in peace and have the freedom to write her own story.
Suffice it to say, Raven wasn't expecting or happy over the fact that she was now rooming with Apple White, rather than Maddie as she had the year prior. It wasn't that Raven had a problem with Apple; Raven didn't have an actual problem with anyone, even with Sparrow at his most annoying or Kitty at her most chaotic and mischievous. The problem came from the fact that Apple had gone over her head and had them put in the same room, just so she could try to pressure her into being her "true evil self." Apple had even reorganized and decorated Raven's half of the room against her wishes and without her input.
Maybe the room redecoration wouldn't be as bad as it was if it wasn't for the giant full-length mirrors that Apple had gotten for them. Raven couldn't stand looking into mirrors. She was afraid of constantly staring at her reflection. The motive of the Evil Queen in the original Snow White was vanity and jealousy; Raven thought of herself as 'fine-looking' and nothing more because she was terrified of becoming the self-absorbed Evil Queen from a destiny she was desperately trying to escape from.
Raven used mirrors for the least amount of time possible and tried to avoid looking at her reflection as much as possible. Since the bathroom already had a mirror, the one sitting in Raven's half of the room had been promptly covered with a sheet, and had to be recovered each time Apple removed the sheet… ad nauseam.
Raven stepped out of their shared bathroom, fully ready for the day and listening to music through her headphones. Upon seeing Apple still sitting in her bed, she quickly looked to her side of the room to see if the mirror had been uncovered…again. 'Maybe once she sees that I'm determined not to follow my destiny, she'll stop trying to force me to be evil,' Raven thought as she placed the sheet on the mirror for the third time today. Despite Apple's best attempts to stop it, Raven continued being friendly, thoughtful, and considerate. Still, she was annoyed with this constant prodding and disregard for her wishes. It was 11:30 Am on a Saturday, and Raven had better things to do than react to another of Apple's prompts for jealousy and anger.
Raven planned to meet up with her friends at the Wonderland Haberdashery & Tea Shoppe, before seeing a new movie in the Multi-Hex Theatre. Raven had been so excited to finally get some time away from school, and Apple, the running and screaming, etc., that she didn't even know what the movie they were going to see was about! Apple looked up from her phone upon seeing the movement of the sheet and frowned when she realized what Raven was doing.
"Raven, you're still beautiful even if you're not the fairest! I don't understand how you never bask in your evil reflection," Apple called out. Raven pretended not to hear her through her headphones, checked her bag, and ensured she had everything, then grabbed it and waved as she stepped out of the room.
After feeling the door click into place, Raven let out a small sigh of relief, 'Finally.' School life wasn't easy, but when she was sitting with her friends in the carriage on the way to the BookEnd, Raven couldn't help but feel that these tender little moments made everything worth it.
Chapter 5: Giving Milton a Migraine
Chapter Text
Apple sighed huffily after Raven had left the room; she was getting nervous. Apple had hoped that rooming with Raven would encourage her to give in to her evil nature, that the temptation to mess with her destined rival would be too much to refuse. However, Raven continued to go against her wishes. The closest she had gotten to being evil was when Raven had yelled at and accidentally spelled Headmaster Grimm during their group intervention with the guidance counselor. Even then, she was full of apologies.
"Mother told me to meet with Headmaster Grimm to ask about the makeup for Legacy day. I should get it done before the next time she calls," Apple spoke to herself and then began primping to leave her room. Most of the realm of Ever After had been frazzled from the fact that Legacy Day had been canceled for the first time in forever. Even more worried and furious were the royal fairytale families. Dianna had been calling Apple multiple times a day, and although Apple absolutely looved hearing from her mother, it was totally giving her split ends from the added stress.
As she walked the path from the dorms to Headmaster Grimm's office, Apple couldn't help starting to feel angry. 'This is all Raven's fault,' Apple thought to herself. Raven was stubbornly refusing to sign her page in the StoryBook of Legends, and had even left school in the middle of the night to go home without Headmaster Grimm's permission! Headmaster Grimm immediately sent two teachers to pick Raven up from her castle, and even went to demand her return in person after the teachers were refused at the door. Unfortunately for him, there was no way in hell Liam would force his daughter to go anywhere she didn't want to outside of a life or death emergency, and he wasn't swayed by the 'going *Poof*' speech Grimm tried to give him. Headmaster Grimm had returned to school thoroughly 'humbled' and with tail between his legs after the "stern talking to" King Liam had so graciously provided for him.
All of this led Headmaster Grimm to postpone legacy day since they couldn't carry on with one of the biggest fairy tale stories in history missing its villain pledge. Grimm sent out a letter to the families that the school was undergoing some last-minute emergency. While a few characters from minor stories like The Ugly Duckling, The Tortoise and the Hare, and The Boy Who Cried Wolf; went on stage to pledge, the 'main event' would be postponed to a later date until the proper 'repairs' were completed.
Soon enough, Apple had arrived at the door of Headmaster Grimm's office. The receptionist Miss Tarry had told her to take a seat as he was taking a very important phone call. Apple gracefully sat down in the office chair and picked up one of the copies of Royals for U magazines that lay on the table. Funnily enough, Grimm was already talking with one of the White family members, the one Apple sought to appease before her next phone call.
When Diana looked away during the mirrorchat, Milton looked down at his pocket watch and scowled upon seeing the time. 15 minutes. Although it felt like an hour, since any time spent listening to Dianna's whinging always felt longer than what had actually passed. Milton prided himself on his ability to impress and appease the parents of Ever After High, especially the royal parents. Despite Milton's pride in catering to the students and parents of EAH, Dianna had a spelltacular ability to find and grate on his last nerve both as an alumnus, a parent, and even when she was a student.
After reassuring Dianna for the hundredth time that makeup Legacy Day was in the works, "These things take time, especially to make sure that it is up to proper EAH standard," she seemed sufficiently pacified and quickly terminated the call after exchanging proper pleasantries so she could continue with her 'utterly crammed' schedule. After hanging up, Milton let his head hit his desk with a heavy groan. Dianna was far from the only parent calling him with questions about the makeup of Legacy Day, and the more prominent fairytale parents, in particular, were getting harder and harder to placate.
"Headmaster Grimm, Miss Apple White is waiting out here to talk with you," came over the intercom. Milton let out another softer groan before sitting back up and straightening himself out. "Send her in, please. Thank you," Milton replied before fixing his desk and pulling out his pen and notepad. As Milton waited, he looked down at his pen, rolling it in his palm until he could see the monogrammed MG on the handle, and seeing this, he couldn't help but let his mind wander to his baby brother.
Giles had always been an eccentric who refused to conform to things like rules and destiny. It was why Milton had to do what he did, why his brother couldn't be with him, heavens know what Giles would inspire in Ms.Queen when she was already refusing to acknowledge her destiny. That didn't stop Milton from missing his brother, especially during times like this. Giles may have been eccentric, but he was great with people and had always excelled in entertaining and dealing with other people's problems. Giles always knew how to make them laugh or what they needed to hear to calm down.
Milton was interrupted from these thoughts by a gentle rapping on his door, "Come in," he called out. Apple quickly entered and greeted him before gently sitting down; Milton then went on to almost repeat his previous conversation with Dianna verbatim with her daughter. After around 10 minutes of reassuring Apple, she thanked him for his time before exiting his office.
Milton let out another groan before reaching over to the intercom, "Miss Tarry, are there any other meetings on my schedule?" After a few seconds Miss Tarry gave a swift "no sir," in response. "Mark me as unavailable for the rest of the day. I'm only to be contacted for a school emergency," Milton said sternly. After receiving Miss Tarry's reply of "Yes sir," he stood up and locked his office door.
Milton then loosened his tie and turned towards the rest of his office behind his desk, leading into a small kitchenette. Milton reached for his keys and unlocked the bottommost drawer of his desk, pulling out a glass and a quarter-full crystal decanter containing a deep, rich whiskey. After grabbing some ice from the freezer, Milton quickly dropped the cubes into his glass before pouring the amber drink over it. Finally, Milton sat back in his chair and took a long, deep drink.
Deep underground beneath the school of Ever After High, laid a room known only by a select few. A treasure trove of knowledge known only as the Vault of Lost Tales, it served as a storage place for some of the realm's most ancient books and scrolls and as a living tomb to a man who'd been forgotten by most of the realm of Ever After. Giles Grimm watched his brother through his one-way mirror, the only thing that connected him to the outside world and kept him sane. Despite the hurt and estrangement Giles had suffered at the hands of his brother, he let out a deep sigh at Milton's current state.
Giles had only ever wanted to help others, his brother included. In his multiple centuries as head librarian Giles witnessed so many people suffer from being forced to 'play their part' in their stories, forced to go against their true natures, forced to leave their loved ones behind, forced to become someone that they weren't. That is why Giles advocated for writing your own story rather than just signing your life away on a prewritten page, why he tried so hard to get his brother to see the harm he was perpetuating on the students and causing himself. And what was Giles' reward for his concern and kindness?
BETRAYAL. In return for his centuries of love, compassion, and care, Giles had been paid with abandonment, isolation, betrayal, and heartbreak at the hands of his own brother . Left to rot like the pages among the countless tomes of lost stories. Milton had been the one to curse Giles and seal him away within the vault, the Montressor to Giles' Fortunato. The curse Milton had placed on Giles was known as a Babble Curse, an ancient hex that makes the sufferer speak in circles, in gibberish, in riddles. Pretty much no one in the modern realm of Ever After even knew that a babble curse existed, let alone how to undo one. Because of this, even if Giles could escape, he would be utterly helpless. No one would be able to understand him if he asked for help. Upon his identity getting out, Milton would come and claim him as his 'touched' little brother, then scold him and throw him back in the vault, possibly even worse.
Giles was worried about what the state of Ever After would come to with all of the innocent people acting as slaves to character roles in their stories. Even many royals with 'happily ever afters' faced a lot of difficulty and heartache, yet put up with it because they felt it was the only way they could find happiness. However, Giles felt a flame of hope when his mind passed through other fairy tales to the current generation of Snow White.
The battle between Rebels and Royals had been going on for centuries longer than people thought, and against the hopes and beliefs of Ever After's citizens, the Rebels were winning . Even though he was locked up, Giles could hear the whispers of the realm through his mirror portal, and he had witnessed the chaotic handiwork of the current Rebel leader, Raven Queen. During her time at Ever After High, Raven Queen showed nothing to others, but genuine kindness and compassion, and people were noticing her for all of the wrong, or right, reasons.
Legacy day had long come and gone, but the pages lay unsigned, the stories yet to continue. Although the general citizens may not know the true reason for its cancellation, postponement, Giles and Milton both know that it was because of Raven. In spite of the fear, discrimination, and ignorance she had faced for being the daughter of the Evil Queen, being destined to fulfill that role, Raven didn't change. Raven remained the most honest version of herself and encouraged others to do the same. Giles had seen her struggle against destiny, her refusal to play into the status quo and become the cruel, vain, and evil creature others expected, wanted , Raven to become. Change was coming, that was inevitable. And it wouldn't be the return to form Milton was so desperate to implement.
This next generation of fairy tales was going to be different. Giles could feel it in his bones . Raven was making waves in the ink, and it was going to flip the script for fairy tales and the realm of Ever After as they knew it. Giles could also hear the soft voices of the pages, and all he could do was smile knowingly. Giles didn't believe in blindly signing your soul over to be destiny's plaything, yet he had a feeling that Raven's 'destiny' would throw a big, fat wrench into their books and give him a much-needed laugh, all at the same time.
Chapter 6: Dexter's Date Preparation
Notes:
Thank you so much for your patience! I hope you enjoy!
Chapter Text
Letting out a deep sigh Dexter sat up and stretched, hearing the small pop his back made while straightening out; he looked out the window and realized he had caught the tail end of the golden hour. The sun was gently setting after its long journey through the sky, its beautiful light sending a gradient of color through Dexter's dorm room window along with the last bit of the day's warmth as the sun continued its descent behind the horizon.
Dex had spent the past 2 hours working on his homework to have the entire next day free for his date with Raven. He'd asked Raven out the previous Friday, but she already had a packed weekend but was completely free the next. Dexter had been stoked to be able to hang out with Raven again. The past month had been busy for both of them, so they were both planning to have as much fun as possible.... after finishing their studying of course.
Then the door opened, and he was startled as Hunter Huntsman shuffled through it, gently kicking it shut behind him before dropping his bags to the floor.
"I'm back! I got you a Fableaid," Hunter called out and began rummaging through one of the bags. Dex sighed in relief once he realized it was just his roommate. Dexter turned in his chair, and Hunter gently tossed him the bottle. "Thanks, Hunter. How was your day?"
A brief look of thought passed across Hunter's face before he shrugged and replied, "Eh, it was alright. I went down to the Bookend after class to grab a bite and check out the Game Hoard, then I picked up some snacks and stuff before I caught a ride home." Hunter lifted up his purchases, the bags full to bursting. Dex looked between the purchases and Hunter, his eyebrow rising as he deadpanned, "You sure you got everything? Looks pretty light."
Hunter chuckled, putting the bags back down. "Well, this is our last chance to leave school before lockdown, I didn't want to run out of anything when we won't be able to leave the Campus, and I didn't want to have to make any more trips to TowerMart than I have to."
Dex sighed as he remembered the news Headmaster Grimm had dropped at the mandatory special announcements. Starting on Monday, students were prohibited from leaving the school campus outside of extenuating circumstances, so it was a guarantee that all of the students were rushing to get anything they needed or wanted to do that was off campus. The weird part is that the Headmaster had yet to give any specific details about why they couldn't leave and only briefly mentioned an important event on Friday.
Dex was startled from his thoughts by Hunter gently grabbing his shoulder and turning him in his chair to face him. Hunter smirked, then smugly asked, "Soo, what are your plans for your date with Raven tomorrow?" Dex rolled his eyes before replying, "Well, it's more of a study date. We have that big Crownculus exam on Tuesday, so we're gonna compare and swap notes, then run through the practice exam. After, we were planning on just hanging out before grabbing a bite to eat, but we have an experiment we wanna try with Guitar Knight." Dexter got a big smile on his face as he continued, "You know how Raven can play guitar and has that really nice electric one. We wanna see if we can use a real guitar for the controller and see if she can beat Guitar Knight with it."
Hunter let out a low whistle at the thought of Raven shredding her guitar on Guitar Knight. "If it works, I have to see Raven go against Sparrow." Dex chuckled before replying, "I should get Blondie to report on it. Let the entire mirrornet watch our common room get blown up in the process."
After standing up, Dex stretched again before returning to his desk, grabbing his completed assignments, and then walking over to put them in his backpack. While organizing his belongings, Dex continued his conversation with Hunter, "I'm actually planning to head to the Bookend beforehand to get us some Spellbucks, but I might have to stop at the Towermart too since we're gonna be on lockdown all week. Maybe I should ask Raven if she needs anything from the store before I go."
Hunter smiled gently as he listened to Dexter diligently preparing for his date. Hunter had picked up quickly that Dex was more socially awkward, especially when compared to his older brother and twin sister, which led to him ending up in their incredibly glamorous shadows. However, what Dex lacked in natural charisma, he made up for in his personality. Dexter was so gentle, earnest, and kind that anyone who really got to know him couldn't help but be endeared to him.
When Hunter considered that Raven had been the black sheep of the realm for such a long time, it made sense that they could relate to each other so well. Despite the stigma, Dexter could see all of the pure good in Raven, and she could see how alike the two were and what a catch of a prince he was. Hunter saw how they brought out the best in each other, just as his Ashlynn brought out the best in him.
Dex continued talking, though more to himself, as he made up a shopping list and wrote it down on his phone. Then Hunter spoke up, "I think I heard Raven telling Maddie that she needed to pick up more food and treats for Nevermore," then he watched the lightbulb go off in Dex's head as he pretended to scroll through his phone. Dex looked up at Hunter and then made the additions to his list. "Thanks, dude! Maybe I could get a couple of toys for her too! After all, the best way to a princess's heart is through her dragon."
Chapter 7: Key Revelations
Notes:
Surprise, two chapters in one week! I stayed up all night to write this because I had a huge inspiration burst and had to finish it. Please comment with any advice or opinions and I hope you enjoy !<3
Chapter Text
Friday had come fast for Ever After High's students, faculty, and family members. The week had flown by like a Pegasus, and now it was time for the mysterious, important event being hosted by Headmaster Grimm.
Raven had picked out her outfit next, she turned on the shower and waited for it to heat up. This was Raven's first time seeing her father face to face since her impromptu visit on Legacy Day, so she wanted to look her best. The unknown factor of the event had made Raven a bit… unsettled, although she couldn't place the reason why. A nice hot shower to wash away the grime from the school day was just what she needed. After coming to temperature, Raven stepped in and reached for her favorite body wash that she saved for special occasions. While standing under the water flow, Raven washed her hair and thought about her week. She often used her bath and shower time to reflect on life or new ideas and frequently found herself coming out of the bathroom with fresh insight or inspiration.
Raven got a happy, dreamy look on her face and blushed as she thought back to her Saturday. She and Dexter had a fantastic date, and Nevermore, extremely grateful for her new treats and toys, had pounced on Dex to give him a big 'kiss.' Thinking through the rest of the week, Raven remembered how nervous she had been for her crownculus exam and anxiously awaited the results. But after all of the studying she had put in, both on her own time and with her friends and Dexter, it ended up being way easier than she thought it would be. The results had just been posted that morning, and Raven was super hexcited to tell her father, in person, that she had scored an A+ and to see his reaction.
Raven reminisced about how proud her father would get when she brought her high marks to him while she was castle schooled. Sometimes Raven missed being able to see her father whenever she wanted. Still, despite the challenges she'd faced, Raven was happy with her time at EAH and felt that she'd made the right choice. Especially with all of the wonderful people she'd met and all of the fun she'd had. Her alarm went off, interrupting her thoughts and music, and encouraged Raven to finish conditioning and rinsing her hair. Raven dried off and stepped into her outfit before using her magic to quickly dry her long, purple-striped, ebony hair; then, she opened her makeup bag and began applying her makeup. After finishing, Raven stepped into her shared dorm room and saw Apple getting ready and looking around the room hurriedly.
"Raven, have you seen my Fablenciaga shoes? I can't find them anywhere!" Apple called out, slightly annoyed at the inconvenience; she had been hoping to see her parents before the event started, but it looked like that wouldn't be able to happen. She was running out of time before the event was scheduled to start, and a perfect princess had to be punctual.
After thinking momentarily, Raven reminded her, "Didn't you lend them to Briar last week when she had that important presentation for Princessology?" Apple grimaced at the realization and groaned, "Ugh, you're right! I guess I'll just wear my red Calvin Knights instead." Raven turned to head out the door but called back, "If I see Briar on my way to the Destiny Court, I'll remind her about the shoes," Apple quickly thanked her before Raven left, shutting the door behind her.
Apple was nervous and sighed before reaching for her Calvin Knights and sitting down to put them on. Raven was still being so..So… NICE. Apple and Headmaster Grimm had done everything to encourage Raven to fulfill her destiny as the next Evil Queen. Each time, Raven would find a way to leave or change the subject, or someone would come and interrupt them. Apple had gone again to talk to Headmaster Grimm this week, but instead of just reassuring her as he usually did, he had smirked and assured her that the problem would be resolved within the week.
While Apple thought this could've just been his attempt to get her out of his ever-graying hair, he had sounded so confident and self-assured when he said it that she couldn't help but believe him. Apple slipped on her shoes, then stood up and looked herself over in the mirror; after putting on her finishing touches, she asked her mirror, "Mirror Mirror on the wall, who's the fairest one of all?" The enchanted mirror swiftly replied, "Though there are many beauties tonight, none are fairer than Apple White." Reassured, Apple picked up her phone and sighed upon seeing the time; she wouldn't have enough time to visit her parents and be on time to get backstage, so she resigned herself to seeing them as soon as the event was over. Apple took one last glance towards her reflection, then left the room to head towards the backstage area of the Destiny Court.
Chatter filled the internal area of the Destiny Court as students talked with their friends about their days and wondered what would happen next, speculations casually being passed back and forth. Raven took in a deep breath and wrung her hands. Usually, when she was stressed out, she would either play her guitar or play with her magic, but right now, neither were available options. Suddenly a blur of fushia rose, mint, and turquoise came into view as Maddie popped into sight in her typical chaotic manner.
Maddie reached out and hugged her, "Goooood Morrning Raven!" Raven chuckled and hugged her back, grateful for her friend's comfort, "It's 7 o'clock in the evening, Maddie; what do you mean by morning?" Maddie got a knowing look and smiled "We~ll something tells me that today is going to be the dawn of something new, and comple~tely unhexpected!" Raven paused as her anxiety returned, then took a deep breath and exhaled slowly in an attempt to calm herself down. Maddie frowned when she saw how upset Raven had become. "Rae, you look so upset. What's got you in such a worry flurry?" Maddie asked concernedly and reached out to hold Raven's hand. Raven squeezed Maddie's hand back, then spoke, "I dunno… I just can't help but feel like something awful is about to happen."
"Raven, look at me." Raven was startled and looked down to meet Maddie's eyes, she had a serious expression. Her eyes stern, and her brow creased; it was one that rarely made an appearance on Maddie's face and was not fitting of her happy-go-lucky character. Despite her petite, short stature, Maddie had a presence that could fill a dozen rooms and could be surprisingly authoritative when the need arose. It was one of the reasons why she was co-president of the student council with Apple. When she gave advice or asked someone to listen, they did.
Once she had her attention, Maddie smiled reassuringly before speaking in a gentle tone, "I promise you, Raven, that no matter what happens, it'll turn out okay. Because even if something does go pear-shaped, you won't face it alone." Raven felt a slight weight leave her shoulders as Maddie spoke and couldn't help but smile, "Thanks Maddie, you're the best friend I could've ever asked for." Maddie regained her previous joyful demeanor and laughed before taking Raven's hand and leading her over to where Cerise and Cedar were waiting for them and began chatting and laughing. Maddie then turned to something they could not see and gave a sly smile, and winked while her friends rolled their eyes at her antics.
After some time had passed, the students began hearing noise and voices coming from the outside area of the Divine Court. A few peeked out and saw their parents and family members taking their seats, a few choosing to wave at their family members if they were sitting close enough. Milton took the stage after everyone was seated and began speaking, "Good Evening to all of our Ever After High family members. Thank you so much for being here tonight, and we are overjoyed to…."
The students were interrupted from listening to the speech by the appearance of Faith Goodfairy, the current Fairy Godmother, who appeared in a flash of magic and silver glitter. Faith smiled and flew up into the air above the students' heads before greeting everyone by saying, "Hello, everyone! I hope that you're all doing marvelous this evening!" Her daughter Farrah quickly flew up to greet her, giving her a big hug before they both settled to the ground. She then asked her, "Mom, what are you doing here? I thought you would be with the other parents?" Faith giggled before flying back up, "To answer your question, my dear, I'm here to ensure everyone looks their fairest before you hit the stage! Get ready, everyone!" Faith raised her wand, and it lit up with her magic. Then came a giant flash of light as it engulfed all of the students.
Everyone closed their eyes to protect them from the bright light. When they opened them, they all saw they had a complete magic makeover and were wearing stunning outfits, then began cheering and admiring themselves and their friends. Faith smiled once she saw how happy everyone was and giggled again, then called out to the students, "Everyone, now it's time to get out there and make yourselves known! Good luck, everyone!" and in a smaller voice, she spoke to her daughter "Good luck, darling," before disappearing in a flash of light.
The curtains rose, and the students began walking out, many waving to their parents if they could and standing behind Headmaster Grimm as the teachers instructed them. At this moment, Apple and many other students felt their hearts soar, while Raven felt her heart drop into her stomach. On the podium where Headmaster Grimm was standing lay the Storybook of Legends. It was Legacy Day all over again! Except this time, Raven wasn't going to be able to escape. She felt herself go numb. She couldn't even hear Headmaster Grimm speak over her heartbeat pounding in her ears, and her hands went clammy. Despite the dim setting from the few outdoor fairy lights, her friends noticed the blood drain from her already pale skin.
First up was Blondie Lockes, who eagerly went up to the podium and proudly pledged to fulfill her role as the next Goldielockes. Blondie's bear-shaped key appeared in a flash of magic after she made her pledge. She inserted it into the Storybook of Legends, and everyone watching saw her future destiny play out. Upon reaching the last page, the magic quill appeared, and Blondie signed her name in her neatest signature as opposed to her usual journalist scrawl. Everyone clapped as she signed and headed towards her seat on the student side of the Destiny Court.
Next came Justine Dancer, who could now fulfill her role after gaining control over her gift of eternal dance. Like her sisters in the years before her, Justine danced up to the podium, then gleefully made her pledge, opened the book with her key, and saw her destiny as the 12th dancing princess. She got misty-eyed as she saw her future as a Prima Ballerina. Justine signed her name and gracefully danced to her seat to roaring applause.
"Up next we have… Apple White!" Apple opened her eyes, she had been waiting for this moment for her whole life, and she was hexstatic! Apple could feel the ear-splitting smile that was trying to break free. She wanted to run to the podium as quickly as possible to sign. However, she couldn't forget that she was a proper princess and had to act like one, especially with so many other royals and her future subjects watching. Apple looked at the audience and saw her parents sitting perfectly in the front row, both looking immensely proud of their daughter. Apple put on her poised princess face that she used for her public appearances, and had practiced for so long with her mother, then gracefully strode up to the podium. She spread her arms for the ceremonial doves to greet her and, after the applause died down, gently lifted her arms so they would fly back to their perches, then Apple spoke proud and crystal clear.
"I am Apple White, daughter of Snow White. And I am ready to pledge my destiny!" Apple opened her hand, and her key appeared in a magic flash, one she couldn't help but think was smaller than it should've been. Apple looked at the key, expecting one shaped like an apple or maybe a crown, but was slightly disappointed to see a simple round, gold key with a ruby inlaid in the thickest part of the curve. Taking a breath and shaking off her disappointment at the key's simple design, Apple excitedly put her key into the Storybook of Legends and turned to unlock it… but the front of the book stayed blank. It hadn't changed to match her story like it had for everyone else. The book flipped open, but instead of showing Apple as the next Snow White, everyone watched, confused and slightly scared. Apple was presented with a blank burgundy page, and a look of horror appeared on her delicate face. Apple quickly tried to regain her composure and looked up to see her parents. Jason looked concerned for his daughter, while Dianna seemed absolutely terrified.
Milton laughed nervously and stepped up to the mic, "Okay, I think I see what's happening here. This isn't the time for jokes Ms.Queen, but since you've already pranked Apple and the book, we'll let you go first." Everyone began to calm down, and Apple gave a sigh of pure relief while Raven stood unmoving, frozen to her spot, and attempted to raise her hands to cast off the blame. "I didn't-" she was cut off as Milton put his hands on her shoulders and guided her in front of the book, receiving a glare from her father, Liam, who was upset at Milton's manhandling of his daughter.
Raven could hear the hushed whispers of the crowd as she stood in the spotlight, and a magic-induced crack of thunder and lightning went off. Raven didn't say a word or move a muscle, then Headmaster Grimm stepped forward to the mic. Milton gulped from the force of the glare King Liam was sending him, then he leaned into the mic and somewhat forcefully announced, "Here we have, Raven Queen. Daughter of the Evil Queen, who will now sign her name in the Storybook of Legends and fulfill her destiny!" The last part was said while giving Raven a knowing look. The message was clear. It was an unspoken 'or else.'
The key appeared in a bright flash, and Raven fumbled to grasp it. She looked down at the key in her palm and traced it. It was different from what she was expecting. Raven's key was fitting her usual color scheme: a polished silver key with deep obsidian accents and a beautiful amethyst gem. However, where most of the previous Evil Queens had a crown, a mirror, or even a dagger motif to their keys from what Raven had read, her key was shaped like an apple. Raven looked to her father, who could see the confusion on her face and knew that something was happening with the book, but she wasn't the cause. Although it pained him to do so, Liam subtly nodded to Raven to open the book to see what was happening.
Slowly, silently, and hesitantly Raven put her key into the Storybook of Legends and turned it to unlock; everyone saw the apple appear on the book's cover, then watched the book flip through its pages, landing on Raven's first page. But no one could say anything as they watched her destiny play out. The first image showed Raven happily smiling and talking with Dexter while cleaning by hand and with her magic, the second depicted her running through the forest, and the third showed her in a small cottage tidying up after the next Seven Dwarves. The page turned, and everyone let out a collective gasp as the fourth image depicted Raven passed out on the ground, with an apple lying next to her. A single bite was taken out of its glossy, red surface.
At this point, Raven panicked and slammed the book shut, but the truth was already out, and the crowd burst into frenzied chatter.
No one had expected this outcome, but it was clear to everyone that the Storybook of Legends somehow showed the Evil Queen's daughter becoming the next Snow White. Apple became indignant, "but..but…that's impossible! I'm supposed to be the next Snow White! It's my destiny!" Milton became furious and stomped over to Raven and turned her to face him, his face flushing in anger. Milton rasped in a hushed angry tone, "Ms.Queen, whatever spell you've cast to hide Ms.White and your true destinies, you better undo it now! At first, I was willing to overlook your manipulation of Ms. White's page as a simple prank. Still, this level of tampering and making a mockery of this ceremony in your attempt to run away from your destiny is unacceptable!"
"Headmaster Grimm, I swear I had nothing to do with this! I didn't do anything to the book! No one even knew that the book would be out here!" Raven said pleadingly. Before Milton could go off on another tangent, Madame Baba Yagga floated forward, calling forth her magic and gently waving her glowing hands in front of Raven, muttering a spell no one else could quite make out. Then Madame Yagga floated over to the Storybook of Legends and did the same. After a moment, she turned back and spoke to everyone, "Ms.Queen is telling the truth, she didn't even touch the book before this evening, and the book showed no signs of tampering, magical or otherwise. Everyone else's signing went along normally, and I sensed no magical abnormalities this evening that could have contributed to any error on the books' part."
Madame Yaga turned to specifically face Apple and Raven, then continued speaking, "I'm so sorry, Ms.White, but you're not the next Snow White. Raven is." After hearing this, Apple completely broke down and burst into tears running from the stage; Ashlynn and Briar ran after their friend, and King Jason wove through the crowd to find and comfort his daughter.
Liam hopped onto the stage to comfort Raven, but he was secretly happy on the inside. He knew that his little chickadee was too good to be evil; this proved it; he just hated that another young lady was hurt due to this twist in fate. Milton worked to calm and control the crowd stating not to worry and that they would be looking into this matter, while parents and students rushed to be together and find their friends.
However, after a few minutes had passed, Raven began having a realization and became livid. Headmaster Grimm had told her that once you opened the Storybook of Legends, you must sign your page. Otherwise, everyone in your story would immediately go *poof*. Apple had opened it but hadn't signed the book. Even more critical, Raven had opened and read her chapter, she hadn't signed the book, but no one in the Snow White tale had gone *poof*! This could only mean one thing.
Raven turned and marched up to Headmaster Grimm and screamed at him, "You lied to me! TO ALL OF US!"
Giles Grimm sat back in his recliner, watching his brother attempt to blindside the rebel students with the surprise Legacy Day makeup ceremony through his enchanted mirror. Giles sighed in pity at the terrified look on Raven Queen's face once she realized what was happening, he was well into his second pot of tea when the confusing burgundy page in the Storybook of Legends revealed itself, and his jaw almost scraped the floor when he realized that the book had just shown Raven as the next Snow White, then he burst out into howling mad laughter while watching Raven, her father, and her friends call out his brother for lying to them. Giles had predicted a change in destiny, but not even in his craziest, Wonderland-filled dreams could he have imagined this! Giles continued to chuckle to himself as everyone dispersed, and the mirror slowly turned itself off. 'Well played, Destiny. Well played.'
Chapter 8: Cracking Cedar
Notes:
Thank you so much for the comments and Kudos <3 they are greatly appreciated.
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
The day after Makeup Legacy Day was... tense, to say the least. Cerise and Cedar had been up late with Raven and Maddie, all three of them doing their best to support and comfort their friend. Now, their stomachs were loudly protesting their emptiness.
They tried discussing anything other than what happened to their friend the night before. Cerise turned to Cedar, "I'm so glad I got to see my family last night; I missed seeing grandma. I got a whole basket of treats from her, and Mom got me some really good beef jerky!" Cedar smiled. "That's awesome! Nonno Gepetto sent me some new wood polish and sandpaper since he heard me complain about my wood splintering. Papa was so sad he couldn't come since his flight got delayed, but he got me a charm bracelet that Nonno brought with him!"
Cedar held up her wrist where a dainty gold bracelet sat; it had four charms; a set of butterfly wings, a camera, a paintbrush, and a heart. After gently looking it over, Cerise replied, "It's beautiful, Cedar, and it fits you perfectly, and there's still spa-" Cerise was cut off by both her and Cedar's phones going off; she pulled hers out as she finished her sentence, "There's still space for if you want to add more." The alert was a new text in the group chat with herself, Cedar, Raven, and Maddie. Maddie asked if Raven and herself could stay in their room for a while since Kitty woke up with wonderflu.
Cedar and Cerise both exchanged a glance before Cerise sent a reply, 'No problem, we're heading to the Castleteria, but the door's unlocked, so we'll meet you there' before slipping her phone back into her basket. Cedar then spoke up, "I hope Raven will be ok; she was a mess last night." Cerise nodded. "Yeah, and Apple was a wreck. I'm glad Raven doesn't have to deal with being forced to be the Evil Queen, but I never wanted that to happen to Apple." A comfortable silence fell between the two as they continued to the Castleteria. An unspoken hope that they wouldn't have to deal with anyone who wanted to hassle or blame Raven for what happened lay between them.
The chatter of EAH students filled the Castleteria, hypotheses, and opinions being openly discussed between them. It was common knowledge that Apple White would become the next Snow White and Raven the next Evil Queen. Aside from those who actually knew Raven, the few students who liked her just assumed that she would fulfill the Evil Queen role by doing the bare minimum rather than becoming full-out evil. Now, no one knew what to do, and many students didn't know what to think. They could have been told that the sun was purple or that Dracula was related to King Charming, and they might've believed it after having their expectations so wholly subverted.
As Cerise and Cedar entered the room, they did their best to ignore the different conversations around them. Still, they had a difficult time blocking everything out. Especially with Cerise's… heightened sense of hearing. "Poor Apple! I wonder what's gonna happen to her?" One spoke. Another said, "I hate to say it, but maybe she wasn't fit to be the next Snow White. I mean, she's nice and all, but she's BLONDE, and literally, all previous Snow Whites have been brunette or raven-haired. Maybe she's, like, gonna be a part of another story?"
"You know, I always thought it was funny that the next Evil Queen looked more like Snow White than the actual next Snow White; guess now we know why!" Someone else joked. Cedar and Cerise met each other's eyes before sighing, grabbing their food trays, and entering the self-serve line. The chatter continued, "Oh pahleease , Raven is the daughter of the evilest Evil Queen in the past century! There's no way that wasn't a fluke." Cerise had to bite back a growl. "Yeah, being evil is in her nature; she probably cursed Apple in her sleep or something so that she could steal her happily ever after." Cedar felt her arm splinter. They were almost at the serving station! If they could make it, they could grab their food and leave without incident. Then came the final straw, "Nothing about Raven has changed; she's just as evil as she's always been, and she always will be." Cerise slammed down her tray and stormed over to the student who said that, easily following their voice in the crowd; Cedar followed closely behind after setting down her tray.
Cerise came to a stop in front of Ziegel Harlem, the son of the Hero of Haarlem, and glared at him. "Give me one example," Cerise said gruffly before looking around at the others in the room, " one example of Raven being evil. And I'm not talking about an accident where she lost control of her magic or when you thought she was looking at someone the wrong way. I'm asking any of you to name a time when Raven made an intentional and malicious act against another person."
A silence echoed throughout the room, the only audible noise being the sounds coming from outside. After a moment had passed, someone's voice rose from the crowd, "Raven is the daughter of the Evil Queen; she's the granddaughter of the Evil Queen; every woman in their family is evil! From the moment she was born, Raven was destined to be just as bad as them!" Then another student yelled out, "Raven's just using whoever she can to help her get power while she trains her magic. As soon as she gets access to her full powers, she's gonna stab you all in the back!"
The dam broke, and accusations began flying back and forth; while a few stood up in Raven's defense, the majority continued to condemn her. What had once been your average group of high school students had now become a disorderly mob. Cedar and Cerise's eyes scanned across the room; no clear sides could be seen within the rabble of students, just faces of fear, anger, and vitriol. For every positive word on Raven's behalf, there were three more condemning her. All of the students' voices began ringing in their ears, growing louder and louder; Cerise pulled her hood further down in an attempt to block out the noise while Cedar gripped her arm tighter and tighter. Finally, something inside her snapped.
Before anyone could process what happened, Cedar had broken away from Cerise, shoulder-checked someone out of the way, and jumped on top of the lunch table in front of them. "Shut the HELL up!" Cedar yelled as loud as she could manage. Immediately, all the other voices cut out, then Cedar continued, "Since the day she was born, the entire realm has done nothing but judge Raven, and since she came here, you've all done the same! Almost everyone here has treated Raven poorly at some time in her life. You've all gossiped, shamed her, and isolated her when she's done nothing wrong except be born to the Evil Queen!" Members of the crowd shared looks with each other; a few looked guilty, and some appeared indignant or offended. A few students tried to speak up but were immediately cut off by Cedar's speech.
"You all treated her like Maleficent incarnate every time she tried to reach out or make friends, and it was never because of anything she'd done. No matter what she did, you would find some way to make it a negative because you were biased against Raven from the very beginning, and nothing she did would have ever appeased you. If she was nice and pleasant, she was a scheming trickster trying to lower everyone's guards and stab them in the back. If she shows a hint of negative emotion, she's 'finally' revealing her 'true colors'." When Raven rejects her destiny, she's an awful, selfish person for denying someone else their happily ever after when you're all choosing to forget that it would be at the cost of her own happiness and freedom . However, if she accepted her destiny with no resistance, she was just evil all along and finally living up to it like her mother. Now you're accusing Raven of trying to steal someone else's destiny? When there has been no recorded instance of that happening before in the history of Ever After!
"You all need to own up to the fact that you were wrong; Raven was NEVER evil, she isn't now, and I'd stake my destiny on the fact that she never will be." In a low voice, dripping with venom, Cedar finished her speech, "All you guys do is stare and gossip like a gaggle of geese, and you spread rumors like wildfire! Maybe if you all spent less time judging people and trying to force them to carry out their destinies and just let people live their lives in peace and be happy, you could all have more happily ever afters outside of your finished stories." With that, Cedar turned, stomped down from the table to the bench, and jumped to the floor, not caring about being graceful or the noise her wooden heels made as she hit the floor. Cedar strode over to Cerise, slipped her arm around her friend's, and the two stormed out of the Castleteria.
The silence was deafening. Cedar was kind and well-liked by most of the students at Ever After High, but she was also very anxious and would sooner choose to be quiet out of fear of saying the wrong thing. Her speech was so obviously not rehearsed. It was raw and driven by pure emotion and genuine hurt and pain for her friend's treatment. Sure, other students had spoken up about the kindness Raven Queen had shown to them. Still, it was a very skewed ratio of students willing to give Raven a chance versus those just waiting for the day they could throw her in the mirror prison with her mother. For someone so soft-spoken and anxious as Cedar to jump onto a lunch table, yell at the student body, speaking so openly and uncensored, it left them chilled to their cores. It meant even more when one considered that Cedar had been under the effect of a truth spell since she was a child; she was compelled to tell the truth and literally unable to lie. Moments passed before any noise could be heard from the Castleteria again. Eventually, some students began grabbing their things and leaving, and others stuck around to talk with others. But the message and emotion of Cedar's speech lingered, and no matter how they tried to change the topic of conversation, it wouldn't leave them.
Cedar and Cerise had decided to return to their dorm room and meet up with Raven and Maddie, then they could get delivery and not have to deal with everyone in the Castleteria. Their trek back was interrupted when they bumped into Sparrow Hood, who was looking more confused than usual. Sparrow looked up after the bump, then spoke, "Hey, sorry girls, have you seen Duchess anywhere? Lizzie said that she left their room upset and asked me to talk to her. I've looked for her everywhere, like EVERYWHERE, including her lake, and still can't find her."
Cedar had shrugged, but Cerise looked pensive for a moment, then looked over to Sparrow and said, "I talked with Ramona and Justine earlier; they both said that they saw Duchess heading west into the wild part of the enchanted forest, and Justine said that she seemed off and wasn't dancing as well as she usually does." Sparrow's frown deepened, "Thanks, girls, see ya around. Tell Raven I said hi." Then turned and began heading west towards the enchanted forest, and Cedar called out after him, "Tell her we said hi too!" Sparrow kept running and didn't turn back, the two only received a wave in response.
Cerise and Cedar opened the door and were greeted by the sight of Raven and Maddie drinking tea; Raven seemed to be wearing a set of Kitty's clothes, as there was no way she could fit into any of Maddie's. The two girls looked up from where they were sitting and smiled at their friends; Raven babbled, "Thanks so much for letting us come. After what happened, I wanted to go with Dad, but the barrier was still up, and I just couldn't go and face Apple! Maddie and Kitty let me crash with them last night but then this morning she woke up with wonderful, and if we didn't get out then we'd all be sneezing bubbles an-" her anxious babbling was cut off by Cerise, "It's fine Rae, now are you guys hungry were getting Gatedash," Cerise looked to Cedar who nodded and went over to her closet pulling out some comfy clothes and a set of towels. Raven became visibly confused, "didn't you guys eat at the Castleteria?"
Cerise and Cedar paused for a moment; Cedar bit her lip, fighting against her truth spell, and Cerise's ear twitched under her hood. "Eh, it was really crowded in there, and we decided to get ICOP." Maddie beamed upon hearing this. "Oh, oh, I want Razzleberry pancakes!" Cerise began inputting their order as Cedar helped Raven stand and handed her the towels and clothes, "Here, you can get a bath or shower while we finish the order and tidy up a bit. We could have a slumber party tonight and watch some more Gingerbread Bake-off. Blackberry Jam for your pancakes, and you like your hashbrowns extra crispy, right?"
Raven nodded and looked at her friends; a small smile grew on her face, "Thanks, guys. I owe you one. Cerise, I'll send you the money once I-" "Don't even think about it." Cerise cut Raven off curtly, stood up, and hurried her into the bathroom much like a mother wolf might nudge their cub into the den. "Hey-" Cerise shut the door behind Raven. "Take as long as a bath as you want, Rae; love you!" Cerise's keen ears picked up Raven's sigh, then chuckled. Then they all heard music from the bathroom, and they all grimaced a bit when they noticed it was her sad playlist.
Once they heard the water turn on, they all turned back to each other, but before anyone could speak, the PA system went off, and the gruff tired sound of Headmaster Grimm began speaking. "Attention all students. Classes this upcoming week will be canceled, and you will be free to go off campus and return to visit your homes on leave if you so wish. "Please remember that curfew is 7:30 for off-campus leave and to submit the online form if you choose to go for a home visit and be back by the following Sunday. Thank you, have a nice day."
After the announcement, Cerise pulled out her phone, turned back to the girls, and spoke hushedly, "Ok, the eta on the food is 45 minutes; we need to get some of Raven's things so she can crash here until things cool off." Maddie extended her arm so that Earl Grey could climb up and reach her hat, then stood up. "I texted Briar. Apple is asleep with her, Blondie, and Ashlynn in her dorm, and I don't think she's gonna wake up anytime soon," she said determinedly. "I'll go and get everything she could possibly need for the week. That way, she won't have to return and risk running into Apple!"
Cerise picked up her basket and another larger bag and put her phone away as she spoke, "Maddie, I'll go and get your stuff from your room and borrow a mattress from Paisley Pea." Then finally, Cedar grabbed her purse and a tote and said, "I'll grab all of Raven's favorites and some snacks and stuff from the student store, then come and tidy up. When the food gets here, text me so I can pick it up from the head office."
The three girls nodded in agreement, then as Cerise turned to the door, Maddie caught her by the edge of her hooded cape, "Wait," she said quickly. Maddie picked up Earl Grey, then flipped over her hat and pulled out a small wax paper bag that had the nurse's office logo and another plastic bag from the school store, "Raven and I picked up some medicine and stuff for Kitty; could you drop it off for me?" Cerise took them and put them in her basket as Maddie expressed her gratitude, then she opened the door as they got ready to file out. Cerise called out to Raven one last time, "Hey Rae, we're gonna go grab a couple things; we'll be back in a bit, so remember you can take as long of a bath as you want." Raven quickly called back, "Thanks! Also, I'm gonna Zespelle you some money once I-" Once again, Raven was cut off, "I WILL BURY YOUR PHONE!" Cerise yelled as she left the room. Cedar and Maddie did their best to conceal their laughter, followed, and exited the room, gently shutting the door behind them."
Notes:
Anyone who can guess what ICOP means gets a virtual cookie ;P
Chapter 9: Fairest Forever Friends
Summary:
Cerise, Maddie, and Cedar are almost done getting for their weeklong sleepover! On the other hand we get to see how this has all affected Apple.
Notes:
True friends are one of the most valuable treasures in the world, so I feel happy writing good supportive, friendships. I hope you'll enjoy, and once again thank you for the Kudos and Comments 🖤
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
While Raven attempted to soak away her troubles in the tub, Maddie, Cedar, and Cerise went about carrying out their chosen tasks, each one flitting about like wonderlandian bees drunk off of hallucinogenic honey. Cedar breezed through the snack isles of the student store, quickly seeking out everyone's favorite snacks and drinks and filling her shopping basket. 'Huh, this basket actually feels comfy to carry! I wonder if this is how Cerise feels?' Cedar thought to herself as she headed to the checkout line. Cedar looked over her haul, happy that she had grabbed each of her friends' favorite snacks. Piggie Bro's BBQ chips, peanut butter cookies, and Elf lemonade for Cerise. GrannyCake's blueberry muffins and both blue and purple razzleberry Fairy Dip for Maddie. GrannyCake's apple pies, salt and vinegar potato chips, and the limited-time Enchanted Springs blackberry-lavender sparkling water that Raven was obsessed with. For herself, Cedar had gotten a king-sized chocolate bar, a box of strawberry Pocky, a bottle of juice, and a giant bag of Dragon's Breath hot chips.
After paying the cashier, Cedar returned her purchases to her room, gently setting them down on her bed. Then she listened for any signs from the bathroom that Raven might be getting out of the bath and breathed a sigh of relief when all she heard was the music from Raven's phone. Checking her phone revealed that only about 15 minutes had passed. She put on one of her favorite playlists, then Cedar gently tossed her phone to the bed and quickly glanced across the room to take stock of what needed to be done.
The room wasn't slovenly or exceedingly disorganized, but there was work to be done, so Cedar quickly began to tidy up the room. First, Cedar cleaned everything off the floor, picking up odds and ends, mostly putting away clothes and shoes in their respective closets, then moving on to sweeping the floor. Cedar and Cerise had been in a rush after they'd been late to start getting ready for the 'special announcement' last night. After each girl had finished getting ready, they hadn't had time to clean up their rejected outfit choices or the sawdust and hair near the vanity.
"Why is there always so much hair on Cer's side of the room?" Cedar asked herself as she swept the floor. They had planned to clean up after the 'special announcement,' but after they had been up into the wee hours of the morning comforting Raven and Cerise promising to 'find the stick Milton had shoved up his-' er.. rear end, and bury it in his thick skull, they'd simply passed out from exhaustion. Cedar laughed at the memory of Cerise's threat from the night before, 'I'd think that Cerise was Captain Hook's daughter with how much she talks about burying stuff,' she joked to herself.
Soon enough, Cedar had the room back in orderly condition and moved a few furniture items to make some space for the mattress. Cedar admired her handiwork and then sat down on her bed to rest and check her phone. Cleaning the room had taken about 20 minutes, according to her phone, she contemplated sending a text to Cerise and Maddie when the door was flung open.
Cerise stepped in with her basket and about 3 tote bags of Maddie's things and quickly dropped them off to the side of the entryway. Cerise let out a low whistle as she scanned the room "Woah, Cedar, great job," she marveled at the room. Even with her… above average speed, Cerise was a bit of a slow poke when it came to cleaning. "Thanks! The hardest part was getting all of the sawdust and hair. No matter how much we sweep, I feel like we always miss a spot," Cedar huffed and crossed her arms, thinking about how many times she and her roommate had already swept this week. Hearing this, Cerise's ear involuntarily twitched under her hood. "Uhh, yeah, I know, right," she stuttered out while picking the bags off the ground and moving them over to her bed before dropping them again.
After Cerise had placed Maddie's stuff on her bed, she heard her phone go off from inside her basket; she pulled it out and saw it was a notification from GateDash. Cerise turned back to Cedar. "Ok, the foods gonna be here soon, so you should head over to the main office. I ran into Paisley and her cousin Winnona on the way here, and they both lent us an extra mattress, so now Maddie and Raven won't have to share."
Cedar chuckled, and her eyebrow raised in contemplation. "I don't think they'd mind, but at least now they have the choice. Although, considering that Paisley and Winnona need fire ladders to get into bed, I'm surprised they actually have mattresses to spare." They both began heading towards the door as Cerise choked on her words and laughed at Cedar's unexpected joke. After regaining her composure, Cerise clarified, "Paisley said she always has a spare mattress 'just in case something's wrong with one of them,' and Winnona turned her half of the room into a giant mattress fort. So If we ever fell from the Realm of the Giants, at least we know where we could grab a couple crash pads." Cedar and Cerise chuckled, then she continued, "Once she heard that the mattress was for Raven, Paisley asked me to give her this enchanted blanket that's supposed to help with sleep and said that Raven could bring it back whenever. She and Winnona seemed really concerned for Raven." "Aww, they are so swee-"
Cedar was cut off as Maddie popped through the door, "Hey girls!" Maddie joyfully called out as she trotted over to Cedar's bed, arms full of bags and her back covered with a large instrument case. "I got just about everything our little Rae Rae could need for the week." Maddie cheered as she slid the bags off her arms and onto the bed next to Cedar's purchases. She then picked up Earl Grey and placed him on her shoulder before taking off her hat and flipping it over, pulling out a multitude of items, including Raven's makeup bag, her backpack, a bunch of notebooks, a suitcase, and finally, a guitar. Cedar and Cerise watched first in amusement, then confusion.
Whilst Cedar's brain took its time trying to process the multiple laws of physics Maddie had just broken, Cerise just looked between Maddie and the pile of objects. "You sure you didn't forget anything? Cerise asked sarcastically, "Also, if you put her guitar in your hat, then what's in the actual case?" As usual, Maddie just laughed, "It's her other guitar, of course, silly billy!"
Cedar had finally managed to pick her jaw off of the floor and just smiled and praised Maddie for her work. At the same time, Cerise tried to think about why Raven would need two guitars for a week's stay before deciding that continuing down that rabbit hole would only lead to more answers she wouldn't understand. Maddie reached back down into her hat, grasping around as if she were searching for something. While digging for what she wanted, she looked up to the girls, "Cedar, while you get the food, I'll help Cerise move the mattresses, and we can be back before we can say Tea Time!" Then Maddie's face lit up as she'd apparently found what she had been looking for. With a quick pull, she produced two bed sheets and some bungee cords, balling them up before handing them to Cerise, who was stumped once again.
"All right, Maddie, one; how did you know we're getting more than one mattress? And two, why do you have sheets and bungee cords in your hat?!" Cerise questioned exasperatedly, although she knew that no matter what she asked, she knew that her friend wouldn't give her an easy answer. Of course, her thought was proven correct by Maddie's reply, "One because you just tooo~lld everyone that Paisley and Winnona are lending us their spares. And two, because they're so useful, why wouldn't I keep bedsheets and bungee cords on handstand by!" Maddie chuckled.
Cerise had an expression similar to someone who'd just been told that water isn't wet, and just chose to place the bungee cords in her basket and ball up the sheets under her arms than ask any more questions. Cedar and Maddie couldn't do anything but laugh at the funny expression on their friend's face. Cedar moved to hold open the door for everyone else. Maddie flipped her hat back onto her head first, then did a full cartwheel into a handstand, walking out of the door on her hands and calling after her friends to hurry up.
Cerise and Cedar and Cerise shared a look with each other before smiling and chuckling at Maddie's silliness. "Ya know, I don't know why I asked," Cerise stated sarcastically. Cedar was left giggling again, "Neither do I," as she gently shut the door behind them.
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Apple woke up slowly as she peeled herself out of her deep sleep. She opened her eyes, and for the first time in her life, Apple felt numb. After crying and crying and crying for so long, you eventually run out of tears. Now Apple was left with an emptiness she had never known was possible. The night before, Apple had been inconsolable, and while crying and wailing like a banshee isn't proper princess behavior, Apple couldn't muster up the self-consciousness that normally policed her behavior after having her destiny ripped away from her.
Turning over, she saw Blondie lying beside her in Briar's bed, her soft snores and long blonde hair completely obscuring her face, showing she was still asleep. After a moment, Apple slowly sat up and looked around the room and saw that Ashlynn was also knocked out in her own bed. Surprisingly Briar was wide awake, sitting on their chaise lounge and scrolling through her phone. Apple wanted to call out to her but practically choked when she opened her mouth. Her throat felt as dry as a desert, and her tongue was like sandpaper. The coughing, choking sound from Apple's mouth was enough to catch Briar's attention. She looked up and smiled gently upon seeing her best friend sitting up in front of her, "Hey, Apples, can I get you anything?" Briar asked gently, and Apple's face scrunched as she rasped out, "Water." Briar runs over to her mini fridge and grabs a bottle of water. Briar was one of the few students who chose to have a mini fridge in her room. Most considered it a waste of space since the student store was located in the shared common room of the dorms, but because Briar often fell asleep at random times, it was helpful to keep a few ready meals in her room for when she woke up. Briar walked over to Apple and gently sat down on the bed as she cracked open the bottle and then handed it over.
Apple gratefully took the water bottle and began to drink. Before she knew it, she'd swallowed the whole thing in one sitting. After pulling away from the bottle, Apple took a few gasping breaths, then turned back to Briar and handed her the bottle, "Thanks. I needed that," she said softly. Briar nodded but couldn't find it in her to speak. Briar's heart was breaking as she looked at her best friend; she had never seen Apple looking so somber, so listless, so… hollow. Apple's eyes looked so empty as she just stared down at her lap, and the tense silence was killing Briar. After a few tense moments, Briar finally spoke up, "Your parents called to check up on you earlier. I know you promised to see them today, so I told them you were resting and that you'd call them back after breakfast." Apple responded blankly, as if she were on autopilot, "What time is it now?"
Briar pulled out her phone to check the time, "12:15."Hearing this, Apple seemed to snap out of her stupor, sat up fully straight, and panicked, "Oh my gosh, I'm late! I'm so late! I'm 3 hours late!" Of course, Briar hated seeing her friend so worked up, so she did what she did best by trying to lighten the mood, "I said that you'd call them back after breakfast, and last time I checked, lunch is after breakfast." Fortunately, it seemed to work, Apple calmed down, and her expression changed from worry to a slight pout. Apple sighed as she told Briar, "I guess you're right about that." Sensing that the uncomfortable silence was trying to return, Briar chimed in again, "The barrier came down today, and Headmaster Grimm made an announcement saying that classes are canceled for the rest of the week." Apple made a noise of affirmation, but her friend could tell she was barely listening.
Inside Apple's head, only one thought was coming through. 'How could this happen?' She was there, Apple was on the stage, she'd been ready to claim her destiny, and it just… slipped through her fingers. Apple didn't understand. She'd done everything right! She was nice and well-behaved, prim and proper. Apple had been fully prepared to start her path toward becoming the next Snow White. Apple's only major problem before last night was trying to find a way to get Raven to fulfill her part in the story. Now she's discovered that she might not have a story at all, that the person she'd tried so hard to get to hate her would get everything she'd ever wanted.
Apple hadn't fallen asleep last night; she had passed out, practically comatose, after crying enough tears to fill EAH's fairytaleimpic-sized swimming pool. After seeing the book last night, all Apple could see was burgundy whenever she shut her eyes. No matter how Apple tried to picture something else or how she rubbed her puffy, bloodshot eyes, she kept seeing that same shade of red. Apple's mind kept showing her that page over and over again, so she knew precisely what shade of red that page was. Burgundy.
Not the Snow White trademark blood red, not even her signature Candy Apple red that she wore every day . It was a color that was just a shade above crimson. Burgundy. Although Apple hadn't thought about it right after waking up, she was grateful that she'd passed out rather than naturally fallen asleep because she knew that moment of her seeing the page playing on repeat in her dreams had she been allowed to fall asleep naturally.
"-ples. Apples. Hey Apple !"
Apple was once again shocked out of her stupor, and Briar winced as she saw how startled her friend was, "Sorry. Ashlynn went and got some of your clothes earlier. We had a feeling that you'd wanna shower here." Apple looked over the sleeping Blondie and Ashlynn and almost felt overwhelmed with warmth and gratitude. Last night had been the worst night of her life, hands down. While her friends could have easily rejected or abandoned her, they all came together to support her when the rug, or page in this case, had been pulled right out from under her.
Before Briar could react, Apple had stretched out, reached over, and hugged Briar in a tight embrace."Thanks, Briar. I love you all so much you're all the fairest girls I could've ever met," Apple spoke quietly but with such sincerity, and both girls found tears welling up in their eyes. Briar returned the embrace, then said, "You don't need to thank us, Apples. I think I can speak for the three of us when I say that you're one of the fairest girls we've ever known."
Hearing this, Apple was taken back to when they were just children playing in her castle courtyard. Apple had met Briar on their 1st day of kindergarten, and the two had become fast friends after Apple had stood up for Briar when she was being bullied. Despite their future roles as main characters in their stories, that doesn't mean they were exempt from childish teasing. When Briar was younger, she'd had a lisp that had made her the target of their ridicule.
While a few others were sympathetic towards her, Apple was the only one to stand up for Briar that day, even though the other kids could've easily picked on her for having glasses. Something which her mother promised wouldn't happen but that Apple had been very nervous about. That was how Briar had started calling her Apples in the first place, and even after she grew out of her lisp, it had remained a very affectionate nickname.
After pulling away, Briar was the first to speak up, "So what do you want to do right now?" Apple took a moment to think things over, trying to create a plan in her brain but struggling after having been so discombobulated the night before. Apple sighed before she spoke, "… I'll take you up on your offer for a shower, then I'm gonna talk with my parents. I think I'm gonna head home for the week so we can figure out where to go from here if something actually went wrong or if this was just the page I was dealt." More tears came to Apple's eyes though she tried to blink them away, which led to Briar hugging Apple close again.
For once, the gregarious girl didn't know what to say. It's hard to see your friend in a tough situation, but Apple was her Bestest Friend , as she'd said when she was little. They were practically sisters! In addition to that, Apple wasn't just 'in a rough place' her whole world, her dream had been pulled away from her right when she'd been about to achieve it. For now, all Briar could do was be strong for her Apples, but seeing her in such pain was so hard. Briar pulled away and reached down to grab her friend's hand. As Briar gently squeezed Apple's hands between hers and softly spoke to Apple between her tears, "I'm so sorry, Apple." Briar had to fight back a sob, then she'd said the kindest thing Apple had ever heard in her life. With her voice breaking with sincerity, Briar added, "I'd give up my happily ever after a thousand times if it meant you got yours."
Although Apple hadn't expected the words that had come out of Briar's mouth, she was nonetheless touched by them. Apple returned the gentle hand squeeze before reaching up and drying her own eyes with her arm. Then she looked back up to Briar and somehow managed to muster a shaky smile. "Thanks, Bri. Like I said before, I don't know what I would've done without you guys last night," Apple had to take a moment to brace herself before she continued, "In a way, I am kinda happy for Raven. I mean, she's been so nice this whole time, I guess it makes sense that she wasn't the next Evil Queen. I guess I was so focused on getting my Happily Ever After that I wasn't really thinking about how it would impact her life. Maybe this was just what I needed to realize how.. selfish I was by trying to force someone to go against their true self. Especially since I would hate for that to happen to you or me. I don't know what my destiny has in store for me, or if I even have one at all, but I'm gonna do my best to weather the storm and be there for all of you guys like you were there for me." Apple reached over to hug Briar once again. Then she scooted to the edge of the bed and attempted to stand up. Although Apple was a bit shaky for a moment from getting up so quickly, Briar swiftly reached out to steady her. The two exchanged one more smile before Apple walked across the room to grab the towel and the things that Ashlynn had left out for her and stepped into the bathroom.
Notes:
Next chapter might not be exactly what you expect but I hope you'll like it nonetheless 🖤
Chapter 10: Losing Hope
Notes:
This was the hardest chapter for me to write, but I feel good with how it turned out. I would like to thank my two friends Kevin and Mir for beeing my prooflisteners for this chapter! Also that DDos attack really threw a spanner into the works and I was really worried about whether I'd be able to upload or not. All of my chapters are saved so at least we don't need to worry about that. Thank you so much for the Kudos and Comments and I hope that you enjoy the chapter!
Chapter Text
Heading towards the western part of the Enchanted Forest, Sparrow only became more concerned for Duchess. After hearing everyone's accounts of her odd behavior, he couldn't help but be worried for her. While they hadn't had any plans to hang out, just disappearing into nowhere was entirely out of her character. Last night had shocked everyone, even before seeing what happened to Raven and Apple. However, Duchess' reaction to seeing the Storybook of Legends told everything. He could tell she had been caught off guard, and although she tried to hide it, her eyes were full of terror. Sparrow had wanted to check on her after the ceremony ended, but he lost her in the crowd and resigned to seeing her the next day.
Few people knew this, but Duchess and Sparrow had grown up together. After Sparrow had turned 6 years old, Corbin Hood had seen fit to enroll his son in ballet to improve his flexibility and coordination the same way it had helped him. Sparrow had been staunchly opposed to being put in a 'sissy sport' but ironically ended up becoming one of the best danseurs in their age bracket, which led to him frequently being paired up with Duchess, as she was also one of the best ballerinas in their groups. Although they hated each other at first, they quickly began to grow a friendship, even if they were both loath to admit it. Despite the surface-level differences in personality, they were actually more similar than people thought.
Though he'd 'hated' ballet, Sparrow would work tirelessly to perfect his routines and got very proud once he accomplished something particularly challenging. With her silver tongue and professional-level poker face, Duchess was innately skilled at pulling off pranks and getting away with mischief, and her competitive nature often led to her completing feats most would have thought too daring for the dainty and graceful princess. At the same time, both felt the need to limit social ties due to the fear of loss and rejection, and both related to the pressure for them to fulfill an unwanted destiny. Sparrow may have quit ballet right before starting at Ever After High, but that didn't mean he would quit caring about Duchess just because he wasn't her 'official' dance partner anymore.
Sparrow quickly pulled his knife from the sheath in his boot as he traversed through the depths of the woods, keeping his head on a constant swivel. He knew that Duchess was obviously troubled if she was messing up so frequently during practice, and she also wanted to be alone, hence why she'd headed into the western forest. While the Enchanted Forests surrounding the school were commonly visited by EAH students for various reasons, the western forests were typically avoided due to their proximity to the Dark Forest.
The Dark Forest was full of dangerous animals and magical creatures, and they had been known to creep into the western forest on occasion. Usually, only the more survival-trained students, such as Hunter or Jillian, would pass their time in the west forest, and they would often come back with tales of the dangerous animals or magical phenomena they'd seen.
However, Duchess isn't equipped to protect herself from the possible dangers living in the forest and would want to hide somewhere safe, so there was only one place she would logically go. Sparrow was another student who spent a decent amount of time in the west forest, training his knife-throwing or hiding in his secret spot when he wanted to experiment with new songs in private or skip class. He had even brought Duchess with him on a few occasions when one of them was having a bad day. Sparrow had only ever taken Duchess to that particular spot in the western forest because it was an area shielded from large predators, so he was hoping that she would be there. If she wasn't… he didn't want to think about what that could mean.
The trees slowly began to thin out a bit, and Sparrow could hear the sound of water flowing swiftly through the forest; he mentally sighed in relief because that meant he was getting close to his destination. Finally, the treeline broke, and the source of the water became visible. A small waterfall cascaded down over a jagged, rocky terrace leading to a small pond that he liked to swim in when the weather was nice. Sparrow walked over to the edge, then crouched onto the ground and looked over the edge of the drop-off to peer into the small cave he knew lay beneath. Immediately, Sparrow saw Duchess curled up on the tarp and blankets he'd stashed in his little hideout and fully relaxed once he realized she was safe and uninjured.
Sparrow called into the cave, "Duchess, I'm coming down!" before standing up and preparing for the downward climb. That was the one downside to his little hiding spot; the only way to get to it was to swim there from the pond bank or climb up and down from the hillside, which was made more difficult due to the slickness of the water. It was only about 10 feet, but a climb is a climb, and Sparrow breathed another sigh of relief once he safely touched the cave floor, then looked back to where Duchess was sitting. Sparrow had found this small alcove within his first month at EAH and turned it into his little home away from school, bringing in some tarps, blankets, pillows to sit on, and a few other odds and ends. The small electric lantern Sparrow had set up was turned on, allowing him to see the somber expression on Duchess' face, and his own subtly dropped in response as he walked over and sat down next to her.
Duchess mumbled a "Hey," as she curled back into herself. Sparrow took a moment to compose himself, trying to think carefully over his reply, then he smirked. "So, what brings you to this neck of the woods?" Duchess couldn't help but snort and laugh at his quip; she brushed her hair out of her face and sighed before she replied, "I'd gotten tired of seeing your ugly mug, but I guess you'll just follow me everywhere I try to escape, right?
There was no actual malice in Duchess' words aside from the impish tone in her voice, and she watched with no small amount of satisfaction as the previously smug look on Sparrow's face instantly twisted into indignation. "Who you callin' ugly chicken legs!" Sparrow barked as he crossed his arms and scooted up to lean back against the stone, "Lizzie and Justine were damn near begging me to make sure you didn't get eaten by an ogre, and this is the thanks I get! And to think I've been all over Hell's half-acre looking for you!"
This time it was Duchess' turn to be offended. She clutched at her heart as if she'd been shot and gasped, "You really are a bird-brain if you'd call these chicken legs," she extended her right leg out in front of him to punctuate her point. After a moment, Duchess slowly stretched out her other leg, laid them both across Sparrow's lap, and added in a kinder tone, "Buu~ut, I-I really appreciate you looking for me all the way out here. Thank you." A small noise of acknowledgment came from Sparrow's throat, and he and Duchess gently fell into a comfortable silence.
The two sat back against the wall, Duchess listening to the peaceful sound of the waterfall echo through their little cave while Sparrow gently drummed out random rhythms against her legs. This was a familiar routine they fell into when one of them was tired or upset; Duchess stretched out over Sparrow as she read or watched ballet videos on her phone, with Sparrow's fingers gently tapping out a beat and sometimes humming as he worked out a song in his head. As Sparrow watched Duchess' face, he could tell she had something heavy weighing on her mind. He wanted to ask her about it, but if he tried right now, there was the possibility she might clam up entirely.
Sparrow was weighing his chances for success by waiting versus just asking what was bugging her when Duchess broke the silence. She blurted out, "I'm glad I didn't have to sign the book last night!" The statement had been so unexpected that Sparrow couldn't help jumping slightly as he looked up to meet Duchess' eyes. Her expression seemed guarded like she was waiting to gauge his reaction before fully revealing her inner thoughts. "What do you mean," Sparrow asked calmly, trying to keep his tone neutral.
Duchess took a deep breath before continuing, "Once I realized we were brought out to sign the Storybook of Legends... I was terrified ! I mean, I hadn't found anyone to give up their destiny because, of course, no one wants to give up their happily ever after! So if I signed… that would have meant that I would never get a happily ever after." Duchess' eyes poured out tears as she got more and more worked up, and her knuckles had gone white from how hard she was gripping herself as if it was the only thing holding her together. Duchess' cried, "I'd be resigning myself to being trapped as a swan for the rest of my life or being drowned in Swan Lake! Any children I have would be left behind, and I wouldn't get to mother them! Hell, if Fritz von Nerverny is destined to be my prince, then I wouldn't even be dying for love just to be some spoiled, narcissistic royal pain's spring fling!"
Sparrow couldn't help the twitch of the eye when Prince Fritz's name was mentioned. He had never cared for Duchess' intended. Every time they had to interact with Fritz, he was whiny, petulant, and annoying; he had all of Daring's egocentrism with none of his redeeming qualities. Duchess had been forced to spend every summer with him since they were 5, and she was sure that his maturity hadn't grown despite the decade that had passed since their first meeting. However, the biggest strike against Fritz in Sparrow's book is how he talks about the other girls, especially Duchess.
Sparrow was a flirt, everyone knew it, and he was proud of his charm. Despite this, everyone knew Sparrow would never push pasts the girls' boundaries with his flirtation and would genuinely apologize for any misstep. While Sparrow might be a chucklehead at the best of times, Missy Marian, Corbin Hood, and all of the Merry Men had taught Sparrow well, and he truly embodied the Robin Hood spirit of caring for others. This is why Sparrow didn't feel hypocritical when he said that the drivel from Fritz's mouth had pushed straight past flirty to crass and disrespectful. On one memorable occasion, Sparrow and Hunter heard firsthand what Fritz had to say about Duchess to his friends, mostly relating to her... assets or his other romantic options for after she "flew the coop," in his words. Hunter had to practically drag Sparrow out of the building to prevent him from knocking some sense into Fritz's thick skull with his Faeblade Guitar.
Duchess hadn't heard Fritz's more vulgar comments like the boys', but she'd heard everything else that passed through the grapevine. Needless to say, Fritz was shallower than any of the puddles Duchess had danced across, and she was happy to keep her distance whenever possible. Sparrow reached to put his arm over her shoulder, but he was at a loss for what else he could do. When something bothered him, he'd find a way to get rid of it or take himself out of the situation. Unfortunately, destiny isn't something you can just run away from. Sparrow was having problems facing his own destiny, so how was he supposed to help Duchess!
Sparrow's mouth opened and closed a few times as he tried to come up with something to say. For once, he was at a complete loss for words. Suddenly inspiration struck, and his face lit up. Sparrow reached over with both arms and gently turned himself and Duchess to face each other. With a slightly manic expression, Sparrow gasped, "What if you don't have to be the Swan Princess!" Duchess' surprise gave way to confusion and exasperation. "What are you talking about Sparrow, I have to be the next Swan Princess. It's my destiny?" Sparrow shook his head, "Maybe not, you could get a new story, like Apple!"
The look on Duchess' face must have shown how lost she was and Sparrow continued to explain himself, "You saw what happened with the Storybook of Legends! Headmaster Grimm told us that when people without a story tried to open the Storybook of Legends, they couldn't. Apple may not be the next Snow White, but she was able to open the book, and she had a page! What if her page was blank, because a new story is being written for her!?"
Although it sounded somewhat absurd, Duchess took a moment to mull over her friend's words and eventually acquiesced. Slowly, Duchess stuttered, "T-That… that could explain why the Storybook of Legends showed Raven as the next Snow White." As she kept speaking, she seemed to grow more sure of the idea, "The White and Queen families have always been closely related, so if Apple is supposed to get a new story, then the role of Snow White would go to her closest relative who could fulfill the role. In this case, that would be Raven."
"Right! So, if you were to go out and find a new story for yourself or if you were unable to complete your own story for some reason, you wouldn't have to be the next Swan Princess!" Sparrow looked hopeful and Duchess unsure. They both knew that his plan was shaky at best. Yet, Duchess found herself mentally agreeing with his plan, maybe out of desperation to avoid her fate, or actual hope that Sparrow's plan could work. Still, there was one last problem Duchess had to address, "What about Baba? What if she gets upset if I don't become the next Swan Princess?" Sparrow held both of Duchess' hands in his own, giving them a tender squeeze.
"Duchess, your mother lost out on being able to live her life and has been stuck on that lake for the past 16 years! Your grandmother lost her only sister and daughter to Swan Lake! I think your grandma would be grateful for you straying from your story if it keeps you both alive and human. She's been proud of you your whole life, and you being yourself won't change that." A few seconds had passed as Duchess absorbed everything they had discussed, she took her hands out of Sparrows and wrung them together, "Where do I even start?"
"We~ll I think finding a new story isn't something you can do in one day. All of our stories were written as they progressed, so we should do some digging around the history of story formation to get started." "WE! You mean you're gonna help me research? I'm surprised you even remembered that not everyone could open the Storybook of Legends," Duchess scoffed and Sparrow rolled his eyes and smirked, "I'll have you know that I got a B+ on my last history report, but of course, I'm gonna help you find your new story! I can't have you going off on some wicked cool adventure without me!" Although Sparrow had said this jokingly, Duchess knew that he was being sincere in his determination to help and her heart softened from the touching gesture. Duchess smiled, reached out, and took one of Sparrow's hands and clasped it between hers, then in a small voice she spoke "Thank you… f-for everything." Sparrow was taken aback by the sincere thanks and quickly tried to shrug it off. Sparrow took his hand back and tried to wave away the seriousness of their conversation, "Eh, don't worry about it. For now, I think we should start by getting out of this cave."
Sparrow stretched before he stood up and dusted off his pants as he continued, "Liz told me you didn't eat breakfast and I didn't get a chance to eat either since I was stuck looking for you." Sparrow reached down to help Duchess stand, she turned off the small lamp to their side before taking it and allowing him to help pull her up. "We could head to the BookEnd," Duchess suggested as they headed towards the cave entrance, "I know you wanted to try that new Snarl milkshake at BurgerTale, and I'm always down for curly fries." Sparrow agreed and turned towards the cliff face to climb back up, only to be interrupted by Duchess, she asked confusedly "Uhhh, what are you doing?" Sparrow rolled his eyes "We~ll excuuusse me princess, but not all of us can walk on water!"
Duchess sighed before dragging Sparrow to the water's edge; she daintily stepped onto the water as easily as if it were the solid ground he was left standing on. She seemed to be preparing to dance as she raised her arms and angled her feet where she wanted them. Then, Duchess turned back and barked, "Relevé!" Before he could think, Sparrow had immediately risen into position, although it was much more difficult doing so in his boots rather than the proper ballet shoes sitting in his closet. Duchess smirked, then closed her eyes in concentration and extended her arm expectantly, waiting for him to join her.
Sparrow hesitated a few seconds before taking her hand, turning her on the water, and stepping onto the water's surface. Sparrow was surprised that he didn't get wet but had no time to dwell on it. If he stopped dancing, so would Duchess, and then they'd both fall through the water. He'd been happy to hang up his pointe shoes to focus more on his music when he started at EAH. Still, he did miss it every once and a while, and Duchess had always been happy to drag him into the studio under the guise of helping her practice.
Sparrow realized they were dancing the pas de deux from one of their previous recitals, and although his footwork wasn't the best it could have been, and they were probably offbeat due to the lack of music he felt proud of their informal traveling performance. Step, step, turn, jete, turn, step, lift… and they were done. They were both panting slightly after their performance, Sparrow was standing on the soft bank of the pond and holding Duchess high in the air, her arms and legs stretched out elegantly.
Sparrow set Duchess down softly on the ground before shaking out his arms and stretching, and she did the same. Once they felt the tension from their performance left them, they began the trek out of the forest, following Sparrow's lead. They hadn't solved Duchess' problem yet, but both Sparrow and Duchess were happy at finally grabbing a bite to eat. Especially when Duchess drank some of Sparrow's milkshake, and he in turn, snagged some of her curly fries when she wasn't looking. As Giles Grimm watched the two through his mirror, he was happy to see someone struggling with destiny being supported by another. Maybe this could be the start of a new story.
Chapter 11: 1 Book 2 Scrolls
Summary:
I never expected to gain this much interest but I feel estatic and proud that others actually like something I held close to my heart for so long. Thank you so much for the kudos, comments, and for being so patient🖤 Some of the girls get breakfast, one of them doesn't, but speaking from experience school meetings can be stressful.
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Apple sat between her mother and father as they waited for Headmaster Grimm to call them into his office. Dianna's manicured nails lightly drummed against her leg in agitation from the wait before she eventually grabbed her mirrorphone and scrolled through it. Her father chose to pass his time reading through one of the adventuring magazines that had been provided on the table. Apple didn't know what to say and didn't want to be the first to break the silence, so she was left with her thoughts. 'Please let this be a mistake,' she thought desperately. Apple's fingers scrunched into her skirt as her thoughts grew more anxious and desperate for everything she saw in the StoryBook of Legends to be an error or prank.
Suddenly, Apple felt a warm, gentle pressure on her hand. She looked over and saw her father smile as he gave her hand a slight squeeze. Jason was the only person who could always help her calm down when she got really nervous with his best dad humor, and he wasn't afraid of looking silly in front of others to make her laugh. Jason pulled a face, and she struggled to fight back a laugh, but a small giggle escaped as he did an impression of his wife on her phone. Dianna turned to look at them and only saw Apple and Jason sitting back in their chairs like perfect little angels. Dianna sighed and reached out to take Apple's free right hand in her own.
For just a few minutes, the three of them felt content. Apple enjoyed the passive comfort her parents had offered her until her stomach decided to protest its emptiness by letting out a loud, unprincess-like growl that was made more noticeable due to the relative silence of the room. Dianna turned to Apple, "You didn't eat breakfast?" she inquired. "No. I was so tired that I ended up sleeping in," Apple admitted. Dianna rubbed her temple and sighed like all mothers do when someone they care for says or does something foolish. "You can decide where we'll have lunch after this meeting," Dianna said kindly, then she smirked, "can't have you starving before we reach home." The slight smile on her mother's face told her that Dianna was already planning to let Apple choose where they would eat. She was just making a point.
Before Apple could respond, the family's little moment was interrupted by Ms.Tarry. "Excuse me, Mr.Grimm will see you now." Ms.Tarry called out softly, and the three of them began standing up and preparing to head through the imposing door to Headmaster Grimm's office. Dianna strode forth, knocked on the door, and opened it after receiving Grimm's permission as Jason and Apple trailed behind her.
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After visiting Paisley and Winnona, Maddie and Cerise returned to her dorm room with the mattresses in tow. Maddie opened the door, and they began dragging the beds in as they saw Cedar spreading out their brunch across the coffee table. Cedar stopped and ran over to help them get the mattresses set up. Within ten minutes, the three girls had the two beds fully made up with some spare sheets, blankets, and comforters that Maddie had squirreled away in her hat. Lastly, the three girls set up the area next to Cedar's closet as a temporary base for Raven and Maddie's belongings so they'd have easy access to everything they needed without anyone tripping over anything. Cedar, Maddie, and Cerise felt the tiny sense of urgency leave them as they admired how well their plan to surprise Raven turned out. Now that everything was done, they could relax. Cerise grabbed the TV remote off her desk and plopped down on the couch as Maddie and Cedar sat beside her and started grabbing their breakfast. Cerise reached over for a piece of bacon as she scrolled through a list of their favorite shows, settling on one, and plated her breakfast.
Another five minutes passed before the bathroom door opened, "Whew! Thanks, guys, that was just what I needed!" Raven exhaled as she emerged from the bathroom, a cloud of steam clinging to her as she stepped out. Raven's eyes sought out her friend, but her interest shifted when she saw the 2 freshly made beds lying in between Cedar and Cerise's and all of the snacks Cedar had splayed on her bed. In addition, Raven recognized her suitcase, guitar, and other belongings piled up beside Maddie's on the wall against Cedar's closet as she turned towards the couch. Raven saw her friends returning her gaze as they sat back on the sofa and enjoyed breakfast. Raven's eyes teared up as she saw how much effort they had put into trying to make her comfortable and distract her from everything that had gone down last night.
Raven crossed the room, sat between Cerise and Maddie on the couch, and reached out to gently hold all three of them, "Thanks, girls. I couldn't wish for better friends even if I tried." Cedar gently patted Raven's arm in reassurance, "You would do the same for us." Cerise shrugged as she returned to her breakfast, "Yeah, what're friends for." Since her mouth was full, Maddie resorted to giving her bestie a gentle squeeze before turning back to the TV as Cerise skipped through the ad. "What are we watching?" Raven inquired as she began fixing herself a plate, "My Fairytale Wedding: Uncut," Cerise replied, her eyes glued to the screen, "The bride is about to find out that her fiance's ex is there and wearing a white dress." Raven looked up at the TV just in time to see the bride's reaction as she stormed past the camera crew.
The girls felt like themselves again as they sat back, eating, watching the drama, and laughing. For a moment, the previous night didn't loom over their shoulders; they didn't have to worry about living up to a legacy or whether or not they'd sign their page in the Storybook of Legends. The friends were able to enjoy themselves for a little while; they were just 4 teenage girls hanging out and having fun. The spell was broken when Raven's phone rang, but a small smile graced her face after she checked the caller ID and answered the call. "Hi, Dad," she greeted, "yeah, I'm fine. Don't worry. I'm crashing with 'Reese and Cedar until next week." While her friends weren't trying to eavesdrop, they couldn't help but notice how her face shifted into something more serious as the call went on, "OK, I'll meet you there in a few minutes. Yes, I'm sure. Love you too, Papa."
Raven sighed as she ended the call and slumped back into Maddie's lap, "What's wrong," Maddie asked concernedly. Raven groaned as she slowly stood up and stretched, " Uggghhh. Dad says that headmaster Grimm called him this morning and wants to see us and talk about what happened." Cedar, Cerise, and Maddie looked at each other worriedly. The students were still whipped in a frenzy from last night, and some might try something if they caught Raven alone. "Do you want one of us to walk you there?" Cerise said, and Raven shook her head as she headed over to her suitcases and began pulling out a more presentable outfit, "No, I got it. Besides, this will let me spend 1-1 time with my dad before he has to leave. We'd planned to spend the weekend together, but now he has to go back early to deal with all the other kingdoms asking for meetings," Raven assured as she grabbed her clothes and returned to the bathroom.
After a few moments and a flash of magic light, she emerged from the bathroom fully dressed with her hair and makeup done, "You want anything while I'm out," Raven asked as she grabbed her purse and headed towards the door. Cedar smiled, "No, I already went to the store and got snacks for tonight, so we're good." Maddie went over and hugged her friend before she could leave, "Good luck, and don't listen to any of those haters out there. They're not worth your time," she spoke kindly but firmly. Cerise smirked from across the room, "And if anyone gives you any trouble, let me know. They might find themselves stuck at the bottom of a hole." Maddie excitedly chimed in, "Oooh ooh, or falling down a rabbit hole!" Cedar rolled her eyes and crossed her arms, "What is it with you guys' obsession with holes and burying things!" Raven burst out laughing as she finally left the room, the door softly shut behind her. Raven kept her smile as she met with her father in front of the dorm building and walked towards Headmaster Grimm's office. Whether intentional or not, her friends had made her feel better; now, she could only hope that whatever revelations came out of this meeting wouldn't set her back to square one.
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It was clear that Headmaster Grimm had been prepared for them as more chairs were present than usual. Instead of the standard two chairs, five were positioned in a semicircle around the headmaster's large desk. Baba Yaga sat on her levitating mortar; she hovered in place next to Headmaster Grimm, who sat in his leather office chair looking slightly worse for wear. Although he had clearly put effort into his appearance, his hair had been combed, and his suit was clean and pressed, it couldn't erase the tiredness from his bloodshot eyes or how visibly tense he was. They sat down as Headmaster Grimm gave them his usual pleasantries. Still, an awkward tension filled the room, and it was thicker than the wonderfruit and bubble berry jam that the Mad Hatter served at his tea shop.
Dianna, however, wasted no time and jumped straight into her argument, "What kind of tomfoolery has been going on around here! First, Legacy Day gets canceled because of some school emergency issue, and then you host the new signing ceremony without informing us that it's the signing ceremony! Now, the Storybook of Legends has been tampered with! There's NO WAY it wasn't because Apple is destined to be the next Snow White! What do you have to say to explain this?"
Apple noticed how Headmaster Grimm didn't even flinch in the face of her mother's ire; he must have been expecting this. Clearing his throat, Headmaster Grimm began speaking, "Snow, I understand your anger, and believe me when I say I was just as shocked as you are. Although the tests last night ruled that the book hadn't been tampered with, I asked Madame Yaga and other magic experts to conduct a more thorough examination to get to the bottom of this." Headmaster Grimm gestured towards his desk as he rolled his chair back to allow Madame Yaga more room, "Madame Yaga, if you would?"
Madame Yaga pulled the Storybook of Legends out of her bag and laid it on top of the desk; her cool gray eyes looked over to Dianna and Jason, "Your Majesties," she addressed. She shifted her gaze to Apple and smiled slightly, "Ms.White." With a wave of her hand, two parchment rolls appeared in Madame Yaga's grasp as she continued briefing them, "As I said last night, the spell that I performed indicated that the Storybook of Legends hadn't been enchanted or otherwise tampered with. While that test is normally very reliable, I was slightly concerned that the large amount of ambient magic in the air could have been interfering with the test results." Apple felt a small glimmer of hope well up within her; there was a chance she still had her destiny!
Ms. Tarry's voice over the intercom broke everyone's concentration. "Headmaster Grimm, I know you're in a meeting, but the other guests you requested have arrived." Headmaster Grimm perked up a bit as he pressed the button to respond, "Thank you, Ms.Tarry. Send them right in." Dianna, Jason, and Apple shared a look of confusion as they waited for the new guests to arrive. Maybe they were one of the magic experts? Once they'd knocked at the door, Headmaster Grimm called them in, and Liam and Raven stepped into the room.
Apple was horrified when she saw Raven, while Dianna looked annoyed at seeing her rival's spouse and child. Jason was the only one to react positively, sending over a bright grin to his old friend. Liam sat down next to Jason and quietly exchanged greetings with him. Raven took the final remaining chair beside her father and did everything she could to avoid meeting Apple and Dianna's eyes. Headmaster Grimm cleared his throat, and all eyes returned to him, "I apologize for not having two separate meetings for this topic, but considering the outcome of these results would impact both Ms.White and Ms.Queen, I figured it would be best to have both families present." Apple knew what that meant; Headmaster Grimm kept this from them to ensure that both parties would show up.
Raven could feel Dianna's annoyed glare piercing into her, "I should have known that Mariana's spawn was responsible for this," she huffed as she flipped her perfectly done hair over her shoulder while Jason visibly cringed at his wife's callousness. Liam leaned over in his chair to look at Dianna directly and snapped at her, " Excuse you, I'll have you know my daughter had nothing to do with this! Just because something has happened with your daughter doesn't mean you should shift the blame to mine like you always tried to do to Mariana!" Dianna rolled her eyes harder than Raven thought possible, "Well, we'll just have to see about that Liam-darling," she turned towards the desk, "Grimm. Madame Yaga. Can we please return to the test results," she said confidently. Liam shot her one last glare before leaning back in his chair and waiting for Madame Yaga to begin speaking.
Madame Yaga pulled the two parchment scrolls out again and continued to explain, "Mr.Benecel, Ms.Queen. As I was saying before your arrival, while the tests I performed last night indicated no signs of tampering, my magical associates and I conducted more thorough examinations after the ceremony just to be sure. The results came in this morning and have remained sealed until now to ensure their authenticity; even Headmaster Grimm and I are ignorant of the results."
The first scroll popped open as Madame Yaga summoned her reading glasses and put them on, then she began reading the results, "The first test conducted was to assess who had opened the case for the Storybook of Legends and who had handled it last before the signing began. These results indicate that Headmaster Grimm had been the last person to do both." Liam smiled, and Dianna began to frown upon hearing the test results; the second scroll popped open, and Madam Yaga continued reading. For a few moments, Madame Yaga read over the test results, and the others in the room stewed in their emotions.
Apple was anxious; she'd wanted to believe that what had happened was an error or an elaborate prank, but it was looking less likely that was the case. And if last night had been a prank, then why had they seemingly targeted her ? Who had done this? Apple didn't have any of the answers to her questions, but she disagreed with her mother about Raven being the culprit, as much as she wished for the opposite. Despite how much she had wanted Raven to play her role as the Evil Queen, Apple just couldn't see her going out of her way to hurt and embarrass her in such a cruel way. Plus, Raven's reactions had seemed so genuinely confused. For her entire time knowing Raven, Apple always saw her wearing her heart on her sleeve and speaking her mind, pulling such an underhanded prank to get what she wanted was beneath her. Meanwhile, Raven didn't exactly know how to feel. Of course, she had been happy at the possibility of not being the next Evil Queen, but Raven didn't like the idea of just changing her position on signing now that she was in a more favorable position either. Why should Raven or anyone else allow some old book to control their lives? Why should they have to relive the same stories over and over when they could find or write their own stories!
Madame Yaga finally stopped reading, and she took a deep, calming breath before she soberly looked back to her audience, "I'm sorry, Apple, the results are the same as last night and show no magical tampering with the book." The dam inside her gave way from all of the pressure, and Apple burst into tears; Jason immediately reached over to hug his daughter. Dianna was furious, "What about an enchantment placed on Apple or Mariana's spawn? You didn't run a test on either of them," she yelled. Madame Yaga waved off the possibility as she responded, "That's because any enchantment on them would have affected the book through magical transfer. The spell would've been intended to alter their pages in the book. So, once they opened it, the spell would've immediately transferred into the book. The only way that wouldn't happen was if they were being spelled during the ceremony. Then the magic would fade away once the caster stopped the spell."
Before Dianna could inquire of the possibility, Madame Yaga shut her down, "That, of course, was impossible. That type of casting is extremely advanced and requires a lot of magic energy. Any magic users present, myself included, would have felt a spell of that magnitude being carried out. No matter whether someone enchanted Apple and Raven. Because both would need to be enchanted for what we saw to occur, or if they spelled the book directly, there would be traces of that magic on the book itself. That rules out all options that would explain the book being altered. Of course, there's another easy way to test this." Dianna's eyes narrowed, "And what is that," she growled. Madame Yaga sat back down on her floating mortar and gestured to the Storybook of Legends, "We have the girls try to sign again," she said calmly.
Chapter 12: Guiding Destiny
Summary:
It happened.
Notes:
Fun fact the previous chapter and this one were originally one, but it as getting too long so I split them. Funny enough this one is even longer than when I split it before😂. I wanted this to come out sooner but I wanted to make sure it got all of the TLC and polish it deserved. I hope this was worth the wait, and once again I want to thank all of you for reading commenting, and giving Kudos. I'm so grateful for all of the love and It really warms my heart and makes my day 🖤
Chapter Text
Silence filled the office after Madame Yaga's last statement. While it made sense to have the girls try to sign, they all felt somewhat uneasy about having them go through that experience again, especially with how much it had hurt Apple. Both sets of parents looked toward their kids. None of them knew how everything had turned out like this. Dianna and Jason were naturally concerned for their daughter; doing this could save her destiny, but it could very well break her heart again. Of course, Liam felt genuinely awful for Apple, too. After all, she'd had her hopes and dreams very publicly stripped away from her, all in what should have been one of her proudest moments. Liam only knew of Apple in passing from listening to Raven's reports of her roommate and everyone else's tales of the golden-haired princess. Still, he felt nobody deserved to have their dreams crushed like that, especially not a child. Despite all that, Liam couldn't help feeling overwhelming joy, pride, and smugness!
Liam had always known his little chickadee wasn't evil, and he felt what the Storybook of Legends had shown proved that! His poor Raven had spent her whole life being jeered and ostracized by the rest of the realm. No matter what she did, they only saw the worst in her because of her role as the next Evil Queen. Raven had shut the book before her whole chapter could play out, but if what they saw was accurate, she'd be the next Snow White. While the people behind their roles don't always live up to their hype, almost all of Ever After's realms consider the tale of Snow White to be sacred. It's why so many of the White Kingdom's problems were overlooked. Snow White and her prince were meant to act as paragons of kindness and altruism, showing how that good will always triumph over evil. If his Raven really is the next Snow White, it'd take the fact that despite how they feared, isolated, and degraded her for her entire life, she'd always been good, and nothing they tried to say or do to her would change that.
Apple's crying had slowed to a stop by now, and while she still had a few tears left in her eyes, she was coherent enough to follow along. She gently leaned out of her father's embrace and readied herself to stand. However, Madame Yaga raised her hand, stopping Apple in her tracks. Madame Yaga looked at all of the parents, "Actually," Madame Yaga started, "I want the adults to come forward first." The confusion across everyone's face was apparent, so Madame Yaga continued to explain, "Simply put, you'll act as a form of control as you all have already signed your page and fulfilled your destiny. If there's been no alteration to the book, your pages should show up just as they did when you signed it back on your legacy day." The mood shifted with this announcement; Liam and Jason seemed nostalgic about reliving their high school days, while Apple and Raven were excited and curious. The only one who seemed somewhat reserved and concerned was Dianna, anxiously adjusting the rings on her fingers in contemplation. "Dianna, would you be willing to go first?" Headmaster Grimm asked, somewhat sensing the nervous energy coming from her. Dianna had startled but quickly composed herself. "Fine," she huffed as she stood up and brushed off her skirt. Dianna stepped over to the Storybook of Legends for the first time since her Legacy day, holding her hand to summon her key. The key that appeared was very elegant in appearance; a tiny mirror decorated the end of the key and was surrounded with diamonds and rubies, 3 on top and 3 on bottom, with the handle and teeth of the key all being made in white gold.
Grabbing her key out of the air with poise and precision, Dianna unlocked the book, and everyone watched as her story played out. Raven and Liam's eyes couldn't help but be drawn to all of the panels with Mariana in them; they saw who she was before she became the Evil Queen that the realms lived in fear against. In the background, they saw Mariana go from happy to a mix of bored and agitated. Only on the last panel did she resemble the Evil Queen she was now feared as. Finally, they all witnessed Dianna's current lavish life of luxury as the reigning queen. Dianna was proud as she shut the book, even more so when she looked back and saw how impressed her daughter was while watching her story play out. Jason lovingly looked over his wife and daughter, "Wanna see mine next," he asked confidently, and Apple's bright smile warmed her father's heart as she nodded.
Jason took his turn, stepping up to the book and summoning his key. No one could deny how much it suited the loving father and husband. Jason's key was made of yellow gold, and the ornament of the handle displayed a heart-shaped ruby decorating the front of a shield and protecting a red enamel heart behind it. Unlocking the Storybook of Legends showed him training to become an honorable and kind ruler, saving Dianna, and being crowned king. Although he could have closed the book there, Jason let it continue playing, wanting to see past what he saw during his Legacy Day. They saw the first time Jason held Apple, her first words, learning to walk, riding a bike. No matter where Apple was, Jason was always guiding her through something or watching on with pride. The final page showed Dianna fondly watching him and Apple laughing at their family's summer lakeside vacation the year prior. This was his happily ever after. Jason blinked away the few tears in his eyes as he sat back down with his family and hugged his girls. Liam and Raven couldn't help smiling at seeing their friends' happiness.
Headmaster Grimm spoke up softly, "Liam." Liam followed the same steps as Dianna and Jason. After the flash of light, Liam grabbed his key and turned it over in his palm. It was blue and gold, and on top sat a serene, white owl with golden eyes wearing the Benecel Kingdom's royal crown. Everyone saw how Liam grew up, falling in love with Mariana and ruling his kingdom. The White family was curious to see Raven's exploits as a child and were almost shocked to see how... pleasant she was to raise. Apple had always hoped in vain that Raven's kindness was only surface level or a phase, and Dianna had undoubtedly thought that… any child of Mariana would be a little hellion. They saw Mariana grow darker, carry out her schemes, and be imprisoned. Headmaster Grimm and Dianna twinged, seemingly in guilt at Liam and Raven's sadness after their loss. The next page showed little Raven following her father like his own shadow, her being castle-schooled, her many private home recitals, and older Raven happily helping her father run the kingdom. Lastly, they saw Liam and Raven at the father-daughter dance last winter before his chapter finished, and he slowly closed the book, a look of nostalgia still present on his face.
After Liam sat back down, everyone turned to Apple, who had calmly stood up and taken his place. Apple took a deep breath before she summoned her key and braced herself when she found the same key from before. This was her last possible chance to prove she was the next Snow White, and it wasn't looking good. Finally, she unlocked the book and noted the lack of emblem that appeared. It magically spun open and flipped through its many pages, ultimately stopping on an empty burgundy page. Apple's tears came back full force as she saw her fears confirmed, her arms bracing themselves against the mahogany desk when her legs felt like they would give way from beneath her. Dianna had let out a short scream, like a part of her had just died, as she leaned into her husband. Liam somberly looked over to see Jason, who clenched his eyes tight as he tried to keep from crying as he held his wife. Even Headmaster Grimm and Madame Yaga's previously neutral expressions had turned somber. It couldn't have been more than a few seconds before Apple felt someone gently holding her arm. Looking over revealed a teary-eyed Raven reaching out to her, "I'm so sorry, Apple. I know how much this means to you," she whispered.
Apple reached over to squeeze Raven's hand in thanks, but they were both shocked as pulses of red and purple light jumped into the book from where their hands joined. The Storybook of Legends slammed shut in a flash, sending out a wave of energy that made everyone's hair stand on end as Apple's key crumbled into a golden dust that flew back towards her. A second flash of light revealed a second keyhole next to the original. Raven and Apple stared at each other in confusion. The others in the room shared a similar dumbfounded expression as well. Headmaster Grimm's serious brow furrowed deeply, and his eyes held a mix of shock and befuddlement. This had never happened in all his years as the keeper of the Storybook of Legends, well...except for the double keyhole. While uncommon, the Storybook of Legends would display multiple keyholes for the specific stories that required them. Although, they hadn't had one of those stories occur for quite some time.
"Ms.White, Ms.Queen. I understand that today has been very confusing and trying for everyone involved. However, I must request you to summon your keys and unlock the book together. I feel it is the only way to get to the bottom of this." Raven and Apple stood silently in apprehension, neither wanting to move toward the book. The past 24 hours had been an emotional roller coaster, and this would undoubtedly open up an entirely new can of worms. Raven looked back towards her father, who nodded as he caught her eyes. She could do it or not, and he'd support her either way. Looking next to her, Raven could see Apple's expression slowly hardened in contemplation, and her grip on the desk tightened before she spoke. Apple caught her stare and must have seen her apprehension towards the book because she started begging, " Please , Raven! I need to find out what this all means. I can't just be a nobody with a blank page!"
Apple felt herself slowly and gently be pulled away from the desk and Raven. Before she knew it, she realized her father was holding her again. When he pulled back, she could see the distraught look on his face, how much Jason was grieving for her as his watery eyes stared directly into hers. He comforted her softly but sternly, "Apple Rosella Valiant-White. You're worth so much more than some old role in a fairy tale. Snow White or not, you're still yourself, and you always will be." Despite the attempt to make her feel better, Apple couldn't help snapping in frustration and pulling away from her father. Everyone in the room was shocked at her outburst, "I've spent my whole life preparing to be the next Snow White," Apple cried, "It was supposed to be my destiny, the only way I could get my happily ever after! If I'm not the next Snow White, who am I?"
Raven softly tapped Apple's shoulder to get her attention, who immediately turned to see who it was. "A-Apple, while I agree with your dad, I know this is like.. a massive deal for you," Raven stuttered nervously, "If trying to open this book right now will make you happy, then I'll do it. For you." For a moment, they just stared at each other as everyone else watched on. Before Raven knew what had happened, Apple pulled her into a firm hug, stunning her. She gently patted Apple's back in response, at a loss for what else she could do to comfort her roommate. Soon, Apple pulled back from the embrace and smiled, "Thank you," she choked out. Still, everyone could see that it was taking everything Apple had not to fall down into a puddle of tears. Raven took Apple's hand once more, and they returned to their place in front of the Storybook of Legends. Both girls held out their free hands, summoning their keys in a flash of light, and for the umpteenth time, both girls managed to subvert expectations.
Although similar, both keys were markedly different from their previous summoning attempts. Raven's key had the same color pallet of purple, silver, and obsidian and maintained its apple-shaped handle. However, the key now looked more complete. A tiny but beautiful obsidian Raven perched on the apple, holding a single ruby rose in its beak. Apple was similarly shocked and somewhat thrilled at her key's drastic transformation. The gold key's previously plain handle now had a marble owl nesting in gold and ruby roses, a single apple laid by the owl's feet, its skin so dark it appeared almost black. The adults in the room shared looks of shock and confusion, Headmaster Grimm in particular, jaw dropped through the floor. This was the first time anyone in the history of Ever After had seen or heard of someone's key changing appearance after its initial summoning. Raven and Apple shared one last look, nodding as some imperceivable message passed between them.
Finally, they moved, plunging their keys into their respective keyholes and turning them. The same purple and red energy appeared on the front cover where someone's role symbol would typically be, then vanished, leaving behind an apple and a rose in their place. The Storybook of Legends opened with a thud and flipped through its many pages, stopping on a page with purple and red borders. The adults quickly stepped behind their children to get a closer look as Headmaster Grimm and Madame Yaga watched from behind his large desk. The first image showed two infants held tight by Mariana and Liam, and the second displayed a younger version of Apple and Raven standing with their parents.
Jason pointed to the image of the two infants, "That's Apple, he exclaimed, "but why are you and Mariana holding her?" Liam shook his head as he explained, "That can't be Apple, Jason." Liam adverted his eyes, "T-that...that was our Owlette, Raven's twin. She passed away the night of their birth," he clarified mournfully. The book's page froze as Liam and Raven sadly gazed at the picture of their family. Half the people in the image weren't with them anymore. Jason and Apple felt sympathetic at their loss, but Jason couldn't take his eyes off the picture. It looked exactly like Apple when she first came home from the hospital! Dianna looked like she'd been turned to stone as her anxious gaze focused on the photo. She reached to her neck, holding and stroking the long chain hidden underneath her shirt. Headmaster Grimm closed his eyes in solemn reflection as he rubbed his mustache with his large hand. Similarly, Madame Yaga looked stunned, like she couldn't believe what she was seeing; before schooling her expression into something more thoughtful, she brushed through her thick grey hair with her long, thin fingers. They were all snapped out of their thoughts when the page flipped, and they watched the current forms of Raven and Apple studying together, hanging out with their friends, and exploring the forest. In every frame, they sat side by side or held each other by the hand. The page turned again, and they saw a shadowy figure holding two apples, one glossy red, the other a rich dark purple. The next page featured a bear and Dexter standing sorrowfully over an unconscious Raven and Apple before casting the previous shadowy figure into darkness. After they saw Raven and Apple happily reuniting with their friends. The last image was of an adult Raven and Apple, wearing unique crowns and seemingly ruling over their respective kingdoms side by side. Now finished, the Storybook of Legends closed itself again and reverted back to its original form.
Apple had grown more and more hopeful with each new image, and once she saw the final page, she was ecstatic! Admittedly, part of her was still hurt that she wouldn't become Snow White and follow in her mother's footsteps. However, she could still get her happily ever after and rule her kingdom, which was better than having no destiny at all! Nonetheless, she still had so many questions! Who was that shadowy, cloaked figure? What story is this? However, the most prominent and perplexing question was why was the Evil Queen holding her as a baby? Most importantly, why were Raven and her fates seemingly intertwined? They had never been close, both because Raven was supposed to be the next Evil Queen and because they argued when Apple tried to encourage her to fulfill her role. Maybe Apple could use this as a starting point to build and improve their relationship, but she knew that would take time.
Apple turned to her parents and excitedly discussed her newfound destiny, noting how similar it seemed to Snow White and how she could still have her happily ever after. Liam and Raven stood in silence as they absorbed this newfound reality. Raven wasn't the Evil Queen. They couldn't force her to play that part now! However, they both knew this wasn't the end of matters. They were just waiting for the other shoe to drop. Looking perturbed and more serious than usual, Headmaster Grimm cleared his throat, "Everyone, I must insist that you take your seats so we can go over all that has been revealed." After a few seconds of brief shuffling so that everyone could return to their seats, Headmaster Grimm continued. "I know that you all must be shocked about what we saw happen to Ms.White and Ms.Queen's keys and the Storybook of Legends, but I must first inform you of something more substantial."
Everyone in the room waited with bated breath for the Headmaster to continue explaining while Madame Yaga kept anxiously stroking her hair and adjusting her long headscarf. "You may have noticed that the story we witnessed was quite similar to the tale of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves. That is because it is a sister story. Sister stories are the technical term for alternate versions of a previously established fairytale that are tied to other fairy tales or have slightly differing events. For example, the tales of Tinkerbell's various exploits are sister stories to Peter Pan or the multitude of stories branching from Cinderella. How a signer's key appears is determined based on their personality and role in their story. Last night, the book failed to register Ms.White's role in this story, so her key appeared incomplete. Similarly, Ms.Queen's dual role caused her key's appearance to change to suit her role in both sister stories. Today, we have witnessed one of the rarest sister stories of Snow White, well known as Snow White and Rose Red."
Headmaster Grimm briefly paused to gauge the other's reactions. His statement had clearly staggered them. Jason and Apple were shocked. Most in the White Kingdom had forgotten about Rose Red since it had been over a century since her role had been played. Dianna paled even further as her deep blue gaze shifted back and forth from Headmaster Grimm to Apple, Raven, and then back to Grimm. Seeing this, Liam protectively put his arm over his daughter's shoulders as Raven narrowed her eyes in suspicion. It was impossible for Raven and Apple to carry out that tale, and Headmaster Grimm should know that! Headmaster Grimm adverted his gaze to turn and address Madame Yaga, who appeared to be dreading what he was about to ask her to do.
Jason noticed the tension between his wife, Headmaster Grimm, and Madame Yaga. He spoke up to gain clarity, "Excuse me, Headmaster Grimm. Pardon me if I'm being presumptuous, but you seem to be upset. Isn't this a good thing?" Grimm nodded as he clasped his hands together, "Of course, it's a good thing. However, one facet of the story is troubling me. I would like Madame Yaga to perform one last test with Apple and Raven to confirm my suspicions." Madame Yaga fixed her posture and put on the neutral expression she used when discussing difficult topics with families, "Ms.White. Ms.Queen. Your hands, please," she requested as she stretched out her own. Apple scooted forward in her chair and daintily set her hand in Madame Yaga's. Raven paused and looked to her father for guidance. Liam nodded hesitatingly, and she shyly placed down her hand.
Madame Yaga began softly chanting as a warm glow swathed their hands and slowly traveled up their arms to envelop them fully in her magic. Once she stopped her spell, Madame Yaga let go of their hands and summoned a quill and a blank scroll. Madame Yaga pointed to the top corner, "Sign your names on the scroll." Apple went first, then after Raven finished signing, Madame Yaga took the scroll and started chanting again. The magic covering the scroll produced a bright light as the spell concluded. Madame Yaga opened the scroll, looked it over, and then nodded at Headmaster Grimm. The Headmaster sighed in exasperation and pinched the bridge of his nose. He could feel another migraine developing from the neverending drama that seemed to follow his students. Liam was naturally worried by the dour expression on the Headmaster and Counselor's faces, "What's wrong? What was the test for?" Headmaster Grimm's mouth opened and shut as he tried to find the most eloquent way to explain the results. Madame Yaga sighed and took it upon herself to levitate the scroll in front of the others and allow them to read it themselves.
The scroll depicted a tree with multiple portraits amongst the leaves and linked by branches. Although Apple, Jason, and Dianna were lost, Liam and Raven quickly recognized the faces in the painting as their family members. Raven traced her way to her parents, glanced down to where Owlete and her portrait would be, and gasped in shock. Her eyes darted from the scroll to Apple before she looked to her father and pointed to what had shocked her so badly. Liam followed his daughter's finger and froze, not believing what he saw. Apple, Jason, and Dianna leaned in to get a closer look. They didn't understand how Liam and Raven could be that startled over their own family tree. However, once their eyes reached the point of interest, their blood collectively turned to ice.
Branching down from Liam and Mariana's portraits, there should have been images of Raven and her deceased twin sister. Instead, there was a portrait of Raven and Apple. Dianna blanched and reached to her neck, clutching the charm hidden under her dress. Apple frantically looked back and forth between the scroll and Raven as she steadily began to panic. Headmaster Grimm spoke up, "I understand that this must be quite a shock to all of you. When I saw that Apple had been given the role of Rose Red, I realized that it would only have been possible if the two girls were sisters. Madame Yaga's test just confirmed my suspicions."
Jason looked down at the scroll once more before pivoting his incredulous gaze back to Headmaster Grimm and Madame Yaga. Jason shouted defiantly, "You can't honestly expect us to believe this, right? Apple is MY daughter! How can you expect us to believe otherwise?!" "I'm deeply sorry, Mr.Valiant, but the spell doesn't lie," Madame Yaga said apologetically, "You may not want to believe it, but the truth of the matter is that Apple is Raven's sister." Liam looked dazed, his eyes quickly filling with tears, "H-how is this possible. Mariana and I held Owlette after she passed, we said goodbye! For hexes sake, she's buried in the family crypt! How is it possible that Apple is Raven's sister when her only sister is dead," he cried.
"The only logical explanation I can come up with is that the hospital made a mistake," Headmaster Grimm said solemnly, "Mariana and Dianna gave birth on the same day at around the same time. Afterward, the girls ended up being switched shortly after birth. Although uncommon, it has happened before. A few cases were even exposed a few years after the girls were born." Another thought seemed to come to the Headmaster as he ruminated, "I hate to say it, but it also clears up the confusion surrounding Ms.Queen's surprise destiny. The White and Queen families have been closely related for a while now, as the current Queen family is descended from a branch family of the White's. If Dianna's child could not fulfill the Snow White role, or... or passed away, the next in line would have been Mariana's eldest child. Coupling this with the fact that Raven possesses all of the traits of a Snow White, she truly is the perfect successor to the role. Meanwhile, Apple, as her younger fraternal twin, was born with all of the defining features of Rose Red, including hair as gold and pure as sunlight."
Dianna screeched as her face turned a bright shade of scarlet," So what you're telling me is that the child I gave birth to is dead and was swapped with the child of my worst enemy?!" Headmaster Grimm had nothing to say. After all, he'd utterly shaken and broken two families in what was just supposed to be a meeting to find answers for two girls' destinies. What could he possibly say that would help in this scenario? Apple sobbed and turned to Jason and Dianna, "D-Does this mean you don't want me anymore?!" Dianna and Jason immediately looked down at their daughter, "Of course, we want you, Apple! We love you," Dianna cried. Jason reached over and placed his hands on Apple's shoulders, encouraging her to look him in the eyes. Jason's tear-filled eyes stared deeply into Apple's as he began to speak purposefully, "Apple, related or not, you are our daughter, and you always will be. No matter what happens, we will always love you!" Apple practically lunged forward to hug her father as Dianna reached to hug her from behind.
The office was filled with the sound of crying and was only broken by Liam speaking up, "This meeting is clearly over." Liam turned to Jason and Dianna as he continued, "I think it best for us all to take some time to process this separately, and we adults can get together at a later date to go over things." Jason nodded on behalf of his family, and Liam reciprocated, "Raven and I will head out first. You have my number. When you're ready to talk, let me know," there was a short pause as he helped his daughter stand. Liam looked back to Jason and Dianna one last time as he began tearing up, "For what it's worth, I'm sorry. From the bottom of my heart, I am genuinely sorry for what happened." "The feeling's mutual. I know this isn't easy for you either. We'll be in touch," Jason replied.
Raven and her father hurried out of the office, softly shutting the door behind them. The Valient-White family took a few more moments to cry and gather themselves before thanking Headmaster Grimm and Madame Yaga and staggering out the door. Baba Yaga and Grimm exchanged glances before they shook their heads in sadness and disappointment. Then Baba Yaga said her goodbyes and floated out of the office. Finally, Milton Grimm was left alone in his office. The only things that remained beside him were the unsettling silence, the migraine that'd been developing over the past hour, and his empty crystal decanter, which he was now cursing himself for forgetting to refill.
Chapter 13: Pig Squeal
Notes:
Sorry for the delay but life's been rough! Thank you so much for all of the Kudos and comments, they really warm my heart and brighten my day, so I promise I'll be getting back to you soon! Its been hard because on top of work, school, etc I was in a car accident. I'm alright but it hasn't been easy. I've been using this as a way to help cope with everything that's happened. So to make up for the delay I saved up for a double feature, hope you enjoy!🖤
Chapter Text
Apple walked as if she were in autopilot mode. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't fully remember the walk back from the Headmaster's office. Although she knew she had to pack for her return trip home, after everything revealed during their meeting, her mind felt fuzzy and bloated from the information dump. Apple's parents weren't her parents. Raven is her sister, meaning that she is the daughter of the Evil Queen! Arguably one of the evilest in generations! Grimm's sake, she technically wasn't even Apple White! Technically, she should be Apple Queen or Owlette Queen since that would have been her name if the switch hadn't happened. What was she supposed to do with that?
When Apple arrived at her dorm room, she turned the knob and was surprised to see her best friends waiting for her. Briar and Ashlynn sat on her bed with Blondie in her desk chair. The chatter had stopped once Apple opened the door. Their worry was palpable. Apple slipped into the room and dazedly pushed the door behind her to close it, then slumped down onto the bed between Briar and Ashlynn. At the same time, Blondie noticed Apple's catatonic stare aimed at Raven's side of the room.
Blondie, Briar, and Ashlynn exchanged a nervous glance. The chatter from outside and their breathing were the only noises they could hear as they tried to figure out what to say. Still, Apple's blank gaze remained fixed on the opposite half of the room. Within their silent conversation, Briar was the one elected to speak first. She gently reached out and placed her hand on Apple's shoulder, snapping her out of her trance. "I got a text from Raven saying that you might need us. What happened," Briar asked cautiously. Apple looked at her friends and prepared to speak but was suddenly at a loss for words. There was so much that had just been dumped on her, and now she didn't know what to do with it or how to put it into words. It took a few moments, but after a few false starts, the entire contents of the meeting spilled from Apple's mouth. None of the other girls could even say or do anything with how worked up Apple was and how she kept jumping between different points. Still, they all got the whole picture and knew Apple needed help. However, in their rush to comfort Apple and help her pack for her return trip to White Castle, none of them realized that Apple hadn't completely shut the door.
Thatch, Twigg, and Trowl hadn't set out that day to eavesdrop on THE Apple White and her friends. However, few could resist being privy to the scoop of the century, let alone the biggest gossipers of the school! Working for the school's post department, they were in charge of delivering items across campus, allowing them to be in the most convenient places to hear new drama. They'd just finished a delivery to Princess Jennifer and were heading off to their next when they passed by Apple's room. Thatch noticed it was still ajar and reached to close it but paused when he heard Briar's voice. Sensing that something juicy was about to unfold, Thatch motioned to his brothers. Twigg and Trowl pressed themselves against the wall as he hid behind the door. Like much of the realm, they had been speculating what last night's incident meant and wanted answers.
Apple was cherished by much of the school for her role as the next Snow White, as their co-class president, and as the type-A princess of the White Kingdom. Unfortunately, being such a public figure made her more vulnerable to public scrutiny. No matter how much she was adored by the masses, people were gonna talk. Rumors were flying around the realm, ranging from Raven or another villain casting a spell on the book to Apple not being fit for the role due to her hair. A few even suspected that the book rejected Apple because she was an affair child and wasn't a true royal! Despite all the rumors, none of the three little piglets could believe their ears when they heard Apple's confession. Apple wouldn't be the next Snow White! Raven Queen, the supposed next Evil Queen, was taking her spot, while Apple's actual title was Rose Red. To top it off, Apple White,the darling princess of the White Kingdom, the apple of her parent's eyes, wasn't a White at all! Apple was the DAUGHTER of the Evil Queen?!
The three brothers stared at each other in shock when Thatch was startled by the sound of movement from inside the room, and they took off down the hall as quietly as they could. Despite being dumbfounded by the biggest scandal of the century, they still had jobs to do. Twigg, Thatch, and Trowel split up to continue delivering their parcels, but they made sure to stop and spill the tea with each friend they bumped into. By the end of the day, the pig squeal had made its rounds throughout the whole campus. Of course, some doubted the rumor's authenticity and spoke out against it. Still, the very fact that people were talking about it meant that Apple and Raven would have to address it eventually. The only question now was when the news would reach them.
Chapter 14: Visitation
Notes:
Part two of your double feature and its one of the things I know people have been waiting to see! Again thank you all soo much for the Kudos and comments and hopefully you'll see me again soon!🖤
Chapter Text
Only one day had passed since he'd left the EAH campus before fate had forced Liam to return. Raven couldn't come home with him until next week because he still had more meetings to attend abroad. Still, Liam thought it was his responsibility to inform Mariana of everything that's happened. Despite her strained relationships between Raven and himself, she still deserved to know what happened. What would happen afterward, how she would react…that he had no idea. After signing in with Milton, glowering at his "don't touch the glass speech" and crossing the tower bridge, the only thing separating Liam from his wife was the lengthy, dark spiral staircase. Liam opened the heavy oak doors and was faced by Nevermore, who immediately greeted him. Liam pulled the treat he'd packed for her from his satchel and tossed it to the dragon, who eagerly caught it before curling up beneath the stairs. Staring up the high climb, Liam couldn't help but let out a deep sigh at what the arduous ascension would do to his knees.
Before he headed up, Liam gently pulled on the golden chain pinned from his suit jacket to his left breast pocket, revealing a sizeable circular locket. Liam traced the filigree patterns along its golden face before clicking it open. The left side contained a picture of him and Mariana at a Euphoria concert during her freshman year at Ever After High, the year before she had to make her pledge. Liam's left arm was out taking the photo, his right around Mariana's waist, and his braces on full display because of his enormous grin. Mariana had snuck in bunny ears behind his head while hers was perched on his right shoulder. Her long silver blue hair was adorned with glitter, a Cheshire-like smile present on her aubergine lips, and the lights from the concert danced in her peridot eyes. The second picture was of Mariana and him at the beach with a 3-year-old Raven. Liam had been buried up to his neck in the sand with Raven and Mariana happily perched behind him. All at once, he'd been hit with a wave of nostalgia and melancholy. The pictures reminded him of happier days when everything in the world seemed less complicated. Liam mourned that things could never go back to how they were... not after everything Mariana had done. Liam sighed again before slipping his locket back into his pocket and beginning his long trek up the stairs.
The soft clicking of his polished black loafers echoed through the tower as Liam continued up the stairs. Reaching the top, Liam's eyes took a moment to adjust to the dim lighting, but he could clearly see the tall oval mirror set in an obsidian frame and elaborate filigree detailing. Heaving himself up, Liam took the final few steps to cross over to the mirror. After a moment, the purple fog within the mirror faded away, revealing a laid-out Mariana reading on her cot. Upon noticing his arrival, she immediately stood forward in a flash of magic to face him with an amused expression. "Well, well, well, what a hexellent surprise!" She exclaimed, "It's been so~o long that I thought my dearest husband had forgotten about me," she cried dramatically, clutching her heart. Liam couldn't bring himself to look her in the eyes and opted to stare off to the side of the mirror. "Sorry, I've been busy. You know it's hard work running a kingdom all by yourself ," Liam attempted to keep his voice neutral but couldn't help the tinge of bitterness that had slipped in at the end. Mariana pouted and rolled her eyes as she scoffed, "Well, it's not as if I'm in here by choice!" She waited for Liam to remind her of her past wrongdoings like he did each time she brought up being stuck in this hexhole but was met with silence.
'No response?' she thought confusedly. Mariana looked her husband up and down, critically examining his face. Something was wrong. "While I don't want to seem ungrateful, the look on your face tells me you didn't stop by just to exchange pleasantries," she probed, and Liam flinched. She could still read him like a book, no matter how much time had passed. Mariana rolled her eyes, "It must be important if THE Liam Benecel has deigned to grace me with his presence," she taunted. He nervously ran a hand through his thinning brown hair. Ok, now he was making her nervous. Mariana snapped her fingers to force him to look at her, and he finally met her eyes, "What's wrong , Lee," she asked firmly. Liam grimaced and clutched at the leather satchel around his shoulder, "Do you want the easy truth or the hard truth first," he asked softly. Mariana thought it over, "The hard truth, slay the dragon and get it over with." Liam closed his eyes and stood up straighter as he collected himself. Then, he met his wife's expectant gaze again, "Owlette is alive."
Mariana's blank expression had morphed into confusion a second or two later as if he'd just told her that Dianna had decided to go ginger. Then came the anger, "What kind of sick joke are you playing at, Liam," she hissed. Liam resisted being offended and just shook his head and began explaining. "On Friday, Milton held the signing ceremony. When Raven and Dianna's daughter, Apple, went to sign... the results weren't as expected. Saturday morning, Dianna, Jason, Apple, Raven, and I were called into a meeting with Milton and Baba Yaga to find out what happened. They examined the Storybook of Legends, which had some...surprising contents. Madame Yaga conducted some tests which revealed this."
Liam pulled a copy of the scroll from his satchel and held it up to the glass. Mariana's magic pulled it through and then brought it closer for her to see. Liam heard Mariana gasp and saw the last bit of color drain from his wife's already pale face as she read the scroll. Liam and her branches sprouted downward to two other photos of Raven and another blonde girl who looked familiar but couldn't recognize. Mariana's eyes teared up, and she didn't even try to fight it, "B-but how?" Again, all Liam could do was shake his head and shrug as he blinked away tears, "The working hypothesis is that Owlette was swapped with Dianna's baby that first night in the hospital, and they're the one who passed away."
Mariana pulled the scroll out of her magic aura and held it closer. Mariana looked over the two girls' animated portraits, her daughters' portraits. Mariana looked over at Raven, the perfect blend between her and Liam. She had Mariana's facial structure, eyes, and nose but had Liam's mouth and hair color. She also had Liam's kind and selfless disposition, though Mariana was loathe to admit it. Mariana then looked at Owlette's portrait, gently stroking it with her thumb as she examined her face. "Vespera," Mariana whispered absently, "She looks just like her, but she has your eyes," Liam subtly nodded in agreement. Her focused stare was locked on the scroll, watching as her daughter's image blinked, smiled, and even readjusted her posture. Mariana pulled her eyes away from the scroll to look at her husband, "Will I be able to meet her," she asked tentatively. Liam's brow furrowed in unsurety, "I don't know. We only just found everything out Yesterday. She seemed to be in shock, and rightly so. Apple's lived her whole life with Dianna and Jason as her parents, destined to be the next Snow White, but now she's discovered that her entire life is a lie. While she might be willing to accept Raven as her sister, it would be harder for her to accept new parents. No offense, but your reputation and incarceration don't help matters."
Mariana sighed resignedly at the fact that it would likely be a long time before she met Owl- Apple if she got to meet her at all. However, thinking over everything that happened, she soon came to a realization. "Wait a minute! If Dianna's child has passed away, who will be the next Snow White for Raven? Also, you said there were two things you had to tell me," Mariana asked cautiously. Liam crossed his arms defensively as he spoke up. "That's the other thing: Raven is the next Snow White," he said purposefully. "Apple's role is the next Rose Red. Raven being revealed as the next Snow White in the Storybook of Legends is what exposed everything."
Mariana tried to hide it, but she was clearly stunned. Her usual, dangerously ethereal energy had faded. Mariana looked down at the scroll and then back up to Liam, "I think I need some time alone to sort this out." Liam shook his head, "I understand. I'll keep you updated if anything else happens." Then Liam reached into his satchel, pulled out a small package wrapped in purple and silver gift wrap, and pushed it through the glass, where it was caught by his wife. Mariana let out a deep, genuine smile, some warmth and a small glimmer returning to her cold violet eyes. "Thank you for coming, Lee. Send my love to Raven for me." He nodded once more, "Of course. Make sure you take care as well." Mariana blew him a kiss, and a magenta smoke heart flew toward him, bursting against the glass. Then, the purple-black fog poured back into the mirror, and she was gone. Liam dragged his hands down his face in tiredness as he stared at the mirror, then reached into his breast pocket and pulled out his locket again. He clicked it open and took another deep, lengthy look at the photo of Mariana and himself in high school. Eventually, Liam squeezed the locket in his hands before closing it and slipping it back into his pocket as he turned back to the staircase. Hidden by the smoke, Mariana's eyes peeked from the smoke to watch his descent down the stairs before fully returning to her mirror room.
Chapter 15: Inside White Castle
Summary:
Apple finally gets out of school and we get to see how this is affecting Jason and Dianna's relationship with their daughter
Notes:
Sorry for the delay! School and work have been keeping me busy and I'm just getting over being sick. Next up we'll get to have some one-on-one time with Mariana. I hope you enjoy and I deeply appreciate all of the comments, bookmarks, and kudos!
Chapter Text
The ride home had been spent in near silence, with the only ambient noise coming from the radio and the sound of traffic from outside the limousine. Dianna and Jason had waited for Apple to pack her things, and they'd had the limousine pulled to the front of the school once she'd told them she was ready. Apple exited the dorm with Briar, Ashlynn, and Blondie, who were helping her with her luggage and saying their final farewells and well wishes to their friend. The students in the quad had begun to chatter between themselves at Apple's appearance, groups whispering between themselves as she and her friends walked towards the limo. Once she'd gotten closer, Jason and Dianna could tell Apple had been crying. She'd washed her face and fixed her makeup, but her eyes were red and puffy. The driver stepped out and opened the door for Apple as he took her luggage.
Apple gave each of her friends one last hug before she ducked through the door, sat down, and buckled her seatbelt, "H-hi, Mom, Dad." Dianna and Jason were heartbroken to see that Apple barely looked at them, only giving them a quick, anxious glance as she got in the car. Jason spoke softly, not wanting to startle her, "Hey, Apple, where do you want to stop for lunch?" Dianna smiled and nodded fervently, "You can pick whatever you want, sweetie," she said hopefully. Sitting back in her seat, Apple hid behind her voluminous blond curls as she curled in on herself, "Um… I'd rather just eat at home. Both Jason and Dianna's expressions fell. While they were tempted to push further to get Apple to open up, they knew all it would do was force her further into her shell. Dianna smiled placatingly at her daughter. "That's alright, Apple Pie, but if you change your mind, let us know." Apple nodded stiffly before shutting her eyes as she leaned against the window. The limousine's heavy atmosphere was seemingly sapping its occupants' energy. Jason and Dianna watched Apple's breathing gradually slow and even out as she fell asleep. Yawning deeply, Jason softly stroked Dianna's hand as she rested her head against his shoulder, still careful not to smudge her deep red lipstick on his shirt. Soon, the whole family had been rocked to sleep by the gentle rumbling of the car ride.
The hour-long car ride went unnoticed by the sleeping passengers, the driver looking back at them every so often when he came to a stop until they finally arrived at the White Kingdom's castle. Upon their return, the driver lowered the window into the passenger space of the limousine. "Your majesties, we've arrived," the driver said gruffly, rousing the family from their sleep. The door slid open, and the family was greeted by rows of servants lining the walkway up to the grand entrance. Stepping out, Apple smiled brightly and thanked everyone for their warm welcome, exchanging short pleasantries with those closest to her as she hurried into the castle. Dianna and Jason came out after her and also gave their thanks, praising their employees for their hard work. Dianna stood at the topmost step and said her final words to the staff, "You all have done such a spelltacular job! We can't thank you enough! Jason, Apple, and I are utterly drained from the journey, so we'll be retiring to our rooms for now, and we ask to not be disturbed unless there's an emergency." All of the gathered servants bowed or curtsied and waited as Jason and Dianna turned and entered the castle.
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Jason and Dianna retreated into their bedroom, shutting the door and ensuring it was locked behind them. Dianna quickly sat down on their spacious bed. She hugged herself as she subtly rocked back and forth, her perfectly manicured nails digging into her arms as she struggled to keep herself together. Dianna franticly looked at her husband, who had just taken off his suit jacket and had yet to sit down. "What are we going to do, Jason," she cried. "Apple didn't want to even look at us! I mean, how could this happen?! We did everything right! I was with our baby the entire night, and now I'm finding out that they switched our child with someone else's? That our child is dead! And now our Apple blossom is pulling away from us. She might not be our blood daughter, but we raised her! She's our child; what am I supposed to do without my baby," Dianna shrieked, her body shaking as she sobbed.
Jason strode over and sat beside his wife, hugging her as tightly as he could without crushing her, and rubbed soft circles into her back. Gradually, Dianna's tears subsided as she held onto Jason for dear life. Jason began comforting his wife in his most delicate and calming voice, "Dianna, I don't know why this happened, but I do know that this isn't our fault. Like you said, we did everything right. We got the best hospital, the best nurses, everything." Jason shook his head in exasperation. "With how your and Mariana's labor went down, someone must've just… made a mistake. It's a mistake that never should have happened, but there's nothing we can do about it now." Jason slowly pulled away from the hug, gently grabbed Dianna's hands, and looked her in the eyes, "We're all hurt and shaken up by this, but right now, our daughter is our priority. Right now, we need to focus on Apple." Dianna nodded somberly and fell back onto the plush mattress, and Jason did the same. The emotional turmoil took its toll on both of them and robbed them of the energy they recovered while riding home.
A few minutes passed before Dianna slowly sat up and looked at Jason, who blinked a single blue-green eye at the disturbance. "I'm going to look over some work in my office," Dianna said softly and soothingly. Jason breathed out a soft noise of acknowledgment before shutting his eyes again and returning to his quiet rest. Dianna gradually rose from the bed and quietly slipped out of the bedroom, making sure to turn off the light so that Jason could get some proper rest. Dianna took one of the long glass elevators up to her office and unlocked the door but didn't bother turning on any lights as the midday glow from the sun came through from the floor-to-ceiling window that took up the wall in front of her. Dianna sat back in her large gold and red velvet office chair. She opened her topmost drawer, reaching deep into it to open the secret compartment hidden at the far back and pulling out a small envelope charm. The envelope was apple-red, covered in gold detailing, and closed by a large golden apple-shaped wax seal. 'Rosalind, ' Dianna thought mournfully, 'what am I going to do?' '
Chapter 16: The Dark Side of the Looking Glass
Summary:
Trigger warning: Contains light discussion of death, so please take care of yourself.
Notes:
Happy New Year Everyone! Finals are over, and I'm finally free🥳️ I took a little break to recover, but now I'm back with a chapter a lot of you have been waiting on, so I hope that you enjoy! Thank you so much for all of the comments, bookmarks, and kudos I really appreciate them all🖤 (P.S If you have any guesses or questions, feel free to leave them in the comments because I love reading and answering them!😘)
Chapter Text
As the sound of Liam's footsteps faded away, the Evil Queen's tall frame crossed the short distance between the viewing portal and her cot. She quickly sat down on the thin mattress, her gray-purple eyes gazing ahead, dazed and unfocused. The Evil Queen repeatedly replayed the day's events as she leaned against the wall. Her breathing quickened as unrest and anger flashed in her eyes, as if she were at war with her very being until she finally snapped. In a burst of magenta light and smoke, the Evil Queen and all of the accessories and accouterments that made up her imposing visage disappeared, leaving Mariana behind in her place. Mariana changed into her pajamas before lying down and curling up on her bed to face the wall.
'Owlette is alive,' Liam's soft voice still rang through her skull. She couldn't bring herself to believe it despite how much she wanted to, but the evidence had literally stared her in the face. Mariana had always wanted Raven to have a sibling. A sister would've been even better. She knew her little birdie would be destined for hardship, that others would be wary and cruel towards her. With a sibling, she'd always have someone around her age who would stand in her corner and understand what she was going through. Mariana had hoped and prayed for her daughter to have a sister, or any sibling at all, so that she could have at least one foreverafter friend...the same way she'd had. She'd been ecstatic when she and Liam discovered they were having twins. For once, her prayers had been answered!
Naturally, carrying and giving birth to twins was difficult and had taken its toll, but seeing- holding her daughters had made it all worth it. Until she woke up the following day to find a group of doctors and nurses flooding around one of her daughters. Until they'd told her that there was nothing they could do, that she'd passed away in her sleep. Although she and Liam had contemplated trying for another child, Mariana knew that she couldn't handle losing another and had given up her dream after that. The overwhelming grief of losing Owlette had even forced the Evil Queen to settle down, and Mariana had been able to focus on spending time with Liam, mourning Owlette, and raising Raven. Then...the urges came back. Slowly but surely, the Evil Queen made her wants and demands known within Mariana's mind, and she didn't have the strength to fight her anymore.
Eventually, Mariana sat up and used her magic to open the scroll Liam had brought her, tucking a strand of her long hair behind her ear to see it better. Family tree scrolls like this one had an uncanny ability to capture their subjects' likeness and mannerisms, and Mariana had to blink away her tears the longer she stared at it. The moving image of Liam checked his pocket watch and adjusted his suit as he glanced at his wife's portrait next to him before looking down at his girls. Owlette adjusted her hair and Raven her makeup as they moved and settled within their respective portraits. Mariana's doppelganger was devoid of her usual Evil Queen apparel but still looked noticeably happier in this form, even as she scowled while smoothing out her dress. Seeing this more content version of herself prompted Mariana to look up from the scroll and turn to her mirror.
Without her feathery crown, her long, dark hair was now exposed, a single defiant streak of silvery blue catching in the dim light. Like this, she almost could have passed as any other sorceress of Ever After had her face not been plastered in countless tabloids, storybooks, and news reports. Despite all the stress of being the Evil Queen and trapped in mirror prison, Mariana had aged gracefully. She may not be the fairest of the realm since Dianna had fulfilled her role as Snow White, although Liam had always disagreed with that sentiment. Still, the Queen line was well known for its captivating beauty, and many considered Mariana one of the most beautiful Queens in history. Maturity kindly blessed her as it lengthened her figure and shaped her face into a diamond as it sharpened her chin and high cheekbones. However, her most striking features had always been her hair and eyes, which had changed drastically over the years. Decades of heavy magic usage had dyed her light silver-blue hair into an inky purple, and where once her eyes had been bright chartreuse, they had now been replaced by a faded gray surrounded by a ring of vibrant magenta.
It is well known throughout the realms that magic usage can alter one's appearance. However, no one was quite sure why. Mariana had been heartbroken to see that it had even taken its toll on Raven. The passed-down effects of her sorcery were evident at birth. When Raven first opened her eyes, Mariana was shocked to see pale lavender staring back at her rather than Liam's bold blue or her previous shade of peridot as she'd been expecting. As her little black bird came into her own powers, they'd begun streaking her rich ebony hair with multiple shades of violet and maroon. Mariana raised her hand and cast a spell on her mirror, which filled with magenta flames before shifting to the image of her oldest daughter. Raven was frowning as she sat with three other girls in a room she could not recognize. Naturally, no mother liked seeing their daughter upset, but Mariana couldn't help thinking how much Raven reminded her of herself at that age.
Despite being a daddy's girl, Raven shared many similarities with Mariana. Raven had definitely gotten her dry wit from her mother, although she was admittedly much kinder in how she used it. However, Raven's most considerable resemblance with her was their sense of rebellion. Most thought Mariana had always been a wicked little hadesspawn, but that was only a half-truth. She'd been known to get into some mischief when she was younger, but Mariana hadn't been nearly as bad as others had made her out to be. Despite her cynic, pessimistic, and grumpy nature, Mariana refrained from starting fights, preferring to keep to herself or a select group of friends. Her small social circle comprised Estania Grimmunch, Gweneth Farrlot, Joanna Sinheart, and Fiona Demonde, who were set to be the next Wicked Witch of the East, Lady Guinevere, Princess Joan, and Princess Fiorimonde, respectively. They made quite the odd group of princesses and villains but were linked by two goals. To cause as much grief for Headmaster Grimm as possible and not sign the Storybook of Destinies. The five of them individually had gathered more detentions for speaking out against their destinies than some other students combined, and they had been driving Milton mad .
Mariana couldn't help but wince at the slight pang of pain and grief she felt. The one she felt every time she thought of her glory days and was reminded that everything turned out the way it did. After all, she'd gone against their promise and signed the book, and then the rest were pressured to follow suit. Ultimately, Mariana was left with a destiny she hadn't wanted, urges she struggled to control, and abandoned by her friends for her betrayal. Liam and Vespera had been the only things keeping her afloat until Raven came along, and she dreaded the day that Raven would have to sign the book for herself. Mariana had seen the good that was in her little birdie from a young age and knew that if she didn't do anything, Raven would have to face the same heartbreak that she did. So, reluctantly, Mariana began preparing Raven to be the next Evil Queen. Despite how much she hated it, how much Raven hated it, and how much strain it put on her relationships with Raven and Liam, Mariana persisted in trying to make Raven evil because the alternative would have been worse. Now, she knows that it was all for nothing.
Of course, Mariana was happy that her daughter wouldn't have to follow in her footsteps, but it still felt like destiny's way of getting another stab in her back. Mariana didn't want to be the Evil Queen, so she resisted and was punished for it. When Mariana stopped fighting and accepted her destiny, she got punished again by losing herself to become the Evil Queen and suffering through all of the cruel megalomaniacal urges that came with it. All because Mariana did what she had been forced to do! Ever since the day she signed, her soul had twisted in agony from how much she hated what she was turned into. Mariana had thought that if Raven was at least evil enough to accept her role, she wouldn't suffer like she was. So...she'd mocked Raven's kind actions and pushed her towards cruelty. Mariana had done everything in her power to prevent Raven from experiencing what she had! She'd even turned her daughter's puppy into a disgusting bone rat, only to discover that it was entirely pointless.
The dam within her burst, and tears streamed down her face as Mariana's thoughts continued to spiral. As she sat on her creaky, standard prison-issue mattress and stared at the ceiling, Mariana thought, 'What do I have left?' Being trapped in a glass and concrete hell hole, being hated and scorned by all of the realms? Having no friends, a crumbling marriage with the man that she loved, and a fractured relationship with her oldest daughter? Not to mention the fact that she'd lost out on a lifetime with her youngest daughter because of some freak mistake!
The sound of laughter pulled her from her despair. Looking back to the mirror again, Mariana saw Madeline, the only other girl Mariana could recognize, sitting with her head held high and a smug smirk on her face while a girl in a purple dress with dark brown curly hair was wiping away tears as she giggled. Next to them, Raven was leaning against a girl in a red hood as they both howled with laughter. Mariana summoned a handkerchief into her hand, 'At least Raven is doing well,' she thought as she wiped away her tears. After regaining some of her composure, Mariana let out a deep sigh as she glanced down at the scroll and refocused on Owlette's portrait before returning her somber gaze to the mirror.
With another wave of the hand, magenta flames took over the mirror again, revealing Owlet-' Apple,' Mariana had to harshly remind herself as they faded away. The room was dark, but the softened light from the window allowed Mariana a first look at her youngest daughter. Apple was curled up into a knot on her bed. Her sunny golden hair surrounded her head like a halo. 'She looks so peaceful,' Mariana thought, a small smile coming to her face. After another minute or two had passed, Mariana undid the spell, and the mirror returned to its original state. Mariana pulled back her bedding and slipped under the covers exhaustedly. 'A chance," Mariana thought hopefully, 'I might still have a chance!' Slowly, Mariana drifted off to sleep somewhat content, the first time in a long while. The hope of meeting her youngest daughter and seeing her loved ones again lulled her into a deep, tranquil sleep.
Chapter 17: Dinnertime Gossip
Notes:
Hey Everyone, sorry for the late posting! While I meant to get this chapter up in February, I ran into some complications. Thank you so much for your patience and all of the kudos, comments, and love that you guys have been sending my way! I never imagined that this story would blow up as it has. However, seeing that something I've written can draw so much positivity from others, especially those from a fandom I've been a part of for years but don't encounter often, has brought me an immeasurable amount of joy 💖☀️ I hope you all enjoy this chapter and I'll see you soon!! 🖤💙🖤
Chapter Text
Raven’s fingers gently strummed her acoustic guitar strings, not playing anything in particular but still creating a lovely tune. Cerise was laid out on her bed and listened passively as she scrolled through her phone, gently nodding along with the music. Outside of Raven’s playing, the two sat in comfortable silence as the last dregs of daylight that warmed the room slowly faded from outside the window. The two girls had been left to their own devices. Maddie was busy visiting her father at his tea shop, and Cedar had taken her paint set and easel to the enchanted forest. Cerise had spent the day blowing off some steam playing basketball with Ramona and had returned about an hour ago to settle down and keep Raven company. For the most part, Raven had been contemplating all of the revelations that had been dropped on her during her meeting with Headmaster Grimm.
It had been three days since Madame Yaga and the headmaster had revealed her and Apple’s new destinies and the fact that they were sisters, but she still didn’t know how to feel about it. In all fairness, how was she supposed to react to finding out her dead sister was alive, that the destiny she’d been pushed towards her entire life wasn’t hers, and that Headmaster Grimm had lied to her in an attempt to get his way? She wanted to reach out to Apple and talk to her about everything, where they stood with each other, to connect with her sister. Raven had dreamed of living with her sister for her whole life, and now she could finally experience it. Still, it's not like Apple and her had the best relationship to begin with. Yeah, Apple was nice, but for months, Raven had dealt with Apple’s numerous attempts to drive her to become the next Evil Queen. With each event and snide remark Apple made to try to get Raven to “follow her destiny,” Raven felt like her own wishes and beliefs were being disrespected and cast aside for Apple’s agenda. Despite how much Apple claimed she was trying to help, Raven couldn’t help but feel she was just being a selfish, entitled brat! At the same time, Apple could be so sweet and loving that it made Raven feel guilty for feeling that way. Raven would tentatively call their relationship ‘friendship,’ but even that was pushing it. The new information didn’t help Raven’s complicated feelings toward her roommate, but she hoped to use this event to work on things. Raven wanted to understand Apple and help Apple understand her. She’d written countless texts, but each time Raven typed up a message, she found something wrong, hesitated, and erased it. Raven had distracted herself by keeping busy, ranging from giving Nevermore a bath, which naturally ended with her being soaked from head to toe, to organizing her belongings in her respective corner of the wall next to Cedar’s closet and cleaning the bathroom. With no more busy work to distract herself, Raven was left idly playing her guitar to channel her thoughts.
Two harsh growls roughly pulled the girls from their thoughts, both surprised by the loud, unexpected noise. The shock had caused Raven to stop playing, and Cerise looked up from her phone as they exchanged glances. Simultaneously, they realized where the noise had come from as they looked down at their stomachs and back up at each other. Cerise began chuckling, “That was louder than when Dad caught Ramona sneaking in past curfew,” she chuffed after regaining her composure. Raven rolled her eyes, “I can only imagine! He's hard enough on the rest of us for breaking curfew,” she laughed as she sat back up when her gaze caught the window. The sun’s depth below the horizon revealed how late it was, “We should head over to the Castleteria before it closes,” Raven said as she set her guitar aside and stretched to stand up. Cerise nodded in agreement as she stood up, slipped her phone into her pocket, and grabbed her keys off her nightstand. Raven walked over to her luggage, pulled out a rich purple hoodie, and put it on. She pulled the hood over her head and looked in the mirror to check that it was fully in place before following Cerise out the door. After locking the door, Cerise and Raven hurried to the castleteria to make it before the kitchen closed for the night.
Stepping out of the dorm building, Raven was almost stunned by the brisk evening. In the three days since she’d last been outside, she’d nearly forgotten how lovely the campus was around this time. A light breeze wafted the smell of flowers and freshly cut grass through the air while the still-setting sun kept the students from being too chilled. While Raven and Cerise chatted, the surrounding school was abnormally quiet. The student traffic that usually passed through the school quad was absent since many students chose to head home for the surprise break. However, the staff and few students remaining on campus kept the school from looking abandoned. Once they reached the Castleteria, Raven opened the door and held it for Cerise to pass through. “I think tonight’s pasta night,” Raven said pensively as they slipped through the castleteria entrance, “I’ve been craving chicken parm.” Cerise smiled dreamily, practically salivating at the thought of food, “Oooh, I hope they still have lasagna!”
The castleteria was emptier than usual but still lively as groups of students sat eating and chatting at their tables. The two girls quickly walked to the serving station and stood in line. Raven picked up a tray, handed it to Cerise, and grabbed another one for herself. As she subtly looked around the castleteria, Raven breathed a sigh of relief. She’d been anxious about going out in public since the Destiny signing fiasco. Raven knew that Headmaster Grimm hadn’t made any announcements about what had happened at the signing ceremony. From what she’d heard from her friends, the other students were practically foaming at the mouth for answers. Raven hadn’t told anyone outside of Cerise, Maddie, and Cedar about her and Apple’s true relationship and destinies. She hoped the thrill of getting an impromptu vacation would distract everyone from focusing on her. As the line moved, Raven and Cerise shuffled ahead, looked over the options, and discussed them as the other groups of students carried on with their conversations. “I wonder what it's like to find out your roommate is your sister,” came from someone close by. Raven froze, her knuckles going white as she gripped the tray even harder. She took a deep breath and attempted to tamp down her anxiety. ‘A coincidence! I-its just a coincidence. Cerise asks dumb hypotheticals like that all the time,’ Raven thought in an attempt to reassure herself. Raven’s actions had earned a concerned look from Cerise, so she gave her a small smile to reassure her friend that she was alrigh- “It’s even worse than that! From what we saw, she may not even be the next Snow White! Not only is Apple finding out her roommate is her sister, but she’s also finding out she’s the daughter of the Evil Queen!”
Raven paled, and her grip on her tray was so tight it was starting to hurt. ‘How?’ she thought, ‘How do they know that?!’ As her panic grew, Raven could hear more of the conversations around her, in addition to the growing sound of blood pumping through her veins. Why were so many people talking about her?! Whether positive or negative, almost all students gossiped over Raven and Apple being sisters and their destinies. Raven could understand why they might be discussing their destinies since they had all seen what had happened during the signing ceremony, but how did everyone even find out they were sisters in the first place?! Raven’s breathing hastened, and now she could feel her powers reacting to her stress, her magic quickly building up inside her. The usual, barely noticeable hum of her magic now felt like a constant buzzing of crackling energy, the now constant hot and cold tingling sensation making her hair stand on end. ‘I gotta get out of here,” she thought desperately. Raven dropped her tray onto the counter and rushed out of the castleteria as fast as possible. She felt the magic growing stronger and stronger, her eyes beginning to glow. As soon as she burst through the exit, Raven felt the magic surge out of her. She turned the corner of the building and-... she was gone.
Cerise had immediately dropped her tray and ran out after her, but despite only being a second or two behind her, she couldn’t see her anywhere in the quad. She looked around to see if Raven had just gone farther than she’d thought and listened for her footsteps, but to no avail. Cerise snarled in frustration when she caught something out of place. Cerise sniffed the air. Smoke? She continued sniffing, trailing the scent to the side of the building, but found nothing. She sighed and sniffed again, trying to piece together what she was smelling. It was smoke, but not regular smoke, and the smell was mixed with Raven’s perfume.
Cerise's brow furrowed as everything clicked into place. ‘Magic surge, she must’ve ended up teleporting.’ Although Cerise had found out what had happened to Raven, this didn’t answer the question of where she was. Teleportation was one of the spells that Raven had a lot of difficulty with. She had a limited range and often took multiple tries to get where she was trying to go. Because of this, Cerise knew she was still on campus, but that was still a wide area to cover. Raven had been so panicked when she ran out that she probably hadn’t thought about where to go. She just would’ve wanted somewhere she felt safe in, somewhere out of the way where she wouldn’t be found. A look of epiphany lit up Cerise’s face, and she ran across the courtyard to the Ever After High arts building. ‘I just hope I’m right,’ she thought exasperatedly, ‘Otherwise, I’m gonna be in for a long hunt!’
Chapter 18: Emotional Support Wolf
Summary:
The after-effects of finding out that your entire school knows about your private life combined with complicated family life, and true supportive friendship.
Notes:
SURPRISE, double update!! This is why my updates took so long.😅 Originally, the previous chapter and this one were one really long chapter, and I was having a hard time letting the story out. I made the decision to split it into two chapters, and that's what helped me get the best results and get down the town I wanted. I felt that love between sisters is such an important bond, which is why I was hoping to get it out by Valentine's Day, but some things are just not meant to be.😅😂
I have a lovely older sister who has been incredibly encouraging of this, even if I don't know if she fully understands what it is that I'm doing 😊😂 If she ever gets around to reading this like she always says she will, I want you to know "I love you with all of my heart Nani, you're the best sister I could have ever asked for, and now everyone else knows it too!!" ✨💙✨💖✨I know that some of you have been dying to see Apple and Dianna, and I promise that you'll be able to see them in the next chapter😘🖤. Thank you so much for reading this far, and I hope that you'll continue to enjoy my work! Thank you again for all of the comments, bookmarks, and kudos I really appreciate them all🖤 (P.S If you have any guesses or questions, feel free to leave them in the comments because I love reading and answering them!😘) Stay safe everyone!
Chapter Text
As a shadow flitted by the small square window in the door, Raven curled further into herself as she hid underneath the table, her long dark hair obscuring her face like a veil. Although she’d been disoriented by the unexpected teleportation, it hadn’t taken long to get her bearings and realize where she was. Raven had spent countless hours in the Ever After High practice rooms, working on assignments for her muse-ic class and personal projects. Very few people would utilize the practice rooms this late into the evening, but that doesn’t mean the building was empty. Raven had been calming herself down when she’d been startled when she saw someone coming up the hallway. Panicked, she’d immediately locked the door and hid under the table, watching as the student's shadow passed across the floor. For heavens know how long, Raven stayed hidden under the table no matter how much she just wanted to return to Cerise’s dorm room. After such a strong magic surge, Raven didn’t have any energy left to try to teleport back. Besides that, there was no guarantee that it would even work on the first try! Even if Raven mustered up her remaining mental energy to perform the spell, she could end up anywhere else on campus. At the same time, Raven was too afraid to be caught roaming the halls alone since she knew she couldn’t handle any of the questions that would be hurled at her. Every so often, a student or staff member would pass by, their shadow darting across the floor, scaring Raven further into her hiding spot.
Raven squeezed herself tightly, ‘this is all just too much!’ she thought distressedly, fat tears welling up in her eyes. What had started as a somewhat relaxing day had ended up completely exhausting her and ruining what little bit of emotional progress she’d made since she’d found out the truth. Raven felt like her whole world had been turned on its head, and just when she was starting to reorient herself, she discovers that everyone and their fairy godmother found out the intimate details of her personal life.
Tap-tap-tap! A knocking on the window pane caused Raven to dazedly look up, hurriedly blinking tears from her eyes. Although her vision was still slightly blurry, the deep crimson hood tipped Raven off to who was there, and she scrambled out from under the table to unlock the door and open it. As the door was cracked open, Cerise silently slinked into the room, shut the door behind her, and locked it. After the lock had clicked into place, she suddenly felt her arms filled with a bawling Raven as she hugged her as if her life depended on it. Cerise returned the hug softly, lowering Raven and herself to sit on the floor as her friend wept into her shoulder. They didn’t know how long they sat like that, Cerise softly rubbing circles into Raven’s back as her body subtly rocked from her cries. Eventually, Raven’s crying died down slowly, and she sat up from her hunched-over position, sniffling as she wiped away her tears. Raven scooted over to sit next to Cerise, tucking her knees to her chest. “How did you find me,” she asked softly, her voice still shaky and uneven from her crying. Cerise smirked as she sat up straighter, “The nose doesn’t lie,” she chuffed pridefully, “ I had a few ideas of where you could be and checked them out. Once I got to the art building, I tracked your scent here.” Raven smiled slightly, her heart warmed, knowing Cerise was always looking out for her, “Thanks.”
After Raven thanked Cerise for finding her, the room filled with tense silence, but Cerise waited for Raven to say what was on her mind. She was surprised when Raven finally spoke, her hazy stare focused on the soundproof panels lining the opposite wall, “You know, I was always kinda jealous of you for having Ramona,” Raven admitted shyly. Cerise’s eyebrow quirked up in confusion, “What do you mean?” Stretching out her legs, Raven sighed as she focused her thoughts, “I had always wondered what it would’ve been like to have a sister. My parents told me early on that I had a twin sister who’d gone to heaven, so my whole life, I always wondered what she’d be like.” Raven nervously fidgeted with her hands as she continued, “When they told me about Owlette, I felt like I knew why I always thought there was something missing. Whenever I had a bad day at school or got into a fight with my mom, I always thought, ‘If my sister were here, I wouldn’t feel this bad.’ Maybe I was stupid to think that, but it helped me cope because I knew Owlette would watch over me.” Cerise opened her mouth to say something but stopped when she saw a violet glow fill Raven’s lavender eyes, and an angry look came across her face. “But now I know she wasn’t watching over me; she was just watching my suffering across the room!” The silence in the rest of the room made Raven’s voice seem even louder, and Cerise winced, the increase in volume hurting her sensitive ears.
The anger and hurt in Raven’s voice were palpable, and the intensity of her emotions caused her magic to flare. Cerise placed a concerned hand on her arm, and the violet glow of Raven’s magic dissipated once she was snapped out of her anger-induced trance. Her anger was replaced with embarrassment and shame when she realized she had been losing control over her powers again. Raven groaned, dragging her hands down her face, and took a resigned breath before speaking, “I like Apple, I really do, but you know how much she's put me through! I don’t know whether she really believes that it's our duty to fulfill our roles or if she just wanted her happily ever after and didn’t care about what would happen to me. Honestly, I don’t know which is worse. I wanted to be her friend, but I could have never imagined her as my sister! You and Ramona might disagree sometimes, but at least you never had to doubt that she cared about you.”
Cerise let out an unexpected huff of laughter, “I wouldn’t say that,” she scoffed, rolling her eyes. Raven’s surprise at Cerise’s reaction was replaced by curiosity, “What do you mean,” she inquired, “I know you two have to play up the whole fairytale rival bit at school, but I thought you were close outside of that.” Cerise crossed her arms and pouted slightly, “We are, but that doesn’t mean we’ve never had problems. We just worked to fix them. All siblings fight, some more often than others, but it's a fact of life. Growing up, Ramona was always looking out for me, but she isn’t the most… open when it comes to talking about her feelings.” The awkward look on Cerise's face revealed the discomfort from talking about something so personal, ‘neither am I, she thought to herself. She winced as she continued, “Soo, when we fought, I felt like she was angry at me instead of something I’d done. That, plus all the hiding and acting we had to do in public, I thought she hated me for a while.”
Cerise turned slightly to look Raven in the eyes, “I know what I went through with Ramona is completely different from how you feel with Apple; I’m not even going to pretend that I like Apple that much after how she’s treated you. I’m saying that if having a relationship with your sister is that important to you, then you need to work on it, and Apple does too. A relationship is a two-way street, and you’ll both need to put in the effort to make it work. Right now, the best thing you can do is reach out. Don’t waste any more time. Whether she reciprocates is up to her, but at least you’ll both know the door is open for communication.” Despite the uncertainty still lingering in the air, Raven felt reassured by her friend's words. Maybe it was the steady tone of her voice or the fact that Cerise sounded wise beyond her years without trying to preach to her, but her words emitted a wave of calm that blunted the edge of her anxiety.
Raven nodded, her lavender eyes glinted with renewed determination, “You’re right, I can’t just wait for a fairy godmother to come around and fix my problems. I have to do it myself,” she stated assuredly. Cerise smirked proudly, “Atta girl Rae, you got this,” throwing her arm around Raven’s shoulder, pulling her closer. Raven smiled tiredly, “Thank you, Reese. For everything. You and the girls have done a lot for me. One of these days, I’m gonna treat you guys to something to show you how much I appreciate you,” she spoke earnestly, catching Cerise off guard and making her flush. Not used to being the subject of such deep gratitude, Cerise averted her eyes and attempted to handwave her actions. “Don’t worry about it,” she shrugged, “Now, I don’t know about you, but I think we should head back to the dorm before Dad starts ‘huffing and puffing’ about missing curfew!” Raven nodded, and Cerise stood up with a slight grunt. She brushed off her pants and then reached a hand down to Raven. After a calming breath, Raven took Cerise’s hand, using it to help leverage herself up. While Raven shook out the spindles and needles in her legs, Cerise cracked open the door and listened intently for anyone nearby. After ensuring the coast was clear, Cerise quickly ushered Raven out of the practice room and escorted her through the emptiest hallways until they finally reached their room.
As soon as the two girls made it inside their dorm room, they let out sighs of relief. However, they now faced the same problem that they had when they left the dorm room as their stomachs growled again. Cerise checked her phone and realized there was still about an hour until the school curfew. “Wanna call Maddie or Cedar and see if they could pick up something for us on their way back,” Cerise propositioned, knowing neither of them wanted to head back out. Raven opened her mouth to reply and was interrupted by Cedar coming in through the front doors, struggling to haul her load of paint supplies while balancing a decent-sized canvas on top of her head. Cedar promptly dropped the handle to her supply wagon, shifting to hold her canvas in front of her, “Hey girls, what's up” she called out distractedly as she stared at her painting. Raven and Cerise looked Cedar up and down as they took in her appearance. She’d clearly been busy, as there were paint streaks on her hands, arms, smock, face, and even in some of her hair, while her bright smile and round hazel eyes were also alight with excitement. “We were just talking about calling you or Maddie,” Cerise explained, “How are you?”
Cedar excitedly looked up from her painting, “Absolutely fableous! You won’t believe what I saw in the Enchanted Forest,” she cheered, “I was setting up by the enchanted lake, and right before I was about to start painting, I look over the lake and saw dazzle deer!” Cerise and Raven were very impressed. Dazzle deer were said to be one of the most beautiful creatures in Ever After! Unfortunately, their shyness and lives of relative solitude meant that sightings were rare. “Look,” Cedar exclaimed as she turned her canvas to face them. The painting was gorgeous and depicted a beautiful sunset over the enchanted forest and lake, but the clear focal point was the shimmer stag and dazzle doe peacefully lapping up water on the shore. “This is hexcellent, Cedar! I think this might be your best work yet,” Raven applauded as she admired. Cerise enthusiastically nodded in agreement, “What was it like seeing them in person?”
Cedar regaled them with the details of her dazzle deer sighting, the luster of their coats, how beautifully they shimmered in the sunlight, and the gracefulness of their movements. “I was so utterly enchanted that I completely lost track of time,” Cedar sighed happily as she recalled her encounter with such mystical creatures. Her musings were interrupted by her stomach growling, “Uhhh, did you guys have any ideas for din-,” Cedar was interrupted as Maddie burst through the door with her usual sprightly manner, and skipped over to the coffee table, “Hello~oo, everyone!” Earl Gray hopped onto Maddie’s shoulder as she flipped off her hat, pulled out two bags of takeout, and began setting up the takeout containers. “We have chicken parmesan for Raven, extra meaty lasagna for Cerise, and chicken pasta alfredo for Cedar and I,” Maddie explained as she opened each box. Cerise was relieved, while Cedar and Raven were stunned. “Oh my godmother, Maddie! How’d you know we skipped dinner,” Raven gasped. Cerise had hurried over and had already begun fixing her plate, “Yeah, and how’d you know what we wanted,” she asked before taking her first bite. “Oh, the narrator told me you and Raven missed supper right before I left my Dad’s shop!” Maddie beamed as she sat down next to her friends and got her food, pouring two cups of tea for herself and Earl Gray, “They told me what you had been craving the last chapter, and I knew that Cedar and I could just share.” Raven, Cedar, and Cerise exchanged confused glances before dissolving into chuckles as they resigned to themselves that this was just another explanation from Maddie that left them with more questions than answers.
After finishing dinner and cleaning up, the girls began going through their nighttime activities. Once again, the room had emptied out to just Raven and Cerise. Cedar hopped into the shower as soon as she’d finished eating, and Maddie rushed back to her dorm room to check on Kitty so she could make it back before curfew. After eating, Cerise returned to her bed and put on her headphones to watch Cageflix on her lapmirror, leaving Raven as the last one sitting on the couch. She anxiously fidgeted as she stared at her and Apple’s messages and thought over her previous failed attempts to reach Apple. After remembering her earlier conversation with Cerise, Raven shook off her nerves and finally opened the keyboard to begin her message. Although it felt like forever after, Raven finished her message in around 2-3 minutes after giving it the once over and made her edits. Before she could second-guess herself again, Raven took a deep breath and held it as she pressed send. With a sigh of relief, Raven felt some of the weight on her shoulders disappear, and she flopped back onto the sofa. While her problems hadn’t magically vanished, Raven was happy that she’d finally managed to get her feelings off her chest. She felt like she could finally relax and let her hair down. All there was left to do now, was wait for a response.
Chapter 19: Bittersweet Memories
Summary:
Hi everyone, it's been a bit, but I'm glad to get my April post out in the nick of time! We finally get to learn more about Jason and see how he's been coping with everything. I hope you enjoy this chapter and I'd like to thank you all once again for reading, commenting, and for all of the kudos! All my love, take care and stay safe! 🖤💙🖤
Chapter Text
Jason cracked his knuckles and sighed as he turned off his work computer. After a long day of receiving the White kingdom’s reports and working on solutions, King Jason Valiant-White finally took off his crown for the evening. Although tired from a long workday, his body was still brimming with nervous energy. Jason slumped down in his office chair, ‘Never thought my life could be turned upside down in just two days,’ he thought bitterly. His daughter, his Apple Dumplin, the little girl he loved from the moment he saw her- wasn’t his. Jason still loved Apple, of course! He’d loved her before she’d even been born, but- that was wrong, wasn’t it? The baby, for whom he’d spent hours painting and setting up the nursery, never came home to experience it.
His nails dug into his palms as his fist clenched in anger, and tears began to fill his eyes. His daughter had died, and he hadn’t mourned her. He hadn’t even known that she was dead for 15 years! What kind of father doesn’t know their child is dead? What kind of father was he?! His heart felt like it was being pushed and pulled in every direction. He felt sorrow for the little girl he’d only met once. He hadn’t even been able to hold her since the doctors immediately rushed her away after being born to stabilize her! The next day, when Jason finally got to hold Apple, she looked up at him with her big, shining blue eyes, and he knew that he would do everything in his power to love and protect her. Now, she wouldn’t even look at him. Ever since the truth had come out, Apple hadn’t looked at Dianna and him once in the three days since she’d been home. After greeting the palace staff, Apple shut herself in her room and turned away the housekeeping staff and her handmaid. They’d only seen Apple when she reluctantly came out for food. Even then, she would only grab something light from the pantry or sit silently at the table as she sparsely picked at her meal before flitting back to her room like a bat out of mirror prison. The few times he’d seen her, she looked tired and defeated.
Jason had done his best to give her space to process the massive change in her life, but he wanted, no, needed his daughter back. Jason missed Apple coming in during his work hours to check on him as he looked over documents, helped her prepare her speeches for student assembly, and went horseback riding together. Hell, Jason even missed when Apple would give him the silent treatment after an argument because at least he knew it would be temporary and that they would be able to talk things out and make up and go back to how they were before the fight had started. It hurt Jason even more because he knew that there was fixing this. This wasn’t a disagreement over her curfew or wanting to join him on a diplomatic visit; everything she knew had been flipped on its crown. The only thing he and Dianna could do was band together to love and support Apple and for all of them to heal and grow with the knowledge that’d been revealed to them. Jason stood and began to walk towards his bed chambers as that meeting repeated in his head. Apple’s shocked face as everything came to light, Dianna looking like she’d seen a ghost, the scroll leisurely floating in front of them as it revealed the bitter truth. No matter how much he’d wanted to deny it, reality had stared him right in the face. When Jason looked over to his right, he’d seen waves of confusion and disbelief as Raven struggled to process the information, but seeing Liam hurt him almost as much as the truth had. Although they’d now grown apart, once upon a time, he and Liam had been the best of friends.
Jason had been the bright social butterfly cracking jokes to cheer Liam up, coaxing him out of their dorm room, and getting them into trouble. Liam was the clever but reserved poet and musician, making sure that Jason passed his Chemythstry labs, giving him sagely advice, and using his charm and wit to get them out of trouble. Even after being handed opposing destinies as Snow White’s prince and the Evil Queen’s husband, they remained friends, albeit not as close. The constant feuding of their wives had driven a wedge between them, but they found a way to set most of it aside to enjoy the other's company and catch up whenever possible. After seeing physical proof that Owlette was alive, Liam had a similar expression of disbelief and grief to Raven, but his eyes shined with relief and hope.
Jason had seen firsthand how heartbroken Liam had been when Owlette had died. After they’d stepped away from their wives, he’d held and supported Liam as he sobbed over his daughter’s death in the hospital's quiet room. He’d consoled Liam and wished on every star that he could ease his friend's heartbreak, to give him back what fate had stolen from him and Mariana. At the same time, Jason had felt lucky and thanked every realm in Ever After for his Apple being alive and well despite her difficult birth. Taking Apple home had been one of the happiest days of his life. Now, it was tainted with the fact that he’d essentially stolen his best friend's child. Jason’s train of thought was broken as he had finally returned to his bedroom.
Opening the door, Jason was greeted by the sight of Dianna sitting at her dressing table, carefully looking over her appearance as she meticulously brushed through her long, ebony hair. “100 strokes every day keeps all the greys away,” she’d told him once. Her eyes shifted to look at the door’s reflection once she’d heard it open and set down her brush to turn to him. Jason walked over to the bed and sat on its edge as he greeted his wife. Dianna had dressed down for the evening; her long, ebony hair had been let out of its tight ponytail, and she had changed into one of her soft red dressing gowns and removed her makeup. Although her appearance was more relaxed, her furrowed brow and lips pressed into a tight line betrayed her anxiety. “Have you seen Apple today? I tried to talk with her during lunch, but she wouldn’t say anything except that she was fine and tired from school,” Dianna worried. Jason frowned and shook his head, “Not since she came out to grab something for breakfast. I’m worried she’s not eating enough.” Dianna groaned tiredly, her head tipping back in frustration. Jason noted how tired Dianna looked; dark circles had begun to creep under her eyes, and her skin looked dull. The stress of the situation was clearly getting to his wife the same way it was taking its toll on him, and the fact that he hadn’t been able to do anything about it hurt. Jason felt useless. After all, he was the hero, the husband, and the father. It was supposed to be his job to solve the problems and slay the dragon, whichever came first.
Jason sighed as he took off his shoes, blankly staring onward as he got lost in his thoughts. During times like these, Jason wished that his Nana was here. He didn’t know much about his mother, Muriel, as she had died from illness when he was an infant, but his father, Cole Valiant, was a knight to Sir Michael, a lord in a small kingdom located in one of the obscure corners of Ever After. Cole loved his son, and Jason loved and admired his father despite not having many memories with him. Unfortunately, Cole died protecting his liege during a parade accident when Jason was only 6. After being orphaned, he’d been left in the care of his paternal grandmother, Alice. They lived in the modest home given to them by lord Michael for his father’s sacrifice. While they didn’t have much, they had each other, and his Nana Ali ensured he had everything he needed and a little extra whenever possible.
Jason worked hard to help around the house and trained to become a knight, and whenever he was having a rough time, Nana would always help him feel better. She’d sit him down in the kitchen and listen to his problems, and he’d read out the recipes while she coo-. Jason’s eyes lit up as an idea took over his thoughts. He quickly finished removing his shoes and then strode to his dresser to change. Dianna was startled by her husband’s quick shift in speed and demeanor, “Darling, are you ok,” she asked. Jason finished stripping off his suit and pulled on a pair of sweatpants as he excitedly replied, “I’m gonna try and talk with Apple. Also, I’m gonna handle dinner!” Before she could say anything else, Jason was opening the door. “You just relax in here while I cook. I’ll call you when it's ready,” he called towards her before shutting the door, the sound of his footsteps fading away as he hurried away. Dianna stared at the door for a moment longer before shaking off her shock and sending a silent prayer that whatever Jason was doing to get their daughter back would work.
Chapter 20: Sundown Sadness
Summary:
We finally see Apple again; our poor, pretty princess isn't feeling too good. Let's see what's going on underneath those golden locks.
Notes:
Hey everyone, sorry I'm late! I'm not dead😂😅, but May was a busy month for me! 1st, because I got pretty sick and 2nd, because I graduated!! My dad's coworker got my entire family sick; I got my BA Magna Cum Laude and spent some time celebrating with friends and family. I hope you enjoy this chapter, it was pretty challenging to get it to where it is and convey what I wanted. This chapter and the previous chapter actually changed a lot from where they started, but I’m happy with how they turned out 😁. Twisted Fates is over a year old now, and I almost can’t believe what it's become! I never thought my inane ramblings could gather this much support, but I’m so happy that you’ve been enjoying them so far 🥰️I hope you enjoy my chapter, and I really appreciate the hits, kudos, and comments. If I haven’t gotten back to you yet, I apologize but I’m doing my best to play catch up amongst my other obligations. (P.S. If you have any guesses or questions, feel free to leave them in the comments because I love reading and answering them!😘) Stay safe, everyone!🖤💙🖤
Chapter Text
Red and golden light streamed into the bedroom through chiffon and organza curtains, warming the air and creating a cozy atmosphere. Along the wall in the middle of the room was an opulent queen-sized canopy bed covered in white and gold bedding and shaded by red and gold drapes. A single beam of sunlight managed to pierce the drawn canopy and shine onto the silhouette of its occupant. Apple woke slowly as the light that drifted through the curtains warmed her face, groaning as she raised an arm to shield herself. After a minute or two, she rubbed the sleep out of her eyes and groggily sat up, squinting as she took in the world around her. Apple grabbed her phone and checked the time, ‘I didn’t think I’d sleep that long.’ She yawned and stretched before tucking her hair behind her ear, grimacing at the oily texture, ‘Gross, I need a shower.’ Apple scooted towards the edge of her bed, stood up, stretched again, and walked to her bathroom.
She reached to flip the light switch and flinched at the bright lights. Once her eyes adjusted, Apple saw her reflection in the mirror. She could hardly recognize herself; her usually perfectly curled hair was greasy and out of place due to lack of maintenance, her skin was dull, and her eyes were puffy and bloodshot. Apple breathed a sigh as she walked over to the shower. She turned the water on and scrolled through her phone while waiting for the water to heat up. Steam slowly began rolling out from the shower, and after testing the temperature, Apple set her phone down and stepped in.
The water was scalding hot, her pale skin quickly flushing pink from the heat, yet Apple seemed unbothered. Numb was the only word she could think of to describe her feelings. The past few days, she’d done nothing but cry, sleep, and blankly watch whatever came on the CGTV channel. Occasionally, a text notification would cross her phone screen, and Apple would just stare at it and wait for it to pass. She knew her friends were worried about her, but she just had no energy to respond. Once her hair was fully saturated with water, Apple grabbed her shampoo and began working up a lather on her scalp. She lost herself in thought as her fingers threaded through her long golden hair.
How long would her parents still want her… did they even want her now? How could she ever face them again? Apple still loved her parents with all of her heart. After all, they had raised her and given her endless love, support, and guidance. Her mother had been so proud to be raising the next Snow White. Dianna helped her prep for everything she would need to play out her part. Now, all that work had gone to waste on someone who wasn’t even her daughter . Dianna hated wasted time, effort, and materials and worked to make everything as efficient as possible. Her pinpoint accuracy, time management, and thorough calculations maximized the profits of all White-branded businesses while minimizing the costs and materials needed. The same work ethic and principles applied to how Dianna ruled her kingdom. She was a very busy woman between running countless businesses and her kingdom. Despite this, Dianna always did her best to make time for Apple whenever she asked. Giving her help and advice, showering Apple with love, words of affection, and praise.
Apple wasn’t ignorant, she knew that many people looked down on her for not matching the look of the previous Snow Whites. She’d heard what other nobles and royals had said about her growing up. How her mother really should try again for a child more ‘fitting’ of the Snow White role, that it would be much more practical. That her beauty and talent would make it easy for the White kingdom to strengthen ties via marriage as some of the more pragmatic, cruel , nobles had suggested. The comments hurt no matter how much Apple tried to play them off. However, instead of shying away from the world, Apple worked even harder to be the perfect Snow White she knew she could be. After all, she had everything else needed to be Snow White! The pale skin, red lips, flushed cheeks, and a kind, gentle disposition. Surely, all of her positive attributes could make up for just one flaw. The only thing really wrong with her was her hair! Apple had tried to dye her hair black once and suffice to say…she never tried it again. Despite how much 13-year-old Apple had tried to convince herself otherwise, she looked terrible with dark hair and spent a month of her summer indoors while her stylist fixed her hair and fully got the dye out of it.
Apple had expected to just go through this shameful phase by herself. She didn’t want any of her friends or peers to see her like that, and she wouldn’t even think about bothering her parents with the issue. The embarrassing mistake of a teenager was a negligible issue in the face of a country's problems, especially during a trade dispute between kingdoms. Despite this, Dianna had gone out of her way to be with Apple through every step, providing her with a woman's guidance that she desperately needed as she faced this insecurity and came into her own. Although looking back on that time made Apple cringe, she cherished that time with her mother.
Apple had always been grateful that her mother had continued to encourage her to fulfill her destiny, even though she technically didn’t ‘fit’ the role of Snow White. Despite Apple’s flaws , her mother did her best to help her become the perfect Snow White. She must be seething, knowing she did all that work for someone who wasn’t even her daughter. Apple’s teeth and heart clenched at the thought. When would her mother call her out for being a waste of her time? Leaning forward, Apple stuck her head under the water to rinse out the shampoo. Her eyes were squeezed shut to keep the shampoo from getting in, but it didn’t stop her tears from leaking out. When she finished rinsing, she wiped any remaining soap from her face, opened her eyes, and tried to scrub away her tears. Apple wanted to run to her father for comfort like she usually did when she was hurting but knew that she couldn’t. How could he even want anything to do with her now that he knew she wasn’t his daughter?
The heat and steam were beginning to make Apple dizzy, but she wasn’t ready to get out of the shower yet. She grabbed her conditioner and then braced herself against the wall as she slowly crouched to maintain her balance. Apple finally sat on the cold tile floor and positioned herself directly under the water flow, its continuous torrent slowly easing the tension out of her body. With a sigh, Apple tried to think about something else as she flicked open her conditioner and squirted a dollop into her hands before methodically applying it through her hair. Once Apple had finished conditioning, she washed up and rinsed out the conditioner. Finally, she turned off the water and wrung the excess out of her hair before grabbing her towel and sluggishly stepping out of the shower.
Apple noted how much lighter she felt as she dried herself off. She didn’t know how long she’d spent inside, but at least she felt slightly better. While the shower hadn’t fixed her problems or provided any solutions, the hot, relaxing water and cleaning herself up had breathed a bit of life back into her. Steam visibly swirled throughout the room and fogged up the entire mirror. Apple slipped on her robe and walked to her counter. She used her sleeve to clean a small ‘window’ in her mirror so she could see herself as she did her skincare and combed her hair. Apple gave a tiny smile as she saw her new reflection. Her frazzled, oily curls had melted as the grime and grease had been washed away. Her hair was left clean and soft, returned to its naturally straight form, and smelling like apple and cinnamon. Her pale skin had a healthy flush and was more vibrant, and her eyes looked remarkably less puffy.
Apple began following her usual haircare routine when her phone chimed a different tone than usual. Her brow furrowed in concern, ‘that's only for castle announcements,’ she thought. Apple grabbed her phone and checked her notifications. The most recent one was from the Castle Call app, a communication app that was more secure than standard messaging software. It was designed for castles, mansions, and other large properties to transmit information, send notices, and call for someone when needed. Apple winced as she read, ‘King Jason summons Princess Apple to the kitchen,’ her stomach soured. This wasn’t a standard request or call. A summons in Castle Call was an official order with no choice in the matter.
Apple sighed and confirmed her attendance, then set her phone aside and finished fixing her hair. Until now, she managed to avoid her parents, but she couldn’t hide in her room forever. Now, it was time to face the music. Rather than curl her hair as she would typically do, Apple pulled her hair back into a neat ponytail and then rushed through her skincare. Finally, she looked over at her contacts case and her square-framed glasses, which lay next to them. Her eyes were still slightly red and didn’t feel that good, either. She didn’t want to irritate them further with her contacts, but Apple hated wearing her glasses. Apple huffed in resignation before putting on her glasses, ‘It’s better not to keep Dad waiting,’ she thought nervously. Apple grabbed her phone and returned to her room to get dressed, ‘the sooner we talk, the sooner it's over with.’
Chapter 21: 2 Idiots, 1 Library
Summary:
Originally, I was working on a heartfelt chapter for Apple, and then was interrupted by Sparrow and Duchess running into my writing session saying, "What about us!" I know that this story has been pretty heavy from the beginning, but I promise not everything is going to be a political fairytale melodrama, we need our tropey teenage high school fairytale drama too 😂😂 In this chapter Sparrow goes to dance practice, and gets to see our favorite swan in her element. We also get a little sneak peek from our favorite captive brother. Thank you so much for reading and all of your comments and kudos! Please continue to comment, take care, and have a lovely day ✨🖤💙🖤✨
P.S. For everyone going back to school, good luck🍀🍀
Chapter Text
The door to the practice room practically flew off its hinges as Sparrow threw it open and ran out. As he hurried off and haphazardly tried to adjust his guitar case behind him, Tucker and Andrew stared in his wake. Sparrow was a bit of a Diva when it came to band practice, often trying to go longer to ensure the Merry Men were at their best. For him to actually end the session perfectly on time was rare. “I haven’t seen him run that fast since he heard that Van Slayen tickets had gone on sale early,” Tucker stated, eyebrow raised in confusion. Andrew nodded in agreement, “Maybe he’s gotta date,” he suggested. Tucker rolled his eyes and scoffed, “Pshhh, yeah right! If he had one, we’d know. He can’t keep his mouth shut to save his fairytale! He’s probably just got something planned with Hunter or Alistair, and they said they’d leave him behind if he was late again.” Andrew nodded again, “Probably. Hey, the new trailer for Call of Destiny: Black Spell 6 just came out. Wanna head back to my room and check it out?”
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Sparrow hopped off the shuttle steps and set a quick pace through the streets of Book End. 10 minutes passed, and he slowed down as the bright red awning of the Red Shoes dance club came into view. Inside, the staff and students were milling about moving supplies, cleaning up, talking, stretching, and all the usual fairs for a dance club/studio. He could hear the soft classical music that leaked through the studio door at the back of the hall and headed in that direction. Sparrow noticed the glances and stares being cast by some of the staff but wasn’t surprised. It wasn’t often that he came to Red Shoes outside his and the Merry Men's performances. Despite that, a few of the most frequent dancers even smiled, waved, or nodded in greeting, stepping out of the path so he could be on his way. Seeing how comfortable the students were with Sparrow’s presence, the staff returned to their tasks and conversations. Although he was technically an outsider, the dancers didn’t mind his occasional visits. After all, they knew he was just there for Duchess.
Quietly, Sparrow stepped inside the dance studio and closed the door behind him but didn't enter any further, knowing his boots would track dirt onto the floor. Madame Arielle glanced at his entry before returning her gaze to her students. He looked around for Duchess’ signature black, white, and lavender hair and saw her in the center of the room at the end of a row of performing students. Sparrow joined the students standing on the sidelines as they watched the performing students practice their variations. The teacher began calling out names, and the students moved forward, performing their variation before stepping back into line as the next dancer was called. “Princess,” Madame Arielle called out, and Princess Fantasma stepped forward into a pirouette.
Since he’d quit dance, it’d been a while since Sparrow had seen Princess perform, and he watched the rest of her routine with a more critical view. Her dark brown hair was pulled back into a neat low bun, a serene smile was plastered on her face, and her golden leotard highlighted her form. Every step she made was precise, and every turn was controlled and balanced. Princess was very talented, not in the same way as Duchess, but talented nonetheless. Any critiques he could have given her would have been minor at best and nitpicky at worst. Princess had fallen back into line when Madame curtly called “Fritz.” Sparrow huffed and crossed his arms in annoyance. He watched Fritz begin with an assemble devant, then point his right foot forward and step over to leap into his saut de basque. If Sparrow hadn’t known Fritz for so long, he’d have been surprised that someone could look so smug while landing on the wrong leg. The teacher began calling out corrections, which seemed to force Fritz to focus and actually put effort into his performance. Sparrow loathed to admit it, but Fritz could be a great dancer when he deigned to put in the work.
Finally, Fritz stepped back into line as Madame Arielle called for Duchess. She stepped forward as gracefully as ever; her hair was pulled up into a high bun, and a calm smile rested on her lips, but the determined look in her eyes revealed her intense focus. Duchess balanced on her left leg as her right leg opened and closed, pushing her into a perfect fouette. After three turns, she stepped out and jumped, switching to land on her right leg, and her left leg extended out behind her. With her arms and leg stretched out in arabesque, she slowly lowered her head and forward arm toward the ground, her left leg now stretched out completely above her. After lifting back up, she stepped and traveled to the far right of the studio, then began a series of turns back towards the center, finishing her variation with the final note of the music.
The room erupted into applause as the students began to compliment and admire their classmates' performances. Madame Arielle smiled proudly at her protege's performance, “Hexcellent work, Duchess,” she praised her voice and smile overflowing with pride. Not forgetting the rest of the class, Madame Arielle looked up to address them, “Everyone, you’ve done great work today! I know you’re all excited about our fall concert, so remember to review your parts for The Fair Melusine in A Midsummer Night's Dream. We’ll move on to the Walpurgis section next, and you don’t want to fall behind! Be safe heading out, and I can’t wait to see you next week!” The performing students quickly began to disperse, moving to talk with friends and change out of their pointe shoes. Duchess finally noticed Sparrow when she turned to head back to her barre spot.
She began walking over, but before Duchess could greet him, she was approached by two students. A petite girl with green streaks in her blonde hair spoke first, her eyes glittering enthusiastically, “Omfg, I think that was your best performance yet, Duchess!” Justine Dancer nodded in agreement beside the girl, “Yeah, you totally slayed it,” she cheered. Duchess naturally preened from the attention and praise, “Well yeah, I haven’t gotten this far for nothing,” she bragged, “But thank you anyway, you guys weren’t so bad yourself.” Sparrow choked back an amused snort ‘can’t she ever just take the compliment and say thank you without being such a smart ass.’
The three girls walked toward Duchess’ barre spot to continue chatting. Unfortunately, the peace couldn’t last as Frtiz blocked their bath, and Princess followed close behind him. Despite having worked up a sweat, Fritz still looked pretty put together, with his slicked-back dark blonde hair, a mirthful glint in his piercing blue eyes, and the ever-present smirk and overwhelming aura of smugness emanating from his person. “That was some pretty great work you did today, Essie,” he smirked. Duchess’ face remained impassive, but she was already annoyed. Only Duchess’ family and close friends called her Essie, her Baba, Faybelle, and Sparrow….occasionally. Princess chimed in with a forced smile and an overly saccharine tone, “Yeah, you were practically perfect.” No matter how hard Princess tried not to let it show, the steely glint in her hazel green eyes and the tense edge to her tone betrayed her. She was seething with jealousy.
Duchess looked between the two, suspicious of their intentions. “Thanks,” she said unenthusiastically. She tried to move past them but was stopped by Fritz, “You know, if you want, I could practice with you now that class is over. It’s been a while since we danced together.” If Duchess weren’t so annoyed with Fritz, she probably would’ve laughed at Princess’s indignant expression. She’d probably been hoping that she could get him all to herself now that practice was over. Duchess refrained from rolling her eyes, “Thanks, but I have plans,” she said boredly, stepping past Fritz and Princess and sitting down beside her bag.
Fritz scoffed as he watched Duchess hastily remove her point shoes, “Oh come on! Whatever you have to do can wait till later, can’t it.” Sparrow rolled his eyes in aggravation. He was too far away to hear what Fritz was saying but knew he was annoying Duchess and holding them both up. “Buzz off, Fritz, she’s busy,” Sparrow yelled. Fritz turned to glower at him, and Duchess fought to hide her smirk. A few girls nearby giggled at the boys’ interaction, but Sparrow was undeterred, “Hurry up, Duchess, we’re gonna miss the shuttle,” he complained. Duchess had finished removing her point shoes and other gear and packed them in her bag, but Fritz continued pushing her to reconsider. “Well, I gotta go,” she huffed as she slipped on her outside shoes, but Fritz continued blocking her.
Sparrow angrily stomped over, shoulder-checking Fritz and Princess out of the way. Fritz and Princess scoffed indignantly, “Sorry, we have a project,” Sparrow insincerely sneered as he gave Duchess a hand and helped her stand. Fritz tried to pass Sparrow but was blocked by him heaving Duchess’ bag onto his shoulder. “Duchess, you know I’m a much better study partner than bird brain over here! I can help you in whatever subject you need,” Fritz boasted, practically puffing out his chest. Duchess stared in disbelief, “Didn’t you fail last week's Kingdom Management test,” she snarked. Fritz sputtered in embarrassment, and Duchess and Sparrow bit back their smirks as they waved goodbye to the rest of the class. Duchess looked Fritz in the eye, “By~yee,” she sneered smugly before exiting the studio and Sparrow shutting the door behind her. They could finally start working on their plan!
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The ride back to Ever After High had been completely uneventful. After arriving, Sparrow waited for Duchess outside her room while she dropped off her stuff and freshened up. Now, as they entered the library, Duchess felt like she didn’t know where to start., “So~oo, what do we look for,” she asked unsurely. “I dunno,” Sparrow shrugged, “Looking for stories about people who were unsatisfied with their role seems like our best bet.” The two set up their spot on a secluded table before going to peruse the bookshelves.
Before they had noticed, over an hour had passed. Aside from being scolded by the Evil Step Librarians for being too loud, it was pretty uneventful. “Any luck,” Duchess whispered hopefully as she closed another book and added it to her growing pile of dead ends. Sparrow grimly shook his head as he turned another page, “Not really, but I keep seeing references to some girls called The Two Sisters,” he answered. Duchess glanced over, “What about them,” she asked. Sparrow leaned back and showed her the cover, “So in Filling Your Role and Fairytale Protocol, it goes over all the reasons to fill your role and whatever.” Sparrow scooted closer to help her see the page and pointed as he read, “Here it says ‘All characters must play their part in their stories, or else go the way of The Two Sisters,’ but it doesn’t say anything else after that. There's no illustration, description, or mention of them anywhere else in the book.” He put the book down to show her a small pile of books stacked in front of him, “I looked through some similar books, and either they weren’t mentioned or made a similar comment about going the way of the two sisters. Nothing about their story or what they did, not even any names besides The Two Sisters.”
Duchess was stunned as she took in all the information Sparrow had just dumped in front of her. Not by the fact that he’d managed to discover a hidden story, although it was a vague and weird discovery, she was more surprised at how thorough Sparrow was in his research. Sparrow is the type of person who finishes his homework while the teacher collects it. Seeing him put in this much work just to help her was unexpected. Sparrow looked at her expectantly, snapping her out of shock, “Well, it's a start,” she said resolvedly.
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Giles smiled as he watched the two through his mirror. He was proud to see them working to break the chains of their destinies but wished he was there to help them during their journey. Especially since he knew the exact book they needed. Giles stood and walked over to one of the tall looming bookshelves within the Vault of Lost Tales. The book he grabbed had a green leather cover that was old and cracked but was one he was deeply fond of. A golden ribbon bookmarked the story he had read and reread countless times, if only to read the familiar handwriting in the margins, The Tale of Two Sisters. Now, he just needed to help them see it and find a way to tell them what really happened to the two sisters.
Chapter 22: Apple Pie, Black Forest Cake, and Rose Tea
Summary:
Apple worries about what's going to happen to her before meeting up with King Jason, while Jason just wants his daughter back.
Notes:
*Whew* This one took a lot out of me😅 Sorry that this took so long, but I hope that getting that Apple and Jason finally getting some love will help make up for it. There's a couple different things I could cover next, soo~oo (drum roll please 🥁🥁) I'm going to give you guys the opportunity to vote!
Option 1.) We'll check in on Raven, Cerise, and Maddie.
Option 2.) We'll check in on Raven and her dad.
Option 3.) We get to see one of the side plots that hasn't been shown yet (I have a couple side plots, both with established and my own original characters). Option 4.) Some backstory for Princess from the last chapter.
Leave a comment on what option you'd like to see! Just to be clear, all of these chapters are going to happen. I'm just giving you guys the opportunity to tell me which one you want to see first! If you have any questions, theories, spotted some of my IRL references, etc. Feel free to comment because I love to see them! Please take care of yourself, stay safe, and have a lovely day ✨🖤💙🖤✨
(P.S If you're in North America, happy Indigenous Peoples' Day on Monday 10/14!)
(P.S.S I'm working on character bio's and designs for all of the OC's, if you'd like to see them comment and let me know and I'll link them in this story somewhere)
Chapter Text
Although she wasn’t running, Apple was able to quickly traverse the large expanse of White Castle in the ways only someone deeply familiar with its layout could. Faster than she would have liked, Apple found herself standing in front of the doors to the grand dining hall to which she had been summoned. The golden light of the setting sun made the polished white marble walls of White Castle almost glow as it shone through the tall windows. Outside, Apple could see the beautiful pink dogwood and gala apple trees that sprawled across the castle grounds. As Apple took in the picturesque view of the well-manicured meadow of the castle grounds she was overcome with a wave of nostalgia.
This is where Apple had lived her entire life, her first steps were in these castle halls, she’d picnicked with her family in the meadow, and this was the place Apple pictured when she thought of home. Apple had grown, learned, cried, laughed, loved, and was loved here. She’s lived here, and on one occasion, had almost died here. Apple still remembered the day she had fallen into that old well chasing after a dragonfly. She’d only been six years old, but she could still vividly remember the feeling of the long fall and harsh splash of the ice-cold water, the feeling of panic and pure unadulterated terror when she realized that she couldn’t breathe. Apple had done her best to keep swimming, but the smothering weight of her soaked, dense petticoats weighed her down, and she struggled to keep her head above water. She’d only been stuck in that well for 2 minutes, but in that brief amount of time, Apple had realized that she could die trapped in that well, and she didn’t even fully understand what death meant at such a tender age, only that it was permanent. That had been the moment that Apple had decided that the certainty of the known dangers she’d face while fulfilling her role as the next Snow White were infinitely safer than the unknown dangers lurking outside of her story. Apple had felt lucky compared to her subjects, having a predetermined story to follow while they had to face the wild and unknown dangers that lurked around every corner for those without a set role to play. Apple had worked so hard to fulfill her role as the next Snow White, and look at what that had gotten her.
Apple sniffled as she turned away from the windows, lifting her gaze to the ceiling to try, and blinking to keep her tears at bay. After collecting herself, Apple sighed as she resigned herself to the unknown fate that awaited her behind the dining room doors and opened them. As she entered the room, her eyes were glued to the floor in a decidedly unprincesslike manner due to her anxiety. However, her nerves were slightly put at ease when she looked up and glanced across the room, only to see that it was unoccupied. “In here!” Apple heard her father’s shout and looked over to the archway leading to the kitchen.
Whatever Apple had expected to see when she had been summoned, she wasn’t expecting this. In place of King Jason, dressed in a well-pressed suit and having a conversation with the royal chef, Apple saw…her dad, wearing an old wife-beater, joggers, and a Kiss the King apron. Granted, Apple could tell that two of those things were Kevin Castle, but still, he was way more dressed down than he normally was during normal business hours in the castle. He was also prepping a baking tray with what seemed to be salmon covered in herbs and vegetables before setting it aside and washing his hands. Jason looked over to her from the sink and beamed a bright smile, “Apple Pie, perfect timing! The staff have the night off, can you give me a hand over here?” Blinking away her surprise, Apple quickly walked over to the center island where her father was now pulling several bowls out of the cabinets. Once she was in reach, Jason reached his arm over and pulled her in for a short squeeze, then released her to continue smiling and straightening up his utensils. Although Apple had been surprised by the short but unexpected burst of affection from Jason, a big part of her had also felt warmed and calmed by the close gesture. Apple managed a small smile back to her father, “What are you making?” she asked shyly.
“For dinner, I’m making garlic butter salmon with risotto,” her dad stated fondly, gesturing over to the prepped tray, then turning back to Apple. “What do you think we should make for dessert?” Apple was left slightly stunned by the question. Their meals were usually prepared by the kitchen staff after mother, father, or herself had decided on a menu by making requests in advance or selecting from a list of options. Even when the family was cooking for themselves, the recipe and ingredients were normally selected ahead of time. A bright red book cover lying on the island caught Apple’s attention, it was the cookbook that contained all of the White family’s traditional dessert recipes. Apple reached over to grab the book then sat in one of the bar stools and began to turn through the book. Relaxing in her seat, Apple began to softly call out options as she flicked through the pages, “apple tart, apple crumble, Butterscotch Apple Cake.” As expected, the cookbook almost entirely consisted of apple-based recipes. Apple stood and turned to start gathering ingredients while she made her selection but was left dumbfounded at what she saw. Dianna always insisted that the castle stayed stocked up on apples, as was traditional in White castle, but Apple was surprised to see that there wasn’t a single apple in the fruit dish. Just to be sure Apple strode over and checked in the fridge, finding her namesake was completely absent. Apple gaped at the sight, then turned to her father as if to confirm what she was seeing. “Oh my godmother, we’re actually out of apples,” she said dazedly, Apple could count the number of times this had happened in her life on one hand. Jason looked past her squinting to get a better view before rolling his eyes fondly and pointing, “Nuh uh, there’s one right there,” he smirked affectionately. Grimacing in confusion, Apple turned to see where her father was pointing and was met with her own startled reflection staring back at her. Apple’s face scrunched in amusement as she burst into a fit of giggles and stumbled back to the island.
Using his sleeve, Jason wiped a tear from his eyes, but he couldn’t wipe the smile from his face. “Why don’t we try something different tonight?” He bent over to look down at the shelves in the island, coming back up with a clearly well-loved book in hand. It looked like an old journal. Its weathered cover was a pale yellow with a vintage flower bouquet printed on it. Even while closed, you could see the slight staining on the yellowed pages. Apple remembered seeing her father with the book on a few occasions, usually whenever her Aunt Lorri came to visit, but she’d always forgotten to ask him what it was. Jason smirked as he saw the question waiting in Apple’s eyes and chose to answer her preemptively, “This belonged to my Nana Alice, my dad's mom. She’s the one who taught me how to cook,” he reminisced. After taking a second to thumb through the book, he flipped the book around so that it was facing Apple.
Black Forest Cake was written on the top line of the page in neat letters; the ingredients and quantities needed were listed to the left of an old pixeloid picture of the end product, and the steps were numbered below them. Her eyes were drawn to the photo of the finished cake, it looked mouth-wateringly delicious, the top and sides of the cakes were covered in chocolate shavings, a ring of juicy cherries were generously dotted on top of small mounds of frosting, pretty red frosting roses were scattered between them, and green frosting leaves and vines trailed down the side of the cake. Apple had eaten black forest cake before and liked it well enough, but the cake in the picture looked infinitely better than the others she’d tried, despite its much more rustic appearance.
The book slid closer to Apple as Jason gently pushed the book closer to her, he recalled fondly, “That recipe was always our favorite to make together, but it can keep you pretty busy.” He pointed over to the ingredients list, “Can you give me a hand with the dry ingredients while I work on the wet ones?” Apple nodded and took note of what she needed before gathering them and lining them up on the counter, while Jason preheated the oven and gathered his own supplies. Apple compared her ingredients to the ones listed: ‘Flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Good got everything,’ she thought contentedly. She grabbed the measuring tools, bowl, and sieve her father had set aside for her and got to work measuring and combining the ingredients. Once finished, she brought the bowl to the island and added all of the ingredients to the stand mixer with her father. After the batter was mixed, poured, and set in the oven Jason and Apple began working on the filling.
Jason took his time showing Apple of his Nana’s little tricks for the filling and the frosting. While they washed dishes, Jason told his daughter all of his fondest memories about this cake. He rambled on about how Nana Alice saw how much he’d hated the whipped cream icing that was standard for black forest cake and swapped it for buttercream, how once as a child when he hadn’t known any better he’d drunk half the bottle of cherry liquor and made himself sick, and how he’d questioned his Nana Alice why it was called a forest cake when there weren’t any trees or flowers on it. Jason smiled,“She laughed and pet my head, then said ‘You know what, Jason? You’re right, we need more forest,’ and from that point on she started piping flowers and bushes on her black forest cakes.”He laughed as he continued,“She even got a couple model trees to put a forest on top, it was a hoot for the other grannies in her sewing circle!” Apple had listened intently as her father spoke, while he’d never been tight-lipped about his family so to speak, she’d seen how their passings had effected him and refrained from asking questions to avoid hurting him. It was nice to be able to get more information on her… family.
The smile on Apple’s face wilted as she remembered everything that had come to light. Sensing the change in atmosphere, Jason decided now was the time to address what had been going on. “Why don’t we take a break,” he suggested. Apple moved to sit back at the island and Jason reached to turn on the electric kettle, an uncanny silence filling the room as they waited for the water to finish heating. Jason grabbed two mugs from their cabinet, then reached up to one of the higher shelves, pulling out a pink tea tin Apple couldn’t remember seeing before. The kettle whistled just as he opened the tin, he quickly put a tea bag in each mug and poured in the water before sitting down next to Apple sliding her mug over to her. The gentle heat from the tea warmed her hands, she took a sniff to gage what type of tea it was and was hit in the face with the smell of roses.
His slate blue gaze stared pensively into his mug, watching his own reflection as he spoke, “Nana always kept the most beautiful rose bushes, they were my favorite part of her garden. Every season she would take some of them and dry them to make tea,” Jason paused, waiting to see if Apple would respond. A slight nod and noncommittal noise from Apple proved she heard him, still she said nothing further. Turning to face his daughter, Jason pleaded, “Apple, please, I need you to talk to me,” her grip on the mug tightened, she anxiously refused to meet his gaze. Nonetheless, Jason didn’t falter, “I know that you’re hurt, and confused, and that everything we know has been turned on its head, but I want to help you, your parents want to help you, but we can’t do that if you won’t talk -”
The sound of sniffles interrupted Jason’s train of thought, he looked over to see his daughter failing to keep herself together. Before he could do anything Apple had practically fallen out of her seat and was squeezing him with all of the strength she had, her petite frame heaved as she sobbed. Jason readjusted in his seat to compensate for the Apple’s added weight as she clutched onto his chest. The sound of her crying felt like a dagger to his heart, Jason hugged her gently as he rubbed her back, and in a rare instance Jason felt powerless. He could fight off trolls, slay feral dragons, and govern a kingdom; but couldn’t comfort his daughter. “Please don’t make me go,” she begged. Jason’s brain struggled to comprehend what she had said, he moved her back slightly so he could see her face, “Honey, what are you talking about,” he questioned. Apple blubbered as she rubbed tears from her eyes, “You don’t want me anymore you’re making me leave to go live with King Liam!”
Perturbed, Jason gawked at her in disbelief and shook his head, “Apple, baby, look at me. You’re not going anywhere!”Her teary eyes finally looked up to meet her father’s concerned gaze, she gasped as she struggled to catch her breath, “I-I’m not,” she asked, her now raspy voice full of hope but tinged with doubt, and Jason couldn’t help but pull Apple into his arms.
For a moment, the two just sat there, Jason fighting back tears as he held his daughter close and Apple relaxing some in the comforting embrace. After taking a breath to find the words he was looking for, Jason subtly wiped his eyes with his sleeve and pulled back to look at his daughter. Her round eyes were puffy from her sobbing, her ocean blue eyes staring in intense focus. Jason stammered at first, struggling to keep his tears in check as he tried to put up a strong front to support his daughter, “Apple, I know that this whole situation hurts, and that there's a lot of stuff up in the air, but-” Jason stopped, taking a breath and recollecting himself before he continued, “Just because you’re not our biological daughter doesn’t mean that we’re going to abandon you! Your mother and I love you, more than anything else in Ever After! Blood related or not, you’ll always be our daughter.”
Never before had Apple heard such raw emotion in her father’s voice. While it eased some of the doubt in her heart, she couldn’t help the bit of fear that ate away at her, “You promise?” Jason smiled warmly, his eyes filled with affection, “Apple Pie, I swear on everything I hold dear, that your mother and I would never give you up.” Instinctively, Jason reached out and grabbed Apple’s hand and squeezed it between his own. He struggled again to blink away tears as his voice choked up with emotion, “I’m not going to lie to you and say that we weren’t hurt to find out the truth, but that doesn’t change the fact that we raised you for 15 years. You’re our daughter in all of the ways that count. It’s unfortunate that all of us were placed in this position, but the fact that your mother and I got to know you and have you as our daughter is a blessing that we don’t take for granted.”
If any clouds had been in the sky, they surely parted from the bright smile that blossomed on Apple’s face. Jason grabbed a napkin off of the island and dabbed at his eyes, “Now just to be clear, your mother and I would never stop you from investigating your heritage and connecting with your birth family,” he reassured, “Liam is one of my best friends, and I know he’d be thrilled to get to know you better, but at the end of the chapter it has to be your choice. We’re your parents, and we want what's best for you, it’s not going to be a pick us or them deal.” Apple leaned forward and hugged her dad tight, “I love you daddy,”she sighed contently. Jason chuckled as he squeezed her back, “I love you too Dumplin. Now and forever after.”
When the two released each other, it was like nothing had ever come between them in the first place. While they were both emotionally exhausted and knew that there was still more they would have to deal with, the cloud of tension that had lingered in the kitchen simply dissipated. Sitting back in her seat, Apple grabbed her tea and took a sip, it was delicate, floral, and slightly tinged with sweetness. It was her new favorite, not just for the amazing taste, but for the fact that it was something she could share with her dad. After finishing their tea, Jason got them back to work to finish dinner and dessert. Jason pulled the cake out of the oven, and Apple was tasked with filling and icing it once it cooled. Meanwhile, her dad put the fish in the oven and cleaned up the counters before starting the risotto. Once the food was set out, Jason and Apple took a moment to admire their handiwork. It might not have been professional quality, but for a father and daughter duo, they’d done pretty well for themselves.
The castle halls were unnaturally quiet for this early in the evening as Dianna made her way towards the dining hall. As she stood in front of the doors, Dianna crossed her fingers, hoping that her husband's plan to cheer up Apple had worked. She was surprised to find it empty after her husband had texted her to come down for dinner. Then she heard mirthful chatter coming from the kitchen. Dianna stepped inside and was greeted by the sight of her husband and daughter laughing as they set out three plates of food. Apple paused once she saw her step into the room, and for a moment, Dianna’s heart stopped. ‘Did Apple still not want to see her?’ Her worries were stopped as Apple rushed over and enveloped her in a hug. While normally Dianna might have chided her daughter for the unprincess-like amount of force, she simply smiled and sighed in relief as she returned the embrace. Everything was going to be all right, Dianna would make sure of it.
Chapter 23: Wonderlandical Garden
Summary:
Raven and her dad get to spend some quality time together
Notes:
Sorry that this chapter took longer than expected but it was an absolute BEAST to get out! It was actually getting so long that I made the decision to break it up into two chapters just to make it more manageable 😅. I want to thank everyone who has been leaving Kudos and comments, it really warms my heart and is a great motivator. I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season and New Year! I just turned 24, and part of my present to myself was finishing up this chapter! So without further ado, I hope you enjoy the chapter you voted on and have been waiting for! Please continue to comment, and I hope that all of you stay safe and have a lovely day ✨🖤💙🖤✨
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
‘-I thank you for your patience regarding this matter and will be investigating as soon as I return to Benecel. Kindest Regards, King Liam Benecel.’ Liam pressed send, clicked off his tablet, and slid it into his satchel. Aged blue eyes watched the scenery go by, noting how close he was to the Ever After High campus. He quickly checked his pocket watch, smiling as he slipped it back into his jacket, ‘Perfect, we won’t have to rush lunch.’ The main gate of the EAH campus soon came into view, and the limo came to a stop at the drop-off area. The driver came around and opened the door for Liam to step out. Liam waved goodbye, “Thank you, Ian. Raven and I should be back around 3, but I’ll let you know if anything happens.” After checking in at the main gate to get his visitor’s pass, Liam sent a quick text to Raven to let her know he was there while the guard verified his identification. The guard returned his ID and handed him his visitor’s pass, the gate slowly opening up for Liam to pass through.
Liam had already gotten close to the girls' dorm when he saw Raven come out the front doors with her friends. Maddie and Cerise walking on her left side, and Cedar on her right. His daughter was dressed more subtly than usual, and her bangs had been let down from the rest of her hair to frame her face. Rather than her normal high silver collar, she wore a black hoodie with silver detailing over a pretty violet top with black lace appliques and a layered black and purple skirt. Raven looked around and quickly found her father running up to greet him. She wrapped her father in a warm, tight hug. Once Raven had let go, Maddie had popped up in her place. “Mr.Liam! It feels like we haven't seen you in forever after,” she exclaimed as she hopped up and squeezed him with a strength that was unexpected from someone so petite. Liam hugged her back, giving his daughter’s first best friend a gentle pat on the back. Cedar waved shyly, and Cerise nodded in acknowledgment. Liam returned the greeting as Maddie let go and returned to Raven’s side. “It’s lovely to see you all girls again. I’m hoping you’ve been fairing well in spite of recent events?” Cedar’s eyes darted away, and her lips pressed as tightly together as she could manage, the corners twitched up into a nervous smile. Cerise looked to Raven and shrugged, “Eh, as well as it can be with all the crazy going on. Whataya gonna do?”After a few more minutes of catching up, Raven and her friends said their goodbyes and headed back into the dorm, leaving Raven and her father to make their way out of the school.
Although Liam would never claim to be a genius, he did consider himself to be pretty observant. He’d noticed how Raven’s friends almost boxed her in as they walked, how nervous Cedar had become after asking how they’d been, and how Cerise looked to Raven before responding. He knew that Raven had often caught nervous glances or sneers in public, but now he was almost hyper-aware of the various glances and stares following Raven as she walked. She attempted to act casual, asking about their family back at the castle and how his meetings were going. Then, when she thought he wasn’t looking, her eyes would scan the area and adjust her hair as she attempted to make herself small. It wasn’t surprising that teenagers were gossiping about the confusion during the signing ceremony. Liam just hated that his poor chickadee was at the center of it. He’d been putting it off to protect Raven and Apple’s privacy, but he could already see the Benecel head of public relations foaming at the mouth when he’s forced to tell her that Raven’s sister is alive AND the daughter of the current Snow White.
Once their limo came into view, Raven’s bright lavender eyes widened in excitement at the sight of their driver. Mr.Markess stood dutifully beside the car, his uniform top and kilt neatly pressed as usual. Liam saw him smirk as they got closer, a mischievous light in his wisened eyes. “Your majesty, you must be mistaken,” Ian gasped in mock surprise, “The last time I saw Princess Raven, she was only a baby, just knee-high! This gorgeous young lady couldn’t possibly be our little princess!” Liam rolled his eyes while Raven stepped forward into a hug, “I missed you too, Mr.Markess,” she chuckled. “Enough with this’ Mister’ nonsense,” Ian huffed as he stepped back to open the door, “you’re makin’ me old!” Once the door shut, Raven was much more relaxed within the safety of the car, and Liam was relieved that their conversation flowed much more freely. He’d always feared becoming one of those fathers whose teenage daughter hates them. Liam and Raven had always been close, and after she went off to EAH, worried they’d grow distant. Luckily, their relationship had remained just as strong as when she first left EAH, for which he was immensely thankful. “Turn left there, Mr.Markess,” Raven pointed excitedly. The car turned and then soon slowed to a stop. Liam looked the building over while waiting for Raven to step out behind him, and just one glance was all it took to see that this place had Wonderland written all over it. Upsidedown teacups were used in place of umbrellas for the outdoor seating, and beautiful red roses bloomed from the cups’ feet. A hot cup of tea was pictured on the sign hanging by the door. “The Wonderland Haberdashery and Tea Shoppe,” Raven announced, smiling and spreading her arms to show off the grandeur of the building, “we might even be able to get you some new cufflinks while we’re here!” Liam smiled as all the pieces came together, ‘Ahhhh, this was Madeline’s father’s store.’
While Liam and the Mad Hatter were pretty well acquainted on account of their daughters being best friends, he hadn’t been to Book End since he graduated from EAH himself, so he had never been able to check it out for himself. The madness outside the building followed them as they stepped through the bright fushia doors, and Liam had to duck out of the way of a flying clock! A few groups sat scattered throughout the cafe, the heavenly smell of fresh tea and baked goods circulating through the air. “Raven, Liam! I haven’t seen you in ages! " a bright, cheery voice exclaimed. Before he could turn and face the voice, Liam was pulled into a crushing hug alongside his daughter. Raven smiled somewhat breathlessly, “It’s good to see you too, Mr.Hatter.” Liam thought his ribs might crack from the pressure when they were released. “Daffy! Long time no see,” he chuckled as he readjusted his glasses and looked at their host.
Daffy’s lanky form twitched with effervescent energy. It was easy to see where young Madeline got her bubbly disposition from. Although they hadn’t been close during their school days, their daughters had brought them closer together. While distinctly odd, even for someone from Wonderland, Liam could still see Daffy’s charms despite his reserved nature. Nearly three decades had passed, yet Daffy still looked just as sprightly and blithe as in their school years. His blue shone joyfully, and his cheeky grin showed off his bucktooth smile. He still had the same hat from their high school days, which had naturally been immaculately maintained. His wild, curly, light auburn hair was barely kept at bay as his hat struggled to contain it. His signature amaranth-colored suit was perfectly pressed and starched without a single stain to be found despite how messy running a cafe could be. Honestly, Liam didn’t know how Daffy managed it all with only Maddie and himself as staff.
Reaching behind him, Daffy patted his shoulder with a mad giggle, “Yes, yes, long time no see while you work off in the distance, but I’m hoping that a piece of me has done its job, helping you keep time in my absence.” The hatter held his hand out expectantly, and for once, Liam understood what the madman was raving about, “Like a dream.” Liam reached to fish his pocket watch out of his jacket pocket and handed it over to Daffy, who excitedly opened it up to check it out. The pocket watch had been a gift for his birthday a few years back, handcrafted by Daffy himself. The gold casing was engraved with Liam’s initials and the owl on his family crest. The hands and inlaid numbers were also gold, with the actual clock face being stunning white marble. It had garnered him a lot of attention and compliments the first time he wore it to a United Kingdoms meeting. Liam was sure that Daffy and the other haberdashers of Ever After had received plenty of orders for similar timepieces. Daffy slipped the watch into his pocket before Liam could say anything. Grabbing his tea cart, Daffy ushered Liam and Raven to the back, leading them to a private tea room.
Liam stared around the room in awe. It was like a miniature enchanted forest! The room was small but cozy, painted a lovely limeade green with grass and cobblestone pavers covering the floor. The center of the room had an upside-down terracotta flowerpot for a table with two plush-looking garden chairs. More ornate pots of varying sizes were cluttered around the space, with beautiful but unfamiliar flowers and greenery growing in them. A small window was close to the ceiling, but the room was mainly lit by softly glowing flowers that hung from vines growing from wall to wall. Most surprisingly, a small creek flowed around the edges of the room, leading to a pond that lay embedded in the right corner of the ceiling. A water-…rise? Defied gravity and flowed up from the floor into the pond. Daffy had busied himself setting up the pastry stand as Liam and Raven sat opposite each other, still marveling at the scenery. The teapot whistled, distracting the two from their awe of the room, and Daffy poured the hot water into two cups, sliding one toward Liam. “Figured you’d both appreciate a bit of privacy from the rest of Ever After,” he chirped with a small, knowing smile. Despite what people might think of Daffy and his, well- Daffiness, he was a genuinely kind man. From watching over Raven while Liam was stuck back home to acting as a guardian for the other Wonderland children whose parents were trapped on the other side of the well, he always did his best to help others and made his home and livelihood a place of comfort and distraction from the rest of the realm.
A tender smile made its way onto Liam’s face, his heart warmed from his friend’s consideration, “This is truly wonderful, Daffy. We can’t thank you enough.” Daffy was clearly quite proud of himself, practically glowing from the praise. Daffy enthusiastically patted Liam on the back, the force almost pushing him into the table. “It’s no trouble at all,” he beamed, “Now I got to run, but you two enjoy yourselves!” Daffy grabbed his cart and rushed out of the room in a flurry, leaving a stunned Liam and Raven in his wake. ‘Like daughter, like father,’ Raven thought with a chuckle. Raven and Liam perused the pastries and tea bags haphazardly placed on the table, making idle conversation as both tried to figure out what to talk about first.
“How was Mom?” Raven asked stiffly as she slathered her scone in butter and blackberry jam. Liam paused, swallowing a bite of his poppyseed muffin. He hadn’t expected Raven to ask about her mother first, considering how tense their relationship had become. “She was…holding up okay, all things considered,” he confessed. “I explained everything to her and brought her a copy of the scroll, and she wanted you to know that she loves you.” Raven nodded, fingers nervously tapping against her teacup, “How’d she react?” Liam finished sipping his tea before continuing, “I think she was in shock, and I can’t blame her either. It’s a tough pill to swallow, finding out that your dead daughter is alive and you missed out on the majority of their childhood. If I hadn’t seen the evidence with my own eyes, I wouldn't have believed it either.” Raven rolled her eyes, “Oh yeah, like she wasn’t already doing the last one,” she grumbled. Liam cringed. He’d suspected Raven felt abandoned by her mother after her attempt to siege Wonderland. She had always felt that Mariana had chosen power and corruption over her and that her attempts to mold Raven into the next Evil Queen were just her attempts to exert her power and control over her daughter. Over the years, their relationship had grown even more strained, and Raven visited less and less. Now, she struggled to talk to or about her mother at all.
“How are you holding up,” Liam probed gently, “I know this is a lot to process.” Raven stilled, struggling to find the proper words to articulate her feelings. A few seconds passed in semi-comfortable silence. Liam took another bite of his muffin and sipped his tea as he waited patiently for Raven to answer, and soon she found her words. “Overall, I feel torn- like conflicted. It feels like my wishes are coming true because of a witch’s spell. Getting what you asked for but not what you wanted?” Raven peered over at her father shyly, searching for a sign that what she was saying made any sense. Liam nodded in understanding, urging her to continue. “I always wanted to meet my sister and get to know them, and now I find out that she’s alive and we have a rocky relationship. I wanted to avoid my destiny as the Evil Queen but was being pressured into it because Apple couldn’t get her happily ever after without me. Now, I get the most coveted role in the realm, while Apple still depends on me playing my part for her to get her story!” The stress Raven was facing became more and more evident, getting more worked up as she continued. “Everyone is talking about what my destiny is, if I stole Apple’s destiny, whether Apple and I fit our roles or not, and it all feels so asinine! Everyone’s focused on how the daughter of the Evil Queen could be the next Snow White when I don’t think I even want to be the next Snow White!”
Her father’s head flinched back in surprise, and Raven seemed to have shocked herself with her words. Neither could imagine someone not wanting to be Snow White. It was every little girl's dream, but one only those from the White family ever got to achieve. Even still, it didn’t change Raven’s feelings and how good it felt to say it out loud and get it off her chest. “I-…I don’t want to be the next Evil Queen, and I don’t want to be the next Snow White either. Like, yeah, it's obviously the better destiny than being forced to be the next Evil Queen. So, if being Snow White will get everyone else off of my back, then maybe it’ll be worth it, but I don’t want to confine myself to someone else's story and pledge to follow a script for my entire life! I want to write my own! A story where I’m not an evil queen or a beautiful damsel princess, where I’m just me . I want to write music, meet new people, and see the world! I want to learn as much as I can so that I can take care of the kingdom and try to undo some of the damage Mom did. I want to live my life how I want to, without Apple or Headmaster Grimm telling me off for not playing my part!”
Liam watched Raven intently as she spoke, so articulate despite the complex situation and emotional turmoil she’d been forced into dealing with. It made his heart hurt that his child was suffering, but seeing who she’d become, he almost couldn’t believe she was his daughter. She wasn’t the shy little chickadee trailing behind him as he worked anymore. She was a young woman, just a few years shy of being an adult. He wished his daughter didn’t have to face so much adversity but couldn’t deny how proud he was of how Raven was handling them. Raven hadn't let the world force her into a mold and was still fighting against conforming to other people’s machinations of who she should be. Once finished, Raven slumped in her chair, exhausted from the stress and scrutiny from her peers. He knew some days were better than others, but Liam hated that there was little he could do to help her. It reminded him of how little he could do for Mariana when she had been in the same position. All Liam could reasonably do was listen, advise, and support Raven while she went through it, and he had always sworn to do that.
“Those who do not learn from the past are doomed to repeat it, and all it takes for evil to succeed is for good people to do nothing.” Raven looked up at her father’s words, and Liam took this as a sign to continue. “Grimm has been perpetuating the same stories and characters for as long as people can remember. Society can be very resistant to change, but maybe a rebel such as yourself can break the cycle and use one of your feathers as a quill and write yourself to freedom.” Raven let out a wet chuckle, gently wiping away her few stray tears while trying not to smudge her makeup, “Now you sound like Mr.Hatter.” Liam shrugged, “Eh, could be worse. If I ever start sounding like Grimm, feed me to Nevermore.” Raven’s bright laughter lit up the room, and her father’s composure broke as he let out a chuckle of his own. Their laughter soon died down, and Liam smiled at having been able to help Raven feel even a little better. “Raven, no matter what happens,” he reassured, “whether you sign or not, you’ll always have a tower in the Benecel castle to return to.” He took a small sip of his tea, a sly smirk crossed his face, “You know she’d never admit to it, but I think Frau Heinrich is missing hearing your music in the morning.”
A pang of homesickness pulsed through Raven’s heart. Raven could recall many a morning when she’d had her music playing while getting ready, and Frau Henrich turned it down to urge her to hurry up. Frau Gisela Heinrich was the head maid of Benecel castle and had also taken over the role of a nanny and governess for Raven. Since her mother had been locked away, Frau Heinrich did her best to mother Raven as best she could. Although rather stern, she also had a heart of gold lying hidden behind her cold and aloof visage. However, this also triggered something else in her memory. “Uh, Dad. We might have another problem to deal with because I’m pretty sure that the princess is out of the tower. Last night, I heard some students talking about Apple being the daughter of the Evil Queen, but I don’t know if they found this out from someone or if they were just guessing.”
Liam frowned. He’d have to talk to Marissa sooner rather than later. “I saw some staring,” Liam said, “but I’d hoped it was just because of the signing ceremony. I’ll talk to Headmaster Grimm and find out what and how much everyone knows and where they learned it from. We can hope that this is just the rumor mill getting too close for something, but if someone or something is leaking information, we have to catch it before things get out of hand. Just because you’re technically a public figure doesn’t mean that you don’t deserve privacy,”
Raven scoffed and rolled her eyes, “I think the gossip’s one of the most mundane but still crazy parts about all of this that I’m trying to cope with. I’m used to people talking, so I can handle it well enough, but I just don’t know what's gonna happen with me and Apple. Like, I think we’re friends, but I don’t know if she ever saw me that way. Was every joke about our friends and snack run we did together an actual friendship, or just her attempt to grow closer so that she could ‘guide’ me into my ‘proper’ role as the next Evil Queen. Not to mention the whole ‘Royal versus Rebel’ thing that I never even wanted to be the head of. If you had told me before that my sister was alive or that I was going to have a sister, I would have been thrilled, but now…I don’t know. I already reached out to see if she was okay, saying I was there if she needed me, but even if she's interested in getting closer, I don’t know what that will mean for us. I’ve always been there for Apple. I’ve done my best to understand her point of view, but I don’t think having a sister is gonna be worth it if we’re just gonna fight like dragons about everything.”
Liam nodded, a reassuring smile growing on his lips, “I understand your worries chickadee, but some beanstalks you can only climb after they’ve grown. You can only control what you do and how you respond to others. If Apple can’t be the person you want as a sister, then you don't have to try to force a relationship for conformity’s sake. Being related doesn’t inherently mean that you have to keep someone in your life if they make you miserable. I’ll admit that I wish to meet Apple and get to know her in my own right, but I’ll support your choice whether you pursue a deeper relationship with Apple or not.” The tension in Raven’s back released, and she finally smiled and relaxed back into her chair, “ Thanks, Dad. For the record, I think you and Apple might get along pretty well; she’s smart, very sweet, and sociable.” Liam reached over, gently placing his hand over hers, “No problem, sweetheart. Altho~oough, if you wanna talk about dragon fights? Phew, you should’ve seen your mom and sister go at each other back in the day!” Raven’s tired lavender eyes lit up with curiosity, “What was Aunt Vespera like in high school? I only remember mom talking about when they were younger.” Liam’s smile turned into an impish smirk. He reached into his satchel and pulled out a slightly worn book, holding it up for her to look at, “You wanna see?” Raven looked over the cover. It was a light grey with pale blue and silver trim, ‘Ever After High Yearbook: Class of XX78’.
Notes:
The hint for the chapter was: 🫖☕️🎩💐🫂
If anybody got anything from that, then here's your cookie🍪
Chapter 24: Tableside Memories
Summary:
We get to learn more about Vespera and Mariana during their time at EAH.
Notes:
Happy New Year, everyone!! I know that this is a bit late, but this chapter was giving me some difficulty. I hope that you'll still like it either way, and next chapter classes will be resuming, which means that Apple will be returning to Ever After High. What's gonna happen? I guess you'll just have to wait and see😜😘. Thank you so much for reading, and I appreciate all of your Kudos and comments. Please stay safe and take care of yourselves ✨🖤💙🖤✨
Chapter Text
'Ever After High Yearbook: Class of XX78.' The cover was slightly worn and splitting at the edges, and the metallic sheen of the title was still intact, with only a few minor scuffs and scratches. The book was well-loved. It just hadn't seen the light of day in a while. Raven had seen pictures of her parents in high school, but she hadn't ever seen their yearbooks. Her father stared at the book fondly, his thumb rubbing the cover softly. "This is from our freshman year," he murmured fondly. Raven smiled and scooted her chair beside her father's, "What made you bring this?”
Liam shrugged lazily, his head lolling slightly to the side, "Thinking about the ceremony dredged up some old memories while I was packing. I’d be loathed to ask Milton to borrow a copy and thought it’d be nice to look it over with you.
Can't fault your old man for wanting to relive the glory days." He placed the book on the table between them, opened it, and flipped through the pages. He stopped when the student life section came up, then turned two more pages and pointed at one of the pictures.
It was a bookball game. A younger version of her father stood next to King Jason in his bookball uniform, and her mother stood next to Cerise's mom while giggling. “I didn’t think Mom or Aunt Vespera would be the type to watch bookball games,” Raven mumbled. Her father chuckled, “They weren’t. Jacob Hook had a bet running with Oberon Badwolf over who could pull the bigger prank at halftime. Since Vespie was Jacob’s girlfriend, she went to support him. She also knew that Dianna would be there, and since she was mad at her, she decided to go and kill two dragons with one sword.”
Her father tapped a separate area of the photo, drawing her attention. A young Queen Dianna glared at a couple, her hair dyed a bright tomato red. Raven suspected the boy was a young Captain Hook from the shaggy-cut black hair, glacial blue eyes, and sailor-style clothes. A girl was perched high on his shoulders, smirking down at Queen Dianna. She seemed to have a similar fashion sense to her mother; she was wearing black sneaker wedges with ripped fishnet tights, distressed dark blue jean shorts, and a cropped version of the EAH school jersey. Raven looked closer at the girl's face and felt a faint tingling itching at the back of her mind, like she was seeing something she'd long forgotten and had to piece together where she'd last seen it. Her eyes widened as the light bulb went off in her head, and she looked closer. She knew it was impossible, but…it was Apple! It looked just like her. Obviously, it couldn't be true, but she was staring right at her.
The girl had Apple's petite curvy frame, her rounded face, straight button nose, and her bright sunny blond hair. Albeit in the picture, the girl's hair was streaked with indigo and hung long and straight down her back instead of styled into curls like Apple. Besides the differences in fashion and hair, the only real difference was her eyes. They were slightly hidden behind a pair of sophisticated rectangular blue-black glasses, but her eyes held a similar upturned shape to her mother's and were the same bright peridot her mother's eyes used to be.
Raven looked to her father to confirm her suspicions. Liam snickered, “It’s uncanny, isn’t it?” Raven looked back at the book, leaning in closer as if the picture would change if she didn’t keep her eyes on it, “She looks exactly like Apple.” Her father agreed, “Your mother said the same thing. It's been so long that I’d almost forgotten what Vespie looked like, but once I put their pictures side by side, I was flabbergasted.”
Raven only barely remembered her Aunt. 10 years of absence had made her appearance slip from her memory. She’d visited them many times when she was little, but after her mom’s imprisonment, she’d gone missing. The authorities hadn’t been too motivated to search for the evil queen’s sister, and it was only her grandmother’s refusal that prevented Vespera from being declared dead in absentia. While her memories were faded, Raven mostly remembered her aunt taking her to the movie theater, telling her stories, and making shadow animals with her magic when she was putting Raven to bed for her parents. It was a little unsettling, seeing her aunt’s younger self after knowing Apple. Were their mannerisms similar too?
Her father gently nudged her and tapped another picture in the corner of the page. The main focus was another group of students, but she could see Vespera with her head laid down in her mother’s lap in the background. Her father smiled fondly as he stared down at the picture, “They were some of the closest siblings I’d ever seen.” Raven looked at her father, her face scrunching as if he’d just told her that Blondie’s mom was actually brunette. She had a hard time picturing it, maybe because most of her memories of her mother were tainted with how she tried to force her destiny onto her. When Raven thought of close siblings, she thought of Holly and Poppy O’Hair. She just couldn’t see her mother acting as kind and sweetly towards Aunt Vespera as Holly does for her little sister.
Her father snorted at her befuddled expression, “They’re relationship might not have been typical, but they truly loved each other.” His expression dimmed, “They had to deal with a lot of what you did being the daughter of the Evil Queen. Vespera was a year younger than Mariana, and even though she didn’t have an evil destiny, she still had to endure the stigma. I always felt like they only had each other, like they were the only person the other could rely on. I’m sure you already know why.”
Times like these made Raven’s heart well up with conflicting feelings over her mother. Her father still loved her mother, or at the very least loved who she used to be, and it wasn’t like her mother had an easy upbringing. Raven never heard anything about her maternal grandfather, and the less that was said about her grandmother, the better. She’d only met Grandma Lorelai a handful of times, but even with their limited interactions, Raven could see how the woman had produced someone like her mother. Lorelai Queen is a stunningly gorgeous and horribly vain woman with a sour personality to match. The most apt term to describe her would be self-centered, as she always prioritized her wants and pleasures over anyone else and spent most of her time getting drunk in the Queen family’s ancestral castle. Raven hated how her mother always tried to twist her into something she wasn’t, but she recognized that it was probably all she knew. Raven looked back to the picture of her mother and aunt, her insides churned as she saw bits of herself that she knew came from them.
Liam pushed his glasses up and turned the page, seemingly to distract them both from the dour atmosphere. It was a group picture with all of the freshman students sitting on the bleachers. Her father pointed to her mother and aunt. The two stood off to the side, wearing matching annoyed expressions. “They looked out for each other,” Her father said cheerfully, “but if Vespera ripped Mariana’s tights or Mariana disturbed one of Vespera’s spells- it was like an episode of Jerry Spindle!” Raven laughed, now that sounded like her mother.
Liam continued, “Vespera might have been younger, but Mari never saw her as her little sister. She was one of the few people she considered to be on equal footing. Going to Ever After High gave them more freedom to explore their interests independently, but they still supported each other.”
“Your mother was more athletic, and she and Dianna were always competing in one sport or another,” Liam recounted, “but Vespera preferred intellectual magic study and the theater.” He turned through the pages again, this time landing on the theater club section, and smiled proudly. “Vespie was the first villain’s child in a while to have been the captain of the drama club. Although that might’ve been because everyone was scared of what Mariana would do if they overlooked her sister's obvious talent.” Raven looked at the various pictures spread across the page. The biggest picture was of a group of students dressed in costumes and standing on stage as the crowd applauded them. Vespera and another male student stood center stage, holding a sizeable crystalline trophy. “She brought the school multiple acting accolades, although many hated to admit it. She even worked on a few movies after we graduated!”
For the next hour and a half, Liam and Raven went through the photos as they ate their lunch and drank their tea. Whenever a picture with her mother or aunt came up, her father would laugh and give context from the little funny moments of their youth as she listened intently. Once they’d finished eating, Liam texted Mr.Markess that they were ready to be picked up as they began setting their utensils back onto their respective trays and stands. As if he’d been summoned, Daffy knocked on the door and walked in behind his serving cart and shooed them away from their attempt at cleaning up. The hatter hugged the two before sending them on their way, but not before slipping Liam’s pocket watch back to him, “Gave it a little tune up. Still as good as new!”Liam thanked his friend, and then he and Raven left after one more bone-crushing hug.
While Mr.Markess’ amiable banter kept them from growing too glum, the ride back to Ever After High went by too fast for both father and daughter, and soon enough, they found themselves stepping out of the limousine in front of the school’s front gate. Neither Raven nor Liam could help getting slightly misty-eyed as they said their goodbyes, but both were grateful to have had such a lovely afternoon together.
Raven also felt as though something within her had shifted with her newfound knowledge. She remembered adoring her aunt as a child, and seeing her accomplishments in the yearbook inspired her to want to learn more about her… and her mother. Her father had talked about her mother as if she was such a different person in high school, not in personality, but in her ambitions and motivations. Something deep within Raven told her she needed to know more about her mother, her aunt, and their time at EAH. Maybe because she wanted to understand their relationship more to help her understand Apple. After all, if her mother of all people was capable of being a good sister, Raven felt it shouldn’t be too out of reach for her. It even made her more hopeful towards Apple, but all she could do was wait and see until they had an actual heart-to-heart. In the meantime, she was ready to relax with the girls and regale them with what she’d learned between episodes of Kelpie Shore.
Chapter 25: Boundary Lines
Summary:
A meeting between two sisters raises old grudges and conflicting feelings, and now, boundary lines are being drawn.
Notes:
Sorry for the long wait! I've been planning and charting out some things for this story and some of my other fic ideas 😜 Thank you so much for reading, and I hope this chapter will live up to the wait and I'm working hard to get the next chapter out. Thank you for all of the comments, kudos, and bookmarks, and please take care and stay safe!!✨🖤💙🖤✨
Chapter Text
A white and gold Limousine pulled up outside the main gate, and a smartly dressed dwarf hopped out of the chauffeur’s seat and opened the doors. Apple and her mother stepped out, and Apple took a deep breath of the morning air while the chauffeur grabbed her luggage. The early morning sun gently warmed the campus and the surrounding forest, making the earthy smell of the surrounding flora permeate the crisp mountain air.
The driver heaved the suitcase out of the car with a grunt. Apple thanked him and she grabbed the handle. She faced her mother, who smiled at her affectionately. “We’re gonna miss you, sweetheart,” Her mother sighed as her arms closed firmly around her. Apple felt a patch of warmth blossom in her tender heart as she hugged her back. “I’ll miss you all too,” she giggled.
After the heart-to-heart she’d had with her father, she’d felt a chunk of the anxiety she had about her parents' rejection be put at ease. She couldn’t completely silence the little voice of cruel doubt that would chime in, but getting her fears out in the open had helped her block them out during the day.
She wasn’t naive enough to expect that nothing would change between her and her parents or that her fears would be permanently stamped out, but for the moment, she was fine. Naturally, things could be better, but considering the rollercoaster of emotions she’d been through in slightly over a week's time, Apple made herself content in her current state.
Apple looked at her mother as they gently pulled away from each other. “Your father and I will call you after dinner, ok, Apple honey?” Her mom promised sweetly. Apple smiled softly and nodded, “I love you, Mom.” Her mother’s smile widened, revealing her perfect white teeth behind her crimson-painted lips, “I love you too dumplin', now and forever after.” Apple and her mother exchanged goodbyes, and Dianna picked a piece of lint off of Apple’s sleeve and took one last fond look at her daughter as she slid back into the car.
After passing through the front gate, Apple leisurely climbed the hill to head up campus. Weekend mornings were usually a sleepy or slow time at Ever After High and even BookEnd. The campus was quiet, the only sounds besides the birdsong were the clicking of her suitcase’s wheels and heels as she walked up the cobblestones.
Upon arriving at an empty quad, Apple was especially grateful that she’d chosen to return to school in the morning rather than waiting till the afternoon or evening like most of her classmates. While her parents worried she was heading back early to avoid the lingering awkwardness between them, Apple was just hoping to arrive on campus without being immediately subject to the toxic gossip train.
Apple managed to make it to her dorm room without attracting any attention and lightly tapped her knuckles against the door. “Raven, it’s me!” Apple called softly, trying to be inconspicuous. Still, no response came from inside their room.
After unlocking the door, Apple stepped inside a bright but empty room. Raven’s half of the room looked completely abandoned. Not only was she not there, but most of her belongings were gone, her blankets had even been stripped from her bed.
Apple shut the door and sighed in resignation. She’d been hoping to see Raven before their meeting with Headmaster Grimm and Madame Yaga, but it looked like she was still with Maddie. Since there was still time before she had to go to Baba Yaga’s cottage, Apple decided to relax for a minute before unpacking. Taking advantage of the lack of eyes to judge her, Apple plopped herself down on her bed and slumped forward in an unprincesslike manner as she scrolled through her phone.
No matter how many times students saw Madame Yaga’s office, it didn’t get any less unnerving. When perched on the round terrace of the administration wing, the cottage looked almost normal, if not a bit rustic. However, like its villainous mistress, its creepy interior was only barely masked by its plainer exterior.
The office’s true nature was prone to peeking out, like how the glint of Baba Yaga’s iron teeth would occasionally peek through her cherry painted lips when she hadn’t cast a glamour.
Raven nervously approached the cottage, her black and silver heels stepping over the lip of its nest and coming to a stop in front of the door. The office let out a loud cluck and ruffled its thatch roofing. Raven jumped, her eyes flashing magenta as her magic involuntarily flared around her. She quickly reined her powers back in with a huff and knocked on the door, which opened with no one standing behind it.
Raven entered to see the unfortunately familiar sight of the guidance counselor’s office. Raven looked past the dim entrance to the sitting area and could make out Grimm, Madame Yaga, and Apple talking quietly.
As always, Baba Yaga’s cottage was only lit by the sunlight coming through the open windows, and the clusters of candles strewn across most of the available surfaces. Small drying racks of various herbs and magical plants were hung up near the windows, and the room smelt mostly of dried plants, parchment, ink, and old magick that Raven had only ever noticed from highly experienced, and powerful magic users. The fragrant dried herbs and the various crystals and mystical tchotchkes tucked into the nooks and crannies, might’ve made the office feel cozy if the dim lighting wasn’t combined with the rest of the creepy decor and sentient furniture.
The soft chatter between the three came to a hush as Raven walked into the seating area. Madame Yaga languidly floated in place with Headmaster Grimm standing a few feet away. They both looked somewhat tense, but then again, they were working on a weekend. Apple sat on one of the stools, her posture even straighter than usual. The creepy chicken-legged chair was clearly setting her on edge too. Raven hurried over, exchanging a tense greeting with Grimm and Madame Yaga and an awkward smile with Apple.
For once, Apple wasn’t wearing red! She was wearing a cute rose and coral pink dress detailed with white and gold lace and embroidery. Her makeup was light, the most notable being her rose-gold eyeshadow with matching shimmery rose lipgloss. Apple still had her usual curls, although she’d swapped out her usual crown for a simple bow headband the same shade of rose as her dress. She was more dressed down than most days, but she was a far cry from the teary and blotchy mess she’d been when they last saw each other. Raven's smile grew a little more genuine. She was happy that she looked so well.
Raven reluctantly sat down, making sure to leave an empty stool between her and her roommate. After trading pleasantries, Headmaster Grimm got straight down to business. He stood up straighter and cleared his throat. “Ms.White, Ms.Queen, I know that the past week has brought a lot of change, and I can’t imagine how difficult this has been on you and your families.”
Headmaster Grimm’s deep voice was flat, his words sounding completely performative. “This meeting is to address any questions or concerns you may have and to address some changes that will be happening with your classes and after-school curriculum. We also want to ensure that we give you the proper support to help you adapt to these changes and help with your mental health and your relationship with each other going forward. To help ensure you can properly fulfil your roles.”
Raven was tempted to roll her eyes, but she ignored the urge and kept listening. Headmaster Grimm continued, “I’m sure you’ve already discussed this with your parents, but you’re going to start weekly counseling with Madame Yaga. You’ll each be receiving one individual and one joint session with Madame Yaga per week.” Both girls nodded somewhat awkwardly, their parents had indeed spoken with them about starting therapy.
Raven hadn’t been bothered because she already had experience, having started therapy when she was five after her mother’s arrest and having received regular check-up sessions since. However, Apple had been a little reluctant.
As much as she campaigned for mental health support and self-care, Apple was worried about how others would see her if they found out she was in therapy. Plus, she didn’t want to need fixing. She didn’t want to admit that there was something wrong with her or that she couldn’t solve her own problems. Still, even she had to concede that right now, she felt lost, and she couldn’t see a way to start finding herself and her path without professional help.
“We’re attempting to establish bi-monthly group sessions with you and your parents as well,” Grimm added on boredly, clearly dreading the amount of work this would be adding to his schedule. Headmaster Grimm looked to Madame Yaga expectantly. She waved her hands and pulled a piece of paper out of thin air. It floated over to Raven. She took it and quickly skimmed the title. Her brow rose as she eyed the headmaster sardonically. “My class schedule?”
Headmaster Grimm nodded, looking down his nose at her, “As the next Snow White, it’s pertinent to get you out of villain courses and into more fitting classes.”
“Sure thought they were fitting before,” Raven grumbled under her breath as she finished reading her updated schedule. All of her villainy classes had been replaced with ‘royal’ courses: General Villainy was replaced by Kingdom Management, Kingdom Mismanagement with Throne Economics, and Home Evil-nomics with Damsel-in-Distressing. A hardened look overtook Raven’s lavender eyes.
Raven had been forced on a villain course set against her will because of her ‘destiny’ as the next Evil Queen. She had to practically fight Headmaster Grimm and Baba Yaga tooth and nail to take Museic, and been scolded for it because she was ‘supposed’ to be villainous.
Now that some moth-eaten old storybook said she was the next Snow White, she's allowed to take Throne Economics and Kingdom Management with no problem?! On top of that, she has to take Damsel in Distressing again! Grimm had put her in the class once, knowing she’d hate it, to try and encourage her to do more in her villainy classes. She’d dropped Princessology faster than Maddie could brew tea because it was too fake and smiley! She spent a whole week in Damsel in Distressing, and all they did was sit around and wait to be saved by the heroics class. She’d be miserable!
“Oh, we have Damsel in Distressing and Kingdom Management together.” Apple’s voice came from right next to her, and Raven startled, too caught up in her anger to have noticed her leaning in closer. Her smile was small and a little fake-looking. She sounded slightly on the fence about it but seemed to be trying to be optimistic to spend more time together.
Oh hex more time with Apple! Raven felt guilty thinking about it, but she sometimes used her classes as an escape when Apple wasn’t letting up on her destiny rhetoric, and more classes together meant less time and space for herself. Raven wanted to get closer to Apple, but she’d go mad if she couldn’t have her distance when she needed it!
“Now, is there anything we could help you with before we let you go to enjoy the rest of your day?” Grimm sounded a bit more chipper, likely anticipating and hoping that they’d say no and he’d be free to do… whatever it was he did when he wasn’t hounding students about following their destinies or being given a heart attack by the students. If she was gonna say anything, now was her chance.
“-nna swch rooms,” Raven murmured, her stare locked to the ground. Her nerves made her words come out muted. Grimm furrowed his brow as he glowered down at her, clearly annoyed that she was kicking up some kind of fuss. “Speak up, Ms.Queen,” he sneered.
Raven’s gaze shot up, giving him a scathing glare that almost made him flinch, only able to resist the urge due to practice. ‘She looks just like Marianna when she does that,’ Grimm thought bitterly.
“I said,” she announced purposefully ennunciating each syllable, “I want to switch rooms.” Apple flinched, surprised and a little hurt, while Grimm’s face twisted in disgust. Headmaster Grimm puffed up like an angry cockrel, “Miss Queen, that's positively absurd! I shouldn’t have to tell you all the reasons why that request is unacceptable!”
“I thought you wanted to get closer as sisters! Even before finding that out, the whole purpose of us sharing a room was to bring us closer together,” Apple whined
Raven looked harshly at Apple, frustrated but trying to keep her composure. “Apple, I do want us to be closer, but we have been on rocky territory ever since you started trying to force me to be your evil queen. We weren’t even supposed to be rooming with each other in the first place. If there hadn’t been any bureaucratic intervention,” Raven briefly glanced at Headmaster Grimm, her eyes practically shooting daggers, “then I would’ve been rooming with Maddie like I had last year, but you went behind my back and got us to be roommates so you could try and make me hate you.”
Apple’s face flushed partly in embarrassment and partly in guilt. She couldn’t deny it. “As much as I want us to get closer, it's going to be hard for me to work on our future relationship when the room we live in is based on our past.”
“I was only trying to do what was best for us, Raven!” Apple tried to defend, clearly getting more flustered with the selfish framing of her actions. When Apple looked deep down inside herself, she knew they were selfish.
Not entirely, Apple had truly believed what Headmaster Grimm had told them about going ‘poof,’ and she hadn’t wanted that to happen to Raven, her prince, or her seven dwarves. However, Apple had to fulfil her destiny, it was the only thing keeping her life on track, keeping her safe from the unknown dangers she could face as someone without a destiny. Her mother had taught her that anything bad that happened in consequence was unfortunate collateral damage… and now she guessed that had included Raven.
Raven skeptically crossed her arms, her tone becoming more sardonic. “No, you were trying to do what was best for you . Ever since we started rooming together, you’ve tried to make me jealous and resentful of you because I was such a big part of your story. It didn’t matter what I wanted or how I really felt; you just wanted me to feel bad so that I would carry out my role, and that hurts .”
Apple flinched and looked taken aback, and it felt cathartic to say her piece to Apple without being stopped or cheered on for acting like a villain. “Now,” Raven sighed tiredly, “I don’t even know if you want to be close because we know that we’re sisters or because you need me for your happily ever after!”
Apple couldn’t look her in the eyes anymore, and Grimm prepared to interject when Baba Yaga cut between them. “I think Ms.Queen is right,” she stated bluntly, her tone mild and neutral. Grimm’s head whipped to stare at Madame Yaga, his mouth agape.
The old witch raised a brow. “When too many plants crowd a pot,” Madame Yaga explained, “they stunt each other’s growth, especially when they have very different needs. However, giving the seedlings space can allow them to flourish on their own, and eventually, their roots may grow closer together to provide support to each other. The girls are going to have a lot ot work on together, but they’re not going to make any progress by trying to force it.”
Apple looked up at Madame Yaga, her face confused and frustrated. “But how are we supposed to get closer if we can hardly spend any time together-” she cried, “even now that we’re sharing more classes together, we interact the most in our room!”
Raven was tempted to interrupt but was blocked by a stern look from their counselor. “I also see your point, Miss White. You will have to spend some time together in order to repair your bond,” Madame Yaga said knowingly, the edges of her voice flecked with excitement, “which is why I have the perfect compromise.” Madame Yaga snapped her fingers, her golden magic exploded to fill the room, and the four of them vanished into a plume of smoke.
Chapter 26: Space to Grow
Summary:
The girls get some space, and Baba Yaga shows why it's usually not a good idea to argue with old women.
Chapter Text
Headmaster Grimm, Apple, and Raven found themselves stumbling to catch their footing. Baba Yaga floated almost serenely in her mortar while waiting for her unsuspecting travelers to regain their bearings. After a few seconds of confusion, they quickly recognized the surrounding walls and the large oak door at the end of the hall. They were outside the girls’ room.
Headmaster Grimm’s temper flared, not appreciating the impromptu transport from his subordinate. He turned to make his grievances heard, but before he could say anything, Madame Yaga had already stretched out her hands, sending forth large swathes of her magic to Raven and Apple’s door.
Headmaster Grimm, Apple, and Raven were forced to shut their eyes again as the sorceress’ magic covered the door and filled the hallway, blinding them with its golden glow. Baba Yaga’s magic poured out in a flood, seeping through the plaster of the interior walls and the bricks and mortar of their tower. Soon, the bricks began to rattle. Slowly at first, but the vibrations increased with frequency and intensity, as they struggled to contain the seemingly endless onslaught of magic. Eventually, the shivering tower was wholly enveloped by the golden light, which finally burst into a cloudy mist of white and gold sparkles.
Eventually, Apple, Raven, and Grimm cracked open their eyes once more, only to find that the door and the surrounding hall looked completely the same. Raven slumped slightly from the anticlimacticness of it all, while Apple let out a relieved sigh as if she’d expected some big explosion like when Raven tried to use her powers for good. Headmaster Grimm turned to look at Madame Yaga with a raised brow, “Am I correct in assuming that had some sort of purpose, rather than just being a showy magic display?” The witch didn’t even deign to answer his asinine question with a response, just opened the girls’ door with her magic and floated inside without another word, leaving the trio to follow behind her.
The changes were immediately noticeable as they stepped through the door, even by Headmaster Grimm, who hadn’t been there since the last dorm check a few weeks ago. The long hallway created by the bridge from the main castle to their tower was gone. Instead, they crossed the threshold and were greeted by an empty room. The room was a decently sized sitting area, with a large round window centered on the left wall. Most of the girls’ belongings were missing. Only the pictures from their hallway remained, Apple’s pictures hung along the left side of the wall, and Raven’s on the right. The back wall had three doors: the plain oak one that had led to the bathroom, and a glowing white door on each side of it.
Headmaster Grimm stalked over to the window, opened it, then stuck his head out and looked up to see that the tower had split into two separate spires. Raven and Apple both followed him to the window and followed his line of sight, their mouths falling open at the sight of the new structures.
The angry Headmaster pushed past them to face the counselor. “Madame Yaga, what is this!” he huffed, stomping his foot as he pointed up toward the towers.
The counselor stared at the headmaster like a petulant child who refused to eat the greens on their plate, her voice blunt as she spoke, “As I said before, it’s a compromise.” Baba Yaga briefly glanced at Raven and Apple, “Girls, go open your new doors,” she instructed with a faux sweetness.
Sensing the tension, they hurried over to the blank white spaces on the wall. When they’d moved in, Apple had taken the left half of the room and had made up the right half of the room as she’d thought Raven would like, so Raven cautiously walked over to the door to the right as Apple walked over to the left.
The girls placed their hands on the handles and were once again blinded as the doors let off a large flash of gold and silver light. Once it had cleared, the girls were left with two fully tangible doors, Apple’s was a beautiful candy apple red with a gold doorknob handle and Raven a sleek purply black with a silver knob.
Raven opened her new door and passed through a short hallway leading to a room about the same size as her half of the room had been, and Apple opened her door to find the same. It gave them a weird sense of déjà vu, their rooms were almost physically identical in terms of structure. Their wallpaper and floors were the same as before, and both rooms still had the large oak trunks and branches that pathed through their original bedroom from the enormous mother tree on the ground level of the campus. However, everything not structurally attached to the castle was in disarray, and their furniture was haphazardly scattered around their rooms. It was almost as if their rooms had been rolled around in the hull of a ship, or they had allowed Kitty to give them a room makeover.
Apple carefully traversed around the mess and peered out onto the balcony, and could see Raven’s a few feet away on the opposite tower. The blonde princess took a deep, calming breath as she looked over the campus and collected her thoughts. Even though she’d been feeling a bit hesitant about Madame Yaga’s solution, she was slowly coming around. Apple had to admit it would be nice not having to listen to Raven’s 15 morning alarms while she got ready. Plus, they could both have friends over in their own private spaces rather than always planning around everyone’s respective roommates.
Meanwhile, Raven was totally starry-eyed. The tension had left her body, being replaced with giddy excitement as she traipsed around the room and analyzed the space. She was relieved to have her own retreat from Apple and the rest of the school, and the prospect of making her room over to suit her tastes rather than what Apple had thought she should have.
A smaller part of Raven was both scared and impressed from seeing such challenging spellwork in person. From what she could tell, it looked as though the spell had altered their original room’s proportions, splitting the one very large room into three smaller ones and shifting the space and physical elements around accordingly. It was a difficult spell that only a highly experienced magic user could have pulled off, and Madame Yaga had pulled it off almost effortlessly. It almost sent a shiver down her spine, a subtle reminder that Baba Yaga was a fierce and feared sorceress for a reason.
Once the girls had gone to explore their respective spaces, Madame Yaga waved her hand, casting a quick silencing spell in a small radius around her and Milton.
She crossed her arms as she floated up to meet Grimm’s height and look him in the eyes.
Her voice was cold and blunt, “You want the girls to grow closer so that they can fulfil their destinies, but like I said earlier, trying to force a bond between them will only worsen or kill whatever bond they already have.” Milton tried to interject, but Madame Yaga left no room for interruption, her steely gaze practically boring a hole through the man. “ You are the headmaster, you are in charge of overseeing the academic and administrative functioning of the school, but I am the guidance counselor, which means I have the final say over what happens with rooming concerns and student-to-student disputes, not you! I didn’t kick up a fuss about you going over my head and agreeing to the room change behind my back, because I thought it was the best course for Raven to fulfil her role. Forcing a person into the same space as someone they’re on awkward terms with practically guarantees conflict and strife. I knew it would’ve made Raven more likely to resent Apple, which was exactly what we wanted. However, I can’t encourage them to share a room now that it's proven Raven isn’t the next Evil Queen. Raven has managed to be on mostly friendly terms with Apple in spite of everyone’s best efforts, but their relationship has always been tense. Forcing them to continue sharing will only cause more discord between them, worsen both girls’ mental health, and weaken their ability to fulfil their true roles.”
Madame Yaga’s glare narrowed, “I think you know as well as I do that some villains are made, not born, and I know how much you love ensuring that stories get properly followed. So, if you want to finally get this whole Snow White and Rose Red situation sorted out, I suggest you do your job and let me do mine!” Grimm had grown more and more red during her tirade, but her last comment seemed to fluster him beyond words. He clenched his fists by his side before roughly pushing past her and furiously storming out of the room. Her glamour flickered as she glared at Grimm’s retreating form.
‘Stubborn, fat-headed, old, codger! One of these days, I’ll turn him into a pig!’ Baba Yaga thought bitterly. ‘Hmm, Grimm bacon? That might not be such a bad idea,’ she thought with a smirk, her iron teeth practically glistening in anticipation before she reaffixed her glamor.
“Girls,” Madame Yaga called. Raven and Apple hurried down into their living room, coming to an awkward stop next to each other. “Do either of you have any other concerns?” she asked calmly. Apple and Raven avoided each other’s eyes and shook their heads. “Very well then,” Madame Yaga replied, “I’ll see you during counseling later this week. Raven, I want to see you in my office on Monday at 5 o’clock, and Apple, I’ll see you on Tuesday at 4:30!” The hardened old woman looked to them to see if there was any issue, and when neither girl protested, teleported away in a flash of gold.”
Raven eventually faced Apple, shyly holding her arm, “Umm, I’m gonna go get my things from Cerise and Cedar’s. I’ll see you when I get back?” Apple smiled and nodded awkwardly, “Yeah, totally,” she replied, “I’ll just be here... unpacking.” Raven awkwardly nodded back before hurrying out the door, leaving Apple behind to stare after her before returning to her room.
Chapter 27: Bobbing Apple
Summary:
Apple gets some visitors and gets a reality check.
Notes:
Hello everyone, sorry for the long wait, but my personal life has been rough, and writing Apple is a lot harder for me than writing Raven.
It's easy to make Apple unlikable because she has a lot of flaws, but that's just it; she's perfectly flawed so that she can be a good foil for Raven. She's been pressured to conform her whole life, the same way Raven has. Except where Raven hated the mold she was being forced into, Apple dreamed of fitting it. Even when the mold is removed, she still yearns to cling to its shape. She still wants to be the perfectly demure and graceful snow white she was trained to be, but that means stepping aside and letting Raven have the part she's been told to play for her entire life, and embracing a new destiny she knows nothing about. Apple is terrified of the unknown, but now she'll be forced to face the unknown, whether she follows her destiny or not. At the very least, this is gonna be the end of the current 'Crying Apple' era, and we can give our girl some love, exploration, and self-discovery.
Every time I see a comment, it's like a little treat in my inbox😋🍪🍦🍰. So, let me say thank you for all your Kudos, comments, and bookmarks. I hope you all have an amazing day, take care of yourselves, and stay safe out there! ✨🖤💙🖤✨
Chapter Text
A small amount of dread started to sprout in Apple’s mind as she looked at the messy state of her room. In reality, it wasn’t that bad, but she hated it when her room wasn’t presentable. The disheveled furniture made the room appear messier than it actually was. Still, she knew it would take a bit of effort to get everything in its proper place.
She sighed resignedly, ‘The sooner I start, the sooner I’m finished.’ As the next Snow White, Apple had been taught to clean, but that didn’t make it any less tedious. She flitted about the room putting away her clothes from home and all of the small items that had been disturbed from their resting place by Madame Yaga’s magic.
Knock, knock, knock! Three knocks hit against the main door, hard and in quick succession, startling Apple into dropping her clothes. “Apple, Raven? Are you guys ok in there?!” It was Blondie!
Apple rushed down the steps to the living room and opened the door. Blondie was kneeling by the door with a bobby pin poised to pick the lock, and looked up when the door swung open. Briar and Ashlynn anxiously stood close together, and they smiled in relief once they saw Apple from behind the door. “Oh, thank my fairy godmother,” Ashlynn sighed, her hand pressing tightly to her heart. Blondie rushed forward, clambering to her feet, pushing straight past the doorframe, and pulling Apple into a tight hug.
Apple awkwardly hugged her back, as her friend practically squeezed the life out of her. “Whoa, Blondie! What's up, what's wrong?” Just as quickly as she had grabbed her, Blondie let go, but gripped her by the arms and held her at arm's length. “What do you mean, ‘what's up?’ What happened!?”
Briar gently grabbed Blondie by her collar and pulled her off. “I heard you coming back while I was still asleep, so we were gonna visit after breakfast,” Briar explained, her whole body seeming unusually tense. “We were eating when Ash looked out the window, and saw your whole tower glowing and shaking like a Pixiloid. Damn near flung her toast into Blondie’s porridge! Are you ok?”
Apple’s already rosy cheeks flushed even further at her friends’ concern, and a small smile split across her mouth. She was really blessed to have such caring friends. “Yeah, I’m fine. I’m sorry for worrying you guys. Come inside, you’ll understand better once you see it.”
The girls oohed and aahed at the dorm room’s transformation, especially the view and privacy from her new tower. While she was still a bit conflicted about rooming ‘separately’ from Raven, Apple did kinda have to admit having a private bedroom up in a tower did fill her with a bit of extra princessy gidddiness. Her friends graciously helped her finish up the rest of the tidying. Ashlynn moved around the room like a whirlwind, Briar carefully fixing her vanity, and Blondie idly looking through her clothes as she put them away.
Apple somewhat stiffly recounted everything that had happened while they worked: her week back home, the meeting with Raven, Headmaster Grimm, and Madame Yaga, and how Raven’s request had led to their new living situation. With everything finally put back in its place, Apple thanked her friends and primly sat down on the bed, Briar plopping down on the opposite side. Ashlynn only took the chaise when Blondie scrunched up onto the foot of Apple’s bed.
The four of them sat in a soft, but tense silence, yet none of them knew what to do about it. Apple stared outside the window. Her gaze, which was normally so full of cheer and determination, now looked tired and stagnant. Meanwhile, her friends looked between Apple and each other, trying to think of the best way to break the tension. Finally, someone spoke up.
“What are you thinking, Apple?” Ashlynn worried, her sweet face and voice wrought with concern. “It’s not good to keep it all bottled up.”
Apple’s head lolled to the side in thought, her golden curls swaying with the motion, her eyes staring off, still looking tired and conflicted. She anxiously wrung her hands, “I just… I don’t know. I know now that Raven isn’t evil.” She paused, her blue stare guiltily dropping down to her bed. “N-no, I think I’ve known for a while that Raven isn’t evil, I-I just wanted her to be.”
Apple’s confession drew a surprised look from her friends, particularly Ashlynn and Blondie. However, a darker look settled on Briar’s face as she watched her, like dark, grey clouds rolling over a lake.
Apple thought back on all of her interactions with Raven that she could remember. “Even when we met as kids, she was sweet, but I thought she was just pretending. That she was plotting her future, like how I was preparing for mine, but… I think I royally messed up.”
“In what way?” Ashlynn asked.
“I tried so hard to get Raven to be evil that I might have ruined everything. She’s still nice, but now it’s like she has all of these walls up, and I look at her and try to see my sister, but I’ve never had a sister before,” Apple’s rambling grew more fervent, her breathing quickening as her anxiety worsened, “and I don’t know what to do about our story, or what it's even about, how can I possibly sign-”
“Apples for author’s sake, forget about your story, at least for now!” Briar’s harsh words shocked everyone else in the room, and their heads all turned to look at her. Briar’s light brown stare was as pointed as her name, her face twisted in disbelief. “How can you worry about signing when you just found out you have a sister?!”
Apple flushed, and scoffed, defensively glaring at Briar in frustration. “What am I supposed to do? I’m not the next Snow White, my birth mother is the Evil Queen, and I now know nothing about my destiny! Raven can be Snow White on her own; she doesn’t need me for her story, but I still need her for mine! Meanwhile, I couldn’t find anything about Rose Red in my home library, so I don’t even know what my role is! Besides, if I don’t play my part, I’ll go ‘poof!’ At least if I sign, I can see what I’m supposed to do, and how I can make things up to Raven.”
Briar shook her head in disapproval once Apple finished speaking, but her posture loosened as she tried to restrain her emotions. She looked at Apple with concern, “Apples, right now, your story is the last thing to worry about,” she stated bluntly. “The Storybook of Legends isn’t going to magically tell you what to do to get closer to Raven. It just tells us about the parts we play.” While Briar’s tone was much more mild as she comforted her, her last words seemed tinged with bitterness. “If you want to have a proper relationship with her, you’re gonna have to make up with her on her terms, not the Storybook of Legends’.”
Ashlynn carefully looked Apple over like something she’d said had struck a chord in her. “Honey, you said earlier that Raven didn’t know whether you wanted a relationship with her, or if you only wanted her for your story. What did you say to that?”
Apple brushed back some of her hair and looked back down at her comforter. “I-I didn’t get a chance to answer,” she admitted shamefully, “Madame Yaga sided with Raven and took over from there.”
Ashlynn let out a deep, thoughtful sigh before standing up and moving to sit next to Apple on the bed. She took Apple’s hands between her own, prompting Apple to look up to meet her gaze. Ashlynn spoke slowly, but with intention, doing her best to be mindful of the sensitivity of her friend's situation. “Apple, you’re one of the sweetest people I know. I won’t dare claim to understand what you’re going through, but this…this isn’t healthy. I think you’ve focused so hard on becoming the next Snow White that you’ve lost sight of yourself.”
Apple’s gaze drifted in thought, Ashlynn’s last statement resonating in her mind. She’d lost sight of herself…like, she needed to find herself? Whether it was due to the shock behind the Storybook of Legends and finding out the truth between her and Raven, mending the tension between her and her parents, or grieving the loss of her role, she hadn’t really considered the need to find herself . She’d noted that she needed to research Rose Red to find out how to play her part, but thinking further on it, who was she?
Before everything that’d happened, she knew who she was: She was Apple White, daughter of Snow White, and had been ready to become the next Snow White. Everything she’d done had been to prepare for her end goal, to prove that despite ‘that hair,’ she was worthy of carrying on her mother’s legacy, that she was willing and able to fulfil her destiny.
However, Apple had been wrong. She wasn’t the daughter of Snow White, at least not biologically, and she wasn’t the next Snow White. She’d been incapable of fulfilling her destiny because it hadn't been hers to begin with, so who did that make her? Legally, she was still Apple White, but that was only due to a mistake at the hospital. It wasn’t her name by birthright. She’d just unknowingly stolen it.
Was she Owlette Benecel-Queen? That was the name her birth parents had intended for her. However, due to the same accident that led to her stealing the name Apple White, it was also the name engraved on a baby’s mausoleum somewhere in either the Benecel or Queen Royal cemetery. It made her shiver at the very thought.
That she’d stolen a dead infant's birth name without even knowing. That her ‘true’ name, the one her biological parents had so painstakingly picked out for her, was only spoken in somber voices and hushed whispers. Before the whole signing fiasco, she’d only heard the name on a few sparse occasions. After all, a life lost so young was a tragic affair, one that hurts and discomforts people to think about, so they tried to avoid the topic altogether. Is that what she’d become, a tragic figure so cloaked in stigma that people hardly ever mentioned her.
Blondie quickly noticed the dark hopelessness overtaking her best friend’s face, and crawled closer to her. “Apple, whatever you’re thinking, you have to stop,” she cut in, pulling her out of her spiral.
Apple looked up frantically and saw her friends staring at her in different stages of concern. She sat up a bit straighter, taking in a staggered, shallow breath, and brushed her hair off her hot, clammy face. Blondie turned back to grab her purse and pulled out a bottle of water, quickly handing it over. She took it and downed most of it in one go, only pulling off with a gasp when she needed air. She quickly thanked Blondie, who just smiled as Apple finished the water.
After she had calmed down some, Apple felt a light squeeze on her shoulder and saw Briar sincerely watching over her. “I-I know how important your destiny was to you,” Briar started, her gaze briefly flitting away with some emotion her friend’s couldn’t place, looking back at Apple once she’d found her words, “but it's not the only thing worth living for.” It’s not what defines you, and whatever destiny is awaiting you now won’t change you unless you allow it to. Every Snow White that came before was their own person before and after they played out their parts. You’re in a fucked up situation, I can’t lie to you and say that you’re not, but you can’t let the part you play take over the rest of your life!”
A strained expression grew on Apple’s, but no one could speak before her voice broke. One tear, then two, misting her eyes, and silently trailing down her hot cheeks like leaks in a dam, then she went to pieces. The further the truth sank into her, the more hopeless she felt. Briar’s words were just the last panel of glass for the coffin. As much as she tried to be graceful over the whole situation and step aside for Raven, it was killing her because she still wanted to be Snow White so badly. She’d made it her whole life, it’d been her dream for as long as she could remember, her path to staying safe in such a dangerous and uncertain world, and it’d been ripped away from her right as she thought it was in reach.
Almost everything she’d done in life was to prepare her for her role. Snow Whites weren’t just the beloved leaders of the White kingdom; they were the protagonists for one of the first tales that’d been spun, paragons for all of Ever After. Apple had been coached her whole life to reach that standard and fill that role. She learned five languages, spent hours every week studying to ensure she’d be prepared to rule, met with numerous other royals and their children to practice her diplomacy, she primped and prepped every day to prepare to become the fairest, and grown up practicing walking back and forth with stacks of books on her head every morning before class or in the evening before dinner under her mother’s watchful gaze, and it was all for nothing.
She’d been pushed and pushed and pushed into the mold, and perfectly molded herself to fit it, but was left as a misformed version of herself by the process. She’d given up so much of ‘Apple’ in preparation to become the next Snow White, but now she felt like there wasn’t much of herself left. Yet Apple still wanted it, still craved to see her signature on the Snow White page in the Storybook of Destiny, because who was Apple if she wasn’t the next Snow White? Except now, Apple knew the answer.
She was fake, a faux apple that had rolled its way under the White family tree and tried to cling to their branches. When her dream of Snow White had melted away into a runny page of burgundy, she’d finally slipped and fallen off the White tree, and back down into the well of uncertainty. Now she was stuck there with no idea of how to pull herself back out, how could she when the world outside of the well was just as uncertain as it was within it?
Blondie, Briar, and Ashlynn all exchanged worried looks as they comforted Apple. Briar held the sobbing girl close to her shoulder, Ashlynn whispered soft, placating words, and Blondie crawled up the bed, clumsily trying to mimic Ashlynn to show her support. They all cared so deeply for Apple, and seeing someone who’d always been so bright and self-assured fracture and shatter into insecure pieces was heartbreaking. But at the end of the day, this was all they could do.
None of them could say they had everything in their lives figured out. Both Ashlynn and Briar had their own gripes with their destinies, and Blondie always struggled to keep up with her royal peers , but none of them could relate to what Apple was going through. Their friend was lost, not physically, but in her own mind, and Apple was the one who would have to make the journey to find herself. Her friends could support her; they would be listening ears and open arms, and they would walk with her along her path. However, they couldn’t be her guides, not when they were just as in the dark as she was.
Chapter 28: Booking for Closure
Summary:
Apple has some realizations after talking with her friends, but a change in perspective isn't so easily done.
Notes:
Two Apple chapters in a row, what are the odds! (It's me, I made the decision to change the odds so there would be two Apple chapters in a row 😂) Just to clarify about where we are in the canon timeline, we're after the Legacy Day TV special (which happens pretty soon after the school year starts), but before True Hearts Day. The EAH timeline is a bit wonky since it presents itself like everything is happening in one year's time, but True Hearts Day (a spring celebration) happens before Thronecoming (which typically happens in the fall). For the sake of coherence, True Hearts Day is going to be pushed back until after Thronecoming, but with all of the changes going on, who knows who might get *together* before True Hearts Day happens 🤭!
Thank you so much for reading and for all of your comments, bookmarks, and Kudos! The last post I made links to my Tumblr, where I posted designs for some of the oc's, and I'll continue to post more as I have the time. Thank you so much for reading, and I hope you have a lovely day! Take care and stay safe! ✨🖤💙🖤✨
Chapter Text
The library was pretty quiet and almost empty. That was to be expected at such a late hour, especially on a Saturday. A handful of students were scattered around tables and couches, working on homework and quietly whispering with their friends. Everyone basically keeping to themselves and their voices low, lest they face the wrath of the librarians. This was perfect for Apple. She didn’t plan on being there long, but the fewer people who saw her right now, the better.
Her friends had been so sweet, staying with her as she’d broken under the weight of her shattered dreams, and keeping her company until she could pull herself together again. When she’d eventually waved them off to enjoy the rest of their day, she’d spent the next few hours thinking over everything they’d said. Their words had been tough to swallow, but they were right. She’d sacrificed the free-running, adventurous little girl chasing after dragonflies to become the perfect, demure Snow White. Apple had lost herself long before she’d lost her destiny.
She knew her friends were right, that she couldn’t solely live focused on her story, but what else did she have? For her whole life, she’d been Apple White. The populace ‘loved’ her because she was the next Snow White, not because she was Apple, and she’d had to work practically night and day to keep up with the realm’s expectations and continue to earn their ‘love.’ She wasn’t like her friends.
Blondie’s destiny would hardly affect her life after she finished playing her part. Well, except for the fact that she’d need to learn to actually ask before ‘ borrowing’ someone’s clothes. Despite being self-conscious over her royal heritage, or rather the probable lack thereof, Blondie was an up-and-coming reporter gaining hundreds to thousands of views for her cut-throat reporting on the facts, and the quality of her posts. Her skills had nothing to do with her destiny, minus the lock picking, and she’d developed them on her own. Her mom might have taught her the basics, but Blondie’s respect had been earned through her own efforts.
While Briar was one of her BFFAs, they were almost mirrors of each other, which had made the sharpness of her advice even more cutting. Briar didn’t go through all of the rigorous training Apple had been through, basic etiquette and kingdom management sure, but nothing as intense as what she’d had to put up with. That wasn’t to disparage Briar, she’s an amazing princess and representative of the Dormial kingdom, but it was the truth.
After all, she’d have her whole life to learn proper political acumen once she woke up, and kingdom relationships would likely be so different in 100 years that any previous training wouldn’t apply anymore. She got to have as much fun as she wanted before she got her happily ever after, yet pretty much everyone still loved Briar, despite her not having to constantly primp and practice to maintain her public standing.
Apple kept a small circle of friends because she knew most of the people trying to surround her were fake, but Briar could genuinely connect with almost anyone, even someone as troublesome as Faybelle or Kitty. Apple was ‘loved’ by the people because she was the next Snow White, but Briar was beloved by everyone, just because she was Briar. She’s lively and vivacious, she takes life’s challenges by the horns, she could take nearly any boring task and make it fun, and she did her best to spread her joy to others.
Sleeping Beauties were always remembered . They were rare flowers that would spring up once in a century, complete their stories, and carry on with their lives until it was the next Sleeping Beauty’s turn. Some generations grew up never having seen a Sleeping Beauty! The very nature of their destinies made them intriguing and surrounded by mystique, but Apple knew that Briar wasn’t just gonna be remembered; she would be grieved .
Once Briar’s slumber started, there wouldn’t be a party or kickback where her presence wasn’t missed, a secret Santa where her over-the-top gifts wouldn't be talked about. She wasn’t going to be mourned as the next Sleeping Beauty, she’d be mourned as Briar Aurora Marisella Beauty, and she’d be remembered by everyone who knew her outside of her kingdom. Briar was brilliant, and that type of light wouldn’t be dampened by a century of slumber.
Even Ashlynn would be able to continue her passion for conservation after she played her part. However, she felt about Ashlynn dating Hunter didn’t really matter. It was all the more proof that she was her own person who knew what she wanted. But the person Apple thought knew themselves the most, the one who hadn’t allowed herself to be altered by expectations, was of course Raven.
Even before the truth had come out, Raven hadn’t let her destiny define her. Besides being kind, she’s open-minded, a hexcellent musician, protective, but accepting, polite, but fierce, with a wit as sharp as a spindle.
Aside from her intelligence and slight temper, her traits weren’t ones that fit with an Evil Queen, and her assertiveness and rebelliousness would be considered unfitting of a Snow White. As an Evil Queen and as a Snow White, Raven had stubbornly defied expectations.
Although Apple still disagreed with not playing your part in society, Raven had fought to be acknowledged as herself, and she could relate to that after having fought for so long to be fully recognized as the next Snow White. Raven’s campaign to prove her true self had been admirable, and Apple knew that Raven would make a great Snow White, even if she was an unconventional one. Well, she was more conventional than Apple would’ve been, at least in the hair department.
Her friends all had that in common: they were their own people without their destinies, but Apple was nothing without hers. She didn’t know who she was without her story. She was lost, and while her friends might disagree, she felt like she wouldn’t be able to start finding herself without seeing her real story. A final acknowledgement of what she was letting go of. Apple needed closure, and she’d learned where to find it in the library’s online catalogue.
Apple pulled her red hoodie further down over her face. ‘I hope no one confuses me for Cerise like this.’ After her meltdown earlier, she wasn’t in the most presentable of states and didn’t want anyone to see her looking less than fairest. She skulked past the rows of bookshelves. Art, Science, History, and…there! Fairytales. She turned down the aisle and jumped down the alphabet to the S’s, carefully reading the titles on the books’ spines. After a few pained looks at the multiple copies of Snow White, she finally found it: Snow White and Rose Red .
Since she’d left her glasses and contacts in her room, Apple had to squint to double-check that it was the correct book and not just another copy of Snow White. Once she’d confirmed that she had read the title correctly, Apple’s hand shot out and ripped the book off the shelf without even fully glancing at the cover. She quickly tucked the book under her arm to keep it hidden and hurried back to the front desk to check it out. With her story securely in her grasp, Apple rushed to return to her room.
Chapter 29: Stained Slates
Summary:
Raven gets some time to herself after a week of being crammed in with her BFFA's, and we get the start to a room makeover!
Notes:
Hey everyone! I've had this chapter in mind for a while, but it's been kicking my a** since like July 😂😂😅😭! For everyone who's waiting for Apple, don't worry, she'll be back next chapter. For those who want to see Raven, she'll *also* be back next chapter, along with the rest of the girls! the only thing that could make the next chapter better would be if Apple could get a break, or if they could get a tv, or if there was a cute boy to help with all of the manual labor 🤔🤔🤭. Oh well, I guess we'll just have to wait and see! Thank you so much for reading, and for all of the comments, Kudos, and bookmarks! I hope you enjoy the chapter, and please take care and stay safe! ✨🖤💙🖤✨
Chapter Text
Returning to their room had been tense, for Raven at least. She’d been nervously anticipating some sort of conflict with Apple, but she seemed to have shut herself in her tower since they’d gotten back. Raven’s friends sympathized as they helped her bring her possessions back, they’d even helped her rearrange her furniture, but they were slightly more distracted by their excitement to see her “sweet new digs,” as Cerise had joked. They’d stayed in Raven’s new room for a while, eventually creeping out to the resident affairs office to get loaner furniture for the living room.
Raven had settled on picking out a simple grey couch and a separate pouf so that she and Apple could pick out whatever else they wanted later. Cedar carried the pouf while Cerise and her took care of the couch. Getting it through the door had been a witch, although Reese had definitely been putting in a bit more strength on her end. Still, it hadn’t taken too long, and Raven and Cerise happily flopped down onto the plush cushions once they’d gotten it into place. After listening to Maddie marvel about how the view would be perfect for tea at sunset, their stomachs all announced their emptiness, and the four of them made their way to the castleteria for lunch.
Lunch had been pleasant, surprisingly so, although still a bit nerve-wracking. After her panic attack in the castleteria, Raven couldn’t stand to be around the other students, couldn’t take the staring, the pointing, and the not-so-quiet whispers and accusations. Throughout the week, Raven or her friends would rush to the castleteria, load up their plates, and bring their meals back to Cedar and Cerise’s room to avoid the crowd.
As the week went on and the gossip cooled slightly, Raven slowly grew more comfortable venturing outside. Eventually, she’d managed to sit down and eat inside the castleteria for lunch and dinner on Thursday without worrying as much over the occasional glances and gossip. She still didn’t get why people were giving nervous and guilty looks toward Cerise and Cedar. Reese only smirked, her slightly pronounced canines barely peeking from under her lip, while Cedar stuffed her face and muttered something unintelligible, so she still hadn’t gotten any answers.
They’d split off after lunch, with Raven promising them that they could have a slumber party in the privacy of her new room once she finished the work she was gonna do. Raven had spent the afternoon with her speaker on, her phone throwing on all of her favorite artists at random. Taylor Quick, Sleeping with Mermaids, Rosa Cathedrall, Themeparks, Casta Fierce, Sabrina Enchanter. It was relaxing to be able to listen to whatever she wanted without headphones, without being judged for her tastes not matching her supposed evilness, or how ‘appropriate’ darker songs were for her. Music was music; a form of art and self-expression, like Cedar’s painting, her cook’s culinary skills, or her nanny’s needlepoint. Why should it be judged as good or evil in the first place?
First things first, the mirrors, she had to do something about the mirrors. An almost feral smile bloomed on Raven’s face as she walked over to the nearest wall. The numerous mirrors her roommate had so graciously hung up adorned nearly every wall, and they had always creeped Raven out. She couldn’t look anywhere without seeing herself, and it made her feel like she was being watched. Every single day since August, Raven had contemplated throwing all of them out the window, 98 years of bad luck be damned! It was only her wanting to avoid more conflicts with Apple that made her keep them up.
However, not having to be in constant proximity to her gave Raven enough courage to take them down. Apple wouldn’t see her do it, so she couldn’t try to stop her, and since Raven wasn’t her Evil Queen, there wasn’t a reason for Apple to want her to be vain. She might be offended that her gesture of ‘goodwill’ was being rejected, but there wouldn't be anything else she could do or say to justify them staying, and honestly Raven was running out of cares to give.
With an extra bit of pep and smugness, Raven barely glanced at her reflection as she carefully lifted the small mirror off the wall and slid it into a trash bag. She went around the room, collecting all but the large standing mirror Apple had gotten for her. It wasn’t much different from the other mirrors that’d hung from her walls, but it was beautifully crafted, and a small part of Raven would’ve felt guilty if she tossed everything Apple had given her. Even if she would have to keep it covered with a sheet most of the time to keep herself sane. Her hand lazily traced the intricate carved details before turning away once she caught sight of her reflection.
Her attention shifted to the glamour altering the rest of the room, and focused her magic. With a wave of her hands, Raven easily undid the glamour spell on the floor and walls, reverting the patterned carpet and wallpaper back to their original plain beige and white states. For a moment, she found herself looking down at her hands and the glowing violet haze of her magic, and the pit of self-hatred within her cracked open again. She could only use her magic for dark or selfish purposes. She had no problems levitating her luggage trunk or destroying the glamour in her room, but any time she tried to do something ‘nice’ or use them to help others, they backfired worse than Nevermore with heartburn. It hurt even worse since they didn’t use to be that way.
Raven could still vividly remember how free her powers were when she was little. When she ran through the castle gardens without a care in the world, no knowledge of the evil destiny that was ‘supposed’ to be awaiting her, and blind to the depths of her mother’s wickedness. She frolicked through the small meadow behind Benecel castle, turning the tall grasses and weeds into four-leaf clovers, played in the gardens to transform flowers into butterflies, and turned the small flecks of gravel lining the pathway to her mother’s dungeon into pearls that she’d scatter across the castle like the painted eggs kids hunt for on Velveteen day.
Then it all changed one day, and her powers didn’t listen to her like they used to. She tried to make butterflies, only to turn the wildflowers into flames. She tried to save a poor kitty stuck in a tree and ended up flinging it across town, tried to turn the beach sand into fairydust, and it exploded into jagged shards of sea glass. Raven didn’t know why her powers had changed, only that her mother had been happy with it, while she had been left miserable and loathing a part of herself that she used to adore.
When she finally looked up and around at her newly blank canvas, a strange feeling of anticipation washed over her; like when you’re deep in a book and the chapter you're in is so gripping that every time you turnt the page, you think you’re on the cusp of a new chapter! It felt like hope. There were so many possibilities for how she could decorate her room, and maybe she was just being naive and fairy-eyed, but it felt like...maybe she would be able to turn a new chapter in her life too.
A chapter where she wouldn’t have to worry about Apple and Grimm judging her for not being evil enough and trying to make her change herself, or trying to force her into the mold of the Evil Queen, where students didn’t run and scream at her presence if she so much as twitched or moved wrong. Where she could reclaim her powers for herself and use them not just for herself, but for the betterment of others. Where she could take the quill and write her own destiny!
It was probably gullible thinking. She wasn’t the next Evil Queen, but to Heamaster Grimm, that just meant she had a different role to play. Grimm wanted the next Snow White, so Raven had no doubt that he’d be picking up the dainty Snow White mould that Apple had previously been shoved in and try to box her into it. Once she’d found out about her role as the next Evil Queen, Raven had assumed that her powers changed to fit her destiny, but now… she still didn’t know why her powers were so dark, but she felt more confident that she might be able to change that. No- she would change that, she would get her powers back, and she would write her own destiny without Snow White or any other fairy tale that tried to limit her character.
Raven took a deep breath, held it for a few moments, and let it out. She’d refused to let her destiny as the next Evil Queen define her, she wasn’t going to let her destiny as the next Snow White define her, and she wasn’t going to let her powers define her either. Raven wanted what was hers: control and freedom. Control over her powers, and her temper while she thought about it, and freedom to control her life and her fate.
‘Lavender, the walls should be lavender. Maybe silver as an accent wall.’ Raven breathed in, focusing on her desires as she activated her powers. Reclaiming her room was gonna be another big step in that journey, the second after her initial refusal to sign and running away back to her castle.
Knowing that Headmaster Grimm was probably already working on trying to get her and everyone else to sign again only steeled her resolve. Refusing to sign again, even with her new destiny, would be the next step to reclaim her fate. Lastly, regaining full control over her powers, so that no one would suffer from her magic outbursts, and so she could use her powers for good, not just selfishness and evil. Whatever relationship she could reforge with Apple was going to be on equal terms, and if not, Raven wasn’t going to let a hospital mishap, genetics, or their linked roles force her to fake one. It was just like Baba Yaga said, their relationship should blossom naturally.
Her magic went off in a cloud of smoke and…oh hex! The room was indeed lavender in the most literal sense of the word. Whatever had gone wrong had somehow caused lavender-sprouting, thorned vines to creep up nearly every surface. They were kinda pretty, not to mention defied the laws of nature, but that didn’t negate the fact that she would inevitably get pricked by the thorns, and would have to get rid of them before the smell made her sick or the flowers died and started to rot. Raven walked over to the balcony and opened the door before looking back at her room and her new thorny situation. She rehoned her powers and took a deep breath, focusing on her simmering anger that had grown from the magical mishap.
‘Burn the vines, not the walls, burn the vines, not the walls, ’ Raven thought repeatedly, even subconsciously mumbling under her breath as she carefully balanced her anger and her magic. In another flash of magic and flames, the flowers were reduced to scattered ashes on the floor. Raven slouched and moved to sit on her bed, needing a break after all the work she’d done.
‘Haaah, looks like I still got a long way to go.’
Chapter 30: Character Profiles
Summary:
Hey everyone, sorry that this isn’t a chapter, but I wanted to show you guys the design’s and profiles for some of the oc’s I’ve made. I made a master list and will slowly be adding more and more characters as we go along. Some are made using the Doll Divine Fairy Tale High character creator, and some are hand drawn, my goal in the end is to have a hand drawn version for all of the ocs🙏🏾 The first one posted and currently the only hand drawn profile is…. 🥁Teenage Vespera! So I hope you all enjoy!
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Ajsmultifandom on Chapter 9 Wed 14 Jun 2023 12:23AM UTC
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RiriButIsAnother on Chapter 9 Wed 14 Jun 2023 04:22PM UTC
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Drugsinhell on Chapter 10 Fri 07 Jul 2023 05:11AM UTC
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Sugarangel121 on Chapter 10 Tue 11 Jul 2023 07:25PM UTC
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ArtDecoHomicide on Chapter 10 Wed 27 Sep 2023 12:45AM UTC
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Sugarangel121 on Chapter 10 Sat 28 Oct 2023 04:16AM UTC
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Mr_Non_Defined on Chapter 10 Fri 07 Jun 2024 03:38PM UTC
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ChadBradsonDickinson on Chapter 10 Sun 20 Jul 2025 06:49AM UTC
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Sugarangel121 on Chapter 10 Sun 20 Jul 2025 09:18AM UTC
Last Edited Sun 20 Jul 2025 09:19AM UTC
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Butterflywitch3 on Chapter 11 Tue 15 Aug 2023 06:19AM UTC
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Sugarangel121 on Chapter 11 Wed 23 Aug 2023 10:30PM UTC
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Drugsinhell on Chapter 11 Tue 22 Aug 2023 10:32PM UTC
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Sugarangel121 on Chapter 11 Wed 23 Aug 2023 10:31PM UTC
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