Chapter 1: Prologue
Summary:
Apple White journeys to her final year at Ever After High.
Chapter Text
Staring into the mirror, poison dripping down her face, creeping out the corners of her lips, Apple's reflection didn't match her own. An apple so impactful it was what she owed her name to, her happily ever after.
Apple White, daughter of Snow White, knew her destiny like no-other. She would graduate Ever After High as the adoptive daughter of Raven Queen, a girl only a year older than her. Raven would inhabit her castle, and as Apple as her slave, would plunge her land into darkness and despair. Ever envious of Apple, Raven would attempt to kill her time and time again, until the poison apple falls into Apple's pale hands. As she takes a bite, her death would insure her happily ever after. Her Prince Charming would wake her from her slumber and they would punish and imprison this Evil Queen, like all that came before her.
She would become Queen, and that was that.
Her newfound kingdom was already under construction as she made her way to her final year in Ever After High. She was so close to her birthright, her destiny.
As her carriage made it's way through the plains where it would lie, she looked bright-eyed out the window. It was a beautiful little spot she adored visiting when she was younger, wanting to meet all the critters in the area and natural plains of a realm which would be hers. Her castle would be perched upon the arch-like mountain, the waterfall below would taunted and toxic until she would come to free it from Raven's clutches. On the hilltops nearby would be the castles of her fairytale friends, the princes and princesses she would rule, her loyal followers and trusted partners. She would insure that everything was perfect - Ashlynn's would be grand and run into the nearest woodlands, Briar's would have the softest silks, Holly's would have the tallest towers, Rosabella's would have a grand library and a mysterious wing. There'd be cottages for her other fairy friends, and everything would be perfect. It has to be. The buildings are all merely shells now, Apple's soon to be castle already dark and ominous - but she would fix that! She will be Queen, that would be her duty.
Raven should already be in the castle actually, twisting and turning it just as corrupt as her. Apple giggled gleefully to herself, the thought of it made her feel bubbly and excitable. It would be one step closer to what she deserves after all.
The carriage steered away from her soon to be domain, she smiled, pondering all her potential names. Perfectdom, Fairestown, Appledom. Despite thinking about a name for years, nothing has stuck with her, something just right as Blondie would say. She's excited for the potential of it all. She's excited for her future.
In the first of her tale, the first Poisoned Princess was only a fourteen year old girl, but as they adaptation changed from generation to generation, the age of the poisoning only increased. Now, an 18 year old princess would be crowned queen. It would be longer for her to wait to reign, yes, but it did mean she would be educated fully before hand.
Upon the seat next to Apple, lay her luggage, or part of it. The majority was nestled upon the roof, soon to bend under the weight; a Royal would need to be prepared, her mother would say. The bag next to her was all of her on hand essentials, and laying delicately on top, was her mirror, now chiming. The dorm arrangements had been posted - finally. As she pulled out the mirror, she opened the MirrorNet, and found the list of dormies.
Ashlynn Ella and Blondie Lockes
Cedar Wood and Cerise Hood
Daring Charming and Hopper Croakington II
Darling Charming and Rosabella Beauty
Dexter Charming and Hunter Huntsman
Duchess Swan and Justine Dancer
Farrah Goodfairy and Ramona Badwolf
Faybelle Thorn and Briar Beauty
Ginger Breadhouse and Melody Piper
Holly O'Hair and Poppy O'Hair
Jillian Beanstalk and Nina Thumbell
Lizzie Hearts and Apple White
Madeline Hatter and Kitty Cheshire
'Lizzie Hearts?'
Apple's smile straightened. She doesn't recall a scenario where the two future Queen's saw eye to eye. Lizzie was the daughter of a Tyrant Queen, Apple was the daughter of the symbol of grace. They're was no reason for the two of them to be in the same dorm room. She couldn't say that to her though, it would be cruel of her. Apple would just have to make an effort with Lizzie, and once this year is over, she can have her destiny and move along from it.
She would sign the storybook, and all would be as it should. The graduated Villains, Raven Queen and Prudence and Charlotte Mothers would return for Legacy Day, and the stories would continue, and good would triumph evil like all stories prior. The Princes would discover their destined princesses on that day, true love would flourish, and she'd have her perfect life.
Nothing would ruin it, not her Prince Charming, not Lizzie Hearts, not Raven Queen, nothing. It would be perfect, like her mother spelt out to her since she was born. Her life been paved, her story told and she was prepared to take it. Her Happily Ever After was in her hands now, and now it was her time to be who she was always meant to be.
Chapter 2: Legacy Shown in the Mirrored Glass
Summary:
As Legacy Day Begins, the Evil Queen's Daughter steps into the dark.
Notes:
Okay, so... just a warning in case anyone gets mad at me... I am changing up the Legacy Day outfits. Do I love them in canon? Yes, yes I do. Do I also have a pinterest board full of cool outfits I'd prefer to write instead? Also yes.
Enjoy!
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
"Destiny is corrupted," She cackled, her voice cracking through the speakers "I don't deserve to suffer, none of us do. We deserve better. You all cruel, and you Apple White? You're the cruelest of them all"
Lingering in the darkness, she had villainous grin painted across her face, her eyes masked in the lack of light. This was the villain of Apple's tale. This was Raven Queen.
The morning of Legacy Day, the dew covered dawn that followed last night's bitter dusk. Apple is standing in front of her mirror, slowly and silently removing her curlers. Looking over her shoulder, she checks that Lizzie is still asleep.
Besides her sleeping dormie, is a dress fit for a Queen of Hearts. A metallic ballgown, the many layers of skirts forming that of a carousel, the horses replaced with rabbits and mice and smiling cats. The corset top lined with sewn on playing cards and base embroidered with the suits. The headeress sat on the windowsill, a curved crown formed from a golden tiara and decorated with roses and a royal faux tart in the centre.A pair of shoes sat besides it, thigh high patterned boots, with heart shaped heals, the asymmetrical checkboared and harley quinn colouring covering the whole of the shoes. Apple hadn't seen Lizzie's dress yet, and it was beautiful.
Apple's dress was yet to arrive from the tailors, and that fact was concerning her. Today needed to be perfect, and the fact she had seen Lizzie's dress before her own was worrying. As she continued brushing out the curls till smooth, she listed everything she needed to sort for tonight: her dress, her shoes, her accessories, her makeup, her hair, what she'd say, what she'd do, who she would sit with at the ceremony.
Tonight would be spelltacular if it all went according to plan.
It had to.
It's her destiny.
She looked back in the mirror, her reflection perfectly mimicking her, to every precise detail. Standing in front of her reflection in her night gown, she patted down the creases and pulled the hem down a little more.
A little after midday, the tailor birds had brought her dress back after being adjusted. Now she was wearing it, she was constantly looking at it, perfecting the apple charms dangling from the sleeves and the outer skirt, as well and fluffing up her layers of tulle around her waist. Her cape now ran just above the floor like it was supposed to, a ruffled edge recently added. And her shoes slide on perfectly, a poison apple upon the toes and a comb supporting her heel. Her outfit fit her perfectly.
"What do you think?" She asked when Lizzie returned from lunch.
"You look enchanted Apple" She chuckled.
"You think so?" Apple's tone grew quieter. Why did she laugh?
"Of course!" Lizzie added before disappearing behind a wall to change "Why wouldn't you?"
Apple glanced over her shoulder back into the mirror. She really did look fairest of them all.
Quill in hand, book before her, Apple White was prepared to announce her destiny, to sign her name and be the next Poisoned Princess. All fairy lights were pointed at her, her face on every mirror in her mother's kingdom. She had seen a lot of mirrors today, the one day where her future would be reflected on their shined screens.
She smiled gracefully. She raised the dove feather in her hand. Her pale face had a passionate red tint. Her eyes were wide. She tilted her head upwards. She was ready.
Her key, a golden and red ornament swirled its way out of the keyhole. Levitating before her, it shone a tender, yellow glow. Apple eagerly took it, and unlocked the Storybook of Legends. The pages in the book began to turn. Upon the four grand mirrors, her legacy would play out. Her adoption, her abuse from the Criminal Queen, her attempted murders, her death in the glass coffin and finally, her taking her throne. Surreally as the story played out, she pictured how perfect her life could be after this moment.
She looked across the audience, her gazed halting at Daring Charming, her soon to be Prince Charming. His head was turned towards the back rows, away from her. Apple looked at Briar, who had Ashlynn's arm around her shoulder and was staring with undying attention. Apple scowled at Lizzie, who was looking down at her hands. And then, Apple spoke.
"I, Apple White," She performed, her chirped voice raised above the crowd "Am proud and prepared to mark my name in this book, as the next in my legacy as the next Queen of my newfound kingdom -"
The ceremony stopped.
The night sky grew black, tar-like and colourless. The lights were snuffed out.
SMASH. One. SMASH. By one. SMASH. By one.
Until only one was left, directed centred at Apple's face. It painted her a ghostly white.
An ominous figure stood behind her. With dark crow-like hair styled in wild ringlets and the silhouette of a daggered crown upon their head, they lingered there like a vulture to prey. With a skirt bolted together with ash black feathers and purple stitching and a corset with a violent violet base and smokey climbing ivy lace. Their sleeves the shape of two wings and their cape was short and had skeletal sewing forming pinstripes in the holes.
"Destiny is corrupted," She cackled, her voice cracking through the speakers "I don't deserve to suffer, none of us do. We deserve better. You all cruel, and you Apple White? You're the cruelest of them all"
Lingering in the darkness, she had villainous grin painted across her face, her eyes masked in the lack of light. This was the villain of Apple's tale. This was Raven Queen.
Her words corroded in Apple's ears. How was she cruel? She's a royal princess, she's no way cruel. Raven's cruel.
"Raven!" Apple's face distorted "What are doing?!"
"Showing you what I already know" She glared at Apple "Magic Mirrors off the wall, show them the destiny they insist to befall."
Raven flinched her hands. The mirrors behind them cracked. Shards of glass fell to the ground. The frames left hollow. The fragments clattered against the floor, now glowing purple. The glow grew bolder, pulsating. They began to hover. Like a vicious wave, they raised and lowered in sync. And then... they darted away into the audience. Mirrored glass filled the air. In a ruthless reflective rain, the dropped. They were landing in the hands of the students. Purple chunks of the glass now sat in the onlookers, revealing their destiny. All of it. Two fragments flew above Apple and Raven, a piece of glass then layed itself down in Apple's hands. It was jagged and sharped, yet remotely heart-shaped. Apple looked down at it.
Staring into her mirror, their was poison dripping down her face, creeping out the corners of her lips, Apple's reflection didn't match her own. An apple so impactful it was what she owed her name to, her happily ever after. It was grotesque and garish, nothing like she had seen from her destiny. She saw the agony in her own eyes as the toxins traveled down her stomach, the tears on streaming down her cheeks as her reflection grasped at it's neck. She began to shake at the apple's black core as it rotted away behind the skin, next to her own mangled corpse.
She dropped the piece of glass. She had never seen her destiny like that. No, that wasn't her destiny she saw, it was some villainous, twisted, evil version of it. Her destiny was beautiful, not ugly and mutilated. Raven had changed it, made it what it wasn't, imperfected it like the Evil Queen she would be. Raven truly was evil, and this just confirmed it.
The scene may have scared Apple, but it wasn't real. It was fantasy, make-believe. She was daughter of Snow White, and the next Poisoned Princess. They weren't scared of the apple, nor would she.
If anything, it made her crave a happily ever after more, more determined to prove that Raven was full of lies, full of malicious intent, full of everything that would grant Apple her kingdom, and this evil was the start she needed, right?
Mom! You're taking this out of context!
You don't know anything yet my dear. You're too young to understand how all this works-
You are ignoring half the story!
Brooke, listen. We all have our roles to play, and yours is to tell the story of the royals, the heroes, the good ones. We insure the best outlook of it all, the best stories, the happiest. That's who we are. We tell the story so they win.
And how do we tell who's good?
The same way we've always done, the storybook tells us.
And what if the book is wrong?
Notes:
P.S. I went into heavy descriptions for outfits for narrative contrast and subtle foreshadowing reasons, but that's the boring stuff. Who actually cares about the english level analyzation of a story? Not me!
Okay, I lied... I do.
I also had to google how to spell actually... we won't talk about it (;
Chapter 3: Red-Hot Iron Shoes
Summary:
Apple talks to Raven about signing the book.
Notes:
This chapter is really short and badly proof-read. I'll end up posting it and then realising just how BAD my grammar is lol.
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
"Stop looking through your Royal tinted glasses Apple!" Raven cried out at her "None of them are happy, none of them are good. Stop pretending they are and grow up."
Apple couldn't put down the piece of glass despite what happened on Legacy Day. The same scene kept playing in the reflection, the slow, agonising poison from a rotten apple's core. And even a week later, the glass hadn't stopped playing. Maybe it would have if Apple had stopped looking at the corrosive shard of mirror.
Legacy Day had been postponed for the time being, and Headmaster Grimm hadn't disclosed when the new date would be. School continued as usual, wake up, eat breakfast, attend classes, attend extracurriculars after the final lesson, go back to her dorm, sort out her curlers and complexion products, go to bed. It was the same as every other day since she had enrolled in Ever After High, or close enough to that.
Today was different however. Today her extracurricular was to convince Raven to sign.
Raven sat alone in the classroom. Her face was scowling and her hands were chained to the table top to ensure no magic was conducted during the session.
Apple came and joined her in the room, her face soft and her hands full of classic fairytales which she lay on the table to remind Raven of the beauty of them.
"Hello Raven" Apple's tone melodic.
"Apple" Raven spat. "Hello."
Taking a seat at the desk, Apple pushed a curl out her face. "We both know why I'm here."
"I'm not signing." Raven stated.
"I know you think that." Apple composed "But could you reconsider?"
Raven rested her shackles on the surface, before fiddling with the tips of her fingers. "This whole set-up is making me feel less likely to want to sign."
"If you don't sign, I don't get my happily ever after, and neither does anyone else in our story." Apple claimed. "That's not fair that they don't get the chance to have that"
"They can have that." Raven remarked "But you have no right to say what's fair."
Apple slid her chair closer to her, the dark ebony waves of her destined rival taunting her. Reaching for the Snow White storybook. she turned to the page where her mother awakes from her death.
"Your mother's biography means nothing to me." Raven premises, before turning forward a few pages. "That's my destined fate Apple, my story. Is it wrong to not want that?!"
Raven is pointing at the illustration of her mother, with her matching dark curls styled crown-like atop her head. The page itself is of Snow White and Prince Charming, punishing the Evil Queen for her crimes against the throne, on their wedding day. Deservingly, she was forced to pay for her tyranny, to dance in red-hot iron shoes secured on with thick buckles. Traditionally, her punishment would be to dance until dead, but in recent years, it was been reduced to exhaustion to ensure generations would continue.
"That's your destiny Raven!" Apple's voice grew higher.
"And I don't want it!" Raven snapped back. "I want to write my own destiny! I want my own story!"
"And what about the one we already have?!"
"I never had that story Apple." Raven shook the chains around her wrists. "Look around, it's always been yours. Stopping saying it's 'ours' when I'm just the scapegoat to your Happily Ever After."
Apple froze. "We all have our parts to play Raven. We need to sign so we can still have happiness. If yours isn't, then someone else's is. You should be happy for them!"
"Stop looking through your Royal tinted glasses Apple!" Raven cried out at her "None of them are happy, none of them are good. Stop pretending they are and grow up."
"I have!" Apple stared at the girl before her. "I'm the only one thinking rationally. You need to grow up!"
Raven rested her head on the back of the chair, her face shrinking in frustration. The shackles rattled again, her eyes sheltered behind her closed eyelids.
"You really only do care about yourself, huh?" She murmured bleakly. "Guess there's no point."
"So you'll sign?"
"No." She turned to face Apple again. "Not as long as I live. Find yourself a new Queen. I'm not condemning myself to something I'm not."
Raven slammed her shard of mirror onto the table, the corner cracked slightly. It was oval-shaped and jagged, clearing showing a pained and suffered Raven, near death as she burnt from the feet up and from exhaustion. Held in captivity and locked away, the reflected Queen wept in despair, only for real Apple White to collect her books and leave the room.
As Apple stood outside, tears slide across her pale cheeks, terrified at how Raven had the power to take away everything she was going to build.
Notes:
I have two routes that I want to go down next, but my story structure didn't plan for this in advance. So the question is...
Do I write Briar Beauty Angst or Ashlynn confronting Charlotte and Prudence?
FrogGirlLovesFrogs on Chapter 2 Thu 28 Aug 2025 04:40AM UTC
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