It was the day of Apple White's birthday, the most important birthday of any girl's life, the sweet sixteen. Everyone was making it a big deal, Apple wasn't even Queen yet, but still everyone went out of their way to make it amazing. Briar Beauty was the one planning the event of the century; Apple's birthday was bigger than the Winter festival, bigger than true hearts day, it was nationally celebrated. The theme this year was wonderland masquerade, everyone had been cordially invited. Raven Queen wasn't as ecstatic about Apple's big day as everyone else, Apple begged her, pleaded with her that the only thing she wanted for her birthday was a poison apple, one that would begin her destiny. Raven knew her future if she poisoned Apple, it meant a sad and lonely life and she would not follow her mother's destructive path.

"Raven" she was drawn out from her thinking.

"Oh, Hi Dexter..." she smiled faintly.

"Are you alright?" he looked her in the eyes concerned, she wished he wouldn't look at her like that, it always made her heart skip a beat.

"I'm better than ever." she lied, she was feeling uneasy after Apple's birthday wish, after she told her there was no way she would poison her, she left the dorm angrily.

"So, about Apple's party," he awkward scratched his head "If you don't already have an escort, I mean you probably have someone that asked you because I mean who wouldn't want to go with you, but if no one asked you I was wonder if..." he cleared his thought and took a deep breath "If you would go with me."

Raven looked at his with sympathetic eyes, he was really sweet and kind but.. "I'm sorry Dexter, I'm not going to Apple's party" it would be best if she ignored Apple on her birthday, her wish was too dangerous and frightful.

"But Apple White's birthday is the biggest celebration of the year, I mean you have to go, it wouldn't be the same without you" he did it again, looking at her with those handsome eyes.

"I, just can't go, you wouldn't understand" she said walking away.

Madeline Hatter spotted Raven and approached her noticing her sadness " Whats up is down, a frown is all I can see, seven times the clock was struck setting the hands to seven twenty-three"

"What does that even mean?" when Maddie spoke in riddlish, it was always difficult to decipher her message.

"In riddlish in means, why are you looking so sad, more or less anyways" Maddie giggled trying to put a smile on Raven's face.

"Today is Apple's birthday and she wants me to poison her tonight, to begin her happily ever after destiny" Raven sigh, the more she talked about it, the more she saw Apple's crying plead..

Maddie sipped a cup of tea with her doormouse Earl Grey "Well, what a thing to ask!"

"I can't do it and now I'm avoiding the party altogether"

"Oh,my, yes the party, Briar wanted my expertise on the Wonderland madness for the masquerade theme" and just like that Maddie ran off into the crowd; Maddie was her best friend along with Cedar Wood but she was always so unfocused and a little crazy.

Seeing swarms of people crowd around Apple White made her feel uneasy, not being able to stand another second in school, she fled into the enchanted forest. She hated the destiny she inherited, being alone and imprisoned for eternity. She began to cry, normally she would only cry quietly in the comfort of her own room, usually when Apple was sleeping and the sheets muffled her crying sounds. Settling against a tree she hugged her knees, desperately trying to hold back her tears. She loved her mother and in a way her mother loved her too but, her mother was always trying to convince her to poison Apple and get vengeance on Snow White through her daughter. Castle Queen was always so lonely ever since her mother was banished, her father The Good King was a better father than anyone could hope for but knowing her destiny followed her mother's always washed away happy thoughts.

"Raven!" someone grabbed her arm and threw her into an embrace.

"Dexter.." she quickly wiped her tears to pretend as if she wasn't crying "What brings into this neck of the woods?"

"I saw you running off into the woods, I was worried about you so I followed you here" he was still embracing her, he had pulled her from where she was sitting with a single pull, standing here like this was a little embarrassing.

"You're going to miss class if you stay here any longer"

"I don't care about school right now, are you alright Raven?" he spoke so concerned and sweetly, she bit her lip suppressing the urge to let it all out, he wouldn't understand, his destiny was to rescue a fair maiden and win her heart, like all the Charming's.

"Leave me alone" she pushed him away, deep down she knew being friends with him would only cause strife in his happily ever after "You're a Royal and I'm a Rebel, worse yet my fate is the Evil Queen's, being around me is...is... forbidden"

"You're not like you're mother and anyone who believes that is wrong, you're kind and fun and you have a beautiful smile that draws people to you" his kind words were enough to cause tears to start falling.

"I don't want to alone like my mother!" she threw her arms around him "So many people are afraid of me because my destiny is set to be just like my mothers, Legacy day is only a few weeks away and I'm scared"

"So many people love you too" he said to her and her glistening, tearful eyes looked back at him.

"People like who exactly?" she looked at him so hopeful,he swallowed, her couldn't exactly tell her he loved her, not now anyways.

"Maddie loves you, and Cedar, Cerise, Hunter too..." after he said it she slowly let go of him and for a few minutes neither of them said anything.

"I think I should get going" he was about to leave but Raven gripped his hand.

Not meeting his gaze, she said ever so quietly "Please don't go, I don't want to be alone right now and I don't want to go back to school either"

He smiled, he was more than happy to spend a moment alone with Raven "Of course I'll stay, what are Charming's for if not to help damsel's in distress"

For hours they sat in the forest and chatted, about their home, their family. Raven told him he reminded her of her father, how nice he was and good, just the type of person that could cheer anyone up.

"I wonder what will happen if I decide to follow my own destiny" Raven said looking at the stars that started to appear in the not quite night sky.

"I don't know exactly, but from what I've heard, nothing good" Dexter knew it wasn't what she wanted to hear but he couldn't lie to her and tell he knew when he didn't, the sky was starting to finally get dark, which meant it was time for Apple's birthday celebration "I think it's time when headed back," Raven nodded and held his hand which was extended to her to escort her back to the dorm. She didn't mind holding onto his hand but she was nervous about it, and being nervous meant her hand would start to sweat. The second they reached the dorm, she dropped his hand like it was on fire.

"Thank you for everything, you are really too kind" she smiled "I hope you have a wonderful time at Apple's birthday"

"Are you sure you won't reconsider going?" he said sheepishly.

"I cannot" she looked away and walked into the dorm into her room. Apple was gone, probably getting ready in Briar's room, that was good news for her. Raven lay in her bed staring at the ceiling, everyone should be starting to arrive by now, all exquistely dressed with beautiful masks. On her vanity was a decorated mask, she glanced at it, it was such a shame it had to go to waste, she picked it up and put it on. Suddenly realizing the obvious she smiled, if she wore the mask no one would know who she was, not even Apple, she could enjoy her time secretly. With a little dark magic a most beautiful dress appeared on her, within a few minutes she put the mask on and headed for Apple's birthday party. It was going to be an unforgettable night for everyone.