Author's Note: This is what happens when I watch the first new episodes of something. So yeah, I watched up to when Cupid comes and this is my version of what happens to the Rebels and Royals. Lots of references to fairy tales. Which means that it is more violent than the sanitized version, and more references to sex (though with those outfits I'm not sure what message they are sending). Basically an Ever After High that reflects Fairy Tales, not just make a buck off them (not that I don't appreciate that they at least give girls the chance to look for fairy tales now that they know this version). The OCs are minimal. All are, or are based on, classic fairy tales, and I limited them to small parts.
Know that certain characters will be out of character since it is based off watching just a few episodes but know characters like the Evil Queen and Duchess exist without first seeing them on screen. And no offense to Shannon Hale, but I am completely disregarding her books in order to make this one.
Chapter One: Royal
Waking up with the sunrise and singing with the waking birds helped start another perfect day. Apple White smiled and held out her hand for one of the school's doves to come and land on her hand. Raven Queen groaned and shoved her head under her pillow. Apple White smiled at her roommate. Raven Queen was trying so hard to buck her destiny for some silly reason, but Apple White believed she just had to encourage and be a good role model and Raven Queen would realize who she really was and take up her role as the evil queen in Apple White's story.
The rays from the sun lit up the room. It was actually sort of funny. It was perfect the way the light came in and made her side of the room so bright and cheery, while the shadows darkened and caste ominous shadows on Queen Raven's side of the room.
Apple rocked on her heels, as she looked through her wardrobe. Today was Legacy Day. This was officially the day that her destiny started. Really, this was when the school year really began everything before was just prologue. Now every senior at Ever After High would cement their parts and spend the next year perfecting their skills so they could complete their stories. Apple just needed the perfect outfit to wear that night. Raven had already received her own evil dress the night before. Genuine dragons had flown it to her. Raven might be a little confused about her destiny, but her mother certainly knew how important it was with that display. Apple could almost forgive the woman for what she had done to her mother. The Evil Queen knew her daughter belonged in Apple's story, even if Raven hadn't realized it yet.
With a sigh Apple started going through her dresses trying to find something remotely suitable. The fairy godmother teaching damsel in distress psychology hadn't let her skip class when it became clear that mother had forgotten to get her something and Apple hadn't been able to go to town and get something suitable. Apple sighed. Miss Green Fairy should have understood and let Apple go shopping. It wasn't Apple's fault that her mother was more preoccupied with run the kingdom and helping the less fortunate to remember to get her daughter something special for Legacy Day.
Really Snow just didn't understand how important this day was to Apple. Apple's mother had actually told Apple that the only reason she sent Apple to Ever After High was because the Headmaster had pressured her into it. Apple didn't understand. Didn't her mother want Apple to get her happily ever after? Sure, she wouldn't live it in school, but she would learn and pledge herself to that destiny. In many ways, this was better.
The wind blew through the open window, shaking Apple of her increasingly depressing thoughts. Apple reminded herself that she was a royal, and a soon to be queen. She had nothing to get depressed over. She still had her happily ever after to look forward to. And she would make her pledge regardless of what she was wearing. There was a soft trill from a couple of doves that came in and settled on Apple's bed. Apple let a soft, understanding sigh escape her lips as she turned to shew the birds out. Apple loved them, but Raven didn't like birds in the room and, truthfully, Apple discouraged birds from landing on her bed. Most, importantly, while they never made mess on her side of the room all but a couple made a point to leave Raven a little "gift" when they left. Apple in good consciousness could not allow that. She understood the way they felt, but Raven couldn't help what she was, and that meant Apple got her destiny.
"Oh my," said Apple, squealing and jumping up and down as she clapped her hands. There, with the doves flying and holding it up with frantically flapping wings, was the most beautiful and extravagant dress she'd had since her fifth birthday. Apple ran forward and caught her dress just as it started to fall. She always had good luck like that.
"Apple," growled Raven. Apple looked around and then giggled, covering her mouth with one delicate hand.
"Sorry," she whispered. Raven glared out from underneath her dark purple pillow. The Rebel's hair was a positive mess. Apple just giggled as Raven sighed and tried to burrow under her covers. Apple decided that she better get out quickly before Raven destroyed her dress in revenge. Raven might think she wanted to be good, but the evil queen to be still managed to do plenty of damage with her spells, especially when irritated with person.
The bodice of the outfit turned out to be a little difficult to get on. In response, Apple picked up a little bell, the small tinkle of glass making Raven groan again, but also a dozen small brownies appeared and laced up the bodice tight. Apple felt her breath leave her body and the hoop skirt almost through her off balance. Apparently, the front of it went up to mid thigh. Very pretty but it took some figuring so Apple didn't trip over her heels. Finally the fairies finished. Apple was scared to see how it looked. What if her mother got a dress that looked good on her. Since Apple had the wrong color hair, it might look horrible on her.
When the brownies disappeared in a small puff of smoke Apple was all done up. Apple skipped over to her vanity mirror. It still didn't tell her how beautiful it was, but Apple didn't need a mirror to tell her if an outfit looked great on her makeup was smudged. The hoop skirt was a little too black, but thankfully it was just an accent to the rest of the ensemble. The bodice was white with delicate gold designs. The chemise was a vibrant red. And her outer dress, well, with a gold crown on her head, her outfit made her look like the queen she was soon to be.
It didn't take too long to put on the appropriate makeup, and Apple grabbed her purse and skipped from the room, remembering to close the door behind her softly. She was such a good roommate.
All the windows in the castle were wide open. Soon it would be too late in autumn and too cold to leave the windows open all the time. But for now fresh air kept the dusty castle easy to live in. Apple happily skipped down the stairs. She knew better than to go to wake Briar so early in the morning. Especially since Briar had thrown that Royal party last night. She wouldn't be awake until the afternoon, and with no classes, Apple had the whole day to primp and get herself psyched. She couldn't ware herself out, but that didn't mean she would get some stuff done.
Apple was still a little worried about Raven. Would the Rebel embrace her evil queen inside by tonight and what would happen if she didn't. What would happen if Raven didn't promise to complete destiny? Apple reminded herself that the Headmaster had planned it so that it would be too awkward for Raven not to promise she would follow her in her mother's footsteps. He had made it so that all the students who were known royals to go before Raven. Apple went right before her, and Apple knew that she would inspire Raven to do the right thing.
For some reason Ashlynn wasn't going before Raven, but then, maybe the Headmaster put her in the middle of the so called rebels to make sure that they saw the sensibility in following in their parents' footsteps.
The further Apple went into the castle, the more she off she felt. There were very few people walking the corridors. When Apple got to the cafeteria, she saw that only the Three Little Pigs were there. Apple grabbed an orange and ran from the place. She needed to find people, or maybe go and find some animals to sing too. Apple sent a couple of texts through her imirror, but no one responded. Apparently everyone was tuckered out from the party, even the characters from other cliques must have had their own parties, and obviously everyone was sleeping in before the big day.
In the end, Apple decided to take a walk through the maze in the garden. There was little chance that she would rip or damage her dress, and she would also be careful to get the attention of the animals that made their home there. Really, it was looking like she should have overslept, at least this once.
Apple shivered, her fingers digging into her orange. The fingers actually broke through the skin she dug so hard. Apple looked down at the orange. Her breath got caught in her chest, as red juice slipped over her hand, staining and making her hand sticky. Why was she bleeding? When had she hurt herself? Then she really looked at the orange. The inside of it was red, blood red. That wasn't right. Inside of oranges was orange not...
Some twisted hand clasped onto Apple's shoulder, and she pushed away at the person and tried to run away. Instead Apple fell down and crashed into the wall of the castle, grazing by moving armor. Apple flipped herself around and looked in front of her, putting her hands in front of her face to ward off the evil that was threatening her. What she saw, confused her. A teenager that Apple didn't recognized stood in front of her. She was odd looking, wearing the most drab clothing Apple had ever seen and slippers instead of high heel shoes. She had white, thin, straight hair that had an almost feather like quality. But despite the white hair, she had light brown skin and eyes as blue as sapphires.
Apple then realized she was lying on the ground, quite unlike queen. Her chest pounding like she had run through the forest. She quickly tried to stand, but she was still off balance from her new dress. Right, that was it. Apple swore gently as her heels tipped when she tried to stand.
A hand appeared in front of her. After a second of shock, Apple took the other girl's hand and let her help her up.
"Uh, hi," said Apple, and then she shook her head. She was the daughter of Snow White and she was going to be the queen. She needed to be diplomatic and stop tripping all over herself. "Sorry, I didn't mean too so ungraceful. Thank you for helping me."
The girl took out her mirror and started writing, she then flipped the tablet. Apple looked at what she wrote. Are you okay?
"Why aren't you talking to me?" asked Apple. The teen took back her tablet and wrote one word.
Mute.
"Oh, you poor dear," said Apple and quickly went forward and embraced the strange girl. The girl stiffened, but Apple just drew her in closer before she let her go. "I'm Apple White, the daughter of Snow White. It's nice to meet you."
Once the girl was free of Apple, the girl started writing. I'm Angel Mary.
"Why can't you talk?" asked Apple. "Have you already graduated and started your story? What's it like? Is it everything you hoped it would be? Is your happily ever after soon?"
Angel laughed and quickly started writing. No to graduating and a sorta to the story.
"What do you mean?" asked Apple.
I am part of a spontaneous story, wrote Angel. Those can be more complicated and uncertain.
"Oh, I didn't know there was such a thing as spontaneous stories anymore," said Apple. Would meeting Angel hurt Raven's chance at her destiny? Angel appeared to be laughing. She started writing again.
Are you over your anxiety attack? Apple gasped. It hadn't been an anxiety attack. She was a queen, strong and sure of who she was and her destiny.
"I didn't have an anxiety attack," said Apple, crossing her arms. Angel tilted her head, her brows furrowing, and then she started writing again.
Why did you destroy your blood orange? Angel wrote, her expression almost overly concerned.
"Blood Orange?" Apple looked down at the orange that she had destroyed. So this wasn't a normal orange! "Wait, so I got an orange filled with blood. Did one of the evil characters change the oranges?"
No, it's just called blood orange because it's red on the inside. Still edible, I think it's better than normal oranges, Apple felt her mouth fall open in surprise. She looked down at the mutilated fruit.
"Oh, well that's just silly," said Apple with a roll of her eyes.
I haven't eaten at all today and had quite a long journey to get here, wrote Angel.
"Oh, of course, how rude of me," said Apple. She turned and started heading back toward the cafeteria. "So are you going to transfer here now? I mean, you did come out of the Headmaster's office. We are in that area."
Apple glanced over at Angel, who finished writing and handed over her answer. No. I'm just here to observe Legacy Day.
"Oh, are one of your siblings going to be pledging today?" asked Apple, clapping her hands together.
You could say that, wrote Angel. Apple smiled at her. The cafeteria was still pretty deserted when they got there. A couple of people had joined the Three Little Pigs, but they were all anthropomorphic characters and happily eating, though the rabbits kept looking at the fox sideways. Apple sighed. She would have liked to introduce Angel to her friends, but even though Apple loved anthropomorphic animals, they just didn't run in the same circles, and they were busy eating and probably wouldn't be interested in meeting Angel anyway.
Apple directed and insisted on paying for Angel's breakfast and two blood oranges, Angel got pancakes and sausages. Apple decided that she should eat a little something. It would be embarrassing to swoon on such an important day because of low blood sugar. A flash of red disappeared out the door. It looked like Cerise was running away again. Really, Apple didn't understand how Daring had become such close friends with the character. Cerise had such a wonderful story, well, except the whole getting eaten thing, but the repetition and symbolism of her story was just so beautiful. Why was she so jump? It wasn't like Professor Wolf stayed outside the evil end of the castle grounds
Breakfast was nice. Apple started to hum under her breath as she picked at her fruit salad. When she finished, Angel was still eating. The white haired teen ate very slowly, acting as if each bite would be her last and she was savoring that last bite. After a couple of minutes, Angel reached into her dress and took out a small vile and placed it next Apple's abandoned plate. Apple looked at it in confusion.
Angel started tapping away at her mirrorpad and then flipped it Apple's way before she returned to eating slowly again. It's stain remover. That's a very beautiful dress. I'd hate for the gold deign to be ruined.
"What?" asked Apple and then looked down at her dress. There was a scattering of red stains across her bodice. She gasped in distress and quickly snatched up the bottle. Angel gave her a handkerchief. Apple first soaked a part of it in the remover and then started to dab at the stains. "Am I doing it right?"
Angel nodded. Apple sighed gratefully.
"You are a lifesaver," she told Angel. "You have to let me thank you. I know. I could get you a nice outfit for tonight. Not that what you're wearing isn't..."
Apple trailed off as Angel started laughing. It was a very weird laugh. Completely silent, Apple couldn't even hear Angel breathe in. Angel then took back her pad and started writing again.
I have a nicer dress in my room. I'm wearing this until then. It's not very pretty, but I only brought one nice dress and didn't want to chance getting it ruined. You're very brave. As Apple read the mirrorpad she felt her cheeks turning red.
"I guess I was just so excited to get this dress that I didn't even think about what could happen to it. I should have waited," said Apple. Really, she was being so silly today. Nothing like the queen she should be.
It looks beautiful on you, Angel wrote.
"I know right?" asked Apple cheerfully. Then her smile fell a little. "Maybe I should get changed. Oh, but I promised you a shopping trip. Are you sure you don't want to go buy something?"
Could I get a tour? I heard that this school has a magnificent gardens. Apple gasped.
"Oh my, you must have been reading my mind. Before I bumped into you I was totally planning on going to the maze. You have to go through the maze to get to the garden," said Apple, clapping her hands in excitement.
Angel lifted one eyebrow. You have to?
"Well, not technically I suppose," said Apple and then pouted at Angel. Angel laughed.
I would love to go to the maze, but you have to keep wearing that dress. I'll feel really important being shown around by someone dressed so regally. Apple blushed at the compliment.
"Alright, but you have to keep wearing those rags. It'll make me feel like I'm doing some charity," said Apple teasingly. Angel laughed soundlessly and they both stood to drop off their trays. Angel slipped the blood orange into her tote bag.
The maze was as beautiful as it always was. The flowers were in full bloom. They talked for hours, not about much, just about whatever came to mind. Apple told Angel all about the school and what she knew about the gardens. The gardens were mostly kept up by students and a select number of faculty. Yes, servants made sure everything was okay and sometimes did menial things. Apple told Angel everything she knew about it. She couldn't remember the name of the brother and sister who kept up the maze. But Jack had a good plot going, and not just of beans, and Lizzie had the most amazing rampion.
As the day went on, Apple started learning a lot about Angel. The teenager knew a lot about plants. Apple started to wonder if Angel was a flouriest. She knew what every flower and plant meant. Apple really wished that Angel could transfer into their school. Even though the other girl was mute, she was an amazing conversationalist. Maybe her destiny was over, but having a peer who had completed her destiny could be good for moral.
Just as the sun was reaching its peak, Apple saw Raven at one of the gazebos reading one of her books. Apple smiled. The future queen was almost done with her tour and she could introduce Raven to Angel. It would be interesting. Angel probably didn't have too many encounters with a nice evil person. Angel had this wonderful sense of humor and maybe Raven could help convince Angel to stay at the school. Everyone needed an education, even with her story done, Angel still needed to learn something's for her life, and she needed to meet people and hang out with girls her own age.
Apple turn back to read what Angel had written to describe the white roses splashed with red that Lizzie was growing along with her rampion.
"What do you think you're doing?" demanded Raven. Apple looked over at Raven in surprise. Apple wasn't doing anything wrong. Guests were allowed to see the grounds if they had been cleared by the Headmaster, and Apple was sure Angel had been cleared. She had been next in the Headmaster's office when they had banged into one another. But Raven wasn't looking at Apple, she was looking at Angel. Angel was busy writing something onto her mirrorpad, and only flipped it around as Raven got a few feet away.
Hello Raven. Angel was smiling as she looked at the next evil queen.
"Apple get away from her," said Raven angrily, pulling Apple away from Angel quite roughly.
"You know each other?" asked Apple in surprise. Raven glanced at her before turning to glare at Angel.
We're neighbors, wrote Angel.
"What are you doing here Angel? I didn't think they'd let you out of Poison Village after what they found out you did," said Raven, actually sounding like the Evil Queen that she was born to become.
Allegedly, wrote Angel, her smile turning into a smirk, the visitor looked less innocent as she relaxed back so she was leaning against the back of her heels. I'm here for the same reason Petal is here for the students pledging their life to a good part in a story. I'm here to make sure that none of the good characters try anything to any of you swearing to be evil.
"Fine, then hang out around the ones of us that are evil. Leave Apple and girls like her alone. She doesn't know your real nature. She doesn't get what evil really is," snapped Raven. Apple looked at Raven in confusion. Angel wasn't evil. At least, she hadn't acted or done anything to Apple that was evil. In fact, Angel had helped Apple out and been nothing but kind. Really, Apple didn't understand why Raven was being so mean to someone that was on the same side as her. If Angel really was evil, Apple would have thought Raven would get along with her. Or at least be on speaking terms with her. After all, most other characters who were villains were intimidated by Raven.
I'll go get ready for tonight then, wrote Angel, still smirking. She then started writing again and held the mirrorpad so it was obvious the next message was for Apple. It was good to meet you Apple. Thank you for the tour.
"You're welcome," said Apple with a song, and then she almost fell into an ungraceful heap when Raven started pulling her away harshly. "Really Raven, what was that all about?"
Raven practically pushed Apple away from her when they got closer to the school. Apple turned to the future evil queen and glared. Only to see that Raven was glaring at her. the future evil queen looked furious. It was one of the few times that Apple actually found herself a little scared of Raven. But Apple forced herself not to take a step back and held her ground, squaring her shoulders and holding her ground proudly like any good queen should.
"What is your problem Raven?" demanded Apple, stomping one foot against the ground. Raven spun on Apple and stormed right into the Royal's personal space.
"My problem? I wasn't the one showing around a dangerous harpy," snapped Raven. Apple titled her head to the side and then forced herself to stop leaning back and get right into Raven's face so they were almost standing nose to nose.
"She didn't do anything to me Raven. She's just as dangerous as you are," said Apple with a roll of her eyes.
"No, I want to be good. Angel... I can't even begin to describe what she did to her..." Raven shivered and looked a little sick. Then she glared at Apple. "You shouldn't be so reckless. Just because you have a happy ending in your story doesn't mean that if you get mixed up with the wrong evil that you won't end up more than briefly poisoned. Angel isn't bound by our rules. She didn't have to promise like the rest of us to not do evil while in school, and she never had a set destiny. She can do what she wants."
"Well of course she swore. I met her when she was coming out of the Headmaster's office," said Apple with a roll of her eyes. "And Angel didn't seem that bad."
"You don't know what she did," hissed Raven.
"What did she do?" asked Apple. Raven opened her mouth and then clicked it shut again, looking away, once again looking sick.
"Apple, we've been looking for you," said Briar as she flew down the steps to Apple. Behind her was Blondie, Maddie Hatter, and a couple of other characters. "Come on, we can't get Duchess off Daring. We're afraid he'll try to make himself ugly again. You know what happened last time."
Apple felt her face heating up. No matter what she did, Duchess was always trying to steal Daring away. Not that Daring and Apple were dating, but Daring was a close friend and could very well be her Prince Charming. While he liked attention, Duchess made him uncomfortable, and it hurt him when he pushed his hair out of his eyes or dirtied his teeth. It was against his nature.
So Apple went to save her best guy friend from the actual evil harpy. Personally Apple couldn't wait until Duchess turned into a dirty swam, maybe it would turn her into a better person. It would get her a prince that was actually interested in her for one thing.
For the rest of the day, Apple hung out with her friends helping them get ready. She redid her makeup, and helped Ashlynn needed a little help picking out the perfect shoes, and Briar had decided to make her own outer gown at the last minute and so they had an impromptu sewing party. Daring even showed Holly how to thread a needle. That skill had surprised Apple. She didn't know that guys could sew, and Daring was a prince. What use did sewing have for him? Why learn it? Daring had shrugged and said that his mother liked sewing so much she often neglected her other duties. Apple had known that, but hadn't figured out that Daring had learned sewing so he could spend time with his mother.
Finally, fifteen minutes before they needed to be down and ready, the girls all looked their best in their most expansive and extravagant dresses. All the boys looked handsome and refined. Most importantly every single one of them all looked like the fairy characters they were meant to be. As Apple gathered with the rest of the students in the cafeteria, she couldn't help but bounce on the balls of her feet. It was starting to get a little hot. Apple couldn't wait until the senior class was led out and into the open air.
Still, despite how ready she was to take the pledge, Apple couldn't help but be a little nervous. This was such a big moment for her. Would her parents make it? Raven was standing just a couple of feet away from Apple talking to Mattie. Raven really looked nerved up. Apple really hoped that her roommate had learned and accepted her place as the new Evil Queen. No more silly rule breaking. No more Rebels. Just characters read to complete their destinies and play their parts.
Finally they started heading out the door to the beginning of their stories. The courtyard was well lit, the mood just right for heading out to make the most important moment of her (and everyone's) life. The walk was long, it seemed like thousands of people had shown up to see them pledge their destiny. The sun was just starting to go down as they ascended up the stairs. One of the pigs squealed in fear, he must have looked over the railing at the cliff's edge.
Once the Headmaster had said his part the pledges began. Four gigantic mirrors hung in the sky and showed the face of the pledge as they swore to uphold their destinies and turned the key in the book. Apple held her key tight to her chest and watched with only a little fear as everyone pledged to play their parts. Sometimes, she would go over in her head how she would say her pledge. It was important that she got it just right.
And then Lizzie Hearts, having sworn to follow her mother the Queen of Hearts, stepped off the stage and it was her turn. Apple took one last deep breath in and walked to the edge to the podium and the book. She forced away those pesky worries and as soon as she was only a couple of steps away from the podium she spread her arms out wide and let the birds that flew her way land on her arms.
"I am Apple White, daughter of Snow White, and I am ready to pledge my destiny," said Apple, spreading out her arms again though now birds landed on them. There was a loud cheer and confetti was thrown once again into the air. Apple smiled. "I pledge to follow in my mother's footsteps. To eat the poisoned apple from the evil queen and not wake until my prince kisses me and to become the greatest and fairest queen to my people."
And with that declaration, Apple fitted her key into the book and turned. A light went off and covered Apple in a warm glow. Flowers and tiaras flew her way as the crowd went wild. Apple gathered up what flew right in her arms and gave her audience a perfect wave and then blew a kiss into the air. As she headed back, the Headmaster stopped her and signaled her to stand on one side of the podium as Raven walked to the podium. Raven was wringing her hands, her expression stormy. Apple turned to watch the misfit. She really did feel sorry for Raven. The poor dear just could not accept who she was. It was tragic, really.
But Apple believed in Raven. The other girl would make the right choice in the end. Raven certainly dressed the part of an evil queen, and the future Evil Queen had had so many good peer role models on follow her story line. As Raven got closer to the podium storm clouds moved in and lightning lit up the sky. Where once it had just been sunset, now it was purple twilight.
"I am Raven Queen," said Raven, her voice sure and steady, though Apple was facing the opposite direction of the mirrors so she couldn't see her expression. Apple kept her hands clasped together, almost cutting off circulation, but the smile stayed on her face. Raven could do it. With the support of Apple and the Headmaster next to her, she was sure to pledge to carry out her part of the story. She wouldn't let all of them disappear into smoke. "Daughter of the Evil Queen, and I pledge. Um. I..."
Apple put her hands out in front of her, bouncing up and down and willing Raven to say the words. Just say the words and turn the key.
"Come on, do it," said Apple, her words escaping her in her excitement when Raven turned to glance in her direction. She hadn't meant to, but maybe it was for the best, Raven was obviously looking for support, and hopefully she would be able to overcome her weaknesses knowing that Apple was there to support her.
"I..." and then Raven sighed again. Apple could feel the butterflies return to her stomach and tension knotting her shoulders.
"I pledge to write my own story and be true to my real self," said Raven, and before it had really sunk in what had happened, Raven turned to key. Purple magic sprang from the book and completely covered Raven. Apple felt her hands go to her mouth and took a couple of devastated steps backward and then fell to her knees.
She watched in horror as Raven was surrounded in purple magic. Raven was probably gone now, and without Raven, Apple had no more story. What story was there without the main antagonist. Who was the prince going to save her from? Herself? Apple looked down at her own hands and then body and waited to watch as she disappeared into nothing too. Tears started rolling down her eyes, and Apple felt someone grab her under the arms and start to lead her away.
Eventually Apple fell asleep in person's arms, tears still running down her face.
"Is she going to be okay?" asked a voice that sounded like Blondie.
"Yeah, I just think she was a little shell shocked," said Briar, really close to Apple. Oddly close to Apple. Suddenly the Royal's eyes sprang open and she looked behind her. "Wow easy."
"How did I? Where is Daring?" asked Apple, her voice cracking as she looked around. She saw all her friends, but maybe Daring hadn't taken the pledge and her happy forever after really was gone, never to come back. Apple felt tears stream down her face anew.
"Oh, Apple," Daring pushed his way to the front of the crowd and then drew Apple into a tight embrace. Apple dug her face into his chest and held him tight with one arm.
"Why weren't you holding me? have you become a..?" Apple wasn't able to ask if he had become a Rebel. The word got choked in her throat.
"You wouldn't let go of my hand," said Briar dryly, holding up their clasped hands. Apple blushed and let Briar go. The adrenaline junkie immediately started to try and rub blood back into her hands.
"I would never leave you Apple," said Daring, drawing in Apple close. "Are you going to be okay?"
"I don't... did Raven disappear? Am I going to disappear?" asked Apple hesitantly.
"No, Raven is fine. The Headmaster said that she and the other Rebels didn't say they weren't going to follow their destiny, they just said they would be true to themselves," said Briar. "So we still have a chance."
"Other Rebels?" asked Apple. Briar sighed and nodded.
"A good handful of characters after Raven gave the same pledge," said Blondie, her expression forlorn.
"Cerise?" asked Apple. Daring shook his head.
"No, she pledge to follow her mother's path. We think. We couldn't really hear her, but she's still hanging around us," said Blondie. Then she bit her lip and tears appeared in her eyes. "It's Ashlynn. She's the one who..."
"Why?" asked Apple, standing up though still feeling a little light headed and shaky on her feet. Daring let go of her but tried to put an arm around her shoulder. Apple backed away from him.
"You're not going to freak out again?" asked Daring, and Apple glared at him and then at everyone.
"I don't understand. What is wrong with all of you? How can you be so calm?" demanded Apple, backing up as her thoughts jumbled all together.
"Calm down. You're going to have another panic attack," said Holly gently.
"Why do people keep saying that! I am not having a panic attack!" shouted Apple. "You're all just standing there while our world is falling apart! How could they do this? Why would they do this!"
"Oh Apple," said Briar, standing next to Daring. "It'll be ok. We'll work things out."
Apple shook her head.
"I just... I just need to leave," said Apple, still backing up. "I just need to be alone."
Apple turned and fled. She saw Daring reach for her, but Briar stopped him. The future Snow White didn't even think about where she was going. She ended up past where she had taken her pledge all the way into the gardens. It seemed that she still had tears to spare because they were streaming down her face.
That's why Ashlynn hadn't gone before Raven, because the Headmaster had somehow knew that, for some reason, Ashlynn was going to turn on them.
It didn't matter. Raven still was the one who started characters turning their backs on their stories. How could she do that?
"I'm not..." said a voice, and then Apple froze. She had run away, right in Cupid. The pink monster turned to her in surprise. "Apple, you look horrible. Did Daring dump you?"
Apple shook her head, and then looked Cupid right in the eye. "Did you pledge to be like you're mother?"
"Well, no, but I didn't even know my real mother. I was accepted into this school under special circumstances, remember?" asked Cupid. Apple nodded. She did remember there being some rumor about special circumstances for Cupid. After all, there was no story for Cupid to follow. She was just supposed to help out the characters or something. "I was just here to give everyone support, and then I met Angel and wanted to talk about her opinions on Monsters after talking to Petal."
"Angel?" asked Apple, looking past Cupid. Angel stood there. She was dressed in a white feather outer dress with a black sequin bodice, a swirling black, and white hoop skirt with feathers as fringe. Her hair was mostly undone, with only a small black tiara peaking out of her hair, and on her feet were a simple pair of flat white slippers. For some reason they made Angel look very young. Apple wasn't used to seeing girls wear flat shoes, she hadn't wore flat shoes since she was a baby.
Hello Apple, wrote Angel. The evil harpy, as Raven called her, had a gentle, understanding smile. Quite the upset tonight, wasn't it?
"What will Raven's mom think?" asked Apple, remembering that Raven said they were neighbors. Angel shrugged.
She's busy at the moment. She might forget right after I tell her, wrote Angel.
"Oh my, no wonder Raven doesn't care about her future," said Apple with a gasp.
"I should be going," said Cupid suddenly. She was wringing her hands together. "I'll see you around Apple. It was nice meeting you Angel. I'll see about getting you Nepheria's number."
Angel nodded and Cupid beat a hasty retreat.
Apple sighed. She couldn't really blame Cupid for not understanding the gravity of the situation. The monster hadn't been brought up as a fairy tale character, she just didn't understand what rejecting their destinies would do to their fairy tale lives.
"Is there anything you can do?" asked Apple. Angel shook her head.
I only have the authority to make sure the evil characters are being treated right. They are choosing to be Rebels, they're not being pressured into it. Maybe the city will send someone else to help them see the light, wrote Angel quickly.
"Why not just tell you to do it?" asked Apple. Angel shook her head.
I'm a new story, and they're pretty sure my story got screwed up along the way. I am not a good role model for these troubled Rebels, wrote Angel. Apple sighed in disappointment. Then her breath caught as fear filled her again. A hand touched her shoulder and Apple looked to see Angel looking at her in worry. The feathered girl tapped her mirrorpad. Hey, are you okay? Is there anything I can do to help?
"I'm scared, but I don't think there's anything..." Apple's voice caught, and then something clicked in her head and she snapped up her head and met Angel's sapphire eyes. "Actually, I think there is something you can do."