A/N: Hello. Ever After High is pretty much dead at this point, but I had this set up in my mind for a while now. I used a friend's birthday as an opportunity to finally write it.
Also, we begin in media res, but I like to imagine this story as a would-be series finale after at least two more seasons of Ever After High (since we're not going to get any more), where everything needed for this story would have been set up (namely, Rapple).
Last time on Ever After High:
EXT: EAH. DAY.
THE FORCES OF THE EVIL QUEEN APPROACHING THE SCHOOL AS A BLACK, ENCROACHING MIST. CUT TO THE EVIL QUEEN'S MINIONS, DARK AND GHOSTLY KNIGHTS, HORSES AND THE LIKE. THE EVIL QUEEN STANDS ON TOP OF WHAT LOOKS LIKE A GIANT LIZARD WITHOUT A HEAD, IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ARMY. THE STUDENTS SEE THEM APPROACHING FROM THE BALCONY. CUT TO THE TEACHERS AND ADULTS TRANSFORMED INTO STONE STATUES, UNABLE TO HELP AGAINST THE ADVANCING ARMY. OFF SCREEN, BRIAR: "WHAT DO WE DO NOW?"
(OPENING SONG)
There were five of them on the balcony. For a minute, they all just stared at the approaching darkness, letting dread wash over them.
Briar was the first to speak.
"What do we do now?"
"We need to stop her. We need to stop my mother", Raven said.
"And how exactly do you propose we do that?"
Raven turned to face the rest. Faybelle had tried to put her trademark scorn in her comment, but her voice quavered. She was scared. Raven pretended not to notice. They were all scared.
"She's got all her power back," Faybelle continued. "All of the Evil Queen's magic, plus all those fairy tales she stole, and now she's managed to steal half the magic of Wonderland! She's more powerful than she's ever been, and she has an army! How, oh how do you propose we stop her?"
"We'll gather all our fighters and vanquish her army," Darling said.
"Oh, wow, real charming of you" the fairy said, flying over to look at Darling in the eye. "What part of 'more powerful than ever' do you people not get. We don't stand a chance."
"What do you propose, then?" Darling said, crossing her arms
"We run! We all get out of here before she catches us! What does she even want here?"
"All of us."
The others looked at Raven. She sighed.
"The children of the fairytales. All the powerful magic users that are left. Everyone with any political standing. Apple. Me. The Wonderlandians. Everyone left who would stand up to her, everyone with a chance to defeat her, we're all here."
"Well, good for her! That's real smart, now I'm out of here!"
"Going to join her again?" Briar asked. The fairy glared at her. She glared back.
"Don't worry, princess, I've learned my lesson from last time. I'm just going to go as far away from this doomed school as my wings will take me."
"Faybelle, wait, please."
It was Apple. She had been quite until then. Now she was staring up at Faybelle, pleading.
"Please, listen. The Evil Queen is much stronger than us. It's true. But we're also stronger when we are together. If you leave now, we'll be one spell caster short, and she'll just be stronger."
"She will find you, sooner or later," Raven added. "She won't stop until all powerful magic users are accounted for."
"This is the only shot we have at stopping her, and if we don't, none of us will ever be free again. But if you stay," Apple said, smiling, "we'll be stronger. And if we all work together, I know we have a shot at this. Besides, it is our only shot!"
The fairy rolled her eyes and sighed.
"Ugh, fine, whatever, but do we have a plan?"
They could hear the army now. A million voices, all at once.
"Well, if she's too powerful to be defeated, then we need to make her weaker," Apple said.
"She had a gem before, the one she used to steal everyone else's powers back in the day," Raven said. "The gem has the ability to push magic out of people's systems. It doesn't absorb it, it just liberates it into the air. Then she used a spell of hers to absorb all that magic into her own body. She got rid of it before they locked her up. I know where it is."
"Let's go get it, then!" Apple said.
"No. I'm going alone. The place where it's hidden is filled with Evil Queen magic, so only I can do it. And you need to stay and organize our defenses."
She exited the balcony.
"Just hold the fort until I come back."
"Give us a sec," Apple said, and ran after her.
"Raven, wait."
Raven was packing a suitcase.
"I'll be fine, Apple."
"Are you sure? Maybe someone else can go with you. Or in your place."
"It's really just a one person job, Apple. And don't worry, I'll be fine."
"But… but… I need you here."
The young witch turned to look at her.
"Raven, I can't lead the school! Not without you! They still look up to you and…"
"Hey, hey, stop."
Raven held Apple's cheek. The princess looked into her eyes.
"They look up to you, too. Much more than they do me. And you can lead them. I know you can. Apple, you're the single greatest leader this school has ever known. You just convinced Faybelle not to quit on us."
"That's because you were here!"
"No, Apple. It's because you're kind, you understand others, and you can inspire them to do what's right. Everyone in the school loves you. You've aced all your kingdom rule classes, and, you're the smartest girl I've ever known, Apple White. You just need to be the queen you always have been."
They hugged. Apple breathed deeply.
"Hey, it's not so bad. I'll be back before you know it and we'll defeat her together. Okay?"
"Okay."
Raven let go, smiled at her, and headed for the door.
"Raven."
"Yes?
"I… thank you. Please come home safe."
The witch nodded, smiling at her roommate, and ran. Apple sighed again and looked into the balcony.
"I can do this, I can do this, I can…"
Back on the balcony, the others looked at her.
"Okay," she said, "okay."
She looked at them, a serious expression on her face.
"Okay. Darling, gather every student fit to fight. Get together with your brothers and organize them into a battalion. Prepare them for battle.."
The girl nodded and rushed off.
"Faybelle, when that gem gets the magic out of the Evil Queen, we're going to need someone to take all that magic before she does. I need you to make a spell to take control of all that dark magic yourself."
"You're trusting me with the entire world's dark magic. Really. Me. Have you met me?"
"Yes, I am trusting you. Because I know you're our friend and you'll fight on our side."
Faybelle blinked. Twice. And then rolled her eyes.
"Fine, whatever, but I'm not making any promises. Okay?"
"Wonderful, Faybelle! Now, Briar, get me Lizzie Hearts. We're going to need the Wonderlandians. No one's magic is more powerful. And I also have a special job for you."
CUT TO EXT: THE COURTYARD.
ALL STUDENTS ARE STANDING IN THE COURTYARD, READY TO HEAR APPLE SPEAK TO THEM FROM A WINDOW. ON THE ROOM WITH HER, WE SEE THE CHARMING SIBLINGS, FAYBELLE, BRIAR AND LIZZIE HEARTS.
Apple took a deep breath.
"You can do this, you can do this. Raven believes in you. They all believe in you."
She went out to the window. The students looked up at her. She smiled.
"Fairytales, classmates, my friends; even when we face great danger, seeing you makes me want to smile. I smile because I see how powerful we are, how strong each and every one of you is. We have been together for years. In that time I've seen all of you grow. We have all taken control of our destiny. And you've used it to become the very best friends and the very best people Ever After has ever known. And that is why I know we will win. What you've heard is true. The Evil Queen really has escaped. Yes, she is heading toward us, and yes she is powerful. But we are the future kings and queens, knights and warriors, witches and fairies, and… you know what? Whatever you want to be! I know you're capable of it. I know we will work together, I know we will defeat the Evil Queen. And because I know that, my friends, that is why I smile!"
The students in the courtyard Cheered. You got this, you got this.
"The Charming siblings will lead our army to victory. The best spell casters in the world are here, and they will all be giving you potions and spells to make you stronger and to heal you if you need it, and they'll unleash their most powerful curses on the Evil Queen's shadow army. We have the Wonderlandians, who can put us where we need to be and give us whatever we need. Together, we'll win! Whether you're a royal or a rebel, we're more than that together, however you go ever, in Ever After High!"
The loud, thunderous applause that followed calmed her fears. It made her believe her own words. She was ready.
"I have to be," she muttered, as she entered back into the room to plan the strategy they were to follow.