Faith Perrault

Faith Perrault dug her fingernails into her legs. She looked out the window of the carriage, staring at her reflection. It was the same, as always. Her copper eyes shone brightly, and her long, dark brown hair was as plain as ever. And that's what made her beautiful, the simplicity of her appearance.

"Faith." Faith tore her gaze away from the window and towards her mother, who sat across from her. She blinked several times before responding.

"Yes, mother?" she said in her quiet voice. Her mother sighed.

"I want you to promise me you'll try to hide it from the other students," said the woman. "I do not want anyone knowing what has happened to your father." Faith nodded, a single tear sliding down her cheek. Her mother wiped it away. "You must be brave, my little princess. Understand?" Faith nodded.

There was a brief moment where neither royal moved. Soon, Faith's mother pulled out an old chest from underneath her seat. Faith raised an eyebrow as her mother opened it. Faith's jaw dropped. Her mother pulled out her old donkeyskin cloak.

The cloak was a plain brown color with a pair of donkey-like ears on the hood. She held it out to Faith, who took it hesitantly. She ran her hands along the fur of the cloak before looking up at her mother with a curious expression.

"Why are you giving this to me?" she asked, "Aren't I supposed to have it later?"

"I want you to have it now," said her mother. She took the cloak from her daughter and draped it over the girl's shoulders, pulling her hair gently away from it. Faith tied it around her neck. On her, it would cover her light brown shirt, brown boots and orange skirt. "It will show the world that my daughter is proud of her story. Unlike those rebels."

"Mother, I really don't think the rebels are-" Before Faith could say anymore, the carriage stopped. The princess looked outside the window. Before her stood the magnificent castle that was Ever After High. She gazed out the window with sparkling eyes. Faith's mother put a hand on her daughter's shoulder.

"Make me proud," she said. Faith nodded and her mother kissed her forehead. Today was Faith's first day of the rest of her life.

Faith pulled up the hood of the fur cloak, concealing her features. Her mother didn't know this, but Faith was afraid. She had grown up isolated from the other fairy tales. Faith was always keeping to herself, so, she had developed a shy persona. Faith was terrified of the world beyond her home. Especially since...it...had happened.

Faith sighed and clutched the handle of her bag. She looked up at the building before her with her shaking hands. Slowly, Faith made her way into the school.

Faith ended up getting lost in the crowd. It wasn't that hard. She was only fourteen, and her cloak made her unnoticeable. And being unnoticeable meant that you would be bounced around like a ping-pong ball through the halls of your new school.

Faith ended up being pinned to a series of lockers. She sighed. This was a lot harder than she had expected. Faith believed that she would have been able to easily get through the halls. However, it was proven to be rather difficult.

The princess sighed and weaved her way through and out of the crowd. At least, that's how she would have liked it to work. Instead, she was once again thrown about and spat out...hitting one of the older students in the process.

Faith fell the the ground, landing on her behind. Her coppery gaze looked up, and Faith's body tensed. Although she was only a first year student, she knew who she had crashed into. It was Apple White, the daughter of Snow White.

The blonde looked down upon the fallen girl with a kind blue gaze. Embarrassed, Faith pulled her fur hood down further over her face. A heavy red blush scattered across her features. She looked up for a split second to see a pale hand in front of her face. Faith took it and was instantly pulled to her feet. The girl stumbled, but kept her balance.

"Are you alright?" asked the future Snow White. Faith nodded quickly.

"I-I-I'm fine," she said quickly. Apple tilted her head as she tried to take a look at the freedom year in front of her. Faith took a step back. She raised an eyebrow however when Apple smiled kindly.

"You're Princess Faith, right?" Faith blushed a heavy red and nodded.

"How do you know my name?"

"My kingdom's next to yours. I'm Apple White. Daughter of Snow White." She extended her hand. Faith rubbed her fingers along the edge of her hood. Apple dropped her hand. "You're a little shy, aren't you?"

"A little…" Faith responded quietly. "Can you tell me where I can find the dormitories? I'm kinda lost…" Apple nodded.

"Yup, just follow me."

Faith walked quietly behind Apple as the two walked up the staircase which lead to the freedom year dormitories. Faith kept to herself, her mind a rapid blur. Apple was in her second year, her Legacy Year, right? Faith thought about what would happen next year, when she had to sign the Storybook of Legends. What if it wouldn't let her sign? Well...she could just not sign. After all, her story had more than one problem with it. And hers was not one relating to it's plot.

"Apple…?" Faith asked. The blonde turned her attention to the younger student. "You're signing the Storybook of Legends this year, right?" Apple nodded.

"Yup!" she said cheerfully. "Why do you ask?" Faith brought her bag up to her chest.

"I want to know….what happens if you can't-I mean, don't want to follow your destiny and sign the book?" Apple's gaze fell, and she stopped.

"You disappear along with your story." Her normal cheerful tone had darkened. Faith shuddered. "You do want to follow your story and your destiny...right, Faith?" Faith nodded quickly.

"I do like my destiny," she said quickly as well, "But Apple...there is something you might not know…"

"Well, then, everything will be fine," said Apple, ignoring the last of Faith's words. They continued to climb the staircase. "You know, I can see you as a Royal in the future." Faith sighed. She couldn't be a Royal. That's what she was trying to tell her mother earlier. It was impossible for Faith to complete her destiny. She couldn't follow her story at all.