Chapter One: In Which Aiden Comes Up with the Solution

Aiden Merlin encountered all sorts of problems on a regular basis. Some problems were small and could be fixed with a potion, a charm, or some good advice. Other problems required direct intervention and doling out some justice. Bigger problems could mean days of performing complex spells and assisting people on their various quests. But in the end, "the Rainbow Sorceress" was always able to be part of the solution to any problem she encountered.

The solution to Ever After High's problem didn't come easily to her, though.

During her time in Bookend, Aiden became acquainted with Baba Yaga, another sorceress who worked as a teacher at Ever After High, the prestigious boarding school for the sons and daughters of fairy-tale characters. So when Professor Yaga came down with Fungitis, it was only natural that she would ask the only other full-fledged sorceress in town to fill in for her. All of the villainy classes had to be canceled since Aiden was a sworn good sorceress and couldn't perform dark magic. But at least the more basic sorcery courses could continue.

During her three weeks as a substitute at Ever After High, Aiden learned about the conflict between the Royals and Rebels. How the Royals were determined to re-live out their parents' fairytales to the letter, even if it meant forcing others to play undesirable roles in their stories. And how the Rebels simply wanted to make their own destinies.

Aiden's heart went out to the Rebels. But out of all the Rebels, Aiden felt most sorry for Raven Queen, daughter of the infamous Evil Queen of Snow White fame. Raven was a compassionate, intelligent girl who didn't want to play the role of a villain. When Raven had refused to sign the Storybook of Legends earlier that fall, there had been a massive uproar. Although Raven had a small group of friends that staunchly supported her, the rest of the student body, and most of the faculty, treated her badly. Even more so than when she had simply been "the-next-evil-queen."

The headmaster was particularly awful to Raven. Aiden seethed when Milton Grimm barged into magicology class and vehemently insisted that Raven should create a poisoned apple for her class project despite Raven's protests. Aiden was so angry at the sight of a teacher bullying a student, she couldn't resist surreptitiously shooting the contents of a nearby beaker of boiling frogspawn at Grimm's face. Interestingly, Aiden's powers didn't get zapped for her spiteful outburst. Which proved that Grimm deserved it.

Aiden was sure that Raven had the makings of a great good sorceress. Shortly before her time as a substitute teacher was up, Aiden decided that she would ask Raven to become her private sorcery student. She was confident she could help Raven find her inner spark, turn her dark magic good once and for all, and establish Raven as the most powerful and beloved sorceress in all the United Fairytale Kingdoms.

But life has a way of happening when you're making other plans.

As soon as her time at Ever After High was up, Aiden and her husband each received official letters from their native country. Queen Nadia wanted the Merlins return to Atlantis to teach courses about the world above at Atlantis University and Atlantis Academy. Aiden couldn't refuse since one of the most important rules for a good sorceress to follow was "those who ask for help, must receive it." Queen Nadia had asked for her assistance and Raven hadn't. There was nothing Aiden could do except plan the curriculums for her courses, prepare for the big move, and make arrangements to rent out the Merlins' cottage by the lake. Training Raven would have to wait.

Then Aiden's life took another unexpected twist when yet another person asked her for help.

Apple White, daughter of Snow White and future queen of the United Fairytale Kingdoms, wanted Aiden to help her keep her story intact. For that matter, Apple wanted everyone's stories to remain intact. She was a diehard Royal and believed that every fairytale character should stick to their allotted role, no matter how unpleasant said role was.

Especially when it came to HER story. As far as Apple was concerned, Raven Queen's refusal to sign the Storybook of Legends was a catastrophe. She was hellbent on having Raven be her villain and didn't seem to understand, or care, just what that would mean for the young sorceress.

Given this attitude, Apple was the LAST EAH student Aiden wanted to assist. But when Ashlynn Ella mentioned to Aiden that she had a friend that wanted her help, Aiden didn't stop to ask just who this friend was.

The minute Aiden saw Apple sitting next to Ashlynn in the tea shop where they were supposed to meet up, she mentally kicked herself:

ASK, Aiden. Didn't Mom always say that?! AWAYS ASK. You idiot. Aiden thought. But she put on a pleasant face and graciously greeted the two princesses.

As Aiden listened to Apple ramble on and on about how deeply important her destiny was to her, how vital it was to her becoming Queen of the U.F.K., and how unfair Raven was being, she noticed the slightly glazed look on Ashlynn's face. The daughter of Cinderella had obviously heard this sob story a million times by now. But she was enduring it with the patience of a saint. And Aiden knew that Ashlynn was secretly a Rebel. Yet Ashlynn was doing her best to act as a Royal out of support for Apple.

It was then Aiden realized that training Raven wouldn't fix the problem at Ever After High. Even if Raven became a good sorceress, no one would take her seriously as long as Apple was against her choices. The students and faculty loved Apple far more than they respected Grimm. She was the real reason the emphasis on tradition and so-called destiny was so strong.

Change Apple's views and the rest of the school would follow suit. Then everyone could have the happily ever afters they deserved.

But how could Aiden change the views of someone who was too wrapped up in her own problems, her own alleged destiny, and herself in general, to listen?

Apple needed months of counseling. Maybe even quest of some sort. And Aiden doubted whether or not those methods would actually work. Apple's case was that severe. Aiden wasn't even sure she had enough time to devote to this case. She was due to leave for Atlantis in a little over a month. Nonetheless, she promised to follow up with Apple once she had a solution to her problem.

Nearly a week had passed since then, and Aiden hadn't thought of anything plausible. It was enough to drive a dedicated good sorceress batty. Batty enough to whine to her spouse over dinner.

"You should have heard her blubber how selfish Raven's being. I can't even quote her without throwing-up…" Grouched Aiden, as she stabbed her chicken with unnecessary vigor.

"Can't you just refuse?" Roland asked, as he poured himself a glass of wine. "What about the 'no-helping-those-who-express-bad-intent' clause? Doesn't that apply?"

"No…she specifically asked me to help her get her own happily ever after, not to force the Rebels to adhere to their stories. "

"But she thinks that's what you'll do, right? I mean, she's a selfish brat. Doesn't THAT exclude her from your services?"

"No. She's self-absorbed…"

"And annoying."

"That too. But she's not really a bad girl. How else could she have so many friends?"

"Witchcraft." Aiden stared at Roland. "You SURE you're not dealing with the Wicked Witch of the West?" Roland grinned as he cut up his salad. "You did say she had outrageously sparkly red shoes. I'll bet if we drag her into the lake old-school style we could rid the U.F.K. of a massive headache…"

"ROLAND!" Aiden smacked her husband with her napkin. But she couldn't help smiling. Roland's strong (albeit wicked) sense of humor could always pull her out of a funk.

"Seriously though, they shouldn't allow her to become queen. That kid wouldn't last a minute in the Atlantean royal family."

Aiden felt as if one of her own rainbows had hit her full force.

"What did you say?"

"I said, Apple wouldn't last a minute in the Atlantean royal family."

"THAT'S IT!" Aiden shouted. Mini rainbows started exuding from her body and bouncing all over the place.

Roland knew that when his wife started radiating rainbows, it meant she had just come up with a brilliant solution. And he'd never seen her produce this many rainbows at once.

"What's it?"

Roland had to repeat the question three more times before he finally got an answer:

"Apple White is going to Atlantis Academy!" Aiden announced.