"You guys hear about what happened at Legacy Day rehearsals?" Daring asked as the unlocked his door.

The quartet made their way into Daring and Hopper's room. Out of all the male dormitories, theirs' was the largest, kind of perk Daring got for being…whatever it was Daring was. After classes the boys would meet there to play games, talk sports, and just be in each other's company.

"No," Dexter said. He had missed Legacy Day rehearsals, and Hopper couldn't attend. He was too busy hopping around trying to find someone to change him back to his human form.

"It's Raven. Raven Queen. She…did something unspeakable." Daring flopped down on his favorite chair, it was large enough to be a throne.

Hunter rolled his eyes. "Come one Daring, it wasn't all of that."

Daring nearly shot upward. "What are you talking about? Of course it was. What she is considering…it's…it's the worst thing I've ever heard."

Hopper looked towards Dexter in confusion.

"What are you two talking about?" Dexter asked.

"And even worse, she ran off before anyone could get any kind of word in. Apple was nearly in tears when she walked down the hallway." Daring said as he paced across the floor. "Does she not know that she's putting our entire story in jeopardy? We could all disappear. Even you Hunter, after all, you are the huntsman for our story."

Hunter shuddered at the idea of raising his axe against an animal, but quickly shook the thought away. "Come on Daring, cut Raven some slack."

"Do you two want to fill us in on your little chat?" Hopper asked as he took Daring's place on the throne.

"We've known Raven for years. Does she seem evil to you? So, why does she have to follow a destiny she doesn't want?"

"It doesn't matter what she wants. All that matters is that she follows her role."

"Guys!" Dexter's voice filled the room, causing all of them to stare, they didn't know Dexter could be so loud. "What are you talking about? What's going on with Raven?"

Daring shook his head. "She asked headmaster Grim what would happen if she didn't sign the book on Legacy Day."

Hopper gasped. "W-what? That's unheard of."

"You're telling me. And she ran away and didn't even finish her practice pledge. Now there are rumors saying that she's going to not sign the book, and it's gotten Apple very worried. She even asked to transfer to Raven's dorm just to keep an eye on her."

Hunter was there that day. He had heard Raven's question, and he too was shocked. But was Raven's plight really such a one off thing? I mean, Hunter knew there were others in the school who were scared of their destiny. Hunter outright avoided anything to do with hunting. He had a passion for making animals feel better, that, he thought, was far more worthwhile than hunting them down.

"Daring come on. It can't be all that bad." Dexter said. He walked over to their mirror set, and tried to flip on their Hero-box, Ever After's hottest gaming console. One of the few things all four of them could do together to calm themselves down was playing video games. And if anyone needed calming down it was Daring. "So she just left to take a breather, what's the problem?"

"Dexter? Have you completely flipped your crown? She's putting all of us in danger! It's gotten the entire school freaked out."

"Wait wait, hold on. Raven's putting you in danger by deciding not to be evil, and by not poisoning Apple?" Dexter said as he passed the controllers out to everyone. "That doesn't even make sense."

"We could disappear, have you not been paying attention little brother?"

They were just going around in circles now. Dexter never liked the idea of pledging your destiny, shouldn't you be able to choose for yourself? But of course, Daring Charming was all about tradition.

"Well what if you don't disappear, then what?" Hunter asked.

"That's stupid Hunter. Be reasonable." Hopper said as he stared towards the huntsman.

"I am being serious. What if Raven doesn't sign the book and everything's fine. If anything she'd be doing you and Apple a favor."

"Really?" Daring inquired, "And how do you suppose that?"

"Well, instead of Apple being poisoned and you kissing her, you two could just get married and live happily ever after."

If anything Raven was helping them get to their destinies even faster…if they didn't disappear that is.

"Regardless Raven must follow her role and-"

"And turn out like her mother? Is that what you want?" Dexter asked.

"No, no one wants that to happen, but Raven not following her role is even worse than what her mother did." Daring said.

"How so?" Hunter asked.

"J-just because!"

"And what happens to Raven after the story?" Dexter asked. "You and Apple get to live in a castle, but what about Raven?"

Daring shrugged his shoulders, "She pays for her evil deeds of course!"

"Deeds that everyone in Ever After forced her to do because it was more convenient for them."

"Uh guys…" Hopper said as he held the game controller. "Can we play now?"

Daring shook his head. "Goodness Dex, what's wrong with you? It almost seems like you're rooting for her!"

"Well why not? What's so wrong about choosing what to do with your life. It's your life isn't it?"

"Guys?" Hopper said again, "Anyone?"

"Yeah but there are people who have to pay for the decisions you make. That's what Dad's always taught us, it's rule number one for being a king."

"Guys!" Hopper nearly threw the controller across the room just to get their attention.

"What!" The brothers said in unison.

"This is a great conversation we're having…but I'd like to start the game. The H-box has been on for ten minutes."

The brothers looked towards each other and sighed.

"Yeah, sure. Whatever."

"Yes, we have waited long enough."

The four boys grabbed their controls and began their game, all the while the events of the day weighed heavily on them. Daring feared the change of tradition. Hopper contemplated the idea of free will. Hunter imagined a world he could live in, without the threat of destiny hanging over him, and Dexter smiled slightly at the idea of a blank page.

What was so wrong with a new beginning?