Chapter three Apples true prince:

As the week came to a close Apple and Darling walked into the lab Raven had secured for her use whilst making the apple to see whether the fruit was ready at last. The witch looked up from her work and smiled at them, they both smiled back and Apple asked with trepidation and excitement warring in her. "Is it ready?"

"Yes." Raven answered gesturing to a black cloth which covered something on the table.

"Why is it covered over?" Darling asked the witch curiously.

Raven smiled at her and then gestured towards Apple. "To prevent little miss Snow White here getting drawn into it until it is time." With this said the dark haired Raven swept the apple up making sure to keep it covered as she did so. "Is everything ready for Apples curse?" She asked the other two princesses, Darling gave a nod as too did Apple. "Then it's time. Let's go."

Together they went outside into the castle garden, it was twilight but lots of people were waiting there each one held a simple lantern lighting the path into a deeper more forest like part of the garden. As they entered the clearing Raven's eyes widened, it too was lit by lanterns which hung from the nearby trees and all their friends stood waiting for them. Though not a word was spoken Raven could tell that by doing this they were all openly giving their unconditional support of what was about to happen.

The witch took a deep breath she turned to Apple. "Are you sure about this? It will hurt and you will be frightened by it I'm sorry I wish I had been able to undo that but I could not."

The blond smiled at her friend. "You have such a gentle heart. I know it will be scary but I have to know I just have to."

With a nod Raven turned to Darling. "You had best leave for this part."

Darling did as the witch told her to, once the dark haired woman was sure she was gone Raven stepped back from Apple and carefully she unveiled the apple which was the most perfect specimen of an apple that you could possibly imagine seeing. Instantly Apple found herself drawn to the red fruit like some kind of magnet, she lifted it from Ravens grasp and bit into the apple. The blond was momentarily aware of the poison cold and hot at the same time. She choked as it closed her throat, that hadn't happened before it scared her and it hurt as Raven had promised it would. As Apple started to fall downwards, the witch caught her and lowered the princess carefully down onto the grass of the clearing. Gently the witch took the blonds hand into hers and stroked soothing circles onto the back of it. Slowly Apple's blue eyes fluttered closed and then her chest halted mid breath. Raven let out her own deep breath glad to see the curse had worked as it should have this time.

Daring crossed the clearing, he placed a hand to the shoulder of the dark haired princess, he smiled at her then walked round her and lifted Apple up. Gently and reverently he laid her in the place that had been made for her in the clearing, the glass was closed over her and with a small gesture of her hands Raven had all the flowers in the clearing blooming round Apple to make a carpet of multi coloured natural beauty.

A short while later Darling entered the clearing confidently she made her way to the side of the sleeping Apple, the warrior princess moved the glass out of her way and she placed her lips to those of the princess but nothing happened. The white and blue haired princess stepped back from the blond and shook her head. Carefully Darling placed the glass back over the sleeping Apple before moving a short distance away from the blond princess. Quietly Raven walked up to her, she touched her shoulder and spoke to Darling in a gentle voice. "Now you have your truth Apple just needs to wait to find hers."

"Yes it would appear so." Darling said softly her eyes falling to the witch and a smile turning up the edge of the lips.

Slowly Raven smiled back, then a figure stumbled into the clearing, without thinking about it the white haired princess caught the tumbling figure and helped her to find her feet. It took Darling a few moments to realise it was a bedraggled looking Briar, the daughter of Sleeping Beauty took in the clearing and she gulped. "I...Apple is she...?"

"Cursed once more yes." Raven said softly to the brown haired princess.

Briar's eyes went from the dark haired witch too Darling. "And have you kissed Apple?"

"I have and as you can see she is still held by the curse." The white blond told the other princess.

"So now we wait..." Briar said softly and sadly.

Slowly the clearing emptied until only Raven, Darling and Briar were left standing in it. Once the purple eyed princess was absolutely sure they were alone Raven turned her attention onto Briar and spoke. "How long Briar?"

"How long what?" The daughter of Sleeping Beauty asked trying to appear confused by the witch's question.

Raven raised both of her dark brows at the brunette and then rolled her eyes. "Are you really going to make me ask that question? You know exactly what I'm asking."

The brown eyed princess blushed and looked at the floor. "A long time."

Darling frowned she looked from one woman to the other before asking. "What has Briar been doing for a long time?"

The witch couldn't stop the amused laugh this question drew from her before turning to Darling and saying gently. "Briar is in love with Apple."

The daughter of Sleeping Beauty blushed again and suddenly found her shoes extremely interesting. Both of Darlings brows shot up ward, she turned to look at the brown haired lady in question, and noticing her blush began to smile. "Well, well...That I didn't expect."

Briar looked up at the two other women and said sadly. "It doesn't matter how I feel about Apple any way...You heard Apple she's waiting for her prince. I'm no prince...I...I...Apple doesn't even know I love her and its best kept that way."

Raven placed a hand onto the shoulder of Briar. "Look when it comes to spells like this most people do expect a prince to be the one doing the waking, but there is one thing I know about magic this powerful which most people don't...True love and true loves kiss can be from one woman to another or one man to another just as much as it can be between a man and a woman. Briar you may well be Apple's prince, in fact the clue has been there from the beginning that whoever broke Apples curse was likely to be a woman."

The brunette frowned at the daughter of the Evil Queen. "What do you mean a clue?"

"Darling was the clue. Don't you see...Briar trust me you're the one who can break this curse I'm sure of it." Raven told her with great conviction.

"I can't..." Briar said with the shake of her head before looking down again.

The witch smiled slightly, she brought her magic forward it engulfed the daughter of Sleeping Beauty who let out a surprised gasp. When the purple magic flowed away again, Darling's eyes widened and went to Raven as she said. "I didn't know you could do that?"

The dark haired woman chuckled. "Yes well even I have my secrets."

Briar mean while was looking down at herself with wide eyes, she was now devoid of the leaves and dirt which a moment ago had been clinging to her and her clothes were completely changed. Briar now wore a bodice which clung to her figure, with long sleeves ending with points on the back of her hands this part of her new costume was patterned with red roses on a white back ground. A cloak was fastened round her shoulders with a red rose pin at one shoulder and the cloak was also white with a red interior. There was no skirt at the base of the bodice instead she wore tight white trousers and long white heeled boots fastened with red laces graced her feet. Her hair was free flowing held back from her face at each side of her head with a single red rose clip and settled on top of her head was no longer her usual sun glasses but a silver crown centred at its one upward part with a red rose made of a ruby gem.

After looking herself over for a few long moments Briar turned her gaze to Raven and said softly. "Thank you."

"I thought it might help if you could see yourself in the role. Go on Briar Apple is waiting for you." The witch told the princess with a smile.

The daughter of Sleeping Beauty took a deep breath, she stood up tall and moved towards the glass case situated in the centre of the lantern lit clearing. Raven watched the other princess's progress with a soft smile on her face it really felt good to help others find their happy ending like this. If this went as well as Raven thought it might then this would be the second happy ending she had helped to come to pass.

Briar carefully removed the glass from over Apple, she let her eyes wander the cursed princess, the brunette couldn't help but think this sleep was right this was how Apple should have been the first time around. Gently Briar placed her lips to those of Apple, instead of the small glow of golden magic Darling's kiss had created when the first spell had broken, the golden light which filled the clearing this time was bright and strong. It had Darling and Raven looking to each other and sharing a smile, this was defiantly how the power of such a true loves waking kiss should look.

Apple's eyes opened they focused on Briar and she smiled slowly. "Briar you saved me?"

"Yes I love you Apple I have for such a long time. I know I'm not what you were expecting..." The rest of whatever Briar was going to say vanished as Apple lent up and kissed her hard.

As this second kiss ended Apple simply held her hand out to Briar, who with a smile helped the daughter of Snow White out of her coffin and back into life. As her feet touched the ground Apple noticed Raven standing there with Darling at her side and was struck by how right they looked together. The blond shot the witch a smile and spoke to her. "Thank you Raven for your help."

"You're most welcome Apple." Raven said with a smile of her own for her friend.

The blue eyed princess and Briar with eyes only for each other left the clearing to have a little time to themselves. Once they were gone Darling said softly to the lady beside her. "And they all lived happily ever after."

Raven's smile grew. "Yes they will."

Slowly the white haired lady and the purple eyed witch made their way back into the castle as they went Raven made the lanterns in the forest disappear not wanting to risk any of them accidently setting the place on fire. As the two women parted ways in the dorm hallway Darling couldn't help but watch Raven walk away to Maddie and Kitties room for the night. The white haired princess thought that the daughter of the Evil Queen was such a beauty in body heart and soul. Darling was sure that Raven was not only well out of her league but unlikely to be truly in love with someone so fairy tale strange as herself but it was nice to dream and secretly hope.

Darling let out a deep sigh she had never been as envious of someone as she was of this mysterious true love of Raven's. What the white haired princess wouldn't give to be the prince of the witches story and to be able to bring Raven her happily ever after but it appeared she would never have that chance. Darling felt that the only way that she might even have a slim chance was if somehow she were Raven's true love but after all this mess with Apple the blue eyed princess felt that the chances of her being the true love of the one she really loved was slim.