Chapter Four: Rebel
Raven had only been to a couple of parties during her time at Ever After High. She didn't like them. They always reminded her of the balls her mother would throw. Obviously the parties at the school weren't anything like the ones in the Poison Village. Those balls were full of evil characters that were constantly trying to stab each other in the back and poisoning the punch. Raven had spied on them, hiding in a dark corner and watching it all in the hopes that she would see someone try something evil on her mother. To watch as they fall apart.
Nothing ever happened that Raven had to worry anything about. She hadn't really watched the parties because she wanted to protect her mom or even be a part of the party. At parties there were things that the guests were excepted to do, poison their host, take each other into dark corners to form loose alliances or kill each other. The one that had Raven hiding away was that every time Raven got kidnapped by one of the guests' men.
This party was definitely different. While a few of the teens were of evil origin, the general feel of the room was of excited joy. No one was planning on how to take out competition and keep their everyone on their toes.
It was just weird. Raven had been to Briar's parties that year, mostly the study ones, or ones that Maddie dragged her to, but Raven had always been able to quickly disappear into the corner or become just another face. No one really noticed or paid her any attention. This was so much more different.
Now everyone wanted to talk to the supposed to be Future Evil Queen. They congratulated her and shoved drinks into her hands as they swung to the beat and tried to talk over the music. Cedar nervously chatted to whoever she found herself around. Nervously saying why she choose to be a Rebel. Everyone seemed excited that they were going against the rules, and most seemed to genuinely be interested in writing their own stories. They listened to the other person's reason for writing their own stories and then happily tried to put into words why they had chosen the Rebel path.
Raven couldn't believe that all this was happening. For so long she had thought that she was the only one who really protested her destiny. She had heard characters complain about their destinies from time to time, but they never seemed too serious about their irritation. Mild irritation at ones destiny did not mean that they would completely reject and go against the very reason they were at the school their parents sent them to.
Eventually Raven was able to sneak away into another dorm room that hadn't been taken over. As Raven looked around, she realized that not everyone at the party were the ones who had sworn to write their own destinies. Some were underclassmen, who the school would probably now label as Rebels also. Raven wondered what being a named Rebel would do to some of these kids. She wondered what it mean for her.
It was one thing when Raven was hinting at a dissatisfaction with her legacy. It was a completely different thing to go against everything that the school stood for and drag other impressionable students down with them. Raven knew there would be consequences when she did it, but even when Cedar and the rest had gotten together to get ready for Legacy Day, she hadn't believed that they would follow her lead.
Raven was in deep trouble.
Finally Raven was able to force herself past all the partiers, a couple of who looked like characters who had sworn to follow in their parent's footsteps. Raven had thought that the Royals would have their own party, but maybe Raven had hurt Apple so bad that they were all turning in early.
No, that couldn't be it. Briar would not give up throwing a party no matter what. The other character was completely focused on living it up before she had to fall asleep. Of course, maybe Briar had moved the party to the Rebels. The next Sleeping Beauty might have pledged herself with all the students before Raven, but it was clear that Briar had no real interest in her own story. She was too rambunctious to ever sit still or want to sleep for one hundred years.
But no, Briar was loyal to Apple. They were best friends. Briar wouldn't abandon Apple when it was clear the future queen was distraught. At least, Apple didn't think she would.
"Raven!" Raven turned around in shock. Apparently the room she entered wasn't as empty as she originally thought. It was very dark. The music was playing loudly in the background and made the floor pulse, it was surprising that anyone could sleep through it.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you," said Raven in a whisper. A lamp sprang on and the first thing Raven did was call herself was an idiot. Of course it was two people sneaking off to make out. Though the way Ashlynn's skirt was ruffled and strap undone from her shoulder. It was clear that something more was going on. "Ashlynn? Hunter?"
"Um," Hunter was wiping at his mouth. Ashlynn glanced over at him and then Raven. She looked scared to death.
"Please Raven," said Ashlynn, running to the supposed to be Evil Queen and holding her hands tight. "I couldn't follow my mother's footsteps, Hunter isn't a prince. If they find out that I turned down my destiny for him... I don't know what they would do to him. Did you hear what my mother did to her stepsisters after she became queen?"
"I thought it was the birds that did that," said Raven, trying to get Ashlynn off her arms. Her grip was cutting off circulation to her arms.
"Yeah, birds that were born from my grandmother's tree," said Ashlynn. Hunter came to Raven's aid, walking behind his girlfriend and transferring her vice like grip to himself as he drew her into a tight hug.
"And my father isn't known for being the most reasonable man," said Hunter. Raven looked between the two. Ashlynn looked guilty and scared as she looked between Hunter and Raven. Hunter looked protective of Ashlynn, giving her a slight squeeze and seeming to try and mold his girlfriend into himself.
"I won't tell anyone," promised Raven and then chuckled. "It would be kind of hypocritical of me."
"Thank you," said Ashlynn, throwing her arms around Raven's neck. Raven pushed her away from her, gently but firmly. "I know, as thank you we can go see the animals together. I heard you like to sing with the doves that come to Apple's song. You know, those really aren't your type of birds."
"What?" asked Raven, crossing her arms in irritation. "Should I sing with bats and owls?"
"No, silly," said Ashlynn with a roll of her eyes and a giggle. "I think you should sing with Nightingales and Canaries. They would match your voice better."
"You've never heard me sing before," said Raven, feeling her hackles rise. Characters were always pairing her with sinister things. While a nightingale might not be an owl or a bat, it did have its own sort of sinister sound to its name.
"The birds have, and I listen to what they sing back to me. Believe me, I'm the person you want to talk if you want woodland creatures to come and enhance your song. How do you think Apple got the doves to follow her every move so closely?" asked Ashlynn. "Anyway, we should get back to the party."
Raven allowed herself to be dragged back into the crowd of people. It wasn't ideal, but Raven couldn't turn Ashlynn down. The other character would need plenty of support. Not many of the rebels would understand why Ashlynn with her perfect fairytale ending had gone against her wonderful destiny, and Apple especially would be furious at the betrayal. There was a good chance that Ashlynn would soon lose all her friends.
When the party finally ended, it was only a couple of hours before classes started. Raven yawned. Why did Legacy has to happen in the middle of the week? No one would be able to do anything tomorrow, well, today.
When Raven had finally made her way back to her dorm room, she found that Apple was already asleep. Raven walked over carefully to the royal's side of the room. Apple was almost completely covered by her by her covers when usually the future Snow White had a habit of kicking off the heavier covers and leaving only the sheets to cover her. Now the princess was completely covered in her heavy sheets, only the tips of her blonde hair visible. Worse of all, Apple hadn't slept in her usually fashion. Most of the time Apple slept on her back, legs stretched out and arms folded over her chest after she had kicked off her blankets. It was important to Apple that she at least ended up in that position seeing as it was apparently very important to the future queen that she get the sleeping part of her story right.
Apple hiding under her covers in a ball was just wrong. Raven sighed and turned away from her roommate. Raven was glad to see that Apple had returned to their room. The way the blonde was sleeping was worrying, but less so than if the future queen hadn't returned to the room at all. This way Raven knew Apple was safe. If one thing would haunt Raven, it was the expression on Apple's face after Raven had promised to write her own story.
If there was anything that would ever make Raven feel that she really was the villain that everyone seemed to want her to be was the look on Apple's face. Raven wasn't sure how she was going to face Apple after this. Maybe she could avoid the future queen, or maybe she could trade rooms with Lizzie. Lizzie was a Royal after all.
By the time Raven finally curled up in bed, she had decided that the best thing to do was skip classes at least for a day. It would have two benefits. Raven would seem to be still evil in mind by skipping classes that were meant to brainwash her into being an evil queen. Also Raven wouldn't have to deal with teachers looking at her in disappointment and their barbs about her choices.
It was stupid. Raven was a good students. Even in her evil classes she got good grades. She was polite and didn't disturb class. She did her work and supported school functions, though she wasn't a part of any formal clubs seeing as she had been laughed out of singing club.
Within moments Apple was singing at her. Raven groaned and turned away, but Apple just kept on singing. Something about there only being fifteen minutes before class started. Raven shot out of bed and immediately started getting ready for the day. She threw on her dress and splashed her face with water. She needed to remember to take a long bath later that day.
It was almost until Raven had reached her first class that she realized what she was doing. Even when Apple was apparently trying to be nice she messed up Raven's plans. Raven stopped in the hallway. Why had Apple tried to help her? Raven had just crushed all her dreams. Raven was one of the most, if not the most, important person to Apple's story. Without Raven, Apple would never go through her trial and come out with the prince who would give Apple her happily ever after. At least, that was what Apple believed.
So there had to be some reason that Apple had woken her up.
"Raven Queen." And there it was. Raven sighed and squared her shoulders and turned to face Headmaster Grimm who was stampeding in her direction. "You will not be attending classes today."
"Am I expelled?" demanded Raven.
"No," said the Headmaster between gritted teeth. He took Raven's upper arm in a firm grip. Raven winced. His grip was tight enough to bruise her. A flash of purple sparked through Raven's body. The Headmaster quickly let go of Raven before her magic could harm him. "You are obviously disturbed. Throwing you out of school would not only be doing you a disservice but anyone in your story could be hurt by your insistence on avoiding your destiny. We must help guide you on the right path. But that doesn't mean you aren't going to be punished. Unfortunately what you and your Rebel friends did was so extreme that the punishment is going to hurt the Royals to."
"What?" asked Raven, her voice cracking as she stopped moving. The Headmaster turned on her, his face turning red.
"This is the consequences of your actions Raven. We as teachers and mentors cannot allow you to not only destroy yourself but your fellow characters," the Headmaster took a deep breath in and was obviously trying to calm himself. "We will help you Raven. No matter how frustrating your actions become, we will help you realize and achieve your destiny."
"How can I destroy my fellow characters by choosing to be a good person?" asked Raven.
"Raven, you are an evil person. It is in your nature. By being evil you help elevate the good characters," said the Headmaster. "Don't you see Raven, the most evil thing you could do is..."
"Oh you found her Headmaster," said Baba Yaga, the old hag seeming to appear from nowhere. "Hello dear, are you ready for our meeting?"
"Meeting?" Raven asked. The Headmaster hadn't said anything about a meeting.
"Of course dear," said the counselor. She cackled and grabbed Raven's wrist. "Come on we have much to talk about before your sent to the dungeons."
"Dungeons?" asked Raven with a small gasp. The old woman cackled.
"Well of course dear. After what you did what did you expect is to do?" asked Baba Yaga. Raven clenched her fists.
"I don't know, maybe respect my decision to be good?" snapped Raven, trying to keep up with the old woman. The old woman cackled and the air around them seemed to snap and suddenly they found themselves in the old woman's counseling room. At least this time there were none of Raven's friends and acquaintances to harass her about being too friendly. No, just the old evil woman who patrolled the woods and ate helpless children unless they accomplished impossible tasks.
"Raven, you are in a school that specifically trains young men and women to follow in their parent's footsteps," said Baba Yaga. She set her broom in the air and with a quick sweep to get rid of her footsteps, she was floating in the air. "You will get in trouble for breaking those rules."
Raven felt her face heating up, her hands clenching into tight fists.
"Oh, but I wouldn't worry dear," said Baba Yaga. "I won't say that I don't think you couldn't do with some guidance, but you are starting to show your more evil side. A bit of an unhealthy way to explore your evil nature, but being evil always comes with its own pitfalls."
"But I did the right thing," snapped Raven. "I refused to be evil. I want to do good."
"How do you do good when your actions bring misery and death to those around you?" asked Baba Yaga. Raven felt her breath catch in her chest. The old woman's teeth look sharp.
"I'm not going to kill anyone," shouted Raven, the old woman clucked her tongue.
"Didn't you hear the Headmaster?" asked the old woman with a shrug. "If you do not follow your destiny than your story not only disappears but you and all the characters in your story turn to dust. The seven dwarves who help in the mines until you two have graduated will be gone, their fathers and mothers mourning their loss. Apple will be gone, and Hunter is even in danger, though he may be saved by the fact that he has two stories, but what if he turns to dust. What happens to Cerise's story?"
"I don't want to hurt anyone," said Raven.
"Then you would follow your story," said Baba Yaga. "The only reason your mother is seen as so evil is because she was cruel to her subjects in her monarchy between the time her husband died and Snow White took her place as queen. No one died from her direct rule, though the lords were starting to come together to overthrow her or so the rumors say. And of course Apple will be no more."
"Oh yeah, because we can't forget about perfect Apple. What makes her so good?" demanded Raven, pacing back and forth and practically pulling at her hair. "What makes her better than me? She needs me to be evil in order for her to be good. She's forcing me to be evil so she can get her happily ever after. How is that good? She should be on my side, not demanding that I be evil?"
"It would be good of Apple to let all the fairy tale creatures die because of the selfish and rebellious decisions of a few?" asked Baba Yaga. Raven's entire body went as taught as a stretched elastic. She had become so worked up that she couldn't even get the words to defend herself. "But truly Raven. I am glad to see you embracing your sin."
"My sin?" Raven forced out between her teeth.
"Jealousy," said Baba Yaga, still smiling in that insane way. "Perhaps your evil side is expressing itself through a different avenue. But the end of your last year is a little late to start exploring your more evil tendencies."
"I'm not evil!" Raven shouted, all the glass in the room cracking.
Baba Yaga didn't respond, but Raven was sharp enough to realize that the old woman didn't have to say anything. Raven felt herself stumble back and fall into a chair. She buried her head in her hands. Raven didn't want to be evil. She wasn't jealous of Apple. Raven thought the other girl was shallow and people only loved her because of who her parents' were. Raven wanted to be liked on her own merits, and she wanted to be liked by genuinely kind people. Those idiots that shouted at her because her mother was evil were shallow and Raven was sure they weren't that interesting.
"I'm not jealous," Raven finally said softly. She looked up at Baba Yaga. "I don't want to end up like my mother. I just want to help characters and be allowed to make my own decisions. I can't help anyone because the charities they think I'm going to do something horrible to the children or elderly, and even when I try something they run away from me."
"My dear, the sooner you embrace who you are the happier you will be," said Baba Yaga, not sounding like she pitied Raven, but like every other character like she was stating a fact. "The magic of a character reflects her heart. The last time you used magic in my room you turned the Headmaster into a chicken. Has your magic suddenly started helping others?"
"No, and my magic doesn't reflect my heart," snapped Raven. She looked down at her hands and then let her magic surfaced, but the evil purple of her magic pulled and tried to escape. Raven quickly stifled it. "My magic is so dark because my mother is evil."
Baba Yaga chuckled. "There is more to your mother than you know, my dear. Like you, she only wished to be a good wife, queen, and mother."
"How? She made everyone miserable. She tried to kill her adopted daughter," said Raven.
"Do you think that is how she started?" asked Baba Yaga. "How do you know what her motivations were?"
"You said she was jealous," said Raven sharply, glaring at Baba Yaga. Baba Yaga just smiled at her, her hands clasped in her lap. "Fine, let's say she had some reason for what she did. Are you saying that she wasn't really a villain and didn't deserve what happened to her?"
"No, she did great evil and almost killed the most wonderful queen we've had in over a thousand years, and killed many others when trying to control back after her step daughter had gotten her prince," said Baba Yaga. "But all you want to do is write your own story. It will only destroy every character in your story, and as your Rebel against your story all those characters that were unsure of their own destiny and look up to you as a role model of evil and followed your lead, potentially destroying themselves in the process. Raven, if you have to be good, think of what your sacrifice will mean to every character around you. Once Apple has overcome the vanity and jealousy in her own heart and the poison has left her, than the land will have another perfect queen and our land will flourish."
Raven looked up at Baba Yaga. Everything the woman said hit her and made her question what she was doing, but at the same time Raven knew it was wrong. How could she make the world better by being evil? Shouldn't she be able to make it better by doing good deeds?
The bell rang, jolting Raven from her thoughts. She looked at the clock. Somehow, though it only felt like a few minutes, an entire period had slipped through her fingers while she talked insanity with a woman who was trying to convince Raven that by doing evil, Raven would be able to do good. Right, because becoming an evil queen and trying to kill her adopted daughter was something Raven thought would bring joy to the world. And maybe Raven was also being a little bit selfish. Raven wanted to have a loving family. She certainly didn't want to suddenly get an "adopted" daughter that was the same age as her and immediately start being jealous of how good Apple looked. Raven was not the person who stood in front of a mirror and demanded to know who was the fairest in the land every morning.
"I'm not going to follow my mother," said Raven softly.
" Students, may I have your attention," said Headmaster Grimm over the intercom. "After the events of last night it has come to my attention that we haven't been making it clear how important our destinies are. Those students who have identified themselves as Rebels, you're schedule has changed and you will have one clot for weekly therapy groups where you will talk together and with Royals about your worries and reasons for abandoning you're destiny. You may also be asked to meet with a school counselor on an one on one basis. Any students who feel they need some to see a counselor to discuss your feelings and work out any anxiety over students rejecting their destinies may also sign up with their counselor on a personal level.
Through Friday there will be some drastic changes and rules to follow. Soldiers from various families will be loaned to the school and will be found patrolling not only the classrooms but also the dormitories. No one is allowed to leave the castle, and no parties will be thrown, and every character will be in their dorms by eight o'clock sharp. The soldiers will be here later today to enforce those rules. There is also a mandatory School Assembly this Friday where more information will be made available to you. No one is excused and attendance will be taken. Have a nice day."
"Well, that's that," said Baba Yaba. Raven's hands clasped in her lap, tight enough to almost draw blood. "Now, you should get to class. Philosophy of Evil right? I think it is important to go to that class. I will schedule a time for us to meet next week that won't clash with your classes though it will cut into your free time."
Baba Yaga and her house then disappeared, leaving Raven in an empty room in the castle. Raven forced herself to take a calming breath. It would be alright. She slung her purse over one shoulder and then let it fall into her hand. She didn't even pretend to go to class. Raven did not believe that she could accomplish anything, and this would be the last time she could probably skip classes with soldiers coming to school.
The future Evil Queen walked out of the castle and headed right for the woods. She started humming under her breath, nothing specific and no words came to mind, but sometimes just letting the sounds play themselves through her made her.
What was the point of going to class? For years Raven had tried to make the best of the classes that were specifically designed for teaching her to be evil. And the only reason she felt she passed was because Raven always wrote things that were confrontational. Teachers seemed to think that her magic and the way her mind had been twisted to seeing the world in a slightly "skewed" way meant she was understanding evil if not acknowledging that she was evil.
The day was bright, the sun shining with all its strength even as the cooler autumn breeze nipped a little at her arms and neck. She stopped at an overgrown pound. A couple of frogs croaked in the distance and birds chirped around her. Raven sat where the rays of sunlight filtered through the changing leaves creating patches of warmth on her pale skin. Raven leaned forward, letting her long hair brush against her arms.
Her hair had this way of making everyone think she was just so evil. Raven held the long strands in her hands. Maybe if she chopped it off. Raven looked down into the murky water. Her distorted image truly looked frightening and evil. It wasn't just her hair, it was how she looked. From the purple eyeliner to the black and purple of her wardrobe. It always held something sinister to each stitch. Maybe in order for Raven to be good, she would have to change.
It had always been Raven's belief that in order for her to be who she really wanted to be. To be a good person with loving friends and an active role in a community that accepted her, she would have to change herself. Maybe it would just have to be her looks. Cut her purple hair a little shorter or color it a bright happy color. She could get a new wardrobe of clothes that she bought from the village when the ban was lifted that were something bright and cheerful.
Raven punched at her reflection. Water splattered across her dress and face. She shouldn't have to change. Raven didn't want a fairytale. She wanted her own story and she wanted to rewrite it so her story continued throughout her life. No happily ever afters, just a life of purpose and of love.
If Raven changed her image, she would just be confirming to Baba Yaga that she wanted Apple's life. The only thing Raven was maybe jealous of was how people just assumed Apple was good. Raven tried again and again to prove to everyone that she could overcome the circumstances of her birth. Again and again not only did characters disbelieve her, they actively tried to force her into the role of evil.
Enough was enough. Maybe changing her image wasn't the answer. Raven said that she was interested in being good. She was interested in being herself. Characters could believe what they wanted, but as long as they left her alone, then she would do what she felt was right. She wouldn't try to prove herself to characters that wouldn't listen and who would try to twist every action she did into an evil one and twist Raven with their own crooked beliefs.
Plus, Raven now had followers. There was a group of characters that were obviously unsatisfied with following in their parents' footsteps. And Cedar had a point in her ramblings. In the original stories our parents landed i situation and with dilemmas that actually fit into the pattern of their lives. They weren't told they were good or evil, their paths crossed and they made their choices based on their own beliefs and personalities. raven just wanted that chance. She wanted to follow her own path, and she knew that in her heart she was a good person. Maybe she wasn't a heroine or the main character of a story, but she also wasn't an evil queen.
The song in Raven's heart flew as she continued to sing. She continued to avoid saying any actual words, mostly just ahs and nondescript language. But as the song rose in volume, Raven's heart beat faster and her emotions tied into every note that grew from the deepest depths of her lungs and broke into the air.
A canary came down and landed on Raven's knee. The chirps mixed with her song. Raven wondered if Ashlynn had already told the birds about her, but quickly dismissed the thought. Not because she didn't believe that Ashlynn would go back on her word, but because the other girl probably hadn't had time to really process what had happened to her. Now that the entire school was on lockdown, who knew what the other girl was thinking.
Just a little longer, Raven would just have to wait until the end of the year and then she would be free. At the moment the Rebel might be under her mother's thumb, but as soon as she graduated, she was free. And Raven would leave. The fact of the matter was the land ruled by Snow White only extended so far. So Raven would leave their kingdom. Raven had overheard from C.A. all about Monster High when the other girl had been rambling to Dexter. Monster High, while maybe not located in the perfect place, at least was filled with monster who believed in defying their backgrounds and being who they really were.
Raven could leave Ever After and go to that city, maybe even convince them that she would make a good teacher, but even if she couldn't, it would be better than staying here. Over there, no one would know who she was. They would have to judge her on who she was instead of who her mother was, and she would show them that she was kind and someone worth being friends with. No one would run screaming from her and calling her evil.
Yeah, just one more year. Raven just had to survive to the end of her high school career and she could leave to pursue her own goals.
Raven's voice broke and the woods went silent before dozens of canaries broke from where they had been hiding in the woods and with shrill chirps they flew into the sky.