The following days were a blur to Darling. The messages kept rolling in on her MirrorPhone. First it had been her mother who had directly called her. The conversation had been short and had mostly consisted of Darling replying in yes's and no's. Queen Charming was, as Darling had hexpected, highly upset that her precious little princess had completely flipped the script. How could she do this to her family? How could she do this to herself? What about the White family? Now Apple White lacked a proper prince! How could her daughter be so selfish?
Darling had known that her mother would react this way to her coming out as a hero and not a damsel. But Darling had made a choice. She would be true to herself and those around her. If her mother couldn't accept her for whom she was, then Darling had to live with that. She had, after all, learned that a long time ago.
Still it saddened her, that her own mother saw her in this way. As her family, Darling would have hoped that her mother would have been more accepting of her. But no. As soon as the Brothers Grimm had allowed Darling to return to the Swineherd's class, they had apparently dialed her family and informed them of this twist in fate. Now everyone and their fairy godmother knew that Darling "wasn't a real princess", as her mother put it.
No kidding. During the revelation of it being Darling who saved Apple White and then becoming the hero of her story, people had slowly put two and two together and figured out that Darling had been the White Knight all along. It came as a surprise to some, a shock to most, and a humorous twist to the rest. There were also a couple of princesses, the White Knight's loyal fangirls, who now sent Darling death glares when they passed each other in the hallway on their way to class. Darling shrugged it off. It wasn't her problem if their dreams had been ruined because their high school crush had turned out to be a girl their age.
Darling's father, on the other hand, had been surprisingly fond of his daughter's newfound destiny. Darling had never ever after spent much time with her father. He was sort of Daring and Dexter's parent, while their mother was her parent. They spent time sword practicing with him while she had wasted her time embroidering pink handkerchiefs with their mother. But when Darling told their father that she was going to attend his classes, he had pulled her into him in a large bear hug. He had always known, he said and for once, Darling felt connected to at least one of her parents. He told her that he would talk to her mother.
Apple didn't have it easy either, Darling knew. Now that Darling had pledged her life to Apple White's, they had started spending a lot more time together. Apple had confided in Darling that her mother, Snow White, had called her several times hexplaining her displeasure. But from what Darling could gather, it wasn't as much that Apple had disappointed her as it was that she wouldn't have any grandchildren. The issue seemed to have been solved when Apple had hexplained to her mother that she didn't mean to marry Darling and that there still might be a prince out there for her. Darling, who had it found hilarious at first, had just nodded in silence. There wasn't any way that them marrying would have been possible anyway, Darling thought.
But that didn't stop the fables from spreading. Countless of rumors and fairytales had flourished on the school the passing week. Some said that Apple had been killed by Raven Queen and that Darling had brought her back to life with a healing spell. Others said that Darling was actually a prince disguised as a princess, hexplaining her unwomanly interests. However, the most common fable being that Apple and Darling were now either girlfriends or at least dating. Darling knew that she was supposed to hate that lie, but honestly? Darling would never ever after admit it to Apple but she was sort of glad that many of the boys had lost interest in her. They had, of course, also lost interest in Darling herself which she kind of missed, but being the hero of Apple's story was simply more important now.
And she didn't let anyone forget it. Darling had taken to carrying her sword at all time now, especially when escorting Apple to her classes. Raven had told them that it was strange and that Darling was nearing stalker-territory, but Apple had assured both of them that she found it endearing.
While sitting at Hocus Latte, where it had all started, Apple, Briar, Ashlynn and Darling were chatting over each of their cups of coffee. Darling had never ever after really been a part of the trio but she was now, apparently. Becoming the hero of Apple's story had also sort of helped her socially.
"... and then Tucker asked me if I wanted to see his chapel, and I was like, um no, that's disgusting. I mean, aren't monks supposed to be celibate?" Briar laughed and the other girls joined in.
Darling admitted that hanging out with the older girls was a lot of fun. They knew a lot of things, especially about the teachers and the other students, that Darling didn't, being on her Freedom Year. Still, she sort of missed hanging out with Rosabella and helping her put up awareness posters.
Briar kept ranting about her vibrant and colorful social life and all the boys she loved to keep around although never ever after actually attempting anything serious. Darling figured that it might be because she was going to sleep for a hundred years and so dating seemed like a non-issue.
"Well, Hunter and I are still going strong," Ashlynn said and went on how royally blessed she was to have a such a strong and loyal boyfriend. I'm strong and loyal, Darling thought but only smiled and congratulated Ashlynn with her perfect love life.
While only listening with half an ear, Darling watched Apple out of the corner in her eye. Was she feeling uncomfortable? She had just lost her supposed "true love", Daring, and was now stuck with his little sister who was, in fact, a girl. Everyone knew how much Apple put into the subject of true love and romance. Either way, Apple wasn't saying that much.
"How about you, Darling?" Briar smirked, wetting her lower lip, "are there any cute Freedom Year boys, or were we lucky enough to get all of them?"
"No, they're sweet," Darling replied in her usual soft voice, never ever after really taking her eyes from Apple. She took a sip from her pumpkin-carriage spice latte. The taste of cinnamon filled her mouth. She honestly had no idea if the boys cute were or not. They had used to follow her as little ducklings and when they got too close, she or her brothers would politely scare them off. Now that she could no longer be considered a damsel, Darling had found the crowd becoming thinner and thinner each day.
The girls seemed satisfied with the answer and Briar said something about how the Freedom Year boys were always the worst. Meanwhile, Darling observed that Apple had almost finished her coffee.
"Do you want me to charm you a new one? A refill?" Darling asked eagerly, unintentionally interrupting the slightly offended Briar. Serving Apple was her destiny now. That meant serving her in every possible way, even if it meant getting her overprized coffee.
đź‘‘ - ooOoo -
Some people might had found it hexhausting to have another person follow you like a shadow every day but Apple had grown up with many servants and loving subjects and she knew how to handle it. Darling wasn't a servant, far from it, even though she might have insisted on being called that. Darling was the hero of her story, her "true love" and a good friend. She was also her sort-of-ex boyfriend's little sister and Apple wanted to treat her with proper respect.
"Yes please," Apple replied and Darling gladly went to get her a refill.
While Darling was gone, Briar and Ashlynn fell quiet. Or quieter.
"I don't know how you can stand having her following you like that," Briar told Apple in a low whisper. "Doesn't she, like, you know, make you wish you had stayed asleep?"
"Be nice to her, Briar," Apple lectured politely. "Darling is our friend. She is the same as she has always been. Her destiny has just changed now. I'm just happy that she's still following it."
Ashlynn folded her hands and gave her a somewhat sympathetic look. "Apple, we're glad you feel this way, but doesn't it get weird that when she insists on carrying your books, pulling out your chair and holding the door for you?" Ashlynn asked her. "Not even Hunter does that and he's a royal gem."
"I'm being serious. You two really need to stop talking about her like that. Darling is the new hero of my story. I was as appalled as you but I've come to accept it. Please do so as well."
"We don't have a problem with Darling, she's wicked cool. It's just a tiny bit weird that you're… uh, spending so much time with her."
"That's how my story goes, Ashlynn."
"No, Apple. Your story says that you marry the prince who wakes you up," Briar replied firmly.
"Well, everyone knows their story is going to be a little bit different from the others. Look at my mother's story. She was helped by a band of 7 dwarves and a group of ogres helped my grandmother. It really comes down to whatever after woodlands creatures we bump into, you know. Look at me: I didn't need any creatures to take care of me – I had my best friends forever after; you guys."
"Apple, we're you're friends and we're only trying to help you – but kissing another girl? That's a major page turner -"
"So what if she kissed me?" Apple cut her short. "She did what she had to do or I might have died for real! I know what you're getting at, but there is nothing - and I repeat NOTHING – romantic going on between Darling and I."
"If you say so, Apple. But does she know that?" Briar asked and the three girls watched as Darling danced her way through Hocus Latte, swirling around customers like she was avoided a dragon's flames. It was quite an elegant sight and Apple felt oddly lucky.
Apple was about to say something but estimated that Darling was close enough to hear it. She wouldn't want the girl to think that she was unwanted in her group of friends and thus quickly silenced her comrades.
"What were you guys talking about?" Darling asked innocently as she sat down on the small café throne. She handed Apple the sweet little coffee cup.
Briar was about to say something witty but Apple hurriedly pushed her elbow into her side. Briar groaned and Apple gave Ashlynn a look.
"Uh, we were just talking about how great it is that you found your brother," Ashlynn tried in a friendly manner. "Had he really hidden himself in the school's washing room?"
"Oh, you know Daring. He's… not the sharpest sword in the stone," Darling joked, causing the girls to laugh. Apple knew that Daring had been sleeping in the stables for well over a week but she had sworn to Darling that she wouldn't tell anyone.
"It is great to have him back," Apple said truthfully. She felt kind of sorry for him. They had been supposed to marry one day. But now that he wasn't her prince to be, she could hardly remember why she had had any interest in him.
"How about Dexter? How is he taking your sudden… impulses?"
"It wasn't as sudden to him. He sort of always knew that I wasn't the typical damsel in distress, I guess."
As Darling became increasingly relaxed, it turned out that she was indeed a great conversationalist. She was hextremely polite at all time while managing to keep the conversation going and asking the right questions. By the time dusk swept over Book's End, it felt as if the trio had always been a quartet. It also seemed to Apple like her friends were getting more comfortable with the fact that Darling was now the hero of her story. This made Apple consider that her mother might react in the same way once she got to meet Darling.
On their way out, Apple's hero had insisted on paying for her coffee but she had denied this, hexplaining that Darling would be broke in less than a week if she tried. Apple did however after let Darling help her getting her coat on before leaving Hocus Latte, causing Briar and Ashlynn to collectively roll their eyes.
Darling kept a steady hold on her sword's pommel and a vigilant look on her face as their walked back to Ever After High, not really saying anything. Apple knew that she was being escorted home safely like a real knight would have done to his damsel and she loved every second of it.
