This situation was getting serious. It had been days since anyone had seen Raven Queen. Where could she had gone? Everyone knew she didn't want to sign the book, but would she really runaway just to avoid her destiny?

The school was abuzz with rumors and gossip.

"I heard she just hiding out somewhere until Legacy Day's over."

"What is her problem anyway?"

"I know!"

Despite the worried glances, and gossip, there was no one more worried than Apple White, for she, out of everyone, had the most to lose.

"If we don't find Raven soon, then I'll never get my destiny." Apple said to Headmaster Grimm. He had called her in from her Princessology class to talk about her disappearance. Perhaps they could find a way to locate her.

"Headmaster," she began, "I am so sorry, I know you charged me with looking out for Raven and convincing her to follow her destiny, but now…now…"

Grimm placed his hand in the air, stopping her from going any further. "Do not worry my dear. We shall find her." Grimm's eyes narrowed, if she wasn't found it could mean disaster for all of them.

They had to, that was the one thing Apple knew, for all of their sakes.

If anyone knew where Raven might have gone, it would have to be Maddie. Those two were always together, and Maddie was the one person who didn't run from Raven when she walked down the halls.

Maddie was…for lack of a better term…mad. Maddie Hatter sat in the Castlteria at lunch time, chewing on her spoon as if it were a straw.

"Maddie?" Apple said as she walked up. "Can we talk?"

Without looking up Maddie nodded and gestured for Apple to take a seat. Apple liked everyone, she was meant to be the fairest of the all, the loving soul that helped all, but when it came to Maddie…Apple felt differently. Of course she was still pleasant to the Wonderlandian, but the ideas Maddie encouraged Raven to pursue were frightening. It was one thing for Raven to deny her destiny, but it was another thing entirely for Maddie to encourage Raven's rebellious attitude. When Raven refused to be evil, it was Maddie who stood by her side. When Raven refused to brew potions to make the teachers sick, it was Maddie who defended her. Didn't Maddie know that not signing the book would mean Raven would disappear? What kind of a friend would do that?

"What is it Apple?"

Apple striaghtned her hair and tried to sound as authoritative as possible, "As you well know Raven has gone missing, and the entire school is trying to find her."

Maddie nodded. "Yes, the narrator told me something about that."

Apple tried not to roll her eyes, that wasn't something a queen should do. "Well, seeing as you're her Best Friend Forever After, I was hoping you might have an idea of where she had gone. Do you remember where you last saw her?" Apple leaned forward, Maddie was her only hope of finding Raven and keeping her destiny safe. If Maddie didn't know then…then…

"If the rain falls silently, then no one will be aware of when it stops." Maddie said with a smile.

"W-what?"

Maddie shook her head. "Oh…was I speaking in Riddlish again?" She giggled. "Sorry, the last time I saw Raven she was headed to one of the vaults underneath the school."

Why would Raven go there?

Apple bowed slightly and thanked Maddie for her cooperation.

The vaults underneath the school. She had to tell the headmaster, perhaps he would understand what had happened.

"She what?" Headmaster Grimm asked. "Those vaults are no places for students. They are off limits for a reason." Grimm's face was beginning to turn a shade of red that Apple had only seen in fruit baskets.

"What does this mean? I-"

"Those vaults contain artifacts that are unpredictable. Even I don't know what most of them do."

Apple's hands grew cold. They were that dangerous? What if Raven had disappeared because she's…

"So…does that mean Raven is…" Apple's hands begun to shake.

Quickly, the headmaster raised his hands to reassure her. "No no my dear. There is no chance of that."

"Then where is she? What if she doesn't come back?" The thought of Apple's story without an evil queen made Apple grow green. What would happen to her destiny if there was no one to stand in her way? What would become of all of their destinies if the story never had a proper villain?

Raven needed to be found…

"I'm going to the vaults to look for clues."

"Your majesty wai-"

But before he could even finish, Apple had run out of his office and into the hallway. Apple had heard of the vaults but never once thought of visiting them, it was not her place to question the rules.

But this was an emergency.

She raced down the stairs, and through every corridor she could see. Did Raven go into this room? What about the one on the left?

"Which one?" Apple asked. She closed her eyes, this was not the time to panic. A queen knew how to handle these situations with grace and intelligence. Now think.

Even though Raven did not like her destiny, she still had a connection to it. She would gravitate towards something…magical. Apple looked around…and there in the corner of her eye stood a mirror.

A round looking glass with a black rim that held a strange majesty.

"Mirror mirror on the wall." Apple spoke.

It was a part of their story after all, even if Raven wanted to deny it. Apple saw her reflection in the mirror, a perfect pale face that would not be deterred. Without thinking, she placed her hands on the rim, its black border felt like a unicorn's horn, hard and surging with unknown power.

This had to be the one…

"Please…" she said

For my destiny.

"…take me to Raven."

And in a flash of silent light, Apple was gone.