Alistair POV

This story has 2652 words my longest chapter so far!

I rushed out of the school trying to find Darling, but I couldn't find here anywhere I had even checked all the shops at the village. I asked everyone but they had all said they hadn't seen her at all. I stopped by the Helga's café to get a drink, after I had ordered I suddenly remembered the tree we both sat at yesterday.

I ran to the tree leaving my perfectly blended mocha all alone on the table, now I broke 2 hearts today. I had reached the tree to see Darling crying and shivering in the rain. Wait, rain? I looked up to see the sky was pouring rain. I guess I was too busy trying to find Darling I didn't notice the rain. I took a step towards Darling trying to not to scare her.

"Darling, what are you doing out here in the rain? It's pouring out here" I said in a soft voice. She looked up at me with her eyes red and puffy, her nose red and her skin covered in Goosebumps. When she looked at me I couldn't see the happiness that bounced around in her eyes, or the love and care that reflected in her smile. Instead I only saw sadness no anger just terrible sadness…all because of me.

"Darling I'm so so sorry I never ever meant to hurt you" I said kneeling down to her height. She still kept her eyes glued to the wet grass beneath us, until she closed her eyes before opening them with tears flying out everywhere. I whipped away her tears before hugging her tightly but no to tight that she can't breathe. "I'm so sorry and I mean it" I whispered in her ear.

Darling POV

I was shocked! Alistair really just hugged me. He pulled away from the hug staring at me making our eyes lock in each other's. "I want to forgive you and I know you didn't mean it but for some reason I can't seem to believe that" I said quietly. "I know it's hard to believe I didn't mean to hurt you considering that I suggested the segment and all but I really didn't mean to hurt you" he sighed. "Can I trust you?" I asked him. "Uh, yes of course" he answered.

"I never really wanted to be a rebel in the first place" I blurted out. "What!?" Alistair exclaimed. "I just thought that if I changed sides I could get closer to Raven" I said. "Why would you want to get closer to Raven?" he asked. "Well, she was the one who wanted to rewrite her own destiny and I thought if she could have such courage to do that then she could totally help me with my destiny problems" I explained.

"What destiny problems?" he asked confused. "Well, after I had changed sides I realised that I didn't really have any problems with rebelling from my destiny, because I didn't really know what my destiny was" I said. I was expecting a comforting smile or reassuring hug but instead Alistair just shrugged.

A minute of uncomfortable silence passed by. It was dead silent but I was silently squirming, Alistair would never just shrug like that well anyone can shrug at something but that was some really private stuff. After the awkward minute passed by Alistair moved farther away from me which crushed my heart leaving it to fall down in tiny pieces.

I wanted to cry, cry my heart out and never stop. Until I thought of all the times people had broken my heart and every time I would just drown in a pool of sadness. I would never stand up for myself instead I would just sink in the background but I wasn't going to let that happen.

Everybody thinks that I stand up for myself and all that because I used to be a rebel but to be honest I never did stand up for myself or anyone else…I was always to scared.

But not today.

"Alistair, I have tried to understand you and I have tried to get you to accept me but then I had realised you already had accepted me but not as another Royal or rebel, you had accepted me as a friend and to be honest I was proud of myself for being good enough for you but now I don't even know if were friends, because all you do is just well I know this might sound very hypercritical but I have a feeling that there isn't a friendship between you and I like there was before or maybe there wasn't in the first place so I am going to stop this nonsense, because I don't want to sit here and feel ashamed of myself just because you have no manners!" I exclaimed firmly but not too loudly.

Without waiting for a response I walked out of the forest and headed for my dorm. I was about to stop for a mocha but the café was closed which was unusual considering Ginger was the one who owned the shop and was very serious about her business. I was next to the café when I saw the closed sign outside so I shrugged and moved on but the small print under it said "For Sale" which caused questions.

I took a step closer to the door before peering inside to see Ginger sitting on a pile of boxes placing all of the decorations in a box. I took a step inside then walked over to Ginger. I looked around and saw all of the shelves empty and boxes lying everywhere. "Ginger, what are you doing packing everything?" I asked taking a seat next to her.

"Oh, hey Darling" she said wearily. I could see that she was tired because of the huge bags around her eyes, and her eyes were heavy. "Oh my gosh! Ginger you're a mess what do you think you're doing here packing boxes, you look like you haven't slept in days" I said taking the box away from her. "Hey! I have to pack everything before 7:00 and it's already 6:29" she said reaching for the box.

"I'm sorry Ginger but I can't let you work in the state you're in right now" I said passing the box to her. "Thanks for caring but I have to get this all done now" she said before yawning. "Why are you packing these boxes anyway?" I asked

"A new shop is opening here in the village and apparently it'll be a huge success since it was in the other villages. So some of the shops will have to close down to make some space" she explained. "Oh, no-one ever told me a new shop was opening" I said. "Nobody knows except the shop owners here in the village" she said taping up the box.

"Do any other shops we know have to close down?" I asked grabbing a full box and taping it up the box. "Well the O'Hair salon will have to close as well" she yawned. "Seriously?! Does the Mad hatter tea shop have to close down as well?" I asked.

"Yes. Wait how did you know that?" she asked. "The tea shop hasn't been getting that much customers for the past few weeks" I said grabbing another box.

"Well at least Ashlynn's shoe shop can stay open" she said. "Ginger, I'll pack everything up you go have a nap" I said taking the box she had in her hands away from her. "Really?" she asked. "Yes of course I mean look at you, you need some rest" I said taping down her box.

"Thanks" she said walking off to the back.

"No problem" I said

Back at Mira and Apple's dorm

Apple POV

I was sitting down on my bet waiting for Mira to arrive, she had just hexted me saying she was coming to our dorm to discuss how we would tell Darling about the book. I waited for about a minute then 2 minutes then 10 minutes then it turned into half an hour. I suddenly felt my eyes getting very heavy. Before I knew it I was already asleep.

Mira POV

I was in the library stacking books as my punishment for snapping of the frosting on Coach Gingerbread man during Grimmnastics. After I had finished stacking all the books I headed to my dorm. I promised Apple that we would talk about the book and how we'll break the news to Darling.

I arrived at my dorm and entered the room to see Apple asleep on her bed, so I shook her awake. "Apple, wake up" I said still shaking her. "Ok, I'm up" she groaned sitting upright. "So, what are we going to do about Darling?" I asked. "I don't know, maybe we should just tell her, I mean she's a Royal so she has to stay loyal to The Royal Code" she said.

"The Royal Code?" I said confused.

"Yes. The Royal Code is the code all Royals must follow in order to be treated as a Royal" she said with all the seriousness in the world. "Well then just remind her of the code after we tell her about the book" I said. "Ok" Apple shrugged.

At The Tree with Alistair

Alistair POV

I was shocked that Darling would do such a thing! It has been 2 hours since Darling confronted me and walked away but I'm still here waiting for her to come back. I know it sounds dumb but right now all I want is a second chance and right now sitting down here and hoping she'll come back is the only thing I believe in.

But it doesn't matter if she gives me a second chance which will never happen. If I get a second chance, I'll be forced to act like I don't care. A few days ago I was cursed by the mirror that held the Evil Queen. Now I know why everyone always tells Raven to stay away from the Mirror, every time she visits the Evil Queen on Mother's Day.

Back in Wonderland, I used to wonder around the kingdom looking for anything interesting with Bunny. So when I was transferred to Ever After High I just had to wonder around but when I heard about the Mirror I was so tempted that one day I secretly followed Raven when she was visiting her mother.

FLASHBACK

After Raven had left I creeped up to the mirror. Fazed by its power I reached out and pressed my finger against its surface. Before in knew it, a flash of energy ran right through me leaving me to fall to the ground. "Oh Alistair Wonderland, tut-tut you shouldn't be here" an eerie voice called out. I looked up at the mirror to see the Evil Queen herself!

"You're the Evil Queen" I stuttered in fear.

"Yes I am. And I'm not so sure you're supposed to be here, so unfortunately I must punish you!" she crackled like an old witch. She shot a ball of energy at me which sent me flying across the room.

"Now you are cursed. What curse is it? You may be asking, well it will stop you from caring about the one you care about most" she smirked. "No! take back the curse this instant!" I yelled.
"The only way you can break the curse, is if you do something that you never wanted to do" she said before disappearing. I ran out of the room petrified of wat just happened, but I managed to reach my dorm.

END OF FLASHBACK

Back at The Café

Darling POV

I had just finished packing and taping all of the boxes and I had 30 minutes to spare until the deadline Ginger talked about. I stood up and stretched out my legs and arms, packing and taping up boxes is really tiring. I figured I could use the extra time to go take a nap at the back where Ginger was sleeping.

I walked to the back and saw Ginger lying down on the sofa snoring. I slumped down on the sofa across from hers and fell asleep.

I woke up to the sound of the alarm blaring through the café. "Turn it off!" Ginger screamed through the noise. I ran to the alarm and tried to turn it off but I couldn't find the off button, but luckily I didn't have to since Ginger already had taken care of it…by smashing it on the floor.

"Good riddance to bad rubbish" she beamed. I nodded slowly before checking my watch. "It's 7:27 Ginger, I think we should tidy up the back" I said stacking up all the boxes into neat piles. "Oh, they won't be checking the back since it's my property the rest however, has to be tidy and neat" she said helping me.

We had finished stacking all the boxes neatly and slumped down on the floor. "This job is so tiring; I don't know what I would've done if you hadn't shown up" she said whipping away the sweat on her forehead. "Hey, that's what friends are for" I winked. A minute passed before the door flew open.

Helga strutted inside and looked around the café in disgust. "Disgusting" she mumbled under her breath. Uh hello, sorry if you haven't noticed but we've packed everything up and are about to close so sorry if it doesn't look as good as the White House.

"What do you want Helga?" Ginger said already sounding irritated. "Yeesh, calm down little sis I just wanted to stop by and see how you're doing" Helga said in a sweet voice. Ginger and I exchanged glances at each other before nodding on our silent agreement. I stood up and opened the door pointing outside, gesturing for Helga to leave.

"Oh come on! I just arrived I can't leave that would be very rude" Helga said with her arms crossed. "Unfortunately, you don't know the difference between polite and rude considering the way you always act" I scoffed. Ginger laughed at my little joke before sanding up and brushing off the dust on her dress.

"Eww, what a horrible dress!" Helga exclaimed.

Ginger looked down at her dress and frowned. I felt horrible I mean Helga is her older sister but she is so mean. I looked at Helga's dress. It was a pink dress with a short black jacket and knee high black boots.

"Well, at least her dress looks natural where as yours looks like a crossover between a rainbow and a combat mission" I said crossing my arms.

Ginger smirked but it quickly disappeared when Helga glared at her. "It doesn't matter what you dorks say, you're both worthless especially you, Ginger, I wish you weren't my sister" Helga snarled. I gasped at what Helga just said, Ginger however, dropped down on the floor and burst into tears.

Helga smirked at the sight of Ginger on the floor crying her eyes out. "Ginger! Don't let her say that to you, you're stronger than that get up and stand up for yourself!" I yelled out to her. Helga shot me a dirty look but I ignored her and focused on Ginger. Ginger stood up and took in a deep breath.

"I believe in you" I said.

"Don't even try" Helga snarled.

"It doesn't matter what Helga says, the people that matter already know how amazing you are" I said.

Ginger walked over to Helga and literally pushed her out of the café.

"It doesn't matter if you don't want me to be your sister because you don't deserve to be MY sister" Ginger said before shutting the door in Helga's face.

"Ginger, that was amazing!" I exclaimed high-5ing her.

"Thanks! But it was you who believed in me" she said hugging me.