To guest. Yes I copied and pasted the information, seemed easiest way to make sure all the information was correct. You'll see in this chapter what the title means and other questions pertaining to it. As for Apple figuring her feelings out…I'll be honest I'm not sure when she will figure that one out, I guess I'll know when the time is right, ah the joys of writing.

Chapter eight:

When Raven got up in the morning she checked on the progress of the things she was making for Darling, they appeared to have brewed well over night, she began to bottle up the oil and then carefully package the cream into it's pot. When this was done Raven got dressed for the day ahead, she knew that Apple was awake and watching her, but she refused to meet her gaze or start a dialog, because Raven knew that she wouldn't be able to stand the silence for long.

She was proven right when Apple said. "Any plans today?"

Raven continued to pour the second oil into another bottle as she said in answer to this. "Other than brewing, I need to talk to the headmaster about a few things now I'm no longer going to be your villain."

"What things?" Apple asked her in a voice which was edged in possessiveness, as her mind swirled with the possibilities all of which ended with her losing Raven.

Raven turned to look at her and said bluntly. "I don't think any of that is any of your business."

Apple was shocked when Raven spoke to her like this. "You can't talk to me like this! I am going to be Queen of Ever After!"

"Firstly you are not Queen yet, secondly it is my business and if I don't want to tell you what it is then you do not have any right to pry." Raven told her placing her hands onto her hips.

Apple found herself feeling drawn to Raven's fiery attitude, at the same time though she was terrified of loosing sight of Raven or of her leaving her. Apple couldn't understand her conflicting emotions around Raven in the slightest as was becoming usual for her lately. "You're not going to leave are you?"

Raven shrugged slightly, but answered the question with honesty. "To be honest with you, I really don't know if I will stay here at Ever After High…I'm not needed here for your story now and every tale here knows that I do not want to be part of a fairy tale…At the same time though I have a lot of reasons to stay too. I just need some time to think Apple about what I'm going to do now…A lot has changed for me as well as you."

Apple hung her head in shame, she's never really thought about what would happen to Raven after the story was over, she'd just assumed that Raven would…Her thoughts came to a halt and Apple's shame grew, Raven would have gone to prison for her crime, she would spend her life in a cage for a crime she'd made her commit. The thought of it made Apple feel utterly sick, there was so much she had taken for granted when it came to Raven, she'd been willing to throw away the amazing woman standing before her just to have her story. "I'm so sorry…" The words sounded so inadequate on her tongue, they didn't convey half of the regret she felt.

Raven let out a small sigh before she said to her. "You know what for the first time I really believe you are sorry. This is my life now Apple and you need to understand that, I don't belong to you, I never did and I never will…I want to show that a witch doesn't have to be evil, I want to create a new path for those who come after me…And maybe not just for my descendants but any witch who should come here. What about princesses like Darling don't they deserve their own path?"

"You mean a new kind of fairy tale." Apple suggested in a soft voice.

A thoughtful expression came onto Raven's face before she said to Apple. "Not necessarily. I also want people with fairy tale blood to have a choice not to be in stories. Now if you will excuse me, I need to go to see the headmaster." Before Apple could say anything more to her, Raven made her way out of their room closing the door firmly behind her.

All Apple could do was watch the door close behind Raven, she sighed deeply, Apple felt that she really needed to think things and her words through more than she did, as her tendency not to was getting her into more trouble than ever before.

Raven made her way through the school, she went into the office outside of that of the headmaster, Raven walked up to Mrs Trollsworth's desk and addressed her in a firm, but polite voice. "I would like to talk to the headmaster, now please."

Seeing the serious expression on Raven's face, she instantly called the headmaster and when Mrs Trollsworth put the phone down she gestured towards the door to one side of the room as she said to her. "You may go in."

Raven entered the office, she closed the door behind her, she then walked the short distance to the headmaster's desk, Raven sat down on the chair in front of Milton's desk and then addressed him seriously. "I think we need to talk."

Milton gave her a nod of agreement. "Yes we do…I've never been in this situation before, the story is over much earlier than it should have been and you are not a part of it as would have been traditional."

Raven me his gaze with serious eyes and then said. "I had a feeling that this situation might be an unusual one…I am not sure if I should stay at this school or leave…I have a lot to think about on that score at the moment, but for now I will stay. I would like to be able to leave the room I currently share with Apple, I believe that having me so close is not doing her any good, Apple needs to grow up and realise I and her fairy tale are there not for her to fall back on any more, when things go wrong or don't work out how she wants them too."

Milton was surprised to see just how much thought Raven had put into what she wanted to say to him, and he had to admit her argument was a wise one. "I believe you are right about Miss White, she needs to move on from her story and she seems unwilling to do so while you are close to her. It is true we have never had this situation before, but we can learn how to deal with it from you Miss Queen. I am glad you have decided to stay here for now. Are there any other changes you wish to make?"

There was a short silence from Raven as she thought about the answer to this question and then said to the headmaster. "I would like to start taking some of the princess and good magic courses. I don't know what my future will be, so I think it would be wise to cover as many bases as I can."

"That sounds wise, we shall organise you a new time table starting next week and send it to you on your mirror phone. You can move into one of the spare dorm rooms today, we always have a few put aside in case of emergencies and I believe this situation counts. You may choose which ever one you like I think that is the least I can do for you after all the trouble I have caused you. There are three room you can choose from, all I ask is that you please just make sure to inform the administration which room you choose." He told her, already starting to think about what classes it might be wise to place onto Raven's time table and what to take off of the old one.

Raven bowed her head to him slightly. "Thank you headmaster. I have a funny feeling that my moving out of the dorm room is likely to send Apple into one of her panics, more than likely this will mean that she will come to you to try and reverse what has been done."

"Do not worry, I will not make you go back Miss Queen." Milton assured her with serious eyes.

"Thank you headmaster, I am glad that for once we are on the same page." Raven said with relief clear in her voice.

Milton addressed Raven with a small smile. "Though you are I have been at odds about many things, we are in agreement over this and I will admit as a Grim I am rather interested to see where your path is going to take you now. You may have the rest of the week off to settle, in your new room, as well as get books or stationary for your new classes, I will expect to see you back in class starting next week.

"Thank you headmaster." Raven said to him as she stood up.

Milton watched her go, it had been true that he was interested to see what was going to happen with raven now, this looked like something entirely new and Milton wasn't sure what was going to happen, but there was a fire in his blood he had never experienced before.

Raven made her way through the school and to the girl's dormitories, she opened the doors to the first of the three rooms but she didn't want to go inside, Raven turned to the next opened this door and still didn't feel drawn inside, but when Raven opened the door to the third room this one felt warm and inviting. "Yes perfect."

Raven sent Maddie a hext as she stood just inside the doorway of the room asking for her help with moving what little she wanted to keep from her old room into her new one. There was a quick and positive answer to the text, and a few moments latter Maddie appeared in the corridor with help from Kitty causing Raven to jump with surprise.

"Hello Raven!" Kitty declared with a toothy grin.

Raven giggled softly. "You still love to get me don't you?"

Kitty grinned at her again. "I love making everyone jump, it's my thing."

"I know…And I love you for it." Raven told her with sparkling eyes.

Suddenly Kitty came over all serious and asked her. "Can I help you pack?"

"Sure." Raven said happy for the extra help.

When they entered the room Apple looked at the three of them and asked with an edge of panic to her voice. "What are you doing?"

"Helping Raven to pack." Kitty told her without a shred of hesitation.

"Pack! Your leaving?" Apple questioned in a high pitched voice of shock.

Raven shook her head, as she put her head in the cupboard and pulled out a few chests to pack her belongings into and throwing them onto the bed. "The school no."

Apple was utterly shocked and at the same time completely furious with Raven. "How can you leave me?!"

Raven went stock still, she slowly turned to face Apple, as Raven did so her magic started appearing as a purple glow around her. "You. Do. NOT. Own. Me!" She ground out in a voice which was filled a fury Apple had not heard from Raven before.

Frightened of Raven in a way which she had never been before Apple gave her a quiet nod. "I'm glad we understand each other." Raven told her, before going back to the work of packing.

When Apple went to come over to them, Kitty turned and hissed at her, causing Apple to stumble back and land on the bed. She didn't get up from the bed again, instead Apple sat quietly on the bed and watched as the three of them packed the things Raven wanted to take with her.

Once Raven felt they had all the things she wanted to take with her packed, she took one last disgusted look at the Evil Queen decor of her old room and then swept out with Maddie and Kitty beside her. When they reached Raven's new room, they put the boxes down, Maddie looked at her and said. "I am sunny side up with pleasure."

"Thank you I was rather proud of myself too." Raven said looking around at the blank space which was hers now. "I'm looking forwards to decorating this just the way I like."

"I am sure you will make it spell binding." Kitty said with a wide toothy smile.

At that moment Raven, Kittie's and Maddie's phones all sounded, they looked at their phones, after reading the text Raven looked at the other's and asked them. "Lizzy and the headmaster want me in the main hall."

"Same here." Kitty announced.

Maddie giggled ad said. "Double snaps."

"Well we had best go see what they want." Raven said to them.

As the three made their way to the hall, they realised that they where not alone that everyone was gathering in the hall. Lizzy stood tall and proud on the stage by the head master, she was quickly joined by the other residents of Wonderland.

Once they where all standing with their princess, Lizzy stepped forwards and spoke to all of those present in a clear, but commanding voice. "I am sure you are all wondering why you are here, it is because I have an announcement to make on behalf of my mother the Queen of Hearts. Raven Queen please come up here."

As soon as Lizzy said this all eyes fell on Raven, she gulped as nervousness bit at her, but bravely made her way up onto the stage. As their eyes met Lizzy gave her an encouraging smile, she gestured Raven forwards and so she walked over to her. "Raven Queen, my mother the Queen of Heart's wishes me to thank you for freeing our lands of the curse of your mother." Lizzy bowed to Raven when she finished saying this.

Raven gasped softly, those from wonder land did the same but bowed more deeply, Lizzy slowly stood back up and spoke to Raven again. "My mother the Queen of Hearts has declared you to be a hero of Wonderland and has bestowed upon you the title of the royal duchess of Hearts. This by the ancient laws the Wonderland this makes you part of our family, an adopted younger sister to myself, and an honorary princess of our land. To make war on you is to make war on us, to dishonour you is to dishonour us. You Raven Queen are now to us, Raven Queen-Heart. Give me your right hand Raven."

Without questioning the command Raven held out her right hand, gentle Lizzy slipped onto the middle finger of that hand a ring which depicted the royal crest of the house of hearts. "This is the mark of your title. I hope you will let me have the honour of calling you sister."

Raven smiled widely at Lizzy. "I am shocked and honoured by all of this…But I am happy to be part of your family and for us to be as sisters."

Lizzy smiled brilliantly at Raven. "Thank you sister."

Now what Lizzy had to say to them was clearly over a mass of shocked babbling broke out all around the hall. It was only then that Raven really realised that what Lizzy had done, was huge, she knew that Wonderland residents liked to cause chaos, but she also knew that having this title and the ring on her finger was a serious thing an alliance between the two kingdoms, one Raven felt sure would come to benefit both their kingdoms. Raven looked up from her ring, then at Lizzy, who smiled at her devilishly, Raven grinned back at her and said to her. "So this is a formal alliance, as well as family huh?"

"I'm glad that you understand that I wanted to be allied to you, as well as have you as part of the family, but I also want you to know I care about you to sister." Lizzy whispered to Raven.

Raven knew she had whispered because Lizzy didn't like anyone to know she had a soft side and so she smiled at her. "I care for you to sister."

Together they all came down from the stage, Apple was the first to approach the group, she looked to Raven. "You…They…A Heart! You're a Heart now?!"

"Yes Apple I am." Raven confirmed, she then turned and smiled at Lizzy. "I am pleased to have been adopted by the Hearts family."

"But…But…Why?" Apple asked with utter confusion.

Raven frowned at her and then rolled her eyes. "I am extremely close to those from Wonderland for many reasons…I can't see why it would confuse you that I would be happy to be joined to a family from that land as an adopted family member?"

Apple's mouth opened and closed but nothing came out of her mouth as she sought for an answer to this question, eventually she said. "I don't know…I guess I'd never thought you joining a family in this way was even possible."

Lizzy stepped towards Apple and smirked at her. "Well now you do know it is possible." She then turned her gaze onto Raven, asking the next question in a way she knew would aggravate Apple the most. "I hear from Kitty you have changed rooms sister and are in need of both decorating help and some new clothing now you are no longer to be the evil Queen."

"Yes, both is true." Raven admitted with a sigh as she looked down at what she currently wore.

Lizzy looked her over thoughtfully. "I would be honoured to help you, by making you something new."

Raven was truly surprised and flattered by this offer. "I would be honoured to have one of your designs."

"Then I shall set to work. I look forwards to seeing how you will decorate your new room and what you will bye to replace your old wardrobe." Lizzy told her before she set off to start working on her designs for Raven.

Raven watched her go with a smile on her face, she was already looking forwards to seeing what Lizzy would make her. "Can we give you a hand with unpacking?" Bunny asked Raven shyly.

"I'd love the help, but first I'd really like to get some lunch." Raven told the others as her tummy rumbled loudly.

Together Raven and the residents of Wonderland made their way out of the main hall and headed towards the dining hall. Apple watched them go, she was unable to believe she had been ousted so easily out of Raven's life, she had thought they where friends and maybe even closer than that. Furry coursed it's way through Apple she was determined that she would win Raven back to her somehow, the first thing she planned to do was talk to the head master and convince him to have Raven move back to their dorm room.

Apple determinedly set off to find the head master, when she found Milton she stormed up to him and said. "Why did you allow Raven to change rooms?"

He met her determined gaze with his own and spoke more wisely than he had done for many years, to Milton it felt as though many generations of Grims where talking through him. "Raven is no longer part of your story Apple. She wanted some peace in order to find her way forwards Apple and I think Raven deserves that. Where she is going to go and what path she will tread I do not know, but I know one thing, I'm actually looking forwards to seeing the story Raven writes…I was afraid before, but now I am not. You shouldn't try to clip Raven's wings Apple, if you really want to be her friend you need to let her fly."

It was stunning to Apple to find that now for the second time the headmaster was not on her side, she didn't know what to say to this so Apple ran away from the main hall. Briar and Ashlynn went after Apple determined to try to comfort her and make her see sense about this new situation to the best of their abilities.