Review Time!

Sorry for all the mystery last chapter, I know lots of people must be confused but all shall be revealed in time.

Anime Pop Circle : Definitely, mean-girls always have more chance for backstory than the lovey-dovey nice ones. I can't tell you though, sorry!

Too Much Sarcasm : I've half written it already but it goes with a picture than I'm busy doodling out. I should have it done by the end of the week (no promises :))

Story Lover : Weird since I just did 'The Jabberwocky' in English! Maybe you do but you'll just have to wait and see! And virtual cookies are awesome.

The Lady Geek : The end of this chapter will tell all.

MojoRising : Thanks for finally reading but you seriously need to watch the webisodes because you have no idea who's who.

Go and read now...


Chapter 9 - D-Day

The next couple days were a blur for Duchess. Her mother's words raced through her mind. Everyone around her was chattering with excitement. Apple was running around trying to get everything ready for Legacy Day in time. Duchess was practicing for the concert but she just couldn't get into it. She had too much on her mind. Signs covered every inch of space available for Apple to pin up her obnoxious posters.

Come to this year's Legacy Day!

Our future queen Apple White shall be pledging!

Don't miss this amazing event!

Duchess got a bitter taste in her mouth every time she read one of those posters. Apple hadn't even looked her way since their little skirmish in the empty classroom the other day. Everything was just going so fast. Duchess felt like she was sitting at a train station waiting for a train that came and left to fast for her to get on. She walked through the quad carrying her binder in an old denim sling bag she found in the back of her closet. It was bright and had multi-coloured buttons and beads sown onto it. She made it one Summer when visiting Wonderland as a child and decided to use it. Classes became more and more unimportant to her. All she could focus on was the 'To pledge or not to pledge?' gossip going around the school. Apparently you could avoid signing the book and still be around to tell the tale but Duchess was still wary. Apple's word words played in her head on a loop. Would she really do something like that if she refused to sign? No, she shouldn't be ridiculous. Raven was taking up all of Apple's time. Duchess noticed that Raven was trying to avoid any sort of confrontation with Apple by hiding in any place she could find. Once Raven stumbled into the charmitorium while Duchess was practicing alone.

"Duchess! Can you help me hide from Apple?" Duchess was taken aback by the question. Raven never talked to her. She was suspicious. Was she trying to recruit her for her band of rebels? "Please, if she finds me she'll start pressuring me into pledging again," Raven pleaded with her and Duchess became so annoyed she decided to help her and get it over with.

"Fine, just stop your whining," Duchess didn't mean to be a hater, especially since Raven was the only princess with a fate nearly as bad as her's. She dragged Raven to the old dressing rooms and towards an ancient door set in the wall, "This leads to the girl's restrooms on the top floor. I suggest you hang out in my dorm. The door's unlocked and Apple won't go near there so you shouldn't be found," Duchess took a rusty silver key from her powder box on her dressing table and unlocked the old door. The corridor was dark and dusty. Raven seemed hesitant to go through it, "Lux et via, invenire semitam!" The tunnel lit up in the path to take at Duchess's words and she smirked, "You're not the only one with magic Raven."

"Thanks," Raven smiled gratefully and started into the tunnel.

"Wait!" Raven turned to look at Duchess. She felt awkward for asking this question but felt it was necessary, "Did you find a way to avoid signing the book without, you know," She couldn't bear saying it.

"Yeah, you don't have to sign the book, apparently there's something wrong with it. Just be careful okay?"

"I should be careful? You're the one who's wondering around in the school catacombs. Just follow the lit path, don't turn any other way or you might never come up," Duchess had to warn her, that place was worse than the labyrinth. Raven descended into the tunnels and the door banged shut behind her. Duchess slipped the key back into her powder box and went back out to the stage. Hopefully Raven would take her advice. Apple came running into the room in a panic.

"Have you seen Raven?" She looked frantic, Duchess shook her head and smiled sweetly.

"Not a trace."


The clock seemed to move faster the more nervous Duchess became. What Raven had said was stuck in her head. She had a chance. Legacy Day started at Sunset. The school halls were polished until gleaming. Doves set up flower garlands and the podium was completely glammed up for the evening of glitz and glamour. They were given 3 hours to prepare. Some girls complained that this wasn't enough time to get ready but the teachers were persistent. Duchess walked tiredly to her dorm. Many girls were talking to each other from opposite side of the corridors while blow drying their hair or shining their shoes. They stopped for a moment as she walked past and then continued gossiping behind her. Her dorm was silent. The blinds were drawn. She made no sound as she walked towards her mirror. She knew Lizzie was with Kitty. She looked strange in the dim light. Her eyes were barely visible. They looked worried. She looked paler than she should have. The dorm door burst open and Duchess jumped away from her reflection. It smiled a cold smile just as she turned even though Duchess's mouth was open.

"Oh Duchess! I didn't mean to startle you, don't I look gorgeous!" Lizzie did a spin to emphasize the pouffe of the dress. Duchess smiled lightly. Her own dress was hung in her closet. Lizzie helped her lace it up as she tied the long, winding ribbons up her legs. She felt terrified at the image in her mirror. Her face was pale. Pearls hung from her neck in thin strands and her cape had a slight train. She looked wickedly beautiful but the terror in her eyes ruined the image completely. The walk down to the quad felt less exciting and more like a funeral procession with each step she took. Grimm stood behind the podium with a look of grim (no pun intended) determination set on his face. The book sat in front of him. Duchess felt a lump in her throat and struggled to swallow it. Fairy tales filed in to take their places in the legendary ceremony. Duchess stared at the magic mirrors suspended in mid-air above the podium. She would be shown in there. She sat down in the stark white chair assigned to her. She would go 13th. Such an unlucky number. Grimm waited for everyone to sit down. He stared at the crowd. Raven looked too nervous. Apple was fumbling with her hands. Holly O'Hair was flipping her braid back and forth, trying to choose whether to have it over one shoulder or behind her back. Grimm cleared his throat. All faces turned to him.

"Welcome, students and parents to this year's Legacy Day," his voice was emotionless as he detailed what the ceremony was about but it became dark and heavy when he uttered his last few words.

"Legacies are what hold the fairy tale world upright. If one doesn't not follow the path set before them the world is put out of balance. Keep this in mind as you pledge to your fate this evening ladies and gentlemen," He stepped away from the podium and people clapped hesitantly. Duchess felt unnerved by his words. It was as if he was forcing them to pledge or the entire world would collapse. One by one students climbed those dreaded stairs to sign away they're free will. Finally it was her turn. Her heart beat loudly in her own ears as she climbed the steps towards her own sorrow. Her legs were barely able to carry her own weight. She stopped in front of the podium and looked down on all the faces of people that had already signed. Lizzie and Hunter were amongst them. She gulped and tried to look brave.

"I am Duchess Swan, Daughter of Odette and I am ready to pledge my destiny," her voice faultered on ready. A silver key with swan engravings appeared in the air and she reached out tentatively to hold it. She inserted it into the lock and the book's cover faded into white. A black feather appeared in the centre. The pages blew forwards even though the air was still. It came to rest on her tale.

"Swan Lake," she whispered to herself. Strangely a mirror did not appear in front of her like for the others. She was momentarily confused and took as step towards the book. Her foot met nothingness and she fell into darkness. The world spun away from her as the feathers wrenched themselves free from her dress. She didn't know which way was up or down. She heard voices. Her own voice among them. She hit the ground suddenly. She felt breathless and she didn't know where she was. She opened her eyes and looked around. No, she did know where she was. She got up and moved towards the lake water. It was crystal clear and cool to the touch. She could hear sobs coming closer to her but she didn't have time to hide. Someone broke through the bushes and came to rest next to the lake. She didn't know who it was but the girl looked familiar. She turned and Duchess gasped, scrabbling backwards. It was her face. Exactly the same in every way. But this girl looked anguished and in pain. She looked around and noticed the sun about to set. She knew this part in the tale. The girl, herself, shivered and whispered to herself.

"No, no. Not again. I won't do it," The girl pulled out a silver dagger from the folds of her skirt. Duchess's eyes widened in horror. This wasn't supposed to happen. She tried to stop the girl. She tried to pry the dagger from her hands but her hand just passed clean through. The girl turned towards Duchess as if she could see her and smiled with tears in her eyes. Then she plunged the dagger into her stomach and cried out. Duchess clutched her own stomach. The pain was unbearable. The girl let go of the dagger and fell over. She looked up at the sky with sad eyes.

"Please," She begged the ghost she knew was there, a ghost of her past, "Tell him I love him, but I couldn't stop fate," The girl closed her eyes and smiled like she was finally free of her demons. She had cast them off and never had to worry again. Duchess felt herself succumb to the darkness. No, she was thinking frantically, she didn't tell me who.

Duchess felt the spinning darkness once again and tried to take a step forward only to find herself upright once again. Standing in front of the book as a black quill appeared in the air. She looked around. Where did the meadow go? Where was the lake and her future self? She was still shaking from the vision. She stared at the quill in choking fear. She wouldn't sign if that was what was to become of her. But something came over her. It was magic, black magic. It made her mouth feel like sandpaper and she watched helplessly as her hand stretched out and grabbed the quill. Her name was signed slowly. The moment dragged on forever as she tried in vain to stop. The final line was made and the ink glowed a bloody scarlet. She dropped the quill as if it burned her hand and sure enough a long thin burn strip was there. A cold laugh echoed through her head and she screamed soundlessly. The book slammed shut and she knew it was too late. She ran from the podium and back into the school. People watched her run but no-one bothered to follow her. Next up to the podium was Apple White. Duchess wasn't significant. Duchess threw down her cape and ripped the pearls from her neck. The girl's screams echoed in her head and she every time she blinked she saw herself plunge a dagger into her stomach. Everything was so wrong. She wasn't supposed to die.

Her mother was right. Fate wasn't yours to control.