It was Thursday afternoon with Raven's attack squad. Training was uneventful and they all gathered around Sparrow's fire pit before heading back to the school.
Just as everyone was about to sit down, Maddie (still in the form of the Cassiopeia zodiart) used her ice ability to create a pile of small ice chips. She then reverted to human form and pulled out a stack of paper cones and a trap containing several kinds of flavored syrup.
"Who wants snow cones?" Maddie asked jubilantly. Everyone got near Maddie and helped themselves to a snow cone before sitting down a log around the fire pit to talk about stuff before going back to the school.
"There's something I need to bring up with a lot of you," Duchess began and got everyone's attention. "I've become pretty disillusioned with the Royal way lately. I know we've had our ... difficulties Raven, but would you welcome me if I were to join the Rebels?"
"Say what now?" Raven asked, completely gobsmacked by Duchess's question.
"I'm with Raven," Apple piped in. "Why would you want to defect? Hexspecially after you took my position as Royal student body co-president?"
"And what about all that stuff," Briar joined, "you said about how your story not having a happy ending doesn't matter because you'll live on through it?"
"I lied about all of that," Duchess hexplained, "because I really wanted that position so I could finally one-up Apple on something."
"That sounds about right," Briar snarked.
"Anyway," Duchess continued, "I'm actually dreading how my story will end and after the euphoria of taking the co-president position from Apple wore off, it turns out that I'm not suited or interested in the actual job. Also, a big part of why I wanted that job was to get closer to Daring and that wasn't as great as I thought it would be either." Duchess finished while giving Daring a glare.
"You seemed to take it well earlier," Daring said.
"Again, I lied," Duchess hexplained. "And your rejection really sucked because it happened so soon after what happened with Justine." Duchess paused as she recounted how devasting the ebony beauty's rejection had been.
"I still don't know what you saw in her," Sparrow interjected. "Her dark skin is really off-putting."
"Hey," Cedar angrily piped in. "I''m going to look like Justine when I turn human."
"So even with skin instead of wood," Sparrow said, "you'll still be funny looking."
"How'd that hexpression I once heard go?" Meiling said while glaring at Sparrow. "You are huge douchebag."
"You're not using that right," Sparrow countered.
"Yes she is," Raven, Dexter, Hunter and Cedar said all at once.
"Can we go back to talking about me?" Duchess asked. Everyone looked at her and nodded yes. "So becoming co-president wasn't that great and I bring it up because it made me realize that I don't really know what I want."
I'm going through the same thing, Daring thought. After his little heart-to-heart and lip-to-lip session with Cerise in the woods after finding out about his sister being Kamen Rider Star Knight, he's started questioning all the things he thought he knew about wanting to be with Apple and the inherent rightness of the Royal way.
"Combine that," Duchess continued, "with how Grimm has really f#*ked me over by supporting Evan and I'm pretty disillusioned with the Royal way. The way I see it, we're all here because of him endorsing Evan. What does that say about the current system that it can be so easily gamed by a sadistic ball sack like Evan?"
"That the current system," Apple began venomously, "has several gaping holes in it and that Headmaster Grimm is not the benevolent father figure he makes himself out to be. I'm going to enjoy deposing him."
"What?" Several people around Apple asked in shock.
"Oops," Apple said, finally realizing that she'd said that out loud. "When this is over with, I'm going to go over Grimm's head to the various kings and queens he is ultimately accountable to and tell them about Grimm allowing Evan to build a force to come after Raven."
"I imagine they're not hexactly Raven's biggest fans," Dexter spoke up. "They might not see anything wrong with Grimm letting Evan do what he wants to her."
"Which is why we must win this upcoming battle," Apple countered. "Some of those kings and queens might be okay with Grimm taking questionable measures if he gets results so we need to make sure he doesn't. Then I make a compelling argument that Grimm is both corrupt and incompetent so he shouldn't be in charge anymore."
"That should work," Daring said, earning a few confused looks from everyone else.
"You're okay with this?" Dexter asked.
"I am," Daring said. "In fact, part of why Apple's going to do that is a favor for me in hexchange for helping Raven. I know it seems odd that I'm turning on Grimm out of all people but my loyalty is to this school, not to Grimm personally. And while I wouldn't be able to phrase it as well as Apple, she's absolutely right about how Grimm as been fairy bad lately, both in terms of competence and morals. Also, even if Grimm wanted to reach a compromise with the Rebels, would you take him up on the offer Raven?"
"Hex no," Raven answered with a sour hexpression. "He's lied to me too many times."
"A completely understandable position," Daring added and then took on an hexpression of regret. "I went to him last week and suggested that he let you go back to Monster High and reverse the magic placed on you to basically banish you to staying there. You get out of everyone's hair and stay at the school you like more: a seemingly ideal arrangement. But Grimm said that you would likey would never accept any offer from him because of all the lying he's done and I'm guessing some time later, Evan made his pitch which he apparently thought was better. He really shouldn't be in charge anymore."
Everyone nodded and murmured in agreement at this latest hexample of Grimm's horribleness. Briar, however, had a forlorn look on her face.
"Do you want to go back to Monster High?" Briar asked Raven, who she was sitting next to. "I mean, the main reason why you refused to sign on Legacy Dary was because Grimm lied about compromising with you to bring you back, closed the door behind you in an attempt to strong arm you into signing."
"I did want to go back," Raven said, "because I thought I belonged there more. I'm in my greatest time of need and look who's come to help me: old friends, new friends, temporary allies and even people who used to hate my guts. I really do belong here."
That would have pissed me off so much earlier but not now, Daring thought, feeling indifferent about Raven wanting to stay at EA High. He then noticed that Raven and Briar held hands, then gazed into each other's eyes with hexpressions that did not seem remotely platonic. I don't care about that either.
"Mm, Raven," Apple said to get her roommate's attention. Raven looked around and noticed that everyone was looking at her and Briar in surprise.
"It's hexactly what it looks like," Raven calmly answered their unasked question, deciding to not insult their intelligence with an unconvincing denial.
"That is so hot," Sparrow said with a smirk, earning a light elbow jab from Meiling. Everyone else was either indifferent or gave congratulations on them getting together.
"Is this going to be a problem Daring?" Brair asked with a glare and tone signaling that she welcomed any possible confrontation.
"No," Daring answered. "Some stuff has happened lately that has made me question the importance of keeping everything the way it's always been," Daring the turned his head slightly and the people across from him followed his gaze to see that he was looking at Cerise for some reason.
"What's that about?" Apple asked.
"Uhh," Daring stammered. He didn't have much hexperience at lying and was caught off-guard.
"We're a couple now," Cerise answered, seeing no point in trying to back up Daring's pitiful attempt at deception. She wasn't terribly upset about this: she and Daring were telling everyone about them, it just happened a little earlier than planned. The others made hexpressions of surprise at learning this and simultaneously asked questions like what, when and how.
"It's long and deeply personal story," Daring replied, eager to avoid sharing any details that involved him showing vulnerability to Cerise.
"Okay," Raven said.
"Well well," Maddie said with a joyous grin as she looked at Daring. "I'd say that your disapproval of Grimm and hooking up with someone you shouldn't have is enough to make you an honorary Rebel." Maddie got up, spread her arms wide and began walking towards Daring. "Come here."
"Attempt to hug me at your own risk," Daring said while cracking his knuckles menacingly.
"Party pooper," Maddie replied with a deflated hexpression and sat back down.
"Has anyone else hooked up recently?" Duchess asked with a hint of irritation.
"Cupid and I are kind of a couple now," Dexter answered. Duchess balled her fist and bit her lip to restrain annoyance at how even Dexter was having a more successful love life than her. She then took a deep breath to collect herself.
"We have gotten seriously off-topic here, Raven," Duchess began. "Back to the idea of me joining the Rebels: I know we've had our problems, which I am now sorry for, but I really have more in common with the Rebels now. Also, what are your long-term plans to gain the freedom to choose your fate?"
Raven's only response to this was a nervous glance and stunned silence.
"That's what I thought," Duchess continued with a hint of smugness. "You're still in the 'I need all the help I can get' phase of your rebellion and therefore have no practical reason to turn down my offer."
"All right, you can join," Raven relented. "But I have one condition: to make things easy for both of us, don't try to f#(k me on this," she finished with a glare indicating that she was ready at a moment's notice to enact consequences for any betrayal.
"Okay," Duchess calmly agreed, understanding Raven's desire to intimidate her. "I'll make a formal announcement bout my defecting on Sunday so we don't have to deal with the fallout from that so soon to fighting Evan's forces."
They made small talk for a while and then left to go back to the school. While walking, Cedar tapped Duchess's shoulder from behind.
"I noticed that you seem unhappy," Cedar began, "about the current state of your love life."
"What about it?" Duchess asked without any of her usual attitude.
"I know that Sparrow," Cedar continued, "is a jackass and apparently kind of a racist when it comes to his taste in his girls but he does seem to care about you. Otherwise, he wouldn't be part of this. If you really want to be with someone for the sake of being with someone..."
"I'm gonna have to stop you there," Duchess interrupted. "Sparrow and I agreed some time ago that we're better off as just friends."
I hope she doesn't ask for details, Duchess thought.
(Begin flashback)
Duchess and Sparrow had just completed a prank agaisnt one of the many people that Duchess considered beneath her. Sparrow was laughing a bit at their handiwork.
"That was great," Sparrow said. "Duchess, you are the only girl in this school that I don't want to get with because I respect you too much. Well, that and you seem like you'd be really high maintenance."
"That's for the best," Duchess responded. "I doubt you have the means to treat me to the standards I'm used to anyway."
(End flashback)
"Thanks for your concern though," Duchess said. She briefly fought back the urge to hug Cedar before deciding to give in. She wrapped her arms around the wood girl and Cedar returned the hug.