They kept arguing for a few more minutes as children while they walked along the tree-lined path. They passed the stables to leave their respective pets and so they continued toward the great castle. Raven glanced at her watch on the way and ran down the hall toward the Muse-ic Class.
She decided the back corner of the classroom would be a good place. There she could see and listen to everything that was going on. Slowly the room was filled with students, most of them annoyingly noisy, until the Professor Piper arrived and everyone sat in their seats.
"Good morning, characters. As most of you know, my name is Professor Piper. This is the Muse-ic Class; you may feel bored a few times, and I can promise you that you'll learn a heap of facts that you'll never actually use in the real world – but hey, what is high school for?" He smiled, and everyone laughed.
Well, there's a different class. Raven thought and continued laughing for a long time, only stopped laughing when someone knocked on the door. The door opened slowly, and everyone looked there.
The character was of average height, with a slim, not especially muscular in build and white skin but was more like someone a little bit tanned or someone with a slight shade on his skin. He was wearing a white social shirt and navy blue vest with pocket-watches and patterns on it such as clocks, Queen of Hearts cards designs, teapots and many other patterns and designs. His khaki brown pants were tucked into knee high leather explorer's boots.
Then as he turned to look Raven's way she found herself surprised all over again. His dark blond hair was always ruggedly, yet stylishly, mussed like he didn't bother to brush it this morning or like he hopped out of bed and came straight here. The shadow on his slightly square jaw coupled with his dark eyebrows gave his face an expressive quality. His eyes were almost translucent, glossy, like the palest blue glass, too soft to be turquoise, too bright to be baby blue. They were so mesmerizing that it was as if they looked deep into Raven's soul. But she should have recognized his face, though his features, too, had matured to a delicate beauty quite different from the time she had seen him last.
When Raven smiled at him, it was all too familiar for him. The last time he saw that smile was when Bunny and he ran to Card Castle to tell the Queen of Hearts about the snow and the apple. Instead of the royal guards greeting them at the gates, it was a lone hooded figure. All he could see was her smile from within the shadow of the cloak. "The Queen's unavailable. What do you want?"
Suspicious, he showed her the apple. She stopped smiling and slammed the gate shut.
He pondered the apple. "That was the Evil Queen."
"Um, Alistair? Hello?" Professor Piper tapped him on the shoulder.
What was going on? I wasn't in Wonderland, but the memories were so thick.
"Sorry I'm late Professor Piper. I just didn't know which room to go to."
"You didn't tell me anything new. You already repeated this speech on the first day of class," said the Professor Piper harshly.
"For you to see how sincere I am," the soft voice joked.
"Enough. Mr. Wonderland, could you sit in that place?" asked the professor still stunned, indicating specifically a place right next to Raven.
Obviously, Alistair thought it strange that the professor had suggested that he go right there. There were a lot of unoccupied places near Raven. But even before he opened his mouth to argue, a character protested, "Excuse me, Professor Piper, but this seat is not free, it's busy."
The character was Bianca Coelho, also known as Bunny, the White Rabbit's daughter. She was very slender with long, muscular legs that were ideal for running. Her straight hair was so pale and colorless that wasn't blonde like real blondes, was white, almost as if she looked like one of those albino rabbits, styled in a shoulder-length fringe bob. She had oval face somewhat broad with the slightly jutting lower jaw, the upper lip was slender, the lower lip advancing, twice as strong and tummy. Her features were small and perfectly related; her nose deliciously interrogative at the tip and her brows and lashes, drawn in a darker hue, gave touches of character and distinction. The ears were long, soft, and floppy and the insides were pink, just like her nose. But what really made Bunny attractive were the eyes, a dreamy swath of crimson hues, shining like rubies against the most perfect pinkish white skin.
She had a black headband with a small top hat with a gold clock design. She was dressed in a white waistcoat vest with faux fur collar and black and white diagonal striped social shirt. The neck had a magenta ribbon tied and both her hands had black gloves with white frills. Her skirt was light green with white watches pattern. The whole was finished with a frill in pink and black and white plaid. She wore high white socks with black buttons up the sides. The shoes were black decorated with a white rabbit tail and an hourglass heel.
The Professor Piper looked at the Bunny with scorched eyes of anger and asked her if the person occupying the place was invisible. Then she closed her face and said nothing more. Alistair looked at the professor in utter anger and said, "I'd rather not sit there, Mr. Piper, if you don't mind."
You could hear the entire class gasp in unison.
Shocked, Professor Piper asked, "Why?"
Alistair replied, "I do not want to sit next to her kind!"
Professor Piper was stunned! He said sternly, "Alistair, we do not talk like that in this school, and that kind of behavior is not tolerated in this class!" However, Professor Piper did not ask him to apologize, nor did she force Alistair to sit next to Raven. Instead, he asked, "Who wants to sit in the seat next to Ravenna?"
No one! Only one person raised the hand: me! The professor looked at her in surprise and admiration.
The owner of the hand was the teacher's daughter, Melody Piper. She was a DJ with considerable talent, if the fact that she was Briar Beauty's favorite was anything to go by.
Melody was rather exotic and had an "ethereal" beauty with an air of feminine mystery. She had an olive complexion that shone like burnished gold and bright magenta highlights in the fringe of her thick platinum blonde hair. Taking a closer look, she wasn't naturally blonde because she had a dark shade of brown for the eyebrows and lashes. Her face was rather rounded with a small, round nose, a pair of perfect thin lips framing her small mouth and thick eyebrows arched themselves over her round eyes. They were mingled grey and brown like the muddy water churning beneath the battlements and equally full of turbulence. The pitches mound was pierced with the pupil and the bases and the dirt was scattered around all throughout.
On her head had a set of black headphones and her ear spacers were a neon yellow set of records. She was wearing black leather jacket with a bright silver zipper over a neon yellow social shirt with rat-shaped silver buttons. She had a silver necklace with three music note charms hanging from it and a white bracelet with a keyboard print on her right arm. Melody's skirt was a lavender-colored with darker rates patterns and a criss-cross stitch with purple beads and frilly yellow lining. She also wore gray stockings with grape purple swirls and the shoes were black sneaker-like boots with neon yellow treble clef shaped heels.
Melody got up from her seat and went to sit next to Raven, not without flicking a wink.
"So let's get starred. I have assigned you to perform a melodic manipulation in animals. So… who will be the first?"
"I will." A girl with a golden harp answered. She was the daughter of Jack from the Jack and the Beanstalk, and was also a bold, fearless, and confident girl, which caused her to be greatly admired around school.
Jackalyn Bean was an attractive girl of average height with a slender, but athletic, toned body. Her skin was a dark, deep brown like coffee beans and her hair, tied back in a loose braid, was a wild mess of brown curls, dark at the roots, sunbleached at the ends. She had high delicate cheekbones, a small slim nose and full lips above a slender rounded chin completed her face. Her eyes were a complicated light brown color, with flecks of gold and a ring of deep green around the iris.
She was wearing a pink, short sleeved social shirt and a long green leather vest with gold beans pattern. She had three vines resembling hoop earrings on her right ear, and a dangling spiraled earring in her left, a curly vine necklace and golden bracelets. She also wore a leaf pattered golden belt, which goes down to her hips in the sides, and brown pants with pink flowers and green branches. Her shoes were golden sneakers boots laced with bright green laces and in the ankles had pink bean flowers sticking out.
She took her little piggy to the small stage. Its skin colour was a shade of fawn with black spots and a pink shade in the belly. The eyelid, and hoof colors were fuscous brownish and pinkish muzzle.
"I'll play the harp making Truffle fall asleep."
Immediately Jackalyn plucked the strings on the golden harp given by her dad, Jack, and a beautiful melody echoed in the classroom, making it more peaceful than they had ever known it. But Truffle didn't fall asleep; on the contrary, he became more agitated, assaultive, and aggressive.
"A spelltacular first try at melodic manipulation," Professor Piper said, with a hint of sarcasm. "Who's next? How about you, Sparrow?"
"How long have you played guitar?" Melody asked after clearing her throat. Her lips and her tongue piercing combine to make her sound, during specific words, like a broom trying to sweep empty cans from grey pavements.
"Since I was teen," Raven said with a distant look in her eyes. "The guitar has always fascinated me. Most musical instruments do, but the only one I've ever learned to play is the guitar. I've always wanted to play the piano, but my daddy played the piano and seeing one just upsets my mother. What about you, Melody?"
"I can't remember when I didn't play the flute. I guess I started somewhere around the age of three. My father was royally responsible for this. He saw to it that I had a hexcellent teacher and a decent instrument, and he also gave me my enthusiasm for muse-ic. I don't care about fame or spotlight, as long as I can get people to dance like nobody is watching!"
"I love Muse-ic class. The characters think that only the princesses can sing power ballads. Technically I'm a princess." Raven said, feeling stupid at what she just did, which made both of them laugh.
"My biggest ambition is to work with the greatest musicians in the land and become the most inspiring DJ in fairytale history! But my dad doesn't like to remix our fairy tale." Melody said sadly, for that, too, was true.
"I'm not very good at advice, but here's one... stay true to yourself. Make your sound reverberate and do not let anyone else bother you."
"Melody, you're the next." Professor Piper said, looking at them.
"Sure thing, Dad," Melody said getting up from the chair she was. She went up on stage and said, "My song is going to guide little mouse here to the cheese at the end of this maze."
Melody placed the mouse at one end of the maze and some cheese in the other end. She began to play the flute causing the mouse to walk through the maze.
"And now, to mix things up a bit," Melody waved her hands to make her turntables appear and put on her headphones. You'd think the daughter of the Pied Piper would play a pipe, but Melody at home behind the decks.
"Turntables? You won't be able to control it," said the Professor Piper doubtful. "You don't understand the power that you wield."
"Dad! I can do this!" When Melody started playing, the rat started moon walking but ended up slamming into a wall. "Curses! I really thought that would work." Melody said, disappointed that her plan failed but she soon realized that she had made everyone in school dance when Headmaster Grimm who danced his way into Muse-ic class and danced his way out.
"I can't stop daaancin'!" Sparrow Hood said.
"What the hex?" Raven Queen said.
"Melody's magic is making us dance!" Jackalyn Beans said.
"Wh-what's happening?" Alistair Wonderland said.
"I can't stop dancing!" Humphrey Dumpty said.
"Hooow can we stop?" Sparrow Hood said.
"This whole school can't stop dancing and it's all my fault!" Melody Piper said. She had no idea how to reverse what she had done but her father did.
"You have to get everyone dancing in sync!" Professor Piper said.
"Hm... Hey, Raven! I think these beats could use a little pick me up." Melody Piper said.
"Yay!" Raven Queen said making Melody's turntables floating in the air by magic.
"Hex, yeah! Now listen up and let DJ Piper move you. That's it, now follow me. Hang on to those crowns, 'cuz DJ Piper is about to work some magic." Melody Piper said.
With that, she started playing and everyone stopped for a moment and started dancing again but that time, everyone was dancing together. Melody decided to take the party out in the hallways. She was above the steps and everyone in school was dancing together, breaking the curse.
"Melody, you did it! We're in sync. The spell is broken!" Raven said, hugging Melody tightly.
"That was hat-tastic!" Bunny said excitedly, jumping as if she had spring in her shoes.
Professor Piper looked at Melody, observed at the students admired, and said with quiet voice, "Well played, Melody! A-plus!"
Professor Piper gave the students approximately five minutes to wander, and then back to the classroom.
"Hey, Alistair! Can I talk to you for a minute?" Raven asked
"One minute." Alistair said bluntly.
Raven rubbed the back of her head. "Look, I'm glad you're here. I want you to know that, I'm okay with you telling people what my mom really did. People deserve to know the truth."
Alistair couldn't stop pondering her smile as he left the hall. "The truth," Alistair repeated aloud. What was the truth... really? He was going to find the answer.
"Hello, fellow characters. It's time for a brand-new edition of Just Right!" Blondie Lockes said. The mirrors mounted on the walls of the corridors with the theme music began to play.
In a short time, Raven approached the place, where the spectators were. There, everyone gathered to watch the popular MirrorCast.
"We all know that the Evil Queen cursed Wonderland... a curse that threatened all the fairytales. So they magically locked every rabbit hole and looking glass gate from Wonderland to the others realms. Today we're going to have a testimony of a character that lives this situation, literally, with you the temperamental princess who comes from a magical and very crazy land… Elizabeth Hearts."
"Good afternoon, royals and commoners of the f Fairy Tales Land. Well, even though it's my destiny to be angry, I'm usually quite calm. In fact, ever since I was 3-of-hearts old, I spent hours working on my non-anger management. It was difficult at times, but mother was always supportive. She wanted me to have the best childhood ever after. I had so many friends, so many tea parties and I was always happy. That is until 'she' arrived."
"Who was she?" Blondie asked she asked curiously, studying Lizzie's body language and facial expressions.
"Continuing," Lizzie said, starting to get irritated with the distraction. "A few years ago, a hooded crone knocked on our door looking for a place to rest. As thanks, the old woman offered mother the shiniest apples anyone had ever seen. It wasn't long before this stranger became close with my mother, always whispering poison into her ear. Over time, mother became suspiciously fearful of everyone. When friends invited me to tea parties, they were told, 'Go away!' My tutors were fired. The guards were unshuffled. All the joy... the grandeur... the muchness of being a Royal disappeared from Card Castle, replaced by slow-ticking clocks and lonely shadows. I was ordered to my room, and my door was locked behind me. Then one day I heard loud shouting. I screamed for help, but nobody answered. That is until I heard the familiar POOF! of a Cheshire Cat appearing from thin air. Kitty Cheshire has been my best friend forever after since nursery rhyme school, and I had never been happier to see her."
The camera began to close on Lizzie's face slowly, increasing the drama, "I asked her, 'Kitty, what's happening?' with tears in her eyes, she hugged me, 'We're leaving Wonderland.' We POOFED out of the castle, and travelled up the rabbit hole into the land of Ever After. The rabbit hole was sealed, and a wishing well built over it. That was the last time I saw Wonderland." Lizzie said with tears streaming down her cheeks.
"I understand your feelings, the sadness at the loss of your mother combined with the cruel circumstances," Blondie said, wiped Lizzie's tears with her handkerchief.
Raven didn't wait for the end of MirrorCast and quickly walked down the long hallway, never looking at anyone for fear they would read her mind of the terrible deed she was going to do.
"Why are you so mad at me?" Raven shouted at Lizzie. "I haven't done anything to you! It's not my fault that my mother did what she did."
"Mad at you?" She let out a low chuckle and cleared her throat. "I'm not mad at you." She pursed her lips. "Oh, Raven! I'm doing what you should be doing, getting as much attention as possible. After all, we are daughters of drama queens."
Raven was speechless. Her jaw dropped. Raven was at a loss for words. Her only expression was "Wow!"
"Raven!" Melody screamed, drawing everyone's attention around her. "Let's go! You are part of the school band, now."
She didn't stop to ask questions, just ran, following Melody down the hall to the classroom. When Raven entered the second music room, where the instruments were, Bunny was already practicing with her trumpet, Jackalyn was with her golden harp, Sparrow with his arrow-shaped guitar and Melody was behind her DJ turntables.
Raven closed the door behind her and got sat behind the piano. When she was in spellementary school, she had been an excellent music student. The teacher had advised her to complete the muse-ic curse and to dedicate herself to the piano.
"I heard The Royal Student Council just announced something hexciting," Bunny said. She was a herald like all previous White Rabbits before her.
"Something about a dance where girls ask guys to go, right?" Jackalyn asked and looked up at Bunny in disgust.
"ALL THE GIRLS BETTER GET IN LINE-O!" sang Sparrow, as he shredded on his guitar.
"We all know who Raven's going to ask," said Melody, ignoring the pompous son of Robin Hood. "Dexter Charming. You've totally got him under your spell."
"We are just friends," Raven said, though she started blushing. "Even if I did ask him, it'd still be wicked nerve-wracking."
"Yeah," Bunny nervously chuckled. "Imagine how embarrassing it would be if he said no."
"You guys, it's not like you're running from angry giants," chimed in Jackalyn.
Maybe she was right. It was just a question, right? That settled it!
After the band practice, Raven walked into the wall area and started toward the astronomy tower. She paused at the long stairway, crushed by a sudden feeling of profound weariness. It had been a very long day.
The entrance was narrow and dark; to get to the top Raven would need to climb some steps from a dirty half-moon ladder. She walked up the steps carefully. When she arrived on the tower's terrace she saw that it was large, the size of a room, surrounded by walls of wooden lattice fastened to a low concrete wall. Concrete posts, painted white, rose from points of the wall, joined by black metal rods. But this hard wall was largely hidden by the wooden lattice, and in front of the wood were plants. There were six large plants in large pots when she arrived. Some of the pots were clay while others were plastic in the same shape and color as the clay. The plants were all alive, but neglected. They were shapeless and sparse with the exception of an apple tree trained to an iron rod. This small tree was carefully trimmed and shaped, though there were no flowers or fruit, only small leaves.
Raven could see a large part of the sky facing west. It was both dramatic and simple, a large view of the sky within the village. The sun was already low in the sky, making long shadows on the roads and fields. She watched for a few more minutes, then let out a discouraged sigh and sat down upon a small wooden bench built against the wall. She smiled as a slight breeze ruffled her skirt and carried the subtlest and most delicate perfume, which seemed like a waft from a field of violets, carried on a west wind.
"Do you mind if I sit here?"
His voice was deep, but surprisingly gentle out of such a handsome nerd-type. He had a well-built form, lean and flat-muscled but became much more active and gained a substantial amount of muscle that contrasted with his beautiful, soft, creamy white skin. The hair was dark blond, almost brown, but still this side of blond. It was short and slightly spiked accentuating the poetic asceticism of his narrow and intelligent face. Dexter's facial features were so fine that they seemed had been sculpted, high cheekbones, a straight classical nose, and sensual lips. His eyes were the deep blue of sapphires with a much thinner ring of melted copper, and an equally thin circle of liquid gold around the dark point of his pupil. But what set his eyes apart eve among the side was that the gold and copper trailed out across his iris like streaks of color in a good piece of lapis lazuli, so that metallic glints shone out from that ring of faultless deep blue.
He had a small crown upon his head, which was apparently smaller than the one his brother wore. He was wearing gray jeans with a pocket chain of the Charming crest and a dark blue blazer with gold embellishments. Under this, he wore a white social shirt with the tails untucked with a white-and-blue striped muffler around his neck. His shoes were high-top, navy converse sneakers.
"D-Dexter... um, you come up here too?" Raven was so happy to see him, but also way too scared.
"Yes! Best place in the whole school to watch the sunset," He said, sitting on a bench next to Raven. "Hey, would you go with me to Spring Fairest's party on Friday?" he said laughingly. A heartwarming smile with deep set dimples framed his white teeth.
"What?" Raven asked, surprised.
"I'd rather just go with a friend. Less pressure that way, know what I mean?"
Raven nodding and nodding, seeming to understand exactly what he said. "Hexcellent!" She was happy, she knew she was happy, and knew she ought to be happy.
As they looked up the sky the yellow ball of fire changed to hues of orange, and then almost tangerine. It merged with the sky, like juice-mix dissolving in a glass of water. The clouds were cotton-candy, as though they blushed at the warm touch of the sun. Silhouettes of birds flew home across a sky that was now magenta; and the sun was half into the water, but its reflection in the lake made it look complete. The mauve of the dusky sky intensified, and in just a while, the biggest star had set, giving way to a thousand others.