Daring's BIG BAD secret

Donnie yawned as she woke up, her friends were still snoring as the slept. Yesterday's sleepover was the best in like forever after, but she still couldn't banish the words Grace said yesterday about this danger. What was it? Why wasn't it even coming? When was it coming?

All these questions were swimming in her mind, all couldn't be answered.

Should I wake them up? she thought to herself.

No, of course not, it was Sunday and there was no need to class, except that field-running today that Coach Gingerbread-Man asked every second year student to attend. It was going to be fun, Cerise Hood was actually the only girl who was participating, Donnie would have done so but she had too much on her table right now.

Then the song started:

O Dear darling, why are you so perfect

Are hearts will forever be connected

Your smile reminds me of my love for you

Your laugh helps me drift from the blue

Hair like frosted pine cone

And lips so red, I know I ain't alone

Who in Ever After was this? Disturbing with such a...fableous song. Whoever this Prince Charming was, the song was beautiful, even Donnie awed as she listened, her friends were still asleep so no one could hear it.

"Let's see who this Charming is?" Donnie said as she walked to Apple's and Raven's window.

It had to be one of Apple's admirers, but why would they say her hair was like frosted pine cone. She looked down and was surprised to find the one and only Daring Charming.

"Daring?"

"Oh, Donnie, it's you? Did anyone hear me?" he asked with curiosity.

"I don't think so."

"Oh thank Godmother, I thought Apple heard..." he drifted off.

"Wait, I thought the song was for Apple?" Donnie asked.

"It is, it was, I mean yes."

"Charming, you're not a good liar."

"Oh really," he smiled.

"Yes really."

"It is I swear!"

"Ok, it's lovely anyways."

That's when she stopped, why was she believing him, this song wasn't for Apple at all, she was an A student in See the Unseen and she could see this poem wasn't for his destined bride.

She looked at her friends, examining their hair, whoever this song was for had to be in here. Bingo! She found two likely people, Briar and Cerise, but wait, frost, Cerise was the only girl here with brown hair lined with ivory which was close to white. Cerise! The song was for Cerise?

She turned back to the window as Daring was leaving. "Wait there, I'm coming down."

"Umm...do you want me to catch you?" Daring asked looking at her.

"No, the winds can catch me."

Donnie jumped and she slowly descended to the floor, still wearing her stunning nightgown.

"You know that song was awesome."

"Thanks, it's a prince's talent to woo his lady."

"But wait an Oz! That song wasn't for Apple, now was it?" Donnie asked with suspicion.

"Yes it was!" Daring retorted.

"Well, I clearly know her hair isn't the shade of frosted pine."

"It used to be."

"Oh please, every tale knows Apple is a natural blonde, that song was to Cerise wasn't it?"

"No! No it wasn't!"

"Daring, you're not fooling me. Just admit it, you're in love with my friend Cerise Hood."

Daring lowered his head, "Yes I'm in love with Cerise Hood, but please don't tell anyone."

"Oh my gosh, and I thought you loved Apple, does Cerise know?"

"I do love Apple, and no she doesn't know."

"You can't love two tales at the same time?"

"Well, I like Cerise...a lot, and I'm destined to be with Apple so it's fair."

"But why?"

"Why what?"

"Why all of this? Why Cerise, I doubt she likes you, not that I know."

"It's just that, she is on of those girls who doesn't sigh when I walk pass, she acts like I don't even exist."

"And so?" Donnie was lost in his confession.

"So I kinda like her for that, that she doesn't see me as Prince Daring Charming but maybe someone of her status."

"So you like her just because she doesn't seem to notice you, wow, so what if it turns out that she does, will you still like her?"

"I think so..."

"No, Daring you don't, you just like her because of that and it seems to me that it could change."

"I doubt it will, my feelings for her is different, it's not like the others, I think about her all the time, more than Apple. Sometimes I can't sleep because I'm worried for her."

"Wow, that's...nice. But..."

"But nothing Donnie, do you even know how it feels?"

"What?"

"Do you know how it feels when you love someone so much?"

"Yes I do, I like this guy but he seems not to like me and the previous day we saw the sunset together and he told me he likes someone, for all I know it could be me or someone else, and more importantly my BFFA is not speaking to me, I think about her everyday, about how we were friends and everything is falling apart. So Daring Charming, don't you ask me that question."

Everything she dreaded had come out of her, her ended friendship, everything and she started to cry.

"Don't you ever."

"I'm so sorry," Daring said as he opened his arms.

Donnie wasn't thinking and she jumped into the security of his arms and cried her heart out.

"There, there."

"It's just so hard, everything."

"Sorry Cerise, everything is alright," Daring said unwillingly.

Donnie was too preoccupied to even hear him.

He wipe her tears away and went down for a kiss, and before their lips could touch, Donnie backed away.

"Daring, what are you doing?"

"Sorry, I just thought you were her."

"Daring, you need to control yourself, not every girl in need is Cerise, and if I didn't know about this I would have thought you were taking advantage of my misery."

"I'm so sorry. I'll go now."

"Yeah, I think you should, it's for the best and I will not tell anyone."

"Thanks," he said and rushed off.

Donnie looked up, she had to control her emotions, if she hadn't snapped back she and Daring could have been kissing by now and what would Apple think?

Apple! Should she know about Daring? She had promised him, but Apple was her friend, she couldn't do that to her.

What am I going to do? she asked and flew back to the window.

Donnie laughed as Maddie told a silly story about how she met the March Hare's daughter May while she was looking for tea cups.

"So I was like hi there, and she was like Maddie Hatter nice to see you and how's your father and I was like alright."

Donnie spared a glance at Apple and Daring, laughing, unknown to the other, each didn't really love like their story instructed them to, and then she looked at Cerise who was sipping her Goose Broth and laughing as well. If only she knew what Daring felt about her.

"Donnie? Donnie?" said Cedar.

"I'm alive!" Donnie exclaimed and they all burst out laughing.

"What were you thinking about anyway?" Vanilla asked as she took a bite out of her sandwich.

"Probably about mischief," Kitty remarked and smiled.

"No, Kitty, I was actually thinking about love."

"Oooo, someone has a crush, who is it. My lips will never speak his name to any soul," Kitty said.

"It's no one, I was thinking about it in general."

"Oh, take my advice, why love when you can cause mischief with someone who understands you."

"Like who?" Raven asked.

"That information is for me only, and I doubt any of you can keep my purr-fect secret."

"Okay, it's your loss," Irina said.

"Oh, are you all going to the field-running to support Cerise?" Vanilla asked.

"Of course, she's a friend, why wouldn't we?" Donnie asked.

"Yeah, what are friends for?" Raven added.

"I think I'm done," Cerise said. "I'll go for a walk."

She walked away and Donnie looked at the others, "I'll go talk to her, I think it's the nerves."

Donnie rushed after Cerise as she made her way to the forest.

"Cerise? Where are you going?"

"For a walk, my throat hurts and I think I need some fresh air."

"I could go with you."

"Oh no, I need a moment. I don't want you to catch my cold."

"Cold?"

"Yeah, developed it last night at the sleep-over, don't know how."

"Oh okay."

Cerise rushed into the woods and Donnie was about to go back into the school when she looked back.

Cerise was lying, why would anyone with a cold want to stress herself with a walk? Was she meeting up with Daring? Unlikely, but Donnie wasn't sure, she had to make sure her friend was safe.

"Cerise, I'm coming after you."

Donnie ran into the woods after her but she was no where to be seen, for a girl who said she was going for a walk, she sure was showing her need for speed.

"Cerise? Where are you?"

Paws hitting the ground caused her to stop, she had gone too far into the Enchanted Forest, who knew what dangers where here?

"Cerise?"

More paws touching the ground and this time it wasn't the occasional walking, it was running, whatever was out there was running, and could be after her.

She began to sprint but the sounds were always coming, from what direction, she didn't know.

That's when she saw it, it was quick but her eyes made it out. It was the wolf she had seen when she and Willow were in a fight, the wolf with storm-grey eyes that reminded her of one of her friends and behind the wolf was a cub, it was a mother? The wolf had slightly lighter fur and unlike the adult wolf, it's eyes were light blue.

These creatures meant no harm (well not harm that she could see), she decided to follow them, maybe they knew where Cerise was. She had found out that Cerise could communicate with wolves for some reason and maybe these were her friends.

Donnie changed her direction and was running after them, they were so fast but whenever she slowed down, they did too, as if they actually wanted her to follow them.

Finally they stopped at a clearing but there was no Cerise, the next thing that happened was too much to handle and Donnie thought she would scream. Te wolf with the grey eyes began to transform, and not into any being but into a girl, a girl she knew. The wolf changed into Cerise Hood.

"Sorry Carmine but I have to head back to school," she said to the cub.

It licked her face and her hood fell, revealing wolf ears, so that's why Cerise wore the hood all the time.

She quickly concealed it and told the cub to find their pack and then she disappeared into the forest again.

Oh my godmother! Cerise Hood, daughter of Red Riding Hood had wolf blood in her, could she have been bitten, unlikely she would have told someone and they would have cured her. No her wolf blood was in her from the beginning, she was born with it. That only gave room for one answer, Cerise was also the daughter of a wolf and it couldn't be any wolf, it had to be...the Big Bad Wolf.

"Oh my..." Donnie gasped.

Cerise was the daughter of Red Riding Hood and The Big Bad Wolf! How was this possible? Could it mean that tales could write their own stories? Cerise's parents went against everything Ever After knew. Cerise was a product of change, she could be the answer and the energy the Rebels needed to push themselves forward.

If her parents and her didn't cease to exist, then that meant no tale could.

Donnie rushed after Cerise, she had to convince her of the matter at hand, this could mean so much to Ever After.

She reached the edge of the forest when she heard Cerise.

"Kitty, you can't," she said as Kitty's trademark giggle was heard.

Now was the time but she was stopped by Raven approaching Cerise.

"Cerise?" she said.

And it happened. Cerise's storm-grey eyes turned amber-gold as she growled. Raven gasped.

"Oh Raven, you heard."

Raven nodded, "What is it?"

"Well, I think I should tell someone, my family is hiding a secret." Cerise opened the leaf-shaped locket and pressed a button, Raven gasped again.

"Your mum, Red Riding Hood married the Big Bad wolf? Don't worry your secret is safe with me."

Donnie had to show herself. "And with me also."

The girls turned and gasped.

"Donnie, you were there the whole time, you heard?" Cerise asked.

"Not only that, I kind of show you changing."

"Oh my godmother!"

"Cerise, why didn't you tell me you were the wolf I saw last time, I would not have judged you."

"It's complicated, if I told you, you might freak out and tell someone else and my parents and I would be in so much trouble."

"But don't you see Cerise, you are living proof that we can re-write our destinies and not cease to exist."

"I know but my parents did kind of finish their story before they got married."

"Oh," Donnie said realising that maybe the Rebels' goal could not be accomplished.

"But we could still try," Raven said.

"Yeah we could," Donnie and Cerise said in unison.

"Oh Cerise, can I see your family photo," Donnie pleaded.

Cerise opened the locket and Donnie gasped as she saw the man.

"Isn't that Mr Badwolf?"

"Yeah, he's my dad."

"Your dad works in this school?"

"I know, awkward."

"It's all right Cerise, and I promise I will not let him know I know about the secret," Raven offered.

"Oh no!" Cerise exclaimed.

"What?" Raven asked.

"Kitty, she going to tell the whole student body about my secret."

"We have to stop her," Donnie added.

"I think she plans to do it at the field-running," Cerise said to offer help.

"Don't worry, we'll take care of her, you go and make the Rebels proud," Donnie said.

"You two are the best." Cerise rushed away with Raven and Donnie following behind.

"Ok, listen up, whoever runs all the way wins," Coach Gingerbread-Man said as the participants stretched their arms.

There was Cerise, Daring and Wood (Son of the Pig who built his house out of sticks).

Donnie looked around for a seat, Raven and the others were beside her.

"Over there," Irina said pointing at an empty space.

Donnie looked around for Apple, she had to talk to her about the morning, even if it meant losing her as a friend.

"I'll be right back," Donnie said and made her way to Apple, Briar and Blondie (most people called them the Three Musketeers).

"Donnie!" Apple exclaimed. "Nice to see you."

The rest waved and smiled.

"Can I talk to you in private, Apple."

"Oh of course."

They made their way to an area with no tale close by.

"So what is it?"

"It's about Daring."

Apple's left eyebrow arched, "What about him?"

"Ok, so today I was crying and Daring almost kissed me, and I think it was because he thought I was a damsel in distress."

Apple smiled, "So, he thought you needed help and was probably offering you a kiss on the cheek."

"Wait, it doesn't bother you. And to tell you I actually backed away from it."

"It doesn't. Daring and I are not even dating, we have like, forever after to be together, it's our destiny."

"Ok."

"Yeah, it's no big deal, and I like how you told me this in cause I felt weird about it. I like it when my friends don't keep secrets from me. Charm you later."

And she left, Donnie had kept her mouth shut. Daring's secret was still safe with her and now she had to preserve another tale's secret: Cerise.

The race was about to begin when Donnie joined the rest, they had saved her a seat.

"Okay, GO!" the coach screamed.

The runners took off, Cerise was trying hard to stay at the back, but her friends were still cheering her on.

That's when Kitty Cheshire appeared.

"Kitty?" Raven said.

Kitty winked and suddenly a deer appeared out of nowhere.

Oh no! This was bad!

Cerise's eyes changed and that's when Donnie and Raven knew her wolf instincts were kicking in, she rushed after the deer, passing her opponents and earning gasps from the other tales.

The deer made its way to a carriage and Cerise stopped.

"So Cerise, anything you want to, umm... tell us?" Kitty asked.

How could Kitty do this, Cerise was a friend.

Raven stepped in, "I can't believe my speed spell actually worked?"

"What?" Kitty asked confused.

"I'll show you."

Raven's hands flashed with purple aura and Kitty's legs began to move.

"Thanks," Cerise said as she joined Raven and Donnie.

"I'm so sorry!" Kitty shrieked as her feet continued to run. "Please stop!"

Donnie felt sorry for the feline, it was in her nature to play pranks.

"I think she has had enough," she said.

Raven waved her hands and Kitty's legs stopped.

"Kitty, why did you do this?" Donnie asked.

"I don't know, all I remember is seeing a shadow and suddenly I was here," the feline confessed.

"A shadow?" Cerise asked.

"Yes, it had this smile on and then I don't know what happened to it."

A shadow, that was strange, Donnie had felt like the shadows around the school had been increasing, it was like more were coming and there was no tale to take ownership. It was like the shadows were alive!

Whatever was happening to Ever After was happening fast and the danger that Grace told them about was about to erupt.

I LOVE THE DARISE SHIP, BUT COULD THERE BE ROOM FOR MAYBE A DONNING OR A DANNIE :D, JUST WONDERING