Chapter Nineteen: Choose Your Story

Yay! I'm uploading twice in one day! I have never done this before!

This chapter picks up around the end of Way to Wonderland.

"Happy birthday Mother!" Lizzie exclaimed happily.

"My daughter at my side is the greatest gift a mother could wish for," the Queen of Hearts said happily.

"Your majesty?" Raven asked. The two turned to her as she said, "with your permission..."

The queen nodded. "Proceed."

Raven turned around and started speaking in a ringing voice as everyone turned to her. "From bad to good. To better from worse. From Wonderland I now remove this curse!" She raised a hand and purple fire erupted from it, going out of the ceiling and spreading over Wonderland, leaving as quickly as it had come, talking the green in the sky with it. "The nightmares done. The day has dawned," Raven continued. "So let's join as one. And party on!"

Everyone cheered and the students from Ever After appeared.

"They did it!" Amanda said happily, grinning at Alex.

Bunny and Alister appeared and the White Rabbit exclaimed, "Bunny! I'm so glad you're safe!" He and his daughter hugged and Alister greeted him.

"Raven!" Dexter said, seeing her. "You're safe!" He raced forward and hugged her. She hugged back and saw Zoe wink at her from behind them.

When Dexter pulled away, Apple walked over and was about to ask Raven about that, but thankfully Briar appeared, clutching the Storybook of Legends. "Um, guys? Do you mind if I talk to you for a second?"

They shrugged and walked with Briar to the balcony.

"So, what's up?" Raven asked.

"Well, I've been trying to tell you for a while. See, it's my fault the Storybook of Legends ended up here in the first place. I sorta threw it down the Well of Wonder," Briar explained.

"What?" Apple said, shocked. "Why?"

"I didn't want to have to follow my destiny! Sleeping my life away and losing my friends? Why should I be forced to live that life if it's not the life I want?" Briar turned away from them.

"Things used to be so simple," Apple siad, walking up to her. "You signed the book, you lived your destiny. But now, if anyone can use the book to steal a destiny...maybe it's more trouble than it's worth."

"Woah," Raven gasped.

"Oh, I still want my happily ever after but I don't want our stories being stolen. They should be ours to choose or change," Apple said as they walked back inside. "Maybe it's time to shelf this book."

"Am I understanding you correctly?" Raven asked.

"You always have," Apple said, giving her the book.

Raven smiled and walked to the edge of the balcony. She threw the book over and - instead of falling - it flew into the sky. The book opened and the pages spilled out, each of them going into the person it belonged to. As they did that, all the people whose eyes were fastened on the book heard voices.

Zoe: People shouldn't be forced to live lives that would suck for them just because that book is back.

Darling: I might be a Charming, but I'm not a damsel.

Izzy: Why should I wait for some guy to rescue me when I can do it myself?

Ashlynn: If writing our own Happily Ever After means I can't be a Royal, then call me Ashlynn Ella the Rebel!

Apple: Raven needs to make up her own mind. She doesn't need to be tricked into doing what you think is right.

Kitty: I do what I want!

Cerise: I don't care what the book says! I'm allowed to feel how I want!

And last, ringing above all of them, was Raven's voice.

Raven: I am Raven Queen, and I'm going to write my own destiny! My happily ever after starts now!

When the show was over and they all had their pages in them, everyone cheered.

They got back to the party after a few moments, but the chatter was broken by the sound of swords clashing against one another.

A moment later, two knights appeared - a red one and a white.

"Darling," Bunny whispered, so softly that only Alister heard.

Everyone's eyes were glued to the fight and the White Knight pushed the red one to the floor and held a sword to his throat.

"Alright, I yield! You win!" The Chase said, and the White Knight drew back. He took off his helmet and stood.

"What a knight! What skill! What power!" he exclaimed. "What manner of man are you?"

Darling met Bunny and Alister's eyes through her visor. They both nodded at her and she felt relief and happiness flood through her. She could feel the heart blossom at the chest of the armor and knew with absolute certainty that this was the moment. The moment she could show everyone who she truly was.

"Actually, I'm no manner of man." Darling pulled her helmet off. "I'm a girl."

The room was filled with shocked gasps as Darling unfolded her armor, letting the heart blossom fall into it.

"I'm sure you'd all like an explanation of what I've been up to. But sorry, that's a story for another time. Right now it's time to party!"

She grinned and ran up to Bunny and Alister, who both hugged her tightly.

And so, everything turned out well in the end. Wait, what? How did that happen?

I seem to remember you breaking the rules big time young lady!

I did interfere with the story, but I'm glad I did! I care about these, Mom. And just like they want to make their own choices in life - I want to make mine too!

All right. Just be mindful of how you choose. If you're not helpful you could end up right there on the page.

Well, we certainly wouldn't want that to happen.

There. Basically the same thing but a tiny bit different. Don't judge - I wanted to write it! If you're wondering what some of those quotes mean - Cerise's was to Daring and Darling's was to Alister and Bunny. The others are from the show or this story.

-Creator of Magic