Chapter Twenty-Four:
JustAnotherFanGirl2004: I really like Briar and Hopper, (What's their couple name? Bropper? Hiar? Do they even have one?) and I AM planning to get them together by the end of this story, along with some others. However, I'm not quite sure how to do that. I don't think I'm the best at building up relationships in writing. And I actually didn't think about how Cerise felt, since I was so focused on the other girls. However, thank you for accidentally inspiring the beginning of this chapter!
These are the people who ride dragons together during the final battle against the Evil Queen:
Ashlynn and Briar
Amanda and Zoe
Izzy and Blondie
Darling and Cerise
Apple and Faybelle
Melody and Jillian
Lizzie and Eve
Maddie and Rosabella
Holly and Ramona
Poppy and Cedar
The Boys on Legend
Cerise was freaking out. First, dragons hatched! Yay! But of course that meant that the oh-so-amazing Snow White decided to bring back dragongames - which wouldn't be that bad, but then they found out the Evil Queen was back and apparently good? Then, Nevermore set the arena on fire and people were blaming Raven even though she would never do this. Then, eight students went missing - one of which was Raven. And it turned out they ran away? Then the Evil Queen revealed that she was evil all along and took over the school! And their teachers were imprisoned in animal bodies. Now, Cerise was trapped in a school hundreds feet above the ground hoping she didn't die. And to top it all off, her boyfriend was missing!
Oh, and this all happened in less than a week.
So, it wasn't a surprise when she jumped at the opportunity to get out of the school.
Jillian ran over to Cerise when she and Ramona were talking.
"Girls, come with me," she hissed. Curious, the secret sisters got up and followed. They reached the hole in the wall where Jillian's beanstalk was right outside, and saw a small crowd was. No one was in the corridor, since the Evil Queen had demanded that no one went in it.
Yet, here was a whole crowd of students. Cerise searched the crowd intently for a familiar face - specifically Daring. She hadn't seen him in two days, which was strange. He always managed to smile at her at least once a day, and he'd been missing for so long. (Okay, not that long - but it felt like forever to her.) No one seemed to notice, since they were preoccupied with the floating evil school. But Cerise was worried, very worried.
If it had been Apple in her position, she would have brushed it off and said Daring could take care of himself, or that he was probably figuring out a way to save them all. But Cerise knew him better than that.
In fact, she realized that Daring acted differently around her than anyone else (minus Darling and Dexter). Like he could really be himself, and not just the exact copy of his father. Sometimes, she was filled with anger at King Charming. He drilled it into his son's head that he had to be an always handsome, sporty, obnoxious, charming teenager - when at heart Daring was really kind and considerate. When he was around other people, his cover seemed to snap back in. She sometimes wondered if he would ever get rid of it. His father didn't seem to care about his son's feelings, not even letting him decide who to marry. And Daring had once told Cerise that Apple was an amazing girl, but he hardly knew her.
Despite the fact that Daring and Apple had known each other so long, they hardly knew each other. The relationship had been one organized by their destinies and parents. Cerise remembered the time she asked Daring why he was risking his reputation and Happily Ever After with her of all people.
His response had been, "My whole life I was told I had to do one thing - wake Apple from her sleep and marry her. I didn't always want to, because of someone else. But I buried my feelings for another girl under everything my parents had told me. But now that Raven hasn't signed and we don't have to follow our pre-arranged destinies...well, doors that were always locked are free now. I was free. Free to be who I wanted to be...free to love who I wanted to love. And that person is you."
The words had been carved into her brain, and sometimes she thought them to remind herself that there was a person in the world who loved her in a special way that was nothing like the love of family and friends.
As she searched the crowd, she saw familiar faces. Melody, Dexter, Hunter, Alex, Kyle, Rosabella, Briar, Hopper (did they keep looking at each other?) Michel, Cedar, Humphrey, Eve, Jacob, Justine, Tina, Sparrow, Zoe, Blondie, Lizzie...but no Daring.
She tried to ignore the pang in her heart and the worry. Apple was missing too...maybe...
Cerise shook herself mentally. Daring wouldn't do that, she was just turning paranoid from the worry. She trusted him...right?
She was shaken from her thoughts by Jillian saying, "So, a while ago Eclipse and Midnight returned to normal. And I think Amanda told them to protect the students - which means they'll protect us if we need it as we escape. As we speak, Faybelle is being thrown around the sky by Jinx, Moonheart, and Nightshade. We have approximately ten minutes to slide down that beanstalk before she manages to escape and comes back, or the Evil Queen notices. After that we have to find the girls as fast as possible. But I don't know where they are...does anyone?"
Alex cleared his throat. "I do. Amanda has a tracking chip in her bracelet. It connects to this." He showed them a simple, silver chain necklace with a plain silver circle on it. He pressed the circle, and a hologram of a map appeared with a little red dot on it.
Jillian smiled and nodded. "Perfect. That means we'll find them easily. Who wants to go first?"
"I do," Cerise said immediately, a new thought reaching her. Maybe Daring was with the girls? They did disappear at a bit different times but it was a possibility...
Or she was desperate. Either way, it was worth a shot.
Cerise walked up to the hole. She looked down. There was a large vine curling around the beanstalk that was like a slide. It was dangerous, and if she didn't jump onto it she could die. Cerise was on the verge of backing out, when she remembered that this might be how she found Daring.
Closing her eyes, she imagined him at the bottom, ready to greet her when she reached it. Steeling her nerves, Cerise jumped...and landed on the vine. She didn't open them until she reached the bottom, and a moment later the others slid down next to her.
She smiled and looked in the direction of the forest. There was a chance - no matter how small - that Daring was in there with the girls. And she was going to take that chance, and find him.
Daring was pacing. He was acting so nervous, Darling was worried. Her brother would usually be checking his hair and preparing for his destiny. Why was he acting like he didn't want to do this?
"Daring-" she said to him, gently. But he jumped up as though she had shouted.
"I-I uh...I'll be back soon. Need some rest. See-see you soon." He ran into the forest as though it was his last hope.
All of a sudden, they heard someone shout, "Hey guys!" The girls all spun around and saw...their friends run over the hill?
"Hunter!" Ashlynn shouted, and ran forward into her boyfriend's arms. "How did you-"
"Jillian's beanstalk!" Eve said. "Some of us managed to escape while the dragons were throwing Faybelle across the sky!"
"Your work, I suppose?" Michel said, raising an eyebrow at Amanda, who only smiled and asked, "But how did you find us?"
She felt an arm around her and immediately recognized it as Alex's.
"How do you think?" he asked her.
Her eyes widened. "The bracelet! Of course!"
Behind them, Dexter ran up to Raven and the two hugged tightly. His eyes widened when he saw the Booking Glass in her hands.
"Wow, Daring let you borrow his mirror? That's a first," he said. Hearing the name, Cerise looked over at them.
"Daring?" she said casually. "Where? I don't see him."
"He went somewhere over there. And this isn't his mirror. It's the Booking Glass and we're going to use it to defeat my mom," Raven said.
Cerise didn't hear anything after the first sentence, because she carefully slipped away from Dexter and Raven, who didn't seem to be focused on her. She ran into the forest, and no one noticed her leave since they were busy reuniting and talking. She walked around for a moment, then heard a sound.
Cerise ran forward, and saw Daring pacing in a small clearing, muttering under his breath to himself.
"Daring?" she asked. He jumped and turned to face her, but his face lit up when he saw her.
"Cerise!"
Relief flooding her, Cerise ran forward and threw her arms around him. He spun her around and they kissed.
"What happened? You've been missing for two days!" she asked him.
"Funny story..."
Daring explained what had happened to him, and Cerise's eyes widened when he came to the part where Darling set him free.
"But, why are you here? You look so nervous and-"
"Apple's under an enchanted sleep!" he interrupted her. Unknown to him, Raven was explaining the same thing to the others.
Cerise's face went slack.
"Oh."
"The Evil Queen put a poison apple in a fruit basket or something, and she ate it. Now, she's under the enchanted sleep and everyone expects me to wake her up. And I know it won't work, and even if it does it would only be because she signed the book and I would have to marry her and I don't know what to do because Apple is my friend and I want her to wake up but at the same time don't want it to work because that means it would be over with the two of us and I know that's selfish but I can't help it and-"
Cerise cut him off with a kiss. Daring seemed surprised, but deepened the kiss, pulling her in closer. They only broke apart when Cerise needed to catch her breath.
"I'm sorry," she said. "But I'm probably about to lose you and...I just needed to know it was all real."
She stood up. "I'll go first, so no one suspects anything." She turned and ran away before Daring could say anything.
Cerise ran out of the woods and joined the others just as Raven explained that the Booking Glass was shielded by dark fairy magic.
"We have to send that Evil Queen back to where she belongs," Cerise said. Raven noticed that her eyes were a little red, but didn't say anything.
Daring walked out of the forest (I know it was all the forest, but I can't really think of how to describe the area. It looked a bit like the village was in the forest, but at the same time surrounded by it because it was in a clearing without trees, so I'm just calling the trees around it the forest.)
Darling immediately walked over to him. "Ready to wake Apple?" she asked.
"Yeah," Daring said, his eyes a bit red. "Let's go."
The Evil Queen sat in her throne room.
"I did it!" Faybelle shouted, flying up to her. "I found Raven and her friends in the Enchanted Forest! I poisoned Apple White! I am on a wicked roll! I...am being completely ignored. Hello?"
"Faybelle, which of these nail polish colors gives off more of a 'be scared of me because I'm your evil ruler' kind of vibe?" the Evil Queen asked, magically changing her nail color.
"Did you hear what I said?" Faybelle asked. "I took care of everything. How about a bit of Evil Credit over here?"
"Need I remind you who wears the crown in this wicked takeover?" the Evil Queen asked, standing up. "None of this would be happening without my brilliant planning. Those idealistic damsels are still out there. This isn't over yet. But I've come too far not to see my ultimate plan to completion." She looked at her nails. "Are you sure about this color?"
"You look spelltacular," Faybelle said glumly.
Everyone was looking at Apple sadly when they heard the sound of a horse. Daring appeared, riding a white stallion and smiling at everyone with his usually showy smile.
"Her prince has come!" someone shouted, unaware that the words were like a knife through Cerise's heart.
Daring got off and walked through the crowd to Apple's coffin. He met Cerise's eyes and then broke the eye contact, knowing he would never be able to do this if he saw her face.
"Apple White, you are my damsel," he said, saying the lines that his father had told him more times than he could count, had him rehearse every night until they were drilled into his head. "And I am your Prince Charming. And now I will fulfill our destinies - and we shall live happily ever after."
Trying not to think about Cerise's heartbroken eyes, he lowered his lips to Apple's and pressed them against hers. When nothing happened, he tried again before standing up blankly.
"I'm not her Prince Charming," he said. "I'm not her destiny."
Everyone gasped as Daring walked away.
"What does this mean?" Cedar asked.
"It means Apple's forever sleep...really is forever," Raven said.
Raven walked up to the podium.
"We're here today," she said, "to honor and spellebarate Apple White. She was a royal. She was my roommate. And she was my friend. She was kind, she was loving, and she deserved her happily ever after."
Cerise slipped her hand into Daring's, feeling as though it were her fault the kiss hadn't worked and Apple would be asleep forever.
Briar felt her tears slide down her back. She heard Hopper - who was next to her - gently say, "Briar?" She rested her head on his shoulder and let her tears fall as he put an arm around her.
Ashlynn stood there silently with Hunter next to her, giving her a hug. But nothing helped. She felt as though she'd lost her best friend forever after.
"I wish I was as powerful as my mother," Raven continued. "That I had the kind of magic that could take me back to when all of this started. If I could go back, I would tell Apple that she had a choice - we all do. We all have the power to choose our stories. And if your choice is to follow your predetermined destiny - you have to trust that it will happen in it's own time. And you don't have to make a deal with evil." Her eyes widened as though she'd realized something. "Make a deal with evil..." she repeated slowly. "I-I have to go!"
Raven ran past the people and out of the clearing. She hurried over to where Nevermore was and was about to hop on her dragon when Darling ran over to her.
"Where are you going?" she asked.
Raven turned with a determined expression. "To make sure the rest of my friends don't end up like Apple."
"You're going to see your mother...aren't you? Raven you can't!"
"It's the only way! I know what I'm doing." She handed Darling the Booking Glass. "Here. You're gonna need this."
"The Booking Glass? But I don't know how to-"
"Trust me. Somebody is about to have a change of heart," Raven was about to get on Nevermore when Dexter came down the path.
"Raven? Where are you going?" he asked.
"I'll give you two some privacy," Darling said, hurrying away. She was the only one who knew about Raven and Dexter. The twins told each other everything, and Dex was also the only one who knew Darling was a lesbian.
"Raven, what are you planning to do?" Dexter asked.
"I'm going to face my mother."
"Raven, you can't-"
"Yes, I can. Please, Dex - you need to trust me. I know what I'm doing. Just...when you see what I've done...please know it's an act. It's all an act, and part of my plan."
"Is it dangerous?" Dexter asked as Raven climbed on Nevermore. Raven met his eyes and considered lying, but nodded.
"Rae-" Dexter said. She turned to him. He looked like he was struggling with words, but finally said, "Be careful."
Raven nodded and said. "Hya!"
Nevermore flew up into the sky, and Dexter watched until Raven was just a dot in the sky.
Nevermore flew to the school and landed in the Evil Queen's throne room. Raven climbed off and looked her mother in the eye.
"Hello Raven."
"We need to talk."
"Attention subjects," the Evil Queen said. Everyone was watching her on their mirrorpads, even the students in the forest. "Your attention please! Just thought you'd be hexcited to know that I am leaving Ever After High and this kingdom forever after." Everyone gasped. "Yes, that's right. Your cursed little lives have all been spared, because...well, let's just say mother's day came early this year."
The camera flashed to Raven who was wearing clothes similar to her mother, and even...a crown?
"My daughter," the Evil Queen continued. "Raven Queen, has agreed to join me. To become evil and take over other lands with me!"
"What, no!"
"Raven joined the Evil Queen..."
"Raven is going to be evil?"
"Why would she do this?"
Everyone murmured. At that moment, Darling and Dexter both looked up and met each other's eyes, immediately understanding what Raven was doing.
"Let's see here. What land should we take over first?" the Evil Queen said to Raven. "We could take another crack at wonderland. Or we could conquer and rule over gingerbread land! Or-or - hear me out now - the land of the giants!"
"Those all sound great, mom. I'll go anywhere you want. As long as it's not here," Raven said.
"Oh, I'm too hexcited to pick! My wicked little blackbird has flown home!" the Evil Queen said. "Mother, daughter evil selfie!"
She pulled Raven over to her, wiped out her phone, and took the picture.
"Oh my fairy godmother!" Faybelle shouted angrily, interrupting the Evil Queen. "I've spent all this time fluttering around, doing your evil bidding without so much of a "Hey, thanks Faybelle! Hex of a job!" and now little miss "I'm gonna choose my own destiny" comes waltzing in and you actually believe she's going to be evil?!"
"Will you excuse us for a moment?" the Evil Queen said. She walked over to Faybelle and created a soundproof dome around them. "That is my daughter you're talking about!" she said.
Raven, who was outside the dome, saw her mom and Faybelle arguing and shrugged.
Inside the dome, Faybelle said, "Whatever after. I'm telling you, she's up to something. You don't honestly think she's evil now."
"She's going to be just like me because I gave her no choice!" the Evil Queen shouted. "All of my plotting and planning has finally gotten me what I want! Don't you understand? I won!"
"All of this was about Raven?" Faybelle said. "But what about me?"
"What about you?" the Evil Queen said coldly, lowering the dome and walking over to Raven. "Now, where were we? Oh, what about the Sea Kingdom? We could rule over the mer-folk? Oh, we could get paddle boats!"
Behind them, Faybelle wiped away her tears. She ripped off the purse the Evil Queen had given her and flew away.
Daring had disappeared into the forest after he failed to wake Apple up. Cerise had followed him, and no one seemed to notice the couple was missing.
In the forest, Cerise and Daring sat on a tree stump. Cerise's head was on her boyfriend's shoulder, and they were both filled with a rampage of emotions.
"So...what now?" Daring finally asked.
"We stay together, and do anything possible to wake Apple," Cerise responded. They were silent for a moment before she said, "You know people are going to expect you to be upset about 'losing' your destiny."
"It was never my destiny," he told her.
Cerise sighed and sat up, turning to face him. "You know what I mean. What are you going to do? What are we going to do?"
"I don't know," he admitted. "But we'll figure it out eventually. Isn't that the fun part? Not knowing what comes next?"
Cerise was about to answer, when they heard a commotion outside. They looked at each other for a moment, then simultaneously stood and ran out.
"Apple!" Briar was shouting, shaking her friend...who was hardly breathing. "Wake up!"
Apple sat up and inhaled, but no air entered her lungs, and she started choking before falling back down.
Darling gasped, racing forward.
"Breathe Apple! Breathe!" she shouted. In a last, desperate measure, she lowered her lips to Apple's and tried CPR.
There was a flash of light and Apple sat up with a gasp, air filling her lungs.
"Apple's back!"
"Darling did it!"
"Apple is awake!"
Everyone yelled joyously.
"What happened. Did-did Daring wake me up?" Apple said dreamily. Everyone guiltily looked at Daring. "Wait, where's Raven."
"I think you should sit down for this..."
"UNHEXCEPTABLE!" Apple yelled, the very trees shaking from how loud she was. "The Evil Queen cannot win like this! We have to do something!"
"I'm sorry Apple," Ashlynn said. "But I think we're too late."
"You don't understand," Apple protested. "This is all my fault. I released the Evil Queen from mirror prison! I thought keeping her secret was gonna be good for Ever After High. Good for all of us! But look at all the trouble it led to! And Raven joining sides with her mother? It's not the happily ever after she wanted. Please! Help me fight back! Help me save Raven! We have dragons! We have the Booking Glass! We just need the pass code!"
"We've tried, Apple. But it's not like we can just guess the passcode. Daring just got lucky when he was captured," Darling said.
"Lucky?" Daring said. "I wouldn't put it that way."
"I would!" cam a voice from above them. A moment later, Faybelle landed in the clearing, riding Legend. Everyone drew back with a gasp.
"Lemme guess," Faybelle said. "You don't know how to unlock the Booking Glass?"
Before anyone could stop her, Faybelle snatched the Booking Glass out of Darling's hands and started chanting like a cheerleader.
"One, two, three, four, that Booking Glass is locked no more!"
There was a magic woosh and the mirror glowed purple for a second.
"What shall I capture?" Faybelle said. "Hmmm...How about...a sandwich!" Sparrow's sandwich disappeared into the mirror. Faybelle grinned and threw the Booking Glass into Darling's hands.
"I don't understand," the princess said. "Why are you switching sides?"
"This dark fairy is just out for revenge. I worked my wings off for that ungrateful queen. Let's see how well her wicked plans go without Faybelle in her corner."
Everyone turned to Darling and Apple, who exchanged smiles.
"What are you waiting for, people?" Daring asked.
"Dragon up!" Apple exclaimed.
Everyone cheered and ran to the dragons.
Briar was about to get on Pumpkin with Ashlynn when she heard a voice behind her.
"Good luck."
She turned and saw Hopper. Without thinking, she jumped down from Pumpkin, walked up to Hopper, and kissed his cheek. His eyes widened and he turned into a frog, causing Briar to laugh before climbing back on Ashlynn's dragon.
Nearby, Darling looked into the Booking Glass with Apple next to her,
" 'Somebody is going to have a change of heart,' " Darling quoted. "That's what Raven told me before she left."
"What does that mean?" Apple asked,
"It means," Briar said. "She knew Faybelle was going to get angry at the Evil Queen and switch sides."
"This was her plan all along. Not lead her mother away, trick her!" Maddie said.
"And she knows that we're coming with the Booking Glass," Darling said.
"That's pretty smart," Izzy said. She looked around and realized something. "Hey...why aren't the boys joining us?"
"Baby dragons prefer girls," Amanda explained. "These dragons might look like young adults, but they still have the minds of babies. If a male rode one into battle it would be more dangerous. The boys can ride Legend - she's huge."
Darling smiled. Amanda's knowledge of dragons was pretty helpful.
"Let's go!" she called. "It's time to send the Evil Queen back to where she belongs!"
"And we'll need some dragon tears, a little bit of fairy dust, my dark robe, my other dark robe," the Evil Queen said. "Almost finished packing!" She turned to Raven and frowned. "Why do you keep doing that?"
"Doing what?" Raven asked, turning to her mother.
"Staring ominously into the distance. What are you looking for?"
"Nothing. I'm just...really hexcited! About being evil, and conquering the world, and stuff" Raven said.
The Evil Queen clearly wasn't fooled.
"Prove it," she said. She waved her hand and a large swirling portal appeared in the wall, right next to the teachers.
Raven gasped as her mother said, "You're on the path to becoming evil now, dear. Toss Snow White and those teachers into the void."
Raven took a deep breath and moved forward, resting a hand on Snake Snow White's case.
"Raven, please help usssssss!" she said.
Raven looked at the queen for a moment, then felt a certain determination. She raised her hand and shot purple fire...straight at her mother.
But the Evil Queen blocked and chuckled.
"Nice try, birdy," she said. "But I am much more powerful than you."
She shot fire at Raven, who was blasted back. She tried to get up, but the Evil Queen put a magic prison like Snow White's around her. Nevermore whined and tried to get Raven out, but there was nothing she could do.
"I know you're just doing this to save your little friends out there," the Evil Queen said. Nevermore tried to leapt at her, but with a wave of her hand, the Evil Queen chained the dragon to the ground.
"Nevermore!" Raven yelled.
"You may not be evil now, Raven Queen," the Evil Queen said. "But mark my words - you will learn!"
They were interrupted by dragon squawks. The two of them looked up and saw the dragons break through the clouds and come forward...straight at them.
"Apple!" Raven exclaimed. "Apple's awake!"
"Yes, and it seems somebody showed her how to use the Booking Glass," the Evil Queen said, spotting Faybelle. "You! You were behind this. You played on Faybelle's jealousies and tricked her into joining your friends!" Raven thought she was angry until she smiled at her and said happily, "You manipulative chip off the old glass slipper! It takes a truly wicked mind to concoct a scheme like that. Oh, you have such potential. Too bad I have to go destroy your friends now. Spell you later."
With those words, she turned and jumped off the balcony and rose up a moment later on Jinx - who was clearly under a spell again. The other dark dragons (also spelled) followed.
Apple soared through the sky on Braebyrn, with Faybelle sitting behind her. She was leading the attack.
"All right everyone - listen up!" Darling shouted. "Apple has to get as close to the Evil Queen as she can. Let's cover her and make sure she gets there!"
The others nodded, and flew even faster. The Evil Queen and her dragons flew through the sky towards them too.
Braebyrn and Jinx both opened their mouths and roared, fireball speeding towards each other. The two collided, and the battle began.
Raven could see the light of the dragons fire through the clouds.
She tried to break out, but shots of electricity flew up her arms when she touched the walls, and she winced.
"No, I have to help them. I have to help my friends and defeat my mother!" Raven said. She raised her hands and purple fire formed around them.
"Raven, please help us!" Lizard Giles said.
"She can't do it - she doesn't have the strength!" Frog Milton said.
But a moment later, Raven proved him wrong.
With a yell, she pressed her hands to the side. Fire erupted from them, blasting apart her prison. When the magic cleared away, Raven was back in her dragonriding outfit.
"Nevermore!" she yelled, racing forward to her dragon and breaking her chains with magic She hopped on, and the two took to the sky.
The Evil Queen was flying through the battle, deflecting anything the dragons threw at her. She saw Braebyrn sail through the clouds and smiled to herself. She snuck up on them and shot purple fire at Apple and Faybelle.
Faybelle flew away and Braebyrn swerved to the side, dodging the flames.
The Evil Queen and Jinx flew in front of them, and Apple took out the Booking Glass, pointing it at her.
She was ready to send the Evil Queen back to mirror prison when the villain swooped out of the way. Apple followed and the two soared through the clouds.
Nearby, the others were having their own problems.
The boys were being attacked by the dark dragons. They were trying their best to dodge the flames, but they would probably be hit soon. They were saved by Hero Wing, who shot some ice at the dragons. Not enough to hurt them (Amanda would kill them is that happened) but enough so they were distracted and the boys could get away.
"Thanks, sis!" Dexter called.
Maddie and Rosabella were being chased by Midnight. Rosabella was at the reins while Maddie was in charge of defense.
"Maddie, use the fire extinguisher!" Rosabella said.
WIthout a second though, Maddie grabbed the fire extinguisher and lobbed it at Midnight. When it hit the dragon, the spell on her broke.
"Not exactly what I meant, but okay!" Rosabella exclaimed.
Nearby, Blondie was reporting from her mirrorpad.
"Blondie Lockes here, reporting from the front lines of the most spell-binding battle ever after."
Everyone in Ever After was watching her, and so they were also all watching when a dragon blew fire at her and she ducked out of the way, then continued like nothing ever happened.
"Apple White is leading a team of students in a royal campaign to stop the Evil Queen and send her back to the mirror realm! More to come as the pages continue to turn on this amazing story!"
Apple chased the Evil Queen all the way to the school. They flew around the largest tower until they reached the top.
When they got there, Apple stopped Braebyrn, looking around. She didn't see the Evil Queen coming at her until it was too late. When she realized what was happening, she took out theBooking Glass, but the Evil Queen snatched it from her hands!
"No!" Apple yelled.
"Now I'm going to let all your friends see what it's like to spend 100 years in the mirror realm! (Hold up - the Evil Queen is over one-hundred years old? Then what age is Snow White...)
Starting with you!" the Evil Queen shouted, pointing the Booking Glass at Apple. "Capture Apple-"
But before she could finish, the mirror was shot out of her hands by another burst of magic. The Evil Queen and Apple turned to see Raven fly through the clouds.
"Somebody's been practicing!" the Evil Queen said in delight.
Raven ignored her and swooped past them, grabbing the mirror before it hit the ground. She flew up again and threw it to Apple, who grabbed it with a grin.
"Well, isn't this a fun little reunion," the Evil Queen said.
"It's over, Mom!" Raven shouted. "We're taking back the school!"
"You might want to think about what you're doing, Apple!" the Evil Queen said. "You're throwing away your destiny!"
"Don't listen to her, Apple!" Raven said.
"Without me you'll never get your happily ever after!" the Evil Queen continued. "Raven has made it abundantly clear that she doesn't intend to follow in my footsteps! Face it - you don't have a choice!"
"Yes, I do!" Apple said. "We all have a choice! And I'll find my happily ever after some other way - without you!" As she pointed the mirror at the Evil Queen, she thought of how it wasn't Daring who woke her up, but his sister. And how Raven was willing to go with her mother to save her friends. And the way Briar and Hopper always blushed around each other. (I just remembered that Hopper told Briar how he felt in episode two, but in this world, that didn't happen.) Raven was right. They did all have the power to choose their own destinies - and the Evil Queen wanted to take those destinies away.
"Capture the Evil Queen!" she shouted.
"Nooooo!" the Evil Queen yelled. She created a shield to protect her from the green magic that shot from the mirror. "I'm not going back!"
She used the shield to push the green back, towards Apple.
"I told you! I'm - more - powerful - than - you!" the Evil Queen said.
"Apple!" Raven shouted.
"She's weakening the Booking Glass!" Apple said.
Suddenly realizing what she had to do, Raven jumped off Nevermore and onto Braebyrn. Purple magic sprouted from her hands, and she rested them on Apple's shoulders. The magic flowed up the daughter of Snow White's arms and to the Booking Glass. Slowly, the green crept towards the Evil Queen. It was getting faster and faster, and - finally - reached her.
With a final scream, the Evil Queen was sucked into the mirror, and the force of the magic threw Raven and Apple off Braebyrn, with the mirror falling the opposite way.
They fell through the clouds before they were caught by Nevermore. Meanwhile, the Booking Glass smashed into the floor, shattering into a million pieces.
Magic radiated from every fallen piece, spreading across the sky. The spell on the dark dragons was broken, and so was the one on the school. It repaired itself (mostly) and was safely on the ground a moment later. The storm clouds in the sky cleared, the souls of the teachers and Snow White returned to their bodies, and everything was right again.
Outside the school, the heros and their friends were talking. When Snow White walked down the steps of the school, Apple yelled, "Mom!" and ran forward, hugging her mother.
"Hold up," Raven said. "We just forgive her? Like that?"
"What do you mean?" Apple asked. "It was my fault."
Raven shook her head. "If it wasn't for the fact that your mom told you all you had to do was follow your destiny, you wouldn't have fallen for my mother's tricks. Plus, wasn't she the one that decided to let my mom roam free, just so she could freshen her image?"
"Raven-" Apple tried to argue, but her mom interrupted her.
"I can't deny any of that. This is all my fault. And I really think I learned from this experience." She turned to Apple and smiled. "Apple, you don't have to follow my footsteps. Just follow your heart."
Apple's eyes widened. She felt as though a missing piece of the puzzle had been returned, and no one had known it was gone until they found it.
She hugged her mother tightly. "Thank you," she whispered.
If only all the Royal parents would do this.
Raven entered the headmaster's office.
"Miss Queen, need I remind you not to touch the glass," Grimm said.
"Oh, please," Raven said with a laugh. She walked through the hidden passage, down the hall, through the door, and up the stairs to her mother's "room."
Her mom appeared in the mirror a moment later.
"There's my little blackbird," she said.
"Mom."
"So...what's new?"
"How are you...holding up in there?" Raven asked.
"Oh, it's not so bad, I suppose. Someone left a sandwich!" the Evil Queen said. "I'm...royally proud of you, Raven."
"Seriously?" Raven said in disbelief. "After all that?"
"You demonstrated that your powers are even stronger than before! And to orchestrate such a crafty scheme to take down the Evil Queen? The Evil Queen! You're more like me than you realize. Like it or not, you can't escape your destiny."
"We'll see," Raven said cheerfully. "I have to go mom, I'm late for a match."
"I'll be watching."
Raven flew Nevermore into the arena.
"Hey, what took you so long?" Apple asked happily. "Let's do this!"
"Ready when you are!"
The same song that had been playing when they first rode their dragons into the stadium started playing. Coach Gingerbreadman blew the whistle, and the girls took to the skies.
Fi-na-lly. This is the most episodes I have ever copied down in a row, and I am exhausted. After this, I should be back to normal updates. I just haven't had much time with my personal life (yes, I said that) to write, so I had to do one of these chapters in two days. And my dad has Family Link watching me, so I have a stupid time limit on my chromebook before it automatically locks. I can ask him for more time, but he's always a bit annoying about it. But I should be fine now, and I think I have a schedule figured out where I'll be able to update like I used to and not have to ask my dad for more time. Anyways, thank you if you read to the end of my rant.
-Creator of Magic