AN: Hey guys, its been a while. I've been trying to write, but I've been dealing with a breakup. I love him very much and this is very hard to write this story because he was the inspiration for Matt. I've been trying my best to get Matt right in this chapter. I'm sorry its took so long.
Creator of Magic: I'm very excited to write about Ally and Snow. They will meet, but it might be in a different way than expected. This Chapter is all about Donna, so we'll get caught up. The new host is coming soon...* Also I have to say I'm really impressed with all of the updates you've been doing. I'm glad you're really getting into this whole writing business!
Sky: Thank you so much for your continued support after all of this time! Next we're looking at Donna. Very curious to see what your thoughts are on this chapter.
Zahabiya: I try my best with my front page but sometimes I just don't know when I have time to type. I try my best to update one story a week. Due to recent events its just been hard. I'm trying to get more organized.
This is another long one, hopefully you enjoy! Cassidy and Matt will be looked at in the next chapter. I'm doing a back and forth thing, but pretty soon the gang will be all together again.
"Mom!" Donna called out. Raven looked to see her daughter running towards her. Tears were streaming down the three year-old's face. Her brown hair was reaching the middle of her back. Her heart had melted as she got down on a knee and embraced the young girl.
"What's wrong?" Raven asked in a soothing voice. The little Donna wiped her face and looked her mother in the eyes. Once Raven gazed into the eyes of her child, she was petrified. Memories of her mother flashed in her brain. The purple rim around her magenta eyes. Her sinister laugh. The fear she had caused. Her face close to Raven's as she pinned her down to the floor. The color flooding from her face as she dropped to the ground. The pool of blood surrounding her and the final look she gave Raven before the life drained from her eyes.
Raven came back to the present and looked at her child. She couldn't do it. Raven already began to panic when she felt Donna being taken from her view. She looked up to see Dexter was holding Donna. Raven rose to her feet and met his gaze. He looked concerned for her, but then as more tears rolled down Donna's face, his attention was diverted.
"Hey," Dexter wiped away a tear. "What's wrong?"
"This," Donna held up her elbow, a small cut was giving a small bleed.
"Oh no!" Dexter said in a playful voice. "Why don't we get you a band-aid."
"But those hurt!" Donna protested.
"We'll use a magic bandage," Dexter hoisted her up. "It'll give you no rashes. Okay?"
"Okay dad," Donna whispered. As Dexter walked away, Donna looked back at her mother. Raven remained motionless. She thought by now these memories would go away, but they didn't. Raven felt her hands shake as she touched her face. A small tear was dripping from her cheek.
...
Raven now awoke in the hospital. It was the early hours of the morning. Still dark outside. Her eyes darted around nervously until they met the sights of her daughter across the room huddled in her own bed. Raven let herself relax as she felt the body next to hers stir. She turned herself to find Dexter rubbing his eyes. His blue irises settled themselves upon her violet. He slightly grinned. She couldn't help but return the expression.
Dexter had came the second day. As soon as he heard word from Raven he left for the hospital. She knew he needed to be there. He and Donna had a tight connection. Raven's nerves would be be even more rattled without him. Nothing much has happened, they've only asked Donna questions and took a sample of blood. They all knew they were under surveillance.
"You need to wipe that away," Dexter said softly.
"What?" Raven whispered.
"Your worry," Dexter tucked a piece of violet hair behind his wife's ear.
"I'm not worried," Raven defended. She knew he knew she was lying, but she didn't want to admit it. She was terrified. Her daughter was going through something Raven never wanted anyone else to experience.
"Well I am, a little." Dexter raised his head to glance at Donna before resting his head bay on his pillow. "And I'm not afraid to admit it."
"I'm not afraid," Raven said in a cold tone.
Dexter laughed a little. "Do you think I'm stupid or something?"
"Yes," Raven tried to turn away from him, but he pulled her back. She looked at him with confusion until he pulled her in for an embrace. Raven didn't fight this and buried her head under her chin. The couple stayed that way as they drifted back to sleep.
Donna held the bunny close to her while she slept. The scent of Matt was embedded into the fabric. She was having a dreamless sleep until a hand placed itself over her shoulder. Donna jolted up and tucked the bunny under her blanket quickly. Her eyes looked up to see her mother. At first, her eyes were filled with concern, but then looked like they filled with fear.
She had been always looked at this way. From as long as Donna can remember, Raven would look into her eyes and freeze. It was only a few years ago when it was a rare happening. It always made Donna feel bad. She never understood why it was so hard for her mother to look at her. It just didn't make sense. It made Donna a little angry. She had done nothing wrong, why would Raven avoid her?
"Hey," Raven said after a moment of silence, "They moved you to a different room, but I let you sleep in a little bit. I hope that was alright." Donna nodded. It was about 10. She hadn't slept that much in such a long time. "Why don't you get dressed and come down to breakfast with me and dad. Alright?"
"Sure," Donna said before getting out of her bed. She looked at her new room. It was a single room, so she wouldn't have to share. There was a couch and chair by the wall. It even had its own bathroom and a big window. It was much better than the one she was in yesterday.
"Good," Raven nodded before she left. Donna watched her leave before getting out of bed. As she dressed, Donna couldn't help but wonder what was going on at Ever After High. She had her phone, but no one was leaving any messages. It worried her a little. What could they be so busy with to not wonder about her? Maybe they wanted to give her space, which was understood. But she knew she would call Matt tonight, no matter what.
She wished she had never told her mother about this. It was a bittersweet mistake. Donna was cut off from all her friends, again. At least the first time around she wanted to disown them. It was the same thing over again, except this time there was more at stake. She was getting actual medical attention. The more Donna thought about it the more she was getting angry at her mother.
Donna never had a close relationship with Raven. She remembered as a little girl Raven wouldn't even look at her. When she did, Raven would go into a freeze. She wouldn't move for minutes. She never truly understood why. Donna's eyes were like her grandmother's, but you think she would get passed that since it was her own child, but it never happened. It made Donna feel tied to something she never did.
When she went down to breakfast, the cafeteria was practically empty. She looked to see her parents in the middle of it all. They were laughing about something. It couldn't help but make Donna smile. It felt normal to hear their laughs. It made her think of home. She then sat down next to Raven, a plate of waffles already sitting there waiting for her.
"There she is," Dexter motioned to her plate,"Got you your favorite." He exchanged looks with Raven, then grinned as she looked back down at his plate. He pushed up his glasses to show the slight blush on his cheeks. She wondered what was so significant about Donna's favorite.
"Thank you," Donna reached for the syrup. "What's with all the grins?"
"We were just talking about when we went to school," Raven said as she looked in the distance. Donna studied her face, it looked at peace, recalling happy memories. She looked a lot younger when she was relaxed. "We would always meet up for breakfast, and Dex would always get me my favorite."
"Wow dad," Donna began to eat, "You're such a romantic." Raven laughed at this.
"What?" Dexter raised an eyebrow. "I was romantic."
"I'm not saying you weren't," Raven shook her head,"But to be labeled as a 'romantic?' Its just not the word I would use."
"What would you use then?" Dexter played along.
Raven was quiet for a moment. Donna wondered what she was going to say, but she didn't think of what her mother said. "King of Compassion." They stared at each other for a moment. Then, Dexter grabbed his wife's hand from across the table. All Donna could think about this happy moment, where everything seemed to be normal, all that was missing was Ryder.
The happiness didn't last as long as Donna would have liked. The doctors haven't come with any results, but they wanted to do a test. A test a lot like Raven has been doing with her magic lessons. Only this time, it will be monitored. They'll see what she was seeing. It sounded terrifying. When they had gone to get equipment, Donna tried to remember to breathe. No. Not again.
"Hey," Raven sat next to her daughter. Donna looked straight on to the floor. She wished Matt was here, it would make everything so much easier. Without a response, Raven pushed Donna's brunette bang behind her ear. "Its going to be okay. You have to remember its only a memory. You've done it with me many times. This time you'll get help." Donna looked into her mother's violet eyes. The pupils suddenly became the size of pins. The color had drained from Raven's face. It happened again. She froze. If Donna wasn't so nervous, she would be angry.
Dexter put an arm around Donna. "We're going to be here when you wake up. You just have to get through this, then you'll never have to go through it again." Donna looked at her dad. His blue eyes were filled with hope. She always loved her dad. He cared about her, eyes and all. She reciprocated the small grin. Her body tensed up as she herd the footsteps of the nurse, Celia.
Dexter stood up as Celia entered the room. Donna also rose to her feet, she pulled her jean jacket closer to her for comfort. Celia was wearing green scrubs over her dark skin. Her eyes seemed concerned as she scanned the room. Her voice was shaky when she said, "Please follow me." Donna was the first to follow, but Raven hadn't moved. Dexter grabbed his wife's hand and lifted her to her feet. Raven immediately snapped from the daze and followed.
As they walked through the halls, Donna wondered if Laura was hidden behind one of the many doors. They were all closed even if the room wasn't in use. She figured there weren't many cases like this, so she was probably closer than she thought. Donna wondered why she had never seen her here. For breakfast, lunch, or dinner, Laura was never there.
Donna was placed into a small room with a table to lay on. Celia along with other nurses placed plugs on her forehead. A sliver crown of red and green lights was placed over her head. Donna's nerves were on the rise. She hated the feeling of uncertainty. What she was going to see wasn't going to be good, she knew that for sure. The room was grey and had no windows only a mirror on one wall. She felt like she was in prison.
Most nurses left the room, except for Celia. She looked at Donna with her big brown eyes. "Just lay down, close your eyes, and think of clouds. The main thing is too relax. It'll be over before you know it." Donna nodded and tried to swallow her tears of terror. Her nerves were tingling in her chest as she gave her parents one last look before Celia escorted them out.
As soon as they left, the lights went out. Donna lay back, and looked at the dark ceiling before closing her eyes. She was already in a trance before she had the time to think about clouds. All she remembered was her last shaky breath.
...
There was no usual dream this time. It was much worse.
Donna was standing in a castle. One she had never seen before. The marble walls were decorated with torn red banners. All of the decorations were knocked over. She looked around for anyone, or anything. There was a slight cracking noise. Her ears perked as she followed it to the wall. The marble didn't have any physical damage but there it was getting louder.
She pressed her ear to the wall. It was getting louder with every second. Donna's eyes widened, and she threw herself away from the wall. Briers burst through the white walls. Donna tries to scramble to her feet, but the whole room is shaking. The briers fill the room and encircle her before she even had a second thought.
Flash. Donna wiped her head around. Her hair hit her in the face, but then fell down to her shoulders. Her eyes moved around quickly. Her breath was visible. It was very cold. Around her, was a bubble made of glass. Mirror glass. Donna pressed her hands around the glass. It was thick.
When she looked at herself, she noticed she was no longer herself. Donna was now the Evil Queen. She looked to the other side to see she was now her mother. Her mother was young, and looked terrified. She pressed her hand onto the glass. When she did this, Donna turned back to herself. She then did it to the other side, and her grandmother disappeared.
"The apple doesn't fall far from the tee." The voice. It was back. There was a small laugh a droplet noise echoed from above. Donna looked to see a red apple was falling. Somehow the glass shifted, and Donna was now on the ceiling. The apple had not changed, and it continued to fall to the floor. Donna reached out to grab it. She was in mid air when the apple broke the glass.
The mirror shards flew out along with the apple and Donna. There was nothing but darkness around them. Donna caught the apple and held it to her. Roots began to grow around her fingers. A tree then sprouted itself from the fruit. Bark wrapped itself around Donna.
She was in the dark once again until Donna was ripped from the tree. Donna fell back onto the cold floor. She looked up to see her captor. "This is all your fault." The voice was familiar this time. Donna looked to see Ally, Catherine, and Cassidy.
"What?" Donna whispered as she scrambled to her feet.
"You've betrayed us," Catherine folded her arms. They all turned and began to walk away.
"No!" Donna ran to the bars. She tried to shake them open, but it wouldn't work.
"Don't be too loud," Brandon suddenly appeared.
"Or you'll awake them," Hyde stood next to his brother and pointed up at the ceiling. Donna looked up to see playing cards hanging. They soon disappeared.
"No!" Donna shook the bars again, "Let me out!" A high pitched noise came from behind her. She didn't have the time to think before the cards began to swoop around her, making her loose balance. All together, they pushed her back.
When she fell her vision had gone black. Then, suddenly, her hand was caught. The rain's patter surrounded her. There was little thunder booming in the distance. Donna was dangling from a tower of a castle. She screamed as she held onto the edge. The water sprinkling her fingers made it harder to hang on. One hand dropped, and Donna screamed again.
As her final fingers slipped, Donna's hand was caught by another. Her violet eyes met his blue. Matt's blue. A mint green curl dangled in front of his forehead. A cut bleed across his cheek. Donna felt relief. "Matt!"
"Give me your other hand," Matt instructed. Donna reached for him, but her fingers were black. When their skin touched, her fingers disappeared into dust. She then slipped from Matt's grip and plummeted to the ground.
...
Donna gasped for air as she fell back down to the table. The lights were switched on as Donna breathed heavily. She looked into the mirror to meet her own eyes. This just sent her into a horrified state. She backed away from the table and fell to the floor. She took the headband off of her head and placed it on the ground. She ran her fingers through her hair and buried her face in her knees.
The door opened. "Donna!" Raven and Dexter both rushed in. "Are you alright?" Raven asked as they both lifted their daughter to her feet. Donna looked to each of them. When she made eye contact with Raven, she froze. Donna looked away and looked to the nurses rushing in.
"That was extraordinary!" exclaimed one.
"I've never seen anything like it," called another. Celia grabbed the headset off of the floor.
"I'm alright," Donna finally answered.
"I've never seen you levitate before," Raven said after a moment.
"I was in the air?" Donna recalled hitting the table once she had awoke from the trance.
"About five feet," Celia said, "We'll take a look at the footage and look into it. Right now I need mom and dad, but Donna, rest."
"I'll be fine," Donna nodded, "I just need to make a call."
"It was wild," Donna concluded. She was sitting on a bench in the backyard of the hospital. Often it would be used for certain hours of the day, but now since it was cold, no one wanted to go outside. It was the one place Donna wanted to be.
"I can't believe it," Matt said through the phone. "You didn't have any aftermath?"
"A few tears once I stepped form the room," Donna admitted, "I called as soon as I could. You're my anchor you know."
"I wish I was there."
"No, you don't," Donna shook her head. She looked up at the autumn leaves on the tree. Colors of fall blended so nice together.
"I miss having you next to me when I sleep," Matt said in a quiet voice. Donna could feel a slight blush on her cheeks.
"I do too," Donna said after a moment. "Its a sense of comfort that's just..."
"Unexplainable," they both said at the same time. She laughed a little.
"Well you know not much has happened here. Cassidy's doing better. She told her mom, and she was out of school today. Ally didn't win, but you knew that would happen."
"I wish I could call her," Donna said, "I know my time is limited. Send her my sympathy?"
"Of course," Matt said, "Ally has grown on me a little."
"Does somebody have a new bestfriend?" Donna teased.
"You know you're my number one girl, snoopy," Matt said in a sly way. Again, Donna blushed and bit her lip.
"When you tell everybody this, please don't give them the same detail," Donna said in a serious tone. "I just don't want Ryder to be worried."
"He already is," Matt said simply, "And so am I."
Donna sighed, "I'll be okay. Don't worry."
"That's a lie and you know it," Matt practically cut her off. Donna didn't want to cry during this phone call.
"I will be. I haven't seen any sign of Laura," Donna tried to make him calm down.
"I don't know if that's good or bad," Matt admitted. He sighed, and there was a long pause. "Just don't go snooping around til the weekend. I'm coming to visit."
"You are?" she was taken aback. "I thought you couldn't visit."
"Well I am," Matt said defiantly.
"I'll be looking forward to it." Donna admitted. She knew they probably couldn't stay in the same room together. Her mother would never allow it, but maybe if she never knew...
"I..." Matt trailed off, then sighed. "I miss you."
"I miss you too," Donna smiled. "I better get back before my mother freaks."
"Text me," Matt said with hope.
"As long as you text me first," Donna played. "Bye."
There was a long silence. "Bye."
When Donna returned to her room, her mom was already there. Raven stood to the sound of the door. "Where were you? I just sent Dexter to find you!"
"I was just outside calling M-Ally," Donna defended herself.
"You could've been hurt," Raven shook her head. "I need to be with you more, protect you."
"No!" Donna said before thinking.
"What?" Raven looked at Donna, but not into her eyes.
"You're treating me like a baby. I'm 16 not 2."
"Well we're here for a reason aren't we?"
"Because you wanted to come here! Not me!" Donna took a step forward, her mother still didn't look at her. "This is why I didn't want to tell you. You just worry too much. I'd rather deal with this myself."
"I worry too much?!" Raven laughed a little. "I'm your mother, its my job to protect you."
"Well you're doing a great job so far," Donna said with sarcasm. Raven turned away from her.
"You just don't understand what its like."
"No you don't understand what its like!" Donna's anger was rising through the roof. "This wasn't my choice to be born into this family. You didn't even tell me about grandma. How could you take someone so important out of your daughter's life? Even though she was bad I deserved to know that she died."
"I didn't want to scare you," Raven said in a calm voice. She was facing Donna again, but her eyes didn't connect with her daughter's.
"You can't even look into my eyes without getting scared yourself. I don't understand why you have been so selfish! You've never told me anything about your experiences with her. I know she died, but everyone does. Why was this so different?!"
"Because I killed her!" Raven burst. Donna froze. Her face had softened. Her mother looked into Donna's eyes. Tears were beginning to form into both of their eyes. "I never shared my experiences because there were no good ones. She always wanted me to be on her side. Your grandmother had launched a war. She had even tried to kill me with a knife. I had freed Briar form her holding and she fell on her in time for the blade to go into my mother's chest. I watched the life drain from her eyes. That's why I could never look at you like my daughter, I looked at you like a memory."
Donna had finally understood. The memories. They came back to her too, but were triggered by Donna's eyes. She looked down to the floor to process this. It all made sense now. She wanted to be the opposite of the Evil Queen. Raven sniffled, and Donna looked up to see her mother holding herself as she cried. "I'm so sorry Donna. I promised myself that you would never have to go through something like that. I didn't realize that I was the same as my mother." She looked down and continued to sob.
Donna felt herself unfreeze. She ran to her mom and threw her arms around her. Raven was stiff for a moment, but then returned Donna's embrace. She felt tears form in her own eyes and closed them. Donna held on tightly to Raven. She never wanted her mother to feel that pain ever again. When Dexter returned with a hopeless search, he stared at the pair embracing, and joined in with them. The family was together as one again. Donna wished Ryder could've been there. There was no battle, just family.
