(BP) Christina looks nervous.

(FN) Don't state, narrate.

(TP) Yeah, sis, that's the most basic rule of narration.

(BP) Oh, shut up, Turner!

(MN) Kids!

(FN) Just worry about the story right now.

(BP) Christina was nervous...

...

You can do this, Christy, it's not like it's the most awkward assignment ever. You've had worse.

These thoughts were no reassurance to her. Trying to busy her hands she smoothed her dress and twisted her sleeves while shuffling into the school library.

"Christina!" Briar called with a wave, "Over here"

Gulping slightly, Christina forced a smile and trudged her way over to the cousins, "Hi"

"Good, you're here!" Rosabella looked up from the book she held.

"Yeah, so what do we need to do again?"

Briar dug around her bag before pulling out the instruction sheet. "Research and write a report on a princess or queen NOT related to your stories. The paper must be between five-hundred and 1000 words and you must include a visual aid"

"So a research paper and an art project?" Rosabella looked over her cousin's shoulder, "I can do the writing, you should do the art, Christina"

"I'll make a list and we can-" Briar dozed off and Christina tried not to cringe.

Not my fault, not my fault!

"Briar, Briar!" Rosabella shook the sleeping princess.

"I'M UP!"

"SHHHH!" the librarians ordered harshly

"Sorry," said Briar.

"So, we pick the topic ourselves," Briar was still rubbing her eyes, "The Little Mermaid?" she suggested.

"I was thinking, Persephone? No one talks about her," Rosabella countered, "What do you think, Christina?"

"Um, Persephone is a good choice but she's not technically a queen until later And there isn't much on her much to Cupid's chagrin"

"The Snow Queen? We could talk with Crystal," Briar offered.

Knowing they were going to be there for a while, Christina tried to get comfortable and calm herself, fishing a hairband from her bag she tied her hair into a messy bun and opened a journal to jot the ideas down.

…...

(BP) OOH, here it comes!"

(FN, MN & TP) Broooke.

(BP) Sorry.

...

with their topic decided, The Snow Queen, the trio gathered books and searched the web writing down whatever they found interesting while talking with Crystal over emails. Around lunchtime, it was decided Christina was to do a painting to be presented while the paper was read aloud to the class. It was as Christina bent over the table to reach her journal that Briar let out a gasp that drew her attention.

"Is something wrong, Briar?"

"Is that a tattoo?" Briar pointed to Christina's neck curiously.

"Pixie dust," Christina flushed pulling her hair down to cover it before sheepishly explaining, "It's a birthmark, I uh, don't like to um, show it"

"I think Dad said, Maleficent had the same one on her arm," Briar observed, "Does it mean something?"

"It means that I'm going to be the queen one day, if I want to that is, my family's kinda immortal so..."

"Interesting, can you tell us more?" Rosabella questioned.

"Don't you think we should keep working?"

"I think we've made enough progress for one day, please, what else can you tell us?"

"About my family?"

"Yeah"

"Well, I know my aunt was the result of an arranged marriage but they ended it shortly after her second birthday"

"So your mother has a different father?"

"I guess, I never really thought about it"

Rosabella stood from the table, "There are copies of family trees somewhere, let's see if we can find yours, Christina"

They found what they were looking for in a darkened, dusty alcove of the library, untouched by students or staff.

Forgotten.

With Briar and Christina leaning over her shoulders, Rosabella opened the book and scanned quickly.

Their eyes grew wide with shock.

"Oh, my Godmother!" they cried in unison.

"How?" Rosabella asked.

"Who?" retorted Christina.

The book said Briar and Christina were related but not how. It was as if that detail, that branch of the tree had been wiped from all magical records.

Hastily, the girls gathered their belongings and with the book tucked safely in Christina's bag dashed out of the library.

…...

The door hitting the wall was enough to make Alissa drop the pot of tea she'd been carrying from the kitchen to the sun-room.

"MOM!" Christina flew into the room, her tailwind dragging Briar and Rosabella Beauty with her.

"Butterfly, what's the matter? What happened?"

now, Christina knelt on the floor trying to collect her thoughts, "I, we, they" she said, gesturing wildly to the cousins just behind her.

"Yes?"

"Related"

"What?" Alissa helped her daughter to her feet and helped her to the table pouring tea while trying to get a complete sentence out of her.

"I think what Christina is trying to say is Briar and she are related"

Alissa blinked rapidly, "I'm sorry, what?"

"Book" Christina choked.

"I think Christina's in more shock than me," Briar said, sympathetically patting the hybrid's back while fishing the slim record book from Christina's bag, "here" she passed it to Alissa.

"I...need to contact Mother," said Alissa numbly after reading the record herself, "I think she can explain better"

"Explain?" the three asked but Alissa gave no response other than a half-hearted order for them to stay put.

…...

(TP) Brooke stop tapping!

(BP) sooo close.

(MN &FN) NO SPOILERS

...

Shaggy and Scooby were drawn by the smell of freshly baked cookies upon entering the sun-room, however, they were both taken aback to see Christina and the Beauty cousins sitting at the table each lazily stirring a cup of tea. Spotting an empty chair beside Christina, Shaggy quickly took a seat.

"Like, I didn't think you'd like, be back so early"

"Hi, Shaggy, where'd everyone else?" Christina asked looking around for the rest of the gang or Shaggy's family to make an appearance.

"Mom's napping and everyone else is like, outside," Shaggy explained, "How's your project going?"

"It's on hold"

"Why?"

"Reasons," Christina said quietly, "Confusing reasons"

The group fell quiet until Alissa returned.

"Okay, your Grandmother's on her way here," she paused, "Briar if you need to go or don't feel comfortable-"

"No, it's okay," Briar said, "I want answers too"

"Alright then"

since Shaggy wasn't sure what he could do to help or even what was going on, to begin with, he simply laid a hand on Christina's arm in silent support.

Christina could feel Briar and Rosabella watching her but tried to ignore it counting the seconds until her Grandmother arrived with growing anxiety.

The sooner she got here the better.

"Geez, you all look like you're waiting for a death-sentence", Faybelle sneered as she fluttered in. "Is there any way I can make it worse?"

"Not today, Cousin", Christina huffed with exasperation. "I'm NOT in the mood. Why don't you just go and..."

"Actually, this concerns her too, Christina", Alissa said. "Faybelle should be here for this. But keep your attitude to yourself, young lady!"

"Fine", Faybelle huffed at her auntie "But what's this about?"

"We need answers", Christina said, "from Grammy."

"Answers about what, Christina my little Love-Bat?", Maleficent asked as she swept regally into the room.

"This," Christina grabbed the open book from the table and presented to her grandmother, "Explain this"

Maleficent sighed, "I knew I should have disposed of this myself after the last time," she glanced at Alissa.

"is it bad?" Christina dared to ask.

"In a sense," Maleficent said as she took a seat, "As you know, Lucinda and Alissa don't share the same father. My marriage was one of necessity a way to produce heirs but it wasn't happy, not even cordial. I often fled to the Moors for refuge. In those days there was no thorn wall and humans could come and go as they pleased. The only one brave enough to do so was a castle stable boy. He treated me with the respect I couldn't find anywhere else and swept me off my feet. I thought he loved me..."

Maleficent paused to take a deep breath.

"We spent one night together when I woke I knew right away that I was pregnant I turned to tell him but both he and my wings were gone. Stephan had stolen them to become king"

Briar gasped.

Rosabella's jaw dropped.

Christina stayed silent.

"You mean my grandfather?" Briar managed after a few minutes.

"Yes"

"There's a room," Rosabella muttered.

"What?" Christina questioned.

"There's a room," Briar caught on, "A room that grandpa won't let us go into"

"I'm lost" Alissa confessed.

"I think he still has your wings," Briar told Maleficent.

"Hang on!" Christina interjected, "What does this all mean?"

"I am Aurora's older half-sister which makes you and Briar-"

"Cousins" the two finished together.

"I found out when I was in high school but Grimm kept me from telling people"

"He isn't stopping you anymore, Mom"

"You're right, Butterfly" Alissa realized, "Mom?"

"I have no issue with you reaching out"

"I'll write her a letter"

"I don't see how this concerned me," Faybelle snipped, "If anything it concerns, Mom" she stood and flew away.

"She's going to tell Aunt Lucinda"

"Lucinda's never going to shut up about it"

"No more secrets," Alissa commented as her way of explanation.

Christina turned back to the Beauty cousins, "So, what now?"

"Back to our project?"

"Wanna move to my room?"

"Lead the way"

…...

(BP) That's it? They just learned something life-changing!

(FN) it's not the end, Brooke.

(MN) That's for sure.

..

Her mother was still drafting letters. Her father was busy being moral support which left Christina to process on her own. Briar and Rosabella had tried to continue their project but the three couldn't focus. Their minds each drifting back to the connection that Christina shared with Briar. Since it was getting late the princesses returned to school and it was agreed they'd continue their project in class on Monday.

Now. Christina sat on the floor of her room, absentmindedly stroking Prince.

"A lot of big changes, boy," she muttered.

The young dragon looked at her quizzically before flipping over so she could rub his belly.

"Christina?"

"Hey, Shaggy," she smiled weakly, "I thought you were polishing off the last of the cookies with Scooby?"

"Like, I was but Mom said I'd like, spoil my dinner so she made me stop"

"Oh, that makes sense"

"Sugie wants to know if she could borrow your atlas? She's curious about it"

"Of course she can and so can Velma," Christina smiled as the book floated to where Shaggy stood, "They don't have to be afraid to ask"

"Like, I'll remind them" Shaggy laughed, "Are you okay, Christina?" he questioned noticing the distant look in her eyes.

"Just processing," she sighed.

"Is there anything I can do?"

"No, I'll be okay, Shaggy go spend some time with the others"

Shaggy opened his mouth to protest only to clamp it shut with a nod and leave pulling the door behind him. It didn't close, however so the wolves pushed it open plodding inside the room, panting heavily, their fur caked with dirt and leaves.

"Okay, you three need baths"

Christina herded the trio into her bathroom and set to work trying to wrangle Thunder into the tub.

"C'mon boy today is not the day to fight with me!" she picked him up and placed him into the tub, "The cast list goes out Monday, earlier than it was supposed to and Duchess is going to be hounding me all day! Or, throwing herself at Arthur"

Thunder glanced at her, seeming to register something was wrong he calmed down and let Christina work.

"Thank you"

…...

Christina's locker was slammed in her face. If she hadn't jumped back her hair would've caught.

"Duchess," she gasped, tucking her hair behind her ears, "Please don't do that"

"Why am I not the lead?" Duchess demanded while Christina opened her locker again.

"Ask the teacher, she made the casting choices, I just consulted," Christina said plainly, trying to busy herself with her clothes but she could only smooth her dress so many times.

"But, I should get the part everyone knows I'm better than Justine!"

Christina rolled her eyes, an act which only irritated Duchess more, "Again, go talk to the teacher"

Duchess moved to slap Christina only for Shaggy to catch her wrist with a deep growl, "I don't think so"

Duchess may have been scared but having caught sight of Arthur through the corner of her eye she ran off after him.

"Thanks, Shaggy," Christina grinned.

"I have no idea where that like, came from," Shaggy confessed, raking a hand through his hair.

"You seem to be having a lot of those moments lately," Christina observed, gathering her books and placing them in her bag. "Maybe you should talk with someone?"

"Maybe but who-"

"Hi guys," Clawdeen walked up behind them, Duncan at her side, "What was that?"

"Duchess being Duchess," Christina rolled her eyes, "Come on, time for class"

…...

(BP) what is going on with Shaggy?

(TP) Were you even paying attention, sis?

(BP) Yes!

(MN) The clues are there, Brooke.

(FN) Let's just say Shaggy's more than he appears to be.

(BP) But, he's already a werewolf.

(TP) You'll figure it out, Brooke even though it might take you a couple of chapters.

(BP) Humph, can we go back to the story, please?

...

Arthur White had been crisscrossing the halls of Ever After High in search of his secret girlfriend, Raven Queen when Duchess Swan cut him off, twirling up to him.

"Uh, hi, Duchess," Arthur greeted, discreetly checking his phone, if he wasn't fast enough he'd miss Raven completely and there was a very important question he needed to ask her.

"You won't believe what happened to me, Arthur!" Duchess said melodramatically, latching onto him.

"What?" he asked, true it was expected of him as a Prince to care about people and their problems but this was Duchess who threw herself at every male student who was wealthy and had a fairy tale with a better ending than her own.

"I was passed over for the leading role!"

"And what can I do about it?"

"Help me feel better?" Duchess batted her eyes, hand trailing across his chest, "That is what you do, help Damsels in distress?"

Hoping Blondie wasn't nearby with her mirrorpad, Arthur untangled himself from the ballerina and gave a shaky answer as to why he couldn't and a suggestion to maybe ask Hopper for help.

He was satisfied by the momentary look of disgust that ghosted across her face.

Hurrying away, he checked his phone again and saw that he now only had a few precious minutes to speak with Raven who was hopefully in the castleteria still.

But he knew this wouldn't be the last time Duchess crossed his path today.

…...

(BP) Duchess is desperate.

(TP) Thank you Captain Obvious!

(MN &FN) Kids!

...

"I finished it!" Alissa said happily, sliding it into the envelope.

"I knew you could, dear," Radu smiled, "Are you going to send it magically?" he questioned, watching Alissa seal it with her stamp.

"No," she stood from the table, pushing open the window, "Diablo's taking it"

"Von't Flora, Fauna and-"

"No, Diablo can avoid them now, trust me," Alissa laughed handing the letter to the raven in question.

"Vhat now?" Radu asked after Diablo had flown off.

"Now, we wait"