Viveka holds her breath, covering her mouth with her hands. Tears well up in her eyes as she watches heterochromatic eyes fly open; the left green and the right blue. A nice charming little touch Viktor added as a nod to both of them, it would appear. Her green eyes and his blue. Viveka watches Frankie—their daughter—take in as much of the ceiling as she's able.
"Oh. My. Gore!" She shoots up like a shaken beaker startling both of them, "that stain on the ceiling corner looks just like Lil' Mummy's back bandage tattoo graft!" She shrieks.
Viveka looks at her husband, "...what?"
"I..." Viktor clears his throat, "I... extracted data from students involving the brainwaves of teenage ghouls of every known species."
"You—Oh Viktor! Teenage ghoul brain!?" They both look at Frankie humming to herself as she rocks from side to side, "are you certain that was a good idea?"
"No. However, it was the only one I had! Frankie is a teenager..." They continue to stare at her, "we have no hexperience dealing with teenagers. We were created as adults. I wanted our daughter, our Frankie, to seamlessly fit in among her peers like her stitches seamlessly patch her skin together." Sighing, Viveka puts a hand to her head. "Frankie—" The teen turns her head to him, "—I boolieve I implanted knowledge of us into your brain, but just to make certain—" He clears his throat, "—do you know who I am?"
"Absatively. Like a positive charge. Viktor 'Frightening' 'Franken' Stein. Creation of the 'mad' human scientist Victor 'Franken' Stein but 'Viktor' is spelled with a C as the humans do it. There is a common misconception about 'Franken-Stein' being the name of the 'monster' rather than the human 'creator.'"
Viveka gasps, "that's...! H-How much data did you input into her brain?" Viktor replies with a one-shoulder shrug. Putting a hand on Frankie's shoulder, she turns to Viveka. "Do you know who I am, Frankie?"
"Viveka 'Lively' 'Franken' Stein. Another creation of Doctor Victor With A C Franken-Stein, actually created before Viktor but activated after. Victor With A C was more interested in a momster's touch but couldn't figure out just how to get Viveka working."
"Yes, yes... all of that is... important, and also something I did not know, but do you know who I am... to you?"
"I don't understand the question."
Viktor puts one hand on his chest and the other on Frankie's other shoulder, "Viveka and I are your parents, Frankie."
Frankie's eyes narrow in thought, "right. Parents. Got it. Mom and dad. You are my creators in the literal sense, huh?" As they help Frankie turn to get off the bed, her left hand detaches from her wrist, limply falling into Viktor's hand. "Oops." She chuckles. "Guess I gotta hand it to you, huh dad?"
"Wait a second..." Viveka furrows her eyebrows, "I've heard that joke before."
Viktor reattaches Frankie's hand but her pointer and pinkie finger fall off. "Oh dear. Let me just get you new ones." His only remaining fingers are blue so he and Viveka each stitch on one Frankie's hand.
"I like how asymmetrical this is." She puts her left hand in the air hexamining it. "Ooh. Can I take a gander at myself? See your handi-work?" They both help Frankie off the bed and Viktor helps her take her first unsteady steps over to the mirror. "This is me?"
The teen tenderly touches her face, "yes, this is all you Frankie." Viveka says.
She smiles at her reflection, "you know... it's weird. The Doctor created you two to be his parents but technically you're his kids." She chuckles, "then you two turn around and make an actual child. Kinda full circle, right?"
Viveka's eyes widen then she grabs Viktor by the arm, "you didn't...!" She hisses. Viktor rubs the back of his neck with his free hand, "you did! You implanted some of the doctor's brainwaves into Frankie?!"
"I needed a spark!" Viktor defends, "something different to define her. The Doctor was one of the few humans allowed in this realm before the great zombie migration. He was ridiculed and subjected to unimaginable horrors by humans and monsters alike, and throughout it all he still persevered! That perseverance is an admiral quality to implant. Some of his... quirks just came along with it. Plus, it'll..." He clears his throat, "be the purrfect balance for offsetting the teenage ghoul brain."
"Or it could counteract and make things worse."
"Either way, her personality is all her own. Even The Doctor couldn't do that."
"Hey guys!" They both flinch as Frankie turns to them. "Sorry for spooking you but I just had the most voltageous idea! Ready?" They both hesitantly nod. "What if we made like a pet or something? Every family needs one of those, right? Throw in a couple of bolts here, a couple of bolts there, some stitching in a few key spots, some spare skin grafts—" She rubs her hands together, "something cute and cuddly but destructive and deadly! Ooh! Like a narwhal! Or a werecat!" Frankie gasps, "a narwcat!" She turns back to the mirror prattling off random narwhal and werecat facts.
Viveka glares at Viktor who sighs heavily.
💭 ?
Apple sticks close to her father as they walk the fairgrounds. "Attention future students of Waldek Academy, please report to the counselor castle – located adjacent of Headmaster Queen White's castle – for class registration and photo identification charms." The Fairy Queen announces via megaphone, flying overhead.
Waldek? Apple shakes her head. Of course her mother would name a school after herself without anyone knowing she named it after herself. But her mother hardly went by her real name anymore. She built her legacy as "Snow White," the nickname the huntsman dubbed her when he spared her life, and that's the persona she became. Her father told her, her mother used to be different when they first married. It took them two years and a baby on the way to realize they knew next to nothing about each other and divorced. Apple grew up in the castle with both parents for almost ten years, no one other than the dwarves knew about the divorce and they were amicable enough with each other that there was no outward change in behavior. It was only when her father began seeing someone and considered remarrying was when their divorce became the talk of the kingdom. (And naturally, Snow White made it all about herself.)
The blonde's phone pings and she takes it out of her purse pocket to read the hext. "Apps, saved you a room." She reads aloud. "Oh! Holly found me a room." She pauses, "a room? Why do I need a room?"
"For those of you who have yet to find a room ticket." The Fairy Queen says via megaphone, "please see Fairy Godmother at the counselor castle."
Furrowing her eyebrows, Apple hexts Holly and gets a reply almost instantly, "we're to live on the isles while attending the school? Wait a minute! W-What's going to happen to my weeks with you if I am to live here? Has mother bitten another poison apple? This is hardly fair to you!"
"Don't fret, Orchid, if you can't leave I'm sure I can visit you. Your mother never breathed a word of this 'pet project' of hers and the dwarves were just as clueless."
Apple stomps her foot, "'don't fret?' How could you be so calm? She cannot do this to you! I will not allow her to do this to you! I am going to talk to her." She looks around then grabs a fairy that flies by by the foot, "excuse me." She releases the fairy. "I apologize for the abruptness. Would you be so kind as to tell Queen or Headmistress or whichever title she chooses to go by White – the... whatever she is to this place, her daughter requests a word with her? At her earliest convenience?"
The fairy taps their chin, "I'm certain I can but Headmaster Queen White is very busy."
"Oh, I understand. Truly, I do. Please ask her if she is too busy for her daughter, is she also too busy for someone who knows the history behind this school's name?" The fairy eyes the blond suspiciously before nodding and flying away.
💭 ?
The "counselor castle" was a modest-ish looking grey brick building with some fancy crystal-like flags on it. Daniella wouldn't consider herself best suited to play pseudo counselor but if "Headmaster" Queen White was the other option, Daniella would gladly accept her new role. She and Dracula have been seeing students for the past six hours and the blonde doubts they're halfway done.
Daniella knows Snow White is ill-equipped for the sheer amount of students who applied to the school.
A girl with black hair with white streaks classically walks into the office then penchés, kicking the door closed. Dracula and Daniella exchanges a curious glance. "Name?" Daniella asks.
"Duchess. Swan." The girl spins then pliés into her seat. She crosses her left leg over her right, then crosses her right leg over her left.
"Who was your letter addressed to?" Dracula asks.
The black-haired girl hums moving from side to side in her seat, "my mother Odette. I boolieve she has received the unfurtunate epithet: 'Swan Queen?' Furever after cursed because men are lower than lake scum?" She maintained eye contact with Dracula while saying that and the vampire coughs, adjusting his collar.
"Ms. Swan." Her brown eyes flit over to Daniella. "What are your interests, so we can spelect your spellectives?"
"Curious. If you must know, I am interested in dancing. All. Kinds. Music too. Gotta have something to dance to. I prefer dancing solo. Best way not to ruffle any feathers."
💭 ?
"Ms. Thorn, what are your interests?"
Faybelle's wings flutter as she hovers above the seat hexting, "does playing pranks count?" She asks, not bothering to look up from her phone.
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"Ms. Hattington... Hatter, was it?" Madeleine nods enthusiastically. "What are your interests so that we may spelect the appropriate spellectives?"
The blue-haired teen taps her chin, "making new friends!" She ticks that off with her pointer finger, "throwing tea parties!" Another tick with her middle finger, "inviting my new friends to a tea party!" She ticks off her ring finger.
💭 ?
Dracula clears his throat, "Ms. Queen."
Raven sighs, "yes?"
"What are your interests?" Daniella asks, "we need to spelect your spellectives."
"Oh. Okay. I'm interested in..." Raven pauses, looking between them like she ate a raw sourberry, "I'm interested in... I—I'm-I-I. I don't know what I'm interested in!" She puts her hands to her head and the miniature glass sculpture of Snow White on the desk shatters. Dracula and Daniella startle and Raven turns around, "did I do that? I-It wasn't on purpose! My powers... I make things hexplode when I get stressed. D-Do I have to pay for that?"
Dracula sits up, "Ms. Queen, why don't we... give you a day to figure out your interests then come back to us?"
Raven stands, "yeah..." Daniella's eyes widen as the shattered glass starts congregating on the floor. "Take some time to think." She nods, "thanks." As she exits the office, the glass stops moving.
Daniella glances at the new, unfinished sculpture of a hand holding a fireball.
💭 ?
"Ms. Cheshire Cat—"
"Just Cheshire. Like we call you just 'Ella,' right?" Daniella stares at the catgirl staring back at her.
💭 ?
Prince Daring Charming walks in the office blowing a kiss at all the future students swooning in the hallway before closing the door. He takes out a gold compact mirror and checks his reflection. "Mr. Charming, welcome."
"The pleasure's all yours." The blond says blowing a kiss at his reflection before taking a seat.
"Mr. Charming..." Dracula begins watching the teen check his teeth in the mirror, running his tongue over his top teeth. Dracula glances at Daniella who gives a one-shoulder shrug, "Mr. Charming, what are your interests?"
Daring lowers his compact, "other than myself?" He replies with a blinding smile. The two of them squint nodding. The blond sighs. "Well, I suppose anything 'prince-ly' would suffice. No, no... not 'prince-ly' I suppose 'king-ly' if I am to be future king. That would appease my parents. Oh and non-contact sports." He gestures to his face, "I want to emphasize non-contact. I'm obviously a catch from head to toe but don't want the beautiful wrapping getting damaged. Can I go now?"
"We need to take your photo for the identification charm."
The blond perks up, "just point me in the direction of the camera!" Daniella does so and the blond smiles with a wink when the shutter flashes. "When do I get to see it?"
"When you receive your schedule. Thank you, Mr. Charming." Dracula dismisses him. Daring gives them both finger guns as he walks out the door he opens the door and pats his sister on the back before leaving the room whistling.
The blond pauses and turns around, Darling sighs then closes the door before Daring can say anything. She takes the newly vacated seat with a blank expression.
"Ms. Charming, welcome, what are your interests?"
The platinum-blonde squints, "that's a rather vague question."
Dracula does a double-take. "We're trying to spelect your spellectives." Daniella cuts in.
Darling continues staring at them with narrowed eyes, "I see. Very well." She pauses, "are my parents ...going to find out about this?" When Daniella and Dracula shake their heads Darling sighs in relief. "My interests don't involve me 'waiting around' for a 'prince' to 'save me' from a curse or a dragon or a calamity or an arranged marriage or a whatever after! I want to be my own savior if I need saving. I want to have an adventure no one dictates! My interests are: swordfighting, rock climbing, dragon riding, roller derby. Ooh! Do you have fair-tasy football here? I've played casketball before. It's very enlightening. There are so many sports throughout all the realms! I want to try them all." She pauses then rubs the back of her neck, blushing slightly. "sorry, as you can tell I don't get to talk about this. My parents are too busy writing up dowries for me." Dracula and Daniella stare at her teary-eyed. "U-Uh...?"
💭 ?
"Ms. Hearts... what are your interests?"
"Presently, it is dismantling the 'golden' rooms and their tickets." The paper in the black-haired teen's hand slices in half. Dracula and Daniella exchange an alarmed glance.
💭 ?
"Ms. Hood, was it?" Cerise nods at Dracula, "what are your interests?"
"Why do you need to know my interests? If you don't mind me asking?"
"It's to spelect your spellectives." Daniella replies.
"I..." The brunette subconsciously adjusts the collar of her hood, "I'm interested in ...learning." As the brunette looks down frowning, Dracula and Daniella briefly share a glance.
💭 ?
Apple walks into the room and looks around. "Welcome, Ms. White, have a seat." The blonde does hesitantly. "We need to know your interests so we can spelect the appropriate spellectives.
"Ah. Makes sense. I was raised to be interested in all things regal. I am going to be queen of Locken kingdom once my mother officially steps down." Apple's eyebrows furrow, "if she ever steps down. Which she probably won't while she's still alive. I'm also interested in learning how to break curses. You know what, let's just call that one an interest in magic."
💭 ?
"Welcome. What's your name and who was your letter addressed to?"
The blue-haired teen plops down in the seat. "I am Crystal Winter, my letter was addressed to my mother 'The Snow Queen.' Not to be confused with 'Queen Snow White.'" Daniella and Dracula nod. Crystal claps her hands together, "what else do you need to know?"
"What are your interests?" Dracula asks. Crystal tilts her head to the left, "it's in order to spelect your spellectives."
"Ah. Uh... let's see. I love making new friends! But I guess that wouldn't really help. Uh... I like creating things with my ice powers? That counts, right?"
💭 ?
"Ms. O'Hair, yes?" The purple-haired girl nods, "what are your interests?"
"What?"
"Your interests." Dracula repeats, "it's in order to spelect your spellectives."
The girl blows her blonde bangs out of her face, "hair."
"Can you be a bit more... specific?"
The girl frowns, "my interest lies in doing hair. I want to open my own hair salon some day. Holly won't let me experiment with her hair so—" She gestures to her head, "gotta try it on myself. And I guess being here would allow me to work on all sorts of types of hair! You do have like cosmetic or beauty related classes right? Like sign me the hell up."
Dracula and Daniella ask her several more questions and after she's taken her picture, the purple-haired teen exits the office and her twin sister enters. The purple-haired teen pats her sister on the shoulder and there's a brief hexchange between the twins before the blonde enters the room and takes a seat her sister previously vacated seat.
"Hello."
"Ms. O'Hair. Welcome. Who was your letter addressed to?"
"Uh... 'Rapunzel.' Queen 'Rapunzel.'"
Daniella nods, "okay and what are your interests so we may spelect your spellectives."
The blonde blows out a breath, "whew booy. My interests. Hm. I guess... I'm interested in storytelling. I love learning about people's story chapters and hearing all the details of their lives! Being shut up in that tower gave me and my sister plenty of time to read about the stories the Grimm brothers have put on paper. And even the stuff other famed storytellers have written. I'm so hexcited to be here! Can you tell how hexcited I am to be here?" Dracula and Daniella nod slowly.
💭 ?
"Ms. Wolf, what are your interests?"
"That's an easy one. Fashion. All kinds of fashion. Well, not all kinds because some fashion – especially some coming from these princesses and queens – is really questionable." Clawdeen puts both hands over her mouth, staring wide-eyed at Daniella who stills her movement with the pen in her hand.
💭 ?
Draculaura walks into the office as Dexter Charming leaves shaking his head, mumbling to himself as he cleans his glasses. "Hi, dad." She takes a seat, resting her trusty parasol by her feet.
"Hello, Moonlight. Have you found a room yet?"
"Oh yes! My roommate is named Blondie. She's a nor—mian. Human." The vampire corrects, sending a nervous glance to Daniella who either doesn't notice the slip up or chose to ignore it. "She took the bed closer to the window so I could avoid sunlight during the day."
"How thoughtful of her. And you've been staying out of direct sunlight?"
"Naturally." She taps the bat-shaped sunglasses on her head.
Daniella clears her throat, "I apologize for interrupting, but we still have plenty of other students waiting for their classes."
"Oh, yes. Right." Dracula nods and Draculaura nods alongside him, "what classes do you want to have?"
"Ooh. Well, what are my choices?"
💭 ?
Ashlynn walks in the room, sidestepping Beauty's daughter, Rosabella, who leaves with a heavy sigh and head shake. "Oh. Hi, mom."
"Hi." The blonde takes a seat. "I know them but why don't we tell Dracula your interests so we're all on the same page?"
"Sure. I love shoes! I mean, they are the werecat's pajamas. They complete an ensemble. They highlight. What's not to love about them?"
Daniella chuckles, "I meant your school-based interests, Ash, we need to spelect your spellectives."
"Oh." The blonde instantly deflates, "I don't suppose there's a shoe-based class...?" Both Dracula and Daniella shake their heads. "Didn't think so..." She mutters.
💭 ?
"Ms—" Dracula tilts his head to the left, "'Godmother?'" The blue-haired teen in front of them nods.
"Daughter of The Fairy Godmother, right hand to the Fairy Queen. I mean, as far as titles go I'd be Godmother trainee but—" She trails off with a shrug.
"Interesting." Daniella begins. "What are your interests? We need to spelect your spellectives."
"Bettering the realms through magic. My mother helped you out and I wanna do what she did! I don't get what that Raven girl's hangup is with not—okay I get her specific hangup but she doesn't have to ruin things for everyone else! Sometimes you gotta bite the sunflower seed to crack it open. Chrysalis' don't just appear, it takes 'em time to form. Some creatures are not meant to have life well."
💭 ?
Snow White puts a hand to her head. This... is a disaster! Several fights have broken out over gold rooms. Fairies flying around are triggering allergies all over. A fire elemental would-be student reportedly lit their would-be dorm on fire, and that fire spread throughout the whole floor leaving dozens of other would-be students without rooms. A would-be student nearly died because their helmet got punctured accidentally by fairy dust and all their water ran out. (And she doesn't understand how that was possible!?)
The school is hilariously understaffed and overpopulated. Her ungrateful daughter arrived and already began making threats! (Which, under any other circumstance... Snow White would be proud but not when it's against her! And certainly not now!)
There is a four to one ratio of non-human to human students. Which is something else she was criminally unprepared for.
But the worst of all? Poseidon.
Poseidon who's been pushing this safe haven for the water breathing individuals who couldn't breathe air. A place they could just be, without water helmets. Now considering his daughter is among the list of individuals, it's... understandable. (She's done all she could to make sure Apple had a comfortable, fitting for royalty life in spite of her... quirk.) It's just frustrating as hell for her to have him come in and muck things up but—he was like 220cm and predominantly muscle. Who would argue?
Poseidon has his arms out wide, "...in just a few short days, we'll have an aquatic dorm to suit my fellow water breathers!" The crowd of water breathing... creatures cheers; some wearing water helmets and some not, "or aquatic attachments for those who don't wish to change rooms. And I have been given a position among the staff to make sure nothing goes belly up."
What!? Snow White turns to Beauty who gives her a "what can you do about it?" look. Well, at least that's one headache she won't be blamed for if something goes wrong. She's gonna have to start delegating so she can take a massage break.
"Mr. Poseidon, what are the aquatic students supposed to do in the meantime?" The ...whatever he is, raises his hand and water comes out of nowhere and neatly and definitely magically sways in a rectangle behind him.
Then he raises his other arm and another gust of water appears and magically forms a rectangle. "Saltwater on the left. Freshwater on the right." The crowd cheers diving into the large aquatic rectangles.
Hm. Poseidon mentioning plunging the islands into the sea seems more of a serious threat now that she's seen a fraction of what he can do in person.
"If we move the hedgehog farm to the apricot field and the apricot field to the aptly named shallow valley, we'd have the perfect spot for the aquatic house, Mr—? Lord? Poseidon?"
"Just Poseidon is fine, no reason to worry about frivolous titles." The fairy nods. "I wish to speak to the Fairy Queen before any movements are made."
"Of course. I shall relay that to them." Then the fairy disappears in a puff of pink sparkles. Poseidon coughs then waves the lingering fairy dust away.
Gil squirms watching his fellow freshwater monsters swim about in a rectangular block of water. Granted it was created by Poseidon but even if he the king of the deep he was still a saltwater monster. Gil gulps, causing some bubbles to blow to the top of his helmet. Poseidon's daughter was standing (sort of) outside the saltwater block of water with her helmet on, tail perched on a scooter.
Even the freshwater monsters revere Poseidon, though not as much as their king, Neptune.
Gil frowns as he stares at Poseidon talking to his daughter. He doesn't get it. According to his parents,. saltwater creatures can breathe air due to their additional organs. Unless Poseidon did the unthinkable and had a baby with a freshwater monster, there is no reason his daughter has to wear that helmet. Wait. Even a half saltwater, half freshwater monster would be able to breathe air... or would they? It's so unheard of he doesn't know.
This is confusing. Almost as confusing as his presence here entirely. He was top student at his previous school. Why bring him out of that environment? And to here? His parents are such sticklers for keeping him away from saltwater monsters, telling tales of how horrible they are. Speaking as if they were the worst thing to come out of the sea. Saltwater monsters were responsible for krakens, hybrid monsters, jellyfish, whales! And many, many more sorts of undersea horrors! This has to be some mistake. Or a punishment but he doesn't remember doing anything wrong. Maybe if he goes to speak to Queen Headmaster White he can go back home?
Gil watches half the aquatic creature population use mobility devices so they can traverse on land. Gil was fortunate enough to be born with legs rather than a tail or tentacles. His parents' tentacles always got caught in things.
Seeing enough, Gil turns to leave. When he turns around, a wheelchair zooms by nearly rolling over his feet. He flails and trips over a tentacle falling forward until another tentacle grabs him by the base of his helmet preventing said helmet from cracking all over the cemented floor. "You okay there, Mate?" An unfamiliar (beautiful) voice asks. Gil turns his head to see the most beautiful creature he's ever laid eyes upon, crouching to his eye level, giving him a concerned look. (He's sure his helmet fogged up slightly just by looking at them.) The beauty before him has curly blonde hair with blue streaks, pale blue scales, and puffer fish pink aquablot lipstick (the same brand his mother swears by). The beauty's big deep sea green eyes search his face before looking up, nodding, then standing up.
Then Gil is suddenly albeit slowly being brought to his feet. There's another beautiful creature, this one is purple with yellow streaks on their face and jet black hair with pink streaks; also curly. They're also... attached to the pink and yellow tentacles, that both tripped and prevented him from falling on his helmet, respectively. This creature – while as beautiful as their friend – isn't looking at him with concern. Their four arms are folded over their body and their eyes are narrowed. "Watch where you're walking." They hiss, "you bruised my tentacle."
Gil eyes the yellow tentacle hanging limply compared to the others then clears his throat when he realizes he was just blatantly staring at a...whatever they are. "S-Sorry about that. A-And save you—I mean thank you for... saving me from that fall." The four-armed creature rolls their eyes while their friend giggles – and that is the single most beautiful sound Gil has ever heard and he once had a siren practice her solo right in front of him.
The blonde elbows the black-haired creature who rolls their eyes again. "Glad you're alright but you should be a bit more careful, yeah? Not everyone's got tentacles and quick reflexes." The black-haired creature puts their hands around their head imitating glass shattering.
Gulping, Gil nods. "Y-Yeah. Got it."
"Take care, Mate." The blonde goddess says with a wave as they walk off. Well, the black-haired creature is struggling to walk on the ground with their tentacles. But either way they both laugh at something the black-haired creature says, leaning into each other, as they walk off.
Okay, so Gil won't be so hasty writing this place off and bothering Queen Headmaster White. She's probably super busy anyhow. Plus, he's sure his parents had a good reason for enrolling him into this school. And it might've walked off toward the counselor castle.
💭 ?
"You're... leaving?"
"I thought you'd be relieved, My Little Hexling! I simply wanted to see if this 'school' was legit and it's looking that way. I'd stay but I have curses to cast and potions that need selling. You know how it is." Raven nods slowly, "I'll be in touch." She clutches Raven's face in her hands. "Love you, Hexling."
"Love you too mom."
"Stay chaotic." Raven sighs and her mother releases her face, "to my new Wonderlandian friends, it's been a royal pleasure! Take care of my little hellraiser." Raven, Kitty, and Madeleine all wave watching The Evil Queen be whisked away by fairy bubbles.
Kitty hums. "Evil or not, that was a stylish exit."
"Your mother didn't seem that evil to me."
"And believe us, we know evil."
"That was reconnaissance mode. I guarantee the next time you see her, she'll be up to her feathered cape collar in evil ploys."
"Is that what that was?" Madeleine asks. "I think I saw Lizzie's mom in one but it was with wonderduck feathers."
"Those things are a basketedbitch to groom." Kitty mutters. The blue-haired teen beside her nods in agreement.
"The more I hear you two mention Wonderland, the more intrigued I am about there."
"You'd love Wonderland!" Kitty says clapping her hands together. "No one would be harassing you for not wanting to be like your mom, that's for sure."
The purple-haired teen spots something red hanging from a nearby bush and picks it up. "What is this?"
"Looks like a room ticket!" Madeleine chirps.
"Mads, we need to find room tickets too." Kitty says and the blue-haired teen nods in agreement. "They're supposed to be 'all over,' right? Be right back~" Kitty disappears in a flurry of pink glitter, leaving only her smile briefly before that disappears too.
Madeleine cups her hands around her mouth, "meet us at the enchanted smoothie shop with the coming soon sign on it!" The blue-haired teen moves her hands, "come on! Let's see where your room is! Hopefully, I'll find my room ticket along the way. Ooh! Wouldn't it just be spelltacular if we ended up roommates?"
"Yeah, it would be." Madeleine claps her hands as they start walking.
The red ticket dorm building is a tall brown building with a red door. Madeleine looked all over; every bush, every tree, every cement block on the ground, every person. Nothing. Not one single scrap of paper was to be found outside. She dejectedly shuffled alongside Raven who tries to console her with a pat on the back. "I hate seeing you like this, Madeleine. I got it. I will personally make it my mission to help you find your room. And not just any room either, your perfect room with all its Wonderlandian chaos."
The blue-haired teen gasps putting her hands over her mouth. "You're the best." She whispers removing her hands.
"Maddie!" The blue-haired teen's teacup hat starts overflowing with tea and the mouse climbs out of Madeleine pocket and up her green and white gingham patterned bouffant dress all the way to her hat to pour the excess tea out of the cup. As Madeleine turns around a blur of white tackles her in the chest. Raven gasps then stares at the rabbit nuzzling the blue-haired teen. Huh.
"Raven, this is Bunny!" Ears twitching, "Bunny" looks up at Raven with wide eyes. "It's okay! Raven is a friend. A really good one. She's the one who declared we are more than our parents stories retold!" Raven rubs the back of her neck, blushing slightly. "Oh! Also, she's not a queen. It's just her surname."
The rabbit inquisitively tilts their head.
Raven awkwardly waves at Bunny with her left hand, still rubbing the back of her neck with her right hand. In a poof of white mist, Bunny turns into a girl the same height as Madeleine with pink skin, white hair, blue-green eyes, and large white rabbit ears poking out of her head, and a small black hat on her head over the bottom of her left ear. She's wearing a pinstripe black and white two-piece suit. "H-Hello." She says, waving back just as awkward. "Maddie, have you seen Lizzie or Kitty anywhere? I've looked all over the isles. Like all the isles."
"Kitty's fine she—" Madeleine squints, "what's that on your shirt?"
Blinking, Bunny looks down spotting a purple piece of ripped paper sticking out of her shirt collar. "Huh. Hadn't noticed that." She takes it out of her collar. "Oh! It's a room ticket. I must've run into it without realizing. I made a new friend! Her name is Venus. She's a plant monster. Her parents were mistaken for the isle's shrubbery but I helped her find them before they were... watered." She clears her throat, "they needed emergency medical attention, however. There was bit of a pruning incident." Madeleine grimaces, "she was going to help me find you guys but I told her to stay with her parents. We exchanged phone numbers though!"
"That's great! I can't wait to meet her." Bunny nods in agreement, "let's help Raven find her room, then we'll find your room."
"Got it. Wait, what about Kitty and Lizzie?"
"Hm? Kitty is looking for a room ticket for herself. I told her to meet us at the enchanted smoothie shop with the coming soon sign. I... I haven't seen Lizzie since we got split up, and to be honest I'm a bit worried. What if she's on a different isle?"
"Don't worry!" Bunny pats her on the shoulders. "We can look for Lizzie as we find our rooms. Hold on a spell, you never mentioned finding your room. Did you find it? Where's your room ticket?"
"I don't have a ticket yet."
"Hmmm. Then we'll have to find your room ticket as we find my room. I heard some students found room tickets inside buildings, so we'll keep our eyes skinned."
Raven's ticket had R-27 on it. She cautiously opens the door with the same letter and number on it, with Bunny and Maddie tip-toeing over her shoulders.
None of them see anything so they step inside further. "Hello?" Raven calls out. Madeleine and Bunny stopped tip-toeing but they're each on one side of Raven looking around.
There's a loud thump that has the three of them jump. A black werecat with long pink hair with purple streaks tied up in a pair of dragon wings is moving the bed in the corner. They're wearing a purple shirt with words on that they can't see fully from their angle.
"See? Isn't that much better?" The other person has their back to them so all they see is long black hair with dark purple highlights messily falling from their pageboy hat. They're wearing a horizontally striped black and pink romper.
"It doesn't look any different." The werecat's ears twitch then the two of them turn to the doorway.
"It's you!" Multiple people shout at once.
The two occupants of the room and Madeleine and Bunny meet halfway in the room. Madeleine and Bunny hold onto each other. "Catty Noir!" They scream.
"Raven the Rebellious!" The girl with the black hair says tipping her hat to Raven. "Catty, we're in the presence of a spellebrity."
Raven blinks in confusion. "I'm ...sorry?"
"You have no reason to be! Everyone ever after and their scary gothbrother knows who you are. You're as famous as... you're as famous as Catty here." The black werecat waves.
"This is unbelievable! I haven't even been here three hours!"
"And you're already a spellebrity, isn't that just gush worthy?" Bunny claps her hands together.
"No. No! Don't clap!" Raven facepalms with a groan, "I don't wanna be famous! I just figured out I don't know what I like because my parents have dictated all my hobbies! My mom forcing me to do everything just a bit more evil than necessary and my dad trying to throw in touches of goodness whenever he could. I-I have no identity."
"Sure you do." The black-haired girl holds Raven's hands, "you trying to figure yourself out is an identity all yours. No one can take that away from you."
Raven sighs, "my mother will try."
"When I heard you proclaim 'we are not our parents,' I nearly fainted on the spot!" Catty's ears twitch, "as a black werecat I'm hexpected to spread bad luck throughout the realms. My parents did it, their parents did it, their parents' parents did it, their parents' parents' parents... You know. 'Tradition.' When I told my family I wanted to sing, they disowned me immediately! Kicked me right out of the den! They even tried using their bad luck energy against me to sink my career ship before it got afloat!"
"And I thought my parents were manipulative." Raven mutters.
"So you finding your identity is super important. You're a natural rebel."
"Raven the Rebellious does have a nice ring to it." Madeleine chimes in. "Hi Catty, do you remember me?"
"Oh, yes! Thank your father for allowing me to use the teashop to work on my songs and have a place to lay my head before the concert."
"You never told me you met Catty Noir!" Bunny exclaims, shaking the blue-haired teen.
"I'm guessing I don't have to worry about my identity being in the presence of someone more famous." The black-haired girl chuckles, taking her hat off and running a hand through her hair. "Way to stick it to the clawthority, fly the fly. I'm a bit of a rebel myself. If I were destined to 'be like my family,' I wouldn't be in the acting business. My uncle has his fangs caught in his cape. He believes in 'vampire superiority.' All he talks about are 'the olden days' when vampires roamed the monster realm through fear and magic that blanketed the sky keeping us from natural sunlight. I told him where to transform and became best friends with a werecat, which was like total taboo in the monster realm."
Catty nods in agreement, "vampires and werebeasts have hisstory of... antagonism." She continues, "which I am putting rather mildly. When Lissa and I teamed up to do a duet, monsters were freaking out... and not in a good way."
"You'd think the vampire court was exposed to direct sunlight with how super pale they became when I told them!" The black-haired vampire laughs. "To make batters more ironic, I was spellected to be the vampire queen. There's this magical artifact called the 'vampires heart,' it glows only in the presence of those who are direct descendants of ancient vampiric royalty." She blows a raspberry, "was not hexpecting me to be that but I was. My first royal decree was to throw those old-robe ways of thinking straight into the cooking lamps."
"Wow. Damn, if anyone is a rebel it's you."
"Bats of a colony flap together. Oh! I told you my life's beginning chapters without introducing myself! I'm Ver—" She shakes her head. "Oops. It's been so long since I've used my real name I almost told you my scalias."
"What is your scalias?" Raven asks.
"Veronicah von Vamp."
Bunny gasps. "V-Ver... I love the Vampire Majesty Series!"
"You do? Thank you so much. My fellow vampires hate it due to all the vampire court inaccuracies. I've lived in the vampire court so acting it gives me mixed feelings. I mean I like seeing it take a new direction but I feel like it's also disrespecting centuries of vampire tradition."
"I've been wondering..." Catty begins. "Why did they give you a scalias anyway? Don't actresses usually use their first name?"
"They said my name was too before zombie language became universally translated. It had to get modernized to 'broaden my horizons.'" Elissabat snorts. "I'm surprised they didn't de-vampire it on the spot."
💭 ?
"You put my daughter under a sleeping curse!?"
"It seemed like a good idea at the time! Snow White was very convincing about maintaining our legacies and retelling our stories. She made it seem like what happened to us will inevitably happen to our children! I don't know where my head was but I hooked onto what she was fishing. I know you explicitly expressed you wanted nothing to do with subjecting your daughter to what happened to you, so I figured if I did it you wouldn't be involved."
"I don't know how you managed to convince our parents you were the smart one growing up." Briar says shaking her head. "How could you do this to me? To your only niece!?" At least Beauty now looks ashamed of her actions. Good. It won't fix things, however.
"I know I was wrong! ...I just figured it out too late. Fortunately, I managed to... alter the curse. See, you can't reverse or cancel a curse but you can alter it. Instead of Briar Jr. falling asleep for 102 years, she will... periodically fall asleep for approximately 102 minutes."
"'Periodically?' What in the demon realm does that mean?!"
"It means she will fall asleep for 102 minutes at random intervals... 527,000 times in her life. Roughly."
"What?!"
"I don't know how long you were asleep down to the last second so—" She yelps as her sister grabs her by the collar.
"I swear to all that is magical, if you were not my twin, I would kill you where you stand! How could you possibly think this was a better alternative?!"
"This was the only other alternative! You think you're the only one that suffered because of your curse? Do you know how many creatures I went to for help? To see if anyone could break your curse? That's when I found out curses could only be altered. The best I could do was share your burden."
"Wait." Briar releases Beauty. "You what?"
"I'm your twin sister, Bea. We could easily be mistaken for each other. Your curse only lasted 51 years because I took on the other 51 alongside you. Give or take a month or so. Like I said I don't know how long you were asleep down to the second."
"I thought you got a longevity spell on you or something. I-I had no idea." Briar pauses, "but this doesn't excuse what you've done to my daughter! Five... wait, what did you say?"
"Roughly... in the range of 526,500 to 527,000 times. If you multiply the amount of times by 102 for the years you get roughly 53,750,000 minutes... give or take a few thousand seconds. That is in the range of minutes we've both been asleep."
"You know she'll never fulfill that price, right? Unless she lives to be 102. No, she'll have to live to be 118 if you just cursed her this year."
Beauty shrugs. "I already said I wasn't thinking when I bought the curse."
"'Bought?!' You—Who did you buy a curse from?"
"The Evil Queen." Briar facepalms.
💭 ?
Briar yawns. "So sleepy..." Her cousin Rosabella, who came to the isles much earlier than her, was so enamored with the idea of coming to this "school," it was almost infectious. Almost. Briar, on the other hand, held reservations. Truth be storytold, she doesn't trust Snow White. And not because she spent like a decade living with the Evil Queen before the woman continuously tried to kill her either. From the snippets of the conversation she heard the woman have with Briar Sr., it sounded as though Snow White preyed on her mother's weakness of overprotection. "If multiple Queens are in one realm, we'll all be looking out for one another. There's no way anyone can cast a curse on your daughter without one of us noticing."
Briar had to scoff. It sounded like a pen of pig shit. A ball of yarn unraveling on itself.
She wouldn't be surprised if Snow White enchanted this chain of islands to give her eternal life or something.
Or if she was siphoning the other queen's lifespans and riches for herself.
Briar takes a sip of her of her fairyberry ice tea then sneezes out fairy dust. "Ooh. Don't think that's normal." She experimentally takes another sip then sneezes again. "Oh fickleberry fudge!" She glares at the cup, "'no fairy dust' my heels!" Grumbling, she tosses the full drink into the trash bin. A thick cloud of fairy dust explodes from the bin. Briar sneezes so hard she loses her balance and falls on her butt.
A gruff chuckle has Briar squinting upward. Someone is standing under the sun so Briar can't see them clearly but she does see the hand extended toward her. She puts her hand in the stranger's and they haul her up with one effortless pull.
"Wow." Thanks to her heels, she's slightly taller than the stranger. "Wow." She blinks staring at the beautiful brunette with the pointy ears and long brown hair with red streaks. Briar blushes, "t-thanks."
"No prob. What was that drink? And what did it do to you?"
"Fairyberry tea. It's a staple where I come from but I never tried it before. And since I was leaving to come here I figured, what the hellfire? You only live once upon a time. I have fairy dust allergies but they swore on their fairy queen there was no fairy dust in it." Briar twirls a lock of hair behind her ear, "but you're not interested in the chapters of my story."
"Actually, I surprisingly find myself not minding." Briar blushes harder at the toothy grin, "I'm Ramona."
"Briar."
Ramona's phone pings and as she checks it, Briar subtly brushes off her backside. "Hm? My si—uh I just got a link." Briar leans into Ramona a bit to see the link take her to a fable viral video from the Spiderweb. The brunette smells like cherries and coffee, but that's not important. Briar and Ramona exchange a curious glance before the latter hits play. The camera is moving around until it sorta centers on a purple haired girl balling up her fists angrily, killing several plants in her vicinity. The viscosity of her magical aura is strong. "We are not our parents..." She bites out. The purple-haired girl is talking to a purple catgirl and a... well, Briar's not really sure what the other girl is. A teacup person, mayhaps? But either way, her rant draws a rather large crowd.
Briar and Ramona are standing in the middle of a field just staring, listening to this video. While Briar can't speak for the other girl, this video strikes a chord with her for inexplicable reasons.
The second video Ramona clicks on has the same catgirl from the first video gasping theatrically (obviously faking it), proclaiming certain tickets are fake.
Wait, tickets? What tickets?
"Attention future students of Waldek Academy, please report to the counselor castle – located adjacent of Headmaster Queen White's castle – for class registration and photo identification charms." The Fairy Queen announces via megaphone, flying overhead. "For those of you who have yet to find a room ticket, please see Fairy Godmother at the counselor castle."
"I—tickets? Do you have a ticket?" Ramone wordlessly pulls out a purple strip of paper from her jacket pocket. "Ah hell. I didn't know anything about any tickets."
"Taking a calming potion, I'll help you look for a ticket." Ramona jerks her head behind her. "Mind the fairies."
"Will do."
💭 ?
Holly and Poppy met up with Apple near the enchanted smoothie shop coming soon to deliver the room ticket. The blonde stares at the gold ticket with M-1 on it. Three fairies had to give her direction to the room. She cautiously opens the door and is instantly blasted with confetti. "Wel—oops!" The blonde coughs up some confetti pieces. "Sorry about that roomie."
"No..." Apple coughs out some more confetti, "no problem." She blinks some confetti out of her eye and sees a smiling purple-skinned catgirl. With curly purple hair tied in a pair of side twintails. Big, very noticeable cat ears poking out from on top of her head and the tail curling behind her. Oh. Her roommate isn't human. This is... different. From the look of things she's sharing a room with a werecat. if Apple Orchid Simmons White von Waldek can do one thing it's adapt. It's how she's dealt with her... quirk – as her mother calls it. Born with the ability to summon apples at will (and often just at random). It made her mother want to reconsider her name.
Her roommate takes her by the hand, leading her into the room. "I'm Kittherina but please call me Kitty." Apple stares at the catgirl smiling widely at her. "I hope we get along hexcellently."
"Me too. I've never had a roommate before."
"Oh? Glad to be your first roommate. Listen, sorry to cut our roommate time short but I have to meet my friends in a bit. Spot you later?"
"Sure."
Kitty gives her a two-fingered salute before walking backwards out the room as her roommate gets the remnants of confetti out of her hair.
💭 ?
Ten minutes earlier...
"There has to be a damned room ticket around here." Kitty grouses. She's been in and out of multiple buildings and has yet to find anything. At the sound of laughter, Kitty pauses and slowly walks backwards around the corner.
"I hear they're selling gold room tickets!" The kid on the left says.
"How horrible! At least we got ours for free." The kid on the right says with a laugh.
Kitty squints at the pieces of paper in the kid on the right's hand. With a smile, she dissolves in pink steam; From in her little dimension, she lets her left arm gently pull two of the tickets from the kids hand as they're laughing, replacing them with gold pieces of ordinary paper she conjures up.
Kitty fully reforms around the corner staring at the gold tickets with a smile. She laughs out loud when she realizes these tickets are fake. Ain't that a kick in the crown? "Free" her tail. These were planted! She has to personally thank the genius who came up with this idea. It's sure to harbor chaos that'll make her mother roll over laughing. Gold paint comes away from the ticket leaving its original color, green, in places where the paint peeled off.
Smile widening, Kitty sticks the "gold tickets" in her dress pocket then pulls a gold piece of string from in her sleeves and makes a few fake tickets. Once her "tickets" are made she gasps theatrically then marches right into a crowded hallway. "I can't believe they're making fake gold tickets!" She yells.
Students walking the halls stop and stare at her before approaching. The two kids from earlier approach in interest, if not a bit smug.
Kitty holds out her hands that are painted gold, showing everyone around her. The crowd gasps. She holds out her "tickets," pieces of paper the same color as room tickets with random nonsensical letter and number combinations that have gold paint chipped away. "They are fake!" Someone yells.
"You should all make sure your tickets are legit!"
The students murmur among themselves and take out their tickets examining them. When Kitty spots an actual gold ticket she swaps it for the green one in gold paint in the blink of an eye. These poor non magical creatures. They'd never last in Wonderland. That might be why they're so biased against there. Her mother told her humans are always threatened by what they do not understand and cannot control.
Kitty's tail begins to sway as she feels the chaos forming. The student she first swapped tickets with gasps loudly, "my ticket is fake!" Kitty hides her smile with a shocked gasp.
"So is mine!" Another student shouts.
Soon people start shouting and looking over one another's tickets and Kitty, well, Kitty (literally) fades into the background so she can look for her new room.
She overheard the gold rooms are the royalty standard so there was no way she wasn't gonna be in a gold room. She may not be Wonderlandian royalty – although she doubts they'd even acknowledge that here – but she is the Wonderlandian Wild Card to the Jack of Hearts. Not to be confused with the Jack of Spades' Wild Card, Courtly Jester; The Black Jester Card's daughter. Kitty wouldn't be surprised if Courtly hitched a bubble to Legacy Isles in front of theirs before they were even selected. The reason Wonderland only sent four representatives was because of the rule of cards. Only groups in numbers divisible by fours can travel out of the realm at a time.
But Courtly wouldn't care about rules to better her standings among the Spades' playing cards. (Kitty was glad Lizzie and her mother... well Lizzie anyway was less of a basketcase than the Spades'.) If anyone didn't want to become a replica of their parent, it was Courtly. "Destined" to serve a babbling moron like the Jack of Spades? Kitty would only wish that fate upon her worst enemy.
💭 ?
There were only two jester cards in a full deck of fifty-two cards. After the sudden passing of Lord and Lord-Consort Jokington – the Red Jester and his husband the two of Diamonds who had no heir, Cattison Kittherina Beetroot Vanisher Cheshire was dubbed honorary red joker by the damned Jack of hearts – Elizabeth. The Queen of Hearts had no problem with her daughter's decision nor did any of the Diamonds or Clubs. All would've been right with Wonderland had the Spades not found an issue with it.
They wanted to trade. Trade Kitty for her! If she didn't hate the Spades' she'd feel outraged. That bunch of morons were unworthy of being card royalty and they were unworthy of having Courtly Ranch Balloon Princess Jester!
If they didn't appreciate her position as their jester than they wouldn't have her!
Had her father picked a face card instead of a number, they'd be cruising with the Clubs' instead.
When Courtly overheard the spade card guards talking about a mysterious letter addressed to whoever "whom it may concern" was, she may have used her magic to impersonate the Jack of Spades but who could blame her? She was curious. Letters never came addressed to anything other than the Red Queen, White Queen, or Queen of Hearts. They only recently developed in this manner instead of having the Queen of Hearts rule over everything.
The Red and White Queen's kingdoms now bordered the outskirts of Wonderland.
So... in all, the realm of Wonderland now had no "official" ruler but seven rulers of their respective spaces.
"Legacy Isles" sounded like one of Vin Blanc's two-for-one popcorn book deals but without the gooey surprise fun-filled center.
Courtly left before anyone could notice. Good thing the Spades are so full of hot teakettle water.
When a magical bubble came for the chosen four: Kitty, Maddie, Elizabeth, and Bunny, (Bunny! Bunny Le Banana Blanc of all magical creatures!) Courtly impersonated one of the fairies and hitched a ride in the bubble with them. While she's certain Madeleine realized there was one extra fairy than previously, because her perception powers were astoundingly accurate... and terrifying, she hadn't tattled on her. Had anyone else noticed...? She wouldn't be here. Courtly knew there was a reason she (secretly) liked the hatter girl.
Courtly was not counting on seeing any of her fellow Wonderlandians before getting a room, specifically the Jack of Hearts. Elizabeth—no, she cuts people for using her full name—Lizzie puts her hands on both hips. "What are you doing here?"
"Same as you, Love. I'm off to—" Courtly pauses looking around, "—whatever we're off to doing! Bringing bits of Wonderland with us!"
Lizzie's eyes narrow, "the rule of the cards strictly prohibits five playing cards in a single row."
"Yes but in the second first addition of the thirty-fifth rewrite, the absence of a substitution on the sidelines is grounds for disqualification!" Courtly gasps theatrically before pointing at herself with both thumbs, "with my inclusion all is right with the realm. Consider me signed up to assist you, your Jack-ness. I will proudly do the tasks too dark for you to get your Jack-ly gloves on." Courtly wiggles her fingers as an added measure.
"No, we—" Lizzle scowls, "we are already placed in a penalty box just for... existing in this isle, we cannot do things to put us at more of a disadvantage."
"Whoa, whoa! What? I am a Wild Card and a Jester, your Majesty, I am never at a disadvantage! If they want to underestimate Wonderland it'll be a faytal—" At Lizzle's glare, she backtracks, "fudge... I don't know a word that means less faytal than faytal." Lizzle rolls her eyes then walks past Courtly. "Whoa! Wait!" Courtly jogs to Lizzie falling in step with her, "I have these stubby legs, I can't keep up. You're not... going to tell your mum on me, are you?"
"Are you kidding?" Lizzie's eyebrows furrow, "of course you are—"
"No, no! I'm not kidding now. Which is shocking to me too."
Lizzie rolls her eyes, "me telling mum does nothing for any of us. She is waiting for the slightest inconvenience for us to all return home."
"She is... against this?" Courtly gasps, "ooh. That's juicy news! She—The Queen of Hearts—outvoted. Maybe they should've left Wonderland under her rule, huh? Forget the splitting of kingdoms for card royalty and all that." Courtly laughs, snorting.
"You are obnoxious." Lizzie pushes the laughing girl onto the floor which doesn't stop her from laughing.
"Wait!" Courtly kip ups then runs after Lizzie, "wait. I'll be good."
"Please!" She pokes Courtly in the shoulder, "you don't know the definition of the term."
"Oh but I do, your Jack-ness." Courtly nods to herself. "And really, I am hardly as destructive as Kitty!"
💭 ?
"You didn't have to come along."
"Uh, yeah I did. The last thing I'm gonna tell ma is that I lost you." Howleen rolls her eyes. "And besides, we're in the same building on the same floor. It's not like we're that far apart from each other."
"Which is why I'm saying you didn't have to come."
"Will you stop complaining? We're already here."
Howleen and Clawdeen stop in front of room E-15. Howleen opens the door then they both step inside. No one truly knew what to hexpect, so nobody brought anything that wasn't major. Only carrying what they could in their bags. If they were easily bubbled here, there stuff could be bubbled just as easily.
There's a soft thud then groan. The sisters turn to the door seeing a girl rubbing her forehead. "Oww. Oh. Hello." The curly black-haired girl says with a wave. "I'm Cedar!" She waves the match to Howleen's ticket in her hand.
"Are you alright?" Clawdeen asks.
"Fine. Just... I walked into the wall. Happens sometimes. I'm not fully put together and I'm a bit clumsy and splinters this truth nugget is bothersome."
"Truth nugget?" Howleen asks.
"And what did you mean by 'not fully together?'" Clawdeen adds.
"I suppose I could answer both of those questions simultaneously. You see—" She twirls around, "I am a puppet."
Howleen whistles, "a damn well constructed one." Cedar curtsies.
"Thank you but I still have a few... cogs to work out. Anyway, I was created by Pinocchio and Geppetto but in order to prevent another 'Pinocchio situation,' Geppeto went to the Fairy Queen to extract a truth nugget so specifically set that it'll only affect one person... or—" She gestures to herself. "—one creation. They don't consider it a curse or spell but I can only tell the truth. Often without prompting."
Howleen grabs Cedar by the shoulders, "that's purrfect." She whispers. "You'd be like the truth bomb."
"Huh?"
"If my outfit is furrific you'd tell me—" She side-eyes her sister, "—and if it isn't you'd also tell me. Not make up excuses to save face."
"I told you I wasn't making up excuses, Howleen. Those vaccination shots made you all moody! What was I supposed to do? Make you feel more miserable?"
"So my outfit was terrible!?"
"I don't even remember what it was!"
"Have you ever let me put on or make a bad outfit you just let slide?"
"C'mon now Howleen, I'm an aspiring diesigner you think I'd let my own fur and blood go out there looking like a wreck? I've always been truthful with you, and I always will be. But, having another set of eyes won't be a bad thing. Plus, it'll give me some peace." Howleen sticks her tongue out at her sister who returns the favor.
Cedar giggles, "I've never observed siblings before. It makes me feel warm inside. Like eating a plate of spellghetti from my grandpa."
"Hold up. You eat?"
Clawdeen hits Howleen upside her head. "I swear you have zero tact!"
💭 ?
Raven wakes up to a loud creaking sound. "Stop!" She shoots up like a rocked beaker at her mother's voice. Unfortunately, Headmaster Queen White (are they really gonna keep calling her that?) had suspended all room searches last night, after the sixteenth fight broke out. Bunny and Madeleine hung out in her room. Bunny transformed into a rabbit so she wouldn't take up space and Madeleine disappeared completely numerous times. But she was presently on the pillow fort Catty and Elissabat made with her, and they are all asleep in it.
Bunny, at the foot of Raven's bed, stirs.
"These are the accommodations you've given my daughter?"
"Oh for hell's sake." With a sigh, Raven gets out of bed carefully stepping over everyone still asleep. She leans on the doorway glaring at her mother, "what are you doing?"
"Well good morning to you too, Dusklight. I'm simply making your room more comfortable for you."
"I have a roommate, mom, you can't just bring half the lab here. And I wouldn't be comfortable with all that stuff here anyhow." Raven shakes her head as her mother gasps dramatically.
"This is the thanks I get for wanting to help you out?"
"Please! It is way too early for all this." Neither Raven nor her mother notice the doors in the corridor opening and the audience they've amassed.
"The early witch gets first pick of the brooms." Raven groans. "Put that potion shelf into the room—"
"No! Don't do that, please. Sorry for yelling." The trolls look between the mother and daughter, "this stuff isn't staying here, mom. You can't tell me you're gonna let me do my own thing then turn around and flip the scrolls on that."
"Raven Queen!" A short red-haired imp nasally calls out, stomping down the corridor toward the room. "It appears as though, once again, you are causing a ruckus on the isles."
"Who the hell are you?"
The imp puts a hand to his chest, "such impudence! Why, I am Rumpelstilzchen! Overseer of students here on Legacy Isles."
"Now what does that translate to? For those of us who don't speak shady isles?"
The imp huffs at The Evil Queen raising an eyebrow at him. "I am in charge of student necessities. Not causing trouble is one of them."
Raven rolls her eyes, "what 'trouble?' I haven't even done anything."
"Says you! Does this—" The imp gestures around them, "—feel like nothing to you? Your presence alone causes an uproar! As the overseer of the students it is my responsibility to make sure students are comfortable in their living environment."
"I am a student or rather I will be once the school opens. How is singling me out dealing with my comfort?"
Rumpelstilzchen does a double-take at the teen. Everyone, now openly visible, in the hall stares at the imp. The Evil Queen dabs at her eyes. "Y-You have a point." He grits out. "Troublemaker or not, you are still a student. I... apologize for treating you otherwise." The imp flinches as the spectators cheer. "But—!" The crowd quiets instantly, "if you do begin to 'do anything' I will be on your ass like a boil on a witch's nose!"
"That's an offensive, speciesist stereotype." The Evil Queen points out. "Witch noses come in all shapes and sizes, all boil free."
Rumpelstilzchen grumbles to himself, "as you were!" The spectators all disappear from the halls as the imp stomps away in the way he came.
"Is there anything in particular you do want me to bring from the lab?"
Raven eyes her mother suspiciously, "I'm good. I packed everything I needed. Unless you went through my stuff?"
"Of course I did!" Raven facepalms, "but I didn't mess with anything." She gestures to the trolls who nod, carrying in black bags.
"B-Be careful. My roommate and some friends are all over the floor." The trolls nod as they enter the room.
"You made more friends? Introduce me."
"No, mom."
"Oh, what's the harm?"
Raven does a double-take, "dad?!" The tailblet attached to her mother's belt has her father's face on it. "Are you two live-chatting?"
"Of course!" Her father laughs merrily, "I'm trying to get passage to Legacy Isles. I wanted to see all this 'commotion' you were starting in person." Raven runs both hands down her face. "Oh come now! Your entire existence hinges on rebelling. Embrace it!"
"I can't believe you two."
💭 ?
Even with the issues with the dorms, Daniella and Dracula continued to create the schedules for the students. Barring anything even more outrageous than the setbacks they're already dealing with (which seems more than possible at this point), school should open on Monday; giving students the opportunity to prep for the next four days.
"The..." Rumpelstilzchen clears his throat, "the crowd is behind The Evil Queen's daughter, Your Grace. She's... well she's a smart one. Crafty. I thought she'd be all spells and no substance but she's not."
Snow White rubs her temples. "There is... more, your Headmaster-ness..." The Fairy Godmother begins nervously tapping her wand against her hand, "apparently Ms. Queen is not the biggest issue we have to deal with."
Snow White groans, "those Wonderland pests, I know. I saw the video with that damn cat starting an uproar about the tickets."
"No, no. Well..." She pauses, "yes, but that is not what I am referring to. Although these gold room tickets are very problematic."
"They weren't meant to be distributed alongside the other tickets, but I suppose Beauty is just being outright defiant. My daughter and the other princesses were supposed to get the gold rooms to prepare them for their future ruling."
"You know there are monster and werebeast princesses, right?" Rumpelstilzchen questions. "For troll's sake, we have the vampire queen enrolled and she isn't causing a fuss over rooms!"
"Subject change. Is there any good news?" Rumpelstilzchen and The Fairy Godmother share a very telling glance. Snow White continues rubbing her temples, "I see there isn't. What's wrong now?"
The Fairy Godmother clears her throat, "with so many fairy dust allergies, it is difficult for my people to get this place functional. You can't even turn a corner without hearing a sneeze."
"Let the fairies do their work when students aren't around." Rumpelstilzchen suggests.
The Fairy Godmother shakes her head, "that won't help. Some students are hypersensitive to even the remnants of fairy dust particles in the air."
"Then we'll stop using fairies. Good old physical labor will work just as well and I happen to know of a few gentlemen willing to help. Besides, I don't get the hangup with magic anyhow."
"Magic is... wondrous."
Snow White scoffs, "magic is the furthest thing from 'wondrous.' It's toxic. And above all else, an annoyance."
"Queen White—"
"It put me in a two-week long sleeping curse! It plagues my own blood with such a meaningless ability! Tell me what is 'wondrous' about that?"
"Just because you've had bad experiences with magic doesn't mean all magic is horrible. It's magic that helped you create these isles." Snow White scowls, "it's magic that stands before you. There has always been a... duality with humans and magic. They want it yet they scorn it. To explain it fully is like trying to trap lightning in a bottle."
"You know what else magic is responsible for? Wonderlandians—"
"Well duh." Rumpelstilzchen cuts her off, "magic stems from Wonderland. Why do you think they call it 'Wonder'land?"
"What?"
"Magic is in every essence of Wonderland. It's where all magical beings originated. Magic is as old as time itself. Wonderland magic goes down a magical well leading to the fairy realm. From there, the magic gets filtered and spread out throughout other magical accepting realms. Our Fairy Queen and Wonderland's newly appointed Checker Queen are responsible for keeping things the way they are."
"It used to be the job of the Red Jester, Lord Jokington, but he croaked not even a fortnight ago." Rumpelstilzchen interrupts. The Fairy Godmother stares at him, "what? I keep up with all the latest gossip throughout the realms."
"I swear I'm gonna give myself grey hairs running this place." Snow White huffs. "I can't speak to this 'Checker' Queen or whatever but I can talk to your Fairy Queen. Bring them to me." Frowning, The Fairy Godmother nods. "Now, Rumpel, see if any of the millions of Charmings that came to the opening ceremony yesterday know of any large creatures. The bigger, the better. I can't leave all the heavy lifting to the dwarves."
💭 ?
Landing on her feet from a freshly popped bubble, the orange werecat hikes up her backpack as she looks around. "Ugh." She groans, "is this some kind of princess academy?"
"No, Ms. Stripe, this is Legacy Isles—"
The werecat rolls her eyes. "I heard the sales pitch you told my grandpurrents. I wanna know what this place is fur-real."
"As I said, it's not a 'princess academy.' It is Legacy Isles. No wait. It is Waldek Academy. Creatures of all walks of life and unlife are welcome. There are princesses, sure, but there are also werebeasts, mermaids, vampires, zombies—"
"It's a princess academy." The werecat interrupts, deadpan, staring at the fairy staring back at her. "I can't believe this." She groans, shaking her head, "I haven't done anything wrong. Sending me to a place with so many snooty-" She pauses then smirks, "—furrends to make~"
The fairy gulps at the manic look in the werecat's green eyes. "I-I'm to take you to the counselor castle, Ms. Stripe."
"Yeah, yeah. Sure. Let's do that." The fairy warily watches the werecat's tail sway eagerly as she walks.