Legacy Day.
At long last, the day everyone in Ever After was waiting for. Just about all the students were preparing for the ceremony. All the second year students will sign the Storybook of Legends and follow in the famous footsteps of their parents.
The only person who wasn't thinking about Legacy Day was Greenly Pea. She laid upon her tower of mattresses, gazing at the ceiling. Greenly could feel her chest burning as her mind overloaded with complications. Not just Legacy Day and Raven wanting to deny her destiny, but also her night with Raoul. Why did he save her from that prank? It just didn't make sense. Was he...like Raven? A villain who was really good at heart?
It couldn't be...could it?
"Greenly? Greenly?! Greenly Pea!"
Hearing her name called and feeling a fingertip poking her shoulder, Greenly jolted out of her thoughts. She turned and saw Holly looking concerned. "You okay? Nervous about Legacy Day?" Holly used Greenly's flying unicorn slippers to reach her roommate. Holly looked composed, but she was visibly shaking being this high off the ground.
"Actually, no." Greenly replied. "Holly, do you ever get the feeling that...well, I mean, if you knew someone that you thought was...what you thought. But it turns out that...they...weren't exactly what you thought?"
It took Holly a few moments to piece together what Greenly was saying. When she made some sense of her roommate's words, a sad look came to her face. "Your date with Dexter didn't go well. Did it?"
"Yeah." Greenly fibbed after a pause. She decided the prank and her encounter with Raoul maybe too much of a bombspell for Holly to take in. After all, she was looking forward to pledge her destiny and become the next Rapunzel. It's all she's been talking about for the past week. And Greenly didn't want to spoil it for her with all this unnecessary drama.
"Oh, Greenly." Holly joined Greenly on the bed. "I'm sorry your date didn't go well. But there will be other dates. Other princes."
"Yeah, you're right." Greenly replied. "And to be honest, I'm not all that bummed." She hoped that she still had a chance with Dexter. After all, he was the perfect prince for her. Maybe he'll be the prince in her story!
"That's good." Holly smiled. "And remember, you still got me!"
Greenly smiled too. "Thanks, roomie." She decided to just forget about Raoul. Today wasn't a day to think about what ifs. This was Legacy Day and she was ready to begin her destiny.
After sharing a warm hug, the two princesses came down to the ground and decided to prepare for the big day. Holly clapped her hands together. "Now, let's get ready! My sister will be coming over here to help the princesses get all prettied up for Legacy Day!"
Greenly nodded. She went to the corner of her room where a large white armoire stood by it lonesome. On the day she began her second year of school, Greenly's mother had brought the armoire from her family castle just for this day. It was a magic armoire that only members of the Pea family can open. Greenly touched the armoire doors and they slowly opened.
Inside stood a faceless dummy wearing Greenly's heirloom outfit, worn by her mother and her predecessors. A sleeveless green ball gown that shimmered with golden vine and peapod print. Long white gloves covered the dummy's arms along with green slippers on the feet. And atop it's head was a full gold crown.
But Greenly didn't stare at the crown. She was staring at the sticky note placed in the middle of the dummy's head. Greenly peeled it off and read the words;
Happy Legacy Day, queen of my heart. Love, Mama.
Tears formed in Greenly's eyes. The princess smiled as she hugged the note over her heart.
'Thanks, Mama.' Greenly thanked in her mind.
Greenly was finally dressed in her royal best. Her hair was pulled in a low ponytail to make room for her crown. She looked at herself in the mirror, even she was in awe. It was like a glimpse into the future. "I'm gonna go find my friends, Holly."
Holly waved goodbye. "Okay, roomie! Meet you outside!"
Greenly wandered down the hallway and stopped at the corner where she and her friends agreed to meet. She looked around, but no sign of them. Greenly sighed, leaning against the corner. She tried not to stress over the big day.
All of a sudden, a cold chill raced up Greenly's spine. The princess spun around and she couldn't believe what she saw.
It was Raven Queen, striding down the hall with an army of creatures behind her! There were goblins, a flock of bats, large rats skittering on the floor, two lumbering trolls armed with wooden clubs, there was even a blue-skinned ogre! Raven wasn't wearing an elegant gown like her mother did, but she didn't need it. After all, she wore her mother's wicked-fierce cape and silver dome crown. Her lips were dark pink and her eyebrows were sculpted. She even darkened her lids and under-eyes.
But what Greenly noticed most of all was the look in Raven's eyes.
Anger. Malice. And every negative word you can think of. It's like Raven became a completely different person since yesterday! Every other student in the hallway pressed themselves against the walls. They averted their eyes as their bodies quivered. No one made a sound in her presence.
Was this what Madame Baba Yaga said about? Did Raven become the ultimate evil?! But she hasn't even signed the Storybook of Legends yet! If Raven was this powerful now, who knows what will happen when she signs?! She'll become so evil that she could pulverize everyone who looked down on her. She could pulverize the school. She could pulverize the world!
Just then, someone actually approached Raven with no fear in their steps. They even calmly walked around a clump of cowering first years. Who was this brave soul? When Greenly saw who it was, she gasped in awe as her hand flew to her chest, her heart fluttering.
It was Dexter. He wore a gray wool jacket embellished in gold, blue jeans, and high-top sneakers, a deep blue cloak, and like Greenly, had a full crown of his own. He looked like a true king in front of Greenly's eyes.
'He's the most incredible boy in the world...' Greenly swooned in her mind. 'We could be the best looking couple in the kingdom...'
At that moment, Greenly swallowed hard and walked up to Dexter. Before she signed to her destiny, she had another important decision to make. It's time to make her move. She approached her classmate and opened her mouth to speak.
"Hey, Raven." Dexter greeted Raven, paying no attention to Greenly. "You look...well, you look really different. Than normal. I mean, you look nice, like..."
As Greenly watched Dexter aimlessly ramble about Raven's look. Something clicked in her head. The way Dexter talked with that tone in his voice. Greenly recognized that tone. It was the same clueless tone her voice gets when she talks to Dexter.
The clueless tone. The fumbling words. The puppy-dog look in Dexter's eyes.
And finally, it felt like a pig's brick house fell right on top of Greenly. Dexter Charming was in love with Raven Queen.
"Hey, Raven!" said a new voice.
Greenly saw Amber fearlessly approach Raven as well. The fairy wore a thin strap mint green gown with a long flowing satin skirt and daring front slit, perfect for showing off her black high heels. She had on a black fur cloak and a crown of red roses and black branches. Amber looked at Raven and smiled her black lips. "Dang, Raven! You look awesome! You're going to waste that outfit on Legacy Day?"
"Yeah, you cleaned up real good." said Ian as he and Bentley came up. Ian wore an orange shirt with a black vest and pants and his orange sneakers. He added a little spice to his outfit with a black fedora. Bentley wore a baby blue tuxedo embellished with black musical notes.
"Oh, Raven," Bentley breathed out. "would it be too forward of me to say, 'Whoa, baby girl'?"
Amber gasped in awe when she saw Greenly. "Oh. My. Grimm, Greenly! You look amazing!"
"I'll say!" Ian said honestly.
"Like a true queen!" said Bentley.
Greenly tried to smile. But it was hard for her since she was dealing with the harsh reality that the man of her dreams was in love with someone else. She was so humiliated, she just wanted to hide. But before she could run away, Maddie Hatter bounced up to Raven. "Wowie! Everyone looks hat-tastic tonight!" Maddie was dressed to the mad nines. Her hair was all curled and pulled to one side and a purple top hat on the other. She wore a blue and gold jacket with a purple cravat, blue capris pants, and a sparkly skirt overlay on top.
Maddie was stunning. But the stun kept coming when a handsome, well-dressed boy approached next to her. He wore a red coat with a yellow neckerchief, white trousers, and black boots. His black hair was as well-groomed as his wardrobe. Was this a new student? A prince perhaps?
"Hi, guys!" When the 'new prince' spoke, everyone gasped. That voice sounded just like Dave Quixote...because it was Dave Quixote!
"Dave?! Is that really you?!" Amber blurted out before anyone else could.
Dave nodded. "Yep. I was going to wear my dad's armor from our ancestral castle. But I kept falling down in it. So, Maddie hooked me up with this outfit."
Maddie smiled and gave a thumbs up.
But Amber wasn't smiling. "Well, why didn't you ask me for a new outfit? I could have hooked you up!"
Dave seemed hesitant to answer. "I know, but Maddie offered to help me and I didn't want to be rude. So, I let her help me."
Amber frowned as Dave and Maddie went to the Legacy Day terrace along with the other students. Greenly went up to her best friend. "You okay, Amber?"
Suddenly, Greenly ran off!
"Greenly! WAIT!" Amber ran after her friend all the way to the girls' bathroom. When she went inside, Greenly was hovering over the sink with tears in her eyes. "Greenly?! What's wrong?!"
"I lost him!" Greenly sobbed. "Dexter is in love with someone else! I'm too laaaaate!" She threw herself into the arms of her fairy friend, who immediately comforted the princess with back rubs and a shoulder to cry on. Amber didn't have to ask anything. All she knew and needed to know was that her best friend needed support.
"I'm sorry, Greenly. I'm sorry you had to go through that." Amber said honestly. "I know it'll be hard getting over Dexter. But you still got me and the others." She smiled. "And don't forget the prince you'll have in your story!"
Greenly managed to stop her tears from falling. "Yeah, you're right." she sniffled. "Even if Dexter is in love with someone else, I'm never alone. I got my friends and my happily ever after. What more could a princess ask for?"
Amber slapped her friend on the back. "And even when things are down, you get right back up! Now that's what a true princess does!" She smiled as she took a bow. "Shall we proceed, Your Highness?"
Greenly nodded, smiling with confidence. "Let's do it!"
Amber walked over to a closed stall. "You guys coming too?" She cast a spell on the door to unlock itself and swing open, revealing Prudence and Charlotte inside!
"What the hex?!" Greenly couldn't believe it! What were the future Evil Stepsisters doing?! Do they actually go to the bathroom together?!
"How did you know we were in here?!" a flustered Prudence asked.
Amber frowned. "Wasn't hard. You both wear that stanky perfume. I thought it was either you two or something died in the toilet."
"Prudence, Charlotte, what are you guys even doing here? The ceremony is about to start!" asked Greenly. "And how come you're not all dressed up for Legacy Day? You guys love to dress up!"
Prudence put her hands on her hips. "What's it to you? It's a free kingdom. We can dress however we want!"
"What's the point anyway?" Charlotte asked with a shrug. "No matter how dolled up we get, we'll still look like a couple of schmoes compared to Ashlynn." She rolled her eyes with disgust at the mention of her future step-sister.
"And Apple. And Briar. And every other girl in school with a happy ending!" Prudence said, pouting her purple lips.
Greenly looked at the two villains. At first, they looked angry, as usual. But their anger started to fade and turn into...something else. As the two sisters looked at each other, they reached out and held each other's hands. That's when Greenly saw the sadness in both of their eyes. "Guys...you're not hiding out on Legacy Day, are you?"
Amber was caught off-guard by Greenly's question. But the sisters didn't look surprised. They both turned to Greenly with defeated looks in their eyes.
"It's that obvious, huh?" Prudence asked, not letting go of Charlotte's hands.
Greenly nodded. "I know it's hard being villains, especially when you know how the story ends. But you guys have to go through with this." Despite her words, Greenly didn't mind a villain like Raven denying her evil destiny. After all, if she did, she'd be giving up all that dark, twisted power and just be her sane, caring self. But Prudence and Charlotte were a different story. Their destinies didn't come with powerful magic, deadly poisonings, and plots to take over the world. All they had to do was bully Ashlynn into being their servant and make her feel inadequate.
Charlotte lowered her head. "We know we have to. Being evil step-sisters is all we could ever do. But...it's still hard...being a loser for the rest of your life."
Greenly put a hand on Charlotte's shoulder. "You guys won't be losers to us."
"Yeah, I mean, look at me. I'm a dark fairy and I have lots of friends!" said Amber. "Friends who like me for me, not for what my story is. And I don't even know what my story is suppose to be!"
The sisters looked at the princess and the fairy with hope in their hearts. "You mean, you'd really want to be friends with a couple of...evil step-sisters?" said Prudence.
Greeny shrugged. "Sure, why not? You can't be too picky when you're making friends." She pointed to the ceiling. "Now, let's get out there and own Legacy Day together!"
"Let's go!" Prudence and Charlotte cheered, feeling much better. The newfound friend group of four hooked arms and stepped out of the restroom with pride in their stride.
Just then, a mighty voice boomed through the speakers and echoed throughout the entire school.
"I AM RAVEN QUEEN! AND I'M GOING TO WRITE MY OWN DESTINY! MY HAPPILY EVER AFTER STARTS NOW!"