ANOTHER Complication

Everyone whirled around to see a very smug and VERY malicious-looking Duchess Swan. And a very sheepish Sparrow Hood behind her.

"SPARROW! You told?!" Raven shouted in disbelief.

"Ummm...I HAD NO CHOICE? OOOOOHH YEEEAAAH..." Sparrow halfheartedly sang. If looks could kill, Raven would have murdered Sparrow with the daggers that shot out of her violet eyes.

"And you! What do you mean 'As if?!'" Hunter shouted at Duchess.

"Why Hunter, isn't it obvious?" Duchess purred. "I think Apple would be perfect as the next Swan Princess. And I think I'd even better as the next Snow White!"

"You can't DO that!" Raven yelled.

"Who's to say I can't?" Duchess challenged. "Thanks to you, Raven, anything goes! I thought you'd like to see someone else flip the script. Isn't this what you wanted?"

"No! I just didn't want to hurt anyone." Raven said. "OR see anyone else get hurt! Duchess, you can't condemn Apple to live as a swan!"

"But it's OK for me?" Duchess spat.

"I didn't say that!" Raven retorted. "Look, you can not be a swan if you don't want to, but don't make Apple do it!"

"Never thought I'd see you of all people taking her side." Duchess remarked snidely. "I thought you'd want her out of the way."

"NO! Didn't you hear what I just said?! I don't want to hurt anyone!"

"So you say." Duchess smirked.

Raven tried to appeal to Duchess's better nature. "Please!" She pleaded. "How can you of all people wish your story on another person? You know better than anyone how sad it is!"

"True. But it's not just some person I'm wishing it on. It's Apple White!" Duchess said maliciously. "And that makes it all the better! Plus I gain her Happily-Ever-After, command of the entire United Fairytale Kingdoms, and this really lovely piece of jewelry." Duchess said as she lovingly fingered the crystal swan charm around her neck.

"You can't!" Ashlynn gasped.

"And it doesn't work like that!" Hunter added.

"I'll make it work!" Duchess retorted.

"Well, you forgot one other thing you'll be gaining." Rotbart suddenly said. He had been silent ever since he saw Duchess. But now he knew it was time to do take action. Even if he didn't like it.

"What's that?" Duchess asked.

He took a deep breath, steeled himself, walked right up to his unrequited love, looked her in the eye, and gave her the most villainous expression he could muster.

"Me." He said.