Travel Plans

"What's that?!" Apple asked in alarm. She hadn't expected the Infernal Dance from The Firebird to come blaring out of nowhere.

"Damn it…hold on…" Rotbart muttered as he searched for his phone in the multiple hidden pockets inside his cloak. By the time he finally found his phone, it had stopped ringing. But there was a frantic voice mail from Raven:

"Rotty? Where are you?! We were supposed to have breakfast together before leaving for winter break, remember? But Sparrow said you never came back to your room. Call me when you get this, OK? Oh, and by the way, you don't know anything about what happened to Apple, do you? She never came back either. Everyone's freaking—." And at that point, Rotbart's phone completely ran out of power.

"Fuck!" He cursed.

"What is it? What's wrong?" Apple asked. "Who was it?!"

"Raven. She's worried that I didn't show up this morning." Apple nodded; that made sense. Especially since they're in love. She thought.

"And she's worried about you too," he continued. "Everyone is."

"Oh no!" Apple gasped. She could easily imagine the distress that her disappearance would inevitably cause. "They must be worried sick! We've got to get back right away!" She declared as she stood up and headed for the door.

"Nuh-uh!" Rotbart said as he quickly blocked Apple's way.

Apple stared at him. "What do you mean 'nuh-uh?!'" She half-shouted in disbelief. "We HAVE to go back!"

"Yeah, but not like THAT!" He retorted as he gestured at Apple's attire.

"Not like what?" She asked crossly.

"Princess, you look like an R-rated version of pre-ball Cinderella." Rotbart said bluntly.

Apple flushed in anger and embarrassment. "Well, yes, because of YOU!" She said defensively as she reached for a blanket to cover herself again. "But that's just the way it is, isn't it?" She didn't like the idea of trudging back in the snow like this, but she didn't think there was any choice.

"But that's not the point!" Rotbart said.

"Then what IS the point?!" Apple sighed in exasperation.

"The point is what would you think if one of your friends came back after being away for a whole night, with her clothes in tatters, and with a male villain in tow?"

"I'd think that she'd probably been…OH." Apple said as her eyes widened in realization.

"Exactly." Rotbart said darkly. "Your fans will lynch me first and ask questions later."

"But, we could explain what really happened…" Apple suggested.

Rotbart laughed aloud at this. "Do you really think anyone will believe that I saved you?!"

"Raven will." Apple pointed out. At this point, she figured that Raven would never go for Rotbart at all if she didn't know that he had a good side. However deeply hidden it may be.

"Sure." Rotbart admitted. "But who's going to believe the daughter of the Evil Queen about my inexplicable fit of conscience? Besides that weirdo Maddie?"

Apple couldn't really think of anyone.

"No, we've got to get back without being seen." Rotbart said determinedly.

"How are we going to do THAT?!" Apple asked.

Rotbart thought for a moment as he fiddled with the swan charm around his neck. "I could try flying you back…" he thought aloud. "With my magic cloak."

"Really?" Apple said as she looked at the beautiful blue and feathered cape lying on the couch. "It can DO that?"

"Yeah. But on second thought, forget that." Rotbart said.

"How come?" Apple asked "It would get us there faster. AND we wouldn't have to walk in the snow!"

"But someone still might see us." Rotbart pointed out. "Two people flying through the air are hard to miss."

"Ooohhh…" Apple said. She quickly brightened, though, as she came up with another idea. "Can you make us invisible?" She asked.

"I'd need a potion."

"Do you have any on you?" Apple asked. Rotbart searched his pockets and produced a tiny vial.

"Just this." He said. "It's only enough for one."

"Are any of the ingredients nearby?"

"Some. But not the not the most important one."

"Can't you fake it?"

"Fake it?"

"You know, find a substitute?"

"You can't find a substitute for chameleon extract for an invisibility potion, princess." Rotbart said dryly.

"OK, what if you turned invisible and flew me back?" Apple suggested. "Then nobody would see you with me."

"But they would see you floating around in skimpy rags and ask questions." Rotbart said.

"Can't you repair the dress with magic?" Apple asked.

"Do I LOOK like a fairy godmother?" Rotbart said in disgust. "And what good would that do?!"

"It wouldn't look as bad, and people wouldn't get suspicious." Apple said.

"Well I can't." Rotbart said shortly. "Makeovers aren't exactly part of my evil repertoire. And even if they were, it wouldn't work."

"Why not?"

Rotbart growled in frustration and exasperation. "You seem to be missing the main point, princess. A flying Snow White, no matter how she is dressed, will. Attract. ATTENTION!"

Apple glared at him. "Then YOU come up with an idea!" She said. "If mine are so bad."

"Fine. A princess can't sneak worth shit anyway." Rotbart retorted.

"What do you mean, 'a princess can't sneak?!'" Apple burst out. "Of course we can!"

"No you can't. All you princesses just want to be noticed." Rotbart smirked. "You wouldn't know subtlety if it bit you on your ass."

"I can be subtle!" Apple said petulantly.

"Prove it. Come up with a good plan." Rotbart challenged. "One that doesn't involve flying princesses."

Apple was so peeved, she blurted out the first thing that came to her mind without thinking. "You can turn me into a swan and we'll fly back as birds!"

Rotbart stared at her. "Hey…that IS a good idea!" He said.