I do not own Kamen Rider Ryuki or Ever After High. Those belong to their respective creators and not me. I am not writing this for profit and am only doing it for fun.
Knights of the Otherworld
By Ten-Faced Paladin
Chapter 11: Meet the Classics
Our Fellowship of Knights have indeed faced great challenges in the past. The previous one being a great battle, but now theymust navigate their most nervewracking on yet: facing the parents of their beloved princess.
Sir Odin navigated his meeting with ease since Ginger's mother is certainly no queen and very casual. Sir Ryuki faced the judgement of the Evil Queen and perhaps earned some goodwill.
But the others will have to meet the other queens now! Oh, and Kevin's stuck since Cinderella thinks he's dating Ashlynn! This is going to be good!
Book End Library
The day before the awards ceremony was tense for everyone, although for a variety of different reasons. For most, it was because of so much impromptu preparation that needed to be done to make the ceremony as grand as it was being touted to be. For others, it was because their parents were coming to the school for one reason or another. For some specifically, it was because someone else's parents were coming to the school.
Carriages, humble and fabulous were pulling into the village, all of them looking fine in their own ways. Of course, they all belonged to the famous fairy tales whose children attended Ever After High. The most famous of all though, came in cars, stretch limos practically, and earned a gathering of fans as they walked to the hotel they were all booked into. The famous Midas Tower, a gold tower-like hotel where only the richest could afford a room.
Blondie Lockes was on location, covering the arrival of the famous fairy tales. Naturally, she announced who was who. The fact that they were all gathered in one place was a royally huge deal. Among them were famous names like Jack Beanstalk, Not-so-little Jack Horner, and construction moguls The Three Pigs. It was a glamorous red carpet procession.
Meanwhile, the Riders were watching the live MirrorCast on their phones.
"So many famous people and all coming for us," Arthur said, amazed.
"Well, we did save their school and their kids," Lance answered, equally awed.
"And here comes Snow White!" Blondie said excitedly. "C'mon, let's try to get a few words with her!"
Snow White definitely lived up to her hype. Wearing a white dress, although almost functional like a business suit, she smiled and waved to the crowd. She had the same pale skin and red lips as Apple, only her hair was ebony black and styled in an immaculate bun with the bangs framing her face. She greeted the crowd as bluebirds flew down to her to land on her shoulders. She looked every bit the fairy tail she came from, although you could see faint age lines to show she had matured since the time of her story.
"Kinda looks like a mogul who refuses to age," Gwen grimaced slightly. Secretly, Snow White was reminding her of her mother and aunts and not in a good way. "How much anti-aging cream does she buy?"
"Maybe she uses magical anti-aging cream," Kyle shrugged. "That's a thing here."
Blondie, unfortunately, got shut out by the numerous paparazzi taking a barrage of photos of the most famous of fairy tales. She then strode into the hotel, leaving Blondie to pout at the missed opportunity. Still, she was the professional as she ended the stream and left the group to realize that the parents of their significant others had arrived.
"Good luck to you all," Rex grinned. At least Ginger wasn't a princess so there wasn't any pomp and circumstance to go with meeting her mother.
"Screw you," Tristan gulped.
Midas Tower - Rapunzel Suite
Gabriel and Tristan stood in front of the door of the hotel suite, dressed in their best clothing and with flower bouquets. Just the door alone was, in fact, double doors like entering the room of royalty and both boys would admit they were intimidated by it all.
"Nervous, Gabe?" Tristan asked.
"A little," Gabe admitted. "I mean this is Rapunzel. The actual Rapunzel. I hope Holly's mom likes me."
"You don't need to worry about making a good first impression. You have the advantage of being cute," Tristan reminded. "I mean, even after I helped save the school, I'm still known as the lunatic knight that blew up a street in Book End."
"And the bookball field."
"Yes, Gabe. And the bookball field."
"Hey, just remember you're not going to be doing this alone. You've got me with you."
"Well, misery does love company." Tristan raised his hand and knocked.
There was the sound of feet falls before it opened, revealing Holly and Poppy, both wearing more formal looking dresses. The short-haired twin smiled as they both hugged their boyfriends.
"You made it!" Poppy said.
"Be kind of rude not to come when invited," Tristan shrugged, trying to play it cool.
"You even wore your suits! Oh, Mother will adore you!" Holly beamed as she checked Gabe over. "Well, we should get the introductions done."
"No pressure," Tristan gulped.
"Oh relax," Poppy shoved his shoulder. "Mom's not the uptight kind."
The four entered the suite, which looked like it belonged in a royal palace and not a hotel before they walked to the main living area. Elaborate lounges and sofas surrounded by potted trees with bright blossoms on them made up the majority of it. In the middle of it was a small tea table and with it, a woman who the boys assumed would be Rapunzel.
The woman bore a strong resemblance to Poppy and Holly, sporting pale skin and painted her lips bright red. She wore a crown on her head and a veil connected to it. Her dress was pink, although not a full ball gown, but was styled like one, similar to the fashions many girls wore. Her most identifying feature though was her long golden-blonde hair. It was longer than Holly's own, likely able to reach her ankles. At the moment though, she was sitting down and her hair was pooled on the cushion next to her, only sporting a ribbon at the bottom.
This was the long-haired queen herself, Rapunzel.
"Mother, we'd like to introduce our knights to you," Holly smiled, hugging Gabe around the shoulders. "This is Gabriel Lighthart, Knight of the Iron Rhino, Gai."
"And this is Tristan Irons, Knight of the Bull, Zolda," Poppy continued, doing the same for Tristan.
Rapunzel regarded the two boys, making them gulp for a moment as they waited for her judgment. She stood up and gracefully approached them. Her hair barely avoided touching the floor. She placed herself in front of her daughters and their boyfriends. Gabe and Tristan felt themselves tense up, trying to look their best and hope the queen liked what she saw.
"Look at you! You are so cuuuuute!" Rapunzel giggled as she pinched Gabe's cheeks. "Oh Holly, you didn't say your knight was so cute in person!"
"Gyuuuuuuu!" Gabe grimaced as Rapunzel pinched him. Well, it was better than the third degree.
"So that's where Holly gets it," Tristan muttered, making Poppy smother a giggle.
"Here, we've got flowers for you," Gabe said, presenting a bouquet to Rapunzel.
"Oh, so cute and sweet!" Rapunzel beamed. "You know, after this, you could come home with me, you little cutie!"
"Ah, heh, heh, heh," Gabe chuckled weakly.
"Mom, he's my boyfriend!" Holly pouted, hugging Gabe. "He can come home with me during the summer!"
"Why do I feel ignored?" Tristan mumbled.
Rapunzel giggled, enjoying seeing her daughter get flustered. Having had her fun with Gabe, she turned and peered at Tristan and Poppy.
"And this is the young man who saved you, Poppy?"
"Yes, Mom," Poppy nodded. "This is Tristan, my knight in shining armor."
"Hm," Rapunzel pondered, apparently examining Tristan at all angles, "Yes, yes, quite handsome. A little on the morose side, but I think you can give him a bit of a happiness infusion, can't you?"
"Already working on it," Poppy nodded. Tristan looked to her in confusion, "You can be a bit gloomy when you think no one's paying attention."
"Oh," Tristan blinked. He thought he was hiding when his mood turned dour.
"Well then, let's sit down," Rapunzel clapped her hands, leading her daughters and their partners to the lounges. As they got seated, a butler came out from...somewhere...and set down a tea tray for them before vanishing. "Now then, I do know that you two are part of the fellowship which has been making waves lately. Which ones are you?" She even produced a MirrorPad and brought up a group shot depicting the fourteen Kamen Riders. "Goodness knows I can't keep all these flashy suits straight."
"I'm the gray one with the horn!" Gabe announced proudly.
"Um...the dark green and silver one," Tristan reluctantly answered.
"Wait, I think I heard something about some crazy knight who blew up a street in Book End," Rapunzel recalled. She looked to Tristan with a raised delicate eyebrow. Poppy and Tristan both winced. "That was you?"
"A-ah, well, that...that was a bit of an accident," Tristan gulped. "I never used my finishing move before. Then, uh, well, when I saw it was getting bad, well, Magnugiga didn't want to stop shooting until I cut him off from my weapon."
Rapunzel looked thoughtful, critical even, and Tristan waited for her to throw him out and forbid Poppy from ever seeing him again. After all, what mother would want their daughter to date someone with such destructive power?
"Answer me this: did you have a good reason for blowing up the street?" Rapunzel asked.
"I used the attack to destroy a monster which was threatening your daughters," Tristan answered. "Was using an attack I had no experience with reckless? Yes. But it was the only attack I had which I knew would finish the monster since it could split itself into pieces to, I suspected, dodge attacks."
"Your purple knight friend was nearby," Rapunzel pointed out.
"At the time, I didn't know that," Tristan shook his head. "I was on my own and I had to move fast or that monster would have escaped so it could hunt Holly or Poppy again."
"Hm..." Rapunzel looked thoughtful, making Tristan fret inwardly. She then sighed. "I'll be honest, I don't like such destruction happening if it can be avoided. However, I trust Poppy to be a good judge of character and I can see that even with all that power, you haven't become drunk on it."
Rapunzel did know what people were like when they got drunk on authority or power. Her foster mother, Dame Gothel, got drunk on her own jealousy and authority as Rapunzel grew up to be so beautiful. It eventually led to her downfall after Rapunzel met her prince and Dame Gothel received harsh punishment for attacking him.
"Thank you, Your Majesty," Tristan said gratefully. Poppy looked hopeful and so did Tristan as the tense atmosphere seemed to have lifted.
"Now, how about you show me those fancy suits of armor?" Rapunzel asked. "I want to take pictures of you together with my girls!" Oh, she was going to have a new album to brag to her friends over with this!
Hood Hollow - Enchanted Forest
"Okay, over the hill and through the woods outside of Hood Hollow," Max frowned as he read Ramona's map to where her family lived. She had drawn him a crude map. Fortunately, there was a worn path to show exactly which way to go. All Max had to do was follow the directions.
When Ramona described her mom, she hadn't said much, only that she had been able to see the good in her dad and tame him. She didn't say more than that, perhaps to keep things mysterious. He just hoped he made a good first impression with Ramona's mom. Her dad, however, didn't like him. Then again, he likely didn't think Max was good enough, acting like an overprotective papa wolf, but he probably held some respect over the young man who helped save the school.
He heard a growl and peered over to a puddle to see Dragblacker peering back at him.
"No, I'm not afraid, Dragblacker," he said to his Contract Monster.
Following the path, he finally came to a medium-sized cabin. It looked so perfect for the woods, being composed of logs with a stone chimney. A small sheep pen was nearby with chickens in a coop next to it. A vegetable garden grew opposite of the animals, surrounded by a pen.
"Cozy," Max appraised. "I was half-expecting a cave."
Steeling himself, Max stepped up to the cabin's front door. A welcome wreath of wildflowers hung on the door, making it appear welcoming. Lifting his hand, he knocked on the door and waited.
"Wrong house! Go away!" a gruff voice barked from within.
"Dad, will you quit it?!" Ramona's voice snapped.
"I've got it," a woman's voice answered, earning yelps from the other two.
The door opened, revealing a fair-skinned woman with short chestnut hair and gray eyes. She wore a red hood on her head with a white fur-lined red mantle on her shoulders. She sported a black top and leather belt underneath with a long red skirt which turned white at the bottom with black tree-like designs on the base.
"Hi," Max greeted. This must be Ramona's mother. Though, why did she look so familiar? "I'm Maxwell Lefay. I was invited to come over." Honestly, he may act cool and aloof but he was a bit nervous. "Are you Mrs. Badwolf?
"Yes I am," the woman nodded. "Please, call me Red. Ramona's been so hexcited for you to come over."
"Mom!" Ramona cried from within, making Red laugh.
Max was escorted inside. It seemed like a typical log cabin, although the modern conveniences were all there. Just because it was in the woods, that didn't mean it was cut off from the rest of the world. Still, it was clearly used by a family as portraits were all over the place. Oddly, he saw two girls in the pictures, one with a red hood...
"You have a lovely home," Max complimented.
"Thank you. It was my grandmother's. She left it to us after I married Bigby," Red answered. "Now, come in. We'll be having dinner soon. I made meatloaf."
Max sat down to dinner with the Badwolf family. Red was an amazing classy lady, acting like a happy housewife. Ramona was a little subdued, but she was dressed rather nicely in a fur-lined dress and without her usual jewelry. Her hair was even styled neatly instead of hanging like a near-mess. She was constantly blushing as she stole looks and Max and then looked away.
As usual, Mr. Badwolf was giving Max the third degree as he stabbed his fork into his piece of meatloaf. While the General Villainy teacher could accept that Max was one of his best students, he did not wholly approve of his relationship with his daughter. Who wanted their daughter to go out with such a promising villain?
"Mom! Dad! I'm back!" Cerise called as she came into the log cabin. "That smells nice. What's for din-?" Cerise froze when she saw Max sitting at the table.
"Cerise, you're late," Red scolded. "Now, don't be rude. Come and say hello to our guest."
"Cerise Hood?" Max paused then looked at the Badwolf couple. "Wait, 'mom' and 'dad'?" Max's eyes widened as he came to a shocking conclusion. "Red Riding Hood married the Big Bad Wolf!"
"Yes," Mr. Badwolf snarled, eyes glowing yellow as he bared his fangs at Max. "Now that you know our family secret, you can never leave."
A roar echoed and Dragblacker appeared in the reflection of a window, daring the wolf to get closer to its contractor. The current Big Bad Wolf didn't seem to care as he kept growling.
*WHAP!*
"Bigby, stop that!" Red frowned, slapping her husband upside the head with a rolled-up newspaper. "He was going to learn sooner or later after Ramona marked him."
"Fine," Bigby Badwolf relented but he still kept his glare on Max.
Things calmed down and Cerise sheepishly took a seat. She even lowered her hood, showing ears similar to Ramona's. It went to show that it wasn't a second marriage for their parents, but that Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Wolf had gotten married and raised their first family together.
"Wait, so the story of Red Riding Hood is one big lie?" Max asked.
"Oh, some details were changed but it's more or less what happened," Red explained. "We found out that we could change some of the small details so long as the end result was the same."
"Even the part where Mr. Badwolf dressed up as your grandmother?" Max grinned cheekily at his General Villainy teacher, picturing him dressed as a little old lady.
Bigby growled and changed to his werewolf form to avoid being seen blushing. Ramona and Cerise giggled at the thought, having been told the story from their mother's point of view
"Well, he did, but instead of eating Grandmother, he just tied her up and gently placed her in another room," Red giggled. "So when the Huntsman came, I begged him to let Bigby go since he didn't hurt anyone. He was certainly confused, but obliged me."
"Like anyone could say no to your puppy-dog eyes," Bigby huffed, but he and his wife shared a smile.
"Bleh! Mom, Dad, don't do that in front of us," Ramona gagged.
"Max, it's very important that you don't tell anyone," Cerise pleaded. "Nobody will understand."
Max looked at the family. They were the picture of an interracial family and he knew how those were treated back home by intolerant bigots. Headmaster Grimm may have been the most outspoken. Just from passing by Hood Hollow, he saw how the people were split between the Hoods and the wolves. There were plenty of others set in their stories and wouldn't accept such a pairing.
"By my honor as the black knight, Kamen Rider Ryuga, I swear to keep this secret and take it to my grave," Max promised with a raised hand. Cerise smiled in relief and Ramona grinned, liking the sound of his speech. A promise from a knight, even a black knight, was an unbreakable oath. Red looked knowingly to Bigby who just huffed and turned away.
"Thank you," Cerise said gratefully.
"I still don't trust you," Bigby stated. "But I'll accept your oath, Mr. Lefay."
"Baby steps then," Max nodded. Ramona let off a happy growl and hugged his arm. This made Bigby growl before his wife pinched his ear.
"Well then, let's eat!" Red smiled. "Now how about you tell us a little about yourself, Maxwell?"
Little Mermaid Suite
Ben all but begged Meeshell to let him wear his armor to the meeting with her mother. He just didn't feel like he'd make a good impression as plain old Ben. Maybe if he showed up first as the Shark Knight, Abyss, he would be able to make a better case for his dating Meeshell and her mother would allow their relationship?
Meeshell wouldn't hear of it. In her own words, "I want my mother to meet the wonderful boy I know instead of the Shark Knight everyone else thinks they know."
So with great reluctance, Ben dressed in his suit and got himself up to the suite where Meeshell and her mother were. He felt like he was about to faint from the stress, but he really, really liked Meeshell and he wanted to continue whatever it was they had. If he had to speak to her mother, then he was...well, not prepared for it, but he was ready.
He raised his hand and knocked on the door.
"Yes? Oh, Ben!" Meeshell beamed, seeing her boyfriend behind the door. "Oh, you're right on time! Come on, come in!"
Ben gulped and followed Meeshell into the room. Already the place looked fit for royalty which didn't help his nerves very much.
Rather than a living room or a tea room, Ben was brought to what looked like a water garden of some kind. A large pool with all sorts of colorful water plants was set up. Seated at the edge, humming softly was who Ben could only assume was Meeshell's mother.
To Ben, it was like meeting someone from his childhood Disney days. Meeshell's mother had long red hair and was wearing a simple sleeveless top which was green and looked like it was woven from seashells and some underwater fabric. Her face was beautiful with bright green eyes and full lips. From the waist down, her body was a long green/blue fishtail that slowly swished through the water.
"Ah, hello!" the elder mermaid beamed radiantly. "You must be Ben Gigant. Meeshell's told me so much about you! My name's Pearl Mermaid!"
"A-a-ah, N-nice to m-meet you ma'am!" Ben gulped, nodding his head to her.
"Oh don't be so stiff! Come on, sit, sit!" Pearl smiled, patting the tiled edge of the pool. Ben gulped and did so, but kept his feet out of the water. Meeshell was not so restrained, dipping her legs into the water to turn them back into her tail. "So you're the shark knight my daughter has been so hexcited about."
"W-well, I suppose so," Ben nodded. "I don't think I've really made my debut yet. Not like the others."
"You will," Meeshell smiled. "In the meantime, I get to have you to myself." Ben smiled at her even if his face lit up slightly.
Pearl smiled, finding it adorable how cute her daughter was being with her boyfriend, and how adorably shy Ben was. Pearl, of course, knew all the signs, Meeshell herself being particularly shy herself when she was outside of the ocean.
"Well, let's get to know each other," Pearl clapped her hands. "Ben, Meeshell tells me you have a simply enchanting singing voice. Are you able to sing anything here and now?"
"Oh! That would be wonderful!" Meeshell gasped.
Ben's eyes widened and he blushed, quickly ducking his head down out of reflex, "I-I-I d-d-d-d-don't think s-s-s-o."
Pearl pouted, "Oh, not even a little song?"
"I-I'm not really all that good," Ben shook his head.
"Ben," Meeshell pouted. "That's not true."
Pearl continued to pout. So he was too shy to even sing when his own girlfriend wanted to hear him? Ben must be incredibly shy to go that far. Well, there was plenty of time to try and bring him out of his shell while they were talking. Pearl liked to think she was an expert in making friends after all.
Thumbelina Suite
Rob blinked and looked around as Nina led him into the room. She said her mother was there, right? The rooms, while splendid, weren't huge. Nina just led him to the lounge where she said her mother was waiting.
"Uh...Nina, you said your mother is here, right?"
"Down here, young man," a tiny female voice spoke up. Rob looked down at the tea-table Nina led him too and was surprised to see a small woman, no bigger than a thumb, calmly sitting on a rolled napkin in the middle of the tea set, helping herself to what looked like a drop of tea in a flower-like cup. Her dress was long and flowing, looking like it was made of flower petals, or at least had the appearance of it. From her back, four pixie wings grew. She had the same hair as Nina, proving they were at least related.
"Rob," Nina managed to get out of her giggles. "Meet my mother, Thumbelina."
"Charmed," Thumbelina nodded.
"Uh, wow, hi," Rob nodded. He shuffled to kneel on the floor so he was, somewhat, face to face with the tiny woman. He briefly wondered how she could give birth to Nina, but then remembered Nina could change her size. "So, um you're a fairy queen, right? Do I call you, Your Highness, Your Majesty, or Your Fairyness or something?"
Thumbelina smiled, "You are indeed like my daughter. A very get-along personality, but innocently honest. Just call me Thumbelina. We're all friends here after all."
"Okay," Rob nodded with a smile. "I'm Robert Bray, Knight of the Crab, Scissors."
Beauty and Beast Suite
"Mom, Dad. this is Gawain Forrest," Rosabella introduced to her parents. "My Knight of the Beasts."
"Hello," Gawain nodded.
Beauty and Beast looked every bit the royal couple, but they had a sensible feeling to them which made them feel more approachable. Considering their stories, Beauty having been a common girl while Beast had been humbled by his curse, it made sense they seemed to be a bit more down to earth than the general nobility.
Beauty lived up to her name. She was a slender woman who wore a simple dress, merely a simple blouse and skirt which looked nice. She didn't wear any of the regal finery someone of her station was expected to wear. Her skin was fair and she seemed just as pretty as Rosabella.
Beast was a tall man who had Rosabella's skin tone and hair, proving where some of her looks came from. He was broad-shouldered and quite handsome. His clothing was a bit more refined, sporting inlaid gold cuffs and edges. It might seem more fitting for royalty, but for a king, it was still quite downplayed. His presence alone showed he was someone to respect.
"It's so nice to meet you, Gawain," Beauty smiled warmly, sitting across from her daughter with her husband. "Rosabella's been telling us story after story about how many animals you two have rescued."
"And how she knighted you as a Knight of the Beasts," Beast added. "Supposedly for taking it upon yourself to keep these Mirror Monster creatures from hunting the animals in the forest and growing out of control."
"Yes, sir," Gawain nodded.
"You're a bit of the strong, silent type, aren't you?" Beauty asked with a smile.
"Yes, ma'am," Gawain nodded.
"Hm, well, don't be shy then, young man, tell us a bit about yourself," Beast insisted, taking a cup of tea for himself. "Rosabella's told us plenty, but I think we'd like to hear it from you."
"Yes sir," Gawain nodded. "Love animals. Like quiet. Like the forest. Love Rosabella," Rosabella blushed, but hugged Gawain's arm and rested her head on his shoulder. "Protect animals. Protect forest. Protect home. Protect Rosabella."
"Straight and to the point," Beast chuckled. "You don't speak up more than necessary?"
"Not often. Taught not to," Gawain shook his head. "Children seen. Not heard."
"Why on earth would you be taught that?" Beauty asked with a frown. The sounds of children laughing and playing were a wonderful thing.
"Parents strict. Teachers too. Discipline," Gawain answered with short sentences. "Talk with animals."
Discipline? Beauty and Beast looked to each other and Rosabella frowned sadly. Discipline was one thing, but to enforce so much of it on a child they decided to simply stop talking? That was frankly ridiculous. How could any parent think that was a good idea? To the point he seemed to communicate better with animals than he could with people? It was monstrous!
"Well, you'll find we like the sound of people talking," Beauty replied. "Rosabella seems to like your voice as well."
"I keep telling him," Rosabella nodded.
"I try," Gawain admitted. "It's hard."
"Well, that's a way for people to show they care about us," Beast smiled, looking to his wife. "As long as we keep trying, they keep helping us." Beauty smiled back at him, returning the sentiment.
Gawain smiled, "Yes." Rosabella encouraged him to speak more. Not just because it was healthy, but also because she liked the sound of his voice.
For her, Gawain would try.
Swan Princess Suite
Kyle gulped as the Swan Queen, Odette, looked down on him. He had a feeling that she wasn't too fond of men sniffing around her daughter, or knew any potential suitor was likely to follow the same steps as her own in her story. Namely, being duped, technically cheated on her, and utterly failed to break her curse so they could live Happily Ever After.
Odette looked like quite the stern woman. She just had a cold aura around her, wearing mostly black in the form of a power suit with white accents. Her hair was in a braided ponytail and her features were downright frosty, even if they were a dead ringer for Duchess.
"So," she began. "You're the one who showed my daughter that an alternate ending for my story exists? Funny. I do not recall it happening to me."
"We changed the story back home," Kyle replied. "Rewrote the story so you and your prince did get that happy ending. I offered the story to Duchess so she could learn how to grasp Happily Ever After herself."
"You cannot fight destiny. I've tried," Odette frowned.
"Then you didn't try hard enough," Kyle retorted, making Duchess gasp.
Odette's eyes widened before she snarled, "How dare you?"
"Destiny, fate, they're all just words. We control our own lives. We're all given free will and anyone who says we can't fight destiny, they've just given up the fight before it started," Kyle argued strongly. "You keep fighting for what you want, even if everyone else says it can't be done! Even when it seems impossible, and all hope is gone, you keep fighting!"
Odette continued to glare at Kyle for a few moments before a smirk came to her lips. She looked to her still gaping daughter, "Well, it seems like he has more spine than my prince did. Maybe more sense too. For the time being I'll leave you two be."
"Mom?" Duchess turned her gaping to her mother.
"Don't confuse this for approval yet," Odette warned, both her daughter and Kyle. She looked at Kyle especially, "If you want to get past dating my daughter, you had better come through with this promise of freeing her from her destiny. Otherwise, forget it!"
Kyle took the warning for what it was and nodded, "Well then, looks like we've got work to do then."
"Good," Odette nodded. "I abhor those who don't do their due diligence."
The Golden Goose
The Golden Goose was another place to eat in Book End, but one designed as a more mature and relaxed setting than just a fast food place like Old Macdonald's. It had waiters, classy music, and people who entered were expected to dress at least semi-formally for the occasion. It was meant to be a place of class. To Gwen, however, the giant golden goose on the sign was overdoing it a little.
Gwen sat at the table that Darling hexted she had reserved for them. It amazed Gwen that Darling could get them a reservation in such a hexclusive place on such short notice but she reminded herself that her girlfriend was a Charming. This was going to be their first date and Darling had a better idea what a nice dinner would be for that than Gwen did. Darling's formal tastes at least had her know the best settings, even if she hadn't dated much either.
For the occasion, Gwen decided to dress her best. She straightened her hair, wore makeup, and even wore a pencil skirt and blouse with high heels. Fortunately, she didn't break her ankles just getting to the restaurant. Darling's tutoring was paying off in that regard. Still, Gwen was nervous and was constantly checking her phone to make sure Darling didn't send any notice of being late, but also checking her makeup so she would look perfect when Darling arrived.
"Um, hi Gwen," Darling's voice spoke up from behind.
Lamenting how Darling could always sneak up on her, Gwen turned with a smile, "Hi, Princess, I...uh-oh."
Darling was indeed there, wearing a silver sparkling spaghetti strap dress with a blue shawl wrapped around her shoulders. Her hair was styled to flow free with tumbling curls and she was dolled up to perfection. In all, she looked dazzling, although she seemed a little downtrodden.
The reason for her depression? Her twin brother Dexter and their older brother Daring were on either side of her. Both were looking a little grim and had their arms crossed. For once, they were without their school jackets, but wore formal-looking blazers to fit the atmosphere of the establishment.
"Hello, Gwen," Daring smiled, but lacked his usual sparkle. "Dexterous and I happened to run into our little Darling and decided to escort her to her first date. You don't mind, do you?"
Gwen wilted, "Uh...don't suppose I have a choice, do I?"
"Sure you do," Dexter replied, uncharacteristically stern. "But, refusing would be a real downer on the mood of our sister's first date."
Darling looked absolutely apologetic as she mouthed, "Sorry," to Gwen. Gwen gave her a reassuring smile as the Charming boys took seats across from the girls. Both gave a look at Gwen as she tried to sit closer to Darling, making them reluctantly part.
"Well, I have to say I'm surprised," Daring began. "Our sister is always such a, well, darling that we didn't think there would be anyone who was brave enough to outright try to court her."
"But we liked it that way," Dexter added. "You see, we have such high standards for our little sister."
"You're only older by a minute or two," Darling huffed under her breath.
"Indeed, brother of mine," Daring agreed. "Why, as Charmings, we do have to set a standard for those who we intend to give out our affections to."
"Only the finest princesses for the boys and the bravest knights for the damsels?" Gwen proposed.
"Indeed!" Daring agreed.
"So, when we found out Darling had her sights set on someone, well, we just had to make sure they're the right sort," Dexter continued. "You know, able to protect her, ensure she never cries, always makes her happy, and of course never breaks her heart."
"So we really have to put forth the question," Daring leaned in. "Are you knight enough for our precious little sister?"
Gwen looked to Darling then back at her brothers.
"You really want me to answer? Then let my actions speak for themselves," Gwen huffed. "But if you want my answer now, then the truth is I don't think I'm knightly enough but Darling makes me want to try to be good enough for her. She helps me want to be better than I already am."
Darling beamed, cheeks rosy as she looked to Gwen adoringly, who eagerly returned it. Daring and Dexter looked at each other, pondering Gwen's words.
"Well, it's good you don't think you're already good enough," Daring began. "I doubt anyone just begins being good enough for such a damsel like our sister. Becoming that good takes time and effort."
"But we do think you have a good start. Only a fool would say that after the monster attack on the school," Dexter admitted. "You can also seem to talk like a knight."
"And if Darling is training you up, then we can let it go for now," Daring agreed. "But just remember, we'll be keeping an eye on you two."
"Fine," Darling huffed. "Can you let us have our date now? We've been preparing for this all day!"
"Certainly, little sister," Daring said as he and Dexter stood up. "But remember, we'll be keeping an eye on you."
"Oh just go," Darling frowned. The Charming boys did go, but not before making the 'watching you' gesture. Once they were gone, Darling sighed, "Gwen, I'm so sorry. My family found out I made the reservation and my brothers decided to escort me.
"Overprotective much?" Gwen rolled her eyes. "If they only knew what you were capable of."
"Yes, a shame," Darling sighed. She quickly slipped around the table so she could sit across from Gwen. "Now, let's forget about them. I want this to be about us. Me and my gorgeous girlfriend."
"I can get behind that," Gwen smiled, stomach fluttering at the heartfelt compliment.
"Your menus," a waiter came to their table. "And Ms. Charming, so nice to have you dining with us again."
"Always a pleasure, Gaston," Darling smiled to the waiter, "Gwen, would you be okay if I recommended something for you?"
"Yeah, sure," Gwen said absentmindedly as she looked at the menu...and the prices. It was a good thing Darling insisted on footing the bill. Gwen would be lucky to be able to afford a drink and appetizers with the money she had on hand.
Book End - Outside Midas Tower
"What in the world am I doing?" Kevin wondered as he went to meet with Ashlynn's mom. He was not really Ashlynn's Prince Charming but that was what everyone believed since all the knights were pairing up with princesses and after he saved her that one time, they all thought he was her knight in shining armor. Ashlynn was beautiful but not his type. They were just friends.
He knew he was supposed to meet them for brunch, but he preferred to nip this whole business in the bud, privately. He did not want gossip about him and Ashlynn to spread anymore.
As he made his way to the hotel, he found himself stopped by Hunter Huntsman. He was a tall young man, usually found in his brown hoodie vest and green sweater. He wore wilderness-ready khaki pants and leather boots. His hair stood out among the boys since the right side was shaven while the left hung just over his ear. He had good looks, but his hazel eyes were narrowed sternly on Kevin as he approached.
"Kevin, we need to talk," Hunter said.
"Hey, Hunter. What brings you here?" Kevin asked.
"It's about you and Ashlynn," Hunter stated.
Kevin groaned, "Oh, not again."
"Yes, again," Hunter frowned. "I can't just sit here and watch you try to get Cinderella's approval when you're running around with Faybelle!"
"Whoa, man," Kevin put his hands up. "Look, Ashlynn and I are not like that. We're just friends."
"So why are you going to meet with Cinderella?" Hunter questioned.
"To tell her the truth," Kevin answered.
"The truth?" Hunter blinked.
"All this gossip about me and Ashlynn is just that, gossip," Kevin explained. "I just showed proper care for her safety during the first fight in my debut. I guess my words were poorly chosen during the Shereghost Attack since people thought I was demanding you to take care of her for me when I had to fight the monsters."
"Everyone's been saying that," Hunter nodded. "So then why does Cinderella want to talk to you like you're her prince when it should be me!"
"Well it's...wait, what?" Kevin blinked, and Hunter paled.
Hunter started to panic, "Forget I said that!"
"You're dating Ash-!" Hunter covered Kevin's mouth.
"Shush!" Hunter whispered, looking around for eavesdroppers. He removed his hand from the knight's mouth.
"You're dating Ashlynn?" Kevin whispered.
"Yes, but it's a secret," Hunter confirmed.
"Wow, this is huge," Kevin said as he did the mind-blown gesture. He wondered who else in Ever After High had a big secret. "But in Cinderella's story, she meets her Prince Charming at the ball and they get married after he looks for her to put the glass slipper on her foot."
"Yeah, that's her destiny so dating me pretty much goes against that," Hunter replied.
"Since you're going to be the Huntsman in Cerise and Apple's stories," Kevin added.
"Yeah," Hunter confirmed.
"Sheesh. No wonder you wanted to confront me," Kevin winced. "You were worried if I was her prince and if I was already two-timing her."
"Exactly," Hunter nodded. "So, the rumors aren't true then? You're not going to be dating Ashlynn or trying to get her mom's approval?"
"Ashlynn and I both agree we don't want to date each other," Kevin confirmed. Now he knew why Ashlynn was against the idea despite how princesses were all but jumping to try and get a knight's attention. "I'm more interested in Faybelle. We're just going to explain to Cinderella that she's got the facts wrong."
"Oh," Hunter realized. "Sorry, Kevin. I just thought, well, you know..."
"I understand. You love Ashlynn and the idea of losing her scares you," Kevin said sympathetically. "Just trust me, OK? And trust Ashlynn. We'll clear this up with her mom and things can go back to normal."
Hunter nodded, "Thanks. I mean it. I don't know what I would do if we were forced to break up."
"That's why you hang with the Rebels, huh?" Kevin asked, getting a nod. "Okay, I have a meeting to get to. Don't worry. We'll wrap it up quick and Ashlynn will probably pull you into a romantic cuddle session afterward."
Hunter chuckled and shook hands with Kevin before leaving. Now that he cleared things up with Hunter, he should be able to do the same with Cinderella. As he stepped into the building, a certain dark faerie watched him with narrowed eyes.
(-)
Kevin took the elevator up to the floor where Cinderella's suite was. He checked the room number and followed the directions until he found it. He took a deep breath and knocked on the door.
"Who is it?" Ashlynn asked from the other side.
"It's Kevin," Kevin answered. "I know I'm a bit early for brunch but I'm here for our meeting."
The door opened and Ashlynn met him there, looking just as tense as he felt, "Ready?"
"Ready," Kevin nodded. "I hope she won't be too disappointed."
"After being raised by her stepmother, Mom knows how to handle disappointment," Ashlynn reassured him. "Come in."
Kevin stepped into the suite. When picturing Cinderella, he imagined the Disney Princess from his childhood.
He wasn't far off.
Cinderella sat waiting in the lounge, wearing a white/light blue dress which looked like it could sparkle in the full light. It showed him where Ashlynn had inherited the same fashion sense. In fact, Cinderella looked much like an older version of Ashlynn. They had the same pumpkin-colored hair and the same green eyes. Of course, she was wearing the famous glass slippers, although it looked like she was taking pains to sit in a way she wouldn't put pressure on them, perhaps out of fear of scuffing them.
"Mother," Ashlynn said. "This is Sir Kevin, the one you heard about."
"Hello," Kevin greeted, a bit intimidated by the beautiful woman.
"Yes, I've heard a lot about you, the knight who leads his own army against monsters," Cinderella looked at Kevin critically.
"Your Majesty," Kevin greeted. "It's nice to meet you."
"Indeed," Cinderella nodded as her daughter and the knight stood in front of her. "Well, I'm sure Ashlynn told you, but I wished to inquire about you and learn of your intentions towards her."
"About that," Kevin sighed. " I know that you heard some rumors about me and your daughter so I've come here to set the record straight. The truth is that I'm not your daughter's Prince Charming. We're just friends and classmates," Kevin claimed. "I did protect her during monster attacks, but any knight would have done the same. She's a beautiful girl and a good friend, but I have my heart set on another."
"I see," Cinderella nodded, slightly surprised. She eyed her daughter and Kevin, looking for a lie. She had long developed the skill after so many years of her stepmother and stepsisters constantly lying to her. "That is a bit disappointing."
"I'm sorry if you were expecting me to be the man for your daughter. Don't get me wrong, she's amazing but, honestly, I'm not interested in dating her," Kevin said. "Sorry if that sounds rude, Your Majesty."
"No, I appreciate your honesty. I suppose Ashlynn still has time to find her Prince Charming someday," Cinderella accepted. "Well, this meeting was much shorter than I thought it would be. I feel a little embarrassed now. I'm sorry for any undue stress then, young man."
"Thank you, Your Majesty," Kevin nodded.
"I'll see you out, Kevin," Ashlynn offered.
Cinderella watched her daughter and the young knight leave her suite, looking relieved as a huge weight was lifted off their shoulder. It was a bit of a pity since Sir Kevin certainly had the moral backbone and personality which would be good for her daughter's prince. A more selfish individual would have tried to take advantage of the position they found themselves in with her. She couldn't help but think despite their protests, they would make a good pair and Kevin could be a prince if he kept racking up accomplishments.
"Oooh, Fairy Godmother's been rubbing off on me," she smiled softly. "I guess I can't help but try to be a matchmaker too."
(-)
Ashlynn saw Kevin out in the hallway. Once the door closed behind them, they both let out matching sighs of relief.
"You know, that was easier than I-" Kevin began when he was suddenly cut off.
"You!" a familiar voice snapped. Both Ashlynn and Kevin turned to the source. Both blanched when they saw Faybelle marching up to them and looking downright furious.
"Faybelle!?" Ashlynn cried.
"I knew it! I knew you were trying to snag him! You princesses always do!" Faybelle accused. "Well not today! He's mine, do you hear me? He picked me while you were twiddling your thumbs! Your mom will not-MPH!" Faybelle's rant was cut short when Kevin grabbed her by her shoulders and kissed her deeply. She gasped and whimpered as Kevin stole her ability to speak. Ashlynn blushed, surprised by the raw and passionate display. After several moments, Kevin drew back and Faybelle panted, "That won't-MPH!"
Kevin kissed her again, cutting off her words for a second time. Finally, he broke the kiss again, "Calmed down yet?"
"Kiss me again and I will be," Faybelle panted, glaring at Ashlynn. Kevin obliged, this time Faybelle returned the kiss, making sure to show off to the blushing Ashlynn. She thought the next Cinderella would be mortified, but Ashlynn was having thoughts of doing the same to Hunter.
They broke the kiss and Kevin drew back, but didn't release his grip on her. Ashlynn dismissed her blush and recovered herself, "Faybelle, I know what it looks like, but it's not true! Kevin and I were never together. Everyone just keeps gossiping and saying that."
"Then why did your mom want to meet him?" Faybelle frowned, but didn't try to break Kevin's embrace.
"Because so many people believed it, she thought it was true too!" Ashlynn insisted, finally losing her patience. "I don't want to date Kevin! I don't want him to be my prince! I already have a boyfriend!"
"Then why didn't you say so?" Faybelle hissed. "Just admit it and let me enjoy my boyfriend without everyone judging us! Everyone thinks I'm stealing him from you!" Normally she'd take pride in robbing a princess of her prince, but it was getting annoying with everyone acting like she was being a homewrecker.
"I can't!" Ashlynn hissed, not wanting to speak too loudly in case her mother heard. She needn't have bothered since the rooms all had privacy magic placed on them. Of course, she was also blurting out her secret at the same time.
"So you're a Rebel? Big deal!" Faybelle growled. "I'm tired of everyone trying to pair my boyfriend up with you! Just tell everyone, get it over with, and let us have our Happily Ever After!" Dark magic sparked around her eyes, a result of her intense emotions.
"Faybelle, come on, let's go," Kevin said as he ushered his girlfriend to the elevator. She relented but not before shooting Ashlynn one last glare.
"Take me someplace private," Faybelle hissed as the doors closed. "I'm going to rock your world for being so faithful to me."
Kevin's eyes widened as his heart pounded with anticipation.
"Maybe we could book a room here?" Kevin offered. "For just the two of us?"
"Do it!"
They took the elevator down to the lobby to see if they could get a room to spend the night together. Hopefully, the hotel was not fully booked even with all the famous fairy tales coming and they could get a good deal for an overnight stay.
Sleeping Beauty Suite
Harry found himself in front of Sleeping Beauty's suite. Sighing, he tugged at the collar of his suit before he knocked on the door.
"Please don't be asleep," Harry muttered.
"Hi Harry!" Briar answered the door, smiling when she saw it was him. "Come on in. Mom's been waiting."
"Hope she didn't fall asleep while she waited," Harry lightly joked.
"Ah, she just woke up so she should be fine," Briar waved him off, not getting the joke.
Coming to the lounge, they found Sleeping Beauty there...snoring softly with her head resting on her hand in the sunlight from the window. She wore a flowing pink dress with all the ribbons and frills. With her tan skin and long brown hair, she looked like a mirror image of Briar, only without the pink streaks.
"Just woke up, huh?" Harry looked to Briar.
"Her narcolepsy is worse than mine since the curse hit her directly," Briar explained. She trotted up to her mother and began to shake her shoulder.
"Shouldn't your dad be here to kiss her awake?" Harry asked.
"Oh, that was to break the curse. Anyone can wake her up now," Briar replied before turning back to her mother. "Mom, Mom, wake up. Harry's here. Wake up."
"Zzzz, hm? Oh *yawn*," Sleeping Beauty yawned as she sat up. "Oh, I'm sorry, Briar. I just set my head down for a moment…"
"I know, I do it too," Briar smiled. "Now wake up, Harry's here!"
"Your Majesty," Harry announced with a nod.
"You're...the pink knight," Sleeping Beauty identified.
"It's magenta," Harry corrected out of reflex. "Your Majesty."
"Yes, quite," Sleeping Beauty rubbed her eyes. "Oh sorry about letting you see me like that. The Dark Faerie's curse had some side effects after a hundred years."
"Well, I can safely say that even after sleeping for 100 years, you still look youthful and beautiful," Harry complimented.
"Charmer," Sleeping Beauty smiled. "Hm, maybe you are my daughter's Prince Charming."
"About that I'm..." Harry started and looked at Briar, beautiful Briar Beauty who loved living life. She would fall asleep at random times and he found that sleeping face of hers to be cute. "I'm..." He thought about Briar's destiny, about the curse and the 100 years of sleep. That just sounded horribly cruel. She would sleep and the world and her friends would just move on and live their lives without her. Then, when she finally woke up, her friends and everyone she loved would be gone.
Did he like Briar? Well, she was a good friend. Did he have feelings for her? Honestly, he wasn't so sure about that. However, Arthur wasn't sure when he started having feelings for Raven either but after they met he wanted to save her from her destiny, to create a new path for her. A sentiment all the Riders agreed to when they began meeting friends or lovers who had unkind destinies.
Briar seemed accepting of her destiny, at least on the surface. That was why she wanted to live every day to the fullest. Still, he couldn't imagine closing his eyes for what felt like a night only to wake up to find all his friends and family dead and dust.
He realized he wanted to spare her from such a cruel fate. Could he save her by being her Prince Charming?
Sleeping Beauty smiled knowingly, "You don't want to say it, but you know it might be true, don't you?"
"I..." Harry looked at Briar again. "I care about your daughter, Your Majesty. She's fun to be around and a good friend. She throws the best parties too. Just before Legacy Day, she threw a Beach Bash for all of our classmates."
Briar's cheeks turned pink at the praise as she found her lap interesting.
"Hm..." Sleeping Beauty looked thoughtful. So, he and her daughter were not yet an item but it seemed that he was interested in pursuing a relationship with Briar and only now realized it when asked outright. She looked at Briar, seeing that she wasn't resisting was a very good sign. Despite many fairy tale parents wanting their children to have a Happily Ever After, Sleeping Beauty did not want her daughter to end up sleeping for a hundred years and losing everyone she held dear. If she found her prince now, then she wouldn't even sleep a day when the curse struck.
"Mom, Harry's just a friend," Briar confessed, trying to keep Harry out of her situation. "He only came as a favor to me. Sorry if we misled you."
"I never outright called you two an item, but I was hexcited to hear you met a boy you were so enthusiastic about," Sleeping Beauty replied, making Briar's eyes widen. She had been played, talking about Harry, but indeed her mother never outright called him her boyfriend or Prince Charming. "If you kids do wish to start dating, then you have my blessing."
Briar and Harry looked at each other and turned red, suddenly unable to speak. Sleeping Beauty merely started giggling.
Book End - Streets
Unlike the other knights, Darren would not be able to meet Lizzie's mom. The Queen of Hearts was stuck in Wonderland. Instead, he spent the day with Lizzie to cheer her up. It was obvious that she was missing her mother and seeing her friends' parents arrive just reminded her that she would not be seeing her mother anytime soon.
Darren made Lizzie laugh, something she appreciated. She loved him as he was such a joy to be around and he wasn't even scared off whenever she yelled, "Off with your head!" He knew she never meant it. It was just her catchphrase.
Currently, Darren was telling her a funny story from his childhood.
"And so I ran around the house wearing a cape and my underwear over my pants, pretending I could fly!" Darren finished. "Hahahaha!"
Lizzie giggled, just imagining Darren as a child doing just that. To Darren, Lizzie's voice just sounded heavenly and it sounded even better when she laughed.
For their date, Darren decided to dress up as The Joker, the Clown Prince of Crime. He got a purple suit, dyed his hair green and put on white makeup with red lipstick to paint a smile on his face. While Lizzie did not recognize the character he was dressed as, she appreciated the effort he put into cheering her up. He also picked the Joker because of Lizzie' color scheme which resembled the Joker's henchwoman and lover, Harley Quinn.
Normal folks considered the costume ridiculous, and some almost a little scary. His friends would consider it just strange since they all knew exactly who the Joker was. For Wonderlandians, and Lizzie in particular, Darren's costume looked more like a dapper gentleman. If anything, Lizzie was so pleased Darren decided to formally escort her on their outing that day. All the while he would crack jokes and tell funny stories just to get her to smile and forget her worries.
"I am so glad to have you, Darren," Lizzie smiled. "I know Mommy would have loved to meet you." Her smile soon fell at the thought of her mother, wondering if she was doing well in Wonderland. When her home was cursed by the Evil Queen, the Queen of Hearts had sent Lizzie away to seek refuge in Ever After before the portals between the two worlds were sealed. Lizzie was always grateful for that. While mad, there was no doubt her mother loved her.
"Hey, no need for tears," Darren said as he caressed her cheek.
"Tears?" Lizzie didn't realize she was crying. "Oh, apologies." She took a napkin and dabbed her eyes to dry her tears.
"Hey, you miss your mom. I get it. Sometimes I miss my parents too," Darren confessed sympathetically. "Now, how about you let this Clown Prince turn that frown upside down?" He flicked his wrist and produced a red rose for her.
Lizzie giggled and took the flower, sniffing it. Oh, he was so sweet and mad. She loved it!
"Very well then, Clown Prince. Shall we head on over to the Mad Hatter's tea shoppe?"
"Certainly, Princess."
Lizzie hooked her arm with his and they both skipped to the Mad Hatter's tea shoppe together.
Book End Library
It was an exhausted, but content group that came back to the library after their long day. Some of them had more harrowing experiences than others, but all of them felt content that they had accomplished what they set out to do. Namely, just meet the legendary parents of their significant others and get their approval, if not their blessing for continuing their relationships.
"Good day, Gwen?" asked Rob, seeing Gwen hexting on her phone with a glowing smile on her lips.
"Yeah, really good day," Gwen nodded, hexting mushy nonsense to Darling. Of course, they were partially serious, talking about coordinating outfits for the award ceremony and making sure Gwen had what she needed. They were a little busy making out to really think of it earlier.
"Is Kevin back yet?" asked Harry as he read messages from Briar. Since they didn't have time to really talk with her mother around, Briar wanted to talk about where the conversation went. Going from trying to say they were just friends to finding out they had a genuine attraction to each other was a bit confusing.
"Said he's staying at a friend's place," Tristan replied. "Didn't get much more detail than that. Faybelle probably demanded a date in return for going to meet Cinderella."
"Sounds like her," Max agreed, tired and feeling stuffed from the meatloaf dinner. Red was an amazing cook and she could make a lot, no doubt a necessity to feed her wolfy family. He could fall asleep in his chair.
Arthur chuckled as his friends' antics, all but bragging about how their days went. He would have liked to do the same, but meeting the Evil Queen was anything but pleasant. Instead, he strode through the hallways towards Merlin's office. He always had an open-door policy unless it was important. He was usually there unless some business came up. Fortunately, he was checking some paperwork for the library.
"Hey Arthur," Merlin smiled looking up from his work. "How was meeting her royal evil-ness?"
"Chilling," Arthur replied. "Are you working on something important?"
"Just looking over thoughts and ideas why you and Lance got that little upgrade during the Shereghost Attack," Merlin sat straight. "Nothing concrete yet, even if I have some theories."
Arthur nodded. That sudden surge of power was still a mystery, but one he wasn't going to dismiss, or hope they could somehow use again, "When we were talking to the Evil Queen, Raven mentioned the 'two destinies' thing and it really seemed to shock her. Raven says that she could count on one hand how often she saw her mother surprised by something."
"The woman's one of the most cunning villains out there," Merlin nodded. "Not much can catch her off guard. Still, the Storybook of Legends offering Raven a choice, her own daughter who she's tried grooming to succeed her, likely would be one of those few things."
Arthur shook her head, "It wasn't that it caught her by surprise that bugged me, it was what she said when it did," Arthur looked to Merlin. "She said the words 'I made' before she caught herself and started trying to downplay her surprise. I've hung around you long enough to know when someone tries to hide their words or something and this bothers me."
Merlin tapped his chin, "And you think she may know something about the book no one else does?"
Arthur shrugged, "Possibly. I think she knows something, but if it's about the book, or some preparation she made to make sure Raven would take her destiny, something about two destinies really threw her off."
Merlin nodded, "Well, she is a crafty wench. I'll give her that. She probably did have a backup plan somewhere in case her Wonderland takeover didn't work out. Still, just a slip of the tongue isn't enough to really be sure of anything than she did something."
Arthur sighed, "Yeah, that's what worries me. Especially if it's Raven's happiness that's on the line."
Merlin laughed, "That's what makes you a good boyfriend for the little blackbird. Still, short of getting my hands on the book myself, there's only so much I can look into. Milton Grimm has sole rights as his family are the custodians of the thing and only he can let anyone see it."
"And he won't let anyone near it now that he's convinced someone tampered with it," Arthur shook his head. "Okay, but if you figure something out, can you let us know? All of us are dating someone who is going to be affected by that book."
"Will do," Merlin saluted. "Now you get to work on that speech. King Arthur will be expected to make one tomorrow night."
"Don't remind me," Arthur groaned.
This is so romantic! *munch, munch*
Brooke, what did we tell you about eating while reading?
But Dad, how can I not enjoy popcorn with this much love?
That's a good point dear…
Honey, not you too!
And we still have the actual award ceremony to come! *much, munch*
A/N: And here are the meetings with most of the fairy tale parents. This one took some time to edit since both Kamen Rider Chrome and I have other projects to do. Still, we are still on the job. Hope you enjoyed this second anthology chapter.