I do not own Kamen Rider Ryuki or Ever After High. They belong to their respective creators and not me. I am not writing this for profit, only for fun.
Knights of the Otherworld
By Ten-Faced Paladin
Chapter 22: Thronecoming Part 3
Okay, finally, we get to see what that weird Calibur Knight was talking about!
Well, the Thronecoming game was important…
Dear, we can talk about that later.
Shhh! I'm trying to read!
Heritage Hall
It was a tense, and confusing moment. Under the direction of Giles Grimm to find the true Storybook of Legends, Raven, Apple, Maddie, and Cedar had snuck into Heritage Hall but were followed by Ashlynn, Briar, Cupid, and Blondie. They discovered the giant version of the book in fact was hiding a secret. Once Blondie picked the lock, they were found by Arthur, Lance and Harry who had followed them. One-by-one, the girls went inside the book with Arthur being the only knight to follow them in. Once they were inside, they had to navigate each others' stories in order to collect the missing pages of the Storybook of Legends. Arthur ended up in a scenario according to one of his possible destinies, forced to fight an evil version of Ryuga when Raven came to save him. Arthur was almost fatally wounded but they managed to claim the missing page from Ryuga and escape.
After they came out of the big book, Raven and Arthur had a moment to reconcile, but it was interrupted by a new Rogue Knight, calling herself Calibur Knight.
And one who bowed to Arthur, calling him her king.
"Um, what?" Briar asked, a little confused.
"I am immensely pleased to see your noble line return to us here in Ever After, sire," Calibur Knight declared. "Once again, the story of Camelot and the glorious King Arthur can be told once again."
Blondie took out her MirrorPhone to report and livestream the event.
"Blondie Lockes here, reporting live from Heritage Hall. Guess what? A new Rogue Knight, calling herself Calibur Knight, has appeared. In a surprising twist, she appears to be pledging her allegiance to our very own Arthur Pendragon."
"Really, Blondie?" Cedar asked incredulously. "You're livestreaming this now?"
"A good reporter is always ready!" Blondie retorted proudly.
"What do I do?" Arthur whispered to Lance, feeling awkward.
"Well, you're her king, aren't you? Give her an order," Lance answered back in a hushed tone.
"Um, Calibur Knight, please rise," Arthur commanded. Calibur Knight did so, standing at the ready. "As you can see, our friends have already found the pages of the book. We're going to return them to someone who can put them back together." He was careful not to name Giles Grimm. Headmaster Grimm might be watching.
"A wise decision, My King," Calibur Knight nodded, but her gaze turned to Raven and she felt it turn into a cold glare, "Although I would feel more secure if not even one page was in the hands of this...temptress."
Raven balked, "Excuse me?!"
"Evil Queen, you will no longer corrupt My King and sully him with your presence. Give me that page you hold and begone!" Calibur Knight demanded, holding her hand out expectantly.
"Woah! Wait a second!" Arthur stepped in front of Raven. "That's out of line!"
"But, My King, she is a corruptive presence!" Calibur Knight insisted. "You are meant for the great Queen Guinevere! Allowing this temptress to hold even one page of the sacred Storybook of Legends risks Camelot's future!"
"OK, first of all, that's my girlfriend you're insulting!" Arthur defended Raven's honor. "Second of all, Gwen's taken! And third, you will stand down!"
"I see..." Calibur Knight sighed and Arthur believed he had defused the tense situation. "The Evil Queen's spell has clouded your mind. Then there is only one course of action." She hardened her gaze at Raven. "Kill the witch."
Lance and Harry had taken out their Advent Decks while Arthur stood stunned.
"Um, did she just say she was going to kill Raven?" Cedar asked.
"I think she did," Ashlynn paled.
*Eeeeeeeeee!*
The three Riders winced when they heard the familiar call of the Mirror World. Calibur Knight didn't seem bothered, which made the trio worry. They were quick to realize their fears were more than justified when they witnessed several figures step out of the polished walls of the hall.
"What are these guys?" Lance frowned, seeing them. "Cheap knock offs?"
The humanoids, six of them, looked very similar to the knights. They wore black bodysuits with sections of black armor with gold lines on them, like manufactured machine parts which all looked bolted on or had pipes running from it. Their right arms had a blocky armband that looked like part of an engine block. Finally, their helmets were completely smooth with a large black visor and a mouthguard which appeared like silver mandibles. The forehead was marked with small antennae decorations. The only real thing they had in common with the Riders was the silver belt around their waists with what looked like an Advent Deck in the middle sporting a round, gold emblem, but it looked reversed to where a Rider's would work. Its cards seemed drawn from the left, where a Rider's was from the right.
And all six of them were blocking the exits
"Stop!" Arthur yelled. "I command you to stop!"
"My apologies, my liege, but I cannot obey an order from you when you have been clearly compromised," Calibur Knight apologized sincerely.
"Arthur, I think the time for words is over," Harry said.
Arthur took out his Advent Deck and nodded. The three knights held out their Advent Decks and their reflections sent them their V-Buckles.
"Henshin!"
They transformed, their armor covering them as they got ready to fight.
The six armored men calmly drew cards from their own belts. Bringing them up to their gauntlets, they slashed them through a slot on the armor. As it was halfway through, the cards burned up in a bit of blue fire, vanishing, as the Visors announced in a monotone digitized female voice.
[Sword Vent!]
All six warriors each had a plume of blue fire appear in their hands which solidified into what seemed like a barbed sword styled after an insect of some kind.
[Sword Vent!]
[Copy Vent!]
Ryuki, Knight, and Raia summoned their own weapons as the six black knights started to advance on them. Ryuki had his Drag Saber while Knight got his Wing Lancer. Raia, on the other hand, had made a copy of Knight's Wing Lancer.
"I am truly sorry, My King, Sir Lancelot, Sir Hector," Calibur Knight spoke. "But this is for your own good. Fear not, I will harm no one else but the Evil Queen so long as they stay out of my way."
"We don't have to fight," Ryuki frowned, lifting his sword. "If you have any sense, any true loyalty, then stand down!"
"I must refuse," Calibur Knight shook her head, backing away. "My Black Knights, subdue the king and his fellows! Slay the Evil Queen!"
"Affirmative," six voices droned back before they began charging for the three. As the six Black Knights engaged the Kamen Riders, Calibur Knight focused her attention on the eight girls.
"Um, Miss Calibur Knight, do you really need to kill Raven?" Blondie asked nervously. With a flick of her wrist, Calibur Knight sent a whip of water that knocked the MirrorPhone out of Blondie's hands, breaking it.
"Do not attempt to dissuade me, Goldilocks," Calibur Knight replied. "For the sake of Camelot, she must die!"
"Girls, go find cover," Raven flexed her fingers, violet magic burning around her eyes.
"And so the Evil Queen shows her true colors," Calibur Knight observed. "Last chance, Evil Queen. Release my king from your spell or you will die."
"It's called love, you hag," Raven scowled, perhaps channeling more of her mother than she liked. "That's magic no one can break! And stop calling me that! That's my mom's name!"
"Then the only way to break that spell will be to end you!"
Fighting the Black Knights proved to be a challenge for the three Riders, especially when it was two to one. The soldiers were absolutely merciless, didn't pull punches, and seemed to always be able to move at their peaks. They never said a word and their precision was uncanny. Their strikes were heavy, like a machine press, which the Riders found out the hard way as each of them had to deal with two of them at once.
"It's two to one here!" Raia said.
"Then let's even the odds!" Knight drew a card and fed it into his Visor.
[Trick Vent!]
Like magic in itself, four copies of Knight suddenly emerged from behind him and charged into the fray, clashing with their own Wing Lancers against the Black Knights. The stoic soldiers suddenly found themselves being outnumbered and unable to back each other up.
"Arthur, go help Raven!" Knight yelled. "We've got these guys handled!"
"Right!" Ryuki nodded, slugging one Black Knight across the face before he went to help Raven.
Raven and Calibur Knight fought with their magic, water clashing with violet energy. It was an impressive show as hydromancy went up against raw magical power. Still, it was more than a battle of wills. It was a battle of conviction and it was being boiled down to a fairy tale catfight. Only in this scratch match, the stakes were at their highest.
"Evil Queen!" Calibur Knight spat as she attempted to blast Raven only for her water to splash harmlessly against a purple shield.
"You need to chill out!" Raven launched a whip of her magic and it wrapped around Calibur Knight. The Rogue yelled as she was sent crashing into the wall. However, she recovered and gathered water in her hands to form a pair of whips that she cracked. She sent the whips at Raven who retaliated and magic crackled in the air as they went back and forth.
"I will not allow My King to be sullied by the likes of you, Evil Queen!" Calibur Knight shrieked, whipping at Raven who raised her shields again. "He is destined to be the perfect king! The ruler of Camelot! The beacon of chivalry and knighthood! I will not let you take that away from him!"
"Gn! News flash, witch!" Raven scowled. She flexed her magic, slightly changing the fields, "He chose me over Camelot!" The next whip that struck her shield suddenly had the water reflect back at Calibur Knight, splashing the Rogue Knight and knocking her back.
"Bleh!" Calibur Knight spat, getting her footing back. "I doubt that! He is a Pendragon! Camelot is in his blood! He cannot deny it just as he cannot deny breathing! No, you used some spell or your seduction to try and lure him away and claim his destiny as your own!"
"I never seduced him!" Raven denied, blushing madly.
"But you have charmed him and as long as you live, Camelot will not rise again!"
Raven gritted her teeth, forcing her power into two spheres, "So what?! Arthur doesn't want that destiny! All it will do is lead to war! I know how that story ends! He wants to live his life, not repeat tragedy!"
"It won't end that way!" Calibur Knight shrieked, creating two large balls of water. "I won't let it!"
The others had taken cover while Blondie continued to livestream the fight, providing commentary for her viewers. It was a good thing she had taken her MirrorPad with her. The others couldn't help but gape and watch the fight, very out of their element. Cupid's gaze was riveted to Raven's battle, seeing her fight to prove her love was real to a zealot. Apple and Briar were both watching their boyfriends, praying that their knights would overcome this challenge.
Meanwhile, Ashlynn retained some sense and had her phone out to call Hunter. Some may have called that a foolish move, but Hunter was first and foremost in Ashlynn's mind, and when someone was in love, was it not always that special someone they look to first for aid and reassurance?
Ever After High - Bookball Field
The EAH team was spellebrating their victory when Hunter heard his phone ring.
"Hey, Ashlynn!" Hunter greeted. "Where are you? We won the game and-!"
"Hunter, we're at Heritage Hall! We need help! Please hurry!"
The call cut off after that with what sounded like an explosion.
"Ashlynn? Honey? Sweetheart?" Hunter worried when she did not pick back up. Paling, and perhaps having a bit of panic, Hunter broke off from his teammates and made a dash for the exit of the field. He brushed past several people, ignoring their congratulations. Looking around, he recalled which way Heritage Hall was and ran like he never ran before.
Coming to the edge of the forest, he saw Heritage Hall and even at a distance, it looked like some of the windows had been broken.
"Oh no," Hunter gasped. "ASHLYNN!" He began to run, but from the corner of his eye, a black staff came down and suddenly halted his advance.
"Going somewhere, young Huntsman?" Merlin asked.
"Sorry, Mr. Merlin, but I really need to go! My girlfriend's in trouble!" Hunter tried to move around Merlin's staff, uncaring of where he even came from. Merlin just pressed his staff into his chest to make him stop.
"Oh, I know." Merlin nodded. "But you're running into a heated battle and you're clearly not equipped for the job." He reached into his robes and produced the forest green Advent deck which once belonged to Hunter's cousin. "I just thought you might need something to help you as well."
"H-huh?" Hunter blinked.
"If you intend to go in there with axe swinging and arrows flying, you're going to need this," Merlin held it out for him. "But let me warn you, Mr. Huntsman, that by taking this, your fate will change. You won't just be a huntsman. You will become something more and become part of something greater than just Snow White or Red Riding Hood's stories."
Hunter looked at the Advent Deck, the screaming falcon emblem almost staring back at him. It didn't even take him a moment to decide, "If it helps me save my princess, then I don't care!"
Hunter took the deck and charged for Heritage Hall, not once thinking to ask for help or look for an adult. He just ran to do what he himself could do. Merlin watched him go with a proud grin on his lips.
"Go get them, kid."
Heritage Hall
Raven was sent crashing against the giant Storybook of Legends. As she tried to cast another spell, a sphere of water encased her head. Startled by the action, Raven didn't have the chance to hold her breath and began choking. Calibur Knight was trying to drown her.
"Do what is best for My King and just die already!" Calibur Knight shouted.
"Hyah!" Ryuki yelled as he delivered a flying kick and knocked Calibur Knight to the floor. This saved Raven's life as her head was freed from the water sphere once it popped like a balloon. She collapsed, gasping for air.
"My King!? What are you doing!?" Calibur Knight demanded.
"Shut up!" Ryuki snapped. "I am not your king. I will never be your king. You tried to kill Raven, my beautiful blackbird. I can't forgive you for that."
Calibur Knight rose to her feet, producing her Aqua Visor staff and sighed.
"Then I am sorry for what I must do, My King."
The dolphin ornament on her staff rose up, revealing the card chamber. She drew a card from her deck and put the card in the chamber before she slammed it shut.
[Sword Vent!]
A pair of blue sabers shaped like dolphin fins appeared in her hands. The two had a quiet stare down before they charged at each other. Sparks flew as they exchanged blows, sparks blasting off as they went back and forth with a vengeance. They locked blades and Ryuki kicked her in the stomach before slashing her in the chest, sending her backpedaling. Retaliating, she swung her swords at him and he leaped back but she then blasted him with water, sending him tumbling to the floor.
In the heat of the chaos, no one noticed Hunter push open the doors of the hall. He gasped, seeing the Black Knights fighting his friends. At the far end of the hall, he saw Ryuki fighting a knight he'd never seen before, but more importantly, he saw Ashlynn and the others hiding behind the giant book.
"Ashlynn!" Hunter cried. Looking around, he saw the polished walls of the building. Knowing he didn't stand a chance of getting through the mess unharmed, he decided it was time to use any tool he could get. Coming to the wall, he held up the Bow Knight deck to his own reflection. To his shock, he saw the V-Buckle appear, come out of the reflection, and wrap around his waist.
"Okay, what was the word they used?" Hunter looked back onto the chaos. "Oh, right! Henshin!" He slid the deck it into the V-Buckle, making the light on top shine. Monochrome images folded on top of him before solidifying and filling with color, creating the Bow Knight suit. "Wow." He checked his reflection, touching his helmet in awe. He then focused and charged into the fray with his Bow Visor. He knew how to use it and fired upon the Black Knights, surprising Knight and Raia.
"Bow Knight!?" Raia gaped.
"Hey, guys!" Bow Knight called. "It's me, Hunter!"
"How did you-?!" Knight gasped, but then grunted as he slashed a Black Knight away. "Nevermind! You any good with that crossbow?"
"Who do you think you are talking to?"
"Right. Help us bring these guys down! They're like freaking machines!" Knight grunted as he and his clones kept up the fight.
Back with Ryuki and Calibur Knight, the female Rogue Knight proved to be a formidable opponent. Her fighting skills were top-notch and she had magic too, hydrokinesis, at her command. It made her quite deadly. Clearly she had training, but unlike the last Bow Knight and Perfect Knight, she knew how to use it and not get full of herself in the process.
[Strike Vent!]
Ryuki caught the Drag Claw and unleashed a torrent of flame at Calibur Knight. The female Rogue swiftly collected water to protect her, nullifying the fire, but it also kept her from going too much on the offensive with her need to concentrate on keeping the fire at bay.
"Come on, come on," Ryuki muttered. "The magic has to eat up her stamina! How long can she last?"
"Arthur," Raven had recovered from her brush with death. Ryuki always needed to save her. As much as she appreciated it, she could not always rely on him like that. He needed to be able to rely on her too. She cracked her knuckles, flexed her fingers, remembering an old spell her mother had taught her.
Calibur Knight pushed back against Ryuki when a giant clawed hand made of violet magic grabbed her and picked her up. Ryuki followed the arm and gaped as he saw Raven manipulating it. Standing behind her was a gigantic humanoid figure made out of her magical energy, so tall that it nearly touched the hall's ceiling. Raven then brought her hand down, slapping the floor and her magical construct mimicked her. It smashed Calibur Knight to the ground, hard, making the building tremble and forming a crater in the floor.
"Raven..." Ryuki gawked as Raven confidently strutted over to him. Naturally, Arthur found power to be very sexy, and right now his blackbird was absolutely alluring to him.
"I'm your princess, remember? Your future queen," Raven stood beside Ryuki, looking a little breathless. "And my place is beside you."
In the crater, Calibur Knight was down but not out. Her whole body was in pain but that meant she was still alive.
"Accursed witch!" Calibur Knight hissed. She surged out of the crater like a geyser and landed before Ryuki and Raven, a furious blue aura flowing from her body. "Keep...away...from...MY KING!" Water exploded out from Calibur Knight, flooding the room in a deluge. Many people cried out in surprise as they were swept away by it. The doors were slammed open by the pressure, spilling into the Enchanted Forest outside.
The girls, Riders, and the Black Knights were spread out across the ground. Groans and gags echoed, but the Black Knights were quick to pull themselves up, gripping their weapons once again.
"I will not let you deny him his destiny, Evil Queen!" Calibur Knight screeched as she stepped to the door. "DO YOU HEAR ME!? YOU WILL NOT TAKE KING ARTHUR FROM ME!"
Ryuki growled, getting up as he held Raven as he tried to protect her from the water. "I'm getting tired of repeating myself, Calibur Knight. Raven didn't cast any spell on me. She was just herself and I fell for her. Her beauty, her intelligence, her charm, her will, and most of all, her heart. Magic? Magic doesn't compare to all that."
Raven pulled herself up, her magic spent, but her will unbroken, "Me cast a spell on him? More like he cast one on me. The first boy who treated me like anyone else. Not a princess, not a witch, not the Evil Queen's daughter. He saw me as Raven Queen and I was blessed enough to earn his love and I will not risk it a second time!"
"His love is meant for Lady Guinevere!" Calibur Knight snarled. "His duty is to Camelot! Why do you insist on getting in the way!?"
Raven and Ryuki looked at each other and then back to Calibur Knight and spoke as one, "I love him/her. Why else?"
With the words spoken, purple bands began to shine around Ryuki's right arm. He looked down at it in confusion for a moment, but then remembered the day Raven wrapped her favor ribbon around it for the joust. It felt warm and powerful, but like it was trapped there. Raven looked just as confused, but she also recalled giving a token of her affection to Ryuki that day and wrapping it just like the bands were showing.
Ryuki reached to his deck and placed his fingers on it, causing the light to funnel through his fingers into his next card, causing it to shine. Looking to Raven again, he drew the card. The shine soon faded, revealing the image of a golden wing on a flaming red background with the word 'SURVIVE' written across the top. As if in a trance, he held his Drag Visor out and flames enveloped it, changing his device into a gun-like weapon that was shaped like a dragon's head with a visor over its eyes. This was his Drag Visor Zwei. The jaw popped open, revealing a dock for his new card. He inserted the card into the slot and slammed the Visor's 'mouth' closed.
[Survive!]
Flames swirled around Ryuki, forcing Raven to step back and shield her eyes. In the middle of the inferno, Ryuki stood as if the heat didn't bother him at all. He just kept his gaze directed straight at Calibur Knight.
"What sorcery is this?" she hissed, confused by what her king was doing.
In a fash, his whole suit had changed. The bodysuit was now black as his Advent Deck had turned red. His armor was now crimson and gold with shoulder pylons and the chest looked like a dragon's face. His helmet's visor was now edged in gold with a pair of antennae rising from his brow. The dragon symbol on his helmet had also turned gold.
This was Kamen Rider Ryuki Survive.
"Raven will be my Queen and I will protect her with my life!" Ryuki swore.
"OH, MY FAIRY GODMOTHER!" Blondie squealed, soggy on the grass, and still recording somehow. "Are you all seeing this!? The power of love has transformed Sir Ryuki! And he looks even more spelltastic than before!"
"Woah," Raia gasped.
"So that's what it looked like," Knight huffed.
"Tsk! The power of my king, wasted on that tramp!" Calibur Knight scowled. "Black Knights! Subdue him!"
Ryuki drew a card from his Advent Deck and went to insert it into his Drag Visor Zwei's main slot which was on the back. It popped open and he slid it inside the semi-clear chamber before he shut it.
[Shoot Vent!]
Dragredder emerged but the sound of glass shattering was heard as it too changed to match its master. It had grown, becoming bigger with thicker armor, longer limbs, sharper claws, and wearing a grilled visor over its eyes.
Dragredder had evolved into Dragranzer.
Dragranzer roared as it stood behind Ryuki and he aimed his Visor at the charging Black Knights. Ryuki took aim as Dragranzer began to inhale, its chest swelling as it did so. The Black Knights continued their charge and Ryuki didn't hesitate. He aimed at the middle of the group and pulled the trigger. He fired a small beam of light, a target indicator, but Dragranzer unleashed a nearly white-hot fireball that crashed into the middle of the six Black Knights, creating an explosion that threw them in all directions.
The Black Knights landed in smoking heaps, but they didn't seem to slow down. They immediately began forcing themselves back up to their feet. Perhaps it was a clarity of mind, reaching a zen state with his boost, but Ryuki could tell that something wasn't right about the Knights. They recovered too fast, moved too precisely. Either they were brainwashed drones with no sense of pain or…
One of the Black Knights looked up, showing a broken visor that had more machinery inside, mocking a human face.
"They're robots!" Knight gasped. "They're all robots!"
"Ro-what?" asked Apple.
"I knew it," Ryuki muttered. "No need to hold back then." He reached to his belt and drew another card. It resembled his previous Final Vent, but this one had his emblem with fourteen gold wings coming from behind. He slipped it into his Visor and let it activate.
[Final Vent!]
Dragranzer gained some distance and flew toward Ryuki as it folded in its long serpentine body, its visor sliding down to cover its eyes. A pair of wheels popped out from its chest and rear as the dragon transformed into a motorcycle and ran on the ground, its claws clutching the wheels. Ryuki leaped and landed on Dragranzer's back, gripping the handlebars.
"Are you kidding me? It transforms too?!" Raia gasped.
Ryuki and Dragranzer just continued to ride at the recovering Black Knights. The machines merely got to their feet and lifted their swords, preparing to follow Calibur Knight's last command. The Dragon Knight wouldn't give them the chance. Popping a wheelie, Dragranzer spat fireballs at the Black Knights, bombarding them without mercy before it roared as it plowed into all of the Black Knights, turning them into scrap metal in multiple explosions.
Ryuki continued to speed toward Calibur Knight.
"Wait, no! My King! You can't!" Calibur Knight screamed. Ryuki just rode up the stairs and Calibur Knight screamed, falling back. As she hit the stone floor, she froze when she saw Dragranzer's face mere inches away from her. The dragon growled as Ryuki sat in the seat.
"Do not ever let me see you again," Ryuki growled. "Or else I won't show you any more mercy."
Calibur Knight finally got the hint. Water blasted from her foot as she took off into the air, fleeing from her king's wrath.
Ryuki watched her go and when she was a speck in the sky, he dismounted his bike, which transformed back into its dragon form with a snarl.
"Sorry Partner. No snacks this time. I'll make it up to you with the next one though. Promise."
Dragranzer growled, but perhaps due to the positive partnership they had so far, it seemed to understand. With a huff, it dove back into the Mirror World, leaving Ryuki to approach his friends.
"Raven, are you okay?" he asked.
"Y-yeah," Raven nodded. Admittedly, seeing her boyfriend turning from a knight in shining armor to a knight in crimson armor was making her heart pound like crazy. How did she get so lucky!?
"THAT WAS SPELLTACULAR!" Ryuki turned and saw his friends, Rider and Princess both, running to him, clearly excited about what they had witnessed. Despite being waterlogged, they were like excited kids when a hero came onto the scene
Maddie was positively giddy, "Hat-tastic! Arthur, you were like on fire! Then you were like 'boom'! Your dragon was like 'roar'!"
"Check yourself out!" Blondie replayed the final moments of the battle.
"Whoa!" Ryuki took the MirrorPad as the video played. "Is that me!?"
"And look at all these comments!" Blondie pointed. Under the video, comments were scrolling like crazy, showing how shocked and amazed people were about Ryuki's sudden upgrade.
"Looks like you leveled up, dude," Knight patted Ryuki's shoulder.
"Yeah, I feel it too," Ryuki agreed. He looked at his friends, but stopped when he saw Ashlynn being held in Bow Knight's arms, "Wait, when did-?"
"It's Hunter. Relax," Raia cut him off. "He did okay. Might have to let him keep it if any more rogues show up."
As the knights privately discussed what they just went through, Blondie was keeping up with her subscribers. Maddie was holding the MirrorPad, acting as Blondie's cameraperson. The blonde herself was presenting herself as best she could, considering she was soaked to the bone and her makeup was ruined. She trudged on like a true reporter to finish her report.
"This is Blondie Lockes reporting from Heritage Hall! We have just witnessed another epic battle between our Knights of the Round Table and the Rogue Knights! You better watch out, Order of Rogues! The Knights of the Round Table are no pushovers!"
"And she named them," Raia sighed. "It's gonna stick now."
"Let her have this," Briar giggled.
"OK, but I want a full story of what you girls did in there."
"We'll tell you along the way. C'mon, let's get these pages to Giles!" Raven called out. It was a miracle that the pages had not gotten soaked. Must be because they were magic.
(-)
Not far from the battlefield, a familiar robed figure was hidden behind a tree, elated by the turn of events.
"Hahahaha!" Merlin cackled like a madman. "That's it! It is the magic of love!"
Witnessing Arthur's evolution, Merlin was extremely gleeful. He knew it was about time Arthur rediscovered that power. It had helped him and Knight destroy the spawner and it had helped him drive Calibur Knight away. However, he worried about her. Her powers already told Merlin enough to suspect who it was under the armor.
Ever After High - The Vault of Lost Tales
The knights learned that, in order to collect the pages, the girls had to go into each other's stories. It allowed them to understand each other better as they realized what their destinies really meant. Blondie got chased by the Queen of Hearts in Wonderland, Maddie had to play cupid, and Apple played victim to the Dark Faerie in Briar's story just to name a few. Things were tense, but they all came back with the pages they needed.
They came back to the school, with most people being at the bookball field or celebrating in Book End, so they were able to reach the Vault without any trouble. Many who hadn't seen it before were surprised such a place existed beneath their school. They were mystified a little more by Giles Grimm, the missing brother of their headmaster.
"Stars above and graceful fortunes of the tome allows the heroes to return home," Giles smiled brightly as he saw the collected students return.
"What?" Lance blinked.
"He says he's glad to see we're all safe and sound again," Maddie translated.
"So, these pages can restore the book?" Arthur asked.
"Supposedly," Raven nodded as she passed the nine scrolls to Giles' waiting hands. The man held them, looking like a sense of relief came over him. He then raised his arms and the pages rose into the air. They hovered for a moment before shining and combining together. Everyone had to shield their eyes for a moment before it died down. Once it did, they saw not a book, but a tablet in the shape of an open scroll with words carved into it.
"That...doesn't look like the Storybook of Legends," Raven observed, approaching the hovering tablet.
"It might be a key to it," Harry offered.
"Or another clue," Lance suggested.
"What does it say?" asked Ashlynn.
"Hm, 'Speech Returned, Words You Say, Break This Curse, For Our New Day'!" As she spoke, a sensation of magic filled the room for a brief moment. After that though, nothing seemed to happen.
"Wait, that's it? Nothing happened though," Briar frowned.
"Oh, but it did," Giles spoke up, speaking plain English instead of Riddlish, "By collecting the pages, you were able to break my curse!"
"He said, by collecting the pages, we, *gasp!* Giles! You can talk! Like everyone can understand you talk!" Maddie beamed, running to give Giles a hug.
"Yes, Maddie, and I owe my thanks to all of you spectacular students," Giles smiled "Especially when the danger became so much greater than I feared with that Rogue Knight and her mechanical minions."
"Mr. Grimm," Arthur said. "A friend of ours, Kevin, he thinks your brother put you here and put the curse on you. Is that true?"
Giles sighed sadly, "The Gazelle Knight's suspicions are well-founded. Indeed it was my brother who laid down this curse and put me here," He turned and picked up an old portrait of two young boys, assumedly Giles himself and Milton.
"What? Why?" asked Cupid.
"Well, the roots of such a tale happened long ago," Giles explained. "When we were young, Milton and I ended up having a fierce argument over how best to follow our stories. Admittedly we were young and Milton wanted to change something which I fiercely resisted. So much so, I ran away from home but had gotten lost. It was well into the night before Father found me and brought me home. Milton was beside himself and promised to never change the stories again."
"So, his obsession with destiny was caused by childhood trauma?" Harry concluded.
"Indeed," Giles nodded. "After we founded the school, I was happy to lead the first generation of stories to their destinies, of course. When the next came, I believed that they were not their parents and so should be able to write their own destinies and discover new tales."
"And the headmaster didn't like that," Cedar grimaced.
"Oh certainly not," Giles shook his head. "We came to another fierce argument, and brotherly ones are some of the fiercest. He cursed me and kept me down here until I saw sense and followed his lead in the destinies of our students."
"And he left you ever since? In indefinite timeout? How long have you been here?" Lance asked. He and his twin brother would argue but he would never lock his brother up if they disagreed on anything.
"Um…." Giles pondered. "Ah, what year is it now?"
As Giles pondered, Apple couldn't contain her question about one important subject anymore, "Um, Mr. Grimm, if those pages weren't for the Storybook of Legends, then where is it?"
Giles snapped out of his calculations, "Ah, well, that I don't know. But I do know who took it."
"You do? Who?" asked Maddie.
Giles looked sadly to Raven, who felt her stomach drop, "The Evil Queen."
"My mother?!" Raven gasped.
"I knew it!" Arthur cried, turning all eyes to him. "Ah, w-well, during the visit she wanted to meet me, she let slip the words 'I made' when Raven surprised her with the two destinies thing. It just stuck to me after all the wordplay Merlin uses on us. So she made a fake copy of the Storybook of Legends."
"Indeed she did. A very fine forgery. It wasn't until after my brother and I imprisoned her for her attempt to conquer Wonderland that I figured it out," Giles nodded. "Sadly, I was already cursed by the time I did and Milton likely wouldn't have understood me."
"So, it's so good it can show the destinies the real one would show, but not force destiny to make them happen?" asked Harry.
"Oh yes. From my observations, that is indeed all it can do," Giles nodded. "Just by asking to see your destiny, if you have even a hint of a fairy tale in you, it will show you a possible destiny."
"And the multiple destinies?" Raven asked, fearing if the Happily Ever After she saw in the book wasn't true.
"I admit that's new, but considering the mixed heritage of your paramour, I am not surprised," Giles nodded. "The lands of Earth are known for being very free with fate and destiny. Anything is possible there. By coming into contact with you, your own destinies now have the potential for change. I have no doubt the story of The Raven Princess and the Red Knight is more than likely to be written as truth if you so wish to pursue it."
Raven sighed in relief, smiling to Arthur who clasped hands with her.
"Now, enough of this doom and gloom! Thronecoming is upon us!" Giles smiled. "We've also won the bookball game so there is plenty to celebrate. You lot need to get cleaned up and prepare for the Thronecoming dance!"
"Yeah, we do," Arthur agreed, smiling at Raven.
"Will you come too, Mr. Giles?" asked Cupid.
"Me? Oh ho ho, I couldn't," Giles chuckled. "I haven't been to a party in ages. I wouldn't know what to even wear."
"We can help with that," Apple giggled as most of the girls began pushing Giles towards his closet.
Briar stayed behind, taking in what she heard about the fake book. More importantly, she heard why it started showing multiple destinies. Her knight, Harry, just by being with her, he and the others were starting to change destiny and offer new ones. She smiled softly, knowing that Harry really could keep his promise to her and keep her from sleeping those one hundred years. Smiling, she walked to Harry and simply hugged his arm.
"Briar?" Harry asked. "Are you okay?
"Just relieved," Briar answered simply. "Now, come on! We have a dance to get ready for!"
Ever After High - Dorms
Everyone in Ever After High was abuzz with getting ready for the Thronecoming dance. Having won the big game of the season, everyone had even more of a reason to enjoy it. Everyone was getting ready for the big night.
In his room, Daring commissioned the Three Billy Goats to help him with his hair. Namely, he styled it the way he wanted and then had the goats hit it with enough hairspray to make his hair indestructible. After the rough day he put it through with getting stomped on by giants, Daring wanted his hair to look even more fableous than usual.
Not everyone was immediately getting ready. Cerise had a congratulatory pillow fight with her roommate Cedar. Kitty and Maddie were having a pre-Thronecoming tea party, although somehow Earl Gray, Maddie's pet dormouse ended up in Kitty's mouth.
Still, when the hour drew close and night fell, all of the princesses of Ever After High began to get themselves ready. Picking dresses, makeup, and styling were rampant. The girls who would be the knights' dates all converged in Ashlynn and Briar's room, consolidating their efforts to look their very best.
As Briar was working with her own hair on the bed, she thought she saw a purple light glow from under her rug, but she dismissed it as nerves. She had a long day and she still had a huge party to go to so she had to look sharp. She always prayed her narcolepsy wouldn't kick in, lest she end up looking goofy during the night. She didn't want her biggest night with Harry to go even remotely wrong.
Book End Library
"Gwen, I swear if you're hogging the bathroom just to pretty yourself up, I'm going to kick the door down!" Lance yelled, banging on the bathroom door.
"Deal with it! You guys just have to do a little touch-up and you're fine! It takes longer for girls!" Gwen shouted back. "Use a compact or something! I know Apple gave you one!"
It was needless to say, a bit chaotic for the Knights of the Round Table. Although nearly all of them were guys and admittedly didn't need as much prettying up beyond the basics, they did all prefer to do it in the privacy of the bathroom. Of course, Gwen stole it first, wanting to recapture the look she had at Darling's slumber party for the big occasion. So far, she had been in there for over half an hour and so far showed no signs of coming out yet.
Arthur sat on his bed with the chest on his lap. This Thronecoming was a roller coaster of emotions. He and Raven broke up, reconciled, and they had fought a Rogue Knight together. He also learned the truth of his origins from his grandfather.
Taking a breath to steel himself, he opened the chest to see the gift his grandfather had left him. He was surprised to find a simple golden crown inside. None of it was decorated or stylized like the crowns other princes in school would wear. Instead, it was just a generic crown. With it though came a small note.
A king should rise on their own merits and identities, not try to live up to the standards of another. Your rule is yours and you should live up to the standards you believe in. With that, I leave you this crown, new and fresh to one day reflect the kind of ruler you are. Wear it with pride, and do yourself proud.
-King Arthur Pendragon
"Grandpa," Arthur smiled. He always did have a thing for symbolism.
"C'mon, Arthur!" Darren called. "Get dressed or we'll be late for the dance!"
"Coming!"
Ever After High - Grimmnasium
The grimmnasium was in a festive mood with all the boys in suits and tuxedos and the girls in gowns and dresses. Fairies were flying around with tasty hors d'oeuvres for the students. The lunch lady brought out several platters of food, only for the Three Little Pigs and the Three Billy Goats to distract her before making off with several of them.
Mr. Piper was busy taking Thronecoming photos of students who wished to have a memory of the night. Many certainly did. Of course, several of the bookball team members had theirs photobombed by their teammates, hefting the trophy around with them. Coach Gingerbreadman should have helped to keep them in line, but he was in such a good mood he was photobombing his boys right along with them.
Rex would later be annoyed by his teammates' antics and the relentless teasing from his friends it would net him.
Eyes turned to the main entrance when the doors opened and perhaps the most iconic group entered. It consisted of the Knights of the Round Table themselves, their dates, and of course some of the close friends they made. Apple and Raven certainly stole the show walking in with Lance and Arthur. Many of the people there actually seemed relieved to see Raven hadn't signed the book and whatever issue she and Arthur were having was resolved.
Of course, the other girls with their knights were no less picturesque. Beautiful dresses, each designed after each girl's personal theme and even masquerade masks as accessories made up their group as they came in on the red carpet. They almost seemed like movie stars, but with who some of their parents were, no one expected anything less.
"I feel a little out of place," Hunter whispered to Ashlynn but nonetheless walked proudly with her on his arm. Here he was, a huntsman, walking with a princess by his side and counted among the local heroes of the school.
"You're not," Ashlynn giggled. "You're a knight now too. My knight in shining armor."
As the majority, if not all, of the students were in attendance, Milton took the stage, drawing attention to the front of the grimmnasium. "Welcome one and all-!" he was briefly cut off by feedback from his microphone which Humphrey Dumpty dashed out onto the stage to fix. "Welcome one and all to Ever After High's Thronecoming dance!" He then gestured to Dexter who hit a remote button to open the stage curtains, revealing a breathtaking mural that depicted some of the most famous fairy tales of all, "A time where we celebrate our stories, and those who came before."
The students gasped in awe of the mural, finding it amazing. Even the knights, who didn't subscribe to destiny, found themselves entranced by it. Of course, their attention was soon drawn to the DJ booth where Melody Piper was ready for the show as the spotlight came to her.
"We'll get to the big announcement, naming our Thronecoming Queen and King soon. But in the meantime, let's get this party started! Follow me!" She activated the first round of music, firing a rainbow beam from a unicorn device. It struck the disco ball in the middle, filling the room with sparkles of light that perfectly set the mood. Soon, everyone was dancing to the beat of Melody's music, including the blind mice who occupied the top of her speakers.
The Thronecoming dance had truly begun.
(-)
Holly was waiting by the buffet table. She had arrived with Gabe but he told her he needed to do something quickly and asked her to wait for him. She felt a tap on her shoulder and turned to see her date only he looked taller. He now stood about a head taller than her but still kept his cherubic features.
Holly gasped, "Gabriel, is that you? You look...taller."
"Yeah, Holly. Looks like I had a bit of a growth spurt," Gabe chuckled weakly.
"A growth spurt?"
Gabe flushed, but admitted, "A magical one. I asked Farrah to grant me this one wish tonight. It'll only last until midnight so I wanted to make it count."
Holly still needed a moment to take in Gabe's new height, "You wished to be tall."
"Yeah, I did. I know you don't mind the funny looks we get when we're together but I can't help but feel, well, small when I'm beside you. I just wanted to look like the boyfriend you deserve, not your kid brother or some kid you're babysitting."
"Oh, Gabriel," Holly smiled warmly. "That's so sweet of you, but if it bothered me, we wouldn't be together. Tonight's perfect even if you're a dashing knight or a cute cherub. You're still my prince."
Gabe smiled. He had this big explanation planned out in his head to show Holly how much he wanted her night to be picture-perfect. Instead, she just made him feel a little silly. Still, what was done was done. He smiled at her, "So, do you still wanna dance?"
"What kind of question is that?" Holly laughed, taking Gabe's hands. "Of course I do!"
(-)
Milton Grimm tried to maintain his composure, having just tasted Baba Yaga's punch. He was ready to gag and politely excused himself backstage. Once he was backstage, he spat the vile brew out, attempting to wring his own tongue out to get rid of the taste.
It was just one more setback among the rest of the setbacks he had been dealt with lately. He had been left busy with the revelation that the Storybook of Legends he had been guarding for so long had been a forgery. It rendered all destinies signed in it completely null and void. However, students who had believed that it had power were still convinced to follow their destinies before that revelation. If Milton pushed them on the right path, then everything would be fine. Their stories would live on, as they should be.
Unfortunately, King Arthur had warned him not to interfere with the lives of the students and their destinies, or else. Milton had a good poker face, a benefit of working in politics, and he did not wish to cross King Arthur since it was clear he was serious.
Well, as long as Raven Queen believed signing the book, the true book, someday would keep her friends and loved ones from suffering a cruel fate, then all would be well. He wouldn't have to use manipulation to make Raven sign the true book when it was found. So long as she kept believing, it would be fine.
"Hey, Milton," Merlin greeted, emerging from the darkness of backstage.
"Merlin," Headmaster Grimm, groaned. Just what he needed. "What do you want now? Come to laugh at me for getting duped?"
"Oh, I came to make sure my wards were having fun and to see some old friends. You know, haven't seen your brother, Giles, for ages. Whatever happened to him?"
Milton blanched and clearly had a flash of guilt pass through him, "He's...indisposed."
"Oh?" Merlin grinned, "but isn't that him over there?" Merlin pointed to some stairs leading to a higher stage. Milton spun around in reflex only for his jaw to drop when Giles, wearing a fine suit, came walking down the stairs.
"G-Giles?" Milton gasped in shock. "How...how can this be?"
"Well, it took some exceptional students, but I am here all the same," Giles smiled, pulling a childhood photo of him and his brother out. "I've missed you, Milton and I forgive you."
Milton took the photo, remembering all the happy times he had with his brother, and the painful argument which he regretted having with him, "I've...I've missed you too, Giles."
"I think both of us needed some time to cool our heads," Giles chuckled. "Perhaps we could use this chance to turn the page?"
Milton smiled, "Yes. Let's...start a new chapter. Begin fresh. It really hasn't been the same without you."
Giles grinned, "And let's lay this Destiny Conflict to rest. Rather than encouraging all the students to go willy nilly and choose any destiny they want."
"Or keep them on a straight and narrow singular destiny," Milton nodded. "Let's...let's just give them the best guidance we can and trust them to choose the best one for them."
"I couldn't have put it any better myself," Giles laughed. He opened his arms and he and Milton hugged for the first time in many, many years.
Merlin smiled, a true one, before he turned and walked out to join the rest of the party. It was best to let the brothers have their moment. Maybe with Giles back, Milton would stop obsessing about destiny.
(-)
Max attended the Thronecoming Dance with, naturally, Ramona but he looked miserable. Not with his date since Ramona looked absolutely ravishing. No, it was his plans for the night. His plan to win all that money had failed and all because of Cerise Hood. Ironically, his date's little sister.
"All that gold, gone, just gone in an instant. I could've been rich. Now, I'm broke."
"Stringbean, just let it go already," Ramona rolled her eyes. "No use crying about it."
"But I was gonna use that gold to treat us both to an expensive steak dinner after Thronecoming," Max sighed.
Ramona felt a shiver of hunger go down her spine as she heard that, already picturing the kind of steak she wanted. On the other hand, she felt her cheeks heat up at the sweetheart effort her boyfriend wanted to put into their night.
"Well, the thought earns you brownie points, but I don't need a rare, juicy...um, nice steak dinner to have a perfect night."
"I know, but I wanted to spoil you a little," Max shrugged. "Maybe I should have taken bets on who gets voted Thronecoming King and Queen tonight."
Ramona flashed her teeth, hugging Max's arm tighter as her voice got husky, "Oooh, you can just spoil me other ways."
Max caught Mr. Badwolf watching him from across the room. The wolfman gave him the universal 'I'm watching you' gesture before dragging his thumb across his throat for extra warning. Max gulped, but Ramona pulled him into the crowd and cut off his line of sight. But then Mr. Badwolf saw something, snarled, and stalked off.
"Hey, check it out," Ramona pointed.
"Is that Daring dancing with Cerise?" Max's eyes widened.
"Oh it is!" Ramona grinned. "Well, looks like you're off the hook, stringbean. Dad's going to be on them all night now. Wanna find a spot and make out?"
"Ramona…" Max sighed.
(-)
Bigby Badwolf was proud of his daughter, Cerise. She had won them the Thronecoming game. It was too bad he could not congratulate her in public. Maybe later when she came home and they could celebrate as a family.
As a chaperone at the dance, Mr. Badwolf needed to make sure the kids did not break any rules or spike the punch. He also needed to discourage excessive PDA and used this chance to give Mr. Lefay a silent warning.
Honestly, Lefay was an exceptional student in villainy with a promising future. However, that was not the type of guy he wanted dating his daughter Ramona. He may be a Black Knight and a member of the Round Table, but he was not good enough for her.
Looking around, he spotted Cerise, and then he saw something that made him growl.
Daring Charming dancing with her. Maybe he should watch them for a bit...or the whole evening.
(-)
Briar's night at the Thronecoming dance was going somewhat differently than the others. She snagged several dances with Harry before he was pulled away for a Thronecoming photo with his fellow knights. Briar entertained herself at the refreshments table where Baba Yaga was preparing the punch...apparently with old socks as an ingredient. As part of a display on the stage, photos of previous alumni were being scrolled across a large projection screen. Briar did idly note that one photo showed what looked like her dorm room. It showed one girl smiling to the photographer, but another in a purple cloak lifting the rug with something in her arm, partially hidden.
Briar asked Baba Yaga who were the girls in the photo. As one of the faculty members who had been at the school nearly since it was founded, the old witch actually identified one of the two girls as the Evil Queen. Briar was struck as if by a shooting star, a shocking idea coming to her. So after borrowing Cedar's Revealer Rays and Blondie's hairpin/lockpick, she dashed straight to her dorm room.
Tossing away the rug, the glasses revealed to Briar a hidden magical keyhole. Blondie's lockpick made short work of it before the panel on the floor opened. Inside were numerous cobwebs and a thick book that Briar gasped upon seeing.
The Storybook of Legends!
Briar looked at the book, holding it in her hands. In her hands were the possible destinies of all of Ever After High, but also her own dismal future as being cursed to sleep for one hundred years. Still, she remembered what Giles had said about the book, especially with Harry and the other knights around.
"My name is Briar Beauty," Briar spoke out. "I wish to see my destiny."
The book shivered and produced a key, one which looked like it was wrapped in rose stems and blooms. Briar took the key and set the book down before unlocking it. The pages quickly opened and began flipping through stories before coming to one in particular.
The pictures showed what Briar expected. It showed her having a spell cast on her by someone which looked distinctly like Faybelle. Briar was then seen at a spinning wheel where she pricked herself on its needle. Briar was then seen asleep on a bed, roses growing everywhere. A calendar was then seen, months passing by, then a window showing seasons changing. Briar felt fear grip her heart as she saw what it all meant. Finally, a faceless figure appeared in her room and woke her up, but it was not a very happy ending as everyone she loved was clearly gone. The pages then generated a looking glass, showing Briar in all her queen-like glory, but with sadness in her eyes, surrounded by none of her friends or family.
"No, no this can't be my destiny," Briar whimpered. Giles said with Harry around it would change! It had to!
The mirror hovered for a moment, but then sank back into the pages. The book moved to a new section, showing new pictures. They started the same, although it did not show who had cursed Briar this time. She pricked her finger and then fell asleep. The next picture showed a clock, not a calendar, as the first day of her sleep whittled away. The next picture showed a scene outside of her prison, choked in rose thorns, and a figure in pink armor tearing through it. Briar's heart soared when the next picture showed a knight in pink armor riding through the woods, fighting dark fae which were trying to keep Briar asleep. The next picture showed the pink knight in her room, brushing the hair from Briar's face. The last picture showed Harry without his helmet kissing Briar when she awoke, not even a full day passing after the curse struck.
The mirror appeared once again, this time showing Briar with Harry on his horse as they rode out of the cursed forest and back to where her friends were waiting for her.
Briar smiled when she saw that destiny. Harry would keep his promise!
Happy with the news as she was, Briar still knew she had to do something about the book. She couldn't just hold onto it. Someone might find it, or she might spill. Her closest friends all knew when she was keeping a secret. Knowing where the Storybook of Legends was hidden was a huge secret Briar knew she couldn't keep.
So Briar decided to do something with the book. That led her to stand outside with the Storybook of Legends in hand, standing in front of a well.
"This is for the best." Briar reminded herself. "I won't sleep for a hundred years and lose everyone."
"Briar?" Harry's voice suddenly broke her from her thoughts. She spun around and saw him approaching. "What are you doing out here? The party's back inside."
"Harry!" Briar gasped. She suddenly realized she still had the book in her hands and swiftly tried to hide it behind her back.
Harry stopped, surprised to see the book in his girlfriend's hands, and easily recognized it, "Briar...is that the Storybook of Legends? The real Storybook of Legends?"
Briar gulped but she could not lie to him, "It is. Don't try and stop me. I'm going to throw it down this well and make it disappear forever ever!"
Harry blinked, but gave a reassuring smile to her, "Who says I will? Nothing should have power over anyone's destiny. You're right. It should disappear."
Briar heaved a sigh of relief, glad that Harry wasn't going to try and stop her. Turning to face the well, she unceremoniously tossed the book down, watching it vanish into the deep, dark bottom.
Briar sighed, feeling more than the burden of the book lifting from her shoulders, "Nobody will ever find it."
"Let's make this our little secret then. Now, come on. Let's get back to the dance," Harry wrapped an arm around Briar, which she leaned into with a smile as they walked back towards the dance, "So, just how the hex did you manage to find it?"
"Well, it took a lot of good luck," Briar began to explain herself.
As the two left, forgetting about the book, the well magically disappeared.
(-)
It was time to announce the results for Thronecoming King and Queen. Everyone was hexcited, either hoping to get the crown or that their nominees would be crowned.
"Damsels and gentlemen!" Melody stood on the stage. "I hold, in my hand, the results for Thronecoming King and Queen!"
Ther students were eager to hear the results as a spotlight swept over the crowd.
"First, our Thronecoming King!" Melody opened the envelope and read the name. "Our Thronecoming King is...Arthur Pendragon!"
"Wait, what?!" Arthur gasped. The spotlight shone on him and his face appeared on the big mirror screen. Many of the students cheered before he was ushered to the stage in front of the first throne. He couldn't help but wave back, but he didn't remember even registering for the race to be Thronecoming King!
It would later be revealed that Merlin had put his name in. He felt it was only right and proper that Arthur at least be considered for the crown. The impromptu reveal of his Survive Form earlier in the day was what tipped the scales between himself and Daring.
"Now, our Thronecoming Queen is...Raven Queen!"
Raven gasped as the spotlight shone on her, her own face joining Arthur's up on the mirror screen too. She was also ushered up to the stage to join her Thronecoming King.
"I can't believe I won," Raven said.
"Believe it, Blackbird. You've come so far," Arthur smiled.
"Not too disappointed you lost, Apple Pie?" Lance asked, watching Raven and Arthur wave to their adoring supporters.
"Well, a little I guess," Apple admitted. "But, I think Raven's earned this."
"That's my girl," Lance smiled, hugging Apple close.
As the students cheered and applauded their Thronecoming King and Queen, there was a girl in an aqua blue dress watching them with an unhappy scowl marring her pretty features. She had come to witness Arthur being crowned as King which he was meant to be. The only sour note was the one crowned as his Queen tonight.
"Hey, girl," Sparrow tried to flirt with her. "Wanna score a dance with a bookball champ?"
"Hmph! I only dance with kings," the girl huffed, leaving Sparrow to chuckle as she left. Well, he couldn't win them all.
Book End Library
When the Thronecoming dance ended, plenty of people kept going to have after-parties elsewhere. The Red Shoes Dance Club was already getting a flood of excited and eager partiers, spellebrating their victory at the Thronecoming game. Others decided to have smaller spellebrations in their dorms or other places.
Hunter and Ashlynn, when leaving the dance, got a strange hext asking them if they wanted to have a spellebration with the other knights and their girlfriends. Naturally the pair said yes and made tracks to the library. When they arrived, they saw a red carpet rolled out, leading them down to the lower sections of the library to a grand exhibit hall filled with armor and scriptures of Arthurian lore.
"Weird place to have a party," Hunter commented.
"It's kind of cool," Ashlynn admitted. The suits and other items just seemed so majestic.
They walked down the hall, surrounded by knightly armor in poses of battle or conducting themselves to demonstrate chivalry and honor. It felt like they were in a museum, but at the same time, the armor almost seemed to be watching them. There was a kind of magic in the air. Not actual magic, but just a kind of strength and history to the suits. They weren't there as decoration, but were actually out in the world, making fairy tale history.
Coming up to a pair of double doors, Hunter and Ashlynn gripped each others' hands as they felt intimidated. Next to the door was Merlin, wearing his robes in full rather than the suit he usually wore. He smiled at the pair and gripped his staff.
"Welcome. You're expected at the Round Table. Are you prepared?"
Hunter looked to Ashlynn who squeezed his hand. Hunter nodded and looked at Merlin, "I'm ready."
Merlin nodded and waved his staff, letting the doors open on their own. The couple stepped forward, entering a large round room. In the middle of it was a large round table. Around the room were elaborate banners with the crests of the riders in the middle of banners with their colors. Seated around the table and looking at them were the Knights of the Round, dressed in their armors. At the far end was Ryuki at the head of the table.
"Who comes before our Table Round?" Ryuki's voice echoed through the air.
Hunter gulped, but Ashlynn gave him a reassuring smile. She was royalty and recognized they had been invited to a ceremony of knighthood and acknowledgment. Hunter steeled himself and stepped forward.
"Hunter Huntsman!"
"You bear arms and armor similar to ours," Ryuki spoke. "Do you claim to be a knight?"
Hunter shook his head, "No. I was granted the use of this armor, but I am not a knight."
"Then why wield it if you are not a knight?" Ryuki pressed.
Hunter answered, "Because the girl I love was in danger. Innocent people were at risk. I was given the chance to stand up and do the right thing. If you want to take the armor, so be it. I don't need it to do what's right."
Ryuki nodded, "Well said. You fought on the field of battle and acquitted yourself well. You claimed victory from the enemy and saved your lady love. You showed honor, compassion, and strength of arms that day."
Ryuki then rose from his chair, the other knights turning to him, "What say you, Knights of the Round Table? Does this hunter show the traits to join our ranks? Raise your weapons for aye, or remain silent for nay."
[Sword Vent!]
"Aye!" Knight lifted his Wing Lancer into the air.
[Strike Vent!]
"Aye!" Scissors lifted his Scissors Pinch
[Strike Vent!]
"Aye" Zolda and the Giga Horns
[Swing Vent!]
"Aye!" Raia and the Evil Whip
[Strike Vent!]
"Aye!" Gai and the Metal Horn
[Sword Vent!]
"Aye!" Ohja and the Veno Saber
[Strike Vent!]
"Aye!" Tiger and the Dest Claws
[Spin Vent!]
"Aye!" Imperer and the Gazelle Stab
[Hold Vent!]
"Aye!" Verde spun his Bio-Winder
[Sword Vent!]
"Aye!" Femme lifted her Wing Slasher
[Sword Vent!]
"Aye!" Ryuga and his Dark Drag Saber
[Sword Vent!]
"Aye!" Abyss and the Abyss Saber
[Sword Vent!]
"Aye!" Odin and his Gold Sabers
"Unanimous," Ryuki nodded. He stood up, revealing he already had his Drag Saber out. He walked around the table before stopping to face Hunter while the other knights watched. "Kneel."
Hunter gulped, but did so as Ashlynn looked on, looking almost breathless in her excitement and perhaps awe. Ryuki held out his sword and tapped Hunter on his right shoulder, "In the name of the Father, I charge you to be brave," he tapped his left shoulder, "In the name of the son, I charge you to be compassionate," he then tapped the right shoulder again, "In the name of the Holy Ghost, I charge you to combat injustice where it is found and bring fairness to all. Do you so swear?"
"I swear!" Hunter nodded.
"Then rise, Sir Hunter Hunstman, Knight of the Falcon, Kamen Rider Falco! Rise and be recognized!"
Hunter stood up, feeling...energized, that he just stepped up to something greater. Ashlynn let off a squeal before she hugged him, wrapping her arms around his torso tighter. This was such an achievement for her boyfriend! Plus, if anyone had an issue with their being together, Hunter was now a Knight of the Round Table! You couldn't get more knightly and honorable than that!
"Hail Hunter! Knight of the Falcon!" the other knights declared, lifting their weapons into the air.
Ryuki chuckled, hefting his sword over his shoulder, "And now we can enjoy the spellebration."
(-)
"Ah Arthur," Merlin smiled fondly, glancing through a crack in the door. "He's so much like you. You'd definitely be proud of your grandson if you could see him now."
(-)
The spellebration was more like a high school party once all the formality was tossed aside. They got out their armor, popped open drinks, and started to mingle and welcome Hunter into the fold like good friends. Each of the knights' girlfriends had witnessed the ceremony, breath taken by the atmosphere, as well as the ceremony of knighthood, and were eager to add Ashlynn into their new clique.
Ever After High - Attic
It was a bad idea, and he knew it. Still, the Dragon Knight knew it had to be done. So after his friends had gone to bed and he kissed his girlfriend goodnight, Ryuki slipped into the Mirror World and came back out in Ever After High's attic. Steeling himself, he stood before the mirror prison of the Evil Queen.
"Evil Queen," he spoke loudly. "I seek an audience with you."
The mirror was cloudy and glowed purple for a moment before the image of the Evil Queen appeared in it, "Ah, young King Arthur. I wasn't expecting you. How was your evening?"
Ryuki answered, surprisingly polite, "Had a great time at Thronecoming with your daughter. You'd be proud of her. She was crowned Thronecoming Queen."
The Evil Queen smiled, a rare true motherly smile, "That's my girl. It took them long enough to see her value, those fools. However, that does not explain why you are here. This cannot be a social call."
Ryuki shook his head, "The Storybook of Legends. You stole the real one and replaced it with a very convincing fake."
The Evil Queen chuckled, amused that someone finally caught onto her ruse, "One of my best pieces of work. The fool Grimm did not even realize it was a forgery. If you are asking where it is, then you best be off now. I am not telling you anything."
Ryuki shook his head again, "I'm not interested in knowing where it is. I just want to know why you did it."
The Evil Queen quirked an eyebrow, but played nonchalant, "Oh, to prove I could. Why are you asking?"
"Call me curious, but I don't believe you," Ryuki was not convinced. "You're a villain. One of the greatest. You don't do things on a whim. There's a reason for it. You hid it away because it had real power. You hid it away because it can control destiny. It would have been a cornerstone to your plan to conquer all fairy tale lands and write a new story about all of them. One where you rule all, but you actually had to get into those lands and you started with Wonderland. Only the Brothers Grimm stopped you before you could come back for the book and make Wonderland truly yours. Am I getting hot or cold, Evil Queen?"
The Evil Queen hummed almost in approval, "Hmm, you have a mind behind those kingly features. So much like your grandfather. Snow White and I competed for his affections, you know. He would have been such a perfect king for my regime."
Ryuki cleared his throat. The Evil Queen ruling Camelot would be bad. She would have had an even bigger army and the Knights of the Round Table to command. Thank Fairy Godmother his grandfather had decided to leave with his court.
Still, hearing the Evil Queen's response was enough of a reply. He turned to leave,"Anyway, that's all I came to talk about."
As he turned to exit, the Evil Queen's voice stopped him, "Tell me, young King. How did you become stronger?"
Ryuki turned to stare at the smirking queen, "How did you...?"
The Evil Queen smirked, "Oh, I am the Evil Queen. I have my ways."
"You want to know about this." Ryuki showed her his Survive card. "It was unlocked by Raven's favor in me. Why it works that way, I can't say. It works and that's all I need to know."
"I see. Thank you for protecting my daughter. I owe you a debt." The Evil Queen answered, once again showing her motherly side.
"You know, if you could just be Raven's mom, maybe she'd come see you more often. Goodnight, Evil Queen."
"Goodnight, Young King Arthur," Evil Queen replied, her mind pondering so much power inside one small slip of paper and how her daughter's affections created it.
And that is how this year's Thronecoming comes to its own Happily Ever After.
Despite several small details, everyone has come out better for it. So I suppose it counts.
I just said that dear.
Yes, I know but-!
Moving on! Our young knights will soon face their greatest challenge yet...Mythterms!
A/N: And Thronecoming comes to an end. We discover a little more about Calibur Knight, the resources she and the Rogues have in their Black Knights, and the true appearance of Ryuki Survive. We also see who gets the former Bow Knight deck, becoming Kamen Rider Falco. I picked Hunter partilly since he's in the spotlight more that Sparrow, but also to make it easier for him and Ashlynn to be together. I've got a soft spot for them.