IX. Side-Effects (Part II) [Side-B: Others]


A/N: I AM BACK! For now. This chapter took five months to write! It's so frustrating!

*Huffs.*

Also, hear me out, guys: If Corvus gets the destiny of the Evil Queen… then Raven gets the destiny of the Good King. Remember, he's her dad? While she isn't the Evil Queen's eldest, she is the Good King's.

So… in this AU, she's Raven King.

Sidenote, had it not been for one AsrielLeWrite, I never would've noticed this? Well, maybe I would've but by then I'd have posted these trio of chapters and I'd be lazy to re-edit it. So kudos to him!

In fact, this only worsens what Headmaster Grimm did to Corvus! I love it!

(Also, I think it's funny that Corvus, a dude, gets the Queen title while Raven, a dudette, gets the King title.)

Don't get me wrong, I love the theory that Dexter is supposed to be the next Good King but… if he's the next Good King then it would mean that Raven Queen is following through her mother's footsteps by marrying him. Which… goes against everything Raven is standing for? At least in Chapter One to Two? I prefer the theory that he's Ashlynn's destined Prince Charming because woooo boy!

WARNING/S:

-Violence. Or the after-effects of one.

-Blood. In a flashback.

-Implications of rough sex. A warning I never thought I'd type.


Legacy Day is a day she dreaded.

Not because she hates her destiny, no. Far from it, in fact!

She loves her destiny. She loves that she will follow in her father's footsteps and become the next Good King. She will lead her kingdom- her people- into a brighter future. In fact, she hopes that she can learn fairy well from her papa before she ascends his throne.

However-after, she still dreads Legacy Day because while it's the day when she will be her papa's heiress, it would also mean that Corvus would be their mother's heir.

Officially. Sealing the deal and all that.

She loves their mother. Royally, she does.

The things she did and does, however… It's unforgivable. She poisoned Wonderland's magic to ensure that she still won in the end, despite being locked in the Mirror Prison. She sent assassins to those who oppose her tyranny. Raven still remembers those rare times that mother allowed her to sit by her lap during her war meetings. It was horrifying in hindsight, now that she's older and with the understanding of her mother's words. She also remembers that her mother constantly sends assassins after Snow White, only to be thwarted over and over by one person.

Raven doesn't want Corvus to do that. She doesn't want her brother to have his child or children watch up close how to construct the fall of many noble families. She doesn't want her brother to send assassins- once or otherwise- to anybody. She doesn't want to lose her loving brother to the mercies of the same evil that their mother succumbed to. She doesn't want to lose Corvus.

However-after, watching him and Apple as they walk up the stage, Raven can't help but feel a tightening in her gut. She swallowed, clenching and unclenching her fists.

She will lose him. She will lose him to the destiny that they lost their mother to.

For a moment, she can't help but feel resentment to Apple. Raven watched as Apple approach the podium, arms spread as birds rest on them like tree branches. Royally pale tree branches. She watched as Apple began to swear her life to her destiny- to be the next Snow White. Raven frowned, sending a glare up at her.

But, then… then again, it's not Apple's fault, either.

Raven swallowed, turning her shameful gaze to the floor.

Both Apple and Corvus were born into this. It's their legacy.

As hypocritical Raven is, in hindsight, regarding her confrontation with Corvus about destiny, she sees why he must sign.

'But what if he doesn't need to?' A voice suspiciously like their mother asked. 'Look at Apple. She's too… blonde to be the next Snow White. Look at Corvus. He can't even be a queen, for hex's sake! Times are changing. Corvus is being a coward-!'

'He's not!' Raven's jaw clenched. Her gaze turned angry. 'My brother isn't a coward! He's… He's doing this so that I…'

She pursed her lips. Months ago, during summer break, they had a rom-com movie marathon. In a haze of popcorn-and-pizza-filled laughters and soda stains on shirts, Raven asked a question that's been haunting her for the past year.

"Why are you being so… terrible to others?"

"Why am I being so shitty, you mean?" Corvus laughed weakly, tired after three movies. "I'm just doing what's hexpected of me, Rae."

"Nobody's hexpecting you to fist-fight people to the hospital." Raven dryly retorted.

He only hummed, cracking open another Fairy-Sprite can. "Well, I'm doing this to have a reputation." He said. "So that others may look at me and not at you."

Back then, Raven frowned. "What do I have to do with that!?"

He only smiled at her conspiratorially.

Now, Raven understood that Corvus is paranoid. He's paranoid that she might be ordered to become the next Evil Queen if he doesn't act up like it. She doesn't know how he even came to that conclusion. However, she does know that he's suffering from it.

She looked up. Just in time, too. Her brother is standing by the podium. To others, he might seem stoic and even arrogant. Not to her. She can see his clenched fists. She knows that he hardened his gaze to keep in his real hexpression. He grasped the podium, glaring at the book, before looking over his shoulder. When he turned back to the book, his gaze held more fury in there than earlier.

"I, Corvus Queen," he boomed and Raven can feel her heart drop to her gut, "son of the Evil Queen, am ready to pledge my destiny…to be the next Evil Queen!"

He signing it. He's royally signing the book.

He's going to be gone soon, too.

The thought caused her to feel bile rising to her throat and her knees to go weak. It's a good thing she's still seated, otherwise she'd come crashing to the ground.

She takes a shuddering breath, closing her eyes and kept her head down. She swallowed, trying to keep her tears at bay. Her teeth dug deep at her lower lip as she muffled her sobs. Her lungs need air. Her palms are just too clammy and her throat too dry and-

A hand draped itself on hers. She opened her eyes, snapping her gaze to her seatmate. Deep blue eyes met with lilac gray ones. Dexter smiled at her comfortingly. She sent him a smile of her own, albeit wanly. He squeezed her hand- a show of comfort.

"It's going to be okay." He said with a sweet smile. Raven only clenched her jaw, looking up at the stage. Corvus is staggering to the back of the stage. Daring is walking forward, a confident smile plastered on. "Hey." Dexter chanted until he earned her attention. Then he smiled that adorably awkward grin of his. "It's going to be alright. Nothing bad will happen to your brother."

She appreciates the words of comfort. Even if she doesn't believe it.

"I- I hope so." Raven muttered, inhaling deeply. She gripped his hand as well. "But I don't know, Dexter. I have a bad feeling about this."

He didn't say anything, but kept his hold on her hand firmly. She sought comfort in his warm grip.

Later, when it's her turn to sign, she can stare at the mirror showing her destiny with a blank hexpression. Her destiny shows her ruling wisely and kindly over the people who loves her. She sees her older self being well-loved. She sees herself greeting dignitaries with warmth and respect.

She's adored and safe. Living in her father's ancestral palace filled with subjects who are good and honorable.

Her quill appeared before her. She reached out for it, feeling the power in such an artifact.

She looked down on her page. Above her blank space is her father's signature. Jonathan King. Adored by the people. His wisdom sought-after. Hers is a destiny far too minor compared to the likes of Snow White and Cinderella's. A small, tired smile graced her lips. That is, contrary to popular belief, a much better destiny, in her honest-to-goodness opinion.

She put her quill to the parchment and signed.


There are a few things that causes dread to genuinely fester within the heart of Milton Grimm.

When his younger brother, Giles, was trapped in the ogres' den, he felt a primal and visceral fear take him. The dread that followed him all the way back home as he sobbed to their father about Giles's predicament was almost enough to make him retch. Another instance was when he's grown, when he and Giles met the man who gave them semi-immortality. When he met that man, all he can think was 'oh, no… this is the end.' But instead, that man offered him a hand and asked if he and his brother and help stabilize an entire world and ensure that they don't stray from their destinies. And then there was the frighteningly successful attempts of Narcissa Queen to conquer all of Ever After. If she just hadn't thought it to herself to try and fight both Wonderland and Ever After, she might have had the latter world under her heel.

And now… this Legacy Day.

He sighed, shaking his head, as he walked through the halls of Ever After High.

Legacy Day had just finished. He grinned widely, acted proud as each and every single one of the dutiful children of Ever After cemented their roles in their stories, and then gave his closing speech.

The rains, what was a mere few drops during the beginning of the event, worsened as the event went on. He should've known that it was an ominous warning.

"After all…" Corvus has inhaled deeply, flashing Milton an arrogant grin, "we have the most powerful magical bloodline ever after."

So alike his mother. Just as he feared.

Corvus Queen was a quiet child. He avoided people as much as people avoided him. His mother was a hell-raiser, causing troubles wherever-after she goes. He sneers at his admirers from the Villain's side of the school. Narcissa reveled when the ground she walked on was worshipped. Corvus's record of being a troublemaker that sends people to hospitals only began a year ago. Narcissa built her reputation straight out of Kingdergarten.

And yet these outward similarities didn't calm the anxieties in Milton's heart.

Corvus and Narcissa both have ambition. Great ambition. Heaps of it. Narcissa wanted to topple the White legacy. And Corvus… well, that's a fairy frustrating part. Milton doesn't know what Corvus desires. He may not know what, but Milton is sure that it exists. Why else would Corvus score the highest in his subjects? Why else would he strive to be better than everyone else in his classroom?

He's sure that if Apple White and Corvus Queen shared classes, they'd be rivals for their scores.

And now that they've signed the Storybook of Legends- the false one, at least- Corvus's arrogance is rearing its head out.

When Corvus grinned at him earlier, Milton saw a visage of Narcissa standing beside him. Both mother and son sport the same grin, directed at him.

"Oh, Milton," Narcissa mockingly cooed at him, all those years ago- when she had just waged her war; "don't you see? We're the most powerful magical bloodline ever after."

He encouraged Narcissa's wild blood when she was still learning under his roof. She turned out to be someone who's willing to try her chances with conquering Ever After. Milton tries to rein her progeny's equally wild blood. No matter what happens, Corvus is still far too much like Narcissa for his liking.

It seems that no matter what he tries, the House of Queen would always be a thorn in his side. And all he wants is peace and prosperity. It's his given duty to maintain!

Milton gripped the door handle to his office. His heart is heavy with dread. His head is too jumbled with thoughts.

'I'll pack up my paperwork and head to my apartments.' He decided, pushing the door open, as he fondly imagined a warm bath awaiting him after such a long day. So busy was he with his thoughts that he didn't notice that his door was already slightly opened. He stepped inside and only has the a small snapping of string as his warning.

A pail fell square on his shoulders, dousing him with something cold and uncomfortable.

Then, when he pulled that pail off his head, a pie was hurled to his face at neckbreaking speed.

Grunting in fury, he made the mistake of stepping forward.

He slipped, landing flat on his back with a loud THUD!

"Fairy Godmother, DAMN IT!" He bellowed from the floor. "MISS TROLLWORTH, WHERE ARE YOU!?"


Trying to talk to Corvus after Legacy Day is hard. Actually, that might just be the understatement of the century. He refuses to answer her calls, hexts, or private messages. He doesn't appear at the castle-teria during breakfast, lunch, or dinner. If he sees her approaching in the hallways, he'd have a mild look of panic and flee the other way. And he just- just knows. Every time she approaches. It's like he's developed some sort of sixth sense just for honing her presence. It's impossible to get a hold of him!

She sighed, annoyed and bothered, pushing at her broccoli with a fork.

"Have you tried trapping him with the dipsy-doodles?" Maddie offered, pulling her away from her thoughts.

Raven blinked, confused. "The what?"

"The dipsy-doodles!" Maddie made wide gestures. "You know…? Little bouncing thingies that can evade your every try to catch it!"

Nothing can hurt to humor this. Besides, Raven needs something to distract her.

"Where can I even get or find such a thing?" She asked.

Maddie giggled. "Silly, Writing Desk!" She chirped, grinning. "They're everywhere causing the best of madness! Lookit there!" She points above them. Raven looked, finding… the high ceiling of Ever After High. Raven raised an eyebrow. She was about to ask where again when Maddie threw her arm over her shoulders. "And one over there!" Maddie points at an empty spot in an otherwise packed hallway. "And there!" Maddie pointed at…

"Corvus…?" Raven whispered, almost in awe. There stands Corvus, less than five meters from where they both stood. He's pressing his forehead on the lockers, rubbing his thumbs on his temples with his eyes clenched. She eyed Maddie with shock and joy. "How-?"

"The dipsy-doodles, duh!" Maddie giggled, gently nudging Raven to him. "Now, go! While he's trapped by the dipsy-doodles."

Raven opened her mouth to thank her but off Maddie went, hopping and giggling to herself. And while humming a tune. Raven chuckled, shaking her head. She suspects that, by some magic that only the Authors know, Maddie knows about her gratitude. Instead, she steeled her spine and marching over to her brother.

"Corvus." She called. He snapped his gaze to her, wide and almost animalistic. It might just be a trick to her eyes but… was that a golden haze layering over his eyes? She shook her head. "We need to talk."

"Raven, hi!" He began in an overly chipper tone. "I, uh, didn't see you coming…"

"And good thing too." She firmly said. "We need to talk, Corvus."

"About what?" Corvus frowned, confused.

Now that they're up close, Raven notices the tiny details on him. He's grown a mild stubble and his eyebags are starting to show. There's plenty of red flags but this takes the cake. Corvus has been one to take charge regarding his outer features. He's not one to turn away from make-up to hide his blemishes. A concealer here and some foundation as well as a dash of eyeshadow and eyeliner to cover his weaknesses. He also makes sure to slick his hair back, something akin to a greaser. Now, his hair's a mess.

"Raven?" He blinked, slow and… tired.

'When has he last slept?' She can't help but ask.

She swallowed, looking around. Too public. She can feel people eyeing them now. Of course they would. Siblings as they are, their destinies are so fairy far apart. She's set to be the next Good 'King' and he's the next Evil 'Queen', for Fairy Godmother's sake!

She swallowed. "Let's grab a coffee, shall we, brother?" She sent him a mixture of the puppy-dog eyes and sweet smile that she knows will work on him. No matter what. He pursed his lips, face scrunching up to look at anywhere but her. "Pleaaaase?"

He sighed, shaking his head. She smirked and mentally fist pumped. "Alright, alright." He assented, smiling at her. Then, he teasingly asked; "We're going to your favorite coffee shop I assume?"

She thought about it. While going to the Mad Hatter's Haberdashery and Tea Shoppe is a usual for her, it's simply too mad to have some peace and quiet. So, she shook her head.

"You choose this time." She said.

Corvus blinked before grinning akin to Kitty Cheshire. "You'll pay, right?"

Raven looked indignant, scoffing. "You have your own allowance!"

Corvus only chuckled. "But you offered."

"I-!" She sputtered indignantly. "You're an adult now, Corvus!"

He laughed.

That's how they both found themselves in a quiet coffee shop. The establishment that they're in is small. Three oak four-seater tables are situated at the side. Coffee brown wallpaper take up the upper half of the walls, the lower half being strategically placed brown-and-gray stones as bricks. A few framed retro photos hung on the wall. A 'Proudly Est. 2010' hung between the photos.

The cashier side wasn't anything new. An oak bar-table with two industrial-styled stools and a pastry- shelf beside it, proudly showing the multiple pastries served. At the back is a white door- possibly leading to the kitchens, some counters with a coffee machine and a water heater, and some wall cabinets. The lighting was adequate- not to dim, not too bright.

The man behind the counter greeted them with a warm smile. One that didn't fade away when he realized he's serving the future Snow White's villain.

"They make great pretzels and apple pies." Corvus said when they took a seat after ordering. (They payed for their own.) "And, well, they're quiet." He looked at the table, blinking slowly. "I like quiet."

Raven hummed, drumming her favorite tune on the wooden table. How does one start to talk about her desired conversation, anyways?

'Hey, Corvus, I am worried about you and these past few days you've been suspiciously absent in my life lately. I'm worried because you used to barge in my dorm room for the stupidest of reasons- like eating my chips. Wanna hexplain why you suddenly acted like I don't hexist?'

Yeah, right. That's certainly an ice breaker.

"Weather's nice." Corvus suddenly said out of nowhere.

She blinked, before giving him an unimpressed look. "Are you trying to make this awkward?" She dryly asked.

"Hey!" He held his hands up, frowning. "I'm trying to make this conversation flow, alright?"

Okay, she gotta give him that.

She sighed. "I'm… worried, Corvus." She immediately regretted her words when she saw him tense up. "It's just-! You've been avoiding me and not a single day goes by that you do that before you signed! Talk to me." She swallowed. "We can always talk honestly with each other, can't we?"

Corvus opened and closed his mouth to speak. Instead, he shut them entirely and closed his eyes. Raven tried not to feel hurt or be disappointed but still, the feelings rush in.

"I… see…" Raven lamely said, looking at the table. After moments of silence, she peeked at him through her lashes.

Corvus still has his eyes closed. His face twitched. Tiny sneers caused the edges of his mouth to spasm. Either he's in pain or he's warring with himself. Raven knows if she pushes, he'd just leave her here. She doesn't want that.

"We can just have a quiet lunch if you wish it…" She smiled at him placatingly. Corvus blinked, looking at her. He's teary-eyed but there's gratitude on his face. "I just want to spend some time with you."

The smile on Corvus's face widened. "Wow, Rae," he began, voice raspy- as if he's caught a cold, "I didn't know you miss me that badly. Maybe I should pop by your dorm later. I do miss your snack-stash."

Raven gasped hexaggeratedly. "Hex that!" She cried. Those chips are hers, Fairy Godmother DAMN IT! "Buy your own! Try to take a single chip from my snack bar and I'll make sure you'll hexperience your cracking voice from when you were twelve!"

Corvus cringed away from her. "Euuuugh!" He whined, grimacing. "Oh, hex no! I'd rather not go back to those dark days!"

"Then stay away from Mr. Potato!"

His grimace melted into a hexceptionally annoying smirk. "Just Mr. Potato?"

Sputtering, Raven decided to resort to drastic measures. She grabbed a piece of tissue paper, rolled it up, and hurled it at his stupid, stupid face. He only laughed.

They can have a serious conversation later. Now, she's just royally happy that he's here, laughing with her.

Okay, maybe at her. But… details.


Apple becoming Corvus's roommate was not part of the plan. Actually, Thaddeus is pretty sure that throws a giant-sized wrench into the plan. He can watch over her at the more public places of the school. He can't watch over her if the very monster who is capable of hurting her lives in her very room.

It also doesn't help that said monster gained the urge to do mischievous pranks all over Ever After High. And he is rather well-versed on enacting on his impish schemes.

Thaddeus mused about the events of days ago as he slowly grabbed his items from his locker. His next class is Experimental Fairy Math which… isn't his favorite, he's not going to lie. Half the equations rely on fairy magic, which in of itself is already confusing. It's like trying to rely calculations on magnetics in relation to rocket science. Normally, he would be alright with calculations but Fairy Magic is just as unpredictable as Wonderland Magic. He should know, he's tapped into Wonderland Magic before.

But where was he? Right, a few days ago.

Legacy Day was… a ride. As Corvus signed the book before him, Thaddeus saw a visage of a humanoid entity clutch onto the boy. It held him from behind as though they were lovers. Then it slowly melded into Corvus, its form melting over his back and shoulders and being draped like a cloak, before vanishing entirely. Corvus's eyes had turned black- sclera and all- for a moment. Nobody had noticed.

Nobody but him.

Thaddeus clenched his jaw, slamming his locker door shut. If he had anybody important to him at the scene at that very moment, he would have maybe freaked out so badly.

His terrible mood only worsened when he remembered his confrontation with Headmaster Grimm when he first heard of Apple's rooming situation.

["Do you know what you're doing!?" Thaddeus burst in his office that afternoon. The news had spread like wildfire. It came from either Ashlynn or Briar, who told Blondie, who told everyone.

Milton Grimm snapped his gaze to him, sitting in his stupid executive office chair with a too-damn-long backrest. "Mister Sorenstam, you're not allowed here without an appointment." The Headmaster's assistant- whose name he never bothered to learn- lazily said.

"No, no," Milton easily waved her off, "let Mister Sorenstam in, Misses Trollworth. I'm sure we have plenty to discuss. I was wondering when he'd show up." He sent Thaddeus a polite smile. A smile sent to placate. This made Thaddeus seethe further. "Actually, Miss Trollworth, can you take a short walk? I assume this is going to be a private matter between Thaddeus and I."

Oh, so they're in a first name basis now. Good to know.

Thaddeus waited until his assistant was gone before speaking. "Milton Grimm," he stepped forward, fangs baring, "what the fuck!?"

Milton narrowed his eyes at Thaddeus. "Refrain from using that type of language, Mister Thaddeus." He chided him. "I don't care what you are or who your benefactor is, in the grounds of this school, you are my student. Abide by my rules!"

"Are you-!?" Thaddeus slammed his palms on the table. The smaller objects jumped inches off from the force. Milton sent them a cursory unimpressed glance. "Are you kidding me right now, Grimm!? Why would you allow Apple and Corvus to be near each other- much less be each other's roommates!"

Grimm only held his stare. "Mister Queen promised he won't hurt her-"

"Oh, so we're believing in promises like children now!?"

"-with the trust that he will give up his Magic on the event that he does hurt her physically." Milton continued as though Thaddeus hasn't spoken. He tilted his chin up, proudful and challenging. "I made sure to put precautions in place, Mister Sorenstam. Apple White won't be hurt-"

"Physically." Thaddeus finished, scoffing. "What about mentally?" He paused, waiting for the man to answer. "Emotionally?"

Milton was silent. Thaddeus waited, glaring at him as he does so. Sighing, the Headmaster finally spoke. "It's unavoidable. He's her villain."

"So you went ahead and left her to the lions!?"

"In my defense, Mister Sorenstam," Milton begins with a defensive tone, "Miss White was the one to approach me about this matter."

"You're the Headmaster!" Thaddeus spat.

"And it's my job to let future villains and monarchs do their job right." Milton retorted. "If Miss White rooms with Mister Queen, she can fully know what to hexpect when the time comes to bring him down!"

Thaddeus considered this. His benefactor always said that knowing the enemy like the back of his hand will always be handy when you finally decide to triumph over them.

He levelled Grimm a stare. The Headmaster only gave him a smug, challenging look. "Mister Sorenstam," he gently said- a bit mockingly, "I think it's hexcellent that you worry about your future High Queen so much. But, royally, there's nothing to worry about. Don't lose your crown over this."

Thaddeus clenched his jaw.]

"Thaddeus, right?" A feminine voice interrupted his musings. He blinked rapidly, before turning to the person in front of him. Briar Beauty is grinning up at him. "Hey, so, I know we don't royally talk but I was wondering if you are willing to DJ for this party of mine?"

Oh. This is new. People don't usually approach him to DJ for their parties. While he has been putting out some songs out there, it didn't blow up too much. Not to mention, Electronica isn't… exactly his genre.

"You've heard of my songs?" He asked, mildly dumbfounded.

"Of course!" Briar grinned up at him.

Thaddeus tilted his head, confused. "Briar, right? Can I call you Briar?"

"I don't know," she cheekily said, "can you?"

Thaddeus allowed an amused smirk take over his face. "Well, Briar," he sent her an equally cheeky smirk, but added on a more serious tone; "I'm not… hexactly fit to be a DJ. I prefer to use string and percussion instrruments."

Briar looks disappointed. "Oh." She suddenly seems self-aware. "I thought… well, I saw one of your demos online and… well, your songs are spelltacular!"

He stared at her, confused. And then it hit him. 'Right.' He mentally cringed. 'I placed one of my first forays into the electronic scene online. It was mostly underground, though. How did she find it?'

"Oh, I didn't actually!" Briar said, earning Thaddeus's slow blink. "I didn't find your EP." Ah, so it seems that he spoke those words outloud. "A friend of mine suggested it." She sent him a secret- almost shy- smile. "I actually cried when I listened to them." Thaddeus's brows furrowed. Briar took it as him feeling offended. She was quick to cover it up. "I simply thought it was sooooo fairy enchanting and wonderful! The beats and melodies joining together creates such…"

She sighed, clearly remembering the fond memories she has while listening to it.

"It was a good type of crying, honest to goodness. I can feel the desperation in your songs." She concludes.

Warmth filled Thaddeus's gut and he stood a little straighter He feels pride rest itself on his shoulders like a lord's cloak. "I don't think you'd want your partygoers to feel sad, however-after." He said, after careful consideration. "Aren't your parties meant to be, I don't know, where people come can lose themselves?"

"They can lose themselves in your music, for a moment." Briar replies, sighing. "But if you royally don't want to DJ at my party…" she bit her lip, looking pensive. Thaddeus can't help but flick his gaze to it, if only for a moment. "Perhaps I can give you my number? Just in case you would change your mind, of course."

"Of course." Thaddeus fished his phone out of his pockets and handed it to her. All the while keeping his gaze on her eyes. "Just in case…"

She was in the middle of typing in her number when a loud BOOM resounded from down the hall. The ground under them shook from the explosion. Thaddeus quickly switched places with Briar, ready to defend her if need be. Heavy clouds of smoke poured out from one of the Chemythstry labs.

'Oh, no.' Thaddeus thought.

Before the school year started, his adoptive father had been tasked to go check the school's faculties and security. Thaddeus's benefactor ordered it. Thaddeus tagged along. As he familiarised himself with the school's rooms and hallways, he overheard from Headmaster Grimm and his father's conversation that the sprinkles in Ever After High are one of a kind. The kind meant to drench the smallest fire with torrential downpour.

Peeling off his jacket, he quickly threw it over Briar. Then, the sprinklers poured in. Outcries of surprised rage filled the hallway. The students hastily put away their MirrorPads or MirrorPhones. Some used their books to try and cover themselves up the best they can. Still, most were caught unawares and were drenched within seconds. Briar clutched the blazer closer to her body, eyes wide with shock. Either from his reflexes or what just happened.

"Thanks." She said, a bit breathless, alternating her gaze from Thaddeus then back to the sprinklers. He sent her a nod and a smile. However, his gaze is already going upwards to the ceiling.

In the shadows above the support beams are two wide grins. Even from the cover of darkness, Thaddeus can see the mismatched eye colors of Corvus Queen; almost glowing green and violet. Beside him is none other than Kitty Cheshire.


As the sprinklers below them rained and rained, Kitty let out a hexhilarated giggle. Watching the fairy tale students of Ever After High get drenched and feel so fairy dismayed and frustrated just makes her wanna purr.

She eyed the man kneeling beside her. Raven's older brother is surprisingly fairy fun to be with. After all, it's his idea that got them to set the sprinklers in this hallway into such a fritz!

Corvus approached her last week, proposing an alliance. At first, she scoffed and rejected his offer. However, he decided to subtly refer to the hat-tastic and delicious chaos that happened to the Headmaster's office.

"Old Grimm hasn't thoroughly scrubbed his floors clean yet, I've heard." He said with a grin that Kitty can begrudgingly call Cheshire-worthy. "I also heard that he might find some… hextra surprises behind his shelves, if he decides to check."

It's no secret that Corvus isn't hexactly fairy fond of Headmaster Grimm. Corvus is always called to the Headmaster's office for one reason or another- usually for reasons that even Kitty found unfair.

So, when the Headmaster's office was pranked top to bottom, Kitty's mind can only go to one culprit. Corvus Queen.

Headmaster Grimm's office was out of commission for two weeks! Two weeks of various janitors entering the room to scrub and scrape off the thick paint that dropped down when the Headmaster took no more than nine steps in. They also, apparently, glued layers of toilet papers on the shelves themselves, so that also had to be scraped off.

Such an elaborate and chaotic prank.

'Oh, if only I thought of such an idea!' She morosely thought.

But then, her suspicions were found to be true when Corvus approached her a few days ago. On his lips is a proposition- and a grin.

"Let's raise Hell in this school, shall we?"

Why, how can Kitty say no to that?

And so, here they both are. Perched above the support beams of Ever After, grinning down below to their unwitting victims.

She pulled out her phone from her pockets and opened her camera. 'Mother's gonna adore this chaos.' She inwardly purred at the thought.

"So…" Corvus stood straight. Kitty is not going to lie that she finds his height intimidating. But she is going to- non-verbally- admit that the grin he's sending her way is hot. "Race you to our spot?"

Kitty purred. "And what's the penalty for losing?" She sent him a smirk. Lowering her body on the support beam she's on, she lazily languished on it like a cat.

"The loser…" Corvus slowly knelt down, keeping eye contact with her. Kitty's smirk widened at his heated gaze, "gets to do the heavy work on our next prank."

He vanished with a surge of green bright light. Kitty cried in indignation, before summoning her magic to teleport.

'Those heated eyes!' She indignantly thought as she teleported from one place to another. On top of a set of lockers. In the hallway leading to the Lifairy. The entrance hall of the campus. The main courtyard. To the gardens. 'That's so unfair!'

"I got here first!" Both cried, appearing in front of each other.

"No, I got here first." Kitty argued, a bit petulantly.

"I materialized faster." Corvus smugly said. At Kitty's indignant cry, he laughed. "I'm enough of a gentleman to not let the lady do the menial labor, anyways." He backed off with an easy grin. "It was a jest- my terms of winning and losing."

Kitty relaxed at these words. Corvus's pranks are no joke! Setting up a bomb in that Chemythtry lab was painfully dull. She had to listen to Corvus go on and on about the properties of each and every ingredient. Not to mention… the amount of ingredients he mixed was… too much. His ideas require a whole lot of work to pull off. Kitty shudders at the thought of actually doing it.

"Aren't you fairy chivalrous?" She playfully said.

Of course, both of them know that he is anything but chivalrous. Chivalrous knights and princes would never-after thought of dousing tens of students with heavy water. They also wouldn't prank headmasters. But Corvus is a bit of a gentleman; that, Kitty can allow.

"Corvus!" A voice interrupted their musings. They both turned and saw Rakish and Ella Discord approaching them.

Corvus turned to Kitty, offering a hand. Kitty, in her confusion, accepted it. She can only gasp when he pressed a not-so-innocent kiss on her knuckles.

"I bid you adieu, my lady." He said with small, flirtatious smile. His hand still clutched onto hers. "Until the next time we cause mayhem."

"I'm no lady." Kitty found herself weakly saying. It seems that the air around them has grown… warmer. She covers her feelings with a wide grin. "But, yes, until next time."


"What the hex was that!?" Ella demanded, sounding shocked and heartbroken both.

Rakish bit his lower lip. Both he and Corvus know about Ella's feelings for Kitty. For Corvus to use it as a weapon to hurt Ella's feelings…

'What happened to you?' He turned his gaze to Corvus. 'Where's our friend- my friend?'

Rakish is undeniably attracted to the mystery and darkness around Corvus. There's just something… alluring… to how he holds himself. Corvus is all untamed fury wrapped in skin and bones. It's evident every time he pushes Rakish on the bed, kissing the life out of him. Every time they took it further than that, Corvus would practically rip Rakish's clothes off his body. By the time they're done, his pale skin is littered with angry red marks- from Corvus's teeth and claws.

It's also evident in how he glares at the world all around him. As though the world itself wronged him.

But it's always contained. Never-after truly and actively malicious. He takes that anger out on himself or on Rakish during their rare moments of wild abandon. And then there are the moments where his anger dissipates. There are times where he shows his innocent glee to people around him. People like Rakish, Raven, Ella, and- lately- Apple White herself.

He remembers seeing them almost huddled up together in that secluded area in the Lifairy. He didn't tell anybody about it, until Corvus is late to their prank meeting; wherein he told Ella that he remembers seeing Corvus in the Lifairy. He remembers thinking; 'Oh, Corvus, you fool.' Then, smirking bitterly. 'But I suppose I'm a bigger fool than you. Falling for someone who clearly doesn't want me the way I want him.'

So it doesn't take a genius to notice that this Corvus after Legacy Day is cruel and malicious to the world around him. The Corvus before Legacy Day would never-ever-after do such a petty, hurtful thing. Especially not to those he's close with.

'What went wrong?' He turns to Ella and saw her anger then to Corvus and his amused indifference. 'I have to diffuse this. Quickly.'

But he was too late. "I was just having fun with Kitty, Ella." He drawled. His tone taking on a cruel, mocking tint to it. "It's not like you're lovers, or anything."

"You- You-!" Ella groaned in frustration, eyes glowing. Rakish flinched away from her as power surged all around her. "You know how I feel about her!"

'No, no, no.' Rakish thought, desperately. He can't move. He can't.

"I do." Corvus replied, still mocking and cold. "I fail to see how that's my problem."

Ella gave out a guttural bellow. "You are my friend!" She snapped. "I TRUST YOU WOULDN'T-!"

"And that makes you a fool, Discord!" Corvus snapped back, baring his teeth.

Rakish saw the hurt deepen in Ella's face. Saw it dig deep within her heart and plant seeds that will undoubtedly fester unless Corvus apologizes. But he saw no apology on Corvus's face. Certainly not on the way his eyes glowed and the hostility in his posture. Not in the way his hands clenched tightly, ready to be raised just in case.

Her shoulders slumped. "You were my friend, Corvus." She heartbrokenly repeated. The power that surged around her faded away. "I trusted you."

"I heard you the first time." Corvus curtly said. "Now," he crossed his arms, "if there is nothing else…"

Ella's chin trembled as she tried not to cry. She turned on her heel and left. Rakish watched her walk away. Her shoulders were tense and her hands were clenched tightly until her knuckles are white.

"Corvus!" Rakish snapped to him, furious. "What have you done!?"

Corvus raised an eyebrow, still indifferent. "Become honest?"

"No," Rakish harshly gestured with a hand, stepping forward, "you're an asshole, Corvus." When he scoffed, Rakish gritted his teeth. "You know Ella is crushing on Cheshire. You know this earlier than me! And still you broke her heart!"

Corvus did the 'air quotes' gesture. "I didn't 'break her heart,' Rakish."

"You did and you must apologize." Rakish presses.

Corvus sent him a harsh, scathing glare. "No."

"CORVUS!"

"What is there to apologize about!?" Corvus snaps. "They're not in a relationship and I was merely having fun with Kitty! It was nothing serious!" Then he sent Rakish a sneer. "The same way I had fun with you."

Rakish stepped back as though Corvus had just slapped him on the cheek with a whip. His shoulders rose and fell as he attempted to rein in his tears and hurt.

Corvus has changed. He's changed and Rakish wishes the old one back. The one who accepted Rakish as a friend even after he admitted to Corvus that he's not into girls- that he's gay. The one who laughs at Rakish's stupid jokes and wishes him the best before every Heroics 101 class. Even if it's just a hext. The Corvus he's in love with.

This Corvus before him might have the same handsome features but he certainly has a rotten core.

Rakish let out a shaky breath. "Fairy well, Queen." He quietly said. "If you wish us out of your life, you could've just said so."


Her slumber was cut short as the ringing of her phone evaded her dreams. With an annoyed groan, Raven reached out for her MirrorPhone. Squinting her eyes, she turned to look at who her caller is and what time is it.

Corvus; dubbed 'massive pain in the ass' in her Mirrorphone contact list. 2:00 a.m.

'Great.' She huffs, dropping her phone. 'He's probably drunk again and wanted to tell me how precious I am.'

As sweet her brother can be, he's also a massive pain. Especially when he's drunk- all lovey-dovey and affectionate. Raven learned the hard way not to encounter a drunk Corvus. He would imemdiately latch on to her, making her support his full muscle-filled weight, as he drunkenly yaps on and on about how she's the best sister. It was sweet the first three times, funny until the fifth time, but now it's just annoying.

When her phone continued to ring, however, she let out a hextremely annoyed groan into her pillow. "What!?" She snaps, answering his call.

"Raven?" His voice wasn't drunk as she had hexpected. Instead, it was panicked and pained. A cold pail of water doused her shoulders quickly as unease crept from her abdomen to her throat. "Raven, are- are you-? I-I'm sorry to wake you up but-"

"Corvus." She slowly sat up. His panic is lulling her closer to wake up fully. "Corvus, what's going on?"

"Raven, it's too- it's too much." He was dry heaving. "I- I can't- I don't trust myself-"

"Corvus," she got off her bed, turning on her bedside lamp and began pacing her room, "are you safe? Are you alright? Answer me!"

"I- I-…" His breathing caused the comms to crackle mildly. Then he took a deep breath to steady himself. "I'm safe."

That confirmation unknotted the tension in her shoulders a bit. She rubbed at her eyes with her thumb and forefinger. "Where are you?"

"I- I can't tell you. If I do, I don't know what I might-" He let out a loud groan.

Her phone's speakers let out a sharp sound. Raven winced, pulling it away from her ear. Once she's certain that it ended, she pressed it back to her face. "Corvus, are you alright!? Corvus!?"

"I'm fine, Raven!" He yells.

Raven's breathing hitched. Corvus never-after yells at her. Not during a serious situation. When they're rough-housing, maybe, but not during…

There was a long stretch of a pregnant pause that descended upon them. Raven is sure that the only thing they're both hearing with now is each other's heavy breaths.

"I'm… I'm sorry for yelling." He piteously said. "I didn't mean to. I swear, I didn't mean to. Rae, you have to believe me-"

"Corvus." Raven quietly called out to him. "Let me help you."

'Please.'

"I…" Corvus swallowed thickly. "I…" At his hesitance, Raven allowed a tentative hope to bloom in her chest. Perhaps this time he'd allow her to care for him. To lend him a hand. "I'm sorry. I can't let you."

Whatever-after hope in her chest withered away at those words.

"Your brother's purpose is to take care of you, my dearest Raven." Their mother's voice crooned in her ear. Raven fairy much feels like she's five, sitting on her mother's lap. Their mother braids her hair as they both watched Corvus easily take down boys five years older than him in the training yard of Queen Castle. "He's your fairy own knight. He's going to be your terrifying knight, ready to serve and protect you when it's your turn to be queen."

"But what if I don't want him to keep protecting me, mama?" Five-year-old Raven asked. "What if I want to protect him?"

Their mother had smiled. A secretive smile that adults often shared with children. "That isn't how it's meant to be, my dear. Your job is to look beautiful and be a tyrant who rules over these," she gestures to the courtyard below them, "pathetic mongrels with an iron fist."

That didn't sit right with her when she was five years old. It didn't sit right with her now that she's fifteen.

"Please let me." She says, instead. "You've been taking care of me for so long that…" She sucks in air. "Let me take care of you this time, Corvus."

There was another silence that rests between them.

"I love you." He says. Raven feels her heart crash into her gut. "I love you and don't forget that."

"Don't…"

"My job is to protect you-"

"IT'S NOT!" Raven screams, feeling her tears gather and blurring her vision. "IT'S NOT! YOUR ONLY JOB IS TO BE YOU, CORVUS!" She can feel power surge through her. Her magic lit up her darkened room with a furious violet. "I DON'T NEED YOUR PROTECTION FROM ENEMIES ONLY YOU CAN SEE!"

Raven's chest heaved up and down as she greedily sucked in air. Her outburst had released an energy that knocked her items off her table. Her bed has moved an inch from where it rested and her duvet has flown completely to the floor. Her beside lamps were knocked over and her pillows are a mess.

"Raven," he begins with a sad tone, "I'm sorry… I thought I was strong enough. I… I wasn't. Forgive me. Remember; I love you. Tell… Tell papa that I love him too. A-And I'm grateful that he raised a bastard-born like me."

"Corv-"

He ended the call.

Raven stared at her phone, numbly. She walked over to her bed and took a seat. Trying to calm her raging mind, she forced herself to list some facts.

-Corvus isn't in danger.

-Corvus is, however, panicking.

-Corvus isn't 'strong enough.'

-He hasn't been the same for weeks now.

-He and Ella had a fight that, until now, remains unbridged.

-Rakish has started avoiding him.

-He started to avoid Raven lately.

-Apple also stopped talking to him, not even greeting him in the hallways of Ever After High.

-This all happened after Legacy Day.

'What happened during Legacy Day?' She thought, standing up. 'And how is it able to change my brother this badly?'

She'd best ask Apple White for further information. Glancing at her clock, she saw that it's already 2:45 a.m.

'This is going to be a long night.'


Reply to:

kiyu . kyuki: Uh… what?

aemorrison7613: Aww, thanks for the compliments! Yeah, it was very cheesy but Corvus has always been implied to be a sweetheart, even if the rumors around him are less than pleasant. It truly just was his mind playing tricks on him that's worsened by the Storybook of Legends. I'm glad that you liked it! The arc we are in right now is rough for everybody involved- even the ones in the blast radius. Except for Kitty, let's be honest.


A/N: Despite having a good destiny, Raven is still feared- or at least ostracized- is 'cause both Corvus and their mother are such intimidating and scary motherfuckers that it's affecting her reputation.

If you have siblings, you'd know damn well why Raven is so protective over her hoard of snacks. In siblinghood, nothing is sacred- especially snacks.

So, what did you think of Thaddeus so far? Yay or nay?

The next chapter will tackle Corvus's side, but it's going to be shorter- possibly even my shortest chapter to date with this fic.

Reviews and comments are appreciated, guys!

MUSIC USED WHEN WRITING:

-"Meaning" by Neovaii

-"Nobody's Here to Sleep" by Naughty Boy feat. Bastille [During Thaddeus's intro]

-"Ghost (2WEI remix)" by Marvin Brooks [During the encounter between Thaddeus and Corvus one late winter's evening]

-"Stay" by Crywolf and Ianborg [During Briar and Thaddeus's conversation. (I imagine Thaddeus's music style to be the same as early Crywolf's- especially during his shared EP with Ianborg 'Runaway')]

CHAPTER PROGRESSION:

Started at: 2-18-2021

Ended at: 7-23-2021