It was glorious Saturday morning. And everyone was preparing for Apple's birthday celebration. In her dorm room, Apple was putting the finishing touches on her makeup when a knock came at her door.
Apple hummed a little tune as she glided to the door. She opened it and there stood Headmaster Milton Grimm and his brother Giles Grimm.
"Good morning, Miss White." Milton greeted. His posture perfect and smile warm.
"And Happy Birthday!" Giles added.
"Good morning, Sirs." Apple smiled as the two men walked in. "And thank you!"
Giles closed the door. He looked around. "Is Miss Queen here?"
Apple shook her head. "No, Sir. She's outside ready for the baking contest."
"Ah, I see. Well, Apple. As faculty members of this school, It gives us great pleasure to present you with your birthday gift." Milton brought out a lavish looking glass bottle. A bottle filled with-
"Apple juice!" Apple exclaimed. "My absolute favorite!"
Milton chuckled as he handed Apple an empty glass. "Indeed." He poured the juice in Apple's glass. "I had this specially made from the finest, most lush apples in all the kingdom. I know you have a lot of cakes to taste today. So I thought this wondeful drink won't fill you up to much."
"Oh, Headmaster Grimm! The day has just started and this is already the best birthday yet!" Apple raised her glass. "Here's to you two!" She sipped the apple juice and tasted it's quality.
"How is it?" asked Giles. "Tasty?"
Apple's lips puckered. Her eyes bulged. "It's...a little-" Suddenly, Apple felt drowsy. Very drowsy. She let out a yawn as she fell to the floor.
Headmaster Grimm curved an evil smile. Green magic swirled around him, revealing Wicca West in disguise. "Sleeping like a baby." Wicca would love to uncork an evil laugh, but it can wait. Right now, she had more work to do.
Giles snapped his fingers, revealing it was really Courtley Jester, daughter of the Joker Card. Her wild card power was to magically make herself look like anyone else. "Phase two?"
"Phase two." said Wicca. "I'll take Apple away while you get to be her for the whole day!"
Courtley giggled with glee. "I get to be treated as royalty for a whole day?! Oh, what wonderlandiful joy!" With a flick of her wrist, she became the spitting image of Apple White.
As Courtley dashed off, Wicca took Apple by the hand and recited a spell that poofed them out of Apple's dorm room.
In the Dark Forest, it was remote and spooky as ever. Even if it was daylight, the forest was just as dark as night.
Deep within the forest, far away from the school grounds was the old Witch Tower. It was one of the tallest towers in Ever After. The witch that lived in the spooky, crumbling tower moved away years ago. So nobody lived there and no one ever dares set foot inside it. Only a fool would enter the home of a witch.
Unless, of course, you're a villain with a wicked plan.
Wicca poofed into the highest room in the tower with the sleeping Apple White. The witch looked around. There was an old bed, a small cauldron in the corner, and a bookcase that had nothing in it except a dusty skull.
Spotting the door and open window, Wicca cast a spell to lock the door and put bars on the window. She had to make sure Apple didn't have a way out.
The witch levitated Apple onto the bed and smiled to herself. "Hexcellent!" Wicca mused. "When Apple wakes up, she's going to find herself trapped and miss her oh so special birthday!" Wicca let out her evil laugh, but quickly closed her mouth. She looked at Apple, she snored a little and continued to sleep.
Sighing in relief, Wicca teleported herself out of the tower and saw the heavy wooden door. It was the only way to get inside the tower. Smiling to herself, Wicca cast a spell to make the door vanish.
Now Apple was really trapped.
Wicca snapped her fingers and her broomstick appeared beside her. She took a seat and flew off, leaving the dark forest.
"This has got to be my best idea ever!" Wicca bragged to herself. "I'm the real Evil Queen of this school!" But her joy fell when she said 'Evil Queen'. Wicca thought about Duchess, the one who will take the crown of the real Evil Queen and have all the wicked glory.
'Am I doing the right thing?' Wicca thought to herself. Letting Duchess take the spot of the greatest villain ever while Wicca does all the evil work at school?
Back in Oz, Wicca's mother, the Wicked Witch of the West was believed to be destroyed, but she was still alive...as a mass of green slime inside a glass container. Before she left for Ever After High, Wicca's mother wanted Wicca to take Raven's place as the next Evil Queen...and maybe, find a way to restore her mother.
But what will her mother think now that someone else will take Raven's place? And what will Wicca do? She doesn't want to be destroyed like her mother, but she does enjoy being a villain.
"If Duchess becomes the queen of villains, then...where will I be?" Wicca said to herself. She sighed, deciding to worry about this later and focus on the present. Her evil plan was still in motion.
Briar Beauty was up bright and early, which was very unusual for her. But she had to make the effort for her best friend forever after.
The young princess was at her vanity preparing for the big day.
"Briar, Hunter and I are going to get our cake for the baking contest!" said Ashlynn Ella, daughter of Cinderella.
Briar smiled. "It's so sweet that you two worked together to make a cake!"
"Yeah! It's amazing how Hunter and I are clearly soulmates!" Ashlynn said. She and a few of her bird friends were making her bed together.
"Yeah, I guess." Briar didn't sound so happy anymore.
Ashlynn quickly took notice. "What's wrong?"
"Well, I'm happy for you and Hunter. But it always make me think who's going to take Hunter's place in Apple's story. There's no Evil Queen, no huntsman, and most of all, no Prince Charming to wake her up!" Briar sighed, fighting the urge to yawn as well. "I've tried everything to find replacements. But so far, I've got nothing!"
"Hmm, have you asked Wicca to take Raven's place?" Ashlynn suggested. "She's definitely villain material."
Briar frowned. "I asked her a long time ago. But she refused! She said she not going to poison Apple just to make me and that nauseating goody goody Apple White happy!" She balled her fists. "She really is evil!"
"Briar! Don't think about her now!" Ashlynn said, trying to calm her miffed friend. "Listen, there's plenty of time to think about Apple's story, just not today. Let's just focus on having fun! It's Apple's birthday! We're all going to have a great time together!"
"Yeah, you're right." Briar hugged the nature-loving princess. "How'd I ever get so lucky to have you as my roomie?"
Ashlynn shrugged. "I guess fate works in many ways." She looked at her golden clock on the wall. "Uh-oh! I need to go or I'll be late! And you know what happens when I'm late!" Ashlynn grabbed her purse and ran off, accidentally leaving behind a glass slipper.
Briar shook her head. "Another shoe left behind." She went over to pick it up when a knock came at her door. "Come in."
The door opened. It was Apple! "Hey, Briar!" Apple warmly greeted as she walked in, closing the door behind her.
"Apple! Happy Birthday!" Briar hugged her best friend. "What brings you here?"
Apple smiled her red lips into a perfect smile. She had her hands behind her back. "Well, Briar, since you've done soooo much for my party and you're my best friend forever after, I got you a little something!"
Briar gasped. "What?! Apple! You didn't have to give me anything! This is your birthday!" She was so touched by Apple's legendary kindness.
"But I wanted to!" Apple rocked up and down on her feet. "Close your eyes and hold out your hands!" she sang.
Briar closed her eyes. She held her hands out.
"No peeking!" said Apple.
Briar nodded and closed her eyes tight. She felt Apple hold Briar's hand. The princess awaited her gift with excitement.
"OW!" Briar yelped when a sharp pain pricked her finger. She quickly drew her hand back and saw a spot of blood poke out of her index finger.
Briar looked at Apple in shock. She saw Apple's grin become wicked as she felt drowsy. In an instant, she collasped to the floor and began snoring loudly.