"YOUR COUSIN?!" Raven exclaimed. Raven sunk in the truth as she took in Wicca and Gilda standing side by side. They were so opposite, no one would even consider the fact that they were related. Wicca was mean and green-skinned, dressed in basic black with a wicked disposition that could make flowers wilt and people quiver in fear.
Gilda on the other hand was fair-skinned and pretty in pink. Her warm smile and healthy glow she gave off could give Apple White a run for her money in fairest of them all.
"That's right!" Gilda chirped, hooking her arm around Wicca. "We're related!"
Wicca wrestled her cousin's arm away from her. "Don't say things like that out loud!" she snapped. "What are you even doing here?! Shouldn't you be at Oz Academy?!"
Gilda's smile turned into a frown. "I can't! Oz Academy has been taken over by a dark and powerful witch!"
"What?!" Wicca hissed. Sure, she hated Oz Academy and anyone who goes to it, but for it to be taken over by someone dark and powerful who's NOT Wicca, that got her bad blood pumping.
"It all started a couple of days ago! This villain came out of nowhere! She possessed the most darkest magic I've ever seen! My mom and the other witches tried to stop her, but this she was able to block their good magic and defeat them! I was able to gather my friends and conjure a magic tornado to bring us here to get help!"
"Wait! So that tornado yesterday was you?!" asked Wicca.
Gilda nodded. "And my friends."
Wicca blinked. "Wait...what friends? Who did you bring here?!" Her voice was so serious, Raven got a chill.
"Y'know, my best friends." Gilda casually counted them off her fingers. "Hayley, Tinothy, Leo, and Daphne."
"WHAT?! DAPHNE?! AS IN DAPHNE GALE?!" Wicca grabbed Gilda by her dress collar. "You invited Daphne Gale, the person I hate more than anyone and number one witch hater to come here?!"
"Daphne? Who's Daphne?" asked Maddie.
Wicca's eyes flashed. "Daphne Gale, the daughter of Dorothy Gale, the country bumpkin who destroyed my mother!"
"Dorothy Gale is no country bumpkin!" Gilda protested. "She's the legendary witch slaying hero of Oz!"
"SHE IS NOT A HERO!" Wicca roared. 'She's a murderer! And Daphne is no different! You know what she's like!"
Gilda looked at the ground. "Look, I know you and Daphne have your differences. But Oz is in trouble and all the good magic has been expelled from Oz! I'm completely powerless there! Only someone with strong dark magic has a chance of defeating the witch! Wicca, you gotta help us!"
"No!" Wicca snapped right away.
"But, Wicca-"
"No, Gilda! I don't care what happens to Oz! Oz isn't my home anymore! This world is! You and the rest of my enemies can suck a dragon egg! Me, I'm going to Hocus latte and pretend this whole encounter never happened!" She stormed away, her cape flowing with every angry step.
Courtley, still disguised as Apple was lost. But she knew she had to stay by Wicca. "Uhhh...Wicca! Wait!" Courtley said in that innocent Apple voice and followed the wicked witch.
"Apple! Where are you going?!" asked Headmaster Grimm. "What about your cake?! And party?!"
"That's...not important right now, Headmaster Grimm!" said the disguised Courtley. "A Royal must always be there to inspire those around her to help! I'll go talk to Wicca!" She rushed off before anyone could question her.
"So, that was Apple White..." Gilda looked at the running princess with wonder in her eyes. "That's commitment. Trying to convince my wicked and unhappy cousin to help." Gilda felt bad that she couldn't convince Wicca to help. She let out a sigh. "What am I going to do now? Without a master of dark magic, how will Oz be saved?"
Gilda felt a hand on her shoulder. She looked over and met the kindly eyes of Raven Queen. "Don't worry, Gilda. I'll help you. I'm pretty good with dark magic." She gave a confident smile.
"Huh? Who are you?" Gilda stared at Raven. "You don't look like a good witch. But you don't sound like a bad witch."
Raven chuckled. "You don't have to worry. I'm a good witch."
"Better than that! She's a hat-tastically great witch!" Maddie added. "This is Raven Queen! The Evil Queen's daughter!"
Gilda gasped very loudly. Raven awaited the worst. Being the daughter of the Evil Queen makes you one of the most feared and hated people in the fairytale world.
"I've heard about you!" Gilda breathed. "You're the one who denied your evil destiny and decided to become good!" She took Raven's hand and happily shook it. "I can't believe I'm actually meeting you in person!"
"Oh! Um, thanks." Raven was caught completely off guard by Gilda's reaction. "So, you said you brought some friends with you? Where are they?"
"Lost them in the storm." Gilda admitted. "That's the problem traveling by magic tornado. Not everyone makes it together in a group. We have to find them."
"And I'll help you find them." said Raven. "How about you, Maddie?"
Maddie jumped and kicked her heels. "Anything for you, Raven!" She put her arm around the closest person next to her; Lizzie Hearts. "Right, Lizzie?"
Lizzie blinked twice. "Well, uh, I suppose."
"We'll help too, Raven." Rosabella Beauty said. "Right, Daring?"
Daring Charming looked away from his hand mirror. "Huh? We're doing what now?"
Rosabella put her hands on her hips. "Daring, we're going to help Gilda find her friends and save Oz from an evil witch."
"We are?" Daring asked. "Since when?" He took a quick look into his mirror.
"Daring!" Rosabella said, upset with Daring's obliviousness.
"OFF WITH THE MIRROR!" Lizzie slapped the hand mirror out of the Prince Charming's hand.
Daring let out a groan. "Fine, we'll help."
"Raven, can I go with you too?" Coral asked Raven. "I'm curious as to what kind of evil has taken over Oz. And maybe my magic can help."
"Me too!" said Ginger. "We good witches have to stick together!"
"Of course, you guys." Raven said. "Alright, gang! The search party starts now!"
In the Village of Book End, Wicca was storming her way to Hocus Latte. Bystanders got out of the way as the wicked witch's presence made everyone make a lane for her.
"Wicca! Wait!"
Wicca turned around and saw Courtley disguised as Apple frantically running to her. "Oh, right. I forgot about you." Wicca replied with the most casual voice.
Courtly glared at Wicca. "We need to talk!"
Sighing, Wicca took Courtly by the arm and pulled her all the way to Hocus Latte. The witch kicked the door open and menaced inside. "CLEAR OUT, TOADS!"
All the customers gasped and ran out of the cafe in seconds, leaving Wicca and Courtley the only customers left. Wicca strolled up to the terrified barista. "I'll have two of the usual, Mindy."
Mindy nodded and placed the order. While their drinks were being made, Wicca and Courtley took a seat at the farthest window. "Okay, now we can talk."
"What am I going to do?! What's all this about Oz in danger?! What about the plan?!" Courtley said below her breath.
"We can still keep up the plan." Wicca said casually. "Just keep being Apple and forget about the riff raff from Oz." She rolled her green eyes. "Our little princess is still under lock and key and she's going to stay that way until I say so."
Courtley was about to say a rebuttal to the witch's statement, but a flash from Wicca's green eyes made her freeze.
"Listen, Jester. You're not looking at the big picture." Wicca curved a smile. "You're the one who wants to live like a queen, right? Well, wish granted. What better way to enjoy the perks of royalty than being the fairest of them all? Just keeping your part and have fun with it. I'll take care of the loose ends."
Once they got their lattes, the girls left the coffee shop. "So, it's settled. You keep being Apple and I'll stay away from my nauseating cousin." Wicca reminded Courtly.
"And what will you do?"
"I'm gonna stay low until the riff raff are gone." Wicca looked around a couple of times. "If Daphne Gale is here, there's a good chance she'll try to destroy me." She whistled for her broomstick and the faithful object flew right to her side. Wicca got on and flew off.
Courtley looked at her reflection in a store window. She was the perfect image of Apple White. Courtly thought about this and realized Wicca did make a good point. She gets to be Apple White, the fairest, most popular girl at school. One rarely comes across an opportunity like this.
The jester smiled at her reflection and tossed her blonde hair. "Window, window, on the wall, who's the fairest of them all?"
A freckle faced boy and his friends popped beside Courtly. "You are, Apple White!" they all cheered.
Courtly grinned at the fooled boys. "How would you boys like to join me for some Royal fun?"
They all nodded in ecstatically.
'This is going to be better than I thought...' Courtley giggled in her head.