Rifiuto: Non Miriena

A/N: Written: 2013. Found: 2017.- Licia

"What's so important that you had to wake up all up at seven on a Saturday?" Briar asked, rubbing the sleep from her eyes as she collapsed in an armchair in the student lounge. Since it was early on a Saturday, most of the students were still sleeping, leaving the lounge free.

"Whatever it is, she called all of us here." Briar looked up to find Cerise and Maddie standing across from her, both looking irate at the interruption that was Apple.

"She already woke me up at six this morning." Maddie grumbled, plopping into a chair. Cerise sat on the arm, pulling her cloak tighter around her as Ashlynn and Hunter entered, searching for them; Cedar followed behind with Dexter, Hopper and Charming in tow, all still in their pajamas and rubbing the sleep from their eyes. Once everyone had gathered, Apple, who'd been standing by the fireplace lost in her own thoughts, turned around to address the group.

"This better be good, Apple." Cerise growled, crossing her arms.

"It's not good! None of this is good! Without her, my story will never play out, I'll never be poisoned, which means I'll never be kissed by my prince, and I'll never get my happily ever after! I need her!"

A series of worried glances passed between the other students; not for Apple's story, but for Raven's safety, a worry that the blonde was going over the edge. Sure, they were here to learn how to follow their stories, but maybe Apple was taking it way too far. No, these looks were filled with worry for Apple's sanity.

"What about Raven?" Cerise asked tentatively.

"What about Raven?" Apple repeated the question slowly as though she were having a hard time understanding the words.

"That's exactly what Cerise just asked, Apple." Briar spoke up. "What about Raven, shouldn't you be worried about her?"

"Why would I be worried about her? Her story isn't the one at stake here! Mine is! Which means we need to find her and bring her back so she can sign the Storybook of Legends and fulfill her destiny so I can fulfill mine!"

That simple statement pushed several of the other students over the edge, but only one dared speak out. "How can you be so... so selfish! Did you ever think for once that maybe destiny isn't the most important thing in the world? You read the note! Raven wants to create her own destiny, her own happily-ever-after! We should be happy for her!"

Every head turned to stare at the hatter's daughter; Maddie had had it. She'd listened to Apple bitch and complain for twenty minutes about how Raven had 'ruined her destiny' when in reality, she was only concerned with her own, and now she was trying to turn Raven's friends and few friendly acquaintances against her for running off to find her own destiny. Despite their feelings on destiny, many in the room did count Raven as a friend, even though they never said anything. But away from others, Brair and Raven often chatted about music; Hopper often asked her for tips on how to talk to girls and enjoyed her company, and Ashlynn was constantly asking the witch for fashion advice. Charming even tolerated her- more, they tolerated each other- and Dexter... well, he'd had a crush on Raven since spellementary school. But now that she was gone...

They each adored Raven in their own right, and didn't appreciate Apple's continuous backstabbing comments.

"I, for one, don't appreciate your nastiness towards Raven, when she's not even here to defend herself!" The Mad Hatter's daughter may have been mad, but when she was furious-

"Leave her alone! I hope she stays lost, because if she comes back-"

"If she comes back, she can sign the book and I'll get my happily-ever-"

Silence reigned through the room, silence that followed a resounding slap that had happened moments earlier. Maddie had gotten out of her chair and stormed over to the blonde, and then proceeded to rear back and smack her hard across the face, stopping whatever tirade that was coming out of her mouth at the moment. Everyone stared at the pair, stunned, for Maddie had never lost her temper in such a way. Apple's wide blue eyes watched her in shock, one hand cradling her cheek.

"You deserved that and so much more, Apple White! Now leave Raven alone! She ran away for a reason, and you are a big part of it! I understand now why she ran away! Living with you as a roommate, I would too! You are perhaps the most selfish person in all of Ever After, and that's saying something, considering who your mother is! If anyone deserved to be the next Snow White, it's not you, it's Raven! She's everything a Snow White is supposed to be! Kind and good towards others and caring and... and pure! She's more pure than you can ever think of being! Frankly, I think you fit the role of Evil Queen better, because you're just as selfish as she is, maybe more so! You stay away from Raven! Whatever destiny she finds or makes for herself, she deserves, and I hope she's happy! Because she deserves it! As for you," the Wonderlandian silently studied the princess. "I think you belong in Mirror Prison with the Evil Queen. You're already acting like an Evil Queen."

And without another word, she turned on her heel and stormed out of the room. After several minutes, the others shared glances and then got up, each making for the door, some without a backwards glance towards the blonde, others with scathing glares or curses muttered under their breath, though all seemed to agree that Apple had gone too far, and none of them wanted to play her game.