"...Miss Briar Beauty."
At the end of the line Briar sighed, knowing well beforehand that she would be eliminated. Finding that textbook had been a lot harder than she anticipated, especially considering the fact that she began dozing within minutes of searching.
"Ah, well. I wasn't really in the contest wholeheartedly to begin with, so I guess it's only fair," she said, shrugging and grinning despite herself. Briar turned to face the other contestants. "Good luck! Guess I'll just be cheering you all in the crowd from now on - but remember to keep me on tab for the after-party, okay?"
The other girls took turns hugging her, wishing aloud how they could all win together and assuring her that she would be the first to know about the after-party. Content, Briar descended the stage and sat in the audience seat, exchanging high-fives and fist-bumps with her fans.
"Thank you, Miss Beauty, for that excellent display of sportsmanship. Erm… now let's see, the next event…" Grimm paused, looking again at the mirror-screens that showcased the utter disaster that had become of the school's library, "...will unfortunately have to be postponed until we can repair the library."
"Awwwww!" "Booooooo!" shouted the audience members (including Briar), but Grimm paid them no attention.
"We shall continue the pageant one week from now. I will reveal more details as the week progresses. Due to the nature of the next contest, I cannot reveal the name of the event until the day of - although I assure you all that it will be much less destructive than this one." He glared pointedly at the contestants, causing several to giggle nervously and shift around in a guilty manner. "But enough of that. I trust our contestants will take advantage of this break wisely. Until then, ladies and gentlemen, you are all dismissed!"
Apple was sitting quietly at her desk, doing her homework steadily and mechanically. Crownculus was easy for her. Every subject she was taking was easy for her. When she finished, she went back to the first question and started redoing it. Apple never needed to double-check her work, but this time she did it anyway - it gave her something to do, something to take her mind off her disappointment.
Her… disappointment. Yes, she was dreadfully disappointed.
Apple continued on to question two as her poisonous thoughts consumed her. What was she? The daughter of Snow White? The prettiest girl in the school? Those were the all things she was trying to break away from by renewing Miss Ever After… was she just going to go back on her words now that she was down? And why was this all surprising her? Had she not told Headmaster Grimm that she wasn't just banking on winning?
The dreadful realization had hit her a few days ago. Apple had been expecting to win Miss Ever After, just like everything else… it was too deeply ingrained in her her entire life. Being able to show the whole school that she was more than just a pretty face, that she was a good leader, a smart student, a hard worker - they had all banked on her making it through each round, and Apple had never stopped to think that there was a possibility she might lose. But now, as if the world wanted her to see just exactly what she had taken for granted, she had lost.
And then she blew it. She should have taken the lost gracefully, like Blondie and Briar had… like a good queen should have. But instead she bawled her eyes out and asked everyone in the audience why they hadn't given her what she didn't deserve. Tears welled up as Apple recalled the shameful memory; she had failed. She had failed the most important test of all.
"Apple?" came Raven's voice from behind her.
Apple turned around - she didn't hear Raven come in at all! - and quickly wiped her face. She tried her hardest to make a congratulatory smile. "Hi, Raven! I didn't notice you there. Good job on getting past the last event! I wish I'd seen it, but I've been just so busy with schoolwork and all…" That was, of course, a lie; the chances of Apple screwing up a Crownculus problem was about as likely as her winning Miss Ever After after being eliminated.
"Uh-huh… sure." Raven didn't look very convinced. "Actually, I wanted to talk to you."
"About what?"
"About how you haven't really been coming out of your room these days," Raven said uneasily. She pulled up a chair next to Apple's desk and placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Are you alright? Everyone's been worried."
Apple gave a fake laugh. "Oh, is that all? Don't worry about me, I'm just spelltacular, as always! Just busy with homework, like I've said. It's not like anyone wants to see me now anymore, right?" Her voice broke.
Raven frowned. "Of course people still want to see you, Apple. Is this about the contest? You know, just because you're not in the running for Miss Ever After anymore doesn't mean people don't like you anymore!"
Apple looked away, hiding her face. "Raven… no. You don't understand."
"I'll understand if you tell me," she offered. The blonde didn't reply for several minutes, but Raven continued to sit patiently.
"It's not about losing the contest," Apple whispered finally. "It's… it's about how I lost it. I cried like a godmother-spoiled brat in front of the whole school. I failed as a future queen. They must all hate me now."
"What? That's it?" Raven asked, incredulous, and Apple bursted into sobs. She hastily back-pedaled and began patting her roommate's back. "There, there… uhh. Shh-sh-shhh. I'm sorry. Please don't cry, Apple, I didn't mean it that way. I just… well, I'm surprised you've been hiding in here for such a silly reason! Really, I didn't hexpect this at all."
"Wh-what do you mean?" Apple choked out between her tears.
"Well, everyone was surprised that you were voted off first, for one," said Raven. "Crying after something like that is normal. You're being too hard on yourself. The worst that happened was that everyone felt bad after you left - but nobody was angry with you, much less hates you!"
"But should a queen be crying like that?" Apple asked miserably.
Raven considered this. "Well… no, probably not. But even queens-to-be are human. Just because you made a mistake doesn't mean you can't fix things. Go out there with your head held high, Apple! If you want to show them that you can take a loss well, you should be out there cheering on your friends instead of cooping yourself up in here. I mean… practically half of the school was mad at me after Legacy Day, but I didn't hide myself after that, did I?"
Apple wiped away her tears as she listened. "You're right, Raven. You're completely right. I know I have to confront my mistakes if I want to fix things. But…" She lowered her hands and thought about what it must be like going on outside. People everywhere would stop to ask her if she was okay, ask her what happened, looking for a perfect explanation from their perfect, perfect future queen… no, she couldn't do it alone. "Can you come with me outside today? Just this once, please? If people come at me with all these questions, I don't know if I can handle it."
Her roommate didn't even blink. "Of course."
"Thanks, Raven," Apple sighed, pulling her into a hug. A small smile tugged at her lips. "You really are awful at being an Evil Queen, you know that? I guess I know how you feel now, a little bit. If I were so bad at my chosen destiny, who knows what I would've done?"
"I'll take that as a compliment," she replied, also smiling.
Raven helped her to her feet. Apple dusted off her skirt, took a deep breath, and smiled that princess-perfect smile that she was going to use to deflect every question and comment thrown at her. Together, they pushed open the door and walked outside.
[Meanwhile at Wonderland Grove]
(Ali and Bunny couldn't make it, then?) Lizzie asked in Riddlish, dabbing the corners of her mouth with a checker-patterned cloth. She, Kitty, and Maddie were seated around a ridiculously tiny tea table that couldn't support all three cups and saucers, so the three of them had taken to balancing their tableware on their own heads. All in all, a typical Sunday tea party for the Wonderlandians.
Maddie cocked her head, sending her teacup clattering on the floor. (Hmm… well, Bunny's always losing track of time, you know. I don't know why Alistair isn't here, though! He's usually good with coming to our parties.)
(Maybe he fell into a hole,) Kitty suggested. She was lapping up her tea with her tongue, but nobody seemed to notice. (It wouldn't be the first time… heh.)
(You did a fableous Wonderlandian backstroke in the Swim Contest,) Lizzie complimented. She sighed wistfully. (I do miss the great Sea of Tears back in Wonderland. I used to swim there all the time! Or, at least, I think I swam there all the time - it was always hard to keep track of time in Wonderland, wasn't it?)
(Tell me about it,) Kitty grumbled. (I'm always fairy late or fairy early for class here… I can't believe how inconsistent the clocks are! Why don't they all turn back when I set my alarm back?)
(Thanks, Lizzie! I think I like it here, though,) said Maddie. (It's not nearly as mad as Wonderland, of course, but I've met lots of nice people. Ooh! Are you guys all done with your tea? Let's read the dregs!)
(Ask if the portal to Wonderland will ever be open again!) Lizzie urged as Maddie collected all their cups. She lined them up and peered inside, studying the leaves carefully. (What does it say? What does it say?)
(The tea says, yes and no! Maybe so?) Maddie giggled.
(I wanted a definite answer,) Lizzie moaned. Kitty patted her best friend on the back.
(Let's not talk about Wonderland now,) said Kitty, throwing Maddie a significant look. They both knew that of their little circle, Lizzie missed Wonderland the most - she was having a hard time picking up the language and culture in Fairy Land, and her mother was still recovering from the Wonderland poisoning. Being a Royal, Lizzie was also worried about what would become of her destiny - after all, she couldn't be the Queen of Hearts to a realm that was no longer open. Kitty cleared her throat. (So, how's croquet? You're the captain of the team now, aren't you?)
(Oh… yes, I am,) Lizzie sighed. Her eyes lingered on the teacups. (My teammates are very sweet. They've been improving a lot this past month, despite all the rain we've been getting.)
(I hear the croquet team's new game chant is "Off with their heads!",) said Maddie. Lizzie blushed, and both her friends started cracking up.
(But they have no idea what it means in Riddlish, do they?) Lizzie lamented. (I tried explaining to them once, but they just thought I was yelling at them! Does everything I say really sound like yelling?)
(Not to us,) said Kitty. (Actually, I don't think fairy teens can even learn Riddlish. I was trying to teach this guy the other day, but he wouldn't even get his paws wet after I told him there 'wasn't an exact word for anything'! What's that all about?) Her friends shrugged and resumed balancing their teacups on their heads. Kitty sighed, grinning lazily. (Enough about that. How're things going in the romance department? You two found dates yet?)
(No!) both girls chorused, Maddie cheerfully and Lizzie hastily. She rolled her eyes.
(Don't get me wrong, I adore everyone here! But no one seems to share my values or lifestyle, so there's that,) Maddie said, pouring herself some more tea. (Fairy teens are all so tepid, you know?)
(They're more fun to mess with, though,) Kitty mused. (It's funny seeing their reactions. Once I was dating this other guy - what was his name again? Charley? Excalibur?)
(Those two names are nothing alike,) Lizzie pointed out.
(Whatever after, I forget. Anyway, he wanted to bring me to this ice cream place, right? But he only read about it on the MirrorNet, so he had to follow these directions to get there. Then I decided it would be great if I mixed up all the signs after we passed it!) Kitty looked expectantly at her friends. (So you know what happened? When we tried to go back, he completely lost his way and we ended up falling into a geyser! I mean, like, a geyser? I didn't even know they had those here! He didn't appreciate it when I told him I was the one who screwed up the signs, though. Weirdo.)
(Sounds like a normal Wonderland date to me,) said Lizzie thoughtfully. (You know that dates here are supposed to be pleasant and fun? Someone told me that. In that regard, I think Fairy Land might be better than Wonderland.)
(What a snooze!) Kitty declared. However, she eyed her friend suspiciously. (Did I hear 'someone' there? Ooh, did Lizzie go on a date~?)
(I did not!) Lizzie said indignantly. (Future Queen of Hearts, remember? I'm waiting to get back to Wonderland for that. I do have a reputation to keep up, you know!)
(Hmmmm,) Kitty purred suspiciously. But she allowed the topic to drop and poured herself another cup of tea. (What flavor is this anyway? It's so weird, I can't figure it out! Maddie?)
(This is a new brew! I mixed it up a few weeks ago,) said Maddie, peering into the teapot. (I'm thinking of adding it to our menu. You like?)
Lizzie took a careful sip of her tea. (It's sweet and salty. I like it. You normally don't add salt to tea, do you? But the saltiness really makes the sweetness that much lovelier!)
(It's fine, but I liked that nepeta-thing tea better.)
(You started rolling around in the grass and talking to your own feet after you had that one, Kitty,) Lizzie warned.
(So?) Kitty pouted. She stirred her tea with her finger, then bent down to sniff. (What kind of salt did you use? I think I smell rose.)
(That's just the question, isn't it?) Maddie giggled. She took the empty teapot and stored it into her hat. (I'll tell you, it's really the darndest thing! I found these pretty pink salt rocks at the spa - they were labeled 'bath salts', like someone would really need salt for a bath, right? - so I just took the whole container of them. And then I noticed how fragrant they were, so I decided to go ahead and add them to our usual caramel-nut tea. They've become such a hit ever since!)
There was a long pause.
(Hatter, do you know what the FDA is?) Kitty asked.
(Um… no?)
CIA Detective Briar Beauty was on a mission. Through her sharp cunning, the detective had managed to recruit the two best gumshoes and information-holders (although not better than the good detective herself) for their most important mission yet. It was time to tackle Operation: Evening Dress Vote before the case went ice-cold.
"Do we really have to wear these sunglasses, Briar?" Investigator Cupid asked as she bumped into a wall for the fifth time.
"It's Detective Beauty! And yes, we have to look convincing if we're going to get statements from the suspects," Briar said. The three of them were tip-toeing down a dark and completely empty corridor.
"What's with the badges?" Agent Lockes inquired, fiddling with her official gold-forged CIA badge - which, at the moment, looked more like a plastic pocket mirror with a sticker stuck onto the inside.
"We'll have to show them proof of our occupation before we go into serious questioning! Man, don't you two ever watch CSI: Fairy Land?"
"I thought we were going to figure out why Apple was voted out in the first event," Cupid added. She was now stretching her arms in front of her to detect collisions. "Why are we doing… this?"
"That's what we're doing! I've already called the first suspect for questioning. He'll be here any minute." Briar stopped them all when they reached the end of the hallway and crossed her arms. "C'mon, detectives! Look confident."
Blondie and Cupid looked at each other, shrugging. Suddenly, the lights flicked on and somebody headed toward them. Hopper Croakington II stumbled his way into the light, squinting. "Uh… Briar? Y-you wanted to speak to me?"
"That's right. Cupid, start taking notes!" Briar loomed over the confused prince as Cupid fumbled with the quill and notebook she was holding. "So, Mister Croakington. Someone hexted me that you were present for the first Miss Ever After event… the Evening Dress contest. Well?"
"...Yeah…?"
"If you were there, it must mean that you've voted." Briar lowered her sunglasses and stared at the thoroughly bewildered Hopper. "Who did you vote against?"
"Uh… that's… well…" Hopper flustered, which succeeded in transforming him into a frog. He continued speaking in his amphibian form. "My deepest apologies, my ladies, but is this not a private matter? I would be terribly offending to the contestant should she hear that I voted against her - and quite awkward on my part, if you do not mind."
"Don't worry about that. We're highly professional investigators, and your response will be kept strictly confidential." Briar took the opportunity to flash him her pocket mirror 'badge', which only confused him even further. "This is an important matter to our case. Now talk! Who did you vote out?"
Even as a frog, Hopper remained speechless. "...Briar, is this some kind of game?" he asked finally.
"C'mon, Hopper, get a clue! We're trying to find out why Apple got voted out!" Briar groaned, dropping the entire pretense. "Tell us who you voted out, please? We promise we won't tell anyone!"
"Really? Ah, my deepest apologies for not understanding sooner!" said Hopper. "Well, if you do promise not to slip up… I voted against Miss Madeline Hatter, not Apple. Please do not inform her! I merely noted how unusual her headgear appeared and placed my vote accordingly."
"Is that so?" Briar put back on her sunglasses. "Take note, Detective. Thank you for your cooperation, Mister Croakington. Your testimony is a step closer to solving our case. Let's go, agents! Onto the next suspect!"
"Fairy obliged to help out fair detectives anytime." Hopper bowed, finally playing along. However, the girls were already marching out of sight. He called out to them: "Er… wait! Are you already going? Could somebody turn me back before you leave? Er, ladies? ...Ribbit."
{November 6, 10:28 AM}
[LOCATION: Spellbinding Springs Cafe]
"Hey, Briar! Oh, and Cupid - and Blondie. Um, why are you dressed up like that?"
The trio had tracked down Ashlynn and Hunter to a nearby vegan cafe; ever since they came out with their relationship, they decided to try some of the public restaurants they had avoided in the past.
"Never mind that, we're on a mission," said Briar. "Can we speak to Hunter for a spell?"
Hunter looked surprised, but he said "sure" and followed them outside the cafe. "What's up? It's not gonna take long, right?"
"As long as you cooperate. We're trying to solve a troubling case pertaining to the pageant. Would you happen to know about it?"
"What? Me? Uh, no! I mean, no," Hunter stammered, raising both his hands. "I mean… hey! Ashlynn got through that round fair and square! There was no rules against talking to animals, right? And if those animals just happened to help her, it doesn't mean she cheated! She even told him not to do it!"
"Uh…" Briar raised her eyebrows, and her two companions appeared just as confused. "Wrong case there, Hunter, ha ha. We were wondering why, y'know, Apple was kicked out the first round…?"
"Oh, that? Uh… ha ha ha! Of course, yeah!" he laughed a little too heartily for it to be genuine. "Yeah, that. Just forget everything I said before, okay? Let's talk about that."
"...Yeah, that. So, who did you vote against the first round?" When Hunter looked uncomfortable, Briar quickly threw in: "If you don't tell us, we could just talk about the thing with Ashlynn you just mentioned. That sounds interesting, too." (A detective's best weapon: blackmail.)
"Shh! Fine, I'll tell you," Hunter whispered. "I… I voted Apple. Nothing against her or anything, I just thought it was time we had a non-Snow White winner. But it was just one vote, it couldn't have changed everything! Hell, I was as shocked as everyone else when it was announced. Honest!"
"You voted against Apple?" Blondie gasped. "But why? She did everything just right in the Evening Dress round!"
"I wanted to give all the other girls a chance," Hunter said defensively. "I guess… yeah, it wasn't really objective, looking back, but it was the principle of the thing. Everybody thought Apple was gonna win for sure, so I just sort of cast that vote in defiance. For the Rebel cause and everything. I didn't think it would actually impact the final score!"
"But - !"
Briar cut Blondie off, stepping in front of her with a single smooth motion. "Calm down, Agent Lockes. He gave us an honest testimony, which is what we were looking for. Thanks, Hunter. We're closer to understanding what happened now."
Hunter nodded and, after getting their assurances that nothing in their conversation would be repeated, slipped back into the cafe. "C'mon, girls. Our next suspects are at Wonderland Grove!"
{November 6, 10:52 AM}
[LOCATION: Wonderland Grove]
"Me? I voted off Apple!" Kitty told the detectives. Briar nodded, and Cupid scribbled down something on her paper. "What's a good contest without a little chaos? I just can't believe how well it worked out in the end. Tee hee!"
"Hmph. I voted against Raven Queen. Off with her head!" Lizzie added. She emphasized her point by lopping off the cap to their teapot and narrowly missing Blondie in the process.
"And I'm a contestant, so I didn't have a vote!" Maddie stated the obvious cheerfully. She picked up the cap-less teapot and stuck a straw in it. "Tea?" she offered.
"Uh… no, thanks. We've got some more sleuthing to do. Let's go!"
{November 6, 12:04 PM}
[LOCATION: Ever After High Courtyard]
"I kicked out Apple," Sparrow admitted. He was sitting by the fountain, tuning his guitar. "I mean, having her win something again? So lame, man. Give someone else a chance, won't 'cha?"
"What about the criteria for the event? Did her evening dress not meet your hexpectations?" Blondie questioned.
Sparrow jerked his head in a noncommittal motion. "Hey, don't look at me, I dunno nothing about dresses. Didn't have any rockin' bling is all I remember. But then again, none of your dresses did."
"Got that down, Cupid?" Briar asked, and Cupid nodded. "Alright. Thanks, Mister Hood. We'll be off now."
{(Still) November 6, 5:29 PM}
[LOCATION: Tower Salon]
"I missed the first event, actually, but Holly was there for it. Who did you vote out, big sis?" Poppy O'Hair chimed as she snipped at their hair. The detectives had initially come in for questioning, but they somehow got themselves looped in for a hairdressing as well.
"Let me see…" Holly tapped her chin. "Was it…? Oh, yes, I voted out Cerise. She's a fableous girl - and a classic tale, let me tell you - but goodness gracious, her hair! She really doesn't care how fuzzed up it'll get from keeping it under her hood all the time, does she?"
"Tell me about it. Once I offered her a free trim and she declined," her twin added. "She would look great with a wicked bob. In fact, I thought it was a bob when I first saw her… talk about a fairy-fail when I brought it up to her in Chemythstry!"
"Always on and on about the short cuts, aren't you?" Holly sighed.
Just then the bell chimed, and both sisters hurried off to great the large crowd that entered the Tower Salon.
"What's the status, Cupid?" Briar asked, checking the back of her hair with a mirror.
"It looks good to me, Briar! Oh, wait, you mean the 'case', don't you?" Cupid was now sporting several fat curlers in her hair, which Poppy had instructed to leave on for ten minutes. "Unfortunately, it seem like there was no foul play from the looks of it. Almost half of the votes we got were against Apple, and we've asked almost everyone in school."
"Darn. Let me see." The paper that Cupid had been tallying the votes on was passed to Briar, and then to Blondie. There was approximately fifty votes against Apple, while the rest of the contestants had about ten at most.
"I don't get it. Apple's the most beloved person in Ever After High!" Briar sighed, tossing her newly-cut hair back. "Why did people suddenly all up and vote against her now?"
"Let's think back to what people said," Cupid suggested. "I remember that Sparrow and Hunter gave similar reasons about why they voted out Apple. Something about how she always won, and they wanted to give someone else a chance? That came up a lot during questioning."
"So are you saying everybody voted out my BFFA just because they wanted someone different?" Briar argued. "That's so not true. None of the Royals voted against her, did they?"
"That's it!" Blondie cried. She had been staring at the sheet of paper in silence since it had been passed to her. "I've got it now! I know exactly how Apple was voted off first."
"How!?" Briar and Cupid demanded simultaneously.
"Don't you two see?" Blondie jumped out from under the large hairdryer that Poppy had set up for her. "Good Grimm, I can't believe I missed it the first time - it's a classic case of a divided vote! You're just right about one thing, Briar. Of course none of the Royals (like myself) would vote against Apple - they're happy to keep things as they are, with Apple as Miss Ever After. And let's face it, Apple does deserve it the most. So who voted against her?" She pointed into the air dramatically. "The Rebels! Who else would say stuff like 'give someone else a chance, even if it means kicking out the best contender'?"
"Um… so are you saying that all the Rebels voted off Apple?" Briar asked.
"Well, not all… but yes, all of them!" Blondie said heatedly to the comprehension of none. "Apple was an easy target to agree on if you're a Rebel. Everybody hexpected her to win, so the Rebels naturally put all their votes against her whether she deserved it or not. But the Royals were divided in their vote. It's not like they had anyone they wanted to gang up on, right?"
"What about Raven?" Cupid offered.
"Oh, right. Well… maybe they didn't think Raven a real threat." Blondie tapped her chin thoughtfully. "It wasn't like Apple, who was surefire to win otherwise. There were other contestants to vote against if you were a Royal, like Maddie… or Cerise. They just assumed she would be taken out in time, probably. Or maybe Royals are just more fair and objective than Rebels."
"Hey, that's not right, Blondie," Cupid protested. "You can't say all Rebels voted subjectively… or that all Royals voted objectively, either! And even then, letting someone else have a chance isn't really that bad of a reason, is it?"
"It's all sorts of wrong! It's the Evening Dress competition, so it's only just right to vote based on the evening dress!" Blondie retorted. "If it was just a popularity contest, then what was the point of creating all these different events?"
"So popularity wasn't the only thing that kept Apple in the running? I think you might be stretching the truth there, Blondie..."
"What? I never stretch the truth - !"
"Be quiet!" Briar hissed, loud enough that some of the other guests turned their way. She waved sheepishly at them. "Ha ha, oops. Carry on, nothing to see here! But seriously, guys," she continued in a lower voice. "I didn't go all this way so we would fight about the results. I wanted to find out so we could tell Apple, and maybe cheer her up a bit? Frankly, I don't think she should've been kicked out so fast, but since she was, I think she deserves to know why. That's all."
"Sorry, Briar," Cupid whispered, while Blondie still looked off-put. "So how are we going to tell Apple? She hasn't exactly been coming out of her room these days…"
Briar folded up the tally sheet and stuffed it in her purse. "I know a way. Leave it to me."
[[CASE CLOSED]]
Duchess had the dorm room to herself and was taking full advantage of it. Today was Sunday; it was already 1:30 in the afternoon when she finally got up, screw breakfast and lunch. She left her hair untied, threw on the first tee-shirt she found on the ground, and feasted on off-brand granola bars. This swan princess was going to have the laziest weekend ever, and no one was going to stop her.
"What have I ever done to you - what have any of us ever done to you?"
Duchess kicked her drawer closed. Why did that comment have to keep bothering her? It wasn't like she didn't know the answer to that one. The way they walked around all smiles and giggles, flaunting their stories and futures… Duchess hated them all. Apple-freaking-White couldn't go a single day without telling the whole school how she was going to be queen one day, or how she had to eat that poison apple, or how she was the fairest in the land even though she had to wear a pound of makeup and fake curls every day before leaving her room. Or Poppy O'Hair, who couldn't get enough of repeating everyone's tales over and over (except Swan Lake, which was a terrible story and nobody wanted to talk about it). Even princesses like Briar and Ashlynn weren't immune to the occasional reference or self-deprecating joke… but Duchess didn't even have that. There was nothing funny about ending up abandoned and drowning in a lake. She was practically the only princess without a Happily Ever After.
That's why I'll do anything to win. She didn't care what she had to do. She didn't care if no one understood her. She was going to find the one way out of that hell awaiting her, no matter how many toes she had to step on.
It's not like it matters, she thought grimly. She didn't have any real friends to begin with. Who was there to lose?
BANG-BANG-BANG!
Duchess nearly fell off her bed when she heard the sound at her door. What kind of deaf asshole knocks that loudly? she wondered peevishly. And Lizzie (who, ironically, was kind of a deaf asshole, considering her habitual screaming about beheadings) had left only five minutes ago, so there was no way she was already done with her Wonderlandian tea party…
The swan princess marched angrily to the door and swung it open, ready to lay it out on whoever was rude enough to disturb her like that. The person standing outside was none other than…
"...Sparrow," said Duchess under her breath. She should've known.
"'Sup, Duch." Sparrow looked her up and down, and smirked. "What happened to your hair?"
Oh, right, her hair was still down. "I didn't have time to put it up yet because someone had to go punching holes into my door!" Duchess retorted, feeling rather self-conscious. She hastily tossed a few stray locks over her shoulder.
He looked confused. "Someone punched holes in your door?"
"Yes, you dolt, and if you had half a brain you would know… oh, forget it." There was no use continuing this line of discussion. "What do you want?"
Sparrow shrugged. "So… it's been a while, you know…" His sentence trailed off.
Duchess frowned, getting impatient. "What? Did you want to show me one of your new songs?" Sometimes he came over to play one of his new (and often questionable) creations for her, although Duchess never knew why. But he wasn't dragging around his guitar today, so that couldn't be it. Then something else clicked: "Oh. Of course. Your prize."
"Well, I was actually wondering if you wanted to hang out after exams, but I guess I could pick that up, too."
"Sure, whatever after." Duchess rolled her eyes and reached for her jewelry box - what a roundabout way of collecting a ring. She said she'd give him one for teaching her how to swim, didn't she? Even though he had only managed to teach her one stroke in the end… but still, it was enough to get her through the second round. "Go ahead. Pick your favorite. I'm not telling you how much each of them cost, though."
"Yeah? In that case, you can give me which ever you like," said Sparrow, grinning.
She rolled her eyes again. "Fine, if you really want the worst one in my collection." Not that Duchess had any bad rings to begin with - she was a princess of wealth and taste, thank you very much. Duchess hesitated before grabbing a small, pink-gemmed one and dropping it in his outstretched palm. "There."
Sparrow winked and inspected it in the light. "...Nice. Is it cut in a ballet slipper shape? Are you sure you're not being too generous here?"
Duchess crossed her arms. "I didn't even pick that one when I got it. It never matched me at all." Actually, she had won it from her very first dance competition - she couldn't have been older than six years old at the time. Duchess had worn it proudly for a whole year after receiving it… but now it was just an old, childish ring that would only fit her pinky finger. Still, she felt a small pang of loss as she watched Sparrow pocket it. "Is that all?"
"Uh, hanging out? Remember that?" he teased. "Unless you're busy."
"If you want you can come inside, but I'm not getting changed to go out," she grumbled, swinging open her door. Actually, having some company might be nice - Duchess was already getting bored of her laziest weekend ever. Sparrow doffed his hat in the smuggest manner possible and stepped in. "But I'd better not find anything missing later on, Sparrow, I swear to Grimm…"
They proceeded to waste the next three hours building a miniature town out of granola bars and then another thirty minutes arguing whether it should be called The Great Granola Island or Sparrow's United Carbohydrate Kingdom. Duchess was soon declared the high queen of S.U.C.K.; her first decree stated that it was lawful to consume citizens because they had both missed dinner and nobody wanted to call in pizza delivery.
"Rare, as usual?" Mr. Badwolf asked.
"As usual," Cerise replied, grinning.
The two of them were eating at a small, relatively unknown steakhouse in the outskirts of school grounds. It had become a regular meeting place for the two of them since Cerise started attending high school. The two didn't talk much while waiting for their dinner. It was only when the waiter arrived with the steaks (both cooked so rare it looked almost raw - just the way father and daughter liked it) that they began a conversation.
"I was very surprised to see you on stage that first day," Mr. Badwolf grumbled, tearing through his steak with his teeth.
Cerise shrugged.
"I'm proud," he continued. "My daughter deserves to win."
She smiled shyly and started cutting into her steak. "It's not like I'll win just because I'm your daughter, dad."
"Hmph." Her father took a long swig of drink; when he slammed it back down on the table, it was completely empty. "Maybe. But you're a good girl. Lots of talent. And beautiful, just like your mother."
Cerise didn't say anything in response. He was always talking about how she was beautiful like her mom - not that it meant much in the end when she had these wolf-ears. It occurred to her recently that she might not be fit to be the next Red Riding Hood, even though she had pledged to do so on Legacy Day.
"Is something wrong?" Mr. Badwolf asked.
"Nothing," she said. There was no point in telling her parents - it made them feel guilty whenever she brought up her predicament with her destiny.
"You should enjoy yourself," her father advised. "Be like the other girls and have fun. Don't worry so much about your heritage, or your ears. Youngsters shouldn't have to worry about their parents problems all the time."
Again, Cerise said nothing. They were always telling her how she should hang out more and talk to people, but how could she? If anyone discovered her family's secret, they would be in serious trouble. Of course she was scared for them. But even then she had to admit that being in the spotlight for once was… surprisingly nice. It wasn't enough to push her into the social scene, of course - that would be too risky, someone might find out if they knew her too well - but it sure was tempting. Cerise remembered her bliss in the last two events, where she could really show off her athletic prowess. Somehow it was different when she was performing for a competition - instead of gasping in horror when she suddenly sped up to wolf-like speeds, people cheered. Was this the life she had been casting away all these years?
"Cerise."
She looked up from her steak and saw that her father was now looking concerned. He set down his fork, leaned over the table, and clapped both hands on her shoulders.
"Listen to me. Have fun," he said sternly. "It hurts me to see you always hiding yourself, and then to think that it was all my fault. Be happy. Be proud of who you are."
"I am proud," Cerise murmured, eyes downcast.
"Good." Still looking contemplative, Mr. Badwolf nonetheless sat back down and called the waiter for a refill on his drink. Her father wasn't much of a talker; Cerise could tell that this was supposed to be his equivalent to a huge motivational speech. But all it did was make her more confused.
I can't hide forever, Cerise thought as she picked apart the last of her meal. So what should I do?
[Back at Wonderland Grove]
(Huh,) said Kitty, gulping down the rest of her tea and licking her lips. (Me neither.)
RESULT OF THE LAST VOTE (RESEARCH HUNT):
Briar: 21
Cupid: 4
Duchess: 11
Ashlynn: 10
Maddie: 1
Raven: 3
Cedar: 3
Cerise: 1
As I'm sure you've noticed, this is a non-event chapter and there is no voting segment; I guess you could call this a breather chapter to catch up on what everyone's doing. Looking forward, I'll be adding a breather chapter after every 3 events or so. Stay tuned!
other notes: Whew, heavy chapter! Wanted to throw in a plausible reason for Apple getting out the first round (other than, you know, the votes) and flesh out some of the newest additions to the EAH cast. Seriously though guys, thanks for all the supportive reviews - they helped me slowly (see: painfully) wrap up this chapter. Also, there seems to be another pageant fic with a similar name running around? ;D Looks like I have some competition~