The ground was getting closer, and closer, and closer, and even if she wouldn't feel a thing it was still terrifying to experiment free fall with the total security that nothing is going to stop you from hitting the floor with all that gravity had to offer.
But gratefully, they were so high in the skies and the hand mirror was light enough in weight (even with all the jewelry and micro-sized technologic components) that the fall took quite a while, giving her time to think a bit about what had failed this time.
Number one, her birdy had turned out to be truly rebellious, and had decidedly improved her powers, but these only showed their true magnitude and potential when she's in emotional distress, a thing that can drain a magic user too quickly and thus making unable to last long in battles.
Still, who'd say her little girl would be able to lock her in again? But there was something with her attitude… Raven was mad, and she knew why but not exactly in its entirety. That rage in her wasn't only because she tried to conquer everything a second time, it was related to Bianca's daughter a Saundra couldn't quite put her finger on it.
The hand mirror she was in flipped a few times due to the air flow against it and for mere milliseconds she could see a dragon similar to Raven's flying above her fast, distracting her for a moment, but soon Saundra went back to her psychological analysis of Raven's behavior.
She remembered acting that way in her high school years, when she was even more impulsive than she was now and had that crush on- oh no. No, no, no. It couldn't be. Her daughter didn't and Bianca's daughter didn't, they didn't.
What had she done?
Saundra's distress went on and on, until the Booking Glass hit the ground, unleashing a wave of restoring magic to clean up her mess.
A sudden, numbing cold feeling settled in the middle of Apple's chest. She didn't have the guts to call it heart, because she was pretty sure it was broken in such microscopic pieces that it wouldn't be recognizable. She didn't want to imagine how Raven's own heart was at this point.
The saddest thing was, she didn't know what she had done so wrong for her greatly beloved Raven to say those words. Apple could see it, feel it, Raven was trying her damnest to hold back tears, screams and whatever else she had inside of her. Fortunately her magical core was still nearly empty, she guessed, so there would be no accidents involving magical outbursts, but that did little to comfort her.
They were still up in the air, checking on the others as a white wave of magic cleansed the land below the land below them and restored everything to how it was before Saundra took over.
Leafless and decayed trees recovered their leaves and vibrant flowers, there was grass and animals returned to their homes, water bodies went back with their usual flow, broken statues returned to their majestic forms and Ever After Castle descended to the ground. The Dragon Games arena was replenished, looking exactly as it was when Snow White revealed her remodelation.
Nevermore planed above the skies for a while longer before finally settling down on the arena. The rest of the dragons and their riders followed suit, keeping a prudent distance from the White-Queen duo.
Apple had dismounted Nevermore slowly and reluctantly, and the purple-haired did the same right after. Snow White's daughter stood there, unable to see Raven in the face while she waited for Braebyrn, who she was sure was a little disoriented after being left riderless suddenly.
"Grawrr rawgh…" Nevermore nuzzled Apple's hair with her snout, ears down. Apple ran a hand in kind and gave Nevermore the smallest of smiles before letting Raven lead the purple reptile to the barns.
Now Apple stood alone, sighing heavily. As if that could free me from any guilt I feel whatsoever, she thought bitterly and redirected her eyes towards the sky.
Little did she know, her blue eyes weren't the only ones to release tears, as a pair of lavender ones joined from the distance, just outside the barn.
HeroWing had barely touched the grass of the arena when Cerise got off and speeded towards Deejay, Just in time to catch Briar who was executing a perfectly timed canon ball. Now scooting her girlfriend Princess style, the hooded brunette once again speeded, this time to the bleachers and sitting the giggling Briar down. The two shared a kiss before returning to business, eyeing Raven and Apple who were parting ways, Raven leading Nevermore to the barn and Apple waiting for Braebyrn to land, apparently.
"This will be chaotic from now on, Reese, and I don't know how I will help to fix it." Briar stated, downcast. She did not foresee things turning out this way. Everybody supposed Daring was Apple's Prince Charming, including their parents and Daring himself. How would Ever After High be from now on?
"I know, Riar, I know. That's not the only thing going on, just look around." Cerise pointed behind her, where Holly and Darling were still on the backs of their dragons without saying a word, not even lifting their faces.
Far away Briar spotted Melody sprinting towards the entrance of the main building and Meeshell coming out just in time to be nearly tackled by the Piper; Hunter scooting Ashlynn before settling the girl down and giving her a quick kiss. Sparrow followed Melody's previous actions and ran towards the main building expecting to find Duchess, and Duchess he found… As a disgruntled swan crashing on his face and sending Robin Hood's son to the ground with a loud thud, a mess of feathers and a goofy grin on his face.
And there was Daring. The blonde boy was closer to a slug than to a Prince Charming, dragging his feet on his way to the dorms with a downcast look and lightly crooked crown over his head, a few strands of his prized hair out of place. He was lost in his thoughts, and not even the insistent tugging of Dexter on his sleeve didn't make the eldest Charming sibling react.
"Hex." Briar cursed when she returned her sight to Apple, whose frame was shaking from what she guessed were sobs. She was about to approach her, but just then Braebyrn landed and of course, Apple's focus shifted to tend to her dragon, but she knew she'd only cry silently while doing it.
This will be tough, she thought.
Darling held HeroWing's reins tightly, making her knuckles white. The Knight had a particularly hard time gathering courage to approach Holly who, last time she checked, was in the same position as herself, still on Prince Of Scales' back.
How would she convince the red-haired Princess that she wasn't in love with Apple and much less thinking of replacing her with for the blonde? How would she? Extremely dark times were approaching and she knew she had to be brave. Brave for the both of them and brave for Apple and Raven, who were mere shadows of themselves now. Darling had seen Raven's somber expression and Apple's forlorn eyes. They were showed the same heartbreak as Holly's.
"That's it." Darling let go of the reins and with a swift move she dismounted HeroWing, landing with elegant dynamism. She instructed the baby-blue reptile to go for a treat for his marvelous work today and hurrying up she trotted to the light fuchsia dragon that was Prince Of Scales.
Holly lifted her eyes and before she could even voice a question or comment Darling raised her arms expectantly, with a pleading look that was mixed with shadows of grieve and odd determination. Together, they made Darling's clear blue eyes look darker, and sorry. It made Holly crumble inside more than she already had.
A few moments passed like this until Rapunzel's daughter finally agreed to be scooted down. Once she loosened her grip on the reins and swung her legs to the side, Darling took a hold of her hips and with the smallest effort the Princess-turned-Knight placed Holly on the ground softly, as if she were her namesake in the most glorious moment of her blossoming.
During those instants something clicked, something only describable as instinct, something rooted deep within the O'Hair and Charming, and so they hugged. Without any request or awkward touch, they hugged. They hugged like their lived depended on it and that was a very possible thing.
"Holly, I… I am not in love with Apple nor much less. I don't plan on leaving you for her, I don't plan on acting on what happened today in regards to her awakening. You have to believe me. You are my everything and all I ever after wanted." Darling only tightened her arms and shut her eyelids harder.
Holly, on her side, was close to tears, "Darling, I know none of this was planned and I know how much I mean to you because you mean the exact same to me. But, don't you realize this goes beyond that? You're technically a Royal now, Darling, and both you and Apple have fulfilled your destinies."
This shocked the Charming for a second. She? A Royal? Well, of course, she woke Apple up and that meant her destiny was other than being the helpless damsel in some tale, and that her desire to become a Knight was actually her going after her destiny, but until today she swore she was being as rebellious as they came, not another Royal. Well, if she wasn't being rebellious then, she would now.
"I don't care. I won't go and marry Apple unhappily for the rest of my existence. I won't. If I was technically being a Royal back until today, then I will be a true Rebel from now on." She paused briefly, and took Holly away to keep her at arms length, "Just look, Holly. Apple doesn't want to marry me, either. All of this had caused an enormous breach to open between her and Raven just as it has between us and I am determined and disposed to fix that. I am not Apple White's True Love and she is not my True Love either. I can assure you."
Holly thought for a minute. Snow White and the Seven Dwarves was the greatest tale in Ever After, hence Queen Snow White. Why would a Charming reject the possibility of ruling the most influential human kingdom and a honorable title such as savior of the Princess and defeater of evil? Because Darling was no ordinary Charming. Darling was the pure essence of what a Charming Prince or Princess should be, Darling was, in fewer words, a true Charming and a true Rebel. They could fight this and live happily ever after, they could so, why the hell not?
And Apple and Raven, her dear friends, they deserved happiness as well and she was sure Raven was fighting all of her demons at once. Apple was met with a load of decisions she didn't think would have to take, and it wasn't fair. Daring too needed some peace because, as much of a self-centered person he was, all of his life expectations and goals have turned to ashes by the hand of his unsuspecting little sister. Besides, what if all of this was a big bad mistake? What if…
"Darling, could it be possible that something went wrong with the kiss?" Holly ushered to ask before she forgot.
"Well, first of all it wasn't a kiss. It was CPR. And… It didn't cross my mind… That's a possibility, yes, but we couldn't know for sure. Raven's mom is in prison again and she was the one to cast the curse." Darling reasoned, a few things coming to light from all of her classes and extra lessons from Raven and Ginger in their Rebel bi-weekly meetings, "But, Briar knows about these spells better than anyone besides Raven and the Evil Queen themselves. We should ask her."
Holly nodded, "Alright. My, I feel so bad for Raven, she must be devastated to the core. I don't blame you or anything but it's just not fair for them, and for us. I swear, if that woman dares to escape again I'll end her myself!"
Holly being aggressive was so uncommon that it took Darling by surprise, but she had been like this ever since they took off of from their hide in the forest. It wasn't the kind of aggressive she was used to from Holly, the kind of aggressiveness that was shown only in the privacy of a closed bedroom, but it was really enticing to witness the flame within the redhead.
"That makes about six of us. Now let's go. We need to solve things out before they get worse, and get our happily ever after. Shall we?" Darling proposed, lowering her hands from Holly's shoulders and taking a few steps forward to offer her hand.
The next Rapunzel gazed intently into the other's eyes, "I love you." Was all she said.
Darling's eyes widened as she dropped her hand and closed the distance between herself and Holly, cupping both of her cheeks and kissing her deeply.
Holly, in response, held Darling's hands against her and kissed her back with equal passion.
Once upon a time their kiss ended, they walked, hand-in-hand, to where Briar and Cerise were talking in animated tones (or gestures, for what she could see from here). Apparently they had observed the beginning of their new, more complicated than ever after chapter together.
With my Princess by my side, I can fly if I want. Darling decided, with a fire in her eyes that wouldn't be put down until she reached her destination.
A/N: I'm so sorry I didn't update sooner, guys. Too many things came at once plus writer's block, and I couldn't update in the time I told you I would. Here's the 4th chapter of "Destiny's Kiss" and I hope you enjoyed it.
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