Chapter 8- Fairies of a feather Flock together

Study hour in the student lounge at Ever After High was a relaxing time for students. This was our downtime. Less of the magical craziness seemed to happen when everyone was chilled out. It was a time to sit together with our books open but chatter with each other about the day past and unwind. I sit alone by one of the windows in the student lounge, with a tray of chamomile tea and charmed lemon biscuits. Being alone doesn't bother me after the terrible week I've had. I'm happy to fade into the background if it means I won't be made a fool of again. And how could I be discontent when I'm sitting in my favourite spot which is warmed by the sunlight and has the most comfortable armchair? On the table in front of me are my herbology textbook and notes. I've just finished working through an exercise where I've sketched and labelled a nettle and described the best way the spin the stinging plant into a green flax yarn. I put great detail and time into the diagram, carefully adding all the little prickles on the nettle leaves.

Princessology is not going well for me, so I have decided to focus on the subjects that I actually enjoy. I mean, why do I even need to take a class like princessology or good kingdom management? I'm going to be a princess no matter what classes I take... as long as everyone signs the Story Book of Legends. I'd rather not ever show my face in princessology after getting a fairy fail for our group performance. There's no way in forever after I can tell my mother I'm failing the class, that according to her, is the most important for fulling my destiny. I'd rather spend time on a subject I am good at. In herbology, I am learning about all the plants in fairy tales and their stories: stinging nettles from The Wild Swans, purple campanula flowers from Rapunzel, pumpkins that grow into carriages, magic beans that sprout into the sky, poison apple trees and magical rose gardens. As well as all the mysterious wildflowers of the enchanted and dark forests. Learning about magical fauna was a welcome distraction from the mirror-net trolls and gossiping fairy tale student body. And I secretly enjoyed learning about botany more than learning how to wear a tiara correctly.

With no more homework to occupy my thoughts, I take out my headphones and mirror-pad (my mirror phone is still broken from smashing it against the wall of my dorm room) from my bag to listen to my favourite classical tunes. As I turn the mirror-pad on a notification flashes for Blondies new mirror-cast, which is now going live. Since my scandal in the castleteria, I have been trying avoiding the bad publicity I've been receiving on the mirror-net. But with not much else to do, curiosity takes over my boredom and I decide to watch. Blondies wide grin and voluminous curls brighten up my screen.

"Hello, fellow fairy tales and welcome back to the latest episode of Just Right!" she announces. Her loud voice booms through my headphones and I hastily turn down the volume.

"As always, I have the latest scoop on what's happening at Ever After High. This week there's been more than one castleteria catastrophe for new student Lily. Let's recap on her very unroyal antics. First, she throws up a frog during Apple's royal recital, rumour has it Faybelle had something to do with that one, and now she rocks up to the castleteria dressed suspiciously like Briar Beauty. Gossip tells it was to get a certain webbed-footed prince's attention..." Unflattering images of me falling backwards in that cursed pink dress are shown. I cringe at how pathetic and desperate I look on screen. Briar is somewhat of a trendsetter, and many fairy tale students replicate her looks. She had singlehandedly started the 'crown-glasses' trend. But for some reason when I tried to follow her style, it was enough to start the biggest copycat scandal. People in the student lounge turn to look at me as they listen to the mirror-cast and I try not to notice as Blondie continues on. "Is this the start of a royal love triangle or could it be Lily is trying to be Briar? One can only hope she hasn't gone full Duchess swan and is trying to force her way into a new happily ever after. Perhaps the slipper does not fit for Lily at Ever After High. Could she be just another wannabe royal?

On to the next bit of gossip! Who is excited about Briar's totally top-secret party this weekend? This reporter will tell all..."

It's not fair. If anyone is a wannabe royal, it's Blondie. Everyone knows she lies about her royal bloodline. But somehow Blondie is the one who gets to judge who is more royal through her mirror cast, making me seem like the biggest royal fraud in Ever After. The whole fairy tale world thinks of Blondie as a huge gossip and a busybody, but we all listen to her with eager ears for the tales and rumours, as if it is all true. And she is the best storyteller in all of Ever After, unfortunately for me. I can't believe people even believe these stupid rumours. But I feel beyond tears now. I feel anger and bitterness towards everyone at this stupid school. My fairy tale bubble has burst at Ever After High. I feel ashamed of myself for feeling such negativity and try to repress my emotions. A princess must always feel kind and pleasant things.

I take a deep breath and reach for my teapot to pour myself a calming cup of tea. Only instead of tea, grey, gloopy frog spawn slides from the spout and drops into my tea cup with a sloppy noise. As I look with perplexity at the clumps of spotty jelly, I hear bursts of snickers and guitar riffs behind me. Sparrowhood and his band of merry men laugh at their prank.

"Could you be more childish?" I respond with disdain. To answer my question, they laugh in triumph upon seeing my furious expression. My cheeks flush red with embarrassment and fury so I turn my head away so they can't see my reaction.

"Just ignore those guys, they get on everyone's nerves," I look up to see Raven Queen approaching me with what seems to be a friendly expression.

"Mind if I sit?" she asks. My only response is to gawk she pulls up a chair next to me and sits down uninvited. Raven is a lot taller than me and, although she slouches, her tall frame feels imposing, especially with her long purple-streaked hair, dark eyes and decadent lacey dress. She is drop-dead beautiful but that only makes her more intimidating. As the next Evil Queen, I have heard of her villainous reputation, just like her wicked mother. A shiver of fear runs through me, and I am too scared to meet the witches' eyes.

"Hey Lily, I know we haven't talked before, but I wanted to see how you were doing?" she asks with a friendliness that I find hard to trust. "It's just that I've seen what everyone has been saying on the mirror-net and I know what it's like to be an outsider and for people to get the wrong impression of who you really are. If you ever want someone to talk to I'm happy to listen. I'm sorry all this has happened." Raven says sympathetically.

I feel confused as to why someone so evil is trying to be nice to me. I don't trust her kindness. Her evil destiny scares me. Who knows what evil I try to put as much distance between us as possible in case she tries to hurt me. What's more, I don't just feel fear towards Raven, I feel anger. My hands clench into fists as I stare at the table in silent rage.

"None of this would have happened if you had just signed that stupid book," I say coolly with icy calmness. "I would still be at home, in the kingdom that I love, and happy. I don't need your pity. Because of you, I might not get my happily ever after. I'm under so much pressure from my family to become a perfect princess and secure my kingdom's future, all because you didn't sign. You could never understand. I'm sure your real intention in talking to me is to cast a hex on me like Faybelle did."

"I wouldn't do that! I just mean to say that you don't have to feel alone, and you can choose how you want to follow your own destiny. I was just trying to help." Raven looks hurt at my remarks.

"Well, I don't need help from a rebel like you." I gather up my books into my bag to leave, not wanting to stay in her evil presence any longer.

"Wait—" Raven says reaching out her hand. I recoil in horror with the fear that she might be putting a curse on me and take some steps back away from her. Raven looks at me with sadness in her eyes. For a brief moment, I feel bad for judging her so harshly.

"I have to go," I say quickly and run out of the room.

My quiet afternoon has officially been ruined. Needing some fresh air, I make my way to the courtyard outside the front of the school. I had acquired some plant pots which I had hidden around the side of the school in which I am attempting to grow some magic pumpkins. As I step outside, I take a moment to enjoy the honeyed sunlight of the afternoon and feel a delicate breeze on my skin. I head around the corner of one of the castle walls to where I hid my pumpkins so no one will notice. The pumpkins had begun to outgrow my window ledge, so I took them out here. My mother wouldn't approve of my gardening activities as such muddy activities are unfitting of a princess from my fairy tale. When I was little, I used to get scolded constantly for getting my white gloves dirty. So, my gardening is a secret. My pumpkins are now the size of a football with curly stems and a magnificent burnt orange colouring. Taking my water bottle out of my bag, I kneel down to give each pumpkin a generous drink, soaking the soil. I look at them proudly, admiring my work.

Outside the castle, many students are enjoying their free time, sitting on the benches and walking arm-in-arm around the grounds. It is a peaceful atmosphere. Peering around the corner, I watch them go by. If only being a student at Ever After High was as idyllic as it seems from the outside. I spot the back of Myrtle's head, she's not hard to miss as she stands out to me with her familiar nymph green hair and skin. Smiling, I'm about to run over to my friend, when I see she is standing with non-other than Faybelle Thorn. To my shock, they are both wearing hex-squad uniforms. Instantly, my stomach drops as I watch my best friend smile and chat with the fairy that hexed me. Too scared for Faybelle to see me, I crouch behind my corner and watch on feeling betrayed as they take a selfie together. How could Myrtle look so happy with a fairy who put a frog in my throat? Faybelle waves goodbye and finally flies away. Now that the coast is clear I emerge from my hiding place and walk towards Myrtle.

"Hi Lily," she greets me as I approach her. She smiles at me as if nothing is the matter. "What's happening?"

"Why were you talking to Faybelle?" I ask crossly, folding my arms in a huff.

"What do you mean?" she replies innocently.

"I just saw you too looking all buddy-buddy taking a selfie together. And why are you wearing a hex squad uniform?" I say accusingly. But Myrtle's eyes light up excitedly in response.

"It's such a hexciting story Lily, you'd never guess what happened yesterday! After you left yesterday the castleteria yesterday to change, Faybelle complimented me on my use of nature magic to tie up Duchess and Sparrow. We got to talking all about magic and curses. It was nice to talk to someone who also enjoys magic, we actually have a lot in common. You look just as surprised as I was!"

"How could you have anyone in common with the daughter of the dark fairy? You know she hexed me in front of the entire school!"

"Faybelle's' not as bad as she seems, she's just playing her part as the daughter of the next dark fairy, as a royal, I'm sure you understand. She even asked me to try out for the hex squad! It was so good to spend time with other magical beings," she squeals in excitement. I feel jealous that Myrtle is having a good time with new friends when I am having a hard time fitting in. It's even worse that she is spending time with Faybelle.

"No, I don't understand," I say saltily, "why would you want to be friends with someone who hexed me? You can't even join the hex squad, it's for fairies, and you're a water nymph. The last time I checked you don't have wings!" her smile fades at my angry remark.

"Well, Faybelle says they are looking to expand their routine to include some water features."

I scoff, "that's the stupidest thing I've heard. And besides, you can't be friends with Faybelle. She hexed me so she can't be trusted."

"I don't need you to tell me who I can and can't be friends with. And Faybelle even encouraged me to branch and take Hexology and History of Evil Spells. I figured since I don't have a destiny, I can take whatever classes I want."

My temper rises as I feel more betrayed by my supposed best friend. It feels like she doesn't have any regard for my feelings when thought about taking villainous classes and trying out for the hex squad. It feels truer than ever that although I have a destiny, Myrtle does not. I always assumed that she would work as my maid and companion forever, but now, I'm scared that we might walk down different paths and I will lose her.

"You can't take those classes! You work for me and you have to do as I say, and I say that you can't be friends with an evil villain!" I stamp my foot.

"You are acting like a spoiled princess. You are just as much to blame for being hexed. You were the one that wanted to cheat the royals into thinking you were a good singer. You wanted to deceive them so badly that I bet you happily accepted Faybelle's tricks. I'm glad I'm not a royal like you. At least Faybelle owns up to her actions."

"Well, at least I have a destiny. You wouldn't even be here if it wasn't for me, your just a common Nymph!" I spit out without thinking. I'm suddenly overcome with the dread that I really am becoming the spoiled princess from my destined fairy tale. I hate what I'm saying, but I feel so angry and betrayed that I can't stop. Poisonous words flow from my lips without much effort and I feel I'm losing my sense of self.

"I'm glad I don't have destiny so I don't end up a spoiled brat like you," snaps Myrtle infuriated. "And it's your mother that employs me, not you. She's the one that sent me here so I could report back to her—" she abruptly stops mid-sentence, as she realises, she said too much. A loud silence occurs between us.

"Report what?" I ask confused. She looks away guiltily and bites her lip. "Report what to my mother?" I persist.

"Your mom requested that I report back to her your performance here at Ever After High. She didn't trust you to tell her how you've been doing and she wants to make sure you are following your destiny how she expects," she confesses. I'm shocked that Myrtle would be more loyal to my mother than she was to me.

"You've told her everything?" I ask my voice quivering with hurt, "you promised me you wouldn't tell her." I feel so embarrassed that my mom knows all about my froggy disaster, my failure of a date with Hopper and my wardrobe failure yesterday. They were supposed to be kept secret from her. Forever. I can feel her disappointment all the way from the frog kingdom. But I'm more hurt that Myrtle would betray my trust.

"I didn't want to go behind your back and tell her, but I had to since that is why she sent me here with you, and I really wanted to be able to attend Ever After High. None of my sister nymphs have ever gone to school before, let alone left our pond, and I wanted to be the first. I hope you understand."

Although I could understand her excitement at attending Ever After High, I had it too, her betrayal hurt me too much for me to forgive her. For a long time, Myrtle had been the only friend I needed, but was our friendship a lie? Did she see our relationship as part of her job? Tears slip from my eyes. I try to hold them back as I thought I was over crying.

"Please Lily," she pleads, "You are still my dearest friend and I never wanted to deceive you. Why don't pretend we didn't say these things and apologise?"

But I can't pretend I didn't just say cruel things to someone I considered my best friend, and I can't forget Myrtle's devastating confession. I don't see how I can trust her with my true self when she is obligated to tell everything to my mother.

Believing we cannot be friends anymore; I wipe my tears and walk away.

***Tbc***