Anonymous requested: Could you do a Darling/Holly fic?
Based off of the part in Holly's diary where Apple gives her a tour of the school.
"And over here is the Grimmnastics Building," said Apple, tone clear and pleasant. She waved her hand at the upcoming doors, which towered high above Holly. Up, up she craned her neck, eyes taking in the iron studs and mural of a fierce warrior until she eventually saw the pair of crossed swords that rested at the very peak.
Apple knocked on the wood in a curious interval when, suddenly, the doors rushed open with a gust of wind. Holly had to grab hold of her hair to stop it from fluttering down the hall behind her.
"Wow!" Holly yelled, voice echoing.
The future Rapunzel peered left and right as the two descended the vast and bright hall. She thought how there was no way she could take in all the sights at once while Apple continued to wave her hand at the next, passing unit. Large, glass windows allowed any passerby to observe the action down below, which Holly gladly did almost every chance she got.
Apple glided down the polished marble floors, barely glancing at the observation windows as she rattled out the names of each sport. Archery. Swordplay. Dragon slaying. Holly's head began to spin just thinking about all of the heroes in her favorite books training here. To think Ever After's own King Charming trained right where she stood!
"Now this would be the jousting arena. We have state of the art equipment, you know? Ever After High won the Realm's Jousting Championship the last three years in a row, as you can see by the twelve-foot ribbons on the wall over—"
The sound of Apple's sweet voice became lost on Holly's ears as she stared down into the jousting arena, her attention grabbed by one jouster in particular. She stood, utterly mesmerized as she watched the armored student collide with another. The end of their lance met with the other student's black chestplate and sent them crashing to the foam mats. The defeated student took a moment before climbing to his feet and removing his helmet. He smiled warmly, wiping the sweat from his forehead with the back of his gloved hand before extending the hand to the victor in congratulations.
Holly stared as the victor dismounted their horse, now able to see their front clearly. They reached up and swept the silver helmet from off their shoulders, releasing a mass of tumbling curls the color of their armor. Or, rather, her armor.
Holly's heart began to race the moment she laid eyes on the girl's face. She gaped as the jouster grasped the hand of her opponent and, judging by the cocky smirk that crossed her face as she leaned in close, teased her opponent in good spirits. There was something about the girl—her gait, her confidence, her masculine charisma, she wasn't sure. All she knew for certain was the new sensation that was blossoming in her heart.
Holly didn't realize her jaw was hanging open until she felt the dryness reach her throat. She quickly closed her mouth and glanced away, blushing. Anxious fingers began to plait a small section of rust-colored hair, a childhood habit she performed whenever she felt flustered. Meanwhile, she was completely unaware of the dainty girl who loomed over her shoulder curiously.
"Do you see something?" Apple asked, peeking around Holly.
"Oh, uh—" she stuttered. "That girl. Who is she?"
"Oh, her. That's Darling Charming, the unofficial jousting champion," Apple said, voice now revealing a hint of distaste. She scrunched her nose, a subtle reaction alongside tasteful mannerisms, as if someone had presented her with something foul. "I wouldn't normally have any issues with a Charming. It's just that she's a Rebel—"
For the second time that day, Holly disregarded Apple's words. Not really on purpose. Rather, that was a kind of side effect when all the world faded away but that one, special person. Now, Holly did love her fairy tales, but she could admit that, for once, all the books in the world couldn't have prepared her for this moment. A moment just like she had imagined, but better. The moment she laid her eyes on her true love.
Darling. Yeah, the name tasted nice on her tongue, Holly thought, unwittingly encouraging the blush that warmed her face.
Holly watched in adoration as Darling removed the smaller pieces of her armor when the jouster abruptly stopped and glanced up at the observation glass. Holly froze, completely struck by Darling's gaze and, oh, her smile. Flustered, she tensed and then bolted. She couldn't have even begun to think about poor Apple, who she left helplessly confused and calling her name down the echoing hall of the grand Grimmnasium.