fanfictioner25 on tumblr asked: Poison Apple! Word: Firsts. Pretty please and thanks!
thegreatstorycollector on tumblr asked: What about Rapple and ice cream?
Anonymous asked: Apple's first time baking apple pie - Rapple
The delectable scent of pancakes met Raven's nose as she entered the kitchen. She let the sweet smell guide her fuzzy slippers to a seat at the table, where she collapsed. The drowsy princess leaned her cheek against her knuckles, watching through tired eyes as Apple stood at the stove in a ruffled apron.
Apple stared at the stove's many dials with extraordinary concentration and perplexity for a time before she noticed Raven's presence. "Raven!" she said cheerfully, flinging a spoonful of batter across the room. "I'm ever so glad you're here. You almost slept through my breakfast, silly."
Raven mustered up the energy for a polite smile. "Sorry, Apple, you know how it is in the morning."
The blonde giggled and swept a stray curl into place. "I know mornings are the most beautiful time of day. I'd never sleep through a single one because then I'd miss the birds singing and all that wonderful sunshine…"
Raven laughed quietly to herself. Apple was pretty much always this vibrant, but there was something about mornings that made her typical energy radiant. As Raven was admiring Apple's childlike smile and beginning to tune out her chatter, her eyes lingered past the princess to the stove.
Raven jumped up from her seat in alarm. "Apple, smoke!"
"What? Oh dear!" Apple leapt over to the food and slid the pan from the stove. She grabbed a nearby towel and began waving it at the heavy layer of smoke now clouding the small kitchen. "Well, I think the food is ready," she said lightly, casting a smile over her shoulder.
Raven eyed Apple curiously. Never in all the time she had known Apple had the perfectionistic queen-to-be downplayed a mistake, let alone made one. She carefully watched as Apple flitted around the kitchen for a while, moving plates and fetching silverware.
"Here it is!" Apple announced at last. "It's my first time cooking breakfast, so I hope it's excellent."
"First time?" Raven repeated fearfully as Apple set the plate of burnt food in front of her. She hesitantly looked up to find Apple bouncing on her heels, hands folded behind her back and eager smile on her face.
Raven returned an awkward, toothy smile. "Oh. Sure, right, here I go." She cut the edge of the pancake with a sharp crunch and fought a grimace as she put the food in her mouth. "Hm… Yum," she said with watering eyes.
"Really? Oh, that's spelltacular," Apple cheered with a perky bounce. "You know, I'm hungry too. Maybe I'll grab a plate and—"
"No!" Raven yelled, much quicker and louder than she thought.
Raven caught the instant Apple's façade flickered. Past the smile and the rosy blush, she saw how hurt her friend truly was. And then it occurred to her. Apple invited her to breakfast as an excuse to test her cooking skills. Raven didn't know how she didn't see it before. Cooking was an important part of Apple's story and, if something was important to her story, it was important to her. On top of that, she knew Apple expected to be perfect at it on her first try and she would accept no less.
"I mean…" Raven started slowly, "I thought we could have a day in Book End, you and me. We could get breakfast at your favorite little place, on me." She hopped up from her seat and laced her arm through Apple's, guiding her toward the door. "You know what? It could all be on me. Whatever you want in Book End, I'll buy it. Let's go now."
Apple beamed, her smile lovelier than ever. "Oh, Raven, that sounds perfect. What about Ginger's kitchen though? She let us use it. Shouldn't we clean up?"
"Oh no! We should go now. I'll ask Maddie to clean. I know I can win her over if I promise to bring back a gift for her, maybe that giant, maple tea chest she's been ogling," she added swiftly. "This was great, really. And, you know, it reminded me. I've always wanted to learn how to cook. You know Ginger offered to teach me the other day? I'll probably go, and you could come too!" she said, as if the suggestion was mentioned by happenstance.
Apple stopped in the doorway as it suddenly became clear to her that Raven knew. Rather than being upset, however, she calmly looked into the other girl's violet eyes. "That'd be charming," she said quietly and placed a kiss on Raven's cheek.
Raven lingered, shocked, as Apple quickly went skipping off into the hall.
"Are you coming?" Apple called excitedly.
Raven smiled, a newfound feeling warming her from head to toe, starting with her cheek. "Yeah. I'm coming."