As Hopper approached Greta and Ingrid's room, his anxiety quickly returned. His jog up the stairs slowed to a stop outside the dorm room, and he knocked gingerly at the door. When no one answered, he sighed. I know she's there, he thought, maybe she's really mad.
"Greta?" No response. "Look, I know you're in there. I saw Blondie on my way up here. I just... I know I said I was sorry yesterday about Blondie's mirror cast, but I didn't say anything about my fight with Ingrid." He took a deep breath and waited for a response. When none came, he continued. "I just want you to know, we made up. Well, sorta. We called a truce, because both of us care about you. We apologized to each other and everything! So now the only thing left to do, is apologize to you." There was a sigh from inside the dorm room.
"The door's not locked." Hopper opened it and walked into the dark room. Even with the lights all turned off, there was still sunlight pouring through the curtained windows and dimly illuminating the room. On a twin bed on the righthand side of the room, 'Greta' was bundled petulantly in thick blankets, a lollipop in her mouth and a worn teddy bear clutched to her chest. Hopper couldn't help smiling lopsidedly at the stuffed toy, which 'Greta' tried to covertly hide under her blankets. Hopper crouched down by the head of her bed so that he was at eye level with her.
"I'm sorry about getting into a fight with your best friend forever-after. I'm sorry I called her names and I'm sorry I upset you."
"I forgive you." Hopper's face lit up with a smile, which 'Greta' returned. "Now, how much time is left for breakfast?"
"I dunno, I think maybe twenty minutes?" She nodded and began untangling herself from what quickly began to look to Hopper like an endless cocoon of blankets. When she finally got out of them, she stood in front of her bed in yellow fleece pajamas decorated with cartoon frogs. Each frog had a wide smile, red cheeks and a little gold crown. Hopper snickered, and 'Greta' looked down at her clothes in embarrassment.
"My dad got me these a year ago, okay? I didn't even know you then," she grumbled. "Now turn around, I have to change." Hopper felt his cheeks fire up and escaped from the room as 'Greta' laughed. When she left her room, she was wearing green striped stockings and fingerless gloves, a green skirt with a black lace edge and a white blouse with the same. She caught Hopper staring and smiled shyly.
"What is it? Do I look okay?" Hopper stuttered and blushed until turning into his amphibious form with a poof!
"You look lovely, my fair friend," he replied as she picked him up and cradled him in the palms of her hands. "I'm pleased you have chosen to continue calling me your friend." She smiled and kissed his cheek.
"I am, too." She grabbed his hand and pulled him down the stairs. "Now let's hurry, before they run out of food!"
When they arrived at the Castleteria, there was still a seemingly endless supply of food. 'Greta' ran immediately for the muffins, and Hopper found his tray of breakfast at the princes' table, still fairly warm. Dexter and Daring smiled up at their friend along with Cupid, who had sat down while Hopper was away.
"So I take it your apology went well?" Cupid had her fingers crossed under the table for the frog prince and Ingrid to have gotten together, even though she knew it would give Daring heart palpitations. Hopper looked fondly over his shoulder at Ingrid as she cried out for the blueberry muffins to 'come to mama'.
"Yeah, it did." Hopper pointedly ignored the wary look Daring gave him as he sat down.
After breakfast, the fairytale students reported to their first period classes. For Ingrid, this was Beast Training and Care. As she sat down at the edge of the Enchanted Forrest with her classmates, she caught several of them stealing quick sidelong glances at her. She shifted in her seat uncomfortably until the teacher called all of their attention.
"Today, we will be merging with the Environmental Magic class and tour the Enchanted Forrest's swamp habitats." There was a collective groan from most of the students. "This will be the first habitat out of several we will be exploring, so I suggest that you all dress for the trek for the next few weeks." In front of Greta, Ashlynn Ella whispered to the boy next to her, Hunter Huntsman.
"I guess it doesn't matter if I'm late or not," she said, "my clothes will still be a wreck by the end of the hour." Hunter leaned in closer.
"You'll still look beautiful either way." Ashlynn giggled, and Ingrid blushed, feeling as if she was intruding.
"After viewing each of the different types of scenery in the forrest, you will split off into groups of four or five and do a group project on the flora and fauna of the area you've chosen." Once the original Poppa Bear finished explaining their assignment to his first period class, they were joined by the first period Environmental Magic class. "You can form groups now if you would like, or wait until you have chosen a habitat to do your project on." Quickly, each fairytale found their friends and formed a group. As Ingrid searched for a familiar face she felt someone tap her on the back. She turned to see Hopper behind her and smiled.
"So, would you mind being my group member," he asked with a shrug.
"Not at all! Now we just have to find two more people... Are either of the Charmings in your Environmental Magic class?" Hopper frowned at that briefly, he had hoped that he was her favorite out of her princely friends, but perhaps he was mistaken.
"Yeah, Daring is, but he's probably in Apple's-" Hopper trailed off as Apple, Briar and Ashlynn walked up. Hopper's stare zeroed in on Briar, which annoyed Ingrid to no end for some reason.
"Hey Greta, would you like to join us?" Ashlynn smiled at Ingrid, who hadn't realized that the green-eyed princess even knew her name. Oh right, she thought, Blondie's video. Even though she took it down, people still saw it.
"Um, can Hopper join too? I've already promised to be his partner." Ingrid grabbed Hopper's arm, making him blush and Apple and Briar look at her strangely. Ashlynn only smiled.
"Um, ew," Briar said, making Hopper droop like a starving plant. The three princesses walked away, their arms linked together. Ingrid turned to the backs of the princesses and, after making sure no one was watching, flipped off Briar's retreating figure.
"Rude." She wrapped her hand around Hopper's arm and squeezed lightly. "C'mon, lets find someone else to be in our group. They'd probably have just made us do all the work anyways." Hopper smiled, his head still down. Regardless, Ingrid saw it as a success. Beside Ingrid, a wide smile materialized, followed by two turquoise cat eyes and a face.
"I'll be in your group," said Kitty Cheshire in her usual sing-song voice. Hopper eyed her warily, but Ingrid smiled.
"Alright, now we just need one or two more," Ingrid looked around the entrance of the Forrest as Kitty continued to materialize.
"How about those two," Kitty asked as she pointed to Daring and Cerise Hood, who stood alone closer to the trees. Ingrid shrugged.
"Let's go ask." She squeezed Hopper's arm again, and the three of them made their way to Daring. "Hey Daring, would you like to join our group?" Daring glanced suspiciously at Ingrid's hand, still holding onto Hopper.
"I'd be happy to, Greta."
"Great, now we just have to ask Cerise." Kitty's smile widened suspiciously, but none of her group members noticed.
"Hey, how come you're not in Apple's group, Daring?" Daring sighed dramatically.
"She's still upset over the...incident."
"What incident?"
"Well, before you got here, Raven Queen ruined Legacy Day by refusing to sign the book," Hopper said lowly. After the initial shock, most students avoided talking about that day.
"But that's not what I mean," Daring said, "Apple's upset with me because I..." The prince trailed off at the end.
"'Because you' what?"
"She's mad because he complemented someone else's Legacy Day dress before hers," Hopper said with amusement. "That's why he's been banished to me and Dex's table." Ingrid snorted.
"Seriously?"
"Hey, that's a big deal for princesses," Hopper exclaimed, on the verge of laughing as he turned back to Daring and said mockingly, "'have all the chivalry classes taught you nothing'?"
"Princesses are weird," Ingrid said, with a strange mixture of amusement and bitterness.
"Yeah," Hopper replied, without noticing her venom. Behind them, Kitty floated over Daring's left shoulder.
"Well, aren't they chummy." Daring's eyes narrowed, but he didn't reply. The group stopped in front of Cerise, who still had no group, because Cedar and her other friends had been commandeered by others.
"Hey, Cerise, would you mind joining our group?" She looked over the curious group, paying extra notice to Kitty and Daring.
"Yeah, alright."
AN: What a weird group... remember, there is ALWAYS a porpoise. :3 Do you see it? Tell me if you think you do with a review!