"You wanted to see me sir?" asked Dexter as opened the big, mahogany door to Headmaster Grimm's office.
"Yes. Do come in ." Headmaster Grimm was being unusually polite. Dexter slowly walked inside and sat in the chair opposite the headmaster. He made sure to keep his head high and his back straight. If Headmaster Grimm was being formal towards him then it was expected that he would do the same.
"You do understand how Daring will inherit the Charming legacy." Dexter almost laughed out loud. Of course he knew. Daring was the eldest sibling. But he still replied politely.
"Yes, I am aware of this."
"Your father has recently informed me that he would like for you to also have a royal destiny." Explained Headmaster Grimm. Dexter let out a slight groan. Of course no son of King Charming would become a Rebel and choose their own destiny. His destiny would have to be noble and heroic. It was something that he had thought he may have avoided after years of not mentioning it. He supposed that he was now going to be placed with another princess.
"We have decided to give you the destiny of being Duchess Swans prince since she doesn't have one yet." Dexter couldn't hold back a gasp. Duchess Swan! He barley even liked the girl and now he was going to be in her story. Dexter shook his head. He had to keep it together. He didn't overly know Duchess, he just assumed that she was nasty because that's what everyone else said. She was a bit of an outcast and a loner. Remembering that Headmaster Grimm was still present and that he had to give him an answer he responded as politely as he could.
"Alright, I understand." He was trying not to show his disappointment.
"Because of this I want you to get to know each other better. Spend some time with her. It's vital for your story." commanded Headmaster Grimm.
"Yes sir." Dexter half-heartedly agreed. He supposed that it did make sense.
"That is all. You may go." Dexter stood up and left the office, glad to have been dismissed. He was going to have a lot to think about.
Dexter sat on his bed and covered his face with his hands. He had to spend time with Duchess Swan. Didn't this mean that he had to end up marrying Duchess? And what about Raven? Would he ever have a chance with Raven now? No, that's right. How could he forget that Raven was going to marry his brother. He didn't have a chance anyway. He sighed and rolled onto his bed and faced the ceiling. He needed professional help and lying around here wasn't going to help. He got up with a sigh and went to the only person he knew could help.
"So you're telling me that you have to be Duchesses prince?" Cupid asked shocked. Dexter slowly nodded. Cupid burst out laughing.
"Hey it not that funny!" Dexter grunted at Cupid. He hadn't expected a reception like this from such a close friend. This was a serious problem.
"Well, it sorta is. And you really haven't thought this through have you." Cupid had tried to calm herself down as she could see that Dexter was really upset about this. She had to try harder for him. He needed her.
"Thought this through? There is nothing to think through! I have to end up being Duchesses prince and I won't be able to be with Raven. Even if I wasn't going to be part of Swan Lake I still wouldn't have a chance because Raven's going to be taking Apple's place and marrying my brother!" Dexter collapsed into the seat next to Cupid. It had been the first time he had confessed all his worries to someone else and he could see just how much it had been building up inside. It felt a little good to be letting things out.
"Oh Dexter, I had no idea you felt this way." Cupid felt bad for laughing before. She put her arms around Dexter and gave him a hug. "This must be really hard for you to deal with."
"I just don't no what to do." sighed Dexter.
"You know how I said that you hadn't thought this through properly."
"Yeah, so?"
"Well I meant it. Duchess isn't on the Royal rankings and if it stays that way."
"She won't get a happily ever after!" Dexter sat up, his eyes glinted a smile. "So then I won't end up marrying her and then I'm free to do what I want!" Finally, there was some hope that he would be able to get through this. His destiny didn't involve commitment as it currently stood his destiny was his. Somehow, he could hold the Royal tradition and still write his own destiny like a Rebel.
"There is one thing though." Cupid reminded him.
"What?"
"It does mean you'll have to watch Duchess um…die." There was a silence between the two friends as this reality set in.
"Oh yeah. That's gonna be hard." Dexter tried to say something, but how was he supposed to react at news like this.
"I suppose she was going to die anyway though." Dexter felt odd about the situation to say the least. He was happy that in the end he would get to choose his own path but he didn't want Duchess to die. Sure she tried to dob her 'friends' in, but who wouldn't when their life was at stake. It kinda made all her previous actions make sense and he almost felt sorry for the girl. He decided that he had to go see her. It wasn't her fault that she had the destiny that she did and they did need to get to know each other.
Duchess gracefully glided over the pristine water. Dancing helped her forget. Forget how rotten school was, forget how her only friend, Sparrow, was now avoiding her and just forget her story. She felt a light tap on her back that broke her concentration and she let out a loud honk as she missed her step and fell into the water. She looked back to see who had disturbed her and was quite surprised to see Dexter offering his hand.
"What do you want! I can get up myself you know!" Duchess snapped at him. She often had her guard up. Dexter looked taken aback.
"Sorry, it's just because I made you fall and all." Dexter mumbled. She didn't have to be sour. He was starting to think that this was a bad idea.
"Hmf! What do you want anyway?" demanded Duchess, crossing her arms over her chest in a rather defensive manner.
"I thought Headmaster Grimm would have told you. I'm going to be the prince in your story and..."
"Oh yeah. Headmaster Grimm did mention something about that. Why it had to be you out of all people is anyone's guess." She interrupted.
"Well I don't like it any better then you okay!" Dexter snapped back. He saw the look of horror and hurt on Duchess's face and quickly apologised.
"Sorry, I'm just confused that's all."
"Confused about what?" asked Duchess.
"My destiny. Why do we have to do what our parents do. It's just not fair!" He couldn't believe that he was going to have to spend who knows how long with her. It was going to be painful if she continued to act like this.
"Oh well, boohoo. Dexter has to follow his destiny. Even though his destiny doesn't last all his life and he gets to walk away scot-free. Not like some of us!" Duchess talked as if she was talking to a baby before sounding harsh at the end. She was suddenly more aggressive and Dexter realised that he had hit a nerve, not that she really couldn't be blamed for it.
"You're right. You're right. I'm sorry." Dexter apologised and sat down on a nearby bench. "Sit. I want to talk." He commanded and pointed at the seat opposite him. Duchess sighed reluctantly and obeyed. She figure she might as well hear hime out. They were going to be spending more time together.
"Now I know that we might not see eye-to-eye on some things but we hardly even know each other. So let's start again. Good afternoon milady, I'm Dexter Charming son of Prince Charming." Dexter acted extremely formal as he extended his hand to Duchess. She held back a laugh and played along.
"How lovely to meet Sir Charming. Duchess Swan, daughter of The Swan Princess, Odete." Duchess took Dexters hand and they lightly shook.
"What a fine name. Hasn't the weather been particularly splendours these past few days." inquired Dexter. He was surprised that Duchess was actually playing along. He kinda her took her for a no nonsense princess. It was nice to know that she had a fun side.
"Indeed it has." Duchess paused for a moment before bursting out laughing. "I'm sorry. I just couldn't take it anymore. Don't we sound ridiculous whilst trying to act formal?" Dexter grinned. Duchess was more likeable then he thought she would be. Maybe there was something hidden under all that bitterness, she just had to let it out more. They continued to talk for what seemed like hours on end and Dexter found that there might be much more to Duchess then what she was willing to show. He had to talk to Cupid about this because now he had another problem.
"Hey, Cupid. Can I come in?" Dexter knocked on Cupid's dorm door.
"Just a sec!" Cupid's voice rang from behind the door. Dexter could hear the movement of many items, as if someone was scrambling from the bathroom. Cupid opened the door.
"Hey Dex!" she greeted him.
"Hey, do you mind if we talk?" asked Dexter.
"Not at all, come in." Cupid gestured to Dexter to sit on her bed. Dexter walked into the room and sat next to her.
"It's about Duchess." He explained.
"What about Duchess?"
"Well we started talking today and she doesn't seem all that bad. She acted really nice and I found myself enjoying her company."
"Dexter you're not falling in love with her are you?!" Cupid gasped in shock. This couldn't be happening.
"No, no nothing like that. But I do feel like we're becoming friends." Dexter quickly denied. "Cupid, how am I going to watch her die?"
"I don't know Dex? Maybe try not to get to close."
"But she's so lonely. I can't just leave her on her own."
"I don't really know. It's getting late. Tell you what, go to bed now and we'll talk tomorrow. I'm sure that we can figure something out. The year isn't over yet so there is a chance she could still get on the royal rankings."
"Okay. I'll see you tomorrow then and thanks for you're support Cupid. Yore a really great friend." Dexter left for his own dorm and failed to hear Cupid sigh "Yeah, just a friend"
Authors Note: I would like to point out that I am by no means shipping Duchess and Dexter, I'm Rexter all the way! But I don think that Duchess is an underrated character, there's so much we don't know about her. I am aware that Duchess does just turn into a swan forever, but for the sake of the story, I'm going with what would have happened in the original fairytale.