SO I WANTED TO HAVE A CHAPTER WHERE I FOCUS ON SOME OF THE PARENTS AND HOW THEY ARE COPING WITH THINGS IN THEIR TIME, I FELT LIKE I SHOULD EXPLORE MORE ON THAT AND I HOPE YOU ALL ENJOY!

Spotlight On The PAST

"Noir, you need to calm down," Odilina.

"Calm down, you want me to CALM DOWN!" Noir screamed. "I just can't, those newbies have been on my mind since the moment they arrived, I know they are hiding something from the school."

"Don't you think you are getting a little obsessed?"

"I am not, and I thought as my room-mate, you would understand, it's my destiny to be evil and-"

"But they haven't even done a thing, it hasn't even been a week since they arrived and your wings are already twisted."

Noir could sense that those tales weren't telling the truth, in face Odilina was right, she was a bit obsessed, maybe it was the stress of Legacy Day looming over her that was making her this edgy, maybe she wanted to occupy herself so she didn't think about signing. She had to admit, she was scared, who wouldn't, she was already cursed with not getting invited to anything and after the signing, it would be official, forever!

"I need some time to think," Noir finally said. "Catch you later?"

"Okay, but don't be long, curfew is soon."

"I wouldn't."

Noir flew into the night sky and searched around, she was looking for Evie's room.

"Bingo," she said when she noticed some dark purple magic erupting from a window, she flew to the balcony and knocked at the door.

"Who is it? And why couldn't you use the front door?" Evie asked.

"Evie, it's me, Noir."

"Oh Noir, come in, it's open."

Noir stepped in and she gasped, in the corner was a stunning purple and black gown with silver accents and a huge silver crown. "Oh my curses, is that the dress you're wearing for Legacy Day?"

"Yeah, and I am making another one for Raven, she has been such a good friend I wanted to give her a gift, what do you think of this?" Evie pointed at the other side and there was a midnight black gown with purple accents and a feathery cape, along with a crown with spikes.

"That is gorgeous," Noir said and then she shook her head. "That's not why I'm here, I just wanted someone who understands my case to talk to."

"Your case?"

"About Legacy Day, I feel really scared about not signing."

"I feel the same way, but you have to realise that it is for the greater good."

"That's the problem, I don't do good, I'm evil, daughter of the Dark Fairy, hello, good cramps my style."

"But your story allows you to be evil, I mean you curse a princess to have a century long sleep," Evie said.

"Yeah, but I don't let her prick her finger on the spindle wheel, that's my future daughter's job, I only curse and that's it."

"But that is the catalyst, without you, the whole Sleeping Beauty story would be hextremely boring, I mean think about it, she is born, finds her prince, the end?"

Noir smiled, "You are right, then why don't you like your story?"

"I do, I just don't like being evil, that's all, I will sign the book and take up my mother's role as many have before her, but that doesn't mean I will enjoy the things I do."

"Evie, why did we stop being friends?"

"You tell me, one day we were close friends, the next we were strangers."

"It was all because of that party, when you forgot. I thought that I could never really have a friend if they were cursed to forget about me during their memorable times."

Evie held Noir's hand and brought her closer, "Noir, you were always my friend and as I told you by the lake, I was only a child."

"I know, I acted so quickly, I'm sorry Evie, can you forgive me for being such a bad friend and kicking our friendship out the door?" Noir said, tears already dripping from her eyes.

"I can, if you can accept that if I don't invite you to something, it's not because I don't want to but because of your curse."

"Deal. So I'll catch you later?" Noir said.

"Yeah catch you later."

"Also don't tell a soul you saw me cry, I've got a rep to uphold," she smiled.

"Of course, cry baby," Evie teased.

They both laughed at the joke, and with that the future Dark Fairy flew out of the room, Legacy Day was now no pressure, she had finally got her friend back after so many years, and it felt great.

"Lupus, where are you taking me?" Ruby asked as she was led by her secret boyfriend through the woods.

"Somewhere special," Lupus replied.

"Are we in the Enchanted Forest for an evening picnic?" Ruby asked.

Lupus sighed and removed his hands from her eyes.

Ruby turned to him, "I'm so sorry, I ruined the surprise, didn't I?"

"When did I become so predictable?" Lupus asked rhetorically.

"You aren't predictable...even if you are, I still love you," Ruby smiled and gave Lupus a kiss on the lips.

"You know the right thing to say."

"Duh, daughter of Red Riding Hood, know what to do and when to do it."

"Really, is that part?"

"Nope, just messing with you."

"That's my cute rascal," Lupus smiled and picked her up.

"Taking swooping the girl off her feet a tad literally."

Once they reached the picnic in the clearing, Ruby gasped, "Oh my hood, Lupus, all this? For me? I thought it would be some burgers or something, you went all out."

"So I did surprise you?"

Ruby kissed him, "More than you could imagine."

The pair had a full meal, from starters to desserts, Lupus had planned everything to perfection.

"That was the best meal I have had since forever," Ruby said.

"Really? I made everything myself."

Ruby gasped, "Lupus, you didn't! It was amazing."

"Anything for you Reddy."

"Oh Lulu," Ruby teased.

Lupus put on the baby wolf face and Ruby couldn't stop herself from pulling at his cheeks, "You are just too cute, I could eat you up."

"Ruby, look up, what do you see?"

Ruby's eyes followed Lupus's finger,"I see stars, like diamonds in a pile of black coals."

"Look at those particular stars to the right, what do you see?"

Ruby looked closely, "I see two people holding hands, it looks like they are married, the female looks like she's wearing a dress."

When Ruby looked back at Lupus, he was on one knee with a ring in his finger.

"Oh my-"

"Ruby Hood, I love you so much, to the end of time even beyond that, so will you make me the happiest guy by marrying me?"

"I will," Ruby said simply. "But not now, our stories, we need to finish that before."

"Okay, I will wait for as long as you want me to."

"I love you Lulu."

"And I love you too Reddy."

And with a kiss, they watched a shooting star and both made the same wish, for them to live happily ever after.

Ashley was making it back to her room, if she didn't make it there on time before curfew her stunning clothes would melt into filthy rags.

"Yeah, Snowanna, so then that guy, remember him, the Sparrow guy, he came-"

"Ashley? Can we talk," came a voice which she immediately recognised.

"Snow, I'll talk to you later, it's Hopper."

She turned to the buff pro-wrestling addict behind her with red hair and freckles," What do you want Hopper?"

"I just want to talk, after the party, I realised that you still loved me, I mean you came to the forest to look for me, " Hopper said.

"Yeah because I said something nasty to you, I'm not a mean girl and I wanted to clear the air, Hopper you need to accept that it is over, I mean Legacy Day is just around the corner along with my prince, we can't do this anymore."

"What if I'm your prince?" Hopper asked.

Ashley looked at him, "Really, so you think that the Frog Prince is the prince that Cinderella meets at the ball, okay tell me this, who is the princess that frees the prince from his frog spell, was that Cinderella? If it was then why does Cindy pretend not to know him when he's human."

"Okay I get it."

"No, you don't. I like you Hopper, I can't lie about that, but my destiny is far more important, I can't let my parents down, not even for you and you can't do the same to your parents, think about what they would say."

"But you are a princess, they would be alright with that."

"But I'm the wrong princess, Hopper, understand we were never meant to be and I hope that you will realise that sooner than later, I don't want your life to suck because of this."

Hopper grabbed her hand, "But you are the love of my life."

"That's what every teenager says in high school, fast forward ten years later, they are with some other chick or dude," Ashley was trying to make this easier for herself, to show that Hopper would be like the normal guys her mum had told her about.

"But you're different, a girl like you is one in a billion."

"So there are more like me, since the world of Ever After has at least six billion, if you exclude lands like Wonderland and Neverland."

"See? You are so clever, name another girl who would have said that?"

"Snowanna, Ruby-"

Hopper stopped her with a kiss which surprised her, she almost gave in but then she came back to her senses.

"Hopper, what the hex! We are over! Nothing can change that, just leave me alone and carry on with your life!"

Ashley gave him a slap and run to her room, Hopper stood there, staring at the love of his life leave and he started to cry.

"I've lost her forever."

Once Ashley was in her room, the tears that had been begging to come, flowed from her eyes, she had lost him, but that was good, now they could both take on their destinies.

"But I love him," Ashley said to herself. "I love him so much."

But she knew she had to let him go.

Hans practiced his sword skills yet again, it was as if he couldn't get it right, he had practiced since he got back to his room.

"I give up," he said as he dropped the sword, there was no way he could do it, he was no prince, just some common huntsman.

Nothing special about him, nothing at all, except that every tale in school knew him as a bully and a dumb kid, but he wasn't dumb, in fact Hans was a dark horse, always scored at least an A in all his work, obviously he kept it from everyone except his roommate.

Just then Pine came in, his wooden face had pain craved into it.

"Hey, what's up, Pine?" Hans asked.

Even though he 'bullied' Pine in public, they were great friends when they were in the privacy of their room.

"Nothing, just this girl."

"A girl, a girl has you like this, who is she?"

"That new girl, Cedar."

"The wooden girl?"

"Yeah her, I asked her out to the Legacy Day Dance and she said no, she said she only liked me as a friend."

"That had to hurt."

"It sure did, I thought there was a connection between me and her, like she knew me and maybe I knew her too."

"Dude, don't sweat it, you could go to the dance with me and the guys, show her that you are over her."

"But I'm not."

"Well just pretend."

"Are you sure?"

"Of course, once a chick thinks you aren't interested anymore, that's when they start getting interested, works all the time with me," Hans smiled.

"Really?"

"Yeah, trust me bro, aren't we friends."

"A strong word there."
"Okay indoor friends."

Hans grabbed Pine and gave him a noggie.

"Hey stop!"

"Not until you agree with my plan."

"Okay, okay, okay!"

"There, that wasn't so hard. Trust me, that girl is gonna be eating off the palm of your hand."

Pine looked at the sword close to the practicing dummy, "Do you need help with that? I could help."

"Nah, I'm-actually if you could help that would be awesome."

Pine and Hans started their own sword fighting lesson and for the first time, Hans felt as if he was actually capable of something worthy in his life: helping, just like a true Huntsman was meant to do.

Snowanna dropped her phone, she had been talking to one of her best friends, Ashley, but she had to deal with her ex, Hopper who wasn't even part of her story.

Snowanna sometimes wondered why some tales decided to do that, date out of their stories, maybe to get a taste of something that was not pre-written? Whatever it was Snowanna had wanted nothing to do with it all, she had a kingdom to rule in the near future, in fact a queendom.

She remembered the talk she had with Evie, she had really opened up to her, about her fears and her hopes. Legacy Day was soon and when she signed the book, she would know that she would make a good Queen, but was signing the book and re-living someone else's life the way to make her a good Queen, maybe not, but it was the only way. It wasn't as if she could change her destiny-

Snowanna gasped, why on earth would she think of that, changing her destiny? That was so unlike her to think those thoughts, but she had doubts, like every teenager, who was her prince and could she really love someone she would see for real when he kissed her, her many greats grandmother had done that, but could she?

A knock on her door drew her back to the real world.

"Who is it?"

"It's Rosetta Beauty," replied the voice.

"Oh Rosetta," Snowanna said and opened the door.

The Sleeping Beauty was standing in front of her with a half-hearted smile, Snowanna still couldn't believe this girl was more than a century old, well most of that was spent sleeping but still.

"Is everything alright?" Snowanna asked.

"Not really, I just wanted some help, my room-mate wasn't in so I thought I would find someone else and I happened to knock on your door, ummm..."

"Snowanna, the name is Snowanna, and let me say it's a pleasure to meet you."

"Are you by any chance a White?" Rosetta asked.

"Yes."

"I knew your grandmother, Blanche White, she was my best friend."

"So you were the girl Grandma always talked about, the beauty in her sleep, now I get it."

"How is she?"

"She's fine, she talks about your adventures all the time."

"Really, does she now, how I would love to see her."

"Maybe after Legacy Day when we get to go home for some days, you could come with me to see her?"

"I would love that Snow."

"So how are you coping?"

"Not great if I may say, literally when some square device started making noise it scared the thorns out of me."

"You mean a mobile phone?"

"Yeah that's what my room-mate called it."

"Do you want to come inside and talk?"

"I would like that."

Once Rosetta was in, she detected something, "Is something bothering you?"

"What? What do you mean?"

"I mean I can sense your sorrow, I sensed it when you came out and now it is really intense. Being cursed increased my detection of emotions around me."

Snowanna sighed, "I have been feeling a little bit down, Legacy Day is just around the corner and I am really scared, in fact terrified."

"Why? Aren't you destined to be Queen?"

"Yes, but it isn't only about being Queen, it is about my life after my story, my love life, everything."

Rosetta sat on an armchair, "You know, those were the exact same things in my head when I signed the book, I wondered what life would be and how I would cope in a world I didn't know and also how I would love a person I would see after a kiss."

"I have been thinking the same, so how is it? Do you like him, Hector that is?"

"He is alright, nice personality, but you can't just fall in love like that, it has barely been two days."

"I understand, and don't worry Rosetta, I will help you through this, let's just say you can confide in me."

"Really? Thank you."

And with that, the two had become friends overnight, talking about destiny and its perks and troubles.

Marigold Lockes stared at computer in front of her, she was literally having writer's block. How was she going to cope with that? She had to hurry, curfew was soon and if she broke it again, she could be in lots of trouble with Headmaster Grimm.

"Okay, Mari, relax, let the ideas flow into your mind, it's only the school's paper, yeah the paper article due before Legacy Day. Think, think, think!"

But nothing came into her mind, what could she say about Legacy Day that hadn't been said before, something that would hit the readers hard, something...well just right.

"Hey Mari," Jaq said.

"Oh hey Jaq, didn't even realise you were there," Marigold smiled. "So what brings you to the Lifairy this late?"

"You know me, always reading books," Jaq said.

"Don't lie to me, every tale knows you are obsessed with your video games."

"Mari, I'm hurt, I can't believe you would think like that," Jaq said and he twisted his face in sorrow and then gave her puppy dog eyes.

"Please, you are my best friend, I know you better than you know yourself."

"Okay maybe you do, but what's my favourite colour?"

"Are we going through this, really?"

"Well."

"Everyone thinks it's green but it's actually brown, ebony brown to be exact. Now your turn, my favourite colour?"

"Obvious, it's baby blue."

"Well, I guess you know me too."

"Never doubt that Mari. So what are you up to?"

"You know, thinking of an article for the preparations of Legacy Day before Legacy Day, I need it by tomorrow morning and I have nothing, not even a paragraph."

"That's because you are over-thinking, imagine, how are you going to feel on Legacy Day?"

"Well, I'm going to feel relieved that it is finally here, I will feel scared because I am going to sign, a lot of emotions will be passing through my head. Anticipation, fear, joy, sadness, relief, almost any feeling you can think of."

"Well, now you have an article, your feelings are probably the feelings of most of the student body, I know I have those feeling, write this as one of them, not a journalist but as a reader, get it?" Jaq asked.

"Yeah, write with a passion that I as a reader will find interesting, I know what to do now, Jaq you are the best."

Marigold hugged him so tight that he thought his head would come off.

"Sorry, thanks, want to sit with me until I finish, we have some time before curfew."

"I would love that Mari," Jaq smiled.

They sat by each other in the Lifairy, with Jaq helping Marigold until she reached the last word in her article.

Amor stared at the ceiling, she had been staring at it for quite a while.

"Are you alright? Ever since you came back with that pink haired girl you have been acting weird," said Odet Swan, the daughter of the Swan Queen.

"Oh nothing, it's not because of her, it's just that can you actually believe Legacy Day is close at hand."

"Don't remind me, my destiny isn't exactly the perfect thing," Odet said.

"Sorry, I completely forget, I'm so-"

"It's alright, Amor, what can I do anyways, it's my destiny," Odet sighed. "You know how lucky you are?"

"Me, lucky? How?"

"Because you don't know your story."

"That makes me unlucky, Odet, not knowing means I can't prepare and I will only find out when I am about to sign," Amor replied.

"Now that you put it that way, it's not that lucky. But it is better than mine, my story ends with a Never After and I'm not even the bad guy in my tale. Sometimes I wonder if I should even sign-"

"Oh my godmother, Odet, you can't be thinking like that! I mean, not signing? That has never happened before, you could cease to exist."

"But if it has never happened before how do we even know people will go poof if they don't sign."

"Is that really a risk you want to take? I mean I know your ending isn't a Happily Ever After, but would you actually put the people in your story in danger because of that?"

"I don't know-"

"Your answer is I don't know? It's meant to be a no, Odet, you are my friend, but you can't be selfish, I know we didn't choose to be born to our parents but we have to accept their destinies."

"But I don't want to, I lost my mum to this stupid destiny, and she lost hers, I'm not only thinking about myself but my children in the future, they would have to suffer like me and that's unbearable."

Amor flew to Odet's side and gave her a warm hug, the tears from the swan girl's eyes sparkled and shined and Amor wondered would she have the same thoughts as Odet if she were in her place?

Amoree Lancaster was making her way back to her dorm, curfew was right around the corner and if she missed it, she would be in serious trouble, she couldn't have that, she was a princess and princesses never ever got into trouble. She was passing by the Computer Lab when she heard a familiar voice, it was Dashing Charming.

She peered through the opening to see what he was doing, she knew it was not princess-like but she was just interested, Dashing was just a dream boat!

"Okay, how do I ask her? She's not even in my story, okay, calm down Dashing." the blonde prince was saying to himself.

Amoree could have stared at him all night, with his twinkling blue eyes and his pearl-white teeth, he was a dream come true for any princess even though he was a little bit clumsy, but who cared.

Deep down in her heart, Amoree wished that whoever her prince was it was someone like Dashing, or better yet Dashing himself, he too didn't know his story and he could be the True Love in her tale, if only that were true, but the chance of that was pretty slim.

"Okay, so I'll just walk to her and say Evie, would you like to go to the Legacy Day Dance with me?"

Evie! Dashing liked Evie! Amoree's heart suddenly shattered into a thousand pieces, why wouldn't it be Evie, she was destined to be the second most fairest, after Snowanna, Amoree knew she couldn't top that, but it hurt in a way, to know that Dashing didn't have any feelings for her.

She had put too much of her weight onto the door and it flew open, knocking her to the ground and drawing Dashing's attention.

"Umm..."

"It's Amoree," she sighed, he didn't even know who she was.

"I knew that," he said which made her smile. "What are you doing here?"

"Oh I was just heading back to my dorm and I thought I could look over my Kingdom Management paper and the door just knocked me down, some villain must have cursed it."

"Are you sure? I could take you to the infirmary."

"No it's alright. I heard your talking to yourself."

Dashing blushed, "Oh you heard that?"

"Yeah, so you want to ask Evie out to the Dance?"

"Yeah, but I don't think I have that much confidence to do so, I mean I could say we could just go as friends or something?"

Amoree wasn't like most princesses, instead of trying to ruin Dashing's chance, she was willing to help, even if she wasn't the girl he was going to take to the dance.

"You know what, why don't you make it subtle, ask her out like when you guys are talking about something else, like a movie?"

"That's an idea, I really hope that works Amoree."

"Yeah me too, I really hope it does," she sighed.

Before Dashing left he kissed her on the forehead and she gasped and smiled, "If we can't be a couple, at least we can be friends."