Darling barely made it to Princessology class on time and was immediately scolded for almost being late for the third time in a row.

"I'm very sorry- other side of school." Her breath heaved as she talked. "Got caught up in a traffic jam…chased by boys wanting marriage… just need to…catch breath."

Realizing that she was getting nowhere, she reluctantly flipped her hair, and time froze around anyone who was looking at her. She had been taught to only use her unique power for emergency situations, but each day it became harder to not take advantage of such a practical ability. Now that she was finally allowed to take Hero training with Professor Knight, she was able to see a future as a Knight in shiny armour like her brothers. Unfortunately, her classes were on opposite sides of the school.

Her hair fell to her sides and time returned to normal. Regaining her composure, she stood up straight.

"Ahem! My apologies Her Majesty the Queen, I will do my best to be more punctual."

The White Queen gave her a stern look before waving her off with a sigh. They never really saw eye to eye on most things, but Darling respected her as an educator… most of the time.

She quickly took a seat next to Rosabella Beauty, who was scribbling designs for her next protest in the notebook where her Princessology notes were supposed to be. She looked like she was about to leap out of her seat when she saw Darling.

"Darling! There you are, I've been looking everywhere for you!" She whispered as loud as she possibly could. "Daring told me that Dexter met up with Raven in the library. I can't believe she came back early!"

Darling nodded solemnly. She already knew all of this, she was in the same class as her brothers after all, but it still didn't feel real.

"Still no word from Apple huh?"

Darling shook her head.

Rosabella's expression softened as she spoke. "Oh hun I'm sorry, I really hoped that you would get to see her today, but I'm sure she just needs more time. This must be extra hard on her, I know how hexcited she was about her story."

Darling felt her face stiffen as she tried her best not to cry. Listening to Dexter's reunion with Raven had given her false hope that she would get to see her girlfriend again after nothing but radio silence, but she still had no idea what was going on.

Frustrated, she tried to focus on the lecture about proper table manners when the door creaked open.

"Another tardy student today? My oh my! What is going on with you girls today?"

A girl with long blond hair walked in slowly, her crutches slowing her every step. Her face was slightly bandaged and she had a black eye on her left side.

"My apologies, the elevator wasn't working and I had to wait for someone to carry me."

The White Queen's face lit up with recognition, and she quickly pulled out a transparent box from beneath her desk.

"Miss Von Rothbert, my apologies. I heard about your little rumble with the Swan Princess and while I don't approve of fighting, getting a Prince Charming to carry you up the stairs is very fitting for a princess!" She paused, "Well, someone who will be posing as a princess, but still very good!"

The girl groaned and managed to make her way over to the desk where she leaned on it for support as she removed her red pendent, which was shining brightly tucked underneath her shirt. She tossed it carelessly into the box before taking a seat at the far end of the room.

"Why does always cover up that ruby pendent of hers? It's so pretty!" Rosabella muttered under her breath.

"It's actually a diamond!" Called a voice from beside Rosabella.

Holly O'Hair slid closer to the two girls and while eyeing the pendent with wonder.

"That's Odessa Von Rothbert. She's the black swan, remember that fight she and Duchess got into?"

Darling nodded while Rosabella just looked at her in shock.

"Daring told me about the fight, but I didn't know it was those two. More importantly, what does that have to do with the pendent?"

Holly's eyes lit up. She was obsessed with everyone's story and often knew more about each story than the characters themselves, even down to the smallest of details.

"Right! So in Swan lake, the black swan impersonates the swan princess-Duchess's mother Odette- so that her curse can't be fixed with true love, and the prince falls in love with the wrong one."

She fiddled with her hair as she energetically told the story. "Anyways, the red diamond pendent had the ability to read minds, and gives the wearer an illusion that makes them look like the true love of anyone who looks at it! Isn't that just the coolest?"

Darling and Rosabella looked at each other nervously.

"I know that story ends with the swan curse unable to be broken right?" Darling said hesitantly, "But do you know exactly what happened to Odette? I… um, had trouble reading such a sad tale!"

Truthfully, she couldn't read the story because it was removed from her families library on Grandpa Auspicious's order, only one Charming had access to the full story at all times.

"Oh… you didn't know?" The excitement drained from Holly's face. "Duchess' mother… well the curse took full effect and now she's a swan, permanently."

"What?"

The bell rang cutting off their conversation.

"Alright class remember to do pages 42-49 in your hextbook thronework!" The White Queen paused, "Do be careful going down the stairs, I think I heard some sort of banshee scream earlier."

Darling sighed with relief, Princessology was her last course of the day, and now that she could pick the courses that wanted she had an easier time doing thronework.

"I'm going to look for Raven and Dexter, I said I'd meet them at Apple and Raven's dorm room. I'll be back in our room before dark."

Darling waved Rosabella goodbye and thanked Holly for the information. She had already descended down the long flight of stairs before she realized she forgot her Princessolgy hextbook. Hexting Dexter to let him know that she was going to be a bit late she race back up the stairs, now able to race as fast as she pleased without fearing the judgement of her teachers (most of the time).

She arrived at the class and was relieved to see that it had remained unlocked. As she went to leave she saw something in the corner of her eye and quickly realized she wasn't alone.

Embarrassed, she turned to apologize for ignoring them and nearly froze in shock.

She had long golden curls, skin as white as snow, and lips as red as roses. As she stared her down with striking blue eyes, her golden crown shimmered from the light striking it through

"Apple?"

She couldn't believe it, she spent years pretending to faint but this time she could really feel her legs about to give out.

"Where have you been? I haven't heard from you in ages and now you're here? I just…"

Darling stopped. She knew Apple during some of her weakest moments,she knew how she got when she fell apart and this was probably one of the lowest moments of her life. But this Apple looked completely put together, not a hair out of place, calm and composed as she stared back at Darling.

Something was wrong. She looked like Apple in every way, but she felt so distant, so… cold. Her expression never changed, just kept glaring at her with a stare that could cut glass. It felt like someone else was behind those eyes.

Someone else… disguised as…

…!

"What the hex is wrong with you?" Darling "Why didn't you say anything? You almost gave me a heart attack!"

The Apple illusion raised her hand and gripped something invisible near her neck. Suddenly, the image of Apple faded away like a hologram and Odessa scoffed as she stuffed the pendent back into her shirt .

"So you saw Apple huh? I have to say I'm surprised, I was convinced that you were only dating because she was so obsessed with her destiny."

She paused.

"Well, not her destiny I suppose, I wonder what mommy and daddy Charming had to say about that?"

Darling felt her face getting red with fury. It took every ounce of strength that she had not to rip out that stupid pendent and smash it on the floor.

"What do you want Odessa?"

"Me? I was just waiting for my rooma- I mean a dashing escort to help me down the stairs and you came in. I don't control this thing," Odessa gestured at the faint red glow from beneath her shirt. "How was I supposed to know that you'd flip out so bad?"

"I…" Darling loudly exhaled. "Ok fine I'm sorry I just… wait a second you thought I was dating Apple because I thought I had to?"

Odessa Shrugged

"Hey, I haven't got a "true love" in my story to begin with, so count yourself lucky. Besides with her being the new Evil Queen how can I not be curious?"

"Ok well, Apple isn't the new Evil Queen, I think-"

"You think?"

"And it doesn't matter to me who she's related to! Listen, I know that your story doesn't end well, trust me I know some of those characters personally."

"How is your grandfather anyways? Still wrecked with guilt I'm assuming?"

Darling went silent. Her Grandfather had done everything to distance himself from his story as Siegfried, the prince who was tricked by the black swan. Not a lot of people knew, but her Grandfather was the original Siegfried and his story was one of the only tales in ever after that ended in tragedy for the heroes.

"What? You honestly think I never found out? Honestly I'm surprised that idiot Duchess never figured it out. Fitting though, she used to have a crush on Daring right? History really does repeat itself."

"Duchess doesn't know?" Darling sighed in relief, Duchess was furious with Siegfried for what happened in her story, she would have flipped her pages!

"That could always change you know!" Odessa had a sinister grin on her face. "How do you think she would react to-"

The door slammed open, this time to a short girl with black hair in a wolf cut pushed back with a red hairband.

"Jeez Essa there you are! You know how many doors I had to burst open? You could have been more specific to which Princessology class you were in ya know?"

She looked around.

"Oh hi Darling didn't see ya there! Sorry if Odessa was being a jerk again, she's been in a sour mood ever since Duchess kicked her butt."

"Wha-" Odessa gasped in indignation

"Hello Dolores! No worries I was just leaving."

With that Dolores scooped Odessa into her arms and clicked her red shoes together.

"There's no place like home!"

"Dolores wait you forgot my crutches!"Odessa screamed as the two of them disappeared in a dazzling flash of green light.

As she left the classroom Darling got an message from Raven, one she thought she wouldn't see for at least another week.

Raven: Apple's back!! Finally!!!!

Darling felt her heart swell with joy. Finally some answers!

Duchess: So I'm guessing Raven already told you this but your girlfriend's back. Also she's wearing track pants

Duchess: Unbecoming I know, but be nice she was just in our class and it did not go well.

Ok that was less encouraging, weren't Duchess and Raven in General Villainy? That couldn't be good.

(645)-333-0347- hey loser it's Faybelle get your rabid girlfriend she looks like garbage and jumped out a window.

(645)-333-0347- Hey Duchess you can suck a lemon.

(645)-333-0347- sry wrong number

Panicking, Darling tried to remember the fastest way to Apple's bedroom until she heard a ringtone that she bought for a special occasion.

Apple pie : Im sorry. I really am.

Not caring anymore Darling flipped her hair, and as time stood still, she ran as fast as she could.

No more hiding, no more silence.

She would find her.