Disclaimer: All respective characters and settings belong to their respective franchises.
It was the dead of night in Book End, peaceful and quiet for those still wandering its opulent streets, the lights overhead providing warm light to guide those still out and about. Whether they happen to be returning home from a day of work, or to enjoy the tranquility such evenings offer for a relaxing stroll, you can never find a more unassuming town.
A peaceful town, the most idyllic-
"GAHAHAHAHAHA!"
"BWAHAHAHAHAHA!"
…
…
…What on earth?
"Oh, Hans! You've outdone yourself tonight!"
"ME?! You old fish! You were not even trying! After all that rubbish about cutting back! BWAHAHAHAHAHA!"
Two men, both hooking their arms on each other's shoulders, were marching down the street, or perhaps it would have been more apt to relate that they were shambling, just barely keeping themselves aloft lest they plummet down onto the pavement in a heap. Both seemed to be elderly men, though one looked younger by a few years in comparison to the other, who had visible wrinkles on his face. The older one was shorter, with the other, much taller man actually hoisting him with one arm.
Said taller man was wearing an old style purple tunic, light brown pants with a darker patch on the right knee that was sewn on, and thick leather boots. Around his waist was a brown leather belt lined with crisscross patterns, and around each of his wrists were iron manacles. His most distinctive feature, however, was his voluminous hair that reached down to his back, unkempt and with signs of graying, complemented by an equally magnificent beard. Combined with his imposing bulk, the man looked almost bear or beast-like. Even with his complexion being tan, his face was tinged all over with a noticeable color of red, the blood rushing as a telltale sign of alcohol. Another howl of laughter erupted out of him, so loud that he could have riled awake the entire neighborhood, the nearby glass doors and windows vibrating from conducting the sound.
Laughing beside him was Solly, equally inebriated as his vision swam, a mild slurring to his words as he said, "Hey, Hans, which way to the shop again?"
The man he called Hans let out a loud hiccup that was followed by a burp. "N-North, I think…?"
"Oh, right," Solly said. He lifted an unsteady arm and pointed a finger at anywhere but North. "Onward!"
"Ahahaha! That is South, my friend," Hans said jovially.
"South…Schmouth…" Solly slurred, blinking through the drunken heaviness of his eyelids. With unsteady focus, he struggled to see what was in front of him, blinking away the fogginess. His vision clearing between the batting of his eyelids, he caught a glimpse of something ahead of them. Something white and red.
Hans saw it as well, coming to a stop once they were about ten feet away.
"Hey," Hans began, squinting to better make out what he was seeing, "Solly, it's a girl."
Perking up, Solly smacked his lips, breath pickled with alcohol. He darted his head from left to right, replying in a barely coherent voice, "Girl…? W-Wha…gurl?"
"That girl," Hans said, pointing at the figure lying in front of them, shuffling closer. Once Solly's gaze landed on the person in question, his eyes widened, sharpened, sobering up just enough for him to ask Hans to put him down.
Hans did so, the burly man flaring out his senses to get a feel of their surroundings for any danger. Solly knelt down, scanning the figure from top to bottom. "It is a girl." His eyes traveled up to her face, obscured by her disheveled blonde hair, which he gently brushed aside to get a clear look of her visage. "And not just any girl, it would seem."
"Who is it?" Hans asked in his thick accent.
"Apple White, one of the students at Milton's school," Solly answered.
"White? As in, Snow White?" Hans needled.
Solly nodded, humming thoughtfully to himself, his hand cupping his chin. The game shop owner ran an investigative eye over her, then the rest of the area until he spotted the crumpled form of a man deep in the darkness of the alley. His intoxication subsiding, he could now sense the familiar chill in the air.
"A shadow game was played here."
Hans frowned. "Is she…?"
Solly shook his head. "Her soul is right where it should be. She's untouched, though no doubt traumatized by what she had witnessed. Can't say the same for that guy." He thumbed in the direction of the alley. Hans went ahead to collect the unfortunate victim, giving Solly some space to scan the unconscious Apple White further. From the corner of his gaze, he spotted something resting just a short reach from the girl's feet.
Stretching his arm out, Solly picked it up and cocked a brow once he flipped the front portion to face him. He called out to Hans to bring the man over. "I, uh, I think I just found his soul."
Lugging the body over his shoulder, Hans breathed out after exiting the aisle, "Wonderful. No extra mouth to feed." The two chuckled at the insertion of brevity. Propping the man up against a nearby lamppost, Hans stood by to guard over the motionless Apple White while Solly went to work in returning the man's soul.
The procedure was fairly simple. After muttering a short incantation under his breath, he placed the card against the young man's chest, keeping it there until his portrait; set into a visage of terror, vanished, rendering it back into an ordinary blank. Once done, Solly stood back up, pocketing the card. He leaned back to stretch out his back, a relieved breath escaping him. He then turned to his companion and said, "We can leave him here. Let's hurry back, Hans."
"This girl is supposed to be Snow White?" Hans remarked, the duo homeward bound for the shop. The older man nodded. "Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't she supposed to have black hair?"
"Well, the Snow White from two generations ago had red hair," Solly forwarded with a chuckle, folding his arms behind him. "Funny thing, genetics. Too bad Milton had her dye her hair black for most of her life. Not many people today remember that about Scarlet."
"Why is she still blonde, then?" Hans inclined his head at his cargo.
Solly shrugged. "Probably to avoid stepping on any toes in this day and age. Milton only ever does anything if he can get away with it." He released a scoff. "Spineless, as always."
"Coward," Hans seconded gruffly, more to himself than Solly.
"He hasn't changed one bit," Solly remarked, shaking his head. "If only Giles had done more, then we wouldn't even be in the mess we're in now."
"Just as spineless," Hans opined with a huff. "Never have I come to know a more fitting pair of brothers."
Solly let out a wistful sigh.
Who is that man Solly is with?
Perhaps an associate, maybe even a friend.
Iron Hans.
Is that his name?
Yeah.
I see.
…
…
…
…
What.
Hm?
What did you say was his name again, Brooke?
Iron Hans.
…I'm sorry, can you honestly repeat-
Iron. Hans. You guys are lucky I didn't take a photo of your faces just now.
That's impossible.
That gentleman over there can't be Iron Hans. We know Iron Hans, and that is not him.
Really? Then, can you tell me where he is now?
Certainly. He's…
…
He's…who…were we talking about…?
Yes…we, Brooke, what were we talking about?
Brooke let out a sigh through her nostrils, her brows furrowing before schooling her features. She gave her parents a smile and said, Mr. Solly and his friend found Apple White and are now taking her to the shop.
…He…they are?
Who's that fellow Solly is with?
…Just a friend of his. He sometimes comes to the shop to talk.
I…I see…
Brooke had been clenching her right hand tightly into a fist.
Milton Grimm had a lot to answer for.
Present…
Once Dark Magician Girl was back in her card, Dexter directed a raised eyebrow at Blondie. "Satisfied?"
A sheepish Blondie shrank in on herself, and said, "Uh, yeah. Dark Magician isn't an evil wizard, and that I should be a lot more tactful when asking questions."
Dexter nodded and said, "You definitely should be more careful about your reporting, Blondie. Not many people trust the press these days, and not without reason."
"For one, there's been a huge uptick in clickbait articles about what happened on Legacy Day, and I mean a lot!" Raven said, then winced. "Though I probably shouldn't be the one to talk."
"Nah, those morons would have still hocked out baloney on their own," Hunter reassured her.
Kitty scoffed, looking anywhere else but the group. "You should see the shitshow going on in Flutter."
"Like?" Ashlynn asked, and immediately regretted it upon seeing the shimmer of mischief curling in Kitty's eyes.
"It's the end of the world," Kitty declared in a faux dramatic voice. "We're all gonna die, blah, blah, blah. Raven Queen is worse than her mother. Raven Queen is just getting started. Raven this, Evil Queen that. Raven Queen is a massive bit-"
"Alright," Dexter interrupted the young Cheshire Cat sternly, "I think we get it." He sighed, casting Raven a sidelong glance and seeing the trouble that was flashing across her face. "Let's just get inside."
Much later…
"Mh…"
A stirring Apple White cracked her eyes open, her head tossing once on her soft pillow. She blinked once, twice, the haze fogging her vision gradually subsiding along with some of the cobwebs. Lying still, she flipped her head over again to peek at her nightstand and was met with an unfamiliar clock, a very old one by the looks of it, blinking again to get a clearer glimpse of the hands pointing to it being…9:24 in the morning?
Since when did she replace her digital alarm? And why did she wake up so late?
Closing her eyes shut, she groaned, shifting her whole body to lie on her left, then opened them again, expecting to see sunlight beaming in through their window, where the little birdies would always congregate on a tree to chirp at her a good morning.
She blinked, her eyes narrowing in befuddlement for an instant, then retracted her head to glance over her shoulder to see the window in the same corner as the nightstand.
How odd. She didn't recall having done any renovating lately. Not since the last one where she and Raven disputed on which corner of the room they could move her entire potion making set. Funnily enough, they got around to settling it with rock, paper-
Apple's upper body swiftly shot right up, exploding out of the covers, her breathing becoming ragged as a slew of memories were rapidly flooding back.
Of a dark alleyway.
Of a boy.
Of a man screaming in anguish.
And, a game.
Her hand clutched at her chest tightly, the palpitations of her heart reverberating throughout her frame that it soon became all she could hear and feel. Tears welled in her eyes as she began to tremble, darting her gaze about at an unfamiliar room, fear creeping in until she forced herself to calm down.
Closing her eyes, she worked to slowly steady her breathing, but her mind continued to race, her thoughts hardly discernible from static. She opened them again, half hoping that she was merely experiencing a dream. Unfortunately, the only thing she found herself waking up to was an unfamiliar wall that was staring back at her, painted a clean white. From the corner to her right was a wooden desk drawer leaning against the same wall, littered with stack upon stack of papers and other potpourri.
Regaining enough of her composure, she leaned her head back to stare at the ceiling before redirecting her focus straight down at the carpeted floor. She blinked, trailing her gaze across the extent of the room until she reached the far end, then did a double take at what she saw.
Several tribal masks lining the wall first caught her eye, all in varying shapes and designs, all confined in their own little corner. Hanging beside them were a series of wooden plaques with intricate carvings. Her gaze kept going and swept over more that were put on display within the small room. Was she…in a museum? Her earlier panic supplanted by curiosity, she slowly crept out of the bed, carefully stepping onto the smooth carpet that made her bare feet tingle, her shoes resting just below the bedside.
Slowly, she traipsed her way across the full extent of the room. Stopping before the masks first, she scanned each and every one, finding a few of the designs frightening, but there was only one that stood out that made her back away a step.
It was white, or might have been at a certain point in time, bearing the telltale sign of yellowing that came with age. It resembled what she hoped belonged to that of a human face, meeting a pair of black eyes set in an eerie squint. The lips, painted a vivid red, smiled back at her, which made for an oddly unnerving combination.
She pulled her gaze away almost immediately, seizing a small statue resting atop a wide wooden dresser, completely jet black in color save for the gold accents around its neck and ears. The statue was mesmerizing to look at, shining like the purest obsidian from the sunlight filtering into the room. It resembled a dog, but upon closer inspection to Apple's knowledge it was actually a jackal, resting on all fours and holding its head high, looking straight ahead.
Next was a bust resting beside it, it being the head of a woman with a bizarrely tall hat or headdress, this one more ornate than the jackal for the rainbow of colors it wore. Curious, she squinted inanalyzing the bust more closely and could see that the gold parts were genuine, plastered on, with only the other colors like the reds and blues painted.
It was beautiful, unable to take her eyes off of it until she spotted something in her peripherals. She turned to her left, and had to catch herself from jumping at the sight of a colorless stone statue, whole and as tall as a man; no, taller. Drawing her arms close to her chest, she took a frightened step back.
It was well muscled, with the broadest shoulders she had ever seen, and a…head so unnaturally wide that it could have only been a headdress or helmet of sorts, with the only other clothing she could identify being a skirt or kilt. What frightened her the most about it however, was its face, sculpted into a vicious scowl, its teeth bared before realizing to her horror that it was bereft of a lips. Worn on both of its wrists and ankles were what resembled iron manacles, complete with dangling chains.
A hand came up to cover her mouth, suppressing the urge to scream, fearful that wherever she was, or whoever this room belonged to was not the friendliest of hosts, only for her stomach to drop.
Could this room possibly belong to that boy? Her heart froze within her chest, her mind racing once more, when her ears burned. Her eyes frantically darted to where she spotted the door…and heard a faint sound coming from outside.
Her panic spiked to critical levels, heart thumping against the confines of her ribcage, her throat becoming increasingly dry. She only had one chance. Just as she was about to make a run for the window however, the door opened.
But instead of the boy like she expected.
"I just want to see if she's-" Ashlynn gasped mid-sentence when she stole a glance from inside the room, her gaze landing on the unmistakable figure of Apple White, who was gaping right back, her jaw hanging open. "Apple!"
Apple stood frozen, unbelieving at first that she was seeing Ashlynn for real, before the girl simply rushed through the door and sprinted towards her to catch her in a hug. "We were so worried!"
The poor girl was catatonic, her mind barely catching up. "A-Ashlynn?" Apple sputtered out.
Upon hearing her name, the young Cinderella parted from the hug and eyed the other girl from top to bottom and saw the degenerate state she was in. "W-What happened to you? Where have you been?"
As Ashlynn was rattling off her questions, more people came into the room. Maddie immediately stomped towards the displays, wonder evident on her face. Coming after her was Raven, whose interest was also arrested by the artifacts, eyeing an old tapestry that was being kept within a glass display case. Blonde was hardly far behind, taking out her phone and recording as much of the room's interior as she could.
"Ah, you're awake," came a voice, drawing everyone to glance at the door, finding the diminutive form of Solly, wearing a simple olive green t-shirt and brown shorts, a red bandana wrapped around the top of his head. "Just in time for breakfast, too. Come on, get it while it's still hot. I've made plenty for everyone." WIth that, he retreated back towards the stairs. Apple was still out of it when she shook her head and returned her attention to Ashlynn.
"W-Wha-W-Where a-are we?" she asked softly, and Ashlynn was quick to reassure her that she was safe. Raven shot a glance at Maddie, conveying that she was going back downstairs, to which the latter nodded and voted to come along, leaving Apple with Blondie and the young Cinderella to comfort her as they were guiding her back to the bed. Seeing the ragged state she was in, Blondie reached into her carryall and took out a comb to straighten her disheveled locks, as well as a water bottle that she usually reserved for herself out of habit. Apple flashed both girls a thin, but grateful smile.
"Apple," Ashlynn began gently while Blondie was busily grooming her fellow blonde, "what happened last night? Why didn't you come back to the dorm?"
Apple, whose free hand was being held by Ashlynn, did not answer immediately, staring listlessly at the water bottle Blondie handed to her. She swallowed, trying to reach for what she could offer as an explanation when her mind went back to Raven, then at the boy. She closed her eyes tightly at that memory, turning her head away and jerking the comb. "Ow!"
"S-Sorry!" Blondie apologized, frantically untangling the follicles caught in the teeth.
Ashlynn angled her head down to look Apple in the eye, wordlessly encouraging her to open up, but when she refused to speak for another number of minutes, the young Cinderella relented, exchanging a worried glance with Blondie, who was inserting her comb back into her bag once she was done, the young Goldilocks standing by the bedside. "Listen," Ashlynn began again, smiling reassuringly, "why don't we go down for some breakfast. Maybe…maybe some food will help."
The young Snow White was about to refuse, or that was the impression Ashlynn received before the blonde gave a wordless nod, continuing to stare at nothing. Relieved, a hopeful Ashlynn gently rose from the bed and gingerly pulled Apple along, with Blondie providing some help, huddling together protectively. Once they were out the door, the young Snow White's gaze wandered aimlessly with some vigilance as they made their way through the corridor and down the stairs.
Upon making it to the kitchen, Apple looked up and blinked. The walls were painted a sea foam green, unlike the white room she had been sleeping in and the hallway from upstairs, while the cupboards; counting four hanging above the counter, were cream colored. The counter itself looked to be made of black marble. From the other side stood a table, which on its own failed to accommodate all the occupants present, prompting half of them to eat their meals by a separate countertop.
Dexter and Hunter were sitting next to each other on swivel chairs, having a conversation as they ate. Raven and Maddie were seated on the opposite side, also engaging in small talk in-between taking bites out of their food. Apple reflexively averted her gaze when she caught a glimpse of Raven's jacket, with the latter seemingly ignoring her as well.
To Apple's surprise when she trained her sights on the table, Kitty Cheshire was also present, ignoring the rest as she partook in a plate of scrambled eggs, two strips of ham and a corn muffin. Various other spreads could be seen, the man from earlier truthful that he had made plenty of food for them.
A basket filled with bagels and muffins, a large platter stacked with ham and sausages, and a separate platter next to it with runny scrambled eggs. There was another much larger basket set to the side that was filled with an assortment of fruits. Peaches, grapes, bananas, pears, her gaze lingered on the basket as they sauntered near, expecting for there to be apples. When she found none, a part of her was disappointed, but only for a split moment, her grumbling stomach quickly pushing aside any complaints, as well as being more than gracious enough to be grateful that there was food at all.
Ashlynn pulled up a chair for her to sit on, while Blondie placed a plate in front of her that she began to fill with food before Apple motioned for herself to do so on her own. She blinked, taking note of the water bottle that she was still holding on to before gingerly placing it on the table. She stared at it again, then took a breath through her nose, the scent of the food stimulating another hunger pang.
Taking a deeper breath, she reached for the fork by her right to begin filling her plate, when she finally surrendered to the nagging voice in the back of her head.
"What is this?!"
All present were drawn to the outburst. "How…how can you all be having breakfast?" Apple snapped, shooting out of her seat and slamming her hands on the table.
Everyone stared at her in total silence, when it was Kitty who responded archly with, "Because it's breakfast? You know, the most important meal of the day?"
Apple sputtered. "I-I know that! But…but…"
Solly, who was at the counter attending to the coffee maker, casted a glance at the young Snow White. "Where are we? What is this place?" Apple asked frantically, prompting Ashlynn to come to her side once more.
Dexter was the one to answer. "Apple, relax, you're safe here. This is Mr. Solly's house."
Apple blinked. "M…Mr. Solly?"
Dexter pointed in the direction of the man, which Apple followed, seeing him for the second time when she only caught a glimpse of him earlier. "W-Who i-who are you?"
Solly smiled gently at the confused and perturbed girl. "Just a man who runs a humble game shop, princess, where you can indulge in whatever hobby you fancy. Cards, board games, we also have a comic book section in case that's your thing." His smile vanished when he sensed Maddie about to ask, "And no, you can't read without buying."
The Mad Hatter's daughter sagged in her seat, hanging her head low, to which Raven snorted.
"Wh-Why am I here?" Apple asked after swallowing a lump in her throat.
Solly curled his lips, and replied, "Well, to answer your question, I and a friend of mine were just returning from a night of revelry when we came upon you lying on the street unconscious." Ashlynn squeezed Apple's hand, having already been briefed with the same story shortly after arriving with Hunter. "We had no idea why, only that you looked like you needed help. So, we took the liberty of bringing you here. When we identified who you were, I called Dexter to come and fetch you, seeing as how he's one of my regulars alongside that leech over there." Hunter raised both hands, grinning shamelessly at the designation.
Apple blinked, processing most of what the man said as her mind raced through her memories of last night. "N-No! I…there was…"
"Apple, what's wrong?" Ashlynn asked her in a consoling tone. "You can tell us."
The blonde shook her head. "No…no, no, no! Everything's wrong! Everything's-" she aimed a look at Raven with narrowed eyes, "her fault!"
Instead of being affronted, Raven merely rolled her eyes and sipped from the peppermint tea Maddie provided. She would have gone with coffee, but the tea was an energizing alternative that she had grown fond of. "Apple, what are you talking about?" Ashlynn asked, genuinely confused and even more worried.
"What happened last night," Apple said between breaths, not having taken her eyes off of her roommate. "If you had just signed the Book, then we wouldn't have had that fight, and I wouldn't have-" She choked, her next words caught in her throat as she buckled over. Ashylnn guided her back down on her seat to help calm her once more.
All of the girls; save for Kitty who was doing her best to ignore the noise, exchanged worried glances, and even Raven's features softened at seeing Apple in such distress. "It's alright, Apple, it's alright. You're safe." Ashlynn stopped herself from asking what could have shaken the normally upbeat Apple White. "We can just go back to the school, stop at the infirmary."
Apple sniffled, tears welling out of her eyes, with Ashlynn drawing her in for a comforting hug.
"Perhaps you kids could stay for now," Solly said, stepping forward, a steaming pot of coffee in his right hand. "I'll call the school and inform your Headmaster."
Blondie spoke up, brandishing her phone, "Maybe we should call the knights as well. Whatever happened to Apple-"
"The knights won't be able to help," Dexter interrupted. "At least, not right now. As for what happened to Apple, I think we have an idea." He exchanged a sidelong glance with Solly, who closed his eyes, a nod signaling his consent.
"Oh really?" Kitty said in an almost conspiratorial tone of voice, sporting her usual grin. "Do tell, your majesty."
Dexter grinned back at her, then looked at Apple. "What did they look like?"
Only Apple's sounds of crying could be heard in the kitchen as they waited for an answer, when Ashlynn voiced out, "Maybe now isn't the right time. She's clearly traumatized."
"By what, that's the question," Dexter pointed out. "I'm afraid we're gonna need to know in case it happens again."
"Again?" Raven repeated, eyeing him suspiciously.
"You saw something, didn't you?"
Upon hearing those words, Apple's eyes widened, a chill washing over her as the boy's image flashed across her mind.
You saw…
"NO!" Apple yelled out in panic, burying her head deeper into Ashlynn's chest, the latter shooting Dexter a glare for that. "I didn't see anything! I didn't see anything…!" Apple kept repeating, shaking her head, a dam of tears flowing. Ashlynn let out a soft gasp, with Blondie covering her mouth with both hands, the two of them never having seen her in such duress.
"Alright, let's stop beating around the bush," Kitty said with a click of her tongue. "'Cuz I do not have the time, nor the patience. Spill, Charming. You clearly know something."
Dexter pressed his lips in thought, but before he could begin, Solly cleared his throat and chimed in, "Perhaps this could be of help." The man dug into the back pocket of his shorts and drew out the blank card, having kept it as a clue. He tossed it to Dexter, who caught it with ease.
"So, they have come," Hunter remarked forebodingly after Dexter handed it to him.
"And who are they?"
Dexter sighed. "The Old Ones."
Elsewhere…
Precocious, carrying a full mug of coffee and an irascible frown on his face, entered the teacher's lounge without much fanfare, barging in like he owned the place.
Baba Yaga was there to greet him by her desk, looking up with a grin. "Well, if it isn't the man of the hour."
Precocious fought back a yawn, then took a big gulp of his still piping hot coffee, evident that he was hardly in the mood for pleasantries. "A simple good morning would have sufficed," the man grumbled.
"Why, thank you," Baba said back in mock gratitude, her grin turning cheekier than it already had been. "Oh, and congratulations by the way."
Precocious glowered at her, believing that the old witch was referring to Dexter. He grunted back with, "Please, none of that. I refuse to even wrap my head around it, let alone acknowledge such a title."
Baba's expression faltered. "So, you already know?"
This made Precocious pause from taking another sip. "Know what?" Not waiting for a response, he took a seat on his swivel chair and spun himself around, doing a full circle before stopping to face his desk, and was surprised to find it…empty. He choked and coughed out his coffee at the sight, spilling some on the table. "W-What the-?"
"Oh, so you don't know," Baba amended.
Wide eyed and making sure that he wasn't simply imagining it, Precocious cried out, "Where are my things?!"
"Why, in your new office, of course," Baba answered, their fellow teachers present content to let her be the one to break the news. "For the time being. At least until the old blowhard makes a full recovery. Why, you are the next most qualified after all."
"Next most-" Precocious sputtered, confused. Slamming his mug down on the table; and spilling more in the process, he glared at the old witch and asked in a forthright manner, "Come again? Qualified for what?"
The old witch chuckled, the grin stretched across her face widening into a smile as she replied, "Why, what else is there to be said…Headmaster?"
King, now Headmaster, Charming froze, blinking twice before saying, "...What."
Precocious Charming? Headmaster?
This is…unexpected. Let's check on Milton.
Rip Van Winkle Center for the Mentally Infirmed…
"Giles…"
Within the safe confines of a padded room, crouched in a fetal position and dressed in a hospital gown instead of his sharp suit, Milton Grimm was sucking on his thumb as he was staring off into space, eyes baggy and bloodshot, his normally meticulously groomed appearance now dreadful and disheveled. The man looked like he had aged dramatically overnight, mumbling nonstop in the hours since his admittance.
"Scary…scary…Giles….so scary…Giles, where are you…?"
…That's…not something I expected to see.
Nor wanted.
Brooke however, frowned to herself. It was less than what the man deserved.
Ever After High…
"He did…what?" Precocious asked incredulously, he and the entire faculty gathered in the Headmaster's office.
Jack Horner sighed, his eyes closed and head slumped. The man, other than being a famous food critic, was also on the school board, which all but explained his arrival, having done so earlier. He looked the now Headmaster in the eye and said, "It was absolute madness, and I'm not talking the Wonderlandian kind," he muttered with a hand over his mouth, shifting a glance to both the White and Red Queen, who each gave him flat looks, the former especially, who he was dating. "The other day as he was being escorted back to the school, Milton, without warning, up and went berserk, assaulting the officers and people nearby. He was beside himself, raving absolute nonsense one moment and then dancing around like a lunatic the next, laughing, shouting and crying and throwing around whatever he could get his hands on, and would have caused more harm had the knights not caught up to him."
Jack let out a sigh. "And it was all caught on video, I'm afraid, and no doubt has long gone viral. Which is why we at the board have thought it best to install you, Precocious, as acting Headmaster for the time being until Milton is once again fit to resume office. At least, we hope."
Precocious himself was just as hopeful, already dreading the bolstered workload that naturally followed with the promotion. "But…but I, this is all too sudden! Surely, you had other options, plenty I imagine. I can't possibly have been the first and only choice on such short notice."
"And you would be correct," Jack agreed with a raising of his brow, holding up a finger, his other hand cradling a freshly baked pie. "But with the aftermath of very," he coughed into his enclosed hand, pulling away from Precocious' gaze, "recent events, we at the board deliberated on the best course to take in restoring public trust. In other words," he pulled at his tie to straighten it, "damage control."
Precocious could understand those reasons, but him of all people? He was a King, yes, but as a teacher, he was content to simply guide the next generation of Princes on his own terms rather than oversee the entire school like a separate Kingdom. He sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose and not caring who was present, his fellow teachers looking on sympathetically. He would need to consult with his wife over this.
"I need time."
"Certainly, but we expect an answer soon," Jack declared, confident that the man would comply, for this year was especially crucial to Ever After for one reason and one reason only.
Not since the Evil Queen had defied all expectations.
Headmaster Charming. Has quite a nice ring to it.
I say he's qualified enough. Certainly a good head on his shoulders. Though it does elude me as to why 'ol Milton would suffer such a nervous breakdown so soon.
…
Brooke?
Hm? Oh, maybe we should check back on the others.
Hm, yes. Poor Apple White. Just who was that boy?
A question we will no doubt have an answer to, if the coming of these 'Old Ones' is anything to go by.
Turtle Game…
"The Old Ones are, to put it plainly, a group," Dexter began. "Although, you can honestly call them a cult, a secret society of people that conduct rituals involving magic. Dark magic. The kind that should already be familiar to all of you."
"Shadow Games," Hunter spelled out.
The room was plunged into silence, with Raven the first to speak. "How…?"
Dexter pursed his lips. "Let's just say that they've been around for a long time."
"A long time?" A puzzled Ashlynn echoed.
"You remember when I told you about the wizards who began and practiced the Shadow Games?" Hunter reminded them, to which Raven and the others nodded. "There were survivors."
"After the kingdom was destroyed, some got out, and have been laying low ever since," Dexter added.
All of the girls gaped, even Apple, who had calmed a little with Ashlynn beside her. "During all that time, they've been quietly observing the world in the background, watching as kingdoms and eras come and go, all the while amassing power, influence and resources in order to prepare."
Raven gulped down some saliva. "P-Prepare for what?"
"To one day bring back their once glorious kingdom, or establish something like it, and they may already have," Dexter elaborated. "They have followers and agents everywhere, as well as having their hands in certain avenues of business, royalty-"
"Wait, royalty?" Raven snapped, shooting up from her seat. "You don't mean…"
A grim expression flashed across Dexter's visage, but he didn't say anything more, letting the princesses come to their own conclusions. Apple shook her head, her blood running cold. "W-What are you saying?" she breathed out shakily.
Dexter rolled his head back with a sigh. Shaking his head he said, "Don't worry. I'm…fairly confident that none of your parents are involved."
"Fairly being the operative word," Hunter remarked tersely. "We can't really be too sure-"
"Not helping, Hunter," Dexter admonished through clenched teeth.
"What are you all saying?!" Apple nearly shrieked, whimpering. Ashlynn reeled back at the outburst, gaping at the young Snow White.
Both boys stared at her with unreadable expressions before they traded looks, sharing nods. "It's been almost two years," Dexter said.
"When we first came into contact with them," Hunter followed. "Back at Duelist Kingdom."
"Last night was their warning to us," Dexter said.
"They're coming," Hunter concluded.
Ashlynn rose from her seat, clutching at her chest with one hand. "Hunter…you're not making any sense. Who's coming?"
Hunter stared at his girlfriend impassively, before a smile came to his lips, his demeanor softening. "Maybe we should just finish eating first."
"No!" Apple snapped, slamming a fist on the table. "You either explain what's going on right now, or I'll-!"
"Geez louise!" Kitty groaned out. "Can't somebody eat in peace around here? I would much rather prefer to digest ancient conspiracies with my food, thank you very much."
Apple stiffened, then directed a glare at Raven once more that conveyed the two of them weren't done. Ashlynn gently pleaded to her with, "Apple, please, you have to eat something."
Apple didn't regard her, and for an instant, Ashlynn was concerned that she would continue to lash out, when she felt Apple relax, and slump back down to her seat. Relaxing as well, both Ashlynn and Blondie attended to her before starting on their own meals.
Once they were done eating, Solly proposed they transfer out into the store, as he was supposed to open up hours ago at seven. Remembering that they still had classes, they hurried through the door leading to the main shop. Solly went about preparing, beginning with flipping the 'Closed' sign to 'Open', then pulling up the blinds. Sunlight entered the shop and illuminated the inside for all to see, causing the princesses; it being their first time, marveled at the various displays spread about, with the one next to the counter and other sections still blanketed in black sheet. Dozens of shelves lined each and every corner that led up to the door, filled with colorful wares comprising different hobbies. From across the counter stood five rows of long tables, with several dozen chairs either stacked or stowed to the side. Once Solly, with some assistance from Dexter, Hunter and Blondie, put away the covers, those who hadn't once stepped foot inside beheld the items on display. Boxes, packs, cases. Video games, board games, playing cards and the like.
But what outstripped the rest was one that immediately stood out.
Duel Monsters.
Raven was checking some in interest, the cards giving off a glint through the glass that she had to admit was almost enticing. "You sell all of this?"
Solly, who was wiping the counter with a cloth, looked up from his task and answered, "It pays the bills. Plus, it's always been a hobby of mine."
"Your hobby is hobbies?" Maddie asked, wildly perusing through Solly's collection, hopping from display to display, ignoring the normally discomforting sensation of being near the cards. "Would that be like if water drank water?"
Solly chuckled while Raven could only smile at her friend's usual antics.
Apple was uncharacteristically taciturn as she was standing close to the door, ignoring everyone when she glanced outside impatiently, at about the time that she caught a glimpse of a figure passing her by the window. She retreated back in fear when her eyes quickly adjusted through her contacts, wincing in irritation. She reflexively reached into her dress' pocket to get her eye drops, when she remembered where she was.
She was startled out of her musings by the sound of a bell, and in came the figure of Briar Beauty, eyes widening upon seeing them all gathered. "Oh thank goodness you're all here!"
Ashlynn pulled away from scanning a box that she picked out from a shelf; "Starter Deck: HERO", and gasped at seeing her roommate. "Briar?"
The young Sleeping Beauty sighed. "I heard everything while I was asleep." Her hands came up to her hips, an eyebrow raised. "So, Apple ran into one of them, huh?"
Ashlynn blinked. "Them? You…know who Dexter and Hunter are talking about?"
"I wish I didn't," Briar opined archly as she walked up to her, then directed a glance at the daughter of Snow White which turned sympathetic.
Ashlynn gently clasped a brooding Apple's shoulders protectively. "Briar," Ashlynn started. "Just who are these…Old Ones?"
Briar quietly regarded her roommate for a moment before averting her eyes. "It's…not something I, or really, any of us can just explain in one sitting, and if anything, not really important right now. I didn't get out of bed just to find you guys, because I've got big news. Classes are suspended for today!
"What?" Apple blinked in surprise, as did the others.
"Oh, and, uh, congratulations Dexter."
"Huh?" Dexter cocked a brow, confused. "Uh…why?"
"Your dad's Headmaster now."
Dexter's expression fell flat. "...What."
"King Charming? Why? What happened to Headmaster Grimm?" Ashlynn asked.
Briar took out and brandished her phone. "Rather than tell you, go to FairyTube."
The others jointly took out their phones and proceeded to the app. "Type Milton Grimm," Briar directed, to which they did. Their eyes soon landed on the very first video result.
'Crazy Fat Guy'
Apple and the others looked at the title with bemused expressions before tapping on the video. Once it played, they were treated to the sight of a highly erratic Milton Grimm singing out gibberish in a happy tune while doing some form of…odd dance.
"Uh…what is he doing?" Apple asked strangely, doubting it to be the Headmaster whom she had the utmost respect for.
"Just keep watching," Briar said.
"Look at Headmaster Grimm go!" Maddie cheered, having no problem with identifying him. She didn't know the man could capture Wonderlandian Folk Dancing so well. Maybe she should-
No sooner did the video hit the thirty second mark did things start to go off the rails, when the camera panned to a pair of knights by the corner - lying on the ground and both groaning in pain, various items cluttering around them, which included a trash can, with garbage spilling all over. They then heard cries in the background and the camera quickly shifted back to Milton, who was now facing the direction of the camera. He was clearly staring at whoever was recording. The goofy expression he had when dancing was replaced by a vicious, hateful glare, a curl of madness present in his eyes. He then pointed at them, crying out, "You! You're one of them! Aren't you?! You'll never take it! YOU'LL NEVER TAKE IT!"
There was a sharp gasp, denoting it to be the one recording - it was a young man, who then turned around and ran, the video shaking wildly and out of focus that was soon coupled with quickened breathing. The guy had made a run for it, and from the cries in the background that were unmistakably that of Milton Grimm, he had good reason to flee. At around the one minute mark, he stopped, having snuck behind what looked to be a corner. He then panned back to Milton, who had stopped in the middle of the street, whipping his head to and fro in search of his quarry. He took a few steps forward, then turned to what could only be his left. Even from a distance, they could see the man's face light up at something, then stamped towards it. It was a couple, sitting on a bench, many other people were present but kept their distance. The man stood up and placed himself protectively before his girlfriend, his hands raised in front of him in what was clearly an attempt to placate the unhinged Headmaster. Because of the distance, and the young man holding the phone still panting, they could only hear muffled bits of the exchange, with Milton beginning to point and shout at the man.
He then did something that shocked them. Milton Grimm, their most esteemed Headmaster, drew his arm back and punched the man square in the face, who fell back against the bench hard that there was a distinct clang, with his girlfriend quickly moving out of the way in a state of panic. Yet, Milton wasn't done. He stomped towards the downed man and raised his foot, and began pummeling him mercilessly. The girl cried for help, and not long after, this too drew Milton's attention. Between being shocked and appalled, the girls watched as Milton did what they never thought he'd do.
He grabbed the woman by the arm and slapped her, her brown hair flailing from the force. He repeated this, all the while shouting the same thing.
This time, they could hear him as the one recording had steadied his breathing. "YOU CAN'T TAKE IT! YOU CAN'T TAKE IT!" They were beyond horrified when he then kicked the woman to the ground, and would have done more had the boyfriend and a few others not tackled him on time, dogpiling him. Soon enough, more knights thankfully arrived at the scene, restraining a still flailing Milton who kept screaming and ranting.
When the video finally ended, they were all stunned into silence. Kitty, who had been expecting something juicy and entertaining, couldn't derive any enjoyment from the barbarity she had witnessed. She may love a good prank and a bit of chaos, but what Milton had done was nothing short of abhorrent, glaring coldly at the now finished video.
"W-What did we just…" Blondie started, her voice trembling.
"Was that…Did that really…?" Ashlynn followed.
"W-What is going on?" Apple said weakly, falling to her knees. It was like her world before her was slowly falling apart.
Raven shook her head, a hand clutching at her forehead. What, indeed.
Could this simply be unintended consequences? Could the man have snapped because of her refusal to sign the book? He hadn't displayed any outward signs of irregular behavior at first other than condescending indignation at what she had done, or refused to do.
Well, there was his tirade at the park after Dexter and Hunter's duel, so that could simply be another byproduct. Could he have simply been bottling it all up the entire time, with the duel being the straw that finally broke the camel's back?
Of course, she had a feeling that this entire string of fiascos would find themselves linked to her.
"You!" Apple White seethed, glaring hatefully at her.
Yep. There it was. Like clockwork.
Raven let out a tired sigh.
"This is all-"
"Yes," Raven said with a roll of her eyes. "It's all my fault. Mwahahaha, all according to my diabolical scheme. Whatever it happens to be." She clicked her tongue and glared back at the blonde. "That's getting old real fast. And I mean 'beating a dead horse' old."
"How about beating a dead horse's skeleton?" Maddie forwarded, to which Raven was about to refute when…that was arguably a more apt analogy, though she would have gone for grinding the bones to dust.
"If you had just signed," Apple decried strongly through a sobbing tone of voice. "Just. Signed. That's all you had to do!"
"And what exactly would it have stood to accomplish?" Raven retorted challengingly. "Could it have kept you from ending up on that street last night? Kept Headmaster Grimm from going cuckoo? What would me signing the book have changed differently? I fail to see any logic in what could have been done to make everything not go like this."
Apple's mind raced, looking torn as she opened her mouth to argue, the logical side of her brain kicking in, before violently pushing that train of thought away.
Next came a loud cry…followed by her lunging forward to pounce on Raven.
Ashlynn gasped. "Apple!" The others watched with shock as the two girls began to wrestle.
"Alright! Stop! Stop!" Dexter snapped frantically as he intervened, he and the others pulling the two away from each other, Apple tugging at Raven's hair as the latter was trying to push her off with great effort, letting out pained cries. Again, she was flabbergasted at how surprisingly strong the blonde was, and she had taken self-defense lessons courtesy of her father.
She didn't want to hurt Apple, hence why she was being completely on the defensive. Once her roommate finally released her hold, Raven hissed out in pain as Maddie and Kitty flanked her, the latter unable to beat back an excited grin at the turmoil that just occurred.
Apple, breathing heavily, kept glaring at the young Evil Queen while Raven could only look at her like she was a different person. The sweet, kind, and patient Apple White was far from the girl before her.
"You-!"
"Enough!"
Everyone turned, finding Solly standing outside the counter, regarding the children with a stern countenance that they would have found in a teacher. "There will be none of that in my store," he began with an admonishing shake of his head and an even sterner scowl. "You'll scare away the customers."
Dexter and the others sweat dropped. "And also," he matched up between the pair, "you two shouldn't be fighting. If you want to settle a dispute, talk it out. You two are friends, are you not?"
Taken aback, Apple recouped some of her composure and refuted him. "We are not friends," she hissed archly. "We were never supposed to be."
Raven whittled under the resentment coming off of the young Snow White. Solly loudly cleared his throat. "That's not the impression I'm getting."
"That was before she decided to be selfish," Apple snapped, pointing at the girl she kept directing her anger to. "Just like her mother. You're just as bad as her."
"Apple, enough!" Ashlynn exclaimed pleadingly. "Are you even hearing yourself? This isn't like you."
"I don't want to go poof!" Apple declared in anguish. "I don't want any of you to go poof!"
Dexter sighed and said, "That's not going to happen." The princesses turned to the young prince charming, with a worried Raven pinning him a betrayed look. "Because it isn't true."
Apple and the others blinked.
"All that stuff about not signing the book? Going poof? It's all a lie."
"How do you know?" Apple seethed after a moment.
"Milton Grimm has been lying for decades, centuries-"
"Wait, what?" Raven interrupted him. "Centuries? Isn't he supposed to be in his fifties?"
"Yeah, he's supposed to be the son of the last Grimm," Blondie stated.
"That's a lie too," Hunter chimed in. "And that's all because of a powerful memory spell. One that he's been managing to maintain through the Storybook of Legends."
A…memory spell?
What is Harry talking about?
Yes, what is-wait. Harry?
Yes, Harr-
Brooke was already on the phone as the spell was affecting her parents again, the affliction on them more potent. Solly answered, "Ready, Brooke?"
Yes! We won't get another chance!
Solly quickly drew out a card from his pocket, a flash of green in his hand as he raised it up high, calling out in a loud voice, "De-Spell!"
There was a flash, causing all to cover their eyes. Outside of the store however, the glamor was working to conceal what was truly occurring.
When the light dissipated, everything was as it was, with only those unprepared disoriented.
Ashlynn blinked and rubbed at her eyes. "What was that? What happened?"
"Again! Do that again!" Maddie cheered, clapping her hands despite her vision having gone fuzzy. Kitty didn't share her enthusiasm, her eyes more sensitive to light as she was buckling over from being nearly blinded.
Apple shook her head, rubbing her eyes as well. "Wh...What...?"
That…what?
Mom? Dad?
…B-Brooke? W-What happened? That light…
Give it a minute. Think. Just think of anything Iron Hans, Donkey Skin, anything.
…Iron…Hans? Yes, Iron…
He's…didn't Milton…
Brooke stood by anxiously, watching as her parents seemed to be recomposing themselves.
Darling…did we…
It's…it's all coming back…
It feels like…like I just woke up from a dream.
A dream? The male narrator gasped. Milton!
Yes, Milton. His wife's brows knit crossly into a scowl, anger steadily building, boiling.
Brooke beamed, seeing her parents recovering their bearings. For the first time in a long while, they were back to their true selves. She lunged forward to capture both in a hug, which they shortly returned.
"How are you two?" Solly spoke through the phone that was now on speaker.
…It's been a while.
Yes, quite. Had the spell not been broken, we still wouldn't have recognized you.
"Don't sweat it," Solly said in relief. "Take a load off. There's still a lot of work to do."
Understood.
Solly put the phone away after ending the call, then faced the students still collecting themselves.
Apple kept shaking her head, her fingers brushing against her forehead, her previously tumultuous emotions having settled down. "What is…what am I doing here?"
"Apple?" Ashlynn said upon seeing her, still trying to clear her spotty vision. She hissed, clutching her forehead. "My head. What have we been…?"
Dexter and the others exchanged nods, escorting the ones still recovering to the chairs. Once everyone was comfortable, Raven motioned for them to explain, pursing her lips.
Dexter grinned and asked, "Apple, do you still want Raven to sign the Storybook of Legends?"
Apple blinked, shaking her head again to bat away the remaining cobwebs. "The Storybook of Legends?" She stared at Dexter, then at Raven, alternating between the two until something seemed to click. "Did…I sign it?"
Raven arched her brow at this question, watching as Apple seemed to be sorting through her thoughts. "Last thing I remember was being in front of the book and…I think I did sign. Then…everything just became….fuzzy." It was brief, and may have simply been the lights pouring out over the stage that night.
"Me too," Ashlynn groaned out, it being the same for Goldilocks, Maddie and Kitty.
The daughter of Snow White was at a loss as to what was even happening. As her mind was catching up, she sifted through her memories one at a time, with more flowing out like a dam had just bursted. It was a strange feeling as the breadth of her surroundings were returning into focus.
"Their minds are being corrected," Solly said. "Without the spell influencing them, they're like puppets whose strings have just been cut."
"A spell?" Raven repeated questioningly. She looked to the other girls, all of them having signed the book save for herself.
Solly nodded. "Not just any spell. Very powerful and meticulous. One that deviously operates like a parasite, slowly and gradually warping one's mind until they think nothing of abiding by their story. They still have some modicum of free will, but that is why the spell is so hard to pinpoint under normal means, nor can it be easily broken by the magic of this world."
"Magic of this-" Raven eyeballed the old man in confusion before her gaze became suspicious. "Who really are you?"
Solly shrugged. "Well, I can't really tell, can I? I'm rocking that whole 'mysterious old man' vibe-"
"He's God," Hunter said in a joking manner.
"Funny," Solly responded with a roll of his eyes. "No, I'm just a humble hobby shop owner. Who just happens to know a thing or two about magic. Ancient magic."
As they were speaking, Hunter pulled up a chair to Ashlynn's side. Grasping her hand, he whispered comfortingly to her, "Hey."
Ashlynn held her still aching head, arm propped on the table. Despite this, she smiled at him, one eye cracked open. "Hey," she said back. She made a face, breathing in sharply before adding, "It was weird. It was…like I was awake, but…at the same time asleep."
Hunter kissed her on the forehead, relief washing over him. "What matters is that you're okay."
Although still not fully back to her senses, she smiled tenderly at his care for her, and Hunter couldn't help but smile wider, vindicated that their feelings continued to be genuine. Had the spell been allowed to run its course, they would have been driven apart as she drew ever closer to her fairy tale, upon which she would settle for the man that was to be her proper prince.
Raven kept asking the mysterious shop owner questions, and he answered. "The Storybook of Legends at the school is not what it seems. It is a forgery, built to be exactly like the book. It largely functions as the real thing as well, except for one quality. It will eventually cause those who sign for aspects of their personality to be supplanted with a preset set of traits that align with that of their character. Had you signed, Raven Queen, you would have slowly taken in traits that would have primed you to be the Evil Queen of your story. At least, a fitting Evil Queen according to Milton Grimm's design."
Blondie instantly perked up, her senses invigorated for the chance of another scoop, as opposed to Raven, who looked like she had just been slapped across the face. "The Storybook of Legends? A fake?! Brainwashing students?!" She gasped. "A conspiracy! Absolutely outrageous!" The young Goldilocks blinked, as did the others, pausing at the words she trailed off with.
"Absolutely…outrageous?" Apple repeated. She…hadn't heard Blondie use those words in a while now. Wait. She…didn't she always used to?
The young Snow White clutched her forehead again, trying to make sense of everything as it continued to throb punishingly. It was like she had just awoken from a dream. That was when a more recent memory came to the fore.
Did she just…assault Raven?
Shame and regret flooded through her. She would encourage Raven to sign the book every now and then, but never had she ever forced her. Not once. She would encourage or nudge her along, but when did she ever find herself resorting to doing that? She then remembered the attack from last night, and how it affected her.
She hissed from another throb of pain, sharp and crisp like a needle being driven directly into her brain. Her memories. She was still trying to sort through them, but some just felt…off to her. She always had a good memory. She had to in order to excel in her studies as far as she had.
Taking a deep breath, she meditated to organize her thoughts. Why did she assault Raven? The only thought that had been running through her mind during that moment was…like she had to. That she had to force Raven to sign. Of course, that could be explained away with what she had experienced, but she had been irrational. Now, while she was still experiencing some befuddlement, her train of thought was becoming clearer and clearer.
Why did she ever think that Raven was responsible for what happened to her last night?
"Calmed down now?" She turned to the source of the voice, finding Dexter looming over where she sat, impassively assessing her. "Just take it slow. Everything will be a lot clearer after we explain."
Apple blinked after locking eyes with him, a growing pit in her stomach.
Elsewhere…
"Did you have fun?"
"Yeah."
"How's Book End?"
"Cozy. Oh, by the way, I think I just met the next Snow White."
"...Well?"
"Not. Impressed."
"Well, what else can you expect from such…children."
"Are there any others coming?"
"Only Walter. He's been getting a little antsy."
"He better behave. I don't want to be the one to clean up after him."
"You know him. Still, it might be a good idea for you to find a place to rendezvous."
"Already done. I'm staying at an apartment complex. I'll send him the address."
"Good. Don't fail us, Gregory."
"Tell Walter that. Gregory, out."