Chapter 10: New Student, Familiar Face

It was the weekend again. As had become the norm, Isabella was the first one up, though she remained in her p.j.s instead of changing immediately, remaining in bed for a while. Ever since her mother suggested she start searching the Ever After High library for a possible clue or further information on the Storybook of Legends, she'd been taking shifts doing so with some other Rebels who frequented the library so as to be extra careful not to raise any suspicion.

So far, the search had yeilded nothing.

A sigh escaped her. The more she thought about it, the more anxious she became.

Deciding it would be for the better, she got up and got changed, leaving the dorm quietly so as not to disturb her still sleeping roommate.

Her footsteps led her to the Castleteria, where she got breakfast. None of her other friends appeared to be around, however - likely doing other things by now - leading her to sit at an empty table by herself.

After finishing her light meal, she headed outside, taking in a deep breath of fresh air-

"Isabella?"

She heard a familiar voice call her name while she was stretching out upon feeling the warm sun's rays shining down on her. She looked in the direction the voice had come from, and gasped when she saw a familiar-looking girl with pink hair and angel-like wings standing at the base of the stairs leading up into the front entrance of the school.

"Cupid?!" She gasped again.

"Isabella!"

The girl came bounding up the first few stairs, her arms spread out wide. Isabella laughed, meeting her halfway, the two of them embracing each other tightly.

"I don't believe it - look at you! You look like you jumped right out of a fairytale!" She exclaimed after she and the other girl, Cupid, released each other and she got a good look at her.

"Well, we are in Ever After." Cupid said with a laugh.

"Got me there." Isabella laughed herself. "You look good, Cupid."

"So do you! I knew those highlights were a good suggestion for you! They really brightened up your face! I'll bet you've got quite a lot of cute boys looking your way!"

"As if."

"Oh, don't give me that." Cupid gave Isabella a knowing look. "I can see that look in your eyes - you've met someone, haven't you?"

Isabella laughed again, feeling herself blush a bit.

"Okay, you got me there, just keep your voice down about it for now, okay?" She told her. "Anyway, what're you doing here?"

"You're not going to believe this - I got transferred here!" Cupid answered.

"You did?! That's awesome!" Isabella grabbed Cupid's hands as excitement swelled within her.

"I know!" Cupid squealed. "You're going to have to show me around!"

"Definitely!" Isabella agreed, squealing herself before hugging Cupid again. "I'm so glad to see you!"

"So am I!" Cupid squealed again as she hugged her back.

They forced themselves to calm down following the looks they received from the students lingering about near the entrance. Isabella took Cupid by the hand after the headmaster came out to meet with her, giving her an envelope with the same contents as the one he'd given Isabella on her first day, though she shrank a bit under the disapproving gaze she received from him.

Cupid had asked her why the headmaster had glared at her as they were making their way to her dorm. Her question led Isabella to explain the Royal and Rebel drama happening at the school and how she herself had sided with the Rebels, which was the source of the look she received from Headmaster Grimm.

Cupid agreed with her stance, approving of what all she said during her interview with Blondie when she told her about it as well.

And, as it turned out, it was that very fairytale in which Cupid would be sharing a dorm with. Fortunately, Blondie wasn't home, so the two of them were free to get Cupid's side of the room decorated without the next Goldilocks interrupting them.

Once they had finished, Isabella showed Cupid around the school. While they were wandering about, they ran into Blondie, then Raven, Apple, Briar, and Dexter - who, it appeared, had definitely caught Cupid's eye, as she'd dreamily asked who he was.

And now Isabella led the Grecian to where she'd anticipated Kelsey to be, wanting to introduce them.

Sure enough, deep in the Enchanted Forest near the school, Kelsey was practicing with the sword Marnin had given her. Chev was with her, Keyblade drawn, their blades clashing with each other's as they sparred.

"Kelsey! Chev!" Isabella called out to them.

The two lowered their blades once she came running up to them, half-dragging Cupid in tow.

"There you are, Isabella. Where have you been all morning?" Kelsey asked her.

"Sorry, I've been helping Cupid here settle into her dorm and was showing her around." Isabella explained while pointing to Cupid with her free hand.

Kelsey blinked while Chev's eyes went wide, likely in surprise that a child of Greek myth was now attending Ever After High.

"Cupid." Kelsey repeated.

"That's me." Cupid grinned. "And you must be Kelsey."

"Yep. And this is Chev. He's the other Slavic myth here." Isabella then gestured to Chev as she introduced him, having already told Cupid about Baba Yaga.

Cupid greeted him, then added, "You're a Keyblade Wielder."

Chev glanced down at his Keyblade at the mention of it, which had a starry design unlike Isabella's rose one.

"That I am." He said. "Is it that much of a shock?"

"No, it's a welcome surprise!" Cupid replied. "I'll bet it's one of the reasons Is-"

Isabella quickly slapped a hand over Cupid's mouth. She'd mentioned her crush on Chev while they were still decorating her dorm, daring to give her his name. Now she sort of regretted the decision, as Cupid had just almost spelled it out for him, and she didn't exactly have a good record of guys she'd previously had a crush on returning how she felt.

"Cupid..." She hissed from behind her teeth.

She heard Kelsey snort, her turning her head to the side as she laughed quietly, while Chev just tilted his head to the side, thankfully seemingly still oblivious.

"Is something wrong, Isabella?" He asked.

"Nope, everything's fine. Yep, perfectly fine." Isabella answered quickly, taking her hand off Cupid's mouth. "Right, Cupid?"

"Oh, yes. Uh-huh." Cupid nodded.

Chev appeared to be slightly skeptical, but let the matter drop once Kelsey asked, "So how do you know Cupid, Isabella?"

"She's an old friend." Isabella replied. "Two of my Keyblade Masters would sometimes take me to other worlds as part of my training. Greece was a frequent stop."

"And Isabella would come visit me at my old school if she happened to be in the monster world too." Cupid added as she placed a hand on Isabella's shoulder.

"Wait, there's a world for monsters?"

"Of course. There are many different worlds." Isabella answered Kelsey's next question.

"Sounds like the basis for a great adventure." Kelsey said.

"It is. Many Keybearers have often traveled to other worlds, sometimes in order to help restore balance to a particular world from an outside threat."

"So, what? You just stumble upon a crisis and help people deal with it?"

"Pretty much, yeah."

"Now I want to see other worlds."

"I'm with Kelsey." Chev spoke up. "The only other world I've been to besides the one I'm from is this one and-"

He stopped himself then.

"Chev?" Isabella asked.

"It's nothing."

"But-"

"I said it's nothing." Chev insisted.

Isabella frowned while Kelsey looked at him with a raised brow.

"Don't worry about it." Chev told them upon noticing their expressions. "Hey, what say we go to the Wonderland Haberdashery and Tea Shoppe? I could go for some tea cakes right about now."

"What, is your sweet tooth talking?" Kelsey asked him teasingly.

"Shut up." Chev shot back with a small smile.

Out of the corner of her eye, Isabella noticed the grin Cupid shot her.

"What do you know? Isabella has a major sweet tooth as well." She said.

"Cupid!" Isabella whined in protest.

"Was that supposed to be a secret?" Kelsey asked with light sarcasm as she sheathed her sword. "You've always got something sweet on your tray at every mealtime, Isabella, and that's not counting the stash of candy you keep in the dorm. Not to mention that star shaped fruit you keep frozen in a block of ice."

"Wait, a star shaped fruit?" Chev asked in surprise.

"It was a gift from one of my Keyblade Masters and his friends before I came here to Ever After High." Isabella explained. "It's a fruit native to their home world. They call it Paopu Fruit."

"Can I see it?" Chev requested with keen interest.

"Sure, but could it wait 'till later? Now you got me wanting some of the Mad Hatter's tea cakes."

"So you admit to having a sweet tooth as well." Kelsey teased.

"Oh, be quiet, Kelsey." Isabella told her with a small laugh. "Come on, let's go."

She began to walk, not noticing that Chev lingered behind for a moment, a frown on his face.

Author's Note: For those wondering, Chev's Keyblade is Star Seeker.

Credits: This chapter was based off the episode "Here Comes Cupid".