"It's common that every kingdom had a holiday, one to celebrate the best of things and honor the loss. It can also change people's minds to that of changing everything around them, one in particular of a holiday that can bring people together. True Hearts Day, a holiday that can bring people together and unite them for their story. However, it became too much for everyone and put people together which caused the balance of good and evil to shift. To that end, Headmaster Grimm along with others who believed it was dangerous banned it from the kingdom so that everyone could follow their stories without any distractions. Yet Sometimes some students know about the holiday and desire to bring it back, while not caring for who would find their one true heart."

Morning-Ever After High

It was a bright and sunny day at the enchanted school with things being as fantastic as it is on any given day. Especially how the school was getting new students after what happened on Legacy Day along with it becoming a safer place to teach the next generation of stories. One of them was unique out of the entirety of the new students who represented love and affection, C.A. Cupid. Who transferred from another school in the hopes of learning to understand the heart and forming relationships. The winged girl was right now humming to several songs about love and was in the library reviewing for tests coming up.

"So many stories of couples. But no holidays to celebrate them here in Ever After High, it feels wrong."

Cupid commented that while there were books that told stories about true love and people finding one another. Yet there weren't any books about a holiday to celebrate it it left her to continue her venture through the library to see if there was such a holiday. Grabbing one of the ladders and scaling up to the shelves to see if there were any books about the subject, doing her best to keep steady. Cupid notices an old book that was covered in dust and cobwebs which gave her the impression that it is the book she is looking for. Doing her best to try and grab it, Cupid slips off the steps and falls right off the ladder.

"Oh, pixie dust!"

She cried out thinking that she was going to hit the floor and hurt herself on impact. Preparing to embrace the pain coming directly towards her, it didn't happen. What she did however felt a set of arms holding her which felt like something that would happen to a princess or damsel in distress, in which the mysterious savior was Dexter Charming who saw the falling girl coming off the ladder and caught her in the nick of time.

"Sorry for the catch, I know it's an abrupt way to meet someone but saying below to the floor is probably more painful."

Dexter said trying to be stoic like Daring would be when he tried to amaze the princesses around him. While he felt like he wasn't doing it right, the pink-haired girl felt her heart fluttered at how amazing he was in saving her. She had heard of Daring Charming since most of the school talked about him along with his good looks, Dexter was different due to his friendly personality and trying to be heroic.

"I can't keep this up for long. Can I put you down?"

He asked Cupid as he broke the tender moment which left her blushing since she didn't want the moment to end. Placing her down in front of him and taking a step back, Cupid thanked him for the quick save since she didn't expect to get rescued.

"Sorry if I didn't respond when you saved me. It's kind of my first time being rescued by a prince. My name is C.A. Cupid, you can just call me Cupid."

She apologized to him along introduced herself to Dexter as he did the same since it was the first time he caught a girl in his arms. Dexter looked up to see what Cupid was looking for and headed up the ladder to grab the old book and bring it for her to take it.

"I'm surprised how the ladder had trouble keeping people on the steps. It's brand new."

Dexter questioned how the ladder reacted to Cupid since the school accepted everyone and aided people with their needs with anything that could help them with their studies. She got nervous at how he was slightly right with how the school was reacting to her which meant Cupid would have to explain why that might be true.

"I think it's because I'm a transfer student. The last school I attended got a bit too exciting. Everyone was lovely and welcoming, but there was an issue with a king trying to keep the school safe and other things going on."

Cupid explained about her old school which had its own type of excitement and danger that Ever After High had recently gotten thanks to the appearance of He-Man and Skeletor. Taking the chance to open the book and look within the chapters of old holidays, Cupid read each of the pages to see if she could find the one holiday that she wanted but was getting frustrated.

"All these holidays of what the Enchanted Kingdom celebrated but no True Hearts Day. Why is it being kept hidden?"

She questioned the urgency of keeping a holiday that brings people together and is not being celebrated. Dexter decided to help her out since he knew more about old books than anyone else in the library, especially how there were several pages stuck together that couldn't be separated.

"Let me help. I had trouble with opening books about cooking recipes and the pages would be impossible to separate, just have to take it slow and steady."

Giving her advice as Dexter took a moment to graze off the pages and slowly shift them to have the come part as it caused smoke to come out. They coughed at how much there was before seeing what looked like text about the holiday that Cupid was searching for. She took a minute to read the passage about how the holiday could bring anyone together, either hero or villain. It was a day that allowed anyone to be together, smiling at the reading and seeing the winged girl enjoying herself. Dexter heard the sound of footsteps coming by as it was Headmaster Grimm who was taking a moment to grab some books for an upcoming meeting he was going to attend.

"Headmaster Grimm! I need to tell you something important!"

Cupid called out to tell him about the excitement, but Dexter placed her back on the chair to not draw in any attention but was too late as the adult noticed the two teens spending time together. Curious about what caused her to call him, Dexter decided to back her up in the situation she put herself in.

"Cupid wanted to tell you how thankful she is for being accepted at Ever After High and how excited she'll be when she accepts her happily ever after."

He made up something that made Cupid confused about why he was making up a reason for her getting his attention. Grimm took a moment to see if that was true as he saw the smile that Cupid gave him which he accepted before leaving the library with his books.

"I'm sorry. Lately, everyone has been on edge because of the lie he made about what else is true. Meaning that the holiday is another reason why it's not being celebrated."

Dexter explained how the impact of Legacy Day had an impact on the school along with how the students looked at things since they were lied to. Cupid merely nodded at it was a good idea to keep it hidden from the headmaster, but importantly this was the first time for her to have a boy help her out before making a mistake. Deciding to keep it amongst themselves, Cupid continued to read the passages getting confused about the reason for hiding it away.

"But it doesn't make sense. A holiday like this should be cherished and enjoyed, especially when there are people who deserve the opportunity to be happy. Whether or not they're good or evil."

She questioned the reason for it being kept in the dark since Cupid was the daughter of Eros and enjoyed the emotion of love, no matter how small it was. Dexter saw the determination on her face and couldn't help but enjoy it since he had never been involved with spending time with a girl, the only one to do so was his brother but that was because they were fond of him for his looks.

"Maybe it messes with their stories, certain people having different destinies that reflect on the person they want to be with. I mean I think there's a chance for me to be with someone but that doesn't seem likely since I'm mostly the one to make mistakes."

He explained the issue of what the holiday can do to certain couples and jeopardize their stories. However with the truth about the book not making anyone vanish, then anything could happen. Cupid took a moment to think about it and how the holiday could be brought back, she got nervous about what she was going to ask next of Dexter.

"Well. Maybe we can work on bringing back the holiday together, that is if you're not doing anything and wouldn't mind working with the daughter of a love god."

Cupid asked for assistance bringing back the romantic holiday and helping mend hearts together along with finding people their one true love. Dexter's heart was pumping with anxiety at her plead and how she was curious to see what the response would be as he felt his glasses fogging up.

"I mean. It'll be rough but it's possible with the right help and someone willing to help out with bringing back True Hearts Day."

He suggested the possibility of helping out with bringing back the holiday which resulted in Cupid hugging him tightly and being excited at the fact that someone would help her in this impossible task. Realizing how it might have been uncomfortable for Dexter to be hugged, she lets go and notices Dexter blushing at how she hugged him.

"Thank you. But if we're going to bring back the holiday, then will need a party planner which Briar would be thrilled to do. Though I don't know anyone who can help with making the decorations and statues to represent the strength of True Hearts Day."

Cupid explained how they needed the right people for the job as Dexter took a minute to figure out who could help out with building things. He asked her to follow him outside of the library to one of the nearby workshop classes where they worked on forging swords and other types of metals for soon-to-be knights and champions of the kingdoms. Heading into the class, they heard the sounds of several screws being placed into a machine along the sides and placing wires into the object. The two walked over to see a blue-haired boy who had a wrench in hand and using his phone to do his calculations on the object he was working on.

"Cupid. Meet one of my new friends that Adam recently introduced me to, this is DJ. Teela's brother and one of Eternos's upcoming builders helped make its first robotic chess game."

He introduced him to Cupid as DJ heard his name along with the introduction which took him by surprise as he took a moment to clean himself up since his hands were dirty due to the work he put in.

"Hey Dex, kind of in a bad moment for introductions at the moment. Been working on a secret project for a bit, it combines the creativity of Ever After High's best minds and metal straight from King Randor's armory. I'm thinking of calling it 'Heavy Metal', but it's looking robotic the more I work on it."

DJ explained what he was working on and that the appearance of his project looked like one of the chess robots he made back at the royal courtyard. Deciding to take a break from his work, he took a moment to greet Cupid along take a look at the book that was in her hands. Walking over to discuss the situation she was in with Duncan, Dexter rushed over to the door to make sure no one would hear their private conversation.

"Recently I've been curious about bringing back a holiday that's been considered 'outlawed' by Headmaster Grimm. But love can't be contained or ignored, especially with what happened on Legacy Day. And I need someone who can help me with sharing it with others."

She explained about the help that's required from him and taking a risk since this could get him in trouble despite just arriving at school, however. There was a possible chance to test his building skills by making a music station and seeing how his sister would react to it since she wasn't the type to be involved in parties, meaning it was a good way to mess with her.

"Okay. I'm in, but in exchange. I need help with working on my project, the last thing I need is something that can make it more special than anything on Eternia. Maybe you're the one to do it."

He agreed to the idea in exchange for Cupid's assistance in making the machine unique than anything else that Ever After High could. The girl took a moment to examine it and looked at how the machine was shaped, especially how it required a head as Cupid looked over to see a head that would fit the body. Placing it on and staring at its optics, she pulled out from her bag an heart shaped arrow as Cupid aims the tip near the center of the machine's chest.

"The one thing to make anything special, is love. Whether it's alive or not."

Cupid telling DJ before planting a kiss on the arrow before tapping it at what looked like a heart for the robot as her arrow made suddenly move about which caused the boys to move away. Cupid on the other hand clapped at how it was activated and turning its head to learn about its whereabouts, in which it soon tries to speak.

"Query. What, am I?"

The machine asked the three as it was unable to figure out what was going on or what its purpose was. Cupid looked over to DJ since he was the machine's creator and knew what its purpose was, it left the boy to scratch his head as he didn't know what to think of at the moment.

"You're the first sentient machine on Eternia. And your prime directive is, is. To learn what is like to have friends."

Coming up with something easy to understand which the robot took a moment to look up the meaning of friend along understanding its program. The robot stood upwards as he was twice the size of the three as it seemed interested in learning about making friends but had another query that needed to be answered.

"What is my designated title."

The robot asked about a name that it be called since it would need something to respond to if it was to make friends around Ever After High. Cupid was thinking about names that would represent romance and chivalry while Duncan thought he needed a name that would represent his robotic form and structure.

"Roboto."

Dexter spoke out which caused the robot to determine if it was a qualified name and could suit him. DJ's robot agreed with the name and accepted his given title as he soon listens to the trio about what they needed from him, the sight of it all made Cupid smile how True Hearts Day would eventually happen and bring everyone together, maybe even someone who has recently caught her attention.

Later-Enchanted Lake

It was a peaceful evening by the water as Ashlynn and Hunter were enjoying their company amongst themselves and not worrying about either their destinies or the class assignments they were given by their teachers. All they did was feed the swans passing by them and enjoying to food they were being given by the pair.

"Why can't things be this simple? Just the two of us relaxing and doing what we want?"

Hunter asked as his head was rest by Ashlynn's shoulder as he was enjoying the closure she was giving him. While in return was having someone to look after and to feed since she had made the both of them sandwiches.

"Because our parents are well known people who helped inspired others in the kingdom and it's our responsibility to take up their duties. Remember?"

Ashlynn questioned her boyfriend if he'd forgotten about how his father was the well known hunter of the forest who could take on any beast, no matter how big or small. He nodded at her statement since he didn't think about his heritage, more or less wanted to think about the two of them and nothing else.

"I guess. Still, with how things have happened at Legacy Day and the possibility of no one going 'poof'. Maybe, we can actual be out in the open."

He acknowledged to her about that with the Storybook of Legends not making anyone vanish if they didn't write their names in the book. It could also mean various rules that the Headmaster Grimm had told them could be false, such as a princess and hunting like himself could date without any issues keeping them apart. Ashlynn took a moment to think about it since she was reminded about the only person she could date would have to be royalty. The smile on her face fell since she didn't want to jeopardize their relationship or let anyone find out about it.

"I'd be a dream to not have these private dates. To go out and not think about anyone's opinion about us, but I'm enjoying what we have now. And not have it ruined by anyone."

She responded to her boyfriend that while she enjoyed his idea of telling everyone about their relationship, but while they wouldn't disappear about coming out in the open. It would grow tensions around their friends and that of Apple since she was a firm believer that the two of them could cease to exist if they continued to date before signing their names in the book. Noticing how she looked sadden by discussing the issue, Hunter decided to throw away the topic and enjoy their picnic together as he handed her several breadcrumbs to the birds.

"Okay. Maybe if we were swans it wouldn't be an issue, especially that one. Wearing all that jewelry and looking like she's about to peck at someone."

Commenting about the black swan that was passing by them and acting flamboyant than any of the swans around it. Though it looked at the two before honking at them before flashing them in a bright violet light, Hunter and Ashlynn covered their eyes from the sight as they heard the sound of a camera going off. They looked over to see a classmate of theirs, Duchess Swan. Daughter of the Swan Princess and one of the only royals to not have a happily ever after.

"Hey there Ashlynn. Isn't this a lovely sight to see, dating a boy whose destiny will be to hunt after defenseless animals. Especially having a bite to eat near a romantic lake?"

Duchess teased them before showing the secret couple her phone which showed a recording of the two spending time together and dating each other. Hunter was upset at the girl spying on them and wanted to say that it was wrong for her to do this, but Ashlynn stepped in to stop Hunter from saying anything aggressive to the girl.

"Duchess please. This doesn't have to do with anything about our stories or anything, it's just us trying to enjoy the moment together. Please don't tell anyone about this."

Ashlynn pleaded to the swan girl about keeping their relationship a secret and not exposing the video to the school. The black haired girl smiled at how the daughter of Cinderella begged of keeping this a secret since it could spark an outrage to everyone on their relationship, it left her to smile at her before keeping the video safe and in her phone's database.

"Oh, I will. If you could do one little thing, which is giving me your Happily Ever After. In exchange that I won't send this video to the Mirror net and show it to the entirety of the school and Eternia."

She made her demands on being handed a happily ever after which Ashlynn could give since she didn't sign her name in the book. Having no choice in the matter and Duchess having control of the situation, she only nodded to the attention seeking girl in the hope she'd honor the agreement.

"Thank you, Ashlynn. I mean think of it as a burden to be relieved of since now you can be with Hunter without a story. Maybe be a side character in his."

Duchess continued to mess with her before changing back into her swan form and swimming off across the lake leaving the couple in distress of Ashlynn being blackmailed into giving up her story. Deciding that the picnic had to end early, Hunter decided to take Ashlynn somewhere for her to ignore this serious matter and figure out how to handle this along getting back her story. Not knowing there was another set of eyes watching from the sidelines and keeping silent from afar, the one watching it was none other than Mer-boy who slowly rose from the water after the conflict happening.

"Wow. And they say Evil Lyn is evil, that swan lady is vicious."

The Aquatican boy spoke out since it was a surprise to see someone that was intimidating than Evelyn or Faybelle. He pulls out his phone to contact Skeletor and the others since this could be proven useful for their quest to take control of their stories.

"Skeletor. There's been a conflict amongst the royals, apparently one of them is dating a rebel which is none other than Ashlynn and Hunter. And the girl who's blackmailing them is Duchess Swan."

He explained to the skeleton face boy about what he had witness since this type of drama could be useful to him. Waiting in silence to see what he would say to him, Mer-Boy hope that he'd be rewarded for this with a set of stylish clothing or a weapon that could display him as a future ruler of the oceans.

"Fascinating little guppy. We've also have heard about the start of a 'romantic party' happening. Keep your fins out for anything else happening near the lake. Things are about to get exciting."

Skeletor responded to him before hanging up as the Aquatican sunk back into the water to wait for any other type of interesting news that could useful for the evil group of teens who desired power and authority. However, Mer-boy couldn't help but think if there was a party coming and him having the chance to date a mermaid that could be his future queen of the seas. It would have to wait until Skeletor got the necessary things to help get his power and share it with the group, the only thing he and the others could do was wait and see how things would unfold for their classmates and at Ever After High.

I like to give a shout out to 23debal01akabrightbur for the idea of bringing in the character 'DJ' into the story. He represents the kid version from the 2021 version.