Chapter 15: Rewriting Destiny

The day had finally arrived. All the students at Ever After High were gathered at the same place where rehearsals had been held, and much like at the Student Council Debate, were separated between Royal and Rebel. Isabella sat in between Cupid and Kelsey in the third row, with the guys to Kelsey's right. They all stared up anxiously at the platform looming above them, watching as Ashlynn Ella pledged her destiny as the next Cinderella and signed the Storybook of Legends. She was followed by the next fairy godmother, Farrah Goodfairy, who too pledged her destiny and signed.

It had been like this for the last handful of students, and the ones that followed after Ashlynn and Farrah, until it was time for Apple and Raven's turns.

"Next we have Apple White." Headmaster Grimm announced.

Many of the Royals cheered as Apple came up to the podium.

"I am Apple White, daughter of Snow White. And I, am ready to pledge my destiny."

A key magically appeared in front of her upon her declaration. Apple caught it in her right hand, using it to unlock the book. It opened, turning its pages to what was no doubt her story and showing her what her future had in store for her.

It was good, no doubt, as her smile became even bigger, eyes sparkling when a mirror that would show her what her ultimate fate was before becoming a feathery quill. Apple quickly grabbed it, signing the book.

The Royals erupted into cheers again and applauded once she was done. Apple blew kisses to the crowd as she stepped aside, allowing Headmaster Grim to reappear at the podium.

"And next," He announced, "Raven Queen."

A bolt of lightning flashed following his announcement, the sound of ominous thunder accompanying it.

Then there was silence.

An intense silence.

Raven came up to the podium. Just like when she had been called to come up to the platform, she looked extremely anxious. She placed her hands on either side of the podium, and took a deep breath.

"I am Raven Queen," She announced, "daughter of the Evil Queen. And I ... pledge ... um, I..."

Raven's eyes darted around the platform before her magical key appeared. She grabbed it, unlocking the book. Just like with the other students that went before her, it opened to her story.

Isabella watched as Raven's anxious expression slowly became one of fear, then absolute horror when the mirror showing her what her ultimate fate would be appeared.

"I can't look." Isabella said, turning to her left and covering her eyes.

She felt Cupid place a comforting arm around her shoulders.

More silence.

Then-

"I am Raven Queen," Raven's voice sounded more bold and full of determination upon her breaking the intense silence, leading Isabella to look up again curiously. Just like her tone, Raven's expression had changed to match. She stood defiant as she continued, "And I am going to write my own destiny! My happily-ever-after starts now."

She slammed the Storybook of Legends shut.

As if in response, the floating mirror screens shattered.

"Raven!" Isabella exclaimed worriedly along with a few other Rebels, thinking her friend was going to disappear-

Yet nothing else happened.

"YAYYYYY!" Madeline exclaimed, waving her hands in triumphantly in the air as she rose up out of her seat. Her outburst started the collective sighs of relief from the other Rebels that erupted into cheers.

Isabella's own cheer mixed in with the others'.

"Way to go, Raven!" She exclaimed in support, standing up herself.

"Atta girl!" Even Aslan shouted over the cheers.

From the platform, Raven let out her own sigh of relief, then looked down at her hands with a smile before spinning around to confront Headmaster Grimm.

That was when the Royals started a chorus of boos, ruining the Rebels' moment of spellebration.

Yet that was the last thing Isabella was aware of after she heard Raven shout:

"HOLD EVERYTHING!"

"What just happened?"

The words left Isabella's mouth quickly as she looked around. Everyone around her was still, like they had been frozen in time, a pinkish-purple hue about them.

"I ... think I froze everyone."

Isabella immediately turned in the direction she heard Raven's voice echo from. She was still standing on the platform, Madeline at her side. She motioned for Isabella to come up, something she did without contest, glancing out at the frozen crowd.

"What happened?" She asked again, looking at where Cupid, Kelsey, and Chev were specifically.

"I tried to explain myself to Apple, but then the Royals started booing. I got frustrated and ... that happened." Raven explained, looking out at the crowd herself.

"And where's Apple?"

"She took off crying after I unfroze and spoke to her. I tried to get her to understand we all get to choose our own destinies now, but she wouldn't accept it."

"Typical." Isabella looked back at Raven. "So, what now?"

"Think you can help me undo the spell?" Raven asked. "I mean, I did it with you, Apple, and Maddie, but I don't think I can do it to the whole crowd without it, you know, backfiring."

Isabella couldn't help but glance over at where Headmaster Grimm stood frozen.

"I don't know - you don't wanna at least give Headmaster Grimm a shave and then draw a fake mustache on him for lying about you and your story going poof?" She asked jokingly.

Raven busted out laughing, as did Madeline.

"No, I think he'd consider it as a sign that I might've been pulling an evil prank." Raven said.

"Can I at least draw a fake mustache on Daring?"

"What is it with you wanting to draw fake mustaches on people?" Raven asked as she laughed again.

Isabella shrugged. "It was my mom's favorite prank to play when she was in school. And I think Daring would look oh-so charming with one, especially after the way he degraded mine and Kelsey's sword-fighting skills because we're girls."

"Isabella, no."

"Isabella, yes. Maddie, you got a marker?"

"Uh, let's see." Madeline took off her top hat, digging through it and producing a marker. "Here you go."

Isabella let out a maniacal laugh as she took the marker and ran back down the stairs to the left of the platform.

"I really wasn't hexpecting that kind of behavior from her." She heard Raven remark once she started drawing on Daring's face upon her going up to where he was seated.

All Madeline did was laugh madly, even more so when Isabella decided to give Daring a pair of glasses to compliment his new mustache.

"You done yet?" Raven called when she stood up properly, hearing the laughter in her voice.

"One second." Isabella called back as she took out her MirrorPhone from her pocket. She took a picture of her handiwork, then turned around. "Okay, now I'm done."

She rejoined her friends on the platform, handing the marker back to Madeline.

"You sure about this? There's likely gonna be a ton of Royal backlash." She asked Raven in a more serious tone.

"I can't just leave everyone like this." Raven replied, standing next to her. "I've had my moment anyway."

"Alright."

Isabella took a deep breath, her hands beginning to glow with a magical aura as she raised them up into the air, undoing the spell Raven had cast on the crowd.

The rest of Legacy Day was cancelled following Raven's refusal to sign the Storybook of Legends, though this time Headmaster Grimm ordered all the students to return to their dorms and not to come out until morning. He promised refreshments would be brought to them, but threatened a lengthy detention if anyone was caught outside of their dorms.

"What happened to Daring's face?" Kelsey asked once she and Isabella were in their dorm.

"I drew on it." Isabella smirked.

"When'd you do that? Come to think of it, when did you and Maddie get on stage?"

"Raven accidentally froze everyone in frustration when the Royals started their stupid booing. She undid the spell on me and Maddie, then asked me to cast the counterspell for the whole crowd since she was cautious that it might backfire on her. I used the opportunity to draw on Daring's face in revenge for that comment he made towards us that one time."

"Okay, one, that's rather childish, but hilarious." Kelsey said with a laugh. "And two, you lost me. If Raven's magic allowed her to cast the spell, then why couldn't it undo it?"

"Um, dark magic? It worked initially because she technically did something evil."

"But it sounds like she wasn't doing anything evil when she unfroze you and Maddie."

Isabella opened her mouth to argue back, but stopped herself when she thought on it.

"Got a point there." She agreed.

Kelsey took a seat on her bed.

"Least we know one thing." She said.

"And that's?" Isabella responded.

"Headmaster Grimm's claim was a total lie."

"Agreed." Isabella sat down on her own bed. "So, what now?"

"Don't you have a boyfriend to talk to?"

Isabella glanced at her MirrorPhone, which rested on her bed next to where she was sitting. She felt a bit of heat rush to her face as she thought of Chev, how he'd disobeyed Headmaster Grimm's order that everyone head directly to their dorms upon being unfrozen, spreading his wings and flying over to the platform in order to check on her. Their interaction had been brief, consisting of a few words and a tender embrace before they were forced to separate due to Headmaster Grimm furiously repeating his orders at them.

"Guess I do." She replied. "Still feels weird hearing someone say that aloud though."

"You've never had a boyfriend before, have you?"

"Not really."

"Well, you're not alone." Kelsey sighed.

"You gonna call Marnin? I noticed him try to approach you before everyone was forced to vamoose." Isabella suggested when she noticed her roommate sulk a little sadly.

"He did?"

"Yeah."

"Huh ... maybe I will give him a call." Kelsey grabbed her MirrorPhone.

Isabella did the same, dialing Chev's number.

As she waited for him to answer, she absentmindedly went over to the window on her side of the dorm, looking out at the darkened sky. She got the feeling that the day's events were felt not just throughout the fairytale world, but also throughout the other worlds that had connections to Ever After.

A spark had really been lit with Raven's actions, and Isabella silently vowed to continue to support and protect her friend along with all the other Rebels, no matter what tomorrow brought.

That was what her heart was telling her to do, and she was going to let it be her guiding key.

Credits: Most of the chapter was written using dailogue/scenes from the episode "The Tale of Legacy Day".

Author's Note: I pictured Isabella's mother being a prankster when she was in school, with Isabella acting like she did at times.

On another note, this is the final chapter, though I'll be working on subsequent sequel stories, as mentioned last chapter. However, I plan to do some of them from the perspective of my other OCs to flesh them out a little more.

Thank you to all who've read this far. It means a lot to me. For those who want more, keep an eye on my profile page, as some of the sequel stories will be categorized as pure Ever After High fics.