A Royal on Skull Island Ch. 12
The Ever Afterans, minus Apple and Faybelle, find themselves at the largest of the many tables surrounding a fire pit. Even Kitty with a splintered leg was assisted to the table by a couple of locals.
Soon many foods are placed in front of them as well as small bowls with unfamiliar liquid.
Maddie was first to sample the drink. "Ooh! I don't know what it is but it's almost better than tea. Almost," she removes her hat. "It will be great with some crumpets…" the Wonderlander stuck her hand in the hat only to remember one detail once it met the bottom. "Oh… right," and places it back over her head. "I can't do that anymore."
The others were enjoying the drink themselves.
"Careful," Apple tells them, announcing her presence. The Snow White approaches them wearing a more regal and decorative version of the attire she had on before. "Too much of that would be about the equivalent of the stuff Prof. Badwolf keeps hidden in his office."
The others eyed the drink in front of them. They recall when some of the more troubling students at Ever After actually managed to steal Badwolf's special drink and ended up causing a mess on the bookball field. The next day, they woke up in the school's infirmary, claiming that they had no memory of what happened. It was around that same time, Badwolf placed a lock on one of the drawers of his desk.
"Wow!" Darling let out, seeing Apple in the new attire. Her face then reddens as she realizes that she's staring. Glancing at everyone around her and noticing that they're giving the youngest Charming a knowing smirk.
Kitty asks, "What's with the new get up?"
"Being the High Priestess, I must perform a ceremonial dance to Kong," the Royal sits next to Darling.
"I'm sure you perform this duty as perfectly as everything else around here," Darling nots.
That causes the Snow White to let out a laugh. "I may seem perfect now but trust me. I was a mess when I started. My first Moonlight Feast was such a disaster," her face falls into her hands as the memory of what happened crawls to the surface. "If it wasn't for Kong, I'd still have kept myself locked in my hut."
Darling then comments, "Am I really going to have to compete with a giant ape?"
Apple looks up at her first in disbelief and the giggles. "Being Kong's Bride, as important as it is, is merely symbolic. Nothing more," she shrugs. "Plenty of my predecessors had partners of their own and still performed their duties."
That causes the youngest Charming to smile. Then drums started beating.
"Oh! Got to go," Apple takes off. "I'll be back when I'm done!"
As if summoned by the drums, Kong started approaching the gathering in the village. The giant takes a seat in the middle next to a pile of food. In front of him, many locals in garbs not too different from Apple's, just not standing out as much, have approached, led by the Royal herself. The drumming stopped and is soon replaced by new more soothing music as Apple and the locals started dancing to the rhythm. Something about how they swayed seemed almost hypnotic. Especially the Bride of Kong.
As the performance went on, Kong lowers his hand and keeping with the rhythm, the other dancers assisted Apple up where she continues dancing in his palm as the Ape raises his arm back up to where the Royals is at eye level. The music starts slowing as Apple falls to her knees, seemingly offers herself to the Gorilla. And with a final beat of drums, their foreheads meet.
After a moment, Kong lets Apple down where she announces, "Let the Feast begin!" and the locals cheered. Soon, everyone was either eating or dancing. Even a few of the Ever Afterans were pulled into the fun and started enjoying themselves. None more so than Hunter and Ashlynn who do not seem to be in the right state of mind.
.oOo.
Faybelle remains in the distance, just glaring at everyone enjoying themselves. She then notices her fairy tale rival approaching her with a plate of food and bowl filled with the drink.
"Having fun being stuck on a long-lost island?" the Dark Fairy spat out.
Briar sighs. "This isn't about having fun. We've had a long journey here. We're all tired, Faybelle and just taking this chance to rest before coming up with a plan. Tomorrow, the others and I are going to group up so we can figure out how we're going to get home," she then offers the food only to receive a huff as the fairy crosses her arms and turns away. releasing a sigh, the Sleeping Beauty just sets the offered meal on the ground. Hoping her friend would at least nibble on something to keep up her strength.
Faybelle continues glaring at the Sleeping Beauty until she was out of sight. The Dark Fairy then glances down at the food, grabs a piece of fruit and munches on it. "Huh? Not bad."
.oOo.
After hours of partying, everyone was finally tired. Even gone ended up retreating back to the temple.
Apple leads her friends to what appear to be some newly built huts. "Here you go. The villagers built these so that you may have a place to stay. One for the girls and the other for the guys. Wish there was more that we could have done. But with preparations for the Feast going on as well, there wasn't much time."
"This is more than enough," Raven tells her friends as everyone else started entering their assigned hunts. "What about you?"
The Royal points in another direction. "Mine is just over there. If anyone needs me, that's where you'll find me. Goodnight, everyone," the Snow White curtsies before taking off. Planning on turning in for the night as well.
Raven sighs as she turns to the hut and watches as Alister hands Bunny over to Maddie who promises to watch over her. Just before entering the girl's hut, the Evil Queen took notice of something.
"Hey!" she calls out. "Has anyone seen Ashlynn!?"
Daring stuck his head out of the boy's hut. "I last saw her with Hunter. I think they were going to be part of the after party."
At that, Briar stuck her head out of the girl's hut. "After party!? Where!?" and when the Charming pointed, the Sleeping Beauty took off.
Daring then adds. "Perhaps I should mention that they didn't seem all too much like themselves."
They simply shrugged before going into their respective huts.
.oOo.
After the everyone else fell asleep, Darling tiptoes out of the hut and makes her way towards Apple's. She feels the need to talk to her fellow princess without any onlookers.
Once the Charming enters the hut, she expected to find the Snow White slumbering peacefully. Instead, she is met Apple tossing and turning, seemingly struggling against something.
"No…" apple groans. "Their gone… my fault… all my fault…"
"Apple?" Darling slowly approaches he blonde and gently nudged the Snow White whose eyes shot wide open.
.oOo.
The shriek pierced through the night, awaking everyone in hearing range.
Daring wearing a sleep mask stuck his head out of the boy's hut. "That's not another Grimm awful creature is it?"
Raven then rushes out of the girl's hut. "That's Apple!" followed by the rest of the girls. The boys soon followed after. "Apple!" the Evil Queen's daughter enters the hut to find her Fairy Tale rival crying in the arms of Darling. Everyone just stared at the sight.
Suddenly, the tiny building around them rumbled before the walls were lifted off the ground. Kong had picked up the hut and set it over to the side. The Ape lets out a low moan, signifying that he is worried.
"Sorry, Kong," Apple sniffles. "It was just the night terrors."
Darling looks between the Royal and the giant and sense that she should leave. However! after taking a couple steps back, her back seemingly met a wall. Turning, the youngest Charming finds the gorilla's hand.
Kong pushes Darling closer towards Apple, confusing the platinum blonde.
The Snow White lets out a small laugh. "Kong senses that you calm me. Which is kinda true."
Darling looks back up at Kong who gives a small nod. The Charming continues embracing Apple.
"This may be a little embarrassing, but would you mind staying here for the rest of the night?"
"Of course. I promise that I will never leave you, Apple."
"Thanks."
The rest of the Ever Afterans watch the tender moment until the hut is placed back over the two.