Blondie holds her microphone closer, hoping her audience will hear her over the furious crowd behind her. Several students hold picket signs, chanting and yelling up towards the school building. Every so often, a magic spell whizzes through the air. Blondie holds her arm over her head for cover.

"This is Blondie Lockes reporting live outside Ever After High where several students are engaging in a very heated protest!" She yelps and ducks as another spell flies over her head. "Things are not just right with this crowd. Ever since Headmaster Grimm hexpelled local Rebel and destined Evil Queen, Raven Queen, the entire school has been divided. Did Raven deserve to be kicked out? Or, has our Headmaster broken his crown?"

\/

"Raven totally didn't deserve to be hexpelled!" Cedar affirms. "I mean, sure. She did refuse to sign the Storybook of Legends, destroyed the Storybook of Legends, let out Sapsorrow, caused a few fires - "

\/

"Raven's saved Ever After more times than anyone this year!" Rosabella presses, holding up a picket sign. "That should spell it out for everyone!"

\/

"You know what? I'm gonna say it: I'm glad she's gone," Duchess hisses. "I mean, are we just gonna pretend that Magic Sap didn't happen? Now she can stop meddling with our fates and things can all go back to norma - "

\/

"Headmaster Grimm has gone too far." Apple clasps her hands together. "Raven would never knowingly do something that would put anyone in danger. And as for Sapsorrow, what she did was not right, but I saw the truth! Raven only wanted to make sure what happened to Sapsorrow happily never happens again. To anyone."

\/

"We tried reaching out to Headmaster Grimm for comment, but we have received no word thus far." A spell smacks into the camera, knocking Humphrey off his feet. Blondie lunges to catch the camera and record herself. "A-As of yet, students have refused to attend classes until Raven returns. Several have even taken it upon themselves to search for our friend. But one question remains: Wherever after is Raven Queen?"

Darling enters the castleteria out of breath. Between helping both Rosabella organize the protest and Cerise leading the search for Raven, Darling is exhausted. Sitting at one of the tables, Dexter frantically slides through his phone and MirrorPad. Darling slides in next to him.

"Any word?"

"No!" Dexter moans. "I've tried calling. I've tried hexting. I've tried all her socials, but nothing! It's like she just went...poof."

Suddenly a scary thought pops into Darling's head. "Y-You don't think she's...?"

"No, no!" Dexter pulls out his MirrorPhone. "I've been keeping in touch with Hades. No word of her down there."

Darling breathes a sigh of relief. "Well, that helps some. But that still doesn't tell us where she is."

As Darling finishes, Daring sits down at their table, a pizza box in hand. "Hey, sibs."

"Daring, you haven't seen Raven, have you?" Darling asks.

"Not sure what made you think I would." He takes a slice from the box and takes a bite. "Pizza?"

"Daring, this is serious!" Dexter says. "Raven left in a hurry, and she may have gotten herself hurt."

"I think you're worrying a bit too much, little bro. She's the daughter of the Evil Queen. No one would dare mess with her." Daring shoves the pizza slice into his mouth.

"That's not what I meant," Dexter explains. "I mean she literally left in a hurry. Like, teleported right out of the library. And she was...royally upset."

Darling sets a hand on her brother's shoulder.

"We'll find her," she promises. "There must be something we're not seeing. Where would someone go to lay low?"

"The Enchanted Forest?" Dexter points.

She shakes her head. "We've looked through there twice."

"What about Wonderland?" Daring throws out.

"That's not hexactly a place where someone can lay low for very long. Believe me, I've tried," Darling mumbles.

"Do you think we should trying checking in on Apple?" Dexter suggests. Darling and Daring freeze. He sighs. "Okay, let's just lay this all out on the table, because I'm tired of being in the middle of another thing with you two!"

"Oh, easy for you to say!" Daring points at him. "We're all lucky that so-called 'kiss' wasn't being broadcast for all of Ever After to see!"

"Well, was it a kiss or mouth-to-mouth?" Dexter asks.

Darling shrugs. "Ti-ara, Ti-ahra."

"Do you have any idea what will happen if they find out?!" Daring looks around nervously, as if the "they" he'd mentioned will pop out at any time. Dexter glances down at the floor.

Darling shakes her head. "It's been an entire year, and they haven't said anything yet. What are the odds they'll spell it out to us now?"

"Attention!" Mrs. Trollsworth's voice drones from the loudspeaker. "Would - Hey! You can't - "

"Yes, we can! We are heads of the Heir and Teachers Association. Daring, Dexterous, and Darling Charming. Report to the Headmaster's office immediately! We don't adhere to waiting."

The Charmings stare at the speaker in horror. "DAD?!"

The three Charming siblings sit in the Headmaster's office, backs straight and heads down. Darling peeks up through her eyelashes. Sometimes she is just as astounded as anyone who has the courage to meet with her parents. Her father, with his stern brow and waxed moustache, had taught for their first year. Like any good king, he knows his kingdom and subjects inside and out, and he does not take kindly to any slights. Her mother, the epitome of grace, never hesitates to put anyone in their place if she disagrees with them. Her soft baby blue eyes and kind smile mask a truly powerful woman. Headmaster Grimm sits stoically behind his desk.

"I honestly can't believe this!" Queen Charming starts, her hands delicately folded over her chest. "My children, tangled up in such...such...chaos!"

"Do you know how worried we've been since that Legacy Day travesty?!" King Charming seethes. One can sense how angry he is by the number of emphases he places in his sentences. "And now we've come to learn our own son is dating the one responsible for this mess in the first place!"

Dexter cringes as if he's been struck.

"And, as if it couldn't possibly be any worse," the King continues. "Our daughter on a dragon! And you allowed this to happen!" He points at Grimm.

The Queen sets a delicate hand on his shoulder. "Now, Forthright. We can't blame our beloved Headmaster for our children's terrible choices."

Darling rolls her eyes.

"And Daring!" Daring's head snaps up, and Darling catches a look of fear in his eyes. King Charming shakes his head, his brow furrowing. "I hexpected better of you. What's all this talk about hanging up the sword and Forest Club? This isn't the hero we raised you to be."

Daring opens his mouth to say something, but he hangs his head.

"Have I left anything out?!"

"Uh..." Daring glances at the floor. "Well...there's a bunch of other stuff you don't know about."

Darling leans over. "Shh!"

"Actually, no. I think that's everything."

The Charming parents glance between each other. Darling struggles to suppress a glare. Sometimes she wonders if her parents could read each other's minds, if they think exactly the same. They could look at each other for half a second and know instantly what they would do with their children.

"Can I say something?" Dexter asks meekly, but it hits Darling with the force of a shout. Daring looks over as well, his eyebrows shot up to his hairline. Of the three of them, it is Dexter who is willing to speak first?!

King Charming holds up his hand to stop him, but the Queen takes her husband's arm delicately. She turns to Dexter and nods. "Yes, dear. What is it?"

"W-Well..." he stutters. "Would it... really be so bad if I were with Raven?"

The King throws his arms up in exasperation. "You see?! This is what I'm talking about. We let you out of our sights for one chapter and - "

"But what does it matter?!" Dexter interjects. The room goes silent, and he shrinks again. "I-I mean...I didn't even know what my destiny was, anyway. I-It could be anything, really! Why can't my destiny involve being with Raven?"

Darling smiles. She's never seen this side of him, but it's a pleasant change. Queen Charming covers her mouth and buries her face in King Charming's shoulder. King Charming knits his brow. "Dexterous, I thought you were smarter than this. This girl, this...heretic! She doesn't think of the traditions our family upholds. How can you be sure these feelings are real? How do you know she hasn't slipped you a love potion?"

"She'd - " Dexter starts.

"We know you think you love her, dear," the Queen adds. "But, there are so many other girls who would love your attention. That Rosabella girl seems...well, she's pretty. Isn't she?"

Daring grips the sides of his chair, and Darling swears she hears a low growl rumble in his throat.

"Rosabella and I have nothing in common!" Dexter argues.

"And you and the Evil Princess do?!"

Darling's jaw lowers open at the scene. Dexter is standing up to their parents, Daring is on the verge of going feral, and meanwhile Headmaster Grimm is leaning back in his chair playing solitaire! She wonders if she had taken a wrong turn on the way here and ended up in Wonderland instead.

King Charming groans. "We can deal with this later, Dexterous. For now, Daring needs our attention more than ever."

Daring nearly falls out of his chair. "Me?!"

"Yes!" their father affirms. "Clearly, if this Rebel nonsense has gotten to your head, then we are dealing with something deadly serious. Your destiny cannot be wasted, Daring."

"Bu-But - " he stutters.

The Queen nods. "Yes, dear. We know about Apple."

Daring knits his brow and shake his head. How could they have - ? He darts his eyes over to Grimm, who taps his mirror ring knowingly before laying down another card.

"Everything is under control. We spoke with Snow White, and we believe there is no reason this situation can't be resolved. After all, not every generation has written out their story hexactly as the previous one had. Let's consider this a first draft."

Daring darts his eyes between his parents and Grimm. "What if I don't...want that?"

"Daring, you don't know what you want," King Charming scolds gently. He sighs. "Don't take this the wrong way, but you can't make decisions for yourself. Look where it's gotten you! Roaming the forest like some beast."

Daring flinches at the last word.

"Oh, but don't worry, dear. We'll make sure everything goes hexactly as planned," the Queen promises. "No more Rebel nonsense getting in the way. Everything will be just as it was."

"B-But - " he stammers.

She shoves a mirror into his hand. "Here, this will make you feel better."

Daring stares into the mirror. He sees his face has gone deathly pale, his eyes staring back at him straight into his soul. He grips the mirror handle as his hands begin to tremble. King Charming turns to address all of them.

"Now, you will be spending the majority of your time doing some much needed schoolwork. Actually, I'm appalled you three aren't in class right now. What are you thinking?!"

Now Darling's had it! And, from the shade of red on his face, so is Dexter. She opens her mouth to object, but Daring stands up. "R-Right. Sorry."

Whatever speech Darling had prepared flies from her mind as Daring heads towards the door. Dexter and Darling exchange a quick glance before stepping up to follow him out. Darling looks over her shoulder, shooting one quick piercing glare at her parents, and slams the door.

King Charming whirls around to Headmaster Grimm. "Alright! We've done our part! Now for your end!"

Grimm flings all the cards off his desk and presses a button underneath. Instantly, the desktop opens up and a large, rectangular mirror slides up. On the mirror's surface, Daring's worried face shimmers into view. King Charming shakes his head.

"I still can't wrap my head around this theory. "Disobedience"." His mustache curls downward in a disgusted sneer. "As if my children would disobey us for some witch!"

"I actually have no doubt they would," Grimm grumbles. "Troubled children tend to make their loyalties elsewhere, and their loyalties will lead me straight to what I'm looking for."

Queen Charming narrows her eyes at him. "You plan to use our children to get to the shadow girl?!"

"It is the safest way, Your Royal Highness," Grimm explains, taking her hand gently. "For the safety of your children and your kingdom."

"And what of Raven Queen?" King Charming demands. "Surely her actions warrant some sort of punishment as well!"

"And there will be," Grimm promises. "in time." He directs his gaze back to the mirror screen. "One chapter at a time."

\/

Daring holds his mirror in a death grip as he follows Darling and Dexter. Darling takes the front, seething and clenching her fists.

"Can you believe that?!" she spits. "All year, they sit back and nothing, but now they're worried?!"

Dexter runs to catch up with her. He has never seen her this angry before. He understands; he agrees! Listening to his parents slandering Raven makes him just as angry. But knowing Darling's temperament, someone needs to make sure no one is in the vicinity to get hurt.

"Dar, I'm angry too. But what we need to do right now is ca - "

"If you say 'calm down', I will calmly shove a spear down your throat!" He frowns, his brow furrowing. She takes a deep breath, but it does nothing to slow her pounding heartbeat. "I'm sorry, Dex. I didn't mean that. It's just...Oh, I swear! Sometimes they just make me wanna - ARGH!" She slams her fist into the nearest locker, causing a large dent.

Daring jumps back, but Dexter sighs in frustration. "You feel better?"

"No," she grumbles.

He gently ushers her back with them, and they continue down the hall.

"So, what now?" Dexter asks. "Finding an Evil Queen in a high school has been hard enough. But how are we supposed to do it with those two breathing fire down our necks?"

"Hey, I know they were being royally uncool in there." Daring says. "But, they...they're probably just worried about us."

"Maybe they are, in their own way, but..." Dexter shakes his head. "Daring, how am I supposed to go to class when my girlfriend might be gone?!"

Daring glances away from them. "I don't see what else we can do."

As Daring ends his sentence, Darling heads up the corridor towards the exit.

"Uh, Darling," he calls, pointing the opposite direction. "Class is this way."

She stops and peers at them over her shoulder, her eyes narrowed. Dexter looks between his sister and his brother, and he understands. He steps around Daring to join Darling.

"Where the hex do you think you're going?!" Daring calls out to them.

"What do you think we're doing?" Darling snaps. "Daring! ...Daring," her voice lowers to something calmer. "I know what Mom and Dad said, but this is more important than what they want. This is our friend, and she might be in trouble. You wouldn't abandon anyone in need, would you?"

"Don't tell me what I would do!" he says. "Maybe we've just been too careless. We got distracted and now we really need to focus on our destinies!"

"I can't do that, Daring! Not right now." She takes a step towards him. "We've really tried supporting you when you need it. Now we need you."

Daring knits his brow together, his eyes growing dark and pensive. He's supported them. He's helped Dexter more times than he can count, and Darling - well, maybe Darling did need his help sometimes. He remembered what she had said, after his kiss with Apple didn't work:

"I'm not a damsel in distress!"

She had been so mad at him. His big moment, and she was mad at him! Why couldn't she see that he was suffering? Why couldn't she see that his life is coming apart at the seams?!

"So, are you with us?"

"I-I-I... uh..." He turns away from them suddenly and looks down at his trembling hand. He grabs his wrist to stop it. His skin begins to crawl, his veins tightening, as he looks at down at himself in horror. "I gotta go!"

Before they could see what happened, Daring had already taken off down the hallway and disappeared.

Dexter shakes his head. "Don't you think you were a bit harsh with him?"

"I'll...apologize to him later" Darling sighs. "We gotta think. Somewhere we haven't looked! Someone we haven't asked!"

Dexter purses his lips, staring at her over the rim of his glasses. He knows and she knows, and Darling nods dejectedly.

Sunlight streams into Apple's room, casting over her bed. She sets her MirrorPad aside and buries her face in her hands. Maybe if she had gone with Raven to the Underworld, things would have gone differently. But the thought of all those dead souls, swimming in cold rivers, withered and pale - A horrible thought came over her. Could Raven be one of them by now?!

No! she thinks. Raven is stronger than that. She knows how to handle herself out there.

She holds her knees close to her, her chest tightening with guilt and regret. Hundreds of thoughts raced through her head, one pushing to the front: Why did she ask Raven to be her prince?

She knew why.

She hadn't wanted to believe it for so long, but she couldn't lie to herself anymore. It was the reason Daring's kiss didn't work. She had wanted to be close to Raven all year, to push her in the right direction. For them to be safe, they had to play their parts. Apple had wanted her loved ones to be safe more than anything, including Raven. Especially Raven.

A rap at the door tosses her from her thoughts. She leaps to her feet.

"Raven?!" She races to the door and flings it open. "Oh. Hi, Dexter. D-Darling..."

The Charming twins stand awkwardly outside her threshold. Both look tired and disheveled (as much as any prince or princess could be). Dexter's glasses are covered in smudges, which do well to hide the dark circles under his eyes. Darling's eyes are wild and her hair is slightly frizzy, as if she had thrown herself into a tizzy. She frantically types on her MirrorPhone. Dexter gives Apple a wave. He gives Darling a nudge, and she smiles at Apple. Apple's chest tightens; she ignores it. She steps aside, allowing the siblings into her dorm room.

"Hey, Apple...Can we come in?" Darling asks.

Apple obligingly steps aside, allowing the siblings in. Darling turns herself around the room, taking in Raven's empty side of the room.

"Sorry for barging in, Apple." Dexter sighs.

"It's okay," Apple replies. "Have you found Raven?"

He shakes his head. "Not yet. We were wondering if maybe you know anywhere she might have gone?"

Apple hangs her head and sinks to the steps in front of her bed. Darling tears her eyes away from the empty side to gaze at Apple. Dexter looks over at Darling, uncertainty on his face. Darling sighs, feeling the last of her anger fade away. She crosses the room and lowers herself beside her.

"I'm sorry." Apple wipes her face. "It just feels too familiar, you know?"

Darling nods. "Yeah."

"Are you two doing okay?"

"D-Don't worry about us!" Dexter says quickly. He yanks his laptop from his bag and opens it, sitting on Apple's other side. On the screen, a map of the area covered in red dots pops up. "I think we need to cover our bases one more time. Was there anywhere Raven hung out where she could be alone? Maybe somewhere new."

Apple gazes at her shoes in thought. "Maybe the Dark Forest...o-or maybe the Elvish District. She said something about buying some new jewelry - no! I'm sorry, this isn't helpful, is it? Oh, we're wasting time!" She snatches the laptop away from Dexter and scrolls through the map. "Where haven't we looked?! Who haven't we asked?!"

"I think we can help."

They look up. Rosabella and Cerise saunter through the open door, Rosa taking care to shut it. "Sorry for being so late."

"What are they doing here?" Dexter asks.

"I hexted Rosa." Darling holds up her phone. "I thought they might have a few leads."

"Wait," Dexter says. "If Rosabella's here, then who's leading the rally?"

\/

"If the scales of saucers are held by a snake, how long will it be before the clocktower breaks?!"

Maddie holds the picket sign above her head. Despite the picket sign being only a picture of a tree and no one understanding a word out of her mouth, the crowd in the courtyard cheer in agreement. The charismatic girl stomps her feet on the steps, ready to rally them further.

"I shall do my best, dear narrator!" she yells. "The lions will roar, the roses bloom red, to unearth the man with the stone on his head!"

\/

"She'll be fine," Rosa waves it off. "She's the student council president - sorry, co-president." She looks pointedly at Apple. She holds her hand out for the laptop. "Can I see that?"

Apple hands it over, and Rosa starts scrolling through it.

"We looked through the entire Enchanted Forest," Cerise shrugs. "I even had a few fairies search the Dark Forest, but nothing. I couldn't pick up a scen - I mean, Carmine, my wolf pup - the wolf couldn't pick up a scent." She pulls at her hood. "Anyway, once we started to narrow things down, there are a couple places we should be checking out."

Rosabella flips the laptop around, pointing at a few empty spots. "Most of them are pretty far outside of the school, but there is one place on campus we haven't checked."

She zooms in on a blank spot just a ways into the Enchanted Forest. Darling slaps her hand over her face.

"Oh, hex no!"