The enchanted library of Ever After High was unusually quiet, the kind of silence that hummed with intensity rather than calm. Floating quills paused mid-scribble, enchanted books turned their own pages more gently, and even the suits of armor in the Hall of Legends kept their clanks to a minimum.

Raven Queen sat tucked in the shadowy alcove of her favorite study nook, the one near the stained-glass window depicting the Legacy Day Oath. Her black crystal-studded laptop cast a soft violet glow across her face, illuminating the concentration in her amethyst eyes.

On the screen was her masterpiece—her final project for Myths and Modern Magic—a fully animated, voice-enchanted presentation titled "The Power of Choice: A History of Rebellious Magic." It was bold, original, and maybe a little risky. Just like her.

"I just need to finish syncing the sound spell to the rebellion timeline," Raven muttered, biting her lip as she typed.

Behind her, Dexter Charming sat across the table, pretending to read his textbook while secretly stealing glances at her. His heart fluttered every time she muttered to herself or brushed her hair back behind one ear. There was something so real about Raven—raw, passionate, totally unfiltered. And she still had no idea how amazing she was.

Then suddenly—

FZZT!

The screen flickered once. Twice. Then went dark. An eerie silence filled the air.

Raven's mouth dropped open. "What… just happened?"

She poked the power button. Nothing.

"No." She pressed it again. And again. "No no no no NO!"

Dexter shot up, startled. "What's wrong?!"

It died!" Raven cried, holding the lifeless laptop up like a cursed relic. "It's completely fried! It just gave up on life! My project's in there and I didn't save it—like, fully save it—because I was focusing on the animation spell and the sound timing and—"

"Wait, what? You didn't save it to the cloud?"

She groaned and let her head thunk onto the desk. "Of course I didn't save it to the cloud. I was too busy making history rebellious again. Ughhh."

Dexter looked at her, then at the laptop, then back at her.

"I'm gonna fix this," he said, standing up like a knight preparing for a quest. "I swear on my family's honor."

"Dex—what are you talking about?"

"I'm gonna find you a new laptop. One that actually works. Even if I have to battle a fire-breathing dragon for it."

Before she could say anything, he was already gone, nearly tripping over his chair on the way out.

Raven blinked after him. "That boy…"

The hallways of Ever After High buzzed with after-class chaos—magical creatures flying above, students teleporting from class to class, and the occasional enchanted scroll zipping through the air. Dexter ran through it all, dodging spark-spewing potion kits and a trio of first-years arguing about whether love potions counted as "ethical chemistry.

First stop: Maddie Hatter.

He barged into the Wonderland Club Room, breathless.

"Maddie—I need a laptop. Raven's project was on hers, and it crashed, and she's gonna miss the deadline and—"

"A laptop?" Maddie twirled in place, her teacup earrings clinking. "You're in luck! I have one that sings lullabies when it boots up and sometimes turns into a hedgehog!"

Dexter's expression flattened.

"It also only works upside-down," she added helpfully.

"Yeah… I think I'll keep looking."

Next stop: Hunter Huntsman, in the outdoor study courtyard.

"Sorry, man," Hunter said, adjusting his vine-wrapped wristband. "I use a bark-based scroll-pad. It's made of compressed tree leaves and sustainable magic."

"It doesn't have a screen?"

"Nature is my screen."

Dexter groaned and kept running.

At her locker, Apple White smoothed her skirt, checked her magic mirror alerts, and adjusted her golden headband. She was halfway through reviewing her presentation—"Perfect Princesses in Perfect History"—when a blur of royal blue and panic rushed past.

Dexter Charming.

He stopped, turned back, ran in the opposite direction, then came back again, now carrying what looked like an entire desktop computer in both arms.

Apple raised an eyebrow.

"Dexter?"

He paused, panting. "Apple—please—do you have a laptop?"

She tilted her head, clearly amused. "Yes… why?"

"Raven's computer died. She's going to lose her whole project unless I get her another one. Please."

Apple regarded him silently for a moment. She had always admired Dexter for his kindness, but she hadn't expected this level of devotion.

"You really care about her, don't you?" she asked, voice softer than usual.

Dexter's eyes met hers, earnest and flushed. "She's… Raven. Of course I do."

Apple didn't smile right away. Her expression stayed thoughtful as she reached into her golden bag and pulled out a sleek white laptop with her royal crest on the back.

"She'll need to reformat the spell drive for dark magic compatibility," she said, handing it over. "But it should work."

"Thank you! Apple, I—really, thank you."

Apple shrugged one shoulder. "Go save her story."

Raven was slumped in her chair when Dexter returned, soaked from running in the rain that had started outside. He held the sparkling white laptop like it was the crown jewel of a kingdom.

"I found one," he said proudly, breathless.

"You—" Raven blinked. "Dexter, you look like you fought a tornado. Did you actually run through the storm?"

"It was only slightly tornado-adjacent."

She stared at him. "You're ridiculous."

"And yet…" he handed her the laptop, brushing a damp curl out of her face, "you love me anyway."

She took the laptop, their fingers brushing. "Don't get cocky, Charming."

As she worked on recovering what she could—Dexter by her side helping re-type lost sections, watching her work with awe—she realized just how lucky she was.

Dexter wasn't just charming by name. He was loyal, thoughtful, and never afraid to go all-in when someone needed him.

Especially her.

Apple sat at her desk that night, her own presentation glowing in front of her. Everything was perfect: transitions flawless, statistics sparkling, citations alphabetized by spell type.

But her thoughts weren't on her work.

They were on Dexter and Raven. The way he'd run through the halls like a knight in enchanted armor, not for glory, but because he cared. And the way Raven—fierce, independent Raven—had smiled at him with such soft gratitude.

Apple looked down at her mirror.

"Destiny's perfect path," she whispered. "But what if it's not the only one?"