Chapter Text
The bell had rung meaning the last class of the day was over. Ginger had Chemythstry run by Professor Rumple Stiltskin who was always grouchy. She was partnered with Faybelle and though she could be a bit snide at times she helped her and enjoyed talking with her.
But after the bell rang Ginger ran out of class as fast as she could so she wouldn't have to run into Helga Crumb or her brother Gus in the hallways. Because she was supposed to become the villain to the story, they didn't treat her very well and they had gotten everyone else to think she was evil causing them to whisper behind her back or throw things at her because she was a witch.
Sighing with relief that nothing had happened she headed straight to her room to do homework. She found it best to get that out of the way first. As she scribbled down answer after answer at her desk her head started to wander elsewhere.
The White Knight had yet to leave her mind, which she felt stupid for. After all she doubted they had even given her one thought.
She sighed as her roommate Melody came in, threw her backpack on her bed and went to her laptop, and started to play music as she did most often.
“What's wrong?" she asked, looking over at Ginger.
“Oh, it's fine, just stumped on this question”. Ginger said, putting her best quizzical look on.
“Do you need any help?”
“No thank you, I think I just figured it out.”
“Oh, ok” she went back to listening to music in her headphones.
Ginger was unsure if she should tell anyone about the White Knight or what happened. Though she knew she would keep their secret of how they got out of Wonderland. But she figured there was no point and it would draw attention to them and might make things difficult.
As she finished her homework up she picked up her cauldron purse and headed for the door. “I'm going to head out to Book End and get some coffee. Do you want anything?”.
“Uh, sure can you get me some coffee too?” Melody smiled over at her.
Ginger nodded with a smile back and closed the door behind her.
She walked down the halls still thinking about the White Knight when she didn't notice an open locker that was right in front of her. One that she slammed her head directly into.
“Ow,” she muttered, adjusting her glasses.
Closing the locker quickly Darling looked over at her in worry. “Oh my, are you ok?”
Ginger laughed rubbing her forehead “Yeah I'm ok, just a lot on my mind is all”.
Darling wasn't in any of her classes as she was a princess and Ginger was a witch of her story. But what she knew of her was that she was nice and had a bit of mystery to her, like there was more to her than she was leading on.
A trait she liked in a person.
They smiled at each other and realized they were both heading the same way when Ginger bumped into her walking past her again “Oh I'm sorry, um where are you heading?”
“I'm going to hang out with some friends at book end” Daring replied, slinging a bag over her soldier, Ginger guessed it was her gym bag though she didn't know she took sports. But she was sure Darling had the skills to do so.
“Oh yeah me too” Ginger lied. She had many friends, she just wasn't close enough to hang out with them.
“Cool, did you want to walk together?”. Darling asked.
Ginger eagerly accepted, happy to have someone in her company and that someone be Darling charming who was way too cool for her.
They continued walking down the hallway and out the building down to Book-End where most kids went after school to hangout. They finally made it to the village of Book End. Both walking in a comfortable silence.
“Ok, I'll see you around.”
“Ok, Thanks for walking with me!”
“No problem” Darling waved as she walked away.
Just as Ginger took one step towards Hocus Latte but saw the Crumb kids sitting at a table.
“Oh no” she quickly hid beyond a trash can unsure of what else to do.
“Eugh this coffee is too bitter, I need something sweeter”. Except they came over to throw their cups away and it missed and hit her on the head. When they noticed the now covered in coffee Ginger they screamed and ran away.
“Phew” Ginger sighed in relief though the coffee burned a little, “Ow.”
Only other problem was it drew attention to her from other kids.
“Hey, is that Ginger? The Witch that tried to eat Hansel and Gretel?”.
“Ew,” one of the students said and the other two laughed with her.
She was not the same person as her mom. Why couldn't these people understand that? Ginger thought, tears springing in her eyes.
Except something weird happened, Helga and Gus were now running back over to her hiding behind her. She looked up to see what could be so scary and hid back a shriek of fear.
A dragon was shooting fire over Book End. Students ran away in panic, hiding wherever they could. And Ginger did the same, except a blast of fire was coming right at her and the crumb twins. Ginger ducked knowing it would be the end, when a blazing white shield jumped in front of her. When nothing came, she opened her eyes to blinding pearl armor.
“The White Knight!” she exclaimed, a wide grin spreading across her face she couldn't hold back. She couldn't help it, she was so happy.
“Hello Milady, and other citizens-”, But Helga and Gus already ran away mid-sentence.
The White Knight took Ginger's hand and helped her up. “This will take but a second.”
The White Knight sprinted and climbed up the Mad Hatters Tea Shop and onto the roof as the dragon came near and shot fire. They reflected it with their shield hitting the dragon, as it was dazed, they climbed onto its back hitting it with the hilt on their sword till it flew away and the White Knight took a jumping leap and rolled, to take away the impact. They quickly stood up right beside an amazed Ginger.
She looked at the White Knight in awe, too happy to even speak.
As people came to crowd the White Knight, they ran away, "I got to go.”
Coming out of her daze she ran after them “Wait!” Ginger followed them till they both outran the crowd the White Knight had big giant strides without even a breath as Ginger huffed and puffed till, she finally caught up to them up top of the hill at the edge of Bookend.
“Ging- I mean are you alright citizen? I am so sorry. I didn't think you would keep up”, they chuckled, which echoed through their armor.
“Oh, well” she breathed. “I still had a few things to ask you. I-” She blushed. “I really missed you!”
The White Knight stood there silently looking down at her. Ginger couldn't read their expression behind the helmet, but she hoped they missed her at least a little bit. Until their head looked down at Ginger's coffee-stained clothes and messed up ponytails now. They smiled or at least that's what Ginger thought as they put a hand on Ginger's shoulder. “I wish I could tell you who I really am but…”
“.......Why can't you?” Ginger couldn't help but ask.
“The me outside this armor wouldn't be accepted. I am breaking a lot of rules by doing this.”
“It's ok, I understand” Ginger smiled a little disappointed as she looked to the side.
“I must go now, I will see you again. Don't worry”
“Wait!” Ginger called out.
But the White Knight had run off and Ginger was too worn out to go after them and she wanted to respect their wishes. So she trapsed back to Ever After dorms, replaying the encounter in her mind as the sun went down.
Ginger opened the door to her dorm room and collapsed on the bed.
Melody looked over “Are you ok Ginger, did you spill the coffee over you?”
Sitting up Ginger looked down at her stained dress. “Oh, I'm sorry, um yes. I'll make it up to you.”
“It's fine G, you look tired.”
“I can make your favorite brownies??”
“On second thought……”
Ginger smiled “I knew you couldn't resist my gum drop brownies!”
She went over to her easy bake oven and added the mix to the pan and when it was done pulled it from the other side and shared some with Melody.
That night she went to bed dreaming of the White Knight, hoping to see them again very soon.