Chapter Text
Raven Queen doesn’t exactly remember when she started loving Apple White.
But she does remember when her heart had set in stone. When she knew she was in deep, deep trouble, because she believed Apple could love her back.
There was that glimmer of hope when they had ended up at Wonderland and Raven had signed the Storybook of Legends. When Apple’s oh so soft, pale, and cold hands grasped her own hands warm from the many spells she has had to cast many times before. For a moment, it reminded Raven of how different they were, but then the blonde girl had gone against what was rooted so deeply in her.
“I know I’ve always wanted you to become your mom, but I don’t think it’s in you,” Apple said so sweetly that Raven could almost hear her heart skip a beat amidst the high stakes.
“Your heart is just too good.”
And that was when Raven Queen knew she was doomed.
On that balcony at the big party afterwards, when Briar had dragged the two of them out to talk about her own destiny, the selfish part of Raven’s brain wanted to ask Apple so many questions.
“Would you ever do that?”
“Would you ever go against what the Storybook of Legends wants?”
“Would you ever go against your destiny for me?”
“Could you ever love me?”
In the middle of doing some thronework, Raven hears the door to their dorm opening gently, like Apple was afraid of waking Raven up if ever she had fallen asleep. The moon was high in the sky by now, with hours having gone by. Every time Raven tried to imagine how the date was going, her throat would clog up and she would have to get that train of thought out of her mind immediately.
She still had no idea where these flowers were coming from. Was it because it was currently spring? Yet why did it only appear whenever she thought about Apple?
“No need to be as quiet as a mouse, Apple,” Raven teases lightly causing the royal to jump.
“Spells, Raven! Way to scare a princess.” Apple laughs as she hangs her bag by the door. “I thought you would have been asleep by now.”
“Yeah, well, Rumplestiltskin definitely won’t let me sleep for the next week if I don’t get this done.” Raven sighs as she glances momentarily at her half complete paper.
Apple hums in thought. “Do you need any help? I finished mine a week ago.”
It was a very Apple White thing of her to do, and Raven, much to her annoyance, finds herself smiling fondly.
“Don’t worry about it, Apple. I think I got it,” Raven replies with a grateful nod. Apple smiles back at her so beautifully it almost hurts to look at. Great, now Raven’s just another one of Apple’s many suitors that will never get a chance with the princess.
Apple looked positively shining after whatever had happened on her and Darling’s date. Raven braces herself as she asks, “So, did anything happen?”
“We just…” Apple sits down on the space beside Raven. “Talked. About a lot of things.”
Raven raises an eyebrow. “Things?”
“About our destinies,” Apple replies. “How much of a surprise this has been to the both of us. How her brother was faring. What our families were going to think, because we’re still going to follow our destinies even if it isn’t hexactly what we thought. How hexactly we were going to move forward…”
“But, how about Darling?”
Raven’s voice breaks on the girl’s name, which is a shame because she knows Darling is so unbelievably sweet. She’s so unbelievably heroic and has valiantly saved Raven on two separate occasions, effectively working with her during the whole time her mother was here. She truly lives up to her namesake, with her beautiful looks, her adorable eyes, her gorgeous smile, and her soft voice that Raven could fall asleep to.
Too bad Raven doesn’t think she’ll be able to look the girl in the eyes, anymore.
Apple almost melts in front of her at that question and Raven has to grip her bedsheets as she visibly tries to swallow the petals that were building up in her throat.
“Oh, she’s so charming, Raven.”
With a teasing roll of her eyes, Raven dryly responds, “Shocker.”
Giggling lightly, Apple continues, “I mean we’ve always been friends since we had to play a lot together when we were children, but I was always forced away from her to be with Daring. So, even if we got to sit and talk together at lunch sometimes when she wasn’t with her brothers, we’ve never gotten to know each other that deeply.”
Apple hums in thought. “She’s just manages to surprise me in so many different ways. I mean, of course, there was Wonderland with the whole ‘White Knight’ thing. She told me so many stories about her adventures there and hexes, Raven, she’s so brave! Way more daring than Daring if I do say so myself.” She giggles and Raven can’t help but giggle too, despite the searing pain in her throat.
She then sighs wistfully. “And she’s so patient with me too. She understands that all of this is so new to me and how surprising it must have been that she’s willing to take all of this slow. She’s just so easy to make conversation with too—exact opposite of her brother, that’s for sure and, I just…” She smiles softly, looking right into Raven’s eyes because she truly must hate her.
“I think I really like her. I’m so glad that it was her.”
Raven could almost feel the garden about to escape her lips at that statement. With all of her willpower, Raven swallows deeply as she grasps Apple’s hands.
“I’m so happy for you, Apple,” Raven lies, her eyes watering slightly. “You only deserve the best.”
And that isn’t me.
As an overjoyed Apple tackles her into a hug, Raven coughs a petal into her hand behind Apple’s back, effectively pocketing it before the princess could see.
“Thanks for helping me clean up today, Raven,” Apple says gratefully as she sweeps some debris into an open trash bag they had set up. Raven follows her, nodding in response.
“Of course, Apple.”
With whatever weird spring disease this was, maybe spending time with Apple wasn’t the best option while Raven still wasn’t sure of the root causes—if she found out she was allergic to Apple, she doesn’t know whether she would laugh or cry—but Apple just looked so sad sweeping the hallways alone that Raven just had to help her.
(She didn’t look sad, Raven thinks. She looked quite content, actually. Perhaps, Raven just wanted to spend some time with the girl she is already around 24/7.)
As much as everyone has already forgiven her, including Raven, Apple still felt a fair amount of guilt for everything that had taken place prior and put many projects about restoring Ever After High to the way it used to be in place through the royal student council, despite it being Faybelle Thorn’s punishment to clean the school.
One of the projects was to have students help in sweeping the floor for any leftover debris left behind from the Evil Queen’s reign of terror. Of course, Raven did have much better control over her magic now, but she didn’t want to risk dumping all of the debris in the school over some random poor person’s head.
“Besides, this debris isn’t going to clean itself,” Raven jokes as she sweeps some more debris into an open bag. Apple giggles as she goes to pick up the trash bag.
“You are royally right on that one, Raven!”
When Apple bends down to pick up the trash bag, there are suddenly two strong arms picking it up for her. “Let me help with that.” Comes the soft voice of one Darling Charming, who picks up the trash bag with ease. Her arrival makes Raven begin to awkwardly fiddle with her fingers as Apple reddens at the sight of the knight.
“Oh, you always know when to show up, don’t you?” Apple giggles and Darling, flustered, smiles nervously from Apple’s praise.
“Anything for you, of course,” Darling replies earnestly, the tips of her ears turning bright red. As Apple swoons, Darling finds her eyes straying to Raven who seems to be busying herself with awkwardly sweeping the already pristine looking floor.
“And a good morning to you, Raven.”
“Good morning to you, as well, Darling,” Raven greets cordially. As happy as she could sound with the petals simmering in her throat at the sight of the two girls together. Before Darling could get another word out—most likely another polite question—a flash of darker blonde hair appears in between Apple and Darling.
Blondie Lockes.
Suddenly, a MirrorPad is shoved into Apple and Darling’s faces.
“Look, everyone! It’s Apple White and Darling Charming! After the shocking turn of events that took place two weeks ago, we found out that Darling Charming is actually Apple White’s destined princess as opposed to her brother!”
Looking in between a shocked Darling and a sheepish Apple, Blondie grins.
“You two make the cutest couple ever after!”
Before some other couple like Ashlynn and Hunter could protest, Apple lets out a laugh.
“We’re not a couple yet, Blondie,” Apple corrects, sending a short glance of concern to Darling before looking back at the eccentric reporter. “Even if we are destined, we’re taking it slow.” Apple takes Darling’s hand in hers and despite previous corrections, everyone gasps in awe as if they had just watched a marriage proposal take place right in front of them.
Darling blushes so prettily under the attention, tucking herself into Apple’s side earning a soft giggle from the girl. Raven watches with an embarrassing amount of attention as Apple ducks her head slightly to whisper apologetically, “I’m sorry. Was that too much?”
With a shake of her head, Darling smiles softly as she squeezes Apple’s hand back.
“Don’t worry about it,” She whispers in return earning a blinding smile from her destined.
Raven watches the scene gripping her broomstick with all of her might. She watches them with unmistakable envy and sadness. She was watching the kind of love, the kind of patience she had always wanted for herself happening right in front of her.
The kind of gentle love from the one person she wanted it from so badly directed towards someone else. In all honesty, she wanted to cry, but suddenly, she feels a presence materializing beside her.
“Raven Queen!” Blonde almost yells into her ear. “As one of Apple White’s closest friends…” Friend. Just a friend. “…what do you think about the newest development of Ever After High?” Suddenly, there’s a mic shoved into Raven’s face as Blondie very clearly gestures towards Darling and Apple.
Raven gulps as she takes hold of the mic. Despite being so, so overwhelmed, Raven manages a smile towards Blondie’s MirrorPad.
“I think they’re adorable.” Raven’s eyes stray to Apple who is bouncing on the balls of her feet in anticipation for whatever she is about to say. Beside her, Darling is watching Raven with a small yet nervous smile. They look so perfect together. They look so perfect together and Raven could never ever fit into their world.
“I think Apple only deserves the best and…”
Raven looks at Darling and finds herself smiling at the girl too, as much as her heart twists at the sight of her, the image of Darling’s lips on Apple’s flashing in her mind.
“…I think Darling is absolutely perfect for that.”
They’re perfect for each other.
The hallway erupts in ‘aww’s as Apple squeals, letting go of Darling’s hand to tackle Raven into a hug.
“Oh, Raven, that is surely an answer that is just right!” Blondie turns to her MirrorPad once more. “You heard it right here, folks! Raven Queen certainly approves of Ever After High’s up and coming…” She awkwardly trails off, “…err, whatever they are.”
Behind Apple’s back, Darling shyly mouths a “Thank you.” and all Raven can do is smile weakly.
“Hey,” Raven whispers lest her scratchy voice be revealed. “Apple, I have to go now, okay? I have a meeting with Baba Yaga and I’m going to be late.” She glances at the knight who was watching the two of them with a fond smile. “Go have fun with Darling.”
“Do you have to go?” Apple pouts as she pulls away from the hug.
When Raven simply raises her eyebrow, Apple sighs.
“Fineeee.” Apple drawls, her smile returning in the tick of a clock. “Spell you later!” She exclaims, running back to Darling who she intertwines hands with once more.
Once they both turn around, Raven immediately spins on her heel and runs down the hallway, hand desperately grasped over her mouth. She needed a toilet and fast, but it was hard to focus. She could almost hear Apple and Darling’s flustered giggles in the distance following her like ghosts.
Too wrapped up in her own head, she didn’t notice the figure following her.
Raven really doesn’t understand.
She doesn’t flush the petals down the toilet just yet, deciding to simply stare at the red petals with an empty look in her eyes. The red that reminded her all too much of a specific person. Was that what this was supposed to symbolize? How much loving Apple hurt?
Suddenly, a head pops out over Raven’s shoulder.
“I was wondering where you went, Raven!” One Madeline Hatter giggles. “You got out of there faster than the White Rabbit.” She then quiets, pressing a finger to her lips in thought. “Not that that’s very hard. With how he always carries around a stopwatch, you would think he would move a little faster, you know?”
“Maddie!” Raven yelps, standing up from the toilet, still filled with petals, as she wipes her mouth with the back of her hand. “Don’t scare me like that!” Raven completely forgets to hide the display behind her, and Maddie’s eyes widen out of curiosity at the mirage of petals.
“You threw that up right? That’s surely Hanahaki disease!” Maddie exclaims happily, before the realization sets in and her eyes grow wide. An uncharacteristic emotion spreads across her face that Raven hasn’t seen since the whole Wonderland fiasco: dread.
She stares at Raven in disbelief. It’s really hard to surprise a Wonderlandian, but it seems Raven is just spelltacular like that.
“You…” Maddie inhales sharply. “…have Hanahaki disease.”
It didn’t sound like she was informing Raven. No, it sounded more like she was trying to snap herself out of some crazy dream, which was saying a lot considering her upbringing. Now, Raven wondered what kind of insane things Maddie could dream about.
“Is that what this is?” Raven nervously looks at the toilet decorated with a few petals.
Maddie gulps. “I was really wishing the narrators were only joking around! Then again, I should know better than to question them.” Everything coming out of Maddie’s mouth was just confusing Raven further and the sullen look that had just taken over the girl’s face wasn’t helping.
“I’ve only heard of this disease in stories! I didn’t even know it could happen to somebody in Ever After. Was it because of the time we went to Wonderland? I didn’t know people who go to Wonderland could get some wonder in them too just by visiting—!”
“Maddie.” Raven places her hand on Maddie’s shoulders. She wasn’t sure if she was trying to ground Maddie or herself. Trying not to sound as desperate as she felt, she asked, “What is Hanahaki disease?”
“It’s a disease that originates in Wonderland,” Maddie states in that usual tone she uses whenever she gets serious. Raven should have already gotten a bad feeling about this from that. “The old Queen of Hearts from long ago once loved somebody who she could never have. She had gotten so angry, she had killed him by growing a flower garden in his heart.”
Well, Raven thought, that wasn’t very pleasant.
“Essentially, flowers grow in your throat with growing intensity the longer the disease goes untreated. The root cause of it all is…”
Maddie hesitates.
Raven’s eyes widen slightly.
“The main cause is…?”
“Unrequited love. Or at least what the person with the disease thinks is unrequited love.” Maddie’s answer causes Raven to gasp, dread filling her veins at the realization. Staring at Raven in silence for a few moments, Maddie frowns in thought. “Is it…” Maddie narrows her eyes at Raven as if she could see everything the girl was hiding.
She then gasps loudly, startling Raven slightly.
“It’s Apple, isn’t it?”
The mention of the girl’s name has Raven’s eyes widening as she rushes back to the toilet, coughing out another two red petals. “Well, I got my answer,” Maddie hums sheepishly. With a groan, Raven stands up from the toilet on shaky legs and Maddie is quick to help support her.
“Maddie,” Raven calls out, recalling her story from earlier. “Do people die from this?”
The way Maddie avoids her eyes causes Raven to groan once more.
“Just my luck.”
“But there’s surgery!” Maddie hurriedly suggests. “We can go to my dad’s tea shop to do it, so it’ll be quick and free and nobody will have to know! Of course, the surgery will make you unable to remember what it was like to ever love that person, but you know!” Maddie laughs nervously. “Better than dying?“
So, there was a way out.
What was stupid was that Raven only felt sick at the thought.
“Or,” Maddie suggests hopefully following Raven’s silence. “You can confess to Apple and if she loves you back, all of the flowers disappear!” She hums in thought, using her hands to tell her proposal. “I know she has a little thing with Darling at the moment, but in Wonderland, there are a few relationships that may seem unconventional but are totally fine—!”
“Yeah.” Raven stops Maddie there with a raise of her hand. “That’s not happening.” Raven sinks onto the (hopefully clean) bathroom floor with a sigh.
“Apple White would never love me back.”
Maddie joins her on the floor with a frown on her face.
“But why not, Raven? She adores you!” Maddie almost sounds like she regrets asking the question as soon as she hears herself. As she registers the question, Raven’s lips begin to tremble.
“Not in that way, Maddie. Not in the way she adores Darling,” Raven says with a pained smile bringing her knees to her chest as she rests her chin atop them, looking away from Maddie.
“They’re destined,” She repeats to herself as if a chant. She whips around, looking at her defeated looking best friend face-to-face. She allows herself to unravel in front of the person she’s always felt so safe to be all sorts of mad with. “They’re destined, Maddie.” There are tears that stream down her face and petals that tickle at her throat.
Feeling one of her tears fall onto her skin, Raven waves her hands around trying to make as much light of the situation as possible. She sing-songs, “Apple White loves her destiny and that’s what Darling is, you know? I’m not really a part of that.” She lets out a nervous laugh, only going silent when Maddie’s devastated look doesn’t budge.
As the severity of her situation kicks in, Raven’s eyes grow tired.
Her voice breaks as she whispers, “How can I ever compete with that?”
For the first time since Raven has met Maddie, the girl was quiet as she embraced Raven, pulling the girl close as she breaks down into sobs.
“Would you ever get the surgery, Raven?”
Raven can hear the unspoken, “So I don’t have to lose you.”
Raven inhales sharply, pressing her cheek to the nape of Maddie’s neck.
“I’ll think about it,” Raven lies. It’s a lie because Apple is one of the first people that ever saw through the whole facade, as much as she tried to convince herself otherwise in the beginning. She was one of the first people to see how good she was and eventually embraced it more than anyone else did. Even more than Raven did at times.
As for Raven?
Her love for Apple White made her feel like she was more than what she could be.
Her love for Apple White made her feel free.
How could she ever let go of a love like that?
And judging by how Maddie holds her closer, she can tell.