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Everything had been so confusing since the dragon games.
Before the games Apple had a set path for her, she’d be perfect, be poisoned, and be woke by her handsome prince. Her path had became bumpy, with Raven refusing to follow her destiny but Apple had came to accept the change. Maybe Raven wouldn’t be her evil queen but somebody could. She still had a destiny. She would still be awoken by her Prince Charming.
Dragon Games, well dragon games changed that. Her destiny happened, and it was far to sudden for her to appreciate. Snow White was supposed to be poisoned without her knowledge, so it was technically correct, but she had expected it to be more magical. To be less painful. The apple had hurt going down, and she felt when she hit the ground.
And then it was dark. No wonderful dreams or anything. Just an abyss.
And then she felt it. Something warm and sweet on her lips.
And just like that she was awake.
Apple had assumed Daring had kissed her, and she was so focused on saving Raven she didn’t even ask. She was sure. Positive that he was the one.
Even though Daring was avoiding her, and every time her happily ever after was mentioned her peers would wince and change the subject. When Apple would ask what’s wrong they’d all brush her off.
It was all so strange.
And then the truth came out.
Darling had kissed her.
And suddenly it all made sense, her friends weirdness, Daring avoiding her, why Darling would look wistfully at her in the halls.
She crumbled.
Her destiny had once again changed. She thought she could accept change but nothing this big-this monumental. Her being kissed and swept away by her prince was the biggest part of her destiny. She was supposed to be with a prince.
Not only was her prince a princess her prince was Darling Charming. The girl she’d played with since grade school. Apple wouldn’t deny she always had a-connection with Darling but it wasn’t-it wasn’t like that.
She thought it wasn’t like that.
She was-she was just so confused.
And so she sat. On a hill just out of school bounds. Terrified.
It has been days since she has heard the news and she was scared. There were so many questions swirling in her mind. Mainly what were her true feelings for Darling? Even if she did have true feelings for Darling, what did that mean? They could never be together. They’d be ridiculed, chased out of Ever After.
She doesn’t notice somebody sitting down next to her until they’re already there.
“Is everything okay Apple White?”
Apple turned her head to see the daughter of the red queen herself, Lizzie Hearts.
“I’m doing wonderful! What are you doing here?” She asked, trying hide the nervousness and confusion in her voice. Lizzie and her were never close. Sure they shared some classes and were both well known royal, some of their friends overlapped, and well they had gone through the whole wonderland ordeal together but Lizzie was so focused on her kingdom and her wonderlandian friends that they had never talked much.
“I’m doing fine Apple. And just so you know, I’m not stupid.” Lizzie finally responds her tone calm but stern.
The blonde haired girl is taken aback by the other princesses response “I-I don’t know what I could’ve said that would imply you’re dumb-“ she says voice shaky nerves starting to get to her.
Lizzie picks a flower from the ground and turns back to her “I’m a queen. I know when people are distressed.”
Apple bites the side of her cheek “I just have a lot on my mind” she says finally surrendering. “I would expect. With what happened at dragon games.” Lizzie says casually, Apple gulps with a nod.
Then suddenly, as if the gates to her heart have opened she pours “I’m just so scared-I mean all my life I’ve been told how I’m supposed to be-how my story is meant to go-its supposed to be a boy and that boy was supposed to be Daring!!” Apple feels tears begin to run down her cheeks and she quickly tries to wipe them.
Lizzie stares back, blank stare unchanging. Apple sniffles “I-I’m sorry I shouldn’t have dumped that on you” she felt stupid now, revealing so much to someone who didn’t seem to care. The anxiety begins to turn in her stomach and she curls up into a ball. After what feels like hours Lizzie responds
“I know how you feel”
That takes Apple by surprise. Slowly she lifts her head from her knees and stares at the red haired girl. Lizzie’s face has morphed from the blank stare before, into a slightly concerned expression. And there was something in her eyes. Understanding .
Apple sniffles again “y-you do?” Lizzie nods “don’t tell anyone this, but when I first found out I had feelings for Kitty, I was terrified. All my life I had been told by my mother how I was supposed to rule, and falling in love with cats wasn’t part of that plan” she chuckles “But I did and I tried to deny it, but then I realized I was no more happy than I thought I would be. In fact I was miserable.” She pauses “So that’s when I realized that I didn’t want to follow my mothers way of ruling. I was going to rule how I wanted”
Apple stares shocked that Lizzie, who was probably one of the most closed off people she’d ever met had given her that information. She blinks slowly “So….you’re telling me I shouldn’t listen to my mom?”
Lizzie thinks for a moment “What I’m saying is nobodies opinion should feed into what you do. “
Apple soaks in those words nodding slowly “T-thank you. I-I think that helped me.”
Lizzie nods “Good.”
Suddenly a loud alarm goes off. It’s a concophony of noises. Lizzie pulls her phone from her purse “Ah, I’m exactly 15 minutes late for my date with Kitty.” She stands up “maybe if I walk slow I can make it 20” she looks down at Apple “I’m going to have to cut this short Apple. I’ll see you in princessology” with that she walks away.
Apple is left sitting alone again, but instead of the once heavy atmosphere it feels lighter.
Lizzie Hearts.
A strange girl but a wise one.