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Ah, Legacy Day, Apple’s least favorite event after what Raven did to her, she took away her destiny for fairy godmother's sake! She often had dreams like this, reliving the worst moment of her high school career where Raven slammed the book and froze the whole crowd. At that moment she felt like a true villain, even if that was the one thing she wished to avoid.
She would make the perfect villain! Just look at those colors. (Apple disregarded for the moment that she bought all of Raven’s clothing as a housewarming gift. It was her nightmare, let a girl live.)
Though something was different, Raven seemed confident, ready to sign without a second thought. That was much different from the real version, Apple didn’t give Raven much of a look before she went to sign originally but she could bet she didn’t have an evil smirk on her face as she walked up to sign, her boots echoing the silence surrounding them, Apple stood behind her. She was her villain and tradition goes the hero and villain walk off together elbows crossed, Apple had never done it because well... But, the thought of finally having a successful Legacy Day made her begin to grin.
She took the pen in her hand and with a loud cackle she began to speak, Maddie and the royals in the crowd were cheering for her- wait, the royals? Why...would they be cheering? Daring nudged Apple to begin clapping, was she… actually about to sign it?
“I, Raven Queen, pledge to be the next Evil Queen.” She shouted to the excited crowd, the mirrors showing her fate, chained up and chased out of town, now that Apple had the chance to pay more attention she realized the horrors being presented to her roommate. Though she seemed unaffected by it, that’s new. The mirror continued which she definitely did not remember. It showed her overthrowing Faybelle and Nevermore, her pet dragon, becoming a creature of terror.
She signs it with a wicked smile and she gets a blast of power, her entire being surrounding with purple magic as the wand her mother gifted her grew into a large staff, a black apple being the catalyst to the silver and lavender pole as she stood in front of the crowd, waving to everyone with such a cold yet joyful expression.
...It creeped Apple out if she was being honest, but it was supposed to, right? Raven was MEANT to be this way, to be her attempted murderer in the future and Apple was supposed to be scared of her which meant she couldn’t be close to Raven or even talk to her…
Wait- didn’t they share a room? She could just talk to Raven! The rest of the ceremony continued as it was supposed to, no one defied to sign which means… the rebels never would exist, what a perfect world that would be Apple thought, but… did she really believe that? Did she really just think that?? Bad head! Of course, it’s better.
When Raven finished, she walked to Apple’s side and interlocked their arms with a slightly thoughtful expression at the action. It still felt oddly endearing as they stepped down the stairs together, Raven removed their touch as soon as they were off the steps and rushed to Maddie, who quickly shot over and gave her a hug.
The future queen was so focused she didn’t even notice Briar snapping in her face as she tried to get her attention. “Uhhh, Earth to Apple, you in there?” She questioned preparing to smack Apple if it took that much to get her head out of the clouds.
“Oh! Sorry Briar, I was just thinking about the future since it’s finally set in stone!” She chipped with glee to Sleeping Beauty’s daughter, Briar believed it with little question. While that wasn’t the exact reason for her distraction, it still made her want this to be real.
“Right, Well, I’m heading to the dorm, call me if you need me.” She waved her hand to Apple as she turned away, but Apple was caught off guard as she asked bluntly what she had meant.
“Dorm?” Apple inquired, clearly a confused look painted her pale expression.
“Yeah? We’re sharing, remember?” Briar took off her shades to look Apple in the eyes, trying to clarify to her roommate the confusion she was unknowingly facing. “You asked me to share Apple, are you that distracted?” Briar’s tone was more worried than rude, she seemed genuinely concerned for Apple’s wellbeing as she was normally not this out of it.
Right, she was meant to be rooming with Maddie, Apple recalled to herself, as she began to walk off, Had she been so self absorbed that she hadn’t even considered the fact Raven wanted to room with Maddie originally? The thoughts lingered like rude houseguests, She didn’t give Briar another thought who was calling from behind her wondering if she had accidentally upset her best friend forever after.
After Legacy Day, this dream world kept going, Apple would have thought she would be back from this weird dream by now but a week had passed faster than she thought, Briar wasn’t a bad roommate by any standards, she was a night owl but made sure to never disturb Apple or anything like that, her side of the room was pink and the colors went well with Apple’s, though she couldn’t say she was used to the missing darker part.
Raven treated her rather well, which was surprising seeing as she seemed rather excited for all the power she had along with her less than pleasant fate. Though most of the time they didn’t interact. She always seemed so disinterested when the two of them spoke, ESPECIALLY if it’s about their whole story.
“Hey, Raven! About-” Apple shouted to the other as she ran up to her, she was leaning against a set of lockers, chatting with Maddie casually, she turned to Apple nonchalantly and stated in a calm yet frigid tone. She didn’t have a sign of warmth in her eyes like the real Raven did, or any sign of positive intention. Apple shrugged it off.
“I know, I know the whole story, I’ll be there when the time comes, alright?” She cooed softly to me, she didn’t really have her heart in it but… Apple couldn’t say she hated the Raven of this world, she was kind and beautiful, and best of all, she wanted to be evil!
It started to feel less and less realistic as the days continued, Raven usually kept her distance from Apple which felt strangely fitting the more she sat and thought, she missed Raven, she had to admit she missed the rebel leader’s true self. The friend who didn’t avoid her and had cared about her. Well, occasionally avoided her but it was deserved for the most part.
The days began to blur, next thing she knew was a funeral, well that’s an odd place to transport her. She glanced at her clothing and she was wearing full black and her body felt… older. There was a golden ring on her finger and she spotted Daring not that far from sight. Once she spotted the portrait of the one who passed she realized where she was, her blood ran cold as she read the words “Funeral of the Fairest of Them All, Snow White.”
This- this must be a mistake- Why would a dream take her here? She spotted the inside of the casket and tears poured down her baby blue eyes before running out of the reception. Briar called after her but was quickly stopped by Lizzie, understanding that Apple might need more time.
Apple wanted to go home, this isn’t her home. Her mother isn’t dead and Raven is good, she sat on the edge of a cliff near the reception, the view was astonishing however her brain was clouded with guilt and fear, soon enough rustling filled my eyes, then Apple turned around to see if Briar had come to bring her back to the burial, but to her surprise, it wasn’t anyone at the reception.
The person who stood in front of her was none other than Raven Queen, holding a shiny red apple.
Throughout the blurred days, she remembered trying to find Raven with anything she could muster, she was put up as missing for a long time, on occasion it was heard of purple magic causing calamity in certain parts of the land though they could never find her. Apple even tried going to Faybelle to find her, but not even the Dark Fairy could locate the Evil Queen’s witchlet but to no avail, now she stood in front of Apple with a firm expression.
“Raven! Oh, thank Fairy Godmother you’re here! Where have you BEEN all this time?!” Apple demanded, running up to her for a hug before she felt a magic force stop her in her tracks.
“I don’t have time for pleasantries, just take the apple and eat it, they’ll be here in about 10 minutes” Raven replied coldly to the heir, nudging the apple to her and allowing her to move again.
Oh. Apple knew what was happening.
“Oh no, you don’t! As your future queen, I order you to stay and talk to me for a little time.” Apple commanded harshly, causing the girl to chuckle and with that decided to go with her strange request.
“I forgot how bratty you were, I’ll stay for a bit in that case, what do you want?” Raven snickered, sitting in a tree branch as she threw the poison apple at Apple to eat, keeping an eye around them.
“I am NOT bratty- that’s offtopic, where have you been?” Apple demanded to know, trying to make it sound like a question when it was more of a statement. Raven sighed and began to respond with a lighthearted tone.
“You sound like a disappointed girlfriend, I’ve been around. Faybelle tried to find me once so I had used a few spells to keep her off my scent, but I bet that was your handiwork.” Raven snarked back, she kept looking around at every sound, she was on edge and Apple wanted to know why.
“Admittedly that’s true, why are you so spooked?” Apple asked with a kind tone, her expression puzzled as she watched the other jump and prepare at any sound.
“Because everything is fine and dandy.” Raven rebuttals sarcastically, before sighing and answering seriously to the oblivious blonde, her arms crossed as she began to explain.
“I’m about to poison you and become a wanted criminal on the run.” The flat tone worked wonders to explain it to Apple from her reaction.
“Oh- but I’ll pardon you! I told you that! Where will you be going? Apple insisted, pondering before Raven’s expression soured to the question.
“Why in hex would I tell you where I was running?” Raven blankly asked, who could blame her? Apple was her future captor and had full control over her fate once she was found, it was enviable and they both knew it but Raven wanted to try and avoid the mirror prison she saw that day.
“...Fair point.” Apple giggled, that was the first time she laughed today after her mother died.
“Well, This’ll hopefully be the last time we ever cross paths, I have a parting gift for you,” Raven finished, throwing a soft jewelry box at Apple, which she quickly opened, it was a silver feather brooch, seemingly made of magic, It broke Apple’s heart to imagine she’d never see Raven again but...this is what she wanted right? For them to follow their destinies.
“I wish your marriage to be well, Queen Apple White, or would Snow White be better?” The purple magic began to surround her as she had started to vanish into thin air.
“Wait! Rav-” The queen shrieked, before she felt dark magic shove the apple into her mouth the world grew dark as she collapsed, the last thing she saw being Raven disappearing and screaming before fully blacking out.
Next thing Apple knows is lying next to her husband, a man she never loved. Simply needed to become the queen of the land. Which she was now, Yay? It doesn’t feel as good as she thought. Eventually two of us decided to allow consorts in our relationship due to the lack of love, though Apple only really had one person in mind as a consort. She was long gone by now. Perhaps the jab Raven shot was right about her marriage.
Ten months. It took her kingdom ten months to locate Raven Queen to imprison in a mirror, She had hidden out in Wonderland under Lizzie’s rule. The Queen of Hearts had known all this time we had found out at a meeting, saying they were imprisoning a girl who wouldn’t harm a fly. Next, came the mirror Apple chose. She chose a custom made enchanted mirror, so if she wanted she could forcefully summon the blackbird. She promised a pardon when the two of them were still teenagers but with her endless disappearances and unruly magic, that just wasn’t possible anymore.
Raven even now kept out of sight, Apple had chefs always make sure to send her food and water every day to make up for the living conditions, (Raven didn’t need to eat, her magic sustained her body). It was always the highest quality and Apple made sure to triple check every meal. The blonde did her best to stay out of her prisoner's way for about a week to let her try and get used to her new prison before summoning her. The brooch gifted to her months ago staying loyally on her attire.
“Mirror mirror on the wall, bring me to my blackbird that remains in your halls.” Apple chanted, Raven soon appearing before her with a resigned expression.
“Isn’t it too far late into the night for you to be running to my mirror?” The witchlet challenged in a tired tone, her eyes painted a thousand words and all of them said she hadn’t slept since she had been thrown in here. Apple felt her heart break as Raven sat down on the floor of the mirror.
“I wanted to see how you were holding up.” Apple lied, she felt a pang of guilt that trickled into her body as she kept examining Raven like an endangered species stuck in a zoo.
“I’d hope it’s obvious I’m not well, seeing us now, why bother to keep the brooch around?” She hissed back towards the royal with more toxicity than she intended, pointing out the silver feather.
Then, Apple fell to her knees, begging the other for forgiveness with tears flooding the front of her. Her dress wrinkled as she collapsed down, and her tears echoing through the halls as she began to speak through her weeps of sorrow. Her arrogance and selfishness was the cause of this and it finally sunk through.
“I’m sorry- I didn’t realize how bad things would be for you if y-you followed your destiny- I should have realized a pardon wouldn’t solve things even if I could- and I… never even told you the truth.” Raven flinched at the queen’s cries, genuinely confused why the perfect Apple was crying at the foot of her mirror.
“...There there…? Didn’t tell me what?” The trapped girl faltered, her snarky persona falling for a moment as she knelt down in the mirror realm to meet Apple’s gaze. Her expression was filled with warmth like the real Raven, for the first time in this hellscape.
“THAT I LOVED YOU!” Just like that, the mirror cracked open, and Apple fell to the ground with a concerned Raven calling her name as she escaped from the realm.
There she was, and then she wasn’t.
The next thing she knew, she was lying in front of her friends, Briar letting out a sigh of relief as she woke up and Darling relaxing in her spot, Kitty was sitting in a chair in the corner while Lizzie scolded her for something Apple couldn’t hear quite well. She spotted a half bitten apple that had rotten sitting on the ground… had she been poisoned?
“Oh, thank goodness you’re awake! You’ve been out ever since SOMEONE pulled a not funny prank.” Briar emphasized, shooting a cold glare at Kitty who merely shrugged at her irritation, she was just drugged. Not poisoned. Apple frantically shot up and began looking for Raven, the sudden motion spooked everyone sitting in the room as Darling calmly began to question the maiden.
“Is something wrong, Apple?” Darling placed a hand on her shoulder, which Apple flinched from and moved to the side softly. Darling seemed a little hurt though she repressed it as Apple began to speak.
“What happened? Where’s Raven?” Leaving the heir’s lips, Darling began to reason with the others, worried she would snap at Raven if they somehow met up, so she chose to answer the first question in a charming manner.
“Kitty drugged you with an Apple, they thought you were poisoned and brought me, they couldn’t find Daring and just went ‘good enough’ it didn’t work but I made sure nothing bad happened while you slept.” The white knight explained.
Apple relaxed in her bed as she heard the explanation, though Raven was still top and center of her thoughts, she at least knew Raven hadn’t turned evil and she could interrogate the girls surrounding her at her bedside.
“Where am I?” Apple started with, staring at Darling for answers.
“Lizzie’s dorm, in her bed.” Darling shot back with a casual tone.
“How long was I out?” Apple continued, her eyes gazing around the room, this was Lizzie’s room, or at least it looked like it. No one else would have this many hearts or else it’d be tacky.
“About four hours, it’s pretty late.” Darling explained, pointing out the window to reveal the night sky.
“Can I move?” Apple finished with, Darling raising an eyebrow before chuckling and retorting.
“Find out yourself princess.” Darling said, causing Apple to hop up and wobble, hearing a snicker from Kitty as she gave Darling a hug. She got a pat on the back from the knight, seemingly confused though accepting of the random affection.
“Thanks for watching out for me, I need to go.” Apple hummed, before quickly running off, Lizzie shrugged her shoulders as the Princess of Ever After left in quick haste. That run felt longer than her dream, perhaps it was just the leftover shaking that made it feel that way, though. Raven had to be awake right now, she was a night owl and she usually made sure Apple got home safe if she was out past 1:30 AM by finding the princess herself unless informed otherwise.
That was one of the reasons Apple loved her so much.
She kicked the door open and there Raven was, sitting on her bed with her thronework, she glanced up and pulled out an earbud, looking puzzled and it looked like she was about to ask her a question, Though Apple simply dropped her stuff and leaped for a hug, causing Raven to brace for impact as Apple squeezed her, hard.
They stayed like that for a while.
And that was okay.