Chapter Text
Day three, Raven began keeping track of the days and occurrences as this conundrum continued. First off, she no longer had her powers or wings which set off her immediate alarm once waking up in a bed that she had not drifted asleep in, next, she took a look out her window and she was in mid-1700’s France, in modern day was Belle’s village and a part of her kingdom. Raven personally thought France had better ring to it. Everyone referred to her as Rosabelle, almost the exact same as someone else she knew. Which was the final clue she needed to deduce where exactly she was. Her educated guess was a spell gone wrong by Faybelle. She can scold the fairy when they meet, as this is the second time that she’s let this happen. She can’t just lie in this stranger's bed forever. With a groan, she rose from her bed, snapped her fingers to dress before the realization sunk back in that she was powerless outside of the innate magic princesses had, letting out a quiet curse as she hesitantly dragged herself off the poor quality mattress and to her desk and in the maiden wear prepared for her. It faintly reminded her of Apple and the things she’d adorn.
She stretched as she grabbed her journal off her writing desk, scribbling the events of last night in detail, nothing new for the most part, not counting her father announcing that his new wood cutting invention would get them out of the slumps, the start of a tale she knew all too well. On that note, she heard her father from here, you heard her right, her father, or- at least his likeness. Cooking breakfast down the steps before hopping down them herself. “My little rose! How are you feeling? Are you still ill? I prepared some pancakes- your favorite.” The “former” Good King chirped in glee, a crippling worry chipping in his ever so jolly voice. Usually the, now powerless witch, didn’t visit home often in her actual world since her dad tended to be out and about assisting others to make up for the sins of her mother.
Sitting down at the kitchen table, her father placed a plate in front of her. Normally she’d opt out of eating breakfast. She decided to just suck it up, besides, it didn’t look half bad. Taking a bite of it, it wasn’t burned or imperfect in anyways, shocking since father- well, this wasn’t her actual father she supposed, simply a reflection of him to suit a Belle. “I’m feeling better.” She lied through her teeth, the other was never ill in the first place. She was confused and used a flu to justify her reactions- or lack of sense in reality. “I think I’ll take a stroll around the town, pick up the medications you need.” She insisted, holding her cup of water and sipping it as her father pointed a finger up to deny her choice, before that he broke out into huffing coughs as she crossed her arms.
“Your condition is getting worse, I need to return a library book and we’ll see if I can find some way to get the treatment while in town.” Raven cooed, Belle’s family wasn’t fortunate, that’s exactly why the father pushed to be a successful inventor, to take care of his family. It was noble but declined his health with every stone he unturned with a smile. He even planned to travel into town to try and strive fortune with his wood chopping machine today. Pushing her plate forward, she grabbed a brown bag hanging on the coat rack near the door and placing a book inside. She’ll be honest, she skimmed it. The Good King remembered from the table behind, cutting an egg with a silver plated knife.
“Be careful, if anything happens, come home- but I won’t be here of course- find out that one handsome sir- what was his name?” He tried to recall, continuing to hack as he snatched her remaining water cup and downed the remaining amount, wiping his lips with his burly arm as he snapped his fingers when his memory came back to mind. “Gaston! He’s rather witty and strong, so don't leave his sight if someone harms you.” He flexed his hair covered arm with a warm grin, yet Raven could only feel a chill crawl up her spine, freezing in her place as the name rang out. In the original chronicles, the mention of Gaston meant she’d be meeting him today- she’d been trying to find him out to gain an ally who got stuck here with her, however he was nowhere around. Until now clearly.
“Will do dad, I’ll see you later after the convention- and, don’t overwork yourself, no need for an early grave.” She joked, closing the door without giving him a chance to object and letting out a sigh. Ignorance is a privilege she lost once being transferred here. She lifted her chin up and traveled to the square- until a burst of music started causing Raven to jolt, though kept moving forward clutching her bag to her chest. Snow White had a lot of things, music was not one of them. From how it was tuning it out, Raven’s glad it was left out. They sang about how peculiar her behaviors had been, Raven took over a little too late to know what else she had done but, she can figure it out.
She dropped off the book, picking up the only colored novel on the shelf, at least you could tell which you needed to grab. It had a white cover with golden accents. It felt… nostalgic, a hint of home, Raven shook her head as she shoved it into the ragged bag. The colors were a coincidence and if she wanted to get back to the life she left behind, she needed to pick up the pace of this adventure. The shopkeeper took a peek from his desk and let out a boff when he saw the cover she snatched. “Isn’t that the tenth time you’ve checked it out Rosabelle? I can’t tell what charms you so much- you’re a woman after all!” He cackled, the misogyny of the olden days almost makes you forget that in the modern world, the women hold power and authority in ruling.
“I think the plot is fascinating, finding love in the most unexpected places, it is a dream come true.” She hummed the lie, forcing the joy into her tone. Again, she didn’t really get to read this, but Belle had and according to the original pages, loved it so much that she kept rereading it. She was going to keep masking- she had to if she wanted to go home. That was the working theory. Sure she’d never been one to follow her destiny, not by a long shot as she lead the rebellion, but she had hindsight as an advantage and changing the tales may risk her being stuck here and she had no plans to stick around until the French Revolution, watching a losing battle by the citizens as they got mauled down by the beast sounded…unappealing.
“Keep it, you’re the only person who comes here anyways, take it as a thank you.” He earnestly remarked, trudging over to the beauty and flipping the sign to the outside closed, before Raven could even try to reject the gift, she was pushed out. Soon recollecting the original goal. Gaston. She needed to get to the fountain. Rushing over, she sat down and took the booklet out, fake reading the pages as she kept the internal groan from expressing itself. The copy was the fable you’d expect, a guy being a cruel king and the girl warmed his heart as he learned the true meaning of love, Gag.
“Hello there Rosabelle!” A voice called out, sounding familiar but at the same time… She felt someone bustle to her side, wrapping an arm around her as he grumbled at the hardcover she was exploring. “Reading isn’t good for your looks, how many times do I have to tell you that?” He babied, taking the publication and throwing it into the fountain, Raven finally got a good glance at the big chinned man beside her, inching away from his touch.
“Dexter…” She muttered, from the way he roughly grasped her chin to stare up at him after she spoke, this wasn’t the gentle nerd she knew from Ever After. “Rosabelle! You have to speak up, muttering does us no good! I got you flowers, my petal. Lilac to match your beautiful eyes and black carnations to match your black hair!” He bowed- Raven was struck lightly dumbfounded, since that was oddly thoughtful of a brute. He killed the expectation fast though as he pushed the flower display into her hands as he kept his face close to hers, expecting a kiss as a gift.
Raven rolled her eyes as she gave the bouquet back to the gifter. “Thanks, but no thank you Dex-Gaston.” She corrected herself midway, the bulky man may have his face, but his structure and mannerisms are much different from the original scrawny computer worker that she had befriended at the start of second year. He seemed offended by the blackbird’s words. He stood up in front of her in an empowering pose, his attempt to come off as charming but the girl only saw his antics as idiotic.
“Thinking of another man in my presence?! I’ll kill him and thousands of others if it wins me your heart, my dear.” He boasted, pulling out his machete and flipping it with a smirk, shame, if it was the real one. Raven knows she would have dropped it on his foot. Well, no use crying over spilled pixie dust, no support will come of the bounty hunter antagonist. People like him make you understand why villains have a bad name. She got up from her seat with an ounce of disappointment. The next big role to meet would be the beast, so she had to bide her time for now. Gaston was sniped off guard by her desire to leave.
“Belle! Where are you going? Back to your insane father? He lacks… How do I put this? All his screws aren’t tightened, he has begun to infect you with reading! You must come with me! I have a surprise.” He delightfully mentioned. Raven was ticked off from the barking and he leaped to take a latch of her wrist, final straw before she gasped and ripped out of his callus covered features. Keeping a distance as she snapped at the, suddenly taller- did she shrink in this fairy tale switch? At the suddenly taller man, biting back a curse.
“I’m not going anywhere with you Dexter, now if you’ll excuse me, I have more important things to attend to.” She huffed, leaving the dismayed boy to sulk as she shuffled home with a quickened pace to avoid the crowds of the morning market. “There must be more than this provincial life.” She murmured subconsciously, causing her to put a hand to her face as she realized where that came from. She was heading back where she came although it led her to a cliffside instead of where it should have- Oh, wait, this is a part of the tale isn’t it? A moment of peace for Belle while they focus on a different perspective.
Hopefully whoever has elements of their tale playing out is working with them, so after a bit of mellowing out at the edge and scratching in updates on the events that transpired instead of singing, gods no she would not be singing. She headed back to her home- or she would have if the narrative hadn’t just poofed her to her bed. Good luck to her dad on his trip as she enjoys the well earned resting- even if she was meant to be cleaning. The story can make her wait for as long as it’d like if it was in the quiet of this cottage.
Soon, knocking filled her ears. The proposal. She yawned as she stretched, regaining focus by noticing her journal on her lap. Penning down the proposal timing as she put on the hair tie and took a deep breath. Opening the door to Dexter’s look alike. He’s leaning on the doorframe with a rose in his mouth, raising an eyebrow seductively.
A beat passes.
“No.” Raven bluntly rejects, slamming the door shut. Is this what Apple went through on a daily basis? Maybe she should be a bit more empathetic about the situations she whines endlessly about.
Dexter grabs a hinge of the door and forces it open, presenting the entire set up he had… is that Sparrow? Set up. Balloons and flowers wherever her eyes landed. There was a cake and a red carpet. Prepared for her to simply say yes. “Wait- wait! We could have it all, with our bodies, my brawn and your attractiveness, we could have perfect little rats running around, you massaging my back and a prosperous life, I could give you anything you ask! Even pay for those treatments your father needs!” He preached with a (delusional) wistful expression.
“I’m sorry I-'' She planned to reject again but hoofstomps interrupted her, her father’s horse rushed in, perfect timing. The odds generally worked in Belle’s favor compared to the treatment Raven is used to by her own narrative. “I need to go find my father, I’m sorry.” She saddled onto the mammal before the muscular man could stop her. His hollars were not tuned out while she escaped unfortunately, she changed the topic internally. The beast, they likely have some answers. She convinced herself of it. If they didn’t, at least they were a step closer to ending this in the story way. One step closer to getting back home and to her dingy dorm with her clingy roommate.
Wow, never thought she’d want to get back to that.