Chapter Text
Ahh... Ever After High was finally back to normal, just like it was before—before the Evil Queen almost destroyed everything that is.
Yes, it was just another delightful afternoon in the castleria. Well maybe not all delightful. Today’s special was pea porridge. Yeah. The porridge that was almost always a week old since nobody ever dared to touch it.
“I can’t believe they're making us eat this shit” said Maddie as she picked up the goop and let gravity slowly stretch it out. Unfortunately, it just so happened that the only thing that still remained intact in the castleteria was the infamous big pot of pea porridge. Maddie shook her head in disgust. “Like Blondie would say, this just isn’t right.”
“This is all they got right now. They’re still too busy fixing up the school after… y’know.” Raven sighed, sitting to the right of Maddie as she glumly played with her food.
It had only been four days since Raven Queen and her friends saved Ever After High and probably the whole world from the Evil Queen, her own mother. Now that the danger had been eradicated, the school just needed a little bit of patching up to do. Darling Charming, who was sitting across from Maddie, could tell that Raven was feeling guilty about the whole ordeal. It must’ve been hard to choose between your family and friends.
“Raven, you did the right thing.” Darling said in an attempt to console her.
“I know, I know. It’s just…” she sighed. “Sometimes it feels a little weird since like y’know, she is my mom and like, I am partly responsible for everything happening in the first place.
“You might’ve been the first one to not sign the StoryBook of Legends but, trust me, you weren’t responsible for anybody else’s actions afterwards. Honestly, it was bound to happen. A lot of us, including me, also didn't want to follow our destinies. You were just the first one brave enough to stand up for yourself.” she smiled reassuringly.
Raven felt slightly better. “Thanks.”
Darling always had the right words, always finding the positive way of seeing the situation. “Trust me, it’ll get better. People will understand someday. It might take some time but change always takes time.”
Suddenly there was a shift in the atmosphere, specifically the smell. An aroma of sweet fruity baked goods started to fill the room.
“Hey guys,” greeted Ginger, carrying a tray filled with treats.
“You know how I bake when I’m stressed? Well given all this chaos, I’ve been hextremely, hextremely stressed. All my classes have been moved all over campus to accommodate the construction and remodeling causing me to constantly be late to class! I couldn't even find some of them. Then sometimes I join the wrong class and then realize it only after I’ve already sat halfway through the lesson. Geez, I swear this school was never this large.” Ginger set down the plate with a sigh after her rant. “Anyways I was wondering if you guys would like some.” The table was filled with hungry stares and drooling mouths. It wasn’t hard to guess what their answer was. Ginger proceeded to sit next to Darling.
“ME. EAT. COOKIE. NOWW.” gargled Maddie with a foaming mouth. Before Ginger knew it, hands started snatching away at her baked goods with Maddie even grabbing another before she finished devouring the one already stuffed in her mouth.
“Sorry Ginger. What I think Maddie meant to say was thanks. You’re a lifesaver y'know, cause we’ve been starving since we got he- mmph mmm,” Raven melted. “Wow this is really good,” she said with a full mouth. “You never disappoint.”
“Heh thanks. It's the least I could do after all you and Apple went through. Speaking of the princess.” Ginger said, looking at two particular girls.
Only Darling’s head turned to follow Ginger’s gaze. Raven and Maddie were a bit... preoccupied at the moment. Once she realized who Ginger was referring to, her stomach dropped, her appetite completely dissipating. Darling really did not want to see her right now, actually not ever.
In walked Briar and Apple. Briar, beaming with spirit and energy and Apple who was carrying books and folders as well as two dark heavy eye bags.
Ever since she had awakened Apple with a kiss, a feeling of impending doom shrouded Darling whenever she was around the girl. Everyone knew how serious Apple White took her destiny and since her future was now up in the air, Darling felt an odd complex mix of responsibility, guilt, and yet obligation to her.
“Who’s ready for tonight's ‘Ever After High’s NOT destroyed by the Evil Queen party!’ ” Briar piped. “I got Melody Piper and The Fairynet (The Internet irl but it’s composed of the two sons and daughter from the three god fairies in Sleeping Beauty) to play. "Tonights gonna be killer.” Briar sat next to Raven as Apple indolently took the one next to Ginger.
“Geez, what happened to her?” Raven watched as the zombified Apple White slugged her way onto the seat.
“She’s been helping Student Council sort all the messes and stuff, also updating the security protocols,” Maddie replied, mouth still full of blueberry pie.
“Wait, shouldn’t you be helping with that? Darling looked at her, confused.
“Yeah, aren’t you co-president.” added Ginger.
“That’s hexactly what I said, but then they kicked me out because apparently my ideas were ‘too crazy’ or ‘literally psychopathic’,” Maddie air quoted sarcastically. “As if anything can be too mad.”
“Judging by the way Apple looks, maybe she would’ve been better off if we never broke her sleeping curse,” said Raven.
Apple’s ears perked up. Something caught her attention. “Actually I’ve been meaning to ask about that. Yea student council has been kicking my ass but it’s also because I’ve been spending all my free time trying to figure out how hexactly I woke up. Apparently Daring didn’t wake me.”
She looked to them, expecting some gasps and maybe some shocked whats. Oddly they all avoided her eyes, some looking down and others playing with their food. Apple squinted around suspiciously. Something was up. Nonetheless, she continued on.
“And everybody keeps pretending that they don’t know or they just like avoid me altogether. But I know they know and like they know that I know they know and I just-“ Apple yawned. “really really need to know, y’know.” Darling felt her muscles tense up. Nobody had told her?!?
“Wait, you don’t know yet?” asked Briar.
The sleepy trance that floated over Apple disappeared. “Wait, you knew this whole time Briar!?! You have to tell me. Please. It’s hextremely important to me and my destiny.” She anticipatingly stared, eyes hungry and enlarged.
Briar on the other hand was indifferent to the subject, checking her nails for chips or cracks. “Oh yeah, for sure. Well, after Daring couldn’t wake you up, D-,“ Briar was cut off as Raven forced a cheese danish into her mouth.
“Mmmmm oh my Grimm. Where the fuck did you guys get this?”
“Oh, I baked it!” chirped Ginger.
“Remind me to book you to cater future parties,” said Briar as she approvingly pointed to Ginger. “But anyways, as I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted-“ she shot a glare at Raven.
“Briar, we said that we were gonna let Darling tell her.” Raven grumble whispered at her which wasn’t necessary since the whole table heard her loud and clear. Darling froze as an unsettling shot went up her spine. UMM THESE BITCHES WHAT??! How could they have discussed this and not tell me about it! Wait, why wasn’t I a part of the convo!? WTF! Thank Grimm Ginger’s sitting between us right now.
“Darling, is that why you’ve been avoiding me?” Apple’s head turned to look at her but her’s remained unchanged: straight, facing downwards.
Just eat your food Darling. Eat your food. Peace of mind. Peace of mind.
Apple leaned back, looking past Ginger and at Darling. “You said you’ve been really sick lately. And that it was mandatory to visit the nurse everyday. Have you been lying to me?”
Darling looked at her wrist to check the time. “Oh shoot!” she blurted out. (There was nothing on her wrist) “I’m late for Princessology class. I gotta go guys.” she said, apologizing while quickly gathering her things.
“Wait, aren’t we in the same class?” mumbled a puzzled Briar before receiving a kick in the shins and a glare from Raven.
“OW! WHY WOU- I mean ohh, I love parties. I thought I heard someone say partay!”
Briar checked to see if Apple caught her slip up but Apple couldn’t hear a thing. She was too focused on something else. She watched as Darling hastily walked out the castleteria. That girl knew something and she was gonna tell Apple what Apple wanted to know one way or another. She’ll make sure of it.