Chapter Text
“I am Apple White, daughter of Snow White, and I am ready to pledge my destiny.” Apple’s typically quiet voice boomed over the speakers. She was dressed in her heirloom dress. The quilted material made up her bodice and cape, but it flared out at the waist with a rich red skirt. She was smiling down at the crowd, her future subjects, and seemingly unaware of her roommate’s distress. Raven watched as she grabbed the golden key that appeared and turned it in the lock. The book turned a shade of red and the cover showed the poisoned fruit that shared her name.
This was it. Even though Apple knew the disastrous future that awaited Raven, she was still going to sign. She was forcing her into her story whether Raven wanted it or not. A story that ended with Happily Ever After for Apple and prison for Raven. A story that Raven never wanted to be a part of in the first place. She sighed and held onto that small voice inside of her that said Apple could still choose not to sign. Though she knew deep down that was not going to happen.
Apple may have liked her roommate and even thought of Raven as a friend, but she would never sacrifice what she had been waiting for her whole life for. Especially if it meant knowing that she and her loved ones would be safe and their story preserved. Raven couldn’t exactly blame her. Even now, standing on the steps leading up to her choice, she wasn’t quite sure what she’d do.
Apple clearly already knew. The mirrors that magically hung around the platform reflected the royal’s proud face. Everyone in the seats below and on the stairs beside could see the future ruler of Ever After. Apple's smile grew wider as she opened the Storybook of Legends and read her wonderful destiny. The wonderful destiny that would have to include an Evil Queen.
Raven looked down at her feet. The black knee-high boots felt more heavy than they did when she put them on that morning. She closed her eyes and imagined a future where she didn’t have to sign, or maybe a world where she wouldn’t care about being evil. That way she wouldn’t have to be scared of signing the book, and she could make sure Apple got her happy ending. What would that be like, she wondered. A world where she wanted to be evil.
Raven imagined a world where she laughed when Duchess Swan told the other kids she ate spiders. She ordered her minions to bring in the creatures for lunch along with a variety of other squirming insects and maggots. She watched with glee as the kids screamed at her offer to try them. A world where she kicked the Merry Men back when they followed Sparrow’s orders and the sign he taped on her. A world where her spells came out right as soon as she cast them, her dagger-lined cape and bone jewelry felt like they fit exactly right on her instead of making a mockery of her family’s legacy, a place where she could smile with malice and laugh with cruelty. A world where her mother was proud of her.
“What?” Apple’s voice shook Raven out of her fantasy and she looked back up to the podium. Except this time Apple’s face in the mirrors was not smiling. She was staring down at the Storybook of Legends, but her hands were shaking and tears welled up in the royal’s eyes. She repeatedly shook her head and muttered no under her breath, but the speakers picked up every shuddering inhale she took. She turned to the next page, and whatever she saw seemed to be worse. She flipped through the pages so fast that Raven thought she might rip them.
“Ms. White?” Headmaster Grimm’s voice carried through the speakers and the crowd began to murmur. He sighed when Apple failed to respond and strode over to the lectern. When he looked down his mouth fell open. He turned the pages back to the beginning of the story, but it didn’t seem to make a difference. He cleared his throat, but couldn’t seem to find the words to address the now rowdy crowd. The administration looked worried to see the headmaster caught off guard, and the family members of the Legacy Class were growing more and more concerned.
Headmaster Grimm cleared his throat again, and when the chattering of the anxious crowd did not stop, he barked into the microphone, “Quiet!” The onlookers grew silent and the headmaster shook his head, as if to clear his thoughts. “Ladies and Gentlemen, this Legacy Day has been postponed. It will reconvene at a later date. We apologize for the inconvenience, and we ask everyone to remain seated, our staff will lead you off the premises. Thank you.”
The crowd and students gasped. Several of the women fainted, and in shock, many of the men failed to catch them. Dexter tried to make his way over to Raven, but was quickly blocked by the waves of people running around in panic. He tried to shove through and found himself holding the unconscious body of Briar Rose. He mouthed sorry to Raven and went to find a lounge chaise to deposit her on.
“Ms. Queen,” Raven looked up to see the Headmaster gesturing towards the school, “If you would be so kind as to accompany me to my office?” He walked off the platform towards the front row of faculty before she could answer.
“You okay?” Raven turned to see Hunter staring at her, apparently having lost track of Ashlyn in the chaos.
She took a deep breath and answered, “Yeah. I think so, anyway…Do you know what happened?”
Hunter just shrugged and shook his head. “No better than you do. Honestly, I thought you might know because she’s your roommate and all.”
“I have no clue,” Raven said, and she was telling the complete truth. She had figured that Apple would be the quickest to sign. She was constantly talking about their destinies and the future that awaited them. She had even switched rooms with Maddie because she thought the Snow White characters should be grouped together. Why hadn’t she signed? What did the book show her?
“You should probably do what the headmaster says,” Hunter said. “He seems to do what happened. You want me to take you there?”
Raven shook her head. “No thanks,” she sighed. “With the way people react when I get near I can probably fight through the crowd.”
Hunter hummed. “I’m not so sure about that. Apple’s a part of your story. If anything, you’ll probably have the hardest time getting through. Besides, we train for this thing in hero class a lot.”
“Really?” Raven asked. “What does crowd control have to do with rescuing damsels?”
“You’d be surprised,” Hunter said. “Paparazzi have a tendency to harass royalty and anyone else they think they can get a story out of. I mean, have you met Blondie?”
Raven laughed. “Okay, you’ve got me there.
Hunter held out his hand, “Shall we, your highness”
“Only if you promise not to ever call me that again.” Raven glared.
“Of course, m'lady.” Hunter laughed.
“That’s even worse Hunter!” Raven sighed, but took his hand with a giggle.
They made their way through the crowds, it was a struggle even with Hunter’s practice, and Raven couldn’t help but overhear the whispers that followed the pair. Well, that followed her. Questions and rumors swirled around her, and she wasn’t just imagining the stares she got from everyone.
When they finally made it to the headmaster’s office, Raven felt her throat dry up. The halls inside the school were quiet, but she could still feel the turmoil outside. The few students she walked by went silent as soon as they saw her. Once she was past, however, they immediately began to whisper. Hunter gave a deep bow as he left and Raven laughed, but even that wasn’t enough to comfort her. She took a deep breath and pushed open the doors.
She immediately noticed the headmaster was not the only person in the room. Sitting there was Apple, who was still sniffling and avoiding Raven’s worried gaze. More shockingly, next to her roommate was…
“Your majesties!” Raven startled and began to bow her head before the king reached out a shaky hand and stopped her. She quickly turned to the headmaster only to find the Good King standing next to him. “Dad!” He looked up and Raven was shocked to see the normally composed ruler misty eyed. A scoff came from a mirror on the wall and reflected was not her own appearance but instead, “Mom…”
“Ms. Qu-” Headmaster Grimm cut himself off and cleared his throat. “Ms. Raven, please take a seat.” He gestured to the one empty chair in front of his desk, and Raven slowly lowered herself into it.
On the desk in front of her was the Storybook of Legends, and Raven couldn’t help but wonder if Apple was avoiding looking at her or it. The book was as imposing as ever. The thick leather binding and heavy paper pages felt almost more intimidating than they ever had before.
“I believe it would be easier to show you rather than to explain,” The headmaster gave the book a slight push towards Raven who frowned. “I am not asking you to sign right now, young lady. I am merely asking you to open it.”
Raven looked around the room, wondering if this was all an elaborate ruse to get her to sign once and for all. However, she couldn’t bring herself to believe that Apple would do that to her. Even if she could be a bit rude sometimes, it was almost never intentional. She would never do something like this. Would she? Raven shook her head. No, no she would never. She trusted Apple, her roommate, her friend.
And so with a shaky voice, she said, “I am ready to pledge my destiny.” The silver key appeared before her, and her mouth went dry. Her hands shook and she couldn’t seem to move them towards the floating object.
The headmaster cleared his throat and Raven quickly grabbed the key before she lost the nerve again. She inserted it into the old lock and the book’s cover melted into the same red that Apple’s had and showed the same emblem. Did that really only happen today? Relax, she willed herself to take a minute to breathe. There’s no quill here, she reminded herself. No one can make you sign. She slowly turned to open the book.
The pages magically flipped until she was staring at familiar words, only there was something wrong. The image at the bottom of the text showed her asleep on the bed. It wasn’t the old metal frame she grew up with. Instead, it looked soft, comfortable, and beautiful. She quickly glanced up at the story, but it had the same problem. It showed the same text she grew up memorizing except in place of Apple’s name every sentence said…
“What?” She gasped. “This can’t be right. This has to be a mistake, right?” She asked and glanced up at the headmaster.
He shook his head as grimly as his name. “I am afraid there is no mistake. You are the next Snow White, Ms. White.”
Raven shook her head again. Ms. White? That couldn’t be right. She wasn’t a princess. She wasn’t really a White. She turned to the only person she could think who would try and do something this outrageous. “Mom? Did you do something to the book?”
The woman in the mirror glared at the suggestion and did not answer. Instead she said, “If I had known you weren’t my blood, you would not have survived a day in my home.”
“I am afraid we do not know how the two of you were given to the wrong parents, “Headmaster Grimm said. “However, all we know is-”
Someone new’s voice cut him off, “Actually, headmaster.” A smile appeared from the shadows, however, it was not as happy as usual. Kitty Cheshire slowly showed herself, the smile falling as soon as she did. “I think I know what happened.” Before the headmaster could react to her presence, Kitty swiped at the air and what looked like another smile appeared in the office. Suddenly, the mouth opened to show the Cheshire Cat napping on the branch of a tree in Wonderland.
Headmaster Grimm gasped and stood up from his seat, “Ms. Cheshire, are you responsible for this?”
The woman in question slowly opened her eyes. When she saw who was in the office, she grinned and let out a loud laugh. “Why, of course, Headmaster Grimm,” she batted at a vine hanging from a tree, and yawned as if the question bored her. ”I was only following my destiny, afterall.” She laughed and the smile faded from view, leaving only Kitty standing behind it.
She quickly blurted out, “I promise I didn’t know what she was talking about until today.” The usual mischievous cat was shuffling her feet and refusing to make eye contact. “Mom had always laughed whenever I mentioned Raven or Apple, but I thought it was because she liked the chaos Raven caused by questioning her legacy. I promise I didn’t know that she switched them!”
Headmaster Grimm sighed, “Very well. Kitty you may go. At least we know who was behind this.” The girl nodded and slowly faded from view.
Raven turned to the Good King with a start, “Wait! Does that mean you’re not my real father? But-” He slowly nodded and looked away.
The Evil Queen groaned at the tears in her ex-husband’s eyes, “Oh please, we should have known from the beginning. You have always been weak.” Raven bit her lip at the insult. “As for you my daughter,” Apple slowly turned to look at the mirror. “I’m expecting big things from you.” The Evil Queen cackled and the connection cut out.
The headmaster coughed, “Well then, Ms. Queen,” Raven turned to look at him, but he shook his head. “Apologies, I meant the real Ms. Queen.”
Apple’s eyes filled with tears again, but she choked them down. “Yes, headmaster?”
“We will need to look over your class schedule tomorrow to make sure that you receive the correct training you will need. That goes for you too Ms. White.” Raven and Apple nodded mutely. “Now, I believe that Snow White and King Charming wished to speak to their daughter. Raven that is.” he added when Apple started.
Apple stood to get up, but stopped before she reached the doors. She gave one last hopeful look at the royal couple and Snow White shook her head. “We will talk another time if we must, Ms. Queen.” Apple’s face fell and she walked out of the office. The Good King reached out to hug Raven, but stopped short and instead gave her a quick nod before leaving.
When the door shut, Snow White and King Charming turned fully towards Raven, and Headmaster Grimm placed a hand on her shoulder. “I apologize for how long this has gone on, but rest assured we here at Ever After High will do our best to make sure you receive your rightful destiny. I will see you tomorrow, Ms. White.” He nodded towards the royal couple and left the office to give the family space.
“Hi…Mom and dad.” Raven began. The words felt wrong as soon as she said them. She had always felt like she hadn’t fit in her story, but she didn’t think it meant she was the wrong character. And what about Apple? She had always been so eager to get her happily ever after and now she would never.
“Sit up straight,” Snow White’s voice cut through Raven’s thoughts.
“W-what?” Raven asked.
“I said sit up straight,” She repeated. “If you are my daughter then you are the next Snow White. You are a princess now, not some common girl, so sit correctly in your chair and do not slouch.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Raven followed her instructions. She had never imagined that her and Apple’s lives hadn’t been that different growing up. However, that thought was cut short when the queen stood up and leaned down to hug her. The Evil Queen may have said the same lectures that Snow White did to her daughter, but she would have never thought about touching someone other than to punish them.
“We understand this may be a shock to you, and believe me it is a surprise to us as well, but you must do your best to learn what it is to be a royal and more importantly a White. We will talk with the headmaster about what lessons you will need, and” She gave a dismissive look at Raven’s heirloom cape. “We will send a change of wardrobe and furniture as soon as possible. Do your best in your lessons and there will be no issue. Do you understand?”
She stared at Raven until she gulped and nodded, “Yes, ma’am.”
“Mother,” King Charming said.
Raven nodded again. Right, those were her parents. Snow White and King Charming were her actual parents. She was a princess. She was Raven White. “Yes mother.”
Snow White smiled and hugged her again. “We will write soon. Goodbye, daughter.” She stood up and King Charming gave her a quick hug before they walked out of the office.
Raven sat there in silence for a moment. Those were her real parents. Her actual parents who would have raised her if the Cheshire Cat hadn’t decided to cause trouble. She was a princess. She was the future ruler of Ever After. She couldn’t help but think, as she went to walk out of the office, that the Good King gave much better hugs than King Charming.