Gather around friends and let us tell you the story…
The story of Ever After High. A high school for the sons and daughters of the most famous fairytale characters who ever lived. But this year was like no other for the students of Ever After High.
Ravens Tale: a story of a rebel
“Would you two stop fighting? Peas and crackers”. Maddie yelled, seemingly out of nowhere.
Confused I asked her who she was talking to. The only answer she gave me was it was the ‘narrator’. I get she's the Mad Hatter's daughter but that doesn't make her quirks any less interesting. I just brush it off and continue “Can I talk now?” she nods and I go on explaining how fed up I was last year with everyone thinking I was a pure ball of evil ready to pop just because my mom was… well my mom. I mean yeah she did most threaten the existence of the fairy world kingdom and, many people got hurt and displaced because of her (Maddie included) but that doesn't mean I'm just like her. After all, she was caught years ago, and my dad; the literal good king, practically raised me but sure, sum my character up to my mother's bad actions. “It's not fair!” I yell out.
Maddie then gently puts her hand on my shoulder “No one thinks you're evil Raven now you're just talking crazy!” she reassures me. I can't help but laugh though.
“The daughter of the Mad Hatter calls me crazy?” the laughter doesn't last long though because then I realize that we are at the front entrance of the school and I show worry all over my face, and Maddie can tell.
“Would you stop with the worry flurry? Everyone at school loves you!”
“ITS RAVEN QUEEN RUN!!!”
And that just starts a whole stampede of people running away from ‘the evil queen’s daughter’.
“See? They love you.”
Soon Maddie and I separated I went to the cafeteria and she ran to her dad's teashop to get a few last-minute things for our dorm. It was still pretty early in the day and not everyone had checked in yet so I was doomed to be the girl who sat by herself at the lunch table. Well, that and the fact that 90% of the school went out of their way to avoid me but I'll just choose to ignore that fact.
“Hey Raven, uh, you gort! I mean great! I don't even know what gort is.”
I was caught off guard but after seeing it was Dexter Charming I felt less tense. Dexter was probably the nicest one out in his family, at least to me anyway. He's a bit on the awkward side but that just adds to his charm. “Id offer you a seat but I'm, ‘evil’” I joke. “To sit here you'd have to be pretty…”
And then they walk in. Ever After Highs Golden Couple. Soon to be king and queen of the fairytale world kingdom. Soon to be the couple that will inevitably ruin my life. Apple White and Daring Charming. Of course, they'd be the ones to make the most flashy entrance.
“Daring”
“What no, Raven. I'm Dex. Dexter Charming. Daring’s my bro- there.” Daring continued to steal the show as he always does and flashed quite a literal godly smile. Eventually Dexter just gives up “Oh, Gort”. I've never felt bad for a royal before but the closest I've come to it is Dexter. He's been overshadowed by Daring his entire life. I've met people who didn't even know Daring had any siblings let alone a younger brother. But I guess it's understandable Daring has the most high-profile destiny and Dexter won't even know what destiny is till damn near the day he has to live it.
Then she speaks “Raven, how’s every enchanted thing?” she says with one arm wrapped around Daring so tight as if he'll slip away if she doesn't. My destined enemy; Apple White.
I don't mind Apple. We've known each other since we were kids for obvious reasons, but I could count the number of actual conversations we've had on one hand. It's not like we hate each other or anything. I just chose to distance myself because I mean it's hard to be friends with someone when their happiness comes from my soon-to-be misery. But we're nice to each other when we do have conversations so I have no reason to be rude “Apple White, good to see you. Hey Daring”
“I uh have to warn you. Don't stare at the teeth. Just got them whitened.” I thought he was just being his normal over-the-top obnoxious self but then to flashed her a smile away from us and he burnt one of the little pigs. Then the bell rang.
“Oh, and there's the bell! Time for good kingdom management.”It was only a mock day but of course, Apple was taking it just as seriously as a normal day; which was very serious. “Raven, what's your next class?”
I look down at my schedule “Uh history of Evil spells” Great now she's gonna comment.
“Oh, that is so perfect for you!” I know she means well but she just knows how to say things in the most condescending tone that gets under your skin. And you can't say anything about it because well… she's Apple White.
Finally, after what seems to be the longest day ever I'm able to head back to the dorms. I'm sure by now Maddie has set up her side of the room. I come up to our dorm and out of courtesy I knock. “Hey! Maddie?” and as I open the dorm room door the worst possible outcome appears.
“Welcome home roomie!” I'm rooming with fucking Apple White. Like I said, Apple isn't the worst person on earth but to be with her 24/7? Yeah, this has to be a joke.
“Nice one Apple but I'm rooming with Maddie this year,” u say hoping that this is all some prank and Maddie is hiding in the closet somewhere. But as I look around and see more Apple things scattered across the room I start to lose hope.
“Not anymore. Since you're such an important part of my story. You poison me. I fall asleep-” ok she lost me when she emphasized her story.
“The prince wakes you with a kiss, blah blah blah, yada yada, I know. so?” I finished the sentence for her. I've heard the story over a million times and frankly, I'm sick of it. All I ever hear is her side of the story and how amazing it is, but what about me? I get thrown in jail for the whole kingdom to hate me.
“So I asked Headmaster Grimm if we could live together. And he said yes. Isn't that enchanting?”. No, it's not. It's our last year at Ever After and I honestly just wanted to get through Legacy Day and then not think about my destiny till the day I had to live it.
But I won't lie and say that part of me hasn't thought of what would happen if I didn't sign the book. “Oh, oh, oh. You are going to love rooming with me!” and then she goes on spewing the same rehearsed ex-pageant girl speech that I'm sure she's said so many times she believes it. She then shows me my side of the room.
It was horrible.
She tried to make it as ‘evil’ as possible but if anything it's just ugly. Like yeah, the colors she used were nice if I do say so myself but the decorations she used look like something my grandma would have in her home. She must think this is what my house looks like so I think I'll hold off on telling her we have the same interior designer.
“This is gonna be a long year”
Then it was practice for Legacy Day. Headmaster Grimm explained the basic motions of what we'd be doing and then asked if we students had any questions. And of course, with the thought of not even signing the book crossed my mind I thought it wouldn't hurt to ask. But of course, Headmaster Grimm hates me and my family's guts so when I attempted to ask a question he just shut me down. So instead we begin to go one by one to practice.
First was Maddie and then Hunter. But his was cut short due to a squirrel? He's always been a bit odd but who am I to judge? Then there was Cedar, the practice run was awkward but what can you expect from her? She is supper kind, or at least tries to be but her blunt nature can come off as rude to some. I however don't mind and it's always nice to have an honest person in your corner. Then it was my turn.
“I'm Raven Queen and I pledge to follow my destiny as… um, I have a question!”
“What is it?” Headmaster Grimm says In the most condescending tone but it's almost laced with hatred.
“I was just wondering, I mean what if I don't want to take the pledge?”. And with that, you would've thought the world was about to end. All I heard were gasps and everyone stopped to look at me. Apple and Daring however looked the most shocked. Apple looked like someone had just killed someone in front of her and Daring looked like his dad had taken away his credit card for the 100th time. “What? It's just a question”
Headmaster Grimm then starts walking towards me “And here's your answer. If you don't pledge your destiny, your story ceases to exist.”
“Ceases to exist? So what happens to me?”
He then points a finger at me “You cease to exist. Poof” and then he gestures a poof motion with his hand. “Now Raven, continue.”. I try to ask more questions but all that leads me to use more poof motions. I look over at Apple and all the people staring at me at this point but I just get overwhelmed and run off as far as I can go.
This sucks