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rehearsal "disaster"

i was spending the morning with apple, and briar the morning of legacy day rehearsals. and of course, my sister was super hexcited. we were walking through the shopping district.

"hey, you guys wanna get a hocus latte?" briar asked.

"that sounds magical," apple turned to her. "i like mine with nutmeg, how do you like yours?"

"i like a lot of cream." briar turned to me. "y/n, how do you like yours?"

"it depends," i say. "but it just has to be sweet."

we continue talking for a little bit before we arrive in front of the glass slipper, ashlynn's shoe shop.

she was standing outside the shop, cleaning the window. "ashlynn!"

ashlynn smiles upon seeing us, setting down her supplies. "hey!" she pulls me into a hug. "i missed you guys!"

i hug her back. "me too," i squeeze her gently before pulling away. ash was another one of my best friends. we were as close as apple and briar were, and she's always been one of the most enchanting people i've known.

"you guys wanna go on a nature hike later? i haven't been in the woods for days. and it just feels so good to get back to what really matters," she explains.

a delivery goose honks, turning our attention to him. "i got a shipment here of 300 new shoes for the glass slipper,"

"new shoes?" ashlynn's eyes go wide as she squeals in excitement. "where?"

a flock of delivery geese honk in the sky, carrying boxes upon boxes of shoes. they begin dropping them, and ashlynn catches them.

if there was one thing about cinderella's daughter: if there were shoes involved, you better believe she'll be getting distracted.

"it's a shoe thing," briar says, earning a light laugh out of me.

"well, she is cinderella's daughter."

the bell tower at ever after rang, signaling legacy day rehearsals. "time for our legacy day rehearsal," apple twirls. "i can't wait for everyone to get a glimpse of the queen i am going to become!"

as apple walks off, one of the falling shoe boxes lands in my arms. ashlynn swipes it up not even a moment later. i laugh a little before briar and i catch up with apple.

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time skip

i was back in my dorm while apple was at legacy day rehearsals, i decided to eat a quick snack; a cinnamon sugar twisted donut and a cup of warm apple cider dropped off for me by a carrier dove.

i've always liked solitude. it was a rare thing growing up, so that only made me appreciate it more. it's one of the more subtle differences between and my sister. she was more outgoing and social, while i was more quiet and laid back.

a light ding from my phone pulled my attention away from the sweets in front of me. another one came soon after. i pick my phone off my bed.

they were texts from apple.

apple <3

y/n!!!
you need to come downstairs, it's a DISASTER

apple?
woah, what happened?

i don't even know if i can type it.
just hurry, please!!
i don't know what to do

okay, don't worry!
i'm on my way

read 9:34 am

i was beginning to worry. it wasn't like apple to panic. over the phone or in person. something had to be really wrong.

maybe briar fell asleep on the podium? or maybe kitty poured paint all over the stage?

i finished my breakfast, and hurried downstairs.

when i arrived, everything looked in order. so.. what was the big deal? i walk up to the stage near a distraught looking apple. raven was standing at the podium, speaking to headmaster grimm.

"what's going on?" i was just as confused as anyone else.

"raven doesn't want to take the pledge!" my sister panics.

curse me for saying this, but, "..is that such a bad thing?" my voice was quiet, part of my attempt to calm her down.

apple's blue eyes widen. "of course it is!" she exclaims. "if raven doesn't sign, she'll never poison me, and our story could go poof!"

i try time and time again to get apple to see reason, but she keeps going back to her happily ever after and how it won't happen if raven doesn't sign the storybook.

just then, another voice, a voice i don't know, speaks up. "what's going on?"

i turn, my eyes finding a boy with nearly all black medium length hair, save for a few streaks of dark purple, pearly silver siren eyes, and sharp jaw. he wore nearly all black; the collar of his shirt had been embroidered with silver feathers. the sleeves had been rolled up, revealing magenta and purple swirls on his right arm, resembling something like magic. or maybe flames.

his ears were pierced more than once, a chain hung from a cuff on one ear, and a spiked one was on the other. he had a few rings on his fingers.

he looked like-

"roman queen!" headmaster grimm all but shouted. "do you know how late you are? rehearsals are almost over."

raven's brother.

roman shrugged nonchalantly. "oh, i know."

i fought the urge to chuckle, but a small laugh slipped out. i closed my mouth before anyone could realize it came from me. but a pair of eyes still landed on me.

roman's eyes found mine, smirking softly before going back to the headmaster.

suddenly my words were in knots in my head. raven had left, and apple was still in disarray. she leaves soon after. i call after her, but she doesn't listen, and keeps going. with a sigh, i begin to go after her, but the headmaster stops me, telling me apple needed some time to herself.

i suppose he was right. apple needed to calm down for herself before i spoke to her. it's how she's always been.

when i begin to leave, i can't help but catch another glimpse at roman, who was still being scolded by the headmaster.

and as if by magic, roman turned his head to face me. "bye princess," he mouths.

without knowing what to do, i wave quickly and rush off. my cheeks warm.

as i shook the feeling away, i reminded myself of what i needed to do. but the memory of what happened remained in the back of my mind.