Work Text:
The first sign that something was changing was that Apple White stopped trying to fix Raven Queen.
Not that Apple would ever admit it.
She had spent years believing that every fairy tale had a proper shape.
Heroes stood on one side.
Villains stood on the other.
Princesses found their princes.
And happily ever after waited patiently at the end.
Then there was Raven.
Raven Queen had never fit anywhere on Apple's carefully organized storybook map.
She was supposed to be the Evil Queen's daughter.
She was supposed to accept her destiny.
She was supposed to become the villain.
Instead, Raven had spent years proving that a person could choose their own story.
Apple had admired that.
She just hadn't known what to do with the strange fluttering feeling that appeared whenever Raven smiled at her.
It happened again after school.
Apple was sitting beneath one of Ever After High's enormous enchanted trees, surrounded by books, notes, and an unnecessarily large collection of color-coded bookmarks.
She was supposed to be studying.
Instead, she was watching Raven.
Raven sat several feet away with her headphones around her neck, sketching in a notebook.
Apple glanced at her.
Then quickly looked back at her book.
A few seconds passed.
She looked again.
Raven caught her.
Apple immediately looked down.
"Are you all right?"
Apple nearly dropped her book.
"Of course!"
Raven raised an eyebrow.
"You've looked at me approximately twelve times."
Apple's face warmed.
"I have not."
"Twelve."
"Maybe eleven."
Raven laughed.
And there it was.
That feeling again.
Warm.
Unexpected.
Wonderful.
Terrifying.
Apple closed her book.
"Raven?"
"Yeah?"
"Can I ask you something?"
"Sure."
Apple hesitated.
"What do you think about destiny?"
Raven's expression softened.
"I think it's complicated."
"Complicated how?"
Raven closed her notebook.
"I used to think destiny was something you either accepted or fought."
"And now?"
"Now I think maybe you can just… choose."
Apple stared at her.
Choose.
The word echoed through her mind.
Maybe that was what she had been afraid of.
Because if destiny wasn't the only thing deciding her future…
Then maybe Apple could choose something she had never expected.
Someone she had never expected.
Raven.
That evening, the school held a small celebration in the courtyard.
Music floated through the air.
Fairy lights shimmered overhead.
Students danced between tables decorated with enchanted flowers.
Apple stood near the edge of the courtyard, watching everyone.
Then she saw Raven.
Raven was standing beneath a tree covered in glowing purple blossoms.
For a moment, everything else seemed to disappear.
Apple walked toward her.
"Hi."
Raven smiled.
"Hi, Princess."
Apple smiled back.
"I was wondering if you'd dance with me."
Raven blinked.
"With you?"
"Yes."
"You don't exactly dance with people like me."
Apple laughed softly.
"Maybe I want to start."
Raven's expression changed.
Just slightly.
Like she was realizing that Apple wasn't joking.
"Okay."
They stepped onto the dance floor.
At first, Apple was stiff.
Raven noticed.
"You can relax."
"I'm relaxed."
"You're holding my hand like you're afraid I'm going to disappear."
Apple looked down.
Their hands were intertwined.
She hadn't even noticed.
"I'm sorry."
Raven shook her head.
"Don't be."
They continued dancing.
Slowly, Apple stopped worrying about whether she was doing everything correctly.
She stopped thinking about what a princess was supposed to do.
She stopped thinking about what anyone else might say.
For once, she simply let herself be there.
With Raven.
And Raven seemed to be doing the same.
"You know," Raven said quietly, "you're different when you're not trying to be perfect."
Apple smiled.
"Is that a compliment?"
"Definitely."
"I think you're different when you're not trying to be intimidating."
Raven laughed.
"I am intimidating."
"You're really not."
"Apple."
"Sorry."
They both laughed.
Then the laughter faded.
Neither moved away.
Apple looked into Raven's eyes.
There was something there.
Something neither of them quite knew how to name.
Not yet.
Maybe they didn't have to.
Apple's heart was beating faster.
Raven looked just as nervous.
"I like this," Apple whispered.
"Me too."
"I mean… being with you."
Raven's smile became smaller.
Softer.
"I like being with you too."
The music continued around them.
But neither girl seemed to notice anymore.
Apple squeezed Raven's hand.
Raven squeezed back.
And somehow, that tiny gesture felt bigger than any grand declaration could have been.
Later, they sat together beneath the glowing tree.
Apple leaned back against the trunk.
Raven sat beside her.
"So," Raven said, "what happens now?"
Apple looked at her.
"I don't know."
"That's new for you."
"Very."
Raven smiled.
Apple smiled too.
Maybe that was the point.
Maybe not every story needed to be written in advance.
Maybe some stories were meant to be discovered.
One choice at a time.
Apple looked down at their hands.
Then, slowly, she placed hers beside Raven's.
Their fingers touched.
Neither pulled away.
Raven looked at her.
Apple looked back.
There was no kiss.
No grand declaration.
No magical spell announcing that they were destined for each other.
Just two girls sitting beneath an enchanted tree, realizing that something beautiful had begun.
Something neither of them had planned.
Something neither of them had expected.
Something that felt, for once, like it belonged entirely to them.
And perhaps that was the most magical thing of all.
Apple smiled.
"Raven?"
"Yeah?"
"I think I'd like to know you better."
Raven's smile widened.
"I think I'd like that too."
Above them, the purple blossoms glowed brighter.
And for once, neither girl wondered what their story was supposed to become.
They were too busy beginning it.