You took a deep breath. Today was the final trial and tonight was the dance. Oz was barely holding first place, but EAH was creeping up slowly. You didn't know what today held, but you felt like you were ready for it.

You turned around and found Oswalt pulling on his last brace. He fixed it until it was firmly on his wrist before he looked to you. He nodded with determination. Together you walked out of the dorms where Braum was waiting.

Braum: 'Bout time you two showed up.

She smirked.

Braum: Let's go win this.

The excitement for the final day was clear with the crowd screaming louder than ever before. This year proved to be an entertaining one with impressive feats from all Champions. And victory was now caught between Oz and Ever After High. Of course, the Gods and the Charmings could make a come back as well.

It was anyone's game.

Blondie had invited Ruby onto the show to help her host the final day as all the teams gathered in the arena for the final trial, whatever it may be.

Hunter: Pretty crazy, huh?

Darling: That's a word for it.

Y/N: Crazy? I was crazy once....

Fellowship: DON'T!

You just laughed. Even Farrah yelled at you from the stands. She had just returned from a trip with her mother and hurried over to watch you all participate in the last day.

The heads of the families were also very invested in who would win. It was clear that the winner could be anyone. It was only a matter of the final trial.

Snow: Thank you all for joining us on the last day of the Kingdom Games. I don't have to tell you what hexciting year this has been. But, we still have one more trial to go. This final trial will determine the true winner of the games!

The crowd cheered as Snow rang the bell. You all watched as the arena began to shift and change. Finally, it revealed a large stone structure. A kind of cube.

Snow: The Chamber of Truths. Champions will enter the chamber and will be asked a series of questions. Should they lie or refuse to answer, they will be rejected by the chamber. The those who make it to the end will be award 50 points!

The crowd cheered while you all looked at the cube. Braum placed her hands behind her head.

Braum: Welp, have fun Y/N.

Oswalt: We'll be rooting for you.

Y/N: WHAT?! WHY ME?!

You weren't the only one. All the teams were arguing over who would have to reveal deep secrets in front of the entire world. But, in the end, you stood beside Hunter, Darling, Maddie, Arthur, and the Neverland participant. They were dead last, so they weren't exactly trying too hard to win.

The doors opened and one by one you all started to head inside.

Hunter: I really hope it doesn't ask anything embarrassing.

Darling: Me too. This is going to be some bad.

You only groaned.

Once you were all inside, the doors closed. It was pitch black for a moment before a glow began to spread across the floor. The entire chamber was suddenly illuminated to reveal a single stone pillar in the center of the room.

Pillar: The first Champion may approch.

None of you made a move. Well, no one besides Maddie who was immediately standing in front of the pillar.

Maddie: I'll go!

A brave soul, that one.

The pillar began to glow as it looked into Maddie's mind. She giggled as she did.

Maddie: That tickles.

Pillar: Madelyn Hatter. Daughter of the Mad Hatter.

Maddie: That's me.

The pillar took a moment to decide on a question to ask. Finally, it spoke.

Pillar: State the name of your best friend.

That was it? It seemed like a pretty straight forward question.

Maddie: Oh, that's easy! Raven Queen.

The pillar accepted the answer and Maddie skipped back to you with a smile. One question down for her. Hunter groaned and approached the pillar next. It once again dug through his mind before stating a question.

Pillar: Hunter Huntsman. Son of the Huntsman. State the name of your beloved.

Hunter smiled a bit to himself.

Hunter: Ashlynn Ella.

The pillar accepted the answer. Outside, Ashlynn blushed a bit, happy that he can now say that aloud to the world. Neverland was next, then Arthur, and finally it was just you and Darling.

Y/N: Ladies first?

Darling: Why thank you, Ozzie.

Darling approached the pillar and waited patiently for it to do it's thing.

Pillar: Darling Charming. Daughter of King and Queen Charming. State the name of your beloved.

This question caught absolutely everyone by surpised. Especially everyone in the Fellowship. You and Hunter both shared a look.

Hunter: Her beloved? She's seeing someone?

You just shrugged. You would've thought she'd bring that up sometime. You turned back to find Darling was a blushing mess.

Darling: W-What?

Pillar: You harbor a secret love. State the name of your beloved.

It was asking her....who her crush was?

Darling could only stand there blinking. She slowly reached up and scratched her cheek.

Darling: Can I get a different questi.....

Pillar: No.

Darling: At least let me finish.

She sighed and argued against herself. She needed to score those 50 points to get the Charmings the win. So, with no other choice, she took a deep breath and just said it.

Darling: The person I like....is.......

She dropped her head and instead decided to yell it out, desperate just to say it.

Darling: Is......RUBY OZYMANDIAS!

Silence filled the room. You and Hunter stood there with blank looks. Cerise was outside with the same face. Your friends sat there shocked with dropped jaws and wide eyes. King Charming held his chest, probably about to have a heart-attack. But no one was caught more off guard than the girl in question.

Ruby sat there with a stone cold face, unable to decide what she was feeling at the very moment.

Flattered?

Confused?

Weird?

Loved?

Surpised?

Why was her stomach feeling funny?

Darling had a crush on her?

What did this mean?

Wait did she even have feelings for Darling?

She was pretty cute.

Oh yeah, she's older by a year.

She didn't like Apple?

Was this a victory?

You just blinked while Darling hid her face with her hands, her entire body now red in embarrassment. She walked back to the group and kept her face hidden while you just stood there.

Y/N: Huh?

Pillar: Approch.

You just stumbled on over. The pillar dug into your mind.

Pillar: Y/N Ozymandias. Son of Oz Ozymandias and Wicked Witch.

Y/N: Uh huh.

Pillar: State the name of your beloved.

Y/N: Lizzie Hearts.

You turned and walked back to the group still blank faced and shocked.

Darling: Someone kill me.

Y/N: M-My sister. My baby sister. My darling little sister. So sweet. So pure.

Hunter: This is going to get worse before it gets better, won't it?

Pillar: Madelyn Hatter, approch.

Maddie: Okay!

Maddie once again skipped over and waited for her questions.

Pillar: State the name of your mother.

Maddie tilted her head. She then looked up as she tapped her chin. Her mother's name?

Maddie: Um...narrator?

I can't help you. That's cheating.

Maddie: Drats!

She tapped her foot for a moment.

Maddie: I don't know my mother's name.

Pillar: Truth.

Maddie took a step back when the pillar accepted her answer. She felt a bit odd about it bit headed back regardless. Hunter looked to her for a moment before taking his turn.

Pillar: Hunter Huntsman. Approch.

Hunter did as such.

Pillar: State the name of your first love.

Hunter flinched. He scratched his wrist before sighing.

Hunter: Raven Queen.

Raven and Ashlynn were both very surpised by this. They shared a look, knowing this wouldn't make things weird. It was clear that his heart belonged to Ashlynn, but this was still just surprising.

The pillar accepted the answer and Hunter head back.

Hunter: This is so stupid.

It was then that the Neverland participant was suddenly thrown from the chamber. He must've lied, but you didn't even hear what he had lied about. But right behind him was Arthur, who lied about who he liked. He didn't say Lizzie, so maybe it was just to save face while he could?

Pillar: Darling Charming. Approch.

Darling reluctantly returned to the pillar. She really didn't want to do this, but it was to win the games.

Pillar: State the name of your first love.

Darling: Are you for real?!

Pillar: Totes.

Darling groaned and was once again a blushing mess.

Darling: This is so embarrassing.

She took a deep breath and looked at the pillar.

Darling: Y/N Ozymandias.

Hunter slowly covered his mouth. This was all just so ruthless. He looked to see your response, but it seemed like you weren't too surpised.

You had a feeling she had harbored a small crush on you. But that was after you and Lizzie were together. And even if you weren't, you couldn't date Darling. She was too much like a sister to you by now. Unfortunately that was a bit weird now seeing as she liked your sister.

The pillar accepted the answer and it was once again your turn.

Pillar: Y/N Ozymandias. Approch.

You did so.

Pillar: State the name of your first kiss.

Oh. So, slight issue there. No one knows about you and Briar kissing under that waterfall that one time. It was right before Thronecoming.

Y/N: Dude.

Pillar: Answer the question.

Y/N: Fine. It was Brair Beauty.

Lizzie slowly turned to Briar who refused to look at her.

The pillar accepted the answer and you returned to your friends.

Darling: I hate this.

Hunter: I think they're about to get worse.

Maddie approched the pillar.

Pillar: State your worst crime.

Maddie: Uh.....tax fraud?

Maddie was suddenly ejected from the chamber. You honestly didn't want to know what her worst crime was, but you were now definitely curious.

Pillar: Hunter Huntsman.

Hunter approched the pillar.

Pillar: What is your biggest regret?

Hunter: Dude, do I even know that?

He thought about it. He regretted a few things, but he didn't really know what he regretted most.

He crossed his arms and really thought about it. What did he regret more than anything else?

That was when it suddenly hit him. He looked at his feet before sighing.

Hunter: I regret....

He stopped himself.

Hunter: I regret hiding the truth from Y/N.

He turned back to you, regret in his eyes.

Hunter: I knew about the Fall, because my dad was one of the soldiers who was responsible.

To his surpise, you just stood there. You then shrugged.

Y/N: Well, yeah. He's the Huntsman. Of course he was there.

Hunter: Wait, you don't care?

You shook your head.

Y/N: Water under the bridge, dude. Never blamed you.

Hunter smiled, feeling a bit lighter. Then he switched out with Darling.

Pillar: Darling Charming...

Darling: I know!

She stood before the pillar.

Pillar: State your family's worst crime.

Darling was a bit surpised, but she wasn't too embarrassed by this one.

Darling: Oh, well, I would say it would be my father killing Oz.

Though this was not news to you or your friends, it was news to everyone else. The entire crowd that had gathered did not know that the king himself was the one to kill Oz. But, more than that, Braum did not know.

Braum stood there with wide eyes. Everything was suddenly silent for her. A low ringing echoed in her ear so loudly that it began to hurt. She slowly looked to the stand where King Charming sat with the other Royal Heads. He looked a bit shocked that his daughter just sold him out so easily, but he was not prepared when a staff suddenly stabbed into the wall right next to his head.

All eyes were suddey on Braum who was still in the arena. Oswalt reached out to try and stop her, but it was too late.

Braum: YOU COWARD!

King Charming looked to Braum. The anger in her eyes was apparent.

Charles: Braum.

Braum: YOU DID IT?! YOU KILLED OZ?! IT WAS YOU?!

Oswalt: Braum! Calm down!

Braum: AFTER EVERYTHING HE DID FOR YOU?! YOU SICK PIG!

She couldn't believe it, but the truth was right before her. The pillar wouldn't have accepted it if it was a lie. She began to walk towards the stand, her fists clenched.

Braum: He fought by your side. He got you your crown. He treated you with nothing but kindness. He called you his friend. He loved you like a brother.

She could only see red.

Braum: All of that, and you KILLED HIM?!

She suddenly leaped up, easily clearing the height to the stand. The Royal Heads jumped from their chairs as the guards prepared to fight her off if she was to attack.

Snow: Stand down! Attack a Royal Head is a crime against the....

Braum: Shut it!

She shot a look to the queen who flinched.

Braum: He loved you both. You were his family. I knew you betrayed him, but to take his life yourself. You're sick. Vile.

She turned back to King Charming and grabbed the end of her staff, still stabbed into the stone wall. They locked eyes. Once allies, now suddenly bitter enemies.

Braum: I should kill you right here and now. Take your life as payment for Oz. You would have no reason to decline, would you?

Charles kept quiet. He narrowed his gaze.....and spread his arms. He bowed his head, ready to accept whatever his fate shall be.

Charles: You're right. I would have no reason to deny you of what is rightfully yours. The Royal Protector of Oz, killing the one responsible for his death.

He closed his eyes.

Charles: You can take my life, but we both know it wouldn't be enough. It will never be enough. My life compared to his......is nothing.

Oz: I don't want to be rivals! I actually want to be friends, if that's okay?

Oz: Gee, Charles. You can be a bit nicer to those gals.

Oz: I know you wanna be all manly man, but you can admit when you're sad, y'know?

Oz: I already told you, I don't care if it's impossible. I'm fightin' by your side even if it kills me.

Oz: So we should just accept that we'll become our parents?! Why should we be doomed to such a fate?! We get to decide on who we become, not them!

Oz: Thank you, for being my brother.

Oz: I miss her, but I know I'll see her again.

Oz was on his knees, blood spilling from the wound on his chest. Charles stood before him in his armor, his sword in hand and stained in the blood of the first friend he had ever made. The blood of his brother.

Oz reached out and grabbed the cloth of Charles' cloak. The fire around them raging.

Oz: I guess, I'll have to meet you there. Beyond the pines. Templed in twilight or dawn.

Then he fell over, now lifeless.

A smile on his face.

Charles: I don't think I'll get to see you there, brother.

Braum narrowed her eyes at the old man. She pulled her staff free and lifted it. Many looked away and Charles prepared himself for what was to come.......but it never did.

He opened his eyes and looked up. Braum was staring him down, a look of pity on her face.

Braum: You're right. Compared to him....you're nothing but a coward.

She turned away, starting her way down. Charles could only watch before he looked over to Wicked. She had remained in her seat, not even willing to stop Braum should she actually do anything.

He didn't blame her.

He couldn't.

Inside the chamber, completely unaware of what was happening outside, the three of you continued with the trial.

Pillar: What is your deepest desire?

Darling: To travel and explore without my Family's influence.

Pillar: State your dream.

Hunter: Building a home for me and Ashlynn and getting married.

Pillar: What is your biggest fear?

Y/N: Being abandoned by the ones I love.

Pillar: Who is your worst enemy?

Darling: I have no enemies.

Pillar: Can you forgive your greatest foe?

Hunter: I'd like to think so.

Pillar: What is your biggest regret?

Y/N: Not being able to save my brother.

Question after question you answered. Sometimes you had to think. Sometimes you had to swallow your pride. But in the end, the three of you reached the final set of questions. Hunter approched the Pillar, ready for his final question.

Pillar: Hunter Huntsman. You denied your destiny. Do you regret this choice?

Hunter gave it some thought.

Hunter: No. I don't. I'm happy with the choice I made.

The pillar accepted his answer, meaning Hunter had scored the 50 points. That put Ever After High 1 point higher than Oz, putting them in first. Hunter smiled and returned to you and Darling.

Darling prepared herself and approched the pillar for the final time. Regardless of is she answered or not, the Charmings were in third. Still, she couldn't just stay back while you and Hunter headed forward.

Pillar: Darling Charming. You denied your destiny. Do you regret this?

Darling smiled.

Darling: Absolutely not. If anything, I regret not doing it sooner.

The pillar once again accepted this answer. Now, it was your turn. You stood before the pillar, ready for your last question.

Pillar: Y/N Ozymandias. You denied your destiny. Do you regret this?

You smiled. You rejected your destiny as the next Wizard of Oz, then as the next Wicked Witch. You chose to accept your future instead of the anger of your past. You met your friends, Lizzie, and even got your mother back. It was all because you rejected some poorly thought out fate written for you.

But, over all, you knew the truth more than anyone.

Y/N: Yeah. I regret it.

The pillar denied your answer.

You didn't get the 50 points, and that meant that Ever After High won the games. But in the end, it didn't matter. You did something else. You gave the win to your school, accepting the lost for Oz. But neither Oswalt nor Braum were upset.

After all, you proved that Oz was back and better than ever. Since day one, you showed the world just what you were all capable of. You didn't need some shiny trophy to tell you that.

You turned back to Hunter and gave him a thumbs up. Though surpised, he grinned and gave you a thumbs up as well.

The Chamber vanished, leaving the three of you standing in the middle of the arena, the crowd cheering you all on.

The games were over.

Snow: People from all the lands, this year's winner of the Kingdom Games, Ever After High!

Everyone screamed and cheered and praised not just them, but every Champion.

The Royal Heads may not agree on most things, but that didn’t matter. The future was in the hands of you and your peers, and you knew that you would do better. It was your responsibility to do so.

And the future looked bright.
---------
Music bumped from the large speakers as Melody Piper DJ'd. The Kingdom Dance was in full swing and students from all around the Lands were partying like there was no tomorrow.

Kitty even got Oswalt to dance, though he looked awkward and it was clear he had two left feet. He preferred not to dance, but he couldn't say no to Kitty.

He had a ways to go before that fog was fully lifted, but he was ready to face what laid ahead. He wasn't alone, after all.

Darling awkwardly stood by the punch bowl, holding the same cup of punch for the last few songs. It wasn't she felt something in her hair that she looked up. She found Ruby smiling. What did she just do?

Ruby: Let's dance.

Darling was about to decline, but Ruby grabbed her wrist and dragged her along. Darling didn't even realize she had a white rose in her hair all the while.

You watched everyone have a blast from the corner of the room. However, there was one person who seemed to be keeping to themselves.

Braum sat at a table, clearly uninterested in the party going on around her. She didn't even look up when you sat across from her.

Y/N: Pretty cool, huh? Better than the parties you guys used to throw?

Braum shrugged.

Braum: I wouldn't know. I didn't really go to any. I wasn't a student, remember?

Y/N: Oh yeah. About that, why not join EAH?

She looked up finally.

Braum: What?

Y/N: Yeah. I mean, you're technically our age still, so you can at least spend the last two years with us. Graduate, make some friends, maybe find some romance.

Braum found herself blushing a bit. She looked away annoyed, but suddenly found you hand being held out towards her.

Y/N: Come on. At least have a dance.

Braum stared at your hand for a moment. Finally, she realized it'd be pointless to say no and took it.

Braum: Won't your girlfriend be mad?

Y/N: Nope! She already knows.

You pointed to where Lizzie was, currently dancing with the other Wonderlandians. You pulled Braum to the dance floor and took her other hand. As the music played, the two of you danced. Braum was a bit stiff at first, but soon, she began to get into it. She was smiling shortly after, actually enjoying herself despite what happened earlier.

It was true that she never went to any dances, but when your father would go back to Oz during breaks, he would often drag her into impromptu dancing sessions. Oddly enough, she felt like she was there again.

When she opened her eyes, she didn't see you, but Oz. He was dancing in front of her like he used to. He looked like a complete and utter dork, but she always found it charming in a way. And when she blinked, you were with her again.

Braum: You know, Ozzie....I think I'll be fine here.

And so, that night, you all danced. Students from all over, under one roof. You weren't Royals or Rebels anymore. Not school rivals or anything of the sort.

You were just kids. Kids enjoying a night of fun.

And honestly, what was wrong with that?

The End Is Just The Beginning...