A/N: Yes, this was caused by the astounding books Morning_Blankets made for Ever After High. Yes, we do nerd about it from time to time. There's no conceivable way that you haven't read them already, but I'll say it anyway, go read 'em if you haven't!

(1/4)

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Ever After High

A place where a myriad of different characters would gather to learn how to become their better selves, who they were destined to become in order to continue the very stories from which they spawned

Some were destined for a happily ever after, a kingdom, a place by their beloved's side, while others were fated to be the very evil that put others at risk. Either by poisoning, casting a curse, or taking over the land, this was a place where both heroes and villains were formed

Although... not everyone was happy with the hand they were dealt, and some went as far as to rebel against the very fate they were supposed to guard. This created a rift between the school's students

Amongst these "Rebels", was Cerise Hood, daughter of Red Riding Hood, and the Big Bad Wolf...although no one was supposed to know about the latter part

This air of mystery led Cerise down a less sociable path than she would like, for she had to keep her secret safe, for her sake, and her family's. As such, the young girl would seek places of solitude where she could truly be herself

One of these places was the Enchanted Forest, which was next to the school itself, but where students were a rarity

She could spend time with Carmine, the little direwolf that sprung to life every time it saw her, even challenging her to a small race and playing afterward. Never a dull moment

However, as she returned from her time in her beloved Enchanted Forest, the girl came across a rather unusual scene by the lake. It was her friend Raven Queen, daughter of the Evil Queen and leader of the Rebels

But...she wasn't alone

In front of her, the water became unstable, and aggressive as it shifted upwards, revealing a black silhouette of a being, with tentacles swinging before the figure itself shifted into a more human-like appearance as it started cackling. Raven took a step back at the sight of it

Two purple orbs focused on the girl standing nearby, and shortly after, a toothed grin

???: My dear sweet child! What could little ol' me do for you?

The voice sent shivers down Cerise's spine. She knew exactly what this was, a witch of the sea. The kind her father had warned her about

And the kind that was threatening her close friend right now

But not if she had anything to say about it

Just like that, her fear turned into an aggressive drive to protect. Her eyes glowed a powerful gold as she growled and with all her might, she lunged at this figure in the water, with enough force to knock it off its makeshift throne and into the ground, where she had the advantage

Her sudden appearance earned screams from the people nearby, but not the kind she would expect

???: AGHH!! WHAT THE HEX?!

Raven: Cerise, wait!

This was hardly the response she was expecting, and understandably confused, she turned to Raven, who had a worried look on her

Raven: There's no danger! Y/N is a friend!

Cerise's eyes went wide at the mention of this name. Raven had mentioned before this boy she could get along with, and that didn't come easy to her, so when her friend started to describe him, she became interested in doing so

Sharply, she turned back to the figure that was now under her, finding not a sea monster, but rather, a boy her age with pale blue skin

Het golden eyes locked with his violet ones as he held on to dear life

That boy would be you

But rather than being upset or terrified, you were mesmerized by the girl that had done this. She had broad shoulders and hair that was a beautiful blend of black and white. Despite being the daughter of a Hood, this girl looked like she could tear you apart and, well, she tried to

And even then, you tried your best to wave at her

You: H-Hey

The girl's beastly demeanor fled the moment she realized the truth of the situation, even her eyes lost their glow and instead, it was her cheeks that turned a different color

Cerise: Oh my Godmother...

Immediately, she got up and offered you a hand

Cerise: I-I just thought Raven was in danger a-and I--

You: I-It's okay, really!

Raven watched with an amused smile as Cerise turned from a fierce predator to a flustered girl in seconds as you tried your best to calm her down. She had been meaning to get you to meet each other, but this was not what she had in mind

However, she still sought to make the most of this incident. The pale teen cleared her throat to get the attention of both of you

Raven: Y/N, this is Cerise Hood, a dear friend of mine

Then, she turned to the girl

Raven: Cerise, this is Y/N Witch, also a good friend

Despite your slightly disheveled state now thanks to her, you still held out a hand for her with a smile

You: Charmed to meet you, Cerise

There was something in the way that you said her name that made her tense up a little, but she couldn't give in to these strange new feelings. She had to salvage this first impression as best she could

So she shook your hand and laughed nervously

Cerise: Likewise

Nailed it

Raven then gestured at the boy, who was fixing his black vest with silver lining on the sides

Raven: I was helping Y/N with his General Villainy Thronework

You: Yeah, we're supposed to work on a "grand entrance"

Cerise found herself nodding, at least until something crossed her mind

Cerise: Wait, why are you in General Villainy?

You: You know, son of the Sea Witch. Kind of forced into that class even if I'm not evil

This comment made the purple-haired girl roll her eyes

Raven: I know the feeling

You put a hand on her shoulder, making her look at you

You: At least we get to suffer together

Then, you looked at Cerise

You: And if your reaction is anything to go by, I think I'm doing a good job so far!

The girl found herself holding on to her hood tightly as her eyes darted away

Cerise: I'm sorry for that

However, you just waved it off

You: Don't apologize for being a good friend

She let go of her hood to look at you with a small, yet sincere smile. However, your MirrorPhone went off shortly after, it was time for your next class

You: Raven, Potions is calling us

This earned a gasp from the girl

Raven: Is it time already?

You nodded before looking at Cerise

You: It was great meeting you, Cerise. Hope we can talk later!

This earned a nod from the girl, who was slowly getting over the embarrassment, but not enough to talk yet. This is what caused Raven to make a decision

Raven: I need to talk to Cerise first. I'll catch up with you

You nodded and continued with your day. However, as soon as you disappeared from sight, Cerise's head hung low

Cerise: That was such a carriagewreck, wasn't it

Raven: What? No, I--

She turned to Raven with a stern look

Cerise: Be honest

The purple-haired girl opened her mouth to say something, but nothing came out at first. Instead, she ended up sighing

Raven:...a little

This earned a groan from the girl, who buried her face in her hands. This prompted Raven to try and cheer her up. She knew how hard it was to try and make a good first impression, especially on your crush

Not that Cerise would ever admit it, of course

Raven: But that was just you being the protective friend you are! You didn't have the context, and Y/N took it very well

She placed her hands on her friend's shoulders and offered a smile of her own. It was made even more noticeable thanks to her dark lipstick

Raven: I say you still have a chance

There was silence for the first few seconds, and then, Cerise peeked

Cerise: ...Really?

Her friend nodded eagerly

Raven: Of course! You just gotta catch him in the right moment. Y/N is...a busy guy

The young Hood hummed as she looked at the school in the distance. Maybe not everything was lost yet

So Cerise turned to Raven and did one of the most difficult things in her entire life

Cerise: Think you could...give me some pointers?

She asked for help

_________________

You were picking up your Hextbooks after another successful class, waving goodbye to your friends as they left the classroom. Raven sent you a hext to tell you she wouldn't come to class because of something that came up, so you covered for her

She said it was nothing major, but you wondered if it had anything to do with that charming, albeit a bit feral girl you met back then

Regardless, you were about to leave the room, when a very distinct voice across the room. The teacher's

Baba Yaga: Mr. Witch? A word, please?

You nodded and walked up to her desk, where the floating woman was waiting. You wondered if you've ever seen her walk

But then again, if you had powerful magic by your side, why would you?

You: Yes, ma'am?

The teacher cleared her throat before she talked

Baba Yaga: Your performance in this class has been nothing short of hexcellent, Y/N. It seems you are truly gifted with potions

You couldn't help but smile at the compliment. Especially coming from such an experienced witch

Given your parentage, it was no secret that potions and witchcraft were your areas of expertise, but unlike your mother, you didn't have a macabre favor to ask in return

But you could sometimes get a bit...carried away when making potions. Thankfully, most didn't mind the occasional cackle

You: Thank you

Baba Yaga: And as such, I've taken the liberty to offer you a special task to you and you alone

Intrigued, you tilted your head

Baba Yaga: Should you be capable of producing an advanced potion with nothing but what you have around you, I'll give you extra credits

You: Really?!

Seeing your eyes lit up at the idea only convinced Baba Yaga that this was a good idea, and with a small smile, she nodded

Baba Yaga: Of course, you have until Monday to bring it to me, but you must not tell anyone about this

You nodded, excited by the prospect of that challenge

You: Of course. I won't let you down, ma'am

Baba Yaga: I know you won't. Good luck, Y/N

You nodded thanks and walked out of the classroom. It didn't take long for your mind to start wondering what kind of potions could you come up with that would impress madam Yaga

It was known that she wasn't one for special assignments, but you did have this underlying respect going on between you. Better not disappoint, then

???: Y/N!

Just a few seconds after you stepped out into the hall, you were met with the voice of your best friend, and as you turned around to greet her, you were met with the smiling face of Briar "Party like there's no tomorrow" Beauty

You: Hey, Briar. What's up?

Briar: The focusing potion worked like a charm! That test didn't stand a chance!

With a grin, she pulled you in for a tight hug

Briar: Thank you so much

Chuckling, you hugged back. Briar wasn't in need of a focus potion, but rather, a confidence booster. She had the skill and the intelligence to ace that test anyway

Much like with mommy dearest, people would sometimes come to you in hopes of getting a potion that might help to solve a predicament, be it physical, emotional, or a "muchness" potion that one time

While you did it out of the kindness of your heart, you weren't one to turn away payment. It helped replenish ingredients

You: What about we go for some coffee at Book End?

She broke the hug as she looked at you

Briar: Actually, I came here to get you. You're not busy, are you?

You: Well, I--

Briar: Good! Let's go!

The girl got ahold of your wrist and dragged you away from the scene

_________________

Briar guided you to a party, because of course she did. But this one seemed to be a bit more on the casual side, so at least you didn't feel guilty for not being dressed accordingly for the event

You heard cheers and music, and even your name being called out in a friendly manner. When you turned to these people, you found

Apple: Y/N! Hello!

Dex: Hey, Y/N!

Lizzie: OFF WITH YOUR HEAD!

Maddie: She means hello!

You waved at the group as you approached them. It wasn't long before you noticed Raven was there too, accompanying Maddie as they returned from the punch bowl

If there was a moment when it didn't matter if you were a Royal or a Rebel, it was during a party, and nobody threw parties like Briar did

Was there a motive for the party? Not really, but nobody complained about it either

Apple approached you with her customized MirrorPad and grinned

Apple: For the Ever After Yearbook!

You all posed together for the picture, but as soon as it was done, the music turned up, courtesy of Melody Piper

It wasn't long before you all began dancing to the rhythm of this catchy tune, allowing the daughter of the Pied Piper to dictate the pace of the event

...or at least until you felt your arm being grabbed by Maddie

Maddie: Y/N! You have to try the punch!

The Wonderlandian guided you towards the table where the punch bowl waited for you

She served herself once again, then handed you a cup

Maddie: It's not tea, but it's still hat-tastic!

You smiled at her but soon became aware of another figure nearby. It was Hunter, and he was looking eagerly at your next move

You: ...what?

Hunter: Wait, you're not gonna...

Picking up what he was trying to say, you couldn't help but laugh

You: No surprises in the punch this time, I promise

Hunter sighed in relief

While you did potions that had positive effects, it was true that you would sometimes indulge in a prank or two. You'll never forget the reaction of Headmaster Grimm when his beloved chair grew legs and started running all over the school

Or this time you made a potion that made everyone start blabbing. Lots of confessions and secrets took place that day

You took a sip from your cup and found yourself humming at the taste

You: You were right, Maddie! This is--

You didn't even get to finish the sentence before you realized the girl was nowhere to be found..at least at first. She was attempting a headstand on the other side of the room

Yeah, those were your friends

However, you couldn't help but feel a bit... underwhelmed. Maybe you were waiting for something? Or someone?

You were forced out of your thoughts when Raven walked by to serve herself a drink

Raven: Thanks for covering for me. I owe you one

She said without looking at you

You: No problem. Everything alright on your end?

Raven gave you a weird look but soon caught on what you meant

Raven: Oh, yeah. Just helping Cerise a little

You: Speaking of, where is she? Thought I'd see her around here

You looked around to prove your point, but Raven just shook her head slightly

Raven: Oh no. Cerise is not one for parties. Not much anyway

But then, she stopped mid-action when something clicked in her mind, and with a smirk, she turned to you

Raven: Why are you asking for her?

Your face heated up the moment you understood her sudden change in attitude

You: W-Well, she seemed like a nice person. I was hoping to meet her properly

The girl hummed while you scratched the back of your neck. You did not mean to come across like that

I mean, you barely even knew Cerise, other than the fact that she was a protective friend. However, she had this mysterious vibe to her, something special. And that's saying a lot considering who you go to school with

So maybe... you just wanted to get to know her?

Yeah! Yeah, that's it

You: And I feel bad for cutting our meeting short like that

Raven: Well, class waits for no one

She took a sip from her drink, staring at you the entire time as if to study you...or planning something

Raven: But if I had to guess, I'd say she went to the Enchanted Forest. It's like her second home

You: At this hour?

Your friend just shrugged a--

Hunter: Raven! Apple is doing her destiny speech again!

Apple: You know I'm right!

You both turned at the sound of your friends' bickering, with Raven groaning before she walked up to them to try and get her friend to stop

This left you alone to think about your next course of action. You could go and assist Raven, maybe try and put an end to the same old argument for the next twenty minutes

Or...

Taking advantage of the unfolding situation, you snuck out of the room and out of the party. The change in scenery could be felt immediately as you were welcomed by a sudden quiet. Ever After High wasn't exactly known for its activity at night, that became more apparent the more you walked around

At least until the third time you turned around the corner

???: Y/N? What are you doing here?

You came across the red hood and two-toned hair you were looking for. In front of you was a surprised Cerise, but she had ditched her heels for running shoes

You: Hello, Cerise. Just sneaking out of the party

She raised a brow at you

Cerise: Why's that?

You shrugged, imagining the argument that was probably still taking place as you spoke

You: Just wanted some peace and quiet. The party turned into another Rebel/Royal thing

This earned a chuckle from the girl

You: What about you?

Cerise: I was going to head to the Enchanted Forest

You: At this time?

She nodded with a small, yet genuine smile

Cerise: It's my favorite thing to do on the weekends

You looked back at the hallway, and then at the girl

You: Would you... like some company?

This suggestion caught the girl off-guard, and when you saw her reaction, you raise your hands in surrender

You: I-It's completely fine if you don't want to!

Cerise: No, no! It's just...

She let out a deep breath in an attempt to get ahold of herself

Cerise: Are you sure about that? Wouldn't you rather get back to the party?

Before answering, you shook your head

You: Not really. Besides...

This time, you offered the smile, one that she would never forget

You: We can get to know each other, for real this time

Cerise could feel her face getting warmer, and that feeling on her stomach only confirmed the obvious, and yet, she fought through this to appear as calm as she could. At least calm enough to provide an answer

Cerise: I'd like that

...

The nightlife and the gentle breeze made for quite the soothing combination as you walked into the Enchanted Forest following Cerise's expert guidance

You could even sense the calm that overtook the lake nearby as you walked past it. In fact, you stopped walking just to relish in the freshness of it all. You took a deep breath that came out as a relieved sigh as you closed your eyes

Cerise: Peaceful, isn't it?

When you opened them, you found Cerise smiling at you. You nodded in agreement

You: I can't believe I've been missing out on this

Cerise: Yeah, this is my go-to spot when in need of some tranquility

She gestured for you to follow her deeper into the forest. The school was out of sight shortly after

Cerise: I love my friends, but I too get tired of their Rebel vs Royal bickering

You: Tell me about it. It's hard to talk to Apple without it turning into a "you must follow your destiny" debate

Soon, you found a small clearing. You could see the school once again, but what caught your attention was the way the moonlight shone upon this area

You took your time to appreciate the nature surrounding you, the way the wind felt against your skin, and gently moving the grass on which you stood

The girl walked forward and sat up near a tree, but was quick to notice your absence. When she looked at you, however, she couldn't help but smile when she found you mesmerized by this place. It's something not everyone could appreciate

However, her eyes darted from your expression to the way your violet eyes seemed to glow under the light the moon so kindly provided

Cerise found herself fond of the way your short h/c hair moved with the wind, those soft lips of yours, and even the fact that she could get a better look at you now. She wondered how fit you were

You: This place is fairy, fairy pretty

Without knowing, you made her crash back to the moment at hand, and she immediately cleared her throat as she regained

Cerise: Uhh, y-yeah. It is

She then patted a spot next to her for you to sit, which you gladly did, but before the silence could take over the scene, she decided to talk, with the topic being the last thing she could recall

Cerise: So...

Her voice made you look at her, only to find her eyes somewhere else

Cerise: What is your stance on that debate, then?

You placed a hand on your chin as you thought about it, then shifted your eyes to the trees nearby

You: Hmm. Not really a fan of having a destiny forced upon you, especially without giving you a chance to prove yourself

Cerise: So a Rebel, then?

You: I guess? To be fair I haven't thought about it since I came here

A chuckle left your lips once something came to mind

You: My sister Coral, on the other hand, is pretty much flipping her crown over this

Although you couldn't see it, Cerise turned to you, intrigued by this piece of information

Cerise: Your sister? Is she a student too?

You: Not yet, but she doesn't want to be a villain like our mother, or pull people into cruel deals. Can't say I like the idea either

She wanted to express how much she could relate to this, but if she did, she would give away too much. She couldn't risk it

So instead, she found another way around

Cerise: It's so unfair. Some of the nicest people I know are related to a villain, like Raven, Ginger---

You: Mr. Badwolf too

Sharply, Cerise turned to give you a questioning look, holding onto her hood as she asked you to elaborate on that

You: Yeah, I saw him help Cedar Wood one time she was being chased by woodpeckers

Huh. Yeah, that sounded like him

Cerise let go of her hood with a relieved breath

Cerise: See? There's more to it than meets the eye

You: Definitely

You ran a hand through your hair, making the most out of the gentle breeze

You: What about you? What's it like being the daughter of Red Riding Hood?

Cerise: It's... complicated

You: That bad?

She shook her head, but unbeknownst to you both, you scooted closer

Cerise: Oh no, I love my family. It's the townsfolk that stresses me out

The girl's attention was on the trees. They reminded her of home, of the clans that fought constantly

The Wolves and the Hoods, eternally at odds for the least significant things, and may the writer help any poor soul that dares change that

Cerise: We are forced to live a very secretive life, and they hate outsiders. It's exhausting

You could hear the exhaustion in her voice, it made you curious as to what she had to deal with, but perhaps that was a question for another time

You: Sounds like the townsfolk don't know it's much easier said than done

The girl found herself nodding, but opted to stir the conversation away from her own story or the people related to it. The less said the better

Cerise: Definitely. Just look at Ashlynn and Hunter

This comment made you turn to her with a raised brow

You: You know about them?

The girl smiled before offering an answer

Cerise: Everyone does, we just don't have the heart to tell them

A short laugh was shared after that. It was true, they put so much effort into pretending not to be dating each other, that it made it all the more obvious

You: As long as Milton doesn't know. That narrow-minded man

Cerise couldn't help but laugh at the way you said that

Cerise: His attempts to get rid of the Rebels are so obvious

You: Even Tiny is more subtle than that man

This time, the laughter that escaped Cerise's lips was louder. It wasn't something she was used to doing much, but it only made it all the more precious

And as the night went on, you both found it easier to talk to each other. She didn't even notice when did you two close the distance with one another, but as laugh and happiness joined the sounds of the Enchanted Forest, it hardly mattered