Raven: It might not be a curse, Maddie. Maybe you stood too close to an explosion in potions class and you're still feeling some opposite day effects.

Maddie: Hmm. That's a very good point.

She tried to recall any ka-booms she'd sat near recently. They always made potions class more fun.

The two girls were making their way down to the Wonderland Grove, a small garden in Ever After that held the magic of Wonderland in its roots. Lizzie Hearts could often be found there tending to it, making a quaint sanctuary for her hedgehogs and the wonderlandiful plant life.

The further into the grove they stepped, the more the tree tops curved and intertwined, creating a shady canopy of leaves and branches. The sunlight would spill through the gaps, making intricate patterns on the ground.

Maddie couldn't stop worrying about her 'might-not-be-a-curse' curse. Whatever it was, she needed to get to the bottom of it, or at least take her mind off it. Luckily for her, you had invited everyone to an impromptu party in the grove - The perfect chance to indulge in all things 'Wonderful'.

The fauna was starting to look more and more unusual now; sprigs of pink curling like a candy cane lined the route towards the entrance. There were actual blue coloured bells growing amongst the bluebells. Maddie positioned herself in the centre of a large wall made out of fern and with the swift motion of her finger she outlined the shape of a top hat.

The trees appeared to turn inside out upon themselves making a strange slurping sound. When the falling leaves had cleared, Raven and Maddie lit up in excitement at the sight that had opened before them. Ginormous flowers were sprouting throughout the grassy garden in every colour imaginable. Ivy grew up the legs of grand bird-feeders that housed harmonious quartets of song birds. Tea pots of all shapes and sizes were dotted about, hanging from trees and sat on the stone walls, over flowing with flora.

The party was in full swing. There were tables set out, full of treats and copious flavours of tea - including a tea fountain. A huge gramophone sat in the grass playing out a tremendous tune of jazz and electro swing whilst all of their friends tried their very best to futterwacken. You were there, hopping from guest to guest and handing out funny hats and glasses.

Y/N: Hey! Thanks for coming! Help Maddie get her muchness back! Great to see you! Help Maddie's muchness!

Maddie: Y/N!

Maddie ran to you with glee and grabbed your arms, swinging you around in a circle.

Maddie: This party is tea-riffic!

You danced with her playfully. For a moment you lost yourself in your spin before quickly realising how close you were. You could feel your cheeks blush pink like a flamingo and stopped in your tracks. You shuffled and gestured to the long table by the chestnut tree.

Y/N: It's nothing Maddie, really! I just had to do something for you… Come on, let's get some tea!

You extended your elbow and Maddie linked her hand around it.

Raven watched you stroll together, when it suddenly clicked and her jaw dropped in realisation. Apple White bobbed her shoulders to the music as she hopped over to where Raven was standing. She caught Raven's perplexing expression and bumped hips with her.

Applr: Hey Raven! What's got you gasping like a guppie?

The corners of Raven's lips lifted into a great smile as she pointed over at Maddie and you. Maddie had taken a sip of something and had foam all over her nose, you were laughing so cutely together. Apple glanced at you and the thought dawned on her too.

Apple: Maddie Hatter and Y/N Hook?

She gave a short gasp, raising her fingers to her mouth.

Raven: I think so…But don't you see what this means? Maddie's not losing her muchness, she's got a crush!

Apple squealed and hopped on the spot.

Apple: Yay Maddie!

She started to step forward.

Apple: Let's go and tell her the good news! No wait, let's get Cupid and she can make it official!

Raven grabbed onto her sleeve before she could go any further.

Raven: Whoa! Wait a spell Apple. We should see how this plays out.

They could see you tentatively wipe the foam from Maddie's face, but before they could fixate on it, Maddie had panicked and demanded to show you a headstand.

Apple looked at Raven sceptically.

Raven: Trust me Apple. This is new for them; they need to figure out their feelings on their own. If we rush things or interfere with magic, we might steer them in the wrong direction.

Apple still seemed unsure.

Raven: And it might ruin their destinies.

That always got Apple on her side. Her face became very serious. If a story was at risk, there was no stopping Apple from keeping it safe.

Apple:…But they're kind of…

Apple watched the Wonderlandian and you as you tried to dance on your heads in the most unromantic way possible.

Raven: Hopeless?

Apple didn't want to use such a harsh word but conceded and nodded her head.

Raven: Leave it to me. Giving them a little nudge won't hurt.

She bumped Apple's hip and bobbed their way to the group of guests who were performing their own style of dance to the odd music.

Across the grove stood Tina; she was drinking iced tea through a fantastic, orange swirly straw. Watching you trying to headstand with Maddie filled her with grumbles. She broodily blew bubbles into her drink. A pearly-white smile hovered above her shoulder and shouted rather loudly.

Kitty: JELLY?

Tuna squeaked in fear, spraying her drink everywhere like a fire hydrant. Kitty appeared with a soft pop holding a plate of something wibbly and wobbly.

Kitty: Would you like some jelly?

Tina staggered and choked back her iced tea.

Tina:—Kitty!

Kitty snickered. She disappeared and reappeared again behind the food table. She pinched the cherries off the tops of the cupcakes and ate them one by one.

Kitty: You know, if I liked a boy, I would do something about it.

Tina: What do you mean?

Kitty stuck her index finger into the frosting and scooped up a big glob, leaving an obvious Kitty print in the cake.

Kitty: Oh nothing… But it's like they always say: The way to a boy's heart is through his stomach!

She licked the frosting from her finger in one swift gulp.

She disappeared and once again she popped up at Tina's side, this time holding a bell jar.

Kitty: Give him one of these. It'll go down a treat!

Kitty handed Tina the jar. It was full of swirly purple cupcakes with the words Eat Me! written in icing.

Tina was never sure she could completely trust Kitty, she had half a mind to set them on the table, say a polite 'no thank you' and fly away with her bun held high. But being around Kitty set her wings on edge and before she could question her, the cat had vanished except for her signature smile. Exasperated and out of ideas, Tina stomped her foot and headed for you.

Tina twitched her wings nervously. She gave a quick inhale for luck and extended her arm to tap you on the shoulder. You twisted around to face her; you were still dancing a little jig in your step.

Y/N: Tina!

You wiggled your fingers in time with the music.

Y/N: I think the party is working, there's so much muchness in the air!

She regarded you dreamily. It was nice to see you so happy – even if your dancing was rather silly. She presented the bell jar from behind her back and watched your face light up in surprise.

Y/N: Wow! Tina, these look amazing!

Tina: Oh well, you know…I know how much you like sweet treats!

You lifted up the lilac cupcake and the waft of sweet blueberries and vanilla surrounded you. You licked your lips and bit into the spongey slice of heaven. Tina was giddy at the sight of you melting with delight.

As they stood, several of Lizzie's hedgehogs shuffled towards Tina, hypnotised by the alluring smell of the cakes. Tina shooed them slightly with her foot.

Y/N: Hey, Tina…

You stopped chewing and inspected your hands. The cake seemed to be getting larger and larger.

Tina: Yes, Captain?

Tina continued to shoo away the hedgehogs, not noticing you.

Y/N:…When did you get so tall?

Confused, Tina looked up at you, only to find that you weren't there. Your voice came from below. You were shrinking! You shrank smaller than the table, smaller than a violin, smaller than a bluebird!

Tina: Y/N!

She dropped the bell jar and the cupcakes scattered over the grass. She fell to her knees and frantically tried to scoop the boy up. Unbeknownst to her, the hedgehogs snapped the chance to gobble up the fallen cupcakes.

Y/N: Tina!

Tina: Y/N! Where are you?!

She scrambled around in search of you. She did not notice a strange group of shadows creeping over her with an odd, snuffly whisper.

She clasped you in her hands.

Tina: Got you!

It wasn't until the shrill scream of Lizzie Hearts rang through the grove that Tina looked over her shoulder to find not one, but five hedgehogs the size of grand pianos sniffling around the party. The guests screamed in fright, running this way and that, hiding under tables, all in total panic.

Lizzie: WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS? OFF WITH YOUR HEAD! OFF WITH ALL YOUR HEADS!

Tina froze as the hedgehogs scattered, knocking over chairs and bumping into hat stands. Over the chaos, Tina could hear the infamous snickering of Kitty Cheshire from the tree tops above. Tina looked up to find her in stitches.

Tina: KITTY! What did you do to them?

Kitty: Oops!

She grinned.

Kitty: Did I forget to mention they were Wonderland cupcakes?

Tina fumed, she was not one to lose her temper, but your life was at stake! She opened her hands and checked you. You were no bigger than a dormouse. You sat in her palms looking quite dishevelled by the whole experience.

Raven and Maddie rushed over.

Maddie: Are you okay, Tina? What happened to Y/N?

Tina raised her cupped hands to their eye level and they gasped, Raven in shock, Maddie in elation – she did love Wonderland magic after all.

Raven: There must be something to change him back, right? And the hedgehogs too?

Maddie: Hedgehogs are naturally great at snaffling shrinking grubs and toadstools, they'll be back to normal size in no time.

Tina: But what about Y/N? There's got to be some reversing mushrooms somewhere in here that he can eat.

The girls looked desperately at Lizzie, who was pouting over her missing hedgehogs.

Lizzie: I suppose you could find the mushrooms on the outskirts of the grove…

Tina nodded and darted out of sight into the thicket. She carefully placed you on the brim of her hat to hold on to as she ran.

Lizzie: You two!

Lizzie pointed at Maddie and Raven.

Lizzie: You're going on a hedgehog recon!

Maddie clapped, she loved hide and seek.

Maddie: Hat-tastic! Critters jump the moon with the cows and the spoon!

Raven was less enthused.

Raven: Yeah…What she said.

Tina scurried as quickly as her feet would carry her, past the spires of ivy and through the thickets of crickets. She eventually reached the edge of the grove. It was brimming with rose bushes. Lizzie must have been here recently to paint them all red, some were still dripping wet. Tina rummaged high and low until she spied what she was looking for: Wonderland mushrooms.

She plucked the colourful fungus from the earth and placed you carefully onto the ground. She crouched down and assisted you to make you normal size once more. You nibbled the mushroom and was instantly shot up back to your regular height. Feeling slightly dizzy, Tina helped you to stabilise until your head stopped spinning.

Tina: Y/N! I'm so glad you're back to normal. One can never be sure of Wonderland foods. And Kitty was certainly—

You interrupted.

Y/N: The hedgehogs! Did they hurt Maddie? Is she okay?

Tina felt a strange pinch inside her. Had you disregarded the fact that she had just rescued you?

Y/N: It's not safe to be out looking for hungry hedgehogs. We should go and see if Maddie needs our help.

There it was again. The emotion kept hammering and hammering. Why couldn't you see her? Why were you so different? Why did it have to be… Maddie? It bubbled up so much that she couldn't stand it any longer.

Tina: All you talk about is Maddie! Maddie this. Maddie that. Have you forgotten about me?

You were taken aback.

Y/N: What in Ever After are you talking about, Tina?

Tina: Maddie doesn't know you the way that I do. She's positively mad!

You laughed.

Y/N: Of course she's mad! She's the daughter of the Mad Hatter!

Tina shook her head; she could feel her eyes beginning to water.

Tina: No, you don't see it, Y/N…

The words felt like knotted knitting needles in her throat.

Tina: I know that you like her…

You blushed. You fumbled with your hat.

Y/N: What? Me? I don't…Who? Maddie?

Tina looked away from you.

Y/N: I know that you see her as more than just your Geografairy partner. And much more than just your friend…

You held onto her shoulder.

Y/N: Tina....

Tina lifted her head to match you. She couldn't hold back her tears.

Tina: But she'll never be able to love you like I do!

You were speechless. You could only stare at her as she poured out her heart.

Tina: I love you, Y/N.

The air between you stood still. Not even the frogs would ribbit, nor the crickets would chirrup. The leaves in the trees hushed their whispers as the two of you faced each other. Tina's tears were overflowing. She scrunched her hands into fists and turned her head away from you.

She was about to leave when you unexpectedly clasped her arms and pulled her body into your embrace. Tina wrapped her arms around you and quietly sobbed. You rested your chin atop her head and closed your eyes.

Maddie was looking for rogue hedgehogs. She had a good feeling about her, she hadn't thought about her curse all afternoon! Her search had led her to the edge of the grove; she sprang onto a tall bush and parted it in half, hoping to catch one of the prickly croquet companions. But instead of a hedgehog, she found you; your arms wrapped tightly around Tina.

You were so close together; Tina nuzzling into your red coat. You took your hand and stroked Tina's hair affectionately.

Y/N: I care about you so much, Tina…

Maddie felt her heart somersault and crash into the pit of her stomach. She suddenly didn't feel like looking for hedgehogs any more. She closed the parting of the hedge and solemnly walked away, heading back into the thicket.

Y/N: But…Whilst you will always have a place in my heart, my feelings for Maddie are…they're…

Tina pulled herself away from you.

Tina: She doesn't feel the same way.

She sniffled and brushed down her skirt.

Tina: I asked her myself.

You furrowed your eyebrows.

Y/N:…She doesn't?

You held onto the hook that hung around his your belt. Was it true? Had you muddled Maddie's kindness for something more this entire time?

Tina wiped the tears from her eyes with her gloves.

Y/N: Tina…I…

You sighed.

Y/N: Will you be okay?

She flicked her golden blonde hair behind her shoulder and stood to attention. She looked up at you and tried her very best to smile.

Tina: Why ever not?

Relieved, you gave her one more hug.

Y/N: Come on. We're best ge going. This whole party is a bust.

You walked back to the grove together. You didn't need to say anything; Tina was just glad to have the old Y/N Hook back