It was a peaceful afternoon at Ever After High. Birds flew and chirruped through the school in a harmonious chorus. The book ball team were gallantly practising on the field, and those that were free from class had set up picnic blankets over the bleachers.

From the classroom window atop the tall castle spire sat a curious girl. She watched the peaceful scene outside and couldn't help but wonder if the clouds above would taste of marshmallows or candyfloss. Some might say that it's impossible to eat a cloud, but her father had always taught her to think of at least six impossible things before breakfast.

Professor Jack: Madeline Hatter? Have you been paying attention?

Professor Jack B. Nimble tapped impatiently at his lectern.

Maddie's smile beamed.

Maddie: Why yes professor! I've been attentive to many a happenstance today, including a marvellous flying display from some very talented sparrows.

Raven Queen stifled a giggle at her mad friend. You also rolled your eyes, knowing that she had not been paying even the slightest bit of attention. Raven gave Maddie a small nudge and pointed at her notebook with an answer written in the corner.

Maddie:...But I believe the answer you were looking for is 'enchanted waterfalls'?

Professor Nimble nodded and returned to the chalkboard.

Professor Jack: Correct Ms. Hatter. 'Enchanted waterfalls'. Similar to ordinary waterfalls but with three major differences...

Maddie let out a sigh of relief and mouthed a big thank you! to Raven. She grinned back at her as if to say don't mention it! Maddie spent the remainder of the class doodling on scraps of parchment. You watched her from out of the corner of your eye.

Geografairy was a perfectly interesting subject, but not nearly as fun as che-myth-stry class. Last week, she concocted a potion that could make your toes glow in the dark; she wasn't so sure about the taste, but it was a spell-tacular way to light up a dark situation!

You actually ended up getting some on your sleeve, which stained it so that it would glow whenever it was dark, but you didn't mind all that much. Maddie knew that you wouldn't get mad over it. Your were probably the most easy going person she knew.

Maddie was adding the finishing touches to her masterpiece of a doodle involving Raven, you, and herself flying around on a majestic, moustachioed sparrow when the school bell chimed to signal the end of class.

Professor Jack: Students, before you go, I have an announcement to make. As you know, the semester is almost at a close which means it's time for...

He gave a dramatic pause before flicking a switch which made a large projector screen drop down, the words were written in large, bold letters.

Professor Jack:...Your independent study project!

His announcement was met with a reaction of groaning and worry. There was a distinctive 'WHY?!' that sounded from a desperate student suddenly regretting his choice in elective.

Y/N: Why do you hate us?!

Professor Nimble brushed your response aside.

Professor Jack: Here now, no need to fret. You'll be partnered up and work together to make things a little more productive.

He procured a list from a large file and cleared his throat.

Professor Jack: Partnerships are as follows....

As he read out the names, many of the students were delighted with their teams. The list went on until there were only a handful of people left.

Professor Jack: Raven Queen and... Cerise Hood.

Raven looked over her shoulder and waved at Cerise, who shyly smiled and waved back at her. You sighed, bummed out that you wouldn't be working with your best friend, Cerise.

Raven: Ah, that's too bad. I really thought we'd be together on this one Maddie.

Maddie contemplated.

Maddie: Sometimes the caterpillar forgets his shoes, but he'll never run out of gloves!

Raven: I don't speak Riddlish, but I'll assume that meant something nice.

Maddie giggled and tapped her nose.

Prpfessor Jack: Which leaves the final pair: Y/N Hook and Madeline Hatter.

Maddie looked up and performed a small greeting with two little flags at you. You chuckled and waved back at her.

Professor Jack: Here's the brief: This project counts to half your final grade, so I want thirty pages on a topic of your own choosing by the end of the month - the day before the Starlight Festival, so that should give you something to look forward to! Alright then, any questions? No? Class dismissed.

The students stood up and collected their things, chattering away with their newly formed partners and swapping MirrorPhone numbers. You tucked your chair back into the desk and lightly knocked on Cerise's head with your hand.

Y/N: I'll meet you by the castleteria, I need to talk to Maddie about our project.

Cerise: Okay. Hext you later!

You waves to your friend and headed down to the next row of desks where Maddie was still trying to shove her stuff into her hat.

Y/N: Maddie!

Maddie: Y/N!

You greeted each other at the front of the classroom. Maddie, being significantly shorter than most of the students at Ever After High, looked up at you as you spoke. It had been a while since you had the chance to chat to one another like this.

Y/N: So I was thinking, since we want this to be interesting, why not write our project about Wonderland?

If there was one place that Maddie knew about, it was Wonderland. She had explored nearly every corner of it.

Maddie: What a splendiferous idea!

Maddie jumped on the spot.

Maddie: It's only my favourite thing to talk about! Well... That and tea.

Y/N: Naturally.

Maddie quickly fished around inside her hat and pulled out an old crimson camera. She lunged towards you, one arm around your shoulder, the other holding the camera. Without warning she clicked it and the shutter snapped with a puff of dragon smoke. It sputtered out a small square photograph and she handed it to you.

Maddie: To commemorate our new found partnership!

Bemused, you regarded the photo. Your own face looked back at you utterly bewildered. Maddie's face was perfectly painted with a huge grin. You couldn't help but laugh at such an odd picture.

You watched her as she readjusted the hat atop her bouncing curls.

Maddie: I can't wait to start 'hitting the books'. Although I hope that doesn't mean really hitting the books. What if it hurts their feelings? A paper cut is a lot meaner than you'd think!

You couldn't look away from her as Raven beckoned and you couldn't help but stare as she hopped away, waving goodbye. You smiled, shook your head and brushed your fingers through your hair.

Professor Nimble gave an alerting cough.

Professor Jack: Mr Hook...Would you please leave my classroom?

You snapped out of your daydream and quickly shuffled out the room, hopping a little as you walked. You had forgotten how strangely enchanting Maddie could be.
---------------
The library was quiet, save for the murmuring chatter and the turning of pages from some of the students. Once in a while, a fairy would flitter past to re-shelve a book or two. Maddie and you sat at a table by the arched window. You were surrounded by open textbooks, maps of the uncharted Wonderland Isles and several broken clocks. You had spent all afternoon working on their project.

Maddie balanced a pen under her nose, making a funny pouty face. You tapped your fingers to your temples, deep in thought, until you glanced at Maddie which made you chortle with laughter. She tried her best to keep the pen above her lip despite her increasing smile.

Y/N: Maybe we should take a break.

Maddie: A hexellent idea!

Maddie moved so quickly that she was almost a blur. In a flash, she had closed their textbooks and set up a miniature tea party from the contents of her hat, including a small cake stand, three tea pots and a confused Earl Grey blowing bubbles.

You were both shocked and impressed.

Y/N: How did you do that?

Maddie: You never know when you'll need a cup of tea, so I like to be prepared.

You took a bite out of a neat little sandwich that had been cut into a perfect triangle. The cucumber filling was crisp and sweet. You watched Maddie as she effortlessly poured the hot liquid from a tea pot with two spouts. She really was extraordinary when it came to tea.

The bubbles danced around you, sometimes landing softly in Maddie's mint and purple hair.

Your laughter settled. You looked at each other and smiled. Perhaps it was the tea, but you felt so warm. It was the good kind of warm; a snuggly, cosy blanket-like warm.

You felt yourself slowly leaning in towards her.

Maddie could feel her heart beating inside her chest. Ba-bump. Ba-bump. Ba-bump.

It's never done that before, she thought. She started to worry if she had accidently eaten a small drum kit, but then she looked up at you. She had never noticed how wild your hair was; as though it couldn't decide which shade of H/C it wanted to be.

You were inches away from her now; your shoulders almost touching. There were so many bubbles, floating up and down and round and round. Pinks and blues and purples swirling like a watercolour.

Y/N: Maddie... I...

Briar: WHO ORDERED THE STUDY PARTY? WHOOP WHOOP!

Briar Rose crashed into the library with an entourage of friends and a boom box upon her shoulder. The bubbles popped like tiny balloons around your faces, snapping you out of your daze quicker than a ticking crocodile at a pirate picnic.

Briar swung her arms around you as the music thumped a catchy rhythm.

Briar: Maddie! Y/N! Fancy catching you here; you up for a slammin' study sesh?

You bolted upright and scrambled your papers and textbooks together in a mad flurry.

Y/N: Ahh! No thank you Briar. I was just- I need to- ohh curses!

Your arm knocked against a tray of biscuits, sending them flying.

Y/N: Look out!

Maddie stuffed the miniature tea party back into her hat as fast as she could.

Maddie: Briar! How does the hat-stand?

She was so flustered that she couldn't help but speak Riddlish.

Maddie: But the chairs have legs! Have you ever noticed that?

She giggled uncontrollably.

The strange chaos moved like a whirlwind before Briar. It all seemed to happen at once; Maddie and you continued to apologise to each other, desperately tidying and pointing at random things. Briar blinked in confusion as several biscuits went soaring past her head.

Y/N: So I'll uhh, see you tomorrow for the...thing.

Maddie: When the butterflies collect their butter?

Y/N: Yes.

You held out your arm and shook Maddie's hand with a serious look upon your face. You nodded at Briar and marched out of the library. Maddie scooped Earl Grey onto her shoulder and pirouetted in the opposite direction, leaving Briar standing alone and completely baffled.

She shrugged her shoulders. Must be a Wonderlandish thing, she thought. Or a Neverland thing. She never really knew. She returned to her friends and raised her hands in the air.

Briar: It's time to study... TO THE HEXTREME!

The group cheered and released a round of party streamers. Briar really could make anything hexiting.

Maddie dashed behind a bookcase, wedged in a little nook between My Kingdom for a Horsefly and Negotiating with Newts. She panted, quickly feeling her cheeks and her forehead. She clutched her stomach and steadied herself. Her heartbeat gradually returned to its normal pace, but a flood of worry waved over Maddie.

Maddie: What was that?!
-------------
Maddie sat alone at the long castleteria table. She was wearing a very large olive-green hat that resembled a velvet helter-skelter. On the brim of the hat grew fresh daisies that Earl Grey would sometimes like to pick.

Maddie was staring at the cup in front of her; as she stirred the tea, it turned cloudy and clear in an unusual pattern. She couldn't sleep last night and had been worrying about her wonder all morning. Her MirrorPhone buzzed. It was Raven.

Just got your hext, what's up? Xx

Maddie frowned. She found it hard to fit all her words into a message like this, so instead she sent fifteen umbrella emoticons, two spaghettis and a face that looked rather dizzy.

She continued to stir her tea. Seconds later, Raven had replied.

Ahh! You're not feeling good? :( :(

Maddie liked that Raven could solve her hext riddles.

Wish I could come over - Apple's having a royal flush: One Reflection broke up & I promised to comfort her :/

Maddie stuck out her tongue. Her MirrorPhone buzzed once more.

Breakfast Book End 2moz? Xx

She replied with many emoticons of tea and smiley faces. Meeting Raven for breakfast would be fabellous. But it still didn't solve her muchness problem...

Maddie was so wrapped up in her ponderings that she didn't even see that you had sat next to her. Yoy reached into you bag and pulled out a plate covered by a red gingham cloth. You set it lightly on the table and gave a notifying cough.

Maddie jerked to attention.

Maddie: AY/N! When did you get here? Did Kitty teach you how to poof from place to place? Isn't she funny? I've always thought penguins were rather funny. They have such little arms!

She began to imitate a flapping penguin in her fluster.

You smiled.

Y/N: Maddie... about yesterday...

You shuffled oddly in your chair as though you couldn't find the words inside your pockets.

Y/N: I...did you...that is, what I'm trying to say is...

Maddie: Yes?

She was quite puzzled by it all.

You stumbled with your words but they wouldn't come out properly. You exhaled.

Y/N: Did you... want to try some of these crumpets?

You gestured to the plate.

Y/N: Ginger made them this morning and I thought you might like to share?

Relieved, Maddie gladly accepted the treats. You were calmed; you reached for a crumpet yourself. It was curious, you thought, as you were usually much better at talking. Maddie had constructed a tower of crumpets but she didn't eat them. Instead she just poked at them with her butter knife. You could tell that something was bothering her.
-------------

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.

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 him 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.

Apple: 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 and Y/N?

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

Raven" I think so...

Raven was delighted.

Raven: 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 you 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.
--------------
Maddie stared at her MirrorPhone; Raven hadn't replied to her last three messages. A big raindrop plopped onto the screen. She was standing outside her father's Haberdashery and Tea Shoppe waiting for her friends to arrive, but they were nowhere to be seen. The rainclouds above her were a heavy grey and the pitter patter of an oncoming storm began to increase.

After the events at the grove, Maddie hadn't felt like herself for a few days. She would leave sharply after her classes and spend her evenings alone in her dorm room with Earl Grey. It wasn't until this morning that she had finally agreed to Raven's proposal to spend some time outside with her friends. There was a Geografairy pop quiz on the cards and Maddie had been avoiding anything that made her feel gloomy, so a study jam at the tea shop was a nice compromise.

With the rain falling heavier and no sign of Raven or Cerise, Maddie put her MirrorPhone back into her skirt pocket and made her way inside the shop. The bell above the doorframe chimed its jolly ring as she closed the door. She gave a great sigh. Not having her muchness made her feel positively blue. She meandered to the shelf on the far side of the shop and started to re-organise teacups according to how blue they were.

The bell above the door chimed once more. Maddie turned expecting to see a red-cloak or a purple haired figure but instead she saw the wash of a dark red jacket. You stepped into the shop, your boots squelching on the welcome mat. You were holding a black umbrella, but on the way to the shop the storm must have caught up with you because it had blown inside out, resulting in one very soggy Neverlandian.

Maddie clutched her teacup tightly, not making a sound. The water droplets ran from the tips of you untamed H/C hair until they splashed onto floorboards below. You weren't wearing your hat.

You hesitated, unsure of Maddie's uncharacteristic silence.

Y/N: Raven hexted me about a Geografairy study group at the tea shop. Am I late?

Maddie shook her head. Was this Raven's doing? You dropped your umbrella into the bucket by the coat stand and took a seat at the table closest to her. Your wet clothes clung to your tall frame. Maddie moved to the kitchen and boiled the kettle. She wasn't sure which kind of tea this situation called for.

Maddie set two cups of peppermint and liquorice tea on a small tray and carried it through to the table. Alistair was no longer in his chair; he was admiring a painting on the wall that looked strikingly like the Mad Hatter and his daughter, only it was upside-down.

Y/N: Is your father here this evening?

Maddie stopped in her tracks.

Maddie: Not today. He's gone to market to find a new blend of tea.

Maddie felt a knot tying up in her stomach. She didn't know what to do with herself. Was it really you that had been causing her curse? Were you the reason she had lost her muchness?

You could see that something was plaguing her. You took a step towards her; wanting nothing more at that moment than to comfort her.

All of a sudden, there was a great crack of lightning that illuminated the street. The rain pelted down and the power zapped out, leaving the shop in total darkness. It gave Maddie such a scare that she dropped the tea tray. It hit the ground and the cups smashed into tiny pieces.

Y/N: Maddie!

You reached for her in the darkness but lost your footing and slipped on the tea-drenched floor. You clawed at the air, clasping onto anything that you could, in this case, Maddie's wrist. You fell backwards, but instead of landing on the floorboards, you came crashing through one of the teleporter doors and Maddie came toppling through with you.

The door burst into shattering shards, Maddie and you shielded your eyes from the debris. You fell downwards through a dark and endless tunnel, faster and faster. You scrambled to keep hold of Maddie. You couldn't see a thing. Down you rolled, down a steep, steep hill. Tumbling hat over heels until you finally landed at the bottom of an overgrown knoll surrounded by haggard tree stumps.

Maddie clutched her head, her eyes still adjusting from all that falling. Her tights were torn and she was fairly sure she still had pieces of door stuck in her hair, but luckily she had made it unscathed.

Y/N: Maddie! Are you hurt?

Maddie: I'm fine, I'm fine. Let's get out of this rain!

She lifted you up and supported you as you hobbled over to a hollowed out oak tree. It was a snug fit, but at least you were out of the storm.

You sat in silence for a while, listening to the relentless rainfall. Maddie shivered. Instantly, you wrapped your arms around her, enveloping her in your jacket to keep her warm. Maddie found herself unexpectedly pressed against your chest. She had never been this close before and the surrounding shell of the tree only emphasised the small space between you.

She could feel his heart beating and it matched her own. A soft flutter: Ba-bump. Ba-bump. Ba-bump. Your body was warm against her and she felt safe. She looked up at your face; you had a small scrape above his right cheekbone, but it didn't seem to bother you. Your tousled hair brushed against the top of her head, sending tingles down her spine. You mistook this for more shivering, and held onto her even closer.

You looked into Maddie's eyes and the way that her lashes perfectly framed them. Her nose was as cute as a button and speckled with the faintest of freckles. Her lips... Her soft pink lips. Oh what you would give to kiss those lips. But something held you back. You had to be sure.

Maddie could feel her face blush. She felt jumbled and giddy. You slowly reached your lips closer and Maddie could feel hers doing the same as though they were lost in your lullaby. But something stopped her.

She withdrew away from you. There was no doubt in her mind that you were behind it all; the reason for all the tweedle-trouble. Was this just a game to you? Some sort of tricksy prank you thought was funny? She desperately wanted to bombard you with babble but the words wouldn't come. Not even in Riddlish.

The rain came to a stop until only the tiny patter from the trees dripped through. The moonlight shone brightly through the broken clouds forming a spotlight on the grassy knoll.

You gently released Maddie from your embrace and helped her exit the hollow tree. You scouted the knoll, not saying a word. Now that the storm had passed, you could identify where the door had dropped you; somewhere on the outskirts of the school grounds.

Y/N: It's this way. Let's go.

Maddie followed, desperately wishing she could turn back her pages. She didn't like this chapter. Not one little bit.