Darling removed her jewel-encrusted belt, then slipped out of her blue dress. Luckily, she wore a pair of metallic tights and a silver camisole underneath. She removed her ruffled heeled shoes, her necklace, and her tiara.

You just kept your back turned the entire time, trying your hardest not to sneak a peek.

Then she grabbed the chain mail tunic and slipped it over her head. It fell to her knees and hung loosely around her middle, but it was secure enough. She slipped her feet into the sollerets. Thankfully, Dexter’s feet weren’t much larger than hers. This just might work!

Darling: Okay, come help me.

Y/N: Are you decent?

Darling: Just shit up and help.

On went the rest of the plate armor. The shoulder pieces, breastplate, backplate, and thigh guards known as cuisses. The helmet was the most important part. A knight in dented armor wouldn’t draw too much attention in town, but a princess in dented armor would. She braided her hair and tucked it into the helmet. It fit quite nicely.

Y/N: Okay, there. Now, just try to walk around. Get used to it.

She circled the shop’s interior, beginning with slow, steady steps, then increasing her pace. The suit wasn’t as heavy as she’d expected. She was amazed at how agile she felt, and how easily she could bend and jump. If Dexter got his new helmet, he’d have no problem riding a horse. She was sure of it. You found a pen and wrote on the back of Betty’s note.

Dear Betty,

Need armor for practice. Wish you well. Shoot me a hex when you get back.

-Dexter Charming

It kinda looked like something he would write, right?

You included Dexter’s phone number and set the note on the bench. Then you opened Darling's Ever After High book bag, pushed her MirrorPad aside, and neatly packed her shoes, dress, necklace, and tiara. Realizing that her blue manicure might draw attention, she grabbed the gauntlets, slipped her hands inside. You, bag in hand, strode from the blacksmith’s shop with Darling following.

It was quiet in the alley. Darling stood beneath the smithy’s sign.

Darling: Am I really doing this?

She glanced down at her legs.

Y/N: You're completely covered. No one will know it’s you. And lots of other students carry this same book bag. Just don't talk and you'll be fine.

She lowered the helmet’s visor. Then, after a deep breath, she walked up the lane and turned onto Book End’s Main Street.

The visor offered a strange, rectangular view of the world. But it was enough for her to walk safely and not bump into things. Plus you were there to guide her. An odd sensation washed over her. Despite the fact that she was carrying extra weight, she felt lighter. No one ran after her with flowers or chocolates. No one fell to his knees to propose marriage. Her face was hidden, and no one knew who she was. No one could tell she was the Charming princess.

Except for you. But, that didn't count.

For the first time in what felt like forever, Darling walked down the street in broad daylight and didn’t cause a single ounce of chaos. A few people glanced her way, but nothing more. She usually hurried past the stores, trying to get out of the spotlight, but now she could actually take her time. She could even window-shop! What joy!

She stopped at the Yarns & Noble Bookstore, where the latest volume of Diary of a Royal Kid was on display. The Glass Slipper Shoe Store’s window featured platform shoes by the fashionable Shoemaker’s Elves, and the Mad Hatter of Wonderland’s Haberdashery & Tea Shoppe was having a two-for-one sale on jester hats.

???: Hey, Dex!

Dex? Darling looked around. What was Dexter doing in Book End? He was supposed to be at the infirmary. You nudged her.

Y/N: You're Dex now.

Oh, right.

Daring: Dex!

Daring strode toward her, a doughnut in hand.

Daring: Hey, did you see this? The Beanstalk Bakery named it after me. It’s called Daring’s Doughy Delight.

He smiled, nearly blinding a passerby. You lifted an arm to protect your eyes. Then he stopped right in front of Darling and held the doughnut up to her visor.

Daring: It has three different kinds of icing and five different fillings. You can never have too many carbs.

He flexed one of his arms.

Y/N: Dough makes you fat.

Daring stopped and looked at you.

Daring: What?

Y/N: Dough. It makes you fat if you eat too much. Same with bread.

Daring: B-Bread makes you fat?

You nodded.

Y/N: You do work out, though, so you should be fine.

Daring smiled a bit. Luckily, the slit in the visor wasn’t big enough for Daring to notice it was his sister’s eyes looking back at him. Or maybe he was too busy checking his reflection in the window to notice anything but his luxurious hair and chiseled jaw.

Daring: You want this?

He was offering her a piece. She shook her head, then watched as he ate it in two massive bites. He consumed food the way he consumed life—with gusto.

Daring: What are you doing out here? You’re supposed to be practicing for the tournament.

Darling cringed, immediately regretting her impulsive decision to wear Dexter’s armor. What was she supposed to do now? Daring took his role as her protective older brother very seriously. If he discovered that his little sister was walking around looking extremely untraditional, he’d give her a stern lecture.

Y/N: He wanted to get used to his armor. He asked me to help him get used to the weight and to get some exercise in.

Darling smiled, thankful to have you there to help cover her.

Daring: Your armor is a mess. You’d better take it to Betty for a buff and polish before Mom and Dad get here.

Then he waved at a group of girls who were staring at him through the bookstore’s window. Two of them fainted. Darling rolled her eyes. While she and Dexter shared similar quiet and unassuming dispositions, at least in public, she and Daring shared the same burden of being highly sought-after members of the Charming family. Daring, however, enjoyed his effect on the girls. He loved being the center of attention.

The girls who hadn’t fainted rushed from the bookstore and began taking selfies with Daring. This was Darling’s opportunity to escape. She hurried up the lane toward school. She’d leave the armor in Dexter’s room, then continue with her normal schedule. She turned as you made sure she didn't fall.

Daring: Hey, wait up! I’ll walk to class with you.

How could she get out of this? She couldn’t show up at Hero Training! She’d have to tell Daring the truth.

Daring: You’ll be practicing with a lance today.

He’d been talking for a few minutes, but she’d been so distracted by the situation that she hadn’t been listening.

Daring: Of course, I don’t need to practice. I’m the champion, after all. I can joust in my sleep. It just comes naturally, you know?

Although her oldest brother sounded as though he was boasting, he really wasn’t. Being good at everything was simply his reality. In the same way that she wasn’t bragging when she said that most boys frequently tried to impress her in hopes of becoming the next Prince Charming. That was simply the annoying truth.

Daring: Don’t let yesterday get you down. Sure, it was awkward when you fell off the horse, but it looks like you’ve gotten used to the armor. At least you’re not falling over when you walk.

He slapped her on the back again. She nearly coughed.

Daring: Just remember, Dad’s going to be in the audience during the tournament. He’ll be watching your every move.

Jeez, talk about pressure, Darling thought. Poor Dex.

Daring: At least you don’t have to win the tournament. You just have to be second best. That should be easy. I’ll be right here if you need help.

He gave her a brotherly nudge, then settled into a lounge chair and began hexting on his MirrorPhone.

Here? Where was she? Daring had been talking so much she hadn’t noticed that they’d turned off the lane. She lifted her visor so she could get a better look. Daring’s chair was set at the edge of the field. Professor Knight was standing in the middle of the field, surrounded by a group of armor-clad students.

Uh-oh.

Professor Knight: Squire Charming! Thou art late! And you, Seadog, leave us.

You threw your hands up in annoyance.

Y/N: What did you call me?!

Darling: Y/N. Not here.

You just turned away and left in a huff.

Darling had no idea what to do. If she turned and ran, Dexter would get in trouble for skipping class. The students might think he was scared. But she couldn’t join them. Could she?

Hunter: Dexter!

Hunter Huntsman hurried to her side, his helmet tucked under an arm. She quickly flipped her visor over her face.

Hunter: Hey, I wasn’t sure if you’d make it. You were coughing pretty badly this morning. Are you feeling better?

She shook her head.

Professor Knight: Squire Charming and Squire Huntsman! Cease thy jibber-jabbering and attend within the instant or thou shalt be sent to the headmaster’s office!

Hunter: Guess it doesn’t matter if you’re sick. You’re stuck now.

Hunter was Dexter’s roommate, and they were an odd match. Hunter was tall, strapping, and athletic, fond of carrying an ax and walking around shirtless. He was the brawn to Dexter’s brain. But they seemed to make it work. He grabbed the book bag from her hand and tossed it on the ground next to Daring.

Hunter: Come on.

Please oh please don’t open that bag, Darling thought as she glanced at Daring. Then she followed Hunter onto the field.

Darling had never seen Professor Knight up close. She wasn’t certain, but she guessed that he was the oldest teacher at Ever After High. His skin was as gray as Hagatha’s porridge and as spotted as a witch’s toadstool. The top of his head was mostly bald, except for a few wisps of hair that appeared to be made of cloud. A long white beard hung to his belly. His suit of armor looked as if it had been left out in the rain for centuries. Each time he moved, bits of rust flaked off.

Professor Knight: On this day, thou shalt begin thy lessons in the art of jousting. Jousting is the sport of heroes, born in the glorious days when chivalry reigned supreme.

Darling couldn’t believe her ears. This was the kind of class she’d longed to take. They were going to learn something! Do something! She wanted to shout for joy!

Professor Knight: Whilst thou art destined to accomplish deeds of derring-do, exploits of extreme exceptionality, and acts of astounding achievement, not every hero is graced with the natural dexterity needed for a successful joust.

Professor Knight looked straight at Darling. So did everyone else.

Professor Knight: Alas, some of you will fail.

Fail? Is he seriously telling me that I don’t have what it takes? she thought. Luckily the visor concealed her scowl. Then she remembered that everyone thought she was Dexter.

One of the students raised his hand.

Student: Professor Knight? How come Daring is sitting over there?

The professor scratched a clump of hair that was sprouting from his ear.

Professor Knight: Squire Charming is observing today’s lesson because he is our jousting champion. He hath no need to practice, for he is the perfect specimen of heroness.

Daring glanced up for a moment, waved, then went back to hexting.

Professor Knight: The knightly skills come naturally to Squire Charming, as they did to his father, of whom I had the honor to instruct. That was back in the day when knights were still appreciated. Your generation doesn’t respect tradition, I’m afraid.

He frowned. Darling fidgeted uneasily. At that moment, she was the perfect specimen of someone who was definitely not respecting tradition.

Professor Knight thrust a finger in the air.

Professor Knight: Squires, it is time to mount your steeds.

Steeds? Darling’s heart skipped a beat. This was getting better by the minute.

During the lecture, the horses had been brought up from the stables and were tied along a fence. There were a variety of horses to choose from. Hunter chose a horse that was stomping and straining against its tether. But Darling noticed the small, quiet horse who was nibbling on a patch of clover.

Darling: Hello, Sir Gallopad.

His ears pricked, and he raised his head. He sniffed her, smiled, then licked her visor.

Hujter: Isn’t that your sister’s horse? You don’t want that one. I hear he’s super timid.

Then he led his horse onto the field.

Darling looked around. The other students were distracted by their own horses. So she whispered again to Sir Gallopad.

Darling: I think we both need to stay hidden.

And he immediately changed from white to black.

Darling: Good boy.

She started walking and he followed.

This was going to be fun.

However, when she returned to the field, she found a rather peculiar sight. You stood across from Professor Knight, your rapier hanging from your belt. Other students had gathered around and watched as you and the teacher yelled back and forth at each other.

Professor Knight: This behavior is highly inappropriate.

Y/N: And you calling me a seadog is fine? Seems like you're the one who needs a lesson on what it means to be a hero.

Professor Knight: And you're the one to teach? A seadog from the oceans of Neverland.

Y/N: You talk a big game for someone who won't even accept a duel. You're just a coward in cheap armor.

The boys gasped while Darling was just confused. What was going on?

Professor Knight: How dare you?! This armor was forged by the best blacksmiths in Ever After.

Y/N: And yet there isn't a single dent. I'm willing to bet the Jolly Roger that you've never even been in an actual fight, you poser.

Were you seriously picking a fight with the teacher? What was the matter with you? Why have you been so antagonistic today?

Professor Knight: You will stop this behavior at once!

Y/N: I'll shut up once you accept my duel. You knights think you're so high and mighty but in reality, you're scared to even face me, a student, in a sword fight.

Darling could tell the Professor was growing angrier by the second. Finally, he drew his blade and took three steps back. You did the same with your rapier.

Hunter: No way. Y/N is insane. Professor Knight is the best Knight in Ever After. What is he doing?

What were you doing indeed.

Professor Knight: If I win, you will spend the remainder of this week in detention for your incompetence.

You scoffed.

Y/N: Whatever. If I win, you'll beg on your knees for my forgiveness.

Professor Knight: It is settled.

The Professor began to move towards you, but you wasted no time in attacking first. You purposely slammed your blade against his which caught him by surpise. You could win by way of a pirate by being clever and playing dirty, but you wanted to beat him at his own game.

You slipped your sword along his blade before you pierced the metal on his shoulder, nearly stabbing him in the shoulder. Jaws dropped and eyes grew wide as the match ended just as erupted as it began.

You pulled your blade out from the metal and took a step back.

Professor Knight dropped to his knees in shock. You moved so quickly that he didn't even have time to react. You were naturally quick with the battles between crews. You had to be or else you'll be spending the rest of your eternity in Davy Jones' Locker.

Y/N: I win. And you should be ashamed as a teacher. Remember this the next time you wanna call your students names.

Professor Knight hunched over and landed on his hands. He then lowered his head and carried out on his end of the deal.

Professor Knight: I am sorry. I beg for your forgiveness.

You narrowed your eyes at him before you looked over to Darling. Your glare softened slightly.

You sighed and slid your rapier back into your belt before turning away.

Y/N: Whatever.

You walked off the field as the entire class watched. Even Daring was at a loss for words.

Professor Knight stood back up and sighed.

Professor Knight: The Pi....Y/N Hook is correct. I was mistaken in calling him such a name. Heroes are meant to defend everyone. Please, class, accept my apology.

No one knew what to say. Darling just watched as you disappeared back into the school.

Darling: Y/N....