Raven Queen's POV

It felt like Legacy Day all over again, except all eyes were on Raven for another reason. They still feared her, there was somehow a new sense of respect and authority given by the Rebels. You're the ringleader they've been searching for, Melina's words from last night exploded in her mind. The question is—will you step up to that role?

Strolling down the hallway with Essie by her side, Raven soon realized that some Royals and Rebels were even waving or saying simple 'hellos.' "You're super famous now," Essie told her, her black high heels clacking on the floor as they walked. You might ask why was Essie Greenings wearing strappy six-inch heels on a regular Monday morning? I don't give enough fucks about Headmaster Grimm to follow the dresscode, Essie always said. "Just remember me when you rule the entire school."

Raven snorted. "As if, Grimm still runs this story."

"Nuh-uh. He's really pissed after last night's public show-down. He lost an argument against a teenage girl, that'd leave a nasty scar considering how bitter Grimm is. Trust me, Raven, you won't like him like he's angry."

"I don't think anyone likes him in general."

Essie rolled her eyes. "Other than Apple who kisses up to his ass."

Raven frowned. "Hey, don't bring Apple into this." It was royally awkward after Legacy Day ended and she headed back to her dorm. Apple was sobbing herself to sleep while Raven was just trying to exist without creating a crossfire. Arriving at their Environmental Magic class, Raven was surprised to see a new face instead of Professor Jack B. Nimble's.

There was a young woman at his desk, perhaps in her mid-twenties, with her dark brown hair in a messy bun held by a pen. "Welcome, I'm your new teacher, Professor Camille Red." Raven noticed that Professor Red had a teddy bear that had a Mona Lisa sort of smile on her desk.

"Cute bear," Essie said as they took to the front row. Students flocked to their assigned seats while Professor Red smiled.

"Awe, thank you, it's a gift from my partner." Professor Red started the roll call, checking names off the attendance. Apparently, Professor Nimble had too much on his plate and needed a teacher to take one of his classes. "Okay... That should be everyone." She leaned against her desk, smiling yet again. "As your new professor, I'll start by introducing myself. Uh, I'm the next Rose Red from Snow White and Rose Red. Don't get that fairytale confused with Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. I actually used to attend Ever After High, I graduated around seven years ago."

Essie elbowed Raven. "I just know one of the guys in our class will try to hit that."

"Ess, that's so inappropriate... and most likely true."

"Sorry, I'm late." Apple's voice echoed throughout the classroom, silencing every student. Her heels clicked against the floor as she walked, avoiding Raven's gaze. Oh my Grimm, this isn't going to end well, is it? "I was caught up with personal stuff. Professor Red, correct?"

"Erm, yes, sorry I must have missed your name. Apologies, Miss White." Professor Red made corrections to her attendance list as Apple sat next to Raven, still avoidant. "Moving forward to class, we'll be learning about..." Raven started to zone out as she bit her nails, eyeing Apple who hadn't made eye contact yet. Was this her way of expressing her anger? Giving her the silent treatment?"

"Apple?" After no response, Raven got more annoyed and repeated herself, "Apple."

"You should really focus on Professor Red's teachings instead, Raven."

"You can't possibly still be mad at me?"

"I'm not mad... Just a tad bit upset."

Yeah, okay. "Can't we be civil about this?" Raven lowered her voice. "Apple, I can't keep living like this. I-I saw what my future looked like in the Storybook of Legends." Suddenly, Raven was taken back to Legacy Day. Her heart was thumping against her chest as her head throbbed, her dark eyes glued to the pages of the Book. The Storybook often showed glimpses of what their destiny would look like in the future. There she was—a future Raven Queen—locked up and removed from society. Her hands were handcuffed and she was a prisoner. Forgotten, disgraced, afraid, and most of all, alone. She couldn't let herself sign the Book knowing that would be her fate forever.

"You didn't have to be selfish about it," Apple mumbled.

Raven's heart skipped a beat. "Selfish?"

"It's true that I want you to sign so I get my happily ever after, but... I don't want my friends to go poof. If you don't sign, then that causes a chain-reaction," Apple whispered as Professor Red continued the lesson. "You can't rebel from your destiny, it's quite literally destiny. That's something you don't meddle with." Apple pursued her red-coloured lips. "You didn't disappear on Legacy Day, but it's only a matter of time before you do. Before everyone does."

Raven's face fell. "Apple, I-I would never want that, but—"

"No chit-chat, save that for your free periods," Professor Red called out, her back still turned away from the class as she wrote on the chalkboard. Raven huffed, feeling defeated as Apple turned away, continuing to jot down notes.

If only Raven could make Apple see everything from her perspective.

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Winter Vale's POV

"Did I ever mention that Lady Yaga is my niece?" Madam Baba Yaga exclaimed in Winter's General Villainy class. He hated that class, he wasn't a villain, but he had to take classes because of his mother. As Madam Yaga yapped about how the famous popstar Lady Yaga was related to her for the millionth time, Winter's thoughts lingered on his mother, the Snow Queen. His enslaver. It is disturbingly ironic how one could be a prisoner in their own home. The Snow Queen was a villain and Winter would have to follow her footsteps as his destiny. It was all too troubling and just thinking about it gave him a headache.

You escaped, Winter reminded himself. It's all over.

The bell rang as Madam Yaga clapped her hands. "Well, that's all for today." Finally, all classes were over and Winter had free time in the evening. Students grabbed their bags and Winter was about to head out when the teacher called out his name. "Winter Vale, stay put." Did I do something wrong? Winter thought in confusion as the teacher strolled over. Madam Baba Yaga was a tall woman with graying wavy hair, half-covered by a red scarf, and wrinkly fair skin. She crossed her arms, her fingernails long and painted a dark purple. She was certainly a strange teacher. "Mr. Vale, I have noticed that you do not participate in General Villainy. Do you wish to have a failing grade?"

Winter stiffened as Yaga went on. "Perhaps it's because you're mute and not speak, but you find other ways to communicate in other classes, so it puzzles me why you put very little effort into this particular class. If you wish to succeed in becoming the next Snow Queen—or Snow King, I suppose—and fulfill your destiny, I suggest trying harder." But that was the hard part, Winter didn't want to become anything like his mother.

No, not at all, she was cruel and vile. It was difficult to explain to others what an abuseful tyrant the Snow Queen was, so Winter didn't try to explain it at all. "But then," Madam Yaga spoke softly, "I came to a conclusion. You must be a Rebel." Rebel was a stretch, he wanted to be the next Snow King, just maybe nicer. A whole lot nicer. But Royal? Stretch as well. "I support your choice whatever it may be."

Winter perked up. His respect for Madam Yaga had just increased. "But Headmaster Grimm will not bode well with that decision, The Snow Queen is a stable in fairytales," the teacher reminded him. Winter's mood diminished. "Although, his hands are tied with Raven Queen at the moment, I must admit."

Raven Queen.

Her name was buried deep in the back of Winter's mind, remembering that she was the one who defied her destiny on Legacy Day. She had given a voice to those who didn't. Winter wished he had half of Raven's courage. "The bell," Winter said, finally uttering a word.

"Oh, right! Well, I mustn't keep you." Madam Baba Yaga strode off while Winter walked out of her classroom, feeling at least some sort of replenished hope after their chat. Maybe he didn't need to like General Villainy class, but he just needed good grades to fly under Headmaster Grimm's radar. His mind was occupied with dozens of thoughts that he hadn't noticed that he bumped into someone. He flew to the floor, hitting his head.

He rubbed his head, muttering. "Sorry."

To Winter's surprise, it was Raven Queen, the girl who had been in his mind a few minutes prior. She rearranged her black-and-purple hair and laughed softly. "Guess I need a new pair of eyes. Don't worry about it, I wasn't entirely focused either."

Winter didn't reply, he merely stood up and stiffly offered his hand. Raven got up on her own, thanking him before walking down the hallway. The girl captured everyone's attention, good or bad. After what happened on Legacy Day, Winter Vale didn't blame them. Then he realized he was staring at Raven's disappearing silhouette for a second too long. Flustered, he headed the other way, going for the Lifairy.

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Lynari Fae's POV

Sitting at a table in the Lifairy, Lynari Fae wanted to suck her thumbs into her brown-coloured eyes. "Who the hell assigns a ten-page essay that's due the next day?" Professor Rumpelstiltskin would be the death of her. She huffed, head in her pale-skinned hands, rubbing her sore eyes. She was growing more tired—more weak. She was going to disappear if Vanya Ella didn't sign soon, she just knew it. Her wings would lose energy more quickly and she always felt light-headed. Fairies would disappear if the protagonist of their story rebelled. That meant the story was out of order and the fairies wouldn't be able to serve their purpose.

If only Nari's lifeline wasn't tied to a freaking fairytale. "Let me guess, Rumpelstiltskin?" a girl piped up from next to her. Nari recognized her vaguely, she was Willow Waverly, one of the Neverland twins. She had pin straight brown hair that matched her eyes, Nari noted.

"Yeah, he's the worst..."

"At this point, I don't even try, I just do the extra credit."

Nari gave Willow a worn smile. "You're in the year below, correct? The next Lost Boy?"

Willow nodded. "Hey, I recognize you, you're Lynari Fae! The wish-granter, the next Fairy Godmother!" She beamed, glancing at her golden fairy wings. They were weak, only giving a half-hearted flutter. The signs of disappearing... Nari swept those thoughts under the rug as Willow was in awe. "You're like Tinkerbell from Neverland! Or like Violet..."

"Thank you...?" Nari had heard of Violet Bell, the next Tinkerbell. There was also another fairy, the Dark Fairy, called Ravenna Rown. Nari sighed, she wondered if Violet or Ravenna had trouble in paradise regarding their fairytales too. Were they going to disappear too?

"It must be so cool to have fairy wings," Willow said wistfully.

"I mean, they are a convenience." Plus inconvenience, but Nari didn't add that. "You have a twin brother, right? What was his name...? Oh, yeah, Scout." He was a bit odd, mostly quiet, Nari had to admit. Really, she just associated him with being Willow's brother. "He isn't here with you?"

Willow seemed like the overprotective type of sister, Nari observed. The twins were practically joined at the hip, never staying out of each other's sight for too long.

"Yeah, Scout really needs to get out of the dorm once in a while..." Willow let out a sigh.

Nari was going to speak when something seemed off. Abruptly, Nari straightened up, blinking blankly. There was something strange suddenly about the Lifairy suddenly, something ominous... "Do you smell that?" she asked, sniffing the air. She hoped she didn't seem crazy.

Willow stood up from her chair and so did Nari. Hundreds of books surrounded them on high shelves and the setting sun peeked through the large panels of glass to the right of the Lifairy. "It smells like... smoke." Before Nari could reply, clouds of gray smoke flew over the towering shelves of books.

Screams erupted as Nari saw flashing colours of yellow, orange, and red. "There's a-a fire!" Immediately, Willow grabbed a shell-shocked Nari by the hand, yanking her away from the growing flames. "Where did it come from?"

"I-I—" Ash clouded Nari's vision, the fire growing more quickly than she could process. For Grimm's sake, they were in a library, fire basically feasted on wood. She coughed as the flames snaked around the Lifairy, her lungs seizing up slightly. Willow seemed eerily calm though slightly unnerved, guiding them through rows of shelves, and looking for an escape route. "We need to leave before we get burned alive!"

"The inhalation of smoke will kill you first before the flames do," Willow replied, squinting. As if that was helpful or encouraging. "Look, there's the door!" Dozens of students flocked to the exit in the distance, smoke escaping to the hallway. Nari cast a glance over her shoulder, seeing that the flames were right on their heels. Shit! Was she going to die? Thoughts surged through her head as Willow yanked on Nari's hand. "Let's go!"

"What if someone else is stuck here?" Nari blurted as they came closer to the exit. They started to run as Nari coughed horribly, barely able to catch her breath. It didn't exactly help that she was weaker than usual as well. Her head spun as her grasp on Willow's hand loosened. Nari's vision danced, blurring together as Willow urged Nari to run faster. Her voice sounded so faint.

She felt drowsy, as if she was drowning. Quite literally, it was the opposite. Suddenly, Nari's lungs were filled with fresh air as she gasped. They were outside the Lifairy in the dark evening and Nari dropped to the ground, clutching her chest as she took loud gasps. To her side, Willow was breathing heavily, catching her breath. "Are you okay?" she asked Nari.

She spluttered, her mind foggy. "Thank you," she blurted out, "for saving me." If Willow hadn't taken charge, Nari would have passed out and possibly died in that fire. Glancing up, she saw billows of smoke fly up to the sky through the Lifairy's caving roof. The fire continued to rage on and students around Nari were staring with her. "The Lifairy was lit on fire," she said suddenly as if the gravity of the situation had finally clicked. "Good Godmothers, that must be arson."

"No shit, Faelock Holmes," Willow mumbled.

"What if someone was left behind?" Nari cried out. She stood up, wobbly on her feet as Willow steadied her. She had to do something, even if her Fairy Godmother powers were fading, she'd have to try. Fumbling with her pockets, Lynari found her magic wand at last. "Bippity, Boppity, Boo; until the clock strikes midnight, put out this hellish fire with the flick of my wand!" A wave of nausea hit Nari as she stumbled back, Willow catching her before she hit the ground. Nothing happened, the fire stayed instead of vanishing.

"You look pale," Willow said worriedly. "You should sit down until medics arrive—"

"It didn't work," Nari said, horrified. This was nonfictional, this was real. She was slowly disappearing away. "My powers didn't work." She coughed, thumping her fist on her chest. Gosh, she needed to get that smoke out of her system. "Why did the fire even start?" she rasped out.

"A better question is how the fire got started."

A/N: And the plot begins >:)