Scarlett Rouge's POV

"I'm still failing to comprehend why you volunteered to stack all the chairs in the Legacy Plaza for Headmaster Grimm," Scarlett told Chase Redforth. In the whipping wind, his black with red streaks flew all over his stoic face. He wore a red suit with a cape draped over his shoulder for his Legacy Day outfit with white ruffled cuffs. Carrying a chair, Chase marched over to the stacks of dozens of chairs while Scarlett followed. He didn't reply at first, he had a vague habit of that. "Well, at least let me help you."

"Grab that one," he said, finally uttering a word. The layers of Scarlett's skirts bustled as the Wonderlandian duo scurried throughout the plaza. After Raven Queen rejected her destiny, Headmaster Grimm shut down Legacy Day, so those who were supposed to go after Raven didn't have the chance to sign. "Professor Rumpelstiltskin." Chase didn't give much of an explanation. "I failed his exam, as one does with an unfair teacher like him, and needed some extra credit," he added as an afterthought.

Satisfied with that answer, Scarlett continued to help drag chairs across the plaza, making smalltalk with Chase as they went on. It was odd—though, that was expected since they were from Wonderland—routine of Scarlett being too chatty by oversharing and Chase quietly observing, occasionally smiling or adding his input. It just worked. "The breeze is really strong tonight," she commented, squinting her eyes. "That means a thunderstorm is near."

Chase had a glint in his eyes. "It reminds me of all the times I came sopping wet in the Red Castle..." Oh, for Grimm's sake. Scarlett let out a laugh, giggling and wiping tears from her eyes. The Red Queen, Scarlett's mother, loved Chase Redforth as his own, but the death stare she gave him when Chase would unintentionally track mud across the castle's pristine floors. If looks could kill... "Stop laughing at me," he grumbled as Scarlett wrapped her arms around her waist, laughing until she couldn't speak.

"I'm not laughing at you, I'm laughing with you." Gathering her composure, she straightened her spine and rolled back her shoulders, back in her regal position. Old habits die hard. "Sometimes, I wonder how you still serve my mother after everything." It was a tease, but a genuine question that has been on her mind lately. Even if she adored Ever After High, Scarlett Rouge dearly missed Wonderland, and she suspected Chase felt the same, though he'd never admit it verbally.

"It's my role to fill." Chase gave a mere shrug, stacking the last of the chairs. Scarlett tried to smile, but it wavered. "As the next Red Knight, it's my duty to protect the Red Queen, no matter the cost. I am forever loyal to your mother."

Scarlett hesitated before asking, "Even if my mother's actions question your morals...?" She instantly regretted the words that fell out of her mouth. I shouldn't have said anything, she thought as Chase froze, suddenly speechless. Scarlett blinked blankly as seconds passed, the silence deafening them. "It's past curfew, we should go back inside," she said to make up for the awkwardness, clasping her hands. "Sorry."

"No, no, don't apologize. Valid point, I guess." Silence yet again. It was nerve-wracking until Chase extended a hand towards Scarlett, the corners of his lips tugging upwards. "The plaza reminds me of the Red Castle's ballroom, doesn't it? Care for a dance?" As the howling wind pounded against Scarlett's ears, she grinned wider than the Cheshire Cat and took his hand. There was a strange, yet tangible sense of déjà vu in the air as Chase took the lead, somehow gliding across the plaza, his hand overlapped on Scarlett's, without fail. Effortlessly, he followed through with the ballroom dance's positions, leaving Scarlett to catch up, narrowing her eyes in deep concentration. When did he get so good at ballroom dancing?

She only ever saw Chase sparring with a sword hand-in-hand, horse riding on Crimson, or other knightly duties. Even if she was failing to comprehend the dance and its moves, Chase slowed down the pace so they were reasonably at the same level. "Where did you learn all of that?" she exclaimed, truly stunned. Knowing Chase for most of her life, this had never come up.

Chase shrugged again. "I mean, what if I ever had a dance-off in a game of Un-Chess? I would have never trained for that." Un-Chess? That gave Scarlett intense flashbacks of Wonderland High and made her smile a bit.

"You quite literally sound mad. Don't worry, me too." Scarlett rested her chin on Chase's shoulder, willing herself to not fall asleep on the spot. Legacy Day had been a wildfire of drama and insanity, she felt a bit sleepy. Leaning against Chase, she suppressed a yawn. "Seriously, you have talent, Chase."

Smiling softly, he explained, "You were too little to remember then, but we used to dance all the time in the Red Castle's ballroom. You were so short back then, you had to stand on my feet and then I would guide you around the amphitheatre." Scarlett unintentionally cringed, just knowing that she would have stepped on Chase's foot at least once. "The ballroom's floor was checkered, similar to the battlegrounds I would train on. I would memorize dance positions based on the checkered square, almost like memorizing the positions of a chessboard."

"I don't remember," Scarlett agreed, "but why did you stop?"

"Ah, well, I had more knightly responsibilities to fulfill when I got older, my life became much more busy and it's my role to protect the Red Queen..." Chase shook his head as they glided across the empty plaza. Nobody else except them. "It was a lifetime ago, Scar. And speaking of Wonderland..."

Scarlett had been trying to avoid the topic on her mind for the past weeks. "I know, I should talk to Melina," she said, sighing. The weight of making amends with her cousin along with her mother's and aunt's hatred for each other didn't help. Chase spun Scarlett around as she continued. "I mean, we don't know each other. We never really saw each other during our childhood, our moms despised each other." Bad blood between the Red Queen and White Queen never ended well. In a game of chess, only one side can win and someone has to take out the other. "It's hexellcent that I have the chance to finally speak to Melina without the influence of my mom, but it's overwhelming!" Joining Ever After High later than most students because of the Wonderland Curse, Scarlett found it hard to organize herself. EAH was nothing like Wonderland High—there were rules, there was normalcy, and no madness at all! You had to walk to class instead of painting a door to get to your classroom. What a strange school.

Scarlett shook her head. "I don't know what to do with Melina if I'm honest. She's nice... which scares me." Exhaling a heavy breath, she knew Chase was listening intently as she went on. "We're destined to go to battle with each other. There can only be one queen left standing in chess, someone needs to lose. It's... It's our destiny."

"Well, Melina Ivory is friends with Raven Queen, correct?" Chase shuffled to the side. "And look how Legacy Day ended up. All I am trying to say is that perhaps some things don't need to end in conflict. They are avoidable." That was the thing Scarlett often admired about Chase; his selflessness. "And if the battle ever occurs... I will be there."

Because you made a promise to the Red Queen, nothing else. Scarlett closed her eyes briefly, forcing a smile. "Of course." Before escaping Wonderland to transfer to Ever After High, Mother had made Chase swear on his life that he would forever look after Scarlett. Mother was always too stubborn, saying she would not leave Wonderland with the small chance that the curse by the Evil Queen could be lifted. I pledge to protect her Majesty, the next Red Queen, with whatever means necessary, Chase had promised seriously.

He should have never sworn on that oath.

"That's a story to worry about another day," Scarlett said, quickly changing the subject. Leaning against Chase, she could hear the even beat of his heart and when he'd draw his breath. "I'm sorry about what I asked earlier," she confessed. "About my mother. She's the one who took you and your father in, she's obviously very important to you. The Red Queen is the person you were born to protect."

Chase remained silent, deep in thought. Although Scarlett hated to admit that she was a 'yapper,' she always knew that Chase Redforth would be the one person to always answer back. "I was never supposed to protect the Red Queen," he said as they drew closer to the end of the ballroom dance. "Just the next one. You, I guess." Suddenly, Chase drew a conclusion to the dance by spinning Scarlett around and dipping her downwards. Scarlett seized up, afraid that he'd drop her. But her shoulders relaxed as Chase's lips tugged upwards slightly, laughing quietly. He had a habit of doing that.

A glint appeared in Scarlett's eyes. And for a second, Scarlett wanted to let herself have this moment with Chase and be there. But then a negative thought flickered through her mind. And then the glint passes. Nothing more than a loyal devotee who will die first, Red Queen's voice wavered in her mind. Never forget that, Scarlett.

"You can put me down now."

"Oh, right, of course, apologies, my Queen." And that's the only thing I'll ever mean to him. Chase set Scarlett back on her feet and raked his fingers through his streaked hair, clearly distressed. "Well, it's getting quite late. Grimm will flip his crown if he spots us past curfew." Always under Chase's watchful eye, he'd always escort her back to her dorm 'in case a scary troll comes and eats her alive.' He was certainly... imaginative. More like overprotectiveness.

Teasingly, she commented, "Well, I suppose that's what a knight is for."

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Joyce Row's POV

A million thoughts ran through Joy's head as he shut the curtains to his window that oversaw his bed. His roommate hadn't returned yet which gave him downtime. Tugging on the sleeve of his sweater, he pulled the sleeves down further to cover himself. Raven Queen didn't disappear, he thought, sitting cross-legged on his bed. Why? Grimm had told everyone that their stories would vanish if they didn't sign, them included. Joy had heard of the so-called battle between Royals and Rebels, but he felt as if he was neither. Was there some weird gray area in that argument?

Hugging his knees, he exhaled a sigh he didn't even know he was holding. Legacy Day had been extra stressful and chaotic, even if he wasn't the one signing because he was in Freedom Year. Just a year until he had to make the biggest decision of his lifetime. But Raven—the Raven Queen—didn't sign the Book. "What if I have a choice...?" he mumbled to himself. No, that's foolish to think, I don't have a choice, he thought. He twisted a lock of golden hair around his finger, shaking his head.

He couldn't sign; it was bad enough that strangers thought he was a big fat liar just because Joy was the next Boy from The Boy Who Cried Wolf, but the idea of becoming like his father? Absolutely disturbing. And no one would trust or befriend Joy ever again. Not that he had many friends to begin with...

Still, he admired Raven in that sense of her rebellion. Sure, some got away with not signing the Storybook of Legends, but Grimm always roped them back in to sign. Poof, poof, Joy mimicked Headmaster Grimm's annoying voice. But as someone as important as Raven, the next Evil Queen, who didn't sign? Big deal. Joy remembered the scene vividly, still fresh in his mind.

Everyone was cheering as Raven sighed in relief, probably from realizing she didn't poof, poof. Holton Hook stood up, clapping and admiring the girl's courage from afar. Chase Redforth was silent, but smiling slightly. Suddenly, something had changed in Joy, he wanted to push back. Getting out of his seat, rushing down the aisle, he was one of the first to see Raven when she went down the stairs. To Joy, she was slightly annoying when she tried interacting with him, but this was a legendary event.

"Miss Queen!" a shrill voice shouted, capturing the attention of all EAH students. Oh, c'mon, Joy thought as Headmaster Grimm's brows narrowed. "You can not reject your destiny," he barked in a commanding tone. "Get. Back. On. Stage. And. Sign."

Raven narrowed her eyes. "We don't disappear, Headmaster Grimm."

"For now. Who knows if this will last? You must sign the Storybook of Legends to become the next Evil Queen. You will be ruining everyone else's fairytales," Grimm continued, livid. Apple White came next to Grimm, a fearful look in her eyes.

"R-Raven, you need to sign! Listen to Grimm for once!"

And so, the trio went back and forth for a few minutes, and in the middle of the chaos came Essie Greenings. The black-haired girl in a tight dark green dress shuffled down the aisle, arms extended. She pounced on Raven, hugging her tightly. "Essie, y-you're going to choke me," she coughed as Essie Greenings crackled. "This isn't really a good time—"

"Bitch, shut up." Releasing Raven and stepping back, Essie placed her hands on her hips and had a shit-eating grin. Looking up at Headmaster Grimm, Essie rolled her eyes and pouted. "Ah, damn. Oh, what, will you tell me that I need to sleep on a pea for the rest of my life?"

Grimm was now red in the face, Joy couldn't suppress a giggle. "T-The rest of the signings are cancelled and Legacy Day will be rescheduled!" The headmaster had lost the battle. "E-Everyone back to their dorms immediately!" he added as an afterthought as people booed.

Joy's eyes flickered back to Essie and Raven, who were then joined by several others that he recognized—Ravenna Rown, Melina Ivory, and some others. "You're so brave," Ravenna said, almost as if she was meeting her idol. "You stood up for the Rebels!" She practically jumped in her black-coloured dress, beaming at the sight of Raven.

Melina slung an arm around Raven's neck, smiling. "Way to flip the script, Raven."

"Thanks," Raven said happily before glancing at Essie, "Where were you?"

Essie waved a hand in the air, rolling her eyes. "Poking fun at Holton Hook, he's just a big asshole. It's a long story that ended with me taking a smoke..." Smiling sheepishly, she held up her hands. "In my defense, I've been clean for a few months now, I needed a break."

"And you're back at Day Zero," Melina mused. She was dressed in a white and glittering poofy gown that made Joy squint his eyes, blinding his line of vision. It had dramatic sleeves which made Melina look like a cupcake if that made sense. "Can't believe you missed Raven's whole speech because of a smoke, Essie."

Essie slung her arm over Raven's neck as well. "Our girl is going places, Mel."

Raven laughed. "Okay, thanks, Mom."

Suddenly, the door creaked, meaning Joyce's roommate, Emerick Diggs, was back. "Can't believe that the Raven Queen rejected her destiny!" he exclaimed, shrugging off his jacket that was covered in soot, mostly likely from an invention of his that exploded. As the next Wizard of Oz, Emerick always had crazy ideas that almost always failed. "She honestly scares me very much..."

Joy sighed. "Sure, Emerick."

Emerick ran his fingers through his greasy brown hair before plopping on his bed, which opposed Joy's on the other side of the dorm, and started tinkering with some tools. He wasn't a bad roommate, he kept to himself and was too awkward to function. But it could be annoying when Joy was trying to sleep and Emerick would wake up at an ungodly hour because he had an "innovative and sure-to-succeed" idea. "Do you think that Grimm will be mad if people start rejecting their destinies?" Emerick asked out of the blue.

Joy sighed again. He was in Freedom Year, but Legacy Day seemed to dawn over him so closely. "I don't know," he admitted, shaking his head. "But all I know is we'll never hear the end of it from Headmaster Grimm..." He scrunched up his nose. "Who cares about accepting your destiny anyways?"

"Uh, me?" Emerick gave a clueless shrug. "I like being a Royal. Let me guess, you're stuck between Royal and Rebel considering you'll be the next Boy Who Cried Wolf?" Maybe Emerick knew Joy better than he'd admit. "So just be a Roybel."

Joy blinked. "Pardon?"

"A Roybel," he repeated loudly as if Joy was deaf, "is someone who embraces their destiny but in a different way. I mean, if the pressure of being a Rebel and completely rejecting your future is too hard, just be there half-way."

"Never thought of it that way..."

"Well, yeah, one of your friends needs to be smart." Emerick went back to his tinkering as Joy got ready for bed. But then an afterthought occurred to him—Emerick Diggs had called himself Joyce Row's friend.

I have a friend?