Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Thunder crackled as the rain poured outside the gloomy house of the town's healer, surrounded by gravestones inside a town called Gavaldon, a settlement surrounded by endless forest from all directions.

Screams of a woman echoed inside as she lay on top of a cot, bullets of sweat trailing down her forehead and the sheets soaked by bodily fluids.

"You can do it, Vanessa. I see the head, one more push."

The woman screamed bloody murder as she pushed her baby out, followed by a wet pop sound and the cry of an infant soon after. Panting, she gestured for the healer and midwife to show her the child. Still crying but cleaned, the midwife gave the infant to her mother, small tuffs of blond hair on her head, light soft baby skin, and a healthy pair of lungs. At first sight, Vanessa knew that this child would grow up beautiful.

"A healthy baby girl. What will you name her?" Asked the healer midwife to the new mother.

"Sophie," She whispered.
"Her name will be Sophie because she's a pretty girl."

The door then suddenly bangs open, and the cold air caused by the rain outside finds its way into the house. A man. A beautiful man with wavy golden blond hair and blue-green eyes walked in, drenched by the rain and soaked to the bone. The man stepped towards the only room with occupants and closed the door outside.

"Callis, how is Vanessa?" He asked.

"Fine."

The healer spoke too soon as a pained wheeze came from the mother's direction.

"Not fine. I think there's another one!"

The other woman hastily gathered and sanitized her tools for the second baby, ordering the father to get more hot water and fresh clothes from the drawer for the unexpected child and for himself to change into dry clothes.

"Stefan," The mother called out as the midwife gently took the firstborn and placed her in a prepared crib.
"You're a father of two! Twins, Stefan. Twins! We're parents." She squeezed his hand tightly.

"Yeah.." The man breaths.

"Move If you'll be of no help to me." Said the healer as she shoved him out of her way.

For another hour or so, finally, the child was out. A scream and one last push later, a full head of black hair, white snow skin, and an unbelievably small-sized baby girl was born. But she wasn't crying. If anything, the small infant was a little blue and cold. Immediately as if by instinct, the midwife held the baby upside down and slapped its butt cheeks softly, trying to stimulate pain for the child to make her cry and take her first breath of life.

"Oh... Stefan, I'm sorry."

"No.. Callis, please, is there anything you can do?" The father begged the healer.

"I can't do miracles, Stefan, but I will try what I can."

Callis responded while cleaning the small bundle with warm water, hopeful that warming her up would rouse the baby to react. Alas, there was nothing. But still, Callis wrapped the little bundle in a warm cloth and moved to place her with the first child so that the older one could feel her younger sister at least once, or maybe she hoped that laying her with the blonde infant would make her learn how to breathe when Stefan suddenly stepped forward with outstretched and shaking hands.

"Can I hold her?"

Not having the heart to say no, Callis gently placed the baby in the man's arms. Stefan wrapped around his newborn daughter protectively as if giving her all his warmth would somehow revive the still-blue infant.

"Please.." The father prayed, tears threatening to escape his eyes.

"What? What's wrong?" Vanessa asked with apprehension.

"Please," He said again, ignoring Vanessa.
"Cry, yell, pee, poop, anything." He nuzzles the full head of black hair the baby has.
"I wish for you to open your eyes and breathe."

And like magic, the infant cried. Softly at first, before it slowly became as loud as a crying hawk. Stefan abruptly opened their eyes. He didn't realize he closed, and with surprise, he looked down at the tiny baby in his arms with a happy smile of relief. As if sensing that she had an audience, the baby opened her eyes and turned, her gray, unseeing orbs up to her father's deep Jade ones, and gave a gummy smile. Her big clear eyes squinted like half-moons in the silver light as she laughed, reaching for the blurry figure above her. Chuckling wetly, Stefan closed the distance between his daughter's hands and his nose while he stared unbelievably at her. Awake, full of life, alive. The man laughed again as he nuzzled and kissed her cheeks, and then he noticed her eyes had a pale brown, almost gold-like hue around her gray Iris and realized that his daughter would have hazel eyes and decided there and then that hazel was his new favorite color.

"Well, I'll be damned. Congratulations, Stefan." The healer smiled before going back to work and helping Vanessa sit up.

"Darling~" She called sweetly and demanded,
"I want to see them."

"She's a she, Vanessa. And she's perfect."

Stefan gently sat beside the mother of his daughters and showed her the small miracle in his arms while Callis carried his first daughter for him to see.

"No." Vanessa choked suddenly.
"That is not mine." She hissed.

"What? Vanessa, she is yours, she is ours."

"No, Seffy. That ugly thing is not mine."

"Well, she is mine!" The man growled warningly.

"Fine! Do what you want!"

The mother shot back while gesturing for the midwife to hand over her pretty daughter and ignored the child in Stefan's arms.

"What do you name her?" Callis asked.

"I don't know. I'm not good with names." Replied Stefan while also gently playing with his eldest and cradling his youngest.
"What do you think I should name her?"

"What about Adelaide or Agatha? It means good and noble-natured? She seems like the noble type of gal." Offer the healer kindly.

"Adelaide... I like that. Her name will be Adelaide or Agatha for short."

"That works for me." Callis nodded in acknowledgment.

Stefan soon took his daughters to the crib and let them rest after Vanessa fed them, much to her distaste for the younger infant.

The next day, the new parents and two infants went home and waved thank you's to Callis, who promised to visit twice every two weeks to check on the twin babies' progress. Unfortunately, Stefan has a job to go to and can't watch over his newborns and leaves them to (his-forced-to-be-his-wife) Vanessa. When he got home that day, he was happily welcomed home by his wife, who was playing with their eldest daughter, Sophie, but noticed that Agatha was nowhere to be seen. Asking where their youngest daughter was, Stefan angrily marched towards where Vanessa said she left that thing, how could Vanessa call their daughter a thing beyond him? Walking to the next room, he sighed with relief when he found the infant peacefully sleeping and picked her up. Making sure Agatha is included in the playtime with Sophie.

The man cooed at both Sophie and Agatha when playing with them and ignored Vanessa's glaring daggers as his youngest.

After that day, Stefan learned to leave Agatha to the neighbors when leaving for work. Sometimes, he leaves her daughter with Callis whenever he can't find someone free enough to watch over her. But he never left his second daughter alone with his wife at home. The woman looked at their daughter like she was the most disgusting thing in the world while she doted on Sophie as if the blond infant carried within her tiny hands the stars. They fought over it many times before Stefan gave up arguing with Vanessa when the children turned two.

Many years have passed, and he mostly left Agatha with Callis or Honora when the woman volunteered, forming a sibling-like dynamic with Callis and a respectful friendship with Honora, the woman he loved. The person whom he was forced to break up with because of Vanessa's sudden announcement of her pregnancy with his children from a drunken one-night accident that he can't remember. Stefan still cannot phantom how that happened, but it did, and he did the honorable thing of marrying Vanessa. Still, things stayed as well as they could for someone with two daughters who are both opposite as can be in appearance and interest. And then Vanessa suddenly became ill. Sophie and Agatha were ten at that time when Vanessa finally drew her final breath, Sophie on her bedside and Agatha near but out of sight.

Juggling between suddenly being a single father and a widower, Stefan did his best to raise his daughters. He is grateful to Callis for gladly looking after Agatha when he is busy, while Sophie mostly does what she wants and can keep herself entertained. Sometimes, he leaves them both to Honora, but as the girls get older, they assure their father that he doesn't need to worry too much anymore and that they can take care of themselves at home. Stefan loves both his daughters and will do anything for them as long as it is reasonable and possible for him to do.

He especially tried his best for Sophie, buying the things she desired that he could afford, all the pretty dresses she wanted, the shoes she pointed him to buy, the hair brushes, and the makeup. Doing his best to fill the hole that Vanessa had left in his daughter when the woman died.

Sometimes, it gets hard, especially when Sophie reminds him so much of Vanessa.

Then...

Years later, the twins are eleven years old. Two children in the town again went missing. And Stefan feels fear. After four years, his daughters will be fifteen. 15 and will be perfect for the taking. One of his daughters might get picked by Gavaldon's reclusive kidnapper, and he will not let that happen. However, for now, all Stefan could do was wait and prepare when the School Master came again.

Chapter Text

Adelaide, or Agatha for short, dreamt of books and bears. Bears-covered leather books, books about bears and missing children, Black bears and black books, phantom bears in scary books...

All sorts of absurdness due to the stress and panic the townspeople of Gavaldon are currently feeling. It was starting to affect her, and her father's paranoia was not helping with calming her nervousness either.

It started 200 years ago when children started disappearing at Gavaldon. At first, the people blamed it on bears. But then the children noticed that the missing kids were inside fairytales, and immediately, the Elders interrogated the town librarian and found nothing besides that it came from a school. The School for Good and Evil. After that, the situation turns from being eaten by bears to being kidnapped, and finally, the people can put a name on the caretaker of Gavaldon. They call him the SCHOOL MASTER. It happened every four years on the eleventh night of the eleventh month, also known as the day the entire town of Gavaldon dreaded the most.

In her bed, Agatha tried to sleep some more, not wanting to face the world just yet, when a hammer broke through her thoughts and jolted her awake.

"Father." Her older sister whined at her side of the room.
"If I don't sleep for nine hours, my eyes will look swollen."

"Everyone's pratting on that you're to be taken this year." Their father said as he continued to nail the bedroom window shut, now completely obscured by locks, spikes, and screws.
"They told me to shear your hair and muddy your face as if I believe all this fairy-tail hogwash. But no one will be getting in here tonight. That is for sure." He added as he nailed one more lock security.

Agatha groaned at the loud noise. At the periphery of her vision, she saw Sophie doing the same.

Beautiful golden locks of hair shine as the sunlight illuminates her clear jade green eyes that glare at their window and their father. Smooth, unblemished white skin that has never seen hard work. Agatha's sister is beautiful, that is no doubt, and that is also why people think she is the best candidate for being kidnapped this year.

"I don't know why they all think it's you." Stefan's brow wrinkled with worry, his blond hair slicked with sweat, and the same Jade eyes focused on his task.
"If it's goodness that the School Mater wants, he'll take Gunilda's daughter."

"Belle?" Agatha saw her sister tense.

"Perfect child that one is," He said.
"Brings her father home-cooked lunches at the mill. Gives the leftovers to the poor hag at the square."

Her sister hated Belle, which Agatha couldn't understand because Belle was a sweet girl and a good friend. But she can understand why her father was upset though. Sophie has never once cooked a full meal for them, even after their mother's death. Instead, Agatha was left to do all the tasks and chores even when it was Sophie's turn. And when Sophie did cook something, it was always mushed vegetables, boiled broccoli stew, or asparagus.

Sophie has never been a good cook. Agatha still questions how her sister managed to make eggs watery and burnt at the same time the last time she tried to teach her to cook real food.

"Like you said, it's all hogwash."

She heard Sophie reply to their father before sweeping into the bathroom and slamming the door behind her. The man sighed tiredly and slumped by the windowsill from his eldest display, a sad frown on his face.

"Dad? What's going on?" Agatha finally found the strength to sit up and groggily asked as the gentle break of day kissed her form.

"Good morning, Agatha." Gently, he patted her head and untangled a few locks from her morning bed hair.

"It's nothing. Sophie is just a bit angry with me for breaking her beauty sleep."

"You know better than to make her angry." She scolded lightly.

"I know."

"And the window?"

"Something to make sure that no one will come for your sister tonight, or you for that matter." Agatha accepted the explanation with a nod.

"I'll make us breakfast then—"

"No need. I made breakfast today, and you will let your sister cook tonight." Stefan scolded back.

"But she'll make steamed spinach or something bland and tasteless!"

"This is final. And you should go to town today and kick some boys and yell at babies or whatever, do something bad."

"But I thought you said it's all hogwash?"

"So you were listening."

Stefan teased his daughter with a laugh, who, in turn, turned red with embarrassment and weakly smacked her father's shoulder, shaking with mirth before he sobered up and turned seriously at Agatha.

"They said it might be Belle or Sophie for Good and Radly and Dexter for Evil. But it can be any girl or boy age from 12-16. I'm not taking any chances. So please, listen to Dad, ok?"

"Ok." The girl reassured.
"Should I cut my hair shorter then?"

"What? No! Your hair is already so short and doesn't reach your shoulders. Any shorter, and it will be as short as a boy's!"

"If it can make you feel better." The ravenette added sincerely.

"Agatha, you can go to town and kick a boy or two, and that is enough for me."

The man softly caressed his daughter's short hair and frowned sadly at her, tucking a stray hair behind her ear and gently kissing Agatha on the forehead.

"I'm sorry we had to cut your long hair short. I know how much you love your long hair—"

"Dad, it's ok. I'm fine with it. It's just hair, it will grow back."

Stefan apologized again before leaving for work, but not before apologizing to Sophie, showering her with as much affection and hugging his eldest good morning, informing her that breakfast was already on the table and that it was her turn to make dinner tonight despite Sophie grumbling something about smoke clogging her pores. Now fully awake, Agatha left to change into a proper simple blue dress and went out of their room and to the dinner table before Sophie could have the mind to eat everything and leave her with scaps.

The two sisters talked about what they planned on doing today during breakfast.

Sophie explained that she planned on going to 1 Graves Hill to meet up with Dexter, a boy Callis adopted when he was a little, and do what friends do. Agatha stopped herself from pointing out that Dexter didn't welcome Sophie to become his friend and was more like Sophie, forcing them to be friends.

"What about you? What are you doing today?" Sophie asked.

"I'm going to the town square to kick some boys, but really. I'll only check up on the others and make sure people don't do something stupid like accidentally hurting themselves. You know, apprentice of the healer and all that." Agatha sighed while munching bread.
"After that, I'll follow you to Graves Hill and help Callis make salves just in case the men sustain grave injuries tonight."

"That's nice. Can you buy me one of those lovely biscuits on the way? Those heart-shaped ones?"

"Sure."

After the girls had their fill, the two went to their respective destinations. Sophie to 1 Graves Hill, home of Callis, who was rumored to be a witch, and Agatha to the town square where she saw people reading the story books in desperation, finding clues on how to save themselves if they were ever to be picked by the School Master. Parents asked their bad-mannered kids to do good and the good children to do bad things. Just like Stefan when he asked Agatha to kick boys and yell at babies.

"Agatha! My dear." Honora, a widow and her father's new lover called out to her.

"Honora. What's wrong? Are Adam and Jacob ok?" The mother of two boys laughed at her worry kindly.

"Yes, yes, they are doing just fine. I'm here to ask what you're doing and why you're not putting mud in your face, dear." The mother asked.

"Why would I do that? I'm not pretty." Agatha questioned, making the woman look at her with sadness.

"Oh Agatha, you are pretty." Honora cooed and pulled the girl into a side hug.
"Healthy raven black hair that looks like the serene night sky, almost gold-like hazel eyes that your father loves so dearly, snow white skin that enhances the color of your eyes and hair, and cherry pink lips, you are beautiful Agatha. Don't doubt you aren't." Honora pointed out her features with light taps and a gentle pat that made her smile.

"I'm not," The girl giggled.
"It's Sophie who is beautiful. Mother—.. Mother said so." She looked down to the ground.

The widow again looked at her sadly and turned towards the direction of the cemetery where Vanessa's grave was. Memories flew through her eyes before they cleared, and she saw the young healer's apprentice standing beside her.

"Sophie is beautiful, sure, but so are you." The woman said gently with a soft smile.
"Your sister is like the sun. She craves attention and loves to be in the spotlight. Your beauty is not the same. Yours is gentle yet strong, elegant and fair, while Sophie is bold."

"Basically, Sophie is an extrovert while I'm an introvert?" Agatha raised a brow.

"Anyway, that's not why you're here, isn't it? Talking about beauty and stuff." The mother exclaimed.
"Nope. I'm here to keep the boys out of trouble and maybe fix up a few clumsy ones."

Laughter caught their attention not far behind, and two boys ran towards them with books hugged in their arms. Adam and Jacob greeted Agatha with bright smiles, and the four walked around the square. The two boys helped and listened to how Agatha treated small scraps and minor injuries they encountered and even helped Agatha kick a few naughty boys who were annoying her, much to her delight. Their walk ended soon, and the ravenette waved goodbye at the mother and her sons as she made her way towards her second home. The home of the rumored witch, the house surrounded by graves and smelled of potions and herbs. The home of Callis.

"I hope Reaper likes the gut fish I brought."

Agatha breathed deeply before exhaling heavily and walking up the hill towards the graveyard with exited steps.

Chapter Text

Agatha stayed for a few hours at the town square before finally leaving for 1 Graves Hill, where she was welcomed by Callis while Sophie and Dexter were nowhere in sight. The apprentice informed her mentor what the people would most likely need tomorrow morning and helped create salves and balms for sprains and other minor ailments. On the way, she placed a flower on her mother's grave despite the traitorous voice inside her head saying that her mother would not appreciate or like it anyway. She has been doing it every time she visits the cemetery and will continue doing so as long as she’d like.

It was obvious, even when she was a little girl that Vanessa never really liked her since the beginning, let alone loved her.

Her beautiful mother always preferred Sophie, her pretty daughter. And the only one she calls her daughter. Agatha thought to herself. She was not ugly like her mother believed she was, but wasn't exactly pretty either. Mother always reminded her that every day when she was still alive.

She was just Agatha, Agatha the ordinary, a simple village girl in a simple village life.

Nothing special.

She was the shadow of her bright sister, the moon of her sister's sun. Thankfully, she did not lose her spark from Vanessa's negligence because Callis was there. She was Agatha's mother in all but blood. Callis taught her everything Agatha knew and even supported her interest in the arts of healing. Callis even gave her a younger brother who cared for her and whom she loved in return. The thought of Dexter made her chuckle. She grew up more under the care of the family who chose her than Vanessa's home, but still, Stefan is her dad, and Sophie is her sister. And she loves them both as much as Callis and Dexter. Agatha does love Vanessa and wishes that the woman could have been the mother she always wanted her to be, but it is no use crying over spilled milk.

When Vanessa left them, she felt sad, not because of deep grief but because she felt sorry for her sister, Sophie, who looked up to their mother so much.

"What's on your mind?" Callis asked as they mixed some kind of burn salve.

"Nothing."

"Nothing?" Callis parroted.

"Yeah. Just... Stuff."

"Stuff? I see."

Silence soon followed after the short conversation, and Agatha could not help but feel like she needed to fill it. Reaper, their cat, lazily basking himself under the sun from their windowsill.

"Callis?" She called.
"Who do you think the school Master will take this year? Do you think Dexter or Sophie will be taken? People have been... talking."

Agatha was worried, afraid even, that maybe Sophie and Dexter might one day disappear, kidnapped by the School Master to a place filled with fantasy and danger. She is scared that when she sleeps tonight and wakes up the next morning she will find her sister and honorary adopted brother gone, only to discover their fate through books of fairy tales.

"Honestly?" Callis asked nonchalantly.

"Honestly," Agatha responded. Seriously.

The woman stared at the daughter of her heart and apprentice for a minute before looking away and down back at her cauldron. She was quiet for a moment before replying—

"You."

"I'm sorry, what?" Agatha choked on air.

"I think if the School Master really wants someone good, then he will take you."

"That is the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard." Agatha laughed loudly, thinking it was some silly joke.

Callis must truly be growing senile, is what the girl thought.

Her? Taken? To the School for Good and Evil? Even the thought made her shiver. Whether this school is real or not, Agatha does not fancy getting kidnapped by anyone, not by the School Master, not by a crazy writer who takes children for his sick fairy tales, or by hungry bears who eat kids for dinner! In the first place, choosing her in itself is insane thinking! And if she was, and thats a big IF, where would she go? With the Princesses and their pink nonsense, she has a better chance of being a witch, but even that is not an ideal situation to be in.

Villains always die in fairy tales.

"Are the fumes from potion-making over the years finally getting to you? Do you need a break?" She asked.

Sighing, Callis stopped what she was doing and reached for her daughter, because she is her daughter in everything that counts, and grabbed her hands firmly.

"Agatha, you are the most kindest and most selfless person in this town. If there is anyone the School Master should take to Good, it will be you."

"But Sophie—"

"This isn't about Sophie, this is about you, and I think you will be in Good."

Agatha stayed quiet for a while before softly pulling her mother In all but blood for a hug. The woman hugged her back with a fond expression.

"You talk like you personally know the School Master," Agatha giggled.
"But it won't be me." She whispered.

"Maybe," Callis said, her hug tightening a smudge.
"But if you are, I know for sure you'll be in Good."

After the hug, they continued working with brighter moods. Agatha even started humming a soft tune when Sophie and Dexter suddenly arrived with a bang on the door and scowling faces. The blond girl was a bit disheveled and had some dirt on her dress while she glared daggers at the boy. Her beautiful face scrunched in fury.

"Agatha!" Dexter greeted with a grin.
"Will you be staying with us tonight?"

Nobody knew this, but Agatha thinks her little brother is a handsome boy. If only he could stop hiding his face underneath all that hair.

His dark skin with strong muscled arms thanks to working on the farm, soft curly hair, and ocean green eyes. Dexter also has these adorable dimples on his right cheek whenever he smiles, but he rarely shows them. If he could just stop being a jerk to Sophie, he would have been great friends with her sister already!

"My dear Aggie will not be staying with a heathen like you, nor will I allow it! She is coming home with me."

"This is her home too." The boy glared at the blond.

"Well, not today!"

"You're just mad I pushed you to Radly earlier." Sophie glared back at him with the same level of ferociousness.

Sophie then forced herself to take a deep breath through her nose and smiled her kindest smile at the still-glaring boy. Agatha worriedly looked between the two while Callis was seemingly uninterested in the argument of the two children.

"Even so, Father will not allow Agatha to sleep here today. Tonight is the night when the School Master will pick his new students, and he wants us ‘both’ to stay at home. And needless to say, he will pick me." Dexter scoffed at Sophie's confidence.

"Yeah, right. I forgot you believe all of that fairytale nonsense."

He then turned to Agatha, dropped an arm over her shoulders, and put all his weight on her like a dead man while the girl hit his chest lightly with annoyance.

"Dexter! You're heavy!" The older girl complained, but the boy ignored it.

"Whatever. After today everything will be back to normal. And all of us can go back to our lives in peace." He said.

Then the curly-haired boy ruffled the ravenette's hair, much to her annoyance, and left to help Callis with anything too heavy for her to carry and lift.

The two girls stayed for a while, Sophie waiting for her sister to finish whatever medicine she was making. Agatha, on the other hand, was just about to finish one final burn salve and assisted with the cleaning with Dexter and Callis. Outside, the sky was turning dark, and the two sisters needed to go home soon. Sophie was not excited about cooking dinner, but! She wanted to go home and rest while she waited for the School Master to kidnap her and finally make her a princess. Agatha was not happy with her enthusiasm to be taken away.

Both sisters talked as they walked.. When they waved goodbye to the residents of 1 Graves Hill Road, Sophie ignored their mother's gravestone when they passed it, not wanting to see the end that had befallen her mother.

She vowed to herself that she would be someone extraordinary, unlike her mother when Vanessa died. That she would be more than just a village girl from this pathetic town! Then Agatha asked why. Why was she so desperate to be whisked away by a stranger to a strange land and risk it all? Sophie explained that she did not want to live a mundane life when it was obvious she was meant to be more! To be someone greater, grander! Somebody more than this average life!

Agatha disagrees.

"Why is it you want to leave here so badly that you'd believe stories you know aren't true?" Agatha asked her sister sincerely with worried yet gentle hazel eyes.

And for the first time that day, Sophie let herself doubt.

"Because, Aggie, I can't live here." She whispered, voice ever so slightly crackling.
"I can't live an ordinary life. There has to be more for me. There has to be." The blond added hoarsely.
"I don't belong here."

Agatha looked at Sophie and nodded, hugging her close for a brief moment before continuing home. Perhaps Agatha also knew what Sophie meant, that deeper inside her, something was whispering in the back of her mind, saying that there was more for her to discover. But whatever that is, is not worth what she already has. She has everything she'll ever need and want and does not need more than what she can't chew.

At a brief moment in life, both girls made a wish.. A wish that one day from now, they'd still be in each other's company just like this. To be sisters, together. Wherever that is.

Chapter Text

Quarter past 10, and finally, Sophie was walking away from the window of their shared bedroom after prying all the locks, spikes, and screws off and free. Agatha looked over the curtain between their beds, the only barrier they have to each other's space, and saw her older sister packed her bags while humming some stupid song about Princes and Princesses and true love. Then she twirled around to put something on the windowsill before going back to packing. Curious, Agatha went to see what it was and was deeply disappointed.

A gingerbread heart biscuit. The one Agatha went so hard to get a hold of because the baker only makes a few of them in the morning, and yet here it is, sitting on their windowsill for a School Master that doesn't exist. Waiting to be eaten by some rats

"Don't try and eat it, Aggie dear, that's not for you." She heard Sophie say behind her.

Rolling her eyes, Agatha left it well alone. Sophie will soon understand how wrong she was once she wakes up tomorrow and the biscuit has been eaten by rodents.

Looking outside, the girl saw the townspeople gathering around the edge of the forest, determined parents and brothers guarding and searching for the mysterious School Master or anything that can be considered odd. Agatha could see her father amongst the crowd, whispering something in Honora's ear and watching her laugh at what her father had said to her. It was a sweet thing to see. But then she heard a scoff right next to her.

"I don't know what Father sees in her. Mother was clearly better than her in any way." Sophie complained.

"It doesn't have to be something physical, Sophie. Maybe it's because Dad loves her that much." Agatha reasoned.

"Hmp. Well, it's a downgrade, I say." She then turned away from the window, and Agatha followed her with a disapproving shake.

Ignoring the blond, Agatha went to bed while watching her sister put on her favorite dress, color her face with makeup, and beautify herself. All the while singing and dancing before finally tucking herself into bed.

"Was all that necessary?"

"Yes. A princess needs to be perfect at all times. That is why I need to be perfect at all times."

"If you say so..."

Another quarter passed, and soon, the sisters tuckered themselves as they tried to get some sleep. In the room, they have been locked in since sundown as Stefan's attempt at protecting his daughters while far away. Together with their before-barricaded window, with no one but them, together in silence. The only sounds are the noises made from outside by guarding townspeople.

It was quiet, peaceful even, and yet—

"I can't sleep." Agatha heard Sophie say.

"Close your eyes and try. It's close to midnight already. We need to sleep." The ravenette rolled over the bed, facing away from Sophie's part of the room.

"Do you think they'll come?"

"I don't know."

"I wish that they arrive already, the wait is killing me."

"I don't grand wishes Sophie, go to sleep." Agatha insisted as she tried to sleep for real this time.

And then she heard the shuffling of fabric. Turning around, she saw Sophie walking over the windowsill before noticing something and gasped. Hurriedly, the blond girl tossed her bags through the window and then herself, but before she could, Agatha stopped her.

"What are you doing?!" The younger asked.

"He was here! I just need to wait for him outside to pick me up, and then I'll leave for the School!"

"No, you won't." The ravenette said in exasperation.
"Have it not crossed your mind that it might have been rats?"

Sophie opened her mouth to reply, but before she could, the two girls were tackled inside and plopped on top of Sophie's bed. Agatha yelled and moved to protect her sister and retaliated when the culprit spoke, and she stopped.

"Agatha, Sophie, it's me." They recognized Dexter's voice.

"You— You pathetic, interfering worm!" Sophie screeched before noticing the boy's frightened face.
"You saw him." The blond gasped and stated more than asked.

"What nones—"

Dexter put a hand to cover Agatha's mouth to quiet her down while he peeped through the window, and she saw his dark chocolate skin turn pale.

"Is he handsome? Like a prince? Or like a proper Schoolmaster with spectacles and waistcoat and—"

THUMP.

All three children froze and slowly turned to the door.

THUMP. THUMP!

"He could just knock, couldn't he?" Questioned Sophie indignantly as she fixed her appearance before welcoming the stranger.
"Best give him what he wants without fuss," Sophie huffed.

Dexter then leaps off the bed and pulls himself and Agatha to the corner of the room, hiding the girl from whoever might walk inside protectively. He also positioned himself to pull Sophie behind him, but she was too far from his reach and, too close to the door.

"Oh sit down you two, for goodness sake." The eldest rolls her eyes at them.

THUMP! THUMP! THUMP!

Without thinking it through, Dexter threw himself again against the door to keep it firmly closed. Outside, he can hear locks and nails removed and planks yanked out of the way. With no other choice but to confront whatever was outside because Dexter knew that he couldn't stop it from entering, the boy prepared himself for a fight. Making sure that he was in front of Sophie, the 14-year-old boy grabbed the knob and pulled! Forcing it open to disorient whatever it was and get the first hit, but stopped when the familiar shoulder and frame of Stefan slammed the door open with a defining crack.

"I saw something." The man panted, his eyes sharp and wary.
"Dexter?" Finally, he noticed the boy amongst his daughters, fist up and defensive.

Stefan sighed when he realized it was only Dexter and held his torch above to lighten up the room and a hammer in the other. Looking around to make sure it was only them. Behind the man, a shadow loomed over his shoulder, and immediately, Agatha screamed to warn his father.

"There!"

The man turned and swung his hammer behind him, and Dexter pulled Sophie to Agatha and stood defensively in front of two older girls. But the shadow was inhumanely fast and blew out the fire from the torch, successfully hiding in the dark. Agatha hurriedly reached for a match from her bedside table and lit it.

As if manifested from a nightmare brought to life, the shadow stood in front of her and blew out the match light.

"DAAAAD!"

Agatha felt something grab her and hoist her up by the waist and ran.

"HELP! SOMEBODY!"

She could see shouting villagers chasing after them. Even Honora was running after her and calling her name.. And Sophie's? But Sophie is not with her, what does it mean—?

Then she heard laughter below her.

"I thought there'd be footmen, or a pumpkin carriage at least," Sophie complained with a groan.

Looking down, she saw that the blond girl was dragged by the shadow from the scruff of her dress as it ran towards the woods while more and more people howled and chased after them. Sophie didn't care and only smiled from ear to ear. Her only displeasure was when she noticed her pink dress being soiled by rocks, grass, and dirt.

"Why is Agatha carried, and I'm being dragged like this?" The older girl yelled.

Then, both girls saw the torches from the chasing men flair magically and explode, trapping the mob in a ring of blazing red-hot fire. Agatha blanched while Sophie sighed in relief. There is no way anybody can save them now.

"Farewell, Gavaldon! Farewell, low ambition! Farewell, mediocrity—"

Then suddenly, a wet Stefan jumped and charged through the flames with Dexter behind him over the wall of fire, holding an empty bucket that was once filled with water. The man leaped and fell on top of Sophie while the shadow continued to drag all three of them into the endless darkness of the forest. The instant the smokey shadow and its cargo disappeared from sight, the wall of fire dispersed, and immediately, Dexter ran to follow after them without hesitation. The villagers followed not far behind him. But the group did not go far. Crooked and thorny trees spontaneously grew thick trunks from the ground as they tangled up like snakes and blocked the way to the forest, stopping anybody who wished to follow. Dexter screamed and cursed, but no one could hear the frustrated yells and angry cursing from the other side of the wall.

It was too late.

~~~

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING!" Sophie roared.

"DAD!" Agatha cried.

Sophie shoved and scratched Stefan, who refused to let go of his girls. He climbed his eldest to grab the shadow figure to try and pull his youngest away from its hold and yank Sophie from its grip on her clothes. Agatha trashed wildly from the arm (or was it an arm? ) wrapped onto her waist, trying to free herself as she reached a hand for her father, but the hold was solid despite its smokey appearance.

"YOU'RE RUINING EVERYTHING!!" Sophie howled in anger while Agatha cried louder for Stefan.
"WHEN MY HANDS FIND YOUR NECK!—"

Then, they felt themselves leave the ground while Stefan was forced to let go as the shadow flew up with the two girls before releasing them. The twins felt something spindly grabbing and wrapping its way around them like a cocoon and unceremoniously plopped them onto the lowest branch of a tall Elm tree.

"SOPHIE! AGATHA! WHERE ARE YOU?!" Stefan cried out for his daughters.

Agatha lit a match to see from the blinding darkness, looking around for Stefan, and noticed her father down the Elm tree. The Shadow figure of the School Master is gone and nowhere to be seen.

"Jump down! I'll catch you." The man yelled when he noticed the two girls above him.

"It's too high up!" Agatha said.

"Don't worry! I'll catch you, I promise." Stefan soothes with his hand up towards his daughters, reassuring and determined.

Gathering up enough courage, Agatha grabbed Sophie and prepared to jump. But the older blond girl had other plans and resisted the ravenette.

"Let go of me!" Sophie yelled as she tried to pull her arm away from Agatha.

"We are going home, right now."

The latter insists and readies to push Sophie off the Elm first when suddenly the tree shivered and stopped. Then it shivered again, and its branch wobbled and coiled back like a sling ready to shoot.

"No..." Stefan mumbled.

Like a bullet, the tree shot the two girls up before either of them could scream and landed them on another branch. But this branch coiled down again before snapping back up.

"NO!"

"DADDDDY!!"

The man screamed as branches coiled back and snapped his daughters up, and up, and up until he could not see his girls anymore. He screamed as he heard Sophie and Agatha yell and cry out of his sight and up to the top of the Elm. And then he heard something crack and break, like hatching from an egg before a goo-like slime dropped from above that he thankfully avoided. Then comes the inhuman shriek. Fear crawled up his spine when he heard the screech again, followed by two young screams and a flapping sound of wings. Up in the sky, he saw the shadow of a huge bird, no, a bird that was almost black, that looked like a shadow. A bony colossal bird that isn't supposed to exist flew up and away through the gangly trees and into the raging lightning storm. In its talons, he saw two specs of colors of white and pink, Agatha's nightgown and Sophie's pink dress.

"No! Give me back my girls!" Stefan cried as the bird flew farther and out of reach without turning back.

Chapter Text

As they smashed headfirst into a raging lightning storm, fire bolts sent trees careening toward the two girls as they shielded their faces from rain, mud, and timber. Ducking cobwebs, bee hives, and vipers, (Vipers?) until the bird plunged into deadly briars and the two sisters blanched as they closed their eyes and braced for the pain.

But no pain came and only precious silence.

"Aggie..." Sophie breathly whispered.

Agatha carefully opened her eyes, feeling the warm rays of the sun kissing her fair skin, and gasped at what welcomed her sights from far away.

"It's real.." The blond girl laughs merrily.

For beneath them, two soaring Castles sprawled across the forest while facing each other. One Castle glittered in the sun's mist with pink and blue glass turrets over a sparkling lake. On the other side are looming walls with blacked and jagged, sharp spires ripping through thunderclouds like the mouth of a ferocious beast surrounded by black moat.

The School for Good and Evil.

"Sophie... It's. You're a—" Agatha cannot believe the school is real.

Her sister was telling the truth all along. Sophie is a princess.

"Aggie! Were princess—" Sophie then stopped and paled as a realization hit her.

At the same time, Agatha gasped as she had the same realization. The school takes two kids, one for each school. One for Good, the other for Evil. If Sophie is the Princess for Good that would make Agatha the student for the Evil school. It's a truth they must face no matter how much it pains them.

"You're the Villain right, Aggie?" Sophie flutters her eyelashes.

Agatha blinked.

"I'm sorry, Agatha. Between the two of us, we both know I'm the Princess. That only leaves you as the Evil student, meaning you must be the villain. We won't see each other again or be friends even if we're sisters once we officially become the school's students. It's just simply not possible for a Princess like me to be friends with a witch." Sophie said, not noticing the ravenette's breath hitch.

"I— Yes. I believe so. I-I just worry." The ravenette replied weakly. She felt like a rock had somehow appeared in her throat as her chest tightened.

"Don't worry about me, darling. I'll make plenty of princess friends for the both of us. And I'm sure you'll make plenty of friends yourself."

"I'm just happy you'll find your ever after like you always dreamed of," Agatha reassured her sister with a sad smile.

"Yes, I believe this is goodbye, isn't it?"

The bony bird flew above and drifted over the sparkling towers of Good, relaxing its talon and holding Sophie before tightening it again despite Agatha's heavy heart while Sophie glowed with happiness.

"Yes... I guess so.." Agatha answered.

"Well then. Farewell, Adelaide. May our fairy tales be happy."

"Goodbye, Sophie. Good or Evil, you are my sister. Forever. And I wish you the best of luck."

"Goodbye."

But the bird dropped Agatha instead.

Surprised and afraid, Agatha screamed for her older sister as she plummeted and disappeared into the pink cotton candy mist. Sophie paled as she watched the ravenette fall to the School of Good and struggled to free herself and follow down as well.

"Wait— No—"

The bird swooped harshly toward Evil, ignoring the struggling blond, pink-dressed girl in its talons, flying to the jagged dark tower on the other side of the lake and into the moat.

"No! I'm Good! It's the wrong one!" Sophie yelled mercilessly and pleaded to the bird.
"I'm the Princess! Me! No, let me go! I'm Good, please!"

And let her go the bird did.

Without a beat, Sophie screamed as she was dropped into the hellish darkness of Evil.

~~~

Agatha woke up under pink and red dahlias surrounding her that seemed to be having animated conversations with each other. And strangely enough, she was sure they were talking about her because of how they gestured their leaves and buds toward her. When the flowers seemed to have finally settled for a decision, they hunched and fussed like grandmothers and helped her sit up. After saying thank you, the ravenette was surprised at what she saw next. A beautiful field with different kinds of flowers is what welcomed her at first sight—lilies, tulips, sunflowers, orchids, daffodils, roses, lobelia, dahlias, and more. A gentle breeze blew her way, and the smell of flowers reminded her of her sister. The lump in her throat came back at the memory of Sophie. Biting her lower lip to fight the tears, Agatha took calming breaths and soothed the turmoil in her heart. A huge red dahlia leaned down to her hand gently, and finally, Agatha smiled.

"Are you comforting me?" Agatha asked before chuckling to herself.
"Don't be silly, Agatha. Their flowers." She scolded herself, but more dahlias moved closer to her in a comforting manner.
"Oh... Thank you." The ravenette said sincerely and patted the flowers gently as thanks.

The flowers shivered in joy at her acknowledgment and continued to sway from side to side like a dance. They leaned to her touch and played with her to pass the time.

"What a very wonderful performance. Thank you for showing me."

Agatha laughed and clapped in joy as the dahlia flowers entertained her while waiting for her fairies and the other girls to arrive.

Then, all of a sudden heads started sprouting from the ground, and a field of girls bloomed gloriously around the beds of flowers like they, themselves, were plants growing from the earth. It started with the head, then necks, then chests, and up until there sat a beautiful girl. Stretching their delicate arms like they just woke up from a peaceful nap. Looking at them the ravenette felt off. But it wasn't the growing girls that made her feel off, it was that these girls looked nothing like her.

Smooth faces, beautiful dresses, flawless skin, both fair and dark, a long shiny waterfall of hairs of different colors and waves and curls. Colorful and styled downy dresses that made them look like dolls for little girls, with their thin waist, slim legs, and slight shoulders. These girls looked and acted like the Princesses Sophie loved so much.

And then there's her.

Short black hair, no shoes, only wearing a tattered and dirty nightgown that is barely white anymore, oh, did I forget to mention that she looked like a beggar? Yeah, no. Agatha feels inadequate and that she doesn't belong among these beautiful girls. She wants her dad. she wants Callis, and Dexter, and Reaper, and Sophie. She wants to go home.

The dahlias again leaned at her comfortingly as they helped her stand up on her feet while dusting a few grasses and leaves that stayed on her nightgown. One particular pink dahlia blooped her on the nose, it made her giggle and gratefully caress the flower. Finally, the flowers settled down and the sound of little chimes from her left started her, there she saw 3 tiny fairies looking at her questioningly. They have glittering wings that clink as they fly around her, dusting and fixing her hair and ruined nightgown.

"No. Please don't bother, it's beyond saving."

Agatha gently stopped the two fairies who were trying to fix her nightgown, afraid that too much force might accidentally hurt the tiny creatures. They indeed stopped fussing over her ruined night dress and focused instead on her hair, much to her amusement.

"No, it's fine. You don't have to— Owch!"

The third fairy, whom Agatha honestly forgot, was pulling her hair, biting her fingers, neck, and bum out of the blue, which surprised her and made her jump suddenly. The other two fairies tried to subdue the rouge little biter, but whenever they tried, the male fairy would bite them instead before going back to attacking Agatha again. Acting out of pure instincts and adrenalin, Agatha clasped her hands around the fairy and caught him when the tiny thing dashed towards her and hissed in pain when she felt sharp tiny teeth digging into her palm. Looking down, she saw a small trail of red liquid dripping from her hand and understood that the tiny fairy had bitten her hand a little too strongly and accidentally drew blood.

After that, she felt the small creature let go and tremble inside her hands. Opening her closed hand a little, Agatha peeped inside and saw the frightening fairy boy looking at the bleeding bite he caused with shiny eyes of unshed tears, and immediately Agatha felt bad for them.

"Oh no. Don't cry, it doesn't even hurt that badly. It's ok. Shhh, don't cry. I'm fine."

Opening her palms completely, the ravenette soothes the fairy when it starts crying on her palm soothing them and telling him that she's fine and that it's okay, and other comforting words. That was when they were startled by a sudden loud gasp of horror. Turning around, both Agatha and the tiny boy saw 59 beautiful girls gawking at her. Her throat tightened with anxiety from the stares she received as they watched her form and bleeding hand. Again, the ravenette felt out of place amongst these girls in more ways than one.

A scrub jay among nightingales.

Chapter Text

59 beautiful princesses gasped at Agatha's raggy appearance. One of the girls stepped forward but stopped at the sweet sound of bells ringing from the distance. The team of fairies grabbed their assigned princesses by the shoulder and flew them across the lake and toward the pink and blue towers of Good. Agatha tried to run, but the fairy boy from before blocked her way while the other two hoisted her up and away toward the Good School.

"Please! You don't understand. I need to find my sister!"

But the fairies ignored her pleas and continued to fly, only settling her down in front of a glass castle before flying away right after. Only the fairy boy stayed with her and sat down on her shoulder with a grumpy expression and crossed arms.

Where is Sophie?

This is what the ravenette could only think of while searching for the spec of familiar blond hair across the river of the slimy moat water and gray fog, hoping, wishing to spot her sister and save her. But first, she needs to get out of here.

"THE SCHOOL FOR GOOD, ENLIGHTENMENT AND, ENCHANTMENT"

Mirrored words arched over golden gates ahead and reflected her dirty face. Agatha caught a glimpse before hurriedly turning away and facing the fairy boy, who frowned at her sudden action. The small winged creature pulled Agatha forward into frosted castle doors with two emblazoned white swan designs and herded her into tight mirrored corridors, much to her dismay. But that is not what's important right now, what's important is to look for Sophie, find a way to save her, find a way home.

Then the line stopped.

"Hello, my name is Beatrix. What's yours?" Someone said from in front of her.

"I— Uhhh... Adelaide." The ravenette tried to look up but saw her reflection and immediately chose to stare at the floor instead.

"Are you okay, Adelaide?" The person, Beatrix asked again.

"Umm..."

"Are you perhaps lost? Which kingdom do you live in? Maybe we can get you home?"

Agatha lifted her head at the mention of home and looked up at the girl in front of her with a big hopeful eye while ignoring the reflection around her. With waist-length golden hair, succulent lips, and topaz eyes, the girl was so beautiful that it didn't look real.

"Will you really help me?"

"To the best of my ability," Beatrix nodded.

"I came from a town called Gavaldon. It lies from beyond the dark woods, and if you can help my sister and I go home, I will be deeply grateful to you, Lady Beatrix." Agatha thanked me with a respectful bow. Beatrix looked smug for a second before it was gone.

"What?..." Another girl said.

"A town beyond the woods? No way, right?" And another.

"She's this year's reader." Whispered another as the others talked in hushed mumbles. Their conversations reached her ears of things she did not understand. At least not yet.

Beatrix looked at Agatha with a new understanding on her face and sadly said—

"I'm sorry, Adelaide. I'm afraid I can't help you, not with this. No one knows how to send readers back to their world except maybe the school Master. I don't know how to help you back to Gavaldon." Beatrix explained with a sad expression.

The world seemed to shatter around Agatha as her chances of going home slipped from her fingers like sand. The Princesses continued talking with her, but the ravenette did not hear any of what the girls were saying. All she could hear were the loud chimes from her left ear. No, wait. The chimes are because of the fairy boy who stayed with her on her shoulder. She could not wait to tell Sophie that she met actual fairies and that one even chose to stay with her a bit longer than others. It would be a fun story to tell and reminisce about once they're back at Gavaldon.

But there is no way back to Gavaldon

Like ever, she will give up and accept that and stay in a place like this!

Agatha did the first thing she thought and ran. She ran so abruptly that she started the girls who were trying to get her to speak when the ravenette was unresponsive, so surprised in fact, that they took a few steps back that made a clear path for her to escape out of and ran out the frosted door and never looked back at the place where beautiful girls belong and dashed for the lake. But as Agatha got to it, giant waves of water rose to block her way and slammed her back to the castle and into that dreadful school, leaving her drenched to the bone in a puddle of water shivering, the girl landed on her stomach. Weak and cold, Agatha staggered to her feet and froze at what she saw next.

"Welcome new princess,"

A floating, seven-foot nymph said as she moved aside to reveal a foyer so magnificent that it took her breath away.

"Welcome to the School for Good." They finished.

~~~

"THE SCHOOL FOR EVIL EDIFICATION AND PROPAGATION OF SIN"

On the other side of the School, Sophie is pale from the sheer panic from seeing the schedule given to her by a dark-skinner hag with a massive boil on her cheek. The parchment clearly has her name written on it. But there has to be a mistake! She is a princess, not some smelly, ugly villain! No princess should have a class about uglification, Henchmen training, curses, and the like, and she definitely will not study the history of villains! And let's not talk about the books they gave her for school. Those horrible, dreadful books, the less she has to look at them, the better.

SOPHIE OF WOODS BEYOND
EVIL, 1ST YEAR
________________________________________

Session : Faculty

1. UGLIFICATION
- prof. Bilious Manly
2. HENCHMEN TRAINING
- Castor
3. CURSES & DEATH TRAPS
- Lady Lesso
4. HISTORY OF VILLAINY
- prof. August Sader
5. LUNCH
6. SPECIAL TALENTS
- prof. Sheeba Sheeks
7. SURVIVING FAIRYTALES
- Yuba the Gnome
(FOREST GROUP #3)

Best Villainous Monologues, 2nd ed.
Spells for Suffering, Year 1
The Novice’s Guide to Kidnapping & Murder
Embracing Ugliness Inside & Out
How to Cook Children (with New Recipes!)

Sophie wanted to cry as her eyes could not help but scan over her schedule and books.

It was horrible, everything was horrible! Her dress is ruined because of the foul water from the lake, her hair is a mess, a weasel of a boy tried to touch her hair, she sees portraits of the students of this school, and they are ugly, repulsive, cruel, EVIL. And she is surrounded by future villains and murderers! Sophie doesn't belong here!

She belongs in Good. Amongst the beautiful princesses and be surrounded only by pretty and clean things. Not this jagged and menacing place!

The blond tried to talk with the people here and explained that she was a princess and that she had accidentally been dropped at the wrong school, but no one was listening to her! She needed to find a way to correct this. To go to her real school, at Good where she belongs.

"Good luck, witch of Woods Beyond."

The old hag said before giving Sophie a dumpy, tattered tunic that sagged as shredded curtains, and the girl blanched. No way is she wearing this horrid piece of clothes of a uniform. No way is she staying at this horrible school, no way is she going to those God-awful classes, no way! The light from the torch illuminated a portrait of a girl with beautiful blond hair, white skin, and Jade eyes from the periphery of her eye, and the girl felt her blood freeze once again.

Her portrait that she found earlier smiled sweetly from the wall, and she stared at it while it only stared right back at her from its frame. It is all wrong. All of this was wrong. She Isn't Evil! She's Good! A Princess! She deserves better than rags and boils, and she deserves a castle and a gown! She is supposed to be someone great! Someone special! But not like this! Anything but this!

Sophie ran as fast as she could, like a pack of wolves were out to get her. Perhaps it was.

~~~

Agatha was feeling uncomfortable. Not only did she look like a poorly drenched baby chick, but she also felt the pointed stares from the faculty of the School for Good just above her from the four spiral staircase of the cavernous glass foyer.

The women wore gorgeous slim, high-necked dresses of different colors and quirks unique to them. The men look handsome in their slim suits and vests of elaborate yet elegant designs. Each and every one of these adults is handsome and beautiful, even those aged past their prime are attractive and beautiful to the point of intimidation. Agatha always told her sister that beauty is temporary, but here, people looking down at her are proof that beauty can indeed last forever.

Try as they might, Agatha still noticed their disgusted nudges and whispering at the sight of her drenched form and, instinctively the girl hugged herself tighter, not only because of the cold but also because of their stares.

Then she noticed two who weren't like the rest. A man with silver hair and shiny hazel eyes beamed at her as she belonged, and a woman with white hair tied into an elegant bun and brown eyes looked at her with grandmotherly concern over her shivering form. Agatha blushes bashfully at the two.

Chapter Text

"Where are the boys?"

Agatha heard one of the girls ask as the other female students entered the room while three enormous floating nymphs with neon hair and lips handed out their schedules, books, and robes.

Waiting at the back of the line, Agatha stared in awe at the majestic staircase. All four sides of the room had painted letters that spelled E-V-E-R in pink and blue. Each wall had lovely drawn angels and sylphs with very detailed colorful clouds and other designs that picture love and good in harmony and ever after. The four staircases were arranged symmetrically at the corners of each wall, lit up by high stained glass windows. Both "E" letters colored in blue flights had HONOR and VALOR tattooed upon their blisters with glass etchings of Knights and Kings at the first "E" and arches and hunters at the second. The pink letters of "V" and "R" had PURITY and CHARITY emblazoned in gold, along with delicate friezes of sculptured maidens and Princesses and other kindly animals.

At the center of the room are hanging portraits of alumni students soaring crystal pillar that reaches from a milky marble floor to a domed sunroof on the top. The portraits above have gold frames of Queens, Kings, Prince, and Princesses who were once students of the School for Good. In the middle are silver frames of those who found lesser fates as sidekicks, dutiful housewives, and fairy godmothers. Near the bottom are bronze framed portraits of underachievers who ended up as footmen and servants, but regardless of whether they became a Snow Queen or a chimney sweep, all of them shared the same beautiful faces, kind smiles, and soulful eyes. Here in a glass place in the middle of the woods, the best of like had gathered in service of good. And yet here she was, Miss. Ordinary, in service of broken ankles and balms.

She waited with a heavy heart and confused mind until it was her turn to face the pink-haired nymph.

"There's been a mistake." She shivered, cold, wet, and oh, so miserable.
"It's my sister, Sophie. She's the one who's supposed to be here."

The nymph only smiled as her chest tightened with guilt and shame.

"I think I confused the bird, and it's my fault, and now I'm here, and she's in the other school, and Sophie loves pink and everything princessy!" Agatha said, voice quickening with desperation.
"I know you need students. Sophie will be a beautiful princess for your school, but she's my sister, and if she stays' then I have to stay, and we can't stay, so please help me find her so we can go home?"

The nymph remained smiling and handed to her a piece of parchment.

Adelaide of Woods Beyond
GOOD, 1st year
Purity Tower 51
__________ _____________________________

Session : Faculty

1. BEAUTIFICATION
- prof. Emma Anemone
2. PRINCESS ETIQUETTE
-Pollux
3. ANIMAL COMMUNICATION
- Princess Uma
4. HISTORY OF HEROISM
- prof. August Sader
5. LUNCH
6. GOOD DEEDS
- prof. Clarissa Dovey
7. SURVIVING FAIRYTALES
- Yuba the Gnome
(Forest group #3)

Agatha stared dumbly at the paper.

"What—?"

And a green-haired nymph gave her a basket of books, some peeking out titled:

The Privilege of Beauty
Winning your Prince
The Recipe Book for Good Looks
Princess with a Prince
Animal speech 1: Barks, Neighs, and Chirps

Then, a blue-haired nymph held a short pink, pinafore uniform, a worn-over white lace blouse up for her to see before handing it to her. The laced blouse seemed to be missing three buttons with up carnation sleeves.

Stunned, Agatha looked at the Princesses around her and saw them tightening their pink dresses, at the books that told her beauty was a privilege, that she could win a Prince, that she could talk to birds, and at the parchment that clearly had her name written on it. At the School that was meant for someone beautiful, graceful, and kind. For someone special, for a princess.

The ravenette looked up at the faculty and to professors who gave her concerned glances and welcoming smiles like they were expecting the greatest things from Adelaide of Gavaldon. The sudden expectations weigh heavy. It was too much. Everything has been too much.

Between the worry for her sister, between being kidnapped from the dead of the night, between being cold and soaking wet, between feeling helpless or finding any way home, between losing her dad, her home, her sister, and being dropped to his unknown place. It was overwhelming.

And for the second time that day, Agatha ran away.

Up to the blue HONOR staircase, through sea-green halls, passing through rooms with floors made of jade, classrooms made of candy, and a Library made of gold, Agatha ran and ignored the frantic jingles of fairies following behind her, including the familiar chimes of the fairy boy from before. She sprinted up until she reached the tower roof, and a breathtaking, open-air topiary of sculptured hedges welcomed her, but before she could admire them, the door behind her banged open, and within it was a mob of fairies. Agatha didn't have the chance to think before the girl dove into one of the colossal hedges to doge the fairies' sticky golden webs. Once she found her footing from crawling through the huge hedges, the girl leaped and sprinted into the tallest sculpture of a muscular Price raising a sword high above a pond. She scaled the leafy sword and pricked its tips while swatting away the swarming fairies that were trying and failing to get a secure hold of her. But soon Agatha lost her footing and fell. The fairies dove to catch her, but she clashed with the water below.

Agatha expected herself to be drenched for the second time that day, with a few broken bones or a few huge bruises to be honest. But to her surprise, she wasn't.

"Magic is so convenient."

Opening her eyes fully, she saw that she was outside. The pond must have been a magic portal, she thought. Because how was she outside in a crystal blue archway? Looking up, Agatha froze. In front of her was a narrow stone bridge that stretched through thick fog and into the rotten Towers of Evil across the lake. It was a bridge between the two Schools, a connection between Good and Evil.

Feeling an overwhelming sense of relief, the ravenette cried with a wet laugh.

Sophie! She can save Sophie!

"Agatha!"

Agatha squinted and saw the familiar head of blond hair from the other side of the bridge running towards her.

"Sophie!" She called out desperately.

The two sisters dashed towards each other with outstretched hands, crying each other's names and—

They slammed into an invisible barrier and bounced away from each other and to the ground. The ravenette fell head first and hit her head.

"NO!" The ravenette hears loud banging noises as her world spins in black and white.
"NO! THIS CAN'T BE HAPPENING! NO!"

Surprised and dazed by the pain and sudden dizziness, Agatha watched in horror as wolves dragged her screaming sister back towards the black jagged Towers of Evil. Six wolves crowded around her sister and dragged the poor girl back while dodging nails and hits from the blond girl. Six is a bit much, but she guesses it was to make a point. And to be honest, Sophie was not letting herself be quietly escorted back to the Evil school, herself.

"No..." Agatha cried out weakly, crawling shakily to Sophie and the wolves, reaching for the older girl.

"You don't understand! It's all a mistake!"

Sophie screeched and flailed as the fairies finally reached the weakened Agatha. Worried chimes and jingles circled the younger girl as fairies looked over her head and searched for other injuries or bruises. One particular fairy boy hissed at Sophie and threw a rainbow web at the blond girl's face.

"Please, no, give me back my sister. I beg of you." Agatha whispered while her vision swirled and her ears rang.

"Release me! Unhand me! I don't belong to Evil! It's her that belongs to Evil! Take her instead!" Said Sophie.

The fairy boy again spat sticky glittering webs at the blond, and Sophie screamed at the attack to her face. The fairy tried to bite Sophie but stopped when a wolf blocked the tiny creature's way with his paws. The other fairies pulled the fairy boy back to Agatha and seemed to communicate with him because the next moment, the fairy boy refused to leave the ravenette's side.

"Get that defective creature away from me! I am a princess! Fairies should love me, not attack me! This is a mistake! You're all mistakes!" Sophie yelled.

"There are no mistakes." A wolf growled at them both, and Agatha's world finally turned black.

In the background, she can hear Sophie screaming angrily, and the bell-like chimes and jungles of fairies surround her. She felt like she was floating, and finally, she let herself sleep. 

Chapter Text

When Agatha woke up, she found herself alone in a room that was too big for only one person.

A glass staircase connected all five floors of Purity Tower, spiraling in a carved replica of Rapunzel's endless hair. Agatha's room was on the fifth floor, the last room from the hall. Above the door was a glittering sign covered in hearts that said: "WELCOME REENA, MILLICENT, ADELAIDE!" But Reena and Millicent did not stay with her.

Reena, an Arabian beauty, labored to get her things up the top floor and to their room, but when she saw the sleeping Agatha, the former decided to move out, afraid of handling one of the raven-haired girl's panicked behaviors that she saw back from the glass castle lobby. The Arabian girl chooses to stay with Beatrix instead, and the other girl welcomes Reena to stay with her with open arms. When Millicent learned that her room was on the top floor, she demanded the fairies to change it to a lower floor due to her fear of heights, resulting in Agatha being the sole owner of room 51.

The room was pretty. That was a fact. Beautiful pink painted walls with elaborate murals that flaunt beautiful princesses kissing dashing princes. Each bed has an arched white silk canopy shaped like a royal carriage, a glorious fresco of clouds blanketed the ceiling tiles, cupids shooting love arrows from puffy perches, jeweled mirrors reflecting from the wall, and soft pillows and blankets for each bed that can fit two people. But despite all of that, Agatha did not feel relaxed. It only made her feel more out of place.

The room was too big, too expensive, too beautiful for a person as plain as her. The room was meant for a princess.

And Agatha is not a princess...

Moving as far away as she possibly could from all this lavish luxury, Agatha pressed herself to the corner of the bed.

"How are you feeling?"

A female voice asked her as the white-haired woman with an elegant bun approached the frightened girl hiding in the corner of the bed.

"I'm sorry, but who?" Agatha asked. Then she realized that this person was the professor who was looking at her worriedly back at the glass castle foyer.

"I am professor Dovey, Dean for the school for Good." The young girl gasped as the educator introduced herself, relaxing a bit, knowing it was a professor who liked her enough.
"You hit your head quite hard when you ran away and had a mild concussion. The fairies brought you to your room and called me to help you. I'm impressed at how easily you make friends." The Dean chuckled.
"I have to shoo a fairy who refuses to leave your side. Thankfully, we had a compromise. I'm just passing by to make sure you're alright."

"You're the Dean?" Agatha asked, ignoring the rest of what the former said.

"Yes, at your service." The Dean curtseys elegantly.

"Then... Can you help us go home?" The girl asked again.

Professor Dovey looked at her sadly, and Agatha immediately knew that the answer was no and looked away with a spark of anger before it died out easily, like a candle fire blown away by the wind.

"I do not have the power to bring you home, and I know that everything is scary and new, but you are one of us now. I don't know why you think you don't belong, but the School Master picked you for a reason."

"But it's a mistake!" Agatha felt tears welling up in her eyes.
"I'm not some stupid princess! I'm just a normal kid, a simple girl with a simple village life, Miss Agatha the ordinary of Gavaldon. It's Sophie who should be in this room, this place, this school, this life! Not me." Agatha pleads.

Professor Dovey sighed and gently grabbed the girl's hands before replying.

"You are supposed to be here. There are no mistakes when it comes to choosing who are those that go to Good and who go to Evil." The Dean explained gently.
"The School Master saw Good in you, and from what I can tell from only a few minutes of talking with you, I agree with his judgment." The woman added.

Professor Dovey whispered a spell, and immediately, the slight buzz and dizziness from Agatha's head vanished completely and her mind eased as light as a feather.

Was that magic? Healing magic?

Fascinated, Agatha looked at the Dean with sparking curiosity. It earned a small laugh from the older woman.

"Orientation will start in an hour at the Theater of Tales. I had the privilege of fixing your dress to fit your size with the fairies' help. I also noticed that you did not have any luggage with you, so I ordered a few things for the fairies to grab for you. A few dresses that I think will fit just right on you and other things that you will need on your stay here before you graduate."

Dovey fusses as items magically appear from thin air while some fairies go in and out of the room while carrying things that Agatha assumes are for her. With a flick of Dovey's finger, the items flew around and floated to organize themselves in her shelves and cabinets.

"Why?" Agatha questioned skeptically.

"Why? Well, you only have that tattered nightgown as your clothes. It's not logical for a princess to only own that—"

"Why help me?"

Dovey stopped and looked at her new reader student.

"Adelaide, my dear, you are not the first Reader I had as a student. I know it will be hard for you to adjust, and I know it's scary and strange, but that is why I'm doing my best to ease your transition to living your new life here. I am the Dean for Good, and that makes you my responsibility because you are now one of my Evers, and also because I want to help." The woman explained kindly. It warmed Agatha's heart and held back tears that threatened to fall.

Gently, the Dean hugged the young girl for a brief moment of comfort before moving away. Not wanting to overwhelm the reader again, Dovey picks up the white and pink pinafore uniform for the raven-haired girl to see and shooed her to a changing screen.

"Change." The Dean said.
"This is a School, and you are supposed to learn."

Wiping a few stray tears from Agatha's face, Professor Dovey excused herself and gave the girl some space to think. Wishing the best of luck to her new student.

Agatha stood still for a few minutes, taking calming breaths before steeling herself and tossing the dress to her bed, sprinting to the window with a determined expression.

It might not be bad for her here at Good, but she can't say the same for Sophie at Evil. Looking through the window, she could see the sparkling lake around Good and the change it made midway into the moat to protect the Evil school. "Halfway Bay" is what the girls called it, but what's behind them?

Feeling bold and brave, Agatha climbed the window ledge and tiptoed to the side to see what was behind while clinging to a glass beam. She avoided looking down at the sharp pink spire and craned her head around the corner. She almost fell from what she saw on the other side. Behind the School for Good and Evil was a massive blue forest that unfolded for quite a distance, connecting the yards of both schools at the back. The blue forest was fenced on all sides by tall golden gates, and beyond the blue grove returned the green forest that stretched into dark oblivion. Quickly facing front again, calming from her shock, Agatha noticed something from the midpoint or Halfway Bay. The fog hid it well, but looking closely, she saw a tall, thin tower of glinting silver bricks. Both wolves and fairies jutted from the base and into the water.

They are guarding something, but what?

Squinting at the Top, she saw a single window shrouded by clouds. The light caught the window, and she saw a crooked shadow of the person inside the single tower. It was the person who kidnapped them.

Her room slipper slipped, and her body jerked to cling to the wall and not fall to deadly Charity. Quickly and carefully as possible, Agatha slipped back into her room while her heart thumped like kicking rabbits. She found it. She found a possible way back home. Whoever it was in that tower could fix this mistake and send them home.

But first, she needed to rescue Sophie.

After a short but thorough bath, Agatha dried herself and wore the pink uniform given to her. It fit her perfectly, and she mentally thanked Professor Dovey for helping her with her things.

The sleeveless pink uniform showed off her fair skin that was often hidden with the long-sleeved clothes the young girl always wore while working making remedies. The laced collar allowed people to truly see her elegant neck, and the carnation lining the sleeves fit well with her overall appearance. The only thing that bothered her was the pink hills that she was very unused and uncomfortable with. She allowed herself to brush her short raven-black hair and put on a single simple hair clip at the side, an elegant hair ornament with an amber gem as its centerpiece. Dovey gave her many hair ornaments and other accessories. They all look beautiful, but she thinks many of them are either too elaborate or too big. The Dean also gave her makeup that Agatha didn't know how to use.

Looking at herself shyly in the mirror, she thinks she looks presentable enough. She did her best! Not too grand but not bland like what Sophie and her mother always told her. She looks passable, she thinks, with no makeup, wearing the dress properly, and one hair ornament to add a bit of spark.

Still, she feels like she's impersonating someone she isn't. An imposter among princesses. A rag doll amongst porcelain. Shaking the feeling away, Agatha looked forward again with determination.

You have to blend in.

Agatha thought as she set her jaws, took a deep breath, and cracked the door open.

Chapter Text

Fifty or so beautiful girls in pink pinafores packed the hallways, talking and giggling with one another and bonding effortlessly with things that she could only hope to understand. Immediately, Agatha felt shy and hid back in her room, grabbing a blanket and wrapping herself with it.

What was she thinking? Hoping she could "blend in" with those princesses, Agatha knew that she was someone who did not live or belong in the same world they did. She was just an ordinary village girl, studying how to be a doctor, and was accidentally kidnapped with her sister while trying to stop the School Master from taking Sophie! Those princesses will never accept her as one of them! That was why Agatha was surprised when a knock suddenly came on her door, and a sweet voice called out her name

"Adelaide? Are you dressed already? Orientation will start in 10 minutes, and all of us will have to leave now."

A soft voice of a girl gently asked from the other side of the door, patiently waiting for her to reply.

"Yes! I-I'm dressed! I'll be out in a second."

Agatha nervously replied before dusting off nonexistent dirt from her skirt and taking deep breaths, once, twice, and steeled herself to open the door, even just a faction. Outside is a sweet-looking short girl with straight black hair and almond-shaped brown eyes. The first impression was that the girl seemed to have a very bubbly personality but not to the extreme levels of overwhelming or the type of "Happy" Sophie usually does when the blond finds cucumbers in the forest.

"Hi, I'm Kiko of Neverland! The girls are about to leave Purity Tower, and I thought you should know."

"Hello, you already know my name." Agatha nodded awkwardly at Kiko with a small smile.

"Yes, well. I met Reena and Millicent earlier and got curious about the third girl. Which is you, by the way." Kiko giggles kindly.
"Then I saw you peeking through the door and thought you might be that last girl on the sign and wanted to say hi!"

"Yes, that's me." Replied the peeking Agatha.
"The name is Adelaide, but you can call me Agatha." She introduced herself with a shy laugh. She was not used to new people besides those she already knew back at Gavaldon.

"It's a pleasure. Let's go?"

Kiko cheerily hooked her arms around her newfound friend's elbow and happily guided the latter through the twists and turns around the school when the black-haired princess was forced to a halt when Agatha stopped to look at someone inside a fancy art room. A boy with red hair paced around the base of a giant beanstalk that was somehow growing indoors. His green eyes shook with panic, and his clothes and hair were disheveled. It tugged a few strings in Agatha's bleeding heart and worriedly turned to Kiko for permission to go and check on the redhead. Kiko gave the taller girl a nod of understanding, and both of them walked over to the young boy.

THE GALLERY OF GOOD

They read over the gilded words that arched on the glass-frosted door as they walked inside. The room had murals blanketing the long wall with a panoramic view of a soaring gold castle with dashing princes and princesses wedded under a beautiful arch with tiny audiences applauding the lovely wedding. Angels hover around the couple as they play and bless the happy union of Happy Ever After. Gorgeous, soft looks like clouds drift above with exquisite details added to the mural.

EVER AFTER

Kiko squealed in joy while Agatha rolled her eyes. Who wants to be happy all the time? She thought. But then again, the school did a spookily good job at selling the idea.

Ignoring the mural in the room, Agatha's eyes wandered to the glass cases scattered throughout the Gallery. Items from star students are collected all over the years and kept in this Gallery to display like a museum. Cinderella's Prince's blue cape, Red Riding Hood's dorm pillow, Pinocchio's pajamas, and more, all those students are labeled "Class Captain" and stacked with portraits of students from each class to exhibit their iconic victories.

Then she saw the animals.

Cold dread crawled under her skin as dozens of taxidermied creatures loomed over her from rost pink walls, stuffed and mounted. Children turned to animals because they weren't Good enough to become heroes, sidekicks, or servants. From the booted Master Cat, Cinderella's favorite mice, and Jack's sold-off cow, all of them used to be living children who turned into animals and now are being displayed, likely to remind the student that fairytales can be dangerous and cruel.

Agatha felt like those eerie, glass-eyed stares followed her every move, judging her very soul before turning away with a shiver. When they finally reached the Beanstalk her blood ran cold as she forced the last thing she ate to stay down her stomach.

"HOLDEN OF RAINBOW GALE"

The Beanstalk had been a boy once upon a time.

They ALL have been children before turning into whatever animal or plant they have been displayed at the Gallery. Agatha's attention then switched to the pale, hyperventilating boy whose eyes roamed around the Gallery. This boy knew how unmerciful fairy tales can be. He knows and understands.

"Isn't this place amazing?" Kiko then said behind Agatha with wonder.
"All of this is from a fairytale, a fairytale, and real Prince and Princesses!"

"No, it's not amazing." The redhead shakily disagreed.

Agatha found her attention drawn to a corner nook, where rows of paintings were displayed by the same artist, depicting the same scenario of children reading storybooks in hazy, impressionistic colors. Familiar hills and lakes, a crooked clock tower and rickety church, and even the shadow of a house that belongs to an eccentric doctor, surrounded by a cemetery. It was her home, it was Gavaldon. It was proof that the line between stories and real life was thinner than expected, and she only now realized how thin it was really. At the end of the row, the scene changed. It was a mess of red and black, fire welling up around the dark forest while books of fairytales were heaved by children into a bonfire at the town square and watched it burn. It was darker than the rest. It was full of anger, anger towards stories, anger towards the school. Agatha felt a chill up her spine.

Then somebody tackled her and Kiko to hide in a corner where nobody could see. It was the boy.

"He is tampering with the tales, Clarissa!" A woman with purple eyes and yanked long black hair hissed.

"The School Master can't control the storian, Lady Lesso." Professor Dovey reasoned.

"He's on your side, and you know it," Lady Lesso seethed.

"He's not on anyone's side—"

Professor Dovey then stopped as both women turned to look at the last painting on the row.

"I see you've welcomed another of Professor Sader's delusions." The evil-looking Lady scoffed at the painting.

"It is his Gallery, you know." The Dean of Good sighed at her friend.

Lady Lesso's eyes flashed as the painting suddenly tore off the wall and clashed behind a glass case, inches away from the student's heads and out of sight.

"This is why they're not in your School Gallery."

"Anyone who believes the Readers Prophecy is a fool. Including the School Master." Hissed the Evil educator.

"A School Master must protect the balance." Clarissa gently patted her friend's shoulders kindly.
"He sees Readers as a part of that balance, even when we cannot understand."

"Balance!" Lady Lesso scoffed.
"Then why hasn't Evil won a tale since he took over? Why is it that Evil hasn't defeated Good over two hundred years?!"

"Perhaps it's because my students are just better educated." Teased Clarissa, earning a stink eye from Lady Lesso before the dark-haired professor glowered and walked away, much to the Good Dean's amusement.

With a swish of a finger, the painting returned to its place on the wall as Professor Dovey scurried to follow the other woman with a fond smile on her face.

"Maybe your new reader will prove you wrong this time." The Dean for Good said.

"I heard she wears pink." Lady Lesso snorted as they left the Gallery of Good, and the three students sighed in relief.

When the teachers are finally gone, the boy helps the two girls stand up and apologizes for tackling them without permission. He introduced himself as Gregor Charming of Maidenvale. Yes, the son of Cinderella and Prince Keelan Charming. Gregor doesn't look quite like the stereotypical charming boy, but he does have attractive qualities behind that awkward demeanor.

"We really should get going to the Theater of Tales." Kiko interrupted when the three suddenly heard the sound of fairy patrol from the distance.

"Ah! Um, yes. Sorry to bother you. You two almost got in trouble because of me."  Gregor blushed bashfully.

"It's not a bother. You were looking quite pale, and we wanted to check on you," Agatha reassured the red-haired Prince while Kiko happily nodded.

"That's very nice of you. I'm fine now. You two go on ahead."

"You're not coming with us?" Kiko asked.

"It's not our turn yet. I'll see you both later, I promise. Go." The boy urges kindly.

Kiko nodded and pulled Agatha to follow her out of the Gallery and towards the Theater of Tales. On their way out, Agatha cannot help but stare at the last painting and think about her home before turning to the taxidermized animals and the Beanstalk. They can't stay here, is what she thought as her mind drifted off to her and Sophie. They need to escape from this place.

At last, once they got out of the room and into the stream of pink-dressed girls, Kiko waved and greeted a few girls and kindly introduced Agatha to them. With the short girl's arms still hooked around Agatha's elbow, the latter awkwardly talked with the other girls, wishing she could hide from all the attention and conversation while shame slowly climbed its way through her throat. Kiko noticed this and smiled at her gently while guiding her toward the other princesses but stopped the other girls from having small talks with her until they arrived at the Theater of Tales.

Gulping air, Agatha stepped forward into the pink parade and blended in. 

Chapter Text

Kiko and Agatha entered through one of the west doors. Around them are pink and blue decorated pews with cristal friezes around walls and bouquets of glass flowers scattered around the west side of the theater. On the other side opened the east doors that Evil students of the school entered from, including a very anxious and irritated-looking Sophie in her new ghastly black uniform. The dress, if you could call it that, is a black tattered tunic that sagged like shredded curtains down her knees, dead flowers and twigs twisted into a crooked floret crown on top of her head in deadly hues. An attempt to look pretty even amongst Evil company, Agatha guessed. Her sister's beautiful, long blond hair was frizzy from top to bottom, and her well-kept complexion was pale and stressed.

Agatha hasn't seen her sister this unkempt for years! If ever!

Evil students sat on warped wooden benches that screamed murder and torture while deadly stalactites dangled hazards above them. Looking at the former, Sophie seemed uninjured, at least from what Agatha could tell, clearly unhappy but not hurt.

"Agatha? Let's go take a seat." Kiko said beside her.

"You go on ahead. I need to talk to someone."

With a nod, the short girl left to find an empty pew. Twisting through princesses and hiding from fairies, Agatha slipped behind a bench in Evil and pulled Sophie in for a long hug.

"Sophie! I found the School Master's tower! It's in the center of Halfway Bridge, I think! There are guards, but if we can find a way up, we can find a way to go home—!"

"Hi, perfect timing as always! Give me your clothes," Sophie interrupted as she eyed Agatha's pink uniform.

"Huh?"

"Quickly, Aggie! It will solve everything."

"Wha—! You can't be serious? Sophie, we can't stay here!"

"Exactly," the blond girl smiled.
"I need to be in your school, and you need to be in mine. Just like what we agreed about, remember?" The younger girl sputtered in shock. When did she agree to be kidnapped?

"What about Dad? Callis? Honora? Dexter? My cat! You don't know what they're like here! Please, Sophie. They'll turn us into squirrels or squash! We have to go back home." Agatha pleaded desperately for her sister to understand, but it was no use.

"Why? Father never liked me because I'm a girl, and besides, you've always been "daddy's little favorite". What do I have in Gavaldon to go back to, Agatha?"

The raven-haired girl blushed with hurt at her sister's condescending certainty.

"That's not true. Father loves you, Honora is fond of you, Dexter likes you. I love you. Is that not enough?"

Sophie paused for a moment. Unsure of what to say, the former looked at her younger sister's sincere eyes before shaking her head as if removing a thought. She lifted an open palm confidently at the dark-haired girl.

"My dress, please."

Agatha paled, hugging herself and talking a few steps away from Sophie.

"Then I'll take it myself."

But before Sophie could grab Agatha's flowered sleeve, she stopped. Ears piqued like a hunter before dashing away under wrapped benches and glaring villains towards the front of the last pews and peeking around it. Stunned, Agatha didn't notice one of the fairies spotting her frozen inside the side of Evil and did not run when a group of four fairies ushered her back to Good.

When the jiggling fairies sat her beside an excited Kiko, the west doors flew open again, and 60 gorgeous boys went prancing in while displaying sword fights. The boys playfully crossed blades while their shirts came untucked from tight beige breeches, revealing slender waists and flashes of muscles. Sweats glistened in glowing faces as they thrust down the aisle, boots crackling on marble while the sword fighting became progressively more heated and reached the climax. But that was not how Agatha saw it. No, she sees 60 sweaty boys playing with sharp, pointy sticks that are piercing hazards. It sets a lot of her senses as a healer into a frenzy.

She was not somebody who knew nothing about holding swords and all that. But the boys were only showing off without any meaning or purpose. But they are impressive. She'll give them that.

In the last chorus of movement, the boys drew roses from their shirts and threw them to the Ever girls who most caught their attention. Beatrix had the most roses, which was enough to plant a garden. Agatha got a few that she gave away to the sad girls around her who did not receive a rose, including Kiko, but kept one rose that she knew came from Gregor when both Kiko and her cheered up for him while the red-haired Prince stumbled during the swordplay and awkwardly threw his rose.

Turning to look at the Evil benches, Agatha saw Sophie staring longingly for her own rose.

In the decayed pews, the villains booed, brandishing banners with "NEVERS RULE!" and "EVERS STINK!" written on them. The Princes ignored the insults with flying kisses and winks to the villains as they made their way towards the Good pews when one west door from the upper floor slammed open.

Another boy, his hair like a halo of celestial gold, eyes blue as a cloudless sky, skin the color of hot desert sand, the new boy glistened with a noble sheen. As if the boy's blood ran purer than the rest.

"If you boys are finished with your dance class, maybe you'd like to have a real fight. What do you say?"

This boy taunted and grinned. He jumped from the balcony with a rope before sliding down the marble floor and pulled out his sword while 40 boys came at him at once, yet he disarmed them with lightning speed. Agatha saw Gregor standing still in the background and screamed when an ill-aimed sword accidentally flew toward the red-haired Prince. Thankfully, Gregor moved just in time to block the sword and dodge an attack from the new Prince and not be a headless Prince on the first day in school.

Agatha sagged in relief, not noticing the Golden Prince curiously gazing at her before continuing to defeat the other Ever boys, including Gregor.

The Nevers booed again. Then a one-eyed, 7-foot-tall, young cyclops stepped forward with an ax and challenged the pure-blooded Prince. Nevers cheered and screamed murder and blood! Evers looked worried and frightened (mostly the girls), for what was about to happen. But like a real noble, the new boy accepted. Agatha wondered whether the boy was stupid or suicidal. She'll decide later.

And yet, despite their fears, the new boy won and even managed to decapitate the poor Never's arm when the ax flew up when he was disarmed and fell back down and cleanly sliced the Never from the left shoulder and down.

"Oh my God!" Agatha cried and dashed for the Evil student.

"What are you doing?" Gregor asked as he pulled Agatha to a halt.

"He needs to see a Doctor! His arm's been cut off!"

Agatha tried to pull herself free, tugging the arm the red-haired Prince held but failing, surprised at how strong the boy could be. Not long after, two wolves grabbed the pained Never and left the Theater by Tales to take him to where she hoped was the clinic.

"What is wrong with this place?" Agatha hissed to herself.

The blond Prince stood tall and proud at the center of the room. Sheathing his sword and shrugged to lose some of the tension from his shoulders as if meaning nothing but it. But the boys of Good knew what it meant. It meant that the Princes now had a King. Even the villains couldn't find a reason to boo.

The princesses swooned and fawned, Agatha's face scrunched in displeasure.

When the Golden Prince pulled a rose from his shirt, the female Evers jumped up and waved their handkerchiefs like geese at a feeding. Agatha scoffed at the princess's actions but felt her heart drop when Sopht leaped over the pink pews and lunged for the beautiful rose. When Sophie felt the tips of her fingers touch the lovely rose, the Wolves caught her just in time and pulled her away from it while the flower continued to soar through the air and innocently plopped into Agatha's surprised lap.

"Kyaaa! You caught Tedros's rose! So lucky!" A princess from behind her blushes in excitement and a bit of jealousy.

"Tedros?"

"Yes. Prince Tedros, the only son of the true king of Avalon."

"Avalon?"

Agatha looked at the blond Prince closely and saw a familiar lion crest on the dazzling sword, a hilt filled with diamonds in a position she had seen before. A picture of a sword impaled on a stone. A story she loved. A King she admired.

"He's King Arthur's son?" Agatha gasped.

Unknown to her, Sophie's gaze intensely on the Prince with the want to possess. A perfect fairytale Prince for a princess like her, the beautiful Never thought. Destiny locking into place from her strong desire alone. She wants, no, she needs to make that Prince hers."

"He's mine."

The raven-haired Ever turned and jumped in surprise when the said Price made eye contact with her. His high cheekbones, silky blond hair, and thick, tender lips. Broad shoulders, strong arms, and clear sky-blue eyes that stare deep into her soul. Agatha thinks that she could get lost in those blue eyes.

Then the girl realized that she must be staring into his eyes a bit longer than she probably should and turned away, not noticing the Prince making his way toward her.

"Hi, I'm Beatrix."

A hand pulled Tedros into a seat before he could reach Agatha. The blond princess stared down at the dark-haired girl with cold eyes, while the latter only sighed in relief after feeling those blue orbs looking away from her. Sophie, meanwhile, sharpened hers into a glare and watched Beatrix pull her Prince away.

"Are you feeling ok?" Kiko asked.

"Yeah."

"But to think you'll be the one to have Tedros's rose. I don't know if you're lucky or unlucky." Gregor said.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Agatha asked.

Kiko then gestured to the jealous Princesses who kept looking at her and the rose.

"Should I... Do you want it?" Agatha gestured the rose to Gregor, and immediately the Prince said no. Even Kiko said no and that she should keep it.

Looking down, the beautiful full-bloomed rose with its pretty shade of red fits perfectly in her hand. Agatha pulled it close, smelling the scent of fresh-cut rose, and smiled softly. She didn't see the Golden Prince staring at her as she did so. 

"Good morning, students."

A new stranger finally said as they made their way to the stage.

Chapter Text

"My name is Pollux, your welcoming leader."

All students settled down and sat at their respective sides as a massive dog with two heads stepped up the silver-stoned stage with cracks in its middle. The left head was rabid, drooling, and male with a grizzly mane. The other head was the opposite. They had a cute and cuddly appearance and were smiling at students. It was uncertain if the kinder head was male or female, but it seemed to be in charge between the two heads.

"AND I AM CASTOR! WELCOMING LEADER ASSISTANT AND EXECUTIVE EXECUTIONER OF PUNISHMENT FOR ANYONE WHO BREAKS THE RULES OR ACTS LIKE A DONKEY!" The left head boomed, making the student look upon him with fear.

"Thank you, Castor." Pollux nodded at his brother gratefully.
"Firstly, let me remind you why you are here." The right head said.
"All children are born with souls that are Good and Evil. Some souls are purer than others—"

"AND SOME SOULS ARE CRAP!" Castor barked.

"Yes... As I was saying." Pollux coughed pointedly.
"Some souls are purer than others, but all souls are fundamentally Good and Evil. Those who are Evil cannot make their souls Good, and Good souls cannot force themselves to be Evil—"

"SO JUST CAUSE GOOD IS WINNING EVERYTHING DOESN'T MEAN YOU CAN SWITCH SIDES!" The left head snarled.

"Then why am I in the wrong school when they can't force me to be Evil?" A certain blond girl thought.

The student then suddenly started to cheer. The Good at the West pews yelled, "EVERS! EVERS!" while the East retorted, "NEVERS! NEVERS!". Causing chaos within the Theater before wolves and fairies made them shut up.

"Again," Pollux smiled tightly.
"Those who are Evil cannot be Good, and those who are Good cannot be Evil no matter how much you are persuaded or punished. Now, sometimes you may feel both strings in your hearts, but that means your family tree has branches where Good and Evil have toxically mixed. But here at the School for Good and Evil, we will rid you of your confusion and will try to make you as pure Good and pure Evil as possible—"

"AND IF YOU FAIL, THEN SOMETHING BAD WILL HAPPEN TO YOU THAT I CAN'T SAY, BUT IT INVOLVES YOU NEVER BEING SEEN AGAIN!"

"Thank you, Castor!" Pollux growled while Castor looked down and stared at his toes.

Agatha then remembered the Beanstalk, a boy who was once a child named Holden. Agatha covered her mouth to stop herself from puking. They really need to go home.

"You ok?" To her left, Kiko patted her back in circles while Gregor was frozen on her right, white as a sheet.

"Every child in the Endless Woods dreams of being picked to attend our school, but the School Master chose you." Said Pollux while scanning both sides.
"He looked into your heart and saw something very rare. Pure Good and pure Evil."

"If we're so pure, then what is that?" A Never stood and pointed at Sophie.
"She smells like flowers!"
"And smiles too much!"
"She arrived wearing pink!"
"She looks and acts like an Ever!"
The Nevers complained. Hort glaring at them.

"If it makes you feel better, our reader tried to run away?" An Ever girl said unsurely.

"Well, it looks like at least one of you is smart enough to be repulsed at being a stupid Ever!"

"At least ours tried to fit in! Your reader stuck out like a sore thumb!" An Ever prince spat.

"You're just stupid because you didn't know who it is at first glance, don't you?! I bet it's that black-haired girl with short hair. She is the only one I've seen truly act like an Ever, unlike all of you fake dolls!"

"Hey! At least we are pretty!"
"Don't insult our girls like that!"

"Why so mad?~ Is it because Nevers have depth and personality?"

"SILENCE!" Castor screamed, and the students shushed.

"As you know. Every four years, the school brings two readers here from Woods Beyond. They know of our world through pictures and books. They know our rules just as well as you and have the same talents, goals, and potential for glory. Some of them even became our finest students."

"Yeah, like two hundred years ago." Castor snorted quietly.

"They are no different than the rest of you," Pollux added defensively.

"They look different than the rest of us," cracked an oily, brown-skinned villain.

Sophie stared down at Agatha from the east benches as if to say this could be all solved with a simple costume change. Agatha tried to keep her eyes from looking away and not feel pressured by the stare that even other princesses noticed and started glaring at Sophie, much to her shock.

"Do not question the School Masters selections," Pollux glared.
"All of you will respect each other, whether you're Good or Evil, or from famous fairytale families or not. Witches, warlocks, princes, princesses, and readers. All of you are trusted to protect the balance between Good and Evil. Because once that balance is compromised... Our world will perish."

Pollux's expressed darkly with a warning. The Theater fell silent as shadows seemed to crawl from the minds of everyone. Agatha grimaced at the ominous warning. The last thing she needs is the world perishing while they are still in it.

"But why doesn't Evil win anymore?" A Villain rasped anxiously.
"Yeah! If we're so balanced, why do we always die?" Hort exclaimed.
"We never get good weapons!" Another Never shouted.
"Our henchmen betray us."
"Our nemesis always has an army!"

A witch named Hester then stood up from her seat and glared menacingly at the Ever.

"Evil hasn't won in two hundred years! GOOD IS CHEATING!"

Villains began to yell violently at the Evers, hurling rotten food, shoes, and everything throwable at the pink pews. Sophie shrank in her seat as she tried to hide herself away from embarrassment.

Tedros won't think she was with these ugly hooligans, right? She's well-behaved, like a perfect princess! With that in mind, Sophie peeked over the bench and blushed like a rose when she caught Tedros looking curiously at her—Albet, with confusion.

"The School Master is on their side!" Hester screamed.

"We didn't even have a chance!" Howled Hort.

Nevers fought vigorously against wolves and fairies as they continued their assault on the Evers. The boys took off their coats and covered the girls. Gregor gave his coat to Kiko, and strangely enough, a boy named Nicholas gave his to Agatha. Those at the front pews did not notice the frozen Tedros holding his coat mid-air towards the raven-haired girl and stopping when Nicholas plopped his into the girl's head. Nicholas did and smiled smugly at the Camelot Prince. Tedros stood up to yank the offending boy away when Beatrix suddenly pulled the coat from his hand. 

"Thank you for taking this off for me to use as cover, Teddy." Beatrix said and wore it over her shoulders.

"SIT DOWN BEFORE I GIVE YOU ALL PUNISHMENTS!" Castor growled.

"Maybe if you stopped complaining, you'd produce someone of a consequence! But all we hear is excuse after excuse. Have you produced one decent villain since the Great War? One villain capable of defeating their nemesis? No? No wonder readers come here confused and want to be Good!"

The villains quiet down without complaints, afraid that Castor might give them punishment early in the semester, and feel shame from Pollux's scolding.

With a sigh, the Good head spoke.

"Students, all of you have one concern here. Doing the best you can. Be the finest as you can become as Prince, Princesses, warlocks, and witches—"

"OR A TROLL OF PIG IF YOU STICK!"

Both Evers and Nevers glance at each other across the aisles, sensing the higher stakes of their future fairytale.

"So if there are no further interruptions, let's review the rules."

Pollux started explaining the rules of the school, and Agatha tried her best to listen closely for loopholes she could use. She'd hoped that Sophie was doing the same, but one look at her sister and she caught the blond staring like a loon at the Prince prat. Prince prat? Huh. She likes the sound of that. The Prince was basically prating earlier, right? The new title fits the boy perfectly, Agatha thought.

Then she noticed Beatrix subtly smelling the Prat's hair and scrunched her face with disgust. That was... Disturbing to see.

"As I said, given the exceptional incompetence required to earn three straight last-place ranks. I am confident the rule will not apply to any of you." Pollux's statement earned a mirthless huff from Castor.

"When I'm placed where I belong, you'll feel foolish, won't you?" Sophie suddenly shot back. Agatha fought the urge to facepalm again and groaned.

"Your swan crest will be visible on your heart at all times," Pollux continued, giving Sophie a stern look.
"Any attempt to conceal or refuse it will likely result in injury or embarrassment, so please refrain."

Curiously, Agatha tried to cover her crest with a hand and was surprised when it appeared at the back of her hand like a tattoo. When she removed her hand, the swan crest magically reappeared back to her uniform at her heart.

'Fascinating.'

"Furthermore, as the Theater of Tales is in Good this year, Nevers will be escorted here for all joint school functions. Otherwise, you must remain in your school at all times!"

Pollux then discussed the Groom Rooms, and immediately Sophie latched on to the privilege of Evers and grumbled about the injustice for her beauty. Next was about the class captains and other rules that the first years are mandatory to listen to and know about. All of the information being shared was overwhelming for many of the students, both Evers and Nevers. Then Pollux mentioned beautification class and other classes that the students will take, and Agatha felt sweaty at the thought of the horror that would be her classes. Looking at Gregor, she saw that the boy was also pale and nervous.

"Hey, Agatha?" Kiko called.

"Yes?"

"What do you think is the right shade for my lips? Cherry or rose?"

"Ummm... Rose..?"

"I think so too! Thank you very much." Kiko gave Agatha a quick side hug when the younger girl noticed the reader's lips.
"Well, I think a natural cherry hue will be perfect for you. Here, keep it. I haven't used it yet." Kiko gave Agatha a cherry-colored lip gloss and smiled at the latter to lean a bit while she applied some to the raven-haired girl's lips. Unable to say no to her very excited new friend, Agatha allowed Kilo to put lip gloss on her.

While Pollux and Castor are speaking, the heads tell the last and final rule as both caution and warning.

"Never go out into the woods after dark."

Pollux dismissed everyone with the remainder of supper to both schools. Kiko and Gregor kept grabbing Agatha's attention about plans and study groups for the three of them that she noticed too late when the students began to rise, and someone brashly walked up front and demanded Pollux to answer her question.

"How do we switch schools? Or better yet, where can I meet the school Master?"

Both dogs growled as they jumped off the stage, looming over a blond Never with a ferocious expression. It wasn't clear who was who.

"You don't." They growled at Sophie.

"Sophie!" Agatha yelled when wolves forcefully whisked a flailing Sophie to the west door. Thinking fast, Agatha wrote a note as fast as she could to a handkerchief Dovey gave her and ran to her sister, subtly thrusting the piece of cloth to the blond.

"BRIDGE, 9 AM"

But Sophie wasn't paying attention. Her gaze was locked on Beatrix's looped hands around Tedros's arms with a hunter's precision while wolves shoved her to the School for Evil.

Agatha saw her sister's locked gaze on the Camelot Prince and felt dread. Another reality smashing directly at her like a falling boulder, one reality that Agatha feared the most. As the two girls are pulled away from each other to opposite schools, their opposing desires couldn't have been clearer.

Agatha wanted them both to go home to Gavaldon! But that's not enough for Sophie. No, her sister wanted something more. Something grander and is everything that she had dreamed to have.

Sophie wanted a Prince.

Chapter Text

Fifty and so Princesses dashed out of their room to prepare for class like it was their wedding day the next morning.

The female Evers wanted to make a good first impression on teachers, Princes, and anyone who might lead them to Ever After—resulting in the mayhem that was the girl's dormitory in the morning. Running to each other's room, puffing hair, glossing lips, buffing nails, and putting on enough perfume that can make fairies pass out at the sheer thickness of the smell, all 60 girls did not seem any closer to being dressed even as the clock tolled 8:00 in the morning and signaling for breakfast at the cafeteria. But instead of eating, the Evers chose to continue beautifying themselves instead. Claiming that breakfast only makes princesses fat anyway, as Beatrix said. Each girl stumbles at themselves as they make themselves look pretty for everyone to see, all Ever girls but one.

"Agatha, won't you put on some makeup at least? Please?"

Kiko asked while the two girls were inside Agatha's room and immediately, the younger girl tried to convince the latter to put on lipgloss and some light blush instead of just wearing her uniform and a simple blue hairpin to keep her hair out of the way of her eyes.

"No, I don't want to. I don't know how to. Maybe next time, I'll see you at breakfast."
The shorter girl looked at Agatha in disbelief as she bid farewell and made her way out of Purity Tower, dodging running Princesses as she passed them and left.

But that wasn't the only reason Agatha left the dorms early. She didn't tell Kiko, but the girl planned to meet Sophie before classes started. While exploring yesterday with her new friends, Agatha discovered that the Gallery of Good has a hall that leads to the foyer that connects all Good Towers of Honor, Valor, Purity, and Charity. From there, she planned to go to Honor Tower, up to Hansel's Haven, and finally to Merlin's Menagerie where she remembered where she accidentally discovered the magical pond. After that, all she needs to do is find a way to Sophie's room!

If only it is that easy.

There, in the palatial glass lobby, was the faculty mingling before class while nymphs floated about the foyer and served them frosted biscuits and tea. Behind all the faculty, Agatha could see the high stained glass marked HONOR from the other side of the lobby.

How could she pass them all?

Agatha felt something scrape her leg and turned to see a mouse gnawing her petticoat. An idea suddenly came to mind.

"I mean, this is a land of fairy tales. Expect the unexpected, right? It's not like talking to animals is a crazy thing in this world. Heck, I have a class named Animal Communication." Agatha reasoned to herself as she knelt to the mouse.

"Chi?"

"Hi, can you understand me?" Agatha asked the small animal, trying to stop feeling stupid for herself.

"Chi!" The mouse nodded, much to her shock and amazement.

"That's great! I'm sorry to ask, but would you be willing to lend me a hand? Or a paw...? I need to go to the other side of this lobby unseen."

"Chi, chi, chi?" The rodent looked between the nymph and the teacher and back at Agatha with a questioning look.

"Yes, them. Can you need to distract them for me? I'll give you cheese after if you like!"

The mouse nodded at her before running into the lobby and tripping nymphs on its way. Agatha took this chance to slip behind charity steps, and the mouse continued to trip another nymph who clashed with Professor Dovey, resulting in the other faculty hurryingly dabbing napkins on the Dean's ruined dress. By then, Agatha had already disappeared into Honor Tower while giggling as the mouse puffed in pride on her shoulder, finding her way up to Hansel's Haven. As promised, she rewarded the mouse. It wasn't cheese, but the tiny rodent seemed to enjoy the gingerbread desk while Agatha happily ate the white fudge chair and a few candies. She doesn't care if the sign is said.

TEMPTATION IS THE PATH TO EVIL

Food is food. The raven-haired reader knew she wouldn't be able to eat breakfast in the cafeteria if she wanted to find Sophie. After saying goodbye and thanking the rodent, Agatha continued walking to Merlin's Menagerie.

The Grand Menagerie has magnificently sculpted hedges that tell the legend of King Arthur in sequence. When he pulled the Excalibur from the stone, Arthur with the knights of the Round Table was formed, his wedding with Guinevere, and so on. Her mind drifted to the Prince Prat of Camelot and scoffed. How can someone survive from all these heavy expectations, probably someone with a lot of ego.

After appreciating the beauty of Merlin's Menagerie, Agatha finally jumped into the secret magic portal water and made her way to Evil.

Running towards the midpoint where the fog began, an open palm raised for the barrier, in case it came earlier than she remembered. Walking fast and carefully, Agatha finally felt the invisible wall and immediately tried to make her way around it, but apparently, the barrier could move where it wanted. Suddenly, she noticed two movements through the fog making their way to Halfway Bridge and panicked. There is no time to go back to Good, and the bridge has no places she can hide! Two teachers, one of them the handsome Good professor who smiled at her back at the foyer and the other an Evil educator with boils on his cheeks, walked across the bridge and through the barrier without the slightest resistance. Dangling from the stone rail high over the moat is Agatha, waiting for them to pass and disappear to Good. But before they could, the Good professor looked back and seemed to smile in her direction. Agatha ducked and hid.

"What is it, August?" The Evil teacher asked.

"My eyes are playing tricks on me," He chuckled as they entered the Good Towers.

'That man is definitely not normal', Agatha thought.

Climbing as soon as the teachers were gone, Agatha stood in front of the invisible wall again. She tried to find the edge, but nothing, tried kicking it, but it was as hard as steel. Dejected, Agatha turned to walk back to the Good Towers.

"And don't come back!"

The girl spun around to see who spoke but found nobody. All she found was her reflection in the barrier, arms folded, and nothing else. 'Oh joy, now I'm hearing things. Lovely.' She thought and looked away and noticed her hands were at her sides, not folded.

"Did you just speak?.." She asked unsurely.

Her reflection only cleared its throat.

"Good with Good,
Evil with Evil,
Back to your tower before there’s upheaval."

"Um, hello. I need to pass through." Agatha greeted her reflection.

"Good with Good,
Evil with Evil,
Back to your tower before there’s serious upheaval,
Meaning cleaning plates after supper or losing your Groom Room privileges or both if I have anything to say about it."

"I need to see Sophie."

"Good cannot be close with anyone on the other side." The reflection said.

The sound of soft chimes suddenly rang not too far away, and Agatha turned and saw the glow of fairies at the end of the bridge. She needed to go through and fast.

'Good with Good, Evil with Evil...'

In a flash, she knew the answer.

"How about you? Are you really Good?" Agatha asked her reflection, a sad frown on her face.

"I don't know. Am I?" The reflection tensed.

With gritted teeth, Agatha looked at her reflection in the eyes and opened her mouth.
"Real princesses are like Sophie. If you're not a Princess then we're..."

"Definitely Evil," the reflection said sadly before the barrier vanished with her reflection.

With clenched fists, Agatha ran into the fog, and the fairy patrol did not spot her and went to Evil. The moment she stepped into Evil, Agatha felt the gloom crawl under her skin. She did her best to ignore the cracked ceilings, singed walls, serpentine staircases, and shadow-masked halls. With the coast clear of wolves, the girl snuck through the main corridors and observed the portraits of the School's villainous alumni who wrapped themselves in death-like suits of armor. It was jarring yet weirdly fascinating.

Looking around, Agatha found herself on a staircase marked MISCHIEF. Trying her best not to get caught as she avoided places with people and found herself in a room called,

THE EXHIBITION OF EVIL

An Evil version of the Gallery of Good. The exhibit was unsurprisingly sparse, reflecting the school's two-hundred-year lose streak to good. Agatha examined the few that are displayed. Rumpelstiltskin's faded uniform, an essay on "Morality of Murder" by a witch, a few stuffed crows hanging from the walls, and a rotted vine of thorns that blinded Rapunzel's Prince.

'Vera of Woods Beyond.'

It was the name labeled under the vine's panel. A familiar name she read from the Missing posters back at Gavaldon. Shuddering, Agatha turned to the mural on the wall and was in awe at the depiction of eight villains reveling in an inferno of infinite power— Flying through fire, transmuting in body, fracturing in soul, manipulating space and time. At the top of the mural, stretching from the first panel to the last, were giant letters set aflame.

N E V E R M O R E

Where Evers dreamt of love and happiness, the Nevers sought a world of solitude and power. When the bone bird accidentally dropped Sophie into Evil, Agatha felt guilty for taking her sister's place. And because Sophie belongs in Good... That means that she was supposed to be—
and she was supposed to be here, then that means—

'Am I a Never?'

"Who goes there?"

Two wolves appeared out of nowhere and pounced for Agatha when they saw her and her pink dress and white swan crest. She dodged successfully and whipped Vera's thorns at their faces before sprinting away to escape, running down the hall and up the stairs, she found herself on the second floor of Malice Hall. The boys' floor.

Panting, she started to hear a door open from somewhere and dashed up to a dead-end attic and climbed out the window onto the soaring roof while growls of wolves followed behind her. Clinging into the rain gutter the raven-haired girl went up to the three gargoyles she saw on top as fast as she could without slipping because of the constant heavy rain the Evil school has. Craning her neck, she turned to look at the wolves that were still following her but—

"There are worse things than wolves, you know.”

The wolf only stared at her from the window, his hairy arms folded over his red jacket with a smirk before he scoffed at the poor Ever girl and walked away, Leaving her agape.

'What? What could be worse than—'

Something moved from the peripheral of her vision. Shielding her eyes from unmerciful wind and rain, Agatha turned and saw the gargoyles move. The first one yawned as it spread its dragon-like wings, the second stretched its snake head and lion-like trunk, and lastly, the third was twice as big as the others with its horned demon head, man torso, and studded tail and spread its jagged wings wider than the tower. Agatha froze as the three stalked her with their eyes.

'Gargoyles! What did the dog say about gargoyles!' Agatha blanched.

Then the gargoyles' eyes turned vicious red at the sight of her swan crest and pink uniform, and that's when she remembered—

'Orders to kill.'

Shrieking, like monsters in the night, the gargoyles leaped off their porch and flew to attack. Without the stone gargoyles to support the gutter, Agatha fell with a cry while the loose beam lurched wildly in the rain. Two gargoyles swooped to swipe at her with their deadly claws. Thankfully, the raven-haired girl dodged to the side just in time before the hit could land. And then, the third gargoyle, the demon-horned gargoyle flew high in the sky and blasted fire from its nose with nothing but panic and strong will, Agatha grabbed into the rails and hid behind the beam, leaving in its wake a hole in its center of the beam gutter. A crushing force tackled her from behind when she wasn't looking, and the dragon-winged gargoyle managed to grab her by the leg and hoisted her into the air.

"Stop! I'm a student!" The girl screamed.

The gargoyle dropped her in shock.

"See! I'm a Never!" Agatha cried, pointing at everything she was. Everything that knew and believed herself to be, everything that everyone (Vanessa) had said she was.

Pinning her down, the gargoyle studied her to see if this was true... The grab on her throat told her it wasn't. 

Chapter Text

Screaming, she stabbed her foot into the hole of the gutter and deflected the water directly into the monster's eye. While it stumbled blindly and flailed its claws for her, the gargoyle slipped before falling through the hole and shattered. But she didn't feel relieved because soon, the second gargoyle dove towards her with an angry shriek. Preparing herself for the attack, Agatha kicked the snake-headed gargoyle at its neck, snapping it like a matchstick, and watched in horror as it fell into the water below.

Panting and bruised, Agatha tried to look for a safe place to go when the beam gutter suddenly shook. A new round of fear welled up in her gut at the sound of bending metal. Turning her head around, the largest out of the three stood there with its wings fully unflurried with red blazing eyes, its nose smoking as it readied to burn her to oblivion. Agatha's mind ran a mile a minute, thinking of a way to survive this. Her path to go back into the building is blocked by the gargoyle, and staying there will only result in being burnt to death. Dodging is not an option because there is nowhere she can hide or dodge the fire. The only option is to go down...

Down from this height is suicide!

'But it's the only way left.'

Agatha wishes all her Good karma would bring her luck just this once.

'Please. To all things holy or magically or miracle-granting entities that exist out there, please let me survive this.'

The raven-haired girl stood up wobbly at the beam while the gargoyle watched her confusedly. Looking straight at it in the eyes, Agatha jumped.

With a startled growl, the monster angrily flew down after her with vengeance, and unfortunately for him, he did not notice the spiked wall that impaled and shattered it. Fortunately, Agatha did and curled herself desperately, missing the lethal blade, and crashed into an open window on the sixth floor of Malice Hall before limping away.

"I—thought—gargoyles—were—decoration,” The girl panted.

Looking around, Agatha realized that the sixth floor was on the girl's floor and searched for her sister's room but could not find it. Just as she was about to cry in frustration, her eyes caught a graffitied door with slurs and paint at the end of the hall. LOSER. READER. EVER LOVER, and a few other things. And she knew she found it.

"Sophie! It's me, open the door!"

Behind her, she could hear other doors opening because of the noise, making Agatha knock louder and jiggle the knob desperately. But it wouldn't budge.

"Sophie!"

Just as Never Girls is about to turn around and see the intruder in pink and Agatha is considering the destruction of property, the door opens sharply, and a hand pulls her in and slams shut behind her.

"You—have no idea—what I've been through to get here," Agatha said before freezing at what welcomed her.

In the center of the room was Sophie crouching down over a puddle of water on the floor while singing sweetly.

"I’m a pretty princess, sweet as a pea,
Waiting for my prince to marry me~..."

Her three bunkmates and three rats looked aghast at the blond, mouths open in shock and hacked in disgust.

"She flooded our floor..." Hester looked up at Agatha.

"To do her makeup." Said Anadil.

"Whoever heard of anything so evil? Song included.” Dot added with a grimace.

"Is my face even? I can’t go to class looking like a clown,” Sophie squinted into the puddle before her eyes shifted to the new person in the room.
“Aggie, darling!~ About time you came to your senses. Your Uglification class starts in two minutes, and you don’t want to make a poor first impression.”

Agatha stared at the blond blankly.

"Of course, we have to switch clothes first. Come, off they go.” Sophie said happily, standing up with a victory face.

“You’re not going to class, darling,” the younger twin said, her face red with anger and frustration.
"We need to go home, or we're stuck here forever! You said you wanted to meet the school Master at orientation. He has a tower, and I think I know where—"

“Oh, don’t be a boob,” said Sophie, tugging at Agatha’s dress.
“We can’t just break into someone's tower in broad daylight. And if you’re going home anyway, you should give me your clothes now so I don’t miss any assignments.”

“Okay, that’s it! Now listen to—”

“You’ll blend right in here~,” Sophie smiled at her sweetly while observing her next to her roommates, and immediately Agatha lost her fire.

“What do you... Mean?” Agatha laughed unsurely. 

"Oh, for goodness’ sake, Agatha, look at this place!" The blond gestured everywhere.
"You like gloom and doom."

"Not true."

"You like suffering and unhappiness and—"

"Excuse me?"

"Burnt things! You’ll be happy here. Admit it, you're a Never!" Sophie finishes while Agatha feels something pang in her heart.

“We agree,” said a voice behind Agatha, and the girl turned to the three witches in surprise.

“You can live here, and she drowns in the lake,” Hester scowled at Sophie.

“We liked you the moment we saw you, and Sophie's stories about you further solidified it. A witch doctor's apprentice, making potions and many more." Anadil cooed, the rats licking Agatha’s feet.

“You belong here with us,” Dot said.

Hester, Anadil, and Dot crowded around Agatha while she swung her head nervously between the villainous girls.

Was Sophie right? Did they want to be friends?... But what about Kiko and Gregor? And then again, she's a Nevers, and Nevers can't be friends with Evers... Will being a villain make her... Happy? Agatha's stomach churned. No! She didn't want to be Evil! She wanted to go home! Where it's safe, with Sophie. Not in this place where they'll be forced apart!

“No!” Agatha shouted, breaking away from the three witches.
“We’re not switching clothes. We’re not switching rooms. We’re not switching schools! We’re going home!” Agatha said, voice rasping vulnerably, ignoring Sophie’s disapproving look.

"Are we sure she's a Villain?" Dot whispered to Anadil.

"If not her, then who? Sophie?" The albino girl replied.

"I'm starting to doubt what Sophie told us about her is true. Just look at her again, nothing about her screams "Villain" to me."

"Hester likes her. That has to count on something," Anadil argued to Dot.

Sophie looked at Agatha with a disappointed expression before it changed into a more soothing and sad frown. Her eyes were glossy, and her lips quivered.

"Adelaide, don't you want me to be happy?" Sophie said.

"I— Yes! But, Sophie—"

"Then give me your uniform. You know that being a princess is everything that I dreamed of! Now, Adelaide." She demanded gently.
"Or is it you wanted to ruin this for me? Adelaide, dear.~ So, please give me the dress?"

"No!" Agatha pleaded.
"You don't understand! This place is dangerous, Sophie, please. We need to go home to Gavaldon, and you heard what Pollux said! I don't think swapping clothes is the solution. Please, please, understand, Sophie."

Sophie and Hester exchanged furtive glances before they tackled the startled raven-haired girl down while Dot and Anadil pulled the pink dress off Agatha’s body, and the four of them shoved Sophie’s black robes on in its place. Meanwhile, Sophie changed into the Ever uniform. With her new shimmying pink dress, Sophie threw open the door and bid her farewell.

"Goodbye, Evil! Hello, Love!”

“And all is right in the world,” Hester sighed.
“Really. I don’t know how you were ever friends with that tram—”

“She's my sister!” Agatha hissed before pursuing Sophie through the hall’s hordes of black.

Shocked by an Ever in their midst, Nevers swarmed around the blond and started to beat Sophie's head with books, bags, and shoes—

"No! She’s one of us!” Hort yelled as all Nevers, including Sophie, turned to look at Hort.
“That’s the Ever!” He pointed at Agatha, and the Nevers unleashed a new war cry as they mobbed Agatha while Sophie took the chance to escape down the stairs and leave her sister to the mob.

The raven-haired girl managed to escape the angry mob with a few well-placed kicks and slid down the banister to catch up to Sophie. But the blond was too good to catch and fast on her feet. So instead, Agatha tracked her sister whenever she saw a spec of pink turn through tight corridors and arrive at the first floor and into a dead end where she saw Sophie magically jump through a wall with blood-splattered letters written, "NO STUDENTS", with a flying leap. Bravely, Agatha followed and landed on the Evil side of Halfway Bridge. Through the fog, Agatha could see her sister glowing with joy.

“King Arthur’s son, I can't believe it!” Sophie daydreamed.
“A real-life prince! But what do I say to him? How do I show him I’m the one?” Agatha tries to hide her hurt as her sister gushes over some unknown Prince and effortlessly forgets about her.

“You left me there... alone.” Sophie turned to her with surprise before the older girl's face softened.

"I thought it'd be easier for you to adjust with the Nevers without me there." The blond said gently.
"We both know me in Evil was a mistake, and in making sure we fix that mistake, you need to stay here. For balance and all that. You'll do it for me right Adelaide?" Agatha gazed at Sophie’s beautiful smile and sweet tone as she asked, making the younger twin doubt herself as jade eyes seemed to look deep into her soul more than usual and nodded slowly—

Then, all of a sudden. Sophie's smile vanished as the pink in her dress magically rotted back into her sagging villain black robes, gasping in shock and fury when Agatha's clothes shrunk into a pink pinafore dress. The two girls gaped at each other in surprise and didn't notice when a shimmering lasso of water swooped and hurled Agatha across the bay into the sunlit mist of Good while Sophie let out a wail of injustice before paling the wave, slowly rose back over her with a belligerent and smashing Sophie back into Evil and right back on schedule.

"This is so unfair!" Sophie cried.
"I'm the Princess! Don't take me back there!"

~~~

Back at Good, lying in a puddle on the banks of the shimmering lake, Agatha replayed the scene from Evil. Wolves chased her like some criminal, almost got killed by monstrous gargoyles, Sophie called her a boob, her sister and her bunkmates tackled and stole her clothes, then Sophie left her to witches while daydreaming about Prince Prat.

'Why is this happening?' She thought.

In Gavaldon, Sophie couldn't care less about school and Castles or boys. In Gavaldon, her sister had everything! A happy ending!

'I just want us to go home.'

Then she felt the ache in her leg and a few bruises all over her body. With a hiss, Agatha tried to move herself out of the bank and into dry land, but being chased, tossed, gripped, tackled, and thrown for only a span of a few hours was not good for her body. She wanted to cry and yell at everything, frustration and pain welling up her chest that she couldn't stop the soft sob from escaping her lips. 'Stop crying! You're not even that pretty and you just become hideous when you cry!' The voice of Vanessa screeched in her mind. 'Oh, for goodness sake, Adelaide. Stop crying! If you want to cry, go to that whore Honora.' Biting her lower lip, Agatha held back the tears and forced herself to stop her sobs.

"Adelaide! Where are you?!" A voice called out to her, making Agatha jolt.
"Adelaide! Please answer us?"

"H-here!" The girl yelled as loud as she could and heard hurrying footsteps running toward the bank.

Sighing in relief, Agatha looked up and saw who came to look for her and was surprised at who it was. A red-haired boy with Green eyes and a fairy on his shoulder.

"Adelaide?" A voice yelled for her, followed by the sound of wind chimes.

"Gregor?" She asked, but he wasn't alone.

"What happened to you?" Tedros asked as the two boys knelt beside her.

"Tedros?" Agatha blanched before replacing it with anger.
"What are you doing here?"

"Gregor pulled me and said it was an emergency." The blond Prince said worriedly while the fairy and Gregor began to fuss. 

Chapter Text

"Adelaide! My God, are you ok? Stupid question, of course, you're not. Let's get you back in school to heal you up!"

"How did you find me?" The raven-haired girl asked, confused. She was sure nobody knew she left for Evil.

"I didn't." The redhead said while the fairy boy from before flew past the two Ever Princes and went straight to Agatha with a worried expression.
"He did. He was looking for you for the past hour or so, worried when you didn't appear for breakfast, and I guess he saw you at the bank and guided us here."

Gregor said while gently lifting her by the shoulder with the help of Tedros. Agatha winced when they accidentally put pressure on a bruise, and immediately, Tedros told Gregor to stop moving.

"Gregor, can you let her go for a second?" Gregor nodded, gently letting go of his friend, and watched as Tedros carried Agatha alone in his strong embrace.
"Excuse me." The blond boy said to the startled girl.

"W-wha— Let me go!" Agatha epped in surprise.

"Can't do, m'lady. Carrying you like this is better for your bruises and leg."

"Then let Gregor carry me!" Agatha yelled.

"Umm, I-I can carry her for you..." Gregor said unsurely.

"You will have a hard time carrying her because she's taller than you, and you two might accidentally tumble up the stairs," Tedros said, final with his decision. Gregor nodded with understanding while Agatha glared.

Tedros carried a glaring Agatha to the school's clinic while Gregor followed the two worriedly. The walk was painfully long, but the three arrived at the clinic without anyone noticing them. Thanking Tedros, Gregor and Agatha went in and left the blond boy` outside due to the raven-head's insistence.

"Thank you for helping me I appreciate it very much. Bye!" Agatha hurridly said as she closed the door.

"Wait. I don't know yo—"

"Thank you, Tedros. See you in class..." Gregor followed and waved a little as the door cut off the blond Prince.

The garden fairies who always stayed in the clinic fussed over the hurt Ever girl while the Good Doctor healed her leg and all her bruises with a magic concoction. The doctor did not ask how she got hurt or why, he just assessed her injuries, made a potion, asked her to drink it, and let herself magically heal before leaving somewhere inside the clinic.

"You're not going to ask?" Agatha suddenly spoke while Gregor nervously fiddled with his finger.

"Are you going to tell me if I did?"

"Depends on how you ask it." The girl said honestly.

"How were you hurt?" He squeaked.

"I... I went to Evil to see my sister. It didn't go well..." Agatha sighed gloomily, choosing to be honest with her friend instead of hiding it and lying.

"You sisters with a villain?" Gregor asked in shock.

"Oh no, Sophie is the princess. I was supposed to be the villain but... An accident happened."

"You're the villain?" The boy asked, confused.

"I confused the bird that brought us here, and now I'm at the wrong school," Agatha said, while the fairy boy perched on her shoulder hissed at any garden fairy that tried to put flowers on Agatha's hair.

"Are you sure...?"

"I'm not princess material, Gregor. Just look at me! I'm already hurt again on the first day of class, and I broke the rules many times already."

Agatha sat on the bed beside the clinic window, and her fair complexion glowed as the gentle rays of the sun hit her skin. Her naturally big eyes and long lashes frame her face, small nose and cherry lips express sad resignation. Raven hair, glossy and smooth like silk, she was beautiful even without the complex makeup the other princesses like to use and is looking at him with gentle, sad eyes. The red-headed Prince cannot see the villain she believed herself to be.

"And the person who said you were a Never is??"

"Nobody! Or well maybe Sophie. But that's because she's upset about the mixup."

"I see..." Gregor thought that maybe it wasn't a mistake.
"But you are the one in Good right now. You need to do your best to survive this school, and that means going to our classes. We both need to. I'm not exactly prince material either, but I am here. I need to graduate at this school. So do you." He reasoned.

"Gregor, but—"

"I know you want to go home. I do too. But for us to be able to go home, we need to live through this. It's the only way out of a fairy tale." The redhead expressed pleadingly towards his new friend.
"Adelaide, you have been nice to me since the first day of school. I don't want to lose my friend because she failed and turned into a flower or something. Please promise me that you'll try your best in class. Okay?"

"Friend?" Gregor blushed bashfully at the girl's hopeful tone.

"If you'll have me." He added with a shy nod.

"Call me Agatha, that's what my friends call me." She smiled softly, and Gregor smiled back as they shook hands.

She would find a way to go home for both her and Sophie, but for now, she needs to ensure she does not fail three times and survive the school like Gregor said. She knows that Sophie won't last as a villain, and after a few more days in Evil, her sister will be begging to go home. Agatha just needed to be patient. If they can't escape the School, Agatha thinks that graduating is plan B. She can help Sophie with her lessons or tutor her if she finds the classes in Evil hard to make sure her sister passes and graduates. The plan wasn't much, but it was something. Something was better than nothing.

For the first time since they were kidnapped, Agatha opened her heart to hope.

~~~

Hope died ten minutes later.

Professor Emma Anemone, whistling in a blinding yellow dress and long fox-fur gloves, walked into her pink taffy classroom, took one look at Agatha, and stopped whistling. “Rapunzel took some work too,” she whispered before launching her first lesson on “Making Smiles Kinder.”

"Now, the key is to communicate with your eyes,” she chirped, demonstrating a perfect princess smile.

Agatha tried mimicking the professor's smile but couldn't get it quite right. Looking around, she saw the other girls doing it just fine while the teacher surveyed around the class.

What is wrong with her smiling in class today?

"Not so much squinting... A little less nose, dear... Oh my, absolutely beautiful!” She said to Beatrix.
"That, my Evers, is a smile that can win the heart of the steeliest prince. A smile that can broker peace in the greatest of wars. A smile that can lead a kingdom to hope and prosperity!”

Agatha turned and saw Beatrix smiling beautifully. It made her look so pure. But still, she could not figure out how a smile could bring peace to wars or hope to kingdoms.

"You there! No grimacing!" The professor said to Agatha.

With her teacher looming over her, Agatha tried to concentrate and duplicate Beatrix’s perfect smile. For a second, she thought she had it.

"Goodness! Now it’s an awkward grin! A smile, child! Just your normal, everyday smile!”

'A smile. Happy. Think of happy thoughts.'

But all she could think of was Sophie on the Bridge, leaving her for a boy she didn’t know and abandoning her to a mob of witches.

"Now it’s positively depressing!”

Professor Anemone shrieked. Agatha turned and saw Kiko giving her worried looks while the class murmured. Agatha frowned. It couldn’t have been that bad. Then she turned back to Professor Anemone.

“If you ever need a man to trust you, if you ever need a man to save you, if you ever need a man to love you, whatever you do, child... don’t smile at him.”

~~~

Princess Etiquette, taught by Pollux, was worse. The dog arrived in a bad mood, hobbling with his massive canine head attached to a skinny goat’s carcass, muttering to himself before looking up to see girls staring at him.

"And here I thought I was teaching princesses. All I see are twenty ill-mannered girls gaping like toads. Are you toads? Do you like to catch flies with your little pink tongues?” The girls stopped staring after that.

The first lesson was “Princess Posture,” which involved the girls descending the four tower staircases with nests of nightingale eggs on their heads. Though most girls succeeded without breaking some eggs, Agatha had more trouble with it. There are many reasons for this, one such reason is her leg is still feeling sore. It is healed but sore. She succeeded in the first few stairs, but it got strenuous the more tired her legs got. Beatrix and Reena intently watched her with their new 'Kinder' smiles, and Agatha anxiously walked down the stairs before finally, her legs buckled from the stress and fell like a poor rag dolly. In the end, she has twenty eggs protectively clutched to her chest, padded with layers of her dress skirt and a broken ankle.

“Twenty beautiful nightingales are safe thanks to you... But a princess who cannot walk properly on stairs is useless,” said Pollux.

As class ranks appeared over each girl in ethereal gold clouds—Beatrix was 1st, of course. Agatha spun to see a rusted “20” hover over, then crash into her head.

Two classes, two last-place ranks. One more, and Agatha would learn what happened to children who failed. With her plan to get Sophie home crumbling by the minute, the raven-head hurriedly tried to get out of class, but her broken ankle made it hard.

"Let me help you." Kiko walked over to her and helped her up while glaring at some of the girls who only watched Agatha limp by herself.
"How about we take our break at the clinic today? We need to get that ankle checked."

Agatha groaned. Twice. She went to the school clinic twice in one day. This is such an embarrassment for a healer's apprentice like her.

"Who is going to the clinic?" Gregor walked up to them—also a rusted "20" hovering above his head.
"Agatha! What happened to you?" Hurriedly, the prince took the other side and helped Kiko walk Agatha to the clinic.

"Class didn't go well?" Agatha asked, pointing at the rank up the boy's head.

"No. I got two failures..." He said tearily.

"Me too..."

"Oh, don't be depressed, you two. There is still one more chance to change that. Don't give up yet! There is still hope." Kiko encouraged them.

The three Evers arrived at the clinic. Gregor left to bring them some food while Kiko fussed, and the doctor made a magical salve that healed her ankle and soreness. When Gregor came back, Agatha was deep in thought.

"A penny for your thoughts?" Kiko asked.

"I wanna practice sword fighting," Agatha said. Kiko and Gregor are gaping at her.

"A princess holding a sword," Kiko said disbelievingly.

"Please. I can't keep getting hurt like this. I need something to protect myself," Agatha pleads to Kiko with her big hazel eyes.

"B-but— That's what we need Princes for... We have our role to play, and the boys have theirs. Oh no... Not the... Eyes."

"Kiko, please."

"I-I can lend you mine. And some clothes, you can't train with a dress on." Gregor agreed, thinking it was not a bad idea for a princess to learn how to fight.

Gregor and Agatha looked at Kiko pleadingly, even trying pouting (Agatha) and puppy dog eyes (Gregor).

"Fine!" Kiko grumbles.
"But I'll be watching." She added.

"Sounds fair to me." Gregor shyly said while Agatha nodded happily.

"No one can find out that you're practicing with the sword. I don't know if princesses are forbidden to practice them, but no one has done that before, and this change might scare some of the faculty." Gregor warned while Kiko nodded.

"It's better to be cautious first. When do you want to start?"

"Today? Right now, if we can?" Agatha asked.

"Not yet. Eat first, then we can go to the training ground. The other boys won't be there. They'll be busy charming the girls." Gregor proposed, and Agatha agreed while Kiko was still having doubts but nodded, not wanting her two new friends to get in trouble when she could help them.

"I'm telling you, this might end badly." Kiko offered.

"Or help us greatly." Agatha gently argued.
"Imagine us saving ourselves when our Princes might arrive late. Good hasn't been defeated for over 200 years, but it's better to be safe than sorry." She added.

"And I have a strange feeling this year will be different..." Gregor mumbled.

The two girls looked at Gregor curiously, but the boy dismissed it and said it was probably nothing.

Chapter Text

Tedros was confused...

His second class had ended, and Tedros decided to try and test the pool in the Groom room to clear his confused mind.

By now, the ranks for the first two classes were up on the Groom room doors, with his name and Beatrix tied for first while Agatha's and Gregor's are at the bottom being obscured by rodents and mice. The blond swam around the pool on the boy's side of the Groom Room, taking advantage of the break before swordplay. He had the perfect view of the training grounds outside, and there he saw his classmate Gregor and another dark-haired prince training with the sword and a princess watching them both. The girl's name is... Kiko, if he remembers correctly.

'Guess Gregor is nervous because he got two failures already and decided to practice before class.', is what the boy thought.

It was still early. And Tedros decided to ignore the practicing princes and continued doing laps around the pool. After forty minutes of swimming around, he stopped and rested when he heard something that caught his attention.

"Lavender's green, dilly, dilly,
Lavender's blue~
When I am king, dilly, dilly,
You shall be queen~"

Turning his head so fast that he felt dizzy for a moment, Tedros looked out the window where the voice came from and scanned for who was singing. But all he could see was Gregor and the princess sitting on the grass while facing in front of the blacked-haired prince who had his back turned away from him.

"Who told you so, dilly, dilly~
Who told you so?
'Twas mine own heart, dilly, dilly~
That told me so."

There it was again, the voice that his heart flutters like a hummingbird for.

The beautiful voice of his princess singing.

He doesn't know how or why, but Tedros just understood that this was his princess. It was sweet and soft, full of love and fondness that only the kindest of heart can voice. Tedros has never felt like this before. It's like he had the urge to sing along and find this person and meet them. His heart tugged for him to stand up and go out and look for his Princess. And so he did.

The Camelot Prince grabbed his towel and draped it to his shoulders, wore his tunic and dark green pants, and did not bother drying himself properly as he ran out of the Groom room.

~~~

"Let's take a break, please." Gregor wheezed after 30 minutes of swordplay.

Even though the redhead was last in his class, Gregor still grew up as a Prince, a royalty, unlike most Ever boys, and trained with swords at a young age. His form was perfect, and so were his posture and stance. The only problem was his lack of confidence. This makes Gregor hesitate when holding his sword, resulting in poor performance.

"We can rest now before we go to class."

Agatha wiped her sweat with the long-sleeved tunic Gregor lent her, paired with navy blue pants. It fit her perfectly even though she was a few inches taller than the boy.

"It's unfair..." Kiko whispered to herself.
"How can someone be beautiful as a princess and still be beautiful as a prince." The girl complained to Gregor, who was lying down on the grass and breathing heavily beside her.

"What?" Agatha asked.

"Nothing. I was thinking about who might have taught you how to fight because it's obvious that this isn't the first time you wielded a weapon. The stance is not perfect, but it's too good for a first-timer."

"Oh. It's my Dad. I have three brothers back at home, and Dad didn't shy away from teaching me a thing or two." Agatha explained, a fond smile on her face before it disappeared to sad longing.

Gregor and Kiko looked at each other before making themselves comfortable on the grass and under the shade of the tree.

"Can you tell us more about them? Your brothers or your Dad?" The Prince asked.

"Ah. I have two baby brothers, step-brothers, really once Dad and Honora marry, that is. Adam is who is 8, and Jacob is 6. I also have another brother. An honorary brother from a woman who was more like my mother. His name is Dexter, and he’s 14."

"Hey! He is the same age as me!" Kiko cheered.

"And I'm younger than the both of you!" Gregor cheered too.

"Yep! And he's quite the lad, with curly hair, green eyes, and dark skin. He is strong and kind too. If you don't mind the sarcasm." Agatha laughed.
"I often sing for the boys when we're alone. They don't mind how awful my voice is and often ask me to sing when they feel down..." She said sadly, and Gregor sputtered the first thing that came into his mind.

"Why don't you try singing for us," Gregor said softly.

"Wha—? No! I have an awful singing voice!"

"Who cares it's only us. We won't tell anyone, right Gregor?" Gregor nodded at Kiko.

"Imagine that we are your brothers right now." The boy offered.

"Promise you won't laugh at me?" Agatha sighed. Maybe singing a bit won't be so bad, and singing always makes her feel better.

"Promise." Both Kiko and Gregor agreed.

"Ok."

Sitting down on a root at the base of the tree, Agatha took deep breaths before exhaling softly. She was nervous. This will be the first time she'll sing for other people besides Callis, Dexter, the boys, Stefan, and Honora. And maybe sometimes Sophie.

"Lavender's green, dilly, dilly,
Lavender's blue~
When I am king, dilly, dilly
You shall be queen~

Who told you so, dilly, dilly~
Who told you so?
'Twas mine own heart, dilly, dilly~
That told me so."

Kiko and Gregor are immediately mesmerized and look up at the oldest among their group of friends with surprise and awe. Her voice was so pretty and clear. They can now understand why Agatha's siblings like to ask her to sing for them whenever they feel down, her singing is so soothing.

"Call up your men, dilly, dilly~
Set them to work!
Some to the plough, dilly, dilly~
Some to the fork.

Some to make hay, dilly, dilly,
Some to cut corn~
While you and I, dilly, dilly,
Keep ourselves warm~"

While Agatha was singing, Kiko noticed that some birds perched around the tree and chirped curiously around them. Even some squirrels stopped to listen. It was a slow song, a nursery song really, but it still was captivating.

""Lavender's blue, dilly, dilly,
Lavender's green~
Because you love me, dilly, dilly~
I will love you.

Let the birds sing, dilly, dilly,
And the lambs play~
We shall be safe, dilly, dilly~
Out of harm's way~

I love to dance, dilly, dilly.
I love to sing~
When I am Queen, dilly, dilly~
You'll be my King.

Who told me so, dilly, dilly~
Who told me so?
I told myself, dilly, dilly~
I told me so."

As the song finishes, the birds and other kindly animals suddenly run away when the loud sound of a door opening echoes from not so far away.

~~~

Tedros rushed out of the Groom rooms, passing a few blushing princesses like Beatrix and her followers as he made his way to the training ground. Tedros tried to ignore them as best as he could and hurriedly ran outside. Unfortunately, when he arrived, it was only Gregor there.

"Gregor, did you see a passing princess by any chance?" The blond said.

"A passing princess? Why would a princess go anywhere near the training ground, Tedros? Don't be silly." The redhead replied nervously.

"Don't lie to me, Gregor. I saw you from the Groom Rooms."

Gregor looked anywhere but the blond's blue eyes and fidgeted nervously at his feet. If anyone knew that Agatha was training in swordplay, all of them would be in deep trouble. Castor might punish Agatha and then him and Kiko when they learn that the two of them conspired with it. The redhead prince promised himself he wouldn't let them get caught.

"I don't know what you're talking about, Tedros. Maybe a girl did pass through here, but that's a huge if." Gregor said sternly.

"I don't care what you're doing here during breaks, Gregor. I just wanted to know if you know who was singing earlier?" Tedros sighed.

"Singing?" The red-haired prince frowned.

"Yes."

"I... hmm. I'm sorry, Tedros." Gregor answered vaguely. Thankfully, the older Prince didn't notice.
"I was training here with my friends when we heard the singing and decided to rest while listening. If... you don't mind me asking, why are you looking for her? The person singing, I mean."

Gregor promised Agatha and Kiko he wouldn't tell anybody about the singing, even if it was the Camelot's Prince who was suddenly behaving strangely after hearing Agatha sing. Still, this situation speaks of something his parents told him before... He would not tell Tedros it was his friend, but he also would not exactly hide it in locks and keys...  He doesn't hate the blond but doesn't trust him yet either. The younger Prince decided to observe Tedros first. If this was a fairytale, the other Prince would need to earn his trust to prove himself worthy. For now, Gregor would gladly be an obstacle if it meant protecting one of the few friends he has in this School who earned his loyalty.

"Are you sure?" Tedros asked.

"Yes. Now, if you'll excuse me." He said before making his way back inside the building.

Grumbling, Tedros soon followed the red-haired Prince and went inside and accidentally bumped into something, knocking it flat to the ground.

"Agatha! Are you ok?" A female voice asked.

"I'm wet. Again." Said the strange reader he noticed during the welcoming frowning from the ground and looked up at him with big, beautiful hazel eyes. Irritated hazel eyes, he corrected. Her short raven hair frames her pale face. Immediately, Tedros remembered that she was hurt earlier that morning, and he didn't get the chance to make sure she was okay.
"You should watch where you're going." She added.

"Sorry, let me help you."

The blond Prince said, holding out a hand for her to hold so he could help her up. But instead, she grabbed her friend's hand and did not take his. Awkwardly, Tedros pulled his hand back to himself.

"I'm Tedros by the way, Tedros Pendragon." He nervously introduced himself and remembered that she already knew who he was when she asked why he was with Gregor earlier this morning before classes started.

"I know who you are, Prince." The girl spat like it was something foul.

"Agatha!" The shorter, dark-haired princess scolded the other girl.

"Sorry." She apologized to her friend.
"I know who you are, Prince Prat." She corrected with a curtsy despite Kiko's scandalized gasp.

"I'm sorry, Tedros, my name is Kiko, and this is Adelaide, but we call her Agatha." The other Ever introduced.

"Yes... Can you tell me why your friend is mad at me for no reason?" He asked Kiko.

"It's not without reason." Agatha, no, Adelaide hisses at him.
"First of all, I need to change again because of you. Which, thank you by the way." She said sarcastically.
"And second, why are you prattling around the halls wet? What if you bump into someone weaker than me, or what if somebody accidentally slips because of the water you drip wherever you go, hm?"

"I— Um— I'm sorry, I wasn't thinking—"

"Yes. You weren't thinking. Well, next time, think."

Agatha dismissed before looping her arm around Kiko's elbow and pulling them both to walk away. 

"Wait!" He called.
"I'm ready sorry. I didn't mean to make a mess. I—" Tedros sighed as he failed to start a conversation as the taller girl looked at him with an unimpressed brow.
"I wanted to know if you're ok. You were pretty beat up earlier."

"You were hurt earlier besides falling down the stairs during Princess Etiquette?" Kiko whispered with a gasp.

"She fell during Princess Etiquette?" Tedros asked while Agatha glared with betrayal at the sheepish Kiko.
"I'm starting to see a pattern here, m'lady. I do hope getting hurt won't be a hobby." He added with a boyish grin, much to Agatha's annoyance.

"Yeah? And you care because?"

"I want to know if the princess I rescued is in perfect health," Tedros said honestly with a smile.

"Not a Princess," Agatha said, not noticing Kiko's scrunched face. 

Agatha's glare softened because of his sincerity and realized that maybe she was being too harsh on him. Taking a deep breath, Agatha closed her eyes before looking at the boy again for the first time without any personal bias. Tedros felt and fought the blush that tried to creep its way up his cheeks at Agatha's softening look.

"Rescued??" Kiko asked, shocked and unbelieving. But there was a gleam of something in her eyes while her smile grew wider.

"They just found me when I was in a pinch. I'll tell you all about it later, ok?"

"Okay. But never miss a single detail about it." Kiko fawned while Agatha rolled her eyes before turning to Tedros again.

"Well, all is forgiven. I guess. Just be careful next time someone could've gotten seriously hurt."

Tedros nodded at the reader and felt... Proud. Humbled, almost.

Then Gregor appeared with changed clothes and waved at the two girls, who immediately waved back, and all three walked away.

"It's nice meeting you!"

The Prince called. Kiko smiled back at him with a blush, and Agatha only nodded at him respectfully with an indifferent expression while Gregor gazed between the girls and Tedros repeatedly with a thoughtful look.

Tedros grimaced at Agatha's indifference. Girls loved him. They always loved him. But this weird girl looked at him like he was somebody normal and not the Prince of Camelot, and for a moment, he felt humbled when Agatha's gaze softened even just a bit. Then Tedros remembered what his father once said.

'The best princesses make you strive to be better.'

The golden Prince shakes his head at the thought. His Princess was the person who was singing. Not the reader who only knows how to glare and raise a brow at him. Then he remembered when her eyes began to look softer at him, and a new set of nerves fluttered in his stomach. Maybe befriending her won't be too bad... Tedros wondered what other expression Agatha could make. Maybe try making her smile...

'What a strange girl.’

Chapter Text

Animal communication with Princess Uma takes place at the lakeside banks of Halfway Bay. Agatha shivers slightly at coming back here. She knows she has no one to blame but herself for what happened in Evil. Still, being in the banks made her feel the phantom pain of her bruises that was still fresh in her mind.

Arriving at the third class, which was an only-girl's class again, which was strange. The School for Evil doesn't care about the stereotype of what is a "Boy's" skill or a "Girl's" skill. But at Good they do, and boys typically practice with swords while girls learn how to understand dog barks and owl hoots. No wonder Princesses were too impotent in fairy tales when all they know is how to smile and wave and talk to animals until some prince rescued them and made them trophy wives, Agatha thought.

Princess Uma was a young woman, maybe just a bit older than the students, probably 20 or so, which, Agatha thought, was far too young to be a teacher of any kind. The professor was pretty, just like the rest of the faculty in this school, but Uma was easily distracted. Every time she spoke, it was through giggly whispering while replying to chirps and howls of animals surrounding her. It took the woman a while to realize that the whole class was staring at her.

“Oops!” The teacher tee-heed.
“I have too many friends!”

Agatha debated whether the educator was nervous or just an idiot.

"Evil has many weapons on its side,” said Princess Uma, finally settling down to focus on her class.
"Poisons, plagues, curses, hexes, henchmen, and black magic. But you have animals!”

The raven head frowned. Agatha could understand the benefits of animals helping a Princess and remembered the mouse that helped her distract the nymph this morning. But surely it's not enough when faced with an ax-wielding henchman out to kill you. And judging from the others' faces, she wasn't the only one unconvinced. Princess Uma noticed the class's doubts and unleashed a piercing whistle with a knowing smile. Soon, a barrage of barks, bays, neighs, and roars blasted from the Woods beyond the school and replied to the teacher's call. The class was surprised at the animal's eager chirps and yelps while covering their ears.

“See! Every animal can talk to you if you know how to talk to them. Some even remember when they were human!” Uma chuckled.

Agatha shuddered, remembering the dead eyes of the stuffed animals in the Gallery of Good, all former students, just like them.

“I know everyone wants to be a princess, but those with low ranks won’t make good princesses. You’d end up shot or stabbed or eaten, and that’s not very useful. But as a sidekick fox or spying sparrow or friendly pig. You might find a much happier ending!” The professor added before squeaking through her teeth, and on cue, an otter bobbed to shore from the lake with a book.
“You might keep a captive maiden company or lead her to safety,” Uma said gently while the otter nervously bumped the book to find the right page—
"Or you might help make a ball gown. Or you might deliver an urgent message or— Ahem!” With a yip, the otter found the page, slid the book into her hands, and collapsed from stress.
“You might even save a life,” She finished.

Holding up a brilliant painting of a princess cowering as a stag speared a warlock. The Princess looked just like Uma.

"Once upon a time, an animal saved mine, and in return, it received the happiest ending of all.”

The Ever girls were awed with worship because Uma wasn't just a teacher. She was a living, breathing princess. Even Agatha was a bit impressed.

“So if you want to be like me, you need to do well in today’s challenge! Animals love to help princesses for so many reasons!” Said Princess Uma, summoning the girls to the lake.
"Because we sing pretty songs and give them shelter in the scary Woods. Because they only wish they could be as beautiful and beloved as—”

"Wait."

Uma and the girls turned to see a pale Agatha holding up the last page of the book, a painting of the stag being ripped to pieces by monsters while the Princess escaped.

“How is that a happy ending?”

"If you aren’t good enough to be a princess, then you’re honored to die for one, of course,” Uma smiled as if it was the most obvious thing and a lesson they would learn soon enough.

Agatha wanted to puke. The dead eyes of taxidermied animals staring down at her flashed before her eyes. What if that becomes her fate? Looking up, the ill-looking girl widened her eyes in disbelief when the others nodded at Uma like obedient sheep. They are so convinced that they will be princesses that they forget that only a third of the class can graduate as princesses while others can only pray to fate.

"But if animals are going to help us, first we have to tell them what we want! So the challenge today is... Wish fish!" Princess Uma knelt on the bank of the gleaming blue lake, swirled a finger in the water, and thousands of tiny snow-white fishes surfaced.
“Wish fish dig deep inside your soul and find your greatest wish! All you do is put your finger in the water, and the fish will read your soul. The girl with the strongest, clearest wish wins!”

While Kiko pulls Agatha gently at the banks, Agatha wonders what these girls' souls would wish for. End of poverty? World peace? The happiness of their kingdoms? Or depth, maybe?

Millicent knelt and put a finger in the water before closing her eyes. When she opened her eyes, the fish had all turned into different shades of colors, but no image was formed.

“What happened?” said Millicent.

"Foggy mind,” Uma sighed.

Then Kiko, her adorable friend who had gifted her lipgloss went next and put her finger in the water. The fish turned red, orange, and peach before it started assembling an image. Agatha waited in anticipation when suddenly—

The fish drew a boy.

"Tristan!” Kiko chimed.

Agatha groaned. She should have known.

"Tristan? Really?" She whispered teasingly at Kiko.

"Hey! Tristan will be a good Prince for me." Kiko pouted at her.

Girl after girl after girl after Kiko started to show the same thing. At first, Agatha thought it was silly and stupid that all of the other girl's wishes had shown a boy, but now she found it unnerving. Is this what a Good soul truly craves? A boy they barely know?

“Love at first sight,” Uma gushed.
“It’s the most beautiful thing in the world!”

Loving is fine, but it should be based on something more than just love at first sight, Agatha thought with a frown. Marrying someone only because they are appealing in the eyes is a recipe for disaster.

When it was Beatrix's turn, the fishes showed the class a spectacular rainbow vision of her getting married to Tedros, complete with a castle, crowns, and fireworks. All the girls' eyes welled up with tears, either because the scene was so beautiful or because they knew they could never compete.

“Now you must hunt him, Beatrix!” Uma said.
“You must make this Tedros your mission! Your obsession! Because when a true princess wants something enough, your friends unite for you...” She swirled her fingers in the lake—
"Fight for you...” The fish turned pink and clustered tight—
"And make your wish come true..."

Uma then reached into the water and pulled out a pink suitcase that the wish fish transformed into, reflecting the Princess's deepest desire.

“Should I give you your ranks?”

"But she didn’t go yet,” Beatrix said, pointing at Agatha.

“Oh dear. One left? It happens every time,”

Uma mourned with a sigh as she dropped the suitcase back into the lake and watched it turn into thousands of white fish once more. With an encouraging nod from Kiko, Agatha leaned over the water and saw the tired, droopy eyes of the fishes looking up at her, waiting for her wish. They just wanted to be left alone after looking at the souls and desires of so many girls. Agatha can sympathize. She too, wanted to be left alone and be finished with this class already.

Mine’s easy, she thought. 'I wish not to fail. That’s it. Don’t fail.'

Dropping a finger into the water. The fish started trembling as her wishes wrestled in her head—
'Don’t fail—Back to Dad—Don’t fail—Sophie safe—Don’t fail—Home in bed—'
The fish turned blue, then yellow, then red. Wishes swept into a cyclone much to her dread—
'New face—Same face—Blond hair—I hate blond hair!—More friends—No friends—'

“Not just foggy,” murmured Uma.
"Completely confused.”

The color turned blood red, and the water started to quake. Alarmed, Agatha tried to pull out her finger when the water clamped to it like a fist.

"What the—”

The fish turned black as night and jumped to her like magnets to metal, pooling her hand in a shivering mass. Girls fled the shore in horror while Uma stood anchored in shock. Frantic, Agatha tried to wrench her hand when suddenly her head exploded with pain—

'Home School Mom Dad Good Bad Boys Girls Ever Never—'

Gripping Agatha’s hand, the fish shook harder and harder, faster and faster, until she could not tell one from the other. Eyes popped off like buttons, beating fins shattered to bits, bellies engorged with veins and vessels until the fish let out a thousand tortured screams. Agatha felt her head split in two—

'FailWinTruthLiesLostFoundStrongWeakFriendFoe—'

"Agatha!" Kiko screamed while Reena and Millicent stopped the girl from running towards the deadly lump of Wish fish and its hostage.

Swelled into a ballooning black mass, creeping up her hand, Agatha thrashed to free her finger until she heard her bone break and cried in agony as the screaming fish sucked her whole arm into their ebony cocoon.

“Help! Somebody help me!”

"Agatha! Reach for my hand!" Kiko pushed past Reena and Millicent and ran to aid her friend.

But the cocoon billowed into the raven girl's face, suffocating her cries as it sucked her in. With a high, sickening shriek, the deathly dome swallowed her. Agatha flailed for breath and tried to kick herself out, but pain seared through her head and forced her into a fetal crouch.

'HateLovePunishRewardHunterHuntedLiveDieKillKiss-and-Take—'

Screaming with vengeance, the black cocoon sucked her deeper like a gelatinous grave, stifling her last breaths, leeching her every last drop of life until there was nothing left to—

'Give.'

The screaming stopped. The cocoon sloughed away...

Agatha gaped in shock as a girl in her arms fell with her to the ground. Close to twelve or thirteen, toffee skin, tangled dark curls that remind her of Dexter, and innocent young eyes. The girl smiled at Agatha as if she were an old friend she had met again after a long time.

“A hundred years, and you were the first who wished to free me.” The girl gasped softly like a fish on land, pressing a hand to Agatha’s cheek.
"Thank you.”

The child then went limp in the older girl's embrace. Her body started to glow hot gold and burst into a ball of light. Once the blinding light stopped, sparking stardust gently flew like dandelion seeds and disappeared into the morning mist.

Agatha's eyes followed the glimmering dust as it disappeared while listening to her drumming heartbeat. Looking down at the now-empty lake, she nervously inspected her body for broken bones, not wanting to return to the clinic for the third time today. Thankfully, she didn't. If anything, her body was perfectly healed, like new. Even all the old scars on her hands from working were gone.

“Um, was all that...” She took a deep breath and turned to the others.
“NORMAL?”

The entire class and Princess Uma (Except for Kiko) were hiding behind trees, all of them with pale and shocked faces.

"Agatha? Are you ok?" Kiko dashed to her friend and patted the latter all over. Checking for injuries.
"What were you thinking?!" The shorter girl yelled.
"You just got out of the clinic! Do you want to go back again? Is the clinic your room now?"

Agatha opened her mouth to reply when suddenly loud squawks peeled from above. The friendly dove that Uma greeted earlier frantically hovered above the two Evers and cried out towards the endless forest. A fox came and growled, guttural and disturbed. Yeeps and screams of more howls and wails of many different animals echoed loudly all around them.

"What’s happening?..." Agatha asked, cold dread crawling up her spine.

A stampede of animals suddenly came from all directions before Agatha could react. Kiko was pushed aside as squirrels, rats, dogs, moles, deer, birds, cats, rabbits, and the bumbling otter— Every animal that could squeeze through the school gates charged toward their savior...

"Kiko!" The older girl cried out worriedly.

"I'm okay!" She replied, thankful that a kind dear caught the girl before the stampede stepped on her.

'Make us human!' The closer and smaller animals demanded desperately.

Agatha blanched after hearing the voices of the animals around her. Since when could she understand animals?

'Save us, Princess!' They cried.

Since when could she understand delusional animals?

"What do I do!” Agatha shouted and looked towards Princess Uma for help.

"RUN!”

Uma advised.

Chapter Text

For the first time since she arrived at this school, somebody from the faculty gave her a piece of advice she could use. Sprinting towards the towers as birds and different animals chased and tried to haggle her, Agatha stumbled up the hill and shielded her head while running towards the white swan doors. Just as she was about to reach the door, a moose charged out of the trees and sprang forward and skewered the swans. With a yelp, our Ever bolted through the glass stair room and passed a very confused Pollux.

“What in the devil’s—”

“A little help!” Agatha yelled—

“DON’T MOVE!” Pollux shrieked—

But the animals had forced the raven-haired Ever to charge up the Honor stairs, a futile attempt to escape their paws and talons. Behind her, Pollux deflected animals left and right before a thousand butterflies crashed down the Good half and knocked them down their goat legs. The herd chased after the poor reader again and followed her up the steps.

“NOT INTO THE TOWERS!” Pollux’s head screeched as it rolled out the door—

Even if Agatha wanted to listen, stopping would mean she might get trampled by the stampede of animals following her. And right now, Agatha does not feel like being a doormat for these frantic and feral kindly animals.

Sprinting through the corridors and into the classroom of Hansel's Haven, which is full of students. Agatha ignored the screams of startled boys and frightened princesses and tried to escape by tempting the animals to focus instead on the treats and not her. Unfortunately, the herd only snatched a mouthful of treats and continued chasing after the tired reader. Yet, it was enough to gain some distance to slide through a frosted door and close it shut before the first weasel popped through.

Looking around, Agatha realized she unconsciously ran to Merlin's Menagerie when she saw the statue of King Arthur. Stranded on top of this tower, Agatha knew she wouldn't last long up here.

Squinting through the clouded door for a teacher of a nymph to rescue her, the girl noticed something on the reflection. A muscular silhouette hulking through the sun mist. Wilting with relief, Agatha sagged onto the floor, for once grateful for a Prince for coming to save her—

But it was not a Prince.

It was a gargoyle. The gargoyle was different and new from what Agatha had encountered back at the Towers of Evil when the girl sneaked in. This gargoyle had bird-like stone wings and an eagle head with a crown, its body was like a wolf, and the tail of a rat.

The beast ripped through the mist and blasted the door aflame with its beak. Frightened for her life, Agatha dove to avoid its breath of fire that had accidentally ignited the hedge of Arthur marrying Guinevere while crawling under hedges to try and hide from the gargoyle. The monster would burn the hedges before the next one and the next one after that until there was no place to hide or escape, as the story of the King burns to ashes. Caged in a ring of flames, Agatha looked up at the gargoyle as the beast pinned her down to the ground with its stone talons. This is it, this is how I'll die. Agatha thought and closed her eyes for the inferno of fire that was going to kill her.

But nothing came.

"Agatha." She heard someone call.

Opening her eyes, the girl found the gargoyle kneeling before her, its stone-green eyes looking at her pleadingly. Those emerald orbs were strangely familiar...

"You want my help?” she asked with disbelief.

The gargoyle blinked back hopeful tears and dipped its head submissively to the side. A familiar gesture. Where did she see that before?

“But—but—I don’t know how I did it,” She stuttered.
“It was... an accident.”

The gargoyle gazed up at her and knew she was telling the truth before chirping defeatedly and slumping onto the ground, scattering ash around them.

"I-I'm sorry." A teary voice in her head whispered again. But this time, she recognized it.

The monster's green orbs looked deep into Agatha's soul, and she realized who this gargoyle was before.

"G-Gregor?" Agatha sobbed, and the gargoyle nodded.
"What have they done to you?" She reached to embrace her friend as tears now freely fell down her cheeks.

This monster was no gargoyle. This is her friend, another scared child who was punished because they did not reach the school's impossible expectations!

The creatures did not follow orders because they were loyal, nor did animals help princesses because they were loving. They did because they had hoped that someday their loyalty and love would be repaid with a second chance to be human again and choose to stay in fairytales to hopefully find a way to set themselves free from their curse. And now Gregor bears the same curse because he failed three classes.

“Oh Gregor, I wish I could help you,” she said.
“I wish I could help us all go home.”

The gargoyle's shoulder shakes with silent tears as he lays his head on her lap while the fire roars around the menagerie. Two children crying in each other's arms. One from defeat and the other in helpless despair.

Then Agatha felt the stone in her arms soften...

The green-eyed gargoyle lurched back in shock and stumbled to its feet. The rock shell exterior cracked and fell, its claws smoothed into hands, and his eyes shone with hope. Stunned, Agatha ran to dodge a tornado of fire that surrounded the gargoyle as the monster's face began to melt into the familiar face of Gregor. With a gasp of joy, Agatha reached for the younger boy when something caught her eye.

Desperately, the girl tackled Gregor out of the way and ignored the burning heat on her skin and clothes as a sword tried to impale her friend through the heart. The weapon almost gashed her shoulder while Gregor let out a startled cry that was both a screech and yell as the girl covered around her friend protectively.

Agatha sharply turned in anger towards the attacker.

A blond Prince leaped through the wall of fire with Excalibur in hand. He tries to kill the monster and save the princess, but when the princess saves the monster and protects it, the Prince is left confused.

“What are you doing?!” She shouted.

"I was trying to save you from that beast!" The Prince yelled in anger while staring at his father's burning memory.
"Move aside so I can end this." He hissed.

“No!”

Tedros was shocked when Agatha protectively hugged the gargoyle and glared up at him like he was the one doing something wrong. Why would a princess protect an Evil monster? Especially that one beast that had done so much damage to his father's legacy.

"He is not a beast! He's a boy! An Ever—a student!" Agatha cried.
"You almost killed Gregor!"

"That is not Gregor." He reasoned.

Agatha felt the last bit of stone fall away, and all she could feel was the soft flesh of a human under her protective cover. Still glaring up at Tedros, Agatha revealed a teary-eyed Gregor with burnt clothes and dirty red hair under her shielding embrace. The boy looked small in her arms, hiding from Tedros, and then she remembered that Gregor was two younger than her. He was just a small child.

"You—Almost—Killed—Gregor." The girl growled at the blond dangerously.

Tedros blanched and recoiled from shock.

"You... Turned him back."

"And you tried to kill him!" Agatha stood, and Gregor helped her stagger up.

"I-I didn't mean to! He was a gargoyle!" Tedros reasoned while backing away from the Ever girl from pressing an angry finger into his chest.

"Maybe next time you should look around your surroundings first before going head-on and killing things! Learn and observe before making any judgment might save you one day!"

"He burned my father's hedges!"

Agatha punched Tedros in the eye, and Gregor immediately grabbed her before she could punch him in the other one. Fairies, wolves, and teachers of both schools burst into the menagerie just in time to see a furious Agatha being held back by a panicking Gregor and a very, very confused Tedros sitting on the floor. Meanwhile, the fire still rages ablaze behind them and up the ceiling.

~~~

After the incident, Gregor latched at Agatha like a kid about to be forced to separate from his parents. Hugging, clinging, sobbing, with extreme separation anxiety the fairies decided to let the boy stay with the raven girl for today until he calmed down enough. Wolves and fairies escorted Agatha to her room at the top of Purity Tower, and as punishment, she was to be locked in her room for two days.

At day zero, after the fire, visitors were allowed, and Kiko and Gregor stayed with Agatha in her room until curfew as a consideration of the possible trauma they had experienced that day. Usually, boys are not allowed at the Girls' Tower, but they made an exception for Gregor. The three talked about everything they could and got to know each other better. They told Kiko about what happened before the fire, how Agatha sneaked into Evil, that she has a sister in Evil, and how Gregor found her at the bank at the lake before the classes started and everything because they felt like they could trust Kiko and that they wanted to include her in that secret. In exchange, Kiko told the two about her hopes and dreams, what happened in Animal Communication from her perspective, how honored she felt that they trusted her, and information about what the other Princesses and Princes thought about the incident and what she heard from the faculty when she passed them before going to Agatha's room.

The three Evers enjoyed bonding, laughing, and even playing pillow fights when the clock finally tolled 8 P.M. and the fairies guarding outside room 51 escorted the two younger Evers out and Gregor back to Honor Tower.

After that, the next day, visitors were forbidden. The raven-haired girl was only allowed outside to use the bathroom while nymphs brought food to her rooms. During those two days, Agatha bonded with the fairy boy she met in the garden and named him Bane. Bane cried the first time Agatha called him by his name. Even though fairies cannot talk, she can understand Bane through his body language and facial expressions. The girl can also somewhat understand the chimes he makes to communicate. Because of that, when Bane asks why she named him "Bane" and not some cute name, Agatha explains that Bane reminded her of the older boy who used to play with her and Dexter back in Gavaldon before he disappeared four years ago.

Finally, on the third day, after lunch, a white wolf knocked on Agatha's door and took her to Charity Tower. Anxious and afraid, Agatha asked if Bane could go with her, and the fairy hissed at the wolf to dare and try to stop him. The wolf shrugged and let Bane do what he wanted.

Fighting back tears, Agatha, with Bane on her shoulder, followed the wolf and ignored the whispers of Evers and teachers that they passed by.

"Are we going to meet the School Master?" Agatha rasped.

The wolf snorted insultingly at her before dragging her to the end of a hall and knocking softly at a door.

"Come in." A soft voice called from inside.

"I don't wanna die."

Agatha gulped tearily at the wolf, and for the first time, her escort's sneer softened before he replied.

"I didn't either." He said before pushing her into the room.

Inside, Agatha did her best to make a brave front before facing the Dean and accepting her execution. Bane noticed and did his best to reassure her by flying around while soft chimes followed him and patted her cheeks. Taking deep breaths, the girl smiled weakly at Bane and walked towards Professor Dovey's table.

"I'd prefer the School Master handle these things." The older woman sighed.
"But we all know how he is with his privacy." She added with an annoyed eye roll towards the Tower at Halfway Bay before turning to Agatha with a serious expression.
"I have a school full of terrified students, two days of classes to makeup, five hundred animals whose memories must be erased, a classroom wing that has been eaten and a treasured menagerie reduced to ash. Do you know why this is?"

Agatha kept her head in a respectable bow and accepted the teacher's scolding with grace. It was her fault, that is true. She needs to take responsibility and decide to accept any other punishment they throw her way. She just prays that Sophie will have better luck in surviving this school even if she's not around anymore.

"Because you disobeyed Pollux's simple order, you nearly cost lives in the process."

Agatha flinched and lowered her head with shame.

"I'm sorry." She apologized.
"Before you punish me, can I say goodbye to Sophie and my friends?" She asked, eyes welling and cheeks red before looking up at the Dean.

"Punishment?"

"Yes. Before you... kill me."

"That won't be necessary."

"But I have to see them!" Agatha pleads.

Professor Dovey stared at Agatha in the eyes and opened her mouth to say—

"You received first rank in your performance in Animal Communication, and rightfully so. Only a rare talent can make a wish come to life." The Dean said with a soft smile.
"Although there are different accounts of what exactly happened on that roof... The fact that you returned Gregor Charming into a boy again because you risked yourself to help a gargoyle... Well, that sounds to me is goodness beyond any measure."

Agatha gasped and looked at Dovey with disbelief and a bit of hope.

"But! If you disobey another teacher's direct order, Adelaide, I guarantee you will fail. Understood?"

Agatha nodded with relief and thanked the professor earnestly.

"As for Sophie of Woods Beyond, she’s doing perfectly well where she is." The woman reassured gently.
"You can ask her yourself, she's in your next class."

"And Gregor?"

"He is alright and will be joining you in class as well."

Agatha thanked her again, and Professor Dovey finally dismissed her.

"Oh! And one more thing." The raven head turned curiously at the professor while the girl's hand was already on the door handle.
"Someone asked me to tell you that he's sorry and that he'll send you something later," Dovey said with a wide smile. Nodding slowly, Agatha said goodbye again and left the room.

Outside the office, Agatha's face broke into a wide grin, and happily danced with Bane in a small circle. Celebrating her surviving another day. The girl and her fairy friend went back to the girls' dormitory when Agatha noticed something in front of her dorm room. A basket filled with sweet confectioners and three well-made dolls that looked just like her, Kiko, and Gregor are inside. When she touched the basket, a group of garden fairies suddenly flew towards her and gave her a bouquet filled with white tulips, and pink roses, with some hyacinth. They also put one beautiful red rose in her ear before flying away while giggling.

Agatha stood in a confused daze for a few seconds before she moved again and looked inside the basket for a note. When she found nothing, the girl searched on the bouquet instead and finally found a piece of paper with neat cursive writing written on it.

"I hope you find it in your heart to forgive me, m'lady. I thought I was doing the right thing at that time and didn't mean to almost hurt you or Gregor. I sincerely hope you accept this gift, accepting it doesn't mean you have to forgive me. I will try my hardest to earn your forgiveness."

Was written on the note without any name from the sender, but Agatha understood who it came from anyway. Bane hovered above the note to read it while Agatha brought the basket inside and carefully put the flowers in a vase.

"What do you think, Bane? Should I accept his apology?"

Bane chimed and shook his head.

"Make him work for it then?" Bane smiled.
"You cheeky little thing." Agatha laughed.

When Agatha changed into her uniform and prepared to leave for her class, the raven-haired girl couldn't help but look at the vase one more time and caress the red rose.

"I should also probably apologize to him too..." Agatha whispered to herself before leaving her room with Bane.

Chapter Text

Agatha first went to the clinic to make something before running towards the Blue Forest Gates for her next class. "Something for Tedros." She said while Bane was lazily hanging around and letting the girl do all the running and chose instead to relax on top of the girl's soft hair.

"Help would be appreciated, Bane!" Agatha said between breaths as she sprinted around the halls. Bane just laughed.

When Agatha finally reached the Blue Forest Gate, she realized she wasn't the first to arrive. Two blonds were already waiting for the rest of the members in group 3. She first noticed Sophie's lighter shade of blond hair, and immediately, the younger girl ran towards her sister for a hug. She needed to apologize to Sophie for being unable to check on her for two days. It wasn't entirely Agatha's fault. She was locked in! But the latter felt that her sister was upset and blamed her anyway.

"Sophie!" The younger twin called with open arms, but the former ignored her.
"Sophie?" Agatha asked softly.
"Sophie, please talk to me." But the older girl chooses not to even look at her.

"Who else is in our group?" Tedros coughed, breaking the tension, and asked Agatha.

"I don't know. But I think one of my roommates will be in our group." Sophie replied, immediately jumping at the opportunity to talk with the Prince.

"Sophie... Can you talk to me, please? We need to make a plan for, you know."

Agatha tried having a private conversation with her older sister again about how they could go home, being mindful that they could not talk about it out loud because Tedros was there. But one look from Sophie and she knew her sister understood her.

"Why don't you go home before you fail or end up a mole rat?" Sophie fumed.
"You're in my School."

"Then why won't they let us switch!" Agatha exclaimed softly. Hurt is evident in her voice.

"Because you... Because we—"

"Need to go home." The younger twin begs.
"I'm sorry, okay? Whatever I did that upsets you." She apologized but Sophie only gave her a kind smile that she often saw Sophie give to Dad or Radly.

"Sooner or later, they'll see what's right."

"I'd say later," Tedros interjected. The two girls flinched, forgetting that the boy was there.
"Hello, m'lady." He gave Agatha an awkward smile with one hand at the back of his neck.
"I hope my gift found its way to you. Umm. Accepting it doesn't mean you already forgive me, but I hope you still kept it." He hurriedly explained but stopped when Bane suddenly appeared out of hiding from Agatha's hair and flew towards Tedros.

"Bane!"

Agatha called out to the fairy when the tiny creature suddenly flew to Tedros's nose, not noticing Sophie flinched at the name. Thankfully, the fairy didn't bite Tedros and only looked at the Prince curiously.

"You named a fairy?" Tedros asked with amusement.

"You know each other?" Sophie asked incredulously.
"And what gift, Agatha?"

"It's just an apology basket, Sophie. And yes, thank you for the gift and the apology flowers. I liked them." Agatha said softly, which made Tedros feel the fluttering in his stomach again.

"You're welcome. So... Did you forgive me already? I was hoping to earn your trust more before you forgive me." Tedros said honestly.

The sound of chimes followed by Bane's laughter was heard as the fairy flew around the Prince while shaking his tiny head with amusement. Agatha hid an amused grin behind her hand.

"Bane is right. Maybe I forgave you just a "tiny" bit." The younger girl said.
"This tiny bit," Agatha said while gesturing to the small space between her parted fingers.

"Then I will try to earn just a tiny bit more." Tedros gave a boyish smile at Agatha's teasing.

"Agatha! Get that fairy abomination away from my Prince." Agatha sheepishly took Bane gently from Tedros face and put the fairy boy on her shoulder before stepping a few steps away from the Prince.
"Please explain how you two know each other?" The blond girl asked. (Demanded)

"I owe the lady an apology for almost killing her friend and almost hurting her during the fire in Honor Tower," Tedros explained to Sophie, ignoring the part where the girl called him her Prince for now.
"Also, I asked Chaddick to take care of Gregor in group 8. I have so many things to apologize to him as well. I saw Kiko with them and saw that their group leader was the centaur." He informed Agatha and the girl nodded with appreciation and thanked him.

"Who are Kiko and Gregor?" Sophie asked.

"They are the new friends I made here," Agatha explained fondly.

"Don't get too comfy. We still need to fix the School Master's mistake." Sophie scolded.

"School's mistake? You also said I was your Prince. Do you think the school made a mistake and that I'm your Prince?" Tedros questioned.

"Yes." She fawned and blushed shyly.
"I knew it the first moment I saw you. I knew you'd rescue me."

Sophie moved closer to Tedros while fluttering her lashes. Her face blushed a pretty pink color, and her body language showed shyness contrary to her closeness. The golden Prince unconsciously stepped a few steps away from the Never and laughed nervously when the girl stepped forward to follow.

"That is a charming thought," Tedros said awkwardly.
"Ehem. Yes. I guess. But my princess is an Ever, not a witch." Tedros coughed and respectfully distanced himself from Sophie and didn't realize he stepped a bit closer to Agatha.

"Of course. But like I said, it was a mistake. The bird dropped me at the wrong school, and now I'm here. Of course, Aggie was too." Sophie added with a gentle smile at her sister.

"Really?" Tedros asked the raven head in disbelief.

"I mean. It makes sense." Agatha answered.

"No. It does not make any sense." He hissed softly in a hushed tone.

"It doesn't make sense to you because you don't know Sophie like I do. Just look at her! She is a princess." She whispered back with exasperation while pointing at her sister.

"And you believe this?"

"What else could it be?"

"I don't know. Maybe it wasn't a mistake? I can't believe you'd believe you're a Never." Tedros whispered scoldingly while Agatha scrunched her nose at Tedros with displeasure.

"Anyway! My name is Sophie, by the way." Sophie Interrupts the whispering argument between the two.

"You already know who I am." Tedros nodded.

"Yes! Umm... I like your bruise."

"Thank you. Your friend has one hell of a right hook." He heard the fairy chimes in amusement at his comment.

"What?!" Sophie gaped at Agatha disbelievingly.
"You did that?" The latter sheepishly shrugged.

"She did. You should've seen the angry look on her face. I thought I was facing a dragon." Tedros teasingly said.

"You're losing points from me, Prince Prat."

"I'm shutting up, m'lady." He joked.

As the three students talked, someone suddenly spoke behind them, and the sisters and the golden Prince turned around.

"You got to be kidding me," Beatrix said.

A group of Evers and Nevers walked towards them. They saw Hort, Ravan, Millicent, Dot, and Beatrix under the bloody "3". The group is complete, with the Evers being Tedros, Beatrix, Millicent, and Agatha, while the Nevers are Sophie, Hort, Dot, and Ravan. It was... Something.

"Hmmm... Bad group."

Looking down, they found a four-foot gnome with wrinkly brown skin, a belted green coat, and a pointy orange hat frowning at them from a hole in the ground. It was Yuba the Gnome. The group leader of the group no. 3. Crawling out the hole with his stubby white staff, Yuba opened the door and gestured for the group to follow him into the blue forest.

The blue-colored forest was a marvel, a blue wonderland of flora and fauna filled with kindly animals that were strangely not skittish even when the students crossed the path. Agatha and Sophie always associated the forest with danger and darkness back at Gavaldon, and passing through these woods was a different experience all on their own. That is until Sophie screeched to a halt after seeing a flock of bony stymphs birds sleeping in their blue nest.

"They let those around students?" Sophie whispered harshly.

"Sleep during the day, perfectly harmless," Dot whispered back.

"Unless a villain wakes them up," Ravan taunted Sophie with an evil grin.

Yuba encouraged the Nevers to avoid being left behind by the group before the Gnome started his lecture about the history of the Blue Forest. Initially, there were no joint classes between the two schools, and the students who graduated went straight into the endless forest. There, the school realized that before the children would start their fairytale, Good and Evil inevitably fell to hungry and malicious creatures and animals that lived in the dark woods.

"We had forsaken the obvious," Yuba said.
"You cannot survive your fairytales if you cannot survive the woods."

The Gnome finished with a loud clap that startled the students.

"So the school created the Blue Forest as a training ground for the site. Its signature Blue foliage arose from the protective enchantment that kept intruders out while reminding the students it was just an imitation of more treacherous woods."

As if making a point, Yuba made his group pass the North Gate, where darkness gripped like a vice against the autumn evening day. Howls of wild animals echoed throughout the green-blackened shadows of the forest like screams of the damned, and devilish eyes followed the students with a hunger that speaks of years of food deprivation. But the blue enchantment stopped them from pouncing and devouring the young Evers and Never.

"This way," Yuba called the students back and away from the growing hungry shadow in the North Gate.

The Gnome leader explained what Surviving Fairytales truly is, and the students of group 3 soon realized that it was like any other class, from the rankings and rules. The only difference is there was more at stake.

Twice a year each of the fifteen groups would send its best Evers and Nevers to console in the School's Trial by Tale. Yuba did not explain further about this mysterious competition except that the winners receive five extra first-place marks. The students looked at each other and understood that whoever won The Trial by Tale would surely be named the Class Captain. Both Never and Evers turned to the most possible candidate. They looked at Tedros.

"Now, there are five rules that separate Good and Evil." Said the Gnome, magically writing the rules with the smoke from his staff.

1. The Evil Attack. - The Good Defends.
2. The Evil Punish. - The Good Forgive.
3. The Evil Hurt. - The Good Help.
4. The Evil Take. - The Good Give.
5. The Evil Hate. - The Good Love.

"As long as you obey the rules, you have the best chance of surviving your fairytale. Those rules should come with ease, of course, you have been chosen to attend this establishment in each school precisely because you show them at the highest level." Yuba said as he jumped from the tree stump he was standing on.

"Do you think it will come easy for me?" Tedros whispered to Agatha with a boyish grin.

"I don't know. But I think you failed at the first rule." Agatha whispered back infuriatingly, but the Prince only hummed with a chuckle.

Bane switched between looking at Agatha or Tedros before his chime-like laughter caught the two students' attention. The fairy flew from Agatha's shoulder up to the in-between of the Prince's eyes and clicked his tongue at Tedros three times like he was scolding him and clicked his teeth, showing how sharp they are, like a warning before the fairy flew back to Agatha and stayed on top of her hair.

"But first, you must learn to recognize Good and Evil," Yuba exclaimed.
"In the woods, appearances are often deceiving. Snow white nearly perished because she thought an old woman kind. Red Riding Hood found herself in a wolf's stomach because she couldn't tell the difference between family and fiend, all unnecessary suffering. But no matter how much Good and Evil disguise themselves, they can always be told apart. You only need to look closely and remember the rules."

The first class challenge was that each student would guess who was Good and who was the villain while one Never and Ever would disguise themselves to try and confuse or enlighten the one taking the challenge, the student who distinguished who the villain and the Princess the fastest will receive the first rank.

"I've never done any of these evil rules!" Sophie mourned.
"If only they knew all of my Good deeds." The former added with a swoon beside Tedros, and Beatrix did not like that.

"Nevers shouldn't take to Evers." She warned with a huff.

"Evers shouldn't call Evers, Nevers." Sophie snapped, leaving Beatrix confused.

"Hey. Don't bother with snobbish princesses, Sophie." Hort said.

"Oh, bum bother with you! Go to Dot." Hort snorted and stayed with Sophie.

While everyone was distracted, Tedros left both girls and stood beside Ravan and Dot instead. To get away from the Never boy named Hort, Sophie volunteered to go first. Yuba nodded and blindfolded Sophie before stabbing his magic staff near Tedros and Hort and disguising them into two dashing princes. Taking off the blindfold, Sophie blinked and saw two handsome Princes looking at her, and she felt faint for a second.

"Well?" Yuba asked.

"They both look very princely to me." Sophie fanned herself.

"Test them! Use the rules!" Yuba scolded.

The blond girl turned to look at the two identical boys and tried to spot the difference, any difference that could help her identify who was her Prince. Both boys are charming, but the one on the left was standing closer to her Never classmates, so that should be Hort, right? And the one on the right was looking at her with sparkling eyes. Tedros probably realized she was an Ever and was starting to have a crush on her. Or just like her a little bit and that will be enough for her for now.

"The one on the right is my Ever after, and the left one isn't," Sophie said after 9 minutes of thinking and observing the two boys.

"Are you sure?" Yuba asked.

"Yes."

Yuba undid his disguise to the two and revealed that the person on the right was Hort and the one on the left was Tedros. Sophie blanched while Hort grinned very widely.

"Good job, Sophie. Nine minutes is quick." Yuba nodded.

Hort walked to Sophie like a puppy in love and was in awe while the blond girl was white as a sheet of paper. Ravan and Dot laugh and find Sophie's situation funny. Tedros thinks it's entertaining. Agatha looks at Hort with a disgruntled expression, but when she looks closely at how the Never boy acts around her sister, she reluctantly sighs, at least for now.

"I don't think "Ever After" works for us, but "Happy Never After" has a ring to it, don't you think?" Hort asked.

"Leave me alone!" Sophie yelled and ran towards Agatha and hid behind her younger sister. Agatha turned and gave Hort an apologetic look.

"Whatever you say, my queen." Hort ignored the raven head and endearingly replied to Sophie while the other girl shuddered. 

Chapter Text

After Sophie, the others had their turn. Dot had Millicent and Hort and failed, Ravan had Beatrix and Dot and correctly guessed Dot, Beatrix had a hard time guessing between Millicent and Sophie but correctly picked Millicent after a long while, Millicent failed and chose Ravan instead of Tedros, Hort failed, Agatha was surprisingly fast at choosing between Beatrix and Dot. Then, finally, it was Tedros's turn.

"Who would like to disguise for Tedros?" All evergirls raised their hands, and Yuba huffed.
"You!" The Gnome pointed at Agatha.
"You haven't gone yet, and you!" It was at Sophie's.
"You will go with her. Go! At the front now, go!"

Because Bane was not allowed to stay with Agatha while she was in disguise, the fairy decided that Tedros was his temporary perch and made himself comfortable in the Prince's head.

"Bane!" Agatha whispered scoldingly, but the fairy only chimed with a wide grin and plopped on the Prince's hair like it was his bed.

"No, it's fine. He can stay here while I take the challenge."

"I'm sorry about him."

"I told you, it's fine," Tedros reassured.

Meanwhile, the blond girl shivered when Hort gave her an encouraging flying kiss and hurriedly stood beside Agatha at the front and away from the Never boy.

"We need to change schools. Fast." Sophie whispered.

"I told you, Sophie, it's not that easy—"

"Well, think of something! You want to go home, right?" The older girl shot back.
"I need to be in Good. It's the only place I feel like will truly understand me!" She sighed.

Agatha bit her lower lip as hurt squeezed her chest.

"You've been a good sister, Aggie. But Good is where I belong. You were just at the wrong place at the wrong time."

The younger girl stayed silent as Yuba jabbed his staff, and both girls turned into two ugly, stinky hobgoblins. Taking his blindfold off, Tedros turned to look up before he was startled when Sophie's hobgoblin jumped close to him while fluttering her saggy, wet lashes. Agatha, meanwhile, quietly slumped on the ground in a tearless cry.

"It seems so obvious..." Tedros eyed the flirty hobgoblin in front of him and the gloomy one who hadn't moved yet.

Sophie stopped and confusingly turned to Agatha.

"Feel with the heart, not the mind!" Yuba scolded the Prince.

Grimacing, Tedros nodded and closed his eyes. He was trying to feel the pull of something. And surely enough, he did feel it pull, strong and sure. A tug... An attraction that made him walk towards one of the hobgoblins.

And Sophie gasped when it wasn't her.

Tedros knelt to one knee before Agatha's hobgoblin and softly caressed her wet, warty cheek. The raven head's eyes widened in shock as the Prince opened his while Agatha wearily turned to Sophie. Tedros gently pulled her head to look back at him again and away from the other hobgoblin and used his body to cover Sophie from her line of sight.

"Hey, it's okay, m'lady. I know it's you." He said while the hobgoblin gaped at him.
"Right? This is the princess, right?" The Prince asked Yuba.

For a moment, everything was still.

Some of the other students were fast to guess, sure. But even they took a few minutes to think and ask before they guessed correctly. Tedros was the fastest, only a few seconds and close to a minute before he picked between the two disguised students and chose the right one. Breaking from his amazed trance, Yuba opened his mouth to say that the Prince was correct when Sophie suddenly tackled Agatha to the ground. Bane chimed angrily.

"YOU RUINED EVERYTHING!"

To everyone else, this sounded like—
"GOBBO GOMIE HOOWA!" But Agatha can understand the other girl perfectly.

"Sophie, calm down! I'm sure it's just a mistake!" Agatha reasoned.

"You tricked him!" The older hobgoblin shrieked.
"Just like how you tricked the bird, and the wave, and the—"

Tedros intervened and punched Sophie in the eye.

"Leave Agatha alone!" He yelled.

The older twin gaped at the blond boy. Her Prince chooses her sister, her poor, boring, dull sister. Over her?! How can this be? Hasn't she explained herself enough to him? That Adelaide was an imposter and not really an Ever?

"Use the rules!" Yuba bellows on top of a log where he observed everything.

Sophie suddenly understood what exactly she needed to do and stood up straight elegantly. As much elegance as a hobgoblin can do. With her hunched back and awkward slow walk, the transformed girl wended her way towards her Prince before gently caressing his chest with her greasy crooked fingers and trying to explain herself to the boy.

"My dear Tedros. I know you didn't mean to choose Aggie instead of me. You are just confused, and I won't blame you for that. I mean, really? It's hard to prove myself as a real Ever when all I wear are back saggy clothes and ugly things. But I'm your princess, okay? You'll choose me. Take me into a story of love, happiness, and Ever After with your golden carriage and shimmering castle. A perfect fairy tale for you and me."

But all Tedros could hear were goblin growls and chatter while pinching his nose from the awful, musty smell of hobgoblins. The boy then stomped Sophie's feet before running towards Agatha's goblin with outstretched arms and lifting the surprised girl from her armpits like a cat.

"I can't believe you're friends with—"

The younger hobgoblin eeped when she was suddenly carried up and tugged at the Prince's sleeves to please put her down. With a sheepish smile, Tedros apologetically placed her feet back on the ground. Sighing, Agatha walked towards Sophie and gently removed the hand on her shoulder that was trying to stop her from talking to her sister.

"Sophie?" Agatha called.

"He rejected me..."

"Oh, Sophie. No... He just doesn't know you well yet!"

"And you do?" The older girl spat.

"Of course not. Sophie, please.. "

"Then why are you taking him from me? Why is he choosing you? WHY DO YOU HAVE EVERYTHING I EVER WANTED!! You should've stayed at Gavaldon, and the School Master should've taken Dexter instead! Isn't that what you wanted?!" Sophie's voice became louder and louder with each sentence. Anger seeped through her very being.
"YOU WANTED TO ROT IN THAT PLACE ALONE! MOTHER WAS RIGHT, YOU WILL ALWAYS BE ALONE!!" Sophie screamed.

Everybody was quiet. The audience didn't understand what Sophie said, but they knew it wasn't anything kind. They knew the exact moment Agatha's feelings were hurt because of how her goblin's expression suddenly fell. Sophie's screams were loud, loud enough that group 8, 2, 6, and 10 turned to look curiously at group 3 and saw the hobgoblin of Sophie yelling at Agatha's disguised form.

"Enough," Yuba exclaimed and changed the hobgoblins back to girls.

A golden "1" hovered above Tedros, a "2" at Agatha's, and a shiny "3" at Sophie. Hester got "4", Gregor got "5", Beatrix had "6", "7" for Ravan, "8" for Kiko, "9" for Adadil, and so forth.

"Tedros, you did very well at today's challenge, and so did you, Sophie." The girl blinked at the Gnome.
"A perfect display of what a Never should be. Attacking your sister—"

"Wait, they're sisters?" -T

"Hurting her feelings, tried taking her Prince—"

"What? No! Tedros is not hers!" -B

"The yelling could considered as punishment, I guess. Very good, indeed. You're learning. You'll be a proper Never yet."

"Wait!— No! I didn't mean to—" -S

"Although I would advise you not to hurt her outside classes, I cannot fault a Never if you do, but remember there will be punishment. Class dismissed!"

The Gnome said as the wolves howled for the end of class, and Yuba waddled off. Bane immediately flew off and back to Agatha, chiming worriedly and patting the girl on her cheek, nose, and forehead.

Beatrix and Millicent gently grabbed Agatha and pulled her away from the begging Sophie. The blond tried to reach her sister while Hort and Dot showered the blond girl with praises that made the lump in Sophie's throat heavier. Soon, the Evers reached the Good Castle, and the Nevers cackled towards Evil. Sophie, out of desperation, ran away and went to who knows where while Kiko and Gregor greeted Agatha at the gates. When the older girl didn't reply to them, the two Evers immediately knew something was very wrong.

Tedros wanted to talk to Agatha but knew he wasn't at that level yet and decided to give her some space instead and let her process what happened earlier by herself. At the same time, the boy whispered to Gregor to take care of the raven-haired girl because Surviving fairytale was hefty on her today. That is why it surprised him when Bane suddenly stopped the golden Prince by flying too close to his face and almost biting his nose, and Agatha called for him.

"Hey," Agatha said.

"Uhh, hey?" Tedros fumbled.

"I wanted to give you something before you leave." She said before reaching for a small pouch tied to her waist like a belt. He was curious about what was inside that bag when he first saw it, but he never thought it was for him.

"Thank you." Said the boy and opened it to see a small wooden round container inside.
"What is it?"

"It's a bruise cream. For your eye." She explained and pointed to the eye that she punched.
"Sorry about that, but the way."

"No, it's okay. You don't have to apologize."

"I kinda do. Anyway—" Agatha interrupted before the Prince could say more.
"I wanted to say that I forgive you already. So, you don't have to apologize to me again or do anything to earn my forgiveness and all that silly stuff. And just—do what you do, don't mind me. A-and that's it "

Tedros stared at Agatha for a minute, trying to understand why the sudden change of mind. He immediately thought of the blond Never, who was actually the raven girl's sister, which was a surprise for him, and had an idea as to why.

"You want me to ignore you?"

"Not ignore, per se." Agatha searched for the right words to say.
"Just... Avoidance." She said unsurely.

"Avoidance?"

"Avoidance."

"Avoidance." Tedros nodded with a hum.
"But I want to be friends with you. I believe I can't do "Avoidance" if I wanted that." He added.

"Ah? Friends?" Agatha choked.

"Yes. Suppose I don't have to earn the forgiveness that you are willing to give me. Then I have to earn your friendship instead."

"Wha— That's not—"

"See you tomorrow, m'lady. I'm sure you'll see me as a friend soon!" Tedros waved goodbye and ran towards the Towers of Honor with a bright smile that made Agatha squint.

"So~," Kiko said after a moment while Bane giggled with the shorter girl.

"Will Tedros be our friend now too?" Gregor curiously asked. All three of them witnessed Tedros and Agatha's conversation.

"What just happened?" Agatha asked dumbfoundedly.

"Oh, nothing~ Just a Prince trying to earn your favor." Kiko teased.

Agatha laughed unsurely. Her cheeks were lightly dusted with a hint of pink.

"What are you talking about? He said it's friendship." She lightly pushed the grinning Bane away from her face and looked away from the other Ever girl.

"Yeah. But he doesn't have to be so persistent though, or maybe he does? I like Tedros. I don't think he's bad for you." Gregor nodded thoughtfully, like a little brother assessing possible suitors for his sister. But~ Agatha doesn't have to know that last bit.

"Stop, you two. Let's just go inside." Agatha dismissed while the fairy boy flew to her head and rested there.

While walking back inside, Agatha couldn't help but remember Sophie's words to her, and the pain in her chest returned. Breathing in and out, Agatha freed herself from it and searched for her inner peace. It was just the spur of the moment. Sophie didn't mean any of that. She is angry, scared, and hurt and lashes out her stress at her. That's it. Agatha doesn't know what to do with Sophie's crush or Tedros wanting to be her friend. But she will figure something out. All she needs to do is think.

She exhales slowly—

"I don't know what your sister told you, but she's wrong. You are where you belong, and we will be there with you." Gregor said with determination.

"I didn't get to see all of it. But! You are not alone. You have us now." Kiko smiled kindly at her.

Bane chimed from on top of her hair and patted her forehead.

Agatha felt her chest blossom in warmth and gave her friends a wobbly, bright smile. They probably noticed her feeling down, and she couldn't help but think how lucky she was to have met them.

"Thank you. If you are in any trouble remember that I will also be there for you." Agatha said, and the three Evers and Fairy happily made their way inside the school for Good.

Agatha fusses at Gregor, and Kiko interrogates the young Prince on how he feels and if he is okay and also interrogates Agatha on her side of the story. Gregor explained why he was still in the school. That his punishment became null when he became a boy again and that his three fails are erased and void. How the boys are kinder to him now after the gargoyle incident and that Chaddick was helping him in classes that were hard for him to understand. Bane occasionally chimed in with a jingle or two.

As they walk around the Castle of Valor, Sophie is running haggard and thinking about how to fix this horrible mistake. She went to the library of Evil and searched and searched and searched. Until the blond girl remembered her sister had said something about the School Master's tower in the center of Halfway Bridge.

Sophie had an idea.

~~~

That night, Agatha trashed and turned uncomfortably on her bed. Voice and words seemed to smear in her head.

"Once upon a time, There were two sisters."
"One was beautiful and beloved, and the other was boring and plain."
"Lost in a strange land, the girls wanted to go home."
"Stupid girls! They were trapped for eternity!"

An elegant script seems to flow in her mind. And the voices of a man and a girl that suspiciously sounded like Sophie echoed in her dreams. Sophie begged the man to let her change schools. That he made a mistake and that she didn't belong in Evil. That she's a Princess! But the man disagreed. Then Sophie begged for a way home instead.

"What's the one thing Evil can never have...
And the one thing Good can never do without?"

The man's riddle echoed in her ears. Then she pictures a dip pen with both sharp ends and looks like a knife at first glance with strange engravings like words. The pen was writing when it suddenly stopped and hovered above a large book. Slowly, it turned until its sharp edges pointed at her some distance away. Eerily, the pen seems to look at her in the eyes. Silently hovering, it stayed still for what felt like forever but was only for a moment before launching towards her at a speed she couldn't dodge.

Agatha woke up with a breathless scream, sweating and panting. Looking around, she saw that she was in her room alone while sunlight passed through her window. Groaning, she lifted a hand to her head and hissed when she felt pain in one of her fingers.

Her index finger was bleeding.

The girl doesn't remember pricking her finger at anything yesterday. The wound was still fresh and deep, and the blood had stained her sheets. Agatha had a feeling that her dream might not actually be just a dream.

Chapter Text

It was seven in the morning in Honor Tower, and the Princes were awake and all ready to start the day with charming smiles and chivalry. Chaddick, an intimidating brunette with broad shoulders and kind gray eyes, looped his muscled arm around a bashful and quite annoyed Gregor.

"So~ Can you tell me more about your reader friend?"

"Leave him alone, Chaddick," Tedros said with an eye roll at his best friend.

"Oh, come one, Tedros! This girl turned a Gargoyle back into a boy, granted a wish fish's wish, befriended a fairy!—and somehow still hid from all the boys who tried to catch her attention. The only one she doesn't avoid is our sweet Gregor here." Chaddick playfully ruffled Gregor's red hair.

"I'm not a snitch. I'm not telling you where she goes after class." The younger Prince grinned at the taller boy while sticking his tongue out.

"Can you at least give her this letter I wrote?" A boy named Oliver handed a love letter to the red-haired Prince.

"It's no use. I saw the fairy following her, tearing my letters before the fair Princess could read them." Another Prince named Devan groaned.

"Why be fixated on the reader when there are other girls?" A boy named Hiro said.

"Beatrix is beautiful, like a flower nymph but in appropriate size."
"Reena is pretty."
"Beatrix is the perfect Princess. I hope she notices me."
"Do you think I have a chance?"
"I think Millicent is cute."
"Have you seen Kiko? That is cute."

While the Princes argue and talk about which Princess they think is perfect for them, Tedros is minding his own business and takes out a round wooden container. The bruise cream inside is smooth, feels cold, dissolves easily into his skin, and doesn't feel itchy or hurt around his eye. It also smells like lavender.

Tedros couldn't help but smile.

"Is that a healing cream? Can I have some? I accidentally bruised my thigh when I wasn't paying attention and hit myself during swordplay." Chaddick asked.

"Nope!" Tedros quickly hid the cream back inside his pockets.
"You smear creams and salves on your injuries like there is no tomorrow. You'll use it all up in one day!"

"Alright, geez. It's just cream." Chaddick backed up with his hands in surrender while Gregor chuckled at the two older boys.

"It's not just cream, it's a gift."

"I can ask Agatha some for you." Gregor patted Chaddick on the shoulder.

"Why ask her? Shouldn't you ask the infirmary doctor?"

"Agatha made that with the doctor's permission."

"She did?" Tedros asked with wide eyes.

"Yeah. Aggie was a healer's apprentice back in her town." Gregor nodded proudly.

"Wow..." Tedros said in awe. Chaddick stared at his friend and grinned at the golden Prince's amazed expression.

"Now I really want to meet this Agatha." Chaddick chuckled and patted Tedros and Gregor on the back.
"She sounds like quite the lady."

~~~

The first two classes were not as bad as the first day for Agatha. The lesson about how to survive 1001 Arabian nights was actually fascinating, especially when Reena sat beside her and told her how dangerous yet astonishing Arabia was. Although Professor Anemone was a bit too enthusiastic, she still enjoyed listening to the lesson. Pollux's class, on the other hand, was not as enjoyable. Dancing has never been her forte. After class, she was left dizzy and almost tripped once or twice during the dance practice. When the girls learned that Princess Uma had taken ill, a few girls gave Agatha sour looks, but the raven head didn't let it get to her and stood up straight and met their gaze.

"Don't mind them," Kiko said, and the two friends walked back to the Towers and hid in the school library.

Agatha wanted to learn more about what her dream meant and what is the answer to the riddle that the man, she concluded was the School Master, asked Sophie in her dream. During her research, Kiko answered some of her questions that are general knowledge to everybody else. The younger girl told her about the war, the two brothers, the storian that was a magic pen, the fairy tales, and everything else. Of course, Kiko did not forget to mention The Evers SnowBall.

"The Evers SnowBall?" Agatha asked.

The Evers SnowBall was a mandatory Ball that the Good students go to right before Christmas where girls are required to find a boy that will take them as their princesses, or they will fail. The school will rank them as couples based on their presentation, demeanor, and dancing. Of course, it also helps that the Ball sometimes helps the Evers find their true love and the perfect pair for their future fairytales.

"Why do you think we are practicing Ball dancing and why we all wished for different boys in the lake? Girls are practical like that. It's the boys that want the prettiest ones." Kiko explained.

"I didn't know..." Agatha said slowly.

"It's fine. But who do you have eyes on?" Kiko asked with a wide smile.

"I think I'll just ask Gregor If nobody asks me for the Ball. Well, if he doesn't mind." Kiko groaned at her.

"You can ask any boy, and I'm sure they'll say yes to you in a heartbeat."

"You're joking."

"I'm not!"

Gregor soon arrived in their hidden spot in the library, and the three Evers stayed there and brainstormed about the riddle until Bane appeared and chimed in for the start of the next class. History of Heroism with Professor August Sader. Finally, a class with the boys and girls together.

Kiko, Agatha, and Gregor arrived at the Theater of Tale while chatting with each other. When the younger Ever noticed Tristan, she waved at him enthusiastically, but the boy didn't pay any attention to her or her direction. Saddened by this, Kiko gloomily sat down, and Agatha tried to cheer her up by telling tales of her silly adventure with her brother Dexter. Figuring that an only child like Kiko would find those types of stories interesting and entertaining. Meanwhile, Gregor looked at the other boy with a disgusted frown before helping Agatha cheer their other friend up.

"Hello, class. My name is August Sader, and call me Professor Sader."

Agatha looked up at the podium and saw Professor Sader was the weird teacher who gave her that cryptic smile back before at the foyer and the Bridge.

"Wait. Maybe Professor Sader could help me with the riddle? With his vast knowledge, then he could know the answer!"

"As you know, I teach the fourth session both here and in Evil and unfortunately cannot be in two places at once. Thus, I'll be alternating weeks between schools." He said, clasping the lectern.
"On weeks where I'm not here, you'll have a former student come to recount their adventures in the endless woods. They'll be responsible for your weekly challenges, so please afford them the same respect you'd give me. Finally, I am responsible for a vast amount of students and a vast amount of history. I do not hold office hours, nor will I answer your questions inside or outside class. If you do have questions." Sader said, his shiny hazel eyes looked over them unblinking.
"You'll surely find your answers in your text, A Student's History of Woods Beyond, or in my other authored books available in the library of Virtue. Now, roll call. Beatrix?"

"So much for asking," Agatha grumbled under her breath.

During the roll call, Agatha noticed something strange with their professor.

"Why is he repeatedly calling our names? Is he deaf?" Agatha asked.

"No, silly. He's blind." Kiko giggled.

"Don't be ridiculous—"

His eyes are not shiny. They are glassy. The matching names to the voices, the way he gripped the lectern.

"But at the Gallery, the paintings were his. It has his name on it, remember? He saw my home." Agatha gaped disbelievingly at her two friends.

That's when Professor Sader met her eyes and smiled as if to remind her he'd never seen anything at all.

~~~

Swordplay was hard. Professor Rumi Espada had drilled the boys for warms up and sword training after short vocal lessons about the history of chivalry and weapons. How to properly thrust, parry, block, and slash opponents. Most of the boys absorbed the lesson like a sponge, and the ones who had a tougher time to grasp were those who didn't come from fairytale families.

"The girls are here." Nicholas, Tedros's sparing partner, said and gestured at the peeping girls.

"You fancy any of them?" Tedros asked with a thrust of his sword.

"I do fancy a girl, but she's not one of them." Nicholas blocked and tried to counterattack.

"Yeah? Do I know this girl?" The golden Prince parries again, to the side this time.

"I fancy the reader." Tedros almost tripped but rightened himself and blocked Nicholas's attacks.

"Her name is Adelaide." Tedros tried to make the other boy trip, but Nicholas jumped away.

"Ah, so you know her name. I bet Gregor told you that, didn't he?" The black-haired boy jabbed at Tedros, but the blond blocked it and swung his sword to the side.

"She told me actually." Tedros missed because Nicholas managed to dodge.

"Stop having all the girls. Everyone knows Beatrix is your Princess and the one you'll take to the Ball." Nicholas parried harshly, but Tedros blocked it and stood his ground while staring at Nicholas in the eyes as the two boys' swords clashed.

"How can you be so sure? What if Beatrix wasn't?" Tedros pushed the other boy away, and Nicholas tripped and fell butt-first to the ground. The Golden Prince pointed his blade at the fallen opponent.
"Beatrix has beauty, that's correct, but there is more to being a princess than her looks. If I think Beatrix is the girl for me, then I'll ask her for the Ball. If I don't then I'm free to ask another girl. It's on the matter if that girl is the right person for me." Tedros glared while Nicholas surrendered disgruntledly.

Professor Espada then called for a short break, and Tedros walked away from the other boy while Chaddick and Gregor tread toward the blond with troubled expressions.

"What?" Tedros asked.

"The boys believe that Beatrix is your date at the Ball," Gregor asked worriedly.

"Same. Is Beatrix your Princess, bro?" Chaddick asked.

"What? No. I mean, I'm not sure?"

"But you said you know who your princess is?" Chaddick asked again.

"No. I said I know that my Princess is here." Tedros sighs.

"Oh, right. Your mysterious singing princess. I almost forgot." The broader brunette stated.

"But who is spreading these rumors of you and Beatrix?" The younger red-haired Prince asked.

"I'm not sure... But if this goes on. I'll have no choice but to pick Beatrix."

"Bro, you need to figure out who that singing Princess is, fast. If she is your Princess, you need to know who she is before the Ever SnowBall."

"Stay strong, Tedros. She might be closer than you think." Gregor said cryptically. But before the golden Prince could ask what he meant, Professor Espada called for the boys to continue sparing.

The boys parred and slashed and blocked. Again and again, many of them took off their sweaty shirts. The Princes are showing off their toned muscles, flexing and giving the princesses, who are watching smoldering looks. Then one boy started singing.

"For a long time we've been training off for battle!
In our thundering herd, we feel a lot like cattle."

Hiro and Oliver said and made sad faces at the two Princesses watching. The girls looked sorrowful and cheered them on.

"Like the pounding beat, our aching hands aren't easy to ignore!"
- The boys all sang in unison.

"Hey, think of instead!
A girl worth fighting for~"

"Huh?" Gregor asked the singing Bastian.

"That's what I said.
A girl worth fighting for~
I want her paler than the moon~
With eyes that shine like stars."

Chaddick looped an arm about Bastian and added—

"My girl will marvel at my strength,
Adore my battle scars."

"I couldn't care less what she'll wear,
Or what she looks like.
It all depends on what she cooks like.
Beef, pork, chicken, mmh~"

Bodhi sang while the boys laughed as they parried again and continued sparing while conscious of the audience.

"Bet the local girls thought you were quite the charmer~
And I'll bet the ladies love a man in armor~"

Akiro teased Tedros, who was sparring with Gregor.

"You can guess what we have missed the most!
Since we went off to school?"

"What do we want?"
-Oliver asked.

"A girl worth fighting for~"

Every Ever boy cheered. They winked and posed and charmed the watching girls so much that some even fainted from the extreme handsomeness of the Princes. A few girls forgot decorum and cheered and giggled at the boys.

"My girl will think I have no faults."
"That I'm a major find."

"Uh, how 'bout a girl who's got a brain.
Who always speaks her mind?"
-Gregor said unsurely

"Huh?"

Tarquin and Beckett asked a very unsure and shy Gregor before Tedros shooed the two boys away to leave the younger Prince alone.

"My manly ways and turn of phrase.
Are sure to thrill her!"

Devan said while brushing his luxurious hair.

"He thinks he's such a lady killer."

Chaddick whispered to Gregor and Tedros before Nicholas disarmed Devan with an eye roll, and the girls fawned at the handsome dark-skinned boy.

"I've a girl back home who's unlike any other."

Sir. Rumi Espada added in the song while showing some sword stunts.

"Yet the only girl who'd love him is his mother"

Nicholas whispered and made boys near him hide snorts through coughs.

"But when we come home in victory they'll line up at the door!"
"What do we want?"
A girl worth fighting for~"
"Wish that I had."
"A girl worth fighting for~"
"A girl worth fighting—"

The fairies chimed the end for swordplay, and Professor Espada dismissed the class.

After changing into clean clothes and taking a short rest, Tedros walked into the Theater by Tale with Chaddick and immediately noticed the three Ever friends at the end of the theater talking to their close-knit circle. Bane was not with them. The golden Prince wanted to come over and say hi, but Professor Sader arrived, and he and Chaddick sat in the closet next to them, which, unfortunately, was beside Beatrix. During class, Tedros tried his best to ignore Beatrix's clinginess and weird antics and even used his best friend as a shield, which Chaddick happily obliged.

When the bell rang for the end of class, Kiko, Gregor, and Agatha casually walked towards the door, and Tedros hurriedly pulled Chaddick to follow them.

"Hey." Tedros greeted them with a smile towards the three students.

"Chaddick! Tedros!" Gregor happily greeted back while Kiko waved at the two boys with a cheery smile.

"Can we join you for lunch?" The Camelot Prince asked.

"I don't think—"

"I think it's a great idea!" Kiko cheered, and Agatha glared at the younger girl, but there was no fire behind it.

"Yeah... The more, the merrier. Besides, maybe they can help find the answer to the riddle." Gregor said quietly.

Agatha turned to her two friends and stared into their imploring eyes, and couldn't help but sigh with a fond exasperation. But thinking about it, the redhead has a point, and Tedros and Chaddick are already Gregor's friends. The girl also thinks she has no right to stop Kiko or Gregor from making other friends.

"Alright," Agatha said, giving in.

"I'm Chaddick. You must be Agatha, it's nice to finally meet you." Chaddick offered a hand, and the raven head took it and shook hands with the bigger boy.

"All nice things, I hope," Agatha replied with an awkward smile.

"Don't worry, they are," Chaddick reassured.

"M'lady?" Tedros offered a hand to Agatha as well, and the girl hesitated for a second before accepting the gesture.

"Hello again," Agatha said with a polite nod.

"I liked it better when you were quite the spitfire, m'lady." Tedros teased, earning an amused eye roll from the girl. Chaddick looked at his best friend strangely. 

"Be careful what you wish for, Prince," Agatha smirked but tried to tone it down and not encourage the blond boy's antics.

"I'm serious." Tedros gasped at the fake offense.
"But I don't mind you granting my wish of staying true to yourself. I like you the way you are." Tedros smiled a boyish smile at her, and Agatha didn't know what it was, but something skipped in her chest.

Chapter Text

Tedros, Agatha, and their group of friends walked together to lunch. They journeyed through twisty tunnels of trees that grew narrower and narrower until they arrived at the emerald grass of the Great Lawn, following through a line of Evers receiving picnic baskets from nymphs with red hoods, the five Good students chatted, mostly Kiko, Chaddick, Gregor, and Tedros. Meanwhile, Nevers received theirs from Wolf with red suits. Tedros and Chaddick helped carry the baskets while the girls and Gregor found a patch of soft grass to have lunch at.

Their group is quite odd, that is to say.

Their group of friends consists of three boys and two girls. It is the only group of Evers that has that kind of diversity because the rest of the Evers separated themselves through boys and girls while the Nevers split themselves from the Good students.

"So? What is this riddle you guys are trying to solve?" Tedros asked as he gently sat beside Chaddick, who was still giving him strange looks.

"Oh! Yes, Agatha had this strange dream last night. I saw her soaked in sweat with a bleeding finger. Thank goodness I visited her earlier this morning." Kiko shared, much to the other two boy's confusion.

"I was thinking that maybe she dreamt about the storian and the School Master," Gregor said.

"And this riddle is...?—" Chaddick asked.

"What's the one thing Evil can 'never' have,
And the one thing Good can never do 'without'?"

Agatha was looking at her friends and the two Ever boys as they brainstormed about what the answer could be. Kiko said it might be a "proper diet" that Agatha quickly said no to, Gregor thought it might be "expectations" but unfortunately villains also have certain expectations burdening them. In Chaddick's opinion, it might be honor or values but Tedros debunked that theory immediately. Tedros said it might be "relationships" but Agatha doesn't think so. While deep in thought, Agatha pondered that it might've been "victory" but Tedros reasoned that villains technically still can win if they try.

As they eat their lunch, Agatha is interrupted when somebody suddenly hooks an arm around her neck while black shredded cloth wraps around her like a curtain.

"Hey there, pretty apothecary princess." Hester croons like a Cheshire cat at Agatha.

Kiko yelped as she immediately hid behind Gregor while Chaddick gave Hester and her coven of witches a hard weary glare. Unaffected by the Ever boy's warning look, Anadil and Dot casually flanked Agatha while Dot greeted Tedros with a cheery wave of hello.

"Hester! Anadil, Dot, hi?" The raved girl said with surprise.

"We are here on behalf of you're very annoying sister,"

"To apologize?"

"No, to send a message. Because she will be late and she wanted to tell you that she will want to talk with you later, Hester agreed to send the message." Anadil said with mild annoyance.

"Anything to meet you again." Hester winked with a grin.
"Are you sure you don't want to switch schools?"

Before Agatha could respond, Kiko and Gregor pulled the girl to them, and Tedros stood in front of the three while angrily glaring at Hester and her villain friends.

"You should know that it's impossible to switch schools. And who will she change places with? That sister of hers? Sophie is in Evil for a reason." He growled.

"I know you think little of me, Tedros. But can't I talk to Adelaide for a moment, please?"

Sophie suddenly cuts in behind them. Turning around, the blonde Never self-consciously fidgeted when the Evers stared at her with surprised and amused (The boys) faces.

"What?" Sophie said.
"Do I have blood on my teeth? I'm pretty sure I got it all off—"

While Agatha continued to gape at her sister, Kiko decided to speak up and asked Sophie, concerned about the Never's diet.

"You haven't been eating candy, have you?"

"What?"

The older twin asked before finally realizing what they were staring at. With a shriek, Sophie ripped Lesso's wart off her face, and Hort immediately ran to pick up her discarded wart and dashed away with it. The coven started to cackle at Sophie's misfortune, Hester being the loudest. Even the Evers are amused but try to hide their snorts and giggles behind coughs and hands while Agatha cracks a simple smile.

"It's not funny!" Sophie wailed, and Agatha instinctively soothed her sister despite her growing amusement.

"What do you think he'll do with it?" The younger twin asked, happy that Sophie was initiating conversation with her for the first, for a change.

Sophie then slobbered up and looked at Agatha with pleading eyes.

"Aggie, we need to talk. Privately. Please." The former said while cautiously looking at the Evers with Agatha.

"She isn't going anywhere with you alone." Gregor snarked mirthlessly.

"It's important." Sophie insists.

"What's so important that you want to talk to her now after what happened yesterday?" Kiko responded, not happy that the blond did not even apologize first.

"Aggie, we need to go home. Now."

Agatha scoffed disbelievingly at her sister.

At first, Sophie wanted to stay in this magical land and did not listen to a single word she said about how dangerous this place is no matter how much the younger girl begs and pleads. And now she's saying she wants to go home? What happened? What changed her sister's mind? Taking a deep breath, Agatha steeled herself and nodded.

"Okay. I'll hear you out."

Agatha stoically said, and her friends, Chaddick, and Tedros protested loudly at her agreeing to talk with Sophie while the other girl beamed and hugged her younger sister.

"You're joking," Tedros said.

"Maybe it is important." Agatha reasoned.

"Even so—"

"Tedros. Please, just—" Agatha sighed.
"Give us a moment." She finishes gently.

Hester grinned at the dejected Good students and stood up from the soft green grass with disgust, Anadil and Dot following closely after her.

"Well, our work here is done. Goodbye, Evers. See you around." Hester sneered before giving Agatha a proud smile and walked away to the eerie side of Evil.

Meanwhile, Sophie and Agatha left to privately talk under a tree some distance away from Tedros and the others. Kiko constantly turns in their direction with a worried expression, Gregor openly glares at Sophie, and Tedros and Chaddick whisper at each other about something. As the sisters talk, the others continue to eat their lunch.

"I wish Bane is with us right now. At least he can stay with Agatha while she talks with that sister of hers," Gregor complained.

"I agree. Unfortunately, he is busy right now." Kiko sighed.

"Bro, this is the first time I've seen you this worked up before? What did that blond chick ever do to you?" Chaddick chuckled.

"Nothing. I just don't... Like her." The younger Prince said.

"You don't like her because of what she did to your friend or something else?" Chaddick asked again.

"I don't like her vibe," Gregor explained honestly.

~~~

Sophie told Agatha everything that happened after Yuba's survival class yesterday, how she tried to find a way to reverse the awful mistake the School Master made by looking through the Evil library, how she read so many books that Sophie honestly wanted to forget the context about, how she remembered the tower Agatha mentioned before and almost died riding a stymph to reach said tower and meet the School Master. From there, Agatha had flashes of her dream last night while Sophie continued her story.

"Wait, you met the School Master, and he said that if you could solve his riddle, we go home?"

"Yes."

"That's amazing! Actually, I think I dreamt of what happened to you yesterday and have been trying to solve the riddle since this morning."

"And did you?"

"Not yet. But we will eventually." Agatha reassured with an excited smile.

"Better hurry up, love. My days are numbered." Sophie said with distress.

"You die? That doesn't make any sense. You can't be the villain in our story. You're my sister, and we love each other." Agatha worriedly chuckled.

"That's what the School Master said. He also said that something has to come between us. Something that answers the riddle."

"What could possibly come between us? Yes, we fight, but to be completely opposed to each other?"  The latter said, still at a loss.
"Do you think it's all connected? The thing that Good has and Evil doesn't, is it the reason Good always wins?"

"Evil used to win, according to Lady Lesso. But now Good has something that beats them all."

Sophie explained while Agatha looked contemplative.

"What if... What if we stop the thing that will come between us, and I let you win? Will that stop our fairy tale and let you live? If we don't fight and solve our problems properly, then we can— I don't know?..." Agatha asked hopefully to her sister.

"What? Stay? Are you saying I'm a villainess, and you want to stay while I am fighting for my life here?" Sophie gasped with horror at the raven-haired girl.

"No!" Agatha said
"No, you're right, it was a stupid idea. We should focus more on finding out the answer to your riddle. The things we know are, first, it is something that can turn us against each other. Second, it's something that beats Evil every time. Third, it's something we can physically do—"

"I got it!" Sophie cried out, startling Agatha.

"You do?" Agatha said

"It's so obvious."

"So obvious?"

"It's— It's—"

"Yeeees?"

"No idea," Sophie said sheepishly, and Agatha gave her a deadpan look.

Across the field, Everboys slowly trespassed into Evergirl territory, the girls shyly covered their faces while waiting for boys to pick them like delicate flowers, only to see Beatrix attracting the lion's share. While Beatrix is flirting with her suitors, Tedros pushes Chaddick to stand up and go to the girl he fancies, and the broader boy nervously shoves the way towards the front and asks Beatrix for a walk.

Sophie sadly watched Tedros laugh while sitting with the giggling Gregor and Kiko.

"He was supposed to rescue me."

"Who?" Agatha asked, confused.
"Chaddick?"

"No, Tedros."

"Oh, right. You decided that he is your Prince."

"You don't understand because you don't have a Prince of your own." 

"I don't need a boy to come and rescue me, I can handle myself."

"Unless it's social gatherings, or maybe a huge crowd. You can handle almost anything but a bit of crowd especially when you're the main focus. Remember our birthday when we we're 12?" Sophie said. 

"Don't even mention that." Agatha hisses quietly while the former turns to Tedros's direction again.

"Oh, Aggie~ He's my happy ending." Sophie said longingly.

"Sophie, your happy ending going home alive. Solving the riddle the School Master gave you and saving our village from a two-hundred-year-old-curse. We'll be known as the girls who rescued children from beatings and failing, who escaped from wolves, waves, gargoyles, and everything this school challenged us to. Our story will end with us back home and you alive and a hero. Please. Stop thinking of boys and focus on yourself right now."

Sophie nodded sadly with agreement, but her eyes never left Tedros.

"Okay. I'll focus on myself and what I need."

Agatha smiled thankfully at her sister and failed to notice one of the Ever boys making his way in their direction.

"Ehem."

Turning around, Agatha saw the boy from the welcoming who gave her his coat when the Nevers were rioting at the Evers. He was a classmate in her joint classes except for surviving fairytales. They did not talk before, and she thought they never will.

"Yes?"

"Hello, fair lady. I hope you still remember me?" The boy asked with a curtsy.

"Oh? And who might you be?" Sophie glares with an annoyed grin.

"My name is Nicholas, and I was hoping to take the fair maiden for a walk?" The boy said hopefully with a hand lifted for Agatha to take.

Speechless, Agatha stared dumbfoundedly at Nicholas, who looked nervous and patiently waited for her reply. Sophie's eyes also widened, and slowly, a smile creeps its way into her lips.

~~~

Tedros was enjoying his lunch.

He knows that his best friend likes Beatrix, and although he can see Beatrix's favor of him specifically, Tedros does not acknowledge it. Before, maybe? But not too much. Especially now, he knows his Princess is in the school with him, so he doesn't want to make any mistakes that can jeopardize his relationship with his mysterious Princess. Sometimes, he daydreams about what finally meeting her is like.

"Kya!" Kiko quietly squeals while shaking Gregor's poor arm.
"Is that Nicholas talking to Agatha?"

Tedros immediately spun his head to look like it gave him a whiplash.

"I... Um... Wa— walk?" Agatha stutters.

"That sly slithering—"

The golden Prince didn't understand why, but seeing Nicholas reach and hold one of Agatha's hands made him feel something uncomfortable in his stomach.

"Tedros, your... Uh... Face." Gregor whispered.

"Yes! A walk would be nice?"

Nicholas asked and tried to pull the raven-haired girl closer to him while Sophie was swooning uncontrollably at the romantic scene in front of her. Proud of her sister and already giving Nicholas acknowledging looks that Tedros is detesting more than anything.

"I'm sorry, but I don't have the time—"

As Agatha pulled herself away and created some space between them, Nicholas glanced at one of his friends and someone passed a guitar, and the boy suddenly knelt to one knee and sang sweetly in front of the raven girl, who blanched at the sight of the instrument.

"Just an ordinary song..."

"Oh, Goodness no—"

"To a special girl like you~"

"Please stand up—"

"From a simple guy,
Who fell in love with you."

Agatha's eyes widened as she heard the lyrics of the song, 'Fell in love?' What is this boy talking about? They barely talked two sentences with each other and haven't had a conversation again after the welcoming on the first day of school? How and when did they become so close that he fell in 'love' with her?

"I may not have much to show.
No diamonds that glow.
No lavish carriages to take you where you go~"

"But if you ever find yourself!
Tired of all the games you play."

"Nicholas, listen. You're a sweet guy, but I really—"

"When the world seems so unfair,
You can count on me to stay.
Just take some time to lend an ear,
To this ordinary song~"

"Stop now, please. I'm telling you n—" Agatha whispered angrily to the Ever boy when Sophie stopped her.

Students started to surround themselves around the two from the commotion the sudden courting song was making, capturing everybody's attention.

Tedros doesn't know what to feel in this situation. Logically speaking, he should be happy for Agatha. The girl won't need to worry about finding a date for the Snow Ball anymore and risk failing! But looking again, Agatha does not look happy being put under the spotlight like this. The raven-haired girl looked awkward and pressured because of the crowd and Sophie insisting and whispering something while nudging the latter to Nicholas's direction.

Really, it's also because of Agatha's forced smile that Tedros thinks doesn't fit the raven girl at all. She looks more beautiful when she smiles genuinely, and although Agatha rarely smiles at him, it is still better than the smile she is giving Nicholas right now.

"Wait? Beautiful? Since when did he start thinking that?"

"Just an ordinary song,
To a special girl like you~
From a simple guy,
Who fell so in love with you~"

Agatha looked like she wanted to run away at that moment and sprint like a gargoyle was out to get her. Tedros then stood from where he was sitting on the grass, Kiko glancing at him with a confused face while Gregor looked almost relieved.

"I don't even have the looks,
To make you glance my way.
The clothes I wear may just seem so absur—"

"If you know that, then I think you should rethink your offer to her then. If you're just an ordinary guy, why would she want to do anything with you?"

Tedros cut off to the song, Kiko and Gregor following behind him as support, and gently pulled Agatha away from Sophie and covered her from the unwanted spotlight.

"Why do you keep interrupting me, Tedros?" Nicholas glared.

"I'm a Prince, Nick!" The blond answered as a matter of fact.
"I rescue princesses." He said with amusement.

Nicholas scoffed with disbelief at the Camelot Prince.

"Rescue? No one here needs rescuing?"

"You don't think so because you're causing it. Don't you see she's uncomfortable with what you're doing, and she already declined. More than once too." Tedros said sternly.
"I'm rescuing the Princess now. Lunch is almost over anyway."

Tedros took off his school coat and draped it over Agatha's head as they walked away while the blond Prince covered the others' view of Agatha from the rear behind Kiko and Gregor. Chaddick came over and helped Tedros after seeing one of the people he already considered a friend be troubled like that.

In the crowd, the group of friends did not see Beatrix clenching her first until it turned white. They also did not notice Sophie turning red in anger at the sight of Tedros protecting, yet again, her sister and ignoring her.

"How dare that peasant!" Beatrix hisses to herself.

"That conniving, and scheming, Prince stealing!—" Sophie gritted her teeth as she stared at her sister's back return to the school for Good. Her School.

Somewhere in a lonely silver tower in between the two schools, a pen is writing about how the Prince rescued his Princess from a loveless court that was filled with calculated desire and not true love. A page depicting Nicholas gaping as the Prince and Princess leave with their loyal friends. Eyes filled with shame and remorse. And maybe, a broken heart.

Chapter Text

Kiko and Gregor flanked Agatha as they walked to Professor Dovey's Good Deeds class. The earlier events during lunch are discussed while Tedros and Chadwick follow close behind, having a conversation of their own.

The group entered their classroom, looked for their assigned seat, and sat once they found it. Soon, their classmates arrived, and Nicholas was among them. His face was sad when he entered the room before glancing in Agatha's direction to hopefully meet her eyes, but he quickly looked away because of the glare Chaddick, Gregor, and Tedros were giving him. Beatrix and her friends and other supporters arrived next, and soon, all the children had arrived. Professor Dovey happily introduced herself to the class before starting her lecture about why Good Deeds class is an important subject.

"A real Good Deed is executed with real good intentions. A soul grows purer the more good deeds a person does without ulterior motives. However, my good students have been doing them as if they are chores and are more focused on cultivating arrogance, ego, and waist size! Remember students, true 'Good' is not about those. It's about pure, kind, good deeds. We can lose to Evil in a fairytale if we grow compliant."

"But Good never lost over 200 years?" A boy stated.

"And that can end," Dovey warned.

The Dean for Good continued her lesson when Agatha was distracted by a crumbled piece of paper not too subtly thrown behind her. Annoyed, the girl turned to see who had done it and saw a curious-looking Tedros staring at her.

"What?"

"Can you tell me what Sophie told you during lunch? You two seemed to be having a serious conversation earlier."

"And you're asking me now because?.."

"I'm curious and a bit worried, and so is Kiko and Gregor. Can't you indulge this one time?" The blond pleads quietly, cutely fluttering his lashes, earning an amused eye roll from Agatha.

"Can it wait? We're in class right now." Agatha whispered.

"Probably... But after this, you might avoid or hide from me, and I won't see you until tomorrow or ever." Tedros eyes widened pleadingly and even pouted, ignoring the whispered *so dramatic' by the amused girl.

"Just this once because you asked politely. And because you saved me earlier." She whispered.

Frowning, Agatha carefully contemplated what she could share with Tedros that would be enough to quell his curiosity but not too much that it would breach Sophie's privacy. After all, Sophie was the one who experienced the terror that is the Schoolmaster personally. But maybe sharing about the riddle could help her...

"Remember the riddle I've been trying to solve? The School Master asked Sophie to find the answer to that very same riddle yesterday. I dreamt of it last night before Kiko checked on me this morning. She also told me that when she met School Master, the storian was writing our story. I know it's outlandish, but it's true."

"Wow... That's the most words you ever said to me. And you know this person is the School Master, how?" Tedros asked, shocked and skeptical.

"It's the same man who took us here," Agatha explained with an eye roll.

"Okay. But that could be anyone good with magic?"

"I'm pretty sure it's the School Master. Or is there somebody else who can easily conjure a wall of fire to block a mob of angry villagers away? Or transform themselves into a shadow-like man that summons thorned trees and travels through this world to mine? And he was with the storian when he was talking to Sophie. In the School Master's Tower."

"And how did you know this?" Professor Dovey cut in with a stern look.

Startled, Agatha and Tedros turned to the professor, realizing they weren't as quiet as they thought. Almost all of the class heard them and are murmuring to themselves with much to Agatha's dread.

"I will not repeat myself, Miss Adelaide."

Agatha glanced at Tedros, who shook his head slightly, silently telling her to keep quiet and say no. But she can't lie. Not with this, not with what is at stake. Maybe Professor Dovey knows something!

"Because I sa—.

But what if it does more harm than good for Sophie and her?

"Yes?"

"Nothing..."

"It's not nothing! You said that you met the School Master and that he kidnapped you and that mistake of a Never? How ridiculous! The School Master enrolled you and gave you an opportunity that you'll never see coming  you're way again in any lifetime!"

"Miss Millicent!" Dovey warned.

"That's right! And you, most of all, should be grateful to the School Master for picking you for Good. But obviously, the school is too good for a person like you. Unlike Beatrix and the rest of us."

"Reena." Kiko hissed at the Arabian girl.

"But it is quite ridiculous. No one could meet the School Master, not even the teachers..."

"But he did! He really did talk with Sophie and made me dream about him and the storian!" Agatha laments.

Dovey laughed nervously, disbelief evident in her tone as the class looked between the teacher and the reader.

"My, what creative imagination you have. It will serve you well when you wait for someone to rescue you from a ferocious dragon."

"Please, professor. I need to know. What if the School Master controls the storian? How do I stop a fairytale?" Agatha asked insistently.

"Adelaide, the School Master cannot control the storian and has absolutely no role in how stories play. The only way a fairytale can end is by finishing it." Dovey dismissed her sternly, and Agatha had no choice but to quietly back down.

~~~

After Good Deeds, Evers and Nevers are summoned to an assembly in the clearing before Surviving Fairytales. As the students gathered, Kiko spotted Tristan amongst the crowd and tensed at what she saw.

"Tristan changed his hair to blond." Kiko winced like she hurt physically.

Turning over to look, the gang saw that Tristan did dye his hair blonde and styled it with dropping bangs over one eye, who suspiciously reminded Agatha of someone...

"He said he did it for Beatrix." Kiko cried, and Agatha pulled the younger girl in a comforting side hug.

Gregor glowered in Tristan's direction and stood to block the two girl's view of the boy.

"Hey, have I told you the story of when I accidentally dyed my brother's hair orange?" Agatha asked her friend.

While Kiko was distracted, Agatha peeked in Tristan's direction and noticed how his new style kept reminding her of someone. The way he conducts himself, his clothes, his hair, and the signature golden 'T' on the collar. Then everything clicked into place when Tedros sat beside her.

"What?" Tedros asked while Chaddick stood on guard behind them.

Agatha coughed at the connecting dots.

"You need a different crush," Gregor said to Kiko seriously.

"ATTENTION STUDENTS! PRESENTING CLARRISSA DOVEY, DEAN OF THE SCHOOL FOR GOOD AND PROFESSOR EMERITUS OF GOOD DEEDS!"

Castor's voice boomed suddenly, demanding the attention of both school's students.

"Thank you, Castor." The Evil head gave a respectful nod before growling at the Nevers to hurry up to the clearing and behave.
"We gather here today because of the rumors that are spreading in our school," Dovey said kindly.

"Or lies, as I call them!" Lady Lesso added sternly, glaring at each and every student present.

"I implore you, students, to not believe false rumors. Evil is not cursed and still has the power to defeat Good."

"Provide Evil does their homework!" Professor Manly complained.

"The School Master is on no one's side—"

"We don't believe that!" A Never shouted.
"How can you know for sure when Evil keeps failing?" Shouted another,
"I still think we're cursed somehow." Yelled Ravan.
"Cursed, not cursed. That is the question." One Never dramatically lamented.

"Because we have proof." Professor Dovey said to the crowd gently as Professor Sader stepped forward and smiled at the students.

The Nevers begrudgingly quieted down at the sight of Sader, but Agatha had more questions now. Proof? What proof? Is this proof the answer to the riddle? She noticed Lady Lesso's face turned sour, so this proof must be legit.

"What? Where is the proof?"

"And lastly, the School Master cannot control the storian. His job is to protect our balance, which means protecting the storian in his tower. Where no students, Evers or Nevers' have seen the school Master. And no students ever will."

All eyes fell on Agatha.

The girl fought the urge to fidget where she stood while everyone stared at her. Instead, Agatha tried to look as unaffected as possible. Then Lady Lesso walked over and not so kindly leered at her.

"So this is the storyteller?" The Dean of Evil crooned at the raven-haired 'Princess'.
"Such a pretty little thing you are. I'm giving you one last chance to redeem yourself. Did you meet the School Master?" Lesso smiled viciously.

Agatha nervously looked up at the looming teacher as her stomach churned with the desire to puke her lunch. She wanted to find Sophie, snap the blond's mind straight to see sense, and force them to go home. Everybody was looking at her. Their eyes seemed to burn her skin at how much they stared. Agatha's flaws. Her faults. Her ugliness. Out in the open for everyone to see, to judge, and criticize. It felt so much like the party when she was 12. She kept reminding herself that this was not in that place. And this was not even the same world! She did her best to look brave despite the fear while Professor Sader smiled at her curiously. Agatha's eyes roamed, searching until she finally found her sister amongst the crowd. Technically, it wasn't Agatha who personally met the School Master, but they did meet. The girl suspects that the dream she had about the storian and the meeting, despite not being there, has to be the School Master's doing. He wanted her to see it.

Agatha braves it out as said—

"Yes."

"You dare lie to a teacher!" Lady Lesso lashes.

"It's not a lie!" The girl argued.
"It really did happen. Sophie can vouch for me! She can tell you! She was in his Tower! Right, Sophie?" The raven-haired girl turned to her sister for support but stopped when the blond girl turned to look away. The flashes of 3 years ago at her birthday party seemingly clash back to her like a boulder.
"Sophie! Tell them!"

"Looks like you're in your own little Princess. Do you still insist on your lie?" The Dean of Evil asked sternly.

"I'm not lying." She defended.

"But you're the only one telling this story."

"Then I'm the only one who tells the truth!" She stands firmly.

"Maybe in your dreams! Hey, you can be the next sleeping beauty. But you can stay asleep and stay in your own little world."

Agatha bristled and turned to look at who said it and found a blond-haired— Tristan?!

Before Agatha could reprimand and give the boy a piece of her mind and maybe a boot on the face, Tedros suddenly punched Tristan in the mouth. The ginger-now-blond boy staggered before angrily drawing his dulled training sword, and Tedros unsheathed his. Soon, the two boys are publicly dueling at the clearing. Both are good and similar in techniques, almost like Tedros is fighting his reflection because Tristan had done his best to copy everything about the Camelot Prince.

The Nevers yelled and encouraged the fighting, and some even joined in and punched the person next to them. Soon, there is a full-out brawl in the clearing as Nevers sprints to the Evers and Everboys fight back.

"Stop! Stop it!" Agatha yelled for Tedros amongst the chaos, but it fell off deaf ears.

Everboys whooped, and Nevers yelled battle cries. Wolves tried to stop the brawl, and Agatha doesn't know why this even happened. Pulling Kiko away behind a tree to protect her from flying mud, twigs, and dirt while the rest of the Ever girls are not as fortunate.

Angrily, the girls started pointing at Agatha and blamed her for the whole mess.

"She started it!" A filthy Beatrix roared.

The screaming girls charged after the raven-haired girl who climbed the tree to escape Beatrix and her mob of furious Evergirls.

"Adelaide!"
"Agatha!"

Kiko ang Gregor yelled as they watched the raven head reader climb. Gregor fighting his way past the chaos and pushing girls away from the tree, Kiko started to angrily tug Beatrix's long, luxurious, messy blond hair.

"Sophie!!" Agatha called out to her sister.

The two sisters stared at each other, Agatha with her wide-eyed and Sophie's calculated gaze. The former felt her blood run cold at her older sister's icy stare before it melted away, and the latter began to run towards her through the crowd of girls by pulling their hair away from the tree. The Raven girl let out a breath she hadn't noticed she held. Sophie then picked up a branch and flailed it like a sword at the Evers. As the girls came drawing near the blond Never, she then hurled her branch—

And it flew to Lady Lesso instead.

Gashing the Evil Dean's cheek...

"Oh shi—"

The crowd grew silent.

Touching her gash, Lady Lesso snapped her neck to the pale-faced Sophie while looking at the blood in her fingers with eerie calmness. The woman turned her blazing eyes towards Agatha and angrily pointed at the Ever reader.

"Lock her in her tower!"

The Evil Dean boomed, and a swarm of fairies surrounded the girl as she screamed for Sophie and her friends in fright.

"No, it's my fault!" Sophie yelled, a sudden show of goodness and care towards the raven-haired girl.

"Shut up, you tramp of a girl! Take this one to the Doom Room." Lesso hissed.

"NO! Don't! Please, I'll be good!"

Agatha screamed louder as she watched Sophie get dragged towards wherever the Doom Room was and feared for her sister. A surge of helplessness drenches her heart as a bucket of iced water metaphorically dawned over her while watching Sophie try and claw her attackers in a panicked frenzy. She knew her sister couldn't live through torture! Sophie wouldn't survive true Evil!

"No! Let her go! You can't do that! Professor Sader, Please!" Agatha cried out while clinging to the tree and begging for mercy for her sister.
"You have to believe me! The Storian thinks Sophie is the villain. It's going to kill her!"

Sader, Dovey, Lesso, and the rest of the faculty looked at her, alarmed.

"How did you see our village?" The raven-haired girl stubbornly fought against the fairies.
"How do we get home? What does a princess have that a villain doesn't?"

"Questions. Always in threes." Sader smiled.

The fairies successfully pried her off the tree, and Agatha bleached as they flew her away.

"No! Please! Answer me! You need to save her!"

Agatha angrily begged as fairies dragged her to lock her in her room in Purity Tower once again. The fairies sadly jingled at her as she tried to pry open the doors and banged her fists at them when she failed. Sagging to the floor, Agatha cried.

The raven girl felt fear.

Not for herself, for her sister. She felt useless and hopeless. What good is she when she can't even protect her only sister? What can she do when she's stuck in a room?

What to do when locked in a room?

When her hope seemed to fade, something caught her eye. The ceiling tile with a smiling cupid was slightly dislodged. Agatha's eyes shined, and she climbed up her bed canopy and pulled the tile away. Gasping in happiness at the dark vent above her, Agatha climbed into a vent until she was perched on a narrow platform inside the chute. Crawling through the darkness, Agatha moved one hand at a time, feeling the cold metal at her palms and knees before suddenly disappearing and turning to air.

"Ahhh! Oomph?"

"I didn't know you like falling from the sky, M'lady."

Opening her eyes, Agatha gaped up at Tedros, who was smiling cheekily down at her.

"Tedros?..."

Tedros remained smiling as he carried her in his arms, the Beanstalk of *Holden of Rainbow Gale* beside them.

"What? Cat got your tongue?" He chuckled.

"Tedros! Why are you here? Isn't it time for Yuba's class?"

"I opted out of class. Told them it was unfair if I participated in class when I technically started the fight, and Professor Dovey agreed, and now I'm on my way to the library for my punishment. Speaking of punishments, I distinctly remember one Princess that was supposed to be locked in her Tower." Tedros grinned while the girl looked away.

"Put me down, and I'm not a Princess." She grumbled.

Chucking with amusement, Tedros helped her stand up before worriedly looking at her puffy eyes. She obviously had been crying. While Agatha righted herself and dusted her dress, the girl started to casually walk away and Tedros hastily followed much to her annoyance.

"Where are you going?"

"To find my sister."

"And look for the Doom Room? In the school for Evil? No. No, no, no, no. That's crazy!"

"I don't care! They'll hurt her!"

Agatha stubbornly said as they walked out of the Gallery for Good. Tedros grabbed her by the arm and forced her to slow down and face him, looking at her pleadingly to think things through.

"You can't! They will punish you more than just locking you in your room when they find you."

"Then they just need to not find me."

"What if they do? You're already stretching it thin by being out here!"

"They won't!" Agatha insists.

"You can't promise that." Tedros scolded.

The two stared at one another, fighting who was more stubborn than the other, and waited for the first one to give up. Sighing, Tedros looked away, and Agatha's lips tugged to a smirk.

"You still can't go."

"Tedros—"

"Agatha, listen to me just this once, please." Tedros said.
"You can't go looking for Sophie right now, this is a lesson she needs to learn."

"Evil will torture her!"

"They won't hurt her, too much." He whispered that last part.
"She'll get punished, sure, but they won't hurt her while she's still a student and a good one from what I heard. You, on the other hand. If they find out you snuck out like this just after the Tower indecent too. The Dean might punish you for real, and none of the Evers here can turn you back if they decide to transform you into a flower." He reasons.

"But, Sophie—"

"Will live... And she will be back for Surviving Fairytales. Unlike you, M'lady. You need to return to your room before the fairies discover you are gone." Tedros reassured Agatha's weary sigh.

"Can you stop calling me that and talk to me like a normal person." The girl asked with a wet chuckle and subtly wiped a wayward tear.

"Like what, M'lady?"

"Like that." She huffed.
"I'm far from a lady and I have a name."

"Are you giving me permission to call you by your name?" Tedros asked cheekily, and Agatha glared but there was no heat behind them.

"You already called me by my name," Agatha said.

Tedros laughed while he escorted Agatha back to her room.

Chapter Text

Tedros is trying. 

He really is trying to strike up a conversation with the person he is escorting back to the girl's dormitory. He tried smiling, asking about the weather, making jokes, and even making silly faces and noises. 

But it's just awkward...

The lady, no— Agatha answered politely and curtly. She didn't understand the jokes, but she did try to. Unfortunately, the jokes Tedros knew were all about Camelot's history, and his companion didn't know them, hence the awkward silence that followed. She did try asking about the history! But Tedros, by then, is too embarrassed to explain. Agatha did smile a bit at his funny faces and other things, but after that, the mood returned to awkwardness. 

What is wrong with him? He'd never struggled to talk to a girl before! 

"You can stop being such a Prince, you know."

Tedros lifted his face from his hand when he heard the girl speak. 

"What?"

"Stop being so posh. It's not like I'm really a Princess you need to be conscious of," Agatha repeated. 

"I'm not being posh." The boy argues. 

"You are!" Agatha exclaimed teasingly. 
"Maybe It's because your a Prince, and couldn't help it? Which would make total sense, by the way, but you're trying too hard. It's only me, relax. I won't bite— Anymore..."

"Funny." Tedros rolled his eyes but noticeably relaxed his shoulders. 

The awkward mood returned but not as severe. It was calmer... 

"Posh, not posh. You should see the trees and flowers that act more classy than me back home. Especially around the lake where the Excalibur is from, my aunt used to always fight with the plants there. Excaler-iming their greatness, em' I right?" 

"Har, har." Agatha rolled her eyes good-naturedly. 

'What am I talking about? 'Excaler-iming'? Really?' Tedros screams in his head. 

Silence followed once again, and Tedros didn't want to speak just yet. He feels like burying his face in his hands at the second-hand embarrassment he feels at the moment. 

"You were talking about Camelot's flora and fauna... What's the plant there like? I heard they have beautiful caves, and that the humid air in most seasons are magical. There should be herbs that are only native to the place, yes?" Agatha asked again, trying to appear as calm as she could. But Tedros saw the slight pink in her ears and realized... He wasn't the only one trying

Smiling, Tedros found some of his confidence back and spoke more fluently. Confident in his knowledge and love for Camelot while doing his best at sharing his knowledge with her. As they talked, Tedros also learned a few things about plants he didn't know before. He learned that cinnamon could be used as medicine for gas problems, that lemon can help with stains, and other herbs that Tedros ignored before are actually pretty interesting. He only thought they were things that make food taste better. Agatha also thanked him for the apology flowers he gave last time and that they had wonderful messages. Tedros blushed at the compliment and asked if she didn't find it weird that he knew about the meaning of flowers, of all things.

But instead, he was pleasantly surprised when Agatha told him that it was a wonderful thing to know. That learning about the language of flowers doesn't make him girly, and he should not worry about what other boys think about his hobby. Going as far as complimenting him for his knowledge of floral language and Camelot history.

"I guess it's just another thing I'm good at, right?" Tedros cheekily said to the amused raven-haired girl. 

"Sure, sure."

Agatha replied sarcastically and rushed to walk in front of the boy casually. A small smile graced her lips, unseen by the Prince. Shaking his head with amusement at the girl's antics, Tedros followed after her but stopped when he saw something and picked up some of it before hurrying to the girl again. Soon, the two arrived at the top of the Tower, room 51, and Agatha hesitated by the door when she was about to express her gratitude and farewells. 

"Here. I'd like for you to have it." Tedros then suddenly showed her a small bouquet of pink roses. 

"When did you get those?" Agatha chuckled but accepted. 

The roses are light pink, almost white. They symbolize admiration, happiness, and innocent love. They can also be a flower that asks for friendship that would stay strong and respected. 

"Oh..."

"I know we had a rough start but... I enjoyed talking with you. You know so much about many things, and you don't judge me. I can be myself and not be 'posh' as you'd love to say." Tedros scratches the back of the head as he speaks. 
"And you're nice! When I got to know you behind the stern exterior. Not that you're not nice where you're stern—"

"Do you want to stay for tea?"

Tedros tripped on air when he heard the question. His eyes blown wide and mouth gaping, the golden boy stared a bit before closing his mouth with a sound click. Agatha coughed, her face trying, and failing, to act stoic and ignoring the flush of her cheeks.

"You don't have to if you don't want—"

"No!" Tedros yelled suddenly. 

His face flushed red when he realized his outburst, and he coughed lightly to compose himself before speaking again. 

"I mean. Yes. I mean— tea... Sounds good."

Agatha internally fought, bursting into amused laughter at the Prince's sputtering, and instead welcomed him inside her room while Tedros fought the embarrassed flush on his face. 

The room looked just like every other room girls had in the school. 

Usually, Everboys don't step inside the girl's dormitory out of respect for the Evergirls. But, technically they can visit unless it's after curfew or stay after dark. Looking around, Tedros noticed something strange. The room was clean and homey, but it seemed as if only one person was staying in the room, which is odd because usually, three girls stay in one room. 

"Are you alone here?" He asked. 

"Yeah, Millicent and Reena were supposed to stay with me, but they asked to change rooms, so I'm alone. I prefer it that way, to be honest, so I'm fine with the arrangement." Agatha explained. 

Tedros nodded unsurely at the statement while Agatha led him to the small table near the balcony. While the boy looked around and outside the window. Agatha was preparing tea. Again, he noticed something. He thinks it's Agatha's bed because it's the one that seems most used, and there are books on the lamp table. But what caught his attention was the thing poking underneath it. It looks almost like a training sword the boys have for sword practice. But he isn't sure because it's only a small part of the handle. 

"Here."

Agatha said as she served him a cup of tea along with some cookies and a cake.

"Hope you like it." 

Focusing back on his hostess, Tedros became frigid in surprise. Raising a single brow questioningly at the boy's stiff stature, Agatha sat on the opposite side of the table and encouraged him to eat. 

"I invited you to tea. Jeez, Prince. Relax." Agatha said with amusement. 

"Tedros."

"Hm?" Agatha hummed.

"Call me Tedros," Tedros repeated.

"Hello, Tedros. I'm Agatha." She joked. 

He chuckled at that before relaxing his shoulders. The two of them smiled at the comfortable peace surrounding them. 

"Hmm, this is good." Tedros complimented in genuine surprise at his tea.
"You're really good at preparing tea." 

"Thanks, I had a lot of practice back at home."

The boy nodded and started eating, and Agatha started doing the same. Soon, they were chattering with each other about anything they could think of. Usually school-related or about the world, Agatha was curious as someone who lacked common sense in this fairytale land. But along the way, they started to talk about themselves, getting to know each other better and being friendlier with each other. 

Tedros liked the time they spent talking about things. Agatha explained what she did back at Gavaldon and how she lived her very ordinary life.
Soon, the conversation switched into a back-and-forth of what Tedros could do for his kingdom that could help his people in the eyes of a commoner herself. In exchange, Tedros did his best to help solve the riddle that Agatha had been struggling with since this morning. Together, they brainstormed and even read some of Professor Sader's books when they figured it might help.

The food soon disappeared, and Agatha made a second pot of tea as they continued working on the riddle. 

It's already been more than an hour since they started, and they feel like they are getting closer to the answer. Sighing, Agatha looked up in tired frustration when she stopped to stare at the murals on the wall. 

"True Love..." She whispered. 

"What?"

"True Love's Kiss...! The answer is True Love's Kiss!" Agatha exclaimed. 
"The thing that Evil can never have, and Good can't do without!"

"The answer has been staring at us this whole time..." Tedros chuckled disbelievingly while also looking at the mural. 

"We solved it! We can go home!" Agatha said and blindly hugged the golden boy in happiness. 

Tedros blushed at the sudden affection but laughed with her, affected by her happiness. He lifted her and spun her around, making her laugh louder before he put her down. 

"Oh my God... We can go home. I can see my family again." Agatha said with a smile. 

"But how can true love's kiss help you get home?" Tedros asked. 

The raven-haired girl stopped at that. How can it help? And it's Sophie's riddle, and Sophie is the Princess. Does that mean Sophie needs to find her true love and kiss—

'Oh... Oh no.'

Agatha looked at Tedros. No, Sophie's True Love. 

"Agatha?" 

"What's the one thing Evil can never have,
And the one thing Good can never do without?"

"Are you feeling okay?"

"That's what the School Master said, he also said that something had to come between us. Something that answers the riddle."

"You're right, the answer has been staring at us this whole time... And the only way a fairytale can end is by finishing it." Agatha stared at Tedros, much to his confusion. 
"Hey Tedros, what do you think of my sister?"

Tedros blinked at the random question but answered easily without hesitation much to Agatha's surprise and dread. 

"I don't like her."

"What? Why? Sophie would do wonderful as an Ever if she's here! She's pretty, she's elegant, and she would've aced my classes!"

"Maybe. But your sister would be just like everybody else." Tedros rolled his eyes. 

"But consider it. Sophie was put in the wrong school, and she could be your Princ—"

"I know who my Princess is, and it's not her." He cuts off. 

"You do?" Agatha's eyes widened at the confession. 

"Not really... But I'm sure it's not Sophie." Tedros admitted. 
"I'm looking for her, actually. Though I hope to find her before the Snow Ball. But I know she's at the Good school, and she's definitely not Sophie." 

"But what if? hypothetically— what if your Princess is Sophie?" Agatha almost begs the question. 

Tedros stops to think.

"If... By some miracle or curse, Sophie is my Princess. Well... I still don't like her. Sometimes we make mistakes, and sometimes your Princess is not your true love. It's rare, but it happens." Tedros said sadly, his eyes seemingly looking toward the direction of Merlin's Menagerie. 
"If she proves herself, maybe? But right now, I don't like her, or even ever. And what's this about her being in the wrong school? You still say that?"

"It's just that Sophie—" But Agatha was interrupted when she felt a flick on her forehead. 

"Sophie this, Sophie that. I know you love your sister. But her problem isn't yours." Tedros scolded. 
"It's bad enough that you get into a lot of trouble here, but she also keeps stressing you with her problems and that's not fair. Listen, only Nevers do that."

"But that's all she ever wanted. Being a Princess is her dream, Tedros." Agatha argues. 

"She's in the Evil school for a reason."

"But what if that's a mistake?" The girl said.
"What if Sophie was really meant to be an Ever?"

"And you a Never?" Tedros shoots back. 
"I'm sorry, but I find that hard to believe."

Agatha's lips thinned at that. 

"But what if I am?"

"No. You are not a Never, Agatha. You're honest, smart, brave, and most importantly, you are kind. Fairies like you, animals like you, Kiko, Gregor, Chaddick, and I like you. You're not a Never, you're an Ever. You're one of us, okay?"

"I'm not winning this against you, aren't I?" Agatha sighed, ignoring the pink in her cheeks.

"No. No, I don't think you are." Tedros grinned, and she sighed again. 
"I think you're a strong person, Agatha. But I noticed that when it comes to your sister, you sacrifice a lot for her."

"She's my sister."

"And you're your own person, too," Tedros said. 

The two of them stared eye to eye for a long moment before Agatha smiled appreciatingly at the boy.

"Thank you." 

"No problem. Thank you for the tea as well." 

After the second pot was empty, Tedros thanked Agatha again for the tea and snacks before excusing himself. Agatha welcomed the boy and walked him to the door. 

"I'm sorry for keeping you for too long."

"No, I had a great time. I got to know you better."

The blond chuckled at the girl's casual attitude, finding himself wanting to talk with her like this again. No passive cues, strict etiquette, or pretend smiles that usually are paired with girls fluttering their eyes at him. It was... Normal. New, but normal. 

"I hope you won't avoid me after this." Tedros teased while Agatha swatted at him mirthfully. 

"I don't think I can anyway. You're like a persistent splinter."

"A Prince demoted into a splinter?" He laughed.
"A charming one, I bet?"

"Maybe." Agatha cheeks back.
"Quiet the pain, but not as bad as I thought."

Tedros laughed again at the raven-haired girl's sass and curtsied in a dramatic bow.

"Today is quite the rollercoaster of a day for both of us, but I'd be a liar if I said I didn't enjoy it. I hope I'm invited again to the next tea time?"

Agatha snorted but composed herself before curtsing back, just as playful.

"The pleasure is all mine, oh dear Prince Tedros."

The two stared at each other for a few seconds before giggling at their antics. When Agatha was about to close the door, a hand stopped her, and the raven-haired girl looked at Tedros questioningly. 

"Hey, Agatha?"

"Yes?"

"Can I join you in lunch again tomorrow?"

Agatha opened her mouth to say yes but stopped when she was about to voice her answer. A sudden feeling of worry burned in her chest. Agatha would dare say that Tedros is her friend now, and she does like his company and wouldn't mind hanging out with him again. But what would the other girls think? What of Sophie? Her sister will be livid with her. 

"I don't know... The other girls might attack me if they see me around you all the time."

"I'll handle them, and it won't have to be every day. Just hang out with me sometime." Tedros said. 

"Then I guess it's fine." 

Agatha nodded, and the golden boy brightened at the reply, finally turning around and walking away. The girl sighed as a fond smile graced her lips. What would they have for lunch tomorrow, she wondered. Maybe some broth and vegetables with cake as dessert. For the first time, she feels excited for lunch, and after lunch, Gregor, Kiko, and she are going to train swordplay again at their secret place. Maybe they could convince the other girl to give training a try and not just watch. 

As Agatha daydreamed, a screech snapped her from her stupor and quickly she turned to the window where the sound came from. 

"Aggie!" A voice screamed from outside.

Surprised and honestly shocked, Agatha sprinted to the balcony window and opened it wide. 

"Sophie!" The girl cheered.

Chapter Text

In a crooked tunnel, a blond girl fights and flails with all her might as she tries to free herself from her punisher. The wolf in question only growls in annoyance while he drags the Nevergirl to the Doom Room and passes the punishment that the girl deserves. 

"No! Get your hands off of me! Stop it! Let me go! Ahhhhh!"

Sophie screeched, doing her best to hold onto the hair that the wolf was dragging her by, passing through the narrow sewers and nearer the room of torture and nightmare. Surrounded by the drains filled with black sludge from the river, Sophie fought with all she had when they encountered Vex on their way. The boy moaned in pain as another wolf dragged him towards the exit, but that's not what caught Sophie's attention. It was his eyes... Those dark orbs shined with malice and hate than the last time she was him, and Sophie blanched at the sight. Whatever happened to him inside that room made him more villainous and Evil than before, and she feared what that would mean for her.

Sophie's heart threatened to burst out of her chest as she tried her best to press her feet to the ground and resist the beast from pulling her to the worst possible place in this school. 

"You ugly, smelly, short-snouted albino!" She cried. 

Adelaide... Adelaide will find a way to save her! To get us home, she always does!

The blond told herself as she held back her tears and hardened her heart to some semblance and hope. 

'Stay alive for rescue. For Agatha.' 

Surprisingly, the deeper they go, the cleaner the water becomes. And the dirty and smelly stones change to smooth concrete. They went deeper and deeper until the white wolf kicked open a heavy door and shoved Sophie inside a clean dungeon with lanterns illuminating the room. 

After being dragged for a while, Sophie let out a deep sigh and gingerly messaged her scalp when the white wolf let her go. Unfortunately, the girl's relief was short-lived... 

Because not everything inside the dungeon was clean, and the girl could almost feel her soul leave her body at what welcomed her. 

Breaking wheel.

Iron maiden. 

Garrote.

Thumbscrews..

The rack...

A terrifying collection of whips, spears, clubs, rods, knives, hooks, and is that a noose and a stock? 

Sophie could feel her lunch trying to lurch out of her stomach but fought to keep it down. 

A loud clang snapped her attention back to the wolf that brought her to this dreadful room, and she hiccuped as the white wolf stared down at her with his blood-red eyes. The beast was easily twice the size of his kin and twice as terrifying. She watched as the albino wolf cracked open a scroll and read its contents.

"Sophie of Woods Beyond," The beast announced.
"You have been summoned to the Doom Room for the following charges: Conspiring to, Commit untruth, Disruption of Assembly, Attempted Murder of a Faculty Member—"

"Murder?!" Sophie gasped—

"Crossing of Boundary Lines During Assembly, Destruction of School Property, Harassment of Fellow Students, and Crimes Against Humanity."

"I plead not guilty to all charges! Especially the last!!" Sophie scowled. 

The beast of a wolf seized her face in his palms and growled warningly, making the girl tremble as she looked up at him. 

"Guilty until proven innocent." The wolf snarled. 

Sophie fought the hold wildly, almost like a feral animal, while her punisher pulled her to a torture chair and strapped her securely. Even as the blond screamed her innocence and angry pleas bounced through the walls, the wolf ignored it and chose instead to eye the variety of torture weapons one after another and picked up a knife and pressed it close to Sophie's cheek. 
 
"No! You'll leave marks!" Sophie's face paled tremendously at the sight of the blade going near her beautiful face.

To her surprise, he released her. 

"For a Never, you are easy to break. It usually takes beatings to find any kind of weakness." The beast huffed. 

With a look of confusion, the girl stared as the white wolf turned to place the knife on the table. Taking the chance that graced her, Sophie kicked the beast to the place where no light shone and felt satisfaction when the monster fell to his knees. She was suddenly thankful that Adelaide stubbornly told her the places her sister said would immediately stunt a man of any age if she ever found herself in trouble. Her sister was such a nerd, but that nerdiness helped her this time. Hopefully.

While down, she tried her best to kick the knife off the table and hide it underneath her chair while the white wolf keened in pain from his precious balls. Unfortunately, the beast recovered fast and angrily grabbed an ax from a stand at the opposite side of the room and marched towards Sophie with barely concealed furry. He growled. And rightfully so, but Sophie could only think that this is how she dies, and it's all Agatha's fault. 

"Please, I'm sorry! I didn't mean to!" Sophie wailed and wiggled her tightly bound wrist from where she sat. Finally, she realized her mistake, and her face was as pale as a sheet of paper. 

"Villains don't learn from apologies." The beast's red eyes gleamed darkly. 
"Villains learn from pain." Sophie's heart thumped wildly at each step the beast took towards her. 

"No... Hello! Someone, please!"

"Pain makes you stronger." The light reflected from the sharp end of the ax blade, and she saw her scared reflection.

"Help!" Sophie shrieked as the wolf came closer. 

"Pain makes you grow."

The white beast grabbed Sophie by the hair for the second time that day and lifted her head to look at her wide, dilated, jade eyes. He raised his high and was ready to strike down with fury.

"Pain makes you Evil."

"No!" Sophie choked and flinched back when his hand lowered down to her—
"Please!"

The blade slashed down with a loud clang just behind her skull, and when he lifted it and rested it on his shoulder, Sophie numbly stared at the floor when she felt her head feel lighter than before. 

The comforting weight of her beautiful, long, blonde hair was gone. 

The hair she painstakingly maintained for many years was butchered off. 

Sophie watched in shock as the white wolf presented her crudely chopped blond locks before letting them fall to the cold stone floor without care. 

Sophie froze. 

For a good few seconds, she stood still like a stone statue that displayed anguished shock. The information was slowly processing in her brain. She stared at the blond hair pathetically lying at her feet, mouth agape, and throat tight. The terrorized girl turned to the silent, expressionless wolf who watched her every move and reaction, and Sophie couldn't help it when her lips started to tremble. Her body limped in her chair, wrist wrapped, soul shattered, and hair chopped. The beast gently huffed at her and watched as tears fell down her cheeks. Sophie cried until her nose stuffed up and she couldn't breathe properly due to crying, her wrist bruised from how much she pulled—

Then, the albino wolf unstrapped her. 

Sophie lifted her raw, red eyes to see blood red meet her own. She stared numbly as the beast freed her from the torture chair and proceeded to ignore her shocked state and speak. 

"Get out." He growled.

The white beast watched as Sophie knelt on the floor to grab a fist full of her chopped blond hair and sobbed again. Not wanting to see any more of it, he turned to place the axe from where he took it and looked behind to check on what the girl was doing when the sobbing stopped, and the quiet came suddenly. He saw that the room was empty and the door was open. Growling softly to himself, the white wolf lumbered out of the dungeon and knelt at the midpoint between rolling muck and clean water after a short walk. As he dipped his furred hands into the clean water and leaned closer for a drink, a sharp pain burst from his side, and he caught his reflection in the clean water—

Only it wasn't just his reflection on the surface of the water...

Another sharp pain stabbed through his senses as the weapon—

A knife. That knife.

"Die."

The blade was pulled from his side and was stabbed a second time and a third time more deeper. No blood was spilled to the floor because the vest and his white fur absorbed his red, hot blood, like paint into an empty canvas. The beast tried to stand up, but he felt himself pushed, and gravity did its job to pull the wolf to the muck side of the river before he trashed in black water and slime. He did his best to swim for the wall, but the tides were too strong, and blood was sleeping fast in three different wounds at the same time. Soon, the beast grunted and howled for his friends, but the dungeon was too deep down, and down, for anyone to hear him voicing for help.

Sophie stood there. Eyes cold and hair unevenly short.

She watched him gurgle and flail, doing his best to survive until he howled his very last breath. The beast sank to the bottom of the dark muck like a stone in water. 

Smoothing her hair the best she could, Sophie started to walk towards the light. Swallowing the bile threatening to force its way out of her throat. 

'It's Okay. She's fine!'

Sophie told herself desperately. But the words echoed in his mind when the beast finally died in that muck. Words that are definite. The rules of this world she currently lives in hold. Words that now hunt her mind.

The Good forgive, said the rules...

The Good forgive...

The Good Forgive—

But the rules were wrong.

The Good forgive!!

They had to be. 

The Good forgive...

Because she hasn't forgiven. She hasn't forgiven at all. 

The Good Forgive, the Evil punish. 
 
Sophie quickened her pace into a quick jog. 

She has to find Adelaide. Adelaide will help her! She always does! Her sister will help her like she normally does, and she always will. Sophie is her only family in this place! Her baby sister will definitely know what to do next because she's smart! 

Nobody needs to know what happened here today. 

And when she sees her sister, Adelaide will listen to her requests. The raven-haired girl always did, and maybe everything that happened today was just a bad dream that would disappear if she thought nothing of it. A very bad dream. But perhaps the wolf deserves to die because why the hell doesn't he? The creature is Evil, and she's Good! Heroes fight Evil all the time and prevail! That's just her winning and prevailing in her battle. 

Yes. That's it! 

She Good, she has to be. 

The Good Forgive, the Evil punish.

She's Good, she's a princess, and she deserves her happy ever after after all the hard work she put in, even when her heart hasn't forgiven. She will forgive eventually for sure, it is just that the wound is still new. Sophie ignored the part inside her that was satisfied with the punishment she gave. 

Chapter Text

Branches and leaves seem to loom over the girl as she does her best to get out of that place and into the clearing, where she is sure her sister is waiting for her. Where for sure Adelaide will keep her safe—

"Sophie?"

Gasping, Sophie turned to look at Dot, who was gasping at her with such horror. To her face. No, wait... She's looking at her head— AHHHHHHHH! Everything is OKAY! It's just a haircut! Wait... Oh, no... Everybody is looking.

"Is that Sophie?"
"Her hair."
"Now that's Never's hair." Students mumbled. 

No. No, no,no. NoNoNoNoOnonoO—

"Excuse me— something is in my eye—"

Sophie blushed in shame as she sucked behind a blue rosebush and buried her face into her hands in a silent scream. 

"At least you look like a proper Never now," Hester commented with a wide grin. 

The latter's face turned redder like a pomegranate before aiming her shoe in Hester's direction. Which the young witch only dodged effortlessly with a devilish grin. Anadil also quietly enjoyed the free entertainment and was glad Hester enjoyed herself by annoying the color off Sophie's face. 

"Where's Adelaide?" 

She yelled to the coven of three and cried another loud yell as her other shoe flew through the air when nobody answered her and accidentally hit Ravan in the head, much to the other boy's surprised yelp. Sophie forced herself to be composed when she remembered again that she was in front of a crowd. Dot smiled at the distressed blond while Hester rolled her eyes, and Anadil ignored most of what was happening. 

"Agatha hasn't been let out of her room, love. Too bad she'll miss the flower ground, but it's her punishment. Tedros too. But I guess it's not much of a loss for a person like Tedros, as you know." 

"That is if Yuba can call the conductor. Nice hair, by the way." Hester said. 

"Shut!" Sophie warned. 

"You were so pretty..." Dot added, her eyes mournful. 

"It'll grow back," the blond replied, doing her best not to cry again for the loss of her hair.

"Don't worry. One day, someone Evil enough will kill that monster." Anadil commented. 

Nobody noticed Sophie stiffened. 
 
"All aboard!" Yuba snapped to Sophie's still world. 

"Sophie, come on, love." Dot coaxed.

Soon, Yuba thrust Flower ground passes to each of the students in his group and group 8 while the centaur guardian of the other group was talking to the conductor about something. 

"Because two people in our group are absent, Macky and I decided to unite both groups in today's challenge," Yuba announced a moment later. Macky, the centaur, neighed quietly beside the Gnome with crossed arms. 

Group 3: Yuba the Gnome 
Ravan
Dot
Sophie 
Beatrix 
Hort
Millicent 
Adelaide (absent)
Tedros (absent)

Group 8: Macky the Centaur 
Bole
Greko
Gregor 
Kiko
Chaddick 
Reena 
Vex
Mali 

"No spitting, sneezing, singing, sniffling, swinging, swearing, strapping, sleeping, or urinating in the Flower ground. If they throw you out, you are on your own." Yuba warned with a stomp of his staff. 

"Just follow the rules, and you'll be fine," Macky reassured. 

"Wait. Where's Tedros?" Sophie asked Dot.

"Didn't I already tell you? He's staying at the school for his punishment."

"Punishment?!"

"Yes, because he started the fight earlier," Anadil added. 

"Violations will result in the removal of your clothes. Or you. All aboard!" The Gnome yelled out. 

"No— Wait! I need to find my sis—"

A vine shot up and cut her off before she could finish her sentence and yanked her under. 

The sudden pull forced Sophie to unconsciously snap her lips shut while the plant plunged her through bright-colored plants at a dizzying speed. More vines wrapped around her securely, and she almost screamed when a giant green flytrap plant swallowed her. Sophie was sure she was dead, but she felt no pain or slime surround her. Opening her eyes, the girl saw the most magical place she had ever seen since her arrival in this world.

In front of her was an underground magical transport system as big as a whole village and made entirely of luminescent magical plants. Passengers dangled in vine straps attached to glowing, different-colored tree trunks and flowers. They stretched in various directions and angles. She saw dwarves, humans, elves, and creatures of different kinds. Glancing down from their 'HIBISCUS LINE', she noticed that only Nevers were strapped into harnesses while Evers were not. 

"The Flowers ground's only for Evers," Dot explained when she noticed Sophie's confused look. 
"They have to let us in because we're with the school, but they don't trust us."

Sophie doesn't care. 

She would ride the flower ground forever if she could. For the first time since she arrived in this place, creatures treated her like a Princess! Harnessed, but a Princess! 

Animals played music for her, REAL, delicious foods were served in each line. The aromatic scents soothed her tense muscles and more! All this made her relax, forgetting about boys, beasts, and dreadful things. She felt like herself again and smiled as vines pulled her up, up, up, And Into a churning wind wheel of blue light. Her skin felt the gentle breeze of the wind, she could feel the tall grass on the earth, and soon she felt herself bloom from the ground like a Princess. Slowly, Sophie opened her eyes to see a field of flow—

Headstones of the deceased surrounded her. 

"A graveyard?" Sophie choked in distress. Her earlier fantasies shattered like glass. 

Barren hills and chilled wind made themselves known in this dead-colored place. 

"W-where a-are we?" A boy from the other group, Gregor, Sophie reminded herself, asked with chattering teeth. 

"The Garden— of— Good and Evil." Chaddick, another of Adelaide's friends, replied with a shiver. 

"G-garden? This d-doesn't look l-like a garrrden to me." Gregor trembled harder. 

"It's not that cold?" Kiko asked, looking at her two friends with worried confusion. 

"But it's freezing!" 

The younger Prince said. And Chaddick, God bless his soul, took off his coat and draped it over the red-haired Prince. 

"This cold doesn't bother me, probably because I'm a half mermaid, and mermaids practically live in the cold waters of the sea, so I'm fine with this level of chill," Kiko explained. 

The cold air disappeared when Yuba sparked a few small fires around the two groups with a flick of his magic staff. The centaur helped the student thaw their cold skins, and Sophie sighed in relief as the warmth of the fire clung to her skin. 

"In a few weeks, you will each be unlocked to perform spells. But spells are no substitute for surviving skills. Meerworms live near graves and can keep you alive when food is scarce. Today, you will find them and then eat them!

Sophie found herself getting sick to her stomach. 

"Off you go! Teams of two!" The centaur said. 

"Whichever team eats the most meerworms wins the challenge!" The Gnome added before his eyes flicked to Sophie. 
"Perhaps our black sheep can find redemption today."

"Or maybe the black sheep is a wolf in sheep's clothing." Murmured Millicent.

Hester grinned and stalked around the Ever like a Tiger to a prey, her smile sharp and eyes glinting with dark joy and annoyance. Angry that this Ever thought that Sophie is some great villain to compare her to a wolf. A powerful predator. 

"If this blond buffoon is a wolf in your eyes. I don't think you'll survive when you meet a real villain." Millicent trembled as Hester messed with her. 

"Let's go, Hester," Anadil called out gently.
"We need to find some worms to eat and win."

Hester sneered at the Ever before walking towards the albino Never and led the girl to an area where they could look for meerworms to eat. Anadil gladly follows the other witch's lead. 

"Come on, love. We can't be left behind." Dot pulled Sophie, and soon, the two girls dug around looking for worms. 

While digging, Sophie noticed a figure in the distance. A silhouette of a massive man stood standing on top of a hill with his long black beard, thick dreadlocks, and midnight blue skin. The man was working, digging a row of graves while his clothes followed the flow of the wind, uncaring of the cold. 

"Who's that?" Sophie asked. 

"That's the Crypt keeper. He is in charge of the burials of this place." Hester said melancholy,
"He also works alone too. That's why the burying process takes so long." She hissed at nobody in particular. 

"Why doesn't he have help?"

"Because no one can interfere with the Crypt Keeper's system," Hort said softly, mournfully. 
"Two years my dad waited... Killed by Peter Pan himself, my dear ol'dad deserves a proper grave."

Dot moved to give a comforting pat to the other boy when Sophie stared at the two-mile line of bodies and coffins waiting for burial behind the Crypt Keeper. Immediately, she noticed the difference between the Never and Ever coffins. Glass coffins of gold or silver for Prince and Princesses, and Villains only have wooden coffins or nothing at all. Some villains are left unattended on the hills loop beneath circling vultures to ravish and peck. The Crypt Keeper pulled a big book from his massive amount of hair and scanned the page before picking up a gold coffin with a handsome man in it, heaved it into an empty plot, and carried a glass coffin with a beautiful Princess and placed her right next to him and began burying them. 

"Anastasia and Jacob. Died of starvation while on honeymoon. Avoidable deaths had they paid attention in class." Yuba snapped. 

"They were supposed to be on break." Macky chimes gently, neighing softly at the Gnome. 

"Let's go back to searching," Dot said to Sophie.

But Sophie couldn't turn her eyes away. 

The Crypt keeper pulled out his book again and read through it before roughly picking up a coffinless Ogre and plunking him in the next empty plot. The next is a silver-tombed Queen beside her matching King. Then, a wooden coffined Witch. Alone in her plot. The cycle repeats in every hill and valley. Evers buried together with twin headstones, Nevers buried alone. 

Boy and Girl.

Man and Wife.

Prince and Princess.

"That's it..." Sophie mumbled airily. 

Ever After. Paradise together.
Nevermore. Paradise alone. 

Two people. Together. Love.

"That's the answer."

"What are you talking about?" Dot asked, confused.

"Cover for me," Sophie whispered to the other girl. 

"What? Where are you— wait! We're a—"

But before she could finish her question, Sophie had already scampered away towards the Flower entrance. 

"Team." Dot sulked sadly.

~~~

A moment later, Sophie arrived back at the school. She stopped at the blue forest to spot the top of the Purity Tower. Agatha's Tower. 

"Now, how do I get up— Ah."

Running through the blue woods, Sophie searched for the Stymph's nest to use the egg again to ride the bony bird. Similar to how she rode one towards the School Master's Tower. 

"Squawk!"

Sophie stopped before running towards the noise and saw a nest behind a periwinkle buck. Two resting skeletal Stymphs lay beside their undisturbed nest. The girl grinned before sneaking behind the deadly birds and successfully grabbed two eggs from the clutch and yelled at the older bird's attention. 

"Shall we try this again?"

Immediately, the Stymphs screeched in anger at Sophie and readied to peek the girl's head off her shoulder when Sophie clicked her tongue tauntingly and lifted one of the eggs in her hand hazardously. Both birds screeched another angry scream and puffed their nonexistent feathers but didn't attack. 

"Good birds." Sophie cooed. 
"I know animals love princesses, and you should know better than to attack me like last time." 

The Stymph squawked in indignant rage. 

"Ah, ah, ah. I'm carrying fragile cargo here." Sophie reminded, and the Stymphs behaved again. 

Unfortunately, the other Stymph had no patience for the girl and launched. But then the girl threw one of the eggs high in the sky. While distracted, she climbed one of the colossal birds when they reached to catch the egg. Once she was perched, Sophie pulled for the Stymph to fly up towards the Towers of Good. 

Soaring through the sky, Sophie flew close to the top of Purity Tower and screamed her sister's name. Not a moment later, Agatha opened her balcony window and stared at her with wide eyes. 

"Sophie! You're alive!" The girl cheered.

"Love." She panted as she climbed down the Stymph. She was careful to hide the other egg in her dress. 

"I'm so ha— your hair." Agatha gasped. 

"Love is what a villain can never have, but heroes can't live without."

"What did they do to you? You rode a Stymph—"

"Am I right to not?"

Seeing that Sophie is not talking about what happened at the Doom Room, Agatha stops voicing her worry and focuses instead on what her sister came for. 

"Close, but no."

Agatha pointed at the painting on the wall in her room. Specifically, the version where the Prince and Princess's lips pressed together in a climactic embrace. 

"True love's kiss." Sophie breathed, and Agatha nodded. 

"If your true love kisses you then you can't be a villain," The raven-haired girl said in a serious tone.

"And If you can't find love... Then you can't be a princess." Agatha swallowed thickly at Sophie's joyous smile. 

"And we go home." The latter finished. 

"Thank goodness your half is taken care of. My side is easy enough. I can make any one of those disgusting Neverboys fall in love with me." 

Sophie dismissed, and Agatha winced at the older girl's statement. 

"Just give me five minutes, an empty broom closet, and—" 

"There's only one, Sophie," Agatha said softly.
"Every Ever only has one True Love."

Sophie stared at the younger girl at her implications and collapsed onto Agatha's bed while the raven-haired girl gave her sympathetic looks. The older girl looked pale in her place before she lowered her head, blonde locks curtained the euphoria shining in her jade eyes. 

"Tedros." 

Agatha winced for the second time and nodded before looking away, accidentally turning to the pink roses innocently sitting on the vase. 

"Tedros has to... Kiss me?" Sophie breathed dreamily. 

"Maybe? We're not sure—"

"Oh my God. Aggie, Teddy will kiss me!"

"Are you sure it's Tedros?" Agatha asked gently, sitting beside Sophie in the bed. 

"I knew he was my Prince the first moment I laid my eyes on him." Sophie fawned. 

"How? You don't even know him? You two barely talked with each other?" Agatha asked, trying her best to understand. 
"What if you're wrong? What if he isn't your True Love? What if, just what if— he isn't your Prince? What do we do then?"

"He is. Believe me." Sophie responded sternly.

"I'm not fighting with you, Sophie. I'm just saying that you shouldn't rule out that Tedros might not be—"

"I know who my True Love is." Snapped Sophie. 
"You want to go home right? Then you need to choose... Help me, and we go home? Or you don't, and we'll be stuck here." 

"You know I'll always choose you," Agatha replied anxiously while still trying to make a point. 

Sophie secretly preened at the confirmation. She should've never doubted that her sister would always choose family above all else. Still, it feels so good to hear she's right and her sister listens well. 

"Then help me get my kiss."

"Sophie, n—"

"Adelaide. You want to go home to Father and Callis, right?"

Sophie knew she had won when she saw Agatha flinch at the mention of their father and her weird adopted doctor mother. The blonde knew the younger girl had been worried about Stefan since the first day, especially with how they separated from him. And she knew when Agatha gave up fighting against her when the latter closed her eyes and took deep, shaky breaths.

"Then you will get your kiss," Agatha said with a deep sigh.
"But he needs to kiss you without being tricked, forced, or duped into it. He has to mean it."

"Then help me. I can't do this alone. I live with villains! My roommates and other Nevers will try and tear us apart, Aggie!" The blond said, ignoring Agatha's flinch. 
"He also thinks I'm a villain! He hates me! He's a King's son, he's beautiful, and he is perfect. Oh, so perfect while I look— oh, it's awful! My long beautiful hair— my clothes— I'm— I'm—"
 
"Still a Princess." Agatha coaxed. 

"Really?" Sophie sniffed, burying her face in the soft sheets of the bed. 

"Yes. And we have to make this kiss happen." The other girl said with a forced smile. 

Sophie stopped crying to look at the younger girl with hopeful jade eyes. 

"We?" Said Sophie.

"We." Rasped Agatha. 

A bright smile graced Sophie's face, and the girl leaped to hug Agatha joyfully. 

"I knew I could count on you! We can go home, Aggie. We're going home!" 

Agatha sighed in relief at her sister's words, and yet she felt restless. Her instincts are screaming that something is not right. That the Doom Room has taken something more than her hair from her sister. It's those eyes. Her Jade eyes seemed different, darker somehow. The girl squelched her doubts somewhere deep inside her head and hugged her sister tighter. 

"One kiss and it will all be over." Agatha buried her face in her sister's with a whisper. 

"One kiss." Sophie parroted. 

As the two girls embraced in one Tower, in another, a shadow-like man is watching the storian finish a magnificent painting of the sisters in each other's arms before continuing to write at the bottom in beautiful calligraphy. 

"But no kiss comes without its price."

The School Master cackled, his icy blue eyes stared at the Storian, who stubbornly stared back just as willfully despite not having eyes. 

"Soon.." His scratchy voice said to the seemingly sentient pen. 

The pen hovered higher at the book it was writing, looming over at the School Master in a challenging manner while it flew in front of its book defensively. 

Tedros looked out at the massive school library window and saw the clear blue sky, his thoughts drifting. 

Sader's hand stopped at whatever he was writing and turned in Halfway Bay's direction. His unseeing eyes seemingly see something. 

Bane is busy working around the school with the other fairies when he sees some fresh bread and muffins after passing through the kitchen. Chiming happily at the food, and decided to bring some food and tea to Agatha's room with the other fairies' help. 

Chapter Text

It has been a week since Sophie last visited.

Agatha feels worried about their future. The raven-haired girl has been asking for updates about her sister's progress on wooing, which is more like seducing the man situation, Tedros. So far, Agatha is not seeing any changes or improvement in their relationship, but instead it seems more like the golden boy is doing his best at avoiding the blonde Never, and the latter is not doing a great job of wooing the Prince. 

And now she's here, sighing under the shade of a great oak tree while enjoying the cooling breeze of the wind after a stressful day at school. 

"Muffin?"

Speak of golden Princes and they shall appear. ...With muffins.

"Yes." 

Agatha thanked the boy as he handed her a blueberry muffin and a cup of latte. Putting her book down, she started to eat with gusto, not having the heart to decline free food. And who in the right mind would say no to sweets? 

"You can't just eat every food handed to you." 

Chaddick utters with amusement at the raven-haired girl who stared him dead in the eyes as she took a big bite of the muffin with a deadpan face. The other boy rolled his eyes at her. Gregor and Kiko were also there, finishing the assignment Professor Sader gave them.

"It's like Tedros is bribing Agatha through sweets." Kiko laughed. 

"No, he isn't," Agatha argued with stuffed cheeks. 

"Tedros always gives you food like an offering before sitting with you." 

"And to be frank, you always accept them." 

The Camelot heir in question only glared at the two boys who dared laugh at his glare. 

"Totally a bribe." Kiko nodded, while Agatha chose to ignore her friends and instead focus on her delicious muffin.

The group of friends laughed and teased each other during the lunch break before the coven of witches walked over to them, Hester leading them, as usual. 

"Agatha, can I strangle your sister and kidnap you to Evil? Please?" Hester complained, her frustration evident. 

"What did she do?" The latter asked worriedly. 

Hester draped herself over the raven-haired Ever's shoulder with a tired sigh. Dot chortled while Kiko offered the other Never some chocolate chip cookies, and Anadil and Tedros grumbled at the level of PDA. Meanwhile, Chaddick and Gregor are already used to the strangeness of it all, at this point. It's unusual for Nevers to come over to the Ever side but somehow the famous coven of Witches of the Evil school likes Agatha. And thus... This. 

"She's singing! Every day, every hour! I think my ears are going to fall off!" 

"You could put a hex on her." 

"Gregor!" Kiko gasped. 

"What?" The red-haired Prince asked. 

"I like him. He has darkness in him." Anadil whispered with approval. 

"You don't get uncursed and come back the same person, even if it's only for a day," Gregor mumbled. 

"Oh God,"

"Yeah, man! Change can happen, but you came back strong! I'm proud of you!" Chaddick boomed before patting the blushing younger boy' back. 
"And you're getting better at swordplay! Soon, you will knock out most of the boys in class or challenge Nevers and win!" 

"Chaddick! Don't encourage him to fight people." Kiko scolded. 

"I, for one, think it's great that Gregor's improving," Agatha said.

Gregor and Agatha looked at each other with knowing smirks, and Kiko rolled her eyes at her two best friends. 

"I wish I could, ginger boy," Hester grumbled.

"Try distracting her. Keep her busy." Agatha offered.
"Usually, I leave for apprenticeship whenever Sophie overwhelms me, but giving her something to do works too." 

"We'll try that." Anadil nodded. 

A few small talks later, the coven left with teasing or insulting (To the Princes, minus Gregor) remarks before they left. They did not linger any longer than necessary on the Good side of the clearing and chatted instead with curious Never boys and girls on the Evil side. Forty minutes before the end of lunch, Gregor grumbled down at his bag, searching for something. Kiko and Agatha gave the boy questioning looks. 

"I left my 'Chivalry of a Prince' book at the library. I need that for Good Deeds later." He explained. 

"We can grab it. We still have a lot of time before Good Deeds." Agatha responded. 

"I can come with you two?" 

"No, you're still eating. Finish that and don't dare waste food." The raven-haired girl reasoned as she stood up with a stretch.

"I can go on my own," Gregor uttered. 

"I need to go library too. There are a few books that I want to borrow. Are you coming with us, Kiko?" 

"Sorry, I need to finish this first." the other girl gestured to her assignment. 

"We'll be back soon," Gregor said as he and Agatha walked away. 

Gregor and Agatha talked on their way to the library, mostly about previous classes during the day or swordplay. As they walked, Agatha noticed that the boy kept rubbing his eyes and immediately searched for eyedrops inside the small side bag she always carried with her.

"Do you still have some of the eyedrops I made left?" She asked as she grabbed a small glass bottle with a dropper from her bag and gave it to the younger boy. 

"I ran out of it yesterday, actually," Gregor said sheepishly. While Agatha helped put some of the lubricating eyedrops on his eyes. 

"This isn't a cure, Gregor." the older girl scolded. 
"It's just lubricant that soothes your eye irritation. I think you should ask the school's doctor about this. It's been days." 

Blinking a few times, Gregor let his eyes rest for a while and let the eyedrops do their thing when Agatha reached for his hand and handed him the bottle. With a thank you, the younger Prince put it in his pocket before they continued their way. Agatha scolding him a bit. 

"It's not a condition, Agatha," Gregor whined. 

"So you do know what it is," The girl caught on, much to her boy's disgruntlement. 

"I do..." 

"Can you tell me?" Agatha asked. 

The boy hesitated for a moment, and his lips thinned in concentration. Agatha was about to take back her question when Gregor opened his mouth to speak.

"Do you know what Gargoyles are for?" 

Agatha's mind stopped at the sudden question. It's not often that Gregor talks about his "time" when he was cursed. However, they did have conversations about it, especially when the younger boy clung to her after the curse lifted and when he, Kiko, and Agatha hung out in her room when she was locked up the first time. It's not a topic they often reminisce over but an event that they acknowledge, regardless. The raven-haired girl doesn't understand what that has to do with his dry eye. 

"Gargoyles is used to ward evil spirits, or so they say," 

"Yeah... And it's kind of what we did. I did when I was a gargoyle. But instead of evil spirits, it's for intruders who try to break into the school. Or if Nevers tries to go to Good, although I heard you were kind of the first Ever that tried to go to Evil instead and succeeded." Gregor said as a matter of fact. 
"The school uses gargoyles as a defense system so of course they added something to them to aid their purpose as guards of some sort. They added a spell... It's affecting our eyes. That's why the school's gargoyle eyes glow." 

"What did they do?'

"I-I'm not exactly sure."

Agatha looked at the younger boy worriedly. She didn't know Gregor long before he was cursed, but she had a feeling that the boy was more meek and shyer before he changed into a gargoyle. She then remembered how the red-haired prince described being under the curse. A body made of stone that cracks and rumbles in painful ways that a human soul shouldn't know, to have a mouth that doesn't speak, an unfamiliar body, and instincts that go against your will. No one should have experienced that, especially a boy his age.

"You don't have to tell me, Gregor," Agatha said gently.

"I know you said I don't have to force myself, but it's just..."

The older girl looked at Gregor understandingly. 

"Gargoyles are given the talent to see through a person's soul. We know if they are Good or Evil, or if they had malicious intentions for the school or just visiting. It is engraved in a gargoyle core, its purpose. No one expected someone like you around and hasn't thought anyone could lift a gargoyle's curse. So when you saved me back then... That "talent" stayed with me." 

"Oh... Gregor, I had no-" 

"I know, I know." The boy interrupted. 
"You and Kiko helped me adjust even though you two didn't know. You helped me feel normal again. You both stayed with me when you could've ignored me and left. You were so nice, and Kiko was so happy for me." He said tearily.

"Appletart..." Agatha cooed and pulled the shorter boy into a hug. 

"But sometimes it's just hard..." The red-haired Prince buried his face in the older's embrace. 

"I know, sweet-tart, I know." She soothes.

"I see people's inner souls, and sometimes it's hard to ignore them. Our classmate's souls hurt my eyes because of how sparkly and shiny they are. It's easier to look at the Nevers because their souls glow darker shades of colors. But that person's soul is scary, Addy... I don't like it. Her heart is like a pitch-black hole that swallows every bit of kindness her way. It scares me..." Gregor hugged her tighter. 

"Her?" Agatha asked, but when Gregor shook his head, she didn't pry any further.
"How about mine? Is my soul very shiny and hurts your eyes?" 

Gregor lifted his face and stared Agatha in the eyes, his green orbs glowing red as he looked unblinkingly at the older girl. 

"No... It's a warm light, like a star or a moon. It is shiny but in a softer kind of way." 

Agatha smiled down at the boy and patted his head affectionately. 

"I'm glad." She said while wiping tears from his cheeks. 
"Let's go. The others are waiting for us." Squeezing his cheeks lightly, Agatha blooped the younger boy's nose and was glad at the small giggle that followed. 
"And you can call me Addy." She winked while he blushed in embarrassment. 

The older girl pulled the boy to move again, encouraging him to speak about his talents with Kiko. She knew that the other girl also had a special talent of her own due to her heritage and figured that she could help him control his new ability better than she could. She also told him that if he ever needs more eyedrops he could just ask. 

"Thank you for staying friends with me," Gregor said.

"Always," Agatha replied. 

Gregor and Agatha soon arrived at the library and took their books before returning to the clearing. The rest of lunch was thankfully uneventful, besides the usual glares and scoffs from other girls towards Agatha and Kiko or jealous looks of boys aimed at Tedros, Chaddick, and Gregor. 

Good Deeds class was the same.

Professor Dovey discussed the difference between selfishness and selflessness and how they are separated by a thin line called intentions. After class is where things got a little different. 

As students returned to school after Surviving Fairytales, Gregor was chatting with Kiko and Chaddick when he noticed Sophie following a very annoyed-looking Tedros, who was trying to get away from her. The blackness of the blonde's soul made him stop for a moment before quickly righting himself. Looking around, he scanned for Adelaide and found her chatting with Dot but frowned at the dimmed light of her soul. It was still bright and pure like always, but she seemed more fatigued. And her soul reflected that. 

Gregor's attention snapped to Sophie again when the older blond let out a high-pitched squeal when she tripped. And because Tedros is an honorable gentleman, of course, the golden Prince offered the Never a hand to help her up. The girl took it very gratefully. 

Yeah, grateful... 

Like blushing like mad, grateful. Fluttering her eyes so much, the type of grateful that Gregor felt secondhand embarrassment for her when she faked weak knees and fell to the Camelot's Prince's broad chest. It would've been a romantic sight if it weren't for the uncomfortable expression Tedros is wearing. 

That is why the red-haired Prince expected it when Tedros pulled away quickly and walked away. 

Sophie looked stunned. 

Gregor wanted to scoff at the older girl at that moment to tell her to stop pursuing Tedros when she stomped her way towards Agatha. That is when he witnessed her glow fluctuating and dimmed a bit when Sophie spoke to her. The more they talked, the more Agatha looked tired. 

"What is that Never doing?!"

"Addy!" 

Both girls and Dot turned to him, and immediately the boy's anxiety spiked, but when he saw Agatha's sigh of relief, Gregor found the strength to move forward and ignored Sophie being even there. Kiko followed close behind him while Chaddick left to go and look for Tedros. 

"Addy."

"Hi Gregor, Kiko." 

"Addy?" Sophie asked. 

"Yes. It's my nickname for Agatha. Something wrong with that?"

"Well, for one, It's like a cheaper version of my nickname for her. "Aggie" is more pleasant in the ear."

"I like both of them. Aggie is more like a feminine version of Addy, which I think both suits Agatha." Dot smiled while eating chocolate. Where did it come from? No one knows. 

"Mine is better," Sophie grunted, but Gregor ignored her.

"Addy, you promised to be there when I talk with Kiko about my talent?" The boy said shyly, and the older girl smiled at him softly. 

"Of course." She nodded. 
"Sorry, Sophie. I'm needed right now. I'll talk to you later, okay?" 

"Your friend is such a baby, Aggie."

"Be nice, Sophie." Agatha sighed while Sophie glared. 

Not wanting to wait anymore, Gregor tugged at Agatha's sleeve making the raven-head excuse herself with the two Nevers. Soon Kiko, Gregor, and Agatha left to return to the school for Good and went to their favorite place in the library to hang out and talk about the 'Talent' that he gained. 

As promised, Gregor explained his eye’s ability to Kiko, and the girl hugged him after he explained how his talent worked and how he got it. The other girl also promised to help him to the best of her abilities. The three stayed at the library until the fairies chimed the bells that reminded the students that curfew would be soon, and so the girls and Gregor separated ways with goodbyes and good nights. The two older girls hugged Gregor one last time before they left, and the younger boy walked back to Honor Tower on his lonesome. 

Gregor was walking when he accidentally bumped into Professor Sader when he turned a corner. 

"Oh my!"

"Professor!??? I'm so sorry, I didn't see you and—"

"It's alright. Hmm... speak again please?"

"Gregor, sir." 

"Gregor."

Sader righted himself and dusted the dirt off his clothes. 

"On the way to the dorms, I presume?"

"Yes, sir." 

"Me too. Walk with me, Gregor."

"Okay."

Gregor walked with his teacher in silence. The boy wanted to scurry away fast, but his thoughts were interrupted when Sader spoke. 

"You seem close with the reader, Gregor. Tell me, is she doing alright in our school?"

Startled, Gregor nodded before remembering that his teacher was blind and opened his mouth to speak.

"I would say so... She's my friend, and we help each other. We even brainstorm when doing homework and improve our ranks." 

"That's great to hear," Sadar said. A long pause stretched between them before another word was spoken. 
"Thank you for being friends with her." The adult expressed. 

"I should be the one thankful she's my friend," Gregor responded with a smile.

"No, let me thank you. Adelaide is having an easier time in our school because of you and your friend's efforts." Sader explained.
"Please continue to be friends with her in the future."

Sader then stopped at the door and turned his unseeing glassy eyes at the red-haired boy. It was a mystery how Professor Sader navigated in the school, but Gregor wasn't one to pry on private matters. 

"This is my stop. Go straight into your room and remember to stay inside after curfew." Sader reminded him. 

"Good night, sir," Gregor uttered as he turned to walk in the direction of his room. 

"Good night, Gregor. Learn to trust your instincts because there are some truths in what you speculate. Agatha will need your strength soon." Sader said. 

"What did you— say?..." 

Gregor turned back to ask but saw that his teacher was already gone.

Chapter Text

Whenever Tedros is stressed, he likes to put up some steam to relax his nerves. That is why it wouldn't surprise the Everboys if they saw the golden prince sweating at six in the morning at the Groom Rooms and lifting dumbbells like nobody's business, throwing hammers, swimming laps, and doing various kinds of exercise. And his reason is understandable! It's been days, almost a week, and he still has no idea who the girl who sang so beautifully last time was. It's like the girl never existed, and it's frustrating!

Snowball invitations are slid under the doors of Good Students late at night, and he couldn't think of anyone to invite as his partner.

He thought of raven hair and pale skin with big, beautiful, hazel eyes looking at hi—

He wanted it to be the girl he felt the pull from, but he didn't know who that was! And if he doesn't decide soon, he will have no choice but to pick Beatrix! The Evergirl has been spreading rumors about how, for sure, she is his princess, and if he doesn't act soon, then he will be forced to agree.

Why is it that everything revolves around Balls with the Evers? Why can't it be other things that are actually important and not about oppressive etiquette and parties? If his aunt is with him right now, she would laugh at his suffering...

Tedros shook his head at sad, nostalgic memories.

He needs to be wise about who he picks because he has a reputation and responsibility as the sole heir of Camelot. Although he is not in his kingdom, that doesn't mean that his actions won't reflect on his people. And because of his position, he needs to pick a girl. A prince needs a princess, and a future king needs to have a queen. And It's not like he lacks attention from the girls. Quite the opposite, girls flock around him all the time. And yet he can't remember when he last was interested in a girl. If it wasn't for his auntie, then he might have grown to hate women in general and be shadowed by his mother's disloyalty to his father. Now he's just indifferent about it. He knows his value and knows all the women are not the same. That doesn't mean it didn't hurt when Guinevere left him and his father to run off with Lancelot, his father's first knight. 

Sometimes, he wondered what his mother thought when she ran off. Why did she say "I love you" to his father but "found love" with Lancelot?

It still confuses him. But Tedros knew one shouldn't generalize all women to be similar to his mother, who confuses true love with kisses. He knows what love is. His aunt raised him with unconditional love after his father died a year after his heartbreak in drunkenness. She was his mother in all but blood, and he was happy. 

Tedros still remembered what the King said before he drew his last breath. 

"The people will need a queen, Tedros. Don't make my mistakes. Look for a girl who is truly Good."

The Camelot prince swam faster in the pool, his breath labored and sweat mixed with the water. 

'Don't make my mistakes.' 

His father's words echoed in his mind since Arthur died. The pressure to be someone more extraordinary than the Greatest King to have ever lived is a heavy burden for anyone to handle. Much less to a boy barely 10 years old with a runaway mother and a dead father who left him with a legacy and a tragedy. 

"All people make mistakes, your highness. The only thing we can do is learn from them. Nobody's perfect, not even Arthur. You're Tedros Pendragon, but you're also just 10. I want you to be happy, so stay true to yourself. That's all I ask." 

A gentle smile flashes in his mind. 

Tedros reached the end of the pool and pulled his head up with a gasp. He's breathing, the only sound he can hear in the empty room. Sighing, the golden boy pulled himself out of the pool and forced a towel to his hair. Deep in his thoughts, Tedros passed the window on his way to his things when he stopped and turned to look outside. It's early. Barely 6:20 a.m., and yet Agatha, Kiko, and Gregor are at the training grounds. Gregor was wearing simple clothes while holding a sword and hitting a dummy. Kiko and Agatha are wearing dresses with shawls on their shoulders, watching the younger boy train. 

What shocked him was Agatha standing up, grabbing a blunt sword, and starting to spar with Gregor. In a dress!

Tedros was amazed and in awe. 

A princess with a sword? That shouldn't work. The school's faculty would throw a fit if they learned that one of their delicate princesses was practicing the art of battle. Yet somehow, the prince can't help but think it suits Agatha and watches until the two stop sparing to rest. Kiko was there to make sure that the two stayed hydrated. While they took a break, Tedros dried and dressed himself and ran to where the group was. 

He can't make the same mistake he did the last time and get scolded again, now can he?

~~~

"Oh, I'm so excited for the ball!"

Kiko fawned as her friends drank water and sat down to rest. 

"Someone found their invitation this morning." Agatha chuckled while Bane was making small braids on her hair. 

"A Ball, Addy." Kiko sighed dreamily.
"I hope Tristan asks me to be his partner."

"Uhhh, no." Gregor bluntly said with disgust, and Kiko glared in response. The boy lifts his hands in surrender. 
"I just thought— There are other boys who would love to be your partner for the Ball besides Tristan."

"But I love him, Greggy," Bane laughed at the young prince's scrunched face.

"How do you know that you love a person romantically?" Agatha asks curiously. 

Kiko and Gregor stared at Agatha like they were only seeing her for the first time, and the older girl didn't know what she did this time to make the two Evers look at her like that. 

"You've never been in love before?" Kiko asked in horror like it was the most horrible thing to have happened to her. 

"No...? I guess I didn't have the time, and nobody liked me like that back home." 

"Impossible," Gregor said exasperatedly. Bane rolled his eyes so much that he did a flip while flying. 

"But we can change that now! Oh~ I can't wait for you to find love at the Ball! You might even find your true love!"

Kiko giggled in excitement while Gregor only nodded in agreement. 

"Everything makes so much sense now." The boy sighed. 

"What do you mean by that?" 

"You, not knowing what falling in love feels like. It answered so much. Like how you're not just dense, but also explains why you're oblivious." Gregor sassed, earning a light punch to the shoulder from the eldest girl.

"But in all seriousness, how?" 

"I'm not an expert, but I guess it just feels like tingling in your stomach that makes you feel both nauseating, embarrassed, constipated, and giddy?"

Kiko gasped in fear for Gregor this time, like the boy just killed a puppy in front of her, Bane not doing any better. The girl then leaped from her seat, clicking her tongue as if to scold her best friends. 

"No." She said serenely.
"Obviously, you two need a lesson or two about love."

"If we're wrong, then... Do you know?"

Instead of replying, Kiko started to sing. 

"How do you know you love her?
How do you know he's yours?" Hummed Kiko while Bane chimes for her.

A big group of animals then crowded around them in anticipation. A white squirrel hopped on a stump, and much to Agatha's shock, the animal started to sing.

"How does he know that you love him?"
-Squirrel

"What?" Agatha said.

"How do you show him you love him?" 
-Kiko

"Am I dreaming, or did that squirrel just speak?"

"You didn't question Pollux and Castor the first time you saw them."

"Because they are clearly magical animals, but this?" Gregor only shrugged at the older girl. 

"How does he know that you really, really, truly love him?
How does she know that you love her?
How do you show her you love her?
How do they know that you really, really, truly love them?" 
-Both and a chiming Bane

Agatha stared but started to clap along the beat with a chuckle. The younger girl loved singing, so it's not unusual for her to burst out to a song in some days with a random tune. The raven-haired girl chooses to enjoy and support her friend's singing instead. And Kiko's voice is gorgeous, so it's a welcomed habit. 

"It's not enough to take the one you love for granted~
You must remind her, or she'll be inclined to say...
How do I know he loves me?
How do I know he's mine?~"

Gregor giggled as Kiko blooped his nose while she sang. The animals sing along as background singers, and a few fairies create music with Bane. The older girl didn't know animals in this world could do that, but now she feels like an idiot for not thinking it isn't possible in this place. Then she yelped in surprise when the animals around them suddenly burst into dance. In the center of it was Kiko.

"Well, does he leave a little note to tell you you are on his mind?
Send you yellow flowers when the sky is grey? Hey!~
He'll find a new way to show you,
A little bit every day!
That's how you know~
That's how you know he's your love..."

Birds scattered small yellow flowers in the air above them while squirrels, rabbits, otters, deer, and other friendly animals danced with the happy princess as she sang about knowing the signs of love.

"Do animals normally talk?"

"Most animals don't talk, but when a Princess is so into her world, sometimes they can sing words. Not all the time, though." Gregor replied to Agatha's question.

The two whispered to each other, trying their best not to be pulled into performing as well. They love Kiko, they do. But she can be extreme sometimes for the two introverts. 

"You've got to show her you need her!
Don't treat her like a mind reader.
Each day, do something to lead her!
To believe you love her~"
-The animals 

Unfortunately, Gregor fails, and Kiko pulls him into a dance while she daydreams of the Ball as she sings. She imagines Tristan as she does so. 

"Everybody wants to live happily ever after~
Everybody wants to know their true love is true~
How do you know he loves you?~
How do you know he's yours?~"

Bane beamed when Gregor got pulled into dancing. Then the fairy's eyes landed on Agatha, and he whispered at one of the animals with a mischievous smile. 

As Agatha watched her two best friends dance, she failed to notice the animals shuffling closer to her and got pulled by them to join the merry-making with everybody. Flustered, Agatha tried to sit back down when Kiko and Gregor pulled her anyway, and now she couldn't escape her fate.

"Well, does he take you out dancing,
Just so he can hold you close?"
-Kiko

"I don't dance," Agatha replied worriedly.

"Chimes! Jingle, Jingle!"

"Dedicate a song with words meant just for you? Ooh!~"

"I really don't sing." Gregor shyly responded.

"They'll find their own way to tell you!
With the little things they'll do~
That's how you know, that's how you know!"
-Kiko and the animals 

"He's your love~
She's your love~"
-Kiko

The three friends giggled as they danced, not noticing an audience leaning at the fence. 

His lips formed a big smile as he watched the group in their little world with animals dancing with them. Agatha opened her lips to sing along but tripped on a root and pulled her friends down with her. The three were stunned for a few moments before bursting out in giggled laughter. 

"Can I join your party?" Tedros asked. 

The animals scattered when they heard a new voice while the friends in question snapped their heads at their audience, and Tedros saw their shy or sheepish expressions. A chuckle escaped him, and he moved to join them on the ground, Bane immediately attacking his hair. 

"If the Snow Ball looks half as fun as yours, I wouldn't mind attending."

"Augh! Again with the Ball! It's contagious." Agatha uttered, and Tedros chortled in amusement while he unconsciously reached to pick up stray leaves on her raven-black hair. 
"Every challenge has something to do with the Ball these past few days! Ball beauty, Ball entrance, Ball history— it's driving me mad, Tedros."

Agatha complained, and Tedros listened carefully to her woes while their dear fairy friend seemingly also complained with Agatha.

"I brought some crackers and cheese. Want some?"

"Yes, please."

Tedros shared the food he bought with his friends, and they thanked him in return.

While he is picking twigs and combing her hair, Agatha prepares his crackers with the amount of cheese that Tedros prefers, with the familiarity that speaks volumes while still complaining about the Ball. Tedros fed her whenever she forgot to eat after a long while, and Agatha refiled his plate when she noticed it empty. Bane flies between the two, perching on Tedros' shoulder and talking to the two humans who seem to understand him best.

Kiko and Gregor glanced at each other before turning back to their dense and oblivious friends with a sigh and fond exasperation. 

~~~

Sophie is pissed.

She went to Adelaide's room earlier this morning, but her sister was nowhere to be seen! What is that girl doing early in the morning outside her room?! Sophie planned to talk to her about the upcoming Ball, which her sister didn't bother telling her! Now, her plan is ruined, and she has no choice but to ask the coven instead. 

"You want us to, what?!" Hester screamed. 

"Help me! Help me kiss Tedros!" Sophie said. 

"HELP! YOU WANT ME TO HELP A NEVER KISS AN EVER! I'D RATHER STICK MY HEAD UP A HORSE'S—"

"Sophie, no villain ever finds love. To even look for it is to betray your own soul—"

"You want me to go home, yes?" Sophie snapped at Hester and Anadil while Dot watched as everything unfolded with a worried expression. 

"Love—"

"No, Dot. I need someone to put a hex on Tedros so he can ask me to the Ball."

"THE BALL!" Hester screeched.

"HOW DO YOU EVEN KNOW ABOUT THE BALL?"

"A villain at a Ball?..." Dot said.
"A villain waltzing!" Added Anadil.
"A villain courtesing?" Hester exasperated.

The coven stared at each other before they collapsed into howls of laughter.

"I'm going to that Ball," Sophie fumed.

"Presenting the Witch of Woods Beyond!" Hester cackled through tears. 

But by lunch, Hester wasn't laughing anymore. 

"Not hideous enough!"

Professor Manly scolded his class, disappointed that his students were not putting enough effort into Uglification. Then Sophie arrived 20 minutes late in class after trying to find a solution to her jagged hair when its color changed into hideous gray. The whole class's hair turned gray due to bat wings potions that the professor threw and a golden "1" manifested over Sophie's head. 

"Hideous!" The professor beamed.
"Your greatest beauty. Gone!" 

Sophie sobbed as she left the class that day. 

Meanwhile, Hester screamed in rage at Nevers Hall as she watched the school's studious, spectacled woodpecker peck Sophie's name higher in the Evil ranking board. 

1: Sophie of Woods Beyond 
2: Hester of Ravenwood
3: Anadil of Bloodbrook
4: Ravan of Thicket Tumble
...
..
.

How could someone who isn't even trying hard in her class be ranked No. 1 on the board?! It's like Sophie is good and at being Evil when she is working so hard to be Good! 

"One little love spell, Hester. And then I'm gone forever." Sophie reminded her sweetly. 

The girl hissed at the blonde before stomping away, reminding herself that Nevers kissing Evers couldn't be encouraged, no matter how extreme the circumstances were. 

At the start of Curses & Deathtraps, Lady Lesso swept in with an angry scowl.

"What is wrong with her?" Sophie whispered to Dot.

"Lady Lesso has been looking for her torturer for days, but the Beast went missing!" Dot whispered back. 

No one saw Sophie blanched in nausea.

Lady Lessons seethed and sniped at every wrong answer that day and everyone suffered as an effect while she taught the class about Nemesis Dreams. 

"Imbeciles! Having Nemesis Dreams doesn't make you a lead Villain!" The woman snapped at Hester. 
"It means you are blessed to have the privilege of having a Nemesis! An archenemy that is half of your soul that sums up your hate. And it's not without symptoms! Dot, what do you taste in your mouth during your first Nemesis Dream?"

"What you eat before bed?"

"Blood, you idiot!" The Dean dragged her nails across the ice wall in frustration. 
"Oh, what I'd give to see a real villain in this school. A real villain who could make Good weep instead of these dung fleas."

But when it was Sophie's turn, instead of getting the worse of the abuse, Lady Lesso gave her a wart and caressed her shorn hair, much to her confusion.

"Why is she being nice to you?" Hester hissed behind her. 

"Because I'm future Class Captain. As long as I stay here, that is." Sophie smugly replied.

"I'm warning you, Sophie, this will end badly."

"Hmm... What about pink curtains and flowers in every room? I think it'll be my first proposal as a Class Captain." Sophie mused with a smirk. 

That night, Hester wrote to her relatives for love spells with frustrated scribbles.  

Chapter Text

Agatha woke up the next day with a cold sweat and a dream... She couldn't quite recall. Whatever that dream was, it made her anxious as a deep fear lingered in her mind while her chest contracted at odd times that morning. The girl pulled her knees closer to herself and hugged them while making herself smaller in her bed, tugging a fist full of her hair with stress and frustration over something she couldn't remember.

"What is wrong with me? Overreacting over a dream."

Agatha took slow breaths to calm herself. Unfortunately, the dream had a larger impact than she initially thought. She felt homesick, very, very homesick. The dream made Agatha tense up while loneliness gripped her heart like a vice.

She wants her dad... She wants Callis... She wants to go home.

Quite sobs bounced through the walls of her room as the girl hugged her knees closer to her for comfort of any kind. For the first time since arriving, Agatha let herself cry.

{Chimes?}

Soft bell sounds flew toward the girl, and gently, she felt a small hand petting her hair. Looking up, Agatha saw Bane hovering above her worriedly. She wanted to say that she was fine and that she just had a bad dream, that it was nothing big! But all that came out of her lips were pained wheezes and hiccups. Distress seeped out of her body with raw sadness that prevented her voice from forming words. Agatha doesn't even understand what caused this or why. She couldn't stop it from getting this bad, deprecating herself for failing to control her emotions. She loathed this feeling, she loathed that dream, she loathed hersel—

Small hands soothingly caressed her cheeks while chimes purred from the fairy resting his foreheads on hers.

Agatha felt her body relax slightly. Bane purred louder before kissing the crown of her head. Sniffling still, Agatha slowly pulled away as her tears slowed down.

"Sorry, I don't know what came over me." She rasped with a self-deprecating laugh.

Bane flicked her forehead in response before gently pulling her nose to ensure the girl saw his displeased stare. Giggling at being scolded, Agatha apologized. Rolling his eyes, Bane fondly smiled at his human, and Agatha felt the dark clouds in her mind, the raging hurricane in her heart, disappear slowly.

"Thank you, Bane." She whispered, her teary eyes looking at the fairy with a vulnerability that made her look older than her proper age.

Bane stared down at her with his dark orbs, older and more tired than his usual sassy and mischievous gaze, yet also young and innocent.

"Agatha? Are you awake?" Kiko asked as she knocked on her dorm door.

"Yeah! I'll be out in a moment!"

Bane chimes loudly, finally remembering why he was in her room in the first place! Hurriedly, the fairy stuffed bread in her mouth and pulled her to get ready for class that was about to start in 50 minutes. Agatha laughed at the frantic fairy, her puffy eyes wrinkling in happiness.

~~~

The day went normal. Agatha was relieved that she managed to finally compose herself regardless of the emotional morning she had. It helped that her friends made her happy, and the loneliness she felt before disappeared. Throughout the day, Agatha did well. Even complaining less about the Ball-related challenges they had while Bane stayed by her side. The teachers were okay with Bane perching on Agatha's hair or shoulder during class as long as the fairy didn't distract or help with her challenges. Sometimes, Bane flew and stayed with Tedros, sometimes with Kiko or Gregor, but mostly he was with Agatha.

Agatha expected her day to continue being relatively good until... When the day ended, fate seemed to, of course, want to prove Agatha wrong.

"Aggie," Sophie hissed quietly before pulling the latter away behind a tree.

"Sophie! Is something wrong?" Agatha asked, surprised at the unexpected talk.

"Wrong with you? Yes. Very."

"What? What did I do now to make you mad?" The younger girl huffed with disbelief.

"You didn't tell me about the Ball!"

Agatha blinked... Astonished by the nonsense their conversation is all about while whispering at each other like naughty kids planning on stealing candy behind a tree.

"I didn't think it was important." Agatha reasoned.

"Not important?! Not import— whatever." Sophie shakes her head in disappointment.

"How did you know about the Ball, anyway?"

"Secret~ Aggie, this is my chance! I need to go to that Ball."

"What? No, you need to kiss him now. If you wait until the Ball it might be too late!"

"Oh dear, dear, sister. Don't you see? That is how fairytales were made? The Ball is where he'll kiss me when he takes me as his Princess. Like Cinderella at midnight! Kisses always happen at Balls. By then, my hair will have grown, and I'll have my shoes and— Oh no, the gown! Can you be a dear and steal some charmeuse from the other gir—"

"I WILL NOT STEAL!"

Sophie stopped. Speechless at Agatha's sudden outburst.

"Now, now, Adel—"

"No, Sophie, I am not stealing from my classmates. I will help you kiss Tedros because that is our only way home, but I am not!— In any circumstances, helping if you won't try and work for it! You need to earn his love and kiss him now!"

Sophie huffed in annoyance at the younger girl.

"So much for help coming from you. Good thing I already asked the coven."

"The coven? Hester agreed to help you??"

"With a bit of encouragement, of course," Sophie snobs.
"I know you don't mean what you said, so I'll ask you again later when you're more normal."

Flickering her jagged short hair, Sophie peered down at Agatha with an icy glare— (her hateful eyes looking down at her) —from those sharp jade eyes. Staring down at her sister with a pointed look of disappointment and anger— (Vanessa always looks at her like that) —even when Agatha was taller than her.

"Think about what you did wrong, Adelaide. I'll be back."

Sophie said before walking away. But to Agatha, she wasn't seeing her sister... To her, she was looking up at a taller woman who looked just like Sophie.

"Think about what you did wrong, brat. I'll be back later."

Blonde hair and cold, indifferent brown eyes sneered down at her without a hint of love as Vanessa pushed her into the pig's pen before the woman locked the door and left her with the animals. Agatha tried to run after her mother, apologizing and begging to please not lock her in. She promised that she wouldn't refuse Sophie anymore or borrow Sophie's things! She promised she wouldn't fight against Sophie again, that the girl would follow whatever her sister asked of her! Agatha cried and called, saying that she'd be a good girl.

'Mother! P-please, I don't want to be here! It's dark here! I will listen better! Promise! Mother!!'

Echoes of her screams played in her mind. Clawing and begging, while in the real world, no noise escaped her lips. (Mother doesn't like her talking. Talking means she's there, and Mother doesn't like her being there.)

The girl was back at Gavaldon, but not the Gavaldon she loved...

Back were the screaming, the darkness, and the cold, memories she had almost forgotten. Items were thrown at her by the woman she called mother. Her screams, the constant blame, the disgust from those wide brown eyes that were almost identical to hers.

'You don't own anything! All of this is Sophie's! Your clothes are Sophie's! Your food is Sophie's! Your life belongs to Sophie! You are born to serve my daughter. Do you understand me? DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME?!!'

And little Agatha would helplessly nod, tears in her eyes. Wishing that her dad would be back home soon.

'Remember that.'

Panicking, our Agatha grabbed a fistful of her hair in distress as she stumbled to the ground. Was she back at the pen? Why was she back? No. No, no— need to be good, or mother would be mad at her again.

{Chi— Jing—}

When did Mother lock her in? What did she do now? She promised she'd be good!

"Please—"

{Jing— jing— jingl—}

'No, she was a good girl. She'll be obedi—'

{Chimes!}

A gasp.

"B-bane?"

The fairy chimes worriedly at her, holding her clenched fists. Trying and failing to pry her hand to let go of her hair. Slowly, ever so slowly, she relaxed her trembling fingers and realized that she was staying under an oak tree's shade until dusk. Fortunately, nobody was around to see her. Unfortunately, she probably missed dinner with Kiko and Gregor who, for sure, are looking for her. But... She doesn't have the energy to face them right now.

{Chimes! Chiming! Jingle! Chimes.}

"Augh..." Agatha groaned in pain from the headache she now had because of the panic attack she had earlier.

Bane pets her nose, and through her lashes, she sees him expressing that she doesn't have to go and talk to anyone today. But she also doesn't have to be alone. Bane will be with her, be her small pebble of strength.

With a wet chuckle, Agatha thanked Bane and pulled the fairy into a careful hand hug. Her lips tugged into a grateful smile that didn't quite look full as they returned to Purity Tower, choosing to eat in her room tonight instead.

~~~

Sophie was irritated.

What is wrong with Adelaide? Usually, she never screamed at her like that! And she had the nerve to say that they'll work together! Something is definitely going on with her sister, and she is worried about what that could mean for her.

While Sophie stresses about her plans as she walks, the blonde sees Tedros amongst the Evers, and immediately, Sophie flounces to be by his side. She ignored the others who seemed to be looking for someone.

"Hello, handsome. Want some of my... Feet?"

Students hushed as they carefully watched the Never flirt with Camelot's Prince, and also because whenever those two interacted, something interesting always happened.

"No, thank you. I don't eat... Feet." Tedros said, seeing toes(??) float at her bowl of soup.

"That's fine, I don't eat that crap anyway." The girl flung her food over her head and accidentally flew directly at Ravan's head.

"Yes. Usually, you steal from Agatha's plate."

"Aggie just loves me that much."

Tedros grumbled at that with an annoyed eye roll.

"Why are you here? Agatha is not with us."

"Ah, yes, well! We had an argument earlier. Funnily enough, we are having a lot of those lately, and it worries me sometimes. Sweet Aggie is usually not this rebellious, but I'm not here for Adelaide. I'm here for you, my darling. And the future we will build together!"

"Excuse me? What?" Tedros said.

"What did you do? Where is Addy?" Kiko demanded.

"She's around somewhere," Sophie rolled her eyes.
"She's just upset that I have better friends now, friends that actually help me with stuff."

"You have friends? Since when?" Chaddick asked casually, food in his mouth.

"Since the beginning, obviously! Dot is one of them." She argued with disgust.

"You left Dot the other day in the middle of a challenge," Kiko said naughtily.
"Said you left because you were sick," Gregor added.

"I did have a bit of a cold—"

"Dot said it was diarrhea." Chaddick interrupts.

"Diarr—" Sophie gasped scandalously.
"That girl always likes to make things up," she coughed.

"Dot doesn't seem like a liar to me," Tedros uttered blankly.

"Oh, she always does. It's to get attention since she's... You know."

Tedros raised a single brow at Sophie in question, unimpressed and unamused.

"Since what?"

"Fat."

The boy's face fell flat into a carefully controlled blankness while Sophie didn't seem to notice her mistake. Or maybe she believed she didn't.

"That's funny," Tedros said plainly.
"I heard she crawled into empty graves to eat enough worms for the two of you, just so you wouldn't fail. She said you're her best friend."

"Did she?" Sophie uttered. Noticing Dot waving at her.
"How depressing."

"Yes, depressing for her," Kiko mumbled angrily.

"Anyway! Tedros, do you remember the day we first met? It was at the Blue Forest, and nothing happened after matters. Not the punch. I don't blame you for that. No, that doesn't count. What matters is what you felt at first sight." She sighed fondly.
"You wanted to rescue me, you're my Prince."

"Huh?" Tedros eloquently (not) said.

"Whenever you're ready then!" Sophie said proudly.

"Excuse me?"

"To ask me to the Ball!" The girl added impatiently.

The golden Prince's face turned impassive while Chaddick and the others were either worried, in disbelief, or holding back laughs. Kiko especially, her hand-signing 'crazy' towards her friends questioningly.

"I know it's too early, but a girl does have to plan." Sophie presses more.

"No room for Nevers."

Beatrix shoves Sophie away and accidentally pushes Gregor in the process. Fortunately, Chaddick caught the boy before he fell to the dirt.

"Oh— sorry—"

"There is plenty of room," Sophie huffed and pushed back, this time accidentally(?) hitting Kiko.

Then, Reena jostled in, and six other girls pushed Sophie to get to Tedros. Kiko, Chaddick, and Gregor were pushed away too. Sophie looked at Tedros like she was expecting him to defend her but the Prince stayed silent and closed his eyes passively.

"Enough!" Tedros commanded.
"I'm having my dinner inside."

The girls went to follow him, but he stopped them with a stern look.

"And don't follow me."

~~~

The next day, in Surviving Fairytales. Students arrived at the Blue Forest with eight glass coffins resting on turquoise grass. Curious and a bit put off by the sight, Agatha kept Bane close to her.

"Every other week, we'll repeat the challenge of discerning Good from Evil. It is the most crucial skill you need in the woods." Yuba announced.
"Today we'll test the Everboys. Given the fascination with the burials last time, I thought we'd give you a taste of your own."

The Gnome made the Evergirls and Nevergirls climb into the open coffins and with a stomp of his staff, the girls transformed into eight identical dark-haired princesses with tan skin, big hips, and round backside.

"I'm obese!" Sophie cried out.

"Sophie, listen, this is your chance," Agatha whispered harshly, remembering Princess Uma's lesson.
"If you wish hard enough for Tedros, he will feel a pull towards you!"

"I knew you couldn't resist me, Aggie." Sophie cooed.

"Focus! I'm doing this so we can go home! Think of what you love about him, focus on what makes him yours!" Agatha hissed. Bane patted her hair soothingly while also giving Sophie the stink eye.

"Adelaide, I'm sorry but you can't keep the fairy with you for this challenge," Yuba commented.

"He can stay with me?" Tedros offered.

"No, fairies know their companions. You, with me." The Gnome pointed at Bane to come to him, but not without kissing the crown of Agatha's head reassuringly first.

When the coffins were closed and jumbled, Yuba finally asked the boys facing the other way to turn around and select a coffin they believed the real Princesses laid. Even the Nevers are joining in to keep the girls in line.

"Study the girls carefully for signs of Good. Remember, choose wisely."

Hort smirked and ate a blue-colored mint leaf while he looked at the coffins. Ravan gave him disgusted confusion.

In the coffins, Agatha focuses on good and happy thoughts. Her dad’s laughter. Honora with Jacod and Adam, watching them play. Callis and Dexter staying up late while experimenting on some potions, and Reaper lying lazily on the table. Kiko and Gregor gossip with her in her room with masks on their faces and painted nails. Chaddick becomes good friends with her. Everything about Bane. And then Tedros... Who persistently pestered her at first before becoming one of her people. Feeding her like it's a way to her good graces, defending her, worrying over her... And so she wished. She wished and prayed that Sophie would look deep into his heart and see who Tedros really was. Agatha hoped for Tedros to see her sister the same.

For home.

~~~

Tedros wanted to withdraw from today's challenge because he was tired and wanted to bag it. But then he stopped and found himself drawn to one of the coffins. Walking closer, the girl inside looked just like the others, but something in him screamed that this person was different. Maybe it was the content look on her face or the gentleness she has that somehow the others didn't possess? Whatever it is... He picked her coffin.

"Times up!" Yuba yelled.

Agatha heard a blood curdling shriek and spun to see Sophie back in her original appearance, her lips scrunched against Hort's.

"Oh! The hand, oops." The Neverboy said dumbly before popping another mint.
"Shall we try again?"

"You APE!"

Sophie screeched and kicked Hort, who crashed into a bush where he got accidentally sprayed in the eyes by a skunk, then stumbling back at Sophie's coffin and sealed each other shut into a smelly prison punishment.

"I'm blind!— I'm blind!—" Hort's screams were muffled in, and Sophie was ramming the glass with a pale and sickly face.

"Rule #5, Nevers don't trifle with love. Fitting punishment. Now come, boys, let's see who you picked." Yuba crabbled.

Agatha heard her coffin open and turned to see—

'Tedros…!'

Tedros lifted her hand for a kiss. Panicking, she pulled her hand back before lips and skin met. Eyes wide while he stared at her with equal measure of surprise.

"My lady?"

Agatha felt her face heat up at the familiar call and sat up so fast that the two accidentally bumped into each other's heads. Both moaned and slumped in pain, Agatha in her coffin and Tedros in the ground. Everboys crowded around Tedros while Evergirls jumped out of their coffins to help. Shooing everyone away, Yuba conjured ice for both their skulls, when Agatha tried to slip away to the neighboring coffin during the chaos. But Bane saw right through her, chiming alarmingly loudly until Yuba noticed and scolded her to return to her original coffin.

The Gnome shooed the student to return to their positions before checking on Tedros.

"Perhaps you should sit do—" Yuba grimaced.

"I want to finish." Tedros stubbornly staggered up.

Tedros returned to the third coffin. He looked down at her again and noted her frown. He picked up the transformed hand like it was the most precious thing in the world and felt her slight tremble. Tedros soothingly rubbed his thumb over her hand while slowly lifting it to his lips. Delicately, he pecked the back and watched as the lying princess clone melted into an anxious-looking Agatha. Her hazel eyes stared deep in his sky blues.

"H-hi?"

"Hello, Princess."

Agatha opened and closed her mouth like a goldfish, and Tedros chuckled at her cute expression.

Wolves then howled, signaling the end of class, and students followed Yuba back to school. Agatha wanted to stay and wait for Sophie, afraid of what Sophie would think if she left her like this.

"Come, Adelaide," Yuba said, stopping to wait for her.
"This is Sophie's lesson to learn."

Sophie was sealed with Hort, not a very bad boy in her opinion. And while the blonde is holding her nose, while also screaming and kicking the glass, she wouldn't die. Maybe it wouldn't be a problem if it was just Hort. No, the problem was Sophie seeing Tedros choosing her again.

"Agatha," Yuba called again, Tedros also waiting for her.

Agatha turned and followed the Gnome out of the forest. Maybe after this Sophie will be more inclined to listen to her now? Oh, she hopes so. She doesn't know what she'll do if it isn't. 

Chapter Text

Tedros was running around the school, looking for one specific person.

"Have you seen Agatha?" Tedros asked Kiko.

"Addy? No, why?" Kiko said.

"I need to talk with her. It's really important."

"Aren't you two together yesterday? Why didn't you talk to her then?" Gregor said beside Kiko, munching on a cookie.

"I tried, but she ran away! And now she's been avoiding me like the plague." Tedros grumbled.

"What did you do?" Kiko gasped.

"I honestly don't know!"

"Tedros!" Chaddick called out.
"Buddy, Professor Dovey is looking for you. You need to go to her now before classes start."

Grumbling again, the blonde boy turned at the two pleadingly.

"When you see her, please tell her we really, really need to talk."

The boy then walked away hurriedly, Chaddick following close behind.

. . .

. . .

. . .

"So... What happened yesterday?" Gregor asked behind the alcove covered by a large tapestry.

"Nothing," Agatha said as she revealed herself, Bane dusting her hair before perching on them and cleaning his wings.

"That's not nothing, babe. That's a desperate Prince looking for you." Kiko coughed.

"I... don't—"

"And don't lie," Kiko interrupts.
"You know what's happening or an idea of it. You're smart, Addy. So please tell us, and no segways. What's going on?"

"We can't help you if we don't know what to help you from." Gregor implored.
"You've been distant, Agatha. You help us, but you don't ask for help from us. It's like you don't expect us to help you." He added with worry.

"I'm fine," Agatha insists.

"You're not fine," Kiko argued hotly.
"You've been acting weird for a while, but yesterday is the cherry on top."

"Strange how exactly?..."

"You looked extra pale the other day but thankfully acted fine the next day up until dinner. Then Sophie came barreling like the hurricane she is, told us you talked with her again and you didn't eat with us. But Sophie did try, and we did not enjoy that experience, by the way. She treated us like air." Kiko explained, and Agatha winced at that.

"I know she's a bit much, but she's Good." She said in reflex.

"No. No, no, no, no! She's not Good. She's narcissistic and delusional, and somebody needs to make her realize the world doesn't revolve around her."

"She wanted Tedros to take her to the Ball, which is impossible because she's a Never, and Tedros doesn't even like her," Gregor said softly.

"Not to mention that— that harpy is not Tedros' type."

"Tedros have a type?" Agatha asked.

"Oh, for the love of—" Kiko felt like throttling someone at that moment.
"Yes! Yes, he has a type!"

"Dark hair, pale skin—" Gregor uttered.

"Smart, brave, loyal, and not afraid to kick him down a peg or two—"

"Oh! Someone he likes to feed—"

"Actually challenge him, for one—"

"Is kind, an Ever—"

"And he told me he likes girls with strong, determined hazel eyes~" Kiko finishes with a challenging brow.

With every description, Agatha's face turned redder and redder until her whole face was as red as an apple. The girl doesn't want to believe it! Tedros? Liking her? Really?? Out of all the beautiful girls in this school, he likes her?

"Actually, I don't think he even realized he liked you. But to other people, it was very obvious." Gregor added absentmindedly.

"Tedros is as dense as a rock," Kiko sighed.
"But he didn't act like a dense person earlier, did he?" She asked Gregor with a grin.

"You think he finally realized? On his own!?" The younger boy asked with an excited gasp.

"Maybe? Maybe that's why our Reader is hiding from our Prince?...."

They both snapped their heads at Agatha with gleaming eyes. Agatha, on the other hand, was blushing so much that she looked like she was about to pass out from all the blood up her pretty head. Bane laughed loudly on top of her hair, patting the crown of her head consolingly while his eyes said an entirely different thing. The fairy saw the two Ever's confused faces and laughed harder, his tiny chest bobbing up and down and wheezing in bell-like laughter.

"Oh my Goodness..."

"Wait? Did he finally?—"

"He did!" Kiko cheered! Squealing loudly and spinning a victory spin with Bane.

"No! I mean, yes? He did call me Princess, but that doesn't mean anythi—"

"Then why? Why are you avoiding Tedros? If it doesn't mean something then, why are you reacting like this?" Gregor asked.

"Because I'm not!" Agatha yelled with stress.
"I'm not his Princess, I'm not his anything! It wasn't supposed to be like this."

"What do you mean?" Gregor asked again, sad that the person he looked up to like a sister was this distressed.

"It was supposed to be Sophie, Sophie is the princess. And once we prove the School Master wrong, then we— I can go back home..."

"Home?!"

"I know it's selfish, and this place is wonderful. You guys are wonderful! But I need to go back. My family needs me, and it's safer for Sophie and I to return to Gavaldon. We're not fairytale heroes or villains... I'm not like you! I'm not special. I'm just some ordinary girl."

After the confession, Bane sadly flew back to Agatha and flicked her nose. The girl yelped in surprise and was about to ask what that was for when the fairy hugged her by the cheek after. Tears threatened to well up in her eyes but Agatha held it together, blinking rapidly to stop it.

"All this time you leave to talk with Sophie?"

"Yes, we were discussing ways to get home."

"And the reason why you tolerate her constantly..."

"It's her story... We can't— I can't go back without her."

"Oh, Addy..." Kiko mumbled.

"But now it's ruined!" Agatha cries out.
"It's ruined because Tedros keeps picking the wrong girl!"

"And why do you think that is?" Gregor asked gently while walking.

"I don't know? Maybe I'm an obstacle in Sophie's life like I always have."

The group of friends arrived at the garden. Fairies flew around the garden, doing their chores and other things they did. As they walked, the three Evers rested in a pavilion. Around them, flowers swayed soothingly, and fairies chimes were carried by the wind. A group of garden fairies flew towards the group and placed tea and biscuits for them.

"Maybe you're thinking it wrong," Kiko said after sipping tea. Hmm, Hibiscus.
"What if Sophie isn't Tedros' princess?"

"That can't be right," Agatha rasped.

Meanwhile, Bane is hissing and biting fairies that keep trying to put flowers on her hair. Unfortunately, the enemies were too many, and four fairies managed to hold him while others braided and decorated raven locks of hair into a half-up, double fishtail braid with lavenders, forget me not, and dandelions on them. Once done, the garden fairies flew away with giggles. Bane scrunched his nose at the flowers in distaste but didn't remove them. Instead, he fixed some of it and made a comfortable spot for him to snuggle into.

"Sophie is meant to have everything!" Agatha said as a matter of fact.
"And it's my purpose to help her. That's all that I am."

"She's not your responsibility, Addy," Kiko strongly argued.
"It's the other way around. Sophie is your older sister, she's the one who was supposed to be responsible for you."

"..."

Kiko and Gregor turned to each other with sad eyes before looking back at Agatha. They knew something was up with Sophie and how she treated their friend, that the older girl was somehow in a leash under the blonde's hands one way or the other. They should've suspected that it wasn't the typical sibling relationship, that blind faith, no, the obedience Agatha has for Sophie. It's subtle at first. Them being sisters hid the truth well, but when you look closer, you'll find that it's not that simple.

"Take a break from Sophie." Kiko proposed.

"What?" Agatha asked like it was the most absurd thing she had ever heard.

"You heard me. Take a break from her, give yourself some space to breathe from her. Don't listen to a word she says if you don't want to, and don't take responsibility for her. Let her learn from her mistakes, like most of us do."

"She needs to grow up," Gregor added.
"We'll help you. We just need to avoid her during lunch, and you can minimize your interaction with her during joint classes."

The red-haired Prince looked up at Agatha with determined eyes that promised support. Agatha's chest bloomed with fondness and love for these two Evers.

"Depend on us, we can help you. We want to help you, please?"

Agatha felt like a rock blocked her throat as she wheezed for breath. She wanted to cry but held it in instead, nodding her head at her two best friends while her chest felt like it was flying in relief.
For the first time in a while, her burdens didn't feel unbearable. And that maybe, just maybe, she can do this after all.

"You still need to talk to Tedros, by the way," Kiko added knowingly.

"I will... But not now, please." Agatha mumbled back.

"Soon. Eventually," Kiko responded.

"Eventually," the other girl agreed easily.

~~~

Tedros was not having a great day.

During lunch, he tried to talk with Agatha alone when Evergirls suddenly mobbed him while fanning their fans and giggling like kids with a sugar rush. Sophie kept following him around whenever she could, and for the first time, he was thankful for Beatrix's competitive nature for driving the other girls away the best she could to monopolize his time. Not that it was great, but at least one girl is better than four or more.

The only good thing happening to him is that Agatha doesn't seem to be avoiding him anymore. Only, she's been pushed, bumped, and pulled away by other girls whenever he tried hanging out with her! He still didn't get to talk with her!

Aughh! Things are not getting better at all!

For a weeklong challenge in Henchmen training and Animal communication, students of both schools are assigned to take care of sidekicks everywhere they go. For the most part, it was okay... That was a lie.

It. Was. Chaos.

Trolls tossed their Never masters out of windows, satyrs stampede at Nevers and Evers both during lunch. Baby dragons burned tables and desks, and animal sidekicks were shitting everywhere at the Good Halls.

"It's tradition, an attempt to unite the schools! However misguided and poorly organized they are..." Dovey said to her Evers when some of them complained with teary eyes.

Between taking care of his baby dragon, running away or hiding from girls, and doing school work. It didn't leave any breaks for Tedros to breathe. The first few days, students of both schools couldn't control their sidekicks up into the third day when things finally calmed down. He managed to discipline his fire-breathing baby girl to stop burning dresses and curtains wherever they went. Kiko's dove stopped trying to peck Tristan's eyes out of its sockets and even learned some tricks. Chaddick's wolfhound always swaggered behind him, and Gregor's shy ostrich became more open to other people. Agatha's brown barn owl learned to scout and send letters for her. Even the Never's henchmen are doing well with their masters.

Well... Most of them.

"CALL THAT THING OFF!" Tedros yelled as he deflected arrow after arrow targeted at both Agatha and him into a well with his training sword.

Yuba was teaching them the "Uses of Wells" today when Sophie's henchmen, a cupid named Grimm, kept attacking them. Making both Tedros and Agatha hide behind forest trees to avoid the flying projectiles. King, Agatha's owl, screeched at the assault and clawed the cupid in retaliation. Bane and Frenhines, Tedros' baby dragon, were not far behind from biting and torching the chubby cupid at the backside.

"Grimm! Stop!" Sophie shouted.

"King, Bane! Withdraw!" Agatha called out, not wanting them to fight the larger opponent.

"Baby Fren, come back!" Tedros worriedly yelled to his small dragon.

Thankfully, Grimm guiltily pulled his arrows away at Sophie's orders. But the cupid kept glaring at Tedros ever so subtly.

On the fourth day, Grimm spent all his time grinding his teeth and clawing the walls during Sophie's classes. Lady Lesso gave curious glances at the cupid, by how the henchmen were behaving you'd think... Lesso shook the thought away. That was impossible, it could only happen when a fairytale is being written after all.

On day 5, milk was used to sedate Grimm's urges.

On day 6, Grimm started shooting arrows at Agatha again, mainly.

Tedros' patience was slowly being tested by how many times this persistent cupid almost hit Agatha or him during joint classes or even during breaks. When the day ended, Agatha made plans and strategized with King and Bane when the cupid shot in Tedros' direction instead. Frenhines was so angry, she almost burned Sophie's hair as revenge. Unfortunately, the baby dragon was far too small to make real damage, and Grimm was too strong and bigger than her.

On the last day, Grimm started flying after Tedros during lunch. He avoided both Grimm and students as he ran around the clearing and dodged flying arrows until Ravan, fed up with the henchmen, threw a net and captured the pesky flying menace. Chaddick gave Sophie a death glare after Grimm was captured.

"Maybe you remind him of someone?" Sophie said cutely to Tedros.

Unfortunately, the net wasn't enough to hold the cupid for long. Grimm started shooting again, this time with fire.

"Sophie!" Tedros yelled angrily when Grimm almost nicked one of his ears off while Frenhines was on his shoulder, snapping and snarling.

"Tedros!" Agatha called. Immediately, the Prince turned to her.
"Sword!"

Without second thoughts, Tedros threw his training sword in her direction and watched in awe as the girl unsheathed the weapon and blocked the arrows aimed at her with a full-body swing.

"King! Bane! To the Well!"

They watched Agatha sprint towards the Blue Forest with her owl and Bane following behind her. That's when Tedros realized that the girl was planning something and it has something to do with the Well. Maybe trapping the cupid in it.

"Smart." He thought.
"Frenhines, let's follow them." The golden-haired Prince borrowed (pulled) Chaddick's sword by the hilt.
"I'll return it later." He added before running after Agatha, his baby dragon beside him.

When he arrived, Grimm was already unconscious inside the Well, and Agatha was panting while trying to lift a huge rock to seal it shut. He helped her lift the thing without prompting, together they trapped the cupid in the Well.

"Thanks." Agatha sagged to the ground while panting heavily.

"You're welcome," Tedros replied, also tiredly sitting down and leaning on the Well.

Long awkward silence...
The Camelot Prince can't help but remember the first time they met, it's like he went back to square one with her.
Here he was, he finally had the opportunity to talk with her! Say what's in his mind! How... He thinks he has a crush on her. It's a big risk! But he gotta try!

"Agatha,"

"Tedros,"

The two said in sync.

"Oh, you go first."

"You can go first!"

They said again. The two looked at one another and laughed at each other's silliness before Tedros coughed and started first.

"I'm honestly at a loss... I don't know what I did, but whatever it is, I'm sorry."

"What?"

"You've been avoiding me since the coffin challenge, and we haven't hung out or even talked properly because of the other girls—"

"No, Tedros, you didn't do anything wrong." Agatha interrupted.
"It's not just you, okay? I had a lot of things going on, on my end too, so don't blame yourself."

"We make quite the pair, don't we." Tedros chuckled before quieting slightly. With an empty head, he opened his mouth and called out her name.

"Hm?"

Realizing what he did, he panicked for a moment. But then he realized that this was his chance!

"I think... I think I—..." Agatha's eyes focused on him, and Tedros can't help but stutter.
"I think we should go back." He backpedaled.

'AHHHHHHHHH! NOO!!! TEDROS YOU MORON!' he internally yelled.

Agatha continues to stare at his sky-blue eyes. She leaned on the Well behind her as they sat down in silence, both of them savoring the peace of each other's company a little bit longer. The familiarity with each other made them relax. However, Tedros was secretly having a bit, maybe a lot, of an internal crisis.

"Why are you so nice to me?" Agatha suddenly asks.

"What?"

"You helped me, protected me, befriended me. You sometimes treat me like a cat during lunch and offer me food first, like I'll scratch you or something If you don't." She chuckled.
"Then you confided in me, asked me about things you believe might help your people, and you listened to me with my problems in exchange... I'm not a wise advisor or a powerful wizard. I'm not even a real hero who saves people in fairytales or anything! I'm just.. me? So why? I'm just some village girl in your magical world—"

"I like you."

Agatha's breath hitched in surprise.

'Shit. Abort! Abort! Abort!' Tedros mentally screamed.

"I like you... You believe yourself ordinary, but I think that's what makes you special. Your ideas are unique, and it's not like I'm the only one doing something between the two of us. You also helped me with so much! How can I not like you?"

'Abort! Not proceed to court!! Aaahhh!!'

"Oh..."

"Yes, oh." He chuckled nervously.

Agatha's mind spiraled with anxiety. Her stomach churned with butterflies and dread.

Oh, indeed.

She thinks she likes him too. It's hard to tell because she never liked someone romantically before, but if she ever wanted a partner... Agatha thinks that she wouldn't mind Tedros being hers. But can she choose between Tedros and her family? If Tedros likes her as he said, what about Sophie? The kiss? Going home? So, yes. Oh, indeed. Somehow, Agatha landed herself in trouble in both her heart and mind. The answer should be easy... And yet, she is reluctant to decide.

"Tedros... One way or another, I will have to go home." She hated how weak she sounded in her own ears.
"I will never stop trying. This place— your world, it gave me something new, something good. But I need to go back to my family."

"Oh..." Tedros uttered.
"Can't you stay? With me? Kiko, Gregor, and everyone here that wants you to stay?"

"...My family is on the other side. I need to go back, I belong In Gavaldon." The girl mourns.
"I li—" She stopped herself before she could say something she would regret.
"It would be wonderful to stay, but my place is with them... Do you still like me after knowing this? Knowing that I will have to leave you at some point? I don't want to give you false hope, Tedros."

"I don't know..."

They heard their friends calling out their names, and carefully, Tedros helped Agatha up. And together they walked towards where they thought the others were calling out to them.

"Agatha," Tedros stopped before their friends could see them.
"I don't know what I want yet, but I do know that you're important to me, and I still want to stay friends with you. We don't know how much time we have until you find a way home, but if it's alright with you? Can we still be friends, at least?"

Agatha reached for his hands and gave them a comforting squeeze.

"We can. We still are. We'll figure it out eventually."

The two smiled at each other before continuing their way out of the forest and towards their friends.

Chapter Text

Inside the Mischief Tower at the School for Evil, a certain blonde girl is pacing repeatedly in her dorm. Biting her nails and tapping her shoes nonstop— Tap! Tap! Tap! Step! Tap! Tap! Ta—

"Can you stop that!" Hester yelled, annoyed.

"Aggie trapped Grimm in the well..."

"Of course she did! Your henchmen went rogue and kept attacking the Evers!"

"Tedros keeps helping her! Why? Adelaide can take care of herself! I'm the one who needs help—"

"I think you got your facts wrong, love. Grimm was attacking Tedros, and it was Aga—"

"He keeps choosing her," Sophie continued as she cut off Dot.
"The rose was a coincidence, the hobgoblin is a fluke, and the other instances are mistakes! There is something wrong, I need to do something, but Adelaide is avoiding me, and those pesky friends of hers are keeping me away from my sister!" Sophie hissed at herself.

"Annnnd, she's not listening." Hester deadpanned.

"I think Sophie's finally realizing that she's not the Princess in her story," Anadil whispered.

"Hester, please tell me you've got some news about the love spell I told you to find for me?" The blonde asked.

"No," Hester said snappingly.
"My relatives didn't recommend using love spells or potions."

"Useless!" Sophie grumbled.

Hester saw red and angrily snatched a heap of letters from her bag before shoving it to Sophie's face with a ferocious snarl.

"'Dear Hester, I don't know any love spells that work—' 'Dear Hester, love spells are notoriously dodgy—' 'Dear Hester! Love spells are dangerous. Use a bad spell, and you can wrap someone permanently—' Love spells are dangerous, Sophie! One mistake and love spells can lead to death or fate worse than death!" Hester growled with a warning.

"Then tell me, Dear Hester, why is it that I found the perfect Hex during one of my trips to the Library of Vice while you and your infamous family of witches can't find a single decent one?" Sophie said in a sickeningly sweet tone.

"You found a love Hex?"

"And did a better job at looking than you."

Anadil and Dot quickly latch onto Hester to stop the young witch from permanently scarring Sophie's pretty face with her long, sharp nails. The other girl, on the other hand, sneered down at the growling Never before unfolding a ripped page from the Book titled 'Foolproof Love Spells & Potions' written by Glinda Gooch and showed it to Hester and her coven.

"Spell 53: The True Love Heart Hex."

"Once a boy is under this spell, he will instantly fall in love with you and do whatever you ask ..." Anadil reads.
"Works particularly well eliciting proposals of marriage and invitations to Balls—"

"And all you have to do is mix the prescribed potion into a bullet and shoot it at your true love's heart!" Sophie exclaimed excitedly.

"If you already have that, then why did you still ask me?" Hester uttered.

"I wanted to see what you have to offer but, instead you have nothing."

"It won't work," The witch hissed angrily at the nonchalant blonde, who looked entirely unimpressed with her.

"I say it's worth a try if it means we don't have to talk about Balls and Kisses anymore," Anadil said, her red eyes scanning the recipe while pressing a reassuring hand on Hester's shoulder.
"The list is all standard ingredients that we can easily collect. Ah. Except we need Tedros' scent."

"How are we going to get that? If a Never even gets close to an Ever with bad intentions in mind. The wolves will be on us. We need an Ever to do it." Dot said.

Hester, Anadil, and Sophie turned to Dot, and immediately the girl regretted speaking up.

"No... No! I will n—"

~~~

"No."

"But, Agatha—"

"No, Dot."

"Sophie said that you only need to—"

"Why can't she tell me herself when she wants something from me? And no, I'm sorry Dot, but I already told Sophie before. No spells, no hexes, no tricks! Tedros needs to mean it, and that means no cheating. It has to be 'True Love'." Agatha grabbed Dot's bigger hands and squeezed them tightly.
"Tell Sophie that if she wants to talk with me, she can, and you don't have to be our messenger."

After delivering the message, the coven observed Sophie and Agatha privately talk some distance from them and watched as Sophie marched away with a red face. Meanwhile, Agatha only sighed as the angry Never left her before returning to Evers' side.

"What did she say?" Anadil asked.

"She won't help us." Sophie fumed.

"Well, we tried." Hester shrugged nonchalantly.

~~~

Two days later, Hester felt something jab on her side in the middle of the night. Stirring to look up, the young witch saw Sophie standing over her bedside and sniffling a blue tie with a gold 'T' elegantly embroidered on it.

"Smells like heaven. I'm sure there's enough here."

At first, Hester was confused and slightly disgusted at the other girl standing over the bed before realization finally hit her. She was impressed, and that made her angry. Opening her mouth to let her disgust and displeasure known—

"What about a Villain Choir?" Sophie singsong.
"I think that'll be my second proposal as Captain, catchy right?" Sophie grins.

Hester stayed up all night mixing the ingredients using her mother's old cookery when she finally tongs the blue tie and throws it into the boiling potion. A breeze shifted her way, and Hester got a whiff of the scent of the Ever Prince. The young witch couldn't help but gag at the smell of the boy's sweat.

"Eww, boys."

Soon, the potion was inside the tiny canister. Finally, Hester finished it by distilling the pink frothy potion into a simmering gas while she poured the pink glittering gas into a heart-shaped bullet over the fireplace.

"If he dies, make it quick," Hester growled as she handed the unassuming item over.

For two days, Sophie practiced her aim until she felt ready to take her shot. She prepared and made herself extra pretty the day she planned to finally make Tedros her Prince in Surviving Fairytale. Only... She couldn't wait until Survive Fairytale. Not because she's impatient, but because her shot couldn't wait.

The way how the Camelot Prince's eyes follow her, the way he smiles at her, the way he unconsciously leans closer to her... The worst part is, Agatha is also sweet with him! Sophie had never wanted to shoot a boy so much all her life.

When she saw the perfect angle, Sophie immediately pulled her slingshot and let the bullet fly—

"You're mine."

The pink heart-shaped ammunition shot off fast and true straight towards Tedros' heart, and Sophie watched in satisfaction when the delicate glass shattered and the pink gas attacked the boy's nose and mouth. The surrounding students peacefully eating their lunches at the clearing spun their heads in surprise and shock. Nobody paid attention to Sophie's victorious smile.

But there is only one problem.

The instructions that Sophie and the Coven read are incomplete. Where is the rest, you ask? Easy. The rest is on the next page of the Book, of course!

And what's written on the rest of the instructions? Ah... That's easier to answer.

"Tedros! Are you okay?!" Agatha asked in worry, swatting the rest of the pink smoke away.

—The last and very important thing to note about the 'True Love Heart Hex' is that after shooting your true love, you need to be the first person they see in order for that person to fall in 'Love' with you. Inspired by the phenomenon the Evers called 'Love at first sight'. If you are not the first person he sees, try again next time because the hex only works for 30 minutes. Enough time to secure marriage proposals and Ball invitations. But be warned, repeated use of this spell has the side effect of killing the target's brain.—
- Glinda Gooch

"Aga— Agatha?" Tedros asked, his blue eyes focused only on her yet Tedros looked as if he wasn't seeing her.

"Yes, Tedros, it's me. How are you feeling? Nauseated? Dizzy? Do you think you can continue class today? I told you Sophie would try something, but shooting you—"

"Teddy!" Beatrix cried and jumped to hug Tedros.
"Oh, Teddy! What did she hit you with!"

"Agatha," Tedros called, and the raven-haired Ever noticed his hands palpitating. Immediately, her worry spiked.

Agatha was already going to run back to school and call for a teacher's help when strong arms suddenly wrapped around her waist, and she felt herself twirl into a tango dance position.

"H-huh??!" Agatha asked with a confused blush.

"You look very beautiful today, Agatha. Have I told you that before? Do you know that? I love you. Ask me anything and I will do it, whatever your heart desires." Tedros said, an abnormal glow of pink in his eyes.

"Tedros, I think you're not yourself. You were hit by a love spell! Snap out your high horse off the stag—"

"Stage? You want a song, then sing I shall. Chaddick, Give me a beat!"

Tedros suddenly yelled, and Chaddick whooped before counting to three. And out of nowhere the Ever boys suddenly had a dance choreography in the clearing. Agatha was pulled away by Kiko, Millicent, and another girl to the side and she can't help but stare in disbelief when the boys, mainly Tedros, start singing and dancing.

Agatha had four realizations that day. No. 1, Tedros has a very smooth voice. No. 2, this world keeps exceeding her expectations in what is logical or just unique to them. No. 3, the world is a musical! She stopped thinking about the implications of that particular fact. No. 4! Tedros has a beauti— Ok, maybe just three.

"Did I mention~
That I'm in love with you?
And did I mention~
There's nothin' I can do?
And did I happen to say I dream of you every day?
Well, let me shout it out loud!
If that's okay? Hey~ hey~"

Ever boys: Hey!

"If that's okay?~"

Ever boys: Hey!"

The girl felt her face burn!

Tedros knew that she had problems with crowds, and she knew she should be appalled that Tedros was literally taking the spotlight to himself while singing a song for her. And not just any song, a 'Love Song'! Yet she doesn't feel trapped or ashamed, contrary to when Nicholas sang to her. Maybe she also inhaled some of that love potion because the only thing she felt at the moment was being seen. All the other people were all but forgotten. And the only thing she could focus on were those sky-blue eyes that locked on her.

"I met this girl who rocked my world like it's never been rocked!
And now I'm livin' just for her and I won't ever stop!
I never thought that it could happen to a guy like me~
But now look at what you've done.
You got me— down on my knees."

Tedros was grinning handsomely at Agatha and winked as he dramatically fell to his knees. In all honesty, he looked silly and she couldn't keep the bubbling laughter from escaping her from his dramatic antics. She tried to keep her composure throughout everything, but the other Ever girls were unfortunately not as immune to Tedros' nat 20 charisma, and many fainted or swooned to the floor.

"A Love Spell!? You gave Tedros a love Spell!?"

Beatrix's screams are drowned by the singing and music from God who knows where. The blonde Ever sprinted to the Never's side and shook Sophie by the shoulders to express her frustration. Sophie did not like Beatrix shaking her and soon the two were pulling each other's hair.

While his human's Prince is busy singing and dancing to show his love and devotion for Agatha, Bane is laughing and chiming as he watches the two blonde girls catfight.

"Because my love for you is ridiculous!
I never knew~"

Ever boys: who knew!

"That it could be like this~
My love for you is ridiculous!
My love is R-I-D-I-C-U-L-O-U-S!"

Everyone: R-I-D-I-C-U-L-O-U-S!

Bane rolled his eyes when he noticed his human frozen in place. At least Agatha wasn't trembling and did not seem distressed, just shocked. Flying down, the fairy grabbed Agatha's fingers and pulled the girl closer to the loud blonde boy who was very much sweet with her.

Do not argue with him! His human deserves this.

"It's!"

Ever Boys: Ridiculous!

"Just!~"

Evers: Ridiculous!

"And I would give my kingdom for just one kiss!"

The two walked closer with every lyric before Agatha finally snapped out of it when the boy pulled her into an easy dance around the clearing. The other Evers also started to cheer and dance around as well, enjoying the upbeat music and song.

The Nevers are not as happy.

"Well, did I mention that I'm in love with you?~
And did I mention there's nothin' I can do?~
And did I happen to say I dream of you every day?
Well, let me shout it out loud!
If that's okay-ay-ay?~
Y ay~"

Everybody: Hey!

"If that's okay?~"

Nevers (angrily): Hey!

Laughing, Agatha let herself be twirled and lifted around during the dance, indulging just this once.

"I gotta know which way to go, come on, give me a sign.
You're gonna show me that you're only ever gonna be mine.
Don't wanna go another minute livin' without you~
'Cause if your heart just isn't in it—
I don't know what I'll do."

Bane threw glitters and flower petals into the air and ensured that Beatrix and Sophie were far from the heart where Tedros and Agatha danced around with the crowd. When the two girls tried to stop this ridiculousness (in their opinion), Bane called out a troop of his garden fairy friends to hinder them.

"Because my love for you is ridiculous!
I never knew~"

Chaddick: Who knew?!

Chaddick sarcastically sang along. Amusement clearly in his face.

"That it could be like this~
My love for you is ridiculous!
My love is R-I-D-I-C-U-L-O-U-S!"

Kiiko/Gregor: R-I-D-I-C-U-L-O-U-S!

Bane flew towards his humans and accidentally(???) pushed Agatha closer to Tedros. The two stared at each other's eyes, hypnotized... Slowly, Tedros leaned in closer.

"It's~"

Kiko/Gregor/Chaddick: Ridiculous!

"Just~"

Evers & Nevers: Ridiculous!

"And I would give my kingdom for just one kiss~"

Agatha giggled and playfully pushed Tedros away to give them space. Her cheeks flushed red, and her eyes wrinkled into crescent moons. But underneath it, she was worried for him.

"Come on now~"

Tedros pouted and wanted to say something, but Agatha spoke first.

"Okay, big guy. We really need to get you checked up. You're under a love Spell, you are not thinking straight." Agatha said carefully.

"Mm'not," Tedros complained as he buried his face in the crown of her hair.

"You are," Agatha argued lightly with a fond smile. 
"Chaddick, can you—"

"I already sent someone to call Professor Dovey." The boy said.

"Teddy!"

Beatrix returned to Tedros' side, hair disheveled and her dress wrinkled. Sophie, also in the same state, ran towards Agatha and pulled the latter away from the boy with a hiss.

"No! Give her back!" Tedros wobbles shakily, his previous energy suddenly depleting.

"What is going on here?" Dovey asked, Yuba following closely behind the Dean.

The Gnome then picked up the broken heart-shaped ammunition from the ground and gave it a whiff before turning away like it was the foulest scent he had ever smelled.

"Love Heart Hex."

"What?!" Dovey asked incredulously.
"Who—"

"Tedros was hit. I think I'm the one he fell for. I can take him to the clinic." Agatha said while taking one of Tedros' hands that was reaching out to her.

"Granted."

"No!" Sophie yelled, glaring at Tedros.

"Enough!"

Yuba stabbed his staff to the ground, and suddenly, a strong gush of wind pushed Sophie away from her sister and flung her toward the Nevers. Hort and Dot caught her, but her pride wasn't. The blonde Never's black rags magically summoned a giant 'F' in a bloody red color.

"Every year, rascals like you try something. Know this, witch of woods beyond! There are no shortcuts to love."

"But it worked!" Sophie disagreed.

"He is not in love, young Witch! He is high as a kite and tricked into thinking it's love!"

"But Tedros—"

"Is attracted to the first thing he sees, it will be gone after 30 minutes." Yuba scolded.
"For failing at abiding by the rules of 'No spells until after the unlocking', you will wear that 'F' until the Ball. And you will clean the Library of Vice until that moldy place is squicky clean! And you will get last place in today's challenge in my class."

"Fine! But Agatha—"

"Is already at the clinic with her friends, tending to the Prince of Camelot," Dovey said smoothly.

The wolves howled, signaling the end of lunch, and students returned to their schools. Sophie wanted to complain, but Hort was already pulling the angry blonde back towards Evil. As Sophie left the clearing, A certain Evergirl looked contemplative as she watched the other girl and her gang of Nevers leave, holding her book in a vice grip. When she saw her Teddy and the Reader dance earlier, she saw something she never thought possible. And she feared what it could possibly mean for her.

Clenching at her "Winning your Prince" book, written by Emma Anemone. The girl knows it by heart by now, but it's not enough.

But maybe...

With her mind made up, the other Ever girl called out to Dot—

~~~

Agatha squeezed out the extra water from the clean cloth with a worried expression. Besides her, Tedros is lying on the bed of the school clinic with labored breaths and sickly flushed cheeks. 30 minutes already passed. Carefully, she placed the wet cloth on his burning forehead and helped him drink a glass of cool, clean water when he started coughing to hydrate the boy's chapped lips.

Gently, she combs through his sweat-soaked hair and comforts him whenever the boy's face contorts into discomfort or pain.

{Chimes?"}

Bane worriedly flew above the boy and turned to look at her.

"He'll be okay... He has a really high fever, but the doctor gave him something to help fight the hex."

{Jingle?}

Bane pointed at her questioningly.

"I'm fine." Agatha paused.
"I guess I'm still processing just how far Sophie is willing to go... We took every possible precaution if Sophie did plan to use Love Potions', but shooting him openly like that? Oh, Bane... What have we gotten ourselves into." Agatha stressed.

Bane chimes at her scoldingly.

"I know, Bane. It didn't look bad at first. He even danced, remember? And he kept trying to show how "Charming" he was for the past 30 minutes." Agatha chuckled humorlessly.
"Still... We planned for this... We thought we were ready, but now he's sick, high, and apparently could've died due to brain rot, for goodness sake!"

Tedros groaned in pain, and Agatha immediately returned her hand through his hair again. Temporarily placing her worries at the back of her mind, prioritizing nursing Tedros to health first and foremost. As she combed through his hair soothingly, the girl began to hum a little tune to fill the uncomfortable silence while she stayed at his bedside until the Potions' side effects mostly subsided. As she hums a simple lullaby, the Camelot Prince relaxes as he sleeps soundly.

Chapter Text

I have an announcement!!!!

Well, news really. It could be a good news or a bad news. That is for you, my dear readers, to interpret.

So... here it goes I guess.
I managed to gather 10 chapters and plan to post them every three days or two, starting on Monday. There is no strict time for posting but do expect a chapter on Monday. Why do I only have 10 chapters??? Well... I had multiple research and clinical reports to finish in the past months and I still have classes right now so I couldn't focus on writing without being distracted. Besides Uni, I also have a side job and GM'ming during weekends. Basicalllyyy~ I'm a pretty busy person behind the 'Orion' pen-name. But you don't want to know about those unnecessary facts.

Oh! I forgot the main reason I reserved a chapter just for a silly announcement!

I'm opening this story for translations and art for those who would like to. I do love for someone to try. I'm not an artist but maybe I could use some of your art as a cover for the story.

The only thing I'm not allowing is re-posting. In all honesty? In chapter 40, we are very close to the end, and the ending is still very much undecided. It will be interesting I think. I changed a lot of things and a lot of what happened in the books and movie will be twisted with more additional original lore. It will be slow posting again after chapter 40 for a while.

And I am already writing drafts for Book 2.
Yes. It's not a drill, I am making a rewrite of book 2 as well. The world is the same but- Oh are things, oh so not like the original fandom!

I'm sooooooo sorry for not posting for months!!
And thank you for still reading and loving this story after so long! Already a year, In Ao3.
This announcement has gone long enough I think. I'll bid farewell for now and will make my presence known next week as per schedule. Thank you again. I hope you'll be excited because it will be a hard journey in the future chapters for both the brain and heart.

I'm also changing the title from: "Princess of Woods Beyond... That can't be me?" Into— "Healing of a Princess" because it's too damn long.

-Author bows as they exits-

Chapter Text

Sophie was reading the book Dot gave her as if it were a new religion.

"Winning your Prince," by Princess Anemone.

She couldn't believe an Ever lent her such a book! Sophie would've thanked her benefactor and maybe hugged them, but Dot said that her benefactor wanted to stay anonymous. Whatever! He, she, they? Whoever they are, they saved her!

After the failed attempts of her... Wooing. The blonde girl became stagnant in her ideas on how to win Tedros' heart. The scarlet 'F' remained in her uniform no matter what method she attempted to get rid of it, and now she is skipping her morning classes to think about what to do.

1. Flaunt your strengths.
2. Speak through action, not words.
3. Parade competition suitors.

She needed to do those three things mainly to win her Prince, according to the book. If she follows those things, Tedros will finally see that she is the best girl for his attention and love, and this should work because this is an Ever's book!

"Show him who you are. Show him the real Sophie. The Sophie I believe in."

Agatha's words from their last conversation echo in her mind.

Her sister has always been supportive of her their entire life! Perhaps following her advice is the right thing to do, and the girl hasn't led Sophie astray before. Although... Agatha has been acting strange lately. The blonde knew that the latter would come around sooner or later. All her sister wanted was to go home, and for them to do that, Sophie needed to get that kiss. Maybe she can even find a way to only send Agatha home.

Whatever it takes to win her fairytale. Whatever it takes to get Ever After.

And thus, with a plan already forming in her mind, Sophie began to work. She doesn't have all day to prepare, and besides, for this to work, she needs to be at her utmost best! After all, how can she expect to make a boy fall in love with her while wearing rags for clothes with an obnoxious 'F'?

~~~

Tedros was still having a very bad time.

His mind is still a bit groggy, his hand still shaky, and his speech a bit slurred. He asked Chaddick to look for the specific spell Sophie used on him and learned that the side effects of the said Hex are KILLING! THE! BRAIN! Yes, according to Yuba, the Never did follow the spell correctly, and yes, the potion made was perfect. Only... The prescribed amount they used is for grown adult males. Thankfully, the school doctor managed to stop the potion from further affecting his brain for permanent damage, but now he is suffering from temporary Ataxia instead. Agatha said he just needed time and physical therapy, maybe speech therapy too, until he is completely back to perfect health.

Which is fine.
IF ONLY CHADDICK WOULD STOP GRINNING AT HIM LIKE THAT WHENEVER AGATHA FUSSES OVER HIM!!

"Hey, Agatha! Look at poor Tedros over here. Can't eat, can't drink." Chaddick fake sobs.
"Would you mind lending a helping hand?"

"I'm going to kill you!" Tedros hissed quietly at his best friend.

"You can't eat?" Agatha said with a worried frown.

"No, I'm okay! I can eat just fine!" Tedros yelled eloquently(not) in embarrassment.

To show that he could, Tedros grabbed the spoon and proceeded to try and eat. Only... His shaky hands spilled the soup and accidentally let go of the spoon, splashing broth everywhere.

It was a mess.

"..."

"..."

Chaddick and Kiko were trying not to laugh at the mess of an Ever, and Gregor stared with an unimpressed face at the other two.

Agatha chuckled to herself. Gently, she took Tedros' hands and placed them on his lap before giving the boy a stern look, and she cleaned the mess. Mortified, Tedros tried to help, but Agatha stopped him.

"You're a patient. I can help," Agatha said, unimpressed.

"No, you do really have to—"

"Tedros, your arms are weak, hands shaky, and motor control wobbly at best." She pointed out plainly.
"Let me help."

"I— Alright..." Tedros surrendered when he saw how serious Agatha looked. Deep down, his stomach was doing flips.

"Oh, Teddykins!~"

"Bro, coming in hot! 9 o'clock, west!" Chaddick alerted.

Unfortunately, Tedros was unable to escape. Not with his condition, and Beatrix had latched herself to his arm without warning or care if she pushed Kiko and Agatha to the side.

"Oh, Teddy! Do you know how worried I was for you yesterday?"

"I'm fine, Beatrix. Can you please let me go?"

"Oh, come on, Teddy! Don't be so cold." Beatrix laughed for no reason.

While they were talking, students suddenly murmured to each other when another blonde girl walked into the clearing. Her short blonde hair combed sleekly. Her old black robes transformed into a strapless bodice dress with a scarlet 'F' shimmering into it. Face painted geisha white with fox eye makeup and bright red lips. The girl was beautiful as she made her entrance for everyone. Many of the Everboys stared and blushed at the seductress and her new look.

"Sophie?" Agatha squinted as she whispered.
"This is not the 'real' Sophie I had in mind."

"Darling sister!~ We will have our conversation later. For now—" Sophie glided towards Hort before pulling the boy by the collar. Dragged him away like a hostage.
"Let's do lunch." She said to Hort while eyeing the Everboys carefully.

Tedros snorted at the blonde girl's attempt at parading competition, which he quickly ignored and focused instead on freeing himself from a different blonde.

"You still need to eat." Agatha carefully said to Tedros.

"That's right! Doctors order, sorry Beatrix, you can talk to Tedros when he feels better!" Chaddick pulled Beatrix and lifted her in a princess carry before walking away, but not without winking at Tedros first.

"But, I—"

"Agatha is Tedros' temporary personal nurse. We can't bother her while she works! Let's go talk with the other girls." Kiko beamed as she followed Chaddick.

"I'll be back," Gregor said, moving to follow after Kiko and Chaddick.

"Where are you going?" Agatha asked.

"Practice." The red-haired Prince lied.

As they left, Agatha and Tedros looked at each other for a moment before laughing at the silliness of it all. The two happily chatted with each other as they ate, but the peace between them did not last long. (Oh! Come on!)

"Adelaide?" Nicholas interrupted.

Startled and honestly surprised, a bit weary, but didn't push the boy away.

"Can we talk?"

"What will you have to talk about?" Tedros glared, his piercing blue almost thunderous.

"This is between Adelaide and I—"

"Nicholas, please." Agatha interrupted sharply.
"What is it you want to say?" She added softly.

"I was hoping to tell you in private." He said sheepishly.

"No," Tedros growled while Agatha sighed and gave Nicholas an apologetic look but didn't move to leave. The black-haired boy pressed his jaws tighter at the Camelot heir before turning to Agatha.

"I wanted to say sorry for my actions from before. I honestly didn't mean to make you uncomfortable. I just... I guess, I wanted you to give me a chance."

"Oh... It doesn't bother me anymore, and I forgive you." Agatha replied curtly.

Honestly, she forgot all about it because of all the 'excitement' that had happened the past couple of weeks. And she was telling the truth that she had already forgiven Nicholas.

"Thank you." The boy smiled.
"I hope we could be friends instead... Agatha?"

Tedros watched as Nicholas shook hands with Agatha, and he didn't feel happy about it. The Camelot Prince is glad that Nicholas finally apologized, a long overdue one in his opinion, and he honestly doesn't need to be jealous—

Oh... He was jealous.

"I also hope so," Agatha replied simply.

Tedros knew he shouldn't feel like this when they were only friends. Okay, maybe being a bit jealous is okay between friends? He can't help but be a little defensive, is all. Well, protective... Fine! Defensive and protective! Can you blame him, though? As the heir of Camelot, attacks are not new to him, and the past few day's have been nothing but attacks on him and Agatha.

"Great! Can we talk sometimes?..." Nicholas said hopefully.

"Maybe next time." Agatha nodded before looking away and refilling their cups.

Tedros grinned smugly at Nicholas at Agatha's dismissal. Huffing, the other boy gave Tedros the stink eye before he left.

~~~

With the 'Spell Key Opening' ceremony coming nearer, attacks using magic will be allowed. Attacks like... Love spells might happen again, or more elaborate plans against them. The Camelot Prince knew that he might be acting a bit paranoid for overthinking what could happen, but paranoia kept him alive for so long and may keep him alive some years more.

And he can't forget the biggest migraine-inducing problem yet...

"F. . . Is for Fabulous."

Sophie showed off her new black, slit-back toga dress like a proud peacock, provocative periwinkle eyeshadow, and crimson lips. In his opinion, Sophie looked like someone shoved both her eyes at the edge of some table and bruised badly. Meanwhile, her lips looked like she smacked her face painfully at the wall, lips first, with how red it was. Of course... Not everyone shares the same sentiment.

"Is that the Never who tried to cast the love spell?" An Everboy asked with a blush.
"Wow... Who thought Nevers could be so beautiful." Whispered another.
"She looks so fierce, so different from the softness our girls usually have."
"I can't believe I'm about to say this... But I actually won't mind being imprisoned by a Never like her." The boys gasped scandalously.

"That can't be allowed," Beatrix whined to drooling boys.

"She's making a mockery of villainy! They should lock her in the Doom Room permanently!" Hester fumed at the Never's side.

"The beast is still missing," Anadil yawned.
"Whatever spooked him must have been pretty bad."

That day, Sophie performed poorly in her challenges, but she didn't care one bit.

"F. . . Is for Fun!"

Sophie wore a different black dress the next day and flunked her challenges again. Although it was clear she was the worst in class, Sophie's rank was always "19" instead of "20" much to her classmates' mystified confusion.

Each day, without fail, Sophie would flaunt her assets to try and grab Tedros' attention, and each day, Tedros would ignore her and focus on other things instead. One day, she changed her strategy and started secretly giving gifts at places where he frequently rested. You know... like a stalker. Training schedule to keep his body fit? Creams and potions that he doesn't dare use with a note that says it's to keep his face smooth and beautiful? A diet plan for him that consists of cucumbers and vegetables with strictly no sugar? And many more gifts that revolve around his status that he is not grateful for.

"Tedros?"

He hurriedly shoved the green and gold vest with elaborate design back into the bag it came with, hiding it behind him. The vest was supposed to be the 'Perfect gift for the heir of Camelot' as the note with it said. But honestly, he was more busy thinking about how Sophie had his measurements than being happy with her thoughtful gift.

"What are you doing?" Kiko asked again.

"Nothing." Tedros coolly said.

"Riiiight." She said,
"Oh my! That's a very beautiful vest." The girl then gasped when she spotted parts of the gift he didn't manage to hide.
"That jade color is hard to dye."

"Actually... This is Tristan's!" Tedros nodded thoughtfully, mischief gleaming in his mind.
"Yeah... I bet he wants his vest back." He smirked to himself.

Sophie stopped giving him gifts after the blonde Never saw someone else wearing the vest. She looked about ready to kill Tristan then and there, but thankfully, Sophie just changed her mind to doing charity work instead. Makeup lessons, fashion lessons, and all types of homebrew beautification lessons in the clearing where everyone can see her 'Good Deeds' and 'Sympathy' for the Evil kids.

Tedros wouldn't lie. He almost believed her then. He will forever be grateful that Bane kept biting his ears red whenever he voiced that Sophie might actually be good.

~~~

"You must get used to seeing each other as enemies! The first trial by tale is in two weeks!" Yuba the Gnome exclaimed to the group.
"In the trials, students are allowed to use magic. That's why we will focus on learning basic spells for two weeks. There is no 'one way' to do magic. It's diverse from visualization, incantation, hand flicks, foot taps, wands, numeral codes, and many more. Some heroes and villains can use familiars and partners, but there is one common rule to all spells."

"Magic follows feelings. That is our only rule." Lady Lesso uttered as she walked towards the crowd of students.

"We will directly open a connection at your fingertip so you can easily feel and tell the flow of magic in your body while learning spells." Professor Dovey followed after the Dean of Evil.

Yuba greeted both Deans. The women pulled out two swan-shaped shiny keys from their pockets. Lady Lesso's key is black with sharp lines, edged with a menacing design. Professor Dovey's key is gold in color, adorned with simple designs and small perfect-cut gems.

"Who should go first?" Dovey asked.

Lady Lesso smiled condescendingly at the Good Dean, who either ignored the look or didn't notice and sidestepped to give the kind woman the stage. Letting the Good students go first, which Dovey gladly took.

"Evers, right hand please."

Excitedly, the Good students lined up to go first with their fingers held up for the Dean.

"You go first, dearie." Dovey pulled Agatha forward, where an excited Kiko managed to pull both of them at the front.

"What are you going to—"

Dovey plunged her swan key deep into the tip of Agatha's index finger.

"Wait!—"

The sharp point of the key smoothly sank into the bone of her fingertip, past nerve, and tissues. But strangely enough, it didn't hurt. Smiling, Dovey twisted the key, and Agatha watched her bone turn a full circle before a bright silver light shined for a moment and dulled when the key withdrew. The Dean gave her an encouraging look before she moved on to the next student.

At Lady Lesso's turn on unlocking the Never's finger glow, a sharp clicking of hills interrupted the Dean, and everybody turned to see Sophie arriving(late) and confidently cutting through the line and striding forward toward the front.

"You're late," Lady Lesso said with a side glare.

"I am very sorry, Lady Lesso. Beauty takes time, you see," Sophie purred before lazily lifting her finger.
"Now, if you wouldn't mind activating my powers? I'd be most grateful."

The Dean raised a brow at the naughty attitude. Amused by her boldness, Lesso unlocked Sophie's finger glow with a hard stab that was painful, for sure.

"Thank you," Sophie said sweetly, unflinching.

The Evil Dean rolled her eyes before shooing Sophie so she could finish with the rest of the Nevers. Thanking the Deans, Yuba continued his class while the two women left to do other things. 

"As the Deans said earlier, when your finger glows it means you have summoned enough emotions, enough purpose to perform a spell. You can only do magic when you have a deep need and want."

Students carefully listened to Yuba's lesson while squinting at their fingers with concentration, trying to make their fingers light again or flicker. Well, all students but one. Sophie was busy writing her next lecture for her beauty class in her notebook.

"Like magic wands, finger glow is just a training wheel. Once you have enough control in magic and graduate from our school, we will relock your finger glow. It will be dangerous for you to keep it once you're in the woods. You won't want to look like a nincompoop every time your finger lights up while casting a spell."

- Water control
- Weather manipulation
- Mogrification(transformation) to both plants and animals

These are the basic spells that students are supposed to learn for two weeks before the first trial by tale.

During the lesson, a certain Ever worriedly watched Sophie pay little attention to class. She turned towards her left and saw Tedros and Agatha quietly discussing practicing together, magic, and something else she couldn't quite catch. She then turned to group 4 and saw Nicholas staring longingly at the raven-haired Reader.

She can work with that.

All she needed to do was wait for the Never to do something reckless or stupid. She can do this!

And the wait did not disappoint.

"She was doing great at first, now she's just a loser."
"Wow... The Empress's new clothes indeed."
"I used to go to her classes, but look at her rank."
"What kind of leader fails her challenges?"
"Where beauty meets charity? More like, where beauty meets stupidity."

Although Sophie was never last during challenges, the blonde was still at the bottom ranks. Number 120 out of 120 students in both schools. Nevers slowly avoided her "charity" discussions, and she mentally danced when she spotted Agatha giving worried glances at her sister. Then her heart leaped in joy when she eavesdropped on their conversation behind a hidden alcove one day. A talk that will for sure make Tedros leave Agatha for good.

~~~

"Sophie." Agatha started sternly.

"Adelaide," Sophie responded with disapproving eyes.

"You're failing,"

"So? Not like you care."

"Sophie!" Agatha snapped with frustration.
"I don't know how you survived this long! But if you continue on like this, you will fail and then die! Don't you understand? You might die before we can go home!"

"Oh? You still want to go back home? I thought you were chummy with the Evers in your school?"

"Sophie."

"You kept stealing my Prince, after all." Sophie stalks.
"Getting close with him, talking to him like a friend, eating with him all the time during lunch, and manipulating him into choosing you all the ti—"

"Sophie!!"

"What?! Is it not true?!! You promised you'd help me get my kiss so we can go home! But the way I see it, you're manipulating him into kissing you instead! Exactly like the villain you are!" The blonde hissed dangerously.

"You know nothing—"

"I know enough!"

"No, you don't!!" Agatha panted heavily, eyes noticeably shiny.
"You only hear what you want to hear, believing only what you want to believe. You never listen to me when it really counts! Listen to me now and listen well, you are going to kill yourself if you don't stop this! Reconsider and replan." She angrily pleads.

"Then help me! You promised, Aggie. Together, you said. We go home together. I can't do this alone." Sophie tearily sniffles.

Agatha hesitated before her mood shifted into quiet anger.

"I won't."

"What? Why?!"

"I already helped you before. I tried, believe me, I did. But... You need to earn Tedros' heart on your own. I won't help you, not with that, not anymore. But I won't stop you. Just promise me you won't use love spells anymore, that potion is literally poison."

"But—"

"No."

She noticed that Sophie looked almost shocked at her sister telling her no, like the idea of Adelaide denying her is a foreign concept for the Never.

"You almost killed a person, Sophie." Agatha seethed.
"You almost killed my friend. If I had brought Tedros later to the clinic, he would've had permanent brain damage. Do you have any idea what you could've done??"

"He would've been mine. We could've been HOME by now. Then I won't have to die. You're not fine with Tedros dying, but it's fine when it's me?"

"That is not what I meant," Agatha tried to argue.

"But we can still fix this! You— we can still go home! I need you, Aggie."

"I won't help you with Tedros anymo—"

"Then don't! But I need help with my homework so I can focus more on my plans. And maybe you could also help me during some of my challen—"

"We are not cheating!"

"Oh, come on, Aggie..."

The eavesdropping girl left after that, deciding that she heard enough and didn't want to risk getting caught. Quickly and quietly, she sneaked away and returned to the Good Castle while creating plans in her head.

While walking, the girl accidentally bumped into someone on the way.

"Beatrix?" Nicholas asked.

"Nicholas! You startled me."

"I'm sorry, you were standing alone in the middle of the hall, so I thought..." He said sheepishly.

Beatrix apologized for the traffic she caused when a realization hit her. Staring at Nicholas with an assessing look as gears turned in her head.

"What?" The dark-skinned boy asked nervously.

"Do you like Adelaide, Nicholas?"

The boy froze at the question asked before his face contorted into a sad frown.

"She doesn't," He responded.
"Everyone with eyes can see that Tedros and Agatha are sweet with each other. And I don't think I'll win against Tedros when it comes to her..."

"What if you don't have to?" Beatrix began.
"What if we just have to break them apart? What if they fight? What if they aren't friends anymore? Tedros will be sad, and of course, I'll be the one to comfort him. Adelaide will be heartbroken, and then you will have a chance!"

"What? Break their friendship— are you serious?!" The Evergirl nodded despite Nicholas' disagreement with the plan.
"And what could even make those two fight? They are close, Beatrix, very close."

"Do you want them to split up or not?"

Nicholas was silent for a long moment. Perhaps too long for Beatrix's taste, but eventually, the boy leaned closer to hear her better. Beatrix smiled kindly to the Everboy as she whispered her plan in his ear. Attentively, Nicholas listens, his face contemplating with a frown gracing his face. If the two talked some more at the library, nobody knew, and nobody saw.  

Chapter Text

Tedros has been noticing something about Beatrix for some time now.

She acts the same, follows him around still, talking to him, trying to catch his attention by dropping her handkerchiefs and fluttering her eyes the way she does when he passes. But something is different today. Today... She seemed smug almost.

"Tedros? Are you listening?" Gregor asks while waving a hand to his face.

"Bro, I know you said that Agatha is pretty with a book sticking on her nose, but are you trying to burn a hole through it to see her face?"

"What? Wait— no!" Tedros hissed with a blush.

"Oh good, your back. What's up?" Chaddick added slyly.

The Camelot Prince groaned in embarrassment at his best friend while Gregor was covering a giggle. Dragging his hand over his face, Tedros was glaring at Chaddick when the wolves howled for the end of the History of Heroism class with Professor Sader. While packing his things, Beatrix came over with a determined expression. Tedros tried to ignore her, but it was clear that she wouldn't leave until she spoke with him.

"Yes?" Tedros asked.

"I need to talk with you." Beatrix glanced at his friends.
"Alone, please."

"Is it important?" He sighed tiredly.

The Evergirl's eyes seemed to meet Agatha's for a second before returning to him. Frowning, Tedros turned to look at the raven-haired Reader when Beatrix stopped him from looking behind.

"It is important. Indulge me just this once, please." She pleads imploringly.

Tedros was about to decline when Nicholas came and backed up Beatrix. Saying how declining a princess, even a princess-in-training, is dishonorable and Evil— shaming the Princess's honor. Holding back a groan, Tedros looked behind him only to lock eyes at Agatha. For what and why? He doesn't know specifically.

"If it's important, then you should probably..." Agatha trails off unsurely.

Tedros didn't hold back the groan this time, and Agatha snorted at his disgruntled reaction with a fond eye roll.

"We will save you a seat. If it takes too long, I'll send Bane to get you." The fairy in question chimed in response.

Beatrix neutrally stared at Agatha before walking out of the classroom, making sure that Tedros was following close behind. When they arrived at the library, the Evergirl made sure that they were alone and that no one would overhear them. Once satisfied, Beatrix focused on Tedros again.

"Adelaide is using you!"

"...What?"

"The Reader is using you, Tedros." She said, slower.
"I overheard her talking with Sophie! She was helping Sophie kiss you so they could go home!"

"Home?..." Tedros froze at that.

"Yes! I don't know how, but Adelaide and Sophie seem pretty sure that kissing you will help them get home! Can't you see? That fake is using you. She doesn't like you, and you're not her friend. You are a means to go home. Although seeing Sophie's epic failures to win your heart, I don't think they're going home any time soon. If not, ever. That is why I believe Adelaide is trying to seduce you instead. Tedros... I know this is hard to believe, but listen to me, don't trust the Reader!"

"What's the one thing Evil can never have, and the one thing Good can never do without..."

"What?" Beatrix asked, confused.

"The answer has been staring at her this whole time." Tedros chuckled humorlessly.

"You believe me?" She asked hopefully.

"It made sense. Everything makes sense now." He whispered.
"The way she always pushes me to like Sophie or consider her, the questions, the riddle, and all the time Agatha tried to convince me that Sophie was the perfect girl for me..."

"See! I told you! Teddy, you need to keep away from her. She is not your ally, but I am." Beatrix said sweetly. Talking to him like one would to a wounded animal.

When the girl reached to touch Tedros' arm, the boy immediately dodged away, a hurt expression on his face. Understandably, Beatrix moved away and gave him space.

"All I want is for us to be able to live our fairytale, Teddy. Everybody knew that if it weren't for the Reader, we would've been the perfect pair. It was fate, destiny, red string, or whatever you want to call it. Please, Tedros, Adelaide is confusing you, using you. Manipulating you to get what she wants. See reason."

"And you aren't?" The boy monotones.

"Pardon?"

"Are you telling me this for me? Or for you?" He repeated.

"For you, of course! Teddy—"

"Thank you, Beatrix, for informing me of this... Truth. Excuse me."

Tedros left the library in a rush when he suddenly stopped. Not far away from where he is are Nicholas and Agatha, hugging in the middle of the empty hall. Nicholas spotted him first while the girl's back faced him, and still— The bastard— chose to hug the girl tighter. How dare he! With his girl, no— Can he call her his? They never did decide whether they could be something. Agatha wanted to go home, and she made that clear. But his heart... No, he can't push what he wants with her. How will they even work? She's a Reader, and he's a Prince Regent. Will that even work? Will they work? Can he ask her to stay with him a second time when all she wants is to go back home to her family?

"Nicholas," Tedros growled, failing to control his emotions.

"Tedros!" Agatha called with relief and carefully pushed Nicholas while balancing two plates in both hands.
"Bane said you'd be around here. You need to eat something right now so you can take your medicine."

Bane gave Nicholas one last hiss before the fairy flew to Tedros and showed them a small folded paper that carried his medicine while Agatha gestured for the two plates she was holding. One full with food, and the other with a cup of tea, probably her blend. Tedros stared at her cheeky expression and one raised eyebrow. He wanted to say thank you, to tell her she appreciated the effort, that he was grateful she had been nursing him back to health since the love spell incident. But Beatrix's words still echo in his mind.

Are they truly friends? Or did she agree to be his friend so she could go home? It's not the first time someone befriended him because he could be of use. He should've expected that. He really should've really, really expected that.

"Agatha..." Tedros lowered his head as she called her name.

"Hm?"

"Did you?... Sophie?" The Camelot Prince whispered. Mentally asking himself, why? Why is he weak for this girl?! What is he afraid of?

"What? I can't quite understand you?" Agatha asked before turning to Nicholas.
"Sorry, I think Tedros and I should go back now." She said,

"I need to know," Tedros whispered insistently.
"Did you help Sophie 'woo' me?" He asked, almost incredulous at the idea.

Agatha stopped, surprised at the sudden question but also afraid of why the boy was curious about it. Guilt steadily built in her chest. Guilt and fear, fear of Tedros discovering the only secret she hid from him, and guilt for the same reason.

"How did you know that?" Agatha weakly said.

Bane immediately chimed between the two worriedly, catching the plate with tea that almost spilled when Agatha's trembling hands accidentally let go.

"So it's true..."

"No, Tedros, let me explain—"

"I know you wanted to go home, but forcing that, that Never at me?"

"I know it sounds bad, no, it is bad, but I didn't—"

"Did you become my friend because you knew I was your way home through that riddle? Is that all I am to you?" He asked, hurt.

"Tedros—" Agatha reached to touch his shoulder when Tedros slapped her hand away, surprising them both.

Nicholas immediately jumped to pull Agatha away and pushed the girl to stand behind him protectively while Tedros silently stayed stunned by his reaction to Agatha's reaching hand.

"Nicholas," Agatha growled, trying to put herself back at the front. That snapped Tedros out of his stupor.

"Agatha, I'm—" Tedros wanted to apologize when Nicholas placed himself in between the two, glaring at the blonde Prince.
"Move aside." The Prince warned with a threatening glare.

"I'm protecting the lady from the person who hurt her, basic chivalry." The other boy glared harder. A sense of deja vu hit Tedros, but with the roles reversed.

"It was an accident, you're overreacting!" Agatha argued.

"If this is how he reacts when overwhelmed, it's not placing him in a good light once his King."

Tedros glared at Nicholas' implications. Preparing to punch that smug grin off his face, he clenched his fist tightly.

"Stop! Enough! Both of you!" Agatha hissed, glaring at the two boys.
"Nicholas, leave us."

"No! I can't leave you with him!"

"Tedros is my friend." She warned.
"A very dear friend, one of my first friends in this God-forsaken school. I do not tolerate people insulting my friends, and I trust him with my life. What happened earlier was an accident."

"Agatha—"

"My name is Adelaide to you."

Agatha then pulled Tedros away from there. They ignored Nicholas' surprise yelps and Bane's angry chiming in the background.

The two walked in silence for a while until their feet brought them back to Merlin's Menagerie. The burn marks from the previous fire were gone. Repainted, statues fixed, and plants replaced, the place once again 'awe' inspiring and beautiful.

"Tedros."

Tedros snapped his head up and stared directly at her bright hazel eyes.

"Agatha... If I kiss you or Sophie, you go home?"

"No—" Agatha stopped herself before breathing deeply once, twice, and calmed her aching heart.
"The School Master explained that if Sophie truly was an Ever, then kissing her Prince is proof that he made a mistake. When—... If she kisses her Prince, we get to go home. That is what I understand from it anyway."

"And Sophie's Prince is?..."

"She said it's you," Agatha apologetically said.

"Everyone likes to assume I'm their Prince these days," Tedros laughed, but there was no humor behind it, only dejection and tired acceptance.
"All this time? You tried to make me like her. You paired us together during challenges. You kept insisting that Sophie would've made a perfect Ever, that she's good deep down and was having a hard time showing it when she's in Evil. You asked me questions, trying to figure out what I like and don't like. You were playing Cupid." He said it more like a statement than an accusation.

"I did." She answered honestly.
"But only at the beginning. I stopped helping Sophie when she planned on using a love spell on you. We brainstormed preventatives against it, remember? I know I made a mistake. Trying to push you to like Sophie, let alone love her, when you clearly said you didn't. And I'm sorry. I know you're angry. You have every right to be, and you don't have to forgive me. I betrayed you! If you don't want to be friends anymore—"

"I am angry."

Agatha snapped her lips shut.

"I'm angry. I felt like you broke my trust, as if you used me for your gain, just like everybody else. Befriend me so you can go home, and then I will be left wondering, 'Why?' Questions that will go unanswered because you didn't trust me enough... I am furious because you didn't explain what the riddle meant when we solved it together. I am angry... But I can't stay angry with you. Not forever. Aurrghh!! I don't know what I'm feeling right now."

Tedros reached for the hand he hit away reflexively earlier. It didn't have any red marks, yet he still held it gingerly, apologetically, the anger inside steaming but not scalding his reason.

"You hurt me... Unintentionally or not. I'm angry, and I don't trust you, not right now."

"Understandable," Agatha responded softly.

"I will have questions," Tedros pointed melancholy.
"But I'm not ready to ask them yet. We're still friends—"

"But you're cross with me," Agatha said jokingly, trying to lighten the mood. Tedros fell for it and chuckled anyway.
"I know you're still angry. I would've been angry with me too,"

"Give me some time to think?"

"All the time you need," Agatha said resolutely.

Bane chimes his displeasure at both of them when he came following after, puffing his cheeks and flailing his tiny arms everywhere at them. Both feel awkwardly scolded by the angry fairy. Agatha gently scooped Bane and handed the boy the plate of food she was still holding before leaving with a sad smile.

The Good Deeds and Surviving Fairytale class felt tense and somber for everyone, unconsciously noticing that something was different, though they didn't know what specifically. The people who did know were either giddy or anxious about how this would affect the future.

At a tower, a shadow man stared at the Evers from his magic mirror. A plan seemingly formed in his mind as he reached a hand and touched the surface of the mirror on the wall. The glass rippled like water, and the sound of sand surrounded the room.

~~~

One night, Tedros twisted and turned on his bed, a tight frown decorating his forehead as an arena formed in his dream. In the stands, Evers and Nevers booed at a girl sitting unmoving on a slightly elevated platform. A long lavender veil covers her face as she quietly takes the jeers and insults from the audience and a man... No, a boy wearing all black with green accents also kept speaking harsh words at the eerily still girl.

"You are a liar."

Familiar blonde hair bounced as this boy spat insults.

"You don't belong here! You... I should've made your life harder in school for this!"

"Enough! Enough of this, stop!" Tedros yelled, and slowly, the yelling boy turned, and he saw his face looking back at him.

Oh

This... That was him. His betrayal, his hurt, his pain... A manifestation of his doubt, he guesses. He looked at the person he was yelling at and saw Agatha sitting silently on the platform, a crestfallen look in her eyes as she kept her eyes forward, unmoving and unbending. But not uncaring. Anger burned in his chest, but not at Agatha... But himself.

And so, Tedros did what he knew he did best when in doubt or anger.

He defended.

"Something ′bout this girl makes me believe her~
Even when the world wants me to leave her~
It's out of my control,
I can′t let her go now..."

His doubt interrupted him, glaring as he did so. His searing words repeat around him like an echo hitting a mirror.

'What If Agatha did befriend me to use me?'
'What If Agatha was lying to me?'
'Agatha only cared about Sophie, so am I just a tool?'
'What If all of this was just a deception?'

"Something 'bout this girl, says she's a liar!
She brought this on herself with her desires!
Your name will be stained,
'Gotta walk away now."

Why did he think that way? He knows deep in himself that isn't true. The more he doubts himself, the angrier he gets. Tedros and his double rounded around each other like fighters in a ring prepared to pounce. Perhaps they were... Because, in his mind, it was.

"Don't make concessions for her transgression,
She's made a mess!
A fool of you!"

His doubt growled with annoyance, malice seeping into his every word, and Tedros hesitated for a moment. But only for a moment. Because when he turned to look at Agatha sitting alone on the platform, his chest ached. Remembering how honest and sincere she was when she explained and apologized. She didn't mean for any of this to happen, neither of them meant for things to get this out of hand.

"I don′t see deception in her confession!
I just see the truth!~"

The two boys stared at each other unblinkingly, waiting for whoever made the first move. The doubt jumped ahead first, and Tedros tried to get the first punch. The double kicked and threw him by the clothes that he finally noticed were white and Camelot gold.

His doubt was powerful, Tedros realized. He got punched, kicked, and flung overhead. He was oddly weak in his dream.

"Don't make concessions for her transgression!
She's made a mess!
A fool of you."

The doubt unsheathed its Excalibur and pointed it at Agatha, who didn't flinch at the sword threatened to her face. She just looked sad and accepting despite her stoic demeanor.

Tedros pushed himself up at the sight of the blade and pulled his double away from her with all his remaining strength before kneeling on her feet and staring up at her bright hazel eyes. He loves those eyes... Like the warm summer fields of home.

"I don't see deception in her confession,
I just see the truth~...

I'm completely torn in two!
Half of me believes her—"

The copy placed a gentle hand on his shoulder—

"While the other half needs proof..."

Only to pull him away from Agatha and flung him towards the guards that weren't there before. A crowd gathered around them, excited to see the execution of the deceptor. They yelled and applauded as the double cheered his victory against Tedros. He raised his sword once again, looming over the motionless Reader with menacing fury.

"This was no immaculate conception!
Only just the ultimate deception!
Guilty to the bone!
We should have her head now!"

"WAIT!!"

Tedros fought against the soldier's grip and screamed at the top of his lungs.

And wait, the doubt did.

The double froze, suddenly less in control as Tedros' emotions overpowered him. Emotions like fear... Longing... Concern... Love. Yes... Is there anything more outdoing than a person acting out for love?

"Don′t you touch a hair!
No, don't you hurt her!
I look into her eyes and think I love her!
Innocent and pure!"

"How can you be sure now?..."

The doubt tried again. Hoping to rein more control in the situation once more.

"No, you've gotta let her go—"

"Why can′t someone show me how?!"

Tedros pulled, and the soldiers disappeared like sand in the wind. Tedros walked towards the girl who sat still, ignoring the crowd that was slowly disappearing around him and his double.

Slowly, oh ever so slowly, the boy stood in front of the slightly elevated platform and gently pressed his forehead to her knees as he lowered himself for her.

"Oh, the only thing I know~
Is I~
Just want to go to her now~"

Looking up, Tedros was surprised when Agatha looked down at him, moving for the first time since this weird dream started. He watched as she leaned down to him and rested her forehead against his. A small smile graced his lips as her hand slowly reached for hi—

Tedros woke up with the sound of glass shattering.

Scanning his environment, he recognized his dorm room but saw no shards or broken glass that would've made the shattering sound. Then he spotted his shadowed doppelganger at the corner of his eye before it disappeared completely. Groggily, Tedros rubbed his eyes to wipe away sleep and looked again. But nothing is out of place this time.

Weird

Chapter Text

"Addy?"

Agatha quietly pokes at her food during breakfast, her thoughts swirling with scenarios on what she could do to make it up to Tedros. Should she give him a gift? No. That might make him think that she's bribing him into forgiving her.

"Addy??"

What about a letter? Aughhh. Tedros prefers face-to-face conversations over a written letter of apology.

"Agathaaaa? Hey? Hello?"

What if she tries to talk to him? Tell him the reason behind her actions? Yes, it was her fault; she'd admit it. But maybe explaining to him 'Why' would make Tedros at least understand? No! This isn't about her! This is about Tedros and her betrayal, and besides... He asked to be given space. She will wait for him until he is comfortable speaking with her again. No matter how long it takes.

"Agatha!"

"Huh?"

Kiko stared at her friend with an unimpressed look.

"As I was saying," Kiko uttered.
"We need to prepare for the Snow Ball. The Ball is less than a month away, and we don't have anything yet! No dresses, no shoes, no letters or plans."

Kiko gave Agatha an inquisitive look. One, that says that "she knows that Agatha forgot about the Ball and how important it was", look. To Agatha's credit, she had the decency to look sheepish for forgetting. After everything that had happened, the Ball was far from being the worst of her worries.

"Ah, right, the Ball." Agatha eloquently said while still playing with her breakfast.

"Yes, The Ball," Kiko emphasized.
"If a girl doesn't get asked at the Snow Ball, they fail, remember?"

"When you say 'Fail', you don't mean..."

"Exactly what you're thinking. Forget how high your rank is at the board; if you fail to get asked, you'll be demoted. A punishment worse than death. After all, the school doesn't need a princess who doesn't get a Prince." Kiko whispered imploringly, making sure no nymphs or fairies heard her, except for Bane, who nodded in agreement.

"What? That's not fair! And if my memory serves me right, the boys only get half ranks as punishment?"

"Yes. I know it sounds unfair, but it's the truth. A boy can choose to be alone if he wants to, but if a girl ends up alone... She might as well be dead." Kiko said seriously. Trying to make her friend understand how the world of fairy tales works.

"Thats— ridiculous!"

"Maybe..."

"Hey."

Gregor suddenly cuts in, sitting with them at the table, holding his basket of food. The boy looked pale. Not sickly, but still, his face was white with worry.

"What's wrong?" Agatha immediately asked.

"I think you need to talk with Tedros."

"What?" Agatha sputtered.

"I think Tedros is planning something stupid," Gregor sighed.
"I don't know what exactly, but he kept mumbling something about 'protecting', 'from himself', and 'home' since he woke up today. I think it has something to do with you, Addy."

Agatha was dumbfounded.

It's been four days since Tedros and she last spoke to each other. Four days since she gave him space. They aren't ignoring each other per se, but they aren't as close as before. That is also the reason why she has been mulling over how to apologize to Tedros for days. But she couldn't figure out how.

"Have you two talked yet?" Gregor asked again.

"No... I don't think he wants to yet..."

"Well, I think it isn't wise to wait any longer. You two really need to chat. Like, really."

"But what if he doesn't want to? What if he's still mad at me? What if I make it worse? Isn't it too soon?"

Bane pulled a handful of her hair, and Agatha yelped at the sudden tug. Looking up, the raven-haired Reader saw Bane glaring at her, and she couldn't help but sigh weakly.

Truthfully, she does have an idea how to apologize to Tedros. Agatha guesses that the only thing holding her back is her fear of Tedros never forgiving her. It's been four days... Four days of walking on eggshells with each other, four days of nonverbal questions and careful glances. Four days of unsure air between them.

Agatha stared contemplatively at her food. Bane, Gregor, and even Kiko stared at her. Waiting for her decision.

"I... I need help with something." Agatha looked up with determination.

She did promise to wait, but she also didn't promise not to try something.

"I have dinner to prepare," Gregor grinned at her.
"Flowers to pick," Kiko beamed at the mention of flowers.
"And a boy to say sorry to." Bane flew overhead. Joyful chimes and jingles follow him.

~~~

'What was that dream supposed to mean?'

Tedros was pacing... He was nervous and probably just overthinking things. But then again, the Pendragon bloodline has never been the lucky bunch. That dream must've meant something. Or is it a dream in the first place?

The silver glint of Excalibur flashed from his memory.

The sword gifted to his father that was meant to serve and protect the people of Camelot was an airbreath's length away from the neck of a familiar raven-haired girl—

'No!'

That dream was not normal. He would never!— to Agatha?—

"Bro?"

Tedros jumped in surprise. Turning around, he saw Chaddick frowning at him with suspicion in his eyes.

"You're jumpy, why's that?"

"Not now, Chad," Tedros grumbled.

"No," His loyal friend glared.
"Something's wrong and I want to know what." He added sternly.

"It's nothing, leave me alone." Tedros insisted.

"It doesn't look like 'nothing'. If this is about Agatha—"

"This has nothing to do with Agatha. Leave her out of it."

"So it is about her," Chaddick breathes deeply.
"Stop pacing around each other, Tedros. It's been days, this isn't like you."

Tedros groaned in frustration. It has been days. Four days to be exact, not like he's counting.

Four days of Agatha and him being unsure of how to act around each other. And if he was being completely honest? It sucks. He missed their talks, their little arguments, and teasing. He missed Bane biting his ears and Agatha laughing every time it happened. He missed her teases and eye rolls. Her scrunched face and unamused smirk. Her headstrong personality, her gentle pats... He misses her.

He already forgave her some time ago and was meaning to approach sooner, but... Now he has a different kind of fear.

"I know you like her, your highness. Anyone with eyes can see that you have a crush on her. Well, everyone but you apparently. Honestly, Tedros. If you like her that much, then stop torturing yourself and ask her out already." Chaddick shrugged casually.

"I don't know what you're talking about—"

"Ha! No. It's obvious Agatha likes you, too, bro. What's stopping you from asking her out?"

"Many things" is what Tedros wanted to say.

"And don't reason with me about "many things", those are just excuses and you know it." Tedros snapped his mouth shut at his friend's accurate accusation.

Chaddick sighed as he looked down at the Prince, a boy a few months younger than him. The Prince he chose to follow, his best friend, and soon-to-be King. Tedros might act mature at times, but he was still 16. Both of them are.

"Stop. Don't think about the reputation crap and what other people might think. They will have to put up with whatever you decide because you are Prince Theodore Brioc Ericson, aka Tedros, Pendragon of Camelot. Future King of Avalon, and they can't change that. Do you understand?" The boy boomed with a loud laugh. 

"Chaddick..." Tedros groaned in annoyance at hearing his full name. It was unnecessarily long, and he hated it during his calligraphy class back home. 

"No, bro. Remember what Agatha said? "Sucks to be them", is what she said before."

"That's not..." Tedros grinned with a sigh.

"And you aren't the only one hurting while doing whatever it is you're doing. Gregor told me that Agatha has been gloomy for days."

"I know,"

"She's acting like everything is okay, but her eyes have bags under them."

"I know."

"Bane is worried for her, and for you too."

"I knoooow!" Tedros groaned again. Burying his face into his hands, frustration bubbling in his throat.
"I know, okay? I know. But what if I accidentally hurt her again?"

The Excalibur was raised high above a veiled girl—

"I don't think you could control that... Gregor called me stupid multiple times after I accidentally destroyed a lot of his things. I mean, why does he own glass shoes? And glass combs, and glass pens—"

"Chaddick." Tedros interrupts with an unimpressed look.

"Right. Where was I?" The older boy coughed.

"Gregor has pens made of glass?" He replied teasingly.

"He does, but that's not the point. The point is—" Chaddick glared.
"We can't tell all the time we're making mistakes, we can learn not to do it again, though. I don't know where the idea of you hurting Agatha came from, but I know you'll never hurt her. Unintentionally, maybe. But not on purpose."

"But I will still hurt her in the end," Tedros said deprecatingly to himself.

"No, you won't! Aren't you listening? You're the last person who'd want to hurt Agatha in this school. You don't want to hurt her you dimwit, you like her! You are being a fool!" Annoyed, the older boy hit the Prince over the head with the knuckles of his fists.

Tedros groaned and squats down to sit at the sudden attack, his hands pressing where Chaddick hit him. Glaring up at the boy whose arms are crossed on his chest daringly. They glared for a moment before Tedros sighed and slumped his arm in defeat. The hit wasn't that hard, but it was still painful, and it was enough to make Chaddick's point across.

"Thanks, Chad... I think I needed to hear that."

"No problem, but I can't take all the credit. It was Gregor's idea, and he asked me to talk with you." The older boy huffed.

"I guess I owe him one, do I?"

"You owe him more than one, bro."

"He's good for you; you became more tolerable with him around." Tedros teased.

Tedros laughed at Chaddick's wide grin of pride at the compliment for the younger Prince while they made their way to their third class. Speaking of Gregor, he was noticeably absent before and after classes, and weirdly enough, Bane was with him the whole time. Normally, the fairy would always stay with Agatha. And by the looks of it, the two boys were rushing over to something.

"Oh, I almost forgot." Chaddick snapped his fingers with a thought.
"Gregor told me that Agatha wanted to meet up with you at the east garden, 6:30 pm sharp. She mentioned not to force you, but..." The broader boy handed Tedros a small note.
"I think you should go and talk to her."

Frowning, Tedros flipped the note, and his eyes widened at the words written on it. He can't help but smile at the familiar, and almost unreadable, cursive penmanship.

"Dear Tedros Pendragon, I know you're still angry with me, but I would like to invite you to dinner? You don't have to if you don't want to. I'm not forcing you to do anything or obliging you to eat dinner with me. But if you want to, I'll be waiting in the east garden."

"She's inviting me to dinner." Tedros' heart skipped a beat.

Chaddick whistled, impressed.

"She's inviting you first? You need to step up your game, brother." Chaddick chuckled with amusement.

Rolling his eyes, Tedros ignored his friends' teasing and caressed the note gingerly. Nobody put this much effort into him before, not like this anyway. As a Prince, everything is supposed to be grand for him, or offered on a golden platter because of protocols. This one, though? It was just dinner, but it made him happy.

~~~

During lunch, Tedros didn't see Agatha and their friends anywhere. He wanted to thank Gregor and ask Kiko what flowers were Agatha's favorite so he could bring some for dinner later. Even Chaddick was gone and scurried somewhere. He was nervous, okay? It would be the first time they would talk in days. Four days, but he is not counting! Shut up, Chaddick!

He was excited! Nervous, but excited.

He wanted to apologize to Agatha, too. Tedros thought that he shouldn't have reacted the way he did. That they should've talked about it when it happened. He wanted to make it up to her. Maybe also bringing her favorite blueberry muffins would be a great start.

"Tedros?" A smooth voice called out.

"Yes? What can I do for yo—"

Tedros turned to see Sophie standing behind him.

"Oh,"

"Tedros... Teddy, why aren't you saving me yet?"

"Save you? From where? The Never school?" Tedros said defensively.

Normally, Sophie wouldn't get this close to him without him noticing or Chaddick informing him. It was bad timing. Chaddick left to get something, and he was distracted enough by his thoughts.

It was supposed to be just a normal day at lunch.

"Yes! I'm Good, you believe me, right? Please, believe me. I did everything right, but you're still ignoring me. I flaunted my strengths, I showed competition, and I spoke through my actions! Are my gifts not enough? Was it the vest? The plans? Please tell me and I promise I'll listen."

"Are you sure you're Good?" Tedros asked with false calmness.
"Was it 'Good' to use your sister for your own gain? To— manipulate her into doing your bidding just so you can say that you have the 'Perfect Prince'? Showering said Prince with shallow gifts and— You stalked me! Well, news flash princess, no amount of gifts will make me like you. No matter how much you prove yourself an Ever, I will never see you as a Princess. Let alone be my princess."

Sophie, tearfully looking up at Tedros. It made him hesitate, but not so much.

This was the girl who shot him, the girl who stalked him, the girl who really creeps him out. And also, this is the person who started this mess. If it weren't for Sophie, then half of the mess that had happened wouldn't have happened. She hasn't even tried to apologize for the Love spell at all! Agatha's attempt doesn't count. And besides, no matter how much she says she's Good, her actions speak the opposite.

"But Adelaide is?" Sophie asked with sadness.

Tedros' eyes widened at the question.

'Does he?'

Yeah... He can. He wishes he could.

Tedros knows that his Princess is around the school castle. In all honesty, he almost forgot about her, and his thoughts have been circling around Agatha for a long time. He wished that Agatha were his princess. If somebody asked Tedros to pick between Agatha and his mystery Princess, he has a feeling that his mystery princess would lose.

"It's always her, why? What does she have that I don't? She's nothing! Plain! Ordinary! Destined to live her pathetic life in a rural village! Someone lesser compared to me?!! Teddy, please, I'm begging you! It's me..." Sophie said sweetly, mania hiding underneath her gaze
"I'm your true love, I'm the princess, I'm the Ever. Not Adelaide, me!!"

Tedros felt his patience snap.

"Lesser?" He whispered coldly.
"You don't even hold a candle to her. Comparing you to Agatha is like comparing diamonds to coal." He seethed.

Sophie closed her lips with a resolute click. Her sad face contorted into a red, embarrassed rage.

"You know nothing about Agatha! She's one of the bravest, kindest people I know. Plain? Ordinary? Nothing about her is plain or ordinary! She's beautiful! Inside and out! The Everest, Ever in this school, and she's more of an Ever than you'll ever be." Tedros boomed. Good thing nobody was around to hear them.
"You belittle her, insult her, hurt her. She's your sister, but you treat her worse than a servant. I don't know why Agatha still puts up with you."

Tedros turned to leave when Sophie asked something that made him pause.

"So you love her?..."

He couldn't see her expression behind her hair, but Tedros knew the answer to that question.

"More than anything."

A long pause stretched between them.

"Do you know what she wants, though?" Sophie asked softly. So soft that Tedros almost didn't hear her. Almost.

"She wants to return to Gavaldon." Tedros stood straighter.

"Then you understand—"

"I understand that you have to prove the School Master wrong to be able to go home. That you are her only way home, and so Agatha is helping you with your goal... But she won't have to anymore." Tedros dismissed.
"I'll find a way to bring her home with or without your help."

"But will she?" Sophie said smoothly.
"Will my Aggie go back without me? I'm her only way home, the School Master said so, you just said so. For a person like Adelaide, blood is thicker than water, dear Prince. Do you honestly believe that Aggie will pick you instead of me?"

...
....
.....
"I... Will find a way." Tedros insists.

Sophie only smiled at his glare, and Tedros bristled at her victorious smile.

"Princess Agatha doesn't belong to anyone. I will make sure she goes back to her family with or without you."

Sophie felt her smile drop.

"Princess? Adelaide is no Princess, she's a village girl who wants to be with her father and that eccentric mentor of hers. To be with the boys she keep under her wing. And you do need my help, Teddy. Without me, she'll never go home! Without me, she'll never be safe!"

Tedros reached for his sword only to remember that he didn't bring it with him. Instead, the boy puffed his chest and stood up defiantly against Sophie.

"I swear on my father's name that I'll keep her safe!" He exclaimed while Sophie's face grew darker.
"I declare that Princess Adelaide is now under my protection!"

"To what extent will you protect her, Prince? If my sister is the princess... That means I'm the witch! I'm the Never, the danger, and the Evil! And with the Trial by Tale drawing closer... Aggie is one of the top four on the Ever's board... Why~" Sophie sings songs
"Will she survive if all the Never are out to get her? Think carefully, Teddy," Sophie hollered loudly.

The wind started to speed up with Sophie's laughter, her finger burning hot pink. A hurricane is starting to form with them in the eye of the storm.

"But I still have a chance..." The hurricane slowed.
"I can take Adelaide home, and I, a date. If you bring me to the Snow Ball and kiss me under the moonlight—"

"No." Tedros instinctively replied.

"No?" Sophie asked.

"No. I am not taking you as my date." Tedros spat, like the mere idea of bringing her as his partner was the most vile, soul-crushing thing he'd ever do.

"If you keep rejecting me, Pendragon, then I'll make sure that Adelaide will never go home. She'll rot in this place, she'll be miserable all the time, and it will be your fault for caging her here!"

Tedros pursed his lips in a thin line.

"Say what you want, Sophie, but I'll never take you to the Snow Ball."

Sophie snarled at him before she walked away with an angry flick of her shoulder-length, blonde hair. He watched her walk away, but he had a feeling that this wouldn't be the last time they would clash with each other.