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Chapter Text

Many fairytales we know today came long before the Brothers Grimm. They were fused and twisted with each other, but now we know then as they are, today we know them as German as they can be. Even now when the fairytales of old fused together, it was all wrapped in a German forest in some plain cottage.

It had been nice to look out of the window in the mornings. So many days the sunrise had been spent in blissful contentment looking out of them. The moments had seemed ripped out of the heavens cathedrals showed.

Maybe it would be in poor taste to forget the flavor of Edgar Allan Poe in this never ending fairytale. Because she was Raven, a Raven, who had been wrapped in a state of gentle death for too long.

She knew in her present, that she couldn't escape her fate. Instead, like many curious children before her, she ran off. This time off to the past.

It was the earliest she had woken in a long time. It was winter once more and the witching hour air caused a shiver down her spine. Yet she could not dare bite, could not not rest, could not sleep, could not die again.

Through her purely chattering teeth, and rattling bag, she preformed the spell. The familiar pink and darkened quite a bit into a secure and unthreatening purple.

In the edges of sight, she saw gold flickers from which she ran from. She dared not gasp, not a sqeak, she held her breathe and walked where she as she was not did not exist.
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Raven felt her body wake earlier than she wished. She wasn't like Apple, who needed her beauty sleep or was miserable, but she didn't care to be awake when the moon was out.

Unfortunately, something underneath her skin was twitching, the air was too still, so Raven waited.

It wasn't long before she felt the air release as a spark releaced tension, she didn't get the time to feel much before she bent over her bed in a wave of nausea. The world tilted on its axis and Raven almost fainted.

The crakle of magic woke Apple up. She gasped, Raven doubled over, and things seemed to stretch out for a long time.

It was strainuios, but effortless in the most literal sense. It wasn't incomparable to being sick. It wasn't the best thought because Raven was tempted to vomit.

Apple might have screamed instead, or she, Raven definitely cried out in pain.

The pull out her arms peaked before she'd realized, she came back into the moment much quicker than she left. Above her, put of a disk of light, came out a young girl.

The apprent portal shut, leaving the room in shadow again.

Raven slumped back to sleep, she'd deal with this tomorrow.

Chapter Text

As much as Raven would wish it so; the situation did not, in fact, leave in the morning. At the foot of her bed a sniffling young child with Apple consoling her.

The child's black- almost blue hair was a sad sight to see in the way it was. It was longer than likely the child could manage, or did, and was now in dissaray with wet strands clinging together like spider legs.

Raven must have not slept for long, it was still dark out, but the lights were on. She sat up with a groan, whatever magic had happened really took it out of her, Apple turned to her.

"Can you call for the headmaster? And get us a brush?" Apple had started rocking the crying girl and kept her grip steady.

Raven nodded as she tossed over her spare brush, and grabbed her phone. With a press of a button, Headmaster Grimm was on.

"Headmaster we need you here-"
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The morning was busy, everyone in the room had been moving around before early risers came out.

Dawn didn't hit until Baba yaga was inspecting Raven for injuries, "So it seems you mostly just drained Raven, if you rest this weekend and eat well you will be fine,"

Raven nodded as she left to chug down flavorless oatmeal and live out Briar's fairytale. It was finally time for others to start waking.

The child was in the cafeteria when she got there, starting up the rumor mill by existing. Her hair looked like an actual ravens feathers, or a crow, or pigeon. It was black that in sunlight had a sheen with greens, blues, and some indigo. It was being braided by Apple as the girl ate.

She had been dressed in one of Briar's older dress, a simple red dress with vine embroidery. She had a fur coat from Apple on top.

Raven sat next to the girl, partially out of curiosity and partially out of worry. The girl was stuffing food in as quickly as she could, likely getting the same advice as Raven.

She paused to look up at Raven, "hello,"

"Hi," Raven did not know how to deal with younger people, "what's your name?"

"Crow," she said quickly,"My name is Crow"

"She's my daughter from the future, I named her after you," Apple said cheerfully.

"A future, not The future, I didn't come to The past, its just a similar past, you can't travel to your past unless it already happened," Crow explained,"There's no history of anyone traveling to this point in my future, so its just A past, probably"

"I hope your enjoying it here in A past," Apple teased.

Crow smiled weakly at Apple,"you as sugary as you were in my time, and kinder" Apple's lip twitched and her brows furrowed but she kept smiling.

"Mo- Apple, could you and Raven shop with me?" Crow looked over her shoulder to meet Apple's eyes. On her lip was a dribble of milk.

" you can call me mom if you like Crow" Apple wiped a handkerchief on the corner and folded it.

"I don't, your half her age and I don't want you to replace her," Crow not unkindly but bluntly stated.

She tacked on,"Im fine with sister though, that's close right? "

Apple acted if she had to ponder it for a moment before shrugging, "Well, it's as close as we can get, sister,"

Crow giggled a bit at that. Her doll like eyes becoming more shiny in the moment of joy. Apple pulled her back to finish her other pigtail.

Apple finished up her work,"-and well we do need more clothes for you don't we? I think Raven would love to come, wouldn't you?"

Raven nodded slowly, and her smile was awkward. Apple still cheerfully pulled her to her closer as they talked about which stores they were going to. Raven kept her gaze at Apple's forhead as she retreated to her own thoughts.

Something was just not clicking in her mind about the situation. Crow had looked strange talking to Apple, Raven couldn't pinpoint why.

Maybe Raven just didn't understand family. She rarely ever talked to her own mother, and the Evil Queen likely wasn't the best example of motherhood.

Raven wondered if her kid would look at her like that.
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'Crow' loved the past. Look, she knows it isn't The Past but it's the past she's in, she knows what she means.

Maddie would too. Shame she can't remember her When she was like she is here. Like everyone is here, free.

They might not realize it yet, but they were free. The only thing stopping them was a set of pages that could be ripped. It meant nothing. As long as you believed yourself more than a story, no destiny could actually shackle you.

A promise however, definitely could. She learned to never make a promise, or to ask for one.

And never write it down.

Now back to the past, or the Present. That's better, she's never going back. Thats just some future, right now is the new present day. She was now presently just Crow, for forever.

Well presently, everything is great. The shops in town were actually the best fashion. It was available to everyone.

Crow had worn nice clothes, some of the nicest clothes. Always pretty, always comfy, and easy to miss.

Her body grew cold, her head was sweating, Her eyes were heavy, she felt weak, and just below her heart was a throbbing pain. Crow willed herself to not reach for it.

It was hard, her mind was stuffed to the brim with cotton and she couldn't fight the ache in her chest as memories resurfaced. The smell was stronger than anything real, a sweet hum gently soothed her ears.

She couldn't stop thinking, and couldn't pay attention, she could not sleep. She would not give in.

She made no deals. No promises. No agreements.

Destiny means nothing to Crow. She was a rebel through and through. She had no family and is no royal. She isn't the same as before, she doesn't care to be a good kid.

When Crow refocuses, she has water dripping down her face. Her face is presently cool and her mind clear again.

Best to forget what's never going to happen. Focus on now. If she continues long enough, the memory will rot.

She'll be free too.

Chapter Text

Apple hummed a tune as she put away Crow's new stuff. The girl looked lovely in blues and greens, Apple though red wasn't too bad either but she supposed Crow would prefer to be a compliment to Apple than a mini here.

Though, Apple had always been her miniature mother. Wearing the same clothes, having the same hair, eating the same dessert together... The only thing Apple thought was different from her and her mother was hair color!

When she was Crow's age that is. Now a days, nothing ever seemed to make her happy. Apple tried, and everyone say her as the fairest, but that everyone was never her mom.

"What was your grandmother like Crow?" Apple asked, trying to sound casual.

Crow pulled out her school supplies, she apparently tested to be at their grade level,"I never met her, my mom said she was a fraud trying to perform truth," Apple was going to make such a good mom.

"Then I don't know how much my mom matches up to her than" Apple set down the extra pillows for tonight.

"Hard to say, everyone was different," Crow placed her bag beside the bed," but it doesn't matter, I'm never going back, it matters how she is here, we only have the now guaranteed,"

Apple smiled,"You sound quite.. profound,"

" I hate that word, I read it in The Great Gatsby and when I hear that word I think of that- " Crow puased to find the correct wording,"jerk named Tom saying unfairest stuff"

Apple tilted her head,"That's a bit of a exotic novel isn't it?"

Crow shrugged,"I lived in a land far far away,"

Apple smiled,"Well, would Wise fit better?"

"Wise is a very fun word, along with novel, I think it's a step up, but I'm no sage," Crow stacked the boxes, "I just needed pretty words and simple rules to cope,"

"I can relate, we are stories here, I follow mine to move forward with my path," Apple smiled," Its nice to not have to think and just go with destiny,"

Crow tensed there,"Destiny requires faith, and I lost that a long time ago, fate is a fantasy,"

What, "you're a Rebel?" Her own daughter?

Crow looked sick,"Words like Rebel and Royal used to be history for me, nothing to Rebel against I think,"

"So there were no Royals either?"how did that work?

Crow shook her head,"Royalty wasn't the same, stories weren't either," Crow made a gesture in fuax casualness,"narratives stopped being fate, they were promises,"

Apple licked her lips,"I don't follow"

"It doesn't matter," Crow waved her off," It doesn't exist, right now we're free,"

Apple luaghed,"Well not too free, Rumpelstiltskin probably has a pop quiz tomorrow, and he won't go easy on you for being new" Apple saw Crow get a glint in her eye.

Crow giggled," I could've been a year up, whatever the old man has will be a slice of apple pie"

Apple smiled,"You truly are my daughter, well a future me"

Crow's grin faltered"I guess I am,"

"Well, we should get dinner," Raven spoke up over her phone,"It's six already,"

"Thank you Raven," Crow rushed to the door.

Apple sighed as she followed," she's quite energetic,"

Raven rolled her eyes," I've see you speed to Brair's room for an extra accessory before,"

Apple huffed,"That's just rude,"

"I'm right though," Raven said in sing-song voice.

"Your in a awfully cheery mood," Apple noted.

Raven shrugged,"Things feel Just Right with Crow being here, I guess,"

"She brings out a light doesn't she?" Apple looked to the door,"We gotta get going,"

"OH Yah, shh-oot, we gotta catch up," Raven barges out the door in a snap second.

Apple smiled as she gently closed the door behind her. She should have taken a picture.
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Apple was back from her nightly routine, and was ready to wake her daughter up. Her fairest little girl was the best part of her life, along with her wife, and seeing the last moments of her wonderful rest was her happily ever after.

Darling was placing down the breakfast Apple cooked and was pouring coffee. Apple sung her morning tune, against the wishes of the ravens.

"An apple every night," she walked to her daughter's door,"brings great delight,"

"After a bite,"She unlocked the door with a heavy clank. She shoved upon the door.

"You rest until-" She was gone. The apple she had bitten laid on the floor.

"Clever girl,"She must found something she shouldn't have. The apple was a fake too.

Apple couldn't sense her magic. So she must have been laying low and waiting for the curse to rot.

There was a time limit.

"SEARCH THE HOUSE" Apple barked. She heard Darling drop a mug and scramble.

Darling always the more emotional one.

"SHE TOOK EDWARD PAGE!" Darling screamed.

Ahh.
Of course she would.

Apple ran to her wife,"DARLING Please don't panic," she kept her voice sweet, Darling had always needed an extra bit of sugar on top.

Darling had a delightfully crazed look in her eyes and a manic smile she gained from wonderland, like how one gains an accent, and had tears spilling out without her attention. She clung to Apple's gaze, entrusting Apple with her whole perspective.

Apple held her love's hands,"We will find her, before the apple rots I bet, and if not we could make another,"

Apple brightened,"Actually if she went to past, than we could snatch another, a little sister," She giggled,"Our fairest has given us a opportunity,"

Darling let out a deep breath in a almost laugh,"wouldn't we be stealing the chance for another Apple? Her little Destiny?"

"Well, thats how are fate is, we twist others," Apple shrugged,"She can remain oblivious or we could terrify the brat,"

"Hey, I found you cute back then," Darling huffed. Her arms now crossed.

Apple nodded,"We all get better taste as we age,"

"I'd say you got more rotten," Darling countered.

Apple scoffed,"meant our duaghter,"

Darling grinned, "She is the fairest,"

"With her new sister,"Apple hummed.

Darling sighed,"I should take off a plate for the morning,"

Apple sat down"Best not to leave a cottage on an empty stomach,"

"We'll search after Breakfast," Darling cleared the smallest plate and scooted it to her own.

"Have we cleaned?" Apple asked.

"I did yesterday," Darling answered,"Just dishes left," She raised her plate to emphasize the point,"Our girls will return to a spotless home,"

Apple ate her well cooked omelets,"I think giving out chores what got us into this mess, we should've left to it to picking up toys,"

"Well we need a new thing to entertain her," Darling countered.

Apple thought,"The garden, just the flowers, it will give her something to do,"

"And we should make a fence around the apple tree, with a lock she can't undo," Darling added.

"Fingerprint spells, foolproof, neither will be able to enter," she finished her jam colored toast gracefully.

Darling nodded,"I'll get to building the fence, you can search timelines," Apple gave a nod.

It was the start of a new chapter for sure.

Chapter Text

Crow was up at the break of dawn, she listened as Apple went through her own routine. She stayed in her bed watching the sun rise.

"You look like You've never seen a sunrise," Apple whispered.

"I have a thousand times" Crow held herself tight,"Mom would wake me up,,"

Apple puased before whispering again," Im glad I gave you the window, you needed it,"

Crow laid her head on her knees,"I did,"

"I can bring something up if you want to wait before classes to leave,"Apple offered.

"Just no apples," Crow made a wave like gesture, "I've had to many, bring me pomegranate if you can, sis"

Apple giggled, "You have Raven's taste, pomegranate, you'll be chatting about watermelon for summer and the nurtional value of them,"

"I like those too, even if they are mostly sweet water in fruit form," Crow smiled," fruits are fun to talk about"

"I've always liked these conversations, people hate small talk when it's for dinner parties and people have to be all polite," Apple got quieter,"but when its someone new and it's.. kooky, it opens people up,"

"Like a book"

"Exactly"
"I'll talk more later,"

Crow didn't glance away from the sunrise, "Bye"

The apple hadn't been rotten yet. Crow puts a hand to her mouth, hoping to hold back the drool. The desire is worse.

Crow can't just throw it out. Someone could stumble on it. Crow should buy a lock.

Crow stared at the sun.

She would do that later.
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It was lunch. Going to the Casteleria was something that echoed memories that had been long forgotten. Buried against her will.

Oh nostalgia, it was nice to care for something real. Even if it was as silly as a bad test.

She did well this time.

Crow sat next waved to Cerise and sat next to Goldie. Mirrorphone was out and the reflection started recording.

"Everyone let's say hello to our newest student, Crow White, our From A Future princess," Goldie's voice bright in a way she felt like she'd never known.

"I'm happy to be back in the past with all of these iconic faces, Im excited to spend my days in my new present," Crow gave her best Darling smile,"My future might not be yours but there are a few thing I know that can help,"
"Exciting, anything you can share now?"Goldie asked with her microphone pressed to Crow's chin.

Crow gave her best smile,"I'm not going to spill until I've told the news to them, they can share if they wish,"

"Mysterious," Goldie whisper shouts.

Crow turns her face to the camera,"Well tune in next time to find out if You get told,"

The Camera shuts off,"You do well on glass, you are a just the fairest,"

Crow nodded, but said nothing. She turned her gaze away quickly to Darling and Daring. She went to Daring first.

Best to be quick,"You have a different story attached to you than prince charming, your happily ever after comes with being a beast, please don't freak, the skin is temporarily,"

Daring looked as if he choked,"You will like Rosabella, more than you like the idea of Apple, I'm sorry your parents don't want what's happiest for you"

Daring turned to Crow with a less petrified look on his face, and nodded before he turned back to cry.

Well, on to Darling. Crow kept her pace slow, trying to drag out the meeting. This has nothing to do with what never happened, Crow assured herself, just helping a friend.

Crow whispered quickly to Darling,"Your the prince charming, not Daring," and ran off.

Finally she went back to Apple. She asked Crow," so what was that about?"

"Daring is the beast, Darling is prince charming," Crow tried to sound casual and indifferent, she kind of was. Stories don't mean a thing to her, but to others it is everything. She cares about others.

Apple looked more curiousthat disturbed,"I didn't know a girl could.. do that,"

Crow picked at a salad she'd made,"Girls being together is called a sapphic relationship, which is from the Greece, because there was a very lustful woman seeing her fellow feminine bodies," that got a snort out of Apple.

"I know some books exist on such attractions, there's a wide range of diverse experiences labeled as Lgbtq+, sometimes before the plus there is a 'A' & 'I', I'm on that spectrum too," Crow took a bite of the hard boiled goose egg she snatched.

"What are all those letters for," Apple inquired.

"Lesbain, the attraction a woman to other women, which I comes from the same orgin as Sapphic, one was the girl and the other the island she was one," Crow went on and on and on.

By the time She had recommended her pseudo sister three books on correlating topics or things to delve deeper into, lunch was over.

"Thanks for informing me, I will read up on it later this evening," Apple gave her biggest performance smile.

A lot must the mind,"It wasn't any trouble,"

They left to they're next classes.
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It was the last hour was English, and Crow's best class. She had been always been allowed books to read. Writing and drawing had been a encouraged activity..

Crow wasn't good at ridding of these ugly feelings. It wasn't fully her fault, maybe this was to be expected, but her heart ached and her mind lulled at the thought of.. what never will be.

"CROW COME TO HEADMASTER GRIMM'S OFFICE," the speakers rang out. YES DISTRICTION! Just what Crow needed!

Wait- NO Grimm needing her is bad news. Curses, what did he want? He said he'd done everything..

He can't know, right?
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"I know" Grimm said with a stern scowl.

Crow tried not to panic,"So why am I here? Are you going to expell me?"

Grimm softened a bit,"I just want to understand, because you're story isn't adding up," it was the same face Apple had done to coax her to stop questioning her.

"Apple and Raven figured it out, and well," Crow gestured at herself, "weather I liked it or not, I was going to play my role,"

Grimm went pale at the admission," How did she-"

"A mix from lots of things from Neverland, Wonderland, and Everafter to make a cursed apple to top all cursed apples," Crow held herself,"It uses magic laiden in the victim, or the energy one would use to do what the curse alters, and reverses it on them,"

Crow's face burned,"Once this last one rots, I'll grow up, back to what I was before the curse," She was trying to hide the tears," I'll tell them a truth, an altered one if needed, just please let me stay,"

Her face was flooding," PLEASE,I- I d- don't hav ve e aan any anywhere else tooo go" Crow was wailing, sobbing profusely.

Grimm, as flawed as he was, wasn't heartless. He kneeled to be eye level with Crow," I'm not going to abandon a child," he sighed, "you always did your best to challenge my beliefs, and maybe you can't recall how hard you fought, but this proves what you've always said,"

Crow gave a wet luagh,"You'd think after not listening to younger kids, you'd learn to not be so stubborn,"

"Or my brother," Milton sighed.

"The smarter Grimm," Crow sassed.

"Yes, yes, well, I owe him an apology for stupid foolishness," The Headmaster bowed his head.

"Yeah you do," Crow nodded.

"I owe you one, both of you," Mr Grimm said, "I'm sorry"

Crow's breath hitched, her lips cobbled, and she bashed her head into Grimm's chest. Her wailing continued as she held onto his coat.

When she caught a moment to breathe she mumbled,"I- i needed that, I forgive you,"

"I'm not surprised, you've forgiven Apple to haven't you," Grimm awkwardly rubbed her back. His voice carried a sort of grief her mind she hadn't regained understanding of yet.

"Yeah" Crow pulled away from Grimm," wow, I was hysterical,"

Grimm looked down at his wet shirt," well, I think I triggered a big reaction from someone already feeling a lot, you've head a busy 48 hours,"

With more clarity, Crow realizes how young she'd felt. Her mind was coming out of her involuntary fog and reeling.

"I think I need to go to bed," Crow muttered.

"I'll have Baba Yaga send a dinner up," Grimm gained his more authoritative voice again.

"Good night," Curses, Crow wished she sounded just a little older.

"Goodnight," Grimm waves her off. She shuts the door, and lingers.

"How am I going to fix this?" Well, so he really is remorseful.

Crow didn't stick around to hear him go into a drunken daze and wallow in shame. It felt too personal. Too adulish.

Crow walked up stairs to her room. Her rushed and quiet steps brought her mind back to the cold night only hours ago, and years into a distant future.

Crow, now, couldn't tell how long it had been. She was scared it had been centuries.

When she finally reached the door, she flung it open and ran straight to her bed before cried herself into a half sleep.
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Crow wasn't woken by Baba Yaga as she expected, but by her visage. A mirror face looked back at her, older and with much warmer color. More alive than her.

"Your in my bed, I was told your sick," Raven furrowed her brows.

"Not contagious, there's no snot, Im more nauseous from magic overuse and my body couldn't protect itself," Crow wasn't sure where she had learned to lie, but she was good enough to cover her butt tonight," I'm sorry," Crow yawned and shut her eyes again.

"It's alright," Raven was ever the comforter, "How about we get you to bed," Raven picked up Crow in a swoop, and carried her off to bed.

"I could've walked," Crow half-heartedly complained.

"You seemed to be on the verge of sleeping again," Raven added, "you're also exceptionally light,"

"Maybe your just strong," Crow mumbled.

"Maybe," Raven clearly didn't agree. She gently placed down Crow in her nest of blankets and pillows.

Crow felt herself be tucked in, and she, as much as she wished she didn't; felt her mind fizzle out into a quiet empty state. She didn't reamber much after that.

There was the taste of yogurt maybe, crackers too, and chocolate. Crow went back asleep after that.
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Raven watches as Crow becomes incoherent with her babbling when she wakes again and has to eat. She grumbles and whines before having what's offered and slapping into the sheets.

Raven can't sleep, she's been struggling all day. It was better away from her room, but her mind is becoming like static, and she's getting hot and cold flashes.

She feels weak, and hungry. She isn't able to eat anything at dinner though, all she got down didn't satisfy her stomach.

Raven sees in a reflection her eyes grow pink, and she's terrified. She looks back at Crow with sympathy.

Raven knows this connects to her, and her gut is screaming that she knows what this is. From personal experience..

Raven groaned and leaned against her bed, her mind was screaming something incoherent. Raven needed to know. She couldn't go on like this. She hated the idea of snooping into this kid's past, but the future likely depended on it anyway.

Whatever was screaming inside her head needed to go. Raven curled into herself and tried to fight back tears.

She'd do it later.

Chapter Text

Well, fuck. that was not good.

Crow had regressed- that was a pun- UFGHHHHH- Crow turned her head to the pillow and screamed.

This was HUMILIATING, she was supposed to be different, better. To grow up this time. She couldn't just go cry when a situation with a adult got sappy.

She used to be someone, someone who didn't follow what anyone told her. She used to lead by example, being good and fair in her own way. When being a Rebel meant something, she was it.

She used to be powerful, and smart, and now she was just a child. She used to be brave, but she ran away. She used to be able to do something.

She used to be- Crow turned her head to look at a empty bed.

She wouldn't have ever been out of bed this early. Not yet.

Oh no.

Apple woke in shock," RAVEN,"

Crow flinched. Grimm she was Pathetic.

Apple slammed the ajar door open, and raced to look for her friend. Crow trailed behind. Her pace slower with her tremor.

Crow saw, from behind the back of Apple, Raven. She cowered in the shadow of her mom sister and tried not to faint. It was her fault.

"BABA YAGA!" Apple screamed out into dawn.
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Rumpelstiltskin wasn't cruel enough to distract Crow's thoughts. With each completed equation her mind had thoughts up at least two terrible situations where things could go wrong.

Time wasn't on Crow's side, it wasn't supposed to be this soon. If Raven didn't wake-

Her pencil broke. Sigh, She grabbed another one out of her bag. Raven would be fine. Just fairest. She had to be.

R- Crow went back to writing out equations. When she had her moment with a problem, Apple Mom's voice adviced, Well this is obvious, dear you have to distribute the 1/2 there, see?

C- Crow blocked back tears. She shouldn't miss her. Even if it wasn't bad, she couldn't go back.

Tears dropped on the page, and the ink blurrs. She can't be bothered to care, she has no use for good grades anymore.

Not this time around.

The bell rung.

Crow handed in her work, which even at it's worst was better than all but Apple, she had been given a head start after all.

Crow let Apple pull her hand, as had happened many times before, and before, and before. It all seemed to wrap around again.

Still a Coward.
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"Apple it's just strain" Baba Yaga explained.

"Raven, was awful; that can't be it," Apple was on the verge of tears.

"What else could it have been with the packages around her?" Baba Yaga argued, "She will be fine" the lie wasn't convincing and Crow cringe at the cover up,"go get to class dear"

"Crow saw her too, Please explain to her" Apple pleaded.

Crow's throatfelt dry,"Can- I, I Apple, I'm-"

Baba Yaga went to Crow with a soft look,"Don't strain yourself-"

"Don't patronize me," Crow glared.

Apple turned to look at Crow in confusion," What-"

"Let's go to lunch," She pulled Apple outside.

She closed the door behind her and took in a deep breath before saying,"I know what's going on, and it's private, so unless things get dire for Raven only adults need to know for now," as much as it was awful, Apple respected authority.

She nodded slowly at Crow's words, great. Crow turned to leave when Apple tugged on her sleeve,"just tell me when its bad," Crow nodded, she wouldn't be able not to when it reaches that hight.

Apple turned away as the two headed to dinner.
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"A radar of storts, Love," Apple explained, "one of them will bite the bait,"

"Who do you think it will be," the blood stained silver armor shifted to place a hand under helmet.

Apple shrugged,"The younger one,"

"She's Weaker?"

Apple cocked her head,"Ignorant,"

"Ah, What true bliss," Darling cooed.

Apple turned to her most loyal soldier, "Now to get our girls home,"
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Crow woke up, again. She hadn't slept well without... her usual help. The full moon was out, as pale as the night she left.

Crow went to the connected restroom, (she forgot they had these, how which was the Headmaster?) and to get a cup of water. Crow thought she read somewhere that that when going through withdrawals that having a replacement helped. So water.

She poured herself half a cup full and spilled it a bit. Even if Grimm was rich, the water wasn't clear like it had been- there. Crow nursed the drink in her hands for a minute. The small sips indicated it wasn't as crisp either.

The small of something sweet curled in the air. Crow sat down as she continued her drink, curling in on herself. By the time she was finishing it, the water had a slight hint of salt from tears. It had taken a good bit of time because she had almost chocked on her panic.

Her breath quickened without a liquid. Crow could feel that Bad was coming. All she was able to do was cry.

She could hear the door open.

Shitshitshitshitshitshitshitshitshitshit-

The steps were quiet, gentle, magically deafened. Crow creeked the bathroom door open, to find Raven, exactly what she feared.

Raven's eyes were only the shade of her magic, with white mixing in wisps. Crow didn't know how to stop her.

All she knew how to do was mitigate damage. Crow turned the bathroom light off and hid as she walked to Raven.

Raven bent down, opening her bag. Now or never.

As the room brightened in a pure white glow, Crow jumped onto Raven. She connected to the spell in place.

The last the she heard was Apple scream.

Chapter Text

She woke to her throat feeling clawed out dry and her head slammed into a wall. Her stomach had been scooped out by whatever had attacked her throat. Her body was cold, and sweating, and sore.

The pain was bad enough She forgot her own name. Her age even, she felt like she must have been older than she felt because you don't recognize when you feel young because you are.

So she was aware the whines that escaped her sounded childish and silly, and the tears would be comedic in another circumstance. Maybe it was now. In a morbid way.

She couldn't feel much of anything. She opened her screwed shut eyes, and turned towards a bag beside another bed.

In her mind, something more powerful the primal instinct, told her that she couldn't look in there.

Her more animalistic side was screaming that if they did, She wouldn't feel sick anymore. Her magic told her to get up and leave the room. She needed something to trust more powerful than her mind, and so she tried to go.

Unfortunately, her body would not stand. So she crawled her way to the door.

It was just before dawn and it took ten minutes. She pulled herself up by the handle and turned the knob to open.

When she closed the door, she reambered her name was Raven. Along with her general sense of self. There hadn't been energy for other revelations as she took a nap.
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Again, Raven did not sleep long, that wasn't a good track record for her lately, and decided that she probably should go find food.

Her body got stronger the farther away from the door, but the ache got worse. Her stomach especially was painfully yearning for something.

When she reached the Casteleria, she had to get things from the prepackaged late night snack bar. It was for the financially troubled or the chronically hungry. Nothing satisfied the pounding skull or her shot torso. No drink parched her throat, nothing eased her mind.

The pain was loud, and she barely louder in thought. She almost wished it was louder than her fear.

It was roaring with dread. This wasn't something natural or normal. Raven could feel her brain itch to go back to the room and go into back to her room, that what would ease her wasn't hard to reach.

Raven knew this wasn't her intention now, and her real one had a hunch that the solution was the problem. She couldn't go back less her mind turn against her.

She heard a gentle tap and screamed, only to find it was her own steps. She was going as mad as Maddie. Only a kid would be afraid of her own shadow.

Raven groaned and slept on the floor.

Grimm, she felt pathetic.
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Raven wasn't surprised when she woke up under Baba Yaga's care. She didn't make a stir when waking and shut her eyes again.

The pain was gone, and the weakness too, but her body felt the echo. She was very, very tired.

"Apple it-" "-strain"
"Raven.."
"fine" "go — dear"
"Crow"
"Can-"
Bleh, bluh, blah, mmmmm.

Raven smashed her head into the pillow harder at the nonsensical noise.
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She stood at the end of a cliff, and she had seen it before. It wasn't a real cliff, it hadn't been than & it wasn't now. Raven was dreaming.

She was more lucid than she had been awake. She had so many questions.

But she needed a minute, so she sat at the edge of this cliff. Without anything else here, and the view much more formed, it was peaceful.

The sun never rose nor set but Raven could tell it was daybreak. The sun if it could would bare itself to the sky. It would give light to this shadowed forest below.

Raven swung her leg out before noticing it was way to small. It looked thin and short, like it had been as a kid. Raven looked back to find the apple tree and ground behind her much larger than before.

The sudden movement had made her lose balance, and she fell. The sun sped through the sky and the moon was above when she hit a winter floor.

The snow would have felt cold if she could feel anything at all. Her dress went to the ground now on her. It looked like a nightgown rather than a actual outfit to be in the snow with.

Raven felt a pull forward, something that mimicked instinct had her magic pave down the path. She looked up before followed the urge. She heard her feat press against snow.

She looked up to see a starless sky and a full moon. It was a clear and lonely winter night, the only bit of cloud came from her breath.

Raven finally saw another light in the warm glow of a cottage home. The light flickered like candles and smelled of baked goods. She puased.

Many stories had warnings about strange cottage homes. Maybe it was s silly to hesitate in a dream, but it was the oddest dream Raven had ever had.

When she tried to walk away, her own magic gripped her feet and wrists. It dragged her to the door.

Raven heard no sound when the door opened for her, nor when it shut behind her. She could hear her heartbeat as she was free of shackles of smoke.

When she stepped in, she was greeted to a living and dining room. To her right had couches surrounding a big mirror glass reflecting a family laughing. It was blurry, with the laughter distinctly feminine.

To her left was the table, and farther left a kitchenette. On the table was a centerpiece vase with white roses, daisies, lilies, orchids, tulips, Forget-me-nots, and.. Rafflesias; and an Apple.

For as long as Raven tried to look away, her eyes were tugged by the same pull and tied themselves to the visage of horror. The apple in a altered view, looked red, shiny, and crisp. If Raven couldn't see her eyes reflected in a pink glow, it would have seemed real.

If Raven ocused past what she was supposed to see, the apple would be white. Her ears strained hearing the horrid voice that belonged to the dream of a story.

"This is your fate," it wasn't cruel and cackling, but patronizing and sugary. It left a floral, acidic taste in her mouth.

It was familiar, but unrecognizable. her mind softened at the words, as if it was a mom. It sounded nothing like the evil queen. It was a magic still buzzing through her, clouding her senses.

Her eyelids fluttered, and she pressed it together. Trying to focus on something, but all that was internal was a aching yearning. It screamed of a want, some of it really hers. She wanted to know, she was curious and confused, and worried.

Her mind also screamed of a starvation. She was ill from ache, she needed something to comfort the hurt. Even if it was just in the heart.

Things had reversed. Magic was on the side of danger, and her mind had gained the strength in sleep to deny this call.

Well she couldn't dare open her eyes, she took in a nose full of air. She had hoped to clear her mind, but it only brought the smell of.. what Raven would ever want a home to smell like.

It was of a warm clothes, chocolate, flowers, apples, a gentle smoke from a fireplace. The laughter carried through the mirror and Raven could feel a phantom hand grase her shoulder and squize tightly.

It felt of warmth in a cold winter night. Raven could suddenly feel the breeze outside and shuttered. She buried her in head into... someone. She could hear doors shutting and her thoughts crawling into a whisper as the desire to be held grew. She was very, very tired.

She whined and sniffled. Nothing was making sense anymore, and she was hungry.

Her hand got a hold of the apple.

Her lips parted for a bite-

"RAVEN QUEEN!"

The voice broke her transe and she dropped the fruit. Raven whipped her head to the mirror, to find a reflection.

Raven didn't look like herself, her dress was bigger on her, she was smaller. She had lost her collar, there was the softest version of a petticoat puffing out her skirt. Her crown had fallen to the flower, and wisps if shadow figures had blown away.

The reflection glowed into a more sour expression, it was filled with panic and discomfort,"You need to run,"

"I need to know what's going on," Raven looked straight into the blue eyes in the mirror, and tried to sound as empathetic as she could, "I don't want to be a liability,"

"I can explain, when you wake up," the reddest lips to ever be made curled into a pout," if you smash the mirror, you will wake," and she left.

Raven was left with a empty void, the true reflection of this world.

The whispers still spoke, but Raven was used to ignoring poor authority figures. She took a breath from her mouth and geared her hand up for what she had to do.

She swung and a scream similar to the sound of the true which echod as she fell through the reflection.

Her head swung towards into the real world.

She turned to find the pale apple in her hands, unblemished and polished. Everyone was surrounding her as Crow stood in the center of Grimm's office. Apple looked ill, Maddie was focused, Lizzy was moving trying to organize the crowd without Apple's usual authority controlling things.

Raven looked outwards to the window, it was a stormy moment. She couldn't tell the time.

"I'm not going to repeat this so everyone better listen up," Instead of people flocking to Crow, people parted so that the Charmings, Apple, and Raven had the clearest view.

Crow walked forwards.