𝓦𝙖𝙩𝙘𝙝 𝓘𝙩 𝓑𝙪𝙧𝙣, 𝗔𝗡 𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗥 𝗔𝗙𝗧𝗘𝗥 𝗛𝗜𝗚𝗛 𝗔𝗣𝗣𝗟𝗬 𝗙𝗜𝗖

𝓒𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝓢𝙞𝙭

Apple White's POV

Apple took off running in her red heels, clicking against the floor. After spotting the smoke coming from the Lifairy, she just knew something royally bad was happening. First Raven rebelled on Legacy Day and now, a fire? This year after Ever After High was certainly going to be eventful. After bolting down the corridors, Apple was out of breath and panting when she arrived at the hallway that connected to the Lifairy. Some students were injured with minor burns or were being treated by the school nurses.

"Lynnie!" Apple cried once spotting the next Fairy Godmother. She dashed over, engulfing Lynari in a bear hug before the girl could even get a word in. Releasing Nari, Apple noticed that she was paler than usual and more... tired? Odd. "Are you okay? Are you hurt?"

"Apple, I'm fine, you fret far too much. Thanks to Willow, you should have seen the way she took charge." Nari gestured to the short, brown-haired girl next to her. Willow Waverly was in Freedom Year from Apple's memory, plus she had a quiet brother named Scout. Willow nodded awkwardly, clasping her hands.

"Hi, Apple."

"Thank Grimm, you both aren't injured. Is anyone...?" Dead?

"No, Miss White, everyone is accounted for and there were no casualties." Headmaster Grimm's voice made Apple spin around to see the stout, gray-haired man. Glancing behind him, Apple saw that the fire was put out by the headmaster's magic. Only smoke and ash remained, wafting through the air. "Things could have been very different if I hadn't come in time..." He sighed, stroking his beard.

"How did the fire even start?" Nari questioned curiously.

"Well—"

"Apple!" Raven Queen's voice made Apple look over her shoulder. Raven and Essie were running towards them, a shell-shocked expression on their faces. Raven's eyes widened at the sight of the Lifairy. "There was a fire?"

"Unfortunately so," Apple replied, turning away from Raven. They still weren't on speaking terms, Apple was upset about what happened on Legacy Day. "There were no deaths, but the Lifairy is ruined..." Strolling towards the Lifairy, Apple nudged the burnt doors open a bit. Inside, the Lifairy was reduced to blackened ashes. Shelves were crumbled and books were to be forever lost. Although Apple wasn't an avid reader, she did think books were a source of knowledge and inspiration. To lose such knowledge was losing pieces of the world, history, heritage, and so much more. The burning of the Lifairy was a huge loss, it would impact Ever After High greatly. Apple was surprised that the Lifairy's fire hadn't spread to other wings of the school, but was grateful it hadn't.

"Who would do such a crime?" she cried out.

Willow peeked inside, appearing at Apple's side. "Maybe it was an accident?"

"How would an accident this damaging occur?" Raven countered, shaking her head.

"Well, one of us here likes to smoke quite often even if cigarettes are banned on campus," an older boy muttered. His wooden-like skin was covered in soot and ash, Luka Pinocchio crossed his arms. Luka was two years older than them, about to graduate this year. Apple realized how much more harmful the fire was to Luka—he was literally a wooden puppet. Key word: wooden. She noticed that Luka's fingertips and feet were slightly burnt, black gnawing at his splintered limbs.

Essie rounded on Luka, a defiant look on her face. Here we go again... "Excuse me?" she said, cocking her head to the side. Luka backed away, just realizing Essie had overheard him. "Say that shit with your chest, dollface."

Luka rolled his eyes. "It's no secret that you've been in Grimm's offices more times than we can count for getting caught smoking in the girls' bathroom." His nose didn't grow.