How the Bird fit the Crown

The Charmings

November rolled upon Ever After High, bringing a cool breeze and leaves flying in the air. One little leaf, auburn as the sunset, separated from a grand oak and began its journey through the wind. After many turns and high with lows, it landed on the shoulder of a very powerful sorceress with ebony hair. She brushed it aside and continued her walk with her Boyfriend, Dexter, hand in hand as they strolled through the Ever After High gardens. It's been 2 weeks since the incident of Raven Queen's almost death, Raven was recovering. She was almost all better, but sometimes she had terrible nightmares.
"My Parents want you to come over for dinner, they want to see how we are doing." Dexter said.
"I don't know Dex, they can be very... Stereotypical." She said. Dexter wanted to tell her otherwise but he knew she was right, his parents and Raven only met a couple times but each time they would single out Raven and make her feel uncomfortable.
"I know but they mean well, they just want us to be happy." He said giving her sad eyes. She tried to look away but he looked so cute.
"Ok, ok fine. I better get a Hexcellent massage after this." She giggled at him.
"You will. Thanks Raven." He hugged her tightly. She really hoped this would turn out good.
************************************************************************** Raven was finishing putting on her best earrings when Dexter knocked on the door. She rushed over to the door to answer it, Daring and Dexter appeared in their finest royal attire. Raven raised an eyebrow.
"Why is Daring here?" As soon as she asked that, Rosabella walked out wearing her fine royalty dress.
"I may have forgot to mention that My mother wanted Daring and Darling to bring Apple and Rose as well... Suprise." He nervously chuckled.
"Great, now you mother can compare me to Rose and Apple." She sighed and grabbed her purse and walked out the door with Rose. Apple walked up with Darling then Raven locked the door. Dexter escorted Raven down to the carriage and Daring did the same with Rose and Darling the same with Apple. After the coachmen closed the door, the crack of the whip sent the horses going. Apple and Rose were giggling.
"The Queen is so nice, she gave me a rose pendant that she found in the ancient enchanted mountains." Rose pulled out her pendant and Apple awed at it.
"Well, the Queen said I was indeed the fairest of them all and gave me antique golden mirror." She pulled out the mirror and smoothed her hair. Raven rolled her eyes. Dexter grabbed her hand to let her know that it would be okay.
"What did the Queen say about you Raven?" Apple asked.
"She said I was a spitting image of my mother and that she hopes I won't turn against the land of Ever After. She gave me a pamphlet on controlling my dark magic." She said bluntly. Apple and Rose looked down and coughed. The carriage soon stopped in front of the Charming Castle. The Queen barged out with King Charming and squealed. The coachmen let us out and escorted us inside as the King and Queen followed us inside.
"There is the lovely Apple White? How are you dear? Fairest I hope!" Apple gave the Queen a hug. She nodded and giggled.
"And the Beauty of Rose! Such a passionate girl, so empowering!" She gave Rose a tight squeeze. Raven dreaded that she was next.
"And where is my favorite dark witch? Hope your not cursing too many people I hope!" The Queen laughed and hugged Raven for a second. Dexter stepped in.
"Mom." He put a hand on her shoulder. The Queen scoffed.
"What?! I love Raven! She is so wickedly adorable!" She pinched  Raven's cheek. She knew the Queen meant well... In her own way. The King clapped his hands together.
"I'm hungry let's eat!"
************************************************************************** As they all sat down at the table, chatting and catching up. The butler soon came up and rang his little golden bell. 2 rows of chefs came out with sterling covered platters and laid them in front of each person. They lifted the covers and revealed sautéed lamb chops with garlic and cumin puréed potatoes with broiled asparagus and Peppered sliced carrots.
"Dinner is served." He said as he bowed and left the room with the chefs. The busboy walked in and poured a 1942 Fairy wine in each crystal wine glass. He left and closed the doors behind her.
"This looks spelltacular! Let's dig in!" The King boasted. All the ladies including Raven folded their napkins over their laps and cut into the lamb as the boys on the other hand, dug in and ate less... Delicately than the ladies. Raven took a bite and looked around. Everything was so neat and elegant, polished and refined.
"So Raven, I hope you like the food. I know you like your dark meat sweetie." Raven tried not to take offense to the Queen's comment, she knew that the Queen was trying. Dexter swallowed his food and cleared his throat.
"Mom, that's not really appropriate." He said. The Queen looked at him.
"What? I am fine with her liking Dark stuff, I know it's not pig hearts but this is fine right sweetie?" She turned to Raven. Raven got an uneasy feeling in her stomach but pushed through for Dexter.
"Um yeah... Sure." Raven murmured as she poked her carrots with her fork. Dexter held her hand under the table. She turned to smile at him sweetly but then the King chimed in.
"So how are my future daughter-in-laws doing in school? Going along well with your stories I hope!" He chuckled at the end. Apple patted her mouth with her napkin and put it back down in her lap.
"I'm keeping my fairy point average at a 4.0 and was crowned fairest princess of the month... 3 years in a row and counting!" Everyone softly clapped. Raven knew Apple was very... Proud of her story, but she was a good person and Raven got to know that side of her.
"My protests against animal cruelty are getting more attention and I won a Beauty Bell Peace prize!" Everyone clapped once more, Daring gave Rose a kiss on the cheek.
"That's my lady." Daring said as he sipped his wine.
"And you Raven?" The King asked looking up from cutting into his lamb chops. Raven sighed.
"I almost died last week and I'm not evil enough to move on from Poison Fruit Theory." The table was silent, Raven continued to eat her food. The King awkwardly coughed into his hand.
"Well I'm glad things are working out." Everyone chuckled and raised their glasses.
"To good fortune!"