Once Upon A Time

The Maiden And The Queen: Part 1

Once upon a time, in the land of Ever After. There once lived a fair maiden by the name of Apple White and a queen in the name of Raven Queen. Raven had a rebellious secret, she loved Dexter Charming, who was destined to be Apple's prince. Raven was destined to marry someone who was related to Apple, probably her brother and a wedding was coming...very soon. Thanks to her mother, Cora.

Inside of the castle, a few days before the marriage ceremony, Raven and Apple was trying on some dresses for the wedding.

" Isn't this one lovely Raven?" Apple exclaimed as she twirled around in her white and red gown.

" It's gorgeous." Raven mumbled as she tried to look happy, but failed to as Apple plumped right next to her on the resting chair.

" What's wrong?" asked Apple sensing something wrong.

" Nothing," Raven mumbled back " just nervous."

" Oh I understand." Apple comprehended " I'm been nervous lately about marrying Dexter."

As Apple spoke, jealousy began the rise inside of Raven. Dexter didn't love Apple, he loved Raven. But as her boiling point rose, Raven burst into tears and started crying.

" Raven! Why are you crying?!" Apple shouted in confusion. She didn't know about the queen's secret.

Now slowing down, Raven looked up from weeping and took both of the maiden's dainty pale hands and held them.

" Apple," Raven said softly as tears ran down her cheek " I don't want to get married."

" Why not?" Apple asked.

" I don't love your brother, I love Dexter." Raven admitted.

" I understand," Apple sighed " you should be with the one who you truly love."

" Please Apple, " Raven pleaded " keep this as a secret. I'll try to figure something out. I'm sorry."

" It's alright. I never had feelings for Dexter and I don't want to get in the way of your relationship with him. But don't worry, I'll keep this as a secret."

" Oh thank you Apple." Raven thanked.

" Your welcome." Apple replied as she linked pinkies with her friend.

" Your majesty." a voice called. The two girls turned around and found the royal butler standing on the open doorway " The king wants to see you."

" I have to go Apple." Raven said as she stood up and hugged the princess. Then she whispered to her ear "Thanks."

" Your welcome." Apple said trying to feel happy.

Raven left the grand dressing room happily as Apple stood up from her seat and spun slowly around in her white gown.

    " Hello dear," a voice boomed " I was waiting until you were alone."

     Frantically, Apple turned around to have a tall pale woman with dark violet eyes, slick black hair, and a pursed smirk across her face at her sight. She was Raven's mother, Cora.

     " Hello Apple." Cora said as she strolled around the princess as if she was modeling in a fashion show "What were you just talking about with my little birdie?"

      " N-N-Nothing." Apple stuttered. She couldn't let Cora know. It was too risky.

     " Don't try to hide it from me. I will find out..from you." Cora said as she pulled Apple closer with magic.

    " But I have nothing to hide, I swear-"

    " Spill it or else." Cora dragged Apple even closer with magic and started to drag her heart out.

    " Alright, alright. Raven...doesn't love my brother, she loves my future husband." Apple sighed.

    " There we go, that wasn't so hard." Cora released her magic on Apple and strolled away.

    " Bye dearie." Cora strolled out of the doorway and into the hallway then surprisingly vanished as purple smoke swirled around.

    " What have I done?" Apple whispered to herself as she broke into tears.

    A few hours later, Raven was secretly riding a horse through the Enchanted Forest and stopped near a local stable right close to Apple's and Dexter's future kingdom. She went sneakily inside and found Dexter holding on to his horse's rein.

    " Hello Raven." Dexter greeted as he leaned in for a kiss on the cheek.

    Raven dodged the his kiss: " Someone might be watching."

     " And someone is watching." a voice boomed. Raven turned around and found her mother smiling like the Cheshire Cat.

     " Mom?!" Raven exclaimed with fear gleaming in her eyes.

     " That's right birdie." Cora gleamed as she lifted her daughter's chin then slapped her across the face " You're a pathetic."

     " And you," added Cora while pointing to Dexter " my wrath will come upon you...now."

      " Mom no!" Raven screamed.

      Magic blasted out of Cora's pale hands and she used the magic to do the exact thing she did to Apple. She used it to rip out Dexter's heart out and crushed it with her mighty hands. With excruciating pain, Dexter gripped on to his chest and started to fall on the ground motionlessly. His life was taken away.

       " Dexter!" Raven dropped herself to the ground and tried to wake him up, the truth hit herself too hard.

       " What have you done?!" Raven bellowed with anger rushing in and out of herself. Magic blasted out of her hands as she tried to hit her mother with it, but her mother shielded the magic by shooting her own.

       " Don't look at me dearie bird. A little fruit told me." Cora smirked. " And one more thing."

       " What is it?" Raven growled as she placed her hands down.

        " Don't disobey your mother. And do what she wants you to do." Cora smiled once again before she vanished in the same purple smoke.

        Raven broke down into tears as she looked at her lover's lifeless soul. Then she realized something...

        " Apple." she growled to herself " I thought that I could trust you."

Hey Everybody!!! I'm back! Sorry that I haven't been writing for a while, I had some writer's block. So I tried to get some inspiration. I got inspired by the T.V show Once Upon A Time on the channel abc..I think (I watch that show on YouTube) 😋. Anyway, I want to thank everyone for all the support for my previous book: ESCAPE (A Huntlynn fanfic). Thank you and don't forget to vote, comment and follow my account: HubbyBubby14.