DarApple oneshots

Woken Up

I'm no idiot. Despite the idea of my stupidity being implanted in everyone's brain, that I'm a helpless airhead who can't do anything for herself, that I need a prince to rescue me; I, Apple White, am no idiot. Which is why, when I found myself awakening from the curse I had been placed under, when I felt the cool air on my cheeks, felt my eyes flutter open, my limbs begin to stretch, and felt the rush of happiness and joy of having my destiny come true; despite all that, I could still tell that something was wrong. Maybe it was Daring's face, the perfect prince and most popular candidate for my future true love, with his eyebrows scrunched, standing too far away, running his hands through his hair and breathing heavily. Refusing to look me in the eyes, fidgeting with his vest, looking, dare I say, scared.

Maybe it was Briar, my friend of many years, who had always supported me and believed in me, looking at me with the strangest expression, one I had never seen sent towards me, almost like... pity? Maybe it was all my friends, looking confused, squinting at me, like they just couldn't understand why I had woken up. It may have been that no one was happy, or smiling or laughing, that no one was crying tears of joy, that the mood was just heavy.

Or maybe, it was Darling, a good friend that I had never been amazing friends with, but had always admired; standing a bit too close to me, with a tears forming in the corner of her eyes, looking conflicted, looking relived, then scared, then confused, then sick, as if she couldn't settle on an emotion. The way she looked at me, she looked at me like I was her greatest nightmare and her happiest dream, and I wanted nothing more then to brush away the small tear sliding down her face, to comfort her, because she looked so lost.

And then I remembered I was awake, and my destiny was almost completed, and I ignored the sinking feeling in my chest. I pushed it away, because I couldn't be logical at this time. It was supposed to be the happiest moment of my life, and I just couldn't bring myself to think. I just wanted to enjoy what was supposed to be the biggest turning point in my story. And then I had to ask, because this was the question every Snow White before me had asked.

"Did my prince wake me up?" I asked, trying hard to put on my best smile, yet it felt like I had concrete in my chest. It was hard to breath, and I was trying not to cry, as the air seemed to get even darker, and Daring's beautiful face flashed a terrified expression for one quick second. So quick I could have imagined it, and then he was nodding, and everyone was reassuring me as well, exclaiming that he had and cheering that I was awake, smiling and laughing and holding my hands; and in the corner of my eye, I saw Darling stumble back, burying herself into the crowd, and as I craned my head, I saw her bury herself in the arms of Maddie. I felt a quick flash of an unidentifiable gut feeling, like someone had punched me, before I shook it off, telling myself to focus on my moment.

And then my moment was over, when I realized Raven was missing, and received news that she had given herself over to her mother, because the Evil Queen had the school. The Raven had sacrificed herself for everyone, that she has done Good. And cue the emotional punch to my gut, my throat closing up, as I quickly blinked back tears, the heavy dark knowledge that it was me, not Raven, or Faybelle, or any other supposed evil character, that it was me who had freed the evil queen. Because I was jealous, and hatful, and selfish. Because I was the true villain in this story, that I had put everyone in danger, hurt dozens and put innocents in harms way, for stupid selfish reasons. Just like the Evil Queen had with Snow White. Oh Godmother. I felt sick, and pretended to get up and stretch my legs a bit.

As I moved a little little farther from the group, and I let out a quick sob. Everyone would deny it, they'd tell me that I was manipulated, or not thinking straight, that I was innocent and kind as always, but I knew better. Because I was no idiot. And I didn't really love Daring, we both knew it, and I didn't hate Raven, I loved her so much and respected more than I should, and I didn't even think my mother was a Good person. Oh godmother, in that moment I was going to be sick. And yet, I looked behind me, at all the frightened students and I knew it wasn't the time for an existential crisis. Not now. I had to focus, and save Raven, and my school, and fix my mess, and then I would give myself time to think. But not now.

I turned back to my friends, brushing the tears from my face, looking around to make sure my little scene had gone unnoticed. It had, everyone was busy on their mirror phones, or talking, or coming up with a plan. No one had noticed... except Darling. She was looking straight at me, directly in the eyes, and I felt myself shiver a bit as her stare pierced into me. She had blue eyes. It was unnerving, and liked the coward I was, I broke eye contact first, hurrying back to my friends, determined to do what I could to help.