Ever After High: Thronecoming

Chapter 24: The Fall of Raven Queen

    It had been almost a week since the incident. Cerise's ears were exposed in front of nearly half the school, but Cerise had come to terms with it. While she was scared at first... Cerise had seriously underestimated the students of Ever After High. Everyone she knew personally was very supportive. The Royals just didn't care.

    Why you may ask? Because the information had made it to Headmaster Grimm days ago. He had already talked with her, and the Royals had nothing to go to the Headmaster about. 

    It was horrifying, going to his office. Headmaster Grimm was a terrifying man, but he wasn't unreasonable. He admitted that he couldn't change the past and that there was nothing he could do about it now. He also admitted that would have preferred if she never existed, which was understandably insulting to Cerise. The Headmaster had also talked with the two groups, the Big Bad Wolves and the Riding Hoods. Apparently, her mother was scared for nothing, and everything was cleared up.

    Though most everyone in the school who stood for following the prescribed story hated her, she had friends to stand up for her and protect her... and she had Daring. Cerise stared at the ceiling, she was lying on the floor in her dorm. At that moment Cedar walked in carrying a large basket of shiny red apples.

    "This was waiting outside the door for you." Cedar said plopping the basket down beside her. A whole group of girls followed Cedar in. Cerise's friends had been hanging around a lot more often since the incident. It was really nice.

    "What are those?" Raven asked, eying the basket suspiciously.

    "Raven, have you forgotten what apples are?" Maddie asked with oblivious surprise.

    "I know what apples are." Raven said with a laugh. "But where did they come from?"

    "There's a note." Cedar pointed to a neatly placed note, taped to the side of the basket. Cerise pulled the note off and read aloud.

    "'Dear Cerise,'" It began. "'I am so sorry for what happened the other day. I would like to make it up to you with this humble gift. Sincerely, Apple White.'"

    "Awww, that's so sweet." Ashlynne said, grinning from ear to ear.

    "No, it isn't." Raven frowned.

    "Why not?" Maddie asked.

    "Because they're poisoned." Everyone looked to Raven with surprise.

    "Poisoned?! How do you know?" Ashlynne asked.

    "It's just a hunch. I can't prove it though, so just don't touch them."

    "Ok..." Briar said putting her hands on her hips. "I know that Apple went a little stir-crazy earlier... but she wouldn't poison anyone." Everyone nodded. "I seriously doubt those apples are poisoned."

    "How about we just not risk it."

    "That's fine, but you still can't go around telling everyone that Apple tried to kill someone."

    "I'm not telling everyone, just you guys."

    "You still can't suggest that Apple would do such a horrible thing. She isn't THAT angry."

    "None of you believe me?" The room looked up at Raven sadly. Cerise knew Apple was mad, but she could not believe that a princess raised to be the perfect monarch, could do something like that. "Fine, we'll test it. I'll eat one." Everyone looked around nervously, this had just gotten serious.

    "Go ahead," Briar said folding her arms. "I guarantee it won't be poisoned." Raven reached shakily for an apple. No one said anything. Cerise would have stopped her, but she didn't really know what to do.

    Raven took a bite out of an apple. She was fine... or so everyone thought. A few seconds later she fell to the ground with a thud. The apple rolled limply out of her cold, dead, hand.