“Er…” said Professor Poppa Bear.
“Tea-riffic! Now the big finish,” said Maddie. She wiggled her bum while hopping and shouting, “Callooh callay, oh frabjous day!”
“Your Highness, there’s no need,” said Headmaster Grimm. “This Animal Call is unique to Wonderland alone.”
“Callooh—” Apple paused mid–bum wiggle. “So… no?”
Headmaster Grimm shook his head.
Apple straightened out of the bum wiggle and smoothed her skirt. Her face burned, and she wondered if she looked more Apple Red than Apple White.
Professor Poppa Bear rubbed his snout and looked away politely. “For non-Wonderlandians, the animal call is quite simple. First you declare your name. Then you pull these spell poppers I have prepared for you.”
He gave a bag to Hunter, who handed out the poppers inside. They looked like paper-wrapped candy in colorful foil, with ribbons on each end.
“I’m ready,” Apple said, stepping quickly to the center of the meadow. Hopefully if she did the correct animal call immediately, the others would forget her bum-wiggle dance.
“I am ready as well,” said Daring Charming, moving himself just one step ahead.
Apple smiled at him. Daring Charming was a hextbook prince: handsome, brave, clever, always ready with a sword or a winning smile. Apple was pleased with the mature way they handled their relationship. Yes, one day Daring would kiss her right out of a poisoned-apple death sleep and they would marry and have a beautiful baby girl (possibly blond, and that would be just fine). But their destiny was secure, so until then, there really was no reason to date exclusively.
“I am Apple White!” she said, pulling on the ends of her popper. With a snap, the foil ripped and a tiny ball of light shot up from the popper, rocketing high above the canopy of trees and then exploding into a white star. Daring declared his name and pulled his popper at the same time, his star blue.
At once, a white shape and a blue shape came rushing out of the forest shadows. The white shape leaped onto Apple’s shoulder and twined around her neck. Ridiculously soft fur tickled her cheeks, and she laughed.
“A snow fox for Apple White,” said Professor Poppa Bear. “And a peacock for Prince Daring.”
“By the book, what a handsome creature!” Daring exclaimed as the peacock, tail fanned out, strutted around him.
Encouraged, other students began to shout their names, poppers snapping all over the meadow. Cedar remained by the footbridge.
“Professor Poppa Bear, I think I already have my pet,” said Cedar, holding up her finger. A wooden cuckoo-without-a-clock sat there with wobbling eyes and bobbing neck. “If my pet, Clockwork, counts, maybe I don’t have to—”
A woodpecker zipped out of the forest, looked Cedar in the eyes, and made a happy shrill sound.
“Aah!” Cedar ran away.
The overly friendly woodpecker followed.
“Aah, woodpecker! Help!” Cedar shouted. “Woodpecker! Girl made of wood! Not a good combo!”
“I’ll help you!” Hunter cried.
“Here we go,” Cupid said, rubbing her hands together. “It’s shirt-ripping time.”
Sure enough, Hunter ripped off his shirt and posed. Invisible horns played a heroic fanfare. Hunter lifted his ax and chased the woodpecker. Which was chasing Cedar.
“Aah, ax!” Cedar said, still running. “A woodpecker! And an ax! Aah!”
She ran faster. The woodpecker chased delightedly, with Hunter-and-ax in close pursuit.
Maddie jumped up and down. “This is so fun!”
“Should I try to zap it?” Raven called to Cedar.
But Cedar couldn’t answer. She was too busy screaming.
“Oh dear, the woodpecker means no harm,” Ashlynn said.
“Stop running, Cedar!” Professor Poppa Bear called. “The bird is just playing chase. If you stop—”
Suddenly Cerise’s red cloak and hood streaked across the meadow. She tackled Hunter, knocking him flat in the clover. Leaping from his shoulders into the air, she seized the woodpecker in her hands. She landed back on her feet in a dead run and, cupping the bird in her hands, carried it into the forest, where she let it go.
When Cerise emerged from the tree shadows, everyone was staring.
“Oh!” she said. “I just… I just wanted to help. Sorry.”
Her lower lip quivered. She started to bolt again, but she must have squeezed the popper in her hand because a gray firework erupted above her head.
“Quick, Cerise, declare your name!” shouted Professor Poppa Bear.
“Uh… Cerise Hood,” she said.
A gray fluffball bounded out of the shadows and began to rub his head against her ankle.
“Ah, a direwolf pup,” said Professor Poppa Bear.
Headmaster Grimm scowled thoughtfully.
Cerise crouched down to pet the direwolf, and Apple saw her smile. Apple considered inviting Cerise to join the Student Council Activity Committee. Perhaps some extracurriculars would draw the shy girl out of her hood.
“A baby bear!” said Blondie Lockes, rolling around in the grass, tickling her new pet. “I’m going to call him Grizz!”
Professor Poppa Bear sniffed. He didn’t quite approve, it seemed, of the name or of a baby bear entrusted to Blondie—Apple wasn’t sure which.
“Yes!” cheered Briar as a unicorn came bounding toward her. “I just knew I’d attract something fab-u-lous!” The unicorn lowered her head and let Briar pet her glittery mane. Cupid was flapping her wings and doing happy spins in the air as a young Pegasus came flying toward her.
Hopper Croakington was staring at his pet, a luminescent dragonfly perched on his finger. Apple worried Hopper might accidentally eat it when in frog form until she saw the dragonfly breathe out a spurt of fire. It appeared the little guy could take care of himself.
Dexter Charming was sitting cross-legged in the clover, petting the jackalope on his lap. The furry bunny with antlers sniffled his nose, and Dexter smiled from ear to ear. Apple shook her head. Dexter was a nice kid but nowhere near the quality of his older brother.
Several more students still hadn’t pulled their spell poppers. Apple couldn’t imagine why on earth they were hesitating! The snow fox nuzzled her face against Apple’s neck.
“All right, all students who haven’t received their pets yet, follow me,” said Headmaster Grimm. “No more delaying. Step into the forest and conduct the animal call.”
Although Apple already had her pet, she felt it was her duty as president of the Royal Student Council to stay at the front of all activities. She fell in beside Raven.
“I’m calling her Gala,” said Apple, as the snow fox ran in a circuit from her right hand up her arm, around her shoulders, and down to her left hand. “Isn’t she perfect?”
“Uh-huh,” said Raven, not looking. “Hey, check out that tree.”
Apple sighed. How could any tree be more interesting than Gala, whose fur was as soft as the freshest snow? But then she noticed the trollskin tree right beside their path. Stout. Y-shaped branches. Markings that resembled two eyes and an open mouth.
“From the drawing!” said Apple.
“Shh!” Raven glared at her.
But the headmaster kept walking ahead of them, seeming not to have heard.
“Is that the same tree?” Apple whispered.
“Check out that knothole. Definitely large enough to stash something inside,” Raven whispered.
Apple lifted Raven’s hand, which still clutched the unpopped popper, and cleared her throat.
Raven frowned. “I had a pet once. A puppy. My mother turned it into a bone rat.”
“What?” said Apple, horrified.
Raven shrugged. “She thought it was for the best, I guess, since I was supposed to be evil and all. But I’ve been a little shy of getting another pet ever since.”
“Well, I’m sure this pet will be different. And even if it’s a… a bone rat”—Apple shuddered—“we all get the best
pet for our story. Aren’t you curious?”
Raven looked at Gala and sighed. “Okay.” She pulled the popper. The firework burst green above her head. “I’m Raven Quee—”
The ground shook, as if her very name could cause an earthquake.
Thunderous footsteps. Crashing trees. A beast emerged through the brush. It lifted its green scaly head and puffed smoke through its nostrils.
“Dragon!” The scream came from a dozen mouths as the sound of fleeing teenagers filled the forest.
Apple picked up her long skirt and hightailed it like a deer for the meadow, Gala streaking white beside her. Only when she glanced back did she realize Raven hadn’t run. She was just standing there on the path, staring up at the dragon.
“Daring!” Apple yelled to the prince, who was strutting with his peacock through the clover. “A dragon! And Raven—”
Prince Daring Charming pulled out his sword. “Say no more. You’ve bellowed your last furnace, scaly monster!”
He charged into the forest.
“Daring, stop!” said Raven.
But Daring didn’t stop. He was running straight at the dragon, which didn’t breathe fire. Or roar. Or swipe a clawed hand. It just sat there, staring at Raven, its dinner plate–sized eyes widening to platter-sized.
“Daring, maybe you shouldn’t—” Apple started.
“Daring, I said stop!” Raven yelled.
“It’s a dragon,” said Daring. “I’m a prince. Slaying dragons is what I do.”
He blew a kiss back at a cluster of girls, who giggled and waved. He sped up, raising his sword.
“Daring!” said Apple. “Raven! Don’t—”
Raven yelled, “No!” She put out her hands and—
Crack. Poof.
Raven flew backward with the force of her spell, slamming into the dragon’s belly.
And Daring was no longer running. In fact, he was moaning on the ground, covered in black sticky sludge.
The cluster of fawning girls sniffed and took a few steps away. Daring smelled like the wrong end of a pig.
“What have you done?” Daring cried from beneath the sludge. “I am dirty. I am felled. I am undone!”
“I’m sorry!” Raven said. The dragon was holding her in its huge clawed paws. “I just tried to cast a stopping spell, but it backfired. Naturally.”
“Don’t worry, Daring!” said Apple. “It looks like a Goo of Death Spell. I’ve read all about it, and it sounds worse than it is. I just need some hot water.”
Apple whistled.
From the forest, birds and squirrels came flying with buckets of water and scrub brushes. Briar and Ashlynn offered to help, and without smudging their dresses, the three royal princesses washed away the sludge. Daring’s fine white jacket was ruined, and his blond hair looked a little gray, but he was unharmed (except for his ego).
When Apple had rinsed off her hands in the stream, she went back into the forest.
Raven was sitting on the ground facing the dragon. The dragon lowered its head to her level, gazing right into her eyes. It snuffled, smelling Raven, her hair rising up on the gust of its breath.
“Not in the mood to spit fire?” she asked.
The dragon shrugged.
“Yeah, me neither.”
Apple sat beside her. “That’s no bone rat.”
“Thanks for helping with Daring. I… I’m not good for anything.”
Apple reached out and pet the dragon’s tail. The scales weren’t slimy—just smooth and cool like glass. “Have you named her?”
“Nevermore,” said Raven. “Isn’t she a beauty? And a young thing, too, aren’t you, girl? Only as big as ten horses, yes you are.”
Nevermore scrunched up her face as if concentrating, and with a poof! she shrank to the size of a large dog. Now Nevermore could curl up in Raven’s lap. Raven rubbed the dragon’s belly, and Nevermore closed her eyes and hummed.
“Raven—” Apple started.
“I keep thinking, well, I just won’t be mean,” said Raven, as if they were in the middle of this conversation. “I may have to sign the Storybook of Legends and promise to be the Evil Queen, but I won’t use magic or try to hurt or kill anyone and no one can make me, can they? But you saw what I did to Daring, and I haven’t even signed yet. If I’m in the story, will I be able to help myself? I don’t have a choice about who I will become. Maybe I won’t have a choice about turning evil, either. Really evil. Want-you-dead-in-a-coffin-and-turn-puppies-into- bone-rats-and-poison-Maddie’s-Wonderland-and-take-over-everything evil.”
Apple sat beside her. Sometimes she couldn’t think of anything comforting to say. It was a small weakness she was determined to mend.
Gala sniffed Raven’s hand and didn’t run away. Raven pet her head.
“I have to find Bella Sister’s story, Apple,” Raven whispered. “Before I sign, I just have to make sure there’s no other option for me.”
“Let’s check the tree for clues,” Apple said.
Raven nodded. “But not now. Too many people are watching.”
THE ENCHANTED FOREST HAD BECOME THE most popular hangout at Ever After High. All the second-years wanted to spend their lunch hours leaning back against the trees and playing with their new pets. Whenever Raven tried to sneak over to the openmouthed tree, Nevermore came running for her, snuffling. But Raven just couldn’t get mad, ’cause Nevermore was such a cutie-sweetie dragon with those big red eyes and adorable spiky tail, aah…
But when Legacy Day was only two weeks away, Raven started getting a little more desperate. She persuaded Nevermore to go help Apple and Gala pick walnuts on the other side of the Enchanted Forest. Finally freed from her attention-grabbing pet, Raven sneaked up to the trollskin tree. She was just about to put her hand in the knothole—
“Well, hello there,” said a deep voice.
Raven jumped back. It was Hunter with his pet griffin. Now it was Hunter’s turn to jump back.
“Raven! Sorry, I… I was… not expecting… just practicing for a play…” He glanced around uneasily and rushed off, his griffin flying after him.
Raven sighed. It seemed even Hunter was afraid of Future Evilness Herself. She approached the tree again. She stepped on a twig, cracking it under her foot.
“Is that you, darling?” called a happy voice.
Raven jumped back. This time it was Ashlynn and her pet phoenix. Ashlynn jumped back, too.
“Raven! Sorry, I… was… talking to my phoenix, Sandella. Come, uh, darling!” Ashlynn said, her phoenix flying after her.
“I give up,” Raven mumbled.
The Enchanted Forest was way too crowded these days. She decided to come back at night.
Raven waited till midnight, when Apple had been silent in her bed for some time, before slipping out from under her blanket. Yes, she’d sworn to include Apple in her quest, but the president of the Royal Student Council would so not approve of this plan.
Raven slipped on her Coat of Infinite Darkness and her most silent spiky sandals and opened the window. She grabbed hold of the ivy growing on the castle and shimmied all the way down to the ground.
She looked around to make sure she’d timed it right. No sign of All the King’s Horses and All the King’s Men. She’d been observing their security rounds for days, and they tended to go back to the barracks at this time each night for hot tea and scones.
Now for the thorny part.
Every night, one-hundred-foot briars grew up around the castle—a magical spell Grimm had designed for the students’ protection.
Our protection, Raven thought grimly. Or our cage.
She walked around, peering into the thick, dark, spiky hedge, examining it for any holes.
“You can’t just do stuff like this,” said Apple.
“Whoa! What? Hey, shh,” said Raven, putting her finger to her lips.
Apple stood there in her white satin nightgown, fluffy rose-colored robe, and bunny slippers, her fists on her hips. Raven’s Coat of Infinite Darkness
should have hidden her from anyone who didn’t know she was already there. Apple was very smart.
“You can’t just… just ignore rules and rush off to do crazy things. Rules are rules for a reason.”
“My mom had rules for me,” Raven whispered. “Rules like ‘Always be evil; never be kind.’ If she caught me being kind, I was punished. Dad had rules, too, and those ones I did try to follow. But how can I be sure Milton Grimm isn’t more Mom than Dad?”
“Raven Queen! Milton Grimm is… is… why, he’s the Milton Grimm! He’s basically the mayor of the entire Land of Ever After. Even the kings and queens of the kingdoms bow to his wisdom. And you should, too.”
“Maybe,” Raven whispered emphatically, trying to encourage Apple to lower her voice. “But before I turn my whole life over to evil and terror and despair, can I just be absolutely certain there’s no other choice?”
“Yes, I suppose you should,” she whispered back.
“All right, then. How am I going to get through this wall of briars?”
“How are we,” Apple whispered. “We’re in this together, remember?”
Raven sighed. “Yes, sorry. We.”
Apple examined the hedge, tapping her finger against her chin.
“You could bat your eyelashes at it,” Raven suggested.
Apple rolled her eyes.
A figure came tiptoeing through the dark. Raven and Apple froze. The figure saw them and froze. All three just stood there, frozen, wondering if they were seen.
“Ashlynn, is that you?” Apple finally whispered. “What are you doing out here? Leaving the castle at night is against the rules.”
“I know. I’m sorry. I just…” Ashlynn tilted her head. “Wait, what are you doing here?”
Apple’s mouth hung open. “Uh… official Royal Student Council business. Hey, maybe you could help us get through the briars? We just have some of that official business I mentioned. Outside the briars. At midnight.”
Raven considered that Apple was as good at lying as Briar was at staying awake during Crownculus class.
“Of course. I’d be happy to help.”
Ashlynn stood before the briar wall and smiled so sweetly, so purely, time seemed to go in slo-mo. She began to hum, a gentle lullaby kind of hum. The branches before her softened. They began to bend, then sway, like grass underwater. The swaying branches moved back, making a passage.