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Ever After High was quiet.
Too quiet.
Animals weren't scurrying about. Damsels were not being rescued by Prince Charmings in training. Kitty wasn't disappearing and reappearing about, causing mischief. Lizzie wasn't screaming. Raven wasn't casting spells. Apple wasn't helping people.
The noise in the school was snoring, and the click clack of a solitary pair of heels going down the empty hallway.
Faybelle has walked these halls alone for a week. She knew what she was signing up for when she set this curse, but she never thought it would be that lonely, even if only for a short amount of time. She can only imagine how lonely Briar would have been if she went through with the whole century.
But Briar will not have to live without her friends. Not because of her story. Faybelle made sure of that.
She had the path to Briar and Ashlynn's dorm room memorized. Dating a girl from legacy year until graduation will do that. Plus, she had to carry Briar in here after she pricked her finger.
She pushes at the door. Somehow, roses and vines managed to grow over the dorm room door over the last seven days. Faybelle groans as she pushes against the door, "Why do the Beauty family's stories have to have these stupid rose motifs!?"
After a few more pries, the door swings open. Faybelle steps in, finding the room absolutely infested with roses. All of the furniture was buried under bushes, and the sleeping forms of Hunter and Ashlynn are equally as buried under vines on one of the couches. She probably should have given Ashlynn some warning before putting her roommate to sleep. Though, she also put everyone else to sleep. Maybe she should have thought this through more.
Oh well, it'll be over in just another minute.
Briar's side of the room is just as overgrown as Ashlynn's, with one exception: Briar's bed. Briar is laying in the middle of the bed, prim and proper with a single rose in her hands. Held right over her heart. Faybelle didn't even set her up like that, she just naturally fell into that pose in her cursed sleep.
Faybelle scoffs and rolls her eyes but smiles, "She's perfect even in her sleep!"
Briar snores loudly.
"Okay, a little less perfect." Faybelle steps towards her sleeping girlfriend, bringing a hand up to caress her face. A chocolate brown curl falls right into her hand. Faybelle smiles wider despite herself, enchanted by the princess' beauty. "This is how Hopper feels when he looks at you, isn't it? No wonder he'd follow you to the ends of the Earth... That's why I followed you up that mountain, isn't it?"
Briar snores again.
"Yeah, yeah, I'll cut through the crap. I'll bestow upon you true love's kiss, wake you up, yadda yadda yadda. Time for happily ever after!"
With no further ado, Faybelle leans down and kisses Briar.
Magic bursts between their lips, spreading out to the entirety of Ever After High. As Faybelle pulls back from Briar, the flora in the room starts to wilt. On the couch, Ashlyn and Hunter yawn as they start coming to.
Briar's perfectly eyeshadowed eyelids flutter open, and she takes a few moments to readjust to the light. "... Faybelle?"
"Briar."
"What- What happened? I pricked my finger and now-" Her eyes widen with terror.
Faybelle takes Briar's hand, "Remember the canoe ride, Briar? Remember how you told me how you don't want to lose your friends? And I said I'd put everyone to sleep but me?"
Briar's face softens, "So, my friends-?"
"They're all alive. And none of you really missed much, only a week has passed since you fell asleep."
Briar's terrified expression melts into one of elation. The most common expression you'll see on her face, sure, but also one of the most beautiful ones. Faybelle yet again smiles despite herself. "Are all of my friends still here?"
"And they're waking up right about now."
She expected Briar to jump up, announce that she'll throw a party that night, and jump out the window or something. Instead, Briar threw her arms around Faybelle and pulled her down into a hug. Faybelle shrieks, only for it to be cut off with a hard kiss. She dissolves into laughter and tops it off with a snort, making Briar laugh.
"I love you, Faybelle! You're the best girlfriend forever after!"
Faybelle pulls away from Briar, a slight blush gracing her cheeks. "I love you, too, Briar. Now stop being sappy and go throw a party."
Briar's face breaks into a beam and she jumps out of bed, "PARTY TONIGHT!"
Sure enough, Briar goes and jumps out of the dorm window. Or, more accurately, ziplines out.
Ashlynn and Hunter look from the window to Faybelle, incredibly confused. Hunter speaks, "What just happened?"
"Briar just got her happily ever after."