Archive of Our Own ^beta

It had been one week since the dragon games, and Darling and Apple hadn't spoken about it since. Every time they found themselves in the same room together, or caught each other's eye they would awkwardly turn around and try to find the nearest escape. Neither of them spoke of it, an unspoken agreement to act as if it never happened, that was at least until one day when Darling got a knock on her door.

She paused mid-situp and turned to the sound hoping it wasn't another admirer. Ever since people started to find out she was the white knight she'd hoped people would start to leave her alone more, but instead it appeared to have the opposite affect. Guys started to claim that they could"fix" her, a few girls even started to swoon at her like they did for her brother (she actually didn't mind that part as much) but still she wished for a moment of peace. She sighed as she got up, grabbing her water bottle as she walked to the door expecting to find another hoard of fans.

She didn't bother changing or fixing her appearance, ever since her secret got out she didn't see the point. Darling opened the door without much thought as she wiped some of her sweat away with the towel around her neck. Her hair was still in a ponytail and her exposed skin was glistening with perspiration. She was wearing a simple sports bra that revealed her toned midriff and sweats, but where she expected to see a declaration of love in its place was instead Apple White, staring at her. Her face was red and she quickly turned away as if to fix her already perfect hair, and Darling struggled not to laugh at the sight.

"Rosabella's not here" she states on instinct, except she doubted that was who she was there to see. They weren't really friends outside of proximity, but Darling had hoped they could avoid this conversation a little while longer.

Apple fidgets before she responds. "Yeah I know" she says "her and Ashlyn are trying to get signatures for an animal sanctuary, I saw them in the front." Apple replied and Darling only nodded. "I figured we needed to talk" she adds and Darling tensed, "yeah we probably should" Darling replied more so because she knew there was no getting out of this. Apple steped inside as Darling closed the door behind her. The shorter girl had still yet to look at her for longer than a few seconds. "Maybe you should get dressed first?" Apple offered and Darling smirked slightly in amusement as she grabbed a random T-shirt, it was the plain white one she normally wore under her armor. Dresses never fit right beneath the steel and despite her secret being out, she never wore it in the public. She knew it was a bit hypocritical to harp on about wanting to be normal and continue to wear all the ball gowns and dresses that made her feel the opposite, but she didn't care. Between being a princess and being a knight she liked having something just for her. She didn't owe it to anyone to prove that she deserved personal space and respect, being human should have been enough.

"So, let's talk" she said as she put on the shirt and Apple was finally able to look her in the eye. "Yeah, let's" she replies.

The two take a seat on Darling's bed awkwardly trying to decide how or who should start before Apple finally took the leap. "I… uhm," she puased trying to find the words. "Darling you know I adore you right?" Apple asked and the girl dug her fingers into her comforter, she knew where this was going. "Yeah, of course, I adore you too Apple." She replies trying to act unfazed, she didn't care, why should she they were nothing alike. "Yeah, and I really appreciate you saving me" she adds and Darling starts to squirm in her shirt, sweat seeping through the fabric. "Of course" Darling replied "always" and Apple looks away. "But this is crazy right?" Apple asked "I mean you, my prince charming, you have to admit it doesn't seem right. I mean everyone knows Daring is supposed to be my prince." She adds 'then why didn't he wake you' she wanted to respond but she stayed silent.

"Apple it's okay" She states trying to calm down the girl who was struggling to let her down gently. "I don't want to be your prince Charming" she admits, and it was true, so then why did her heart feel like it was aching in her chest? Apple's expression changes from Sympathy to confusion at the statement, and Darling smiles gently at her. She looked a bit like a deer in headlights at the thought.

"You don't?" She asked as if she hadn't heard her and Darling shakes her head as if to say 'nope.' "I have a duty to Wonderland now" she explains, "I want to help people, and no offense but I can't do that as your prince." She admits awkward rubbing the back of her neck as she looks away from the princess, and Apple couldn't help but admire her for it. Just then a gust of wind blew in from the window and for a moment it blew away the curtains just enough to get a glimpse of the two of them. "Hexes" Darling mumbles to herself and Apple turns to her "maybe it's not that-" before she could finish her thought there were about a dozen knocks on her door and the sound of boys crowding outside of her window.

"Yep I knew that was wishful thinking"Apple mumbled as the crowd got loud. "I've got this" Darling replied heading to the door and Apple followed her. "Are you crazy?" She asked"their literally never going to leave you alone" she replied but Darling didn't listen, "just trust me" she says, "and close your eyes"she warned confusing the royal just as she opens the door to her dorm.

"What-" Apple starts but she's completely taken off guard as Darling flips her hair and all she could do was stair at the girl. The entire world seemed to slow to a crawl, she couldn't move, and she didn't want to. She could see Darling trying to say something but she was too captivated by the knight to focus on her words. Finally she understood the hundreds of suitors begging for Darling just to notice them, and for a moment she wondered if she would mind if this was the face that would wake her up one day. If maybe she could someday imagine ruling by her side, it suddenly didn't feel like such an unlikely fate. Maybe she really could...

"Apple?" Darling called out, and suddenly things were back to normal, she quickly shook the thought from her head. "What... What happened?" She asked trying to snap out of it, "yeah sorry about that" Darling replied awkwardly "I did try to warn you though" she adds, and Apple clears her throat trying not to show how deeply her charm had affected her. "Right, I apologize, I should have listened you have nothing to be sorry for." She responds quickly tucking a strand of hair behind her ear as she tried to hide a blush Darling just nods before thinking aloud "it is kind of odd though" she states, "it doesn't normally last that long" she adds and Apple's face gets almost as red as her namesake. "I'm sure it's nothing" Apple responds, but in truth she'd realized the same thing. Not even when Daring flashed his grin had she'd been left so stunned.

Apple hugs her arms as she feels a chill form around her. "Where are we?" Apple asked not yet finding herself able to take her eyes off of her. "The roof" she says with a shrug and Apple's stomach drops at the words. She finally noticed the lack of walls around her, and the open sky above she could see all of Ever After in the distance and it was horrifying. She clung on to Darling instinctively, clearly very upset but also too scared to let go. "I'm supposed to be saved from a curse not from a tower" she whines and Darling laughed at her theatrics. She'd gotten used to Apples constant dramatizations, and honestly always found it a bit indeering. Not that she ever told her that of course, but this time she couldn't help the way she giggled at the princess clinging on to her.

"Are you laughing right now?" Apple asked annoyed as Darling tried to catch her breath. "I'm sorry" she apologized through fits of laughter "but you where just riding a dragon even farther than this." She pointed out as Apple pouted. "Well I'm not afraid of heights" she stated proudly and Darling turned to here in confusion. "Then why can't I feel my arm?" She asked jokingly and Apple looked away her cheeks burning in embarrassment. "I'm afraid of towers." She mumbles, and Darling paused in confusion. "Towers?" She asked as Apple hit her lightly with the palm of her hand. "Don't laugh" she commands and Darling raised her free hand in surrender. "I wasn't going to" she insisted in response as she turned to get a better look at Apple.

Her hands were still digging into her arm, her nose was scrunched up in fear and her eyes were glued to the horizon. Darling didn't know what it was but she hated seeing Apple scared, she suddenly felt the urge to protect her at any cost even though there was nothing she was in danger of. "Is that why you never choose the tower when we're in Damsel-in-Distressing" Darling asked and Apple looks away. "It always feels so…"

"Isolating?" Darling finished and Apple doesn't answer. "I really do believe in following our destiny" Apple insists "I just…" she starts trailing off, but Darling understands. She'd been locked in a tower for years, how could she not. "I get it" she states "it's scary" Apple just nods. "Here, follow me" Darling instructs her, before walking towards the farther part of the castle, and Apple picked up the pace to match Darlings. "Where are we going?" Apple asked "the tower" Darling replies simply and Apple stops in her tracks. "What? No, Darling I just told you" Apple argued but the girl just smiled at her taking her hand. "Trust me" she tells her, and Apple reluctantly nods.

Darling leads her to the stairs on the far side of the school that lead to the tower. It was the highest point on campus, and also happened to be the place she spent her time at the most before finding Wonderland. Inside was her sanctuary, bookshelves lined most of walls, magic coursed through the ceiling creating a projection of stars above them, all of her swords and weapons were mounted on the wall next to them (it was the only one not over run by novels) and on the other side of the room was a window that looked over all of Ever After. Not even one of the giants could reach her up here, it was her paradise.

"Did you do all of this?" Apple asked taking in the sight, and Darling nods. "With our destinies, we can decide to make them something more than what they are. We can turn a sentencing into an escape, it's our choice to make." Darling stated walking over to the windowsill as Apple joined her. "Our tower doesn't have to be our prison" she says looking out into the distance as the lights of the city danced across the setting sun."it can also be the thing to set us free" she finished, and Apple turns to her the statement resonating with her in a way she couldn't quite explain.

"I'm not a rebel" she states as if trying to remind herself. "I know" Darling responds, "but do you really think Daring is the one?" She asked, and Apple breaks eye contact for just a moment. "It doesn't matter what I think, it's destiny" she responds, "is it?" Darling starts, "or is it an excuse" she finished accusitorily. Apple didn't answer, "I should get back to the dorms" she says "I don't want to miss curfew" she adds and Darling just nods. "Right" she agrees, "I just don't want you to make a choice you know you'll regret because you'd rather choose the 'right' thing over what truly makes you happy." Darling adds not looking at her. "It feels like a compromise at first, but after a while you start to suffocate over the weight of what you should be." Darling adds sounding as though she was talking from experience.

"I won't." Apple replies turning to go back into the building. "And thanks for this, by the way" she adds softly as Darling turned to her one last time. "Don't mention it " Darling said, "you are my princess after all" she adds under her breath and Apple feigns a small laugh, but neither were joking. And with that Apple descended the steps of the tower leaving Darling alone once more staring out at the people strolling quickly between streets and stores. She thought back to the last white knight. His body stuck between realms hoping to find someone strong enough to take on his job. She wondered briefly if that was her true destiny, Alone and rusted like Lance. Would she still be fighting after everyone had found there happily ever after. She was never prince charming, but she was a white knight, and at the end of the day she made promise, fairytale or tragedy from the moment she could first speak her name she knew her tale would be one of glory. Although a part of her hoped it wouldn't be one Apple would have to miss.