Tale of the forest princess

(*The story misses it's full prologue as I don't think it is suitable for people under 15. I have still took some of it here as the rest of the story has so many references to it. **Warning, it is a sad story so if you are very sensitive, skip to the First Chapter!***)

### **Shortened prologue**

Once upon a time there was a happy
little girl who believed in magic and wonder with all her heart. She
was just a small little girl but she climbed trees and ran trough
flower fields with older children and always kept up to their pace. She swam in the darkest waters and dried herself on high rocks her light brown hair flowing free. When the sun hit it right
it seemed to be weaved from golden threads. Her mother often braided them loving the sight of her little daughter's beauty. The little girl was so curious about the world around her she even ventured dark forests
alone even though her parents always forbid her. Her parents worried
about her a lot as she was a wild girl from the heart and very
accident prone. She had a big brother who was her other best friend.
He always rescued her, many times even saved her life and always
kept things hidden from their parents. He didn't want her to get in
trouble. Her other best friend was a girl next door who enjoyed to go
for long walks and lie down in flower fields for hours talking about
what shapes they saw in clouds. The three of them were inseparable. Few years went by happily ever after until big storm clouds gathered and
showered the girl's and her brother's life with unending misery.

Their parent's divorced
and their former best friend disappeared. Their mother was forbidden
to see them anymore and they had to stay with their father who had turned
evil and narrow minded. He didn't care about them a lot so the girl
and her brother were all by theirselves now. Their father let them
live in his house but he didn't want to see them or be bothered by
them so they tried to stay quiet and hidden even in their own home,
if you could call it even that. They gathered money from places where
children had no place going and begged so they could feed themselves. The girl cried every night
and her brother hugged her every night telling her things would change
for the better.

Another miserable year
went by and the girl had started to get in fights with her brother.
They both were frustrated, scared and angry and had no one but the other. Still they
didn't spend that much time together anymore and they didn't play
children’s games anymore. When the girl wasn't out in forests
collecting roots and berries to eat they practised sword fighting
with sticks, they wrestled and competed about everything; which one
ran faster, which one could climb a tree further, which one dared to
stay longer in haunted houses and the list went on. It wasn't a
friendly competition. The brother started to shut himself from the
world by reading, the girl kept on seeking out new forests and
practised to fight with a staff by herself. Soon she fought her
brother with the staff as he kept his wooden stick sword. He was
stronger and hit harder but she was more agile. She still lost almost
every time and it was even more frustrating so they kept growing
apart. They started to collect money by theirselves and had started to get
their own food which they didn't share anymore. As the brother didn't know how to cook the girl
did make him some eggs and bread time after time. When days and weeks and months passed by, their father turned more evil and hateful towards them so the girl decided to escape. Her first attempt wasn't successful, she was caught and brought back to the angry father but the girl just turned and ran away again. She ran as fast
as she ever could out of the house using the back door so she wouldn't be caught by the people who had brought her back. Thought of her brother came to her mind and even though they had grown apart the girl was afraid what would happen to him. She almost turned back but her feet didn't stop running. Tears flew from her cheeks as she ran to a forest and from
that forest to another, all the time further and further away from
the small town, from her father and from her brother. Finally she
collapsed on the ground as her lungs hurt so bad. She wanted to
scream and cry but she couldn't, even trying to catch her breathe was
painful. In a way the pain was soothing, her body felt was she did
inside. Her foggy mind tried to caught up to what had happened but
she could only made bits out of here and there. It was clear she
couldn't go back. After resting a while she started to walk towards
north east. She wanted to get out of the forest before nightfall. She
wasn't afraid of the bears, wolves, bobby cats or other wild animals
but she was scared of the dark. She did get out of the forest
eventually but tried to stay clear of people for she was afraid she
would just be taken back. She stole apples from people gardens and
searched out old barns to sleep in. After few days she wasn't worried about life, it
was summer, food was easily to be found and it was warm enough.
She had started to enjoy the freedom she had after living under
constant fear. It felt like she would have gained wings but the
knowledge of the becoming autumn hid as a dark thought on her mind.
She wouldn't survive winter unless she would get more clothes and a
warm place to be. She wasn't sure where she was but she knew she
could try to get to her grandmother. She lived far, far away but she
could try. She was six years old and she had nothing else left.

The girl had to turn to
people for help as she knew only the name of the place where her
grandmother lived but she didn't know how to get there, not even the
direction from where to start. One old woman felt so bad for the
“lost” little girl, as she has lied to all, that she promised to drive
her there so her parents would find her from a safe place. The girl
was really grateful for the old woman and hugged her in tears before rising from
the car and running inside her grandmother's house. When she came in her grandmother looked like she would have seen a ghost, then
she ran to the girl, hugged her and they both cried. The girl tried
to tell all that had happened but she couldn't remember a lot anymore
and the thought of her brother just made her cry hysterically.

*“Ssh, love. You are safe here. I will call your mother and tell you are here, she has been missing you both and will fly here with wings of joy to hear her baby has returned.”*

*“If only us both would.”* The girl said and started to cry again. Her grandmother
smiled.

*“The main thing is that you are, love.”* She said and took the girl to bath and left
her there as she called her mother. After an emotional phone call she
went to see how the girl was doing. She had got up from the bath,
wrapped herself in towels and slept solidly. It was only noon but the
grandmother let her sleep. She woke up to screams and cry of her
mother who ran towards her. At first she was startled and took the closest
object to protect herself with, then dropped it and ran to her
mother's arms overjoyed to see her again. They hugged tightly and it felt like she would never let her go. The girl
opened her eyes and tried to pull away when she saw her brother
lingering in the doorway. She couldn't believe her eyes. She fought off
from her mother's grip and flew to hug her brother.

*“I thought...”* She cried.

*“No. I ran too.”* He said silently hugging her back. Only a small smile
crossed his serious face.

Their mother tried her best to offer them a
safe, normal childhood from there on. They moved far from the town to
the forests to continue their life. The girl with his brother went to
a small school there. They didn't fit in well with the other
children. The girl mainly spend her time in the forest while her
brother read. He was left alone while she was violently teased.

Their mother worked long hours to afford to buy them clothes, books and
toys so they lived quite free life still and their mother didn't know how things
were truly in school. The girl was a fluent liar and great at hiding
things. The girl liked the freedom she had and she was afraid the
truth would take it away. She was afraid they'd move and she'd lose
her forests. The girl and her brother both loved to read and as the girl hadn't made even one
friend she lost herself to the world of the books. She didn't just
read them, she lived them. The characters of the books were her
friends who with she shared the adventures. She also ran to the
forest anytime she got a chance and got scolded badly by her mother
every time she got caught sneaking out during night. The girl thought
it was unfair, how else she could go find animals to be with? Wolves
moved by night, owls and things unknown moved then and she was stuck
inside four walls! While living outside over a month she had grown
over her fear of dark. There was no beasts, there
was only reality. When light was removed the faintest of lights were
seen the best, she had thought to herself while she had watched the
dim stars in the darkening night sky. It was a happy memory.

The girl's mother started to
take notice that no one ever visited her and she had said she just
felt uncomfortable if she would throw her a birthday party as she was
still afraid of people so she shouldn't bother. The
mother realized her little girl didn't have any friends but while
confronting the girl about this she laughed and told how many friends
she had and what kind of adventures they had.

*“But honey, they aren't real.”* Her mother said silently in a tone that poisoned a
piece in the girl's soul. To her they were, they had been. *“Why don't you try and make a new friend in the new school you go?”*

*“I'll try.”* The girl said and dodged her mother's smile. She didn't want to go to the
junior high, to big school, to the town where she had lived her first
years. She was afraid she'd run to his father there. Her brother
comforted her that she wouldn't but she feared it still. The first
day of school was so anxiety filled she spent half of the time in the
nurse's office. The second wasn't much better. On the third day she
had to share the room with another girl. They glanced at each other
and saw the same fear in the others eyes and smiled. The girl was
happy that finally she could have made her mother proud; she had
found a friend. The girl always had tried to keep her thoughts to herself as she
had found out she would be just left out that way but this girl spoke
the same language as she did. They didn't have always the same point
of view or they would agree but for once the girl didn't felt
homeless without the woods. They talked a lot about being
homeless in this land where no one understood you. Then they would
look at each other and grin. Those were the best two years of the
girls life.

A week before the last
year of junior high the girl received a call from her best friend to
meet her. She sounded really depressed. She had been moody, depressed
and grown darker during time and the girl had tried her best to be
there for her but she knew what ate her inside. It made the girl sad
as she seemed to more immune to it. She had lost touch with reality
ages ago yet no one spoke of it or even hinted it. She wouldn't have
admitted it either but she had tried to teach it to her best friend
so she could be more happy. It seemed she wasn't a good teacher. The girl took a
familiar forest path they had walked together hundreds of times. She
started to feel something was off. It was like the world was quieter,
the shadows were longer, the grass was of different hue. The girl
called her best friends name and saw her coming towards her behind a
big fir tree with odd colour of green. For the first time in half a year she saw a big,
genuine smile on her face. The girl smiled too and ran to hug her but
stopped as she noticed it. Her red dress was more red. It was
dripping red.

*“I know you're too dutiful, I couldn't wait. I'm sorry.”*

The girl screamed, lifted
her friend to her arms and ran but the path grew thinner and longer
the harder she ran. She left a line of red behind her and as she
watched it in horror the trees around her started to drop their
colours too. The hay made yellow pools to the ground. The girl looked
at it all in confusion and terror. The colours started dripping from
sky. It was like rain but it left blue spots where ever it hit. The
girl lost her feet and hugged her friend crying. She hugged her back. At least her tears
were still just tears.

### **The first chapter begins**

The girl woke up on a forest path. She looked around for her best friend who she had just held but she was not there.
She screamed her name, she searched for her phone but realized she
had forgot it at home. She got up and realized it wasn't the same
forest path that she had been on. There was no puddles of colours in the ground, the
trees were different, the soil was different and everything look
*painted.* She lifted her
hands. They didn't look exactly her hands. She looked down. She wore
her green woollen dress but the way it moved was different. She
touched her hair. She had got a lot more of it suddenly.

*“Hey there, are you lost?”* A kind voice sounding like a songbird called
out. The girl turned around and lost her tongue. In front of her was
Ashlynn Ella, daughter of the Cinderella, smiling kindly and letting
a yellow bird fly from her hand.

*“Are you all right? You look... pale.”* She ended though the word “different” was the one about
to slip from her tongue. The girl turned around but all around her
was the same forest. No hints how she ended up there. No path
what she had used to walk was seen.

*“Oh you must be one from freedom year and got lost. This is the enchanted forest, we're allowed to visit here during daytime but leaving the school grounds during late evening is strictly prohibited! You'll get in fairy big trouble if you don't follow the rules.”* Ashlynn took her
hand and started to lead her down the path.

*“I'm in Ever After?”* The girl whispered in awe as she pulled her hand
back hurriedly. They stopped and Ashlynn's sweet face was even more
sweet while looking confused.

*“You were not supposed to be in here?”*

*“I... I'm not sure.”*

*“Then we need to take you to Headmaster Grimm. He knows what to do!”* Ashlynn said cheerily with a determined face and she started to pull
the girl incredibly fast trough the forest for a girl who walked in high heeled
glass slippers. The girl thought she had to be dreaming. The Ever
After! She had read all the books, looked all the shows regarding the
Ever After High, a high school for the sons and daughters of the
fairytale legends. She knew so much about the place, it's
surroundings, the Wonderland, the people here and she knew that
presenting her to Headmaster Grimm knew trouble.

*“Here we are!”* The cheery voice woke the girl from her thoughts. She had
noticed nothing on their way here and wondered how it would be even
possible in a wondrous place like this? Ashlynn knocked the door and
explained she had found a lost student from the woods.

*“Thank you Miss. Ella.”* Headmaster Grimm said seriously and took a grim look
on the girl. *“Come in. Have a seat. From which story are you from?”*

He showed a chair behind a huge, old mahogany table and even though
he wasn't royal he sat on a throne on the other side of the table.
The sun shone brightly from big windows behind him showing the girl
and her every face and movement keeping Headmasters face in shadow.
The girl still looked around baffled by this all.

*“What were you doing in enchanted forest? It's Orientation for freedom year students.”* Mr. Grimm asked a bit too
loudly. The girl flinched.

*“I was... looking for my friend. I got lost.”* She answered.

*“And your friend is?”*

*“She was just passing... by.”* The girl lowered her head and tried to
find her breathe. She had to come up with a story and fast.

*“Are you one of the new students here?”*

*“I'm not sure but here I am!”* The girl managed to pull a small smile.
There was a clearing of a throat and no smile back.

*“I am Headmaster Grimm of Ever After High and you would be?”* Mr. Grimm
stood up and walked to the edge of the table and looked at her with a
*very* tight face. The
kind of face he gave only to Raven Queen, the daughter of Evil Queen
who didn't sign the storybook of legend and so had divided the school
in two. The Royals wanted their destiny and wanted to go by the book
just as Headmaster Grimm liked. The Rebels like Raven Queen
questioned their destiny or wanted to write it completely new, thing
Mr. Grimm looked down upon highly. The girl thought fast, all her
knowledge of this land and people and especially now about Mr. Grimm
could get her out of the trouble.

*“I go by many names but I think here it would be the easiest to call me the forest princess Amidala.”* The girl answered grinning in her head.
It was a name she had when she played in the woods as a child.

*“And you would be the daughter of...?”* Mr. Grimm obviously had no idea
about the name so she could come up with a story of her own or she could bend the
truth a bit.

*“Tapio and Mielikki.”* Amidala answered quickly.

*“I have never heard of such names!”* Amidala didn't think it could be
possible but his face grew even grimmer and tighter.

*“I am not daughter of a world wide fairytale. I come from mythology.”* Amidala said carefully.

*“We do not usually take such kind in here.”* Mr. Grimm said strictly.
*“This is the school for future fairy tales! For the Queens and Kings of tomorrow!”*

*“That is why I'm unsure why am I here. At first I was roaming in my home woods and then I found myself here.”* Amidala told truthfully and
felt really confused again but pushed the feeling aside so she could
concentrate.

*“But I come from legend, passed down hundreds of years from generation to generation. My story has lived longer than many of others combined.”* She said sincerely sounding but cunningly. Headmaster Grimm pondered this.

*“Tell me about your story.”* He sat back down.

*“I'm from a very, very old traditional legend of my home region.”*
Amidala said as she knew this would please Mr. Grimm. Traditions were
always good. *“My father is the king of forests and hunting. He was a God once. My mother takes care of the forests, fields, crops and our family. We had different names back in the old times when we were Gods to a very large region but then our stories were hunted down and we settled to our own regions and took one name. I am Tellervo back at home but I think Amidala would be easier to say for the people here. I got the name from the Wind.”* She smiled. Mr. Grimm looked
surprised. She looked at her sharply as if he was trying to see
trough her. She was happy she wore her green dress today so she
looked the part. She wondered would her clothing have changed if she
has wore something else? Her hair had changed and she hadn't looked
herself from the mirror yet.

*“You don't look like the others in here.”* He said slowly like he would
be reading her mind.

*“Actually I haven't even seen what do I look like now.”* Amidala blurted out.

*“We are not necessarily in human forms.”* She added hurriedly.

*“I must talk with the other faculty about this but first answer me, do you want to take your parent's place?”* His eyes narrowed.

*“I'm not sure will such a day occur as they have always been there, perks of being a God. I don't know will I continue out as a new protector of their forests or in different area but I have done it from the day I learned to walk. I have done more of my father's job than mothers.”* Amidala answered. It was kind of fun to pretend to be the daughter of the forest king like she had done while being a child!

*“So your destiny would be...?”* Mr. Grimm obviously had trouble
understanding this and it brought great pleasure for Amidala. She had
never liked him anyway.

*“To be the protector of forests. To bless or curse the hunters or their prey. To give or take from wonderer’s in me.”* Amidala stretched
her shoulders back, pulled her chin up and knew she looked powerful
and proud. She had spent years in front of mirror practising
impressions so she could make the right ones and blend in but she
never got the right one in the right place. Mr. Grimm looked
impressed.

*“Very well Ms. Amidala. I shall call out a student to keep you company and tell about our history as me and the other faculty members will talk about this.”* Mr. Grimm said. Amidala knew they would try to dig up her
story to find out if it was true. She also knew who would soon burst
in like a bunch of sun rays. Apple White, the daughter of Snow White,
future Queen of Ever After and an incredible optimist. The bubbly and
happy personality made Amidala anxious even though the door hadn't
even opened yet. She knew everyone were good and friendly here, some
on their own way, and some more than others, but she couldn't erase her
past and fears and be a completely new person here. She didn't in the
end even want to stay here, she knew her mother would be sick of
worry if she would disappear again for a longer time but where she
had came in wasn't the way out. She had pinched herself secretly so
many times she also was pretty sure this wasn't a dream.

*“Headmaster Grimm? As I emerged here seemingly out of nowhere I can't go back home. I don't know what I should call my world, it's just a... world. Reality? But in the end I need to return there. Do you know how...”*
Amidala started but was interrupted by a polite knock on the door and
a high pitched, cheery and sweet hello by a fair young woman with
golden hair. Amidala forced a small smile to her face as Apple White
glided to her.

*“Miss White. Here would be perhaps a new student. I need to hold a meeting, could you go and tell her about our school's glorious history in meanwhile?”* Mr. Grimm said seriously.

*“Oh it would be my pleasure, Headmaster Grimm! I'm always happy to help.”* The girl smiled like a sun. *“Hi, I'm Apple White and I know we are going to be best friends forever after!”* She grabbed Amidala and
flew her out of the room. When the door was closed Amidala pulled her
hand to herself.

*“I'm sorry I don't like to be grabbed and touched. People here seem to have a tendency to do it.”* She said shyly and took few steps
backwards. She looked at the wall instead of Apple.

*“Oh, I'm sorry.”* Apple's smile faded a bit but came soon back brighter
than ever. *“Headmaster Grimm forgot to tell me who you are. Which story are you from?”*

*“I'm Amidala.”* She answered nervously. *“My story... well it has been many things. Now I guess it's just a traditional story among my region.”*

*“What...”*

*“From another world.”* Amidala interrupted her and looked away again. She
was suddenly homesick, scared, confused and sad. Luckily she was master in
hiding her feelings too but she couldn't hide her anxiousness. She
wondered what had happened in the forest path, had it been real?
Where was her best friend and what had happened to her?

*“It's okay to feel overwhelmed by all this. The first days of freedom year are just a blur of getting the hang of things.”* Apple comforted. *“I know a hexellent cure for it! We should go to the Village of Book End and visit the Mad Hatter's tea shop! They have a tea that will cure anything and is the maddest place in Ever After!”*

*“You were supposed to give me a lecture about the school.”* Amidala
reminded. She didn't need it and she didn't want to hear it but it
would keep the girl busy and she would have time to let this all sink
in and think of some kind of plan.

*“Oh it's a fairyload of yada yada and uponing, you'll hear it anyway. This will make you feel better and will cure the last bits of thronesickness.”* Apple came closer to her and gave out her hand.
Amidala didn't take it.

*“I don't want to leave. They are there deciding what to do with me and I don't want to be gone when they will call me in.”* Amidala said
seriously. Then she looked surprised, how had she known they all were
there, no one had entered after Apple! The bright girl looked
embarrassed.

*“You are absolutely right. I am royally sorry I tried to talk you to do something else that what is hexpected of us.”* Apple said and looked
as royal as she could which was a lot. She scolded herself for not
filling out her duty as she should have.

*“On a second thought, do you have a mirror nearby? I would like to see*
myself.” *Amidala lifted her face. Apple doubted a second but smiled*
and nodded.

*“I think the closest is in my dorm room, it's not fairy far away. If we run we won't be gone but a minute!”* She said and started to lead
the way. Amidala ran with her down the corridor, up the stairs, to
the end of another corridor and to a door where was a picture of a
red apple and a violet feather. Apple told about her room mate Raven
Queen while showing Amidala a big mirror. She knew everything about
Raven so she had stopped listening but when she saw herself she
forgot to stop pretending.

*“That's... That's it?”* She said a bit disappointed. She hadn't turned out to
look like one of Ever After, she looked like a drawn version of
herself. She didn't have the big head and plum cheeks others had.
Hers was like it always had been, heart shaped and a bit long with
high forehead and dented cheeks. Her hair was a big bunch of finer
golden brown coloured... mess. She looked like she was, she hadn't
brushed her long hair in a week and it was all entangled and it
looked like only the mass had increased and so had the tangles. Her
eyes were a bit bigger and looked unnatural in her head. She hadn't
got the clear, bright colour to her eyes others had, hers was still a
blur of grey, green and yellow. She wasn't special beauty, she was
plain. Just plain. She was happy that the imperfections of her skin
had disappeared. She had always enjoyed being pale and avoided
sunlight but it came with the side effect that her pimples and blue
veins showed only more clearer. Now she was as pale as Snow White if
even paler and her skin was porcelain perfection. She grinned a bit
as she always had had full lips and she loved to paint them blood
red. If she would dye her hair black she would look more of Snow
White than Apple White would ever. She turned away from the mirror
and then turned back. The perfection of her skin hadn't moved her
scars away. She was happy the ones in the face were almost invisible
but the one in her chin could be seen and if they were there, the
rest of her scarred body would be there. She had to live life of long
sleeves and long skirts in here and it was a lot warmer than it had
been back home.

*“Are you all right?”* Apple asked carefully as she had watched the faces
Amidala had made without noticing. Amidala turned sharply to face
Apple with blank face, brushed her dress few times as if to
straighten it from the front and started walking hastily off from the
room.

*“Yes, thank you. We should return.”* She said tightly. She really wanted
to be sent home. Apple came unsure after her.

*“You're welcome.”* She said silently and walked next to her. *“Hey, if you ever want to talk about anything, or ask about anything in here or need anything I'm here for you.”*

*“Do you know the way out of here?”* Amidala turned sharply to face the
fairest and confused face.

*“To where?”*

*“Back to my world.”*

*“What is it? Where is it?”* Apple was plain baffled.

*“I wish I would know that too.”* Amidala sighed and continued walking
hastily down the stairs and to wait behind the big oak doors. Apple
followed her pondering her words. She came here but didn't know from
where? How was that even possible? She took a deep breathe and took
it to her royal duty to make the girl feel welcome and wanted in Ever
After now matter where she came from. Apple would be the next Queen
and this was her chance to prove that she would be a great one! She
came to Amidala who stood motionless just staring at the doors. Just
as Apple was about to start her speech the doors opened and
Headmaster Grimm nodded approvingly to the two girls. Behind him was
Baba Yaga, a faculty advisor of Ever After High. She was an old witch
with long, grey hair that she partly hid under a red scarf. Feathers
and skulls were braided to her hair. Next to her was Maid Marian who
Amidala knew to be teacher of royal subjects yet trying to look the
part in her dress, cone hat and veil, she still was Robin Hood's wife
and lived by the way of the merry men, only toned down. Next to Maid
Marian was the White Queen of Wonderland who kept her royal distance
of her and looked down on her saying something a bit hurtful by the
glare Maid Marian gave to her. She was tall and thin, white from tip
to toe and even though she had been the other Queen of Wonderland
before the Evil Queen parted these two world apart she had adapted to
Ever After very well considering that in here they were considered
more or less mad. Amidala still knew she was fickle, bossy and full
of herself. What surprised her was that Mr. Badwolf was there too. He
was teacher of the rebels and she had declared herself as royal to
Mr. Grimm to get on his good side. Why he was there then? As Amidala
was called in she noticed that Headmaster Grimm's brother Giles was
there too. So they had tried to search her legend.

*“Miss Amidala, do sit down.”* Mr. Grimm said and introduced her to the
faculty. *“We have a problem with you, you see, no one has ever*
heard of your story.”
This didn't surprise Amidala at all but she had had time to think.

*“Madam Baba Yaga, where are your story roots from?”* Amidala turned sharply
to face the witch who glared at her behind big and thick glasses. She
was surprised of such act and flipped her glasses in her hands but
managed to catch them.

*“I come from many stories where I am a mighty sorceress.”* Baba Yaga
answered looking down on Amidala with her big, white nose turned up
and eyes saying that Amidala should be very aware of it. Amidala did
not slouch a bit in front of her gaze but continued her sharp stare
to the witch.

*“In Slavic folklore, Madam Baba Yaga.”* She said sharply. *“I'm from there too, daughter of old Gods to the Scandinavic people, daughter of the forest King to the Slavic. I don't know has your ancestors came here or has your story always been here but our stories come from my world. I hope that will help you seek the gateway back.”*
Amidala turned back to face Mr. Grimm who looked at the changed girl.
In front of him at first had came an unsure, sad and confused little
girl and now she looked at...

*“Mighty white may it try to be, flesh bitten and leaves of green, not as white as me but still a genuine queen!”* The White Queen declared.
She spoke only half riddlish anymore, the language of the Wonderland.

*“Indeed.”* Mr. Grimm said grimly. Amidala looked at him with a face as tight as
his.

*“You have three choices.”* She started feeling nervous.

*“You are not the one who gives out choices here!”* Mr. Grimm pointed out angrily.

*“One. You search the gateway to my home world and send me back, I would be happy about it.”*

*“No one has even heard of such world!”*

*“Two. You take me as your student although I already know my trade back at my home world but not in here.”* Amidala pressed on her heart
beating so loudly she was sure the Big Bad Wolf could hear it and
look down on her for this.

*“We only serve true fairy tales! Enough with this!”*

*“Three. You throw me out and **never will know why I was sent here**.”*
Amidala stopped and looked at Mr. Grimm who was all red from his
face. Amidala's heart and head raced. She hoped hard that she had
played her cards right, with this trick she might lose Mr. Grimm from
her back but she didn't need him anyway. Giles smiled at her and took his
brother to the corner before he got his mouth open. Amidala was quite
sure she got at least somewhat backing up from the faculty now. By
being outspoken, tight, direct and taking the lead she tried to prove
to White Queen she was a true royal. None of the others would like
that but the fact that she broke rules should please Mr. Badwolf. Hinting she was sent here like Baba Yaga's ancestors should get the
witch either to hate her or to give her a point. Being a protector of
forest should be enough for Maid Marian but to hint that she might
have been sent here on purpose to be the protector of some of the
forest here should get at least her curious. It had worked on Giles
like a dream. She sat still, lips tight, shoulders back, chin raised
and looked out of the window. Birds flew in the perfectly blue sky
and somewhere in the distance she was quite sure a dragon flew in
circles around a mountaintop.

*“Ms. Amidala, you would sign yourself as royal?”* Maid Marian asked
quietly. Amidala didn't turn to look at her.

*“I am a being, destined to be a Goddess or a Queen, a hero and protector of my forest or land. I am **not** a one word.”* She replied as silently but clearly. She wouldn't take
a side in the whole royal/rebel nonsense. They all just wanted to
live their lives. She wanted to find out how she could have came here
and why. She wanted to know how to get back.

*“Ms. Amidala, we need your full name to the student form.”* Giles Grimm
smiled to her as Headmaster Grimm stayed silent and looked at her
disapproving from further back.

*“Back home I would be Tellervo daughter of Tapio as it is traditional to describe other. Wind didn't give me any other name than Amidala. I could go and ask.”* She said with serious face.

*“I think in here you will find that there is a whole different wind blowing.”* Baba Yaga said narrowing her eyes. *“You need to fill out your class schedule. Now.”*

*“How many of the classes am I allowed to take?”* Amidala asked as few
papers were given in front of her.

*“How many you think you will survive?”* Baba Yaga cackled.

*“Well I need to know environmental magic and geografairy to get to know the land here. Better take magiology too to get things right. I need beast training and care to know the animals. I need hero's training in order to be able to protect my forest by any means. I seem to be struck with this human form in here. Better take grimnastics to build*
more muscle.” *Amidala looked through the papers.*

*“If you truly want to be a Queen you need to learn to act like one and lead like me. Not that you'd get to shine in those subjects.”* White
Queen interrupted.

*“Kingdom management, science and sorcery. I have eight subjects is that a lot or a little?”* Amidala stopped writing.

*“I think it will be fairy good amount to start with.”* Maid Marian said
amused.

*“We don't have free dorm rooms for her.”* Headmaster said coldly.

*“I can live in the forest or in the garden.”* Amidala said lightly.

*“No true princess would even think of such a thought!”* White Queen
screamed.

*“But a princess of the woods.”* Maid Marian added smugly.

*“The daughter of Snow Queen has a room all for herself. I think we could pair you up with her.”* Giles said looking trough a book. Amidala
rose up and smiled.

*“Thank you. Ms. White hinted about the book of completely reasonable few rules of your school and I shall go trough it tonight Headmaster Grimm, do not worry.”* Amidala looked at him with a blank face.
White Queen had stepped forward and hurried Amidala away so she could
show her her royally new dorm room. They walked the halls in silence,
Amidala taking notice of the White Queens walking, posture and
behaviour so she could add those traits to her act.

### **Students and meetings**

Amidala was led to a
room that was made from pure white marble. A girl with tan skin,
white and silver hair and white, snowflaky dress rose hurriedly up to
curtsy for the White Queen.

*“Ms. Snow, this is your new room mate, Ms. Amidala.”* White Queen informed, clapped her
hands and suddenly the room seemed to shrunk in half, although it was
just all of the Snow Queen daughter's furniture that moved suddenly
to her half of the room with the white marble.

*“What? You could have at least warned!”* Ms. Snow shouted as she dodged a big mirror and
jumped to her bed to not be run over by her wardrobe. The White Queen
cleared her throat.

*“I am sorry Mrs. Your Majesty the White Queen, I will not speak without permission again.”*
Ms. Snow said and looked down embarrassed.

*“Get comfortable on your half and get all you need to your classes, they start tomorrow.”*
The White Queen pointed Amidala to the other half of room. It had
plain oak floor and tasteful, yet toned down wallpaper with standard
princess four poster bed, wardrobe, chest and a plain wooden table
with plain wooden chair.

*“Excuse me, Mrs. Your Majesty the White Queen, how will I know what do I need for each class?”* Amidala asked. She remembered she was to be called by her
full name or she could turn all wonderlandic at you.

*“It all was in the introduction letter.”* She answered and closed the door behind her.

*“But I haven't got...!”* Amidala shouted and grunted frustrated. She turned to the
white mess behind her.

*“Are you all right?”*
She asked silently and gave her hand to Ms. Snow so she could climb
easier down from her dresser that was on top of another dresser. She
got an icy glance and a sigh as an answer.

*“Yes.”* She answered
and took her hand. Amidala had hoped she wouldn't but she didn't want
her room mate to hate her from the start.

*“I can help you rearrange these.”* Amidala offered awkwardly.

*“No need to. Just step aside.”* Ms. Snow said and crammed all the furniture to the
smaller space by moving them with an icy wind and a bit of an ice on
the marble. Amidala looked at her and bit her lip. She didn't have
any magic powers at all and she was a bit jealous about it. Then she
remembered she had all the knowledge from the place, it was kind of a
magic power. She took a peek in her wardrobe, which was as empty as
the chest. At least there was sheets in the bed.

*“You usually bring your own stuff and fill your room with them.”* A bit sarcastic voice
said from the other side.

*“I have nothing with me.”* Amidala sat to the bed and looked out. It was only afternoon,
she could search the library and get all the books for the classes
there.

*“What do you mean?”*

Amidala flinched and
moved hurriedly further as she noticed Ms. Snow leaning on her bed.
She knotted her eyebrows and looked at Amidala suspiciously.

*“I just... found myself from here. I am forest princess Amidala.”* She rose and
curtsied to the other girl taking few steps further from her.

*“Elena Snow. Daughter of the Snow Queen.”* She curtsied back. *“What story are you from?”*

*“No one knows it here.”*

*“If it's not a secret it could be told still?”* Elena hinted carefully.

*“It's a myth, a legend and a folklore story from another world. I don't know exactly what of the version I should be representing.”*

*“They differ much?”*

*“Only from the region we hold under us.”* Amidala said unsure.

*“We?”* Elena asked.
Amidala felt anxious. The girl surely asked a lot.

*“Gods, Kings and Queens. I looked after my... forest when I ended up in here.”*
Amidala answered painfully. Her best friend's face flashed in her
mind and she had to close hers to concentrate to her act. *“I was there the one second and then I woke up here. I guess the faculty thinks there is a reason why I am brought here and took me in.”*
Amidala explained shyly keeping her distance. She knew nothing about
Elena, she must have been a background person or just started here.
It was a discomfort. Amidala bumped carefully to the wall.

*“So this all is completely new to you?”* Elena asked sounding a lot warmer. Amidala
nodded shyly.

*“Let me help you to start then. Usually we bring our own stuff from home but the school does have some magic for the not so fortunate fairytales. You can change your dorm room to your liking once. The walls, the floor, furniture, even the roof!”* Elena smiled. *“I used it to make everything out of white marble. I love the feel and touch of it!”*

*“So do I wish for it or say something or...?”* Amidala felt really insecure and suddenly
the floor was made from white marble.

*“Oh no! Yes, you think and wish for it and now you spent it on this!”*

*“It's all right, I like white marble too.”* Amidala lied. She closed her eyes, took a
deep breathe and touched the wall. It was suddenly made of thick and
wide tree trunks with blooming ivy rolled around them. Amidala peeked
and sighed in relief. It looked good. She looked at the windowsill
and a thick coat of ivy and moss grew to it and fell down from the
window. She changed the table to be made of thick, old oak and to be
twice as big as it used to be and she changed the chair to a big
block of birch with thick moss on top of it so it would go with the
marble floor. The wardrobe grew vines around itself and moved next to
window. The bed didn't change. Amidala touched it, closed her eyes
and imagined hard but it didn't change.

*“What you want it to be?”* Elena asked carefully.

*“A flowerbed.”* Amidala answered and Elena grinned as she had guessed the answer.

*“I think it needs to keep it's shape. You could make it out of living trees and have the leaves as the roof.”* She suggested.

*“Not a bad idea at all.”* Amidala smiled and changed the bed to be made of living
trees. Then she looked at the roof and tried her luck. Elena sighed.

*“Wow. Why has no one thought of that?”*

*“It worked?”* Amidala opened her eyes and looked at the black roof with starry sky
in it. *“Yay!”*

*“You should really meet Ashlynn Ella, she loves nature as much as she loves Hunter. The Huntsman, they're a pair. Part of this rebel thing. Or actually rebelling against the rebel thing. It's complicated.”* Elena grew
awkward. Amidala looked at her side of the room and came to
conclusion she was a royal trough and trough. Then she looked at her
side and thought everyone would think the same of her.

*“I actually have met her. She found me and dragged me here.”* Amidala tried to smile. *“I guess I should go and try to figure out what all do I need for my classes.”*

*“I can tell you.”* Elena smiled and Amidala gave a small shrug and handed her schedule
carefully to her.

*“What in the name of the Grimms? How you think you can survive this kind of schedule?”*
Elena shouted.

*“They said I had to pick classes and didn't tell me how many.”* Amidala said defending
herself.

*“Hero's training? Magiology?”* Elena looked at her suspiciously.

*“I am the protector of my forest. Or will be as I hold no forest now. I'm stuck to this human form in this world so I need to be able to defend my woods one way or another. Those seemed like good classes to take.”*

*“It's just... royals don't usually pick them. Girls don't go to hero's training either, it can be dangerous.”* Elena said carefully.

*“I am not picking a side in your school, I am simply going to learn this world, it's forests and how to defend them if I cannot ever go back home again.”* Amidala's voice almost died out at the end of her sentence. Elena bit
her lip.

*“Well, grab some parchment and a pen. I'll tell you all I know about these classes.”*
She said and Amidala blushed.

*“You don't have even pen and parchment? We need to go to the village of Book End and get you some! Get you a fairyload of things.”* Elena shook her head.
Amidala grunted.

*“I don't have any money either. I will go and look for after school job but before that I guess I'll need to go by what the library has to offer me.”*
Amidala looked as embarrassed as Elena.

*“I'm sorry, it's hard to understand that you have just popped here out of thin air.”* She
said.

*“I'm having trouble understanding it too on top of everything else.”* Amidala gave a
small smile. Elena took a notebook and a pen and started to write
down things Amidala needed to know for the classes, what books to
search and what all she should try to get.

*“You keep the pen and the parchmentbook. They'll get you started.”* Elena smiled.

*“Thank you.”*
Amidala said surprised. She knew people in Ever After were kind but
it was still odd that a stranger would be so kind towards her. Her
school mate was kind towards her. Helped her.

*“Thank you very much.”* Amidala smiled widely.

*“No biggie.”* Elena laughed. Amidala thought the opposite. It was a big deal to her. The
only one who had been kind was, no, she wasn't going to think about
it now. She had to focus to get the first few school days in order
first.

*“I'll go and start searching for a job. Thank you for your help.”* Amidala smiled a bit
and wiped off her tears disguising it as just wiping hair off from
her face.

*“I warn you, you will be hexhausted after those classes and then you have your thronework to do! I doubt you can manage a job on the side.”* Elena said
seriously.

*“I don't have much choices here. I need the money and I need to learn all and fast.”*
Amidala sighed.

*“But if you don't know your destiny...”*

*“I do know my destiny and that is why I have to work hard so I can claim it no matter the world.”* Amidala said proudly and walked out. She leaned on the door
and blew out a long breathe. She started to walk the halls but pretty
soon she was lost and way too anxious to ask anyone for help. She
didn't want to go in rounds but she couldn't roll up to a corner to
cry either when there were other fairytales present.

*“Amidala!”* A familiar voice called out.

*“Oh no, not her!”* She sighed but managed to pull a smile. Apple came to her like a sun
smiling and waving to her fans. Everyone loved Apple. Little
songbirds flew off from her shoulders.

*“I'm sorry I lost you, I had to go to my class and you were gone when I came back but I'm so glad we found each other again!”* She almost sung.

*“I got my verdict and was shown to my room.”* Amidala answered shortly.

*“So you'll stay? Yay! We should spellebrate! Now I'm taking you to the Tea Shop, oh don't worry, as the Royal student council co-president this is on me!”*
Apple's laugh was like small bells ringing. She grabbed Amidala and
then hastily let go.

*“I'm sorry, I forgot you like to keep your distance. It's all right! Don't worry! You'll see how spellbinding this place is and how nice everyone is!”* Apple
walked down the hall and told Amidala at the same time who was who.
She was amazed how Apple could remember all of the student's names
and stories.

*“Apple!”* Someone
shouted behind and ran to them. She grabbed Apple from her shoulders.

*“You can't spellieve this, I just heard an oddball from another world has popped to here and the faculty is sure she will be some kind of hero to this world! How mad is that?”*

*“Briar!”* Apple said
with scolding voice as the tanned girl with brown and pink hair
noticed Amidala. Her sunglasses dropped from her head to low on her
nose.

*“Oddball, nice to meet you Briar.”* Amidala said blankly. *“Thanks for the story but I'll be no hero just another story here.”*

*“Whops I'm sorry. I really royally am. I didn't...”* Briar stuttered.

*“It's okay. I know I look... different.”* Amidala sighed.

*“It's just because your face is so weird and you have really odd body structure even though you hide it under all that dress and you should really comb your hair because it is more tangled than the destinies are right now.”* Amidala heard behind her. She turned in horror.

*“I'm terribly sorry! I cannot tell a lie!”* A wooden girl blushed and looked like she'd
be almost in tears. Her wooden hands which had traces of different
colour paints were slapped on her mouth.

*“It's okay.”*
Amidala sighed painfully. *“Really. I've heard worse.”*

She continued walking down the hall leaving the three girls argue by
themselves. She knew Cedar Wood had heart of gold but she couldn't
tell a lie until she would be the next Pinocchio and sometimes she
blurted the truth out not even wanting to do so. Their words hadn't
hurt Amidala as she really had had worse but she pondered had the
faculty really used the term hero? Was there something going on they
haven't told anyone about which was the reason they took her in? But
surely Headmaster Grimm would have been happy to take her in then
also. Amidala shrugged, rumours were rumours.

*“Amidala, wait!”*
Apple ran after her. Amidala slowed down but didn't stop. *“I'm*
sorry about that, they're both really sorry about it and want to make
it up to you. Briar wants to throw you a pageripping welcoming party
so everyone would get to know you!”

*“NO!”* Amidala
shouted horrified. *“Not in a million years! I hate parties! I hate*
attention, I hate to be the centre of attention!” *Her shout echoed*
in the silenced hallway where everyone had turned to stare at her.
Amidala felt her heart squeezing to a small ball and she felt the
cold sweat on her skin. She started to run down the hall, down the
stairs, towards the doors to the garden. The hall seemed never
ending, the steps looked a mile high and the doors were so far away.
Laughter and evil names rang in her ears. Tears filled up to her eyes
as the anxiety took over her. She ran without a destination but she
ran where she saw treetops and a mountain. She ran through the
forest, she ran to the dark forest and it's shadows where she finally
was out of breathe. She collapsed to the path and tried to get some
air to her lungs. The run felt so familiar she would have cried if
she would have had the breathe for it. She would have screamed but
she couldn't. When she finally had got her breathing levelled she
started crying. She cried the anxiety out as well as the missing
towards her best friend and home.

*“This is golden. The oddball is one for water sports!”*

*“What the...”* Amidala glanced at a fairy with platinum blonde hair with teal strike on it.
Her skin was quite grey and even though Amidala knew people here
could be pink or blue or grey it still seemed odd to her.

*“What the hex do you want?”* Amidala swiped her cheeks embarrassed and annoyed.

*“What do I want? To take the joy out of your misery of course!”* The fairy laughed.

*“Then take a seat, this will take a while.”* Amidala spat out. She recognised Faybelle
Thorn, daughter of the Evil Fairy who but Sleeping Beauty to her
sleep. She was a happy villain, embracing her evil side. Amidala's
answer didn't give her satisfaction but she did land down.

*“Well do not stop crying just because of me! In fact, let's have that cry baby face to the mirrorNet!”* Faybelle took out her mirrorPhone and started
recording Amidala. That was where she drew the line. Her self-pity
and fear turned to anger. She rose calmly, grabbed the phone and
threw it far in the thick and thorny bushes.

*“Hey! What did you do that for? You get that back for me or you will regret the day you were born!”* Faybelle screamed. Amidala looked at her coldly to her eyes.

*“Only that? I thought you would be evil.”* She said with a hint of a smile and started to
walk back from where she had ran. She saw blue light surrounding her
but nothing happened. She heard frustrated screaming and threats
behind her but she kept walking calmly ahead. She wondered was it a
spell Faybelle had cast and why it didn't work on her? She didn't at
least feel any different and what she saw herself without moving her
head too much from the royal posture she didn't look different...
more different. Maybe Ever After magic didn't work on her because
magic wasn't real and she came from reality. She felt a sting in her
heart. She used to believe in magic and she *knew*
this place was full of it. She thought about herself but it was a bit
blurry who she was. She remembered the hardships, the loneliness and
the forest. The memory of her worlds forests was vibrant and filled
her with hexcitement and pride. *Her*
forests. But they hadn't been her forests! She knew them trough and
through, she knew the animals living there, she felt the life of it,
she mourned the misfortune of it. She had felt the thirst of the
land, she had felt the enjoyment of thunder. Amidala realized she had
stopped walking. Had she been the forest princess? She wasn't
completely sure anymore. Lost in her thoughts she walked onwards
until she was back on school grounds. She pondered would she search
out Apple but the thought of going inside the school gave her the
cold sweat again so she started to walk towards the village of Book
End. She had to get a job and then get the books from library anyhow.
She walked fast through the main road and then turned to a narrow
street. The cobblestone felt incredibly uncomfortable to walk so
Amidala took her ballerina shoes away. She either needed new shoes or
would have to go barefooted, she looked how her shoes had seen their
days.

*“Oh well, maybe I can fix these somehow.”* She sighed and walked on. She
finally came to a building that looked like a warehouse except it had
a chimney that puffed out black smoke. Amidala walked to the metal
door that had a plate “Smithy” on it. She knocked the door
knowing the smith wouldn't hear it and walked in. The hammering was
heard outside but inside it hurt Amidala's ears. A very tall, strong
built woman was hammering metal singing some Ever After pop song
while doing it. She had pitch black hair with multiple braids.
Amidala tried to remember all she could about her but as she didn't
take notice on her she took a plate armour and started to clear out
the dents and polish it. She might as well show herself useful from
the start.

*“Who are you and what are you doing?”* The tall woman created a dark
shadow over Amidala.

*“I am Amidala from Ever After High and I'm looking for a job to do after class and on weekends.”* She answered not lifting her eyes from her job.

*“So you thought the smiths job would be the nicest?”*

*“No. This would be the hardest, dirtiest, hottest and smelliest but I wouldn't have to see so many people and this is a job I can do.”*
Amidala handed the armour over. Smithy took it but didn't look at it.
She looked at Amidala sitting on her royal posture, looking back at
her proudly and with a calm face that hid many faces underneath that
the blacksmith could sense.

*“You're not from around here.”* She said and looked at the work.

*“Is it that obvious?”* Amidala asked sarcastically. She got a small
laugh back.

*“I am Betty, the blacksmith. You polish good but this isn't pristine, there's still small dents in it if you look and move it in light.”* She said. *“I don't have much use for assistance either.”*

*“I have much use for a job. I popped here today out of thin air from my world and I need money to be able to study and live in here. I can keep this place clean and in order and do the smaller jobs for you so you could take more bigger and more difficult orders.”* Amidala said
strictly.

*“You came here today? From another world? And already you have figured out the most secluded place from the village and came here to look for job?”* Betty asked and looked suspicious.

*“I knew where to start looking.”* Amidala answered truthfully.

*“So what's your story then?”* Betty put the armour away and leaned to
the wall still studying Amidala. She told the short version of it.

*“You do realize what burns there?”* Betty grinned and pointed towards the
forge.

*“That is dragon fire. It doesn't use wood and even if it would I would have nothing against it. The forest gives and the forest takes.”* Amidala
smiled. Betty looked at her biting her lip.

*“You have dragon fire in your world?”*

*“No. We have books.”* Amidala said hoping there wouldn't be further
questions. The conversation wasn't going as she had hoped. Then
again, why would everything happen like in fairy tales just because
she was in a fairy tale world? She wasn't part of it. She rose up.

*“I will come tomorrow at five after the classes. You can see then am I any use or not. Thank you for your time.”* Amidala curtsied, took her shoes and walked out. Betty looked after her from the door and
the black footprints she left behind her and shook her head. At least
she was persistent. Amidala walked back to the main street and with a
sigh to the Glass Slipper store Ashlynn Ella was keeping.

*“There you are! Apple has been royally worried about you!”* Ashlynn cried
out as Amidala came in.

*“I figured so. Could you be so kind and text her to meet me at the main street?”* Amidala asked awkwardly.

*“You don't have her number? Here, I'll give mine too.”* Ashlynn smiled
sweetly.

*“I... I don't have a mirrorPhone.”* Amidala said silently and looked at a
pair of extremely high pink heels in embarrassment.

*“Oh, I'm sorry.”* Ashlynn blushed. *“I'll call Apple and we can both meet her at the Hocus Latte!”*

*“Thank you.”* Amidala said silently and lingered at the door hiding her
shoes to the folds of her hem. She felt anxious about having to go to
a public place after her outburst and was afraid people would point
her out and laugh, insult her or worse. Memories flashed through her
mind and not even noticing it she crept towards the door to run away.

*“They are already in Mad Hatters Teashop, come on!”* Ashlynn said excited
and pulled Amidala out who flinched and fought hastily free.

*“They?”*
She asked suspiciously as Ashlynn locked the door.

*“Apple, Briar, Cerise, Cedar, Maddie and Blondie!”* Ashlynn said with a wide
smile.

*“What? I... I just remembered I must go and look for the books from the library before...”* Amidala felt the cold sweat growing and her breathing blocking.

*“They are all royally nice and looking forward to meet you.”* Ashlynn
smiled so sweetly and comforting it eased Amidala's anxiety a bit.
She nodded nervously and walked behind Ashlynn towards a brightly
painted door. The inside of the shop was mad. There was clocks and
doors on the wall and in the ceiling, teapots and cups flying around,
butterfly flew past her and ate a fly while on its way with a sudden,
huge mouth with sharp teeth. It was more alive and vibrant than the
books had ever gave it credit to.

*“Ashlynn! Amidala!”* Apple called out and waved to them from a large table
filled with all kind of small pies, buns, cookies and scones. There
was only two seats left on the table and six pair of eyes fixed on
Amidala. Blondie Lockes, daughter of Goldilocks who held her own
podcast 'Just Right', lifted her mirrorPad but Briar lowered it and
looked at her warningly.

*“Sorry.”* Blondie grinned. Amidala took a deep breathe and walked to the table.
She could at least say hello to them before running to the library.
She started to feel she owed Apple even that for all she had tried to
do for her.

*“I'm sorry I ran off, Apple. Again.”* She said silently avoiding her
eyes.

*“It's all right, honestly. We have obviously started off with the wrong slipper so I would like you to meet few of the fairytales here.”* Apple smiled and introduced everyone.

*“Hi.”* Amidala sat down half forced by Ashlynn and looked as a flying teapot
filled her cup with warm tea. She sniffed it and it smelled like
vanilla and warm hugs.

*“That's because it is made of those!”* Madeline Hatter, daughter of the Mad
Hatter laughed out. Everyone else lifted their head and looked Maddie
seemingly confused but didn't think much of it. She was mad, after
all.

*“Oh you **all** think I'm mad? Thank you friends!”* Maddie clapped her hands together.

*“She says she can hear 'narrators'.”* Ashlynn whispered. Amidala nodded
and lifted her cup for a refill. The tea was just what she had been
craving. She concentrated to it and tried to forget everything else
for a moment.

*“Look, I'm royally sorry about earlier.”* Briar started scratching the back
of her head. *“I would like to make it up to you but I never thought someone wouldn't like a party.”*

*“It's okay, you don't need to make it up.”*

*“I am terribly sorry too! I didn't mean to point out all what is so weird about you, oh no! I'm sorry!”* Cedar slapped her hands on her mouth again.

*“Really, it's all right. Just let it be, please?”* Amidala said her
anxiousness growing. She was about to ask Apple why she had brought
all these people here but didn't manage to say it out loud.

*“Ooh Apple, Amidala wants to know why you brought all of us here but is too shy to ask it herself.”* Maddie (who is interrupting with the narration too much) smiled and whistled for more small pies that came
on a silver platter that a wooden owl held in his mouth. It dropped
the platter to the table which made a loud sound that startled
Amidala. She grabbed a butter knife and jumped up ready to defend
herself.

*“She is smart! Never go* anywhere *without a butter knife!”* Maddie announced. Amidala stood up looking embarrassed.

*“It was kind of you all to come here but I have to go.”* Amidala said
silently looking at the floor.

*“Wait! Please, sit down. These girls all are royally sweet and could help you to feel more at home in here!”* Apple cried out. Suddenly there was a league of boys asking was Apple all right and promising to
protect her. She giggled and thanked everyone politely and sent them
away. Amidala sighed and sat down. At least she got another cup of
tea and scones to eat.

*“I used to be a lone wolf too.”* Cerise Hood, daughter of the Red Riding Hood and Mr. Badwolf said. *“I didn't think anyone would like me as me but when I opened up a little I found out that all they wanted was just to be my friends. Raven and Maddie are truly great. And I couldn't have better room mate than Cedar.”*

*“We are all different. I'm made of wood, we have giants and trolls in the school and our grimnastics teacher is a huge gingerbread man. You will fit right in.”* Cedar smiled not realizing her words were hurtful. *“We do have a tense situation going on at the school but as you can see we all can still come to the same table.”*

Apple
blushed as she wished the tight relationship with royals and rebels
could be avoided.

*“I would love to interview you to my podcast so everyone could get to know you without you needing to be in a large crowd. Everyone is curious about the new student!”* Blondie smiled and lifted her
mirrorPod to the table. *“Rumours fly fast and I'm always faster.”*

Amidala
sat silent for a while.

*“Thank you?”* She said awkwardly. *“It's just that... Why they would need to know me? I'm not an important legend, I'm a dying story. In a school this big there is much more interesting things than me.”*

*“Then how did you end up in here?”* Blondie pushed the record button.

*“Blondie!”* The others shouted at her. She blushed and put her mirrorPod away.

*“Are you from a different world too?”* Maddie asked her face lightning up. Amidala nodded carefully. Maddie laughed and jumped to stand on her hands on the table in front of Amidala.

*“I am too! And it means we have something in common and if we are in common we are like everyone and everyone like us likes us!”* She laughed. Amidala smiled but bit her lip. It wasn't the same at all.
They could return one day, no one even knew her world, how there
could be made a portal to somewhere no one had ever even heard of?

*“Oh that's easy! If you open that door you can't know what's behind it but if you* know *what is behind it then that is hard to do! Unless it's something really easy!”* Maddie jumped to the wall and opened a door. A big pile of
colourful pillows dropped out. *“Well, better luck next time!”*

*“Does anyone else wonder why she doesn't wonder all this wonder around us at all?”* Cedar asked carefully.

*“Actually yes.”* Three girls said. Amidala blushed. She had forgot to play
surprised as she was too anxious to think clear.

*“Oh come on! If this is her first day in Ever After how in a hat she would know what to wonder as everything is a wonder? You need some more relaxing tea! And a bigger cup!”* Maddie ordered and both
literally flew in front of Amidala.

*“Um... Thank you all for all this but I really should be going. I have to search all the books for the classes and start reading as the classes are far gone started already.”* Amidala rose up. Apple looked
troubled, her attempts to make Amidala feel welcome and at home weren't working and she always succeeded in everything she did! She wouldn't let this be her first fairy fail.

*“I could help you with that.”* Apple volunteered.

*“Thank you but it is not necessary for you to waste your day on me. I'll just grab the books and go to the forest to read. Have a nice day you all.”* Amidala forced a small smile on her face.

*“I could come with you!”* Ashlynn suddenly rose up too. *“You must have a lot of hextbooks to carry and I could help you to find and carry those. The enchanted forest is my favourite place in the whole world!”*

*“It is enchanting.”* Amidala gave a small, genuine smile and walked out
with Ashlynn.

It turned out that it was good that Amidala was with her as she could have gotten
nowhere in the huge library and with the evil step-librarians.
Amidala was glad she only had five books to read but as one of them
was the rules of the school it would take her the whole night to
catch up with other students. She and Ashlynn walked out of the
school and Amidala could relax already a bit. Ashlynn wasn't
threatening and she shared her love towards the woods. Their chat of
the forest turned into a lecture what life was like in Ever After.

### **The first school day**

Amidala was a bit early to the class of beast training and care. It turned out Ashlynn had took all the courses and she taught her the basics and some more about healing Ever After animals during the evening that they spent in the enchanted forest. They were accompanied by Hunter who told her about the animals of Ever After. Both had helped her to understand many of the subjects and Amidala felt a lot more confident to start learning than she thought she'd ever be. Soon other students started to emerge and looked at Amidala with curious faces. Their teacher, Poppa Bear, introduced Amidala to the class which was very awkward for her and then told her to search out a pair so she could catch up. Amidala nodded but didn't move.

*“Go on, today we continue where we left yesterday. Who could make the first bird call?”* Poppa Bear asked. Amidala walked shyly further on the lawn when someone called her name. A thin boy waved for her and as no one else didn't seem to want to take a partner Amidala walked to the boy.

*“Hi, I'm Carl, my mom is the little Match Girl.”* The boy introduced himself. Amidala smiled shyly. The stories seemed really to be all these people were.

*“You've been doing animal calls?”*

*“And tended the students pets.”*

*“Carl Match!”* Poppa Bear pointed out. *“Show our newest student an eagle call.”* Carl blushed and did his best to scream like an eagle but only one old magpie came. There was laughter among the students.

*“Erika! The eagle call.”* Poppa Bear said and the strawberry blond haired girl swallowed her laughter and tried but didn't get even a voice out. She blushed hard and hid behind her hair.

*“She's the daughter of the Little Mermaid and sometimes loses her voice completely for hours.”* Carl whispered to Amidala who pulled back hurriedly.

*“Poor girl.”* Amidala thought. Four students tried and failed until a fair, handsome boy got it right. A majestic eagle landed to his arm and he smiled smugly.

*“Well done.”* Poppa Bear said. *“Remember, the secret is in the tone and pitch of your voice. Let's try one more round. Jonathan, Erika and Amidala you are excused to sit this round.”*

*“Actually, I would want to try it.”* Amidala found herself saying carefully. It surprised her as much as it did everyone else. Poppa Bear looked at her doubtfully a while and then nodded. Amidala cleared her throat, closed her eyes and thought about an eagle and the scream it made. She was startled by the sound she had let out. She slapped her hands to her mouth horrified of it.

*“Give your hand out, here comes the eagle! Praise it!”* Poppa Bear advised and with loudly beating heart Amidala let the eagle land on her arm and swept it feathers few times making a low, gargle sound. The eagle looked at Amidala's wonder filled eyes calmly and then flew away.

*“That was amazing.”* Amidala sighed breathing heavily. *“I feel dizzy.”*

*“Are you all right, Ms. Amidala?”* Poppa Bear came to her.

*“Yes!”* Amidala smiled widely and fainted.

*“Give her room! Keep practising your calls!”* Poppa Bear shouted as he carried Amidala to the shade of a tree. Amidala slowly woke up her heart still beating wildly. Her eyes had a new light in them.

*“A bit too much excitement?”* Poppa Bear asked.

*“Maybe a bit. An Ever After animal answered to my call!”* Amidala almost laughed.

*“Well if you are destined to be the Queen of forests it would be natural that animals listen to you.”*

*“But I only arrived yesterday! The magic here doesn't work on me. Oh no, would it work on me now?”* Amidala thought of Faybelle.

*“What magic?”*

*“Faybelle practised one of her spells on me but I just glowed blue and nothing happened.”* Amidala answered. Poppa Bear nodded slowly.

*“Try calling a phoenix.”* He said.

*“I don't know what phoenix sounds like. Eagles we have back home.”* Amidala said baffled.

*“Try.”* Poppa Bear said standing back. Amidala took a deep breathe, closed her eyes and thought of phoenix. What kind of sound it could make while flying, what it looked like flying, what it would sound like while screaming. She didn't have a sound in her head. She opened her eyes and looked around. No phoenixes were to be seen, only eagles flew to the students and away.

“This is interesting indeed. If you would have succeeded that would have been a miracle.” Poppa Bear said.

“Can I try some other animal we have back home? Like bunnies?” Amidala asked and Poppa Bear nodded. Amidala closed her eyes. She hit the ground with her hand in fast pace but strongly and soon three little bunnies ran out to her and hid to her hem. Amidala let them sniff her hand, she pet them and then carried them to safety before any eagle got hungry.

“Well done.” Poppa Bear said slowly in his thoughts. “Rest a bit and when you feel strong enough come join the class.”

“Yes, Mr. Bear. Thank you.” Amidala smiled. She felt the power. She felt the faint feel of land swirling just beyond her grasp. Maybe she had came here for a reason. She took few deep breathes and leaned hard on the trunk. She smiled and joined the class.

“How did your first class go?” Hunter asked Amidala as he was assisting in the hero's training class.

“It couldn't have gone better! We practised animal calls and I ace bunnies and eagle with the first attempt! Not at the same time, I did want the bunnies to be safe.” Amidala smiled as Hunter tightened the leather armour on her hands.

“Well, if you...”

“But I just came here! I don't have magic back home!” Amidala grabbed Hunter from his hands. “I have started to feel the land. Like it would call me. I know it sounds crazy but...”

“You say the rumours are true?”

“What rumours?” Amidala asked reserved.

“The Fairy Queen from enchanted forest has been missing for a while. The rumours say you came here to take her place.” Hunter whispered.

“But I just came and my training will take years. I'm not even a fairy.” Amidala argued.

“Those are the rumours. Sorry, I have to go and help others. Good luck!” Hunter tapped her back and ran to the next tent to help another student with their armour. Amidala came out to the bright sunshine. Professor Knight gave a disapproving mumble for Amidala. Hero's training wasn't suitable for girls! He was not pleased either that Amidala attended the class in a dress but after their argument would she wear a dress or go nude, he had let her keep the unsuitable clothing for the class. He gave Amidala a wooden sword and reminded how she didn't belong to this class. She didn't say a thing, she just stood there tall and proud, ready to action. Sword fighting with wooden swords? She had done this since she was four. A confident smile on her face she paired up with the boy called Jonathan who so smugly had ace the eagle call. He was one of the becoming princes who would save damsels in distress and he moped as he had to fight against one.

“Princesses are to be saved only.” He said and refused to raise his sword.

“Afraid you'll lose?” Amidala grinned. That got the boy to take his position.

“No one has ever won a battle against me! I have been training since I was three!” Jonathan said with great pride.

“You have a year of advantage on you then. Let's see does it count.” Amidala incited. Jonathan huffed disapproving. Amidala had a memory of the excitement from the sword fighting. Then she had a flash of memory of her brother and had to take a step to gain her balance again and she hurriedly took a strict look on her face. The memory was blurry and soon forgotten as Professor Knight started to shout the positions they were to make with the swords. Amidala was lost as she had never practised any positions, only fighting, but she looked at Jonathan and mimicked him to learn the names for the moves. She started to dislike his smug face and snarky comments how she did the moves wrong. She didn't bother to answer him.

'This will lead to the most boring sword fight ever.' She thought. The swords barely even touched while switching positions and for her disappointment they didn't even fought on the class.

Amidala knew there would be problems for having only one dress. She couldn't switch it in between hero's training where she sweated and got smelly and kingdom management. White Queen would surely point her out, out, out with her smelly clothes. Amidala ran to her dorm room and was relieved to see Elena there.

“I have something huge to ask from you.” Amidala panted from the run. Elena turned and straightened out her snowflake tiara.

“You are a complete mess.” She pointed out. “White Queen won't have that in her class even if it's not princessology. She can mix the subjects sometimes.”

“I know. I only own this dress and need to wash it so do you have anything you could lend me? I'm sorry this is much to ask and embarrassing but...”

“I have a laundry gnome. The dress will be washed and pristine after lunch.” Elena smiled. “I'm not sure do I have anything that big that it would go on you...” She opened her wardrobe.

“Even the laundry gnome would be way too kind, Elena.” Amidala smiled and took the sheet out of her bed as she had got a thought. She made a simple, white wrap dress out of it that fell to her other shoulder hiding the scars on her upper hand. It wasn't much but it was better than go nude.

“Now for that I have a belt.” Elena smiled. “Makes it looks less of a sheet and then these earrings if you'd pull your hair back and spell with me here, this necklace.” Elena grabbed stuff from her dresser and put a silver, sparkly belt on Amidala and some flowing, silver jewellery. Amidala looked at herself from Elena's mirror. She looked like a hextbook princess.

“Thank you, Elena! You saved me.” Amidala hugged her and then was startled about it. She breathed out and thought it hadn't been that bad.

“I wish I could present you as my Princess Design work, I'd get an A for sure.” Elena smiled. “Now come on! We don't want to be late!” She grabbed Amidala and they ran to the other side of the school. Amidala was happy Elena sat with her as she didn't understand half of what was going on or what White Queen talked about. Elena looked like she would take notes but she wrote to Amidala all the time so she would keep up with the class.

“Ms. Fauna, you can stop talking altogether in my classes. That is not a voice anyone would want to hear. Terrible!” The White Queen held hands to her ears as one of the princesses answered to her question.

“Ms. Snow, your handwriting is simply awful. Fix it!” She tapped Elena's parchmentbook like that would have changed everything immediately. Elena blushed and looked down. Amidala lent Elena's pen as the White Queen went on about hexes and wrote a message;

“She's just bitter you look better in white. Your handwriting is beautiful.”

Elena gave her a thankful smile as she took the pen back. Amidala knew the White Queen loved to point out princess’s flaws but she hadn't expected her to be so mean in them. Oddly enough, she was left alone when it seemed every other princess got some mean comment from their teacher.

“When I can, I will repay you this any way you want. You've been such a huge help.” Amidala sighed after the class. Elena laughed.

“I have been taught these things back home but this is a mandatory course for me. The classes are more interesting if I tutor you at the same time.” She smiled.

“Thank you so much.” Amidala smiled back. They entered the castleteria and Amidala asked for double portion of what ever after it was they were serving. She was hungry after the hero's training and she would have gymnastics next. She was happy they had school uniforms for it so she wouldn't have to worry about the dress.

“Amidala!” Apple waved her hand from a big table where a big bunch of royals were sitting. “Come sit with us!”

“No thanks, it's pretty crowded there already.” Amidala answered looking at all the pretty princesses and their staring and set her platter to a table where Lizzie Hearts and Kitty Chesire were eating.

“Do you mind if I sit here?” She asked awkwardly even though she was at the other end of the table. She thought she'd feel more normal in presence of the Wonderlandians.

“OFF WITH HER HEAD!” Lizzie shouted.

“Thank you, you too or I'll sit anyway.” Amidala answered and sat down.

“You understood her?” Maddie appeared almost from thin air with Raven Queen, daughter of the greatest Evil Queen there had ever been. Amidala looked for Elena but she had gone to another table with her friends.

“No.” Amidala answered as she didn't want to tell she knew it was just a matter of saying simple things for Lizzie.

“How did you know that? The narrator said you knew what it meant.” Maddie asked and pushed her face almost on Amidala's.

(I didn't! Well, I did but you shouldn't be listening to me to snoop up information, Maddie. It's wrong.)

“Oh, hey wow, look. I'm not hungry anymore.” Amidala said getting anxious as she looked how Maddie sat in the table and seemed to argue with someone no one could see.

“Don't mind her. She has been acting weird even for her a while for some reason. I'm Raven by the way.” Raven Queen smiled as she sat down. Amidala hesitated. There started to be too many fairytales and too much voices around her. She didn't like it.

“OFF WITH HER LUNCH!” Lizzie shouted and pointed to Maddie who sat down to the bench and looked from Lizzie to Amidala and from Amidala to Lizzie with moping and suspicious face.

“You must be the new girl everyone is gossiping about?” Raven asked and took a bite from her sandwich.

“I'm a new girl and I don't like gossips. They are never right.” Amidala said and tried to hide behind her hair but it was so tangled it moved as a huge mass that she had to hurriedly throw it back behind her before it would have crushed her plate. She thought she had to find a brush or pair of scissors to get rid of her hair.

“Even if they would say you are nice and polite and sweet as a freshly baked cupcake?” Maddie asked.

“They don't say that.” Amidala said bitterly and tried to eat fast.

“Hey, it's okay. We all get gossips about us flying around, you just have to let them be. You know the truth, right?” Raven Queen smiled. Amidala didn't answer, she tried to finish off her food. She knew the truth but did she remember it right anymore? The memories of her past started to feel like a picture book she would have read.

“And the rumours about you aren't even bad! Except the one where they say you are an evil spy for the badwolf so he could take the students he don't like and feed them to the wolves.” Maddie smiled brightly.

“What!” Amidala was choking in her food. Raven facepalmed and Kitty giggled.

“The rumours ARE true!” A shout came from the castleteria door. It startled the whole table where Amidala sat horrified as everyone turned to look at her with a doubting face, except for Kitty who grinned and giggled more. A girl with strawberry blonde and violet hair pointed at Amidala who looked back at Poppy o' hair, the other daughter of Rapunzel. Amidala had no idea why she would be against her but she was having a panic attack so she wasn't going to find it out either. She tried to rise and run away but Poppy was faster.

“What the hex has happened to you?” She lifted Amidala's hair.

“Poppy?” Apple called. “She doesn't like to be...”

“Come, we fix this now.” Poppy said determined like she would be dragging Amidala to a war from her hair. She was so baffled and anxious she didn't even fight back.

“How can anyone have so much tangles in their hair without being a witch and I know they see lot of trouble to get their hair like that but you're a princess!” Poppy huffed and puffed while she took Amidala to her dorm room. She couldn't get a word out of her but she shivered in panic. Poppy sat her down and suddenly there was magic brushes flying trough the air and her hair was pulled and brushed from every direction. Poppy let her scissors run.

“What are you doing?” Amidala finally got speech out of her as she gained control of herself.

“What have you been doing? How the spell you got your hair to this point?” Poppy snapped back. “No wonder they say a bear-human has came to the school.”

“What? I just didn't have time to brush my hair and when I popped in here my hair mass multiplied and it must have multiplied the tangles?” Amidala asked. She hadn't thought it would be that bad, her hair still was to her waist like it always had been. She was quite hurt to hear people talked about her as a bear-human.

“Oo this is a challenge!” Poppy huffed and threw a small section of incredibly long hair on Amidala's lap.

“What on earth? Is this my hair? My hair isn't this long!” Amidala looked at the hair in her lap. The amazement and confusion drove away her panic and left her staring at the growing hair pile in her lap.

“It's almost as long as Holly's, my sister, the next Rapunzel. I have to cut her hair every week as it grows wicked fast!” Poppy laughed. “You're going to lose a lot of hair now but it'll grow back. Of course not as fast as Holly's. No ones hair grows so fast!”

Amidala started to get over her confusion and felt just embarrassed and awkward again.

“Why do you do this?” She asked silently.

“I heard about your hair and I couldn't leave the thought be. Isn't it painful to keep this much tangles?”

“I haven't thought about it. Or well, I thought about it once that I need to cut my hair loose. So you are Poppy?”

“Yes, I have a hair salon at the Book End but I doubt you would have came from what I have heard. You're having hard time settling in? I came here because Holly wanted me to. I don't have a destiny so I first wasn't even allowed in but Holly was so persistent they took me in. I thought everyone just judged me because I had no destiny but I really didn't even give anyone a chance to get to know me before I ran off, if you know what I mean?”

“I do have a destiny, I just don't have... anything else.” Amidala started strongly but ended ashamed.

“I still don't know what my destiny will be. I guess I'll find it out on Legacy day! If they ever hold one anymore.” Poppy sounded a bit sad.

“If you have your own salon and love to do hair then isn't that kind of destiny? A path you have chosen?” Amidala asked carefully. Poppy stopped.

“I don't know. I have never thought about it that way. Would I start a new story then?” She looked at her mirror pondering.

“Well there is the tale of Edward the scissor hands. He was good with hair and topiary.” Amidala pointed out.

“None of his children has came here for what I know.” Poppy said slowly starting to comb Amidala's hair.

“You could take the story and change it to hair styling. Skip the living in abandoned mansion and be shunned by everybody part.” Amidala thought out loud.

“Maybe.” Poppy said silently and they sat in silence as Amidala's hair was fully untangled. After that Poppy took out the scissors again and let her hands fly. Amidala thought she looked just the part.

“How much is the clock? I must change and make it to grimnastics!” Amidala suddenly remembered.

“Not so much that I wouldn't have time to finish this!” Poppy smiled and soon pushed Amidala in front of a big mirror. Her jaw dropped open. Her hair had been so tangled it looked like it would reach to her waist but now as it was flowing straight and free it reached her ankles.

“I didn't have this long hair back home.” She sighed.

“I layered it so it wouldn't be so heavy.” Poppy smiled as she looked at smiling Amidala who admired her hair.

“Thank you. I cannot pay you, I don't have any money...” Amidala said silently and embarrassed.

“The best thank you you can give me is to take this brush and use it. Brush your hair every evening trough. No excuses.” Poppy handed a silver brush to her.

“Oh I cannot take it, I'll make the money and buy one, thank you.” Amidala stuttered.

“Oh no, you'll take it and use it today.” Poppy put the brush to her hand looking demanding. Amidala took it carefully. It was royally beautiful, heavy and probably made from real silver and real animal hair.

“Thank you so much, Poppy.”

“Thank you for giving me a new way of thinking my destiny. Now hurry to your class and if the students ask, say they can come to my salon!” Poppy pushed her out. Amidala turned and hugged her.

“Thank you! I will tell everyone what a miracle you are.” She smiled and ran to her dorm room. Elena wasn't there so Amidala left the jewellery and belt to her table and switched back to her green dress that was cleaned and put carefully on her bed that had new sheets also. Amidala smiled and put the sheet she had used to her chest. She could make a real dress from it later. She ran to the locker rooms where she got her grimnastics uniform. After a hurried change of clothes she was just in time to join the class. The people who had been with her on earlier class whispered and stared at her hair. It glowed in the bright sun like her hair would be threads of gold. Few girls dared to ask what had happened and Amidala told about Poppy and her salon with a loud voice. She would surely get new customers for this! The teacher, Gingerbreadman cut the talk short and made people run around the field.

“You'll thank me later when someone is chasing you to get a bite out of you!” He shouted. Amidala maybe the first time in her life really enjoyed the running. She didn't have shoes as the uniform didn't come with any so she ran barefooted but it felt more natural and easier for her even though some snickered at her because of it. Amidala smiled as their laughter died off as she ran past them first once, then a second time. She wasn't really fast runner but she could run a long time without slowing down.

“You're doing well Ms. Amidala! Have you been practising?” The Gingerbreadman shouted.

“I have ran all my life.” Amidala said to him as she ran past him. After running the laps Gingerbreadman started to tell about the coming tournaments their school would be having. Amidala took the time to stretch herself. She snapped straight as Gingerbreadman introduced Faybelle Thorn to everyone.

“She is the captain of our school cheerhexing team and to tell you more about it if some wants to join. Ms. Thorn.”

“Hello everyone.” Faybelle smirked. Amidala wondered how would she get anyone to join the team but she told about cheerhexing in a way that even Amidala thought it sounded good. Many of the girls signed up immediately and few boys did too. As the class was over Amidala started to walk towards the showers to be there first and leave first too. She didn't want people to see how scarred she was and to explain them all or to have other not-so-cute nicknames for her.

“I see some princess is too good for the team.” Faybelle said icily as Amidala walked past.

“Or way too weak.” Amidala sighed and batted her eyelashes to Faybelle and continued walking. She could almost hear the sizzling sound of Faybelle's nerves. She didn't mind if this would end up in battle. She had fought with every bully she had. Too bad everyone had always been against her and said she was the one who had started the fight and she was the only one who got in trouble, but here she was pretty sure she wouldn't have to stand alone. She had at least Ashlynn, Hunter and Elena backing her up. She was almost sure they would do so. Amidala showered very fast, changed to her dress and her gym uniform tucked under her arm she ran to geografairy class. After a while Amidala whispered to the girl next to her was the teacher from Wonderland also.

“No, he is just... well, like that.” The girl grinned.

“And by that I would love to hear about new worlds! I have wondered far and wide but never have I heard about a world where girls like you come from. Come forward, Ms. Amidala! You'll be keeping this class with me!” Jack B. Nimble threw a cartwheel from behind the whispering girls to in front of the class and handed his hand towards Amidala.

“No!” Amidala cried out.

“No need to be shy, what's the point of geografairy if we don't learn new things?”

“I want to learn about the land of Ever After!” Amidala sat tightly in her bench heart beating fast in horror even of a thought to have to talk to the whole class.

“Then you have to live it. You have the weekend coming up, your personal thronework is to learn at least three new places in Ever After and visit them! Then write a 3000 word essay of each place.” Mr. Nimble winked his eye and was beside Amidala trying to help her up.

“No. I have a full weekend of work ahead of me. I'll cut you a deal. I'll go and tell about my world and I just visit two new places and learn them, no essays.” Amidala said silently. As Mr. Nimble saw how absolutely horrified the girl was he smiled and patted her on the head.

“Deal. Now go on, you're Jack B. Nimble and I am Amidala!” The teacher sat to her place. Almost losing her consciousness of anxiousness Amidala walked in front of the class and faced the crowd.

“There is many theory's of how my world came to be but the one that is taught is that there was a big bang that created the space and time that we knew.” She started and told about how galaxies and planets were born, how life started on her planet, how humans evolved and how they made Gods and myths and stories.

“I could listen to this all day but we're out of time, students! As your thronework draw a model about the galaxy she described. I will see how many actually here listens to the teachings!” Mr. Nimble laughed and shook Amidala's sweaty hand.

“It wasn't that bad, was it?”

“Even worse.” Amidala shivered and walked to her environmental magic class. She wasn't thrilled that Jack B. Nimble taught that too. Ashlynn had took these classes also and had told about them but Amidala was nervous. She had hard time calming down and she wasn't sure did she believe in magic. She knew this place had it but knowing wasn't the same as believing and many said you had to believe in your magic to make it work. As Amidala was already behind the class she was struggling with everything.

“That's the future Forest Queen? The forests will wilt.” She heard someone saying and she blushed. She should have natural gift for this kind of thing if she would be forest princess. Then again, she just came here from world without magic. It would take it's time. Too bad Amidala wasn't a patient girl. She kept trying and trying harder until Mr. Nimble came to her and said she should just watch and ask for some tutoring. Amidala felt humiliated as there was once again snickering towards her. She sighed and watched as others practised blooming magic. One after another the flowers they had in front of them started to bloom. Amidala sighed and thought about the blooming vines on her dorm wall. How sweet they smelled and how tired she actually was. How she wanted to have a nap in the hammock she had made from them.

“Ms.Amidala! As interesting as it is stop that at once!” Mr. Nimble's sharp voice punctured to her daydreaming. She was high up in the air, still sitting on a chair that had been raised by growing vines that had started to take over the classroom. She screamed as she was scared of highs.

“Get me down!” She screamed.

“How did you do the vines?” Mr. Nimble asked.

“I don't know! I just thought about my hammock!” Amidala had a tight grip of the chair and she had closed her eyes. She felt the wobbling of the vines and it made her really scared and sure that she would fall. Some girls snickered to her again.

“I see. Ms. Amidala, think how the vines pull back to earth and lower you down and disappear.” Mr. Nimble said with a lot warmer tone. Amidala did her best trying to concentrate thinking about the vines but her fear stood on the way.

“I'm too scared.” Amidala said silently holding the chair tighter.

“You created these, you can undo them.” Mr. Nimble said. Always clean your own mess, Amidala thought about her mother's teachings and tried to calm herself down. After a while she could feel how she dropped down bit by bit. She opened her eyes and wasn't that high anymore and she sighed in relief. The vines pulled back smoothly and left Amidala sit where she had been.

“That was horrible. Even worse than being you.” She shivered as Mr. Nimble made sure she was all right. Then she realized she had used magic, she had made the vines grow. It was a scary thought. Was she becoming to what she claimed to be? But she had been the forest princess in her world, hadn't she?

“The class is over. As your thronework you will make the garden of the school bloom. Each one of you have to make 30 flowers bloom. Ms. Amidala would you stay behind?” Mr. Nimble said seriously and Amidala sat back down embarrassed. Her first school day wasn't going well. As others had left the classroom the teacher came and sat next to her.

“Now what was that all about? You couldn't make a simple flower bloom but you could infest the classroom with vines?” His tone was tight.

“I'm sorry, I didn't mean to. I... I didn't think I have any magic in me but it seems the longer I am in this world it is growing on me. I just don't know or notice it.” Amidala stuttered.

“Or control it.” Mr. Nimble added scolding.

“I'm sorry.”

“Try to make that flower bloom now.” He ordered and showed a wilted flower she had killed with her tries.

“I don't know how to use magic. It is way different in our world! We don't really even have it!” Amidala protested. Mr. Nimble looked at her like he would study her and then told shortly how magic worked in Ever After.

“Go on and try.” Amidala nodded and looked at the flower. She didn't do chants or fancy hand movements Mr. Nimble had told about. She imagined it getting power and nutritions, water and sunlight, to grow from them, to reach towards the sun. She was amazed as the flower slowly started to turn green and sprout new leaves.

“Good, go on.” Mr. Nimble encouraged even though she didn't do it right. Amidala concentrated harder and the flower started to lift it's head and slowly, almost like testing was it safe to open it started to bloom. Amidala sighed. It drained her, all the concentration and imagining gave her a headache.

“Well it wasn't that hard was it?” Mr. Nimble smiled. Amidala looked at him grimly, it had been hard for her! “Do you have magiology class?”

“Yes.”

“Good. There you will learn different kind of magic, more of the sorceress style. You can take what you learn there and add it on these classes. The way you do it now seems to be hard on you.”

“I do have a terrible headache.” Amidala admitted and thought unexcited about going to help Betty and hear all the hard hammering. Mr. Nimble nodded, took some leaves behind his desk and gave them to Amidala.

“Eat those and rest a while, the headache will go away. As your thronework you will grow ivy over the garden gazebos. All five of them!” He said and left. Amidala looked after him in amaze. How would she do that? This would be a major fairy failed class. She ate the bad tasting leaves and went to her room. Elena was putting on her knee high, white satin high heeled boots. Amidala wondered did everyone walk in high heels here? It seemed to be so natural for all the girls.

“How did your classes go?” Amidala asked as she laid to her bed.

“Unhexitingly. It seems the first year classes for princesses are what I have been taught already so I find this quite boring. Crownculus isn't my favourite subject but it is new so I'm waiting for tomorrow's classes.” Elena sighed and rose up. “Your hair!” She screamed.

“Oh yeah, that. Poppy o' Hair had heard about me and forced me to sit down and be untangled. I never knew I would have this long hair.” Amidala took a piece of her hair and looked at the ends of her hair. Not a single split one.

“It looks hexellent.” Elena smiled. “I have visited her salon and she does miracles.”

“So it seems.” Amidala grinned. “I'll be gone this evening, I will try to get the job I want.”

“Where did you ask for it?” Elena came to lean on her bed poster.

“From the village blacksmith. She said she didn't need help but I need a job so I said I'll come today and she can see am I any good.”

“Blacksmithing?” Elena looked at her like she had gone mad. “You could have asked a place from anywhere else! Hocus Latte is always one short of waiters.”

“I don't like crowds. I think that'll be a very suitable job for me. It will build muscle, grow my patience and make money.” Amidala smiled.

“It's just not suitable for princess.” Elena pointed out.

“I'll be more of a protector than Queen or Goddess in the future so I think I need to look skills for that. No damsel in distressing for me!”

“I have to take that class even though I will become the Snow Queen and will not be in distress either. I'll just have to drive around in sleigh and kidnap a boy. Hey, you had magiology?” Elena smiled. Amidala blinked as her annoyed tone of her destiny turned to a cheery question.

“You don't want to be the Snow Queen?” Amidala asked.

“Of course I do! Mom is so graceful and beautiful and after the boy is saved I can live in peace with my snowflakes. It'll be wonderful!”

“Okay and yes, I do have magiology.” Amidala smiled back.

“Great! We can then pair up and study together!”

“That sounds hexellent.” Amidala smiled.

“Well, I gotta go. I promised to meet my friends at the Book End at five.” Elena waved.

“It's that much already? I should be at the smiths place by five!”

“Well, let's go then. We can walk together to the village.” Elena smiled. Amidala felt happy. Had she really made a friend? Elena told about her future land. Amidala told about her world too and that she had read all the original stories of each fairytale and that Snow Queen were to live where she had lived too in her world.

“You think you could come with me? If I return to your world?” Elena thought when they crossed the bridge.

“No, you won't travel to my world, you stay here and take over the place in here. This is the world where the stories live.” Amidala smiled and then stopped.

“What is it?”

“Our story has been dying for a long time. Was I sent here so it would continue and come back alive?” Amidala thought. A small nagging sound told her she lied to everyone and to herself but it was getting quieter and Amidala ignored it anyway.

“Talking about adding the pressure.” Elena grabbed her to move. Amidala laughed. They reached the village centre and Amidala waved Elena and her friends goodbye and half run to the Smithy's place. The hammering was heard outside so Amidala didn't bother to knock, she just walked straight in. On the side table there was dented armour, tools and a leather apron. Amidala smiled a bit, put on the apron and started to work. She didn't notice that Betty had started to watch her and her working with a small, amused smile.

“You'll ruin your dress if you come to work wearing it.” Betty said finally as small metal flakes flew while Amidala removed rust from a hand plate.

“This is everything I own.” Amidala answered.

“Really?” Betty was genuinely surprised. Amidala turned to her and tilted her head to look more up.

“I told you I just popped here out of thin air and at the moment it seems I'm trapped here for a longer time I would like.”

“Then I realize why you are so desperate for work.”

“I'd prefer the term 'determined'.” Amidala answered and Betty laughed as loud as her hammering was. Amidala got back to work.

“You sure are. You won't leave me be until I hire you, right?” Betty grinned.

“No.” Amidala answered.

“You realize then I would get free work power.”

“And sloppy workmanship. Why I would do my best if I'm not paid?” Amidala asked lightly.

“I'm not sure is this blackmailing already.” Betty said seriously. Amidala turned to her again.

“Then give me a job and determine by that will you take me in or not.” Amidala said with flaming eyes. She was ready for any challenge.

“Well, I'll sit down. Do me an axe.” Betty said. Amidala wasn't ready for that challenge.

“You do them in a mould?”

“No, pure craftsmanship.” Betty said lightly. The blade wasn't a problem but how she would do the hole? Amidala took a good looking piece of metal and heated it in the dragon flame and then hammered the blade side first. She had no idea how to do the hole. She looked at her doing and grabbed a longer piece of metal and heated the blade and the tip of the of the rod and then hammered them together so the rod would serve as a handle. It wasn't refined but it would do. Amidala turned to the whetstone and started to sharpen the blade for it's final sharpness and whet at the same time the lumps away. It looked a tad odd so she whet the whole axe and then polished it and handed it over to Betty who tried to hold her smile.

“You have never done this before?” She asked.

“I've seen how people have made daggers.” Amidala answered. Betty nodded and looked at the axe.

“Well, it does look somewhat like an axe and you could use it in emergency.” Betty said. “You know axes aren't the easiest to do if you have no idea of the trade?”

“I figured so. The hole and balancing are things I have no idea but otherwise I had some idea what to do.” Amidala shrugged.

“Not that much. Well, let me show you how it's done. You do what I do. Grab another pair of tongs.” Betty smiled.

“Am I hired?” Amidala didn't budge even though Betty was rising up.

“If you tie up your pretty hair so you won't burn it.” She answered and Amidala felt like jumping from joy and hugging her but she controlled herself, found a piece of leather string and tied her hair back. She came to the forge with tongs and piece of metal and started to learn the craft.