“That’s the one thing your mom and my mom can agree on,” Raven said with a matching sigh.
Raven glanced at Nevermore’s cozy little dragon bed on the floor. It was empty because the twins were keeping her overnight for grooming. She looked at the empty cushions and wished her precious pet was there.
Apple couldn’t sleep. After staring at the ceiling for a while, she gave up and went over to the big mirror on their dorm room wall. She stared at her reflection. “Mirror, mirror on the wall—why is life so unfairest after all?”
From behind the mirror, the Evil Queen heard everything. With a wave of her hands, she created a floating apple.
Suddenly, a waft of purple smoke magically materialized, and the magical apple passed through the mirror. A voice whispered, “Follow me.…”
Apple was shocked! The mirror answered! The mirror was going to help her! She didn’t hesitate. Apple followed the apple to an enchanted tree. With a quick look around to make sure no one saw, she stepped inside a doorway that had appeared in the tree.
The instant she entered the room, Apple knew she was in the tower attic. The large magic mirror in the center gave it away. She shouldn’t be there.
“Why, Apple White. You poor thing,” the Evil Queen said in her kindest voice. “Come, tell me your troubles.”
Apple gasped and stumbled back. “You’re… I can’t talk to you.”
“Oh, Apple, we have so much more in common than you know,” the queen said.
Apple refused to believe that was true. “What do you want?”
“The same thing you want! For Raven to straighten up and fly right—or fly wrong, in our case. I could help you, you know,” the queen said. “I can restore things to the good old ways, steer Raven on her course of evil so you get your Happily Ever After. But I can’t do it from inside the mirror.”
Apple squinted at the queen and said, “Even if I trusted you, I can’t let you out of the mirror—that would be wrong.”
“I see. I’ve made a mistake.” The queen’s voice dripped with disappointment. “I thought maybe you were like your mother. Snow White is a classic princess. When her time came, your mother embraced her fairytale destiny. She did whatever it took.”
That made Apple angry. She wanted to be like her mom. She wanted the destiny planned for her! Raven had messed everything up. In a surge of resentment over what she’d lost, Apple declared, “I will do whatever it takes!”
“Your mother was never afraid to go after her dreams.” The queen’s voice stayed low, constant, like an arrow that went straight to Apple’s heart. “I guess the apple can fall pretty far from the tree.”
“I’m not afraid, and I am like my mother!” Apple’s voice echoed around the room. “My destiny is mine!” She hurled the ruby-red apple at the mirror with all her might.
The mirror shattered into bright shards of light. Flowing purple smoke filled the room as the Evil Queen exploded out of the glass! She was wearing her royal robes and her crown. Stretching out her arms, raising her staff, the queen cackled a harsh and violent laugh. She was free at last!
Apple’s ears filled with the chaotic chuckle. Her vision was blurred by the shimmering purple smoke and the blinding light that reflected off the shards of shattered glass.
Apple was truly scared.
What had she done?
CHAPTER 5
The smoke dissipated, and Apple stood in the fading light, face-to-face with the Evil Queen.
The queen took a long breath, then let it out. “Ah! The air of that mirror prison was ever after so stuffy.” From the mirror shards, she picked up the apple that had freed her.
Apple White was truly petrified.
The queen checked her reflection in a large mirror shard. She fixed her hair and grinned. “Years in a mirror prison without a single reflective surface to gaze at myself upon—now, that’s torture.”
Apple looked frantically toward the stairs. “I’m sorry. I need to go. I… I can’t help you.”
The queen laughed. “Too late. You broke me out of there! You want your friends or your mother to know you released the Evil Queen?” Feeling stiff from all those years trapped in mirror prison, she casually began to do some stretches.
“You can’t just walk into school and talk to Raven!” Apple said, facing the reality of what she’d done. “What’s going to happen when somebody recognizes you?”
That made the queen pause. “Good point. I’ll need to reinvent my look to blend in with today’s teens. Let’s make some magic.” She cleared her throat and dramatically raised her staff.
“From old to young,
A journey back.
To fit in would be prudent.
Erase what time’s cruel hands have done.
Make me a high school student!”
Lightning flashed as an electric vortex of purple smoke billowed around her. And presto!
Apple couldn’t believe her eyes. The Evil Queen was now a teen queen.
“Ta-da! I suppose I’ll need a new name to go with my new look.” She checked out her new, stylish outfit and young, hip hairdo in the mirror shard. “How about Mira. Mira Shards.” The Evil Queen laughed hysterically at her choice.
“Wow. Impressive! I’m speechless,” Apple said. And she really was.
“I’m good. And by good, I mean bad.” Mira crossed the room and linked her arm through Apple’s. “Ready, my new BFFA? Time to go back to high school. Let’s do this!”
Holly and Poppy were washing Nevermore in a special station they’d set up in the school’s dragon stalls.
Poppy was sitting on the stall’s wood-planked floor, shampooing little Nevermore in a basin of foamy water. Nevermore’s long tail stuck out over the side.
Holly peeked over her sister’s shoulder. “Wow, Poppy, this paint is hard to get off. You have to really scrub hard.…” Holly moved in to help and accidentally stepped on the dragon’s tail.
Nevermore roared and began to grow.
“Aaah! What’s happening?” Poppy leaped back.
Nevermore grew and grew until the basin fit her like a shoe, and then she grew a little more until the basin got stuck on one clawed foot. In a panic, the dragon flew around the barn with the basin shoe, shaking dirty, soapy water all over Holly.
“My hair!” Holly screamed. “Bad dragon! Heel! Sit!”
Nevermore had a dragon tantrum and tossed anything she could find in the stall at Holly and Poppy.
“Dragons are dangerous business!” Holly said, ducking and dodging.
Poppy passed Holly a trash can lid to use as a shield. “Here, Holly, catch! Use this!”
Holly held the shield protectively in front of her as Nevermore’s tail continued to swish violently, causing havoc. “Poppy,” she told her sister, “we’re going to need some kind of armor if we’re going to stay in the dragon-grooming biz.”
At lunch, Apple sat with Mira at a Castleteria table.
When the others came to sit, Apple said, “Everyone, I want you to meet the new girl—my, uh, old friend, uh, Mira!”
“What’s down?” Mira greeted everyone cheerfully.
Apple leaned over and whispered in her ear.
“Up,” Mira corrected quickly. “What’s up? New friends.”
Darling Charming and Cerise Hood, the daughter of Little Red Riding Hood, immediately started asking questions.
“I’m Darling, Darling Charming. How do you guys know each other?” She pointed from Apple to Mira.
“Neighbors,” Apple said.
“Camp,” Mira said at the exact same time. “We went to neighboring camps,” Mira corrected.
“I’m Cerise Hood. What school did you—”
Mira interrupted. “I was homeschooled.”
Darling said, “Sounds so isolated.”
Mira gave a small laugh. “Darling, you have no idea.”
A small group of girls came up then. They all wanted to know about Mira’s trendy fashion style.
“Hi, I’m Ashlynn,
” Ashlynn Ella, the daughter of Cinderella, said with a warm smile. She introduced the others. “That’s Lizzie and Briar. We love your outfit!” Lizzie Hearts and Briar Beauty, daughter of Sleeping Beauty, nodded enthusiastically.
Raven joined them, telling Mira, “You look wicked.” For a second, Mira gave a strange, worried expression, but then Raven said, “Wicked awesome!”
Mira visibly relaxed. “You must be Raven Queen! You’re, like, a spellebrity! Daughter of the greatest villain in all of fairytale history!” she gushed. “I mean, wow.”
Raven shrugged. “My mother’s a controlling drama queen.”
There was a twinkle in Mira’s eye as she said, “Thank you!”
Apple had to cover for Mira’s joy at being called evil. She quickly blurted out, “That’s exactly what Mira says.”
Mira and Raven shared a smile, knowing they had controlling mothers in common. The connection made Raven like Mira.
Before they could get to know one another better, Holly and Poppy arrived carrying Nevermore, who had shrunk back to puppy size. She smelled sweet and was all dressed up in bows.
“Well, what do you think?” Poppy asked Raven.
“Nevermore!” She took a long look, then slowly said, “She looks very…”
Holly chuckled. “Bow-dacious! Ha! Get it?”
That was when Nevermore saw Mira and recognized the Evil Queen in disguise. In a flash, Nevermore ballooned to her full, giant, mighty dragon size! Her long, thick dragon tail scattered the tables and chairs as she desperately tried to escape from the Castleteria. Students scrambled to get out of her way.
Nevermore stumbled into the salad bar, spraying food everywhere. Her clean bows dripped with lettuce, veggies, and dressing.
Headmaster Grimm marched into the room. “Raven Queen, what is your animal doing in the Castleteria? This is a disgrace, not to mention a health-code violation!”
Raven stood, and Nevermore immediately shrank down to her smallest size. Raven scooped her up. “I’m sorry, Headmaster Grimm. It won’t happen again!” Head lowered, Raven held her pet close as she left the room.
CHAPTER 6
Mira caught up with Raven in the hallway. Raven was holding Nevermore as if she were burping a baby, high over her shoulder. The dragon continued to growl at Mira, staring at her with knowing eyes.
Mira acted as if the dragon was the most adorable thing she’d ever seen.
Raven apologized. “I don’t know what has gotten into Nevermore. She doesn’t normally spook like that! Hush, girl!”
“Let me help,” Mira said. “I have a way with dragons.” Behind Raven’s back, Mira’s eyes flashed red as the queen zapped the dragon with a small purple shock. Nevermore whimpered and burrowed her face into Raven’s shoulder, suddenly calm.
“She quieted right down! That was great. Thanks!” Raven said.
Mira shrugged, as if all she’d done was pet the dragon. “That was unfairest of Grimm to bust you like that. Why didn’t you blame Holly and Poppy? They brought the dragon into the Castleteria!”
Raven raised a shoulder and said, “That’s not what friends do.” They’d reached the end of the hall. “Well, I’d better get to Science and Sorcery class. Thanks again for your help with Nevermore, Mira.”
Mira pretended to look at her schedule. “Actually—I’m in that class. In fact, I bet we have lots of the same classes.” She followed Raven around the corner. “Maybe you could show me the ropes?”
“Sure! I love to help,” Raven said, leading the way.
A few paces back, Apple watched Mira and Raven. When Raven agreed to show her mother around, Apple smiled to herself. This plan was going to work. Her own fairytale destiny would be back on track in no time.
The hours went by quickly. Raven gave Mira a tour of the school. They went to Raven’s room and hung out for a while.
By the time General Villainy began, Raven and Mira were becoming fast friends. Raven blew a kiss to Nevermore, then shut the door. The girls ran off to class, giggling all the way.
At the beginning of the period, Mr. Badwolf handed back the students’ tests.
“Here are your General Villainy hexam results.” He set a graded sheet on Raven’s desk and said, “Room for improvement, Miss Queen.” The page was covered with bright red X’s.
Mira leaned over and whispered, “Cast a spell on the teacher and get straight A’s. That’s what I did in school.”
Raven looked at her, confused. “I thought you were homeschool—”
Mr. Badwolf interrupted with a mighty roar. “Ladies! Talking in class?” He’d heard Mira’s suggestion. “Encouraging cheating?” He squinted at her. “Wicked girls!” Mr. Badwolf directed his attention to Raven, saying, “Raven, stick with this new girl—you could learn a thing or two.” He winked at them both.
Raven and Mira paused for a beat, then laughed.
At dinner that night in the Castleteria, Darling and Cerise approached Mira, Raven, and Apple, and were about to sit down when Mira put out her hands to stop them. “We were saving these seats. Sorry.”
Stunned and confused, Darling and Cerise walked away.
Raven turned to Mira. “That wasn’t fairy nice. Darling and Cerise are my friends!”
Mira snorted. “Nice will only get you so far. To be really popular, you need a little fear factor. Right, Apple?”
Apple considered it and said, “I suppose there’s truth in that.”
Raven, suspicious, raised an eyebrow.
Holly and Poppy then came to the table. They were wearing protective dragon armor that they’d clearly made themselves. It was as if they’d raided the school-supply closet and used anything they could find, from textbooks to trash cans. Their hodgepodge armor was covered in soot.
“Raven, don’t freak out,” Poppy began, “but we were trying this new scale polish on Nevermore, and, well, she took off.”
Holly explained, “We set up a grooming station in the old dragon stables behind the school. That’s the last place we saw her. We thought, maybe if you call her—”
“—maybe she’s just hiding and would come out! We’re sorry.” Poppy looked like she was about to cry.
“Thanks for getting me,” Raven said. She gathered her stuff. “Let’s go.”
They had come so far, and yet the plan wasn’t working. Raven continued to be a huge disappointment to villains everywhere!
Raven went with Mira, Apple, Poppy, and Holly to the dragon stables behind the school. Beyond the crumbling stables was a weed-covered circular area.
Raven took a long look at the field. “Wow! Can you believe I’ve never been back here before? The old Dragon Games arena.”
Mira clapped in excitement. “Dragon Games sound wicked! Have you ever played? You do have a dragon!”
“No, I know,” she said. “But my mom was a champion at it. I kind of don’t want to do anything like her.”
Mira frowned as a shadow of sadness passed across her face. Raven’s words had cut her like a sharp sword.
The girls didn’t notice.
“Why did Headmaster Grimm close the Dragon Center?” Apple asked her friends.
“You mean you don’t know?” Holly was shocked. She powered up her MirrorPad and handed it to Poppy, who brought up the video.
The recording was grainy and slow to load. It showed two rival riders on dragonback from a few decades ago. They were both wearing helmets and zooming at each other in a heated aerial battle.
“They used to ride dragons right here.” Holly pointed out to the weed patch. “Dragon Games were all the rage.”
“They say Snow White and the Evil Queen were the greatest Dragon Games captains ever after…” Poppy added. “But they were terribly competitive. Dragon Games can be fairy dangerous. I read that the old school mascot, Legend, used to compete and is the only dragon left from that brood—”
Whatever else she was going to say was cut off when the girls heard a terrible moan.
“That’s a dragon cry,” Mir
a told the others. “I’d know it anywhere.”
“Nevermore? Hurry!” Raven ran toward the stalls, in the direction of the moan, leading the others to follow.
Daring Charming was already in a stall. He was on his knees, leaning over a huge dragon. It wasn’t Nevermore, but rather the school’s mascot, Legend. The dragon was thrashing, rolling around, and moaning.
As the girls all rushed in, Daring told them, “Something’s wrong with Legend! I went to saddle him up for our morning ride, and he won’t fly.”
The twins sprang into paramedic mode.
“Quick, check the tongue color!” Poppy told Holly.
Holly pried the dragon’s mouth open to find a darting green tongue. Legend rolled over in discomfort. Holly jumped back just in time, saying, “Body temperature seems really high!”
Apple was amazed. “Fairy impressive! You two have really learned a lot about dragons lately.”
Legend shifted again, and the dragon’s painful moans got even louder. The twins set a claw-mometer over a front paw.
“Subzero,” Holly reported.
“Oh no! My trusty steed! Does that mean he’s really sick?” Daring asked, face panicked.
“News flash, Daring. Your trusty steed isn’t a he. She’s a she! And she’s not sick.…” Mira smiled.
The girls all understood what she was saying, but Daring’s face looked blank. “Huh?”
“I think it’s time.…” Holly pushed Daring out of the way and moved in closer.
“What time?” Daring asked. Suddenly, he clued in. “Oh, that time!” Daring swooned, and Mira had to catch him before he hit the floor.
Legend began to lay eggs. Lots and lots of eggs. Some were white, some dark, all were going to hatch into baby dragons.
Blondie stuck her head in the barn and saw the eggs. She rushed off to grab her microphone and start spreading the news.
Dragon Games Page 2