Once upon a time...

[timefather]

[ For the residents of Märchenstraße, and all the land surrounding it, the eighth of December was a day to look forward to. Looking at it from an outside perspective, strangers and travelers could easily assume it to be a holiday. At the very least, a day for a festival, if a modest one. A day that shopkeeps spent all morning preparing for, that all manner of creatures spent days traveling to the city to witness. They'd heard the talk that passed around, the rumors from those still left. But would it work? No one knew for sure, no matter how confident the stories seemed to be. But hope was very quickly becoming all they had left.

They had decorated the whole town. Streamers, banners, wreathes and garland made of autumn flowers, plus whatever the Fairy Godmother had cooked up. Oh, she was just giddy. No skepticism could be spoken around her, not if you wanted to escape the wrath of her wand! Rumor had it that she had caught wind of a few piglets squealing about the likelihood that their magic would fail, and that they were subsequently transformed into the band of musicians who could be found performing in the park.

Well, at least the music was festive.

Of course, the decorations weren't for the newcomers alone. Autumn was coming to a close in just a few weeks, and Old Man Winter would take the reigns like he did every year, and their weather would turn cold and harsh. The chill was already there, cool and biting when the wind picked up speed. Lady Autumn was much preferred to the citizens of the city with her gentle nature, even if she failed to show up, finishing her work in the orchards instead. That was what they liked about her.

It was mid-morning when Father Time was found outside of his tower, checking one of the numerous pocket watches he kept on his person. "Unnecessary, but comfortable," he called them, and closed the watch again. It was twelve o'clock in the afternoon, and where empty space had been just seconds before, now they were. Sitting on benches, lying in flower patches, scattered about the city and outside of the gates in peaceful slumber. They would awaken to the bells of the clock tower. Some, to many friendly and relieved faces all around them, some to grateful ones carrying gifts of food and clothing and magic, and some to fearful, cautious faces. Regardless of how the town treated them, they would awaken to a celebration of their arrival, and choices to be made, and the books. Each and every one. ]

Comments

[totallyfairest]

[ What. The. Hex.

Proper Fairytale Princesses don't freak out, throw tantrums, or throw their crowns down in frustration - but Apple is seriously considering making an exception. After last night she would've said things couldn't get any worse, but now that she's woken up in a strange village, surrounded by strange people who can't seem to decide whether they're afraid of her or if she's the best thing they've ever seen, and with a book marked 'Evil Queen' in her lap? Oh, and on top of it all, her dress, her mother's beautiful Snow White Legacy dress, has mud on the hem.

Such a fairy-fail.

As she gets less disoriented, Apple is starting to go from angry to scared. This doesn't seem like some kind of nasty rebel prank - 'Evil Queen' makes her think Raven, but Raven is so unfortunately kind that she would never do anything this wicked, even if she did mess up Legacy Day and ruin their story and put them in danger of poofing out of existence entirely and...

Apple freezes. Has she gone poof?! Is this what happens to fairytales that go poof?! No, no panicking; Proper Fairytale Princesses don't panic. If she's going to find out what's going on, then she must conduct herself in a calm, rational manner.

Fear fluttering in her delicate princess heart, she turns to the nearest person she sees, opens her mouth, and... ]

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!

[ ...screams. loudly. ]

[twitchery]

[The last thing he remembered was being shoved aside as an ill timed wind spell plunging in his direction, before he awo-]

Gods!

[He nearly screamed back and tried to hit her with something before he caught himself. Oh hey, random screaming lady. Well, there goes that dramatic 'where is this what am I doing here what is going on' scene setting train of thought. Probably wasn't too important.]

I. Uh. Are you...okay?

[This was said kind of slowly. Hesitantly. Ever so slightly confused. With the expectation that she'd confide that she got cursed or something because most of the time when people randomly screamed that was what happened. Well. Either that or Noire was trying to shoot Inigo again.]

[totallyfairest]

[ Oh, curses! She didn't mean to do that! She must look like such a nursery-rhyme right now. Apple takes a deep breath, trying to compose herself, and proceeds to outline her problem in a mature, responsible way that befits a future queen. ]

No! I am not okay! I'VE GONE POOF! I'VE - GONE - POOOOOOOOF!!

[ ...dangit. ]

[twitchery]

[Okay. Alright. Deep breaths. He can handle this. (Is poof what they call it?) Gameface. It's showtime.]

Ho! Alas, for the same dire fate has befallen me as well. I was engaged in battle both dire and terrible, before wicked powers struck me down, dragged me to this misbegotten place, and is it really called going poof?

[...it's hard to work with poof.]

[totallyfairest]

[ It's probably a good thing one of them is managing to stay calm; Owain's lack of immediate distress is starting to make Apple a little less...shrieky. Now she's just embarrassed. This is not how princesses act! She's behaving like a Wonderlandian, and not one of the more dignified ones, either.

Fortunately, this time when she opens her mouth, actual sentences come out instead of barely-coherent shouting. ]

It - er - that is, I mean to say, my story's been ruined and I've vanished into oblivion, without leaving so much as a trace behind! Poof! [ a pause. Maybe this wasn't the most logical conclusion after all. ] ...I think I have, anyway. I don't know what else might've happened! Although I would've thought oblivion would be less...villagey.

What story are you from? Are you also here because of someone who just - just wouldn't stay on script and play their part and spoiled it for everyone? Is...do you know if there's any way to fix it? I liked my destiny, I didn't want it changed!

[twitchery]

[He'd probably be more freaked out but the screaming helped distract from looming questions (questions that he'd deal with later, at leisure) like did he fall into the gate again? Was this Grima's doing? Did he end up somewhen else again? It was, in a bizarre sort of way, weirdly soothing having some crazy woman to deal with.]

Gods.

[Even if he had no idea what she was talking about. Just. None.]

I don't know if our legacy hath been scribed into song and legend if that's what you're talking about...? And hey, what's so bad about challenging destiny? I mean, sure, if it's a good destiny you're probably okay with it, but maybe it was a bad one and you want to change it. There's nothing inherently bad about challenging fate.

[totallyfairest]

[ Record scratch. Oh, no, he's a rebel. Apple's face immediately falls, although she attempts to retain her royal composure. ]

Oh. I suppose this is where vanished fairytales go, if you also think it's okay to... [ She tries to think of a polite way to say "ruin everyone's life with dangerous thoughts about 'choice' and 'free will'". It isn't working. ] ...It's just, destiny isn't only about one person! You have to think about everyone who has a part in the story! If you don't do what you're supposed to, then you're not the only one whose future becomes -

[ She's near tears now. This really is the worst day ever. ]

Look, I did everything I was supposed to! I signed the book! If you want to - to tempt fate - that's hexcellent for you, but why do I have to be here too?

[twitchery]

[...she really is mad. Which was kind of to be expected given the entire screaming thing from the get go, but still. Crazy.]

I don't know! I've been trying to figure out when I could've gotten inside of the gate again. Or why. And are you seriously saying that if, I don't know, your...your mom was going to get killed by bandits you really wouldn't try to save her because of destiny?

[petitgamin]

'Ere what's the screamin' for? [Gavroche just floats in front of her. He's managed to go back and pick up his book, but that doesn't make much use as though he can sort of read what it says on the side, he's no idea how the word sounds]

[totallyfairest]

[ Oh. A magic floating boy.

Thank goodness, at least one thing is normal around here. ]

I'm not screaming, princesses don't scream, I'm just...um...

...right! Well, I'm still not sure if I've gone poof yet or not. What story are you from? Did you go poof? Is this where vanished and forgotten fairytales go?

[petitgamin]

[And Gavroche just looks blank] I aen't from no story, I'm from Paris. [Oh wait, then he remembers what he said to the nice girl who gave him the flower] I mean ... I'm Peter.

[totallyfairest]

I...see. Well, it's lovely to meet you, Peter! [ Apple tries a curtsey. Fortunately years of princessing means she execute one flawlessly, even after screaming her head off just a few minutes ago. ] That would be...Pumpkin-Eater? And the Wolf? Pan? Or no, wait, Peter Pan never had any children, that would've been...weird. And I don't think he leaves Neverland anyway. Are you Lord Peter, perhaps? The one with the cat? Although I'm not sure he could fly...

Or, wait, if this is where fairytales-that-go-poof are poofed to, I suppose I might never have heard of your story! [ Oh, hex, was that rude? First she screams like she's Little Miss Muffet, next she's rude to a poor little boy. This is not a very royal day for her, curtseys or no curtseys. Maybe she can make him feel better with a compliment. ] I - I mean, you uh. You have excellent lift!

[ ...nice job, Apple. ]

[petitgamin]

I'm Peter Pan. [Gavroche shrugs, because frankly he's just going along with things to make it easier. Poor girl seemed all sad about it when she explained it to him. Also, this girl talks a lot. Which isn't a bad thing, he's just noting] And, erm, ... thanks?

oh my god I am so sorry for how late this tag is D:

[totallyfairest]

...but...Peter Pan can't have children, he's - unless you mean you're the Peter Pan?

[ Well, he does look about the right age. Apple has never met Peter Pan, but this would at least be the least strange thing that's happened to her lately. ]

Does that mean we're in Neverland? Oh, gosh, I'm sorry, today has been very confusing!

[pishirogane]

[It isn't even necessary to be part animal to be deafened by that scream. Naoto's just trying to come to terms with what Father Time has told her - maybe even contemplating going to Beast's castle proper - when the scream hits her. Naoto claps her hands over her ears and turns her head around. More animals are ducking and other people are cowering.]

[In a moment, her eyes come upon the shrieking Apple White and she walks over to the girl.]

Please stop screaming!

[totallyfairest]

[ Fortunately, Apple has managed to get control of herself a little. Enough to stop screaming, at least. That doesn't mean she's ready to stop freaking out entirely. ]

That wasn't a scream, it was a - an expression of - innermost feelings and - well, all right, but I think anyone would scream if they thought they'd just been vanished into oblivion! Which I'm still not sure I haven't been. This looks more like a charming (if outdated, are those oil lamps? so last chapter!) village, but to be fair, I don't have much experience with oblivion...

...Yes. Right. [ Now she's just embarrassed for her momentary lapse in princess manners. She brushes off her skirt self-consciously, deliberately avoiding Naoto's eyes. ] Excuse me, sir, it's just that last night was such a disaster and now on top of this I wake up - here - and everyone's acting all weird and I have no idea what's going on and, and...

[ Her eyes fill with tears. She holds up one delicate hand. ]

I...I scuffed a nail!

[pishirogane]

[Naoto waits, arms lowering, but coming to cross over her chest as Apple goes on her small triad. Vanishing and oblivion, she has no idea what she's going on about. Naoto does catch the part about the village's - town's more - appearance. An eyebrow quirks.]

... You're excused. As for your nail, you can get that fixed shortly I'm sure. I'm sure we'll all have to do some... tidying for our roles.

[totallyfairest]

Oh, good! This village might not be, you know, latest-edition, but it's bound to have a good manicurist somewhere in here!

[ Obviously this helpful individual knows what's what. Against all odds, Apple is actually feeling a little bit better, now that it appears not everyone is so strangely afraid of her. She hides her nail discreetly in the folds of her cape and offers Naoto her most royal - if the tiniest bit still shaky - smile. ]

Roles! Right, yes, roles. If I haven't gone poof, then I still have my role to play! Can't have the Snow White story without Snow White, after all! The show must go on; we can't put the stories on hold just because we've woken up in a mysterious village filled with mysterious people for mysterious unexplained reasons!

[ She glances down at her book, and her smile gets just a tiny bit shakier. ]

I guess that means I have to find my Evil Queen, right? The story can't happen without her, either.

[pishirogane]

[Rise and this young woman would definitely get along is all Naoto has to think before she's off again on-- role? She had a previous role as Snow White? When the other female looks at her own book, it legibly says 'Evil Queen'. Wouldn't Father Time have known he pulled this girl from another assignment already?]

... Unfortunately, it appears you've been given the role of Evil Queen for Märchenstraße as opposed to retaining your position as Snow White where ever you've arrived from.

[totallyfairest]

(ooc: I know we spoke over PM, but just for my future reference: Apple hasn't realized Naoto's a lady yet and will be thinking of her with male pronouns. :x)

[ Aaaand hold everything. Apple freezes up completely for a moment, her mind gone totally blank.

She should be laughing right now. Why isn't she laughing right now? This poor man is clearly confused; he thinks that this book is referring to her instead of, you know, the actual Evil Queen. She should explain things immediately before things get really out of hand.

But...deep inside of her, way way way deep down where all of her unwanted nonprincessy emotions go to die, she's sort of...suspected. The way the villagers have been looking at her, like she's someone to be feared; the words "evil queen" she's heard whispered back and forth...she hasn't wanted to so much entertain the notion. She hasn't come right out and asked, and no one has come right out and said it to her face.

Until now. ]

...ha. Ha ha! Ha!! Oh, I'm sorry, I think there's been some mistake! This book doesn't mean me, it must belong to Ra - to someone else. I'm Snow White, you see. I mean, my name is Apple White, really - oh, gosh, where are my manners? I never even asked your name! - but anyway, I'm going to be Snow White. I signed the Storybook of Legends, you see. I have to be Snow White!

[ Still, he seems to know what he's talking about. Which is the worst part, because it makes it that much harder to pretend he's the one who's confused here. ]

M-maybe our books got mixed up? I'm sure this - all of this - is all just a silly misunderstanding! Ha!

sorry for the late tag

[gleam_and_glow]

[The scream is loud enough to startle Rapunzel and even Pascal hides behind her neck. However she can also see that the person who let out the scream looks to be in distress.]

Are you alright, miss?

that's okay I'm EVEN LATER (i'm sorry)

[totallyfairest]

I - I don't know anymore! I might have gone poof, or I might be under a curse, and I don't know which is worse! And this book is not helping! IT'S TAUNTING ME!

[ She waves her Evil Queen book around wildly. Even princesses have a limit, and Apple is hitting hers. As long as she doesn't accidentally hit Rapunzel or Pascal? ]

it happens <3

[gleam_and_glow]

[Rapunzel tries to understand with the other girl is talking about, but admittedly she's a little lost. Poof? Curse? Huh? Though she is smart enough to move back when Apple starts wildly waving the book around. Until finally she reaches out to make a quick grab to Apple's book in an effort to get her to stop swinging it around.]

Woah, watch out with that please. You might hurt yourself or someone else. [Her tone is gentle as obviously she can see that Apple is in distress.]

Maybe you should take a deep breath. It might help you feel a little better.

Re: it happens <3

[totallyfairest]

[ Fortunately, Apple has had years of princess training, and isn't going to fall over just because someone grabbed a book she was swinging wildly around. Nope. Princesses don't do that.

So it comes as something as a surprise when the world tips over and she finds herself on the ground, staring at Rapunzel's feet and wondering how the hex she got there.

...Apple has had a very long day. Princess training can only do so much in the face of this kind of stress. So she sits there in the dust, the back of her white dress covered in dirt, and musters every princess instinct she can to keep herself from crying. She's had a long day. ]

I...I don't think a deep breath will help, but I'll try. [ She tries. It goes about as well as can be expected. ] I just...I don't know what's going on and everyone keeps saying that that book is supposed to be mine but there's obviously been some kind of mix-up because I'm supposed to be Snow White and not the Queen and I may or may not have vanished utterly from existence and - and on top of all that, my dress is ruined!

[ For some reason this seems to be just as bad as any of the other things right now. She manages to hold back the tears, but a little, unprincesslike sniffle escapes anyway. ]

[gleam_and_glow]

Oh gosh, I'm so sorry. [She's quick apologize, absolutely horrified when Apple falls over. She honestly hadn't meant to knock her completely off balance like that. She's even quicker to kneel down and make sure the other girl didn't hurt herself.]

I'm not so sure what is going on with these books either. Mine says 'Maid Marion' on it and that's definitely not my name either.

[Oh but those glassy eyes and the sniffle have Rapunzel looking might she cry herself. She just hates to see someone so clearly distressed. She glances at Pascal on her shoulder quizzically wondering what she should do. Though the little chameleon merely shrugs because he doesn't know what to do either.]

Hey now, it'll be alright. I exist and Pascal here exists, so that must mean you exist too. [She gives Apple a gentle smile as she reaches out to touch her shoulder.] And your dress can be fixed. I'll help you, okay?

[Granted Apple's dress is a lot fancier than anything she has cleaned or sewn but she's more than willing to put her skills to use, if it means putting the other girl at ease. If only a little.]