EVER AFTER HIGH: CIVIL WAR CHAPTER 9

It was a beautiful sunny morning, those kind of days when the weather is so nice than invites everyone to spend the day outside with all the family; having fun with friends; or simply go to for a walk with the pets. But this day was going to be really different, when the final battle between fate and choice was about to start. No matter whose army win, it will change the destiny of the whole world.

At six o'clock, Grimm's living armors received the first attack from Raven's armors. At the sign at the only human in that battlefield, the silver armors (Grimm's) unsheathed their swords and faced the black and purple ones that were already wielding theirs. The silver armors ran to receive the enemy, but as soon as the black swords touched them; the silver ones became black too; swelling Darcy's forces. The evil queen, marching behind the black armors battalion along with several ghouls and horrors of the night.

Horrified how his defenses turned to him, the only human soldier tried to run away, but Darcy spotted him and turned him into stone.

"Luckily for you my daughter forbid me to take lives. But is only a matter of time, once this finish, I'll have my fun" she said laughing.

The dark army continued its march, getting larger at every Grimm's battalion they find. Everything was perfect; in a matter of hours, Darcy's two thousand armors became two hundred thousand. If the stupid director kept facing the dark army with only living armors, soon she'll have a million effectives under her command.

But in the middle of the way to Ever After High, a horn sounded calling for battle. Darcy turned to face her enemies, it was a huge army leaded by archers who already prepared their arrows when they recognized her. They shoot.

Darcy created a magical force field and responded the fire making her black armors drag a giant war machine that shoot to her enemies stones covered with fire. But still that didn't stopped the archers who kept shooting arrows with the faint hope to kill Darcy. And behind the archers, the evil queen recognized a golden chariot with the form of an apple.

"Well, well, well, what do we have here? This is just great, ATTACK!"

The armors ran to the other army ready to destroy them all. Darcy turned to a spare regiment:

"You: surround the battlefield and open your way to Ever After High. Is time to move our second squad"

And following Raven's instruction's, Darcy sent a purple light to the sky.

…

Hiding on the secret paths learned from Bella, Raven's regiment started to advance to west while Maddie's soldiers to east. In the air, riding Nevermore, Cerise commanded the ghoul riders with their winged horrors of the night; followed by Sparrow from the ground who commanded the goblins. In the other side, Kitty was jumping from tree to tree followed by her trustable gargoyles. The real battle was about to start.

Commanded by Hunter, the black lagoon creatures swam all over the swamp getting closer and closer to the enchanted forest.

…

Darcy extended her arms making grow from the ground several evil carnivore plants that attacked Snow White's army by surprise. Of course, that maneuver didn't surprise the queen who raised her scepter preparing for the imminent encounter.

As soon as they saw the signal of their queen, several knights riding majestic white pegasi wielded their swords attacking from the air Darcy's armors and carnivore plants. But again, as soon as the black armors' swords touched the armors of the knights, those came to life and expulsed their owner joining to Darcy's forces. It was not going to end well for Snow White who tried to retire, but several arrows from both south and west blocked her running.

Cerise's and Sparrow's regiments finally arrived to support Darcy.

The ghouls, with their slippery and disturbing nature, fell all over Snow White's army jumping from their winged horrors of the night. The queen was completely surrounded, she just lost. And to make things worst, a very known enemy walked to her smirking evilly.

"Whitey! Long time no see you!

"Darcy, is a pleasure to see you're still in one piece, my old roommate" said Snow White holding her scepter trying to be brave. "Why are you here? To menace my kingdom as you always did? What you'll do now, evil queen?"

"Right now, follow my daughter's orders; but once she finish all this, perhaps I'll invade your kingdom, or any other; I haven't decided yet"

"Your daughter will fail, there's no way she could destroy the Story Book of Legends, Darcy. She'll poison my dear Apple and then join you at the Mirror Prison"

Darcy laughed.

"Come on! Don't you understand? My daughter destroyed her own page so there's no way to force her to sign. I don't know what she'll do now but she won't poison you beloved daughter. I know her very well and she'll fight with Grimm until the end. Whatever happens between us next, she won't be there. She is free now"

Snow White frowned.

"This is destined to fail, Darcy. Your daughter probably managed to get free but this war will end with her imminent defeat. Now, what you'll do with me?"

Darcy shrugged.

"Nothing, I have to save my strength for the right time, when I face Milton Grimm once again and put him where he truly belongs: under my feet. Take care Whitey, I want you ready when we meet again"

Then the Rebel army keep advancing to Ever After High. Snow White looked at them and then she sighed and returned to her kingdom. Milton Grimm could go to hell, right now she had to prepare herself for Darcy's future invasion. And the Rebel Army keep walking forward, ready to the battle for their freedom.

In front of his own army, Principal Grimm (who looked ridiculous with his great belly under his armor) waited for the right time; and the right time came when he spotted Darcy in front of the black armors, preparing her dark magic.

Milton Grimm frowned.

"Your daughter shouldn't free you, Darcy Queen. But it doesn't matter, she'll fail and join you in the Mirror Prison for daring to this insolence.

Darcy smiled to her old enemy.

"I don't know, Grimm, the magic of the Mirror Prison only affects those with dark hearts. Raven heart is pure and full of kindness and goodness; and now than she destroyed her page, there's no way you can force her to turn sides. Yes, this operation have all the chances to fail, but whatever the result is; my daughter is free now. You can't do anything now because you already lost control of the situation. Accept it: you don't know how this will end"

Grimm's face turned red.

"ATTACK!" He yelled to his forces, making his soldiers march against Darcy's.

This time Darcy knew that the spell of the black armors won't help her forever, but at least it bought them some tome for the young ones. And safely on her position, Raven was looking at the starting battle with her friends behind her ready for instructions.

Following one of Maddie's plans, Raven just shouted:

"EY!"

All Grimm's forces turned to the group of Rebels and their army of dark creatures.

"WE'RE NOT GOING TO ATTACK!" Shouted again Raven.

All the soldiers exchanged confused looks and commentaries, while Darcy only facepalmed. That plan was added to battle only because Raven wanted to please her girlfriend, but it was a very stupid one. Grimm's forces were still confused, giving Raven the chance to complete her commands:
"NOW!"

Raven's forces… did attack. It was a mass of black and purple armors wore by creatures of all kind, ready to exterminate Grimm's army for once. Principal Grimm bravely wielded his sword but an invisible force took it from him.

"DARCY" He yelled.

Kitty turned visible menacing Grimm with his own sword.

"Nope, is just me" said the Kitty before stabbing the old man with the blade, making him scream in pain and bend. "And that's for the kidnapping and torture. See you in hell, Principal Grimm"

Then, she ran to the castle with her friends. Laughing, Darcy walked to Grimm making him levitate with her dark magic.

"Now, where were we, Grimm?"

…

Followed by a bunch of ghouls, the Rebels finally penetrated Ever After High. Raven was ready to fight for everyone's destiny, even if that meant fight Apple.

Inside her room, Apple and her royal friends also prepared for battle.

"Okay, even if both of us have an army, I already knew this was going to end like this: Royals versus Rebels, as it always have being. There's no other way to finish this so get ready Raven"

The other Royals nod, ready for battle. The counterattack group were form by the Charming brothers, Hopper, Lizzie and Humpfrey; all of them with their swords ready to fight.

Kitty, Cerisre, Maddie, Hunter and Raven got the main hall.

"What surprises do you think that Apple have for us?" Asked Raven concentrating her dark magic on her sword. "She better learnt to not to underestimate us since last time"

"And we learnt, you can be sure of that" said Daring coming from the shadows. "Now it is you who underestimate us"

Then he smiled trying to blind all the Rebels, but this time they were ready and put on sunglasses. And one more time Cerise charged to Daring, who spent all that time getting ready to fight the wolf-girl. Both of them crossed their swords.

Kitty chose Lizzie to fight. Lizzie was a future tyrant and learnt to not to depend only from her soldiers; so she was capable to fight using the war ax. But the Hearts Queen didn't want to fight her former friend, she still felt terrible of all the things Apple did to Kitty thanks to her help. But Kitty was decided to make Lizzie pay and Lizzie's hesitations and her ability to evaporate was giving the cat an incredible advantage over the Royal.

Hunter and Dexter sent a death-glare to each other before start to fight. Hunter was weakened because of he didn't want to hurt anyone too badly; and Dexter was weakened by his myopia. Using that to his favor, Hunter attacked Dexter's face to brake his glasses as soon as the battle starts; but Dexter was an expert on fencing and didn't depend only of his eyes, no, his ears and nose were more than capable to help him to match Hunter. They were draw.

Hopper and Humpfrey attacked Raven and Maddie; but Raven was supposed to look for the Story Book of Legends so Maddie took care of both. Humpfrey was easy to defeat, using the same strategy of Hunter; and he wasn't a sword master as Dexter. But Hopper was a great athlete and were able to keep Maddie busy.

All the fights were terribly tight, if anyone didn't do something, they were going to keep like that forever. But in order to prevent that, hid on the shadows, Hunter prepared the special arrows that Raven made for him ready to stop that foolish fight from the beginning. Tensing his bow, Sparrow put his sight on Daring.

And suddenly a black swan charged to him forcing Sparrow to lost his privileged position .

"Douches" he mumbled looking at the girl.

The black swan turned into the dark Princess who grinned evilly.

"Hello my beloved partner! Do you care if we dance a little?"

Sparrow lowered his bow.

"Douches, even if I decided to separate from you, that doesn't mean I don't like you. I still consider you a very dear friend, don't force me to fight you"
"I like you too Sparrow, but I'm a Royal and to protect and serve my destiny is what I have to do"

Then she attacked Hunter, who had to use his special arrows against her. The arrow he shot exploded creating a smoke wall it supposed to help all the Rebels, not only Sparrow; but he wanted to get rid of Douches without hurting her. But Douches was fighting for real and she turned into a black swan to dissipate the smoke created by her rival and then attacked his face with her powerful beak. For trying to get rid of her, Sparrow lost her bow and Douches took human form taking Sparrow from the neck. She smiled devilishly.

"It's over Sparrow"

The future Robin Hood were struggling, but Douches was too strong, at this rate he was going to lose. No, it had to be another way.

"You know?" Asked Sparrow. "You still surprise me Douches, you defend the Royals but your ending is the worst of all. Having everything and then lost it. That's your story and we both know it. What are you going to do next, Douches? Turn your daughter into a psycho as Odette did with you"

Douches gritted her teeth.

"You just called me a psycho?"

Sparrow smiled provoking the girl.

"I can repeat it if you want, psycho"

Douches hit her in the place that hurts men the most, but sill he tried to stand bravely.

"Come on Douches, your tale doesn't have to end like this, just help Raven win. If she does, you don't have to follow the same fate of your mother, you'll be able to get everything you always dreamed about it and keeping it!"

Douches was about to hit him again but suddenly stopped and instead of a fist, she offered Sparrow a hand.

"You better win, Rebels"

Sparrow smiled and took back his bow and arrows preparing to help his friends.

"If we lose, I promise I'll let you do anything to me"

And then he shot. The arrows exploded one more time, creating fog walls buying the Rebels enough time to act. They quickly ran away from their rivals and wait for the new arrow from Sparrow. The musician shot again, this time hitting the roof and making the arrow turn into a rope ready to be used by the Rebels. They started to climb in the darkness; even Sparrow jumped to grab the rope. They were about to make the superior floors but before they were too far, Douches warned them:
"Just be careful! Blondie is looking everything from Apple's room. Every mirror in the castle are eyes and ears to her. She and Apple already know your position so take care!"

There was nothing else to say, so the Rebels keep climbing and after Sparrow created more smoke, they wore their black cloaks to get lost into the blackness. They were ready.

…

In the meantime, Raven finally reached the Principal Office, and without any delicacy, she destroyed the door with her sword and entered. All she found was a black mirror in front of her.

"Okay, what now?" She asked tiredly.

Apple came out from the shadows and clacked her fingers. A powerful portal created and tried to absorb Raven but nothing happened.

"Idiot: the magic of the Mirror Prison only works with those with evil hearts. I'm a very good girl, you can't impression me there" said Raven calmly turning to Apple with sword in hand.

Apple stared blankly at Raven.

"You aren't a good girl. If it were true, you'd accepted your destiny instead of trying to take mine away"

Raven facepalmed.

"Again with that? Apple, you can have your destiny for free if that's what you want. You want to become a queen and marry Daring? GO AHEAD AND LEAVE ME ALONE! I'm saving you the problem of being poisoned, you just become queen and that's it"

Apple stared at Raven with hate in her eyes.

"There's nothing like a free happily ever after! Don't you see that? After what you did everyone started to reject their fates. Daring seemed happy with me but in the bottom of his heart he wants Lizzie and thinks I don't know; but still this is all you fault damn Rebel. There's no true Royals, only me. Me, me, me!"

Raven sighed.

"Apple you need therapy, really. And that's not true. What about Blondie? She's as Rebel as you"

"Blondie? Don't make me laugh! She is a peasant, a commoner! She thinks she's a Rebel but no; the only reason I keep her on my side if because she is good with mirrors but that is it; she's nothing more than a plebian serving her queen, but that's not the point. The point is NO ONE WANTS TO ACCEPT THEIR OWN DESTINIES! AND THE ONLY WAY TO MAKE THINGS THE WAY IT USED TO BE IS TO MAKE YOU SIGN! SIGN RAVEN, SIGN!"

"If Daring is not single go for another charming prince, dumbass! Here at Ever After High there's a lot of princes to chose. Just have your happily ever after and stop this thing now"

"I DON'T WANT YOUR CONSOLATION PRIZE! I JUST WANT MY FATE!" Apple yelled from the bottom of her heart. She was really crazy.

Maddie and the rest of the Rebels entered the room.

"Seriously you like Daring that much?" Mocked the crazy girl.

Apple glared at her.

"WHO LIKES DARING, YOU IMBECILE? I only want him because he's the one for me. That's how it written; that's the way it has to be!"

The Rebels exchanged concern looks. Apple was in love, in love with her destiny; and take it away from her somehow drove her into madness. She wasn't the Apple they once met, she was an obsessed freak who lost everything and her new obsession was to recover her former one. That was very worrying.

"Again Apple, you need help" mumbled Raven concerned.

Inside Apple's room, Blondie took a long look to the book that was on Apple's bed. She heard her clearly what Apple said from the mirrors; she didn't consider Blondie a Rebel or a friend. So what? She have being using her all that time? Well, Apple was more than crazy since all that civil war thing started. But it was time to change the things. Blondie took the book and ran to the Principal Office entering violently with the book in hand.

"BLONDIE, WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH THAT?" Screamed Apple recognizing the book on the girl's hand.

"What I am doing? I heard you from the listening devices you made me install all over the school. I'm not a true Royal you say? Only a plebian serving my queen? Well, I have news for you stupid: I'm more Royal than you'll ever be. I haven't followed you when this started, but I thought we were friends so I kept going even if all of us knew how crazy you really are, Apple. But this is it; since you never considered me a true ally, I decided to finish this and give this to the Rebels. It is over Apple, your beloved destiny is doomed.

Apple White just looked helpless how Blondie passed the book to Raven.

"You know why I'm more Royal than you, Apple?" Asked Blondie. "Because I don't depend of a stupid book. I fight for what I want. I want to follow my destiny so I prepare myself to do that. That was you supposed to do since the beginning instead of fighting Raven. It's over. Raven destroy that thing and end this once and for all!"

Raven gave back the book to Blondie.

"Sorry but I only can destroy my own page. The only ones who can destroy it are the Royals, true Royals such as yourself"

Blondie smiled.

"Okay, do you mind if I borrow your sword?"

Raven nod and gave Blondie her sword too. Blondie placed the book on the floor and then wielded Raven's sword.

"NO BLONDIE NO!" Screamed Apple trying to attack Blondie; but Cerise quickly caught and immobilized her. "PLEASE DON'T! BLONDIE PLEASE"

But it was too late. Blondie stabbed the book with unknown fury.

The book suddenly shook. Red flames covered it entirely slowly turning it into ashes. From the cut of the sword, ink started to drop as it were blood. It was over. It was all over.

…

Milton Grimm fell over his back and Darcy, with her eyes brightening in joy, raised her sword.

"Your last word, Milton Grimm?"

He didn't say a thing.

"Too bad my daughter made me swore not to kill you; but I still can make you suffer" said Darcy with a devious smile. "You know? I'll make sure you won't be able to walk again. Poor, poor Milton Grimm. If you weren't a control freak you should end this before it even started by leaving my daughter alone. Too bad your stupidity blinded you"

And then Darcy stabbed… the ground not the Grimm. Suddenly she fell on her knees dropping her weapon. With tears on her eyes, Darcy smiled and laughed happily. She was happy, truly happy"
"What happened?" Asked Grimm.

She cleaned her tears and smiled to the old man.

"I recovered my old self. I'M BACK!"

Grimm shivered. No, she couldn't be back to normal unless…

And then he felt how his power over the will of all beings started to decline. The Library where his brother was locked also vanished all the spells on it. That only could mean one thing: that Raven won.

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

Ever After High doors opened letting pass the victorious Rebels leaded by Raven and Giles Grimm. The old man fixed his glasses and after take a deep breath, he looked down to his defeated brother.

"Milton, is over, you have being defeated"

Milton Grimm's eyes widened and completely in panic, he tried to run screaming; but betrayed by his own nerves, he fell again. All his troops stop the fighting; they didn't understand what was going on but they all knew that something big affected their leader.

Raven took a look of the principal and then raised her hands in a sign of ictory.

"My friends, inhabitants of the Magical World: today is the day when all finishes! The day when the Story Books of Legends passed to history. WE JUST DESTROYED THE DAMN THING! FROM NOW ON, EACH OF US ARE FREE TO CHOOSE OUR OWN DESTINIES!"

Both sides only looked each other in complete confusion. It was just like Legacy Day, half were happy half afraid. So there was nothing that tied their wills? They were really free? Giles Grimm smiled to the crowd:

"Today my brother's power is all gone! None of us have the right to impose over the rest! I only suggest you to go back home and live your lives. This is over, free will won"

Darcy Queen nodded and spoke too:
"You heard it, creatures of darkness. This is over, choose your own destinies now!"

"So we don't have to serve you anymore?" Asked Morrible.

Darcy smiled to the ghoul.

"Only if you want to. If you don't, don't. all of this years I've being tormenting you, but because my true self was sealed by the magic of the Story Book of Legends. Now than the book is gone, I don't have to keep this farce anymore. I only want to get back to my husband and live my life. Raven have all my respect, she did what I never had the courage to"

Milton Grimm wanted to keep fighting and show everyone that nothing has change, but an arrow pierced his leg and another one his arm.

Sparrow prepared his bow with a new arrow; this time aiming to the heart.

"This is it Grimm. No matter what you do, our destinies aren't written in stone anymore"

"Well, they are" said Blondie. "But only if we put effort in have them. Don't you think, Apple?"

The poor Princess was in a zombie-state, looking confusedly all around her. She was completely defeated; to the point that her mind was gone now.

By their way, Lizzie and Daring hugged each other.

"So this is the end" said the Hearts Queen looking at Daring's eyes. "Are we free to choose who we want to spend our lives with?

"Well, I suppose than Raven isn't really that bad" smiled Daring.

It was a huge relieve, and Apple was right. Since Legacy Day Raven really changed things forever but no one dared to say it loudly.

All was over. And now that they were free, Darcy ran to hug her daughter.

"Oh my baby, you made it" smiled the Dark Queen. "You saved us all; I can't be prouder"

Raven raised an eyebrow, it wasn't common to see her mother like that.

"Mom? Are you really okay?"

"Better than ever my dear. Now than I'm back to my true self I'm just happy. Really happy"

Raven couldn't do anything but return her hug to her mother.

"I love you mom"

"I love you too, Raven"

They both stayed like that for a while when suddenly Raven was pulled out of the hug by Maddie.

"Maddie!" Protested Raven.

"Sorry but I wanted to finish this with a fairytale cliché: the kiss from my armor in black knight. Can I?"

Raven smiled and embraced Maddie.

"Of course, you don't have to ask me my love"

And Raven kissed Maddie passionately. Nothing matter anymore, now they were together and will live happily ever after. It was a fairytale ending; their fairytale ending.

And this is it, just before Christmas, my translation of EVER AFTER CIVIL WAR. I hope you all liked it and you know my closing line:
Read ya later!