FOR ALL THE EVER AFTER HIGH FANS THAT HATE APPLE WHITE (which i see more of on tiktok than tumblr, but i prefer writing over speaking, so im saying it here)
this is an excerpt from the storybook of legends, about something that happened to apple and changed how she viewed her destiny. this starts on the very end of page 119, and goes on to 121
When Apple was six years old, she had fallen down a well.
She'd been chasing a dragonfly and climbed onto the well's edge. Then...a seemingly endless fall that ended in a freezing splash, struggle, and gasp for life. She treaded water, her heavy petticoats pulling her down. She didn't have the breath to either scream or sing for help. It was the first time in her life that she'd ever felt alone. Or cold. Or really, truly scared.
Every night before bed, her mother had told her a story that should have been frightening: Scary Evil Queen. Huntsman ordered to cut out her heart. Lost in dark woods with grabby trees. Dwarves, dwarves, more dwarves. Old peddler lady giving her a strangling ribbon. Old peddler lady giving her a poisoned comb. Old peddler lady giving her a poisoned apple. Crunch. Gasp. Faint (beautifully). Dead sleep. Cold glass coffin. Empty dreams. Then...kiss. Wake. Prince! Cheering dwarves. Huge choreographed dance number. Happily Ever After.
Even the scary parts of the Snow White story never scared Apple, because it was known. It was her mother's story, and her mother assured her that one day that same story would be hers.
Treading cold water in the well, feeling her legs tire, her face start to sink under, the cruel, smooth walls slick to her grasping fingers, six-year-old Apple changed. She realized that the real world was much, much scarier than any fairytale. Only in her own story would she be safe.
It took two minutes for her servants, her parents, and a horde of woodland creatures to find her and pull her out of the well. Two very long minutes. By the time she was wrapped up in fifteen blankets before a fire, worried bunnies huddled on her lap, shoulders, and head, Apple had made an important decision. She wanted her story. She wanted it ASAP. The sooner she was in that nice, safe, familiar tale—poisoned fruit and all— the better.
Her story wouldn't happen without Raven. So Apple had to help Raven onto the right path.
And if that didn't work, she'd make her.
(if there are any mistakes, they are due to me typing this out by hand, flipping between my phone and the book. also, my phone has a tendency to change short, misspelled words into completely different, longer words, and i dont always notice it)
before anyone says anything about how traumatizing they think this should have been, or how they think this should have affected her character:
she was six
this was the first time in her life that she ever felt like she was in danger. she was raised in safety, love, and comfort
she was six
her entire life revolves around her story, and, unlike most of the rebels, she enjoys her story. she has lived her whole life wanting her story. her destiny wasnt something to be dreaded, it was something to be cherished
she was six
she literally could have died there. her entire life revolves around others protecting her, others saving her, and she had no way of calling for help. it took all her energy not to sink to the bottom, as she wasnt wearing anything thin or light, no, no she was wearing a dress with petticoats. waterlogged petticoats. if they hadnt found her when they did, she would have drowned. right then and there. the story she spent her entire life preparing for, the story they spent her entire life preparing her for, gone in an instant, never to become reality. that is a terrifying fact for a child to come to terms with
SHE WAS SIX YEARS OLD
apple acts the way she does bcus she is desperate for the only thing that guarantees her safety and comfort: her happy ending. she will do anything to ensure that she gets what she has spent her entire life preparing for
even if that means ruining any trust the one that is destined to give her that has in her
even if it means being the villain in ravens story
and, despite all of this, she genuinely wants what she believes is best for everyone. especially in the books, where they are told that not fulfilling their destinies would quite literally result in death. im not sure if that is also the case in the show, as i cant find anything about it on the wiki, but it is an incredibly important fact, central to the plot of the book this snippet is taken from
she wants to protect her friends
she wants to give them their "happily" ever afters
sure, raven has to go be evil for a few years, and sure, she will end up imprisoned, but she can go back to being herself afterwards! its not like she has to be exactly like her mom, right? (wrong!)
its what has to be done! the only way to guarantee that they all will be safe! the only way to guarantee the security that she has spent her entire life wanting, craving, needing! she needs her happy ending
how could raven be so selfish? how could she take the safety, the security, the certainty of her story away from her?
how could raven ruin her life?
so, stop hating on apple. even if you dont agree with her, (i sure dont,) you have to acknowledge that she is this way for a reason. and that reason is perfectly understandable
raven is embracing the unknown, something entirely antithetical to the certainty and guarantees apple has spent her entire life embracing
and that terrifies her
33 notes
·
View notes