The students of all the fairytale characters attend Ever After High, where they are either Royals (students who want to follow in their parent's footsteps) or Rebels (students who wish to write their own destiny).
The sons and daughters of famous fairy tale characters all attend to Ever After High, a boarding school for the children to fulfil their destinies. They are generally split into two sides. The Royals (The children who act like their parents) and the other side are the Rebels (The children that rewrite their story). Are you a Royal or a Rebel?—oakemily
In the world of fairytales, the descendants of famous fairytale characters are prepared since childhood to take on hereditary roles to ensure that their stories will live forever. Ever After High is a high school designed for them to interact with each other, and its principal intends to teach them blind obedience to their hereditary destinies. However several students are less than enthusiastic, because their destinies are ominous or because they have significantly different character traits and life goals than their parents and ancestors.
The story initially focuses on Apple White (daughter of Snow White) and Raven Queen (daughter of the Evil Queen). They are destined to be deadly enemies, but they are actually equally benevolent, and Raven hates the idea of being a villain and an outcast. In a ceremony where both are set to pledge themselves to destiny, Raven refuses to do so. Apple fears that her own destiny can not be fulfilled without Raven, and that their story might die out. She decides to become Raven's roommate in order to convince Raven to play her part. Their ideological differences are complicated, because they are genuinely fond of each other and are reluctant to ever hurt each other's feelings.
Several students are convinced that the traditional ways are the best. They soon join Apple's faction, the so-called Royals (though not all of them are actual royalty). Several students instead want to change their own destiny (or the destinies of people they care about). They join Raven's faction, the so-called Rebels. A number of wildcards maintain close ties with both factions. The two rival factions are repeatedly trying to determine the fate of themselves and their classmates. The students' initial choice of faction is eventually questioned over several seasons, as several "Royals" demonstrate rebellious sides to their personalities, and several Rebels demonstrate doubts about their cause.
In many cases, the students' personalities are ill-suited for the roles they themselves want to play. For example, Faybelle Thorn (daughter of the Dark Fairy) is determined to become the best villain ever. But she also wants the approval of others, she desperately craves affection, and is both unable and unwilling to lie. Faybelle's destined archenemy is Briar Beauty (daughter of Sleeping Beauty), but Faybelle has demonstrated protective behavior towards Briar and apparently views Briar as an ideal best friend. Placing a question on whether Faybelle is actually villainous, and another on whether she can actually play her mother's part.
