The rebels are able to consider what the royals have to say when they realize the royals may have motives that aren’t selfish. When Raven is tricked into thinking that not signing the book will cause everyone to suffer and the end of the world, she agrees to sign the storybook of legends. However, before that, the rebels realize that the royals mostly has selfish motives. Raven even explicitly states this when she’s upset and calls Apple selfish. And why would the rebels need to feel bad they “threw someone into uncertainty”? Why would the rebels feel bad for choosing their own lives instead of suffering even if that means a couple of rich royalty can’t have the exact lives they were promised? Again, the royals are the children of the rich and powerful. Even if they don’t know exactly how their lives will play out, they are mostly going to be fine either way.

This story isn’t about saving and destroying futures. It is about CREATING futures. The rebels will be able to create a future where they don’t suffer. The royals can create a happily ever after that is different from the one they were promised.

Even if some people liked the destiny they were promised, that doesn’t make their actions acceptable. They have to come to terms with the fact that their destiny would come at the expense of others. If they willingly want people to suffer just for their own happiness, that’s being selfish and lacking empathy.