“You’ve been waiting to meet me?” I ask, feeling disoriented.
“Yes!” Olivina says with a blinding smile as students come out of hiding. The teachers appear from behind a wall that reveals a hidden room, and Hazel arrives, looking no worse for wear. (Her dress is repaired, I notice.) “Let’s give our new students a warm round of applause for their valiant efforts. What a wonderful job some of you did on your first test!”
Everyone starts to applaud as if they know what she’s talking about.
“I don’t understand,” I start to say. “The harpies were part of a test? Couldn’t they have hurt us?”
Olivina and Hazel glance quickly at each other. “There will be time for questions later,” Olivina says pointedly. “Hazel, get Miss Devin on my calendar.”
Someone clears their throat. Heath is still standing behind us.
“Hello, Headmistress. You look lovely this evening. Even after transforming from a harpy!” He straightens his jacket. “I just wanted to mention I had a hand in this save-the-school exercise too. You know, in case you’re already grading us for our superlatives or giving students days off.”
I roll my eyes.
“You did magnificently, Heathcliff! You acted exactly the way the manual instructs for situations such as this,” Olivina says. “If it had been a real harpy attack, princesses waiting for a prince to valiantly save them would be the right approach.” Her eyes move to Logan. “But I can see there is still much room for improvement from our princes. It’s my job to keep you all safe, and keep you safe I will, as long as you follow the rules of…”
“The manual!” the entire room shouts.
She turns to me, her golden dress gleaming in the ballroom light. “Miss Devin, your bravery today is commendable!” I smile. “You showed such strength, as I suspected you might, even if you did not follow protocol.” She gives me a look, and Hazel tsks.
Protocol? Some of the princesses are whispering and shaking their heads at me as if I royally messed up. But how? I was only trying to help. I thought the school was under attack. I’m about to say that when I see the hard stare Sasha is giving me from across the room. For some reason, I get the feeling Olivina won’t like my answer. I open my mouth, then close it when I see Sasha giving me a hard stare that seems to say can it.
“I’m sorry,” I say instead. “I didn’t know it was a test. I was just trying to help save as many students as I could.”
“Of course, child! Your efforts were very valiant!” Princess Ella walks over, smiling. “We couldn’t be prouder of a new student!” She puts her hand on the headmistress’s shoulder. “And, Olivina, we’re just glad you’re okay. We didn’t know you were testing the students.”
“Darling, it wouldn’t be a test if word got out, would it?” Olivina says impatiently, and they laugh.
Olivina waves her wand, and the room returns to its pre-harpy-attack state.
“Headmistress?” I can’t help myself. I have so many questions! “About the harpies. I’m so confused. Were they real? Were we in any danger?”
Olivina frowns. “Forget my schedule. Let’s talk now, shall we?”
She waves her wand again and—Poof!—I am no longer in the ballroom. Instead, I’m standing in a beautiful green room with velvet curtains, couches, and tablecloths. The furniture is made of glass, as are the walls, which give floor-to-ceiling views of the darkened school grounds. One wall in the room is solid and covered with mirrors and framed photos of Olivina with famous royals. One of the mirrors is showing a direct feed of the ballroom. Everyone is dancing again as if nothing ever happened.
“Would you like something to drink?” says Olivina, waltzing into the room with a smile as if poofing her students to different locations is something she does all the time. She goes to the glass table and picks up an empty pitcher. “Black cherry elixir, perhaps?”
“That’s my favorite drink!” I marvel.
“I know!” Olivina says with a laugh. “Why do you think I suggested it?” She tips the empty pitcher toward a glass, and it fills with the dark red concoction. “Have a seat. You seemed so worried down there that I thought a little chat was in order right away. The last thing I want is for you to fret. And besides, I think it’s important we get to know each other better.”
I take the glass. “Thank you,” I say as I sit down. Olivina taps the table, and food instantly appears. But not just any food. She’s magicked in all my favorites—gooseberry pudding, patty cakes, cherry cobbler, and roast turkey. I’m half weirded out and half excited at the idea of a delicious meal. That harpy fight took a lot out of me. “You seem to know a lot about me already.”
Olivina places a napkin on my lap. “I know everything there is to know about you, Devin. Your name appeared on my list for Royal Academy the day you were born! That doesn’t always happen, you know. Many students’ names appear when they are a year or two away from joining us, but you…” Her blue eyes are clear as water. “You have always been special. Clever! Bright! But I’m sure you knew that. It’s not every princess who can understand animals.”
I nearly drop my glass. “You know about that?”
She nods as she cuts us each a piece of pie. “Yes, darling! I’ve been watching the work you’ve done with the woodland creatures near your garden gates for years. Some have even come and told me tales of your kindness.” She smiles. “I’ve been very impressed with what you’ve accomplished on your own, with no tutelage.”
“Thank you!” I gush and take the pie. “I was hoping I’d get to talk to you about this. I’m sure there are other princesses who would love to do creature care like I do. Maybe if RA began to offer more classes for students with varied interests, it would help each of us find the right path. I feel like I already know mine, but there is so much I still have to learn.”
Olivina puts her cup down. “All princesses’ paths are the same. To rule our kingdoms. To set an example for the commoners around us. And to do what is best for their people, putting their needs before their own.” She touches my hand. “I appreciate your gift, and I think together, you and I can cultivate it so that it best serves your needs as a royal.”
“Needs?” I’m confused.
Olivina nods. “Yes. Needs. If we had the animal world on our side when it came to villainy, think of what good we could do! It’s a wonderful gift, Devin, but it should be used as a tool to help you rule. It’s not meant to be your true calling.”
I feel my stomach tighten.
“You’re meant to be a great leader! And I can help you become one! It’s my job to help show you the way. That’s why you arrived by pumpkin. It’s why I knew of you so early. Your ascension has been foretold, and it’s my job to help you stay the course.” Her tone changes. “But as you know, fairy tales can turn quickly. If you don’t learn to harness your gifts and follow the rules, your happily-ever-after could disappear in a blip.” The food on the table, including the pie on my plate, disappears.
“I wasn’t trying to disobey.” I feel the hair on my arms begin to stand up. “I was just trying to save my roommates.”
“I know that, dear.” Olivina tuts. “But that wasn’t your role to play, was it? You were supposed to let the princes do that. If they can’t rescue, what are they good for?”
“But I was the only one who knew how to handle the harpies.” I don’t understand what I did wrong. “I thought if I didn’t do anything, someone would get hurt.”
Olivina frowns. “You’re overthinking things! Everything was fine. They were all under my control.”
“But harpies are really dangerous,” I remind her. “We didn’t know you were controlling them.” I hesitate. “This seems like an extreme test for our first week of school.”
“That’s not your decision to make,” she snaps, and I stop talking. Olivina quickly pats my arm. “I don’t mean to be cross! I just mean, fairy godmothers watch over you, but they can’t prevent bad things from happening. Our best defense is to show you how to help yourself—using the royal manual I’ve carefully and painstakingly put together based on past events. That is why I orchestrated this evening’s challenge. To teach you how to react when faced with danger. You can understand that, can’t you?”
Olivina is staring at me so intently that I say, “Umm, sure?”
She smiles. “That’s a good girl! You know, I have a lot of experience taking care of royals like yourself. I’ve been doing it ever since I helped the royal court with their fairy-tale endings years ago. After Fairy Tale Reform School opened, I had a vision of a school of my own where I could guide royals the way I did Snow, Ella, Rapunzel, and Rose.” She laughs.
“Oh, I know! Such lofty goals for a lowly fairy godmother. That’s what I was back when Ella was a scullery maid and working for her wicked stepmother. But when I heard her cry for help, I knew I had to do something. So I sent her to the ball. I gave her the tools she needed to make the prince realize she was the one for him. It worked, and I helped elevate a commoner to princess status! But I couldn’t stop the Wicked Stepmother from treating Ella the way she was treated.” She squeezes my hand. “Ella had to overcome that.” Her face clouds over.
“That’s what has always troubled me as a fairy godmother. I can grant wishes, but I can’t stop villains from trying to destroy them.” She looks at me clearly. “Enchantasia can be a dangerous place for a royal. There’s a constant target on your back. Villains are always plotting…even right now…to destroy you and your kind. You know what they’ve done to the princesses of the royal court. What they want to do to your generation is even worse!”
I try not to look as alarmed as I feel, but somehow Olivina senses it anyway.
“Don’t worry, darling. We won’t let villains’ dark deeds snuff out your royal future,” she says. “Not under my watch. If you’re all taken away, who will fulfill your duties and lead Enchantasia?” She leans forward so that our noses are practically touching. “That’s why my tests are so hard, Devin. It’s why I’m willing to use harpy attacks to make my point. My job is make you strong enough to withstand the evil in this world. With me at your side, and my expertise at your fingertips, you can do that and so much more.”
“I think I understand,” I say slowly. At least, I’m trying to. My empty plate fills up with sweets again. “And I want to be ready to fight whatever evil comes my way, but…” I hesitate. “Wouldn’t I be just as helpful to Enchantasia if I used my strengths to care for its animals?”
Olivina puts an arm around me. “You’re a smart girl, Devin. I don’t often meet with first years, but I could tell this whole experience has been a bit overwhelming for you. You grew up with a father who let you roam the forest and a mother who tried hard to teach you the ways of royalty. Those conflicting thought patterns would confuse any princess! I’m here to help you. That’s what fairy godmothers do!” She scratches her chin. “I tell you what… If you want to continue creature care while working on your princess studies, I can make your wishes come true.”
“Really?” I perk up. “That would be wonderful! Thank you!”
“It’s fine for you to have some fun while you’re at RA, but remember, things are done a certain way here. We have rules for a reason, Devin.” She wags her finger at me. “And if you break those rules, there will be consequences.” Her smile fades. “Flunking out of here doesn’t just strip you of your crown; it strips you of Enchantasia.”
I feel like the wind has been knocked out of me for the second time tonight. “You mean I’ll be banished if I don’t follow the rules here?”
She smiles again. “No need to worry. That’s not going to happen to you. Let’s consider tonight’s catastrophe as strike one! You’ll rebound. I’m sure of it!”
“Strike one?” I repeat.
“Well, I can’t let you slide, can I? I have to show you’ve learned a lesson. Following the royal rules keeps us all safe,” she says pointedly. “Remember what I’ve told you tonight, and we won’t have any future problems.”
I suddenly feel cold, and I have an overwhelming desire to flee, but I don’t want Olivina to know how anxious I am. I attempt to smile again.
She opens her arms wide. “Now let’s hug and have you on your way back to the ball. Look how much fun they’re having!” She points to the mirror showing the ball’s live feed. A second mirror is watching the professors’ banquet table. Can Olivina see what’s happening in our rooms too? My stomach flips at the thought, but I dare not ask her.
So instead, I hug her back and say exactly what she wants to hear. “Thank you, Olivina. For everything.”
Olivina pats my shoulder. “That’s what a good fairy godmother is for.”
She waves her wand over my head and… Poof! I’m gone.