An Uncertain Future
You could have killed her!”
“But I didn’t!”
“That’s not the point!”
I hear arguing and open my eyes. The view is hazy, but I can tell I’m lying on a couch surrounded by a large group of people. Wilson’s pink nose is nudging my chin.
“She’s awake!” Madame Cleo is being broadcast from Blackbeard’s mirror, which he is holding over me. “See? There was no need to worry, darlings. Gilly, dear, how are you?”
I open my mouth to speak, but my throat feels dry. All that comes out is gurgling.
Madame Cleo’s hair turns blue. “Oh dear.”
Slowly, they all come into view and I see my professors, along with Headmistress Flora and my parents. My mother has a cold compress on my forehead, and Trixie is holding my hand. Jax has a cut on his forehead, and Jocelyn’s got several scratches. Maxine’s gray face is covered in black ash. Ollie and AG are here, too, and Ollie is wearing his Royal Lads-in-Waiting sash. The only one I don’t see is Kayla.
I start to cough. “I’m okay,” I choke out.
“The counterserum must be working. Otherwise she’d be dead right now.” Professor Harlow glares at the person next to her. “What were you thinking, putting poison in those darts?”
A goblin girl wearing several pairs of earrings and a long, pink sash that says ROYAL LADIES-IN-WAITING crosses her arms. “You said defend the school at all costs! We were doing our job! Right, Tessa?”
The RLW’s leader fiddles with several strands of pearls around her neck. “Well, um, yes? Which is why I took it upon myself to make some modifications to our weapons.” Tessa narrows her eyes at me. “Raz taught us to be warriors! We defend our school at all costs even if she can’t be here to guide us!” A cheer rises up from the RLWs in the room, including Ollie.
“Ollie, you attacked us too?” I ask incredulously.
He gulps hard. “I didn’t know it was you guys.”
“You almost killed a student!” Professor Sebastian roars. “Detention for all the RLWs—including the lad!” Tessa and Raza burst into tears. Ollie covers his face with his pirate bandanna.
I sit up slowly and Wilson runs down my arm. I place him back in my uniform pocket. “I’m okay. Really.” I’m actually sort of impressed. Who knew the RLWs could be so rebellious?
Beauty puts her hand on Professor Sebastian’s shoulder. “Gillian is fine. Now is no time for detention.”
“I know, but Stiltskin’s already made two wishes,” Professor Sebastian says. “The Fire Moon is tonight. We’re almost out of time!” He pounds the table I’m sitting on, and it cracks.
I hurry to get off it. “You mean one day away,” I correct him.
“It’s tonight,” Harlow says. “You’ve been out cold for hours.”
“No!” I cry. “How could you let me sleep that long?”
Pop! Pop! Pop! Merfolk appear in glass tanks around the room. Headmistress Flora’s door flies open, and a large group of students burst in. Most are wearing FTRS’s blue uniforms, but some are in ball gowns and fancy blue velvet suits. The fancy-schmancies have silver sashes on over their outfits that say ROYAL ACADEMY in sparkling letters. I recognize two girls in coordinating pink and purple gowns—Dahlia and Azalea, Flora’s daughters (or, as some people still refer to them, “the Wicked Stepsisters.” I’ve always found them pretty nice, if a tad obsessed with shopping.).
Flora embraces them. “You’re all right! I was so worried.”
“We’re fine,” Azalea says. “When Stiltskin took over the royal court with his wish about Gilly being a villain, we came as fast as we could. Well, first, we packed all our shoes—”
“And handbags,” Azalea reminds her.
“But sadly, couldn’t figure out how to bewitch our wardrobe closets to follow us,” Dahlia says glumly, “and headed here. We invited all remaining RA kids to join us. That’s what Princess Rose suggested we do before she went off to help Gilly.” She looks at me. “Looks like she found you. At least one thing went right today.”
Azalea shakes her head. “I really wish we could have brought that wardrobe closet.”
“Now that you’re all here, it’s time for you to go,” Professor Sebastian tells us. “You’re going into hiding.”
“What? Why?” Jocelyn asks.
“Children, it’s our job to protect you,” Beauty tells all the students. “This panic room is fully stocked and can fit all of you. We can take you there before Stiltskin arrives and maybe…” Her voice trails off. We all know even that room won’t protect us from the curse.
“I’m sorry, but wasn’t the whole point of FTRS to teach wicked delinquents and former villains how to turn into future heroes?” Maxine asks. There is a chorus of agreement around the room. “We aren’t leaving. We are defending our school and our kingdom till the very end.”
Robin Hood and Red burst through a trapdoor in the floor, knocking a few FTRS kids off balance. “Fair lady Flora,” Robin says, “we are here to help! We have amassed forest friends and friendly giants like Erp. They await your orders at the edge of the school grounds.”
Maxine grabs my arm. “Reinforcements! Our own army! This is good. Maybe we have a shot here!”
Flora looks at the assembled students. “Okay, then. If you’re staying put, let’s be clear: This is a battle to save not only our lives, but our world as we know it. If we lose, Enchantasia will be reborn in Stiltskin’s vision. But if we stop this curse, we may be able to rid Enchantasia of Alva and Stiltskin forever.” The assembled group cheers. “So let’s make sure you’re prepared, shall we?” Flora presses a button on her desk.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Armored walls come down over every window in the headmistress’s office. Portraits of our teachers hanging on the wall swing open, revealing hidden panels. The secret compartments light up, revealing an arsenal of weapons including magic wands, crossbows, potions, swords, bows and arrows, and rocks. I look at Headmistress Flora in awe.
“You’ve been away,” she explains, grabbing a crossbow that she sprinkles with gingerroot, a substance that has helped us fight Alva before. “We’ve made a few modifications to the castle while you’ve been gone.”
“I’ll say,” says Ollie, holding a shiny, new metal sword with glee.
“Everyone get a weapon,” Flora tells the group, “then head to the gym to practice with them. And try to get some sleep. The Fire Moon is tonight. We will need all the time we can get to be ready.”
Kids clamor to the cabinets, making a lot of noise as they argue over the merits of a huntsman’s ax or a dagger that will head toward your target when you whisper their name. I grab a new bow and arrow. Jax takes a new sword. Jocelyn and Maxine take a sack full of potions that Peaches jumps inside.
“Be careful in the halls,” Flora says as the students file out with Red and Robin taking the lead. “I sped up the hallway monitoring system for extra protection.”
Madame Cleo appears in Blackbeard’s mirror. “Blackbeard and I will head to the ship and take the merfolk and pirates with us. We will battle these foes from land and sea.” There is more cheering (plus gurgling inside the tanks). People are definitely getting pumped up now.
Ollie puts a hand on my arm. “I think I can do more good on the ship, so I’m going to go with Blackbeard.”
My face falls. I hate to see us separated. “Of course. Be careful out there, okay?” I feel my heart constrict slightly.
Ollie hugs me. “You too.” He clinks swords with Jax before running off.
Harlow blocks the exit before Jocelyn, Maxine, Jax, and I can even consider where we belong.
“Uh-uh. Not you four.” She points to me. “We’ve been waiting for days to hear everything that has happened since we last spoke via mirror.” She narrows her eyes. “And don’t leave out a single detail.”
When I’m finished talking, Harlow throws up her hands in exasperation.
“Our hope rests with a quorum? Quorums are almost unheard of!” Harlow says. “They require six fairies! The fairy students have already left school because they’re so frightened of Alva.” I open my mouth to respond, but Harlow already knows what I’m thinking. “You don’t count.” Harlow dismisses me with a wave of her hand. “You’ve never shown an ounce of fairy skill.” Her raven, Argo, squawks in agreement.
“I’m working on it,” I say and look at Father. “Grandma Pearl told me what to concentrate on. Maybe you could do the same,” I say hopefully.
“I’m afraid I’ve suppressed my fairy side for too many years,” he says. “I’d be of no help now.” He holds Trixie close. “And I can’t risk your sister, not after your brothers…”
“We don’t have enough fairies to make this work.” Headmistress Flora sighs.
“What about the harp pieces?” Maxine asks. “Did Madame Cleo find them?”
Professor Sebastian growls. “After several hypnosis sessions with Professor Harlow, it turns out Madame Cleo forgot she destroyed them.”
“What?” Jocelyn cries.
Harlow rubs her temples, the stress of this incident obviously still getting to her. “She said she didn’t want them falling into Stiltskin’s hands, so she did what she thought was best.”
“This is good news, right?” I say, grabbing a paperweight on Flora’s desk and playing with it. “Now he can’t cast the curse.”
“Possibly,” Wolfington says. “But if he needed the harp that badly, why didn’t he use a wish to learn the truth? Instead he’s been using his wishes to track you. It makes us wonder if he’s found another way to cast his curse.”
I feel my hope sink fast. I drop the paperweight on the desk. Peaches sees it, sticks her bill on the desk, and swallows it whole.
“Peaches!” Maxine scolds. “You give that back! It’s the headmistress’s!”
“Quack!” Peaches tells Maxine. “Quack! Quack!”
“Give it back!” Maxine says sternly.
Finally, Peaches begins to cough and regurgitate the paperweight. Seconds later, I see the slimy paperweight fall to the floor. It’s the size of a quill now.
Maxine sighs. “I’m sorry, Professor. I’ll buy you a new one.” She looks at Peaches. “And I’m taking the money out of your allowance!” Peaches quacks again.
“It’s all right,” Flora says. “Why don’t you take Peaches to get some real food so she stops eating things?” the headmistress suggests. “You should all eat something before… Well, just eat and get ready. Gillian will be along with her family shortly.”
Jax and I look at each other as Maxine and Jocelyn head to the door. “See you later, thief.”
“You can count on it,” I say, but we both know nothing is certain. What if everyone is wrong, and Stiltskin shows up now? I watch them go as Angelina rushes in behind them with Kayla and her two sisters. She’s holding the book containing Rumpelstiltskin’s story in her hands.
“Flora!” she says. “The book has changed again.” She sees me and breathes a sigh of relief. “Gilly, I’m glad you’re here. This concerns you too.”
“What’s changed now?” Harlow says with exasperation.
“This could help us.” Angelina places the book on Flora’s desk. “Stiltskin thinks once the book is finished, it’s complete, but the truth is his story won’t be over till he’s gone. His story will continue to change based on what happens in the present. When Anna took Gilly’s brothers, his story shifted again. I still see the curse being cast, but its results are cloudy now. Certainly not as concrete as they were before. This is good! Alva is angry at Stiltskin! Perhaps it’s because Alva can be impulsive,” she tells the teachers, and I think of how Grandma Pearl said the same thing. “She’s angry Stiltskin hasn’t gotten his hands on Gilly. The boys aren’t what they wanted, but they will use them for bait. But so far, you haven’t gone to him.”
“Because I’ve been knocked out cold here,” I explain.
“He doesn’t know that. All he knows is you aren’t coming. That means he has to come to you. Alva hates making the first move,” Angelina explains. “She becomes frustrated when things don’t go exactly her way, which I don’t believe they will. That gives us a chance.”
“If he’s coming, we need to do something about securing the other Cobblers,” Harlow says. “Stiltskin’s already taken two. We can’t let him nab the rest.”
“That’s true.” Flora thinks for a moment. “Mr. and Mrs. Cobbler, have you ever taken fairy shrinking potion? Angelina’s fairy house might be the safest spot to hold you for now.”
Father groans. “As a child. It gives me a headache.” Mother clears her throat. “But we will do whatever you need us to do.” He looks at me. “Gillian, you’ll come too?”
“No,” I say before Flora can answer for me. “I’m the only one that might have a chance at getting Anna to give me back the boys. I have to try.” I can’t let something happen to Trixie. If Father and Mother go with her, at least I know they’ll all be safe.
“My daughters Brook Lynn and Emma Rose will bring you to the fairy house and help you get settled,” Angelina tells them. “I will be back as soon as I can.” She looks at me. “I need to speak to Gilly first.”
Trixie and Father hug me. Father whispers in my ear. “If Anna will listen to anyone, it’s you. Be safe, my brave girl.”
“I will,” I tell him.
“You’re more powerful than you realize,” Mother adds. “When the time comes, trust your heart. It won’t lead you astray.”
“But what if what my heart wants and what I should actually do are different things?” I ask, thinking of Anna. “No matter how hard I try, I can’t make everyone happy.”
Mother laughs. “Dear girl, no one can. You can’t force people to see differently, even if you believe they’re making the wrong choice.” She looks into my eyes. “They need to see the truth on their own. Do what’s right for you in that moment. I know you’ll be all right.”
“I will.” But as I watch them leave Flora’s office with Brook Lynn and Emma Rose, I can’t help but wonder: Is this the last time I’ll see my family?
Angelina takes my hand. Kayla flutters beside her. “Now we get to work helping you find your inner fairy.”
“It won’t work,” I say. “I’ve tried. Ask Kayla. And I need full abilities for me to help form a quorum.”
“Night hasn’t fallen yet,” Angelina says. “Whatever Stiltskin has planned, he can’t make it happen till the Fire Moon is upon us.”
“And let’s not forget, he never wants to fight unless he has to,” Professor Sebastian says. “He’d rather make a deal. They’re his favorite thing in the world. When he arrives—and he will—you cannot give in to him. No matter what happens, Gillian.”
“Use one of the classrooms to practice,” Flora says as Angelina and Kayla lead me out of the room. “It will be quieter. I’ll check in later.”
I work with Angelina and Kayla for hours, practicing mindfulness and the art of being in tune with nature (which involves a lot of me in the garden talking to the pumpkin patch).
“A lot of fairy behavior is a feeling,” Angelina says when I fail to diagnose a plant in desperate need of water.
Outside the window, I see the glow of the sky changing colors. Night is falling. My stomach twists anxiously at the thought. “What I’m feeling right now is anxious,” I admit.
“Listen to the feeling! Go with your gut and your instincts.” She takes my hand. “But above all else, believe in yourself. If you truly believe you are a fairy, which you are, you will be one. I’m going to go check on your parents and Trixie. Maybe I can work them, too, before it’s time. If we need that quorum…” She trails off.
She doesn’t need to continue the thought. I know what she is thinking: if we need a quorum, and we don’t have six fairies, we won’t be able to stop Stiltskin.
“Keep working with Kayla,” Angelina adds with a smile, and she touches my cheek. “I have faith in you, Gilly.”
“Thank you,” I say. I just wish I had faith in myself.
Kayla and I work so long that eventually we both fall asleep at the table. We’re awoken hours later by the sound of a siren.
“Warning! Intruder approaching!” a voice blares as the warning siren screams throughout the castle, waking Kayla and me up.
The mirrors in the room come alive, the glass turning bright red. Miri the Magic Mirror roars to life. “Rumpelstiltskin! He’s here!”