by Jen Calonita
Kayla read Maxine’s pardon. I suspected we’d soon see more pardons coming for Ollie and Jax. “This is great,” she said, her wings popping out and beginning to flutter. “I’m so happy for both of you.”
I give my roommate a hug. Now I’m getting misty. “We’re not done yet.” I look into her amber eyes. “We won’t stop ’til we find your family too.”
Our room’s mirror begins to glow violet, then fuchsia. “Illegal use of magic! Occupant in upper-level dorm room not permitted.” Miri says. Ogres aren’t usually allowed on upper floors of the girls’ dormitory due to the weight limit.
“Miri?” I say. “Kayla and I are with Maxine. She was visiting.”
“Oh!” The hue of Miri’s mirror turns a soothing shade of lavender. “Madame Cleo was looking for you three. I’ll patch her through.”
The mirror swirls fade and Madame Cleo comes into focus. She’s sitting on a rock with waves lapping around her.
“Morning, darlings!” Her aquamarine tail flaps against the black boulder. Her long, beautiful hair is a lovely shade of amber, which matches her shell top. “Blackbeard and I wanted to congratulate you all on a job well done with Alva.” Blackbeard’s large frame comes into view. His ship is docked right behind Madame Cleo.
“Jolly good job ye all did! Ye be quite the crew,” he says in a booming voice. “Before ye set sail, we be inviting ye to a party on my ship. We set sail in one hour! The lads and the other professors will be joining us. Come packed and then we’ll see you off.”
A pirate party? I’m so there. “We just got our notices. I didn’t know we’d be leaving so soon.”
“Your families have been informed,” Madame Cleo tells us, and Maxine instinctively clutches my hand. “Is that okay, darlings? Who doesn’t want to be sprung from reform school as soon as possible?”
I’ve been dying to get out of here and yet…I look around my room. The drawings Kayla and I have hung, the paper stars that dangle from the ceiling, my comfy bed, the stained glass window, the mini magical chalkboard that hangs on the back of our door. Who will be Kayla’s roommate? Will she like her as much as me? What will everyone do now that there’s no villain to go after?
“We’ve told yer parents we’d send ye home by Pegasi, well, except for the bonny Miss Maxine. You’ll be traveling by coach.” Maxine nods. “You’ll leave straight from the party.” Blackbeard jumps over the rail of his ship and lands in the water next to Madame Cleo’s rock. She squeals as he climbs up next to her. “See you soon!” The mirror goes dark as he puts an arm around our teacher. Gross.
“I guess I should go pack,” Maxine says uncertainly. “I can’t believe I’m going home.” She tugs at one of the necklaces around her neck. “I don’t even remember what life was like in my village. At least the ogres have signed that peace treaty with the princesses. Life should be better there now. Still, it’s going to be nowhere near as fun as being with you guys.” She smiles uncertainly. “We’ll stay in touch, won’t we?”
Fiddlesticks, I’m going to cry. “That’s what the Pegasus Post is for! We’ll write and maybe we’ll even have a reunion.”
“A Fairy Tale Reform School Reunion!” Kayla agrees. “I’ll plan one since I’ll still be here.”
“But not for long,” I say firmly.
“Not for long,” Kayla echoes.
• • •
An hour later, I’m standing at the dock next to Blackbeard’s ship and I can hear the merriment and music. Mermaids are swimming around the boat with Madame Cleo, who is sunning herself on a rock, and the pirates on board are clinking glasses and cheering. Pegasi and magic carpets fly overhead, sprinkling confetti. This is one big party.
“They’re here!” I hear a pirate shout. “Land ahoy! Leave yer trunk next to the others.” I notice two others already there. “Then come aboard, lasses!”
A plank slides out of the side of Blackbeard’s ship and lowers to the dock. We hold hands to stay steady and head up the plank. As soon as we reach the deck, we see our professors. Headmistress Flora is with her daughters. Wolfington is talking to Jax, and Ollie is doing a jig with some of the crew. For a moment, I’m confused when I see two individuals dressed in black on the deck. Harlow and Jocelyn look slightly out of place among all the dancing pirates. But I gasp when I catch sight of Jax. He’s wearing a royal uniform with a royal gold crest. He looks like a prince! He is a prince! I’m stunned.
He bows to me. “I clean up nicely, don’t I?”
“You look very royal,” I agree. “So you’re going home?”
He nods. “Father and I told Rapunzel everything after the attack. She was stunned but very happy. They’ve got their hands full at the Manor at the moment with Princess Rose.” He rolls his eyes. “She says she was under some charm, but I think Ella is wise to her. Either way, she’s in a comfy dungeon at the palace until they figure out how to handle her.”
“Well, don’t rule out reformation,” Professor Wolfington says and winks at me. “As we’ve learned, even the darkest villains can be redeemed.”
“Maybe,” says Jax, adjusting the gold collar on his dress clothes. “I guess we’ll see when I get there.” He makes a face. “Father says once he introduces me to everyone, I’m being enrolled at Royal Academy.”
“You’ll love it!” Dahlia gushes. “All the best people go there.”
“All the best students go here,” Headmistress Flora corrects her.
“Yes they do!” Ollie dances over to me and swings me under his arm. “We did it!” Maxine, Kayla, and Jax join us.
“You guys did it,” I correct him. “You’re the true heroes.”
Father sent a Pegasus Post yesterday saying how proud he was of me working with the team. I’m not going to get the praise from others that I got from him this time around, but that’s okay. Being a hero is a lot of work. I’m just glad my family is okay, and that with Rose being dealt with, Father’s business is still intact.
“You’re all heroes,” Headmistress Flora corrects me, “and Enchantasia owes you its gratitude.” Professor Wolfington passes around glasses of a purple fizzy drink that looks so delicious I want to swallow it in one gulp. The headmistress looks at me. “I’m sorry we had to keep you all in the dark. I know it didn’t put me in the best light.”
“I understand.” I read the HEAS this morning too. The wickedest witch ever is actually good and was sending Maxine clues to find the mole and help stop Alva. And I repaid her bravery by freezing her. Gulp. “I’m sorry I doubted you.” My eyes shift to Professor Harlow and Jocelyn. “Both of you.”
“It’s understandable,” Professor Harlow says in her smooth-as-silk voice that still makes me shiver. “Not everyone can be as enlightened as Jocelyn and see through the charade.”
And that is why she’s my least favorite professor here. Still, I owe her my gratitude. “Thank you for trying to save us,” I add humbly.
She smiles ever so thinly. “I knew my skills would come in handy with the wyvern. Now that Alva is a statue and locked away, we shall worry about her no more.”
Statue or no statue, the thought of Alva still out there makes me nervous.
“You never explained how you got away from the wyvern’s flames,” Ollie says.
Professor Harlow laughs. “I disappeared before Alva could get anywhere near me. It’s just that in the heat my spell took me a little farther away than the ballroom. Still, you did the job well, I must say.”
Ollie bows to her. “I guess that’s why I get a week’s vacation before I head home.” He looks at us. “Blackbeard is taking me on a voyage.”
“Yes,” Blackbeard says. “Madame Cleo and me thought ye could use a vacation after all this ruckus. We’re heading to the Enchanted Sea to visit the Little Mermaid.”
“We’re such good friends now,” says Madame Cleo, and I realize she’s being beamed from the nearby water in a handheld mirror in Headmistress Flora’s hands. “I’m long overdue for a visit.” She wags a finger at us. “Don’t you lot
go too long without coming to see us, darlings.”
“We’ll miss you all greatly, but it’s time to let you go,” Flora agrees. “You’ve more than proven you’re ready to be reintroduced to the kingdom. I’m so proud.”
Kayla starts to sniffle. Maxine pulls her in for a hug.
“We haven’t forgotten you either, Kayla,” Flora says, her face clouding over. “Rumpel is proving tricky to deal with, but I hope we can strike a deal with him to find your family and end his protection over the school in an amicable matter.” She looks uncomfortable. “Until then, we hope you’ll consider staying on with us at FTRS.”
“You mean, I’m not being kicked out?” Kayla asks, her voice trembling.
“On the contrary,” Flora says. “To be honest, I feel you still have work to do after all your, shall we say, unsavory business a few months back with Gottie. You will have a home with us until you no longer need it. You needn’t even stay in the dorms anymore if you don’t want a new roommate.”
“Well, you’ll still have a roommate,” Jocelyn pipes up. “I mean, if you want one. Harlow and I thought you could stay in our quarters with us.”
“It will give us a chance to work on leads to your family,” Harlow says. “Jocelyn and I are experts at complicated enchantments and location spells.”
Kayla looks from me to them in amazement. “I think I’d like that. Thank you!”
Harlow semi-smiles. “You’re much obliged.”
“Set sail, captain?” a pirate says.
Blackbeard looks at his watch. “I think we can party a little bit longer, don’t ye lads think?” Everyone nods. “But ye should ready the ship.” He tips his hat to me. “I best be saying me good-byes. We shall meet again though. I sure hope we do.”
“We all do.” Ollie gives me a hug before he goes off to help the other pirates prepare for the voyage.
Maxine squeezes a little too hard. Kayla flutters over and Jax piles in. I reach for Jocelyn and she jumps in shock.
“Criminals for life,” Jax teases.
“Reformed criminals,” Maxine corrects him.
“I wouldn’t have it any other way,” I agree. “Being straight and narrow my whole life would have been boring.”
“It will still be boring,” Kayla says. “We need to have a little fun.”
“Not too much fun,” I hear Flora say, and I smile. I know I’ll have just enough.
• • •
An hour later, Macho is giving me one last flight, and this time he’s landing right in front of my boot. A crowd has gathered outside and they cheer when I dismount. I give Macho a carrot and pet his snout. “I’ll miss you,” I say and he neighs in agreement. “Don’t be a stranger.” I watch him take off again and wait ’til he soars over the treetops and the row of boots and teakettles before I head inside my door.
When I do, I’m surprised to see it’s changed somewhat. There are new couches, new wallpaper, and even a tarp hanging near the kitchen. Extension, it reads. Our boot is getting an expansion? Business must still be good! What haven’t changed are the seven people waiting for me.
“Gilly!” Han is the first to grab my legs. Hamish, Felix, Trixie, Father, and Mother complete the sandwich. Well, almost.
“I’m so glad you’re home.” Anna kisses my cheek.
“Me too.” But in the back of my mind, I realize I’m still longing for FTRS. How strange when I wanted to get out for so long. “I’m so glad to see you all.” I lock eyes with Father.
“Let’s celebrate,” he says with a smile. “Mother has made a cake in your honor.”
“And we’re having roast beef for dinner,” Felix says in amazement.
It’s a whole new world in the Cobbler household.
“It’s all to honor you, our transformed little thief,” Mother says. “Our hero.”
I smile because I know the truth. I’m still a little bit bad, a lot good, and a whole lot of other things too. Just as it should be.
Pegasus Postal Service
Flying Letters Since The Troll War!
FROM: Prince Jackson Jax (Royal Manor)
TO: Gillian Cobbler (2 Boot Way)
Thief,
I know it’s been a few months, but guess who I heard from? Kayla. Looks like Flora is regretting that deal with Rumpelstiltskin. Apparently he’s been seen around FTRS a few times, and rumor has it he wants a job there. (Not that you heard that from me. Blame Jocelyn. She’s apparently the one who blabbed to Kayla who told Maxine who told Ollie who told me and now I you.)
There’s no way we can trust that troll to work at Fairy Tale Reform School. Kayla is itching to get her hands on Rumpel, as you know, and we can’t let her tackle that problem on her own, can we? Ollie, Maxine, and I are thinking of getting thrown back into FTRS to help her out. Royal Academy is Dullsville, and I could use a little adventure.
Any chance you’d like to join us?
Who’s Who in Enchantasia
Headmistress Flora: Remember that whole glass slipper business with Cinderella? Flora is Princess Ella’s formerly wicked stepmother. Now she runs Fairy Tale Reform School.
Professor Wolfington: Little Red Riding Hood has nothing to fear from this former big bad wolf. The only howling he does these days is when a student gets good grades in his history class at FTRS.
Madame Cleo: She made the Little Mermaid’s life under the sea miserable, but these days the classy mermaid with the killer hair teaches charm classes and dance at FTRS. She’s also got a bit of a short-term memory problem, which means detention is sometimes forgotten about!
Professor Harlow: Snow White’s Evil Queen is still, well, kind of mean, but she means well now that she teaches FTRS students psychology and how to deal with their feelings.
Gottie: Remember the baddie who stuck Rapunzel in that tower? She’s still bad, still on the loose, and she’s looking for revenge on the princesses and kingdom of Enchantasia. Shiver!
Alva: Sleeping Beauty’s dreamcaster could be alive or she could be dead. No one’s seen her in years and they’re glad. She’s the scariest fairy villain in the kingdom.
Blackbeard: The most fearsome pirate to sail the seas is now taking up post at FTRS in Professor Harlow’s old job, but he’s got a rather unusual way of dealing with student issues—he makes them duel!
Rumpelstiltskin: The baddest of the bad, no one knows much about this mystery wish granter...for now.
Acknowledgments
Pirates, ogres, wicked fairies, and evil manifestos…the world of Fairy Tale Reform School is almost too much fun to work on, and that’s because of #AwesomeAubrey, a.k.a. Aubrey Poole, my incredible editor who finds the magic and the mischief as fun to create as I do. Thanks for being the most amazing partner a writer could ask for. I’m tickled pink to be on this charming journey with you. (Hmm…maybe I’ve spent too much time writing about Princess Rose!)
When editing is done, I’m sent off to the capable hands of Alex Yeadon and Kathryn Lynch, the marketing and publicity geniuses who made sure the Fairy Tale Reform School series is seen and heard about in every boot, bookstore, and teakettle nationwide. Thank you to the entire team at Sourcebooks who have given this series such a tremendous amount of love and dedication. To production editor Elizabeth Boyer, thanks for making sure I’ve got things just right, and to designer Mike Heath, who continues to floor me with the most spectacular covers!
Laura Dail and Tamar Rydzinski, thank you for helping the Fairy Tale Reform School series find a good home both here and on foreign shores, and to my agent Dan Mandel for continuing to steer my pirate ship in the right direction.
Elizabeth Eulberg is the best first reader a writer could ask for. Thanks for all the advice on my villains and reform school students. To Kieran Scott, Jennifer E. Smith, Courtney Sheinmel, Katie Sise, Sarah Mlynowski, Tiffany Schmidt, and Julia DeVillers, thanks for all the writing support and love.
My family—Mike, Tyler, Dylan, and our resident Chihuahua pirate, Captain Jack Sparrow—supports my dreams and enco
urages me in ways I could never imagine. I love you all so much.
And to the readers—when I started thinking about a school run by former villains, I never could have imagined your wonderful reactions to Gilly and her mixed-up friends and foes. I feel so charmed that you’ve let Fairy Tale Reform School be part of your world!
The adventure continues February 2017 with
For continuing updates on the world of Enchantasia visit HappilyEverAfterScrolls.net
About the Author
Jen Calonita is the author of the Secrets of My Hollywood Life series and other books like Sleepaway Girls and Summer State of Mind, but Fairy Tale Reform School is her first middle-grade series. She rules Long Island, New York, with her husband, Mike; princes, Tyler and Dylan; and Chihuahua, Captain Jack Sparrow, but the only castle she’d ever want to live in is Cinderella’s at Walt Disney World. She’d love for you to visit her at jencalonitaonline.com and keep the fairy-tale fun going at happilyeverafterscrolls.net.