by Chris Colfer
Brystal tried to make sense of it all, but her day had been so overwhelming it was impossible to think clearly.
“But the facility was filled with girls who have been doing magic their entire lives,” she said. “Why choose me?”
“Because you were the brightest star on my map,” Madame Weatherberry said.
Before Brystal could ask what she meant, Madame Weatherberry moved up the armrest of her seat to reveal a secret compartment. She removed a large scroll and carefully unrolled it across her lap. As soon as the document was opened, the carriage was filled with shimmering light. It was a regular map of the world, showing the borders of the four kingdoms and the In-Between, but it was sprinkled with hundreds of twinkling stars.
“What is this?” Brystal asked, wide-eyed.
“It’s a Map of Magic,” Madame Weatherberry said. “Every speck of light represents a different fairy or witch who’s living in the world today. The brighter the light, the more powerful their magic. King Champion only permitted me to recruit two students from the Southern Kingdom, so I’ve decided to recruit the brightest students I can find.”
“And I was one of the brightest lights?” Brystal asked.
Madame Weatherberry nodded and pointed to the northeast corner of the Southern Kingdom on the map.
“Do you see this cluster of small lights here? Those are the girls at the Bootstrap Correctional Facility. But these larger lights, slowly moving away from the others, represent you and me.”
Madame Weatherberry touched the smaller of the two, and as if written by an invisible quill, the name Brystal Evergreen appeared beside it. Then she tapped the bigger star and the name Celeste Weatherberry appeared next. Brystal was awestruck as she looked over the map—she hadn’t known so many fairies and witches existed in the world. Now that Madame Weatherberry’s point had been made, she rolled up the map and placed it back in the compartment under the armrest.
“Do you have to follow the king’s instructions?” Brystal asked. “Surely he wouldn’t notice if you recruited one or two extra students along the way.”
“Unfortunately, it’s best if I do,” Madame Weatherberry said. “I’ve been down this road many times before. If we want acceptance in this world, then we must be very careful about how we seek acceptance. No one is going to respect us if we cut corners or cause problems. I could have snapped my fingers and transported all the girls out of the facility, but it would only have caused people to resent us more. Hatred is like fire, and no one can extinguish fire by giving it fuel.”
“I wish hatred was fire,” Brystal said. “People like the Edgars and the Justices deserve to be burned for how they treat people.”
“Without question,” Madame Weatherberry said. “However, we cannot let vengeance motivate us and distract us from doing what’s right. It may seem like justice, but revenge is a double-edged sword—the longer you hold it, the deeper you cut yourself.”
Brystal sighed. “I just feel so bad for those girls at the facility,” she said. “Every time I close my eyes I see their faces in my mind. I wish there was a way we could help them.”
“But we are helping them. We may not save your friends today or tomorrow, but with patience and diplomacy, we can make a lasting difference, so girls like Pip are never sent to places like the Bootstrap facility ever again.”
Brystal understood what Madame Weatherberry was saying, but her plan seemed too ambitious to work. The world would require a tremendous change of heart to accept magic, and she couldn’t picture the world changing that much.
“I’m sorry, but it feels like an unrealistic goal,” she said. “I’d like to imagine a world where fairies can live openly and honestly, where they can live happily without fear or persecution, but I can’t.”
“Every accomplishment in history started as an unrealistic goal,” Madame Weatherberry said. “A prosperous future is built by the persistence of its past—and we can’t let doubt hold our persistence hostage. What I’m suggesting isn’t certain, and it isn’t going to be easy, but we have to at least try. Even if we fail, every step we take forward will be a step our successors won’t have to take.”
Although she still felt a bit cynical, Brystal was inspired by Madame Weatherberry’s passion. She had never imagined a future for herself that involved a school for magic, but in many ways, Madame Weatherberry was offering her the purpose and future she had always dreamed about. Whether they successfully changed the world or not, a life devoted to helping people and developing her magical abilities was infinitely better than living in the Bootstrap Correctional Facility.
“It sounds like an adventure,” she said. “I would love to join your academy of magic.”
“I’m delighted to hear it,” Madame Weatherberry said. “Delighted and relieved—unicorns hate changing direction mid-journey.”
“Where is your school?” Brystal asked.
“It sits in the southeast In-Between, between the Southern and Eastern Kingdoms,” Madame Weatherberry said. “Don’t let the location worry you; the academy is very well protected. I spared no expense to keep it safe. But first we’ll have to make a brief stop so I can get your parents’ permission to take you.”
“What?” Brystal exclaimed. “But why do we need their permission?”
“The king was adamant that I get approval from my pupils’ guardians,” she said. “And as I explained, it’s important we follow his wishes.”
Brystal had suspected Madame Weatherberry’s plan was too good to be true—and now she had proof. Just as she had started looking forward to a new life at the academy of magic, the rug was pulled out from under her and her high hopes came crashing down.
“We should turn around,” Brystal said. “My father is a very well-known Justice in the Southern Kingdom. He had me sent to the Bootstrap Correctional Facility as a personal favor, so no one would ever find out I was arrested for magic! He’ll never let me attend your school!”
Madame Weatherberry waved her hand like Brystal’s concern was a harmless fly.
“Don’t worry, dear, I’m very persuasive,” she said. “I managed to get the king’s blessing—how hard could a Justice be? We’ll have a nice chat when we see him this evening.”
“This evening?” Brystal asked. “But my family lives in Chariot Hills. It’s a two-day journey.”
Madame Weatherberry was charmed by Brystal’s obliviousness and a coy smile grew on her face.
“Actually, unicorns make better time than average horses,” she said, and gestured to the window. “Take a look for yourself.”
Brystal had been so wrapped up in their conversation she hadn’t taken a glimpse out the window since they left, but when she finally did, her mouth dropped open. The golden carriage was moving through the Northeast Plains at lightning speed. The dismal land zipped past her window so quickly it was all a blur.
“I think I’m going to like magic,” she said.
By dusk, the unicorns reached the outskirts of Chariot Hills and slowed to a normal pace. They pulled the golden carriage through the busy town square and all the pedestrians froze as Brystal and Madame Weatherberry drove past them. Brystal saw a cluster of her former classmates among the gawking crowd. As she rolled by, the girls went as white as their uniforms and their eyes doubled in size. Brystal gave them a friendly wave, but quickly realized this was a mistake because it caused one of the girls to faint.
The golden carriage took the path into the eastern countryside and soon the Evergreen home appeared in the distance. Although Brystal hadn’t been gone very long, it felt like years had passed since she was home. The unicorns stopped in front of the house and Madame Weatherberry climbed out of the carriage, but Brystal lingered behind.
“Don’t worry, I’ll handle this,” Madame Weatherberry said. “Trust me.”
She offered Brystal her hand and helped her to the ground. They approached the front door and Madame Weatherberry gave it a cheerful knock with her gloved left hand. A few moments later, Brystal heard
her mother’s footsteps in the entryway behind the door.
“I’m coming! I’m coming!” she grumbled. “What can I do for—”
As soon as the door opened, Mrs. Evergreen shrieked and covered her mouth like she was seeing a ghost. Brystal was taken aback by her mother’s appearance, too. She noticed that the circles under Mrs. Evergreen’s eyes had grown darker and her bun was pulled even tighter. Clearly, doing all the household chores without help had taken a toll on her.
“Hello, Mother,” Brystal said sheepishly. “Surprise.”
“Brystal!” her mother cried. “What in the Lord’s blue skies are you doing here?”
“It’s a long story,” she said.
Before Brystal had a chance to explain, Mrs. Evergreen threw her arms around her daughter and hugged her so tight she couldn’t breathe.
“I didn’t think I would ever see you again,” she said with tears in her eyes. “Your father said you were caught conjuring magic at the library! I didn’t believe it—I told him there had to be a mistake! My beautiful girl couldn’t be capable of such a thing! Then your brothers told me about that awful trial! I swear, if I ever see that Justice Oldragaid I will strangle him until he’s a normal color! They said the High Justice sent you to a facility in the Northeast to be cured. Have they cured you already? Is that why you’ve come back?”
Brystal winced at her mother’s wishful thinking—it wasn’t going to be easy for her to hear the truth. Mrs. Evergreen was so pleased to see her daughter that she hadn’t noticed Madame Weatherberry or the golden carriage until now.
“Um… who are you?” she asked.
“Hello, Mrs. Evergreen, my name is Madame Weatherberry,” she said. “Forgive me for showing up unannounced. I was given permission by His Majesty to remove Brystal from the Bootstrap Correctional Facility for a special project I’m developing. May I have a word with you and your husband to discuss it?”
“Oh?” Mrs. Evergreen was surprised to hear this. “My husband only had one trial this afternoon, so he should be home momentarily. Please, come in and I’ll make some tea while you wait.”
Mrs. Evergreen escorted Brystal and Madame Weatherberry to the sitting room and then stepped into the kitchen to make tea. As Madame Weatherberry looked around, she was tickled by the Evergreens’ mismatched furniture and wallpaper.
“Your house is so thrifty,” she said.
“My father isn’t a fan of extravagance,” Brystal said.
“It shows.”
Mrs. Evergreen returned to the sitting room with a tray of tea.
“Please, have a seat,” she said while she served them. “I imagine you’re both very tired from your journey. Your father said the facility is all the way at the tip of the Northeast Plains.”
“Actually, the trip flew by,” Brystal said with a nervous laugh.
“How long are you staying?” Mrs. Evergreen asked. “Your brothers usually don’t get home from the courthouse until late. They’ll be sorry if they miss you.”
“I can’t imagine our conversation with Father will last very long,” Brystal said. “We’ll probably be on our way shortly after he arrives. Please give Brooks and Barrie my love.”
“I will,” Mrs. Evergreen said, and then looked her daughter up and down with concern. “Oh, Brystal, what have they done to you in that facility? You’re practically skin and bones! I hope they’re helping you at least—you know—with your condition.”
“Ah… not exactly,” Brystal said.
Before she elaborated, their conversation was interrupted by the sounds of her father’s carriage pulling up to the house. Brystal took a deep breath to mentally prepare herself for what was to come. A few moments later, Justice Evergreen entered the house and charged down the hall—he hadn’t even seen his daughter yet and was already in a temper.
“Why is there a ridiculous carriage and four flamboyant horses outside our house?” he shouted. “What will the neighbors think if they see the—”
As the Justice barged into the sitting room, Madame Weatherberry and Brystal rose from their chairs to greet him. It took a few seconds for Justice Evergreen to recognize his daughter, and once he did, his face turned bright red, his nostrils flared, and he growled like a defensive animal.
“What is she doing in my house?” he barked.
Mrs. Evergreen jumped in front of her husband and waved like a clown distracting a bull.
“Please don’t get upset just yet,” she pleaded. “This woman has removed Brystal from the facility with permission from the king.”
“The king? What could he possibly want with her?”
“I don’t know, they just arrived,” Mrs. Evergreen said. “Give them a chance to explain.”
A few deep breaths later, Justice Evergreen had taken a reluctant seat on the sofa across from his daughter. Madame Weatherberry extended her arm to shake the Justice’s hand, but he didn’t accept the gesture.
“Justice Evergreen, it’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance,” she said. “My name is Madame Weatherberry. Thank you for taking the time to speak with us.”
“Get to the point,” he ordered.
“Ah, I see you’re a man who appreciates a good summary,” Madame Weatherberry said. “Very well, I’ll make this short. I’m here because King Champion has given me permission to open an academy. I’m traveling through the Southern Kingdom to recruit students. But my academy isn’t your typical school; it’s an academy for very special children with very unique abilities.”
Mrs. Evergreen clapped her hands in celebration. “Why, that’s wonderful! His Majesty wants our daughter to join a special school!”
“What do you mean unique abilities,” the Justice asked suspiciously. “I sincerely doubt you’re recruiting academics or athletes from correctional houses.”
“Well, if I may be completely transparent with you,” Madame Weatherberry said with hesitation, “it’s a school for magic.”
Brystal could practically hear her father’s heartbeat as his blood pressure soared.
“Excuse me?” he roared.
“I’m calling it Madame Weatherberry’s Academy of Magical Endeavors and Philosophy, but don’t get attached to the name, it’s still a work in progress,” she explained. “I promised His Majesty that I would get permission from my students’ parents before recruiting them. So if you don’t have any objections, I’ll ask you to sign Brystal’s permission form.”
Madame Weatherberry pointed at the tea table and a golden document appeared with a long-feathered quill beside it. The Justice and Mrs. Evergreen both jumped at the sight of magic in their own house.
“All the details are spelled out on the form if you’d like to take a moment to read it,” Madame Weatherberry said.
Brystal knew her father was already upset, but seeing the permission form infuriated him so much he turned the color of a tomato. He seized the form from the table and ripped it into shreds.
“How dare you disrespect me with such a request!” he yelled.
“Actually, Justice Evergreen, it would be more disrespectful if we didn’t seek your approval,” Madame Weatherberry said. “You see, I want everything about my academy to be handled tastefully and properly, and that starts with how I acquire my students. Our objective is to show the world that the magical community is much more decent than—”
The Justice was enraged by her words and knocked over the table with one angry swipe of his arm. The teacups hit the floor and shattered into pieces.
“I would rather see my daughter rot in jail than turn her over to the likes of you!” he shouted.
“There’s no need to make a mess,” Mrs. Evergreen said. “Let’s all take a deep breath and I’ll get us some more tea.”
Mrs. Evergreen scooped up the broken teacups and the shredded permission form into her apron and hurried into the kitchen. Brystal closed her eyes and pretended she was somewhere else. It didn’t matter how many deep breaths her father took; she knew he would never change his mind. But Madam
e Weatherberry wasn’t ready to give up.
“Sir, I understand your passionate opposition,” she said. “You think I’m trying to take your daughter to a despicable place and teach her despicable things, but you’re only imagining this because your perception of magic is flawed.”
“I am a Justice of the Southern Kingdom, Madame! There is nothing flawed about my perception!”
“And in your impressive career, I’m sure you’ve presided over many cases that were caused by an unfortunate misunderstanding. I assure you, magic is like one of these misunderstandings. In fact, it’s the single greatest misconception of our—”
“Magic is an abomination in the eyes of the law and in the eyes of the Lord! Do not insult my intelligence by pretending otherwise!”
“Justice Evergreen, you of all people know that the laws and religion of the Southern Kingdom have altered over time to reflect the opinions of those in power. Magic is a victim to that tradition. What the world thinks is a dreadful and wicked sin is actually a beautiful and nurturing gift. Your daughter is blessed with a very rare and powerful talent. In recent weeks, she has shown remarkable potential, and I believe my academy would be a wonderful opportunity for her to develop—”
“I will not have my daughter tarnish my good name by practicing magic!”
“But the king himself has approved my academy. It may cause some awkwardness at first, but in time, your daughter’s magic will be a source of great pride for you. One day, the whole world may know her name and look up to her as a symbol of kindness and compassion. Her reputation may very well exceed your own and she could become the most admired Evergreen to ever—”
“ENOUGH!” the Justice yelled, and jumped to his feet. “I will not hear another word of this nonsense! You will take my daughter back to the Bootstrap Correctional Facility where she belongs at once! NOW GET OUT OF MY HOUSE!”
Justice Evergreen stormed out of the room, but before he entered the hall, he turned back to Brystal to give her one final, scornful glare.
“I should have let them execute you,” he said.