by Chris Colfer
“Don’t take it off just yet,” the witch said in a panic.
“Why not?” Lucy asked.
“The enchantment needs a chance to cook first,” Mistress Mara explained. “Give your new appearance a couple of days to settle in, then you can remove the necklace as you wish.”
“In that case, I promise to keep it on,” Lucy said.
Mistress Mara’s devious smile returned to her face.
“Wonderful,” she said. “Well, I’ll excuse myself so you can admire your new appearance in peace. You’ve certainly earned it.”
Mistress Mara strolled out of the bedroom and disappeared down the hall. There was something about the witch’s attentiveness that made Lucy suspicious. As she adjusted her golden necklace in the mirror, the sensation grew in the pit of her stomach and became much stronger than a regular feeling—Lucy sensed trouble.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
THE SURRENDER
Now look what you’ve done.…
The Righteous King blindsided you.…
You walked right into his trap.…
You gave him everything he wanted.…
You should be ashamed of yourself.…
Ashamed.
Brystal was living the darkest hour of her life. After fleeing the Southern Kingdom, she returned to the academy and desperately tried to come up with a plan to stop the Righteous Brotherhood. Unfortunately, Brystal couldn’t concentrate on anything but her disturbing thoughts, and her negativity did all the thinking for her.
How could you let this happen?
How could you be so stupid?
How could you be so careless?
How could you fail so miserably?
Now all your greatest fears are coming true.
As she paced across her office, word of King Champion XIV’s murder was spreading across the Southern Kingdom. Brystal’s reputation was being destroyed, her integrity was being tarnished, and consequently, mankind was beginning to question their relationship with the magical community. She didn’t know how to prove her innocence, she didn’t know how to prevent the lies from spreading, and she didn’t know how to stop the Righteous Brotherhood from succeeding any more than they already had. Brystal was completely powerless and incapable of finding a solution.
You’ll never stop them.…
You’ll only make things worse.…
The Righteous King fooled you once, and he’ll do it again.…
You’re not clever enough to defeat him.…
You need to remove yourself from the situation.
Brystal wished she could remove herself from the situation. She would have given anything to just disappear and make all her problems go away, but as she agonized in her office, the Righteous Brotherhood were marching toward the Fairy Territory. In just a few hours, the clan would arrive at the border and expect Brystal to surrender. The Righteous King had promised the Brotherhood she would concede willingly, so how would they retaliate when she refused? What sort of attack would they unleash? How was Brystal going to protect the fairies?
Why not surrender?
What’s the point in resisting?
You’ll only cause more damage if you don’t.…
You’ll only put the fairies in more danger if you stay.…
They’ll be better off without you.…
The world would be better off without you.…
Do it for them.
At first, Brystal thought it was a preposterous idea, but the longer she dwelled on it, the more appealing it became. The Righteous King said the magical community would be easy to destroy, but what if he was wrong? What if they thrived under different leadership? Without Brystal in the picture, maybe the fairies would have a chance of winning the war on magic?
Yes…
That’s right.…
Surrendering isn’t giving up.…
Surrendering is the solution.…
Don’t let your pride convince you otherwise.…
Surrender to the Brotherhood and all your troubles will go away.
Brystal couldn’t deny how tempting the idea of ending all her troubles was. She was so tired her mind and body ached with exhaustion—even her soul felt tired.
Surrender and the fairies will be safe.…
Surrender and you won’t have to fight anymore.…
Surrender and you’ll be free from fear.…
Surrender and the negativity will disappear.…
Surrender and all the pain will go away.…
Surrender and the nightmare will finally end.…
Surrender, Brystal…
Surrender.
Brystal imagined herself floating in a space of total nothingness—with no worries, no fears, no anxiety, no responsibility, no shame, no guilt—and it gave her the most peace she had had in months. Brystal humored the idea just to feel the serenity, and the more she entertained it, the more she started to seriously consider it. By the time the evening arrived, Brystal wasn’t just considering a surrender—she was longing for one. And so the decision was made.
As Brystal planned her surrender, she was interrupted by a soft knock on the door. Emerelda stepped inside the office with a cheeky grin.
“Well, you were out pretty late last night,” she teased. “How did it go?”
“Which part?” Brystal asked.
Emerelda laughed like she was kidding. “Your date with the prince, of course,” she said. “We’re all dying to know, but I told the others not to smother you.”
Clearly, Prince Maximus’s lies hadn’t reached the Fairy Territory yet, and Brystal was envious of Emerelda’s obliviousness. Brystal had almost forgotten that just a few hours earlier she and Seven had been laughing and enjoying themselves. She couldn’t believe what a dark turn the world had taken in such a short amount of time. Their date seemed like a frivolous thing to discuss at a moment like this, so Brystal changed the subject without an explanation.
“Em, I have something I need to tell you,” Brystal said. “It’s important.”
“Oh?” Emerelda asked with concern. “Did something bad happen on your date? Because if that prince acted like a jerk, I’ll kick him right in his crown jewels.”
“No, it has nothing to do with him,” she said. “It’s something I’ve been giving a lot of thought to lately. This isn’t an easy conversation to have, so I’m just going to say it. If anything happens to me, I want you to take over.”
Emerelda wasn’t expecting such a somber topic.
“Me?”
“Who else could do it?” Brystal asked. “You’re smart, sensible, extremely organized, and all the fairies respect you. You’ll make a wonderful Fairy Godmother when I’m gone.”
“When you’re gone?” she asked. “Are you planning an early retirement or something?”
“No—it’s just—life is unpredictable,” Brystal said. “All it takes is a single second and the world as we know it could change forever. If something happens, I want you to be prepared. I don’t want there to be any confusion over who’s in charge. The fairies need to be unified or they’ll never survive the days ahead.”
“The days ahead?” Emerelda asked. “Okay, now you’re starting to scare me. Why are you bringing this up now?”
“Please, just promise me you’ll look after the fairies and keep them safe,” Brystal said. “It would mean a lot to me if I heard you say it.”
Emerelda scratched her head as she tried to make sense of what Brystal was saying.
“All right, I promise,” she said.
Brystal closed her eyes and let out a deep sigh of relief. Having an official successor made her looming surrender seem much easier. Emerelda watched her closely and her concerns rose.
“Brystal, you look tired,” Emerelda said. “When’s the last time you slept?”
“Honestly, I don’t remember,” Brystal said.
“Why don’t I give you some time to rest,” Emerelda suggested. “Maybe later this evening, I can come back with some tea and we can keep tal
king?”
“I’d like that,” she said.
“Great, I’ll see you then.”
Emerelda left the office to give Brystal some time alone—but Brystal had no intentions of resting. Sadly, Brystal knew she would be long gone by the time Emerelda returned.
Brystal waved her wand, and stationery appeared on her desk. She wrote Emerelda a letter with all the information Brystal had been keeping to herself. She told her everything she knew about the Righteous Brotherhood—where their fortress was located, the identity of the Righteous King, and his plan to frame Brystal for King Champion XIV’s murder. Brystal told Emerelda to keep an eye on the northern lights on the globe, how the Snow Queen was trapped in a cavern deep under the Northern Mountains, and if the lights ever faded from the sky, it meant the Snow Queen had escaped. She confessed part of Madame Weatherberry was still alive and how to find her if Emerelda ever needed advice or guidance. Once the letter was finished, Brystal placed it in an envelope with Emerelda’s name on it.
You’re doing the right thing.…
A lesser person wouldn’t know when to quit.…
Your sacrifice will ensure the fairies’ survival.…
Emerelda will be a much better leader than you.…
She’ll defeat the Righteous Brotherhood.…
She won’t make mistakes.
It was getting late, and Brystal knew the Brotherhood would be arriving at any minute. She wouldn’t need her wand anymore, so Brystal placed it on her desk beside the letter for Emerelda. She slowly made her way to the door and took one final look at her office.
“Good-bye,” she said to the empty room. “I’m leaving you in good hands.”
Brystal closed the office doors behind her and headed outside. She crossed the academy grounds, went through the hedge barrier, and waited for the Brotherhood on the other side. Shortly after she arrived, all 333 members of the clan appeared in the distance. The men were led by their High Commander and they cautiously approached Brystal with their weapons raised.
Suddenly, Horence charged through the trees atop his three-headed horse. The knight leaped to the ground and drew his sword, placing himself between Brystal and the clan.
“It’s all right, Horence,” she said. “You don’t have to protect me anymore.”
The knight was terribly confused. He looked back and forth between Brystal and the Brotherhood but didn’t know what to do. Brystal moved past Horence and walked toward the clan, but she wouldn’t let the knight follow her.
“I’m not here to fight you—I’m here to surrender,” Brystal told the Brotherhood. “But this doesn’t mean you’ve won. On the contrary, my surrender only ensures your downfall. The magical community is much stronger than your Righteous King thinks they are. They’ll band together and won’t need me to defeat you.”
Even though the Righteous King had guaranteed her surrender, the Brotherhood were surprised by how easily Brystal was giving up. They cheered, their victorious roar echoing through the forest around them.
“You see, my brothers, I told you to have faith in the Righteous King,” the High Commander said. “The Fairy Godmother is surrendering willingly just as he promised—she didn’t even need the extra incentive he sent us with.”
“What extra incentive?” Brystal asked.
The High Commander tossed a book at Brystal’s feet. She glanced down and realized it was Seven’s copy of The Tales of Tidbit Twitch. Her eyes immediately filled with tears at the thought of Seven as a hostage. Brystal should have known the Righteous King would have a backup plan in case she didn’t surrender.
“What have you done with him?” Brystal asked.
“Come with us and you’ll find out,” the High Commander said.
Once again, Brystal closed her eyes and imagined herself floating through the peaceful space of nothingness. She craved the oblivion she pictured, and Brystal was convinced there was only one way to achieve it.
“Take me,” Brystal said. “I don’t care what happens to me anymore.… I’m tired of fighting.… I’m tired of feeling.… I just want it all to end.…”
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
THE SHADOW BEAST
Brystal, I made us some tea,” Emerelda said. “I hope you’re hungry, because I brought some snacks, too. I couldn’t find where Mrs. Vee keeps the good cheeses, but these should do.”
Emerelda carried a tray of tea, cheeses, crackers, and fruits into the office. She was more than halfway across the room before she noticed Brystal wasn’t there. Emerelda set the tray down on the desk and was surprised to find Brystal had left her wand and a note behind. Curious, Emerelda opened the note, but before she could remove the letter from the envelope, the doors swung open and distracted her.
Xanthous, Tangerina, and Skylene staggered inside, covered from head to toe in mashed potatoes. Their hands and arms were wrapped in bandages from all the burns and cuts that were inflicted while cooking. The fairies plopped down on the glass sofa and gave their aching bodies a rest. Emerelda tucked Brystal’s note into her pocket to read later.
“How’d dinner go?” she asked.
“The chefs are more whipped than the potatoes, but I think we’re getting the hang of it,” Xanthous said. “It was the first time I didn’t start a fire—you know, while cooking.”
“I’m sure you’re just being hard on yourselves,” Emerelda said.
“Oh no, we’re terrible,” Tangerina said. “When Mrs. Vee cooks, it’s like watching a conductor leading a symphony—all the cooking utensils float seamlessly around her and create a meal in perfect harmony. When we cook, it’s like watching an earthquake inside a hurricane.”
“I think the utensils are starting to hate us,” Skylene said. “I didn’t realize pots could be passive aggressive, but today they wouldn’t even hold water!”
“Skylene, you were using a colander!” Tangerina said.
“Oh,” she said. “I’m glad it wasn’t personal.”
“Where’s Brystal?” Xanthous asked. “We want to hear about her date with the prince.”
“I was just wondering the same thing,” Emerelda said. “She mustn’t have gone very far—she left her wand on her desk.”
“I hope she gets back soon,” Tangerina said. “I’m so tired the only thing that could possibly energize me is some good old-fashioned royal gossip.”
“I’m so tired I’m seeing spots,” Xanthous said.
“I’m so tired I’m seeing swans,” Skylene said.
The fairies gave her a peculiar look.
“Swans?” Tangerina asked.
Skylene nodded. “Yup—seven of them,” she said. “And they’re with a girl, too. And she’s flying through the air on a broomstick. And she’s got a big sack of something. Wow, this hallucination is very specific. I think the kitchen fumes are starting to get to me.”
“I must be delirious, too, because I’m also seeing swans!” Xanthous said.
Everyone turned toward the window and realized it wasn’t a hallucination. Soaring through the sky, heading straight for the academy, was a flock of swans and a young girl on a broomstick. The birds were tethered to the broomstick like balloons, and the girl carried a bulging bag with her. They flew closer and closer to the castle with no sign of stopping. The fairies dived behind the sofa as the procession crashed through the window and showered the office in broken glass. The broomstick snapped in half, and seven pumpkins burst out from the bag and rolled in every direction. The travelers somersaulted across the floor and collapsed in a pile.
“Ouuuuuuuch!” Lucy groaned. “Dang, I could have sworn that window was open!”
She brushed all the glass off her body, released the swans from their tethers, and quickly gathered all the jack-o’-lanterns back into the bag. The fairies immediately recognized her voice but couldn’t believe how different she looked.
“Lucy?” Emerelda gasped. “Is that you?”
“You look incredible!” Xanthous said.
“What happened?” Tangerina
asked.
“Yeah, yeah, yeah—I’m basically a model now,” she said. “Where’s Brystal?”
“We don’t know,” Emerelda said.
“Crap! I can’t wait for her! I’ll need you guys to do it!”
Lucy raced to the bookshelves and feverishly searched through the titles. The fairies were confused—if Lucy’s new appearance wasn’t worrying enough already, her frantic behavior put them all on edge.
“Wait, what do you want us to do?” Skylene asked.
“Ooooooh, just a little favor,” Lucy said with a nervous laugh. “Think of it as a fun group activity! A great way for us to bond and let bygones be—”
“Spit it out, Lucy!” Tangerina said.
“I need you to help me get rid of a curse!”
“What?” Xanthous exclaimed.
“Who’s been cursed?” Emerelda asked.
“I have!” Lucy said. “But I don’t have time to explain all the details!”
“Then you better make time!” Tangerina said. “You can’t disappear for a week and then burst in here with swans, a bag of pumpkins, and a new face and ask us to help you get rid of a curse without an explanation!”
“Yeah! Even for you, that’s just eccentric,” Skylene said.
Lucy groaned again and paused her search to fill them in.
“Okay, okay, okay,” she said. “Listen up, because I’m going to make this as short as possible. Four days ago, Brystal and I got into a really big fight, so I went to the Ravencrest School of Witchcraft for a couple days to tick her off. Yes, I know that was a radical move; please hold your comments until I’m finished! While I was at Ravencrest, I discovered Mistress Mara has been working on a secret plot to kill Brystal and destroy mankind! Everyone’s got a hobby! I didn’t hear all the specifics, but part of her plan involved casting a curse on someone. Apparently, Mistress Mara has been trying for weeks to perform the curse but hadn’t succeeded yet. Naturally, I wanted to stop her, so I decided to stay at Ravencrest until I learned more. To become a student at Ravencrest, I had to pass four entrance exams—jinxes, hexes, potions, and curses.”