Rhetta waved to her friend and waited some more. Then her attention was diverted, when something blocked out the moonlight. There were no trees in front of her, so Rhetta looked up.
A floating, square-shaped object hovered freely in front of the moon.
From up above, Fairy Godmother looked down upon the ogres moving into the courtyard, and she spoke quietly to the passenger. "What is this abomination?"
The pair glared down at the ogres' shadowed forms, with hatred on their faces. "Stay here, Kyle," Fairy Godmother finally said. "I need to see about my son."
Not seeing the one ogre who had noticed her, Fairy Godmother flew off the carriage and sank into the shadows, peering at the ogres from a safe distance. They appeared unarmed; in fact they were laughing and talking. Why were they free? Where were the witches?
Fairy Godmother abandoned her hiding spot, flying over the gate. The front of the line stopped as the ogres tried to focus on the moving shadow that landed on an upper balcony and pushed its way freely into the palace.
"What's goin' on?" Cookie demanded.
"We've got a problem."
-x-
Fairy Godmother didn't have to look hard for her magic wand. She grabbed it from the mantle and let herself out into the hall. At the other end, Fiona stopped, narrowing her eyes at the unfamiliar woman in her house. "Who are you?"
"You don't remember me?"
"No."
"Good." Fairy Godmother flicked her wand and suddenly, Fiona's hands were magically tied together behind her back. "Now, I believe you owe me some information. Where are my boys?"
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"Oh, spare me, monster; you know exactly what I'm talking about. You are the Princess Fiona who replaced my youngest."
"He replaced me; he was a criminal!"
"Was?"
"Was," Fiona confirmed. "And he finally got what he deserved."
Fairy Godmother crossed her arms and tapped her foot. "Fine. What about my other son? Prince Charming?"
Fiona suddenly stopped struggling, and met the woman's gaze. Then her eyes narrowed. "Did you honestly expect me to tell you, when you probably had a hand in my parents' deaths?"
"They are not dead, Fiona. Let me make an offer. I will bring back your parents, if you will tell me where my son is."
"Why should I believe a thing you say?"
"Did my son not present you with flowers and an offer of his own? He wanted to help you, Fiona, because he loves you. If you recall, he was supposed to rescue you in the first place..."
"And he never showed!" Fiona interrupted. "Why should I be grateful?"
"It is better late than never, sweet pea. You can have it all! You can end your curse and have your parents back, but you've got to accept my offer."
Fiona lifted her head. "No," she finally bit. "They would still be here if you guys hadn't interfered."
"Fair enough. But if you allow me to interfere one more time, they will be here again."
"Get out," Fiona responded.
"Fine. I guess you simply do not care about your parents."
"What are you talking about?"
"Well, if you turn me away, their welfare - their very lives, are in my hands! And I promise you this. I am not above taking out my anger on the wrong person."
Fiona stared at her.
"You don't believe me? You really think they're dead?" Fairy Godmother asked. She chuckled and rose into the air, waving her magic wand. Suddenly Fiona was blinded by a golden light. When it faded, Lillian and Harold were sitting on the floor. They were filthy from head to foot, but there was no mistaking them. Holding tightly to each other, they looked around, paralyzed with fear - until they saw their daughter.
"Fiona!" they screamed in one voice.
Fiona stared at them, tears building up in her eyes. Clinging to each other, Harold and Lillian stood and ran toward her, but began to scream when they began to fade. Within ten feet of their daughter, they dissipated into nothing.
Ignoring Fiona's tears, Fairy Godmother spoke matter-of-factly. "Marry my son, Fiona, and they will be saved. Refuse my offer, and you will never know what happens."
Fiona stared into her cold green eyes. "Wait a minute, you threatened Cindy!"
"Indeed I did. Now, I must be going. If you are not at my office by noon tomorrow, the deal is off. You enjoy your evening," she added, as she walked freely down the hall. Fiona heard a window open, and the moment she heard it shut, suddenly her hands were free.
Fiona stood for a moment, trying to regain her composure before moving swiftly down the hall to descend the stairs.
The Resistance was familiar with Fiona, and they knew that her mood was often conveyed with simple movements. She was walking swiftly and avoiding eye contact, which they knew meant she was in no mood to socialize. And none of them were sure, but was that a teary glimmer in her eyes...?
Fiona walked down the hallway and stopped in front of the kitchen. The doors were open just a crack, and Fiona was raising a hand to push them open and enter the kitchen when she heard Donkey's voice coming through. "Fiona's bein' nice lettin' them stay at the palace. It's too good for 'em."
"I could not agree more," Puss answered.
"And man, let's be honest. Once the sun goes down she ain't exactly picture-perfect. And I...I like her as a person, okay, and I know I'm just an animal, but I don't like what I see. Those things, they too nasty to be here."
"That is very true. But we must keep quiet. I do not want a confrontation against those beasts."
"I'm wichu, man, I'm behind you all the way..." Donkey's voice faded as Fiona hurried away from the kitchen doors, heartbroken.
Had Fiona listened longer, she would have realized that the conversation was not as bad as it originally seemed. "Man, you think they can bust their way outta there? 'Cause I don't wanna lose no damn sleep."
"Fiona said they were secure. I trust her judgment."
Believing the conversation had gone the other way, Fiona drifted into the library and closed the door. Sinking into the chair she let her thoughts dwell on their deception and her bleak future with Prince Charming.