Chapter Eleven: The Prophecy
"Once upon a time…there was a star."
Ariel fidgeted.
Around her, arms were crossing and legs were thrown onto the seats. The One Upon A Time speeches of Master Cogsworth were always long. And boring.
Ariel crossed her ankles to lock her tapping feet. Braiding a long red strand, she daydreamed about an evening run after swimming practice. Maybe she would swing by the track before heading to the beach; perhaps the track coach would see her…and…
Ariel smiled. How she would adore an offer to join the track team! But…
Guiltily, Ariel glanced sideways as if her sisters and cousins could read her thoughts. SHe had recently discovered that she loved to run. Futhermore, she was good at it! Or at least, that's what Ariel imagined. The only sure way to tell would be to join the track team.
But, Ariel, her sisters, and her cousins were swimmers. It was expected and tied into the status quo: swim team was exclusive. An exclusive bikini club for high school girls with mermaid lineage.
No one would understand. Glumly, Ariel slumped in her seat. She could hear Lana flirting violently one seat behind. Vaguely wondering who Lana had baited this time, Ariel focused on Master Cogsworth, realizing that the only way she would be allowed to run, was if she ran away.
"One upon a time, there was a star." Master Cogsworth repeated. Placing his hands behind his back, the clock spoke within the beat of his timepiece. "This star is one you know. The Wishing Star."
Ariel leaned forward. The Wishing Star? She thought that was just a myth.
"The Wishing Star, as you know, never changes position in the night sky. It forever hovers over this very castle. Even as I speak."
Ariel saw Eric and John shift in their seats. These boys were fellow Western Sectors, and sailors of sorts. They were also very boastful about navigating from the stars alone.
"Not many people realize…" Master Cogsworth continued carefully, "…that the Wishing Star was created from many star fragments, and sewn together with celestial thread. It has been said that the star fragments were pieces of broken souls. Souls that passed this life with regret, sorrow, anguish, and despair. Souls that never fulfilled their wishes….or saw their dreams come true."
Master Donald sniffed. Ariel slid her hands her thighs. She felt like curling under a blanket with a fluffy stuffed animal. Unperturbed with the damped mood, Master Cogsworth continued.
"Although it is currently not the case, centuries ago Fantasia was ruled by kings and queens. A single ruler, male or female, was granted a free wish from the Wishing Star. Every year, the monarch would make one wish for the good of the kingdom. Wishes were always granted."
Ariel was interested. Fantasia's government was segregated into the Sectors. She didn't know the entire country was once ruled by a king or queen.
"Lana shhhh." Ariel shushed, turning her head to Master Cogsworth. She wanted to hear more about the ancient Fantasia rulers.
"Then, a wish came to pass upon a young Fantasian King." said Master Cogsworth. Behind him, the teachers straightened in their seats as if mention of the king would draw his resurrection. "And he was the kindest of kings but…impulsive. Wanting the best for his people, the young king thought that two Wishing Stars would allow him to double the wishes for Fantasia. So…the young king wished for two Wishing Stars
Cogworth paused. His lips pursed back and forth. He seemed to mulling over what to say next.
"It was devastating." Master Cogsworth said. "The Wishing Star cracked – split into two pieces. A star to the left. And a star to the right. And when the Wishing Star split open…" said Master Cogsworth, his voice lowered an octave, "Evil souls poured out. Evil souls, demons, and monsters."
Lana was no longer talking. The boy she'd been flirting with was leaning into Ariel's seat, focused on Cogsworth. Even Master Donald was unruffled.
"Fantasia crumbled." Master Cogworth closed his eyes. "The young king was deposed by his people as the country was impregnated with evil and torn apart by frightened citizens. And the young king was sentenced. To death."
Master Cogsworth shook his head. "All seemed lost. But then, at the moment of his execution the young king remembered…he still had a second wish. Yes. Calling out to the second star to the right, the young king wished for the stitches to be mended. He wished for the Wishing Star to be closed."
No one breathed.
"The Wishing Star…became whole. Evil was trapped again behind the knots of celestial thread. But…" Master Cogworth grasped the edge of the podium, "The wish was weak, for the second star to right was not the true Wishing Star. It was then, that the prophesy…your prophesy…came to be…"
Twinkle, twinkle little star,
Darned to whole with loose threaded scar.
Ten centuries hence, once as long,
Resurrect star of the wrong.
Twinkle, twinkle little light,
For the children, skewed to fight.
Ariel squinted at Master Cogsworth. Alarmed by the profoundness of his speech, Ariel was nevertheless bemused by the prophesy's meaning. Eric and John seemed similarly lost.
"Beats me." Eric shrugged to John. "Hey Aquata – any idea?"
The whole auditorium was also expressing confusion. Dismissing his solemn bearing, Master Cogsworth rapped on the microphone.
"You! You! It's you students!"
Master Donald sniggered as Cogsworth leaned forward, furiously rephrasing. "The Wishing Star was scheduled to break after it was mended. Well break it has! Break it has! And it is bestowing a wish for the children, skewed to fight! Skewed! School of the Magically Skewed…you! Don't you see? The Wishing Star is bestowing a wish on all of the students of Fantasia's School of the Magically Skewed. So – you – can – protect – Fantasia!"
Something hissed offstage. Master Cogsworth clamped both hands over his mouth. He seemed on the verge of apologizing to whoever had hissed offstage, but the teachers were fast to shush any further indiscretions.
"Students." Dr. Sweet rose from his seat. He towered over Master Cogsworth. Normally, the wide, kind face had a mollifying effect – like putting on a Band-Aid – but the students were already shouting. "Students, there is no need to panic."
"Master Cogsworth!" Adam yelled, standing on his seat. "Protect Fantasia from what?"
"Why us?" Wailed Snow White, hugging her shoulders "What's happening?"
"ALA-KA-ZAM!"
Ariel covered her ears. Several students screamed as fireworks popped over their heads. When the smoke cleared, Master Merlin was frowning at the edge of the stage. His pet owl, Archimedes, was also frowning.
"All this befuddle! Pointless!" scolded Master Merlin, adjusting his triangular cap. "Pointless! Nothing has happened yet. But it is our duty to prepare you if something irregular does occur. Yes, as Master Cogsworth so eloquently blurted – "
The old professor and his owl glared at Master Cogsworth.
"—the Wishing Star has split. Now, our headmaster has witnessed the event and did not detect evil. However, as the prophesy indicated, you the skewed children are the defenders of Fantasia now. You are the protectors."
"But the Wishing Star will help you." continued Master Merlin before the second wave of panic could start, "Our headmaster has arranged for a ceremony – a ball as it were – for you to receive a gift from the Wishing Star."
"Yes!" pipped Cogsworth as the students calmed. Eager to redeem himself, Master Cogsworth cleared his throat. "Centuries ago, this school was castle to the kings and queens of Fantasia. But it was also a school. A school for magically skewed students. Didn't you ever wonder how the school earned it's strange name? Students were magically skewed because select students were bestowed magical objects and taught how to use them. The others were magical themselves. And students discovered how magically they were skewed by…"
Master Cogsworth glanced offstage before continuing. "The Magic Bag of Tricks."
"At the ceremony, you will reach into the Magic Bag of Tricks." Master Merlin said, ignoring Cogsworth's glare. "Some of you will assume magical ability. Some of you will receive magical objects. It is our job, to teach you how to use each. For the good of Fantasia."
Ariel could not believe what she was hearing. Slowly sitting back, she tried to process the information, but the assembly was coming to a close.
"I encourage you not to worry. Or worry your families." said Master Merlin. He attempted a comforting smile. "Trust in your teachers. All will make sense after the ceremony. Now, all that's taken care of…Master Cogsworth, any more announcements?"
"Just one." Said Cogworth, closely inspecting a roll of parchment. "Ah yes….Peter Pan and Jim Hawkins: report for detention assignments after school. Everyone dismissed."
