Chapter 11
To Locate a Fairy
That following Monday, Kendal returned with Vanessa to school. Vanessa really did not feel this was the right place to be now but Kendal insisted they do all their planning in this world.
"So, the charm I am about to use on the school and outside it that will make everyone forget you were ever gone, Kendal. All you need to do is act as though everything is normal," Adora explained that morning just outside Sheerwood High. "The only thing is my spell will not affect anyone who has crossed over between worlds."
"Okay, so that would exclude Walter, Ian, Mr. Evans, Aria's parents…" Kendal shot Vanessa a sharp look before adding, "my mother."
Vanessa shrugged and looked down, mumbling, "It was Aria's idea."
"It doesn't matter now," Kendal grumbled and then asked Adora, "That's it, right?"
"Oh, and Mr. Conner," Vanessa recalled.
"Why the hell does Mr. Conner know about the other world?" Kendal demanded.
Vanessa sighed. "We thought maybe since he liked Myrtle, true love's kiss might unfreeze her."
"Seriously, they've known each other less than a year and haven't even gone out on one date," Kendal pointed out.
"Well, Derek and Aria weren't going out when he kissed her and it still worked," Vanessa argued.
"That's different. In Aria's story that kiss was supposed to save her. Besides, true love's kiss is for sleeping curses, not frozen people."
Vanessa huffed. "Sorry, but you weren't here to tell us we were doing it wrong."
Kendal sighed. "I'm here now and we will figure out how to fix this. It won't be easy but there has to be a way."
Vanessa muttered, just soft enough so Kendal couldn't hear her, "Well, looks like the boss is back." She then turned to Adora and asked, "So what's the official story for Aria and Derek?"
"They both went on one of those foreign exchange programs. Aria went to Czechoslovakia, and Derek, Yemen."
Vanessa frowned. "Those aren't typical exchange countries. Usually it's like Spain or France. I don't most people even know where those places are. I know I don't."
"Most people have actually glanced at a world map, Vanessa," Kendal grumbled.
Vanessa rolled her eyes but could not help but smile. It was nice to have her friend back even if they didn't always get along.
Adora sighed. "I just went with what looked interesting on that internet page. Part of me just wishes I could get her parents to believe the same."
Without any words, Vanessa merely dropped her head down. She could not even imagine how Aria's parents reacted to the news of their daughter's attack, especially not knowing if she could be saved.
Kendal went ahead to the classroom. Vanessa walked in the school quietly after Adora finished her spell. She watched as her classmates chatted amongst each other so carefree. Vanessa wished she could feel that too. In a way, life seemed simpler before they discovered the other world.
"Hey, Vanessa."
Vanessa looked down the hall and saw Ian had called her.
"Hey," Vanessa answered quietly, feeling dreadful.
Ian walked over to her but it took him a moment to gather up what he wanted to say. Finally, he began with, "So… I know Derek and Aria aren't really on foreign exchange programs. What really happened?"
Vanessa looked down as she slowly began, "Last time we were there, Aria was attacked by this Ice Queen."
Ian tried to meet her eyes and asked, "When you say attacked, you mean…"
"She's frozen," Vanessa clarified, "like what happened to Myrtle."
"Does that mean she's… she's de…"
"No!" Vanessa shook her head quickly before he could even finish the word. "She's just… well, we're going to find a way to save her."
"Right… of course," Ian muttered in attempt to sound convincing and then asked, "What about Derek?"
"Well, Galatia declared war on the Ice Queen and any kingdoms supporting her, so Derek volunteered to fight in their army."
Ian's eyes widened.
"Yeah," Vanessa muttered, not surprised by his reaction. "He obviously wasn't thinking clearly so…"
They both remained silent for a moment. Vanessa took in a breath and asked quietly, "So have you talked to Kendal since she got back."
Ian shook his head. "No. She's the one that ended things so if she wants to talk to me then…"
"Well, you're the one that left her with the ultimatum," Vanessa reminded him. "Ultimatums always end in break-ups. They just have bad karma."
"I guess," Ian murmured. "But she still made her decision."
"She's back now," Vanessa pointed out, "and I guarantee you after we get Aria back Kendal won't leave for that world again."
"Yeah, if we get Aria back," Ian muttered, sounding doubtful.
Vanessa held her head down but said firmly, "We will get Aria back."
xXx
For lunch that day, Vanessa met up with Kendal and Walter in the library. Kendal had a large sheet of white paper so she could map everything out about the different stories.
"So Sahrissa was initially supposed to be Cinderella in her story back when she lived in Bellaire," Kendal analyzed, marking Sahrissa's name and then drawing an arrow, "then when Myrtle posed as Sahrissa's Fairy Godmother, she sent Sahrissa to Ventura, where she married the king and became the Evil Queen for Snow White."
"Yes," Vanessa agreed, recalling what Aria had figured out.
"And since Cinderella did not marry the Prince of Bellaire, her stepsister did instead," Kendal went on. "That's interesting."
Walter shrugged. "I guess when Myrtle got involved with the story, it messed a lot of things up."
"Maybe…" Kendal began but then suggested, "I actually think Sahrissa's story was doomed even before Myrtle came along."
Vanessa looked at her curiously. "How so?"
Kendal pointed her pen where she jotted down Sahrissa's family members. "Her stepmother. Yes, she was wicked in the story, Cinderella, but there's no version where she wants Cinderella dead. Something went wrong the moment Sahrissa's stepmother became the Snow Queen, or well Ice Queen."
"Okay, well the Ice Queen is who we're fighting against now so isn't it more important to focus on her?" Vanessa asked.
"Actually, I think it's important to know all the details," Kendal went on. "Since Sahrissa was originally supposed to be Cinderella that confirms she was once good and was supposed to remain good. Since we know that, we also know that there's a chance she can still be good."
Vanessa raised her eyebrow and glanced at Walter, commenting, "I'm surprised you of all people came to that conclusion."
"Yeah, I surprised myself too," Kendal muttered and then added more vocally, "but Sahrissa is the Ice Queen's enemy and if we're going to defeat the Ice Queen we'll need Sahrissa on our side."
"Okay," Vanessa uttered with a doubtful breath, "but how do you think we can sway her to the good side?"
"Maybe she just needs a little guidance," Walter suggested with a shrug.
Kendal slapped her hand on the table. "Right, that's all she needs is guidance! Who better to get that from than a Fairy Godmother?"
Vanessa still did not appear convinced. "Yeah, but in case you've forgotten, Myrtle's not exactly in condition to give guidance now."
"I'm not talking about Myrtle," Kendal informed you. "You said Myrtle only posed as the Fairy Godmother for Sahrissa so that means there must have been a fairy that was supposed to be the actual Fairy Godmother in her story. We just need to find her and maybe she can convince Sahrissa to help us. We'll cross worlds today after school."
xXx
Before the three of them left for downtown, they asked Adora if she knew who the Fairy Godmother was that was originally supposed to be for Sahrissa. Adora recalled a fairy named Shayla that worked in the region that contained Bellaire.
Naturally the first place they went to when they crossed worlds was Greg's cottage. The wizard always seemed to have the magical solution to help them. However, he was hardly ever home.
"Why is he never here?" Kendal grumbled as they stepped foot inside.
Walter sighed. "At least we can still come in."
They walked into his office where he kept all his spell books.
"So how are we going to find this Shayla?" Vanessa asked.
Kendal pulled out one of Greg's maps and laid it across the table. She then glanced at the stack of books and commented, "There must be some sort of locater spell we can use to find her."
Walter pulled out one of Greg's spell books from off the shelf and began to look through it. Fortunately the back had an index so it saved Walter some time.
"According to this all you have to do is place your hand on the map and think of who you want to find," Walter analyzed, still scanning the pages. "Anyone with magic should be able to perform the spell."
"Okay." Kendal placed her hand over the map and closed her eyes. A spark burst from her finger and burned a part of the map. "I guess that's where she is. That's just outside Bellaire."
Vanessa studied the map for a moment. "So every time you use a locater spell it leaves a burn mark on that map."
Kendal looked at all the other burn spots and sighed. "I suppose so. Hopefully Greg won't notice one more. We need to go now."
Kendal motioned for them to stand next to her.
Vanessa raised her eyebrow. "Are you going to try to magically transport us there?"
"I've been able to get myself places," Kendal pointed out. "There's no reason I can't get us all somewhere. Besides, we don't have time to waste."
Walter and Vanessa stood on each side of her and Kendal waved her arms swiftly. They appeared in front of what appeared to be a tall tower of straw. Kendal glanced to her left and saw Walter still with her but Vanessa was gone.
"Where's Vanessa?" Walter demanded.
"I don't know!" Kendal panicked putting her hand to her head. "With any luck she's still at Greg's."
The two looked about their surroundings. Kendal wondered aloud, "Where's Shayla? I know this area. She should be here."
"Let's just go back to Greg's and see if Vanessa is there," Walter insisted.
Kendal shook her head. "Clearly I'm not doing well with spells I haven't used very much. I think it's better we find Shayla first."
Walter pointed at the straw tower. "What is that?"
Kendal looked at it curiously. "I don't know. It doesn't look natural does it?"
The two continued to stare at it and saw a spot appear to push forward.
"Something's in there," Walter said, taking a step back.
Kendal, on the other hand, stepped forward, curiously. "That must be why whatever this thing is was built, to keep something in. I wonder what."
This time when the straw wall pushed towards them, Kendal heard a voice, a very familiar voice.
"Kendal! Walter!" Vanessa cried out. "Where am I?"
Kendal gasped in realization of what she had done. She had accidently transported Vanessa within the straw and trapped her there.
