After ever after: Cedar's workshop

Cedar thinks about the apparent passing of the Blue fairy as she works in her inherited workshop as a

friend of a friend visits.

A few nails here… a splash of teak oil there and…

"Done!"

Cedar Wood stood fully up, proudly placing her hands on her hips admiring her work: a shining new

dining table. This commission was admittedly out of her comfort zone, she mostly crafted smaller

projects like wooden toys and funny clocks, but work was work! Besides this was special: Ashlynn Ella

had commissioned Cedar herself; she was oddly secretive of it though: something about running away

and living deep in the woods with Hunter.

Sounds like they found their own happily ever after, how romantic! Cedar couldn't help but sigh, seems

like everyone was getting happily ever afters all around her: the Wonderlandians were finally able to

move back to Wonderland, Blondie had her run in with the three bears and was now successfully

making new changes to her family's village, even Raven had escaped her destiny: Cedar had just gotten

an invitation to her and Dexter's wedding. She was happy for all of them, but she couldn't shake the feeling she was missing out, she could remember sitting in the principal's office getting the news like it was yesterday:

"Your destiny isn't lost, it's simply... altered, there are several ways to tell a story after all" Giles Grimm

tried to assure her, Milton Grimm however, didn't look very pleased.

"Fairy magic is fickle, Miss Wood. If it isn't used, it ceases, seems students not following their destiny

does have its faults"

"B-but" Cedar remembered stammering, not quite understanding why this was happening, she knew The

Blue fairy, she was one of her dad's best friends. She was there when Cedar was carved, they went to the

marionette theatre together, how could she just be… gone?

"But I never went against my destiny!" she insisted "I want to be the next Pinocchio!"

"Miss Wood. You are a Rebel; seems your actions speak louder than your intent."

The Grimm brothers' words spun and combined in her head, which was suddenly foggy from… she wasn't

quite sure anymore. Guilt? Grief?

"Now being a rebel doesn't mean you caused this"

"With the influx of rebels, fairies across the fairytale world have been reported missing"

"Correlation does not mean causation!"

"with no one to follow their destinies as intended, sensitive fairy magic is being wiped"

"There are still plenty of fairies, however"

Cedar wasn't sure how long she had sat there, or how long they spoke to her while she did so. All she

remembers is being ushered out of the room as Milton's words rung in her head:

"The school will assign you a replacement fairy, they will familiarize themselves with your story and act

accordingly. As well as a non-Blue fairy can"

Hm, what a jerk.

At least they kept their word. Ever since Cedar graduated, she has been given fairy after fairy to try out.

None of them lasted very long, no one could break her truth curse and usually quit after that, most of

them were already assigned other destinies and simply… didn't have time for hers. Cedar appreciated

them however, they were trying to help even when they didn't have to… or couldn't.

Cedar practically jumped out of her splinters when she heard the door knock, who could be visiting at

this hour? Curiosity and courtesy took over and she opened the door.

"Farrah?"

Farrah Good fairy stood in the doorframe with a shy smile "Hello Cedar, it's been a while!"

"um… yeah it has, come in. Are you here to pick up Ashlynn's table?"

"Yes! Well, yes and no, I actually came to talk to you, I'm your new fairy!"

Oh! That was unexpected. Cedar was taken back, she requested to no longer be given fairies since none

of them ever worked on her, did she forget to send the letter?

"New Fairy? But I stopped asking for fairies a while back"

"Oh, I know, but I just couldn't stand the idea that you've spent all this time without any closure to your

story. I know I'm not The Blue Fairy, and I never will be, but I'm your friend and I'm here to help"

Farrah mentioning The Blue Fairy by name made Cedar grimace, it still hurt, but she can't let that get to

her now, she smiled.

"Thank you, Farrah I just… No fairy has been able to help I'm afraid. I guess my story just needs… specific

magic, besides aren't you busy with Ashlynn?"

"Well, Ashlynn's story is… being told in a very unique way, definitely not now I expected, but believe me,

I'm still a big part of it. That doesn't mean I can't be a part of yours too though, it's the least I could do

for a friend" Cedar couldn't help but chuckle, sounds like everything was working in Ashlynn and

Hunter's favor, and Farrah was such a good friend in the past, maybe Cedar should give it one last try.

"Okay, one more" Cedar finally agreed "If it doesn't work out, that's alright, I'm still glad you came,

Farrah. I wish my story would begin."

Farrah grinned and branded her wand.

"Wait!"

Cedar stopped Farrah prematurely, her magic always expires at 12, she'll have to be more specific.

"I wish my story would begin, but… when the clock strikes twelve the day I prove I know what it takes to

be human, then... uh..."

Once she's a real girl, she'll be curse free anyways, that's how it worked right? Seems like Farrah knew what Cedar was planning,

with a wave and a quick tap, the wand brandished a sparkling blue sheen. The woodshop was filled with

incredible hues of purples and shimmering blues and whites, Cedar couldn't help herself and reached

out to catch one in her hand, it disappeared into her wooden skin like a snowflake. The room grew dim

once again as they dissipated, Cedar blinked, confused.

"What… what now?"

Farrah tilted her head "Well, how do you feel?"

"… normal, nothing out of the ordinary" Cedar looked down at herself, she was greeted with the same

wooden hands, arms and legs, she expected such, she'd have to earn that once her story was done.

Farrah pressed on "How is your whole… situation? Is it nice waiting for your story to start?"

Huh? That was an odd thing to ask, Farrah's odd question sent a pang of annoyance to Cedar's

very core. She furrowed her brow "Yeah, it's great waiting for so long" she lied.

Wait, lied?

Cedar looked shocked at her own words "wait, wh- did I day that?"

Farrah bounced in place giddily "It worked! Your curse is broken!"

Broken? Cedar didn't know what to say, she was so taken back by her own lie. What else does this

mean? Could she do other things like mouth off at people and do mischievous things she couldn't do

before? There was so much to explore now.

"Farrah" Cedar finally said "I.." she didn't know how else to put it into words, so instead she gave Farrah

a tight hug "Thank you, this means so much, and that's the truth"

Farrah smiled "I'm so glad I could help, Cedar. If you ever need help in the future, you know where to

find me"

The two continued chatting for a bit afterwards, Cedar would have to get the hang of lying now that she

wasn't cursed, it will be nice exploring a part of her that she never knew she had, at least she hoped it

would. Farrah and the table poofed out of her cottage soon after. Cedar decided to get some rest after

that, it would be a big day of experimenting and exploring for her tomorrow.