Author's Note: This was basically Tootie and the OCs with a little FOP thrown in for good measure. But it was a fun jaunt and is quite long, the longest Deb one-shot to date. I had to wonder why Tootie the half faerie had a faerie godparent and wasn't learning magic on her own. Then this came about.

Faerie Princess Hour

"Today, I'm gonna teach you magic," Deborvak said. Tootie, wearing yellow rubber gloves up to her elbows, a drawn expression, and her backpack sloughed over one shoulder, trudged into her room. Her knee length black and white skirt was wrinkled and spotted from kneeling, and her sweater vest sported a new tear on the left . The collar was ruffled and Deborvak casually touched his wand to mend her outfit. She groaned and flopped onto the bed. The book bag flew up a couple inches and settled back down on her back, smacking her spine. She buried her face in the pillow and concentrated on melding into the bed.

"I know you heard me," he said and she turned. Rolling over onto her stomach, she dug the backpack's strips off her shoulder and flung it onto the floor. He raised his eyebrows but didn't comment. His gaze was keen and she winced, looking away. There was an intense focus present and he stared at her like a hawk.

While Tootie wore her usual attire, Deborvak did not. Deborvak's outfit changed every day, though where he kept his clothing was a mystery. Today, he wore an amethyst shirt with wide sleeves and embroidered golden thread forming circles meeting near his wrists, then another band near his neck. There was a strange insignia on his breast, what looked like two dragons glaring out and floating over an empire. The shirt fell below his waist and he donned obsidian calf length pants ending with rawhide black boots. The insignia disturbed her a little, though she couldn't say why. It didn't remind her of Fairy World that was for damn sure.

"I heard you," she replied, groaning. "I'm not in the mood, Deb. I'm tired and I have homework ."

"Homework can wait," he said. "I've been remiss in teaching you magic, which was the whole point in Jorgen assigning me to you."

"I thought the point was that Jorgen screwed up and had to give me someone, even though he'd delayed for years and pretended I didn't exist since I was half fey?" she said.

"No," he said. He stared and she winced, wishing she could yank her gaze away and unable to move.

"I can't put off my homework any longer," Tootie said and, with great effort, wrenched her gaze. "It's five o'clock. I spent two hours doing Vicky's chores."

"It can wait," he said. "There are ten hours of night."

"I'm not doing my homework at midnight," she said. "You're ridiculous."

Leaning over, she grabbed her backpack and it zoomed past her outstretched fingers. Looking up, she shuddered. A black aura clung to him for a second and then it was gone.

"Wanda said your magic isn't like theirs, that their magic bounces right off," Tootie said.

"I am not like them, this is true," he said. "You will learn magic now, Tootie, or I'll set your book bag on fire and you'll figure out how to put it out with magic…and no instruction."

"Why the sudden demand?" she said, shrugging. "Is Jorgen coming to test me on how much I've learned?"

"No," he said. "I thought it was about time I stopped goofing around and came here to do what I intended to do."

"I thought you liked goofing around," she said. "And creating mischief."

"Oh, I do," he said and the twinkle was back in his eyes before the stoic demeanor replaced it. "But not now."

From thin air, he produced a small wand. It looked like a toy wand, complete with squeaking rubber instead of wood, and the star on top smiled. Deborvak rolled his eyes.

"Jorgen insisted you have to use that," he said. "In case you get the urge to run Vicky into a tree repeatedly, you can't. The amount of magic the wand can channel is limited and thus, any damage you can do is easily compensated for. It's a shame, though. I'd really like your first exercise to be turning Vicky into the Indy 500…the road."

"I don't really have a choice about this, do I?" she said.

"No," he said and revolved the backpack around in the air. "It's a nice bag, by the way. Canvas? Canvas burns very well."

"All right, fine. The sooner we start, the sooner we're done, right?" she said.

"No," he said so sharply she cut off her breath. "Not right, Tootie. You treat this seriously and you learn what you're supposed to, or Jorgen will find a way to wipe your memory and drain you. It's happened before. Why do you think half breeds are so rare?"

"Jorgen has…" Words failed her and he inclined his head.

"Since setting your backpack on fire doesn't seem sufficient motivation for you, particularly after Vicky's acts, I have a better idea, one closer to home," he said. "Normally, Jorgen would prattle on about proper technique, and he'd probably like me to use a simple spell to teach you, like changing your clothing. But really, why should you care about changing your clothing if you have a much better motivator."

He smiled. "Remember what I said about how their magic doesn't affect mine? Keep that in mind- I'll leave the spell half done, so you can reverse it, but only you."

Tootie folded her arms across her chest and stared at him. "What? You'll only set half the bag on fire?"

"No, no," he said. "This concerns a matter much closer to your heart."

His smile turned malicious. "I'm putting a spell on Timmy."

Her mouth dropped. "Won't Cosmo and Wanda-"

"Doesn't matter. If I set a spell on Vicky, you might be inclined to let it stay," he said. "Cosmo and Wanda can be pissed all they want. This is a learning experience. They'll understand. I won't put Timmy in any life threatening danger…or will I?"

"You wouldn't!" she said. "I don't even know how to use magic!"

"Then I guess you'll find out," he said. "The best way to figure out how to do something is to learn it on your own, in a moment of crisis. That way, you'll never forget it."

"You're not going to give me hints?" she groaned.

"I didn't say that," he said. "But I won't be a crutch. Right now, you have the wrong mindset. You think you can't solve any of your problems with magic, or, if you can, using my magic is fine. You need to become self-reliant. You need to become more powerful, Tootie, because I won't always be around, and let me tell you bluntly- full blooded faeries do not like half blooded ones. If you can show them you pose a threat, they'll leave you alone.

"So lesson for the day- save Timmy using magic by forcing your brain to reroute its normal thinking pattern and believing you can do it. Right now you don't, and that's a big mistake."

He shook his head. "But enough prattle. I will appear if you call my full name, not any derivative, and only three times. Think of them as video game hints per level, if you want. I won't give you any magical items- it's up to you to modify regular items or channel raw power on your own into whatever you think suits the situation."

Tootie groaned. "You're kidding me, Deb. I've never used magic before and this is what you want me to do? What happened to Magic 101?"

"This is Magic 101," he said. "Use magic to protect what's yours, or suffer the consequences."

He brightened. "I wouldn't ask you to do if I knew you weren't eminently capable. You just need to stop thinking things are impossible. And don't worry. I'm sure Cosmo and Wanda would have my head if I let Timmy die."

Deborvak smiled and waved his wand. "For reality altering magic, wands really are best."

Timmy Turner wasn't doing his homework. Cosmo had encouraged him to play the not-study game and they were in the middle of a challenging boss battle. Wanda had stepped out for a moment with Poof and the lights flickered. He and Cosmo exchanged a glance, shrugged, and continued playing. Then the lights disappeared, as did the video game system, and Timmy's bedroom transformed.

It turned into a stone tower, high in the clouds, with a single inset window looking out onto the blue sky. His bed changed into a pink four-poster and his belongings went up in smoke, replaced by a dresser, a wall length mirror, and a make up table. Timmy's hands felt empty without the controller, and Cosmo cracked up. Confused, Timmy abandoned his spot on the floor and walked over to the new mirror.

"Wow, Timmy, nice dress!" Cosmo catcalled and Timmy turned bright crimson. Out of nowhere, he now wore a frilly crème dress with a flowing train, golden earrings, and a tiara. The tiara had purple jewels inset, and he wore a long chain necklace with a ruby pendant on his chest. His mouth dropped and Cosmo pounded the air in hysterics. Shuddering, he lifted the dress to discover he had on pink satin slippers. His hair had grown past his shoulders and had three braids ending in the middle of the back. He had to pat himself down to make sure he was still a 'he'.

"Cosmo, what did you do to me?" he shrieked.

"Oh, nothing, Timantha," he said and cracked up. "You should ask Trixie out like that. Maybe she likes boys with jewelry…and corsets!"

"I wish everything was back to normal!" Timmy cried. The corset was constricting the airflow to his chest.

Cosmo held up his wand and it fizzled out. "Nope. Must be someone else's magic."

"Fix it!" he said. "Before something-"

Perfume filled the air and Timmy choked. He sniffled himself- now he smelled like lilacs. Lipstick covered his lips a deep red, eyeliner matched his eyes, and mascara completed the look. Timmy squeaked. He'd never been so mortified in his life, excepting perhaps when he'd lost his pants in the pool and everyone had seen him naked.

"…worse happens…" Timmy completed.

Wanda and Poof returned, Wanda bringing a whole store of diapers with her. She stared around the room and Timmy grabbed her by the shirt.

"Fix it! Fix it now! Cosmo can't! It just happened and I swear I didn't want this! FIX IT!" he screamed and collapsed, the corset preventing him from breathing properly. Panting, he pleaded with her and Wanda frowned, staring at Cosmo.

"You couldn't reverse it?" she said.

"No, it's dragon magic," Cosmo said. "But doesn't Timmy look good as a princess?"

Wanda looked out the window and a purple dragon flew past, winking at them.

"Deborvak!" she shrieked and Deborvak appeared in the room. He grinned at Timmy.

"You make an excellent damsel in distress," he said. "Better than I expected. Then again, from the amount of cross dressing you do, you think you'd stop freaking out every time someone shoved a dress on you."

"You did this," Wanda snapped. "Undo it. Now."

"Can't," he said. "Or, to be more accurate, won't. Tootie needs to learn magic, and the only way to do that is to force her, since she doesn't seem inclined to do it herself. I'm sorry-"

He cast a look over at Timmy and snorted, "Okay, no, not sorry, but Timmy is the only person in the world she'd be willing to make a fool of herself over. Putting Timmy in danger-"

Wanda opened her mouth and Deb overrode her.

"Don't worry," he said. "He's not in any real danger. I know Da Rules. Worse comes to worst, you guys'll be stuck without electricity for a couple hours while Tootie figures out her way past the magical puzzles I set for her. If it makes you feel any better, I brought some things for you guys to do while you wait."

"I'm being rescued by Tootie?" Timmy snapped.

"Yes and no," Deborvak said and his eyes twinkled. "Tootie thinks she's rescuing you, but you were never at risk. Only in the last few minutes of the spell will you actually have to play the part; in the meanwhile, you can enjoy this box of chocolates I brought you, you can play with this giant ball of string I brought you, and you…you can do the homework you haven't been doing all week."

Deborvak's smile turned catty. "By the by, Timmy, Wanda's not as stupid as you think she is. No one gets that many Fs and zeroes in homework if they've been doing the work."

"Enjoy the spell!" he popped off and Wanda stared at the chocolate in her hands. Cosmo had already started playing with the giant ball of string and batting it around the room.

"Um…" Timmy said and Wanda glared at him.

"He's right," she said. "For once. Do your homework, Timmy."

"Like this?" he said.

She held up her wand and it fizzled out too. "Yes, like that."

Timmy Turner's house had changed into an old stone castle, complete with a moat. Alligators snapped at her and the drawbridge was closed, which meant she'd either have to walk across or, in figure out a way to get the drawbridge to lower. Since the castle was entirely surrounded by the moat, this left out a side entrance. Vines covered the castle's surface, but were inaccessible from the street. The castle was at least ten stories high and she figured Timmy was probably in the highest tower, facing the yard instead of the street.

The castle had quite a few windows, without glass, but nothing she could reach without a grapple hook. She could ask Deb for advice, but he'd told her she only had three hints, and she didn't want to use them right away.

She could call the drawbridge, which should be the easiest route. Then again, she didn't know if Deb would allow that. This was her first trial, so he probably hadn't upped the ante and made the drawbridge evaporate as soon as it hit the water. Except…she felt stupid. Why should she use magic when there was probably a non-magical way to do things?

Nonetheless, she removed her wand, which squeaked, and then squeaked herself. Her normal outfit had been replaced by a blue knight's attire, complete with a plumed hat. The wand winked and she sighed, pointing it at the drawbridge. Nothing happened.

"Gonna have to be more clever than that, Toot-Toot," Deborvak said, his bodiless voice echoing. "Sure, you can lower the drawbridge, but so can the Turners. Plus, that's a rather mundane way to do it. Think fantastical. Think of what you'd have liked as a little girl."

"I'm not going to conjure a unicorn," she said derisively."

"I never said you had to," he said. "Here's a hint for free. My family is standing around, waiting to see if you'll use them. One form, one potential aid. Unicorn, dragon, and faerie. One other faerie besides me, that is. But Novia…is a little different. Use them how you will, but remember they have minds of their own, and may or may not be inclined to help you."

"I wish-"

"No, no, no wishing," he said. "You call one of them. Without their name. Novia won't come, because that's not her true name. Figure out their names, how to call them, and then what to do once you have them."

Groaning, she looked around and the sense of presence vanished. A dragon could break down the drawbridge or fly up to the highest tower, but she knew if Deb didn't want her to simply let down the bridge, flying was out of the question. Novia was an unknown quality, especially since Deb had never mentioned her before, and that left one creature.

Tootie filled her mind with the traditional picture of a white unicorn and nothing happened. Irritated, she gritted her teeth and waved her wand to produce the unicorn. Still nothing. The wand didn't react at all.

"Oh, one more thing," he said. "You might want to keep in mind color coordination. My birth daughter shares my hair color, but my adopted daughter does not. Nor does my half sister."

"Oh!" she said.

"That's it for the free hints, Tootie my dear," he said. "You're on your own figuring out how Aurelia and Novia look."

Swallowing hard, she pictured, not a white unicorn, but a purple one, with a flowing mane and a shiny black tipped horn. Waving her wand, she heard a pop and opened her eyes. A unicorn smiled at her and lowered its head, then bounced back and forth on its heels. Compared to Deb's aura, which was usually dark bordering on grey for neutral, this unicorn had a cheerful, happy disposition and an orange, nearly yellow aura. She also had large, feathery black wings, which she unfolded and nudged Tootie with.

"Dad said this was close enough," she said. "I'm Vela."

"Short for what?" she said and Vela smirked.

"Oh, that's not going to happen," she said. "Now, you need a way into the castle, right? I can fly, but if you wanted flight, you would have gone with the dragon."

"What can unicorns do?" Tootie said, eying the drawbridge. "I guess you can batter it down."

Vela lowered her head and touched her horn to the water. The alligators screeched and swam away. Vela cackled, started to dive in after them, and changed her mind. Shaking her head, she dug at the ground with her hooves and eyed Tootie.

"Unicorn horns purify water," she said. "The good ones do, anyway. Now the water isn't poisonous-"

"It was poisonous?" Tootie shrieked.

Vela eyed her strangely. "You have my father as a godfather, right?"

"Yes…" Tootie said. "He was going to poison me?"

"I'm sure you wouldn't have died from it," Vela said. "You can cross the moat, if you wish, and dirty your, oh, wow, Dad went all out. Anyway, you can dirty your smock, if you want, or you can climb the vines into the castle. Your choice. Anyway, my work here is done."

Tootie opened her mouth and no sound came out. Vela vanished and Tootie eyed the water.

"You were really going to poison me?" she called out.

There was no response and she huffed, staring at the castle. The drawbridge fell and beyond it was a brick wall. Rolling her eyes, she resigned herself to walking through the moat, which had crystal clear water now. The idea Deb had intended to poison her gave her the chills, but she had no one's word besides Vela's on it. Vela seemed trustworthy, as trustworthy as anyone with Deb as a father could be, but since Deb had told her to be more self reliant…

The vines reached for her and gently pushed her onto the wall. To her surprise, the vines were soft and spongy, and cushioned her grip. Looking up, she groaned. This climb might take forever. Unless…this was another test. Climbing would certainly take forever, particularly if she didn't use magic.

"How do I summon the dragon?" Tootie called.

"No," Deborvak's disembodied voice called. "I don't want you to call her."

"Then what do you want?"

"You can call Aura, if you really want…but there will be a penalty."

"Like what?" she huffed.

"Call her and see, but you can't keep climbing that vine. I told you to stop thinking mundanely, and you're not listening."

"You're not really helping!" Tootie snapped.

"I'm not supposed to help," he said. "You're supposed to do it on your own."

"Give me a hint!" she said. There was a pause and she groaned. "Deborvakovik."

He appeared before her and conjured a fireball. Then he fluttered his wings, smacked the vines with his tail, and cut through a line of them. The line disappeared, reducing the castle's height by a fraction. The fireball also brought down the vines, along with allowing the highest tower to become slightly closer to her reach. A wind picked up and his wings shook in it.

"The Turners' house is only two stories," he said. "Magic has made it ten. Some of these stories may not be what they appear to be."

"In other words, they're illusions?" she said.

"Yes," he said. "Your hint's up, Toot-Toot. Enjoy."

"Wait, are they all illusions?" she called.

"That's for you to find out," he said. "One more clue and I'll count it against you."

Groaning, she resigned herself to staring at the vine wall. Summoning the dragon would count against her; she could either equip herself with wings, which she didn't know how to do, cut a swath through the vines, or set them on fire. From what she'd read, fires were the easiest spells to cast, and the hardest to control. A dragon could set things on fire, depending on the Elemental alignment. She had a feeling whichever choice she made impacted the next step.

A red dragon flew overhead and screeched, blasting fire at the topmost tower. Tootie screamed, grabbing the vines, which blackened and caused her to slide down a few steps. The fire hadn't been anywhere near her. She wasn't sure if the dragon was part of Deb's family or not, but since it was menacing Timmy and not looking at her, she didn't think it was. Timmy screamed and she had to decide now, not pontificate on it. There was one dragon, and Deb said faerie magic didn't work on dragons, only other dragon magic.

Deborvak had also emphasized his daughter's name and Tootie tried to remember her Latin. Aura was 'gold'. Aurelia…was a golden dragon?

Gritting her teeth, she waved her wand and the dragon appeared before her. The vines crumpled and Tootie fell backward, landing on a golden dragon's back. The dragon was easily the size of an entire warehouse and her tail swished back and forth in the air. The tower suddenly gained height, turning from ten stories to thirty, and Aurelia's bony spine poked Tootie's soft skin. Grimacing, she straightened up and inspected her.

Aurelia put forth light and goodness like a brilliant fire, but the effect was muted. Normally, it should have made Tootie jubilant and ready to walk on air, but instead, it was confined to only Aurelia.

"Was this my punishment?" Tootie said, looking up at the castle.

No, just a side effect, Aurelia sent.

Aurelia had two rows of bony ridges along her back and golden yellow scales larger than Tootie's hand. She hovered, flapped her wings, and ascended. The wings were so long, they obliterated the other houses from view. Then again, Tootie had a feeling only those within the spell could see it. Aurelia's eyes were yellow with a hint of black; she swiveled her head so her right eye was upon her.

Father thought you might panic.

"But you're going to help me, right?" Tootie asked and squared her jaw. "You won't let that mean red dragon attack Timmy."

You mean Fyraka?

"Another relative?" Tootie asked and groaned.

Yes and no. I assume you want me to attack him.

"You're a dragon and he's a dragon," Tootie said. "Maybe you two can talk it out."

Aurelia groaned and flicked her tail back and forth. I am also a child. Fyraka is an adult.

"You can keep him away, though, right?" Tootie said. "Poof's capable of big magic and he's a baby."

Father said you were impetuous. I'm not allowed to give any hints, unless it's directly related to my draconic nature, not to any decisions you should make.

"You don't think I should attack him," Tootie said. "But you're not allowed to tell me otherwise."

Not without using one of your precious hints, no. And you're down to two now, isn't that right?

"Yes…" Tootie said. "Can you tell me without telling me?"

No. You're just lucky Father's being lenient. The person he learned magic from would have never given him this much leeway.

"Doesn't seem like leeway to me," Tootie muttered. Louder, she said, "I thought he learned his magic from Jorgen."

Faerie magic doesn't affect dragon magic. Father is part dragon. How could Jorgen have taught him anything?

"I'm stalling," Tootie said and Aurelia inclined her head in agreement. "Can you fly up and distract Fyraka without fighting him?"

Aurelia sighed. You showed such promise, too.

Without another word, she shot into the air and to Fyraka's height. The tower grew taller and Tootie had a split second view of an irritated Timmy before the red dragon was before them. Cosmo, Wanda, and Poof were whisked away and Tootie stared at Fyraka, who was smaller than Aurelia. He was large, compared to an animal, sure, but compared to Aurelia, he was about three quarters her size. He also appeared to be a different species, longer and more sinewy.

Fyraka blew a fire ring around her and it vanished, much like Cosmo and Wanda's spells did around Deb. Tootie blinked.

You should have left the dragon alone, Tootie. He wasn't what he appeared to be.

"The dragon's not a dragon at all?" Tootie said blankly.

Aurelia closed her eyes and let Fyraka smack her with his tail. The instant the blow connected, however, she flew to the side and it grazed her; she ducked low and, generating a tremendous gust, flung Tootie backward into the castle. The walls evaporated and then reappeared, sealing Tootie into a large stone chamber with a high vaulted ceiling and a chandelier with candles in it. She didn't have much time to contemplate the room; a pale fist came out of nowhere and seized her.

"The vines weren't your punishment," a woman with a curved face said. Her ears were pointed and her brown, almost black eyes were cold and cruel. "Fyraka, heaven knows, wasn't your punishment either. Aurelia wasn't impressed and I can't blame her. You don't think on your feet, do you, child?"

Tootie swallowed hard; the woman wore all black, not leather because that would have been too obvious, but a non-reflective cloth that looked seamless. Her black dragon wings fluttered and, unlike Deb, she didn't have a tail in that form. However, her teeth were sharp, like fangs, and Tootie flinched. The woman's long black hair was wrapped tight in a bun behind her head and she wore no jewelry. She had moved like a viper, too. Tootie shuddered.

"Who are you?" Tootie asked. "And how am I supposed to use magic to get rid of you?"

The woman laughed harshly. "Me? You're going to use magic to get rid of me? My niece was right. You really are impetuous."

"You're Deb's half sister?" Tootie said in shock. "But I thought you were supposed to help me."

"Actually, I believe Deborvak said 'potential aid'," Novia said. "Along with 'may or may not be inclined to help you'. My nieces are lightsiders, by and large. I am not."

"But you're not an anti faerie," Tootie said. "Your skin-"

"Isn't blue, I know," Novia said. "Deborvak is not from Fairy World. Nor am I. Deborvak allowed me to choose the appropriate punishment."

She released her and allowed her to stand upright. Waving a wand, she produced copious amounts of grey smoke and Tootie coughed, grabbing her wand too. The smoke was gone like it had never been, but, in its place, was a forest on fire. Tootie coughed again and her legs felt like someone had stabbed them a thousand times over. She crumpled and coughed, her lungs harsh and scratchy, unable to draw proper breath.

The forest before her was vast, and it looked like the flames reached to the heavens. Deborvak appeared.

"I didn't think she'd go that route," he said and winced. "Bad memories, but thanks, sis. I just wanted to let you know you can call on Vela again, if you need to. Aura isn't real fond of you right now, but Vela might be helpful. She'll be more of a guide than what she did before, though."

Tootie coughed and Deborvak frowned.

"Picture warmth spreading throughout your body and every passageway in your body clear, especially your legs," he said. "This hint is free, 'cuz Novia hit you with a double whammy."

"What-"

"Don't talk," he replied. "Just think. Imagine yourself hale and hearty. Do it now, before the poison really sets in."

"Poison?" she said.

"Déjà vu. Novia is an assassin, Toot. But she wouldn't have killed you either," he said. "Now, Heal yourself and face the forest with Vela."

Timmy hadn't been able to see much from his increasingly high vantage point. He also hadn't been able to do much, either, with Wanda glaring at him and forcing him to do his homework. When the red dragon had shot up out of nowhere, Timmy had yelped, but Cosmo and Wanda weren't concerned. Poof was down for his afternoon nap, after being sorely puzzled by Timmy's outfit and the whole situation, and Cosmo and Wanda were relaxing.

"I thought dragons ate faeries," Timmy snapped.

"Oh, they do," Wanda said. She, along with Cosmo, had changed their outfits to suit the mood. Instead of being restricted in a bun, her hair was loose and flowing down to her shoulders. She wore a yellow Medieval dress; her crown had changed into a tiara too, with pink jewels to match her eyes. At the moment, she was reading a book (and watching Timmy carefully) with Cosmo toying with her hair.

"But that's not a dragon," Cosmo said. He was wearing the skintight black pants of the age, along with, ahem, a lack of other things from the age as well. Timmy was trying to avert his gaze. His green shirt was open at the chest and the ties dangled over Wanda's head.

"If it's not a dragon, then what is it?" Timmy snapped, churlish because his godparents were forcing him to do his homework for once. That and he was wearing a dress.

"It's a faerie," Cosmo and Wanda responded. "In dragon form."

"What the heck is taking Tootie so long to rescue me?" he grumbled. "Can't the dragon at least be real?"

"Sport," Wanda said and then paused. Confused, Timmy looked up from his homework to discover Cosmo had stolen a kiss and his fingers slipped through her curls. She pushed him away.

"Deborvak wouldn't have left us with a real dragon," Wanda said. "The whole goal is for Tootie to fight her way here, and faerie magic can't affect dragons. He told us you wouldn't get hurt."

"Yeah, but he also pranked you, along with three quarters of everyone else in Dimmsdale," Timmy pointed out.

Cosmo kissed her neck and she groaned, rolling her eyes.

"Cosmo, not now!" she said.

"But…I like you in that outfit…" he whined. "And you taste like chocolate."

"Guys, seriously," Timmy said. "I want to keep my lunch down before I barf all over my homework."

"The fish bowl is still there," Cosmo pointed out. He continued twirling her curls on his finger and kissed her neck again. Wanda's eyelids fluttered and she sighed happily.

"We'll be back," Wanda promised. "Keep an eye on Poof. And do your homework."

"Wait, where are you going?" Timmy said.

Wanda grinned from ear to ear. "Oh, nowhere in particular, hun. Don't worry. The spell won't be over soon anyway."

They vanished and Timmy gasped, jumping to his feet. "Cosmo! Wanda!"

A note fluttered to his hands and it bore Wanda's handwriting. "Busy, sport. Do your homework! We'll be back in twenty!"

Tootie held up her wand and magic spread throughout her body. The irritants vanished, her legs strengthened, and confidence welled; her body was lighter and an air bubble formed around her head. Holding her head high, she surveyed the forest to determine how thick the smoke was and whether she could leave without getting too hurt. The trees weren't too close together; if she really had to, she might be able to ride Vela to safety. She waved her hand back and forth and the image flickered. Tootie gasped, jumping up and down.

Deb had said his sister was fey. The smoke wasn't real and neither was the forest. The whole thing was an illusion! It had to be faerie glamour.

Tootie closed her eyes. She wasn't accustomed to finding magic and unraveling it, but if she focused, she could sense it. Before, she'd been aware of it, which had led her to discovering Cosmo and Wanda. Deb wanted her to realize she could manipulate it, if she chose, and with that in mind, she sought an ending to the spell Novia had cast. Except there wasn't any…

"It's okay," a perky voice said at her side and Tootie started, opening her eyes. "Dad didn't expect you to destroy an illusion. He just wanted you to see it for what it was."

Vela was beside her and, lowering her head, nudged her shoulder with her left side. "Aurelia's not too pleased with you, and Aunt…my aunt will recover. She's not fond of children."

"So why was she helping, then?" Tootie sniffed.

"Because Grandfather didn't want to do it," Vela said. "You want a way out? Follow the unicorn-fey."

Holding her head upright, she inclined it once in a while at random spots, Tootie shut her eyes, and she saw bits and pieces of the spell. Pleased, Vela continued.

"Wouldn't it be faster if I rode you?" Tootie said. Vela stopped dead.

"Don't," she said. "Just because I'm in this form doesn't mean I'm your mount. You'll find most unicorns don't just let people plop on their backs."

Tootie walked alongside her and Vela restarted, sniffing and holding her head jauntily high. Ignoring her, Tootie looked around; despite the intense heat, the fire never actually touched her. Being aware of it had stayed some of its power, and the bubble around her head blocked the odor. Inhaling shakily, she clutched her wand and focused on bringing the bubble around her entire body. Vela stopped, observing with interest.

She brought it about halfway to her torso before the bubble snapped. Vela inclined her head and the bubble returned.

"Don't worry about it," Vela said. "You're doing pretty well for a beginner."

Tootie smiled and then grimaced. "But I still haven't rescued Timmy."

"Don't worry," she replied and grinned, shifting into a human form. She had amethyst eyes, like her father, and long purple hair with almost white blonde streaks. The hair fell to her mid back and she had on a baggy black t-shirt with silver sparkles saying- 'save a horse, ride a black unicorn'. She wore blue jeans and no shoes. She was slim, with a small chest, and Tootie stared at her feet.

"I don't need shoes, I don't wear shoes, and look, there's the exit," Vela said. "I hope Timmy's ready for Vicky."

"Vicky?" Tootie repeated.

"Oh, don't worry," Vela said, shrugging. "I'm sure Vicky won't torture him as much once she sees he's wearing a dress."

Tootie choked and Vela beamed.

"You know what's worse than being a damsel in distress? Blackmail," she sang happily.

Timmy had forsaken homework in favor of staring at the ceiling. Cosmo and Wanda still weren't back, and he was bored. Homework wasn't helping, and he would be damned if he was going to do it without Cosmo and Wanda forcing the issue. Poof was still asleep, otherwise he'd have bugged him, and waking Poof was not worth it. He knew from experience waking Poof was the first step to having his eardrums popped.

The wooden door in front of his room slammed inward and Timmy jumped. Another jarring bang issued and the fish bowl jumped on the dresser.

"Hey!" Cosmo and Wanda called.

The third time, the door crashed into the wall and Vicky, wearing a ruffian's outfit, blinked. She had on tight black pants (as tight as Cosmo's, actually, and Timmy's stomach somersaulted) and a green silk shirt which, thankfully, was not open like Cosmo's. At her side, she carried a long sword and, for a second, she and Timmy stared at each other. Her boots were curved and tipped at the ends like an elf's, and there was a pregnant pause.

"Did you lose a bet, twerp?" Vicky said.

"Didn't anyone in the medieval times wear underwear?" he complained.

"No one told you to look," she scoffed. Magic dust settled over her and she snarled, lunging at him. He yelped, jumping back, and looked at the fish tank.

"Guys! Help!"

Nothing stirred in the fish tank and he gulped. "Guys!"

Still nothing. Vicky dragged him by the collar and scrutinized him. Snickering, she shoved him through the door and dragged him to his parents' room, which had been transformed into the torture room. Axes swung from the ceiling, javelins were strapped to the walls, and she unsheathed a sword at her hips. Timmy whimpered and Vicky kicked him in the small of his back.

"I'd start with your manhood, but it looks like you've already lost it," she sneered. "So we'll start with your limbs. Do you really need two hands?"

"Cosmo! Wanda!" he yelped. "Mom! Dad! Anyone!"

"Decisions, decisions," she said. "I wouldn't want you to die of blood loss before I finished."

Striding forward, she approached a cottage and pushed open the door. A sword appeared in her hand and she grinned at it. Inside the small cottage, Vicky had strapped her beloved to a wooden table and hefted a blade between her hands. It had a red pommel and specially fitted handle. The blade was curved, with a wicked edge, and it glittered in the candlelight from the candelabra above them. Incongruous with the scene was a fish bowl and Tootie rolled her eyes. Aside from the fish bowl atop a wooden cabinet, various sharp weapons, and a wooden table, there was nothing else.

"You've come to save the twerp, huh?" Vicky sneered. The blade glittered and shone with magic. Tootie gulped and backed up.

Stand your guard, a voice warned inside her mind. Sometimes magic isn't about who's the toughest and strongest. Sometimes it's about facades and appearing to be a bigger threat than you actually are.

Vicky thrust out and Tootie countered, her sword naturally knowing what to do. Her sword had a purple pummel that winked at her once and a golden jewel inset. The jewel didn't wink. It rolled its eyes. The handle she grasped giggled and was a lighter purple than the pummel. Warmth flowed through her. He hadn't abandoned her in the last task.

"I'm partial to cutting off his arm," Vicky scoffed. Her blade came within inches of striking her and her heart raced.

She had to appear better and bigger than she was. Vicky sliced at her and she moaned. Timmy was the brave one. She'd spent her life terrified.

Vicky nearly sliced her stomach open and only the sword parrying for her prevented it. Shaking, she murmured, "I can't do this."

"There is only do in the Force," Deborvak answered her.

"That's not helping!" she snapped.

"I thought it was 'do or do not, there is no try'?" Vela said.

"I think you're right…" Aurelia mused.

"Not helping!" she said. Vicky kicked her in the back and Deb hissed.

"Get up! Fight! You are half fey! Give her a show!" he ordered.

"I don't know how," she whimpered.

"Yes, you do," he said. "You can do it. You just have to stop thinking about it. Timmy's in danger. Cosmo and Wanda are busy and can't rescue him. You are his only hope. There is no 'can't' or 'don't. DO!"

Vicky belted her across the face and Tootie trembled. "I can't!"

"Yes, you can!" the blade chorused.

Vicky brought her sword to Tootie's neck and Tootie parried it, panting. She wanted to be big and commanding like her sister. She wanted to appear fearsome, to keep Vicky off her back. She wanted to be someone Timmy admired, someone like him except stronger, able to take care of herself. Imagining these qualities, she projected them onto herself and shoved Vicky back.

"What?" Vicky cried. A mirror appeared and Tootie glimpsed herself. Her outfit had changed into a skin tight leather ensemble like her sister's, with chain mail over her arms and legs and a steel helmet over her head. There were barbs on her wrists reminding her of Novia and Tootie was tempted to rub her wrists.

"No!" Deborvak hissed. "It's illusion. Faerie glamour. Later, you'll learn how to do it for real. But meanwhile…don't betray its falsehood."

In addition to the costume change, she was taller and muscular. Vicky's blows became child play to fend off. She could do this. In time, she could change herself to really be capable of beating her sister. And Deborvak was right. She was half fey. Vicky was completely human. A smile curved her lips.

"Leave my Timmy alone!" Tootie roared and belted Vicky across the back with the blade. Vicky whimpered, stooped to fighting dirty, and swung her leg out. Tootie, seeing this coming, rolled with it and grabbed a javelin. Armed with a sword in one hand and a javelin in the other, she grinned.

"Come on, Vicky!" she said.

Vicky grabbed an axe and swung it at Tootie's head. The sword countered, the metal clanging making her arms shudder and feel like jelly. Vicky staggered and her handle cheered. The jewel rolled its eyes again.

"Finish her!" the handle and her pommel whooped.

Vicky roared and charged her. Tootie swung the blade and it collided with Vicky's stomach. Right before it was about to mortally wound her, it halted and returned to her hand. Nonetheless, blood spread and Vicky moaned, collapsing to her feet. Tootie had a weird double image of her sister, perfectly hale, and bleeding from a grievous stomach wound. It looked to Vicky like the blade had sunk in several inches before Tootie recalled it.

"Damn you!" Vicky screeched. "Damn you!"

She disappeared in a cloud of smoke and Timmy's room returned to normal. The dress, however, remained, and, now free to laugh, Tootie pointed and catcalled. Timmy, similarly unencumbered, glared and made a rude gesture.

"I saved you, my princess!" she said and rushed at him. "Don't I get a kiss?"

"Ugh, Cosmo? Wanda?" he called and they didn't come. Grinning, she laid a big fat one on him and giggled at his laughter. He looked pretty good in a dress. She knew she'd be the one wearing the pants in that relationship.

"Great," he grumbled. "Saved by Tootie in a dress and I had to do homework. Could today get any worse?"

"Why didn't you guys come when I called?" Timmy asked a few hours later, disgruntled.

"Deborvak put a spell on us," Wanda said thoughtfully.

"That's okay, it was a good spell," Cosmo said.

"Not for me!" Timmy huffed.

"He wouldn't have let you get hurt," Wanda soothed. "And nothing happened to us."

"What'd he do to you, anyway?" Timmy said, eyes narrowed.

Cosmo and Wanda blushed, giggled, and Cosmo drew Wanda into his arms. He kissed her on the lips, a lingering one full of passion, and rested his forehead against hers.

"Let's just say missionary position wasn't in the cards," Wanda said.

"What?" Timmy said. His godparents laughed.

"What are you guys talking about?" he said. They grinned from ear to ear.

"You did pretty well," Deborvak said. In order to celebrate her passing, he'd thrown her a party and banished Vicky to her room with a Chip Skylark concert. Chip Skylark was a hologram, since even he had his limits, but she seemed happy. Meanwhile, balloons bedecked the room and Aurelia and Vela were eating cake side by side on her bed.

"You didn't have to throw me to the sharks like that," she said.

"That's how my teacher taught me," he said, shrugging. "And the only way to know how you'll react in a crisis is to shove you into one."

"You were never in any really danger," Aurelia said. "Jorgen wouldn't allow it."

"You're a dragon," Tootie pointed out. "Jorgen can't push you around."

"Can't push me around either," Vela said happily. "Dad's one half faerie. I'm only a quarter."

"Then…" Tootie was at a loss. She stared at the girls; Aurelia, in her human form, looked only a couple years older than her. She wore her blonde locks loose, in ringlets around her heart shaped face, and a golden chiffon gown with golden heels. She even had her legs crossed like a proper lady. She irritated Tootie a little.

"You passed," he said. "Don't worry. You don't wanna hear what would have happened if you hadn't."

"Timmy would have died?" she said and alarm drained the color from her face. Deborvak snorted and Aurelia and Vela exchanged stricken gazes.

"No, no," he said. "Cosmo and Wanda would have had my head. You'd have gone back to the boring way of doing things."

"Which is what?" she said. Vela muttered to her sister and Aurelia blew a raspberry, narrowing her chestnut eyes.

"Actually teaching you out of books," he said and groaned. "That's so boring. I like this way much better."

"Well, I don't!" she said and relented. "It was fun…but dangerous. You could have let me know ahead of time what you were going to do."

"Perhaps for a more serious one, I'll let you prepare," he said. "But this was fun. You enjoyed yourself. Don't worry about it. Right now, Timmy's trying to forget the night ever happened and you learned about yourself. It's all good."

"What did you do to Cosmo and Wanda, anyway?" Tootie said.

"I suppose I can tell you, since you know more about these things than Timmy," he said. "I put a lust charm on them."

"They don't notice your putting magic on them?" Tootie said, blinking.

"Of course not," Aurelia said airily. "He uses dragon magic on them. Jorgen doesn't even know what's going on."

Vela giggled. "Wouldn't he love to know half of Dad's magic is beyond him?"

"And that is why we don't tell him these things," Deborvak retorted and threw a pillow at his eldest daughter's head.

Tootie stared at Deborvak and he shrugged, staring back.

"What?" he said.

"I can't help but feel there's more you're not telling me," she said.

"There's always more," he said and smiled charmingly. "And you'll never know all of it. I'll never tell."