A/N: I got some more bad news today, in addition to all of the bad news from yesterday. Yesterday was about my teeth and today is about Mom's health. Again. *sigh*

I'm gonna go bury myself in my book for a while.

Trixie Tang hated how going into the town was now a production. Well, she hated and loved it in equal amounts. For one thing, she liked being part of a production and receiving so much attention. On the other hand, she hated how it was going to take so long to get into town and how the horses sweated. She wasn't used to it. Sure, she'd had horses as a little girl, but she'd grown out of that phase and her father had gotten rid of them. Now, horses were the only method of transportation, save her own two feet, which wasn't allowed in her position. Heaven forbid someone like her walk into town; walking was only for peasants.

Veronica had agreed to join her going into town, but Tad and Chad were otherwise occupied with fencing and sword practice. They were going to be pages, no matter what they might've been in the past. Trixie had asked around and no one had heard of a car, much less school or anything else she could think of. It looked like she was the only one who remembered the world as it was.

She stared out the window in the carriage because she had nothing else to do. Without a cell phone, she couldn't text anyone and Veronica was talking nonstop about being a lady in waiting. Normally, she'd be talking about cheerleading, but that wasn't a thing here.

"What do you think of Timmy Turner?" Trixie asked, wondering if when the wish was done, whether everyone's memories would be erased. If that was the case, then asking about Timmy ought to be safe. After all, Veronica would never remember having this conversation. Trixie's chest was tight. She'd never mentioned her feelings for Timmy before with anyone and she was worried about how it'd be taken. She'd never have dared to bring it up with Tad and Chad present.

Veronica's nose wrinkled. "Why do you ask? He's a loser."

Normally, Trixie would've let it go at that. "No, I mean..."

The carriage ran over a rut in the road and Trixie hissed. She waited until they were safely over before speaking again.

"I mean, he's kinda cute, isn't he?" Trixie pressed. "I know he's a loser and he isn't popular, but doesn't he have this weird, magical charm?"

"I guess," Veronica hesitated. "But why bring him up?"

"I thought, when we went into town, we could go see the tavern," Trixie said and held her breath. Her heart hammered between her ribs. She didn't know what she was saying or where she'd gotten the courage to say it. Now, however, it was too late. She couldn't take it back.

"Why?" Veronica asked. "What is your sudden fascination with Timmy Turner?"

There was a hint of apprehension in her voice, but for what, Trixie didn't know. What should Veronica be worried about?

"Don't tell me you're turning into Mr. Crocker," Veronica chastised. She rolled her eyes. "He's supposed to teach us history and he spends all of his time going on about faeries."

"I didn't say that," Trixie said hotly. "Never mind. We don't have to look in on Timmy."

"Ugh, we might as well, if it'll make you happy," Veronica said and shook her head. "Seriously, what has gotten into you? Who cares about Turner?"

"I do," Trixie said and then clapped her hands over her mouth. She cursed inwardly. "I mean, I care about him because he's a loser and I don't want him to get too close to me. So I'm going into town to remind him he's not invited to my ball."

"Whatever you say, Trixie," Veronica said.

Feeling like she'd thoroughly stuck her foot in it, she resolved to stay quiet the rest of the trip. Sighing, she looked out the window again. The whole town was transformed thanks to her wish. The school was gone, turned into a milliner. All the familiar landmarks were gone. It left her feeling oddly melancholy.

What was wrong with her? This wish was supposed to make things better and somehow, they'd gotten worse instead. Her father still wasn't home, there were hints she might have an evil stepmother, and they were stuck in a frigging horse drawn carriage. She didn't see how things could possibly get any worse.

Worse, she couldn't un-wish this wish until she had her faerie godmother back. What was taking her so long? Granted, Trixie knew nothing about Fairy World or how it worked. She'd only had her faerie godmother for about a week so far and this was her first big wish.

Amelia, her faerie godmother, was a newbie. She used to be a model before becoming a godmother. As such, she met Trixie's level of approval for being prestigious enough to be her godmother. But she wasn't responding when called and despite Veronica being Trixie's best friend, she'd always felt a disconnect between them. Veronica was either trying too hard or, in this case, not trying hard enough.

"Do you like Timmy or something?" Veronica asked. "He's just a peasant. He isn't worthy to hang out with us."

"I told you-I don't like him," Trixie lied. "He's annoying and he's always talking to inanimate objects."

"Good," Veronica said, though she still looked suspicious. "You'd tell me if you had a crush on someone, wouldn't you?"

"I'll tell you everything," Trixie said.

"Good."

They lapsed into silence again and Trixie tried not to sigh. She didn't want to look at Dimmsdale transformed but she also didn't want to talk about Timmy with Veronica being so hostile to the idea.

They finally arrived in town and the driver assured her he'd be waiting for her, however long it took. That last sounded ominous and Trixie tried not to treat it as such. Of course, wherever she went, her bodyguards accompanied her. Trixie didn't know what they thought was going to happen.

Then again, she had no idea what was going to happen either when she stepped into Timmy's parents' tavern.

Her heart pounded between her ribs and she told herself this was no big deal. After all, he only remembered this world and not their normal one. There was no pressure. He'd forget everything once the wish was over.

That took a lot of pressure off her. She held her head up high and walked into the tavern, which was empty as it was near noon. Only one person, a man she didn't recognize who looked like he spent much of his life staring at the bottom of a glass, sat in a corner.

She felt out of place here, especially with her escorts and Veronica.

"Can I help you?" Timmy's mother asked politely. She'd been going over sums at a table and looked up, rising immediately when she saw they had visitors.

"I was hoping I could speak to Timmy," Trixie said and flashed her a million watt smile. Or whatever passed for it in this time period.

"Of course," Mrs. Turner said. "I'll go get him."

"Thank you," Trixie said and Veronica huffed.

"I still don't get why you needed to do this in person," she groused.

"I just did, okay?" Trixie retorted, irritated at her continued resistance.

"Whatever."

Trixie's escorts remained silent but vigilant. They didn't know what kind of dangers they might encounter, but they were ready for anything. The worst that Trixie thought might happen would be if a beer mug went crashing toward her head, but she doubted that the sole patron would do that. He looked too pathetic to even consider it.

Trixie waited impatiently for Timmy and tried to ignore Veronica's feigned boredom. Her best friend yawned, covered her mouth, and looked pointedly at the door as if she couldn't wait to leave.

The raven-haired girl did her best to ignore her and brightened when Timmy appeared on the stairs. Pink and green dogs accompanied him.

Wanda blinked when Trixie appeared in the tavern. Her surprise was for more than one reason. Unless she was much mistaken, the faintest shimmer of faerie dust had settled upon her shoulders like glitter. Of anyone in Dimmsdale who might have a faerie, Trixie would've been near the bottom of Wanda's list. The spoiled little rich girl who always ignored Timmy except for when it was convenient for her wasn't particularly high in Wanda's esteem.

Then again, right now, few were. Cosmo was so excited; even now, he was running circles around Timmy. She didn't know what had gotten him all riled up when the toileting habits in the middle ages had left something to be desired. She sighed, settling further back from Timmy and Cosmo. She didn't want to be here.

"What brings you here?" Timmy said, grinning like an idiot at Trixie. "I didn't even think you knew where I lived."

"Of course I know where you live," Trixie retorted. "Yours is the only tavern near my palace."

Timmy wilted and muttered, "Of course you live in a palace. Because you weren't hard enough to date before."

"It's not my fault you were born a peasant," Trixie said and Wanda growled. She couldn't help herself. She was tired of Trixie's high and mighty attitude. Trixie never gave Timmy a fair shake.

"Uh, sorry, she needs to be walked," Timmy said and shot Wanda a warning look. Wanda looked back, unperturbed.

"I just wanted to tell you that I'm definitely not inviting you to my coming of age party at the palace tomorrow night," Trixie said, puffing out her chest. She glanced both ways; Veronica was pretending to sleep at a nearby table and the guards were shooting the breeze with Mr. Turner. Trixie pulled a slender invitation out of her sleeve and handed it to Timmy.

"So you know when not to show up," she said hurriedly. "Hide it, quickly."

"Wait, are you inviting me or not-"

She put her finger over his lips. "Ssh. You didn't hear any of this from me."

"Okay..." he said from behind her finger. He blushed at their contact and she pulled away, blushing slightly too. Maybe that was just her makeup.

"I have to go now," Trixie announced. "Eight p.m. sharp. Don't be there. My guards will throw you out."

Her eyes turned cold. "Don't be there, Tommy."

Trixie swept dramatically out of the room with her entourage and Wanda growled, baring her teeth as Trixie left.

"Wow, so, are you gonna go?" Cosmo asked once Trixie and the others had closed the door behind them.

"Wanda, what's your problem?" Timmy snapped.

"My problem is that she always jerks you around," Wanda retorted. "I don't want to see you get hurt again because she seems to find it entertaining."

"She doesn't," Timmy snapped back. "She wants me there. Why else would she have given me an invitation?"

"Why indeed," Wanda said darkly.

"What, you'd rather I was with someone like Tootie?" Timmy scoffed.

"I'd rather you were with someone who cares about you," Wanda said. "Is that too much to ask?"

Timmy smiled at her and knelt down at her side. "This time will be different, you'll see."

"How many times have I heard that..." she muttered.

"Timmy, if you're done talking to your dogs, we have to set up for the evening rush and finish cleaning," Mrs. Turner said and Timmy groaned.

"Yes, Mom," he said and started his duties. Wanda waited until he was otherwise engaged before poofing out. She didn't know where she was going to go, but "out" felt like a good enough destination.

She wound up in what would've been Dimmsdale's park and sighed, resting her head upon her knees. It was just pasture land in this time period. She stared at the animals moving around and her shoulders sank. She wished she could be carefree like them.

"Hey, baby," Cosmo said and Wanda startled, baring her teeth and growling before she realized who it was. She settled a little, but not completely.

"Woah," he said. "It's just me."

"And that's the problem," she said. "Why are you suddenly acting friendly when you were hitting on another woman in front of me and making all of those biting remarks?"

"Uh, what remarks?" Cosmo said and Wanda sighed. She didn't know why he'd followed her in the first place. She'd left to avoid him.

"At least you're not denying that you were hitting on other women," she snapped.

"You know I love you, baby," he replied.

"No, I don't know that, not anymore," she said sharply. "Don't follow me."

She poofed out, deciding she might as well make herself useful and stalk around Trixie's palace for evidence of faeries. Or at least to get away from Cosmo.