Author's Note: I am very sorry it took me this long to upload this chapter. I'm not sure how many people are reading on this site, as opposed to LiveJournal, but I've been having a very hectic and depressing few weeks.


It wasn't quite the same thing that Daniela had in mind, restoring Crocker's memories, but Magdalene hypothesized that Fairy World might have put a magical lock on them to prevent them from doing just what they'd planned. Therefore, they'd had to fall to plan B, which was to create a distraction so large that one couldn't help but notice it. A cold wind swept the detritus on the ground, and Tootie gripped her borrowed wand tightly. It was too late to back out now. It looked like Tootie had ripped a hole in the space-time continuum to either a world the Shadows controlled or one that didn't exist. Tootie wasn't sure which light filtering in was gray, much like when Timmy had wished everyone was the same. The air coming in, despite its chill, felt stagnant.

Tootie drifted toward the portal she'd opened to see inside. It felt like the world within compelled her to visit, like maybe she'd discover something important if she took a brief tour. Magdalene yanked her back before Tootie's feet crossed the threshold. Tootie whirled, looking at Magdalene accusingly, but the brown and pink-haired faerie shook her head.

She might've tried to chastise her, too, but a sudden roar filled their ears. Jorgen von Strangle materialized, glowering at the duo. Tootie shrank back; she'd never met Jorgen before, but she'd heard plenty about him. Normal faeries were child-sized-three feet or around were about as tall as they grew. Jorgen, by contrast, stood about ten feet tall and towered over her and Magdalene. Tootie's throat tightened, and she wanted to drop the incriminating wand, but she was paralyzed in fear.

"Tootie Griffin!" Jorgen bellowed. "What do you think you're doing?"

Tootie gave Jorgen her most winsome smile, which wilted at the edges. She didn't know how Timmy stood up to Jorgen all the time. She was shaking in fear now. It wasn't just his physical size, though that was part of it. He could suck all the air out of a room (the portal might've been doing that, too, to be fair). He had weight both on the astral plane and in the physical realm. Looking at him made her chest ache, and tears sprang. She had a death grip on that wand.

"Getting your attention?" Tootie said, not intending to make it a question. "It worked."

"You ripped a hole in the fabric of time and space to get my attention?" Jorgen roared.

Well, when he put it like that, it sounded stupid.

"We have a problem," Magdalene said, assuming control. To Tootie's amazement, the older faerie wasn't quivering in fear. Instead, she glowered at Jorgen despite their tremendous height differences and magical auras.

"And you have just noticed this now?" Jorgen snapped.

Tootie was sure their plan was falling to pieces, but she would attempt to salvage it as best she could.

"I assume you know about the Shadows moving in, taking control over Wanda, and trying to seize control over Fairy World," Tootie said. Out of her eye, she saw something with a dark magic cloud poof behind a nearby tree.

"What?" Jorgen said.

Tootie and Magdalene exchanged uneasy looks. Jorgen's anger, usually at a simmer, seemed to be cooling down, rapidly replaced by confusion. Tootie's heart galloped in her chest. Somehow, Jorgen's incomprehension made matters worse, not better. Jorgen, according to Wanda, was up on everything that happened in Fairy World, regardless of where or when it happened. It was why Timmy didn't get away with all of his crap all the time.

"You…you know that Wanda is being controlled by an evil amulet with a dybbuk in it, right?" Magdalene said weakly. She looked as disconcerted as Tootie felt.

Jorgen closed the rift between worlds almost without thinking. He waved his wand, and it disappeared. Tootie's chest tightened. Toughest faerie in the universe, one of the most powerful faeries, and here she was, basically spitting in his face. She retreated into Magdalene, who steadied her.

"We've had an information blackout thanks to the Shadows," Jorgen said, his expression darkening. "The Fairy Council became aware of their presence, but that was the end of it. We've been unable to track faerie godparents or their godchildren."

Magdalene's lips pressed tightly together, but she didn't speak. Tootie's heart hammered in her chest.

"We need to talk," Jorgen said and slammed his wand down. Black smoke erupted, startling Tootie and Magdalene. Someone grabbed her from behind, and judging by Magdalene's yelp they'd nabbed her, too. Jorgen roared; they'd been snatched right under his nose.

"Let go of me!" Magdalene gasped, coughing from the black smoke. She elbowed Tootie by accident and, using her wand, waved away the smoke and cleared the area.

They stood within a courtyard with a castle on all sides of them. The grass was gray, as were their surroundings. Tootie felt like her heart had kicked into overdrive. She couldn't remember the last time she'd been this frightened. At least she had Magdalene to cover her. Tootie was too young and inexperienced to use magic properly; in terms of wielding magic, she was less adept than Poof. And for fuck's sake, Poof was a baby.

A man with tipped ears like an elf, blood-red hair, and an angular face turned toward them. He wore a dark green tunic and black pants. His eyes narrowed at the duo, and his lower lip curled. Magdalene wore an equally disgusted look.

"I know you," they said in unison slowly.

"You're an opportunist," Magdalene spat.

"And you…" The man faltered, studying Magdalene intently. "Did you ever get your godson back?"

Magdalene hugged herself and looked horribly vulnerable. "That's none of your business."

The man shrugged, shifting his attention to Tootie. He towered over her, too; he had to be at least six feet tall. True, he had nothing on Jorgen, but when you're ten, adults are intimidating. The man oozed corruption.

"So this is the first half-faerie that Fairy World hasn't locked up in generations," the man said, studying her. He held out his hand to her. "I'm Fyraka Tylae. I assume you summoned Jorgen to get our attention."

"That's right," Tootie said. Her stomach felt hollow, and, unable to help herself, she blurted, "Where's Timmy?"

"That other human?" Fyraka said, frowning thoughtfully. "He's off with his godmother while her family extols the virtues of joining the Shadows."

A weight eased in Tootie's chest. Timmy was somewhere in Fairy World with Wanda. That meant he was okay.

"I don't understand what Wanda sees in him," Fyraka said, shaking his head. "He's just a mundane human. Now, you, on the other hand-you have great potential, Tootie Griffin. You don't know it yet."

Tootie gulped. She wasn't sure whether Fyraka was buttering her up or he meant it. Unlike Vicky, Tootie wasn't power-hungry. Moreover, she didn't intend to join sides with someone who ruined everything they touched, especially Wanda. Tootie balled her fists and then forced herself to relax them.

"As for you, Magdalene," Fyraka said, "you have a legitimate grievance against Fairy World. I'm surprised you didn't seek us out sooner."

"I wanted to check on Tootie first," Magdalene said. Either she was an accomplished liar, or she meant it. Tootie couldn't tell which. Fyraka nodded, regardless.

"Let me show you around," Fyraka said.

"Why is everything gray?" Tootie blurted, and Fyraka smiled at her. She wished he wouldn't. He looked sinister when he did it.

"Because this is a null world," he said. "It's a pocket universe Jorgen can't locate, also. Null worlds are worlds that have doomed timelines. For example, if Crocker kept his faeries but died as a child, that would be a null world and a doomed timeline. For everything to proceed as normally, Crocker needed to survive to adulthood."

Tootie nodded, unsettled by the idea of a young Crocker, much less a dead child version. Unlike Timmy, she'd never encountered Crocker with Cosmo and Wanda, but Wanda had warned her about it. As far as Tootie could tell, Crocker's insanity was Timmy and Cosmo's doing, but that was hardly a surprise.

"Null worlds aren't that common. Fate wants time to progress naturally; as someone once said, nature abhors a vacuum. The doomed timelines tend to be extreme, but the null worlds make good hiding places. Since the Shadows began collecting universes, they've had their lairs in null worlds. Jorgen and the Fairy Council often ignore or don't care about them."

Tootie nodded, feeling like she was getting in way over her head. She noticed that, like the Fairy Council, most people wore cloaks to conceal their features. A few nodded in passing to Fyraka, who nodded back. Tootie kept close to Magdalene, whose eyes narrowed.

They stopped in front of a large pulsating black crystal. It gave Tootie a headache just looking at it, and she wondered whether it was made from the same material as Wanda's necklace. Fyraka noticed Tootie wincing and nodded as if this was the expected reaction. Magdalene averted her gaze, too, rubbing her arms.

"That crystal collects all of the light from other universes," Fyraka said. "And corrupts it, turning it into a power source that we can use. The more universes we conquer, the more powerful we become."

Tootie had never understood people who wanted power for power's sake. It made no sense to her.

"Once we've amassed enough power, we intend to conquer the multiverse," Fyraka said casually, like it was no big deal.

"We'll ration out the livable universes and make everyone pay a magical toll to stay there," he said. "Those who can't or won't acquiesce will be dumped into a destroyed universe, never to be seen or heard from again."

"So, like jettisoning someone into space?" Tootie said, and Fyraka nodded.

He scowled. "Unfortunately, we occasionally have stragglers who get away. There was a white dragon whose current whereabouts are unknown. The Shadows killed his wife first, of course, to drive him mad. It only turned him further against us, sadly. But the Shadows managed to damage his spirit, if not his body. We'll find him. He can't get away from us forever."

Tootie shivered, thinking of Cosmo within the white dragon.

"By working with us, you ensure your survival," Fyraka said. His expression darkened. "Anyone who stands in our way will be destroyed, regardless. So it's in your best interests to assist the Shadows."

"Can we have a moment in private to discuss this?" Magdalene asked, and Fyraka nodded. Tootie didn't understand how to stand within five feet of that ominous pulsating crystal. It was easily Jorgen's size and wide around as a medium-sized tree. If she had put her arms around it (which she'd never do because it creeped her out), but if she had, her fingers would've just touched.

"What's there to discuss?" Tootie whispered once Fyraka had left earshot.

"We have to make it look good, remember?" Magdalene said. She frowned. "People like that offer you power-at a price. If you enlist with them, they'll feed off your magic too. No one wins, except perhaps for whoever is heading the Shadows."

"Yeah, he didn't mention that," Tootie said, frowning thoughtfully. "Do you think that crystal-"

"Is it the same one Wanda's sporting? Yes. Tootie, this is your last chance to back out. I won't think any less of you if you do."

Tootie squared her jaw. "This is Vicky's type of game. But Vicky doesn't have magic. I do. I can do some good."

A figure passed them, and although Tootie couldn't see their face, she felt the chilling aura. Goosebumps arose along her body, and she unconsciously inched closer to Magdalene. The figure wore a black cloak over her head, but she tossed it over her shoulders to confer with Fyraka. Tootie's blood ran cold.

Smiling cruelly, although Tootie could only see the side of her face (which was good because she didn't want to be spotted just yet), Vicky produced a Timmy doll from Tootie's shrine. She flicked her fingers, and flames danced along her fingertips. Tootie's stomach dropped.

"That's…that's impossible," Tootie said, jaw agape. "She can't have magic. She's only distantly related to you, and I know she's not Juandissimo's get."

Magdalene was counting off the generations on her fingers and shook her head. "Vicky should be too far removed from the magic for any to manifest. She's only the tiniest bit faerie."

Vicky cackled, burning the Timmy doll, which screamed like the real Timmy and made Tootie's skin crawl.

"Oh God, Vicky with magic," Tootie said. "That's my worst nightmare."

Well, among her worst nightmares. Timmy dying was up there, too.

"Oh, God, if we stay here, she'll know I'm half-faerie," Tootie said, and panic clenched her throat. "She'll know, Magdalene. I can't stay here. I can't do this."

She was beginning to hyperventilate, and Magdalene produced a paper bag for Tootie to breathe into. She was terrified of her older sister, and with good reason. Everything bad in her life had derived from Vicky Griffin. Conversely, everything good in her life was directly or indirectly related to Timmy Turner.

"It might be too late to back out," Magdalene mused. "We know too much."

"What do I do? What should I do?" Tootie said, rubbing her chest, which was tight.

"Vicky may have magic, but she's got a water fountain compared to your lake," Magdalene said. "You can't let your fear overrule your common sense, Tootie. I know she's frightening. I know she's ruled your life with an iron fist. But this is your chance to protect Timmy and defeat Vicky once and for all."

"I can't do it!" Tootie cried and clung to Magdalene.

"Shush, of course you can," Magdalene said. She put her hands on Tootie's shoulders. "When I was younger and infinitely more foolish, I married a human male to conceal my pregnancy. I endured years of abuse because I needed my son to appear legitimate. If I can face a monster every day, then so can you. Timmy needs you. Wanda needs you. If not for yourself, then do it for them."

Tootie nodded, not trusting herself to speak. Magdalene was right. Timmy and Wanda needed her. Hell, Cosmo needed her, and she didn't even like him.

"Okay," Tootie said, wishing her quivering nerves would calm down. "I'm in."

"And I'll be here with you every step of the way," Magdalene said. "I promise."

She raised her voice. "Fyraka? You've got a deal."

Tootie wished it didn't feel like she was signing her soul away to the devil. Fyraka left Vicky, who followed him despite him motioning for her to stay put. It was typical of Vicky to ignore orders, but Tootie wasn't sure how well that'd fly here.

"Excellent," Fyraka said, holding his hand for them to shake. Vicky scrutinized Tootie.

"What the hell are you doing here, twerpette?" Vicky said and then grinned wickedly. "Have you finally come to your senses? It's twerp hunting season."

Tootie balled her fists and told herself to be brave. "I'm here because I need to be to survive."

There, that sounded convincing enough. Unfortunately, Tootie had lots of practice lying.

"That's right," Vicky said, smirking. She held out her hand to shake Tootie's, and, surprised, Tootie shook it. Vicky nearly tried to break her hand, which shouldn't have come as a surprise to her. Vicky's cruelty should stop surprising her. She ought to be used to it by now.

Vicky cackled when she withdrew her hand and grinned evilly at her younger sister. "I don't know why they let you in here-just don't get in my way."

Tootie massaged her sore hand and scowled. "I get it."

"You'd better," she sneered and sauntered like she owned the place. Tootie watched her with narrowed eyes.

"If you wanted confirmation which side we should be on," Magdalene murmured in Tootie's ear.

Tootie nodded, throat tight. She glanced once more at the pulsing crystal and shuddered. Poor Wanda. She hoped wherever she and Timmy were, they were safe.


There were numerous empty homes in Anti-Fairy World, which made Wanda wonder whether their faerie counterparts had died or if they were off wreaking havoc on Earth permanently. She couldn't question it, though, so she kept her mouth shut. Besides, the necklace was now constantly hurting her, which made it difficult to focus. She had to keep her mouth shut to keep from screaming or crying.

It wasn't until they'd settled in Anti-Cosmo's house that the necklace finally stopped attacking her, and she breathed a relieved sigh. She hadn't heard anything Anti-Cosmo had said to her, and she knew Timmy was worried. She sensed the dybbuk in the necklace was punishing her for not doing what the Shadows wanted.

"Your chest is bleeding, my dear," Anti-Cosmo said. Wanda looked down. They were seated in a shabby-looking living room with broken-down furniture and springs sticking out of the couch. Then again, almost everything in Anti-Fairy World was rundown, a counterpoint to Fairy World's normal brightness and tidiness.

"You didn't feel it?" Timmy asked, worried. No sunlight came through the windows, but gray light illuminated the space. The light's source was impossible to locate, but it didn't give the same creepy feelings that the Shadows' castle did, so she'd take it.

"That was all I could feel," she said, gritting her teeth. Anti-Cosmo conjured up a handkerchief for her to wipe away the sparkling blood. She shuddered.

"I've never seen you bleed so much," Timmy said. Poof's lower lip quivered, and he burst into tears. Wanda hugged her son tightly once she'd cleaned herself off, and Poof wailed.

"Shush, it's okay," Wanda said. "I'm all right now."

"No, you're not," Anti-Cosmo said sharply, and Wanda glowered back. He rolled his eyes. "Why lie to the child? He should know exactly what he's in for if he stays with you."

"I'm trying to protect him and Timmy," Wanda retorted. The previous rage she'd felt was inaccessible, and while she was ticked off, she wasn't infuriated by Anti-Cosmo's blase attitude. She felt more like herself than she had since she'd awoken to discover the necklace around her neck.

"There's a point where protection becomes too much," Anti-Cosmo said. Anti-Wanda, of course, said nothing. She was chewing on her feet.

Foop, meanwhile, glowered at his father. "Why do I have to stay here? You never look after me."

"Perhaps it's time I started," Anti-Cosmo said. "You've been running around with villains and giving us a bad name."

"I didn't think that was possible," Timmy scoffed. He hugged Wanda, too; she felt him tremble. He was scared and trying desperately not to show it.

"It isn't," Foop said, disgusted. He would've folded his arms across his chest, but his block form made that impossible. Instead, he continued to glare.

"In case it has slipped your notice," Anti-Cosmo said, "there is a villain set on destroying our universe. That includes us. Even if they first go after the light, we're not invulnerable. They've wiped out other Anti-Fairy Worlds, too."

Wanda raised her eyebrows. "How do you know that?"

Anti-Cosmo's expression became inscrutable. He gestured for her to follow him and, cradling Poof, she floated behind him. Timmy walked, colliding with a wall before Wanda remembered humans couldn't transport through them like faeries. She waved her wand, offered him a quick apology, and stepped out behind Anti-Cosmo's house. Behind it, a large, black dragon rested on its stomach and lifted its head sadly at them.

"She came from another universe," Anti-Cosmo said quietly. "One in which the Shadows possessed everything. She was originally an anti-faerie but became trapped in that form."

His smile was humorless. "She fell in love with a faerie, also trapped in a dragon form. The white dragon might've been rescued, but the Shadows are still searching for it. They're looking for her, too, but they won't venture into Anti-Fairy World until they've conquered everything else first."

"Boo-hoo," Foop scoffed. "What's that got to do with me?"

"The Shadows don't like children unless they're useful," Anti-Cosmo said darkly. "And only one of the faerie babies has a lineage derived from the most powerful faerie in the universe."

"Poof?" Foop said, incredulous. Poof nodded, looking for all the world like he wanted to comfort his anti-faerie self.

"I can't believe that!" Foop protested.

"You'd just be in their way," Wanda said quietly. "They've been trying to force me to abandon my godson since they slipped that necklace on me."

"Yes, but he's a human. I'm an anti-faerie," Foop said, outraged. "Doesn't that count for anything?"

"No," Anti-Cosmo and Wanda said in unison. Anti-Wanda continued munching on her foot, and Wanda ignored her.

"Unless you have significant power, the Shadows don't care about you," Anti-Cosmo said, and Wanda nodded. She'd heard something similar earlier.

"I have power!" Foop said. His lower lip quivered. "I could make them tremble in fear!"

"No," Wanda said quietly. "You can't. They're more powerful than you think, and they wouldn't hesitate to kill you if you got in their way."

"I could join them!" Foop said, trying to be contrary now. He glowered at the adults. "I don't need your help."

Poof delivered an impassioned speech, begging his counterpart not to do it.

"They'll use you and discard you once they're done," Anti-Cosmo said. Wanda was surprised he knew so much about the Shadows, but she glanced again at the black dragon.

Anti-Cosmo followed her gaze.

"She told us everything after we rescued her," he confirmed.

"I'll take that chance," Foop said defiantly. He poofed out, and Wanda wavered, uncertain. She didn't know how many children she could protect, for one thing. For another, Foop wasn't her responsibility. Hell, he was barely Anti-Cosmo's and Anti-Wanda's, and he was their son.

"He'll learn, or he won't," Anti-Cosmo said softly.

"You're not going to go after him?" Wanda said, shocked.

"He doesn't listen to us anyway," Anti-Wanda said, taking her foot out of her mouth. "Why bother?"

Poof's lower lip quivered, and Timmy took him into his arms this time.

"We can't hide out here forever," Wanda pointed out.

"No," Anti-Cosmo agreed. "And my wife and I wouldn't be welcome with the sort that can stop this."

"So you're not going to take a side?" Wanda said, frowning.

"I didn't say that. I'll do whatever I can to aid you and young Timothy, but I can't promise much," he said. "My nature makes me contrary."

He smiled and stroked Wanda's face. Wanda's heart skipped a beat. She knew Anti-Cosmo had only married Anti-Wanda because their faerie counterparts were married. She also knew Anti-Cosmo didn't particularly love his wife. (Or, it seemed, their son).

"But if you need a place to escape, this is it," Anti-Cosmo said. He scowled. "You'd better get back before you're missed."

"You're sending us back?" Timmy objected.

"You don't have to go back," Anti-Cosmo scoffed. "You can stay here if you wish."

"I'm not leaving Wanda," Timmy said, scowling. He wrapped an arm around her waist. "Despite everything, she's still my faerie godmother."

"I love you too, hon," Wanda said.

Anti-Cosmo frowned. Wanda didn't like the way he was looking at her. A part of her was scandalized; he was leering at her in front of his wife. Then again, perhaps she shouldn't have been surprised.

"We'll see how long that lasts."

Timmy glowered. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Anti-Cosmo's gaze was sad and oddly sympathetic. "We'll see how long Wanda holds out."

The necklace sent out an alarming sense of heat from her heart, and she gasped, clutching her chest.

"Our time is up," Anti-Cosmo said and waved his wand. She, Timmy, and Poof reappeared in the Shadows' headquarters.

"What did he mean by that?" Timmy demanded as they stood in the courtyard (where, not too long ago, Tootie and Vicky had met). He paid no attention to the large pulsating crystal behind them.

Wanda faltered, trying to decide between telling the truth and a comforting lie. She was awful at lying; they all knew it.

"It means, sport, that the pain will wear me down eventually," she said. "I'll do everything in my power not to hurt you and Poof. But…"

Her lower lip quivered, too. "Being tortured for so long has a way of breaking most people, eventually."

"But you're different!" he protested.

"I'd like to think so," Wanda said, and a tear slipped down her cheek. "But I don't know anymore."


Nighttime had fallen, and Cosmo grew impatient. He had difficulty falling asleep because he wanted so badly to talk to Wanda in her dreams. It was self-defeating.

"We're going to have to knock him out," Daniela said, shaking her head at Cosmo, who was practically vibrating on the living room couch. She gnawed her lower lip. "I hope Tootie and Magdalene are okay."

"We'll knock him out," Cal agreed, not responding to the second half. He waved his wand, and Cosmo fell into a deep sleep.


They were in a version of the castle, the one in the fish bowl (as opposed to the Shadows' castle). Cosmo rushed to Wanda and hugged her tightly; she felt like all skin and bones to him. He released her to hold her at arm's length and was disturbed by what he saw. Her chest had whip marks; everywhere he looked, she bore gashes, bruises, and lacerations. Since this was a dream world, it must be how Wanda saw herself. She was wearing away in his arms.

"Wanda!" Cosmo cried, appalled. "Speak to me!"

"What do you want me to say, hon?" Wanda said, cocking her head and looking at him dully. She stood in front of the four-poster bed, which they only had up to pretend they didn't share a bed when godkids visited. The shine had gone out of her eyes.

"I'm sorry," Wanda said. "I shouldn't have attacked you-"

"It was the Shadows' fault," Cosmo said quietly. "I know. I'm not mad at you."

Wanda smiled sadly. "You could've fooled me with all those insults and jabs earlier."

"I'm sorry," he said. "I thought they were funny…"

"They weren't," she said sharply, a touch of her old self springing back. "But never mind. You shouldn't be here. It's dangerous to talk in dreams."

"No one's listening in," Cosmo replied. "The white dragon made sure of it. His name is Erik."

"White dragon?" Wanda said, jerking her head in surprise. "What white dragon?"

"Me," a white-haired figure appeared out of nowhere. He was human-sized, with pointed ears, and wore a white dress shirt and black slacks. His keen blue eyes scrutinized them. He smiled sadly at the duo.

"I can't escape either of you-my soul is currently bonded to Cosmo's. And his soul is bonded to you, Wanda. You two can't be separated. Even after death."

"Yeah, so it looks like you're stuck with me," Cosmo teased.

Wanda looked like she wanted to laugh, but she burst into tears instead. Alarmed, Cosmo reached out for her, and she pulled away. That hurt more than seeing her in tears. She didn't want him to comfort her.

"I don't know how long I can do this," she said. "Timmy and Poof need me, but…"

"But what? They're okay, aren't they?" Cosmo pressed, and Wanda nodded.

"But I'm not," she said.

"I can help," Cosmo protested, reaching out for her again. She shook her head, and tears flowed down her cheeks.

"You can't help," she said, swallowing hard. "They'll break me in the end. I love you, Cosmo. Don't try to contact me again."

She vanished, and Cosmo howled, trying to grab her back. Erik stood there, staring at him, and Cosmo sobbed.

"Bring her back!" he begged.

"This is worse than I feared," Erik said, shaking his head. "She's starting to give up."

"We have to help her! We have to do something!" Cosmo said.

Erik frowned, looking thoughtful. Unlike when they were awake, Cosmo couldn't hear his thoughts now. Perhaps the white dragon preferred it that way. He paced the small room and didn't give Cosmo the faintest clue what he was thinking about.

Meanwhile, Cosmo was panicking. If Wanda gave up, bad things would happen. He was positive. Plus, it was unlike her to abandon hope, but then again, she'd never been hurt like this before. He knew he would've broken long before her. She was supposed to be the rock, but she was cracking under pressure.

"There must be a way to counteract that damn pendant," Erik said. "Even if it's only temporarily."

Cosmo barely listened. He was still sobbing. He couldn't believe Wanda didn't want to talk to him again, either. That wasn't like her. She couldn't abandon him. They were a pair, two halves of a whole idiot.

"When Tootie and Magdalene return, because the Shadows won't keep them permanently-they'll send them on missions-we'll need to figure out a way to pass a note or something to Wanda," Erik said. "There's a ring that will block the necklace's effects, but the only person I know who has it is my Anti-Christine."

Cosmo stopped crying, baffled. Was he saying that he'd hooked up with an anti-faerie?

"Yes, I am," Erik said, shaking his head. "You're rather transparent. But…if we can find her, we'll find the ring. Wanda will only be able to wear it for short periods to avoid arousing suspicion, but it might help."

"So, how do we get to it?" Cosmo said, swiping at his cheeks.

"That's the tricky part," Erik said. "I don't know where Anti-Christine is. When my soul was partially dislodged from my body, I lost my link to her. She'd have an easier time finding me than vice versa. But, maybe, if the right person speaks to her, they could coax her into helping."

Cosmo gritted his teeth. It depended on someone he'd never met and anti-faerie of all creatures. He didn't trust his counterpart not to hit on Wanda. How was he supposed to trust an anti-faerie with a task to help her?

"It's the best we've got right now," Erik said sadly. "We can't risk searching for her ourselves-we have to keep a low profile."

"Forget that! What about Wanda?" Cosmo said, lower lip quivering again.

"We'll have to hope until the ring ends in Wanda's possession that Poof and Timmy are enough to keep her sane."

Erik didn't sound too hopeful, and Cosmo's hopes crashed. He started to cry again, and, this time, Erik abandoned him to his tears.