Chapter 9; Nova Cosma
—Wanda POV—
'Cosmo's father….' She stared at the man named Nova in surprise. He smiled kindly as he tended the animal with a gentle touch. There was a medicine smell wafting from the doctor's bag near his feet. She could hear the injured animals around him cooing and twittering contentedly, and she could sense their serenity. If it weren't for her knowledge that these animals had once been human children, the scene would have been quite tranquil.
Cosmo never uttered a word about his father, as if the man had left no trace in his mind. During one of their brief conversations, Schnozmo had spoken to her of the time when Cosmo had transformed their father into a tiny fly. That was all she ever heard of the man.
She had assumed that he and Mama Cosma had ended their marriage similar to her own parents' split. She knew how much of a sore topic it could be and so never tried to dig deeper than that.
Nova beamed with delight as he came over to shake her hand, his grip firm and a little clammy. "It is an honor to meet you in person, my dear Wanda. Could this be the Timmy Turner I have heard so many things about?"
With a wave, he greeted Timmy, whose body was held in a vice-like grip by Jorgen. "Hi there, I am sorry to hear about your accident. However, do not fret, you will be back to full health soon."
He exuded a welcoming atmosphere. Should she have encountered him in fairy world, she would have a favorable opinion of him, but…
He lived in the world of the Fey and the ramifications of that were not something she could ignore.
Jorgen pointed his wand at the man, a warning sound rumbling in his throat as he tried to approach Timmy. Nova merely smiled, his eyes twinkling with patience, as if he were humoring a small child armed with nothing more than a twig.
"Jorgen, I see that your hostility persists. You are so similar to your grandmother. I suppose that is why the two of you are the only Von Strangles left in Fairy World, apart from your cousin Leonard. Is he still invisible?"
"I have no intention of wasting my breath on idle chatter with you." Jorgen's tone was harsh and positioned his wand between them, as if making a barrier between Nova and herself.
"Your not giving my dear daughter-in-law a very good first impression of me." Nova readjusted his glasses. His voice rose in indignation. "You're making me seem like some sort of criminal!"
"You have earned that name," he said, his voice dripping with disdain. "Nova Cosma, he was head of a child trafficking ring. At the request of godparents, he would bring items the child had bequeathed to their fairies, to the Fey. This man has aided in the kidnapping of over two hundred children before he was caught."
Wanda's jaw dropped as she stared, speechless, at her father-in-law. She had a feeling he was guilty of something, but never imagined it would be a crime so severe. She had been just a small child at the time, but she remembered the feeling of fear and fury that surrounded the incident.
"C-Cosmo never breathed a word about..." She murmured, hurt.
"That's because he's never been told about me," He spoke with a hint of sadness. "Jorgen was considerate enough to remove the identities of those involved from the memories of the fairy world public. My wife has the memories, but our sons were far too young to remember; I'm sure she wouldn't tell them even now."
"…You aided in the kidnapping of children?" She gave him a disgusted look. Nova lost his smile and took off his glasses, wiping the lenses.
"Wanda, kindly permit me to ask—was the underlying cause of death for your god son due to maltreatment and neglect?"
Timmy's voice was a whisper as he said, "I…I did not die….only almost…", and she could see the fear in his eyes as he looked at her for reassurance. She hushed him gently, her fingers running through his hair as she softly told him he did not die. Nova lifted one eyebrow, the corner of his mouth turning up in a smirk as he observed the exchange.
"Accept my apology for my imprecise phrasing. I had no intention of scaring you, my dear Timmy."
She glared at her father-in-law, wondering where he was going with this.
As I was previously elucidating... As he talked, Nova touched one of the hurt animals affectionately. Godparents are often in a child's life for a brief period. What becomes of the unfortunate children living in an abusive environment when they no longer have a godparent? Even having fairies can not always stop the inevitable. If that were the case, young Timmy would not be in his current state, correct?"
Nova paced amongst his animals with his fists clenched in agitation. "God parents who were concerned about the safety of their godchildren requested my aid. They realized the only approach to protect their beloved god children was to take them away from Earth."
"He worked as a mail clerk, checking letters from Fairy World to Fey world for any contraband." Jorgen explained sourly. "It was a position one earned through trust and he abused it."
"As I would do once more." Nova declared with pride. "I would present the Fey with something that the godparents had been given by their child. By this means, they could transport the child to Fey World. Here, they are safe and secure, far away from their abusive households."
Wanda felt a wave of dread pass through her body, the knots in her stomach tightening. She felt a deep sadness, like a physical weight pressing on her heart. "…. The children…what had happened to them?"
She asked this question even though she was already certain of the answer.
"Those who were successful in the Fey's tests were welcomed into our family as The Kinder. Those who failed..." Nova tenderly stroked the ear of the nearby creature. "They became lovely, charming additions to our woodland. Our delightful pet companions."
"You made them slaves and mindless beasts!" Jorgen snarled, looking like he wanted to blast the man into a million pieces.
"It is impermissible to refer to our dear ones with such derogatory terms." Nova hissed in indignation. "Our love for our little ones is unconditional and infinite."
As Nova stroked the half dog, half calf creature under the chin, his tone returned to its usual peaceful state. When he looked at it, his eyes were filled with a warm, gentle affection.
"We take great care of our children, ensuring that they have all they need to thrive. All 200 children I aided in escaping their abusive homes are here, happy and safe, surrounded by love. You'll notice that I'm still carefully looking after them now."
If only Timmy had been asleep, then he would not have been subjected to listening to such words. His thoughts likely raced in all directions. Hers certainly were.
This man had aided in the kidnapping of so many children. He had stolen their humanity from them. He had reduced them to playthings, and yet…he was viewing himself as their savior.
"We did not come here to hear you try to explain your actions and why you think they are justified," Jorgen sneered. "Our purpose for being here today is to have Turner tested and receive the appropriate treatment. Nothing more."
"I have no expectations that I will persuade you. I know that all too well." Nova glanced over at her and smiled. She clenched her fists and felt her teeth grind together. Had he gone on such a fervent, impassioned speech in order to convince her to agree with him? Had he been hoping perhaps she'd be so moved, she'd give him something of Timmy's? Was he hoping she'd offer him the opportunity to be the "savior" of her godchild?
Despictable.
She was more than capable of helping Timmy on her own, and the offer that man made was more like a trap than a rescue.
"It shouldn't be much longer until Piper returns. Do come in and make yourselves comfortable." Nova invited them to follow him inside the Gingerbread house.
She watched him as he moved inside; the door creaking as he opened it, inviting them to come in. She hesitated, the silence between them heavy as she gazed at Jorgen. There was so much on her mind, but her mouth could form none of the words.
"Those who are convinced that their actions are morally correct are the most vile of criminals." Jorgan's expression and voice were dripping with bitterness. "His enthusiasm and conviction for his cause had many fairies join him. I trust you won't be one of them?"
"Never!" She recoiled, taking in Timmy's wide-eyed expression as her eyes met his. "Timmy…"
She was speechless, yet somehow he still seemed to understand her perfectly. He seemed to read her thoughts through her expression alone and answered her with a sweet smile. It was an uncomplicated gesture, yet it seemed to express all the faith in the world.
She kissed his forehead, feeling a gentle warmth pass between them as she vowed to protect him.
— Timmy's POV —
He looked around himself with an open mouth, his eyes darting from one thing to the next. The transition from outside the gingerbread house to inside was staggering.
He was surprised by the contrast between the building's exterior, which reminded him of a fairy tale, and the interior, which was full of futuristic, high-tech devices. Just like Wanda and Cosmo's underwater castle, the inside of this place was far greater than its outward proportions.
"AJ would be in his element here," he breathed, taking in the sights and sounds. The hallway felt like it was stretching on forever as they passed by a hundred sliding doors, the light reflecting off the metal walls. The windows framed a view of the deep forest, though the building was miles away from it. Holograms acted like a type of decor, adding an ethereal glow to the space between each door.
The holograms changed shapes quickly, from children to something else, the air buzzing with the sound of electricity. Nova had affectionately referred to them as the Kinder. The children looked like they had been turned into living artworks combining many strange traits.
Though some children changed into animals rather than one of the Kinder. He shuddered seeing the picture of a blonde little boy with green eyes change into the animal he had encountered in the forest.
Wanda whispered to Timmy, her voice gentle and soothing, "Close your eyes, Timmy." He did as he was told, not wanting to take in any more of the sights.
He understood Nova's talk about abusive homes. His home wasn't the best, but he knew some children were living in much more dire straits. He could sympathize with wanting to save them from that, but…
This did not feel right at all.
He heard the soft sound of a door sliding open, and he cautiously glanced around the room. He was amazed to find himself in a 50s retro soda shop/candy store, with its bright red and white checkered floors and the feel of a cozy diner. Just as the exterior of the gingerbread house and the sci-fi interior didn't match, the furniture in this room created a discordant feeling.
"I hate this place." Jorgan muttered under his breath as he took a seat in a red and white plastic booth that could barely fit his massive built. He was placed down beside him, and the gentle brush of Wanda's hand as she settled in next to him was reassuring. It was crowded, but it looked like no one wanted to sit next to Nova, whom had his entire side of the booth to himself.
He snapped his fingers with a carefree attitude. On the table appeared a large plate of freshly buttered bread, garnished with a variety of colorful sprinkles. There were three cups of tea and a cup of steamed milk that smelled of honey.
The jukebox clicked on, and a cheerful rhythm filled the air. He half expected to hear some nostalgic song that his parents would listen to, but instead, the room was filled with the melodic sound of traditional folk music, complete with flutes and chimes. He wasn't a fan of the music, but it was the least of his worries.
"Piper will be back before long. Let's explore the specifics of little Timmy's situation and what we should expect?" Nova spoke as if none of the conversation outside had taken place.
"Timmy, don't drink the milk." Wanda pushed the cup away, glowering at Nova who put his hands up defensively, while still smiling.
"It's perfectly harmless milk."
"I can poof him up his own, if he wants some, thank you very much."
"You won't deny him the fairy bread too, well you, my dear?" Nova seemed to be more entertained than affronted by Wanda's attitude towards him.
"I'm not hungry." He moved in closer to Wanda, cautiously. He did not feel the same overpowering desire to eat like he had with the other foods he had encountered in this place, but he still felt wary of having it so close to him.
"You don't need to fear the bread." Jorgen stated; it was such a comical line he almost laughed. The large fairy seemed to cringe internally when he heard his own words, so he rubbed the back of his neck before continuing. "It's one of the few foods they cannot enchant, no matter how hard they try. Any attempts to do so will not only be nullified, but actually physically hurt them."
"Fairy bread, fairy floss, both are human inventions that they named after us. Somehow, this works as a charm against our enchantments." Nova explained and gestured towards the plate. "It's far more popular in Australia than the states, but you should try it. It is delicious."
He eyed it uncertainly until Wanda picked up a colorful slice and held it out for him. "This is safe. Don't worry. You hardly touched your food all day. Some sugar will give you some energy."
He nibbled hesitantly. The snack had the simple taste of fluffy white bread, butter, and sugar-coated sprinkles. There was nothing remarkable or unusual about it. It was something he could probably make himself back home in less than five minutes.
"So, what do you think?" Nova tasted his tea while helping himself to a slice. "The humans of today have a tendency to name colorful, cute things after us. The current perception you humans have of fairies is drastically different from what it used to be."
"We're not here to chitchat." Jorgen brusquely cut him off.
"I know you're not one for civility, Jorgen, but please, this is my daughter-in-law and her godchild. You can forgive me for wanting to exchange some pleasantries."
"I just want to discuss Timmy's treatment." Wanda put an arm around him protectively, eyeing Nova with mistrust. Although it felt wrong to treat Cosmo's father this way, he could understand why Wanda and Jorgen were being curt. The man reminded him of his godfather and was kind, but he was still a kidnapper, which made it difficult to be friendly.
"Very well." Nova still did not lose his smile as he drained his cup of tea in one long gulp. "Piper and I have obtained the fundamental information from the letter Jorgen sent. The unfortunate lad was severely hurt and required the utilization of revival magic. Sadly, his life energy did not come back, and he had to rely on magic to survive. He needs the magical filter cycle to sustain his life, while his body bolsters its own vitality to the point of having the capability to function without it."
Nova's summary caused him to gulp anxiously, and he attempted to mask the unease on his face by taking a bite out of the sweet fairy bread.
He would die without magic in his body. The mere contemplation of the idea made him feel a chill run down his spine. Not only was it necessary to keep the magic constantly renewed, but it was crucial, as the consequences of it becoming stagnant were dire. He did not want to contemplate the potential effects on him should the magic become stagnant or depleted.
…Revival magic. The mere mention of its name filled him with dread. He had been assured numerous times already that he had not perished…but…he couldn't dismiss the apprehension that he was simply being given a comfort lie.
"When Piper arrives, we will gauge his seven key points and calculate the amount of magical energy that needs to be injected into each one." Nova stated, drumming his fingers on the table as he spoke. "We will also determine the best order for those points to be injected. Is there anything you would like to ask?"
"…Will it hurt?" He squeaked, timidly.
"Regrettably, the start of this will be very painful." Nova stated with genuine sympathy. The initial treatments will generate a magical flow in your body. It is not typical of humans to have one, thus your body will resist this. Nevertheless, as your body adjusts to it, the pain will be alleviated. How promptly this adjustment will occur will depend on the compatibility between you and your godmother."
"Don't you worry, Sweetie," Wanda said, rubbing her hand reassuringly on his back. "I know that with the bond we have, the treatment won't be painful for very long."
"Compatibility and relationship are two separate things, my dear." Nova tsked, correctly her with a shake of his finger. "Alas, just having a strong bond won't make your magic and his body more compatible."
His shoulders slumped, and a darkness seemed to cloud his mind as he thought about the pain he would endure and the pain he was already in. Wanda's eyes brimmed with tears, realizing her motherly affection wouldn't help ease the hurt he was about to suffer.
Nova flashed a reassuring smile. "Your bond will not be meaningless in this treatment. No, the love you two share will be highly beneficial in an entirely different and much more essential area, so please don't be so troubled."
"What area is that?" He asked, eager for an answer, but Nova shook his head and chuckled at him.
"I would prefer to remain on one topic at a time in this discussion, so please allow me to finish explaining one thing before inquiring about another."
Even though his voice was soft and kind, he felt the underlying warning if he chose not to obey his request. Wanda seemed to sense this too, for she pulled him even closer and put a finger to his lips to silence him.
"As I was explaining, the magic filter cycle will be agonizing initially." Nova nodded to himself as he spoke, closing his eyes as he fiddled with his glasses. "Your whole body will experience pain and a burning sensation as a flow of magic is formed inside it. This may be a brief duration, lasting a day or two, or it could potentially continue for weeks."
A feeling of dread washed over him. Weeks of agony? How would he ever be able to tolerate it? Wanda held him tightly, her quivering arms a silent expression of her deep sympathy for his suffering.
"Do not become disheartened, child." Nova comforted. "If you persist through the pain, it will eventually be replaced by enjoyment. After your body has adapted, the initial pain and discomfort will transform into a pleasant sensation. The treatments will become an enjoyable thing to you."
"But you better not enjoy them too much." Jorgen pointed a finger at him threateningly. "If I see any signs of magical addiction, well…it'll make the Wishing Well look like a spa resort!"
"Geh….!" He made a face; the place he had gone when he had developed O.W.D had been the pits, getting sent to a place that would make the Wishing Well seem like a vacation? No thanks!
Nova gave a hearty laugh. "Now, now, developing a magic addiction is not the mark of a wicked child. It simply can't be helped. The human body is a weak thing and the feeling of magic within it can easily become captivating."
"But an addiction of any kind can be damaging," Wanda squeezed his hand. "Is there a way to detect the warning signs, or stop it before it happens?"
"Without a doubt, my dear. Becoming addicted to something is never desirable." Nova agreed.
He wanted to vouch for himself, insisting that he wouldn't become addicted, however…he had experienced O.W.D before, therefore…he could not be sure.
"As the treatment begins to be enjoyable, it is essential to watch for signs." Nova spoke robotically. It sounded like he had given this explanation so many times that his voice took on the quality of a tape recording. "Anxiousness to receive treatment or dissatisfaction when it has ended is not necessarily indications of addiction."
"It's not?" Wanda had poofed up a notebook and was jotting things down.
"No, it's not." Nova looked over at him, pityingly. "Those who are undergoing this treatment are in a state of frailty and agony. They are suffering from mental and physical distress. It is understandable that they will yearn for something that provides them solace and brings them joy."
He reached for another piece of bread, even though he was full. He could not bear to just sit and listen to the details of his impending torment without some form of distraction.
"It's a problem, however, if they whine for extra treatment." Nova made an unpleasant face. "If they put pressure on you or threaten you to increase the amount of magic you are using. Sometimes, children will resort to tantrums or starving themselves in order to coerce their godparent into complying with their demands."
"Oh, my Timmy wouldn't act like that." Wanda gave him an affectionate hug, her voice brimming with confidence.
"Turner has shown selfishness in the past." Jorgen reminded, making him lower his head ashamed.
"Oh, he really only had a brief phase where he was badly behaved. These days, Timmy has been a little angel."
He smiled, feeling happy that she thought so well of him. Jorgen was right though, he had been a real jerk for a little while; to his friends, to his parents, to his fairies…
It was all because of the time he had wished he had never existed.
After being shown what the world would be like without him, he felt a wave of emptiness wash over him. He felt overwhelmed by the thought that if everyone was better off without him, why bother trying? He had even resented them for being happier without him in their lives. It was a hurt that seemed to encompass the world. He could not even blame them, because they had not even done anything wrong. His emotions had overwhelmed him, and he had reacted by becoming a little jerk.
"Thanks for forgiving me for all that." He peeked at his godmother, embarrassed as he thought about his past behavior. It took almost losing his fairy god parents in that Fairy Idol mess to have him realize that even if they did not love him, that he loved them, and did not want them to leave.
"Water under the bridge sweetie, and besides, if I hadn't given you a second chance, then look at all I'd have lost out on!"
He snuggled up to his godmother as she playfully cuddled him; he felt stupid now for ever thinking that Wanda had not loved him. Naturally, he had never told her or anyone about wishing he had never been born, or what Jorgen had showed him; it was a deep secret shame and pain he'd keep locked inside forever, but somehow he felt that even if she knew she'd be happier without him, that she'd love him, anyway. That's what he hoped….
"Very sweet, very charming, but—that's what the godmother of little Mary Alice thought." Nova chided. "It did not turn out pretty."
"It did not." Jorgen agreed. "Be sure to discipline him if he acts out Wanda. Spare the rod, spoil the child."
"I will, I will," Wanda promised in the same tone he used when he thought something had a zero possibility of happening. He did not share Wanda's confidence in him. Naturally, he did not want to do anything bad, of course, but…he was weak. He knew he was. Everyone but Wanda and Poof knew it, too. His weakness was something his parents brought up every time he took his medication.
"Very well, now that we have examined the physical and mental components of the filter cycle, let us move onto the enjoyable element." Nova clapped his hands together and caught his eye, his own twinkling. "Did you know that this process will grant you magical abilities?"
"They will?" He asked, surprised.
"Certainly, and I am not speaking of a temporary situation. They will remain with you even after you reach adulthood. Without them being replenished, their presence could be limited based on the strength of the bond between you and your godmother; they could be gone by the time you reach your mid twenties, or they could remain with you for the entirety of your life."
He was excited by the idea of gaining his own magical powers, but after just discussing the risk of addiction, he became hesitant to express this.
"Additionally, there are also physical alterations; but before we get into that, let's just check the strength of the bond you and your godmother have." Nova produced a handkerchief and a small knife, but Jorgen quickly struck the table with a fist.
"I'm not falling for that trick a second time; we'll use our own."
"Oh, shoot." Nova did not seem all that disappointed, though. "Oh well, thought I'd give it a shot."
"What did you just try to do?" Wanda's nostrils flared as she directed her question to her father-in-law, not knowing the answer, but knowing it was something bad. Nova laughed as if he had merely been playing a joke.
"You can test your bond by seeing what happens if your blood is mixed." Jorgen explained, poofing up his own hanky and a sewing needle.
"But, that's—!" Wanda gasped and Jorgen rolled his eyes, shaking his head.
"On the cloth. Don't tell me Cosmo's idiotcy is rubbing off on you, Wanda. I'd never give the ok for a fairy to give their godchild fairy blood."
"Oh, of course—" Wanda messed with her hair, looking shaken up. "I think it's because we talked about Bubbles recently that I—well, that was a terrible incident."
"And one we should never forget." Jorgen stated pointedly, then relaxed. "But, you're a professional, Wanda, with the experience of over 32,000 god children, so it's not an incident you should dwell on."
32,000 kids….Timmy was awestruck by the number. He had seen lots of pictures in their castle, yes, but he had never counted; but 32,000 that was…insane! It made sense…they had been godparents for a long time.
Wanda said he was her favorite, but he knew he couldn't possibly be better than the 32,000 others. There wasn't really anything good about him.
"Anyway, put a few drops of blood on that handkerchief and then have Turner do the same. We'll be able to tell by the color his blood turns." Jorgen now glared sourly at Nova. "My mistake that time was to allow the fairy and god child to use the borrowed handkerchief; once he took it back, he had the child's blood and could transform her, hiding her amongst the animals in the forest."
"It was simply a little game of hide and seek. You got her back."
"If she had eaten any of the fruit, I wouldn't of!"
"And considering what happened with Mary Alice, that would have been better."
He wondered what the deal was with this Mary Alice kid.
"I would thank you not to try so brazenly to kidnap my so—godson." Wanda took a glance at Jorgen to see if he had noticed her hiccup, but fortunately, he hadn't. However, Timmy couldn't help but notice a momentary shine in Nova's eyes. Wanda gently took his hand and lifted the sewing needle.
"I'll be quick, sweetie."
He nodded, wincing as she pricked him and held his hand over the handkerchief. The next thing he knew, she had poofed a crash nebula bandage over his finger, and gave it a kiss—the same way she did whenever Poof got a 'boo-boo'. He couldn't remember his own mother ever actually doing that, and he was surprised that it really seemed to make the pain go away.
"Ok, now mine—"
"I did not know Fairies bled." He remarked. "I've seen Cosmo and even you get injured before, but there was never any blood."
"Ah, that's because a fairy's blood can only be drawn by their consent. It does not function the same way human blood does, you see. Even calling it blood is kinda iffy." She looked like she would have been willing to tell him more if Jorgen was not present. As it was, the large fairy was giving her a look of reproach for even telling him that much.
Wanda used the needle to jab herself and he watched curiously as a glowing, glittery pink substance dripped out. As it hit the handkerchief and mixed with his blood, his stains glowed and then turned into the same color as Wanda's, except without the glitter.
Nova grinned, and Jorgen crammed the handkerchief in his pocket with great haste.
"You have a strong bond." He said simply, without making eye contact.
"A very strong bond!" Nova winked at him. "Do you love Wanda more than your birth mother?"
He felt his entire face flush, and he stammered, not knowing what to say. "I—I love my mom…! I love her a lot, I…just…don't know if she feels the same, but…. she's my mom, I, of course, I love her!"
"I'm not asking if you love your mother, I'm asking if you love your godmother more." Nova's playful tone would have irked him if the question hadn't hurt him so much. It was true, he loved Wanda more, but to say so felt like it would be admitting his actual mother did not love him.
"Don't ask things like that!" Wanda gasped, appalled, and hugged him. Trying to comfort him, she stroked his hair back soothingly. She already knew how he felt. They had that conversation back when she had given him permission to call her 'mom' in private.
"Are you in an abusive home?" Nova appeared genuinely concerned as he leaned forward.
"Nova, we're not giving you Turner, so don't try to convince either of us." Jorgen was frowning. "Right, Wanda?"
"R-right, of course. We're here to have Timmy treated, not converted into a Kinder!"
"Pity." Nova looked disappointed, but not surprised. "Oh well, moving along—now that we know that my dear daughter-in-law and little Timmy have a powerful bond, allow me to show the appropriate video about what side effects we can expect."
From no where a projection screen appeared and began playing a movie, even though there was no projector.
"Congratulations on having a bond of 90% or over." A voice that sounded like it belonged on an infomercial played. The movie showed cartoonish versions of him and Wanda on it. He picked up another piece of fairy bread, entertained by seeing himself as a cartoon character. "You have tested to be in the highest bond bracket. Good job! You'd do even better if you became a fey and kept your god kid with you forever and ever—here in Fey world, where they will be happy, loved, protected and never grow old or die—"
"Nova, fast forward the nonsense." Jorgen glowered.
"Fine…" Nova rolled his eyes, and the video sped up as though it had been put on ultra fast forward—several minutes went by, before it returned to normal speed, however…
"Here in Fey world your child will be loved and cared for, they will—-"
"Sorry, still got to go a little further." Nova began to fast forward again.
"How long is this video?" Wanda quirked her brow as things once again passed by at a super fast speed.
"Roughly 12 hours." Nova answered simply. That was longer than watching all three extended edition versions of Lord of the Rings!
"Ah, here we go." Nova stopped the video again.
"Of course we won't force you to have your child stay in Fey World, but we strongly suggest it. Moving on—" The screen changed to show the words 'physical changes!' The cartoon him was on the screen standing in front of a mirror with cartoon Wanda behind him.
"When the bond is as strong as yours, you can expect positive physical side effects. What these are will be determined by aspects of the child and god parents personalities, emotional states, subconscious wants or needs, etc. However, because you have a strong and positive bond, they will be good ones, whatever they are! Possibilities include but are not limited to…
Increased physical abilities such as strength, speed, dexterity
Quicker healing
Changes to hair or eye color, or the ability to change hair or eye color at will.
Beautifcation
Slowed aging
Never getting zits
Immunity to sunburns
Immunity towards all forms of illness, except for the common cold. Nothing can cure or prevent that.
And a bunch of other possibilities that we do not feel like taking the time to name!
"…Some of those are weird." Wanda said what he thought and Nova shrugged. He watched as the cartoon of him demonstrated some of these possibilities in a comical way that was hard to take seriously.
"So, is there a way to tell which ones I'll have?" He asked, wondering.
"A examination can be conducted once you have gone through the process several times to determine its full effects on you." Nova paused the video and smiled. "You are fortunate. In the event of a weak bond, accelerated aging or acute deformities may have been experienced. A mediocre bond could have resulted in anomalies, such as an enormous nose, many moles, or severe super acne."
"Ew." He made a face, glad he would not end up with side effects like that.
"Now that we've discussed physical changes, let's discuss mental ones! YAY!" The video changed to show cartoon him laying on a therapist's couch with cartoon Wanda hovering over him with a notepad. He exchanged an uncomfortable glance with Wanda, who was no doubt feeling as off put as he was by the weird movie. "Feel relieved! You scored high, so you'll be fine! You won't suddenly become a deranged lunatic, or a paranoid schizophrenic! Negative behavioral changes are for children in a lower grade! They can expect an increase in temper, the sudden desire to steal or engage in violence. Increase in sensitivity, aka becoming big crybabies, or becoming worry warts—but not you! Lucky you! You can look forward to developing a sixth sense, excelling in a certain area of study, astral travel, and gaining a photographic memory are all possible. You lucky ducky!"
"Wanda, do you think it could do something about my learning disability?" He asked hopefully. She smiled at him gently in response; her expression enough to tell him it made no difference to her if he had one or not. It would be nice if his parents would feel that way.
"Now, on to the powers you may gain! Kids with weak bonds might end up with no power or useless abilities; such as being able to bend a spoon with your mind, yay. Or if you had a very strong but negative bond, you'd receive naughty abilities, such as being able to curse people or start fires with your mind." The screen showed cartoon him and Wanda standing on a street full of kids who were doing useless parlor tricks or causing anarchy.
"But not you little fella, you're one of the special ones! Ta-daa-daaaa!"
Cartoon him and cartoon Wanda got beamed up in a ray of light and appeared in what looked like a fairy tale version of heaven…or was it Fey World?
"Special kids like you gain very nice, very gentle, very loving abilities, ones that can make the world a much better place and help many, many people! Eventually, however, you'll end up with one of the following fates. Accused of witchcraft and burned at the stake. Accused of being a heretic and martyred. Becoming a modern day social outcast and living in your parents' basement well into your forties as a complete shut in. That's why you should take your wonderful one of a kind, special abilities and come live here in Fey world where you will be treasured and appreciated!"
Cartoon him and Wanda approached a sign saying welcome to Fey world where they joined a bunch of smiling fey at a feast. Then the screen went black and the words THE END appeared.
"Huh? I thought you said it was twelve hours, that wasn't even fifteen minutes!" He blurted out while Wanda was gnashing her teeth over the shameless ending.
"It is, but you had me fast forward almost the entire video." Nova protested.
"Your telling me that eleven hours and forty-five minutes was spent just trying to convince us to live in Fey World!?" Wanda was exasperated.
"Pretty good production quality, was it not?" Nova changed his voice to sound like the one in the video, implying that he had been the one to make it.
"…You really are Cosmo's father…" Wanda deadpanned, but he couldn't help but crack a smile at the statement. He'd have loved to hear Cosmo's response to the video. It would have been bound to be something funny.
"The videos get worse the lower of a bond you have," Jorgen groaned. "One kid with a powerful negative bond literally had to sit through a 36 hour video telling them how miserable their life was going to be if they did not become a kinder!"
The behavior of that youngster was unacceptable. We decided change into an animal instead of a Kinder. A pig, in fact—speaking of which, would you care to partake in some roast pork?" Nova made an enormous dish with a fancily prepared roast on it appear on the table. He froze, staring at the cut of meat. His mind unable or unwilling to process the implications, when Nova laughed hysterically, slapping his knee, poofing away the dish.
"Oh, I do simply love that joke! It never fails to get a reaction out of you children! You make the most amusing expressions."
He let out a relieved sigh and exchanged looks with Wanda.
"Yup, he really is Cosmo's father alright."