Goldi doesn't know exactly when her appearance began to really bother her.
Just that she would find herself staring at the bears out of nowhere and that she'd feel a little self-conscious when she did. She did it subtly, of course, not knowing what she would say as an excuse if they saw her.
The idea seems to just pop out of nowhere, and as soon as she processes how to make it happen, she acts on it.
The closest thing Goldi ever had to canines were the four fangs she had sharpened herself just before she became an adolescent. She had no idea what she was doing, but what she did know was that she was fed up with Baby teasing her about how cute her teeth were when she bared them at him.
Papa and Baby had reacted in a way that made it seem like it was the coolest thing in the world. Mama, though she had appeared chuffed to bits as well, seemed more concerned about her damaging her teeth.
To prove that the female bear had nothing to worry about, Goldi stifled every whimper that attempted to slip when they ate dinner that evening and the following few days after that. But late that night, before she got up from her makeshift hammock, she studied the bears in their beds to make sure they would not be waking up.
Luckily, just before the sun had fully descended, the clouds had let loose a hefty downpour, which was still transpiring outside. Even if a bear's hearing wasn't a match for their sense of smell, it was still a cut above her own.
But with the cover of rain she was able to pick up the candle that laid on the window seal and tip-toe over to the towering mirror. It was on one of their recent heists, where they nicked it from the house of an old bugger.
Baby had dropped it on the way out, so cracks were split every which way, but the girl was still able to get a good look at herself in her cross-legged position.
She leaned in towards the glass, the candle in her hand illuminating the space in between.
She hadn't even gotten a proper look at them until now. The river's running stream has not generated a clear reflection.
She ran her tongue along the two on top before doing the same to the bottom.
They looked and felt a lot duller than she had first perceived, but that wasn't the only thing amiss about them.
They were too short.
The euphoria that had been still bubbled up from the praises she received not too long ago began to dwindle until it was nonexistent, like her new adjustment was now nothing more than a defect.
Before she knew it, it began to happen every time. Every glance in the mirror, she'd find something else to nitpick at.
No fur.
The placement of her ears.
Her body was small and much more fragile.
She had gotten to the point where she would disregard the mirror entirely; it just panged her too much. Even with her attempts to tidy herself, her appearance was never the most orderly anyway, so it's not like anyone would have noticed if her hair had looked a little more tousled than usual or that there would be a bit of dirt or mud on her face that the cloth didn't quite pick up.
Or at least she thought no one would.
Out of all the bears, her bond was the strongest with Mama. This probably being how she never wanted to let the girl out of her sight when she was younger.
Originally, it didn't quite bother her. The attention was much different from what she received from the caretakers at the orphanage. The soft speaking was much welcomed over the constant screeching she was so used to. Other than to be rebuked, she and the other kids never got the time of day from the adults and certainly not piggyback rides.
Regardless of Mama being easily distracted and sometimes oblivious, like her husband and son, she was still a mother. And with Goldi being h̶e̶r̶ c̶h̶i̶l̶d̶ a child, that maternal instinct would kick in if she suspected something was harming her.
The girl first noticed when the sow was starting to grow clingy again. It was subtle, but she caught on when Mama began treating her as if she were made of glass, mentally and physically.
Goldi didn't see it as too big of an issue; she was good at hiding stuff. When she had set her mind to it, she was able to get away with all sorts of things with her previous caretakers, even the orphanage's keeper.
All the girl had to do was tighten her mask a little more.
It works, or at least she thinks it does. Mama relents just a little; maybe it's because she's going to try a different approach.
Goldi never finds out because in not even two days time, everything changes.
The map. This map was going to lead them to the "Wishing Star," which was said to grant any wish. All she had to do was hire someone skilled enough to retrieve it from bloody Jack Horner.
The penitence hasn't left ever since she notified the bears about their next job. The elation on their faces and in their voices had been a menace to her feigned smile, but she was able to compose herself by continuously reminding herself that this was in their best interest as well. They may not realize it yet, but they will.
Pretty soon, it was all going to be just right.
YOU ARE READING
Mirror, Mirror
FanfictionGoldi doesn't know exactly when her appearance began to really bother her. *I do not own Puss in Boots or Dreamworks *I also don't own the fanart