Agatha sat on the edge of the tub in dazed silence, knocking a soap bar to the floor.
“She’s broken.” Phoenix whispered.
“How could I ruin it?” Agatha said, voice breaking. She looked up at the four girls. “How could I wish for him?”
“Because you’re a princess, Agatha.” Hester’s face softened for the first time. “And no matter how much you fight it . . . you want a prince.”
She looked up at Anadil, who nodded next to Hester, Phoenix nodded too, and the three waited for Dot to concur.
She didn’t.
The two witches shot her with sparks.
“Ow! Okay, fine!” Dot moped, munching on star-shaped celery. “Even if it means I go back to Evil and be fat and have no friends again!”
Agatha shook her head. “Look, Sophie just has to forgive me and everything will be—”
“Forgive you?” Hester cackled. “Her faithful Agatha, soiled by the boy once hers . . . and you expect the Witch of Woods Beyond to forgive?”
“Please don’t say soiled.” Phoenix held her hands to her cheeks. “You make it sound like they did the deed.”
An evil grin spread across Anadil’s face and she leaned in close to Phoenix. “I forget you’re so…Every. But you can’t honestly tell me you have never thought about the devil’s tango when you’ve look at your little Never crush, eh, Nixie?”
Phoenix crouched on the floor, her face burning bright red.
“Ani, leave Phoenix alone.” Hester said. “Once we’re back to Good and Evil you can tease her.” She whirled back to Agatha. “You think the Witch of the Woods can forgive you? Oh please. Inside, Sophie wants you cut up in little pieces.”
“You don’t get it,” Agatha said hotly. “Sophie’s changed—she’s Good—”
Even Anadil’s rats snickered. “She’s a Never, Agatha,” Dot said. “No matter how much you love her, no matter how much you try to change her, Sophie will end Evil and alone.”
“And not Class Captain,” Hester mumbled.
Anadil kneeled in front of Agatha. “You will never mean your wish for Sophie, Agatha. Because you and Sophie will never be happy in your world.” For once, Anadil’s red eyes looked human. “You’ll always end up back here again, wishing for your prince. And Sophie will always be the witch, keeping you and him apart . . . until you kiss Tedros.” Her cold, white hand took Agatha’s wrist. “Don’t you see? Your wish was right.”
Agatha sat on the tub in silence.
“I have to see Tedros alone,” she said quietly.
Dot nodded. “It’s the only way you’ll know if you’re meant to be with him.”
“And what if I’m not?” asked Agatha, thinking of all the reasons she hated her prince right now. “What if I still want to go home with Sophie?”
“Then we’ll help you,” Phoenix said cheerfully.
“But how do I see him without her knowing? We’re in the same room.”
YOU ARE READING
Fire Princess
FanfictionYears ago, once her fairytale had ended, Rapunzel married a prince who's entire family possessed the powers of phoenixes. That same power was passed onto her children. This is the story of her daughter, Phoenix of Firebirch, who attends the School f...
