“What’s happening?” Anna covers her ears.
“We’re under attack,” I say, grabbing her hand, “but don’t worry, we’ll be okay.” Rumpelstiltskin is protecting the castle. For the moment, that comforts me.
A mirror nearby glows green. “Headmistress Flora,” Miri says urgently.
“What’s happened?” Flora asks. “There can’t be a break-in. We’re protected!”
“They haven’t broken into the school, Headmistress,” Miri says, and it’s the first time I’ve ever heard the normally steady mirror sound shaky. “It’s Enchantasia…” The words seem stuck to her mouth like glue. “The ogres, the gargoyles…Alva. They’ve…burned half the village to the ground.”
Happily Ever After Scrolls
Brought to you by FairyWeb—magically appearing on scrolls throughout Enchantasia for the past ten years!
Breaking News: Enchantasia Village in Ruins
by Beatrice Beez
The Enchantasia Dwarf Police Squad is ordering all residents who still have their homes, teakettles, and boots to stay indoors while the police investigate the village for ogres and gargoyles on the run after today’s devastating attack. This reporter has toured the village with police protection and has noted that three blocks of boots, several teakettles, and storefronts including Mother Goose’s Nursery School—as well as the famed Three Little Pigs’ homes—were destroyed in the attacks.
Thankfully, the quick thinking of Jack and Jill, who were headed up the hill to fetch a pail of water, alerted the village to the incoming ogres, and villagers were able to get everyone to safety. In the village square a new magical scroll with an ominous message was found: “A regime change is coming. Join me or perish. The royal court can’t save you.”
Following the attacks, dozens of villagers fled the scene to join Alva’s army. Rumor has it that students at FTRS have gone missing as well. “No one knows how they’re contacting Alva, but we suspect there is a traitor in our midst who is helping them do so,” says Pete, the Dwarf Police Squad Chief.
Rapunzel was visiting the village right before the attacks occurred, but thankfully left early for a hair-care ad luncheon. Meanwhile, the royal court is said to be scrambling to make a statement about the attacks, but they’ve already been beaten to the punch by one of their own. Despite imminent danger, Princess Rose signed her Royal Ladies-in-Waiting Club out of Fairy Tale Reform School to distribute fresh water, blankets, and food to magical creatures in need. Headmistress Flora was rumored to be against this idea, but as she is under questioning about her school’s magical protection that left it untouched, she was unable to stop the princess.
“While my fellow princesses figure out the right words to comfort a village, my Royal Ladies and I choose to get on the ground and help those in need,” said Princess Rose when we caught up with her at the Mulberry Bush shelter where she was giving out honorary Royal Ladies-in-Waiting sashes to eager children. “I, for one, won’t stand and wait to see my kingdom repeatedly pillaged in this manner. It’s time we take back the power.
“I’ve already told my fellow princesses that we will be meeting to discuss Enchantasia’s welfare at a dinner my RLWs and I are organizing at Royal Manor this Friday. While commoners are usually not invited to give their opinion in such matters, I feel it is important that we hear everyone’s thoughts on how to save our kingdom. One of my newest RLWs, Gillian Cobbler, is sure to have many ideas.”
The village shoemaker’s daughter and her friends are the ones who thwarted Alva’s previous attack on FTRS. Inviting RLWs to a royal discussion is a bold move by Princess Rose, who has always let the other princesses make decisions on her behalf. “I am no longer willing to sit back and let things be decided for me. I’m a charming princess, yes, but I also have the power to help those in need.”
Check your scrolls often throughout the day for updates on Enchantasia village and the search for Alva!
CHAPTER 14
A Pirate’s Life for Me
Tap! Tap! Tap!
At first the sound is so light that I think I’m imagining it, so I roll over and go back to sleep. But the sound is persistent. It interrupts my sugarplum dreams.
Kayla throws back her covers. “For the love of fairies, what is that noise?”