Chapter 89: Fantasia School for the Magically Skewed
Fantasia School for the Magically Skewed had changed. The students were different. The teachers were different. The infrastructure was different.
But it still felt the same. As they walked the old hallways, nostalgia hit the guardians hard, even Jim who hadn't attended the high school more than a year. Magically skewed or not, this was where they came together. This was where their adventures began.
It was also where Peter and Jim had their first fight, which Peter was only too happy to remind everyone.
"Pan—" Jim scowled as Peter danced around him, fists raised. "I will murder you if you don't cut the crap."
Peter swung wide. "Gotta catch me first, chicken!"
"Get the hell away from me."
"Bawk, bawk, bawk! Lily-livered chicken! Jab left!"
Jim dodged. "Pan!"
"Jab right!"
"Pan!"
Peter parried around Jim's face. "Upper cut! Lower cut! Left hook! Right hook! Boom! Bang! Bust!"
Jim unbuckled his blaster. He was about to boom-bang-bust Peter with a round of dark energy, but he was stopped by a high-pitched voice.
"Mr. Hawkins, shooting Mr. Pan in the face is a sure way to land yourself detention...again."
They turned.
"Headmaster Mickey!"
*** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** **
Headmaster Mickey escorted the guardians to his office. Although their initial greeting was warm, Headmaster Mickey's expression became somber as they approached. Shouting could be heard down the hall and blue magic puffed sporadically under the headmaster's door.
Ariel raised her trident.
"Are we safe to go in there?" she asked, dubiously tapping the threshold.
Headmaster Mickey rapped the door.
"Dunno." he admitted brightly. "Guess we'll have to wait and see. Agent Bubbles?! Are you in there!? Agent Bubbles it's me!"
The shouting dwindled, giving way to aggressive whispers. Peter was about to place his ear to the door when it cracked open.
Agent Cobra Bubbles glared through the crack.
"Password?"
"Little s." replied Headmaster Mickey. "I've brought his majesty's guardians."
Agent Bubbles lowered his shades. "What took them so long?"
"They were eh...reminiscing." Headmaster Mickey swished his tail. "Good ol' days and that sort of stuff."
"Uh huh." Agent Bubbles cracked his neck. "Hope they got their fill of the good old days because the bad new days are ahead."
He retreated from the door. "Come in. Be respectful to the king and don't piss off the dragon."
"Dragon?" Wendy followed Peter through the doorway. "How on earth did King Arthur fit a dragon in – oh goodness!"
Whump!
A black streak dove into Wendy, bashing her into the wall. A hot tongue emerged, spreading fishy saliva over her cheeks. The smell was enough to make Wendy gag, but she still smiled as an overly-excited dragon welcomed her home.
"Toothless!"
Yes it was Toothless. Wendy and Toothless were allies of sorts, dating back to the day Wendy freed him from the Underworld. Toothless undoubtedly remembered and was happily demonstrating his affection by nuzzling Wendy to death.
"Alright Toothless!" A tall man squeezed between them. "She gets it! You're happy, she's happy, we're all happy, so let her breath! Come on boy back up! Back up! Alright Wendy coast is clear, up's a daisy –"
Wendy's feet left the floor as Chief Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III pulled her into a hearty hug.
At least Wendy assumed the man was Hiccup. Much like Sarah had observed with Wendy, Hiccup had finally grown into his... Viking manhood (for want of a better word).
Hiccup was still thin (that was never going to change), but he had certainly bulked-up. He had a thick beard and long hair (fastened with braids), and a few scars that weren't there before.
But most striking was the newest, and most permanent, addition to Hiccup's ensemble: a bull horned helmet that once belonged to his father, Stoic the Vast.
As Hiccup hugged her, Wendy spotted Astrid.
She was surprised.
Astrid had also changed, but not in the same way that Hiccup had. Oh, there were the obvious little changes: her hair was different, her armor was different, her face was different. But...there was something else. Something Wendy couldn't quite put her finger on.
Astrid caught Wendy's eye. Giving a quick nod, Astrid crossed the room to Toothless, who was bounding excitedly around Headmaster Mickey's desk.
"Sit!" Astrid chased Toothless. "Why can't you behave like Stormfly? Sit Toothless! Toothless I said sit! Don't make me get out my axe! Toothless! I said SIT!"
Toothless swung around, knocking valuable relics from the headmaster's desk. One relic was an old warlock's hat, fondly called The Magic Bag of Tricks.
As Astrid reached for her axe, Toothless promptly sat – flump – right onto the hat.
The Magic Bag of Tricks was squashed.
Headmaster Mickey cringed. "Ohhhh boy. Toothless...could you eh...get up?"
Toothless wiggled his rump. He looked innocently at Astrid. But she told me to sit.
Shadow snickered. He shook a fist victoriously at Toothless. Well done ya big lizard! Huzzah!
"Oh boy." Headmaster Mickey rubbed between his ears. Deciding it was better to move on than argue with a dragon, he addressed Hiccup.
"Chief Haddock if you and Lady Shadow Worker wouldn't mind, I betcha King Arthur would like to get started."
"Good idea." Peter glowered at Hiccup. "Wanna put my wife down now, dragon-breath?"
Both Astrid and Toothless growled.
"Relax, bird-brain." Astrid folded her arms. "Not sure if you remember but your wife has dual citizenship, which means she's half Viking, nationally speaking. We're allowed to say hello."
Peter rolled his eyes. He flew to Wendy and Hiccup. "Then you're allowed to say goodbye. Kay, kay now the party's over. Come on Wendy..."
Wendy backtracked with Peter. Once they had rejoined Ariel and Jim, she turned sharply and whispered, "Peter what has gotten into you? First Sarah, now Hiccup? Darling, we're not in space anymore. You can't be rude to everybody."
Peter grumbled something that Wendy didn't catch, but mostly because Headmaster Mickey was presenting them to King Arthur.
"Guardians. You've been called to this top secret meeting because King Arthur has someone very special he'd like you to meet. Your Majesty, if ya'd be so kind..."
Headmaster Mickey waved to Arthur, who had been quietly observing. His family ,Queen Amalthea and Prince Bran, stood alongside him, along with Merlin, Merlin's educated owl Archimedes, Schmendrick the Magician, his wife Odette, and finally a strange teenager wearing mirrored sunglasses...
Jim stated the obvious. "I'm guessing this isn't about the sunrise."
Arthur guided the teenager to Headmaster Mickey's chair.
"No." he said. "That conversation will have to wait. We've a more urgent matter at hand."
Arthur seated the teenager. The guardians watched curiously. It was almost like Arthur was leading the blind.
"Guardians..." Arthur withdrew a Guinness from his tunic. "This is my nephew, Smigvard. Son of Schmendrick the Magician and Odette, Lady of the Lake. Smigvard is a prophet. He can see multiple futures unfolding within parallel universes every second of the day."
Arthur brought the beer bottle to the desk. Holding the neck against the edge, he slapped, breaking off the cap. Making a fist against the pain, he passed the bottle to Smigvard.
"Smigvard's foresight brings good omens and bad omens. As you can imagine, this makes everyday life impossible to navigate. Unbearable even." Arthur tapped the Guinness. "Hence the stout. Drinking helps Smigvard muddy the waters, so to speak. His sunglasses help too. Merlin and Schmendrick have enchanted them to filter the future...except when premonitions are strong."
Arthur touched Smigvard's shoulder.
"Smigvard had an extraordinarily strong premonition last night. One that made me suspect my guardians have not been truthful with me."
Jim felt the guardians tense around him. Morph whimpered in his pocket.
"What do you mean?" Jim covered his pocket. He gave Morph a comforting squeeze. "We've told you the truth."
"I don't doubt it." Arthur glanced at Jim's hand. "But have you told me the whole truth? Because Smigvard's prophesy would suggest otherwise. As a matter of fact, Smigvard's prophesy would suggest downright deceit."
"Deceit?" Peter raised his voice. "Wart what are you talking about? What prophecy? What deceit?"
Arthur gazed disappointingly at the guardians, almost like a parent to lying children. They stared back, determined not to cave.
Resignedly, Arthur bent towards Smigvard.
"I'm sorry Smigvard. Can you repeat it once more?"
Smigvard circled his thumb over the Guinness bottle. Then, reaching inside his hoodie, he retrieved Chicken Little.
Ariel's trident sparkled pink.
"Aw." She leaned quietly into Jim. "That's so cute. Do you think the chicken is magical?"
They soon found out.
Chicken Little waddled up Smigvard's arm. After a peck-like kiss on the cheek, he perched on Smigvard's shoulder, awaiting instructions.
Smigvard gripped the bottle.
"Talk to me Chicken Little." he finally said. "Remind me. Whisper it in my ear."
Chicken Little looked like he'd rather not. He made a forlorn face (which is not easy to convey with a beak). However, after a nod from King Arthur, Chicken Little adjusted his lime-green glasses, straightened his lime green shirt, and clucked the prophesy in Smigvard's ear.
Immediately, Smigvard collapsed onto the desk. His entire body shook and the Guinness rolled from his hand. He remained in the chair, but just barely, supported by Arthur, Amalthea, and Odette. Bran cupped a hand around Chicken Little, holding him to Smigvard's ear.
It was an unexpected reaction.
But it got worse.
Wendy also cringed. As Smigvard repeated the prophesy, she sunk to her knees, both hands on her temples.
"Wen?" Jim knelt with Ariel and Peter, his hand on Wendy's head. He almost drew it back. She was sweating. Her skin was burning, hot beads were forming at the base of her neck.
Jim spun on a heel. "Arthur what's going on?"
Arthur raised a finger, asking for patience. Except for a brief glance at Wendy, his attention stayed with Smigvard.
Smigvard was rattling from head to toe. His voice was broken, but the prophesy was still understandable as he spoke:
"Twinkle, twinkle little light,
Guilty hearts will bleed contrite.
What a tangled web we weave,
When we practice to deceive.
Twinkle, twinkle little friend,
Do the means justify the end?
...
Twinkle twinkle little star
Your story's come much too far
Would there be a greater woe?
If your four became zero?
Twinkle twinkle little 's'..."
"...write yourself out of this mess."
Silence.
It was the type of silence that comes before a storm. Full of warning.
Bran pulled Smigvard into the chair. He helped him rest against the back. The guardians helped Wendy to her feet as Morph transformed into a handerkerchief and mopped her brow.
Arthur waited until the guardians were looking at him.
"Whoever speaks next will have one opportunity to tell me why I shouldn't close the realms right now."
The guardians felt their hearts stop. Panicked, they stared at King Arthur, lost for words.
Jim cleared his throat. He opened his mouth.
Wendy cut him off.
"I had a nightmare last night."
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sultal's note:
(1) So Peter's reaction to Sarah and Hiccup - that will be explained later, but think about it. Peter had Wendy all to himself in space. He had all her attention. Now they are back and Wendy is being greeted/praised by her friends and family, her attention is very much divided...maybe a little jealousy for Peter in this relationship.
(2) COVID: I wasn't going to say anything about this...but I think I have an obligation.
After all, I'm a front line worker in this war.
If you haven't inferred by now, sultal = gi. In the previous chapters Wendy met gi: a young doctor of physical therapy, fresh out of school. gi also "likes to write."
Insert a picture of me waving. Yes that is me, hello I am gi.
I am a PT. I work at a hospital. I will be continuing to serve my patients regardless.
So...here is what I have learned in the first crazy week.
You will be stressed. Information will change daily.
** My advice:
* Keep cool and level headed, like Jim.
* Stay positive and bubbly, like Ariel.
* Be overly concerned about washing hands, not touching your face, like Wendy would be.
* Get outside. Don't stay cooped up. Exercise. Move. Like Peter.
Guys...everything will be okay. It's a global effort and we got this.
People will show the worst and best of themselves. But in the end, I would like to believe that stars shine brighter in the darkest of night. I hope the world mans-up.
Stay healthy. Stay well.
You have the luxury of time. Use it well.
keep writing.
sultal