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Mother Goose makes her way to the Fairy Godmother’s office. A fire recently broke out in the Charming kingdom, and although the council quickly put it out, the kingdom still needs aid for the people and creatures that lost their homes. She decided to task herself with informing the Fairy Godmother. Both their schedules are hectic and busy, and it is rare to find an excuse to meet with each other.
Mother Goose knocks on the door twice for politeness, then without waiting for a response, swings it open. “Hey, F.G.”
She finds the Fairy Godmother at her desk, with mountains of papers piled on top of it. She’s reading something with a slight frown that she quickly morphs into a warm smile when Mother Goose enters.
“Hello, Mother Goose. I’m pleased to see you again.”
“Same here.” Mother Goose hands over the letter of King Charming’s formal request for aid. “Emerelda told me to give you this but, yeesh, you already look like you’re drowning in paper over there. Care for a break?”
“You already know I can’t have one.” The Fairy Godmother reads it, then waves her wand, and the paper flies on top of one of the mountains. “The rest of the council is busy, and Violetta still has that orphanage to attend to, correct? I suppose I’ll do this one myself. I’ll depart for the Charming Kingdom in an hour, I still need to sort out some things.”
“Ya sure? Have you looked into the mirror lately? No offense, but you’re a wreck who hasn’t gotten any sleep in days.”
The Fairy Godmother’s smile drops a little at that. “Is it that obvious?”
“No, that was a guess. Take a break.”
She shakes her head. “In a way, I already am. We had a lot more to do before the golden age. This is relaxing to me.”
She is blatantly lying but Mother Goose can’t call her out on it.
“It’s okay to need breaks. You’re still a person, y’know.” Mother Goose says. “Everyone’s got needs, and your glitter and sparkles won’t stop you from having them.”
“I know,” the Fairy Godmother says with a small smile. “But I can’t afford it. Not in my position. What would the world do if the Fairy Godmother falters?”
“Taking a short break will not end the world.”
“It could. I can never lose my guard,” she says, then reaches for the paper she was reading earlier. She flips it over before Mother Goose could read it all, but a glimpse tells her it is crime records. Ah, that guy.
Then, the Fairy Godmother drops her smile like a mask, her expression turns weary and tired. Exhaustion lines every wrinkle on the Fairy Godmother’s face. She looks above, as if longing for something beyond what can be seen, her eyes filled with yearning.
“I’m tired,” the Fairy Godmother says. She closes her eyes, and her expression softens. “So tired.”
“Tired?” Mother goose asks nervously.
“Mmm. But not like that, it’s not my time, not yet. Don’t worry,” she says regretfully. “This world still needs me.”
“Is John not the one?”
“He’s promising, but he hasn’t fully accepted his responsibility yet,” she says with a slight sigh. “He tries to hide it, but I know he’s not completely committed to his duty. I have to stay and guide him to the right path before I allow him to take my role.”
Internally, Mother Goose thanks the kid and hopes he stays that way. She knows what will happen when the Fairy Godmother feels she is no longer needed. When she feels she can leave the weight of the world to someone else’s shoulders.
“I’m tired,” the Fairy Godmother says, and looks at Mother Goose with almost pleading eyes. They both know that Mother Goose knows what it means. That she knows what the Fairy Godmother is asking from her.
Take my place, please. Take my burden. Let me rest. Let me rest. Let me rest.
But Mother Goose won’t do it. Can’t. The best she can manage is; “I can go to the Charming Kingdom for you. I’m not doing much right now, anyway.”
Silence falls between them for a while. Then the Fairy Godmother puts on another smile, but Mother Goose knows the disappointment she’s hiding behind them and it kills her a little inside.
No need. I can go. You have your own duties to attend to.”
'But, Fairy Godmother-”
“No,” she says firmly. “This is fruitless. We’re both wasting our time. You've achieved what you came here for, go.”
Mother Goose opens her mouth to protest, but sighs instead. “Alright. But I'm always here for you.”
“Thank you,” the Fairy Godmother says. But she knows Mother Goose won't help in the way she wants it.
Mother Goose turns to leave, but before shutting the door on the way out, she almost says, ‘See you later, Brystal.’ But the name Brystal feels so foreign in her mouth, so she instead says, “See you later, Fairy Godmother.”
The Fairy Godmother smiles at her. “See you later, Mother Goose.”
Mother Goose shuts the door, and she's left wondering when that name change happened. In a distant memory, in what feels like lifetimes ago, she recalls a conversation they've once had.
“Boy, the crowd really loves that Fairy Godmother name,” Mother Goose said. Young. Naive. Unaware of the damage she had done and will do. “Aren't you glad I gave you a title?”
“I told you I didn't want one,” the Fairy Godmother replied. Already a ‘mother’ at only fifteen. She was only fifteen. “It makes me feel like an object.”
And now that title is the only thing she is known as. There are probably less than ten people who even know her name. The name change was one of the many things the Fairy Godmother had to accept in a world that hated her.
And although it kills Mother Goose, she can't blame the Fairy Godmother for wanting out. For wanting to rest. But she can't ever bring herself to take her place. She would be crushed by the weight of the burdens the Fairy Godmother carries with a smile. And most of all, she can't picture a world without her best friend. She doesn't want to. Hopefully, it won't happen anytime soon.