Oh, he was from that Dumpty family.
Thus far, Meeshell had met two very different princes. She hoped that somewhere in between the overly confident hero who handed out signed pictures of himself and the shy, clumsy guy who’d barely spoken to her, there’d be a normal prince for her.
Chapter 9
StoryTeller2
The next thing on the Welcoming Committee to-do list was: Check New Student into a Dormitory Room.
The girls’ dormitory and the boys’ dormitory were separated by a large Common Room, where the students spent lots of time socializing, doing thronework, and sometimes just relaxing in front of the river-rock fireplace. Getting to the dorm room required climbing more staircases. Meeshell’s legs began to ache. She felt envious of the fairy students, who zipped past, their wings leaving cool breezes in their wake. “I know,” Apple said, as if reading her mind. “If only we had wings.”
They stopped at room 12C. The sign on the door read:
FARRAH GOODFAIRY AND MEESHELL
The words twinkled. Apple knocked gently. The door flew open and a girl with blue hair and large blue eyes stood before them. “You must be Meeshell,” she said with a big, welcoming hug. “I’m so happy to finally get a roommate. Come on in.” When she flew around, Meeshell realized that her roommate was a fairy. How hexciting!
The room was a good size, with two canopied beds, two desks, two dressers, and two closets. This fairy clearly had a favorite color because the bedspreads, pillows, overstuffed chairs, and paint were all variations of blue. “These boxes arrived for you from the Glass Slipper.” Three shoe boxes sat on Meeshell’s bed. She set her MirrorPad and book bag next to them. “Where are the rest of your things?” Farrah asked.
“Yes, I was wondering the same thing,” Apple said. “Why haven’t the trolls delivered your luggage? I could call my dwarf network. They do a great job with deliveries.”
“This is all I have for now. My mom ordered some new clothes for me, but I guess they haven’t arrived,” Meeshell explained.
“Oh, that’s no problem. Farrah happens to be a future fairy godmother, so I’m sure she can help you if you need an outfit.”
“Yes, of course. What do you need? How about a jacket?”
She grabbed a silver wand from her vanity and waved it through the air. A little trail of sparkles appeared. Suddenly, Meeshell was wearing a cropped jacket that perfectly matched her dress.
“Thank you,” Meeshell said gratefully.
“Just so you know, my spells don’t last very long. That jacket will disappear at midnight.”
It would seem that Farrah, a future fairy godmother, and Coral, a future sea witch, had something in common—their spells had glitches.
Meeshell opened the shoe boxes. Then she sat on the bed and began trying them on.
Farrah pulled Apple aside. Even though Farrah had lowered her voice to a whisper, Meeshell could still hear the muffled conversation. “How come she speaks so quietly? Is she shy?” Farrah asked Apple.
“Well, she does have a sore throat. But yes, she’s very shy. I bet she’s homesick, too. I think it might take a while for her to feel comfortable with us.”
“Oh, I remember feeling that way when school started.”
“Me too. But I’m her Welcoming Committee representative, so I’ll do everything I can to help her settle in.”
“Hi!” three voices called.
Ashlynn, Briar, and Maddie all walked into the dorm room. “Oh look, the shoes arrived. Those are adorable.” Ashlynn pointed to the pink sneakers that Meeshell had on her feet. These were the ones she found the most comfortable. Ashlynn held a vase, with a strange-looking flower. “We thought maybe we got off on the wrong slipper so we brought you this flower for your dorm.”
“It’s a snapdragon,” Briar said.
Meeshell had never seen a snapdragon before—they didn’t grow under the sea. The flower was pretty, with large petals that folded over one another. But when Meeshell leaned forward to smell the flower, the petals unfurled and a cute little dragon face appeared. It opened its mouth and roared at her! Ashlynn laughed as the vase shook in her hands, spilling some water.
Meeshell jumped away. Luckily, the water missed her, landing on the floor instead.
“Oops,” Ashlynn said. “Sorry about that.” The little dragon flower began to snap its mouth at her. “I’ll just put it over here.” Ashlynn set the flower next to Meeshell’s bed.
Meeshell wondered if the little dragon would move around during the night. What if it splashed water on her while she was sleeping and her tail came out for her roommate to see? “Is it… safe?” she asked nervously.
“Oh, never mind, you don’t have to keep it,” Ashlynn said quickly, picking the flower up. “I didn’t know you were afraid of snapdragons! Or is it the water? Are you afraid of flower water, too?”
I’m not really afraid of cute little flowers… or water! she wanted to explain. I just can’t get my legs wet. The girls were looking at her, waiting for her to say something.
Apple sensed her discomfort and jumped in to try to help her new friend. “You don’t have to explain.” She grabbed a towel from the bathroom and mopped up the spill. Then she began to usher everyone from the room. “I think we should give Meeshell some time to herself. It’s been a long day, and she’s probably tired.” She motioned to Farrah, who followed her into the hallway. Then Apple poked her head back into the room. “We’ll let you rest. And I’m going to get you some lozenges for your throat. See you soon.” And with that, she gently closed the door. Meeshell overheard their conversation as they walked away.
“I don’t think I’ve ever met someone so shy before,” Briar said.
Then Maddie said, “I’m pretty sure it’s my hat. She doesn’t like my hat.”
Their voices faded, leaving Meeshell alone for the first time since arriving.
It was a relief to be alone. She sank onto the bed and let the soft pillow cradle her head.
So many feelings swirled inside her. Everyone had been so nice, and they clearly thought she was a two-footed land-dweller, just like them. But now they thought she had some kind of phobia of water—all water. What if she got thirsty and needed a drink? What would she do? How silly it was—a mermaid pretending to be afraid of water.
She rose from the bed, then walked onto the balcony, looking out over the campus. Students mingled in the quad. Swans swam around the unicorn fountain. A forest spread to the south and the sea spread to the east. There was no sign of the Narwhal. How she longed to be back on that ship, heading home. Back to the watery world she loved. Back to her family and friends.
Back to her beloved tail.
A chime sounded somewhere nearby, pulling Meeshell from her musings. She turned and walked back into the dorm room. The chime sounded again. Was it coming from the MirrorPad? She picked it up. The screen lit up.
Welcome to the Ever After High Mirror Network. You have a message from StoryTeller2. To respond to your message, please set up your Mirror Network chat room account.
A keypad appeared, asking her to fill in her code name for access to the chat room. She sat on the bed and thought a moment. What type of code name should she choose? The answer came quickly. She typed Seashell.
Welcome to the Mirror Network chat room.
New message from StoryTeller2.
StoryTeller2: Hi.
Because they didn’t have MirrorPads in her kingdom, using her fingers to type was as difficult as using her feet to walk, so it took a while to get the hang of it. But soon she mastered the two-finger method.
Seashell: Hi.
StoryTeller2: How are you doing?
Seashell: Fine. Who is this?
StoryTeller2: I’m a student. I know what it’s like to be the new kid. It’s overwhelming at first. If you have any questions about school, I’m happy to answer.
Seashell: Thanks.
There was a long pause. Meeshell wasn’t sure what to do. Was it rude if she didn�
�t ask questions? How did this work?
StoryTeller2: Okay, well, I’m here if you need me. Bye.
Seashell: Bye.
The screen went dark. She sat back against the headboard. What an odd way to talk to someone. She didn’t know who StoryTeller2 was, but he or she seemed very nice. And apparently, he or she knew her. Had they already met?
The sound of beating wings drew Meeshell’s attention to the open balcony door. Four tiny fairies flew into the room, leaving trails of sparkles in the air. They carried an enormous package, which they dropped onto the bed. The label read: From Fashionably Ever After… For Meeshell.
“Thank you,” Meeshell told the little creatures, amazed they could carry such weight. They all zipped away.
She eagerly untied the twine and opened the package. A note inside read:
Dear Meeshell,
I loved Fashionably Ever After when I lived on land. They always provided me with the loveliest outfits. Hope you enjoy these.
Hugs and kisses,
Mom
Meeshell opened the box. It was stuffed with clothing—dresses, pants, tops, pajamas, and a swimsuit. Well, the swimsuit wouldn’t be needed, since she couldn’t get her legs wet. She set that into a drawer, along with the pants and shirts. She hung the dresses in her closet. Then she opened her bag and took out her precious belongings—a brush and comb, seashell clips for her hair, a princess mermaid arm bracelet, her pearl headband, and her favorite pink coral necklace.
“Oh, that’s gorgeous!” Apple said when she returned with lozenges. She was referring to an asymmetrical dress with lightweight ruffles, which looked, to Meeshell, like waves. The dress had a coral top with scalloped fish-skin texture. “And this is adorable!” Apple pulled a teal sea-horse-shaped purse from the Fashionably Ever After box. Then she smiled. “It’s kinda funny that you’re afraid of water but you have a total sea theme going here with your clothes.”
“Yeah, that is funny,” Meeshell said sheepishly.
“I hope these work.” Apple gave Meeshell the box of pickled pepper throat lozenges.
“Thanks. Me too.” While her feet were content in their new sneakers, her throat was feeling more ragged than ever. She didn’t want to think about what would happen if her voice didn’t recover. She popped one of the lozenges into her mouth. Then, for good measure, added another. She nearly gagged. They tasted disgusting!
“I know you’re feeling a bit overwhelmed,” Apple said, “but tomorrow will be great. It’s Club Day. That means you can walk around and check out all the clubs until you find one or two to join. Or three. There’s no limit. One quarter, I joined twenty-two clubs. Was I ever busy! But you do whatever works for you. And I’ll be there so you don’t have to worry about getting lost. It will be spelltacular.”
Meeshell hoped so.
Becoming a land-dweller was her destiny and she wanted to make the best of it. She hoped the lozenges would work. Because it didn’t matter if she had no shoes, or if she wore the same yellow dress for the rest of her life. What mattered was her voice.
It needed to heal because it was the key to her future.
Chapter 10
Above the Waves
It is a well-known fact that Merpeople love to sing. Their vocal cords are uniquely designed to produce sounds that travel underwater.
In Meeshell’s kingdom, Merchoirs existed for every age group, and while not everyone joined, everyone could sing. And sing well. So while under the water, Meeshell’s voice sounded similar to the other mermaid voices—perfectly in tune and fluid like the water itself. And like her friends, she mastered many sea-creature languages, which required a variety of sounds that human vocal cords cannot produce. So even though she was a princess, when Meeshell sang in the kelp grotto with her friends, she was simply a member of a choir, equal in tonality and harmony.
However, when Meeshell surfaced, which Merpeople often do, her voice changed in a unique way. It sounded…human. According to the Sea Witch, an avid collector of voices, Meeshell’s above-water voice was magnificent. Breathtaking. The most beautiful voice the Sea Witch had ever heard. It was something to be coveted.
But none of the other Merpeople seemed impressed with this discovery. It was tradition to sing underwater, and that is where they made most of their music. So the fact that Meeshell sounded human above the water did not cause a commotion. Except with the Sea Witch.
“Why does your mom collect voices?” Meeshell asked Coral one day. Coral often swam behind Meeshell and her friends, never joining in, but always there, watching.
“She hates her own voice,” Coral said. There was good reason. The Sea Witch, who was only part mermaid, had a voice dark as a storm and prickly as a sea urchin. “So she likes to try on other voices, like trying on a new hat. Your mom’s was once her favorite.”
The Sea Witch had possessed Queen Pearl’s voice, but only for a short time. That changed when the story went in another direction and Prince Philip fell in love with his Little Mermaid and agreed to live below the waves with her.
“True love always breaks spells,” Coral said. She looked slyly at Meeshell. “Do you know why my mom wants your voice?”
“She likes the way it sounds,” Meeshell said simply. Everyone knew that.
“Yes, but that’s not the only reason.” Coral swam a little closer. “Mom told me that she’s sick of being the Sea Witch. She wants to become a famous singer and travel the world. She thinks your voice will make that happen for her.”
“Really?” Meeshell tried to imagine the Sea Witch living on land, traveling from town to town, putting on concerts. Would someone have to push her around in a tank of water? Or would she be able to magic herself a pair of legs?
Coral and Meeshell swam under a coral arch. “My only regret about being half Sea Witch is that I inherited my mom’s bad voice.”
“No, you didn’t,” Meeshell said honestly. “Your voice is nice.”
Coral laughed. “Nice? Have you ever heard me sing?” Meeshell shook her head. Come to think of it, Coral had never participated in any of the choirs. “I’m terrible. The worst!”
“You can’t be that bad,” Meeshell said.
“You wanna bet?”
They swam to the surface. It was a calm afternoon. The water was as smooth as glass. Coral swam to a reef and sat on a rock. She opened her mouth and…
That wasn’t singing!
Meeshell’s fingers flew to her ears. The sounds coming from Coral’s mouth were unlike anything Meeshell had ever heard. The noise started out screechier than a gull, then dipped deeper than a seal’s bark. “Okay, okay,” Meeshell said. “Stop. Please stop.”
Coral closed her mouth. Then she laughed. “I told you so.”
Meeshell climbed onto the rock next to her. “Do you think your mom might give my voice to you instead?” Meeshell brightened at that idea. To give up her voice was a sacrifice she’d been born to make, but to give it to the nasty Sea Witch had always seemed unfair. Giving it to Coral, a nice girl who’d never done anything mean to anyone in the ocean, seemed much more palatable.
“That’s a nice idea, but Mom definitely wants your voice for herself. Besides, I don’t care about singing. It’s totally not my thing.” She dipped her hand into the water and scooped out a little fish. Meeshell cringed, wondering if Coral would eat the fish whole, just like the Sea Witch always did. But Coral got a dreamy look on her face, then released the little creature. “If Mom becomes a famous singer and leaves the ocean, that means that I’ll take her place as the Sea Witch, and you know what I’m going to do with all that power?”
“What?”
Coral sighed, her shoulders slumped. “Drat. I thought you’d have a good suggestion. I’m not really sure what I want to do.”
“That’s okay,” Meeshell said. “We have a long time before we have to make those big decisions about our lives.”
As they sat on the rock, looking out over the water, both girls knew that destiny was at work. Coral’s magi
c would get stronger. And Meeshell’s voice would not always belong to her.
Chapter 11
Club Day
A chime sounded. Meeshell opened her eyes and rolled over in bed. It took her a moment to remember where she was. Then the chime sounded again. The noise was coming from her MirrorPad. She reached out, grabbed it, and read the screen.
Good morning. Time to get up.
Apple had set the alarm for her. How odd to wake up in a bed that was surrounded by air. And stranger still, to be covered in so many blankets. Usually, the first thing she did after waking was to feed Finbert. Then she would swim into the dining room to have breakfast with her parents. But she had no idea how her mornings would go at Ever After High.
She sat up. A note lay on her bedside table. It was from Farrah. I had to leave hextra early this morning to help set up the Fairy Club booth. See you later. Meeshell was surprised she hadn’t heard Farrah getting ready. She must have slept like a sea log, as her mom would say. She stretched out her arms and yawned. Then she stretched her tail, but when two feet popped out the end of the blanket she nearly shrieked. She pulled back the covers.
Right. She’d momentarily forgotten about those two things.
Her MirrorPad chimed again.
New Message from StoryTeller2.
StoryTeller2: Good morning.
Seashell: Hi.
StoryTeller2: Did you know that today is Club Day?
Seashell: Yes. I’m supposed to find a club to join.
StoryTeller2: I hope you find something that you really like.
Oh, how nice, she thought.
Seashell: Will you be there?
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