“Your powers may even surpass those of the One of Legends someday!” Martha squeaked.
“Perhaps sooner than she expects,” Lucinda said somberly.
“But Nanny…Nanny is a fairy, too,” Maleficent insisted.
“You may have both been born fairies, but you are witches at heart! You do real magic!” Lucinda cried.
The sisters laughed so hard Maleficent thought the windows of their little cottage would shatter. “Besides, what is a fairy without wings if not a witch, little one?” the sisters sang in unison, making Maleficent smile.
Nanny loved to see her girl so happy but was distracted by a sharp burning smell. “Oh! I almost forgot dinner!”
The witches laughed as Nanny rushed to the oven in a panic. “You didn’t burn the dinner, did you, Granny?” asked Ruby, making her sisters laugh even harder.
“No, I didn’t, thank the gods,” said Nanny. “Come now, let’s eat.”
During dinner, they all discussed the exams that were to take place the following day. The witches were careful not to do or say anything that would give the Fairy Godmother cause to think Maleficent had cheated in any way.
“Oh, I think Circe is going to love pretending to be a princess in need tomorrow!” Ruby said as she picked at her food, pushing it around her plate.
“Circe?” asked Maleficent.
“She’s the odd sisters’ much younger sister. She will be playing the part of a charge for the examination. We usually ask friends to bring their sons and daughters or little brothers and sisters for the exam. Since the odd sisters were already coming to visit for your birthday, I thought they could bring Circe to the exam. None of the students have ever met Circe, so it would make the exam experience more realistic,” Nanny explained.
“Is she my age?” Maleficent asked.
Martha shook her head. “No, dear, much younger, but I daresay one day when the age difference no longer matters, you would be good friends, if everything—”
“If everything doesn’t go to plan!” Lucinda said, finishing Martha’s prediction.
“If the stars do not align!” sang Ruby.
“Oh, yes! You may be friends! I see friendship!” Martha added.
“Or disaster,” they said together in a strange chorus.
Nanny shot the odd sisters a dangerous look. They blinked back with worried expressions.
“Let’s hope the stars do not align,” Nanny said sternly.
Maleficent noticed the strange exchange but pretended it hadn’t happened.
“Well, I wish she was here. I would like to meet her!” Maleficent said. She was excited by the idea of meeting a witch closer to her in age.
“And give the Scary Godmother a reason to disqualify you?” Lucinda asked.
“I think not!” Martha said.
“Oh, no, my dear!” Ruby insisted.
“No, no, no!” screeched the odd sisters together.
Maleficent was amused by the sisters’ outburst. “Ah, I see. If she joined us for dinner, the Fairy Godmother would think we had colluded to help me pass the exam.”
“Yes! Although she’s not allowed to be your charge tomorrow!”
“Oh, no! That wouldn’t do!”
“Because we are friends with your nanny!”