“Her magic can’t, but ours can. The princesses are the fairies’ domain,” said Circe. “The villains are ours. We are the villains’ fairy godmothers, if you will. Now, do you want to stand here all night while we explain how magic in the Many Kingdoms works, or do you want us to get you and your daughters back to England where you belong?”

Before Lady Tremaine could answer, a blue blur flew into the ballroom, cascading sparks. Lady Tremaine realized it was a gray-haired woman—from the looks of it, a fairy. She wore a hooded blue robe and carried a wand, the source of the sparks. The fairy looked quite a bit like Nanny, and for a brief moment, Lady Tremaine thought it might be.

“I warned you to stay away from this ballroom, Odd Sisters! I won’t let you meddle with my Cinderella!” the fairy said, casting her wand at the Odd Sisters, who scattered and hid behind the frozen party guests to avoid getting spelled.

“Nanny, what are you doing?” screamed Lady Tremaine. The fairy stopped in midair and looked down at Lady Tremaine, hovering above her with an indignant look on her face.

“Oh, you must be mistaking me for my sister. She told us all about you,” said the fairy. “I’m the Fairy Godmother.” Her expression suddenly transformed into a brilliant smile, as if saying her own name caused her great pride.

“Are you here to help me?” Lady Tremaine asked, hoping with all her heart that she was. The Odd Sisters said they wanted to help her, but something about them scared her instead. She would far prefer the help of this kindly-looking fairy in the blue robe. “Nanny said she would ask the fairies for help, but I had given up hope.”

The Odd Sisters laughed mockingly, their voices screeching in the distance. “The Fairy Godmother will never help you!” they cackled.

The Fairy Godmother scanned the room, trying to figure out where their voices were coming from amid the statue-like partygoers.

“Help you?” said the Fairy Godmother in shock. “Help a villain? Don’t be ridiculous. My sister, Nanny, might have been tricked into thinking you were the innocent in all this, but I’m not. I’m here to make sure nothing stands in the way of Cinderella marrying that prince, and that you and your daughters get exactly what you deserve.” The fairy’s shimmering wings twitched in anger.

“But Nanny said she would help me,” Lady Tremaine pleaded. “She said she would see if she could talk the Fairy Council into helping me. She made a promise! You have to help me, Fairy Godmother, you just have to. You can’t abandon me now.”

The Fairy Godmother narrowed her eyes. “I see why my sister was so easily fooled by you. You are convincing, but even if I could help you, I wouldn’t. Not after what you have done to Cinderella.”