AN: Hi, back again. This one's probably never going to count as humor, but I swear that as a whole this fic is romcom.
Malenafan: On the off chance you're still reading this, thanks for commenting on my characterization. Honestly, I didn't realize they came off as too dramatic and girly to some readers. I'm not sure how but I'll try to improve on that. I do agree that Naomi's a tell-it-as-it-is kind of girl, though; and, not-really-a-spoiler-spoiler-alert: she is going to tell Mateo at some point.
Everyone: Thanks for taking the time to review. It really helps motivate me to write despite all the schoolwork. I hope the fic won't disappoint when it ends.

"Heya, Lana!" she said as the purple smoke around her cleared up. She was young, probably not much older than 20, and of a slender build. She had her golden blonde, shoulder-length hair tied up to a tight ponytail, revealing a single stud earring on her right lobe. By all standards, she was a fairly pretty lady. She sat on a blanket set on a small hill, not caring a bit about poise or if the skirt of her blue spring dress was riding up her leg too much—no one ever came there anyway. Her green eyes beamed, as if smiling with her lips, at the woman floating just in front of her, whose lower body was merely a dense collection of wisps coming out of the silver lamp on the girl's lap.

"Mistress Katri, how shall I serve you?" asked the genie as she descended to her master's eye-level.

"I told you, Lana, it's just Katri."

"Katri, then." Lana smiled.

"So, I've thought about it—I mean, three wishes is a lot," she said whimsically as she fiddled with the cap of her magic lamp, "See, aside from you healing my leg—thanks again by the way—I really can't think of anything else I want to wish for."

"You can wish for anything, Katri, just say the word! I can make you the best dancer in all of Mallorheim—I can give you unlimited fame, unmatched wealth, whatever you desire!"

"I've thought about that," she said as she dropped her back to the ground and stretched her limbs, "But then I thought, 'where's the fun if you don't do it yourself?'"

Lana pinched the bridge of her nose—she was getting a headache from what seemed to her as irrationality and illogicality on Katri's part. "What do you plan to do with your last two, then?"

Katri grinned, her light freckles moved with her cheeks as it went up. "I don't need them."

"But, Katri! You have to use them. You can't hoard a magic lamp, I'll explode if I don't grant wishes!"

"Your lamp explodes: you're just in for the ride. Buuuut, if I wish you free, you can do whatever you want," Katri pointed to the book across the blanket, "I did my research."

"That's a fairytale," Lana replied in a deadpan manner.

"In case you haven't noticed, you're a fairytale," she said as she sprung back up on her feet in a single fluid motion, "I wish you were free."

Lana reluctantly snapped her fingers as she would have if she were to grant a real wish. She sighed. "It was a noble thought Katri, and I thank you. But unless you give me a proper wi-"

As Lana spoke, her tail-wisp transformed into legs, and her lamp into large shackles made of an eerie, glowing, purple metal around her ankles. Lana screamed in pain as she felt as if magic was being sucked out from her very being—simultaneously, cracks appeared and gradually covered her shackles until it finally burst into pieces dissolving into a tiny rain of glitter.

Katri rushed to Lana who was panting and sprawled prone on the blanket. "Are you okay? How are you feeling? I'm so sorry, I had no idea!"

Lana, despite looking as if she had just braved through a tornado twice, actually felt a great sense of relief and elation—she didn't know why, but she just did. She seemed different to herself though—even besides the temporary feeling of exhaustion—her power felt weaker, but she wasn't bothered by it, in fact it felt natural to her. She giggled, "Turns out you were right, Katri." A teardrop traced Lana's cheek—she didn't even know she wanted to be free, but now that she was, she was extremely happy. She could feel a wider range of emotion, a greater sense of sympathy. Lamps were designed to make genies wish-granting machines—it amplified their capabilities to able to conjure any wish, and it numbed them, restraining their innate aptitude for empathy so as to be able to grant without hesitation any desire no matter the intention. What was sad was that genies are not even aware of their own state while lamped.

Katri naturally became Lana's first friend. Lana, between spending her time exploring (occasionally taking Katri along) would always go back to Katri's dance academy—inherited from her late father. Lana would pretend to be human and learn dance alongside Lana's students. She couldn't help but notice the way Katri looks at the academy clerk, Niilo. He's a dear friend, a couple of years older than Katri. He was a lanky bespectacled man; he was always in a dress vest and tie no matter how hot the weather was, and his hair was unfailingly slicked back no matter the occasion. He handled all the monetary and administrative matters the academy had—he was exceptional at his job, having apprenticed in the academy since Katri's dad was in charge. He had his way about doing things; he was decisive and thorough, as if he had everything planned out even before he gets tasked to do something—and this was probably one of the many reasons why Katri was so infatuated with him. And, if Lana were to be asked, she'd wager that Niilo might have liked Katri back as well.

For a time, anyone would have said that it was certain Katri and Niilo would end up together. That is, until Milla moved in a few blocks away. Milla was the daughter of a wealthy merchant—a guild master in fact. She was a nice sort—sheltered, innocent, the picturesque princess. As fate would have it, she one day stumbled into the dance academy, forming a close friendship with both Katri and Niilo. One could only guess what happened eventually—Niilo and Milla began falling for each other.

"I'll be like a fairy godmother and grant you your happy ending," Lana resolved. It was the least she could do in exchange for her freedom—better late than never; and so, Lana bewitched Niilo. That same day, Niilo proposed to Katri—but was rejected. Katri sent him back, insisting that he wasn't himself.

In a puff of smoke, Lana appeared in front of a deeply disappointed Katri. Steams were quietly and steadily flowing down from her eyes. She was pinkish and sweaty.

"Lana, tell me the truth. You did that didn't you? Why would you do that?" she asked clutching Lana's blouse, irritation clear on her face.

"I knew how you felt about Niilo, Katri."

Katri angrily rubbed her eyes on one of her sleeves. "I didn't ask for this, Lana! You can't just toy with people like that."

Lana felt an indescribable sensation of frustration. She had granted a desire, she did her job—why was she being scolded when it only turned out badly because Katri said "no"?

"You only had to say yes, Katri. I made everything easy for you. Why didn't you just play along—"

"That's just it, Lana! I didn't want to play along. Sure, we'd get married, but then what? I don't want to live that lie. He's happy, Lana. Milla is his perfect match—they're each other's Leo and Estella. He'd have everything he dreamed about—he'd have a good position in a guild, he would have the money to further his studies, not to mention he'd have the perfect girl beside him for the rest of his life."

"Do you even hear yourself? Whatever happened to the confident, determined Katri? 'Perfect' this 'perfect' that; you are perfect as well, Katri! Why do you always back off the moment Milla becomes concerned? Why do you assume she's better than you."

"I-I don't," she replied, taking a step back.

"You do. I know you like the walls of my lamp. You don't not act as such—you might not even realize it yourself; but inside you've decided that you're inferior. That bimbo only became the Estella in your story because you allowed her to be. You could have claimed him if you asserted yourself."

Katri swung her arm across Lana's torso, and it passed through completely. It may not have caused physical damage, but damage was caused.

"They're not puppets, Lana! You can't just break them up and force Niilo to fall for me. They're my—our friends. Fix this."

Lana flew away without replying. She was hurt—she never would have thought Katri would turn against her. The next day, Niilo came back to his senses on his own—he didn't remember anything of the time he was bewitched. All he did remember was that he bought an engagement ring. Naturally, he and Milla became set to be wed. The couple went to visit Katri as soon as they got engaged to bring her the good news.

The academy was locked and no one answered the door when they knocked—it was odd. Lana, who was watching, knew that Katri never stepped foot outside the academy since their fight. She quickly rushed inside, phasing through wall after wall, to see what was going on—and she saw Katri on her bed, skin flushed and glistening with a coat of sweat. She felt too warm, but she shivered like she was cold.

"Katri!"

Woken up, she opened her eyes to a small crack. "H-heya, Lana."

"H-hold on I'll get you better in no time," Lana put her palms on Katri's torso and generated a lavender light that enveloped Katri. "Does this feel better?"

"Thanks."

Silence followed afterwards. There was an increasing sense of anxiety building within Lana. She's healing with all her might but Katri's temperature was not going down. "Katri, stay with me," she whispered.

Katri laughed softly, "It's just a fever."

Lana said nothing and continued to focus all her power on her healing. For the first time since she was freed, Lana was crying—but now, for a different reason. "Don't die, Katri." At this point Lana knew it was only a matter of time. Katri's spirit was already claimed by Death. Without the lamp, she couldn't save her—she came too late. If only she didn't have that argument with her. If she had only payed closer attention to the right details, she would have known Katri was ill.

"I never did get to compete nationally in dance," she started, "I should enter the next one; I'll dance my family's—I wonder if Niilo would still dance with me. Too bad the dance isn't solo."

"Katri…"

She continued weakly, coughing every now and then mid-sentence, "I always thought we'd go chasing that dream together—but who was I kidding, Niilo had his own dreams, and that was okay; we'd still be best friends no matter what. But, I wonder how things would've turned out if I admitted it to him—to myself. I wish I had that courage."

Lana held Katri's hand tightly with both of hers.

"Are they back together?"

"…They're getting married. They've actually come to see you earlier but you didn't answer—you couldn't."

"That's great, I'm glad. They're happy, aren't they?"

Katri smiled as tears rolled off to the floor from the side of her eyes, "Could I still have my last wish, after all?"

"Anything," Lana chuckled, "I'll even make an exception! You can have all 3 again."

"I want you to pose as me—only until 'I' move away. Attend their wedding. Give them my best regards for me."

After a second of hesitation, Lana replied offering a faint, melancholic smile, "I'll be sure to do 'Katri' justice."

"I want you to have the academy. This time teach the dance your way, Instructor Lana. Don't let Leo and Estella die with me; they're family too. Find a place to settle your school—I'm sure you'd do great wherever you end up."

Lana swallowed, trying to get rid of the non-existing mass that seemed to be stuck in her throat.

"And," she turned her head to face Lana, "I wish you'd remember me as a friend. I'm sorry we fought."

Lana did as she was instructed, fulfilling her role as a genie one final time for her dearest friend. Over the next hundred and a half or so years she roamed around city to city—country to country; each time poofing into existence to where she was, the same academy Katri grew up on. After more than a century of moving around, Lana managed to find the perfect place for the academy—Avalor. She came just in time, right after Elena and the Royal Family was reinstated. She found a hill just like the one where Katri freed her, and she set the school there, for good if possible.

Señora Lana hung Katri's portrait in her room; she wasn't going to let it stay on the ground floor given the circumstances. She let out a deep breath as soon as she returned to the razed dance room—that bear was just too much, it's barely morning. It's already been the fourth time this week. She'd been here for months and it was perfect until that bear showed up. She floated around the room as she waved her hand back and forth in front of her. Purple sparks followed her hand as it moved around, and new ones were emitted from it to replace every glittering particle as it faded. As she did so, the ransacked room mended itself—each broken board deforming back to how it was originally, each shard of glass on the floor flew back and covered the long wall where it ultimately formed back as the dance room's mirror. "The next time the bear showed up, it would be the last time," Lana thought. She would show no mercy and send it flying to the middle of nowhere.

That afternoon, the bear came back for more. Lana was ready—but she didn't get the chance to do anything. Elena and the rest rushed to intercept the bear before it could do damage; and they quickly managed to appease the bear, sending it on its way to the forest where it probably came.

Even for the once almighty genie, having a service done to her by no other than the princess of a nation herself was a huge honor. But, what interested her more wasn't Princess Elena—it was Naomi. "She looks so similar to Katri," she thought. She took it upon herself to do whatever was necessary to stall them; she wanted to know more about Naomi. She taught them Leo and Estella. The more time she spent with the group, the more familiar they felt. She noticed the tiny interactions between members, aside from their obvious want of leaving. "He must be her Niilo, and the princess her Milla."

Her heart pounded. The situation hit too close to home. It felt so similar to her three friends. It must have been fate's way of telling her: "This is your chance to correct your error."

As the foursome left her school, Katri's words echoed in her mind: 'I wonder how things would've turned out if I admitted it to him—to myself. I wish I had that courage.'" Lana could feel it—though tiny and locked away, this "Katri" did feel something for her "Niilo."

"I'll be giving you a fourth wish after all, Katri; and, this time, I'll do it right." Lana flicked her finger flinging a bright, violet particle out of her fingertip and sent it flying towards Naomi.

"Don't worry, you won't feel any different," she whispered, "I'm just making sure that small feeling you have suppressed finds its way out in the open and becomes resolved."

AN: I'm planning to alternate between Naomi POV and third-person between chapters. I'm not sure which fits me better yet. As of yet, I don't plan on writing an all out Elena vs Naomi drama. I'm striving for Faces to be a light romcom, save for this heavy-ish chapter. Hope you enjoyed!