REALITY IS OPTIONAL
SPRING E-ZINE
FLOWERS, PRINCESSES, AND NOVELLAS
By Emma Yan
Diaries of a Princess
The Kidnapped Princess - by Edwin Isaman
Dear Diary,
This morning I was just going to my dungeon home when my mom (who is very mean, by the way) told need to go to get some food from the forest so I went to get it. Just then a couple people noticed I was the princess who had been kidnapped 10 years ago. They tried to kidnap me again but luckily a prince came by. I said, thank you and went to picking some more berries I really hope we meet again.
Dear Diary,
This morning I was just going to my dungeon home when my mom (who is very mean, by the way) told need to go to get some food from the forest so I went to get it. Just then a couple people noticed I was the princess who had been kidnapped 10 years ago. They tried to kidnap me again but luckily a prince came by. I said, thank you and went to picking some more berries I really hope we meet again.
The Deja Vu Princess - by RePeter Katsnelson
Dear Diary,
Today was just so wonderful! I was woken up by a beautiful prince, again, and I found the man of my dreams, again, and I even saw him fight a dragon, again! When he woke me up by a kiss of his lips, I saw the world in a new perspective, like I do every time something like this happens. And people say my days are repetitive, but that’s nonsense! My days are always different: One day I was woken up by a prince in my bed, and another day I was woken up by a different prince on the bench outside my kingdom! And frankly, the first prince died fighting heroically to a red dragon, whereas the other prince died fighting a GREEN dragon! It’s always new and surprising. One time, I was even woken up from a coffin, and I saw seven dwarves there! Every day brings something new. And it’s wonderful. I can’t wait for the place I wake up in tomorrow, the colour hair my new prince has, and what colour dragon he will die fighting for me. As always, I will write again tomorrow.
Dear Diary,
Today was just so wonderful! I was woken up by a beautiful prince, again, and I found the man of my dreams, again, and I even saw him fight a dragon, again! When he woke me up by a kiss of his lips, I saw the world in a new perspective, like I do every time something like this happens. And people say my days are repetitive, but that’s nonsense! My days are always different: One day I was woken up by a prince in my bed, and another day I was woken up by a different prince on the bench outside my kingdom! And frankly, the first prince died fighting heroically to a red dragon, whereas the other prince died fighting a GREEN dragon! It’s always new and surprising. One time, I was even woken up from a coffin, and I saw seven dwarves there! Every day brings something new. And it’s wonderful. I can’t wait for the place I wake up in tomorrow, the colour hair my new prince has, and what colour dragon he will die fighting for me. As always, I will write again tomorrow.
The Slaughtering Princess - by Edwin Isaman
Dear Diary,
This morning I woke up and heard dragon roar some screaming and some crunching. I went to go see what it was. Apparently it was a prince trying to kill the dragon Prince you're so stupid thinking like we've princesses need saving when what we really need is a chance to slaughter the dragon. Tomorrow I will see if I can find a griffin. I heard those were fun to slaughter.
PS, no dragons were harmed in the making of this diary except for the Dragon skin on the cover.
Dear Diary,
This morning I woke up and heard dragon roar some screaming and some crunching. I went to go see what it was. Apparently it was a prince trying to kill the dragon Prince you're so stupid thinking like we've princesses need saving when what we really need is a chance to slaughter the dragon. Tomorrow I will see if I can find a griffin. I heard those were fun to slaughter.
PS, no dragons were harmed in the making of this diary except for the Dragon skin on the cover.
A Princess Named Highway - by RePeter Katsnelson
Dear Diary,
The name’s Highway. I was your stereotypical princess when I was a child, wasting time chasing after butterflies and singing about how perfect I thought the world was. Instead, I could have been working for that hard earned scar under my left eye or the unlikely weapon I use to kill the princes who treat me like I’m some stupid baby. They call me the Highway because every second of my life, I’m on my way down to hell, and I’m willing to bring anyone in my way with me.
I work with a two-chance system. The first time you’re in my way, I tell you to get away from me, because I want nothing to do with you. The second time you get in my way, you can say goodbye to your throat and hello to the afterlife. Because I’m not letting you bring me down while I’m on my up to the top. And when I get to the top, I'm taking over the world, and I’m making it better for only two things: My cat and me. And if anything happens to my cat, then I’ll kill everyone that I see and then myself.
So, stay out of my way, but remember that I exist. And that I’m the soon to be evil overlord, so you might as well bow down to me already. In fact, if you don’t, don’t be surprised if I bring out the good ol’ machete.
Dear Diary,
The name’s Highway. I was your stereotypical princess when I was a child, wasting time chasing after butterflies and singing about how perfect I thought the world was. Instead, I could have been working for that hard earned scar under my left eye or the unlikely weapon I use to kill the princes who treat me like I’m some stupid baby. They call me the Highway because every second of my life, I’m on my way down to hell, and I’m willing to bring anyone in my way with me.
I work with a two-chance system. The first time you’re in my way, I tell you to get away from me, because I want nothing to do with you. The second time you get in my way, you can say goodbye to your throat and hello to the afterlife. Because I’m not letting you bring me down while I’m on my up to the top. And when I get to the top, I'm taking over the world, and I’m making it better for only two things: My cat and me. And if anything happens to my cat, then I’ll kill everyone that I see and then myself.
So, stay out of my way, but remember that I exist. And that I’m the soon to be evil overlord, so you might as well bow down to me already. In fact, if you don’t, don’t be surprised if I bring out the good ol’ machete.
A collaborative picture by Pen & Panel Comic Creation Class
Earth
by Kaslyn Chan
Earth
By alien # 93657382; Mr. Dough Simons, Nine years old
(Translated into English by Ms. Marie Reads)
Earth. A place where animals live, Home to the ocean, Where palm trees grow, where buildings soar high into the big, blue sky. Buildings with pointed tops, shiny tops, flat tops, so much more. Far, Far away from Saturn, my home. But worst of all, on the planet; Humans. Humans are scared of us. What would we do, if we went to planet earth? Hide. Everyone thinks we will invade earth, and somehow make humans magically extinct. Funny, eh? We barely have teeth! They think we eat them. Okay, if you don’t believe me, search up ‘Aliens eating humans.’ Then click ‘Images.’ What comes up? Something fishy? Well, I’ll tell you the truth: Aliens DO NOT EAT HUMANS!
All the pictures that come up are people in makeup! FROM MOVIES! We are actually kind, gentle and friendly. You don’t believe me? Okay. Do you think pandas are cute? If you say yes, then you’ll think we are cute! We look just like them. Do you see the difference? No? Find a picture of an alien, and then find a picture of a panda. Now do you see the difference? Tada! I tell you, people are the worst part of earth. And NO! That does not mean we’re going to eat them.
Okay. Back to earth. Earth from Saturn looks like a little, blue speck, as small as a piece of dirt. Earth has grass, and is the most dangerous place in the galaxy. ( See above for reason.) When we go floating, we see it better, though. We shiver at the thought of going there, yet we dream of going there. To see the palm trees, to see the grass, to see rainbows, to see buildings, to see animals, to see houses, to see every single thing that humans take for granted. That would be a dream come true. Why are we so scared to see humans? Well, what would be the first thing they do? Try to kill us? Bingo! When scientists come here, we hide, or go to Planet Jupiter. Mr. Jupiter has saved thousands of lives. Have we ever tried going to earth? Nope. Will we ever? Nope. My birthday wish this year will be for humans to be kinder to us, so we can see planet Earth.
By alien # 93657382; Mr. Dough Simons, Nine years old
(Translated into English by Ms. Marie Reads)
Earth. A place where animals live, Home to the ocean, Where palm trees grow, where buildings soar high into the big, blue sky. Buildings with pointed tops, shiny tops, flat tops, so much more. Far, Far away from Saturn, my home. But worst of all, on the planet; Humans. Humans are scared of us. What would we do, if we went to planet earth? Hide. Everyone thinks we will invade earth, and somehow make humans magically extinct. Funny, eh? We barely have teeth! They think we eat them. Okay, if you don’t believe me, search up ‘Aliens eating humans.’ Then click ‘Images.’ What comes up? Something fishy? Well, I’ll tell you the truth: Aliens DO NOT EAT HUMANS!
All the pictures that come up are people in makeup! FROM MOVIES! We are actually kind, gentle and friendly. You don’t believe me? Okay. Do you think pandas are cute? If you say yes, then you’ll think we are cute! We look just like them. Do you see the difference? No? Find a picture of an alien, and then find a picture of a panda. Now do you see the difference? Tada! I tell you, people are the worst part of earth. And NO! That does not mean we’re going to eat them.
Okay. Back to earth. Earth from Saturn looks like a little, blue speck, as small as a piece of dirt. Earth has grass, and is the most dangerous place in the galaxy. ( See above for reason.) When we go floating, we see it better, though. We shiver at the thought of going there, yet we dream of going there. To see the palm trees, to see the grass, to see rainbows, to see buildings, to see animals, to see houses, to see every single thing that humans take for granted. That would be a dream come true. Why are we so scared to see humans? Well, what would be the first thing they do? Try to kill us? Bingo! When scientists come here, we hide, or go to Planet Jupiter. Mr. Jupiter has saved thousands of lives. Have we ever tried going to earth? Nope. Will we ever? Nope. My birthday wish this year will be for humans to be kinder to us, so we can see planet Earth.
A Dream
By Emma Yan
As I lie on my soft comfy bed, I awoke, I heard a non-stopping sound coming from downstairs like a bird singing. I began wondering. Is this a dream or reality? Is there really a bird in our house at night? I touched my bed sheets to make sure if they were really there, or if I was lying on something else that might be frightful or disgusting (just checking out if it was really a dream). Yep, still there, my old, already crinkled, bed linen. I let out a sigh of relief that it wasn’t any startling surprise a nightmare would have, and slid off my bed towards my kitchen (that was where the bird chirping was coming from), to see what was going on. When I finally sleepily dragged my feet into the kitchen, the first thing I saw was a bird. Like actually, a REAL bird. And more specific, a Budgie (we learned about them at school). Standing on top of our water tap and staring right at the small blue light on our microwave and chirping for no reason at the same time. I tried hard not to scream or else I would definitely wake up my parents from what they would call ‘a peaceful, tranquil sleep’ and their footsteps would come banging right down the stairs and when they see a me with a stray budgie together in the kitchen, they might think I let the bird in on purpose and who knows whatever they will do to me and this poor little mesmerized creature? Thankfully it was early in the morning, so it wasn’t too dark for me to see things. So I kept as quiet as possible and tiptoed over to my butterfly net that was still lying on the ground, which I forgot to put away after my playdate with Tiffany, where we caught several dragonflies in my backyard this afternoon. Once I was close enough, I crouched down so slowly you could barely see me moving and picked the net up as gently as I could. I glanced back nervously at the little bird and thanked god that it still hadn’t noticed me. Then I crept mindfully towards it with the net held tightly in my hands, and….. on the count of, one, two, three, swoosh! I have the struggling animal pinned down on the ground with my net. Yes! All I had to do now is release this parakeet into my backyard and it would become nice and happy for probably the rest of its life. I affably put one hand underneath the insect net making sure that the budgie couldn’t escape from underneath it and rested my hand on the budgie’s back firmly. After I had my hand perfectly secured to the bird’s back, I slid another hand under the net and delicately settled it underneath the tiny creature and carried it toward my backyard. When I reached the door leading out of my house, I noticed with great relief that the door wasn’t locked and I used my mouth to pull down the door handle and my feet to nudge it open. I stepped outside and felt the cool, morning air licking against my cheek, I looked at the little parakeet flapping furiously its wings, still trying to free itself from my firm grip. I smiled and looked at it fondly for the last time before letting go of Cookie (my name for the budgie), watching it flutter into the light blue sky and disappear into the tangles of the leafy branches on the old oak tree in our neighbor's backyard. I gazed at where it vaporized with wide eyes for a few minutes and when he didn’t come out and I sort of got bored, I returned back to my house and fell asleep once again on my bed. When I awoke the next morning, I still remembered about the tiny little budgie and how I rescued it from my house, sigh, I am such a hero, I thought happily.
Pancakes
by RePeter Katsnelson
I wake up to the sweet smell of banana pancakes. I keep my eyes closed, not ready to let the day squash me, but the sunlight filtered through the tall windows of my bedroom still shines past my eyelids and into my eyes.
She’s making pancakes? I think as I squint my eyes open, and a grin spreads across my face. That’s my thing!
I let out an innocent chuckle and fold myself over my bed, my eyes lining up with the creased blanket.
“I’ll make the bed later,” I say to nobody in particular. “I gotta figure out what this pancake smell is coming from.”
I stride out of the room with a smile that’s still on my face. Down the hallway, the smell becomes stronger, and I crave to eat them. And then I see her: she’s beautiful, as always, standing over a pan in which she’s flipping a small amount of pancakes, a plate piling up with them.
She turns around at the sound of my footsteps and looks me in the eye, offering a nervous half smile. Although it’s not much, it’s enough to make my day.
“What’s wrong?” I ask. I can tell she’s nervous. Maybe anxious.
“Nothing.”
“Something.”
“You’re right, something,” she begins. “My exams got moved back a week. I’m not ready for them, but if I don’t do it right then I’ll have to take the class again. Remember back in middle school? I used to have sleepless nights. Those are back again.”
“Oh. Oh no. Don’t worry. Now, I say this with all the knowledge in the world, with all the experience any person has ever had. Everything is okay. Right now, let’s enjoy these pancakes together and not worry about the outside world, no matter how harsh it is. You understand that I love you, right? Let’s forget about the outside.”
And we did.
She’s making pancakes? I think as I squint my eyes open, and a grin spreads across my face. That’s my thing!
I let out an innocent chuckle and fold myself over my bed, my eyes lining up with the creased blanket.
“I’ll make the bed later,” I say to nobody in particular. “I gotta figure out what this pancake smell is coming from.”
I stride out of the room with a smile that’s still on my face. Down the hallway, the smell becomes stronger, and I crave to eat them. And then I see her: she’s beautiful, as always, standing over a pan in which she’s flipping a small amount of pancakes, a plate piling up with them.
She turns around at the sound of my footsteps and looks me in the eye, offering a nervous half smile. Although it’s not much, it’s enough to make my day.
“What’s wrong?” I ask. I can tell she’s nervous. Maybe anxious.
“Nothing.”
“Something.”
“You’re right, something,” she begins. “My exams got moved back a week. I’m not ready for them, but if I don’t do it right then I’ll have to take the class again. Remember back in middle school? I used to have sleepless nights. Those are back again.”
“Oh. Oh no. Don’t worry. Now, I say this with all the knowledge in the world, with all the experience any person has ever had. Everything is okay. Right now, let’s enjoy these pancakes together and not worry about the outside world, no matter how harsh it is. You understand that I love you, right? Let’s forget about the outside.”
And we did.
Willow (an anime)
by Emma Yan, Aletheia Park, and Harane Iynkkaran
Season one of Willow - Winning The Town
This anime stars Willow, a schoolgirl, and her pet cat, Adam, who are fighting to win money to buy back their town from the antagonist Robert, who wants to demolish it and obtain the gold underneath it. Willow and Adam find a flyer advertising Robot Battles Xtreme, with the grand winnings being 1,000,000, enough to stop the demolition. They fight against various enemies and villains to win the tournament. Robert and his weasel sidekick Bitter compete in the tournament as well to obtain the cash and buy the town.
Theme Song
You and I will fight to the end to get our town back from Irian
We help save money under our town and my buddy helps
Irian can be hard to fight, but we've always decided to give it a try
This anime stars Willow, a schoolgirl, and her pet cat, Adam, who are fighting to win money to buy back their town from the antagonist Robert, who wants to demolish it and obtain the gold underneath it. Willow and Adam find a flyer advertising Robot Battles Xtreme, with the grand winnings being 1,000,000, enough to stop the demolition. They fight against various enemies and villains to win the tournament. Robert and his weasel sidekick Bitter compete in the tournament as well to obtain the cash and buy the town.
Theme Song
You and I will fight to the end to get our town back from Irian
We help save money under our town and my buddy helps
Irian can be hard to fight, but we've always decided to give it a try
A Series of Two Short Pieces
by Emma Yan
August 20, 2020
Today when I was going out to water the plants I saw that on a leaf there was a massive dew drop and right in the middle there sat a small cute black beetle resting underneath it. I thought that the beetle must be dead so I plucked a small flower from the ground and poked it once. To my amazement the beetle scuttled out of the dew drop, crawled on the flower stem, and into the palm of my hand.
There it stood motionless for a while and then it settled down in my hand and rested a little while. I was super excited but I forgot that in my other hand there was still a watering can so when I raised my hand to pet the beetle I accidentally washed the beetle off my hand and into the flower pot. I searched for the beetle, but it was no use. The beetle must have already burrowed into the soil!
February 7, 2021
Today I did something terribly insane. I was facetiming my friend Anggie upstairs on my iPad when, suddenly, I heard this deep rumbling sound sort of like a bee buzzing but way deeper than that. Of course in less than a second I knew that it was my dad snoring. I looked at Anggie’s face and thought for a moment. Finally I said, ‘do you know what I’m about to do?’ ‘Nope.’ Anggie replied. Well I told her that I would creep into my dad’s bedroom with my iPad and let Anggie guess what the buzzing sound in there was.
To my surprise Anggie did not look one bit surprised or bewildered. ‘What buzzy noise? It might be your dad’s alarm, or, maybe the microphone isn’t working properly.’ Now I understood. Maybe my dad was too far away for the iPad to pick up the sound of his snores but anyway I picked my iPad, told Anggie to be quiet and crept slowly into my dad’s bedroom. As soon as the iPad was close enough for Anggie to hear my dad’s snores she couldn’t help it. She burst out laughing like a maniac and shouted, ‘it’s your dad’s snores! They are so big!’ At that instant after she said that I could see that she was very regretful. I knew that she still really needed to laugh but at the same time was worried that my dad would wake up. She whispered as quietly as she could, ‘I’ll be back. I might laugh anytime but I don’t want you to get in big trouble. But, keep in mind, that I can still hear what’s going on. Deal?’ ‘Deal.’ So I kept creeping further towards my dad until the very last moment when I, too, could not hold the urge to giggle or snort or burst into that hilarious maniac kind of fit. So I quickly covered my hand over my mouth but it was no use. In less than a moment the crazy bucket of unstoppable laughter filled the room. I could even hear the tiny sound of Anggie’s mad chuckling coming from my Apple iPad.
But before we both knew it my dad was awake and he yelled at me and said that it is very rude to disturb someone’s sleep and as quick as a flash of lightening I ran back to my room still in that frantic fit. It was a long time before Anggie could fully calm me down and we talked the whole thing over and at last said, ‘that was the best thing that ever happened in this universe.’ Then we burst out laughing again.
Later, after me and Anggie were done calling I told my mom what had happened. My mom laughed a little but she also told me that it was also very rude to bully someone that’s your family or friends or even random strangers. And she also told me to say sorry to my dad and so I did but very timidly and carefully. And surprisingly, my dad actually forgave me! But even more shocking he even seemed very good-tempered and did not yell at me like when he was sleeping. But he did tell me that it was very rude to insult someone like that. And everything was back to normal again.
Today when I was going out to water the plants I saw that on a leaf there was a massive dew drop and right in the middle there sat a small cute black beetle resting underneath it. I thought that the beetle must be dead so I plucked a small flower from the ground and poked it once. To my amazement the beetle scuttled out of the dew drop, crawled on the flower stem, and into the palm of my hand.
There it stood motionless for a while and then it settled down in my hand and rested a little while. I was super excited but I forgot that in my other hand there was still a watering can so when I raised my hand to pet the beetle I accidentally washed the beetle off my hand and into the flower pot. I searched for the beetle, but it was no use. The beetle must have already burrowed into the soil!
February 7, 2021
Today I did something terribly insane. I was facetiming my friend Anggie upstairs on my iPad when, suddenly, I heard this deep rumbling sound sort of like a bee buzzing but way deeper than that. Of course in less than a second I knew that it was my dad snoring. I looked at Anggie’s face and thought for a moment. Finally I said, ‘do you know what I’m about to do?’ ‘Nope.’ Anggie replied. Well I told her that I would creep into my dad’s bedroom with my iPad and let Anggie guess what the buzzing sound in there was.
To my surprise Anggie did not look one bit surprised or bewildered. ‘What buzzy noise? It might be your dad’s alarm, or, maybe the microphone isn’t working properly.’ Now I understood. Maybe my dad was too far away for the iPad to pick up the sound of his snores but anyway I picked my iPad, told Anggie to be quiet and crept slowly into my dad’s bedroom. As soon as the iPad was close enough for Anggie to hear my dad’s snores she couldn’t help it. She burst out laughing like a maniac and shouted, ‘it’s your dad’s snores! They are so big!’ At that instant after she said that I could see that she was very regretful. I knew that she still really needed to laugh but at the same time was worried that my dad would wake up. She whispered as quietly as she could, ‘I’ll be back. I might laugh anytime but I don’t want you to get in big trouble. But, keep in mind, that I can still hear what’s going on. Deal?’ ‘Deal.’ So I kept creeping further towards my dad until the very last moment when I, too, could not hold the urge to giggle or snort or burst into that hilarious maniac kind of fit. So I quickly covered my hand over my mouth but it was no use. In less than a moment the crazy bucket of unstoppable laughter filled the room. I could even hear the tiny sound of Anggie’s mad chuckling coming from my Apple iPad.
But before we both knew it my dad was awake and he yelled at me and said that it is very rude to disturb someone’s sleep and as quick as a flash of lightening I ran back to my room still in that frantic fit. It was a long time before Anggie could fully calm me down and we talked the whole thing over and at last said, ‘that was the best thing that ever happened in this universe.’ Then we burst out laughing again.
Later, after me and Anggie were done calling I told my mom what had happened. My mom laughed a little but she also told me that it was also very rude to bully someone that’s your family or friends or even random strangers. And she also told me to say sorry to my dad and so I did but very timidly and carefully. And surprisingly, my dad actually forgave me! But even more shocking he even seemed very good-tempered and did not yell at me like when he was sleeping. But he did tell me that it was very rude to insult someone like that. And everything was back to normal again.
Time Travel Tales
The Mask
by Bodhi Hipfner
One time there was a human named Leroy and he made a time made a time machine so he traveled back to ancient times. He explored tropical forests and waded thru wet marshes. But after all his exploring, he got hungry, so he went in search of a fast food restaurant, but all he could find was a Neanderthal running a crummy sushi stand. "You want SU-SHI?" the Neanderthal grunted. "Dunno... you got any burgers?" Leroy asked. "No, only sushi!" Shouted the Neanderthal. So, Leroy bought some sushi. "Hmm, not bad." But as everyone knows, sushi attracts dinosaurs. And that's when a T-Rex tried to eat him. Fortunately, Leroy had an extra mask, so he put it on, and T-rex thought he was just some random joe with no sushi. Then he traveled back home and had some burgers.
Sushi
by RePeter Katsnelson
Eleanor came at four in the morning. I had tidied up the house, made it neat and acceptable for guests, and waited. For an hour, then two, then three. Suddenly, the clock struck ten, and I decided that she wasn’t coming - again - and that I would have to live by the fact that I wasted the day waiting by the door - again.
And then she rang the doorbell. The only room I had messed up was my own, my clothes sprawled on the floor and my blanket all messed up after I had woken up. Finally, I thought, and got dressed, opened the door, and let her in.
“Janet, why in the world did it take you so long to open that door? I’d been waiting in the dark for almost ten minutes.”
“Sorry, El, I was sleeping. I didn’t know you would come this late,” I replied. Yes, I was disappointed by her late arrival, but this wasn’t the first time something ignorant had been done by her. She layed a plastic bag on the table, and then reached into her pocket. “What’s in the bag?” I asked.
“Sushi. I got us some so we can eat and talk.” Then, she took two small items out of her pocket, just as I reached into the bag for some food. She put two items on the table: A small, clay mask, and a plastic dinosaur toy you normally get at the mall. She speaked before I could. “What do you think these two symbols mean?”
I didn’t respond immediately. Then, slowly, as the thoughts in my head settled, I replied. “You want me to-”
“Join our “bring back the dinosaurs” cult. I know it sounds stupid, but we need a reliable person like you. And yes, you must wear the mask, too.” I begin to laugh. She’s being ridiculous. She's joking, right?
“You have one of those?” I ask, trying not to laugh.
“Stop laughing. This is serious,” She says, hastily. “So, will you?”
I take a bite of my salmon nigiri, swallow, then speak. “Sorry, El, but I don’t think I want to. But thanks for coming by.” She stares at me, first confused, and then angrily.
“Then why did I even come by? You wasted my time-”
“I waited by the door ‘till ten, and you woke me up at four, but that’s nothing compared to you,” I interrupted.
“Whatever. Bye, Janet.” And with that, she was gone, along with the sushi, but for some reason, she had left me the dinosaur and the mask. On my way upstairs, I throw them in the trash. The good news is, I probably won’t talk to Eleanor in a long time.
by Bodhi Hipfner
One time there was a human named Leroy and he made a time made a time machine so he traveled back to ancient times. He explored tropical forests and waded thru wet marshes. But after all his exploring, he got hungry, so he went in search of a fast food restaurant, but all he could find was a Neanderthal running a crummy sushi stand. "You want SU-SHI?" the Neanderthal grunted. "Dunno... you got any burgers?" Leroy asked. "No, only sushi!" Shouted the Neanderthal. So, Leroy bought some sushi. "Hmm, not bad." But as everyone knows, sushi attracts dinosaurs. And that's when a T-Rex tried to eat him. Fortunately, Leroy had an extra mask, so he put it on, and T-rex thought he was just some random joe with no sushi. Then he traveled back home and had some burgers.
Sushi
by RePeter Katsnelson
Eleanor came at four in the morning. I had tidied up the house, made it neat and acceptable for guests, and waited. For an hour, then two, then three. Suddenly, the clock struck ten, and I decided that she wasn’t coming - again - and that I would have to live by the fact that I wasted the day waiting by the door - again.
And then she rang the doorbell. The only room I had messed up was my own, my clothes sprawled on the floor and my blanket all messed up after I had woken up. Finally, I thought, and got dressed, opened the door, and let her in.
“Janet, why in the world did it take you so long to open that door? I’d been waiting in the dark for almost ten minutes.”
“Sorry, El, I was sleeping. I didn’t know you would come this late,” I replied. Yes, I was disappointed by her late arrival, but this wasn’t the first time something ignorant had been done by her. She layed a plastic bag on the table, and then reached into her pocket. “What’s in the bag?” I asked.
“Sushi. I got us some so we can eat and talk.” Then, she took two small items out of her pocket, just as I reached into the bag for some food. She put two items on the table: A small, clay mask, and a plastic dinosaur toy you normally get at the mall. She speaked before I could. “What do you think these two symbols mean?”
I didn’t respond immediately. Then, slowly, as the thoughts in my head settled, I replied. “You want me to-”
“Join our “bring back the dinosaurs” cult. I know it sounds stupid, but we need a reliable person like you. And yes, you must wear the mask, too.” I begin to laugh. She’s being ridiculous. She's joking, right?
“You have one of those?” I ask, trying not to laugh.
“Stop laughing. This is serious,” She says, hastily. “So, will you?”
I take a bite of my salmon nigiri, swallow, then speak. “Sorry, El, but I don’t think I want to. But thanks for coming by.” She stares at me, first confused, and then angrily.
“Then why did I even come by? You wasted my time-”
“I waited by the door ‘till ten, and you woke me up at four, but that’s nothing compared to you,” I interrupted.
“Whatever. Bye, Janet.” And with that, she was gone, along with the sushi, but for some reason, she had left me the dinosaur and the mask. On my way upstairs, I throw them in the trash. The good news is, I probably won’t talk to Eleanor in a long time.
A Series of Three Short Pieces
by Anjola Shyllon
An Unexpected Act of Kindness
Ellie shivered in a corner next to an alley. She watched timidly as people passed her by disdainfully or fearfully. She thought sadly to herself I would’ve done the same thing if I were well off. But she wasn’t. She had been a homeless orphan all her life. Lost in her thoughts of sadness and half-frozen, she didn’t realize that in her daze someone with strong arms had picked her up and set her in a comfortable position on a soft seat. She just felt warmth, and she was so thankful and so suddenly pulled out of her plight, that she blacked out. When she woke up again, she was on a soft, stuffed piece of cloth.
“What is this?” Ellie murmured.
“You are lying on a mattress,” a soft, musical, kindly voice said. She looked up and saw a gorgeous woman, with chestnut curls tumbling over her back like a waterfall, and a sweet face.
“Did you rescue me?”
“No, child. My husband did. I have so long wanted a child to care for. Would you like to stay for tonight?”
“No.” The woman’s eyes filled to the brim with sadness. “I would like to stay forever.”
The woman’s eyes changed instantaneously. Her eyes lit up like a warm housefire.
“Oh! Oh, you beautiful child! You are not only beautiful on the outside, but the inside too!” she gasped and wrapped Ellie up in her arms. They both sobbed, But to Ellie, it felt like an awakening.
From that day forward, Ellie stayed in Grace and Charles Rainer’s household. And she would never forget their act of kindness that changed the course of her life forever.
Into the future
It is 11:00 am, on December 31st, 2019, and I am lounging on the couch waiting for the fireworks on the news. My very long, slightly wavy red hair, which is permanently dyed navy blue at the tips, is spread behind me, not in its usual ponytail with a braid on one side. Suddenly, the TV malfunctions and turns into a swirling purple...galaxy?...Blackhole?......Portal? Then, a girl with equally long, straight brown hair, a golden tan, and purplish-red eyes leaps out of it, confirming my last suspicion.
“Who are you?” I shriek, scrambling off the couch.
“I’m Fira. You’re Skylar, right?”
“How do you know my name?” My suspicion is rising by the second.
“I have no time to explain. You need to come with me! My government is planning to kill you, and they have agents coming this very moment!”
“Why?”
“Sometime in the future, you’ll create technology, rendering all other sources useless!”
“And how do you know this?”
“I’m from the future!”
I laugh, “Whoa, whoa, whoa. You’ve got the wrong Skyler! I’m broke, in Junior High, and I eat ramen three times a day! I’m not who you’re looking for!”
“But-” she protests, fiddling with her hair, which I now realized is also dyed at the tips, but with red dye. “You’re one of us! We have so many similar traits!”
This is more confusing than all of the boys at school, basically salivating all over me, trying to get me to become their girlfriend!
“Just-”
Just then, another portal opens up, and the figures that step out of it don’t seem so friendly.
Travelling Disaster Prologue
A little girl is happily chattering to her father, kicking her legs as they drive home from her kindergarten class. “ And daddy, we made a snowman craft and went to the library and -” but before she can finish her sentence, she hears her father yell. She looks up and screams. There is a car driving straight towards them. It is facing the wrong way and speeding toward them. “Daddy, warn the car! WARN THE CAR!” she cries, kicking her legs. But before her father can honk the horn, the cars collide. There is a shattering of glass and a jolt forward. And that little girl feels the worst pain that she will ever feel in her entire life. She screams and starts weeping.
“Daddy! Daddy!”
“Oh no!” her father cries. Immediately, he starts dialing 911.
“Hello?! My daughter and I have been involved in a car accident and I fear that she has been seriously hurt…….”
A few minutes later, the little girl hears the wail of sirens and feels herself being lifted gently out of her car. Then she hears voices that are unfamiliar and that sound authoritative. “ It looks like there has been some serious leg damage” a female voice explains gently. “ We aren't sure, but your little girl might be an invalid for the rest of her life.” And then, everything goes black.
Ellie shivered in a corner next to an alley. She watched timidly as people passed her by disdainfully or fearfully. She thought sadly to herself I would’ve done the same thing if I were well off. But she wasn’t. She had been a homeless orphan all her life. Lost in her thoughts of sadness and half-frozen, she didn’t realize that in her daze someone with strong arms had picked her up and set her in a comfortable position on a soft seat. She just felt warmth, and she was so thankful and so suddenly pulled out of her plight, that she blacked out. When she woke up again, she was on a soft, stuffed piece of cloth.
“What is this?” Ellie murmured.
“You are lying on a mattress,” a soft, musical, kindly voice said. She looked up and saw a gorgeous woman, with chestnut curls tumbling over her back like a waterfall, and a sweet face.
“Did you rescue me?”
“No, child. My husband did. I have so long wanted a child to care for. Would you like to stay for tonight?”
“No.” The woman’s eyes filled to the brim with sadness. “I would like to stay forever.”
The woman’s eyes changed instantaneously. Her eyes lit up like a warm housefire.
“Oh! Oh, you beautiful child! You are not only beautiful on the outside, but the inside too!” she gasped and wrapped Ellie up in her arms. They both sobbed, But to Ellie, it felt like an awakening.
From that day forward, Ellie stayed in Grace and Charles Rainer’s household. And she would never forget their act of kindness that changed the course of her life forever.
Into the future
It is 11:00 am, on December 31st, 2019, and I am lounging on the couch waiting for the fireworks on the news. My very long, slightly wavy red hair, which is permanently dyed navy blue at the tips, is spread behind me, not in its usual ponytail with a braid on one side. Suddenly, the TV malfunctions and turns into a swirling purple...galaxy?...Blackhole?......Portal? Then, a girl with equally long, straight brown hair, a golden tan, and purplish-red eyes leaps out of it, confirming my last suspicion.
“Who are you?” I shriek, scrambling off the couch.
“I’m Fira. You’re Skylar, right?”
“How do you know my name?” My suspicion is rising by the second.
“I have no time to explain. You need to come with me! My government is planning to kill you, and they have agents coming this very moment!”
“Why?”
“Sometime in the future, you’ll create technology, rendering all other sources useless!”
“And how do you know this?”
“I’m from the future!”
I laugh, “Whoa, whoa, whoa. You’ve got the wrong Skyler! I’m broke, in Junior High, and I eat ramen three times a day! I’m not who you’re looking for!”
“But-” she protests, fiddling with her hair, which I now realized is also dyed at the tips, but with red dye. “You’re one of us! We have so many similar traits!”
This is more confusing than all of the boys at school, basically salivating all over me, trying to get me to become their girlfriend!
“Just-”
Just then, another portal opens up, and the figures that step out of it don’t seem so friendly.
Travelling Disaster Prologue
A little girl is happily chattering to her father, kicking her legs as they drive home from her kindergarten class. “ And daddy, we made a snowman craft and went to the library and -” but before she can finish her sentence, she hears her father yell. She looks up and screams. There is a car driving straight towards them. It is facing the wrong way and speeding toward them. “Daddy, warn the car! WARN THE CAR!” she cries, kicking her legs. But before her father can honk the horn, the cars collide. There is a shattering of glass and a jolt forward. And that little girl feels the worst pain that she will ever feel in her entire life. She screams and starts weeping.
“Daddy! Daddy!”
“Oh no!” her father cries. Immediately, he starts dialing 911.
“Hello?! My daughter and I have been involved in a car accident and I fear that she has been seriously hurt…….”
A few minutes later, the little girl hears the wail of sirens and feels herself being lifted gently out of her car. Then she hears voices that are unfamiliar and that sound authoritative. “ It looks like there has been some serious leg damage” a female voice explains gently. “ We aren't sure, but your little girl might be an invalid for the rest of her life.” And then, everything goes black.
Departure
by RePeter Katsnelson
I haven’t long before I depart. I’m moving soon, and the only thoughts that can fill my mind are excited ones: both nervous and happy excitement. I let my back rest against the tough plastic chair, my hand-me-down 2011 phone plugged into the barely working charging port situated beneath my seat, and my luggage bag leaning on the unoccupied chair to my right.
The plane is docked just outside the building, and I realize it’s time to put my phone away - the air traffic controller is signaling to some workers to align the walkway with the airplane. After everything is packed up, my heart beating a thousand miles per hour, I glance anxiously at the lit up electronic sign hanging from the ceiling just a few feet from me. On the left, in a big bold font, it reads Flight 801, and on the right, in smaller letters, it says “Two minutes before departure”.
“Group one’s up. I repeat! Group one is up!” Calls the woman standing calmly at the front desk. I look to my right, and only a couple seats from me, a family stands up and trots up to the walkway, followed closely behind by a woman with greasy black hair in a business suit. Suddenly, about half the people sitting in the open room stand up and robotically wait in line. I remain firmly in my spot, my heart threatening to beat through my chest. Seconds seem like minutes, minutes seem like hours, but at last, the front desk lady calls:
“Okay, group two! Group two, please come up.”
It takes long for the message to get to my head. I only lift myself up off of the seat when I hear others doing it, leaving me at the worse half of the line. I eagerly play with my hands, only taking steps when the man in front of me does, unable to stop and think for a moment. Time seems to slow down.
Somehow, I find myself standing in front of the wide desk. “Can I have a ticket?” The woman asks politely. I shakily moved my hand up to the smooth counter and hastily dropped the small slip of paper on her desk, not a sound escaping my mouth. She brings up the ticket to the red scan machine, rips off a piece of it, and then hands it back to me.
“You’re good to go.”
I’m only half way down the metal walkway when the lights abruptly flash off. I’m not sure if I actually hear footsteps behind me, or if it’s just my fear making me hallucinate. I don’t have long to find out. The tunnel tilts, and then tilts some more, and within seconds the entire walkway, disconnected from any other supports, is falling full speed to the ground. Panicked, I run down the walkway as fast as humanly possible, my ears deafened by my beating heart, to the opening, hoping to make it into the airplane before I fall to the ground.
I don’t need to run anymore. The angle the walkway is tilted at is making me slide down the tunnel whether I want it or not.
Crash!
My body erupts with an undefinable pain, similar to a dreadful darkness quickly dominating my conscience. I can’t move anymore, I just lay flat on the cement: the sky is blinding, but too dark at the same time. The edges of my vision begin to turn red, my lungs gasping for air. I still want to live. There’s so much for me to do. But the truth stays fresh in my mind. I haven’t long until I depart.
SLOW MOTION KINGDOM
by Emma Yan
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Warning! This story is kind of true, and kind of fake. Please Do not blame the supervisors after you read this, ok?
SLOW-MOTION KINGDOM by Emma Yan
Chapter 1
As we were getting ready to go outside for lunch recess, I heard Amelia shouting at the coat room, “quick! Serene! Get ready so we can all go outside! You’re wasting our play time!” Because I was in the back of the line, I didn’t know why my friend Serene was taking such a long time putting on her winter gear so I decided to take a sneak peek in it. Then, I would know what was going on.
I quietly slinked to the back of the coat hanger section so nobody would see me peek inside. When I was close enough to be able to poke my head into the wet, smelly coat room (there was lots of snow sticking to the dirty, black, mats our teachers had set on the ground for us to stomp snow and mud off our boots. It also smelled a lot like stinky feet), what I saw surprised me so much! Serene was still putting on her jacket bit by bit and was doing it in incredible, slow motion. I whispered as softly as I could so nobody but only Serene could hear. “Serene, it’s me, Emma! hurry up! You’re holding up the line! You slow sloth!” “No! I’m not!” Serene whispered back. “I’m really fast! Look at me!” Then, she started dressing up at a quicker pace but in less than a minute she was back in her sleepy sloth mode.
I sighed, “I guess that we will have to wait for 1000 years for you to put on your coat. Just come on! Dress up quicker!” “K sure, just one sec.” So, there we waited about 19 or 18 minutes just for Serene to come out of the coat room. Or at least, it felt like that long for Serene to get dressed. All of the other kids except me were complaining that Serene was such a slow person and that we could leave without her.
But the weird thing was that the supervisors wouldn’t let us go! The other students complained as much as they could, but it was no use. Finally, when Serene was ready to go outside we only stayed for like, 4 minutes and then we had to go back in! It was like Serene wasted all our precious recess time! We couldn’t believe it! It was like the whole class was blaming Serene. At the end of the day, I felt pretty bad for Serene that she was getting pushed around by people so I decided that I would ask why Serene was always so slow. Cause, it was clear that she was doing it on purpose.
Chapter 2
After school when I got home, I texted Serene and asked why she was so easy on doing everything (most of the time she’s always mega slow). She replied that she would tell me later at school tomorrow. Hmm…. that was a little weird, I guess that I just have to wait a bit longer until the sun rises again. That night I couldn’t sleep. I could never stop thinking about why Serene always so slow, and eerie possibilities kept on popping up in my mind and I couldn’t ease them away. My brain just couldn’t help but only think that tomorrow would be way different from other days. Something extraordinary was going to happen.
The next day came and I could not hold it. As soon as I was in school, I was tearing up the whole building to find Serene. Alas, I found her at her desk reading a book about Japanese history. I told her how much I thought about her secret at night and told her some of my crazy predictions about it. She laughed after she heard them and said that I was crazy. Then she told me that some of my predictions were kind of true, but she also told me something she had never said before, ‘sleep in a place with huge amounts of sunshine in it and you will get why I always take my time.’ ‘What!?’ I was totally baffled about her reply. ‘Just do it if you want to figure out why everyone says that I’m so slow.’
The good thing was that my seat was right next to the window, so I didn’t have to worry too much about getting to a place with sunlight in it. The bad thing was that what if Ms. Sanden (our teacher) saw me asleep at school? Wouldn’t that be so embarrassing if she yelled at me and all my classmates just stared at me? (That’s what they always do to people in trouble.) So, I also talked Serene about the dangerous teacher. She replied, ‘oh, it’s fine. You can always do it at home next to a big window with lots of sunshine, then flop a mattress underneath you and sleep on it. And of course, never forget about getting a blanket. “if you want.” “Oh, its fine,” I reassured my friend. “But oh! How could I be so dumb! Why didn’t I think about that!?’
Serene giggled again. So, of course we had to wait forever for school to end. Can you imagine all that math and science and social studies you do? Even worse, you have to sit there at your seat for the whole day doing paperwork with masks on? I was totally like going insane every day after school. Finally, when I was at last back at my house I thought of falling asleep right now. then, it would be awkward if my family saw me doing that and they would think that I was going mad. So, I decided to wait for my mom to go downstairs to run on the treadmill then I would try out Serene’s suggestion.
I waited for about 2 hours for my mom to finish her work. then I went in search of the comfiest mattress and thinnest blanket I could find (just in case it was too hot). When I was all set up, I leaped onto the soft, delicate mattress and pulled my blanket up to my shoulders. I also took a little peak at the wide sunny window right next to me just to make sure that there was enough sunlight. I snuggled in and thought that there was nothing better than this. Little did I know that a great adventure was about to be born ahead of me right in my dreams.
Chapter 3
Suddenly, I awoke, expecting to see my family members staring at me, but instead of that, to my amazement, this time it was the eye piercing sun that was staring at me from the baby blue sky! When I looked around, everything looked so...different! “Where am I?” I said to myself, “am I going mad? Am I Just Dreaming? Well, hmmm…. if I am, I guess that maybe I should explore this strange land a bit before I wake up. I really hope that this will not become a nightmare.” When I looked down, I noticed that I was sitting, crisscross applesauce on a large field of…. Sunflowers! I stood up wobbly on my legs. I guess that I haven’t really noticed how long I’ve been sitting on the sharp, pocky, hairs on the sunflowers’ leaves and stems.
But anyway I did some easy yoga poses that I still remember when I was awake and started striding in the field of plants hoping to find something interesting. But I noticed that as I took each step I slowed down a little and that I also felt a little calmer than before. I liked the way it felt so I took each step confidently without hesitating. By the time I reached the end of the field you could call me that I’m “way slower than a sloth”.
But like I said I did not care one bit that with each step I took I had to grow slower. I liked that calm, soothing feeling in my heart. It was like all my heavy, sagging, worries had all floated out of my head. It was the best feeling that I had ever experienced in my life. So, I made up my mind and decided that I would walk as many laps around the field as possible. Around and around I slumped. Never feeling tired or drowsy. It was like I was addicted to walking and I just couldn’t stop myself from not doing it.
I never stopped until I heard this small, tiny sound coming from underneath me. It sounded like someone talking but in some sort of muffled way. I hated to stop in my tracks. But I was also too interested. “W—H—A—T A—R—E Y—O—U S—A—Y—I—N—G?” I rumbled deeply. (Because I was too slow to say anything at a normal pace.) “W—H—Y I—S Y-O-U-R V—O—I—C—E S—O M—U—F—E—L—E—D?” It was no use. The small squeaky voice kept on going on like it was ignoring my tremendous booming voice. So, I had to bend down as low as possible, (and that of course took a long time too.) hoping to hear more clearly of what the voice was saying.
Finally! I could hear what the mystery voice was saying. “I say we stop here Mr. Bitumen, we’ve been trying for decades but here as you see, it’s no use. I say we could destroy it then rebuild a new, and greater one. What do you say, your majesty?” There was utter silence for a moment. Then another creature with a much louder and clearer voice answered, “I do suppose we could try, but if this plan fails, we’ll have to plan a little punishment for you.” “Y-yes, y-your majesty” the small squeaky voice began again. “D-do as you w-wish. B-but I am c-certainly sure t-that t-this plan w-will never f-fail.”
Hmmm…. interesting…. That was weird. I tried to take a closer look at the sunflowers in front of me so I could see who was talking to who. But to my disappointment the sunflowers were way too close together and I couldn’t see what was going on. I was just about to give up when I heard the louder voice speak again. “You must go now. I have other arrangements today. I have heard enough of your ideas. Go back to your office now.” “Thank y-you, y-our majesty,” the squeaky voice stuttered again. “For l-listening to m-my wonderful i-ideas. I d-do sincerely h-hope t-that you h-have a-a great d-day.” There was soft scuffling then, ghostly silence settled down again.
Chapter 4
I never had thought that I would ever in my life wish this, but I did. I wished that I could go back to normal pace again, so now and then every time if I walked, you already know that I would become slower, and a “peaceful feeling” would settle in my mind. But not anymore. When I was still doing my laps around the yellow field, I noticed that with each heavy step I took, the comfortable feeling grew fainter and fainter until I felt no happiness and my worries and weird thoughts began to drift back into my mind again.
I absolutely hated that feeling. It was like all of a sudden, a huge giant hand had flown down onto the ground right beside me, grasped all my happy thoughts away, and then rose back into the air leaving nothing behind except me, a poor little girl with no sense of humor left in her body anymore. I tried to stand up from my crouching position because it was really uncomfortable in that bone cringing position. But as I did it, I felt even more uncomfortable! My body rose so slowly, that when I was halfway standing up my bones felt like they were about to crack.
You might be thinking why my body hurt so much when I was standing up. It’s because, when I lifted my body up from the ground, I had to pause every few moments in the middle of supporting myself to stand. So, I had to stay in that exact awkward position of my every movement. And I’m serious! I could go on forever if I had that light fluffy feeling in my body, and I swear, that I would never ever feel that my bones are hurting or that my muscles might be aching if it were still there.
But anyway, when I finally was up again and started walking again, I felt worse. A sick feeling had spread over me like the flu, but was way more painful than that. I wanted to keep investigating about the strange, new voices. But I was too weak to turn back. I looked all around for a cure to bring back that happy feeling or to make me faster so I didn’t have to be in huge pain each time I moved. So I stood there on spot and scanned my surroundings with my eyes wide open.
Finally! I spotted a small bottle about as big as a child’s palm lying in a small cluster of dead sunflower leaves. Inside you could see this glowing light blue substance bubbling inside the bottle. And even more mysterious there was a little sign right beside it with dark brown letters written on it, “drink me”. And you know that in this state of devastation, I would drink or eat anything if it made me faster or more comfortable. So I strode over as fast as I could, (it took over 40 minutes). Grabbed the bottle, unplugged the cork lid, and emptied the bottle in one big gulp.
Instantly I knew something was changing inside my body. I looked down and to a scream of horror, my feet had turned into bony three toed claws with sharp pointed nails at the end. My whole body felt so fluffy and feathery. I felt like I was becoming shorter and shorter every moment. I kicked and yelled for help, but only a sharp caw came out of my mouth, which was now a straight ugly beak with tiny nostrils on the sides of it. I cawed and cawed for help but it was no use. I had become a crow.
Chapter 5
I peeked at my new glossy wings and felt like crying. But I couldn’t. No tears came to my eyes. But sure, there was one good thing about tuning into a crow, I was not a sloth anymore and I could move at any speed I wanted. I do suppose that being a crow could be a little tiny bit better than having to grow slower all the time. I glanced at the direction of the setting sun and spotted something moving on the ground —- a robin! It was hopping towards me and calling my name. In less than a moment I had recognized who this was, it was my friend Serene! Who else could it be then? Serene was the only one that told me about sleeping in the sun.
“Serene! Serene!” I yelled, “you're finally here!” When we were close enough, we hugged each other so hard that Serene said that she was about to burst. I laughed and let go of her. And we both studied each other for a moment. It was normal to see that as a robin, Serene was two or three times smaller than me. She also had humongous beady black eyes at the sides of her head, like me! (and of course! The Robin, (Serene) who was standing right beside me, also had a fiery orange colored belly). We had a few couple things that were not in common about us but we were perfectly fine with it.
“Did you actually fall asleep in the sun too?” “Yes!” “Wow!” I remarked, “it’s so cool that we get to see each other in our dreams, right?” “I never even thought of sharing this wonderful place with my friends until you asked me about why I was always so slow.” “Oh!” I replied, “Well, you could always tell other friends about this magical place. Like, for instance, Layal, or, Sanna, or, Amya, or,.... You could invite the teachers too if you want. Oh! And of course, you could invite some of your old friends too if you wanted right?”
At these words Serene thought for a moment, “I suppose that we could try to, but I’m not really sure if all of them will do it at the same exact time. Like what if someone comes in too early or too late? It also depends on how much sunlight our friends get and how well they are sleeping or if he or she has siblings or parents that always wake them up from sleeping. So, see? It can be hard but I do think that we could give it a try.”
“It’s fine Serene”, I reassured her, “I’m sure that this plan will work out perfectly. Even if they don’t come at the right time it’s ok. We could try again, deal?” “Deal”. I thought aloud for a moment. “At first when you just arrived at this place did you grow slower too?” “Yea, but thankfully I found the weird blue liquid before I turned unstoppably into a slow monster.” “And what about the strange talking voices behind the sunflowers?” “Oh, and those? You don’t have to worry about them. But I will tell you later, first, let’s enjoy a cool refreshing flight.”
Chapter 6
It was surprising to see how much I knew how to fly. It took only a few tries to get myself to stably lift my body into the air. But after I learned how to fly, it was way easier than anything you could possibly imagine. When we were high enough in the air, we could see all parts of the mysterious kingdom we were in, I thought that something was a bit strange about this place until…. the question suddenly popped out of my head.
“Serene? Does this huge, strange area have a name?” “Yes, the Mini Beasts call it the ‘Slow Motion Kingdom’.” “What!? Who are the Mini Beasts? Are they the mystery talking creatures that hide at the bottom of the sunflowers?” Serene nodded, “yes, but don’t worry about them. They are totally harmless and annoying. They’re always trying to come up with new strategies for their new ‘fancy restaurant’ but every time when they start building another restaurant something goes wrong and they have to start all over again. That’s why you hear them talking about building stuff.”
“But how do you know? We could also help them, right?” “Nah, I’ve tried before. They keep on ignoring me even when I’m staring right at them. They just go on talking forever like they never even knew that a bird about 10 times their size was standing right before them. Whenever I get bored, I always look for them, it’s so easy, just shove the sunflower stems out of the way at the exact spot where you hear them talking, and you’ll see everything they do.”
I tried not to shiver, imagine having someone way larger than you, staring at your every movement you make without realizing it. “Ooooky, thanks for your answer, let’s not talk about this anymore, it makes me feel a bit uncomfortable, let’s talk about something else that won’t include us spying on people, at least I think that a different topic will make me feel better.” Serene shrugged, “sure, but I can’t come up with anything else to discuss, and I’m sort of getting bored now. You might be surprised but I kinda want to leave, I’m not being mean, but I really do mean it.”
At first, I thought that Serene actually meant that she didn’t want to be with me. But when I read her facial expression, I knew that she did not really mean it and that she meant that she wanted to return back to normal human society. You can never go wrong with Serene’s facial expression. To be honest, I kinda agreed to Serene’s opinion. At first, I had tried to push away that stray thought.
But after Serene said that she wanted to leave, that fatigued feeling also began to sink into my brain. Then, I felt like I wanted to leave too. Also, was it just me? Or was it getting hotter every moment? Even worse, with these big black feathers covering my whole body, it felt like I was standing outside on a boiling hot summer day wrapped in 100 layers of thick wool blankets and being forced to stand in the position all day.
For another reason, I have to admit that it was pretty boring, just staying in one position with nothing good to talk about, the only thing we could really do was flap our wings once in a while whenever we felt like we were about to fall. “Ok, sure,” I replied, “but then, how do we make ourselves wake up?” “Ah, that’s what I was thinking about.’’ Serene remarked.
Chapter 7
“The thing is that we have to make ourselves sneeze in order to wake up from this dream. Common, let’s land first, then I’ll tell you everything we need to do, we can settle on the best sunflowers we can find when we’re about to land.’’ But when Serene saw my expression, she quickly added, “It's ok, I think that at least one sunflower can hold your weight.”
Once we landed safely on two of the healthiest sunflowers we could find, (it was really hard to find a sunflower big enough for me to stand on since I was way too big to fit on the other normal-sized sunflowers. But we finally managed to spot one that I could barely stand on.) Serene told me that it would be very hard to make ourselves sneeze because we were still in bird form. She said that all we had to do was to keep our eyes peeled for a type of small, white, fuzzy balls sticking to the stems of the sunflowers.
If we smelled it, it would make us sneeze and then we would wake up. But Serene also gave a warning, she said that sometimes the fuzzy balls might sting, so she said only to smell it. She also said that the soft balls were really rare in hot places and its effect can only work once on living creatures. So once everything was already planned out, I and Serene set off on the yellow field of flowers in search of our need. We examined and searched everywhere for at least a glimpse of the fuzzy balls Serene had described. But we couldn’t find them anywhere on all of the sunflowers we’ve inspected!
Until……… “Serene! Look! Are these the things you told me to look for!? I think this might be it! Come see!” Even though my friend was far away from me I could see her distant face brightening up and filling up with hope. “Yay!” She called back out to me, “I am most certain that we will be saved! Hurray!” And then in less than a second she was up in the air, the ends of her scaly feet brushing the golden tips of the sunflower petals, and her face full of joy. When my friend landed beside me, she threw her light grey wings around me and we both gave each other a big squeeze. Then, Serene peeked at the white fuzzy balls I spotted on one particularly orange sunflower and confirmed that those were the right balls we needed.
Once we calmed down a little from all the excitement, we both took a small sniff where the fuzzy balls were. Before I could even react to the smell of the balls my mouth was open, my nose felt all stuffy, and my eyes started to close…. ‘‘Atcho!’’ Then I felt myself jump off something soft and squishy. I looked down in confusion and discovered that I was looking down at my mattress which I had slept on. Suddenly, I heard my Ipad’s notification bell ringing, it must be a friend! I ran over to my charging device and opened it. And the first thing I saw was a text message from Serene that read, ‘‘That was totally the best experience ever.’’ ‘‘Totally,’’ I replied.
The next day at school I and Serene told as many people as we could about our dream we had together. But the surprising thing was that nobody believed us except our other friend Layal! We were a bit shocked at other peoples’ reactions but afterwards we knew that it was normal. After all nobody did fly into that mysterious land of the Slow Motion Kingdom by themselves, or did they.
SLOW-MOTION KINGDOM by Emma Yan
Chapter 1
As we were getting ready to go outside for lunch recess, I heard Amelia shouting at the coat room, “quick! Serene! Get ready so we can all go outside! You’re wasting our play time!” Because I was in the back of the line, I didn’t know why my friend Serene was taking such a long time putting on her winter gear so I decided to take a sneak peek in it. Then, I would know what was going on.
I quietly slinked to the back of the coat hanger section so nobody would see me peek inside. When I was close enough to be able to poke my head into the wet, smelly coat room (there was lots of snow sticking to the dirty, black, mats our teachers had set on the ground for us to stomp snow and mud off our boots. It also smelled a lot like stinky feet), what I saw surprised me so much! Serene was still putting on her jacket bit by bit and was doing it in incredible, slow motion. I whispered as softly as I could so nobody but only Serene could hear. “Serene, it’s me, Emma! hurry up! You’re holding up the line! You slow sloth!” “No! I’m not!” Serene whispered back. “I’m really fast! Look at me!” Then, she started dressing up at a quicker pace but in less than a minute she was back in her sleepy sloth mode.
I sighed, “I guess that we will have to wait for 1000 years for you to put on your coat. Just come on! Dress up quicker!” “K sure, just one sec.” So, there we waited about 19 or 18 minutes just for Serene to come out of the coat room. Or at least, it felt like that long for Serene to get dressed. All of the other kids except me were complaining that Serene was such a slow person and that we could leave without her.
But the weird thing was that the supervisors wouldn’t let us go! The other students complained as much as they could, but it was no use. Finally, when Serene was ready to go outside we only stayed for like, 4 minutes and then we had to go back in! It was like Serene wasted all our precious recess time! We couldn’t believe it! It was like the whole class was blaming Serene. At the end of the day, I felt pretty bad for Serene that she was getting pushed around by people so I decided that I would ask why Serene was always so slow. Cause, it was clear that she was doing it on purpose.
Chapter 2
After school when I got home, I texted Serene and asked why she was so easy on doing everything (most of the time she’s always mega slow). She replied that she would tell me later at school tomorrow. Hmm…. that was a little weird, I guess that I just have to wait a bit longer until the sun rises again. That night I couldn’t sleep. I could never stop thinking about why Serene always so slow, and eerie possibilities kept on popping up in my mind and I couldn’t ease them away. My brain just couldn’t help but only think that tomorrow would be way different from other days. Something extraordinary was going to happen.
The next day came and I could not hold it. As soon as I was in school, I was tearing up the whole building to find Serene. Alas, I found her at her desk reading a book about Japanese history. I told her how much I thought about her secret at night and told her some of my crazy predictions about it. She laughed after she heard them and said that I was crazy. Then she told me that some of my predictions were kind of true, but she also told me something she had never said before, ‘sleep in a place with huge amounts of sunshine in it and you will get why I always take my time.’ ‘What!?’ I was totally baffled about her reply. ‘Just do it if you want to figure out why everyone says that I’m so slow.’
The good thing was that my seat was right next to the window, so I didn’t have to worry too much about getting to a place with sunlight in it. The bad thing was that what if Ms. Sanden (our teacher) saw me asleep at school? Wouldn’t that be so embarrassing if she yelled at me and all my classmates just stared at me? (That’s what they always do to people in trouble.) So, I also talked Serene about the dangerous teacher. She replied, ‘oh, it’s fine. You can always do it at home next to a big window with lots of sunshine, then flop a mattress underneath you and sleep on it. And of course, never forget about getting a blanket. “if you want.” “Oh, its fine,” I reassured my friend. “But oh! How could I be so dumb! Why didn’t I think about that!?’
Serene giggled again. So, of course we had to wait forever for school to end. Can you imagine all that math and science and social studies you do? Even worse, you have to sit there at your seat for the whole day doing paperwork with masks on? I was totally like going insane every day after school. Finally, when I was at last back at my house I thought of falling asleep right now. then, it would be awkward if my family saw me doing that and they would think that I was going mad. So, I decided to wait for my mom to go downstairs to run on the treadmill then I would try out Serene’s suggestion.
I waited for about 2 hours for my mom to finish her work. then I went in search of the comfiest mattress and thinnest blanket I could find (just in case it was too hot). When I was all set up, I leaped onto the soft, delicate mattress and pulled my blanket up to my shoulders. I also took a little peak at the wide sunny window right next to me just to make sure that there was enough sunlight. I snuggled in and thought that there was nothing better than this. Little did I know that a great adventure was about to be born ahead of me right in my dreams.
Chapter 3
Suddenly, I awoke, expecting to see my family members staring at me, but instead of that, to my amazement, this time it was the eye piercing sun that was staring at me from the baby blue sky! When I looked around, everything looked so...different! “Where am I?” I said to myself, “am I going mad? Am I Just Dreaming? Well, hmmm…. if I am, I guess that maybe I should explore this strange land a bit before I wake up. I really hope that this will not become a nightmare.” When I looked down, I noticed that I was sitting, crisscross applesauce on a large field of…. Sunflowers! I stood up wobbly on my legs. I guess that I haven’t really noticed how long I’ve been sitting on the sharp, pocky, hairs on the sunflowers’ leaves and stems.
But anyway I did some easy yoga poses that I still remember when I was awake and started striding in the field of plants hoping to find something interesting. But I noticed that as I took each step I slowed down a little and that I also felt a little calmer than before. I liked the way it felt so I took each step confidently without hesitating. By the time I reached the end of the field you could call me that I’m “way slower than a sloth”.
But like I said I did not care one bit that with each step I took I had to grow slower. I liked that calm, soothing feeling in my heart. It was like all my heavy, sagging, worries had all floated out of my head. It was the best feeling that I had ever experienced in my life. So, I made up my mind and decided that I would walk as many laps around the field as possible. Around and around I slumped. Never feeling tired or drowsy. It was like I was addicted to walking and I just couldn’t stop myself from not doing it.
I never stopped until I heard this small, tiny sound coming from underneath me. It sounded like someone talking but in some sort of muffled way. I hated to stop in my tracks. But I was also too interested. “W—H—A—T A—R—E Y—O—U S—A—Y—I—N—G?” I rumbled deeply. (Because I was too slow to say anything at a normal pace.) “W—H—Y I—S Y-O-U-R V—O—I—C—E S—O M—U—F—E—L—E—D?” It was no use. The small squeaky voice kept on going on like it was ignoring my tremendous booming voice. So, I had to bend down as low as possible, (and that of course took a long time too.) hoping to hear more clearly of what the voice was saying.
Finally! I could hear what the mystery voice was saying. “I say we stop here Mr. Bitumen, we’ve been trying for decades but here as you see, it’s no use. I say we could destroy it then rebuild a new, and greater one. What do you say, your majesty?” There was utter silence for a moment. Then another creature with a much louder and clearer voice answered, “I do suppose we could try, but if this plan fails, we’ll have to plan a little punishment for you.” “Y-yes, y-your majesty” the small squeaky voice began again. “D-do as you w-wish. B-but I am c-certainly sure t-that t-this plan w-will never f-fail.”
Hmmm…. interesting…. That was weird. I tried to take a closer look at the sunflowers in front of me so I could see who was talking to who. But to my disappointment the sunflowers were way too close together and I couldn’t see what was going on. I was just about to give up when I heard the louder voice speak again. “You must go now. I have other arrangements today. I have heard enough of your ideas. Go back to your office now.” “Thank y-you, y-our majesty,” the squeaky voice stuttered again. “For l-listening to m-my wonderful i-ideas. I d-do sincerely h-hope t-that you h-have a-a great d-day.” There was soft scuffling then, ghostly silence settled down again.
Chapter 4
I never had thought that I would ever in my life wish this, but I did. I wished that I could go back to normal pace again, so now and then every time if I walked, you already know that I would become slower, and a “peaceful feeling” would settle in my mind. But not anymore. When I was still doing my laps around the yellow field, I noticed that with each heavy step I took, the comfortable feeling grew fainter and fainter until I felt no happiness and my worries and weird thoughts began to drift back into my mind again.
I absolutely hated that feeling. It was like all of a sudden, a huge giant hand had flown down onto the ground right beside me, grasped all my happy thoughts away, and then rose back into the air leaving nothing behind except me, a poor little girl with no sense of humor left in her body anymore. I tried to stand up from my crouching position because it was really uncomfortable in that bone cringing position. But as I did it, I felt even more uncomfortable! My body rose so slowly, that when I was halfway standing up my bones felt like they were about to crack.
You might be thinking why my body hurt so much when I was standing up. It’s because, when I lifted my body up from the ground, I had to pause every few moments in the middle of supporting myself to stand. So, I had to stay in that exact awkward position of my every movement. And I’m serious! I could go on forever if I had that light fluffy feeling in my body, and I swear, that I would never ever feel that my bones are hurting or that my muscles might be aching if it were still there.
But anyway, when I finally was up again and started walking again, I felt worse. A sick feeling had spread over me like the flu, but was way more painful than that. I wanted to keep investigating about the strange, new voices. But I was too weak to turn back. I looked all around for a cure to bring back that happy feeling or to make me faster so I didn’t have to be in huge pain each time I moved. So I stood there on spot and scanned my surroundings with my eyes wide open.
Finally! I spotted a small bottle about as big as a child’s palm lying in a small cluster of dead sunflower leaves. Inside you could see this glowing light blue substance bubbling inside the bottle. And even more mysterious there was a little sign right beside it with dark brown letters written on it, “drink me”. And you know that in this state of devastation, I would drink or eat anything if it made me faster or more comfortable. So I strode over as fast as I could, (it took over 40 minutes). Grabbed the bottle, unplugged the cork lid, and emptied the bottle in one big gulp.
Instantly I knew something was changing inside my body. I looked down and to a scream of horror, my feet had turned into bony three toed claws with sharp pointed nails at the end. My whole body felt so fluffy and feathery. I felt like I was becoming shorter and shorter every moment. I kicked and yelled for help, but only a sharp caw came out of my mouth, which was now a straight ugly beak with tiny nostrils on the sides of it. I cawed and cawed for help but it was no use. I had become a crow.
Chapter 5
I peeked at my new glossy wings and felt like crying. But I couldn’t. No tears came to my eyes. But sure, there was one good thing about tuning into a crow, I was not a sloth anymore and I could move at any speed I wanted. I do suppose that being a crow could be a little tiny bit better than having to grow slower all the time. I glanced at the direction of the setting sun and spotted something moving on the ground —- a robin! It was hopping towards me and calling my name. In less than a moment I had recognized who this was, it was my friend Serene! Who else could it be then? Serene was the only one that told me about sleeping in the sun.
“Serene! Serene!” I yelled, “you're finally here!” When we were close enough, we hugged each other so hard that Serene said that she was about to burst. I laughed and let go of her. And we both studied each other for a moment. It was normal to see that as a robin, Serene was two or three times smaller than me. She also had humongous beady black eyes at the sides of her head, like me! (and of course! The Robin, (Serene) who was standing right beside me, also had a fiery orange colored belly). We had a few couple things that were not in common about us but we were perfectly fine with it.
“Did you actually fall asleep in the sun too?” “Yes!” “Wow!” I remarked, “it’s so cool that we get to see each other in our dreams, right?” “I never even thought of sharing this wonderful place with my friends until you asked me about why I was always so slow.” “Oh!” I replied, “Well, you could always tell other friends about this magical place. Like, for instance, Layal, or, Sanna, or, Amya, or,.... You could invite the teachers too if you want. Oh! And of course, you could invite some of your old friends too if you wanted right?”
At these words Serene thought for a moment, “I suppose that we could try to, but I’m not really sure if all of them will do it at the same exact time. Like what if someone comes in too early or too late? It also depends on how much sunlight our friends get and how well they are sleeping or if he or she has siblings or parents that always wake them up from sleeping. So, see? It can be hard but I do think that we could give it a try.”
“It’s fine Serene”, I reassured her, “I’m sure that this plan will work out perfectly. Even if they don’t come at the right time it’s ok. We could try again, deal?” “Deal”. I thought aloud for a moment. “At first when you just arrived at this place did you grow slower too?” “Yea, but thankfully I found the weird blue liquid before I turned unstoppably into a slow monster.” “And what about the strange talking voices behind the sunflowers?” “Oh, and those? You don’t have to worry about them. But I will tell you later, first, let’s enjoy a cool refreshing flight.”
Chapter 6
It was surprising to see how much I knew how to fly. It took only a few tries to get myself to stably lift my body into the air. But after I learned how to fly, it was way easier than anything you could possibly imagine. When we were high enough in the air, we could see all parts of the mysterious kingdom we were in, I thought that something was a bit strange about this place until…. the question suddenly popped out of my head.
“Serene? Does this huge, strange area have a name?” “Yes, the Mini Beasts call it the ‘Slow Motion Kingdom’.” “What!? Who are the Mini Beasts? Are they the mystery talking creatures that hide at the bottom of the sunflowers?” Serene nodded, “yes, but don’t worry about them. They are totally harmless and annoying. They’re always trying to come up with new strategies for their new ‘fancy restaurant’ but every time when they start building another restaurant something goes wrong and they have to start all over again. That’s why you hear them talking about building stuff.”
“But how do you know? We could also help them, right?” “Nah, I’ve tried before. They keep on ignoring me even when I’m staring right at them. They just go on talking forever like they never even knew that a bird about 10 times their size was standing right before them. Whenever I get bored, I always look for them, it’s so easy, just shove the sunflower stems out of the way at the exact spot where you hear them talking, and you’ll see everything they do.”
I tried not to shiver, imagine having someone way larger than you, staring at your every movement you make without realizing it. “Ooooky, thanks for your answer, let’s not talk about this anymore, it makes me feel a bit uncomfortable, let’s talk about something else that won’t include us spying on people, at least I think that a different topic will make me feel better.” Serene shrugged, “sure, but I can’t come up with anything else to discuss, and I’m sort of getting bored now. You might be surprised but I kinda want to leave, I’m not being mean, but I really do mean it.”
At first, I thought that Serene actually meant that she didn’t want to be with me. But when I read her facial expression, I knew that she did not really mean it and that she meant that she wanted to return back to normal human society. You can never go wrong with Serene’s facial expression. To be honest, I kinda agreed to Serene’s opinion. At first, I had tried to push away that stray thought.
But after Serene said that she wanted to leave, that fatigued feeling also began to sink into my brain. Then, I felt like I wanted to leave too. Also, was it just me? Or was it getting hotter every moment? Even worse, with these big black feathers covering my whole body, it felt like I was standing outside on a boiling hot summer day wrapped in 100 layers of thick wool blankets and being forced to stand in the position all day.
For another reason, I have to admit that it was pretty boring, just staying in one position with nothing good to talk about, the only thing we could really do was flap our wings once in a while whenever we felt like we were about to fall. “Ok, sure,” I replied, “but then, how do we make ourselves wake up?” “Ah, that’s what I was thinking about.’’ Serene remarked.
Chapter 7
“The thing is that we have to make ourselves sneeze in order to wake up from this dream. Common, let’s land first, then I’ll tell you everything we need to do, we can settle on the best sunflowers we can find when we’re about to land.’’ But when Serene saw my expression, she quickly added, “It's ok, I think that at least one sunflower can hold your weight.”
Once we landed safely on two of the healthiest sunflowers we could find, (it was really hard to find a sunflower big enough for me to stand on since I was way too big to fit on the other normal-sized sunflowers. But we finally managed to spot one that I could barely stand on.) Serene told me that it would be very hard to make ourselves sneeze because we were still in bird form. She said that all we had to do was to keep our eyes peeled for a type of small, white, fuzzy balls sticking to the stems of the sunflowers.
If we smelled it, it would make us sneeze and then we would wake up. But Serene also gave a warning, she said that sometimes the fuzzy balls might sting, so she said only to smell it. She also said that the soft balls were really rare in hot places and its effect can only work once on living creatures. So once everything was already planned out, I and Serene set off on the yellow field of flowers in search of our need. We examined and searched everywhere for at least a glimpse of the fuzzy balls Serene had described. But we couldn’t find them anywhere on all of the sunflowers we’ve inspected!
Until……… “Serene! Look! Are these the things you told me to look for!? I think this might be it! Come see!” Even though my friend was far away from me I could see her distant face brightening up and filling up with hope. “Yay!” She called back out to me, “I am most certain that we will be saved! Hurray!” And then in less than a second she was up in the air, the ends of her scaly feet brushing the golden tips of the sunflower petals, and her face full of joy. When my friend landed beside me, she threw her light grey wings around me and we both gave each other a big squeeze. Then, Serene peeked at the white fuzzy balls I spotted on one particularly orange sunflower and confirmed that those were the right balls we needed.
Once we calmed down a little from all the excitement, we both took a small sniff where the fuzzy balls were. Before I could even react to the smell of the balls my mouth was open, my nose felt all stuffy, and my eyes started to close…. ‘‘Atcho!’’ Then I felt myself jump off something soft and squishy. I looked down in confusion and discovered that I was looking down at my mattress which I had slept on. Suddenly, I heard my Ipad’s notification bell ringing, it must be a friend! I ran over to my charging device and opened it. And the first thing I saw was a text message from Serene that read, ‘‘That was totally the best experience ever.’’ ‘‘Totally,’’ I replied.
The next day at school I and Serene told as many people as we could about our dream we had together. But the surprising thing was that nobody believed us except our other friend Layal! We were a bit shocked at other peoples’ reactions but afterwards we knew that it was normal. After all nobody did fly into that mysterious land of the Slow Motion Kingdom by themselves, or did they.
The Collide of the Gems
By Silvana Sabzevari & Charlotte Hull
Prologue
“Ahhh!” Screamed Tara “What a harrowing nightmare!” Tara woke up in her room on a sunny June morning, she & her family lived in Hawaii, right next to the beach. Tara had dark brown hair & hazel eyes. “I’m going to Bernadette’s.” She told her parents. She headed towards Bernadette's house. She knocked on the door & Bernadette opened it. “I’m going to the beach, do you wanna come?” “I want to come too!” Said Bernadette, she had dirty blonde hair & blue eyes. “Then let’s go! Last one there’s a rotten egg!” Tara yelled.
“Oh you’re on Tara!” screamed Bernadette. She grabbed her beach stuff from her closet. She slammed the door & followed Tara to the beach.
The girls ran towards the beach; once they were there they decided to play volleyball, until the sun shone on a pile of glimmering golden sand & the girls thought there was treasure buried beneath the sand.
They began to dig the deepest hole ever. By the time they’d finished their hole it was long past their tea time. But they didn't really mind because they were having so much fun. When they had finished the hole it was about three feet higher than sixteen year old Bernadette and a lot higher than thirteen year old Tara. Now that they had done the hard part of digging the hole, they could have the fun of climbing out of it! Living near the beach meant that they had the freedom of the sand anytime. The two girls slowly began to climb out of their hole. It shouldn't have been the hardest thing to climb but the sand kept slipping out from under their hands and feet. It was a Saturday & it was already evening and the girls were content because they had a summer vacation to look forward to.
Bernadette was the better climber of the two and was finding it a little easier to climb their hole than Tara was. As she moved her hand upwards she caught a hold of a more sturdy piece of sand. Or at least she thought it was sturdy, and she thought it was sand. It wasn't. She realised that it was a piece of paper just as it slipped. She fell down to the bottom of the hole again. Tara was already at the bottom because she had slipped a few seconds earlier. “Tara, look what I found! It's a piece of paper!”, cried Bernadette. “Wow! a piece of paper. Cool. I wish it had been me that had found it. Wow.” Tara said sarcastically. “Oh come on. It's all yellow and frayed at the edges. It has to be something interesting, it just has to be!” Bernadette replied stubbornly. “Well unroll it. I must admit it does look exciting.” Said Tara beginning to feel excited. “Maybe it’s a map to a hidden treasure!” “That would be really awesome!” Neither girl spoke for a moment because both were hoping that the paper was something exciting. Bernadette was having a hard time unrolling it for it was an old paper and the frayed edges had folded into one another. “Got it!”. Bernadette exclaimed finally. On the paper it was split into three sections. This was what the first one looked like:
The second part was a map of the world with pictures of multiple gems all over it. The final part was a riddle. It went like this:
These jewels are hidden,
hidden well,
On top of a mountain
or at the bottom of a well
But find them quickly,
fast please,
For you’re not the only one that wants it; it will not be easy,
so you must find it or pay the fees,
You are the good and must fight the Queen,
So find the jewels before the DEMON . . .
For a moment neither girl moved. “Well, what should we do?” Asked Bernadette. Then Tara suddenly burst out loudly “No way! This is meant to be! We were MEANT to find it! There is no question about what we are supposed to do with it! We have to follow the map and find the gems before the demon, whoever she is.” “Gee, cool it. I know we have to do this, but what I meant was where should we start?” Asked Bernadette “Well maybe we could . . .” Tara wasn’t able to finish her sentence when the paper became so hot that it burned Bernadette’s hands and made her drop the paper on the floor. It became red and black and there, in the middle of the paper the most horrible, scariest thing that either girl had ever seen before. It was a demon. A demon QUEEN. It had a face that was crumbling and burning. It was becoming ash before the girls’ eyes. She had red horns and a tail. Between the horns an electric crown was burning. “Don’t.” It hissed. Its voice was piercing and yet quiet. It sounded like something between a hiss and crumble. It was like a tremor or an earthquake. It sounded like a volcano erupting. It was awful. “No. You won’t start anywhere. Those gems are MINE. And no one is going to take them away from me. I have demons in the human world, who are going to find them for me as I cannot leave demon land. They are also going to stop you. BOTH of you. I know all about you. But you know nothing about me, do you? Well, you are only children so you will never stop me. For this reason I will tell you a bit about me. I am the queen DEMON I live in demon land. I am queen because I am so powerful. But my power can work against me. I am so powerful I can’t leave demon land to do evil things. But with the power of these gems I could triple my powers and enter the human world without any problems at all. But what would you do with them, hey? Help my dear sister queen Angel? Try to make the world a better place? Well I don’t buy it, if I can get a hold of those jewels then the world will fall into darkness for eternity and I’ll do bad things with my friends just like I want to. And best of all, everyone will know me as the bad guy and will be afraid of me and my friends. Do you see the picture? Those jewels are MINE and I will do absolutely ANYTHING to get them. So unless you would like to pay a big price, get yourselves into trouble and danger, then stay RIGHT out of my way. Or I WILL get back at you. Nice talking to you but I’ve wasted enough time on you brats. I have places to go and things to do. Especially BAD things. Have a bad day.”
Neither girl said anything. They were both petrified and stuck at the spot.
Chapter 1 - The Trip
It was a peaceful Friday afternoon as the clock turned 12. The students of Equineme Astrain’s school dashed out the door. Tara had graduated from 8th grade & Bernadette had graduated from 10th grade. Later on the bus, the 2 were so excited for their summer. “I can’t wait to go all around the world over the summer.” Bernadette squealed. “I know, right!” Tara replied, “& we can look for the gems along the way.” “Wait you brought the map home?” Bernadette questioned. “What else was I supposed to do!? Let someone else find it?” “I guess you’re right,” Bernadette said.
At Bernadette’s house, Tara was helping her pack. “I can’t believe you haven't finished packing, I finished packing weeks ago.” Bernadette glanced at her. “I just haven’t had the time.” she modestly admitted. “Well anyways,” Tara interrupted, “Mom says first we’re going to the U.S & we’re visiting Washington DC, San Francisco, New york, Chicago & Los Angeles. Then we’re going to Canada, & we’ll visit Toronto, Montreal, Edmonton, Calgary, Victoria, & Vancouver. Then we’ll go to Cuba & Puerto Rico, before heading to South America to visit the Amazon rainforest & Machu Picchu, finally we’ll go to Africa & go on lots of safaris. After that, we'll fly over to Oceanic & explore its tropical islands. Then in August we'll visit Beijing, China & we’ll also go to Europe.” “What about the pearl?” Bernadette jumped to question. “Oh the Bermuda Triangle is around Cuba & Puerto Rico according to my phone,” she stood up. “Come on, we'll find those gem’s & we’ll have a blast doing it!”
The girl’s were at the airport with their parents. First they were going to go to Los Angeles. They checked into their first class seats on the plane. Once onboard the plane, the 2 buckled up their seatbelts. They were going to have a long 5 hour flight.
After getting off the plane, the 2 girls & their families headed to their 5 star hotel. Later their parents announced that they would be going to Hollywood the next day. Tara squealed & almost fainted, the 2 of them were so excited.
The next day the girls & their families rented a limo. After 45 minutes they arrived. At first the girls couldn’t believe their eyes; they could hardly see with all the glowing, shimmering, golden, shining light. The sun warmed it up to the perfect temperature; the sun's glow made it seem all like gold. Hundreds of people crowded the beautiful place. Tara swung the door open & hopped out. “Hollywood, here I come!” Tara shrieked at the top of her lungs. She ran into the crowded Paparazzi. “Tara wait!” yelled her mom. “You should know how Tara is by now.” Tara’s dad said as he fell down laughing. “I’ll go get Tara.” Bernadette said to her mom. “Ok call me in an hour for lunch.” Her mom said. Bernadette didn’t need to hesitate for another second, she dashed after Tara in the crowded streets. “Oh wait Bernadette, remember our talk about stranger danger… I don’t think she heard me.” Her dad sighed.
Bernadette’s eyes glanced around the crowded city to find Tara. The sun's glare & the shiny glowing golden everything did not help. She reached in her purse & pulled out her sunglasses & slid them on, she reached back to her purse & zipped it up. “Ughh, there could be a thousand girls that could look like Tara.” she thought to herself. “Think me, if I were a little 13 year old obsessed with Hollywood, Acting, Writing & Fashion Designing, where would I go?”, she thought. The idea immediately popped into Bernadette’s head. “Of course.” Bernadette proclaimed. She rushed through the crowds & lines of people in the area. After what felt like hours of searching, but only 7 minutes of running, Bernadette’s mouth hung agape as she saw Tara in a fancy salon in a big comfy red chair getting sprinkled with blush powder on her cheeks. She was with the famous directors, actresses, screenplay writers, fashion designers & a make up team.
She slowly crept past security, she slowly held open the door & jumped in & leaned to the right side of the wall. The bell chimed as the door shut behind her. She shuddered. “Hi Bernadette.” Waved Tara. Everyone turned their heads & glanced at her, several people glared. “Guys I’d like to Introduce you to my friend Bernadette.” Tara Announced. The others gave her a small smile. Bernadette slowly walked towards Tara. “How the heck did you even get here?” She questioned. “Well, I’m in Hollywood, why not star in a famous movie.” Tara beamed. “Um, maybe to see the sights & look around & like buy overpriced souvenirs.” Bernadette responded annoyed. “Don’t be jealous, I made the audition to a famous movie & you didn’t.” “We’re leaving Los Angeles tomorrow, the filming will take weeks.” Bernadette complained. “Oh I just have a cameo.” Tara proclaimed. “It’ll just take several minutes. Since I don’t want money at this age they’re willing to pay me with this opal that the director got when he won an Oscar.” A sly smile grew on Bernadette’s face.
After Tara’s cameo, she walked towards Bernadette with her brand new Opal. They headed back to their parents. “So did you girls have fun?” Asked Tara’s mom. “Yeah!” Tara pulled out her hand sized opal from her pocket. “I starred in a cameo for a universal film & got paid by this cool opal.” “That certainly is huge.” Said her dad, glancing at the size of the thing. His reflection showed in the opal. A silent soft ominous tone played as he gazed into the opal. The part where light was shining switched to the part that didn’t have light reflecting on it. The opal whispered that so quietly that only Tara’s dad could hear. He shuddered. “There is definitely something with that opal.” They sat down on the picnic table. Tara laid down her opal beside her on the table. She began her pizza. In the background something or someone was cackling…
Chapter 2 - Time Ticks
The next day, Tara & Bernadette hopped on their flight to San francisco. Bernadette was next to the isle while tara was beside the window. “Seriously!” Tara crossed her arms & glared down. “Why do we have to go to San Francisco, there is literally nothing there its just this cold, windy, cloudy dull boring place with a dumb bridge! I don’t see why we just couldn’t have stayed in Los Angeles for a few more days.” “Ouch” Bernadette muttered checking on Tara.
Unfortunately unlike the last plane it didn’t have a mini TV, and Tara got bored. She looked down at her feet & reached for her glittery pink & gold sequin covered backpack. She grabbed it by its silver handle & sat it in her lap, she turned it around so she could unzip it. She carefully searched for the scroll with the info of the gems. Tara’s eyes widened as she found the paper. She carefully pulled it out of the backpack & slowly unraveled it. She zipped her backpack back up & dropped it where it came from, she picked up her opal, which was easily accessible in the cup holder to her right, she slurped the ice tea that was currently in her lap. “Lets see if we can find out more about the opal.” Tara whispered to Bernadette. Bernadette turned towards her.
Tara looked for a place for info on the opal. Tara got the idea to push the piece of paper where it wrote the location & power of the Opal. To their surprise, the words in the scroll unraveled, all the letters began rearranging themselves across the page, some of the characters ink were even bending into new shapes.
It read: The Opal is known for its power of Imagination, which makes sense cause it’s location is the one place in the world with more imagination than any place. The ability allows the user to imagine themselves or any object in the world to do, say, or become anything, therefore it has an immense amount of power. But hold up, here’s the catch, you can only imagine doing one thing at a time. The owner of this jewel must have a mind full of wonder, adventuring & creativity. Make sure this jewel or any others for that matter don’t fall into the wrong hands.
Tara rolled the scroll back up & placed it in her cup holder along with the opal & her iced tea. “Wow.” Bernadette said. “I think you’re made for that thing.” “Let’s just say I am a bit random.” she chuckled. “I don’t think there’s anyone even close to more random than you.” Bernadette chuckled a bit annoyed at her randomness. “Hey, me being chaotic & random can be a good thing, just think about it, I wouldn’t have found the opal if it wasn’t for my random self to wander away & somehow get a cameo for a movie randomly.”
All of a sudden the plane hit a bump in the air. The two of them bounced up. The seatbelt sign immediately flashed on. Tara & Bernadette tightened their seatbelts. Tara held onto her ice tea & the scroll along with the Opal tightly in her lap, paralized with fear. Bernadette hung onto her chair for her life. It was about to get a whole lot more bumpy.
“Mom! Dad!” Bernadette yelled in fear. “Are you OK?! What’s going on_-!?” A huge bump interrupted Bernadette's sentence. The plane swooped down a few dozen meters & soared back up vertically at whopping speeds.
The lights began to flicker & the bumps became more & more terrifying, it was like a scary crazy amusement park ride Tara adored to ride. But this one swooped at several hundred feet, with huge electrical sounds & was suspended several thousand feet in the air. Tara looked around, but they were the only two people on the plane. The announcement speaker turned on. “Hello ladies & gentlemen, we appear to have some minor turbulence.” “Minor!” Bernadette yelled. “The plane is breaking & crashing!” Tara nodded in agreement. “We advise to keep your seat belts on at all times. “Do we have another option!?” Growled Tara. “Please remain seated for the given time.” There was a huge moment of silence. “Eternity.” The speakers boomed. “Hand over the Opal to the demon Queen.” Boomed another voice. “It’s the henchman!” Bernadette yelled in shock. “I always wanted to star in a superhero movie.” Beamed Tara. Bernadette slapped her face in frustration.
Tara grabbed the opal. “If I did find this Opal it means it’s my owner.” Tara announced. “Opal, make this plane stop its turbulence. Oh wait, I mean be in the perfectly good condition it was before it slowly started to crumble.” The opal shimmered & with that the plane magically automatically drove itself. “Hey Tara, since the opal is busy doing that, we don’t have any superpowers to help us fight these demons that are approaching us right as I speak!” “Run!” Tara yelled as the 2 unbuckled their seatbelts & ran away. The demons followed them.
“Don’t forget to grab the Opal.” Bernadette remembered. “Right!” Tara dashed back to her seat & grabbed the opal & dashed back to Bernadette who was almost 12 meters ahead. “Don’t forget to grab the map of how this all started!” Bernadette remembered. Tara dashed back & grabbed the scroll, she escaped the demons by a centimeter. Bernadette was now 25 meters ahead of her, Tara dashed back to her. “Oh wait no! I forgot!” Tara dashed back past the confused demons & grabbed her ice tea, & ran past the demons again & was ahead of Bernadette. Panting, she tried to keep up with Bernadette. “Why did you go back for ice tea!?” Demanded Bernadette. “Hey don’t waste good ice tea. Some people dream of having ice tea.” Tara protested. “I still can’t believe you’re risking your life for a half empty bottle of ice tea from the west jet first class menu.” “It’s more than half full, it has ⅔’s left.” “I wasn’t being specific Tara.” Bernadette panted as they ran into the economy aisle.
“Uh oh.” Tara said, Their heels came to a stop rubbing against the floor. They were out of plane to run. “We’re trapped!” Exclaimed Bernadette. “We have to jump!” Tara pulled the emergency exit button. “On 3, 1, 2.” “3!” Bernadette interrupted. The 2 held hands & jumped. Before the 2 demon henchman could follow them. Tara commanded the Opal to stop preventing the plane from crashing & instead find a way to save her & Bernadette from plummeting to their doom. The 2 ended up in a hot air balloon, & without the opal’s help the plane began to crash once more.
“Seriously!” Bernadette complained. “A hot air balloon. We’re in the stratosphere, it's negative celsius up here, we’ll only stay a float for a few minutes.” “I should’ve been more specific.” Admitted Tara, “still better than nothing, high five.” She held out her hand. “Don’t leave me hanging.” “Ughh oh.” Gulped Bernadette, “any ideas?” she asked. Tara slurped her ice tea & shook her head. “Tara!” She yelled, she gagged on her ice tea “we are in a life & death situation, at least pay attention.” In frustration she snatched Tara’s ice tea & yeeted it away.
For Tara everything appeared in slow motion. She leaned on the edge of the hot air balloon watching her precious ice tea go away. “My ice tea!” She yelled in a deep voice in slow motion. The ice tea fell from the sky & landed on a water tower, which then exploded.
“What was in that ice tea?” Bernadette asked. Due to the cold stratosphere the flame perished & the hot air balloon began to plummet. Bernadette screamed as she felt like throwing up each second she plummeted. “Mary Poppins!” Chuckled Tara as she swooped down & grabbed Bernadette’s arm. “This isn’t really original.” “Hmm..” Tara thought, “Let me think of something.” There was a long pause of silence. “Aaa! I got it!” Announced Tara. “Hey Opal conjure Bus G for us to ride in!” She exclaimed. “Oh no.” Bernadette gulped. “Not Bus G!”
The 2 of them arrived on the magical Bus G.” Welcome to Bus G!” Screamed the Bus Driver. “This is a magic bus!” She yelled. “Didn’t school end like yesterday.” Bernadette crossed her arms. “Well ladies & gentlemen since the bus’s wings grew wings & flew away, we’re going to fall down several hundred feet in the air destroying our bus when we land, but since this is a magic bus we won’t die! Let me press the fall button first.” “Wait what!” Yelled Bernadette. Tara fell down, she was too busy laughing to notice what was actually going on.
The bus crashed & when it did all the windows were shattered & the bus was full of huge dents. “Ok thank you bye!” Tara waved bye to the bus driver. Bruised, she hopped out of the bus. Slowly stuttering & stammering, paralyzed in shock of what just happened, Bernadette crept out of the bus behind Tara.
Although it was a magic bus, Tara & Bernadette didn’t land in San Francisco or Back in Los Angeles or in Hawaii. Everything wasn’t normal again at all, but since it was indeed a “magic bus” once they were a few meters away from the bus they felt a small tremor, the dirt began to slowly crumple. The dirt cracked up into small grains of sand. The crows, bugs & wildlife began scattering away. The magic bus exploded into ashes covering Bernadette & Tara’s hair with ash. The rest of the ash mixed with the dirt & on an unrelated note the two girls fell into the ocean now beneath them.
Tara immediately resurfaced. She immediately searched for Bernadette. She submerged from the water beside Tara gasping for air. “What the heck?!” Bernadette questioned. “An ocean!” Tara pulled out the Opal & the scroll/map. “Surprisingly the scroll is waterproof.” Tara put them back in her pocket. “Come on, we have to get to solid ground.” Bernadette interrupted. “Over there!” Tara pointed at a small island in the distance. “It’ll do for now.” Bernadette said. They began to swim towards the island. AFter a few dozen meters Bernadette sighed. “I’m too tired.” She complained, “come on we’re almost there.” Bernadette did a starfish on the water so she wouldn’t sink. “If you can’t make it I will & I’ll bring you too.” She dragged Bernadette & continued to swim, her arms & legs ached, the average individual would give up, but Tara was a pro swimmer, she had been doing lifeguard training & advanced swimming for as long as she could remember. Once they were there, they climbed onto this building which was the island, except it looked like a dome at the top of a fancy tower. It was one of those things that had a bridge surrounding the top of the tower, they glanced at the strange looking dome. “Where are we?” She asked. “Somewhere else duh?” Tara responded. “MAybe there’s someone inside that we could ask for help on how to get back home. Do we have our phones?” Tara shook her head. “Ok let’s just focus on getting inside but how could we.” Tara used the opal to imagine a boulder to smash the dome. “That works.” She said. They jumped in. They were on this bridge surrounding the actual building, they walked around the bridge & finally saw a door with a sign hung on the door. It looked like this:
These jewels are hidden,
hidden well,
On top of a mountain
or at the bottom of a well
But find them quickly,
fast please,
For you’re not the only one that wants it; it will not be easy,
so you must find it or pay the fees,
You are the good and must fight the Queen,
So find the jewels before the DEMON . . .
For a moment neither girl moved. “Well, what should we do?” Asked Bernadette. Then Tara suddenly burst out loudly “No way! This is meant to be! We were MEANT to find it! There is no question about what we are supposed to do with it! We have to follow the map and find the gems before the demon, whoever she is.” “Gee, cool it. I know we have to do this, but what I meant was where should we start?” Asked Bernadette “Well maybe we could . . .” Tara wasn’t able to finish her sentence when the paper became so hot that it burned Bernadette’s hands and made her drop the paper on the floor. It became red and black and there, in the middle of the paper the most horrible, scariest thing that either girl had ever seen before. It was a demon. A demon QUEEN. It had a face that was crumbling and burning. It was becoming ash before the girls’ eyes. She had red horns and a tail. Between the horns an electric crown was burning. “Don’t.” It hissed. Its voice was piercing and yet quiet. It sounded like something between a hiss and crumble. It was like a tremor or an earthquake. It sounded like a volcano erupting. It was awful. “No. You won’t start anywhere. Those gems are MINE. And no one is going to take them away from me. I have demons in the human world, who are going to find them for me as I cannot leave demon land. They are also going to stop you. BOTH of you. I know all about you. But you know nothing about me, do you? Well, you are only children so you will never stop me. For this reason I will tell you a bit about me. I am the queen DEMON I live in demon land. I am queen because I am so powerful. But my power can work against me. I am so powerful I can’t leave demon land to do evil things. But with the power of these gems I could triple my powers and enter the human world without any problems at all. But what would you do with them, hey? Help my dear sister queen Angel? Try to make the world a better place? Well I don’t buy it, if I can get a hold of those jewels then the world will fall into darkness for eternity and I’ll do bad things with my friends just like I want to. And best of all, everyone will know me as the bad guy and will be afraid of me and my friends. Do you see the picture? Those jewels are MINE and I will do absolutely ANYTHING to get them. So unless you would like to pay a big price, get yourselves into trouble and danger, then stay RIGHT out of my way. Or I WILL get back at you. Nice talking to you but I’ve wasted enough time on you brats. I have places to go and things to do. Especially BAD things. Have a bad day.”
Neither girl said anything. They were both petrified and stuck at the spot.
Chapter 1 - The Trip
It was a peaceful Friday afternoon as the clock turned 12. The students of Equineme Astrain’s school dashed out the door. Tara had graduated from 8th grade & Bernadette had graduated from 10th grade. Later on the bus, the 2 were so excited for their summer. “I can’t wait to go all around the world over the summer.” Bernadette squealed. “I know, right!” Tara replied, “& we can look for the gems along the way.” “Wait you brought the map home?” Bernadette questioned. “What else was I supposed to do!? Let someone else find it?” “I guess you’re right,” Bernadette said.
At Bernadette’s house, Tara was helping her pack. “I can’t believe you haven't finished packing, I finished packing weeks ago.” Bernadette glanced at her. “I just haven’t had the time.” she modestly admitted. “Well anyways,” Tara interrupted, “Mom says first we’re going to the U.S & we’re visiting Washington DC, San Francisco, New york, Chicago & Los Angeles. Then we’re going to Canada, & we’ll visit Toronto, Montreal, Edmonton, Calgary, Victoria, & Vancouver. Then we’ll go to Cuba & Puerto Rico, before heading to South America to visit the Amazon rainforest & Machu Picchu, finally we’ll go to Africa & go on lots of safaris. After that, we'll fly over to Oceanic & explore its tropical islands. Then in August we'll visit Beijing, China & we’ll also go to Europe.” “What about the pearl?” Bernadette jumped to question. “Oh the Bermuda Triangle is around Cuba & Puerto Rico according to my phone,” she stood up. “Come on, we'll find those gem’s & we’ll have a blast doing it!”
The girl’s were at the airport with their parents. First they were going to go to Los Angeles. They checked into their first class seats on the plane. Once onboard the plane, the 2 buckled up their seatbelts. They were going to have a long 5 hour flight.
After getting off the plane, the 2 girls & their families headed to their 5 star hotel. Later their parents announced that they would be going to Hollywood the next day. Tara squealed & almost fainted, the 2 of them were so excited.
The next day the girls & their families rented a limo. After 45 minutes they arrived. At first the girls couldn’t believe their eyes; they could hardly see with all the glowing, shimmering, golden, shining light. The sun warmed it up to the perfect temperature; the sun's glow made it seem all like gold. Hundreds of people crowded the beautiful place. Tara swung the door open & hopped out. “Hollywood, here I come!” Tara shrieked at the top of her lungs. She ran into the crowded Paparazzi. “Tara wait!” yelled her mom. “You should know how Tara is by now.” Tara’s dad said as he fell down laughing. “I’ll go get Tara.” Bernadette said to her mom. “Ok call me in an hour for lunch.” Her mom said. Bernadette didn’t need to hesitate for another second, she dashed after Tara in the crowded streets. “Oh wait Bernadette, remember our talk about stranger danger… I don’t think she heard me.” Her dad sighed.
Bernadette’s eyes glanced around the crowded city to find Tara. The sun's glare & the shiny glowing golden everything did not help. She reached in her purse & pulled out her sunglasses & slid them on, she reached back to her purse & zipped it up. “Ughh, there could be a thousand girls that could look like Tara.” she thought to herself. “Think me, if I were a little 13 year old obsessed with Hollywood, Acting, Writing & Fashion Designing, where would I go?”, she thought. The idea immediately popped into Bernadette’s head. “Of course.” Bernadette proclaimed. She rushed through the crowds & lines of people in the area. After what felt like hours of searching, but only 7 minutes of running, Bernadette’s mouth hung agape as she saw Tara in a fancy salon in a big comfy red chair getting sprinkled with blush powder on her cheeks. She was with the famous directors, actresses, screenplay writers, fashion designers & a make up team.
She slowly crept past security, she slowly held open the door & jumped in & leaned to the right side of the wall. The bell chimed as the door shut behind her. She shuddered. “Hi Bernadette.” Waved Tara. Everyone turned their heads & glanced at her, several people glared. “Guys I’d like to Introduce you to my friend Bernadette.” Tara Announced. The others gave her a small smile. Bernadette slowly walked towards Tara. “How the heck did you even get here?” She questioned. “Well, I’m in Hollywood, why not star in a famous movie.” Tara beamed. “Um, maybe to see the sights & look around & like buy overpriced souvenirs.” Bernadette responded annoyed. “Don’t be jealous, I made the audition to a famous movie & you didn’t.” “We’re leaving Los Angeles tomorrow, the filming will take weeks.” Bernadette complained. “Oh I just have a cameo.” Tara proclaimed. “It’ll just take several minutes. Since I don’t want money at this age they’re willing to pay me with this opal that the director got when he won an Oscar.” A sly smile grew on Bernadette’s face.
After Tara’s cameo, she walked towards Bernadette with her brand new Opal. They headed back to their parents. “So did you girls have fun?” Asked Tara’s mom. “Yeah!” Tara pulled out her hand sized opal from her pocket. “I starred in a cameo for a universal film & got paid by this cool opal.” “That certainly is huge.” Said her dad, glancing at the size of the thing. His reflection showed in the opal. A silent soft ominous tone played as he gazed into the opal. The part where light was shining switched to the part that didn’t have light reflecting on it. The opal whispered that so quietly that only Tara’s dad could hear. He shuddered. “There is definitely something with that opal.” They sat down on the picnic table. Tara laid down her opal beside her on the table. She began her pizza. In the background something or someone was cackling…
Chapter 2 - Time Ticks
The next day, Tara & Bernadette hopped on their flight to San francisco. Bernadette was next to the isle while tara was beside the window. “Seriously!” Tara crossed her arms & glared down. “Why do we have to go to San Francisco, there is literally nothing there its just this cold, windy, cloudy dull boring place with a dumb bridge! I don’t see why we just couldn’t have stayed in Los Angeles for a few more days.” “Ouch” Bernadette muttered checking on Tara.
Unfortunately unlike the last plane it didn’t have a mini TV, and Tara got bored. She looked down at her feet & reached for her glittery pink & gold sequin covered backpack. She grabbed it by its silver handle & sat it in her lap, she turned it around so she could unzip it. She carefully searched for the scroll with the info of the gems. Tara’s eyes widened as she found the paper. She carefully pulled it out of the backpack & slowly unraveled it. She zipped her backpack back up & dropped it where it came from, she picked up her opal, which was easily accessible in the cup holder to her right, she slurped the ice tea that was currently in her lap. “Lets see if we can find out more about the opal.” Tara whispered to Bernadette. Bernadette turned towards her.
Tara looked for a place for info on the opal. Tara got the idea to push the piece of paper where it wrote the location & power of the Opal. To their surprise, the words in the scroll unraveled, all the letters began rearranging themselves across the page, some of the characters ink were even bending into new shapes.
It read: The Opal is known for its power of Imagination, which makes sense cause it’s location is the one place in the world with more imagination than any place. The ability allows the user to imagine themselves or any object in the world to do, say, or become anything, therefore it has an immense amount of power. But hold up, here’s the catch, you can only imagine doing one thing at a time. The owner of this jewel must have a mind full of wonder, adventuring & creativity. Make sure this jewel or any others for that matter don’t fall into the wrong hands.
Tara rolled the scroll back up & placed it in her cup holder along with the opal & her iced tea. “Wow.” Bernadette said. “I think you’re made for that thing.” “Let’s just say I am a bit random.” she chuckled. “I don’t think there’s anyone even close to more random than you.” Bernadette chuckled a bit annoyed at her randomness. “Hey, me being chaotic & random can be a good thing, just think about it, I wouldn’t have found the opal if it wasn’t for my random self to wander away & somehow get a cameo for a movie randomly.”
All of a sudden the plane hit a bump in the air. The two of them bounced up. The seatbelt sign immediately flashed on. Tara & Bernadette tightened their seatbelts. Tara held onto her ice tea & the scroll along with the Opal tightly in her lap, paralized with fear. Bernadette hung onto her chair for her life. It was about to get a whole lot more bumpy.
“Mom! Dad!” Bernadette yelled in fear. “Are you OK?! What’s going on_-!?” A huge bump interrupted Bernadette's sentence. The plane swooped down a few dozen meters & soared back up vertically at whopping speeds.
The lights began to flicker & the bumps became more & more terrifying, it was like a scary crazy amusement park ride Tara adored to ride. But this one swooped at several hundred feet, with huge electrical sounds & was suspended several thousand feet in the air. Tara looked around, but they were the only two people on the plane. The announcement speaker turned on. “Hello ladies & gentlemen, we appear to have some minor turbulence.” “Minor!” Bernadette yelled. “The plane is breaking & crashing!” Tara nodded in agreement. “We advise to keep your seat belts on at all times. “Do we have another option!?” Growled Tara. “Please remain seated for the given time.” There was a huge moment of silence. “Eternity.” The speakers boomed. “Hand over the Opal to the demon Queen.” Boomed another voice. “It’s the henchman!” Bernadette yelled in shock. “I always wanted to star in a superhero movie.” Beamed Tara. Bernadette slapped her face in frustration.
Tara grabbed the opal. “If I did find this Opal it means it’s my owner.” Tara announced. “Opal, make this plane stop its turbulence. Oh wait, I mean be in the perfectly good condition it was before it slowly started to crumble.” The opal shimmered & with that the plane magically automatically drove itself. “Hey Tara, since the opal is busy doing that, we don’t have any superpowers to help us fight these demons that are approaching us right as I speak!” “Run!” Tara yelled as the 2 unbuckled their seatbelts & ran away. The demons followed them.
“Don’t forget to grab the Opal.” Bernadette remembered. “Right!” Tara dashed back to her seat & grabbed the opal & dashed back to Bernadette who was almost 12 meters ahead. “Don’t forget to grab the map of how this all started!” Bernadette remembered. Tara dashed back & grabbed the scroll, she escaped the demons by a centimeter. Bernadette was now 25 meters ahead of her, Tara dashed back to her. “Oh wait no! I forgot!” Tara dashed back past the confused demons & grabbed her ice tea, & ran past the demons again & was ahead of Bernadette. Panting, she tried to keep up with Bernadette. “Why did you go back for ice tea!?” Demanded Bernadette. “Hey don’t waste good ice tea. Some people dream of having ice tea.” Tara protested. “I still can’t believe you’re risking your life for a half empty bottle of ice tea from the west jet first class menu.” “It’s more than half full, it has ⅔’s left.” “I wasn’t being specific Tara.” Bernadette panted as they ran into the economy aisle.
“Uh oh.” Tara said, Their heels came to a stop rubbing against the floor. They were out of plane to run. “We’re trapped!” Exclaimed Bernadette. “We have to jump!” Tara pulled the emergency exit button. “On 3, 1, 2.” “3!” Bernadette interrupted. The 2 held hands & jumped. Before the 2 demon henchman could follow them. Tara commanded the Opal to stop preventing the plane from crashing & instead find a way to save her & Bernadette from plummeting to their doom. The 2 ended up in a hot air balloon, & without the opal’s help the plane began to crash once more.
“Seriously!” Bernadette complained. “A hot air balloon. We’re in the stratosphere, it's negative celsius up here, we’ll only stay a float for a few minutes.” “I should’ve been more specific.” Admitted Tara, “still better than nothing, high five.” She held out her hand. “Don’t leave me hanging.” “Ughh oh.” Gulped Bernadette, “any ideas?” she asked. Tara slurped her ice tea & shook her head. “Tara!” She yelled, she gagged on her ice tea “we are in a life & death situation, at least pay attention.” In frustration she snatched Tara’s ice tea & yeeted it away.
For Tara everything appeared in slow motion. She leaned on the edge of the hot air balloon watching her precious ice tea go away. “My ice tea!” She yelled in a deep voice in slow motion. The ice tea fell from the sky & landed on a water tower, which then exploded.
“What was in that ice tea?” Bernadette asked. Due to the cold stratosphere the flame perished & the hot air balloon began to plummet. Bernadette screamed as she felt like throwing up each second she plummeted. “Mary Poppins!” Chuckled Tara as she swooped down & grabbed Bernadette’s arm. “This isn’t really original.” “Hmm..” Tara thought, “Let me think of something.” There was a long pause of silence. “Aaa! I got it!” Announced Tara. “Hey Opal conjure Bus G for us to ride in!” She exclaimed. “Oh no.” Bernadette gulped. “Not Bus G!”
The 2 of them arrived on the magical Bus G.” Welcome to Bus G!” Screamed the Bus Driver. “This is a magic bus!” She yelled. “Didn’t school end like yesterday.” Bernadette crossed her arms. “Well ladies & gentlemen since the bus’s wings grew wings & flew away, we’re going to fall down several hundred feet in the air destroying our bus when we land, but since this is a magic bus we won’t die! Let me press the fall button first.” “Wait what!” Yelled Bernadette. Tara fell down, she was too busy laughing to notice what was actually going on.
The bus crashed & when it did all the windows were shattered & the bus was full of huge dents. “Ok thank you bye!” Tara waved bye to the bus driver. Bruised, she hopped out of the bus. Slowly stuttering & stammering, paralyzed in shock of what just happened, Bernadette crept out of the bus behind Tara.
Although it was a magic bus, Tara & Bernadette didn’t land in San Francisco or Back in Los Angeles or in Hawaii. Everything wasn’t normal again at all, but since it was indeed a “magic bus” once they were a few meters away from the bus they felt a small tremor, the dirt began to slowly crumple. The dirt cracked up into small grains of sand. The crows, bugs & wildlife began scattering away. The magic bus exploded into ashes covering Bernadette & Tara’s hair with ash. The rest of the ash mixed with the dirt & on an unrelated note the two girls fell into the ocean now beneath them.
Tara immediately resurfaced. She immediately searched for Bernadette. She submerged from the water beside Tara gasping for air. “What the heck?!” Bernadette questioned. “An ocean!” Tara pulled out the Opal & the scroll/map. “Surprisingly the scroll is waterproof.” Tara put them back in her pocket. “Come on, we have to get to solid ground.” Bernadette interrupted. “Over there!” Tara pointed at a small island in the distance. “It’ll do for now.” Bernadette said. They began to swim towards the island. AFter a few dozen meters Bernadette sighed. “I’m too tired.” She complained, “come on we’re almost there.” Bernadette did a starfish on the water so she wouldn’t sink. “If you can’t make it I will & I’ll bring you too.” She dragged Bernadette & continued to swim, her arms & legs ached, the average individual would give up, but Tara was a pro swimmer, she had been doing lifeguard training & advanced swimming for as long as she could remember. Once they were there, they climbed onto this building which was the island, except it looked like a dome at the top of a fancy tower. It was one of those things that had a bridge surrounding the top of the tower, they glanced at the strange looking dome. “Where are we?” She asked. “Somewhere else duh?” Tara responded. “MAybe there’s someone inside that we could ask for help on how to get back home. Do we have our phones?” Tara shook her head. “Ok let’s just focus on getting inside but how could we.” Tara used the opal to imagine a boulder to smash the dome. “That works.” She said. They jumped in. They were on this bridge surrounding the actual building, they walked around the bridge & finally saw a door with a sign hung on the door. It looked like this:
Tara knocked on the door. “Come in.” Said a voice. Bernadette unlocked the handle & they crept in. “Have a seat. Namaste.” She said. The two of them sat down. She had long silver hair & violet eyes. “Excuse me,” asked Bernadette, “where are we?” “You are in Tehran, Iran. “What’s with all the water?” Tara asked. “Pollution.” She sadly remarked. “In the future due to pollution all the water from the center of the earth is flooding the earth. “I can predict using this.” She pulled out a shiny turquoise jewel one that looked exactly like & the same size as Tara’s opal. “I want you two to take it as good luck, plus it matches with your opal.” “How do you?” Tara remarked. She & Bernadette jaws opened. Bernadette placed her hand toward the fortune teller & she handed her the turquoise. “Remember, before you go, that jewel is way more special & powerful than the other 12.” She advised. The 2 girls waved goodbye to her & left her cottage.
“Bernadette, believe it or not but that probably is the 13th gem, & look at the sign, we’re in the future & I bet that jewel’s power is to time travel.” “I’ll put it in your pocket for safe keeping.” Bernadette reached to put the Turquoise in Tara’s pocket. Bernadette felt another scroll, she pulled it out it was about 8 times smaller than the other one.
“Bernadette, believe it or not but that probably is the 13th gem, & look at the sign, we’re in the future & I bet that jewel’s power is to time travel.” “I’ll put it in your pocket for safe keeping.” Bernadette reached to put the Turquoise in Tara’s pocket. Bernadette felt another scroll, she pulled it out it was about 8 times smaller than the other one.
On the back the fortune teller must have written:
On the back it said:
To find the Emerald you must head to Egypt of course you already know that. But the Emerald is in a pyramid in a specific section that is sealed off to the public tourists in the future, well for you present or recent past. Good luck finding the gems before the demon queen does. -Shirley
“Why don’t you do the honors?” Tara handed the Turquoise to Bernadette. :Ok Turquoise, teleport us to ancient Egypt, in the pyramid of Giza in the room of the Emerald.” She proclaimed.
When they arrived they were in a small room the 4 walls seemed to get thinner & thinner & thinner, until the 4 triangular walls met into a point, the tip of the room had a golden triangle. “We’re at the top of a pyramid!” Tara Exclaimed. “Well let’s start looking for the emerald then.” Proclaimed Bernadette. The 2 began to search. Tara looked over, under, & on the table’s, they had golden necklace’s hung on Egyptian sculptures. Painting & portrait frames hung on the wall of Egyptian gods & spirits. Bernadette carefully checked underneath them.
“Looking for this.” Boomed a voice. “Is that a mu-mu-mummy.” Stuttered Tara. “They’re not real Tara.” Bernadette protested. Behind Bernadette was a coffin, & it slowly creaked open & revealed a mummy. “I want my mommy!” Tara shrieked at the top of her lungs. The two sprinted away. Bernadette pulled out the trap door in the room at the top of the pyramid. They jumped out & Tara slammed the door back behind them. They landed on their nee’s & saw a pair of stairs leading down. They decided to go there until they saw a mummy walking up. They screamed & ran through the hallway.
After a few minutes of dodging mummy’s here & there, they found a nice empty coffin & decided to hide in it & guess what they found inside. No not a mummy, this story isn’t that predictable. “Are we safe?” Tara whispered once the footsteps faded. “Yeah.” Bernadette exhaled, “for now.” Tara laid at the back of the coffin. She felt something rough attached to the back of the coffin. Tara turned around. She saw a bright green light that blinded her eyes. It was the emerald.
“The Emerald.” Tara mustered, Bernadette turned her head & was shocked. “Ok 3,2, 1, pull!” Tara announced. She & Bernadette held on to the Emerald & pulled at the same time. Finally it got detached from the coffin & they fell out of the coffin.
A few dozen mummy’s surrounded them. “Um what was the Emeralds power again?” Tara nervously chuckled. “Grab the Opal & stall the mummies, hand me the map & the turquoise & it’s map.” “Hey Opal, make me a good fighter.” Tara announced, she held her Opal to the sky. The opal flashed & Tara was in a taekwondo uniform with an advanced Black belt. She began to imagine herself doing front & backflips & her kicks & punches making the mummies fly backwards & destroy. “That outta distract them.” Bernadette said. She unrolled the bigger scroll & pressed on the emerald section.
It said: The Emerald is known for its power to give even the simplest creature immense knowledge, it may not seem too epic to be a nerd or something but with this jewel you can know anything from anywhere at any time. With enough concentration you can even read minds. The owner of this jewel must be wise enough to know that some things are better left unseen. Make sure this jewel or any others for that matter don’t fall into the wrong hands.
Meanwhile Tara was doing a pretty good job taking on the mummies. She had sent quite a few of them back to the scraps of toilet paper where they came from. “Hey Bernadette.” Tara shouted, “how much longer do I have to deal with these things?” She asked.
Bernadette grabbed the emerald, along with the scrolls & the turquoise. “Hey Emerald!” She eagerly said. “How do I defeat these mummies?” The Emerald shone on it’s reflection: Show them light. The emerald beamed. All of a sudden the emerald grew so bright. Bernadette & Tara who was at the other side of the hallway ducked to protect their eyes from the light. All the mummy’s perished & turned into ash.
Tara hopped on over to Bernadette. “Quick let’s time travel back to flight to San Francisco, since time travel is on an enclosed loop the actual driver will be there.” “You’re using the Opal aren’t you?” She asked, “well aren’t you using the emerald.” Tara questioned back. Bernadette ignored her, “OK turquoise, don’t fail me now.”
The two of them arrived back in their first class seats. The plane to san francisco had landed & everyone was getting their luggage, “come on.” Their parents advised, “get your luggage.” Bernadette nudged her Bestie. “Still wanna be in LA.” “You know what I think I’ll give San Francisco a try.” Tara agreed, she was just glad to be back in the present.
Chapter 3 - Fast is Never Last!
A few weeks later, they arrived in Calgary during a marathon thrown in honor of the Calgary stampede in Bridgeland. Tara & Bernadette & their parents entered. “Tara, when we’re done with the marathon, let's look for the Topaz it’s supposed to be in this neighbourhood_-” Before Bernadette could continue Tara was off. The marathon had started & she was in the lead. In less than 10 minutes she made eit to the finish line finishing in the top 10. After she got her medal she ran to find the Topaz. While the other first place runners took breaks, Tara didn’t stop running. She came across a wealthy neighbourhood with huge backyards. In one of them she saw a huge orange jewel gleaming in a statue in their backyard. “I’ll write a sorry note for breaking in.” Tara jumped over the house's fence. The statue was of a young 8 year old girl, who was smiling as she held the large jewel, it was actually really realistic. Tara snatched it. Just as she did the statue broke out of the stone. It revealed an actual 8 year old girl. “Finally, that stupid topaz cursed me when I tried to steal it.” She got her broom & wand. “Give me the topaz or you’re stone.”
“Tara?” Bernadette asked. She had finished 15-20 minutes later. Usually Tara was never behind. “Excuse me sir have you seen a speedy 13 year old with long dark brown hair & hazel brown eyes?” The eyewitness pointed the direction Tara went. “Thank you so much.” She said. “She raced after Tara, hoping she didn’t get into much trouble.
“Who are you?” Tara asked as she used the Topaz to run even faster away from the witch. “Call me Trixie the Trickster.” She got her wand & started trying to zap Tara. Bernadette arrived after her long hunt for Tara. She gasped as she saw Trixie had cornered Tara. She saw Tara’s backpack containing all the jewels & grabbed the Opal from it.
Bernadette tiptoed towards Trixie. As Trixie prepared her spell, Bernadette prepared the Opal. “I know I’m a Virgo, not a Libra but please work with me.” As she whispered a boulder fell from the Sky onto Trixie & saved Tara. “Is that all it takes?” She asked Tara.
Chapter 4 - Beneath Bermuda
Even though Tara & Bernadette lived on the beach it still was a thrill to explore a new beach. “Where is the Bermuda triangle again?” Bernadette asked. Tara pulled out her phone, “according to google maps it’s not that far away.” She switched her phone in her pocket with her Opal. “Hey Opal, create a submarine.” A huge machine fell from the sky on the beach shore, it created a wave that splashed & soaked Tara & Bernadette. “All aboard the Tara.” She said.
Submerging into the depths of the ocean, they drifted towards the floor of the Bermuda triangle. While Tara steered the ship, Bernadette studied the map to try & locate the Pearl. “The map says the pearl sank in the cargo of the ship the princess, it was on its way to Eurupe, transporting Cargo to the king & queen until the ship crashed in the Bermuda triangle.” Bernadette pointed to a ship with the letters the princess on it. “Over there.” Tara stopped the submarine & they put on the submarine's scuba diving equipment.
The Princess was damaged badly over the years there was literally an open hole in the shipwreck that led to the treasure chests. “I have an idea, when we find the pearl, let's sell the rest of this stuff.” Bernadette nodded. Before they could scoop the treasure chests, they heard the submarines hatch open behind them.
Tara & Bernadette left the gemstones & maps in the submarine. When they turned around they saw a goblin in the submarine. They swam back to the submarine as fast as they could. “Greetings humans, I am Girl the goblin, a humble servant of the demon queen.” He said. “Oh no, not the Demon Quee…” Bernadette was interrupted by Tara’s laughter. “Girl, what kind of boy name is that!” Bernadette snickered with Tara. “Oh laugh all you want.” He said, “Tara & Bernadette are literally how you say Boy & Man in Goblish.” “Your language is weird.” Bernadette said. “Hey! That’s racist.” He yelled. “When humans eat cows it’s not racist.” Tara said. “Could you have possibly used a better example?” Bernadette sighed, “what Tara means to say is like cows when a human says or does something mean to a cow or a goblin it’s not racist because you’re not a human, you should have used a differant term buddy.”
“Well bye cows.” He cackled. Girl the goblin was gonna go back to the surface but it took him awhile to figure out how to control the submarine. “We’re doomed!” Tara cried, “& we’re powerless.” “Tara are you creative & unique just because of the Opal?” She shook her head, “are you weak without the power of the topaz?” She shook her head. “Well I’m not dumb without the emerald & I’m not lazy without the help of the turquoise. Tara we got these gemstones in the first place using our skills not their powers, & we can use them to get the gemstones back.”
“I have an idea.” Tara announced. Bernadette sighed in relief. “The pearls' power is to create force fields basically allowing us to breathe underwater right.” Bernadette nodded. “Well I only imagined the submarine having enough equipment for 2 people in our sizes, do you get what I’m saying here?” She shook her head. “While you look for just the pearl I’ll use my taekwondo to quickly kick the submarine's window, breaking it, then I’ll use my self defence to quickly knock him out of the submarine & grab the gemstones & maps. You’ll float over with the pearl & use it to create a force field around us & the maps & gemstones. Then while you control the force field I’ll command the Opal to create a device to launch us back to the surface of the Havana beach, since the scuba diving suits will disappear with the submarine that’s why I need the force field. So for Girl, um...rest in peace.” “Where’s the Pearl though?” A glowing white light blinded the two of them, surrounded by the treasure chests. Bernadette swam to the pearl, while Tara swam to the submarine.
Finally, Girl was starting to get the hang of the submarine, until Tara tornado kicked the window. She shoved Girl out of the submarine, who was drowning. She grabbed the Gemstones & the maps. Bernadette swam towards her & created a force field. “Opal, replace the submarine with a device that can launch the force field back to the Havana beach.” So like a missile they launched out of the ocean. “Opal, give me & Bernadette a parachute!” Bernadette dissolved the force field back to the pearl, slowly they started landing back to the beach. Bernadette's eyes grew as she saw her dad approaching, she hid the gemstones & the map behind her back, but couldn’t hide the parachute.
“Girls,” Bernadette’s dad said, “where did you get the parachute?” He asked as they landed. “It came from this parachute place.” Tara said.“That closes in 5 minutes, oh that reminds me, me & Tara have to return it ASAP.” “Oh well.” he said. Tara & Bernadette dragged the parachute away, once they were a safe distance away from Bernadette’s dad, Tara told the Opal to make the parachute perish.
Chapter 5 - Our Cruise
Tara & Bernadette's parents bought a ferry to explore South America it went from the amazon rainforest to the coast of Peru. They were keeping their eyes peeled for the garnet. “Would you care for a drink?” The waiter asked. While their parents were talking to the waiter, Tara & Bernadette noticed he had a large Garnet in his sack. It was the exact size & shape as the other gemstones. “Anything for you two ladies?” The waiter asked. “We would like to order something,” Tara said, “truth.” “Tara, that’s too harsh.” Bernadette interrupted, “excuse me sir but we couldn’t help but notice the large garnet in your purse, did you find it on monkey island by any chance?” “You know.” He gasped. “Sir, we’re on a mission, on our world tour we’re searching for gemstones before the demon queen.” Tara showed the maps & the gemstones. “If we could just borrow it, we would be ever so grateful.” The man nodded & handed them the garnet. “I trust you two.” Tara & Bernadette got a little worried about what might happen if they failed.
Later on the ferry ride a giant purple squid emerged from the ocean. While everyone was terrified, Tara's mouth was watering. " Yum, seafood." Tara said, the squid grabbed her with his tentacles and squeezed her so hard it seemed like her eyes were popping out of their mind. "Let go of me!" She bit the squid, "tastes better cooked." "No." He said. There was a slight minute of silence. "Now can you let me go." "Still no." Muttered the squid. While Tara was busy with the squid Bernadette led everyone off the Ferry into a lifeboat where they paddled for the nearby coast of Peru. Sye created a force field so she could stand on the water. While Tara and the squid were arguing, Bernadette used the garnet's super strength to lift up the ferry, it honked two times before She hit the squid with the boat and the boat and squid went flying. They used the pearl to create a force field to breathe underwater to catch up to their parents at the coast of Peru.
When Tara & Bernadette arrived at Machu Picchu it was a sight to behold. While their parents went sightseeing, Tara & Bernadette began searching for the peridot in Machu Picchu's ruins. “I found it!” Tara exclaimed. Bernadette rushed over. She saw the peridot in the tomb of the sun king. Tara picked it up & put it in her backpack with all the other gemstones. All of a sudden it became very chilly. A cloud shaped like a skull appeared in the sky. "Well it's great you're halfway done but beware, I will find you & I will imprison your souls for eternity you might as well stop.” The cloud faded away, again both girls were petrified & stuck to the spot
Chapter 6 - Pass Me a Donut
Snap! Bernadette took a picture of Africa’s beautiful landscape with her camera. “Any news on the Citrine?” Tara asked. They & their parents were on a safari. Tara assumed it was a petting zoo.” “Can I pet the lion?” “No.” The parents said. “Can I pet this Madagascan harrier-hawk?” “No.” The parents said. “Can I pet the Barba Amarilla snake?” “No.” The parents said. “Can I climb Mount Kilimanjaro?” “Later.” Bernadette whispered as she continued to take photos of the landscape.
After the Safari, they went to their hotel rooms. At night Tara tiptoed out of her bed, she nudged Bernadette. “What is it Tara?” She yawned. “Quick, let’s head to Mount Kilimanjaro & get the citrine.” “Give me 5 more minutes.” “Ugh.” Tara groaned.
They tiptoed out of their beds, Bernadette used her credit card to book a bus trip to Mount Kilimanjaro. When they got out of the bus gasped as they saw the enormous mountain. “It’s a simple solution to speed up getting the citrine before morning, we use our powers.” “No,” Bernadette protested, “we shouldn’t become dependent on these jewels, we use them when we need them. For now we’re climbing.” “Bernadette we can’t climb!” “I can.” Bernadette said. “Hold the maps & jewels while I climb Kilimanjaro. This is who I used to be.” So Bernadette started the climb of Mount Kilimanjaro.
Tara nervously waited for Bernadette to return with the Citrine. Meanwhile, through biting winds & freezing temperatures, Bernadette climbed Mount Kilimanjaro. This reminded Bernadette of what she did when she was Tara’s age. The memory was sad but true, despite her embarrassing memory Bernadette persisted at Mount Kilimanjaro. She regretted not using any of the gemstones to help her like Tara suggested & climbing the mountain on her own.
In not even an hour, Bernadette climbed to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro, not only was she the youngest person to do it, she was also the quickest. She glanced down from the mountain, the view was amazing. Then she reminded herself that’s not why she’s here. She searched for the golden citrine, she guessed it was hidden beneath the mountain's snow. She suddenly realized it was foolish to wear a crop top & shorts to climb a mountain.
Bernadette's hands were frozen from digging up the snow. Finally she found the citrine. First she Immediately used her new telekinesis to make mits, a coat & a donut (Well Duh she was hungry) come to her from a nearby mini mart. Then she lifted a boulder & hopped on it, she moved it back down the mountain. “Bernadette! You were amazing, without powers it took you less than an hour.” Tara hugged her BFF.
Chapter 7 A disappointment
On Oceania, Tara & Bernadettes parents rented a boat to explore. “May I drive?” Bernadette asked. “Sure you can.” Her mom said. “Can I drive the boat?” Tara asked. “Sweetie, I’m sorry but you have to be at least 14.” Her dad said. Tara fell on her nee’s. “Why was I born in October!” “You can be my first mate.” “Eh, it’s better than being a maid.” She sat beside the drivers chair.
They stopped the boat to explore the largest of the 3 disappointment islands, disappointment island. Tara & Bernadette explored it’s subtropical forest, it was freezing. The palm tree’s swooned back & forth as Tara & Bernadette ventured into the dancing forest. They saw a palm tree significantly larger than all the others. The crown of the forest was a palm tree whose crown was a large shiny diamond resting upon its head. “Tara, the diamond.” “I got this.” She said. She leaped onto the thick branches of the tree & grabbed the Diamond. She snatched a few Palm tree leaves to parachute her way down the tree.
A shrieking woman's voice broke through the island. Tara & Bernadette fell down on their news & covered their ears tightly. “You brat!” They turned around thinking it was just their imagination. “Not only did you steal my engagement ring, but you pulled out my hair! My wedding is next week!” “Definitely not hearing things.” Tara whispered.
“Who is your fiancé?” Bernadette asked. “A guy named girl.” Tara & Bernadette gulped. “You don’t say.” Tara said. “Ms. Palm-Tree, I’m sorry to say this but I accidentally think we drowned your fiancé.” “What the!” She screamed. “How would you like it if I drown you!” “We’re on land.” Tara said. “What will I do without him!” “Die single & alone?” Tara muttered. Bernadette elbowed her. “Listen you don’t need your fiancé to be happy. You’re a remarkable woman, I mean tree. You don’t need to get married to be happy, life is so much more.” “You’re right!” Said t tree. “Forget about boys, I have so much more important things to worry about.” Before the tree lady could continue, Tara & Bernadette parachuted out of the forest with the diamond. Once they landed they dashed back to the boat.
So they continued their peaceful boat trip only to get interrupted by a huge warship. “Halt!” Called a voice. It was none other that Vladimir Putin & his troops, “surrender everything or things might get ugly.” “You must have misunderstood us, we come on peace, we're just on vacation!” Tara’s mom cried. “Tara, wasn’t there a gemstone in Russia.” She nodded, “the aquamarine the power of shapeshifting. I know the demon queen has tons of henchmen but is Putin & Russian troops her henchmen?” “The demon queen says they’ll be hiding.” Bernadette thought. “Of course.” Tara interrupted. “One of the demons has the aquamarine & used its power of shapeshifting to look like Putin & order his troops to rob us.” “How do we save ourselves without our parents finding out our powers?” Before Tara could answer they were attacked by teargas. “Surrender or it’s WW3!” He yelled, “you don’t wanna mess with us, cause we have bears.”
“Guys,” Tara said, “you 4 try to negotiate like adults while we’ll hide & call the cops.” “Ok, but be careful,” Tara’s dad said. Tara & Bernadette paddled towards the ship. They used their jewels to fight the Russian guards. Tara used her Opal to create a giant unicorn that trampled over the guards. Bernadette used the Turquoise to time travel back & forth to punch the guards. Tar used the Topaz to dodge the soldiers' bullets. Bernadette used her knowledge to read the henchman's minds to predict their moves. Tara used her Invisibility to sneak up on the soldiers. Bernadette used her super strength to ambush the army. While Tara called the cops, the fake Putin was distracted by Tara & Bernadette's parents pleading so Bernadette snatched the aquamarine & shapeshifted into an army guard so now one would spot her. It took the fake Putin a while to notice he was back in his demon form, he probably found out when the army tackled. They swam back to their boat, while the cops arrested all the naughty soldiers. It turns out Putin was just an evil demon who shapeshifted into a dictator. They were celebrated by their parents for saving them & ‘calling the cops’ but Bernadette & Tara didn’t feel like they deserved the hero’s welcome. It was a close call, their secret was almost discovered.
Chapter 8 - Are there more?
Throughout the rest of their trip Tara & Bernadette were way too stressed out to enjoy. When they visited China, they didn’t see any sight of the jade. Bernadette explained that the wall wraps all around China & is over 5 thousand miles long. Later that evening, Tara begged Bernadette to come with her to a bamboo forest, ever since Tara was young, her favourite animal was a panda. As they ventured into the forest, they heard whispering behind them. Tara & Bernadette at first ignored it until the whispers grew. They readied their powers. A figure emerged from the bush. “Is it a panda?” Tara asked. “ A girl with jade green eyes & short black hair approached them. She carried a sword & a shield. She had a large jade decorated with gold and was used as a hairclip. “Nope.” She replied.
“The name’s Fay Eng. What are you two doing here?” “I’m Tara & this is Bernadette.” She pointed at her. “Wait is that jade in your gold hair clip, a gemstone?” “Obviously.” She said. “By the looks of it you’ve got 1 demon jewel, 9 human jewels & an unknown human jewel you discovered in the past.” Both girls were confused. “Look on earth there is 12 months, but on Fireum there are 3 months, it’s 4 times bigger than the earth, 0.25 astronomical units away from our sun. It spins 4 times faster though. So that’s why you never see it, you only see the dark side at night. It’s also on fire. You guys may not remember but when you two went to Paris you discovered the Amethyst without any instructions.” “Wait what?” They said.
Flashback: “Thanks for taking me to Paris for the summer mom.” Tara was holding her parents hands, while they were touring the seine. “No problem sweetie, I always knew you liked fashion design, so I thought, where in the world is the world's capital of fashion designing?” “Where?” Tara asked. “Here silly.” Her dad replied. “Oh.” Tara understood. Tara had had short curly brown hair, & wore mascara & eyeliner & lipstick & eyeshadow. She wore a fancy blue dress with silver hearts on it, which she made. “Well Tara, me & your mom signed you up for a kids fashion designing contest at the top of the Eiffel tower.” “I can’t wait!” Tara exclaimed, “do you think they’ll like my heart dress. Tara’s mom kissed her cheek. “They’ll love it.”
“Beinvenue, everyone to the third annual jr fashion designing contest. I’m your host Marvin,” “& I’m the judge Sarina , Listen up you brats! You think you got a chance to win, well you’re wrong. You’re not special, you’re just a couple of whiny brats!” “I’m getting Deja Vu, that lady over there sounds mean.” Tara whispered to her parents as Margot continued her speech. “Don’t worry, not even the most bratty fashion designer in the world can take away that trophy from you.” Her dad patted Tara on the back, she gulped. “Is she the meanest?” Tara sniffled, her mom elbowed her husband. “Ahem, you’re getting in her head.” “When it comes to adults, not kids, because they’re adorable.” Her dad corrected. “I started elementary school, dad.” Tara said. The background noise grew & it eventually turned out to be Mert announcing & not Margret screaming. “Well our first contestant is Aaron Aveline, let’s give a big round of applause for,” “Let’s not encourage them,” Margret interrupted once again. “They’re still at the A’s.” Tara’s mom said. Tara clenched her fists in fear as she watched in horror the critiques Margret delivered.
After Levi Loup was called Tara knew she would be next. After Levi finished, Mert announced an intermission break. “Heuff.” Tara said , relieved, she turned around to see a girl a few years older than her climbing the Eiffel tower. She walked a couple flights of stairs to reach her. “Hey whatcha doing?” She asked the strange girl. She had golden blonde hair in a French braid. “Duh, climbing the tower.” “Isn’t it dangerous?” She asked. “Not if Aunt Margret doesn’t catch you.” “She’s your aunt? Dad says she’s a spoiled diva. “You’re in that talent show right?” she asked. Tara nodded, “You’ll ever believe what a rant she gave about it, she doesn’t really like giving stuff out for free, considering she’s a cheapskate, to get that trophy you’re gonna have to give her a gift of some sorts, she’s too uptight & bratty to see it as a bribe.” “Thanks, um.” “Bernadette, Bernadette Bayonet.” She continued, “my parents are here on a vacation but I’m actually from Hawaii.” “Me too!” Tara interrupted, “my name is Tara Mariah-Akana.” Bernadette lowered down her rope & jumped inside the Eiffel tower, where she unbuckled her harness. “Nice to meet you.”
“Tara, Tara Mariah-Akana,” Marvin said. “Let me guess she’s late.” Sarina complained. “You better hurry.” Bernadette said, “my aunt’s pretty impatient.” Tara nodded. She raced back to the fashion designing show. Tara grabbed her purse & got out her glittery magenta necklace. “Don’t tell me she designed that dress she’s wearing” ,Sarina said as Tara walked towards her. “You’re just jealous.” She murmured, “I spent 360 hours designing it.” “Speak up?” Sarina asked. “I said, this isn’t what I designed, I know I obviously can’t design anything, so I’m presenting something you designed, the necklace you created when you were my age, the very first thing you designed & now the only thing you’ve ever designed that somehow sells all around the world.” Tara’s mom slapped her face, luckily Sarina was busy posing herself to notice the insult. “I am quite talented.” “1st place!” Sarina declared. “But I haven't even,” “Nobody cares Gerold!” She interrupted.
On the flight back home Tara placed her trophy in the empty first class seat beside her. “Is this seat taken?” Bernadette asked. “Technically no if you paid for it which makes it yours, but in my defence I thought it was empty.” Tara turned her gaze from her trophy to Bernadette. “Cool trophy.” She said. “I found this huge amethyst at the top of the Eiffel tower.” She sat down beside Tara. “I can’t believe you’re from Hawaii.” Tara said. “It really is a small world.” She replied. “Tara guess what.” Her mom said. “I met Bridgette & she’s from Hawaii too.” “Me & Maia are both geologists.” Bernadette's mom said. “Bleh, geology.” They both said at the same time. “I know! Me too!” They said in unison. “& Bernadette's dad is named George.” “& there is no bad person named George.” The other George replied. “I also hate the name George.” Bernadette said. “Same!” Tara replied. “Hey!” The George’s said. The rest of the plane ride was laughter.
“I can see you’re confused, but let me explain. The story of the gemstones. Once there were two twins Ashley & Railee. One was pure good & one was pure evil. Ashley found joy in other people's suffering & Railee found joy in watching other people learn & grow. Eventually, the 2 twins began showing supernatural powers. Railee & Ashley’s 15 friends, Aries April, Taurus May, Gemini June, Cancer July, Leo August, Virgo September, Libra October, Scorpio November, Sagittarius December, Capricorn January, Aquarius February, Pisces March, Lilac Iravani, Narmer Noe & me were known for having created a jewel that could contain a superpower to share their superpower with the world.15 jewels were created, 3 belonged to Ashley the more powerful ones & the other 12 belonged to Railee. Ashley created Fireum, 4 times larger than earth. Railee created Earth which was 4 times smaller than fireum, but had 4 times more population. But, Ashley wanted to have earth & it’s gemstones as her own too. To save the earth & keep the peace between the 2 planets she stole Fireums 3 gemstones & scattered the 15 gemstones & her friends dedicated their lives to hiding them. She made sure humans never knew of the monsters on Fireum & that Ashley would never be able to leave her planet. Unfortunately her henchman could.”
“How will we find the other jewels?” Tara asked, “Unfortunately, the snow quartz belongs to the Demon Queen in this present, the Sapphire & Ruby haven’t been found. “How will we convince our parents to bring you to Iceland & England?” She asked. “Give me the peridot, it’s power is Invisibility, duh. I’ll sneak on the plane.
After Tara & Bernadette’s plane landed, after they left the airport they explored the geysers around them. One of the most famous of these was the famous volcano, Hekla. A boy with ginger hair & russet eyes walked up to Fay. “Long time no see Fay.” “Cancer, could you please lead us to the Ruby?” She asked, “Sure thing.” “Bernadette keep your forcefields on high alert, we’re gonna take a vacation with lava.” Fay said. Tara & Bernadette exchanged worried glances as they reluctantly followed Fay & Cancer.
The climb up the mountain was vigorously dangerous. Halfway up the volcano a rock slide occurred. Fay got her sword & sliced it up into snowflake sized rocks. Which still hurts a little if they hit you. Especially if dozens are tumbling towards you at huge speeds. Then there were biting winds that would make you tumble away with the tumbleweeds below.
When they reached the top of the mountain. Bernadette activated the forcefield. “Tara do you think you could imagine something to help track down the ruby?” “Like what?” Tara questioned. “Well you two, rubies are made of aluminum oxide.” Cancer said. “Do you expect us to know geology?!” Tara yelled. “What’s wrong with geology?” Fay asked. “Both our parents are geologists & it’s so annoying to hear them say stuff like how carbon gets pressured into diamonds but a snow quartz is a microcrystalline quartz, which essentially are like diamonds except with way less pressure, which also makes them more common & Etc., like how is that similar, yeah I just forgot what I said.” “Your explanation is a bit off.” Fay said, “Jades, my favourite are either made of a silicate of calcium and magnesium in the amphibole group of minerals called nephrite or a silicate of sodium and aluminium in the pyroxene group of minerals which is called called Jadeite_-” “Enough! You’ve murdered my brain.” Tara interrupted. “Wow, why are 7th graders so bratty.” Fay complained. “I graduated from 8th grade.” Tara crossed her arms. Fay shrugged. “Enough!” Cancer said, “if we want to find the ruby, we shouldn’t be standing here on the edge of a volcano.” “Yeah, yeah, that makes sense.” The others mumbled in agreement.
Tara imagined an aluminum oxide tracker to track the ruby, while Bernadette readied the force field in case a bit of Lava shot through the volcano. The 4 of them glided down into the volcano/geyser, the hill was so steep that the sphere shaped force field literally rolled down the mountain. The 4 of them fell on their stomachs as the force field continued to fall down the mountain. The Emerald shown & showed a scientist with a diorama of the earth, “did you know if a hole was drilled through the earth you could reach the other side of the world in just under 45 minutes, reaching speeds up to over 27 kilometers per hour, wow.” “Thanks science guy.” Tara said. “Any luck, wha.” Bernadette said as the force field hit a bump down the mountain. Laying down Tara raised her aluminum oxide tracker & a big red X appeared on it’s screen. “No-oh-Pa-e.” TAra struggled to say, since her face stuck to the force field's friction, with all the bumps. “Ah it stopped.” Tara stood up in the force field.”
“Is it just me or is it getting hot in here?” Tara asked. “We’re in the mantle, of course it’s burning.” He said. “I wish I brought my water bottle.” She muttered. They were at the bottom of the volcano. Her aluminum oxide tracker beeped. “Halt the force field it’s here.” Cancer said. “Over there!” Bernadette pointed. She created another force field around it & dragged both the force fields back up.
Once they were out of the Volcano, Cancer handed Bernadette the Ruby. “Bye.” He waved. “Wait, Cancer, where are you going?” Bernadette asked. “To take a swim in the volcano, I’m immune, oh & I asked the doctors & they said it’s incurable. He waved bye & continued on his way. “I have to go too, I have to return to my post & guard the Jade.” “Isn’t it in your hair clip?” Tara asked. “Or maybe one is a fake.” She said. Tara & Bernadette turned to face each other & said real/fake at the same time. There was a flash of green light & Fay was gone. Her hair clip shone, which was still there. “Haha, told you it’s the real one,” Tara said as she scooped up the hair clip.
Chapter 9 - Our signs
“Hey Bernadette,” Tara said, “how come you didn’t tell me you found that Amethyst?” “Tara, I told you, I swear I didn’t know it was one of them.” “Really,” Tara questioned, Bernadette sighed & shook her head. “Bernadette, we’re never going to save the world if you can’t tell me the truth.” “Tara, I used the Amethyst to get you to not freak out about the Demon Queen but I did, you don’t do well with stress & I_-” “Oh really did you brainwash me!” Tara interrupted. “I may be 3 years younger but I’m not a kid! I’m a teenager!” She grabbed the Amethyst, but Bernadette slapped it right back at her face. The two started slapping & pushing each other. “OK! That’s it.” They yelled, “Goodbye worst friend forever.” Tara unbuckled her seatbelt & stood up to walk towards the plane's exit. “Excuse me mam, the plane ride isn’t over.” The flight attendant said.
When they reached London, England, Tara & Bernadette immediately took off their separate ways, Bernadette headed towards Queen Elizabeth's castle & Tara took off to Big Ben. “Dumb Tara, So what if accidently mind controlled her.” She murmured. “Excuse me.” A guard said, “you’re not to trespass, it’s the Queens home.” “Shut up Bob.” Bernadette said. “That’s not my na_-” “Hey have you ever done something wrong to like protect someone.” She asked. “Well once a thug came to rob the Queen so I shot him in the head with a harpoon gun & well he died, but hey what matters is that the Queen is safe.” “Thanks Bob.” Bernadette tried to hug the guard but he stuck out his hand. “Don’t patronise me Miss.” The guard said.
Tara arrived at Big Ben & bought a ticket to the site. She raced to the elevator that led to the top of Big Ben. Once she reached the top, she noticed a shiny blue object above Big Ben’s bell. Tara looked at her feet. She was standing on glass several hundred feet in the air. Carefully, she walked over to the bell & then tried to climb it. She slipped on the golden metal, after a few tries she decided to use her jewels, but then she remembered what Bernadette said about getting the jewels without her powers but her skills. She got a lump in her throat. Tears filled up her yes. “Maybe I shouldn’t have yelled at her, she was just trying to help.” She reached into her backpack & realised that the Jewels & scrolls were gone. Tara fell on her back in frustration, I lost my jewels, I lost my best friend & I’m lost…” She turned around to see she was completely lost in one of the biggest cities in the world. She sighed. She was interrupted by a girl in blue, who seemed to have the same style as Bernadette. “Please don’t say you give up that easily,” Tara turned her head behind her to see that girl sitting on the top of the bell behind her. She stood up & turned around. “How’d you climb up it so fast? It took me like half an hour.” “It’s not so hard.” She levitated off the bell, “when you can fly.” “Well Duh.” Tara said, “flying makes everything easier.” She said. “But it makes your life harder.”
Bernadette ran from the queen's castle, she realised, she didn’t have her phone or wallet, but she had all the jewels & the maps. She couldn’t call her parents to let them know where in London she was. She was lost, lost without her BFF, she got a lump in her throat, tears filled her eyes. I lost my valuables, I lost my Best Friend & I’m lost.” She shouldn’t had mind controlled Tara to make the Demon Queen seem like way kess of a deal, she should have let her handle the truth like she did, she understood why she was so upset, Tara was always either complaining about growing up, or people treating her like way to much of a kid, she silently thought to herself. A few raindrops crashed on her arms. Bernadette was wearing short jeans with holes on them & a converse crop top with matching sneakers, but nowhere in her outfit did she have an umbrella. She fell on her news on the empty abbey road & covered her arms from the rain, shivering. Tears fell from her eyes, it fell on the road with a raindrop, making a large puddle & out of that puddle a figure emerged from the ground. “Bernadette looked away from her news & saw a girl in a hot pink dress. “I know what it’s like to have a fight with your best friend, you see when people get mad, well they explode, you think there’s no way to prevent it & you think it’s all their fight, but if you don’t put yourself in other people's shoes, you will always stay in that one crusty old ugly pair.” She said. “So should I buy new shoes?” Bernadette asked. “Converse isn’t exactly cheap, wait you & Tara have the same style, you both design your own clothes...Wait are you THE LIBRA OCTOBER.” She nodded. “There is no way to control someone's feelings, but you can prevent them by putting yourself in their shoes & READING THEIR SOCIAL CUES. You see Bernadette, when I first met Virgo we were Frenemies, she kept on spreading fake rumors about me & I well I guess I was being quite bratty around her...See try it! Put yourself in her shoes.” “But I.” “I’m kidding I heard your whole conversation to yourself.” She glared at her. “I’m guessing you're mad at me.” She said.
“What do you mean?” Asked Tara. “If you can fly, it’ll always make what you struggled before easier, but with superpowers comes super challenges.” She said. “Wait are you THE VIRGO SEPTEMBER.” Virgo nodded. “Sometimes people lie about things to keep other people from worrying or you already knew & she used the Amethyst to mind control you to relax about the fact that the Demon Queen is hunting you.” “WAIT WHAt” Tara’s mind control faded. “Tara!” Bernadette burst into the room from the elevator. I’m sorry.” She said. Tara skipped toward her & hugged her. “It’s OK, I know you were trying to stop me from worrying.”
Using the sapphire & her powers, Virgo floated towards them, Libra followed with an umbrella she created with her powers. “See,” Tara said, “what’s wrong with an umbrella.” “I never said there was anything wrong with a.” Bernadette stopped, “never mind.” Virgo passed them the sapphire. All of a sudden the Big Ben bell started ringing, not just in normally but nonstop, but it seemed to be playing a certain song, A demonic song. Virgo Immediately flew away. “Libra! What’s going on!?” Tara asked. The glass floor beneath them began to crack. The bell rang louder & louder. “The demon queen is here!” Libra yelled, “She’s opening a portal to,” Libra was interrupted by the Big Ben Bell falling on top of her. Luckily, she immediately used her magic to teleport away. Unluckily for Tara & Bernadette as the glass began to crumble, so did the floor they were standing on, the cracks on the glass turned blood red. Through the towers crumbling ash Tara & Bernadette searched for each other with the blinding crumbling glass ceiling just over their heads. Crawling they tried to get their phones & wallets & maps & gems. “Bernadette, I think we’re going to face the Demon Queen, guess we can’t avoid her forever.” “Well whatever she’s like in person we’ll face her together.” Bernadette said. Or, they thought.
Bernadette woke up & immediately started searching for Tara, “Tara, where are you? Tara!” She stopped because she tripped, she stood up once more & noticed the skeleton wasn’t any other skeleton, but it was a skeleton of a human teen, it looked so motionless & lifeless, she turned around to see dozens more skeletons, some were tall, some were short, some were boys some were girls, but these skeletons all had one thing in common, the same terrified expression planted on their face. One caught her eye, the remains of her skeleton showed she was most probably a 13 year old girl. Bernadette gasped, Tara. Tears fell to her eyes, at first she thought it was Tara, but because of all the rust it looked like that skeleton had been there for nearly a century & low & behold, she was still 16. Bernadette looked around, somehow this planet had an atmosphere & the temperatures seemed quite cool, yet chilly, but not burning or anything. She approached the average demon who was for some reason, um measuring the temperature of the skeletons with some sort of thermometer? Well at least that’s what Bernadette thought. “Excuse me.” Bernadette tapped the demons back, she immediately retreated her hand, his temperature scathed her hand. “Ouch,” she muttered. He turned around, “yes.” He said. “Hi um, I was wondering if this is Fireum?” “What kind of question is that! Of course it is!” “Well I um, I guess I was misled.” “Ughh, those angels make it out to be some sort of nightmare!” “You mean it’s not?” She asked. The demon rolled his eyes, ‘need some medicine for your hand?” Bernadette took one look at his sharp nails & felt like she was hit in the head with a shovel. “Aww, thanks hon, but I think I’ll pass, you know what they say, laughter is the best medicine.” She laughed. “That totally doesn’t sound forced.” “Hey I have a question, do you mind answering it?” “It’s not like I have anything better to do.” He muttered. “Great thanks! So um, what is your temperature?” “100 degrees Celsius.” “Are you kidding me!” Bernadette spat out, “that’s the temperature water boils at.” “I don’t know if you know this but on Fireum,” he grabbed the front of her shirt. “There’s only FIRE!” He yelled. Bernadette slapped him. “Ow! Not my other hand!” She yelled. “Oh BTW the Demon Queen ordered me to execute, I mean escort you to her palace. Your little friend is in custody. “Wait what?” She was interrupted by the demon grabbing her hands & dragging her to the palace. “Hey!” She yelled. “You’re burning my hands!” “You doofus they were already burnt.” He continued to drag her. “Ow, you’re burning my skin! The flesh... It burns, it burns!”
Bernadette was dragged to a castle made of bones. The blood of her enemies filled the moat. Inside the castle, the walls were made of skin & meat, which forgot to get it’s remaining blood scraped off, Bernadette guessed this is what happened to the Demon Queen's enemies. After a while she couldn’t even feel the burning because she could barely feel her hands. Finally, the demon let go of her, she fell on her knees but the floor was lava not like the game or literally, but still. She immediately jumped back up, her sneakers were burning, but it was better than sitting on bare news. Maybe she should have followed Libra’s advice & bought new shoes, heatproof ones. On her skull throne the demon queen sat, unsatisfied. She was licking her blood flavoured lollipop with her serpent tongue.
Tara dashed into the room. Annoyed, the demon queen stood up & grabbed the Snow quartz. She duplicated from 1-2, 2-4, & then 4-8. Since Tara had all the gems, she flew outside the castle & used her super strength to grab a sharp bone from the walls, she flew back inside & stabbed the 1st copy of the demon queen. She mind controlled the second copy to zap herself into dust. The remaining 6 demons surrounded her. She shape shifted into the demon queen, since the more copies there are the dumber they get, they thought it was themselves & didn’t attack. Tara used her laser eyes to zap the copy of the demon queen in front of her to ashes. She changed back to her normal self. She used her telekinesis to grab the bones from outside the palace & flung the sharp bones at the copies. The remaining 5 of them tried to dodge, but one of them wasn’t successful. She used her speed to dodge the spells the demon Queens cast at her & read their minds to know their every move. She used force fields to stop the demon queen's spell balsts from hitting her. She used her invisibility to punch the 3rd copy. She used her time travel to confuse the 2nd copy, which it eventually blasted itself in confusement. She Imagined a jack hammer & chased the last copy.
The demon queen reverted back to normal. Tara snatched the snow quartz from her. She grabbed Bernadette's hand & they raced out of the crazy place. “Are you OK?” She asked. “Yeah, I’m just happy to leave.” They raced out of the palace. Bernadette used the pearl to create force fields around their heads so they could breath once they flew in space. Tara grabbed the sapphire from her backpack & they launched into space. After a while, they noticed the Demon Queen & her guards were flying behind them in a spaceship. “I will invade your planet, it turns out the snow quartz was the thing keeping me from leaving the planet.” The Demon Queen cackled. It was the collide of the gems. Quickly the two of them grabbed the ruby to teleport home. But they accidentally grabbed the turquoise.
Chapter 10 - The Collide of the Gems
When Tara & Bernadette woke up they were on a smooth rock, it was cream & looked polished. “Ughhh!” moaned Tara, “what happened… & Why are we wet?” Bernadette gazed at the floor “Probably because of all this water.” She replied. “Water, but…” Tara gazed down, she was standing in water up to her toes. “Where are we even?” The last thing Tara remembered was she & Bernadette trying to teleport home but accidentally time traveled home, but when they thought to go home, the turquoise assumed they meant their home in Hawaii. “every single gem is here…”Tara said. “Seriously you’re joking righ…” Bernadette realised that Tara wasn’t lying, every single gem but the turquoise, snow quartz & jade was floating 3 feet above a bright white rock.
Shocked, Bernadette stood up & looked around. She was standing on a huge tower one with almost a hundred circle shaped floors. At the top was a dome with a long needle, which was pouring water down the entire tower. Every single floor was covered in water, even the stairs were covered in water, but like only an inch deep. Surrounding the tower was the floor of the lake. It was covered in seashells & precious gems. There were even a few hundred gems in the beach surrounding the lake. Bernadette tried to think what country or city could have such a beautiful tower, but in the end she came empty.
Turning around Bernadette walked towards Tara. “Tara, look around you, this place is amazing, look around you, I wonder how the government even had a tenth of the money to build this. A 8 year old boy with blonde hair & amber eyes stepped towards them. Bernadette immediately recognized him, he was the grumpy guard in England back in the present and future. “I supposed you never heard of the Na Kapena o ikaika loa, I doubt you even know what that means.” “We do” responded Tara “we live in hawaii we know how to speak Hawaiian & English.” “& Na Kapena o ikaika loa means the tower of powerfulness” uttered Bernadette “speaking of which we live in Hawaii, how come we’ve never seen this before.”
I’m guessing you are from the future…” he remarked “Future how is the twenty first century future!” whined Tara. “The twenty-first century after BC, am I correct.” “Yes” exclaimed Bernadette. “Well this is 2008 BC. ‘Wait,” Tara said, “how far did we go?” “Who are you?” Bernadette asked. “My name is Narmer” “Wait, you created the snow quartz.” Bernadette said. He nodded. “Can you help us stop the demon queen in the future.” “Say no more.” He said. “I have a plan & it involves THIS tower.” “How is this tower going to stop the demon queen?” Tara asked. “To stop the demon queen, we need to summon everyone.” Narmer said. They exchanged confused glances at each other, as he chanted his song.
The Demon Queen strikes again
I request the gemstone guardians once again
To Protect once again.
All the Gemstone guardians appeared in front of them.
Libra had copper eyes & & light gold skin, like before but seemed a bit younger. Her wavy sorrel hair with bleached tips was in a high ponytail. Her nails were painted violet & she wore mascara & shiny pink eye shadow. She wore lip gloss over her purple lipstick. She wore a silk magenta dress. She wore scarlet red high heels. She looked 13. She smiled at Bernadette & waved at Tara. She looked really similar to Tara.
Aquarius had flaxen hair & ecru eyes. He wore a grey ugly sweater with a penguin on it. He had lightly freckled cream skin. He wore navy Adidas shorts. He looked 4, still really little. His face was covered with crumbs from eating his sprinkle donut.
Aries was about 7, she had olive skin & auburn eyes. Her dark mahogany hair was in 2 braids. She wore a yellow dress with a sunflower around it’s waist. She wore Silver legging & metallic black high heels. Her nails even had sunflowers painted on them. She smiled at them & laughed a bit. She cartwheeled over to the rest of her friends.
Taurus seemed 11, he wore a checkered polo suit & formal jeans & shiny uggs. He had silver glasses & light tan skin. He had burnt sienna hair & chestnut eyes. “What are they doing here?” He asked. “They say they’re from the future.” Narmer responded. Tara & Bernadette rolled their eyes.
“What is the Demon Queen up to this time.” Gemini complained. “Let me guess, she wants to take over the world.” She seemed around 10. She had smooth, straight, short ochre brown hair in a ponytail. She had suntan skin & bronze eyes. She wore her berry blue, scented lip gloss. Her nails were painted with jewels.
Cancer appeared, he seemed 6 & looked really different, he wore a green hoody & brand new converse sneakers. Tara & Bernadette waved to him. “Who are you again.” He asked.
Leo seemed 9 & he had light cream skin. He had tawny hair, henna eyes & freckles. “I’m ready to show the demon queen what happens when she messes with me on a weekend!” “Leo, it’s Tuesday.” Narmer pointed out.
A girl about 12 with medium straight nut hair & blue highlights appeared, she had royal blue eyes & dark cream skin. She wore a blue tank top & ripped jeans. She wore metallic green high heels with wedges. She wore pink lipstick & scarlet eyeshadow to match with her mascara & eyeliner. Her nails background was painted with glitter & a large pink shell was in the center. “Is it just me or does everyone look younger?'' Tara whispered. She nodded at her.
A boy about 14 with buff black hair & khaki eyes teleported there. He wore a navy hoodie, grey runners & skinny jeans. Scorpio turned around, he had pale tan skin. “Hi you two.” He waved at them & then joined the other jewel owners.
Sagittarius was 15 he had dark tan skin & umber eyes. He had puce hair & wore a blue Adidas T-shirt, soccer shorts, a backwards baseball cap & light purple & lime green runners.
Capricorn had short chocolate hair & terra-cotta eyes, she was around 17, a bit older though. She had light fawn skin & wore red lipstick. She wore matching red eyeshadow with her mascara & eyeliner. She wore cranberry scented red velvet nail polish.
Pisces was 3 & had light saddle skin, He had bister hair & sepia eyes. He wore a tie dyed shirt & sport jeans. He wore rain boots & a clear see through rain jacket. He smiled at everyone. He opened his umbrella & trotted to his friends.
Lilac had long wavy mud brown hair & red/violet eyes. She wore a lavender purple dress. It was the same girl they saw in the future. She looked Bernadette's age. She smiled at them. Her nails were see through, still glazed though. She wore pale pink lipstick & mascara.
A girl with long wavy locks of navy black hair approached them. She had pale biscuit skin & & foggy green eyes. The 5 year old wore a pink tutu & her hair was in a bun. Bernadette gasped at how different Fay looked. “Fay is that you?” She shyly nodded.
“Listen everyone, we need to summon the angel queen. It’ll only work at the very top of the tower, come on.” He said. They raced to the top, while the girls slowly followed. Since there was water spraying down the railings so it was hard to walk up without slipping until they reached the top. They were on the 2nd highest floor before the roof, the highest floor before the roof was where the other 3 jewels were stored. They continued to climb up the slippery railings. Finally they made it to the roof of the tower. They had to cling to the pole at the top so they didn’t slip because of all the water pouring down; It wasn’t exactly not slippery but it would do for now.” “For the séance we need to hold hands & make a circle around the roof, you two just copy my words.” Narmer instructed. The 15 guardians stood on the roof & circle around the pole. Meanwhile, Tara & Bernadette clung onto the pole so they wouldn’t slip & fall hundreds of feet. They sang:
Our lives are full of gloom
We’re close to our doom
Protect us from the Demon Queen
We require your powers Angel Queen
After the chant, a beautiful girl who looked the opposite of the demon queen's grotesque appearance teleported above the pole. It had a face made of clouds that were glowing. It had pink & teal cotton candy hair. She had light violet eyes & red lips. Hovering above her hair was a crown made of pure gold. It was an angel, an angel queen. They let go of each other's hands & stepped back, except Tara & Bernadette who were still clinging to the pole. The Angel Queen who was hovering above the roof, slowly levitated down. “BTW my name is Railee.”
“Approach your jewels & ready your powers, you two stay on the roof with me.” She looked at Tara & Bernadette. “I’d like to speak to the manager of this tower.” Bernadette said. “I think I’m allergic to water.” Tara said, who was being sprayed with water nonstop.
“Invincibility.” The Jade shot a beam of light. “Duplication.” The snow quartz shot a beam of light. “Time travel.” The turquoise shot a beam of light. “Super Strength.” The Garnet shot a beam of light. “Mind control.” The Amethyst shot a beam of light. “Shape shifting.” The Aquamarine shot a beam of light. “To control lasers.” The diamond shot a beam of light. “Knowledge.” The Emerald shot a beam of light. “Force fields.” The pearl shot a beam of light. “Teleportation.” The Ruby shot a beam of light. “Invisibility.” The peridot shot a beam of light. “Flight.” The sapphire shot a beam of light. “Imagination.” The Opal shot a beam of light. “Telekinesis.” The citrine shot a beam of light. “Super Speed.” The Topaz shot a beam of light. Tara & Bernadette held hands around the pole. The pole absorbed all the jewels' powers & a rainbow light bursted into the sky. The Angel Queen had soft cotton skin & light pink, baby blue & lavender hair. She was wearing a glittery dark dress & sandals made of gold like her crown. “Copy my words.” Said the Angel queen. “Why does everyone keep saying that.” They murmured.
The gems won’t collide
No they won’t fade
No not Today
Or any other day
All the gems shone & shot beams of light into the sky. They appeared back in the present & the tower rose from the ashes in Hawaii in the present. The lights were so immense they were spread across the world. The demons turned into ash from the beautiful light display.
The demon queen quickly teleported to 2008 BC. “Hello sister.” She said. The Angel Queen charged at her. “Your gemstones powers may have obliterated my henchman, but you’ll never obliterate me.” The Angel Queen grabbed her golden staff & zapped it. “Hah, missed.” Jabbered the Demon Queen. “Wasn’t aiming for you.” The demon queen gasped as she saw that the angel queen had obliterated Fireum. The demon queen's face crumbled a modicum faster, her ashy face bled out & she turned into a 3 year old lady covered in blood. “Do you give up?” The Angel queen asked. Ashley tried to run away, but tripped over one of the seashells at the beach around the tower. “Bye bye sis.” She used her angel wings to fly above her sister. She raised her right hand & all the positive energy of the tower of power zapped the demon queen. “I'm melting, melting, I’m turning into Silver!” Said the Demon Queen. So then that was the end of that. “I kind of expected her to say something else.” Tara said. “Well no one can predict the future, not even with the Turquoise.” Bernadette said. They glanced down at the puddle of the Demon Queen's remains, which was a liquidy silver puddle, the sun shone on them & they turned into a silver bracelet. The angel queen slid the bracelet on her wrist & flew towards the two best friends. “I know this might be hard to hear, but these jewels need to stay in the past, I’ll use the turquoise to teleport you back to your parents . I need to ask this huge favor to you, I request that you don’t try & search for these jewels again. There will be a time where we must fight again but it’s not today & it might not be in your lifetime, the problem is, my sister is immortal like me & we don’t age.” “Well when that time comes.” Tara said. “We’ll be ready.” Bernadette finished. The Angel Queen smiled at them. “Don’t be sad,” the angel queen said, “you’ve done all 2 mortals can do, you should probably go & live your happily ever after, like all human fairy tales do.” Satisfied, Tara & Bernadette stepped into the portal The Angel queen created & returned back to the present.
Epilogue
Tara & Bernadette returned to the present, back in London, England. Their adventure seemed quite foggy. “You should keep on climbing, you’re really good at it.” “Thanks,” Bernadette replied, “you should try swimming.” “What do you mean?” She asked. “I’ve seen you swim in the future. You know when the cliff we were on crumbled after we got off bus G & you helped me swim to that island er tower.” “Really you think so!” Tara exclaimed. “There you two are, we were looking for you everywhere.” Bernadette's mom said. They turned around to see their parents had packed everything up. “Come on everyone our flight back home leaves in an hour.” Tara’s mom said. Bernadette's dad said. Bernadette elbowed Tara. “Race you to the airport.” “Hey!” Tara yelled. “Wait for me!”
On the back it said:
To find the Emerald you must head to Egypt of course you already know that. But the Emerald is in a pyramid in a specific section that is sealed off to the public tourists in the future, well for you present or recent past. Good luck finding the gems before the demon queen does. -Shirley
“Why don’t you do the honors?” Tara handed the Turquoise to Bernadette. :Ok Turquoise, teleport us to ancient Egypt, in the pyramid of Giza in the room of the Emerald.” She proclaimed.
When they arrived they were in a small room the 4 walls seemed to get thinner & thinner & thinner, until the 4 triangular walls met into a point, the tip of the room had a golden triangle. “We’re at the top of a pyramid!” Tara Exclaimed. “Well let’s start looking for the emerald then.” Proclaimed Bernadette. The 2 began to search. Tara looked over, under, & on the table’s, they had golden necklace’s hung on Egyptian sculptures. Painting & portrait frames hung on the wall of Egyptian gods & spirits. Bernadette carefully checked underneath them.
“Looking for this.” Boomed a voice. “Is that a mu-mu-mummy.” Stuttered Tara. “They’re not real Tara.” Bernadette protested. Behind Bernadette was a coffin, & it slowly creaked open & revealed a mummy. “I want my mommy!” Tara shrieked at the top of her lungs. The two sprinted away. Bernadette pulled out the trap door in the room at the top of the pyramid. They jumped out & Tara slammed the door back behind them. They landed on their nee’s & saw a pair of stairs leading down. They decided to go there until they saw a mummy walking up. They screamed & ran through the hallway.
After a few minutes of dodging mummy’s here & there, they found a nice empty coffin & decided to hide in it & guess what they found inside. No not a mummy, this story isn’t that predictable. “Are we safe?” Tara whispered once the footsteps faded. “Yeah.” Bernadette exhaled, “for now.” Tara laid at the back of the coffin. She felt something rough attached to the back of the coffin. Tara turned around. She saw a bright green light that blinded her eyes. It was the emerald.
“The Emerald.” Tara mustered, Bernadette turned her head & was shocked. “Ok 3,2, 1, pull!” Tara announced. She & Bernadette held on to the Emerald & pulled at the same time. Finally it got detached from the coffin & they fell out of the coffin.
A few dozen mummy’s surrounded them. “Um what was the Emeralds power again?” Tara nervously chuckled. “Grab the Opal & stall the mummies, hand me the map & the turquoise & it’s map.” “Hey Opal, make me a good fighter.” Tara announced, she held her Opal to the sky. The opal flashed & Tara was in a taekwondo uniform with an advanced Black belt. She began to imagine herself doing front & backflips & her kicks & punches making the mummies fly backwards & destroy. “That outta distract them.” Bernadette said. She unrolled the bigger scroll & pressed on the emerald section.
It said: The Emerald is known for its power to give even the simplest creature immense knowledge, it may not seem too epic to be a nerd or something but with this jewel you can know anything from anywhere at any time. With enough concentration you can even read minds. The owner of this jewel must be wise enough to know that some things are better left unseen. Make sure this jewel or any others for that matter don’t fall into the wrong hands.
Meanwhile Tara was doing a pretty good job taking on the mummies. She had sent quite a few of them back to the scraps of toilet paper where they came from. “Hey Bernadette.” Tara shouted, “how much longer do I have to deal with these things?” She asked.
Bernadette grabbed the emerald, along with the scrolls & the turquoise. “Hey Emerald!” She eagerly said. “How do I defeat these mummies?” The Emerald shone on it’s reflection: Show them light. The emerald beamed. All of a sudden the emerald grew so bright. Bernadette & Tara who was at the other side of the hallway ducked to protect their eyes from the light. All the mummy’s perished & turned into ash.
Tara hopped on over to Bernadette. “Quick let’s time travel back to flight to San Francisco, since time travel is on an enclosed loop the actual driver will be there.” “You’re using the Opal aren’t you?” She asked, “well aren’t you using the emerald.” Tara questioned back. Bernadette ignored her, “OK turquoise, don’t fail me now.”
The two of them arrived back in their first class seats. The plane to san francisco had landed & everyone was getting their luggage, “come on.” Their parents advised, “get your luggage.” Bernadette nudged her Bestie. “Still wanna be in LA.” “You know what I think I’ll give San Francisco a try.” Tara agreed, she was just glad to be back in the present.
Chapter 3 - Fast is Never Last!
A few weeks later, they arrived in Calgary during a marathon thrown in honor of the Calgary stampede in Bridgeland. Tara & Bernadette & their parents entered. “Tara, when we’re done with the marathon, let's look for the Topaz it’s supposed to be in this neighbourhood_-” Before Bernadette could continue Tara was off. The marathon had started & she was in the lead. In less than 10 minutes she made eit to the finish line finishing in the top 10. After she got her medal she ran to find the Topaz. While the other first place runners took breaks, Tara didn’t stop running. She came across a wealthy neighbourhood with huge backyards. In one of them she saw a huge orange jewel gleaming in a statue in their backyard. “I’ll write a sorry note for breaking in.” Tara jumped over the house's fence. The statue was of a young 8 year old girl, who was smiling as she held the large jewel, it was actually really realistic. Tara snatched it. Just as she did the statue broke out of the stone. It revealed an actual 8 year old girl. “Finally, that stupid topaz cursed me when I tried to steal it.” She got her broom & wand. “Give me the topaz or you’re stone.”
“Tara?” Bernadette asked. She had finished 15-20 minutes later. Usually Tara was never behind. “Excuse me sir have you seen a speedy 13 year old with long dark brown hair & hazel brown eyes?” The eyewitness pointed the direction Tara went. “Thank you so much.” She said. “She raced after Tara, hoping she didn’t get into much trouble.
“Who are you?” Tara asked as she used the Topaz to run even faster away from the witch. “Call me Trixie the Trickster.” She got her wand & started trying to zap Tara. Bernadette arrived after her long hunt for Tara. She gasped as she saw Trixie had cornered Tara. She saw Tara’s backpack containing all the jewels & grabbed the Opal from it.
Bernadette tiptoed towards Trixie. As Trixie prepared her spell, Bernadette prepared the Opal. “I know I’m a Virgo, not a Libra but please work with me.” As she whispered a boulder fell from the Sky onto Trixie & saved Tara. “Is that all it takes?” She asked Tara.
Chapter 4 - Beneath Bermuda
Even though Tara & Bernadette lived on the beach it still was a thrill to explore a new beach. “Where is the Bermuda triangle again?” Bernadette asked. Tara pulled out her phone, “according to google maps it’s not that far away.” She switched her phone in her pocket with her Opal. “Hey Opal, create a submarine.” A huge machine fell from the sky on the beach shore, it created a wave that splashed & soaked Tara & Bernadette. “All aboard the Tara.” She said.
Submerging into the depths of the ocean, they drifted towards the floor of the Bermuda triangle. While Tara steered the ship, Bernadette studied the map to try & locate the Pearl. “The map says the pearl sank in the cargo of the ship the princess, it was on its way to Eurupe, transporting Cargo to the king & queen until the ship crashed in the Bermuda triangle.” Bernadette pointed to a ship with the letters the princess on it. “Over there.” Tara stopped the submarine & they put on the submarine's scuba diving equipment.
The Princess was damaged badly over the years there was literally an open hole in the shipwreck that led to the treasure chests. “I have an idea, when we find the pearl, let's sell the rest of this stuff.” Bernadette nodded. Before they could scoop the treasure chests, they heard the submarines hatch open behind them.
Tara & Bernadette left the gemstones & maps in the submarine. When they turned around they saw a goblin in the submarine. They swam back to the submarine as fast as they could. “Greetings humans, I am Girl the goblin, a humble servant of the demon queen.” He said. “Oh no, not the Demon Quee…” Bernadette was interrupted by Tara’s laughter. “Girl, what kind of boy name is that!” Bernadette snickered with Tara. “Oh laugh all you want.” He said, “Tara & Bernadette are literally how you say Boy & Man in Goblish.” “Your language is weird.” Bernadette said. “Hey! That’s racist.” He yelled. “When humans eat cows it’s not racist.” Tara said. “Could you have possibly used a better example?” Bernadette sighed, “what Tara means to say is like cows when a human says or does something mean to a cow or a goblin it’s not racist because you’re not a human, you should have used a differant term buddy.”
“Well bye cows.” He cackled. Girl the goblin was gonna go back to the surface but it took him awhile to figure out how to control the submarine. “We’re doomed!” Tara cried, “& we’re powerless.” “Tara are you creative & unique just because of the Opal?” She shook her head, “are you weak without the power of the topaz?” She shook her head. “Well I’m not dumb without the emerald & I’m not lazy without the help of the turquoise. Tara we got these gemstones in the first place using our skills not their powers, & we can use them to get the gemstones back.”
“I have an idea.” Tara announced. Bernadette sighed in relief. “The pearls' power is to create force fields basically allowing us to breathe underwater right.” Bernadette nodded. “Well I only imagined the submarine having enough equipment for 2 people in our sizes, do you get what I’m saying here?” She shook her head. “While you look for just the pearl I’ll use my taekwondo to quickly kick the submarine's window, breaking it, then I’ll use my self defence to quickly knock him out of the submarine & grab the gemstones & maps. You’ll float over with the pearl & use it to create a force field around us & the maps & gemstones. Then while you control the force field I’ll command the Opal to create a device to launch us back to the surface of the Havana beach, since the scuba diving suits will disappear with the submarine that’s why I need the force field. So for Girl, um...rest in peace.” “Where’s the Pearl though?” A glowing white light blinded the two of them, surrounded by the treasure chests. Bernadette swam to the pearl, while Tara swam to the submarine.
Finally, Girl was starting to get the hang of the submarine, until Tara tornado kicked the window. She shoved Girl out of the submarine, who was drowning. She grabbed the Gemstones & the maps. Bernadette swam towards her & created a force field. “Opal, replace the submarine with a device that can launch the force field back to the Havana beach.” So like a missile they launched out of the ocean. “Opal, give me & Bernadette a parachute!” Bernadette dissolved the force field back to the pearl, slowly they started landing back to the beach. Bernadette's eyes grew as she saw her dad approaching, she hid the gemstones & the map behind her back, but couldn’t hide the parachute.
“Girls,” Bernadette’s dad said, “where did you get the parachute?” He asked as they landed. “It came from this parachute place.” Tara said.“That closes in 5 minutes, oh that reminds me, me & Tara have to return it ASAP.” “Oh well.” he said. Tara & Bernadette dragged the parachute away, once they were a safe distance away from Bernadette’s dad, Tara told the Opal to make the parachute perish.
Chapter 5 - Our Cruise
Tara & Bernadette's parents bought a ferry to explore South America it went from the amazon rainforest to the coast of Peru. They were keeping their eyes peeled for the garnet. “Would you care for a drink?” The waiter asked. While their parents were talking to the waiter, Tara & Bernadette noticed he had a large Garnet in his sack. It was the exact size & shape as the other gemstones. “Anything for you two ladies?” The waiter asked. “We would like to order something,” Tara said, “truth.” “Tara, that’s too harsh.” Bernadette interrupted, “excuse me sir but we couldn’t help but notice the large garnet in your purse, did you find it on monkey island by any chance?” “You know.” He gasped. “Sir, we’re on a mission, on our world tour we’re searching for gemstones before the demon queen.” Tara showed the maps & the gemstones. “If we could just borrow it, we would be ever so grateful.” The man nodded & handed them the garnet. “I trust you two.” Tara & Bernadette got a little worried about what might happen if they failed.
Later on the ferry ride a giant purple squid emerged from the ocean. While everyone was terrified, Tara's mouth was watering. " Yum, seafood." Tara said, the squid grabbed her with his tentacles and squeezed her so hard it seemed like her eyes were popping out of their mind. "Let go of me!" She bit the squid, "tastes better cooked." "No." He said. There was a slight minute of silence. "Now can you let me go." "Still no." Muttered the squid. While Tara was busy with the squid Bernadette led everyone off the Ferry into a lifeboat where they paddled for the nearby coast of Peru. Sye created a force field so she could stand on the water. While Tara and the squid were arguing, Bernadette used the garnet's super strength to lift up the ferry, it honked two times before She hit the squid with the boat and the boat and squid went flying. They used the pearl to create a force field to breathe underwater to catch up to their parents at the coast of Peru.
When Tara & Bernadette arrived at Machu Picchu it was a sight to behold. While their parents went sightseeing, Tara & Bernadette began searching for the peridot in Machu Picchu's ruins. “I found it!” Tara exclaimed. Bernadette rushed over. She saw the peridot in the tomb of the sun king. Tara picked it up & put it in her backpack with all the other gemstones. All of a sudden it became very chilly. A cloud shaped like a skull appeared in the sky. "Well it's great you're halfway done but beware, I will find you & I will imprison your souls for eternity you might as well stop.” The cloud faded away, again both girls were petrified & stuck to the spot
Chapter 6 - Pass Me a Donut
Snap! Bernadette took a picture of Africa’s beautiful landscape with her camera. “Any news on the Citrine?” Tara asked. They & their parents were on a safari. Tara assumed it was a petting zoo.” “Can I pet the lion?” “No.” The parents said. “Can I pet this Madagascan harrier-hawk?” “No.” The parents said. “Can I pet the Barba Amarilla snake?” “No.” The parents said. “Can I climb Mount Kilimanjaro?” “Later.” Bernadette whispered as she continued to take photos of the landscape.
After the Safari, they went to their hotel rooms. At night Tara tiptoed out of her bed, she nudged Bernadette. “What is it Tara?” She yawned. “Quick, let’s head to Mount Kilimanjaro & get the citrine.” “Give me 5 more minutes.” “Ugh.” Tara groaned.
They tiptoed out of their beds, Bernadette used her credit card to book a bus trip to Mount Kilimanjaro. When they got out of the bus gasped as they saw the enormous mountain. “It’s a simple solution to speed up getting the citrine before morning, we use our powers.” “No,” Bernadette protested, “we shouldn’t become dependent on these jewels, we use them when we need them. For now we’re climbing.” “Bernadette we can’t climb!” “I can.” Bernadette said. “Hold the maps & jewels while I climb Kilimanjaro. This is who I used to be.” So Bernadette started the climb of Mount Kilimanjaro.
Tara nervously waited for Bernadette to return with the Citrine. Meanwhile, through biting winds & freezing temperatures, Bernadette climbed Mount Kilimanjaro. This reminded Bernadette of what she did when she was Tara’s age. The memory was sad but true, despite her embarrassing memory Bernadette persisted at Mount Kilimanjaro. She regretted not using any of the gemstones to help her like Tara suggested & climbing the mountain on her own.
In not even an hour, Bernadette climbed to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro, not only was she the youngest person to do it, she was also the quickest. She glanced down from the mountain, the view was amazing. Then she reminded herself that’s not why she’s here. She searched for the golden citrine, she guessed it was hidden beneath the mountain's snow. She suddenly realized it was foolish to wear a crop top & shorts to climb a mountain.
Bernadette's hands were frozen from digging up the snow. Finally she found the citrine. First she Immediately used her new telekinesis to make mits, a coat & a donut (Well Duh she was hungry) come to her from a nearby mini mart. Then she lifted a boulder & hopped on it, she moved it back down the mountain. “Bernadette! You were amazing, without powers it took you less than an hour.” Tara hugged her BFF.
Chapter 7 A disappointment
On Oceania, Tara & Bernadettes parents rented a boat to explore. “May I drive?” Bernadette asked. “Sure you can.” Her mom said. “Can I drive the boat?” Tara asked. “Sweetie, I’m sorry but you have to be at least 14.” Her dad said. Tara fell on her nee’s. “Why was I born in October!” “You can be my first mate.” “Eh, it’s better than being a maid.” She sat beside the drivers chair.
They stopped the boat to explore the largest of the 3 disappointment islands, disappointment island. Tara & Bernadette explored it’s subtropical forest, it was freezing. The palm tree’s swooned back & forth as Tara & Bernadette ventured into the dancing forest. They saw a palm tree significantly larger than all the others. The crown of the forest was a palm tree whose crown was a large shiny diamond resting upon its head. “Tara, the diamond.” “I got this.” She said. She leaped onto the thick branches of the tree & grabbed the Diamond. She snatched a few Palm tree leaves to parachute her way down the tree.
A shrieking woman's voice broke through the island. Tara & Bernadette fell down on their news & covered their ears tightly. “You brat!” They turned around thinking it was just their imagination. “Not only did you steal my engagement ring, but you pulled out my hair! My wedding is next week!” “Definitely not hearing things.” Tara whispered.
“Who is your fiancé?” Bernadette asked. “A guy named girl.” Tara & Bernadette gulped. “You don’t say.” Tara said. “Ms. Palm-Tree, I’m sorry to say this but I accidentally think we drowned your fiancé.” “What the!” She screamed. “How would you like it if I drown you!” “We’re on land.” Tara said. “What will I do without him!” “Die single & alone?” Tara muttered. Bernadette elbowed her. “Listen you don’t need your fiancé to be happy. You’re a remarkable woman, I mean tree. You don’t need to get married to be happy, life is so much more.” “You’re right!” Said t tree. “Forget about boys, I have so much more important things to worry about.” Before the tree lady could continue, Tara & Bernadette parachuted out of the forest with the diamond. Once they landed they dashed back to the boat.
So they continued their peaceful boat trip only to get interrupted by a huge warship. “Halt!” Called a voice. It was none other that Vladimir Putin & his troops, “surrender everything or things might get ugly.” “You must have misunderstood us, we come on peace, we're just on vacation!” Tara’s mom cried. “Tara, wasn’t there a gemstone in Russia.” She nodded, “the aquamarine the power of shapeshifting. I know the demon queen has tons of henchmen but is Putin & Russian troops her henchmen?” “The demon queen says they’ll be hiding.” Bernadette thought. “Of course.” Tara interrupted. “One of the demons has the aquamarine & used its power of shapeshifting to look like Putin & order his troops to rob us.” “How do we save ourselves without our parents finding out our powers?” Before Tara could answer they were attacked by teargas. “Surrender or it’s WW3!” He yelled, “you don’t wanna mess with us, cause we have bears.”
“Guys,” Tara said, “you 4 try to negotiate like adults while we’ll hide & call the cops.” “Ok, but be careful,” Tara’s dad said. Tara & Bernadette paddled towards the ship. They used their jewels to fight the Russian guards. Tara used her Opal to create a giant unicorn that trampled over the guards. Bernadette used the Turquoise to time travel back & forth to punch the guards. Tar used the Topaz to dodge the soldiers' bullets. Bernadette used her knowledge to read the henchman's minds to predict their moves. Tara used her Invisibility to sneak up on the soldiers. Bernadette used her super strength to ambush the army. While Tara called the cops, the fake Putin was distracted by Tara & Bernadette's parents pleading so Bernadette snatched the aquamarine & shapeshifted into an army guard so now one would spot her. It took the fake Putin a while to notice he was back in his demon form, he probably found out when the army tackled. They swam back to their boat, while the cops arrested all the naughty soldiers. It turns out Putin was just an evil demon who shapeshifted into a dictator. They were celebrated by their parents for saving them & ‘calling the cops’ but Bernadette & Tara didn’t feel like they deserved the hero’s welcome. It was a close call, their secret was almost discovered.
Chapter 8 - Are there more?
Throughout the rest of their trip Tara & Bernadette were way too stressed out to enjoy. When they visited China, they didn’t see any sight of the jade. Bernadette explained that the wall wraps all around China & is over 5 thousand miles long. Later that evening, Tara begged Bernadette to come with her to a bamboo forest, ever since Tara was young, her favourite animal was a panda. As they ventured into the forest, they heard whispering behind them. Tara & Bernadette at first ignored it until the whispers grew. They readied their powers. A figure emerged from the bush. “Is it a panda?” Tara asked. “ A girl with jade green eyes & short black hair approached them. She carried a sword & a shield. She had a large jade decorated with gold and was used as a hairclip. “Nope.” She replied.
“The name’s Fay Eng. What are you two doing here?” “I’m Tara & this is Bernadette.” She pointed at her. “Wait is that jade in your gold hair clip, a gemstone?” “Obviously.” She said. “By the looks of it you’ve got 1 demon jewel, 9 human jewels & an unknown human jewel you discovered in the past.” Both girls were confused. “Look on earth there is 12 months, but on Fireum there are 3 months, it’s 4 times bigger than the earth, 0.25 astronomical units away from our sun. It spins 4 times faster though. So that’s why you never see it, you only see the dark side at night. It’s also on fire. You guys may not remember but when you two went to Paris you discovered the Amethyst without any instructions.” “Wait what?” They said.
Flashback: “Thanks for taking me to Paris for the summer mom.” Tara was holding her parents hands, while they were touring the seine. “No problem sweetie, I always knew you liked fashion design, so I thought, where in the world is the world's capital of fashion designing?” “Where?” Tara asked. “Here silly.” Her dad replied. “Oh.” Tara understood. Tara had had short curly brown hair, & wore mascara & eyeliner & lipstick & eyeshadow. She wore a fancy blue dress with silver hearts on it, which she made. “Well Tara, me & your mom signed you up for a kids fashion designing contest at the top of the Eiffel tower.” “I can’t wait!” Tara exclaimed, “do you think they’ll like my heart dress. Tara’s mom kissed her cheek. “They’ll love it.”
“Beinvenue, everyone to the third annual jr fashion designing contest. I’m your host Marvin,” “& I’m the judge Sarina , Listen up you brats! You think you got a chance to win, well you’re wrong. You’re not special, you’re just a couple of whiny brats!” “I’m getting Deja Vu, that lady over there sounds mean.” Tara whispered to her parents as Margot continued her speech. “Don’t worry, not even the most bratty fashion designer in the world can take away that trophy from you.” Her dad patted Tara on the back, she gulped. “Is she the meanest?” Tara sniffled, her mom elbowed her husband. “Ahem, you’re getting in her head.” “When it comes to adults, not kids, because they’re adorable.” Her dad corrected. “I started elementary school, dad.” Tara said. The background noise grew & it eventually turned out to be Mert announcing & not Margret screaming. “Well our first contestant is Aaron Aveline, let’s give a big round of applause for,” “Let’s not encourage them,” Margret interrupted once again. “They’re still at the A’s.” Tara’s mom said. Tara clenched her fists in fear as she watched in horror the critiques Margret delivered.
After Levi Loup was called Tara knew she would be next. After Levi finished, Mert announced an intermission break. “Heuff.” Tara said , relieved, she turned around to see a girl a few years older than her climbing the Eiffel tower. She walked a couple flights of stairs to reach her. “Hey whatcha doing?” She asked the strange girl. She had golden blonde hair in a French braid. “Duh, climbing the tower.” “Isn’t it dangerous?” She asked. “Not if Aunt Margret doesn’t catch you.” “She’s your aunt? Dad says she’s a spoiled diva. “You’re in that talent show right?” she asked. Tara nodded, “You’ll ever believe what a rant she gave about it, she doesn’t really like giving stuff out for free, considering she’s a cheapskate, to get that trophy you’re gonna have to give her a gift of some sorts, she’s too uptight & bratty to see it as a bribe.” “Thanks, um.” “Bernadette, Bernadette Bayonet.” She continued, “my parents are here on a vacation but I’m actually from Hawaii.” “Me too!” Tara interrupted, “my name is Tara Mariah-Akana.” Bernadette lowered down her rope & jumped inside the Eiffel tower, where she unbuckled her harness. “Nice to meet you.”
“Tara, Tara Mariah-Akana,” Marvin said. “Let me guess she’s late.” Sarina complained. “You better hurry.” Bernadette said, “my aunt’s pretty impatient.” Tara nodded. She raced back to the fashion designing show. Tara grabbed her purse & got out her glittery magenta necklace. “Don’t tell me she designed that dress she’s wearing” ,Sarina said as Tara walked towards her. “You’re just jealous.” She murmured, “I spent 360 hours designing it.” “Speak up?” Sarina asked. “I said, this isn’t what I designed, I know I obviously can’t design anything, so I’m presenting something you designed, the necklace you created when you were my age, the very first thing you designed & now the only thing you’ve ever designed that somehow sells all around the world.” Tara’s mom slapped her face, luckily Sarina was busy posing herself to notice the insult. “I am quite talented.” “1st place!” Sarina declared. “But I haven't even,” “Nobody cares Gerold!” She interrupted.
On the flight back home Tara placed her trophy in the empty first class seat beside her. “Is this seat taken?” Bernadette asked. “Technically no if you paid for it which makes it yours, but in my defence I thought it was empty.” Tara turned her gaze from her trophy to Bernadette. “Cool trophy.” She said. “I found this huge amethyst at the top of the Eiffel tower.” She sat down beside Tara. “I can’t believe you’re from Hawaii.” Tara said. “It really is a small world.” She replied. “Tara guess what.” Her mom said. “I met Bridgette & she’s from Hawaii too.” “Me & Maia are both geologists.” Bernadette's mom said. “Bleh, geology.” They both said at the same time. “I know! Me too!” They said in unison. “& Bernadette's dad is named George.” “& there is no bad person named George.” The other George replied. “I also hate the name George.” Bernadette said. “Same!” Tara replied. “Hey!” The George’s said. The rest of the plane ride was laughter.
“I can see you’re confused, but let me explain. The story of the gemstones. Once there were two twins Ashley & Railee. One was pure good & one was pure evil. Ashley found joy in other people's suffering & Railee found joy in watching other people learn & grow. Eventually, the 2 twins began showing supernatural powers. Railee & Ashley’s 15 friends, Aries April, Taurus May, Gemini June, Cancer July, Leo August, Virgo September, Libra October, Scorpio November, Sagittarius December, Capricorn January, Aquarius February, Pisces March, Lilac Iravani, Narmer Noe & me were known for having created a jewel that could contain a superpower to share their superpower with the world.15 jewels were created, 3 belonged to Ashley the more powerful ones & the other 12 belonged to Railee. Ashley created Fireum, 4 times larger than earth. Railee created Earth which was 4 times smaller than fireum, but had 4 times more population. But, Ashley wanted to have earth & it’s gemstones as her own too. To save the earth & keep the peace between the 2 planets she stole Fireums 3 gemstones & scattered the 15 gemstones & her friends dedicated their lives to hiding them. She made sure humans never knew of the monsters on Fireum & that Ashley would never be able to leave her planet. Unfortunately her henchman could.”
“How will we find the other jewels?” Tara asked, “Unfortunately, the snow quartz belongs to the Demon Queen in this present, the Sapphire & Ruby haven’t been found. “How will we convince our parents to bring you to Iceland & England?” She asked. “Give me the peridot, it’s power is Invisibility, duh. I’ll sneak on the plane.
After Tara & Bernadette’s plane landed, after they left the airport they explored the geysers around them. One of the most famous of these was the famous volcano, Hekla. A boy with ginger hair & russet eyes walked up to Fay. “Long time no see Fay.” “Cancer, could you please lead us to the Ruby?” She asked, “Sure thing.” “Bernadette keep your forcefields on high alert, we’re gonna take a vacation with lava.” Fay said. Tara & Bernadette exchanged worried glances as they reluctantly followed Fay & Cancer.
The climb up the mountain was vigorously dangerous. Halfway up the volcano a rock slide occurred. Fay got her sword & sliced it up into snowflake sized rocks. Which still hurts a little if they hit you. Especially if dozens are tumbling towards you at huge speeds. Then there were biting winds that would make you tumble away with the tumbleweeds below.
When they reached the top of the mountain. Bernadette activated the forcefield. “Tara do you think you could imagine something to help track down the ruby?” “Like what?” Tara questioned. “Well you two, rubies are made of aluminum oxide.” Cancer said. “Do you expect us to know geology?!” Tara yelled. “What’s wrong with geology?” Fay asked. “Both our parents are geologists & it’s so annoying to hear them say stuff like how carbon gets pressured into diamonds but a snow quartz is a microcrystalline quartz, which essentially are like diamonds except with way less pressure, which also makes them more common & Etc., like how is that similar, yeah I just forgot what I said.” “Your explanation is a bit off.” Fay said, “Jades, my favourite are either made of a silicate of calcium and magnesium in the amphibole group of minerals called nephrite or a silicate of sodium and aluminium in the pyroxene group of minerals which is called called Jadeite_-” “Enough! You’ve murdered my brain.” Tara interrupted. “Wow, why are 7th graders so bratty.” Fay complained. “I graduated from 8th grade.” Tara crossed her arms. Fay shrugged. “Enough!” Cancer said, “if we want to find the ruby, we shouldn’t be standing here on the edge of a volcano.” “Yeah, yeah, that makes sense.” The others mumbled in agreement.
Tara imagined an aluminum oxide tracker to track the ruby, while Bernadette readied the force field in case a bit of Lava shot through the volcano. The 4 of them glided down into the volcano/geyser, the hill was so steep that the sphere shaped force field literally rolled down the mountain. The 4 of them fell on their stomachs as the force field continued to fall down the mountain. The Emerald shown & showed a scientist with a diorama of the earth, “did you know if a hole was drilled through the earth you could reach the other side of the world in just under 45 minutes, reaching speeds up to over 27 kilometers per hour, wow.” “Thanks science guy.” Tara said. “Any luck, wha.” Bernadette said as the force field hit a bump down the mountain. Laying down Tara raised her aluminum oxide tracker & a big red X appeared on it’s screen. “No-oh-Pa-e.” TAra struggled to say, since her face stuck to the force field's friction, with all the bumps. “Ah it stopped.” Tara stood up in the force field.”
“Is it just me or is it getting hot in here?” Tara asked. “We’re in the mantle, of course it’s burning.” He said. “I wish I brought my water bottle.” She muttered. They were at the bottom of the volcano. Her aluminum oxide tracker beeped. “Halt the force field it’s here.” Cancer said. “Over there!” Bernadette pointed. She created another force field around it & dragged both the force fields back up.
Once they were out of the Volcano, Cancer handed Bernadette the Ruby. “Bye.” He waved. “Wait, Cancer, where are you going?” Bernadette asked. “To take a swim in the volcano, I’m immune, oh & I asked the doctors & they said it’s incurable. He waved bye & continued on his way. “I have to go too, I have to return to my post & guard the Jade.” “Isn’t it in your hair clip?” Tara asked. “Or maybe one is a fake.” She said. Tara & Bernadette turned to face each other & said real/fake at the same time. There was a flash of green light & Fay was gone. Her hair clip shone, which was still there. “Haha, told you it’s the real one,” Tara said as she scooped up the hair clip.
Chapter 9 - Our signs
“Hey Bernadette,” Tara said, “how come you didn’t tell me you found that Amethyst?” “Tara, I told you, I swear I didn’t know it was one of them.” “Really,” Tara questioned, Bernadette sighed & shook her head. “Bernadette, we’re never going to save the world if you can’t tell me the truth.” “Tara, I used the Amethyst to get you to not freak out about the Demon Queen but I did, you don’t do well with stress & I_-” “Oh really did you brainwash me!” Tara interrupted. “I may be 3 years younger but I’m not a kid! I’m a teenager!” She grabbed the Amethyst, but Bernadette slapped it right back at her face. The two started slapping & pushing each other. “OK! That’s it.” They yelled, “Goodbye worst friend forever.” Tara unbuckled her seatbelt & stood up to walk towards the plane's exit. “Excuse me mam, the plane ride isn’t over.” The flight attendant said.
When they reached London, England, Tara & Bernadette immediately took off their separate ways, Bernadette headed towards Queen Elizabeth's castle & Tara took off to Big Ben. “Dumb Tara, So what if accidently mind controlled her.” She murmured. “Excuse me.” A guard said, “you’re not to trespass, it’s the Queens home.” “Shut up Bob.” Bernadette said. “That’s not my na_-” “Hey have you ever done something wrong to like protect someone.” She asked. “Well once a thug came to rob the Queen so I shot him in the head with a harpoon gun & well he died, but hey what matters is that the Queen is safe.” “Thanks Bob.” Bernadette tried to hug the guard but he stuck out his hand. “Don’t patronise me Miss.” The guard said.
Tara arrived at Big Ben & bought a ticket to the site. She raced to the elevator that led to the top of Big Ben. Once she reached the top, she noticed a shiny blue object above Big Ben’s bell. Tara looked at her feet. She was standing on glass several hundred feet in the air. Carefully, she walked over to the bell & then tried to climb it. She slipped on the golden metal, after a few tries she decided to use her jewels, but then she remembered what Bernadette said about getting the jewels without her powers but her skills. She got a lump in her throat. Tears filled up her yes. “Maybe I shouldn’t have yelled at her, she was just trying to help.” She reached into her backpack & realised that the Jewels & scrolls were gone. Tara fell on her back in frustration, I lost my jewels, I lost my best friend & I’m lost…” She turned around to see she was completely lost in one of the biggest cities in the world. She sighed. She was interrupted by a girl in blue, who seemed to have the same style as Bernadette. “Please don’t say you give up that easily,” Tara turned her head behind her to see that girl sitting on the top of the bell behind her. She stood up & turned around. “How’d you climb up it so fast? It took me like half an hour.” “It’s not so hard.” She levitated off the bell, “when you can fly.” “Well Duh.” Tara said, “flying makes everything easier.” She said. “But it makes your life harder.”
Bernadette ran from the queen's castle, she realised, she didn’t have her phone or wallet, but she had all the jewels & the maps. She couldn’t call her parents to let them know where in London she was. She was lost, lost without her BFF, she got a lump in her throat, tears filled her eyes. I lost my valuables, I lost my Best Friend & I’m lost.” She shouldn’t had mind controlled Tara to make the Demon Queen seem like way kess of a deal, she should have let her handle the truth like she did, she understood why she was so upset, Tara was always either complaining about growing up, or people treating her like way to much of a kid, she silently thought to herself. A few raindrops crashed on her arms. Bernadette was wearing short jeans with holes on them & a converse crop top with matching sneakers, but nowhere in her outfit did she have an umbrella. She fell on her news on the empty abbey road & covered her arms from the rain, shivering. Tears fell from her eyes, it fell on the road with a raindrop, making a large puddle & out of that puddle a figure emerged from the ground. “Bernadette looked away from her news & saw a girl in a hot pink dress. “I know what it’s like to have a fight with your best friend, you see when people get mad, well they explode, you think there’s no way to prevent it & you think it’s all their fight, but if you don’t put yourself in other people's shoes, you will always stay in that one crusty old ugly pair.” She said. “So should I buy new shoes?” Bernadette asked. “Converse isn’t exactly cheap, wait you & Tara have the same style, you both design your own clothes...Wait are you THE LIBRA OCTOBER.” She nodded. “There is no way to control someone's feelings, but you can prevent them by putting yourself in their shoes & READING THEIR SOCIAL CUES. You see Bernadette, when I first met Virgo we were Frenemies, she kept on spreading fake rumors about me & I well I guess I was being quite bratty around her...See try it! Put yourself in her shoes.” “But I.” “I’m kidding I heard your whole conversation to yourself.” She glared at her. “I’m guessing you're mad at me.” She said.
“What do you mean?” Asked Tara. “If you can fly, it’ll always make what you struggled before easier, but with superpowers comes super challenges.” She said. “Wait are you THE VIRGO SEPTEMBER.” Virgo nodded. “Sometimes people lie about things to keep other people from worrying or you already knew & she used the Amethyst to mind control you to relax about the fact that the Demon Queen is hunting you.” “WAIT WHAt” Tara’s mind control faded. “Tara!” Bernadette burst into the room from the elevator. I’m sorry.” She said. Tara skipped toward her & hugged her. “It’s OK, I know you were trying to stop me from worrying.”
Using the sapphire & her powers, Virgo floated towards them, Libra followed with an umbrella she created with her powers. “See,” Tara said, “what’s wrong with an umbrella.” “I never said there was anything wrong with a.” Bernadette stopped, “never mind.” Virgo passed them the sapphire. All of a sudden the Big Ben bell started ringing, not just in normally but nonstop, but it seemed to be playing a certain song, A demonic song. Virgo Immediately flew away. “Libra! What’s going on!?” Tara asked. The glass floor beneath them began to crack. The bell rang louder & louder. “The demon queen is here!” Libra yelled, “She’s opening a portal to,” Libra was interrupted by the Big Ben Bell falling on top of her. Luckily, she immediately used her magic to teleport away. Unluckily for Tara & Bernadette as the glass began to crumble, so did the floor they were standing on, the cracks on the glass turned blood red. Through the towers crumbling ash Tara & Bernadette searched for each other with the blinding crumbling glass ceiling just over their heads. Crawling they tried to get their phones & wallets & maps & gems. “Bernadette, I think we’re going to face the Demon Queen, guess we can’t avoid her forever.” “Well whatever she’s like in person we’ll face her together.” Bernadette said. Or, they thought.
Bernadette woke up & immediately started searching for Tara, “Tara, where are you? Tara!” She stopped because she tripped, she stood up once more & noticed the skeleton wasn’t any other skeleton, but it was a skeleton of a human teen, it looked so motionless & lifeless, she turned around to see dozens more skeletons, some were tall, some were short, some were boys some were girls, but these skeletons all had one thing in common, the same terrified expression planted on their face. One caught her eye, the remains of her skeleton showed she was most probably a 13 year old girl. Bernadette gasped, Tara. Tears fell to her eyes, at first she thought it was Tara, but because of all the rust it looked like that skeleton had been there for nearly a century & low & behold, she was still 16. Bernadette looked around, somehow this planet had an atmosphere & the temperatures seemed quite cool, yet chilly, but not burning or anything. She approached the average demon who was for some reason, um measuring the temperature of the skeletons with some sort of thermometer? Well at least that’s what Bernadette thought. “Excuse me.” Bernadette tapped the demons back, she immediately retreated her hand, his temperature scathed her hand. “Ouch,” she muttered. He turned around, “yes.” He said. “Hi um, I was wondering if this is Fireum?” “What kind of question is that! Of course it is!” “Well I um, I guess I was misled.” “Ughh, those angels make it out to be some sort of nightmare!” “You mean it’s not?” She asked. The demon rolled his eyes, ‘need some medicine for your hand?” Bernadette took one look at his sharp nails & felt like she was hit in the head with a shovel. “Aww, thanks hon, but I think I’ll pass, you know what they say, laughter is the best medicine.” She laughed. “That totally doesn’t sound forced.” “Hey I have a question, do you mind answering it?” “It’s not like I have anything better to do.” He muttered. “Great thanks! So um, what is your temperature?” “100 degrees Celsius.” “Are you kidding me!” Bernadette spat out, “that’s the temperature water boils at.” “I don’t know if you know this but on Fireum,” he grabbed the front of her shirt. “There’s only FIRE!” He yelled. Bernadette slapped him. “Ow! Not my other hand!” She yelled. “Oh BTW the Demon Queen ordered me to execute, I mean escort you to her palace. Your little friend is in custody. “Wait what?” She was interrupted by the demon grabbing her hands & dragging her to the palace. “Hey!” She yelled. “You’re burning my hands!” “You doofus they were already burnt.” He continued to drag her. “Ow, you’re burning my skin! The flesh... It burns, it burns!”
Bernadette was dragged to a castle made of bones. The blood of her enemies filled the moat. Inside the castle, the walls were made of skin & meat, which forgot to get it’s remaining blood scraped off, Bernadette guessed this is what happened to the Demon Queen's enemies. After a while she couldn’t even feel the burning because she could barely feel her hands. Finally, the demon let go of her, she fell on her knees but the floor was lava not like the game or literally, but still. She immediately jumped back up, her sneakers were burning, but it was better than sitting on bare news. Maybe she should have followed Libra’s advice & bought new shoes, heatproof ones. On her skull throne the demon queen sat, unsatisfied. She was licking her blood flavoured lollipop with her serpent tongue.
Tara dashed into the room. Annoyed, the demon queen stood up & grabbed the Snow quartz. She duplicated from 1-2, 2-4, & then 4-8. Since Tara had all the gems, she flew outside the castle & used her super strength to grab a sharp bone from the walls, she flew back inside & stabbed the 1st copy of the demon queen. She mind controlled the second copy to zap herself into dust. The remaining 6 demons surrounded her. She shape shifted into the demon queen, since the more copies there are the dumber they get, they thought it was themselves & didn’t attack. Tara used her laser eyes to zap the copy of the demon queen in front of her to ashes. She changed back to her normal self. She used her telekinesis to grab the bones from outside the palace & flung the sharp bones at the copies. The remaining 5 of them tried to dodge, but one of them wasn’t successful. She used her speed to dodge the spells the demon Queens cast at her & read their minds to know their every move. She used force fields to stop the demon queen's spell balsts from hitting her. She used her invisibility to punch the 3rd copy. She used her time travel to confuse the 2nd copy, which it eventually blasted itself in confusement. She Imagined a jack hammer & chased the last copy.
The demon queen reverted back to normal. Tara snatched the snow quartz from her. She grabbed Bernadette's hand & they raced out of the crazy place. “Are you OK?” She asked. “Yeah, I’m just happy to leave.” They raced out of the palace. Bernadette used the pearl to create force fields around their heads so they could breath once they flew in space. Tara grabbed the sapphire from her backpack & they launched into space. After a while, they noticed the Demon Queen & her guards were flying behind them in a spaceship. “I will invade your planet, it turns out the snow quartz was the thing keeping me from leaving the planet.” The Demon Queen cackled. It was the collide of the gems. Quickly the two of them grabbed the ruby to teleport home. But they accidentally grabbed the turquoise.
Chapter 10 - The Collide of the Gems
When Tara & Bernadette woke up they were on a smooth rock, it was cream & looked polished. “Ughhh!” moaned Tara, “what happened… & Why are we wet?” Bernadette gazed at the floor “Probably because of all this water.” She replied. “Water, but…” Tara gazed down, she was standing in water up to her toes. “Where are we even?” The last thing Tara remembered was she & Bernadette trying to teleport home but accidentally time traveled home, but when they thought to go home, the turquoise assumed they meant their home in Hawaii. “every single gem is here…”Tara said. “Seriously you’re joking righ…” Bernadette realised that Tara wasn’t lying, every single gem but the turquoise, snow quartz & jade was floating 3 feet above a bright white rock.
Shocked, Bernadette stood up & looked around. She was standing on a huge tower one with almost a hundred circle shaped floors. At the top was a dome with a long needle, which was pouring water down the entire tower. Every single floor was covered in water, even the stairs were covered in water, but like only an inch deep. Surrounding the tower was the floor of the lake. It was covered in seashells & precious gems. There were even a few hundred gems in the beach surrounding the lake. Bernadette tried to think what country or city could have such a beautiful tower, but in the end she came empty.
Turning around Bernadette walked towards Tara. “Tara, look around you, this place is amazing, look around you, I wonder how the government even had a tenth of the money to build this. A 8 year old boy with blonde hair & amber eyes stepped towards them. Bernadette immediately recognized him, he was the grumpy guard in England back in the present and future. “I supposed you never heard of the Na Kapena o ikaika loa, I doubt you even know what that means.” “We do” responded Tara “we live in hawaii we know how to speak Hawaiian & English.” “& Na Kapena o ikaika loa means the tower of powerfulness” uttered Bernadette “speaking of which we live in Hawaii, how come we’ve never seen this before.”
I’m guessing you are from the future…” he remarked “Future how is the twenty first century future!” whined Tara. “The twenty-first century after BC, am I correct.” “Yes” exclaimed Bernadette. “Well this is 2008 BC. ‘Wait,” Tara said, “how far did we go?” “Who are you?” Bernadette asked. “My name is Narmer” “Wait, you created the snow quartz.” Bernadette said. He nodded. “Can you help us stop the demon queen in the future.” “Say no more.” He said. “I have a plan & it involves THIS tower.” “How is this tower going to stop the demon queen?” Tara asked. “To stop the demon queen, we need to summon everyone.” Narmer said. They exchanged confused glances at each other, as he chanted his song.
The Demon Queen strikes again
I request the gemstone guardians once again
To Protect once again.
All the Gemstone guardians appeared in front of them.
Libra had copper eyes & & light gold skin, like before but seemed a bit younger. Her wavy sorrel hair with bleached tips was in a high ponytail. Her nails were painted violet & she wore mascara & shiny pink eye shadow. She wore lip gloss over her purple lipstick. She wore a silk magenta dress. She wore scarlet red high heels. She looked 13. She smiled at Bernadette & waved at Tara. She looked really similar to Tara.
Aquarius had flaxen hair & ecru eyes. He wore a grey ugly sweater with a penguin on it. He had lightly freckled cream skin. He wore navy Adidas shorts. He looked 4, still really little. His face was covered with crumbs from eating his sprinkle donut.
Aries was about 7, she had olive skin & auburn eyes. Her dark mahogany hair was in 2 braids. She wore a yellow dress with a sunflower around it’s waist. She wore Silver legging & metallic black high heels. Her nails even had sunflowers painted on them. She smiled at them & laughed a bit. She cartwheeled over to the rest of her friends.
Taurus seemed 11, he wore a checkered polo suit & formal jeans & shiny uggs. He had silver glasses & light tan skin. He had burnt sienna hair & chestnut eyes. “What are they doing here?” He asked. “They say they’re from the future.” Narmer responded. Tara & Bernadette rolled their eyes.
“What is the Demon Queen up to this time.” Gemini complained. “Let me guess, she wants to take over the world.” She seemed around 10. She had smooth, straight, short ochre brown hair in a ponytail. She had suntan skin & bronze eyes. She wore her berry blue, scented lip gloss. Her nails were painted with jewels.
Cancer appeared, he seemed 6 & looked really different, he wore a green hoody & brand new converse sneakers. Tara & Bernadette waved to him. “Who are you again.” He asked.
Leo seemed 9 & he had light cream skin. He had tawny hair, henna eyes & freckles. “I’m ready to show the demon queen what happens when she messes with me on a weekend!” “Leo, it’s Tuesday.” Narmer pointed out.
A girl about 12 with medium straight nut hair & blue highlights appeared, she had royal blue eyes & dark cream skin. She wore a blue tank top & ripped jeans. She wore metallic green high heels with wedges. She wore pink lipstick & scarlet eyeshadow to match with her mascara & eyeliner. Her nails background was painted with glitter & a large pink shell was in the center. “Is it just me or does everyone look younger?'' Tara whispered. She nodded at her.
A boy about 14 with buff black hair & khaki eyes teleported there. He wore a navy hoodie, grey runners & skinny jeans. Scorpio turned around, he had pale tan skin. “Hi you two.” He waved at them & then joined the other jewel owners.
Sagittarius was 15 he had dark tan skin & umber eyes. He had puce hair & wore a blue Adidas T-shirt, soccer shorts, a backwards baseball cap & light purple & lime green runners.
Capricorn had short chocolate hair & terra-cotta eyes, she was around 17, a bit older though. She had light fawn skin & wore red lipstick. She wore matching red eyeshadow with her mascara & eyeliner. She wore cranberry scented red velvet nail polish.
Pisces was 3 & had light saddle skin, He had bister hair & sepia eyes. He wore a tie dyed shirt & sport jeans. He wore rain boots & a clear see through rain jacket. He smiled at everyone. He opened his umbrella & trotted to his friends.
Lilac had long wavy mud brown hair & red/violet eyes. She wore a lavender purple dress. It was the same girl they saw in the future. She looked Bernadette's age. She smiled at them. Her nails were see through, still glazed though. She wore pale pink lipstick & mascara.
A girl with long wavy locks of navy black hair approached them. She had pale biscuit skin & & foggy green eyes. The 5 year old wore a pink tutu & her hair was in a bun. Bernadette gasped at how different Fay looked. “Fay is that you?” She shyly nodded.
“Listen everyone, we need to summon the angel queen. It’ll only work at the very top of the tower, come on.” He said. They raced to the top, while the girls slowly followed. Since there was water spraying down the railings so it was hard to walk up without slipping until they reached the top. They were on the 2nd highest floor before the roof, the highest floor before the roof was where the other 3 jewels were stored. They continued to climb up the slippery railings. Finally they made it to the roof of the tower. They had to cling to the pole at the top so they didn’t slip because of all the water pouring down; It wasn’t exactly not slippery but it would do for now.” “For the séance we need to hold hands & make a circle around the roof, you two just copy my words.” Narmer instructed. The 15 guardians stood on the roof & circle around the pole. Meanwhile, Tara & Bernadette clung onto the pole so they wouldn’t slip & fall hundreds of feet. They sang:
Our lives are full of gloom
We’re close to our doom
Protect us from the Demon Queen
We require your powers Angel Queen
After the chant, a beautiful girl who looked the opposite of the demon queen's grotesque appearance teleported above the pole. It had a face made of clouds that were glowing. It had pink & teal cotton candy hair. She had light violet eyes & red lips. Hovering above her hair was a crown made of pure gold. It was an angel, an angel queen. They let go of each other's hands & stepped back, except Tara & Bernadette who were still clinging to the pole. The Angel Queen who was hovering above the roof, slowly levitated down. “BTW my name is Railee.”
“Approach your jewels & ready your powers, you two stay on the roof with me.” She looked at Tara & Bernadette. “I’d like to speak to the manager of this tower.” Bernadette said. “I think I’m allergic to water.” Tara said, who was being sprayed with water nonstop.
“Invincibility.” The Jade shot a beam of light. “Duplication.” The snow quartz shot a beam of light. “Time travel.” The turquoise shot a beam of light. “Super Strength.” The Garnet shot a beam of light. “Mind control.” The Amethyst shot a beam of light. “Shape shifting.” The Aquamarine shot a beam of light. “To control lasers.” The diamond shot a beam of light. “Knowledge.” The Emerald shot a beam of light. “Force fields.” The pearl shot a beam of light. “Teleportation.” The Ruby shot a beam of light. “Invisibility.” The peridot shot a beam of light. “Flight.” The sapphire shot a beam of light. “Imagination.” The Opal shot a beam of light. “Telekinesis.” The citrine shot a beam of light. “Super Speed.” The Topaz shot a beam of light. Tara & Bernadette held hands around the pole. The pole absorbed all the jewels' powers & a rainbow light bursted into the sky. The Angel Queen had soft cotton skin & light pink, baby blue & lavender hair. She was wearing a glittery dark dress & sandals made of gold like her crown. “Copy my words.” Said the Angel queen. “Why does everyone keep saying that.” They murmured.
The gems won’t collide
No they won’t fade
No not Today
Or any other day
All the gems shone & shot beams of light into the sky. They appeared back in the present & the tower rose from the ashes in Hawaii in the present. The lights were so immense they were spread across the world. The demons turned into ash from the beautiful light display.
The demon queen quickly teleported to 2008 BC. “Hello sister.” She said. The Angel Queen charged at her. “Your gemstones powers may have obliterated my henchman, but you’ll never obliterate me.” The Angel Queen grabbed her golden staff & zapped it. “Hah, missed.” Jabbered the Demon Queen. “Wasn’t aiming for you.” The demon queen gasped as she saw that the angel queen had obliterated Fireum. The demon queen's face crumbled a modicum faster, her ashy face bled out & she turned into a 3 year old lady covered in blood. “Do you give up?” The Angel queen asked. Ashley tried to run away, but tripped over one of the seashells at the beach around the tower. “Bye bye sis.” She used her angel wings to fly above her sister. She raised her right hand & all the positive energy of the tower of power zapped the demon queen. “I'm melting, melting, I’m turning into Silver!” Said the Demon Queen. So then that was the end of that. “I kind of expected her to say something else.” Tara said. “Well no one can predict the future, not even with the Turquoise.” Bernadette said. They glanced down at the puddle of the Demon Queen's remains, which was a liquidy silver puddle, the sun shone on them & they turned into a silver bracelet. The angel queen slid the bracelet on her wrist & flew towards the two best friends. “I know this might be hard to hear, but these jewels need to stay in the past, I’ll use the turquoise to teleport you back to your parents . I need to ask this huge favor to you, I request that you don’t try & search for these jewels again. There will be a time where we must fight again but it’s not today & it might not be in your lifetime, the problem is, my sister is immortal like me & we don’t age.” “Well when that time comes.” Tara said. “We’ll be ready.” Bernadette finished. The Angel Queen smiled at them. “Don’t be sad,” the angel queen said, “you’ve done all 2 mortals can do, you should probably go & live your happily ever after, like all human fairy tales do.” Satisfied, Tara & Bernadette stepped into the portal The Angel queen created & returned back to the present.
Epilogue
Tara & Bernadette returned to the present, back in London, England. Their adventure seemed quite foggy. “You should keep on climbing, you’re really good at it.” “Thanks,” Bernadette replied, “you should try swimming.” “What do you mean?” She asked. “I’ve seen you swim in the future. You know when the cliff we were on crumbled after we got off bus G & you helped me swim to that island er tower.” “Really you think so!” Tara exclaimed. “There you two are, we were looking for you everywhere.” Bernadette's mom said. They turned around to see their parents had packed everything up. “Come on everyone our flight back home leaves in an hour.” Tara’s mom said. Bernadette's dad said. Bernadette elbowed Tara. “Race you to the airport.” “Hey!” Tara yelled. “Wait for me!”