Volume 2: Element Core
Written by: Michele Hii
Author's note: Two days ago, the Wi-Fi was being naughty and due to its low signal, I wasn't able to continue with the second volume of TMMP. However, I managed to type out an outline for the third volume! All I can say for this volume is that Cornelia will be facing one of the toughest challenges that test her mentality. Queen Cressida will eventually read her the riot act and get her back to her senses in a very rough, bloody way. She wanted to befriend Cornelia and to let her know how pain is meant to be felt. This is actually inspired by this clip from one of my favourite anime called Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha Strikers (WARNING: this clip contains blood and violence)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FT73EshwElw
Anyway, hope you've read my first volume! If you don't, check it out on my blog archive on the right "The Magic Mimosa Plant: Freshmen Emissaries (Volume 1: Behold! Emissaries of the Future!)" So this time, I'll be writing in the first point of view. Cornelia will be the speaker of this volume, so hopefully this will work out. Enjoy scrolling!
I'm supposedly a typical thirteen-years-old girl who depends on her beloved childhood friend Rufus and her father Cyril. Until a beautiful fairy who happened to be my long lost sister approached to me and gave me a whole lot of details about who I actually was. I never knew that this would happen. I suddenly became a fairy in training and I was with a group of new friends who I grow to love. And last but not least, there was this set of quests that I was unsure about. I wonder whether I'm capable of being adventurous.
Cornelia Miraeth
Chapter 1: Flying Disaster
It had been a week since I attended Paigenium Fairy Academy. I still love English and Enchantology, and I still sleep in Morpholisus class. And don't get me started about math! I barely understand a single thing in Fairy Algebra! I mean, those equations are killing me! I want to ask the professor but she talked fast and there's this fear crawling in me that I couldn't pull it out. Somehow I wish there's a spell to erase my timid personality, like a bird soaring in the sky.
Speaking of soaring, our first flying lessons are like burnt pancakes. It was one sunny morning and we were assigned to practice our flying skills at Ryethest Forest. The forest reminded me of what happened on our first day. The Aurelz and I were surprised to see some dryads who kidnapped one of the students. They're seeking for us or anyone who is responsible for whatever reason they're troubled with.
"Okay, class! Before we go outside, I hope all of you have discovered your transformation." Mrs. Venile said, "Anyone here still haven't received her powers yet?" There was a ten second silence. Suddenly, a small pale hand raised in the air like a flag. I turned my head to her right and gasped at my classmate, Emile Syle. Her blonde fringe covered her green eyes like a bashful rabbit. "It's expected that every fairy in Paigenium should have her transformation by now." Mrs. Venile warned, "I'm afraid you have to stand beside me and watch the lesson."
Tears clung to Emile's eyelashes. I wanted to comfort her, but I didn't know what to say.
Mrs. Venile took her class through the corridor and into a magic bubble where it sent us to the forest like a gondola. I may have a fear of heights, but I felt like I was flying while being in that bubble. When we landed safely on the green, the bubble popped in the blink of an eye. Oh! I just love looking at the trees! The fresh air from nature!
"Alright, people!" Mrs. Venile announced, "Wear your fairy wings and get ready for your first obstacle course!"
"Aurelz! Are you ready?" I asked.
"Yeah!" Charmaine replied.
"I love our clique name already!" Estella beamed.
The five girls closed their eyes and shortly transformed into their fairy forms. "I can't believe I've transformed again!" I exclaimed, "Somebody just pinch me!" "This is not a dream, Cornelia! You really have transformed!" Charmaine giggled. Her attention then turned to her teacher. "Whoa! Mrs. Venile! You looked...different!"
Mrs. Venile was changed into a grand-looking fairy. She had a violet gown that would be suitable to wear in masquerade balls and a pair of butterfly wings the size of a sky dragon. What caught everyone's eyes the most was the sparkling golden tiara sat on her head. Mrs. Venile noticed all eyeballs were on her tiara and explained, "This tiara resembles a fairy as the advanced guardian of magic known as a Fairy Monarch. Once a fairy has completed her education and proved herself worthy to become the next generation of role models to the fairies of the future, she'll be crowned as a Fairy Monarch. That's all I can tell you about this tiara. You'll know more when you get older."
"That's amazing!" I said under my breath. "Now! Let's start with the lesson, shall we?" the teacher continued, "You're going to learn the basics of flying. And by doing so, we're going to learn with...this." She then snapped her fingers and a large obstacle course poofed in front of the students' very eyes. There were giant floating balls, long tunnels, glowing trails and other complicated objects. Something tells me that Mrs. Venile got inspired by the TV show Wipeout to build this whimsical playground. "We'll start with the straight and zigzag flying."she said, "All you have to do is to find your core balance. That means your body weight has to depend on your stomach."
Question marks floated on every pupil's head. Mrs. Venile decided to use an analogy, "I've taken pilates classes for the past year and I learn that core balance is important in certain moves to tone up the muscles in your body, including your stomach. You see, your stomach controls your food digestion and other significant functions. Your stomach. in fact, needs a little toning in order to melt fat that covering your muscles." The students were amazed by it and finally nodding their heads. "Same goes to flying. Your balance in the air depends on your core balance."
The teacher then rose up in the air; her majestic wings carried her above a glowing trail. All eyes were fixed on her as she followed the arrows printed on the trail. Everyone clapped when she reached the goal. "
"Stand aside, amateurs! The fairy of air is on the road!" Sabrina pushed the front row of fairies away and stood proudly on the starting line. She then took off like a hummingbird as she followed the trail with ease.Wow! She really is fast!" Estella exclaimed. "Well she is an air fairy, of course she's a fast flyer." Penelope groaned. Sabrina reached the end o the trail with her face glowing. "You're a natural, Miss Ferane!" the teacher smiled, "All right! Next person please!"
My heart was hammering against my chest like thunder. What am I going to do? I can't possible fly like Sabrina! I suddenly felt a playful nudge on her left shoulder and turned my back to see Estella who mouthed the words "Go for it!" Taking a deep breath, I stood in midair on the starting line. I tried not to freak out because I'm kind of afraid of heights. Yup, I'm a fairy who is afraid of heights, especially extreme heights. Ironic, isn't it? As I took off, a huge gust of wind that approached from nowhere whooshed at my direction. Wind? On a hot sunny day" What on earth is going on? The wind pushed me backwards and I landed on the butt. OUCHHHHH!!!!!
Wait a minute...there can't be strong wind when there is such a cloudless sky. Could it be...OH NO SHE DIDN'T!!!! I swiveled my head to my right and spotted Sabrina giggling. She is behaving like a demon! Oh! It's on! IT'S ON!!!
The rest of the lesson turned out to be a disaster.Estella got hit by a huge swinging ball while making her way through a row of giant steady balls. I was supposed to laugh at it because it reminded me of the hilarious scenes of the huge swinging ball in the Wipeout TV show, but instead I was shocked. Penelope was given a first warning because she used her magic powers to freeze the obstacles. She was disqualified from the rest of today's lesson. Charmaine's left boot was tangled over a bunch of spaghetti-like ropes and her whole body was hanging upside down like a sloth.
That was like the hardest lesson ever! We rested on the couches in the living room after the lesson, tired and disappointed in ourselves. And then I realized that one of us was missing. "Where's Sabrina?" I asked. "Oh! You know...she's in her room jumping for joy. She's happy to see us all fail but herself." Penelope replied. "I don't think I can move a muscle tomorrow. My whole body is aching from all those falling and bumping over those stupid gigantic structures!" Charmaine complained. "Me too! I don't want to be crushed by a ball again!" Estella sighed, blowing off a part of her fringe from her forehead.
Suddenly, there was a polite knock on the door of their suite. Miss Haydez, the director of the academy opened the door with a brief message, "Girls, the headmistress wants to see you in her office. It's time for the first quest." "Oh yeah! I almost forgot about that!" I gasped as I jumped out of the couch. "Hurry up, girls! The queen is waiting!" Miss Haydez said as her head disappeared from the door. "What about Sabrina?" Estella remembered. "You girls go ahead. I'll tell her to come out of her little personal party." Penelope replied.
So as we left, the Tyrasius princess called her name through the purple bedroom door. "Hey, Miss Filthy! We need to meet with the headmistress right now!" she yelled. "I'm not interested," Sabrina replied, "What is it about anyway?" "We'll be going for our first quest for the magic mimosa plant right now!" Penelope explained, "Don't tell me you forgot all about it!" "I don't want to go!" Sabrina groaned. "Listen, Witchbrain! We promise Cornelia that we do the quests with her! If not, you won't get the Destiny Snowflake and eventually," Penelope leaned closer to the door, "you won't keep up with your fame." "Ugh...fine! I'm coming!" Sabrina finally gave in.
-----------------------------------------------------
The five girls stood a few feet away from Queen Cressida's desk. The purple curtains were drawn open, leaving a gorgeous view of Sherlaine Garden and Ryethest Forest. Rays of sunlight flashed through the floor-to-ceiling glass panes and one of the beams shone on a golden pen stand. The pen stand revealed a bright amber sheen that it nearly blinded my eyes. The fairy queen sat at the desk with a straight posture and her hands were wrapped into a ball like she was praying.
"This is exciting, isn't it?" she asked with a warm smile, "Your first quest! This will be the first iconic event in the Paigenium Fairy Academy history!"
"I bet I'm gonna be the spotlight of the event! I can knock your socks off with my ferocious air magic!" Sabrina boasted.
Penelope rolled her eyes and ignored Sabrina.
"Your destination is at Whistler. Your mission is to search for the first Destiny Snowflake which was hidden somewhere in either Whistler village or in the mountains of the Peak 2 Peak Gondola area." the headmistress continued, "I know that you may be nervous that this is your first challenge, but I want to let you girls know that I believe in you. Remember that you are fairies; you have special powers that make you extraordinary in your own ways. When your powers connect with your heart, you will soon discover something bigger like a reward. Speaking of reward, one of you who find the snowflake will receive a special gift that will be useful in the future."
"Can you tell us what the reward is?" I asked.
"It's a surprise, my dear." the lady winked, "The reward will appear to you once the snowflake is in the hands of a fairy who is chosen by the snowflake itself."
"So what you meant is the Destiny Snowflakes are spying on us? They judge our actions to see who will get them?" Charmaine attempt to clarify.
"Exactly." Queen Cressida smiled in agreement.
"That sounds kind of creepy." I commented.
"The Destiny Snowflakes are lawyers of the Destiny Tree. They are to prove the tree that you, the chosen candidates, are worthy to go through the final judgement led by the magic mimosa plant. Oh! I think this information is a little heavy for you, so I'm ending the discussion here."
The queen traced a complicated diamond pattern with one finger and a chain of golden dust rained on the Aurelz. Five colourful kits appeared onto our hands. "Whoa! They're heavy!" Penelope exclaimed.
"These kits contain your winter wear. Turtlenecks, winter coats, ski pants, snow boots, scarves, and gloves. You might have to wear them when you're going for the gondolas." Queen Cressida explained.
"Why would we ever need to wear thick clothing? Winter isn't here till January!" Sabrina frowned, looking at her kit with disgust, "Besides, I wouldn't want to wear these hideous layers!"
"Sabrina, the mountains in Vancouver are super cold! You wouldn't want to freeze to death, would you?" I bravely pointed out.
"Well, look who's talking! The shy girl who lives in the North! How quaint!" Sabrina teased.
"Knock it off!" Charmaine snapped, holding my hand. Her palm was warm."Can we just go, Your Highness?"
"Very well!" the fairy queen agreed and cast a portal with a snap of her fingers. The swirling white hole sucked us into it like a vacuum, transporting us to the village high in the mountains.
Chapter 2: Winter Olympic Paradise
"Wow! This place is beautiful!" Charmaine gasped in awe. I couldn't believe that I was here in Whistler village. The last time I had been here was two years ago during a school field trip. And I couldn't be happier that I was standing between rows of shops with my new friends. We were standing outside of a five-star resort called The Westin and in front of us was a line-up area to featured activities in the mountain and an entrance to the village of stores, restaurants, and galleries."So where should we start?" Estella asked. "I think we should go that way. The snowflake might be smart enough to hide in public." I replied, pointing to the village. "Good idea! Let's go!" Estella agreed.
The five girls made their way on foot around the area. Sabrina's green eyes went wide like saucers when she saw her favourite retail stores lining up at both sides of the street. The mannequins wearing trendy dresses seemed to beg Sabrina with the words "Buy Me!" "You girls go ahead, I need to fill my shopper's appetite." Sabrina said. Her eyes fixed straight on a Roxy store where a couple of mannequins in flowery bikinis lured her to paradise. "Hold on a sec!" Penelope said, tugging the sleeve of Sabrina's crop top, "We're on a mission, not a vacation!' "Darn!" Sabrina pouted.
I don't know whether it's just me, but I feel like a leader among us. This has never happened to me before. I usually hide in the shadows like a stray cat. "Let's split up. Estella and Charmaine will follow me to the east. Penelope, you go search with Sabrina to the west. If you see the Destiny Snowflake, shoot fairy dust in the air as a signal." I ordered. I hoped that my voice was clear enough for my friends to hear because the chatters from the crowd overtook my confidence to speak like a pride of lions roaring against a squeaking mouse.
"Why should we search around? I have a better idea!" Sabrina said. She tossed one of her ponytails off her shoulder and snapped her fingers to release a ray of purple dust. "I don't think using magic to find the snowflake is necessary." Charmaine pointed out. "Why? Is there a rule that we can't use magic in public?" Sabrina snorted. "Well, it's just that I remember Queen Cressida told us that the Destiny Snowflakes are the lawyers to check on us. They can't possibly give themselves to someone who uses magic to cheat in a quest." Charmaine replied. "Whatever, I don't trust you and your wise noodles." Sabrina said.
