Once Upon a Girl

XXVIII - stronger monsters

Mrs Nightcast rises into the air, a whirlwind of fire swirling around her. I watch in horror as black wings glowing like lava emerge, and her eyes light up with flames.

"Ready?" she taunts. She extends her arms to reach me and fire blazes towards my body. My clothes catch fire, but just as Year 2 would have you believe, stop, drop and roll is actually quite effective.

I look to the rest of the cast for help. However, a smoky wall separates Mrs Nightcast and myself from them all. It looks like I'll have to fight this battle alone...

"Mrs Nightcast!" I yell, coughing in the smoke. "Is this really what you want?"

"Of course!" she replies with a laugh. "I've come so far. Why give up now?"

"No one will win!" I tell her, dodging another fiery attack. "If you really do destroy the sun, you won't just kill me. You'll kill everyone!"

She cackles. "Excellent... I suppose there'll be a lot less competition for the throne."

I can't believe this. "Are you serious? There'll be nothing left to rule! You haven't thought this through at all! And by the way things are going, by the time you win you'll have set the entire planet alight!"

"You think I care about that? Stupid girl. I'll burn everything in the world down if I can be queen of the ashes."

She suddenly launches herself forwards at me and grabs me by the throat. Her burning hands scorch my neck as I gasp for air, which is black with smoke. As a feel my life fading, I sense something strange inside me. But what?

Then I realise. How far I've come... everything that's happened in this journey... the things we've done... the friends we've made... it all comes down to this. Everything my friends, my family, and I have accomplished will help us to end this battle once and for all. Together we will win. But... my time is almost over. There is no strength left inside me anymore.

Sunita...

I hear a voice resonate from somewhere deep inside my soul. It came from someone I left behind long ago... 

Sunita, can you hear me? Your mother... your true mother...

I realise who I could not save.

My family. My true family. I left them behind long ago when I was claimed by the winds that delivered me to the great state of Kansas. At the time, I did not mourn, but they never forgot about me. And somewhere inside me, I somehow unknowingly clung to the memory of them, knowing one day they would give me the strength to live on.

My mother, Munita. My sister, Dunita. My other sister... Rachel. My father is dead. They never gave up hope that they would see me again, but I ruined their dreams.

Not this time. I did not save my parents. I did not not save my sisters. I will never be able to rectify those mistakes. But maybe I can learn from them and save the people who need saving now. My friends. My new family. Garlic Girl. They all love me... they all need me... they all believe in me.

Regaining my power, I thrust Mrs Nightcast away from me with a mighty shockwave. She screeches as she falls to the ground, an expression of horror on her face. With my magic stronger than ever, I try to extract the darkness from Mrs Nightcast's soul. She screams in agony, but I continue. I know what must be done. 

I sigh with relief as it becomes evident that the spell is working; a black fog emerges from her heart. She cries out for a little while longer, but suddenly the wailing stops, and the darkness has been completely removed from her body. She begins to silently cry.

"Mrs Nightcast..." I say, putting my hand on her shoulder. "I know that once, you were a better person. Everyone makes mistakes... some worse than others. But it's never too late to turn back around and be the good person you once were." I smile at her. "Hold onto hope. It will get better."

She looks up at me and wipes away her tears. However, instead of smiling back at me, she looks traumatised. "It's too late, Sunita. Don't try to stop this dark magic. It's beyond even my control now."

We both look on in horror as the fog reforms into a sentient being. An enormous, grotesque creature now stands before us. A creature so dark with rage, so twisted with nightmares, it is beyond anything I can even comprehend.

"You've released it..." Mrs Nightcast cries. "I'm so sorry. You're right. Once, I was a good person. But it was taken away from me, by- by... that. So kindly... so softly... it happened without me so much as noticing. Until... until it took my soul away from me altogether."

She tries to stand, but falls back almost immediately. "I can't fight it, Sunita. I'm so lost. I'll never be able to find myself."

The horrifying, gargantuan monster approaches us, its presence alone leaving me gripped by fear. However, Mrs Nightcast attempts a smile as she knows what must be done. 

"But you're right about one thing, you know," she tells me. "Love is the most powerful magic there is. Harness it from everyone, and from inside yourself. Only you can defeat this creature."

"Only you can defeat Giggles."