Forbidden Fruit

Chapter 12: Half-Hearted Success

"But why do these witches want your ring so badly, Stella?"

Bloom asks her. It's been a few days since the incident where the witches kidnapped Stella. They haven't tried anything else since. Let's hope it stays that way. It is odd though how far they'll go just to get that ring.

"I don't know! Maybe because it's so powerful?"

"I don't think that's it, Stella..."

Bloom sighs. I don't know why she's been so preoccupied with this. I mean, I''m also curious about it, but I don't care to know as much. Bloom has actually been spending a lot of time in the library trying to figure it out.

"And what about the Dragon Flame? It looks like it's related to the Ring of Solaria."

The Dragon Flame? Now that's new. She must've just found out about that. I do know a bit about the Dragon Flame, but I don't want to give her any false information, in case I'm wrong. Ankelons kind of like to twist facts up to make themselves look more powerful. I am pretty sure that the Great Dragon wasn't the pet of some Light Ankelon. I am willing to believe that they both worked together in the creation of the planets, though.

"Headmistress Faragonda can probably answer that for you. Why don't you go see her?"

Flora softly says Bloom.

"I guess you're right. I'll go see if she's in her office."

Bloom leaves the room in a hurry.

"Doesn't it seem strange how she's almost desperate to know more about all this? I mean, it's my ring and I don't exactly care about the origins of its power."

"Let's hope she finds the answers she's looking for."

Flora says as she gets up.

"Well, I'm off for my next class. I'll see you guys later."

Speaking of class, my next one is with Professor Wizgiz. Stella and Bloom also have the same class. Apparently, today we're going to learn how to transform a butterfly into a bird. This is the first time we work with living creatures and I'm really nervous I might end up making the butterfly explode instead of transform... Musa and Tecna both head to their respective classes as well, leaving me and Stella waiting for Bloom to come back.

After a bit of waiting and listening to Stella brag about Brandon, Bloom finally comes in. She seems deep in thought. Whatever Miss Faragonda told her is making her even more preoccupied than before.

"Bloom? Earth to Bloom!"

Stella tries to call out to her.

"Bloom!"

Her final shout finally startled Bloom out of her pensive trance.

"Oh! Yeah, what is it?"

"I should be the one asking that. You've been acting like a troubled zombie ever since you walked in!"

"Sorry, Stella... It's just that I have a lot on my mind right now."

"Well, get them out of your mind since we have a class now. And if we don't go soon, we're going to be late!"

Stella says as she pulls both me and Bloom by the arms.

We arrive in Professor Wizgiz' class and go to our seats. First, he gives a lecture about how transforming a living being can be difficult and that it requires a lot of concentration. We are then each given a glass box with a butterfly fluttering around inside.

"Alright, girls. Focus your magic and transform your butterfly into any kind of bird you wish, as long as it's a bird."

Time to do this... Don't kill the butterfly, Onyx. Don't shatter the glass box. I concentrate my magic in the goal of transforming the butterfly. A black cloud immediately envelops it. Oh no... This black smoke never means a good thing... Wait... Right when I'm thinking that I failed at the exercise, wings sprout from the cloud. Black bony wings. The cloud dissipates to reveal a black bird with red eyes. It has an exposed rib cage and a red beak. I've read about his kind of bird before.

"Oh my, a Volantus Mortifur! Well, at least you passed it, Onyx, but we need to get rid of this bird at once or it will suck the magic out of whoever it touches until they... well die."

The fairies then start mumbling worriedly amongst each other. I've read about this bird before. I've never actually seen it before, though. It kind of fascinates me. Such a small bird can be so dangerous. Apparently, it has been chased away, hunted, and even killed by people and other magical beings, since they were so afraid of them. They're basically almost extinct...

"Let me try to transform it back to a butterfly."

Professor Wizgiz puts his hand on the glass cube and concentrates his magic. As soon as he does that, however, the bird starts thrashing around and pecking at the glass, slowly making a dent in it. The professor then immediately pulled away.

"It's sucking the magic I'm using to dispel the transformation! Onyx, do you think you can do something about it? You have more power than me."

I lower my gaze to the bird. For some reason, I really don't want to get rid of it. I can't dispel anything, so I'll probably end up killing it trying. But I guess I have no choice... I put my hand on the cube.

"I'm sorry..."

I whisper to it so that no one else hears me. In a flash, the bird is reduced to ash. Professor Wizgiz then congratulates me on being able to succeed in this exercise and dismisses the class. I'm unable to feel happy about it, though. I really didn't want to kill that bird. It is certainly a powerful and dangerous bird, but maybe it was just misunderstood. It sucked magic to survive and protect itself. People seem to always be afraid of what's different or stronger than them.

Stella, Bloom, and I head back to the dorm. The whole way, they kept congratulating me, since this is the first time that I'm able to actually perform what Professor Wizgiz wanted. I just thank them and smile half-heartedly. Getting rid of that bird kind of destroyed my mood.

Back at the dorm, the girls talk about a concert happening tonight. Apparently everyone in Alfea is going.

"Let's get ready, girls! It's going to be awesome!"

Everyone gets up and goes to their respective room after Stella's excited outburst. I follow Stella back in our room. Instead of getting ready, though, I lie down on my bed.

"Come on, Onyx, there's no time to take a nap!"

"I'm not going, Stella."

Stella's eyes widen and she rushes up to me.

"What? Why? It's going to be so fun!"

"I just... Don't feel too good."

I'm really not in the party mood at all. I'd rather just stay here and sort out my thoughts. After a bit of whining and attempts to convince me, Stella gives up.

"Alright... We'll tell you how it goes and show you pictures, okay?"

I smile at her and nod. I really do have great friends. Everyone leaves when it's finally time for the concert, leaving me alone in the whole school. I think I'm going to wander around instead of staying cooped up in my room.