Laughing thunder [#Wattys 2018]

Chapter 17: Can you spot the difference between music and Bootcamp?

     After eating lunch with everyone we all finally thought we were in the clear for the hardships of today but we were wrong so wrong.

"Okay kids first I need you guys to pull out your instruments and for those in the choir to line up towards the door, and after you get your instruments line up as well" Ms. Shirlock commanded waving her conductors stick. while we were getting out our instruments CJ walked over to me.

"What do you think we're about to do?"

"If I know this school well enough by now I'd say pain and lots of it"

"My friends do not fear hard work! Turn that fear into energy! and enjoy the labor! and that pain you feel will be your body telling you that you have done your best!" Oak boomed with his drum strapped to his chest."

"You never know it might actually be enjoyable, and I'm sure there's a reason behind the difficulties besides enjoying hurting us!" Noel added happily summoning her weapon.

"Maybe, anyway let's get this started"

Ms. Shirlock led us towards a Rune circle and teleported us to a concrete track that seemed to stretch to at least a football field and in the air was a miniature obstacle course and on the sides of the concrete track were cannons and other projectiles.

"Okay listen up I'll only explain this once, those who can fly start by that line in the air." In the air, only a few feet in front of the obstacle course was a line of purple musical notes acting as a starting line. After she said that a good number of the other students went into the sky.

"Okay for those of you on the ground I want you to get in a square with four on each row. after you do that I will explain the rules of today's lesson."

After we each made ourselves into three rows of four she waved her conductor stick and on our arms and legs were purple rune symbols that appeared to resemble music notes and while they were on I felt my energy being drained as well as my spiritual one.

"Are you guys feeling this too?" CJ asked worriedly

"Yep I knew it would be like this at some point"

"Why, whyyyyyy"

"Okay listen up everyone. This exercise is to test your endurance and to increase your stamina while it's being drained rapidly, the other half of this is for you all to learn how to play clearly and smoothly even while on the move because even though it may not seem like it music has saved lives during missions, battle, and wars. Why do you think there were drummers in old armies, they were most likely a demi-angel. Now for those of you on the ground don't think you'll be getting off easy because I haven't shown you everything yet!"

With another wave of her stick, the area was filled with slopes hills hurdles and holes, and on our soles, we felt a slight vibration but with no enemy or trap for it to be the cause of it. It was most likely for Noel and to keep us on beat.

"For those of you with instruments you will be playing this."

Infront of each of us appeared purple transparent notes for us to play and above them it read Final Countdown.

"And for the choir you all will have to keep your voices clear and precise as well to flow with them because you all will be performing this with the band" The same thing happend to the choir as they had purple lyrics infront of their faces

"you all will begin when I ring the gong" She materialized a gong out of her spirit energy,

"In 3...2...1!" She struck the gong sending out a massive shockwave and sound as we all began to run but we all quickly learned that with these runes this would be no simple task as we all struggled to even play our instruments let alone fly or run. In between lyrics you could hear the choir gasp for breath and in the skies we saw people dipping and nearly falling but as soon as they were about to Ms. Shirlock gave them new energy and sent them on their way again.

How none of us have died from these teachers don't ask me because I don't have a clue myself. For nearly an hour and a half we finally were approaching the promised time for when class would be over. And we each looked like warriors on their last legs as we trudged along together keeping each other in step and moving.

"You all have one more round to go make it your best and if you do I'll let you all rest for the rest of class!" her voice echoed. This was all we needed as everyone used what was left of our strength and played and moved to the best of our ability as this was literally a final countdown and from this we each combined our powers once again creating a malestorm of powers spreading everywhere as we finally reached the last obstacle which was a hill and when we each felt ourselves about to fall once again, the other classmates with wings swooped down and played with us giving energy through their playing as we each made it over the hill towards Ms. Shirlock were we ended each at rest awaiting the call for a break.'

"Okay go have a break" she said as we each cheered as if this was a great victory.