Tales on Anistarion

Chapter 1

Amethyst was under her covers with a flashlight. This was always normal for her, even when she lived in the Burrow. At night she would just curl up under the soft covers of home and read. The Burrow was the nickname, for the mining district of the city Gemma Urbs, and they didn't get much sunlight. It was usually cloudy or rainy. Amethyst wasn’t afraid of the dark, but her sister Topaz detested the Burrow and was glad whenever they went downtown do some shopping. Amethyst began to miss her home. They lived with their aunt Opal because something happened to their mom. The only reason Amethyst even came here, is because their aunt won that stupid lottery. Instead of using it to get a better job she sent them to a rich people school. Amethyst had learned more when she lived in the Burrow. On the other hand, Gemma Urbs was becoming more dangerous. Mamaltions (Monsters from DarkStar, the black planet), drug dealers, and escaped criminals from Four-star were becoming a threat to the Gemma Urbs as they moved westward from the war. So, their aunt took problems into her own hands and sent her and Topaz to this delightful boarding school where everyone was either rich, stupid, snotty, a bully, or an idiot. The Anistarion government as starting to lose its grip on the safe city, which lead to this rise in crime. Amethyst paused as she turned a page. She was reading one of her favorite books, “The trials of Four-star".  It was nice to relax. Topaz was annoying at times. Amethyst lifted off the covers from her top bunk. Soft rays of sunshine were starting to come through the windows, as the sun rose starting its journey across the sky. Topaz and Shimmer were still fast asleep though. Amethyst threw her blanket back over her. She liked it when it was darker. The war started when a Leafereen scientist opened a portal to Darkstar. What he didn't realize is that the creatures on Darkstar knew the language of Anistarion and went through the portal. Then they made deals with dark Mysticors and criminals. Finally, they attacked. Unfortunately, for that Leafereen, they blamed him for the whole thing.

“WAKE UP!”

Startled, Amethyst toppled out of bed and fell on the floor.

“SHIMMER! I am trying to SLEEP!” Topaz yelled angrily pulling her blanket over her head.

“I’m going to be late cause of you two!” Shimmer hollered back. “None, of you heard my phone alarm?” She pointed a finger accusingly. Shimmer was her roommate. She was very wealthy, and her parents had a lot of money. She was still in her pink pajamas. Shimmer had olive skin and in her mahogany brown hair with pink highlights. Rich people give their kids the silliest names. Though Amethyst was named after a sparkly gem, so they were even.

“Don’t look at me!” Topaz yelled still under the covers. “You just forgot to charge it!”

Shimmer gave her an angry look then turned to Amethyst.

“Abagail, please don’t just sit there!” Shimmer hollered.

"It's Amethyst.” Amethyst grumbled not enjoying the taste of the ground. Every part of her hurt from the fall. Plus, she didn't get to finish her book.

“Fine Abby, I’ll won’t call you Abagail. But we are still going to be late!” Shimmer stated flatly as, she wasted time standing over her mirror.

Amethyst got up and walked over to her closet to change her clothes.

“Maybe, if you didn’t sit there doing makeup, we might have been to class already!” Topaz yelled from under the covers.

“Makeup makes me beautiful.” Shimmer stated.

“We are only thirteen.” Amethyst said putting on her jeans.

“Well, I’m turning fourteen next month which makes me one step closer to nineteen.”

“With math like that you're better off six.” Topaz said calmly checking the clock. “ITS SEVEN ALREADY?”

Seven? Amethyst was extremely late to class. How did she waste all that time?

“Hey!” Shimmer screamed as combing her hair vigorously. “Thats very mean.”

When Amethyst came out Topaz was already dressed, and she didn't look neat. She didn't even take time to brush her hair so, it was in a messy bun.

“Well, I got to go.” Topaz said slinging her backpack over her shoulder. “Cheerleading practice. Go DRAGONS!”

“I do not like dragons.” Shimmer whispered to herself. “This small one bit me once. It hurt.”

She paused turning to Amethyst.

“I hate this school.”

“Why?” Amethyst asked, grabbing her stuff, and shoving it in her bag.

“Because in all of my classes I’m with Venus. The worst time was in a band class. When the teacher stepped out, she hit me with a saxophone.”

Venus was the school bully. She had a group of cronies that will do whatever she says. Venus also hated Topaz. Some quarrel they had on the bus to school.

“Well, that's one good thing about being in an art class. Time away from her.”

“I know. I should have joined. But I like the sound of that little whistle instrument so much!”

“You mean the flute?”

“Yeah.”

“Well, I need to go. I have a test.” Amethyst said.

“Me too. I have Math, Amy.”

“It's Amethyst!” Amethyst yelled shutting the door. Now for a history class.

******************************************************************* “The battle on Purplestar, is when some rouge Wingstarions from the Blue Claw Clan attacked Smokeson.” Mrs. Lawson said passing out tests. “Not the other way around Carter. D minus for you. Keep trying Mia, one day you will get it. C plus. Spot on Misty! An B minus, you really need to work on your cursive. Amethyst his name is spelled Christopher Watts. D plus.”

“A B? Good job Misty!” Amethyst said to her desk mate.”

“It's an B minus Amethyst. My dad is going to kill me.” Misty groaned. “I promised him I’d get straight A’s for the rest of the term. After I umm... Got into some trouble.”

Misty also came from the Gemma Urbs, but she didn't come from the burrow. She came from the beachside district. Misty’s dad was a fisherman, and her mom was in the navy. But when she was little her mom died of a Mammletion attack. Mammeletions were giants, that were as black as a pool of tar. They took different forms. Mostly Anistarions and Pegasus's. Since they were friends Amethyst’s aunt and Misty’s dad agreed to send her here.

“Well, it's still better than my grade.”

“Hey you two!” Harper Gill said leaning forward. “Riley got her hands on her brother’s horror movies. Do you want to see them with us?”

Harper was the student who ran the black market. She didn’t win a lottery (unlike Amethyst) but, instead got invited because she's a child genius. She built a high-tech mini projector and a computer when she was only eleven and they are her most prized positions. Harper and her friends play movies (and make money) every other night and only got caught once. They call it “The hidden theater” and Misty owns a platinum card to it.

“Okay.” Misty responded. “What's is it this time?”

“A Zombie City: Tales of the Serial Zombie.” Harper told her.

“Great! When is it?” Misty whispered when the teacher wasn’t looking.

“The next viewing is in the library at 10:00 tomorrow night. Admission is two bucks.”

“Okay then. Are you coming Amethyst?” Misty asked.

“Umm I might. But what about the teachers?”

“Fangs put up a force feild with her freaky dark magic. You need to be on the list to be let in. Plus, we bribed JoJo as a security guard. Oh, hey Isaac!” Harper leaned to the next person.

Amethyst turned to Misty.

“Why are you going?”

“It’s a movie! Plus, Fangs will be distracting the teachers!”

“They got caught last week because Fangs got sick, with that romance movie!”

“And?”

“Doesn’t this sound like the time Ari got into his father's stuff?”

“What when?!”

“Umm never mind. Or when Sienna took her sisters car.”

“I remember that. She offered driving lessons. Ha. You should have seen Ms. Logsins face!”

“Well, we know it's wrong. So, we don’t do it.” Amethyst insisted.

“And? That’s why I do it.” Misty replied.

“What? "Amethyst said confused.

“I like being a rebel!” Misty claimed. “It’s a nice path away from, my over-protective dad.”

Then the bell rang.

“Well, I have to go!” Misty shouted.

“Wow.” Amethyst murmured to herself.

*********************************************************************

“Uggh!” Topaz groaned as she flopped on her bunk bed. I barely survived writing.”

“Why?” Amethyst asked as she combed her hair.

“Two words. Slush Blue.”

The Blues were some other rich bullies at school. Topaz and the oldest Slush don’t get along.

“It's always a Blue.” Amythyst countered.

“Wanna know what happened?” Topaz demanded.

“No.” Amethyst retorted.

“I’ll tell you anyway. Well, the teacher was making us write down notes, as usual. I asked to slow down, and then Slush commented and asked if I was in first grade. The whole class including the teacher laughed. And then that Slush made comments on me all day. It was horrible.”

“Slush isn’t that bad.” Shimmer said. “I think he’s pretty nice when you get to know him.”

“Yeah right.” Topaz said.

“Do you know him Shimmer?” Amethyst asked.

“No.”

“What are you doing anyway?” Topaz asked leaning toward her.

“Reading. "Shimmer said.

“What? You never read.” Topaz snorted.

“I do now.” Shimmer rebutted.

Topaz snatched the book out her hand.

“Hey give it back!” Shimmer yelled.

“What is this?” Topaz said in disgust.

“Dark and Light: The love story of Tenebris and Lux.”

“You mean Golerian and Obscuruion?” Amethyst asked.

“Yes, but those are thier Latin names.” Shimmer stated glaring at Topaz.

“I don’t know how you could read garbage like that.” Topaz said tossing it back.

“Carful it’s a library book!” Shimmer yelled catching it.

“Speaking of the library, Harper is doing a movie showing tomorrow night.” Amethyst said.

“What movie is it this time?” Topaz asked sitting and picking at her cuticles.

“That zombie one.”

“Seen it. But I might go anyway.” Topaz said. “I want to see the look on their faces as they watch it.”

“Misty’s going.” Amethyst stated.

“SHE IS?” Topaz hollered, perking up.“She ALWAYS brings free food to MOVIES!”

“The teachers have ears you know.” Amethyst said, rolling her eyes.

Topaz shrugged.

“Well I’m gonna go bed.” Topaz said.

“What about homework?” Shimmer asked.

“Did it.” Amethyst said.

“AREADY?” Shimmer said surprised.

“Go to SLEEP.” A teacher yelled from the hallway. “YOU are being too LOUD. I can HEAR you from here.”

The light shut off with some Vandereen magic (Shimmer) as Amethyst went to bed.

********************************************************************* Amethyst sat in her boring math class. The teacher was buzzing on and on about geometry. Then he sent Candy (one of Venus’s best friends) to pass out papers. Candy sneered at her as she walked pass. Amethyst scowled back.

“I don’t like Candy.” Dazzle whispered behind her.

“I don’t really like her either.” Amethyst responded checking an answer off her test.

Dazzle gave her an odd look.

“I was talking to Babe.”

“Oh.” Amethyst said embarrassed.

“Who are you anyway? The new kid?”

Amethyst was silent. She had been in this class for three weeks. And she worked with Dazzle on a project four days ago. Sighing, she more focused on her test as Babe and Dazzle (plus the new kid Speedily) talked about Candy and Venus. On the last question, the bell finally rang. In the chaos, everyone had grabbed their bag and ran to their next class.

“You don’t go until I dismiss you!” Mr. Bear screamed. “Detention Babe! Detention Nova! Detention Candy!”

But no one heard him.

Amethyst rushed get to her next class. On the way she bumped into many people. When she finally got to her desk, she slid down smoothly into her seat.

“We have a special guest today.” Ms. Brown said.

“No one is more special than my dad.” Oliver commented. “He has A LOT of money.”

“Be quiet!” Larura hissed.

Laura was Misty’s roommate.

Oliver turned around and stuck out his tongue.

“Real mature of you.” Laura grumbled under her breath.

She got shushed by twelve other people.

“Please meet the White Huntress.”

A woman who looked just out of high school appeared out of nowhere. She wore a shimmering red dress that went to her knees and a black leather jacket. Her hair was white in a short bob, and her skin was the usual hazelnut that most Anistarions were. Oddly enough she wore bright red sneakers. The most unsettling thing about her was her eyes. Her irises were grey. Yes, grey. Her gaze focused on Amethyst. It was creepy.

“Well, I’m the White Huntress.” She said dully. “And my job is to meddle in your life-”

Ms. Brown gave her a dirty look.

“Fine.” The White Huntress muttered. “Okay, my job is to help the world by recruiting kids on trips where they could d-”

Ms. Brown motioned her, and they had a long talk outside.

“My name is the White Huntress.” She spoke. “I am kind of immortal and will choose you on a special field trip in two months. Understand? I’ll need a conjure...” She walked over to Amethyst’s desk.

And the whole class turned to look at her.

Chapter 2

Amethyst sighed and stared out the window. Being a conjure was hard. She couldn’t believe that school started just seven months ago. (Dazzle still didn't know her.) She also couldn't believe that the White Huntress decided that she should go on some “special” field trip. But Amethyst knew better. The White Huntress would never look at something as small as a field trip. She says the word “death” too many times. It was probably a huge scary mission or something. Just call it a field trip so the parents won’t get worried, Ms. Brown probably said to her. And just as everyone seemed to accept Amethyst as the schools new and only conjure, she had to pop out of nowhere and call her out. Again. Now days she was getting mean, wondering, jealous, and angry looks from everyone including the teachers. She heard the noise of someone coming and looked over at the doorway. Then she sighed and looked back at the window. Probably Shimmer or Topaz sneaking around and getting in trouble. Sometimes it was just painful sharing a dorm room with them. These days they sneak out after curfew and had secret parties at midnight that made teachers go crazy in the morning. Topaz was the ringleader, and Shimmer followed. They recently made a deal with Haper Gil, so it has been worse than ever. Sometimes they drove her so crazy that she would rather share a dorm with mean Venus and her cronies. She shuddered. That would be horrifying. Amethyst was surprised when Misty appeared at the doorway, her expression clouded and fiddling with her blue necklace.

“Hello.” She said with a tone in her voice that Amethyst could not pick up.

“Why did you sneak out again?” Amethyst asked annoyed. “There’s a movie showing tonight.” Misty forced a sly smile.

“I do this a lot. Just not as much as your roommates.” She added waving her hand at their empty beds.

Misty looked around. “Where is Shimmer and Topaz anyway?”

“Oh, they went out.”

“I bet Mrs. Bark caught them again.”

“Serves them right. They are going door to door advertising for the hidden theater. I kind of helped them by telling them posters are better than a Harper shaped invitation.”

Misty frowned.

“I thought you didn’t like the hidden theater.”

“So, what exactly are you doing here?” Amethyst asked, trying not to sound rude.

Misty’s face got serious.

“To discuss you-know-what.”

Amethyst was sulking so long that she forgot that other people got chosen for the crazy field trip too.

“The White Huntress is crazy. I mean who sends 13-year-olds on a death-defying quest?”

“Yeh.” Misty whispered. “What did she say again?”

I want One Watereen, Two Conjures, One Vandereen, Two Icereens, One Thundereen and two Leafereens, the White huntress had said playing a game with her phone.

“What about Firereens?” Said a tall boy with red hair.

“You will stay here at the school.” The White huntress had said coolly, looking up from her gadget.

Ms. Brown took her phone out of her hand.

Then she and the principal (and Ms. Brown) had walked down the hall to the principal’s office while the school caretaker Henery Mase (Mr. Mase) talked, no, yelled about school rules and himself.

After what seemed to be hours, the White huntress finally announced the names.

“Misty Downpour, Conner Turner, Slush and Isla Blue, Oliver Owl, Venus Stem, Mark Grain, and Topaz and Amethyst Mageion.”

Helena Blue (Slush Blue’s cousin) and Shimmer looked extremely disappointed. Mean old Venus had this sweet and smug look on her face that made her look like a dangerous bear who just had some honey (or maybe a human).

“I don’t know anything extra.” Amethyst said annoyed. Everyone seemed to think she knew extra because the White Huntress seemed to favor her.

“But maybe she told you something, like in code.” Misty pleaded.

“Argue with me in the morning. Cause my answer stays the same.” Amethyst said crossing her arms.

“But-”

“She told me the same things she told you.”

Misty sighed and left.

Amethyst grimaced. She was probably being too hard on Misty. Misty knew this “trip” came out of nowhere too. But Amethyst didn’t know anything extra. Or do you. It was that tiny voice in her head, the one she was always trying to ignore. Shut up, she told herself, but even she didn’t believe it. Sighing, she went into her bed and closed her eyes.

******************************************************************* Amethyst woke up. She was early for class. Then she remembered what had happened the day before yesterday. Blinking the sunlight out of her eyes, she noticed that Topaz already woke up and got dressed. (The room was messier than usual.) Amethyst had packed her bag already the night before and put on her clothes. Then she walked out of the hall to meet her team outside the front of her school. Since she was late, she decided to take the shortcut. On the way she saw something that made her pause. The White Huntress and Ms. Brown were talking together. Wait, not talking, arguing.

“You are sending little kids on a dangerous quest!” Mrs. Brown said. “You really think they could stop the war? It’s MAMMELTIONS for heaven's sake!”

“I’m little.” The White Huntress said tilting her head. “Plus, Logsin will send chaperones even against what I say. So, they’ll be safe.”

Amethyst frowned. Who doesn’t send chaperones on a felid trip? The White Huntress is crazy. And what about the war? She thought they won.

“No, you won’t.” Mrs. Brown said. “We can’t send them anyway. This is a substantial risk we’re taking. We can’t put more people in danger. Plus, they kill unknown adults on their territory.”

“Now you see why I’m sending kids.”

“But they could get killed! What will we say to their families? Just send adults instead!” Mrs. Brown yelled.

The White Huntress rolled her eyes. “Adults would never listen to me. Have you seen how old I am? They would contact the government, who would contact the order of the, umm you-know- who. And they won’t help. It’s the reason we’re in this mess! But we need help. From them. And they won’t kill children.”

Who's that? Amethyst thought as she leaned closer.

“That’s a lot of code words.” Mrs. Brown said.

“You never know who is watching. There might be security camaras.”

Mrs. Brown seemed to consider it.

“We need to tell them about him.” Mrs. Brown hissed. “And the curse.”

“We don’t want them to panic.” The White Huntress irritated. “As you said, they’re only kids.”

“But someone might get hurt!” Mrs. Brown said trying to reason.

“Do you really think I’d hurt kids?! If nothing is done, then you know what will happen!” The White Huntress yelled. She was starting to get frustrated. (Her eyes were starting to glow an orange yellow. Wait, orange?)

“With that attitude, I would think yes.” Mrs. Brown muttered. “I liked your sister better than you. She would be better at this job. Too, bad she’s dead.”

“Do you know that I can turn people into chipmunks?” The White Huntress said narrowing her eyes.

Mrs. Brown glared but, stayed silent.

“That’s what I thought.” The White Huntress aid crossing her arms. (Her eyes kept on blazing though.)

Mrs. Brown stormed out storming through the hall forcing Amethyst to go deeper in the shadows. Amethyst couldn’t believe what had happened. The war wasn’t over? What is the order? Why did they pick kids? And who is the White Huntresses sister? Something was wrong and Amethyst knew this.

*******************************************************************

Amethyst greeted Topaz and Misty as she walked through the door. It looked like everyone was here. Venus was killing bugs with a giant Venus flytrap, Oliver was pestering Isla about how rich he is, and now Isla is trying to choke him with a headlock and everyone else is trying to separate them.

“What took you so long?” Topaz hollered. “You had me worried that one of Venuses cronies got to you!”

“Long story.” Amethyst said her thoughts still on the White Huntress. Why were her eyes orange? Her eyes were gray. Or were they?

“We still have time.” Misty said checking her watch. “Conner, Slush and Mark aren't here yet.”

“I thought Conner got sick.” Topaz said.

“He did?” Amethyst replied.

“Shimmer told me." Topaz said. “I thought everyone knew.”

“Thats weird.”

“By the way Amethyst what took you so long anyway?” Misty asked.

Amethyst told them what she saw in the hallway.

Topaz was speechless.

“The White Huntress sounds like she’s a five-year-old. My little brother does the same thing. His eyes just glow a deeper blue than they already are.” Misty said crossing her arms. “But orange eyes? Her eyes are usually gray? Now that is weird.”

“What about the war?” Amethyst said.

“Well.” Misty said bringing out her phone. “Says here it ended last month. After a loud sound from a horn, they just stopped fighting and ran in the other direction. All of them just stopped. The army chased them, but they went through a portal opened by some dark yellows and was gone.”

“That’s super weird.” Amethyst said. “What do you think the, you- know what is?”

There was a long silence.

“Look, Slush and Mark are coming now!” Misty announced.

Amethyst didn't like Blues. Slush Blue pushed Topaz off the bus on the way to school, Isla stole her stuff the next week and Helana Blue attempted to push Amethyst down some stairs. And by the look Topaz was giving him now, Amethyst knew she felt the same way. I bet the only reason thier coming along is because they come from a respected family. She didn’t know much about the Blues story, in fact, all she knew was that it involved a curse. Could it be the same one the White Huntress was talking about? Anyway, Slush walked out of the school scowling and his ice-blue hair was swept across his face. Mark was a skinny boy with chestnut colored skin and light green eyes. The principle, Ms. Logsin raced over to them.

“Any sign of Conner?” She asked out of breath.

Mark shook his head no.

She exhaled.

“Then I guess we will have to carry on without him.”

Ms. Logsin looked at the sun and then a tree, measuring the shadow. Which was weird because she had a watch.

“You have to leave at daybreak.”

Then she gave a tight smile.

“You will have chaperones on this quest no matter what that White Huntress says. And....” Ms. Logsin said. “They will be Mrs. Lee, Mr. John-”

Amethyst didn’t listen as Ms. Logsin droned on and on. All she focused on was the shape of the White Huntress striding downhill toward her.

Chapter 4

“So, are you ready?” Ms. Logsin asked. “Then let's go!”

The White Huntress sprinted at an incredible speed. Sparks rose as she ran and when she finally made it downhill, she snapped her fingers, and a white swirling portal arose.

“I’ve always wanted to do that.” The White Huntress looked around. “Children first,” She said with a smile.

Amethyst still didn’t trust her but, she was the first walk to it. The White Huntress motioned for her to come over. Amethyst gulped.

“First off, which one of you are the older twin?” The White Huntress asked.

“Me,” Amethyst could barely force a whisper.

The White Huntress was holding a small box. Amethyst wondered what it was.

“I always knew there was something special about you.” She said staring at Topaz with wonder, who was entering the portal.

“Umm... Can I go now?” Amethyst asked.

“I wanted to give you something.” The White Huntress said handing her the box.

Amethyst took it carefully and opened it. Inside was an amulet like Misty’s. It had the same smooth back, the same black string, and the same round stone. In fact, the only difference was the stone color. Misty’s was a light blue one that turned gold in the sunlight. Amethyst’s was a dark shade of purplish blue. Dark indigo to be exact.

“Thank you for this nice- necklace,” Amethyst said in a polite tone. “I better go now.”

“Use it to your advantage.” The White Huntress whispered in her ear.

What?

But before she could ask what that meant some men in black whispered something to her and she disappeared. Amethyst put the necklace back in the box and put the box in her blue backpack. Then she ran through the portal. It was like running through an open door- that was two miles above the ground. Amethyst saw a river underneath her. Then she grabbed a tree branch (with the help of magic of course) and held on to it. Amethyst’s first thought was Topaz and where she was. Because Misty loved water and was part of a swimming team. But then the branch broke, and she plunged into the icy depths below.