Just a normal day...

[Shanza]

Arix didn't mind her classes much, but she had thought that they would have been doing more stuff with magic by now. As she threaded her way through the trees, the gray mare's ears flicked backwards in annoyance. She had a slight advantage over the other begginers here, but she should be able to do something by now! It had been nearly a week since she arrived, and all that was going on was lectures and mindless motions. She was tired of it all, she wanted action! She wanted to feel the blood flow- she wanted the chase of the hunt. The gray pegasi quickly cut off that train of thought as she walked up to the class, eying the lines of mushrooms that apparently they were supposedly going to follow. The whole academy with their frivlous, show-off ways. She snorted in contempt. What was the point of magic if not to use it for a real purpose?

Arix was nearly laughing at the end of the gym teacher's speech. He was so full of himself she was suprised he was still earthbound. Which reminded Arix that she was. She had these wings, but never had a chance to use them! The whole situation she found frustrating. Ah, there was that stallion who brought her in... Malgo, was it? 'Yes, that was it,' she thought. 'And there's that group of Kathri's friends. She doesn't like me much.' Just at that moment Kathri looked over, and Arix could have sworn she saw angry disappointment in her eyes. Then the grulla turned away, so soon that Arix thought she might have been mistaken.

"Ok class!" The fit gym teacher called out, striding across the grass. "Were spliting up into two groups. Malgo will head one team and I will head the other." He strode into the crowd, spliting the equines into two. "Ok, I'll take this group," he said, facing away from Arix. She cocked an eye at his rump. He would be quite attractive if he was a couple decades younger. "Malgo, you take that one."

Arix looked around at 'her' assigned group. Kathri and her friends were in this group as well, but Arix only recongized a few other faces, no names. As Malgo walked over, she noticed that Kathri was staring at him, but trying not to be noticed. Arix smirked. This was going to be fun.

occ: it ok? I thought a little Arix- Kathri rivalry might be fun

[ϞSymreeϞ]

Why? Why did it have to be Arix? I snorted angrily, glancing over at Enjori and Okolim. "You'll help me fight her off if she tries to kill me, right?" I asked, only half joking. Their matching cryptic smiles didn't do much to reassure me. "Thanks guys."

Malglo was assigned to our group, and I could have died in pleasure had I not seen the smirk that played across Arix's lips. That mare was evil, just plain evil. My throat dried as he came closer, and I wondered vaguely how obvious I was being. How was my breath?

The bay stallion stopped just short of me, a look of vague annoyance and mixed resolve on his face. "Alright you lot," he said, with a sigh, "Old glory over there has won every game in like the century he's been here, and he's got a big enough head to match. I would love to see him loose for once. Think we can make it happen?"

The team remained silent, but I did a half rear, trumpeting a bit too loudly, "Let's bury them!" As I came back down to earth, almost everyone was staring, and I could feel the blood rising in embarrassment beneath my grulla coat. I could have sworn that I heard Arix chuckling darkly a few yards away.

Malglo's eyes rose in a slight surprise and he glanced away from me with a look that I couldn't quite name. Even when he was grumpy, he was adorable. I sighed, wondering how much I had made a fool of myself.

"Well, I suppose enthusiasm is always appreciated, Katchatchi." My face fell slightly, I had been here for almost a year, shouldn't he remember my name by now? " Anyway, the name of the game is Nautic. We will be passing around this", he said, hovering a small ball of woven grass, soft and filled with sand. "The use of teeth and magic to catch and touch the ball is prohibited, anything else is fair game. It works best if you use solid and flat surfaces. Every time we drop the ball, its a point to the other team and vice versa."
He paused, glancing towards the rose gray Pegasus mare. "Arix, would you mind being my partner for the demonstration?" She shrugged and walked forward, dark and beautiful as always. I suppressed an objection, and felt jealousy rising inside of me. Why would Malglo choose her?

"Now, pegusi have a certain advantage in the game of Nautic. They have two very large flat surfaces that most of us lack. Wings." He glanced towards the mare, a bright smile on his face. What! That was my smile! That was my crush! I felt the grass warming beneath me and calmed myself down. Maybe she would mess up now.

"Ready?" He asked, still grinning. The Pegasus mare smiled back, and I got the strange feeling that she did so just to annoy me. She nodded. His magic released the ball, and he rose on his haunches, bouncing the sack a few times on each knee before passing it to Arix, whom effortlessly batted it between her wings, eventually headbutting it back to Malglo, who popped it once with his shoulder before letting it fall to the ground. "Very good," he told her. "That's just how it's done."

The Lifetime sports coach walked away from his group, whom looked very confidant with him on their side. "Ready to loose Malglo?" He asked with a smirk.

The bay grinned, "You know it." He sent a wink at Arix, chuckling softly to himself. "Lets go team!"

I hovered behind for a moment, glaring at Arix as she walked away. No way could she steal Malglo from me. No way.

[/color]

[Shanza]

Arix grinned, and cheered with the rest of her team as the opposite team dropped the ball again. It came flying back, and she reared, scooping it with her wings to send it to Malgo. He bounced it on his head and it flipped over to Kathri, who batted it across the middling line again. The ball came soaring back but was dropped by a young stallion Arix didn't know, so she took the opportunity to reposition herself in the field. "Nice job, Katchatchi," she whispered as she slid past her.

Arix walked away, but was grinning with delight. This was almost as fun as hunting. Her eyes flashed golden, and she struggled to turn them back to their usual black. She took a deep breath and let it out slowly, trying to calm her racing pulse and excited temper.

She stopped looked back, probably too soon. Still on her face was the hint of the wild grin and the excitement for the chase. Her eyes probably still had a hint of the golden color, but at the moment she didn't care. Kathri was staring after her with some mix of emotions showing on her face. So what if Kathri saw that her eyes were a color that eyes shouldn't be? For Northarian knew who her next target was: a tall grulla appaloosa mare who showed her expressions a little too eagerly and was more sensitive to facades than most. The gray pegasi couldn't wait for the hunt to begin.

[ϞSymreeϞ]

I couldn't believe that I scored! I did a little dance that Malglo saw and laughed at. He'd looked at me without sarcasm! Yes, we had to be soul mates! I laughed happily and Arix came up beside me, I could practically see her devil horns.

"Nice job, Katchatchi,"

I glared at her retreating form, then over to Enjori and Okolim "Can you believe her?" I asked. They could probably see the steam coming out of my ears. Malglo knew my name...he'd just forgotten it.
The mare looked back at me, and I jumped slightly at the expression on her face. What was I to her? Something to play with? A game? A hunk of meat! And I could have sworn that her eyes were black not this startling golden color...

I glanced in Malglo's direction and had to dive for the ball that I had not seen until then. Mud splattered on my face and forelegs, but the ball was airborne again, and I saw a familiar flash of red as Malglo bounced it off a perfect shoulder, passing expertly to Enjori.
I stood a bit shakily and looked up to see Arix watching me, laughter dancing in her eyes. I didn't like the way that she was looking at me. Not at all.

[/color]

[Shanza]

I grinned to myself, it was the most fun I had in a long time, and by the look on my brother's face, for him as well. He had always been good at hoof/eye coordiation. As for me? Well, I was happy to not drop the ball every single time. Someone on our team dropped it, and the other team got to start with it. Arix walked past us, murmered something to Kathri, and then my friend was fit to explode. The ball came back, and she got it just in time. It soared to Malgo, and then he passed it to me. Crap! I jumped forward, a little too much probably, batting it with my head and sending it behind me. Well, at least it stayed in the air. A nervous, quiet stallion managed to hit it to Okolim, who sent it in a speeding smackdown on the other team's side. "Yes!" I yelled, and Okolim grinned. "You're going to have to teach me how to do that," I wispered to him.

"End game!" Malgo called. "We win! Twenty to nineteen!"

The gym teacher laughed, "Well finally, i was starting to think you lost your edge! Come on class, there's just enough time to rinse off in the lake before heading to your next class. Teams, stay with your leaders!" With that, he charged off, leading half the class with him.

About to head out, I glanced over at Kathri, then did a double take. "You alright?" She had a weird look in her eyes, like she had seen a ghost. I glanced past her, but it was just Arix was shaking out her wings. The gray pegasi nodded to us as she trotted past to catch up with Malgo. "You going to tell me what's going on or do I have to develop physic powers now?" Okolim twitched his head towards the rest of the group who were leaving, and we caught up to him quickly. "What's going on between you and Arix?"

[ϞSymreeϞ]

It had been a long time since I had had this much fun. I had forgotten that socialization can be a good thing in moderation. The best part was the game choice.Nautic. I don't mean to sound conceited, but I have mad Nautic skills. It had probably been for my benefit alone that the coach had chosen that particular game. He could tell that I was bored beyond belief being stuck here all the time. I'll admit that it wasn't exactly kept secret. Everyone knew I was bored, it was written all over my insolent little face.

Man I missed Jormax. I hadn't been called juvenile or immature for months. I missed the etiquette lessons and shouting matches, it really was too bad that he was placed on "administrative leave." I would have staked my life on the fact that Draldoth was very much enjoying the stallion's absence. Not many could appreciate the mad professor's quirks.

Even as the coach had split up the teams, I knew that I had been assigned to the winning one. I had Arix , and most of the more coordinated unicorns, but it would be a close game. What the coach's team lacked, he would more than make up for.

"Alright you lot," I said with a contented sigh, "Old glory over there has won every game in like the century he's been here, and he's got a big enough head to match. I would love to see him loose for once. Think we can make it happen?"

Ill admit that I hadn't been expecting the grulla mare's enthusiasm. Usually she was reserved, and quiet, but lately she had taken to staring at me...to be honest I was a bit creeped out, she never said anything...she just stared...obsessively.

I shook off the feeling of her eyes on my coat, becoming aware of the fact that I was standing in the sun. Maybe if I stopped being shiny, she'd leave me alone. I took the step needed to place myself in the shade of a tree. I took a moment to explain the rules, and showed my team the woven sack of grass that we would be playing with.

I glanced across the faces of my teammates and my gaze fell on Arix's rose gray form. "Arix, would you mind being my partner for the demonstration?" She shrugged and walked forward, and I tried not to feel too drawn to the way she moved. I made a point of not staring at her too much. My gaze was strictly polite. It was Draldoth's rule. No real relationships with the students. I was really starting to hate that rule.

"Now, pegusi have a certain advantage in the game of Nautic. They have two very large flat surfaces that most of us lack. Wings." Honestly I was jealous, how cool would it be to fly and do my magic poof thing? I glanced towards Arix, a bright smile on my face."Ready?"

She smiled back, nodding.

My magic released the ball, and I rose on my haunches, bouncing the sack a few times on each knee before passing it to Arix, whom effortlessly batted it between her wings, eventually headbutting it back to me. I popped it once with my shoulder before letting it fall to the ground. "Very good," I said, "That's just how it's done." It took more effort than I expected to not smile at her again.

The Lifetime sports coach walked away from his group, whom looked very confidant with him on their side. "Ready to loose Malglo?" He asked with a smirk.

I grinned,"You know it." I sent a wink at Arix, chuckling softly to myself. "Lets go team!" Bad Malglo, bad! No flirting, no chuckling and ABSOLUTELY no winking. I groaned inwardly. This stupid rule would be harder to follow than I thought.

The other team started out with the sack, and one dropped it, shooting it at a nearly impossible angle. Arix rose gracefully, catching it in the scoop of her wings. She shot it my way. Effortlessly I bounced it on my head, sending it to the overly enthusiastic stalker mare. She scored with it, but I hardly noticed, I was too busy replaying how Arix had caught the serve. Bad! Malglo, pull yourself together! She is a mare, not a goddess. How many mares do you see every day? I frowned. Too many, I saw too many mares every day...so I knew a pretty one when I saw her. I felt like smacking myself over the head. Maybe this was just a minor crush. I'd get over it eventually. Yeah, that was the spirit!

The final play came eventually, and I had grown slightly more used to Arix's presence. I thought of nothing naughty...just as long as there was no eye contact. Stalker mare saved the ball by the skin of her teeth and I sent it whizzing over to one of the mare's friends, who sent it a few feet behind her. Luckily the mares brother was more coordinated than she was, and scored a smack down goal that was the stuff of legend. I cheered with everyone else, feeling perfectly normal and happy. Not bored for once.

"End game!" I called. "We win! Twenty to nineteen!"

The coach laughed, "Well finally, i was starting to think you lost your edge! Come on class, there's just enough time to rinse off in the lake before heading to your next class. Teams, stay with your leaders!"

He charged off, breaking my no naughty thoughts streak. I couldn't help but imagine what Arix would look like sopping wet. Did that really make me such a bad seed? Was that against Draldoth's rules? Yes. Definitely yes. It was the simplest rule ever, and the only one I had ever been tempted to break.
I would have to be careful, one wrong move, and I felt certian that Draldoth would see it. It was a very good thing that I was good about hiding stuff like that. If he hired a mind reader though, I was french toast.

Arix came trotting after me and I grinned at her, "Good game!" To my utter delight the mare was simply too muddy to stay out of the water, and the thought made the smile linger on my face just a bit longer than usual. It quickly occurred to me that I was simply drenched in mud, and the smile faded. Now was not the time to break Draldoth's rule. Besides, Arix didnt really seem all that interested. I could control myself for another week, then I'd ask her out...discreetly.

I lead my team to the river and half jumped right in, drenching those left on the banks. I slid into the cool water and lay down, letting the current wash the water off of my back. I stuck my head in for seconds at a time, flicking my ears to empty the water.
Arix had slid in next to me, and took note that my imagination had not done her justice. Her long rosy mane fell in strait, wet lines along her neck, and her feathers sparkled with shimmering drops of dew. I probably looked ridiculous now standing next to her. I had taken care not to stare for too long. I only allowed my eyes one sweep of her slender bodice, and then I shook the water from my blood red coat, exiting the river. I felt quite proud of my performance. It had been clean, very professional if I didn't say so myself.
I heard a quiet laughter and was yanked back into the water by my tail, splashing in backwards next to the rose gray Pegasus. I closed my eyes, breathless from laughter, still unsure as to who had pulled me back in. "You're sooo dead!" I shouted to no one in particular, still chuckling to hide the embarrassment.

[Shanza]

"Good game!"

Arix grinned at the blood bay, glancing at him up and down; he was completely covered in mud. For that matter, she was as well. "It certainly was," she said, watching the path again. This was going to be interesting- scratch that- this was going to be fun. Arix grinned in delight.

They reached the water and Malgo plunged in ahead. Arix watched him with thinly veiled appreciation before sliding in to join him. Yes, this was most definitely going to be fun... in much more ways than one. She slid past him purposefully throwing an extra, but subtle, flair into her gait. She glanced back just in time to see him look away. He shook the water out of his coat and started walking out of the river, his whole posture proud. So. He was caught then.

Look who's finally decided to join us. Arix laughed softly as she saw Kathri round the corner, in perfect view of Malgo's shinning body. Arix took two steps forward, grabbed a hold of his tail as it switched by, and yanked. He plunged backwards, briefly going under, but he came up laughing. "You're sooo dead!" he called out, shaking the water out of his mane.

Arix took the needed one step forward, and acutely aware of Kathri's slack-jawed gaze, she stretched out her head towards him. "Really? Prove it!" Rocking back on her haunches, she leapt upward with all the power she could muster. Her wings stroked downward, nearly hitting Malgo, but then she was in the air. Arix hated to have to give up the air so quickly, but it was necessary. Gliding down, she landed on the river side, trotting a few steps to absorb the impact. Arix half turned, glancing at the rest of the class. The only one watching her besides Malgo was Kathri, and that wasn't with pleasure; it was pure malice.

Arix grinned at Malgo, switching her tail in an inciting way. She cocked her head sideways, and slowly backed off a few steps. Arix shook, letting her wings unfurl slightly as the sunlight glinted on the flying water drops. Furling her wings, she arched her neck and danced into the forest. She was a dingo if he wouldn't end up following. She just hoped that appy mare wouldn't have the guts to get in his way.

[ϞSymreeϞ]

We won, but I had never felt such a strange mix of emotions. I was mad at (and terrified of) Arix, I wanted to smack (and kiss) Malglo, and I felt like crying, all at the same time.
Apparently the look on my face matched.

"You alright?" Enjori asked.

I shook my head, not even bothering to lie to her, "No."

"You going to tell me what's going on or do I have to develop physic powers now?"

I grinned, "I'd like to see you try, Enjori."

We trotted to catch up with Okolim, as we pulled even, I was going to congratulate him on the goal, but his mind was on one track only. "What's going on between you and Arix?"

I rolled my eyes, "Why can you two not see that the mare is evil and that she wants to eat my liver or something? Back there at the game, she gave me this look and I felt like she was picking me for her dinner entree! Tell me there isn't something up with her." I challenged.

I humbly received identical cryptic smiles...again. I rolled my eyes at them and moaned slightly, "AAAnnd she's going after Malglo just because she knows that I like him! She's evil. Evil I say!!!" I frowned, knowing that it was taking all of their will power not to laugh at me. I trotted away, sulking so that they could get their giggles out.

As I came around the bend in the river, I caught sight of Malglo, just stepping out of the water. Droplets formed on his coat and made him shine like something out of a fairy tale. I imagined walking over to him and brushing my muzzle through the black tangles of his mane, then I would kiss him, and he would kiss me back... The fantasy went on in a similar fashion until I saw the stallion mysteriously falling backwards.

He fell with a splash into the river. My jaw dropped as it registered in my mind. Arix had pulled him in! This was perfect! he would be soo angry with her and then he'd see me just standing over here all alone... I moved into the sunlight and messed up my mane, planting a happy smile on my face, coupled with half closed eyelids. He was all mine.

To my horror, Malglo came up laughing, "You're sooo dead!" He called out, shaking out that perfect black mane of his. I watched, feeling transfixed and disappointed. Enjori and Okolim caught up with me.

Arix stepped towards Malglo, stretching her head out over his, "Really? Prove it!" The mare rocked back on her haunches and unfolded her wings, nearly hitting the bay's face. The next moment, she was airborne, and then gliding gracefully back down to the riverbank. She landed in the matter of a few strides, coming to a stop in a well placed patch of sunlight. The light in my patch of earth seemed to wink out, and it all settled on Arix. She grinned at Malglo, and flicked her tail in an enticing sort of way. She cocked her head like a peacock and backed away a few steps, shaking the water off of her coat. Her wings unfurled slightly, catching the glint of sunlight. She didnt look real, I realized, but this would only make him want to follow her more. Malglo liked chasing fantasies. he practically did it for a living.

Arix arched her neck and danced into the forest like a ballerina. She knew that she had him. No! No way! Malglo was mine! Mine! I couldn't let her take him into the forest and cut out his liver! OK so that wasn't exactly what I thought she'd do, but either way, I didn't want Malglo following her.

The stallion turned, getting ready to follow. I closed the short distance between us, launching across the last few feet. "NO!" I half shouted, pouncing on his sodden form and knocking it back into the water. Only now that I lay, mostly on top of him, did I realize how bad it could look. I felt frozen in place, what would he say to me? Oh god, he would yell wouldn't he? I couldn't move, too frozen with fear, I was touching him. His wet stomach was pressed against my chest. This would be heaven if it wasn't so awkward and public. Malglo struggled beneath me, but I didn't move, I couldn't let him up, he would yell now, I knew he would. The struggling continued, but I was too heavy for him to shift. Maybe if I held him here a bit longer, my classmates would stop staring. My face was burning beneath my coat. He couldn't yell at me in front of everyone, He couldn't!

"Get off him!" Someone yelled.
Ridiculously I felt myself crying and shook my head stubbornly. I wouldn't let him up, he'd be angry, he'd call me a klutz, and he would go to Arix. I couldnt let him go to Arix. More voices were yelling now.

"Get off Kathri!"
"Get off!"
"What are you doing?"
"He cant breathe!"
"Cant breathe!"
"Kathri, get off!"

What? Of course he could breathe! I looked down at his face through the layers of water. He looked limp and cold. I couldn't see any bubbles rising. Malglo had stopped struggling. In horror I stared down at him, meaning to jump off, but I was frozen in place. I couldn't move. oh no.What had I done?

Rough hooves shoved me off of Malglo, and I fell the rest of the way into the river. It was the coach. Malglo's body floated to the surface and the coach snatched him out, using his magic to push the water out of the Bay's lungs. Oh god, oh no, he wasn't breathing. I watched as the impossible amount of water seeped out of Malglo's mouth. What had I done?
The coach was cursing silently, and slapping Malglo's face with the flat of his horn. "Malglo! Malglo!" The last of the water seemed to have come out of his lungs, but still the bay lay still. "Come on kid, you lived through this once!"The coach muttered.

I felt sick. How long had I held him under? not long enough to kill him, surely not long enough? Horribly the thought crossed my mind, if he died he wouldn't be following Arix. I shook myself, what was wrong with me? Was I some sort of monster?

What seemed like an eternity later, Malglo's eyes opened and he coughed, an action that sent his whole body into a cringe. He looked so small, so young here. He couldn't have been more than two or three years my senior. At least I hadn't killed him. His coughing lasted longer than I thought it would, and the coach nudged his shoulder comfortingly. "It's ok kid, you'll be alright."

The coach raised his head, "Someone get The Headmaster."

I felt my heart race. I never meant to hurt him, that would be obvious... right?

[/color]

[Shanza]

"Why can you two not see that the mare is evil and that she wants to eat my liver or something? Back there at the game, she gave me this look and I felt like she was picking me for her dinner entree! Tell me there isn't something up with her." Kathri challenged us, rolling her eyes.

Okolim and I smiled at her, both knowing that equines weren't just evil- we were both proof of that. "AAAnnd she's going after Malglo just because she knows that I like him! She's evil. Evil I say!!!" I nearly burst out laughing at Kathri's rant, but managed not to. She glared at us before trotting off, vanishing along the trail.

"Wow." Okolim said. I nodded.

"She really hates that mare, doesn't she?" I grinned again, then started laughing. Okolim caught the bug, and then neither of us could stop. She was someone who we had never known before, because where we came from all evil was magic. There was no other. Either you were under the influence of magic and were entrapped by evil, or you had magic and were evil. There was no gray area.

When we finally stopped laughing, we were approaching the river and talking about our classes. Kathri was staring at Malgo and Arix in the river, while they messed around. I said, "Too bad, girl. You'll get your chance," but later I realized she probably hadn't heard me, if she had, it might have stopped what happened next. Okolim was already in the water washing the mud off when I headed to join him. I saw Kathri moving out of the corner of my eye. Belatedly I realized that Arix was gone and Malgo was leaving the river. What was going on? I heard Kathri's shout and saw them tumble back into the water. Pausing, I waited for a moment before I realized Kathri wasn't letting him up. I saw her freeze up, and knew what it would mean for the blood bay.

"Kathri, get off him!" I yelled desperately. "You don't know what your doing!" With the first shout I had the classes attention, but why wasn't anyone moving? I was running, yelling for Okolim, who had started moving at my first call, and who was also closer. The next to respond was the gym teacher; I couldn't even remember his name, but he was one of the farthest away. "Get off Kathri, get off!" I yelled and screamed at her, but Okolim was plunging first out of the river then towards her, saving his breath for running.

Others started to yell, as they realized what was going on. He wasn't moving anymore, oh god, he's not moving. Please don't let this be like what happened to me. Oh, please. I had no clue of to whom I prayed, but if there was an immortal soul out there who could help, I hoped that they would.

I saw how Kathri leaned back, just slightly, as if she was taken by surprise. The next instant Okolim was there, launching himself into Kathri to knock her off her crush who she inadvertently tried to kill. Could I be wrong about her? I wondered as I plunged into the water. I couldn't be wrong, it wasn't in her, it couldn't be in her. I grabbed Malgo's main and started to pull, and then the gym teacher skidded in next to me. With little effort he was pulling Malgo out of the water. Realizing I was just in the way, I backed off. He pulled Malgo onto the shore as the rest of the class arrived. Why couldn't have Kathri crushed on him? There would have been no way she could have kept him down.

"Malglo! Malglo!" he yelled, "Come on kid, you lived through this once!"

Vaguely I wondered what he meant by that, and then my eyes were drawn to Kathri. She had been helped out of the river by Okolim, who was standing near her. She was just staring at Malgo with this strange look in her eyes. I couldn't name it, but I could place it. I had felt it once, the day I was kicked out of my herd. It was the sense of losing touch with reality, the sense that everything had just spiraled out of control. I hoped that the consequences of my act wouldn't repeat themselves here.

We all watched Malgo as the gym teacher worked over him, desperately calling for him to live. It was apparent that those two were friends, and had shared history between them. When the bay opened his eyes and began to cough, we all breathed a sigh of relief, but Kathri was still in shock.

"It's ok kid, you'll be alright." I could tell the coach was relieved. He raised his head, saying in a somewhat somber voice, "Someone get the Headmaster."

A student scrambled to do what he said, but before he moved twenty feet, a pegasi launched in the air, yelling, "I'll be faster!"

My head yanked up, and I realized it was Arix. So she had returned, probably attracted by the commotion. Her streamlined form disappeared over the trees tops and the realization came to me that I would be the fastest to get a message to anyone on the island- if that is, anyone could understand the plants.

I walked over to my friend, who was staring at the still-gasping Malgo. Stopping in front of her, I blocked her sight until she was forced to look in my eyes. We just stood there, until she whispered, "What have I done?"

I took a step forward, draping my neck around hers. Okolim touched her flank with his muzzle. We were sorry for her, we wanted to be able to provide comfort in a way that we had never received. All to soon she would understand us in a way that we had never wanted her to. It was depressing.

Malgo's breathing started to even out, and the class started to group off. They were muttering, and whispering among themselves, and I caught not a few evil glances directed our way.

The gym teacher nudged Malgo, saying something about him 'walking it off,' but I didn't hear any more. Malgo struggled to rise, and then he was walking, rather steadier than I had expected, down the beach.

"Why didn't you just get off him? Are you an idiot?" One of the students walked up to us, stopping just feet away. I glanced at him, then glanced away. I should have known better; bullies and loudmouthed critics don't just back away with out a fight. Besides, the whole class was watching and the teachers were down the beach a short ways. There wasn't anyone to interfere. "How can you be comforting someone who's a murderer?" He hissed at us. I felt my blood start to boil, Kathri was feeling guilty, I was sure of it, and Okolim looked just mad. "You two, comforting her?! Like she's the one who needs comfort! She nearly killed a stallion! Eye for an eye! Murderers," he hissed the word again, "Should be taught who they're messing with when they mess with one of us!"

I snapped. One of us. Those were the last words I had heard before I was banished. You'll never be one of us. For the first time in my life I was reaching for the magic, not pulling away. The forest responded with an eagerness that would have made me back off if I had been thinking right. I would have been running backwards. Everything happened at once. The trees moaned, shook, and trembled, leaning towards the group as branches whipped around. I turned to face him, face the one who dared go against my friend. Behind me and in front, vines raised off the ground, supported by there base stalks and reached for the sky. Plants that normally grew along the ground were reaching into the sky, and bushes grew sideways at an amazing rate, closing off the river. Creaks and moans were made by the trees, plants came to life and river plants lifted themselves out of the water.

"One of us? Not one of us?" The forest was near deadly still, and had I taken the time to notice them, the coach and Malgo were creeping back towards the group, eying the plants warily. "She is us."

[Shanza]

Draldoth was returning to his office when the gray pegasi nearly fell out of the sky. "Professor! Sir!" she yelled in a panic, as she ran up to him.

"What is it?"

"It's Malgo," she gasped, "He's hurt, he was nearly drowned!"

Draldoth's head shot up, what? he thought in confusion. How could Malgo get into that much trouble here? Then he realized how. He had underestimated the bay's ability for trouble-making once again. Spinning around, he dashed around the corner as Arix said, "But it's not that... way." Confused, she ran after him.

"Armathea! Come on, Malgo might need your healing skills!" The Headmaster called down the feild after a strawberry roan mare. Her head jerked up, and she came running. "Again?"

He nodded, then yelled at Arix to lead the way. How could this have happened? I kept him here to keep him out of trouble. They were running through the forest when it happened. The trees came alive, and Arix skidded to a halt as vines whipped out towards her. On instinct she reared and her wings beat at them, but as soon as one of them were nearly caught, she furled them close.

"Arix! Get over here now!" Draldoth yelled, and she obeyed with out question. Armathea started muttering something, and Draldoth started scrolling runes in the air. Soon a vortex was created, swirling about them, that the plants couldn't penetrate. "They can't come through that, but if we bring the wall over them they will be able to. Tell me, was Enjori in that class?" Arix nodded. "Now you have to tell me what happened, and from the beggining."

[ϞSymreeϞ]

I controlled the laughter as I realized that it had been Arix that pulled me in. She took a step forward, her neck extending and allowing her head to hover above my own. "Really? Prove it!"

I grinned as she leaned back on her haunches, and struggled to find my footing on the slick bottom. Her wings slapped the water, narrowly avoiding my face and then she was airborne, soaring high overhead. I laughed, unable to keep the wonder out of my eyes, what was she doing? Much sooner than I expected, she glided back down to earth, landing gracefully on the riverbank. It took nearly all if my willpower to not phase instantly to her side right then, but I resisted. The rule, I couldn't break the rule. Not yet anyways.

She grinned at me, and her tail swished invitingly. Was this real? I waited in the river, smiling back, ready to go after her. Rules? What rules? I nearly groaned aloud this time. I couldn't break these rules, they were Draldoth's he must have created them for a reason. I vaguely remembered him warning me about her, but I had watched, I had waited, she seemed fine, maybe not cheery enough for some of the others here, but she wasn't crazy. She was crazy beautiful though. Bad Malglo! Bad! I growled quietly to myself. I couldn't help that I was a charming rule breaker! I'd been so good lately, such a good seed, surely Draldoth would make this one tiny exception?

The sunlight caught her wings and shone off of her damp coat. She really wasn't making this easy for me. Her wings furled and her neck arched into a beautiful curve. She danced away into the forest. Don't even think about it Malglo, Draldoth said no! But Draldoth wasn't here! Bad seed. I was being a very bad seed by even entertaining the idea of following her. was being bad so wrong? I stared after her, clearly tempted. Who said Draldoth had to find out? I tossed the last voice of reason out of my head and rose casually to my hooves. I was going after her.

The decision had firmly settled in my mind when out of nowhere, stalker mare showed up. I blinked in surprise, expecting her to say something. Her body caught mine with the force of a race horse and the impact knocked the breath clean out of me. The next thing I knew, I was breathing water instead of air. I could feel it flooding into my lungs, and pressing the last bit of air from my body. I had no breath to hold, and the water just kept coming in, no matter how many times I tried to clamp my jaw shut. I struggled and kicked at the mare, but I felt sure that my efforts seemed playful to her, no matter how much urgency I tried to put into a kick, the mare wouldn't budge. Her knees rested on my side, pressing my waterlogged lungs into the sandy bed of the river. Incredible pressure set in on my head, and in a flash, I was a yearling, struggling to rise as my father held me down in this same river. I remembered his face, cool and collected as he watched the life start to drain from my eyes. A final spasm ran through my body, and then I lost all consciousness.

In my dream, I awoke to the face of the Headmaster, Draldoth. He had saved me the first time, shoved my father off of me. "You are a very lucky colt," he had said.

I knew that I wasn't dead when the feeling started coming back. First I could feel my lungs, gasping and choking on the sudden supply of air. My eyes snapped open and I coughed for what seemed like ages, my body curling with pain with each empty hack of air. My eyes slid closed, and I could feel the coach's muzzle resting on my aching shoulder.

"It's ok kid, you'll be alright."

Eventually my breathing evened out, and my muscles started to relax into a violent shake. Yes believe it or not, that's how they usually started to loosen up.

"Someone get the Headmaster." The coach slowly lowered himself down beside me. His voice was soft and soothing to the heavy roar in my ears. "I'm here, Malglo, just breathe. You'll be ok, Draldoth's coming." He seemed to be trying to convince himself more than me.

The vibrations left me and the coach stood, patting my shoulder with the flat of his horn. "Walk it off, son," he said, "Walk it off." I stood, feeling slightly dizzy, and walked off, feeling quite steady on my hooves. It wasn't as bad as the last time, I thought, trying to shake the image of my sire's face. It was just...I didn't know what to call it, but I didn't think that the stalker mare was trying to kill me. She didn't seem like the type for that, but I'd been wrong before. What the hell had she been thinking? My head still pounded angrily, seeming to crash against my skull with every heartbeat. I hoped that I didn't have a concussion. There was enough wrong with me already. Eventually everything left me except the headache, but I had it classified as a migraine. Every tiny sound nearly sent me reeling, and then a few students started shouting. I fell against the coach's waiting shoulder and quickly steadied myself, muttering crossly. What was going on now?
"I think we need to take you to the healer Malglo."
I shook him off, staring in wonder as the forest around is shook, roots moaning and trunks buckling. There was no way that my migraine was that bad, but every crash and moan nearly sent me to my knees. The coach became a crutch.

"One of us? Not one of us?" A mare shouted, sending me to my knees, "She is us."
The coach helped me back up to my hooves, and I knew that I should have been trying to stop whatever it was that was happening, but Draldoth was coming. I just had to keep it under control for that long. Slowly I suck away from the coach, and walked back and around the mare that had shouted. I didn't have to touch her, but I knew enough calming magic that could help if I was close enough. The coach pulled me back, "No Malglo," he said, "Draldoth's here, he's here."

[Shanza]

Draldoth and Armathea slowly moved their swirling vortex forward, with Arix following close behind. Sure, she could help with this, she could activate one of her force fields, but then she would be known for sure. She would wait and see how they did. The spinning sheet of air, water, earth, and fire compressed and warped to avoid too much contact with the plants. Several small tendrils got caught in it, and were shortly shorn off. Then they hit the wall of bushes.

Every time the protective barrier started to pass the bushes, they'd reach for the equines. "Arix, I need you to concentrate on your power, focus it, and when I tell you, blast it right through those bushes, Ok?"

The gray pegasi mare looked at him, and then nodded. She took a deep breath, focusing on the water, calling it to her, calling it to respond. She looked up at Draldoth, "I'm ready."

"Good. We'll create a hole in the front, and just blast those plants to smithereens."

Arix faced forward, focusing her concentration on whatever was ahead. "Gladly."

"Now!" Draldoth yelled, and working with Armathea, they spun the protective covering open in front, as Arix sent a blasting wave of water through it. She lept after her wave, and on her heels were Draldoth and Armathea. "Okolim, call your sister back! She's going to get someone killed! Enjori, listen to your brother. Nothing's going to happen to Kathri, Ok?" He strode towards the group, murmuring at them as Enjori started to calm down. The plants were starting to droop, and then with a violent wrench backwards, Enjori broke the connection with them. She sighed, exhausted.

Armathea had immediately left to see Malgo, and Arix followed her over. "Follow my horn back and forth, no, focus on it. Your not focusing, Malgo!" She snapped her horn against his skull. "You can stare at pretty mares all you want to later. Now you need to follow my orders, ok?" After running some more quick tests, she continued. "You need rest and rehabilitation. That means peace and quiet. No running, no fast walking, no gaming, no grading, and absolutely no poofing! You understand me?"

[ϞSymreeϞ]

The world was a wild jumble of confusion. I could pick out Arix's form in the small sea of unicorns and pegusi, and then I could hear the headmaster, Draldoth. His words assaulted my ears, and the coach caught me yet again as I swayed.

"Okolim, call your sister back! She's going to get someone killed! Enjori, listen to your brother. Nothing's going to happen to Kathri, Ok?"

Slowly the plants started to droop and with a slight whoosh, the mare let her magic go. I sighed in relief, but the coach nudged me with his shoulder. "Look alive, kid, you want a passing grade from the healer."

I blinked, groaning inwardly, the healer and I were on a first name basis. I seemed to be visiting her once a week for this or that...when I was on duty anyway. The last time, it had been a fracture in my cannon bone. I wouldn't have even gone, but Draldoth had insisted. I was glad that I had listened to him that time, the leg took months to heal.

Armathea came over and I fought to look as healthy as possible. I didn't fancy spending another week in her room. Arix followed her over. My eyes flicked up to hers, and I tried to smile, but Armathea tore my attention away from Arix.
"Follow my horn back and forth, no, focus on it. Your not focusing, Malgo!"
Her horn slapped sharply on my skull, nearly sending me to my knees again. What was wrong with this mare? Couldn't she see that I was in pain? My ears pinned angrily and I followed the tip of her horn with my eyes.

"You can stare at pretty mares all you want to later. Now you need to follow my orders, ok?"

I nodded, following all of her instructions with the obedience of a foal who just wanted to get something over with. I didn't look at Arix again. She must have thought I was pretty pathetic now...and things had been going so well!

"You need rest and rehabilitation. That means peace and quiet. No running, no fast walking, no gaming, no grading, and absolutely no poofing! You understand me?"

Yeah I understood her, I was being put under house arrest. The injustice of it made me want to complain, but I didn't have the energy. I just wanted to poof to a soft bed of moss. It would be easier than walking anyway.
"Malglo! Do I make myself clear?"
I nodded, remembering that she couldn't read my mind. "Yeah", I said groggily. "Can we do something about this headache? Please?" This wasn't fair. I had been having such a good day, and then someone nearly drowns me and I'm the one under arrest. How does that even happen? Draldoth would never believe it, but for once, this wasn't my fault. For the first time, I had not been looking for trouble. It had found me all on it's own. Did that mean that I was being a good seed? Or was it just proof that the universe didn't want me to live to see my next birthday? Suddenly I doubted that I was lucky, not when I was a colt, and certainly not now. It seemed like every staff member in the school had an extra thing tacked on to the end of their job descriptions: keep an eye on Malglo.

The healer's horn rested on my brow and the pressure slowly lifted. She clucked her tongue impatiently, dabbing something on my forehead. "I don't know what we're going to do with you, Malglo. Isn't there anywhere where you can just stay out of trouble?"
I frowned, "It wasn't even my fault this time!"
Her expression softened slightly, a thread of worry in her eyes. "I know, Malglo, that's what frightens me." Armathea glanced back at Arix, her eyes lingering on my face before looking off towards Draldoth. "keep an eye on him for me, I think I need to speak with the headmaster...when he's done with those three."

Great, new babysitter. I hung my head, letting it fall between my knees. I took several deep breaths before looking sheepishly back up at Arix. "Some day, " I commented with the air of one speaking of the weather, "Some day." There was no way that she really wanted to be seen with me now. I had nearly been drowned by a mare... what more needed to be said? I had been so stupid to think that I ever had a chance with her. Draldoth would be furious. I was supposed to be keeping the peace, not being torn to pieces by the students. I couldn't break a rule behind his back. Not now.

[/color]

[Shanza]

Arix watched the healer work over Malgo with a slight sense of sorrow. They cared for each other here, they cared very much. It made her remember her teacher, the one she lost due to his mind breaking down and body failing him.

"I don't know what we're going to do with you, Malglo. Isn't there anywhere where you can just stay out of trouble?"

"It wasn't even my fault this time!"

Malgo's response made Arix grin slightly. She remembered saying exactly those words when her teacher had pulled her out of yet another mess she had gotten into. Good times. If only the world could stay that way.

"Keep an eye on him for me, I think I need to speak with the Headmaster...when he's done with those three." Arix jolted her head around in response to the Healer's comment. She wanted her to watch Malgo? Since when was she put in charge of anybody? Arix shook herself slightly. She was in an Academy of magic, and no one knew what she was capable of. That brought a slight spark to her eyes. This would be the perfect way to get on their good side. This also changed everything. Malgo said something, and Arix looked closer at him. His head hung near his knees, he was sopping wet with mud mixed in, and in contrast to eariler in the water, he looked absolutly pathetic.

Arix looked him over, wondering what to do. What was the point in the chase if they couldn't run? He looks so sad, she thought to herself; it reminded her of her teacher. A once proud stallion brought to his knees because of bad luck and his brother's hatred. This wasn't quite like that, but shame could kill. She knew first hand- it happened back in Sunthara.

The gym teacher had left for a short time to deal with his students, and the groups were leaving the river now. Draldoth was talking in low tones to a depressed Kathri, who was flanked by her friends. The silver bay, Enjori, was it? looked completly exhausted, but Arix found that completly understandable. That kind of magic isn't preformed without a drastic loss of energy. Okolim looked slightly worried, but he was listening to the Headmaster with the look that hope hasn't all been lost.

"You know it's going to be alright, don't you?" Arix said, turning back to Malgo. "Come on, I know the perfect thing." She waited, hoping that he would look up at her. She couldn't stand to see him so depressed. Suddenly she blinked a couple times. Did she really care what this guy was feeling? What's wrong with me?

[Shanza]

I stayed close to Kathri after I broke the connection with the plants, as much for my support as for hers. I was exhausted, and couldn't think. Thought ran disjointed through my head, and the constant noise of the plants grew in a crescendo of internal noise, helping to exacerbate my headache. Head throbbing, and with Okolim there to listen, I mostly ignored Draldoth.

Kathri nodded a couple times, and it occurred to me that she wasn't completely terrified or scared. In fact, she was pretty ok, especially considering what she had just went through. As Draldoth walked away, I glanced over at Okolim, and he looked relieved. Good. I sucked in another deep breath and tried to steady my head. Whatever the news was, it wasn't horrible. We'd be fine.

Draldoth was talking to the mare he had brought with him, and Arix was with Malgo. The coach was shooing students away, and I noticed that the stallion who had criticized Kathri was gone. He was probably in one of the first groups to leave. I grinned slightly. He deserved to be terrified out of his wits. The last student left, and the coach walked back over to Malgo. Arix talked with him briefly, and then she walked away. I noticed how Malgo watched her; I wonder if Kathri did. To my surprise, she stopped a respectful distance from Draldoth. It was odd, why did she want to talk to him? They discussed something, and then Draldoth nodded. He finished talking with the healer, and then headed back to us.

My head came up, and so did Kathri's. Okolim watched with thinly veiled wariness. "Kathri," he said, stopping a few feet from us, "Arix has told me a little of what was going on between the two of you leading up to the incident." Kathri opened her mouth, but Draldoth cut her off. "Now, I'll hear your version as well, but considering what she told me, I had better get this out in front now. She said you two were both showing off for Malgo." He grinned slightly, and I was surprised. "Now, I have a rule here, and it's going to make it very difficult for Malgo if you two keep fawning over him. There is to be NO relations between teacher and student of any sort. You understand me?" When she responded, he went on. "She said she provoked you, deliberately, several times. Is that true? Also, now I want your version of what happened leading to the incident. Beginning from gym class."

His expression was fairly blank, but kind. "So, here's what I want. Tomorrow, you will be excused from classes, and so will Arix. Starting first thing tomorrow morning, both of you will be working with Healer Armathea to restock her herb supply. I find that working together generally soothes differences. When she releases you, you two will report to me to tell me what you learned, Ok?"