It was just a normal day when it all started, or at least that’s what 15-year-old Sylvia Blackworth thought. She came home from school, found her dad watching TV on the recliner where her dad could often be found, and went to her room. As she entered the doorway of the bedroom, Dusty, her cat rubbed against her ankles, purring. Sylvia sighed. She missed her mom quite a lot. Her mom had passed away from scarlet fever, just months before. Suddenly a cloud of black dust appeared! When the dust cleared, Sylvia’s mom stood there, looking alive as ever! 

“Hello Sweetie.” Her mom said looking at the floor. “I’m pretty sure I’ve got a few things to clear up.”  “Go

ahead.” Sylvia faced her ‘dead’ mom. “I’ve got all day.” Her mom put her arms around Sylvia and started talking. 

“When I was a child, I was different, I couldn’t control stuff I did. Like that time when I exploded the toilet.” Her mom chuckled at the memory. “One day I was found by a kind woman who took me to a place called WMS; there I learned to control my magic. After I graduated, I started dating your father and we eventually fell in love. Then I had you, you changed my life, Sylvia. A few months ago, my magic started acting up again. I found the woman who had changed my life and got my magic back under control. And well now, I’m

here.”

 Sylvia’s life changed at that moment. “Oh, just so you know, you and your cat, are switching places. Ta Da! And you thought you had everything under control.” Her mom said, with a twinkle in her eye. “Can I take Dusty along?”  Sylvia begged. “Okay!” her mom said, “I could use a cat in the house.” After shoving Dusty in his carrier, Sylvia took her mom's hand, and with a snap of her mom's fingers they disappeared into a blue sprinkle of glitter. 

“Whoa!” Sylvia breathed staring at the huge house in front of her. “This is your place?!” “Welcome home!’ her mom said with a flourish of her arms.  Sylvia entered

the house. “Wow!” The insides were even more spectacular than she had ever imagined, diamond chandeliers, two grand banisters, polished marble floors. Upstairs there was a massive swimming pool with slides leading into it from every imaginable angle. There was even a hot tub! Sylvia made a mental note to go swimming later. Sylvia’s mom pressed a little button hidden by a little slide and a panel slid open. Her mom went up the stairs that had come down and Sylvia followed.          

“Wow!!” Syvia exclaimed. She was breathless. Her room was gorgeous! The walls were somehow pastel pink, but still sparkling at the same time, the canopy over the

massive king-sized bed also matched. She had a little loft, hidden away, with a desk, and kitchenette. Sylvia entered the bathroom and absolutely loved it! A little bathtub accompanied with a shower stood in one corner, a sink in the other and matching towels and a washcloth on a rack. All shockingly pink of course! “Watch,” Her mom said as Sylvia left the bathroom. Sylvia waited, anticipating the next surprise. With a flick of a switch, the lights went off and wall to wall windows appeared, showing the city illuminated under stars. “Good night, kiddo.” her mom said and left Sylvia to go to bed 

Sylvia woke up the next morning, refreshed and ready

to go. Deciding to go find her mom, she left her bedroom and walked down the stairs to the kitchen, there she found her mom, frying and flipping pancakes. Sylvia joined in the fun and soon she was having a blast. After scraping ‘breakfast’ off the ceiling, Sylvia settled down for her first meal with her mom. “Second day here, eh?” her mom told her.

 “Tommorow, you start WMS.” “Whaat?” Sylvia was surprised. “Already!?” “Yep!” Her mom told her cheerfully. “You’ll love it there!” Sylvia was doubtful. She spent the rest of the day worrying and exploring. As she got into bed later that day, she had a hard time falling asleep.

Sylvia woke up with the sun in her eyes. She groaned. Today was going to be a hard day. Sylvia slipped into her outfit for the day, complete with a matching duffel bag. She looked at her alarm clock, time for the bus to come. Sylvia trudged downstairs. Just then she caught a glimpse of yellow, the bus was here! Sylvia flew out the door and sat down in the first empty seat she saw. At the next bus stop a girl with blonde hair and little braids, sat down beside her.

 “May I sit here?” she asked. “Anytime.” Sylvia said with a smile. The girl smiled back, tossing her tresses over her shoulder. “I’m Cadence Dewdrop.” she said. “Hi, Cadence.” Sylvia responded. She immediately felt at

home with Cadence’s goofy tactics. They compared class schedules. They were both in the same classes! Plus, when they flipped to the back, they both found out that they were both in dorm room three! Suddenly the bus screeched to a halt. Sylvia looked out the window. They were in the middle of the woods. Sylvia and Cadence stepped out of the bus, right in front of a tree. 

“You may pass,” The tree said automatically. “Uh, thanks?” Cadence said. A panel in the tree opened and the girls stepped through it. They found themselves in the middle of a hallway, lockers stretched along both sides. They trotted along the hallway but stopped when

Sylvia heard a sobbing sound. Cadence hesitated. “It came from there.” she said pointing to a closet. Just then Sylvia slammed into something. Hard. The girl spun around with the deadliness of a timber wolf. “How dare you!”  She screamed. “And you’re only noobs!” The girl cackled. “Come girls.” “Yes, Ruby.” The girls chorused meekly. Ruby and her gang stalked down the opposite direction. “Whew!” Cadence exhaled. A sob echoed again from the closet and Sylvia grabbed the doorknob. The door creaked open. A girl huddled there oblivious that her tears had been discovered. “what’s wrong?” Sylvia asked the girl, sitting down beside her. “Ruby locked me in here.” The girl lifted her head.

“Hmm,” Sylvia thought. “Ruby’s not kind.” Cadence tried to change the subject. “What dorm room are you in?” “Number three.” The girl responded. “And I’m Rose.” “Hey!” Cadence said. “We’re all roomies!!” “Really?!” Rose said finally smiling. “Let’s go!” The girls walked down the hallway to a little door with a three on it. They pushed open the door, to find a quaint little living space. Three bunkbeds lined the wall, a pink, a yellow and a blue. A kitchenette lined the opposite side with a door for the bathroom beside. The bathroom was simple, with just a shower and sink. The girls unpacked, each claiming a bunk bed. Sylvia got pink, Cadence got blue and Rose got yellow. Sylvia loved hers! It had an excellent view of

the forest. There was a scratcher for Dusty, who she immediately let out of his carrier. A bookshelf, with was somehow filled with all her favorite books, and a simple desk. She climbed the ladder to the top and laid down. It was comfy, but it lacked a finishing touch. Sylvia reached into her duffel bag and pulled out a patchwork quilt, from her mom, and she laid it down. It looked good, but she still needed something from her dad. Suddenly, she remembered! She reached down into her duffel bag again but this time she took a photo of her dad, with her on his shoulders. Sylvia sighed, filled with remorse and longing for her dad. She finished unpacking and came down the ladder. Rose’s and

Cadence’s beds were identical, except Rose’s was yellow, hers was pink and Cadence’s was blue. Then the girls went to the cafeteria and after mashed potatoes and meatballs, the girls climbed in bed and fell asleep.

Sylvia woke up in the morning with Dusty reclining on her face. Rose and Cadence were already eating cheerios at their tiny 3-seater table. She shoved Dusty off her face, got dressed and joined them. After breakfast, the girls left for their first class: Potions. Their professor, Dr Hickory was waiting for them there. They found their seats (All in a row), with Sylvia on the outside, sitting beside a nice and cute boy who introduced himself as Stevie. Stevie winked at Sylvia and

she smiled back. Just then Sylvia noticed that Ruby was sitting on the other side of the room. “Phew!” She thought. After explaining some of the basics, Dr Hickory put them in groups for the next class. Then they all want back to their dorms. Later in the day, Sylvia heard a knock at the door. She went to the door and opened it, not expecting Stevie and two of the boys from potions to be standing there. Stevie flushed, upon seeing Sylvia. “Uhh, Hi?” He offered. “Hey... Stevie.” Sylvia responded, turning equally red. Suddenly Cadence appeared, and much to everyone else’s surprise, tackled the taller boy behind Stevie. “Greg!!” she exclaimed, “You’re here?” “You know each other!?”

Everyone else asked in unison. Greg stood up laughing so hard he almost choked. “Cadence and I went to middle school together.” He explained. Rose found her voice, “What are you doing here with her?” She demanded, hands on her hips glaring at the figure behind Stevie’s back. “This is Bryain.” Stevie explained. Bryain stepped out timidly behind Stevie, Rose covered her mouth in horror. “I’m so sorry! I thought you were Ruby!!” Bryain laughed. Then he smiled. Rose smiled back, still a bit embarrassed for her accusation. “Anyhow! Why are you here?” Sylvia asked the question. “Library. We’re new here, and don’t really know anything, and maybe, we just want to make friends?”

Stevie offered, “Let’s go!” Greg said, and everyone rushed down the hall, toward the library.

Later that day, the boys dropped the girls at their dorm room. Soon, only Stevie lingered. “Thank you for the fun today.” He said shyly, faintly brushing a strand of hair away from her face. Sylvia’s face went red again, for the second time that day. “You’re welcome.” She mumbled.” Goodnight.” Stevie left, and Sylvia went inside the dorm room, with butterflies in her stomach. She stopped short. Cadence and Rose were staring at her and giggling. “What?” Sylvia said obstinately. Cadence laughed. “Looks like someone got bitten by the love bug.” Rose dropped on the floor in a heap of giggles as

Sylvia chucked her pillow at Cadence. Sylvia climbed in her bed. “Girls.” She muttered. “I heard that!” Cadence hollered from below, giggling. “Good night love bug!” Rose teased. Sylvia laid down and went to sleep.

She woke the next day to Rose singing a duet and Cadence croaking along. “Ummph.” Dusty was on her face. Again. After spitting cat fur out of her mouth, she looked at her alarm clock. 10:00 AM. Sylvia sat straight up. “Why aren’t you guys in potions?! “Cadence laughed. “Three school days a week, the rest is a weekend. But we don’t get summer off. We keep going until we’re grads. “Oh.” Sylvia blushed. Just then a note slid under the door. Rose picked it up. “From the boys. They want

us to come over, to room number fourteen for a surprise.” The girls got dressed. Rose had a purple t-shirt, and faded jean shorts complemented her crystal blue eyes. Cadence had baggy overalls and a green hoodie. Syvia had a pink crocheted sweater and ripped, baggy jeans. The girls headed out. They walked for a good long time until finally, number fourteen came into view. The boys were waiting in front of an ancient looking door. Stevie smiled at Sylvia, then suddenly bodychecked the door. The door opened and Stevie fell into the inky, black, darkness. Sylvia rushed forward, with Rose and Cadence on her heels. “Stevie!!” She cried. “If you’re looking for the boy with his pride hurt,

come down here.” Echoed from the hole. Sylvia saw a ladder leading into the darkness. She climbed down and there was Stevie alive, but embarrassed. He took her hand. “Come on!!” He instructed, pulling her forward. The others followed, and then there was a light. What they all saw took their breath away!! They found themselves on an island surrounded by a dark and shimmery ocean. A sailboat drifted past. “Wow!” they all breathed, breath taken. They looked back towards the cavern they had come from.  Sylvia looked down and realized that she was still holding Stevie’s hand. She let go. “Hey! This can be our secret place!” Bryain broke the silence. Sylvia felt she had known

Stevie forever, known this place forever, as fireflies danced over the teen’s heads. Stevie broke the silence. “We should really go back.” He went towards the cavern’s gaping mouth. They all climbed the ladder into the room and blinked as light blinded them. Nothing had changed. The same students were milling around the hallway, chittering and chattering. The boys went back to their dorm room, but before Stevie entered the room, he turned around and spoke. “Tommorow at 9?” Sylvia nodded along with Cadence and Rose. Stevie waved goodbye and shut the door. Rose, Cadence and Sylvia walked back to their dorm room. Suddenly Sylvia remembered something. “The bus is going to leave

soon!!” She grabbed Dusty and her duffel bag, and on the way to the door, high-fived Cadence and Rose. “See ya soon!” They chorused. Sylvia was already out the door. She ran through the tree’s hidden opening and into the bus’s doors, just as they were about to close. She flopped into the first open seat she saw and finally relaxed.

The bus dropped Sylvia off just outside the kitchen door. Her mom was baking cookies; she offered one to Sylvia and Sylvia gladly accepted. “How’d the first week go, honey?” Her mom asked. “Great!” Sylvia said. “I made some new friends!” She went up to her room and flopped on the bed, staring at the ceiling. Then she got

off and changed into a pink bathing suit. Sylvia pondered when she was in the pool, it was apparently a tradition to get your friends presents after the first week of school. Dusty hopped up beside her. “Rose and Cadence would love little keychain animals”. She decided “But what about the boys”? “Mrowrr.” Dusty had other ideas. Sylvia laughed. “Buddy, I can’t give them cat food! Only you would want a gift like that!” Just then a possible gift for Stevie struck her train of thought. “Mmhm, that would work. I could get candy for Bryain and Greg, and for Stevie maybe I could get a … Nah, better wait to see if the store even has any in stock.” Sylvia got out of the pool and went to dinner. As she

ate, she remembered to ask her mom if they could go to the mall tomorrow. “So, can we?” She finished. Her mom nodded, and Sylvia grinned. After supper she watched a movie with her mom, did some more swimming and finally got ready for bed.

The next morning as her alarm clock gloated, Sylvia got ready to go to the mall. After a quick breakfast, she and her mom hopped in the car and drove to the mall. As soon as they got there, Sylvia ran over to a store called Diamonds in the Making Co. He mom jogged behind her, out of breath. Sylvia sprinted over to isle number 6 and grabbed a sparkling silver parcel. “Yay! The last one!” she cheered. “Great job kiddo!” Her mom said.

Just then Ruby emerged from isle number 5. “Hey!” She whined. “I wanted that!” “Sorry” Sylvia mumbled. Then the manager arrived with one more shining box. Ruby grabbed it out of his arms and ran towards the checkout. Just before she was out of sight, she turned their way and sneered. “See you soon, Sylvia Blackworth.” Then she was gone. “Who was that?” Sylvia’s mom asked. “You don’t want to know, mom.” Sylvia shook her head. After they had driven home, Sylvia wrapped the box. Since she wasn’t hungry, she also skipped dinner.

Saturday and Sunday passed Quickly, and soon it was back to WMS. “Time to go back to school!” Sylvia

grinned. She hopped on the bus and soon Cadence got on. “Hola!” Cadence greeted Sylvia. “Bonjour!” Sylvia greeted her back. Cadence and Sylvia got off to find Rose waiting by the front door of WMS. “Hi!” Rose said enthusiastically. “Hey.” A voice behind her said. Rose whirled around, knocking everyone but Stevie and Sylvia to the ground. Rose helped everyone she knocked down up, apologizing an insane amount. “No need, it’s all good.” Bryain assured her. Rose turned bright red. “Helloo! Freezing to death person here, I know you two can’t feel the chill, but the rest of us are kinda cold!” Greg had to butt in. Now it was Bryain’s turn to go red. Everyone shuffled inside. The heater was

going full blast, but everyone still had pink cheeks. The boys and girls split up, each heading to their own dorms. Math and Enchantments past quickly and before she knew it Sylvia was sitting at a table in the cafeteria, waiting for Rose, Bryain and Greg. As soon as they came back, they started to exchange presents, Sylvia waited to give her presents near the end. One by one, she gave them out, saving Stevie for last. Rose and Cadence were so pleased with the little lion and cow keychains Sylvia had given them and Greg and Bryain too, with the candy. Sylvia then handed Stevie the silver package, trying to solve her beating heart. Stevie slowly unwrapped the gift and when he finally saw the little

camera Sylvia had given him, he was clearly very happy. His grin started out at the corners and finally took over his whole face. He smiled at Sylvia, and suddenly hugged her, but he pulled away quickly. Sylvia looked over his shoulder to find the whole school gaping at them. She put her head down and finished her bagel in silence. After lunch, Sylvia walked to her locker. When she opened it, a little slip of paper fluttered to the ground, it read, “To Sylvia, I’m sorry for the little incident at lunch today, here is your gift.” Sylvia stared into the depths of the lockers gloom. A little sparkle under some textbooks caught her eyes. she reached in and withdrew a little charm bracelet. On it there was a

tiny photo of her hugging Dusty, and the other one was a little eye with a jade piece set in the middle. Sylvia put the charm bracelet around her wrist, it fit perfectly. She felt a hand on her shoulder and whirled around, Stevie stood there, grinning embarrassedly. “Thank you.”  She whispered. “No problem, but it’s nothing compared to a camera!” Stevie laughed, a wholesome noise that Sylvia would never be sick of. It was almost time for technology, so Stevie and Sylvia walked together. Lots of kids stopped and pointed at them but Sylvia payed them no attention, she just focused on Stevie’s body heat next to hers. The hallway seemed to wind on forever. Finally, they got there. They went inside the

doorway and found a beefy man standing there. “Hallo! I’m Mr. Randski. Care to build?” “Yeah!” Stevie high-fived Mr. Randski. Sylvia could tell this was going to be fun! “Please take a seat,” Mr. Randski continued. He made a grand gesture with his arm. Sylvia sat between Cadence and Stevie. She looked at all the widgets on the table and her fingers itched to build, build something that could change the world! “You have sixty minutes!” Mr. Randski said, “Ready, Set, Go!!” Sylvia took thirty seconds to brainstorm. Then she knew what to do! She set to work with a pair of pliers as the minutes flew by. Pretty soon everyone was collecting their gadgets. They all walked out the door, chatting about what they had

made. “We made a candy dispenser!” Rose and Bryain proudly held up their lopsided hunk of metal. Greg had made a disk player, and Cadence had surprisingly actually made an animal translator. “Er, how about you Stevie?” Cadence was eager to shift the praise to someone else. Stevie turned pink. “I uh, made Sylvia something. He handed her a little elephant charm. Sylvia slipped it onto her charm bracelet, mumbling her thanks, “Sylv, how about you?” Rose asked sweetly and innocently, Sylvia turned even pinker than Stevie and handed Stevie a beautifully crafted watch. Now it was Stevie’s turn to mumble his thanks. “Hey!! Let’s go to the janitor's closet!” Greg proposed. They walked down the

hall for a bit until number fourteen showed up in sight. They slipped down the ladder and traipsed until the lake showed up in the distance. Just then an eerie melody reached all the young people’s ears. Sylvia ran towards the source of the sound, unaware of what she was doing. The rest of the young people followed. Soon they reached the spot where the sound was coming from. Rose pried apart some bushes, and a little kitten was huddled in some bushes. A least it resembled a kitten in some sorts, but it had bright glittery, almost bat, wings. Cadence’s eyes grew round as teacups. “The animal translator!” She whispered and immediately fished it out from her bag. Cadence pressed a button

on the device and the creature’s whimpers became words. “Can you understand me? Hello, do you know who I am? Oh, good you can understand me! Well, I bet you want to know what is happening. First things first, I’m Cleopatra, but you can call me Cleo, queen of an animal kingdom called the Dorats, I was kidnapped and my jewels were taken away from me, and I got stuffed in here. The end. Lucky me.” “Cleo.” Rose said gently. “What’s your city like?” “Oh, I’ll show you.” Cleo responded. The little queen stamped her paw eight times and nine Dorats came through the ground. They grabbed all the seven people and took off through the ground with their charges. Sylvia could hear Rose

squealing with fright and Cadence fighting with her Dorat. Ten seconds later, they burst through the ground and into a massive cavern. A particularly large Dorat looked up at them and spoke. “I just fixed the roof of the cavern!!” She hissed. Then she saw Cleo. “Mother!!” Cleo told the young people. “This is my daughter, Cindy. Anyhow, you deserve a prize and that prize will lead to a bigger prize if you solve the prize.” “Uhh, speak English Cleo.” Stevie said. “I don’t speak English, only Doratic.” Cleo smiled saucily. “Bye-Bye!” She snapped her fingers and they were in the hallway. Rose giggled and soon everyone was laughing. Ruby passed them and shoved Sylvia into the wall. “Ha-ha.” She sneered. Bryain