Disclaimer: Pretty much everybody on this site doesn't own the stuff they're writing about- including me.

Author's Note: This is my first story, so cut me some slack. I'll try to update as fast as I can type and my homework allows. I'm going to (hopefully) make this story pretty long, but since I hate pre-writing, I don't know how long. It's kind of a weird name (I came up with the story idea at 6:30 this morning) but it fits… kind of. Feel free to R&R (in fact, please do- I love feedback). Please enjoy my story!

Magyk in a Box

Chapter 1

Jenna Heap wandered the Palace garden in awe. She didn't have a lot of time before she would be called back inside to learn "Princess stuff" (as Jenna called it), and she wanted to make the most of the small break she had. She smiled at the gardeners passing by, and in return, they bowed or curtsied. When I become Queen, Jenna thought to herself, I'm going to make a law against bowing and curtsying. What's the point to it? Jenna continued her walk, counting clouds, picking flowers, etc. It was silly, but simple things were a lot of fun when your life is so complicated.

DONG! The Drapers Yard Clock echoed through the Castle, signaling that it was… noon?! Jenna was going to be late! She dashed through the kitchens, sitting rooms, and ballrooms of the Palace, taking a few shortcuts along the way, and running to her private "Princess stuff" tutor's side. Jenna zoned out as her teacher began to lecture her about running and how it was much better to be late. The tutor droned on and on, and before Jenna knew it, the class was over and she could return to the Palace garden. So, she WALKED, much to her dismay, through the giant Palace and found herself wandering into her parents' bedroom. What she saw made her want to scream.

Meanwhile, Septimus Heap was eating a late breakfast. Marcia had to go to the Manuscriptorium very early in the morning and wouldn't be back for a while, so Septimus was enjoying something he didn't usually have- freedom. If Marcia could see him, she'd probably kill him. The kitchen was a mess. Septimus had recently woken up and was still in his pajamas. Worst of all, the kitchen appliances were behaving. Everyone except Marcia knew that the kitchen appliances only misbehaved because they didn't really like her and enjoyed making her angry. Septimus and Alther had had more than one laugh about this.

Septimus decided he would go see Jenna, his adoptive sister. He knew her schedule by heart and she should be free right about now. He Cleaned the kitchen, got dressed, combed his hair (sort of), and trudged out the door. The spiral staircase took him lower and lower, and Septimus finally walked outside, loving the taste of the fresh air. He just hoped that Marcia wouldn't mind him taking a break.

Marcellus Pye was at his house on Snake Slipway feeling anxious. "You can do this", he said to himself. But truly he didn't think he could. Today, he was going to muster up the courage to leave Marcia Overstrand a bouquet of flowers at her doorstep. Septimus, who was still visiting Marcellus often, had excitedly told him that Marcia was going to leave Septimus by himself this morning. Marcellus fancied Marcia and couldn't help but think about how perfect it was. Marcia never left the Wizard Tower that long. If he was going to do anything to win Marcia over, he had to do it now. He may not get another chance like this. Marcellus glanced at the bouquet of red roses on his table and sighed. He had placed a card with Marcia's name on it sticking out of the flowers. He didn't sign it- there was no way Marcellus would get enough courage to do that. He sighed again, grabbed the flowers, and walked up Wizard Way.

Marcia was feeling angry and impatient. After all, she had just spent five and a half hours with Jillie Djinn. That was enough to drive a person mad. With all the work at the Manuscriptorium done, Marcia briskly power walked up Wizard Way. She wanted nothing more than to see her Apprentice and throw herself into work.

She thought of these thoughts as the spiral staircase carried her up, up, up. Suddenly, something strange happened- the staircase shuddered to a halt. The stairs never stopped, ever (except when someone wanted to get on or off). Much to Marcia's dismay, no one was boarding or getting off the stairs. The Ordinary Wizards that were on the stairs like Marcia looked confused for a moment, then shrugged and started walking. Ordinary Wizards, Marcia thought to herself. They really don't care about anything that they think is easily fixed. For now, the Wizards had done the right thing- all they could do is walk and wait until the stairs started working again. After all, the stairs were old, and Magyk doesn't fix everything. The stairs were bound to break down every once and a while. Marcia groaned. She had only made it to about the eighth floor and she wasn't the type of person that wasted their breath exercising as much as they should. Now, she had to climb twelve flights of stairs. Great.

Gasping for breath and practically crawling up the last few steps, Marcia finally made it to the twentieth floor landing. About to regain her dignity and march to the door and greet her Apprentice on the other side of it, she realized she wasn't alone. Marcellus Pye was standing at her door, placing a bouquet of flowers near it.

"Marcellus Pye?" Marcia asked impatiently. "What are you doing here?"

"Umm…" Marcellus replied, trying to think of something to say.

"And what's with the flowers?"

"Well, umm… you see… Septimus asked for them. He's conducting an experiment on flowers and asked me to retrieve him some. Now I must be on my way…"

Marcia looked down at the flowers. "Then why does the card have my name on it?"

Marcellus sighed. He knew he shouldn't have addressed the card.