Summary:
She never wished to leave her life, Makayla was content with her friends and family. So why did she, of all people, get thrown into an adventure she never wanted in the first place? Dropped into a magical snow covered land called Narnia, she learns that evil has another weapon in this world. Magic. In time, she tests her limits and toys with her new abilities hoping that if she fulfills the task she was given, support the four English siblings to their thrones, that she can return home.
As all adventures go in the books she read, Makayla faces hardships and pain, but makes several good friends along the way... In the end, does she want to go home? If she earned the right, fulfilled her task, will she stay? Will she even remember home...?
Note:
I have rewritten this, which is why if you are reading the story for a second time don't freak out and think that you never read this chapter. Enjoy!
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Water made my eyes burn, compliments of the hygienic chlorine. As usual, my goggles had fallen off earlier in the match. As a result, my vision blurred slightly from all the splashing. Trying my best to see clearly, I squinted and ignored the stinging as I searched for an open teammate.
"Pass!" Alyssa shouted from the middle of the pool, and before anyone could get on her, I passed the ball to her.
It was a relief to have the pressure on her, I hated it when the parents and coaches just screamed at you. I mean really, they tell us to concentrate when their yells are a distraction themselves!
Swimming, I raced towards the goal. While my head was underwater, I gasped, letting the blue water in my throat. I surfaced, panicking slightly, and coughed violently.
"Mother-" I began, but decided against the swear. Turning, I came face to face with the girl who had fouled me. Apparently she didn't want me moving ahead, and elbowed me beneath the water. Of course the referee failed to see, but then again anything under the water goes.
"What?" The redhead said innocently, almost daring me to call the referee.
Unknown to her, Alyssa had neared the goal. Twisting her body and holding the ball away from the opposing player who now guarded her, she met my eyes. "Makayla!" She shouted in frustration. "Stop talking!"
Pushing the same defender who had fouled me away, I broke free and lifted my arms into the air. Within seconds the ball was back in my grasp and I turned around kicking my legs hard to keep me afloat.
"SHOOT!"
"GO FOR IT!"
"NOW!"
"THROW THE DAMN BALL MAKAYLA!"
'You throw the damn ball!' I mentally remarked.
All sorts of yells came from the players, coach, and crowd and I gritted my teeth. Honestly, they never learned.
My burning eyes failed to see the goal net in detail, but I could make out the posts well enough. Throwing the ball into the corner, the goalkeeper jumped but failed to stop the ball. I suppose three seasons on the varsity water polo had done me quite well.
The game didn't last much longer, good thing too because my side ached from the blow. Slowly making my way to one of the ladders, I shook hands with a handful of players from the other high school. It didn't hurt being a good sport, but I made sure to avoid the cheating defender.
My arms were so tired, almost failing to hold onto the ladder's rails I climbed out into the cold air. Holding my arms around my soaked body, I turned to find my family when- "Oof!" I rubbed my nose painfully. "Sorry- oh, hey Keelings."
Duke Keelings, captain of the boy's varsity team, smiled. "Graceful as ever Steen." He stood several inches taller than me and only a year older than myself was a senior at our high school.
"Ha-ha." I mumbled shivering and quickly took a step back to distance myself. As captain of the girl's varsity water polo, we were fellow captains, but I didn't even consider ourselves friends. Well, I can't say that either. He was no stranger. It was complicated. Something about him just irritated me, it probably had something to do with the fact he didn't know the meaning of 'no'.
Sometimes the boy was thick, but I had admit there were times where he was amusing. Still, I had no desire to date Keelings despite having Alyssa insist that I accept his many offers.
He was a nice fellow, a bit proud, but his desire to maintain popularity was too much.
Just not my type of guy.
Suddenly, a familiar woman pushed her way through the crowd and rushed towards me. Anxious to get away from Keelings I gave him a quick good-bye wave.
"Mom!" I was happy to see her, especially when I saw that she held out a towel to me. As a woman who never played sports but devoted all her time in art class, she began to yap about how dangerous water polo was and that I should take a break this season.
"Mom-"
"And the referee can't possibly see everything that goes on, you know? You could get hurt-"
"Mom…"
"and it could be serious. I'm always hearing about kids breaking bones or worse-"
"Mom…"
"they lose limbs from accidents-"
"Mom!"
"Hmm? Yes?"
"Can I have the towel now?" I asked, laughing. She looked down and saw that she still clung onto the towel.
Sheepishly, she let it go. "Sorry honey."
My father appeared at her side, and held up his palm. "Hey Dolphin- great game." Hugging me, he didn't care that his clothes got wet. Grinning, I lifted up my own palm and we high-fived.
"Thanks Dad." I loved my parents, I'm just glad that they're able to go to most of my games. My dad even coached me in his free time. "The team's got a good chance of going to finals."
"Well of course we are, as long as we've got you." My coach appeared at my side and gave me a pat on the back. "Makayla I swear, you're more of a shark than a dolphin."
I scrunched up my nose. "I think I'll stick with dolphins, they're friendlier."
Coach Jones only chuckled, "You're going to the team dinner tonight right?" He paused and looked at my parents. "Sorry folks but the kids are kicking all the adults out of this one- even me!"
Wrapping the towel around myself tighter I assured, "Don't worry, I'll be there. Besides, the team would kill me if I didn't show, it's my turn to bring the cake."
Out of nowhere, Alyssa joined the conversation making me jump in surprise. "You got that right Kay. You're bringing chocolate right?"
'Kay' was another, my preferred, nickname. Only my close friends bothered to use it, everyone else at school just called me Dolphin... Rather annoying really seeing that my father had started it and should have sole authority to it.
My mother, who did nothing to be involved with my sports career but come to my games, asked, "Cake?"
"Yeah Mom. It's tradition for the team that when we win someone brings cake, then everyone who scored gets caked!"
Once again, she was oblivious. "Caked?"
"You know Mrs. Steen," explained Alyssa, more patiently than I ever could. "When you get cake thrown and smeared all over your face, sort of like being pied."
"Oh right, silly me." Smiling my mother nodded her head. I bet she still was confused, bless her.
At this break in conversation, Alyssa took the opportunity to steal me away, "Sorry Mr. and Mrs. Steen, but we've got to go. Kay promised that she would help me paint my room."
Drat, I had forgotten about that.
I had been hoping that I could go home and get some archery practice in, maybe even a nap before the team dinner. Water polo wasn't the only sport I played, over the years my activities changed as I grew. Water polo took most of my time, but when time allowed it I was a beginner in archery.
Not a very common sport these days, in fact I didn't know anyone else who practiced, but I loved it. After reading several fantasy books, I had become keen on the old-fashion wars and fighting. Thankfully my father was supportive and willing to give them a try. Now I had a basic idea of how to use a bow, but if I ever came across someone from the old days, I would defiantly lose. Though, I liked to think that I could last at least one minute in battle… but I doubted it.
I had done fencing two years ago, and the instructors also had taught archery but they moved last year. As a result, I had to teach myself how to shoot a bow. My bow was a modern one, made of modern materials, but I liked to imagine that I was shooting wooden areas from a wooden bow.
Daydreaming would be my demise one day.
Pulling me away from the adults, Alyssa and I went to the locker room, where the rest of the team were already drying off and changing. She leaned against her locker and raised an eyebrow, "So...?"
Recognizing that tone, I looked at her warily. "So what?"
Alyssa rolled her eyes, "I saw Duke and you 'accidentally' bump into each other."
Pulling some dry clothes over my bathing suit, I snorted, "Don't get excited, because like always, nothing happened."
Turning back to her locker she changed herself and accused, "You are sixteen years old Kay and you still haven't had your first kiss-"
"What does that have to do with anything!?" I snapped growing tired of the topic. To be honest, I didn't understand Alyssa's logic. Did she really believe that I needed a boyfriend of all things to make me happy? I wasn't bothered by the fact that a boy hadn't kissed me- yet. It would come, it would pass, and there would be many more kisses afterwards.
I know I'm different from other teenagers, it's because I'm not in a rush like they are.
She sighed, "I just don't see why you keep rejecting him. C'mon he's hot!"
"He's not my type Alyssa." I muttered.
Slamming her locker she asked, "Then what's your type Kay? Because Duke seems to be your perfect match, everyone knows it! You're both captains and always see each other around... And you bumped into him! It's fate, you're supposed to be together."
I laughed and shut my locker calmly, "Since when were you God? As far as I know, He's the only guy around who knows what fate is. Look, Duke is nice and all, but I want a guy that is far more concerned with things than winning the 'Most Popular' and the 'Hottest Senior' award. I'm all past that, I really don't give a shi-"
"What's wrong about having a lot of friends?" she challenged. I didn't like to bicker with her, Alyssa was my closest friend, mainly because she had the patience to deal with my sort of attitude on life. She was one of the few people I knew who understood that materialism isn't everything.
Ignoring her cross statement, I waved good-bye to the other girls and continued, "I want someone who cares about more important stuff. You know, family, people, the world, and what's right- not what's cool. Someone who's heroic."
Tapping her chin in thought, Alyssa finally replied, "That's it! I know you've been reading all those fantasy books, with the whole archery phase going on, but I didn't think it would effect your look on romance."
"Huh?" I said stupidly.
"You're asking for a prince." Alyssa announced. "In case you haven't noticed Kay, they don't exactly exist anymore. Well there's Prince William and Prince Harry, but they're over in England. I mean, how many Princes do you see going around waving a sword around killing magical beasts?"
"None," I admitted, highly amused. "I guess you could say that I'm looking for a prince like figure. But, how could I not? A prince is so much… more. Does that make sense?"
"More." She said thoughtfully. "Yes, I think I know exactly what you mean."
As much as I hated to admit it, that sort of boy only existed in the world of fantasy. All I needed to do to find my prince was open the pages of a book, but I couldn't rely on that now could I? I wasn't about to fall in love with a fictional character, that was just insane.
Against my better judgment, I gave in slightly. "You make a good point, I guess I'll go on one date with Keelings. ONE Alyssa, and if I don't like him then that's the end of it all. Deal?"
"Deal." We shook hands.
"I really hate that." I mumbled.
"What?" She asked curious.
"That there isn't a Prince Charming waiting for me."
"Oh, yeah, I got over that when I was twelve." Alyssa smiled sympathetically.
There wasn't a prince waiting for me.
But I sure wished there was.
