Prologue

It was 11:30 in Danville Middle School. Some students were in sixth grade English, some in eighth grade math. Others were in sixth and eighth grade gym.

Five particular students were in seventh grade science. One was a tallish boy with red hair and dark blue eyes wilder than the sea. His distinguishing feature? His triangular head. He was wearing a white apron over an orange and white-striped T-shirt and jeans; blue sneakers, comfortably worn out, covered his feet. A pair of safety goggles covered his eyes. He was holding two test tubes-one filled with a blue liquid, the other with what looked like plain water. He seemed to be waiting for instructions.

The boy sitting next to him was a few noticeable inches taller. He had a rectangular body and head with a squarish nose. He wore a tan T-shirt, purple pants held up with a black belt, and blue sneakers, also worn out. Over these he too wore an apron. Goggles covered his greenish-blue eyes. His tousled mop of green hair-as they had found out earlier in sixth grade, the result of a hair cell mutation-fell slightly into his eyes. Most of the girls in the class were watching him dreamily. He fiddled around with a Bunsen Burner.

The short boy sitting across from them was reading a thick book. He also wore an apron, but over a light blue T-shirt, jean overalls, and blue sneakers. He had goggle covering his brown eyes as well. His black hair fell in curls around his head. Unlike his pale-skinned peers, his skin was light brown-a sign of his Indian heritage. He was skimming through the book, obviously checking for something.

The boy sitting next to him was very different. He had a mean look about him, but his friends knew that underneath the hard exterior, he was soft and friendly. He had a light brown buzz cut and wore black jeans over black sneakers and a black T-shirt with a white skull. Some said he was Goth, other said he dressed like that because he was a bully. His friends were quick to defend him, though, saying that black was the only color he felt confident in. He had his arms crossed and wasn't doing anything to help.

A girl crossed the room carefully, holding a beaker half-way filled with a yellow liquid. The boys in the room turned their head to watch her. She ignored them all. She had raven black hair that was silky smooth, bound up in a temporary ponytail reaching her waist. She had a large pink bow on top of her head. Like her friends, she had safety goggles over her light blue eyes and a white apron over her white turtleneck T-shirt and pink jumper. She wore a pink belt with a darker pink buckle around her slim waist. She also had white knee-high socks and pink and white sneakers. A silver Star of David necklace, studded with a single ruby on the bottom tip of the triangle facing down, had fallen out from underneath her shirt, where it usually stayed, unnoticed by anyone.

"Got it!" she called to her group in a sweet voice.

"Great work, Isabella!" the triangle headed boy said, smiling at his best friend. She smiled back, a light blush tinting her cheeks. For the first time since they had met, he noticed it. He raised an eyebrow in confusion, then shrugged.

"Okay, Ferb, I think the Bunsen Burner is ready." he said to the green haired boy, who simply nodded. "Hey, Baljeet, what's the next step?"

The Indian kid looked up. "The book says to place the yellow liquid over the burner, then pour ten drops of the blue liquid in it. The liquid in the beaker should turn green." His voice was thick with an Indian accent.

Ferb nodded and took the beaker from Isabella. He placed it over the burner.

"Your turn, Buford." he said to the bully. At the sound of his elegant English accent, the girls in the class swooned. Isabella rolled her eyes.

Buford nodded and took the test tube with the blue liquid from the triangle headed boy. He poured in ten drops. The liquid in the beaker hissed, spewing out smoke, then turned green.

Baljeet smiled. "Ready for the next instruction, Phineas?"

Phineas nodded. "You bet I am! What's next?"

"Um..." the Indian boy studies the book carefully.

"What's wrong, Baljeet?" Isabella asked, looking at her friend.

"I am sorry, Isabella, but it it very hard to read the words with all the smoke drifting around." he stammered.

Isabella shrugged. "That's okay," she reassured him with a smile.

Buford, however, was getting impatient. "Give me that!" he yelled, grabbing the water filled test tube out of Phineas' hands.

"Buford, stop!" Isabella cried.

Buford tipped the whole thing into the beaker.

It stayed normal.

The kids glanced at each other. All five of them leaned over the beaker.

The substance inside promptly exploded in their faces.

They simultaneously shouted in surprise. Doing so, some of the mixture, along with its horrible taste, made its slimy way down their throats.

5:40 pm, Paris, France

A raven haired girl was exercising her palomino Appaloosa mare. She looked exactly like Isabella, but she wore riding breeches, ankle high boots, half chaps, a silver T-shirt, black gloves, and a black riding helmet. A silver Star of David necklace was also hanging around her neck, but she had a diamond where Isabella had a ruby.

She urged the horse into a canter. They soared over a jump. She tugged on the reins; they slowed to a walk.

"Yes!" the girl cried, punching her fist into the air. "Alex, you are awesome!"

The mare snorted, turning her large head and rubbing her soft nose against Alex's leg.

"You're awesome too, Fearless." Alex amended hastily.

Fearless nodded her approval.

Alex checked her watch. She cursed. "I didn't realize I had been here for so long!"

"Alexandra!" A tall, brunette woman came out from behind the big red barn in the distance. She spoke in English with a French accent. "Alexandra, get off and put Fearless in her stall. You must soon get back to school and resume your lessons!"

"One more jump, Madame LeGrande, please? Fearless can handle it!" Alex pleaded, patting her horse's neck.

The madame sighed. "Who am I to tell you what to do with your own horse? Tout de suit, mademoiselle!"

"Merci boucoup, Madame!" Alex said gratefully. She spurred her horse into action again. Fearless lifted herself off the ground and over a higher jump.

Alex suddenly felt a horrible taste going down her throat. She lifted her hands off the reins to rub her throat. She felt a whooshing going through her body.

Isabella! She thought frantically. What is my sister is feeling this as well?

Her thoughts made her loose her balance.

Fearless cleared the jump. Alex fell off midway, banging her head against the top rail, damaging her blue eyes forever.