Geode

Chapter 1

"I can't believe it! how can you have no jewelry?!" Praxina screeched, shooting a red crystal into the pool of water at the cave in which they now reside, Praxina pacing, and Alexandra sitting on a crystal. "Every princess has them! EVERY ONE!!" How could you not?!" She yelled, throwing her arms into the air.

"I don't know, maybe I'm not a princess, ever thought of that?" Alexandra defended, crossing her arms.

"Don't get smart with me, I know you're a princes." Prax warned." So you don't have anything from your past? Like an earring or just a regular ring?"

"Well, this eye has been different from the other one ever since before I could remember. I can't see out of it either." Alex said, pointing to her colored eye.

"Hm, there's something!"

"What?"

"Ok, repeat after me, Alexandra, princess of Arusta!" Praxina commands.

"Alexandra, princess of Arusta!" Alexandra shouts. Thousands of red, blue, and purple sparkles shoot from her eye and surround her body. When the transformation is complete, Alex looks down and sees herself in a sparkling dress down to her thighs, with white, dazzling, knee-high boots; glittering white gloves up to the middle of her upper arm, her plain, shoulder-length hair is gone, replaced by flowing, long, straight hair that changes color in the light. When the sparkles pass by her face, her lips were adorned with light red lipstick, and a shimmering veil bursts from her side, climbing down to the cave floor. "Oh. Oh my this is beautiful!" She gasps, pinching the sparkling fabric between her gloved fingers. "What is this?"

"Magic. And must I say, you look lovely." Praxina complimented in a bittersweet tone. "Now, I have an offer to make with you."

"Yes?"

"This is the last oracle gem from the crown of Ephedia." Prax said, holding up a black jewel. "I turned it evil, and now it will boost your powers to be even greater than ever." She said, turning the oracle gem so it caught the light. Alex made a grab for it, but Praxina pulled it away. "But. You must have to do something for me first. Or rather... us." She said, with a sneer. When she finished a her sentence, a black vortex appeared beside her. And from it, a tiger with flames licking up its sides and tail, stalked from it. Alex let out a gasp when she saw it. "This is Banes. He is very wise, and can snap you up in less than a second. If you want this power, you will have to swear your loyalty."

"What do I have to do."

"Stay here. I will return soon." Praxina said, and disappeared in a flash of red light. Alex reached down to pet Banes, but he growled and almost but her. Yanking her hand away, she gave up and started shooting small crystals into the walls of the lair. A few minutes later, Praxina appeared holding a girl bound in crystal restraints. Alexandra recognized Ariana screaming and fighting her captor. Her eyes widened when she saw the girl in front of her in the glittering dress. And the flaming tiger of course. Praxina waved her hand and the crystal disappeared.

"Unhand me!" Ariana screamed, wrenching her hand from Prax.

"Kill her." Praxina said bluntly, facing Alex.

"W-what? I can't-" Alex stammered.

"Fine. No oracle gem." Pray said, closing her fist on the jewel. With a sigh, Alex looked up at Ariana, now shivering.

"I bet you don't recognize me with this on." Alex said, gesturing to her outfit. "But I'm sure you remember." Walking into the light, she let her enemy see her multicolored eyes. Ariana squealed when she registered the person standing before her as the girl she bullied since they met. "There we go! Now you know. What do you think? Do you like what you see?" She asked, spinning in a slow circle. "Well, if you don't, I don't care, because this is the last thing you will ever see." Praxina smiled at this, and Banes layed down, anticipating a meal.

Geode

"So, are you girls done, or are you going to stay for dinner?" The orphanage owner asked, strutting down the dtairs to the boiler room. Startled, Talia, Auriana, and Iris all turned their heads together, hands over their jewelry.

"Oh, hello ma'am! We were just looking. Um, is this anyone's room?" Iris asked, gesturing at the bed in the corner of the room.

"Yes. Her name was Alexandra. I haven't seen her since she ran in here a little while ago, crying. I hope she's OK." The woman said, her smile drooping. the three girls looked at each other when she said this. Suddenly a scream sounded from upstairs. Rushing up the stairs, they met a girl with short brunette hair crying.

"What happened?" Talia asked, crossing her arms.

"E-Eva and I were playing with our friend, Ariana, and this lady appeared and took Ariana away!" She said, and burst into tears.

"What did this lady look like?" Talia asked.

"She-she was covered in what looks like red rock with an amber jewel on her chest. And she had a t-tiger with her that was on fire! She came from nowhere, and disappeared with Ariana in a big flash of red light!" The girl explained, thrusting her hands into the air.

"Isn't that crazy?! We have the same name!" Auriana enthused. When she saw the faces of the other four girls, she giggled nervously, "I mean, that's terrible! I wonder where she is!"

"We'll look for her, don't worry." Iris comforted the girl. Facing the orphanage owner, she said, "I'm afraid that we can't stay for dinner. We'll look around outside. Ariana couldn't have gone far."

"Oh, thank you!" The woman said, hugging all three girls.

"Uh, yeah, okay. We should go..." Talia said nervously, squirming from the lady's tight hold. "Goodbye miss...?"

"Emmerton. Ellie Emmerton." The woman said. "Come find me if you see Ariana."

"Okay, bye Miss Emmerton!" Iris said, and she walked out of the orphanage with her two friends in tow. "I think we all have a feeling who this mysterious lady is." She said solemnly when they were outside. Talia and Auriana both nodded, and Iris pressed her crystal caller, as Auriana liked to call it, and a few seconds later, Amaru flew down next to them, in his Pegasus form. "Let's go Amaru, to the twins' lair.

Geode

"Crystal collidum!" Alex cried, and Ariana was enveloped in dark crystal.

"Now, call upon your weapon." Prax instructed.

"My what?!"

"Your weapon! Ugh, I forgot you're a total amateur."

"Um... ok, let's try this one. "Bow of Arusta!" Alex cried, and a crystal bow landed in her outstretched hand. "Cool!" She said. Pantomimeing loading an arrow, a real one appeared. Bored, Banes started to pace around the large crystal that contained Ariana. Seeing the tiger, Alex took a deep breath, pulled back the string, and hesitantly let go. As if in slow motion, she watched the arrow soar through the air and wedge itself into the crystal. On impact, the magical structure shattered into a million pieces and disappeared along with Ariana's body. A tear rolled down Alexandra's cheek. She looked down to see a red hand holding out a sparkling black and red crystal. Looking up, Alex is greeted by Praxina.

"Take it, You've earned it." She said. The minute Alex touched it, the cave filled with screams as power flooded her veins. When it subsided, Alex was grinning ear-to-ear. Reaching out her hand, a beam of power hit a mountain outside. With a huge explosion, the top of the mountain was blown clean off.

Geode

All three girls gasped at the same time when they saw the explosion.

"Faster Amaru!" Talia cried, gripping his mane. Amaru thrust forward with all his might as the three princesses hurtled towards the cave.

Author's note

Ok, so the little Geode thingies in the middle of the story represents the change of time and character. This story is really good. I'm really enjoying it! (Not like I'm vain or anything, psh!) but seriously, let me know what you think in the reviews section! Also, privately message me if you have any ideas on how the story can proceed!