I am sorry for not updating! We moved house. Where to? I'm not telling you, you freaky weirdo!
Obrigada, World! –Joey
So yeah… I'm back! Many
Thanks Airene Archerway. You're nice.
"You, you and you. Obstacle course. You, you, him and yeah, you. Knifes. You, her, him, it and you. Offensive-Defensive. What's-your-name, you and her, bow staff fighting." When Sabrina, Judie and Sara entered the 10-16 Training Room, they found their coach, Mr Smith, was already putting them in groups for the morning routines.
'Mr Smith' was actually "The Nutcracker", previously wooden soldier who had lived with his wife, Sugar, on the edge of town. He was the 10-16 Training Officer, and he was very much in charge, as he constantly reminded his… er… students.
"Black, Cruise, Grimm, Lee, take the martial arts ring. I want ten of the Striking Crane, the Waiting Tigress, the Soaring Falcon and the Flying Fish." Mr Smith looked around to see if there was anyone else to sort out. His eyes narrowed in on five or so girls standing in the corner, giggling about something and whipping their hair back.
"Frogg and Maleficent, I want you in the ring too," he barked at two girls who had looked his way and rolled their eyes.
Mr Smith turned around to make sure no one else was missed. He, unfortunately, spotted a mean-looking girl in the corner. "You too, Beast," he yelled at Natalie.
The two girls walked- no pranced towards Sabrina, Judie, Melizsa and Sara. Judie leaned in to whisper to the others, "A blonde, a brunette and a blackie. This is the beginning of a bad joke." Which, of course, set them all off again. True, though.
Bella Frogg was, as readers will already know, the daughter of the Frog Prince Natalie Beast was, as readers will also know, the brown-haired daughter of the Beauty and the Beast, a girl who didn't take nuh from no-one. Renae Maleficent was Bunny Lancaster's (aka the Wicked Queen) daughter from her first marriage. She was the sort of pretty that's been airbrushed on shampoo commercials. And yes, she was the blackie, due to her ebony hair.
"THIS is going to be fun," Sabrina said under her breath.
An hour and a half later, Sabrina, Judie and Sara exited the Training Room considerably more strained that they had entered it. Especially Sabrina, who had been the recipient of quite a few punches, especially on Natalie's part. Judie, who was an only daughter, and one of the seven swan-children from the story about the string, had six older brothers, and was able to dish out a little bit of retribution. Sara, who was Cinderella's daughter (and Mel, who was anti-violent) had a bit more trouble. But Renae and Bella mostly hung back and let Natalie pulverize the four of them, occasionally kicking when Mr Smith checked up on them.
"Ow," said Sara, who was holding her stomach and wincing, "I did not think Vans could do that much damage to a person." Judie looked at her in sympathy. "Yeah, but it's better that a punch to the ribs." Sabrina had at least five emerging bruises on her arms. "Remind me to tell Natalie that we're supposed to be doing martial arts, not punch-rounds. What do we have now?" Sara straightened her glasses and checked the timetable on the wall next to her. "Er, I have Science, Judie has English, you have History." Judie rolled her eyes. "Goodie."
History at the Training Centre wasn't as bad as History at most other places. Sabrina still had no idea who Pythagoras was, or who signed the Treaty for the Fair and Equal Treatment of Dragons. It just did not interest her. Sabrina was one of those people who lived in the present day, not in the library, studying old wars. In fact –
"Miss Grimm? Perhaps you could tell us the name of the document signed by King John in 1215?" Sabrina looked blankly at their History teacher. She couldn't even remember the teacher's name; let alone what the answer to the question was. "Does anyone know the answer?" Mr History looked around at the rest of the class, most of whom shared Sabrina's views on the past. Sara would know the answer, Sabrina thought. Mr History drew in a bored breath and was probably about to go into some lecture that would result in her missing part of lunch, when a cough sounded and a voice spoke out from the back,
"The Magna Carta. King John signed the Magna Carta."
Sabrina turned in her seat, as did the rest of the class, to see who had spoken. There was a smallish girl that Sabrina had never seen before, right at the back of the room, wearing a blue flannel shirt over a white tee. She was looking down at her desk, scratching something into it. She kept scratching as she said, her voice rough and her tone almost challenging, "That's right, innit?"
Mr History, who was not used to getting answers, cleared his throat and said, "Yes, that is correct. What is your name, Miss…?"
The girl looked up at Mr History. She had large, electric, ultramarine eyes. Her black hair was short and choppy. She was very, very pale, but with a sprinkle of freckles across her face. Her cheekbones were high and very sharp, had jaw was strong. But she did not look at all friendly. She looked around the room before speaking, and Sabrina almost thought that when the girl's eyes met hers, there was an electric jolt coming through them. This girl wasn't normal.
"My name's Marion, sir. Just Marion."
