Arsenic sat uncomfortably in her new classroom. She could hear voices behind her, all whispering, presumably about her. The second she'd sat at the front row, the students already there had relocated further back. It would seem the intense effort to fit in had failed her already. No matter what pretty clothes she wore or how much reading and counting practise she did, she would never fit in based on her starsign alone.

Maybe people like her just weren't meant to have friends

Focusing all her energy onto suppressing the tears that threatened to fall from her eyes, she didn't even notice someone sit down at the next seat.

"You're Arsenic, right?"

Arsenic looked over to see a short bunny girl sat next to her. Her seemed to be a fluffy white, with a thick ponytail of blonde hair resting between her two floppy ears. She had rich amber eyes and a goofy smile. Arsenic nodded silently, afraid this would end up being some sort of joke at her expense.

"Great! I'm Lassi! Did you know were sharing a dorm together?"

"We are?"

"Yep!" Lassi exclaimed happily. She was wearing some sort of brown robe atop of beige bell-bottomed pants and a purple knitted crop top. Due to her excessive - and somewhat wild - hand gestures, her robes fluttered round her whenever she spoke, "I'm so excited, aren't you? Sorbet and I have been waiting to expand our friendship circle for ages but haven't found anyone cool enough. So it's so great to have you living with us!"

Arsenic was at a loss for why to say. Apart from Pico, she'd had very limited contact with people her own age. She'd especially never met anyone this excitable and lively.

"That is good," she smiled in response, "I'm excited to have some friends too."

"Also, just to kinda...you know...the elephant in the room…" Lassi whispered reassuringly, "your starsign? We don't care. If anything we think it's so cool that you're so unique. People being nasty are just losers and so wrapped up in trying to fit in that they hate anyone who fits out!"

"Well, that's good to hear. Thank you," she replied although she had no idea what that had to do with an elephant. She wasn't even sure she knew exactly what an elephant was. It was either the big grey one or the brown one with a long neck.

"Word of advice, watch out for Jammy. She's been talking rubbish about you ever since it was announced you were starting here. She's a nasty piece of work if she doesn't like you so...stay out of her way."

"I thought I could hear people talking about me," Arsenic admitted, sadly.

"Oh not all of them. Sorbet and I spread a rumour last night that Jammy and her friends peed in their cress plant science projects to make them grow better. So half of them are talking about that."

Arsenic paused, taking that in.

"That's a really weird rumour to spread."

"Yeah, Sorbet didn't like it either. But from my experience, if a rumour doesn't involve romance or a bodily function, there's no point in spreading it because people don't care."

Lassi seemed like a fun, friendly, potentially mad, girl, and Arsenic was secretly delighted that she'd warmed to her as she had. She felt chosen in a way.

"Thanks Lassi. I was really nervous about my first class but now I feel a lot better," Arsenic admitted honestly.

"Friends have each other's backs. If anyone has a go at you, I'll have a go right back. Same for Sorbet too. It seems scary going to a new school, when everyone else is already settled with their friends. I wouldn't know. Just know that, when you're ready, you can really be yourself around us. You don't have to try and fit in or be all 'normal'," Lassi said the word with disgust, "You be yourself."

Lying in the dirt, Arsenic was sprawled out, legs trapped underneath the carcass of the rocket she'd crashed it. Pieces of the machine lay scattered about, smoke still emanating from the rocket itself. It's maiden voyage was certainly it's last.

Arsenic let out a tiny cough and tried her best to get up. Her head was throbbing and her legs were tingling with an intense and painful feeling of pins and needles. Crushed under the husk of the rocket, she found it impossible to get up. Using her arms to push her torso up, she looked out to her surroundings, praying to see Hyde or just anyone who would help her.

There was a fierce sandstorm all around her. So much so, she had no idea what planet she was even on.

"Help!" She cried out to an earless wind, "Please!"

The roaring of the storm was the only response and eventually, Arsenic's arms gave out on her and she fell back into the dirt. She wanted so desperately to cry and sob like a child having a tantrum, knowing this was her fault. Racing out into space because she thought she could do it all on her own. Now Hyde was missing and she was trapped under a hunk of metal in a sandstorm. She'd been completely immature.

"Hyde!" She tried to shout out, voice cracking from the dryness of her throat and the pure frustration in her heart. No answer. She was all alone.

She wanted to scream and cry and pound her fists into the dirt and kick the useless rocket all the way back to the school it came from. The school she never should have left. However her arms were weak and her legs were trapped and it was so dry that no tears would be coming any time soon.

So she simply lay helpless in the dirt.

Until something touched her hand.

Arsenic looked up to see Boggart sat by her hand, looking at her with big black eyes. She was surprised that he'd survived the crash, never mind come out completely uninjured. She weakly moved her finger to stroke him lightly. He continued to stare at her.

"Okay Boggart," she whispered, "I have you to help as well now, not just myself. So no time to be selfish."

Giving all she could, she moved every bit of force she had into trying to free her legs. She pushed and pushed, trying to push the large wing of the rocket off her body. Eventually she felt it move and give way so she carried on. Boggart crawled onto her open palm and with the other hand clenched into a fist, she continued to push the rocket off of her. She lifted it Just high enough to steady it with her free hand whilst she moved her numb legs out of the way. Letting go, the rocket fell into the dirt, leaving a dust pile in its wake.

She placed Boggart into her pocket and, using the rocket to lean on, she worked herself up into a stand, trying to get the feelings back into her legs. Despite being able to stand, she still couldn't see very far, due to the raging sandstorm all around her. Her hair was whipping into her face and eyes, so painfully, it felt like she'd been slapped. Taking the bobble from her wrist, she piled her thick, black hair into a mound on top of her head and secured it there. Her baby hairs still lay around her face, as well as a few wispy bits and one lock that fell down, framing the left side of her face.

"Okay, Boggart, we need to either find Lassi or Hyde," She said firmly, not sure if she was telling the toad or herself, "So its looking like we'll have to wander in a random direction and hope for the best."

Boggart croaked affirmingly as Arsenic began to walk away from the remains of her rocket. Each step was like getting pelted with millions of tiny rock hard bullets as they attacked her bare legs, shoulders and belly. Using one arm to cover her eyes and the other to shield Boggart from within her skirt pocket, she carried on trying to wade through the storm, increasingly glad she wore her big boots. Their firm grip and incredible weight was probably the only thing stopping her from falling to the wind.

It felt like hours. It felt like days. It had probably only been minutes. However it didn't matter to Arsenic. She felt like she'd made zero progress as she fought the storm, desperate to find a friend or shelter.

That's when she tripped.

With a scream, she landed back in the dirt and instantly began to curse this wretched planet. Turning to see what she'd tripped on and to give it a good kicking, she found a sharp metal piece lying in the ground. She yanked it out of the dirt and looked at it in dismay.

"A piece of that damn rocket! Have I just been walking in circles?" She shrieked, throwing it, only to hear a metallic clunk. Curious, she got up and walked to where it had landed. It lay next to a larger piece of rocket. Arsenic studied it, puzzled.

"That's funny. I was stuck under this bit...but it didn't look like this," she mused, feeling the much smaller piece of rocket, "Unless, it's not my rocket!"

She began to ran in the direction of the shrapnel as it got larger and larger, constantly calling her friend's name. Eventually, she reached the main rocket piece and came across her friend, sprawled out in the dirt.

"Lassi! Wake up!" Arsenic begged, shaking her wildly. Lassi's eyes fluttered.

"Arsenic? Why are you in my room?" She muttered groggily. Then, her eyes flew open. She sat up and looked at her surroundings, "Ah, nuts. So it wasn't just a dream then."

"Nope. I was hoping the same thing when I woke up too."

"Wait one hot minute. What are you doing here? How did you get here? Why?!"

"I chased after you in one of the other rockets. Hyde came with me. Except he crashed the rocket and now I can't find him." There came a little croak from Arsenic's pocket and she pulled Boggart out, "Also Boggart's here."

Lassi stared wide-eyed at the toad that was now before her eyes, staring right back.

"Okay great. Where are we?"

Arsenic and Lassi looked out at their surroundings. It was still very difficult to do due to the storm that was still battering them, however it didn't look like the wind planet they'd seen in textbooks.

"I don't know. But what I do know is we need to find Hyde."

Lassi leapt to her feet.

"Yes! Which direction did you come from?"

Arsenic shrugged and pointed West.

"I don't know...that one?"

Lassi nodded as if she had any clue what she was doing.

"Then lets go...in that one!" She exclaimed, pointing north.

The two friends set off, linked arms, battling the storm that seemed to be getting stronger with every step. The wind was increasing and the sand was hurting more. Boggart retreated down into Arsenic's skirt pocket as deep as he could.

"Lassi! The storms too strong!"

"That means we have to keep going! Nature's hiding whatever's up ahead! That means it's good!"

"How do you work that one out?" Arsenic shouted back, "The winds too strong. We're getting pushed back!"

Lassi had an idea. She unlinked from her friend and threw her arms into the sky, chanting the wind spell. Arsenic watched transfixed as magical glowing feathers appeared from Lassi's hands, only to vanish into the air. The storm grew stronger.

"Lassi!" Arsenic scolded, "What did you do that for?"

"Wait for it!" She commanded, amidst the chaos. Then, the wind died down, more and more, until the storm was over completely. Lassi leapt up and down triumphantly, "Yes! Take that storm! This wind answers to me!"

Arsenic looked around. From here, she could see the entire clearing, including both crashed rockets. The whole crashing thing had definitely not been kind to either rocket. It appeared they'd been in a big, dirt bowl with tall rock walls enclosing them in from every side, under a bright blue afternoon sky. She turned to see Lassi sauntering into the clearing they'd just opened up.

"Don't worry, Arsenic. Your dark magic will come in handy soon, don't you worry!"

Arsenic felt uneasy. Her friend being in that area felt off to her, putting her on edge. She felt a rumble beneath her feet.

"Lassi! Get away from there!" She shrieked. Lassi looked at her in confusion until the ground began to shake. She took a few steps back, terrified, as a large claw erupted from the ground, only to be followed by a second. Then, a large stinger came. Eventually the ground gave way to a giant head, with six nasty eyes and giant mandibles. The creature roared, clacking it's claws, snapping its mandibles and readying it's tail to attack its helpless victim.

"A-Arsenic…" Lassi could only whisper, feet rooted to the ground where she stood. She needed to run but she was frozen in pure fear. Suddenly, the creature swung its tail ready to strike Lassi. Arsenic quickly cast another her Shadow Die spell, causing the creature to writhe in pain. Lassi took her chance to conjure up a wind spell, pummelling the creature. And with that, the creature went back into the ground, crying.

The two panted, deeply.

"Well," Arsenic wheezed after a while, "What a great start to our trip."

"Thanks, Arsenic! I was nearly a goner. My spell really hurt him though! But then again, wind is strong against Earth signs. So that must be why!" Lassi exclaimed.

They both looked out to the clearing they'd previously tried to cross. Arsenic picked up a nearby rock and threw it. Nothing emerged from the surface.

"Right, let's go see," she told Lassi who nodded. They made their way through with trepidation. Lassi slipped her hand into Arsenic's, who gave her a funny look.

"I'm scared, Arsenic!" She hissed at her, "You're not the one who just nearly died."

As they crossed the dreaded clearing they continued silently through the vast rocky land. The arid land was warm and dry however the sky was still bright blue and clear.

They began to see something on the horizon, towering above them. It seemed to be a large, brown building, with a flat roof and a red, circular window.

"What on earth is that?" Lassi exclaimed, before turning to Arsenic with a grin, "Get it? Because we're probably on the Earth planet?"

She scowled at her friend but didn't respond. She walked up slowly towards to door and grabbed the metal handle.

"Arsenic! You're not thinking of going in there, right?"

Arsenic looked at her hand, firmly holding the door handle and then back to Lassi.

"Yes?"

"What?! But it's so creepy! Creepy things happen in creepy places!"

She couldn't exactly argue with that logic. As she tried to look up to the top of the tower, craning her neck fully upwards, the menacing building filled her with a similar dread as Lassi was probably feeling.

"Hyde's still missing. He must have come this way."

"I was so busy being scared and nearly getting eaten I forgot about that," Lassi sighed, "Okay, if you're going, I'm going! Let's be scared together!"

They opened the door and peeked round into the building. It was dark and murky and, despite the heat outside, was absolutely freezing. Tip-toeing in, the metallic floor clanked with every step.

"Arsenic!" Lassi hissed, "Take those boots off! We might as well be clanging pans about with all that noise."

"I'm not taking my boots off. I might step on a nail or something."

"You getting hepatitis isn't exactly what we need right now. Okay, just be quieter."

Arsenic looked round, wildly and confused , for something to try and and soften her footsteps. Giving up, she crawled on her hands and knees, silently and awkwardly making her way past Lassi and further into the dark corridor. Lassi watched with a mixture of disbelief and awe. She then joined her friend on the floor and the two made their way further in.

"This place is so gross," she whispered to Arsenic as they scuttled across the metal floor, "What do you reckon it is?"

"I think we're judging it before we've gotten to know it. We might go up into that lift and find a room full of puppies and those sweets I like."

"I hope no one's here. Whoever lives here is not someone I want to meet!" Lassi exclaimed just as a series of footsteps began to ring out on the metal floor. They felt the vibration as two pairs of metal feet walked up to them and surveyed the area.

Looking up from their places on the floor, Lassi and Arsenic watched as the two silver robots before them bent forwards to look at them.

"Oh it's just robots!" Arsenic exclaimed happily, "It's like Mokka's here! I wonder if they know him."

"I'll ask," Lassi replied, however she had no time to ask before both robots shot two large rocket bullets towards them. The two screamed and rolled out of the way, standing up to face the two metal attackers.

"Intruder alert. Intruder alert. Begin attack sequence 5," the first robot instructed. The two girls shrieked and jumped for cover behind two large barrels as two more bullets came their way.

"Mokka has never done this before!" Lassi exclaimed. Arsenic hid behind her barrel, until a billet flew over and blew it up. She leapt up to see the second robot walking towards her, fist at the ready to shoot. Lassi gasped and cast her wind talon spell, the same one she used against the ant lion. The robot flew against the wall and exploded. Arsenic took this time to use her shadow die against the second robot, who similarly exploded.

The two panted and walked out into the open.

"This didn't go too well," Arsenic said to Lassi, who shook her head, "Let's not tell Mokka about this."

The two walked up to the lift that lay at the end of the hall and got in. As it went up, Lassi turned to Arsenic.

"This was a terrible idea."

"What else were we meant to do? Wander in the desert until we starved to death? Wait for that sand creature to get bored and come back?"

"Better that than getting shot by two crazy robots," Lassi huffed. The lift opened and the two carefully emerged out. They were in a bigger room now, more open, but still cold and metallic. In the middle, against the wall, was a huge monitor. Arsenic and Lassi inspected it cautiously.

Across the huge screen, there was a diagram of a rocket, flashing between different angles. Across the top, it said 'Rocket Neumann lays dormant'.

"Rocket!" Lassi pointed, "Rocket! We need to find it and get off this dumb rock."

"I mean we do have to find Hyde first," Arsenic pointed out.

"Do we?" Lassi said, weaselly. Her friend folded her arms and looked at her, unimpressed, "Fine. I guess we can't leave him stranded on a different planet. Where was your moral compass when you were bringing me here to get shot?"

The two made their way into the second lift, going up to the third floor. The door opened after a few minutes and the girls gasped when it did.

Before them lay a huge gold rocket, resting on a launch pad. Lassi made a noise like a blown up balloon that had been let go.

"Yes! Yeeeeeeeesssss!" She cheered.

"Lassi, would you be quiet!" Arsenic scolded her, "To say you've been complaining about getting shot so much, you aren't exactly being discrete."

"Who needs to be discrete? We have a rocket! We're free!" Lassi ran up to the launch pad. Arsenic followed gingerly.

"Lassi, something doesn't feel right. Where are the robots?"

"The robots are getting left behind on this dust particle whilst we blast off into the stratosphere! And then blast back to look for Hyde."

Arsenic watched fearfully as Lassi jumped into the launch pad and began to wrestle with the door.

The room flashed red and an alarm began to sound. Running to get to her friend, Arsenic leapt up and held her still as the lift door opened. Four more robots entered, followed by a huge red one.

"Ah," Lassi exclaimed quietly as they all ran towards them, barking commands.

"Intruder alert! Intruder alert!"

"Begin face-melting operations!"

"Purge! Purge! Purge!"

The red robots fists began to crackle with angry electricity as he stood before the terrified friends.

"Run for it!" Lassi screamed. However, the red robot hit them and they fell unconscious to the ground.