Chapter Twelve: Magic Lessons

Monica, who had recently become obsessed with protecting me, called me out to the grounds. I expected to be asked to play with dolls or something, but I got so much more.

"I'm gonna teach you magic!" Monica said in her energetic childish vigor. All I could say was,

"What?" Of course, it did make sense that Monica knew magic. After all, she had a Lexicon. She must have decided to show off what she could do, as she turned, pointed to the sky, and brought down a huge bolt of lightning. I jumped a little, and then decided to go for it.

'What do we start with?"

"First, sit down like this. Next, do this…" Monica walked me through each step, making sure I had it perfected before moving on. Finally, I was ready to cast.

"Okay, just close your eyes and think. Think like fire or like ice or like thunder. Then, try and do it!"

I closed my eyes, and I thought cold. Chilling. Freezing. Bit by bit, my thoughts unleashed themselves. I opened them, and holding my hand forward, I cast my first spell.

"Blizzard!" There was a spine-tingling display of instantly-frozen energy. My power and skill was advancing, and soon enough, I could kill the keyblade bearer, along with anyone else in my way.

Before I could do anything else, Monica and I were surrounded by a swarm of Heartless.

My memories started flashing back to Lydia. If I couldn't save Monica, I wouldn't have a heart to give her. She would be gone forever.

Monica, trying to cast a spell, was too panicky to do so. She started screaming, and I pulled her as close as I could. I wasn't going to lose her.

One by one, I froze the Heartless and shattered them. But one by one wasn't enough. They were piling up faster than I could freeze them. My mind was flooded: Lydia dying, me not saving her, the same thing happening to Monica… It was too much all at once. I shrieked to the sky, and the entire castle was covered in a white frost. The Heartless were frozen into a solid wall. I fell to my knees, panting. My body felt drained of almost all my energy. Marluxia came in, shattering the wall.

"Are you okay? Both of you?" Monica nodded for me. "What was that?" Monica responded in a whisper.

"Blizzaga." She seemed both excited and frightened by my skill at magic and my lack of control. Borynx, who was becoming a sort of mother to Monica, came and took her by the hand, shooting Marluxia a nervous glance.

"Come on, honey. Let's go get some cookies." Borynx was being a good parent. Marluxia carried me back to his room, and after I recovered my strength, I put on my nighttime clothes and curled up with him in bed.

The events of today had been both catastrophic and revealing: I had intense magic skill and power, but absolutely no control.