CHAPTER 25: Don't Rock the Boat

"Musa! Come look at this!" Techna rewound the tape for the third time, trying to erase the images from her head. Unfortunately, she had a photographic memory so there was no chance of that. Musa rushed over to take a look. Techna pressed play.

"Who are you? Why are you doing this?" The woman screamed at her abductor, pleading with her to stop. The devil like woman's grip tightened around her captive. She hissed out her words like a snake.

"Your part is very important. You are the queen of this game, willing to go anywhere, any number of spaces. Now all we need is the player. He will move the pieces all into place. Now, come with me!" With that, the two vanished.

"That was weird. First off, Kathy wasn't even there. Second, who, or what, was that thing?" Techna leaned back away from the computer deep in thought. "Why would Kathy lie?" Musa shrugged.

"Maybe we should check the other video cameras. If we can see what Kathy was doing at the time, we can see if she was part of it or something."

"Good idea, Musa! If we tap into all the cameras going at the time Luna P was kidnapped, we can see where Kathy was!" Techna's fingers started typing at the speed of light and Musa walked back over to her beanbag chair she magically whipped up. She sagged into the chair and crossed her arms. She hated the waiting part. She waved her hand and grabbed a magazine and a frozen raspberry iced tea out of thin air. She loved to read Magic Beatz. It was her favorite teen magazine and always had the best news and drama, although she wasn't such a big fan of the drama part. She stared at the front cover and her mouth dropped almost to the floor in awe. Bloom and Roxy were on the front cover! But it wasn't a flattering picture. They were attacking a roomful of guards and royal-looking duke and duchesses. Bloom was sending fire everywhere and Roxy was standing behind her ready to fight, hands balled in front of her. Rini was holding her hands on her face and look sad and angry. Musa shook her head confused. She flipped to the page with the story. The headline read "Royal Pains on Earth" followed by a sub header that read "Is Spark's new princess REALLY ready to take the throne…or just take someone else's?" This was not good. Musa tucked the magazine into her waistband and pulled her shirt over it, concealing it from sight.

"Musa!" Techna's shout knocked Musa out of the beanbag chair. "Sorry, but you gotta come see this! I found out where Kathy was during the time where Luna P was kidnapped. She was right where she should have been, in her room. But that's not the crazy thing! I watched a little more of the video and, and, look!" Techna pointed to the screen, and it was then that Musa first realized Techna was crying. The only there time Musa had seen Techna really cry was when, well, never really. What could make a computer cry? Then Musa saw the video. Poor Flora. Musa punched the table so the equipment shook.

"How could she take advantage of poor, sweet, innocent Flora? I am going to make her pay! Be warned Kathy!"

"Kathy!" Techna covered her mouth.

"What about Kathy?" They turned around to see an unfamiliar blue-haired woman. She was holding a laptop and staring at them peculiarly. Musa readied her stance for battle. The woman backed up. "Whoa there! I come in peace. I am a friend of Rini's. I am here to help you guys out. Now what were you saying about Kathy?"

"She kidnapped Flora! We have to go! She may come back! Come on Techna! Let's go Believix!" Techna reached out to grab Musa's arm and pull her back down.

"Musa, we need to calm down and strategize."

"We NEED to go get Flora!" Musa yanked her arm away from Techna and glared at her.

"Where? Where are we going to go get Flora? Do you know where they disappeared to? Because I sure as hell don't. Now, shut up, sit down, and let me keep watching this film so we can find some answer!" Techna spun in her chair and unpaused the security film. Musa closed her mouth quickly and slammed down into the beanbag chair. Ami stood awkwardly in the middle. "Are you going to do something or just stand there stupidly?" Ami stammered for a second, then walked over to the computer.

"Here, let me check the other cameras for Kathy sightings. The search will go quicker." Techna didn't bat an eye. Ami continued. "Musa, why don't you go tell the others what we know. They are in Kathy's room. Three doors down on your right, bank a left, go six doors, it is on your right." Ami smiled, but it didn't meet her eyes. Musa sat up slowly. Instead of walking toward the door, she walked over toward where Techna sat. Whether Techna saw her coming or not, Techna didn't move. Musa clenched her frozen drink. The cold burned her hands. Ami opened her mouth to object, but the look in Musa's eyes shut her mouth hard. Musa stalked right up behind Techna. Techna never stopped typing.

"Can I help you with something?" Techna's voice sounded cold, yet it wavered. Musa's fist tightened. She picked up a pen from the desk and ripped a page out from Magic Beatz. Using the pen, she wrote a message on the page. She crumpled it up and threw it softly toward Ami. Ami looked at the paper in her hands and smiled. She opened up her laptop and typed faster than Techna. Techna flinched and sped up, but otherwise never reacted. After several moments, Ami shut her laptop with a small click. Musa smiled and loosed her grip on the cup. She tapped Techna on the back. Techna shriveled away from the touch.

"Musa! I am trying to work! Can't you stop acting like a spoiled, bratty child for five seconds?" Tecna's typing became harder. At this rate, she would break the keyboard.

"Nope." And with that, Musa threw the frozen drink at Techna. It splashed all over her and the computer. The computer fuzzed and went black. Musa turned on her heels and ran to the other end of the room. She jiggled the door handle, but it was locked. She looked up to see a furious and sopping wet Techna storming towards her. Musa dropped the cup and held her hands in the air, closing her eyes. She felt arms around her body, holding her still and a head lay on her shoulder. She opened her eyes to see Techna hugging her, tears in her eyes.

"I don't know what to do." She whispered, clutching Musa tighter. "I just don't want us to split up again! I know what it's like to split from you guys, to be alone. And now, three of us are gone. What can we do?" Techna quickly sobbed into Musa's shirt. Musa was shocked, again. She thought about what Techna had said. She pushed Techna away and ran down the hallway. I hope Ami gives good directions, she thought as she sped down the hallways, turning when told. She stopped at the door, took a deep breath, and pushed it open.

"What the heck was that about? Why would she dump that on me and then leave. I wasn't even mad at her, well now I am, but still!" Techna had been ranting for ten minutes. Ami sat and pretended to listen, only catching bits and pieces. I wish I could leave.

"Guys! What are you doing?" Musa ran into the room and found this scene. Bloom was throwing and catching a fire ball in one hand, Roxy was sitting on a couch having a tea leaf fight with a dark haired girl around the same age, Stella had a magnifying glass and was looking at spattered tea leaves on the ground and kept shouting things like "Gibbs come quick!" and "Why don't you come look closer DiNozzo?" while an older woman, was pounding her head against a far wall. Musa cocked an eyebrow. The woman looked up and made a face that looked like she just smelled a sweaty sock then ate forty sour lemons. Her eyes were the scary part, though. They looked as though somebody had just poured combination of salt and soda into them. They were bright red and puffy, but not in a crying kind of manner. More like, kill me or I kill them. Musa sighed. "Guys!" They all looked up to see Musa's quizzical look.

"Musa, what are you doing here? I thought you were with Techna." Bloom put out her fire and walked over to Musa. "And why is your shirt covered with an icy frozen drink?"

"It doesn't matter. Listen, I had a thought." Stella gasped, and then giggled. "As I was saying, I had a thought. Why the attacks? I think someone is trying to split us up. They are taking us all one by one, using our weaknesses against us. Somebody is trying to tear us apart from the inside. Which means somebody close to us is a traitor." Musa paused dramatically and look everyone in the eye.

"Musa that's ridiculous. Nobody would betray us. We are friends." Bloom rolled her eyes at Musa's condemnations.

"Oh yeah Bloom. And how many times have you betrayed us and become evil?" Musa snapped back. Bloom's mouths dropped.

"ExCUSE me! You're one to talk, miss 'I have so much attitude that I don't know what to do with it all.' How many times are you and Riven going to break up and get back together? You say you hate drama and yet." Bloom motioned to Musa, waving her hands for emphasis. Musa balled up her fists.

"Says you! You and Sky have had more fights than anyone I know! He lied to you, you got back together. You almost killed him, you got back together. And don't get me started on when you were flirting with Andy AND dating Sky. But, you got back together. And then, he dumps you as his fiancée, but, wait for it, you got back together! Maybe, instead of getting married, you should see a therapist!"

"Oh please, at least I am getting married! At this rate, you won't be getting engaged for months, maybe even years. All you care about is your music career. Did you ever think that Riven may not want to be on tour with you, let alone Jason, the man you practically ditched him for? You are selfish!"

"You're a spoiled brat!"

"Freak!"

"Bit-"

"ENOUGH!" Roxy sent a vase flying against the wall. It shattered on impact and left the two quarreling girls speechless, but glaring. "Both of you are acting like children. Now cut it out or go home. I am sick of all the fighting. What is with all of you? You are all best friends. Why are you all fighting so much?" Roxy folded her arms. She was so confused and hurt. "If I knew that all you would be doing is fighting, I never would have come in the first place. I have put up with a lot of your 'imperfections' but this is ridiculous. Make up or I am outta here!" She stomped her foot down. At that moment, Roxy started to glow. A beautiful medallion appeared on her chest. It was silver and circular. In the middle, it had four green jewels in the shaped of a paw print. Roxy looked down confused as it disappeared again.

"Roxy! You got your Charmix by standing up to us!" Stella snapped a picture. "It's dazzling! Now, you are on your way t getting your Enchantix! Be excited!" Stella ran over to hug Roxy. "As for you two," she looked to the two glaring girls, "Shut up." They had seen Stella when she was excited, ditzy, happy, sad, and even egotistic, but angry was one emotion they did not want a repeat of. They both sighed, then hugged each other as they mumbled their I'm sorry's. "Good. Now Musa, what else were you going to tell us?"

"Oh! Kathy was the one to kidnap Flora!" Musa smiled, ready to be thanked for the information. Stella smacked herself on the forehead. "What?"

"We knew that already! The tea leaves, duh. Do you have any important news?" Musa scowled at the tone and shook her head.

"Musa was right! I think we are being split apart. But that means somebody is working on the inside." Techna assumed the thinker position as she told Ami her suspicions. "One of the boy maybe. Or Roxy? No, why would I even suggest that?"

"Or maybe somebody you don't know, or barely know. Somebody who is simply following orders and means no real harm." Techna looked up. Ami's voice was no question. What she said was a statement.

"You? But why? What have we done to you? Where is Flora?" Techna tried to stay calm. Musa would be back any second. Keep stalling.

"Bad timing. I have no idea where your flower friend is. I am not the bad gut here Techna. Of all people, you should be able to see the reason here." Ami cocked an eyebrow. Techna glared. "Alright. I can see that you won't budge. How about I take you to see Layla? The two of you can talk and you can put all the puzzle pieces together. Hm?" Techna was running out of time. But Layla? Did Ami really have her?

"What did Musa ask you to do? On the note?" She walked over to pick up the crumpled piece of paper off the ground

"She just wanted me to copy down the information off of the computer. Here," she tossed Techna a small blue flash drive, "take it. You will have plenty of time to watch it now." She raised her hand slowly and bubbles appeared all around them. She grabbed Techna's arm. Techna dropped the note and prayed to herself. Here Stella, solve the puzzle.