Chapter One
Iris flew down the stairs, her pendant swinging back and forth across her neck. She was ecstatic. No, more than that. What was greater than ecstatic? Elated? Jubilant? Rapturous? Any word that meant something beyond euphoria–that was what could best describe how Iris was feeling right now.
"Isn't it great, Talia?"she cried when she reached the bottom of the stairs where Talia waited for her with folded arms. "Nathaniel and I are going on our first date ever! He says he wants to take me to the best restaurant in Sunny Bay! Tasty Cuisine, it's called. It's that wonderful?"
Talia knitted her eyebrows at Iris and tapped her foot impatiently. "You know we have practice in, like, half an hour, right?"
Iris twirled around. "Oh, Talia. I can't think about practice right now! My heart is singing!"
Talia rolled her eyes. She wasn't much into romance. "Iris, we've been trying to rehearse for weeks! But if you keep running off…"
"Sorry, sorry." Iris giggled, draping an arm over Talia's shoulders. "I'll get focused! I swear it."
"You better. Because if you keep ditching practice to hang out with Nathaniel, we'll never get our new songs and dances in sync!"
"I'm sorry, Talia. I'll be on time to practice today. I promise! But right now I really have to see Nat!" Then she ran to the door and was about to leave, when suddenly something vibrated in her bag. She reached inside and pulled out her phone, just missing a call from Nathaniel. She was about to call back, but saw a new message pop up. She tapped her thumb on the message and read it, fingering the Promise Ring which she always kept in her pocket. The Ring was a reminder of how deeply Nathaniel cared about Iris. so there was definitely, absolutely, completely, totally, and without a doubt, no way he would ever say anything like this. But the words were staring her right in the face.
Iris. I'm sorry to have to tell you this, but it's over.
Her mind swirled. What does he mean 'it's over'? She thought. Was this an accidental text? He couldn't possibly mean…
But Iris swallowed. She had a sinking feeling that this message was exactly what she thought it meant. And suddenly she felt numb. And frightened. And unspeakably hurt. How could Nathaniel do this?
"Iris?" Talia came up behind her and tapped her on the shoulder. "Is everything alright?"
Iris swiveled around and blinked, her eyes shining with tears. "Y-yes," She lied. "I'm fine. Everything's fine. Bye, Talia!"
But everything was not fine. And Iris knew it.
The whole way to Nathaniel's house, Iris's heart felt heavy, like it was being weighed down by a ton of bricks. Nathaniel's message haunted her mind like a bad dream.
Iris. I hate to have to tell you this, but it's over.
It's over.
It's over.
Her stomach twisted into an awful knot. She had been looking forward to their date at the Tasty Cuisine. But now?
Soon Iris was standing in front of the door to Nathaniel's house. By now her entire body was shaking from fear. Her heart ached for answers, but she was scared to know the truth. What if Nathaniel confessed that he planned to end their friendship forever? What if he admitted that he had a new girlfriend or something, and then Iris would have to live the rest of her life with a broken heart? But how could he do something like that? Iris tried to be reasonable. He loved her, she knew he did. He wouldn't just end what they had so randomly. Fist trembling, and heart beating furiously in her chest, Iris raised her hand… and knocked.
Chapter Two
The door opened slowly. It was painfully slow, considering that Iris's nerves were almost at their limit. She almost wasn't ready when Nathaniel's face appeared and he stepped out. The most wonderful boy in the world. Then he smiled at Iris in the way she loved most, and scratched his head in the way he always did when Iris was around him. "Hi, Iris! What's up?"
Instantly, Iris fell into his arms, sobbing and sobbing. She could feel Nathaniel's posture change as he bent to hug her back. "Hey, what's the matter?" he asked. Iris pulled away and wiped her face with her arm.
"Something's wrong." Nathaniel said gently, putting his hands on her shoulders. "Tell me, Iris."
Iris blinked her wet eyes and looked at him. "Y-you sent me a message…saying that it was over. Now I don't know what that means, but I won't believe it! Tell me it's not true. Nat," she stepped closer to him and stared up into his eyes. "Tell me you still love me."
Nathaniel looked puzzled at first. Then his face changed and he actually looked guilty. He pushed Iris away gently–too gently–and said,. "Well, Iris….I did send that message. And I guess you deserve to know why," Iris's heart skipped a beat. She held her breath, trying to prepare herself for what came next. But she would never be prepared for what happened next. Nathaniel dropped his eyes and stepped back. "I'm sorry, Iris," he said. "I'm sorry…but I can't be around you anymore. I meant what I said. It's over!"
Iris turned white as paper. "You can't make that decision for me!" she shouted. "Nat, you can't do this!"
"Who are you to tell me what I should or shouldn't do?" Nathaniel snapped, suddenly nasty. "It's my choice what I do with my life. Not yours!"
"Nat…" Iris pleaded, reaching for his hand. He moved away from her. "Nat, please!" didn't he see how her heart was breaking? Didn't he know what he was doing to her?
"Goodbye, Iris." Nathaniel said, turning away.
"It's a new girl, isn't it?" Iris said loudly, her anger rising. How dare he ignore her feelings? How dare he act so self-centered and ignorant? "Oh no. tell me it's not that snooty
Nathaniel spun around and approached her aggressively. "Oh, get a grip, Iris! I can like other girls besides you!"
"Nat, I–"
"You're not that special!" Nathaniel shouted, his eyes flashing with a wickedness Iris had never seen before. Iris felt herself shrink away. She blinked and thought she saw something on Nathaniel's shoulder–a strange purple butterfly–but when she blinked again, it was gone. All she saw now was her favorite boy-Nathaniel- standing before her with a look of pure hatred in his eyes. Her little heart pendant faded from it's vibrant pink… and became grey-ish and dull.
"I'm sorry, Nat." said Iris, all her emotions scattered like leaves. "I guess it was just make-believe!" Then she turned on her heel, and ran and ran.
"Despair. What a marvelous thing." A thin, vile smile appeared on Praxina's face as she watched Iris flee her lover from the top of a treetop. Her evil plan was working perfectly, thanks to the help of her servants. A dark butterfly army circled above her like an army of bats. They could communicate with her since she acquired the broken mask of her departed master, Lord Gramorr.
"Iris, princess of Aphedia, loses her hope." they told Praxina. "Her power fades. Soon she will be unable to transform."
Praxina cackled and narrowed her sharp, startling eyes. "Excellent. I will attack her when she is crushed and despairing. Then, once she is out of the mix, I'll take down the other princesses. And Earth will be mine!"
"Hmm. that doesn't seem right." Izira looked up at a swirling mass of stars which was being projected by one of her magical charms.
"What is it?" asked a member of the resistance.
Izira pointed at a cluster of darkness that was spreading across the stars. "See that there? That's a Darkness Blight. Something like this has not been seen in Xeris in a long time. And it hasn't been seen since Lord Gramorr was defeated…"
"So why's it happening now?"
Izira shuddered and withdrew the projection. "I don't know. But I better call in some reinforcements." she tapped on her crystal communication device and Aurianna and Talia appeared in small, fuzzy holograms. "Send backup," she said. "We're in trouble!"
Chapter Three:
Continuation of "Heartbreak"...
Iris laid out flat on her bed, staring at the ceiling. Her Aphedian Heart Pendant glowed gently, thrumming against her chest, but she didn't care if someone needed help. She didn't care that she was a Princess, and that it was her duty to protect people and keep them safe from worldly troubles. This was it.
She. Just. Didn't. Care.
Why didn't she care? Well, that was easy enough. First of all, Nathaniel didn't love her anymore. No. he loved Missy. Iris groaned and thrust a pillow into her face. Missy? How could Nathanial love Missy?! She was a self-centered brat.
*Knock, Knock: "Iris, are you in there?"
Iris mumbled "no" into the pillow. Then she sighed and sat up, glaring at her bedroom door. "Go away, Talia.I don't want to practice! I don't want to rehearse. I don't want to perform. In fact, I don't want to do the concerts ever again !"
There was a long silence. Then Talia asked, "Do you really mean that?"
Iris could hear the worry in Talia's voice. And suddenly she felt terrible. She hadn't meant to yell. She swung her legs off the bed and walked over to the door. "No, I don't mean that," she told Talia as she opened the door. But Talia wasn't there. It was Nathanial! And…he was holding hands with Missy! "Nath-Nathanial!" Iris sputtered.
"Hey, Iris." Nathaniel said, grinning profusely. "I wanted you to meet my new girlfriend. You know, the one who replaced you?" the last words rang in Iris's ears like a terrible scream.
Replaced you…
Replaced you…
Iris threw her hands over her ears "NO!" she cried. Then again and again, "NO! NO, NO, NO!"
"Iris?"
The voice that called out to her was distant and far away. Iris shook her head ferociously, determined not to open her eyes and see "No. no, no, no! This isn't real. It isn't real!"
"IRIS!" Talia put her hands on Iris's shoulders and shook her. "Iris, it's me!"
Iris blinked and stared at Talia. "What? Oh, it is you, Talia. Wow, sorry about that. I must of…um…drifted off into a daydream."
"Or a nightmare," Talia said. "Are you okay?"
Iris looked into her friend's eyes. Talia was a great friend. She wished she could tell her all that had happened with Nathaniel, but her heart wasn't in it. "I'm sorry, Talia. I'm fine, really. I just…have a lot on my mind."
"Yeah. You were screaming, Iris. Is everything okay?"
No, thought Iris. No, everything was not okay. Nathanial hated her, worse still, he was going out with Missy.
"Listen," said Talia, obviously worried about her friend. "let's do some dance practice. That will help matters."
"Okay," said Iris slowly. But her heart wasn't in it. Throughout the whole dance routine of "Revolution", she kept missing her cue and singing the wrong lines.
"Wake Up," said Talia.
"Huh? what?" said Iris.
"That's your line, Iris. You say, "Wake Up". Then I say, "Starry." Then you say-"
"I think I've got it, Talia." Iris snapped. But she sure didn't mean to snap. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to..."
"Iris..." Auriana put a gentle hand on Iris's shoulder and stared into her eyes. "Are you alright? Is something bothering you?"
"No." Iris said. "It's nothing. Let's just dance."
"It can't be nothing." Auriana said. "You're obviously upset, Iris! whatever it is, you can tell us. We're a team, remember?"
"It's...it's nothing!" Iris insisted. But tears were in her eyes and Auriana was guiding her to a chair to sit down in.
"Huh?" said Talia, turning away from Iris just in time to see a Vocal Extra shining on the desk. "Auriana, come look at this!"
Auriana hurried over and picked up the Vocal Extra. "It's a message from Izira!" Auriana exclaimed. Just then a light flew out of the Vocal Extra, and Izira appeared before them in a hologram. "Send backup!" it said. "We're in trouble!"
"Izira?" Talia said. "What's going on? what's wrong?"
Izira's hologram flickered like a wave. "It's awful. It's disastrous! a black cloud is taking over the stars. A black cloud of dark magic!"
"What?" said Talia.
"But that's impossible!" said Auriana. "We destroyed Gramorr. How can there still be evil magic attacking earth?"
"Guys, remember Praxina?" said Iris suddenly, wiping away her tears. "She threatened to attack earth back when she accused me of killing her brother. I bet this is her revenge."
"It makes sense," said Auriana. Then she turned back to Izira's hologram and said, "But how could she be spreading a dark blight across the stars? what's she planning?"
"I do not know." said Izira. "But whatever it is, it's not good. You girls need to track down Praxina and put an end to her evil schemes. If you don't, it could reek serious havoc on planet earth!"
"Yeah!" said Auriana, bouncing with excitement. "Let's do it! it'll be just like old times! and I honestly can't wait to get back into my Princess of Volta Outfit!"
"I'm game for tracking down Praxina." said Talia. Then she turned to Iris. "But are you? you seem a little out of it..."
"No, I want to find Praxina." said Iris. "She could be the reason that Nathaniel-"
"Nathanial what?" interrupted Auriana. "Oh no! are you two...broke up?"
"I'll be fine, Talia." said Iris, ignoring Auriana. "Let's just find Praxina, and stop her before she sends the world into eternal darkness!"