Free Change Fault

A/N: Okay okay, I know it's been a while and you all probably want to rip my throat out. HOWEVER, I've been extremely busy and really I should be working on schoolwork. But I don't want to get killed!

Disclaimer: Diane Duane wrote the books, I wrote this story. Got it? Get it? Doubt it.

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The first day of school for Nita was uneventful. People figured out that she didn't want sympathy from any of them, so eventually she was back to her normal bookworm self. Well, in most cases she was.

Dairine's first day of school was just as uneventful, and often she found herself sending messages to Darryl in her head. Dairine was a good student, and teachers were always amazed, but she wasn't in the mood to get new introductions again.

Nita passed by a group of girls who were chatting non-stop by their lockers, and cringed when she noticed Joanne was one of them. How does she pass a grade? Nita thought to herself, snickering under her breath so as not to be heard.

Suddenly she felt a hand on her shoulder, and the owner of it turned her around so she was facing her. Nita looked into the eyes of one of Joanne's friends, Maya.

"Hey, Callahan, how come you're boyfriend isn't here?" Every one of Joanne's friends, including Joanne, turned to look at Maya and Nita. Maya was about two inches taller, and if Kit were still here, would be about an inch shorter than he would.

The wizard's eyes narrowed and Maya let go of Nita's shoulder immediately. Nita didn't answer the question, merely turned back around and walked away. Maya didn't follow, because Joanne grabbed her shoulder and gave her a glare. It wasn't fun to pick on the little bookworm when she was acting like this.

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For some reason, Kit was in a good mood today. He had absolutely no idea why, and it scared him, he hadn't been in a good mood in a while. He was leaning against the bare tree, the one that is the same as all the others, and looking up at the gray sky. Clouds moved at amazingly slow paces, all in one direction.

The Sprite Power came about ten minutes later, and Kit wasn't surprised as it displaced air and appeared with a POP! right in front of him.

(You-want-to-know-of-your-friend?) It asked, as Kit continued to gaze at the sky. Kit shrugged after a moment of silence, then looked at the Sprite Power.

"Yes, of course I do." His reply was hoarse, almost as if Kit had been living in the desert all this time instead of a moist world of duplication.

(She-is-well.) The Sprite stated, and Kit looked up blankly. Of course she was all right. He was about to open his mouth until the Sprite continued. (The-Powers-do-not-want-her-to-work. She-is-angry.) The power shook, almost with fear. He knew of Nita, yes. He knew Nita almost as well as Kit, but definitely not more.

"One question." Kit looked at the piercing Sprite directly, not shielding his eyes. If the light had been only a little brighter, Kit would've been blinded.

(Yes?) Kit was getting use to the Sprite's fast Speech. He could pick out every word from the string of long syllables. But this was too easy, the Sprite was slowing down.

"Who are you?"

(Many call me Macchu Picchu. I really prefer Peach.) Kit's eyes widened as the Sprite did a twirl around him. Finally Kit noticed the different colors of the Sprite's voice.

"Why aren't you in your host?" Kit seemed exceedingly curious. Almost even eager, to find out about this new revelation. Peach seemed to be acting the same way, glad that he was assigned such a character as Kit instead of some other doomed creature who truly deserved loneliness. Peach knew for a fact that Kit didn't.

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Nita arrived in English class early, and after the interaction with Maya, no one decided to bug her. Under all of her books and papers, Nita hid her wizard's manual, which fizzed slightly. Nita wanted so badly to know what the message was, though it was probably from Dairine. English class was dull, just a big introduction to the teacher. When they went around the classroom, giving names and telling something about themselves, Nita almost tuned out. She knew most people, only a few were new or from other schools.

When the line of people came to Nita (who was last, she sat in the far back), the wizard had to be shaken from her trance.

"Miss?" The teacher, a young woman with flowing black hair and crystal blue eyes, asked Nita once again. Nita immediately snapped out of it, but no one snickered or laughed at Nita's shortened attention span.

The wizard however, was in no way fazed. She did not pause. "I'm Nita Callahan, and I like to read." That however, was the old Nita Callahan. The one she pretended to be around everyone except Kit's family, her family and other wizards. The real Nita Callahan would've said something like this if the teacher were a wizard.

"I'm Nita Callahan, and I like to beam over to other countries, or planets. I especially like the moon, though I do not go there anymore because my best friend disappeared." That's what Nita was thinking of saying, but the silent class would not stay silent to that truth.

The teacher nodded, slightly surprised at Nita's quick answer. She was sure the student hadn't been listening to the directions when they were given. Apparently however, she was.

"Now class, you will be put into groups of four, with one group of three, so I can set up tables for the next day of school." The teacher looked around the room, receiving many groans from the class. Well, from everyone except Nita. There was something about that girl that was different, and the teacher immediately thought to put her in the group of three, so she didn't have to communicate with too many people. Obviously, Nita must be a loner of some sort, in a gang. (A/N: Teacher's perspective!)

One of the kids (A/N: Complete coincidence) who was going to be in the group of three ran out of the room ready to puke, so Nita ended up in a pair, with a girl named Jesse. For most of class she didn't listen to anything the teacher had to say, for Nita was so bored out of her mind and she wanted to check her manual to see who the message was from. (A/N: *deep breath*) However, she had to be patient, it was only 5... 4... 3... 2... 1--

RIIIIING! The bell complained as it was repeatedly hit, and Nita was surprised that she could hear it. Often yells of headache and aspirin were heard in Nita's head. She zipped down the hallway, passed her locker and out the front doors, sliding down the stair banister. She went over by the far fences where she and Kit would usually meet, and took out her lunch and sat on the ground. Her book lay open on her lap, the two pages viewable were completely blank.

Receive Message?

"Yes."

Ink flooded the page and then seemed to drain through it, and flowing words of the Speech appeared on the page.

Hey, Callahan-

I know how to get your friend. We talk a lot, he misses you. Want help? Call me.

The message was unsigned, but immediately Nita felt a voice in her head. Well, rather two voices, one cold and uncaring to the world except Nita's head, the other demanding and impatient.

Nita--

Don't listen to him, Callahan. Please listen, Kit is--

Nita, we need to talk.

Stop interrupting!

The voices morphed into one, and all that remained was the demanding and impatient one.

Kit is worried that you won't help him return to a normal state. He needs help Callahan, your help.

The voice disappeared, and Nita fainted.

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(Nita-is-too-weak.) Peach stated to Kit, as the Power's Sprite form floated above the cloaked boy's head. Kit swatted at It and tried to ignore the thought of Nita ever being weak. It was way too hard to imagine.

"She can help me, I know that." Kit stated stubbornly, his arms crossed over his chest. He sat in the damp earth, his back and head leaning against the burnt tree.

(And if she can't?) Peach's Speech slowed to normal, but it seemed way too slow for Kit. He actually had to get use to hearing it before he could understand the slow syllables.

"She can. I have no doubt in her skills. She can regain her magic."

(She already has. You however, cannot have your magic back until this is gone.) Peach gestured to the black hole known as Kit and then zipped over his head a few times.

"What am I suppose to do anyway? If you came to help, you're doing a rotten job." Kit growled as Peach flew over his head.

(Ah, such a silly young wizard. Why did we ever give you the Art?)

"You're the Power with an attitude, aren't you?"

(Haven't I always been? The Lone One is truly the one with the "warped" as you call it attitude.)

Kit shuddered at the name. Peach caught it, and smirked. "Do continue with your ranting Peach, it's quite enjoyable." Kit snarled, getting up and stomping over the wet earth. To nowhere, because this place was nowhere, but maybe he could find this world's kernel...

(This world has no kernel, I promise you.) Peach was now right in front of Kit's face, and his little Sprite legs were going a million miles an hour just to keep It in the air. (And Nita is weak, but she can help. They will be gathering soon.)

"Who?" Kit seemed curious, and his cold exterior seemed to brighten a little.

(The two Callahan sisters, Darryl, my host and Annie.) In Peach's language, Kit knew that meant Nita, Dairine, Darryl, Ronan and Annie. (And myself, where my host goes, I go.)

"Can you send her a message from me?"

(No.)

"Why?"

(She cannot hear from you, nor I from now until our wizards have a plan. The Lone One got you framed for a crime you didn't mean to commit. I promise, nothing will happen to Nita.) Peach disappeared, right before Kit was about to take a swing at him.

This just isn't fair.

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Nita's head snapped up right in the middle of her last class of the day, P.E. Luckily, she was on the sidelines waiting to be put into the game or volleyball and didn't mess the game up by getting hit in the head or something. (A/N: Hey, people seem to like that happening.) She heard something, or rather someone in her head, and it scared her. Nita had fainted only for a second, then had gotten up, surprising everyone as she walked back to class.

Dair? Nita asked in her head, interrupting Dairine talking to Darryl. The boy merely did a telepathic shrug and got out of his partner's head.

What is it? The impatient younger wizard sent back.

Did you just call me?

No way Neets, I wouldn't do that while talking to Darryl.

Shouldn't you be listening to the teacher?

I'm in Science. I don't have to. I know more about Life than the teacher does.

Dairine heard a mental laugh coming from her sister and she smiled.

Okay, see ya Dair.

Bye Neets.

Nita still seemed worried, who was that if it was Darryl or Dairine? It couldn't be any of the Ireland wizards, it was way too early. But the messages sounded a lot like Ronan and Peach...

Suddenly, someone else popped into her mind.

This just isn't fair.

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SAT: HAHA! I'm going to leave it there.

Tempis: Baka-zu Shima-san.

SAT: I AM NOT A STUPID HEAD!!

Tempis: *runs away laughing*

SAT: *chases* I AM SAM! SAM LIKE SUSHI!