A Normal Girl

            I stared at them in confusion. 

            "You said you… wouldn't fight me…" I said.

            Shi'tri nodded.

            "Think girl.  We created the Essence.  We gave it to you.  We can take it away."

            I nearly dropped my spear.

            "No!" I shouted, "You can't!"

            "I thought you didn't like having this power," the dark element said with a trace of amusement.

            "I don't… but – Aldrai!  I just want my pet!"

            The exchanged glances as if they knew this would happen.  I stepped forwards and raised my spear.

            "I'm not letting you keep him," I said, and then leapt into the air.

            I flared my wings, allowing the thermals to carry me above the island.  I gathered the power to me, so much power, so ready to be used.  I would free Aldrai, they could not stop me.  I wouldn't let them.

            I felt something strange wrap around me then.  A burning arose in my chest and I gasped.  My heart was beating wildly and an icy sensation slid down my spine.  Multi-hued light surrounded me, shot down towards the island, and was gone.  I shuddered and fell from the sky.  I tried to flare my wings to stop my fall only to discover they weren't there. 

            A hand closed on the back of my shirt.  All the air was knocked out of me and I gasped at the sharp stop to my fall.  I could feel the heat wrapping itself around me like a blanket, heat that had previously been unnoticeable.  Whoever held me by my shirt collar carried me back up the short distance to the island and dropped me on the ground.  I glanced up to see Shi'viv staring down at me with amusement.

            "You seem to be fond of falling," he said with a half-grin.

            "Shuddup!" I snapped and twisted around to see what had happened to my wings.

            They were gone.  As was my tail, my horns, everything.  Everything that made me the Essence.  I could no longer feel the threads of power, could no longer call upon that magic rooted deep within Neopia.  I was just a normal girl.  Nothing more.

            I doubled over, shuddering violently.  I tried to stop my shaking but I couldn't.  Although the air around me was still uncomfortably warm I felt cold.

            "Calm down Kiddo," Shi'tri said gently, kneeling by my side and grabbing my shoulder, "Just calm down."

            "Wha – what…"

            He gestured and I looked over to see Shi'kly kneeling on the ground, a multi-colored starburst crystal in her hands.  The Essence of Neopia. 

            I could feel the edges of my vision growing black.  I tried to take deep breaths but all I could do was short panicked gasps.

            "Shi'kit… help me… she's gonna faint…" Shi'tri growled tersely.

            "Let her.  Might be best."

            I felt light-headed and dizzy.  And very very ill.  The last thing I felt before I fell into a full faint was Shi'tri laying me back onto the rock.

            I woke to voices.  For a moment I had no idea where I was.  Then I felt the heat and bare stone beneath me and remembered.  I kept my eyes shut, listening.  The absence of my tail and wings and other features I had borne for so long was a jarring reminder of what had happened. 

            "You agreed to this," someone was saying.

            "I agreed but I still don't like it," Shi'tri replied.

            "I never would have expected you to have a soft spot," the other marveled.

            I thought for a moment and was able to identify the voice as Shi'eus, the fire element.

            "Not so much as a soft spot as respect.  She was just trying to save her pet."

            "I know."

            A sigh.

            "I didn't like it either, Shi'tri," Shi'eus continued, "But we didn't really have much choice.  She had a responsibility to protect Neopia and she wanted to release something that wanted to destroy it as we know it.  It's her own fault, really."

            "Yes.  I know."

            "And we couldn't really have beaten her in a straight fight, could we now?  We bound her too strongly to Neopia – she's just like us except combined.  Our fault there."

            "But now Neopia doesn't have an Essence."

            "Neopia doesn't need one anymore," Shi'eus said dismissively, "The entire civilization walks around armed.  Sloth is gone.  The faeries are still around.  There isn't any other threat like the Shadows.  Really, this might be for the best.  Maybe now child_dragon will have that normal life she's so desired."

            Sudden wild hope arose in my heart.  A normal life.  No more risking my life, risking my pets.  No more having to shoulder the responsibility of immense power.  I was free.

            But I still didn't have Aldrai.

            I cracked my eyes a bit and looked around, careful not to move.  Shi'tri and Shi'eus sat on the edge of the island, their backs turned towards me.  No other element was visible.  The crystal imprisoning Aldrai was a couple feet away, as was the Elemental Spear.  My spear.

            I slowly brought myself to a crouch, preparing myself to lunge.  My feet were no longer hooves now and I could feel the rock beneath my bare feet.  I flexed my toes, hoping the sudden change in bone structure wouldn't throw me off too badly.  The two elements were still talking.  I moved forwards slowly, still in a crouch, and stretched out my hand to grab my spear. 

            It burned.  A shock like electricity shot up my arm and I dropped it with a cry.  Shi'tri and Shi'eus jumped to their feet and turned.  I stood there sheepishly rubbing my wrist with the Elemental Spear at my feet.

            "It's not yours anymore," Shi'eus said, immediately understanding what had happened, "Only the Essence can use it."

            "I know," I replied demurely.

            "Feeling better?" Shi'tri asked, "Probably not.  But we'll get you out of the Forge.  Our power stretches far enough to make sure you reach the tunnel that will lead you back to the Infernal village."

            I stared at the ground.  I'd failed then.  Come all this way and for nothing.  For more than nothing; I had lost the only power that might have saved Aldrai.  Tears built in my eyes and through them I could see a hazy outline of the Spear at my feet.  Wrought by an upheaval in the Forge.  As was Aldrai's prison. 

            I suddenly became aware of a weight at my belt.  I snapped my head up and stared at Shi'tri and Shi'eus.  Then I turned and strode over to the edge of the island and stared down at the magma below.

            "What are you doing?" Shi'eus asked casually.

            "Saving Aldrai," I replied and held up Sabreur's improved firebomb.

            "No!" they both shouted simultaneously and lunged for me.

            But I had already dropped the bomb, straight down, towards the magma.