Disclaimer: Mine, my precioussss… Okay, so maybe I don't actually own it…
A/N: Okay, I know this is a short chapter, but more will be written soon. Due to this story's high Sue rating, I frequently get very disgusted with it, so I don't update for a while. However, the glowing encouragement from my wonderful reviewers has spurred me to pick it up once more. Anyway, there's been a rather sizeable jump in time, so don't get confused. As I said, this chapter is short, but the next one will be the next thing I write, and as we draw nearer to the end, the chapters should be coming more frequently. (I hope…) Oh, I nearly forgot: this chapter goes out to my own bitchy Global teacher, who inspired some of the dialogue.
All Bad Days Must End
A few weeks later in Global, Maeg was impressed to hear that Takhisis actually let the announcements continue. Not that it mattered, since they were the normal assortment of team scores that no one cared about, fundraising activities that no one would go to, some student council meeting that the few people who were members would sleep through, and so on. The only different announcement was about the prom, which Maeg very much wanted to avoid. Four hundred dollar dresses, loud music, and insanely late parties were never her scene, and she'd been planning not to go to prom since she learned what it was. Despite the monotony of the announcements, Maeg was still impressed that they were played.
Warily, Maeg watched Takhisis' ever-growing smirk through the announcements. As they drew to a close with the sickeningly cheery student president's "Have a fabulous Tuesday!" Takhisis flowed out of her seat. Despite her hate for the goddess, Maeg had to admit that she was still the most beautiful, graceful woman that she'd ever seen. Well, that was only true at the moment if you counted a truly evil smile beautiful.
"I have some quizzes to give back to you, from the last several weeks. I am sorry to inform you that a few of your classmates have been cheating. I have been saving up the quizzes in the hope that these people would refrain from further infractions, but it has not yet happened. If anyone feels like owning up to something now, or revealing the intentions of a fellow cheater, I might be lenient." She peered around at the class, but there was no reaction.
"I suppose if no one is brave enough to admit that they were cheating, I will have to call the culprits to the front of the room, and they may shred their own papers. Maeg and Jess?"
For a second, Takhisis' intentions were not clear to Maeg. Her immediate thought was that the goddess wanted her to help hand out the quizzes. Then, it clicked. Despite the fact that she knew that nothing was too low for the Goddess of Evil, she could not help but let out an indignant squeak. "I would never ch…"
Takhisis cut her off. "I do not appreciate people insinuating that I am lying." She shot a death glare at Maeg, and then turned it on Jess, daring her to say something else. Neither was that stupid. Meekly, both girls stood and walked to the front of the room. To those who knew her well, it was obvious that the emotional Maeg was trying to hold back tears. She bit the inside of her lip so as not to let her eyes tear.
With obvious relish, Takhisis took out the pile of quizzes. Despite the fact that there was some sort of law against this, Takhisis read out names and grades. "Catalina: 95. Raistlin: 0. Taylor: 90. Alicia: 85. Dalamar: 5. Ah, here's one. Maeg: 99. There you go." She handed the piece of paper to Maeg. "Don't just stand there looking at it. Tear it up." There was silence as Maeg took her sterling paper in quavering hands. She made herself not look as she slowly tore it in half. Seeing Takhisis still looking at her, she tore it once more. She tore it three times more in silence so think a steak knife would have had trouble cutting it. Despair was evident in Maeg's watery eyes as she allowed the shredded papers to fall to the floor.
Next, it was Jess' turn. She was never as dedicated a student as Maeg, and there was open defiance in her eyes as she tore up the paper that she had done very well on. Rather than letting the paper drift to the floor, she threw it, and stepped on it as it fell. Her eyes were locked on Takhisis, in silent challenge. Takhisis just smiled, and continued to hand out papers. Anyone who showed any hint of friendship to the Krynnish mages failed. Abstractly, Maeg realized that the reason that the mages weren't up there with Jess and herself was that they had gotten such bad grades that it was easier just to fail them. In the course of the class, Maeg and Jess had to rip up at least five more quizzes.
By the time class was over, Maeg was shaking and even Jess looked pale. In their shared pain, they were once again close comrades, despite Jess' coolness towards Maeg that still hadn't gone away. Dalamar, however, had a satisfied smirk on his face. Seeing Maeg glaring daggers at him for smiling, he jumped to defend himself. "While our beloved teacher was talking at us, I was amusing myself by rearranging Catalina's folder. And everyone else's'. I doubt any of that group is going to be able to find their homework for the rest of the day."
Even Maeg and Jess had to grin at that. "He was covering for me." Raistlin interjected. "I was rearranging Takhisis' desk." He smirked. "Because of the magic already in the air, it will be harder for her to pinpoint any one of us."
They headed off to English class. For the rest of the day, Maeg was very sensitive to everything, and Jess was ready to bite anyone's head off at the drop of a dime. The two Krynnish mages were getting frustrated with the humans by the time the day was over. They kept with the plan to go to Raistlin and Dalamar's house, however, because as the end of the school year drew near, so did the inevitable confrontation with Takhisis. The mages wanted to go over more spells with Maeg and Jess because their mental magic was going to be critical for the success of the battle.
"I heard on the announcements today about something called prom. What is it?" Raistlin's tone was even more clipped than normal. The bad mood that the girls were in was catching.
Maeg made a face. "Its stupid. It's a big dance were they play obnoxious music too loudly, girls spend thousands of dollars on preparations, and everyone gets drunk afterwards." Her normally uncharitable description of prom was made even more acerbic by the effects of the day.
Rasitlin sighed. "You realize that we will have to go."
Both Maeg's and Jess' faces acquired expressions of horror. "You're not serious, are you?" Jess was incredulous.
"I'm very serious. This is likely to be the largest gathering of students of your age that Takhisis will be able to get to, at least for now. We must not allow her to control the rest of your class." Raistlin looked hesitant about something, a rare experience for him. Glaring at Dalamar for nudging him, Raistlin continued. "Jess, would you go with me?"
Jess realized that if she asked the first question that came to mind, you mean, as your date?, Raistlin would deny he ever asked. So instead, she simply said, "Yes."
For the first time in days, Maeg smiled; a true smile that stemmed, not from malicious pleasure at a trick played on Takhisis, not from satisfaction at seeing Catalina embarrassed, but from happiness, pure and simple, that her friend had something good happen. Jess caught her eye and grinned back. They realized then that their feud had been reconciled, forgiven, and was never going to be repeated, no matter what the circumstances.
Her day having turned around, Maeg continued to smile. "So, I suppose that will leave Dalamar and myself in the corner away from the speakers, popping Advil for our headaches at record rates."
Dalamar smiled wryly back. "I suppose so."
A/N: I hope you enjoyed. Now, please review! Remember, criticism is welcome, but stay civil! First though, I should make one large response to a frequently made comment: Several of you expressed a thought that Dalamar really should be more evil. Due to the nature of this chapter, I was not able to work on that yet, but I am not ignoring you. Sometimes, I tend to see Dalamar through rose-tinted glasses, and I need your input to remind me he really is an evil mage. So, hopefully, Dalamar will be getting a bit darker very soon. Thanks for your honest opinions, people! Now, to individual responses:
Childlike Empress: About giving Dalamar the limelight, well, guilty as charged. How can a human (no matter how awesomely sinister) hope to compete with a totally sexy elf? Hopefully, this chapter continued your observations about where Raistlin's courage lies.
Jade Limill: Hehe, glad you find me so humorous! I try, but sometimes I feel like I'm falling short. Ah, their parents… The horrible question I have been dreading since day one. For lack of a better answer, no. You can either say that they have the really oblivious parents that all kids wish for at some point in their lives, or, that since Maeg and Jess were always at each other's houses anyway, their parents have not gotten suspicious about their frequent absences, whichever you prefer. Sorry for leaving such a big plot hole!
Elven-girl10: Glad you liked the chapter. Yeah, I didn't feel like explaining the whole Maiar thing, since I figured that either, my readers already know who they really are, or they don't overly care. In either case, if they wanted to know, they could just read the Silmarillion, or try to figure it out from some of the LOTR stories. Hope you are still enjoying.
Kurai Catt: I hope this chapter has not been a disappointment to the trend you've felt (and so nicely put into a review! ). And yes, high school is a bummer!
Pet: Heh… I just had to do something with that line. Just had to. And I'm in complete agreement about your moral of the chapter!
Cobra1984: As of now, Dalamar has no ulterior motives. But never fear, he will get more evil. Glad you're enjoying despite the flaws in my characterization up to this point.
Kenderling: I'm glad to hear I'm one of your favorites! Thanks for the praise. And never fear, there will still be tension even though Jess and Maeg are good friends again. Hope you are still reading!
Skie the Blue: Sorry for the long wait. Hope you're still following.
Wytchkat: Glad you're enjoying! As I said above, Dalamar will become more evil due to input from reviewers like you. Thanks for the great and honest review.
Kilyn Bloodstone: Heh, I couldn't spell if my life depended on it… Hopefully, that has not interfered with the flow of the story. I will try for more humor, though, as the story progresses, the whole thing will likely take on a darker tone.
Bookworm01: I'll try for longer chapters (this one being an exception) in general. Glad you are liking it!
Kari2005: Wow, thanks so much! I really appreciate the praise – it helps break down writer's blocks like a battering ram!
Evenstar02: Heh, glad you like my story. Actually, I don't really know a Mrs. Poveronti – I made the name up for the sake of internet privacy! LOL. Thanks for the praise!
Fetch-thranduilion: LOL – actually, I don't even listen to them, but they're the real "Jess"' favorite band also, so I knew about the song. Wow, it is a small world. I'll have to check out some of your stuff sometime soon. Speaking of weird parallels, your story The Recovering Evil Madmen Support Group looks similar (from the summary at least) to a story I co-wrote called ESGAME (Elven Support Group for Abused and Mistreated Elves). Hope you're still reading!