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!"