Chapter 2: Darkar's New Gang
"Do you think she's going to be okay?" Bloom asked. She, Stella and Musa had brought the mysterious girl to the hospital wing, the three others well aware that they would be of little help in their less than sober state.
"Well, she had some serious wounds and fractures, not to mention that her temperature was getting dangerously low," Ophelia replied. "But all that has been fixed. Now she just needs her rest. I gathered from her pixie that they have travelled quite the distance".
"I wonder what happened to her," Stella speculated.
"The pixie was willing to tell their tale, but I advised that she got her rest too," Ophelia said. "So for now, there's really nothing more we can do but wait".
"Alright," Musa said. "We'll return to our cluster then".
As the three girls began returning home, Bloom wondered: "The pixie said they had travelled far for help. Why would that be necessary?"
"Well, Magix has a lot of unclaimed and unused wilderness," Musa said. "So if something happened to her out there, there would be little help for her or the pixie to get".
"The question, of course, is what was she doing out there?" Bloom brought up.
"Whatever. Faragonda is, like, going to take care of it," Stella said dismissively. "We did our part, so there's tots no reason to worry about what totally doesn't concern us".
"I guess you're right," Bloom admitted. "Let's just get back to being everyday students". After a moment, she added: "Still, no harm in checking up on her and making sure she's alright".
"You just want to sate your curiosity, don't you?" Stella asked.
"Well, okay, yes," Bloom admitted. "I just want to know what would do that to somebody. You know, be prepared and all that".
"She does make a point," Musa agreed. "If something is out in the woods trying to turn people into confetti, I would like to know it too".
"I guess that's true," Stella said. "But I'm sure Faragonda will have a handle on this. And if there is something out there, they'll tots send someone from Red Fountain to kick its butt". After a moment, she added: "But yes, staying informed would, like, be for the best. I just don't, like, want to get swept up into something like last year".
"Eh, odds are it's just some rabid animal," Musa said.
The three of them walked into their common room.
Stella yawned and said: "Well, I'm beat. Goodnight".
"See you tomorrow," Musa said as she headed for her room.
"Goodnight, you two," Bloom said as she dumped down into the sofa, not feeling particularly tired. Curious about what she could find, she turned on the television. She zapped around, many of the channels shut down for the night, until she happened upon a rerun of a news program.
"And welcome back, viewers," an elf with an impressively puffy moustache greeted. "Before the commercial break, we were going over the facts of the pre-summer case known as the Usurper Conflict, named after its perpetrators. And now, expert on law, Coty Gisli". He turned in his chair to face a sharply dressed leprechaun. "Now then, the Usurper Trio, as they have been nicknamed by the press, were sentenced to rehabilitation at Lightrock, but there's been a lot of criticism of the sentence. What's your take on it?"
"Huh. This ought to be interesting," Bloom said to herself, as she got comfortable.
"Well," the leprechaun began. "Part of the problem many have is of course the death of 'innocents', which was also the prosecutor's main argument, although he of course phrased it in more acceptable legal jargon. It's understandable why so many would have such harsh reactions, especially considering that some of the killed were well known figures associated with the political movers and shakers. The thing is, 'innocent' in legal terms merely means 'not convicted' of a given crime. What people usually mean is that defenceless civilians were killed and this is where it gets murky. Testimonies gathered from Red Fountain, Magicalis, Alfea and Cloud Tower casts doubt about whether or not the people involved could be termed civilians".
"And what difference does that make?" the host asked.
"Simple. The wholesale slaughter of civilians is a very serious war crime," the leprechaun continued. "The problem is that the people of Red Fountain, even those in training, are soldiers and thus not civilians. Engaging them in combat is a completely legal course of action for an invading force. The students of Alfea and Cloud Tower make this a little bit more unclear, but given their choice to take up arms, they would be classified as civilian combatants. That is legally somewhere between militia and civilian. They chose to take up arms and the Usurper Trio had given them a twenty-four hour warning, so legally speaking, there is little legal grounds for calling it a war crime. Even the prosecutor had to admit as much. The problem is the pre-emptive strike against Alfea. Basically, you cannot attack someone because you suspect that they are or will be civilian combatants. But ultimately, this was such a little part of the conflict, that the judge and jury decided that it didn't make much difference on the grand scale of things. Therefore, any attempt at giving them the Omega sentence would seem a major overreaction, even if public sentiment was for it".
"Many thanks for the insight," the host said before turning to the camera. "And now, the weather".
Bloom turned the television to a different channel and sighed. She wasn't sure whether or not she agreed with those legal definitions, having been on the receiving end of the Army of Darkness.
...
The Lightrock Monastery for the Magically Unstable was a massive facility build upon high cliffs on the planet Magix, reasonably far enough away from civilisation that nobody got nervous. The only way in and out was either being a very dedicated climber or via air, which was also how the place got its supplies. The facility had been started by a joint effort between the Roccalucian Order and the two nearby schools for magi. They provided care for those who had been afflicted with a wide variety of symptoms, all falling under the umbrella term of Magic Induced Mental Irregularity, or magic mania as it was called in less politically correct circles. This meant nursing people back to a more healthy and balanced state of mind, whether the damage was from having their mind warped by constant exposure to positive or negative energy.
The guards were elite warriors trained in anti-magical techniques. They had to possess great strength of will and unwavering dedication, because a lack of either could be used by hostile magi to influence them. All magi that were hospitalized were required to wear magical dampeners, in order to decrease risks. This was mandatory, even for low risk cases, because experience had shown that anything but the strictest control could set off a serious series of unfortunate events.
On this day in particular, a newly trained guard was being briefed by one of his superiors in one of the offices.
"Alright, Johnson," the superior, a man built like a brick, with a massive, barely tamed beard. "I assume you have heard at least a little about these three".
"They were the instigators of the Usurper Conflict," the one named Johnson said, a pale male elf with a blond bowl cut. "Was all over the news".
"Yes, but these three are not just a single fused being with a personality to share," his superior said. "So don't treat them as such. Also, do not remind them of the Usurper Conflict. We wish to move them away from the state of mind they were in at the time".
"Alright, will do," the elf obediently said.
"Now, onto their dossiers," the superior said. "First is Maria Arion. She sometimes gets called Stormy by her friends, but you must insist on using her real name".
"Noted," Johnson said.
"So far, she's the one that's shown most progress," his superior said. "She's the nineteenth child out of a big family. However, all her older siblings had already been granted positions to inherit, so she had to live with being the reserve for the reserve for a baroness. Most of her family had little time for her with their various businesses and important positions, so they instead tried to show their affections through gifts. Didn't work. She suffers from an inferiority complex that manifests in powerful mood swings ranging from rage to melancholy, plus an incredible need to 'be someone'. Her parents visited a lot when she first arrived, but they have recently stopped, because they need to oversee their family businesses. This has slowed her progress down somewhat. She sometimes gets visits from a witch named Lucy Mint. We see a lot of potential for progress in their friendship. When dealing with her, make sure she feels appreciated".
"Alright. That's one of the three," Johnson noted.
"Indeed," his superior agreed. "Next is Darcy Aldis. What do you know of the Aldis family?"
"Very unsettling things," Johnson admitted.
"Right. The Aldis family were instigators of one of the largest and bloodiest civil wars in Solarian history," his superior explained. "They lost everything in that way. Ever since then, they have been worming their way into many facets of Solarian society. Their most despicable practise is that children in the family are sent to off-world countries with lax laws, where the children are trained to be agents of the family. As such, consider Darcy a child soldier, although one geared for social manipulation and espionage. Her training has left her with sociopathic tendencies, emotional detachment and an inability to completely form bonds with others, due to having to fight siblings in mock shadow wars for basic necessities. She has little regards for others, having had a pragmatic sense of solipsism ingrained into her, but she is not cruel without purpose. If she has nothing to gain, she will not hurt anybody. She's a very secretive and deceptive person, but strangely enough, doesn't directly lie much, if at all. Thing is, she might show progress, but she is also an excellent actor. It will be hard to determine when she's ready to be let out".
"Man, it's almost enough to make me feel sorry for her," the elf admitted.
"There's nothing wrong with empathy," his superior assured him. "Now, the last one is the most difficult case. Isabella Bijoux. Goes by Icy at times, although you are not to refer to her as such. Whereas the other two have issues rooted entirely in childhood problems, Isabella has one major problem that has been there from birth. She is a sadist, a natural bully if you will, who gets enjoyment out of hurting others. From her family, who has always given her what she wants, she's gained an incredible sense of arrogance and entitlement. She's convinced that the world revolves around her. That being said, she has an incredible sense of loyalty towards her family, even if she shows her affection in a somewhat warped way. Her participation in the Usurper Conflict was due to a desire to give her family a new home and status. They are from Domino you see, and lost much of their power and influence when the kingdom fell. She will be a tough case, as she believes she's been in the right the whole time. I'll say this again, and with her this is even more important, don't mention the conflict and under no circumstances are you to mention the newly discovered and recognised Dominian heir or anything related to that. Is that clear?"
"Crystal," the elf replied.
"Good. Now, the three are friends, even if their bonds are warped by their respective issues," the superior continued. "We still allow them to see each other, although only under supervision. Our hopes are that as they start improving, their friendship will help foster positive development between them. Still, their influence on one another was what helped worsen the situation, so we still limit the amount of time they get to spend together".
"Sounds reasonable," the elf offered.
...
"So, what should we talk about?" Maria asked. She, Darcy and Isabella were currently seated in the cafeteria, under observation from the guards who were listening to everything they were saying. Around the table, Darcy sat with a neutral expression and Isabella was stabbing her vegetables as if she was imagining the action would cause a hated enemy to die. All of them were dressed in nondescript white clothes.
"Well, it's not like there is anything to talk about," Darcy said. "I mean, there is, but certain subjects always seem to result in together time suddenly being over".
At the mention of this, Isabella started stabbing her food harder, no longer eating so much as just trying to massacre her dinner.
"Well, I'm worried my magic will suffer from me being out of practise," Maria said, gesturing to her gem encrusted headband.
"Your magic is second nature. The moment they take that thing off, you'll be back at full strength in little to no time," Darcy said. "As for me, well, currently my psychiatrist is trying to find me a constructive hobby".
"I wonder if setting this place on fire counts as constructive," Isabella grumbled in a low voice.
"Doubtful," Darcy replied. "Personally, I hope to find one and through it develop the positive mindset that is necessary to become a proper citizen". It was clear from her phrasing that this was codeword for 'I'm playing along until I can get the heck out of here'.
...
At Alfea, Bloom sat in her class, tired from the last night. She was beginning to regret binging on late-night television, but she hadn't been sleepy at the time. She certainly was now. As she sat, trying to keep her eyes open, the classroom door opened. And suddenly, Bloom was very convinced she was dreaming. An elf, whose facial features was the striking image of Palladium's, marched in, but he was taller and had long blond hair rather than brown.
"Good morning class," he greeted them joyfully. "And welcome back to basic magic theory. I see some of you look slightly confused. Yes, Bloom?"
"Are you professor Palladium?" the redhead asked, indeed slightly confused.
"Indeed I am," the elf informed her. "Perhaps we should start with a little biology to help clear up the confusion. Elves go through metamorphosis several times during their lives, with alterations happening based on their current environment. I went through mine this summer and have therefore transformed to better handle you". His voice was full of confidence and certainty, proving the transformation wasn't just physical. "That being said, I am still the same person with the same personality. Some aspects have just been altered in their intensity". He turned to the blackboard and began writing. "Now, first off I'd like to recap some of the properties of magical energy, specifically in relation to how it balances out. Can anyone remember? Musa, you got the word".
"Magic will flow from a place with higher concentration to a lower, until both are equal" Musa said. "Thus, your reservoir of energy depends on where you are".
"You're right," Palladium said. "Now, this is the basic principle you learned about last school year. The thing is, there are plenty of exceptions to that rule. Dragonflames for example, can absorb and store magic in excess of their surroundings. That is why they are so powerful".
Several students turned to look at Bloom, who lifted her hand. When Palladium nodded in her direction, she asked: "But I have experienced magical leakage while back on Earth".
"No surprise. The flame can only absorb a certain percentage in excess," Palladium explained. "If you are in an environment with less magic, you will leak, though you will still retain more magical energy of what a normal magi would have. Now, another exception. Magic clusters around living beings. You'd imagine it's all over space, but no, it clusters around planets that support life. This observation forms the very basis of our habitable planet discovery systems. They scan through the dimensions for clusters of magic to find worlds capable of supporting life. Now, the last exception is that magic can stagnate. If it's not used, it will weaken. The weaker it is, the fewer magi can use magic and vice versa. Thus, the growth or decay of magic spirals, each effect strengthening and amplifying the other. These are some of the most basic exceptions to the rule, and forms the basis of what you will learn this year. Last year, we taught you about the laws of magic, but what you will come to understand in the course of this year is that magic always has exceptions". He cleared his throat and clarified: "Don't think this means everything you've learned is a waste. But it does mean that for every rule and law, there are a dozen exceptions. Nothing is set in stone, so never dismiss anything as impossible. Keep an open mind, but also be aware of what is improbable. This forms the basis of a proper mindset to exploring the nature of magic. Any questions? No? Alright then, let us move on..."
...
"Sheesh, you look beat," Techna commented as she and the redhead left the class. "You'd probably fall asleep if you stopped moving for a few seconds".
"Then I better not stop moving," Bloom said and yawned. "Still got more classes today".
"True, true," the scarred girl commented. "Well, if you do fall asleep, try not to land on your phone again".
"Don't remind me," Bloom groaned. "I was lucky you could come and fix it, otherwise I would probably have gone crazy while at Sunny Soul".
"Would kinda defeat the point of being there," Techna commented.
"I'm serious," Bloom said. "Visiting my parents and Earth friends is hard enough when I'm not in a hospital to recover from PTSD. And it's not like I could just leave whenever I wanted. Seriously, how does people live without a phone?"
"Eh, you can mange, but they really do make everything a lot easier," Techna commented with a shrug.
...
Two days later, Bloom and Musa entered the hospital wing.
Ophelia looked up from her desk and asked: "Can I assume you're here to check up on the girl again?"
"Yeah. How is she?" Bloom asked,
"Finally awake," the nurse commented. "And very hungry. No surprise there, what with being out like a light for four days. You can go visit her if you like, though Faragonda might send you out once she arrives".
"We'll keep that in mind," Musa said as they entered the room. Inside, the girl was slowly eating her food. On a windowsill, the red headed pixie was also happily eating a much smaller portion of food. The brunette quickly noted her visitors and asked: "Are you the ones with the questions?"
"The questions?" Bloom repeated.
"The nurse said someone named Faragonda would like to ask me a few things," the girl explained.
"No, she's not here yet," Bloom said. "We were just concerned, since we were the ones who found you outside the school".
The girl looked at the pixie, who nodded. "Alright, I suppose I should be thankful for your assistance," the girl said. "So, thank you".
"You're welcome," the redhead said. "By the way, I'm Bloom and this is Musa".
"Aisha," the girl said with a polite nod.
It was at this moment that Faragonda entered and noted the two fairies with a: "Hello, Bloom. Hello, Musa. Ophelia said you were in here".
"We were just curious about her health. We can leave if it's necessary," Bloom offered.
"Well, I'll leave that up to our patient," Faragonda replied. She turned to the girl and said: "I need to know as much as possible, but if you feel that anything is sensitive information, say so and these two will gladly leave".
"What happened to me is not public knowledge, but not because it shouldn't be," Aisha said. "My full name is Aisha Hadith, princess of Tides. I was sent on a diplomatic mission in order to train my skills. That mission was to Pixie Village. Or rather, the outskirts, since few non-pixies are allowed to enter. We met up with a delegation as agreed, but when we got there, we were attacked by monsters. I was knocked unconscious and brought to an underground castle, ruled by a being that referred to himself as Darkar. He is absolutely insane, but also very dangerous. I tried to get the pixies out, but... Well, that failed rather miserably. Darkar caught us and he threw me from the castle, apparently in the hopes that I would return. Don't ask me how it makes sense, because I don't know. A stream ended up spewing me and Glim out near the surface and we wandered until we found help".
"I see," Faragonda replied, rubbing her chin. "I will contact Tides and Pixie Village as soon as possible. Dragon knows what this Darkar fellow is up to".
Bloom and Musa looked at each other.
"I've got a bad feeling about this," the redhead admitted.
...
Deep below the earth in the dark castle of Shadowhaunt, Lord Darkar was annoyed. As he paced his throne room, he tried figuring out what exactly was bothering him. It wasn't his complete failure to obtain information from the pixies, in fact, he had never expected them to give in. He had only tortured them, because they couldn't heroically resist his torture if he didn't hurt them in the first place, even if he had nothing to show for it and never expected to gain anything. This all made sense to Darkar.
No, he was annoyed because he was realising that something was missing. Something that should be there, something that he was so expecting to be there that he would often act as if it were. And then it hit him.
"Minions!" he exclaimed in realisation. Several of his monsters turned to face him. "No, not you," he clarified. "I mean, what is missing around here is a quirky squad of minions who have more smarts and strength than you guys. But where to find such a thing. MINIONS, FETCH ME MY... No, wait, this is going to get confusing," he realised. After a moment's deliberation, he realised: "I got it. From now on, you guys are mooks. Much better, right?" The beasts did not react. "See, that's the problem," he said, throwing his hands in the air. "I'm firing off my best material and you guys never react. I might as well be completely silent. I need someone to talk to, someone who can talk back and make sassy comments and question my orders, so I can angrily yell at them to obey. Anything else would just be profoundly stupid". He cleared his throat and loudly ordered: "MOOKS, FETCH ME MY TELEVISION!"
Moments later the grotesque slime-beasts carefully pushed a television on wheels into the room, a sad and old model with a little screen. One of the humanoid creatures waddled over and delivered the remote. Darkar eagerly turned it on, the screen grey and jittery from the horrible reception. He flipped from channel to channel, catching glimpses of programs. "Minions, minions, minions," he muttered as he flipped through the channels. "Will I find a ready-made team or will I have to assemble one myself? I hope I can find a pre-made team, would take less time out of my schedule". He happened upon a rerun of a news program. And what the news program told him intrigued him.
...
The next day was a warm, almost cloudless day at Lightrock, with two guards enjoying the majestic view from the fortress' walls. One was the newly hired elf, the other a senior human guard with brown hair.
"The view really is one of the great job benefits," the human said, enjoying the warmth of the sun. "So, how has your first post been?"
"Well, two of them seem nice," the elf replied. "Though according to the dossier, Darcy might just be faking enthusiasm. It's the one with white hair, Isabella, who worries me. The way she was staring at me at lunch... She wished all kinds of ills on me".
"It is sadly one of the things you'll have to get used to," the human sighed. "Some of the inmates cling to their cause, thinking it just and that makes us the enemy. It will fade once she starts realising the error of her ways".
"And you think she will?" Johnson asked.
"I believe everyone can be redeemed. It's why I work here," the man said.
"Yeah, but her parents were here. They have been trying to get through to her, but it doesn't seem like it's working," the elf explained. "I'm not sure anything can convince that girl she was in the wrong".
"She's been here for, what, a couple of months?" the brunette asked. "Give it time. Some people take years to realise their wrongdoings. But if you don't believe in their redemption, then it will never happen".
"I guess you're right," the blond elf admitted. "She just... Creeps me out a bit. I guess I... Did you hear that?"
"Hear what?" the human asked, suddenly very attentive.
"There. There it was again," the elf pointed out.
They both strained, and through the skies, a dark voice echoed: "Is it a bird? A man? A plane? No, It's..." With a tremendous roar, a bird made of fire the colour of the abyss charged out of the clouds, before smashing into the courtyard. Moments later, the fire shifted into a form, jubilantly finishing its previous declaration with: "LORD DARKAR!" He dusted off his armour, before asking: "Hi, I'm looking for the Usurper Trio. Would you mind pointing me in the right direction?"
"SOUND THE ALARM!" the brunette yelled to another guard.
"Apparently you would mind that," Darkar mused, black flames growing in his palms.
...
Inside the cafeteria, an alarm went off and most of the guards ran off. The remaining ones instructed that: "Everyone, remain calm and return to your rooms".
"What's going on? A fire drill?" Maria asked as she and her two compatriots left their table, escorted by a guard.
"Maybe one of the inmates got their headband off," Darcy suggested. "Could be a lot of things".
Isabella didn't add her own thoughts, instead subtly scouting around.
"I hope you have a better plan than to just shank the guy in front and then legging it," Darcy whispered. "Because otherwise, you're not getting far".
"Oh, like you have a better idea," Isabella quietly hissed back.
"As a matter of fact, playing nice seems to be working well so far," Darcy replied. "Then again, I'm not currently planning on breaking any more laws, so maybe it just comes easier to me".
"Oh do shut up," Isabella loudly hissed.
"All three of you, calm down," the guard gently ordered. "You'll all be back in..." Then the wall to his left exploded, flinging him across the hall.
"Why isn't there a map anywhere?" Darkar grumbled as he waltzed through the hole. "Honestly, how does anyone find their way around here? The set design is ridiculous". He suddenly noticed the three shocked witches. In a moment of realization, the Shadow Phoenix exclaimed: "There you are! I've been looking all over for you three".
"You... Have?" Maria asked. "Wha... Who are you?"
"Ah, I am the lord of Shadowhaunt, the master of darkness, wielder of the black flame, the one and only Shadow Phoenix, Darkar," he dramatically revealed.
"I suppose that was meant to mean something to us," Darcy mused.
Darkar's hellish red orbs rolled around in their sockets as he sighed and said: "To make things simple, I'm the head honcho of the bad guys. I'm looking for a squad of quirky minions to do my bidding, as I search for a way to take over all the worlds".
"Of course," Darcy said slowly. "Excuse me a moment, we'll need to chat".
"Take your time," Darkar permitted.
"Alright, so he's obviously nuts," Darcy quietly stated as the group huddled together. "But he's our best shot at getting out now".
"I like him," Isabella said. "He's got style. Plus, at least by going with him I won't have to sully my dignity like you're doing, Darcy".
"I'm not sure," Maria said. "It's not like this will make things better for us, not to mention that this guy looks like something out of a kids cartoon. I mean, really, nobody calls themselves the bad guy without having a screw or two loose".
"We probably shouldn't be too hasty here," Darcy mumbled. "You're right, he does sound... Well, a bit out of touch with reality, but I think it would be prudent if we first hear what he's offering before we start judging whether or not he's too crazy to join up with". She turned away from the group huddle and asked: "Okay, could we get some more details about this job of yours? Because just saying that you're the villain isn't much of a job offer".
"Certainly. You'll be quartered in my own personal castle of Shadowhaunt, allowed to raze and pillage as much as you like while carrying out my orders and you'll be allowed to boss my mooks around," Darkar explained.
Darcy returned to the group huddle and said: "As I said, he's nuts, but if he can back that up, he could call himself the ghost of Harvey Cooldown for all I care".
"But, do we really want to go with a madman?" Maria asked. "Seriously, look at how he dresses. Guys a fucking fruit-loop if I ever saw one".
"Stormy, we're in a nuthouse. We're already among madmen and fruit-loops," Icy argued. "At least this one has something better to offer than just sitting here".
"Besides, I'm pretty sure none of us are mentally well balanced," Darcy pointed out. "Look, if he can get us what we want, then the rest shouldn't matter. Yes, he's bonkers, but that might not be such bad thing after all".
"I'm still not so sure," Maria said. "I mean, I was told I was making a lot of progress..."
Icy rolled her eyes and Darcy said: "Well, it is up to you. But let me just remind you that your parents only paid any attention to you when you were a dangerous member of the Usurper Trio. Now that you are seemingly back to normal, their work is done and you shouldn't be expecting to see them any time soon".
Maria stared at Darcy for a long while, before sighing and sadly saying: "Sometimes, I hate how well you know me".
"I think we're ready to serve," Darcy said as she got up from the group huddle.
"Right. Follow me then," Darkar said as he walked out of the hole. "I can transport you from the courtyard".
The three followed him, getting lost a couple of times, before Darkar found the right set of holes that led them to the courtyard. Where several of the guards and monks of Lightrock awaited.
"You are under arrest for breaking and entering, harming officials at work and planning to kidnap our patients," the captain, the man with impressive beard, declared. "Surrender now or we will use force to put you under arrest".
"How cute, bit characters," Darkar declared. "Very well then. New minions, lay them to waste". After a short pause, he turned and asked: "Well?"
"Are you kidding?" Icy asked frustratedly. "We can't do magic with these on, and even if we could, these guys are trained to take down magi".
"Hmm, I see. That could be..." Darkar started, but was interrupted by the captain loudly ordering: "TAKE THEM DOWN, NOW!"
Several of the guards moved in to put a stop to the escape attempt.
"How rude," Darkar declared, snapping his fingers and causing a wall of obsidian flames to bar the way. "Don't they know they're supposed to wait until we're done talking before they attack? I'm surrounded by amateurs". He turned to the witches and said: "Now then, I need strong minions. Therefore, I'm going to lend you a bit of my power. It should be interesting to see what you can do with it". He stretched his hands, and tendrils of black flames flowed from them.
"Hey, I'm not too sure about..." Stormy started, but her protests died in her throat as the tendrils pierced her body, filling her with a rush of energy. It was over in seconds, but the tingle of energy remained. She flexed her hand, currents of electricity dancing up and down her arm. "I can... I can do magic again," she stated in utter surprise.
"And that's despite the headbands," Darcy noted. "Impressive".
"I feel... Like there's more of me than there's ever been before," Icy said in slight awe.
"Right. Can we go back to the part where you three make a joke out of the redshirts?" Darkar asked, lowering the walls of flame. Behind it, it seemed that the guards had tried dousing the fire with water to no effect. The moment they saw the invader and escapees, they charged, ready to wrestle them to the ground.
Two of them lounged for Darcy, who suddenly melted into the ground, leaving the guards to tumble into the grass. Moments later, a shadow snaked across the grass before Darcy rose out of it. "Well that's new," she muttered.
Meanwhile, three others went for Stormy, who in a fit of instinctive panic lashed out with her hands, causing the guards to be blown across the courtyard by a miniature tornado.
The guard captain went for Icy while accompanied by two guards. Seeing her friends' new capabilities, the white haired witch smirked, reached out with her hands and concentrated. The three officials stopped, a numbing pain spreading through their... Well, not their body. Suddenly, all passion for their job and all desire to do it just died out. They sat down on the grass, each trying to figure out why they were even doing their job in the first place.
"An excellent performance," Darkar declared. "But let us go. More of the unimportant supporting characters are on their way. I shall transport us all back to my domain". He exploded in black flames that enveloped the three witches and the Shadow Phoenix took off towards the horizon.