Chapter Eight

The pain grew beyond Mirta's capacity to cope, and she mercifully passed out.

Topaz moved around and knelt, putting Mirta's head in her lap. Not knowing what else to do, she started rubbing her head gently, and massaging her face and neck.

"She's pretty," commented Amethyst.

"Yeah, in an Onyx kinda way," smirked Ruby.

The dark troll girl looked over at the redhead with a frown. "And just what do you mean by that?"

"Friends before fashion, remember," put in Topaz, not looking up.

Ruby sighed. "I guess. Sorry."

"We need to keep a lookout for those fairies," said Sapphire.

"I'll help," said Amethyst.

The two of them moved back through the bushes, right to the edge of the hill's summit.

"Okay, there's the mall," said Sapphire, pointing to the distant building through the trees.

"And there are the fairies!" said Amethyst, pointing above it, where they could see three figures with wings, flying in their direction.

Sapphire plucked a spell bead from her bracelet and held it up between two fingers. It flashed, answering the sudden light from her belly gem.

"To save a life, to save the day, help those fairies find their way!"

The bead flew up above the trees and turned into a large arrow with the word "HERE" on it pointing down at them.

A minute later the three fairies landed, reverting forms. All three were giggling.

"What's funny?" asked Sapphire.

"That sign," said Ahisa, "Silly but effective." She moved through the bushes.

Amethyst and Sapphire exchanged a look and followed the tall girls back into the clearing.

"Let's get her on the table," said Amaryl.

Mirta's eyes snapped open, and she looked up at the new people surrounding her. They were fairies all right, she could feel their magic.

"Mirta? Are you okay?" asked a blond fairy, leaning over her.

'How did she know my name?' Mirta wondered.

Another blond fairy knelt beside her and took her hand. "Hey, it's us, your friends."

That confused the redhead even more. "Wha-? I don't know any fairies!"

"Mirta, we've been roommates since the new year started," said a third fairy, this one with black hair.

"Liars! You're just trying to confuse me!" She accused. Maybe Alfea had cooperated with the trolls to destroy Cloud Tower, and now they were trying to wrap up loose ends. She had to get away. Find a safe place and plan revenge for Lucy and Ms. Griffin and everyone else.

As weak as she was, there was one thing Mirta knew she could still do; use her base power of converting emotions to pictures. And these fairies were giving off a lot of emotion.

The fairies and trolls were surprised when several large wolves jumped up on the stone table, growling and looking at them with an eye to having lunch.

Everyone gasped and stood up, going into defensive postures, as she thought they would. She rolled over and started to crawl away, hoping the illusion would last long enough.

"Star Power!" shouted one of the blonds, transforming. She flew up a few feet and a bright ball of magic formed in her hand.

"Amaryl, wait!" called the black haired one, "They aren't real! Mirta's power, remember!"

"Oh, yeah," said the fairy, embarrassed. The ball dissipated and she dropped to the ground, reverting to human form.

Darn, they knew! How did they know? No time to worry about that, got to get away...

"Aren't real?" asked Ruby.

"Nope," said Kimmy. She stepped over and waved her hand through the wolves, which broke the illusion and they vanished.

"Where do you think you're going?" said Onyx, grabbing Mirta by the leg and preventing her from going further. The others turned and helped, bringing her back to where she had been. She struggled weakly, but finally had to give up.

"Okay, you've got me," she gasped. But only until I regain my strength, she thought.

Amaryl knelt beside her. "Mirta, listen to me. You're here because a spell went wrong. You got an incomplete headache cure on you, and it caused a loss of memory and the headaches you're having. We've got a remedy with us, and if you don't take it very soon, you are going to have a stroke and die!"

"No..." Mirta said, but weakly.

"Mirta, please, you've got to trust us!" said Kimmy.

"You're our friend, and we love you," said Ahisa. "We would never hurt you." she started to add 'deliberately, anyway', but decided that wouldn't be a good idea.

The half-witch looked up at the strange fairy, wonder on her face.

"Think!" said the one with black hair, "How do we know you? Ask us anything."

Mirta lay still, thinking. As she did, she felt a little strength return. Maybe, in a few more minutes, if she could keep them talking...

"Where am I from?" she asked.

"Casyopea," said the fairy with darker blond hair.

"You're an only child, and your parents aren't happy with you becoming a fairy," said the other blond.

"I'm not a fairy..." she protested.

"Yes, you are," said the first blond. "Let me refresh your memory." And she launched into an abbreviated version of what happened, Mirta helping against the Trix in the Alfea War, and the next semester transferring from Cloud Tower. She was rooming with the three of them, Amaryl, Kimmy, and Ahisa.

"Tell her the rest," urged Kimmy.

Amaryl sighed, and told her about the prank she had tried to pull, and how it had gone wrong.

Mirta lay and listened, feeling her strength returning. Soon, now...

As Amaryl talked, Topaz moved back to cradling Mirta's head in her lap and massaging it. She looked at the troll in wonder, and Topaz returned a smile. It felt wonderful, and the lingering pain was receding. The other four trolls were standing back, watching and listening.

"I'm so sorry, Mirta. I'd never hurt you for anything," said Amaryl. "I just wanted to have a little fun."

Could it be true? she thought, reviewing events since she found herself in this place last night. She had been the aggressive one, blasting Topaz, then later ambushing her. Despite that, the trolls had not actually tried to hurt her, just stop her.

The jumble of memories came to her, and she saw these fairies at Alfea, in classrooms and what was probably a dorm, from her own point of view.

Well... she had no actual proof that anyone had attacked Cloud Tower... it was what she had assumed. And these trolls and fairies weren't acting like she was an enemy... if they had wanted to kill her, they could have done so without all the talking.

She'd always thought fairies were kinda rockin' anyway...

She nodded. "Okay, I think I believe you."

They gave a collective sigh of relief, and Kimmy brought out the cure. Amaryl took it from her and opened it. From behind, Topaz helped her sit up a bit, and the blond fairy put the phial to her lips. It probably wasn't poison, Mirta thought, there were easier ways of getting rid of a witch.

The potion was cool and sweet going down, and when the last was swallowed Topaz brought her head back to her lap.

"You rest and let it work," Topaz said. "Don't worry, I won't let you fall."

She took the advice, feeling her strength growing back. Then she looked at the amber-eyed troll, who was smiling back and stroking her head.

"Why? I hurt you. You should be taking revenge," she said.

"Not your fault," said Topaz, "You needed help."

Suddenly Mirta gasped and closed her eyes. She saw what she thought were several flashes of light behind her eyes, and a moment of white blankness. When it disappeared what she remembered seemed to be scrambling around, returning to their proper places in the flow of time. Missing memories faded into view and restored the continuity to the accident. Now she understood and knew what had happened.

She relaxed, opening her green eyes and seeing the fairies for the friends they were. She smiled.

"Hi, guys..." she said. "Thanks for coming to get me."

Amaryl burst out crying and wrapped her arms around the half-witch, and Mirta returned the hug.