I know! I'm actually updating? The last time I ever did anything on this site was about 3 years ago.

Actually, this update isn't my own either. Chrissiemusa has asked to continue this story, and as we have all seen, it's very likely that I will not have the time to work on it anytime soon. So chrissiemusa will take over the writing of this story while I help out a little here and there.

You can also see the updates on her site, chrissiemusa dot wordpress dot com, along with the beginnings of some of her other stories. All of which sound like they're going to be pretty good.

Again, this will be written by Chrissiemusa, not me. I hope you will all enjoy the story.

Chapter 2 – Morning in Hell

The morning sun shone through the windows and welcomed the Alfea fairies, awakening them from their slumber, all except for one who had been awake all night and was now curled up on the couch, her knees folded up against her chest. She couldn't think straight, going over her thoughts, trying to remember if she had hit anything during the days that could cause such a bruise to her back. Nothing. Could that bruise really have been caused by the Lord Darkar in her dreams? What was happening to her?

"Musa," a voice began behind her. Musa's head turned to face Flora who was rubbing the sleep out of her eyes. "Have you been up all night?" Musa looked to the girl, she seemed to be so happy and full of life even at this ungodly hour of the morning. "No," Musa sighed before she looked back to the floor. Then with a slight grimace, "Yes," she admitted.

"What is it?" Flora asked, wondering if Tecna had been playing games all night to keep the music fairy from her slumber. "Nightmare," Musa replied. It seemed the lack of sleep would only allow her to converse in one word replies. "Are you okay sweetie?" Flora asked placing a hand on Musa's back. Almost instantly, the music fairy's back arched in pain causing her friend to lift her hand immediately. "Musa have you hurt your back?"

"No! I'm fine." Musa protested rising to her feet.

"Honey you were just in pain, what's going on with you?"

"It's nothing. I'm alright." She replied, more than one word this time. "Just forget about it."

"Maybe you need to see the nurse," Flora replied standing to her feet.

"I don't need to see anyone," Musa replied loud enough to cause Tecna to open their room door to find the source of the sound. "What's going on? It's a bit early for arguing isn't it?"

"I just put my hand on Musa's back and she flinched. I am trying to tell her to go and see the nurse but she's being completely unreasonable."

"Maybe it is a good idea," Tecna sighed. "You have been really tired lately. Have you been getting any sleep?"

"Look, just stop worrying about me," Musa replied, trying to pull a convincing smile. "I'm fine. I just need to get out of this dorm for a while." And with that she walked through the door and down the hallway, aiming for the quad.

'They wouldn't believe me if I told them' she thought. 'They would think that I'm crazy, and so would the nurse. Even in the world of magic there are limitations to what they could diagnose as insanity. If anything, they'll think I'm mad and lock me away for eternity OW!' Musa felt her back hit the floor as another fairy knocked her over, appearing to have been in a rush to get somewhere. "Ow! Sorry about that, I should have been watching where I was going." The teenager replied before holding a hand out to Musa. Musa rolled onto her side to take the pressure from her back and took the girls hand. Musa took a step when she closed her eyes for a second. "Are you okay, I didn't hurt you did I?"

"It's okay," Musa replied stepping past the girl and continuing to her destination. Finally reaching the quad she took a seat on an outside bench and felt the sun's warming rays. They may have felt good on her skin but they were not helping her get well. Her body had been weak, her mental wellbeing was damaged and now her physical condition was being affected as well. She didn't like what she saw in the mirror last night, the darkening eyes, the limp hair without shine, the almost porselyn white complexion. Something was happening to her, but could she tell the others without being ridiculed for it?

The day had continued to roll along, the sun still shining in the sky and the students walking back from classes. Musa trailed along with her friends, hoping for the day to be over, not that the night would bring an end for her. Stella began talking about her nail color as Bloom laughed along. Musa normally would have said something about how vain it was to be talking about things like that but her energy levels prevented it. "Musa are you okay?" Asked Layla as she slowed down her pace to walk next to her friend, "You haven't said a word all day."

"I'm fine," Musa replied again, earning herself the same looks from Tecna and Flora who knew differently.

"And my hair this morning!" Stella continued, loudly demonstrating with hand gestures. "It was an absolute frizz-fest, I am so glad that no one saw me this morning. You wouldn't look at me the same way again. Thank heavens I had called Brandon and postponed our date until tomorrow."

"What's tomorrow?" Musa asked, rather sheepishly.

"The weekend silly," Stella bragged prancing around the tired, blue haired girl. "I made plans for the guys to come over. We are going on a trip to the beach to chill out and relax for a while. Heaven knows we need it, especially you Musa."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"You really have to ask?" Stella replied harshly. "Look at you, you have massive bags under your eyes, your hair is limp and dull, you have become whiter than a ghost, and you still wonder what the problem is."

"You have no idea okay!" Musa yelled before turning away from Stella, leaving the other girls to wonder what would happen next. "No idea?" Stella retaliated. "We know you haven't been yourself Musa."

"Will you just back off?"

"No!" Stella yelled before Bloom pulled her best friend back and stepped forward herself.

"What Stella meant to say was that we are worried about you". Musa looked to the floor for a moment, now would be the best time to tell them. 'I need your help or there is something wrong. I need to tell you all something. I know I haven't been myself and thank you for being such great friends and checking up on me even though I have bitten and chewed your heads off several times already.' Musa remained quiet. It seemed that no matter what she said nothing was going to make her feel any better. "I'm fine, I just need some time to think."

"I think you need to get some sleep," Layla sighed. "Come on; let me walk you back." Musa didn't have the energy to argue and instead followed her friend to the dorm. Layla opened the door for her and helped Musa to lie down on her bed. Musa's eyes drooped further; her body had been craving this all day long. "Are you worried about the exams?" Layla asked sitting next to her. "Is that what's making you act out so much?"

"It's not them," Musa sighed looking to the ceiling.

"Then what is it?" Layla asked. "Come on you need to tell us what's going on. Does it have anything to do with your mom? Flora told us you had a nightmare but she never mentioned what it was about."

"Look, let me worry about my problems," Musa sighed rolling onto her side.

"Damn it Musa!" Layla yelled turning her friend over forcefully. "You don't have to be so stubborn all the time you know. We know something is wrong. I mean look," Layla stood to her feet and walked to Musa's music book. She took it into her hands and closed it, spraying white dust over the floor. "You haven't played a single note from this book for weeks now."

"It's complicated," Musa sighed. "Nothing makes sense to me anymore."

"Then talk to us," Layla sighed. "At first we thought it was stress but Musa you look like you are breaking apart."

"Can we talk about it later?"

"I guess," Layla sighed. "Try to get some sleep Muse," Musa rolled onto her side as the door shut behind her. Musa looked to her guitar, leaning against the wall when her eyes began to close.