Chapter Sixteen and A Half - Down to The Final Four

Alright, thanks for the input guys! Considering last chapter wasn't really a chapter, this chapter is Chapter Sixteen and One Half. Yay! So, are you guys ready to find out what happened when we left off?

Also, I've decided on the two tests I'll be using from your ideas that you put in reviews! Thanks guys!

Evx : Yes! Write another story to horribly maim her! She deserves it! As for what she causes to happen? Well, that is to be found out at a future date. Hehe!

Guest 1 : Yup, I did use your idea! It was brilliant!

Pyromaniactic Pinapple : Yes, yes, Annalora is definitely dangerous with information she shouldn't have.

Ashka Silver : Aw, thank you so much!

Guest 3 : They are my number one ship too! cx


Teague's POV


In The Past...

"Mina!" I call, chasing after her and her father, but her father is so much faster and taller that he gets ahead, and soon I've lost her. "Mina, come back!"

I lost her. The only friend I had. She said we were friends. So why would she say that about me? Why would she call me a brat? Maybe I was being a brat, but it wasn't her place to say that.

Then again, it was her place. She's a princess. But I refuse to swallow that. It can't be. I chase after her, but I end up back at the castle, and walk back inside dejectedly.


Mina's POV


In The Present...

When I walk into the waiting room for the next test, where we are to wait till we go through, I can sense the very different atmosphere. It's not friendly at all, which I can expect with Annalora and Estrella, but even Ever seems angry, and her currently invisible wings are beating fast. In fact, this atmosphere seems almost hostile. What is it? Was there a fight?

"Hey, Ever." I walk over to her, but she just glares at me.

"Don't you 'Hey, Ever' me." She snaps the words, and the anger in her eyes takes me by surprise.

"What's wrong?" I'm completely taken aback by this.

"You know exactly what's wrong!" I'm pretty sure she spits at me before stalking over to stand with Annalora and Estrella. Seriously? She's ditching me for them?

"Can you explain to me what's going on?" I plead.

Estrella scowls. "Tired of using the lure on the prince yet?"

"What?!" I'm exasperated. "How many times do I have to say that I am not using a lure on him?! I would never do that! It's dishonorable, fake, and cheating!"

"The Fates should have you kicked out. It puts everyone at risk." Annalora pipes up next.

"How dare you?!" I don't know whether to be angry or upset, so I guess I'm just an even mixture.

"After all, a Lure is the only way you could be winning. You're an ugly brat with anger issues." Estrella nods in agreement to Annalora's words, and I try to contain myself, not wanting to prove them correct.

"And you think you're any better?" I challenge. "You're an ugly, tiny brat that not only has anger issues, but also has homicidal tendencies and a death wish."

"Did you just threaten me?" The gnome snarls, and I glare at them all.

"You know what? If you guys all think I'm a dirty, rotten cheat, then it's probably because you're all dirty, rotten cheats. I don't even care what you think anymore! If you want to be angry with me, then fine! Be angry with me!" I stalk off to the corner of the room, trying not to let the hurt show. Ever's betrayal really stung. I thought we were friends. I thought she knew I would never use the Lure. So why is she siding with them?

Then it hits me. Teague's midnight meetings with me. Is that...Is that what's done that? Is that why I'm suddenly hated by everyone? The thought has me sent into a tizzy of pain. Did Annalora overhear? She's seems the most obvious one. Or possibly someone else? It had to be her or Estrella. I don't see Ever as the eavesdropping type, so she must've just been told about it by them.

"Girls? The next contest." Wilsely bows us all into the next room.

Teague stands in there, and I think he can sense I'm distressed. But he has the sense not to come over and ask in front of all the others. Thank goodness for that. That would only further the rage I'm suffering from, and the gossiping those three are doing. I guess it really isn't gossiping with only three girls, but they're also everyone else here. There is no one else competing.

"You are, in all senses, going to fight each other." Teague explains, gesturing to the ring. "All of you are going to go in. If you are pushed from the ring, you are out. You are not to fight physically. If you do, you will be disqualified from this competition, and will quite possibly lose if no one else has gotten out. You will be using Fae magic only. Is that understood?"

We nod, and all take our own corner in the ring. And then Teague begins to count down. "3...2...1...Go!"

I brace myself with a small shield as three balls of Fae magic are hurled directly at me. Of course I'm their target. I begin to deflect there's back, and manage to make Estrella's ball hit Annalora, setting the gnome off on the fairy. That just leaves Ever attacking me. The hatred in her eyes is unbearable. And I thrust a ball of Fae magic at her without thinking. It's got quite a bit of strength in it, and she ends up being shoved from the ring. Guilt threatens to eat me alive as the hatred intensifies. She's mad at me. I just cost her her chances at winning.

Estrella stumbles out, and then it's just me and Annalora. What I don't expect is for her to rush me and thrust me - with no Fae magic mind you, but with her hands - out of the ring.

There's really nothing Teague can do at that point, since everyone else is out, but he does look frustrated at that act. I, on the other hand, should've seen it coming. Why didn't I get her out first? I should've. It would've saved me lots of trouble. Instead, I've caused Ever to have to leave.

This is disastrous.


Aww, poor Mina! ;; She's so upset at this sudden hatred, especially by Ever, because Ever seems to feel totally betrayed. Plus, now she can't make it up to Ever because Ever is gone. It's so sad.

So, now we need five more reviews, guys! Yes, I just added Chapter Fifteen's and Sixteen's reviews together, but I'm pretty sure Fifteen would've had enough on it's own, haha. So, read and review if you enjoyed!

~ Dagger