Gabby smiled as she recognized her dear friend trotting into the manor. The watery mare searched through the crowd until Gabby caught her eye and waved her over. Emily and the two students stared with astonishment as Amity came to stand next to Gabby, head hovering above her rider's.

You said you'd introduce me to your masters, Amity neighed.

"Of course," Gabby agreed, patting Amity's neck, "But I thought it would be a better idea to introduce you outdoors, rather than have you make an entrance like that. Anyway, this is Emily, whom I told you about, and this is my new student, Anna, and her brother, Keller. Guys, this is Amity."

Emily smiled, breaking her shocked expression. "Nice to meet you. You remind me of Starfire, Kara's Paladin."

That would make sense, Amity agreed; we are similar yet very different. I am made of water elemental magic, while Starfire is made of fire.

"By the way," Emily realized, "How could Cooper and Mystic become paladins if they aren't elemental magic?"

Gabby shrugged. "I don't know, but it happened. I assumed Cooper was made purely of imagination from what happened, so maybe that's how Mystic is too."

"Isn't anything made conjured from imagination considered a pure element?" Anna asked, "That's what Tweek taught us."

"Well, Tweek is probably right," Gabby figured, "Otherwise they wouldn't be our paladins. Plus, Tweek has a knack for that stuff."

The group was once again interrupted by a squeaking and shouting. "Hey, look out! Watch where you're stepping! Move it, ferret coming through!"

A huge smile grew on Anna's face when the little furry creature broke through the crowd to stand with them. Gabby looked down and shared her joy. Meanwhile, Keller looked down in confusion, and Emily wasn't fazed whatsoever. Amity leaned down to sniff the ferret next to her.

Ozzie's eyes bugged out. "Gah!"

You are a talking rat? Amity asked with sincerity.

Ozzie glowered at her. "Actually, I'm an elf turned into a ferret. And what are you? A walking kiddy pool?"

"Ozzie," Anna said, "This is Amity and Gabby. Oh, and my brother Keller."

Ozzie smirked up at the little girl. "No need to introduce me to this one," he laughed, gesturing to Gabby, "I definitely know her."

"Well," Gabby said with a smile, "If you're looking for your pudding, Lindsay probably has some."

Ozzie chuckled, "I'll be sure to ask her. Did I mention it's good to have you back?"

"Nope," Gabby pointed out, "But I assume you missed me."

"Wait," Anna interrupted, "How do you already know each other?"

"Anna, Gabby was my first apprentice," Emily explained, "Of course she knows Ozzie."

Anna nodded with a thoughtful look on her face. Still, Keller looked on with confusion.

"Anyway," Ozzie said, "Adriane asked me to show you and Lindsay where you'd be staying."

"I'm not sure where Lindsay is," Gabby admitted, "She might just be flying around the forest. In which case, I won't be able to call her."

"One of us could help you," Keller offered.

Gabby nodded. "That would be great. I'll warn you though; she won't be in a good mood."

"That's fine," Anna said, "And Canna would be able to take us all up, so let's take her instead of Celic, Keller."

"Celic?" Emily repeated.

"He's my bonded," Keller explained, "a Pegasus."

A Pegasus wouldn't be able to take three people into the air. Amity pointed out.

"That's why we're taking Canna," Anna agreed, "She's really big!"

Gabby gaped up at Canna; she was big, big as a house and red. "I thought red dragons were only born every one thousand years?"

Red crystal dragons are, Canna explained, huge brown eyes holding a friendly gaze; I'm not a red crystal dragon. I'm merely a red dragon conjured from Anna's imagination.

It's like how I was created, Amity elaborated, Elemental stallions are only supposed to be created by fairy wizards, but you made me from your mind.

"Oh," Gabby said, still dumbfound that such a little girl could think of such a large beast.

Ozzie, Keller, Anna, and Gabby climbed onto Canna's back, while Amity and Emily stood back. Gabby looked up into the night sky, but Lindsay was nowhere to be seen. If she was up there, Silence rendered them invisible. Canna took off and rose as high as possible. Eyes widening, Gabby looked down on the forest and wished she hadn't; heights had never been her favorite.

Still, no one was visible in the night sky. Only in the silence of the darkness did they hear the humming. Gabby recognized it immediately. It was the little tune that she and Lindsay had made up in third grade to remember all they learned in Ravenswood. The last time she had heard it was the day before Lindsay had moved.

"I've got the power in my hands. I've got the power." The song continued, and then lapsed back into a wordless tune.

The others looked around in confusion, trying to make sense of the strange song. Gabby gestured in the direction the sound was coming from, and Canna followed it. The song repeated time and time again, and Gabby was reluctant to interrupt it. Finally, after searching through the darkness in vain, a glowing circle was visible. Gabby could see Lindsay sitting cross-legged atop Silence in meditation, eyes closed and light fading in and out to the tune she hummed.

"Lindsay!" Gabby called, snapping the girl out of her focus.

Lindsay's eyes flashed open, and the glowing circle flickered and went out. "What? I was thinking."

Ozzie stood in Gabby's lap. "You better have my pudding! And Adriane asked me to show you your room."

Lindsay smiled at the ferret. "Of course; I put it in the manor fridge earlier because I couldn't find you. And alright, I'll meet you down there."

Canna landed in front of Amity and Emily first. As Gabby and the others slid off of Canna's back, Silence landed. Lindsay looked around once she touched ground and realized she didn't know half of those standing with her.

"Um, who are you people?" Lindsay asked in confusion, "And horse and dragon?

"These are two of your new students," Emily explained, gesturing to Anna and Keller.

Lindsay shifted uncomfortably. "Alright, nice to meet you, I suppose. Who's the rider?"

"Nice to meet you too," Keller replied sincerely, "This is Canna. My sister rides her."

Anna just stared at Lindsay in terror.

"Hey, kid," Lindsay growled, "You're freaking me out. Stop looking at me like that."

Anna's eyes grew. "Sorry!"

Anna, she won't bite, Canna reasoned with her rider, She's your teacher.

Still, Anna stood with rigid posture, fear written in every part of her expression.

With a sigh, Lindsay moved on. "And who are you?" she asked Amity.

I am Gabby's friend, just like you, Amity answered. My name is Amity.

"Huh, a water element mare?" Lindsay observed critically, "Interesting. By the way, Gabby, I never properly introduced you to Silence. So, Silence," she gestured to the griffon, "Gabby," she gestured back to Gabby.

"Hello," Gabby greeted him, "It seems you really are silent."

Silence nodded.

"Well, if everyone is done with their meet and greet," Ozzie interrupted, "can we move on?"

"Alright, Mr. Impatient," Lindsay sighed, grabbing her luggage from the bags strapped to Silence, "And you don't have me fooled, I know you just want your pudding."

The room was on the second floor of the manor, the first on the left. Lindsay and Gabby recognized it immediately and smiled at each other. It was the room they spent their nights in Ravenswood back in third grade. There was the bathroom door that Gabby had smacked her head into the first morning. There was the window they had flown paper airplanes out of to see whose went farther. There were the bunk beds that Gran bought for Lindsay and Gabby so they didn't all have to sleep on the floor. Lindsay poked her head out the window and smiled. There were the hand holds that she used to climb to the roof.

"This is great, Ozzie," Gabby sighed with content, "It brings back so many memories."

Ozzie beamed his ferrety smile. "We all thought so."

"You're a lot heavier now than you were then," Lindsay whispered into her backpack as she set it down on the roof.

Thunder unwound himself from the bag that was far too small for him to fit in. It was a lot more comfortable then too.

"I'll be right back."

Lindsay lowered herself from the roof to the window with the foot and hand holds on the side of the manor. Quietly sneaking past Gabby, she put her blanket and pillow in her backpack. A moment later, she was back on the roof with Thunder. She situated herself so she was a safe distance from the edge and curled up with Thunder to gaze at the stars. It wasn't long until she found herself humming that nostalgic tune.

"I've got the power in my hands. I've got the power."

Swept up within her own thoughts in no time, she recollected the lyrics' first use. She and Gabby had been very interested in Pokémon around the time they came back from Ravenswood. One day, Lindsay had gotten on the bus home and sat down next to Gabby humming the tune they had created. The only difference was that after the short humming was over, she continued on with lyrics Lindsay had never heard and held up three cards: Articuno, Zapados, and Maltres. Lindsay smiled to herself and kept humming, letting the memories rush through her in a homesick current.

She was nearly asleep when the sounds of footsteps made Thunder pop his head up. Interrupting her humming, a familiar and irritating voiced asked, "What's that song?"

Annoyed at having been pulled from sleep to answer personal questions, Lindsay snapped, "It's none of your business. Who's there?"

Just as she had thought, Alex's face appeared from the shadows. Anger laced his expression as he replied, "It's just me. And it's my business when you're lying in my spot. Jeez, you're so defensive."

Lindsay sat up, a fire starting her eyes. This was her spot, not his. "Excuse me, but who was here first? This has been my spot for six years. I beat you by a long shot."

"You didn't seem to have it claimed last year," Alex growled, towering over her, "There's no mark."

Smirking, Lindsay pointed to a roof shingle with an etching on it not two feet away from her. "LTC," she read the etching, "That's Lindsay, Thunder, Cooper."

Alex's mouth hung slightly, deliberating over this new discovery. "That's yours?" he finally said, "I used to make up all kinds of things that could mean. Once, I thought it might have meant 'Love To Cook' or 'Look, Two Cats'."

Lindsay actually laughed, though slightly offended. "You're really weird. You hadn't even considered that it could be initials?"

"Hey, you're the weird one here, Ms. Mysterious Past," Alex protested with a smirk, "Maybe I thought it was more fun to dream up things than stick with the probable."

Small smile fading, Lindsay's eyes glazed over and Thunder nudged her with concerned. "I'm glad you had fun with this spot while I was gone, but please don't call me that."

"Sorry, but it's true," Alex pointed out, shrugging; "I swear every little thing in Ravenswood relates to you in some dark way, and you won't say anything about it."

Lindsay stared up at him blankly. "Why should I tell you anything about me when I just met you?"

"I'm not asking you to pour out your soul to me," Alex explained, sitting next to her, "I just want some answers. Like, why isn't anyone allowed to heal you other than Gabby and Emily? And, what was the light on your stomach? Or, what was the song you were humming? They aren't that personal of questions. Plus, Gabby sort of explained the first two, but I still don't understand. She said it's not up to her to tell me."

At the news about Gabby, Lindsay sat shock still. "What did she tell you?" she asked slowly.

"Don't be mad at her," Alex pleaded, "She didn't really tell me much. All I know is that your magic is always in limbo, and if we heal you, it could upset the balance. And the light is one your abilities. I don't really understand though. Why is your magic so off balance? I've never heard of that before. I've also never heard of anyone being able to center their magic in one point."

Silence took over for a while. Lindsay stared off into the distance, thoughts and memories wreaking havoc on her head. Alex's gaze was fixed on her, waiting for answers.

Thunder, after sitting quietly with discomfort through the whole conversation, finally spoke. You should probably leave, Alex.

Alex glared at him and shook his head. To both the boys' surprise, Lindsay shook her head as well.

"It's alright, Thunder," she assured her wolf friend, "I was just thinking of how much to tell him."

And what have you decided?

"Obviously, not the whole story," she said, "But I understand some explanation is needed."

Alex let out a sigh of relief. "Thank you."

"I'll start with the light, because it's the reason you can't heal me," Lindsay began, "When I came to Ravenswood for the first time, a lot of terrible decisions led to me acquiring the power to center all of magic in me to one circle a little below my sternum. This also lets me draw magic from outside sources to that circle, so long as I'm touching them. My circle used to be gold, but because of yet another terrible decision, it's now black."

She paused, painful memories making her wince. Thunder put his head in her lap and closed his eyes, willing his bond to forgive herself. He had already forgiven her long ago.

Taking a deep breath, she continued, "That is why my magic is unbalanced and why you can't heal me. Any sort of disturbance in my magic could make me lose control, and losing control is something I never want to do again."

"What happens when you lose control?" Alex asked.

Lindsay shook her head. "No, that's the only explanation you're getting."

"Wait, what about the song?" he persisted, "What was the song you were humming?"

Lindsay smirked. "That has next to nothing to do with what we're talking about. It's just a song Gabby and I made up when we first came here."

Gabby woke to someone humming her song. When she noticed it came from the roof and that Lindsay's bed was empty once again, she sighed sadly. But then she noticed another voice mixed with Lindsay's and sat bolt upright.

"No way," she whispered to herself, "Getting along already?"

She smirked and rolled over again, letting Alex and Lindsay's song lull her back to sleep.

Don't you get tired of my annoying remarks after every chapter? Too bad. You still have to review.