Chapter Seven: Bridges

Ismene and Regina arrived on Alfea's campus the next day at noon. Ismene put on shades and looked around. Regina felt the same disgust. She could hear excited laughter and chatter. Regina conjured shades for herself too. "Ugh, it's like a rainbow threw up."

"Darcy said nothing about campus-wide nightmares on this campus, right?" Ismene said, glaring at a fairy who stared at her.

Regina actually smiled at the thought. She didn't appreciate all the stares she and Ismene were getting. It wasn't as if they came maliciously or made threats. She'd even worn a dress! It was black and made of leather, but at least she tried to meet the fairy snobs half-way. Tecna and Faragonda were in the middle of the quad with two other fairies. Ismene rolled her eyes once she recognized one of them as Princess Euphoria. Where these two supposed to act as ambassadors? She wasn't impressed and neither was her red-eyed rival.

"Hello girls, I am head mistress Faragonda. Welcome to Alfea. I as I look at your faces and feel your strength, I know my girls have done very well indeed. These girls will act as your tour guides and ambassadors during your brief stay in Alfea. Ismene, this is Topaz and Princess Regina, this is-"

"Princess Euphoria of Solaria, everyone knows her." Regina scoffed. "Thank you for using my title, but I'm not a snob. Pairing a freshmen with Ismene is a horrible idea."

Ismene scowled. "Screw you, Regina. I have no interest in harming weaklings."

"Name calling is extremely uncalled for." Tecna scolded. "You might not be a student here, but there will be consequences for breaking the rules."

"I read you loud and clear. Tight surveillance for the two evil witches. Who knows what they could do to the sweet fairies of Alfea?" Regina nodded agreeing with Ismene's statement.

Euphoria folded her arms. "Nobody assumes you two are evil. Our Professor warned you after you threatened Topaz."

"No, Your Professor threatened me after I said I wouldn't harm her."

"You called her weak." Euphoria argued.

"That's rude, but it's not a threat." Ismene countered.

"It's okay. No need to argue about semantics. We're all on the same side." Topaz reasoned. "Would you like me to show you around campus? I would show your friend around, but Euphoria is better at reaching people than I am."

"She's not my friend." Regina corrected.

"Oh sorry. I didn't mean to offend." Topaz fiddled with her hair before gasping. "Looks like we'll see a lot more than the campus today."

"Huh?"

Topaz pointed in front of them. "Specialists..."

A group of four men walked towards them gallantly. They looked serious and on alert. Regina's eyebrow raised. Nothing seemed to be out of the ordinary; she wondered why the Specialists were there. Prince Elliott of Eraklyon was leading them; once he saw her, his serious face melted into an awkward smile and relaxed. Regina soon realized, she was the abnormality at Alfea. "So much for improved fairy and witch relations." All she did was walk on campus and those fairy snobs called the Specialists. She was starting to like witches better. At least they confronted you personality.

Elliott's layered hair blew in the wind. He saluted Tecna and Faragonda; and stood in front of the Androsian. "Regina."

"Witch problem?" She asked knowing the answer.

"Yep. What are you doing in Alfea? Making a switch?" He looked at her dress and grinned. "Because you're not really in fairy attire."

Regina forced his head to sync with her eyes. "Eyes here... This is exactly why our conversations are so brief."

Topaz was so fascinated with Regina's power that she didn't notice anyone looking at her. Euphoria saw and frowned. She'd met the Specialist in question a couple of times and didn't think he was a guy for Topaz. She was way too innocent and he was trouble. Elliott looked at her coldly before turning back to Regina. The brief interaction took the air out of her chest. She held her head high even though her heart was breaking. Maybe it took trouble to know trouble. Lucky for Euphoria, Ismene didn't seem impressed or interested with the Specialists. "Isn't this supposed to be orientation?"

Euphoria had a mental sigh of relief. "Yes, let's go."

Elliott watched his ex and childhood friend walk away. She shook his head, but realized his face still tingled from Regina's magic. He turned his attention back to Regina; only to be shocked and pleased that she never stopped looking at him. "Come with me." Regina folded her arms. "I won't try anything."

"Alright..."

Regina went with Elliott. Topaz didn't know if she should follow her or not. She was supposed to be Regina's ambassador; but, she was certain the conversation was meant to be private. As she wrestled with herself, a Specialist with long white hair and indigo eyes approached her. "Hey gorgeous. What's your name?"

Topaz looked around and realized he was talking to her. "Topaz, what's yours?"

"Leon of Earth, have you ever been?"

"No."

Leon leaned in and scanned her body. Topaz squirmed and played with one of her cornrows. He loved it; her shyness was intoxicating to him. It was perfect that she wore a white dress. She wasn't like any of the powerful fairies or witches he knew. She had power, but she wasn't stuck up about it. Plus she was a knockout. "I'll have to take you some time."

Topaz hid her blush with her hands. "I should go find Prince Elliott and Princess Regina."

Leon stopped her from running away. "They're old friends. I'm sure they want to catch up. In the mean time how about we get to know each other."

Topaz couldn't stop looking in his gorgeous indigo eyes. "Okay."


"So that wizard wants you all dead? Why didn't I hear about this?"

Regina rolled her eyes. "Son of Bloom and Sky. You're safe."

Elliott ran his hands through his hair. "Maybe you should stay here."

"And why would I do that?"

"When our moms went here they were in constant danger too; but, they had each other. You don't have anyone in Cloud Tower."

"I don't need friends. I can heal my injuries almost instantly, poisons don't affect me, and most of all, I can control blood. Now that I have this Gloomix, nothing can stop me."

"What if you go against something without blood? A monster made of rock, a spell, a curse or something from the shadows?"

"...I'd find a way." Regina looked at him skeptically. "Why do you care so much?"

"Why do I care?! We're friends!" Elliott yelled.

She scoffed. "We aren't friends. You're just a guy trying to get into my pants."

"Okay, I'm not gonna lie. If the opportunity presented itself, I'd take it." His gaze lowered to her body. "Boy, would I take it... However, I do care about you as a person and genuinely like you."

"I'd rather die."

Elliott shook his head. "Boy, you're one cold woman. You probably learn things the hard way... How about a wager?" Regina looked at him curiously. "If you can't defeat the scenario I create in the Magical Reality, you stay here."

"And if I can?"

"...I'll leave you alone, forever."

Regina smiled and held her hand out. "Deal!"

"I need something more than just 'deal'."

Regina rolled her eyes. "Fine. I, Regina, First Princess of Andros agree to transfer to Alfea if I cannot defeat Prince Elliott of Eraklyon and Domino's magical reality."

"I, Elliott, Crowned Prince of Eraklyon, First Prince of Domino promise to stay away from Princess Regina of Andros if she defeats my magical reality." Once they shook hands the symbol for each of their realms appeared on their foreheads. "You realize these things burn if you do anything to break our contract, right?"

"I know; but, I'm glad you do. Now you'll have no choice, but to stay away from me when I win this thing."

They went back to the quad. The other two Specialists, twins, stood once they saw Elliott. "Where's Leon?"

"We're at a woman's college." The twin named John replied.

"Dumbass..."

"Aren't you here for the same reason?" Regina asked

Elliott frowned. "You're right; we aren't friends." They didn't say anything to each other until they found Tecna and went to the the room. Elliott entered things into the machine and turn the speaker on. "Your only goal is to survive. Remember every danger I create is very real. If you can last fifteen minutes, you win."

"Make it twenty." Regina said cockily.

"Twenty, then. Get ready."

The scenery changed, she was in her room in Cloud Tower. She could sense something wasn't right so she transformed into her witch outfit; before she could finish transforming, her walls started closing in. Regina stopped her transformation to get fake-Toad and jump out the window. Her cuts didn't even bleed before healing. Regina finished her transformation and flew to the bridge. She found herself surrounded. The witches of Cloud Tower were spelled and ready to attack her. Regina did her best to dodge each random attack. Eventually one hit and she flipped over the bridge again. She flew back up and punched the assailant in the face. The possessed witched grabbed her and started pulling her. Regina almost cried out in pain; but, calmed herself. She concentrated on prying their hands off of her. Her Gloomix's increased power made their hands break back. Regina landed on her feet and fought her way through the crowd. Eventually she defeated every witch, including the faux Ismene.

A giant stone troll emerged from the mist below. Regina took a deep breath and held her hands out towards the school. She directed her beast of a school to fight off the troll. The blood witch breathed heavily and grunted with each impact the school took. Her vision became fuzzy, but she held strong. She screamed, her Gloomix shined brightly; the school gained new ground on the troll and knocked it's arm off. Regina was about to order the finishing blow when she was knocked down by a spelled witch. Regina elbowed her in the nose and watched her fall. She realized she no longer had a control of her school. Surprisingly, it went back to its original stance instead off attacking her. The troll heaved a fist at her. Regina made a shield, but in her condition it was easily broken. She flew back and hit the entrance to her school. Suddenly more of the knocked out witches began to come to. They came at her. Regina flung hordes of them off the bridge. There were still many that came for her. Regina managed to stop all of their movement. Her Gloomix shined brighter, but her vision began to fade. She was taxing her powers. She didn't know how long she could hold them off. She wanted to hold them until the time ran out. The troll found her again and roared in victory. Regina took one hand from controlling the crowd and made the building attack it again. Once she did that, the witches were able to move and the school barely stirred. The witches spelled her to become immobile. She laid in the entrance of the school, stiff as a board and unable to move. Slowly faux Ismene walked to her and leaned over her. Her hands went around her neck. Regina laid there unable to fight back. She couldn't even struggle for air. The troll's fist was the last thing she saw before blacking out.

Later...

Regina jumped up and put her hands on her neck. She looked around the bright room and realized she was in the infirmary. She threw the covers off of her and jumped out of bed. "Wow, you heal incredibly fast."

Regina turned around to a blonde fairy who was turned green. Despite the green skin, this fairy was very attractive. Her light blonde hair only reached her neck. It seemed to bring out her golden eyes. Regina felt like she should know her, but didn't know why. "Where's Elliott?"

"I wouldn't know. After he brought you in, he left... I'm Semiramis."

"Regina"

Semiramis's eyes twinkled. "So are you really a-"

"Which way did he go?" Regina asked. She didn't have time for questions. She had to know how long she made it. Maybe she went past the time limit and he was gone; but, the moment she thought that, he walked into the infirmary.

"Your things are in your new room." Elliott replied. He felt awkward seeing her up and well. Less than two hours ago he had to give her mouth-to-mouth and now she was ready to take him on. This was one of many reasons he liked her.

"New room?!" Regina played everything over in her head. "How long did I last?"

"Sixteen minutes and twenty-two seconds."

"But you said-"

"You made it twenty." Elliott pointed to his forehead. "No burn. I won."

Regina could hear Toad hissing outside the doors. She pushed past Elliott. Leon was trying to wrestle with Toad. Topaz giggled at the display. Regina took one of her earrings off and dangled it for her cat. The feline jumped off Leon and into Regina's arms. Leon rubbed his cuts. "I don't understand. My mom's the fairy of animals."

'How long was I out? There's no way I was out for more than an hour. How do I have a room already?' People moved for royalty. Her parents must have consented to the transfer. Elliott probably convinced them. "I hate you."

Elliott didn't reply. He simply led her to her room. She didn't have enough magic to change the design and laid on the bed. Toad sensed she needed a nap so curled on her torso to join. She was too tired to kick Elliott out of her room. He left on his own, passing Euphoria in the halfway. He didn't even look her way and returned to Red Fountain.

(A/N) I drew them! inurinsama15 at Deviantart Changing-Seasons-OCs-Color-359753007 Regina attends Alfea now, I don't know what that means for her witch status. I don't really have a plan... I don't know if I want to keep her a witch, or make her a dark fairy. She definitely won't be regular fairy. Ismene is also a toss up. Also, Leon is the son of Roxy. White hair, indigo eyes and his blade is black. He is the right hand man to Elliott even though the two don't really get along. He is also 21, which makes him wrong on so many levels for liking 17 yr old Topaz.

Next Chapter: Xavier accidently absorbs some of his mother's powers.