Here is chapter five. Please enjoy.

When they opened their eyes in the Mystic Isles, they found themselves linked together again, and there was such a sense of relief that they shed a few tears. They stood and retrieved some berries from a nearby bush, some water from a well that they had dug on a previous trip when they had appeared in this spot once before, and then they sat down to talk.

"Should we really be here?" Sofia asked nervously, glancing around as if Thorn would leap out at them.

Cedric considered this for a moment. "The chances of a tear throwing him here right next to us is slim. He's probably on another island. Besides, did you feel how damaged he was? He wouldn't attack us again. Especially now that he knows we can handle him."

Sofia nodded slowly before smiling. "I missed you, Cedric. Not hearing your thoughts, feeling you on the other end. That was horrible."

The man shivered as he replied. "I agree. You were scared, no doubt, but I'm not sure you understand how scared I was when you were blocked and I wasn't there to see you."

"I was terrified. I couldn't hear you either, couldn't see you. I think I understand better than anybody else."

"Can you share it? It would help, I think."

Since it had been such a huge influx of emotion, she shared it piece by piece, a few seconds at a time as they ate. Cedric felt her go crazy, felt her panic, felt her pain as she split the skin on her hands and how she didn't even care.

"I just wanted to get back to you. I knew you would help," she whispered.

"I needed to see that you were safe," Cedric admitted. "I knew something terrible had happened, but I wasn't sure what. Poor Storm worked himself hard to get me to your school as fast as possible. I owe him when we get back."

There was a long pause as they simply relished being with each other again then Sofia glanced down at her amulet. Though it hadn't appeared the first time they'd come, it had every other time, and this was no exception. The pink stone was still glowing a little. She glanced over at Cedric's, and his was lit up, too.

"What happened? I was sure that Thorn would take us back here, that he would win."

Cedric looked down at the necklace, touching the blue stone lightly. "I felt a jerk when they lit up. It was as if it shattered his control over our magic. Perhaps a new power?"

"I feel the same," Sofia said.

"I don't. I feel…stronger, more connected with my core," Cedric said thoughtfully. "Concentrate. Do you feel it?"

Sofia closed her eyes and toyed with her magic. It felt slightly different, she realized, just as her friend had said. It seemed a bit deeper, and she felt as if she had a little more control. She removed her amulet for a brief moment to see if there was a difference. Without the jewel around her neck, the magic reverted back to the way it had been before the incident, a little more wild and a bit more shallow.

"It feels deeper."

"It was always deep," Cedric said. "But I agree. Whatever our amulets did, there's more control, and it's wider, bigger, whatever word you want to use. Now, let's take a walk and clear our minds. We've dealt with this fear for far too long. We need a bit of relief."

Sofia nodded, standing with her best friend and starting off toward the Phoenix grove.

~It would be nice to see Flicker again.~

Cedric smiled, glancing over. ~I agree.~

And that contact between their minds assured them that everything was going to be alright, even if there would be some explaining to do when they got back.