Desperado
Over the past few days, the students have been trying to figure out what is going on with Aatma Phavvaara and cotton balls. Cotton Balls? "I don't know where it is," Jared said. "We left it in the lab," Sajin said. "I know. It either got up and walked back to the fountain, or someone took it," Jeremy said. Honestly, both could happen," Odd said. "When are we going to the Golden Crystal Palace?" Cressila asks. "After school," Allison said. "I'm coming to. I love to learn more about the palace," Alexis said. "Great." Ash arrives and kisses Allison on the cheek. "Hey," Ash said. "Hey, what is wrong?" Allison asks. "Dexter is looking for Rosé. Have you seen her?" "No. However, she has been MIA for a few days." "Why is Dexter looking for her?" Cressila asks. "As part of her punishment for framing Allison for blowing up the lab and doing it, she is placed on night guard until graduation. He wants to see if she saw anything." "Let's ask her roommates," Jared said. "Odd, and I did. I hope the fountain Jumbee didn't get her." "I hope so too. Aatma Phavvaara is needed to flow fresh water and magic into the school," Sajin said.
At the same time, Dexter and Odd are speaking with Dean Kathin. "I hope the heirs didn't do anything to her," Dean Kathin said. "No. We don't know where she is," Dexter said. "Also, we are here to discuss Spirit Week," Odd said. "Omar and Dexter, I have full faith that you two can stop arguing about figuring something out," Dean Kathin said. "We did," Odd said. "Oh?" "A song inspires each day. However, Headmaster Chidh said you have to approve it," Dexter said, "Well, whatever. I need to figure it how to keep my school in order with all of this Jumbee talk." "Your school?" Dexter asks. Death Kathin walks up to Odd and speaks with him. "Given that your friends caused such a scandal at your last school. Don't test me!" Dean Chidh leaves. "That was rude. I read about that. I remember Calvin. He caused all of that," Dexter said. "Thanks. Dean Chidh is mad because when my best friend takes over, he will be out of a job," Odd said. "Speaking of job, where the fuck is Rosé?" Dexter asks.
Dawn reads the acceptance package from the University and sighs, "I hope financial aid kicks in. Why is tuition that much for a school?" Ulrich sits next to her in the courtyard. "Stressing about college?" "Yeah. Did you read your letter?" "It was twelve pages long. I fell asleep." Dawn chuckles. "I hope this stupid cotton ball. Jumbee shit is over soon." "Nope. Someone stole the cotton ball from the lab." "Wait, wasn't Rosé on watch." "She is MIA, and the dean is somehow blaming us." Dawn does a double take. "Excuse me! She might be in danger!" "Right! Look, I want to check out the Aatma Phavvaara soon. Wanna come?" "After finding Rocky there. Nope. Brock and Yumi might want to." "I'll go," Aelita said. "Really?" Ulrich asks. "Yeah. I want to see if we can get the cotton ball back. Plus, I want to test Dean Asshole for blaming us." "Okay, let's go get Yumi and Brock," Ulrich said. Dawn leaves as well and sees Odd and Dexter talking to Hiroshima. "Daah has been weird," Dexter said. "Sajin said that she is not herself." "It takes time to get over someone. Also, we all have moved on for the greater good. She needs time," Hiroshima said. "Daah?" Dawn asks. "Yeah. She has been off the past few days," Odd said. "The world needs to chill!" Dawn exclaims.
Allison walks into the halls and hears bubbling. "Aatma Phavvaara!" Allison notices that her necklace glows bright red. She takes out her sword as a wave comes toward her. She cuts the wave in half but sees someone inside. "A girl!" Allison grabs the girl and pulls her out. The wave stops, and they both collapse. At the same time, Ulrich, Aelita, Yumi, and Brock arrive to see the floor flooded. "Whoa!" Brock exclaims. Allison looks at the girl and exclaims. "Rosé!" Rosé speaks. "She's coming!" She coughs. "To the nurse!" Yuni shouts. At the infirmary, Rosé wakes up and sees the soldiers looking at her. "Thank you," she said. "What happened?" Yumi asks. "I was doing my night patrol when I saw something in the halls. Then I was pushed into the fountain." "Pushed?" Allison asks. "Yeah. I thought I was doomed until you saved me. But I saw something there." "What?" "I don't know. But she's coming!" Rosê faints. "Okay, you need to get to the palace and find out about cotton balls now," Brock said. Allison nods and leaves.
Allison, Cressila, and Alexis arrive at the Golden Crystal Palace. "What brings you home so soon, Princess?" one of the guards asks Allison. "We want to study something from the Royal Library," Allison said. "Good for you all. Young minds eager to learn their history or herstory always make me smile," the guard said. The trio walk in and make their way to the Royal Library when Fred walks by. "Look who's home," he said as he hugged his daughter. "Hi, dad," Allison said. "Hello, Your Majesty," Cressila and Alexis said as they bowed to Fred. "Please, no need to be formal. I took the day off to care for my mother," Fred said. "Right. Grandma Peggy is sick." "Yeah, but she is on the mend. Now, what are you doing here?" "We are going to study something in the Royal Library." "May I ask, what?" "Cotton balls," Cressila said. "Cotton balls? As in the Story of the Silk Cotton Tree." "Silk Cotton Tree?" "Yeah. Cotton balls are forbidden on Planet Hearts and the Seven Crotatous Planets. It is a folktale, but it has some truth to it." Cressila gulps. "I think that is what we are looking for. Thank you, Your Majesty," Alexis said. "No problem, make a left, and you'll be right there," Fred said. "Thank you and tell Grandma I say love you," Allison said. "Will do." The girls entered the Royal Library and saw thousands of books. "Whoa," Alexis says as she touches a golden globe. "What is this?" "The Golden Globes of Desire. It helps you find what you need," Allison said. When Alexis touches it, a book called Petals of Desires falls in front of Alexis. "What is this?" "A book on the relationships between the Palace Advisors and the people," Cressila said. "I want to find the silk tree book, but it may be a good read. Can I borrow it, Alicinda?" "Sure. You can leave it at school, and it will magically come back here," Allison said. Cressila touches the globe next, and the book, The Knights Tournament of Champions, falls in front of her. "Cool, it has everything about the tournament, how knights are ranked, and how I was screwed over for Sangharsh." "That's true. Yikes!" Alexis said. "Let me try," Allison said. When she places her hand on the globe, the book, Alicinda, and her Raichu is set in her hand. "What is that? A fairytale?" Alexis asks. "No. A biography about my namesake, Supreme Queen Alicinda I. I heard stories about her." "Is it true that she murdered her father because he was an asshole of a king?" Cressila asks. "Yeah. However, for years, men were trying to rewrite history, but all efforts failed," Allison said. "Great, but what about the silk cotton tree?" A book glows bright red on the top shelf, and Alexis flies up and grabs it. "Here it is. Let's read!"
In Planet Hearts, the Silk Cotton tree is called the 'Jumbie' Tree. According to folklore, it is the most feared and notorious place to find a spirit and other supernatural beings. A person would, therefore, not cut down a Silk Cotton tree for fear of freeing the jumbies (spirits) who lived in it to roam the land. However, in District Six, the infamous Silk Cotton tree is said to host Kaante, the nature of grief. She loves to grab random people for fun. She also feeds off misery and will lore her prey to their doom. Cotton balls bring lousy luck to fairies, and this silk cotton tree is no exemption. The spirits of enslaved fairies and grief-stricken souls live in the tree; you should not be anywhere near the tree. No one will help you, well, maybe a priest, but unless you have one on speed dial, good luck.
"What the fuck? I know that cotton balls and enslaved Africans in America were a dark time in history, but we have a cursed tree!" Cressila said. "So, someone brought a cotton ball to the Aatma Phavvaara, and it is making a big mess out of everything," Allison said. "Also, the person must have pushed Rosé into the fountain," Alexis said. "We need to get back to school now!" At school, the group is shocked by the information. "So, we have a deadly cotton ball at school that hosts a Jumbie that will get us," Odd said. "As Rocky, Apin, and Rosé said, she's coming," Dexter said. "What do we do?" "We told the administration, and they will figure it out," Alexis said. "Which means that we have to fix it," Sajin said. "I don't like the sound of that. Dean Kathin made it clear that he wants us to stay in our lane," Jeremy said. "Please," Ulrich said. "Lakeshore Academy trains all the students to defend the planet. We are doing our jobs." "Plus, think of it as a senior-year activity. We can use that for papers in University," Yumi said. "In other words, Einstein, we're rebels," Aelita said. Ash sits in his seat and sighs. "What is wrong?" Cressila asks. "I feel strange that this is all connected to Sangharsh." "It could be. Kaante goes for the grief, and we would all be mourning him for a while. "I won't." Brock sits next to Ash. "That's okay! Let's focus on our senior trip and unwind." "Thanks; where are we going?" "The first part is a beach resort. After spring break, we are going skiing," Odd said. "Great, you'll be fine,' Brock said. "Sure, I'll be distracted," Ash chuckles. "Me too," Brock chuckles. "Sure, however, Dean Kathin is going because Headmaster Chidh wants to stay here and deal with the fountain crisis," Cressila said. "So, no sex. He is going to tape our door shut at night," Allison said. "What! What an asshole!" Ash J said. "That, my friend, is the tip of the iceberg," Hiroshima said.
Johanne and Haru walk down the hallway in the Adventure building and notice the Aatma Phavvaara bubbling. "Another victim?" Haru asks. Johanne takes out her sword, and a wave appears. Johanne cuts the wave in half, and Haru pulls someone out. "Mariam!" Haru calls out. Daah appears and grabs her sister. "It's okay. I'm here." Not to worry. A small price for him," Daah thinks to herself.