Chapter 9: Anti-Alyssa Campaign
The quartet left Alyssa's smiling. When they returned to Alfea they ran to the library to begin making the posters to derail Alyssa's progress to getting control of her powers. The posters were all detailed. Each of the posters detailed a specific aspect of Alyssa: One of them depicted Alyssa in her JROTC uniform with a buzz cut and a 5 o'clock shadow on one half and the Alfea maroons with her long black hair and makeup on the other side saying "Alfea isn't the pretend military, go home fake fairy or should we say corporal Steven" another one had Alyssa conjuring up a dark storm while overlooking Alfea with the caption "Does this look like the abilities of a fairy or the abilities of a witch?" Yet another one had had the name 'Alyssa' crossed out and said "Steven or Alyssa: How much do you truly know about him"
Stella, Emily and Lauren all looked content with how the posters looked but none looked more happy than Diaspro.
"Okay now we just need to put these up and tomorrow we'll let the chaos unfurl and see how much damage we can cause her. I'll go put them up you three head to your dorms." Diaspro's voice dripped with distaste for Alyssa. As Diaspro put up the posters in the dead of night her lips curled into a devious grin as she put the posters in conspicuous locations all over Alfea. As the dead of night gave way to the rosy glow of the dawn, Tecna woke up bright and early to take a walk around the campus of Alfea, she only got only a few steps out of the grand hall before seeing one of the posters.
"What on Zenith? 'Alfea isn't the pretend military, go home fake fairy…' who could have made these posters… if Alyssa sees this it'll be awful for her mental health and she'll probably plunge Magix into an eternal winter, and we can't let them happen I need to take a photo of these and find Flora and Bloom." Tecna said worried about Alyssa's mental state and the well-being of Magix.
Meanwhile Alyssa was going on a morning run she had left before dawn and was just coming back from her run, Tecna saw that and had to tear down the poster just to shield Alyssa, Tecna let out a sigh of relief and went to go find Flora and Bloom.
Alyssa showered off and put on a nice girly girl outfit and headed to DuFour's etiquette class. When she walked in she was the first one in the class and saw DuFour taking down the posters plastered all over the classroom. Alyssa the saw the posters but couldn't make out what the posters said. DuFour turned around and saw Alyssa.
"Ah Alyssa um can you give me a few someone put posters all over the campus and the professors are trying to take them down, Faragonda's orders. Its just that there are so many who could have done this?" DuFour said
Alyssa stepped forward to help DuFour take down the posters, she used her transformation to become in her fairy form. A gray dress with white and yellow accents with light gray wings with yellow highlights hinting at the weather abilities she possessed. Flying up to the poster Alyssa noticed the striking resemblance of her face. "DuFour...um do you see this 'Alfea isn't the fake military, go home fake fairy or should we say Corporal Steven.' no one knows that part of me except my mom, Fora and Bloom, who could have done this." Alyssa said running out of DuFour's classroom and into the courtyard of Alfea, her emotions reaching a boiling point she couldn't hold back all the emotions she was feeling.
The winds began to pick up going from a light breeze to gale force winds, Alyssa rising up above the grounds the winds blowing around her. As her emotions ran high she began to summon a blizzard with hurricane force winds. Snow began pelting Alfea covering the peaceful grounds into a winter whiteout landscape. Professor Avalon, Palladium and DuFour rushed out when they saw how the weather suddenly changed, they were all taking down the posters and saw the dark clouds roll in. Flora and Bloom also saw the weather change and ran to the courtyard to try and ground Alyssa.
"Alyssa! This isn't you you're better than this!" Flora yelled trying to reach Alyssa but her words were drowned out by the howls of the wind. The snow was getting intense already 10 inches high and growing.
Bloom tried her luck trying to calm down Alyssa, the posters on the outside of the castle were swirling around her dancing around the snow and the Alyssa's body "Alyssa! Calm down! I know the posters were hurtful but you cant let them control your emotions you're better than this Flora and I are here for you!" the winds were still gale force and getting stronger, a rock that was picked up by the wind hit Alyssa and knocked her out causing her to fall to the ground. Bloom and Flora quickly picked her up, her head was bleeding from the impact from the rock but she was alive. They rushed her to the infirmary and set her down on a bed as a nurse came to bandage Alyssa's wound. Faragonda and DuFour walked in, they had seen everything, their faces somber.
"Bloom, Flora…" Faragonda said trying to cut the tensions in the room "I'm sorry but until Alyssa gains control of her powers and emotions I'm afraid I'm gonna have to suspend her, she'll be welcome on campus but she needs to learn control. That's why if and when she wakes up, the only class she'll have is emotional control with either Avalon or DuFour."
DuFour spoke up "You two deeply care about her and I hope you can reach her,"
The two faculty members left leaving Bloom and Flora alone with Alyssa.
"Okay, We'll take turns watching her, if something happens the one who's watching should call the other one and inform them. Who's gonna take first shift watching her?" Bloom asked.
"I will, I only think its fair that you relax, I'll see you in twelve hours Bloom, do me a favor though, if you find anything that can brighten up this room for Alyssa bring it down. I'll do the same when you're on guard duty." Flora said "I feel bad though we should have done more to help ground her, and we failed to do so. I feel so guilty about it and feel as if I need to repent for my actions."
"Flora listen we both failed today but we can make it right. I'll leave you two alone and bring the books and scrolls on Mystelar for you. Maybe we could get Tecna to do watch duty too. Look at me Flora Alyssa will be okay. Don't be too hard on yourself."
With that Bloom left to go to the dormitory and bring things down for Alyssa knowing that her friend was in this deep duress was heart breaking but Bloom had to be strong for Alyssa's sake. Flora mean while used her magic to create a corsage on Alyssa's wrist.
"I'm here my princess." Flora said holding Alyssa's hand...concern etched onto her face.
The infirmary was sterile and the smell of antiseptic was strong. The beeping of the heart monitor was steady. The nurses had intubated Alyssa and had her on IV nutrition the lights were dim casting somber lighting in the room. Bloom returned shortly with the books and scrolls containing the all the information on Mystelar, a red stuffed dog that Alyssa brought from home, and a vase of flowers before crawling into the narrow bed in the infirmary, moving the tubes and wires and cuddling up with Alyssa, her hand wrapped around Alyssa's body protecting her. Flora smiled watching over Alyssa and Bloom.
"Alyssa if you can hear me know that I'm sorry, I'm sorry I couldn't ground you this time. I know you can't hear me but I feel as if I have to atone for my failure." Flora said sitting in a chair watching over before reaching for one of the scrolls that Bloom brought down reading it to herself but not before placing the stuffed red dog that Alyssa had since she was a child, in one of her hands.
"There, now she has a part of her old home and her new home. Now let's see here… ah Mystelar's royal family tree. Oh wow it goes back several generations lets see her we have Alyssa...then her mom I know Laura isn't her mom.. oh wow it goes back to her 6th great grand parent...I know Alyssa will be happy to hear this...wait whats this? Alyssa's 4th Great-Grandma had two brothers and it looks like one married a princess from Linphea and one married a princess from Domino...but the tree for them stops there...could this hint at a fate that Alyssa, Bloom and I are destined for more than friendship?"
As Flora read the books and scrolls she realized Alyssa hasn't written to her mom on earth in awhile. She takes out a pen and paper and begins writing…
Dear Laura 9/13
I hope this letter finds you well. Its been so chaotic here at Alfea, Alyssa hasn't had time to write to you. I don't mean this letter to alarm you but your daughter is currently in the infirmary, currently in a coma. You see there have been this group of girls at our school who seem to hold some exclusionary beliefs and have started a No Boy Fairies club. Two days ago they put up posters attacking Alyssa and her past. Well those posters seemed to cause her emotions to run wild and she caused a snow blizzard or bomb cyclone, her powers whipped up powerful gale force winds which picked up a rock and hit her in the head, causing her to slip into the coma.
Bloom and I have been by her side since the incident and we're not leaving her side until she wakes up. We're talking to her hoping our voices could reach her. She's intubated and on IV nutrition. I feel like this is all my fault because I didn't do enough to stop her emotions from spinning out of control. When I have news on her condition I'll make sure to up date you, hopefully she'll be recovered by Thanksgiving. If she is I would like to ask if Bloom and I could spend the break with her and you.
I'll write back if I have an update
Your daughter's friend
Flora.
Flora smiled and continued to watch over Alyssa, she looked so peaceful as she laid there and Bloom looked like Alyssa's knight in shining armor as she held her close.
The night eventually gave way to a September sun and Flora was tired and ready for her well needed rest. Bloom eventually stirred when the nurse came by to replace the IV bag for today's nutrition. Getting out of the bed she walked over to the chair and sat down, her red hair was disheveled but she kept a smile on her face. As she sat down Tecna walked into the infirmary holding a tray of food and a cup of coffee, she had known what happened but was focused on her studies and repairing Alyssa's Doppler radar.
"How's she doing?" Tecna asked looking concerned
"She's stable at least, is that breakfast for me?" Bloom asked as Flora was getting into the narrow bed with Alyssa.
"It is. I see Flora put Alyssa's stuffed dog in her hand that was a thoughtful gesture. Now you need to eat up Bloom. You and Flora need to eat up, you need to be at your best when Alyssa wakes up. I'll be back later to bring Flora dinner. If Alyssa wakes up before the break, which I hope she does I want to have her know that I think her suspension is...pardon my language...bullshit she didn't do anything wrong. I'm looking at who could have put up the posters there was a record of transport to Princeton a few days ago but the records don't show who. I'll be looking into it. In the meantime tell Alyssa that we miss her, the dorm isn't the same without her."
"I'll do that Tecna. Oh could you send this out to Alyssa's mom on earth, I think its a letter Flora wrote."
"I'll get there right away, Miss Faragonda has given me, Musa and Aisha blanket permission to go to Alyssa's home to tell her mom any updates we have. I'll head there right away."
"Thank you. Tell Laura, Flora and I say 'hi' and we're looking out for her daughter."
"I will. Musa will be down with dinner if I'm not. I'll also bring back a CD player from Alyssa's place and some music from her room I think she'll need it we need to make her as comfortable as possible. I'll be back soon." With that Tecna left taking the letter to Laura with her as Bloom ate her breakfast and had some of the coffee Tecna brought, watching over her best friends. As she sipped on the coffee, she couldn't help but feel something growing inside of her like a deep longing to be more than friends with these two girls she felt a deep connection and wanted to be with them.
"We'll be there for you Alyssa I know you can't hear me but just know we'll weather this with you. You're not alone, Flora and I are here for you. We'll be here by your side until you wake up and maybe we can convince miss Faragonda to reverse your suspension. You belong here Alyssa and if they make you leave for a few months than Flora and I are gonna go with you. We don't want you to face this alone. Listen to me just pouring my heart and to you and I don't even know if you can hear me but I'm gonna say this any way. I love you Alyssa, you've been a beacon of light at Alfea while you've been here. You are the strongest girl here I know. I want the best for you and I know Flora does too. You'll be okay."
As Bloom said that tears began to fall down her face and landing in her coffee, she had to excuse herself from the infirmary to go cry for a bit in the hallway. Talking to herself she said "I need to be strong I cant cry I need to be strong for Alyssa and Flora they cant see me like this they'll think I'm weak and I cant have that." Bloom tried to gather herself and walked back to the infirmary and began eating her breakfast which consisted of scrambled eggs, some turkey bacon and a bowl of rambutan fruit. To drink she had passion orange guava juice and the coffee which she didn't finish before she cried into it. Bloom wasn't hungry but she knew she needed to eat to keep her strength up so she could be there for Alyssa when she woke up.