I do not own the rights to the TV show, the characters, or the music. This is just me writing as a fan.
No copyright infringement intended. Pls don't sue me. :)
Do leave a review if you've enjoyed this chapter.
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"If one more bloody pixie throws enchanted glitter at my barriers, I swear on all that's unholy..." Vex's distinctive British accent echoed through the gymnasium as he waved his hands, reinforcing the power suppression runes. "Oi! Tiny terror! That better not be what I think it is!"
Kenzi froze mid-throw, a handful of sparkling dust suspended in the air. "Decorative enhancement?"
"Last year's 'decorative enhancement' turned half the freshman class into toads!"
"That was an improvement for some of them," Tamsin commented, supervising the Faeloween preparations from her perch on the bleachers. Her eyes tracked the elven brothers across the gym - not that she'd admit to being impressed by their natural grace. "Besides, your barriers could use some pizzazz, Vexy."
"Pizzazz?" Vex looked personally offended. "I'm the bloody barrier master, not some discount party planner. And stop calling me Vexy!"
From her position near the ceiling where she was hanging decorations, Bo tried not to laugh. Below her, Lauren was taking readings with what looked like modified scientific equipment, occasionally making excited notes. It hadn't taken long for word to spread about why a human had been granted special permission to attend Ash Grove - Lauren's revolutionary theories about Fae biology had caught the attention of the school board. Even Evony had been impressed, though she'd rather face a basilisk than admit it.
"The barrier fluctuations during Faeloween are fascinating," Lauren was saying to Raphael, who somehow managed to make even leaning against a wall look graceful. At six feet tall with golden blonde hair and athletic build, the elf stood out even among the beautiful Fae. Most elven families wouldn't dream of sending their children to a mixed school like Ash Grove, preferring their own exclusive academies. But Raphael and his younger brother Edwin had chosen differently, becoming instant topics of gossip and admiration.
"Oi! This isn't the bachelorette. Get those decorations up!" Vex called out. "Some of us would like to get through one bloody school event without- KENZI!"
A shower of pixie dust descended from above, turning the nearest decorations into animated bats.
"That wasn't me!" Kenzi protested. "I mean, it totally was, but it wasn't supposed to do THAT."
The paper bats swooped through the gym, causing chaos as students ducked and dodged. One dive-bombed Vex, who let loose a string of creative British curses.
"Language!" Tamsin shouted, though she was clearly enjoying the show. "There are baby Fae present! Even if some of them are unnaturally coordinated elvish babies."
Bo turned just in time to see a paper bat heading straight for Lauren. Without thinking, she jumped down from her ladder, landing between Lauren and the bat. Her eyes flashed blue briefly as her powers flared protectively.
The entire gym went quiet. The queen bee of Ash Grove, protecting a human? The whispers started immediately.
"My hero," Lauren said with a small smile, not seeming at all concerned about Bo's display of power. "Though I'm fairly certain paper can't actually hurt me."
"I... knew that," Bo managed, suddenly very aware of how close they were standing.
Claire Morgan, Lauren's closest friend since transferring, tried to hide her knowing smile. Unlike Lauren who'd earned her place through the school's competitive scholarship program, Claire's wealthy family had smoothed her path to admission. Not that it mattered to either girl - they'd bonded instantly over being humans in a Fae world, both refusing to be intimidated by their supernatural classmates.
Raphael just smiled, used to Tamsin's snark since proving himself in combat training. It had caused quite a stir - elves were known for grace, not fighting. But both brothers had shown surprising skill, even if Edwin preferred books to sparring.
Bo found herself watching as Lauren's eyes lit up tracking the magical mishap with her instruments. The human's enthusiasm for all things Fae was... distracting.
"Your succubus is showing," Tamsin smirked, suddenly beside her. "Might want to work on that before the dance."
"I don't know what you're talking about," Bo muttered, but her eyes flashed blue briefly when Lauren smiled in her direction.
The rest of the preparations passed in a blur of Kenzi's "accidents," Vex's increasingly creative cursing, and Bo trying not to get caught staring at Lauren's intense focus on her readings.
…
The night of the dance transformed the gymnasium. Floating jack-o'-lanterns cast an eerie glow over the dance floor, their flames flickering in time with the music. Vex's protective barriers hummed quietly around the school's perimeter, almost invisible except for an occasional shimmer.
Bo entered with Kenzi, both having clearly raided the drama department's costume closet. Bo's Victorian dress managed to look both period-appropriate and stunning, while Kenzi appeared to be some sort of punk rock fairy - complete with combat boots that somehow still scattered pixie dust.
"Your girl's over there," Kenzi nudged Bo, showering nearby dancers in sparkles. "Being all sciencey. Shock."
Lauren stood near one of Vex's monitoring stations, her costume an impressive recreation of Marie Curie - complete with working scientific instruments hidden in the period details. She was taking readings while trying to appear like she wasn't taking readings.
Before Bo could move, Raphael approached Lauren with his usual grace, looking every bit the elven prince in his formal attire. Bo watched as they shared a dance, their movements elegant but somehow distant. When the song ended, they stepped aside for a quiet conversation. Whatever Lauren said made Raphael bow slightly, a gentle smile crossing his face before he rejoined his admirers.
"Did that just happen?" Kenzi whispered, trailing surprised sparkles.
"Indeed it did," Claire appeared beside them, dressed as Jane Austen. She watched Edwin organizing the music selections with a soft smile. "Some things are just... meant to be."
…
The temperature suddenly plummeted. Frost crept up the windows. Vex's monitoring equipment began flashing warnings.
"Oh come on!" Vex's frustration carried over the music. "Not tonight!"
Lauren's instruments began beeping frantically. She looked up, meeting Bo's eyes across the room. "The energy signature - it's the same as-"
The lights went out. When they came back on seconds later, there was a figure standing in the centre of the dance floor. Tall, robed, and radiating cold fury.
"Marcus," Tamsin spat the name like a curse.
"Miss me?" The expelled druid's voice carried enough power to make the windows rattle. "I brought a few friends to liven up the party."
Shadows began seeping through the floor, taking grotesque shapes. Students screamed and ran as Vex frantically tried to strengthen the school's barriers against the invasion.
"Get everyone out!" Tamsin ordered, her Valkyrie powers manifesting in a battle aura. "Now!"
"Fascinating," Marcus observed, turning toward where Bo stood protectively near Lauren. "A succubus, one of the most powerful faes there is trying to protect a human? How far the mighty have fallen."
"Less monologuing, more fighting!" Kenzi suddenly appeared above him, dumping an entire bag of combat-grade pixie dust on his head. The druid snarled as the dust interfered with his magic, creating multicoloured explosions.
"That's my girl!" Tamsin actually looked proud as she engaged the shadow creatures.
"Bo!" Lauren's voice cut through the chaos. "His power signature - it's similar to yours. He's feeding off the energy in the room!"
"Oh no you don't," Marcus raised his staff, but found himself dealing with a very angry pixie armed with what appeared to be glitter bombs.
"Nobody messes with my bestie's love life!" Kenzi declared, proving that even combat couldn't stop her commentary.
Bo felt her power rising in response to the threat, her eyes glowing brighter as she stepped between Marcus and Lauren. The druid's next spell collided with the energy pouring off her, creating a feedback loop that sent him staggering.
"This isn't over," he snarled, vanishing in a swirl of frost. The shadows dissipated with him.
For a moment, there was total silence. Then:
"So," Kenzi landed lightly beside them, covered in multicoloured sparkles, "best first dance ever, or what?"
"My monitoring equipment," Vex moaned. "Do you know how long those took to calibrate?"
"Attention miscreants."
Everyone froze as Principal Evony materialised in the centre of the destroyed dance floor, somehow managing to look immaculate despite the chaos around her.
"Would someone care to explain," she continued, examining a sparkle-covered shadow remnant with distaste, "why my school looks like a pixie combat zone?"
"Um..." Kenzi started.
"That was rhetorical, Ms. Malikov." Evony surveyed the damage. "Though I must admit, turning a former student's dramatic revenge attempt into a light show is almost impressive. Almost." Her gaze landed on Bo and Lauren. "Interesting partnership choice, Ms. Dennis. We'll discuss that later. For now - someone clean up this pixie dust before we all turn into toads. Again."
As Evony sauntered towards the still standing punch bowl, Bo caught Lauren's eye. The human was already examining the remnants of Marcus's magic, practically vibrating with excitement.
"Dance with me?" Bo asked impulsively. "You know, while we still can?"
Lauren's smile lit up the frost-covered gym. "For science, of course."
"Of course."
As they moved to the music, carefully avoiding the scattered remnants of Kenzi's glitter bombs, Bo caught sight of Claire and Edwin sharing their own dance in a quiet corner. Even Raphael was smiling as he helped clean up, looking more at peace than disappointed.
"Best. Faeloween. Ever!" Kenzi declared, creating one final shower of sparkles.
For once, no one argued with her.
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#How's Kenzi doing as a fae? Leave a review :)