Alakazam!

.   Alakazam! Why does Mr. Herlock have to be so cruel? I thought bitterly while slamming my locker door shut. He knows I don’t have any powers yet and he still made me try to do a spell in front of the class and completely humiliate myself. My family is the second most powerful family, yet I have no magic. Zip. Zero. Nothing. Most witches get their full powers at 13, but here I am 16 and I don’t have one drop of magic. Life stinks. When I got home (aka a huge medieval mansion) I schlepped off my messenger bag and went into the kitchen. “Good afternoon Flame,” my mom said cheerfully while setting a plate of freshly baked cookies in front of me. Whoever said witches eat bats and stuff is an idiot. Bats taste horrible, duh. By the way my real name isn’t Flame its Alana. My mom calls me that because while everyone else in my family is beautifully blonde, I have flaming, slightly curled, red hair. “Good,” I replied with a sigh. My mother, using her motherly powers that every mother has, realized something was wrong. “What’s the matter Alana, dear?” she said in a very motherly voice, the one that makes you feel safe and loved. “Mr. Herlock again,” I replied. My mom nodded understandingly, I tell her everything. But I wanted to be alone and I got up and headed out the door to my meadow. My meadow is about a 10 minute walk into the dense pine forest that I call a back yard. It’s a small clearing. With rich, soft, green grass. Surrounded by the towering pines, it felt like a safe haven, a comfort. Like a friend who doesn’t judge or interrupt you while you pour out your feelings and after that they just nod and give you a big hug. It is my favorite place in the world. Lying down in the soft grass, I let the tears I had been holding in streak down my cheeks, taking comfort from the quite hum of the meadow and a far away call of a chickadee. Sometimes it feels good to just cry, even if it is for no reason at all. After I had finished crying I sat up and wiped the streaks on my face left over from my tears. “I’m not letting that stupid spells teacher get to me,” I said to myself. I just sat there for a while letting the cool breeze wash over me, listening to the song of my meadow. I had an idea then. I had heard, well eavesdropped on my parents’ conversation one night when I should have been in bed, that witches that were having trouble finding their powers went on a journey to Last Hope Hill. Pretty ironic, huh? Legend has it that during their journey they would find their powers! My mom had said no because she said it was too dangerous and I probably was just a late bloomer. It was perfect. First I did some research and found a rough map of were it was. Then I waited until I could start my journey. I snuck out of the house while mom was getting groceries for dinner. I grabbed my favorite green cloak and a large purple backpack that I stuffed some food, a flashlight, extra clothes, a compass, a sleeping bag, a small tent, and as a last minute thought, my wand and pocket knife. I scribbled a quick note so my family wouldn’t worry and grabbed my broom on my way out the door. The map I borrowed/stole but will return, read that Last Hope Hill was in the Dark Forest which was due north of here. I took out my compass and pointed myself north. I had been flying for about 4 hours but it was starting to get dark so I found a good place to camp and after a smaller dinner (I wanted to ration my food) I curled up and went to sleep. The next morning I packed up, ate a quick breakfast, rinsed off in a nearby creek, and flew off. After 2 days of the same thing, riding all day only stopping for food and the night, I finally reached the edge of the Dark Forest. From there the map said the hill was about a 5 mile walk. Since it was getting dark I set up and went to sleep eagerly waiting for tomorrow. I awoke to bright sun rays shinning into the thin walls of my tent. I took a deep breath. I was a little nervous as the dark woods are said to be the home to strange creatures. “Now, now,” I said to myself, “you haven't come all this way just to chicken out at the last second.” I packed up my camp, grabbed a thick stick from the ground to use as a walking stick, took a deep breath, and headed into the Dark Forest. I had been walking for about an hour so I knew I should be close when suddenly a man appered. Well it wasn’t really a man, he was about 5’ 10’’ and he had muscular blue skin. His skin glowed slightly in the shadows and he had neon green eyes. “Who….who are you,” I stammered “My people call me Isrel,” he replied with an accent that I could no place, French? “Who are you,” he asked, “and why are you here?” “My name is Alana Fritz,” I replied noting with pleasure that my voice was steady, “I am here because my people have stories, that if a young witch is having trouble finding her powers she should travel here to go to Last Hope Hill.” “Ah,” he said nodding his head, “you come here for the Trial of Chance. I can see that your intentions are good Alana Fritz. Come. Follow me.” As we walked I couldn’t help looking at what he wore, a dark green shirt and shorts with a belt, and on that belt he had a weird sword strapped to it. The sword was elegant but deadly, I could see its razor sharp edge. It was green and slightly curved; its hilt had a beautiful engraved picture of a forest on it. Suddenly Isrel halted, so absorbed in my own thoughts I almost ran into him. He spoke some kind of language quickly and we went under an arch. On the other side was the most beautiful town I had ever seen. It looked like I walked in to Ancient Rome at its prime. Every building was made with beautiful granite polished so finely it looked like pearl. Isrel lead me straight to the city’s center. The building looked like a temple with beautiful pillars holding it up. He brought me into a large room and in it a throne and on that throne their sat a beautiful woman. She had long auburn hair, glacier blue eyes, and ocean blue skin. She looked at me critically and I began to fee uncomfortable. “My lady Isis,” Isrel said bowing so deep I thought he was going to tip over. “Warrior Isrel,” she replied, “who is this?” “A young witch of the name Alana Fritz, she has come to take the Trial of Chance.” He replied rising from his deep bow. “Ah, Alana dear is it true would you like to take the Trial of Chance?” “Well,” I said nervously, “I don’t know what it is exactly, but I do want my powers.” “The Trial of Chance is a test of heart,” Isis replied patiently, “you will be given a task and what you do about it will then be evaluated. If my counsel thinks you are true of heart I will unlock your magic.” “Oh, ok, what is my task,” I asked nervously. “You must find and kill a puppy,” she replied coldly. “What?” I yelled at the top of my lungs. “Forget it! I don’t want my powers to be unlocked if I have to kill an innocent puppy! What kind of sick minded creature are you!” The whole time I ranted about killing a puppy Isis smiled. As I went on her smile just got bigger and bigger. Starting to get suspicious I calmed down. “Congratulations Alana Fritz, you have passed the test,” Isis said warmly, “you have shown that you would rather be a without magic than kill and innocent animal. For that I shall unlock your powers.” “Mom, Mom, Mom, Mom!” I yelled running into the house. “Alana,” she yelled sprinting down the stars “your home! Are you alright? Where have you been? Your father and I have been worried sick!” Ignoring all of her questions I yelled “Guess what,” but I couldn’t wait for her reply, “My powers have come!” We both screamed together. “Oh, honey, I’m so happy for you” she said in between tears, my mom is really emotional. That night my family had a huge celebration of my returning and having my powers. Over the dinner table I told them of my adventure. Of course I was grounded for the rest of my life but I’m pretty sure that won’t last. The next day my mom pulled me out of school to help me with my magic. A month later I was the head of my class and a powerful witch. Now my life is normal, or at least as normal as it can be for a teen who says Alakazam!