No strangers here, only friends you have not yet met.

—attributed to W. B. Yeats

EARTH

From the other room, Terra could hear Aisha's chipper morning clarion call. "Chug some coffee and get the hell up. Be excited. Today you get to learn to use your magic!"

Poor Bloom. Terra couldn't imagine she was excited. She'd been chased around by a terrifying monster last night.

Everyone was having roommate troubles this morning. Terra herself was faced with a dilemma. Can't go to school in floral jammies. Can't get dressed in front of scary mind-reading roommate.

Terra fled to the bathroom. She was halfway into a shirt when Aisha came all the way into the room, chattering blithely, and sat down to ... Oh. Oh dear.

"... you're peeing in front of me. Okay. That's new. And fine!" Terra added hastily.

Terra was cool. She could hang.

Aisha was magnificently indifferent. "Oh. That weird? Not used to caring. Swim team and all. Were you going to take a shower?"

Aisha flushed the toilet, and stood. She turned on the shower and Terra wondered for a frantic moment if Aisha was suggesting a nonchalant lady shower of togetherness. Terra didn't know if they would both fit, and she wasn't interested in learning.

"No, I, uh ... I was gonna change, but ..." A brainwave struck. "I forgot my bra."

Aisha pointed to the bra on top of Terra's pile of clothes.

"That one?"

Terra gabbled excuses—this bra was too small, it was maybe on fire, she'd never seen this bra before in her life—as Aisha started stripping for her shower.

To change the subject, Terra asked: "Have you seen Stella? I don't think she came back last night."

Stella had probably been with Sky. But would Sky really get back together with Stella, after last year ...?

Nonchalant about this as about all else, Aisha shrugged. These were Terra's longed-for Winx roommates. Staying out all night with boys.

Getting super naked. Each one of them cooler than Terra would ever be. Terra grabbed her clothes and fled.

FIRE

First day of classes, I thought. Time to learn, and not think about being a changeling, or burned monsters chasing me. Happy thoughts, just like in Peter Pan! That's how you fly.

Not literally, because fairies didn't have wings anymore. Emotionally. Emotionally, I would fly. No bad thoughts.

Through my open bedroom door, Musa's voice filtered. "I didn't even think those things were real, but we all saw it. It was creepy as hell. It looked like it wanted to kill her—"

Even Musa's detached voice sounded worried. How could I stop thinking about burned monsters if people wouldn't stop talking about them?

I willed Musa to quit killing the flying vibe.

"What about my ring?" Stella demanded.

What was mortal danger compared with jewelry? Stella's priorities rocked my world.

No. She'd been kind, to loan me the ring. I was responsible. I didn't want to run away from any responsibility.

Chin up, I stepped out into the common room.

It was a bright beautiful space, filled with comfortable chairs and sunlight. There was a light shaped like a fluffy cloud. The common room looked made for a different, nicer conversation.

"That burned thing ... took it," I admitted.

Stella snapped, "What?"

Musa drawled, "Calm down, Princess."

Stella drew herself up in a temper. "Do not tell me to calm down, and do not use my title as an insult."

It was my turn to say What? But I did it in the privacy of my own head.

I blurted out, "You're actually a princess?"

Stella glared. "The ring you lost is one of the crown jewels of Solaria. That might not mean much to a First Worlder, so feel free to ask your suitemates how big of a screwup that is."

On cue, Aisha emerged from the bathroom. My savior, towel-drying her hair. "Almost as big as giving it to her in the first place," she told Stella calmly. "Dowling has the creature locked up. Which you'd know if you were here last night when she gave us an earful."

I was still dazed and amazed by the princess news. Solaria, I knew from Dowling's map, was the realm we were in right now. Stella was the royal princess of this land.

"Quality walk of shame, though," Musa commented.

Musa and Aisha had my back. I appreciated it, even as I wondered where Stella had been last night. With Sky? They'd talked at the party, but talking was one thing, and hopping into bed was another.

I'd kind of got the vibe Sky liked me. I was surprised by how much I wanted Stella to have spent the night with someone else.

Aisha continued on the subject of Ms. Dowling. "And as luck would have it, she wants to keep last night a secret, so you didn't get in trouble."

Musa shook her head. "If anyone knew there was a Burned One in the

First World? Even temporarily? Disaster."

The way Musa said "Burned One" sounded like the fairy name for those creatures, as if the name had ominous capital letters. But Ms. Dowling had saved me from the monster. Perhaps she would help us again.

I offered, "I didn't tell her I lost the ring, but I'm sure if we do ..."

Stella replied, the lash in her voice making everyone jump: "We will do no such thing. I'll figure it out after class. But for now? Nobody tells anyone anything. And will somebody please make sure Terra knows that?

She can never keep her mouth shut."

On that pleasant note, Stella opened the door to her bedroom. For some reason, Terra was changing in there. She'd clearly heard everything, and looked absolutely mortified.

I was too dazed to spare much pity for Terra. It shouldn't have mattered, compared with magic arson and monsters, but I couldn't get over the fact that Stella was the literal princess of a fairy tale. Golden-haired, walking in light, to the castle born.

She was so the heroine of this story.

FIRE

Class today was being held in an ancient stone circle. The stones were gray, some slightly broken and chipped, like the teeth of a vast and long-dead giant. They were placed at regular intervals from each other, in a clearly deliberate pattern in the long green grass. The sense of history, past memory, had me feeling overawed. This circle had stood for centuries before I was born, and would stand for centuries after I was gone. Surely, I couldn't be a part of this.

The subject of our lesson appeared to be a bowl, ancient tarnished iron or possibly even bronze, with an embellished rim and covered with intricate looping designs that looked Celtic. Terra whispered that it was called the Vessel. The bowl stood on a plinth in the circle of stones, and I stood with the other first years in a ring around it. Each one of us was waiting our turn, to show everybody what we could do.

With flaming torches and a tumbling waterfall behind her, blond hair pinned up and navy trenchcoat flaring around her, Headmistress Dowling was at the very center of the stone circle. She fit in here, in a way nobody else did. Her dignity gave this lesson a sense of ceremony, her serious voice intoning the words loaned the lesson an air of ritual.

"Magic lives in the very fabric of nature. And here in our circle of stones, it is magnified. The Vessel tests your ability to channel that magic. A baseline to start your training. Down the road, you may learn to connect with other elements. But your first year is all about the element you were born with."

She began calling elements, as though she was taking attendance.

"Earth. The soil, sand, rock, and all manner of plant life."

No surprise, Terra advanced, placing her hands on the Vessel. Instantly her eyes glowed green and delicate tendrils of ivy sprang from the stone bowl.

Dowling continued: "Water. The lakes and oceans of the world, or the molecules that exist in organisms all around us."

Aisha took her turn at the Vessel. Her eyes glowed blue, and inside the Vessel a tiny whirlpool started.

"The mind. The connection to memories, thoughts, dreams, or emotions of all living beings ..."

As soon as Musa touched the Vessel, her eyes glowed purple, and electric ripples like sound waves cut across the bowl. There was a flash of crimson in the Vessel, the color of heart's blood.

"Or air. Its speed, temperature, moisture; its sound and electrical properties ..."

A girl I didn't know, with dark mischievous eyes and a cleft chin, stepped up to the Vessel. Suddenly, her eyes glowed gray, and arcs of lightning zapped around the bowl. She slanted a confident smile over at Ms.

Dowling.

Ms. Dowling continued as if she hadn't seen the girl's almost-taunting smile. "Whatever your element, the emotions underlying it are the same for all fairies."

Ms. Dowling hadn't given the other girl a glance, but she nodded at me as I approached the Vessel. I tried to take regular breaths and cover my nerves with swagger. I laid my fingertips on the stone loops and curls covering the Vessel.

The steady voice of Ms. Dowling urged me on. "Open yourself up to the magic of the world around you."

I tried.

I stared at the bowl.

Nothing was happening.

"Focus on clear, positive feelings," Ms. Dowling encouraged.

"Yep," I said.

Happy thoughts. Flying feelings. Come on, dammit.

"There's an emotional wellspring that lives deep inside you. Find it.

Step into it. Push through your doubts."

Even Ms. Dowling was starting to sound doubtful. Time stretched on, and the Vessel stayed humiliatingly unresponsive to my touch. The other first years were murmuring behind my back, their whispers filling the stone circle like fog.

Very quietly, I heard Musa say: "This is a disaster." And I knew she was right.

FIRE

After class, the other first years were still gossiping about me, and Ms. Dowling drew me aside under the trees. Even the green leaves above seemed to be whispering mockery.

"It's only the first day," she reminded me, but I wasn't in the mood for a pep talk.

I resented her, standing there eating an apple like someone with knowledge she wouldn't share. I reminded her of some facts, too. "I'm either on the verge of killing everyone, or I can barely light a match."

"You need a clear mind," Ms. Dowling advised. "Distraction can cause magic to be erratic."

I wondered what could possibly be distracting me. I could think of about only a thousand things.

I didn't know I was going to ask the question before I did.

"Am I a changeling?"

I saw that hit Ms. Dowling harder than I'd anticipated. Clearly, she hadn't expected me to find out so fast. I wondered how long she'd planned to keep it from me. I wondered what else she was keeping from me.

"Where did you hear that?" Ms. Dowling asked carefully.

"My roommate saw me lose control in the forest yesterday. Had a tough time believing I was from a long-dormant fairy bloodline."

I repeated the lies she'd told me, the lies I'd swallowed so easily, with bitterness.

"Bloom ..."

Ms. Dowling drew in a breath. From a woman as poised as her, it was as good as an admission of guilt.

My voice went sharp. "Would it have been so hard to tell me my parents weren't my parents?"

"I didn't want to burden you with too much, too quickly." Oh sure. She'd lied to me for my own good.

"So instead you let me learn from teenagers, the most gentle and reliable sources of information."

Ms. Dowling almost winced. "I will admit. It was not ideal."

I snorted. "Ya think?"

"Tone," snapped Ms. Dowling, and I knew I'd pushed her too far.

I didn't want to push her away. I wanted her to help me.

"Do you even know who they are?" I asked softly. "My ... real parents?"

I saw the negative in her eyes before she spoke. "I don't. Which is another reason I didn't tell you."

Abruptly, I lost my grip on anger. I was so tired, all my hopes for the day already crushed.

"So ... what am I supposed to do?"

I just wanted answers. But nobody would give them to me.

"You come to class every day," Ms. Dowling said. "You focus. You learn. You grow. Eventually, the answers will come."

The answers wouldn't come from Ms. Dowling. That much was obvious.

"Cryptic and vague," I said bitterly. "Just like everything else in this place."

I barely knew this woman. I didn't know why I kept looking to her for aid. She'd lied to me, and now she was telling me to come embarrass myself in class day after day. She didn't care about me. Asking Ms.

Dowling for help was worse than useless.

I turned away.

SPECIALIST

On the platforms spanning the lake, two baby Specialists were sparring. Kat was a badass. New boy Dane decidedly wasn't.

Sky called out helpful suggestions. Riven, on the bench next to Sky, called out unhelpful suggestions and mockery.

As he did so, he watched intently as new boy Dane's phone buzzed over and over again. With what appeared to be five thousand messages from Terra. Wow, Riven guessed they were besties now. Or Terra liked Dane. Did Terra like Dane? Barking up the wrong tree there, Terra!

Riven had the urge to mock Terra, but then Terra might strangle him with vines again. He snickered as Kat tackled Dane to the mat.

"Could you try being fifty percent less of a jerk?" asked Saint Sky.

Riven smirked. "That's fifty percent less fun."

Dane headed over to get his phone, presumably so he could read his many messages. He was avoiding eye contact with Riven.

Sky said mildly, "Remember what a lost cause you were last year? Two black eyes and a sprained ankle. Day one."

No, Riven didn't need reminding of last year, and he didn't see why Sky and Terra had to keep doing it. Yeah, he got that Sky had taken pity on him, taken Riven under his wing. Riven just didn't like thinking about how pathetic Sky must have found him. How he'd been hero Sky's charity case.

Riven made a scandalous suggestion about how he might express his deep gratitude for Sky's benevolence, adding, "Thought my friendship was reward enough—"

Sky tipped back his head and laughed. Riven was aware Sky mainly kept him around for the amusement value. That was better than Sky feeling sorry for him.

Then Sky spotted Stella, princess of Crazytown, lingering at the edge of the field. Sky immediately headed toward Her Insane Highness.

Riven turned his attention to Dane. "Get off your phone." "And I'd listen to you because ...?" At least the new guy had some spirit.

Riven threw down the gauntlet. "Because you full creeped on my Insta last night and I'm not telling anyone."

He'd been amused when he noted Dane liking an old picture of him. It wasn't even a particularly hot picture. Obviously, Dane disagreed.

A hot red flush crept up under Dane's clear brown skin. "I was just curious about all the second years, and then my finger slipped, and—"

Riven scoffed. "Your finger slipped? That's what you're going with?

I'm feeling generous. I won't feel that way much longer."

As Dane put his phone down, Riven leaned forward to observe the long stream of texts between New Boy and Terra. Yeah, it appeared they had a real dialogue going. Riven shook his head.

Okay, he decided. He could be like Sky. Do a good deed. Take Dane under his wing.

Yeah, Riven was feeling benevolent. And if that annoyed Miss Terra and all her vine friends, too bad. Riven was virtuously devoted to helping the new kid, who flushed deeper under Riven's continued attention.

"First piece of advice? Pick your friends carefully this year. Second?

Focus. Get your mind in it. You fought Kat with your limbs and you lost.

Being a good Specialist is not about how big you are. It's about strategy."

He called out: "Hey, Mikey! Let's do this."

Dane eyed Mikey with alarm. Probably because Mikey was huge, and Dane was worried Riven's pretty face would get messed up.

Mikey lumbered across to the sparring mat, where Riven walked to meet him. Mikey came at Riven hard. Riven parried two crushing punches.

Then he launched himself and took Mikey to the floor in a choke hold.

Riven glanced up to see if Dane was watching. Of course Dane was.

First lesson. That's how you win, new kid. No mercy. Not for anyone.

Good deed for the day done, Riven strolled away from the training area to find some of his friends. The universe gave him a reward for his virtue when Mystery Girl zipped over to his side. She couldn't stay away, Riven thought.

"Lurky stoner guy, right?" asked Mystery Girl.

"Or Riven," Riven suggested.

She made a face. In the sunlight, she was even cuter. He could reach out and press a fingertip against the cleft of her chin.

"Your name is Riven? Really?"

Riven asked, "Can I help you?"

She purred, "You can."

She entwined her arm in his, leading him away from his friends. He let her do so with a vague feeling of triumph. He'd known she was into him. "You seem like a proper delinquent." "Depends who's asking," said Riven.

She twinkled up at him. "The person who wants to break into Dowling's office. Thought you might wanna help."

"And why," Riven inquired, "do you think that?"

"Because you're a guy, and I'm hot." The new girl locked eyes with him. "Or did I misread the depth of your character?"

Turned out the sexy criminal's name was Beatrix.

MIND

Once people knew you could read feelings, and that your mind magic was strong, they wanted you to read everyone around them. And they never wanted you to read them.

Even Aisha, much as Musa liked her, started questioning Musa as they got lunch.

Musa tried, but she didn't even know how to explain her magic. She worried about scaring Aisha off. She worried about Aisha feeling sorry for her.

And it was difficult for words to encompass the endless chaos that surrounded Musa at all times, pressing in on her from all sides. The lunch lady's back hurt. A new Specialist kid called Dane was feeling frantic and trapped. Terra's dad, the professor, was feeling nervous about something, possibly that dead body, and Musa's words stumbled as she tried to tell Aisha all this and attempted to cope.

And then Musa stopped midsentence, hit by something she'd never felt before. Silence, after so much noise had made silence seem unimaginable.

A calm in Musa's emotional hurricane.

The new sensation was coming from a guy in a green jacket, leaving the room. Musa only caught a glimpse of his back, and then he was gone.

"What just happened?" Aisha asked, beside her.

"Not entirely sure," Musa answered distantly.

She didn't know what had happened, but she knew how she'd felt. Peace at last.

LIGHT

Stella had planned to share a room with her best friend the whole time they were at Alfea together. That hadn't worked out. Now she had to share a suite with first years, and the worst first year of all had gone and lost Stella's ring. Sure, why would anyone be careful with the crown jewels?

Bloom from California clearly believed she could have anything that caught her eye. Stella's ring. Stella's boyfriend. But Stella was keeping Sky, and she intended to get her ring back, too.

Bloom had already somehow won the loyalty of all their suitemates. Terra, Musa, and Aisha were having lunch with her right now. Aisha the perfect roommate was in the midst of explaining her scheme to help poor pitiful Bloom.

"So here's what we should do. Maybe you can make a list of emotional triggers, and we can go through ..."

"Aisha, I appreciate what you're doing," said Bloom, clearly not appreciating it at all, "but I can figure this out myself."

"I'm sure." Aisha didn't sound sure at all. "I just think you're in your head about the changeling stuff, and maybe overthinking?"

The changeling stuff? Oh, that was interesting. No wonder Bloom thought she could grab other people's things. She'd grabbed a human child's whole life and kept it for her own. Stella was getting the full story on that, and soon.

Voice sharp with alarm, Bloom said: "So they all know? About me being—"

"Oh, is that why you were weirding out at the Vessel?" Terra asked. She rattled on: "That makes so much more sense, 'cause it's the easiest assignment we'll have and—"

Musa put a hand on her arm.

"I'm making it worse," Terra realized out loud.

Terra always made things worse. The girl was totally socially inept. She should be confined to the greenhouse for her own good.

Stella took this awkward silence as her cue to stroll up to the table, Sky at her side where he belonged, a map in hand.

"So we have a plan," Stella announced. She spread her map out at the end of the table.

"What is this?" asked Musa, while Terra looked gleeful at the sight of a map.

"Hey. Stella told me what happened last night. Are you okay?" Sky sat down close to Bloom, almost touching. His voice was gentle.

That wasn't part of the plan. Stella appreciated Sky's soft heart, but she wasn't loaning it out. She was holding on to it for herself.

"What do you think?" Bloom asked tiredly.

Sky looked at Bloom with kind, wise eyes. "I think you're freaking out, but pretending that you're not."

"That obvious?" Bloom asked.

"Nah," Sky said easily. "I'm just really good."

Bloom smiled, charmed against her will, her hackles going down.

"Sky?" Stella said sharply.

She stared down her nose at the girl from California. Bloom's hackles went right back up.

"Where do you think they're keeping it again?" Stella asked.

Sky got up from his seat and moved to the map as everyone began to plan how to find the monster Dowling had trapped and reclaim the ring.

Finally, people were concentrating on the important things: Stella's jewelry. As he leaned over the map, Stella put her hand on Sky's back.

Scratching gently. Tracing. Marking her territory. Apparently, Bloom talked to her mother every night and got showered in praise and affection, but Stella's mother had taught Stella more important things. Such as how to stake a royal claim.

Sky began pointing things out on the map with soldierly precision. He was a knight aiding the princess.

"There's only a few buildings outside the Barrier where they could secure a creature like that. And I'm pretty sure I saw Silva heading in from the east this morning, so." His strong fingers traced the map. "There's a barn and a mill—"

"Barn is my bet," Terra piped up. "My dad fortified the beams to chain a wounded horse when I was little. I still remember sneaking in and—"

Stella cut her off. Somebody had to stop Terra's incessant chattering. It was a mercy for Terra, and certainly a mercy for anyone who had to listen to Terra. It was a public service Stella was undertaking for her people. "So we just have to sneak out there to the barn and get my ring."

"Strange how casually you're tossing about the word we," Aisha remarked.

Funny how Aisha was so eager to help Bloom and so reluctant to help Stella. She'd chosen her side pretty fast.

Musa chimed in, "Seems like more of a you kinda deal." Apparently, all the suitemates had.

"Except I didn't lose it." Stella gazed at Bloom significantly.

Message received. "When do we go?" Bloom asked.

Everyone exchanged apprehensive looks. Naturally, Aisha the interferer was the one who spoke up to protect her precious roommate.

"Gonna be blunt here. Sorry. Bloom, you have zero control over your magic. That is if you manage to channel it. Bad idea."

"I lost the ring," Bloom snapped. "I'm gonna get it back. I'm fine."

Bloom was talking sense. She knew what was due to Stella. She wasn't flirting with Sky, Stella had to admit. Maybe the changeling girl wasn't so bad. It sounded as though she was having problems with her magic, and Stella knew all about handling problems with magic. If Bloom knew her place, they could help each other.

Stella's newborn approval of Bloom faded as Sky looked at Bloom like he knew she wasn't fine. But he didn't. He didn't know this new girl at all, and he shouldn't be so concerned about her feelings.

Hesitantly, he said: "Maybe we should take a second to—"

Stella ignored her knight. "Everyone is making this a bigger deal than it needs to be. You said the Burned One is locked up, right?"

"Oh, and subdued," contributed Terra. When everyone blinked at her, she explained, "I'm pretty sure my dad has been distilling this oil that calms it down. It's called Zanbaq."

Terra glanced over at the faculty table, where her father the professor was sitting with Ms. Dowling and Specialist Headmaster Silva.

Terra offered, in a small voice: "I can probably make some more ..."

Terra might actually be rather sweet, if she stopped talking so much, or at least kept saying useful things. Stella showed her royal favor. "Thank you, Terra, for being helpful. And thank you, Bloom, for taking responsibility. And thank you to everyone else for ... nothing. I guess thanks for nothing."

She eyed Aisha and Musa with royal disfavor. She didn't care that they all preferred Bloom. Their feelings were of no interest to Stella whatsoever.

She was getting what she wanted.

Hold on to what's yours, she'd learned as a child. Or you'll have nothing.

Bloom climbed to her feet and addressed Stella alone. "Let me know when you want to do it."

FIRE

Escaping a Specialist wasn't so easy. Sky caught me down by the pond, his face earnest and troubled, his hair ruffled in the breeze. He really did look like the perfect knight. But he couldn't save every damsel he met. He had to pick one.

"You don't have to go along with what Stella wants," he told me as he jogged to my side. "There are other options. Don't do it just because she has a ... strong personality."

My voice was flat. "I lost the ring. Helping her get it back is the right thing to do. End of story."

Sky conceded, "Two strong personalities. Got it."

I looked him dead in the eye. "Clearly, you have a type."

There was a pause. I didn't regret saying it. He'd been flirting a little with me yesterday, and then he'd spent the night with Stella. I hadn't made things awkward. I'd just pointed out where the awkwardness was.

After a silence, Sky offered, "So, yesterday ... when I was ... when we were talking ... I hadn't talked to Stella in months. Yes, we dated last year.

But we had kind of a rough breakup, and ..."

And they'd only talked last night? And they'd decided to just be friends?

"And what?" I asked.

Miserably, Sky said: "I just don't want you to think I'm that guy—"

I cut him off. "Sky. We just met yesterday. I don't think anything about you."

What mattered wasn't what I thought. What mattered was whether he was being that guy. Or not.

"Okay. That's fair," said Sky.

I caught his eye. I liked that he seemed to really listen to me. I did feel a spark when our eyes met: a spark of possibility, of potential.

I chose my words carefully. "Your deal with Stella seems ... complicated. And right now, my life could use less complication. Not more."

So, that was that. Goodbye, fairy-tale knight. The princess could have him.

SPECIALIST

Headmistress Dowling kept good booze in her office. Riven helped himself, lounging in a desk chair as his foxy new acquaintance Beatrix prowled around the books. They bantered while Riven kept an eye on his phone. Dowling took half an hour for lunch. Her assistant Callum got fifteen minutes, so the timing was tight. Riven had posted a lookout, since Callum could get sneaky.

Riven was sneakier. He'd pulled the hood of his hoodie up, since they were sneaking around. "What are you after, anyway? Test answers?"

Beatrix made a disdainful face. "Please. The tests they give now might as well be written in crayon."

She was fun to watch in her little blue tartan dress. Better yet, she was fun to listen to.

"The history of this place is a lot darker than Dowling and the rest of the faculty want us to know." Beatrix turned from the carved stone bookcase back to Riven with a predatory glint in her eye. "I want the truth.

Don't you?"

Riven wanted something, all right. He teased her about being a hot nerd.

She got closer to him as she purred, "Why? Is that a confusing archetype for you?"

Things seemed about to get really interesting when Riven's phone buzzed with a text from Dane, telling him Callum was en route. Baby Specialist Dane was coming in useful. Riven was glad he'd decided to become a mentor.

Riven and Beatrix left in a hurry. Riven never noticed the electric sparks playing along the surface of the stone bookcase, revealing the outline of a secret door.

He did notice Beatrix's self-satisfied smile as they hurried along, but he misinterpreted that. He assumed it was all about him.

FIRE

The stone circle at sunset was beautiful. The glow of the setting sun gave every stone a halo. It seemed like at any moment in this space, magic might happen.

But magic wasn't happening. I kept trying, and failing.

"I hear you're broken," said Princess Stella, strolling into the circle.

And now Stella had come to be tactful to me. Great.

I tried to ignore her taunting and insisted: "I'm still gonna help you."

"And I'm thrilled," Stella drawled, "but I'd prefer we wait until you aren't completely useless. What's the damage?"

I wasn't sure Stella was the best person to let in, but she was the one who was here.

"I ... don't know," I admitted. "And the more I try to figure it all out, the harder it gets."

I made a frustrated gesture to my notebook. Stella eyed the book with even more disdain than she usually exhibited.

"That thing is your problem. You can't think your way into magic."

I sighed. "I know. It's all about clear and positive emotions. There's a page dedicated to them."

"Wait. You made a list?"

Embarrassed, I started to put my notebook away.

"What's on it? Your favorite ice-cream flavors? Otters holding hands?"

Look, otters holding hands were very cute! The princess shouldn't judge. I stuffed my belongings into my bag while Stella listed ideas she found hilarious, including the notion of my mom being proud of me.

"Wait," said Stella. "Probably not that last one anymore, right?

Considering she's not your actual mom."

I stopped putting my things away. I turned to Stella. She'd better not push it.

Stella pushed it. "Am I wrong? Do you still care what your not-mom says? Even though you're a changeling? Who tried to kill her?" My fist clenched.

I spoke through my teeth. "If you say one more thing—"

Stella's voice cut across mine, authoritative in a way perhaps only a future ruler could be. "Put your hands on the Vessel."

"What?"

Stella's eyes were gleaming in the sunset. Her voice in my ear was almost sinister, almost intimate. "The strongest magic comes from the worst emotions: anger and rage. So put your worthless changeling hands on that bowl and feel it."

Uneasily, I looked up at Stella. Her expression was strained with rage, and I saw something there I recognized. I felt something inside me shift, as though I was moving to lower but safer ground.

I put my hands on the Vessel, and flame erupted from the bowl. A hungry leap of a flame, rising to consume something—or someone.

Quickly, I pulled my hands off. The fire extinguished.

"What? You think you're done?" Stella demanded.

Her face was painted by the dying sun, alight with fierce triumph. I recognized that feeling, too. I wanted more of it.

I heard a roar like fire in my ears. I realized I was just getting started.

MIND

"I don't like what Stella is teaching her," said Aisha.

Musa was barely listening. Aisha fretting about Bloom was becoming a regular thing, like Aisha's constant swimming. Musa was busy looking around for the guy in the green jacket, the one who exuded peace. Like a white noise machine of a person.

She kept catching snatches of that peace, but whenever she whipped around, she saw nobody there. She was starting to fear the boy could turn himself invisible and she would never find him.

Even though she wasn't listening, Musa could pick up the emotion Aisha was broadcasting, loud and clear.

"Jealous much? Why's a friendship with Bloom so important to you?"

"Aren't roommates supposed to be friends?"

Oh, sweet Aisha. Musa thought of Terra the Terror, and sighed. "I am not the right person to comment on that."

Aisha wasn't just concerned about Bloom. She regarded Musa sympathetically, and asked about the hunt for Mr. Green Jacket.

Musa poured out her frustration. "I'll feel him around a corner, but whenever I try and track him down? He's never there."

Musa felt another ripple of that sweet, tantalizing peace. At this point, she felt too tired even to whip around and be disappointed once more.

"There he is again. Behind me."

As expected, Aisha said: "There's no one behind—"

Then Aisha's big brown eyes widened. Musa realized that Aisha's gaze was tracking someone, over Musa's shoulder. Mr. Green Jacket might finally be located.

"Mystery solved. He's been walking through walls. An Earth Fairy!"

That was why he'd seemed to keep disappearing. But he hadn't vanished now. Aisha was actually seeing him. Musa didn't dare turn around, but she did have a question.

Musa spoke in a low voice. "I'm not superficial, but ... is he cute?" Then Aisha, a lady who was wildly out of control, called out: "Hey.

What's your name?" No. No!

"What are you doing?" Musa asked in an agonized whisper. "Aisha, do not!"

Musa wasn't good at that thing where people interacted and spoke to each other. She needed time to plan her strategy, and hide her headphones, not be weird. She couldn't do this now.

Only it was too late. A boy's voice, pleasant, relaxed, and slightly puzzled, said: "Um ... I'm Sam. What's up?"

"I'm Aisha," announced Aisha, that vile traitor. "And this is Musa."

Aisha turned to Musa, in a we're-all-friends-here gesture. Funny, because Musa was going to hate her forever.

Sam of the Green Jacket was extremely cute, with soft brown hair and clear white skin and a jawline it would be a pleasure to run her fingers along. It was a shame that Musa was going to have to crawl under her bed, live there, and never see him again.

Musa spoke quietly to Aisha: "I hate you. I will always hate you. I will hate your children and your children's children and—"

Aisha, apparently rendered deaf, told Sam: "Musa has been stalking you."

Musa could barely get out a threat, only a one-word promise of what she would do to Aisha. "Dead ..."

Then all words died in Musa's throat as she met Sam's eyes. What must he think of her? Some freak, clutching her headphones, following him around desperate for a chance at quiet in the chaos.

The last rays of sunshine in the courtyard caught the light in Sam's brown hair. He had smile crinkles around his eyes and his mouth. And

Aisha had just said Musa was stalking him—

Beautiful, peaceful Sam looked at Musa, and murmured, "Lucky me."

EARTH

The setting sun shone through the opaque panes of glass in the greenhouse, onto winding vines and vivid flowers. Some were classified as magical.

Some were not. It didn't matter. Every flower was magic to Terra.

Set at intervals amid the greenery were black lab tables, where they could perform the wonders of science amid the beauty of nature.

Terra was always happy here, and she'd never been happier than she was at this moment. In her special place. With Dane, who was taking an interest in her chemistry equipment and pretending he didn't know what a pipette was. He got her to say the word five times.

She tossed a dead leaf at him. "Do it again and this whole flowerpot's coming at ya."

Dane grinned. He was so, so cute, Terra thought. This was just like last year, being happy in the greenhouse, having someone to hang out with.

Except this was way better than last year, because Dane was a wonderful, adorable person. And Terra was almost sure Dane liked her back.

She touched a plant, and made it bloom into a sunset-orange flower. Just for him.

Dane smiled, teeth white and bright, looking truly impressed.

Then his phone buzzed. Dane texted back, then returned his attention to Terra and asked what they were making.

Terra replied eagerly, "It's an oil. Well, technically an unguent. But thin for an unguent."

She and her suitemates were on a secret mission, to save Stella's royal ring from the Burned One. Stella had thanked Terra personally for helping.

"Ah," said Dane. "An un ... guent."

Maybe Dane didn't understand what a cool thing they were doing.

"It's protection. From the Burned One—in case you didn't hear."

"I did," Dane replied. "Mental that they're back."

Dane's phone buzzed again. Dane took it out again, then put it away, but soon after he mumbled that he had to run and hurried off. Maybe a friend of his was in trouble? Maybe he needed to go train.

Before his phone started buzzing, Dane really had seemed to be enjoying spending time with her.

Whoever was texting Dane, Terra thought, they were super annoying.

SPECIALIST

Riven stopped texting Dane and smirked to himself.

Beatrix was sitting on his bedroom floor, going over a textbook with a highlighter. Smart was sexy.

She raised an eyebrow at Riven's phone and his hilarious messages. "You're gonna help him by making him feel bad about himself? A wellintentioned bully?"

"That's the plan," Riven drawled. "Why? Is that a confusing archetype for you?"

Beatrix slanted a smile at him, this one a little startled as well as impressed. That's right, Riven thought. I'm not just your piece of meat.

Though I'm fully willing to also be that.

Sadly, he couldn't invite Beatrix to despoil his nubile body, as right then Riven's roommate walked in and clocked the Beatrix-on-the-floor-gettinghigh situation.

"Hello," said Sky, all disapproval.

"Hi," said Beatrix, not bothered.

Sky looked at her. Then at Riven. Then back at her. Like Sky hadn't had a girl in their room last night.

Beatrix offered Sky the vape she was holding.

"No, thank you," Sky said primly. "Daytime's not smart, Riv. Silva catches her up here—"

"Beatrix," said Beatrix. "Not her. Beatrix." You tell him, girl.

Riven pointed out: "And Silva left. Kinda snooped to make sure. Something about meeting up with a military detachment from Solaria? Ask your girlfriend."

Sky just wasn't as great at sneaking around gathering information as Riven. It was the good intentions and the inner nobility. Those majorly got in the way.

Beatrix started mocking Sky for dating Stella. Truly, Riven might have found his soul mate.

Sky ignored her. He'd gone all tense. Even tenser than normal. "If the Solarians are coming ..." Sky appeared to be thinking hard.

Riven finished the thought for him. "Means the rumors are true. They captured a Burned One. The Solarian prison is no joke. Guess they're gonna transfer it."

Seemed like a great idea to Riven. Get the murderous monster far away? A big win for the team!

"Upshot is ..." Riven stretched luxuriously. "We got nowhere to be."

Everyone else seemed to disagree. Suddenly, Beatrix needed to go the library at once, and Sky needed to talk to Stella urgently. And Dane was off in the greenhouse, having fun and being pathetic with Terra.

Riven had been totally abandoned. Typical.

WATER

Sky had told Stella the Burned One was being moved. It was now or never. It was time for Bloom, Stella, Musa, Terra, and Aisha to act as a team. Finally.

So it would be great if Stella could stop sniping at her, Aisha thought, and Bloom would listen to Aisha's warnings about Stella's training. This wasn't the spirit of teamwork.

Aisha eyed the back of Stella's hunting green coat. "So what's the plan,

Army Barbie?"

"Did you ask Aisha to come with us?" Stella wondered aloud as the team headed away from Alfea and toward the woods by night.

Bloom kept silent, and Aisha appreciated it. Bloom might be annoyed with Aisha, but she wasn't gonna play Stella's game.

Stella continued, "I don't think you did. And if you didn't ask Aisha to come, and I didn't ask Aisha to come ... It's official. No one asked Aisha to come."

"This is idiotic," Aisha snapped. "You need me. What are you going to do, Stella, dazzle it with light? While Bloom struggles to light a fire?"

Bloom snarled, "I'm right here."

Stella claimed: "I fixed her."

Like Bloom was one of the broken lamps or clocks Bloom had told Aisha she liked to fix. Only Aisha didn't trust Stella to fix anything.

It was so clear Stella wasn't a team player. There was no I in team, but there was an I in ring. Getting her costume jewelry back was all Stella cared about.

"Negative emotions are unstable," Aisha argued. "They have limits.

Your method won't help her in the long run."

"Neither of you are helping right now! Can we just do this?" Bloom's snarl echoed through the trees.

From behind them came Musa's detached voice. "Oh good. Everyone is calm and collected. Perfect."

Terra and Musa came toward them, Terra waving a vial. Apparently, Musa had helped Terra make the oil that would control the Burned One. And Terra knew where the Burned One was being kept. Terra and Musa were both team players.

The mission was a go.

Silence reigned at last between the five girls. As they moved through the trees, the only sound was the soft crackle of twigs and undergrowth beneath their feet.

The scene was wreathed in fog. Utterly quiet. A set piece for a horror story waiting to happen.

They emerged from the trees and stopped short at the sight of the derelict barn. Bloom took a deep breath and forged ahead.

Aisha heard the breathing of the others quicken as they approached the broken-down old structure.

The door of the barn was hanging, already open.

Bloom advanced, so Aisha went with her and Stella came in pursuit of her ring. But even before they entered the gray echoing space, Aisha was afraid of what they would find. Nothing.

The team spread out, Aisha stopping by a pair of manacles, unlocked and open.

"They've taken it already."

They were too late, she thought, distantly despairing. Then Bloom's head swung in the direction of the back door of the barn, which was standing open.

There was a tiny sound. Perhaps it was only the creak of a hinge, but it made Bloom move instantly forward, as though on a hunt for prey. There it was again. Not a creak, or a rustle, but a rasp.

Instinctively, Aisha was about to follow in Bloom's footsteps. Then the screaming began.

EARTH

Terra was just about to enter the barn when she noted Musa going the other way. Musa's eyes were glowing an unsettling violet, and she was stumbling like a sleepwalker in the direction of the creek. Roommates should stick together. Terra changed course.

"You okay, Musa?"

Musa barely seemed to hear her, mumbling as she walked, oblivious to everything.

Until she doubled over, moaning: "It hurts."

Terra moved to help Musa, but Musa's eyes were fixed on the creek.

So Terra's gaze moved to the creek as well.

"Guys!" Terra shouted for her suitemates. "We have a problem!" It was carnage.

There was a black jeep overturned. A truck, askew against a poor wounded tree. Four dead soldiers, hacked apart into hideous pieces. And the lone survivor, Mr. Silva.

The Specialists' commander was sitting slumped against a tree. There was a gash in his side. Cuts on his arms and neck. Blood running from a wound on his scalp.

Terra's eyes cataloged the list of injuries, knowing what this must mean.

"The Burned One," she said out loud.

It didn't seem as though transporting the Burned One to a Solarian prison had been a huge success.

"It's still here somewhere," Stella breathed.

At least they were all together, Terra thought. They could figure out what to do as a team.

Then Aisha said, "Wait, where's Bloom? Bloom!"

There was an edge of panic, even in Aisha's voice. Stella looked as though she was about to take flight. This was ridiculous. Bloom could get eaten by the Burned One. Mr. Silva could die.

Terra took charge. "We'll help Mr. Silva. You and Aisha go find Bloom," she commanded Stella, and Stella nodded.

Terra moved forward to Mr. Silva, who appeared semiconscious. Musa tried to keep up with Terra, but she was clearly in a bad way, too. Mr.

Silva's pain and fear must be an onslaught, bringing down all poor Musa's defenses.

"I can't," Musa whimpered.

"I'll help you," Terra promised. "Come on."

Mr. Silva's eyes snapped all the way open. They were black. His sword was suddenly pointed at them, his mouth locked in a snarl.

To a soldier, it must be terribly disorienting to feel the urge to react as though your friends were enemies. Terra's father had warned her of the effects of a Burned One's attack.

"Be careful, he's not in control," Terra warned Musa. She explained to Mr. Silva, as kindly and steadily as she could: "The Burned One cut you.

You're infected. We're going to help you."

She summoned magic to bind Silva's arms with vines so that his nasty sword wasn't pointed at them. Mr. Silva struggled violently against the restraints, and when he tried to lunge, Musa froze.

Panicking wasn't going to help anybody.

"I have Zanbaq for you," Terra assured Mr. Silva. "It'll calm the infection, and we can get you back to the school."

She turned to Musa. "I'm going to hold his head, but I need you to pour it in his mouth."

Musa hesitated. Terra understood that Musa must feel awful right now, but that didn't change what needed to be done.

"Musa," Terra said firmly. "He's scared. I'm not. Focus on me." After a moment, Musa's eyes met Terra's, and held. She nodded.

FIRE

I was lost in the forest, chasing the sound of the Burned One, but no matter how deep into the woods I went I couldn't find the sound again.

Until I did. The faint rasp sound. Behind me. I turned to face the monster.

Shrouded in fog, the Burned One was staring across the clearing right at me. The monster took a step toward me, and I took a moment. Willing my magic to work. The Burned One charged, barreling down on me. I stood firm and flung up one of my hands.

A line of fire erupted across the forest floor toward the Burned One.

My fire hit head-on, lighting up the night. The Burned One staggered back, writhing as the flames engulfed it, and I found myself smiling.

Gotcha.

But then, the Burned One stopped staggering. Stood upright. Regained its composure—and charged at me again.

Still on fire.

It was possible I'd really screwed myself here.

The monster that was no longer burned, but burning, leaped right for me.

I felt rooted to the ground. Fortunately, its leap was cut off midair by a powerful blast of water. The monster was sent flying, tumbling into the cradle of the upturned roots of a tree. One tree root pierced it, and the body lay crumpled and unmoving.

I turned slowly, already knowing who I would see.

Water to cool my fire.

Aisha.

The kingfisher-blue shimmer of water power already fading from her eyes, she asked: "You okay?"

I nodded, and we looked toward the Burned One.

"Is it ...?" Aisha whispered, as if worried she might wake it.

"I think so. You hit it pretty hard."

Aisha grinned, and nudged me, sharing the victory. "And I'll admit, you had more control than I thought you would."

I grinned back. "Hang on. Is that a ... compliment? Are you complimenting me right now?"

Aisha rolled her eyes, but she was smiling.

"Let's just get Stella's ring," Aisha said, but I was already full-on beaming.

I stopped beaming as we examined the Burned One. My fire magic and Aisha's water magic had not improved its appearance. Aisha squinted. "Where is it?"

"There. It looks like it stuck ... inside itself ...?"

The ring was barely a glint in the creature's arm. The ring seemed embedded in its charred skin.

"So ... Do you wanna?" I asked Aisha, hoping against hope.

She widened her eyes. "Me? Oh no. I did my part. Did you forget?

Water cannon?"

"No. It was so impressive that I thought you'd wanna finish the job." I gave Aisha a beseeching look. She stared back at me.

"Didn't you ...? Who actually lost the ring, again? I forget."

Point taken. I took a deep breath, then I dug my fingers into the charred flesh.

"This is the most disgusting thing I've ever seen," Aisha murmured.

It was the most disgusting thing I'd ever felt. But finally, I got it out.

Aisha cheered. "But she does it!"

My eyes met Aisha's. My heart was pounding fast with victory. My smile woke hers, and I opened my mouth to tell her thank you. For coming after me. For believing in me.

Then the Burned One lurched upright. Aisha and I ran for our lives.

EARTH

Terra had always been slightly afraid of Mr. Silva. He was so stern looking, with his buzzed hair and cold eyes.

Now she had her arm around him, supporting him as he hobbled toward Alfea. Mr. Silva was being so brave, not stopping to rest, though she could tell every breath and every step cost him. Musa was smaller than Terra, and not as solidly built. Terra had to take most of Silva's weight, but she could do it.

As they walked into the courtyard, Terra's eyes scanned the terrain for assistance.

There was Sky on the balcony and thus too far away to help, his arms around a shaken-looking Stella. Terra caught a snatch of conversation: Apparently, Stella had gotten lost in the woods. Really, Stella wasn't good in a crisis. Terra had to trust Aisha would find Bloom.

"Is that Silva?" Sky demanded from above, as though he couldn't believe it.

Oh no, Terra remembered. Sky was really close to Silva. Her dad said Silva was like a father to Sky. It must be horrible for Sky to see Silva like this.

She'd feel sorry for Sky later. Right now she needed someone she could rely on, to help her in this emergency. "I need a med kit from the Bastion!" Terra shouted out the order.

Riven ran to obey.

The sly-looking Air Fairy, Beatrix, offered to get the headmistress. Musa was helping support Silva, Riven was getting medicine, and Terra needed more assistance. She noticed Dane was there.

"Can you help us get him to the greenhouse?" Silva made a low wounded noise and Terra soothed: "Almost there, Mr. Silva."

It was a relief to spot her annoying brother. He was coming toward her and Musa, moving fast.

"Sam!" said Terra. "Get Dad."

Musa said, in a small horrified voice, "Dad?"

"Yeah," Terra told her absently. "That's my brother."

She wondered why Musa looked so stunned. Had Musa not realized that Terra's dad was a professor here? Or had Sam annoyed Musa somehow?

If Sam was bothering Terra's roommate, Terra would tell him off later.

For now she had to concentrate on helping Silva. He was clearly in agony, though he was pretending not to be. When Terra got Silva to the greenhouse and her father, Sky was following hot on their heels.

"How bad is it?" Sky demanded tensely. "Can you help him?" "I'll be fine, Sky. If you'd let Professor Harvey work," Silva joked.

Terra believed it was pride for an instant, but then Sky stepped back. Once out of Sky's sight line, Silva's face twisted, and she realized what was actually going on. Silva was trying to spare Sky, who was frantic with worry. And all Terra could do to help them was prepare the medications to ease Silva's pain.

When her father had a moment to breathe, he told Terra that she'd saved Silva's life.

Terra felt happier than she had in months, until Headmistress Dowling ran in with none of her usual dignity. She and Terra's dad and Sky's dad and Mr. Silva used to fight the Burned Ones all together, when they were young. Before Sky's dad died. Ms. Dowling always looked so calm, but now she looked terrified.

Mr. Silva must not be safe yet.

Terra's father had praised her, and made Terra so happy. But Sky's dad was dead, and the man who was as good as Sky's father might be dying.

FIRE

I felt almost giddy with victory. I'd controlled my magic successfully and brought down a monster with a friend. Terra had texted to say Silva was being treated.

If only Stella didn't have to snipe at us. I would've thought that getting her ring back would improve Her Highness's mood.

"You have no idea what I had to do to get this," I informed her. "It was

—"

"How about we never talk about this night ever again?" Stella demanded.

Then the door to the suite opened, and Sky came in. His head was bowed, and he moved toward Stella as though he was tempted to cling.

Stella's demeanor softened instantly.

She led the way into her room. Just before he went, Sky looked back at me.

But he went into the bedroom after her. I was left outside alone.

Only then Aisha came back from the bathroom. I wasn't alone, I thought as Aisha began to turn down her bed. A roommate meant you were almost never alone.

And maybe that was great.

Aisha said cautiously, "So ... at the risk of making you hate me again

..."

"I never hated you. Everything that's happened to me has been out of my control. I just ..."

"Needed to do it your way," Aisha supplied, with ready understanding.

"Why do you think I swim? The lane markings don't tell me what to do.

Best friends a girl can have."

Lane markings actually were there to indicate what someone should do, but Aisha was trying. Having Aisha try to understand me made it suddenly easy to understand her, too.

"You were just trying to help."

Aisha admitted, "It was only partly about helping you. This, here—it's new for me." She indicated the room, and our beds. "Just want it to go well."

I smiled. "Same."

"Okay, so ... Why did you wander off, at the barn?"

"I don't actually know," I confessed. "Which is strange. I felt something. Like I had a connection to that thing."

"Weird."

Aisha had a gift for understatement. But tonight, I felt too good to let the weirdness get me down.

"I'm realizing I just have to live with weird. I'm not going to understand it all. The thinking side of my brain has limits. But opening up emotionally? I can feel it. The magic is all around me. It's new and kinda scary, but ..."

And our bedroom, Aisha, my new feeling of hope, were all telescoped away. I could hear Aisha calling my name, but she seemed very far away.

Instead, there was a woman leaning over a table toward me, blocking the light. She was in her sixties, wearing a military-style coat. She had long, honey blonde hair and striking features, stress lines carved deep into her skin, and the kind of sunken steel-blue eyes that come from years of no sleep and hours of staring at horrors.

Suddenly, those eyes glowed.

My vision of a mystery woman whispered, "When the time comes ... find me."

And I wanted to. But I didn't have the first idea where to look.