SCB

“Beautiful,” Celestia thought. Strange was the word that usually used to describe her, but the medicine man’s son Nicko, in training to become a wizard, had called her beautiful. She knew she wasn’t what with her pimples and growing warts. She knew that it was only going to get worse with age, and maybe someday she would look like the Master Enchantress, who was over 1000 years old. She had gone through a horrible process called the Death Process, to live forever. But she had made an error, and it didn't give her eternal youth, like she wanted. The only way to put her out of her misery is for someone else to willingly go through the process. As you could think, this was something that was a threat to these people.

“I can’t believe it, Water. I just can’t believe it. I’m not pretty. In fact, I’m the complete opposite,” she told her friend Water, a mage in the art form water. Every Apprentice is renamed Water, Fire, Air, or Earth. This means you can tell easily who is what. The lower forms of the art are Light, Dark, Electricity, Love, and the form that has been long-lost, Stars.

“Why can’t you believe it, Cel? You’re really pretty. And if you don’t think so, go to the medicine man and ask for a SCB,” Celestia looked puzzled.

“What’s a SC…” she started to ask, but Water’s teacher called her away.

”Bye, Cel. Hope you figure out your problem!” she called cheerfully. Celestia sighed. She probably won’t see Water for another few months because Water’s instructor kept her really busy. With nothing else for her to do, she turned and walked to the Market, heading to Nicko’s uncle’s glass shop, determined to find the perfect piece to brighten up the tiny room she shared with her sister at the Enchantress Boarding School. When she reached the dusty destination, she was surprised to find that the shop was crowded.

"What's going on, Aramin?" she asked Nicko's uncle. "I couldn't tell you that, but suddenly, everyone wants to buy my glass balls. They have always been a popular thing, but now I can't make enough. Can you freeze time yet?" he asked her. Celestia shook her head. "I can only freeze it for a few seconds, and it hurts afterwards. Sorry,” she said, not meeting his eyes. Aramin sighed. “It’s ok, Celestia. It was a wild guess. After all, you are still pretty young…” he shrugs and goes to the back of the shop to make more glass balls. Celestia came back out of the shop and used her long-distance hearing to listen for the familiar drip-drop of Water’s exercises at the river. But no such luck. “She must be studying in the Library. I should get back to school before it gets Dark,” Celestia shuddered at the thought. Dark was feared, because if you get caught in the Dark, the enchantresses will have their way with your punishment. Dark is evil, and that was that.

When she got back to the Boarding House, chaos was erupting. “What is it, Electra?” she asked her friend, an Electric. “Earth and his apprentice have been captured!” Electra exclaimed. “What!?” Celestia asked. Earth had been her friend, she had been quiet and calm, the perfect qualities for her job. Like Water, she hadn’t seen Earth a lot, but that somehow kept the friendship going. Celestia broke down and started crying.

After she had dried her tears, Celestia used her hearing in the city. She heard Earth’s friends and family crying over the loss, she heard Fire’s Apprentice secretly cheering because they had never gotten along. “Celestia? You still awake?” asked her roommate, Cara, a Love enchantress. “Yeah, why? You can’t sleep either, can you?” Celestia asked. “No, I’m too busy worrying about Earth and the Apprentice to sleep. I wouldn’t be surprised if tomorrow’s lessons are canceled because nobody could sleep,” Celestia nodded, unseen by her partner. Celestia called back her hearing, then she laid down on the pillow and schemed. She thought up a plan, and her last thought was about how Water will react to her plan to get Earth back.

The next time she saw Water was at the service to send out search parties and to set sentries to keep the other art forms safe. "I bet those rouge Dark enchantresses took Earth and the Apprentice. They're the only ones so evil, so cruel to kidnapped what is the staple of our city's life!" Air said to her Apprentice. Earth and Air mages always get along, because they're so similar. Water gets along well too. Fire doesn't get along with any mage except to the lower one Electricity. Celestia was manuvering the crowd looking for Water. When she finally found her and explained her plan, Water was excited but scared at her daring.

Later that night, they meet in the town square under the fullmoon. "Water?" Celestia asked. A steady drip-drop of footsteps announced her arrivel. Water looked freezing in her thin clothes. "I can't believe we're doing this, Cel. I thought about it, and it's crazy! What about Dark enchantresses, or the kidnappers? What if we meet them, huh? What will happen then? My teacher will freak!" Celestia stopped her. Something had changed about her. Suddenly she was glowing like the moon. "Cel?" Celestia looked up at her with eyes as clear as crystal. "Yes, Water?" she asked. Water stepped back. She sounded, different. Her voice was as soft as silk and her hair glistened with stars."Come on, there isn't much time. Earth and the Apprentice are waiting for us. I can feel their pain, hear their cries. They have been trapped high, away from their life source. Their kidnappers are clever, we are not a match for them. They wish for a sacrifice, a trade for the most powerful being in the city. They will come tomorrow with the captives. We must be ready," Celestia closed her eyes, and her hair stopped glowing. She transformed into the Celestia Water has known all her life. But something had changed. She stood a little taller, had a little weight lifted of her shoulders. She had finally released what was bottled up inside her for so many years.

She was a Star.

Water

'What is water?' her teacher had asked her the first day of training. Water, that Azula, had answered, "Water is the flowing art form. It keeps the others together, though it may be hard. Water needs to be calm, so people can cross borders without war." Water had been calm and collected that day. Ever since then a pool of water placed in her room had reflected her emotions. Never once did the small pool ever stir. But in a moment, her sanity and calm was whipped away. Her reflection pool was churning, waves rippling the surface. Water couldn't process it. Celestia was a Star. A Star! "It's impossible," she thought. Stars were a legend, long lost art form. She had imagined it. But then, she hadn't. Cel had changed. Water heard footsteps coming down the hall of the Mage House. Water couldn't take it anymore. When her teacher came in and asked how she was doing, Water told her everything. Her teacher freaked out. She called Air and told her about how the captors would come for the strongest. "But who is the strongest?" The Air Apprentice asked. She was only 10 and just starting. Water and Air's teachers exchanged glances. "Water, you need to talk to Celestia. Go, go!" she shouted. Water got up and raced out of the room.

Water later found Celestia in her room, staring into space, literally. She was doing a ritual that Water later learned as scrying time. "Cel?" Water's voice was barely a whisper. She made a conscious effort to be louder. “Celestia!” she said, just like her teacher when Water wasn’t paying attention. Celestia stirred, seeming to wake up. “What, Water?” she asked, sounding irritated. “You told me yesterday night that the kidnappers want the most powerful mage in the city, right?” she asked, her voice shaking. “Yeah? So?” Celestia was grumpy and tired from her scrying and couldn’t focus much, but she was coming out of it. “Well, Celestia, I hate to tell you, but you’re the most powerful, and the kidnappers won’t settle for anyone else. You have to sacrifice yourself to save Earth and the Apprentice,” Celestia looked calm, unhurt by her statement. “Yes, I thought so. Earth must return to restore balance to the city. They will arrive at noon. Bring me to the Hall, and I will prepare myself for the transfer,” Water nodded, then backed out of the room. Celestia laid down on the bed again and lost herself in the eternal length of time and space.

Celestia

Celestia was trying to scry the night Earth was captured, but so far, she could only scry what was happening that moment. Frustrated, she sleepwalked downstairs for a midnight snack. Her friend Cara slept like the dead, so she snuck through the halls and down to the kitchen without anyone stirring. Ever since she discovered that she was a Star, she could become one with the night. Nobody ever knew she was there.

The next day, as Celestia had predicted, the kidnappers arrived with well-thought out cages designed to hold their captives high above their life source. Earth and the Apprentice looked sickly, thin, and pale. The lead captor was a strong guy who had four guards protecting him plus all eight buff dudes carrying the cages. He had a way with his words, making everyone listen to him even if they didn’t want to.  “People of this city!” his voice boomed. Everyone looked his way. Celestia prepared herself inside Mage Hall. “As you can see, Earth and her little apprentice have been lodging with us for a couple of days. But they have not enjoyed their stay, so I thought I might invite one of the more willing to join us,” He had a clever voice, one that knew what he was dealing with and saying things that would make the crowd attack him. Water’s fists clenched, but she kept her cool. The captor continued. “Does anyone know who I could talk to for an invitation?” he asked. Water’s teacher stepped forward. “Follow me, sir, but lower the cages first. Then we will talk,” The captor nodded, showed his yellowed teeth in a gruesome smile, and walked towards her.

Water

“Celestia, are you sure you can do this?”