THE MOMENT
"What do you mean you're not going to compete?" Phantae asked.
"Yeah, with you we'd win for sure!" Shayla added. The three girls were in their room discussing the big announcement. Their academy was participating in the Imperial Academy Tournament for the first time ever and the school would be holding tryouts over the next few days. The three girls were the newest students and two of them thought it'd be fun to make a name for themselves.
"It's why I left the other school, remember?" Dara shrugged. The group had met in a different magic academy and became quick friends; but, Dara made a decision to leave. Fortunately, her mother had enough pull to get Shayla and Phantae admitted wherever Dara decided to go and now they'd reunited in a new school learning a new magical curriculum. "I don't want any attention, but if guys want to try out, I'll help you practice," she said.
"Oh yeah,...," Shayla nodded.
"It's probably best that none of us try out," Phaedra added. "Don't want to risk putting Dara in the spotlight again, and we'd have to go to another new school." As Phaedra made the comment Dara hopped off the bed in a sudden rush.
"Company coming, don't freak out; it's just my sister," she said quickly.
"We get to meet one of your sisters!" Shayla was happy to hear it and she maneuvered her wheel chair around to face the black portal that appeared in the center of their room. Phaedra stood up to greet her friend's sister too. As all attention settled on the portal, a pale teenage girl in a white suit with long snow white hair walked out. She looked around and smiled at the two girls before turning her attention to Dara.
"Sorry to bother you at school...," the teen said. "I need approval from another Sharp and the moms are busy," she said.
"Sure, no sweat," Dara nodded. Then, she gestured at Shayla first. "These are my friends, Shayla and Phantae. Guys, this is one of my sisters,' Rhapsody," she said.
"Hi."
"Hello."
They all exchanged smiles and polite nods before Dara spoke up again. "What am I approving?" she asked.
"I want to move El Dorado to the school server for the Halloween event," Rhapsody said. Dara giggled and shook her head.
"Where is it?" she asked. It was a carefully worded question to keep the real secret both of them new. It had been missing and Dara was curious where it was found.
"Mars," Rhapsody smirked. "That's kind of why I need extra approval; and, since it's for the school, Monday can't be part of the process until it's done."
"Is Monday coming too?" Shayla asked. Dara had shared a decent bit about her family and she wanted to meet all the Sharps.
"She can't leave the school unless it's for a quest," Rhapsody shook her head to answer Shayla.
"So, you're just gonna shove it into the games like it was always part of the plan?" Dara asked.
"That's the goal," Rhapsody nodded with a giggle as she offered Dara a red, translucent card.
"Why is that node red?" Phantae asked. She pulled out the node Dara had given her; but, her version was clear. A completely transparent glass card.
"It's like an administrator's node," Dara answered as she pressed her thumb to the red card. It flashed white, and Rhapsody took it back. "High level corporate stuff," she added.
"Thanks," Rhapsody nodded as she pulled the card back and put it into her pocket. "Well, back to work, see you later," she waved as another black portal opened behind her. "Nice to meet you," she said to Phantae and Shayla as she stepped backward. Then, the hole closed with her on the other side and she was gone from the room.
"Wait, when you told us about your sisters... Rhapsody's the fairy, right?" Shayla asked.
"That's right," Dara nodded.
"Oh, huh. I just realized that now. When she got here she was so pale I thought she was the vampire sister; but, that's Monday, right?"
"Half vampire, half unicorn," Dara nodded as she clarified.
"Your family's so wild," Shayla giggled and Phantae joined in with her own laughter.
"Yeah, they are...," Dara agreed. "It's probably why I don't like standing out," she shrugged.
"I can see that," Phantae smiled. "As I was saying earlier, I think the best move would be none of us trying out for the tournament, that okay?" she asked Shayla directly, and the teenage mermaid in the wheelchair nodded.
"Okay, we won't try and compete...," she nodded. "BUT!" she said suddenly. "...is there anyway we can get a tour of Mars!?"