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"My name is Kristine McAura, but I go by Kris. The only thing you need to know about me is that I don't do friends."

Usually, when someone is new to class and the teacher asks them to introduce themselves, they talk about their hobbies or something they adore and they always, always end with; 'I hope we can all be friends.'

Not me.

As you can tell, my name is Kristine, and I'm not like other kids. My parents say I'm special... yeah, right. Every kids' parents say they are special or unique. Sure, I'm unique, I have super quick reflexes and a photogenic memory, so what?

I have a weird hair shade, it's like a mix between black and purple, or like a grey purple? I'm not sure. I always have it in either a ponytail, or in a loose over-the-shoulder braid. My eyes are such a dark grey that they seem black and I will admit that I'm short, but I prefer to call it fun-sized. I'm pretty tan, but that's probably from that year that we went to Egypt.

I don't really get to learn much in the way of hobbies. I mean sure, some people only have to work for about a year to figure something out, not me, unless it's something I'm good at, and it doesn't help that I'm constantly moving around the globe every year.

That's the reason why I'm the new kid, introducing myself to the Year 10 class of this year. My parents move every year because of their job.

They work as English teachers. No, not the normal Literature teacher, they actually teach the language; English. We've been moving from place to place ever since I was 5, whether it is to a new state, country or even sometimes a new continent.

It's one of the reasons I can't have friends. I mean, I can... but I just don't handle long-distance relationships very well. I have my reasons, but... I rather not talk or even think about them.

Anyways, let's get back to the present...

~

"Thank you, Ms. McAura. You may now take a seat at the back of the classroom. There should be a spare seat there."

As Kris walked to the back of the classroom, she could feel the gaze of basically every student in the classroom on her. The teacher, Mrs. Stevenson, cleared her throat and to Kris's relief, all the students turned their attention back to the front of the classroom.

Finally making it to the back row, Kris spotted the one spare seat. It was slightly behind the back row.

Either the students don't like newcomers, or the last student to sit there was either a trouble maker, or hated by the class. She thought to herself as she plopped down in the seat, placing her backpack next to her.

"Okay," Mrs. Stevenson started. "So today, we are going to be learning about Medicine."

That's not a normal subject, is it? Kris thought, looking around the classroom to see the reactions of the other students. They all seem relaxed. Weird.

~

"That's her!"

Kris looked up to find a group of 3 students, 1 girl and 2 boys, making their way towards where she was sitting. She had been sitting in the rooftop garden of the school, trying to find some peace.

The girl who had just spoken was a short, petite girl. She was pale and had such bright orange hair that it looked as if it was on fire. Her brown eyes were glowing with excitement and a need for adventure.

"She's cute."

This time, it was one of the boys who had spoken. He was tall, but not as tall as the other boy, and he was well-built, which was easy to tell since he was wearing a singlet, even though it was the middle of winter. He had such light hair that it seemed a snow-white color and his eyes were an icy blue color that would send chills down the spine of the toughest soldiers.

"Stop flirting with everyone, Robin!" the second boy smirked. He was a bit taller than the other boy, Robin, and he was tan, unlike the other two. He had chestnut brown hair and bright green eyes that glowed with mischievous intent.

"Adam, don't even start!" the girl scolded, putting her hands on her hips. "We all know that you're the bigger flirt."

"You caught me, Ash." The chestnut boy, Adam, chuckled.

Satisfied, the girl, Ash, turned towards where Kris was still sitting on the floor, watching their interactions. Ash held out her hand towards Kris.

Sighing, Kris took the girls hand and Ash pulled her up.

"My name is Ashley Turner, but you can call me Ash!" she chirped. "And these two knuckle-headed flirts are the twins; Robin and Adam James."

"I'm older!" Adam grinned, punching Robin on the arm in that brotherly way.

"By 1 minute!" exclaimed Robin. "You are older than me by 1 minute and that's only because I didn't want to come out!"

"Okay, that's enough of all that icky stuff!" Ash shouted, turning towards the twins, then lowering her voice. "You know I don't like talking about that stuff."

"Sorry, Ash." the twins apologized in unison.

Ash turned back towards Kris, "Anyways, it's nice to meet you!"

Looking at the group, Kris sighed, "Just so you know, I don't do friends."

"We know," Adam replied. "Ash told us."

"Yeah, we just wanted to tell you something about this school." Robin explained. "Be careful when you step through the door."

Right then, the bell rang, indicating the end of lunch. Thanking the group for no apparent reason, Kris then started to walk towards the door going down to the ground floor of the school.

Right as she left ear shot, a sparkle caught Kris's eye and she turned to look at it. It was a sparkling stone. Kris stopped to pick it up and then kept walking. She was so distracted by the stone that she didn't realize she was about to walk into a wall.

She only knew when she heard Ash shout out to her; "Watch out!"

Kris looked up just in time to see the wall turn into a giant gaping black hole. Unable to stop her foot from landing in nothingness, she screamed as she started falling. She gripped the stone tight in her hand and tried looking around for something to grab.

There was nothing. Absolutely nothing. Only darkness.

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How had that wall turned into a gaping black hole? Kris thought. She was still falling into nothingness. I was too focused on the stone!

Kris looked around for the 100th time, trying to find something, anything that she could grab onto to stop her descent.

I wish I could just stop falling! She thought in desperation. And her wish came true, for as soon as that thought left her mind, there was a blinding light and then, she was in the sky. She looked down and gasped, there was ground, but... she was still falling and steadily gaining speed.

Kris screamed as the ground came closer, shutting her eyes so tight that it hurt.. She was waiting for the impact, but it never came. Instead, the wind from falling fast eased and she landed softly on the gentle grass.

Opening her eyes, Kris had a look of wonder on her face as she lay on the ground, safe and not squished by the force of the impact that should have been.

How did I not die? she thought in wonder.

"That, my darlin', is an excellent question."

Jumping to her feet, Kris looked around, searching for the source of the voice. When she found it, she gazed in awe. The man before her was gorgeous, like unnaturally gorgeous. He looked to be the definition of perfection. He had golden hair in a perfect slick-back style and his blue eyes shone in the afternoon sun.

"Who are you?" she asked, unable to stop herself.

"Why, I'm your future partner in crime," the perfect man explained, grinning. "My name is Malveric and you, are the chosen one."

Kris looked around, suspicious. She searched for the trio that she had just been talking to, but couldn't find them. They have to be pulling a prank on me! she thought.

"Who's playing a prank on you?" Malveric asked.

Looking at the man in surprise, Kris asked, "How did you know what I was thinking?"

"Why, it's one of my gifts," Malveric explained. "What's yours?"

"Um, I need to get to class," Kris said slowly. "I have no idea what you are talking about, but could you point me in the direction of the school? I have to get back there. I don't want to get a detention on my first day."

"I guess you should go to school," Malveric said thoughtfully. "It would help you to discover your gifts and magic."

"Okay, dude," Kris said, starting to get impatient. "I don't have time to for your silly games or acting or whatever you're doing, so can you please just, tell me where my school is?"

"Feisty, aren't we?" Malveric chuckled. "But, alas, I cannot do that. Although, someone is coming here to find out what the commotion is. They can take you."

"Why can't you just take me?" Kris exclaimed, throwing her hands in the air.

"Because I have to go," Malveric smiled. "See you soon, Princess."

And with that, he was gone.

"Hello?" a new voice called. Kris turned around and saw a bush moving. Then, another boy came into view.

What's with all the boys? Kris asked herself, sighing. And what did that guy mean? Calling me Princess? Was that some sort of pet name?

"Who are you?" the boy asked, dragging Kris back to the present. "And what are you doing in the Fernwood Forest?"

"The what-now?" Kris asked, looking at the boy. He was just as handsome as Malveric, but different somehow. The boy had charcoal black hair and deep midnight eyes.

"The Fernwood Forest?" the boy said again, seemingly confused. "How have you never heard about it? It's in the center of the world."

"I'm sorry, but I've never heard of it before," Kris said. "Um, my name is Kris, by the way."

"Nice to meet you, Kris!" the boy exclaimed, grinning. "My name is Zero. Zero Garvel. You must be the new student that Professor Nickle was talking about."

New student? Kris thought. Nickle? Why does that name sound familiar?

"Um, where is the school?" Kris asked, looking around for the first time. The clearing they were in was beautiful. There were oak trees surrounding it and different kinds of beautiful flowers were scattered all around, leaving a space large enough for her and Zero in the very middle, where they were standing.

"Follow me," Zero said, grabbing Kris's hand and leading her out of the clearing. Kris noticed, just as they were leaving the clearing, that a path of grass had made way for them when they walked on it, and as they left, flowers bloomed where there had been just grass.

Zero continued leading Kris through the forest until the trees started to thin and eventually, they were looking at the most magnificent view that Kris had ever seen.

In front of them was a beautiful valley, with a clear, glistening river cutting it in half. On the side that Kris and Zero were on, with the forest, was a beautiful meadow of flowers of different shapes and sizes, and on the other side was a magnificent castle with smaller, no less magnificent, buildings around it.

"What is this place?" Kris asked, gob smacked. "It's absolutely beautiful!"

"You've never heard or seen the Fernwood Valley?" Zero questioned, an astounded look on his face. "Everyone in the world knows about it!"

"Um... I don't think you and I have the same aspect on the world, because I have never heard of the Fernwood Forest in my life," Kris exclaimed. "It looks like something you would see in a fantasy movie."

"Wow," Zero exclaimed. "Have you been living under a rock your whole life?"

"No, I've basically traveled the world!" Kris exclaimed, loudly.

"Well then, the only possible explanation would be the you're from another world." Zero said, matter-of-factly.

"That's lunatic!" Kris exclaimed in disbelief. "How is that the only possible explanation?! That's not possible!"

"Why?" Zero questioned.

"Well, because for that to be possible, magic would have to be real!" Kris answered.

"But, magic is real." Zero responded.

Kris stared at him in shock. Did he just say magic is real?! Unsure of what to say, Kris just gaped at Zero, who in turn chuckled at her shock and lack of words.

"I think it would be best if I take you straight to see the headmaster," Zero exclaimed, grabbing Kris's hand again. He led her down through the valley. Kris noticed that the flowers and grass were yet again making a path for them.

"Do flowers and grass usually do that?" Kris asked, indicating the path.

"No, actually," Zero said, smiling. "I guess you're so special that the flowers and grass want to do that for you."

As if confirming his answer, a vine rose up from the ground and placed a flower crown on top of Kris's head. She smiled as she felt the soft leaves and flowers being placed gently on her head.

"I guess that answers that," Zero chuckled.

After we had cleared the flower meadow, there was the river. Though, that wasn't really hard to cross because as soon as the duo stepped on the river bank, a bridge appeared, so it was pretty easy to cross. There was another sparkling stone that caught Kris's eyes and she wanted to get it, but it was in the water.

Then something happened that made her smile. The water became semi-solid and brought the stone to her. Zero was watching in amusement as Kris beamed in joy.

"This is the second sparkly stone that I've found today," she explained, pulling the first one out of her pocket. "They're so pretty."

After putting the stones back in her pockets and crossing the bridge, Kris and Zero finally reached the castle.

"Welcome to Fernwood Castle, also known as Fernwood High school," Zero exclaimed. "This is where you will be staying, probably.

Kris stared up at the castle in shock. This was not her school.

"You're probably very tired," Zero said. "But we need to get you to Professor Nickle, he probably already knows you're here."

"That is correct, Mr. Garvel," a deep voice sounded.

Turning around, Kris gasped. The man standing in front of her, looked almost exactly like her father.

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"So, you're telling me that; one, I came from another world. Two, you are my father's older brother, therefore my Uncle, and three, magic is real?!

"Correct."

"Wow." That's all Kris could manage to say. Her supposed Uncle, whose name was Kyle Nickle, had just told her that she had walked through a doorway, aka the wall she was about to walk into, that transported her to this world where magic was used basically every day, and that she had magic.

"So, Kris isn't really from here?" Zero exclaimed, having been there for the entire conversation. "She's from another world called... E-arth?"

"Earth," Kris corrected. "And yes, I come from a place that doesn't use magic... well, as far as I know of."

"It does have magic, to some extent," her Uncle said. "Even your parents know about it, of course they do have magic of their own, but they prefer to use it for travelling sickness."

"Is that why I never got sick in the car or on an airplane?" Kris asked. "Or why we never seemed to get jet lag?"

"Correct," Kyle beamed, happy that Kris was starting to understand.

"What's a car? And an airplane?" Zero asked.

"Something from Earth," Kris exclaimed.

Thinking over everything she had just heard, there was one question out of the millions that were fighting inside her mind, that she had to ask; "What kind of magic do I have?"

"That's something we need to find out," Kyle said. "But for now, we need to find out what classes you will be in this year."

"What about the school in my world?" Kris asked. "What about my classes there?"

"Don't worry about that," Kyle explained. "That school is just a cover up for the people travelling to Earth to and from here. They usually do so to find new people, which we haven't been able to find in a while."

"And classes are determined by a little test!" Zero exclaimed, looking happy to be able to give some information.

"Correct," Kyle said. "Let me just get the test."

Searching through his desk, Kyle finally pulled a piece of paper out and handed it to Kris, giving no more explanation than; "Answer honestly."

Wondering how a test could possibly determine her classes, Kris just answered the questions, honestly, like her uncle had told her to. After completing the last question, she handed the paper back to him and he placed it in a drawer. A second later, he pulled out another piece of paper and handed it to Kris.

"This is your schedule," he explained as Kris grabbed the piece of paper and scanned through it.

"What's with the different shades?" Kris asked, looking at her schedule. "And where are subjects like Literature and Mathematics?"

"Well, you see in this world, there are 2 different types of high schools," Kyle explained. "There is of course a normal primary school that is for everyone, with normal subjects. Royalty excluded on some occasions, but with high school, it doesn't matter if you're royalty or not, if you have a gift; which is an individual's unique ability, you are sent here, to Fernwood High, where we have classes such as those on your schedule. If you don't have a gift, you go to a normal school like those on Earth."
"And the different shades are the different tiers of that subject," Zero cut in. "The darker the color, the more advanced you are. The white ones are are year based so everyone your age has those classes."

"Yes, now if you would please hand me your schedule so I can take a look," Kyle exclaimed.

Handing over the piece of paper, Kris watched as her Uncle's face turned from one of complete calmness to one of immense surprise.

"Well, this is certainly a turn of events," he exclaimed. "You are in the top tier for Stealth & Acrobatics, and second top tier for both Combat and Sport."

"That's crazy!" Zero exclaimed, leaning over the desk to look at the paper. "Including me, there is only 3 other people in top tier Stealth & Acrobatics. And second for both Combat and Sport? Are you some kind of Ninja Fighting God in your world?"

"I've never fought in my life!" Kris exclaimed, loudly. "And I'm always moving around the globe so I don't have time to practice any skills!"

"Well, the test doesn't lie," her Uncle said. "It is determined on your answers and the test has its own scoring chart, so we have no idea what it is based on. Either way, you are going to need to settle in. Zero can you take her to the dorms? She has the dorm next to yours."

"Yes, sir!" Zero saluted and, grabbing Kris's hand he, yet again, started to lead her to the dorms.

"Bye, Uncle Kyle!" Kris called out, just as they ran out the door.