Song: "Razz" from Music From She-Ra and the Princesses of Power

You and Father took me to the historum when I was seven years old. In the back were several pieces of dark blue-and-white rock that reminded me of the opals and sapphires you used to wear. You told me that the stone was the Stardrop, a broken runestone that belonged to the lost kingdom of Arxia before evil people tried to seek its power, under the influence of a dark spell. Though I am glad Delvala is safe, my father was descended from the king. I couldn't help but imagine if he'd had that sort of power - the power of princesses - and passed it on to me. Perhaps then I could actually do some good in the world.

❂❂❂

Light Spinner passed out papers in class the next week. "Complex light illusions require much more concentration than static spells. With this mandala, you can make your illusion move around or speak."

When she passed the paper to Micah, she was met with a sudden question from the Tropicil boy. "Which spell requires the most focus?"

A headache crept up on Light Spinner's skull. If she answered this question and the Guild found out, she could get in serious trouble; however, surely there was no harm in simple knowledge. "The Spell of Obtainment," she said. "It is the most difficult spell ever attempted in Etherian history."

"What does it do?" Micah asked, leaning forward with childlike curiosity in his dark eyes; those eyes that Light Spinner couldn't gaze at for too long, or she might...well, she didn't know exactly what would happen, but whatever it was wasn't good.

She sighed. "Micah, focus on your work. The Spell isn't something I can speak of carelessly."

"But -"

"Micah."

Frowning, he turned back to his papers for five minutes before interrupting class again. "Who's the lady on the back wall? The one holding the sword?"

Light Spinner stiffened; that image had been there from the time she'd gotten this classroom. "The legendary She-Ra," she said. "You've never heard of her?"

"I have," Ver said as she drew. "My papai has stories about her. He said she's been to Beast Island."

Light Spinner shivered. "Yes, but she is only a myth," she said. "The sixth runestone princess, one who carried her power with her wherever she went."

What I wouldn't give to have that sort of magic. The sorts of things the She-Ra could do in the myths were incredible. Incomprehensible strength. Healing. If Light Spinner had that gift, there was no telling what she could do to make the world a better place. What she could do to make up for her mistakes...

Light Spinner kept making notes as Micah spoke. "Do the princesses ever get tired of doing magic?"

"You mean, do they ever get magic strain?" Light Spinner asked over her shoulder. "Not that I know of. Theoretically, if two princesses were connected to the same runestone, the weaker one might have to recharge her powers; nevertheless, as far as I know, magic strain is relegated to sorcerers. Overzealous sorcerers."

"Do you get magic strain often?"

Did I ever. "No," she said sternly. "I've learned when my power runs out. And soon you will too - but not unless you do your classwork!"

"Fine," he muttered, turning back to his work. Light Spinner turned to the board, finishing the mandala. It was a simple location spell, something every sorcerer learned their third year. Yet it had taken embarrassingly long for her to be able to do such things with any skill.

✧✧✧

The first test for the students came. Veritas came to the hallway first to show Light Spinner a complex light illusion. She beckoned her pupil close and put a hand on her shoulder, trying to quell the girl's chronic testing anxiety.

"Fear is natural," she said quietly. "Do you remember what we talked about?"

Veritas took a deep breath. "'Allow yourself to feel it. Then move past it.' That's what you said."

Veritas curled her small hands around Light Spinner's thumbs. She took several deep breaths. Then she stood back, arranged her hands properly, and drew the mandala needed to create a moving light illusion of a bird - just like Light Spinner had done a week ago.

Light Spinner marked an A down on her sheet. "Well done, Veritas." The satyr hugged her, and though Light Spinner didn't return it, she blushed slightly, her ears drooping. She wanted to protect this sweet child, even if she kept her distance.

A crash sounded from inside the classroom, and her ears spiked up again. What in the three moons...? She and Veritas rushed into the classroom. Micah was tangled between two fallen desks, his limbs tangled into unnatural positions.

"What is the meaning of this?" Light Spinner thundered, plasma dripping from her clenched fists to the pink stone floor.

"He was being an idiot," Asteria said, crossing her arms.

"I was trying to help," Micah said. "You had a spot on the wall - a dirt spot or something - and I wanted to help clean it up. But..." he winced. "Can you help me?"

Light Spinner scowled. Holy moons, let the janitors deal with such things! She cast a kinesis spell, using all her focus to lift the desks high enough for Micah to escape. As soon as he was out, they banged to the floor again, and she fought the urge to show how exhausted she was.

She gritted her teeth, grabbing him by the arm. "You are going to detention," she growled. "And then I have a personal appointment to make with Master Norwyn about this."

✧✧✧

Light Spinner dumped Micah in the detention hall, paying no heed to how upset he looked. Then she grabbed an extra roster of her class, made a cup of black ginger tea, and stormed toward Norwyn's office. There has to be some mistake. I only train students who were focused, talented, and disciplined, not ones like him. Not ones who are rowdy and refuse to listen to me, and put themselves in danger.

Norwyn hadn't seemed to know about Micah's transfer to her class, but the old satyr was known to be cheeky and mischievous at times, especially if it would pose yet another unnecessary hurtle for Light Spinner. Surely he had been involved with the switch.

She barged into his office, slamming the class roster and the tea on his desk. "Explain this. Now."

Norwyn lowered the rims of his half-moon glasses, taking the piece of paper, but only gave her a slight smile. Light Spinner gave a sigh and sat down. "Please can you explain this?"

He nodded. "This is a roster, Light Spinner. I'm not sure what there is left to explain."

"This isn't funny, Norwyn."

"What isn't funny?"

She groaned, burying her face in her hands and trying not to mess with her makeup. "Ahelia's been crazy for years, I swear by the moons, but I never expected you to go along with her!"

Norwyn set down the paper. "First, calm down. Your anger will destroy my office if you aren't careful."

The idea of having that sort of damage on her hands shocked her out of her rage, and she took several deep breaths. Once Norwyn sensed she was calm, he held out his hand. "Now, you explain this to me."

She took his hand. "They transferred Sarah's child to my class. Micah."

"And this...upsets you."

She scowled. "He interrupts class, he refuses to study for tests, he got himself caught between a pair of desks of all things, and I'm the one who has to deal with it -"

Norwyn held up a hand. His brow quirked up, the wrinkles around his eyes prominent when he smiled. "And you didn't do the same things when you were his age?"

Her mouth dropped open. "No, Norwyn. Why would I ever -"

"Being raised Delvalian did not make you perfect in a classroom either, Light Spinner."

"Yes, but - I tried!" she said. "He refuses to learn from his mistakes."

He rested his chin on the other hand. "Ah, then it is a matter of different upbringing."

"I don't follow."

"If Micah has never been to school, do you not think that he would have a difficult time in the classroom?"

He's never been to school before? "I...I don't know." A swallow. "I apologize. I just...he makes me angry."

"Angry. Why?"

He has such an easy time in magic class and I had to struggle through it until I graduated and it became natural to me. I hate it. "I don't know."

Norwyn stroked her thumb. "Micah likely feels the same way. Perhaps you should talk to him outside of class. You two probably have more in common than you think." He let go of her hand. "Good luck, child."

Of course he wouldn't take my side. But perhaps she was in the wrong. Sensing the conversation was now over, she stood, curtsied, and left the room.

❂❂❂

Did you know...

● Light Spinner's own adoptive daughter ended up becoming the She-Ra...but that story is told in the show. *wink wink*

● One of her biggest character struggles in the first half of the show (that's dropped in Seasons 4-5, unfortunately) is insecurity over her lack of natural talent in magic. I simply expanded in this book upon some of the reasons why she's so insecure.

Tell me what you think...

● What do you make of Norwyn's advice to Light Spinner?