"Carry the four." Aphmau instructs. Katelyn writes it down in her notebook.

"Why do we have this annual test again? It's a waste of time and we get absolutely
nothing out of it." Katelyn groans, looking it a textbook and copying another question.

"I heard a rumor that if you pass the test three years in a row, you get out of this place. Why do you think Cadenza left?" Aphmau says as Katelyn's eyes widen.

"So you're telling me... if I wasn't falling it on purpose... I could've be living somewhere like Scaleswind?" Katelyn smacks her forehead.

Aphmau giggles, "You're get 'em this time, Tiger." She tries to encourage Katelyn.

"Aph, how could you haven't made it out yet? You're really smart." Katelyn asks as Aphmau moves a strand of her out of her face.

"I've passed two years in a row and if I make it this time, I could finally move out of here and start an actual life. Where I can't be "Aphmau Everton, daughter of Sylvana Everton. A danger to everyone"." Aphmau closes her textbook.

"You're finished already?" Katelyn asks while on Page 2. Aphmau passes Katelyn her work.

"I don't mind." Aphmau says as Katelyn takes it.

Ivy bursts into the room . "Dad wants you to run to town for milk. He would do it himself but he's working." Ivy says.

"You wanna come with Katelyn?" Aphmau asks. Katelyn nods, closing her book immediately and packing it up.

"Hurry up, potato. He's running out quickly!" Ivy orders as the two girls walk out of her room.

"Now, Lily!" Ivy hisses as Liky comes into the room.

"Find that dress."

•○●A Purplla Publish●○•

"Weirdo!"

"Odd!"

"A witch!"

"A potato!"

"A dork!"

"A loser!"

Aphmau and Katelyn walk through town quickly to get the milk. "Organic or goat mlik?" Katelyn picks up two types of milk.

"Organic." Aphmau says, about the grab it.

"No way, I'm paying for you." Katelyn says.

"No, Katelyn. I can't let you do that." Aphmau says but Katelyn won't let her take it.

"I insist." Katelyn walks to the cash register with the milk. Aphmau looks around for more items just in case.

"Aphmau?" She hears a voice and turns around. Garroth Ro'Maeve. The new head guard of Phoenix Drop.

"Garroth, no time no see." Aphmau pushes her hair back. She was nervous. Well, of course she was, he was in childhood crush after all.

"How have you been?" Garroth asks, breaking her chain of thought.

"I'm getting a stepmother and two evil stepsisters." Aphmau responds. "How about you?" Aphmau asks.

"After I left Scaleswind, I came here for the head guard position." Garroth explains.

"That's cool." Aphmau turns her head to find Katelyn.

"You've changed a lot. Appearance wise." Garroth points out.

"Thanks." Aphmau mumbles.

You could cut the tension between them with a knife.

"Got the milk." Katelyn grabs her wrist and drags her out of the market.

"'That's cool'?" Aphmau scolds herself as they walk back to her home. They open the door to where her father worked.

"I got more milk like Ivy said." Aphmau places the bag on the counter.

"I didn't need milk. I already had some." Zack takes the milk anyway. Aphmau was confused.

"But Ivy called me to say that you needed more milk." Aphmau says as Zack looks back at her.

"I've got as least two more bottles." Zack points inside of the refrigerator. "At least we won't need to go to the market for a while."

"Katelyn, let's go!" Aphmau says, running towards her room in a flash. She was right. The evil stepsister won again.

"They tore it all up." Aphmau picks up the pieces off the floor.

"When I find them again, I'll-" Katelyn begins to threaten.

"Katelyn, it's okay. There's nothing you can do about it." Aphmau stops her.

She meant it too. Ivy and Lily won this round square and fair. But who said Aphmau wasn't going to play?

"I'll figure this out myself. I need you to go study for the test while I grab a few things." Aphmau responds, throwing the pieces of fabric away.

"Are you sure?" Katelyn asks before leaving.

"Positive." Aphmau reassures.

~~~

"We need Phoenix Drop to declare war on Scaleswind." Chanet, the head guard of Falcon Claw, states.

"War will cost Scaleswind money which goes to ask us to help. We take their land from under their noses and then Phoenix Drop after. Bu the question is how?" Chanet explains.

"We could steal something from Phoenix Drop." One guard suggests.

"Umm not bad. The king is having a party next week for choosing a new queen. Why not her?" Another suggests.

"Yes yes! This may work!" Chanet gloats, jumping across the room.

"But what if the king catches us?" One asks.

"Shut up, John, we know what we're doing." Chanet hisses. He pulls out a blueprint of the Phoenix Drop castle.

"Yes, if the girl lands right here, then you men could get her as easy as 1 2 3." Chanet plots.

"Let's tell the king immediately!" Chanet yells, grabbing the blueprint and running to the throne room.

"My king." Chanet bows in front of the man in the throne.

"I assume you have an actually plan this time. Right, Chanet?" The king asks as Chanet nods vigorously. He begins to tell the king the plan.

"Gather the men, we're taking a visit to Phoenix Drop for the party." The king orders as Chanet runs off.

"I'll finally win this, Aaron." The king clenches his fists in anger.

•○● A Purplla Publish ●○•

Ooooo I'm almost at 1k and there's only four chapters!! Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!!