Mena paced the floor frantically. How would she have been so naive? Everyone in the school despised her guts for what she had done. She had neglected her duties and this Razzel Dazzle was a clear opportunist. Get close to her while everyone didn't want to touch her like some rotten liccan egg and then make off with her magic books for nefarious reasons?! That was Razzel's M.O. The only question left was why?!

  "That son of a witch…" Mena growled to her two person audience of Straw-Woman and Trudy. "Er…I mean, daughter of a magician. How could she do this to us?"

  "Told ya!" Straw-Woman said, bouncing up and down her pole. "Humans are untrustworthy and only use people to get what they want. That's why I should have always been your number one choice in New Best Friend!!!"

  Mena narrowed her eyes at Straw-Woman's lack of self awareness. "Like you're using me to get more brains?"

  "Well…" Straw-Woman said, holding up her hay hands defensively. "I…uh…I just heard a funny joke! What did everyone think of the strawman comedian?! That he was hay-larious!"

  Unfortunately, the stupid joke only made Mena and Trudy more grim. Mena didn't even honor straw-woman with a response. "Trudy…" she answered softly. "What could she possibly want with my book? I mean, it has rare info about underwater Nightcreepers including the dreamfish. Not that I'm actually going to catch one…eh…maybe we'll just let her have it."

  Trudy expanded her cheeks angrily like a nightpuffer. "Mena, you don't know what she could be doing with it. We don't even know if she belongs to this school! She could be an agent of Anguish for all we know! I know you turned your back on capturing the dreamfish but you can't let this Razzel Dazzle just waltz in and steal our stuff. Imagine she stole one of your romance novels instead!"

  Mena scowled and balled up her fists like they were boxing gloves. She socked the air like it was Razzel's jaw. "Let's show her what happens when a magician steals from us! She doesn't know us Witches can give stitches!"

  Trudy shook her head at Mena's sudden passion. "Or…" Mena giggled. "A strong lecture not to steal from your friendos!"

  ***

  This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  Razzel Dazzle had made it down the cloud wall and into the tunnel to the cafeteria. She was hoping to vanish entirely from sight when suddenly, a bold (and quite lispy) voice made her nearly jump to the ceiling and throw her poached Nightcreepers of the Deep book. "Drop that book and hands up, thief!" Mena cried, her silhouette and Trudy's larger frame standing in the light of the entrance to the cloud wall.

  Razzel's breath charged the air. She couldn't let that ancient tome go. No. Her caretaker's life depended on it.

  All she had to do was "presto disapearo" out of there and she was home free.

  "I can explain!" Razzel said, but she wasn't planning on it. Just hoping to buy some time with the stupid witches.

  Surprisingly, Mena didn't answer. But she pointed with a loud scream. "Wowie Zowie!"

  Razzel gasped. Wowie Zowie was here?! That wonderful magician dreamboat who helped her get to the dream castle to start with?!

  She looked over her shoulder. "Where?!"

  Mena giggled. "That the first time I've ever used my catchphrase as a weapon. Fire blast! On her stupid magic hat I'll cast!!!"

  There was suddenly a sizzling sound on her head. Razzel looked and her hat was smoking and crackling with crimson embers. That dirty witch managed to set her way of escaping ablaze. She was smarter than she looked.

  "Stop…" Mena shouted. "Drop that book and roll!"

  "Never!!!" Razzel attempted to put out her hat and hold the book at the same time. She threw it on the ground and started to do a stompy dance over it. "Good job, Mena!" Trudy chuckled in her boisterous voice. "Now I'll perform something even magic can't do to stop her! "

  Even if she had managed to save her burning hat, Razzel's eyes widened as a large shadow looked over her. It was coming right at her and before she knew it, Trudy had thrown all her body weight in her squishing her tiny frame.

  Razzel groaned as her yellow sparkly lights danced in her eyes. "What lovely stars today," she remarked, not realizing that they weren't just on her hat.

  Mena walked over to Trudy. "Good job, Trudes! If only Leo could have seen that tackle, he'd have a great magic ball partner!"

  Trudy sighed sadly. She missed Leo deeply. Mena patted her on the back. Together, they scowled at Razzel who had managed to shake the dizziness out of her vision. Looking up at them, she glared back with an equally dagger sharp demeanor. Mena crossed her arms. "Now you better explain, Missy Magician. Or we will no longer be friends anymore! I am revoking your Best Friend Super Pal title for betraying us immediately after we gave it to you…"

  Razzel opened her mouth. There was no other spell left she could throw at them but the cold hard truth…