(Part 1 of 3 - today's updates)

Katie hung from the stake, long brown hair whipping in the wind. Her dress felt as if it was being tugged off of her as the cheers below her became synchronized. The cheers of anger and wrath that honestly had nothing to do with her. They were all just upset over something Minerva the First did long ago. Something Katie, herself, did not take part in. Yet, years later, she and her mother have to suffer for that witch's mistake.

A thought came to mind. Her garden. Would it be torched up too? Would all the days she spent restlessly putting all her time and effort into each plant be evaporated with one torch. That garden was a result of Katie's presence in the palace, so would Slavia have it burned too? It was the place where Katie made the mistake of letting herself befriend royal blood. It was the blunder that put her under the watchful eye of Slavia.

One would normally feel resentful towards the kingdom for believing such idiocy, like Minerva being reborn and burning the witches. One would usually hate the people yelling at her and wishing for her death when the crowd did not even know who she really was. It would be common for someone at the stake to start yelling and trying to prove themselves. Katie, however, stayed silent. She was not a commodity. The witch knew something the others did not.

Slavia never loved Shiro. The so-called fiance was just a witch trying to sneak her blood into the royal line. Alfor's brother, Zarkon, had married a witch and now their daughter was set to marry the next king. The kingdom would be put to ruin if Slavia was to get her way.

As if the girl knew what Katie was thinking, the evil witch pressed her thoughts into the other's brain. 'Irritating, is it? I am, too, a witch, yet only you die today,' Slavia's voice snickered in Katie's head. It was obvious Haggar's daughter knew more magic than she ever would. Just as the brunette was about to refute at Slavia, the cheers ceased at the presence of a newcomer.

A royal carriage rolled into the square, four white horses pulling it in by their teeth. The arrival of her doom. Out of the transportation structure came four people: Lotor --the royal cousin --, Shiro, Allura, and the Queen. Upon looking up, Shiro met Katie's eyes, the orbs being filled with such sorrow. The substitute king leaned in to speak with his mother, presumingly upset about the situation. Pain and agony were etched into every curve and edge of his face.

Before anyone could react, Lotor grabbed the torch from Slavia. "Dear cousin, if you do not wish to burn her, I will!" the boy announced, holding the torch towards the ignition below the stake. Shiro looked at his kin, wide-eyed. Frightened. That was the one word you could use to describe both her and Shiro.

"No!" a voice roared over the crowd. A gap was made for the people none of them expected to show up. Keith, Lance, Shay, and Hunk stood together, determined looks present on each of their faces. Keith stepped up, closing in on Lotor. "No matter what she is, she is still the same person! What has she done that was so wrong, huh? Save a sick palace boy?"

At the comment, Slavia laughed. The flaming torch scorched upward, tickling Katie's feet. Lotor had set the hay and sticks alit in flames. The fiery substance below her licked at her heels, the brightness being reflected in the crowd's eyes. The fire matching the anger that their souls are experiencing. Katie was going to die.

"You wish to know what she has done? She has bewitched you all! Tricked you four into believing her indubiously and unconditionally and cast a spell on the prince!" Slavia lied through her teeth, pausing for dramatic effect. Spinning around to face Shiro, Slavia gave an act so fierce, it was no wonder that the people believed her trickery. "She used magic to manipulated Prince Shiro!"

Katie had stayed quiet up to this point, even as the burning sensation edged closer to her, the teen lifting her feet out of the flames' way. She cannot stay silent anymore. "Lies!" she hollered, all attention transitioning to her, "I do not know as many spells as you do! You are the real witch here! Yes, I admit I am a Holt! My name is Katie Holt and I am proudly a witch. Magic runs through my veins! Yes, it is true! But, she is just like me, except there is way more evil in her than there will ever in me!" The flames reached higher, now lashing at her calves and toes, as confusion rushed through the crowd. Slavia looked peeved, eyes landing on the fire below Katie. Suddenly, one of the flames jumped suddenly, hitting her loose dress and catching it on fire.

In a panic, she screamed, swinging her legs around in hopes of ridding herself of the flame. It only grew, heating her skin. This time she shrieked. Her chest pounded with unknown pain once, a tiny gasp escaping her. She looked up to the sky, a second pound coming soon afterword. A tiny sun appeared before her eyes, colored a rich dark purple.

A voice slipped in her head. 'I see you are in quite a bind, young Holt. I will help you. Just call my name. You know it. Think back to the stories of Minerva. Someone had to stop her. Someone who never was credited,' the soft, soothing voice whispered inside her mind, relaxing her body even as the flames now engulfed her feet.

"Solar," Katie mumbled, the name somehow coming up to her mind's surface. A third pound arrived, enveloping her in a sensation she did not recognize as darkness drowned her vision. What the others saw was a bright yellow wings appear from behind her back, cutting the ropes that tied her limbs down, and a similar colored blindfold covered her eyes. The teen witch's body was lifted beyond the post, the flames being quashed in seconds.

A person appeared before Katie, though the young witch could not see what was happening. Her body moved, she could feel herself shift through the air and into someone's arms. Soft, plush arms held her firmly. Shiro shouted. Words that fell short of Katie's ears, the warmth the other body was generated cooling her racing mind.

She felt the cold earth beneath her all of a sudden as concerning shouts were heard all around her. Slavia's scream was the last thing she heard before every feeling left the Holt as she accepted the sleep that washed over her.

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