The day of the dance is finally here! I’ve been looking forward to it all week. I find it difficult to concentrate during Agriculture, and Biana is practically bouncing out of her seat during lunch.
“By the way, Study of New Abilities is going to be taught by Magnate Leto.” Sophie says.
“Nice! More time with the Forklenator!” Keefe says.
“You can talk about your new class later. Now, it’s dance preparation time!” Biana says.
“What else do we need to plan?” I ask.
“Well, I was thinking we could all meet at my house and go together.”
“Ok. We’ll meet at Everglen 15 minutes before it starts.” We keep finalizing plans for the rest of lunch, then Me, Sophie, and Keefe all head to Magnate Leto’s office.
“Since there are no other elves with your abilities to help you, you’ll have to help yourselves. And I’m here to take notes on how all of your abilities work. Eventually we will have to create an ethics lecture, but since you are the only ones with your abilites, you’ll get a large say in what goes into it.”
“Hate to interrupt,” Keefe says in a tone that makes it very clear that he loves to interrupt, “but what exactly is my new ability?”
“Well, since you obviously aren’t a killing drone for your mother, we figured that all the sahdowflux and quintessence involved when you weren’t even born yet, and when your mother tried to ‘fulfill your legacy’, would result in a new ability.”
“Do we know what it is, and nobody thought to tell me?”
“No, we don’t.”
“Got it. So I’m here for Ability Detecting 2.0, we don’t know what you could be able to do, but it’s probably something nobody’s ever seen before!”
“That is one way of putting it.”
“So, what are we doing today?” I ask.
“Well, seeing as all of your other abilities are weakened, I don’t think Seeking would be a good idea for you, especially if it’s as risky as you say it is. So you’ll just observe everyone else for today. Ms. Foster, we’ll start with you.”
“I need to go outside to teleport.”
“Very well. We’ll go outside.” For the entire session, me and Keefe just get to watch Sophie running around at supersonic speeds, dragging a terrified Magnate Leto behind her. It’s always startling when she teleports away and even more so when she comes back.
“That’s my girl!” Keefe shouts when Sophie runs near us. “So, have you made any progress on those missing memories?”
“No.” I sigh. “But hopefully the ability reset will straighten things out, and they’ll come back soon.”
“Well, good luck. Memories are tricky. I could help you take a look at the emotions from during the gaps.”
“Alright, thanks! That’s probably the most helpful thing anyone has suggested.”
“Ok, just give me your hand. Now, think about the earliest gap. Huh, there are… no emotions? It’s like you were numb? It’s like that for a lot of them, but other times you were confused, or worried, or scared. Or all of them. Wait! This one is different. You were… terrified. Way more than the others. Confused again in this one, sad in this one… you seem almost desperate in this one. Actually in a lot of them. But the numbness stopped.”
“That was the last one.”
“Any emotions trigger anything?”
“No, but thanks for trying.”
“No problem. Sorry it didn’t work.”
“It’s fine. I will figure this all out after the ability reset.”
“I’ll help you if I can. Having stuff hidden in your head sucks.”
“It really does.” Soon, the chimes sound, but Sophie and Magnate Leto are still gone.
“I’ll stay here to tell them that the chimes sounded. You go to study hall.”
“Alright. I’ll see you at Everglen.” I can’t focus durring study hall, along with most of the school. Sophie and Keefe come in very late, and Sophie is very red. But soon, it’s time to go home and get ready for the dance. “Wow, you look amazing.” I tell Sophie. The little ice blue dress looks amazing with her hair.
“Thanks.”
“I’m going to Everglen so Biana can help me with my hair and makeup. Want to come?”
“Sure- wait. You just want Dex to win the bet.”
“No, I’m just going so Biana can help me.”
“She’s not doing my makeup.”
“Fine. But you’ll come?”
“Yeah. Should we bring Keefe?”
“If he wants to come. He will never accept help with The Hair, and I don’t think he’ll want any makeup.”
“I’ll go tell him that we’re going.”
“He’s not coming?” I ask when Sophie comes back alone.
“No, he’s still styling The Hair. He just told me that I don’t need any makeup to look beautiful.”
“Can’t argue with that.” We leap to Everglen and ring the doorbell.
“Ah, you’re here.” Della says, opening the door. “Biana’s in her room with Linh and Marella.”
“Thanks!” We hurry up to Biana’s room.
“Lori! Sophie! You’re here!” She hugs us, and we finally get to see just how poofy her skirt is. It’s very poofy. She already has her hair and makeup done. “I’m in the middle of styling Linh’s hair, so you’ll have to wait a minute, but I know I can squeeze everyone in.”
“Ok, but I could start on my makeup to save a little time.” I say.
“Ok. Pretty much all of my stuff is over… somewhere. But let me know if you can’t find anything.” A lot of her stuff has ended up on the floor or on various surfaces, but I track down what I need and take a seat in front of a mirror. Sophie sits on her bed next to Marella, who is touching up her lipstick. Linh is in her chair, where Biana is quickly pulling her hair into a clomplicared bun.
“I knew Lori would convince you to come.” Marella says to Sophie.
“She didn’t convince me. I came because I don’t want to listen to Grady lecture m on having Keefe as a boyfriend again. I’m not doing my makeup, and that was a part of the bet.” Sophie says.
“Hm, we’ll see. I still think you’ll have on at least a little eyeshadow by the time we’re out of here.”
“Sure I will.” Sophie sarcastically replies.
“Thanks Biana! I look so pretty!” Linh says.
“No problem. Who’s next?” Biana asks.
“I guess me, since Lori’s still doing her makeup. But I just want something simple.” Marella says, getting up to move to where Linh was.
“Ok, how about a little braid?”
“Uh, sure. Ow! You’re pulling my hair!”
“Sorry! But I need the knots out of just this little section so I can braid it.” Sophie and Linh talk on the bed, and I finish my makeup.
“Is it done yet?” Marella asks.
“Just one more minute. I need to pin it back. And… we’re done.”
“That was quick.” I say.
“It was just a little braid and curling her hair. Now what do you want me to do?”
“It’s up to you. Just put in this pin.” I hand her my lucky hairpin.
“I know just what to do.” A few minutes later, my hair is up in an elegant updo with my hairpin where the rubber band meets my hair.
“Wow, this looks amazing.”
“Thanks! Sophie, come here. I’m not going to do a crazy style, but I at least need to brush through that hair.” She works her magic, and Sophie’s hair is perfectly wavy when she’s done.
“Well, now what?” Linh asks.
“I guess we wait. The boys should be here in just a few minutes.” Sophie says.
“Better idea, what if we go get Fitzy and give him a dance worthy makeover?” Marella suggests.
“Yes. Let’s do that!” Biana says. She starts running down the hall, in her heels, to get Fitz.
“Do I have to?” He asks.
“Yes. Marella was the one who suggested it.”
“Fine. But don’t try anything.”
“Who, me?” Biana flutters her eyelashes innocently.
“Yes, you.”
“Don’t worry. I promise to make you look better.”
“Hey Fitzy!” Marella says
“Wait, they’re already here?” Fitz asks.
“Just us.” I say.
“Were you even listening at lunch yesterday? I invited all the girls over early to do hair and makeup.” Biana says.
“You’ve planned so much, it’s impossible to keep track.” Fitz says.
“Shush. Now sit in the chair.”
“Why am I letting you do this?”
“Because you know I’ll make you look ten times better.”
“Whatever. Just get it over with.” A few minutes, and many different gels later, Fitz’s hair is looking better than it has the entire time I’ve been in this universe.
“So how does he look?” Biana asks.
“That’s my date.” Marella says.
“Eh. Keefe’s hair is better.” Sophie says, smiling. The doorbell rings, and Tam walks in.
“You look… amazing.” He says, catching sight of Biana.
“Thanks.” She blushes. Then Keefe comes, walking right over to Sophie and kissing her. Then Wylie, who can’t seem to think of the word to tell Linh how beautiful she is, and finally, Dex.
“Wow. You’re beautiful.” He says.
“Thanks. You look great too.” I pull him in for a kiss. 
“Looks like I have an unlimited dare.” Keefe says, showing off Sophie’s makeupless face.
“What? You couldn’t convince her to put on a little makeup?” Dex says.
“She knows she doesn’t need makeup to be beautiful.”
“Fine. What’s my dare?”
“Hmmm… I think I’ll wait a while to cash it in.”
“Quick rule.” I say. “It can’t land either of you in detention.”
“Well, I’m out of ideas.” Keefe laughs.
“Come on! It’s time to go!” Biana tells us. We all step into the Leapmaster and soon, we’re at Foxfire, ready to party. There are a lot of prodegies, but almost no one on the dance floor. We can fix that.
“Come on. We’ll be the first ones to dance.” I pull the group on the floor, and we all start dancing. It’s amazing. Dex and I danced to almost every song. We’re taking a break to get some lushberry juice, when the song we had decided was ‘our song’ in my old universe comes on.
“Come on! This is my favorite song, we’re dancing!” I pull Dex back onto the dance floor.
“It’s my favorite too!” We dance like no one’s watching, singing all the lyrics. Then the chorus comes, and I suddenly feel dizzy. “Lori? What’s wrong?” He asks.
“I- I don’t know. I need air.” He helps guide me outside, into a courtyard. My head hurts, and I sit on a bench. Then, I realize what’s happening. “I think I’m about to get my memories back.”