Elena's P.O.V.

"So, you excited to audition?" I asked Sofia, who was currently a nervous wreck. It was after school and we were walking to the auditorium together. About a couple of weeks ago, the school announced that for this year's musical we were doing Into the Woods. I've loved this musical since I was a little kid, and my dream has always been to play Cinderella. Sofia has decided to audition as well, but as the Baker's wife. Sofia nods her head and looks down at the ground, and I put my hand on her shoulder in reassurance.

"Sofia, you'll do great! You're one of the best singers I know!" Sofia has always loved to sing, and has even won a few contests despite her stage fright. We arrive to the auditorium and we go in and sit down next to Sam, who was auditioning as the Baker. I see Sam holding Sofia's hand and rubbing the back of it, hoping to calm her down. She smiles and takes deep breaths, and becomes visibly calmer. We all chat and as auditions go on, the director of the musical calls out my name.

"Elena Woods?" I sit up from my seat and step onto the stage, taking it all in. A girl with long, curly black hair, and tan skin smiles at me as she continues to talk to the director before I start my audition. She must be helping out with the play, as like a co-director. 

"Please tell us the role you are auditioning for." She says.

"Cinderella." She jots down some notes on her little note pad and looks back up.

"Okay then Elena, I would like you to please sing On the Steps of the Palace for me. I assume that you have that prepared?" I nod in response, and she tells me to start whenever I am ready. As I sing, I close my eyes and imagine what it would actually be like to play Cinderella in the musical. I start moving around and make facial expressions, and I see that the directors look very pleased. As I hold out the last note, they smile at me with huge grins, and tell me thank you. I sat back down next to Sofia and she turns to talk to me, but her name is called up next. Sofia gets up shakily and steps on stage.

"Please tell us the roll you are auditioning for." The girl says again, just as she said to me.

"T-The Baker's wife."

"Do you have the song It Takes Two prepared?" 

"Y-Yes." 

"Start when you're ready." Sofia opens her mouth to sing, but nothing comes out. Her skin looks paler then it usually is, and her eyes were as wide as the moon. She starts to run off of the stage in a panic, but Sam gets up and brings her back up on the stage. I see him whispering something to Sofia, and then to the directors. They all nod and I watch in worry.

"You've changed. You're daring. You're different in the woods. More sure. More sharing. You're getting us through the woods."  I watch the performance in interest and it turns out amazing! Sofia and Sam's voices together sounded amazing and I knew that if they didn't get the parts of the Baker and the Baker's Wife, something is obviously wrong.

"Wow! That was amazing!" The director says, standing up and clapping. The girl does the same, and I smile. Sofia had nothing to worry about, and I'm so proud of her. They both walk off of stage, holding hands and we exit the auditorium.

About a week later, I am running down the hallway to see the cast list. The director, (who we later learned is the drama teacher Mr. Olympus) made an announcement saying that he was putting the cast list up on his door early this morning. Before I could make it there though, I collide with the same girl that was helping with the auditions. 

"Oh my gosh I'm so sorry!" She says, helping me up from the ground.

"It's alright!" I say, reassuring her. 

"I'm Liz! Elena, right?" I nod in reply. 

"Your audition was fantastic! Are you on your way to check the cast list?" She asks, while blowing her black hair out of her face.

"Actually, yes!" Liz smiles, and takes off her book bag and opens it, to pull a piece of paper out. She hands it to me and I look at her with confusion.

"It's as mad as the Mad Hatter over there! I have an extra copy of the list." I grin and glance at the paper and hand it quickly back to Liz. I have to go find Sam and Sofia! They'll be thrilled! I start to run off, but stops and turns back to Liz.

"Thank you!" I shout to her. Liz gave a, 'you're welcome' gesture and then slides against the wall, and starts humming what sounds like Kronk's theme song from the Emperor's New Groove. I laugh to myself with interest and admiration, I could never be as outgoing as Liz. I head to the cafeteria for breakfast, hoping to find the couple there. Finally I spot them and I run over as fast as I could to them, and upon reaching them, they look at me with concern.

"What's wrong?" Sofia asks. I sit down in a seat next to her and hold up my index finger so I can catch my breath.

"We got the parts!" I tell them. Sofia jumps up from her seat in surprise and she squeals.

"Did we really?!" Sam asks, looking a bit worried.

"Yep! Rehearsals start today after school!" Sofia hugs Sam, but when they pull away he looks almost scared.

"I can't make it to rehearsals today." Sam says, rubbing his hands together in nervousness.

"But, it's the first rehearsals! You have-"

"I said I can't make it! Ok?!" Sam snaps at Sofia while she just stands there in shock, almost in tears. Sam runs off and Sofia trails after him.

A few hours later it was time for rehearsal, and Sam was no where to be seen. Sofia said that he wasn't in classes today, and was excused for all of them. We were on the stage as we waited for Mr. Olympus came in, but were greeted by Liz instead.

"Alright fellow thespians! Mr. Olympus couldn't make it to the first rehearsal as his wife went into labor earlier today, so I will be taking over. Let's start by introducing each other and our parts! My name is Liz, and I'm the co-director." She says. Before I could introduce myself, Sofia stepped up.

"I'm Sofia, and I am playing the Baker's wife." Sofia announces shyly. I decide to go next.

"I'm Elena, and I'm Cinderella!"

Throughout the rehearsal we got our scripts, and read through the play. Since Sam wasn't here, Liz had to step in for the day. A couple hours later, we were dismissed.

"See you all tomorrow! Don't forget to work on memorizing your lines!" Liz shouts out to all of us as we were leaving. I gave her a thumbs up and head out the door with Sofia.

"Help me! Help me!" I whip my head around looking for the source of the voice. 

"What are you doing Elena?" Sophia asks me.

"Didn't you hear that?! Someone's in trouble!" I grab her hand and run down the hallway and into the nearby staircase. 

"Help!" I look down and see a little mouse caught in a mouse trap. I quickly unhook the trap and let the mouse go.

"Thank you so much!" He thanks me. I nod and then my eyes widen.

"D-Did you just talk?!"

"Yes! And you can understand me!"

"Elena? Did you just figure out your power?!" Sophia asks me excitedly. I nod my head and jump up and down. But, as I continue to jump up and down, I start to grow smaller and smaller, until I was the same size as-

"A mouse?! Elena! You're a mouse!" I look at my hands to see that they're now small paws and that I have fur covered all over my body!

"Soph! Can you pick me up and bring me to my room please? I need to figure out how to change back!" She nods and picks me up gently. Thank goodness she can understand me! As she's walking back to the dorms with me in hand, I look back and I see the mouse that I just saved waving and me goodbye. I wave back, and wonder how I'm going to change back.

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Hey everyone! Sorry for the long wait! I've had SEVERE writers block and haven't been able to finish the chapter! In case you're wondering, the character Liz is the contest winner! But, now I need some help! I've been struggling as to what Sophia's power should be! I've figured out everyone else's, except for her! So, comment down below what it should be! Also, I need a new cover! Message me if you're able to make one, and I'll let you become a minor character in the story!

~Emma