What’s the color of life?

Cedar Rapids, the second largest city in Iowa. “Boring ole Iowa.” I can hear the book closing right now. But wait, if you leave now you would be missing out on the tale of the great Aminut witch.

Fall 10/23/ 2018. Mckinley steam academy. Cedar rapids.

Two girls speak in class.

“Hey you coming to the dance Fei?” Ella exclaimed while we were in class.

I don't know I’m not much for dancing. I answered by finding an excuse not to go.

“Come on, it will be fun plus~ this is your time to ask out a guy.

I’m not into boys. I said holding up my head with my hand.

“Oh don’t be like that, ask out a girl.”

Yeah no, there’s no one I’m interested in. 

*Bring!* The bell rang marking  the end of the day. I walk home alone, leaves fell as the wind blew,  *Wooosh.* (I should have brought a hoodie instead of this sweater.) I think to myself regretting my outfit of choice. The sky was orange and it was about four O'clock I’ve been walking for about an hour and so, it had gotten darker. 

But luckily my house was on the next block past a church by my old elementary school; Johnson steam academy. Holding myself with my arms I walked past the church but it was then I saw a shooting star, steam bellowed out my mouth as I stood in awe at it. The star continued across the sky before suddenly turning toward my direction. Shocked, I ran away in the opposite direction to an open field. I quickly look behind me. *Boom!!”  I was caught in the explosion, but I wasn’t  hurt. I opened my eyes.  I couldn't feel the ground beneath me, I was floating in mid air and I was trapped in some sort of bubble. Looking forward in the center of the bubble there was a stick or maybe paint brush? reaching forward I grabbed it. Just then the bubble popped and I fell flat on my face. 

Later in my house. “Fei, You gotta be more careful.” That was my dad’s girlfriend Destiny. She's from Ethiopia. She only looked about five to ten years older than me. Yeah sorry my bad, I sort of tripped on a rock. I didn’t want to tell her about the shooting star. Why? because I don’t want to end up in a psych ward. “Well please be more careful.”  Destiny said as she wiped the blood from my nose. Destiny had already prepared dinner. Of course as usual my dad wasn’t here, he was at work. I rarely see him, the only time he has I have time to spend time with me is on saturdays. Destiny had cooked baked chicken and mashed potatoes for dinner. The table was quiet. Me and Destiny never really built up a relationship, she tries but I always pull away. 

Later in my room I study the paint brush I got from the fallen star. Its handle was made out of white quartz along with gold rings that wrapped around it. (I should go to sleep but~ I wanna try this thing out.” Getting up out of bed I grab some paper and in my nightgown I begin to draw. On my laptop, I look up an anime character that I like, (Naomi the red headed female warrior of Dains Row.) I began to draw her. Everything was normal until I began to paint. The hairs on the brush would change size and shape depending on what I was doing on the paper. And when I finished, *Flooosh* Smoke covered my room. *Cough cough*  I wave my hand in front of my face. What appears out of the smoke is a six foot woman in clad black armor and long red curly hair that fell down her back. Holy s&%! I whisper. The woman looked confused, she stared down at her hands. “Where am I?” she questioned. She looked over toward me. You're in my bedroom. I answered nervously.

 “I see, how’d I get here?” 

 You came out of my painting.

“Your painting? She looked on the ground and found and picked up the portrait of herself from under her steel boots. She studied it. 

“What in the world?” 

Just then out of the blue the ground beneath us gave way. Ahhhh! We were falling out of the sky, and fast. I clench my brush and hold it tightly to my chest. Soon we came to a sudden stop, our bodies glowing pink, almost immediately we were pulled onto the deck of a flying pirate ship. 

“We got em Ma’am!” A witch said holding a smoking wand. Her hair was pink and she wore a black skirt, cropped short and thigh highs striped, pink and black.

“Nice catch, Witch Oisin,” A tall woman said. She was at the steering wheel. I could only assume she was the captain. Where are we? I questioned the Witch in front of me. 

“That’s not a way to say thank you.” Naomi walked up to the witch.

“We are in your gratitude now, could you please explain what's going on?”

“Since you asked so nicely~. You both are aboard the cloud masher. The red headed young lady to your left is a Witch and she has been chosen to fight against Emily the Hollower.” 

The Hollower? I didn’t agree to that!

“You did, when you chose to use that brush you hold so tightly to.”

Then take it, I don’t want it. I toss it on the ground in front of her.

Take me home!

“We can't,” I heard a voice from above. It was a woman in; a black trench coat, her curly hair curled out of her captain hat. She was at the wheel. “In order for you to get home you have to beat the hollower, It’s the only way. I stared at the ground in shock (I gotta be dreaming right.) Naomi steps up with her sword drawn, “We will defeat this Hollower, if it means we get back to our worlds!” She declared pointing her sword at the captain. “Well then, I like your enthusiasm. Next stop is the kingdom of  Aurum!” 

The captain spins the wheel and the wind roars signifying the start of this new journey.

I’m gonna trucking die here. I said while laying my head onto the desk in front of me sulking, I was in the captain’s study. “Don’t say that, She’s not invincible.” 

What is she doing that’s so bad yall gotta kidnap children?

“We wouldn't call it that, we were simply taking a child on a small field trip to kill a wicked evil Witch.”

That sounds even worse.

“It’s hard to sugar coat it. Earlier you asked what she's doing that’s so bad, well she’s stealing the emotions of people and turning them into emotionless zombies.”

What’s stopping her from turning me into one?

“You have the magic brush, It uses emotion magic which should protect you from her spell.”

Emotion magic, that is the most unoriginal name for magic ever.  

“But hey we don’t have to worry about that. I know what will make you feel better. Let’s get you outta that night gown.” She took to a room at the bottom of the Vessel it looked lived in. Maybe it was that Witch’s room, considering books were all over the floor. “Watch your step.” Captain said as she opened a closet. She pulled out;  some green overalls that connected to a skirt which splitted on the sides, along with a black T-shirt and some laceless shoes and Biker shorts.

”Try it on.”

I Put on the clothing, they fit nice but it wasn’t exactly my style. Looking in the closet I found some; green leg-warmers that matched with the overalls and a black thigh high stocking which I put on my right leg and I put on an arm warmer over my left arm.

“Ay, you looking, sharp Fe.”

Thanks.

“Land ho!” We heard the witch's voice. Me and the captain headed up to the deck. What stood before me was breathtaking…, It was a gleaming white castle with silver pyramids surrounding it, and a HUGE city. The Witch flew down from above and Naomi walked up behind me, and placed me on her shoulder.

“Welcome to humanity's final city, Aurum.” The witch said, floating on a broom beside me.

I found myself in a throne room. A red carpet laid beneath my feet as the captain bowed beside me. The Queen sat before us, covering half of her face with a fan. Only revealing her vibrant green eyes. 

“So, you have brought me the Aminut Witch.” The Queen said as she closed her fan revealing her long black silky hair.

“Yes, your majesty.”

“You never cease to amaze me, your family,”

“Well the Jame’s motto is to do the impossible.”

Outside Naomi helps unload the ship. “So where are you from, mighty strong warrior.” The witch questioned as Naomi picked up ten crates on her own. 

“I am from the kingdom Dains Row and I am the black knight.”

“So I see. How did you end up with Fei?”

“To be honest I don’t know.” Naomi took out a piece of paper and showed it to the Witch (Oisin)

Oisin realized immediately what was going on. She put a hand over her mouth “I’m so sorry…”

Back in the throne room: 

“Let us get a glimpse of your abilities.” The queen requested. Maids brought me a piece of paper and water and water color. You want me to do it right here on the carpet? It can get a little messy. I said with concern. 

“I can get it replace now show us,” 

Hey, can I have a pen? I requested from one of the maids, she did a quick bow and left. After not too long of waiting she brought me back ink and a feather. I quickly drew a frog and painted it. *Poosh* In front of me sat a green frog. Everyone gasped at my ability. 

“You are indeed the Aminut witch.” The Queen confirmed as she rose from her throne. She took a sword from one of the knight’s and approached me (Please don’t kill me!)  I squeeze my eyes closed. Then I felt a tap on my right then my left shoulder.

“You are knighted, Savior of humanity.” The Queen said as I snapped open my eyes. 

Thank you Queen…

“It’s Adeena.”

“Adeena.”

“Well good luck in your fight tomorrow.”

Tomorrow?

“Emily’s force’s will be here in the morning. Take what you need to prepare. These maids will take you to your room.”

Back at the ship:

“So I see, I’m a fake.” Naomi stares down at her hands, coping with this stark realization.

“You may be fake, but you're alive, you can make a new story.” Oisin suggested. As she uses her magic wand to pick up some boxes.

“New story?”

“Yeah, how about when Fei goes home, you stay here with us. We could use the extra muscle.”

“I would like that.”

In a room in the castle you can hear a young girl sobbing. 

“Don’t cry Fei, it will be easy.” Captain attempted to comfort the young girl.

*Sniffle* it will.

“Yeah, really think about it. You can create literally anything.”

Yeah… Yeah! You're right I can literally make anything!

“That’s the spirit now let’s do some brainstorming.” Later just outside of the castle I summoned a dragon and ten giant stone golem. After summoning them I could not make any more. “Looks like we found the limit on your abilities.” The captain commented 

Will this be enough?

“More than enough, good work. All the preparations are almost complete.” catapults and ballistas were all lined up at the north gate and in the sky a dragon circled the area. Soon night fell Just as I changed into my sleepwear.” *Knock knock.” There was someone at the door. Come in. It was Oisin the teenage witch. “Did you miss me,” She said boldly entering my room.

 No.

“Oh common, aren't we best friends?”

No, I don't even know you. Did you come here just to bother me?

“Actually, no, I came here to teach you a spell.”

A spell?

“Yeah it will be a great help to you tomorrow. Pick up your paint brush.”

Okay…

“Now point it at me.” I followed her instructions, while still being warry.

“Now repeat after me. Spirit blast!” We both said “Spirit blast.”  at the same time. A blue blast shot out of our wands, they hit each other before exploding but the shockwave wasn’t too strong.

“Good job, now goodnight.” she said before walking away. I was still kinda confused about what just happened but I had to thank her. Wait! I shouted, Oisin turned her head, hiding her eye’s with her hat. 

Thank you. 

“Don’t mention it.”

I found myself in a dark room dimly lit by a crack in the ceiling. The ground had about an inch of water flooded on to it, in front of me a naked girl was balled up crying. I approached the girl. Hey, are you okay?

My eyes snap open to the sound of a horn. Outside my door I could hear running.

*Boom!!* a boulder plummeted into my room. Looking out the cavity there was a fire everywhere. The wind blew hard. Oisin shoots toward me on her broom sticks. “Get on!” Grabbing my paint brush I hop on the broom stick wrapping my arms around Osin’s belly. 

Where are we going?

“We’re going straight in the heart.” We shot across the kingdom. Once across we found a giant palanquin about as big as the castle itself along with metal spider legs carrying it. 

“All right we're going in!” Osin yelled as we burst through the glass. Glass splattered on a green carpet as we landed. “So you're the hero they chose?” We heard a voice. Looking behind us a black haired girl, the spitting image of Adeena sat on a jade throne. 

Osin stood up "It's over, Emily give up." Osin proclaimed. Emily’s face had no emotion at all.

"Are you done yet?" Emily said as she stood up.

Osin threw some paper on the floor. Get to painting I will keep her off of you. Emily said as black smoke reached me in the form of a hand. But it was quickly blocked by Osin. I quickly drew a giant gorilla but it wouldn't activate. (Shoot then what can I do?) My head begins to throb, ouch, It gets worse and worse before I pass out. 

I found myself on the steps of my home.  The sky was clear as birds took flight.

“I hate having emotions,” Looking to my left was a young girl about my age with black bangs covering her eyes.

Why?

“They only get in the way or get you hurt.”

But they also help us grow. Back in elementary school I felt the same way. If I didn’t feel life would be so much easier. But that’s not true. Without these emotions we wouldn't get to enjoy life to its fullest. Emotion is the color of life. Without pain there will be no growth without happiness there will be no joy. Why would you want to live in a gray world?

“Now that you put it that way, it kinda sounds ridiculous.” We were now sitting in a class room sitting next to each other at desks. I doodled with a pencil on top of mine.

The girl turns toward me revealing her glowing green eye. “But you know… I can't stop right.” My pencil breaks… “Wake up! Fei, wake up!” I opened my eyes. It was the captain behind her. I could see Osin on the ground losing a lot of blood and Naomi was fighting Emily. My ears were ringing. I touched my nose realizing it was bleeding. “Good, you're awake. I’m sorry kid, we need one last miracle.” I grabbed a piece of paper and began drawing. 

“Alright she’s drawing Naomi, hold her off!”

“Eye-eye captain,” Naomi whips her blade, destroying a smoke hand.I finished as fast I could. Pooosh! The girl from my dream appeared before me. 

I didn’t mention this before, but in the dream I was in the body of my best friend, Ella. The girl walked over toward Emily and paused at this, at this point she had everyone pinned down with black smoke. Emily for the first time showed emotion, her eyes watered and she had a look of shock. She flew over to the girl and hugged her tightly holding her in her arms. “I’m so sorry…” tears fell down her face.  From behind I pointed to the brush blood dripping from my chin. “Spirit blast…” Black blood spattered. The captain and Naomi stood in shock. While Osin smiled as the light faded from her eye’s I stood there with my smoking paint brush before dropping it on the ground. I walked over to Emily. She was coughing up black blood. 

"I'm sorry for your loss." I said standing over her. 

"I thought everything would be fixed if I didn't feel." 

"That girl… Who was she to you." 

"She was my daughter; she died of an incurable illness and to cope with her loss I locked away my emotions *cough cough*" more blood splattered   "So I thought she" continued

"You can never take the color out of a painting you know."

"Yeah, you can't truly get rid of the color of li-...

Emily's glowing eyes fade to black and she dies. 

"I'm sorry, Emily." My voice quivers"

The captain and Naomi were crying over Osin. Osin had a smile on her face as she laid lifelessly. I walked over toward them. Though I didn't know her very well, pain hit my heart and tears fell onto the ground.