Natasha

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The Quest for Atlanzia

By Natasha Wilding
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Contents
Chapter one A New Home
Chapter Two Not a good start
Chapter Three Things get worse
Chapter Four Help?
Chapter Five Back Together
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Chapter one A New Home The car came slowly to a
halt. Mrs Pikes stared behind at her children in
the back seats. She sighed pushing the hair out
of her face carefully running her fingers through
it. Come on girls Her voice was calm but
meaningful. Energetically, little Millie bounded
from her seat and out of the open car door.
However her older sister Amilly sat there
motionless still as stone, slouched in the same
position she had been for the past two hours.
Gently, full of understanding, her mother leaned
forward looking directly into her daughters
eyes I know youre not pleased with the move,
I get that but youve got to try to move on-its
hard but youll adapt. Ok? Were in this
together. Amillys eyes stared into space so
deeply that you wondered if she was in a
different world. Nevertheless she rose and
dragged herself out of the car. Making it well
known that she was not going to help moving
anything out of the car into their new home.
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Chapter two Not A Good Start Mrs Pikes gazed at
her four year old as she ambled up the path
towards the semi-derelict house with off hinged
windows and crumbling walls that her Great Uncle
had left them. Her sweet personality was so
charming her mother could not bring herself to
believe how Amilly didnt like her, or did she?
Steadily pacing after them, Mrs Pikes followed
behind her two impossibly different daughters.
Here we are , their mother panted, it was
quiet a hill which the house had been set on. She
turned the rusty key and the door creaked open.
Instantly a damp smell hit them straight in the
face. Mille winced. Mummy, she began softly
this house is UNBEARABLE! Amilly yelled at
the peak of her voice. It was the first time she
had spoken all day and it startled her
mother. Well, well its not all too bad we just
need to, Oh but it is! ,
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Vigorously, Amilly lunged, kicking the wall with
all her might. Suddenly, dust flew everywhere and
a huge block of frail brick collapsed. Mrs Pikes
patience began to wear dangerously thin. But her
understanding way of things controlled
her. Amilly , her voice was as subtle as
ever, I know you are distressed about me and
your fathers divorce but please, please dont
let it out this way. Millie turned towards her
sister whose eyes had begun to fill with
tears. You dont know! Amilly spluttered. And
with that she raced up the stairs so as not to
let Millie see her cry. That evening Millie and
her mother ate alone. Amilly did not leave her
room she went to sleep early, with a head of
pestered thoughts. The eerie silence they all
endured was unimaginable bad thoughts absorbed
them. They were fenced in from the outside world.
All alone. The next day the sun rose radiantly
above the horizon. The troubles of yesterday were
all forgotten, and the Pike Family shared a
blissful breakfast together.
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Chapter Three Things get Worse As the day passed
their mother observed the house closely, finding
it in complete disarray . She had no time to
clear it out now! Her working day had already
started and she was running seriously late. She
thought for a while. Millie and Amilly didnt
start school for a week, they could clear it out
but her elder daughter was not going to come
easily. She argued and refused until finally her
mothers persistence won her over. Mrs Pikes
departed at precisely 10am, leaving them to sort
through the house until it was spotless. They
began downstairs, making their way up the three
floors. It took them until 3pm to completely
clear the first two, with a quick snack at
one. Just two more rooms to go, Amilly
announced as the ancient clock chimed ten past
seven. Their mother would arrive any minute
expecting a perfectly organized house.
Watchfully, her sister gazed as Millie
disappeared round the corner into the space
chosen for her to tidy. There was a gasp of
amazement, then silence. Nothing but the sound
of a branch tapping on the window. Sensing
something out of place, Amilly stepped into the
chamber beside hers she examined the area around
her. No one. There had been no warning, nothing
at all. Amillys heart was a sail in a harsh
storm which had been cast into a ferocious sea
and had sunk deep down where its blackest. Millie
was gone!
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Chapter Four HELP?
A minute later, the door bell rang, mother had
arrived. Amilly felt a sudden panic. What was she
to do? She pictured Mrs Pikes face full of grief
and anger unknown to her. Crouching down, ready
to sob Amilly noticed a glimmer like no other a
shimmering mixture of silver, green and a
peculiar blue. Edging forward, Amilly found
herself embraced in a circle of multi-coloured
dust, it was as if she was surrounded by the most
perfect diamonds. Her eyes began to tire with the
commotion. Suddenly, the most uneasy feeling
washed over her- a state of complete stillness, a
tugging sensation rippled around her then
everything cleared. Staggering to her feet,
Amilly took in her surroundings. The sky was a
cloudy blue with a warm, pleasant atmosphere. The
nearby hillside was covered with deciduous trees
bursting with red fruits and dark green leaves.
However, there was a dark secret that lay to the
west of this other world! Concealed by a number
of entwining thorns, with horrendously long and
pointed spikes, was a fortress. But this was no
ordinary fortress for it belonged to the dreaded
Marsella. Unfortunately, she was the keeper of
Millie and the one Amilly would have to overcome
or would she? Without warning, there was a puff
of smoke and an aged man with a gleaming black
coat with silver stars appeared. No! Amilly
shrieked. No, no, no, no, no! I AM SICK OF
MAGIC! I want my sister, nothing more. How could
the world do this to her? Didnt anyone care?
Well I am sorry. The wizards croaked. Ive
come to help.
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Amilly
looked up at him and she noticed a twinkle in his
eyes. It was a spectacular detail and she was
totally and utterly entranced. You see, no one
can conquer Marsella, the evil witch. Your sister
must be reached by the mind. Amilly stared, she
had been thrown into a frenzy of confusion. Who
was Marsella? Her sister could be reached by the
mind? Delicately, the elderly wizard slipped his
deeply scarred and wrinkled hand into his cloak
pocket taking out a gleaming, golden locket,
about the side of a thumbnail, which hung on a
simple chain. What Amilly opened her mouth to
speak. But, with a flash the man was gone! She
knelt down and curled herself up tightly. She
thought of Millie and of all her joy and
goodness. Shes not here nowyou lost her! The
words echoed through her mind consuming her
heart, filling it with a deep sorrow. It was then
a tear ran down her face and fell directly onto
her locket. A strong wind gathered around, her
eyes scrunched up. When she opened them she was
back in the dusty room with Millie by her side,
her gentle brown eyes gazing contentedly at her
changed sister.
Chapter Five Back Together
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• The two girls embraced.
• Immediately they heard a voice calling
• Girls, I forgot my keys!
• Amilly hurried downstairs, her sister following
  closely behind. She turned the handle and with a
  haul the door groaned open.
• Hello wafted their mothers voice is the
  house nice and tidy?
• Spotless! Millie replied in a delicate,
  delightful voice.
• And did Amilly help you?
• She did. She was very helpful. Very helpful
  indeed!
• The two sisters smiled knowingly at each other,
  both thinking the same thoughts.
• What had the other experienced in Atlanzia?
• One thing was for sure, their real adventure had
  only just begun.

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Authors Page
My name is Natasha. I love going to school and my
hobbies are climbing the tree in my garden (which
I fell from many times). The tree is tiny in
proportion to me! I also enjoy writing stories
and doing sports. I was inspired by my little
sister and the way I am with her. I thought of a
way that you could bring two sisters closer
together and then this story appeared in my head.
I hope that everyone who reads this will
understand the moral.