Authors note: Hello :) This is my first story i've posted (although i'm planning on uploading one called 'Her Notebook' soon). I wrote this story for an English assignment and I wanted to post it here first to see if it was good. Sorry if it seems a bit rushed, its way passed the length it should be so I had to leave out quite a few things (and it's still too long!)

Porcella Academy: Quest for the fog

The radiant sun shone brightly upon the glass windows of the Rain room of Porcella academy flooding through to reflect on the broad rectangular rimmed glasses of a boy in the front row. This boy, known as Ellis Gale to his peers, was no ordinary boy. He was one of the 350 unique students attending the elite Porcella Academy a school for extremely gifted children with the ability to control the weather and manipulate natural elements. Ellis glanced at the lecturing professor honestly not caring very much what she was speaking about, which was the proper hand movements in which to wield rain, It wasn't his element anyway. Ellis brushed his orange fringe from his eyes as he reluctantly took out his notebook to take notes when a thick wad of paper hit him right between his eyes.

"Ow! What was that…" Ellis muttered looking at the balled paper that was now in his lap. He unraveled it to find that it was a crude stick figure drawing of his getting struck by lightning. Instantly knowing who had drawn it he peered at the back of the class room where he saw his arch enemy Bruce laughing smugly with his friends. 'That's not half as funny as that jerk thinks it is...' he thought to himself as an idea crept into his mind. While the teacher was writing something on the board he quickly turned on his side in Bruce' direction, and wiggled his fingers as small electric waves were sent flying towards Bruce. He watched as Bruce jumped in shock and exclaimed rather loudly "Ow! Miss! Ellis zapped me!" he should have seen it coming.

"Well… he provoked me. He whacked me with this!" he held the flimsy paper up for the teacher to see.

"That's it. Both of you to the headmasters office, now." She hissed pointing towards the door. Both boys begrudgingly stood from their seats and made their way out the door and down the hall towards the principal's room muttering things like "This is all your fault loser…" and "Shut up Bruce…"

They stood in front of the wooden door neither of them keen to face the Headmaster, when they heard a deep voice speak from inside the room "…you can come in you know, boys". Ellis and Bruce looked at each other confusedly and entered the room sitting down in the two chairs before them. "It has come to my attention that you boys have been bickering quite a bit lately" he began "Well that's the first thing that's going to have to change if you're to do this job for me."

"What? What job are you talking about?" Bruce asked, his brow furrowing in confusion. "Uh… no one's told you?" the young headmaster stated uncertainly, then straightened up and cleared his throat in a business-like manner. "I'll be blunt boys, the school is in danger. The magical fog we have surrounding the school is beginning to fade, and without that our school will be completely visible to the rest of the world." The headmaster's usually humorous demeanour was replaced by complete seriousness "As I'm sure you know we cannot let that happen. This school is a safe haven for people like us. If the government were to find out about our school it would be shut down and students would be taken for experimentation. Being the two most powerful students I want you two to go and find Lucas Styx, he is the man who cast the fog around the school all those years ago and only he can put it back up. He lives in the mountains not too far from here, just through the forest on the outskirts of the school"

"Sure I'll do it!" Ellis shot to his feet in agreement, Porcella academy was his home, there was no way he'd let it come into any danger. Bruce however was more reluctant to agree.

"You want me.. To travel through a dark scary forest.. To get some old hermit who lives in the mountain.. With this nerd?" Bruce questioned. "Yes. That was the arrangement I had planned" said the headmaster.

After a long pause from Bruce, he nodded agreeing. This was his home too and he couldn't have it being wrecked.

"Right! I'll see you two bright and early tomorrow morning, its best that you go through the forest while it's still light out"

The two teens set out early the next morning in search of help; they began travelling through the forest in the early morning sun. The boys walked silently through the seemingly never-ending forest with only their heightened sense of direction guiding their way through the treacherous forest.

After a prolonged silence between the two, neither too keen to speak with their 'enemy', Ellis spoke up "So how long do you think it will take to get to that mountain?"

Bruce glared at him before shrugging and hitching his back pack further onto his broad shoulders. "How should I know?" he replied gruffly. Ellis shook his head pinching the bridge of his nose in annoyance "You know if we're gonna find this fog guy together we should at least try and act civilized towards each other, alright?" Ellis said to him.

Just as Bruce was about to reply with a snide remark an incredibly loud *THUD* could be heard in the distance. By the sound of it, it appeared that a thick tree must have collapsed somewhere in the wood. But as the pair walked closer towards the heart of the eerie forest Ellis could not shake the feeling that they were not alone in this forest.

About an hour later the boys had made little progress from where they had been, only now in the very heart of the wood, the most dangerous part of the forest. Once again another booming *THUD* echoed through the forest making both boys jump in shock and turn around. "What was that?!" yelled Bruce. A series of 'thuds' could be heard now, sounding louder and closer with each noise. The noises came closer until suddenly they stopped and the boys looked into the distance to see a giant silhouette of a man-like figure lurking in the trees.

"…what is-" Bruce began until Ellis interrupted him with a shrill shriek of "RUN!" . They ran as fast as they could through the menacing trees as the dark figure came after them each step followed by another loud *thud*. The ran until they were gasping for breath but the dark figure came after them, not even appearing to break a sweat. As they stopped clutching their chests from running so far so fast, the figure came closer until it was obvious exactly what this foul creature was. Ellis looked up in fright to find a horrifying large mountain troll looming over them, a stone like club in hand. It looked down on them with hungry eyes and made to pick up its club. Both boys stared in horror until Ellis came to his senses, nudging for Bruce to move as they both leaped aside, as the club came crashing down on the space they were seconds ago. Being trained for such things like this at the academy the boys sprung to action taking cover behind some thick tree's.

"Bruce! You distract the troll while I sneak over behind that tree and attack it from behind, got it? " Ellis spoke distractedly peering at the troll from the side of his hiding spot.

"Why should I go by your plan?" Bruce replied, though clearly still on look out as the troll searched for them, getting closer. Ellis pretended to ponder this for a moment before answering in a sarcastic tone "Hm... let's see… maybe if you value your life?!"

"Good point" Bruce said and readied himself to distract the beast. Bruce moved towards the side of the large tree and pushed his hand forward in the direction next to the troll, fire blasting from his hands. The trolls beady eyes widened in surprise and it ungracefully ducked out of the way. Bruce threw more flames in the general direction of the troll and signaled for Ellis to move. Ellis stealthily crept from his hiding spot and ran towards a tree directly behind the troll. He watched as the trolls eyes followed the flames that were sprouting from Bruce' hands, waiting for the right moment to strike. When he felt the time was right he rolled from behind the tree and shot waves of lightning towards the giant striking the terrifying creature in the back.

It let out a deafening roar of pain but still seemed capable of fighting as it staggered towards Ellis in rage. Ellis bit his lip in concentration and lunged forward crackling bolts of lightning erupting from his hands, hitting the troll straight in the heart as it fell to the ground in an agonizing death. Both students sighed in relief, gathering their things and walking away from the troll's body, glad that they were safe for now.

After walking a good few kilometers from the trolls' body the boys stopped to gather their breath, taking a drink from their water bottles. "Thanks by the way…" began Ellis "For helping with the plan".

Bruce took another swig and swallowed before answering "No problem… I hate to say this but.. we kinda made a good team back there" he said with a reluctant smile at his supposed 'enemy'. "Yeah, we do" said Ellis "Come on, it's already afternoon and I wanna get out of this forest before it gets dark"

"Yeah, alright" Bruce agreed and they set off for the mountain. The sun was setting at a steady pace, and by the time the boys had reached the base of the mountain it was almost dark out. The two climbed the mountain at an unbelievable speed, their quest a race against the sun, determined to get there before dark. Eventually the pair managed to arrive at the top of the mountain where the man who cast the fog supposedly lived. Despite the usual warmth the area was known for, the entrance to the mountain was chillingly cold. Getting their balance on the slim path around the mountain the boys crept towards a cave which had an eerie, yet frosty mist surrounding it. Ellis and Bruce fearlessly stepped inside keen to save their school. Upon entering the mystic cave they shivered at the cold, wondering where this powerful wielder could be, until they heard a voice from the shadows "Who's there?!" the boys noticed a tall figure approaching them from a secluded area they had not seen upon entering. It was a young man, only about 23 by the looks of it, with silvery hair, icy blue eyes, and scarily pail skin.

"We're from the academy" Bruce explained in a gruff voice. "I'm Ellis and that's Bruce" Ellis began "Do you know where the fog caster is?" The young man smiled mysteriously and flicked his wrist as a small yet strong patch of fog around him appeared. "Yeah, he's standing right in front of you, the name's Lucas. Lucas Styx"

Bruce and Ellis looked at each other disbelievingly for a moment. When questing to find this powerful man they had expected some old wise wizard type figure, not some college graduate. "But the fog shield was cast over a hundred years ago" Ellis said in awe, raising a hand to push his glasses from the tip of his nose. "I know, I wield ice and wind see. I've frozen my molecules so I don't age, the magic in me keeps my body functioning even if my cells are frozen. Pretty cool, huh?" Lucas said to them.

"Wow… anyway back to the point, we need you to come back to the academy with us, the fog is fading and people on the outside are growing suspicious" Ellis explained to him.

"The academy's in danger?" Lucas' silver eyebrows shot up in surprise and fright. Then he looked down with sad eyes. "I'm sorry but there's nothing I can do" he spoke sadly.

"What?!" Bruce yelped. "I'm sorry but I can't replace it, I've got the equipment but.. I don't have enough power. I use up most of my magic keeping my cells intact, I don't think I'd have enough to put the fog back up" Lucas said, a regret clear in his voice.

Bruce suddenly flared up in anger and stormed closer towards the depressed man "You selfish jerk! You're putting the academy in danger just so you can stay young? Fine, come on Ellis we'll figure out how to save the school on our own" Bruce exclaimed walking towards the exit of the cave again. Ellis looked slightly disappointed then turned to follow his companion. "Wait!" he heard Lucas shout just as he was about to leave "I might not be able to do anything about it but you can!"

Ellis turned to him, intrigued at the statement. "How? I don't have any power of fog" Ellis said ruefully. Lucas perked up a bit and ran to a room somewhere to the left, emerging with a long golden staff, with a swirling grey orb on its tip. "With this" he said confidently "I might not be able to, but I know you can. Go get your friend I'll send you and your friend back to school"

Ellis did not question the request and went to get Bruce bringing him in front of Lucas, next to himself. Before Bruce could question this, or Ellis say goodbye they were being whisked away at an amazing speed by a fast and thick gust of wind. Before they knew it the two teens were at the front gates of Porcella academy, Ellis clutching the magical staff. Ellis could feel the magic buzzing within the scepter, realizing just how powerful this object was. He glanced towards his enemy turn friend and held the staff in front of them "Together?" he asked. Bruce nodded and gripped the mystical staff as well as the two raised it high, grasping it with strong hands. With a nod of agreement they tilted in towards the school focusing all their energy on saving their beloved school. Then suddenly a blinding light erupted from the staff and it shot towards the gates, coating the entire school in a magnificent glow. The glow surrounding the school then suddenly faded and the boys were beginning to wonder if it worked at all. Had they traveled through the dark forest, battled a mountain troll, and acquired the magic staff all for nothing?

As they were pondering this they didn't notice the headmaster jogging towards them with a gleeful smile on his face. "Boys!" he shouted "Boy's it worked!" he yelled in happiness.

The mood was immediately lightened and the boys high-fived in victory and the principal thanked them. "Wait… how do you know?" Ellis asked hesitantly.

"I just called my sister, she doesn't have any powers, she lives close enough to see the school, but she said she couldn't see a thing!" he explained happily. "Thank you boys, you saved the school" he remarked fondly.

And so Porcella academy was now out of few from the rest of the world, and safe. Everything piece of the puzzle now seemed to be in place. The school was safe from harm, and after participating on that tiresome quest Ellis and Bruce found they got along with each other a lot better, and soon became friends. Everything was just as it should be, for now.

Thanks for reading! Please, please, please leave some constructive criticism for what i need to improve :)