Tokateka- Chapter One (youngsters:fantasy, 0 words) [1/4] show all parts
Author: Siobhan	Updated: Oct 01 2002	Views/Reads: 5128/3738	Part vote: 0.00 (0 votes)
Karla has been accepted into the top knotch school of the universe,Tokateka. She is following in the footsteps of her rebellious brother and going with her best friend. She has no clue what she is in for but she soon will.

Click here to read the first 75 lines of the story

sound of the water rushing to meet the land could be heard. 

"I hope you find permanent light," Joyce whispered.  Karla grinned into
her pillow and fell asleep hoping the same thing.  The last thing that 
she saw before she closed her eyes was the reddish glow of Joyce 
sleeping underneath her and then she was in dreamland. 

"Okay, let's not all kill me in an effort to get there faster," Mrs.
Waves shouted as Karla and Joyce rushed through the air tunnel to the 
bubble carriage drawn by dolphins. 

"Sorry mom but do hurry," Karla tossed over her shoulder.  Mrs. Waves
shook her head and walked to the carriage and stepped inside.  The two 
best friends were fidgeting and twiddling their fingers.  She shook her 
head with amusement.  The dolphins had already been told where to go 
and they zipped off with amazing speed. 

The dolphins pulled into a olive green cave where sea-moss hung down
over the entrance and two crabby looking swordfish stood at station. 

"M'am, what is your name?" the taller of the two inquired. 

"Lady Tiniea," Mrs. Waves replied with a haughty expression upon her
face.  The two swordfish bowed and the dolphins whipped by with the air 
of a king. 

"Why is there security?" Joyce wanted to know. She had never been to the
Ocean Market and had no idea that was the place where all those of high 
blood shopped. 

"So that no one who will cause trouble can get in," Mrs. Waves replied. 
Basically, only those who were of the status of Lady, Lord, and royalty 
could get in. 

"Ah, I understand," Joyce smiled and nodded.  The dolphins picked a
lovely parking place underneath a bed of sea kelp.  Immediately an air 
tube zipped to the carriage door and the three ladies stepped out.  
They walked into a huge bubble that had thousands of stands set up, 
selling everything imaginable.  There were all kinds of people 
wandering around but mainly beautiful, tall, blue water people. 

"Hello, Mrz. Waves, I zee zat you brought zee daughter and her friend,"
a dark blue Lord smiled. 

"Yes, they got accepted into Tokateka and I am here to go shopping,"
Mrs. Waves bragged. 

"How vonderful eez zat!  Ze Tokateka Shop eez shust around zee bend. 
You vill zee it," he pointed down one of the paths. 

"Thank you so much Mr. Spring.  I will be seeing you at the Winter Ball,
correct?" she questioned. 

"Ah, but of course.  I vould never mizz an evening with zee lovely Mrz.
Waves or her sharming huzband, Mr. Waves," he laughed. 

"Well, then, see you at the Winter Ball," she waved good-bye. 

"Have an enjoyable time, alvright!" he encouraged as they began walking
down the rows of goods. 

"Wow!  This is something else," Joyce was in awe. 

"Yeah, mom, are we going to go to my favorite shop?" Karla wanted to
know. 

"Always!  Anyways, today we have a mission.  Unfortunatly, Joyce, you
will have to do the clothes shopping with your mother.  I don't know of 
any great clothes shops for the Fire people here," Mrs. Waves 
explained. 

"Oh, don't worry about it.  Look, there is the Tokateka shop," Joyce
pointed to a bustling little building.  The walls were made of glass 
blocks and there were neon signs stuck everywhere reading "Tokateka, 
the school for those with intelligence, the school for the gifted, and 
the White Dove of Marciss invites you in for a peak".  All manners of 
people drifted in and out, chattering excitedly and gazing at their 
purchases. 

The three ladies walked in and almost immediately, Joyce picked up a
thick volume. 

"How to consume your enemies in seventy two different fashions," she
read and chuckled at the title. 

"Thank you for that," a tall green haired plant boy snagged it out of
her hands. 

"How do you know I don't need that?" she inquired angrily. 

"You don't look like a twelfth year," he replied snootily, "That course
is only available for twelfth years. 

"Oh, and what is your name Mr. Hot Shot Twelfth Year?" she wanted to
know. 

"Jordan Growth, and you are?" he was still looking down his nose at
Joyce. 

"I am Joyce Flames, Lady of the Fire People," she responded with a smirk
upon her face. 

"Well, your Ladiness, I am nothing but a lowly knight of the Plant
People," he bowed his head slightly but it was obvious he was mocking 
her. 

"We kind of figured you were on the lower end by your lack of manners,"
Karla shot at him and his face wrinkled with shock. 

"Come on girls, let's look for what is on your lists," Mrs. Waves
advised. 

"We'll be meeting later I must assume," Jordan smirked at them and
continued perusing for items.  The three ladies wandered around looking 
at titles. 

"Isn't this something you need?  Deep Sea Diving?" Mrs. Waves pulled a
thin book off the shelf. 

"Yes mom," Karla grabbed it and threw it in her basket. 

"What about you, Joyce?" Mrs. Waves wanted to know. 

"Not until my third year," she smiled with relief.  Joyce did not like
animals very much. 

"This sounds like a great book, 1001 Different Ways to Torture Your
Enemy," Karla ginned devilishly. 

"Not for my daughter, thank you very much," Mrs. Waves gave Karla a
warning look. 

"Karla, don't you need English, volumes 1-2?" Joyce asked as she placed
two thick books into her basket. 

"Yeah, unfortunately," Karla groaned and took the two heavy literature
items from Joyce. 

"Girls, I have a few errands I need to run.  I trust you have enough
money to pay for your purchases?" Mrs. Waves asked. 

"Always," Joyce and Karla announced as one. 

"Then meet me at "The Ocean's Rave" in an hour," Mrs. Waves instructed
as she ran off into the crowd.  The two best friends separated to 
search for their books.  Karla soon found History of Tokateka, 
Exploration of the Universe, Self Defense in Magic, Dangers of the Wild 
Animals, Foreign Languages of the Universe 1-5, and Developing Your 
Powers.  She was searching for Spells for Beginners 1-3 when she bumped 
into a handsome plant boy. 

"Oh I'm sorry," she blushed darkly. 

"I don't mind being bumped into by a cute water girl such as yourself. 
You look somewhat lost, what are you looking for?" he grinned and she 
sighed. 

"Spells for Beginners 1-3," she replied. 

"Ah, so am I.  Which is why I am here. I found it.  How long have you
been going to Tokateka?" he wanted to know. 

"Oh, this is my first year," she smiled but wondered how old was he. 

"Ah, this is my third year and it'll be my last year in Spells For
Beginners.  By the way, my name is Joey Flowering.  We'll have to see 
if we have any classes together," he shook her hand. 

"I hope we do.  My name is Karla Waves," she thought he wasn't bad for
an older man.  Even if the age difference was only two years, it was 
still a difference. 

"I've got to get the rest of my supplies so I will see you at Tokateka. 
Perhaps, you could even be my date to the first ball, the welcoming 
ball," he was blushing now and Karla was all smiles. 

"I would like that, a lot," she looked away but her heart was pounding
furiously in her ear.  What would her mother think?  She shuddered at 
that thought and she could hardly wait to tell Joyce. 

"Well, see you around," he waved and she nodded her head then waved
back.  She looked at the book he had given to her.  She knew that she 
would cherish it forever. 

"I really don't like that Jordan Growth," Joyce spat as she stumbled up
to Karla. 

"Why?" she wanted to know. 

"He made fun of me for being a first year and called me a fire loser.  I
don't like him," Joyce grumbled. 

"I met a most wonderful plant person.  His name is Joey Flowering and he
is a third year.  Look, he gave me this book," Karla showed the book as 
if she awed it. 

"So what?  It's just a book.  Anyways, it's a common book needed for
class," she rolled her eyes. 

"I know but he gave it to me.  He also asked me to the welcoming ball,"
she sighed. 

"You got a date with a fifthteen year old to the welcoming ball!  How
come these kind of things never happen to me?  Ugh, all I get is a 
twelfth year rubbing it in my face," Joyce wailed with disgust. 

"What does it mean, a medicine cabinet?" Karla wondered aloud as she
looked at her list. 

"I don't know but I have it too," Joyce replied. 

"If you go to the salesperson, they'll help you," a gorgeous young lady
instructed with a pleasant smile.  Her hair looked like a cloud and was 
constantly changing colors and moving around.  Her eyes were a soft 
gray and her clothes seemed as if they were sewn from a cloud. 

"Thank you Miss. . ." Karla hoped to learn her name. 

"Storm, Princess Orca Storm," the young lady nodded her head. 

"Wow!  I am Lady Karla Waves and this Lady Joyce Flames," Karla was open
mouth with awe.  She had never seen a storm person and her first 
encounter was of a goddess.  Joyce was only staring and not able to 
speak. 

"Hope you find your medicine cabinet," she backed into the shelves of
books and seemed almost to fade away like a mist. 

"Wow!  I have never met a storm being.  She was beautiful," Joyce
breathed out finally. 

"She was something else and a princess at that," Karla was in total
admiration. 

"Let's take her advice and go up to a salesperson," Joyce decided. 

"Alright," the two girls hurried up to join the line behind the cabinet.


"Hello darlings, ignore this line.  I suppose you are looking for
something for Tokateka?" a slender, almost completely white woman 
asked.  The only spot of color on her was her startling blue eyes. 

"Do you work here?" Joyce wanted to know. 

"No, sweetie, I just thought I'd fake it," the woman joked.  Joyce
glared at her although Karla tried to hide a smile. 

"So what are you two interested in spending your money upon?" she wanted
to know. 

"We need to buy medicine cabinets," Karla volunteered the information. 

"Oh, follow me," the woman led them into a rug covered hallway.  In
there, every noise was muffled and no one walked the corridor.  An 
eerie mood settled over the two girls and both were ill at ease. 

"Are you two first years?" the pale lady inquired. 

"Yes, we are," Karla responded.  The woman nodded as if she understood
everything and she suddenly parted two rugs on the wall.  Behind was a 
dim little room where a little frail boy sat in the middle.  Three 
candles burned red wax around him and his back was to them. 

"Ah, two first years.  Karla Waves and Joyce Flames.  Looking for a
medicine cabinet are you?  Karla, you will be a White Model 364 with a 
double edged key and frilly lace.  Joyce, you will be a Dark Red Model 
972 with an ancient key and fire streaks," the boy spoke with a bored 
air. 

"How did you know my name?" Karla was shocked. 

The boy turned around and clear, unseeing blue eyes turned on her, "I
know all.  I know that you like a Joey Flowering who is a third year.  
He found your Spells For Beginners 1-3 and asked you to the welcoming 
ball.  I know that you thought Jordan Growth was amusing and that your 
mother will be waiting for you at "Ocean's Rave", your favorite clothes 
shop.  I know that your older brother went to Tokateka and that you are 
proud to follow in his footsteps.  I also know that you have a bunk bed 
and live in a bubble dome castle, your room is in one of the three 
towers.  Correct?" 

"Yes," her voice was shaking and she wanted to run. 

"Joyce, I know you don't want to hear what I know about you so I will
not say a word," the boy chuckled," You an go now."  The woman led them 
back to the front of the shop, out of the hallway of rugs. 

"How does he do that?" Karla was eager to find out. 

"I don't know but he has done that since the beginning of Tokateka," the
saleswoman replied. 

"What do you mean?  He was just a boy and Tokateka has been around for
three hundred years," Joyce whispered. 

"Appearances can be deceiving," was the lady's reply.  She pulled down a
metal, white trunk with a key that could connect on either end.  She 
handed it to Karla.  She then pulled down a blood red, wood trunk with 
arching flames painted upon the sides.  The key looked as if it had 
came from the 16th century.  She handed it to Joyce. 

"Are you two done shopping or is there anything else you need?" the
woman wanted to know. 

"Actually, I need three journals, nine notebooks, three sets of pens,
black, green, and red ink," Karla replied. 

"Me too," Joyce added her part.  It was not before long that the girls
had paid for their picks and walked out of Tokateka, one hundred and 
forty three dollars less, each. 

They walked over to "Ocean's Rave" in silence; each lost in their own
thoughts.  They walked in and Joyce gazed sadly at all the blue items 
of clothing.  She would have to do her shopping with her mother. 

"Girls, did you find everything that you needed?" Mrs. Waves hurried
over to them. 

"Yep, and we are here to find clothes for me," Karla announced with a
smile teasing her lips. 

Her list read: 

One piece black swimming suit 

Seven sets of jeans, shorts, and shirts 

Fourteen sets of socks and undergarments 

Two Skirts 

Two frilly shirts 

Seven pajama sets 

One heavy coat, windbreaker, and raincoat 

Three sweaters, two sweatshirts 

One legging set 

Bathrobe 

Pair of running shoes 

Pair of boots 

Pair of formal shoes 

Pair of swimming shoes 

Pair of slippers 

Personal care items 

By the time they had found everything, it was time to head home.  Joyce
sat quietly in the corner of the carriage while Karla and her mother 
chattered excitedly about their purchases.  The carriage first dropped 
Karla and Mrs. Waves's home. 

"Joyce, thank you for putting up with us.  Just tell them to go home
after they drop you off and the dolphins will come back here," Mrs. 
Waves instructed. 

"Bye Joyce," Karla waved good-bye. 

"Thank you so much.  Now I am taken care of in the school supplies. 
I'll see you at school Karla.  Farewell," she smiled and the dolphins 
took off to her home. 

"I've got to check out my school things and try on all of my new
outfits," Karla jabbered and ran up to her room.  The first thing she 
examined was her medicine cabinet.  She opened it up and was bewildered 
to find it was empty except for pearly white lace that lined the 
inside. 

"Mom, is this thing supposed to be empty?" she yelled. 

"It's your medicine cabinet," her mother called back.  Karla looked at
it with frustration.  That saleswoman must have grabbed the wrong thing 
or perhaps a broken item. 

"Man, now I have to go back to the store," she cursed out loud, "Wait a
sec, what is this?" She picked up a tiny parchment of the bottom of 
cabinet.  There was a message in minute writing. 

"You silly girl.  I am a magical medicine cabinet and contain all that
you will need for spells.  You will put everything you need for 
Tokateka in me and I will hold it all.  All you need to do is ask and 
you shall receive just as you asked if I am empty.  Now, you know that 
I am not."  She stared in shock at the medicine cabinet.   Everything 
was supposed to fit in there?  How?  She dropped the parchment back in. 
 It vanished and she looked at it with curiosity.  How did she ask?  
Did she just ask.  Well, it wouldn't hurt to try. 

"Can I have that message back?" she asked with disbelief.  The paper
appeared, once more at the bottom of the cabinet. 

"Excellent, please take it back," she instructed and the paper vanished.


"Can I have some pollywag?" she inquired.  A small jar containing a dark
green, pulpy substance appeared. 

"I wonder if Joyce has figured this out yet.  I bet she'll be shocked,"
she laughed and commanded, "Take back the pollywag."  It was gone. 

She grabbed Deep Sea Diving and began flipping pages.  They were all
blank.    She ruffled through to the first page and found a message in 
bright, bold black letters. 

"Dear student, 

Please say your name after you have read this message and I will then be
yours completely.  You may have already discovered that these pages are 
blank and they are so for a reason.  It is by Tokatekan law that you 
are not permitted to preview the lessons before hand.  The pages will 
only become visible when the lesson has been pronounced by an 
authorized figure.  Thank you for taking the time to read this. 

Have a nice day." 

"Lady Karla Justine Waves," she moaned.  She couldn't look ahead and she
discovered that it was the same with all her books.  She said her name 
to them all and then threw them in the cabinet with exasperation.   No 
one could even tell that anything had been loaded at all.  She was so 
irritated with the books that she didn't even try on her clothes.  She 
just threw everything in and shut the cabinet door with a slam. 


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