Goldfish Can Be Powerful - Chapter 3

I stared up at Fabian as his lips grew closer to mine, wishing he could see the panic in my eyes. What was I supposed to do now? I couldn't let him kiss me! I valued our friendship too much to ruin it if we didn't turn out to be soulmates!

I snapped out of my reverie and dodged to the side, narrowly avoiding the lips that were intent on ruining our friendship.

"Gotta go!" I squeaked as I scurried into the gym, "I've got to prepare for the bonding ceremony and stuff..."

Fabian looked at me and I could see confusion and heartbreak written across his face. He had obviously been expecting me to reciprocate his feelings and had misread my silence as agreement. I certainly hoped I could salvage our friendship as soon as the bonding ceremony was over and he realized we weren't soulmates.

...

It had been a week since I had avoided Fabian's kiss and the bonding ceremony was hours away. I was wearing a gorgeous red dress and my hair was long and wavy.

My mom fussed over me as I batted her hands away. Her swan Bella was in her human form and putting the finishing touches on my makeup.

"I look fine!" I berated, hoping they would take the hint and leave me alone.

"I know, I know. You're just my one and only child to go through the bonding ceremony and I want you to have the best experience possible!" my mom explained. She was a little overbearing at times, but I knew she had the best intentions at heart. Her and my dad didn't bond until they were 20, fought with each other in the army for 10 years, then had me and settled down. 

"I love you too mom," I warmly said as I smiled at her. My mom and her swan Bella had always stood up for me, even if I was a little ornery sometimes. She smiled back, then peered back into the mirror. 

"As much as I hate to admit it, I think it's time for you to go," Bella said as she adjusted my dress and fixed my hair.

I stared at my reflection, dreading but at the same time looking forward to the bonding ceremony. I had the chance to find a soulmate who might hold me back, but I also had the chance to find a powerful spirit animal. I should stop worrying and just get on with it. I turned around and saw my dad standing in the doorway, looking like he was holding back tears. His sphinx Brutus sat next to him.

"Don't cry daddy! It's just some silly old bonding ceremony." I said nonchalantly as I walked over and hugged him.

"I just love you so much! I don't want some stranger taking off with my daughter!" he sniffed as he pulled me closer. Brutus purred and nuzzled my leg.

"Who knows if I'll even get a soulmate this year dad! You and mom didn't find each other for 2 years!" I comforted.

"I'm just going to miss you. You're my only child after all." he admitted as he took a step back and looked me over. "You look so grown up!" he declared, "I'm so proud of you!"

"Aw, thanks dad!" I beamed as he escorted me, my mom, and their spirit animals to the teleporter. I stiffened at the thought of another bumpy ride, but I overcame my fear and hurried into the teleporter before I could change my mind. My dad pressed the button and announced our location (The New Blidon City Hall), and we were on our way! There were a few small bumps here and there, but none that would knock me or my family off balance. 

We arrived and I stepped out of the teleporter, looking around and noticing the other 18 year-old's, their families, and their families spirit animals making their way out and into the massive building that was city hall. It looked like the Ministry of Magic meets the capitol building. 

We made our way down the hallway and up a flight of stairs, getting in line to be announced to the ballroom that served as a location for the bonding ceremony. I noticed Fabian a little further up the line and waved to him, but he ignored me and kept talking to the girl behind him. I decided to forget the problem for now, and turned back to my parents, who had missed the interaction between me and Fabian.

"Where is our invitation?" I asked them.

"In my purse somewhere," my mom answered as she rummaged through the black hole that was her purse.

"MOM!" I complained, "I told you not to put the invitation in your purse!"

"Sorry honey, I just didn't know where else to put it." she admitted as she kept digging through her purse. 

At this point we were almost at the front of the line, and I was getting antsy. I watched Fabian hand his invitation to the announcer, then walk in with his parents, his older brother Aydin, and his younger sister Elowyn. Aydin had his spirit animal Ebony, a snowy owl, sitting on his shoulder.

We reached the front of the line and I looked over at my mom, who was still rummaging through her purse, then at the announcer. 

'Sorry' I mouthed. Bella looked over my mom's shoulder, then plucked something out.

"Here it is!" She said triumphantly as she held out the invitation. She handed it to the announcer, who smiled and looked at me knowingly. Then he turned around and announced us.

"Elara Kaaya, her parents, Frederick Kaaya and Regina Kaaya, and their spirit animals, Brutus Kaaya and Bella Kaaya." By this point we were in a row: Me in the front, My parents arm in arm behind me, and their spirit animals, Brutus and Bella arm in arm behind them.

Your spirit animal's soulmate was also your soulmate's spirit animal if that makes any sense. Basically, since my parents were soulmates, their spirit animals were also soulmates.

We made our way down the stairs, entering the grand ballroom that was filled with people and their spirit animals. I gazed around the ballroom, noticing Fox and his family had already arrived, his 6 siblings, his parents, and their spirit animals chatting with Fabian's family. Fauna (Fox's oldest sister) and Aydin (Fabian's older brother) were both 25 and were soulmates. This had made the families very close, and the 2 lovebirds were basically inseparable. Faedra and Freya, Fox's second oldest sisters, were twins and their soulmates were also twins. Their spirit animals were a coyote and a wolf. Going down the list was Felix, who didn't have a soulmate yet and his spirit animal was a black and white cat, Felicity, who also didn't have a soulmate and her copper horse Penny was in her human form, and Fiona, who was a year older than Fox, had a dove as a spirit animal, and was considered the 'spoiled' one. Fox had told me numerous times that she should have been born the youngest child. From what I had heard, Fox was a "happy" accident. If anything can be considered a happy accident. Fabian's younger sister Elowyn was 15 and (obviously) hadn't gone through the bonding ceremony yet. 

My parents beelined right towards the Harrington's and the Maravalle's, dragging me with them. I plastered a fake smile on my face as we entered the circle. I tried to make eye contact with Fabian but he looked away, instead focusing on the conversation.

"Hello Regina," Mrs. Harrington smirked, "nice of you to join us!"

My mom and Mrs. Harrington didn't get along too well. My mom didn't approve of how Mrs. Harrington treated her children and Mrs. H resented her for it.

"I'm glad you bothered to show up," my mom countered,"you have a history of not showing up for important occasions."

"You little bi..." Mrs. H screamed.

"Now, now, ladies!" Mr H asserted,"That's enough of that. The ceremony is about to start!"

We all looked at the stairs as the announcer cleared his throat.

"Ladies and gentlemen. It is my honor to present our esteemed mayor, Mayor James Herman"

An elegant gentlemen wearing a top hat flounced into the room, waving his hands as we clapped. 

"Thank you everyone! Can I have my 18 year-old's make their way into the center of the ballroom and everyone else move to the sides of the ballroom." he squeaked in a high pitched voice. We all complied, forming a circle in the center of the ballroom.

"Now for those of you who haven't witnessed a bonding ceremony yet, pay attention. You will line up, and the elixir will be passed out. On my mark, you will drink it, and your spirit animal will appear. Your spirit animal will lead you to your soulmate. If you don't get a soulmate this year, you have a chance of getting one next year. After all the 18 year-old's have taken the elixir, gotten their spirit animals, and found their soulmates, everyone else over 18 will line up and take the elixir. You may find your soulmate, or if you are really lucky, get another spirit animal. Does that make sense?" We all nodded. "Good. Then let the ceremony begin!"

The 18 year old's, myself included, lined up. I noticed Fabian and tried to get his attention, but he kept his gaze straight forward. Servers walked down the rows, holding trays with shot glasses containing an amethyst liquid. I took one when the server held the tray out for me, and waited until the mayor gave us the go ahead. When everyone had gotten one and the servers had dissipated, the mayor looked around and smiled.

"In 3, 2, 1, drink!" he shouted and we all downed our liquid. 

It tasted like Autumn, with the colorful leaves, apple cider, and crisp fresh air. It was the best thing I had ever tasted! It was a little sharp going down, but that's to be expected when you're drinking Autumn in a shot glass. I started to feel tingly, and my nerves were on fire. Beams of light shot down from the ceiling in front of everyone, and I had to close my eyes and look away because it was so bright. The light dimmed, then went away, and I opened my eyes again. 

In front of me sat a fishbowl. Hold up. WHAT!!?? I closed my eyes and pinched myself, then looked again. Nope, still a fishbowl. Maybe my spirit animal was something ferocious, like a piranha or an electric eel. I squatted down and peered into the fishbowl. Inside sat a goldfish. A very small, very plain, orange goldfish. This was the opposite of what I wanted! I wanted a big strong spirit animal that would further my dreams of becoming a warrior! I kept staring at it, wait, he was a boy. I don't know know how I knew that! Maybe it was one of those bond thingies everyone kept going on and on about. Apparently, when you had a strong enough bond with your spirit animal, they can become human.

The goldfish, no, my goldfish, promptly flopped out of the bowl. I scurried to get him back into the bowl, cringing when I picked him up and he was slimy. Perks of having a fish as a spirit animal I guess. He swam around for a few seconds, then flopped out of the fishbowl again. Why was he...? Hold up. Oh crap. The second part of the bonding ceremony was the soulmate part. Your spirit animal was supposed to lead you to your soulmate. That's what he must be trying to do!

"Ding ding ding! Winner winner chicken dinner! And my name is Jax by the way." a voice emanating from the fishbowl and dripping with sarcasm said. Ugh. This was going to be an uphill battle if this was the attitude I'm dealing with.

"Don't be talkin' 'bout me like that!" Jax squealed in a southern drawl,"I have a perfectly respectable attitude thank you very much."

I thought about tossing him out of the fishbowl again before I remembered why he had been flopping out of the fishbowl. I looked up with dread, fearing what I might see. Would it be Fabian, who apparently hated me now? Or would it be some meek timid boy who could never keep up with me? What I never expected was what, or I should say, who, was being led towards me.

It couldn't be. There was no way. But Fox was still coming towards me, led by his new fox spirit animal. I don't think he had seen me yet, maybe if I ran away... I grabbed my newly acquired spirit animal and bolted, running straight into the mayor.

"This is a first. I don't think anyone has ever run away from their soul mate before!" the mayor chuckled as he turned me around. Fox met my gaze and realization dawned.

"No. No. No. No. No." Fox exclaimed as he ran the other direction. His fox ran after him and dragged him back over. I folded my arms and assumed a defensive stance.

"This is another prank right?" I guessed as I glared at Fox. By this point everyone in the room was staring at us.

"You think this is a prank? That would be the worst prank ever!" he snapped as he was nudged over by his fox Ember. Um... How did I know his fox was named Ember?? Or that she was a girl??

"Oh crap." I gulped as I stared at him. "Your fox is named Ember, right? And she's a girl?"

"Uh, yeah..." he said hesitantly. "How did you know that?"

"I don't think this is a prank." I admitted. "I think we're actually soul mates"

 

Continue reading (Or wait in anticipation until I release the next part) to find out how they react to the realization that they're soulmates. Also, find out what their 'mission' is and how they're going to solve the problem they've been tasked with solving.