Daina got up from the hard tiled floor. She levitated slowly to face the big red dragon. The dragon, Shira, swung her tail again but Daina dodged it this time. She wasn't going to lose. Daina flew towards Shira with her sword in hand, ready to strike. She sliced at the beast with all she had. But Shira was too fast. Shira's paws came down on Daina and slammed into the dresser, knocking over all the other figurines. Shira swooped in to attack. Her wings didn't flap, like most dragons, she glided through the room like a bird in high winds. She was about to land her final blow when Daina darted from the dresser. Daina landed on Shira's back. She stuck her plastic sword into the dragon's back.

"Davina! It's time for school!"

Davina snapped out of her daze and the plastic figurines collapsed onto the floor in front of her. Her mother swung open the door.

"Hey, didn't you hear me calling?" her mother asked. She stepped over the two toys to the small closet in the corner. "Why are the toys always on the floor? Did you bathe already? Every Monday morning it's the same thing. I wake you up 2 hours early and I am always late for work," her mother nagged as she filed through Davina's clothes.

She tossed a pair of jeans and a pink button-down shirt on the bed.

"Hurry up and get ready."

"I don't want to go to school." Davina declared as she did every morning.

"Yes, yes I know love. But school is important."

"Why?" Davina mumbled.

"Why? Because you learn things, you make friends, you socialize, you grow."

Davina picked up her heroine Daina in her oven-warm hands from the ground. "I don't have friends. Everyone hates me." She eyed Daina's fierce eyes, bald head and sword, wishing she could be like her.

"Honey," her mother grabbed her chubby cheeks, "no one hates you, they just don't know you yet. It's only been two weeks. Give it some time." She smiled. "Give them a big smile, show them how amazing you are."

Her mother went to leave. "Oh and you have 10 minutes to get ready."

~~~~

Davina took in the overcast sky. The sound of her mother's heavy car engine faded as she sped off down the road, desperately trying to make it on time for her new job. A stab of guilt hit her. Her mother worked hard just to keep food on the table. The least she could do is not be so difficult.

Students stood along the path towards the main entrance to the school grounds. Some stopped to buy treats from roadside vendors. As she walked through the gate, someone grabbed her bag.

She whipped around. A boy had grabbed Daina from the little side pocket she carried her in.

"You're a big girl now, why are you playing with dolls?" he teased.

"Give it back!" Davina declared.

"Or what?" piped Shelby from beside him, "What are you going to do?"

Davina stared at the two of them. A minor traffic jam formed behind them as the two blocked the gate. She felt the familiar racing of her heart and heat from her fingertips. Daina started to tremble in his hand. He stared at his hand as if something was wrong. If she focussed, it would fly out of his hand into hers.

"What is going on here?" The stubby security guard asked.

"They have my doll!" Davina stated.

"No it's mine, she stole it!" Shelby argued.

"Well then." The security guard grabbed it from the boy and stuffed it under his sweaty armpit. "It's mine now. Move it, you're blocking the traffic."

Shelby and the boy brushed past Davina. He flashed his hand and flipped it over, confused as to what was wrong. The other kids filed in by twos and threes. Davina didn't move. She brought Daina everywhere with her, now she was stuffed under some guy's stinky armpit.

The bell rang.

"Hey, get to class," the security ordered. She reluctantly moved off towards her classroom. Her heart raced this time but not for the usual reasons. Without Daina, she had no control.

The bell rang again to signal the start of the first class. She sat in the corner seat at the back. There was only an hour and a half till their break time. She would go to the security guard and ask politely for Daina back. Sure he looked mean and disgusting, but maybe if she tried to smile at him, as her mother said, he'd give her back.

She droned through the classes, desperately trying to keep her heart from exploding. Her hands were unusually hot, but she wasn't doing anything. The bell rang again. Break time. She went to the entrance of the guard house where the security guard sat. Daina was in his back pocket being pressed out.

Davina smiled as warmly as she could.

"Sir, can I have my doll back?"

"What doll?" He searched the tiny desk in front of him. "Oh." He eased up and took Daina out of his pocket. "You mean this one? I can't give it back till the end of the day." He dropped her in a drawer and closed it.

"Please sir, I need her. I mean it." Daina corrected quickly.

"No can do. Come back at 3 o'clock." He leaned back in his chair. " What's a big girl like you doing with toys anyways? How old are you?"

Davina's chest was about to explode. "I'm thirteen." She said through clenched teeth". It's the same thing her mother said when she tried to get rid of her toys when they moved. She was too old.

"Thirteen is too old. Tell you what, I'll pay you $20 and I'll give this to my daughter, she's six. She loves dolls."

Davina's eyes burned. "Give her back!" The drawer flew open and Daina flew out, slapping the security guard in his face before it landed in her hand.

"What the f... What was that?" He said as he held his jaw.

"You, little."

"Stop!"

The security guard froze as he was about to hit her. His eyes darted around.

Wide-eyed, she stepped back. Her hands were on fire. "Sit down," she commanded. The security guard moved slowly toward his seat but his eyes showed that he was just as confused as Davina. She never controlled humans before. Honestly, she never tried.

Unsure of what to do, she closed the security guard door and ran to the bathroom. Her hands still burned but her heart calmed as he held Daina in her grasp. She curled up on the floor next to the sinks.

Shelby walked in. "Hey, what are you doing with my doll?" she asked, grabbing after Daina.

Davina held it away from her.

Shelby shoved Davina into the sink. "Give her to me!" She glared at Shelby. Davina's hands glowed crimson. It rose up her forearms. She raised them toward Shelby.

Shelby began to float. "What's going on?" Her hands flailed as she rose. "Help!" She cried.

"Shut up!" Davina flung her into the bathroom stall.

"Daina's mine now."