Authors Note: Here it is everybody! The sequel to Magical Mayhem. If you haven't read it yet, you should do that before reading this, or else it won't make ANY sense. Anyway, I know I got this out a lot earlier than I had led you all to believe. Mostly because I couldn't help myself. I'm just as into this story as you all are. I can't wait to see what happens just as much as you all, and I've gotten so into writing the kind of story Magical Mayhem was, that I can't stop. I tried writing some other things and it didn't come out right at all. I just couldn't do it. I guess that probably makes some of you happy. Getting on with things though. The first part will be in third person, then it will switch to Max's. You'll know when.

Chapter -:One:-

Dreams Revisited, Haunted by Old Memories

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The air was thick, an icy chill running through their veins as they walked soundlessly down the street. Something was not right. It wasn't exactly a warm night, sharp gusts of wind blowing through tattered and stained clothes, yet this cold was unnatural. It had gone from mild to outrageously freezing in a second. There was no longer any wind, yet the temperature had dropped drastically. The striking sense of familiarity had the people picking up their pace as they swiftly skirted any beams of light, sticking to the shadows of the night that contained all the refuge they could ever need. It was only when the screaming started that they really began to hurry . . .

They ran, sliding into a seemingly empty alley. It was their better than average eyesight that lent them the information they so desperately needed. Two cloaked figures towering over two humans. One, a rather fat and ugly boy who was on the ground cowering and whimpering in fear. The other a pale boy with a mop of black hair that had run askew, covering most of his face. He was holding up a long, slender stick, saying words that a year ago were foreign.

The spell he was speaking, however, was having no affect what so ever on the cloaked being hovering over him. With eyes wide one of the people in the group reached into the folds of her jean pocket and drew out a piece of wood much like the black haired boys own. She raised it with confidence, pointing it at the creature who was still advancing on the boy.

"Expecto Patronum!" She shouted.

From the tip of the wand erupted a blinding white light. A split second later a wildly graceful hawk glided from it, made of light itself. With a beat of it's powerful wings it soared like a bullet forwards. The Dementor jumped back, and fled the alley like a bat out of Hell. Quite literally speaking.

Once the first was out of the way, the hawk dive bombed the second, sending it skittering away.

"Well this sure wasn't the way I had expected our reunion to go," the girl who had conjured the patronus spoke for the first time.

Two Weeks Earlier . . .

"School's starting soon, you know," Nudge hinted for the three hundredth, forty second time. Trust me. I counted.

"And I care why . . .?" I mused with much contempt.

"Oh come on Max! You know you want to go back. We all do," Nudge whined.

"No, I don't," I insisted.

"You're such a liar! Why can't we go back Max? What's the real reason. It was so awesome there, and we were safe. Isn't that what you want?"

"Safe? Safe!?" I asked incredulously. "You think that Max II and her army storming the castle was us being safe?"

"We were learning how to protect ourselves even more. We had beds to sleep in, we had plenty of food to eat . . . we didn't have to walk around like dirt bags. We were surrounded by hundreds of people that could say one word and blast a Flyboy into oblivion. If those wizards hadn't been there, we would have never defeated that army. We all would have died."

I just ignored her. I knew she was right . . . about everything . . .

But what was I supposed to do? Go back to a place riddled with misfortune? Thrust my flock and I deeper than we already were? . . . . . Oh who was I trying to fool. We couldn't get any deeper than what we had started out with. We were at the very root of the trouble, there was no doubt.

"We should go back Max. So maybe it isn't safe, but it is our best option," Nudge tried a different approach.

"And what would you know about our best options?" I inquired.

"I want to go Max!" She said in a low voice, taking on an entirely different tone.

"What are you trying to say?" I questioned her.

"I want to go . . . and I will. No matter what you say."

She ran. Leaving me standing alone, the door to my mom's house banging shut after her. I stared at the door for a lot longer than was necessary, thinking of how much it resembled my life. A closed door. There was no other way to describe it . . . and now the people I cared about most were slowly traveling to the other side.

I fight broke out inside of me. With slight desperation I pulled my gaze away from the door. I was thinking too much. I drew in a shuddering breath and sank to the ground, bringing my knees up to rest under my chin. There was a sensation in my mind, like someone was knocking on it. I resisted. I didn't want him to know what I was thinking.

"She'll get it over." There was a voice, but no body.

"She hates me," I mumbled into my sleeve.

The grass beside me rustled, and a warm arm was slung over my shoulder, guiding me into his arms. A safe haven.

"She doesn't hate you. She's just mad. It's Nudge. She'll get upset, and then she'll get over it," he repeated his previous words.

"My whole life is in ruins. I'm upsetting every one." I wanted to cry.

"You're doing your job. You're the leader, and you're looking out for their best interests. They may not understand it yet, but they will." Yeah, he was so wise.

"To Iggy all I'm doing is keeping him away from his girlfriend, he never talks to me. Nudge thinks I'm some evil dictator keeping us from our 'best option'. It's only a matter of time before you all follow, and then I'll be left alone."

"You have nothing to worry about. Iggy and Nudge are minor setbacks. He'll be angry, sure, but he loves you Max, and so does Nudge. What else do you have to worry about? You've already saved the world."

He didn't know how wrong he was. I had just stalled the actual act in which I had to save the world. The real thing was coming. I could feel it. I was seeing it in my dreams, and sometimes when I just let my mind wander. My power was growing stronger. Yeah, I was soooo lucky.

"What are you seeing Max!?" He sucked in a breath.

Crap! I had accidentally let down my guard, and he had seen my thoughts.

"Nothing, it's nothing," I replied in a hurry, scrambling to my feet.

"Why won't you tell me?"

"It's no big deal," I assured him. It didn't work.

"What's this really about Max? You don't ever talk to me, not like you used to." I saw the pain flash in his eyes just for a second, and I realized how in depth his hurt was. Well yeah, we were all freaking hurt. I still wasn't over what he had done, so sue me!

"Maybe because I don't know if I can tell you anything. I don't want to say something, then just have you turn around and walk away! It almost killed me the last time Fang, I don't know if I can take that again . . ."

"Max," he said, his tone softening. "I never meant to hurt you, I honestly didn't, and you don't know how sorry I am that I did. But if things are ever going to be the same, you have to get over that! You have to start trusting me."

I looked at him, not even noticing that at some point he had become un-invisible.

"Things will never be the same, Fang."

. . . . And I flew away, that same fight or flight instinct kicking in.

No matter what, time always catches up with you . . .

"Max?" Someone spoke my name timidly from behind.

I swiveled, looking for the source, but there was none.

"Who's there?" I asked, knowing that it wasn't Fang.

"I can't let you see me. It's against the rules, but I have to tell you something very important. They don't want me too, but it's for the best. You must listen."

I had determined that whoever it was, they were a child. The voice was male, but very boyish.

"What rules? Who is 'they'?" I inquired, my brow furrowing.

"I'm sorry," he said forlornly, "but I can't tell you that. I wish I could, Max. I really do. They would get rid of me though, and I would be left to wander the Earth alone for the rest of eternity. You wouldn't want that to happen, would you? You don't want me to be alone. It's a cold, heartless place to be."

"You're right. I don't want that to happen . . . but I'm on my way their regardless."

"Not if you do what I say. No arguments either, I know you are stubborn, but it is the only way."

"What do you want me to do then?" I asked suspiciously.

All of a sudden the wind picked up, howling like a banshee through the tall grasses. Shaking the trees on the horizon, bending them under its sheer force and power, until I was sure they would snap. Angry gray clouds rolled over the horizon, unleashing a storm of epic proportions. Lightening cracked like a whip across the vast expanse of sky, and when the thunder struck, it seemed like the Earth was shaking under its sonic boom. It seemed as if I could feel the ground vibrating, a spray of dirt being raised, turning into a twisting whirlwind of dust.

"I don't have much time left. They will find me." A note of fear crept into the little boys voice, and my heart ached to hear it. His pain was mine. We were one and the same, connected in some unnatural way that left me almost breathless as our minds touched and collided with one another.

"What's going on?" I had to raise my voice to be hear above the wind, and occasional clap of angry thunder.

"You must hurry home Maximum. Do not fly, it is too dangerous. They will sweep you away and you will be crushed by the weight of this mighty storm," he ordered.

"And what of you? Will they hurt you like they will hurt me?" I asked, worry for the young one encasing me. Some feeling of protection aroused in the pit of my stomach. I would do anything to keep him safe, I realized . . . not even knowing who he really is I would risk my life for him.

"I will be fine. They can do me no harm, it is impossible for me to be hurt like you imagine. They will take control over you, however. They will make you into a slave, which is worse than them killing you," he answered over the roaring noise.

Rain lashed down, so hard that it stung my body as I became instantly soaked. The wind was throwing my hair into my face. I found myself cringing as I tried to stay upright. This was like nothing I had ever experienced in my life.

"I don't understand," I admitted. "Who is 'they'? Who are these people you speak of?"

"They are not people, that much I can tell you. They are creatures that seek the bloodshed of others, but they keep their rules and commands high in their ranks. You would be wise to not disobey them."

Impossibly, the storm became even worse, and my back literally bent forward as I keeled over from the pressure of the wind.

"Too much talk, too much talk. They are getting closer. No time, no time. You must go now Max! I am sorry I can not answer more of your questions, for I sense that you have many, but for now you must leave. Listen to my message now, and obey with no objections. You have not a choice. The world will die if you don't."

"I will do as you say," I cried, beginning to push my way towards home.

"Go back Maximum Ride. You must go back and finish what you have started. The war has just begun, you must stay close to the enemy, stay close to where the information comes. You will save the world, but you will not do it alone. Find the prophecy, and you will know. Go back Max! Go back to Hogwarts! And remember-" but his voice was sucked away as a deafening roar filled the air and the sky seemed to come crashing down at my feet. Still I trudged on, fighting an invisible enemy with ever ounce of strength in my body. It would not beat me . . . I could not be overcome . . .

I came in sight of my mothers house and collapsed to the ground. Not even realizing that the storm had stopped . . . and that there was no sign here that it had ever existed in the first place.

Authors Note: And with that, there is the first chapter of the long awaited sequel to Magical Mayhem. Pretty good if I do say so myself. With all that's going on right now, the next chapter might not be out for awhile, but I had to post this. It was just too intriguing, don't you agree? Very mysterious I know, but I don't think I really ended it with a cliffhanger so much. I tried not to do that, in case I couldn't write anything right away.

Anyway, I think I might die if you do not review. I need to know if, by just this bit, you think the sequel will live up to the last stories standards, or maybe even exceed that.