LAST CHAPTER!!!!!!!!!!

That was six days ago. So here I sit in my cold little cell awaiting my death. At least I'll see mom and Marie again. Well, I'm going to sleep now good night.


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All night she sat and cried wondering how Sam, her best friend, had betrayed her. After all they had been through together and hpw many secrets they shared, that now ment nothing. Finally she fell into a uneasy sleep.

The next day Zirconia awoke to find a small note like then one she had found in her camp when looking for Sam. It said, In a matter of hours your time will come. All you have to do is scream and go limp, we will take care of the rest.
Zirconia read the letter again and again trying to figure out where it had come from. As she heard the guards coming to bring her to the stake she descided her only choice was to follow the note.

Marching through town, her bare feet hurt and she was being scorned by the people. The ropes bit into her hands and she was tied securely in place. As they were placing the wood at her feet, her breathing became more labored as she realized this was it. Her eyes came to rest on the black hooded figure she had seen twice before. Before she could focus in on the figure her vision was blocked by the man carrying the torch.

As the flames met the sticks, Zirconia felt the heat rise around her face. As the heat was starting to become suffocating, all of a sudden it was gone. For a moment she stood, confused at what was going on. Then she remembered the note and began to scream.
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Later that day the people of the village dumped our little hero on the outskirts of town as they had done with the other witches. But Zirconia was still alive. She didnt know how or why, but she was alive. She shed the remains of the ropes and got to her feet. Looking around she once again saw the black hooded figure. It walked over and stopped a few feet from Zirconia. She didnt know whether to run or stay, but opted for the later.
The figure reached up and grasped the edges of its hood and lowered it slowly.
"Mom???" Zirconia said bursting into tears. "W-w-w-what? How? Why?" she stammered between sobs.
Mrs. Stone smiled. "Zirconia dear. We knew the villagers would find us sooner or later. We created a spell that would repel fire and protect the person it was cast on. All of the witches you saw burned are safe."
"But mother," Zirconia began, "what about all the innocent girls that were burned??"
Mrs. Stone bowed her head. "Unfortunetly we couldnt risk someone finding out about our plan and turning us in. I'm sorry dear."
Zirconia's eyes filled with tears again as she thought about Ms. Black, she would have helped them, not turned them in.
Seeing the look on her daughters face Mrs. Stone guessed what she was thinking. "But.." she said with a small smile, "There was one young lady who spotted me in the woods after my burning and was quite helpful." And before the words had left her mouth, Marie Black stepped out of the woods.

Zirconia let out a little squeak at seeing her 'dead' friend and ran to her. Throwing herself into Ms Black's arms, Zirconia was over come by joy. After a few minutes they walked back to the witches camp and sat down around the magical, non-smoking fire. Zirconia was updated on what the witches had been doing since their 'burnings' and that they planned to go West after all the witches had joined them. Though she was happy to see her mother and everyone else, her happiness was ebing away at the thought of Sam. By all rights Sam should be sitting next to her amazed at the way the older women outwitted the hunters.

Her mother, seeing Zirconia become quiet, smiled and said, "Zirconia? Dear? I have one more thing I'de like to tell you. I lied when I said Marie was the only non-witch that knew of our plan.''
Zirconia looked up as her mother said this hopeing what she was thinking was true. "Samantha was acting on our orders." her mother said.
Zirconia's heart soared. Sam was still as loyal as ever. But if they were moving West, would she ever see her friend again.

Later that evening Sam showed up at the camp. After a long discusion with her best friend, Zirconia asked the dreaded question. "Sam... What are you going to do when I leave?" Sam smiled smugly, "Well, you see, I sort of...let myself be seen fiddling with your wand about an hour ago. So... Your stuck with me forever hun."
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And thats my story. A young witch who thought she lost it all, only to find she had it all and more. So I'm off with Sam, mother, Marie and the other witches to start a new life in the West.

Ta-da! All done guys! PLEASE comment. Thanks to everyone who stuck with this story through all my writer blocks Thanks again! *luffs*

Rachel