15 The Goose (Cedric)

I've been dreading this. One of the lessons given to first year evil students is how to bully a golden egg out of a goose. The goose had to be replaced because headmistress Sophie, in her first year was so evil that the goose gave up its powers and became a normal goose rather than help her.

And this is what I'm dreading. I can insist I am good as much as I want but I've already turned into a dragon. If I prove evil in this challenge as will, I ruin any hope of me ever being good.

And that can't be true. It-it was some sort of fluke that I ended up in evil, honestly that thought's all that's keeping me going. I'm good, I have to be. Yet, that belief seems to be crumbling a little each day.

I nearly slam the door closed but catch myself. My father always said "a prince must always be a gentleman". I can't stop heeding his words now, otherwise that's just admitting that I'm turning evil.

I walk gracefully out to the field and before I notice, am surrounded by the villains who always follow me. I can just see Adria saying to me, "What, you've even got a fan club already?" I shove the thought away. I won't-no can't think of her, maybe then I won't feel so wretched inside.

I walk down the dark stairs and arrive outside. And there it stands, a thing of nightmares. The goose that lays golden eggs.

I walk slower and slower, each step heavier. I won't be evil. I can't be evil. I'm good. I'm good. These are the thoughts I cling to. I finally arrive in front of the goose and we line up. A teacher stands in front of us.

"Now, we are going to learn about magic geese. These geese lay golden eggs and the challenge is to get the largest egg out of the goose using the evilest way possible. Remember evil bullies, tricks, or steals. Now...start!"

One by one villains go up to the goose and try various tricks. My ogre roommate stomps up to the suspicious goose and before anyone can say anything he punches the poor creature. Despite being future villains everyone flinches in sympathy for the bird. The result, though, with a plop, is a large round egg.

Someone else attempts to scare the bird with startling farting noises but is only met with a tiny, finger sized egg. People continue going and finally it's my turn. I step forward with increasing dread. Finally I'm face to face with the bird.

I️m not evil. I️ desperately think as I️ slowly raise my eyes to meet the bird's. Gazes interlock and everything seem to come to a stop. "I'm not evil." The thought comes again.

I️ clench my fist, sweat dripping down my spine, when, unbelievably, I️ hear a voice. What is it you wish for? After a moment of shock, I️ realize it's the goose. Wish? Instantly one comes to mind, unbidden. I️ wish to be good. But no. It's more then that. I️ wish to be a hero, to make my family proud. I️ wish to be strong I wish to be brave I️ wish to be king I️ wish to be at the top I️ wish..then another image comes to mind. I️ see my sister, the witch, and I️ the hero. I want to defeat my sister, and rule only I️ deserve happiness, why should she-" I️ freeze.

What was that? Since when did I️ hate my sister? Sure, I️ was upset that she was in good but these thoughts weren't simply sibling hatred. These thoughts were malicious. No-not even that, they were evil. I️ don't dare to look but somehow I️ slowly lift my head. The originally blinding white goose is gray, and with a squawk flaps its wings. A goose only turns ordinary when it's met with a being so evil that it would rather give up its power than grant the wish. And my classmates are now gazing with awestruck faces at the being that was evil enough to make a goose lose her powers.

Me.