Witches. There are many legends about them; none of them exactly the same. But there is always one similarity between them all, they are terrifying, evil beings that use magic. They apparently disappeared many years ago, never to be seen again.

Personally, I never believed in them. There are a lot of stories where the witches cook up naughty children in their cauldrons. I figured they were just made up to scare bad kids. But I found out that they actually do exist...

...but they weren't anything like I imagined they'd be. At least she wasn't... Indigo the Witch.

--

After showing Indigo around the house yesterday and playing some games, she fell asleep after taking a bath, apparently exhausted after releasing so much hyperactive energy. Since she suddenly got me up bright and early the previous day, I decided to take advantage of my (long and awaited) break from her and go to sleep earlier as well. However...

"Mmn..." I woke up the next morning, rather lazily. Rather typical for me in the summer, really. But...

Where's Indigo? She didn't come wake me up this time...

I checked the clock. 7 am, just like yesterday.

Is she still asleep? I wondered, but then noticed her sleeping bag was empty.

"Did she go downstairs?"

--

"... and that was a taste of last year's show! Be sure to come see this year's show - live! Performances by our very own townsfolk will be held in Htrae Stadium tomorrow at noon! If you want to take part yourself, make sure to sign up today!" I heard from the television in the living room downstairs.

"I wonder who's watching TV?"

"Ooooh!" I heard someone say excitedly.

"It was Indigo... of course." I said, deadpan.

"SHAAARP!!!" She screamed, suddenly running up to me at full speed.

"Wah! Why are you being so hyper?!"

"Guesswhatguesswhatguesswhat!?" She asked, ignoring what I just said.

"What? Does your hyper-ness have to do with that show on TV, by any chance?"

"It's not just any show; it's a magic show!"

"A magic show, huh? I see." I responded, knowing what was to come. "Let me guess, you want t-..."

"I wanna be in it!"

"... Of course. Of course you do." I sighed. "Fine. I guess we can go to the stadium later, and..."

"Nooo! I wanna go now!"

"Indigo, it's not even 8 o' clock yet. I doubt it's open right now..."

She said nothing, but glared at me with puffed-up cheeks. In other words, her "give me what I want" expression.

"... Alright, fine. I guess it wouldn't hurt to go check it out now."

"Yaaay!" Indigo exclaimed with glee.

I'd better not give in to her demands like this later on... Or it'll be the end of me, for sure...

"Let's go!" She said, then immediately headed for the door.

"W-wait a second!" I grabbed her arm before she could leave. "You don't even know where it is, do you?"

"Of course not; you haven't shown me around town yet, Sharp." She said flatly, not quite getting the point I was trying to make.

"Then why are you running off by yourself?"

"Oh, right... Heheh..." She hit her head with her fist and stuck out her tongue. "Could you show me where it is, Sharp?"

"Sure, let's go."

--

Indigo and I headed for the stadium on foot. Along the way, Indigo seemed to getting less and less enthusiastic.

"What's wrong, Indigo?"

"I'm sooo tired! Can't I take out my broom and fly there?"

"We've only walked a couple blocks so far." I told her sternly. "And I already told you not to use magic here. Especially in public."

Indigo sighed at my comment. "I wish I knew how to use some sort of teleportation spell..."

"Even if you did, I wouldn't let you use it."

"Why not?"

"What did I just say about no magic?!"

"But it'd be a lot better than walking, wouldn't it?"

"I wouldn't trust you."

"Hmph." She puffed up her cheeks and looked away from me. "Meanie."

"What?"

"And you're boring, too."

I sighed.

I wish I could just go home...

"Hey, Sharp?" She looked at me, with her normal expression back.

"What is it?"

"I'm sooo tired... Can you carry me the rest of the way?"

"NO!"

--

After dealing with more complaining from Indigo, we finally arrived at the stadium. Somehow...

"This is the place!" Indigo said happily, full of energy again. "We're heeere! Jeez, am I tired from all that walking..."

"You don't look tired at all to me." I uttered. "And it wasn't that far. It only took about 15 minutes."

"I can't wait to show off my magic!" She responded, with something completely unrelated to what I just said.

"Magic? I already told you you can't show off your magic here, didn't I?" I reminded her. "How many times do I have to remind you?!"

"W-what? But it's a magic show! A magic show!" She retorted, feeling the need to repeat herself. "It's a show about magic, so it should be fine to use mine here, right?"

"It's not what you're thinking." I explained. "It's a different type of magic than..."

"Magic is magic!" Indigo interrupted, putting her hands on her hips and looking at me angrily. "What can be so different about it?!"

"Alright, alright, I get it." I gave in slightly. "Tell you what, we can watch the other performers practice first, then we'll decide if it's okay to use magic. Okay?"

"Fiiine..." She responded, not looking satisfied with my answer.

I noticed a greeter a outside of the stadium. I figured I should go ask him about the show.

"Uh, excuse me?" I asked him.

"Hello, young man!" He greeted energetically. "Are you here for the magic show? It doesn't start until noon tomorrow, I'm afraid."

"Actually, we can here to see if we cou-..."

"I want to show off my magic!" Indigo cut in suddenly.

"Oh, you want to be in the magic show, too?" The greeter asked, surprised. "Wow, we haven't got a child who wanted to perform here in a long time!"

"Um, actually, as I was trying to say..." I started, peeved by Indigo's interruption. "Could we watch the performers practice first?"

"Mmn..." Indigo glared at me with her cheeks puffed-up as usual, but I ignored her.

"C-certainly. Right this way..." The greeter answered, trying not to pay attention to Indigo's face.

--

The greeter guided us through the stadium to where the show was going to be held. There were a couple of people practicing. I was surprised they were here so early.

"Oh, who are you two?" A pretty, scarlet-haired young lady, who looked only a couple of years older than us, asked.

"I'm Indigo! And this is my friend, Sharp." Indigo told her, feeling the need to introduce myself for me for some reason. "I want to show everyone here my magic!"

"Oh, that sounds wonderful; I can't wait to see your performance! But we're taking turns; so you two will have to wait until I go next, okay?"

"It's actually only Indigo that wants to perform..." I explained.

"But I don't want to wait! I wanna go nooow!"

"Indigo! Be patient!"

"Hmph..." Indigo looked away, irritated.

We all sat down to watch the other performers, until the older girl's turn rolled around.

"Heheh... Wish me luck!" She said, then went on stage.

"So, what do you think of everyone's 'magic' so far?" I decided to ask Indigo, while the girl was preparing. "It's certainly different than yours, like I said, right?"

"Their magic is so boooring! It doesn't even seem like magic at all!"

"Well, normals can't use magic like witches, so some of us just perform tricks instead. Y'know, for fun."

"Doesn't seem fun to me..." Indigo crossed her arms in disapproval.

"Why not? Didn't you watch some of last year's show on TV earlier?"

"I thought they just didn't want to show the good stuff. But none of this stuff is interes-..."

"Quiet, Indigo. She's going to start now." I cut her off, before the girl started her performance.

She got out a chair, and took off the rose-patterned cape she had been wearing earlier.

"Behold! I will make this chair... disappear! Before your very eyes!" She waved her hand in an exaggerated motion.

This girl is a bit silly... I guess it's a magician thing...

She simply waved the cape over the chair, and it vanished instantly.

Wow... Not bad...

Everyone else watching clapped, including myself. Well, except for a certain, immature witch...

"You didn't like that, either?" I asked her.

"It's not that I didn't like it, but... It just wasn't exciting enough!"

"Oh, really?" The girl responded, coming back to her seat. "In that case, show us some excitement yourself, then!" She said so in a rather cheery tone.

"I will!" Indigo responded, with an unequal level of cheeriness. "You'll see!"

"The stage's all yours, kid!" The girl winked, then sat back down in her seat.

"You'd better be watching too, Sharp!"

"Just don't overdo it, okay Indigo?"

"Don't worry, it'll be a blast!" She giggled at her own comment, then went on stage.

I have a really bad feeling...

The greeter from before was also on stage, with a small mic in hand.

"We are pleased to announce that a young, new talent will be joining us this year!" He said, probably mostly saying that to rehearse for tomorrow. "Um, what's your name?"

"It's Indigo!"

"And what kind of trick are you going to perform for us?"

"Trick?" She asked, confused. "No no, it's magic!"

"Hahah, of course. It's magic, sorry."

You didn't have to correct yourself there, sir...

"Oh, wait!" Indigo said suddenly, seemingly realizing something. "Hold on for one second!"

She ran to the side of the stage, and wrapped herself in one of the curtains.

What is she doing?

She came back out a few seconds later, clad in her witch outfit, with her wand in hand.

"Ooh!" The audience looked at her impressively.

Indigo! They're going to find ou-...

"Oh! A magician's outfit?" The greeter asked her.

"Um, this is actually my wi-..." She stopped herself, noticing me glare at her. "Anyway, I'm going to perform some magic! Look and see, everyone!"

She pointed her wand at the stage floor.

What is she up to now?

All of a sudden, the strange ball floating above (well, currently below) her wand started to glow. And then...

"Blitz Fire Lift!" Fire suddenly came bursting out of the wand, sending her up into the air. She flew so high, that if we were in a normal room instead of a stadium, she would have easily hit the roof.

"WAH! INDIGO!!!" I called out, but was ignored. Everyone else simply stared in awe, until she came back down.

"So, that was my magic!" Indigo said, like her bursting up into the air and scorching the stage was no big deal. "What did you all think?"

Surprisingly, the audience gave her a round of applause. I could even hear some cheers.

"What amazing special effects!" "This is going to be the best magic show yet!" I heard two people sitting near me say.

I sighed. Well, at least no one is suspicious...

"Still, I want to give her a piece of my mind..." I started to walk up to her, but the other magicians started talking to her. So I had no choice but to wait.

"Your friend is very talented." The girl with the rose-patterned cape said, standing next to me.

"Trouble, is more like it. She torched most of the stage!"

She giggled. Unlike me, she found it hilarious for some reason.

"Well, it looks like she'll be talking with the others for a while longer. So here... have a seat 'til then!" The girl waved her cape, and the chair from before appeared next to me.

"W-wha!? How did you..."

"See you at tomorrow's performance!" And with that, the girl ellegantly left the stadium.

Just who is that girl...?

--

"Indigo!" I yelled, following her outside.

"Oh, Sharp!" She responded with a smile. "What did you think of my grand performance?"

"'Grand performance'?" I sighed. "Didn't I tell you not to overdo it?!"

"B-but I had it all planned out and everything!" She tried to make an excuse to justify herself. "And besides, everyone liked it a lot, so..."

"I don't care! What if they find out you're a witch?!"

"So what?!" Indigo exclaimed, her sudden harsh tone startling me. "Why is it such a big deal if they find out, anyway? You keep telling me not to, but I've yet to see you give a good reason!"

I guess what she's saying is true, but doesn't she know...?

I sighed. "Fine, I'll explain. You see, the way we think of witches i-..."

"Excuse me!" I was interrupted by the greeter, who had run up to us.

"Oh, I'm sorry about what my friend did to your stage..." I lowered my head in apology. I forced Indigo to make the same gesture.

"Don't even worry about it!" He told us, not looking the least bit upset. "In fact, I thought her performance was marvelous!"

"See, Sharp? Even the announcer guy liked my magic!"

"Actually, I'm not just an announcer; I'm running the whole show this year. And please, call me Alan."

"Why? Is that your name?"

"Of course it is..." I said, deadpan.

"Your name is Indigo, right? Will you be performing some more stunning magic at tomorrow's show?"

"C-can I really?" Indigo asked him with glee, with eyes seeming to sparkle. "Of course! Definitely!"

"Great! See you tomorrow at noon, then!" And with that, Alan went back inside the stadium.

"So, Indigo..." I started, wanted to continue where I left off.

"Oh boy! I can't wait until tomorrow!" Indigo said to herself, with a big smile on her face. "It's going to be sooo much fun!"

I sighed. "Forget it."

I guess if no one has a problem with it, I'll let her have her fun...

End of Chapter 3

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Writer's Comments:

So, it's Indigo the Witch's 6th anniversary today. And, unlike last year, I barely got this chapter done for it in time. (Although it's actually only about an hour past midnight right now.) And yeah, I know it took me a whole year just to write one more chapter for this series. Whatever, it's nothing new...

Anyway, I was actually struggling a bit through this one, and wasn't feeling all that great about it part of the way, but... I think it came out okay. I even ended up adding a few things I wasn't intending to before, so it ended up being a lot longer than I thought it would!

So, until I write Indigo's 4th chapter (*cough*nextyear*cough*)... Until next time!

- CS-Masyet

P.S. One day I'll come up with a better ending phrase than 'until next time'... One day...