The air buzzed with magic, crackling like fireworks on the Fourth of July. The rune circles held the BloomBounce tight. Symbols glittered, like they were at a party.

Lyra felt the magic in her chest. Alive. Powerful. She grinned. It was go time.

The pieces of the CaptureCube drifted towards each other. Slow. Too slow.

Lyra held her breath, body tense. “Come on, come on.”

Energy shot up. Brighter than a thousand stars. Lyra covered her eyes. The CaptureCube fragments hovered. Shaking.

Boom!

A bright flash of light exploded out. Lyra squinted. Silence. Like someone hit a mute button.

Lyra blinked, waiting for her vision to clear. The glowing runes faded away, leaving only the sharp smell of ozone.

And there it was. The CaptureCube. Whole and lying on the grass. Looking as smug as a cat that just knocked something off a table.

“Nailed it!” LoreKeeper cheered, pink compass spinning.

Lyra let out a shaky laugh, brushing her hair back. “Piece of cake,” she said, trying to sound chill. Inside, though, she was doing a full-on happy dance. One with flailing arms and no grace.

LoreKeeper’s pink glow sparkled with mischief. “Alright, darling, let’s have some fun. Think about the CaptureCube coming back to you, and poof!”

Lyra raised an eyebrow. “Wait, what? It’s like a magic boomerang?”

“Better. It’s like a magic yo-yo. Give it a try!” LoreKeeper made a little circle in the air, encouraging her.

Lyra squinted at the Cube. She focused, imagining it in her hand. She could almost feel the weight of it.

Then, there was a weird tugging. Like an invisible string tied to her palm.

The cube lifted off the ground, zooming right into her hand.

“See? Magic!” LoreKeeper said. “A little faith goes a long way.”

Lyra grinned. “This just keeps getting better.”

“Time for the big reveal!” LoreKeeper said, its compass spinning faster. “Open the cube, darling!”

Lyra pressed the button. Clicks echoed. The cube unfolded like a metal flower. Soft, warm light spilled out, cozy as a blanket.

And there it was. A small, fluffy creature blinking up at her with big blue eyes.

“BloomBounce!” It chirped, nuzzling her leg.

“Aw, come on. Look at this little guy!” Lyra said, scratching what looked like an ear. It felt like petting a fluffy marshmallow.

Even Zane cracked a smile. “Well, look at that. The fuzzball likes you.”

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

“Of course it does!” Lyra rubbed BloomBounce’s head, and it purred happily. “We’re besties now.”

BloomBounce jumped into a happy dance, hopping and spinning around Lyra’s feet.

Lyra laughed.

LoreKeeper floated closer. “Congrats, darling! You’re officially bonded with your MagicBeast.”

Lyra leaned in, eager for more. “Alright, what’s next?”

“That CaptureCube? It’s not just a fancy box.” LoreKeeper paused dramatically. “It created a link between you two. You can summon and recall your little buddy anytime. Think of it like a magic leash. Pretty handy, right?”

Lyra’s eyes widened. “No way!” She focused on BloomBounce, imagining it going back into the cube. With a soft pop, it disappeared.

Zane’s jaw dropped. He pointed, struggling to find words. “Did… did you just teleport it?”

“Told you it was cool!” Lyra laughed, then imagined BloomBounce on her shoulder. It reappeared in a flash, chirping happily and snuggling into her hair.

Zane blinked, a grin sneaking onto his face. “Okay, I gotta admit, that’s pretty cool.”

Lyra summoned and recalled BloomBounce a few more times. Just because she could.

Each time BloomBounce appeared, it looked even happier.

Lyra felt unstoppable. “This changes everything!”

But LoreKeeper wasn’t done yet. “Oh, there’s more, darling.” Its pink light pulsed as it scanned BloomBounce.

“Bloom?” The creature twitched its ears, looking confused.

LoreKeeper’s compass needle spun, then stopped. “Your BloomBounce isn’t just cute. It’s got skills.”

Lyra’s eyebrows shot up. “Wait, really?”

“Each MagicBeast has powers,” LoreKeeper said. “BloomBounces? They’re nature’s little gardeners.”

Zane snorted. “You’re telling me that fuzzball knows more about gardening than I do?”

LoreKeeper’s glow flickered like it was holding back a laugh. “Oh, sweetie. You couldn’t keep a cactus alive.”

Zane looked ready to argue.

But LoreKeeper kept going. “Your BloomBounce has two main skills: Growth Aura and Leaf Burst.”

Lyra’s eyes lit up. “Growth Aura? Leaf Burst? Tell me everything!”

“Growth Aura makes plants grow faster and stronger. Like magic fertilizer without the stink. Leaf Burst? Perfect for breaking up tough soil.” LoreKeeper’s glow radiated pride.

“This is amazing!” Lyra bounced on her heels, her excitement clear.

LoreKeeper tilted a bit. “Easy, darling. Magic takes energy. Treat your buddy well, or you’ll both be sorry.”

Lyra nodded, rubbing the BloomBounce’s back. “Got it. We’re in this together, right little guy?”

“Bloom! BloomBounce!” It snuggled closer, its big blue eyes half-closing.

Zane crossed his arms, smirking. “All it ever says is ‘BloomBounce.’ Are we sure it’s not broken?”

Lyra rolled her eyes. “It’s called branding, Zane. Ever heard of it?”

LoreKeeper chuckled. “These creatures communicate through their names. It’s a magic thing. Pure and simple.”

Darius, who had been quietly watching, finally spoke. “Interesting. Maybe it repeats its name to strengthen its identity.”

Zane snorted. “Or maybe it’s stuck on repeat. If I had to say ‘Zane’ all day, I’d lose it.”

The BloomBounce chirped, hopping around like it was trying to join the conversation. “Bloom! BloomBounce!”

“See?” Zane threw up his hands. “One button. Stuck on loop.”

“Maybe it’s the strong, silent type,” Lyra said, smirking. “Except, you know, not silent.”

“At least it’s polite,” LoreKeeper added. “Unlike some people I could mention.”

Zane put a hand to his chest, pretending to be offended. “Hey! I’m polite! I just use more than one word.”

LoreKeeper glowed warmly. “Sweetie, the BloomBounce keeps things simple. No drama. No confusion. Just pure BloomBounce vibes. You could learn something.”

Zane chuckled. “Right, because if I walked around saying ‘Zane, Zane, Zane’ all day, everyone would love me.”

Lyra burst out laughing. “You never know! Could be the next big trend. Minimalist communication!”

Zane scratched his chin, a grin spreading. “Yeah, maybe next time I want to get out of a conversation, I’ll just start chanting ‘Zane.’”

“There you go!” Lyra pointed at him. “Now you’re getting it!”

LoreKeeper pointed to the horizon, needle glowing. “Alright, alright, enough chit-chat. Back to the tents! We’ve got work to do.”

Zane smirked, looking at BloomBounce. “Maybe I’ll start with ‘ZaneBounce.’ Has a nice ring to it.”

Lyra doubled over laughing. “Oh, we’re definitely starting a ZaneBounce fan club. Membership includes a free chant!”

LoreKeeper floated ahead. “I’m sure it’ll be a hit. Now move along, everyone! Adventure doesn’t wait!”

As they moved on, Lyra felt BloomBounce snuggle against her, its warmth comforting. This journey was going to be wild, silly, and absolutely awesome. And she wouldn’t have it any other way.