The Three Trials for Power

By Lars the Goddess

Part IV

Chapter 6

Lavender incense filled the air of the dimly lit store. Crystals and other gems glimmered in the artificial light as two teens passed through them, eyeing them longingly. However, they were not there for stones, what they needed were ingredients. Cyanea was quickly collecting a bunch of herbs and other tools to use in the ritual they would perform the next week. Looking carefully through a bunch of jars of herbs, Cyanea heard a voice behind her.

"What’s this?" Duo asked playfully causing her to turn and look at him. He didn’t miss the scared look on her face as he began to toss the object in the air and catch it with his left hand.

"Duo," she said softly without making any sudden movements. "Please put the athame where you found it and step away."

"Oh, so that’s what it is," he said with a smirk as he caught the sharp, double bladed knife one last time before returning it to it’s place on the shelf.

Rolling her eyes and breathing a sigh of relief, he laughed as Cy turned back to the shelf of herbs. He looked up at the sound of a friendly voice. "Hello, Cyanea. What are you looking for today?" the clerk asked the young witch.

"Hello, Vyvyan," she said to the man who had approached them.

Duo had to hide his surprise at the young man’s appearance. Vyvyan’s wild black hair hung half way down his back in disarray and he wore long black robes that appeared to have many pockets in them. One thing was for sure, this man wasn’t trying to hide that he was a witch.

"I’m looking for some Patchouli leaves, but I can’t seem to find them," the red haired witch continued, apparently use to the man’s unique looks.

"Oh, we must have ran out, but there is some more in the stock room. I just never got the chance to restock the shelf. You can go ahead and get whatever you need from there," he said as he walked over to unlock the door.

Cy gestured for Duo to follow her. Probably doesn’t trust me out here by myself after the athame thing. But then again, would I? He thought as he followed her.

Just as they walked into the small enclosure, the door swung shut and they heard Vyvyan curse loudly. "Shit, I dropped the keys into the incense oil and it’s too hot to get them out!" he said angrily. Then almost sheepishly he said a little louder, "Uh, Cy? You’re not gonna believe this…"

"I heard," she growled back at him. "Don’t you have an extra key?" she asked hopefully.

A loud sigh was heard, "That was the extra."

"Well, then start cooling the oil. I’d like to get out of here today," she yelled at him as she turned to start gathering the supplies she needed from the shelves.

Duo watched her back curiously. I wonder if she’s thinking what I’m thinking.

When she stopped her searching for her ingredients and turned around, he knew that she definitely was by the scheming look in her eyes. He watched as she approached him slowly and put her arms around his neck. "You know, it would be a pity to waste this chance," she said softly. "After all, we‘re stuck in a closet and it takes at least an hour for oil to cool to withstandable temperatures."

His eyebrows raised at the obvious suggestion. I’ve never tried a make out session in a closet, but I’m open to new things, he thought with a wry grin. I never took her for the direct type though.

His train of thought quickly trailed off as she leaned in to claim his lips in a passionate kiss. His arms encircled her and he ran a hand through her wild red hair. They pulled back and she breathed a sigh of contentment. There was no better place to be right now then trapped in a closet with the Mother, Goddess and Protector of all Bunny Rabbits.

"I know this might sound a little premature," he whispered softly into her ear, "but, I love you, Cyanea."

"We haven’t known each other for more than a day," she whispered back. "But, it feels like an eternity."

Still wrapped in each other’s arms, they jumped away from each other when they heard a loud banging on the door, accompanied by and irritating voice. "Hey! What the hell do you think you’re doing in there, woman?"

***  The little shop they were standing in front of was eerie with strange things displayed in the window. Wicked knives took up one shelf and jars of unidentifiable things floating in liquid were lined up neatly on another one. Ignoring the feelings the surroundings gave him, Trowa listened silently as the girls fessed up.

"You see," Anika confessed. "We wouldn’t usually come out of the broom closet, but it looks like we have a little emergency."

"What do you mean?" Trowa asked softly. Montana took charge, trying to save themselves some dignity, which Anika would rip to shreds and spread across a churchyard like manure.

"Look, it’s like this. Um…Cy and Duo went to that Magick Shoppe. Or they were supposed to. But it seems they aren’t in there now."

Just then Vyvyan came running out of the store and frantically approached Montana, his long, wild hair flowing behind him as he almost tripped over the long robes he was wearing. "Montana! Thank the Lord and Lady you’re here! Cyanea and her friend got locked in the supply closet, and I can’t get them out!"

Montana groaned. "Typical. Trouble always seems to follow Cy. So, how’d they get locked in?"

"I, um…dropped the key in hot oil," he muttered so quietly that Trowa almost didn’t catch it.

"Smooth," was Montana’s less than sympathetic comment.

Wufei, sick to death of all the incessant babbling, stalked in the store and banged on the door. "What the hell are you doing in there, woman!"

Montana walked up to the door and placed her hand on it’s smooth surface as Trowa watched curiously.

"What’s she doing?" he whispered to Anika, who was also watching intently.

"Oh, no," she teased. "You’re not going to get me this time!"

He shrugged and turned his attention back to Montana as she began to giggle. "Awwww, how cute!"

"What?" asked Anika eagerly.

Montana looked at her. "They were obviously up to something. Cy’s hair’s all messed up. But now they’re standing across the room from each other."

Anika smirked and began to mutter under her breath, "Lucky Cy. Not even an hour and she’s got herself a hottie."

Trowa glanced at the brown haired girl standing next to him. I wonder what she’s talking about? Apparently he was missing something that only the girls could understand.

Suddenly, Montana got an idea. In Gaelic, she said to Anika, "Use your powers to float the key to the top, and I’ll create a distraction."

"Ok."

As Anika approached the cauldron, Montana walked up to one of the many shelves and asked, "What’s this, ya think?" She picked up a crystal ball even as everyone ignored her. That is, until they heard a resounding crash come from her direction. Turning towards her, they watched in disbelief as she spoke up. "Oops," she said meekly as she tried to hide the mess that she had made.

Trowa turned back as he heard Anika exclaim happily, "Look! I found the key! Oh no," she said as she looked at the cooling metal in her hand closely.

***  Cyanea was glaring at Duo from across the small closet as the boy stood there looking meek. She was mad because Montana had realized they had been doing stuff and she was doing her best to make Duo pay for it because she couldn’t get to ‘Tana.

"Why are you mad at me, you’re the one who started it all," he said in his own defense, growing uncomfortable under her scrutiny.

However, she didn’t have the chance to answer as her head shot around to the door at the sound of glass breaking. A worried look soon fell across her face as she heard Anika exclaim, "Look! I found the key! Oh, no."

"Oh, no?" she yelled from her place on the closet floor. "Oh no, what?"

A hesitant voice sounded from the other side of the door. "Nothing. Nothing at all."

"Don’t give me that crap, Anika! Tell me what’s wrong," Cyanea demanded, a little impatient and irritated about being stuck inside this closet.

"Um…well…the key sorta…melted?"

"Oh, this is great. Just great," Cy said as she buried her head in her arms.

"Don’t worry, we’ll get you out in no time," Montana offered.

Duo approached her and put an arm comfortingly around her. This caused Cy to quickly change her perspective on the entire situation, as she decided not to blame Duo for what Montana saw earlier. "Take your time! No rush!" she said as she leaned into his arms gratefully.

***  The faces of everyone in the Majick Shoppe ranged from perplexed to worried to irritated to nothing. Montana definitely had no idea what Heero thought of the situation or the incriminating evidence of the three of them being witches. Shrugging, she carefully listened to Cyanea’s answer to take their time and snorted. I bet she’s in no rush, she thought.

Using the power she was born with, she took another peep inside the closet. Seeing the adorable couple huddled together on the floor, an idea came to mind. Once again in Gaelic, she said to Cyanea, "Well, while you’re in there, you two might as well…if you haven’t already."

Silence reigned both inside and out of the closet as the boys gave her odd looks and Anika secretly cheered her friend on.

Finally, the muffled sound of Cy’s voice, speaking in Gaelic, sounded from inside the small room. "Don’t make me come out there!"

Trowa looked at the two girls curiously. "What is she saying?"

"Nothing, just that Duo’s the best lay she ever had," Anika smirked.

"I’m gonna kill you!" both voices chorused from inside the closet.

"On second thought, maybe we should leave them in there?" Anika asked, worried for her own bodily safety.

From inside the closet once more, Cy said, "Not if you value your life. Not only can I heal, but I can use them against you!"

"Use who?" Trowa asked, getting more and more confused every second.

"No one," Montana quickly covered before Anika could open her mouth.

Heero just shrugged the comment off. "So, when are you guys gonna admit your witches? It will make it a lot easier on you," he said staring the two girls down.

"Witches? That’s the silliest thing I’ve ever heard…witches…heh heh…oh," Anika said feebly before looking down to the floor and shutting up.

Montana realized the stupidity of trying to cover it up any more. "Well, your good. Hope you don’t hate us for not telling you. It’s just that people tend to avoid us when they know."

Heero shrugged. "I believe we can trust you. But just remember I don’t trust you completely."

"So, how can we get you to start trusting us more?" Anika asked simply, always eager to make a new friend.

"You can start by getting my friend out of the closet," the boy said from his place at the back of the group, still in the persistent arms of Relena.

"Ok! If you insist," Anika said as she turned her attention to the door. Suddenly the sound of the lock clicking was heard and the door flung open to reveal Cy and Duo kissing in the corner of the closet.

"Whoa who!" Montana exclaimed at the sight, startling the couple. The two quickly scrambled off the floor and began to straighten their slightly rumpled clothing.

"How’d you unlock the door?" Cy asked a little flustered.

"Duh, I used my mind powers," Anika said mockingly.

"Anika! What the hell do you think you’re do…"

"They already know we’re witches. It’s sort of hard to convince them otherwise when you’re locked in a closet at a Majick Shoppe," Montana said matter of factly.

Blushing fiercely, Cy said, "Give us a sec." Turning, she began to collect the herbs she had gathered together. Montana, being the smart-ass that she was, shut the door again.

I’m sure they won’t be much longer. Probably just wanna finish what they started.

A moment later, they heard a loud bang on the other side of the door. "What was that?" Relena asked innocently.

The door flew open to show a furious Cyanea with a large red mark on her forehead. "Why the HELL did you shut the door?"

Anika began to crack up hysterically. "You have a real problem with running into things, don’t you? Remember the time last year when you ran into the wall by the band room doors?"

"Shut up," Cy said crossly as she rubbed the painfully red spot. "I would never had run into it if I hadn’t been walking with you to your and practice."

"I am not a band geek!" Anika said, truly insulted.

"Then how come you know how to play the trumpet part to the Alma Mater at this school?" Cy asked as she watched Anika blush with satisfaction.

"And besides," Montana added. "You’re the band whore, not the band geek." Anika turned and glared at her friend.

Turning to Duo, Cy said, "You could have warned me, you know."

He shrugged meekly, "After you?" he asked as he gestured toward the open door.

Wufei looked upon the disgusting scene before him. "Can we go home now?" he asked irritably as he watched the braided boy kiss the girl’s injury. Everyone nodded in agreement as Cy went to pay for everything she needed.

"Um…your gonna have to pay for the crystal ball Montana broke," Vyvyan said.

Glaring at her black haired friend, she agreed. Finally, they were all on their way home with no knowledge of what was waiting for them on the way.

***  Chapter 7

The large group of teenagers walked outside just as dark set in. It was approximately six o’clock and the group still had four hours before curfew. They made their way slowly down the busy city streets as they talked amongst each other.

"What exactly do you use your powers for?" Relena asked mockingly.

Giving the over righteous princess a glare, Cy replied, "We use them to help others. There are many dangerous beings that no one knows about. We give out and destroy them, sending them to Hell where they belong.

The way the girl spoke frightened Relena. She seemed so convinced that there were strange beings that were dangerous to others. She definitely wouldn’t be surprised if they turned out to be mass murderers.

Suddenly, she saw a flurry of movement in a dark alley out of the corner of her eye. Her arm tightened considerably on Heero’s arm causing him to look at her oddly. "He…Heero!" she shouted as a large hairy creature shot out of the darkness, knocking her into his arms and lunging at the three girls who had turned at the sound of Relena’s high pitched screams.

"Holy shit, not another one," Montana said dejectedly as the three girls rushed to meet the creature. Duo and Wufei met the being first and tried to attack it. They were quickly deposited on the sidewalk and were struggling to untangle themselves from each other. The streets quickly emptied as the people realized what was happening, leaving the girls complete privacy to care for the demon.

What the Hell is that thing? Relena thought as she stood behind Heero who had pulled his gun from his leg holster. Quatre and Trowa started to rush to the aid of the girls who were now in an all out fight with the being.

Anika seemed to see this and shouted at them, "No!" The boys stopped in their tracks, literally. They practically fell on their faces as they tried to recapture their balance. They looked at each other in confusion and attempted to take a step forward with no success. "You’ll only get hurt," the shorthaired girl said in a low and frankly scary voice.

The blond haired girl’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. Anika was definitely doing something to keep those boys back. There was no way she could have stopped a gundam pilot from doing what they wanted. Relena’s eyes grew wide as the creature flew at the preoccupied girl. All she could do was watch as a heavy blow landed against the back of Anika’s head, causing her to fall to the ground. "Ow," she uttered before falling unconscious.

Quatre and Trowa rushed forward to make sure she was alright as Montana attacked the beast with even more fury. Her and Cy were exchanging blow for blow with the thing without much effort.

The last thing Relena saw was the large dent in the concrete wall that Montana had been thrown against. The sickening sound of the girl hitting it played itself over in her mind as she watched the limp body slump lifelessly on the ground. The princess’s vision wavered and she fell to the ground unconscious.

***  After deciding that Anika would be alright, except for a pounding headache when she would wake up, Quatre looked around to observe the situation in more detail. He watched as Duo and Wufei regained their footing from the pile on the ground and nodded to each other as if agreeing on a plan of action. However, they were quickly distracted by a loud thump. Looking to the direction of the noise, Quatre noted Montana’s body laying in disarray by a cracked wall. Gasping, he rushed over to her and cradled her head while wiping a small stream of blood from her forehead with his sleeve.

A gunshot then rang through the air, startling him. He looked to see the creature stagger to the side with a bullet wound to the head. Cyanea was on the ground out of breath and anger obvious in her eyes. "Bullets won’t kill it, idiot!" she said without even turning her head in the direction of the boy who was still holding his smoking gun with an unconscious Relena at his feet. Quatre’s attention returned to Cyanea as she began to chant in an eerie voice even as the creature straightened and prepare to attack again.

She sat crouched on the ground, her eyes shining silver…

Bless’ed by the gods, so mot it be!

The last syllables of the chant floated through the air, which felt electrically charged. Quatre noticed movement to the girls lift and turned to see Trowa approaching her steadily, his gaze fixed directly in front of him. It took the blond pilot a moment to realize that he was doing the same, his pale blue eyes slowly focusing on the tired figure crouched in front of the staggering beast.

Both of the pilots arrived on either side of her at the same time, each taking one of her hands in their own. He felt her shift and stand, her strength mysteriously returned. Then their eyes glazed over to a shade of bluish-white and Quatre felt a twinge in the middle of his forehead as if he was using a part of his brain he’d never accessed before.

His vision began to blur as power rushed through him and into Cyanea. He heard Trowa gasp and knew he must be feeling the same thing. It was almost ecstasy. Finally, the energy he had tapped within himself ran out and he fell to the ground, his mind floating away into darkness.

***  Wufei watched in shock, his and Duo’s plan completely forgotten as the creature simply staggered to the side with a wound that should have killed it. His shock quickly turned to surprise as he heard Cyanea’s curt voice, "Bullets won’t kill it, idiot!"

No one ever talked to Heero like that, the girl did have guts, even if she was weak. She shouldn’t be so tired when the fight had been so short so far, he thought as he studied the girl on the ground, seemingly unable to get up. The beast couldn’t be that strong, I simply took the wrong tactic approaching it the first time.

Hearing the chanting, the Chinese boy shook his head at the feeble mindedness of women. He prepared to attack again, but froze once more as he noticed Trowa and Quatre walking in a trance-like state toward the still figure. He watched with intense black eyes as the boys came on either side of her and each took a hand. As she stood under her own power, strength evident in her lithe frame, his breath caught in his throat. It was impossible! She was exhausted…

The anal retentive pilot’s train of thought trailed off as he witnessed what would be the end of the battle with the two gundam pilots. Still holding hands with Quatre and Trowa, Cy used her foot to kick the hairy demon in the abdomen, throwing it back against one of the thick trees that were planted along the sidewalk every few yards. The kick had been much too powerful for a girl of her size and strength. Not even Heero, the Perfect Soldier, could have pulled that off on one of his best days.

Watching in awe, Wufei couldn’t believe it as the tree began to contort itself until it held the creature securely within its limbs. No matter how hard it tried, the hairy monster couldn’t break free of the hard wood. The prisoner watched, evil evident in its eyes, as Cy approached it menacingly having released her grip on Quatre and Trowa, who had both fallen unconscious at her side.

As he glimpsed her face, Shenlong’s pilot noted her eyes were furious slits, the metallic silver showing brightly between her narrowed eyelids. All her anger was directed at the beast as she began to chant once more, her voice low and frightening to anyone who heard it.

By stars above so bless’ed be!

Wufei watched tensely as the girl uttered the last word. Simultaneously, the creature burst into blue flame with an otherworldly shriek and quickly turned to ashes leaving the tree untouched in its wake. The tree straightened, twisting its limbs back to their normal position. Feeling a hand on his shoulder, he turned his head while he watched the red haired girl collapse to the ground with a loud sigh.

Finally, he focused his attention on the boy beside him. The wide, violet eyes told him that Duo was in as much awe as he was. However, what the boy said turned out to be the last straw for justice boy.

"So, that’s how I killed that guard! I must have tapped into my unused power source. How cool!" he said, his eyes lighting up with excitement.