Chapter Six: Glynda Goodwitch the Aura Master

"So, why the fuck are we waiting here?" Maria groaned. "I'm so bored. We need to get the antidotes and get stronger so I don't die from the explosions."

"Be patient!" Oscar rolled his eyes. "I swear to god, you're like a child! How about you play a simple game with me?"

"I'm not playing your stupid tarot game," Maria rolled her eyes. "I always get the hermit card. The hermit card's lame."

"This isn't about tarot cards," Oscar pulled out a small deck of cards. "This particular deck is for RPG cards, each representing a class in an RPG. I even have an expansion pack. Which would you be if you were to draw?"

"Isn't this the same thing?" Maria asked. "I mean, you're letting your life be decided by the cards?"

"Well, this one's just something to keep people on their toes. For example, anyone who's willing to look at the tarot knows what they'll be. Of course, in all my time of playing this game, no one ever got the World or the Star… weird coincidences. But, with this, we'll see who you'd be in an RPG,"

"Alright, alright, gimme the card."

Oscar held out a small number of cards and Maria took one. She looked at it, seeing a mirror with the word "troll" written under it. She looked at Oscar, who sputtered out in laughter.

"Looks like you got the troll card. That means your destiny is to die an ugly fuck who's going to be a loser all her life."

"You little shit!" Maria tackled him to the ground, the two fighting. "That's not an RPG card! I saw you move the 'beholder' card when I touched it!" There was a flurry of punches and kicks from both sides as the two fought. They rolled around on the ground, stopping as they collided with a person who was standing there.

"Hey, jackass, watch where you're going!" Maria said, stopping her assault on Oscar to point her finger in the person's face, looking them over.

They wore a strange mask, white with red lips and insane looking eyes and a strange hair of a sickly green color. They also stood above Maria in height, a wide build, at least from what their clothes told. It was a suit, wide shoulders and pants that covered their shoes. The person took Maria's finger, a strange shock running through Maria's body. Maria stepped back, growling.

"Alright, you've asked for it, Chuckles the Ass Clown!" She leapt for the person, Aura flaring as she threw a punch. The person tossed a glass of water at Maria, who punched the water. It shot back at the person like aquatic bullets.

"You managed to use the water as bullets, but you lack finesse." The person said.

The person stepped aside, slipping a strange collar of stiff leather around Maria's neck. It had a small infinity symbol and was two inches wide on Maria's neck. It also seemed to be tight, as Maria almost immediately dropped to the ground, choking.

"That collar will restrict your breathing to correct Aura breathing," The person said, pulling their mask off. "As long as you breathe in a way that helps your Aura, you will be able to breathe easy. Otherwise that collar will choke you."

"A woman?" Maria asked in surprise. "Well, woman or no, I'll pound you!"

"Wait, Maria!" Oscar shouted, but Maria ignored him. She threw a haymaker to the woman, who dodged on the end of Maria's fist, standing on it for a split second before landing behind Maria.

"Master, I'm sorry about her," Oscar sighed as the woman knocked Maria over the head, sending her to the ground. "She's rambunctious."

"I'm aware," The woman looked down at Maria, taking her suit off to reveal her attire. "Now, Miss Rose, will you behave?"

"You're Oscar's mentor?" Maria pointed up in a slight daze. "But… you're hot. But, then again, you put a collar on me. Why is that?! What's next, a ball gag?!"

"Please, can we do that, Master?" Oscar begged. "It will be so peaceful."

The woman looked down at Maria, a contemplating look adorning her face, though it didn't seem to have to do with Oscar's notion. It was now that Maria could get a good look at her.

She was a tall woman, taller than Maria, but slender. She wore a pair of heels with dark pantyhose underneath. They rose up into a black corset-miniskirt combo that Maria (unfortunately) couldn't see up. It had buttons on the front that ended at a white dress shirt that rose up her chest at the V portion of the corset. It was a long sleeved variety that had ruffled sleeves and a row of buttons up the front. A tattered black and purple cape hung behind her, almost like a witch's cape. Her hair was a bleached blonde, part of it spiraling down in front of her face, the rest held in a tight bun in the back. She wore a pair of glasses that did nothing to hide her piercing green eyes that seemed to intimidate one's soul. In her hands was a riding crop.

"What a hot piece of ass…" Maria muttered.

"Maria, show some respect!" Oscar shouted, stomping over. "That is my Master, Glynda Goodwitch!"

"I think you mispronounced bitch," Maria stood up, looking at the woman. She stared at Maria with a strange expression, an almost creepy look of longing mixed with irritation.

"I'm not going to train you to save your life," Glynda said after a pause. "I'm going to train you to defeat those monsters that have awakened. Now, let's make sure we get you two properly trained."

"And, what makes you think you could train me?" Maria pointed.

"Do you want to save your bacon from exploding like a mint placed in a soda bottle?"

"Y-Yes ma'am."

"Then, you shall do as I instruct. Now, follow me. Your training awaits, you two."

"Someone's a prude," Maria waved a hand. "I mean, talk about a real prude. Training, training, training, huh?"

"If you want to survive to go back to your life of being a disgrace to your parents by flirting with everything with a penis or pair of breasts, then you shall do as I say," Glynda interrupted her.

"My parents are dead, you bitch," Maria growled.

"And, if they were here, they'd chastise you on your behavior." There was an odd tone in Glynda's voice, a strange irritation.

"… You may have a point, but you're still a bitch!"

"Well, then I shall continue to be a 'bitch' and force you to endure my starting regimen. I will give you until we reach my home to rest up and learn to breathe with that collar on."

"She loves to get on people's nerves." Oscar sighed. "I'm sorry, Master."

There was an odd silence as they made their way to the speedboats on the docks. Glynda gestured them to her personal ride, bidding them enter, watching as Maria and Oscar entered. She got into the driver's seat, driving the boat off. It was a long ride, the boat cutting through the water like a zipper.

"So, how much longer until we get to this island?" Maria asked.

"We'll get there when we get there," Oscar rolled his eyes. He hoped that this irritating woman wouldn't be the death of him.

When they eventually did reach the island, Maria jumped off, stretching her body as she walked to get her land legs back. She looked up at the large tower in the middle of the island.

"What's that thing?" She asked.

"That is the lookout tower," Glynda walked past her. "It is where we patrol the island from to see the surrounding area in case of storms and bad waves."

"That's actually pretty useful," Maria crossed her arms. "I must admit I'd never have thought of it."

"I'm surprised you think of anything," Oscar muttered.

"At least I don't act like an ugly loser to get girls," Maria stepped closer.

"My charm gets girls who have more charm in their little finger than you have in your whole body."

"You're just jealous because both sexes find me irresistible."

"Children, I will simply take you both to the mainland and refuse to train either of you if you don't behave," Glynda looked back. "We don't have time for petty squabbles. We have serious matters ahead of us. These Grimmlords are searching for the Fire Dust Stone of Mistral, which will grant them true immortality if they get it."

"You know about that?" Maria asked.

"I have my sources," Glynda looked off into the distance, staring hard. "But, there is a reason I tell you this."

With that being said, she pulled from her pocket a large stone that glinted in the sun. It seemed to be otherworldly, its glowing radiance enough to cause Maria and Oscar to shield their eyes.

"This is the power they seek," Glynda held the stone aloft and facing the noonday sun. The stone caught fire, a whirlwind of fire surrounding her and causing an immense pressure to build up in the area. The sun's power seemed to be amplified hundreds, if not thousands, of times, as if it was ten thousand generators.

"Th-That's the stone they seek?" Oscar gasped as Glynda covered the stone, the flames ceasing. "I-If they get their hands on that…"

"They will become the most powerful and dangerous beings on the planet," Glynda's solemn voice answered the question as Maria looked at it.

"Why not destroy it?" Maria asked. Oscar turned to her with condescension in his voice.

"Are you mad?!" Oscar shouted. "Clearly, there's a reason she hasn't!"

"No, she's right," Glynda shook her head. "Were it not for fate telling me to keep the stone intact, I would have. But, it was spoken of to me by a master in Aura that I must not destroy it. It will be necessary in defeating Salem and her gang of monsters."

"Then, we must train to stop them," Oscar clenched his fist. "We can't afford to waste time."

"And, that is why I have decided to have you two use the Watering Hole."

"B-But, the Watering Hole is impossible! Even I haven't done it!" Oscar exclaimed, shuddering as he said this. Maria was confused, soon finding herself staring down at an enormous hole easily a hundred and twenty feet wide. Falling down into it, was a massive ring of waterfalls that seemed to spill endlessly into it. They were unable to see the bottom, the hole not filling up with the amount of water pouring into it.

"So… you want us to plunge deep into your big wet hole?" Maria asked.

"Down there is a cave," Glynda ignored her crude remark. "You both will find a relic down there to bring back. It matters not what you bring. If I were a bit more old school, I might say 'fate has decreed that you are something or other because you picked this particular relic' or something similar. But, I'm not old school and we don't have time, so get down there."

"How are we supposed to get dooooooowwwwwwwwnnnn—" Maria didn't get a chance to have her question answered verbally as Glynda kicked the silver eyed woman down the shaft, letting her fall all the way down.

"I-Is she going to be alright?" Oscar asked tentatively.

"She'll be fine," Glynda looked down. "Her Aura will keep her from suffering too much damage. Now, jump down. This is your trial too."

"Y-Yes, Master," Oscar jumped down.

The Central Valean felt as if he was falling for a long time, but saw the ground after about ten seconds of falling. He used his Aura to cushion himself on the water as he landed next to a dazed Maria, who was lying flat on her back. She looked over at Oscar, blinking.

"So, did you know your coach was a crazy bitch?" Maria asked.

"She is not a bitch," Oscar rolled his eyes, holding a hand out. "You're just an obnoxious idiot."

"At least I look cooler than you do, you fashion diva," Maria gave a point, a sly wink accompanying it.

"You look like some lesbian biker who hasn't showered in weeks."

"Hey, I showered last night!"

"With what, a skunk?"

"Look, just because you don't understand Patch methods of bathing doesn't mean you can judge how I bathe."

"I thought you were from New Vale."

"Technically, I'm from Patch, but I moved to New Vale."

"That explains why you don't act like you're from New Vale. Well, I suppose we must get these relics."

"Warming up to me, I see?"

"Only because if we don't work together, we'll die down here."

"Oh, come on, Oscarino, we won't die. She wouldn't leave us to-*shriek*" Maria's line was cut off by the definitely human skull fell on her head.

"There have been only a few that have survived this cavern," Oscar shuddered. "And, even fewer than that have been able to escape the waterfall itself."

"Well, let's just find these little relics. I want to get some eating done and also pay that bitch back for the collar."

"You don't understand her. She's harsh on you because you're an arrogant asshole sometimes… most of the time."

"Hey, I got the skills to back it up, alright?"

"Your Aura is clearly unbalanced. You put too much effort into expelling it, rather than a fine point that there is of using it with finesse."

"I think you missed my Life and Death," Maria held a finger in the air as if to prove her point.

"Using a weapon does not give you an advantage."

"Well, either way, there's the relics." Maria pointed to a wide cavern that held the two small orbs that were glowing a soft green."

"So, how do you think we get them?"

"We walk, duh."

"You really think it's that simple?" Oscar scoffed. "You clearly haven't heard of this challenge."

"No shit, Sherlock. I've never even been to this island before today. Why in the hell would you think I knew about this place?"

"Whatever. Let's just be careful. This place has to be loaded with traps."

"Traps?"

"Watch," Oscar picked up a rock, throwing it into the room. Immediately, the floor turned into a row of spikes that jutted up from the ground and looked as if they could pierce you by looking at them.

"H-How do we cross that? I quite like my soles the way they are."

"I suppose we have to use our Aura in specific points. The spikes seem to be spaced enough we can get our foot on one spike at a time, which will help with our Aura. Just concentrate your Aura on a single point and you'll be fine."

"But, I don't know how to do that!"

"Think of it as the difference between a squirt gun and dumping a cup or something. The more pressure in one place, the more powerful it will be. By the end of this, we'll be incredibly powerful. Now, watch me."

Oscar jumped onto a spike, concentrating his Aura in one place. He landed on the spike, nearly losing his balance before righting himself. He looked uncomfortable, making sure he wouldn't fall through the spike. Maria watched in odd fascination as he did so, watching the Aura student moving at a relatively quick pace. She looked at her fingers, concentrating. She thought about the first time she'd really used her Aura.

Flash

"Hey, Branwen lady, you're gonna do as we say or you're gonna die!" The armed terrorist aimed his gun at Raven, who looked terrified. She glanced back at eleven year old Maria, who was sitting in the back with a book.

"Hey, you little shit, get up here with Branwen!" Another shouted.

"Leave me out of your little problems," Maria waved her hand dismissively at them. "This is Raven's problem."

"The fuck did you say to me?!" The first terrorist moved over to Maria, smacking her with his gun. Maria looked down, seeing her book and shirt covered in blood.

"You ruined my shirt!" She shouted. "Grampa Tai's going to kill me for ruining it! But, you, you bastard, are going to get it first!"

"What are you gonna do?" The armed man laughed. "Cry me to death?"

"Maria grabbed his gun, a glow like electricity shooting up the barrel, shocking the man and sending him flying backward into the engine of the train, slamming hard into it. Maria ran after him, punching him into the boiler of the train, which promptly exploded.

"She's more angry that Tai would be mad than the fact she was hurt," Raven muttered. "She's also got that 'hit me, I'll come back twice as hard' attitude Summer had. She's definitely her granddaughter. It's such a shame what happened to her father… if only her mother were here."

Suddenly, the train jerked, jolting as if the rails were bumpy. Maria ran back, grabbing a seat and ripping it from the floor of the train. She pushed Raven onto it, looking at the window.

"Brace for impact," She said. "I crashed the train, so they'll get it."

With that spoken, she pushed the chair through the window, taking her and Raven with it. Behind them, the train derailed, flipping like a carriage hitting a rock in the rain. The world was spinning as the seat tumbled, the train exploding into a brilliant ball of fire as the engine exploded from the pressure built up into it.

"Perhaps you should ease up on the anger," Raven muttered to Maria.

Present

She used that memory to focus her Aura, making it as small as she could. She couldn't get it down as far as she suspected Oscar could, but it was progress. She stepped on the spike, feeling her boot sink onto it a little. But, the only feeling she felt in her foot was a dull point. She tried to take another step, feeling the discomfort of the spike sink down as her weight was only on one foot. She took deep, calm breaths to focus her Aura. While she knew from what Raven had told her, it wasn't the breathing that brought the Aura, but breathing was necessary for regulating it.

She took another step, focusing her Aura to that foot. It was the same sensation, causing her to wince slightly. Her steps weren't as fast as Oscar's, but she was definitely making progress. There were about a hundred and fifty yards between her and the end of the chasm. Her steps were slow, but it was definitely doable, each step putting her about a foot closer to her goal. That gave her about four hundred and fifty steps to get there. Of course, she had to be careful not to let her breathing get awry or her focus would cloud, thus causing her to hurt herself. She continued taking her steps.

She would have gotten bored had it not been something that was more painful than anything. She knew exactly what she was going to do once she got a hold of that so called teacher, Glynda Goodbitch as she was going to call her. She could think of all the ways she was going to get back at her once she got out of the cave.

She carefully made her way across the spike pit, making sure not to fall onto them. Oscar looked at her with interest, having already made it across the pit and holding the small relic. Maria took her relic, looking at it with a strange look. It was a green orb, a small red drop in the material. It almost looked like a drop of blood. But, she wasn't sure how that was supposed to be a relic. She pocketed the orb, looking at Oscar.

"Do we really have to cross back?"

"Well, obviously. This is to fiercely train our Aura."

"And, how are we supposed to get up the waterfall?"

"You will learn," Oscar sighed. "It's similar to what you did there, but at a much faster pace."

"I suppose I'll add that to my list of things I can get her back for."

"Whatever. Let's just get back. The sooner we get there, the sooner we get back. It's already taken us an hour to cross this. I can only imagine how long it will take us to ascend the waterfall."

Maria sighed as they made their way across the spike pit, the slow task taking yet another hour. Once they had cleared the pit, they exited the cave and stood out where the waterfall roared, falling to the ground in a crashing mass that seemed to drain out somewhere beneath the platform they stood on. Oscar looked at the waterfall, which had to be at least fifty meters high. Maria stood, watching, contemplating how she would do it.

Oscar was already leaping at the waterfall, climbing it with his Aura. Maria gaped at how he was doing it. With his hands, he took the water with Aura, using it to push himself up. It seemed to only raise him about six inches each time, but he had to concentrate. It seemed as if, mercifully, there were rocks to grab onto.

"Yeesh," Maria muttered, reaching behind her and pulling out a grappling hook. She swung it up, snagging a rock. She began to pull herself up, smirking at her genius. This was short lived, however, when the one she refused to mention by name, Glynda, threw a pair of blades that sliced through the rope and destroyed the anchor of the grappling hook. Maria fell back to the ground, landing on her back. She watched Oscar, noticing how he was moving. IT was almost as if his Aura froze the water in place momentarily. This wasn't permanent, however, as she could still see him lowering. It was if it merely slowed the pace of the waterfall, meaning he had to keep moving or else all his progress would be lost.

Maria sighed, beginning to climb the waterfall. The collar around her neck made her worry her breathing wouldn't be steady so as to keep the blood flowing. She knew this would be a slow task, but if she had patience, and a desire to punish that Goodbitch, she would be able to do it… perhaps she could spank her with her own riding crop. Or, use this collar to quiet her stern mouth… the possibilities were endless as she began to climb.

Maria immediately realized this would be hard as she realized that she was slipping down the fall immediately. It was as if her hands were stuck inside of huge rocks. It took all of her effort to concentrate her Aura to her hands to grip the moving water and slow it so that she might climb the fall. With her grip, she would possibly be able to move a foot in a single pull, but that wasn't going to help with the rest of it. She had to be quick, but she also had to be careful.

She began the slow climb, noticing that for every yard she climbed, she slid down nearly a foot. No wonder this was known as the climb from hell. The only thing that could be worse was if there was a trap that changed the water pressure. Of course, there was no guarantee there wasn't.

She continued the climb. It was nearly agony on her hands and forearms, which seemed like they were on fire. There was no sense staying down there, especially not since she still didn't get that girl from the bridge's number after saving her from Lionheart. She was gonna love getting that number. Would be nice… unless there was a hot girl or guy at this bitch's place… thoughts for later.

She realized about fifteen hours into the climb that she was nowhere near the top. In fact, she seemed to only be halfway. It was going to be a loooong climb. She was exhausted, knowing that it was going to take even longer than that. She felt her limbs were almost like jelly, but she still persisted. She had to keep going.

Oscar, on the other hand, was further up, having made it about thirty five meters, which gave him some leeway to pause to look down at Maria. He was just as tired as her, looking down at her with some look of pity. She hadn't been trained at all in her Aura, unable to fully tap into it, even with the vast potential Raven boasted of due to her grandmother. It was a strange thing for him to admire Maria, the crass, rude, arrogant woman being more than enough to make him wish to shove her blades through his brain. He decided to concentrate on climbing the waterfall.

Maria kept going. It was the thirty meter mark, giving her a view of one of the rocks that stuck out on the climb. She felt relief wash over her. It was a beautiful thing, that rock, which would give her purchase for even a moment while she recovered some strength. She looked down, acknowledging her climb, having made it more than halfway. It was a grueling climb and the rest was worse still. She let her hands grab onto the rock, closing around its smooth surface. She breathed a sigh of relief. That relief was short lived, however, when the rock depressed, almost as if it was a lever, a clicking sound coming and even heard above the sound of the waterfall for a split second.

Maria and Oscar both looked up to see rocks falling down and the water seeming to take on a razor sharp state.

"Wh-what the hell?!" Maria shouted, looking up. Oscar looked down at her, a look of concern she mistook for malice.

"Don't look at me like that!" She shouted. "I needed to rest! I'm not good at this like you!"

"I wasn't upset at you," Oscar's thoughts turned to the rocks. "I don't even think I could handle this, but you've had no training at all. To do this, I'll have to use my Aura as offense and grappling at the same time. I don't think you can do that."

Oscar kept climbing, the rocks pouring down at him. His Aura seemed to take two different angles, one that shattered the rocks in his left hand, his right hand holding the water as he moved. When he punched, he would switch hands, the right being used for destroying the rocks. He made progress as Maria started her climb again. She nearly made it to where the rocks were falling down in a cluster.

Oscar, on the other hand, had made it to the top, a slow and grueling work, but he made it, panting as he pulled himself onto dry land, flopping onto his back. Glynda stood over him, riding crop in one hand and a cigarette in a holder in her mouth.

"H-Hey master," Oscar panted, his body in a spread eagled position. "I made it."

"Impressive," Glynda nodded. "And, what of our newest member?"

Oscar's eyes widened as he shot up and looked at her. "Master, you have to stop the rocks! Maria doesn't know how to use two types at once!"

Glynda looked down, watching as Maria threw herself upward, grabbing onto a wet rock with her Aura. It gave her slight purchase as she leapt to the next one, playing leap frog with the rocks that tumbled down the waterfall.

"She can't keep this up forever. She's even falling down."

"Master, you have to help her!"

"Wait, what's she doing now?"

Oscar looked down to see Maria jumping too close to one of the larger rocks. She had made it up to the forty five meter mark. As she jumped, it struck her head, a terrible gash appearing. She seemed to be faltering, the rock having gotten her in a moment of weakness. She slumped forward, falling back down toward the bottom of the fall, her eyes nearly closed. She reached a feeble hand to Oscar, who was about to leap for her when he felt an odd tugging on his hand. He couldn't see what it was, but Maria had moved toward him at a strange speed. Even Glynda was surprised at this motion.

Maria weaved in between the rocks, seeming completely unconscious. She reached Oscar's hand, however, falling over him. She looked down at him, blood dripping onto his face as she looked at him. A confused, almost bewildered look was on her face as she rolled off of him, staring at her hands in confusion and flexing her fingers.

"What happened?" Glynda asked. "That was a creative way to cross the rocks, but how did you clear that?"

"I… I don't know… I was hit by a rock and I fell… I thought about wanting to reach the top and I saw something like vines."

"You must have been woozy from the fall. But, how did you make it up like that?" Glynda asked.

"I, uh, I don't know… my head hurts."

"You could have just been dazed from the fall. I can't believe that happened."

"Well, I can't believe you managed to climb that like that. Let's get you bandaged up so we can continue training with master."

"Y-Yeah, sure." Maria spared one last glance at her hands before standing up on shaky legs. "Can we never do that again? I'd have to kick your ass twice as hard, Goodbitch."

Glynda said nothing, tossing her a glass of water at Maria, who caught it. She held the water in the cup, moving it to her hand. She looked up at Glynda in shock.

"I-I can use my Aura finely!" She shouted. "I take back all the mean and nasty things I said about you and what I would do to you when you were unconscious! My Aura works finely!"

She flicked the water, which shot out like bullets, but left most of the water. When she looked up, there were two muscular warriors standing next to Glynda. One was more portly and the other a taller and skinnier man.

"You two, this is Port and Oobleck." Glynda pointed at the more portly one and the skinnier one respectively. "They will train you. It has been three days since you started, but you must be vigilant. They have told me they wish to take you to the Shadow Bowl as your next test."

"Th-The Shadow Bowl?" Oscar gasped. Maria paled at this, gulping hard and feeling the lump hitting the collar around her neck.

"Worry not, girly," Port laughed. "It will not involve a deadly climb up a waterfall. But, it will train you to fully harness your offensive Aura."

"Lead on then," Maria felt her relief increase as she used her Aura to heal herself. "But, can we eat first?"

"Of course," Glynda nodded. "I could use some lunch myself. But, then, we will continue training until nightfall."

Twenty Seven days until Maria's rings explode

And, so, the gears of fate have begun to turn. Who will fate favor this time? Will Maria be favored, or shall her mortal enemies prevail?