Bubbles hummed as she packed, unable to contain her excitement. Her parents had been skeptical about the weekend getaway at first. Then they met Raiden, and were convinced almost instantly. It was almost disturbing how quickly her parents were taken in by his boyish charms and silver tongue. She had brushed it off, figuring her parents really came around when she mentioned Blossom and Buttercup were coming too. Still...I thought dad would fight it a bit harder. Oh well. I won't question something that works out for me! She zipped up her last suitcase, flopping backwards on the bed. Now all she had to do was wait for Blossom to get here.


Buttercup sighed as she held up two shirt. Bubbles had made it clear her usual wardrobe wouldn't cut it for the trip. Buttercup had more...cute...outfits, but she didn't really make a point to wear them. She wasn't sure how she'd been roped into going on this trip. Bubbles had told her parents she and Blossom were, and Blossom had pointed out that it wouldn't hurt to socialize every once in awhile. Buttercup had kept her grumbles for after she got off the phone, knowing her two friends were looking forward to it. Riley had offered to swing by to meet her parents, but she'd declined almost immediately. They weren't dating, but she knew her mom would make a big deal out of him showing up. The doorbell rang, interrupting her thoughts. She let it be, knowing her mom was downstairs.

"Buttercup! Your friend is here!" Buttercup huffed, throwing the clothes in her hand to the floor as she left her room. She made her way down the stairs, but paused on the second to last step. What...

"Buttercup! You didn't tell me you had such a handsome friend." There, grinning with the ease of someone who belonged in her home unannounced, was Riley. Her mother was oblivious to her, while Riley looked more and more pleased with himself as the minutes dragged on. Buttercup made her way down the two remaining steps, easily closing the remaining distance. She stopped in front of him, arms crossed as she cocked her hip.

"What are you doing here? And how did you know where I live?" He smirked, pulling something from behind his back.

"Bubbles told me. And I wanted to give you these." In his hand was a beautiful bouquet of buttercups and Ranunculus flowers. Buttercup blushed as she was distracted by the breath taking arrangement. Her mother took it in from the side, internally squealing her delight.

"T-thank you." His smirk softened into the first real smile she'd seen from him as she looked up from her gift. She blamed the genuine surprise for her heart skipping a beat at the sight.

"You're welcome. I also wanted to come meet your mom. I figured it was only right since I'll be around more after our trip." Buttercup's mom practically swooned at the news, while Buttercup narrowed her eyes.

"Thank you for the flowers, but they don't make up for you showing up unannounced and uninvited. Especially when I told you not to come." He leaned forward, crowding her even as she refused to move. He moved a lock of hair back behind her ear, his finger lingering longer than necessary.

"You don't have to keep fighting it beautiful." Her face burned as she stepped back, her eyes practically commanding him to leave. He got the hint, but not before he told her mom again how much he was looking forward to the trip. Buttercup buried her nose in her bouquet, suddenly regretting the trip in a few hours.


"If I'm quick I'll have time before I need to get the girls." Blossom greeted the old bookstore owner before losing herself in the aisles. She usually went for ScyFy thrillers, but adventure novels were calling her today. She ran her fingers over the spines carefully as her eyes skimmed the titles. Her shoulders relaxed as she settled fully into her comfort zone. A title she hadn't seen before caught her attention, stopping her in her tracks. What's this? The book warmed in her hands as she freed it from its confines. This only further piqued her interest as she made her way to the tables near the coffee shop joined with the bookshop. She ordered a cup of bubble tea and sat down to read, easily losing herself in the story.

Maria gasped as her powers awoke for the first time. Fire danced on the floor around her as the flames grew with her panic and confusion. She coughed, her throat closing as the lack of oxygen registered in her senses. She rolled onto her hands and knees, desperate to escape her room. She lived on the first floor, so all she had to do was make it to the window. However, her vision blurred as smoke and ash fought for her attention. She reached one hand weakly toward the window pane. She wasn't sure how long her room had been on fire, but she felt weak and dizzy. The fresh air on the other side of the glass taunted her. Her hand slipped back down to her side as her consciousness faded. I don't wanna die. I don't wanna die... She thought she heard glass shatter, and felt something warm trickle down her forehead over her nose. She couldn't open her eyes anymore to check though. She felt so sleepy...

"Hey pinky!" Blossom jolted as she was thrown back to reality. In front of her sat Brick, a raised eyebrow pointed in her direction. It took her a minute to remember where she was, closing the book.

"Geez Brick! You nearly gave me a heart attack." She pushed away from the table, making her way to the front to pay for the book. Brick followed, hands stuffed unceremoniously into his pockets.

"You wouldn't answer. You're phone's been going off for awhile now." Blossom gasped as she whipped out her phone. Texts and missed calls from Buttercup and Bubbles lit up her screen. She cursed, forgetting about the book to rush out the store. Brick followed easily, but caged her against her front door before she could open it.

"Move Brick. I gotta go." No you don't. Brick swallowed as he thought over his words. He could tell her. Everything. If he told her now, she wouldn't go, which meant Buttercup and Bubbles wouldn't either. They could stop pretending to be strangers. It was peaceful, for the most part. He could have her and get rid of the annoyances in one fell swoop.

"Blossom." It was the seriousness of his tone that made her pause, and turn to face him. But it was when he looked fully into those captivating pink eyes that his resolve faltered.

"It'll be harder for you than for us. When we come back, we won't remember you guys. But I trust you'll make me fall for you all over again, right?"

"Of course. Who do you think I am?" Tears fell from her eyes, faster than he could wipe them. He hated this, but they couldn't turn back. She kissed him one final time before pulling back, a soft pink glow beginning to light up the magic circle under their feet.

"I love you. Find me in our next life too." The smile she gave him broke his heart more than words ever could. But before he could reply, her spell activated. The six teens were stripped to their souls, thrown across time and space to begin the cycle anew.

Brick sighed, stepping back. "Nevermind. Drive safe." Blossom blinked as he turned away from her, an unknown look on his face. She couldn't shake it from her thoughts even as she drove away. Brick watched her go, regret and tension coiling in his veins.


Reed took an intricate key from his coat pocket, inserting it into the door that lead to the basement. He descended the stairs slowly, taking in the room. Three raised platforms sat in the middle of the room. Each one had symbols carved into the stone. On the far wall sat multiple candles and a thick tome on top of a simple wooden table. Above that evenly spaced were three orbs. Riley was messing with the one on the far right. Dark emerald mixed with light lime green patterns covered the orb. Inside of it was a statue of the God of Earth, Gaia. Raiden set up the one in the middle. It was the color of the galaxy, a mix of deep navy and baby blues. It seemed to crash with waves on the inside, surrounding the statue of the God of Water, Poseidon. The last orb was on the far left, directly above the far left end of the table. This orb was a mix of fierce deep reds and dazzling pinks. Like the other orbs, it had the God of Fire, Hephaestus. The brothers finished setting their orbs in place, before turning to Reed.

"Where are the girls?"

"On their way. Blossom was late in picking them up."

"And the preparations?" Raiden flashed a thumbs up.

"Ready!" Reed turned to leave, casting an eye to the floor. Riley had carved a summoning circle into the floor. It was almost as good as the ones Blossom was capable of creating. They had followed the book's instructions. Everything was ready. Now, all they needed were their guests.

"I hope you're both prepared. This time, it's our win."