Chapter Seventeen
Oh My Goddess

You don't run with the crowd
You go your own way.
You don't play after dark
You light up my day.
Got your own kind of style
That sets you apart.
Baby, that's why you captured my heart.

I know sometimes you feel like you don't fit in,
And this world doesn't know what you have within.
When I look at you, I see something rare;
A rose that can grow anywhere,
And there's no one I know that can compare.

'What Makes You Different (Makes You Beautiful)'
Backstreet Boys

Looking down at her clipboard, Phoebe Halliwell, the middle sister of the legendary trio of sisters called the Charmed Ones, sighed as she looked down at her younger sister, one Paige Matthews. "Well my boyfriend moved to Hong Kong, I'm thoroughly depressed, but I still managed to sign up six people. and you have?"

Paige groaned. "I have none people."

"Hmm, none people." Phoebe replied. Opening her mouth to say something else, she suddenly gasped, her body seizing up slightly.

Ten figures stood in a group, an aura of light surrounding them. Looking across the faces of the ten people, a range of faces who each told a different story of hardship. The first boy, a young child who looked like he should still be with his mother, hefted a sword, flames dancing around his hand. The second boy, older, looking slightly more weathered, casually twirled a staff, his hair lying flat as if he had just been swimming. The third figure, a girl, grinned at Phoebe, waving to her with gloved hands.

Before the vision could continue further, Phoebe felt herself drawn out of it. Frowning in surprise, she met Paige's eyes, which held a questioning look in them.

"A premonition?" Paige asked quietly, her tired face covered with a look of suspicion.

Nodding, Phoebe looked around the bar, then back at her sister. "I'm not sure what, but something big is coming."

"Haven't I been saying something like that?" Paige complained, the dreaded hint of a whine entering her voice. Ignoring her sister, Phoebe beckoned to her, leaving the bar as quickly as possible, heading home to Halliwell Manor.

A bolt of lightning shot from Matt's hands, entering the body of the demon attacking him. Giving a scream of pain, the demon shuddered, and then exploded, her body overwhelmed by the torrent of lightning flooding her body.

"That's what, seven today?" He asked his older sister, Mai. Walking up beside him, her hair flickering as flames ran through it, somehow not affecting it, Mai nodded.

"Seven in one morning." She said, her voice containing a natural drawl which turned everything into a sarcastic sentence. "I'd say we should check to see if the Charmed Ones are still alive, but you're not blowing things up." Eyeing his hands, she frowned. "Mind not pointing those at me?"

"Huh?" He replied absently. "Oh." He tucked his hands into his pants."I dunno why I'm doing that now," He said cheerfully, "But I like it."

"You would." Mai grumbled. "Come on, let's go home. Mum should be able to help us out."

Nodding, Matt turned on his heel, disappearing from sight with a small 'pop'. Glaring at where he had previously, Mai yelled, knowing he couldn't hear her, "Hey, that's cheating!"

Giving a groan of irritation, she hefted her bag onto her back. Life had changed in months that had passed since she, her brother and her younger sister had gained their powers which had been sealed by their grandmother after she had realised her grandchildren would not be the legendary Charmed Ones. It was true, they weren't, but they were the Heirs to the Charmed Legacy. If the Halliwell Sisters died without having children, then Mai, Matt and their sister Megan would take over the Charmed mantel of power.

Though, hopefully, that would never happen. Inhaling slowly, Mai let go the rush of anger filling her body. In answer, the flames living in her hair slowly died, their emotional fuel source dying. Mai's abilities were formidable, even without being Charmed. She was a witch power over the flames, and more recently, ice. The worst thing about it was that her abilities always began to show when she was angry, as shown when her hair would spontaneously burst into flame. For a girl used to repressing and hiding emotions, such a clear indication of her feelings was hard to get used to.
It was particularly difficult with Matt's abilities as well. The obnoxious, arrogant sport jock had been karma's own little joke in their family, he had developed the ability of Empathy, feeling other people's emotions, or, if they had them, powers whenever he was around them. He had also gained the ability to Blink, or teleport, roughly a month ago, and just yesterday had suddenly began throwing lightning. Muttering to herself about how unfair life was, Mai skulked her way back home.
Their little sister, Megan, was the one who could use her powers the least. She had the power of the Bard's Gift; the ability to compel people to do as she wanted, feel what she wanted or think like she wanted, all by singing. Just by singing 'Mary Had a Little Lamb' she could make all the nearby animals follow the closest girl, as Mai had found out shortly after they had all developed their powers.

Mai suddenly froze. She was in a small alleyway close to her house. What was unusual was the pit of dark energy which was lying in the middle of it. Arching a fine, golden eyebrow, Mai flicked her hand open, a tiny ember of fire lighting up in it.

The energy seemed to sense her notice. Three small creatures, reminding Mai of little black imps, crawled their way out of the sludge-like substance. Raising her hand, she flicked her fingers, raising a small wall of fire around herself. That done, she swept her hand upwards to eye level, focusing on her hand until a large ball of flame nestled there. The creatures seemed disturbed by the source of light which had so suddenly sprung into existence. Taking careful aim, she threw the fireball, willing it to split into three. Zooming into the creatures, the flame engulfed them. Shaking slightly, they disappeared in a cloud of purple orbs.

The pool of darkness didn't seem to enjoy that. It began to rise out of the ground slowly, being slightly more dramatic than it needed to. Rolling her eyes, Mai jumped back with a scream as a large branch suddenly dropped onto the creature, narrowly missing the girl. Looking up, she bit her lip, realising the heat she had created may have been slightly more than the tree could take. The creature currently under the tree branch wasn't too happy either. Taking the opportunity, Mai raised her hand to her lips, blowing a frigid gust of wind directly at the demon. The being froze, ice encasing it's body. Coupled under the weight of the tree branch, it began to slowly break apart, until it collapsed entirely.
Nodding her head in satisfaction, Mai began walking again, stopping beside the tree branch. Touching it as if saying thank you, she continued on home.

"And this button?"

"Speeds us up."

"And this one?"

"Slows us down."

"And this one?"

"It's the same as before!"

".... What's it do again?"

Sam resisted the urge to cover his face. Sora was looking slightly twitchy, the usual effect of prolonged exposure to Artemis. Ignoring the two, Sam looked out the front wind screen of the Celsius at the field of stars that made up the Universe.

"What happens if I press the big red button?"

Sora inhaled slowly. "We fire a missile." He said slowly.

Sam suddenly leaned forward, squinting. Ignoring the sparks of energy which were running in and out of his body. Being the fuel source of the Gummi Ship wasn't entirely comfortable, but Sam could deal with it. It just made him slightly antsy, and irritable. "Sora, I think we're coming up to a world."

"Huh?" The Keyblade Master looked up from where he was physically restraining the Marshtomp from pressing the shiny red button. "Oh, uh, gimme a sec."

Pulling Artemis's Pokéball from its magnetic hold on his belt, Sam pointed it at Artemis. "Artemis, quit bugging Sora." A beam of red energy shot from the button at the front of the red and white sphere, hitting Artemis and turning him into energy. Being sucked into the Pokéball, Artemis gave a wail of objection, until the Pokéball closed over him. "What're we do here?"

"We slow down." Sora replied. Hitting a button, the control panel changed to better suit Gummi Space, the ship shuddered, slowing down. The world they were coming up on looked similar to the Pokémon World, and even Spira. Slowing to a stop in the outer atmosphere, Sora sighed, collapsing into one the chair in front of the control panel. "I swear, next time Artemis comes out on a Gummi voyage, he's confined to the Cabin."

"Agreed." Sam nodded. Looking down at the planet, Sam frowned. "How do we get down there?"

"There's a teleporter installed on here, remember?" Sora replied. "We can keep the Gummi Ship in space, and be able to get to it at any time."

"Fair enough." Sam replied. "Ok, well, let's head down."

Sora waved lazily at Sam. "You go on. I still have to check out some of the things on the ship."

"Uh..."

"Ooh, we're here?" Sam yelped as a large form knocked him to the side. Glaring over at Nick, Sam shook his head. Tidus came up behind Nick, looking just as interested as the young boy was, this being his first trip off world.

"Yeah, we're here." Answered Sora, sounding tired, reaching over and flipping a switch. "Teleporters are on, so you guys can head on down."

Nick gave a sound of excitement. "Awesome! Race ya!"

He bolted. Looking after Nick, Sam shook his head in amusement, following him to the lift with Tidus in his wake. Entering the slightly cramped space, Sam frowned down at the panel. "Engine Room, right?"

"Yeah." Pressing the button, Tidus looked thoughtful. "Teleporter is under the door as you enter the Engine Room."

"Alright." The lift set off, lowering two levels. Opening up on the corridor, Sam smirked as he saw the rest of the group already in the room. Looking past Kairi, Zelda smiled as she saw Sam.

"There you are. You get to go first."

Sam blinked. "Me? Why?"

"You're the Forger." Zelda replied. "The sooner you begin making friends, the more powerful we get collectively."

"Uh, right." Sam replied uncertainly. "Ok, lemme through." Link moved out of the way, letting the teenager through. As he passed, Sam noted the grey look on Link's face, it seemed space travel didn't agree with him so well. Stepping into the circle of the teleporter, Sam looked blankly at the rest of the group. "Now wha-?"

His answer was cut off as a white jet of energy surrounded him. Feeling his stomach drop out, Sam attempted to ignore the sensation when it suddenly felt like he had been hit by a giant hand. Sliding along the suddenly appearing ground, Sam gasped, holding his stomach. Tears coming down his cheeks, he fought to breathe, finally sucking in a grateful gulp of air. Looking up, his eyes widened as he took in the surroundings. White mist floated everywhere, wrapping around intricate columns. People in brown robes wandered around, but a vast majority were looking at him. Realising he was slowly becoming surrounded, Sam gulped, fighting to get to his feet. Lightning slammed into the ground, or cloud, at his feet, making him jumped back, almost tripping over Kairi as she materialised into the same place he had been. Seeing another lightning bolt being generated, Sam flinched, feeling something in his mind flex instinctively. The blue shield which had protected him back on the Pokémon World reappeared, surrounding the Crest Holders spawning from midair.
Flinching as lightning bolts slammed into his shield, Sam winced as a faint tingling entered his body. Feeling a hand clasp onto his shoulder, he jumped.

"So, Sam, good job at making friends so far. I think they really like you." Nick said wryly.