Chapter Three: Passing

A/n: Second last chapter! Yay! Please review, and later on tell me if my story was even close to the eppie! It's be cool if it were! Becky

Theresa glanced over her shoulder to make sure that nobody was following her, and then she started walking away from the mall, the wind blowing her fiery locks across her face. A battle was raging inside of her, a battle that she could not win. The temptation to give in to her powers was too great, and she fought just to keep them withheld for a while. The sky overhead was blue, and the sound of her loafers slapping against warm concrete resounded around her off the passing cars and trucks. She needed to find someone, whose powers may be enough to end this forever.

"Cronus!" she shouted at the sky, the puffy white clouds seeming too proud to listen to her cries. "I challenge you, Cronus! Or are you too scared of me?"

"My dear girl, I wouldn't dream of passing up the opportunity to fight one of you brats alone." Theresa calmly turned around, meeting the evil gaze of Cronus steadily. He beckoned to the busy streets surrounding them. "Why don't we do our business… someplace quieter?"

She nodded mutely and smiled to herself, following him like a lamb with an axe after the wolf, her secret of within unknown yet to the god of time. Through his portal they went, and she noticed with a calm interest that she could see the years of her life passing by. There was her as a baby, her on her first date, her… kissing… Jay… She gulped and quickly thought, Cheek! Cheek! Only on the cheek! Nothing to get excited about.

"Quite a thing, right Theresa?" asked the god proudly. "I'm simply showing off before you die miserably."

"Think again, Cronus," she said, and reached out to grab his hand. He started, and before he could react she was sucking his strength and power. Wind buffeted her face as she struggled to keep her powers inside herself. A pounding headache arose as Cronus wiggled in her grasp. She let go, but the energy was already connected to her, surging through her from him. He gasped and choked, wheezing for air.

"How does it feel to be powerless?" she gasped, clutching her stomach so that the conflicting powers inside her wouldn't cause her to throw up.

Cronus did not answer; he crumpled down into space, which surrounded them, and the portal shimmered, sputtered, and faded. Suddenly Theresa was standing back on the road she had left, cars honking at other vehicles, and an ominous wind at her back. Her stomach sloshed queasily, and she didn't feel that great. But she was triumphant. With almost all of the Olympian gods' power on her side, she would defeat Zeus. And end the reign of the Greek gods forever. She would become the Ultimate goddess, using her powers to make the world a better place and save other young psychics like her from a fate similar to her own: madness.

The six other teens were quiet as Herry drove along the busy road, craning their necks for any sign of Theresa. Jay sat in the passenger seat up front, and Atlanta, Neil, Odie, and Archie were in the back. Atlanta cuddled up to Archie and closed her eyes, exhausted from lack of sleep. He smiled, thinking he was the luckiest guy in the world, and swept her bangs from her forehead. She leaned her head against his shoulder and her eyes fluttered closed, as quietly as butterfly wings. Archie was so absorbed in staring at her that he nearly missed the flurry of fiery red hair out of the corner of his eye.

Fortunately, Jay saw it too. "Stop!" he cried, leaning so far forward in his seat Archie thought he'd fall through the windshield.

Herry slammed on the brakes, and Theresa ran up to the window, waving frantically. "Hey guys!" she called cheerfully, opening a door and clambering in over Jay to sit between him and Herry. "What's up?"

Jay didn't answer. He was sick of her acting as though nothing had happened. She didn't seem to notice his angry face and just sat staring straight ahead with a fake smile plastered in her face. Atlanta had woken up at the disturbance and smiled weakly, too tired to do much else.

Herry raised his hand to pat Theresa on the back in relief when she turned to stare at him and said, "Don't…"

It was too late. At the contact, she disappeared with a little "poof".

Jay gasped, and Odie's eyes widened. "Herry… what did you do?"

"I… I dunno," he answered shakily, gripping the steering wheel so tight it nearly cracked, his knuckles pale.

Then Jay knew what had happened. "Guys! It wasn't her! It was a copy! Remember when we were trying to trap Cronus a year or so ago, and he used copies of himself to distract us?"

"Yes," Neil replied. "But that would have to mean…" The six teens stared at each other in shock.

"Theresa's stolen Cronus' powers," Atlanta squeaked. "And most likely she's going to be after…"

"ZEUS!"

The janitor turned his head at the scream, his eyes taking in the sight of a raging Theresa, her eyes purple and glowing treacherously. Her fiery hair whipped about her face like Medusa's snakes, and she rushed at him, knocking his mop from his hands with a swift kick.

"Really, dear, that was not necessary," he said lazily, sending a lightning bolt at her that sent her sailing backwards. But then a portal appeared and she disappeared into its safe net. He whirled around to search for her, and then a voice from behind said, "Over here."

Theresa cackled as he turned, eyes wide. "You didn't think I was string enough to take on the gods, did you?"

He glared at her. "Really, Theresa, this is not necessary."

Her eyes gleamed. "Oh I think it is. Now stop talking and start fighting!" She morphed into a warrior, armour gleaming in the light of the hall. Zeus snapped his fingers and a thunderbolt appeared beside him, radiating electricity. Rushing him, she swiped at him with deadly accuracy. But with the mature nature of one who has been fighting a lot longer than she, he sent a flicker of lightning to crawl up her weapon and snap her fingers, the exact same trick she had done on Archie. She yelped and dropped it, anger spurting through her. "Fine then, let's fight with magic then."

Suddenly the doors nearest her burst open, and her friends came rushing in, weapons drawn. She didn't even see the laser until it burned her skin, and she yelped once more. But then she sent a blast of fire at Zeus, throwing him against the wall.

"Zeus!" Jay cried, rushing forward to help, but the god waved him aside. "Be more concerned for your friend, boy," he said. "She's about to get thrashed."

"Oh yeah? Take another look!" They all turned and gasped. Theresa was no longer human; her face was the same, but her body was stretching and growing and changing shape. Multiple legs shot out from her, and suddenly in front of them stood a large crab with Theresa's face.

"Oh man!" Neil cried. "I always knew Theresa was crabby, but that's just overboard!"

Atlanta nudged him in the gut. He winced and rubbed the bruise.

"Be nice, Atlanta," he scolded. Suddenly a large claw gripped him around his waist, and he shrieked as Theresa lifted him gently up and set him out of harm's way. Then it was Atlanta, Herry, Odie, and Archie, but Jay sliced at her with his sword and refused to be coddled. She glared at him and then turned to Zeus.

Claws snapping, she rushed him, picked him up, and threw him on the floor, a purple glow vibrating around them. His power was starting to seep from him when Jay leapt onto her back, scrambling for a hold, and dug his sword into her shell. With a shriek she began to shrink, until she was a girl again.

Atlanta then took the moment to hurry over, eyes full of worry. "Let us help you," she pleaded. Theresa shook her head stubbornly. When their eyes met, Atlanta was terrified to see the hopelessness that she felt in Theresa's eyes.

"Don't you understand?" Theresa asked sadly. "I just want to get away." Then her gaze hardened, and she straightened. Her image flickered until she was a scorpion, the power of the gods making her glow like an angel.

"It's time for you to bow in defeat, Zeus," she growled menacingly. He didn't answer, simply took a bolt and pitched it at her. She sent her stinger flying at him, and it went right through him, impaling him. However, there was no blood. It dissolved quickly, and he smirked. "I'm still a god, which means we're immortal."

"I know that," she snapped, but her cheeks flushed pink, and she turned back into a girl, her fists clenching and unclenching, her chest heaving with exertion. It was going to take a lot more power to defeat him. She steadied herself and drew in her powers inside, calling on everything she knew and owned. It surged through her, and her blood pumped furiously. A fierce headache pounded in her head, and wind lashed her hair roughly, stinging her face like a whip.

Pain so immense it took her breath away erupted, and she screamed in terror and dread and pain as light jumped from her chest at Zeus. But with the power went the life force that kept her going, and she suddenly realized she had given too much away. Images of the past and future crowded her mind as the world around her began to sway.

"Jay!" she screamed as images of him pushing her out of the way of danger, holding her briefly, giving her a flower, swimming after her after she'd been kidnapped, and asking her if she was alright swam through her mind. Then images of the others, her friends, those who had loved her and trusted her came through unbidden. Atlanta, with her red hair and stubborn temper to match, Archie, with his crooked smile, Neil, with his perfect grin and bad jokes, but jokes nonetheless, Odie, with his caring way, and Herry, with his enormous appetite and even bigger heart. She had hurt them all, and the gods too, who had needed her, guided her, and helped her be the best she could be.

A sob escaped her, and darkness danced before her eyes. Clinging to air to catch her when she fell, she couldn't stop her descent. The pain at the back of her head was minor compared to her guilty ache, and when soft fingers propped her up, she struggled to open her eyes. The gods stood around her, staring down at her softly. Her friends did as well, but she couldn't believe her eyes. She was on a soft green lounge chair in Chiron's study, and the centaur was propping her up against some pillows.

"You're alright," she croaked weakly. "But…"

"When you sent the last surge of power at Zeus, the energies split and divided, hurrying back to their original owners," Odie explained. She smiled then.

"Thank you." She winced as pain cracked her heart, and she wheezed. "I'm so sorry. I went too far. My power got to great, and I was just too tired of this…" She wept openly, tears streaming down her cheeks. "I'll understand if none of you ever forgive me."

Persephone stepped forward and kissed her on the forehead. "You aren't the only one to blame," she said gently, staring at the others around them. "We all pushed you a bit too hard, Theresa. We forgot that you could only go so far without loosing control. We're sorry, and forgive you." Her eyes were sad.

"Guys?" Theresa inquired. "I'm so sorry. I think I hurt you the most."

"You think?" Atlanta asked bitterly. But then she sobbed and rushed at Theresa, throwing herself into her friend's arms. Theresa hugged her back and smiled.

"I'm glad to have you back, Atlanta."

"Likewise. You don't know how weird it was not having the real Theresa around."

Herry, Odie, Neil, and Archie crowded around, hugging her and patting her head comfortingly. When Jay joined them everyone went silent. Theresa stared down at the floor, her cheeks pale. "I'm sorry Jay," she said quietly. Silence.

"I am too," he replied shakily. She looked up at him, tears in her eyes. Then, before she could say another word, pain shot through her whole body. She screamed and cringed, then her head snapped back and eyes closed. Jay watched in horror as she went still. He checked her pulse, and his heart nearly stopped. Theresa was dead.