OK after careful deliberation I'm back with different chaps hoping that this is better written than what I was doing before. Before I had a lot on my plate and not many ideas for the direction of this particular story. Anyway (don't you hate it when people say anyway(s) with an 's' that sounds so juvenile and silly) I hope I gain more readers and I hope you all enjoy. Enjoy!

Cassidy happily swung her umbrella back and forth slicing through the fat rain drops.

Not one of the warm droplets of water touched her frizzing red curls because she could control the water.

She knew no one else would believe it. They'd probably just pass it off as another one of her jokes, but Cassidy knew she had pretty much been able to manipulate water in some way or another since she was a little girl, and right here lately her powers had become stronger.

At first, she had wanted to tell her best friends about her powers, but decided against it. They wouldn't believe her anyway and Cassidy had to admit she kinda liked having her own little secret.

It made her feel special.

She had always felt inadequate in comparison to her four friends: Yan Lin was so cultured and talented. Kadma, Halinor, and Nerissa were all beautiful, smart, popular infielders. Next to the four of them Cassidy just felt like the redheaded step sister. Average-except for her redder than it should be-hair in appearance and average in abilities except for when it came to this.

Suddenly the sun emerged from behind the thick, white clouds and a rainbow quickly formed. Cassidy smiled loving the way the warmth felt on her freckly cheeks. Just then she spotted Nerissa walking in the opposite direction of her home.

"Hey Rissy!" Cassidy waved at her raven haired friend.

What was up with her?

"Are you here on earth with us right now chickadee?" She teased her befuddled looking friend.

Nerissa shook her head finally seeming to come to. "Oh hey, Cass." Nerissa absentmindedly replied.

"Where are you going girl? Your house is that way." Cassidy pointed.

"Y-yeah right. Let's walk home together." Nerissa replied.

Cassidy shrugged, trying to gauge what was wrong with Nerissa without coming right out and asking. Less she be accused of being 'tactless' as Kadma so eloquently put it. That girl was so uppity some times.

Fortunately for her; Nerissa herself answered her silent ponderings.

"I just feel a little weird right now."

"Why?"

"I…I don't know."

Cassidy looped her arm through Nerissa's and led her past the emptying shops of Heatherfield's main street. As Cassidy stared into the dark windows of closed stores something weird happened. Her appearance changed. It wasn't the first time that had happened, but why was Nerissa's appearance morphing as well?

"Did you see that?" Cassidy asked.

Nerissa turned to face the window then Cassidy. "See what?"

Cassidy blinked her big aqua eyes at her and Nerissa's completely normal reflections. "Uuhhh-"

Nerissa smiled. "Now whose spaced out?" She teased her friend. "Come on Cass, let's go."

"What is the oracle doing?" Yari asked irritably.

Her husband chuckled always trying to keep the peace. "Now Yari don't be angry with the Oracle."

Yari had long ago told her husband all about the oracle, the heart of Kandrakar, and everything about her days as a guardian of the veil.

Yari rolled her eyes.

"Please. I spent the better part of my years being angry with the Oracle. If there are new guardians why didn't I know about it? And how much time do we have before trouble strikes? Damn that man."

"Yari!" Her husband lectured.

"I know I know. Don't damn the higher powers, but Kwame the heart has been inactive for decades now and all of a sudden this girl waltzes into the shop and…I guess I'm just excited is all."

"I understand dear," Kwame wrapped his arms around his wife and coworker, "but right now we have more important problems to focus on."

"You're right." Yari sighed back.

What would happen now was among the most important one of all.

OK after a long reprieve I am biz-ack and ready for business I took some time off to concentrate on stories on my other account and think this one through a little harder and I hope you guys enjoy. 'Till next chapter!