3

I used my gift to lift the last clump of dried plants into a garbage bag, then Storm hefted it onto the large pile of other garbage bags. Firelily shot laser-like flames onto the pile and we watched it go up in smoke. Before it could spread, I quickly smothered the flames and dumped the ashes into my bedroom trash can. Sighing, we all retired to the cafe for breakfast.

Tasha was behind the counter and smiled as we walked in," What can I get you girls, today?" Tasha had caramel hair and pale skin, with a light complexion. Unlike the scientists, she never forced a smile, hide information, or not treat us like... human beings. Tasha was like and aunt to us, and we love her. The chalkboard behind her had the words "Today's special is Bacon and Eggs" in calligraphy. Storm ordered the special with a milkshake, I wanted pancakes, Firelily asked for pepper and hot root soup, and Flower ordered a salad. We ate on tall spin chairs around a lollipop table, none of us said a word to Tasha about the incident.

After I was full, I headed to out to the opposite side of the hall from the cafe. On the wall was an elevator that lead to all the floors of the laboratory. Feeling energized, I pushed the button marked G, for gymnasium. A ding sound went off as it finished lowering itself to the gym floor, and I stepped out and down a hall to the gym doors.

It was an Olympic- sized gym split into three sections, the left for gymnastics, the middle was your average gym( weights, treadmills, est.), and most of the right side consisted of learning martial arts. Instructors were at each station doing exercises, and I skipped over to Master Chang, the martial arts teacher. Over the hour, I did exercises in Karate, Kung Fu, and Nomadic styles. Bowing to Master Chang, I returned to the elevator hot and sweaty.

Back on our home floor, the doors opened to reveal the other girls waiting. Flower piped up," We're going to the forest, wanna come" I nodded, and everyone filed onto the elevator. The forest is what we call this giant terrarium filled with trees and animals. It had a glass dome like the combat arena, with a digital sun shining above us. Everyone breathed in the fresh air as we walked down well-worn paths, to our little 'spot'. Our 'spot', consisted of trees tightly grown around a small clearing with a pond and willow tree hanging over. Black, orange, and white Koi swam in graceful circles in the crystal clear water. We all had to squeezed through the tree trunks, except for Flower, to reach it. Everyone sat around the willow's trunk, and stared lazily into the pond. My eyes fluttered tiredly, Storm yawned, and Flower was already snoring.

I sat bolt upright and it felt like every muscle in my body was flexed. My eyes glowed with white light, and the sound of several deep voices flooded out of my mouth:

Beware the day with dread,

When for the entire day, the sun is red,

Massive skills locked inside human hearts,

Shall force them to play their parts,

One shall rise and take the glory,

One shall come above the rest,

And she shall take the final test,

For she will take their powers, great,

For the chosen cannot resist fate,

She will destroy all living,

She will destroy all matter, beware!

Total devastation, she will seethe,

And never will she take her leave,

Until all is consumed, and all is left in darkness

But,

Could she be faithful and strong?

Know right from wrong?

If so, peace and glory shall reign,

And all evil will be slain,

Powers given back will be,

The ones that destroy and create,

The ones that don't challenge fate.