Thank you to Harliquinn for beta reading and editing
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It was the next day, and Skye threw on some leggings and a tank top before running toward the elevator. She had lost track of time and was running late for training with Wanda. The last time she had been late it hadn't ended well. When she got outside to the training ground Wanda was waiting.
"I'm so sorry, I lost track of time," Skye said.
Wanda nodded she could tell the girl was truly apologetic. "Let's just get to it."
Wanda worked with her to try and pull out her newly founded abilities. More than once, Skye got frustrated and snapped at Wanda.
Wanda tilted her head at her. "Stop, talk to me. What's got you frustrated?"
Skye took a breath. "Sorry. I shouldn't be snapping at you. I just don't like the place I have to go in my mind to make it work."
Wanda nodded. "My understanding is you should be able to channel different emotions and control different elements. Why don't you try to focus on something good? A good memory."
"I just don't know that I have a memory that is good enough," Skye said softly.
"I know you have had a lot of hard years, and even the good years have had some hard things. But there have to be some good memories in there," Wanda said.
"Yes, I have good memories. I just don't know if they are as good as the bad ones are bad," Skye said.
"Can you try?" Wanda asked.
"Yes," Skye said as she tried to tap into the best memory she could think of.
Skye closed her eyes and tapped into a memory. it was from the last foster home she was in before she started getting into trouble and ended up in group homes. She had finally found a home where she felt that the foster parents wanted her there. She was happy, it was Christmas time, and she was helping her foster mother at the mall decorating the huge Christmas tree. The foster mother had been so patient with Skye and took the time to teach her how to do it properly. She remembered it had been the most fun she could remember having. That memory also triggered another good memory. It was from the year before, her first Christmas at the compound when Steve gifted her the ornament. That was another good memory.
While she was digging into her memories. Wanda stood by watching to see if anything was happening. After a few minutes, she noticed some sand on the ground around them was starting to move slightly, and they were standing completely still.
"Skye, keep going, I think you're doing it," Wanda said calmly, trying to make sure she didn't pull her out of her memory.
Skye had heard her, but she was able to keep her mind on the memory.
Wanda continued to watch her and the area around them. The sand started to come off the ground and move around them.
"You are doing great, you can continue what you are doing," Wanda told her.
Skye's memory suddenly switched to being removed from that home and the sadness that came from it. The sand around them stopped moving, and the air started to cool down drastically.
Wanda recognized the change meant that the memories were changing. She let her continue what she was doing for now.
Wind started around them at that moment. The leaves from a tree nearby started to fly onto the training grounds, the temperature dropped even more, and Skye was noticeably getting upset.
"Skye, you can come out of the memory now," Wanda said.
Skye was so deep in the memory that she didn't hear Wanda.
"Skye," Wanda said again trying to get her attention, but still Skye didn't stop.
The wind started to pick up, directly surrounding Skye and causing her body to lift a little from the ground. The sky turned a dark gray, and clouds formed, which caused it to start spitting rain.
"Skyler, stop now," Wanda said slightly louder and sternly.
Skyler heard Wanda at that point and tried to stop, but she couldn't. Because she couldn't, she got scared, and the fear mixed with the sadness caused Skye to manipulate the rain into a small pool around herself and Wanda.
Wanda could see the fear in Skye's eyes and realized she couldn't stop. She used her own abilities to knock Skye off her feet.
Skye whimpered as she fell to the ground and snapped out of the memories.
Once everything calmed down, Wanda went over to Skye quickly and knelt by her. She put a hand gently on her shoulder. "Skye, take a few deep breaths.
Skye did so, catching her breath.
"Are you okay?" Wanda asked her.
Skye nodded a little and started to tear up. "I'm sorry. I tried to stop. I just couldn't."
"I know, I could tell. I'm sorry I had to use my abilities to stop you," Wanda said.
"It's okay, I'm okay," Skye said, wiping at her eyes.
Wanda squeezed her shoulder. "Are you sure you're okay?"
"I couldn't control it to stop when I wanted to," Skye said.
"I know, you will learn how to do that," Wanda said.
Skye nodded and took another breath.
"Do you realize what you were doing?" Wanda asked.
"Yeah, I think so. Things kept changing," Skye said.
"I think you tapped into a lot of emotions," Wanda said.
Skye nodded.
"Can you tell me what you were feeling?" Wanda asked.
"At first, happy, then sad, and in the end, I was terrified and not from any memories," Skye said.
"That just proves in time you won't need to dig into memories to make your abilities work," Wanda said.
Skye nodded.
"Do you want to keep training?" Wanda asked.
Skye looked down.
"It is okay if you do not want to. I understand that was a lot for someone who is not used to doing that," Wanda said.
"I'm never going to get better if I stop every time it gets hard," Skye said softly.
"Yes, that is true. But trying to train when you are tired, overwhelmed, and, I can tell still scared, you won't be able to make it happen, at least not the way you want to," Wanda said. "It is better to take a break, and we can try again either later today if you are rested enough or another day this week."
Skye nodded and stood up. Wanda got up as well, and they both went inside.
Steve saw them come in and looked at the time. "You are done training early."
Skye looked down.
Steve looked at Skye. "Are you okay, Skye?"
Skye nodded slightly and let out a breath, trying to steady her emotions, but her eyes welled up with tears.
Steve got up from the chair he was sitting in and went over to Skye. He wrapped her in a tight hug.
Skye hugged him tight and sobbed into him.
"You want to tell me what happened?" Steve asked Wanda.
"She tapped into her abilities and was able to control earth and air. It was getting a little out of control, and I asked her to stop. She couldn't stop it, causing her to get scared and tap into water control. I had to knock her off her feet to bring her out of it. She told me she was okay, but I could tell she was tired and overwhelmed," Wanda said.
"I'm sorry," Skye sobbed.
"It doesn't sound like you did anything you need to apologize for," Steve said softly.
"She didn't," Wanda said.
Steve just held her until she calmed down. When she pulled away Steve looked at her. "Are you physically okay?"
Skye nodded. "Just really tired."
"Okay, go and rest," Steve said.
Skye nodded and went.
Steve looked at Wanda.
"Now are you okay?" Steve asked her.
Wanda smiled slightly. "I'm okay. I don't like that I had to use my abilities on her, but I know if I didn't she could have ended up far more hurt."
"She didn't seem injured at all, Wanda. You did just enough to stop her and not hurt her," Steve said. "You have come a long way from the girl we met a few years ago."
Wanda shrugged, "Thank you."
Skye had gone to her bathroom and took a shower before slipping into bed for a nap.