Sienna sat there in front of the marbled pedestal. The ceiling was so far above and those little Cheweeli wouldn't leave her alone. They stuck to her and snuggled. They were irritating and yet comforting. Nothing though could ease her worries as she stared at Clue who had not woken up yet. The Pixie who selflessly had sacrificed herself to save her. The fruit-filled plates untoughed, legs drawn in she sat next to the tiny friend she had made. Nothing got her out of this room. Sienna had not truly wrapped her head around the fact they had been attacked by some Black Magic PSI users. To her, everything was still some Battle Class gone wrong. Only Clue was the one thing that made it obviously clear that they had been on a mission. "I won't leave you… never, Clue, you hear me. And if I have to sit here a hundred years." She clawed into her trousers. The taste of salty tears graced her lips once more. Mentally exhausted she let her head sink onto the pedestal yet again.

Kitty growled. A mighty roar as she punched that stupid rock again. Her knuckles bled and stung. The beauty around her was wasted on her. The White Jade Gardens. The Warm sun on her skin. Everything just made her more angry. "Dark Claw!" She roared and slashed into that poor boulder that she vented on. "FUCK THIS!" She tore into it. Funnily enough, it was just so dense she made next to no dent. "Stupid ROCK! DIE! URRRGH!"

Nimue looked to Gwaine, "My, what a temperament. Even the Cheweeli stay away for now." Her black braided tail swung as she stemmed her hand into her hips. "You got your hands full with this one."

Gwaine was standing in their camouflage circle. "At least she takes it out on a random rock and not on one of our statues." He chuckled and brushed along Nimue's hand. "We got so damn lucky. Maybe we went a bit overboard with the missions we chose for the-"

"Maybe you should punch that rock," Nimue snickered. She tried to cheer him up. "It was a normal fetch mission. You did those yourself when you were in Malacoy Academy with Val. And if I recall you two got into trouble more often than not. And surely not because of the missions." She tilted her head and sighed. Of course that didn't help him relax. "It's the same with our Initiates once they become Fascias you got to let them go and make mistakes."

Gwaine grumbled, "Sure, but they are kids. How does Avalon sleep with this possibility day in and day out?" He tugged at the blue sleeve of his robes.

"Trust," Nimue smiled as she lifted his chin and kissed him. "Trust that they come back and having done anything he can to prepare them for this life in service of the people."

"How is she?" Faragonda turned as she heard the door handle lower. Bloom hadn't even entered the room yet. She had personally come to the Eraklyon's palace. Snow's parents had brought her back home once she was cleared from any lingering Psi commands.

Bloom's blue eyes sparkled so full of compassion, "She's doing just fine, still sleeping. My Dragonflame gave her healing a little boost. The Burnout wasn't that bad. I bet she's back in two days. Oh, and I am to give you the greatest thanks and best wishes from her parents."

"Me?" Faragonda shook her head, "I did nothing but choose the mission…" Faragonda breathed in and pushed her glasses back. "How is Eraklyon? It's been two days. Is there anything I can help you with? Anything at all?" She took Bloom's hands and squeezed them. She knew that brave face look of hers that hid her worries.

"We're fine," Sky slipped into the tea room. "Votzaak, Nerrocean and Eaden with a few special forces from Zaltora are hunting trails but got nothing. Even Riven, he insisted. He hated being late to the party. Can't wait for Timmy to see his poor Owl, so far he is hiding it from Timmy, that will be one for the books," Sky chuckled to lighten the mood and sighed getting serious again, "This blew over us like a storm and no one is the wiser." He balled his fists. "No pun intended…" He promptly corrected.

Faragonda nodded as she took a sip of her tea, "I knew Lord Ramon wasn't the most liked. However… Reapers? Who could possibly wish such a death on someone else?" She closed her eyes the photos had been horrific, to say the least. She belched up shortly and unseen.

"They'll regret ever coming here," Sky answered dead earnest. This had the whole Kingdom in shock. Streets were clear at night and that eerie silence. No one chattered or gossiped. Normally a welcomed change, but this time, it was far from a blessing. "Techna and Timmy are checking the forest for teleportation traces with Riven. We could…"

Seth stared out of the ark into the wide open sky. Red Fountain was buzzing. He had come out unscathed from the battle. Only a bit of exhaustion. His hand clamped around the two-hander hilt. 'Not again. Too late. Too weak… why can't I ever… Sienna….." He ground his teeth so hard his jaw hurt. He drew his hand back.

"Hey, have you heard? In Desertia they dug out the old King's workshop," One Specialist in his newly cleaned blue and white uniform chatted to the other as they walked along the corridor ring of the upper coliseum along the arks.

The blue-haired guy next to him looked surprised, "Really? I thought the palace was in shambles." A deep sigh, "To think that Fairy Princess from Alfea isn't even dead a year and the Kingdom is rebuilding already. Maduk and that Fairy Shawaka are King and Queen now, right? Seems like they have a lot of supporters if rebuilding the Kingdom goes this smoothly."

"They aren't King and Queen yet. Just Regents, I heard a lot of problems…"

Seth heard their voices trail off. Bit his lips. "Why do people always forget… Jewels…" A tear ran down his cheeks. His hand with the hilt trembled. "If I just had seen. If we-" His words got stuck as he gulped so deeply it burned and he sank to his knees. He bumped his head against the brig wall before him. Pressed it against it. "What am I even doing here if I can't - If I…" His voice broke up. "What's the point?!" he hissed and dropped the hilt.

"That we try again," Lion walked up behind him and slumped against the wall next to him. His golden hair which always was like a mane was a bit more knotted today. "Tissue?" He held up his blue mantle tip.

Seth stared at him dumbfounded. His shoulders sagged. "What are you doing here, Lion? You have weapon training right now."

"So, do you," Lion chuckled and picked up the hilt. Activated the giant green blade. "I always envied your green-coloured crystal. He snipped against his yellow brooch that held his mantle together. "Reminds me of hope." He retracted the blade and turned the hilt. "May your time never run out." Lion read the engraving with a pinch of melancholy. "You miss her."

Seth snorted dismissingly. "How could I? I never knew the girl." So much hurt and pain in his voice that his throat sneered shut.

Lion sat down and slung his arm around Seth and pressed his head against his chest, "How could you not?... It'll be okay, Seth. Sienna's fine. Everyone is. - We WILL get stronger. Strong enough to save our friends." He paused himself what a bitter aftertaste this still was. "Leader's promise."

"Hey, Zhoron," The elven Council Guard barely knocked against the break room's door as he already entered. The Council building was busier than normal so more teams were on stand-by, which led to a lot more free time than one would imagine.

"Yes?" Zhoron looked up from his cards. Ever since the Police raids that game had caught a lot more players. It became a bit of a new challenge, Division Hunters versus Council Guards. Matches were written down for the yearly overall Order scores in addition to the personal ones. This training match wasn't going in his favour though.

"Got a visitor," The fellow guard pushed the boy in. "Don't forget to bring him back to the entrance later. We're too busy to play taxi all the time." He smirked shortly and left.

Mercury rubbed his upper arm a bit uncomfortably as dozens of Elves stared at him. The break room was nothing special a few tables with food and drinks and a bunch of chairs along the room-long tables.

"Mercury?" Zhoron was a bit surprised. As no answer came he intrigued raised an eyebrow. Virion, Ilrune and Ararel looked up from their plates as well.

"Can… can you help me with something?" Mercury stuttered. He definitely had drawn the attention of all in the break room by now. Cause of his shoulder wound he was forbidden to take part in any combat training which meant he had a free day instead.

Zhoron laid his cards on the table, "I forfeit." And stood up to greet the boy and get him a chair. 'Did Itzcali hand out weird homework again?' He asked the others over their PSI link.

Ararel inspected the boy from top to bottom, 'Not that I know of. Bring him over.' He glared at the other guards to keep to themselves and they turned back to their chatter.

Zhoron gestured towards the table with the others, "I can try." He pulled up a chair for him. Mercury was so nervous for some reason. "What's up?"

"Can you… can…" Mercury stared a bit unsure at the other Elves. It was hard to tell them apart even if they did classes for them.

"Just spit it out," Ararel sighed. One could see the fear in the boy's eyes clearly.

Ilrune cleared his throat, "Ararel, patience."

Virion shook his head, "Says the right one, Ilrune." It was the easiest way to reveal their names without being too much on the nose that they knew that in this crowd he couldn't tell them apart yet.

"Do you need a healer? Did someone get hurt? Virion can help you out way better than I ever could," Zhoron closed the introduction round. 'Wonder what he wants.'

'Who knows… he'll tell us or leave empty-handed. Either way, we got to write a report for Shanna,' Ararel leaned back and relaxed a bit.

"Zhoron," Mercury gulped. His leg was twitching like a woodpecker. "Please, mind control me."

Ilrune barely caught his laughter and ended up in a snort. The entire room was looking over their shoulders towards them. Ilrune sat up straight as he turned to the boy a bit more seriously, "Mercury. You're asking for Zhoron to commit a felony in the middle of a Council Guard break room... you do understand that, right?"

'Why is it always the kids with the most stupid ideas? Elven students would never even consider...' Ararel only stared at the boy scoldingly.

Virion had taken to heart what had been said about him being too strict and stingy and helped Zhoron out who sat there a bit frozen, unable to form a sentence. "Mercury, mind control easily ends in Black Magic. And-"

"Oh, come on," Mercury wouldn't leave with a no. "You guys have some sort of training. You must. Otherwise, the Council Guard would be ineffective and dangerous." He crossed his arms defensively and looked down to the side. 'I can't fail like that again...'

Zhoron sighed loudly. "So, what you mean is you want anti-PSI training. And you wish me to be your sparring partner," he asked in more detail. 'This is a stupid idea... he has no tools whatsoever for this...Ararel?'

Mercury frowned, "That's what I said. Mind-control me... so I can break free." His amber eyes fixated on the Elf.

"No, it's not. In PSI nuances make a big difference and in the eyes of law as well," Ararel made promptly clear. "You don't have any tools for this kind of training and doing this so short after a PSI attack on your mind-"

"Well, I didn't ask you. Zhoron. Please. I can't. If that happens again... Blade... I was the leader. It's supposed to be me who holds the last line. Keep everyone safe. PLEASE." Mercury looked at him with determined puppy eyes. 'How else am I going to...'

Virion breathed out loudly, 'We're in the Council building. There's no safer place than dozens of guards on break. He'll fail of course. Medically it is manageable.'

'Sure, but what is the impact when he fails?' Ilrune countered as he looked at Virion. 'He goes in thinking he can make it and his mind gets even more crushed. Not everyone can act in a mind space like Blade. Many in fact simply go through willpower and prepare countermeasures. This takes time even for the best of us.'

Zhoron stared at the boy who looked forth and back between them. He knew they were talking to each other via PSI connection. "Mercury. You won't manage to win. Even with the easiest training exercise. I don't want you to be discouraged. But even Hunters and soldiers have problems with this. That's what makes PSI so dangerous if used offensively and that's why most PSI users train utility rather than taking over someone's mind. It simply can go wrong in a split second and turn into Black Magic."

"Still, THERE ARE WAYS. You guys said we can always come to you with anything," Mercury made his case. He wouldn't give up so easily.

Ilrune raised his eyebrows, "Yes, and if you asked we come to kill someone with you. We'd lock you up. There are limits."

"I'm asking for training. Not some felony. TRAINING to keep MY TEAM SAFE. You can't tell me that my request is idiotic. It's exactly what you would train as a team if you just had failed. That's the only sensible thing TO DO!" Mercury hammered his fist on the table startled himself and withdrew the hand quickly. "Apologies..."

'If I say no... he might run off to find someone else...' Zhoron pinched his nose bridge. He understood him. All did. Even the ears-dropping Council Guards. 'I need a way not to discourage him or hurt him...'

Ararel tapped on the table, "Fine. I'll allow it. BUT - our rules." He saw the young boy's face light up in relief and joy. "Number one, you get one chance. We're not doing this throughout all of our break. We're not on holiday. Second, you go to Shanna and talk about your struggles with this. Don't make me report on you. Third. In Council Guard, we keep this training light-hearted. If one tenses up too much it ends in Black Magic really quickly. If you struggle too much we have to knock you out and you'll be stuck in White Jade, AGAIN. And as you already missed two days I'd advise against going all out. Is that clear? You try when relaxed, if you fail you fail, it's normal. People fail hundreds of times before they see any progress. So don't go into this thinking you'll be a pro in five seconds."

"You got my word," Mercury nodded enthusiastically. "So, attack me." He was so eager to get started.

Zhoron snorted himself there, "Never met anyone so eager... Well, prepare yourself, Mercury." He smiled challengingly. "I'll test you with something we do with applicants in the PSI training wards on Yaggdrasor. Just so you understand the concept you still can withdraw your request." He waited shortly but the boy was so damn sure of himself. "There is one passive attack and one active attack. A passive attack is things like, give me your book. Change your outfit... hold this teacup. Speak in a certain way. Things that have no true impact on you, your values or your duty in general. Those can easily tipp over into active attacks. For example, asking for your schoolbook is fine and mostly a passive threat for most. Those are harder to resist. Asking for the grimoire you're holding is an active attack as it forces you to do something you'd not ever consider AND might be dangerous for you, your team, or loved ones... civilians. You get the drift."

"Okay... but how... I mean we attacked each other... wouldn't that trigger the active attack and give us a better chance to break through?" Mercury was so confused already.

Virion sighed, "That's true. However, you all thought you were in class. And for that reason, we know those guys were good." The grownups hadn't made up their minds if they were to tell the students they had a run-in with the most notorious Black Magic PSI users in all of Magix or not. "The setting changes things. The command changes things. Ordering someone to kill always ends up in Black Magic unless you already planned to kill that exact person. Zhoron could order you to swim across a lake. You do it. Ordering you to swim through the sea would endanger your life. So, it either turns to Black Magic from the get-go or over time. Most people can defend themselves once it becomes Black Magic as our own nature opposes this. Not against the PSI attack itself, the command. Being able to react in the mind space is super rare for non-PSI users. It's not something you train. You either have or gain it. Same as with Light and Dark convergence... we don't know what is necessary to trigger it. Or why some are born with it."

"...Okay...makes sense...I guess..." This sounded already a lot more theoretical than anything else. "So, what are the commands you'll give me?"

Zhoron snickered and lipsynched his own PSI-Chat, 'Oh, well you get something, which you normally wouldn't do; yet light-hearted like a dare when you lose a bet. So, we stay on the safe side and away from Black Magic. Last chance to withdraw,' Zhoron had made up his mind. He knew exactly how to implement that applicant's test in the Council building. And make the boy think twice about requesting training that was beyond him.

Mercury took but a second before he looked him in the eyes. "I never was scared about bets. Bring it. You'll see...I...m...no...t..." He already felt his head hurt. Similar to what had happened on their mission yet leagues milder. A bit cosy even like a lullaby. "You… started…a…"

'Of course,' He answered without his mouth moving, 'You shouldn't leave your mind open to unwanted PSI,' Zhoron smirked. 'People might exploit you.' He leaned back and stretched as Mercury's head slumped forward. "Ararel… you're good with spells and have the rank… Since our break is over soon and he certainly needs a lot of time to even try and react. I was thinking along those lines…"

Blade had watched Seth leave. Her mind spaced out shortly as with worry her eyes trailed him walk across the arena sand. 'Seth…' They all had taken a hit, some physically as well as mentally. 'Shit. Why…?!' So utterly frustrating. They had completed the mission theoretically. Fast and without a hitch. If it hadn't been for those maniacs they had run into. Suddenly something hit her lightly on the head. Irritated she looked back front.

Keith stood there grimacing as he pulled back his lightning glaive and rammed the shaft into the sand. He had tapped her with the bird ornament of the bladed side. "And you're dead…" He mumbled half-serious. "You sure you should be training right now?" He was a bit concerned about her team. She was fine. No commands were imprinted. She hadn't fallen completely to the PSI attack for the most part. Or at least that was his guess. The grownups still didn't talk much.

"What else is there to do? … Can't do nothing…" She sighed deeply. Her eyes kept darting to where Seth had left. "I'm going to the bathroom…" She stated, turning away to follow Seth.

"Blade," a strong tone from Codatorta. He had walked around all the boys, who were weapon training, to cut her off with Palladium. He whistled, "Lion!" And nodded towards where Seth had walked.

"Yes, Master Codatorta," Eagerly Lion rushed off to follow his teammate.

Palladium called out, "Keith you against Max." He rearranged the sparring partners. A strident step to catch up to Blade and Codatorta who came to a halt.

"Hey, I just wanted to…" Balde started as she swiped away some sweat from her forehead.

Codatorta shook his head, "Let the boys be by themselves."

Palladium checked her top to bottom, "Blade if you don't feel up for training. You can simply say so and take a break. There is nothing wrong with tak-"

"…" Balde stared at him, "…I just wanted to use the bathroom….." She pulled her gloves into place again. "Or is that forbidden now? I think not." With that, she turned around. She was in no mood to have another pep talk conversation. Shanna already had an extra session with all of them, well, all but Snow. Anyone and everywhere people tried to cheer her up or Nebula or Mercury. 'Mercury… she still couldn't forget that noise. She had asked Shanna if they could dial that memory down, but Shanna had insisted on her trying to reconcile with it first on her own terms.

"Blade, that's…" Palladium wanted to reply but got held back by Codatorta.

The Master Specialis

t's voice rang out behind Blade, "I want to see you back here again. So no Princess toilet break." A slight warning not to forget time. They were ordered to look out for those who were back in their classes already.

Blade walked through the corridors a tiny bit of running even. She had used the entrance that would bring her fastest to the restrooms, but she actually aimed for Seth. She paced herself as best as she could because she was sure, currently, any discrepancies the bracelet would pick up on would be reported. It was to keep them and others safe. No one took PSI repercussions lightly.

"They aren't King and Queen yet. Just Regents, I heard a lot of problems on Desertia come from the internal struggle. The fact that the girl was adopted… leaves open that there might be others … even if far removed relatives left of the deceased Queen Amethyst." Two specialists walked past Blade so enthralled in their conversation.

"I mean I get it… Most artefacts of theirs are powerful but only work with that bloodline. But unless you make a sword in the stone test… you know… like Excalibur…." The blue-haired one shrugged.

Blade halted a bit stunned. Just as they had passed her. Unable to move or say anything. Surely they were new first years as they didn't recognise her like others did.

"Dude," the other boy scolded slightly, "Excalibur checked for a pure heart. I'm not sure there is a lineage-seeking spell. Or at least, nothing that is without Black Magic. Besides wouldn't that mean one would need to find their blood? The Queen and King had been obliterated, or not? There isn't even a spec left."

Blade's teeth crunched together. How nonchalantly they were talking about it. They hadn't even noticed her darkening face. She trembled so strongly that her muscles ached. Oh, how she would like to punch them.

"Nah, I heard the records showed clearly that no one was let from Queen Amethyst's lineage. However, her adopted daughter was able to use at least that one artefact. You know… the crown thingy… those… rings? King Rock must have found a way to make them usable again for other bloodlines. I think… that's what they say in the MagicWeb." The blue-haired scratched his head. "Or maybe they are searching for you know anyone like an illegitimate heir. Or anyone with only the tiniest drop of Desertian royalty. I mean, even if the Queen wasn't screwing around… maybe others before did?"

"You can't say such things out loud!" A punch against the shoulder.

"Hey. I mean - Who knows," he shook his head as he rubbed his shoulder, "Politics. I'll never understand it. I bet you my cloak they just don't like Maduk because he is a farmer. But why should I care? Not my kingdom and even then, I'm going to be a Head Hunter so that shit won't ever bother me. All that dance ball etiquette is killing me…"

"Ahaha, I bet your mother would heavily protest - you becoming a scoundrel." His friend snorted bemused as he crossed his arms behind his head.

"HEY!" With that outburst of protest, they vanished around the curve of the outer ring.

Blade stood there. Frozen. Time passed by. She didn't even notice at first only when the salty tears traced her lips. Her hand reached to rub her eyes. "Fuck those assholes…" She hissed through her teeth. So short before running after those two guys just to punch them. Yet held back. It wasn't them she was pissed at, not truly. 'Again…when will I ever be enough….fuck… Jewels….' Days like these she missed her so badly. She had worked through it all with Shanna but the sting of losing someone close. Precious. A friend. It would always hurt. Nothing could change that unless she'd asked to forget. 'They don't even remember Jewel's name…..' She'd never forget. Never. Blade's head pulsated under her grinding teeth before she finally decided to move on. Tense as a bull just to hold only a few steps later. Seth's head rested on Lion's shoulder as he was consoled by his friend. They were somewhere else entirely with their mindset. 'Seth…' Blade sighed inwardly and turned on her heels. This wasn't the time for him to rant with her like yesterday. Still, she was fuming inside. No matter how far she walked that anger inside wouldn't subside. Shortly Blade checked her bracelet while she sorted her blue training gloves again. "Gotta get back." She bit her lip.

Blade had walked back about half the way to the arena. Jewels last moments simply wouldn't leave her alone. That feeling of helplessness that sneered her throat shut. She controlled her breathing. She had to stay calm or the bracelet would give away her detour. Her mind jumped to the battle on Eraklyon when everyone had attacked each other. 'Again.' She balled her fist so hard. "Again!" She whisper-hissed as she thrashed it into the wall. The metal wouldn't bend under her boiling rage and though the gloves protected her skin she could see the white spreading further down from the knuckles. No matter how hard she tried that sound of Mercury's cracking breastplate… She had broken a bone or two herself in training or when she was little. It wasn't unsettling or never had been. Such injuries were easily fixed by a healer. And yet… her next session with Shanna was still a few days away. Shanna hadn't dared to change any intensity just yet. They all were still under observation in a live test because of the mind hacks. Councillor Eaden had been… strange. He was always grumpy. Pissed. However, this time he was more cautious, overly so. "What's wrong with everyone?! Why is no one telling us the truth!" She kicked the wall nevertheless it only ended up pushing herself away from the wall. The training boots landed with a heavy thud on the ground again. "OOOh, fuck this!" She yelled and dashed towards an arc and simply jumped through it. Her arms and legs wide to break the fall slightly as she fell from the sky fortress the trees closing in as she left behind the red fortress in the sky.

"WINX!" Blade screamed as if she was fighting the air. Nonetheless, she didn't slow down. No, she streamlined her body and let her wings hum like crazy, sped up. The harsh wind whipped at her face before she made a scratchy landing through the next tree crown. Her Winx faded just before the branches began.

An outburst of animalistic roars. She picked up anything loose and simply hurled it into all directions. Tears stung in her eyes. "SHIT! WHY?! Why am I still so fucking WEAK!" One of her Dark Magic Darts formed in the air and she snatched it just to thrust it into a nearby tree whose bark gave way under the duress and the trunk splintered deeply.

A confused and almost muffled voice resounded, that ripped the Fairy from her rampage. "Weak? You're kidding right?" Nebula's lavender hair flashed through the undergrowth before their eyes met. She noted instantly that Blade had meant every word of it. In return, Nebula clicked her tongue at her, "Tch," offended even. "What the heck are you talking about!? You're the only one who should be fucking proud. Don't you ever get sick of that self-loathing! Seriously!?" She broke a bunch of twigs off as she entered that clearing if one could call it that.

"And what do you know?! You and your endless pool of magic!" Blade hissed, her dreadlocks swinging around in her pirouette to face her best friend and roommate.

Nebula ground her teeth her dark blue eyes hitting Blade's light ones, "What's power worth; If I can't do anything with it! Huh?! You obliterated my Plasma Spheres with some stupid Chakrams! Your spells are at least damn worth their magic!" Her sporty block-heel boots cracked the branches on the forest ground like salt sticks while she stampeded over.

"Yeah, and without Snow I'd be dead from your hail of spheres! That wasn't MY POWER! I can't do shit without someone shielding me!" Blade pushed Nebula slightly back as she was getting into her face.

"Oh, boohoo! I could only escape the PSI users on my own. I can't do anything on my own," Nebula took the mickey out of her and her statements. "Do you even hear yourself talking!? What a shit show." Nebula threw her hands up in disbelief. She had come to pick Blade up after weapons training. Originally she had wanted to take part in the lesson, yet with so much homework to catch up on there had been no time for a little distraction.

"I did not escape them!" Blade roared her fists balling her entire body hunched over, trembling.

Nebula looked at her as if she was stupid and couldn't help but start laughing hurt, "Oh, right, sure, staying yourself, not attacking your friends is anything BUT STAYING SANE!" She swiped the crawling tears off her face. "You didn't attack us! YOU STOPPED US! Clearly, there's a DIFFERENCE, you blockhead!"

Blade's jaw quivered as she pressed her eyes shut. Angre was seething beneath the surface. Over and over she heard Mercury's plating cracking in her mind, that crimson red that ran down his blue paladin armour so vividly.

Nebula watched her silence. Obviously, she didn't see the truth, 'So ridiculous…' She couldn't help it. Just seeing the one person who had not fallen for those assholes tricks, doubting. "Stop! JUST STOP! You're the ONLY ONE who got their shit together! YOU SAVED US!" She'd pummel the truth into her if need be. 'Typical Blade…' Close to boiling over herself.

Blade shook her head violently, "I didn't stay SANE! If you have no fucking clue just SHUT UP!" She went in for a spin kick, never meant to connect, just to blow off the tension in her body that just wouldn't leave. Nonetheless, Nebula took a step back. Her hair ruffled from the air current. "I NEARLY DROWNED! The Phoenix would have taken OVER! They toyed with me! I CAN'T DO SHIT! I didn't escape their PSI, they just found it funnier for me to keep drowning in DESPAIR! I could do NOTHING to break you free. I could do NOTHING but hide behind Snow's shield! I- I hurt-" Her roars faded as she couldn't, she couldn't say it out loud. 'Mercury… I'm so sorry…'

Nebula went in for punches those self-loathing pained eyes ticking her off, "And I didn't, or what?! I fired so many spheres; I brought everyone to the brink of their magic! Snow went into burnout because of ME! All you ever did was try to stop us! How can you be so blind?!" Blade kept blocking her attacks. They ended in a standoff as Nebula's fist hit Blade's palm. "You're not WEAK! I AM!"

Blade dug her nails into Nebula's fist, "BULLSHIT! You just said it! YOU brought everyone to their knees! All I could do was waste my weapons on you! I destroy some of your spheres - fine! What does that count then you still had endless shots!? NOTHING!" She pushed Nebula's fist off to the side and went for a palm thrust to her sternum. "I CAN'T SAVE ANYONE! NOT YOU, NOT MERCURY. NOT JEWELS!" She charged at Nebula as they began to trade blows. "I'll never be a POWERFUL FAIRY!"

"You already ARE!" Nebula used an opening and gave her a headbutt, sending Blade to the ground with a heavy thud. Pebbles danced shortly from the impact. "OPEN YOUR DAMN EYES! You saved us plenty of times! All those weapons, that versatility! And what do I have!? One fucking Plasma Sphere spell. There are no good attack spells for me! The fog element is nothing against your weapon creation magic!" She grabbed Blade by her arm protector and pulled her up just to sling her to the ground again.

Blade rolled off just in time, "Oh, fuck you! You'll ALWAYS overpower me! I said it before I say it again WITHOUT SNOW I would have been useless!" She pressed off the ground, let magic soar through her body, straight into a tackle. Nebula caught her hands and mirrored her. Interlocked, they pushed each other forth and back in a tie. "AND IN THE END I WAS!"

"LIES!" Nebula glared through her lavender hair that had draped over her shoulders obscuring her face. "Y-"

"I couldn't stop YOU! Not KITTY! NOT SETH! I didn't save SIENNA! It was that fucking PIXIE of all people! SNOW went into burnout – BECAUSE I WAS TOO WEAK!" Blade gave herself an immense magic boost and drove Nebula backwards. Groves built up as they unearthed the ground beneath them. "I HURT M-" The words got stuck in her throat yet again. "If I wasn't so damn useless, I'd NEVER EVER would have to stab Mercury in the back! The one to draw BLOOD, WAS I! I DID THAT! I, I THE GREAT BLADE. I, the oh-so-great one. THE SANE ONE! I- HE! – IF I…" Blade let her head hang tears dripping down her nose as she stopped pushing Nebula back for just a moment. "Cause I couldn't MATCH his strength. I only had the option to SHOOT HIM IN THE BACK! IF I HAD MISSED! If they hadn't reached us! … MY DAGGER WAS AT HIS THROAT!" Blade ripped her head up again. "So, don't come to me with your; I AM SO WEAK SHIT! You have all the magic you could possibly WISH FOR! The rest is TACTICS! You can LEARN THAT! I can't pull more MAGIC OUT OF MY ASS! Your growth potential is endless!" Blade pressed her hands outwards, let go, went into a close spin kick and sent Nebula flying.

Nebula barely had blocked most of the impact. Her nails dug into the earth. She coughed heavily and looked up at Blade. Like a Hunting Troll, her friend towered before her. Uncontrolled rage. Nebula's own blood boiled. Magic rushed through her every fibre ready to meet that storm with her own. She charged at her magic focusing as she pushed off, "How dare you call yourself WEAK! OPEN YOUR EY-"

"HEDERA!" A well-known voice thundered. Like tentacles plant roots and vines sprouted cracking the earth open as if it were porcelain. In rapid succession, they grabbed both girls' ankles, wrists, and torsos. Nebula smashed against a tree. The spell melted her partially into its growing form. While Blade was slammed to the ground. She got tied down, vine after vine. Squashed to the ground until there wasn't an inch to move. Palladium. On high alert, his eyes jumped forth and back. In silence, he analysed, used his nature connection to get a read on the two. 'Did we overlook something? Is this still a PSI command left behind? Were Edeans concerns founded… Or?… they're both like that.' Two roaring dragons with no patience and self-view that was abysmal at times. 'One might think they are bewitched. Either way, the others are on their way…' Yet his gut feeling told him they just had one of their fits. 'The Reapers are good with faking – but that good?' He had followed the conversation that had been relayed to him sometimes being able to eavesdrop through the bracelets was gold. Of course, he had been called by Red Fountain's Central Command Centre that Blade had taken a skydive from the school, against explicit orders to come back immediately after the 'toilet break'.