Just be kind.
Water looked just as Maia had imagined. Of course, she didn't actually see but as he could read her mind - and apparently her mental images too- he had laughed when the image of him rose to her mind and said,
Precisely correct, Maia. But I must say, my nose is rather sharper than the one you've depicted. Maia rose the day after Anna left at leaving plenty at time for her to meditate, breakfast, and collect her twirling thoughts. But pretty soon she heard a Water in her head.
Good morning, Maia! Are you ready?
Maia paused, thinking whether to take the snarky route or the docile one. She was just about to chose docile when Water said,
Definitely decide on docile. You won’t learn if you decide to be snarky.
Will you stop that!? I wont ever trust you if you keep reading my thoughts.
It’s a habit!
Well being snarky is a habit for me. Let’s both break the mold.
Fine. Water assented. Now, lets begin. First, I want you to show off everything you can do.
Maia rubbed her hands together, a grin tickling her cheeks. She bent her forearm and arm back, and lifted her hands, palms out. And then, with a low,
“Ayeeeee,” Maia let the Water blast out of her palms. She angled them downward and shot into the air. She stayed like that for a moment; the even pressure of the Water keeping her balanced. Then she decreased the flow, and let herself back down. Not pausing for pernicious or partial praise, Maia pranced around the field, letting a pack of dogs follow her. Using an intricate hand motion, Maia created a wild stallion, and sat atop it, reining it in and making it docile.
She enclosed herself in a Water bubble, and attacked herself, setting a fleet of fast moving Water droplets at her, and showing Water how they collapsed upon reaching her safety bubble. In a flash, a massive hand stood in front of Maia, and mimicked her gestures. Then a massive Maia, around 15 feet tall replaced the hand, and it too mimicked her gestures. Finally, Maia ended.
That...that was...wow! Cried Water. Very good progress for the time you had. But now we must get to work on the deep intricacies...
*** Maia and Water spent the day delving deep into Water and its many uses. Across the property, Darling was helping Phoebe, who had not manifested, and Benjamin was aiding Tim and Sydney, with their respective powers.
Maia joined them in the evening, and together them retired to eat dinner.
“So, Phoebe, any progress?” Asked Maia. Phoebe had not yet manifested a power and she could see her friend was getting strained.
“I haven’t. No,” she replied resolutely. Then, making an obvious effort to look Maia in the eyes, she said with forced cheeriness, “What about you?”
“It’s been a good day. All i want to do is go to bed.”
Maia did go to bed rather early. But late at night she was awoken by Phoebe’s sleeping murmurs.
“My...father?” She mumbled. “Can’t be!” And rolled over, throwing a hand over her head. Maia sat up puzzled. Phoebe couldn’t be talking about Mr. Hart...could she?
With a groan, Phoebe’s back arched and she was lifted off her bed. Her eyes remained closed, but her hands were lifted up, and black darkness began pouring out of them. They tangled into a black, seething, angry mess. The darkness seemed to envelope Maia, and a deep voice said,
Hummm... what’ve we here?
Then Phoebe’s eyes flashed open, and her green eyes were replaced with shining, silver globes, like mercury. She opened her mouth and said,
“I have a birthright...” But she spoke as if she was fighting with herself. Like the words were being pushed down as they came up.
The same voice that had entered Maia’s head moment before spoke through Phoebe, saying,
“Phoebe, child. You must do better.”
And the blackness filled Maia’s eyes and head, and she fell back onto her bed.
And when she woke up, she didn’t remember it at all.