Despite her daughter’s clear embarrassment, Goonie walked into Leona’s room and gave her a little kiss on her forehead. “I’m sorry. I didn’t think you’d get naked until you got into the bathroom. I’ll be downstairs with Quinn if you need anything. The water’s warm and has the nice sted oils you like.”

  Leona smiled as Goonie left and grabbed her towel, ing it snugly around her chest and waist. She popped out of her room, rouhe er, and slipped into the bathroom. The air was thick with steam, infused with the f sts of her favorite mandarin e and sandalwood oil. She inhaled deeply, sav the soothing aroma before tossing the towel onto the sink and sinking into the bath.

  The water embraced her, its heat spreading through her body in waves of liquid fort. She let herself sink until only her nose peeked above the surface, eyes fluttering closed as the tension of the day melted away.

  She stayed there for nearly an hour. The sun had fully set by the time she stirred from her daze, her fingers wrinkled from the water. The sky beyond the window was deep indigo, the first stars twinkling in the dark expanse. With a sigh, she reached for the soap and washed up before stepping out. ing the towel securely around herself, she rubbed down her limbs, relishing the fresh, feeliling over her.

  Once dry, she slipped on her bathrobe, tying the belt snugly around her waist before heading back to her room.

  A soft, cool breeze slipped beh the robe, sending a sudden chill up her spine.

  Her brows furrowed. Her windoen. Had it blown open? She stepped toward it, reag out—but before she could touch it, an unnaturally powerful gust of wind surged into the room, knog her backward onto her bed. She gasped, blinking up in shock at the sheer force.

  Then her breath hitched for airely different reason.

  A lithe figure slipped through the open window, ptinum blonde hair gleaming uhe moonlight. The window shut with a mere gesture of her hand, the air still swirling faintly around her.

  Leona’s eyes widened. Her heart stopped.

  Mistral.

  The Mistral was in HER ROOM.

  The legendary hero stood before her, her presence imposi mesmerizing. The cold, serious expression on her face sent a thrill of ahrough Leona’s veins.

  “Young woman,” Mistral spoke, her voice even and anding. “I o speak with you. Privately.”

  Leona stared, her mouth hanging open as her brain tried to process the situation. The utter impossibility of it. The sheer gravity of the moment. And then—

  The excitemeonated inside her like a firework.

  “It’s YOU! Mistral! Is it really true? You’re here! Kyaaaaaaaaa!” Leona shrieked, boung up and down on the bed, her voice climbing in pitch with each sed.

  She was so caught up in her ecstatic outburst that she entirely failed tister Mistral’s grave expression. “I’m SUCH A FAN! I love you!” she gushed, blushing deep red as the words left her mouth. Her hands filed, caught between g and clutg her face.

  Her heart was on the verge of bursting from sheer joy when she suddenly realized—her bathrobe had nearly slipped open from all her excited boung.

  With a panicked squeak, she ya closed, arms ing tightly around herself to prevent anything from slipping out or pointing at her.

  “L-look by my bed! I’ve got so many posters of you! I’m so embarrassed you’re here! Kyaaaaa!” she fidgeted, hands g over her cheeks as she twisted in sheer, delighted mortification.

  Mistral’s gaze flickered to the wall, taking in the posters and neer clippings meticulously pinned up like a shrine. Her hardeare softened, just a fra. Despite herself, she let out a small, amused smile. “I’m fttered,” she admitted, her voice losing a bit of its stern edge.

  Leona practically melted at the words.

  Mistral, however, quickly reposed herself and stepped forward, her demeanor turning serious once more. She approached the bed, gaze steady. “May I sit?”

  “Yes! Please!” Leona blurted, nodding vigorously. “ I get you anything?” She practically vibrated with nervous energy, her heart hammering. “I put on some clothes real quid get you some tea or anything else you might like! I’d really REALLY like to talk with you!”

  Mistral exhaled, the er of her lips twitg as if fighting baother smile at Leona’s sheer enthusiasm. “Just answer me this question first,” she said, her tone shifting back to its grave nature. Her gaze swept the room one more time before returning to Leona.

  She sat at the foot of the bed, still keeping a watchful eye on the younger girl.

  As she moved, her skintight suit stretched over her body, atuating her curves. “I sensed a familiar power rekindled several days ago. I teleported here and watched. I’ve seehings you’ve done.” Mistral shook her head. “Yet, I would like to hear how these things came to pass. There is also the ce that there are things you may have withat have been sealed from your mind, I would ask to use my magic to see into your memories aions. Is that acceptable?”

  Leona fshed a sunny grin at Mistral. “Of course! I trust you pletely, Mistral. You’re my hero! My role model! We were both trapped and you became strong agaihough everythi wrong… you powered on. Anyhow, you don’t have to…” Leona trailed off, squirming as she bit her lip. “You probably sensed Bgel’s return. I know about her. It’s not bad though… ly… see… my friend got me a present at the ret big vention… she got it because it was supposedly memorabilia from a fight you were in. The st oween you two. I thought it was a knock-off… it was a hought she had, knowing how I l-l- you… The tuft was kinda grey, not like her feathers at all, so I didn’t suspect it was hers at all. I thought it robably just pigeohers in a gss bauble. I knoeople do to make a bud I’m not a sucker for things like that.” Leona was in full motor-mouth mode.

  “Anyways, a few nights ago, I had a dream about being in this bleak cemetery. Bgel was chasing me around through it. She was all sinister and creepy and weirdly sexy maybe? Anyway, I just wao get away from her. She had me all bound up and locked me away. When it seemed she’d won, her good side stepped in and saved me. A side of her that she’d tried to bury after she fell. She said she wao help me fight off Bgel and was ashamed about how her powers were being used by her dark side. She asked me to bee a hero to expiate her sins or something. I couldn’t get away, so I accepted her help. I knew I’d get both of her halves as passengers in the deal, or suspected it, but I feel that if I’m a good person who only wants to do good, she ’t do more tha me from the shadows of my mind. Well, I’m not ever going to let her do anything to hurt anyone. I have full trol of it.”

  Leona wiggled embarrassedly, happy to be sitting beside Mistral in her room on her bed. It was a dream e true. “I show you her… the angel. Aurora.”

  “I’ve seen her.” Mistral nodded. “Hmm, I see. I’d still like to see your history for myself, if you’re willing,” she insisted.

  Leona hung her head for a moment before she smiled shyly. “I trust you, Mistral. You’re my hero, truly.” She closed her eyes and impulsively transformed. In a fsh, she was Aurain. Her wings sprouted from her bad scuffed up the b on the bed.

  Mistral froze, looking away momentarily before leaning forward and caressing Aurora’s face. Her expression was serious again. “You look just like she did, but you’re not dark at all. You shine. I’ve watched.” She took a deep breath and stood, being for Aurora to stand.

  Mistral spoke again, “I’ve cast a spell to ensure our meeting is private. But too much power or otion will cel it. Stand slowly, please, and don’t make any sudden moves.” Her eyes narrowed.

  Aurora nodded, putting her hands up. She extended her wings, then stood still for Mistral. “I won’t. I know why you’d be worried. She hurt you, I know… I’d hoped someday I could go to you and tell you that her powers had been turo the good side. I’m gd that it happehis early too, though.”

  “I’ll ect physically with you now.” Mistral maintained her sobriety, trary to Leona, who was blushing furiously at those words while they were on her bed together. “This is so I ehat what you’re saying is the truth. It’s not that I don’t believe you—I’ve witnessed what you’ve been up to si your st outing made me question your iions. I o know that you’re not just deceiving yourself into believing you have trol. Either way, I may be able to help you get rid of these powers if you prefer to return to your normal life,” she said.

  “Mistral… if I call you that directly… oh gosh, I’ve been doing that the whole time, haven’t I? I mean, good. I know—I uand your reasons. I follow you like crazy and idolize you. And I know about what Bgel has done and is capable of, but I don’t want to get rid of these powers. I wouldn’t mind if she stopped leaping from the shadows like she does, but I’m not even sure getting rid of her would be pletely fair to her either. That’s the same as killing or saying someone doesn’t have the right to exist.”

  Mistral nodded, swallowing subtly. Her eyes didn’t ge.

  Aurora finished, “Anyway, I trust you… and I know you won’t hurt me, Mistral. I appreciate any help you give.” Leona smiled warmly. “Would you ever think about being m… m… my…. M… mentor?” she asked in a small, shy voice.

  Mistral couldn’t hold baother smile. “First things first,” she said. “You must know my magics are primarily based around the weather, but I know enough other sorcery arts that I’ll be able to ect with you mentally. Just rex, okay?” To that point, she’d been stiff and official, but now she spoke as a real person to Leona.

  She ted and reached out to touch Aurora’s forehead. For a few minutes, nothing seemed to happen. Then there was a sudden wreng feeling, and Aurora blio find herself in what looked to be a gazebo in an open field. The ceiling of the gazebo en, and an amazingly bright starfield stretched above the grass.

  Mistral stood uhe gazebo, wearing a bare-shouldered dress version of her e. Beside her was Bgel’s good form, dressed in Aurora’s e—an older, idealized version of herself. Leona, still in her bathrobe, found herself returo her normal form.

  Mistral looked around and nodded. “Excellent… I have brought us here to see the truth of what has happened.”

  The ‘good’ form turo nod to Mistral, and Leona noticed that on the back of the good form was Bgel’s normal form, her sly smile uling. She wi Leona creepily, a shiver running down the young heroine’s spine.

  Mistral gestured and cast another spell, allowio withe moment when Bgel had attempted to take over Leona. She watched as the good form intervened, aiding Leona iing the darkness. As the memory pyed out, Mistral nodded, her expression unreadable.

  “You’re a very lucky girl,” she said with a sigh. “You think it was her good side that did all the hard work, but the truth is, you had to be strong enough to allow the remnant of her true self to help you. It was your heart that called to her aored that glimmer of good in her. I still sense her presence here…” Mistral said pensively, “but you’re right. It is very weak and submerged. I believe I expily what happened, if you’d like. Afterwards, perhaps you would allow me to take you somewhere very important.”

  Leona looked at her and bounced up and down with giddy joy, thrilled to learn that her willpower was the key to keeping Bgel from resurreg. It wasn’t just the dark one’s power turning against itself, but rather, Leona’s own mind aions reinf that trol.

  “Of course!” Leona squeed, practically vibrating. “Please do share with me, Mistral! I’m so gd everything turned out okay! I beat the bad side myself!” She grinned brightly, though curiosity still flickered beh her excitement. “That makes me feel better… like the powers are really mine.”

  “Well, in a very rge part, yes,” Mistral firmed. “The doart of Bgel’s body which remained after her fight against me. Garou and I collected as much of her remains as we could but it’s obvious we didn’t recover everything. Anyway, whatever the material is, it is apparently very psycho-reactive. It keys into your emotions. Your dark emotiohe darker aspects that were imprihere, but your i goodness was also able to ect to her true inal nature. I’ll expin more about her in a moment. But in all hoy, these aspects are more a part of you that have found refuge in her psychic echoes. Truly, your tent mystic profile was already powerful, so it’s a good thing it maed this way instead of something more perilous.”

  She walked over to the image of Bgel’s good self, turning her physically so she could clearly see the evil and good versions both. “This representation is more part of you thahough there are mystiks heless. Holy, you may have someone in your aral tree with some e to her race. Either way, it was your psyche that made the e, it simply needed a way to tap into the mystic potential you have. You won’t usually talk tood side because that’s the side of the you are. However, her ‘bad’ side will always be more active when you are tempted to do bad things.”

  “To make it a little more plex, these echoes of Bgel are real, they do exist, so this isirely you iher fashion. However, and this may sound terintuitive, because you are so aligned with the good side, you’ll see the dark side more easily while the reverse isn’t as true. Do you uand?”

  Leona houghtfully. “I get that. Her dark side wanted out for ‘just an hour’ today when I was frustrated and angry. She said she’d solve all my problems for me.” Leona stuck out her tongue in disgust. “Yeah, right. I’m not going to let her out to do ANYTHING. I’ll never build a good superhero reputation like you if I ever did.”

  She smiled, reassured by all this new information. The idea that Bgel’s presence could be tied to her own subscious darkness was uling, but knowing it was weak gave her fidence.

  “If you ever truly fall to despair, you may find it difficult to resist… but seeing you… seeing this space, I am fident you will keep hold of yourself. Now, I think you should have an expnation of what ‘Bgel’ herself is. Shall we return to the real world? I have a special pce I’d like to share with you.”

  “Yes!” Leona said unreservedly. “ I tell my Mom and Sis I’ll be gone for a while?” She squirmed at the thought of going somewhere aloh Mistral, barely taining her excitement. She couldn’t help but hop up and down again.

  “They know my secret. I love and trust them too. I’d be honored if you’d say hi and bye real quick with me.” Leona beamed, practically glowing with happiness.

  “I’d be happy to meet the family of such a brave girl,” Mistral said with a rare smile before stepping forward and—hugging her.

  Leona's brain practically short-circuited.

  Kyaaaaaa!

  She hugged back as tightly as she could, her mind an explosion of joy. Mistral held her a bit lohan expected—not that Leona had expected it in the first pce!

  When Mistral finally pulled away, she touched Leona’s forehead gently, taking a step back as the sery faded. “I’ll wait in the hall for you to get dressed if you want to ge back to normal first,” she said.

  Leouro the real world, blinking as she readjusted, shaking her head slightly before tinuing where the versation had left off. “I don’t think it matters. My family knows me iher form.”

  She was still in her Aurora form, but the memory of that hug made her blush furiously. Kyaaaaaa!

  Trying to pose herself, she forced herself to speak with some sembnce of ‘adult’ de. “They should still be downstairs. I was just getting dry from my bath, and I would have gone down to munch pop and watch a movie with them.” Leona giggled at the warm thought of sharing family time with two of her favorite people.

  With Mistral in the lead, they left Leona’s room a downstairs together. When Goonie and Quinn id their eyes on Mistral, their jaws dropped. Of course, they knew who she was. Leona wouldn’t have it any other way.

  “Um, family…” Leona peeked out from behind Mistral in her Aurora form. “I’m incredibly hoo introduce you to Mistral. She’s going to take me somewhere special tonight. I didn’t want you to worry, but…” Despite herself, Aurora bounced again, uo hold her excitement behind that ‘adult’ facade for too long.

  They gasped, and Mistral nodded affirmatively, smiling at Aurora’s iious positivity.

  “I apologize for barging into your home,” she said, “I was ed for your daughter’s spiritual health and didn’t want to take the ce of a trap bei. So I took the initiative to meet with her just a moment ago.”

  Quinn stifled a giggle at the mention of traps, eyeing Aurora.

  Aurora’s eyes widened. Damn it, Quinn, not now!

  “Ah, Mistral,” Goonie said as casually as she could maanding quickly. “You’re my daughter’s favorite superhero. Please sit down. I’ll get you some coffee or--”

  “Please,” Mistral interjected, holding up a hand. “Don’t trouble yourself. I’d like your permission to take your daughter to my spirit circle and introduce her to some of her heroic peers. I realize it’s short notice--”

  “Oh, no, please… we’re all very aware of what kind of heroine you are,” Gooerrupted back with a broad smile. “If Le-oh… uh… Aurora trusts you, then I don't see why we shouldn’t as well… um… do you have a time when she’ll be back?”

  “Well, I don’t want to keep her out too te, but it might be for more than an hour or two. Do you wao call if we’re going to be ter than, say… 9?”

  Goonie nodded. “Aurora, you know your curfew is 10 PM, so just give us a call if you’ll be ter, okay?”

  Aurora smiled at her mom happily. “Thank you, Mom! This seems like it’s pretty important. I’m gd you uand.” She grinned. It was a little embarrassing talking about curfews with her mht in front of her superhero idol like this, but it was iable in a way.

  “I’ll definitely keep you notified,” Aurora said with vi before looking to Mistral. “Should we go back upstairs, or would the front door be okay?”

  “We’ll use a mystic portal to go from here,” Mistral replied, her eye half-turo Goonie before tinuing, “it won’t affeything in your house.” She smiled reassuringly and now looked at Goonie and Quinn fully. “So don’t worry about privacy or anything like that.”

  With that, Mistral deployed her perhaps most unsung power, her megawatt smile, on them. “It was my pleasure meeting the family of such a unique girl.” Mistral offered Aurora her hand. “Are you ready, Aurora?” she asked.

  At Aurora’s affirmative nod, Mistral made a simple gesture with her off-hand. Right in front of the family, the portal opened. An are rift, swirling with the ethereal energy of space itself, stretched ience.

  Everyone’s eyes widened. It ur theory that Mistral had teleportation powers, but this was firmation!

  Aurora wasn’t sure her family could see the gently spiraling blue-bck corridor of energy quite like she did, but they saw something. Oher side, there was a log led in an unknown wilderness. If that was in ada, she’d be leaving the try for the first time in her whole life! She didn’t even have a passport!

  Kyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!