Awakening Powers

Candy’s hand froze mid-air as the last of the red crystal’s ashes slipped from her palm, scattering onto the ground. She stared down at her empty hand, her eyes wide with disbelief and confusion.

"My crystal…" she whispered, her voice barely audible. She looked up at Jena, her expression a mix of shock and sadness. "It’s… gone."

Jena’s stomach dropped, a sinking feeling settling in as she tried to process what had just happened. Her own hand trembled, and she quickly pulled it back, staring at the black crystal embedded in her palm like it was a curse.

"Candy, I… I didn’t know this would happen. I’m so sorry!" Jena stammered, guilt twisting her insides.

Candy took a deep breath, trying to regain her composure. “It’s okay, Jena. You didn’t do it on purpose.” She forced a smile, but her eyes flicked to her empty palm, betraying her disappointment.

Their mother, Bea, stepped forward, glancing back and forth between her two daughters. "Maybe there's a way to fix this," she said gently. "Candy, why don’t you try touching the crystal again? Maybe… maybe it’ll come back."

Candy hesitated, looking at the large, glowing crystal in the grass. She bit her lip but nodded slowly. "Yeah… maybe it’ll work."

Candy approached the glowing crystal cautiously, hesitating for a moment before reaching out. Her fingers brushed the surface, and instantly, a bright yellow light engulfed her hand. She pulled back, watching in awe as the light coalesced into a new, yellow crystal embedded in her palm.

She looked down at it, a grin spreading across her face. “It’s… yellow this time. I feel… different.” She waved her hand tentatively, and a soft, golden light shimmered around her fingers, casting a gentle glow over the field. “I think… I think I have light powers now!”

Jena let out a shaky breath, feeling a mixture of relief and confusion. "Thank goodness," she murmured, feeling some of the tension ease from her shoulders.

But the relief was short-lived. As she stared at the black crystal in her own palm, a nagging fear began to grow inside her. “But… what if I do it again? What if… every time I touch someone’s crystal, it turns to ashes?”

Bea, noticing the worry etched on Jena’s face, put a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "We’ll figure this out, Jena. Maybe your power is just… different. It could mean a lot of things."

Oscar chimed in, his voice steady. "Yes, and it’s probably better if we understand what this means before anyone else tries touching your hand. Just in case."

Jena nodded, though the fear lingered. She glanced over at Candy, who was flexing her fingers, testing her light abilities once more. A gentle golden glow radiating from her palm, illuminating the area around her.

"I don’t want to take anyone’s power away," Jena whispered, her gaze downcast. “This… this is supposed to be exciting. We were all supposed to have powers, not… not lose them.”

Candy’s expression softened, and she walked over, giving Jena a gentle hug. “Hey. Don’t be scared, okay? We’ll figure it out. You’re still my sister, and whatever this power is, it doesn’t change anything between us.”

Jena managed a small smile, though her heart still felt heavy. "Thanks, Candy. I just… I don’t want to hurt anyone."

Candy grinned, holding up a small light in her palm. “You won't, whatever this power is, we’ll deal with it together. No one’s scared of you.”

“Not scared,” Bea added with a warm smile, “just cautious until we understand it better. Every power has its quirks, right?”

Jena nodded, feeling a little better. She glanced down at the black crystal in her palm, wondering about the strange abilities it held.

As the family gathered around her, giving her reassuring looks, Jena felt some of the fear in her chest ease. Maybe they were right—maybe this was just something she needed to understand.

But even as they talked, a part of her still worried. What if this power was more dangerous than she realized? What if it wasn’t meant to be controlled?

As the family continued discussing their newfound powers, Jena's gaze kept drifting back to the enchanted crystal, still lying in the center of the field, glowing with a strange allure. The black crystal embedded in her palm felt heavy, almost as if it was pulsing in rhythm with her heartbeat.

Candy, sensing her sister’s distraction, glanced over and gave Jena a gentle nudge. "Hey, you okay? You’ve been quiet."

Jena bit her lip, hesitant. "I don’t know, Candy. What if my crystal isn’t… normal? I mean, I already turned your red crystal to ashes just by touching it."

Candy shrugged, holding up her newly yellow crystal. “But look—I got a different power. You didn’t hurt me. Maybe that’s just part of what makes you special.”

Jena didn’t look convinced. Her eyes flicked back to the large enchanted crystal. “But… what if I touch that one again? Will it disappear, too? Or will I somehow mess things up?”

Oscar overheard, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. “It’s a fair question. We don’t know if your power is the same as ours. We don’t even know why you ended up with something different in the first place.”

Despite her family’s reassurances, a strange urge compelled Jena to get closer to the large crystal. She took a few slow steps forward, her family watching her with curiosity and a hint of worry.

As she neared the crystal, she stared at its vibrant, shifting colors, almost hypnotized. She could feel her own crystal reacting, a subtle warmth spreading from her palm. The enchanted crystal seemed to respond, its light intensifying, as if inviting her closer.

"Jena!" Victor’s voice broke through her trance. “What are you doing?”

She blinked, shaking her head slightly. "I... I just need to know. What if touching it again does something different?

She raised her hand slowly, extending it toward the enchanted crystal. The black crystal in her palm began to pulse more rapidly, almost as if in anticipation. Her fingers trembled as she moved closer.

“Jena, wait!” Candy called out, her voice full of concern.

But just as her palm hovered inches above the enchanted crystal, a sudden shift happened. Her black crystal began to glow, changing color right before her eyes. The dark onyx shade melted away, replaced by a soft, luminous white. Jena gasped, her eyes widening as the transformation completed. Her hand felt light, as if filled with a new kind of energy.

She blinked, stunned. “It’s… it’s white now.”

Candy moved closer, looking at her sister’s hand with awe. “White… that’s… that’s new. Do you feel different?”

Jena nodded slowly, trying to grasp the sensation coursing through her. It was light and airy, like a gentle breeze tickling her skin. She closed her eyes, focusing, and almost instinctively, she felt a gentle gust of wind swirl around her, lifting her hair and filling the space with a soft whoosh.

Oscar’s eyes widened. “Jena, I think… I think you have air powers now.”

A cautious smile crept onto Jena’s face as she opened her eyes, feeling the gentle wind fade. “Air… I can control air?”

Bea beamed, pride shining in her eyes. “Yes, honey! That’s amazing!”

Victor ran over, grinning from ear to ear. “See, Jena? I told you you’d have something awesome! Air powers are way cooler than mine.”

Jena couldn’t help but laugh, a sense of relief flooding her. For the first time since she touched the crystal, she felt… normal. Like she was finally a part of the same world as her family.

Candy threw an arm around her, pulling her into a tight hug. “See? You’ve got something great, Jena. And it’s just yours. I knew you’d be okay.”

Oscar chuckled, crossing his arms with a satisfied nod. “Looks like the mystery of the black crystal is solved. You just had to… I don’t know, connect with the crystal again to get your true power.”

Jena’s eyes sparkled with a mix of excitement and wonder. She raised her hand, willing the air to swirl around her once more. It responded instantly, a soft breeze dancing around her fingers.

Victor nudged her with a playful grin. “Can you make it fly me up? Like, an actual gust of wind?”

Jena laughed, her confidence building. “I don’t know… I could try?”

She lifted her hand toward Victor, summoning the air around him. A small gust rose beneath his feet, and though it only lifted him a few inches, he stumbled, laughing in amazement.

“Whoa! Okay, maybe we should save that for later!” he chuckled, stepping back with a wide smile.

Jena’s excitement was palpable as she and her family celebrated her new air power. She looked at her brother, Victor, who was beaming with pride. They shared a glance and, in a burst of pure joy, went in for a high five.

“Look at you, Wind Master!” Victor laughed, reaching up to slap her hand.

Their hands collided in a sharp clap. But just as their palms met, Victor’s expression changed. The bright blue crystal embedded in his hand began to glow fiercely for a split second before disintegrating, crumbling into ashes that scattered between their fingers.

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