Chapter 3
☀ ♍️ 14° 9' 🏠12
"With great power comes great responsibility," said Maine.
A faint green spiritual energy is coming out of him like a fog machine. It's hissing like steam coming out of a pressure cooker.
His eyes illuminate green and brown, then flash three times. His mouth opens, and energy comes out of his mouth as smoke.
The smoke settles an arm's distance away from him and stops coming out of his body. It manifests, starting from the top. He watches with his mouth open in awe.
The color is sage green. The green smoke starts to form a feminine face. All the fine details in her face are visible. Long dark brown hair forms, long and flowing. She puts her head down.
Clear yellow eyes. Dark eye black underneath each of her eyes. 5'4" in height. She looks beautiful. Her body forms, and it's strong. Her appearance is meek despite her beauty. She is transparent. Her hands are pressed together. Her hair is now all the way down her back. She puts her arms to the side.
She opens her eyes.
"Well, isn't it Maine Rice? Hehe," she chuckled.
She is surprisingly down-to-earth (pun not intended, but it works). This Virgo is not as sassy as Serenity's, but he's the only other one with Zodiac powers outside of the original 12, so of course she's different. She is based on him and where the stars were aligned at the time of his birth.
"Hey," he said shyly.
"Aw, why are you so shy? What's wrong, Maine?"
He swallows deeply, smacking his teeth, looking around. She gets firm.
"Maine, what's going on? You're a Virgo. You're normally very focused. Is my appearance off-putting to you? Am I ugly? Does this dress make me look fat?" asked The Maiden.
Maine turns around to keep from laughing. He turns back around with a big smile—lots of teeth.
"I'm just still getting used to this. I don't know how to use you in battle or use your techniques," said Maine.
"That's easy. Just say Maiden Style. Watch this. Maiden Style: Star Beam Cannon!" she shouted.
Her right hand glows with her energy, moving like water. A basketball-sized energy orb forms.
"Cannon!" She turns around and puts her arms out. The ball quickly turns into a thick beam—sparkly, starry.
It travels far, lightning-quick.
BOOM! It obliterates a canyon in the distance. She turns back around, her state back to normal.
"That's it."
"You made that look easy."
"Hehe! Because it is! We're going to train hard. And you have even more power and wisdom. You're set apart for this. Believe in yourself. Have faith. Didn't you ask for wisdom as well? Dante told me you did."
"I did, but I still feel the same mentally and spiritually."
"It's because it's your first time seeing me in this form, and I actually have your wisdom and have to divinely impart it into you. It's your gift from above, and it's potent.
Combined with your intellect, heart, and your worldview, you'll use it exceptionally well for justice and power, but not greedily or abusively toward others. That's why it was given to you."
He nods in agreement.
"Ready to merge and be made a new creature in spirit and have your zodiac power from your sun sign?"
"Yes."
But he sounds unsure, a little nervous even. He puts his head down.
"Talk to me. And you can give me a name if you want to make our relationship more personal, to deepen our bond. The deeper our bond, the more powerful you will be. Our alignment and energies need to be the same and mesh.
If you're restless, then my very essence won't merge with you. You need to see this as a soul-saving mission, because it is. You know this. But you don't know what to do with me because you've never wielded power and only would want to use it if it meant to save, not hurt."
Maine looks at her eyes.
"You're exactly right. And you're a Virgo—well, you're uniquely mine. I'm scared to confront my sister."
Confusion masks her face as she winces, raises her eyebrows, then her mouth drops open wide.
"Bu-but, Maine, you sounded so…."
He puts his hand up.
"I know, but in my heart I'm afraid. I don't want her to think that I'm out to destroy her when I'm not."
"Maine!" shouted The Maiden.
Maine is startled by her sudden pitch in volume.
"I'm giving you your wisdom now."
"Okay."
"Maine, don't worry about what other people think. You know your heart. I know yours. The only thing you have to worry about is getting her on track to her destiny and helping her prepare.
Ease your heart. You're an amazing man. I'm sorry if that came across as misguided intensity when you were younger, but you're a different man now. Your spirit is mature and ripe for growth. If Serenity's fate were to be slain, you wouldn't have been born, and that's for one reason.
Love yourself and make yourself whole. I'll be with you, and then you will truly know who you are in full. It will all make sense. And with wisdom and power, you will be as unstoppable as you want. It all depends on the work you put in."
Maine smiles. This time it's different. His cheeks are really round this time.
"Thank you, Maiden. That means a lot. Thank you for this gift. I'm ready to be who I truly am and nobody else. I will use my power for good, but with restraint. I will display holy judgment and wisdom that will be imparted to me.
I will master your power, and it will be great. I will cultivate techniques and moves that no one else has. I will save her. Yes, I will. I will train until I can't—to the point of near death—to make sure I'm always in control. I am Maine Rice. That is my destiny. Miranda, come," Maine said.
He makes a come here motion with his fingers. She chuckles and moves a little closer to him.
"So confident. I love it. This is how it should be done. Maine, let's do this together. You and I."
"You and I, Miranda."
She slowly merges with his body. His body reacts wildly, shaking and convulsing a little. Then everything stops.
Sage green energy comes out of his mouth, eyes, and body. His head tilts in the air. Then he hears a voice.
"Maine, you have done well, my son. Now help them and your sister. You have my permission to do as you please. Now go."
His body returns to normal. He does a deep stretch for a few seconds, then yawns.
"Wait… that wasn't Dante…"
He looks down at his hand. He sees the Virgo insignia on his palm. It's glowing with her energy. It goes away. The top of the symbol looks like it's being erased with an eraser until it's gone.
"I feel different. Aligned. Nothing can stop me. Dante. Miranda. The Father. Nothing or nobody is holding me back except myself. The time is now. Maiden Style: Stars of Light!"
He opens his mouth and blows three stars into the air. They rotate. The middle turns into a 12-foot version of Miranda. The left star, which is the size of her hand, turns into her insignia.
She holds her hands out with open, flat palms. The insignia floats in her left hand and the star in the right. She throws the left first.
It comes at light speed. Crash! Far off in the distance, it makes a huge crater, causes a mini earthquake, and makes everything quicksand. Then she throws the second in a different area, and it wipes out everything in that area.
Her sage green color, sparkles, and symbol decorate the area and make it look pretty despite the destruction. At least it is beautiful.
"Just the way I like it. Maiden, come back to me!"
She slowly descends. Her feet touch his head. They go through him like nothing, like she's getting in a pool. She directly merges with him. The merge is complete.
Maine crosses his arms, closes his eyes, and smirks.
"Oh, Serenity."
The smirk vanishes. His tone is commanding and unshakable. It's like he knows what he's here for. No more timid Maine. The true Maine is here. His wisdom and power will get him everywhere. His voice is rhythmic.
"For so long you have been concealed from my sight, but now you're in mine. I will purify and refine you by test and trial. Yes, you will hate me for only a little while, but my way is supreme.
I know your gifts and your talents. I also know your deepest fears and insecurities. Argasis is coming soon, and he won't wait, so neither will I. Operation Serenity: Awakening. That's what I'll call it. Time to go."
He fades away as sand. The sand is carried in the wind to the east of where the lake used to be.
#
Nighttime has befallen on Drokeo Bay. Serenity is out in an alleyway by herself, trying to get home.
"Whew, it's cold. Thank goodness I'm wearing my jacket and sweats," she said.
A wide black shadow blocks her from getting out of the alleyway. It looks like a spider web almost, and it's dripping with tangible shadows.
A small shadow, in the form of a raindrop, drops on the ground. It starts to mutate and change shape.
"What the???"
She shrieks, trying to back up and run. She trips on her feet. The minuscule drop forms into a 14-foot-tall shadow giant. Two huge black eyes, a giant orange, black, and purple crossbow on its back. Mouth long, thin, gnarly underbite.
"Damn. Damn. Damn!"
Her voice increasingly becomes more frantic. Heavier, panted breaths.
"Don't hurt me!" she asked.
Then the giant shadow being spoke.
"I'm here to find something to eat. And you look very tender. And not in a human way."
Each word it speaks sounds like it is groaning with the hisses of 100 hissing Madagascar roaches. She starts to feel something crawl on her arm.
"Aah! Aaah! Aaaah!"
She brushes aggressively, but nothing is on her. She's just paranoid, it seems.
The giant grabs the shadow-looking web, makes it into a small ball, and chews it like gum. His stature grows three inches.
"I can't do this! I don't have powers. Maiden?!" she shouts.
It tilts its head, cocking its eyes, looking cross-eyed now.
"You're a zodiac defender? Oooh, I want you now. Time to eat!"
It takes out the crossbow and lines her up in his sight.
"Crossbow, fire away!" it shouted.
Serenity, frozen by fear, doesn't move. Could this be her end?
"No!" she said as she covers her face.
"No!! Why aren't you dead yet?!?" it groaned underneath the night sky.
"Huh?"
Serenity looks up, confused, with her hands still mostly covering her face. And guess who's there.
"Maiden, you're here!"
The Maiden is holding the crossbow in her hands and crushes it in two. She looks back.
"I already knew. It was only a matter of time," The Maiden said.
"Thank you…" said Serenity.
"It's what I'm here for, girly. We have to defeat Argasis. The other 11 must be gathered to train for his coming. He'll be here in two short years. That's all the time we have."
"Okay, let's do it. I can't fight by myself. I'm sorry for snapping on you earlier. I still have some growing up to do."
"Girl, don't worry about that. You're only 28. You're still finding yourself. I can't hold you to that. But what I can do is hold you to your destiny. Once you understand yourself and your astrological nature more, you won't really be like that. It'll be controlled."
"The virgin… come here and play!" shouted the giant.
It runs toward them.
"Get back, Serenity. I'll handle this. I can't wait until you can use your elemental power because you need it. Now let me do my thing. It's my turn."
Serenity steps back. The Maiden looks extra focused.
"Maiden Style: Stardust Cannon!"
She brings her arms together, and a giant light green, sparkly beam with tints of yellow shoots out of her palms. It makes contact.
"ARGHH!!! ARGHH!!! This light! Thi-this power! Argh!!!!!" it wails.
Its entire being disintegrates. Its remains are shadows that look like ashes. The crossbow falls and crushes a trash can.
Serenity has her hands over her eyes.
"You're good now."
Serenity looks around.
"Finally."
"Serenity, why were you so scared that you tried calling me?"
"Because I had no way out…"
"You just rejected me earlier, so not much has changed other than you being in trouble. Not nice, Serenity. That's actually pretty fake. Not a good Virgo. I expect more consistency from an earth sign.
Do you want my help or no? Because next time I won't save you. Someone else will have to. You let someone else fight your battles, but you won't drag me with you if you don't want me here. Final decision. You choose."
Now The Maiden is completely serious. She isn't joking one bit. If Serenity says no, then I don't know where she goes from here or how she will complete her destiny, but I'm finding out the same as everyone else.
It's getting good over here. Let me get my popcorn, y'all. I'll be back in a few short messages.
They look at one another, eye to eye.
"I accept," said Serenity.
The Maiden turns her back on her and begins to walk away. Hold up—we serious right now? Wait, what is she doing? This part of the script? Never mind, y'all, I'm talking too much. Enjoy the ride. I'll be watching with y'all.
"That's not enough," said The Maiden.
"What do you mean?! I said I accept! I know zodiacs don't speak multiple languages! Or do y'all speak multiple languages, or—"
"Serenity Rice!" she shouted.
She jumps a little bit.
"What?" questioned Serenity.
"You know what. Tell me your why, or I'm gone forever. I'll let everyone else save you, and you can stay stagnant and not evolve your personality. You know what, actually? I'm out," said The Maiden.
She turns around. She slowly starts to fade away.
"No!!! I want to beat Argasis the 13th! I'm sorry for earlier! I'm sorry for not being open and vulnerable and being so hard-headed, okay!
I know I don't know everything. I have so much to learn, so just teach me your ways and I'll follow! I want to learn everything about you and how to fulfill my destiny to defeat the 13th of Shadows!"
The Maiden's fading stops. She is smiling, but Serenity can't see. The Maiden looks amused. It looks like she finally got what she wanted—the answer to set Serenity's soul onto her destined path. The Maiden turns back around.
"About time. I was worried there for a little while, but you came through."
"That was a trick??" asked Serenity.
"Sure was, and since you spoke it, now your words are sealed and final. I know my people well, haha. Didn't take much for you to crack."
Serenity can't help but chuckle and be amused. Why? Because she's right—low-key. I mean, that is her sun sign in her purest state.
"Well, now what? And Mr. Ugly Giant right there," said Serenity.
"Time to learn how to use your power, bring you and the other 11 together to fight, train, and prepare. Are you ready? Not very many get this opportunity to use us in battle. We are seen as sacred and not used by anyone unless told to pick a host. I chose you," said The Maiden.
Serenity begins to cry lightly—tears of joy.
"Thank you for believing in me already. I won't let us, Drokeo Bay, or Dante down. I owe it to everyone, but most importantly, myself," said Serenity.
She wipes her tears.
"Poetic. Scholarly even. You and I, Serenity. One team. Together."
"Together. You and I. May," said Serenity.
"May? I like that name. Polite, pretty, and simple. May I?" May said, laughing.
She puts her hand out.
"Haha, yes you may," Serenity replied.
May is slowly absorbed into Serenity, starting at the hands as her body is slowly being sucked into Serenity.
The process is now complete.
"It's time. Fine, you want problems, Mr. 13th? I'll show you who's in charge. You won't mess with me or my friends. It will be as prophesied. You will be defeated at my hands," she said.
Serenity walks out of the alleyway back to her home.