At The Crest Of A Cloud

Chapter 2: Training

"All your training will be mentally, even emotions that you can fell on the outside, will be done internally." Mother told me. She took me farther out  in the clouds than when I ran. It felt like we were walking for days. But, it was probably only five minutes. When we get there, Mother told me to lay on the clouds. "Close your eyes and I will place my hand on your forehead. What you are about to see will be a hallucination, but you will still feel the emotions."

"The first one you will encounter will be pain. You feel it internally and externally. But remember,  it will not actually happen." I closed my eyes and saw a group of Guardians walking towards me. Once they got right beside me, they stopped and one of them said, "Wow, Arabella. Your hair is outrageously ugly." 

"And look at her dress. It's so boring and white." Another said in a snotty voice.

When they said this, my stomach got this stabbing pain. I can't describe it, but it was awful. When i came out Mother said, "That was internal pain. Next, it will be external."

 I see a woman running in my direction. She looks angry. I'm not sure why. I didn't do anything to her, I don't even know her. Then, I notice she has something in her hand. It looks like a stick. When she gets close to me, she brings the stick back, then wacks my face with it. I screamed. I wasn't sure if it was in the hallucination or if I actually did. My face felt what Mother told me: pain. After the woman hit me, she did it again, and again. At least five times. I collapsed to the clouds and held my head. I burst into tears. I have never felt pain and I never want to again.

"That was external pain." Mother told me.

"Mother, I never want to feel pain."

"And I never want you to feel pain. So be kind to others and control yourself, no matter what."

"I will Mother. I promise."

"The next one will be caring." I closed my eyes and I was laying on the clouds. Still from when the woman attacked me. Then, I saw one of the Guardians, it was Neveah, she came and had a cloth in her hand.

"Everything is going to be alright." Neveah told me. She took the wet cloth and dabbed it on my face. When she took the cloth away, I saw that it was red. She told me that it was blood and it came from the inside of me. I started crying again because I couldn't stand the sight of my blood. Neveah helped me up then, I felt a little bit happier. Is this what caring feels like? I want to start caring for others the way Neveah cared for me. Then, the hallucination blurred away.

"Did you enjoy that one?" Mother asked.

"The part where Neveah helped me I did."

"Good. Next, you be controlling this emotion. It is called jealousy." I closed my eyes and saw that I had many golden necklaces and bracelets. I saw Neveah come up to me and ask if she could have a bracelet.

"No. Their mine. Why should I share with you." I snapped at her.

Neveah looked terrible when I said this. She dropped her head and held it there. I thought she was going to start crying, but she didn't. Then, she left. 

I came out of the hallucination and told Mother how terrible I felt. She explained me how I should always share because it will make feel better than when I keep it all to myself.

"The last one is ecstatic." Mother told me. It sounded wonderful, so I quickly snapped my eyes shut.  Mother had just given me tremendous news that she was going to help down in Boston and I could take her place for a while. I felt amazing and couldn't stop thinking about it. I didn't know how to thank Mother enough. I told her how magnificent this was and how much I loved her. 

I came out and said, "Oh, Mother that was amazing!"

"I'm glad you enjoyed it my dear. Your training is done. Now go back to guarding Boston."

I marched happily back to my swing. I couldn't stop thinking about what I had just learned. Now I know all the emotions of the people in Boston. Now I feel like they are a part of me and I am a part of them. 

I am strong. I was chosen.