TerraWorld~The Youngest One.. (#8)

Chapter 23

Nova sat alone on a hill overlooking Brookhaven, the familiar town below bustling with activity despite the looming shadow of Glitchtrap's return. She exhaled, her breath fogging slightly in the chill evening air, as she replayed the recent battles in her mind. She felt the weight of each skirmish, the toll it had taken on everyone - but especially on her.

As one of the younger members of the team, Nova had always looked up to her teammates, seeing each of them as more seasoned and powerful. But with each passing day, she felt her own skills grow, as if something deeper was awakening within her.

Lost in thought, she almost didn't hear the soft footsteps approaching. She turned, already on guard, only to see Amy coming up the hill.

"Couldn't sleep?" Amy asked, sitting beside her.

Nova gave a small smile. "Not much these days. There's just... too much going on. Too much to think about."

Amy nodded, gazing out at the city. "It's hard to believe how much everything's changed. And how much we've changed. Sometimes, it's overwhelming."

Nova hesitated, then spoke up. "Do you ever wonder if... if we're strong enough to finish this?"

Amy didn't answer right away. She seemed to be choosing her words carefully. "I do. But I also know we've come this far for a reason, Nova. You're stronger than you realize."

Nova looked down at her hands, clenching them into fists. "I know I've gotten stronger... but I still feel like there's something missing, something holding me back. Everyone else is tapping into forms, new levels of power. Meanwhile, I'm just... me."

Amy placed a hand on her shoulder. "You're not just anything, Nova. Everyone's path is different, and yours is leading somewhere incredible. I think you're about to surprise even yourself."

Just then, a faint noise echoed up the hill, pulling them from the conversation. Nova's senses sharpened, her instincts kicking in. "Did you hear that?"

Amy stood, nodding. "Yeah... sounds like it's coming from the forest. Let's check it out."

The two of them moved quickly but silently, slipping into the dense woods at the edge of the hill. They followed the sound, moving through the underbrush until they came to a small clearing where faint blue lights shimmered in the darkness.

"What is that?" Amy whispered, her voice tense.

Nova stared, her heart racing as the lights seemed to respond to her presence, gathering into a swirling, ethereal form. She stepped forward, entranced, feeling a strange, almost magnetic pull. It was as if the light was calling to her.

"Nova, wait," Amy warned, but Nova couldn't resist. She reached out, her fingers brushing the glowing orbs, and the light surged around her, filling her with a warm, pulsing energy.

In an instant, memories and emotions flooded her mind - not her own, but something ancient, something deep. She saw flashes of past battles, of Terrabeasts long gone, warriors who had faced darkness and won. It was overwhelming, and yet... comforting. She felt a sense of belonging, of purpose.

The light faded, leaving Nova standing alone in the clearing, her eyes wide with awe. Amy approached cautiously, concern in her gaze.

"Nova... are you alright?"

Nova took a shaky breath, nodding. "I... I think I just connected with something, something... ancient."

Amy's eyes widened. "Like... like an ancestor?"

Nova nodded slowly. "I'm not sure. But it felt powerful, like it was trying to give me something. To guide me."

Amy smiled, squeezing her hand. "Then trust it. Whatever you felt out here, use it. You're ready for this fight, Nova. More ready than you know."

Nova returned the smile, determination sparking in her eyes. She'd felt something in that light - a potential she'd never known she had. For the first time in a long time, she felt ready.