Charming the heart of a man is a lot more difficult than it sounds. Especially when it's already bewitched by somebody else - literally!
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All that former witch-in-training Avalon wanted was a simple job to get her life back on track and forget abo...
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Nothing happened.
And why would it? Avalon chastised herself. She shook her hands to get rid of the thousands of imaginary ants running all over her arms and fingers. She'd only put on her training ring, nothing more.
"Let's get to it, then," Zelo said in a calm and almost patient way. Back in teacher mode. As if the past three years had only been one long break from their studies. Which, come to think of it, they probably were. No, she reminded herself. It's a one-time operation!
Avalon blinked and concentrated on the small black figure sitting in front of the scratch tree in the corner of her room.
"Take a deep breath," he went on. "Breathe out slowly. Come over here and stand right beside me. Good. Now, concentrate on what you want to achieve."
She did what he said, closing her eyes when she felt the reassuring brush of Zelo's tail across her calves once she came to a halt next to him.
"Focus on what you want to change, Avalon. Now, feel the power within yourself. Listen to the force flowing from the universe into you. Feel the connection. Become one with it. Be the–"
Avalon opened her eyes to throw Zelo an annoyed look. "Can we skip the beginner's introduction to magic 101? I'm not a newbie, you know."
Zelo meowed unhappily. "But that's the best part!"
The eyebrow holding her piercing lifted. "That's your part, you mean."
"Naturally. Which, as I have said, happens to be the best part."
Avalon looked at him for a beat. Then, "You're not helping."
Zelo's only response to that was an offended huff.
Shaking her head, she returned to the task at hand. She closed her eyes, focussed her mind and energy, and... got nothing. She harrumphed indignantly. "Okay, fine!" she said, finally relenting, albeit reluctantly. Blasted cat and his self-righteousness! "So I'm a bit rusty. Please help me?"
Zelo cackled in amusement. "Now we're talking."
Avalon bit her lip to refrain pointing out she was glad to provide such entertainment for him. It wouldn't help her to antagonise her teacher any further. Besides, she clearly needed help, if she wanted it or not.
He repeated the words from earlier, and Avalon, at last, let him lead her back into the meditation. It only took Zelo a few more coaxing words for her skin to start prickling all over. Finally, she could feel the energy of the universe flow through her again, connect with her once again. There it was, like a familiar tickle caressing her soul: the power bestowed upon a selected few representatives of humankind.
Witchcraft.
"Now open your eyes," Zelo went on with the mantra from their time as student and master. But Avalon didn't hear him any longer. All her thoughts, feelings and energy were focused on that one task before her. When she did finally open her eyes, it was to stare at the forlorn scratch tree that neither Zelo nor she herself was particularly fond of – despite it having been a well-meant gift from their old neighbour.
