Tulip's Mythic Emotions

Tulip's Mythic Emotions (Part 7)

Dance for Your Life
       "Um, Aphrodite?" Katelyn said. "Yes?" Aphrodite smiled. "What happens if we lose the competition?" She asked. Aphrodite tapped her chin, "you would either have to come back next year, die, or start all over with the consequence of dying," she replied. "D-d-die?" Katelyn stuttered, "but we're immortal," she said.
       "Minor gods can die if they are bested by a god, but I won't do that; I'll just send you back until next year," she explained. Tulip became red in the face, "next year?" She exclaimed. "Oh, sorry about that," Aphrodite apologized. "How is this dance thing going to work, anyway?" Nadia asked. "You basically have to mimic my dance moves correctly, and there are three rounds, so you have to keep up with me until the end to win," Aphrodite informed them.
       "When do we start?" Rosy asked. "How 'bout now?" Aphrodite grinned and spun around gracefully. "Were we supposed to do that?" Emery said. "No, I'm just getting warmed up," Aphrodite chuckled, stretching her legs. "Who knew the goddess of love and beauty could dance?" Katelyn whispered.
"There's a lot of things you don't know about me," Aphrodite giggled. "Like how I secretly own a temple of snakes," she said. "Really?" Emery asked. "No, just kidding," she laughed. "Now, let's get STARTED!" She yelled.
"I'm going to start off easy," Aphrodite assured them. She did a grand jete and twirled around. "Your turn!" She said. They all attempted the grand jete with okay results and twirled similarly to what she had. Aphrodite squealed, "you learn so fast!" She exclaimed.
       "Try this," she challenged, crisscrossing with a jazz-hands finale. They copied her, but Katelyn almost lost her balance. Emery grabbed her hand and pulled her back. "Pay attention, this one's hard," Aphrodite cautioned them. She pirouetted and ended with her arms curved above her head.
       The girls managed some shaky pirouettes and made sure to add some flare. "Good try!" Aphrodite said, "but it's going to get harder." Tulip scowled, "you said it was going to be EASY!" She hollered. "Next move!" Aphrodite announced. She did a crisscross with her legs and spun around.
They mimicked her smoother than before. "You're getting the hang of it!" She said. "This is one of my favorites!" She declared, jumping side to side, and waving her arms left to right before slapping her knees and making two-finger guns. The girls caught on to her movements quicker. "Almost done!" Aphrodite said, "I know you can do this one!" She added encouragingly.
       Her legs split on either side, and she jumped up like a starfish, landing with her feet and legs together again. Tulip and Emery had mastered most of the moves, and Nadia, Rosy, and Katelyn were just behind them. "Wow! I'm impressed!" Aphrodite said, clapping her perfectly manicured hands. "Ok, last one!" She assured them, placing one leg diagonally behind her, and bringing it onto her other leg as she spun around like a ballerina. The girls had no trouble with it except Katelyn.
       "Come on!" Rosy groaned. "You can do it!" Tulip cheered. She placed her leg like Aphrodite had, and took a deep breath. "Push off of your back leg and bring it onto your waist when you spin!" Nadia said. Katelyn finally pushed off of her leg and spun almost in a perfect circle. "You did it! You did it! You did it! You really did it!" Aphrodite squealed.
       She jumped up and down and bounded to Katelyn. "Hugs for everyone!" She said, squeezing them tightly. They all hugged Katelyn the tightest. "You're all winners!" Aphrodite said. "Can we go back now? I've had just about enough with dancing for one day," Katelyn said. They all laughed and showered Aphrodite with high fives and happy giggles.