Tabula Rasa (Unlike Loki: Book Two)

Chapter 63

(Leolin)

"We are going to try something new today." I said to the twins, my hands folded behind my back. 

Quicksilver cracked his knuckles and Scarlet With shifted her weight back and forth on her feet. 

"I want you to fight me." I said. There was a spark of excitement in their voices, but their faces were unsure. 

"You heard me right." I told them. 

"How?" Scarlet Witch asked softly, peering at me through her dark hair. 

"I have taught you both how to fight using weapons and your bodies. You have gotten pretty good at it to. You've made me proud." I pushed my hair back. "I have left you to to master your powers on your own, and I hear that you have not disappointed." 

A lightbulb clicks in Quicksilver's brain. "You want us to fight you using our abilities." It was not a question, but a statement. 

I smiled at him and nodded my head. "Your powers against mine. I want to see how you do. And I will give you tips as we go." 

Scarlet Witch looked at me nervously, as if she was afraid she would disappoint me. 

"Let's go, then." Quicksilver said determindedly.

I smiled in approval. "By all means." I gestured for him to begin. 

We were in a large white room. It was full of obstacles and secret traps. When the time was right, I would call out other obstacles. But first, I wanted to see what they would do. 

Quicksilver disappeared. His speed had improved. I couldn't see him, and I could barely reach for his mind. He was moving too fast. 

And suddenly he was in my face. He was only an inch or so taller than me, his eyes glistened with excitement. 

"Impressive." I said, not flinching.  And then I reached for his mind with mine. 

That was my ability now. I had transformed it and grown it. When I was younger, I could only sense other's emotions, their souls. As I got older and was trained, my powers grew. I had control over the mind. Wholly and completely. It was more about persuasion than actual control, though. I planted the idea. A very strong idea. But it was the person, animal, ect's decision on whether or not they acted on it. Most of the time they did. 

I could sense all the minds near me and their ever-changing emotions. I could also twist those emotions. I also had a way with telekineses. I didn't have to move to life a blade and throw it. I could lift light things and heavy things. 

But my favorite part of my ability, was the fact that I could give thoughts. I could give mind to something. I had the power to give life to something. I hadn't had a lot of practice, but I loved the feeling it gave me. I had done it to small objects. Eventually the thoughts ceased, but while they existed, it was thrilling. I had tried it on animals, watching as their senses and their thoughts became heightened. But they to eventually resorted back to their savage ways. 

"How fast are you, now?" I asked Quicksilver as he backed up towards his sister. 

He shugged his big shoulders, "Dunno. Clock breaks. Im too fast." 

I laugh slightly and then turn my attentions to Scarlet Witch. "You're awefully quiet."

Her hands immediately lit up bright red, glowing. I smiled. 

Let the game begin. 

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I watched on as the twins were led back into thier cells. They were drenched in sweat and I was surprised to find myself out of breath. 

They had definately given me a workout. 

They fought extremely well, completely blending their hand-to-hand with their powers. Quicksilver had become so fast that whenever he moved, everything else seemed to freeze. On more than one occasion, he got the best of me. Scarlet Witch had also pleasently surprised me, altering the reality around me to her advantage. 

I too, got  a chance to stretch my powers. 

A few times, I was able to hold on to their minds and persuade them. Other times it was harder. They liked to work as a team. Quicksilver was often the distraction, while Scarlet Witch struck down the enemy. 

I asked the guards to move away once the twins were locked back up. 

I walked over to their side-by-side cells. "In a few short months, you will be let out. You will be free. You will go your own ways." I looked between them. "But you will not remember me. You will remember what I have taught you, but you won't remember that I was the one who taught you. You will simply think you learned what you now know, on your own." 

They looked confused, almost sad. I was the closest thing to a friend they had. And I guess I could say the same for them. 

I turned and left without another word. 

"Wait!" I heard Scarlet Witch speak up. 

I stopped in my tracks and looked back at her, rasing my eyebows. 

"What if SHEILD comes for us?" She looked genuinely scared. I had been sure to tell them horror stories about SHEILD. 

I had told them about a girl with great power. She was young and scared and had killed. She could control the elements and could not be harmed, could not die. So she was experimented on, tormented, raped, caged, beaten, and who knows what else. And all because she had powers. 

I never told them that this girl had been my mother. 

And I never told them that it had been Hydra, not SHEILD, that had done all of that to her. 

My bad. 

"You do what you think best. If they come for you, they may ask you to work for them. I wouldn't turn down the opportunity. You could be on the inside of the enemy." I smiled at them, planting the idea in their heads. 

Scarlet WItch nodded her head in understanding. 

"Getting them to trust you is the first step. And that won't be easy." I turned to leave again, but then remembered something else, "Go big or go home, kiddos." 

And that was the last time I saw them. 

My minions were soon to meet the Avengers. I would be sure of it. 

All of my Master's pieces were falling into place. 

One.

By.

One.