SERENA

PART I: Chapter 5 - Fire

The King and the Queen look at the burning table in shock. Serena, however, isn't looking just at the table. She's staring at her hand, still on top of the table on fire. She should feel the heat and the pain caused by the fire, but all she feels is a comfortable warmth.

No one's moving, everyone caught in their own shock. A shock which only increases when Serena's hair slowly starts turning dark blue, starting at the roots and going down its length.

Finally, Queen Nami reacts. She raises her hand and water comes out of it at an incredible speed. The water hits the burning table, extinguishing the flames.

Serena feels the uncomfortable cold of the water on her tiny hand and looks at her parents. Her mother still has the same shocked expression on her face, but her father is now smiling. A type of smile she had never seen on his face before, a smile full of pride.

"Serena, has that ever happened before?" Queen Nami finally asks.

"No." Serena answers.

"Can you do it again?" King Soky asks.

"I don't know... I can try."

"How about we leave that for another time?" Queen Nami suggests.

"No, we need to go to the Fire Room to let her practice." The King says.

"She's grounded, remember?" Queen Nami looks at her husband with a disapproving look. "She's not going to stop being grounded just because she has her power now."

"But she needs to practice."

"And she will. When she's no longer grounded."

The Queen turns to leave the room and the King follows her.

"Daddy, wait." Serena says with the cutest tone she can. "Now that I have my power can I at least ask for something?"

"Of course, sweetie." He tells her. He's so proud about her powers that he forgot all his previous anger. And Serena knows that. "What is it?"

"Please let Kiana stay." She smiles while looking at her father.

"Of course, baby."

"Thank you!" Her smile is even wider now.

Two weeks go by and Serena's finally no longer grounded. King Soky gives her her toys back and she is going to get started on her practice.

There's a knock on Serena's door.

"Yes?" Serena says and the door opens, revealing Kiana on the outside. Serena hasn't seen her in two weeks. "Kiana!"

"Hey, Princess." Kiana says entering the room. "I came to get you for your first practice. Are you ready?"

"Yes." Serena leaves the room, followed by her friend. "Did your father get too mad at you?"

"Yes, he did. He banned me from coming to the palace." Kiana says and Serena looks at her confused.

"But you're here." Serena tells her and she laughs.

"I am. He was telling me to leave but then your parents showed up and told him that they wanted me to stay here. I was really confused. But then I heard you had gotten your powers and I figured you must have manipulated your father in some way." She smiles. "Is that what happened?"

"Yes." Serena answers and her smile is a mixture of pride and shame.

"That's my girl." Kiana tells Serena and her smile becomes full of pride.

The girls get to the Fire Room and there's a man waiting for them. Serena has never seen the man before, but his hair is as blue as hers. She figures he's the person who's going to teach her how to control fire.