The Forsaken Truth (Marvel's Avengers)

The Song Holds The Key

"Just so you know, I was horrible at school. I failed at Math, Physics and Chemistry." I spoke up after a short while of silence, following the Earth Spirits as they moved to the trees.

Terra glanced back at me in, what I perceived as, amusement. "You have nothing to worry about."

"So you say." I barely restrained myself from rolling my eyes. "What happens if I don't pass?"

"Do you ever stop questioning everything?" Willow's exasperated voice said in response.

"I liked you better when you weren't speaking, Willow." I stopped, narrowing my eyes at him.

"Willow?" Terra looked confused as she ceased walking as well.

I looked at her. "I named him because it was too tiresome to call him a Will-o'-wisp all the time."

"I, of course, told the girl not to address me as such, but she is infuriatingly stubborn, My Lady." Willow sniffed in disdain.

Terra let out her musical-tinkling-of-bells laugh, making me insanely insecure again. "You are truly unique."

I wonder if that's her way of politely saying you're crazy.

"Um...thank you?"

She simply shook her head. "We are here."

I scrunched my forehead in confusion. "Wher- Whoa!" I breathed out, stunned at the sudden change of scenery in front of me.

The land flattened and stretched out as far as I could see, the gloom and doom of the forest I was in left far behind. A single enormous tree stood in the middle of it all, the cloudy sky behind serving as the prefect backdrop. Everything here was brighter, like a painting made with undiluted pigments.
But that wasn't the most baffling part.
Where the oak stood mighty and proud with a clear stream running underneath, its massive roots protruded above, seating a horde of creatures that looked straight out of a fantasy series.

"Holy shit! How are they all so freaking flawless?" I whispered to myself, trying to digest their perfection that was relentlessly being thrown in my face.

"Come forth, Aylin." Terra's order snapped me out of my daze and I locked gazes with her from where she had now sat down too. 

Gulping nervously, I shuffled forward a few steps, acutely aware of the stares I was receiving from every person there. But I kept my eyes on Terra, letting her smile of assurance calm the bundle of nerves in my stomach. 

"Are you ready?"

I hesitated for a few seconds, but I knew I had already made my decision.
"Yes."
The answer came out feeble and unsure, so I cleared my throat and repeated. "Yes, I am."

Terra smiled at my response before looking around at the others as she spoke again, raising her voice.
"Thank you, everyone, for coming. Today, we have gathered here, because the stone has, once more, chosen a host. And we all know what it means. What we must do."

A few murmurs spread among the gathering and she paused, letting them soak up the information before continuing.
"We represent the element of earth, we serve it and we protect it. And in times like these, we grant it. After a trial, of course. So, my sisters, what will it be this time?"

The murmuring fell into hushed whispers as the spirits conversed among each other, trying to decide how to test me. I stood patiently, albeit a little nervous, waiting for them to reach a conclusion.

During this time, I turned to Willow who was floating beside me.
"Hey Willow, what do they usually ask you to do in these trials?"

"It varies from person to person." He shrugged, indifferent to my growing uneasiness.