Sparkle (KOTLC) {Completed}

8

Glimmer led Janessa to a wide room with a high ceiling that reminded her of a human school gym. There were a few other figures in Neverseen cloaks in the training room, practicing what looked like outward channeling.

Glimmer joined in without hesitation, exploding small balls while Janessa watched, fascinated.

"How do you do that?" She wondered.

Janessa could imagine Glimmer was rolling her eyes in the silence that followed. "Just basically plant some energy in the center of the ball until it explodes."

"Oh. Cool. Can I try?"

Glimmer tossed her one of the balls and Janessa caught it with her mind. Following her instructions, Janessa focused her mental energy into the ball. A while passed and she began to get frustrated when it finally exploded, making her squeal in shock. "I did it!"

"Wow. Really impressive." Glimmer deadpanned.

Janessa huffed. "At least try not to sound so sarcastic. I didn't even know this was possible until today."

Glimmer didn't reply, only turning back to practicing.

Janessa watched all the practice avidly, paying attention to each knew skill they practiced and trying them out whenever she could, much to Glimmer's annoyance, which Janessa could feel every time she accidentally brushed past her. She didn't stop though, because she could also feel her pride and lightheartedness that gradually became stronger every time.

At the end of the practice, Janessa dragged Glimmer with her to the forest she usually practiced with Fintan at.

"Why am I here?" Glimmer asked.

"Well, I like it better than the hideout. It's peaceful." Janessa shrugged.

"Yeah, the charred corpses of tree are really relaxing, Sparkles." 

Janessa blushed. "I practice pyrokinesis here, some burnt stuff should be expected. Are you ever, like, not aggressive and just nice?"

"What would that accomplish?"

"I don't know. Maybe you'd have more friends."

"I don't need friends."

"Everyone needs friends. That's what gives you something to fight for. Besides, you already agreed to be friends with me, so you're gonna have one anyways."

"I don't think I ever actually agreed to that."

"Don't lie. Anyways, are you a flasher?"

"Yeah. The nickname gave it away?"

"Yeah. I mean what else would Glimmer mean?"

"Well, your codename is based off your sparkly hair, so it could be anything." 

Janessa narrowed her eyes at Glimmer's tone, unsure whether she should bother commenting or not. "Would you ever show me your face? The only thing I know about what you look like is you have long black hair."

"Probably not." Glimmer answered simply.

"I guess that's fair. But, to be clear, if we actually became close friends, I wouldn't rat you out to the Council or the Black Swan. Loyalty is important, besides I think you're a good person." Janessa smiled at the girl who fidgeted under the kind gaze.

"What makes you think that?"

"You're sincere, even in your sarcasm. And obviously, since you're here, you must believe in something. Anyways, even if you're a sociopath, you're a pretty cool person and I like you."

Janessa grinned. Glimmer was frozen. Janessa's grin widened.

"Hey, can you show me some Flasher stuff?" Janessa asked.

Glimmer halfheartedly made an orb of light, made it switch colours, and then made it disappear. Janessa gave her a deadpan look. 

"Really? Can't you do something a little cooler than that? I'm sure you must be good if the Neverseen thinks you're useful."

Glimmer shrugged. "I am, but I don't feel like doing a huge light show. Why don't you show me pyrokinesis stuff instead?"

Janessa rubbed her shoulder absentmindedly. "I mean, the only really cool thing I can do is Everblaze, but I don't wanna try that without Fintan there in case I lose control, especially when you're here to get hurt."

"If you lose control I can just light leap away. It'll be fine as long as you don't throw it at me." Glimmer shrugged.

Janessa took a deep breath. "Ok fine, just a very small one though just in case." Janessa focused on the heat of the sun and pulled down a small ball of Everblaze to hover above her right palm. Grinning, she passed it from one hand to another then snuffed it out carefully.

"You made that look really easy. I don't think you would've lost control." Glimmer said nonchalantly.

Janessa smiled proudly. "Thanks."

Just as she was about to ask Glimmer to show her something, she noticed the sun setting and the two of them headed back to the hideout, where Janessa dragged Glimmer to her room to talk some more.

The next day, they redo the same things: training, talking in the woods until dark, and then chatting in Janessa's room.

That night, though, Fintan returned, heading straight to Janessa's room looking exhausted but smug.

"What happened?" Janessa wondered, glancing at Glimmer.

"We succeeded. That's all that matters." Fintan said reservedly.

"At what?"

"That doesn't matter to you."

Janessa felt her heart clench at his coldness, even if he was still being polite. The warmth from before couldn't be found.

Then, she heard footsteps. A woman appeared in the doorway, ghostly pale with extremely long pointy ears and azure eyes that showed no emotion. Janessa felt a chill go through her as she shivered, tensing.

"Who is this girl?" The woman enunciated. Even her voice had no emotion.

"The moonlark's sister. A pyrokinetic." Fintan says in a similarly cold voice.

Janessa's forehead creased and her fists clenched, ready to defend herself from this strange woman who had changed the entire atmosphere immediately.

"Your attempts to hide your fondness for this pet of yours are futile. I can feel it from here." The woman states.

Somehow, the reminder of Fintan's fondness for her wasn't reassuring when this woman said the way it had been when Glimmer said it or when she felt it for herself. Instead, it made her body freeze up and fear furrow her eyebrows. Especially the word 'pet'. She quickly took a deep breath to steady herself.

"Who are you?"

"Vespera. I will be leading this organization from this point onward." The woman specified, still emotionless.

Janessa looked at Fintan confusedly before shifting her gaze back to the cold woman. "I've never heard of you before."

"I wouldn't expect you to, being as young and naive as you are."

Janessa didn't answer, she just sat frozen and refusing to break eye contact with the woman.

Finally, the woman raised an eyebrow then turned to Fintan before leaving. Glimmer hurried out soon after, leaving only Fintan and Janessa.

"I'm guessing the offer for me to leave isn't on the table anymore." Janessa said shakily.

Fintan didn't reply. "I'm sorry, it isn't."

Janessa nodded. Now that she was sure she wanted to leave, she couldn't anymore. Of course. 

Fintan put an arm around her shoulders and rubbed her arm comfortingly. Janessa winced, grabbing her still injured shoulder, as she felt the rush of his emotions go through her. This time, she didn't focus on only the overwhelming fondness, now she could feel the subtler waves of smug possessiveness as if she were a toy he knew he could never lose.

"I'll bring healing elixirs for that later. I wasn't aware you were still injured." Fintan murmurs.

"Ok."

Janessa curls up in bed with her eyes open until Fintan sighs and leaves.