◆ Part 2: Chapter 4 ◆
Trust Yourself
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Choose a target. You look at the plant in your lap.
Lock on. You stare down at it, focusing on the green of its leaves and the curve of its stem.
It is alive. Flowing through this plant is life. Flowing through you is life. Power. You are power. You are life.
Release.
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The plant falls in ashes to the ground, shriveled leaves and stem falling like dust. Dr. Aiya watches you, leaning forward in anticipation.
Your heart pounds, your body full of energy. It flows through your veins, making your skin warm and your body shiver. You hold your hands up, not wanting to touch anything and risk draining it, too.
Dr. Aiya smiles, triumphant. "You did it! How do you feel?"
You look up at your therapist, unable to hold back a grin. "Amazing," you answer, "like I just drank three cups of coffee."
She gives you a thumbs up. "A whole step forward! Good job!"
"The only thing is," you say, "I feel like if I touch anything else my quirk will activate."
Dr. Aiya's eyes sparkle. "Ah, so maybe controlling your quirk isn't the problem," she concludes, "maybe it's deactivating it."
You nod. That sounds about right; your quirk usually just shuts itself off.
"What normally happens when you try to turn it off?"
"Well," you say, keeping your hands away from anything in the room, "after using it, I normally just pass out, and it goes away on its own."
"So it's lack of practice, that's all," Dr. Aiya assures you, "I'm sure you'll be fine. Just focus. That same part of you that you embraced, just say goodbye. Like stepping back from a hug."
You do what you're instructed, imagining your embrace and taking a step back. But what will happen if it doesn't work? What if you can't deactivate it?
Your breathing gets shallow, and you stare at your hands. The hands that could kill. That have killed.
Power flows through you. The plant's life force, filling your veins and demanding more.
What happens if you can't deactivate it?
Suddenly a voice interrupts your thoughts, calm and soothing.
"Breathe. Trust yourself."
Dr. Aiya takes your hands, and you panic. You try to pull away, but her grip is strong and determined.
She's gonna die. You're going to drain her, killing her like you did to the village so long ago—
"I'm fine," Dr. Aiya says, rubbing your palms. "Breathe. Just Breathe."
Your hands don't feel warm and numb like before. It stopped.
"How?" You whisper, looking at Dr. Aiya.
She takes her hands from yours, smiling. "Once you felt me take your hands, you stopped it on your own, like a reflex. To protect me."
You stare at your hands. You didn't even realize.
"See?" Dr. Aiya hums. "All you have to do is trust yourself."
"Now," she says, clapping her hands together, "good job today. I think you did really well!"
You stand up, bowing. "Thank you."
"It's my job, your Highness."
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"And then it stopped, just like that!" You giggle, proud of yourself. Shoto smiles at you, brushing your hair out of your face.
He brings his mouth to yours, his hand cupped around your cheek. He pulls away, smirking. "I'm proud of you."
You roll your eyes.
Shizukana, your new guard, pops his head around the corner, bowing. "Your Highnesses."
You blush, hoping he didn't see the little kissing scene. Shoto glances at you, grinning.
"Yes?" You say, standing up from your spot on the couch.
Shizukana is tall, taller than Takahashi was, even. His voice is deep, although you don't hear it that much. He doesn't really talk, only when it's required.
"Since the wedding is in three days," he says, "it is time for you to try on your dress."
You tilt your head. "I've already picked a dress."
Since the wedding was supposed to happen earlier, the preparations were all ready, including your dress and Shoto's outfit as well.
"I'm not sure why," Shizukana says, "but the designer and his maids have summoned you."
You shrug. "Take me to them."
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The sewing room is bustling with maids, all going in and out, carrying fabric and supplies. When you enter, though, all of the commotion stops.
Your dress designer, a man no younger than you, runs up to you, tears in his eyes.
"Oh! It's awful! It's absolutely mangled! Ruinous!" He cries, hugging you.
You laugh. He's one of your favorite people at the palace; strange and loud and sparkly. You pat him on the back in an attempt to comfort him. "Aoyama, what's wrong? I'm sure it's nothing to cry over."
Aoyama back away from you, turning to Shizukana. "Thank you for bringing her! This truly is disastrous!"
Then he hugs the stoic guard, and Shizukana freezes, like he's never been hugged in his life. You swear you see a hint of blush on his cheeks.
When he's released, he straightens his uniform, furrowing his eyebrows. You giggle.
Aoyama runs to the back of the room, then brings a dress to you, still distraught.
"Oh dear! Look at it! It's in pieces!" He cries, seemingly more upset than you are. "It's all my fault! I tried to use my quirk on it and make it sparkle, you know? See how the light reflected! I just wasn't thinking!"
Your dress, or what's left of it, is shredded. Sequins and glitter fall from the white fabric.
To be honest, you did think it was a little much, so this might be a good thing.
"Well, then," you say, putting your hands on your hips, "let's just redo it!"
Aoyama's eyes light up. "Oh, wonderful idea, your Highness!"
"This time," you grin, "I plan on helping."
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A/N:
Voting time! Which dress will you make with Aoyama?
Dress #1:
Dress #2:
Dress #3:
(the image above (dress #3) had to be removed. I got a warning from Wattpad saying that it dIDnT fOlLoW cOmMuNIty GuIDelINEs even though it's just a wedding dress. I apologize for the inconvenience. The link, if you still want to see it, is posted below)
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/738238563904506834/
it was really cute and had the most votes so far :(
(don't worry, if the dress you want doesn't win, then just imagine whichever one you want! And if you don't like any of them, then do the same. No hate please, be respectful.)