Sun high in the sky, shone brightly and hot, just like every summer day at the cabin. Reminding Aria of all the vacations she would take with her family. All the times that she would run between the trees. Collect flowers her Momma or Aunt would like, and make them into flower crowns. Giving those flower crowns a boost so they would last longer.

  Shadows from the trees made perfect shade. A pleasant cool-off from the heat. Making the hike bearable to do.

  A gust of wind made the shadows dance and kick up the smell of wildflowers. Adding a beautiful scent to the already crisp clean air. Triggering another memory of little Aria and her Uncle searching for flowers to make her Aunt a bouquet.

  Truly a beautiful place to behold.

  “Are we almost there? My feet are killing me,” Aster complained, doing her best to keep up with the group.

  “We told you to wear walking shoes,” Jason reminded the redhead annoyed.

  “These are perfectly good shoes for walking!” Aster protested, lifting her wedged boot as if to prove a point.

  “Yeah, for the city,” Kousuke rebuttled, slowly losing his patience.

  “Don’t worry, we’re here,” Aria said, walking up to the opening of a cave.

  Taking a mini flashlight out of her fanny pack, Aria walked closer to the mouth. Shinning the light into the cave, Aria swept it over any nook and cranny it would reach. Carefully, she looked for any bugs or animals that could be dangerous.

  Seeing nothing, Aria took a few steps in to get a better look.

  “You sure it’s safe to be in there?” Tommy asked worried.

  Giving one more sweep of the cave, Aria looked over her shoulder to her friends. With a smile, she said, “Probably not.”

  Attention back to the cave, Aria made her way further in. Flashlight illuminating just enough to see where she should be stepping. “Aria!”

  “Wait! Don’t go in alone!”

  “Are you insane?!”

  Her friends’ voices of protest mixed with their clambering footsteps.

  Digging into her fanny pack, Aria pulled out two more mini flashlights. Tossing one to Steve and the other to Kouya, the two quickly turned them on.

  With three flashlights, it was a lot easier to navigate in the cave.

  “How did you find this place Aria?” Steve asked.

  “Her Uncle told her about it and she went into research mode,” Tommy answered for their roommate, “Aria has a weird obsession with things that could kill you,” they teased.

  “A cave won’t kill you,” Aria said, “But that Musgo Venenosa will,” she sang, shining her light on some blue and purple moss that Jason was about to touch.

  Those words stopped Jason in place, his hands only inches away from the vegetation.

  “You really shouldn’t touch it with your bare hands. It causes blistering pustules in seconds and if not treated in ten minutes, can turn into necrosis. The only way to save you would be to amputate any dying flesh,” Aria explained with joy in her tone.

  “Jason! Don’t touch anything!” Aster and Kousuke scolded their friend.

  Neither wanted to deal with the side effects Jason would receive. Even though they would scold him, they would be the ones the Pyro User turns to.

  “You don’t have to tell me twice!” Jason promised, jumping away from the moss, “Anything else we should avoid?!” Jason questioned Aria.

  “I don’t know,” Aria answered happily, continuing her walk deeper into the cave, “I do know we’re almost to the Flor De Luz De Luna Resplandeciente.”

  “Alright, you’re just making up words now,” Jason complained.

  “No, Aria’s just a plant nerd,” Tommy teased.

  “A woodland fairy?” Kousueks words made Aria snap a glare at him.

  Flashing the flashlight in his eyes, the Radiant User just bent the light away before it touched him. The glowing double halos in his eyes matched his smirk perfectly.

  It made Aria’s heart flip again, causing a wave of tingling warmth to spread throughout her chest.

  Turning away from Kousuke, Aria pointed her light in front of her. Quickening her steps just a little bit to try and escape the pitter-patter in her chest.

  Their friends watched the two’s playful interaction confused.

  “What just happened?” was a question that would have to be put on hold and asked at a different time.

  They had to continue their walk or Aria would leave them behind.

  Any quiet that would have existed is replaced by the Terra User being asked about any new plant that was passed by. Happily, she would explain the plant's name, if it was deadly or friendly, and what its properties were.

  A creepy little adventure turned into a lot of fun.

  Even Aster was so interested in what Aria had to say. So engrossed with her words, Aster no longer paid attention to her sore feet.

  A quick sweep of the floor, walls, and ceiling, Aria’s eyes spotted some blue weeds. Clinging to a corner where the wall and ceiling meet.

  Holding in a breath, Aria kept the surprise in her chest.

  “Steve, Kouya, can you turn off your flashlights?” Aria asked, “Let’s save those just in case.”

  “Yeah, sure,” Steve answered, turning off his flashlight with Kouya and handing them over to Aria.

  With the dwindling source of light, Aster moved closer to Steve. Twining their fingers together, Steve gently grazed his thumb on the back of her hand. His gentleness brought comfort to her.

  “Are we almost there?” Tommy asked.

  Spotting more of the blue weeds, Aria noticed it was a bigger group.

  Heart tap dancing in excitement, her smile pulled up at the sight.

  “Yep,” Aria answered, stopping in her tracks.

  Stopping so suddenly, that the group almost ran into her. All eyes were on Aria.

  “3…2…1,” Aria counted, and shut off her flashlight plunging everyone into darkness.

  The shrieks Aster and Jason let out stung everyone’s ears. The Gale User clung onto her boyfriend while Jason grabbed the closest person to him.

  You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

  Unfortunately for Kousuke that was him.

  As quickly as the Pyro User grabbed the tattoo artist, he was just as quickly shoved off.

  The next person Jason grabbed was Tommy, they just rolled their eyes at their best friend.

  “Aria! What the hell?!” Jason snapped.

  In response, she let out a soft, “shhh”, keeping her eyes forward.

  Standing in the still quiet dark, the air they were breathing was musty. It wrapped around them and trapped them in a dreamless sleep.

  What felt like hours was only seconds. Musty air slowed the clock for them.

  Why were they standing in the dark? What were they waiting for?

  On, second five, the questions were answered, and boy was it worth it.

  Slowly, a faint blue and pink glow rose ahead of them. Traveling its way towards the group in a slow crawl.

  Soon enough, the glow surrounded the group.

  From the caves floor, all the way up to the ceiling. There was so much light that it made the dark non-existent. It blanketed everyone in an ethereal glow; bathing everything and everyone in blue and pink hues.

  “Flor de Luz de Luna Resplandeciente,” Aria spoke, looking at the plants with a huge smile, “Or commonly called ‘Glowing Moonlight Flower’.”

  “Wow,” everyone breathed in astonishment.

  “How is it glowing?” Kouya asked, not taking his eyes off his surroundings.

  “They produce a chemical called luciferin and luciferase that they get from eating the chlorophyll in the rocks,” Aria explained, being careful not to step on any of the flowers.

  “This was so worth the walk,” Jason beamed.

  “Even the deadly moss?” Tommy teased.

  “Shut up,” Jason teased back.

  It was like being in a fantasy world. The blue and pink glow danced and swayed with each other. Sometimes creating hues of purple here and there.

  Taking out her phone, Aster began taking pictures of the flowers and everyone surrounded by them. Her boyfriend then offered to take pictures of just her.

  Seeing Aster take so many pictures, Aria brought up her concerns about Aster’s fans making the area a tourist spot. So many people so frequently with the flowers could disrupt their ecosystem.

  Worries were put away when Aster promised to only use one picture in her “What I did this week” post.

  After taking some pictures of the flowers for herself, Aria took a selfie to send to her moms later.

  “You really are a ‘Woodland Fairy’,” Kousuke said to Aria.

  Looking over to Kousuke, she smiled at him. A brilliant smile that made Kousuke grin at her in return.

  “Come take a picture with me!” Aria requested, holding her hand out to him.

  Walking up to Aria’s side, Kousuke had to lean down a bit so he could fit into the frame. In the middle of the pictures taken, Kouya joined in on Aria’s free side, making her giggle.

  Taking the phone from Aria, Kousuke took a few pictures of the three. Ignoring the bunny ears Aria gave the twins.

  “Alright!” Aster pulled a selfie stick out of her fanny pack, and attached her phone to it, “Group picture!” the Social Media Queen declared, squeezing into Kouya’s side.

  Throwing his arm around Aria’s shoulder, Kousuke leaned onto her a bit. Following his twin's lead, Kouya wrapped an arm around her waist. The twins’ actions made Aria giggle, her nose wrinkled, and she put her arms on their back.

  Stepping to Aster’s side, Steve took the selfie stick from her. Lifting it higher, Steve fit Tommy and Jason into the frame.

  The Hydro User jumped onto the Pyro User’s back, the two stood behind Aria.

  “What’s one plus two?” Steve asked.

  “Three!” Everyone said.

  Today was turning into one of the best days ever.

  Once the pictures were done, the friends relaxed on the ground. Playing a few games of cards and eating snacks that were brought.

  Mindful not to disrupt the flowers too much. Even though the flowers were harmless, the glowing beauty pollen can permanently stain clothes.

  When the snacks were gone, the friends made the trip back to the cabin.

  The walk back didn’t feel as long as before. The dark sky and cool breeze kept everyone’s spirits up. Chirps of insects sang to the friends on the journey back. Growing louder and louder the closer they got to the cabin.

  Grabbing two logs, Jason’s eyes flowed with yellow flames, his magic traveling down his shoulders and into his fingertips. Smoke traveled up from the wood his skin touched. Flames sprung up, and Jason dropped them in the fire pit before they could travel up his arm.

  “Fires ready!” Jason called out.

  “I have the drinks!” Tommy said, walking out to the patio with a tray of coffee.

  Collecting on the patio, Aster and Aria placed down trays full of graham crackers, marshmallows, and chocolate. One tray of vegan counterparts made for Tommy.

  Using the fire to toast their marshmallows and keep themselves warm, it also cracked with the chirps of insects nearby. Frogs from the night before are back again, providing croaks to complete the atmosphere.

  “We need to do this every year,” Aster hummed happily.

  “If I ask my uncle he can make sure we get the cabin for a week,” Aria said before taking a bite of her sweet treat.

  “Hell yeah!” Jason and Steve cheered, tapping their s’mores together like they were cups.

  The higher the moons rose, the dimmer the flame died down. Soon, only the stars and moons created light for the friends. Same as the night before, they slowly went to bed one by one. Wishing anyone who remained a goodnight as they left.

  Digging her face deep into her pillow, Aria let out a tired yawn. Pulling the blanket closer to her body and drifting off to sleep.

  Only to wake up in a forest, one that was not familiar to her. The trees were taller than she had ever seen, the leaves a lush of green and soft purples. Grass so soft on her bare feet it felt like warm sand.

  Looking higher than the tree tops, Aria was astonished by the amount of stars in the sky. So many of them that they provided a better light than any flashlight ever would. The three moons provide extra light to the beautiful sky.

  A gust of wind traveled from under Aria and up into the trees, causing them to shake with the cold. Another gust, this one stronger made Aria take steps forward. One more strong gust made Aria finally take the hint and start walking.

  The wind guided Aria further and further from the woods, leading her to a clearing that was full of Glowing Moonlight Flowers. So bright, that just like in the cave, all darkness was banished.

  It took Aria’s breath away, her eyes glowing with excitement.

  Dropping down to her knees, Aria dug her fingers into the ground. Soaking in the energy from the flowers, enjoying the buzzing feeling from them. It tickled her fingers, traveling up her arms and into her chest. Collecting in her chest before traveling down to her toes. Closing her eyes, Aria enjoyed the feeling of her magic and the flower's energy dancing in her veins.

  “I used to do the same thing,” the soothing voice made Aria’s eyes shoot open.

  In front of her, floating above the flowers was a pair of bare feet with pink toenails tipped in yellow. Slowly looking up, Aria froze at the sight of the woman smiling down at her. Green eyes popping out against long, full, pink hair. Pink and yellow wings fluttering behind her were the reason for her floating. The wings complimented her pink and green outfit. A cold shoulder, long-sleeved, crop top was the same shade of pink as her hair. Pink pants that hugged her ankles faded to green, slits exposing her calves and thighs.

  Smile growing, the woman's eyes glowed just as bright as Aria’s.

  “I’m so glad you found each other again,” the woman spoke, using her wings to glide closer to Aria.

  Falling to her bum, Aria scooted back, trying to make space between her and the woman. The action made the woman stop in her advancement and she giggled.

  “Yes, I suppose I am a stranger to you,” the woman said, dropping down.

  Bare feet touching the ground, she took in a deep breath, feeling the same surge of energy traveling through her veins.

  Only enjoying the sensation for a second. Then she was on her knees, still taller than Aria, but no longer towering over her. Lifting her hand, the woman moved a few strands of hair out of Aria’s eyes, getting a better view of the Terra User.

  “Live your life,” the woman spoke so softly, it could have been a whisper, “And don’t make the mistake I made.”

  Air in her throat returning, Aria opened her mouth to speak, to ask who this woman was.

  What was she talking about? Why was she in Aria’s dream?

  A tap on the forehead silenced Aria. Pushing her back to fall, Aria expected to feel the soft grass on her back, but she just kept falling.

  Falling, falling, falling, the ground and trees seemed to stretch out. Like if Aria was looking through a kaleidoscope. The woman smiled down at Aria, growing smaller and smaller the longer Aria fell.

  Only the light from the moon and the stars illuminated the woman. Making a silhouette of her form.

  She was Aria’s focal point to keep her eyes open as she fell faster and faster. Scared of when she might land, what would she land on?

  Keeping her focus on the woman was the only calm she had.

  Then she blinked.

  Body now landing in its corporeal form so harsh that Aria shot up from bed.

  Sucking in a deep breath, Aria held it for a second before letting it out slowly. Repeating two more times, Aria gripped her blanket tight, trying to stop her shaking hands.

  That fall felt too real for Aria. The way the wind whipped her hair around and stung her eyes. The feeling of gravity wrapping around every lip and pulling as hard as it could.

  It was all too real. Possibly going to be one of the weirdest and scariest dreams Aria ever had.

  Blankets shifting reached Aria’s ears, and she looked to her right. In the two beds next to her were Kousuke and Kouya. It was Kousuke rolling over in his sleep that made the gentle noise.

  No longer was his back to her, he was now facing her. Hugging his pillow close to his head, scrunched up his brows starting to relax. With the final wrinkle fading away, Kousuke’s sleeping form let out a small huff.

  Smiling at the older twin, Aria snuggled back under her blanket. Keeping her eyes on Kousuke, Aria’s tense muscles started to relax. The shroud of anxiety slowly cleared away like fog in the wind.

  Taking in one last deep breath, Aria let it out, and like a spell, her eyes closed with the release. Lulling Aria back to sleep.

  This time she dreamt of flowers, the lake, and the beautiful night sky. Dreaming of the possible adventures that are going to come tomorrow, and the years to follow.