I could feel the love that she had for me, and the moment that our lips connected, it was like they were the only lips that I had ever known. I knew that Calishora had spent countless years in my mind, living a life with the girls and me, but the way we kissed was timeless. It was like we had always been kissing, and we never stopped.
My heartbeat quickened as I realized that I was in love with her. It was a sudden but all-consuming feeling. I loved her with every fiber of my being, and I would do anything for her.
Calishora pulled away from me, and I could see the love in her eyes as well. "I love you," she said softly.
"I love you too," I said back to her.
This feeling was strange, but as we pulled apart, I knew that she would always be there for me. It wasn't like I loved her more than the other girls, but I couldn't deny that this connection was much different than the others.
"Okay, as much as I would love to keep going with this kiss, we have an invasion to prepare for," I said, and Calishora nodded.
"Right, the invasion," she said with a look of determination. "We need to find a way to stop my sisters."
"And we will," I said. "But first, you need to teach me more about your powers, and I need you to put me through the wringer. We don't have a lot of time, so today, I want you to train me until I beg you to stop. I have a Growth Spurt that is ready to go, and that is like leveling up for me, but I want to make sure that I learn as much as possible, so the Growth Spurt is more effective."
"Okay," Calishora said with a smile. "I think I can do that."
"Good," I said. "Now, let's get started."
For the rest of the day, until dusk was upon us, Calishora put me through a brutal regiment of mental and physical training. Each one of the things that she had me do bring me closer to my goal, and when the sun went down, I made my first attempt.
"Okay, I think I understand now," I said, breathing heavily as I extended my hands forward.
"Remember what I just taught you. Your mind is already split, so once the field is up, everything must be controlled with thought. Our powers are not like yours, but you do have the advantage of being my mother's heart. No matter the power, you should be able to use it, but you have to be careful. This ability can allow you to shrink a star; if you are strong enough, You can make it small enough to absorb. Our power has limitless potential," Calishora explained, and I nodded as I closed my eyes and summoned a bubble around myself.
Nothing happened at first, and I was about to give up when I felt a change. It was like something clicked in my mind, and suddenly I could feel the bubble around me. It was smaller than I had wanted it, but it was there.
"Good," Calishora said with a smile. "Now try to make it bigger."
I focused on the bubble and willed it to grow larger. At first, nothing happened, but then I felt the bubble expand outward. It grew until it was big enough to encompass the entire area that we were in.
"Wow," I said, looking at the bubble in amazement. "I did it."
"You did," Calishora said with a proud look on her face. "But this is only the start. Now I want you to make that rock move to you and then make it bigger."
I looked at the rock that Calishora was pointing to and focused on it. I willed it to move closer to me, and at first, nothing happened. I was starting to get frustrated when suddenly, the rock began to move. It floated through the air until it was right in front of me.
"Good," Calishora said. "Now make it bigger."
I focused on the rock again and willed it to grow larger. At first, nothing happened, but then the rock began to expand. It grew until it was twice its original size.
I was really starting to get annoyed that it wasn't working the first time. You would think that I could get it right at least one of these times.
"Perfect," Calishora said with a smile. "You are progressing well."
"I feel like I've only scratched the surface," I said, looking at all the rocks around us that I could use my abilities on.
"You have," Calishora said with a nod of her head. "but you have already accomplished more than anyone else I have ever seen." She looked out into the distance for a moment before she turned back to me and said, "I think you're ready for your next test."
"What is it?" I asked, feeling a little nervous about what she was going to say.
"I want you to try and make one of those rocks orbits around you," Calishora said. "It's a bit more difficult than just making it move or grow, but I think you're ready for it."
I nodded my head and turned my attention to the rock that she was pointing to. I focused on it and willed it to orbit around me. At first, nothing happened, as usual, but then the rock began to move. It floated in a circle around me until it was orbiting my head.
"Good," Calishora said with a smile. "Now try two rocks."
I nodded my head and focused on the second rock. I willed it to move, and just like before, it began to orbit around me. The two rocks circled me until they were both orbiting my head at the same time.
"Bazinga! I got it!" I said and started to summon more rocks. Soon there were eight of them.
"Be careful," Calishora warned, but that was the moment when two of the rocks collided.
I tried to recover, but I lost concentration and was hit in the face with two rocks, and one got big and dropped on my foot. I cursed out a string of obscenities, and the field I had created dispersed, and the rest of the rock fell as Calishora laughed at me.
"Oh, it's not funny," I said, holding my foot; that was perfectly fine.
"Yes, it is," Calishora said between fits of laughter. "You should have seen the look on your face."
"It's not funny," I repeated, but I was starting to see the humor in the situation. "I think I'm going to have a black eye."
"Your face looks better than before," Calishora said as she walked over to me and wrapped her arms around me. "Just be more careful next time." She kissed me softly on the lips and then said, "Now, let's go soak. You must be sore after all that training."
I nodded my head and followed Calishora away from the training area. As we walked through the soft grass, I couldn't help but feel proud of myself. I had made a lot of progress today, and I was one step closer to being able to stop her mother and sisters.