-Lavender Garden-
The Lavender Garden: a venue to host events. Currently, it was being used by family and friends of Ronald Winfield for his birthday party. It was an outdoor area in the middle of a garden. Many who attended were either conversing, participating in games such as corn hole, or enjoying the beverages and food. The attorney could be seen conversing with friends. Tanya was seen, in a red and blue striped dress, greeting people with her mother. However, she looked partially annoyed for some reason.
Over by the food area. The catering staff, now headed by Reinstar and composed of 20 members, were out there serving guests. The story? The man was sick and had 'asked' 'Rein' to take his place. She brought along her trainees. No one questioned it, as they wanted to complete the task without problems. Currently, Amy and Christina were with Reins over by the dessert bar.
"Relax," Reinstar said. "I do infiltration missions all the time and very rarely get caught."
The two girls gave her a deadpan stare.
"Knowing food types is part of my training for espionage missions."
Christina smacked her forehead. "Uh, look. I see the girl." She pointed at Tanya conversing with an older man. "What do we do? How do we strike up a conversation?"
"Act the part of the service worker." The shinobi reminded. "Remember, you are trainees. You are not expected to know everything."
The Light Radiant nodded. "Right."
The Water Radiant groaned. "Yeah."
"Excuse me?" The group gazed at a man with a mustache. He appeared to be important.
"Yes, sir!" The shinobi greeted.
"Are they gluten-free?"
"Only a few of them are." She pointed at the sign next to her. "Here is the menu."
"Hmm..." He gazed at them before turning to Amy. "What do you recommend?"
"Oh? I'm more of a pastry person."
"I didn't ask what you prefer." He narrowed his eyes. "I asked what you would recommend."
"This." The brunette pointed at the dessert with a smile. "The Cannoli is good, very good. It's like a taste from Italy, or you can try Bussolai, also a good food."
"..." He stood up, took a plate of Cannoli, and walked away.
The water woman rolled her eyes. "Not much of a thank you person."
"He better enjoy that Cannoli." The light woman frowned. "If I made the dessert, it would be better than this."
"Amy... did you eat one?"
"No, it just smells slightly different," Amy stated proudly. "Probably put more sugar into it and some other unnecessary thing. Nonna and mom always expressed the right amount of ingredients in any food."
"Italians are strict with their food." Christina chuckled. "If he comes back and yells at it not being perfect, I am telling him he's a moron."
"Then I would have to fire you, unfortunately." Reinstar sighed. The raven-haired girl scoffed in response. The shinobi perked up, noticing a woman approaching. "Look, it's the mother. Look natural."
The woman with short razor-cut hair approached the woman with a greeting smile. "Hello, thank you for stepping in on short notice, Rein."
"No problem, Mrs. Winfield. I'm always happy to assist. Care for some dessert?"
"Yes, but that's not what I am here for." She turned to Amy and Christina. "Girls, may I ask how old you are?"
"We are fifteen." The raven-haired girl spoke.
"Wonderful!" She smiled brightly. "I don't want to get in the way of your job, but... can you take a break and keep my daughter company?"
Rein smiled, seeing the opportunity present itself. "Oh, is that alright for you girls?"
"I don't mind." Amy said.
"No problem." Christina responded.
"Great, thank you. Again, if it's not a problem."
"No problem at all. I can handle the crowd."
The older woman smiled at them. "Wonderful, sorry again. I'm not forcing you to be friends, only to keep her company for a little while." She gestured to them to follow her.
The two girls followed after the woman. "So this was easy." The brunette whispered.
"Too easy." The short-haired girl narrowed her eyes. "Why is she making this effort in trying to get us to meet her daughter?"
"Don't be suspicious. Maybe none of Tanya's friends showed up, and she's bored."
"Or maybe she hates people; you ever thought of that?"
"Tanya."
The two girls were led to the young Winfield. The girl faced her mother with a smile, then looked at the girls in confusion for a moment before her eyes rose as if she had figured it out. "Mother." she said with an exasperated tone.
"Just for today, but this for your sake. I don't want you to be reclusive."
"I'm not." Tanya scoffed and crossed her arms. "But if you insist, I will humor you."
The Radiant felt slightly offended but let it go. Something was bothering this girl.
"Please be nice." The mother lightly patted her daughter on the shoulder before walking away.
The attorney's daughter sighed before facing the girls with a neutral look. "Greetings, I'm Tanya Winfield."
"Hi!" The light user smiled. "I'm Amy Angelo."
"Christina Zeal, it's a pleasure." The water user held out her hand.
Tanya grabbed her hand before lightly shaking it. "Charmed," She gazed at them, seemingly judging their appearance. "Hmm... I used to not want to speak to people who do not share a certain air about them."
Amy looked miffed while Christina narrowed her eyes. "Excuse me?"
"I said, used to. I found out social class is an arbitrary system, and I can talk to whoever I want depending on how I am treated." She smiled humbly.
This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.
The water girl groaned. "Why did you have to be an ass?"
"Christina!" scolded the light warrior.
"She is expressing herself." The braided girl smirked. "Christina, what do you believe in?"
"People deserve the truth and respect."
"Careful, some people will think you are liberal."
"I refuse! Politics are nothing more than a game." The water warrior scowled.
The attorney's daughter seemed surprised. "Interesting, you intrigue me. I could be wrong about you.
The aquatic warrior crossed her arms. "I guess you aren't a prissy spoiled brat as I thought you would be."
"Oh," Tanya placed her hand in front of her mouth, acting scandalously. "Spoiled... probably. Brat? That's up to you. First impressions are everything." She started walking away. "Come, let's find a place to sit, away from the public."
The two girls followed Tanya further away from the bustling crowd. They found a bench overlooking an open field. Tanya's expression soured as she observed the crowd, but shook her head in resignation. She gazed back at the girls and sat on the grass. The two repeated her action.
"Are you sure about sitting in the grass?" Amy asked. "It might stain the dress."
"Then I'll take it to the cleaners." Tanya shrugged it off. "I'll say I tripped and that's why there are stains. People care way too much about status and image. Annoying curs, the lot of them."
The water warrior eyed her. "This is a nice party though, don't you want to go back? Socialize?"
"This is more for father than for me. All his companions, close and distant, don't care about me unless I'm seen and communicate like an obedient little girl. The prestigious law firm he is a partner at should tell you how anyone should behave. Even if people think lawyers are agents of satan." She rolled her eyes. "Nothing drastic will change for the next few minutes."
"Sometimes they do."
The attorney's daughter sighed, then glared at them. "Look, I know my mother put you up to this. I don't know what she is expecting or what you think you are expecting." Her face relaxed a bit. "She and father just worry. I had an incident months ago, but I am over it."
"That's great!" Amy smiled. "I don't know what happened. At times, we just have to look at the sun and try to smile as bright as it."
"Or just take things one step at a time." Christina said.
"Easy for you to say." Tanya hummed. "I take one step at a time, ignoring the arrogance around me like the plague. The feeble-minded rather go all the way with their emotions instead of communicating. Depending on the situation, the knife can remain deep."
The Radiant looked at the girl curiously. She held herself high as she talked. However, there was something she was hiding.
"Even then, we have to feel proud and love ourselves." Tanya smirked. "Let no person break you."
"Right." Amy nodded.
"I agree to that."
"SCREEEE!"
The three jumped in shock at the loud screech, followed by screams. Amy and Christina felt that familiar presence. "
"What?" Tanya gasped. "What's that? FATHER! MOTHER!" She raced toward the source of the scream with Amy and Christina behind her.
Once they got there, Tanya looked on in horror. However, the Radiant grabbed her and threw her behind the grass wall. They peeked around the corner to see the scene. Many people were unconscious or disoriented. The shinobi was on her knees, holding her ears. Meanwhile, a winged harpy creature stood in the center, glaring at disoriented Ronald.
"Y-you!" Ronald gasped. "Ah... What?!" He grasped his head.
The monster screeched once more, causing everyone to wince out. Reinstar growled at the ringing in her ears.
"You may not remember me, but it's your fault! I couldn't get work! Every single person in the courtroom will pay for screwing me over. I get you, then the rest will follow."
"But that?" The attorney grunted before losing consciousness.
"DADDY!" Tanya shouted in fear.
The man looked up, then looked down at the man. "Miss Winfield, your father and the others will pay for screwing up my life. You're not on the list." He scowled as he looked up and down at her. "Although you are his seed, should you hold the sins of your father?"
"Are you out of your mind!?" shouted the braided girl. "Please, whatever happened, don't hurt everyone." Tears started pouring down her face. "Please!"
"No..." He commanded the bird to take off with the man. "Time to take care of this man."
"BONZAI!"
Blaze and Bolt blitzed through and tackled the bird beast. The bird screeched as it tried to shake them off. The beast flapped its wings and shot into the air with the boys.
"Wait, this wasn't part of the plan!?" Bolt shouted.
"Just hang out!" shouted Blaze
The group watched them take off in the air. The man looked off at the teens. "Radia-ack!" Reinstar struck the man in the neck, making him fall in a heap.
"Ugh, damn," Reinstar said as she rubbed her ears. "Hate those screechers."
"Wh-?" Tanya noticed her ears. "Who are you?"
"Reinstar." She said simply
"Tanya." The girl whipped around and was immediately met with a white crystal hovering in front of her. The two girls were standing before her with serious stares. "Wha?" She looked surprised and confused. "What's going on? Who are you?"
"Um..." Amy scratched her head. "You're going to be a superhero."
"What?"
"Scee!"
Bolt and Blaze steered the creature away from them just as it was about to grab the attorney. The group ducked before getting hit.
"What is going on?"
"The short version is this." Christina held up her hand. "This may sound crazy, insane, but we are... warriors of the elements. The Radiant." Christina said before transforming into Aqua. Amy did the same by transforming into Lumina.
Tanya's eyes widened in shock at the unexpected turn of events. Her mind went blank for a moment. "Huh? What?" She shook her head. "I don't get it."
"Think about every single movie, book, play, or TV show that has this exact situation. That crystal is yours."
The attorney's daughter came back to reality as she processed the information. She looked at the crystal, then at her father, then at the creature tossing the boys off before flying toward them.
"The choice is yours." Aqua ran forward as the bird creature came at them.
"You have potential!" Lumina raced by her.
"What?"
"Basically, you have a choice," Reinstar said. "You can become the Radiant of Ice or choose not to. It will give up eventually, but it will keep hounding you until then."
Tanya's eyes widen, feeling the weight of the choice on her. She gazed at her father on the ground, then at the man who summoned the monster. "He... "
"He gave himself to someone who used his rage against your father and anyone else who wronged him." The ninja watched the kids fend against the flying creature, but it shook them off by flying away. "She doesn't care who she hurts as long as she gets what she wants. Rage in pure form."
Tanya then began to reflect on something. People who were ticked off at her for petty reasons. She grabbed her arm, feeling vulnerable, and then looked at the crystal. "This power will help me fight that woman?"
"Don't abuse it for personal reasons."
"I..." She steeled herself. "I know, great power comes great responsibility." She held out her hand. "If it wants me, then it shall have me."
The crystal was then absorbed into her being. She felt a cool and welcoming feeling after it fused with her. She closed her eyes, feeling the power and words for her transformation. She turned around. Her eyes steeled with new resolve while walking forward as her hand glowed white.
"There is a new ice queen! Freezing Ice: Ignite!"
Reinstar nodded as she watched the girl undergo the transformation. After it was done, what stood before her was a girl in white standing with fierce resolve. "Good, now feel the power in you."
"Feel, sure." She closed her eyes, trying to search for her power. She felt something and decided to try it out. The ice woman ran forward, surprised at the speed she had. "HEY!"
The bird looked over at the girl in white and screeched before flying over to attack.
"Feel the cold embrace." She stopped and then twirled a few times, summoning her power. "Frozen Wave!" She raised her arms as ice swirled around her. She stopped as she brought down her arms and spread them apart as a sheet of ice flew at the creature. Once the wave struck the creature, it felt itself freeze up, its wings frozen stiff, then fell to the ground in a heap, screaming out in pain.
"Alright!" the boy in yellow shouted with glee. "Snow White has succeeded.
The girl in white scoffed. "Please don't refer to me as that so-called 'fairest' one of all."
"What's the problem?" the girl in orange asked.
"Are we seriously talking while that thing is about to get up?" The blue warrior aimed her finger at the beast.
Lumina's eyes widened as she aimed her opened palm at the beast. "Full power!"
"Aqua Gun!"
"Bright Shot!"
The two attacks collided with the beast, causing significant damage. The ice made it more vulnerable, causing it to break down and disintegrate into dust.
"Now that was cool as ice." nodded the yellow warrior.
The red warrior lightly chuckled at the bad joke as he advanced toward the new Radiant. "Um... Tanya... welcome to the team."
The girl in white frowned slightly. "I..." She rubbed the back of her head. "This... is a lot. I need to go back..." She gazed at her father. "I will... talk to you later." She walked forward and reverted to her normal form. She gazed as she collapsed on her knees. "Ah... I feel weak."
"That's what usually happens when you use an adroit after the first transformation, but once your body gets used to it." the orange woman spoke. "You will feel less tired."
Tanya sighed. "Right," She slowly stood up. "Well... Amy... Christina... are you staying?"
"Of course." Lumina walked forward, reverting to herself. "Keep up appearances. We were all victims here."
Aqua de-transformed as she walked forward. "Yep, so let's act like we didn't fight the monster."
Tanya grimaced. "Yeah."
Reinstar felt something about the new Radiant. Was she overthinking the girl's changed demeanor or was it just fatigue? She will let it go for now. Like the others, there was something in the past she would not share.
----------------------------------------
Tanya's height: 5'3