She ought to be more powerful by now. She ought to be able to cause mayhem and use her magic however she please. But she wasn't strong enough.

Arwen raised her hand and shot her magic forward, lifting up a large stone and throwing it with all her strength. It hit the wall of the cave and bounced off, falling to the ground. She worked her jaw and looked around, looking for anyone nearby.

Slowly, she took off her mask, hiding in a secluded section of Polaris. She set it down within reaching distance and breathed, eyes closed. She had to be better.

Arwen's blue eyes opened and she breathed in, then out, in, then out. Her vision turned white for a moment before she looked down, seeing lines and speckles of bacteria along the ground. Her body was mostly clear of it, the main focus of it in her gut, but as she turned to Polaris, it lit up beautifully.

Her magic was everywhere, the organisms all around under her control. It gave her comfort to know that she was never alone, not really.

She breathed out and clasped her hands together, making two fists as she got ready.

Arwen turned and walked forward, eyeing the mushrooms on the ground. They grew in clusters, glowing gently in the dim of Polaris. She raised her hands and the same mushrooms grew all around her in a wide circle, a fairy circle. She smiled gently and knelt down to brush one with her hand, eyes soft.

Right, her faeries. Her beloved family. She couldn't forget who she was doing this for. She was becoming strong for them, of course. Those she and Redwood and Matthieu had gathered, misfits who'd come together to form something stronger.

Her Blue was the thought that came to mind, and she sent fluttering feelings along to him.

Idly, she stood again, walking around the circle and humming softly. She'd leave something behind when she left back for the Court tunnel. Something to confuse those who came upon it, perhaps. It would be good practice either way.

She cast her magic out and was delighted when a massive wisp appeared, floating in place and casting a beautiful pink and yellow glow over the circle. She moved it to float where she wanted it and stepped back, pleased.

She raised her hands once more, readying her magic for a second wisp. It quickly manifested, floating next to the first above the mushroom's she'd grown. She'd make a circle of wisps to float around and dance in their own little way.

Arwen wistfully longed for one of her fellows to join her. She'd love to dance about with them, not a care in the world.

Arwen shook her head, snapping herself out of her thoughts. She cracked her knuckles and held her hands out like a conductor in front of an orchestra, fingers held loose, her pose dainty and graceful. She brought her hands down and a wisp rose up, dancing along in the air for a moment.

She let it float into her hands, a warm glow cast upon her face as she smiled softly, her normally grotesque features looking softer and prettier. She tossed the wisp into place and readied herself for the next one.

The faerie had the wisps in various sizes now, from large to small, varied along the edge of the ring. It was beautiful, actually, and it made her smile.

Arwen threw her hand forward, a wisp shooting from her fingertips, coalescing into a solid shape, like a ball of fire. It settled into place and she turned to the last section, arms at the ready.

The faerie circle was coming together. Wisps floated around it and the mushrooms glowed gently, blue and green paired with the yellow and pink of the wisps. It was glorious.

She gasped as a migraine slammed into her like a truck, making her hunch over with a strangled sob, hands flying up to her head. How could she not have noticed? The throbbing at the base of her neck should have been a sign... her body tingled, her magic completely depleted.

Damn it.

Arwen carefully stood, holding her head in agony. She peered around at the wisps, their light only causing her pain. In a fit of anger, she dashed them away, trampling the mushrooms with a shriek. Tears welled up and she fled, grabbing her mask and hiding beneath it once more.

Exit