Training for the girls\u2026was not going so well. They kept getting spotted by their mentors and there were only two days left before the deadline. Belinda was looking over something on a computer. Wilma then wandered into the room. \u201cMorning,\u201d yawned Wilma. \u201c\u2026Don\u2019t tell me you\u2019ve been at that computer all night.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAll right,\u201d declared Belinda, \u201clet\u2019s go over this again.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAgain?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAgain.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHow long have you reviewed our lesson plan?\u201d asked Wilma.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAbout\u2026three Earth hours, it looks like,\u201d replied Belinda.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd how many times in those three hours?\u201d quizzed Wilma.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026Five hundred twenty-four times now,\u201d revealed Belinda.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSo you woke up three hours ago and continually reviewed the lesson plan,\u201d sighed Wilma. \u201cYou know what that means?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026Time for another cup of that Earth beverage? \u2026Coffee, I think they called it. It\u2019s quite good with-.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo! It means you should put that lesson plan away and catch up on those three hours of sleep you lost!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026So, Ruby freezes in high intensity situations, Bethany\u2019s bluntness can be construed as rudeness, and Yazmyn is so impulsive,\u201d muttered Belinda.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe also know that these girls have known each other since they were little,\u201d remarked Wilma.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026Do we think that\u2019s relevant for their training?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026We don\u2019t know.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026No.\u201d Belinda steepled her fingers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cExcept that a team is best when everyone is at least familiar with one another.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBut what would help them shore up their weaknesses?!\u201d asked Belinda, her frustration mounting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe don\u2019t know,\u201d replied Wilma simply.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026No, no we don\u2019t. \u2026It\u2019s there! The solution\u2019s right there, staring me in the face, but I just can\u2019t make it out!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBelinda, your mind\u2019s exhausted!\u201d protested Wilma. \u201cGrace is still asleep! We\u2019re like the humans in that regard in that we all need rest!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026How are the girls?\u201d asked Belinda.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cStill frustrated that they haven\u2019t won against us yet.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd that\u2019s another mystery! Why haven\u2019t their weapons-?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBelinda!\u201d Belinda stopped at Wilma\u2019s interruption. \u201c\u2026Rest!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026Rest. Yes, I suppose that\u2019s right. See you when I wake up.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019ll look over the lesson plan then, shall I?\u201d asked Wilma.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026I suppose so,\u201d conceded Belinda as she headed to bed. \u201cNight.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The mood at Ruby\u2019s house wasn\u2019t much better. Bethany was wracking her brains, trying to figure out why they keep failing to take their mentors down. \u201cMorning,\u201d called Ruby. \u201cMom\u2019s made breakfast.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHm? Oh, yeah, thanks.\u201d Bethany stood up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026How long have you been up?\u201d asked Ruby.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAbout an hour. I couldn\u2019t really get a restful night\u2019s sleep.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThinking?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYeah. Specifically about how we\u2019ve been failing so bad! We ARE working on our weaknesses! Why haven\u2019t we improved?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026I don\u2019t know, Bethany,\u201d admitted Ruby lamely. \u201cI know, I know, you weren\u2019t looking for an answer, but I genuinely don\u2019t know. It\u2019s\u2026it\u2019s disheartening.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026Useless!\u201d grumbled Wilma. \u201cAnd all when they\u2019re clearly working on their weaknesses! \u2026Weaknesses. \u2026Hang on, how did their predecessors\u2026? \u2026We\u2019re idiots! Time for a new plan!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The training session arrived and Ruby, Bethany, and Yazmyn were dreading it. \u201cYou girls ready to eat dirt?\u201d Yazmyn said sardonically.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDon\u2019t,\u201d sighed Ruby. \u201cI\u2019m depressed enough as it is.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026Girls, why is Wilma smiling?\u201d asked Bethany. Wilma, Grace, and Belinda were in their Cosmic Rose outfits when they arrived.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026Looks like Grace and Belinda are just as confused,\u201d remarked Ruby. She said it just as everyone was gathered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAll shall become clear,\u201d said Wilma.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI certainly hope so,\u201d remarked Belinda. \u201cI\u2019d rather define my terms.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cGirls, we\u2019ve been focusing too much on your weaknesses,\u201d said Wilma. \u201cThis time, I want you three to play to your strengths.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOur strengths?\u201d asked Yazmyn. \u201cBut we\u2019re not that strong.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNot physical strengths, my dear Yazmyn,\u201d corrected Wilma. \u201cYou three spend some time discussing your strengths and see how to use them against us. We\u2019ll give you half an hour.\u201d By then, Belinda was face-palming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIf that didn\u2019t sound like Rhonda,\u201d she sighed, kicking herself for not thinking about it in the first place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe\u2019ll see you later, girls,\u201d said Grace as she and her friends headed off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026Our strengths?\u201d asked Ruby. \u201c\u2026But you girls are more physically active than me. I mean, Yaz, you\u2019re fast, Beth, you\u2019re the brains of the group.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026Ruby, you\u2019re forgetting how you can bring us together on a common goal,\u201d said Bethany.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBeth\u2019s right,\u201d agreed Yazmyn. \u201cI know we\u2019re friends, but you ARE the leader of our group. You\u2019ve gotten me to slow down at times when it was serious. And Beth, you\u2019ve picked out weaknesses before. Remember that prank we pulled on Rei the Rat?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMan, I remember!\u201d cackled Ruby. \u201cHoo boy, she lost all her cred back then!\u201d Her smile then faded to a look of concentration. \u201c\u2026If we can apply that to the exercise\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYour planning, my brains, and Yaz\u2019s speed used correctly DID accomplish a well-executed prank back then,\u201d reminded Bethany. \u201cWhat say we try that?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026Yaz, keep hidden and scout out the terrain,\u201d directed Ruby. \u201cReport on any weaknesses.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cGot it!\u201d replied Yazmyn. She took off and kept low. The Cosmic Roses were patrolling the area and making bad guy talk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYeah, those wimps won\u2019t know what hit them!\u201d cackled Grace in an attempt to be evil. \u201cWe\u2019ll blind the whole planet!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLight or dark, it makes no difference!\u201d agreed Wilma.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYeah, well I still say dark is better for blinding,\u201d scoffed Belinda.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo, LIGHT is!\u201d snapped Wilma.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCut it out, you two!\u201d snapped Grace. \u201cIt doesn\u2019t matter! Belinda, go patrol the north! Make sure that brainy girl can\u2019t get past us! Wilma, patrol the east! Look out for little miss impulsive! I\u2019ll take care of the west and put the small fry in her place!\u201d Yazmyn heard enough and dashed back to her friends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThey\u2019re planning on rendering everyone blind,\u201d she reported. \u201cBelinda\u2019s patrolling the north, looking out for you, Bethany. Ruby, Grace is looking in the west for you. Wilma\u2019s patrolling the east for me. Apparently, in Grace\u2019s eyes, brainy means physically weak, being small DOESN\u2019T have any advantages, and my speed leads to rash decisions. There\u2019s plenty of cover, though.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026All right then,\u201d remarked Ruby, \u201cwe\u2019ll go for stealth. We\u2019ll enter from the south, then split up with Bethany taking care of Belinda, Yazmyn taking care of Wilma, and I\u2019ll show Grace to call me a small fry. Don\u2019t celebrate until we\u2019ve returned to the south with our captives. Ready?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSounds good to me!\u201d replied Yazmyn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLet\u2019s do it and finally pass this exercise!\u201d declared Bethany.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Over with Wilma, she patrolled like a thug, not really keeping up her defenses. Yazmyn kept low to the ground, using her speed when necessary. She waited until Wilma yawned, then she deliberately made some noise. Wilma rolled her eyes and went to Yazmyn\u2019s position\u2026only she wasn\u2019t there. \u201cHuh?\u201d muttered Wilma. \u201cWhat-?\u201d Someone then grabbed her and yanked her low to the ground. She looked up and saw that Yazmyn was keeping her hand over the Cosmic Rose\u2019s mouth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLittle miss impulsive, huh?\u201d taunted Yaz. Wilma stared for a bit\u2026then held up a yellow flag, indicating that Yazmyn took her down according to the exercise. \u201c\u2026You serious?\u201d Wilma nodded. \u201c\u2026Well, can\u2019t celebrate until my friends are done and we made it so everyone that can will still see. You\u2019re coming back to the south with me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Belinda was acting like a nervous thug. \u201c\u2026She\u2019s just brains,\u201d she muttered to herself. \u201cNo brawn whatsoever! No way can she take me-!\u201d She then felt a hand over her mouth while she was restrained. She struggled a bit, then went limp. Bethany waited a few seconds before Belinda pulled out a blue flag.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026We ain\u2019t done yet,\u201d said Bethany. \u201cBack south you go before you make everyone blind.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCome on, pipsqueak!\u201d taunted Grace as she waited. \u201cCome out of the shadows! \u2026Unless everything else is too tall for you!\u201d All of a sudden, she tripped over something. As she sprawled, someone pulled her hands back and pushed her face into the ground!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou talk too much about one thing,\u201d said Ruby, revealing that SHE was the one that took Grace down. Grace said nothing, then waved a red flag. \u201cCome on, to the south with you. The Blind won\u2019t wish their affliction on anyone else.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ruby, Bethany, and Yazmyn dragged their respective Cosmic Roses to the south and met up. They saw that all three of their targets were holding a flag. \u201c\u2026You girls too?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThem too!\u201d confirmed Wilma.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cStrengths as well as weaknesses!\u201d said Belinda. \u201cI can\u2019t believe I forgot that!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s been millennia since we were being trained,\u201d reminded Grace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou girls saved your planet\u2019s general ability to see,\u201d praised Wilma, \u201cand took us down quickly and quietly.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNow, see if you can hold onto that knowledge of strengths and weaknesses while reaching out for the elements within those Transformation Seeds we gave you,\u201d directed Grace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI hate to have to add a wrinkle,\u201d interjected Belinda, \u201cbut think about the feeling your Seed gave you when you first touched it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026A bit heavy, but all right,\u201d muttered Bethany. The girls shut their eyes and concentrated. Nothing happened for a bit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026Remember,\u201d began Wilma uncertainly, \u201cthink about-.\u201d Then\u2026it happened! Fire erupted from Ruby\u2019s hand, stretched out, then died to reveal a fire-themed sword! Water swirled around Bethany\u2019s left forearm, then fell to the ground to reveal a water-themed shield! Last of all, lightning surrounded Yazmyn\u2019s hands, then died to reveal a lightning-themed gun in each hand. The girls goggled in surprise as the Cosmic Roses beamed with pride! \u201cNow there\u2019s a happy miracle if I ever saw one!\u201d praised Wilma.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Training for the girls\u2026was not going so well. They kept getting spotted by their mentors and there were only two days left before the deadline. Belinda was looking over something on a computer. Wilma then wandered into the room. \u201cMorning,\u201d yawned Wilma. \u201c\u2026Don\u2019t tell me you\u2019ve been at that computer all night.\u201d \u201cAll right,\u201d declared […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":7391,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1061,1063],"tags":[1060,283],"class_list":["post-7778","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cosmic-roses","category-stories","tag-magical-girl","tag-rose"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7778","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7778"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7778\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7782,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7778\/revisions\/7782"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7391"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7778"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7778"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7778"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}