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Reece

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"What could I do that you wouldn't be able to?" I could hear the disbelief and shock in my Little Bunny's voice as she asked the Goddess that question. "Wouldn't you, a Goddess, be more capable than me?"

"While that might be true in most circumstances, we celestials are technically not allowed to interfere too directly with the lives of our children. We can bless someone and give them the ability to do something. We can give them wisdom and guidance. We can help them in many ways. However, we cannot act directly for or against a non-celestial being."

I could see the sorrow in the Goddess's eyes as she thought about the lack of true power that she possessed. If she couldn't step in and help someone then, what kind of power would she feel like she wielded? I know that if the only thing I could do to save my children was to tell them what to do, I would feel helpless. It would not be possible to just stand by and watch something happen to them. I couldn't do it.

"Alright, I will do what I can. If I can help, then I will." My wife just agreed to it without even talking to me about it first. I stiffened next to her, shock flowing through me. What was she thinking?

"Trinity? You don't even know what you need to do." I could hear the terror filling my voice. "What if she asks for you to give you li.. to give your li..?-" I hesitated and stuttered a little at the end, and then still I wasn't able to finish the question.

"I said, if I could help I would, Reece. Giving my life for theirs wouldn't be helping, that would only leave Aunt Glory and Athair mór grief stricken. They will not want that, and so I will not do it."

She had a point, they wouldn't ask her to do that for them. In truth, Valerian would most likely give his life for her instead. That did help to alleviate my concern, just a little bit. When I looked back at Danu, I noticed that she was nodding as if my Little Bunny had been right.

"I will not ask for you to give your life, Ríon Trinity. You are a child of mine as well. Every person descended from the original three is a child of mine. Thanks to the Dryads in the family line, that has become a lot more than I ever expected. I have lost enough children over the years, and I do not want to see more perish because of someone's feelings of jealousy or inadequacy."

"Jealousy? Inadequacy?" I was shocked by those words. "Who is it that poses a threat because of just that?"

"Don't ever let yourself become complacent in what you have, Rí Reece. When you have something that someone else covets, they will come to want it even more. Their hatred for you and longing for their desire will both grow in equal measure. Given enough time, that hatred can become a power for them to wield." Danu, while young in appearance, spoke like a wise old woman who had lived through many hardships.

"Alright, but who is the threat that we must defend Gloriana and Valerian against?"

"That, I do not know. I have just seen the fight coming to them soon." She seemed like she was filled with regret, probably because she couldn't give us much information at the moment.

"How soon is soon?" Trinity's question cut to the next major point.

"I cannot give an exact time, but I believe it will be within the next year, two at most. The angry emotions have long since turned to hatred, and I feel that evil is growing. This is a type of evil we have not felt since the Fae of the dark lands have been sealed away in the old lands of home. This evil though, it has never resided in the dark. This hatred comes from one that used to be a creature of the light."

So we have an unknown enemy who has turned evil that will attack at an unknown time. That doesn't sound difficult at all.

"I know this is a lot to ask. I will not send you into this alone. I have gifts for you, for the both of you."

Danu walked forward and it was like I was frozen in place. Neither Trinity nor I moved at all. When Danu put her hands against our cheeks, my right and Trinity's left, there was a bright flash of light. It was more like three flashes; one gold, one green, and one blue.

When the light faded Danu smiled and looked down at my robes. I followed her eyes and felt my eyes pop open, and then I turned to look at my Little Bunny. Both of our robes had changed colors.

My robes were now glowing a soft golden color, solid and vibrant. Trinity's robes, however, had turned to the same color of blue as Danu's dress, and there were swirls of gold and green through them. The swirls formed different patterns and shapes, but they seemed to be moving and shifting as if they were fluid and not solid.

Before I could reach out and touch my Little Bunny's mesmerizing robes, Danu spoke again.

"Rí Reece, you have already been touched by the light. That was evident by the golden color of your eyes as well as the affinity for fire that you possessed. I have given you my blessing of the light as well. I will send guidance when I can to help you learn how to discover your abilities."

I felt pride swell inside of me. Trinity had been blessed before, but I hadn't. This was kind of cool.

"Ríon Trinity, you have been blessed by all of the elements, but none so much as water. Your lineage speaks volumes there. My son, and his son, and all the way down through the generations, the blood has run true. You are truly an Undine. I grant you every element, but again, the water takes to you the most. I will guide you as well, one way or the other, on helping you to learn what you are now capable of."