Light TWs for this chapter: Fighting/graphic(?) depictions of violence.

The wind blew hard as the others huddled together. Shocked, frozen solid, they stared at the ice elemental. No one had ever stood up to X in the way she was doing now.

Her icy blue exterior started to turn white, as the storm raged on. A row of sharp icicles emerged from the floor at the flick of her wrist. X quickly dodged them, but they shattered.

"Ah!" He hissed, as a sharp fragment of the ice cut his cheek. Wincing, he covered the wound with his hand. His eyes widened, as he noticed Leafy's color change.

Her eyes were glowing white, fog spewing out of the corners where tears would exit. She was glaring at him. Another flick of her wrist sent a harsh wave of snow his way.

It covered him completely, as he thrashed against it. Digging himself out, he was met with multiple icicles. They came crashing down, and he panicked.

Finally using his own magic, he created an ice shield, ducking down. The sharp points stabbed through the thick ice. He shattered them, firing ice crystals into the air.

Taking a deep breath, the ice formed into the familiar wings everyone had seen him use. He took off into the air, glancing down at Paintbrush.

"I need you to melt the excess snow!" He called out to them, dodging another wave of Leafy's sharp icicles. Nervously, Paintbrush set their bristles ablaze.

Closing their eyes, they felt their fists heat up. Then, they opened them, pointing their hands at the snow. Flames sparked from finger tips, spiraling out towards the cold fluff.

Glancing up, they watched Leafy and X clash. X grit his teeth, feeling his ice wings tense. He felt his hands frost over, as an overwhelming feeling grew in his chest.

He didn't want to fight her.

Taking another deep, shaky breath, X closed his eyes, turning his head away from her. Snapping his fingers, ice golems emerged from the walls.

Leafy didn't even flinch as she threw her arms out to the side, spraying them with sharp icicles, instantly shattering them. She stared up at X. He was still hovering in the air.

She turned one of her hands towards him, clenching it into a fist. X was confused, until...

One of his wings snapped.

He gasped, firing a pile of snow at the ground, landing in it. One glance behind his back was enough to see the damage. The icy wing had been shattered.

X felt shocked, face paling. He knew ice magic was powerful...but how did Leafy learn an ability like that so quickly? He turned back to face her.

She was slowly approaching him, the walls of ice rumbling louder and louder as she inched closer. X calmly closed his eyes. Then, he fired a small stream of snow towards the others.

Microphone let out a small shriek of shock, causing Leafy to flinch. She turned around, staring at everyone behind her. "Mic...?" She spoke, voice echoing.

X quickly kicked her down, causing her to groan in pain. Her body started to turn completely white, traveling up her arms and to her fists.

She growled, her breath visible as the temperature suddenly dropped. Before X could restrain her, she turned on her back, blinding him with a quick flurry.

X covered his eyes, before being tackled to the ground. He shivered at how cold her hands were. It was like she herself had become ice.

Her hands wrapped around his, as she started to freeze them. A thick layer of white ice had started to travel up his arms, and he began to panic.

The coldness of her illuminated eyes didn't help, as he tried to figure out what to do. "Leafy!!" A voice cried out, causing her to stop. The ice started to retreat, as X regained his normal color.

Leafy stared at the voice, nervously raising her hands up. Microphone had approached the two, wind swirling around her. It carried the fragments of broken ice from the fight.

                 "Why?" Was the only thing Microphone could muster. A look of horror mixed with sadness was on her face. Leafy took a step back, stepping over X.

                 Slowly, she looked down, covering her mouth in shock. Her eyes stopped glowing, and her body returned to the normal ice-blue and orange combination.

                 X was badly bruised, bleeding slightly from the small cut she made. She backed away. "I've done it again. Oh sun, I've done it again!" She covered her eyes.

                  Leafy shakily sobbed, as the icy mess started to disappear. Before Mic could walk closer, Leafy sprinted off, covering her face with her elbow.

                  She wanted to stop her, to comfort her, but she just stood there. Absolutely shocked. She glanced back down at X, who was already being helped up by Paintbrush.

No one had ever hurt him before.

No one knew his strength could ever be matched.

Looking back to the doorway, Microphone started to run towards it.

What exactly had just happened?

Leafy sniffled, head buried in her pillow. She didn't know what came over her. Was it her old habits finally coming back to haunt her?

Or was she really in control of her powers like she thought? After the fight, she didn't know any more. All the thoughts from years ago suddenly came flooding back.

"I shouldn't have ever left."

"This is all my fault."

"I only bring destruction and pain."

...

"I am a monster."

                Burying her head deeper into the pillow, Leafy closed her eyes. However, one more thought flashed in her mind.

"Why me?"

"Why do I have ice powers?"

               That thought swirled around her like a blizzard. Tears soaked her pillow, along with a thin layer of frost. For a moment, nothing could be heard but her own sobs.

"Where the North Wind...meets the sea..."

Leafy jolted up, tensing. A look of disbelief was on her face, as it paled. "...What?"

"There's a mother...full of memory."

Leafy sat up, frantically glancing around her. No. No way. That couldn't have been...

"Come my darling, homeward bound..."

"Mom?"