"Do it again, Ari! Do it again!"

Six year old Aaria Wendleson smiled as her little sister begged.

"Alright, Mave. One more time."

Aaria waved her hand, and a ring of purple daisies sprung up, surrounding the two little girls where they sat. She had done it a few times before, each ring a different color. A large circular rainbow had bloomed, glowing in the midday sun.

Small little Mave squealed and giggled, plucking up one of the delicate little flowers. She twirled it in her fingers and held it up to the sun.

Unlike the rest of the family, two year old Mave had accepted Aaria's strange... talents. Her other sisters and brothers, along with the rest of the village, deemed her a-

"Hey there, freak."

That.

Aaria turned to see Gunter Woodsworth and his gang of goons behind her, grinning. Mave got up, still clutching the purple daisy.

"You bully! That's mean!" She squeaked. Gunter only laughed.

"What're you gonna do, pipsqueak? Oops!" He sneered and stomped on a line of yellow flowers Aaria had created earlier.

"Hey!" Cried Mave. Aaria tried to pull her back down, but the little girl wouldn't budge.

Mave stomped forward and faced the large ten year old boy. And punched him in the gut.

Now, there's one thing everyone knows about the Wendleson family, and that's that they are strong. Very strong. Even little Mave can do her own damage if she wanted to. And she did.

Gunter doubled over, groaning. His band of cronies stepped forward, all cracking their nuckles, but he waved them off. After a moment, the boy straightened up again, seething.

"Why you little...." And he smacked Mave right across the face. Mave fell, and hit the ground. Luckily the daises cushioned her fall.

That was the end of the line for Aaria. She walked forward. Every step she took, the bullies took two back. Aaria didn't know why.

It was Mave's gasp that made her look down, and what she saw stunned her. Her entire hand was engulfed in a bright vibrant orange flame, as if she were palming a miniature campfire.

It was silent. Dead silent. Even the birds had stopped chirping, and the bugs stopped buzzing. The only sound was the crackle of the flame.

Finally, there was a muffled call from down the hill: "Gunter!"

Gunter jumped and turned. Aaria quickly extinguished the fire, and held Mave behind her.

Gunter's mum, Sally Woodsworth, came tromping up the hill. Gunter turned to the Wendleson sisters.

"This isn't over, freak," he snarled, and left.

Aaria thought for a moment. Was she a freak? That fire was surely a step above what she could usually do. Yet at the same time, it made her seem stronger. Powerful. Like a mystical creature. Then she thought of something.

"Actually," she called after him, "It's lion!"