You're attempting to get your bearings when you notice something odd about the park. Not far away there seems to be a grove of big thick trees, barely more than fifty yards across. What's weird though is a path of the park leads right through them. And not just weaving between the trees either. As you watch, a couple of individuals follow the path right up to the base of one of the trees and walk right through it. A couple minutes later they came out a tree on the other side of the clearing exactly the same way.
Despite the strangeness of the situation this is the weirdest thing yet. Curiosity gets the better of you though and you carefully walk down the hill to the grove. Standing in front of one of the trees, you reach out to touch one. The bark feels warm under your touch, but otherwise the tree feels solid enough. You try pushing on it, and then leaning your weight on it, but the tree remains solid.
"Wow, that's a neat trick."
You can't help but jump a little at the voice. You'd been so focused on the trees you'd failed to notice one of the locals come up to see what was going on. The individual appears to be a cheetah female, with long sandy blond hair dressed in a simple white sleeveless and red short-shorts. her weight is chubby but she looks downright thin compared to other citizens you've seen. Part of the reason it's startling to see her is she appears to be half inside on of the trees next to you.
"Are you ok?" she asks, seeing you staring, "I said that's a cool trick you can do, leaning on nothing. Or are you practicing for being a Mime and can't talk to me?"
"Huh? No, uh, I'm sorry," you sputter, your blush matching your fur, "And it's not a trick, at least, i don't think it is."
She gives you an appraising look and smiles, "I'm Cindy. Are you new to town?"
"Yes," you nod still looking at the trees as you tell her your name, "Tell me, have you ever noticed anything odd about this part of the park?"
"I don't think so. Why?"
"Because I swear I'm staring at a grove of old trees right here and yet no one seems to notice them, or even feel them."
"What are you talking about?" Cyndy asked confused, stepping a bit closer, "There's never been a grove of trees here. Come to think of it, when this park was made this was the only spot where they didn't have to cut down any trees."
"But I swear I can see them and feel them. Look."
You demonstrate by placing your back against one of the trees and your feet up on the other. Cyndy gasps as you knew she would, since to her it looks like you're floating in mid air.
"Ok, I've got to know how you did that," reaching out she grasps your wrist and gasps again, "I... I can see them, I can see the trees!" Slowly, tentatively, she reaches out with her other hand and touches one, he body making contact this time. Letting go of your wrist as you drop down to the ground she blinked. "They're gone again."
"Let me try something," you muse and gently touch her wrist again, "Can you see them now?"
"Yes," she nods, still amazed, "But how? Why is it I can only see them and touch them when I'm touching you?"
"I don't know," you reply, "But I bet we could find some answers inside the grove. Do you want to come?"
After a long moment she nodes, "Yes, to hell with that old saying about curiosity and cats."
You have to chuckle at that as the pair of you walk into the grove.
--------------------------------------------------
The whole thing seems far bigger on the inside than it did on the outside. The trees soon tower high enough to block out the light. Pushing past them though finds you in a small clearing barely ten yard wide and in the center looks to be a spring of some sort. The water looks clear as crystal and smooth as glass. As you both approach a noise like a faint breeze whispering through the leaves starts to grow.
When both you and Cindy are standing by the spring the noise is loud enough to hear, and speaks with a voice that sounds both ancient and ageless, as soft as a light wind or a gentile rain and yet as mellow as music. I've been waiting for you it seemed to say.
"Who are you?" you ask, unable to help yourself.
I am the guardian of this, the Spring of Power. I have waited for eons for the one who is to use it to change the world.
" 'Change the world' ?" you ask, "Isn't that a little vague? How do you know I'll make the world better?"
Better or worse, such choices will lie in your hands. The Spring is a great gift, but only those who would not seek it may find it. Those deserving of power are the ones who do not wish it for themselves.
You pause to consider this. "Suppose I do this, what must I do in order for it work?"
Merely step into the center of the spring. It's power will become yours
You consider doing so but look back as Cindy who seems utterly amazed by all this as she stares between the water and you.
Do not fear. Your mate is beyond the barrier, she may watch if she desires.
You wanted to counter, saying she isn't your mate but something prevents the words from leaving your throat. Tentatively you let go of Cindys hand. She glances around but nods as she can still see everything. Carefully you step into the water. It's cool but not cold. Carefully padding to the center, you stand still as a beam of light from the tiny opening in the trees bathes you in a warm glow.
Now, receive the power of the ancients.
The sudden impact of the power feels like a battering ram in your chest, doubling you up with the immense force behind it. You watch as slowly the water seems pulled towards you, thin streams beginning to rise up around you as they encircle your legs, growing longer and thicker as they surround your body. The power thunders in your chest like your heart was desperately trying to escape. You can feel your body groan and strain under the immense energies flooding it.
Suddenly you hear a snap, and then another, fearfully you realize your form might not be able to contain such power, groaning you watch as your form seems to swell, bones cracking dangerously. The spring is more than half empty now but it feels like your going to explode any second. The light begins to fill your eyes as you wonder if this is death coming for you. You let out a scream as you feel the sudden surge of power begin to tear you apart.
This is not the end however. As Cindy watches in mute amazement, your old body begins to pull apart, but a new form seems to be growing out from inside. You're taking on a new form to suit the immense power you now contain.
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