"But they taught you the basics, didn't they?" Alasea asked in return. "It shouldn't be too hard to figure out, and I'll be here to help you in case something goes wrong. So let's try this. I'll do what I can to help."

"Okay." Helena straightened back up, and closed her eyes. For a few moments there was only silence, but as she concentrated, her face continued to scrunch in pain. She let out a cry, her wings stretching out, and it continued as she curled her back.

Alasea did what she could to ease the pain, using healing flows while trying to establish a link between her and Helena. She couldn't quite understand why Helena was unable to feel the nature on this world. Maybe it was because she had firsthand experience on what a dead world was truly like.

It wasn't difficult to tap into Helena's efforts to draw energy, but she was still struggling. Another anguished groan passed her lips as her wings crumpled only once where they would normally shrink very quickly. Alasea felt the prespiration and tightness of Helena's balled fists in her hands.

Outside, Matt titled his head as he stared towards the stone walls. "What the fuck are they doing in there?" he said out loud. "Do I even want to know?"

"I'd suggest not going over to check out," R.D. said offhandedly. "We don't need a repeat of that one time before the canyon when you checked out to see what was taking her so long."

"What happened then?" Simon asked, curious.

"Its best we didn't delve into that subject," R.D. said as he rummaged through his satchel.

Over within the rock wall circle, Alasea grimaced at the increasing pressure in Helena's fists, but kept going. She tried to lead Helena through the subtle vibrance she could feel, but she began to wonder if this was something that didn't involve her mutations.

All she could do is test that theory.

"Helena," she called softly, cracking open an eye to look at the other teenage girl. "What's holding you back?"

"Nothing's holding me back, I'm trying as hard as I can!" Helena growled.

"Ease up, Helena," Alasea said soothingly. "Maybe you're not sure why you're holding back. Is your change bothering you? More than just the physical pain?"

Helena opened her eyes. "Are you going to tell me to accept who I am, too? I know I should, but I don't, all right? I don't like sprouting claws just to throw fire, I don't like growing wings, and I don't like changing back to normal. The only reason I do it is so I don't stand around and be useless during a fight, but I hate it just the same."

Bingo.

Alasea opened her eyes and smiled. "So that's what's been holding you back?" she said. "Don't let it bother you. We'll figure something out. I'm not going to tell you to accept yourself. Why should I?"

She almost giggled. "You are you, Helena, and that's all there is to it. It doesn't matter if you have scales and wings and a tail. You're still Helena."

"I KNOW I'm still Helena," Helena said. "But I'm not the Helena I want to be. I don't mind the powers, but they're not worth living like this. And even if I stop using them, I'm still changing anyway. Did you know that? I've got to keep using energy just to have FEET, Alasea. Normal human feet and not the ones I've got now."

"Is that what's bothering you?" she said. "Having to live with the changes?"

"You know it is."

"Maybe its not such a bad thing," Alasea said. "I mean, yeah, changing can hurt, but why don't you see the bright side of things?"

"I like being really strong and really fast," Helena said. She slid her claws away from Alasea's hands, and she leaned against the rock. "I just wish I didn't have to go through this every time I wanted to do that."

"Why not let it remain then?" Alasea said, sidling up next to Helena and leaning beside her. "Maybe you should try keeping them instead of switching back and forth all the time."

"I'm not going to keep them out," Helena replied, sounding peeved. "I know I usually have to change when we get into a fight, but I like to walk around WITHOUT people staring at me. And you know that's not an option when I go home."

"We'll have figured something out by the time you have to go home," Alasea said. "And for the rest, who cares? Its not your world and you don't have to worry about what they think. Only your family and your home should be your concerns, no one else."

Helena bowed her head. "Yeah, you're right about that."

"So cheer up, Helena," Alasea said, leaning forward so the girl could see her face. She flashed her a smile. "If anyone gives you trouble about it, they'll learn to regret it. Hell hath no fury, right?"

"That's the last thing I want to do," Helena said. "When I do use these powers, they have to be for good reasons. I'm not going to abuse them just because people don't like the way I look."

"Well, no, but that wasn't quite what I meant," Alasea said, pondering her next choice of words. "I mean, yeah, there may be a few people who will try to do something about it, but at least you can protect yourself. I already know you won't abuse that power of yours."

"But if it didn't come to that, I'd be a lot happier."

They were silent for a bit before Helena spoke again. "I'll try staying like this for a while. Just to see how it goes."

Alasea nodded. "You ready to get out of here then?" she asked.

"Just let Matt know first."

Alasea nodded. "I will. Though if he makes one more comment about feminine products, I swear to God I'll smite him for it," she muttered, looking off to the side.

She turned and quickly climbed out of the circle, twisting her legs out over the edge before hopping off onto the other side. Her eyes immediately spotted R.D. talking to both Kamina and Yoko as the redheaded woman went about cleaning her rifle. Frowning, she turned her eye from them and ignored them.

"Got a moment, Matt?" she asked, coming up to him.

Flipping a long stick in the air like a baton, Matt caught it and turned towards Alasea. "Whatcha need? And is Helena almost done in there?"

"Yeah, about that..."

Alasea pulled him aside for a bit. "Helena's having problems getting her body to mutate back into a pure human form," she explained. "But I've convinced her to try living with her changes without switching back and forth with them. You know, so she can adapt to them. She asked me to let you know."

"Why's she having problems now?" Matt asked. "She was fine before."

"She thinks its because the land here is dead," Alasea said, shaking her head a bit. "I'm not so sure its that. You know what a real dead world's like; this world's nothing like Khalis. I think she just has some mental block developed about her appearance. And with her body trying to find a medium between human and dragon... well, problems are going to occur if she keeps resisting the transformation."

Matt pursed his lips. "Well, those dragons did tell her to 'accept who she was' and all that." Air quotes and all. "Then again, I'm not surprised she feels that way. And I know you think she doesn't hate me, but I wouldn't be surprised if she blames me a little bit for triggering her powers and starting this whole fiasco."