My hands ignite with power as I shout:
"My powers work out here, did you forget?" I said

Hailey smirks.
"Oh no, dear. I'm counting on it" she said

Billy and Tommy try to rush forward, but hailey flicks her wrist, yanking them back like puppets. They hit the ground hard.

"No!" I yell, blasting my power toward her. The blue energy slams into hailey, throwing her backyard and breaking her grip on the twins.

They sprint straight for me, and I drop to my knees, pulling them into a tight hug. Relief floods me for just a second.

"I need you to listen to me." I tell them, my voice shaking but firm.
"There's a man named happy- he should be just a block down. You'll be safe with him" I said

"No, we want to stay with you!" Tommy protests, clutching my arm.

Hailey tilts her head mockingly.
"Listen to Elizabeth'd advice, fellas." She said

"Now, please!" I beg.

Billy grabs Tommy's hand, and they take off running. I send another blast at Hailey- it grazes her shoulder, forcing her back.

I reach for happy's mind.
"Happy. Two kids- Billy and Tommy- coming your way. Keep them safe. Please" I said into his head.

Then I turn back to hailey, unleashing another burst of energy. She catches it effortlessly, purple power curling around my blue smoke.

"I take power from the undeserving. It's kinda my thing." She smiled.

She hurls it back at me. I'm hit square in the chest, crashing to the ground with a groan.

"You're clearly don't know what you are doing." Hailey taunts.
"So why don't you surrender your magic to someone who knows does? You can still enjoy your life, while you can" She said

While she talks, I flick my fingers, lifting a nearby car with my powers. It slams into her before she can react, sending her flying.

I stagger to my feet and look behind the car- Hailey's floating in the sky, unharmed.

I rise to meet her, hurling blast after blast. She dodges easily, then disappears.

I spin in the air, searching- and then a purple strike hits my back. I scream as I fall, crashing into the street.

"Elizabeth" Hailey's voice echoes above me.
"You've never fought someone like yourself, have you? Did you know there's three entire chapters devoted to you in the prophecies?" she said

She raises her hands, and a glowing book materializes in front of her.

"The Sapphire Soldier is not born- she is forged. She has no coven, no need for incantation. She controls the power of reality, manipulating it to her will." She read

"I'm not one of you!" I shout, rising to my feet.
"No one taught me magic!" I yell

Hailey smiles, dark and knowing.
"Your power exceeds that of the Sorcerer Supreme and the Scarlet stone. It's your destiny to destroy and tear down the world with no one being able to stop you. Only three remain in the prophecies- you, Wanda, and me" She said

"I'm not what you say I am!" I scream, shaking my head.

I blast her- and in that instant, an explosion rips through the air behind me. I turn to see the plane happy flew in on erupt into flames.

My heart stops.

I scan the area- only now realizing Quentin's drones were everywhere.

Then through the smoke, i spot Billy, Tommy, Happy, MJ, and Ned running toward me.

"Elizabeth!" They yell.

"Hi, hi, hi!" I rush to them, hugging them all tightly.
"You're safe. You're okay." I breathed- more to myself than anything.

A chill creeps up my spine. I turn- hailey floats above us, smirking.

"How adorable." She mutters, then unleashes a massive blast of purple energy

"No!" I scream, throwing my hands out. A blue protection dome forms around everyone just in time- but I feel Hailey's magic latch onto mine, draining it.

I cry out as the color faded from my hands, turning them gray and veiny.

"Are you okay?" MJ kneels beside me, worry in her eyes.

Hailey's coming closer. I force myself to stand.
"Get somewhere safe please. Take care of them. I'll be right back" I said

I shoot into the air, energy crackling around me. Hailey's scanning the skies, searching for me. I sneak behind her- and flick my fingers.

Her eyes roll back.

Suddenly, we're in her mind.

Hailey's tied to a pole, surrounded by robed figures.
"No. No. No" She whispers.

"You surprise me every day, Hailey" one says

"I did not know you were capable of this." Another said.

Hailey screams.
"No. No, no, no! Please! I beg you! I beg you!" She said

Then- all of them turn toward me.

"Elizabeth Pandora!" They chant.
"Elizabeth Pandora. You are the most powerful" they said

Hailey appears beside me.
"You are the Sapphire soldier" she said

"So it is written. So it is foretold" the crowd chants again.

"Told you so." Hailey says with a twisted smile.

"Harbinger of Chaos. So it is foretold. So it is written."

The voices grow louder, circling us.

"You can't win, Elizabeth. Power isn't your problem-it's knowledge. Give me your power and I will give you the life you desire. And you can live in peace. You won't ever feel this pain again, you won't ever be broken again, I promise you." She said

Their hands grab me- my arms, my legs. I scream, power erupting outward in a shockwave that sends them all flying.

Suddenly, we're in the air again. Back in the real world.

"Take it!" I shout, throwing my energy at her.
"I don't want it." I yell

"Come on, Elizabeth!" Hailey yells

I keep firing, my hands and face growing skeletal and gray.

"Come on, Elizabeth! Escape your fate! Release your burden!" She yelled.

I let out one final scream, hurling everything I have left at her.

Hailey grins.
"There's more. I want it all." She said

I channel the rest of my power into one massive burst. My body trembles, drained, limp.

"About our deal. Once prophesied, it can never be changed. You will always be broken, I can't change that." She said

She raises her hand to attack- but only small sparks of purple fall from her fingers.

I lift my gaze, the blue returning to my body.

I flick a finger, and the dome appears.

Hailey gasped
"a dome" she breathed.

She stared at the shimmering barrier.

'''In a given space, only few can cast them. Did you not know the fundamentals?" I said coldly.

Her eyes widen.

"But I don't need you to tell me who I am" I t said

"No..... No, no, no!" Hailey screams.

I raise my hands, power flooding back into me- bright, alive, unstoppable. My suit shifts and reforms, the fabric glowing with energy. My hair falls in loose curls, and the sapphire symbol burns faintly across my chest.

Hailey's eyes widen.
"Oh, God. You don't know what you've done" she said

I flick my wrist, and we float back down to the ground.

"So what now? You just gonna lock me up somewhere?" She asked.

"Oh no. Not somewhere. Here" I say calmly.

"Here? In Europe?" She asked.

"Mhm. I'll give you the role you chose- The pushy friend" I said

Her voice cracks.
"No. Please-" she started

"I'm sorry." I say softly.

"No, you're not. You're cruel." She spits.

I smile faintly.

She moves back as I reach toward her.
"You-You have no idea what you've unleashed. You're gonna need me." She said

"If I do, I know where to find you" I said

I press my hand to her forehead. Her eyes glaze over.

When she blinks again, her tone is chipper, false.
"Hiya, hon! Say that's some kinda getup you're wearing. Did I leave the oven on or is that just you, hot stuff?" She said

"You will stay here. No one will ever bother you" I said gently.

"Okey dokey artichoke" Hailey beams.

I smile, then turn- Billy and Tommy are running toward me. I kneel, pulling them into my arms.

"How did you even get here?" I asked

"She took us. We woke up here" Tommy answered.

"Well, you don't have to worry anymore, okay? She's gone" I said

Ned and MJ rush over next, both hugging me tight.

"What the hell just happened?" MJ breathes.

"That suit is amazing" Ned mutters.

I laugh softly.
"Let's just say...I think I know a little bit more about myself now" I said

"And thank you, Ned" I grin.

Then it hits me again-
"Wait- wheres Peter?" I asked

"Mysterio was here. Peter went to fight him. There was a drone about to kill us, but it shut off. So I think he won. He should be on the bridge." Ned said quickly.

"What he said" MJ nodded.

"Okay, stay here" I said, ready to take off.

"Elizabeth, wait!" Happy yells, running toward me. He holds out a small bag.

"Peter asked me to give this to you if I saw you" he said

I open it- and my breath catches. A delicate necklace, shaped like a birdbill dayflower. My favorite.

"He remembered." I whisper
"Thank you" I said

"Now go get him!" MJ shouts.

I take off into the sky.

The bridge comes into view- smoke, fire, and there he is. Peter, limping, covered in blood, looking up just as I land.

"Peter!" I yell

"Elizabeth!" He says, relief washing over his face. We run toward each other, colliding in a hug.

"Are you okay?" I ask

"I'm okay. You disappeared- I didn't know if you were alive" he said

"I'm all right." I whisper, holding him tighter.

"Is everybody else okay?" Peter asked, as we finally pulled apart.

"Yeah. Yeah, everyone fine" I said

"What happened?" He asked, scanning my face for injuries.

"Uh-it's complicated" I laugh breathlessly.

"Is Beck-" I start

"He's dead. He can't hurt us anymore" he said

I smile, then pull out the necklace.
"Happy he gave me this" I said

Peter laughs weakly.
"Oh, Lizzie...I had this stupid plan. And I wrote it all down. It's stupid- I was gonna buy you this and give it to you in Paris at the top-" he said

"Peter" I interpreted, smiling.

He keeps rambling. I cover his mouth with my hand, laughing.
"I'm not great with emotions, so just say it" I said

He nods, blushing.
"Okay. Elizabeth- I like you. I really like you. I've liked you since the day we met. I don't want to ruin anything, but I-" he started to ramble again.

"Peter!" I laugh again.

"Sorry" he chuckles

"I really like you too" I said softly.

He froze.
"You-you what?" He asks.

I roll my eyes and grab his collar, pulling him in. Our lips meet- soft, but real. When we pull apart, we're both smiling.

As we start walking back toward the others, he grins.
"You look amazing" he said

"You think so? I'm kinda liking the suit" I tease.

"You'll have to explain where it came from" he says, laughing.

"I'll get there. But in the meantime..." I wrinkle my nose.
"You need a shower. You stink" I said

"Wow, thanks, Lizzie" he laughs.

"But you do look pretty amazing too" I add with a smirk.

He grins back, taking my hand.

Together, we walk into the sunset-
two kids, bruised and battered,
but finally free.