THE MOMENT
Three blazing beams of varying heat converged on the stone target and disintegrated it into ash as vapor filled the air. The white hot blast was the one Britt was focused on, the blue and orange plasma beams functioned more like training wheels as she got used to the steps and sensations involved. She still had some practice to work up to all of them being white hot stellar plasma, and only a few months left before the big tournament.
"You are learning fast," Donna Chang, a dragon in the form of an ancient wrinkled woman, smiled at the teen as she recovered. They were deep inside a vast ice cavern that Donna used specifically for this training. Britt, like Donna, had the innate gift to tap into stars to channel their energy. Of course, they weren't the only ones capable in a multiverse full of stellar bodies; but, the trick Britt was learning involved tapping into multiple stars at the same time. She needed the intense cold to keep her from overheating, but Donna assured her that was only for training, and once she mastered it, she'd be able to use it any time.
"But it's only three...," Britt sighed and shrugged. "... and I'm still struggling." She had high hopes when Donna offered to teach her the 'Five Star Beam', and for some reason assumed she would start at 'five'.
"It's still two more than most Estrellas," Donna reminded her with a warm smile. She made a gesture toward where the target was, and a new one took its place, ready to be demolished. "Do not dismiss your progress simply because you haven't reached the goal yet."
"I'm not...," Britt shook her head with a sigh. "It's just more work than I expected, and I'm getting used to that. I'm ready," she said. She straightened her back and concentrated on three different points in front of her. She would've had an easier time using her hands, but that wasn't what she was there for. She imagined each point connected to a different star and opened tiny, dime-sized portals. The narrow apertures were meant to propel plasma forward, almost like bending a water hose to make a jet. Steam began rising from the portals and three beams shot at the target. One white and two blue beams launched forth, causing the target to vanish again in ash and steam.
"Good," Donna smiled and summoned another target. "Again."