The Puppet Master

*(Again for the not obvious heading. We're working on it) Jenny's POV*

"Okay then," Ashley stood up and winked at Emilie, making my heart scream of cuteness (I mean... just look at them!), "Let's get to where we are all set up then."
I felt how somebody moved besides me. It was Jinxx, stretching his arm out towards me.
I couldn't help but smile by his kindness and wrap my fingers around his arm.
Then darkness surrounded us. Numbness.
Then, clouds appeared, the air tasted salty, the ground became softer than the dry wood where I stood before.
I stood on a small island with view on the main land.

"Good luck," Jinxx said then hugged me carefully like I was made of glass.
I somehow enjoyed that.But before I could say a word he disappeared.

Then I realized my situation.
Alone, on a small island, water everywhere, it was cold as heck and the rain crashed down like lonely thoughts during a sleepless night.
It was hard for me to concentrate on the task because I was upset as always.
Oh man.

I knew I was in hurry so I tried to calm down again.
Time doesn't stop for anyone.

A light on the main land - I realized the exercise: go there!
But how?
Not swimming. It would've taken way too long and was also too dangerous.
Maybe I could change my body into the one of a fish?
No, I still needed energy for the next tests. It wasn't clear how much power I needed the next test.

A boat!
Before Alex's death we always went to a lake we used to love. My father had a small, simple boat. I was 8 when he explained me how it worked. One of the moments which were impossible to forget. Old times were unforgettable to me.
We sold it because my mother always had to cry when she saw it...

I closed my eyes and thought of it with every detail.
It really appeared in front of me. I was still astonished how much I was able to do in my dreams.

A short push helped it completely float on the water, then I quickly jumped on it.
My legs trembled. Not because of the wet cold, no.
It somehow triggered me. I had to think of my little brother. How he always was exited to go to that lake - even though we went there every weekend. His happiness used to be something like glue to fix our family.
But the glue was water-soluble.

With shaky hands I started the motor. I tried, I really tried my best to not cry. No more boats in my life again.
I felt some warm tears flowing down my cheeks, combining with the rainwater.

Why couldn't he just listen to me?! Why couldn't he just survive?!
I hated it but I was somehow mad at him.

The fuel's smell was so intensive. The engine luckily was louder than my thoughts.
I tried to calm down. Crying in front of Jinxx? No, please not.

The main land came closer. I stopped next to a footbridge in between of fisherman's boats. To not waste any more time, I just jumped off it and let the waves carry it away.
After I walked through the small seaside village, a light got my attention. On a balcony.
Come on! I just had to cross tons of water and now a balcony?
Nevermind. I took a ladder and climbed it up to see Jinxx smiling at me.

"Exactly 3 minutes."
"Is it bad?"
"No, no, it's very good," he grinned then saw me directly into my eyes.They had to be bloodshot.
I didn't flinch to seem normal. Just stared back. No problem, his eyes were that wonderful blue anyway.
"Are you alright?" he asked without the grin he had before.
I nodded without saying a word and a let's-go-on - face expression.
"Ok, next task," he tried to not be curious "This time you're only allowed to alter yourself."

I wrapped my hands around his arm. You could nearly feel how bad he wanted to know what was going on.
I found that cute.


A look around to see the new place of my test. Ice, ice and more ice. That was varied!
I'm not one of those people who feel constantly warm so... I hated this.
A light again - close to the horizon. I had to get there...
It was so slippery - one move and I would've laid on the ground. Yeah, I am super clumsy so even ice skating was impossible.

Wait, ice bears can be as fast as cars.
Changing my body into one of them would take a lot of energy, but I haven't had another solution.
To be honest, I am not so much into animals or being one of them...
Anyway, I had to pass the test. So I closed my eyes and imagined myself as an ice bear.

Eyes opened, everything was weird. It felt strange to walk with that body and everything was heavier...
After I've "kissed" the cold ice several times, I finally could easily walk and even run.
It felt so wonderful to be so fast without any help of technic, with the wind blowing over your skin (or this time fur).
I reached Jinxx pretty fast and changed again to become a human. I quickly felt how much power that took! My head - ouch...

"Not bad at all." he says.
"Uhh, could have been better.."
"The next task won't be as hard as this in my opinion." Jinxx winked at me.
I took a deep breath, "Thank God."

Numbness. Then the typical smell of a forest. I enjoyed that.
The first thing I realized was a tall tree. Tall wasn't even enough to describe it.
A shiver ran down my spine. I knew what I had to do already.
"No," I shook my head, stumbled away from the giant, "No way."
"You can do this," Jinxx tried to comfort me and placed an arm around me.
"No, I am afraid of heights. I can't get up there."
"Then, sorry, but this is your task. You can do it or skip it."
I look at him, doubting about everything. My face told him that I didn't want to skip it, but I still didn't want to do it either.
"Good luck," he said and then vanished.

Who had the idea of this damn tree?! UGGGHH!
I always overreacted when I was mad. And nothing but me could bring me back down again.

I lifted my head to look at the tree what made me dizzy already. And looking down... Just no.
I carefully went towards the giant. The leaves rustled under my feet. Then a loud crack made me stop walking. Just a branch which gave in under the weight of me.
An awesome idea crossed my mind.
Why climbing up that tree when you can make it come down?

With one thought I got a chainsaw and protective goggles of course. Safety first.
After some moments the engine started.
Let's all take a minute to appreciate horror films with clowns and chainsaws.
Ok, I think I also had been able to do that without the friendly help of the TV.

Did you think with my equipment it was easy to cut down a tree? If you'd say yes, then you're wrong.
You still need a lot of pressure to get the saw through the trunk.
After some moments it was finally over.

And here's a moral: don't think you know how to do something only because you watched it once or twice.

The giant fell on other trees and left a chaos of panicking birds and fallen trees. Ok, it looked kind of cool, but it was dangerous as hell. Never do that again.
I sighed, let the chainsaw fall to the floor and took off my protective goggles.
The way to the top of the giant was longer than it looked. It took forever until I reached it and found a triangle which I directly picked up because "You need this" was written on it.
Always trust shining triangles.

It didn't take long until Jinxx appeared and pulled me into a hug.
"You did it," his voice sounded so proud, I nearly died.
He left one arm around me, then we vanished.

Jinxx quickly disappeared again. I realized, Andy was there.

"Hello, little girl." he had a mocking grin on his lips.
"Hello, giant."
"Come on, I'm not that tall." he laughed. Lies. He was about 1"6 taller than me.
"What? You are the second giant I'm seeing this dream. The worst thing is that I'm afraid of heights." I laugh a little.
"Fine, then you won't come too close," he jokes, "Ok, let's be serious again, it's time for your task."
"And what am I supposed to do?"
"You can't enter minds of Flitters, so you'll enter the mind of my girlfriend, Juliet Simms."
"Seriously?" he disappointed me. I thought he was more caring about others..
"Yes." he said completely cold-hearted.

Of course it wasn't that awesome to invade someone's privacy that much, but I wanted to exercise so bad and I also wanted to do every test.

"Ok." I sighed after some moments of quietness.
"Fine, you just have to bring me a flower which was placed somewhere there by Jake. That's it, not that hard. Good luck." he showed me a smile but that won't erase my disappointment.

I concentrated on Juliet's mind. It was somehow easier this time.
Music... I know that sound...
The darkness disappeared. A concert.
Automatic Loveletter
Ah, Juliet thought or dreamed about one of her concerts! I wasn't a fan of her music anyway so I could easily go through that test without spending some moments to stay in the crowd and sing with them. (I think it would've been harder with a BVB concert)

Without taking any care of the fans, I went through the people, looking for a simple flower.
Then I discovered it. On the bald head of a security member.
Looked like fun.
I pushed people away to get to him. Yeah, I can get really uncomfortable if I'm pissed.
"Pardon, Sir," I got his attention "Could you please give me the flower?"
I know that sounded weird but what were I supposed to do?!
"Flower?" he looked at me in confusion.
"Y-yeah, the one on your head..."
"Get a good therapist." With that, he turned around. Friendly.
Oh man... I just jumped up to reach it and pulled the plant down from it.
People stared at me.
Usually, I would question our society, but this time I couldn't... I mean I've just pulled a goddamn flower off a bald head!
And why the heck did Jake put it up there!?

I went back to Andy to give him the plant. I felt how my engery faded. Uuugh.
"Well done" he smiled.
"Fine, then I'll go to Em and Ashley," I told him and just disappeared without anything more. Why wasting time?

All I can say...well... Emilie looked pissed, too. It wasn't just me who thought the tests weren't great.

Notes

~MarryBerry
Yeeaaah, I'm back and I'm sooo sorry for leaving you for so long ;-;
Seriously, I am giving my best to come back but it's still not as easy as before.
And this chapter took me so looong because my computer deleted it once AAAAH!!
Anyway, glad to be back!