3.28 – Saskatoon Surprise

Aurora surged through the sky, her powerful wings carrying her higher into the troposphere as she built speed. The moment she punched through the sound barrier, a familiar shiver ran through her, the pressure of the resistance sending a brief thrill down her spine. The shockwave rippled behind her, but up at these heights, there was no one to hear it. The world below blurred as she soared, her communicator’s HUD tracking her course, ready to alert her when she needed to slow down.

She was nearly at her destination when she realized something odd—Mistral hadn’t called her back yet. Aurora frowned. Had she fallen asleep waiting? It had been a long day, but still… something about this didn’t sit right.

The first sign of real trouble appeared as she crossed into Canada. The view of Saskatoon below was obscured by a swirling, violent mass of white. A storm—far stronger than any typical winter weather she’d expect for this time of year. Even through her protective aura, the sheer intensity of the cold seeped into her awareness. Winds howled, whipping ice and snow through the sky in vicious spirals, reducing visibility to almost nothing.

Her communicator flickered as she attempted to get precise GPS coordinates. No signal.

Something’s wrong.

With no response from Mistral and her tech struggling, she defaulted to instinct. The SOS Clubhouse was her best bet, but as she descended, she had some difficulty pinpointing it. The entire city was blanketed in near-total whiteout conditions.

If I can’t see from below, maybe from above...

She shot back into the sky, climbing high over the swirling storm, searching for patterns in the clouds. It didn’t take her long to spot it—the telltale spiral of an eye at the storm’s center.

There.

Whatever was happening, that was the heart of it.

Aurora folded her wings and dove.

She pierced the storm’s gullet like a bullet, spiraling through the narrow opening, and emerged into a pocket of eerie calm. Snow swirled in slow, lazy circles around the core of the tempest, but the moment she caught sight of what was below, her blood ran hot.

Mistral was trapped. Encased in a cyclone of shimmering ice and whirling frost, she fought to escape, but the prison tightened with every second.

Standing at the heart of it all was a woman Aurora didn’t recognize.

Pale, almost porcelain in appearance, her skin was an unnatural alabaster, and her raven hair was adorned with ice-crusted ornaments. Her dress, impossibly intricate, was woven with patterns of lace that looked like crystalline snowflakes. With an elegant sweep of her hand, she commanded the swirling storm, each flick of her wrist reinforcing the icy cyclone trapping Mistral.

Aurora’s anger flared instantly.

You’re attacking my girlfriend? Tonight of all nights?

Training kicked in. No hesitation. No introductions. Take the initiative.

With a sharp inhale, Aurora unleashed a concentrated blast of golden energy at the woman.

The beam should have struck with full force, shattering through whatever defenses this ice queen had. But the storm itself twisted, altering its path. Her attack lost some of its punch as it pushed through the whirling frost, and by the time it connected, it barely made her target flinch.

The woman flicked her wrist again, sending the swirling shards that had been surrounding her cascading outward.

“Aww, another hero looking to ruin my fun!” she cooed, her voice disturbingly light. “I thought I’d play with another weather manipulator, but if you want to feel the freeze too, I’ll share with you as well!”

A burst of wind erupted from her fingertips, sending a punishing barrage of hail slamming into Aurora’s aura. The impact was deafening, sheets of ice hammering against her defenses with relentless force. Even though the storm couldn’t touch her directly, the sheer pressure of it pushed her higher into the air, forcing her to adjust mid-flight.

Aurora gritted her teeth and twisted free of the icy streams, circling around for another attack. She fired again, multiple smaller blasts this time, testing the woman’s defenses.

Another flick of the wrist. Another swirl of frost. The blasts scattered harmlessly into the storm.

Damn it—she’s good.

Whoever she was, she was strong. But Aurora wasn’t about to let that stop her.

She flexed her hands, golden light flaring brighter around her fingertips.

Holly, scan for weak points.

A soft chime echoed in her mind, followed by Holly’s crisp, measured voice. Already on it, darling. But I must say, this woman is quite the force of nature. Almost reminds me of a certain someone you’re rather fond of.

Aurora didn’t dignify that with a response, instead diving at an angle, maneuvering to get past the ice witch’s line of defense.

Her constructs are denser near their core—breaking them apart will take sustained force. But… interesting. Her reaction times aren’t as instantaneous as they seem, Holly observed.

Aurora’s eyes narrowed. Meaning she’s not dodging—she’s predicting.

Right, let’s mess with those predictions! Holly sounded somewhat excited.

With a sudden burst of speed, she faked left, then immediately twisted right, firing off another blast mid-feint.

The woman’s response was instant—her hands moved to deflect the first attack, but her eyes widened as Aurora’s real shot hit home.

A burst of golden energy slammed into her defenses, shattering a chunk of the ice swirling around her.

For the first time, the woman’s playfulness dimmed.

“Oh,” she murmured, voice almost purring. “That’s new.”

Aurora smirked. “You’re not the only one who can play.”

Aurora continued to harry the snow-cloaked woman with a barrage of golden blasts when suddenly, a near-blinding bolt of lightning seared through the air, striking their opponent dead-on. Aurora’s eyes snapped to the source, spotting Mistral standing defiantly amidst the knee-deep snow.

Even in the dim light, she could see Mistral hugging herself with one arm, shivering.

She’s cold? Aurora’s gut twisted. How?

Mistral’s command over the snow and ice should naturally insulate her well from freezing conditions. Something is very wrong. Her life is in danger! Holly said.

The Asian woman grumbled under her breath, barely staggered by lightning striking. With a sharp motion, she started swirling more ice and hail around herself, thickening the storm’s defenses.

Aurora wasted no time, closing the distance to Mistral in an instant. She wrapped her arms around her girlfriend, recognizing the problem immediately—Mistral wasn’t able to fully counteract the bitter cold.

“This might help,” Aurora murmured, pressing close as she channeled her healing light into her. Warmth radiated from her hands, flooding Mistral’s chilled body with a gentle heat while her aura formed a protective shield against the frigid winds. “I can shield you if you can take her out.”

Mistral took a slow, steadying breath, nodding. “I'm having some problems here… but I think I can…”

With a decisive gesture, she raised both hands.

The chaotic storm that had blanketed Saskatoon in a deep freeze suddenly stilled. The howling winds died. The battering hail softened into nothing. What had been a relentless, raging blizzard melted into a gentle snowfall, flakes drifting lazily to the ground.

And just like that—

Their enemy was gone.

Aurora’s gaze darted around the eerily quiet night, scanning for any trace of the woman. Nothing. Not even a lingering energy signature.

“She’s gone,” Aurora said, both relieved and irritated. “Didn’t want a two-on-one fight, I guess.”

Mistral exhaled and let her shoulders relax, though she still trembled faintly. “She called herself Snow Witch…” she panted. “Her powers… they cancel mine out. She took me by surprise and overwhelmed me after a protracted battle. Thank goodness you arrived when you did…”

She turned and wrapped her arms around Aurora, pressing her freezing body against her.

Aurora held her tightly, letting the healing warmth of her aura seep into her again.

“We should get going and warm up a little,” Mistral murmured. The wind stirred, and she lifted off, leading the way.

Aurora stayed close, her hand finding Mistral’s, nullifying her weight with her aura to help her move faster. She smiled softly. “I’m glad it worked out that I could come tonight… serendipity, I suppose.”

Mistral nodded weakly, clearly too drained to match Aurora’s usual enthusiasm.

“That person was focused entirely on you,” Aurora noted, frowning. “Well, until she met more resistance.”

They touched down on the rooftop of the clubhouse, and before Aurora could even let go of her, Mistral embraced her again, pulling her into a kiss.

Aurora melted into it, tightening her hold, pouring more warmth into her touch. The moment their lips parted, Mistral sighed and rested her forehead against Aurora’s. “Mmm… we should probably look for her before the trail runs cold—” she smirked faintly at her own pun, “—but I just wanted to take a moment to hold you.”

Aurora brushed her fingers along Mistral’s cheek, her smile turning tender. “It’s always wonderful to see your face, sweetie.”

Mistral lifted her hand to Aurora’s face in turn, but the touch of her fingers sent a shiver down Aurora’s spine—they were ice cold.

“Let me tell you what I know while I catch my breath,” Mistral said, taking another deep inhale before looking into Aurora’s eyes.

“She wandered into town an hour or so ago and called me out—by which I mean, she started wrecking things with her ice powers while screaming my name. I flew down and tried to talk her down, but she wasn’t interested in talking. She wanted a fight—a direct challenge to see whose power was greater.”

Aurora frowned. Fixated.

“She’s a mystic creature,” Mistral continued. “I can feel it… but somehow, she was able to counter my weather manipulation—at least where blizzards are concerned. She shouldn’t be able to do that.”

Aurora’s grip on her tightened protectively. “Let’s go inside. You’re freezing. And I think you’re right—she wasn’t here by coincidence. She came looking for you.”

Mistral nodded reluctantly.

Aurora hugged her even closer. “You need to be at your best when she calls you out again. And she will call you out again.”

She kissed Mistral’s forehead, then whispered against her skin, “Either a shower or a fire is what you need most right now. My body heat can only do so much.”

Mistral hummed. “Mmm… I think I like your warmth best.”

Aurora laughed softly, then grew more serious. “Beyond warming up, we need a counter for her. She already has one for you. That’s what worries me.”

Holly’s voice chimed in smoothly. A countermeasure that precise suggests prior knowledge of Mistral’s abilities. A predetermined plan.

Aurora’s expression hardened. Exactly what I was thinking.

Mistral pulled back slightly, looking troubled. “Then the question is… who is she?”

Mistral shook her head with a soft sigh. “I think you scared her off for now… her powers weren’t as effective against you. And whatever she was doing, it wasn’t quite strong enough to counter my other abilities… but she did overpower the winds that give me flight. That’s never happened before.” She turned toward the door and hesitated, her lips pressing into a slight pout. “I don’t want to go into the clubhouse like this.”

Aurora studied her, the fatigue written in her posture, the chill still clinging to her. She nodded in understanding.

“Let’s go back to my place instead,” Mistral suggested.

“That’s fine with me, but let’s hurry. I’m worried about you. If you get sick, it’s not going to be a fun visit.” Aurora smiled, brushing her fingertips gently against Mistral’s arm. “Come on.”

With that, the two lifted off and made their way toward Mistral’s apartment, Aurora keeping her wrapped in her warming aura the entire way. By the time they touched down in the alley behind her building, Mistral was already moving a little more fluidly, her color returning. A thick fog curled around them as she cast a quick veil, giving them cover as she transformed back into Denise. Aurora, in turn, shrank her wings down, tucking away her celestial glow.

Once they were inside, warmth enveloped them, and Denise immediately turned to embrace Aurora, pulling her into a lingering, heated kiss. Aurora melted into it, their lips moving together in a slow, deliberate rhythm, the weight of the night melting away in each other’s arms.

Denise pulled back, her lips curving into a playful smile. “Give me a few minutes… or, you could come join me.” She winked, her voice thick with invitation. As she turned toward the bathroom, she started peeling away the damp remnants of her outfit, discarding them carelessly.

Aurora’s breath hitched, her heart skipping a beat as she watched her go. The invitation hung between them, electric and irresistible. She didn’t hesitate.

“Mmmm, that’s an invitation I can’t refuse.”

With a thought, her costume dissipated into shimmering light, vanishing as easily as it had appeared. Her wings unfurled instinctively, but she suppressed them again, stepping lightly into the bathroom just as Denise reached to turn the water on.

The shower steamed to life, a cascade of warmth filling the space. Denise stepped in first, the hot water running down her chilled skin, easing the tension from her muscles. She sighed in pleasure, then turned, watching Aurora with an amused glint in her eye.

“No wings?” she teased, tilting her head. “I was wondering how those things would fit in here.”

Aurora grinned. “Turns out, quite neatly.”

Denise laughed softly and held out a hand. “Well, let’s warm up a little.”

Aurora stepped forward, their fingers lacing together as she joined her under the water. The heat surrounded them, washing away the lingering cold, but the warmth between them had little to do with the water. Aurora’s arms slipped around Denise’s waist, pulling her close, feeling the shiver of relief against her own skin.

Their lips met again, slow at first, then deepening as their bodies pressed together, fitting seamlessly in the confined space. Denise sighed into the kiss, her fingers threading into Aurora’s damp hair.

“Mmmm… you feel good,” Denise murmured, her lips brushing against Aurora’s ear.

Aurora’s pulse quickened, her breath hitching as Denise’s hands moved over her back, tracing soft patterns against her skin.

They stayed like that, wrapped up in each other, the heat of the water mixing with the warmth of their bodies, the long night melting away in the simple, quiet intimacy of being together.

Denise nuzzled against Aurora’s neck, her breath hot against her skin. “We need to find that Snow Witch, but… I don’t want this moment to end just yet,” she whispered.

Aurora smiled, running her fingers through Denise’s silky hair. “Then let’s not rush.”

Denise chuckled softly, tilting her head up to meet Aurora’s gaze. “Mmm… I’m starting to feel… much, much warmer… how about you?”

Aurora’s heart fluttered as she pulled Denise even closer, pressing a lingering kiss to her temple. “Perfectly warm,” she whispered, and for now, that was all that mattered.

Meanwhile…

“What do you think happened here?” A man stood with his arms crossed, watching as police and emergency crews worked to restore order. He turned to his companion, his breath visible in the lingering cold. “I heard Mistral was here. Think it’s safe now?”

“Of course,” the other man said with an easy grin. “She’s the real weather witch around here. If she was involved, whatever happened is handled.”

“Things change, boys.”

The voice, sharp and ice-laced, cut through the night like a frozen blade.

Before either man could react, cold, claw-like hands clamped down on their shoulders. The breath they were about to exhale turned to jagged gasps as frost crackled over their skin.

Their terrified shrieks never made it past their lips.

In mere seconds, their bodies desiccated, flesh tightening over bone, eyes frozen wide in eternal horror. The color drained from their skin as they withered into brittle, mummified husks, standing lifeless in the alleyway.

A chilling, mirthless laugh echoed through the darkness.

Snow Witch smirked, admiring her handiwork. “That arrogant little tart and her glowing pet flashlight will learn soon enough.” She flicked a finger, sending a cruel gust of wind scattering frost over the corpses. “There’s only one Mistress of Blizzards in this world.”

As the workers shivered in the distance from an inexplicable gust of cold, she melted into the shadows, stalking further into the alley, already plotting her next move.