Chapter 2- Rival?
I woke up to the sounds of my kid brother… playing with Exia's G-Terminal and swinging it around…
"Tatsuya! I told you so many times not to touch my things when im asleep or without my permission!" I said trying to get it back.
"Robot! Robot! Robot!" Tatsuya said with giggles and smiles.
"Come on! Give it back please?"
"Robot! Madoka Robot!"
I struggled for a bit, but I was able to get the G-Terminal back.
"Waaaaah! Mommy! Daddy! Madoka Robot! Waaaah!" Tatsuya said as he ran off crying.
"That was too close…" I said panting. "Are you alright Exia?"
"Yes I am… don't worry, the G-Terminals are very strong, they wont break so easily to a simple fall, or even an explosion."
"A-Amazing…"
"May I ask you something Miss Kaname?"
"Y-yes?"
"Was that little one holding me called… a "little brother?"
"y-yeah… why?"
"Nothing… he reminded me of you… he must be a sibling of yours?"
"yeah… he's my little brother…"
"I see…"
"Ahh… I gotta get ready for school! I'll just get ready okay Exia?"
Exia just nodded, then I rushed to the bathroom and did all my rituals grabbed my G-Terminal and stuffed it into my bag before going downstairs.
Mom greeted me with a slightly angry tone.
"Madoka aren't you too old to be playing with Tatsuya's toy robots?" Mom said scolding me.
I couldn't say anything about Exia or the G-Terminal.
"I-im sorry mom… "
"Well give his robot back okay?"
"Yes mom…"
"Madoka meanie! Robot! Robot!"
I sighed as I ate my breakfast and made my way to meet up with Hitomi and the others
"Good Morning Miss Kaname!" Hitomi said cheerfully.
"Good Morning Hitomi!"
I looked at Sayaka and Homura… and they looked like they slept inside a closet or something.
"A-are you guys okay?"
"Im…so tired…." said Sayaka with exteme fatigue
"Ma…do…ka…" said Homura weakly
"Hitomi! Please stop this! Yes they have low grades! But that doesn't mean you can deprive them of sleep!"
"Kaname!" Hitomi said angrily.
"Y-you may be class rep! But you have no right to treat anyone like this because of grades!" I yelled back.
Hitomi looked like as if she was going to cry, then she ran off.
"Sorry Hitomi… but the health of students is very important too… come on guys… lets bring you two to the nurse's office… I'll sign some slips for you guys to excuse you from morning class."
"thaaankyuuuuu Madooooka….." sayaka said swaying.
"Th…thank…. B-bless you Mad…o..ka…" said Homura also swaying and barely able to stand.
It was hard. But I somehow got them to the gate and some upperclassmen helped me bring them to the Nurse's office.
I took the G-Terminal out of my bag and placed it on the table, as I took some excuse forms from the Nurse's desk and signed them.
"You have a kind heart Miss Kaname… the way you stood up for your friends was very admirable…" said Exia.
"I had to… I am the health representative of our class after all… besides… Hitomi can be a real perfectionist-slave driver sometimes… but boy she really overdid it this time… and… im done! Excuse slips ready! Now I gotta give this to our teachers!"
Then I got up and checked on Sayaka and Homura who were sleeping soundly like babies.
"Sleep well you two" I said as I put my G-Terminal back and exited the nurses office.
I was walking in the corridor when suddenly an orange-hair girl with black ribbons tied to her hair came up to me.
"Kaname Madoka?"
"Y-yes… may I help you?"
"You can help me… by having a Gundam Battle with me."
"Wh-what?"
"You don't need to hide it. I was there the night you made your promise to help a Gundam."
"What? Then that means…"
"Yes… I promised to help one of Exia's friends as well"
"But… why do we have to battle? We have to look for their other friends' right? Why can't we work together instead?"
"I know who you are Kaname Madoka… you're too kind, and you're new to this Gundam Battle game, what if you're attacked by those machines who are after the Gundam? Your good-natured attitude will get you killed, you can bet on it."
"Why…? Why do you have to be so cold?"
"That's what you have to go through. Just imagine if something strong attacked you and you decided to give it mercy? When your back is turned it will kill you."
"H-how do you know all this…?"
"Simple. Because I let my kindness get the best of me… and it almost got me killed. And truthfully speaking you're definetly one of those who will die because of their kindness and naivety"
I couldn't say anything… it was like she knew my weaknesess.
"Well? Are we gonna battle or not?" Takamachi insisted.
"F-fine… meet me after class… in-"
"In the Theatre"
"Wh-What?"
"You heard me, the Theatre, that seems like a good place for us to have a battle right?"
"Wh-why not the rooftop?"
"Because people can hear us shouting, and I certainly don't want us to attract any attention."
I nodded in agreement. True enough we can't attract any attention, and for some reason, I think Takamachi didn't want anyone knowing that she played this too, and I really didn't want anyone to know I played this too… rather didn't want anyone to know that I was saving the world…
"Alright then. I'll be waiting there. Don't you dare chicken out Kaname". With that she gave me a cold piercing stare and left.
I fell to my knees and sobbed.
"M-miss Kaname? Are you alright?" yelled Exia from my bag, but my crying drowned out Exia's voice.
After what seemed like forever I finally stopped.
"Kaname!" yelled Exia, as I finally took out my G-Terminal and he saw my face, "Wh-what happened?"
I just kept on sobbing.
"I-im sorry… im not too good with comforting words…" Exia said sadly.
"I-its fine… im ok now…"
"Are you sure?"
"Y-yeah…" I said picking myself up from the ground. "C-come on… I gotta get to class and accept Takamachi's challenge…"
"Takamachi?"
"Y-yeah… she's a girl who also has a Gundam…"
"So one of my comrades found a partner… but who could it be? And why do they want to fight?"
"W-well… from what I remember… Takamachi said that im too good natured… and that being a Gundam Battler isn't cut our for me…"
"Harsh words… but you don't have to worry, I'll be here with you and we'll win any fight!"
"Exia…"
"Yes, you promised to help me so I should also give it my all!"
"Y-yeah!" I said slowly regaining my confidence.
Just then the bell rang.
"Oh no! I gotta get to class!" I said while Exia returned to his G-Terminal. For once I was ready to fight and give it my all.
I went back to class all energized and ready and full of confidence… once the bell rang though I grabbed my bag and dashed to the theatre.
I went in… but it was dark… till the spotlight on the stage turned on… and there she was… Takamachi Nanoha… waiting for me.
"Took you long enough… oh? Whats this? You seem awfully spunky? Eager to be beaten so soon?" she said smugly.
"The only one who's gonna get a beating here is you Takamachi!"
"My my… such strong words… prove it to me in battle then!"
Once she said that the stage lights turned on and she was gesturing me to come up to the stage…which I did.
"Ready? G-field! Set!" Nanoha said as a holographic field analyzed the whole theatre.
"ARENA: THEATRE. GUNDAM BATTLERS GET READY…. FIGHT!"
"Lets go Exia!" I said as Exia came out onto the field.
"Wow… nice looking Gundam… now here's mine… Gundam! Lets do this!" once she said that Nanoha released a Gundam…. which looked very plain.
"G-Gundam?" said Exia.
"Exia… never would I have thought that you would have found a partner too."
"This battle! What is this all about? Aren't we supposed to be working together?"
"Hehehe… yes… but it looks like my partner doesn't like weaklings like you on the team."
"What? Weaklings?"
"Don't take it personally Exia… im just following orders… besides I wouldn't be too surprised if I saved our world instead of you."
"Gh…!"
"Done talking Gundam?"
"Yes mistress, im sorry."
"Good, now attack! Beam Rifle! Go!"
Gundam fired his beam rifle at Exia.
"Exia! Deflect using you shield!"
Exia deflected the beam but his shield was done for.
"Wh-what? you can only deflect a shot once?"
"Oh my…. Not reading up on our rules now are we? A shield can only block once unless a plugin is used."
"Plug…in?"
"Yeah, like this!" Nanoha said as she drew a card and slashed in her G-terminal. "Card Slash! Waverider plugin-S!" , when she did so a small jet entered the field and the Gundam rode it.
"What? Another unit? No fair!"
"Oh but it is fair. Don't you know how to use Card Slash?"
She got me… I don't know how to use this Card Slash… well yeah Sayaka did mention it to me… but I never really learned how to use it… and I didn't have any cards.
"Gh…! We can beat you without any cards! Exia fire away!" Exia shot beam rifle shots but the Gundam on the Waverider was too fast.
"Seriously? Boy you sure got a lot of guts trying that! Gundam! Crash Intrude!" the Gundam then dove at high speed at Exia smashing him in the chest with a mighty impact, sending Exia spinning in the air and still getting smashed up.
I looked very carefully at the movements… and it seemed like it had a short lag to it, just as the Waverider was gonna hit Exia again, I said: "Exia slash upward!" Exia did was he was told and true enough he sliced the Waverider in two, "Not done yet! Grab the Gundam by the leg and throw him down!" Exia grabbed the Gundam by the leg, and threw him down with full force, "Great! Now stab him with you GN Sword!" Exia then grasped his right arm as his GN Sword was drawn as he boosted toward the Gundam who was sprawled on the ground scoring a direct hit.
"Yeah!" I looked at our Armor Meters, and it looked like I was winning.
"You done yet?"
"What?"
"My turn, Gundam shoot him in the chest!"
Gundam was sprawled and had the GN blade in him, but he effortlessly aimed his beam rifle and shot Exia in the head, dealing critical damage.
"Exia!" I said as he yelled out in pain.
"Lets get some payback yeah? Butt him with your shield!" the Gundam did just that and it knocked Exia back, "Now, Super Napalm", The Gundam then drew a canister threw it and shot at it causing it to explode and engulfed Exia in flames.
"Exia!" I yelled out, "Quick! Get out of the fire!" Exia tried to, but the Gundam just knocked him back in…. and my Armor Meter was looking very bad….
Exia was staggering to get up.
"Don't give up! We can win this!"
"Really? How are you gonna turn this around?" Nanoha said cockily, "Finish him off, beam Rifle to the Head point blank".
Gundam then slowly approached Exia and aimed his beam rifle to the head, "Im sorry my friend".
But before he could pull the trigger I yelled out " GN Vulcan!" as it did so Exia knocked Gundam's with his rifle away causing him to shoot elsewhere while Exia kept on firing volley's of GN Vulcans at him. "Now! Use your other hand to fire GN Vulcans as well!" Exia did so hitting the Gundam everywhere causing his Armor Meter to fall to the same level as mine.
"Gundam! can you still fight?" Nanoha yelled.
Gundam looked like he was in bad condition and could barely stand up, but Exia looked the same, he fell on one knee and was panting.
"Can you still go on Exia?"
"I-I don't know…"
"Gundam! we have to finish this!"
"I-im truly sorry mistress…"
Both Gundam then fell over… this battle was a draw, the holographic field then disappeared and our Gundam's returned to our G-Terminals.
"Exia… "
"Im fine… Miss Kaname… just worn out…"
"Gundam…"
"Im truly sorry for not having pulled the trigger so soon mistress…"
We both looked at each other straight in the eye, I saw kindness in Nanoha's eyes…. But I got this feeling like something was bothering her.
"Looks like we can't continue anymore Takamachi…."
"Seems that way… though I'll admit, that battle was fun."
"Wh-what?"
"Don't get me wrong, the next time we meet, I'll be the one who'll win next time." With no other words, she left.
Shortly after I exited the theatre and headed straight home, where dinner was waiting and so was my family, dinner was like always, and this time I had cleaning duty, after that I went upstairs and took a bath, changed into my pajamas got my G-Terminal and threw myself into bed.
"Hey Exia… are you feeling better?'
"Yes, I am now, those battles look devastating and painful, but the pain goes away after."
"I can't believe you actually experience pain in battle… seeing you like that made me feel so bad…"
"Its fine…the pain is just in this game…however in our world we are just like you humans… we experience pain and death just like you."
"Exia… im sorry… I couldn't be a better partner…"
"Ah on the contrary… I could not have asked for a better partner"
"But I…"
"Say no more, that retaliation with the GN Vulcan was amazing! I had fun doing that!"
"R-really?"
"Yes, and I owe it all to you."
"Th-thank you…"
With that Exia and me kept talking all night, and this time I made sure to keep the G-Terminal safe from Tatsuya.
