"So… Magical Girls are a thing?"
Doc nodded. "Yep… just bear in mind once you're on the other side of life, mainly the supernatural, you'll be seeing a lot of new things and Magical Girls are on the list."
"Yep." Nick stretched a little, looking to Tadashi. "Oh Sayaka and Kyoko are just gonna love you."
Tadashi blinked. "Who and who?"
"Nick's "daughters" who are also completely insane." Rod replied stretching out in the sunlight.
"I see…" Tadashi looked over to Doc. "Anything else I should know about these Magical Girls?"
"They can see us naturally so no contract breaks again… Guess I should go over that real quick. Corpse Whisperers, people who have the sight, Magical Girls, animals and artificial beings are exceptions to our contract since our invisibility doesn't work on their eyes."
Tadashi nodded. "Got it… Good to know."
"As for the Magical Girls, they are our allies in battle, heck if it weren't for them we wouldn't be a thing."
"And we're ever so grateful." Rod rolled on to his back. "All thanks to one wish."
"That's amazing…" Tadashi said looking up at the sky. "Man… There really is a whole new world…"
"Yep… And we get to enjoy it… And Rod I'd watch yourself if the girls show up rolling over like a good puppy will just get them yelling and squealing… Again…"
Rod gave an unamused look before nipping Nick on the shoulder. "I do what I like dang it."
"OW! Why you-!"
CRASH!
Tadashi watched, backing away a little as Doc lowered his head, running a hand through his hair.
"Here they go again…" he muttered, glancing at the little tussle going on between the two Remembereds.
Tadashi rolled his eyes shaking his head. "Come on ladies you're both beautiful."
They both stopped glaring at him. "HEY!"
Doc clapped his hands.
"Enough from both of you! Save it for the training."
"Fiiiiine."
Doc shook his head, looking to Tadashi.
"Alright, what powers do you have under your control?"
"Let's see… Flight… Sort of.. Walking through walls without actually walking INTO the wall… Invisibility and intangibility. But I've mostly been walking since flight hasn't been kind to me." Tadashi cringed. "Dirt snack… Bleck…"
"Nick'll work on that… so that just leaves Dream Diving and shape shifting for basics… then to figure out the secrets of your Anchor Gear." Doc eyed his hat. "We've trained and seen all the classes but Paladin Class Remembereds are a league of their own, we're not sure what to expect for your powers. Only thing we know so far is what we saw last night."
"And heaven only knows what that was." Rod commented. "I've seen something like that with Telepathic Class but… those were not portal gears."
"More like…" Tadashi paused thinking back. "Energy…"
"We'll see if we can get you to do it again, but first, let's get flying under control." Doc looked over to Nick. "That's your territory."
Nick grinned. "Sweet, I'll make this quick."
Tadashi gulped.
"Ah come on, I'm not gonna be hard on you." Nick crossed his arms. "So what's causing all the face plants?"
Tadashi sighed. "I can't seem to keep my balance. Just when I think I got it I lose it."
"Well then we got something that can help." Nick summoned his gear. "Watch this."
There was a flash and within a moment, in Nick's place was a blue orb with Nick's Anchor Gear on it.
"Whoa…"
"This is our Orb Form. It allows for easier flight though it will take some practice and don't rely on it too much." Nick shifted back to his human form. "If an Unsettled catches you in that form you're a sitting duck."
Tadashi cringed. "Noted."
Rod smirked and ran off returning with a tennis racket in his mouth. "We could simulate what that's like… A little game anyone-"
WONK!
"Rod, you are not helping." Doc growled. "Bad dog."
Rod's ears folded down as he whimpered.
Tadashi sighed. "Well… Best to just jump in right?"
"Yep." Nick floated into the air with ease. "Just take it slow."
Tadashi focused before his form shifted into an orb as he followed Nick, wobbly but still in the air.
"See? Easy. We have less weight to worry about as orbs."
"This is kind of cool actually." Tadashi floated around straightening out before doing a few loops laughing. "This is AWESOME!"
"Doing good, now to see if you can do it as a human." Nick held out a hand. "I'll get ya if you start falling."
Tadashi hesitated before shifting back to his human form taking hold of Nick's hand tightly as he tried to keep afloat. "W-Whoa…"
"Easy now, don't flail that'll just make it worse, relax." Nick squeezed his hand. "Something I do, don't focus on the ground, focus on the sky, think of it as the new ground. Like an invisible floor if you will."
Tadashi nodded, starting to relax a little. Nick pulled away letting him float on his own.
"Good… keep it up." Nick kept below him. "Now start flying."
Don't look down, don't look down, DON'T LOOK DOWN! Tadashi thought as he did so, trying not to pay attention to the ground below him or how high up he was.
Don't start getting acrophobic now… Come on kid. Nick gave him a reassuring look. "You're doing great Tadashi."
Tadashi smiled sheepishly. "T-Thanks Nick."
Nick flew up beside him. "Alright, gotta break you in." He grabbed hold of Tadashi's hand, taking him high to the sky. "Time to kick it up a notch!"
Soon as they were high enough Nick let go and before Tadashi knew it he was being blown by a strong tail wind.
"WHOA! AAAAHHH!"
Nick flew around, letting himself get caught in the winds.
"WOO HOO! YEAAAH!"
WHAT IS WITH THIS GUY?! THIS IS CRAZY! THIS-!
Tadashi stopped short realizing he was still airborne and not heading straight for the ground. And he was starting to feel something like an adrenaline rush going through him.
"Come on Tadashi!" Nick called. "Let that need for speed kick in! Use the tail winds to your advantage!"
Tadashi took a deep breath before rushing forward, the wind whistling in his ears as he sped past Nick. "You're talking to the guy who outran a gang of insane bot fighters on a MOPED!"
"Well then is perfect!" Nick laughed diving down. "WOO!"
Tadashi chuckled before chasing after him. "This… Is amazing!" When I get through this I am SO bringing Hiro up here with me. He'd LOVE flying.
Doc and Rod watched from the rooftop, grinning at the sight.
"Ah Nick… he really knows how to show 'em." Doc chuckled.
"It's his method." Rod smirked a bit. "It just works. I tick 'em off to kick in the powers a bit, he throws 'em to the wind."
"And I fine tune everything else." Doc narrowed his eyes. "Though it will be interesting to see what his own powers are…"
"We'll see what they are when they kick in."
Doc nodded as the two came back, both their blown back.
"That's some serious wind hair." Doc chuckled. "Hope you didn't lose your hat Tadashi."
The young man held it up in one hand. "Caught it before I could." He grinned before looking at his reflection in the window. "GAH!" He tried to smooth down his hair. "No, I am NOT submitting to the spikey haired empire!"
Nick snorted a little, trying to hold back a laugh. "The what now?"
"My little brother has hair that's always sticking up. I don't think he's ever used a comb willingly in his life." Tadashi replied sticking his hat on to squish down the rest. "He's always joked I'll join him in the spikey haired empire of his."
"... Tell me, does he generally wear a blue jacket hoodie?"
"Yep… and a red shirt."
Nick was silent for a moment before falling over laughing.
"OH GOSH! THAT MUST'VE BEEN HIM WITH THAT SQUISHY WHITE ROBOT!"
Tadashi raised an eyebrow crossing his arms. "I invented that robot. What did he do!?"
Nick wiped away a tear. "Well your brother was trying to report something and well… the robot had a low battery… and oh hahah! My gosh! It sounded drunk!"
Tadashi blinked. "Huh?! I didn't program that!" Greeeeaaaat, last time I park him in front of a window when I know there's a party going on outside…
"Well it was quite the show felt bad for the kid since he seemed in a panic. Said something about a guy in a mask using microbots to attack him and balloon man."
"E-Eh!?" Tadashi sighed rubbing the back of his neck. "I'll have to get some answers out of him… But… Weird…" He blinked. "His microbots were in the building I died in… Huh...Guess some survived…"
"We need to get you caught up on the news and current events. A lot has happened since that fire."
"I'll gather up information right now." Doc said getting up. "Be back in a bit." he walked out, leaving it to just Tadashi, Rod and Nick.
"Hey newbie, know any combat?" Rod asked, smirking a little.
Tadashi smirked. "Martial artist. I'm pretty good too. Had to if I wanted to take care of my brother."
Rod grinned stepping back, getting in a pouncing position.
"Let's see it then."
Tadashi got in a ready stance.
This feels a little unfair considering he's a wolf… But I'll improvise.
The two circled around the roof, keeping their eyes locked on each other. After a moment or so, Rod charged at him. Tadashi acted quickly, moving the side, hitting the wolf on the back with a down kick.
"Ack!" Rod growled, retaliating by spinning around tackling Tadashi to the ground, trying to pin him.
"Mgh! DOWN BOY!" Tadashi kneed Rod in the stomach before giving him an uppercut on the cheek, causing Rod to fall off. Tadashi got back up shakily, getting into a defensive stance.
Rod shook his head quickly before snarling baring his teeth. He ran at Tadashi before shifting forms elbowing him hard in the chest. "THAT'S IT YA BRAT!"
"ACK!" Tadashi was down, he had the wind knocked out of him and was in total shock seeing Rod as a human.
As a human he was wearing a dark blue suit, he had short black hair that had a bluish tint. He smirked placing his foot on Tadashi's chest. "And I win."
"No… fair…" Tadashi panted.
"News flash kid." Nick called. "Unsettleds will be like this too."
"Yep so if I were an Unsettled… I'd be pulling out the barbeque sauce cause you'd be DINNER." Rod flashed him a wild grin. "And did I mention I was a spy?"
Ugh… Greeeeeeeat. Just peachy…
"Oh wipe that smirk off your face." Tadashi muttered. "I'm still fresh, not exactly an accomplishment beating me."
"Those are fighting words." Nick said.
"Yup…" Rod pulled him up before slamming him back into the ground. "HERE WE GO PRETTY BOY!"
"ACK!" Tadashi cried out growling a little. "Get… OFF!" There was a amber glow in Tadashi's eyes before gears appeared around him, showing Rod off and into a wall.
"AUGH!" He grunted rubbing his shoulder but gave him a grin. "You call that an attack? Pheh, my six year old NEPHEW can do better!" He taunted. C'mon get madder...
Tadashi got up. He was a little shakey but he didn't care.
Stop…. talking.
Nick watched in amazement as more gears appeared around the young man, the glow in his eyes still present.
If I'm right… this is ESP we're seeing right here…
Tadashi raised one of his hands, the gears being sent flying towards Rod as they grabbed him, throwing him into the air before slamming him into the ground.
He cried out before shifting forms getting up shaking but he wasn't backing down. This was what he intended, to get Tadashi to use his powers. "Still standing... " Hm… What would be a HUGE trigger?
….Yo mama comments? Nope…
… Oh… That'll be evil but…
"You know what? You and your brother must be super weak if you can't even knock me out! I bet he gets beat up ALL the time!"
Nick could've sworn he heard something snap.
… Rod… You've done it now.
Nick knew the look in Tadashi's eyes. He had made the look himself… and he had seen it multiple times in other Remembereds.
Even Rod has… Never… mock the ones people love.
Tadashi growled, the gear on his hat letting off a glow.
"Take that back."
"Or what? You gonna go cry to Hiro? Oh yeah you're too weak to even show yourself to him!"
"SHUT UP!"
Tadashi charged at him, his hat coming of and forming into his gear. The Anchor Gear shined brightly as it moved on to Tadashi's chest, a glow surrounding the young man's body. Within seconds his clothes were replaced with a white and black armor with golden accents, the Anchor Gear taking a place on the center.
Tadashi had Rod pinned to a wall in seconds, gears at his side.
"Don't mock my brother… GOT IT?!"
Rod cringed. "Got it! I didn't mean anything by it Newbie!"
Tadashi snorted. "Yeah right."
Rod rolled his eyes. "Seriously. My method is to get a Remembered good and angry and since you love that kid, it's obvious what your buttons are… So I pushed 'em til you broke… Look down."
Tadashi hesitated before doing so, his eyes widening at what he saw. He backed away, lowering Rod to the ground, looking at himself.
Rod nodded to himself walking around him. "Yep, we got armor… Fancy too looks like that H-1 kid…"
"H who?"
"H-1 this kid who leads the local superhero team… Erm another thing we'll catch you up on. You got armor similar to his." Rod sat down giving a sincere look. "And seriously… Sorry about the insults but it did what it was supposed to… Invoke your armor in a safe environment."
"Better than tossing you into a battle with an Unsettled." Nick walked over. "And boy do you got some power under your hands. That was ESP I think I was seeing with those gears. Your eyes are amber and glowing instead of their usual brown."
Tadashi looked to him before looking at his reflection once more stunned at the golden glow his eyes held. "Whoa…"
"You see kid." Rod started. "Paladins are special because their powers have no set standard. Nick is a Speed Class so he's a quick thinker and is well… fast. Doc is a Healer Class, he's got advanced healing capabilities and is quick with his hands. Me, I'm Stealth Class, I can change into my spirit animal and have a better invisibility… You though… you really are a league of your own. Your power is based off your strongest attribute. You were a bright kid. Your mind was your greatest weapon.:
Tadashi felt a surge of pride holding his head a little higher. "You don't get into SFIT based on pretty looks…"
"Glad to hear it…" Rod gave him a pat on the shoulder. "I'm sure your brother is amazing. I know nothing about him… but I do know you want to protect him. Was just being sure of that… and I understand ya. My nephew means the whole world to me. I'd be hopping mad too if someone dared mock him."
Tadashi smiled a bit. "Thanks… And all is forgiven… I just don't like it when people talk badly of Hiro. I was the same when I was alive. He got pushed around for being smarter than the other kids, I usually came charging in fists swinging."
"You're a good brother. Nick could relate." Rod looked over to the man.
"Oh yeah, no one made fun of my sister and got away with it. Older brothers gotta look out for their younger siblings."
Tadashi smirked a bit. "Darn right. It drove Hiro crazy sometimes but… He's my little brother, I did what I had to."
"You're going to make a fine Remembered then Tadashi."
"Thanks guys… That means a lot." He smiled. "I'm gonna do my best… For him."
His armor faded off, turning back into his hat.
"Oh yeah if you get light headed that's normal. Using our armor takes a ton of energy." Rod said getting a concerned look seeing Tadashi wasn't looking so great. "Like right now…"
Tadashi put a hand to his head holding up a finger. "Low….Battery."
THUD!
Rod shook his head.
"Looks like his robot got it from someone." Rod hauled the young man onto his shoulders. "Nap time for this one."
Nick shook his head. "Doc's gonna have a lecture ready for us about exhausting him… Great…"
"If need be we'll use Sayaka and Kyoko as shields."
"Leave my daughters out of this!"
"Alright alright!"
Nick nodded. "Good."
Though boy… He really pushed it today.
Rod looked at Tadashi.
"He's a determined one… he'll be home before he knows it."