Hey guys, just wanted to say a quick thanks for all the reviews and the patronage. This chapter is a bit short, but I hope you enjoy it all the same!

CHAPTER SIX

I want you to hit me as hard as you can.

Arnold Shortman stood in the middle of a familiar vacant lot. Six or seven of his childhood friends surrounded him as he spoke,"You wanna see a magic trick?"

They were intrigued, especially Gerald.

"Where are you going with this, Arnold?" He asked, wary of his friend's intentions.

Arnold had skipped the last two classes of the schoolday, leaving Gerald to struggle through art class and ecology by himself. It wasn't so bad, since it was only the second day of school, but Gerald had wanted to talk more about Arnold's special situation.

Arnold, however, had been working on his special situation himself, and had spent the last few hours investigating the extent of his new powers.

He hadn't discovered much, but the few things he had learned were enough to momentarily satisfy his curiosity.

"Just a simple trick, fellas." Arnold said, trying hard to mask a knowing smile. He had their attention, and his pals agreed to participate.

Across the street, Bob Pataki's car screeched to a halt. Helga Pataki unbuckled her seatbelt and sighed.

"You sure you want to hang out with these... vagrants?" Big Bob asked, his voice full of half-hearted spite.

"Yes, Robert." She answered, offended.

"Alright, just be careful, okay?"

She kissed him on the cheek, "Bye Pop."

"Alright, Harold." Arnold began, "I need you to punch me."

"Wh-what?"

Oh great, Arnold thought, now he's reluctant.

"Just hit me, hard enough to leave a mark."

"Gee, Arnold, I dunno." Harold said, "I still feel bad about lunch, I don't want to make things worse."

Arnold sighed, "It's a trick, Harold. I promise it won't hurt me."

"Oh... well, okay. If you're sure." Harold pulled his arm back like they do in the movies.

Also like in the movies, Arnold noticed Helga and forgot what he was doing. His eyes went into a classic tunnel vision, and he could've sworn he heard birds singing.

When Harold's punch connected with his jaw, and he landed hard on the ground, he swore again that he heard birds singing.

"Arnold!" Harold shouted, "You promised it wouldn't hurt you!"

Arnold sat there in the dirt, and rubbed his bruising jaw, "Oh yeah... sorry Harold, I forgot to do the trick."

Helga quickly crossed the street, "What's going on?"

Harold through his hands up, proclaiming his innocence, "Arnold messed up his magic trick! It wasn't my fault, I swear!"

"Arnold?" Helga looked down at the disoriented Arnold, "Is this true?"

"Yeah, I messed up." He pulled himself to his feet and dusted off his pants, "I forgot to do the trick."

"Be careful, you don't want to hurt yourself worse." Helga said, looking sadly at Arnold's cast.

"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing." He reassured her, "Alright, Harold. Try again."

"You sure?"

Arnold smirked and nodded.

"Okay." Harold wound up to throw another punch.

"Let me have it." Arnold said.

Harold swung, and suddenly found himself moving forward. His fist had touched nothing but air, and the momentum had dragged him a few steps behind Arnold.

"I missed!" Harold proclaimed.

"If you say so."

"Let me try again!" He begged.

"Go ahead." Arnold laughed.

Harold moved back in front of Arnold, and this time assumed a more practical stance. He shot a fist forward with minimal arcing, and pulled it back. Again, he had felt nothing but air. He stared at Arnold, perplexed, then tried his other hand. Still, he felt nothing.

"What the...?"

Arnold held his hands out, "Anybody else want to try?"

Sid stepped forward happily, aiming low and kicking at Arnold's shin. He too at first thought he missed, but when he tried again and nothing happened, he stood there in awe.

"Whoa."

Stinky walked up and tried, failing as well to lay a hand on Arnold. Even Eugene gave it a shot, and he ended up bruising his foot.

"What's the trick, man?"

"Yeah, how's it done?"

"Tell us!" Harold begged.

Arnold just shook his head, "No can do, guys."

"Do you know any other tricks?" Helga asked, curious.

"One or two..." Arnold answered, "At the moment."

Gerald scoffed, "I'm out of here."

Arnold ran after him, "Gerald, where are you going?"

A little ways away from his friends, Arnold grabbed Gerald by the shoulder. Gerald batted his hand away, "You're accepting it now? This whole 'Magiker' thing? You didn't think to include me?"

"Gerald, it isn't like that!"

Gerald kept walking, "Whatever, Arnold. Have fun with your 'tricks'."

"Gerald!" Arnold called after him, "Gerald..."

Arnold's shoulder's fell, and he sighed heavily. The last thing he wanted was for Gerald to be mad at him.

"Hey, Arnold!" Stinky called from the lot, "Come show us some more of those tricks!"

Arnold smiled and ran back to his friends.

The sun was setting when Arnold finally left the lot. He had spent hours trying out new things with his friends, impressing them with tricks that wouldn't seem too unrealistic. Helga seemed particularly interested, and that made Arnold particularly happy.

However his victories were bittered by the lack of Gerald's approval, so he made the decision to visit his friend and apologize after he dropped his back pack off at his house.

Unfortunately, destiny had made other plans.

Just as Arnold was approaching his stoop, something hollow slapped against Arnold's head, "Ow!"

He spun around and came face to face with the gypsy. She held a rolled up newspaper in one hand, her finger's clenched tightly around it.

"You!" Arnold shouted.

"Foolish boy!" She hissed in that untraceable accent of hers, "You abuse your powers as if they were parlor tricks!"

Arnold blushed, ashamed, "You... saw that?"

"I didn't have to, you carry the shame of a performer in your contrived smile!"

Arnold replaced his contrived smile with a frown, "I... I am sorry."

"Fool." She spat something green onto the ground. Arnold realized it was chewing gum.

"Hey, who are you to yell at me!? You tell me all this stuff about my future, then you pack up camp and disappear? You had something to do with the bus crash, didn't you?"

"Fool! Fool of a boy!" She said something in a language foreign to Arnold's ears, "It wasn't me who caused the catalyst, I'd be a great sorcerer indeed if I could change the fates!"

"Jeez, I'm sorry! Take it easy!" Arnold said, the woman's yelling was beginning to fluster him, and draw attention.

"You are the one who should take it easy, you foolish boy."

Arnold's Grandfather suddenly opened the door, "Hey, Pookie, did you get the groceries- Oh, hey Arnold, how was school?"

Arnold stared hard at the fortune teller, "... Grandma?"

"I will not be a servant to the super-market!" She yelled at Phil.

"Fine, I'll get them, just give me the list I gave you!" He yelled back.

The Gypsy unwrapped her veil, revealing that she was indeed Arnold's grandmother, and pulled a piece of paper from the folds in the fabric, "Here's your stinking list."

Phil took the list and mumbled, "Well, see you guys when I get home."

Arnold looked at his Grandma, and she looked around, whistling.

"Grandma?"

"Yes, Arnold?"

"You have a lot of explaining to do."