Chapter Three- The First Prank
"There are you! What happened to you?" Hassleberry said as Jaden arrived.
"I met my dad! Man, is he cool!" Jaden grinned at the memories.
"You met him?" Alexis said.
Jaden nodded, still grinning. "I did and he unlocked my trickster magic as a birthday gift. He told me I can do anything I imagine." His eyes lit up with a perfect way to test them. He pictured the spot behind his friends and willed himself over there. He soon saw his friends' back and Syrus saying, "Jaden?"
"Right here, Sy."
Syrus turned around as did the others. "You can teleport?" Bastion asked.
"Yeah. Dad got to the island last night from my house."
"That's quite a distance," Bastion said.
"It is, but I thought I try something closer."
"So you can do anything?" Syrus asked in awe. "Could you levitate things, maybe people?"
"Oh," Jaden said, catching the hinting tone in his friend's voice. He focused on lifting Syrus into the air and saw, to his delight, Syrus rising upward. Syrus gasped when his feet left the ground and then he laughed at being higher than everyone.
"This is so cool!" he exclaimed, managing a mid-air somersault. He was eventually brought down and he was beaming. "That was great, Ja! Ja?"
Jaden swayed slightly, a hand to his temple and his eyes closed. "Whoa," he said softly. "I think I overdid it."
"Not a surprise," Bastion said. "You just got your magic and it takes a toll on beginners as far as energy goes."
"Maybe I should lie down," Jaden murmured.
"Good idea," Hassleberry agreed.
Jaden trudged upstairs, into his room, and collapsed on his bunk instantly asleep the moment his head hit the pillow.
Meanwhile, his friends discussed this turn of events. "Now Jaden's got his magic," Syrus gushed, still high on being levitated. "This is great!"
"It does sound great," Alexis agreed. "But it drains Jaden's energy."
"If Jaden takes it easy, his magic will get stronger and not need as much of his energy," Atticus pointed out.
"I also suggest we be on guard," Bastion put in. "Remember, his father is a trickster fox and he just unlocked trickster magic within Jaden. Our friend could start playing pranks on us, but of a minor harmless variety."
"Harmless describes Jaden well, unless he's dueling," Hassleberry chuckled. "Maybe we should prank him first."
"What? No, we shouldn't," Syrus said.
"I'm not talking about a mean one," Hassleberry protested. "Just a harmless trick that Jaden would find funny.'
Jaden woke to a knock and Syrus calling, "Ja? It's dinnertime. You hungry?"
"Definitely. Be there in a minute." Jaden heard Syrus' footsteps recede, then yawned and stretched as he got up. He felt refreshed from his nap and also hungry, which was nothing new. He scratched behind his ears, smoothed his hair, and headed out to eat.
Stares followed him as he headed for his friends, noticing they already got his tray for him. He knew the stares were about his ears and he also knew that Crowler had sent the message as he had received it when he woke up. He ignored them as he sat down. "Feeling better?" Syrus asked.
"Oh, yeah. A nap was just what I needed." Jaden ate the fish and started on his rice. Everything was good as usual and he considered about getting seconds as he started on the soup. Suddenly, he gasped, grabbed his juice, and drained it. "Whoa, that's some spicy soup," he panted, fanning his tongue. "My mouth's still burning."
Hassleberry snorted with laughter over his food. "That's because I spiked your soup with a little hot sauce."
"What?" Jaden said. "You…pranked me?"
"Uh, yeah," Hassleberry admitted, suddenly a bit nervous that Jaden would be mad.
Jaden grinned and thumped Hassleberry on the back. "Good one."
"Thanks," he said, relieved. "So, you're not mad?"
"Nah. You got me good. I'll just go get seconds." Jaden took his tray and headed for the front, still smiling in amusement. The trickster in him appreciated the prank and how perfectly it went. I couldn't have done better myself. However, now it's my turn to pull a trick. I believe Sy had nothing to do with the hot sauce so this one's for Hassleberry. A sly smile came to his face as a classic prank came to mind and he focused his magic on it. He gathered up his tray of fresh food and headed back to the table.
Syrus stared after Jaden. "He actually appreciated being tricked?"
"Sure looks like it; must be the trickster in him and of course, his easy personality. Ja doesn't hold a grudge like other people would."
"Yeah, he's not like that at all."
Jaden laid on his bed after dinner, thinking about tomorrow and what he could do with his new magic. He found that he was actually looking forward to going to school. Everyone would be looking at him and he didn't feel a bit nervous or embarrassed about it; being half-fox was what he was meant to be since his father was a fox. He unconsciously traced the edge of an ear. I wonder if I'll get any other fox things later on. I love my ears and magic, but I wouldn't mind at least one more thing.
My magic seems to have unlimited heights. I mean, anything I imagine can be real once I focus on it. I need to be careful because Bastion's right: I'm still new to using it and I don't want to overdo it. Maybe limit it to two or three times a day and not big things. Levitation for a period of time like I did today was a bit much, but Sy enjoyed it.
"Ja? You okay?"
Jaden looked up and over to see Syrus looking down from his bed and Hassleberry look over from the chair. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just thinking about tomorrow and my magic."
"Tomorrow. Yeah, everyone staring at you." Syrus winced. "That's gonna be embarrassing."
Jaden shrugged. "Nah, I don't think so. I've always been half-fox; it's just showing up now."
"Good point," Hassleberry said.
"I think it's sweet that I can do anything I want with it. But I figured I limit it to two or three times a day until it's stronger."
"Can't agree with that strategy," Hassleberry said and then yawned. "Well, I think it's time to hit the hay." Hassleberry started getting ready for bed with Jaden and Syrus following his lead, the former taking his time. He was still quicker than the other two and chalked it up to his heritage.
He had just gotten under the cover and laid down when he heard Hassleberry exclaim, "Sam Hill!"
"What's up, Hassleberry?" Syrus asked.
"Some son of a gun short-sheeted my bed!"
Jaden let out a howl of laughter, his legs kicking under the sheet. "Gotcha!" he gasped.
"You did this!?"
"Uh-huh. While I was getting seconds. A little payback for your trick."
Hassleberry laughed. "Okay, we're even then." He got up to remake his bed.
Jaden buried his face in his pillow to smother his chuckles. He had gotten Hassleberry good and he felt great about his first prank. But surely more tricks will happen. After all, I am half trickster fox. Jaden sighed and fell asleep.