Magical Atoner Lyrical Alicia
Training
In the combat training center Alicia Testarossa leaped up as her black cape swirled around her, the simple black swimsuit like garment clinging to her slim form. Hanging in midair she held Bardiche in scythe mode, the energy blade glowing golden in the simulated sunlight, and her eyes were focused and intent.
"Surround her!" the Hardsuit clad figure yelled as his teammates closed in, "Hem her in so she can't use spells!"
"Ooh, BAD idea," Haruhi Azuna murmured from the sidelines, the hardsuit pilot wincing as the brown haired girl watched intently. Dressed in the blue and white uniform of the Earth forces, with a hardsuit division patch on her shoulder, she looked sharp and capable.
Instead of trying any complicated attacks Alicia merely used her energy scythe, striking with sudden speed and force. The weapon disrupted tech without hurting anyone, thankfully, but two rapid strikes disabled two of the suits and made the third jerk back in alarm.
Pressing the call button for the training arena Haruhi leaned forward as she said, "All right, session's over. Everyone take five."
Alicia descended to the ground, her long blond hair shimmering as she landed. She seemed barely mussed by the ongoing combat training, rather unlike the combat suits she had trashed. Haruhi really wanted to be annoyed by that, but considering they had asked her to come train with them...
"Are you all right?" Alicia asked as she helped one of the pilots up, grunting a bit in effort at hauling up the suited figure.
Kyo Yamada shook his head wryly, the black haired young man standing more than a foot taller than her. "I should be asking you that," he noted wryly, the experienced pilot feeling more than a bit sheepish at the drubbing the pilots had taken.
"You're not used to magic, I think," Alicia said gently, "or at least not my type of magic."
"True," Kyo admitted, having mostly dealt with magic users that projected attacks from a distance. He wasn't used to a mage that got in close and hammered at you physially as well as using long range spells.
The third pilot, a rookie and the only person fast enough to get out of range, was helping the other pilot up. "Nice, Catrine," the other pilot smiled, his red hair falling into his face.
Catrine blushed, the blue haired woman shrugging. "I was lucky," she said, tucking her helm under her arm as the pair nodded to Alicia.
"Good match," Rockuro Yamada nodded.
"You too," Alicia bowed to them both slightly.
Haruhi went down the steps from the control room as she nodded politely to Alicia. "You know, when Ran talked you into helping us I don't think she expected we'd be getting our asses kicked so regularly," she noted.
Alicia shrugged, "I'm a combat mage, Miss Azuna, and I feel fairly certain you don't get to spar with someone with my training very often."
"Haruhi, please," she corrected, smiling. She nodded thoughtfully as she walked with Alicia out the door into the base hallways, "The closest we've had was when Archmage Sakura Kinomoto came by to spar, once."
"Haruhi," Alicia smiled, blushing slightly.
"Do you want to have lunch in the cafeteria?" Haruhi invited.
"I'd like that," Alicia nodded as she banished her barrier jacket, the swimsuit and cape combo disappearing to be replaced by a simple skirt and blouse combination.
"Damn, I wish I could do that," Haruhi muttered, laughing.
Alicia looked amused, "At least your clothes don't disappear as your shields weaken. In one training combat a few years ago I was down to bra and panties..."
Haruhi's eyes widened slightly as that mental image registered. "I can see where that would be a problem," she admitted as they went into the lift and rose through Tokyo base. Silently she was a bit shaken by her imagining Alicia naked... yes, the blond was hot but Haruhi had never really been drawn to women before.
The cafeteria was as busy as ever, with pilots, hardsuit officers, marines and ship crews mingling on the sprawling base. Friend called out greetings to Haruhi as they made their way to the counter to pick up their food then found a table.
"How is Subaru doing?" Haruhi asked politely as they began to eat.
"I'm running her through the basics now," Alicia admitted, "she's picking things up incredibly fast." She shook her head, "Really, I'm starting to wonder if genius is inherited."
"Maybe we should train with her too," Haruhi noted, frowning just a bit. She, Hazuki and Ran Mizuno had fought against Subaru when they had mistakenly tried to arrest Alicia, and the girl had been a formidable fighter just using the training provided by her device Raising Heart. What she might do with real training was rather frightening.
"I don't think so," Alicia shook her head slightly, "from what she's said Subaru plans to maintain as normal a life as she can."
"I suppose I can't blame her," Haruhi admitted as she ate her burger.
Eating from her more traditional bento box Alicia looked at the pilot across from her. "Haruhi, how did you get into piloting Hardsuits?" she asked. "I understand it can be more dangerous than other piloting duties."
"It is," Haruhi conceded, "but there's a incredible rush too." She looked thoughtful as she ate her fries, "As to how.. well, mostly just from progressing through the ranks." She shrugged casually, "I started out as a pilot of shuttles and the like, moved into fighter combat then finally earned a place on the Hardsuit Corps."
"I think it was probably harder than that," Alicia noted thoughtfully.
"Well, yes..." Haruhi admitted.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
Subaru Yagami had been hoping she could carry on her life as it had been going before she received the device Raising Heart. Maybe unrealistically hoping, as things turned out...
Subaru had told her parents, of course, and they had taken it pretty well if somewhat differently. Her mother had been rather worried about having a magical girl in the family but otherwise seemed fine, while her father was overjoyed to see the family legacy of magic return.
Subaru got her first inkling that things were changing a few days later, when her family received a entirely unexpected invitation for her to transfer to the prestigious Tokyo Central High School. TCH was one of the hardest schools to qualify for, and they did not just randomly invite students in.
The next day two representatives of Tokyo Central appeared, to discuss if she wanted to transfer as well as meet with the family. Hikari Yamada was a smiling, warm older woman, at least in her thirties with blond hair and a amused gaze, while Erica Tenoh was a black haired, somewhat intense student was moved with a easy confidence.
Yuchiro Yagami welcomed them both, the older man nodding respectfully as he said, "I knew our Subaru had good grades, but I never expected her to be head hunted like this."
"Her grades really are exceptional," Hikari smiled warmly, "and we have hopes she'll try out for the school sports teams too."
"She's very athletic," Rachel Yagami nodded, the mother of the house looking impressed.
Erica put her hand on Subaru's arm as she said quietly, "Could I talk to you for a moment?"
"Sure," Subaru agreed, the two women leaving the living room and walking down to the hall to her bedroom. "Grab a seat," Subaru waved her inside.
"Thanks," Erica sat down at the young woman's desk as Subaru sat on the edge of the bed, sighing as she said, "I wanted to talk to you while the teacher keeps your parents distracted."
Subaru raised her eyebrows, "That doesn't sound good."
"It's not that bad," Erica reassured her. She studied Subaru thoughtfully a moment, "Why do you think we contacted you now?"
Subaru thought about it no more than a second or two, "You know about Raising Heart."
"Got it," Erica nodded briskly. She leaned forward, "The Hardsuit pilots put in a report about what happened, and certain strings were pulled."
Subaru narrowed her eyes a bit, "Are you trying to recruit me?"
"No, no," Erica shook her head, "her Majesty has issues around making under aged kids fight to protect the kingdom. No, they want you to transfer for your own protection."
"Huh?" Subaru blinked.
Erica shrugged slightly as she said, "Miss Yagami..."
"Subaru," she corrected, "Miss Yagami is my mom."
"All right, Subaru," Erica smiled, "and you can call me Erica." More seriously she continued, "You realize that you now possess a source of incredible power in Raising Heart?"
"Yes," Subaru nodded, "I'm already training to control it."
"Good," Erica nodded, "but having Raising Heart also makes you a target. There are people who will think they can use the device for their own ends, or possibly force you to work for them."
"I see," Subaru nodded. She frowned slightly as she asked, "But how does transferring to Tokyo Central help?"
"It's the nearest high school to the Palace," Erica smiled slightly, "in case of emergency a squad can be deployed in minutes." She shrugged, "And if things get really crazy the Senshi themselves might come out to help."
Subaru's eyes went wide as she yelped, "I'm not that important...!"
"Any citizen of the realm is that important," Erica corrected firmly, "at least, that's what her Majesty thinks."
Subaru nodded as she considered the situation. "Do you think I need to switch schools?" she asked her quietly.
"It's up to you," Erica admitted, "but personally I think you might be better off. Not only will you be safer but the school itself will help you out a great deal."
Subaru sighed, not wanting to leave her friends at her old school. Still, it would help her out in university if she attended there, and to be honest she was intrigued... "All right," she said, "if my parents agree, I'll switch."
"That shouldn't be a problem," Erica smiled, "knowing Miss Yamada she probably has both of them eating out of her hand..."
To be continued...