Helping Hand
Aldrai's new destiny consumed his life after that. He'd leave the house early in the morning and head down to the marketplace. I began to hear stories about a Christmas zafara that stopped some bully or saved some pet from being robbed. I began to grow nervous. Aldrai was overtaxing himself, pushing his magic to the limits each and every day. Sure, helping others was a good cause, but he was going to hurt himself if he kept up like he was.
One day I decided to go with him.
"Well… alright," he said reluctantly.
I walked down the street with him in silence. My car still wasn't fixed, in fact, the garage had said it might not be repairable. Sabreur had gone down in person to prove them wrong. He was going to call me later that evening with how it went.
"So what do you do all day?" I asked him.
He just shrugged and kept his head down.
"Aldrai?"
"Well… I just… feel who needs something. Then I go help them."
"All day?"
"Sometimes."
"Don't you get tired?"
"Yeah, but I'm okay. Honestly."
"Netsuko misses seeing you."
His ear twitched and he didn't reply.
"I think you're pushing yourself too hard," I said gently, "It's good to try to help others but you may be taking it too far."
He didn't say anything and we continued the walk to the marketplace in silence.
When we arrived there Aldrai quickly turned into his Christmas zafara form. It soon became apparent where he was needed. A small bruce had just managed to snag a hundred neopoints off the Money Tree and was hurrying away, eyes agleam in excitement. A green kougra walked up and shoved him back.
"Hey, give me that," the kougra snapped.
The bruce's eyes started to water and he backed away in fear.
"I said, give me that!"
"Excuse me," Aldrai said quietly from behind the kougra.
The kougra turned and growled at Aldrai.
"Watcha want, shrimp?" he snarled.
"Don't judge by size," the zafara reproached, "Sometimes things aren't what they appear."
"Get lost."
"No. You leave that bruce alone."
The kougra snarled and shoved Aldrai away. The zafara staggered back a couple steps but then leaped into the air, power flaring up around him. The white fire was visible to everyone nearby. The kougra gasped and backpeddled away.
"I said to leave him alone," Aldrai said sternly, "Now get out of here! Go!"
The kougra gasped in terror and turned and fled, his tail puffed up in fright. Aldrai landed and the fire vanished. He gave everyone nearby a stern glance and turned his attention to the bruce. He stared at Aldrai in a mixture of fear and amazement, then babbled out a thank you. Then he too turned and ran.
Aldrai returned to my side and I did my best to ignore the looks that followed us.
"See?" he said, glancing up at me.
"I don't know Aldrai…"
"Just because we have power doesn't mean we should be scared to use it. I know that's why you rarely use your power."
"There's more to it then that."
"Well, I'm not scared to use my magic anymore. I'm done with being scared and weak. I have a purpose now! Can't you see that Kiddo?"
"I guess so. But still… be careful Aldrai. Just because you have power doesn't mean you have to use it. Sometimes things can be solved by being left alone. And besides… I know it's tiring to work magic all day. Please… for the sake of me worrying, cut back a little. Spend more time at home, with your family. With your friends."
He sighed and scuffed at the dirt with his paw.
"Alright. Since you insist."
Sabreur called me that evening, right after dinner. I flew right over to his house to inspect the truck that lay half dissasembled in his front yard.
"Talk about ghetto," I muttered, surveying the mess.
"Ah, I'll get it cleaned up," my brother replied, wiping his hands on a towel.
"You'd better. The neighbors might file a complaint for such an eyesore."
"They're used to my lab blowing up. This won't even faze 'em."
I sighed in resignation and walked over to my truck. The frame was pretty much straightened out but the insides were a mess.
"So what did the garage say?" I asked.
"The undercarriage of the truck is wrecked. They can't fix it."
"Great, just great," I muttered, "I don't have the money to get a new vehicle."
"I know. Which is why I'm going to fix it."
"But the garage said it wasn't repairable."
He grinned at me and picked up what looked like a screwdriver (although with Sabreur you never knew).
"That's because they are weak-minded fools with only a shaky grasp of physics," he gloated, "but I, Sabreur, can fix anything!"
"So you called me over to tell me that you're a mad scientist? I already knew that."
"No, I called you to tell you I'm going to fix your car. And add some improvements."
That got my attention.
"What kind of 'improvements'?"
He tried to look innocent.
"Oh… nothing. Much. Just a modified version of the grand lighting beam on the front… reinforced armor plating on the sides… a high-tech in-built computer system complete with tracking capabilities for the side mounted guns and GPS."
I stared at him in disbelief.
"What?" he protested innocently, "Doesn't everyone want their car to be a fully armed assault vehicle?"
"No… only technology crazed freaks like you."
He sighed.
"Alright, I'll leave the armor plating off. But can I pleeease include everything else? It's a new design I've been dying to try out!"
I sighed in despair. There was no stopping him apparently.
"Fine. Do what you want. But if my car blows up I get yours."
He beamed happily and dove for his toolbox.
"Thanks sis!" he cried.
I rolled my eyes and headed back to my house to break the news.