Magical Atoner Lyrical Alicia
Chapter Nine
Subaru Yagami was taking a turn on her own, standing in the training room as she faced off with several members of the city guard and a Hardsuit. These training sessions were part of the plea deal that kept Alicia from getting in trouble with the city, though honestly she enjoyed the fighting too.
Subaru tightened her grip on Raising Heart, the device in staff mode as she waited for them to attack. In theory she had a power advantage, but the Hardsuit made things complicated. And the guard might just be in what looked like street clothes, but their equipment was state of the art. It would not do to underestimate them.
The purple and red Hardsuit burst into motion, throwing itself skyward, or at least towards the roof of the dome shaped room. The hands glowed and bursts of energy launched forth, even as the city guards moved to attack.
"Round Shield!" Subaru cried as she formed one, blocking the stun bolts. She soared up before the guards could try to catch her, dodging and weaving as they opened up with small arms.
"Do you think she's ready for something like this?" Catrine asked a bit worriedly, their friend looking through the glass.
"I think so," Alicia said, the smaller blond watching with a more critical eye. She nodded as Subaru used her 'shooter' attack to fire balls of energy at the cops, keeping them off balance as she engaged the flying Hardsuit.
Catrine's eyes widened as Subaru literally clobbered the 'Suit with her staff, then blasted it with a short range Buster blast. "Maybe I should be worried about them?" she mused thoughtfully.
Alicia chuckled wickedly. "Probably," she nodded.
The Hardsuit hit the wall with a loud thump, then slid to the ground. Taking a moment to make sure she had only knocked out her opponent Subaru soared to the armored figure's side, then was off once more. "Flash move!" she ordered.
Jack Swallow, despite the annoying last name, liked to think of himself as a good city guard. When his boss Lady Venus told him to come here and spar against a magical girl, he was fine with that. What Jack hadn't been expecting was the young woman to be kicking their asses.
"Scatter!" Jack yelled as Subaru soared in, moving at nearly blinding speed. He watched, stunned as she grabbed the guns from most of the guard's hands and tossed them in a corner before popping another force-field around them.
"Oh just lovely," Shoko sighed, the nearby redhead pulling out the collapsible battle staff they all carried.
"You got that right," Jack agreed, activating the shock function of his gloves just as Subaru unleashed another flight of those damn glowy balls.
Shoko ducked under a glowing globe even as Jack dived to the side, but about four of the remaining six guards were dropped. Apparently energy resistant cloth did NOT help protect you from magic attacks. She crouched as Subaru hovered in midair, her staff glowing as she recalled the remaining magic bullets.
"Can you distract her a moment?" Jack asked as he saw the Hardsuit start to stir. They might still have a chance...
Shoko didn't answer, instead she attacked. The slim redhead launched herself as Subaru with her powerful leg muscles, even as she jabbed at the girl's face with her staff. Subaru flinched, understandably, and the break in her concentration was enough for Jack to get close.
The shock gloves were designed to incapacitate people with bursts of electricity. Jack dialed them up to maximum and grabbed Subaru's foot as she hung in midair. There was a moment of silence, then nothing happened.
"Huh?" Jack blinked.
Shoko seemed to realize what he was doing and sighed. "She's not grounded, the current won't move," she said in resigned tones.
"Uh," Jack let go of Subaru's leg and tried a reassuring smile as the glowing flying girl, "can I get a do-over, maybe?"
"No," Subaru said, right before she got tackled from behind by the recovered Hardsuit.
Up in the observation booth Catrine was biting back a giggle. "Oh, that was so cute," she chuckled, shaking her head.
"Can I get a do-over?" Alicia laughed, shaking her head. They watched Subaru roll free from the attacking Hardsuit, but then the two officers tried to jump on her too.
"I think we need to work with Subaru on close combat," Catrine winced as Subaru kicked and flailed around, trying to get free. She tried to concentrate enough to generate a spell, but it seemed Subaru couldn't focus enough.
"Call it?" Alicia looked over at Priss Asagiri, the senior pilot who was supervising the combat training. The brown haired woman filled out her military uniform well, only something in her eyes indicating how old she was.
"Yeah," Priss agreed, tapping into the combat training room as she ordered, "Practice over, everyone. Everyone seperate, now."
Jack jumped off the younger woman, who had gone limp as soon as Priss' voice rang out. "You okay?" he asked, offering his hand.
"Thanks," Subaru took his hand and stood up, brushing at her barrier jacket, "I'm fine, just a little embarrassed."
Shoko helped brush off the grit from the fake 'ground' in the training center as she said, "No need, you pretty much kicked our asses."
The Hardsuit clad figure flipped up a visor, the man scowling. Alan South was a grizzled older pilot, looking about thirty but who knew how old he actually way? With a frown he said, "You were pretty good, but we need to train you up in unarmed combat."
"And staff fighting," Shoko noted as she collapsed the weapon and pt it on her belt even as the remaining fighters began to revive.
"Yay, more studying," Subaru groaned.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
Alicia, Subaru and Catrine were in the cafeteria eating, Subaru having showered and changed since the fight. Subaru looked a bit down, while Catrine wasn't quite sure what to say. "You're not happy about how things went?" Alicia asked gently.
"I think I let you down," Subaru admitted with a sigh as she added, "you easily defeated multiple Hardsuits, Alicia."
Alicia calmly answered, "Subaru, I've been training for years in magical combat. Not just in El Hazzard but on Mid, too. You've been doing this for only a few months."
"She's right," Catrine agreed. She looked over at Alicia then over to Subaru, "And honestly Bardiche is more designed for melee combat too."
"I am sorry, Master," Raising Heart said, pulsing red from around Subaru's neck.
"It's not your fault," Subaru reassured it as she reached up and touched the gem gently, "I just need to get better."
Alicia nodded, "Yes, you and I will practice quick spellcasting, as well as ways to use the staff more effectively." She looked over at Catrine, "Do you know anyone we could talk to about staff training?"
"Shoko, one of the guards you fought, is something of a expert," Catrine noted, "she was a winner in the Police and Municipal Guards games last year."
"She seemed fierce," Alicia noted approvingly. She looked curious, "What is the difference between the Guard and Police?"
"The Guard's main job is to protect the palace and the Queen," Subaru told her, "as I understand they're trained in things like bomb disarming along with more traditional combat."
Catrine leaned forward as she added, "It's funny, the Queen has actually tried to disband them a few times, but the voters keep bringing them back. Apparently she doesn't want to see anyone hurt protecting her."
"A noble sentiment," Alicia agreed, nodding.
The three young woman finished they lunch and headed out together, though Catrine intended to go see her girlfriend Erica later. Outside the base the sun shone down on them, the late summer air heavy with the scent of flowers. Despite being a military base they were situated not far from Crystal Tokyo itself, and it was a short walk back to town.
"I'm stiff," Subaru winced as they walked, rubbing her leg awkwardly. "Can we just fly back?" she asked plaintively.
"Wait until you start training with the Guards," Catrine smiled evilly, "that'll make today look like nothing."
"Way to be encouraging," Subaru laughed.
Catrine looked at her curiously, "Why are you training so hard? It's not like you're pressingly needed for the realm's defense..."
Subaru reached up and cupping Raising Heart in her hand. "I guess... after meeting Nanoha, I want to be worthy of this," she said finally.
Alicia smiled up at her warmly as she said, "You will be, if you keep trying this hard."
'It was funny, Alicia was a bit shorter than Subaru, but they looked so... right together,' Catrine found herself thinking. Shaking herself she walked with them to the maglev rail, saying goodbye and climbing aboard. AS the trained moved off she sighed, knowing she was foolish to be worried that those two might take Erica away from her. Still, it didn't make the feeling go away...
"So, have you moved out of that communal home?" Subaru asked a bit nervously. She had visited the building Alicia had been staying in, but while it was nice it was also antiseptic and impersonal. She couldn't imagine anyone living happily there.
"Yes, after I received credits for the palace incident and helping with the airport fire, it was easy to find a new place," Alicia admitted.
"Where did you pick?" Subaru asked eagerly.
"The Hinata Dorms," Alicia said cheerfully, "it's a historic sight, it even has a hot spring."
"Isn't it kind of... odd?" Subaru said, trying to get the rumors straight in her head. She seemed to remember it was home to a mysterious sword school, or something like that.
"I think it's interesting," Alicia chuckled as she asked, "want to come see it? We can fly out there if you want to."
Subaru sighed, hoping her friend wasn't being taken somehow. "I'd better," she agreed, "for your sake if nothing else."
And with that, the two activated their devices and took off...
To be continued!
Notes: REALLY struggled trying to figure out how to end this chapter. Hope it's not too lame. Yes, that is the same dorm as in Love Hina, or possibly a rebuild of it.