Training

"Dawn!" Scarlett yelled, startling Dawn and causing her to fall out of the tube. 

"Ow," Dawn said lying on the floor. "What is it, Scarlett?" 

"It's time for training, you gotta get up and get ready," Scarlett explained as she picked up Dawn from the floor. 

"Training?" Dawn asked as she gained her footing. 

"Yeah, we do training every morning to help strengthen our manifestations," Scarlett explained. "It helps us understand and control them better," 

"Why do I have to train?" Dawn complained. 

"Because as of right now, we only think you can turn into a bird and frankly that's embarrassing," Scarlett said in almost a whisper. 

"What?!" Dawn yelled shocked. 

"Exactly so get ready for training and I'll meet you downstairs, hurry up you're before Prism," Scarlett said pushing Dawn into the bathroom. 

Dawn brushed her teeth, changed into a silver jumpsuit Scarlett left for her, and walked downstairs towards Scarlett. 

"Great, you're just in time," Scarlett said pulling Dawn into the training room. "Lana is just finishing up," 

The training room had a control panel and one-way glass. On the other side of the glass, was a padded room. Director pushed a button summoning dummies with different manifestations, Lana took out her pen and drew on her jumpsuit bringing her drawing to life to fight for her. 

"Good work Lana but let's really try to work on drawing in the air, it seems to be where you're struggling most," Director said as she pushed another button. Lana nodded her head as she turned into pixels and reappeared in the control room. "Good morning Dawn, I'm going to give you a quick brief and then you'll train too," Dawn nodded. "The silver jumpsuit you're wearing right now allows your body to use you're manifestation freely from fatigue or injury," 

"Really?" 

"Yes, but if you do get hurt just remember you'll feel it after the suit comes off," Director explained. "In the training room, I'll start off at level 4 dummy so I can get the scope of your manifestation then I'll either lower or raise it to suit you better," 

"Alright, I'm ready," Dawn said excitedly. 

"Don't hold back," Director said as Dawn turned into pixels and reappeared on the training side of the room. 

"Woah," 

"Remember we're starting on 4 out of 20 so it'll be relatively low, if you need me to raise it any higher just say the word," Director instructed. Director pushed a button summoning one dummy. 

"Just one?" Dawn asked. 

"With the strength of a thousand," Director smirked. 

"Wha-," Dawn was cut off by the dummy striking her in the stomach. Dawn fell to the ground. "Ow," 

"Be lucky you didn't eat yet," Scarlett said attempting to cheer up Dawn. 

The dummy launched at Dawn for a second attack; Dawn dodged it clutching her stomach. 

"This is level 4?!" Dawn said as she continued to evade attacks. 

"Technically 4.1 but it's basically the same thing," Director said looking uninterested. "Have you ever fought with your manifestation before?" 

"Uh," Dawn hesitated. 

"Spit it out, Princess," Lana said. "You're wasting time," 

"N-no I haven't, I never needed to," 

"You've never needed to?" Director questioned. "Did you not train with Alessia or Kat? That's literally what Kat is there for," 

"No, never," Dawn said as she shapeshifted into a bird. 

"Wow," Director said looking at Dawn, quickly taking Dawn out of the simulation. 

"What a letdown," Lana said under her breath. 

"Well, by the looks of it your manifestation is utterly useless," Director said. 

"Ha!" Lana laughed. 

"Director," Scarlett said with sympathy as Dawn looked towards the floor. 

"Useless in terms of fighting," Director finished her sentence. "Therefore this simulation isn't for you, based on that alone you're probably better at other things," 

"Like what?" Dawn asked in a low tone. 

"Like," Director paused for a bit; quickly trying to think of something. "Reconnaissance," 

"She's right, you can do recon," Scarlett said excitedly. 

"Exactly, Scarlett happens to charge blindly into things so be her eyes," 

"Just Scarlett?" Dawn asked. 

"Well the other three think first and have fast reflexes so it would be wasted on them," Director explained with her arms folded. "But go for it, I mean better safe than sorry right?" 

"That's true," Dawn said forcing a smile. 

"I'll work on a different simulation for you but until then I guess you can watch," Director said turning her attention back to the training room. "You're up Prism, you ready?" 

"Yeah," Prism said as she was transported into the training room. 

"How come Prism doesn't wear the jumpsuit?" Dawn asked Director as she approached the control panel. 

"The suit helps with physical manifestations but doesn't do anything for mental ones," Director explained as she rose the level to 18. "Prism's manifestation manipulates the reality around her and other people based on her imagination. The others sacrifice their bodies to use their manifestations but Prism sacrifices her mind," 

"Wait so she'll lose her mind one day?" Dawn asked concerned. 

"That's why we're training," Silas said. "If we can get a handle on our manifestations we'll be okay in the long run," 

Dawn watched as Prism gazed at the several dozen dummies in front of her uninterestedly. As the dummies launched long-range attacks at Prism she held out her hand creating a square to block them all and then flicked her wrist, launching the square at the dummies crushing them all against the wall until they broke. 

"Woah," Dawn said in awe. 

"You're the first person to look at her in awe like that you know," Director said to Dawn. 

"What do you mean?" 

"People usually get scared you know, 'cause those dummies could have easily been human beings. Prism wouldn't have much issue killing thousands," Director explained. 

"I didn't think about that," 

"Probably because you're more flight than fight," Director said pulling Prism out of the simulation. "Great work Prism, how do you feel?" 

"I'm fine," Prism said plainly. 

"Hm, are you sure?" Director asked as Prism nodded. "No headache or migraines?" 

"No," 

"Throbbing?" 

"No," 

"Are seeing any dots or hallucinations?" 

"No," 

"Date of birth?" 

"June 20th, 20XX," 

"Name?" 

"Harmony Blue Sirene," 

"Huh, guess you are fine," Director said after finishing her questions. 

"I told you so," Prism said looking annoyed. 

"Alright that wraps up training," Director said shutting down the training room. "Enjoy your day as you see fit, if you need anything you know where to find me," she said as she left the room. 

"We should all do something today," Scarlett suggested. 

"Sorry, I've got rehearsal today," Prism said. 

"I really rather not," Lana said as she left the room. 

"Silas?" Scarlett said clasping her hands as if she was begging. 

"Sorry, I'm busy today too," he said as he also left the room. 

"Looks like it's just me and you today," Dawn said as she put her hand on Scarlett's shoulder. 

"I can meet up with you guys later," Prism said. 

"That would be great," Dawn said with a smile. 

"Wait, why don't we go with you?" 

"What?" Prism said taken aback. 

"We could come to your rehearsal and maybe even help you with it," Scarlett said. 

"I don't know," Prism said unsure. 

"Pleaseeee," Scarlett begged, she nudged Dawn. 

"Pleasee," Dawn started begging too. 

Prism sighed. "Fine, don't touch anything, and please be quiet," 

Dawn and Scarlett tried to jump on Prism for a hug but she quickly held up her hand creating a square blocking them both. 

"Get ready and let's go," Prism said as she left the room.