Train Harder

A month ago.

Jilaya was working on some sort of device. She was welding something together when Ivan walked in. Jilaya dropped down and looked at him for a second. Ivan looked wounded from his fight with Terra. They walked up to each other and hugged.

Jilaya: What happened?

Ivan: Do you remember Artemis?

Jilaya: Artemis? As in Terra Lorbia?

Ivan: Yes. She was quite the match for me.

Jilaya: Nothing bad?

Ivan: I walked here, didn't I?

Jilaya: Right.

Ivan: I still have one more trick up my sleeve.

Jilaya: That's right.

Jilaya led Ivan into a house. It was surprisingly small but homely.

Jilaya: Sit down. You need rest.

Ivan sat down on a chair,

Ivan: What about Erica and Axel?

Jilaya: They are okay. Axel is out on a recon mission.

Ivan: Tell him to change directions after this mission. I want him to show Terra we are not ones to be trifled with.

Jilaya: Are you sure?

Ivan: He's stronger than me in most categories.

Jilaya seemed cheered up.

Jilaya: This is going to be awesome! He could get us some stats. I wonder what powers her friends have.

Ivan: Oh, and send in Erica as well. They need sibling bonding time.

Jilaya: Okay. But that is getting added to the list. We are all going to be busy from now on.

Ivan: Yes ma'am.

- - - - - - - - - - - -

Terra was still trying to lift her gauntlet. She jerked her hand up a little. The gauntlet flew up and stabbed into the ceiling.

Terra: Haha! I moved it!

Amelia: Yeah. Right into someone's foot. I think that was just a lucky one.

Terra: Maybe I should go and talk to someone.

Amelia: Like who?

Terra: Amala! Maybe she knows something!

Amelia: Oh yeah. She's like 1,000 years old so she could know something about your armor.

Terra: I'm going to go and visit her. Can you give me a lift?

Amelia: *sigh* fine. But I have things to take care of today.

Terra: Yeah yeah.

Amelia grabbed Terra and ran her over to Amala's house.

Terra: Did you get slower?

Amelia: Screw off. I didn't get any faster. I know that. Especially when I'm carrying you.

Amelia ran away while Terra knocked on Amala's door. Amala opened the door and looked down at Terra.

Amala: God, I almost didn't see you there. What do you need, kid?

Terra: I had some questions.

Amala: About what?

Terra: My armor and Artemis.

Amala: Oh, that's a story right there. Come in.

Terra sat down on Amala's couch.

Terra: I'm like sinking into this couch!

Amala: Yeah those couches are fun. Just got them replaced.

Terra: Really? You got someone to bring these in?

Amala: What? No.

Terra: Then how did they get here?

Amala: I picked them up and walked out.

Terra: Of course you did. Either way, was there ever an actual Artemis?

Amala: Uh, yeah of course. How do you think that armor came to be?

Terra: Well this armor I have was made magically. And I added on some things.

Amala: Speaking of. You destroyed your book. But Artemis did have actual powers to her.

Terra: Like what?

Amala: Well like you attempted. She can call her armor to her. And control it telekinetically. She could als-

Terra: Oh! I can control it telekinetically!

Amala: Really. I doubt it.

Terra got up off the couch and took off her gauntlet. She sat it on a table and tried to move it. But it just fell off the table. Amala was examining her the entire time. She laughed at Terra.

Terra: What? Am I really that bad?

Amala: Yep. I knew a real Artemis. She was really bad at her job at first. Let me show you.

Amala grabbed Terra's arm and straightened it out for her. She balled up Terra's hand and pulled out her pointer finger.

Amala: There is power flowing through you. You aren't Artemis. You have to let Artemis flow through you. Calm yourself and be gentle with the piece.

Terra held out her hand and took a deep breath. She kept her pointer finger out and picked up the piece very slowly.

Terra: Look! I'm doing it!

Amala: Now try hitting me. Preferably not with the pointy end,

Terra: Yeah.

Terra jerked her finger around and threw the gauntlet at Amala. She tried to block but was knocked over still.

Amala: See look! That's how you do it! Now remember. Be a source of power. Let it flow. Don't try and ball up the power and then throw it out.

Terra: Thanks. Now I can really train. Oh, and doesn't Artemis have even more powers?

Amala: ...yeah. You should be able to heal people. But I don't wanna test that at all. Focus on controlling the armor.

- - - - - - - - - - - -

Amelia was standing in front of Donny's grave.

Amelia: It's been 3 months since I buried you. You heard me when I was with Millie, didn't you? You were always a better leader than me and I was too stupid to think about it. Why did you do it? Jump in front of a sword for Terra. You barely knew her!

???: Your brother seemed like a good guy.

Amelia: Didn't I tell you to go away?

Mike came over and stood next to Amelia. He sat down a flower in front of Donny's grave.

Amelia: Why are you following me?

Mike: I just wanted to pay my respects. He died protecting the people he loved? Is that right?

Amelia: ...Yeah.

Mike: You seem like you are good at lying to yourself. Don't waste your life doing that. You lead the blue coats right? It doesn't seem like you are doing a lot of that. Your brother would want you to lead. Wouldn't he?

Amelia: You don't know anything about Donny.

Mike: Maybe I don't. But nobody would want to watch their sister just throw away her responsibilities.

Amelia: Shut up!

Amelia tried to push Mike. Time slowed down to his perspective. Amelia was barely moving. Mike yawned and moved out of the way.

Amelia: What the hell?

Mike: What? Do you think I'm slow? Like you?

Amelia: Don't be a dick! I'm not even slow...

Mike: Hmmm. Prove it.

Amelia: Seriously? I don't have anything to prove.

Mike ran into the street.

Mike: Come on. Don't be a pussy.

Amelia: Ugh. Fine. Let's do it. I'm not scared of you.

Amelia came over and stood next to Mike. They both lined up.

Mike: You go first. I'll catch up. To lady liberty.

Amelia blasted off. She ran through blocks and blocks. She glanced behind herself. No Mike in sight. Until he ran right through a building. He was running backwards. He ran up to Amelia and pretended to snore. He flipped backwards off his hand and ran straight. Amelia gained a little ground but not before Mike blew past her. He started lapping her over and over and over. It looked like there were multiple versions of him. until she got to the Statue of Liberty. He was sitting next to Liberty.

Mike: I told you. I'm fa-

Amelia: Yeah I get it! You're faster! I'll never be as great as you!

Mike: Seriously? Why so dramatic?

Amelia: I have lots of shit on my plate. And if you are going to be an asshole then just go back to wherever you came from.

Mike: Listen. I can help you. You are a speedster. Let me tell you something. You only use your powers to run around and have a jolly old time. But your speed can be harnessed in many different ways.

Amelia: What. Like how you ran over that building earlier. I can do that too.

Mike: No. I didn't run over it. I phased through it.

Amelia: Phased?

Mike: If you vibrate your molecules at the natural frequency of air…

Amelia: That sounds totally fake.

Mike: Yeah that felt really wrong when I said it out loud. Either way. I can do it, so you can as well. You can vibrate your body so fast that you can pass through solid objects.

Amelia: Can I try?

Mike: Sure. Give it a shot!

Amelia: Wait, can I try doing it with my hand or something?

Mike: Yeah sure. Just vibrate your hand really fast.

Amelia tried this. She got her hand moving so fast that it was phasing.

Mike: Now try sticking your hand through this bench.

Amelia stuck her hand into the bench and then pulled it out quickly.

Amelia: That felt weird!

Mike: It'll be normal after doing it a couple hundred times.

Amelia: Can I try walking through something?

Mike: Sure. Give it a try.

Amelia tried to vibrate her entire body. She ran right towards the wall of the restaurant closest to her. But just ran into it and fell on the ground.

Mike: That's what I expected.

Amelia: Why didn't you warn me?

Mike: 1. It was going to be hilarious. 2. Nobody got it their first time. Unless you were the main character of a show.

Amelia: What are you even talking about?

Mike: Let's go somewhere else and try it.

Amelia: ...okay.

They both sped off. Mike ran with Amelia instead of ahead of her.