Surprise

Two days have passed with no news on where Sloth may be, or what he's doing.
I work hard and finally I see the results of my magic.
"That plant is looking quite healthy, very good!"
I nod at Gaia with a smile as Tarou comes over to see.
"Nice work dude! Maybe I should start coming to you for healing now!"
Tarou and I let out a laugh as I look back at the plant, which though not completely, was looking quite green and healthy.

"Alright everyone, gather around."
Tarou and I walk over to Gaia as instructed and she continues.
"You've both done great work. Little Kazu, that plant it looks great. Leader boy, you got the intricacies of your new magic down, that's great."
While she says that Tarou and I high-five each other.
"So I think we should end training a little earlier. Get some rest as a reward!"
'I can just practice at home later.'

We start walking towards the exit when Tarou taps me on my shoulder as he holds his phone.
"I invited the club to come to the park, I wanna show them my new magic, let's go!"
'Hmm...'
"Did you invite Tomo yet?"
"Hm? Not yet."
I nod.
"I'll do it then."
'May as well.'

...

It took long while until we reach the park, a nice big one with a pond almost on the other side of the city. We look around for a moment and see Shin and Hiro sitting on a bench. We wave and then walk over to them.
"Hello there heroes in the making, staying safe I hope?"
Tarou laughs and I sit down next to them as check my phone.
I can hear them chuckle so I look at them only for a shout to come from behind.
"BOO!"

I scramble up quickly looking behind me only to see Aya with a big grin on her face.
"Tsk. Of course..."
"Ohhh? Did I make you mad? Heh~. I didn't even use invisibility!"
I sigh.
"Yeah, yeah. Is Tomo trying to scare me too, like usual?"
"Nope. He wanted to keep checking on what you asked."
My eyes widen and I nod at her.
"Oh. Ok."
"So."
Hiro begins talking and we all turn towards him.
"What's this magic you'll finally show us?"
Tarou excitedly jumps up and down and takes out a small pot with a dead plant from his bag.
"Kazu, you show yours first!"
"Me? Ok..."
I grab the small pot and concentrate.
"Heal!"
A glow begins shining all around the plant, slowly bringing it to life, settling on an almost pure green hue.
I look around to see everyone applauding, and blush.
"I still got a long ways to go..."
Hiro stands up and pats me on the back with a slight smile.
"Don't sell yourself short, you did good."

I give the plant back to Tarou when Shin says to him.
"What about you? What did you learn?"
Tarou's eyes shine at the question and a big smile appears on his face.
"Heh, you'll see."

Ping!
As Tarou is preparing himself to do his magic I receive a message and grab my phone.
Ping!
Ping!
'Woah, relax.'
More messages keep coming in before I can even open the phone. Finally I do so and my eyes snap open.
It was Tomo.

Before I can warn everyone Sloth drops right in the middle of us with a punch into the ground, shaking it, and making Shin and Aya Fall.
'Damn it, you were too slow Tomo.
...Or was that me again?'
"Everyone run!"
Aya quickly turns invisible while Shin immediately takes out his phone, but before he can even call anyone, Sloth snatches it and throws it into the distance behind him.
"I... Uh..."
"Hmph. You're a nobody, sit down and I won't hurt you."
Shin carefully nods as he sits down on the bench.
Sloth looked around at each of us while Tarou and I stood in front of Hiro, as he did his best to silently call for help.
Slowly he walked up to us and stared directly at Hiro as he stared back.
"You heard what I said right? Drop the phone, or I drop you."
"Tsk."
Hiro furrowed his brows and dropped the phone. Then Sloth stepped aside and pointed to the bench, to which Hiro walked and sat down.

All of us remain dead quiet as he did one more look around before saying.
"I think your little friend ran. I guess that means I'll have to be quick."
I don't hesitate and ask.
"What do you want? What are you going to do?"
"Grabbing some insurance, of course."
'Four people... Can I teleport Tarou and myself to them and then teleport us all out of here? Two teleports minimum...'
"Why would you need insurance, I thought you would just run us down and kick us? You trying to get your wife back or something?"
I reply with a grin, mocking him, which he doesn't take, calmly answering.
"You don't have my wife. You're good, you wouldn't touch an innocent person."
"Innocent..."
He laughs.
"She has quite the personality, I know. But she's the best thing ever. Which is why I'm doing this."
A confused look washes over my face.
"What?"
"If he gets what he wants I'll obtain the magic I need to guarantee her safety. No matter what comes at us."

The smile on his face slowly fades and he continues.
"I think it's time your friend went to the bench."
'Two teleports with so many people, there's no way...'
I look over at Tarou and see him do a familiar move he hasn't done in a long time.
'Did I buy enough time yet?'
Suddenly his eyes snap open and he throws the bag he had been holding in his hands right at Sloth, before shouting.
"SNOW STORM!"
"What?"
In a split of a second the bag burst wide up in an explosion knocking both of us back as Sloth flew backwards. The huge blast causing Shin and Hiro to be knocked off the bench and into the ground where they stayed for a moment, dazed.
Quickly I dash towards them and open up a portal to the first place I can think of and throw them both in, before immediately closing it.
'Nurse Ruby will help them... Hope she didn't mind the unexpected drop off.'

I catch my breath for a moment and quickly join back with Tarou as Sloth slowly talked back towards us laughing, with holes in his shorts
"You guys... Hahah, I didn't expect your friend there to also have some magic. I have to say, I'm impressed."
Tarou smiles and says.
"Well, my magic IS impressive isn't it? I'm only a trainee too!"
"Trainee? Little Heroes... I get it now.
So sad, I tried being nice, don't say I didn't warn you."
From one moment to the next he traverses a good distance and suddenly shows up on top of Tarou, I can only watch as he buries a fist into his face knocking him into the ground.
"Right, one down."
Sloth looks towards me as Tarou struggles to get up.
"Now what is your magic? I was so busy with the others I didn't notice it... Then again you WERE on my roof."
His eyes widen and I instinctively teleport away a fair distance, as I look down in fear.
'What was that... Was he about to kill me?'
"Pay attention."
The sudden voice causes me to look up, only to see he's already on me with a punch about to connect.

Once again I teleport away, this time back to Tarou as I quickly help him get back up with him holding onto me and whispering in my ear.
"Useful magic."
I look back at Sloth, still in the same place as before.
"I wouldn't have to hurt you as much if you'd stop using it and came with me."
I remain silent and glance at Tarou, seeing him give me a nod.
Sloth begins walking towards me as a wide smile appears on his face.
"It's almost like a work out, hah. I'll give you one last chance kid. Don't make me do it. My wife will yell at me all day if I do."
I put my hand on Tarou's shoulder and teleport him.
"Got your friend to safety? Are you planning on taking me on alone? Haha-"
Just as he begins laughing a huge glow appears behind him as Tarou shouts with all of his might.
"TORNADOOOOO!"
At first a slow gust, but then as he keeps screaming, and veins start appearing in his eyes, all at once it appeared. A giant tornado of enormous proportions, causing both mine and Sloth's jaw to drop.
'He really... Did it.
AWESOME!'

"Tsk. I'll just have to take him out for good then."
He attempts dashing towards Tarou but the strong winds quickly bat him away, knocking him to the ground, as it slowly moves, following him.
He looks back at me, but I'm already teleporting myself next to Tarou, leaving him alone there to deal with it as I check on him.
From him I could only hear guttural noises as he struggled to breathe, he was in a trance, unmoving and barely blinking as the eyes still had those veins.
"Come on Tarou, just a bit more, you got this!"
I look over at Sloth as he runs in circle away from the tornado, attempting to get close to us.
'...Damn it. This is not worth it.'
"Tarou stop!"
I grab Tarou by the shoulders and shake him, unsuccessful in bringing him back.
"Damn it. Damn it. Damn it."

I look around hoping for help to finally arrive and spot someone slowly coming closer. Quickly I check my phone and see a new message from Tomo.
"Sorry, I couldn't warn you on time. Aya called for help but they'll be a while. She's with me, trust in the plan."
'...'
"I'm sorry I asked you to two to search for him."
"That wouldn't change a damn thing now. Trust. In. The. Plan. You fell for it so many times already remember?"
'Will that work...?'
I don't have time to think as I suddenly hear footsteps as they're now close enough where the sound of the tornado no longer drowns them out.
I look over to see Sloth run to us, and before I know it he shouts.
"RELAX!"
I'm dazed for a second, but after coming to my senses I see the tornado start to disappear as Tarou suddenly crumbles to his knees.
"...Huh...? Where... What was I..."
I crouch down and embrace him.
"Tarou! You ok?"
He slowly turns towards me as he yawns with a bored look on his face.
"Whatever. I'll sleep now. Staying awake is such a hassle."
Just like that he pushes me away and lays down to rest as Sloth begins laughing as he too was on his knees catching a breath.
"Hah. Hah... That is some mighty impressive magic, go to sleep little guy. Now to collect my insura-"
He starts to stand up and is shocked when he looks at me and notices me still standing.
"What the... How are you-"

Before he can finish speaking, Tomo and Aya had grabbed onto his laughs and pulled him, successfully knocking him into the ground before running full speed towards me as Tomo screamed.
"Portal us, now!"
Once again I create another portal to nurse Ruby and both of them quickly grab both Tarou and my hands pulling us towards it.
I pick up Tomo to make it easier and they pass through the portal. With it steps away I'm about to jump in too, with Tarou in hand, when suddenly a hand pulls me back, causing me drop Tarou as we both fall to the floor and knocking my concentration, causing the portal to close as Aya and Tomo scream from the other side.
I look back, seeing Sloth take a few steps back with a serious look on his face as he seemed to no longer want to fight.
"You're just going to run... Huh? I don't know wh-"

But before he can continue, Full Throttle suddenly appears out of nowhere slamming into Sloth with immense strength, as all his tattoos appeared to be glowing, including one under his shirt, where his heart is.
His once bald head was filled with flames as if it was wild hair, his beard once black was now red, and besides all the fire around him, including where he made contact with Sloth and the maniacal laughter he kept doing, there was a crazed look in his eyes. He stared ahead only at Sloth while he got launched into the distance, landing in the dirt as the momentum still dragged him back causing him to lay there, unmoving.
"HAHAHAHAH. VICTORY IS MINE!"

...

Gaia kept holding onto both Tarou and I while Full Throttle guided Sloth to a nearby vehicle.
"I'm so glad..."
She chuckles before continuing.
"I knew you guys had it in you! That was an amazing Tornado leader boy!"
"Thanks... I'm still a bit tired though."
"Yeah you'll need to work out the kinks."
She turns towards me.
"My little Kazu, no doubt you helped buy time for leader boy? Magic like that can't happen from one moment to another. Well, at least not at his current strength."
I nod silently and look over at Sloth, flinching slightly as I see him staring back.
"Hey, you. Teleportation guy."
He called out to me while Full Throttle kept pushing him to get in.
"Let me talk damn it!"
Full Throttle looks back at Gaia who gives him a curious look and nods, causing Sloth to continue.
"I don't know what's going on, but you really should relax. Nothing good will come out of it if you don't."

Gaia and Full Throttle glance at me confused before looking back at Sloth annoyed. Tarou meanwhile stared at me, with a worried look as I stared ahead with a blank face at Sloth, unmoving.