School Entrance Qualifiers (2 of 2)

Hiro vs. Artifice

Teachers and students are back in the stadium to view the next battle challenge on giant monitors.

Announcer: "Welcome one and all to the Path of the Shield battle challenge. It's Artifice from the Psychic Alliance vs. transfer student Hiro of no Alliance affiliation in this installment of the battle challenge, where each contestant will showcase their abilities. This course is comprised of three segments. At the end of the first two segments, a gateway awaits which will transport the contestant on to the next phase."

Artifice is a light complexioned, 16 years of age, 5' 6" tall female weighing 95 lbs. She dresses in a sleeveless pinstripe grey suit and wears black plastic rim glasses, giving her the appearance of a librarian. Although tattoos aren't typically associated with librarians, one-inch images of a book are festooned on the sides of both her arms between shoulder and elbow. She is an attractive, slim, modest bosomed member of the Magic Alliance – blue hair and blue eyes.

Artifice and Hiro are both at the starting gate within the spectator dome.

Hiro, beaming: "It's a pleasure to meet you Artifice."

Artifice, walks up close and gets in Hiro's face as if examining him: "So what are you about? You lost your first three challenges, but you did manage to stay alive and complete them, even though you're not an Alliance member."

Hiro, leaning back, with nervous laughter: "Just lucky I guess."

Artifice, making a wry face: "'There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you', that's a quote from Maya Angelou."

Hiro: "That's ... deep."

Announcer: "Time to get started folks. During this race you need to be aware of your surroundings and use your Alliance abilities, except for a certain someone, to move forward. And the countdown begins."

Giant color lit auto race style poles on either side of them start to count down from 3, 2, 1.

As the start horn sounds, both contestants sprint toward the start gate, in step with each other. They pass through the gate and appear at one end of a small pond, with footpads trailing away towards the opposite side.

Announcer: "ok, get started. Isn't it obvious? You need to make your way to the opposite side."

Hiro and Artifice start out across the pond.

Announcer: "Maybe I should mention, those shiny things you see darting through the water are hungry."

Both Hiro and Artifice stop and look down to see the creatures beneath them. Hiro's expression becomes more determined, but Artifice's composure evaporates and her face pales.

Announcer: "I wouldn't stop to take a break if I were you, those foot pads are getting smaller with each passing second."

Artifice, regains her composure, thinking: "Remember what Angie Thomas wrote, 'Brave doesn't mean you're not scared. It means you go on even though you're scared'".

Both of them start moving forward. Hiro takes a step onto a footpad, which gives way. He's about to plunge into the water, but manages to recover by turning a cart wheel into a hand stand onto the closest footpad.

Announcer: "Oh no, Hiro stepped on a defective footpad. We'll have some strong words for the manufacturer."

Contestants are nearing the other side, but the footpads are noticeably smaller and there's some balancing on one foot required now. As Hiro pauses, a slot machine is reflected in his eyes – the slot lever is pulled and 3 'Jackpot' signs come up followed by a clang of sounds and lights. At just that moment a fish jumps out of the water, intercepting a bullet that would have struck Hiro. Closing her eyes, invisible blue tendrils spread out around Artifice until she senses the mental image of a distant sniper, outlined in red. A blue aura emanates from her as she forms a path in her mind's eye connecting her to the sniper. A click is heard, transforming the image of the sniper from red to blue.

Sniper's eyes gloss over, in a monotone: "My sister, I must protect you", as he starts firing into the water killing fish after deadly fish.

Sniper: "You're safe now, sister."

Announcer: "That's what I'd expect from one of the top Psychic Alliance students, but who invited that sniper to the party? Did you kids do something to piss someone off?"

Artifice raises her chin triumphantly: "I just saved your bacon Hiro, the least you can do is carry me the rest of the way."

Hiro: "How did you do that?"

Artifice: "I'll explain it to you sometime. Maybe. Now, be a good boy and do your part."

Hiro, resignedly: "I guess it's only fair."

He jumps down into the water, walks over to Artifice, who extends her arms out to show him what to do. Hiro does as instructed, Artifice jumping into his arms.

Artifice, thinking to herself: "I could get used to this." 

Artifice, blushing, aloud: "Just don't get any ideas you pervert."

Hiro: "Hey, this was your idea!"

As Hiro and Artifice pass through the gate, they appear in a white room on opposite sides of a white table.

Announcer: "The game is two truths and a lie. Each of you gets a turn to make statements, and identify your opponent's facts vs. fiction. You get one point for each correct answer. Whoever wins gets a 20 second head start on the final round. Artifice will go first."

Artifice takes a breath as her expression goes blank, and she speaks in a monotone: 

1.    "Government assassins murdered my parents

2.    My mentor, Master Dulcia, murdered my parents

3.    I murdered my parents"

Hiro is taken aback: "How terrible, your parents were murdered!" 

Artifice does not react.

Announcer: "If contestant Hiro does not provide his classifications promptly, he will lose this round. Please proceed."

Hiro thinking: "The most believable is that the government would be responsible, although I can't imagine why. I know Master Dulcia, and I can't to believe she would do such a thing, although she can be very scary. I just met Artifice, but there's no way she could kill her own parents."

Announcer: "Your response?"

Hiro, sighs: "statements 1 and 2 are true, statement 3 is the lie."

Artifice: "Government assassins murdered my parents. Although Master Dulcia blames herself, she was not present, so did not murder them. I however, was present and was too weak to defend them, so I bear responsibility for their deaths."

Hiro, protesting: "That doesn't make you a murderer, you were just a child."

Announcer: "We're not here to determine absolute truths, this is Artifice's truth. One point is awarded to Hiro. Contestant Hiro, present your statements."

Hiro:

1.    "Things tend to go wrong whenever I'm around

2.    Master Dulcia told me you are her finest student

3.    I have brown hair"

Artifice thinking: "I can see that he has brown hair under that ridiculous cap he's wearing – what is he trying to pull? Is he so vain that he dyed it? I can believe that he has some type of inferiority complex, and blames himself for coincidental events. Master Dulcia is always criticizing me, so it's hard to believe she would say something like that, and besides how would he even know her? Best to use my ability on Hiro and not leave this to chance."

Artifice closes her eyes and focuses on Hiro, trying to penetrate his mind. Artifice emits a blue aura, generating a current that enters Hiro's mind. Simultaneously, dominoes falling backward into place are reflected on the surface of Hiro's eyes. Abruptly, the blue current surges back to its origin, rebuffing Artifice's progress.

Artifice, recoiling: "Ouchie. Ouchie." 

She casts Hiro a pained expression, rubbing her forehead. 

Artifice: "What is it with you?"

Hiro: "Me? Huh? I didn't do anything."

Announcer: "Contestant Artifice, provide your classifications."

Artifice, scowling: "Statements 1 and 3 are true, statement 2 is the lie."

Hiro: "I am a jinx, and Master Dulcia did say that about you. My hair ... just looks brown."

Artifice, leaning in to Hiro: "How do you know Master Dulcia?"

Hiro: "You're not her only student, she's one of my teachers too."

Announcer: "One point is awarded to Artifice. We have a tie. Please proceed on to the final challenge."

Artifice and Hiro both make a dash for the gate. Each emerges in separate locations in the middle of a forest clearing, wearing military fatigues.

Announcer: "For this final segment, you'll be playing 'Capture the Flag'. Hiro is the red team and Artifice is the blue team. You and your 10 troops are equipped with rifles, and you'll be able to direct them via voice command. Whoever captures the enemy flag and returns it to their home base, placing it next to their flag, is the victor. Your bullet proof vest should protect you, mostly, from any fatal shots. Incapacitated soldiers will be teleported off the battle field to our medical unit. There will be a counter showing number of soldiers left on each team. If either of you is incapacitated during this battle, you lose."

Hiro, thinking: "Even though my psychic abilities are weaker than Artifice, I have to use what Master Dulcia taught me to create a mental barrier within my troops to prevent Artifice from taking control of them." Hiro visualizes the psychic emblem, and mentally connects with his troops, placing a locked chain gate at the entrance to their minds.

Artifice, thinking: "Based on last round, a direct psychic attack on Hiro won't work, but his troops are fair game. Let's see." 

She reaches out to the troops and sees the gates blocking access to their minds. 

Artifice, thinking: "Hmmm, nice work Hiro, I see Master Dulcia's influence on you. I could bulldoze through all of those gates, but that would be rather indelicate and might take too much time."

Artifice, motivating her troops: "As Tolstoy said, 'Man cannot possess anything as long as he fears death. But to him who does not fear it, everything belongs. If there was no suffering, man would not know his limits, would not know himself.'  Let's see what we can learn about ourselves in this battle, and let's win."

In response, her troops let out a cheer.

Hiro, speaking to his troops: "um, I've never led a team before, but I've trained very hard every day of my life. One thing I've learned is whatever you do, give it your all."

Troops nod in assent.

Artifice and Hiro, both thinking: "I'll stay back to guard the flag, and put everyone else on offense. There's a choke point in the middle of the map. We have to get there first."

Both aloud: "All troops move out and capture the enemy flag!" 

Their soldiers shout out as they run onto the battle field.

Announcer: "It's a mad dash across the battle field. They'll be facing some rough terrain along the way."

Soldiers from both sides are jumping over pits and fallen trees, crawling under brush, bounding through tree tops, swimming through murky water, climbing cliffs, and trying to overcome quick sand. Three soldiers from each team succumb to these obstacles along the way. Battle counters reflects this, going from 10 down to 7 on each side.

Announcer, update 1: "Both sides have made steady progress, converging at the center of the battle field, where they are taking fire, pinning each other down."

Both battle counters tick down lower at pace with each other as soldiers fall.

Announcer, update 2: "We have extensive injuries on both sides now. Wait, what's this, a red team member is making his way past the blue defenders, even as soldiers from both teams eliminate each other." 

Battle counter goes down to 0 for blue with 1 remaining for red team. Sometime later, the remaining Red soldier approaches the Blue flag. Artifice is guarding it, and they begin firing at each other.

Announcer: "Looks like Artifice isn't a very good shot. She's pinned down and her return fire leaves something to be desired. Oh, looks like she's down, although she's managed to crawl back for cover. Hiro's Red soldier has grabbed the blue flag and started to make his way back to his home base. Appears to be all over, now we just have to wait for the inevitable."

Carrying the Blue flag, Red soldier approaches Hiro who is waiting at the base of the Red flag. Just then, Artifice leaps out from bush cover, placing herself between Hiro's Red soldier and the Red team victory point. Artifice and the enemy are at an impasse, each pointing their rifles at the other.

Hiro: "Artifice don't, at this range the vest may not save you — let it go."

Artifice, looking desperate and frazzled: "I won't lose to you Hiro, I won't!" 

Hiro, looking concerned: "Alright then. Soldier, stand down". 

But the soldier ignores Hiro's command, raising his rifle to aim directly at Artifice's head. 

Hiro, more urgently: "Soldier, stand down!" 

As the soldier appears to tighten his finger on the trigger, Hiro launches himself in front of Artifice. Hiro collapses to the ground as the bullet pierces his chest, eliciting a gasp from the viewing audience.

Announcer, subdued: "Artifice wins."

Hiro is lying unconscious in a hospital bed, with Artifice by his side.

Artifice: "Seems you really did have bad luck this time. What were you thinking throwing yourself in front of that soldier like that? Fortunately, the best medical and magical experts were able to save you, although you'll need a little time to recover."

Artifice replays in her mind the events leading up to this.

Artifice, thinking: "Based on last round, a direct psychic attack on Hiro won't work, but his troops are fair game. Let's see." 

She reaches out to the troops' minds, and sees the gates Hiro set up. 

Artifice, thinking: "Hmm, nice work Hiro, I see Master Dulcia's influence on you. I could bulldoze through all of those gates, but that would be rather indelicate and might take too much time." 

Artifice, continuing: "Perhaps something more subtle and focused." 

Removing herself from 9 of the men's minds, she intensifies her efforts toward the remaining one. 

Artifice, back in the present at Hiro's side: "Betrayal is a consistent theme in literature. That soldier was only making a convincing show of shooting me. Based on my orders, he was going to miss, and then I was going to turn the tables on you. It would have been a wonderful story for the audience, but you had to one up me. Still, it's hard to resist someone who risks their life for you." 

Artifice leans in as if to kiss Hiro ... 

Hiro vs. Acies:

Teachers and students are back in the stadium to view the next battle challenge on giant monitors. Hiro is waiting at the starting gate within the spectator dome.

Announcer: "Here comes our other contestant, Acies, from the Militant Faith Alliance. It appears he brought some friends along with him, although they look a bit rough around the edges."

Acies makes his entrance with several street thugs chasing him into the arena. Although only 15 years of age, Acies has a commanding presence at 6'2" tall, with a thick muscular build and heavy physique. He has a dark complexion and is above average in appearance. His red wrestler's leotard matches the color of his hair and eyes, which identify him as a member of the Militant Faith Alliance.

Thug1: "Lookee here fellas, we gots ourselves an audience."

Thug2: "You thought we weren't gonna chase you all the way into this arena, tough guy?"

Acies: "No, I was counting on you following me. This will be much more fun with an audience."

Thug3: "Well, you shoulda thought a dat before interferin in our business. Wait, what?"

Thug4: "har har, you saying ya wanna tangle with the Face Punch gang?"

Acies: "look fellas, I'm in a bit of a hurry here. Can we fight now?"

Thug5: "you heard em gents, let's pile on!!!"

The five thugs surround Acies, circling around him chanting in unison, with alternating air punches: "Face Punch! Face Punch!"

Hiro has been observing and starts to move toward Acies, but catches Acies subtle smile and head shake 'no', so he freezes in place. Acies then does a 'T' pose, looking up to the sky. The Face Punch gang moves in for the kill.

Acies, as he leaps straight up 10 meters into the air: "Startled mouse leaping over angry broom!"

Acies, as he reaches the peak of his leap: "Purple elephant falling from green sky."

Instead of converging on Acies as intended, the Face Punch gang crashes into each other, then look up to see Acies falling toward them feet first.

Face Punch gang, looking up: "Uh oh"

Acies slams down into them with a boom, forming a giant dust cloud. After a few seconds, Acies walks out of the dust cloud towards the starting point where Hiro is still waiting. As the dust clears, the Face Punch gang is lying on the ground, bruised, dirty, and incapacitated.

Announcer: "You have to admit, Acies certainly knows how to make an entrance."

Acies to Hiro: "Thanks for the assist, that takes some courage — jumping into a 5 on 1 fight isn't very good odds."

Hiro: "But you didn't need my help."

Acies: "Your heart is in the right place. You don't have to worry about me, the Lord has my back. The Lord always has my back." 

Announcer: "Welcome one and all to the Path of the Shield battle challenge. It's Acies from the Militant Faith Alliance vs. transfer student Hiro of no Alliance affiliation in this installment of the battle challenge, where each contestant will showcase their abilities. This course is comprised of three segments. At the end of the first two segments, a gateway awaits which will transport the contestant on to the next phase. For the first segment, we're sending you back to medieval times where you'll have to storm a heavily fortified castle to make it to the final gate contained within the interior."

Announcer: "Time to get started folks. And the countdown begins."

Giant color lit auto race style pole on either side of them start to count down from 3, 2, 1.

As the start horn sounds, both contestants sprint from the starting line toward the start gate, with Acies in the lead. Passing through the gate, they materialize on opposite sides of a castle surrounded by a moat, triggering alert gongs from within the castle. Acies and Hiro are clothed in period appropriate attire, although Hiro has been put into women's garb.

Announcer: "Looks like a glitch at the costume department, although Hiro does look cute."

Hiro looks down at himself, his shoulders slumping.

Acies, laughing as he looks over at Hiro: "I don't care what clothes you put us in, I'm taking this castle by storm."

Acies starts to sprint towards the castle and is greeted with volleys of arrows. Leaping into the air, he snatches several, sending them back to strike the castle defenders.

Still standing there, Hiro thinks: "I can't compete with Acies' physicality, but one of the techniques uncle taught me will help narrow the gap."

Hiro closes his eyes, takes a breath, envisions the Militant Faith emblem and whispers: "Agility." 

Hiro proceeds to dodge all arrows coming his way with acrobatic finesse — abrupt stops, leaps into the air, even cartwheels — all the way to the moat's edge.

Announcer: "Talk about hopping to it."

Acies gets to the moat's edge, where alligators are streaming through the water.

Acies: "I could leap over this moat, but that wouldn't be any fun." 

Acies, pointing to a monstrous gator: "You look like the top gator. Poppa needs a new set of luggage." 

Diving in straight at the largest alligator, a wrestling match ensues, with Acies and the Gator twirling and thrashing under water.

Hiro, back at the moat's edge, thinking: "I don't like my odds ... probability and timing." 

Hiro closes his eyes, envisions the Quantum emblem, and enters the Quantum realm where he visualizes possible futures. 

Hiro, finding a successful outcome: "That's it." 

Hiro, opening his eyes: "3 ... 2 ... 1."

Hiro leaps out over the moat, and just as he is about to fall into the water an alligator surfaces. Hiro springs off that alligator and continues to repeat this several times in a zig zag pattern until he lands at the base of the castle wall.

Acies explodes out of the water swinging the monster alligator by the tail.

Acies: "Playboy alligator meets girlfriend alligator's dad."

Acies releases the alligator, launching it into the castle wall, where it splatters. Nearby alligators scatter, leaving the scene as soon as possible, while Acies does a leisurely back stroke to the other side of the moat.

Announcer: "See ya later alligator." Crowd groans.

Acies, thinking: "I had my fun, time to pick up the pace a little". 

Acies, aloud: "Strength."

A red haze envelops his body, as he starts climbing up the side of the wall. Acies doesn't bother finding hand and foot holds, since his fingers and feet are piercing into the mortar of the castle wall itself. From above, defenders start raining boulders down on him, but he swats them away like pesty flies.

Acies: "It'll take more than a few pebbles to slow me down." 

Acies makes it to the top of the wall, does a back flip, and lands smoothly on his feet.  The defenders glance his way prior to bolting in terror.

Hiro is at the base of the castle wall, thinking to himself: "Now what? Climbing will be tough enough, but boulders?" 

Hiro notices a glimmer of light moving down his arm sleave, and focuses on it. 

Hiro, thinking: "Could it be?" 

Concentrating on the glimmer, he envisions the Technology emblem, his cap emitting faint sparks. Data flows through electronic circuitry as the glimmer expands, splitting onto the surfaces of his hands and bottom of his shoes. 

Hiro, remembering when a piece of Parvul's suit splits off to aid him: "Thank you for sharing a part of your tech suit Parvul." 

Hiro starts climbing up the castle wall, with his hands and feet sticking to it. 

Announcer: "Hiro's climbing up the wall, how's he doing that? He's kinda like a spider-m... —no, I won't go there."

As boulders rain down on him, he's able to evade, but still remain connected to the wall with at least one limb at all times. He continues to progress until he's finally standing on the balustrade, just as the radiance of the technology glimmer fades, coalescing into the shape of a mole on his arm.

Hiro: "Out of juice, huh? Well, thanks for getting me this far."

Castle defenders are looking angrily on at him. 

Hiro, thinking: "Since I'm dressed the part, time for one of Master Dulcia's seduction illusions — never thought I would use this one." 

Hiro focuses for a second on the Psychic emblem, transforming into a beautiful young lady in the minds of the defenders. The castle defender's expressions transform from anger to adoration.

Castle defender 1: "Let me escort your grace to the gate."

Castle defender 2: "No, I will escort the lady to the gate."

Castle defender 3, confronting the other two: "Over my dead body."

Castle defenders start tussling over who will assist Hiro, so Hiro slinks away.

Announcer, who is out of range of the psychic technique : "Errr, what just happened?"

First Acies, and then Hiro appear at the central gate.

Acies, snickering: "Is that you Hiro? Oh my, you're looking lovelier than ever, but you're still not my type."

Hiro, flustered: "Dissipate", transforming appearance back to normal.

Acies, extending a hand in the direction of the gate: "Shall we?", and they walk through the gate side by side.

The pair materialize dressed in school uniforms, each sitting at small desks within a classroom. Acies looks especially ridiculous squeezed into his seat.

Announcer: "Since you can't muscle your way through every obstacle in life, it's time for a math quiz. The winner will get a 30 second head start on the next challenge. First person to hit the buzzer on their desk gets to answer the question. The first contestant to answer three questions correctly wins."

Acies looks worried, and is staring down at his desk.

Hiro, looking concerned: "What's wrong, it's just math, nothing to be afraid of."

Acies looks sideways at Hiro, gritting his teeth and emits a low growl.

Announcer: "First question, if you're really hungry and like pizza, what would you rather have?

a)    Four sixths of the pizza

b)    Five eighths of the pizza

c)    Two fourths of the pizza

Acies starts mumbling to himself incoherently.

Hiro buzzes in: "a, four sixths"

Announcer: "That's correct, one for Hiro. Next question. If you need to purchase fence for the perimeter of a rectangular property having 10 meter length and 5 meter width, how much fence do you need to purchase?"

Hiro buzzes in: "30 meters"

Announcer: "That's correct, Hiro now has 2 correct answers. Next question, currency A dollar is worth 80% of currency B dollar. If someone owes you 10 currency A dollars, but can only pay you in currency B dollars, how many currency B dollars should they pay you?"

Acies head just falls forward, hitting the table, splitting it in two.

After some thought, Hiro hits his buzzer: "8 currency B dollars"

Announcer: "Correct, please proceed to the gate Hiro." Announcer smirking, "guess we found Acies' soft spot."

Hiro materializes atop a hover board, dressed in skate boarding gear, helmet and all.

Announcer: "You have a 30 second head start to reach the gate at the bottom of the mountain Hiro, even you should be able to win this one."

Hiro starts down the mountain, riding along a dirt trail, dealing with obstacles along the way — a sharp turn almost drives him off a cliff side, he averts wiping out when braking to avoid a deer, he hits the landing after an unexpectedly steep vertical drop — but still has a sizable lead.

Acies appears at the top of the mountain, also in skate boarding gear, and can see Hiro's lead displayed on a holographic map.

Acies, thinking to himself: "Looks like it will take a miracle for me to catch up to him." 

Acies bows his head, and puts his hands together in prayer.

Announcer: "uhhhh, looks like Acies is (questioning inflection) praying? Does he really have time for that now?"

The earth starts to rumble, and the ground starts to shake.

Acies: "I better get ready for this. Defensive hardening!" 

He's enveloped by a red haze as his skin hardens. The ground Acies is on starts shaking violently, as the mountain becomes an erupting volcano.  Acies, along with a large chunk of earth is shot up into the air on a jet of molten lava.

Announcer: "That looks like a real blast, but can even Acies survive an erupting volcano?"

Acies surveys the ground below as he is lifted into the air.

Acies: "There! Flying squirrel leaping at evasive acorn." 

He launches his hover board off his flying island, coming down right beside Hiro. Acies smiles and waves at him, as the violent impact of the landing bounces him several meters into the lead. Hiro's eyes bulge out and his draw drops in exaggerated cartoon fashion. Hiro tries to recover, but it's too late. Acies cruises through the final gate, and into the arena to the cheers of the crowd, where he basks in the glory. Hiro follows dejectedly behind him.

Announcer: "Hiro's managed to lose again."

Hiro: "That was a crazy coincidence, how did you even survive it?"

Acies, with outstretched arms: "Coincidence? Blasphemer! That's the power of God's miracles."

Hiro, with fists clenched and an eager expression: "Well, I'm still not giving up, I'll try harder next time!"

Acies: "I'm hungry, is it lunch time yet?"

Hiro vs. Potesta:

Teachers and students are back in the stadium to view the next battle challenge on giant monitors. A young woman exudes haughty impatience as she awaits her opponent at the starting gate. At 16 years of age she strikes an imposing, slender figure at 5' 10" tall, wearing expensive, fashionable clothing, including high black boots, and gold bordered black cape. Possessing lovely shoulder length black hair with matching eye color, symmetrical, unblemished facial features, and ample bosom, she would be considered beautiful, but for her intimidating demeanor — not surprising for an Order Alliance member.

Potesta, turning her head to the side: "Hmmpf, where is that loser?"

Hiro running up to the starting gate: "You take that back. I am not a loser!"

Potesta: "What do you call 0 wins and 5 losses? After I defeat you today, you won't be accepted into the Path of the Shield school. 'Acta non verba', it's Latin for 'actions not words'."

Hiro: "Now you've got me all worked up. I'll show you!"

Potesta: "Don't get yourself into a tizzy 'home schooled'."

Hiro: "Argghh, that's not my name. My name is Hiro."

Potesta: "Have it your way Zero." 

Hiro starts jumping up and down and shaking his fists above his head in annoyance.

Announcer: "Enough chit chat, let's get started. Welcome one and all to the Path of the Shield battle challenge. It's Potesta from the Order Alliance vs. transfer student Hiro of no Alliance affiliation in this installment of the battle challenge, where each contestant will showcase their abilities. This course is comprised of three segments. At the end of the first two segments, a gateway awaits which will transport the contestant on to the next phase. This first segment will not be time based, but rather pass/fail, and you'll get a chance to clown around. Let's begin."

Giant color lit auto race style poles on either side of them start to count down from 3, 2, 1.

As they pass through the gate, each of them materializes in a tight, dark space.

Hiro: "Hey, what's going on here? I can't see a thing."

There are sounds of a match being lit, followed by a fuse.

Announcer: "Get ready to have a blast!"

As the perspective shifts outside of Hiro's narrow space, we see that Hiro and Potesta are inside of black iron canons, with their fuses burning down. Announcer is there in person, dressed as ringmaster. Spot lights are focusing in on the contestants. Hiro and Potesta, dressed in circus attire, are shot out of their respective canons. Hiro is flailing around, trying to run on air, while Potesta takes it all in stride, appearing to do a high dive through the air.

Announcer: "Heads up, you need to bounce off the target trampoline and grab the overhead trapeze to move forward in this course."

Potesta does a midair forward somersault, landing on the trampoline feet first, bouncing up to clasp the overhead trapeze. Hiro does a belly bomb onto the trampoline, spins upward out of control, and lands with his waist on the trapeze bar. He catches sight of the ground below and scrambles to right himself. A series of trapezes stretch out before them.

As they make their way from one trapeze to the next, Hiro calls out: "Do you smell popcorn?"

Butter is dripping onto the trapeze bar causing Hiro to grasp at it with alternating hands as each one slips in turn. Potesta's approach is to use the butter to do a spinning loop on her trapeze bar. Fortunately, the final trapeze platform is just ahead as Potesta does an elegant dismount, while Hiro swings, landing unceremoniously on his butt.

Hiro, rubbing his butt: "Owww!"

Announcer: "Hiro isn't very graceful, but he's managing to keep up with Potesta. Time for both of you to come back down to earth."

Each of them grabs a waiting balance poll, making their way down the tightrope to the ground, Hiro wobbling along the way.

Announcer: "Next part of this circus challenge is knife throwing."

Hiro: "Who are we throwing knives at?"

Announcer: "No one. Please stand against the wall within the marked outline. This is a test of nerves, if you can't handle it, you will be disqualified."

Hiro: "Then where are the knife throwers?"

Announcer: "I guess they're too far away for you to see, but they're out there." 

Hiro's jaw drops and his eyes bulge, Potesta remains stoic, yawning.

Announcer: "It's time, put your blindfolds on."

Hiro: "But we don't have any blindfolds."

Announcer: "Actually, the blind folds aren't for you, they're for the knife throwers."

Hiro, shouting defiantly: "That's fine, I'm up to the challenge!"

Announcer: "Potesta seems to be taking this in stride."

Potesta: "'Dulce periculum', danger is sweet". Her eyes narrow and she smiles in anticipation.

Announcer: "Stay still now, you wouldn't want to lose any body parts."

Hiro: "Start the countdown already", as he says 'countdown', knives start to encircle both him and Potesta.

Potesta, as the last knife sinks in around her: "Easy peasy."

Hiro: "Yeah, lemon squeezy."

Audience roars in appreciation. Hiro's eyes reflect a roulette wheel, with the ball settling in on double zero. Hiro sneezes, folding over just as a knife plunks into the wood where his chest just was.

Hiro: "Hey, no fair!"

Announcer: "Sorrry, but I don't think that was one of ours". 

Potesta looks over at Hiro, narrowing her eyes.

Announcer: "uhhhh, nothing to see here, moving right along. Next act, tame the lion. Please enter your cage."

Hiro and Potesta enter, with the door swinging closed behind them. Each cage has a chair with a whip on it. Hiro picks up the chair in his left hand and the whip in his right hand. Potesta picks up the whip, then sits down on the chair. A gate on the far side of each cage opens letting a roaring lion strut in.

Potesta's lion paces back and forth, growling in close proximity to her.

Potesta, with a cross expression on her face, "Shhush, you're so noisy you overgrown pussycat. And stop all that pacing — it looks ridiculous."

Potesta's lion: "Hiss!"

Potesta, crossly: "Don't make me get up out of my seat, cause if I do, I'm opening up a big can of whoop-ass on you." 

Potesta starts to rise out of her seat, glaring at the lion. In response, it makes a whining sound, putting its head down on the ground in between its paws.

Potesta, relaxing: "That's better, you big pussy cat. B-bye."

Intimidated, the lion retreats backwards out of the cage. Potesta rises and exits too.

Hiro's lion faces him, roaring.

Hiro, pleadingly: "Nice kitty?"

Hiro takes a step back, but his leg gets tangled in the whip, causing him to fall forward as he tries to extricate himself. His momentum carries him forward, so he braces himself with the chair, launching himself over it. He comes down, colliding heads with the lion, then lands on the lion's back. Both Hiro and the lion are momentarily stunned. When the lion realizes that Hiro is on its back, it starts sprinting around the cage frantically trying to shake him off, but Hiro maintains his hold on the lion's mane. After several circuits of the cage, the lion is exhausted, collapsing to the ground. Hiro, dizzy, his head spinning, steps off the lion, pats it on the head, then exits the cage.

Announcer: "You've both been very entertaining, so now it's time for you to be entertained. Please have a seat and relax."

Hiro and Potesta take seats facing a small stage, as a magician walks out levitating an attractive woman with a gag in her mouth who appears to be struggling against her shackled limbs. 

Hiro: "Hey, what's this about? I signed up for this, but you can't drag an innocent woman into it!"

Magician snaps his fingers and metal cuffs extend out from Hiro's seat securing his arms and legs. Hiro starts bucking back and forth to no avail.

Hiro, panicking: "Potesta, I can't get out. Do something, help her."

Potesta with hand on her chin and elbow resting on chair arm: "I think not."

The woman is lowered into a box with her head and feet protruding from each end. Magician does some flourishing gestures, snaps his fingers and a hack saw appears in his hands. The magician starts sawing as the woman thrashes about, writhing in agony.

Hiro: "Potesta!"

Potesta: "'Acta deos numquam mortalia fallunt'. Mortal actions never deceive the gods."

Hiro: "Now's not the time for your silly sayings."

Potesta, head to the side: "Hmmpffff. It's exactly the time. If you'd only listen to me."

The woman's movements cease and the magician separates the two halves of the box, with a red liquid dripping from either side.

Hiro, agitated: "You monster!" 

Hiro most forcefully rocks backward, shattering the chair on impact with the ground. Scrambling back up, Hiro sprints toward the stage. 

Announcer: "If you interrupt the performance, you'll be disqualified."

Hiro: "I can't just stand by and watch."

Just as he reaches the stage, the magician puts the 2 halves of the box together again. As Hiro leaps onto the stage the top of the box opens, the woman opens her eyes, sits up, and pulls the gag out of her mouth. The audience cheers, and Potesta starts laughing uncontrollably, falling out of her seat. Hiro just stands on the stage with his mouth open, looking foolish. The damsel in distress winks at him and smiles as the magician rolls her off the stage.

Potesta, still laughing: "You're so dumb, it's too precious. I even tried to tell you!"

Announcer (as ring master still): "Wonderful performances from both our contestants, onto the next round."

Hiro and Potesta proceed to walk through the gate, Hiro looking sheepish. Each materializes on the decks of their own 1700's era wooden frigates, with Hiro dressed as a pirate captain flying the skull and crossbones, and Potesta dressed as a British naval officer flying the British flag.

Announcer: "For this second challenge, each of you will command your own frigate. The goal is simple — make it through to the central gate avoiding rock outcrops and whirl pools along the way, or sink your opponent's vessel. Be advised, the special nature of this waterway will manifest and magnify your personal proclivities."

A holographic map of the waterways appears, showing that it is a simple circular maze with two identical halves and entrances on each side. Rock outcrops and whirlpools are marked out.

Potesta, to crew: "Get us to our target destination with as much prudent haste as this vessel can muster. Start continuous fire once those pirates are within range."

Hiro: "Why am I the bad guy? Alright fellow pirates, let's do this. Make for the central gate." 

As the vessels start out, the wind on Potesta's side starts to fade and the whirlpools settle down. The opposite occurs on Hiro's side, with storm clouds gathering overhead, wind intensifying, water getting choppy, and surrounding whirlpools speeding up as they expand.

Hiro's vessel starts racing through the waterway, seemingly on the brink of disaster, barely skirting rock outcrops and whirl pools: 

1.    His ship appears to be heading inexorably toward several jagged rocks. Reflected in Hiro's eyes, a bullet is placed in a revolver chamber that starts spinning next to Hiro's head. The trigger is pulled and the gun does not fire. A sudden gale arises, narrowly blowing the frigate clear, its bow (front) grinding against the rocks as it averts disaster.

2.    Hiro's frigate is caught on the outskirts of a whirlpool, spiraling around as it is drawn in. The roulette wheel in Hiro's eyes starts spinning, settling on triple 0. A massive whale surfaces just under the frigate, sending it flying clear of the whirlpool.

Potesta, thinking: "This won't do, we're dead in the water". 

She sits down crossing her legs. A black aura emanates from her as she envisions the circular map as a puzzle, but with the central piece missing. She then pictures her frigate riding the surface of the missing map piece as it is drawn in, filling the central gap. A strong current arises, propelling Potesta's frigate seamlessly towards the central gate. 

Hiro approaches the center gate, with Potesta's frigate still some distance away. Reflected in Hiro's eyes: lottery balls are selected, matching a purchased ticket. A wasp starts attacking Hiro, who raises his right arm, swiping at it. The crew takes this as the signal to attack, and fires a broadside in Potesta's direction. Simultaneously canons fire from Potesta's vessel. Miraculously, Hiro's return barrage intercepts the incoming cannon balls, saving them from destruction as they pass through the gate.

Announcer: "Potesta's perfect navigation is no match for Hiro's reckless breakneck speed as Hiro passes through the gate first. Hiro will have a few precious moments to prepare himself for Potesta's arrival on the other side of that gate."

Potesta scowls as she watches Hiro pass through the gate.

On the other side of the gate, Hiro finds himself adorned in multi-hued dragon battle armor (including magnificent helm), riding what else — a flying multi-hued dragon. Hiro pulls up on the reins, viewing the gate he just passed through.

Hiro, thinking: "It feels like this dragon and I are connected somehow", as the dragon turns around to acknowledge him with a nod of its head.

Hiro, aloud: "What shall I call you, rainbow dragon?" 

The dragon snorts derisively, shaking its head.

Hiro: "Ok, then, how about Chaos Dragon?" 

Dragon looks back at him calmly. "I'll take that for a yes, Chaos Dragon it is."

Hiro looks at a spot above the gate, and commands his dragon: "Attack". The dragon unleashes a fire blast precisely hitting that spot. 

Hiro, thinking: "I can wait here, and ambush Potesta the moment she emerges from the gate, but I can't take the chance of harming her."

Hiro, aloud to the dragon: "Let's fly", and they race off. 

Hiro is reveling in his winged ride, with a huge smile on his face as his dragon does steep dives, climbs, barrel rolls and a 360-degree loop.

Potesta emerges from the gate a short time later, similarly garbed except that her armor and dragon are all black. 

Potesta, just as she emerges: "Protect!", and the black dragon obediently wraps its wings around her.

Potesta, seeing through the dragon's eyes, thinks: "There's no one around, he's left already. It was the perfect ambush opportunity. Why didn't he take it?"

Announcer: "Looks like Potesta is surprised by the lack of surprise as she emerges from the gate."

Potesta, aloud: "Pursue them Black Dragon!", and they race off.

Potesta, thinking: "They've got too big a lead." Potesta puts her hand on her dragon, closes her eyes and visualizes its internal energy flows, her black aura emanating once again. 

Potesta, aloud: "Enhance." 

The energy flows within the dragon are intensified and sped up, resulting in a huge increase in the dragon's speed. Potesta smiles as they shoot forward.

Hiro: "What am I sensing?"

A fighter jet passes in front of his dragon making it wobble in the turbulence. 

Hiro: "I knew this was too easy. Faster Chaos Dragon." 

His dragon obeys, and they put some distance between the fighter jet. However, the enemy jet fires its machine gun at them. 

Hiro: "Evade!" 

The dragon starts evasive maneuvers, but the jet is still trailing after them. As some of the bullets hit the dragon's hide it grunts, but its scales are able to deflect them.

Hiro: "Hang in there boy, good thing your scales are so tough. We're not able to shake him, so we have to try something". 

Hiro envisions the Psychic Alliance symbol in his head, and traces a neural link route back to the fighter pilot. 

Hiro: "Got you." 

Hiro projects an image of a brick wall in front of the approaching jet. Seeing a wall appear out of nowhere the pilot freaks out, pulling back with full strength on the stick, screaming in terror as he approaches the illusory wall. G-forces being too great, the pilot barely maintains consciousness as his jet tumbles away.

Announcer: "I wonder what got into that pilot. Perhaps he remembered a prior engagement."

Hiro: "Map." 

A holographic map appears showing they are approaching the final gate.

Hiro: "Almost there."

Potesta hears the roar of a fighter jet and looks over her left shoulder.

Potesta: "'Sic gorgiamus allos subjectatos nunc' — we gladly feast on those who would subdue us. Go get him Black Dragon."

A determined look crosses Potesta's face as she pulls up on the reins of her dragon, and does a 360 loop to come up behind the enemy jet. Black dragon comes in underneath it, using its talons to latch on to the jet. Its tail twines around the tail of the plane immobilizing the control surfaces (elevator and rudder). Black Dragon starts spinning the jet round and round, pulling them into a death spiral with the ground. He releases the jet, pulling up just before impact, with the jet exploding on impact with the ground. They then continue their pursuit of Hiro, but see him approaching the final gate, even as they close distance between them.

Potesta: "We're too far away, only one chance. Fireball!"

The fireball streaks forward, exploding just in front of the gate. Chaos dragon emerges from a cloud of smoke and is seen dropping down from the sky, riderless. A look of satisfaction crosses Potesta's face.

Potesta: "Let's go win this. Take us through the gate Black Dragon."

As Potesta passes through the gate, she appears in the center of the stadium dressed as she first arrived, greeted by the sound of cheers. She notices smoke up in the air and traces it back down to the ground, where Hiro is sitting, dazed and charred, a dopey grin on his face. 

Potesta becomes enraged, accusatorily: "You! What kind of trick is this? How are you here? I blasted you before you made it through the gate. There was nothing left."

Hiro, still delirious: "heehee, you almost had me, but ..."

Replaying events from Hiro's perspective, as they approach the final gate, Chaos dragon snorts and looks back to get Hiro's attention. Hiro instantly responds, by envisioning the magic pentagram.

Hiro: "I hope this is enough. Elemental magic — water."

A water shield forms just as the fireball hits. Even so, the shock stuns and halts Chaos dragon's progress, propelling Hiro out of his saddle and through the gate.

Announcer: "And with that win, Hiro qualifies for acceptance into The Path of the Shield School, congratulations."

Hiro, to Potesta: "I have to give you credit, you're a tough opponent."

Potesta, stomping her foot and turning away: "Hmmpfff," then stalks off, face scrunched with fists clenched at her side.