Hero Academy

Chapter 5 : The Power Test

The argument was certainly not forgotten over the next few days, but it was left in the past. Diana hadn't forgotten about it by any means but she knew that if it started again it would never stop. Over the next few weeks she made sure she behaved well in school and no one brought the subject up.

Things also improved in that Aspen turned out to be a loyal friend. After joining forces to fight in the canteen Diana felt closer to her, understanding Aspen more. Oscar was less warm at first to the new addition of their small group until Aspen offered to do their homework for them.

Aspen's help with school work came in useful as their lessons got harder. Once that they had covered the basics of each subject the classes got more complex. One memorable example was Oscar trying to recreate an anti-gravity field which sent him flying into the air, hitting the ceiling.

At first Diana had been sceptical about her new school but as the weeks went past it grew on her. It was becoming more like home. Her lessons were interesting, her friends were fun and she was feeling braver after the fight in the canteen. However this all changed one month after her first day.

The 1st of October brought with it a chilling wind and Diana found herself shuffling into school with a blocked nose and cough. She felt like she might vomit, maybe not because of her cold but rather because of what her first lesson would entail. There was a sign tapped to the H&S classroom door telling them to go to the sports hall today – for their power test.

*

Diana found herself standing in a huddle of nervous teenagers in front of the small platform which had been erected in the centre of the hall. Miss Dixon stood on it with a hefty clipboard but there were other teachers standing at the edges, interested in what was going to happen.

Diana looked around, searching for reassurance, at her peers. Rapunzel was nervously playing with her hair, a boy called Dave was absentmindedly taking his hand on and off, Oscar was looking green and even Lexi Cross was uncharacteristically twitchy. The only person who seemed truly calm was Aspen, who was reading a book whilst they waited. Her classmates' nervousness, like her own, was somewhat calming to Diana but she knew that at least they had powers to boast. For the past few weeks she had been researching all she could on Mercury, reading up and watching old videos of her mum. But it wasn't making her more powerful.

"Settle down everyone," said Dixon eventually to a silent group, "Now, I will make this clear you will only take the power test once. Once. I do not care what you think you should be, I will decide. No superhuman parent or tantrum that can create a hurricane is going to change my mind," she paused, "This is final. And White put away that book!"

They all nodded stiffly and Aspen put down her book. Dixon consulted the first sheet on her clip board and said aloud, "Robert Banner."

Rob swallowed and walked up onto the platform.

"Power?" asked Dixon.

"Water manipulation," said Rob, he flung out his arms. Diana supposed he had changed the water vapour in the air into liquid as rain fell down over the hall, soaking her and everyone else. Dixon looked impressed, "Hero!"

They clapped and cheered. Next was a girl called Lana Font who could let intense heat out of her hands, she became a side kick. She too got an applause which Diana thought was very fair. After a few more kids there was Lexi Cross who sauntered up to the platform, moved slightly and then appeared with a sandwich. She had been to the canteen and back in less than a blink of an eye.

"Just like your Dad. Hero!" Cross sauntered down with a smirk at Diana, who had not joined in with the applause, and then Dixon called out, "Aspen White."