It was supposed to have been a routine patrol, that had been the only reason that Kyrie had been allowed to come. It was supposed to have been part of her training. Now though, now she hid on the rooftop while the adults fought below.

She peeked over the edge of the roof. The villain was not one that she recognised. He looked like a goat of some sort, maybe a foreigner based on the clothing he wore. Kyrie was sure the others had noticed as much, they had much more experience than she did after all.

Following that thought brought her attention to her family and friends and... things were going poorly. None of Combat's lessons had been like this. She watched Super Genie reach out with her magic to ensnare him as he engaged with the hero before him. Somehow, he noticed. Turning, he grabbed the magic as if it were a physical thing, sending a pulse of his own through it like current through a wire. Kyrie clamped her hands over her muzzle, keeping herself from crying out as her mother staggered in the sky.

A blast took her to ground. Unconcerned, he turned back to the hero he had been engaging before. The two seemed, for a moment, evenly matched. A headbutt stunned the hero and he staggered as the goat pushed him to the side. The remaining three heroes rushed him as one. Though their teamwork was impeccable and they even landed a few blows, he made short work of the lot. Head up, looking around, he called in a voice that carried easily even to Kyrie's hiding place. "Is this truly the best you can bring to bear?" He turned his back to her. "I can feel you hiding. Come out."

Kyrie crouched lower, but unwilling to take her eyes off the scene before her.

"As you will." He was laughing. "I can make you come out." Twin ribbons of energy appeared around him, one scintillating even in the sunlight, the other uncannily dim. The latter lashed across the windows of the coffee shop across the street, shattering glass. Kyrie could hear the screams. "Well?"

He was toying with her, had been toying with her family since they had arrived. This was clear to her now. He wasn't gloating, this had been, what? She wasn't sure.

"Maybe I'll take it out on your friends."

No.

He kicked one of the downed heroes. "Stop!"

The voice was tired, but evenso Kyrie recognised it immediately. In barely a whisper, she said a single word, "Mom."

"Finally. I was worried you'd all given up." He stretched. "Now, I have worlds of time, and I've spent enough of it on you for now." Kyrie didn't see him move. One moment, he was several paces from her mom. The next, his punch had rocked the canine who was already unsteady on her feet. He wound up for another blow.

Kyrie didn't remember moving. Couldn't explain how she had, even if she were to try. All she knew was that this guy wasn't going to hurt her mom anymore. Not if she could do anything about it.

And so she stood before him, arms spread.

He stopped. Sighed. "Kid, move."

"No."

He dropped his fighting stance, reached out and ruffled her hair. "Alright kid, you win." He smiled, and it seemed genuine. "Sometimes standing up to your demons is enough."

He turned away, took two steps, and disappeared.

Kyrie looked over her shoulder, barely made it a half-step before her legs turned to jelly. She slumped next to the figure beside her, clung to her, buried her face in the other's costume. Had anyone been standing close enough, they would have heard the word "Mom" repeated over and over alongside muffled sobs.

Arms pulled her into a hug. "I'm here. You were very brave."