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* ElementalPowers: A major application of empathokinesis. The Spirit Guard each specialize in one element.
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* FantasticLightSource: Robert's meeting with the Spirit Guard is illuminated by one of Charity's light arrows.
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* FirstPeriodPanic: Upon hearing that her new body will most likely have periods like a normal woman's, Robynne is ''really'' not looking forward to it.
* FirstWorldProblems: Unlike his sister, Eli has to get a job at college and save up for a car. They know it's not a big deal in the grand scheme of things since they're from a rich family, but the favoritism is still a point of annoyance.
* FirstWorldProblems: Unlike his sister, Eli has to get a job at college and save up for a car. They know it's not a big deal in the grand scheme of things since they're from a rich family, but the favoritism is still a point of annoyance.
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* FlawExploitation:
** Rob is quick to pick up on how to get others to react in desirable ways, like angering [=Day LaMode=] by insisting she's just another monster doomed for failure. Robynne hides her agenda of opposing Cammy by wrapping it in the guise of personal gain, making her motivation to join the cheer team believable to someone whose worldview revolves around exploiting others.
** Cammy is said to prey on the insecurities of others to keep them in line.
* FlingALightIntoTheFuture: The Princess and co. had the Spirit Sticks sent to Earth so it can be protected from destruction like what befell the Ardent Empire.
* ForWantOfANail: During Robynne's initial despair over her transformation, she reflects that none of it would've happened if he had listened to his gut and didn't check out the machine Polygal was in, or listened to Uncle Taylor and went to a college closer to home.
* FriendshipFavoritism: When promoting for SFEERS, Stacy insists on being paired with Robynne because she's jealous that Lilly and Vivian get to spend more time with Rob.
* FriendshipMoment: In the wake of Robynne's transformation, she wants to be left alone before her probable breakdown happens in front of her friends, but before Cory and Eli leave, they make sure she knows they can be called on for anything at all and that their dorm will always be a home for her.
* FunetikAksent: [=Day LaMode's=] cartoonish French accent is spelled out. Rob and Taylor's southern accent and Noriko's Asian accent, meanwhile, are merely mentioned.
* GamingClan: SFEERS has dedicated groups for several video games, with the Knights of the Spherical Table for ''Aspect Realms'' being the most prominent.
* {{Gasp}}: Stacy's response when Robynne begins giving a TheReasonYouSuckSpeech to Cammy.
** Rob is quick to pick up on how to get others to react in desirable ways, like angering [=Day LaMode=] by insisting she's just another monster doomed for failure. Robynne hides her agenda of opposing Cammy by wrapping it in the guise of personal gain, making her motivation to join the cheer team believable to someone whose worldview revolves around exploiting others.
** Cammy is said to prey on the insecurities of others to keep them in line.
* FlingALightIntoTheFuture: The Princess and co. had the Spirit Sticks sent to Earth so it can be protected from destruction like what befell the Ardent Empire.
* ForWantOfANail: During Robynne's initial despair over her transformation, she reflects that none of it would've happened if he had listened to his gut and didn't check out the machine Polygal was in, or listened to Uncle Taylor and went to a college closer to home.
* FriendshipFavoritism: When promoting for SFEERS, Stacy insists on being paired with Robynne because she's jealous that Lilly and Vivian get to spend more time with Rob.
* FriendshipMoment: In the wake of Robynne's transformation, she wants to be left alone before her probable breakdown happens in front of her friends, but before Cory and Eli leave, they make sure she knows they can be called on for anything at all and that their dorm will always be a home for her.
* FunetikAksent: [=Day LaMode's=] cartoonish French accent is spelled out. Rob and Taylor's southern accent and Noriko's Asian accent, meanwhile, are merely mentioned.
* GamingClan: SFEERS has dedicated groups for several video games, with the Knights of the Spherical Table for ''Aspect Realms'' being the most prominent.
* {{Gasp}}: Stacy's response when Robynne begins giving a TheReasonYouSuckSpeech to Cammy.
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* GodsHandsAreTied: Fate ''could'' personally help the heroes if she really wanted to, but her ObstructiveCodeOfConduct frowns upon direct intervention.
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* IceMagicIsWater: Rob's associated element is water, but forming his Investiture into ice is within this scope.
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* VillainsOutShopping: When she's not on an assignment from Platicore, Trace spends most of her drinking at Rusty's Tavern.
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* AttractiveBentGender: [[spoiler: Robynne. She's gotten looks/comments from just about everyone she's met since transforming.]] Also a DiscussedTrope within the story, as the characters notice and debate the implications.
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* BeingGoodSucks: Rob's Spirit Guard business has him discard the life he's happy with for the first time in years in favor of one where his pride and sense of self are crushed under discomfort in his own skin and others no longer able to see him for who he is. Regardless, his decision to [[spoiler:transform in order to save Mallory's life]] is one he'd make a hundred times over because the alternative is completely unacceptable.
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* BlackmailIsSuchAnUglyWord: Angela would rather not hear that Robynne "extorted" a new computer out of Cammy in return for joining the cheer team; it's "inducing" a transaction out of Cammy to give Rob a believable bargaining position.
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* BreakThemByTalking: Rob is pretty good at knowing what to say to push a monster's buttons in just the right way, be it to stall for time or goad them into a predictable reaction.
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* CrushBlush: According to Stacy, Robynne started blushing during a conversation with Fretribution, who she finds attractive. However, Rob would very much not like to be attracted to guys or display it.
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* DontThinkFeel: The Spirit Guard mostly rely on their battle form's instincts to fight. Serenity isn't quite comfortable with this mindset, preferring to actively think combat through while her instincts handle the execution of superpowered movement.
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* DopeSlap: Someone, usually Vivian, may give Cory a quick jab if one of his comments is uncalled for.
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* DramaticSitDown: Serenity is advised to sit before powering down because she'll be hit by the full shock of her new body without her powers on.
* DrawAggro: Robert sticks around to make Polygal focus on him and let everyone else escape.
* DressCode: SAU has a business casual dress code. Mandating skirts for women is a point of contention, but the [[AbsurdlyPowerfulStudentCouncil Student Association]] has been too complacent to change things.
* DudeNotFunny: Some of Cory's quips on Robynne's body get him called out for being insensitive.
* EatingTheEyeCandy: Narration will sometimes linger on Robert and Eli eying up attractive women. This becomes a problem for Eli when unknowingly checks ''Robynne'' out, or for Robynne when she catches herself looking into guys' eyes.
* EffortlessAmazonianLift: Valor quickly scoops up Robert, Cory, and Eli to get them some distance away from [=Day LaMode=] before dropping them to continue the fight. Everyone involved agrees it's not exactly a dignified way of getting rescued.
* EmeraldPower: Investiture, the spiritual energy used in empathokinesis, appears as floating green globs while separated from the body.
* EmotionalPowers: Empathokinesis, like the name suggests, involves channeling emotional energies to affect the physical world. Both the heroes and villains use it for their powers.
* EmotionBomb: Some people have strong auras that can induce certain emotions in those nearby.
* DrawAggro: Robert sticks around to make Polygal focus on him and let everyone else escape.
* DressCode: SAU has a business casual dress code. Mandating skirts for women is a point of contention, but the [[AbsurdlyPowerfulStudentCouncil Student Association]] has been too complacent to change things.
* DudeNotFunny: Some of Cory's quips on Robynne's body get him called out for being insensitive.
* EatingTheEyeCandy: Narration will sometimes linger on Robert and Eli eying up attractive women. This becomes a problem for Eli when unknowingly checks ''Robynne'' out, or for Robynne when she catches herself looking into guys' eyes.
* EffortlessAmazonianLift: Valor quickly scoops up Robert, Cory, and Eli to get them some distance away from [=Day LaMode=] before dropping them to continue the fight. Everyone involved agrees it's not exactly a dignified way of getting rescued.
* EmeraldPower: Investiture, the spiritual energy used in empathokinesis, appears as floating green globs while separated from the body.
* EmotionalPowers: Empathokinesis, like the name suggests, involves channeling emotional energies to affect the physical world. Both the heroes and villains use it for their powers.
* EmotionBomb: Some people have strong auras that can induce certain emotions in those nearby.
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* EmptyChairMemorial: After Rob moves out, Eli comes to think of the empty side of Rob's room as a sort of memorial to his former roommate's time there, so he's relieved that Dale occupies the other side after moving in.
* TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt: The Ardent Empire collapsed in dramatic fashion: civil war, the Other Power destroying everything in its path, and people taking warps to other worlds in an effort to survive.
* TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt: The Ardent Empire collapsed in dramatic fashion: civil war, the Other Power destroying everything in its path, and people taking warps to other worlds in an effort to survive.
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* EnterStageWindow: For some reason, Noriko often enters her room through the window. Robynne takes care to unlock it if her roommate is out late.
* EvenNerdsHaveStandards: Rob may be a huge nerd, but roleplaying in ''Aspect Realms'' is a bit much. One guy showed up to the SFEERS opening social in chain mail and got several looks from the nerd club.
* EvilGloating: The monsters gloat to the point that the Spirit Guard count on it happening.
* ExpectingSomeoneTaller: The Spirit Guard definitely weren't expecting the Shrine Maiden's reincarnation to be male, as this presents a [[SuperGenderBender major problem]].
* ExplainingYourPowersToTheEnemy: Serenity goads Cell-celia into explaining her automatic Investiture draining and expanding power set.
* EvenNerdsHaveStandards: Rob may be a huge nerd, but roleplaying in ''Aspect Realms'' is a bit much. One guy showed up to the SFEERS opening social in chain mail and got several looks from the nerd club.
* EvilGloating: The monsters gloat to the point that the Spirit Guard count on it happening.
* ExpectingSomeoneTaller: The Spirit Guard definitely weren't expecting the Shrine Maiden's reincarnation to be male, as this presents a [[SuperGenderBender major problem]].
* ExplainingYourPowersToTheEnemy: Serenity goads Cell-celia into explaining her automatic Investiture draining and expanding power set.
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* FacialDialogue:
** When Robert tells Vivian and Mallory how he had a hunch that standing up to Polygal would work out in the end, the girls share a glance, apparently letting the other know that they think Rob's behavior is in line with the idea of him being [[TheChosenOne chosen]] to become Spirit Guard Serenity. Mal then tries to gauge his reaction to the word "serene" in a comment on his actions.
** When Robert explains how he'd like to help the Spirit Guard locate the empathokinetic humming in the mall even though he still has no intention of transforming, Angela and Mallory look at each other and apparently have a silent conversation on Rob's character and the dangers involved with his idea. They then thank him for the offer, but turn him down because Cory and Eli will likely risk themselves to help him.
* FalseReassurance: When Lilly asks if Robynne didn't have many girlfriends growing up, Rob says she only had one. By leaving out that she was a guy back then, Rob lets Lilly assume that the unnamed Brook was a platonic girlfriend rather than a romantic one.
** When Robert tells Vivian and Mallory how he had a hunch that standing up to Polygal would work out in the end, the girls share a glance, apparently letting the other know that they think Rob's behavior is in line with the idea of him being [[TheChosenOne chosen]] to become Spirit Guard Serenity. Mal then tries to gauge his reaction to the word "serene" in a comment on his actions.
** When Robert explains how he'd like to help the Spirit Guard locate the empathokinetic humming in the mall even though he still has no intention of transforming, Angela and Mallory look at each other and apparently have a silent conversation on Rob's character and the dangers involved with his idea. They then thank him for the offer, but turn him down because Cory and Eli will likely risk themselves to help him.
* FalseReassurance: When Lilly asks if Robynne didn't have many girlfriends growing up, Rob says she only had one. By leaving out that she was a guy back then, Rob lets Lilly assume that the unnamed Brook was a platonic girlfriend rather than a romantic one.
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* FantasticCasteSystem: The Ardent Empire's clear social divide became starker after empathokinesis was discovered and only the priveleged had access to training in it.
* FantasyPantheon: Fate and the High Spirits.
* FascinatingEyebrow: Characters very often raise an eyebrow in response to things.
* FeeFiFauxPas: When Tanya sees Robynne in an oversized football jersey, she assumes Rob [[SexyShirtSwitch borrowed it from some guy]]. Rob shuts this idea down by saying it belonged to her late father. It's actually Robert's jersey, but Rob wouldn't ignore an opportunity to make Tanya stumble.
* FictionalVideoGame: Several games are mentioned offhand, but the MMORPG ''Aspect Realms'', the rhythm game ''Hop Dance Mania'', and FPS ''Corona Forge'' are the ones actually described being played.
* FightingBackIsWrong: For injuring Dustin in self-defense, Robert got suspended and moved down the football team's depth chart.
* FigureItOutYourself: Kunapipi is given even vaguer info than usual from Fate to help the Spirit Guard with, as the deity seems content to let the heroes feel things out from their past lives.
* FireballEyeballs: When Cammy meets Robynne, her subdued fury at Rob's insult is briefly visible in her eyes, which are likened to fireballs.
* FantasyPantheon: Fate and the High Spirits.
* FascinatingEyebrow: Characters very often raise an eyebrow in response to things.
* FeeFiFauxPas: When Tanya sees Robynne in an oversized football jersey, she assumes Rob [[SexyShirtSwitch borrowed it from some guy]]. Rob shuts this idea down by saying it belonged to her late father. It's actually Robert's jersey, but Rob wouldn't ignore an opportunity to make Tanya stumble.
* FictionalVideoGame: Several games are mentioned offhand, but the MMORPG ''Aspect Realms'', the rhythm game ''Hop Dance Mania'', and FPS ''Corona Forge'' are the ones actually described being played.
* FightingBackIsWrong: For injuring Dustin in self-defense, Robert got suspended and moved down the football team's depth chart.
* FigureItOutYourself: Kunapipi is given even vaguer info than usual from Fate to help the Spirit Guard with, as the deity seems content to let the heroes feel things out from their past lives.
* FireballEyeballs: When Cammy meets Robynne, her subdued fury at Rob's insult is briefly visible in her eyes, which are likened to fireballs.
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* HannibalLecture: When Rob is cornered by [=Day LaMode=], he turns around her demands to know what he is and breaks her down with his insistence that she's not Platicore's first monster like she believes; she's instead a worthless construct doomed to fail just like the others.
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* PsychoactivePowers: In empathokinesis, the emotion used affects how a given power manifests.
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* CommonalityConnection:
** In high school, Robert couldn't get himself to ask Brook out until he learned they had shared interests.
** Rob and Angela don't connect very well until they find out they have similar backgrounds: raised by a single parent, rather serious and hardworking, and the victims of major drama involving AlphaBitch cheerleaders.
* ConverseWithTheUnconscious: After the [=Day LaMode=] battle, Vivian has a one-sided conversation with Kara, who is passed out on the couch.
* CoolGate: The Standridge Hill Stone Circle, when activated, lets one walk through one stone and out of a paired stone elsewhere. It was originally designed to connect Earth to the Ardent Empire, but nowadays the heroes use it to warp around Kessia City.
* CorruptChurch: The Ardent Empire's Church of the High Spirits was intended to check that of the government, but conspiracy led to it having a corrupt majority by the time the Empire fell.
* CosmicPlaything: Those who learn of Fate and dislike her meddling, like Rob, Eli, and Mallory, tend to develop the fear of her being behind every contrived occurrence in their lives.
* CostumeCopycat: Costumes based on the Spirit Guard are sold in stores. One Halloween party had Angela meet Cammy and Tanya dressed as Valor and Tenacity, respectively.
* CrackIsCheaper: One reason Rob decides against getting into the ''Invokers'' card game is that he'll break the bank if he spends on it alongside his other hobbies.
* CurbstompBattle: In high school, Dustin tried to beat Rob up, but the fight swiftly ended with Rob dodging and tripping Dustin into the lockers.
* CuriosityKilledTheCast: Rob could've avoided being attacked by Polygal had he listened to his gut and not investigated the arcade machine that was giving him chills. This would've also caused him to avoid meeting the Spirit Guard and the ensuing mess, though Cory and Eli agree Rob would've sniffed his way into danger sooner or later.
* CuriousQualmsOfConscience: [[spoiler:Trace apparently felt bad watching [=Day LaMode=]'s merciless beatdown of Tenacity, as Serenity senses her guilty conscience.]]
* DamnedByFaintPraise: Trying to soften Cammy's shock, Stacy struggles to form a compliment for Robynne's intentionally unfashionable outfit supposedly being bought at All-Mart.
-->'''Stacy:''' Oh, I, uh, like going there for fabrics for some of my fashion projects… if, like, you know, the fabric store is closed.
* DamnYouMuscleMemory:
** Robynne moving like she would in her old body sometimes leads to her newfound hair or breasts getting in the way.
** Dale sucks at ''Tour de Rock'' because he tries to play on the guitar controller like it was a real guitar.
* DeadlyDodging: This is how Robert turned the tables on Dustin trying to beat him up in high school. He dodged and tripped Dustin during a punch and sent him into the lockers.
** In high school, Robert couldn't get himself to ask Brook out until he learned they had shared interests.
** Rob and Angela don't connect very well until they find out they have similar backgrounds: raised by a single parent, rather serious and hardworking, and the victims of major drama involving AlphaBitch cheerleaders.
* ConverseWithTheUnconscious: After the [=Day LaMode=] battle, Vivian has a one-sided conversation with Kara, who is passed out on the couch.
* CoolGate: The Standridge Hill Stone Circle, when activated, lets one walk through one stone and out of a paired stone elsewhere. It was originally designed to connect Earth to the Ardent Empire, but nowadays the heroes use it to warp around Kessia City.
* CorruptChurch: The Ardent Empire's Church of the High Spirits was intended to check that of the government, but conspiracy led to it having a corrupt majority by the time the Empire fell.
* CosmicPlaything: Those who learn of Fate and dislike her meddling, like Rob, Eli, and Mallory, tend to develop the fear of her being behind every contrived occurrence in their lives.
* CostumeCopycat: Costumes based on the Spirit Guard are sold in stores. One Halloween party had Angela meet Cammy and Tanya dressed as Valor and Tenacity, respectively.
* CrackIsCheaper: One reason Rob decides against getting into the ''Invokers'' card game is that he'll break the bank if he spends on it alongside his other hobbies.
* CurbstompBattle: In high school, Dustin tried to beat Rob up, but the fight swiftly ended with Rob dodging and tripping Dustin into the lockers.
* CuriosityKilledTheCast: Rob could've avoided being attacked by Polygal had he listened to his gut and not investigated the arcade machine that was giving him chills. This would've also caused him to avoid meeting the Spirit Guard and the ensuing mess, though Cory and Eli agree Rob would've sniffed his way into danger sooner or later.
* CuriousQualmsOfConscience: [[spoiler:Trace apparently felt bad watching [=Day LaMode=]'s merciless beatdown of Tenacity, as Serenity senses her guilty conscience.]]
* DamnedByFaintPraise: Trying to soften Cammy's shock, Stacy struggles to form a compliment for Robynne's intentionally unfashionable outfit supposedly being bought at All-Mart.
-->'''Stacy:''' Oh, I, uh, like going there for fabrics for some of my fashion projects… if, like, you know, the fabric store is closed.
* DamnYouMuscleMemory:
** Robynne moving like she would in her old body sometimes leads to her newfound hair or breasts getting in the way.
** Dale sucks at ''Tour de Rock'' because he tries to play on the guitar controller like it was a real guitar.
* DeadlyDodging: This is how Robert turned the tables on Dustin trying to beat him up in high school. He dodged and tripped Dustin during a punch and sent him into the lockers.
* DeathByOriginStory: Robert's parents died in a car crash when he was three. Given he credits his Uncle Taylor for making him into the heroic person he is today, Rob likely would've turned out differently had he been raised by his parents instead.
* DeathGlare: Rob and Trace are noted to have a very harsh glare. Both of them typically use it to shut people up or keep them away.
* ADeathInTheLimelight: [[spoiler:Downplayed. Mallory's turn as the POV character sees her get beaten to a pulp by [=Day LaMode=], and she would've died if Rob hadn't intervened.]]
* DecadentCourt: The Ardent Empire's courts were rampant with corruption by the time the Empire fell.
* DeathGlare: Rob and Trace are noted to have a very harsh glare. Both of them typically use it to shut people up or keep them away.
* ADeathInTheLimelight: [[spoiler:Downplayed. Mallory's turn as the POV character sees her get beaten to a pulp by [=Day LaMode=], and she would've died if Rob hadn't intervened.]]
* DecadentCourt: The Ardent Empire's courts were rampant with corruption by the time the Empire fell.
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* DifferentlyPoweredIndividual: While "superhero" and other generic terms are widely used, the formal descriptor of one of Fate's chosen heroes is "Champion".
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* DeepSleep: Any Spirit Guard who got a lot of healing tends to sleep very soundly while their body finishes recovery. Kara gets this the most since she's the one actually doing the healing and donates her energy to do so.
* DerailedForDetails: As the Spirit Guard and Kunapipi deliver lengthy exposition as to what Robert's glow means, more than once he sidetracks things by asking for more details.
* DifferentForGirls: Robynne finds attempting to socialize with people who think she's a regular girl very stressful. She also finds the social norms girls impose on themselves to be superfluous and annoying.
* DifferentlyPoweredIndividual: While "superhero" and other generic terms are widely used, the formal descriptor of one of Fate's chosen heroes is"Champion"."Champion", though superpowers aren't strictly required.
* DisproportionateRetribution: Evelyn's response to Robert calling her a bitch for bullying? Use rumors and slander to convince the school he's secretly gay and destroy his relationship with his girlfriend and the football team.
* DissensionRemorse: Angela ends up regretting how she stubbornly argued Rob's refusal to join the Spirit Guard. She apologizes after the SFEERS opening social, though by this point Rob had gotten over it.
* DistressCall: When [=Day LaMode=] has him cornered, Rob makes his Ardent Resonance glow brighter, which the Spirit Guard can sense to know his location and that he's in danger.
* DerailedForDetails: As the Spirit Guard and Kunapipi deliver lengthy exposition as to what Robert's glow means, more than once he sidetracks things by asking for more details.
* DifferentForGirls: Robynne finds attempting to socialize with people who think she's a regular girl very stressful. She also finds the social norms girls impose on themselves to be superfluous and annoying.
* DifferentlyPoweredIndividual: While "superhero" and other generic terms are widely used, the formal descriptor of one of Fate's chosen heroes is
* DisproportionateRetribution: Evelyn's response to Robert calling her a bitch for bullying? Use rumors and slander to convince the school he's secretly gay and destroy his relationship with his girlfriend and the football team.
* DissensionRemorse: Angela ends up regretting how she stubbornly argued Rob's refusal to join the Spirit Guard. She apologizes after the SFEERS opening social, though by this point Rob had gotten over it.
* DistressCall: When [=Day LaMode=] has him cornered, Rob makes his Ardent Resonance glow brighter, which the Spirit Guard can sense to know his location and that he's in danger.
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* TheDividual: Cory and Eli are so often seen together that others sometimes think of them as one unit.
* DontSneakUpOnMeLikeThat: Robynne has instinctively readied her knives or prepared to transform on occasions where Noriko or Kunapipi suddenly appear. She then tells them not to do that.
* DontSneakUpOnMeLikeThat: Robynne has instinctively readied her knives or prepared to transform on occasions where Noriko or Kunapipi suddenly appear. She then tells them not to do that.
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* AppearanceIsInTheEyeOfTheBeholder: People who see a Spirit Guard sometimes have conflicting reports on their appearance. This is seemingly due to an effect of the Standridge Circle, the same power that causes hair to appear in [[YouGottaHaveBlueHair unusual colors]] in the area.
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** TheCallLeftAMessage: Rob is the only one who use the Spirit Stick to become Spirit Guard Serenity. Once he touches it, [[ClingyMacGuffin it is always within reach]] and his EKP makes him constantly aware of its presence.
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** TheCallLeftAMessage: Rob is the only one who can use the Spirit Stick to become Spirit Guard Serenity. Once he touches it, [[ClingyMacGuffin it is always within reach]] and his EKP makes him constantly aware of its presence.
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* ChekhovsSkill: Rob's childhood ballet lessons.
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* ChekhovsHobby: Robert took ballet lessons to help in football during high school, which Robynne reveals while the gang talks out how to deal with Cammy. Having a background in ballet makes for a believable cover as to why Robynne would consider joining the cheer team to spy on Cammy.
* ChekhovsSkill:Rob's childhood ballet lessons.Early on, Robert plays ''Aspect Realms'' and performs well using stealth tactics. [[spoiler:When Rob becomes Spirit Guard Serenity, her invisibility and dual knives happen to line up nicely with her ''Aspect Realms'' character, letting her apply similar tactics.]]
* ChekhovsSkill:
* ClosedCircle: The heroes can't leave Kessia City for any significant length of time in case they are needed for a monster attack.
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* GenderBender: [[spoiler:Rob is told that he will be transformed into a girl permanently once he transforms, to help align his body with the power of his past life.]]
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* {{Glamour}}: The Disconnection Effect helps to keep people from associating a Spirit Guard with their civilian form. Combining this with the Standridge Circle's perception filter on the area causes a Spirit Guard to be perceived slightly differently from their true appearance, to the point of witnesses disagreeing on physical descriptions. It weakens with frequent exposure, so the heroes try to avoid being seen by repeat observers like the police.
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* {{Glamour}}: The Disconnection Effect helps to keep people from associating a Spirit Guard with their civilian form. Combining this with the Standridge Circle's perception filter on the area causes a powered up Spirit Guard to be perceived appear slightly differently from their true appearance, to civilian form, and also goads the point minds of witnesses disagreeing on physical descriptions.observers into thinking of the forms as distinct entities. It weakens with frequent exposure, so the heroes try to avoid being seen by repeat observers like the police.
* InsistentAppellation:
** Rob isn't fond of Kunapipi and rarely calls her by her preferred name, instead using her "Ms. Kuna" alias, or just "kangaroo rat" behind her back.
** Vivian often calls Robynne "Rosy" despite any protests. Rob apparently gives up on making Vivian quit it, but still [[FriendlyAddressPrivileges disapproves if other people use the nickname]].
** Rob isn't fond of Kunapipi and rarely calls her by her preferred name, instead using her "Ms. Kuna" alias, or just "kangaroo rat" behind her back.
** Vivian often calls Robynne "Rosy" despite any protests. Rob apparently gives up on making Vivian quit it, but still [[FriendlyAddressPrivileges disapproves if other people use the nickname]].
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* LikeIsLikeAComma: Stacy talks like this. It's apparently common on the cheer team.
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* LikeIsLikeAComma: Stacy talks like this. It's apparently common on among the cheer team.
* NaiveNewcomer: As an outsider to Kessia City, Rob was unaware of the Spirit Guard and monsters, allowing other characters to explain things to him.
* SuperGenderBender: Due to the Spirit Guard transformation changing the user's body to be closer to their Ardentia predecessor, becoming Spirit Guard Serenity would force Robert into a female body, which is [[IJustWantToBeNormal one of]] the reasons he turns down joining the team.
** [[spoiler:Rob ends up going through with it in order to save Tenacity from [=Day LaMode=]. Rob then has to create the new identity of Robynne Darling.]]
** [[spoiler:Rob ends up going through with it in order to save Tenacity from [=Day LaMode=]. Rob then has to create the new identity of Robynne Darling.]]
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* {{Telepathy}}: According to Platicore, tranquility empathokinesis can allow for something resembling this when mastered.
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* {{Telepathy}}: According to Platicore, tranquility empathokinesis empathokinesis, Rob's speciality, can allow for something resembling this telepathy when mastered.
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* TomboyAndGirlyGirl: The best friends Mallory and Angela, respectively. Robynne and her close UnwittingMuggleFriend Stacy are another pair.
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* WellDoneSonGuy: Rob was raised by his Uncle Taylor to be an upstanding guy, and tends to think of what Taylor would say when making decisions. [[spoiler:So when Rob becomes Spirit Guard Serenity to save Mallory, he does so believing it's a choice that would make Taylor proud. Robynne's greatest fear then becomes the possibility of Taylor not believing she's his nephew when the time comes to explain everything.]]
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* WishfulProjection: Angela initially has a hard time understanding how a fellow [[TheChosenOne chosen]] like Robert doesn't share her uptight moral standards or eagerness to join the Spirit Guard.
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* YouCantGoHomeAgain: Robynne can't return to Deepwater while the threat of monsters in Kessia City remains. Her classes are even shifted to allow for staying during the summer.
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Changed line(s) 42 (click to see context) from:
* ArbitrarySkepticism: Rob does not accept 'magic' as an explanation for anything, despite several experiences that could hardly be anything else.
to:
* ArbitrarySkepticism: Rob does not accept 'magic' "magic" as an explanation for anything, despite several experiences that could hardly be anything else.else. He turns out to be correct in thinking the "magic" on display is just the result of utilizing systems that regular science has yet to discover.
* BetrayalInsurance: Cammy gifted Angela a tampered phone when they were on the cheer team together. When Angela found out about Cammy abusing the cheer team's power and threatened to present proof to the school authorities, Cammy remotely erased the evidence that was on the phone.
Changed line(s) 63 (click to see context) from:
** Implied to be the reason Cammy tampered with the phone she had gifted Angela back when they were on the cheer team together. She'd poke Angela for being a goody two-shoes, and seemingly predicted she'd need insurance in case the upstanding recruit found out about Cammy's abuse of the cheer team's power. When this came to pass, Cammy remotely wiped the phone of the evidence Angela was to present to the school authorities.
to:
** Implied to be the reason Cammy tampered with the phone she had gifted Back when Angela back when they were was on the cheer team together. She'd poke Angela for being a goody two-shoes, and seemingly predicted she'd need insurance in case team, Cammy apparently feared the upstanding principled recruit found out about Cammy's would turn on her if the rampant abuse of the cheer team's power. When this power got found out. Sure enough, it came to pass, Cammy remotely wiped the phone of the evidence Angela was to present to the school authorities.pass.
* BuffySpeak: The gang sometimes struggles to think of eloquent ways to describe the weirdness associated with the Spirit Guard, such as the sensations of their EKP.
* TheCallsAreComingFromInsideTheHouse: A variation: Robert receives a text seemingly from himself telling him where and when to meet the Spirit Guard so he can learn what his glow means. This was a hack by the heroes to make the message untraceable.
* CallToAdventure: The Spirit Guard tell Robert that his glow from the Polygal encounter means he's been chosen to become Spirit Guard Serenity.
** RefusalOfTheCall: Rob refuses on the grounds of [[IJustWantToBeNormal wanting to remain normal]] and not have his life upended by the transformation's [[SuperGenderBender side effects]].
** TheCallLeftAMessage: Rob is the only one who use the Spirit Stick to become Spirit Guard Serenity. Once he touches it, [[ClingyMacGuffin it is always within reach]] and his EKP makes him constantly aware of its presence.
** TheCallKnowsWhereYouLive: [[spoiler:Just days after Robert turns down joining the Spirit Guard, Tenacity ends up at death's door against [=Day LaMode=], and Rob becoming Spirit Guard Serenity is the only feasible way to save his best friend's sister.]]
** ResignedToTheCall: [[spoiler:Rob goes through with it because he could never live with himself if somebody died due to his inaction.]]
* CallToAdventure: The Spirit Guard tell Robert that his glow from the Polygal encounter means he's been chosen to become Spirit Guard Serenity.
** RefusalOfTheCall: Rob refuses on the grounds of [[IJustWantToBeNormal wanting to remain normal]] and not have his life upended by the transformation's [[SuperGenderBender side effects]].
** TheCallLeftAMessage: Rob is the only one who use the Spirit Stick to become Spirit Guard Serenity. Once he touches it, [[ClingyMacGuffin it is always within reach]] and his EKP makes him constantly aware of its presence.
** TheCallKnowsWhereYouLive: [[spoiler:Just days after Robert turns down joining the Spirit Guard, Tenacity ends up at death's door against [=Day LaMode=], and Rob becoming Spirit Guard Serenity is the only feasible way to save his best friend's sister.]]
** ResignedToTheCall: [[spoiler:Rob goes through with it because he could never live with himself if somebody died due to his inaction.]]
* ChangedMyMindKid: [[spoiler:When a strange empathokinetic humming appears in the mall, Robert offers to help the Spirit Guard investigate, but clarifies that he still has no intention of transforming to fight a potential monster. He's told to escape with Cory and Eli as a result, but on his way out, he sees the Spirit Guard fight a losing battle against [=Day LaMode=] where Tenacity's death is all but guaranteed, so he becomes Spirit Guard Serenity to save the day.]]
Changed line(s) 105 (click to see context) from:
* TheChosenOne: All of the Spirit Guard were chosen by Fate, much to Robert's disdain.
to:
* TheChosenOne: TheChosenMany: All of the Spirit Guard were chosen by Fate, much to Robert's disdain.disdain.
* TheChosenPeople: Fate tends to favor entire civilizations rather than individual people. The Ardent Empire was one such example until rampant corruption made it lose Fate's favor.
* TheChosenPeople: Fate tends to favor entire civilizations rather than individual people. The Ardent Empire was one such example until rampant corruption made it lose Fate's favor.
Changed line(s) 107 (click to see context) from:
* ClarkesThirdLaw: Rob's approach to the Spirit Guard's abilities. Although this is how Rob views the Spirit Guard and the monsters, he admits to not knowing the quote. It's actually Angela who quotes this law.
to:
* CityOfAdventure: All of the Spirit Guard business happens in Kessia City. The Standridge Circle draws in people with high empathokinetic potential like the heroes, but this also makes it an ideal hunting ground for the Investiture-draining monsters.
* CivilizationDestroyer: The Other Power completely devastated the Ardent Empire.
* ClarkKenting: The Spirit Guard's hero forms don't obscure the body nor alter their appearance in any meaningful way. This is because the Disconnection Effect keeps people from comprehending the physical similarities.
* ClarkesThirdLaw: Rob'sapproach to the Spirit Guard's abilities. Although this is how Rob views view on the Spirit Guard and monster's seemingly magic abilities, though he forgets the monsters, he admits to not knowing the quote. It's actually actual quote until Angela who quotes this law.reminds him. [=NightKnight and presumably the other ConSpiriters=] have the same approach in investigating the Spirit Guard.
* CivilizationDestroyer: The Other Power completely devastated the Ardent Empire.
* ClarkKenting: The Spirit Guard's hero forms don't obscure the body nor alter their appearance in any meaningful way. This is because the Disconnection Effect keeps people from comprehending the physical similarities.
* ClarkesThirdLaw: Rob's
* CleanupCrew: Before the police arrive, the Hush Corps disposes of evidence, be it physical or digital, that might compromise the Spirit Guard's secrets.
Changed line(s) 127 (click to see context) from:
* EyesNeverLie: When Eli sees the transformed Robynne for the first time, he recognizes her as Robert once he notices the expression in her eyes is unchanged.
to:
* EyesNeverLie: EyesNeverLie:
** When Eli sees the transformed Robynne for the first time, he recognizes her as Robert once he notices the expression in her eyes isunchanged.unchanged.
** During Robynne and Cammy's introduction, Cammy's briefly furious eyes are the only crack in her friendly demeanor upon hearing Rob's scathing remarks.
** When Eli sees the transformed Robynne for the first time, he recognizes her as Robert once he notices the expression in her eyes is
** During Robynne and Cammy's introduction, Cammy's briefly furious eyes are the only crack in her friendly demeanor upon hearing Rob's scathing remarks.
* {{Glamour}}: The Disconnection Effect helps to keep people from associating a Spirit Guard with their civilian form. Combining this with the Standridge Circle's perception filter on the area causes a Spirit Guard to be perceived slightly differently from their true appearance, to the point of witnesses disagreeing on physical descriptions. It weakens with frequent exposure, so the heroes try to avoid being seen by repeat observers like the police.
** GlamourFailure: The Disconnection Effect primarily affects what one sees and hears, so it's not infallible. Eli's lack of attraction to his sister extends to Tenacity, which let him deduce her identity after learning the other Spirit Guards are friends of hers.
** GlamourFailure: The Disconnection Effect primarily affects what one sees and hears, so it's not infallible. Eli's lack of attraction to his sister extends to Tenacity, which let him deduce her identity after learning the other Spirit Guards are friends of hers.
Deleted line(s) 161 (click to see context) :
* InTheNameOfTheMoon: The need to monologue at the monsters seems built into the transformations.
Deleted line(s) 204 (click to see context) :
* SentientCosmicForce: Fate is said to be more of an embodiment of order than a living thing.
Added DiffLines:
* TrashTalk: The Spirit Guard form comes with the urge for dramatic speech when fighting monsters. The monsters often talk right back.
Added DiffLines:
* YouExclamation: Polygal addresses Robert this way after she gets up following his attack that robbed her of her Investiture.
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* AllTakeAndNoGive: Looking back, Robert realizes he sort of had this problem when he dated Brook in high school, as he should've broken things off once it became obvious she wanted a higher level of intimacy than [[HatesBeingTouched he did]].
* AngerBornOfWorry: Mallory gets mad at Eli for endangering himself to stand with Rob against Polygal, but is glad he's safe.
Deleted line(s) 80 (click to see context) :
* BlueAndOrangeMorality: Fate's motivations beyond maintaining some vague cosmic order are unknown even to her agents. Considering she is far-seeing yet doesn't seem to care what befalls innocent people caught up in her plans, Fate doesn't appear to operate on any sense of good and evil.
* CantBelieveISaidThat: As Serenity passes by some kids, she mentally berates herself when "Stay serene" is the line she goes with, as she wanted to say something cooler than that.
* CantStopTheSignal: Robert plans this as his last resort going into his meeting with the Spirit Guard. In case they kill him or something, covertly sending a recording to Cory and Eli would allow the truth about the Spirit Guard to survive. This doesn't come to pass.
* CasualDangerDialog: Cory doesn't stop his quips even during a monster attack. He says it's a coping mechanism.
* CataclysmBackstory: The Spirit Guard's powers originate from the Ardent Empire, an ancient kingdom in another dimension that was ravaged by civil war and destroyed by the Other Power. Platicore instigated that civil war and terrorizes Kessia City in the present.
* CantStopTheSignal: Robert plans this as his last resort going into his meeting with the Spirit Guard. In case they kill him or something, covertly sending a recording to Cory and Eli would allow the truth about the Spirit Guard to survive. This doesn't come to pass.
* CasualDangerDialog: Cory doesn't stop his quips even during a monster attack. He says it's a coping mechanism.
* CataclysmBackstory: The Spirit Guard's powers originate from the Ardent Empire, an ancient kingdom in another dimension that was ravaged by civil war and destroyed by the Other Power. Platicore instigated that civil war and terrorizes Kessia City in the present.
Changed line(s) 127,129 (click to see context) from:
** TheLancer: Rob, though Rob has some traits of the Smart Guy.
** TheSmartGuy: Vivian.
** TheBigGuy: Mallory, though she has some traits of the Lancer.
** TheSmartGuy: Vivian.
** TheBigGuy: Mallory, though she has some traits of the Lancer.
to:
** TheLancer: Rob, though Mallory has some traits of this as well.
** TheSmartGuy: Vivian, though Rob has some traits ofthe Smart Guy.
** TheSmartGuy: Vivian.
this as well.
** TheBigGuy:Mallory, though she has some traits of the Lancer.Mallory.
** TheSmartGuy: Vivian, though Rob has some traits of
** TheSmartGuy: Vivian.
** TheBigGuy:
Deleted line(s) 141,146 (click to see context) :
* HeightAngst:
** Eli is [=5'5''=], but wishes could've been taller like his sister.
** Downplayed example with Mallory. She doesn't mind being about six feet tall, but her preference for guys taller than her limits her dating pool.
** Vivian is barely five feet tall, and keeps a mental list of people shorter than her.
** Robynne finds being [=5'2''=] the most consistently annoying part of her transformation, given she was a foot taller beforehand.
* HenshinHero: The Spirit Guard only possess their offensive abilities when transformed, though they retain a level of empathokinetics in their civilian forms, including the ability to sense monsters.
** Eli is [=5'5''=], but wishes could've been taller like his sister.
** Downplayed example with Mallory. She doesn't mind being about six feet tall, but her preference for guys taller than her limits her dating pool.
** Vivian is barely five feet tall, and keeps a mental list of people shorter than her.
** Robynne finds being [=5'2''=] the most consistently annoying part of her transformation, given she was a foot taller beforehand.
* HenshinHero: The Spirit Guard only possess their offensive abilities when transformed, though they retain a level of empathokinetics in their civilian forms, including the ability to sense monsters.
* HeterosexualLifePartners: Cory and Eli have been inseparable since kindergarten. Their closeness had kept other friends from sticking around, so when Rob manages to become part of that bond, Mallory considers it quite the feat.
* HowDidYouKnowIDidnt: Robert risked his life against Polygal, unaware that there were superheroes around to save him.
-->'''Vivian:''' What made you feel like everything would turn out right? You knew the Spirit Guard were coming, did ya?\\
'''Robert:''' No. Not at all.\\
'''Eli:''' Robert here hadn't even heard about them until today.
* HowDidYouKnowIDidnt: Robert risked his life against Polygal, unaware that there were superheroes around to save him.
-->'''Vivian:''' What made you feel like everything would turn out right? You knew the Spirit Guard were coming, did ya?\\
'''Robert:''' No. Not at all.\\
'''Eli:''' Robert here hadn't even heard about them until today.
* IfOnlyYouKnew: When people dwell on Robynne's oddities, they often get closer to the truth than they think.
-->'''Robynne:''' Put two girls side by side and nine times out of ten the boys will prefer the cheerleader. That's a fact.\\
'''Stacy:''' Oh? You got some sort of super power that lets you see into the mind of men?\\
'''Robynne:''' Trust me. I know how guys think.
-->'''Robynne:''' Put two girls side by side and nine times out of ten the boys will prefer the cheerleader. That's a fact.\\
'''Stacy:''' Oh? You got some sort of super power that lets you see into the mind of men?\\
'''Robynne:''' Trust me. I know how guys think.
Changed line(s) 164 (click to see context) from:
* MagicalGirlWarrior: The Spirit Guard are all examples of this.
to:
* MagicalGirlWarrior: The Spirit Guard transform into superheroes to fight monsters around Kessia City. In their normal forms, their powers are all examples of this.largely limited to [[SensorCharacter sensing]] [[TheEmpath empathokinetic]] energies and [[SpiderSense monsters draining people]].
Changed line(s) 192,193 (click to see context) from:
* RapunzelHair: Vivian and Robynne respectively have knee-length and butt-length hair as a result of their Spirit Guard transformations. They consider it a pain and would rather have their short hair back.
* ReallySevenHundredYearsOld: Kunapipi appears as either an ordinary wallaby or a human in her twenties or thirties, but she's been working as Guide for Earth's heroes for thousands of years.
* ReallySevenHundredYearsOld: Kunapipi appears as either an ordinary wallaby or a human in her twenties or thirties, but she's been working as Guide for Earth's heroes for thousands of years.
to:
* RapunzelHair: Vivian and Robynne respectively have knee-length and butt-length hair as a result of their Spirit Guard transformations. They consider it a pain and would rather have their short hair back.
* ReallySevenHundredYearsOld: Kunapipi appears as either an ordinary wallaby or a human inRageAgainstTheHeavens: Platicore's ultimate goal is to destroy Fate, feeling it's the only way to save free will from her twenties or thirties, but she's been working as Guide for Earth's heroes for thousands of years.meddling.
* ReallySevenHundredYearsOld: Kunapipi appears as either an ordinary wallaby or a human in
Changed line(s) 205,207 (click to see context) from:
--->'''Angela Warrant:''' I had never considered that.\\
'''Robert Dreese:''' Yeah, well, I’m sure the Spirit Guard did. They are heroes after all.\\
'''Angela Warrant:''' Yeah, I–I’m sure they did too.
'''Robert Dreese:''' Yeah, well, I’m sure the Spirit Guard did. They are heroes after all.\\
'''Angela Warrant:''' Yeah, I–I’m sure they did too.
to:
* SuspiciousMissedMessages: Mallory visits Eli's dorm because him not answering his phone after Polygal attacked his workplace is cause for alarm. Turns out he just lost his phone in the chaos. Of course, Mal knew Eli was fine since she's one of the Spirit Guards that rescued him; the visit was just an excuse to meet with Robert.
Changed line(s) 214 (click to see context) from:
* ThisIsReality: [[spoiler:Watching the Spirit Guard fare so poorly against [=Day LaMode=] has Rob reflect that even though the Spirit Guard tend to handily defeat their foes, in real life, the heroes don't always win and AnyoneCanDie.]]
to:
* ThisIsReality: [[spoiler:Watching the Spirit Guard fare so poorly against [=Day LaMode=] has Rob reflect that even though the Spirit Guard tend to handily defeat their foes, in real life, the heroes don't always win and AnyoneCanDie.anyone can die.]]
Added DiffLines:
* WhyAreYouLookingAtMeLikeThat: When it's explained that the Spirit Guard aren't the only Champions Kunapipi seeks out, they all look at Robert. He takes a moment to realize that they mean he's a Champion as well.
* WithAFriendAndAStranger: At the start, Robert has been friends with his roommates Cory and Eli for two weeks, while Cory and Eli have been HeterosexualLifePartners since childhood.
* TheWorfEffect: [[spoiler:Tenacity is the biggest, strongest Spirit Guard, and gets utterly defeated by [=Day LaMode. LaMode=], in turn, is easily defeated by the newly transformed Serenity.]]
* WithAFriendAndAStranger: At the start, Robert has been friends with his roommates Cory and Eli for two weeks, while Cory and Eli have been HeterosexualLifePartners since childhood.
* TheWorfEffect: [[spoiler:Tenacity is the biggest, strongest Spirit Guard, and gets utterly defeated by [=Day LaMode. LaMode=], in turn, is easily defeated by the newly transformed Serenity.]]
Added DiffLines:
* YouHaveGotToBeKiddingMe: A standard reaction, usually Rob's, to the ridiculousness life throws his way.
Added DiffLines:
* YouWatchTooMuchX: Eli frequently reminds Cory that things don't play out like they do in movies and stuff. Cory then gets to rub it in whenever he correctly calls things lining up with narrative tropes.
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* AntiSmotherLoveTalk: Mallory's dad is very protective of his daughter, and her mom would have to convince him to let her do things like take taekwando or move out for college.
* ArmorPiercingQuestion: When Eli and Mallory argue over her hiding that she's a Spirit Guard from her family, he asks her how many times she's almost died throughout her superhero career.
* AwesomenessByAnalysis: Rob prefers to carefully break down a monster's abilities and strategies before going on the offensive.
** [[spoiler:Rob was even doing this against [=Day LaMode=] before he decided to transform, so when he does join the fight, Rob's got the mannequin all figured out.]]
** [[spoiler:This strategy is dampened against Cell-celia due to her powers growing as the fight goes on.]]
** [[spoiler:Rob was even doing this against [=Day LaMode=] before he decided to transform, so when he does join the fight, Rob's got the mannequin all figured out.]]
** [[spoiler:This strategy is dampened against Cell-celia due to her powers growing as the fight goes on.]]
* BattleInTheCenterOfTheMind: When Polygal attempts to drain Robert's Investiture, he feels her presence within his soul and mobilizes his Investiture to attack her. In the real world, she's holding him by the face and starts swinging him around in an attempt to make him stop.
Changed line(s) 63 (click to see context) from:
** Eli nearly charges into Mallory's battle with [=Day LaMode=] in order to help his gravely injured sister, but Rob holds him back.
to:
** Eli nearly charges into Mallory's Tenacity's battle with [=Day LaMode=] in order to help his gravely injured sister, but Rob holds him back.
* BirdsOfAFeather: Cory and Vivian are both wisecracking, mischievous film nerds.
* BlackBox: The heroes have very little understanding of how the Spirit Sticks work.
* BlackBox: The heroes have very little understanding of how the Spirit Sticks work.
Changed line(s) 74,77 (click to see context) from:
* ButHeSoundsHandsome:
** Vivian tells Rob the Spirit Guard are awesome and is eager to hear his opinion on them.
** Angela defends the Spirit Guard in her first meeting with Rob.
* ByThePowerOfGrayskull: Each of the Spirit Guard have a phrase that they need to say to activate their transformation.
** Vivian tells Rob the Spirit Guard are awesome and is eager to hear his opinion on them.
** Angela defends the Spirit Guard in her first meeting with Rob.
* ByThePowerOfGrayskull: Each of the Spirit Guard have a phrase that they need to say to activate their transformation.
to:
* ButHeSoundsHandsome:
BodySurf:
**Vivian tells The knowledge to overwrite one soul with another in order to cheat death was considered the ultimate theoretical breakthrough of the Ardent Empire's forbidden branch of empathokinetics.
** [=Day LaMode=] can transfer from one mannequin to another with her Follow ze Trend move.
* BoxingLessonsForSuperman: Rob is unnerved to learn the Spirit Guardare awesome rely solely on their hero form's instincts to fight and is eager suggests training in their normal forms.
** Subverted for Kara, who once took up archery in hopes of improving her combat ability, but found the experience too different from using her Spirit Guard form's EnergyBow tohear be helpful.
** Robynne has Noriko train her in ninja-esque parkour to improve her movement during battle.
* BoyfriendBluff: Nick offers to do this for Robynne so guys won't hit on her. She turns him down, not wanting to uphold a fake relationship or sink hisopinion on them.
**chances with other women.
* BridalCarry: [[spoiler:After the [=Day LaMode=] battle, Serenity carries the wounded Tenacity home this way.]]
* BrokenPedestal: Rob's character doesn't at all match Angela's ideal of the Shrine Maiden's reincarnation. The Princess and Shrine Maiden were very close, so Angeladefends is taken aback by his lack of trust in her and refusal to join the Spirit Guard.
** RebuiltPedestal: As Rob's own brand of heroism shines through, Angela learns to judge him by his own merits, bonding with him for who he is rather than who she thought he would be.
* ButHeSoundsHandsome: Vivian and Angela have nothing but nice things to say about the Spirit Guardin her when they first meeting meet with Rob.
Robert. Vivian says such cool heroes are awesome by definition, and Angela claims to be a fan that was saved by them before.
*ByThePowerOfGrayskull: Each BuxomIsBetter: Robynne's large breasts are considered one of the Spirit Guard have a phrase that they need to say to activate their transformation.primary reasons she gets unwanted attention.
**
** [=Day LaMode=] can transfer from one mannequin to another with her Follow ze Trend move.
* BoxingLessonsForSuperman: Rob is unnerved to learn the Spirit Guard
** Subverted for Kara, who once took up archery in hopes of improving her combat ability, but found the experience too different from using her Spirit Guard form's EnergyBow to
** Robynne has Noriko train her in ninja-esque parkour to improve her movement during battle.
* BoyfriendBluff: Nick offers to do this for Robynne so guys won't hit on her. She turns him down, not wanting to uphold a fake relationship or sink his
**
* BridalCarry: [[spoiler:After the [=Day LaMode=] battle, Serenity carries the wounded Tenacity home this way.]]
* BrokenPedestal: Rob's character doesn't at all match Angela's ideal of the Shrine Maiden's reincarnation. The Princess and Shrine Maiden were very close, so Angela
** RebuiltPedestal: As Rob's own brand of heroism shines through, Angela learns to judge him by his own merits, bonding with him for who he is rather than who she thought he would be.
* ButHeSoundsHandsome: Vivian and Angela have nothing but nice things to say about the Spirit Guard
*
* ColorCodedSecretIdentity:
** Played straight with Mallory, who often wears red because it's her favorite color.
** Artwork tends to have Angela, Vivian, and Kara wearing purple, pink, and yellow respectively.
** Averted and discussed by Rob, who doesn't feel the need to start wearing blue. In fact, she was suggested to ''avoid'' blue since it'd complement her red hair and draw unwanted attention.
** Played straight with Mallory, who often wears red because it's her favorite color.
** Artwork tends to have Angela, Vivian, and Kara wearing purple, pink, and yellow respectively.
** Averted and discussed by Rob, who doesn't feel the need to start wearing blue. In fact, she was suggested to ''avoid'' blue since it'd complement her red hair and draw unwanted attention.
Changed line(s) 90 (click to see context) from:
* DanceBattler: Spirit Guard Serenity's transformation sequence is based on the ballet she learned as a child. Her actual combat moves are less dance-based though the balance and agility training does come in handy.
to:
* DanceBattler: CombatStilettos: The Spirit Guard Serenity's transformation sequence is based on have high-heeled boots as part of the ballet she learned costume. The monsters' footwear also tend to be heeled as a child. Her actual combat moves are less dance-based though the balance and agility training does come in handy.well.
* EyesNeverLie: When Eli sees the transformed Robynne for the first time, he recognizes her as Robert once he notices the expression in her eyes is unchanged.
* FamilyEyeResemblance: Eli, Mallory, and their father all have green eyes with a stern gaze, which is why the siblings struggle to maintain eye contact when they argue with each other.
* FamilyEyeResemblance: Eli, Mallory, and their father all have green eyes with a stern gaze, which is why the siblings struggle to maintain eye contact when they argue with each other.
Deleted line(s) 115 (click to see context) :
* GirlishPigtails: Spirit Guard Valor.
Deleted line(s) 120 (click to see context) :
* HealingHands: One of Kara/Charity's primary abilities. She's able to heal others by expending her own energy.
Changed line(s) 139 (click to see context) from:
* LifeEnergy: Investiture represents an organism's emotional drive. One dies if all of their Investiture is depleted. Platicore infuses it into objects to create his monsters.
to:
* LifeEnergy: Investiture represents an organism's a being's emotional drive. One dies if all of their Investiture is depleted. Platicore infuses it into objects to create his monsters.
Deleted line(s) 163 (click to see context) :
* TheOnlyBeliever: Even though the Spirit Guard were all chosen to serve as Fate's Champions, Angela seems to be the only one who actually ''likes'' the deity.
Deleted line(s) 170 (click to see context) :
* PeekABangs: Spirit Guard Serenity has some magically reinforced ones from her previous life. They tone down a bit when not transformed. [[spoiler: Her blindspot is covered by a finely tuned empathokinetic sense]]
Deleted line(s) 172 (click to see context) :
* PintSizedPowerhouse: Spirit Guards Felicity and Serenity may be small, but they're just as competent in battle as their teammates.
Deleted line(s) 186 (click to see context) :
* StatuesqueStunner: Mallory is about six feet tall and considered very attractive.
Changed line(s) 198 (click to see context) from:
* ThisIsReality: Watching the Spirit Guard fare so poorly against [=Day LaMode=] has Rob reflect that even though the Spirit Guard tend to handily defeat their foes, in real life, the heroes don't always win and AnyoneCanDie.
to:
* ThisIsReality: Watching [[spoiler:Watching the Spirit Guard fare so poorly against [=Day LaMode=] has Rob reflect that even though the Spirit Guard tend to handily defeat their foes, in real life, the heroes don't always win and AnyoneCanDie.]]
Changed line(s) 208 (click to see context) from:
* WhereTheHellIsSpringfield: Kessia City is somewhere in the western United States, while Deepwater is apparently in the southeast since the people have a country accent.
to:
* WhereTheHellIsSpringfield: Kessia City is somewhere in the western United States, while Deepwater is apparently in the southeast since the people there have a country accent.
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Added DiffLines:
* AllOfTheOtherReindeer:
** In high school, Robert never quite fit in with either the jocks or the nerds due to being both a gamer and a football player. Injuring the star player Dustin in self-defense turned much of the school against Rob, as did Evelyn spreading rumors that Rob is a gay guy faking a straight relationship. Rob was liked among the outcasts, but apparently didn't leave behind any meaningful friends since he was all too eager to leave Deepwater behind.
** Robynne and Vivian being pretty cheerleaders makes SFEERS members, especially the girls, slow to believe they are genuine nerds.
** In high school, Robert never quite fit in with either the jocks or the nerds due to being both a gamer and a football player. Injuring the star player Dustin in self-defense turned much of the school against Rob, as did Evelyn spreading rumors that Rob is a gay guy faking a straight relationship. Rob was liked among the outcasts, but apparently didn't leave behind any meaningful friends since he was all too eager to leave Deepwater behind.
** Robynne and Vivian being pretty cheerleaders makes SFEERS members, especially the girls, slow to believe they are genuine nerds.
Added DiffLines:
* BewareTheHonestOnes:
** Implied to be the reason Cammy tampered with the phone she had gifted Angela back when they were on the cheer team together. She'd poke Angela for being a goody two-shoes, and seemingly predicted she'd need insurance in case the upstanding recruit found out about Cammy's abuse of the cheer team's power. When this came to pass, Cammy remotely wiped the phone of the evidence Angela was to present to the school authorities.
** Mallory worries about Robert's ChronicHeroSyndrome, as he always seems to find trouble and has seemingly no self-preservation instinct, though she's more concerned that Eli and Cory risk themselves to stand by their new friend. [[spoiler:When she gets rescued from [=Day LaMode=], she thinks to herself she should've realized right away that her strange savior is the guy who keeps throwing himself at monsters, having not considered the possibility that he'd go through with transforming in order to save a life.]]
** Tanya has a hard time trusting Robynne since she can't dig up any dirt on her. Rob was warned about this trait of Tanya's, so she'll satiate her with vague or half-truthful responses to any prodding.
* BewareTheQuietOnes: Rob prefers to keep to himself, but he won't stand for someone pushing his buttons too much or being a big enough asshole in his presence.
** In high school, he stood up to Evelyn and called her out in front of a crowd for pushing another girl to tears.
** When Cammy crashes Robynne's lunch with Stacy and persists in feigning friendliness just to get something from Rob, Rob drops her polite refusals in favor of a TheReasonYouSuckSpeech.
** Implied to be the reason Cammy tampered with the phone she had gifted Angela back when they were on the cheer team together. She'd poke Angela for being a goody two-shoes, and seemingly predicted she'd need insurance in case the upstanding recruit found out about Cammy's abuse of the cheer team's power. When this came to pass, Cammy remotely wiped the phone of the evidence Angela was to present to the school authorities.
** Mallory worries about Robert's ChronicHeroSyndrome, as he always seems to find trouble and has seemingly no self-preservation instinct, though she's more concerned that Eli and Cory risk themselves to stand by their new friend. [[spoiler:When she gets rescued from [=Day LaMode=], she thinks to herself she should've realized right away that her strange savior is the guy who keeps throwing himself at monsters, having not considered the possibility that he'd go through with transforming in order to save a life.]]
** Tanya has a hard time trusting Robynne since she can't dig up any dirt on her. Rob was warned about this trait of Tanya's, so she'll satiate her with vague or half-truthful responses to any prodding.
* BewareTheQuietOnes: Rob prefers to keep to himself, but he won't stand for someone pushing his buttons too much or being a big enough asshole in his presence.
** In high school, he stood up to Evelyn and called her out in front of a crowd for pushing another girl to tears.
** When Cammy crashes Robynne's lunch with Stacy and persists in feigning friendliness just to get something from Rob, Rob drops her polite refusals in favor of a TheReasonYouSuckSpeech.
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* AllGuysWantCheerleaders:
** This is Robert's [[HasAType type]], finding the outfit attractive, and his ex-girlfriend was a cheerleader. The irony at getting recruited to the cheerleader-themed Spirit Guard and SAU's cheer team isn't lost on Rob.
** Pretty much every cheerleader of note, super or otherwise, is considered hot.
* AllGuysWantSororityWomen: Cory gets excited at the idea of Vivian joining a sorority, though she doesn't actually do it.
** This is Robert's [[HasAType type]], finding the outfit attractive, and his ex-girlfriend was a cheerleader. The irony at getting recruited to the cheerleader-themed Spirit Guard and SAU's cheer team isn't lost on Rob.
** Pretty much every cheerleader of note, super or otherwise, is considered hot.
* AllGuysWantSororityWomen: Cory gets excited at the idea of Vivian joining a sorority, though she doesn't actually do it.
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* BadassInDistress: [[spoiler:After trying to fight alone, Tenacity ends up nearly dead and at the mercy of [=Day LaMode=]. Rob goes to save her since he's the only one who can.]]
to:
* BadassInDistress: [[spoiler:After trying to fight alone, Tenacity ends up nearly dead and at the mercy of [=Day LaMode=]. Rob goes transforms to save her since he's life.]]
* BareYourMidriff: Spirit Guards Valor, Charity, and Serenity have this as part of their costume. SAU's cheerleader uniforms also have this.
* BarrierBustingBlow: After Serenity transforms in theonly one restroom, Cell-celia bursts through the wall for a free hit.
* BattleBaton: The Spirit Sticks let the Spirit Guard transform into their battle mode. One of Rob's visions shows the Scholar using Placid Mist with the Spirit Stick itself.
* BecauseDestinySaysSo: The idea is a bit hard to ignore when Fate is an actual deity with future sight.
** Kunapipi and presumably all of Fate's agents take the deity's word as gospel.
** Angela is proud to have been chosen by Fate and practically worships her. She has a hard time understanding when Rob has the complete opposite stance.
* BeingWatched: This feeling can be picked up by EKP.
** Robert feels this to the point of sleeplessness while his EKP is acclimating to the constant presence of his Spirit Stick. Robynne gets used to this, but then has to deal with her strengthened EKP making her feel how many people have their eyes on her.
** [[spoiler:While fighting [=Day LaMode=], Serenity senses something invisible seemingly watching the battle. This is Trace, whocan.]]flees before Serenity can figure out what she's looking at.]]
** Robynne's discomfort at her first shower with her new body is exacerbated by the sense that she's not alone. She feels a similar presence at the Standridge Circle after the SFEERS opening social, but loses track of it. Angela's had similar sensations during introspection and wonders if it's Fate, though the possibility of it being some sort of spy is also considered.
* BareYourMidriff: Spirit Guards Valor, Charity, and Serenity have this as part of their costume. SAU's cheerleader uniforms also have this.
* BarrierBustingBlow: After Serenity transforms in the
* BattleBaton: The Spirit Sticks let the Spirit Guard transform into their battle mode. One of Rob's visions shows the Scholar using Placid Mist with the Spirit Stick itself.
* BecauseDestinySaysSo: The idea is a bit hard to ignore when Fate is an actual deity with future sight.
** Kunapipi and presumably all of Fate's agents take the deity's word as gospel.
** Angela is proud to have been chosen by Fate and practically worships her. She has a hard time understanding when Rob has the complete opposite stance.
* BeingWatched: This feeling can be picked up by EKP.
** Robert feels this to the point of sleeplessness while his EKP is acclimating to the constant presence of his Spirit Stick. Robynne gets used to this, but then has to deal with her strengthened EKP making her feel how many people have their eyes on her.
** [[spoiler:While fighting [=Day LaMode=], Serenity senses something invisible seemingly watching the battle. This is Trace, who
** Robynne's discomfort at her first shower with her new body is exacerbated by the sense that she's not alone. She feels a similar presence at the Standridge Circle after the SFEERS opening social, but loses track of it. Angela's had similar sensations during introspection and wonders if it's Fate, though the possibility of it being some sort of spy is also considered.
Changed line(s) 68 (click to see context) from:
* {{Deconstruction}}: Of MagicalGirl and GenderBender stories.
to:
* {{Deconstruction}}: Of MagicalGirl [[MagicalGirlGenreDeconstruction magical girl]] and GenderBender stories.
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Changed line(s) 14 (click to see context) from:
* AbsurdlyPowerfulStudentCouncil: The SAU Student Association.
to:
* AbsurdlyPowerfulStudentCouncil: The SAU Student Association. Composed of representatives from campus organizations, it has power over policies like the dress code and how club revenue is handled.
Deleted line(s) 16 (click to see context) :
* AcademicAthlete: Until he quit the team after junior year of high school, Robert was both a skilled football player and among the top students of his class.
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* ActionGirlfriend: Vivian and Kara, to Cory and Eli respectively. The guys are shocked to learn the respective girls they're into are Spirit Guards. They eventually start dating.
* AlphaBitch: Cammy is the nasty, manipulative cheer team captain. Evelyn from Robert's high school was similar, but was only the de facto cheer captain.
* AlphaBitch: Cammy is the nasty, manipulative cheer team captain. Evelyn from Robert's high school was similar, but was only the de facto cheer captain.
to:
* ActionGirlfriend: AllPeriodsArePMS: DiscussedTrope. Vivian explains to Robynne that MostWritersAreMale and Kara, to Cory and Eli respectively. The guys are shocked to learn the respective girls exaggerate things they're into are Spirit Guards. They eventually start dating.
not familiar with... but then says that considering Rob's pattern of misfortune, she should be prepared for her new body's periods to be Hollywood-style anyway.
*AlphaBitch: Cammy is the nasty, manipulative cheer team captain. Evelyn from Robert's high school AloneInACrowd: When Robynne first hears her alien laugh, she's hit by all she's lost in her transformation, while Cory, Eli, and Angela continue their conversation.
* AmbiguouslyAbsentParent: Angela wassimilar, but was only the de facto cheer captain.raised by just her mother, with no details given on her father's status.
*
* AmbiguouslyAbsentParent: Angela was
* AncestralWeapon: [[SubvertedTrope Subverted]]. Serenity thinks her knives were created for the Shrine Maiden and passed down to her reincarnation, but realizes they're specifically designed for Serenity herself. The other Spirit Guard's weapons are presumably the same way.
* AncientAstronauts: ZigzaggedTrope. The Ardentia posed as gods in the visions granted to the ancient Atsah, teaching them empathokinesis to build the Standridge Circle as a portal to Earth. However, this didn't really impact humanity as a whole, seeing as how empathokinesis is largely unknown to modern humans. In fact, the Circle's power minimizing scientific intrigue in the structure is believed to have been designed to keep humanity from learning too much about the technology of their would-be conquerors.
* AncientAstronauts: ZigzaggedTrope. The Ardentia posed as gods in the visions granted to the ancient Atsah, teaching them empathokinesis to build the Standridge Circle as a portal to Earth. However, this didn't really impact humanity as a whole, seeing as how empathokinesis is largely unknown to modern humans. In fact, the Circle's power minimizing scientific intrigue in the structure is believed to have been designed to keep humanity from learning too much about the technology of their would-be conquerors.
* AnotherMansTerror: Among the visions the Spirit Guard get are the final moments of their past lives.
Changed line(s) 31,33 (click to see context) from:
* BetaBitch: Jodi is Cammy's best friend and right hand.
* {{BFS}}: Tenacity's sword is nearly as long as she is tall, and it's wide enough to act as a makeshift shield from projectiles.
* BigDamnHeroes: Taralynn seems to love this trope
* {{BFS}}: Tenacity's sword is nearly as long as she is tall, and it's wide enough to act as a makeshift shield from projectiles.
* BigDamnHeroes: Taralynn seems to love this trope
to:
* BetaBitch: Jodi AudibleSharpness: AvertedTrope. When Cory is Cammy's best friend and right hand.
* {{BFS}}: Tenacity's sword is nearly as long asconfused at Noriko's silent sword, she is tall, and explains that it's wide enough because the sheath isn't metal.
* BackupBluff: [[spoiler:When fighting [=Day LaMode=], Serenity claims the other Spirit Guards will defeat the monster's goons in due time, so she can just remain invisible until they arrive. [=LaMode=] doesn't really buy it, with Serenity herself not entirely sure the others can handle themselves.]]
* BadassInDistress: [[spoiler:After trying toact as a makeshift shield fight alone, Tenacity ends up nearly dead and at the mercy of [=Day LaMode=]. Rob goes to save her since he's the only one who can.]]
* BigBrotherInstinct:
** Mallory will go after anyone who threatens Eli, doing things fromprojectiles.
punching a bully to fighting a monster by herself. She's also protective of her friends in general.
** Eli nearly charges into Mallory's battle with [=Day LaMode=] in order to help his gravely injured sister, but Rob holds him back.
* BigDamnHeroes:Taralynn seems to love this tropeA recurring trend with the Spirit Guard.
* {{BFS}}: Tenacity's sword is nearly as long as
* BackupBluff: [[spoiler:When fighting [=Day LaMode=], Serenity claims the other Spirit Guards will defeat the monster's goons in due time, so she can just remain invisible until they arrive. [=LaMode=] doesn't really buy it, with Serenity herself not entirely sure the others can handle themselves.]]
* BadassInDistress: [[spoiler:After trying to
* BigBrotherInstinct:
** Mallory will go after anyone who threatens Eli, doing things from
** Eli nearly charges into Mallory's battle with [=Day LaMode=] in order to help his gravely injured sister, but Rob holds him back.
* BigDamnHeroes:
Changed line(s) 37 (click to see context) from:
* BlandNameProduct: Has its own page.
to:
* BlandNameProduct: Has its [[BlandNameProduct/MagicalGirlPolicy own page.page]].
Changed line(s) 43 (click to see context) from:
* ButHeSoundsHandsome: Angela defends the Spirit Guard in her first meeting with Rob.
to:
* ButHeSoundsHandsome: ButHeSoundsHandsome:
** Vivian tells Rob the Spirit Guard are awesome and is eager to hear his opinion on them.
** Angela defends the Spirit Guard in her first meeting with Rob.
** Vivian tells Rob the Spirit Guard are awesome and is eager to hear his opinion on them.
** Angela defends the Spirit Guard in her first meeting with Rob.
Changed line(s) 45 (click to see context) from:
* CallingYourAttacks: The Heroines and monsters in the story all need to do this. [[spoiler: Though, at the very least, Robert/Serenity realizes the absurdity and inconvenience of this trope, and even manages to use it against the first monster he/she faces.]]
to:
* CallingYourAttacks: The Heroines Both the Spirit Guard and monsters in the story all need to do this. this to use their more powerful moves. [[spoiler: Though, at the very least, Robert/Serenity Serenity realizes the absurdity and inconvenience of this trope, and even manages has to use work around it against the when her first monster he/she faces.opponent's attack names are shorter than her own.]]
Changed line(s) 55 (click to see context) from:
* ClingyMacGuffin: The Spirit Sticks are always within reach so that the Spirit Guard are ready to transform at a moment's notice.
to:
* ClingyMacGuffin: The Once a Spirit Sticks are always Guard touches their Spirit Stick, it begins warping to places out of sight but within reach so that the Spirit Guard are ready to user may transform at a moment's notice.
Deleted line(s) 60 (click to see context) :
* DespairEventHorizon: Robynne's first day as a girl was already doing a number on her spirit, with the closest thing to an expert proving useless and her friends unable to truly understand what she's going through, but the thing that breaks her is being unable to answer her uncle's phone call because he might not believe she's his nephew when she needs him most. This makes her break into tears for the first time since the death of her grandmother ten years ago.
* DistressedDude: Robert, Cory, and Eli have all needed to be saved from monsters by the Spirit Guard.
Changed line(s) 64 (click to see context) from:
* EmotionEater, EnergyAbsorption: Platicore's monsters are powered by and drain people of Investiture, spiritual energy of one's emotional drive.
to:
* EmotionEater, EnergyAbsorption: EmotionEater: Platicore's monsters are powered by and drain people of Investiture, spiritual energy of one's emotional drive.
* EnergyAbsorption: Platicore specializes in taking Investiture and transplanting it. His monsters are designed to drain people of their Investiture for Platicore's use.
Deleted line(s) 78,79 (click to see context) :
* TheGadfly: Cory and especially Vivian get a kick out of annoying their friends.
* GemstoneAssault: Spirit Guard Valor does this for some of her special moves: Avalanche of Truth has diamond-like spikes fly out of her shield, while Seismic Justice has amethyst spikes thrust out of the ground.
* GemstoneAssault: Spirit Guard Valor does this for some of her special moves: Avalanche of Truth has diamond-like spikes fly out of her shield, while Seismic Justice has amethyst spikes thrust out of the ground.
Added DiffLines:
* HeroicBSOD: Robynne's first day as a girl was already doing a number on her spirit, with the closest thing to an expert proving useless and her friends unable to truly understand what she's going through, but the thing that breaks her is being unable to answer her uncle's phone call because he might not believe she's his nephew when she needs him most. This makes her break into tears for the first time since the death of her grandmother ten years ago.
Added DiffLines:
* HypocriticalHumor: Mallory says Eli's been watching too much anime if he thinks Noriko can do fantastical ninjutsu. This is coming from the actual superhero who shoots lightning from her sword.
Added DiffLines:
* RescueReversal: [[spoiler:Tenacity challenges [=Day LaMode=] alone in order to rescue Robert, Cory, and Eli. She ends up nearly dead, so Rob becomes Spirit Guard Serenity to save her.]]
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Some of Rob's tropes have been moved to the Characters page. Bad Powers, Good People removed due to "stealth+knives is evil" being quite a stretch.
[[quoteright:248:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/mgp_cover.png]]
* AcquaintedInRealLife: Rob meets [=NightKnight and Fretribution while gaming online before finding out they're fellow SAU students. Robynne forgets the encounter with NightKnight, and NightKnight=] wouldn't recognize Rob's post-transformation voice and new handle. Robynne and Fretribution ''do'' recognize each other, but Rob insists he is mistaken, as she had since changed her handle.
Deleted line(s) 28 (click to see context) :
* BadPowersGoodPeople: Spirit Guard Serenity's combat abilities are best summed up as "sneak up on people and stab them to death". That is not a typical heroic powerset.
* BlueAndOrangeMorality: Fate's motivations beyond maintaining some vague cosmic order are unknown even to her agents. Considering she is far-seeing yet doesn't seem to care what befalls innocent people caught up in her plans, Fate doesn't appear to operate on any sense of good and evil.
* TheChooserOfTheOne: With her future sight, Fate selects people to become heroes.
Changed line(s) 48 (click to see context) from:
* ChronicHeroSyndrome: Rob just can't seem to refrain from helping people in need. Mallory even calls it by name as "chronic heroics".
to:
* ChronicHeroSyndrome: Rob just can't seem to refrain from helping people in need. Mallory even calls it by name as "chronic heroics".
* CombatClairvoyance: Serenity demonstrates that with a strong EKP, one can predict the actions of both allies and enemies by sensing the emotions behind their intentions.
* DespairEventHorizon: Robynne's first day as a girl was already doing a number on her spirit, with the closest thing to an expert proving useless and her friends unable to truly understand what she's going through, but the thing that breaks her is being unable to answer her uncle's phone call because he might not believe she's his nephew when she needs him most. This makes her break into tears for the first time since the death of her grandmother ten years ago.
* DifferentlyPoweredIndividual: While "superhero" and other generic terms are widely used, the formal descriptor of one of Fate's chosen heroes is "Champion".
* DontYouDarePityMe: Robynne is teetering on the edge of an emotional breakdown over her transformation, but doesn't want her friends to see her in that state, so she insists she be left alone. When she actually does break down, she tries to dissuade Vivian from trying to use her usual cheerfulness to help out, but Vivian is too stubborn to leave and actually does help.
* DifferentlyPoweredIndividual: While "superhero" and other generic terms are widely used, the formal descriptor of one of Fate's chosen heroes is "Champion".
* DontYouDarePityMe: Robynne is teetering on the edge of an emotional breakdown over her transformation, but doesn't want her friends to see her in that state, so she insists she be left alone. When she actually does break down, she tries to dissuade Vivian from trying to use her usual cheerfulness to help out, but Vivian is too stubborn to leave and actually does help.
Changed line(s) 56,57 (click to see context) from:
* EmbarrassingFirstName\EmbarrassingLastName: Robynne Darling's cutesy name isn't ''that'' bad, but when you're petite, buxom and stunningly beautiful it's just one more excuse for people not to take you seriously.
* EmotionEater: Platicore's monsters are powered by and drain people of Investiture, spiritual energy of one's emotional drive.
* EmotionEater: Platicore's monsters are powered by and drain people of Investiture, spiritual energy of one's emotional drive.
to:
* EmbarrassingFirstName\EmbarrassingLastName: Robynne Darling's cutesy name isn't ''that'' bad, but when you're petite, buxom and stunningly beautiful it's just one more excuse for people not to take you seriously.
* EmotionEater:EmotionEater, EnergyAbsorption: Platicore's monsters are powered by and drain people of Investiture, spiritual energy of one's emotional drive.
* EmotionEater:
Changed line(s) 60,68 (click to see context) from:
** The Ardentia had EKP by default, as one's emotions were a major facet of social interaction.
* FirstLawOfGenderBending: While the other Spirit Guard experience only slight changes to their normal bodies, [[spoiler:Rob is told that he will be permanently turned into a girl once he powers up for the first time.]]
%%* FiveManBand: The Spirit Guard.
%%** TheLeader: Spirit Guard Valor
%%** TheLancer: Spirit Guard Serenity
%%** TheSmartGuy: Spirit Guard Felicity
%%** TheBigGuy: Spirit Guard Tenacity
%%** TheChick: Spirit Guard Charity
* GemstoneAssault: Spirit Guard Valor, who's element is Earth, is able to use an attack which shoots diamonds at her foes.
* FirstLawOfGenderBending: While the other Spirit Guard experience only slight changes to their normal bodies, [[spoiler:Rob is told that he will be permanently turned into a girl once he powers up for the first time.]]
%%* FiveManBand: The Spirit Guard.
%%** TheLeader: Spirit Guard Valor
%%** TheLancer: Spirit Guard Serenity
%%** TheSmartGuy: Spirit Guard Felicity
%%** TheBigGuy: Spirit Guard Tenacity
%%** TheChick: Spirit Guard Charity
* GemstoneAssault: Spirit Guard Valor, who's element is Earth, is able to use an attack which shoots diamonds at her foes.
to:
** The Ardentia had EKP by default, as one's emotions were a major facet of social interaction.
interaction in their culture.
* FirstLawOfGenderBending:While Given getting Robynne's original form back would require messing with the other Spirit Guard experience only slight changes transformation and healing factor, both things the heroes have no idea how to their normal bodies, [[spoiler:Rob is told that he will be permanently turned into a girl once he powers up do, she's in it for the first time.]]
%%*long haul.
* FiveManBand: The Spirit Guard.
%%** ** TheLeader: Spirit Guard Valor
%%**Angela.
** TheLancer:Spirit Guard Serenity
%%**Rob, though Rob has some traits of the Smart Guy.
** TheSmartGuy:Spirit Guard Felicity
%%**Vivian.
** TheBigGuy:Spirit Guard Tenacity
%%**Mallory, though she has some traits of the Lancer.
** TheChick:Spirit Guard Charity
Kara.
* FlippingTheBird:
** Trace's response to some guy not leaving her alone at the bar. She doesn't actually know what the gesture means beyond it being rude.
** When Robynne senses something watching her at the Standridge Circle, she leaves while doing this with her hands in her pockets. If the watcher is the Fate, she should be able to see what Rob thinks of her.
* TheGadfly: Cory and especially Vivian get a kick out of annoying their friends.
* GemstoneAssault: Spirit GuardValor, who's element is Earth, is able to use an attack which shoots diamonds at Valor does this for some of her foes.special moves: Avalanche of Truth has diamond-like spikes fly out of her shield, while Seismic Justice has amethyst spikes thrust out of the ground.
* FirstLawOfGenderBending:
%%*
* FiveManBand: The Spirit Guard.
%%**
** TheLancer:
%%**
** TheSmartGuy:
%%**
** TheBigGuy:
%%**
** TheChick:
* FlippingTheBird:
** Trace's response to some guy not leaving her alone at the bar. She doesn't actually know what the gesture means beyond it being rude.
** When Robynne senses something watching her at the Standridge Circle, she leaves while doing this with her hands in her pockets. If the watcher is the Fate, she should be able to see what Rob thinks of her.
* TheGadfly: Cory and especially Vivian get a kick out of annoying their friends.
* GemstoneAssault: Spirit Guard
Changed line(s) 75,76 (click to see context) from:
* GotMeDoingIt: Hanging around Stacy causes Robynne and Vivian to sometimes mimic her "like" verbal tic.
* HatesBeingTouched: Robert. It's worse for Robynne due to the DoubleStandard. It does not appear to be due to any abuse in his background, he's just that introverted.
* HatesBeingTouched: Robert. It's worse for Robynne due to the DoubleStandard. It does not appear to be due to any abuse in his background, he's just that introverted.
to:
* GotMeDoingIt: Hanging around Stacy causes Robynne and Vivian to sometimes mimic her [[LikeIsLikeAComma "like" verbal tic.
* HatesBeingTouched: Robert. It's worse for Robynne due to the DoubleStandard. It does not appear to be due to any abuse in his background, he's just that introverted.tic]].
* HatesBeingTouched: Robert. It's worse for Robynne due to the DoubleStandard. It does not appear to be due to any abuse in his background, he's just that introverted.
Changed line(s) 87,88 (click to see context) from:
* IJustWantToBeNormal: Rob definitely falls under this trope. Especially with the side effects of gaining his powers.
* InsistentTerminology: It's not magic, it's empathokinetics.
* InsistentTerminology: It's not magic, it's empathokinetics.
to:
* IJustWantToBeNormal: Rob definitely falls under this trope. Especially with would rather be a regular college student than a Spirit Guard, even before the side effects of gaining his powers.
transforming are revealed.
* InsistentTerminology:It's not magic, it's empathokinetics.After learning it is the formal term, Rob insists on "empathokinesis" and its variants instead of "magic".
* InsistentTerminology:
* ItSeemedLikeAGoodIdeaAtTheTime:
** Rob's plan of covertly recording his meeting with the Spirit Guard, when Cory and Eli get caught and Rob's fears of what the Spirit Guard might do proved unfounded.
** Serenity's idea to quickly defeat Cell-celia alone before the monster becomes too powerful, when it turns out Cell-celia was already on to her and had an ambush ready.
** According to Charity, Tenacity would often justify her reckless actions in battle with this.
** Rob's plan of covertly recording his meeting with the Spirit Guard, when Cory and Eli get caught and Rob's fears of what the Spirit Guard might do proved unfounded.
** Serenity's idea to quickly defeat Cell-celia alone before the monster becomes too powerful, when it turns out Cell-celia was already on to her and had an ambush ready.
** According to Charity, Tenacity would often justify her reckless actions in battle with this.
* LifeEnergy: Investiture represents an organism's emotional drive. One dies if all of their Investiture is depleted. Platicore infuses it into objects to create his monsters.
* LockedOutOfTheLoop: Robert decides not to tell Uncle Taylor about his run-ins with monsters and the Spirit Guard, thinking he'd be ordered back home for his safety. After transforming, Robynne claims her phone's receiver is broken since her voice would shatter the facade that Taylor's nephew is perfectly fine with an ordinary college life, biding her time until he can come to Kessia City, where the Standridge Circle's effects will hopefully make her story more believable.
* MagicalIncantation: Several empathokinetic abilities are verbally activated.
* NoHeroToHisValet:
** Mallory is Eli's sister and Cory's basically-sister in their eyes before she's a Spirit Guard.
** No matter what happens to Robynne due to superhero shenanigans, to Cory and Eli, she's still that guy they roomed with and befriended.
* NoodleIncident: Kunapipi was able to hire Noriko due to the ninja clan owing Kunapipi a favor for something she did in the past, but neither feel like elaborating on what happened.
** Mallory is Eli's sister and Cory's basically-sister in their eyes before she's a Spirit Guard.
** No matter what happens to Robynne due to superhero shenanigans, to Cory and Eli, she's still that guy they roomed with and befriended.
* NoodleIncident: Kunapipi was able to hire Noriko due to the ninja clan owing Kunapipi a favor for something she did in the past, but neither feel like elaborating on what happened.
Changed line(s) 108 (click to see context) from:
* NoodleIncident: Kunapipi was able to hire Noriko due to the ninja clan owing Kunapipi a favor for something she did in the past, but neither feel like elaborating on what happened.
to:
* NoodleIncident: Kunapipi was able to hire Noriko due to TheOnlyBeliever: Even though the ninja clan owing Kunapipi a favor for something she did in Spirit Guard were all chosen to serve as Fate's Champions, Angela seems to be the past, but neither feel like elaborating on what happened.only one who actually ''likes'' the deity.
* OnlyKnownByTheirNickname: Since SFEERS members do most of their business online, not many of them actually know each other's real names.
* OnlyKnownByTheirNickname: Since SFEERS members do most of their business online, not many of them actually know each other's real names.
* OutsideContextProblem: The Other Power apparently operates outside of the universe's rules to the point that not even Fate could foresee it. It decimated the Ardent Empire.
* PartTimeHero: The Spirit Guard are just trying to make it through college when there's no monsters to fight.
Changed line(s) 113 (click to see context) from:
* PintSizedPowerhouse: Spirit Guard Serenity is noticeably petite and her powers favor stealth, but she is just as powerful within her competence zone as any of the others are in theirs
to:
* PerceptionFilter: Trace's stealth band tricks observers into thinking she's not there to simulate invisibility, but Serenity's strong EKP can see past it. Trace also has a similar device to make her beneath notice when she has to set up a monster in plain sight, but it's finicky to make it work just right.
* PintSizedPowerhouse: SpiritGuard Guards Felicity and Serenity is noticeably petite and her powers favor stealth, may be small, but she is they're just as powerful within her competence zone competent in battle as any of the others are in theirstheir teammates.
* PintSizedPowerhouse: Spirit
* PoliceAreUseless: The cops don't have the means to stop the monsters.
* SeriousBusiness: Some characters act like Cheerleading and MMORPG's are at least as important as world peace, prompting a few InUniverse eye roles.
Changed line(s) 118 (click to see context) from:
* SeriousBusiness: Some characters act like Cheerleading and MMORPG's are at least as important as world peace, prompting a few InUniverse eye roles.
to:
* SeriousBusiness: Some characters act like Cheerleading and MMORPG's are at least as important as world peace, prompting SentientCosmicForce: Fate is said to be more of an embodiment of order than a few InUniverse eye roles. living thing.
Changed line(s) 122 (click to see context) from:
* SourOutsideSadInside: Robynne complains a lot about the problems her transformation makes for her, but can't bring herself to tell her friends about how close she comes to breaking and the deeper identity issues brought on by the whole thing.
to:
* SourOutsideSadInside: Robynne complains a lot about SpellMyNameWithAnS: Jodi's name flips between that and Jody before settling on the problems her transformation makes for her, but can't bring herself to tell her friends about how close she comes to breaking and the deeper identity issues brought on by the whole thing.former.
Changed line(s) 132 (click to see context) from:
* ThirdLawOfGenderBending: Poor [[spoiler:Robynne]] gets hit with this hard. Not only is she so petite nothing she owns will fit anymore, she's so curvy that male clothing simply doesn't fit so an androgynous look wouldn't be possible even if SAU's dress code didn't mandate skirts for women. She even has to get a new backpack as her current pack's straps dig into the sides of her breasts. She wants to be inconspicuous, not uncomfortable, and she quickly learns trying to downplay her looks too much actually attracts even more attention (and more negative attention) than playing them up. Ironically, the eventual solution (clothing that's just "off" enough to signal she's no GirlyGirl) requires her to learn enough about color coordination and women's fashions to ''be'' a GirlyGirl.
to:
* TemptingFate: Cory is said to do this a lot, with Eli telling him to cut it out since it tends to end poorly for both Cory and those near him. After the Polygal encounter, Cory says the chances of he, Eli, and Rob running into another monster are extremely slim. Cue [=Day LaMode=] just days later. After they find out Fate is an actual thing that doesn't care about ruining people's lives, Eli shuts down anything that might tempt Fate.
* TheForceIsStrongWithThisOne: The Spirit Guard's original method of finding would-be members was to get to know people with unusually strong auras. The person would inevitably find themselves at a monster attack, glow to confirm they were a Spirit Guard, and transform to save the day.
* TheReasonYouSuckSpeech: Robynne gives one to Cammy for "coincidentally" crashing her lunch with Stacy and not taking the hint to leave her alone, calling Cammy out for being a lying, scheming jerk.
* ThirdLawOfGenderBending:Poor [[spoiler:Robynne]] gets hit with this hard. Not only is she so petite nothing she owns will fit anymore, she's so curvy that male Male clothing simply just doesn't fit so an androgynous look wouldn't be possible Robynne's new frame, and even if it did, SAU's dress code didn't mandate skirts for women. She even has to get a new backpack as and her current pack's straps dig into Spirit Guard costume force her to wear a skirt. At the sides suggestion of her breasts. She wants to be inconspicuous, not uncomfortable, and roommates, the best she quickly learns trying to downplay her looks too much actually attracts even more can do at reducing the attention (and more negative attention) than playing them up. Ironically, she draws is wearing conservative, non-color coordinated clothing that isn't ''too'' unfashionable. When she infiltrates the eventual solution (clothing that's just "off" enough to signal she's no GirlyGirl) requires her cheer team, she has to learn enough about color coordination how to pass as at least a somewhat normal girl.
* ThisIsReality: Watching the Spirit Guard fare so poorly against [=Day LaMode=] has Rob reflect that even though the Spirit Guard tend to handily defeat their foes, in real life, the heroes don't always win andwomen's fashions to ''be'' a GirlyGirl.AnyoneCanDie.
* TheForceIsStrongWithThisOne: The Spirit Guard's original method of finding would-be members was to get to know people with unusually strong auras. The person would inevitably find themselves at a monster attack, glow to confirm they were a Spirit Guard, and transform to save the day.
* TheReasonYouSuckSpeech: Robynne gives one to Cammy for "coincidentally" crashing her lunch with Stacy and not taking the hint to leave her alone, calling Cammy out for being a lying, scheming jerk.
* ThirdLawOfGenderBending:
* ThisIsReality: Watching the Spirit Guard fare so poorly against [=Day LaMode=] has Rob reflect that even though the Spirit Guard tend to handily defeat their foes, in real life, the heroes don't always win and
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* UnwittingMuggleFriend: Stacy has rapidly become Robynne's closest friend outside of the {{Masquerade}} and is rapidly vying for Robynne's best friend thanks to her irrepressible personality.
* WeirdnessCensor: The Standridge Circle. The girls theorize that the local's blase acceptance of all of the weirdness in their lives (including the circle itself) is due to its influence. [[spoiler:Kunapipi plans to harness this to help Uncle Taylor accept Rob's GenderBender.]]
* WeirdnessCensor: The Standridge Circle. The girls theorize that the local's blase acceptance of all of the weirdness in their lives (including the circle itself) is due to its influence. [[spoiler:Kunapipi plans to harness this to help Uncle Taylor accept Rob's GenderBender.]]
to:
* UnwittingMuggleFriend: Stacy has rapidly become becomes Robynne's closest friend outside of the {{Masquerade}} and {{Masquerade}}, unaware that Robynne is rapidly vying for Robynne's best friend thanks to her irrepressible personality.
not only a Spirit Guard, but the guy she had met the first week of class.
* WeirdnessCensor: The StandridgeCircle. The girls theorize that Stones are the local's blase acceptance of all of the apparent reason Kessia City's weirdness in their lives (including is basically unknown outside the circle itself) area and causes little alarm or intrigue in most people that do know. Kunapipi is due to its influence. [[spoiler:Kunapipi plans to harness this banking on it to help Uncle Taylor accept Rob's GenderBender.]]Robynne is actually his nephew by having him fly over.
* WeirdnessCensor: The Standridge
* YearInsideHourOutside: No matter how long a Spirit Guard spends in the Transformation Station, the sort of pocket dimension where they transform, a fixed amount of time passes in the real world. Rob's transformation is the longest at about 30 seconds.
* YouCannotGraspTheTrueForm: The Other Power is incomprehensible. A device made by the Scholar managed to obtain some unspecified data on it, but that's about it.
* YouCannotGraspTheTrueForm: The Other Power is incomprehensible. A device made by the Scholar managed to obtain some unspecified data on it, but that's about it.
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* YouGottaHaveBlueHair: Taralynn seems to deconstruct this trope a bit. Rob finds the rainbow spectrum of hair colors to be completely odd but the residents of Kessia City think it's a normal, if not unique, part of their city. They even have names for the colors the same we we call someone with brown or black hair a brunette. We've had bluenette for blue, emerelde for green, violette for purple, and scarlette for blood red hair. Rob at one point meets a cheerleader with snow white hair and muses to himself about what they might call that. He dismisses the first name he comes up with (whitehead) for good reason.
** Also comes into play [[spoiler: after Rob's transformation when she finds out that not only did her mother look very similar to her new form, her mother also had the exact same scarlette hair that she never saw in any pictures before (previously she saw her mother with the same natural reddish-brown Rob had before the transformation).]]
** Also comes into play [[spoiler: after Rob's transformation when she finds out that not only did her mother look very similar to her new form, her mother also had the exact same scarlette hair that she never saw in any pictures before (previously she saw her mother with the same natural reddish-brown Rob had before the transformation).]]
to:
* YouGottaHaveBlueHair: Taralynn seems to deconstruct this trope a bit. Rob finds the rainbow spectrum of hair colors to be completely odd but the residents of YouGottaHaveBlueHair:
** Kessia Citythink it's residents often end up with a rainbow of hair colors, including people that move there and even photos. This, as well as people there considering it normal, if not unique, part of their city. They is apparently due to the Standridge Stones altering perception. There's even have specific names for the colors the same we we call someone with brown or black these hair a brunette. We've had bluenette for blue, emerelde for green, violette for purple, and colors, such as scarlette for blood red hair. Rob at one point meets a cheerleader with snow white hair and muses to himself about what they might call that. He dismisses the first name he comes up with (whitehead) for good reason.
red.
**Also comes into play [[spoiler: after Rob's transformation when she finds out that not only did her mother look very The Ardent Empire had a similar to her new form, her mother also had the exact same scarlette range of hair that she never saw in any pictures before (previously she saw her mother with the same natural reddish-brown Rob had before the transformation).]]colors to Kessia City.
** Kessia City
**
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Adding tropes; still far from complete. I plan on making a Characters page and moving appropriate tropes there later. Spoiler tags will likely be trimmed down since while Robynne's whole deal is a twist, it's an essential part of the premise, so hiding it would lead to excessive spoiler tags.
Changed line(s) 10 (click to see context) from:
* AbsurdlyPowerfulStudentCouncil: It seems that Schuyler Adamson University has one of these in the form of the SAU Student Association
to:
* AbominationAccusationAttack: As revenge for Angela threatening to expose Cammy's abuse of the cheer team's power, Cammy spread word that Angela had one of her tutors write an essay for her in return for sexual favors.
* AboveTheGods: Apparently the Other Power is this, as Fate can't foresee its movements and the High Spirits can only slow its advance.
* AbsurdlyPowerfulStudentCouncil:It seems that Schuyler Adamson University has one of these in the form of the The SAU Student AssociationAssociation.
* AbsurdlySharpBlade: Spirit Guard Valor and Tenacity's swords can cut through the structure of buildings.
* AcademicAthlete: Until he quit the team after junior year of high school, Robert was both a skilled football player and among the top students of his class.
* AccentInterest: Nearly everyone comments on Robynne's southern drawl.
* AboveTheGods: Apparently the Other Power is this, as Fate can't foresee its movements and the High Spirits can only slow its advance.
* AbsurdlyPowerfulStudentCouncil:
* AbsurdlySharpBlade: Spirit Guard Valor and Tenacity's swords can cut through the structure of buildings.
* AcademicAthlete: Until he quit the team after junior year of high school, Robert was both a skilled football player and among the top students of his class.
* AccentInterest: Nearly everyone comments on Robynne's southern drawl.
* ActionGirlfriend: Vivian and Kara, to Cory and Eli respectively. The guys are shocked to learn the respective girls they're into are Spirit Guards. They eventually start dating.
* AlphaBitch: Cammy is the nasty, manipulative cheer team captain. Evelyn from Robert's high school was similar, but was only the de facto cheer captain.
* AlphaBitch: Cammy is the nasty, manipulative cheer team captain. Evelyn from Robert's high school was similar, but was only the de facto cheer captain.
Changed line(s) 14 (click to see context) from:
** Spirit Guard Tenacity: A mix of Bladesmaster-type DPSer and Blood Tank. She can take more punishment than any of the other Spirit Guard, and dish out punishment with her massive sword.
to:
** Spirit Guard Tenacity: A mix of Bladesmaster-type DPSer [=DPSer=] and Blood Tank. She can take more punishment than any of the other Spirit Guard, and dish out punishment with her massive sword.
* AndHereHeComesNow: Right when Rob is thinking about calling Uncle Taylor, he gets a phone call from Taylor himself.
* BetaBitch: Jodi is Cammy's best friend and right hand.
* {{BFS}}: Tenacity's sword is nearly as long as she is tall, and it's wide enough to act as a makeshift shield from projectiles.
* {{BFS}}: Tenacity's sword is nearly as long as she is tall, and it's wide enough to act as a makeshift shield from projectiles.
* BlitheSpirit: Rob challenges ideas about their jobs that the Spirit Guard and Kunapipi took for granted.
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* TheChosenOne: All of the Spirit Guard were chosen by Fate, much to Robert's disdain.
* ClarkesThirdLaw: Rob's approach to the Spirit Guard's abilities. Although this is how Rob views the Spirit Guard and the monsters, he admits to not knowing the quote. It's actually Angela who quotes this law.
* ClarkesThirdLaw: Rob's approach to the Spirit Guard's abilities. Although this is how Rob views the Spirit Guard and the monsters, he admits to not knowing the quote. It's actually Angela who quotes this law.
* TheChosenOne: All of the Spirit Guard were chosen by Fate, much to Robert's disdain.
* ChronicHeroSyndrome: Rob just can't seem to refrain from helping people in need. Mallory even calls it by name as "chronic heroics".
* ClarkesThirdLaw: Rob's approach to the Spirit Guard's abilities. Although this is how Rob views the Spirit Guard and the monsters, he admits to not knowing the quote. It's actually Angela who quotes this law.
* CleanCut: Tenacity slices through a walkway to attack Day [=LaMode=], but the cut is apparently very fine since the walkway doesn't collapse.
* ChronicHeroSyndrome: Rob just can't seem to refrain from helping people in need. Mallory even calls it by name as "chronic heroics".
* ClarkesThirdLaw: Rob's approach to the Spirit Guard's abilities. Although this is how Rob views the Spirit Guard and the monsters, he admits to not knowing the quote. It's actually Angela who quotes this law.
* CleanCut: Tenacity slices through a walkway to attack Day [=LaMode=], but the cut is apparently very fine since the walkway doesn't collapse.
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* DanceBattler: Spirit Guard Serenity's transformation sequence is based on the ballet she learned as a child. Her actual combat moves are less dance-based though the balance and agility training does come in handy
to:
* DanceBattler: Spirit Guard Serenity's transformation sequence is based on the ballet she learned as a child. Her actual combat moves are less dance-based though the balance and agility training does come in handyhandy.
* DeadpanSnarker: The heroes take turns being this, but this is Rob and Cory's default setting.
* {{Deconstruction}}: Of MagicalGirl and GenderBender stories.
* DeadpanSnarker: The heroes take turns being this, but this is Rob and Cory's default setting.
* {{Deconstruction}}: Of MagicalGirl and GenderBender stories.
* EmotionEater: Platicore's monsters are powered by and drain people of Investiture, spiritual energy of one's emotional drive.
* TheEmpath:
** The Spirit Guard can sense emotional energies from people and monsters, especially while transformed, with an ability Rob dubs EKP (empathokinetic perception).
** The Ardentia had EKP by default, as one's emotions were a major facet of social interaction.
* TheEmpath:
** The Spirit Guard can sense emotional energies from people and monsters, especially while transformed, with an ability Rob dubs EKP (empathokinetic perception).
** The Ardentia had EKP by default, as one's emotions were a major facet of social interaction.
* GenderBenderAngst: Robynne's never-ending issues with her transformation become part of the core premise.
* GotMeDoingIt: Hanging around Stacy causes Robynne and Vivian to sometimes mimic her "like" verbal tic.
* HeightAngst:
** Eli is [=5'5''=], but wishes could've been taller like his sister.
** Downplayed example with Mallory. She doesn't mind being about six feet tall, but her preference for guys taller than her limits her dating pool.
** Vivian is barely five feet tall, and keeps a mental list of people shorter than her.
** Robynne finds being [=5'2''=] the most consistently annoying part of her transformation, given she was a foot taller beforehand.
** Eli is [=5'5''=], but wishes could've been taller like his sister.
** Downplayed example with Mallory. She doesn't mind being about six feet tall, but her preference for guys taller than her limits her dating pool.
** Vivian is barely five feet tall, and keeps a mental list of people shorter than her.
** Robynne finds being [=5'2''=] the most consistently annoying part of her transformation, given she was a foot taller beforehand.
* HowDoIShotWeb: While most Spirit Guard powers are instinctively known, powering down is not. Angela had to figure it out herself back when she was the sole Spirit Guard.
* LikeBrotherAndSister: Cory and Mallory have been close since they were little kids. Cory even describes himself as "basically [Mallory's] brother".
* LikeIsLikeAComma: Stacy talks like this. It's apparently common on the cheer team.
* LikeIsLikeAComma: Stacy talks like this. It's apparently common on the cheer team.
* MySisterIsOffLimits:
** Eli did not approve of Cory's crush on Mallory when they were in middle school. He has a similar reaction in the present when Cory suggests the possibility of Robert pursuing her instead.
** Kara could never land a boyfriend due to her extremely protective older brothers scaring potential suitors. She doesn't have to worry so much now that she's away at college, but Eli's got his work cut out for him if he meets her family.
** Eli did not approve of Cory's crush on Mallory when they were in middle school. He has a similar reaction in the present when Cory suggests the possibility of Robert pursuing her instead.
** Kara could never land a boyfriend due to her extremely protective older brothers scaring potential suitors. She doesn't have to worry so much now that she's away at college, but Eli's got his work cut out for him if he meets her family.
* NoodleIncident: Kunapipi was able to hire Noriko due to the ninja clan owing Kunapipi a favor for something she did in the past, but neither feel like elaborating on what happened.
* PaintingTheMedium: When Robynne changes her name, it's spelled differently in various characters' dialogue to indicate how they assume it's spelled. This stops after Robynne sees how it's actually spelled on her new driver's license.
Changed line(s) 81 (click to see context) from:
* ReallySevenHundredYearsOld: Kunapipi has been a guide to many heroes throughout Earth's history.
to:
* RapunzelHair: Vivian and Robynne respectively have knee-length and butt-length hair as a result of their Spirit Guard transformations. They consider it a pain and would rather have their short hair back.
* ReallySevenHundredYearsOld: Kunapipihas appears as either an ordinary wallaby or a human in her twenties or thirties, but she's been a guide to many heroes throughout working as Guide for Earth's history.heroes for thousands of years.
* ReallySevenHundredYearsOld: Kunapipi
* SourOutsideSadInside: Robynne complains a lot about the problems her transformation makes for her, but can't bring herself to tell her friends about how close she comes to breaking and the deeper identity issues brought on by the whole thing.
* StatingTheSimpleSolution: While the Spirit Guard think of how to deal with Cammy, Noriko suggests just assassinating her. As expected, she is turned down, as the heroes won't consider something so drastic unless the Cammy-Empress situation becomes truly dire.
* StatuesqueStunner: Mallory is about six feet tall and considered very attractive.
* StatingTheSimpleSolution: While the Spirit Guard think of how to deal with Cammy, Noriko suggests just assassinating her. As expected, she is turned down, as the heroes won't consider something so drastic unless the Cammy-Empress situation becomes truly dire.
* StatuesqueStunner: Mallory is about six feet tall and considered very attractive.
* {{Telepathy}}: According to Platicore, tranquility empathokinesis can allow for something resembling this when mastered.
Changed line(s) 96 (click to see context) from:
* TransformationTrinket: The Spirit Sticks
to:
* TransformationTrinket: The Spirit SticksSticks.
* TranslationConvention: When Trace speaks to Platicore in her native language, it's rendered in English that is much better than her actual English.
* TranslatorMicrobes:
** There's apparently something like this for the Spirit Guard, since the visions and power names from their Ardentia predecessors are rendered in English to them.
** Platicore's armor has a translation function, so Trace can speak her native tongue to him.
* TranslationConvention: When Trace speaks to Platicore in her native language, it's rendered in English that is much better than her actual English.
* TranslatorMicrobes:
** There's apparently something like this for the Spirit Guard, since the visions and power names from their Ardentia predecessors are rendered in English to them.
** Platicore's armor has a translation function, so Trace can speak her native tongue to him.
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* WhereTheHellIsSpringfield: Kessia City is somewhere in the western United States, while Deepwater is apparently in the southeast since the people have a country accent.
Added DiffLines:
* YouNoTakeCandle: Trace is new to English and is poor at speaking it. She practices with Rusty in hopes of improving.
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Changed line(s) 25 (click to see context) from:
* BlandNameProduct: Too many to list.
to:
* BlandNameProduct: Too many to list.Has its own page.
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“Played straight and subverted” is considered Word Cruft. Also, second example has redundant wording.
Changed line(s) 34 (click to see context) from:
* TheCheerleader: Played straight and subverted: student life at SAU is clearly dominated by a cabal of possibly nefarious cheerleaders, but the Spirit Guard also have a cheerleader motif as well.
to:
* TheCheerleader: TheCheerleader:
** Played straightand subverted: in that student life at SAU is clearly dominated by a cabal of possibly nefarious cheerleaders, but cheerleaders.
** Subverted in that the heroic Spirit Guard also have a cheerleadermotif as well. motif.
** Played straight
** Subverted in that the heroic Spirit Guard also have a cheerleader
Changed line(s) 38 (click to see context) from:
* DoubleStandard: at least one instance in most chapters, usually called out and frequently discussed among the characters themselves.
to:
* DoubleStandard: at At least one instance in most chapters, usually called out and frequently discussed among the characters themselves.
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Changed line(s) 27 (click to see context) from:
** Robynne is also stunningly beautiful
to:
** Robynne is also stunningly beautifulbeautiful.
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Changed line(s) 17 (click to see context) from:
** Spirit Guard Serenity: Ninja-type DPSer. Stealth abilities and paired daggers make this obvious. Thankfully, this is also the type of character she plays in Aspect Realms, so she has a ton of strategic knowledge on how to use her combat style to her advantage.
to:
** Spirit Guard Serenity: Ninja-type DPSer.[=DPSer=]. Stealth abilities and paired daggers make this obvious. Thankfully, this is also the type of character she plays in Aspect Realms, so she has a ton of strategic knowledge on how to use her combat style to her advantage.
Changed line(s) 95 (click to see context) from:
* UnwittingMuggleFriend: Stacy has rapidly become Robynne's closest friend outside of the {{Masquerade)) and is rapidly vying for Robynne's best friend thanks to her irrepressible personality.
to:
* UnwittingMuggleFriend: Stacy has rapidly become Robynne's closest friend outside of the {{Masquerade)) {{Masquerade}} and is rapidly vying for Robynne's best friend thanks to her irrepressible personality.
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None
Changed line(s) 39 (click to see context) from:
* EmbarrassingFirstName/EmbarrassingLastName: Robynne Darling's cutesy name isn't ''that'' bad, but when you're petite, buxom and stunningly beautiful it's just one more excuse for people not to take you seriously.
to:
* EmbarrassingFirstName/EmbarrassingLastName: EmbarrassingFirstName\EmbarrassingLastName: Robynne Darling's cutesy name isn't ''that'' bad, but when you're petite, buxom and stunningly beautiful it's just one more excuse for people not to take you seriously.
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Changed line(s) 15,17 (click to see context) from:
** Spirit Guard Charity: Healer/Buffer. Subverted in that most of her healing is done out of combat, but she can protect her teammates with barriers and numb their pain to keep them fighting while their own healing factors kick in. Also brings in a bit of Ranger-type DPS.
** Spirit Guard Felicity: Nuker. Specializing in explosive fire attacks becomes problematic when swarmed by Day La Mode's mannequins.
** Spirit Guard Serenity: Ninja-type DPSer. Stealth abilities and paired daggers make this obvious. Thankfully, this is also the type of character she plays in Aspect Realms.
** Spirit Guard Felicity: Nuker. Specializing in explosive fire attacks becomes problematic when swarmed by Day La Mode's mannequins.
** Spirit Guard Serenity: Ninja-type DPSer. Stealth abilities and paired daggers make this obvious. Thankfully, this is also the type of character she plays in Aspect Realms.
to:
** Spirit Guard Charity: Healer/Buffer. Subverted in that most Most of her healing is done out of combat, but she can protect her teammates with barriers and numb their pain to keep them fighting while their own healing factors kick in. Also brings in a bit of Ranger-type DPS.
** Spirit Guard Felicity: Nuker.Specializing Specializes in explosive fire attacks becomes problematic when swarmed by Day La Mode's mannequins.attacks.
** Spirit Guard Serenity: Ninja-type DPSer. Stealth abilities and paired daggers make this obvious. Thankfully, this is also the type of character she plays in AspectRealms.Realms, so she has a ton of strategic knowledge on how to use her combat style to her advantage.
** Spirit Guard Felicity: Nuker.
** Spirit Guard Serenity: Ninja-type DPSer. Stealth abilities and paired daggers make this obvious. Thankfully, this is also the type of character she plays in Aspect
* EmbarrassingFirstName/EmbarrassingLastName: Robynne Darling's cutesy name isn't ''that'' bad, but when you're petite, buxom and stunningly beautiful it's just one more excuse for people not to take you seriously.
Deleted line(s) 40 (click to see context) :
* FailOSuckyName: Robynne Darling's cutesy name isn't ''that'' bad, but when you're petite, buxom and stunningly beautiful it's just one more excuse for people not to take you seriously.
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Added DiffLines:
* AnAdventurerIsYou: While not played completely straight, the Spirit Guard seems designed with an MMO party in mind. Serenity specifically uses her experience as an MMO player in her first fight.
** Spirit Guard Valor: The tank. Fights with sword and shield, and in fights she seems to try to get the monster's attention to make openings for the others.
** Spirit Guard Tenacity: A mix of Bladesmaster-type DPSer and Blood Tank. She can take more punishment than any of the other Spirit Guard, and dish out punishment with her massive sword.
** Spirit Guard Charity: Healer/Buffer. Subverted in that most of her healing is done out of combat, but she can protect her teammates with barriers and numb their pain to keep them fighting while their own healing factors kick in. Also brings in a bit of Ranger-type DPS.
** Spirit Guard Felicity: Nuker. Specializing in explosive fire attacks becomes problematic when swarmed by Day La Mode's mannequins.
** Spirit Guard Serenity: Ninja-type DPSer. Stealth abilities and paired daggers make this obvious. Thankfully, this is also the type of character she plays in Aspect Realms.
** Spirit Guard Valor: The tank. Fights with sword and shield, and in fights she seems to try to get the monster's attention to make openings for the others.
** Spirit Guard Tenacity: A mix of Bladesmaster-type DPSer and Blood Tank. She can take more punishment than any of the other Spirit Guard, and dish out punishment with her massive sword.
** Spirit Guard Charity: Healer/Buffer. Subverted in that most of her healing is done out of combat, but she can protect her teammates with barriers and numb their pain to keep them fighting while their own healing factors kick in. Also brings in a bit of Ranger-type DPS.
** Spirit Guard Felicity: Nuker. Specializing in explosive fire attacks becomes problematic when swarmed by Day La Mode's mannequins.
** Spirit Guard Serenity: Ninja-type DPSer. Stealth abilities and paired daggers make this obvious. Thankfully, this is also the type of character she plays in Aspect Realms.
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Added DiffLines:
* {{Masquerade}}: In the classical Magical Girl Tradition, all of this warfare takes place just outside of Muggle view.
Added DiffLines:
* UnwittingMuggleFriend: Stacy has rapidly become Robynne's closest friend outside of the {{Masquerade)) and is rapidly vying for Robynne's best friend thanks to her irrepressible personality.
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Changed line(s) 84 (click to see context) from:
* ThirdLawOFGenderBending: Poor [[spoiler:Robynne]] gets hit with this hard. Not only is she so petite nothing she owns will fit anymore, she's so curvy that male clothing simply doesn't fit so an androgynous look wouldn't be possible even if SAU's dress code didn't mandate skirts for women. She even has to get a new backpack as her current pack's straps dig into the sides of her breasts. She wants to be inconspicuous, not uncomfortable, and she quickly learns trying to downplay her looks too much actually attracts even more attention (and more negative attention) than playing them up. Ironically, the eventual solution (clothing that's just "off" enough to signal she's no GirlyGirl) requires her to learn enough about color coordination and women's fashions to ''be'' a GirlyGirl.
to:
* ThirdLawOFGenderBending: ThirdLawOfGenderBending: Poor [[spoiler:Robynne]] gets hit with this hard. Not only is she so petite nothing she owns will fit anymore, she's so curvy that male clothing simply doesn't fit so an androgynous look wouldn't be possible even if SAU's dress code didn't mandate skirts for women. She even has to get a new backpack as her current pack's straps dig into the sides of her breasts. She wants to be inconspicuous, not uncomfortable, and she quickly learns trying to downplay her looks too much actually attracts even more attention (and more negative attention) than playing them up. Ironically, the eventual solution (clothing that's just "off" enough to signal she's no GirlyGirl) requires her to learn enough about color coordination and women's fashions to ''be'' a GirlyGirl.
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None
Changed line(s) 20 (click to see context) from:
* BlessedWithSuck: Robynne has a very powerful "empathokinetic" sense. The blessing? Her ability to read emotions and auras gives her a solid edge against opponents and renders her BlindingBangs irrelevant. The suck? She has to deal with a high level of psychic and emotional "background noise" (pure torture for an introvert) and has to constantly guard against others' emotions and auras invading her mind and affecting her behavior.
to:
* BlessedWithSuck: Robynne has a very powerful "empathokinetic" sense. The blessing? Her ability to read emotions and auras gives her a solid edge against opponents and renders her BlindingBangs irrelevant. The suck? She has to deal with a high level of psychic and emotional "background noise" (pure torture for an introvert) introvert, strong sources cause her physical pain, and she has to constantly guard against others' emotions and auras invading her mind and affecting her behavior.behavior.
**Robynne is also stunningly beautiful
**Robynne is also stunningly beautiful
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Changed line(s) 83 (click to see context) from:
* ThirdLawOFGenderBending: Poor [[spoiler:Robynne]] gets hit with this hard. Not only is she so petite nothing she owns will fit anymore, she's so curvy that an androgynous look simply wouldn't be possible even if SAU's dress code didn't mandates skirts for women. She wants to be inconsipicuous, not uncomfortable, and male clothing simply wouldn't fit. She's also advised that dressing insufficiently fashionable will attract just as much attention as the alternative, because people will wonder why someone so beautiful is trying to downplay her looks. She even has to get a new backpack as her current pack's straps dig into the sides of her breasts. Ironically, the eventual solution (clothing that's just "off" enough to downplay her looks from "stunning" to just "pretty" and signal she's no GirlyGirl) requires her to learn enough about color coordination and womens' fashions to ''be'' a GirlyGirl.
to:
* ThirdLawOFGenderBending: Poor [[spoiler:Robynne]] gets hit with this hard. Not only is she so petite nothing she owns will fit anymore, she's so curvy that male clothing simply doesn't fit so an androgynous look simply wouldn't be possible even if SAU's dress code didn't mandates mandate skirts for women. She wants to be inconsipicuous, not uncomfortable, and male clothing simply wouldn't fit. She's also advised that dressing insufficiently fashionable will attract just as much attention as the alternative, because people will wonder why someone so beautiful is trying to downplay her looks.women. She even has to get a new backpack as her current pack's straps dig into the sides of her breasts. She wants to be inconspicuous, not uncomfortable, and she quickly learns trying to downplay her looks too much actually attracts even more attention (and more negative attention) than playing them up. Ironically, the eventual solution (clothing that's just "off" enough to downplay her looks from "stunning" to just "pretty" and signal she's no GirlyGirl) requires her to learn enough about color coordination and womens' women's fashions to ''be'' a GirlyGirl.GirlyGirl.
*TransformationIsAFreeAction: Played with: The Spirit Guard are invulnerable during their actual transformation sequences, which they subjectively perceive as taking place inside a timeless pocket universe. However, as this can take up to [[YearInsideHourOutside 30 seconds in real time]] a magically-aware opponent can position themselves to attack the instant their transformation sequence finishes.
*TransformationIsAFreeAction: Played with: The Spirit Guard are invulnerable during their actual transformation sequences, which they subjectively perceive as taking place inside a timeless pocket universe. However, as this can take up to [[YearInsideHourOutside 30 seconds in real time]] a magically-aware opponent can position themselves to attack the instant their transformation sequence finishes.
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** Also comes into play [[spoiler: after Rob's transformation when she finds out that not only did her mother look very similar to her new form, her mother also had the exact same scarlette hair that she never saw in any pictures before (previously she saw her mother with the same natural reddish-brown Rob had before the transformation).]]
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Sorry! Put the previous version's name in!
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* NeverGotToSayGoodbye: [[DiscussedTrope Discussed]] between Eli and [[spoiler: Mallory when he found she's Spirit Guard Fortitude]]
to:
* NeverGotToSayGoodbye: [[DiscussedTrope Discussed]] between Eli and [[spoiler: Mallory when he found she's Spirit Guard Fortitude]]Tenacity ]]
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Changed line(s) 83 (click to see context) from:
* ThirdLawOFGenderBending: Poor [[spoiler:Robynne]] gets hit with this hard. Not only is she so petite nothing she owns will fit anymore, she's so curvy that an androgynous look simply wouldn't be possible even if SAU's dress code didn't mandates skirts for women. She wants to be inconsipicuous, not uncomfortable, and male clothing simply wouldn't fit. She's also advised that dressing insufficiently fashionable will attract just as much attention as the alternative, because people will wonder why someone so beautiful is trying to downplay her looks. She even has to get a new backpack as her current pack's straps dig into the sides of her breasts. Ironically, the eventual solution (clothing that's just "off" enough to downplay her looks from "stunning" to jusst "pretty" and signal she's no GirlyGirl) requires her to learn enough about color coordination and womens' fashions to ''be'' a GirlyGirl.
to:
* ThirdLawOFGenderBending: Poor [[spoiler:Robynne]] gets hit with this hard. Not only is she so petite nothing she owns will fit anymore, she's so curvy that an androgynous look simply wouldn't be possible even if SAU's dress code didn't mandates skirts for women. She wants to be inconsipicuous, not uncomfortable, and male clothing simply wouldn't fit. She's also advised that dressing insufficiently fashionable will attract just as much attention as the alternative, because people will wonder why someone so beautiful is trying to downplay her looks. She even has to get a new backpack as her current pack's straps dig into the sides of her breasts. Ironically, the eventual solution (clothing that's just "off" enough to downplay her looks from "stunning" to jusst just "pretty" and signal she's no GirlyGirl) requires her to learn enough about color coordination and womens' fashions to ''be'' a GirlyGirl.
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None
* BadPowersGoodPeople: Spirit Guard Serenity's combat abilities are best summed up as "sneak up on people and stab them to death". That is not a typical heroic powerset.
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* ChekhovsSkill: Rob's ballet
to:
* ChekhovsSkill: Rob's balletchildhood ballet lessons.
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* DanceBattler: Spirit Guard Serenity's transformation sequence is based on the ballet she learned as a child. Her actual combat moves are less dance-based though the balance and agility training does come in handy
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Robert has recently arrived in Kessia City to attend college, where he plans to buckle down, make a few long term friends, and get an engineering degree. However, when a monster attacks the arcade his friend works at, and is fought off by super powered cheerleaders, Robert begins to suspect that Kessia City isn't as normal as he had hoped it would be. Even worse, the monster and cheerleaders all showed a lot of interest in him since he began to glow the minute it attacked.
to:
Robert has recently arrived in Kessia City to attend college, where he plans to buckle down, get an engineering degree, and hopefully make a few long term friends, and get an engineering degree. friends. However, when a monster attacks the local video arcade his friend works at, and is fought off by super powered cheerleaders, Robert begins to suspect that Kessia City isn't as normal as he had hoped it would be. Even worse, the monster and cheerleaders all showed a lot of interest in him since he began to glow the minute it attacked.
Changed line(s) 73 (click to see context) from:
* SoBeautifulItsACurse: [[spoiler: Cute, petite, and buxom, Robynne is literally one of the most striking girls in school -- something she does not find thrilling as she is still struggling through her transition with no sign of the SecondLawOfGenderBending in sight.]]
to:
* SoBeautifulItsACurse: [[spoiler: Cute, petite, and buxom, Robynne [[spoiler: Robynne]] is literally one of the most striking girls in school -- something she does not find thrilling as she is still struggling through her transition with no sign of the SecondLawOfGenderBending in sight.]]sight.
** Played with, as the beauty results from a literal curse, at least from the recipient's point of view. The last thing an introvert wants is to look so striking people won't leave you alone.
** Played with, as the beauty results from a literal curse, at least from the recipient's point of view. The last thing an introvert wants is to look so striking people won't leave you alone.
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** [[spoiler:After her GenderBender, Robynne uses this all the time to deflect people prying into her background.]]
* ThirdLawOFGenderBending: [[spoiler:Poor Robynne gets hit with this hard. Not only is she so petite nothing she owns will fit anymore, she's so curvy that an androgynous look simply wouldn't be possible even if SAU's dress code didn't mandates skirts for women. She's also advised that dressing insufficiently fashionable will attract just as much unwanted attention as the alternative. She even has to get a new backpack as her current pack's straps dig into the sides of her breasts.]]
* ThirdLawOFGenderBending: [[spoiler:Poor Robynne gets hit with this hard. Not only is she so petite nothing she owns will fit anymore, she's so curvy that an androgynous look simply wouldn't be possible even if SAU's dress code didn't mandates skirts for women. She's also advised that dressing insufficiently fashionable will attract just as much unwanted attention as the alternative. She even has to get a new backpack as her current pack's straps dig into the sides of her breasts.]]
to:
* ThirdLawOFGenderBending:
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* NeverGotToSayGoodbye: [[DiscussedTrope Discussed]] between Eli and [[spoiler: Mallory when he found she's Spirit Guard Fortitude]]
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Moving to proper title.
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''[[http://taralynn.sincomics.com/frontpage/?page_id=1023 Magical Girl Policy]]'' is a story written by Taralynn Andrews.
Robert has recently arrived in Kessia City to attend college, where he plans to buckle down, make a few long term friends, and get an engineering degree. However, when a monster attacks the arcade his friend works at, and is fought off by super powered cheerleaders, Robert begins to suspect that Kessia City isn't as normal as he had hoped it would be. Even worse, the monster and cheerleaders all showed a lot of interest in him since he began to glow the minute it attacked.
The story currently updates once a month.
----
!!''Magical Girl Policy'' provides examples of:
* AbsurdlyPowerfulStudentCouncil: It seems that Schuyler Adamson University has one of these in the form of the SAU Student Association
* AfterActionHealingDrama: After the fight with [[spoiler:Day La Mode, Mallory/Tenacity is basically on death's door, with shattered ribs, a fractured skull, a punctured lung, and a number of other injuries. This is made worse by the cops entering the mall to survey the damage caused by the fight.]]
* ArbitrarySkepticism: Rob does not accept 'magic' as an explanation for anything, despite several experiences that could hardly be anything else.
* AttractiveBentGender: [[spoiler: Robynne. She's gotten looks/comments from just about everyone she's met since transforming.]] Also a DiscussedTrope within the story, as the characters notice and debate the implications.
* BigDamnHeroes: Taralynn seems to love this trope
** The Spirit Guard's first appearance qualifies as they arrive in time to rescue the boys right as Polygal had Robert in her grips and her guns trained on Cory and Eli
** [[spoiler: We also have Mallory/Spirit Guard Tenacity in all her [[{{Main/BigBrotherInstinct}} protective elder sibling glory]] cutting through a small legion of living mannequins to rescue Eli, Cory and Rob (in that order)... twice]]
** [[spoiler: You can't leave out the big one! Robert making his... her... whatever entrance as Spirit Guard Serenity, saving Mallory/Tenacity from death via [[{{Main/CombatStilettos}} stiletto heel]] [[{{Main/EyeScream}} to the eye]]! Comes complete with BigNo, DynamicEntry, and SorryImLate!]]
* BlandNameProduct: Too many to list.
* BlessedWithSuck: Robynne has a very powerful "empathokinetic" sense. The blessing? Her ability to read emotions and auras gives her a solid edge against opponents and renders her BlindingBangs irrelevant. The suck? She has to deal with a high level of psychic and emotional "background noise" (pure torture for an introvert) and has to constantly guard against others' emotions and auras invading her mind and affecting her behavior.
* {{Bookends}}: Chapter 13 has a subtle pair of bookends. The chapter starts with Mallory and Angela searching for the monster at the mall's food court's fountain. The end of the chapter [[spoiler: has Robert powering up for the first time to rescue Mallory. The words Robert uses to power up? "[[{{Main/MagicalIncantation}} Fountain of Serenity, Spirit Guard Power Up!]]"]]
* ButHeSoundsHandsome: Angela defends the Spirit Guard in her first meeting with Rob.
* ByThePowerOfGrayskull: Each of the Spirit Guard have a phrase that they need to say to activate their transformation.
* CallingYourAttacks: The Heroines and monsters in the story all need to do this. [[spoiler: Though, at the very least, Robert/Serenity realizes the absurdity and inconvenience of this trope, and even manages to use it against the first monster he/she faces.]]
* TheChosenOne: All of the Spirit Guard were chosen by Fate, much to Robert's disdain.
* ClarkesThirdLaw: Rob's approach to the Spirit Guard's abilities. Although this is how Rob views the Spirit Guard and the monsters, he admits to not knowing the quote. It's actually Angela who quotes this law.
* TheCheerleader: Played straight and subverted: student life at SAU is clearly dominated by a cabal of possibly nefarious cheerleaders, but the Spirit Guard also have a cheerleader motif as well.
* ChekhovsSkill: Rob's ballet
* ClingyMacGuffin: The Spirit Sticks are always within reach so that the Spirit Guard are ready to transform at a moment's notice.
* DoubleStandard: at least one instance in most chapters, usually called out and frequently discussed among the characters themselves.
* FirstLawOfGenderBending: While the other Spirit Guard experience only slight changes to their normal bodies, [[spoiler:Rob is told that he will be permanently turned into a girl once he powers up for the first time.]]
* FailOSuckyName: Robynne Darling's cutesy name isn't ''that'' bad, but when you're petite, buxom and stunningly beautiful it's just one more excuse for people not to take you seriously.
%%* FiveManBand: The Spirit Guard.
%%** TheLeader: Spirit Guard Valor
%%** TheLancer: Spirit Guard Serenity
%%** TheSmartGuy: Spirit Guard Felicity
%%** TheBigGuy: Spirit Guard Tenacity
%%** TheChick: Spirit Guard Charity
* GemstoneAssault: Spirit Guard Valor, who's element is Earth, is able to use an attack which shoots diamonds at her foes.
* GenderBender: [[spoiler:Rob is told that he will be transformed into a girl permanently once he transforms, to help align his body with the power of his past life.]]
* GenreSavvy: This trope is used to a slight extent with both Rob and Cory. Both are quick to point out the literary clichés that they begin to experience, and are even able to make (accidental) correct guesses as to some events that unfold.
* GirlishPigtails: Spirit Guard Valor.
* GodzillaThreshold: Rob knows that tapping his power [[spoiler:will turn him female for life]]; to even consider it takes [[spoiler:Mallory being at death's door]].
* GoldenAge: Subverted. The Ardent Empire was a DeadlyDecadentCourt and the previous incarnations of the Spirit Guard were [[DefectorFromDecadence Defectors From Decadence]] trying to prevent their corrupt society from spreading to our world.
* HatesBeingTouched: Robert. It's worse for Robynne due to the DoubleStandard. It does not appear to be due to any abuse in his background, he's just that introverted.
* HealingFactor: Standard power for the Spirit Guard, but it works relatively slowly and burns a lot of calories.
* HealingHands: One of Kara/Charity's primary abilities. She's able to heal others by expending her own energy.
* HenshinHero: The Spirit Guard only possess their offensive abilities when transformed, though they retain a level of empathokinetics in their civilian forms, including the ability to sense monsters.
* HeroInsurance: We learn in one of Taralynn's patron-only vignettes that Kessia City insurance companies have taken to selling "Anomalous Creature Property Damage" riders to cover your business in the event of monster attack.
* IJustWantToBeNormal: Rob definitely falls under this trope. Especially with the side effects of gaining his powers.
* InsistentTerminology: It's not magic, it's empathokinetics.
* InTheNameOfTheMoon: The need to monologue at the monsters seems built into the transformations.
* ItSucksToBeTheChosenOne: Robert only in this case, due to his rather extenuating circumstances. The other four either accept it or actively enjoy it, at least to some extent.
* LonersAreFreaks: Robert expects this treatment as a life long introvert, his solution is to ignore everyone outside of a small circle of friends. Robynne is subjected to this even moreso than Robert because of her looks, a DoubleStandard that's immediately lampshaded.
* MagicalGirlWarrior: The Spirit Guard are all examples of this.
* MentorMascot: Kunapipi, the Kangaroo rat...er, Wallaby of Fate.
* MistakenForGay: Robert during high school, due to combination of HatesBeingTouched, Ballet lessons, and the machinations of the school AlphaBitch.
* MonsterOfTheWeek: This story definitely follows this trope.
* MuggleBestFriend: Cory and Eli. [[spoiler:Not only are they dragged into the mess because of their friendship with Rob, but Eli's sister and the girls that each of them like are in the Spirit Guard.]]
* MundaneUtility: Vivian has explored the ways her spirit guard powers can be used as personal grooming shortcuts and exploits them to eat junk food without adverse affects.
* MyNaymeIs: Robynne, who took the name to honor her maternal grandmother but was not aware of the spelling at the time.
* NewPowersAsThePlotDemands: Seems to be the way that the Spirit Guard get their powers. [[spoiler: Rob/Serenity knowing she had a stealth ability when she needed to sneak up on a monster, gaining her Geyser of Tranquility when wanting a ranged attack, etc...]]
* TheOmniscient: Fate might be considered this, but even Kunapipi isn't particularly clear on how true it is, or even how much of an entity Fate can be considered to be.
* OurSoulsAreDifferent: [[spoiler: Each of the Spirit Guard is a reincarnation of a powerful individual from a culture in another universe. Their souls carry the "investiture" of their past lives.]]
* PastLifeMemories: The Spirit Guard sometimes have visions of the events surrounding the fall of the Ardent Empire.
* PeekABangs: Spirit Guard Serenity has some magically reinforced ones from her previous life. They tone down a bit when not transformed. [[spoiler: Her blindspot is covered by a finely tuned empathokinetic sense]]
* PintSizedPowerhouse: Spirit Guard Serenity is noticeably petite and her powers favor stealth, but she is just as powerful within her competence zone as any of the others are in theirs
* PlotTailoredToTheParty: The monsters, at least. It has been noted several times by the Spirit Guard that a new member was discovered just before a fight in which their new powers would be needed.
* ReallySevenHundredYearsOld: Kunapipi has been a guide to many heroes throughout Earth's history.
* ScrewDestiny: Robert really, really tries to invoke this upon being told about his "destiny".
* SeriousBusiness: Some characters act like Cheerleading and MMORPG's are at least as important as world peace, prompting a few InUniverse eye roles.
* ShownTheirWork: When [[spoiler: Charity/Kara is having to heal up Tenacity/Mallory from her beat down at the hands of a monster, Taralynn doesn't shy away from getting into the nitty gritty details about what is being done- in particular with how Charity is healing a collapsed lung!]] Taralynn acknowledged the help of a reader who was an EMT letting her know what would need to be done in such a situation and it shows!
* SoBeautifulItsACurse: [[spoiler: Cute, petite, and buxom, Robynne is literally one of the most striking girls in school -- something she does not find thrilling as she is still struggling through her transition with no sign of the SecondLawOfGenderBending in sight.]]
* SureLetsGoWithThat:
** During his first conversation with Angela, Rob notes the cleverness of Spirit Guard Valor's use of rock to negate electric attacks while rescuing of the people in the pool during the battle with Saturationa.
--->'''Angela Warrant:''' I had never considered that.\\
'''Robert Dreese:''' Yeah, well, I’m sure the Spirit Guard did. They are heroes after all.\\
'''Angela Warrant:''' Yeah, I–I’m sure they did too.
** [[spoiler:After her GenderBender, Robynne uses this all the time to deflect people prying into her background.]]
* ThirdLawOFGenderBending: [[spoiler:Poor Robynne gets hit with this hard. Not only is she so petite nothing she owns will fit anymore, she's so curvy that an androgynous look simply wouldn't be possible even if SAU's dress code didn't mandates skirts for women. She's also advised that dressing insufficiently fashionable will attract just as much unwanted attention as the alternative. She even has to get a new backpack as her current pack's straps dig into the sides of her breasts.]]
* TransformationSequence: Seen when [[spoiler: Rob transforms for the first time]]. Played with in that the characters have to figure out how to ''work'' their transformation sequences the first time they transform; it doesn't just happen to them.
* TransformationTrinket: The Spirit Sticks
* WeirdnessCensor: The Standridge Circle. The girls theorize that the local's blase acceptance of all of the weirdness in their lives (including the circle itself) is due to its influence. [[spoiler:Kunapipi plans to harness this to help Uncle Taylor accept Rob's GenderBender.]]
* YouCantFightFate: [[spoiler:Despite Rob's insistence that he rules his own destiny, he gives in and transforms to save Mallory.]]
* YouGottaHaveBlueHair: Taralynn seems to deconstruct this trope a bit. Rob finds the rainbow spectrum of hair colors to be completely odd but the residents of Kessia City think it's a normal, if not unique, part of their city. They even have names for the colors the same we we call someone with brown or black hair a brunette. We've had bluenette for blue, emerelde for green, violette for purple, and scarlette for blood red hair. Rob at one point meets a cheerleader with snow white hair and muses to himself about what they might call that. He dismisses the first name he comes up with (whitehead) for good reason.
----
Robert has recently arrived in Kessia City to attend college, where he plans to buckle down, make a few long term friends, and get an engineering degree. However, when a monster attacks the arcade his friend works at, and is fought off by super powered cheerleaders, Robert begins to suspect that Kessia City isn't as normal as he had hoped it would be. Even worse, the monster and cheerleaders all showed a lot of interest in him since he began to glow the minute it attacked.
The story currently updates once a month.
----
!!''Magical Girl Policy'' provides examples of:
* AbsurdlyPowerfulStudentCouncil: It seems that Schuyler Adamson University has one of these in the form of the SAU Student Association
* AfterActionHealingDrama: After the fight with [[spoiler:Day La Mode, Mallory/Tenacity is basically on death's door, with shattered ribs, a fractured skull, a punctured lung, and a number of other injuries. This is made worse by the cops entering the mall to survey the damage caused by the fight.]]
* ArbitrarySkepticism: Rob does not accept 'magic' as an explanation for anything, despite several experiences that could hardly be anything else.
* AttractiveBentGender: [[spoiler: Robynne. She's gotten looks/comments from just about everyone she's met since transforming.]] Also a DiscussedTrope within the story, as the characters notice and debate the implications.
* BigDamnHeroes: Taralynn seems to love this trope
** The Spirit Guard's first appearance qualifies as they arrive in time to rescue the boys right as Polygal had Robert in her grips and her guns trained on Cory and Eli
** [[spoiler: We also have Mallory/Spirit Guard Tenacity in all her [[{{Main/BigBrotherInstinct}} protective elder sibling glory]] cutting through a small legion of living mannequins to rescue Eli, Cory and Rob (in that order)... twice]]
** [[spoiler: You can't leave out the big one! Robert making his... her... whatever entrance as Spirit Guard Serenity, saving Mallory/Tenacity from death via [[{{Main/CombatStilettos}} stiletto heel]] [[{{Main/EyeScream}} to the eye]]! Comes complete with BigNo, DynamicEntry, and SorryImLate!]]
* BlandNameProduct: Too many to list.
* BlessedWithSuck: Robynne has a very powerful "empathokinetic" sense. The blessing? Her ability to read emotions and auras gives her a solid edge against opponents and renders her BlindingBangs irrelevant. The suck? She has to deal with a high level of psychic and emotional "background noise" (pure torture for an introvert) and has to constantly guard against others' emotions and auras invading her mind and affecting her behavior.
* {{Bookends}}: Chapter 13 has a subtle pair of bookends. The chapter starts with Mallory and Angela searching for the monster at the mall's food court's fountain. The end of the chapter [[spoiler: has Robert powering up for the first time to rescue Mallory. The words Robert uses to power up? "[[{{Main/MagicalIncantation}} Fountain of Serenity, Spirit Guard Power Up!]]"]]
* ButHeSoundsHandsome: Angela defends the Spirit Guard in her first meeting with Rob.
* ByThePowerOfGrayskull: Each of the Spirit Guard have a phrase that they need to say to activate their transformation.
* CallingYourAttacks: The Heroines and monsters in the story all need to do this. [[spoiler: Though, at the very least, Robert/Serenity realizes the absurdity and inconvenience of this trope, and even manages to use it against the first monster he/she faces.]]
* TheChosenOne: All of the Spirit Guard were chosen by Fate, much to Robert's disdain.
* ClarkesThirdLaw: Rob's approach to the Spirit Guard's abilities. Although this is how Rob views the Spirit Guard and the monsters, he admits to not knowing the quote. It's actually Angela who quotes this law.
* TheCheerleader: Played straight and subverted: student life at SAU is clearly dominated by a cabal of possibly nefarious cheerleaders, but the Spirit Guard also have a cheerleader motif as well.
* ChekhovsSkill: Rob's ballet
* ClingyMacGuffin: The Spirit Sticks are always within reach so that the Spirit Guard are ready to transform at a moment's notice.
* DoubleStandard: at least one instance in most chapters, usually called out and frequently discussed among the characters themselves.
* FirstLawOfGenderBending: While the other Spirit Guard experience only slight changes to their normal bodies, [[spoiler:Rob is told that he will be permanently turned into a girl once he powers up for the first time.]]
* FailOSuckyName: Robynne Darling's cutesy name isn't ''that'' bad, but when you're petite, buxom and stunningly beautiful it's just one more excuse for people not to take you seriously.
%%* FiveManBand: The Spirit Guard.
%%** TheLeader: Spirit Guard Valor
%%** TheLancer: Spirit Guard Serenity
%%** TheSmartGuy: Spirit Guard Felicity
%%** TheBigGuy: Spirit Guard Tenacity
%%** TheChick: Spirit Guard Charity
* GemstoneAssault: Spirit Guard Valor, who's element is Earth, is able to use an attack which shoots diamonds at her foes.
* GenderBender: [[spoiler:Rob is told that he will be transformed into a girl permanently once he transforms, to help align his body with the power of his past life.]]
* GenreSavvy: This trope is used to a slight extent with both Rob and Cory. Both are quick to point out the literary clichés that they begin to experience, and are even able to make (accidental) correct guesses as to some events that unfold.
* GirlishPigtails: Spirit Guard Valor.
* GodzillaThreshold: Rob knows that tapping his power [[spoiler:will turn him female for life]]; to even consider it takes [[spoiler:Mallory being at death's door]].
* GoldenAge: Subverted. The Ardent Empire was a DeadlyDecadentCourt and the previous incarnations of the Spirit Guard were [[DefectorFromDecadence Defectors From Decadence]] trying to prevent their corrupt society from spreading to our world.
* HatesBeingTouched: Robert. It's worse for Robynne due to the DoubleStandard. It does not appear to be due to any abuse in his background, he's just that introverted.
* HealingFactor: Standard power for the Spirit Guard, but it works relatively slowly and burns a lot of calories.
* HealingHands: One of Kara/Charity's primary abilities. She's able to heal others by expending her own energy.
* HenshinHero: The Spirit Guard only possess their offensive abilities when transformed, though they retain a level of empathokinetics in their civilian forms, including the ability to sense monsters.
* HeroInsurance: We learn in one of Taralynn's patron-only vignettes that Kessia City insurance companies have taken to selling "Anomalous Creature Property Damage" riders to cover your business in the event of monster attack.
* IJustWantToBeNormal: Rob definitely falls under this trope. Especially with the side effects of gaining his powers.
* InsistentTerminology: It's not magic, it's empathokinetics.
* InTheNameOfTheMoon: The need to monologue at the monsters seems built into the transformations.
* ItSucksToBeTheChosenOne: Robert only in this case, due to his rather extenuating circumstances. The other four either accept it or actively enjoy it, at least to some extent.
* LonersAreFreaks: Robert expects this treatment as a life long introvert, his solution is to ignore everyone outside of a small circle of friends. Robynne is subjected to this even moreso than Robert because of her looks, a DoubleStandard that's immediately lampshaded.
* MagicalGirlWarrior: The Spirit Guard are all examples of this.
* MentorMascot: Kunapipi, the Kangaroo rat...er, Wallaby of Fate.
* MistakenForGay: Robert during high school, due to combination of HatesBeingTouched, Ballet lessons, and the machinations of the school AlphaBitch.
* MonsterOfTheWeek: This story definitely follows this trope.
* MuggleBestFriend: Cory and Eli. [[spoiler:Not only are they dragged into the mess because of their friendship with Rob, but Eli's sister and the girls that each of them like are in the Spirit Guard.]]
* MundaneUtility: Vivian has explored the ways her spirit guard powers can be used as personal grooming shortcuts and exploits them to eat junk food without adverse affects.
* MyNaymeIs: Robynne, who took the name to honor her maternal grandmother but was not aware of the spelling at the time.
* NewPowersAsThePlotDemands: Seems to be the way that the Spirit Guard get their powers. [[spoiler: Rob/Serenity knowing she had a stealth ability when she needed to sneak up on a monster, gaining her Geyser of Tranquility when wanting a ranged attack, etc...]]
* TheOmniscient: Fate might be considered this, but even Kunapipi isn't particularly clear on how true it is, or even how much of an entity Fate can be considered to be.
* OurSoulsAreDifferent: [[spoiler: Each of the Spirit Guard is a reincarnation of a powerful individual from a culture in another universe. Their souls carry the "investiture" of their past lives.]]
* PastLifeMemories: The Spirit Guard sometimes have visions of the events surrounding the fall of the Ardent Empire.
* PeekABangs: Spirit Guard Serenity has some magically reinforced ones from her previous life. They tone down a bit when not transformed. [[spoiler: Her blindspot is covered by a finely tuned empathokinetic sense]]
* PintSizedPowerhouse: Spirit Guard Serenity is noticeably petite and her powers favor stealth, but she is just as powerful within her competence zone as any of the others are in theirs
* PlotTailoredToTheParty: The monsters, at least. It has been noted several times by the Spirit Guard that a new member was discovered just before a fight in which their new powers would be needed.
* ReallySevenHundredYearsOld: Kunapipi has been a guide to many heroes throughout Earth's history.
* ScrewDestiny: Robert really, really tries to invoke this upon being told about his "destiny".
* SeriousBusiness: Some characters act like Cheerleading and MMORPG's are at least as important as world peace, prompting a few InUniverse eye roles.
* ShownTheirWork: When [[spoiler: Charity/Kara is having to heal up Tenacity/Mallory from her beat down at the hands of a monster, Taralynn doesn't shy away from getting into the nitty gritty details about what is being done- in particular with how Charity is healing a collapsed lung!]] Taralynn acknowledged the help of a reader who was an EMT letting her know what would need to be done in such a situation and it shows!
* SoBeautifulItsACurse: [[spoiler: Cute, petite, and buxom, Robynne is literally one of the most striking girls in school -- something she does not find thrilling as she is still struggling through her transition with no sign of the SecondLawOfGenderBending in sight.]]
* SureLetsGoWithThat:
** During his first conversation with Angela, Rob notes the cleverness of Spirit Guard Valor's use of rock to negate electric attacks while rescuing of the people in the pool during the battle with Saturationa.
--->'''Angela Warrant:''' I had never considered that.\\
'''Robert Dreese:''' Yeah, well, I’m sure the Spirit Guard did. They are heroes after all.\\
'''Angela Warrant:''' Yeah, I–I’m sure they did too.
** [[spoiler:After her GenderBender, Robynne uses this all the time to deflect people prying into her background.]]
* ThirdLawOFGenderBending: [[spoiler:Poor Robynne gets hit with this hard. Not only is she so petite nothing she owns will fit anymore, she's so curvy that an androgynous look simply wouldn't be possible even if SAU's dress code didn't mandates skirts for women. She's also advised that dressing insufficiently fashionable will attract just as much unwanted attention as the alternative. She even has to get a new backpack as her current pack's straps dig into the sides of her breasts.]]
* TransformationSequence: Seen when [[spoiler: Rob transforms for the first time]]. Played with in that the characters have to figure out how to ''work'' their transformation sequences the first time they transform; it doesn't just happen to them.
* TransformationTrinket: The Spirit Sticks
* WeirdnessCensor: The Standridge Circle. The girls theorize that the local's blase acceptance of all of the weirdness in their lives (including the circle itself) is due to its influence. [[spoiler:Kunapipi plans to harness this to help Uncle Taylor accept Rob's GenderBender.]]
* YouCantFightFate: [[spoiler:Despite Rob's insistence that he rules his own destiny, he gives in and transforms to save Mallory.]]
* YouGottaHaveBlueHair: Taralynn seems to deconstruct this trope a bit. Rob finds the rainbow spectrum of hair colors to be completely odd but the residents of Kessia City think it's a normal, if not unique, part of their city. They even have names for the colors the same we we call someone with brown or black hair a brunette. We've had bluenette for blue, emerelde for green, violette for purple, and scarlette for blood red hair. Rob at one point meets a cheerleader with snow white hair and muses to himself about what they might call that. He dismisses the first name he comes up with (whitehead) for good reason.
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