*Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters (sides the ones from my imagination) blah..blah…blah…
There that takes care of that. Now moving on to the good stuff:
Chapter One: The Tuatha De Danann invade Sky High
The night air swirled around her like fog. It felt to her like a cloak of protection against the world. Though, as she neared her destination, she knew it couldn't last. She was expected to be at these meetings but ever since Bruce started going she felt alienated from her own race. The way he looked at her made her skin crawl. Siobhan shivered as her hand turned the door knob but she steeled herself for her Maimeo's sake.
"Siobhan, welcome, daughter of the Spirit clan" said Jacob
She bowed toward Jacob acknowledging his welcome. He was the elder of the Fire clan and often than not the spokesperson in these meetings. Her Maimeo was sitting at the front with an empty chair that called Siobhan's name.
"Jacob, son of the Fire Clan, has called this meeting. I have consented to the calling. Let us now hear the matter and judge the heart" boomed Siobhan's Maimeo across the room
Siobhan loved the calm authority that her Maimeo used to guide the clans. Her people had never claimed a leader or king, though other races and kingdoms had. She wondered if this is why her people were now a dying breed and a forgotten force. However, no one could deny that the guidance and ritual of the Spirit clan had kept them thriving.
"Our youths have mingled and spread our lineage. There are many who no longer remember who they are. It is time I think for the secrecy to end. It is killing our people. "Said Jacob
Jacob's words stirred through the room as each face reflected sadness, fear, or anger. Siobhan believed Jacob was right. Since the time of the industrial revolution her race had gone into hiding. The potato famine had killed more than half of them and they had been forced to relocate. It had been then that her great, great, great, great, (was it one more great? thought Siobhan) Grandma Aednat had pledged the clans to secrecy.
"Come to us and hold our hand" replied Siobhan's Maimeo
Jacob walked to the front of the room and bowed his head as he held her Maimeo's hand. The room fell deathly silent as Keeva, Siobhan's Maimeo, judged the heart of Jacob.
She could feel her Maimeo's power swirling through the physical contact. She focused on what her senses could tell her as her Maimeo was sure to quiz her later. She saw her Maimeo's power like smoke around Jacob searching out his intentions for their race. She saw Jacob's heat, like his fiery power, burning in his eyes. Then it was done.
"What is your plan, Jacob?" Keeva asked, as if she had not performed a sacred ritual.
"It has become common for humans gifted with abilities to go to the local 'super hero school'. I propose that our youth's join them and maybe bring back to our people the lost ones. " said Jacob
"But we already train our own. Why would we wish them to join these fancy suited 'heroes'?" a voice rose among the crowd
Siobhan suspected that it was Robin who had spoken. She was of the Water clan and pretty traditional, except of course in naming. She preferred modern names to the more traditional Irish names that her people tended to take.
"True, but if we continue to secrecy then our traditions and way of life will be lost. We must show ourselves and call back our lost brethren who have forgotten their identity. We are Tuatha De Danann and we must not drift into the shadows." Replied Jacob
One by one the heads of the clans nodded their chins in agreement with Jacob's plan.
"The heart has been tested, the clans are in harmony, now how must this be done?" asked Cian of the Air clan
"We must not be hasty. I suspect that few will believe who we are. We have become a thing of legend. Our battles and deeds a thing of fairy tales. I believe that Jacob is right. We must enroll our children as recruits in their school. We must tell them one by one and draw back the lost ones." Said Keeva
Siobhan watched as Cian looked to the others before he replied, "This seems the best. Though, I will laugh if any comes to me asking for a magical spearhead!"
The meeting ended in laughter and Siobhan believed that this was the path that they should have taken years ago. Though, she wasn't sure how she felt about having to go to the Super hero school in the sky.
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The plans had been put into action over the summer and as the warmth of the sun faded and Siobhan recovered from the tiring festivities of the fall festival and Bruce's advances; the youths of Tuatha De Danann started preparing to go to High School.
The morning of her first day at Sky High was welcomed by a slight drizzle and a bit of wind. Her honey colored hair fizzled a little in the moisture but she wasn't going to let that bug her. Besides she thought, I can fix it later. The Spirit Clan were like the Shamans to her people and so she tried to look the part well. Yet, Siobhan hurried to the designated spot, as she wasn't fond of being wet; and found her friend, Casey of the Water clan, waiting for her.
"Do you think a rocket is going to pick us up?" asked Casey as she flung her curly red hair out of her eyes. The bangs she had decided on when she recently cut her hair seemed to be giving her grief.
"ha! I doubt it. I heard that the principle can transport herself anywhere, so maybe we will be spirited there!" She replied
The two friends laughed as an ordinary school bus stopped in front of them. They each looked at each other with astonishment but walked on in silence.
The bus was loaded with teenagers demonstrating their powers and shouting across to friends about what classes they might be in. Siobhan could tell this was a bus of freshman but she was hardly judgmental since she was also a freshman. She just felt out of her depth in the chaos. She could tell she was going to miss the quiet training sessions with her Maimeo.
"I don't understand why you had to come to Sky High" said Casey
"Maimeo decided that every youth who was in the right age group for High School needed to attend Sky High for the betterment of our race." Said Siobhan
"I know. Chris told me when he came home. It is just that you are our next shaman. It seems you should be getting training from Keeva and not the teachers at Sky High, who know nothing of our traditions or rituals." Said Casey
"Don't worry Casey; I am still going to be getting lessons from my Maimeo. I will just have double duty. "Said Siobhan
"Triple duty if you include your family chores" said Casey
"Ha! I don't think doing chores is going to take up that much of my time. Though, I can see my little brothers trying to hide my homework just because they think the idea of going to an actual school is funny." Said Siobhan
Casey shook her head and sighed, "This is such a huge move for us".
Before Siobhan could reply, safety straps looped around her shoulders and the bus took off into the air. Casey and Siobhan both looked out of their window in amazement. Siobhan let out a laugh as she remembered Casey's comment about a rocket. They were flying among the clouds like someone from the Air clan. It was thrilling.
The bus landed and emptied quickly. The freshmen were all excited for something called "power placement". Casey and Siobhan did not know what this was but the upper class-men were herding the freshmen to a giant room that Siobhan heard one of them refer to it as a "gym". It was all new to her and she was sure she would have a headache trying to remember it all.
"Can I say, 'culture shock' much?" whispered Casey
"You can say it over and over again" Siobhan whispered back
It was right about then that a skinny guy in shorts came up to the front stage that the crowd of freshmen had been led in front of. He had a baseball cap on and seemed disgruntled. He held a clip board in one hand as he climbed up the steps.
"Welcome to another year at Sky High. My name is Coach Boomer and I will be placing every one of you into four different categories: Hero Red, Hero Blue, Hero Gold, and Hero White. These groupings are determined by the power level of your powers, by your control of your powers, by the lack of your powers yet to emerge, and by overall diversity of your powers. So listen up when I call your NAME!" boomed Coach Boomer
Siobhan's ears were ringing from the force of Coach Boomer's power, which he had used to emphasize the last word. He seemed to either be in a bad mood or it was simply his personality.
"Man, that is annoying" said Casey
"Yeah, thank the goddess we don't have a 'loud air' clan" said Siobhan
They both giggled as they named off a few people they knew who would be in such a fictional clan.
"Speaking of annoying people how are you and Bruce doing?" asked Casey
"Augh! I wish he would leave me alone. I don't want to become his mate. I don't want to be air-kissed. I'd prefer to remain un-marked" said Siobhan
"Do you really think you can avoid it? He could force you and then what could you do?" asked Casey
"I don't know. Forced mating's are frowned upon and I think he would want an honorable mating but honestly I don't know. He is a slimy snake and I want nothing to do with him." said Siobhan
"Well then since we are both coming up to the mating age then we ought to be careful. Maybe we should sic Ailbe and Ailill on him." replied Casey
Siobhan grinned at the thought of her twin brothers attacking Bruce if he even tried to mark her. She could imagine their warrior cries as they ran into him and their plastic swords banging into Bruce's knees.
"It would be amusing to watch but if Bruce really tried I think it would not be helpful" said Siobhan
"SIOBHAN IVER" boomed the Coach over the crowd and silencing all the chatter of the freshmen before Casey could reply.
"Wish me luck!" Whispered Siobhan as she walked toward the stage
"Adh mor ort" Whispered Casey in their native Irish tongue
"Power?" asked Coach Boomer as Siobhan finally reached the stage
The Gaelic words were still ringing in her ears like a hushed blessing and Siobhan felt the present fading as she took the stage. Her vision blurred and she saw herself consumed in fire and Bruce was running toward her with white eyes. Her heart was pounding but she couldn't move. Then suddenly she was staring at a crowd of students.
"Are you deaf? I asked for your POWER" said Coach Boomer adding his special emphasis to the last word.
Siobhan quickly gathered her wits and replied, "I can read minds, change people's emotions, move objects without using my hands, and manipulate people's thoughts"
"Ok, Telepathy, Telekinesis, and empathy. HERO GOLD" shouted Coach Boomer as he handed Siobhan a couple pieces of papers and directed her off the stage
Siobhan didn't understand the words he had used to describe the easiest of her powers to explain to those outside her race but she understood that he was naming her abilities using "their" names. She shrugged her shoulders and stood by the wall waiting for Casey. After several students he finally called, "CASEY STAIR"
Siobhan read through Coach Boomer's mind to find "their" name for Casey's abilities. She didn't want Casey to feel like the odd man out like she had felt. Then she whispered it into Casey's mind. The small smirk on Casey's face was the only give away that she had heard Siobhan.
"POWER?" demanded Coach Boomer
"Hydrokinesis" replied Casey smoothly
"HERO BLUE" rang out Coach Boomer as he moved on to the next student
Casey walked up to Siobhan and said, "Thanks! I don't know what I said but I presume it meant I control water, right?"
"Yep. I thought you wouldn't want to describe your powers like I did." Said Siobhan
"Culture shock" said Casey as they waited for all the students to be classed into the four groupings of "Hero's".
After the grouping was finished Coach Boomer had one last thing to say:
"These categories do not make one student better than another student. It is merely a classification that allows us to better organize the student body into classes that will benefit their abilities. So keep the bullying to a minimum and enjoy your first day."
Siobhan almost laughed as Coach Boomer gave his speech. His face and tone of voice gave away his disgust at having to give such a speech. But, she held in her mirth and followed the crowd out of the gym.
Once they were outside they found three others of their race, who were also freshmen. There was Ashling, who with her brown hair and brown eyes couldn't be mistaken as from any other clan than the Earth clan. Then there was Colin and Donald both from the Air clan.
"Where did you guys place? Siobhan and I were talking and not paying attention" said Casey as they circled in on their friends
"Typical of you two" said Donald
"Shush and just tell us where you placed" said Casey
"We were all placed in Hero Blue like you, Casey" said Ashling for them all.
"Cool! Does that mean we will have classes together?" asked Casey
Siobhan hoped Bruce was also in Hero Blue and not in Gold, since he was also from the air clan like Colin and Donald. But, she wouldn't know because Bruce and a couple other youths had private placings because they transferred in at upper class-men grades.
"Yep, we share a lot of classes. But don't worry 'Shio-be' we have a couple classes with Hero Gold, too" said Casey using Siobhan's nickname
"I hope they aren't important classes because you two won't be paying attention through them" teased Donald
"And who is to say that you won't be any better?" asked Casey
"Wanna make a bet?" Asked Colin
"Please can we not bicker and just go get something to eat?" asked Ashling
"Yeah, food" said Donald
Colin and Casey shrugged at each other and looked around for any signs of direction to where they should eat. The Tuatha De Danann youths had brought their own lunches and so didn't feel inclined to eat with the school. Yet, they knew they were supposed to look for the lost ones. Colin, Donald, Ashling, and Casey looked to Siobhan for guidance as the shaman in training.
"Well, let's meet the rest of the school" Siobhan said as she directed her friends to the eating area that the map labeled as "the cafeteria".
The Culture shock had only just begun…
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Irish/Gaelic Names & Meaning:
Maimeo = Grandmother
Keeva (Siobhan's Grandmother) = Gentle/beautiful/precious
Tuatha De Danann = usually translated as "people(s)/tribe(s) of the goddess Dana, are a race of supernaturally-gifted people in Irish Mythology
Cian (head of Air Clan) = Ancient/enduring
Ailbe (twin brother of Siobhan) = White
Ailill (twin brother of Siobhan) = beauty
"Adh mor ort" (the phrase Casey says to Siobhan at power placement) = "Our good luck to you!"
Ashling (friend of Siobhan from Earth clan) = A dream/ a vision
Colin (friend of Siobhan from Air clan) = Little Chieftain
Donald (friend of Siobhan from Air clan - brother to Colin) = ruler of the world
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I re-read over this chapter and corrected some oversights and poor research on my part.
I hope this reads smoother for everyone! Please Review, favorite, and follow!
Signed Gottes Blume