Okay, welcome to Portal. As a word of warning, it might be a little slow at first, but it wil DEFINITELY pick up, I promise. Feel free to create your own story like it. Basically, this is what happens when you put the fan in the story, the fan in question being me, since I know me best. I'm just gonna jump right in with the story and not take too long. This is a story for ME, starring ME and some characters from Xiaolin Showdown. Mainly Jack, since I now live with him. :D Remember the disclaimers and such, cos I don't own anything but me and Melody and Morgan and my own creativity. The names in this story are REAL and most events and flashbacks on MY part are completely almost accurate. I will let you know when I just made something up for the Hell of it. :D NOW ENJOY!
Jack adjusted another knob on his machine. He had been building it for a month, working diligently despite the ghost witch Wuya's nagging to pay more attention to the mystical Shen-Gong-Wu. He couldn't stop; it was as if some godly force was making him do it. Once the thought entered his mind, it was impossible not to think about it. He had done thousands of calculations, drawn up hundreds of plans and blue-prints, trying to make the idea a reality. And now finally, FINALLY! it was finished.
Jack stepped backwards and surveyed his work. The machine was tall, a mechanical archway built on a metal platform. It was supposed to function almost exactly like the time machine that Jack had built long ago. With the right calculations and adjustments (and a little luck), it would open up a transportal ANYWHERE on the planet! Hopefully. If it worked, (IF!), Jack would be able to retrieve Shen-Gong-Wu within seconds of Wuya pinpointing where in the world it was.
Crossing his fingers, Jack turned the machine on. Immediately, it hummed to life and produced between its walls a pink and purple glowing vortex.
"Yes! So far, so good, Wuya. Whaddaya think?" Jack said cheerily. The ghost witch drifted over and said, "We don't know if it works yet. Test it, boy." Jack was about to reply, but at that moment, the machine's humming grew in pitch and a sound like a splash reverberated throughout the room. Jack watched a small white folded-up piece of paper flutter down to rest on the platform.
Eyes wide, Jack went over and stooped down to pick it up. He opened it.
Hello? Is there anybody on the other side of this portal? Um, you opened it in the middle of my room. If you get this, WRITE BACK. PLEASE!
Jack showed the note to Wuya with a grin.
"Don't need to. See? It works!" He went to his table and opened his notebook to a clean page. He wrote a message, ripped it out, and folded it up before tossing it into the portal. It made a sizzling sound as it passed through…
…and landed at her feet. 'Asta(1) bent down and picked up the folded piece of paper and opened it. Eyes wide, she read what it said:
Hi. There is, in fact, someone over here. I've been working on this machine for a while and I'm happy to say that it works! Sorry for invading your space like this. You can forget about this incident now; it won't happen again. Thank you for cooperating in this experiment.
—Jack
'Asta stared at the note. She wanted so badly to pass through the portal to the other side, but she didn't know what kind of place she'd end up in or the type of person waiting on the other side. She looked around her bland bedroom.
"Anywhere is better than here," she muttered bitterly. Sure, she was safe; she knew her house and her room. She had a roof over her head, the possibility for a good future despite the country's slow deterioration of society, and she was kept in a good home with food and family. She went to school. It was summer vacation now, but next year she would be in the 11th grade. She was supposed to be in 12th and be a senior, but she was held back in 7th. Her family would be camping on and off all summer, she was taking Driver's Ed, and she planned on getting a summer job to earn money.
She led a relatively decent life nowadays. But she didn't really like it. She was never invited to parties or get-togethers, she had backstabbing friends, she didn't have a job, hardly any money (that she had access to, anyway), her talents seemed wasted, and it seemed as if her life was going nowhere! Her childhood was a disaster and her teenage years weren't much better. She was anxious about her future and hated to think about it, but couldn't afford not to.
She wanted something better, something exciting! She wanted to travel to the different worlds she read about and become someone important. She knew she was extraordinary, now she wanted the chance to prove it. She wanted adventure, not the everyday blandness of the modern world. She wanted excitement! Not a boring day-job or a lazy summer day. There was a reason she loved storms and rain and the nightlife. It was something different from the norm. It was exciting and fun! She hated everything that was exactly the same as everything before it.
This was a shot at something new.
She scribbled something below what "Jack" had written and tossed it back through the portal. She grinned to herself. Finally, her hopes and dreams were being answered.
The paper came back and Jack picked it up again and read it:
Are you from a different world? You gotta be from a different world. NO ONE here can create portals and I doubt anyone would TRY. You got lucky; if you opened this in public, there would be LOTS of news coverage and stuff. I would prefer it if the reality of other planes of existence were to stay a secret. I don't want to have any other world ruined by my country's government. What is your name? First and last; Jack doesn't help me any. And how old are you?
"Interesting…" Jack mused. He quickly scrawled another message to the person waiting on the other side and sent it.
The note came back again. 'Asta opened it and read what it said. She gasped and reread the note to make sure it said what she thought it said:
I can vouch for that. I mean weird things happen all the time, only with magic. And I wouldn't want your government to ruin my world either. Government sucks. My name is Jack Spicer: Evil Genius. I am 16! What is your name and how old are you?
'Asta hurriedly wrote a response and sent it back. She then proceeded to internally squee while she dashed downstairs to her basement. She grabbed a couple of boxes and an old travel suitcase and hauled them all upstairs to her room. Her brother, Dustin, opened his door and poked his head out.
"Is he home?" he asked.
"No"
"What are the boxes for?" he asked, being nosey. 'Asta responded in a purposefully sarcastic manner, "A portal to the world of Xiaolin Showdown opened up in my room and I'm communicating with Jack Spicer. I'm gonna pack so I can walk through that portal and leave this place, hopefully forever."
"Nyaa. Bitch."
"Moron"
"Ass-monkey"
"Dick-monkey"
"Dumbass"
"Shithead"
"Bitch"
"You already said that, so shut-up."
"No."
"Yes."
"No!"
"Yes!" Dustin started down the hall towards 'Asta's door. She quickly shut the door and pushed the handle in and twisted it. Dustin tried the door to find it locked and he heard 'Asta snickering behind it.
"Pussy" he muttered.
"Hippie-Hair!" 'Asta shouted gleefully through the wood. Then she flipped him the bird, because by routine she knew that he was doing exactly the same to her. (2)
She stood before the portal again to wait for another message.
Jack read the note with vigor. It occurred to him that he might possibly have an ally with which to use against the monks. The note read:
Jack Spicer? As in, THEE Jack Spicer? How do I know you're the real deal and not a fake? Because in my world, Jack Spicer has many fans. He's famous in Xiaolin Showdown fandom everywhere! He doesn't exist in my world, in real life; just in a TV show. Give me proof you are who you say you are. Describe yourself using visual terms. (And I'm 17!)
Jack blinked, confused. Fans? He believed from the 'Xiaolin Showdown' bit that this person knew him, but fans? Jack Spicer hadn't had a single fan in his entire LIFE! No one liked him…
But maybe this person did.
He penned a reply to the person on the other side and tossed the folded note into the portal.
I'm the only 'Jack Spicer' I know. You surprised me with the phrase 'Xiaolin Showdown'. I am DEFINITELY familiar with that term. To reassure you that I am who I say I am, I am a Goth boy with red hair, red eyes, white skin, black clothes, and black guyliner. (Are you a boy or a girl?)
'Asta read the note and shrieked with happiness. She giggled ecstatically and bounced with giddy excitement, before scribbling another reply and sending it back once more.
You've met most of the requirements. Jack Spicer also…
Wears:
Yellow vintage goggles with orange swirls on the lenses
A long, black, tattered trench-coat
A sleeveless red Frankenstein shirt under the coat
A sleek mark under his left eye made by his black guyliner
Jack likes to build JackBots, is in the company of a purple ghost witch named Wuya, and seeks world domination through the use of Shen-Gong-Wu. (I'm a girl, btw. Question: If you ARE Jack Spicer, are you just normally pale like you never go outside or are you really an albino? It was never outright expressed in the show, but most fans here assume the latter because of your red eyes. The hair throws us off a little, but people say you dye it.)
—A
…Now that's just scary…
—J
What is?
—A
You've described me perfectly! And yes, I'm an albino. The hair just makes me a freak of nature. Mother and her fertility drugs… I've never dyed my hair. EVER. What about you?
—J
I've dyed my hair 3 times. Naturally, my hair faded from light, caramel blonde to icky dishwater blonde. I hated it because it never looked right on me. The 1st time I dyed it, it was this obnoxious fuchsia color. It was supposed to be red, but it wasn't the brand I really wanted and only semi-permanent. My friends made fun of me and called me Ariel until I beat the snot outta Jordan and convinced them all to stop. I re-dyed it after it all washed out. That time it was permanent and blood red, which was fun to use because Mom accidentally squirted me in the side of the head and it looked like she shot me and I was bleeding. My hair looked amazing! But it sucks that red fades faster than any other color, cos after a while my hair grew out more and the red was faded a lot. 3rd time I dyed it, I made it blonde again. I've always wanted to have platinum blonde hair, but it didn't work out cos we have city water and I needed a Malibu treatment. To get it as pale as I want it, I'll have to re-dye it the same color again. Now enough about hair. PLEASE let me come to your world!
—A
…
You know a lot about my world, right?
—J
Duh. What don'tI know? I wouldn't know all that stuff about you if I didn't pay attention. What kind of fan would I be then, huh?
—A
Okay, I'll admit that was kinda dumb to ask that. But you know all this stuff and you STILL want to come? Amazing. You're hired! You can come, but only if you're working for me.
—J
Wouldn't have it any other way. It's too hard to try and be good all time. And I don't think I'd be willing to hit you. Well, hard anyway.
—A
Cool. You can stay in my mansion and live here. You're sure to come in handy. I'll send a JackBot over to help you pack, 'K? (3)
Moments after receiving the latest of the messages from Jack, a JackBot was portaled into her room.
"I can't believe it! A real JackBot!" 'Asta shouted.
"~Bzzt~ How may I assist you miss?" the JackBot intoned. It was floating so it was eye-level with 'Asta.
"Dustin! Come here!" she shouted. Dustin shouted down the hallway, "NO! Leave me alone!" 'Asta went and opened her door.
"But I have a real JackBot! In my room!" she hollered.
"I don't care about your damn fantasies! Moron!"
"Jerkoff!"
"Bitch!"
"Ass-crack!"
"BITCH!" he cried, more sharply.
"Oh, go to Hell!" 'Asta shouted. She shut and locked her door again, then turned to the JackBot.
She had already stuffed most of her clothes into one of the boxes on her bed. She had put photo albums into the old suitcase, along with her bed pillow and her pink blanket, Flopper and Gloria (2 stuffed friends from her childhood), and her slippers. The remainder of the clothes she planned to take with her were tossed into the second box along with 7 pairs of shoes, a binder, several notebooks, mechanical pencils, and other art supplies and writing utensils.
'Asta put her laptop into its neon-green travel case. In the front pocket of the said travel case, she stuffed her sketchbook, her three completed diaries, her current diary, several flash drives, some lip balms, a pair of black ear-buds, her MP4 Player, a few favorite necklace chains and charms, and a small, non-descript 3''-by-3'' flat box for good measure.
Now that everything she wanted to take with her was packed and ready to go, 'Asta ran through a list in her head to see if she was forgetting anything.
She had already emptied most of her closet and some of her dresser drawers; everything left was too small, outdated, or just wasn't wanted. She didn't need her make-up; she almost never wore any to begin with! (That didn't stop her from packing a small compact, a few shades of lipstick, and a small set of eye shadows, along with her three favorite nail polishes). There was still many objects left in the room. But 'Asta knew she could live without them. She had everything she needed. Almost.
"Oh shoot! Personal Items!" 'Asta said face-palming. It would be just her luck to start her period and not have any products! She ran to the bathroom and grabbed a new box of tampons, her toothbrush and deodorant, then ran back to her room to pack them with the rest of her stuff. (4)
Slinging her laptop case over her shoulder so it rested at her hip, she picked up her suitcase and the smaller box. 'Asta turned to the still waiting robot and ordered it, "Pick up that big box and carry it for me, please." The robot did as it was told without hesitation.
"Wait!" she said at the last second. The robot paused. "I gotta write something first. Stay here and be quiet; I'll be right back!" 'Asta dropped her boxes and ran to the kitchen with another piece of paper. She left a note on stove and went to go back to her room. She saw Dustin peeking down the hallway at her.
"Is he home?" he asked.
"No. Wanna see me off? You know, through the portal? This'll be the last time you'll see me." Dustin closed his door again and said, "Good riddance, moron." 'Asta smiled.
"Bye Dustpan! Tell everyone I hate them!" she shouted as she re-entered her room and picked up what she'd dropped before.
"K! I'll tell everyone you died!" Dustin shouted back. (5)
"Go through the portal and wait for me there," 'Asta said to the waiting JackBot once she was back in her room. It did as it was told and disappeared into the pink and purple mass swirling in the middle of the room. Just before 'Asta stepped through, she saw her step-dad's beat up maroon crap car start to pull up to the driveway. She smiled and shouted, perhaps for the last time ever, she wondered, "Rob's home!" before stepping into the portal and disappearing from the face of the planet.
Dustin slammed his laptop shut and ran down the hall and through the kitchen to the basement door. He threw it open and retrieved the broom and slammed the door shut. He paused in front of the rail on his way to the hall again, watching through the living room picture window as Rob's car finished backing into the driveway. Dustin darted into the hallway to begin sweeping as Rob climbed out of the car and walked back to the road to get the mail. Dustin kept his head turned to the right so he could see through his sister's window as he passed. However, as he shot past, he backtracked quickly and stood in the doorway, which 'Asta had left open in her hurry to leave. He stared at the pink and purple portal swirling in the middle of her room.
Rob walked into the house and went to the kitchen with the mail. Before opening any of it, however, he noticed the note left on the stove where he would see it. He picked it up and read it to himself.
He stormed into the hallway and saw Dustin standing there, staring into 'Asta's room. He pushed past him and into 'Asta's room, just in time to see the portal disappear in a blinding flash. He stood in the near-empty room in shock, the note 'Asta had left behind slipping between his fingers to the floor. Her last words…
Dear Mom and Rob,
A portal opened up in my room. Naturally, this concerned me, so I tossed a note into it. Surprisingly, I got a response. The portal was to another universe, one that I happen to know very well. Forgive me, but I HAD to take this opportunity. I've been wishing for something like this for so long, my heart ached. I'm finally going to the place I've wanted be. I tried to convince Dustin into seeing me off, along with the robot my friend on the other side sent over to help me pack. Dustin was more interested in his computer than in trying to stop me.(6) Send my regards to everyone and don't wait up! And don't worry; PLEASE don't worry. I'm talking to you Mom. I love you, but it's better over in this other world. Everything isn't screwed up yet and they're more technologically advanced. I'll be happy here.
Love,
'Asta
Thank you for reading the first chapter of Portal! If you stuck it through long enough, kudos! Now, about the bolded numbers...
(1): This is my real name. It is pronounced "OW-stah" I don't care who knows it, and you'll probably forget it in a few more chapters anyway. It is NOT staying the same.
(2): This was NOT exaggerated! My brother and I HATE each other's GUTS! We are regular cursers as well and I happen to pride myself the rather... creative... ways I can string together curses.
(3): And that, folks, is an example of the everlasting stupidity that comes with being Jack. :D Who just invites random strangers to their house to live with them? Oh yeah, Jack does! Sorry if it's not a smooth enough transition. I couldn't figure out a smoother way to make it happen. :/
(4): I know that it seems pretty damn redundant and stupid and TMI to put this little tidbit in the story, but trust me, it'll come up again later in the story. No, not for pregnancy. I'm gonna try and keep that OUT of here! But did you know that in certain cultures, a woman's monthly bleeding is considered powerful magic? That's why the men in those cultures keep women who are on their periods in one spot, doing nothing and within the men's sights. They don't want them to perform any seriously powerful magic!
(5): Sad thing is, he would actually say that if this scenario ever played out.
(6): This would've been just to spite my brother so he would've gotten in trouble as soon as Rob got home. :D I know, I'm a stinker.