Hello there dear reader, welcome to a story I myself was not actually expecting to write. Zen and Intent is my return to Gamewizard2008's series of stories, the Gameverse. Set 5 years after the blockbuster epic 'Legend of the Eight Firstborn' and 15 before the Nextgen series of stories.
On the Isle of Elements there dwells the keeper of history. A being older than you or I. The call him The Chronicler, because that's his job. In the great scheme of things there must always be a witness, a story teller, an author or speaker.
In his vast library of writings, The Chronicler keeps busy, viewing the many actions of our great heroes, Nigel Uno and his friends as well as the vast multiverse that surrounded them. In one corner of The Chronicler's library, there resided a purple and bronze book.
'Zen and Intent' it read.
"Hm." The Chronicler glanced out of the corner of his eye, catching sight of you. "Would you like to know the story of Zen and Intent?" He asked. "Well, have a seat." The Chronicler set his mighty quill aside on his desk and shut the current book title 'Legends', setting it aside for later.
The Chronicler took flight into his library, fetching the book 'Zen and Intent'. His mighty wings flapped and he landed before you. "I must warn you, this takes place right in the middle. After the Kids Next Door of old and their many adventures, but before there were Ten Firstborn."
"So." The Chronicler opened the book and began to read. "Five Years after the search for the Eight Firstborn…"
A young woman, a teenager with dyed purple hair and unusually gold eyes, wearing black skinny jeans and a purple hoodie, sat at the back of her Macro Economics class, doodling in her notebook rather than pay attention to today's lecture.
Around her notes, the girl drew pictures of fantastic treehouses. Ships and buildings, along with mighty telescopes stuck out of the treehouses. These were the treehouses she'd seen when she was a child. These pillars of imagination, with children just like her running around inside having the adventure of a lifetime.
The girl's name was Crystal Wickens. More than anything, she wanted to have an adventure just like them. The adventure of a lifetime. Five years ago, Crystal had stood aside with the rest of the world as those kids, the ones in those treehouses, saved the world.
From the Irkens, as the public would be informed. They halted their invasion and saved the world. And then those kids did it again, stopping the Demon King Malladus Uno. Then once more they fought Davy Jones and succeeded.
And then the greatest battle of all, Crystal and the people of Earth watched as eight children and their Firstborn saved the world. Though they would never know them, the world was indebted to them. All of reality was.
More than anything, as a child, Crystal wanted to be a member of the Kids Next Door.
"Crystal!" A harsh voice shouted.
"W-Wha?" Crystal practically jumped out of her seat. She looked up to find the Teacher looming over her.
Mrs. Rodski was as harsh as they came. Strict, merciless when it came to grading, and with a heart a scold as ice. She stood over Crystal with judging eyes. She averted her gaze to her notebook, spotting what appeared to be illustrations, and not of anything related to the subject matter.
"Detention." Rodski said icily.
"B-But-" Crystal attempted to argue, only to be cut off.
"Detention!" Rodski screamed. She dug into her pants pocket and slammed a detention slip right onto the notebook. "Detention."
The bell rang and then the students began to pile out of class. Crystal quickly threw her books into her bag, amongst a purple and grey outfit, the kind some sort of vigilante would wear and odd mechanisms that could be scientific breakthroughs. Crystal quickly vacated the class like the others and was on her way to lunch.
Crystal made her way through the busy halls of James Woods High School, all in an attempt to reach her locker to deposit her books and retrieve her items for next class. She pushed her way through a kissing couple, finally reaching her locker. She dialed in her combo and opened it. She tossed in the Economics binder and drew her elective engineering textbook.
She closed her locker and turned to her left, ready to wait in a ten minute line for lunch. But t her surprise, Crystal found a familiar face in a wheelchair hanging around beside her, and she had a brown paper bag in hand.
"Here." The boy in the wheelchair offered
"What's this for?" Crystal opened the brown paper bag, finding a ham and cheese, mayonnaise sandwich residing within.
"Have you seen those lines?" The boy questioned. "Anyways, I owe you for last night. Thanks for the save."
"You'd have done the same for me." Crystal removed the sandwich from the bag and promptly edged some of the plastic wrap off of it, in order to take a bite. "Thanks though."
"Come on, let's go find the others." The boy in the wheelchair gestured for Crystal to follow him. And so Crystal walked, and the boy rolled to their destination.
If one were to look and see those two side by side, they'd assume nothing. Certainly, Crystal and this wheelchair bound boy were not a pair of rooftop jumping vigilantes who kept the streets of Quahog safe. That would be preposterous.
Reaching a secluded table at the High School's senior lawn, Crystal and the boy in the wheelchair joined their group of 'friends'. Admittedly, Crystal enjoyed most of their company, but for some, there was still some bad blood between them.
A few years back, when Crystal emigrated from the UK, Crystal found herself the subject of a rather strange form of bullying. She was new, the social circles had already formed. Of course they all needed someone to pick on. The outsider she was just happened to fit the bill.
So Crystal took a seat at the table, across from one of her tormenters. Gwen Tucker was her name, but she was also known by another, Numbuh 58. Imagine Crystal's surprise when she found out she used to be a member of the KND. It was one thing to be picked on some holier than thou cheerleader, but then to find out Gwen was essentially the person she'd wanted to be all her life, it felt like the ultimate betrayal.
But things simmered down since then. That boy in the wheelchair at the end of the table stuck up for her. And things slowly fell into place over time. The truth was, everyone at this table, other than Crystal, used to be a member of the Kids Next Door. All were acting TND operatives.
That made it easier for Crystal to swallow, to know Gwen didn't mean any of those hash things. She was supposedly infiltrating the ever elusive Candy Ring Cartel, a teen ninja run designer drug criminal empire which had since collapsed thanks to their efforts.
The assembled ten teens sat eating lunch, talking amongst themselves and discussing plans for the evening. On the side opposite of Crystal sat Gwen to the rest of the various former Decommissioning Squad operatives. Doug Murphy, the former Numbuh 59. Garret O'Neil, the former Numbuh 99. Catherine Lazarus, the former Numbuh 91. And beside her on the other end of table sat a boy with spiky hair with slightly blue skin named Yuki Crystal, the former Numbuh 1-Ice.
Beside Crystal sat the former Numbuh 832, a one handed, mohawk sporting boy named Josh Puncture. Beside him sat a pair of saimese twins, a couple of freshmen who used to be Numbuhs ½ and 2/4. And beside them sat a girl with curly black hair with a violin case, the former Numbuh 322 named Kayla Valera.
And aside from those ten seated at the table, there was the boy in the wheelchair at the end of the table. "I'd like to commend us for our efforts in the past seven months." The wheelchair bound boy said, quickly earning everyone's attention.
Crystal just stared with admiration as the boy spoke. "Together we bought down The Candy Ring. Something that was deemed impossible. But we did it." He smiled. "And because of us the streets are cleaner, crime rates have dropped and the children of Quahog can grow up in a city without fear."
"To us." Nolan York, the former Numbuh 2030, held up his bottle of water, forming a mock toast.
"To us." Yuki raised his drink, a slushy that had materialized seemingly out of nowhere.
And so they all began to raise their respective drinks, ranging from canteens of water to cans of soda they'd bought from one of the school's vending machines. "To us." Crystal smiled, finally feeling part of a social circle, an outsider no more. All thanks to the boy in the wheelchair.
"One month from today, we'll be graduating." Nolan said, causing a sudden feeling of dread to run down Crystal's spine. It had been crazy for Crystal, all these adventures in High School, all the good along with the bad, but mostly the good. She couldn't believe it was all ending. Everyone around her had their lives planned out beyond High School. But Crystal, she'd just assumed she'd be doing this forever. All this Teens Next Door business and the vigilante stuff. She never wanted it to end. But it was.
Crystal looked back up over to Nolan, snapping out of her dark thoughts. There he was, still talking. That proud smile on his face, the one that she adored. "I just want you all to remember the good times of High School, moments like these." He gestured to every one of them. "Those moments when you're surrounded by friends. And I hope you know all know you're loved and I wish you the best in your future endeavors."
"Oh hush Nolan, you're going me cry." Yuki playfully punched Nolan in the shoulder.
"I think I see a tear running down you cheek there, iceboy." Kayla joked.
The bell rang, signifying the end of lunch. "Alright. Back to it." Crystal murmured before they all got up and headed off to their next class.
"…And then after class, Crystal would spend her afternoon in Room 204, wasting an hour of her life in detention." The Chronicler read.
The Chronicler then looked to you, a sympathetic twinkle in his eye. "A word of warning, every story has its villain." He said before returning his gaze back to the book.
"That night…"
Nigel Uno, the bald hero, was walking home from his part time job at the local super market. Who would have guessed that the greatest KND operative would end up working at a SaveLot of all places. But he needed the money to buy gas and take Rachel out on dates.
Walking through the almost empty parking lot, an odd feeling began to creep up Nigel's spine. Being the KND's resident James Bond and Harry Potter, Nigel knew when to listen to his senses. Something was off.
Cautiously, Nigel approached his beat up Toyota corolla. And then, his ears picked up a light beeping. Nigel's eyes widened. Quickly, Nigel spun on his heels and made a run for it, using his fire bending powers to launch himself into a running start.
The beeping ended and then his car exploded. Nigel was clear off the blast zone, but was struck by his car door. Pushing his car door off, Nigel got back onto his feet and frowned at the sight of his wrecked car. "Dammit." Nigel frowned.
"I know right." A distorted voice spoke. Nigel turned and saw a figure wearing black full body motorcycle gear. "I'm just as disappointed as you are."
"What do you want?" Nigel glared at the figure as he pulled the Galaxia Sword out of the pocket dimension he stored it in. Nigel took a fighting stance, ready to get some payback for his car.
The figure glanced at the sword in Nigel's hands. "Alright." He nodded. "Next time when you don't have a god weapon." Without warning, the figure shot into the air, propelled by jets at the bottom of his boots.
Using his fire bending to superheat the air molecules around him Nigel took off into the air, giving chase after the figure. "Get back here!" Nigel shouted angrily. "Who are you?!"
"Sorry." The figure glanced over his shoulder, meeting Nigel's gaze. He pulled out a square compact device out of one of his pockets. "No Spoilers." He hit a button on the device, creating an explosive portal of green and purple.
The figure entered through the portal, which violently closed behind him resulting in a secondary explosion which sent out a shockwave. Nigel was shaken, a low electric pulse enveloped him, causing his motor functions to cease. Nigel began to spiral downward and was just about to land in traffic.
"The mortal world isn't done with you just yet, ma'an." The Grim Reaper swooped in on his scythe out of nowhere, snatching Nigel and his sword out of the air.
The Grim Reaper landed with Nigel in tow back in the parking lot. He set Nigel down and then promptly slapped him. "There, you're fixed. Get up."
Nigel shook his head, feeling a sudden urge to hurl. "What happened?" He asked groggily. "Grim? What are you doing here?"
"I didn't feel like going through a Game Over Screen, that's what." Grim shook his head, looking rather disappointed in Nigel. "Ah mean, come on ma'an. You're better that this! Who was the motor cycle fetish guy anyways?"
"I don't know." Nigel rubbed his head. He grabbed the Galaxia Sword and tucked it back into the pocket dimension. "I need to call this in." He looked up back to Grim. "You mind giving me a ride home?"
Grim sighed. "Get on." Nigel hopped onto the back of the scythe, and before he knew it, they were in the air.
I honestly don't remember what happened to the Galaxia Sword after Eight Firstborn, but the idea of Nigel just pulling it out of thin air whenever he needed it was just great. So I just went with that. The 'Game Over Screen' comment is a reference to Gamewizard's work, where when the characters would die, they get a game over scene until Grim revives them.
Anyways, next chapter will be out soon. I've got a lot of active stories right now. As far as I could tell, this will be going on for at the most nine chapters.