(All right, I know everyone's been waiting with baited breath to see where this story's going to go. I assure you, it's not just going to be about Ryan's daily life. That would be incredibly boring. No, we've got some actual stuff going on in this chapter, so read on, and as usual, comments and reviews are appreciated. I don't know when the next chapter's going to be up, since April is that month that royally screws over university students, but I'll do my best, and if it's not up by the end of the month, then I'll be back in the middle of nowhere, where there is nothing to do but write! So enjoy!

There are a lot of rights in the Bill of Rights. But none of them give me the rights to Kämpfer.)


Thank God the buses are still running. Now I don't have to walk.

I went to the bus stop near my house and after a couple of minutes, the number nine was by to whisk me downtown to the Double Dodo. Not many people are on the bus tonight, I'm kind of glad that's the case. On the other weekend nights the bus is packed with roaming groups of drunken university students from on campus, screaming about where they are heading and how wasted they are. They have no idea how to handle themselves.

Tonight however, it's peaceful. I can lay back in the seat and just focus on the music coming through my headphones. *stellastarr, Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Bravery; they all breeze through my buzzed head. It's so relax-shit, my stop!

Hastily yanking on the cord, I hopped off the bus. A quick stop at the bank to grab some cash, and I was off down the street to the Double Dodo aka the Dub-D. It's a far cry from its heyday the first time I was living in the city. Before it would always be packed when people came down, but now they don't even have anyone working the door. It's basically become a dive. Still good enough for a Sunday night though.

As I walk in the door, a familiar voice immediately greets me. "Ryan, glad you could make it out buddy!"

I turn around towards the stage and offer up a high five. "Chris man! Can't wait for the show to begin! Better have a good set lined up!"

Chris just smiled, "Come on, you know me Ryan. I don't disappoint."

Chris was the whole reason the group was down here. Him and his friend J.P. started up Frosted Cheerios, a two piece band on acoustic guitars, and they just began playing on the city's bar scene. This is only their second gig. If they did this back when I first met him, playing the Dub-D would have been a great honor. Now? It's not exactly the Firehouse, but it's a show. They're still very good though. Sometimes if they've got the guitars out when I'm upstairs, I even get to do vocals on a couple of songs. Apparently, I'm decent.

Heading over towards a large table in the lower part of the bar, I see the rest of my friends from upstairs. We've been hanging out since my first year of university, getting drunk in the dorms, playing many a round of beer pong. It was pretty lucky to be able to get a room in the same house they are living in, even if I have to put up with the results the next day from the other roommates.

Jack was at the head of the table, of course. He's pretty much the defacto leader. He was always the cool one, seemingly bullet proof. I say seemingly because I'm one of the few who has actually seen him when he's just physically shattered. It's not a pretty sight. Andy's next to him, big guy, but he always has a greeting and a good word for everyone. He's welcomed wherever he goes and he can always be counted on to lighten the mood in a place. Further down the table was Corey, the foreign representative of the group. I know American doesn't really count as foreign in Canada, but still, he hears about it. His girl Karen isn't here though. They must be on the outs again. That'll be fun next time I party with them. Frankie's the last guy, buried in the back. He was actually out of the group for a bit when he went back home to work, but he's back now. Still hasn't changed his nickname though. I mean, he primps and preens himself for so long every time before he goes out. How were we not to call him "Molly"? At least he accepts it. Plus, the rest of us get to make fun of him for being a Leafs fan. That never gets old. A couple other people were there too. Carrie, Lana, Kelsey, even Terry, who I hadn't seen in a couple years. Real good turnout tonight.

Quickly grabbing a pint of Alexander Keith's from the bar, I joined my friend's table. Just the usual chatter right now; how school was going, whether or not to get some food, nothing entirely interesting. Certainly had the TV beat though. Curling was apparently hot enough to be worth viewing on the big screen right now. Not my idea of a spectator sport, shuffleboard on ice. Any sport where you can drink and smoke and not have it affect your game officially is not a sport.

The hiss and crack coming from behind us signified that Chris and J.P. were ready to go. We all politely turned around, along with the other handful of patrons in the bar as his stage prattle began.

"How's everyone doing tonight? Ready for some music?" he asked to no one in particular.

We all clapped and wooed back, the only ones in the bar making any kind of noise.

"All right, well we are Frosted Cheerios. If there are any requests for songs that we might know, don't hesitate to ask."

"Wonderwall!" I shout out, calling for the Oasis song that's normally a standard of bands such as this.

"Ryan, fuck off," Chris replied, smiling. "Not playing that."

I do that every time. He hates that song. It's a shame, I can sing it pretty well.

"All right, well we'll start things off with a little Johnny Cash then,"

The duo launched into Folsom Prison Blues, J.P. handling the deep singing that Chris can't hit. As they played, the group turned their attention back amongst themselves. Jack and Andy were discussing school work, both business majors, really not my thing. Math has never agreed with me. The girls were really more interested in their phones then anything. Terry was away, said he was trying to coral one of the bar maids for some nachos. I don't know. If he's still the same Terry, he is probably after more than nachos. Frankie and Corey were discussing hockey, so I figured it was my duty to tell them both why Boston and Toronto would be golfing in April.


The evening was going well. The beer was flowing amongst the table, even with Monday looming. Terry did return and a few minutes later, nachos did arrive at the table. I felt I had to contribute, so I got some potato skins for a change of pace. We all just attacked the food, it was well worth the investment.

J.P. and Chris were still going strong. They hit some standard Canadian fare so far tonight. The Tragically Hip, Barenaked Ladies, Neil Young, they were catering to the other patrons in the bar who were considerably older then us. However, when they played their acoustic cover of "Kids" by MGMT, I had to go up and get video of that. They really do well with that song, and Chris plays the synth solo on his guitar with incredible ease and skill. I finally got that recorded now, so YouTube will know of their prowess soon.

As I returned to the table, I looked down at the glass sitting in front of me. It was close to leaving only the dregs of the beer at the bottom. I think I got time to get a new one. One more out of this glass and it'll be done.

"All right, this next song we've been working on for a little bit," Chris announced. "Bit of a different direction then what we've been playing. Hope you guys like it."

J.P. strummed out a few power strings, and soon Chris jumped in with his own guitar. It was tough to pick out what they were playing at first, but then Chris started the lyrics.

"You wake up late for school man you don't wanna go!"

Now we all knew. It was quite a surprise to hear them playing "Fight for Your Right," I don't remember even hearing them practice it. Chris was singing it really well though, and the whole table was getting into it. We all were raising our hands, pumping our fists. I was getting really into it, banging my head in time with the guitar, until Terry said something that immediately snapped me out of my reveling.

"Hey Ryan," he said, after tapping me on the shoulder. "This must be the beer tricking me, but I think your sleeve is glowing, dude!"

I pulled my hand down and sure enough, he was right. The bracelet inside was lighting up like a cheap neon sign. What the hell is it doing lighting up now? Don't tell me that overblown stuffed mutt was right? It's not going too fast, but I don't know how much time I got! I can't risk changing right in front of the group! I gotta get out of here.

I bolted from the table as discreetly as I could, but I wasn't quick enough to avoid Jack seeing.

"Ryan, where are you going? It's the middle of the song!" he called out, pulling everyone's attention to me.

"Ummmm, not feeling good guys, gotta hit the john for a sec!" It was a lie, but it was plausible. I have a past history of not being able to hold my liquor here, back when I was a rookie on the bar scene.

I dashed downstairs to the small washrooms, I could hear Jack commenting on me being a lightweight. It was killing me not be able to tell him it wasn't because of that, but there are more important things going on.

Flinging the door open I saw that thankfully there was no one in the men's washroom, of course that could be due to its sorry state. The doors were off the hinges, there were no paper towels. There weren't even any urinals anymore, just a garbage bag covering where they once were. It was sort of depressing. The bracelet was blinking even faster now. I just looked in the mirror. Why? Why does this have to happen to me?

I was still unprepared when the bracelet gave off a bright flash and the transformation began. I was awake for it for the first time and well, have you ever been shocked with static electricity by your douche brother or someone else? That's what my body was feeling like. Just this uncontrollable tingling feeling all over, lasting way too long, it was just weird. It was almost like I feel my body moving. Finally it ended, leaving me standing there, staring at the same woman from earlier in the mirror. Looked weird seeing that red toque not able to contain the hair underneath, the jet black strands cascading down from under it. Once again my clothes had changed, the green sweater now draped much farther down, exposing my shoulders, with the sleeve riding up enough to expose my bracelet.

"God damn it, doesn't this bloody bracelet know it's cold out?" I said to myself. "Why did it feel the need to change me now though? There weren't any other Kämpfers here. Were there? I can't even tell."

I timidly exited the room, again, no one was downstairs. Thankfully everyone's been able to hold it in. I have to find some way out of here. Other then the stairway, which is not a good option with the table right next to it, the only other choice is through the employee door. If it leads out back, that would work very well. I was about to go for it when I heard a crash upstairs. That's either Terry falling off the stool, or the reason my bracelet went off. 50/50 really. The screaming that came after that definitely put it more in the latter category.

I carefully looked around the stairwell to see if I could get an idea what was going on, but I didn't have to. The intruder was really loud.

"Where is she? I know she's here! She has to be here! There's no other place it could be!" shouted the female voice. Just another indication I was in trouble and I owed BK one free pass from a fling against the wall.

"We don't know who you're talking about!" Jack replied. "Just put the swords down! We can talk about this!" Oh goody. Swords. That just sounds awesome for me.

"No, this is not the time for talk. This is the time for that girl to die. Now where is she?"

"We don't know! We just want to drink! Is that so wrong?" Oh Terry. You really haven't changed.

I have to get out of here now. It's the employee door or nothing. I silently made my way through the door, in bold defiance of the partially hanging sign, and followed the corridor until- yes a way out! Oh thank god! Yanking open the door, I felt the cold wind rush in. It never felt so good to be frozen in all my life.

Heading out into the pitch black city street, I looked around. Not a cab in sight. I swear they all have a pact never to be around when I need it. Well at least the bus stop is close by. Maybe I can make it there. I began walking towards the stop, snow crunching under my feet, still thinking about what just happened. I mean, I basically abandoned my friends, and they weren't even the ones who pulled the trick on me the other night. I left them with my problem. But I had to, I couldn't let them see me like this. Plus, whoever the heck that was, they sounded relatively calm for a psychopath. I don't think they-

"So, trying to sneak off into the night are you?"

That voice. No. It couldn't be. How could she have gotten out here that quick? I turned around and about 20 meters back, there was indeed a girl standing there. She was shorter then me, by a good head length. Her hair was cut just above her shoulders, and it was green, barely lighter than my sweater. Her eyes matched, and it seemed like they were staring right through me. She was certainly better dressed for the weather then I was too. A blue jacket over black pants. Oh and the swords that Jack mentioned? They were on full display. She held a two foot long cutlass in each of her hands, both ready to slice and dice whatever she wanted. Looks like she wants to make me pay for flunking Sneak Attack 101.

"Ummmm, no, no," I stammered, trying to answer her question. "I'm just going to the bus…"

"Oh no you're not." She stepped forward. "You're not going anywhere, Reddy." She slid her right sleeve up, displaying a blue bracelet. "Not unless you can get by me, which I doubt."

Shit. Shit. Shit. What do I do? She has two swords, I have some pocket change, my iPod and my cell phone. Unless flailing her with my headphones will do anything, I'm screwed.

"Anyway, let's begin!" She charged at me, no emotion showing on her face. I was panicking inside, almost frozen to the spot. As she swung her sword, that's when it finally kicked in that moving might be a smart tactic. I dodged to the right, but she kept coming at me. Left, right, left, I don't know how I'm surviving this. I wasn't anywhere near this agile before.

"Gah, if you stayed still I could end this cowardly display quickly for you!" She was getting frustrated. "If you're going to be this annoying, you could at least try to attack me and give me a challenge!"

"With what? My bus pass?" I screamed. She slashed out, and I winced in pain. She got me on my left arm there. It wasn't massive, but there was blood.

"You can't attack and you're already getting tired enough to let me hit you. This is a really sad fight, I expected a lot more." She really knows how to rub things in.

She made a big move, going for the kill bringing a sword across the body, but I managed to fall backwards to avoid it. I was in the icy part of the street now. I could tell because she knocked me down with a shot to gut and I was sent skidding backwards on my butt, ending up about 15 meters away.

"Ha ha ha, wow. I'm sorry, I was wrong. This is just hilarious. Really, this is a battle? All right, fun time is over. It's time for you to go." She slowly made her way towards me, weapons poised to deliver a final blow.

I was just backing up, trying to buy myself even an extra second. What can I do? What kind of punishment was this? Are they even going to know I'm gone? It's not fair. I put my hand up instinctively, to protect my face. The cool wind seemed to be hitting me even strongly now. As if to sweep me away. I expected to hear my attacker slicing through me, but instead I only heard a slight "Ugh."

I looked up. She was still there, still looking rather angry, but now she had an extra addition. Her left arm was almost entirely encased in ice. Did a freak wind just save me? It wasn't that cold, was it?

"Hmph, I should have guessed as much," she said, pissed almost as much at herself then me. "The fact that you had no weapons pointed to a Zauber type. And Ice to boot? How stereotypical of you. Although the toque you have on should have led me to some stereotypical power too. I'm just being so fucking careless tonight!"

"Wait what, I did that? How the hell did I do that?" That was less an expression of disbelief and more an actual question. Was it hand position? Does it do it when I'm stressed? Can I just fire at will? Like I'm going to get any answers from this crazy chick.

"You are so clueless!" she exclaimed. "No matter, I'll beat you with one arm!"

She started coming at me again, but she was clearly suffering from some decreased mobility with the extra weight on her arm. I was able to scramble out of the way and back down the street. I could see her try to hack the ice off with her free arm, but she was having a very rough go of it. This gave me some time to try to figure out how I did what she said I did. OK, so I was running, nothing happened. I fell, nothing happened. I put my hand up like this, then….

My thought process was interrupted as I saw this somewhat blue energy pooling in my right hand. I was freaking out but it kept growing bigger. Finally it fired way up into the sky, catching the antenna on one of the skyscrapers. I could see the ice spread down, encasing it in ice that allowed the red blinking lights on top to shine through it with a prismatic effect. I just looked at my hand, amazed that it just conjured that. I held it out again and could see it flaring again. I have a weapon now. I looked up and saw my foe still trying to cut through the icy prison. A smirk slowly spread across my face.

"So, since you seem to know what's going on, I suggest you start coughing up some answers, such as why the hell you are coming after me when I'm trying to enjoy myself on a Sunday night!" I said as I came towards her, hand still at the ready.

"Hello? Red vs. Blue? Don't you know anything?" she said, the ice not putting a damper on her condescending tone. "Now accept your fate!"

She charged again, but this time, I was ready. A charged up ice ball came flying at her, and her right arm now shared the same fate as it's twin. She let out an anguished cry after seeing her other hand rendered useless. The sudden weight gain sent her crashing to the ground.

"Jeez, for someone who comes off as so smug and smart, you really don't know how to alter your battle strategy all too well. Oooh, I'm gonna charge! Doesn't work as well now that I know what I'm actually doing, does it?"

"You bitch. Don't you dare start taking that tone with me! You don't even know the basic concept of any of this!" That cocky tone from before was gone now, only anger remained. But still, I was in control of the situation, that's what mattered. I walked over and stood over her, asserting that control.

"Well, I know a bit more then I let on, but I'll let you start filling in some holes."

"Why don't you just kill me and get it over with? Fill your role!" I thought about it. It would make a fitting end after this unwanted combat. I looked at my adversary, about possibly finishing her off right now. But...no. I can't do it. I can't kill. Nothing above an insect anyway. Even the mice that frequented my house back home never saw my wrath. I just can't end a life. But I can't let her know that though. No, just gotta keep playing the frosty ice queen card. Maybe I can get some info out of her. Maybe even why this happened to me.

"I'm feeling generous tonight. You tell me what I want to know, and I let you go home to unthaw. Don't and you become a very pretty popsicle." I brought in a little bit of energy to prove my point. This is way too much fun. I'm so freezing my little brother's legs my next trip home.

"You're wasting your time. If your Messenger isn't going to give you all the details, why should I?"

"Well, you can at least start by telling me some basic info!" I was starting to get a little ticked off. Even in a completely vulnerable position, she was still giving me lip. "First, did you do anything to anyone back at the bar?"

"You were at the bar, were you?" I know I gave away some info with that question, but I had to know my friends were still safe. "No, I didn't do anything. I have no interest in slicing up neutrals. Not worth my time."

I sighed. So my cowardice didn't cause any harm. That's good. "Next question, who the hell are you?"

"Why should I bother telling you if you're ending me tonight?"

"Just answer the dang question!" I'm getting so sick of people and things jerking me around when I just want info.

"All right, fine. My name is…HYAA!" She reared up and kicked me right in the stomach. I fell backwards and into a nearby snow bank as she got up and ran, struggling to carry the blocks she had for limbs. She dashed down the street and quickly disappeared into the darkness.

God, what a bitch. That kick freaking hurt. I guess it serves me right for getting cocky like that. At least she wasn't wearing heels. That would have been even more painful.

I got up and brushed myself off. Looking at the clock on my cell phone, I decided there was no point in heading back to the bar. The set would have broken up by now anyway. I hiked up to the bus stop to finally make the trip home. After fighting for my right to live, I'm too tired to party.