Greetings, loyal fans (really, you're very loyal, it's been forever)! Here is what you've been waiting for! The third (and not so final) chapter of Static Pulse! Honestly, I apologize for the long wait but I have a good excuse! School. School is the bane of my existence, and yet I went to college. (I don't recommend it but, hey, you need to live, right?) Moving, and school. Go figure. But, here it is! Also, I found a nice pronunciation for her name-El-ee-sah.

Disclaimer: I don't own any recognizable franchises or patents. Please, don't sue me! I have school things to pay!


Getting up was difficult. To say I was groggy was an understatement, rolling out of bed with the covers and everything. The impact didn't do much but make me mumble curses and gingerly fight against the confines of my cocoon. And the blaring of my phone's alarm was succinctly ignored until my arms were free and I could shimmy out of the fabric death trap. A knock on my door brought me stumbling to it, wrenching it open, and staring balefully at the cleanly pressed woman there.

"You up now? That alarm's been going off for twenty minutes now." I grumbled in greeting, nodding, and slowly closing the door. Through the barrier I could hear her chuckle, "Breakfast is ready and on the table. Hurry up, though, or you'll miss the bus."

Oh Loki, the bus. I'd forgotten about that. Packed up like sardines in a metal death trap, with people I didn't know-probably didn't care to know-and off to who knows where. Sighing, I called my assent and her footsteps disappeared down the hall.

It was something like a twisted game of hide-and-seek where the hidden were actually my clothes in ten or so boxes, and I was the seeker freezing my tail and toes off in the cool morning air. Eventually, I did manage to scrounge up comfortable enough jeans, a blue tank top, and a charcoal grey sweater. My shoes already being downstairs, I swiped a pair of socks and my phone, and grudgingly made my way down there.

The smell of cooking lingered in the air-hints of meat, eggs, and hash browns- and my stomach seemed to scream, Feed me, Elysia, feed meeeee! I readily acquiesced to its request. I vaulted over the railing of the stairs and bounded into the kitchen, just in time to see Mom fling the spatula in the air and scream.

"Did I scare you?" I laughed, perching on the bar stool at the island. A plate waited for me, with seared ham, scrambled eggs and cheese, and salty hash browns. Fortunately, she hadn't forgotten my calcium addiction and had a cold glass of milk waiting for me.

"Yes! What were you doing-jumping from the bannister?" I avoided her eyes and cut into my meat instead. "You were, weren't you? Elysia, geez, powers or no you can still feel pain. You do remember how it felt that time you broke your leg, right?"

"Yes, Mom." I winced and stuffed some egg in my mouth. Mmm, cheesy.

"Of course you do. You screamed and moaned for what seemed like forever-"

"It was only thirty minutes." I shrunk down at her glare and sampled the hash browns. Crunchy goodness, as always.

"-and I was down the street, and had to explain to the neighbors that you had night terrors, not to worry, not to phone for help. I then had to watch, in agony, as your fibula and femur snapped back into place, the muscle knitted together, and skin closed over the wound."

"And, I think that's enough breakfast for me. I'll grab a pop tart for later." I rubbed my thigh, phantom pricks of pain lancing up my leg.

"Sorry, sweetie. Just...no more jumping from heights like that, ok?" Her eyes were weary and I smiled reassuringly.

"No problem. Just park benches and fences from now on." I slid back from the island too quick for her spatula to whack me.

She growled in frustration and turned back to the stove, flipping burned pieces of ham onto a clean plate. "Just go to school, the bus should be at the end of the street, at the corner, in ten minutes."

"Will do! Love you, Mom." I darted into for a kiss to her cheek and out to the living room. Next to my shoes was a brand new, startling blue backpack. And, I couldn't help but wonder when she had gotten up to go buy it...and to fill it with generic school supplies, apparently. My shoes slipped on, I slung it over my shoulder and made for the door.

"Wait one second, Missy!" Freezing, I slowly turned and stared questioningly. What could I possibly have done? It's only been a day! "You forgot this." She dropped something gently into my hand. Looking down, it turned out to be a wadded twenty dollar bill...and a shiny new key. "I might still be out when you come home, so let yourself in and lock the door behind you, ok?"

"Thanks, I will." For a moment, I hesitated before giving her a big hug. The next moment, I was out the door and down the walkway. A glance back and she was leaning against the frame and waving lazily.

In no time, I was down the street, trudging my way through the cool air-not that it bothered me, really-and hoping the bus would come soon. No such luck. Ten minutes I waited, and ten minutes the bus didn't show. What did show, though, were two other students. One I didn't know, the other who matched the blush on my cheeks.

"Oh, hello! You're new here to Maxville, aren't you? I heard someone was moving into the old house next to Will." I was surprised by the strength of the girl's grip, more-so than the fact that she had just grabbed my hand and started shaking it. "I'm Layla, I live down the other way. This is Will-why is your face so red?"

Chuckling, I waved cheekily at him. "Hey there, Will. We met yesterday, but didn't have the time to be properly introduced. I'm Elysia."

He coughed and waved quickly back, "Will, Will Stronghold." For a moment, he winced as if expecting something…but, save for my raised eyebrow, I made no comment. "You're really not from around here, are you?"

"Really, really. We just moved down from...elsewhere, just Mom and me. Needed a change, and the school came highly recommended? So, why not?" For a moment, we all stood there, shifting our weight uncomfortably. "This your first year here?" This seemed to burst Layla from her quiet.

"Yeah, we're super excited!" The look on Will's face said otherwise. "Should be a really fun experience, right Will?"

"Oh, yeah, fun. Oh, look, the bus!" Smooth, Stronghold. Indeed, a bus was crawling to a stop before us and Will didn't wait before shooting up the stairs once the doors opened. "This the bus to Sky High?"

"Shush! Keep it down. Do you want every villain in the area to hear you?" The bus driver thundered, startling even me. I mean, really. The only worthwhile villain is locked up in a plastic and glass prison at a secure location. He also likes gingersnap biscuits and the occasional fish and chip basket. Nice guy, Magneto is.

"Um, no, sorry." Will chuckled and made to go sit down, but was halted.

"What's your name, freshman?" His name?

"Will, Will Stronghold..?" You must watch a lot of Bond movies, bro. Apparently, his name struck something in the bus driver, who gulped and leaped to his feet, proclaiming Will's name over the speakers-why are there speakers on a school bus, anyway?

"You, scoot, Will gets the seat behind me." And the poor guy even got up!

"No, no, it's fine. I'll just find a seat back-"

"No, really. I'd be an honor, a privilege, to give up my seat for you. You're second generation, man!" Second gen? Not that big of a deal, so am I!

"Thanks, but you really don't have to." With that, Will scampered down the aisle and plopped down next to a guy with the greatest bleach job I've ever seen. Layla wasn't far behind and chose a seat across from him. Feeling suddenly like everyone was waiting on me, I slid next to the boy from before, offering a hand.

"Elysia. I'm not Will Stronghold, but I'd like to sit here if that's ok." He smiled and took it. The bus finally started moving, and I relaxed somewhat.

"Ethan, and that's fine. I melt."

"What?" Please don't tell me he's hitting on me...

"It's my power. I melt." He actually seemed sheepish now, and I winced.

"Oh, sorry! I'm just...not used to people being so open about it." Not that Will or Layla were, but I'm going to ignore that.

"No worries. What's yours?" He grinned.

Smirking, I sent short spark of static electricity through my hand and he yelped, pulling back. Chuckling, I shrugged. "I have my talents."

He laughed and rubbed his arm to try and get the feeling back, "Cool! You might even make hero, if you impress them enough."

I frowned, "Hero? Well, I would hope so. I'm not really one for world domination or mass mayhem, but we'll see."

"Oh, no! You're not from around here, are you? Hero's a class group - opposite to the sidekicks - inside our grade. It's likely I'll be sidekick, as there's really no practical application of my power." He rattled it off monotonously, as if he'd heard it all before. He probably had. Smiling reassuringly, I nudged him.

"Can't be that bad. They don't have to know my power, do they? I'm not really one for heroics, anyway." He cracked a small smile and I counted my work done for the day. Passed him, I caught the sight of a bridge railing sailing by...too fast. Whipping around, I would have leaped to my feet, to warn the driver about the speed limit but I was caught and secured to the seat by...a harness?! And then we went over the edge.

And up! Really, a school bus that flies...a heart attack waiting to happen. The loop-the-loops were nice, though, and I tried to calm down, ignoring the crackling frost that coated the back of the seat in front of me and the tingling of electricity at my fingertips.

"...Welcome to Sky High." Looking out the window with Ethan, I finally got the name. Honestly, I had assumed they were just trying to be clever - the sky's the limit, and all that nonsense. But a school that hovers in the clouds? Incredibly cool.


Aaaaand, that's about all I got. For now! It's still a little slow, but I hope you liiiiike it! :D Tell me about it, in a review, or something! ^_^