Hey guys, hello! Special chapter...chapters today.
I know, what you guys may be thinking. Chapters when this is one chapter. Yeah, I know, I know. I just was excited about this story. So, how this is going to work is that it won't be one super long chapter. Technically, it is, but what I'm doing is that I'm continuing with chapter order with the next character and get that character introduction done and over. Then, I will continue on with the main plotline where...well, you'll find out. But I'll make it obvious when the next chapter will pop up. So let us start with…
Chapter IV: Eddy
"Heroes do whatever it takes to save people."
"I thought I told you, Louie, oh I thought I told you…" A teen with a smooth and apologetic tone said he approaching the down teenager. The teen backed up fearfully, already bleeding from the noise with marks on his tanned legs, a thin line of blood coming from the top of his head which had black short hair on it, and his arms were now sporting a few bruises. He hit the dead end of the alley.
"Eddy, come on man, I'm sorry." Louie terrified tone didn't deter Eddy's approach. Eddy himself was short for his seventeen-year-old self, a simple five feet, and three inches. He was obviously shorter than the boy terrified. Eddy was wearing black dress pants and dress shoes and a crimson red, long sleeve dress shirt, two buttons undone at the top. His hair was ruffled and black.
"Louie, Louie, you think my dad wouldn't catch you, didn't you? Well, you were right, but you didn't think his son would think otherwise?" Eddy stated nonchalantly as he wielded a broom stick with his right hand, it leaned on his right shoulder and the top half went diagonally behind him. He wore a bored expression. The tip was slightly covered in blood.
Eddy continued. "You think you know everything, huh? All this time, I just been letting you pass, I let you push me around because you aren't shit, waste of time and energy. Four-fucking-years of your bullshit, the comments, the bullying, the rumors, all forgiven but not forgotten. But you crossed the line, today."
Louie tried to be one with the wall. "No man, I just, just wanted to say hi and it just got a little heated."
"You groped my sister's ass, like hell it got a little heated. A no is no. You fuck with my sister, I fuck your body up." Eddy said threateningly as he gripped the broom with his right-hand harder. His expression didn't change, but his eyes were more intense with their strange white irises.
"Well...it...just…" Louie's thin line of blood mixed with his sweat and it streaked down his face quickly. He grew angry. "Your sister's a whore any-"
Eddy struck with his broom stick fast held it at the tip. The broomstick was fully extended and landed on top of Louie's head and his eyes rolled back and he was knocked out cold. Eddy spit on him and kicked him in the stomach, and he responded with a groan, Eddy smiled and walked away whistling, spinning the broomstick with no broom end effortlessly between his hands. He walked out the alley and into the streets of the day. Everything was good in the small city sector of Italian Cove, southeast by a quarter mile from Second City downtown area. By the name, it was filled with Italian-Americans and their culture from their homeland. Eddy was one such Italian-American. He continued to whistle, ignoring the stares he received as he wielded the broomstick.
Eddy just didn't care. He gave no care for no one but his family. No friends. All just loose ends, Eddy thought. The sorta-formal wearing teen was soon at the destination of his family's shop. A simple pawn shop with knick-knacks and random things from all over the city, country, hell, Eddy assumed that they had things from all over the world. It was called Little Hall of Gren. Eddy Skipper Gren gained a small smile as he opened the door. What greeted him was the familiar smell of wood, metal, perfume, cologne, and subtle food smells that all mixed into the Gren Odor that they were locally known for. It was a good smell. Eddy saw the ten rows of items on the shelves. Eddy walked and noted all the oddities that hanged on the wall with hooks or on little shelves. To the right was the counter that stretched all the way to the end of the room. A cash register was to the far end. Behind the counter was a long five level bookshelf filled with books of all genres and languages. The floor was a peach mango color and the walls a simple, yet calming beige. The counter itself was simple marble, which had cost nearly all their money, but was a well-chosen addition.
Eddy put the broom stick to the left of him and let it fall against a random object. The young man went across the room with his hands in his pocket. He made a turn to go behind the counter and went through the door behind where the cash register was. Going through the door, Eddy was now in his living room. A simple couch with, three recliners all surrounded a large table. His family didn't have or want a TV. The floor was white carpet and the couch were a brown victorian design and a ceiling fan spun lazily above. Windows were to the right and the blinds were open to allow the sunlight in. A few wall tables were against the wall with family photos, a few paintings on the wall, and a china display thing that Eddy never bothered to learn. He continued on to his room. But he was stopped by a familiar figure. Towering over him was his little sister. She wore a pink shirt and dark yellow pants. Dark brown hair in a bun. Red eyes stared at him.
"Where did you go?" She asked.
"Hanged out with Louie." A sense of worry crossed her sister was very innocent and very honest person. Eddy knew that there wasn't a bone in her body that was bad.
"You didn't hurt him did you?" No matter what people did to her, Hana always found a way to forgive.
Eddy hated lying to her, but he wouldn't want her to be sad again. He quickly feigned a smile. "No, I just talked to him. He'll give you an apology soon enough about that little incident yesterday."
"Really?" She asked surprised. Louie has been bullying Eddy for years; she didn't think he would listen to her big brother.
Eddy gave a few nods and kept the smile up. Eddy was soon gathered into a hug. A very hard one. "Thank you, Eddy, I know I can always count on you."
"No sweat Hana." Eddy returned the hug. Hana went away happy and Eddy chuckled. He loved his family more than anything. Dad and mom were on a business visit to the flea market across the city, leaving him and Hana in charge of the store. It was a slow day. His big brother was out of state, and the big sister was away at her boyfriend's for the day. They all lived together, but his brother's room was turned into the work room where they kept the main computer, printer, fax machine, tools, and a workbench that his mother and father used.
Eddy walked past said room and he only took a glance before going to his bedroom. He called out to Hana.
"Hana, I'm going to take a nap! Keep charge of the counter and yell if any trouble happens, alright?" He waited a bit.
"Okay!" Her chipper voice stated. Eddy went to his bedroom. Eddy was not a materialistic person. Though he did have a small passion for money. He always tried to have some and make some. His room was bare. Just a bed with red sheets and covers and black pillows. A laptop sat on the bed, plugged up to a charger. He had a small dresser and a closet full of different clothes. Eddy just took off his shoes and hopped into his bed with a sigh. The light was already off. Eddy was soon to fall asleep. Hunting down Louie was a big waste of energy, and he needed some rest.
He was soon adrift into his subconscious and his breathing leveled as he slept soundly.
Eddy saw a weird sight in front of him.
"Where am I?" Eddy thought as he looked around the blank void. He did a three-sixty and looked above and below. Nothing but white. It all felt misty though. As if, he was in some sort of heat haze. He wondered what was going on. He kept looking around and the haze only got stronger. Suddenly, Eddy saw a series of flashes in his brain, like flash bangs that knocked him out. Suddenly, his body started to heat up. It was unbearable, tearing into his flesh and seeming to boil his blood. Eddy looked in horror as he saw lava drip out of mouth and slowly burn through his body. He then felt a surge of energy through him. A burst of speed his feet, his body, his entire being to the soul started to spaz out in faster, blurs and uncontrollable coordination. This strangeness occurred to Eddy for a few minutes. His being moving around while spewing lava. Eddy had tears as he wondered why he had to suffer this way, why he had to die like this.
Eddy saw something. The Haze started to go away and Eddy saw, standing before him was a dark being with glowing red eyes. Eddy suddenly awoke. His eyes shot open and he looked around crazily. Sitting up, he noticed he was drenched in sweat. The room was pitch dark. Eddy looked around and he noticed he was breathing heavily. Eddy stood, he felt the sweat make his clothes stick to his skin. He went to the door. It was dark as well. The young man was still breathing hard.
"I need some air." Eddy's mouth was dry and he heard his hoarse voice. He stumbled to the stairs. He struggled at first, he was out of energy, drained. He was confused; did he not just sleep for a few hours? Eddy, moments after and through a great struggle, was finally on the rooftop entrance. He collapsed as soon as the cool air hit his body. He felt so relieved. He wanted the air. He needed the air. He craved it.
Eddy felt the sweat, which weighed him down, cool and helped make his body feel more relieved. Eddy looked up at the sky. He saw a weird thing once more. The full moon was glaringly mystified blue glow. It seemed to be calling to him in a sense. Eddy reached out to it. His hand, out stretched was met with a breeze and Eddy Gren saw a curious sight. His hand, outlined by the moon, glowed a deep red. Eddy felt a pressure build. He saw his hand glow red and then turned a bit black. The young man felt something drip from his hand. It landed on his shirt. Eddy looked at it. Steam came off of it in droves. The well dressed teen saw it was like water, though sluggish. Eddy looked and saw his hand drip more of the substance. The teen stood up and then he saw with horror as the liquid fell on the roof and started to burn it right through. Eddy panicked. His hand kept dropping them. Eddy started to run around, but then he knew that he was running fast. Too fast for his comfort. The white-eyed teen couldn't control himself. He only got faster, and faster, and faster.
Suddenly, Eddy saw that he wasn't on the roof no more and was instead going through the streets at extraordinary speeds. Everything was just a blur, a big blur. The substance was still spilling but now in droves and following him. It scorched the ground leaving trails of the substance and massive columns of smoke. Eddy heard the car sirens go off as the substance touched the cars; he couldn't stop, though, his legs just kept on moving and moving. Eddy wanted to stop. He prayed, he wished, he hoped.
"Stop, stop, stop, stop," Eddy said repeatably accruing in volume.
"Stop…" The powered teen clenched his teeth. He was getting pissed.
"Stop!" Eddy stated. Nothing changed.
"Stop!" Eddy bellowed and suddenly the blurring effect stopped and the substance stopped coming out of his hands. Everything was still in the forest.
"The forest!?" The shout echoed through the trees and the boy looked around ignored the glowing stream of substance to readjust himself to the situation.'
"I...I ran...to the forest." Eddy couldn't think of what could have happened. Did he really just run, did he really come this far, how long time has passed, was he even still alive? These questions were on his mind and he stared at the substance.
The red dress shirt teen looked at the glowing trail. He wondered how he did it. But then have too much time to think as everything along the path started to catch fire. Eddy panicked and looked around as trees, bushes, everything started to catch fire.
Eddy reached out his left hand. "No!" Then, all of the sudden, the fires stopped and the substance blackened. The boy could only stare in shock.
"The fire...it's...gone? That stuff...is gone?" The mind of the young man started to get a headache. Not even singes were left behind. It was just black and scarred Earth. Eddy approached the line where the substance, here he had stopped. He put his hand over it. It was extremely hot. But it didn't bother him. It actually felt good.
"What the hell?" Eddy sat for a bit. Wondering why. He tried to think of what he ate that gave him these strange abilities, or what he did, or what his mom cooked last night, or did he get sick. Eddy couldn't think of anything, he remembered sleeping but then...nothing.
"Did I even dream?" He tried to remember. But rather, it felt clouded, disturbing even, more specifically the like a haze. It didn't help that no matter how hard he tried, nothing came up.
Eddy looked at his hands. How did he do it? He remembered a building pressure. Eddy then felt that same pressure in his body. Eddy stopped it. He didn't know how, but he did.
"So I can control it…" Eddy thought. He let the pressure build up and he saw his hand start to glow. His hand started to change. It glowed and hardened to black. Random, crooked red lines appeared within the blackness of his skin. His hands both emitted a great amount of heat and Eddy saw the ground start to shift just from the heat alone, it started to turn black as if being burned.
Eddy looked at his arms. He moved and felt it and it felt hot and rocky. Eddy wondered. Eddy thought. Eddy predicted that what he had...wasn't really fire. It didn't just burn. It was liquid and fell to the ground. It was solid and made his skin rocky. Eddy couldn't believe what he was thinking. If he was right, he controlled…
"Fire rocks…" Eddy muttered. The forest was once again silent and Eddy's brain kicked in at what he said and then that he forget his schooling.
"Lava, magma, yeah that." Eddy chuckled and wondered why he thought about fire rocks. It was mildly amusing to him.
"Magma, huh?" Eddy humored. He stood back up and pulled out his phone, which had stayed for the ride the entire time. He forgot his hand was changed to rock and fire, so his phone caught fire and melted in his hand. Eddy looked at his four-hundred dollar phone. His expression went dour. Then fury. He threw the liquefied metal. He went away angrily. He would have to find his own way home.
Suddenly, the boy thought about how he got there. He ran. Ran. From his limited exposure to the comic nerd stuff, and from his older brother's generally comic book focus, wasn't the thing he did hyper speed? Eddy didn't recall what it felt like. He had just started to run. Eddy decided that he needed the exercise and to get back home before his mom and dad found out. The male jogged for a bit but then he realized that he was fast. Faster than he thought. Everything was a blur again and Eddy stopped himself. He was at the edge of the forest and could see the city, but at a significantly closer view. But also, he could see that his magnum was still there. Just blackened and scarred the asphalt. The young man pictured the asphalt across the city being like that.
"Definitely not paying for the damage fee," Eddy said. He decided to get home. He decided to walk.
The full moon above was a still a mystical blue, glowing, seemingly humming into the night. The millions of colors and lights of wisps around the moon were not visible to them all, the rain of that night was over and the moon was left a big glow among the ground, streets, and rooftops of Second City.
Tech looked at the glowing moon above as he felt his Ice powers form around him with his blue wisps and outline frolic around him before heading inside. The orbs danced around Ed's unconscious form as he lay on the couch on the rooftop; the moon and orbs glowing happily around the tall teen. Eddward stumbled around the city, wondering where he was and how he got there, but also the white and yellow lights followed after him; Edd wanted to go home, to his bed, he was exhausted, but then, as he stared at the moon above from the alley, the boy was gone and back home in his bed. Dante saw his orange and technological body, he didn't freak out as he did just ten minutes ago and the purple lines and shadows that developed around him; the moon was beautiful the boy thought before heading inside. Eddy looked at the trail, he sticked to the sides and remained incognito as he saw people outside and inspecting what exactly had occurred, not knowing it was Eddy; said boy looked up at the moon once more as he approached the Hall of Gren.
"Something freaky is going on." Eddy thought and he was back in his home. He snuck inside and back into his room. His family undisturbed, it seemed. That was until, once Eddy got in his bed, his parents came to his room.
"Eddy, Eddy, did you see what happened to our roof?" His father, who looked liked a far older version of Eddy with graying hairs.
"No," He lied. "What happened?" Eddy didn't need to feign his fatigue.
"It's burned in a big circle. Come and see it." Eddy's father stated as he went back to the roof. Eddy didn't move. He had already fallen asleep.
With a subtle thought of, "Heroes are born in very unlikely circumstance."
AND THAT IS the end of this chapter. Hope you guys enjoyed all the protagonists being introduced. It was truly fun making each character coming into the scene, getting the little snippets of their personality and their powers. So you may be wondering, well, they don't know each other, to our knowledge they live nowhere near each other, they have completely different lives that would in no way interact with each other, so, Mr. Moon, how exactly are you going to bring them together in the harrowing adventures that were like T.F.T.C.
Well my dear reader, let us find out shall we? Let this kinda new thing(maybe once in lifetime) begin with, immediately after, the next chapter of Being Heroes!
Chapter V: The Spark of Intertwined Destinies
Ed mumbled when awoke. The young man opened his eyes and he gazed at the blue sky day and slow paced clouds. Ed sighed. Another day of whatever. Ed didn't go to school as much anymore; going from foster home to foster home has made it so that any school he went to, he was simply there to be there. Luckily, Daniel was able to get a homeschooling permit and would teach Ed anything he could. As well as taking care of the bar, it was a lot, Ed thought, and he really appreciated the older man's efforts.
"Ed, you fell asleep up here again, eh?" Daniel stood by the door. The hum and drum of the city was quiet in the early mornings of Second City. "You going to get sick one day, you know." He stated.
"I know, but I was tired." Ed said casually as he stood and stretched. He headed back towards the door, Daniel having left moments prior, and went to do his necessities before his morning class starts. The Pub was closed until 3:00 pm, so they had time. Ed was just prepared for another regular day. But before he went through the door, he turned. Something was bugging him. Something needed to be said.
"Fire Spell 000: Fire." Ed said suddenly and his left hand had a flame coating it with red wisps floating around it. Ed gasped a little and was going to react by waving his hand around, but he realized it didn't hurt. It actually felt harmless and was more warm than anything. But strangely enough, there was a draining feeling to him, but also a familiarity to the flame; it felt like it was a part of him, a piece of him, but then not.
"Ed," Daniel called out and Ed moved his hand up and down rapidly and blew air on it until the fire went away. Daniel looked from up the stairs to the boy who stood with an awkward smile, sweating face with his hands behind his back. The older man quirked a brow, but didn't pay much mind to it. "You coming or not?"
"Yeah," The spell user said quickly. "I'm coming, just thought I left something on the couch."
"Okay, well, come on, class is about to start." Daniel said happily before going down the stairs. Ed sighed and followed suit. He felt more words and phrases pop up in his head of different things dealing with fire and water. Ed groaned. It felt like it was going to be a long day.
"Dante, here's the list of chores you have to do around the house and the neighborhood." Tech said, fully dressed in his work clothes. He handed the young suspended high schooler a piece of paper that was written on a notepad.
"Chores? What?!" Dante explained as he grabbed the notepad from his hand and looked over the extensive list and a category with another list of things of do for the neighborhood.
Tech smirked. "Yep, chores. All because I said we will have fun, doesn't mean you getting off scotch free," Dante's face looked depressed as he saw all the chores.
"This is going to blow so bad." Dante mumbled. Tech continued to smirk. He came up to the bed that his brother was sitting on and ruffled his hair. He grumbled.
"It isn't a lot if you start now. Just make sure everything is done. A few of the neighbors around need things done, especially Ms. Rosie on the first floor. Besides, help out around here. Some of these people you can talk about getting money for the jobs, since you want to help out so much." The evil glint in his eye told Dante he should have kept his mouth shut yesterday.
"Pizza's in the fridge; I'll be back by 8:00 in the evening." Tech said as he checked his phone. Seeing that it was 7:00 AM. He had forty minutes to get to work.
"Is that overtime included?" Dante asked.
"Don't know, but I'll see. I'll try my best to not stay too long. We could still have fun." Tech said with a genuine smile. Dante nodded before sighing as he look over the list.
"See ya little bro!" Techlin said as he went out through the front and locked the door. Dante waited until the engine turned on and decayed in the distant as his brother went further and further.
"Just great. A long ass day." The superpowered teen said as he got up and got to work on the first task: cleaning the entire house, dishes, bathrooms, laundry room, living room and tables.
"That asshole, he said everything besides his room. Ugh!" Dante wailed. He was dejected as he went to start with the bathrooms.
Eddward sighed as he walked through the halls of the university. He was considerably bored and classes didn't even start. He hated taking summer courses. "Well, I hate the beginning of the courses. May 29th, 2021-June 15th. Then two unbearable months of nothing."
Edd's school courses for the year were over yesterday, but continued on to the next day to suite the schedule. Especially since he ended up home in his bed. His parents were startled to hear of his sudden absence from his last class. He lied and said he wasn't feeling well and headed home by himself. His parents understood. They knew he was more than capable of making up any work he missed so they usually give him days to come home early or days to come home, though he rarely took the offer.
Edd sat on a bench in the hall. Students would walk by, some will make whispers about him and others just had side glances, but none of them stopped to ask or talk to him. That is how it has always been. Him and them. He wasn't never to be one of them.
The bell rang and Edd followed into the classroom.
Just as soon as it started, Edd realized it was all coming to be over. He looked at the clock on the wall and saw that it was already approaching noon.
"Was it really 8:00 so short ago?" Edd thought as he gathered his materials. Suddenly, Edd felt a presence behind him and turned to see three people looking down at him. He felt a small tinge of fear.
"So you're that little prodigy fella." A girl's voice said. Edd could only nod. He didn't know what else to do.
"You know, I hear a lot about you." The girl continued. She had blue hair. Edd only knew one girl with blue hair, and a small tinge appeared in his cheeks.
"I-i-i-" Edd stuttered. His voice was light, nervous, and kinda raspy due to him not talking for the last few hours.
"Marie, why you even bothering talking to him? I'm hungry." A male said dressed in the school silver, and gray dress uniform.
"Shut it, Tal. Besides, I feel like we need a new friend here." Marie Kanker said with her arms crossed. A devilish smirk spread across her features. "Want to have lunch with us?"
Edd was dumbfounded. Never would he have thought anyone would want to have lunch with him. It was new. Unreal, even. Bizarre, burlesque, rare, an oddity, so many descriptions. But he was able to stammer out a simple 'yes'. Before he knew it, Marie had taken him by the shoulder, very close to her face with a toothy smile. Edd's height of being five feet and nine inches made it so that he had to bend over to be at such a position.
"I think we going to be good buds." Marie said happily and proceeded to take the blushing boy with Tal and another girl following behind, not too pleased, but was used to Marie antics of making new friends.
"I swear, I wonder where this shit came from…"
"I'm telling ya, someone better pay for this…"
"Danny, you there? Yeah man, insurance better be good. My tires are melted...yes melted."
Eddy was nonchalant as he heard the many people complain and moan about their destroyed cars. Eddy glanced at the scarred Earth and wondering just how bad was he last night. The laval user knew that he couldn't fix it, even if he could, he didn't want people to know about his new kinks.
"Why the hell did I get them?" Eddy wondered. He strolled down the sidewalk, droning out the people as they continued to try to get their cars out, call people to tell them about the incident, starting asking questions about, rumors running amok, friends talking to friends, all that occurs when something big happen. Eddy remembered the serial killer that used to live around here and how he was found out through the rumors and people. It was a small neighborhood. Everyone knew everyone. So that is why Eddy paid extra effort to avoiding divulging in their discussion.
Eddy sighed. The day was nice, cloudy and warm. A constant breeze flew in the air. A good day for a walk. The young man, as he said to his father, needed time to think. His father and him had that type of respect and relationship for each other to know when one man had problems, he had to set out on his own to solve them in anyway possible. The only rule his father ever said was that if whatever he did...
"Don't endanger your family." Eddy muttered with his hands in his pocket and form shifted to look at the ground as he walked. How would he be able to have these powers? If anything, him having these abilities would put his own family in harm's way. The press, the law, the government, gangs maybe, people just being greedy and people being too curious.
"What the hell do I do?!" Eddy punched the wall, unconsciously activating his laval powers and leaving a fist sized hole of lava in the wall. Eddy realized it and quickly deactivated it. He looked around and saw no one around. He increased his pace.
"These...kinks...are troubles. Damn it all to hell." Eddy looked above and saw the Little Ron Miniway. One thing about Second City is that each sector were connected by a short highway called a miniway that goes across the river and into the city. Each one led to a different sector and each sector led to the downtown area. It was accessible by car, boat, bike, and, to Eddy's comfort, walking.
"Might as well see what is down town." Eddy said aloud and continued his walk.
Ed cracked his neck and his hands as he finished taking his test on Calculus and thanked Daniel.
"How you think you did?" Daniel was behind the bar table. There was a moveable chalkboard behind him with complex equations and numbers. Ed would just sit at a regular table that he scooted up to the bar and Daniel taught from there. It was the classroom set up.
"I don't know, one or two problems took up a lot of my time, but overall, I think I did pretty good." Ed said as he handed him the stapled sheets of paper.
"I'll make sure to tell you tonight. But I need you to get somethings for me downtown, if you don't mind." Daniel stated and looked towards Ed.
"Why can't you?" Ed didn't feel up to it. He wanted some time alone to figure out these abilities. Maybe even figure out why and who or what gave them to him.
Daniel gave a look that said 'really'. "Have you forgotten what today was?"
Ed didn't answer right away and he thought about the month. It was May, Daniel's birthday is in December, his birthday is in April, Holidays were in his head, and then time was labeled with different memorable times of Ed's life time. Then it was wrought upon him what today was.
"The Pub's anniversary?" Ed questioned.
"No, it's Queen Elizabeth's birthday-of course it is the Pub's anniversary. Five long years running. Today's the big night where we have the biggest turnout of the year besides around the holidays." Daniel shook his head playfully at his charge's forgetfulness. He continued.
"You need to get some supplies and help me set up; I have to get the big specials from the sectors." Daniel said while handing Ed a list of decorations and foods.
"Is Gala going to come and help cook?" Ed asked. Gala was a neighbor of theirs who was really good at cooking and would come and help them each year for the anniversary.
"Yes, luckily, we are catching her a day before her last year. You know she is graduating college and going out of state to work. Got a big deal with a famous cooking restaurant on the West Coast."
"So she's leaving?" Ed questioned a bit sullen from the news. He enjoyed Gala; she was a good acquaintance to him, though they could rarely have a full conversation. She was always busy.
"Yep," Daniel had a sad tone in him as well. "Her last year with us is tonight. So let makes this an extra-extraordinary night. So she won't forget us, alright?" Daniel said and patted the young man on the shoulder. Ed smiled and nodded.
"Alright, I'll make sure to get this and head back as soon as possible. What time we starting?"
"8:00 PM on the dot. Take the train downtown, should be the fastest. I'll see you here in about two hours, okay?" Ed nodded to the man's words as he headed out the back to his car. Ed left, locking up the Pub beforehand, and headed for the train station. His first stop was a party store that had confetti releasing streamers.
A stranger in a black cloak with a hood up and covering everything on the body save for the sandled shoes, looking down upon Ed as he walked down the street.
"I hope the goddess is wise in choosing them so young." The woman's voice, soft and heartwarming said to no one in particular. She was alone on a rooftop, just in sight of Ed who walked in a fast pace.
Without warning, another person, in a dark blue cloak, considerably bulkier and taller than the woman. His cloak was the same with the hood and covering all visible features; he had boots with small chains hanging on them. When he moved, it seemed as if chains were around his body as they jingled loudly.
"I have found the Warrior of this realm." His voice was deep. Growling sounding, almost.
"You hear from Jax, Tem, or Zara?" The woman asked.
"No." He replied shortly.
"No, I have not." Spoke a deep mocking tone that followed with laughter. Another man's voice spoke. It was manic in sound. He was shorter than the other male and had a far thinner frame. His cloak was a crimson red and he wore no shoes and showed his bare black feet.
"Jax, have you found him?" The woman in the black cloak asked, ignoring his laughter. Jax gave quick nods.
"I'm telling you, the Marksman Tactician here is a lanky ass teen. Hell, even a blue haired chick is dragging him around like it's nothing. Heard he's smart as hell though. Hmph, I can take his ass down with just my pinky!" Another round of laughter from Jax sounded off.
"Could you please remain silent, you are causing a disturbance and ruining our hidden location." The dark blue cloaked man stated.
"Shut it Lanos." Jax replied heatedly. Lanos only sighed.
"Jax, you need manners to be taught to you!" Jax received a smack in a head that sent him down on the rooftop, hard. A woman joined. Just a bit smaller than the other woman and with a white cloak and white dress shoes.
"Ow, Zara, why you do that so hard?" Jax complained as he held his head.
"Because you are nothing more than a nuisance at times." Zara replied snarkily.
"Zara, did you find him?" The black cloaked woman.
"Yes, I found the Trickster. Did you find the Sorcerer, Eta?" Zara asked and the now revealed Eta nodded.
Lanos spoke up. "All we are missing is Tem."
"I'm here," a meek and soft voice stated. It was of a young male. He a twelve-year old's height and sat on Lanos shoulders. His cloak was a dim yellow. " I found the Chaos Agent."
"Good, that is all of them then." Eta stated. She looked and saw Ed to getting on train.
"They are all heading downtown, it seems." Lanos said.
"Yeah, coincidence?" Zara wondered aloud.
"Etro is definitely lacking. This is the last universe where the Sentinels weren't killed by the Soulins. The last stand for our kind." Jax stated seriously.
"Yeah, they are so young, barely able to have lived life fully. Yet, Etro chose them." Tem said confident of the goddess's choice.
"Of the thousands that she has activated on this world, these five are the Sentinels. The last five Sentinels." Eta stressed.
"Their are so separate. Even in this city's sectors, they all live in different ones save for the Warrior and Trickster. Different personalities, lives, everything. The previous universes always had them together, those Sentinels knew each other or a little of each other. But this realm is just keeping them away. I wonder why." Lanso thought aloud.
Eta said, "It doesn't matter. Etro has chose them. The Soulins will arrive here in due time. WIth their powers activated, they will be a target now. Can you see them?" Eta pointed to the downtown area.
"You know, we must test them." Jax said excitedly and with manic glee in his chuckle that followed. They saw the dark trails of smoke that danced around the city skyscrapers.
"Yes," Zara stated spotting the trails of the Soulins. "But it seems this time around, our test will have to change."
"Disperse to your respective Sentinel, this world's first encounter shall happen and their test shall begin." Eta ordered and a second later, the other four were gone. Eta dashed to the train Ed was on and held on effortlessly while standing on it.
"Let us see how you young Sentinels shall act." Eta thought as the skyscrapers' slowly consumed the train with its shadows and steel.
Dante moaned as he got off the bus and saw the city life sprawling around him. He was doing an errand for his last "client", Ms. Rosie. She needed some special cat food for her cat. Unbeknownst of the young Trickster was Zara watching above and she saw Jax not far on a balcony.
Dante was playing music on his phone with his earbuds in. He followed the flow of the city as he listened to steady beat of his songs. So far his day has been filled with back aching work around the home and neighborhood where he cleaned, snipped, watched, dusted, fixed, bought, and did all things possible to help out and quickly got the list his brother had given to just helping Ms. Rosie; she was a kind old widow and baked them sweets sometimes. A very sweet one, Dante thought and really had no complaint with helping her out. The best thing, she only requested one thing: special cat food. Her cat was white furred and fluffy; she spoiled him.
The bus ride there was horrible. The smell, the sweaty people, the rudeness of others, it was all aggravating. Especially the crowding. Then he saw it across the street, the PetGleam store. Then the sight changed drastically as a person crashed into him.
"Marie, watch where you are going!" A female voice shouted. Dante felt a mass on top of him and looked and saw blue hair.
"The hell…"Dante said and wondered why his left hand was so warm. He moved and felt clothed and a moaning noise.
"Who the hell is touching my crotch!?" Marie shouted as she recovered and Dante's eye widened as he quickly pulled away his hand and feigned unconsciousness.
"Oh shit!" Marie cried as she saw Dante's form. People around them were watching or side glance, some stopped to watch the scene. Eddward looked at the random boy and felt sorry. He heard them clash and could understand that he was knocked out. Especially since his body cushioned Marie. Edd glanced around, wondering if he needed medical attention. Marie was trying to desperately wake him up. By slapping him.
Dante felt the hands repeatedly slapping his face and tried to say he was awake.
"I'm-*slap* a-*slap*a*slap, slap, slap, slap* awak-*slap, slap, slap, slap* STOP!" Eddward was surprised by the sudden shout and many people jumped. The young boy stood and held his sore cheeks.
"Sorry bro, just didn't want it to be seem like I killed ya!" Marie said sheepishly.
"No problem. Almost killed me with the way you hit." Dante cracked his jaw a little. The blue haired stranger recieved a smack from both of her friends and an argument started about watching where she goes and her clumsiness. Dante saw the worry glance of the well dressed guy around his age, looking at him in worry.
"I-I-I-I'm sorry, are you o-o-okay?" He spoke and stuttered quickly. Dante thought him to be shy and wondered if he was the little brother of one of the blue haired chick's friend. Probably trying to be cool or whatever, Dante dismissed.
"Yeah, thanks man. Make sure to tell your friend or whatever to watch where she's going." Dante was going to stop and a car horn, screeching tires, and shouting came from an unfamiliar loud mouth to another one that ringed true to his ears.
Tech was making a quick drop by to the store for ingredients for the chef. He was dressed in his uniform for work and driving his car. The traffic wasn't too bad today, luckily. He had the list in his hand, having left just a few minutes ago and looked at the tiny list and the amount of what to get for each item. It shouldn't be too much. Tech pressed down on the gas a little, coming up on an intersection where he had the light until a person walked out in front of him. He quickly slammed the breaks down. The car was mere centimeters from hitting the short guy. Tech took a breath and took in the sight of the dark red dressed shirt and black pants the guy was wearing. Tech then got angry as the light turned red.
"Hey," He ducked his head out his rolled down window. "Can't you fucking see I had the light!?"
Eddy looked at the guy dressed up nice in his blue and black dress uniform. "Yeah, ever heard of the right of way for every pedestrian, you asshole!?"
"Why you shrimp!" Eddy got mad at that insult and came up to Tech's window.
"Who you calling shrimp rich boy?" Eddy whispered menacingly as he grabbed the scruff of Tech's shirt.
"Let. Go. Now." Tech didn't have the time to deal with this idiot. He would need to make quick work with him.
Ed was walking by the soon to be altercation and really didn't pay the two strangers any mind. The party store was close by, next to the PetGleam store and probably just as pricey. Ed kept on moving, ignoring the teen that ran by him with strange orange eyes. He did see a strange boy with yellow highlights in his hair, it seemed, looking at his general direction.
"They are all here." Eta noticed, instantly knowing who the Sentinels were and seeing her companions scattered around and watching. The dark smokes slowly started to form and they drifted downward. Eta took a seat on the edge. She connected to the other telepathically.
"Don't interfere. If they can't handle it, then Etro has chose wrong."
Ed wondered what was going on as he saw a blue haired woman look at him, but then everyone looked at him, but then Ed realized that they weren't looking at him. They were looking behind and up. The sounds of the noise stopped with gasps and whispers in the air. Ed turned and saw a black mist in the air. He wondered what was going on. Ed saw something drop in his hand. A cap and a note inside that said, "wear it". Ed looked around. He saw something peculiar. The two guys fighting had something in their hands as well, and the boy with orange eyes who ran by did too; they examined it curiously and the one in red looked around as to who gave it to him. Ed looked around once more and saw the other boy, who was actually an inch or so shorter than him with an object in his hand. He observed the boy put it on and a hood appeared on him.
"What is going-" A loud roar filled the air and Ed saw the black mist take form as it landed on the ground. People scrambled before hand and left their cars and the area around them as multiple legs stomped down. The beast was a purple and black mass, chubby and plump everywhere with tentacles sprouting from the top of it's body and multiple eyes with purple rings of fire around the pupil. Then one giant eye opened and that too was the same design as the others. It's large jaw opened and let loose another loud roar and showed the millions of teeth inside.
Eta watched the cautiously put the hoods on as the crowd cautiously backed away from the creature. They understood what they did almost instantly when they felt the hood appear. But now, Eta wondered, what would they decide to do. She connected to them telepathically, nonetheless, and with the message in mind to fit this world's synonym for Sentinels. Even if it was a test, they were their last hope and she wanted to push them.
"Do not hesitate, start Being Heroes."
AND DONE!
How you guys like that? Two chapters in one and you guys are happy and dandy! Yes, I could just combine the chapters but too late. Too much deleting and stuff that I do not want to do. But I really do hope for you guys to enjoy this little special thing here. I really do hope you all enjoy this just as much as I love writing it. Next up is the Outbreak Chronicles, so look out for that!
So with that my fellow readers! My fellow writers!
JohnTheMoon, out!
