WOAH. A CHAPTER THAT DIDN'T TAKE AN ENTIRE WEEK OR MORE TO RELEASE!? WOOAA- Curb your excitement, Jimmy. I figured I'd just write this out to clear up a couple of things. The final part of the chapter just came to me, and it felt like it worked. If you want, the source to the song is Kendrick Lamar- Sing About Me I'm Dying of Thirst. Amazing song, I can't recommend it enough. Beautiful. Absolutely. And a lot of the song influenced Hezekiah's history (In a way, Hezekiah's past is this song). So something I wanted to share because it was floating around in my head, and let me know what you thought of it. Enjoy!

"King Fredrick… It's a pleasure speaking to you. Really it is."

"I get that a lot… what would you like today?"

"What us Twelve would like? We are from the Wesmich Magical University, and the Guardians can wield almost infinite power with our magic."

"Wesmich is real? The stories are true!"

"What we would… like… is what you should be worried about. There is nothing you can do that we couldn't ourselves!"

"Why are you here, in my Empire? In my Palace?"

The man laughed, Fredrick's grasp on the armrests of his chair tightened in anger. But he knew that not even he could fight these men, "The University would like to remind you that everything you have has been allowed by us. It could all disappear…" The old wizard snapped his fingers, "Just like that…"

"So why are you here? Why have you come to me?"

"…We want to do something for you! How does… a deal sound?"

"…"

"Hmm?"

"Depends on what kind of 'deal' we are talking about."

"We supply you with our mages skilled in casting offensive magical spells. We know that you are at war with the Ithacans, and we have heard you've taken considerable losses against them. We want to help you fight them."

"I'm guessing you are at odds with them as well?"

"Let's just say that the aliens present a… threat, to our survival."

"I see…"

"An enemy of my enemy is my friend. We fight to protect our world from the alien invaders, that threatens to destroy all life here as we know it!"

"Well, as much as I'd love to chase the Ithacans back to the hell realm they emerged from, you've only just arrived to us. Beforehand, we didn't even know you were real! We thought that Westminstchester was a fictitious city-state!"

"All by design Fredrick… all by design. For a long time we have had- issues- regarding the other beings in the universe, and as such we've needed to hide for our common safety."

"I see. What beings?"

"That my friend, you do not need to know. On the offer?"

"Hmm…"

"…"

"I guess I can't go wrong with having the power of the most talented magicians in Aria to help. Count the Iscariots in."

"Good. The divisions will be sent as soon as possible. It was a pleasure doing business with you, My King. Until we meet again."

The twelve vanished in the ball of red Ekron light, just as they had arrived. And Fredrick was left alone. Or so he thought…

It, watched the whole thing. It looked down, drawing out a clock from the pocket of its coat. It chuckled, "Tick-tock. Time. Such an arbitrary concept isn't it? Some believe that the fate of our universes is inflexible. But it seems that a few of us, tend to disagree? Would you not?" before it vanished into the shadows. Now Fredrick was truly alone. And he hadn't even noticed.

"Here at the Atlantic Cooperative Research Association, we are breaking ground in the fields of physics and engineering. New discoveries lie just beyond, and the technology that our top scientists have developed can finally unlock these new truths. A new path. A new dawn. New. That's the ACRA way. A way of progress and ingenuity, continually innovating for a brighter and more knowledgeable tomorrow.

"At the Engineering Division at ACRA, our scientists have already created several autonomous drones that can rescue injured or otherwise disabled personnel from a dangerous environment, like a worker after a nuclear accident. They can carry heavy loads, to relieve our troops and workers from the burden of having to haul heavy loads all over. And most importantly, they can protect. The department has constructed a new Hazard suit, built specifically for the new frontiers and the situations our troops might face there! Our proudest achievement, that we call the ACRA Multiple Threat Protection Suit. The MTPS can protect its user from hazards both human and environmental. Able to thwart a bullet from harming a human, able to apply first aid to a major laceration, even able to protect the user from deadly radiation! The MTP Suit can do it all, and protect all. ACRA supports our troops in Mysterium! And we are doing our part to make sure they get the protection they deserve!

"ACRA. Creating a brighter future, one step at a time."

The first ad ends. The second begins. Both on the same screen. A final review process before it is released to TV's and Radios all across the world.

"The ACRA: Portal Research Division has already broken immense ground in the study of theoretical physics. Massive improvements into our, Portal Research Technology has already led our lead physicists into creating the first stages of developing the world's first, artificial intergalactic-"

"Censor that last part please."

"Yes, sir!"

"Alright. Good."

"We can't let Moscow know how far ahead we are on the development of it."

"When the lights shut off, and it's my turn to settle down. My main concern. Promise that you will. Sing. About me. Promise that you will. Sing. About me."

"I said when the lights shut off, and it's my turn to settle down. My main concern. Promise that you will. Sing. About me. Promise that you will. Sing. About me."

"Yo, Jermaine. You've been listening to this on repeat all day! Are you alright?"

"Yeah, I dunno man. It speaks to me. I don't know how, bro. It just does, y'know?"

"I guess."

"You're just a kid. I guess you'll understand when you are grown like me!"

"You were born only a year after me!"

"Yeah? And? Who makes all the fucking money, and pays YOUR phone bill!"

"Shut up!"

"You shut up, big head! Before I snatch you and your nappy afro! You need to run a brush through that."

Hezekiah pushed Jermaine, who pushed him back. Straight down on the ground. Hard. Fists, slaps, and curses were exchanged. But in the end, they both just sat there and started laughing.

"You punch like a bitch, Hez!"

Hezekiah's face hurt from getting a fist straight to the jaw. It was a warm day. But the blacktop in was empty. Strange for a day like this in Brooklyn. School was still in session, but the day had ended now. They weren't sure why they even stopped there at the park, to begin with. Or at least Hezekiah wasn't. Jermaine never told him why he pulled the van over.

Speaking of which, Jermaine got all silent. The jazzy tune of the hip-hop track still played in the background while they sat there. It was like a medium by which the two could escape reality and go into a world all of their own creation. Away from Earth, like the Japanese, did. But their own fantasy and imagination. An imagination bounded only by the feelings and tastes of their own mind. Infinite and encapturing. Beautiful, and deeply artistic. Hezekiah didn't really care for the song much back then. It was nice, but he'd rather listen to something else. But, when he listened to it like this, the entire world seemed to vanish.

"What's the matter?" Hezekiah's fifteen-year-old voice broke the silence.

Jermaine shuffled a bit, "Bro… you mind if I get, like, deep and shit?"

"Yeah. Go ahead."

"Aight, so boom. I've been thinking… like, what if… what if I die? You know? What would happen?"

"I dunno. If you died I'd get a new room and all the stuff you own."

"Be serious big head. Like for real, what if… some motherfuckers ran up in here, and gunned my ass down? Like…"

"…"

"Like… if I die bro. I'd want you to play this song. This one right here. And I want you to look out for momma and pops. And… to look after that van. That van right there."

Hezekiah wasn't sure how to answer a question like that. What was he supposed to say? Yes? No? Alright? Fifteen-year-old Hez couldn't understand why Jermaine was freaking out like this, "You scared?"

"Nah. I'm not scared. I'm- I'm just worried."

"That's scared-"

"You want me to slap the shit out of you? Stop being such a smartass!"

"My bad. Look… I don't know. If you died I'd be sad. And momma would be too. Dad would still be himself so I don't know about him, but if you died, this whole family would change you know?"

"Yeah…"

Jermaine saw something that caught his eye. And a low whistle. Jermaine perked up suddenly, and then in just the same manner turned to Hezekiah, "Aye, bro. Get in the van."

"Why?"

"Just get in it! Go! Run!" Jermaine shooed him away as Hezekiah stood up and went back to the car. He opened the side doors and sat on the cushiony seats of the Toyota. Cool from the tint in the windows and air-conditioning. He sat and watched as four other boys approached Jermaine. They fist-bumped him, and pulled him up, as the five went around a piece of playground equipment where Hezekiah couldn't see him. Hezekiah knew Jermaine was into some shady shit. And he knew what. He knew who those boys were. He never told mamma though. If she knew, she'd probably have a heart attack. Lord knows she's been through enough as is.

And so, Hezekiah just let Jermaine do his thing, figuring that it was why he came to the playground. Getting bored, Hezekiah tuned the radio in the car. And it landed on the same song.

It was growing on him, so he sat back and let it play.

"Am I worth it?"

"Did I put enough work in?"

"Promise that you will. Sing. About me. Promise that you will. Sing. About me."

" I said when the light shut off. And it's my turn to settle down, my main concern. Promise that you will. Sing. About me. Promise that you will. Sing about me."

"Promise that you'll sing about me forever. Promise that you'll sing about me for- oooh…"

"Promise that you'll sing about me forever. Promise that you'll sing about me for- ooooh..."