I've been planning this one for days. I think it'll be top tier, right next to my Halo put together. That I um, haven't put put yet.

I recently thought that Randy Cunningham, the 9th Grade Ninja, was an underrated kind of show. I mean sure, the fart jokes. And sure, the made up words. But it had its own quality, and unique storyline with unique development.What I'm trying to say is, great idea, but the delivery. Not bad, but not great. Like, the potential was the cheese, yet the punchline was stank, ya feel me?

Anyway, I've been working on my Taylor Hebert Worm fics, and suddenly the plot kind of lined up. Like, perfectly. Like, seriously. So here we go.

Disclaimer: I don't own Worm or Randy Cunningham, the 9th Grade Ninja.

Chapter 1: Responsibility

Taylor Hebert

It wasn't a very good power.

I couldn't fly. Or turn invisible, like I so much wanted to back at Winslow.

I still felt pain, so I was pretty sure I wasn't super durable. Which also sucked, considering most people didn't want to die. Which was a real probability in such a superpowered city.

But it was my power. And I had power.

So really, I could care less.

Let me take you back a bit.

…. A week earlier

It was a harsh reality.

One where justice seemed to be lacking.

I had a thing where I bottled up my emotions. inch by inch it ticked up. The bottle filling up like a pool of water. Bigger than my body, patience and hope making the well bigger. Despair and anguish filling it up faster.

Then hope was gone. I tempered the storm. Months on end where there was no end in sight, dark laughs and sinister grins. The degradation. The humiliation. The pain.

As I sat there in my chair, leaning on my cricketidy old desk, in the small space of my bare room, the reality of it came crashing down. Quiet seemed loud as the room gave way, my thoughts betraying me. PTSD rampant and scouring my mind in a maelstrom of truly darkened feelings-

And for a eirei quiet moment something in me snapped.

I cried as every dark and sinister feeling gave way to a tether in my chest, a feeling of pure righteousness, brought about by the still merciful heart I still bore on my sleeve.This tether strung, vibrating like the buzzing of a string, and I could feel raw power flowing through my pores.

It wrapped around me, solid black meeting the edges of red. I opened my eyes, marveling as my hands were encased in this soft material, one that fit me perfectly. Images flashed in my mind, giving me details of what I looked like, and what I could do."

Am I… a ninja?"

…...

So yeah.

Glancing around, I ducked into an alley, tugging on my tether. My costume enveloped me, as form fitting as ever. It was a little embarrassing, even if I actually looked half decent. Thank and bless superpowers.

I poked my abs, giggling. My build bordered on a professional swimmer, and it was good on my lanky build. Focusing on my tether filled me with this happy earnesty, one I constantly called on whenever the dark thoughts got too strong.

Shaking my head, warding off the negative thoughts, I parkoured my way onto the roof, using my newfound abilities.

I was a relatively new cape, so most people only knew me locally. I waved, did a few backflips at the light ribbing of some people, and began my heroic duties known as Ninja. It quickly caught on, considering my attire.

Maybe it was due to my well put together costume, or maybe my approachable attitude, but people liked me. I laughed hard with some of the locals, and even would make conversation over lunch a few times.

That's not to say I haven't been catching bad guys though.

Small crimes, mostly. A few violent gang people getting too violent. The Merchants, trying to lock kids into their twisted poison trade. I usually talked to the kids after I busted the bad guy, trying to veer them off the path listing facts. It usually helped, I mean so far. I've only been doing the superhero thing for about a week.

My powers were nothing extraordinary. Enhanced agility, enhanced strength. I could pull weapons from nothing like Miss Militia, which was pretty awesome! But sadly it seemed like a kind of watered down version of her own power.

And that was pretty much it. I was just a low ranked parahuman, even though I thought nothing of it. I still helped people. And for once I felt like I had some control over my life again.

And for me, that was more than enough.

My eyes caught another overly hostile dirty looking guy in an alley, and rolled my eyes.

What was it with dirt bags and hiding in alleyways?

Thanks to my enhanced speed I quickly knocked the gun out of his hands, and knocked him out. My powers told me how to do it, like the last 27 or so times I had to knock out gang members this week.

God this city was a mess.

My senses jarred forward, and I was suddenly aware of someone coming at me from behind.

Unused to this, I barley managed to look back as a knee hit me hard in the chest, sending me back against the wall.

An arrow went through my arm.

A hot flash of pain, and I tried to cry out, only for a black gloved hand to harshly cover my mouth. I bit back tears, taking in my assailant.

Purple. Crossbow. Her mask had this sheen in the daytime.

The woman was Shadow Stalker.

I saw her on the news, some press making her out to be angry and violent. Prone to lashing out. I for one really liked the cape because she kind of was a badass. Not to mention one of the only female Wards on the Ward team.

The sting of betrayal mixed with fear and confusion.

I couldn't make sense of this.

"Wh-W-"

"Shut up." She hissed, her other hand moving to grip my throat tight, choking me. I struggled for air. "I don't need you stuttering." She reeled her arms back, before slamming me back into the wall. The arrow still in my arm moving violently, the barbs twisting into flesh and causing excruciating pain. I tried to scream but nothing came out beside the sound of my own struggled breath.

"This is my territory. Walk the streets again and I'll cripple you."

She let me go and I tried frantically gasping for breath, my other hand tugging at the arrow lodged in my arm uselessly.

"W… why?" I mumbled.

I could feel her stare, as she tilted her head back some.

"You… you're supposed to be a hero-like me!" I said stronger, almost shouting.

She scoffed.

"Heroes aren't weak."

The words numbed me. I barely noticed as she left via shadows.

The rest of the day was a blur.

Somehow I had ended up on the abandoned parts of the Boat Graveyard, dull eyes just watching the waves.

And then something inside me shattered.

And even the tether was drowned out in my despair.

Pure power rushed through my veins. Unholy and corrupted, tainted sickly green and feeling like plague.

What was a world where crimes go unanswered?

My eyes bled green, energy condensing and surrounding my hands.

What was a world where justice committed atrocities?

I sobbed, breaking down.

And I could end them.

Twist them to my will. Subjugate the weak, like those who wronged me. Everyone. The world would fear my wrath. The anguish. The pain.

I'd make everyone suffer-

But what would it bring?

I gasped. My thoughts suddenly clear. The power was too great. I could wipe out a city in minutes with the kind of power flowing through my veins-

Would mom want that?

"NO!" I screamed, clutching my head, fighting it. All the dark thoughts. All my greatest fears and anguish. They wouldn't control me. I wouldn't control me. We wouldn't control me? We just had to unleash it on the unwilling-

Would I want that?

"No…" I gasped, crying. Sobbing. The corrupted energy dwindling down to nothing. "No I wouldn't."

A few deep raggid breaths, curled up on the hull of a rusted boat, in the middle of the night.

The smell of seawater entered my nose, and my face twisted at the strength of the smell, fully calming down.

I looked down at my hands, not seeing anything glowing or green anymore. Not a shred of doubt left in us-me, that I was fine again. If still settling, from whatever the hell that was.

The power I held with the tether was unassuming and strengthening. That feeling… it was twisted and dark. All consuming, like some sort of corruption would eat me whole and twist who I was. Twist anyone it touched.

I'd never use it again. Right. Lesson learned, bottling up emotions bad, express feelings good.

God dad was gonna be so mad.

…...

Danny Hebert

Perhaps it was deadly astonishing, the feeling of fear and worry, of anguish that I felt when Taylor didn't come home today.

Did I miss something?

It wouldn't have been the first time.

My girl was strong. Independent. Patient and caring, even if not outwardly kind.

Her hospitalization. The things that happened afterward.

My fists clenched.

Allen wouldn't listen to me. To Taylor. He was so far in denial the man would believe anything over the truth.

And drag everyone else along with it.

Taylor wasn't able to get her justice. And it broke her. Seeing her face when I broke the news was heartbreaking. The investigation ended before it even began. I assumed it got even worse at school, as Taylor would come back even wearier.

And then it flipped. This sudden drive. Like she could tackle anything, going along with a silent determination. All the heartache sliding off her like it wouldn't get past this shell she made for herself.

I was no fool. Anne used to do the same thing. After her protesting group turned violent she had the same look in her eye. It was her biggest flaw.

Every hurtful comment. All the remarks, all the pain. She kept it closer to her chest, so no one could see. And as the days wore on, and the backlash became too much, she nearly collapsed in on herself. Everything hurt ten times worse, because she compressed it into this little ball, and then when it eventually became too big, Anne fell like a puppet with her strings cut off.

It was a bigger depressive funk than I had after she died. Only after she was pregnant with Taylor did she snap out of it.

There was a knock on the door.

I hurriedly went to unlock it, and swung it open.

Taylor was standing there, rubbing her arm nervously. Looking withdrawn. "I um, lost the key somewhere…"

I couldn't even pay attention to that. "Taylor…! Where the hell have you been?!" My anger spiked. It mixed with worry.

And then she burst into tears, rushing up and gripping me in a tight hug.

"Dad!" She cried, sobbing.

I slowly put my arms around her, sighing.

Yes… Taylor was a lot stronger than Anne. A thousand times stronger than me.

……...

Taylor Hebert

I woke up that morning feeling… better.

It wasn't a big change, I wasn't suddenly refreshed and able.

But the twisted feeling I had in my heart… was eased. In a really small way… I felt content.

I groaned, getting out of bed. Putting on my glasses, brushing my long black hair and noting my tanned skin. My mom was pale, and my dad was a different shade of dark tan. With my newfound looks it was good on me, but old Taylor hated the way it stood out, when blending in was key to survival sometimes at Winslow.

Now I was about as pretty as Sophia, and she was some track superstar. You got to love powers. Definitely the best thing to come out of the whole, getting put in a coma for a week or two.

I stopped, looking down, thinking.

Shadow Stalker was right about one thing.

I was weak.

And I just kind of accepted it. My powers weren't explored, and I didn't even know how fast I could run.

Speaking of which…

I traced the skin of my arm, my brows furrowing as I couldn't find even a scar.

Somewhere during the day yesterday the wound healed. I didn't even notice, with everything else happening. It felt like having an arrow lodged in your arm would be something I noticed. Instead it just kind of went away.

Well, at least I have a healing factor.

I sighed, clenching and unclenching my fist.

I… I had to get stronger. If I was going to be a hero, I needed to get stronger. It's not that I wanted it, other people with more time on their hands could do more than I could ever.

But it wasn't about them. It wasn't about me.

It was about helping. Finding justice for those who didn't get it. I'd need to be a stronger hero to do that.

Although, that was the least of my worries. Right now… I had to survive school.

Everything was as dull and dark as I remembered it being. Not that I thought it'd change from the 20 or so hours I've been gone. Between my existential crisis and breakdown, it felt like I had been away for longer.

I gave a heavy sigh, shrugging my backpack more securely onto my shoulder.

Not surprised when a mop of red hair came from my peripheral.

Emma Barnes. The girl nowadays sent a jolt of panic down my spine, everytime I crossed paths with her I was left with this feeling of weariness. She was part of this trio that made my life a living hell.

Anything from destroying my late mother's flute, to stuffing me into a locker full of toxic waste.

I gave a side glare at the closest teacher I could find, knowing they wouldn't care about anything she'd do to me. For some reason the school always kept a blind eye towards anything the three did, labeling me as an attention seeking problem.

Emma was also one of my closest friends, before the start of the freshman year.

Now she was my worst nightmare.

I frowned to myself, not able to muster up the usual feelings I got from our confrontations. Last night had drained me, I was too tired to care for any sideways comments she made at me.

"Taylor."

"Hi Emma." I closed my eyes, pretending she didn't bother me.

In a way, she kind of didn't. I couldn't bring myself to feel anything other than calm right now, so there was no feining indifference.

"I wish you'd stop being such a lazy sack you tall freak."

"I know Emma."

I could feel her brows furrow. "You think I'm a joke? You're not even looking at me." She seethed.

I stopped, turning to the girl with a frown. "What is it?"

She looked a little worse for wear. Emma could never be anything less than perfect, but right now she looked a little less perfect.

Her hair was a little disheveled. And her green eyes were shining with this anger. All in all the girl looked a little unhinged.

I tilted my head. "Are you okay?"

She scowled. "Stop that."

I blinked. "Stop what?"

"That! That… look. Like you don't care."

I glanced to the left. "I kind of don't, really."

She gritted her teeth, rage flashing across her face.

Before storming away.

I coughed.

Well that was weird.

Oh well.

The rest of the day was a blur of exhausting work and avoiding pranks and mean comments. The same as usual.

Winslow was for the poor, not well off people, in a way. Someone who made good enough grades could make a transfer to Arcadia, but before highschool Emma and I wanted to stick together, so I gave up my chance to be with my childhood friend.

The reminiscing brought down my mood. Her father was a lawyer, Allen Barnes. He stood behind her threatening anyone who would even think to testify against Emma on my behalf. There were probably dozens of people that'd want to speak up, the trio being a kind of infamous group of bullies. They ruled the school, or at least Emma and Sophia did.

Sophia…

In a way, I respected her. She was strong, she was african american in a city where that could get you hurt. She oozed confidence and had beauty in spades.

But for some reason she hated me.

The girl would attack other kids, these weaker skittish kids, like her vendetta was against those that weren't as strong as her.

But for some reason she always came back to me.

Like I was the weakest. I could see the disgust in her eye, everytime she looked at me and I'd cower.

She was also the only one of the trio that got physical.

I was slammed against a locker.

Speaking of.

"Sophia."

The dark skinned girl seethed in rage. It was a usual look she had when in my presence.

Her hair was tied back, and she wore shorts, probably because Sophia had track afterschool, and the day was about over.

I got socked in the face.

Pain and this throbbing burn accompanied her hit, but otherwise I was unaffected.

Okay, that was a lie, she hit like a truck.

"Gosh, you can be such a dick." I gripped halfheartedly, tugging at her arms. I sent her a quick glare, before trying to peel her hands away from my shirt.

"The fuck Hebert?"

I rolled my eyes. "What, you expect me to be stunned beyond belief? You only have three moves, go stuff yourself in a locker."

She pulled me back, before slamming me back into the metal, my panic spiking. Curse the person who invented metal lockers. The move was eerily reminiscent of Shadow Stalker though, and I felt that spike of panic quickly snuffed out.

Shadow Stalker was way more intimidating than some star athlete from a shoddy highschool. I could handle Sophia.

"You're lucky Hebert." The girl muttered anyway. "I got my fill beating the crap out of someone yesterday, so you won't regret that comment."

Not being able to help myself, I gave her a flat stare. "You're one sadistic bitch, you know that?"

Rage flashed. "You-?! That's it-I'm gonna make you wish you were dead!"

"How?" I raised an eyebrow, completely calm. "Don't you have track in half an hour? What if I called the cops on your ass? With me beat up and my blood on your hands, that'd be a pretty bad mark on your record."

"The cops ain't gonna do shit."

"You wanna take that bet? People like to talk. How many people have phones in their hands right now?"

She pulled me closer, staring right in my eye. "You're not smart Hebert. You're not strong. I'll get you back for this."

"Are you gonna shove me in another locker?" I mumbled back to her. "Or maybe destroy another one of my dead mom's items? I've gone full circle Sophia. You don't scare me anymore."

I could feel I struck a nerve with that. I could feel the shift.

Sophia let go of my shirt, and walked away.

Did I… did I just stand up to Sophia?

I blinked, surprised. "Huh."

There was no doubt in my mind that Sophia could win if we fought. Even with my new enhanced body without the boost from wearing my suit, it just wasn't enough. Sophia obviously took martial arts or something because I've seen her leave other kids in bloody pulps in seconds. I did not want to mess with that.

Still…

Nursing my black eye, I had to grin, if just a little bit.

That was the first time I'd ever really talked back to her. Like that, it was exhilarating, even if I did get punched in the face.

My eyes caught troubled green in the crowd, making out the eyes of Emma before her distinguishable red hair was lost in the hallway.

…...

Charlotte

"Hey." I greeted.

Taylor glanced at me, before going back to the book she was reading. "Hey."

It was… I… er, that is, I've always been a very meek person. Shy, not very confident in myself.

But the thing I regretted the most, was not speaking up. Especially for Taylor.

She was tall, and handsome. Always going through the halls detached from other people. I always wanted to talk to her, but that meant getting the attention of the trio and… I hated confrontation.

Pathetic, for a superhero.

That's right, I was a cape. Months ago I triggered when confronted with Merchants. I was cornered, and scared out my mind. Because of that I have a fear of crowds now, and troubled by men.

But more importantly I gained the power to shift my body and turn invisible. I was a Changer-Stranger. My body could shift into an untouchable wind form, and an additional power to turn invisible at will. Using both of those, I managed to get away from the gang members.

I mainly just experimented with my powers, but once or twice I went out and beat up bad guys. It was exhilarating.

Which made it all the more unbearable as I stepped back and let Taylor deal with the three biggest bullies in our highschool.

"Yes?"

I startled, panicking. "Oh, um sorry. I kind of zoned out for a moment." I apologised, realising I had been staring at her for a good minute.

She raised an eyebrow, not impressed.

I flushed red, flustered. "Sorry."

She went back to her book. "So what do you want?"

I swallowed. "Um… I just… really liked how you stood up to Sophia today. She's always really mean, and violent… and I hate violence."

"Well it all just kind of came out. I had a rough last night."

"Ah."

She put her book down, stretching like a cat. My jaw dropped as her lean and lithe body was on full display for me. Taylor's shirt rode up a bit exposing her midriff. Tanned skin and well built muscle was hungrily drank by my eyes.

Woah.

It was hard not to stare with her body stretched out like that. Under her baggy clothes Taylor had a real body, and I couldn't help to be curious. It was a sight that I had never seen before, and I was pretty sure not many other people got to see.

The thought made me blush harder.

But the sudden thought also made blood start flowing to my brain again, and I suddenly realised Taylor was watching me, bemused.

"S-sorry! I-uh, I'm not like that." Why I had to clarify, I didn't know.

And apparently neither did Taylor. "I didn't ask."

Right. God this whole conversation was a mess. "Ah. Um… look." Take a deep breath, focus your thoughts.

God I hated confrontation.

"I… I'm sorry I never said anything. About-the trio. They… they put you in the hospital, and nothing was done to them. About them. They… they should be in jail-or, juvy, whatever-"

"But you didn't do anything."

I swallowed. The pit in my stomach darkening.

It was the way she said it, like she didn't expect anything less.

"I… I'm sorry."

She sighed, glancing away. "No I shouldn't have brought it up. My bad." She mumbled.

"You're right. I should have done something. It was so wrong not to."

"What's done is done. What else are they going to do? Kill me?" She paused. "Ah well, they could… but Emma wouldn't go that far."

I got curious. There were rumors… "You say that like you know… um, were you and Emma-"

"We were close." Taylor brushed off, coldly. "I… don't like to dwell on it."

So they were like that. My mind immediately jumped to conclusions, like a normal teenager.

I wanted to ask more, but I knew I risked burning bridges, and I didn't want that.

"Is there anything I could do to make it up to you?" She sized me up, glaring lightly at me. "U-um…"

"Say you're sorry."

"Oh, uh, of course! I'm… I'm really sorry."

She hummed. "Well, right then." Taylor got up, walking away.

I reached out for her, feeling my anxiety rise. "W-wait, that's it?...!"

She turned around, pinning me to one of the library walls. Around this time after school, no one was really around… but this position!

I can smell her shampoo!

Her hair was really soft and pretty, it must have been really taken care of.

And my mind flashed back to the glimpse of her body I took, reminded of her firm muscles, and swallowed.

"I know what the real problem here is." Taylor said, looking down at me. "It's not that you want my forgiveness… you want to gratify how sorry you are in your self. Because you can't forgive what you did, or rather what you didn't do."

Was that true?

As a hero, as a person, I couldn't justify leaving someone to be harassed and hospitalized. To be me, that didn't line up with who I thought I was.

So maybe she was right.

Tears built in my eyes.

"You seem like a nice girl." She murmured in my ear, sliding off the wall. "Don't beat yourself up for something that wasn't your fault."

As she walked away, in that pit I felt, the anguish over not helping, this desire took over.

I was gonna make her my friend. No matter what it took.

……...Taylor Hebert

I shrugged my hands into my hoodie pockets, heaving a sigh.

Dad was gonna be pissed when he saw my black eye today. It started swelling up after I left the library.

Unless…

I looked down at my hand, thinking about my healing ability.

I still don't know how that works. I frowned, lost in thought. Was it the suit? Maybe a natural regeneration. If I came home and dad saw it, I would have been screwed, so it must have healed before then…

Hm.

My hackles raise, and I reflexively stumble to the side, and it's enough to save me from the worst of the impact.

Still, something clipped my shoulder real bad, and I got knocked down hard.

It wasn't the blinding pain of having an arrow stuck in-through your arm. But it was pretty bad, enough to leave a black and purple bruise at least.

Come on, seriously? Same arm second day in a row?

I hissed, giving a small huff.

"Shit! Um, sorry lady."

I slowly got up, lips thinning as the skin on my shoulder stretched. Definitely at least a bruise. "What are you running towards metal girl?" I don't know where the drawl came from, maybe from my dad's side? He was from New York.

Then again it could just be because I was in a mood.

"Hey I said sorry." Was the ridged growl.

I glanced up, seeing a blonde mop of hair, atop a ridiculously beautiful angry woman.

She was older than me, by about a good three or so years, and standing next to a detached brunette.

"Victoria, you ran her over." The brown haired mousey one chided quietly. "I'd be surprised if her arm wasn't broken."

The blonde crossed her arms, pouting. "Doesn't look broken." She grumbled.

I just glared flatly. "I'm made of sturdy stuff." I shrugged off the unpleasant thoughts, and looked to start over. "Look, I wasn't paying attention either, I was kind of lost in thought. Let's just say we're both at fault here."

"Yeah, yeah, whatever." She grumbled, looking away.

The brown haired one stepped up, grabbing my arm. I jerked as the pain flared. "Hey that-"

And then suddenly, the pain cleared up.

"Um, doesn't hurt…" I trailed off confused.

"I healed you." She stated, holding up her hands. "Bystander law. Sorry if you didn't want me to, but I know how hard Victoria hits. That black eye of yours looked like it hurt too."

My hand reached to touch at my eye. "Healed me?" I was super confused.

Until it clicked.

"Oh! I didn't-yes, thank you, for real. That was gonna be a nasty bruise tomorrow morning." I said sincerely.

She gave me a weak smile.

My mind flashbacks to two weeks ago, lying perfectly fine in a hospital room. Even after the dozen or so diseases and infections that were scribbled on the hospital sheet.

And some unknown force had me barreling forward.

"I'm Taylor!" I rubbed the back of my head, getting closer. "Um, you don't remember, but you've healed me before too. I'm actually a big fan of yours." Was my sheepish grin.

What was I doing?

She looked startled, like she just woke up. Stepping back. "No problem…"

Her sister got all huffy, stepping a little bit in between us, glaring right in my face. "Back off string bean."

I flushed at that, getting genuinely angry at the comment. My height had been a sore subject ever since I hit puberty.

Instead of swallowing it down, I let my opinion known.

"Look I didn't mean to be so weird about it, get out of my face." I scowled.

We glared at each other.

My hackles raised, something tingling at the edges of my senses. Whatever it was I could feel the hostility coming from it, and it only made me more pissed off.

And I shoved her.

She stumbled back, actually surprised, and my eyes widened.

"Wait-sorry. I didn't-"

Something heavy and solid hit my right cheek, knocking me on my ass.

"Victoria!"

"Fuck." I hissed, ringing in my ears. This was a different type of pain, numbing instead of particularly hurtful.

"She fucking shoved me!"

"Are you twelve?! You were blaring your aura full blast!"

The numb pain I felt was relieved instantly, thanks to Panacea. I got up, gritting my teeth.

The three of us stood on the sidewalk, eyeing each other.

Victoria and I glared at each other, while Panacea looked on nervously.

"Are you sorry for shoving me?"

"Are you sorry for knocking my teeth in?"

We each gave a flat stare, putting our hands on our hips.

"Fine, you acted out because I was using my aura, sorry." She caved.

"We both could have handled things better." I agreed calmly. "I'm not pressing charges, sorry I got in your face." I directed my last sentence at Panacea.

She waved her hands about frantically. "No, um… it's fine!"

I brushed some of my hair back glancing away. "That's the third time you've helped me… thank you. I hope half of what you do isn't always cleaning up after your sister's mess."

"Only one-third." Panacea shrugged nervously.

Victoria just openly gaped, before scoffing, crossing her arms. "What's with all this shade being thrown at me? I'm feeling attacked."

"I'll leave you two to it." I decided to end this conversation. "Hopefully the next time we see each other it won't be because you ran me over again."

With my piece said I walked off.

In all the excitement I forgot that I actually needed to test my healing powers. Darn. With my black eye gone I'd have try to direct them at something else.

I guess I could start by trying to heal a blade of grass. With my suit on.

…...

I sat in my backyard, holding the thin piece of grass between my hands, looking back down at the broken blade still sticking from the ground.

Alright, how do I do this?

Would waving my hands around help? That'd probably look stupid, even if no one else was around.

Hm.

Did energy even come off me like I wanted it to? Sure there was that instance, where I lost control of all my dark stuff. But that was more the outlier, not the norm.

I couldn't normally shoot beams of pure unadulterated energy from my palms.

Could I?

When getting my powers, I felt that they were just that, and that was it. I could yeet myself far, and strength wise I was nothing to scoff at.

If that was all I could do then guess that was all I got.

But I needed to be stronger. People depend on me now. I wanted to be strong.

Okay. Focus. Heal.

That string, tether, thummed. Like it was being plucked.

Raw energy burst from my hands.

Red and bright, pushing against the grass in my yard. It was too much, way too much. Roots sporadically sprung through the ground, weeds rapidly growing in seconds. I could feel dead bacteria restart in the dirt.

I tampered it off.

The scene before me was something out of a nightmare.

Grass as tall as the fence, mushrooms as big as my head. Bugs everywhere.

I gasped out a few short breathes, not strained, just speechless.

That's what I could do?

I felt dead bugs jump back up and buzz around. Rapid growth and overpowering energy. All within the span of a few seconds.

Mom.

I gasped a sharp breath, not able to breathe.

Mom. I could bring back mom-

At what cost?

I gritted my teeth, tears shining in my eyes.

It wasn't right. I had no idea if she would've actually been brought back or not. I didn't-couldn't trust myself with that kind of power. It was overwhelming.

What stopped me from making a world where no one had to fear death?

How long until people started playing a hand in my fate to grasp that kind of power?

I made a deal with myself then.

I'd never use this-healing art like that. Only the absolute minimum, and only if unwaveringly certain it'd need to be used.

I put it in the darkest corners of my mind, the Art of Healing forbidden.

A bug landed on my nose.

Right. The backyard. How was I going to explain this to dad?

Images flashed through my head, of tools and weapons.

I glanced down to my suit, then down to my hands.

Before summoning a long bladed katana.

I shrugged, moving over to slice at the unruly grass and weeds. Drawing out a kunai from nowhere, uprooting the roots.

Well, a ninja had to have their weapons. Even if it was to do gardening.

…...

Carol Dallon(Brandish)

I was angry.

I felt I had a right to be angry.

My eyes narrowed, gripping my phone tighter. I had just watched a video. One concerning both of my daughters.

"Enough! You broke a poor girl's face!"

"She pushed me!"

"You're better than this! I don't care if you can't control your powers, this is more than bad press!" I screamed. "You Amy. You couldn't have healed her with her face smashed in like that! You didn't have her permission!"

"I've read the rules! I'm allowed to heal people in emergency situations."

"And if you didn't?!" I glared harder. "If you weren't allowed?!"

She looked off, narrowing her eyes bitterly.

I gave a heavy and aggressive sigh.

The two of them would kill me before any villain. Stress builds oh so painfully as the years go by, and hurts your body to the point where someone looks older than what they actually are.

Have I been blind? It's like my thoughts were weighed down by this-heavy oppressive force. How could I let Victoria just get away with caving someone's face in? How could I let her get this far?

Amy looked more depressed than Victoria, and she wasn't even in half the trouble. Have I been pushing her aside like some afterthought? How long have I been doing this?

I sighed.

"Both of you to your rooms. Victoria, no phone, no Dean."

"But-" My eyes narrow at her dangerously and she quiet downs,

"I watched the video. You instigated and escalated the entire thing. While using your aura to threaten a civilian!"

She flew off to her room, angrily mumbling curses harshly under her breath in a rage.

I breathed out a sigh, pinching my nose. "As for you, Amy…"

I gave her a glance, the girl small, and tired looking.

How long have I been neglecting her…?

"I… we…" I tried to get the words out. "... don't do it again." I grimaced, trying to think of the words I was trying to say.

She perked up, shocked. Looking at me wide eyed.

I winced, rubbing my forehead groaning. "Thank you. Victoria is messy, and rude, and loud. Thank you for… not making a bad situation into a nightmare."

She gave me a weak smirk. "Um, you're welcome."

Well it was a start.

Crystal came flying into the living room, blonde hair spilling everywhere as she waved a package around excitedly.

"Amy! Amy! You got a package!"

I could hear Victoria thud against the upstairs floor before forgoing walking and flying down.

"Really?!" She squealed, rushing to see it.

The boys and my sister walked out as well, looking just as curious.

"A letter?"

"No dip brain, a package."

Eric scowled at Crystal, putting his hands on his hips. "Since when does Amy get packages?"

"Maybe it's one of those hospital things?" Crystal wondered, looking at the label. "No, it doesn't look official. 'Taylor Hebert', 'a fan'."

Victoria squealed again, shaking a stunned and confused Amy. "Amy's got a fan!"

"Open it!" Crystal cheered, handing Amy the box.

She gave it a confused look, before opening the package easily.

"Huh."

"Well?" Victoria leaned over Amy's shoulder, peeking.

"It's a-well there's a thank you note-and, um, well… this."

She fit the box under one arm, pulling out the gift.

It was… a box. Not a wooden one-one made out of clay. But shaped like stone. On it was intricately woven designs colored gold and grey.

Amy opened it.

My eyes widened.

"Wooaah." Victoria mumbled over Amy's shoulder.

Thin reflective gold(and it was gold) was spread over every inch of the inside of the box.

Amy could see herself clearly while staring into the shiny metal.

"Oh wow… who has money laying around like this?" She held up the medium sized box, looking at the bottom. "It looks professionally done, but I mean… it's got to be handcrafted right?"

She seemed uneasy.

I frowned myself. "Read the note?"

"Right-Vicky!"

Victoria snatched the note, grinning teasingly at Amelia. "You're too slow. Here." She glanced at the note, reading it out loud. "'Dear Panacea, I'm really happy being alive right now, and I'm told you're to thank for it. I woke up from a coma three weeks ago and the doctor said you saved me. I never got to meet you in person, and I doubt I'd ever get to meet you in person, but I'm grateful. My life kind of sucks, and it'll be tough, but knowing there's people like you out there makes me feel like things could get a whole lot better.' Aw." Victoria continuing reading. "'I made this. It's my Pandora's Box. And you're my Elpis.'"

Victoria put down the note, looking confused. "Elpis. What's an Elpis?"

Crystal rolled her eyes. "It's Latin. Don't you take Latin?"

Victoria laughed sheepishly.

"It means Hope. Or like, embodiment of Hope or something." She clutched her hands to her heart smiling. "This is so sweet, it's like a love poem." Crystal laughed to herself. "Pandora's Box nowadays means troubles and stuff, and she trapped Hope inside closing the box. That must mean the reflection thing-"

"Is me." Amy groaned embarrassedly. Blushing a deep red. "Can I send it back? Or something-"

"No way!" Crystal shook her head. "Look at this. I wish my boyfriend would do something like this."

She paused.

"If I had a boyfriend."

Victoria rolled her eyes. "Well as someone who has a boyfriend, I can tell you he's never done something like this." Vicy frowned. "I don't know, I'm kind of glad? I wouldn't like a big gesture like this, although I would appreciate the effort. But it really suits Amy though."

Crystal groaned. "You guys don't get it, it's awesome! A handcrafted box embroiled with gold and deep meaning! This is real elbow sweat here!"

"Gross."

"You're such a girl." Eric chimed in.

"I think what Crystal is trying to say," I sighed. "Is that Amy should at least keep it around. This Hebert girl put a lot of work into this, the strange sentiments will wear off trust me. I get a lot of heartfelt misguided expensive fanmail. Knowing someone cares this much will cheer you up on those off days."

I shrugged.

"Or at least make you laugh."

Victoria snorted, nudging Amelia. "You know, unless you swing that way."

Amy turned a brighter red, giving a smart comment back at Victoria. "If I was then I'd be the only one here with a stable relationship."

Crystal and Eric busted out laughing, Victoria gasped dramatically.

"Oh, low blow sis. This is only like… the sixth time I've had to break things off with Dean." She glared, before faltering.

"You guys should really get over each other." Crystal remarked, serious.

Victoria crossed her arms, fuming. "None of you guys understand I like him ok?"

Even Amy rolled her eyes.

Still, she looked happy, holding her box.

Maybe I could see that smile more.

Hope you guys liked this chapter, it kind of wrote itself.

But yeah. I thought it was a cool idea, and went with it.

Also quick sidenote… making an alternate story of a female Randy soon, if that's what yall guys want. Let me know down in the comments. Let me know if you liked this idea too actually.

Might make it a main story.

Anyways bye, see you guys on the flip side, stay awesome.