Dear Readers,

This is one of the latest pieces I've worked on since getting back into contact with my old friend, EricTheEpic13, during our brief time in Drama class.

He'd shown me a few pieces that he'd printed out when we were in High school together, and revisiting them a few years later, he regretted writing them in such an edgy fashion - for his sake, I won't publish those (I couldn't even if I wanted to, because that would mean retyping the whole piece, exactly as it was written, but quite frankly, I'm not arsed to do that.) - but I will be editing the rest of the ones that I do have.

This particular one was my personal favourite after he showed it to me. And with some tweeking, I input my own OC into the writing. I thought it might make for an interesting encounter between the two of them.

Anyways, without any further rambling from me, enjoy this joint effort between two old friends.

Sincerely, Alexander II Mapleshield

One peaceful afternoon, James was lounging around on the beach with his friend, Fae; they were basking in the sun, facing the ocean, when James had a thought.

"Hey," he asked, gazing out to the horizon, "Why are we here again?"

"We've got a day off!" Fae cheered, playfully punching his shoulder, "Drop your 'Hero-act' for a bit and live a little!"

She took a sip of her soda and sighed contentedly; although she hadn't meant it to be, James' shoulder was sore from her punch.

Fae was the Half-blood daughter of Lord Dracula, so even though she was a Vampire, she would be safer in sunlight than her father.

"Is that it?" James deadpanned,

"Well why not?" Fae asked, "We've got the free time for it."

"I didn't stay unconscious for three years, just to get the 'free time', Fae." James grunted, and keeping his gaze trained forwards, he relaxed in his chair.

Hearing this, Fae decided she'd had enough. James watched from the corner of his eye as she got up from her chair and walked in front of him. He drank in the sight of her bare figure; her choice of outfit was one to live for – a two-piece bikini with golden rings in the straps. Fae had a habit of dressing in a shade of red that matched with James' right eye; he just assumed that she was trying to show-off her 'Vampiric Essence' – if that was what she called it.

"You really are a buzz-kill, y'know that?" she asked, "I mean seriously, you might've at least tried to go out to the sea-line and wet your feet a little."

"I don't like sand." James mumbled, "It's coarse, rough, and irritating . . . and it gets everywhe-"

"Stop quoting Star Wars!" Fae cried, "I know it's not how you really feel. Besides, you look ridiculous, just sitting there in your regular clothes. It's burning out here! I could've gotten you a swimsuit, or something."

At last, James lost patience.

"I can't help it!" he shouted, "It's not the same anymore."

"What isn't?" Fae asked,

"Swimming." James replied, "Or looking at and doing the girls . . . or your girls- I-I don't get the same pleasure I used to when I did those things before. The part of my soul that housed those emotions doesn't exist anymore."

"Huh . . ." Fae thought for a moment, "So, does this mean you're gay now, or something?"

"No Fae," James sighed, "I'm not gay."

"Oh really?" Fae smirked and rubbed her breasts, "By the way, you've never said anything about wanting to do anything to my girls before~ . . ."

"I didn't think you'd want me to." James grunted, "Are you saying I can?"

"No, I'm saying I'd let you because I know you so well." Fae grinned, "I've noticed you and your wandering eyes loads of times."

James was suddenly nervous,

"And after all this trouble, you finally say something?" He exclaimed, "Why didn't you tell me sooner?!"

"Well, you'd never asked me!" Fae chirruped, "Besides, I know you don't see me like that for my own sake."

James recovered,

"It's not that I can't see you that way." He explained, "The feelings I have left aren't what people look for when they consider partners."

Fae didn't want to hear anymore; she slapped her hands against James' cheeks and cupped his face.

"Ow."

"Don't think about it too much." She said sweetly, "I'm gonna get us some more soda. You stay here."

And with that, Fae sauntered off to the nearest vending machine; James watched the sway of her hips with minute interest, almost upset that she seemed to get smaller the further away she got.

Once she was out of sight, James rolled his eyes.

'Stay here?' he thought, 'I mean, it's not like I'm not goin' anywhere right now, but seriously? What am I, her loyal puppy-guard-dog?'

James stopped thinking about that. He sat on the edge of his chair with his staff in-hand – his hands were resting on the top of his staff and his chin was resting in them – he was still thinking about what he had said to Fae.

Although it was true that the part of his soul that housed emotions had been destroyed, he still held a number of them. But he didn't allow them to dictate his actions – he thought they made him very weak.

To hear James tell it, you would think that he was a very shy person. Since the accident, he had never confessed to having a crush on anyone, because he didn't want to put anyone in danger.

"You know, I didn't think you'd actually stay here." Fae said blandly,

James looked up to see her handing him a can of soda.

"Well, I mean, yeah," James replied taking the soda can, "I could've left. But I didn't."

"Yeah, I can see that." Fae mumbled, "I thought you'd've left already, you were complaining about being stuck here at the beach anyways."

"Well, yeah, I was," James continued, "I'm only staying because you called me out for the day. If it'd been anyone else, I'd've said no."

Fae paused and sat back down, she felt that she had a lot to think about. James, meanwhile, was inspecting the soda that Fae had gotten him,

'Hmm . . .' He thought, 'Lime-pop . . . this's gonna be a bitter-sweet one.'

As he began reading the list of ingredients, James felt something hit his shoulder.

"Ow." He grunted,

He thought nothing of it until he noticed that the something had gotten stuck to his shoulder, and that his soda can was leaking from opposite sides,

"What the fuck?" He asked,

Fae looked over,

"You got an arrow in your shoulder." She said numbly,

"Izzat what that was?" James asked with interest, "I thought it was a beach ball, or somethin' . . ."

James grasped the arrow's shaft and pulled hard, the arrowhead had snapped off and stuck in his shoulder, leaving him with the wooden shaft and feathered end in hand.

"Jesus Christ, you had an arrow in your shoulder!" Fae exclaimed, "Where's its head?"

James looked back at his shoulder,

"Umm . . . it's inside me?" He said numbly, "Well . . . I hear Iron is good for the body . . ."

James rolled his shoulder, melting the arrowhead inside of his skin with his body temperature.

"Headless Horseman!" called a voice, "If you liked that Iron, get ready for sum'ore!"

Fae and James looked up; they hadn't noticed until too late that an archer had arrived in a helicopter overhead.

'What dafuq?' James was puzzled, 'How did he even hear that?'

"Uh-humm . . ." James faltered sarcastically, "You do realize that chopper has guns on it right?"

"Yeah, and?" The Archer asked, bluntly,

"The bullet is mightier than the arrow, right?" James went on, "You can't kill me with either of those things, but a gun will more damage to me than a bow."

"Hmph, then," The Archer replied, posthumously, "At least let me give you a scar to remember me by!"

"I fuckin' don't even know you!" James shouted, "Fae, quick, hide!"

Their fight began.

The Archer had a set of explosive arrows; his helicopter was armed to the propeller blade, equipped with a gunner seats and machine guns. Inside the helicopter was a backup S.W.A.T. unit, kitted out with all the necessary riot gear.

'Clearly, those guys won't leave the chopper until and unless this 'bowman' goes down.' James thought,

The Archer fired off another few shots, more than enough for James to analyze his weapons system,

'Hmm, the explosives aren't too bad for a 'bowman',' James quipped analytically, 'The triggers for the arrows seems to run on a rudimentary burst-on-touch system. Apply pressure to Pad-A and BOOM!'

James looked around to check if people were getting hurt; luckily, no one was, and he began to formulate his attack plan.

'To use his pressure against him . . .' He went on, 'I would have to catch one of the arrows as he shoots it at me, and throw it right back at him. Yeah, this'll totally work!'

And it did, once he caught an arrow.

After catching it, he twirled it through his fingers and launched it back the way it came. The arrow pierced through the Archer, just moments before the trigger system could register the pressure.

The explosive went off with a loud bang, the explosion practically tore The Archer's left shoulder off, and he was sent sprawling away. James walked over to him,

"What . . .?" The Archer rasped, "How did you- . . . do that . . .?"

"Weelllll, you see," James drawled, "I am The Headless Horseman, after all. I might not be alive like you, but I can still pull back and let go, if ya catch-a mah drift."

James picked The Archer up and stared deeply into his eyes, his own now shone a bright shade of fiery orange.

"Wh-what're ya . . . gonna do t'me?" The Archer gasped,

"I'm gonna steal yer soul." James answered bluntly, "Don't struggle, it'll hurt less if you keep still."

James sapped The Archer's soul from his body and directed the energy into the underworld, for his mentors to pass judgement. James dropped The Archer and his body fell limply to the ground – The Archer was alive, but you wouldn't know it if you saw.

James turned back to his staff, it was still in the same place he'd left it before and standing upright. But before he could retrieve it, he remembered something.

"Oh right . . ." he drawled, "Swat team . . ."

James kicked up his staff and flourished it around as he turned.

"Surrender!" Called the captain,

"Ah shit." James grumbled,

He was about to attack, when he noticed a blue blur, tearing cheek along the beachline towards him. The Blue Blur passed through the S.W.A.T. team, gracefully zig-zagging between each member and cutting them down.

"Oh-ho-ho, no way!" James grinned excitedly, "That ain't possible!"

But it was.

The Blue Blur didn't seem to be moving its feet, but it moved faster than it should've and its hands appeared to be on fire.

James smiled; he knew who this was.

With his fiery 'landing lights' shining brightly, The Blue Blur skidded elegantly to a halt behind James. As soon as he stopped, every body he'd passed dropped, burned and bled.

"I actually kinda enjoyed that." The Blur mumbled, "I would only do it one more time, just for fun."

James laughed, now he really knew who this was,

"Alexander!" he cheered, "Dude, how long's it been, like, two- three years?"

Alexander turned around, sheathed his blade and grinned.

"Hullo James," He said cheerfully, "Fancy seeing you here. How'd you know it was me?"

"Easy." James explained, "You're the only one I know who sounds like George Carlin and Ringo Starr did the Fusion-Dance."

"Aw, come on." Alexander whined jokingly, "I can't help that."

"Man, I'm only kidding," James chuckled, "You're also the only guy I know who can use fire and earth as separate elements at the same time."

This made Alexander chuckle. Just then, Fae returned; earlier, she had ducked under her chair, tied a towel around her, rolled out, swiped her clothes and ran to the restrooms not too far away.

Although she had nothing to worry about, she wasn't fond of her build; she hated having a perky pair of breasts at times like this, when she had to move quickly and they would just get in her way, or when other men might turn their gaze on her.

But now – a few minutes later – very quick for a girl – especially for her – she had come back in her regular clothes: a blood red tank top, and a beige pair of khaki shorts, and her signature beach sandals.

James and Alexander were still busy chatting to each other as she came into view. She shifted her gaze between them,

"Is . . . is this guy a friend of yours?" Fae asked, anxiously, "Or is he a relative? Or an enemy?"

"What?" Alexander was puzzled,

"No, he's not a relative of mine." James chuckled, "He's an old friend. This, Fae, is my high school buddy, Alexander – that one guy I've told you about, you remember, right?"

"Alexander Mapleshield." He introduced himself with a bow, "At your service, Miss- uhh . . ."

"Fae." She replied, curtly, "My name is Fae Lilith Draco, daughter of Lord Vladimir Dracula. It'd be your pleasure to be at my service."

Alexander frowned,

'Not with that attitude it wouldn't.' Alexander thought, 'Is this the girl that James spends most of his time with nowadays? I can already tell how painful this'n's gonna be . . .'

James seemed to sense Alexander's thoughts and decided to try helping him out.

"Dude, don't worry." He whispered, "She's just acting right now, she's a decent 'person' when you get to know her."

"Is this the same girl you wrote to me about that one time?" Alexander asked back, "She seems nothing like what you told me."

"I hope you both realize that I can hear you talking." Fae scowled, "And that I know what you're talking about."

"Well," James mumbled, "Buddy . . . you may wanna run . . ."

"Meh," he replied, blandly, "I could handle her."

"Stop doing that!" she shouted.