Chapter 4 – Today When the War Began

I ran through the forest to find where the smoke came from. It was obviously from a fire, but I feared that it was more than that. As I kept going, I noticed that there were airships in red and black with a peculiar-looking symbol on it.

And they were dropping bombs.

Something didn't look right. The smoke didn't look right. And if anything, something bad happened.

I swallowed hard, even though my throat was dry.

As I crested a high hill, what I saw made my heart stopped.

Below me was a large town being attacked. There was a large wall made from white and red bricks which have new cracks and holes in it. The buildings – mostly factories and warehouses – were badly damaged. Fire shot out from the town. There was a stadium in the middle which suffered a lot of injuries. And if any further proof of a hostile attack were needed, there was guns firing, explosions and screaming for help only to be drowned out.

"W…what is this?" I thought. "Is this…where Belt worked?"

My ear flicked upwards when I heard loud stomping behind me. I looked behind…and froze.

IT WAS THE SAME ROBOT I SAW BEFORE.

"TARGET FOUND," it said.

It fired a large net, but I quickly escaped. I looked behind to see the robot running towards to me.

Having no choice, I ran down the hill to the now all-hell-gone-loose city.

Biggest mistake in my life.

I kept on running and made my way inside the town in which I immediately regret once I made my way into the town. I saw robots firing their blasters at everything they saw. People were running all over the place. Buildings were collapsing. Bombs were dropping in. The smell of ashes, smoke, fire and blood was so strong. And in the crossfires was me.

It was a nightmare.

I was nearly shot and I feared if I was going to be killed. It was horrifying.

I ran and dodged almost everything that nearly toppled onto me. I quickly ran into an alley and made it to the other side. When I got there, there was screaming.

"KID!" screamed a yellow male wolf looking at me. "Take cover!"

There was a rumbling a few kilometres away from a crowd I saw. I quickly hid behind some rubble and saw what was going on.

Coming out from the crumbling buildings was a black creature wearing a mask…

INFINITE?!

"No!" I thought. "H-how could this be?!"

"FIRE!" screamed one of the civilians.

The people took cover behind some low rubble and opened fire, throwing everything they got; rocks, balls and some of them were armed with guns. Infinite just crossed his arms; none of the shots were able to affect him.

"Idiots…" said Infinite coldly. "There is no reason to resist. Your saviour…is no more."

And at this, there was a charging power in his hand. The people tried to run, but it was too late. The masked creature blasted a red beam of light and it swept across AT the people.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

The laser wiped out most of the innocent civilians. Those who were shot screamed in agony for the last time before they lied onto the ground, their eyes closed shut. They were all covered in horrible burns.

I…I never heard such pain before.

Hearing people getting hurt…it was…heartless.

"NOOOOOOO!" I thought shocked. "H…How…why…?"

The lifeless bodies laid on the floor.

Not moving.

Or breathing.

I wanted to scream.

They all died and I didn't do anything to stop it.

I felt…scared.

I would be next.

"I-Is this a nightmare?" I thought. "It has to be! This can't be real!"

However, I saw far from me were a trio of girls who weren't killed in the blast and only bruised. They were lying on the ground, groaning. I wasn't not sure if they were dead or unconscious, but from what I could tell, they didn't look good. Also, a few metres in front of me was a young female wolf who was still breathing.

"Oh…my…gosh…" she said, struggling to get up, seeing the dead bodies. "I'm going to die…I'm going to die…I'm going to die…"

The masked monster saw her.

No. No. No. NO. NO. NO. NO!

I got to do something.

I quickly ran from my hiding spot and grabbed one of the guns that landed near me. I pushed the yellow wolf away.

"Get out of here!" I said.

"B-but what about you?" she asked.

"Just go! Find somewhere safe!"

The yellow wolf nodded and ran off. As I watched her leave, I heard Infinite's voice.

"I can taste your terror, child," said that menacing voice.

I looked behind, seeing him floating towards me. At that moment, I felt scared. One bad move, I would be done for. I raised the gun up and fumbled to point it at the monster.

"All that anxiety and doubt…"

I tried to get a steady shot and pull the trigger, but…I couldn't.

"It's delicious…"

"JUST SHOOT THE FREAKING GUN ALREADY!" I screamed at myself in my mind.

But…why couldn't I? The memory of Infinite slaughtering those innocent people played in my mind and I didn't want to be the next. I didn't know what would happen if I shoot, but all I know that I would die instantly. I just stood there, shaking…feeling like I was just a small ant.

At this, Infinite shot a laser in front of me, causing me to fall onto the ground. I looked up to see the floating monster. To my surprise, he looked at my rings…he seemed to be observing me. And then…

"I'm surprised you're here, Dark Wolf," he said.

"W…why do you…?" I struggled to say.

The masked monster laughed mockingly. "And yet the idiot wolf doesn't know his true powers."

He spread his hand to show the dead people. "You could have saved them…but you are nothing…you didn't choose to use your powers…and now they're dead…because of you."

Hearing this, I felt guilty. A mixture of frustration, anger and sadness swarmed my brain. I felt tears running down my face at the thought of letting those poor people die.

"W…why?" I said. "Why are you doing this?"

"Why not? You're all weak and the strong should live. You – on the other hand – are weak. AND look pathetic. You don't belong here. You don't belong ANYWHERE. You SHOULDN'T even exist."

I bit my lip.

"Give in to your fear. Flee, screaming and I'll let you live."

I took one last look at the bodies before standing up. I quickly broke into a run with my head down. I heard the evil laughter coming from Infinite.

"You fool!" I heard him taunt. "Coward! You're still alive, but can you live with your shame? You don't deserve to live!"

The evil laughter continued. I closed my eyes and wiped my tears which continued to run. As I ran, one thing came into mind.

"I don't deserve to live. I shouldn't exist."


Bubblegum's POV

No…

No…no…no…

I have bad days before…being beaten to the curb…being laughed at…mocked for mistakes.

Some of them I can just walk away.

But not this one.

This one I can't walk away.

As that wolf disappeared from sight, the masked monster howled in laughter. At this moment, Emerald and Fuchsia were able to regain energy.

I just laid on the floor, shell-shocked. The only things I heard before I was nearly knocked out were the cries of my friends and the masked monster taunting the poor wolf. I looked up to see Addison.

Her body on the ground.

Covered in terrible burns.

Still.

Not moving.

"No…" I thought. "This cannot be…"

I blinked, but Addison was still dead.

She wasn't sleeping.

My parents were taken away from me…and now my friends.

THIS IS EVIL.

Letting out a loud scream of rage and anguish, I ran to the floating monster, my cop gun in my hands.

"YOU MURDERER!" I roared.

"BUBBLEGUM, NO!" cried Emerald as Fuchsia took a few steps back.

But I was too far from hearing her plead. At this, the monster turned his head to see me firing my gun. The bullets only bounced off his body as if they were rubber darts.

"How adorable…" said the monster.

I threw the gun down in disgust and put up my fists.

"Come and fight like a man, you cheater!" I said.

The masked monster's only response was to fly down and punched me in the face. I flew through the air and banged onto the floor, just in front of Emerald and Fuchsia.

"Oh no…" said Fuchsia.

The black figure slowly flew to us. Fuchsia hugged the trembling Emerald. I looked up to see him coming and then, I started to shake. I never felt this scared before. It would a matter of time before he opened up our heads and tore out the brains.

This day just got better and better.

"I can taste your fear, girls," said the masked monster. "There's no denying it."

I got up, trembling. I clenched my fists. "Just…just leave us alone."

When he raised his hand with power charging in his palm, I cowered back, fearing to be slain. The masked monster laughed.

"You know what. Why would I kill you?" he said. "It will be more delicious to see you cowards live…to remember how you failed to defeat me."

"I'm…I'M NOT A COWARD!" I screamed, only to nearly fall down if it wasn't for Emerald.

He laughed again. "Look at how stupid you've become. I wonder why you get to live in this boring world. You are worthless. Nothing. Useless. Just only a mistake. I have no time for failures like you."

He flew up and looked at the dead bodies.

"Pathetic. Good thing you are all dead."

And just like that, he disappeared all of a sudden.

We three girls stared at the dead-like scene in silence.

"What…" said Fuchsia. "…just…happened…?"

"I have no idea…" said Emerald.

I saw Addison again. My instincts kicked in.

"ADDISON!" I cried, getting up.

I ran to the lying fox; covered in burns. I resisted the urge to vomit. I bent down and hold onto her arms.

"Addison!" I yelled. "Wake up!"

Addison didn't move. She didn't seem to be breathing. Her eyes were still closed. This sent chills down my spine.

I growled under my breath. "I swear I didn't come all this far to not only lose my parents, but also my friends!"

I placed my hands on Addison's chest. There was no heartbeat. Despite that, I began performing CPR. I kept pushing it, performing chest compression.

"Bubblegum…" said Emerald.

"Not now!" I hissed.

"Let's go," said Fuchsia sadly. "It's not safe for us here."

"Not now! She must be still alive! She can't die now!"

I continued this for the next few seconds, but Fuchsia firmly grabbed me by the hands.

"Just STOP!" said Fuchsia. "It's not worth it. She's gone. Jade, Yumi, Taffy and Addison. They're…"

She trailed off having tears in her eyes. My frustration and anger slowly transformed into despair. I threw myself into Fuchsia's arms and started to cry.

I felt like giving up.

"No…" I cried, tears in my eyes. "They're all gone…"

"It's alright," said Emerald, joining the hug.

"No. NOTHING is alright."

"We're all still here," said Fuchsia. "That's what matters. It's what they would have wanted."

We broke apart from the hug.

"It's not safe here," said Fuchsia. "We got to get to the bunker now."

I looked at the deceased bodies. I just stared at them, tears in my eyes.

I remembered what I said to them.

"You guys are so PATHETIC. I wonder why you guys get to live."

"Don't say things you will regret."

"Pathetic. Good thing you are all dead."

Now I regret what I said.

All because of me, they died.

My heart sank.

"I'm such a failure," I muttered.

Fuchsia grabbed my arm.

"Get a grip, Beth," she said, pulling me away.


Clay's POV

As I ran through the hell streets, I cried in shame and guilt. The voices wouldn't leave my head.

"And yet the idiot wolf doesn't know his true powers. You could have saved them…but you are nothing…you didn't choose to use your powers…and now they're dead…because of you. You're still alive, but can you live with your shame? You don't deserve to live!"

"No," I thought. "No, no, no, no, NO!"

A billion thoughts flooded my mind.

"What's going on? Why is this happening to me? I don't understand what's going on. This has to be a nightmare!"

CRUMBLE!

I heard a crumbling noise. I looked up to see a tall building collapsing.

About to collapse on top of ME.

Screaming, I turned and tried to run, but it was too late.

I felt the bricks and the wooden planks toppling on top of me. Pain shot through my entire body as the entire building fell apart on me. I hit the ground face-first.

I tried to get up, but the weight didn't help. My body was in pain. The worse thing was that my left arm was stinging in pain.

I tried to move, but I couldn't. Everything hurt and the jagged walls touching me didn't helf. I felt weak and overwhelmed. I couldn't get myself to scream. Everything that happened had taken their toll. I closed my eyes and let out this;

"Help…"

And the first time in my life, I passed out. Everything went black.

"There are more robots heading this way! We have to go!"

"Guys! Look!"

"That's the same wolf we saw."

"Oh no!"

"Don't worry. I got you."

"Oh…my…gosh…"

"His heart is still beating. We got to take him to the bunker and bring him to a doctor or he'll lose massive amounts of…"


Mecha's POV

Argh…OK. Now I'll speak.

So here's a quick bio about me; my name is Mecha Nism, I was14 years old at that time (about to turn 15 in a few months) and I was in the middle of a nightmare.

It was madness.

At the bunker entrance, everyone was in panic. Stressed-out and heart-broken people were running into the bunker. I was in line, looking around frantically. I didn't expect THIS to happen and it was the first time I was in some kind of attack.

"Easy there!" said the mayor who stood by the bunker entrance. "One at a time! Don't worry. We'll gather everyone and we'll be safe in there!"

Mayor Wills was an orange hedgehog with green eyes and his long quills tied up in a ponytail. He wore a white shirt with a green tie, a black leather jacket with green stripes, white gloves, navy blue jeans and shiny black shoes.

The struggle to get everyone safe was horrible. Even for a mayor like him. He sent out a few people to find those who were still missing.

"Where's Finn?" said Sebastian.

"What?" I said.

"Finn! I can't find him. He's still out there!"

I let out a gasp.

No…no…no.

Finn…

When the attack happened, I got separated from Finn. I don't remember how, but all I knew was that Finn was missing.

Without a second thought, I broke into a run. "I'll go find him!"

"Wait!" said Sebastian. "No!"

I passed through the people and made my way out of the bunker entrance, knocking out the guards who were supposed to make sure that nobody walked into the danger of the attack.

I ran as fast as I could and found the area where Finn lived in.

What I saw made me lose my confidence.

There was that masked monster grabbing Finn by the neck. The teal wolf was crying in fear.

I stopped when seeing the masked monster.

That was when he saw me.

No…

It…it couldn't be.

Could it be…?

The thought overwhelmed me, but I quickly shook my head.

"Please just…" I said. "Let him go!"

"You want to die as well?"

I tried to move…but I couldn't. I just couldn't. For some reason. I looked at the trembling wolf.

"P-please!" Finn sputtered out. "I…I don't want to die…"

"Look how pathetic you are," spat the monster, throwing him to the ground.

Finn hit the ground hardly and cried in pain. I just watched, for some reason, unable to move. I was trembling.

I was scared.

"No!" I thought. "I got to do something! I HAVE to do something!"

Just then, cubes started to form around the masked monster and flew towards Finn. They hit him hard. The poor wolf howled in pure pain as the cubes electrocuted him.

"FINN!" I yelled.

The monster then opened his left hand and lifted Finn up using levitation, surrounding him in a glitchy red aura. The monster held up his right hand and power started to charge from the palm.

"NO!" screamed Finn. "PLEASE! I DON'T WANT TO DIE! MECHA! PLEASE…PLEASE HELP!"

I tried to take a step…but I couldn't. Fear and anxiety drove my hesitation.

"C'mon, Mecha!" I thought. "Just stop him! Don't let that fear get to you!"

Regardless, I couldn't move. I could only speak.

"Please don't hurt him!" I pleaded. "Just stop!"

"Beggars can't be choosers," spat the masked monster.

There was only one thing Finn could blurt out;

"Please."

The monster fired a ball of energy that blasted into Finn's chest. It seemingly absorbed into his body. Finn flew from the blast and crashed on the ground.

Eyes closed.

Not moving.

Not breathing.

I stared at the now-dead wolf.

One of my teammates is…gone.

The whole world around me went dark.

"What the heck…?" I said quietly. "What the heck? What the hell? WHAT THE HELL?!"

As I started screaming hysterically, I looked back at the chuckling masked monster. The black creature landed and took a few steps towards me as if examining him. I just stared at him, making eye contact with those monster-like eyes with my hazel brown eyes. I took a few steady steps backwards.

"No…" I thought. "Don't do this..."

After what seemed to be hours, the black creature just pushed his mask and floated in the air in front of me.

"You are such a pathetic bird. I'm rather surprised that nobody loves you. You let one who looked up to you die."

My mouth slowly opened.

Trembling, I looked at Finn before looking back at the masked monster.

"Do me a favour. Run, screaming and I'll let you live. Let this be a reminder of how you're nothing. You're such a big mistake."

Mistake.

I slowly grabbed my chest with my left hand, trembling.

What Infinite said was really disturbing. I looked at the body of Finn before running away.

I was such a coward.

I tried to hold back tears, but I could hear the malicious laughter from the masked monster. I couldn't help but scream in fear, my voice echoing through the town. I tried to wipe off the tears, so that I wouldn't look like a cry baby. Eventually, I tripped over a rock and I fell down. I didn't care. I just laid there on the floor, unable to move. I closed my eyes, hoping to die.

"I'm so sorry, Finn," I thought. "I'm a mistake."


Clay's POV

"Is he still alive?"

"He is. He would have been dead if it wasn't for you."

"What?" I thought. "What's going on? Am I dead?"

I struggled to open my eyes as I woke up and I looked up to see that I was on a bed. I was in a hospital room. In front of me was a male Tasmanian devil in a white coat.

"W…What?" I managed to say. "What's going on?"

"You nearly died," said the doctor.

I looked at him shocked.

"You were trapped in that building when it fell down, but if it weren't for the girls who found you, you would br gone."

As I sat up, I saw something on my left arm. It was covered in white bandages.

"Your left arm is grazed badly. We are able to stop the bleeding."

I touched the bandages and winced as I felt the slight pain.

"Is that army still attacking us?" I said.

"No," said doctor. "The robots left the place, but the town is ruined."

Without second thoughts, I got out of the bed.

"I need to take a breather," I quickly said to the doctor before getting out of the hospital room.

I was greeted by a large room with a lot of people gathered together. I made my way through them and climbed a fleet of stairs that led to the exit. When I got out, what I saw was hell.

Everything was in ruins. The sky was fully black. All the buildings were wrecked with fire, rising high from them. The entire aftermath of the attack was depressing in any way.

I walked through the streets and saw people walking around sadly at the wreckage of their homes.

I spotted a couple mourning; the mother carrying a young child who was barely breathing. She was crying hardly.

"It's OK," said the father. "It's OK."

It isn't OK.

I continued to make my way through. I saw another person looking at a broken building in despair. I guessed he took it hard that his workplace was destroyed.

I looked at the area where I had my encounter with Infinite. The dead bodies lying there, burnt. I saw the same ice blue rabbit and the yellow wolf I saw. The wolf was crying loudly as she hugged the unconscious body of a male wolf.

I bit my lip.

"SOMEBODY HELP!" cried a child's voice. "MUMMY'S STILL IN THERE!"

I looked up to see a young dog cub trying to move debris away from a broken house. I quickly ran over to help.

"What's going on?" I asked.

"She's stuck!" said the cub. "Mummy can't get out of there!"

"Stand back," I said.

I grabbed one of the broken walls and with all my might, I tore it off. I took off many debris to find her mother and that was when I saw a hand.

"She's still there," I said surprised. "Don't worry, ma'am. I'll get you out."

I took off the heavy debris to reveal a body of a female dog. Her eyes were closed. She didn't seem to be…breathing.

"Miss?" I said, shaking her on the shoulders. "Are you alright?"

No response.

"C'mon. Wake up. Wake up."

No response. I started to feel pressure.

"C'mon! You can't die now! You got a child who needs you. WAKE UP!"

No response.

I put my hand on her chest.

There was barely a pulse.

Her body was so cold.

I backed away in silence. I looked at the child and I felt tears in my eyes.

"I'm…so sorry…" I said. "She's…gone…"

The cub started to cry hysterically and threw herself onto her mother's body.

"NOOOO!" she cried. "No! No! No! Mummy! Please wake up! Please!"

I felt tears in my eyes running down my cheek. And then…

"Argh…" I said quietly.

I grabbed my right hand as something buzzed on it. I slightly growled.

I felt darkness.

Sadness.

Anger.

Pain.

Stress.

I felt the darkness on my right hand, but it only stayed there and reached the wrist part.

"Dark Wolf…"

I looked around. The scene was hopeless. Homes were destroyed, families were separated and many innocent lives were lost. I looked down, feeling anxiety in my body.

My brother was gone.

I saw Infinite killing people.

And I stumbled upon what must be the beginning of the war.

I couldn't say a word. I only managed to let out this;

"God…why are you letting this happen?"


?, 10 years ago

"Ha ha ha!"

"What the…?"

"Ah! M-Mama! It's nothing."

"What…is…that…there?"

"Oh no…O-OK then. Here."

"What? A…a cartoon?"

"It's a comic!"

"Comic? Where did you get this from?"

"I…I got it from two French kids. They are very cool. They…they taught me how to speak in French. They gave me this comic. Even…even though it's not in English, I can understand i-!"

"Save me the details. Why would you read something as RUBBISH as this? The words are in a sloppy font, the drawings are horribly drawn and the humour in this is all messed up! I suggest to not read this."

"…but, Mama. This makes me happy…for once. I really like this comic and it is magical. I see no mistake in this."

"Well, THIS is a mistake! Just like YOU! And that's why it's as WORTHLESS as YOU!"

RIP! RIP! RIP! RIP!

"NO! STOP! PLEASE S-!"

STOMP!

"M-my comic…"

"Clean this rubbish up. I'm going shower, so don't come up to the bathroom."

"…"


AN: And so, we get to see the beginning of the war.

Making this chapter is one of the most emotional things for me. Just trying to describe the Avatar's POV of their experiences was really challenging and the trauma they had to experience was heartbreaking.

I was a little hesitant about getting some of the new OCs (especially Addison and Finn) to be killed, but I need to find some way for the war to have a huge impact on Bubblegum and Mecha. I'm not one to be malicious in murder, but I need to flesh out that war is hell and anyone can be killed or impacted brutally.

Speaking of Mecha, I finally put down his POV, but it isn't as pleasant as you think. You get an insight of how he felt when Finn was killed and for those who hate him, I know it's kind of hard for Mecha to experience these kind of emotions, but bullies HAVE feelings.

While this is a very emotional chapter, I hope that you enjoyed this chapter. If you enjoy this story, be sure to follow or favorite this story, so you can get updates about this story. Make sure to review this chapter on what you think about this chapter. I'm OK of hearing improvements from you (please no flames).

In the next chapter, we will see the aftermath of the attack and how our characters will be feeling for the next 6 months.

Until next time, keep on rocking.