(? POV)
I flew quickly down the street on my bike, pedaling hard. I was late! Mom was going to ground me! I was going too fast and thinking to much to notice the fence in front of me. I flew off my bike and into a garden, completely trashing it.
'I'll have to help fix that later.' I thought, annoyed, calling a sorry to whoever was in the house.
I got home fast but Mom was already there, hands on her hips.
"Jackson Darby! Where have youbeen? You scared me to death!" June snapped.
"I'm sorry, it took longer than I expected to get back. We just moved here and I still don't know the area well enough. On top of that I ran over that woman's garden, you know, the woman everyone says is in a haunted house. So know I have to go help her fix the garden I messed up." Jack said, downcast.
"I'll guess that's why you have a cuts on your arm. It's kind of you to think of that, some people wouldn't." June sighed. "Well lets get that bandaged and we'll head over there now."
Pulling up to the house we got out and walked up to the door. Knocking, we waited for someone to answer. Suddenly we heard "come on in" from inside.Walking into a large room we looked around.
"Over here." a warm voice called.
We walked over to the chair at the side of the room.
"Please sit down" she said, turning to face us. My eyes widened, she wasn't old at all. She could hardly be older than twenty! But everyone in town said she was a wicked old hag. My confusion must have shown on my face becauseshe laughed.
Leaning forward she interlaced her fingers and said, "Shouldn't believe everything you hear, should you, boy?"
"No ma'am", I said quietly, embarrassed that I believed rumors in the first place.
"Now, I would like for you to not only compensate for jumping into my rose bushes so dramatically, but I would also like you to work for me. If you want to and your mother doesn't mind, of course." She said.
"Mom?" I groaned not wanting to do it.
"I'm not sure, I don't even know your name and Jack's only ten." She said hesitantly.
"Am not! I'm eleven! I've been eleven for two months." I cried indignantly but I realized that could make me do it anyway so I was determined to be silent for the rest of the time.
"That's not a problem. I can care for Jack when we get to know eachother better.My name is Flameburst.
"Ok.." June said hesitantly." I suppose he's old enough for a job and he needs tohelp what he messed up."
"Ugh!" I groaned unhappily.
"Excellent! You can start tomorrow morning.By the way, you can call me Flame if you want."
(Next morning)
"Jack! Wake up! You have a job to do." June called.
"Fiiiiinnee..." I groaned.
On the way there I glowered at the scenery passing by.
Walking up the steps, I watched Mom drive away. Knocking, I waited for the "come on in" that rang out. I did and walked over to the chair in the living room.
"In the future, I would like you to wait at the wall before the living room and ask if you can come in. Clear? I run a tighter ship than your mother's and I expect rules to be followed." She questioned.
I nodded quickly.
"Alright here's what you can do..."
(Six months later)
I raced up the porch stairs wondering what Flame had in store for me today. She always has some crazy thing or another. Walking in and knocking on the living room wall, I asked,
"MayI come in?"
"Certainly, Jack." The now-familiar voice called.
I walked in and sat in what was designated my chair.
"Could you find my socks for me?" Flame asked.
Ahhh. This game. You are all probably confused at this point, thinking, socks? What does socks have to do with the plot? But we play this game all the time, it's like 'can you find it' but intense, she gives hints but you have to ask the right questions or she gives unhelpful answers. Also, once you narrow it down enough she'll stop giving hints and it's up to you then.I think she's trying to make me think outside the box, expect the unexpected, and search places others wouldn't think of.
"Okay, where are your socks?" I asked.
"In the house." She replied. Well, I have looked in the house for hours before and they were in the backyard all along,so that's actually helpful.
"Where in the house?" I asked, then mentally slapped myself, I knew it was an incorrect question before it was out of my mouth.
"In a room." She said, giving me a look that said 'you know better' though I wasn't sure if it was because of my question or simply because the answer was obvious.
"In which room?" I asked. I was excited, the answer to this question told how mischievous she was feeling when she hid the socks. Among other things.
"In the kitchen." She smirked.
I started to stand then stopped. WAIT! WHAT!? The kitchen? Okayyyy...that was new. I had never found something in her kitchen before, much less socks.
"Which part of the kitchen?" I asked, hoping to get an answer but pretty sure I had narrowed it down enough.
Sure enough, she gave me a blank stare like, 'I don't know, figure it out yourself.'
I walked into the kitchen and started to search for the socks. I looked everywhere, it just wasn't there. I walked out, feeling rather unaccomplished. I sat in the chair after almost an hour of searching. Flame looked up from over the top of the newspaper she was reading and asked,
"What are you doing?"
"I can't find your socks."
"Well you know you can't do anything here until you find them."
"Then we won't do anything today." I said suddenly certain that I won the argument. Nope. I thought.
"Shame, I was thinking about teaching you some fighting."
I was of my chair before she finished speaking.
"Expect the unexpected." Her voice called.
"Not helping when I've been doinggg..." I trailed off when my eyes met the fridge. No... she wasn't that crazy.. right?I poked my head into the freezer and lo- and- behold...
THERE'S A PAIR OF FREAKING SOCKS!
I walked out again and said,
"One pair of nicely frozen socks for you" I smirked.
Flame smirked back and stood. "Come"
I knew better than to question her. Leading meinto the yard our training began.
Afterwards, when we were cooling down, she said, "I am going to have a friend of mine over tomorrow, just so you know."
"Ok,"I said. "Have a good evening."
"And you as well." Flame called.
(Next day)
"Hey!" I called from the wall. "Can I come in?"
"Of course." Flame called.
I walked in and froze. I had completely forgotten about the warning she had given me the day before. Her friend was here.
He was built like a brick wall and almost as imposing as one too. He had scars on his arms, face and probably other places too. He looked up and smiled.
"So, this is the talented young man Flame has been telling me about." He paused for a moment, then prodded, "It's rude not to introduce people, Flame."
"Oh, right. Jack, this is Erik. Erik, this is Jack. You are correct Erik,Jack is the one who I was talking about." Flame introduced.
There was an awkward silence as Flame and Erik exchanged glances. Flame gave a barely preceptable nod and Erik sighed.
"Is it wise?" He asked.
"In these times nothing is the "correct" answer. Besides, he is working with me, he needs to know the dangers and decide whether he wants to stay or not." Flame murmured sadly. "Though if he leaves it will hurt greatly, he deserves to know."
"Hello! I'm right here! What are you talking about? I'm not going anywhere." Jack said.
"Jack, I need to tell you something. I'm not who you think I am. I am the commander of a secret society that deals in defeating a group of people who named themselves MECH. They want to take over the world with the most powerful and dangerous weapons known. We are here to stop them. I am telling you this because they do not yet know of your friendshipwith me, and if they find out they will relentlessly track you down and kill you just to hurt me."
"Hang on a second. So you're saying that you have really bad enemies that will kill me if they find out that I'm associated with you?"
"Yes."
"Yes? It's that simple, hmm? Well, I'm staying no matter what. So there. I also know that you will protect me against them."Jack said.
"If you are truly staying then I must show you something else as well." She said. "Come with me."
We walked into the yard and stepped under the cover of trees.
"Step back." She warned.
We did as she said,and I sat on a log and held my breath, not knowing what came next. Flame took a deep breath and closed her eyes. Slowly at first then faster, her form began to shift. Her skin turned to metal, her eyes started to glow, and her body changed color. Then she grew until she was forty feet tall. After, stood a huge crimson metal robot with gold flames and bright cerulean blue eyes.
I stared silently for a long time, then I asked, "So who are you really?"
"My name is Flameburst. I am the first born daughter of Primus, whom you do not know, andall you need to know is that he is very powerful." She said. "Will you still stay with us?"
"Yes."he said slowly.
Flame smiled and quickly shifted back to her human form."I am glad. Your mother trusts me enough to allow me to take you on vacation for a little. Do you want to see where I work?"
"Yeah, how are we getting there?"Iasked.
"By groundbridge."
I walked through a bright portal and into a place that would change my life forever.