Charles shot open his eyes and observed his surroundings. He was in a typical Pizza Hut with a can of Pibb Xtra in his left hand. Taking a sip, he noticed something large approaching the Pizza Hut. As Charles squinted to observe it, the Honda Civic crashed through the glass doors of the Pizza Parlor and killed Charles in one hit.
Charles then woke up in the "real" world and shot out of the Tower of Trials. It had been his third attempt to pass by the first gate, and Charles hadn't shown any improvement. Wolf was also there, for emotional "support"
[initiate telepathical conversation]
Wolf: wow you really suck at this don't you
Charles: yeah thanks for the help
Charles: also what the heck even was that trial?
Charles: what does almost being killed in a Pizza Hut have to do with something I did in the real world?
Wolf: don't ask me man it's your life
Charles stumbled to his feet and sighed, falling back down flat on his back.
Charles: man, being dead sucks
Wolf shrugged.
Wolf: you say that now, but trust me, once you make progress on your trials, the afterlife becomes amazing
Wolf: im talking like free breadsticks at Pizza Hut amazing
Charles: don't talk about Pizza Hut
Charles: it's starting to haunt me now
Charles got up again, facing Wolf to ask him a question.
Charles: hey, if you don't mind me asking…
Charles: how did you die?
Wolf: Air Bud killed me
Charles spit out the sip of Pibb he was still drinking somehow.
Charles: Air Bud!?
Wolf: Yep. He just whapped me in the back of the head with a baseball bat and my head crashed into a television screen.
Charles: Wait, does that mean that your spiritual object is a tv?
Wolf: indeed. Here, let me show you.
Wolf grabbed Charles's hand and they jumped in front of another tower, this time labeled Micheal.
Wolf: that's my "real" name I guess
Wolf: i prefer wolf because it sounds cool
Wolf: also it's my operation BUD codename so
Charles: you know you keep talking about this operation BUD but you never really explained it to me
Wolf: basically the government cloned a bunch of animals to make you, me, and your friends, and then raised us alone in different areas so we could hone our particular skills and talents until they gathered us together to kill Air Bud
Charles: I don't mind being a part of a government operation if it means killing air bud
Charles: I need that popcorn chicken
Charles:but wait, if I died before they gathered us to kill air bud, and you died before me, how do you know about operation BUD?
Wolf: aside from Abigail, the designated leader, I was the only one to find out that I was in an operation before they sent us to live alone. This complicated their whole plan, since we weren't supposed to know. I agreed to live much farther away from the rest of the agents and not communicate with you guys until the gathering. It didn't matter that much in the end, since air bud killed me.
Wolf: but that's aside the point. Let's check out this tower!
Wolf welcomed Charles inside his humble abode. While Charles hadn't even completed enough trials to enter his tower, wolf had clearly made mounds of progress. The interior of the tower was regal and Victorian, like a mansion where someone may or may not want to swing on a chandelier. There were doors everywhere, presumably leading to other trials, as well as a massive spiral staircase that led up to the many floors above.
Charles gazed in awe of this magnificent sight. He unglued his eyes from the beautiful tapestries on the wall and stared into a large pair of oak doors. Wolf used all his willpower to force the massive doors open, holding them ajar for Charles to slip inside.
Letting the doors slam behind him, Wolf led Charles to the massive screen on the opposite wall, where a huge setup of devices were strewn about a large control panel. The screen itself displayed nothing but static, white noise emitting across the room.
Wolf: this is my control panel
Wolf: basically I received a new device after every rigorous trial, and I decide to install them all into one center
Wolf: the screen shows what my spiritual television displays
With the flip of a few switches, wolf changed the set to display a brand new episode of Bill Nye the scientific person.
Charles: So you have full control over the tv?
Wolf: yep. I've completed all my trials, kid. All my unfinished business has been checked off.
Charles: so what do you do with this?
Wolf: well you know that guy Dom
Charles: oh no
Charles: not that guy
Charles: he's creepy
Wolf: tell me about it dude
Wolf: anyways, some douchbags raided my house after I died and some old dude sold the tv at a garage sale. Dom happened to be the one to buy it, and using my spiritual powers, I helped him with his fortune telling omniscience shit
Wolf: completing your trials doesn't just improve your physical control, but also your spiritual knowledge.
Wolf: basically since I've completed all my trials, I know what is currently happening in the physical world
Wolf: you'll get better at it
Wolf: just visualize the world from Air Bud's perspective
Charles: well, we didn't exactly see eye to eye, but I'll try
Charles: he's... Sleeping?
Charles: ... In my room.
Wolf: now that's what I'm talking about
Wolf that'll definitely help you as you gain control over air bud.
Wolf: now how's about we start doing some trials?
With a groan, Charles and Wolf jumped back in front of Charles' tower. Charles hesitated before swinging the door ajar and being enveloped by a bright light.
Charles awoke to find himself in his house. Everything seemed to be in order, until a loud bark alerted Charles. Loud growling began, building louder and louder, as Charles came face to face with his worst enemy. Air bud slowly approached Charles, growling as his agitation increased. Charles was cornered, his Hope diminished, until an opportunity arose. His car keys! Charles jingled his keys in front of Air Bud, who became distracted by the clanking sounds. Charles took his opportunity to look for any solution, his eyes coming upon a lime green tennis ball. Charles hurled the ball and air bud followed in pursuit. Am I supposed to be nice to air bud? Is that my challenge? Charles scavenged his pantry, retrieving a dog treat. He playfully tossed the treat to air bud, who ecstatically ate it. Charles began to pet air bud, and he was once again consumed by bright light.
Charles stumbled onto hard, cold wooden floor. Standing up, he found himself in an abstract art gallery of sorts, elegant murals showering the walls. Doors to other trials surrounded a small table lying in the center of the room. Charles approached the table, picking up the device sitting atop it. It seemed to just be a metal box with a bright red button attached. Charles carefully tapped the button, causing his body to uncomfortably twitch. Wolf entered the room, leaning against one of the many murals.
Charles: what the heck is this
Charles: I mean the room is cool and all but what is the point of this button
Wolf: maybe its controlling Air Bus
Wolf: check with your minds eye
Charles: it's .. Making him twitch too
Charles: so I have a button that makeS him twitch
Wolf: hey it's something
Wolf: your spiritual object is a living thing, so you're trials are probably going to be more complicated than mine
Wolf: it may take longer, but I'm sure it'll be worth it
Charles sighed
Charles: i need a vodka
So they jumped to the bar party place to get some blazin drinks yo
Popping bottles
To be continueietued