A/N: Hello readers and welcome to chapter one. In this chapter Manny discovers his family heritage and heroic roots.
Our story begins in the mist of the night. As a shadowy figure is perusing around. Sticking close to the shadows as to not be seen. As it moves we see the target of the figure's eye. It was a shiny diamond inside of a jewelry store. The figure moved swiftly, making sure it didn't draw any attention. It then positioned itself next to the jewelry store's window, using a glass cutter to cut a whole in the window, allowing it to slink inside the jewelry store.
It then inches towards the diamond which was concealed behind a glass case. It slowly removes the case before grabbing the diamond. However, when the figure grabbed the diamond an alarm began to sound. "Damn it." The figure cursed in a masculine voice. The figure placed the diamond into its bag before leaping out the window it came through. The figure then took off running.
As the figure ran, it soon found itself being chased by multiple policeman. The figure ran as fast as it could, trying to lose the police in between alleyways. Eventually, it hid behind a dumpster, hiding long enough until the police gave up their pursuit. "Hmp. When will they ever learn." The figure spoke cockily. The then figure the stood up from its hiding spot and began climbing up a near fire escape until it was a top a rooftop. It began traversing from rooftop to rooftop until it reached an abandoned apartment building, landing next to a window on the upper floors.
It slides open the window and enters the apartment. Inside the apartment we see a run downed living space. It felt like it had been abandoned for years. And yet it was the figure's home. "finalmente en casa." The figure states in Spanish. Then the figure finally removed the ski mask covering its face. Once the mask was off the figure was revealed to be a young man, with tan skin. He also had brown curly hair and brown eyes. As well as a scare over the young man's right eye. He then reaches into his bag and grabbed the diamond he stole. "Shiny and beautiful. Such a great combination." The young man mutters as he stares at the diamond in awe of it.
*CREAK*
The young man quickly put the diamond back into his bag and got into a fighting stance as he heard a creak in the floor. "Whoever's there come out now, or else!" The young man demanded, his eyes getting more fierce. Then, a figure emerged from the corner of the room, coming into the light. The figure turned out be a man, he wore a white trench coat with black pants and bronze boots. He also wore black gloves and a burgundy cowl. The young man immediately recognize this figure as the hero White Pantera. "So, we finally meet... Manny Rivera." White Pantera says. The young man's eyes widen in shock. "How do you know who I am!?" Manny demanded to know, still in his fighting stance. "Because Manny..." He says as he removes his cowl. "... I am your father." He finishes. Manny's widen, completely stunned by this revelation.
Flashback/Seventeen Years Ago
Miracle City. A cesspool for the worst criminals around. They ran the city. Taking anything they want, killing anyone they want. That was until THEY came. White Pantera and Plata Peligrosa. No one knew where they came from but they did know they were champions of justice. In just a short time the two had cleared out Miracle City's crime problem, all thanks to their powers.
What people didn't know is that White Pantera and Plata Peligrosa powers came from two mystical items. For White Pantera it was his boots of truth. Not only did it grant him super speed (speeds up to 70 MPH) but it also gave him the ability to determine if someone told the truth. As for Plata Peligrosa her item was called The Glove. It granted her strength, flight and even energy projection. However, it had a drawback. It made her obsessed with heroic, which led to bad tendencies.
It got to a point where she made a decision. "What do you mean you're retiring?" White Pantera questions in an upset tone. "It's exactly what I mean. I'm done." She states with a serious tone. "But what about the city?" Pantera argued. "And what about our lives?" She argued back. "We've been married for five years now and we have a child on the way." She pointed out. "I know sweetheart but we can't turn our backs on the city." He says. "We given all we can for this city, and thanks to us crime has been quelled. But if we continue like this we'll either end up dead or we'll lose ourselves." She states. "I'm sorry Maria, but I can't. Not while this city still needs me." He tells her, his voice becoming sad. "Then I'm sorry too Rodolfo, because I can't stay and watch you destroy yourself." She says heartbroken, as she turns and walks away.
We now return to the present as Manny was still trying to process the revelation that he had just met his father. "N... No!" Manny mutters with fury. "You're not my father!" He yelled as he charges at White Pantera. He tries to hit him with a right hook but Pantera easily caught it. "Look, I know this a lot to take in but you have to accept the truth." Pantera tells Manny as he shoves him back. "No." Manny says defiantly. "I don't have a father! He left me and my mother before I was born!" He angrily states. "I understand that you're angry, but I'm telling you the truth." "Prove it!" Manny demanded.
"Before me and your mother split up, I gave her a diamond necklace with a locket that contained a picture of her as well as myself. You're wearing that locket right now." Pantera says. Manny takes out the locket from underneath his shirt as he looks at Pantera in surprise. "H-How?" Manny questioned, still feeling shocked. "It's because I am your father hijo." Pantera says as he takes off his mask. Looking at his face Manny couldn't deny the similarities in facial features between them.
"Say I believe you, why are you here?" Manny asked with a venomous tone. "I'm here to offer you something." Pantera tells Manny. Manny scoffs at Pantera's statement. "You! Offer me something?! What could you possibly offer me?" Manny questions, his voice filled with skepticism. "For one, I can offer you an actual home." he points out. "Hey, I did the best I could." Manny says defensively. "Secondly, I'm offering you a chance at being a part of a family." Pantera says. "And who says I want that?" Manny scoffs. "You may pretend that you don't but trust me, despite differences everyone needs family." He says in a wise tone.
Manny thought it over for a few moments, contemplating if he should except his offer or not. "Fine. I accept. But tell me one thing... What do you get out of this?" Manny questioned. "I explain later but first, the diamond please." Pantera demands as he hold out his hand. Reluctantly, Manny reaches into his bag, takes out the diamond and gives it to White Pantera. "Now then, if you're not worried about jumping across rooftops then follow me." Pantera says as he opens the window that Manny enter from. As he exits Manny sighs to himself. "I'm going to regret this."
After fifteen minutes of jumping from rooftops to rooftops Manny and White Pantera had reached their destination. A house that was atop a apartment building. "So if you live in a house atop an apartment does that mean you pay rent?" Manny says half jokingly. "Very funny, but no. I completely own this house." Pantera says. "Convenient." Manny mutters. Pantera goes over to the door and opens it with his keys. "Come in and make yourself at home." Pantera tells him. Manny slowly walks into the house, dropping his bag at the door. Manny whistled, this was the nicest looking house he had seen. Then again he hasn't been inside a lot of houses.
"Impressive place." Manny admitted. "Glad you approve." Pantera sarcastically replied. "So uh, what do I call you? I assume you don't want to be called by your hero name and I'm not calling you dad." Manny says. "You can call me by my real name. Rodolfo." He tells him. "Okay then... Rodolfo, now that we've established a dynamic can we talk about what it is you want from me." Manny says, showing some inpatients. "I see... Straight to the point, just like your mother." He comments, unknowing upsetting Manny with it.
Rodolfo then walks over to a closet and takes out a box. "This is what I wished to discuss." Rodolfo says. "You brought me here for a box?" Manny said dumbfounded. "I'm going to leave if this doesn't start to make more sense." Manny says. Rodolfo opens the box and reveals a belt inside of it. "A belt? Look, if I wanted tight clothes I would've just stolen skinny jeans." Manny joked. "This isn't any ordinary belt." Rodolfo tells him before continuing. "Long ago, when this city was first founded it was protected by a legendary warrior. He vanquish any threat that crossed him. People say he had speed, instincts and ferocity of a tiger. And that's how he earned his name... El Tigré." Rodolfo explains.
"Ah, so we're discussing campfire stories." Manny mocked as he didn't believe a word of the story. "Oh, it's very true. And I would know... Because he was my great-great grandfather." Rodolfo says. "This belt was the source of his power and it's been passed down through the generations, in order to find the next El Tigré." Rodolfo explains. "And you think that's me?" Manny said before laughing out loud heavily. "Sorry but I'm not no hero. And I don't want to be one either." Manny rejects. "Hmm... And you truly believe that?" Rodolfo asks, which Manny nods yes to. "Then put on the belt. If what you say us true then the belt won't grant you its power. And don't worry, I will still allow you to stay. But if it does grant you it's power, then... Prepare for your life to change." Rodolfo instructs Manny.
"Fine, I'll play along." Manny jokes as he grabs the belt. "Once you put the belt on spin the buckle and we'll see if it grants you its power." Rodolfo explains. Manny puts on the belt and spun the buckle. Suddenly Manny felt some energy coursing through him, empowering him. "Woah, what happened?" Manny questioned wondering what he felt. "Take a look for yourself." Rodolfo says as he takes out a body length mirror. Manny looks at himself in the mirror and noticed how his appearance changed dramatically. He wears a brown mask that has white furry sideburns, tiger-like ears and a letter "T" on the forehead. His suit is completely made of black leather with red stars on his gloves, brown boots, a red bandanna on his neck and gray metallic claws. Along with the belt.
"What the? What am I wearing?" Manny says very confused. "It's the suit of El Tigré. The belt has granted you it's power." Rodolfo explains. "Well, he had some fashion sense." Manny commented as he continues to look at his reflection. "Focus. The belt has infused you with the power of an ancient tiger spirit. You now have enhanced strength, speed and agility, sight and instincts." Rodolfo tells him. "Actual superpowers." Manny says to himself. "Makes wearing this costume worth it." He joked.
"Well, I hope your ready cause you'll soon be wearing it a lot." Rodolfo tells him. And that's when a thought occurred in Manny's head. "Wait a minute... This was all about you finding a successor." Manny pointed out. "Yes, it was. I'm not as young as I use to be. And this city is still as dangerous as ever." He states. Manny thought it over for a moment. 'Who wouldn't want be a superhero.' He says in his mind, but then another thought occurred. "Okay, I'll be your successor if you can answer one question... What happened to my mother?" Manny questioned. Rodolfo sighed. He knew this question was coming.
"To make a long story short we split up after a difference of opinion. I love your mother but I couldn't leave the city unprotected." Rodolfo explained. "So, she left. And a few months later you were born. Your mother knew she couldn't raise you alone, so she left you at the orphanage. As for where she is now, I don't have a clue. We haven't spoken in two years." Rodolfo says. Manny nods, having a bitter sweet feeling. He finally had an answer about his mother, but he still wished he could see, possibly even talk to her. However, he still had one question left.
"Then answer me this, how come it took you so long for you to find me?" Manny questioned. "It wasn't from lack of trying." Rodolfo replied with a soft chuckle. "By the time I figured out your mother had gave you to the orphanage, they told me you had ran away. I was only able to find you thanks to your criminal record." He tells Manny. "Tch." Manny smacks his lips. Of course that's how he found him. "Guess that takes care off all my questions. Okay then, I guess I'll let you train me." Manny says with a nonchalant tone. "But let me make one thing clear." He says, his voice becoming more serious. "I get to quit whenever I feel like it, got it." He demanded. "Agreed." Rodolfo replies, accepting the terms of his son's demands.
1 Year Later
A year has gone by since Manny was taken in by his father and began his training. Even with the powers he was granted the training he was under was rough. It was designed to push his skills to the limit. Despite the challenges of it, Manny was progressing quite well. He began moving like he was actually a tiger, and his instincts and combat were also improved.
Speaking of Manny, he was currently training in his El Tigré costume. He was standing in the middle of a dark room in a fighting stance. It seemed like he was waiting for something. And that something came in the form of a burlap sack that was coming straight for him, however, he swiftly barrel rolled to his right, dodging it. Then another sack flung itself at Manny, thus time coming from his left. He pivots and slashes the sack this time. A third sack then appeared, trying to strike him from behind. However, Manny backflipped over it and kicks it away before landing. After that the lights in the room turned on. "Is that it?" Manny questioned, a bit disappointed that it was already over.
"Sí. I must say hijo, I am impressed that you've improved your skills in such a short time." Rodolfo says as he enters the training room. "What can I say, I'm that good." Manny remarks cockily as he does a light stretch. "You shouldn't get over confident. Criminals are a lot more unpredictable." Rodolfo advises. "Please, I bet I could take down ten gunman easily." Manny retorted still feeling cocky. "Seriously though, I've been training for a year. I KNOW I'm ready." Manny states with a powerful amount of conviction in his voice. Rodolfo had to admit, Manny's sureness was definitely an admiral quality about him, however, he was still unsure his son was ready due to his overconfidence.
But, Rodolfo knew the only way he get out of his bad habits is by gaining experience. "Fine. If you really want to prove yourself then I'll allow you to go out tonight." Rodolfo tells him. "Yes!" Manny exclaims, pumping his fist in excitement. "But, I'm coming with you." Rodolfo added. Manny's face immediately shifted from excitement to deadpan. "What?" Manny questions. "You heard me. If you want to prove you can handle going out and being this city's hero then your gonna have to show me." Rodolfo explains.
"Ugh, you really like taking the fun out of this, don't you?" Manny asks sarcastically. Rodolfo only smirk in response.
We now cut to a rooftop as we see our father and son duo perched atop a rooftop on the west side of the city. "Do you really have to be here?" Manny asks his father with an annoyed facial expression. "Consider it bonding time." Rodolfo wittily replied. "Haha." Manny sarcastically laughed. "Just remember, while we're out here, code names only." Rodolfo tells Manny with a vital tone. "Sure thing, White Pantera." Manny says, slurring his words when saying his father's hero name.
"Just follow me." White Pantera tells his son as he began running across the rooftops. El Tigré quickly follows suit, feeling a rush of excitement as he does. The two continue to run for about five minutes before stopping at a rooftop that overlooked an alleyway. "What are we doing here?" Tigré asks his father. "Simple. Look below." Pantera says pointing into the alley. El Tigré looks down to see four men in the alley harassing a woman. "You want to prove yourself, save the woman, without my help." White Pantera instructs El Tigré. "Hmp, no sweat." Tigré confidently states. He leaps from his position and into the alley, landing on one of the backs of the thugs.
"What the?" One of the thugs say as he and the rest of his partners notice El Tigré. "Sorry niños, party's over." El Tigré taunted as got into a fighting stance. He then quickly lunged at the thug to his far left, who was also the closest to the woman. Pouncing on him, he performs a judo throw that flings him face first into the opposite wall. He quickly rushes over the next thug, striking him with a back hand across the face before hitting him with a spin kick. Finally, he blitzes towards the last standing thug. Hitting him twice in the stomach with jabs, then flipping over him and hitting him with a back kick, taking him down.
El Tigré then looked over to the woman. "You alright?" He asks, showing a bit of concern. The woman however couldn't find any words to say. But, what neither the woman nor El Tigré realized was that the man El Tigré landed on was still conscious. The thug reached into his jacket and pulled out a handgun and aim it at El Tigré. But before he could take a shoot White Pantera leaped from his position and landed on the thug, rendering him unconscious, while also getting both the woman's and El Tigré attention. The woman was so overwhelmed by what was happening she ran out of the alley.
"I had that." El Tigré says to White Pantera, a bit frustrated by his father's interference. "Not how I saw it." Pantera replied sternly. "Please, I had those three knocked out in seconds." Tigré snapped back. "But you didn't notice that you didn't take down the first thug you attacked." Pantera says being critical. "You didn't trust me to take care of it!?" El Tigré accused. "You're still new at this and it showed. You didn't take in your surroundings." Pantera says. "So, I wasn't perfect. That doesn't mean I was reckless!" El Tigré said angry.
Both stood there in silence, huffing in frustration. Both then sighed. "Okay, maybe I was a bit harsh." Pantera admits. "And I guess I got a little carried away." Tigré admits. "You were pretty impressive by the way." Pantera tells him. "We just need to iron out some things and I'm sure you'll ve fine." Pantera adds. "I guess I could stand to do a bit more training." Tigré says. Both then stood there with a feeling of awkwardness. They may have quickly put their differences aside but the two still knew they needed to work out their dynamic.
A/N: And that's it for chapter 1. I know this an abrupt end for the chapter but don't worry, its all part of the plan. Anyway, Manny has met his father and the two are starting to build a father-son relationship. Manny has also started his career in heroics. What challenges will he come across next? Find out in chapter 2.