We were sucked out of my T.V. But instead of landing on our feet we fell on Tyler's bed, bound and gagged by a glowing blue beam.
"Finally, so you made it out. I thought I was going to go insane waiting for you."
There was someone lying on my bed that was next to Tyler's but I couldn't see who it was because they were looking at some sheet music of mine and it had head phones so even if I could talk they wouldn't be able to hear me. I tried to talk, but all that I could get out was some muffled grunts. The figure spoke again, as if reciting lines, still not looking away from the sheet music.
"I have been sent here to get you and find out just who you are and how you got the gift. You will come with me either by force or you can come willingly. What will it be?"
He paused for a moment and said,
"Well, what will it be?"
Once again, he seemed not to realize I we couldn't talk. He seemed irritated and said as he moved to sit up and look at us
"Ok, I guess it will be the hard way. Shit now I'm going to have to carry you three… Wait Stuart, Tyler is that you? And who is this? Is that Mia? It is! Wow, Mia's Midna!"
It was Aaron. He just sat there looking at us, confused as he spoke.
"Stuart, you're the mystery kid who has the gift? Oh shit… Oops, sorry. Forgot you can't talk."
He then pushed a button on a metal object that pulled back all the blue bindings. We stood up and Tyler spoke first.
"What the hell was that for?"
Tyler yelled who was more irritated then confused, being on the bottom side of Midna and me when we were tied up.
"Sorry 'bout that. We had no idea who you were, so we didn't want to take any chances."
Aaron shrugged in his defense.
"So which one of you is the one who has the gift?"
Aaron asked as he looked at us. I raised my hand.
"What's going on Aaron? I'm so confused right now."
I said with a deer caught in headlights look on my face.
"So Stu's the one. Actually, you still have to come with me, so I hope you don't mind having me explain things on the way. I am late as it is. Kinda forgot to go inside the story to get you."
Aaron said as he stood up and walked to a wall.
"What are you doing?"
Midna asked as Aaron punched a hole in my wall then pulled out a door sized chunk.
"My wall! What the hell Aaron? My mom is going to be so pissed!"
I complained as I watch him walk into the hole.
"Sorry. I forgot to tell you what I was doing. Its ok, your wall is fine. Once we walk through it will fix itself. I just made a portal to where we need to go. Now follow me."
Aaron said, looking back at me. So we just followed him without any other questions. I watched Aaron as he walked in front of the three of us, leading the way. He was in black suit with electric blue lining. His shirt was un-tucked and his tie was loosened. To top it off he had a guitar case on his back that seemed to give of a strange aura.
"So you going to tell me what's going on?"
I said as we walked through a tunnel that seemed to get bigger as we went deeper.
"Oh yeah, well I'm a member of this organization that can do what you do Stu, and about three hours ago we noticed some weird levels of Manifest going up and in Kingdom Hearts II. It freaked us out, but tracked the source and we soon found out that there was someone we didn't know about in the story already fighting them. So they sent me to get who or whatever was using the gift. I don't remember what else they said about you."
Aaron said as I looked at him, still slightly confused.
"What do you mean you don't know what else they said about me?"
I asked concerned.
"What? I wasn't paying attention. Sorry, but I'm sure it wasn't anything important."
As Aaron finished, the tunnel opened up and we were in a wide valley with an enormous lake and a giant castle. I looked at the sparkling lake and saw what looked like tentacles coming out of it.
"Holy shit, it looks just like Hogwarts."
Tyler beamed in awe. Aaron smirked and said,
"That's because it is, it's our base. We used the death star up until a little while ago. It's actually a funny story as to how we got it, but I won't get into that now. Shall we get going?"
We walked to the castle in a short time.
"Hm, kind of reminds me of home, except for the absence of twilight and no one is bowing as I walk by…I like it."
Midna said as we walked into the enormous front doors that opened on their own. Though there were a few people walking up and down the hallways, they seemed to pay no attention to us.
"So everyone here can go into stories like I do?"
I asked looking into an open door. There was a pretty girl playing games which is weird because pretty girls don't play games. So I kinda pointed her out to Tyler.
"Yeah, but most don't."
Aaron answered. It wasn't long before we made it to the Great Hall, were a half a dozen people waited for us. Among them was a rather large black man who sat in the center chair that gave off a scary and intimidating look with his tattoos on his face. To his left was a wild-looking girl who seemed to be dancing in her seat and a pale looking boy who sat quietly watching us. To his left was a man with dark red hair and a sword who seemed to be resting his eyes and a snide looking blond boy that got up was walking to us. The blond boy had the same suit as Aaron except his was much neater and had a green trim.
"I'll take them from here slacker, now get lost."
The snide boy said to Aaron as he shot black smoke at us. It wrapped its self around us like a rope.
"What the hell Aaron?"
I yelled as I struggle to break free.
"Let them go! They came without a fight and I know them. They won't be any trouble, so let them go Ricky."
Aaron demanded as he stepped towards the boy.
"Can't do that, and if you're not going to leave then sit your ass down. I got orders to make sure this doesn't get out of hand."
We couldn't move and we barely could keep ourselves from falling down, but I didn't stop struggling. The smoke lifted us and put us in three different seats near the front where the rest of the people sat. Tyler and I were struggling to break free of our bindings but Midna just sat there looking around calmly, as if she was solving a puzzle. No one said anything until we settled down, then the big man with the tattoos on his face spoke.
"Hello my name is Kyle. I'm sorry for the inconvenience, but we have to make sure that you don't try anything. Aaron may know you but that doesn't mean we can trust you. You must understand it's for your own safety as well as the safety of those around you. Now I'm sure you want to find out what is going on is that right?"
I nodded confused as to how calm the man sounded.
"So you know Aaron do you…? From the look on his face, when we were discussing what to do with you, he probably has been able to tell you anything besides who we are. First off, before I tell you what's going on, I have a few questions for you. Is that alright?"
I nodded again, even though I was starting to become irritated and didn't feel like answering any questions. Kyle continued.
"Ok, we know you have the gift, but we still have no idea who you three are or how you obtained the gift. We would feel much more comfortable if we knew, so could you enlighten us?"
The man didn't seem to want to hurt us. It was more like he studying me or interviewing me for a job.
"Um I'm Stuart Mullin and these two are my best friends Tyler McGraw and Midna the Princess of Twilight."
I explained with confidence as I looked from Tyler to Midna, still not able to move anything else besides my head. I than continued to tell them how a masked man came out of my T.V. and just gave me the power for no reason.
"The person you describe isn't part of our organization, so either you're lying or there is another person out there with our power. So do you want to confess something or are you sticking with that."
Kyle said.
"Well since I'm not lying, I think I am going to stick with it."
I said, a little irritated that they were calling me a liar already.
"Ok, next off your friends. Tyler and Midna was it? It would seem neither of them possess the gift. So that must mean you had taken them with you. Why did you bring them in with you?"
Kyle said, looking at Midna and Tyler.
"Tyler is my best friend and has been since we met. I would do anything for him. Um, the reason I brought Tyler with me is because I had to tell him eventually because he lives with me and he would have found out anyways because we are hardly ever apart. He begged to go along the next time I went into another story, so I just brought him along. Midna mainly lives in her world that's connected to ours through my shadow. Midna is a great person and I will protect her with my life, no matter who it is. We have a connection with each other that won't be broken. I couldn't just leave Midna after what we went through and I suppose that I found that it got lonely not having a friend that I didn't have to act like someone else with. It mainly happens to me when I stayed in a story for too long. Midna is very good company and we're very close and Tyler is my best friend. That is why I chose them. Not because they are the best fighters or the smarts people I know. It's because I love them."
I said, not sure why he wanted to know.
"In your shadow?"
Kyle asked raising an eyebrow.
"Um, yeah. I didn't want take her away from her home completely so she can go into my shadow to her world whenever she needs to."
I said.
"Are you saying you took her out of a story? You must understand that we can't have fictional characters living in the real world Stuart. Do you know how risky it was doing that? Not only could it expose yourself to the real world but what if she was a Manifest leader tricking you into taking it out? Just having her in the real world could reveal our organization's secret to the world, and we can't have that. I don't know what we are going to do."
Kyle said, now showing some emotion for the first time.
"Risky?"
I asked, not sure what he meant. But he wasn't listening.
"We may have to send her back, and bringing Tyler was irresponsible of you. What would have happened if he had died? You may not be part of us but you should know the whole reason we exist is to keep the really world and the people who live in it alive and bringing him in did just the opposite. I don't know what we will do with him, but we will deal with all that after we deal with you."
"What would you do with Tyler? He lives with me he will find out again, even if you erase him memory. And you're not sending Midna anywhere because I won't allow it. If you even try I will personally kick your ass."
I snarled through gritted teeth, but Ricky punched me in the stomach. He was pretty strong and knocked the wind out of me. I gasped for air.
"Shut your mouth!"
He threatened me, but I had an idea.
"Shut the fuck up you homo. Why don't you let me go so I can kick your ass?"
I taunted Ricky.
"What did you call me? Do you know who I am? I'm Ricky the best here and no one talks to me like that either. I'm going to fuck you and your friends up if you don't shut your trap."
Ricky threatened as he punched me once again but this time in the face, but I was hoping he would do this. It happened in a flash. I got up out of my seat kicking Ricky's legs out from under him, and drew out Ebony and Ivory pointing one at Kyle who stood up and the other to the head of Ricky who lay face down on the ground. Everyone got tense. The dark red headed man who I thought had been asleep this entire time now stood up drawing his sword but I aimed at him instead of Kyle making him stop.
"How did you break my shadow bonds?"
Ricky snarled not daring to move. I spat the blood out of my mouth onto the ground. He had split my lip but I didn't care. My suit would soon heal it and I was too pissed to care.
"It was easy. I stole a little of your power when you hit me. I really don't care who the fuck you are, if you ever threaten my friends or me again I will put this barrel to your temple just like this and paint the walls with your gray matter… Do you understand me …Bitch?"
I snapped sharply but Midna's voice made me stop.
"Stuart, calm down!"
She demanded. She was the only thing that could make me stop so fast.
"But…"
"No buts, now sit down! I'm terribly sorry about this, Stuart always has been a little protective of his friends and he doesn't always think about what he's doing."
Midna apologized calmly and respectfully to Kyle. Still shaking from the anger I reluctantly pulled my gun back from Ricky's head and put them away. After Ricky scuffled to his feet and walked back looked at me with a mixture of hatred and embarrassment I sat back down.
"So you do have some skills I see. Very impressive not many people could overtake Ricky. I can see how you survived with that many Larvas. Midna, might I ask why did you decide to join Stuart and how can you be so cavalier about being fictional?"
Kyle asked, now directing his attention at Midna. Midna did not expect to be asked such a question but she answered none the less.
"In all honesty, I haven't thought about it that much. I guess it's because he's my first true friend."
She had a smile that showed how much I actually meant to her. Kyle looked at her curiously and asked,
"What do you mean, first true friend?"
Midna looked at me and said,
"I am and have always been a princess as you may or may not know, but being such comes at a cost. I was always too busy with ruling to make friends and get to know people and those I did, treated me differently because I was royalty. No one really cared about me, they just wanted powerful friends. When Stuart came he was funny and kind to me, even though he knew who I was. I treated him like a servant but he stuck by me even though he didn't need to. He didn't care that I was royalty. He knew I needed help and he was and still is there for me when I need him, even though I was kind of a bitch to him, and now that he needs me I will be there for him."
Kyle seemed to be taking this in and paused for a little while. After a moment or two he looked at Midna with what appeared to be a smile then to me and continued.
"Now, what did you do in this Kingdom Hearts game and why didn't you leave when you saw that there was a Manifest leader?"
Kyle asked, regaining his calm demeanor.
"Larva… Manifest leader what are you talking about? Wait, do you mean Duma and Zephon?"
But at this Aaron sat up and said,
"Zephon was there?"
I looked back and saw Aaron standing. His head phones had been ripped off so he wouldn't miss a single part of what was being said now.
"Yeah, but what the big deal? They were tough, but we beat them…kinda."
I shrugged, still wondering what they were talking about when they said larva and Manifest leader. Aaron looked from Kyle to me and said,
"Are you saying you killed them? You killed two Manifest leaders all on your own without any training."
I was about to repeat that it wasn't that hard but I remembered how we nearly lost, so I tried to make it look like my friends were the reason we lived.
"Well, not really. I had Tyler and Midna with me, but yeah, we did kill one of them."
Kyle looked curious and asked,
"One of them?"
I could see why they were so surprised that I killed him because it took everything I had to do it.
"Yeah, I tore Duma out of Saix and then killed him, but Zephon got away."
Ricky started in on me though he seemed more cautious not to insult me,
"Stop lying, there is no way you could have beat a two leaders without any proper training."
He obviously didn't want to believe that I did what I said I did. But Midna looked up at Ricky and said,
"No, it's true look."
With a crack the mask with a single hole in the head appeared in front of Kyle who then went on to examine it.
"Hmmmm, well you weren't lying about killing one of them…. But it wasn't a leader, so you can calm down Ricky."
He said, seeing how irritated Ricky was.
"This came from a Manifest residing in a character from this story, did it not?"
He continued to ask me and I nodded still not sure what he was talking about.
"You are very lucky, you do know that don't you…? Anyways, as I said, this is not a leader but given a day or two more it would have become one and then you would have never won this fight, but nonetheless this is very impressive… It looks like we should give you a chance to keep you powers after all. Now, if you will please wait, my associates and I will discuss what shall happen to you and your friends."
With that Ricky and Aaron stood up to join Kyle and the other three people. I watched as they began discussing the fate of my friends and myself. I didn't move from my spot, not wanting to be noticed as I prepared for the worst. I would not let them take Midna away or my powers. I was wondering where the masked man was and half expected him to appear out of nowhere and clear everything up but he didn't. I still hadn't seen him since that first day and was wondering if I ever would. After about ten minutes of watching them discuss, they stopped and went back to their spots.
"Now, do you have anything to say before I tell you our decision?"
But I didn't so I sat quietly waiting for the verdict hand s close to my side so I could draw my guns if I needed to fight my way out.
"Um, actually I do."
Tyler said, which startled even me because since we arrived he hadn't said anything. Everyone looked at him with curiosity.
"I don't want to make things worse for Stuart. I know he doesn't want to see me get hurt, but he did prepare me very well."
Tyler said.
"That may be but bringing you in is still his choice and he would be responsible for you. Let me ask you something. If you died what would Stuart do and how would he feel? From what I see he would blame himself and then who knows what would happen. Do you really want to risk putting that guilt on Stuart?"
Kyle asked Tyler who looked down and said.
"…No, but I wouldn't leave him either."
I said pleading. Kyle looked down at me.
"Very well then, now then for our judgments… Though you lack in subtlety and respect you have proven yourself to be well qualified to become part of our organization. You will be given the test. Follow Alex and he will explain the details."
I was confused by this. They wanted me to join their Organization. But it didn't seem like I had much of a choice
"What about Midna and Tyler?"
I asked looking at them. Tyler sat looking at Kyle.
"What happens to them is going to be up to you. So it sucks for them."
Ricky snarled still not able to look at me in the eye. Midna and Tyler suddenly disappeared from their cages, but before I could react Kyle said calmly,
"It is ok, they will be fine. They have been taken to their own private rooms until we need them. They are basically in their own suites and will be treated like royalty."
Then a pale-looking boy who sat quietly watching the whole time came to me and began to walk out of the door. I followed him and Aaron walked besides me, which made me calm knowing that he was on my side. I was wondering what was going to happen.