Fernando opened his closet, taking a shirt and changing into it and began to move some items around on the top shelf.

"Who does he think he is? Hiding his face and calling me out for protecting lady Cassie?" Fernando said, huffing as he grabbed a towel. "Wait till he sees me on the battlefield! He would be begging for forgiveness. 'Oh Fernando! I was so wrong! You are amazing and I shouldn't have doubted you!'"

Fernando closed his closet door, grabbing a small bag and left.

The gym was a four-minute walk, but two minutes if Fernando decided to jog. Wanting to get there quickly, he proceeded to jog to the gym to get a warm up in. During his jog, he saw the new champion once again, sitting at the fountain and watching a bed of roses, back turned to Fernando. Fernando turned a left from his route to the gym and into the garden.

"Hola!" Fernando called out. The new champion turned his head. By his posture, he wasn't as thrilled.

"Are you following me?" The champion asked.

"I should be asking if you're following me. It's okay though, I am irresistible," Fernando said, flicking his ponytail. "What brings you here?"

The champion pointed to the bed of roses. Fernando glanced at it. Some of the roses were slowly dying, but others stood tall.

"Looking at the roses hm?" Fernando asked. He strolled over to the red flowers, plucked one and with a twirl, he ushered the rose to the champion.

"For you," Fernando said. The champion took the rose and placed it beside him. Out of the roses came the snake once again, slithering up the champion's leg and onto its lap. Fernando took a step back, rubbing his neck and trying to strike up a conversation.

"So… I never caught your name," Fernando said.

"It's Mal'damba," the champion replied.

"Mal'damba.. Maaal.. Daaambaaa," Fernando repeated. "I like it, has a nice ring."

"Wish I could say the same to you, Fernando," Mal'damba said. "Where are you heading to?"

"The gym. Going to work out these amazing muscles!" Fernando flexed, showing them off to the masked man.

"Have fun then." Mal'damba said, grabbing the cobra and leaving. Fernando watched as he left the garden and viewed where he sat.

The rose was gone.


Fernando walked the rest of the way to the gym. Buck, Viktor, and Tyra were already inside.

"Good morning-eyup-Fernando," Viktor grunted, lifting the weight back on it's resting area.

"Mornin'," Fernando replied, walking past the weights and to the treadmill. He took a water bottle out of the bag, placed it into the cup holder and started the treadmill.

"Hey did you hear anything about the new champion announcement?" Buck asked.

"Nothing. It should've been in the morning announcements," Viktor said, taking a swig of water.

"He was outside in the garden," Fernando said. The three of them glanced at Fernando.

"He's here?" Buck asked.

"Yeah. His name is Mal'damba and he wears this- this weird mask. Also, he has a cobra, snake or something that he carries with him all the time," Fernando continued, beginning to jog.

"A snake? What is he, a snake charmer?" Viktor asked.

"I don't think the Cobra is what he will charm," Tyra joked. Buck and Viktor chuckled and Fernando rolled his eyes.

"Funny Tyra. You should get some pointers from him, I wouldn't mind dating a hunter and charmer," Fernando said.

"Don't try it," Tyra spat, her mood dropping immediately. Fernando put his hands up to his chest, showing defeat.

Fernando's jogging went to a run. He began to think about Mal'damba. What is his specialty anyway? Fernando knew Mal'damba was a new support but he seemed more to be a damage or flank. Maybe he launched the snake to bite enemies? Was the snake even meant to be in battle? What was his full power? Could he summon snakes? What was behind that mask anyway? Could it be a snakehead?

Fernando's thoughts then trailed to the woman who approached him in a dream. She too had a large cobra, yet different in color then Mal'damba's. Oh god, he was talking to-

Fernando's foot kicked the heel of his other, causing him to topple and rocket into the wall behind him. Viktor and Buck quickly stopped what they were doing to aid Fernando.

"Holy moly, are you okay!?" Buck exclaimed. Fernando groaned, rubbing the back of his head.

"We should get you a medic, stat," Viktor said.

"No, it's just a bruise. Let me recover," Fernando said, getting up. He turned off the treadmill and went to a bicycle and spent the rest of his time on the bike.


He went to his room and changed into a t-shirt and jeans. His back still ached. Shrugging it off, Fernando sat on his couch and turned onto his soaps.

Andres. Fernando loathed Andres. He always tried to get Samantha away from the love of her life, Donovan. Andres was a sly man but failed to realize what Samantha means on leaving her alone.

"How many times do I have to tell you!? I will not be with you!" Samantha said, escaping out of Andres grip.

"I love you, Samantha! You must not be with that thief!" Andres said.

"He's changed! You know that!"

"Samantha, please! We could have a happy life together!"

"I'd rather die!"

"GET HIM, SAMANTHA! GET HIM! TELL HIM OFF!" Fernando cried, slamming his hands on the couch. There was a knock on the room door and Fernando muted his TV. He opened the door, seeing Grover at his door.

"Someone told me... That you had an injury," Grover said in his sluggish voice.

"I don't," Fernando lied. "Who told you?"

"Your back. Let me see it," Grover ordered, letting a blossoming flower grow out from his hands. Fernando stopped him.

"I don't need any aid," Fernando said. Grover stared at him, then a vine whipped out of his hand, tying around Fernando's legs. Before Fernando reacted, he was pulled upwards, his head hitting the floor and was hanged upside down.

Grover pulled the shirt down, gazing at his back. There was a splotch of purple on his back, that grew red in some places. Grover sprouted another blossom, letting its scent reach Fernando's nose. The wound shrank and vanished.

Grover cut the vine, making Fernando land on his stomach.

"..Thanks," Fernando said.

"Stop trying to hide your pain," Grover said. "Enjoy the black screen with words."

Grover left, leaving Fernando puzzled by what he meant, but when he glimpsed back, the show was over.