Chibiyu: Anyone ready for this story to end? Other than Nick, I mean?
Nick: To be fair, I want all of your stories to end. Fairly quickly.
Chibiyu: Well hun, you won't be in my next one. How does that sound?
Nick: I'll tell you when you finally decide if you want to write it or not.
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There was only one thing Paragon left in the room as she strutted out of the house.
Silence.
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"Valenteen?"
The girl looked over the shoulder of the young man who called her name. "Si?"
He almost smirked at her attempts to be flirty. "I need you to bring some false light to all of this chaos. Go to the city and spread a little love, okay?"
The beauty clapped her hands together and batted her eyelashes. "Whatever you say," she whispered in her singsong voice before she strutted away.
Nick watched her body sway for a moment before the turned to the girl caressing a vine in the corner. "Florice?"
She flicked her finger in his direction to indicate that she was listening.
"Your plants need light and space. It's about time the Heroes gave it to them. When the time comes, I don't want you to hold back. No survivors. Am I understood?"
The redhead smiled, but did not speak. The look in her eyes was enough of answer for both of them.
"Miraged," this time, it wasn't a polite call.
The strong stench of cologne announced his arrival.
"Take Tac and Technotron. Use their powers in a combined way. Order them around. Give them hell."
"Yes sir!" the Villain sped off with a salute.
Nick looked over to the rest of the Villains with cold features. "Lilith, make sure your lair is always open for a safe house. Cascadea, frost their water lines. Talis, keep them in the city with your puppets. Neuropath, shut down their technology."
One by one, each of the Villains left the chamber without question. Only one remained.
"Phantom."
"You don't fool me, Nicholas."
The Normal smiled to the man. "I know I don't. That is why I need you. You need to separate those who share my desires and those who do not. Just like you separed the Heroes from the Villains."
"And why would I do as you say? I am not a puppet like they are. Like you are."
Nick smiled to the grotesque man. "I may be a Hero, but not in the way you think. I am a Hero to the people who have been oppressed, a Villain to those against our cause and a Normal to those who refuse to accept the power behind my people."
The man crossed his arms. "Why does that not convince me?"
Nick only smiled in response.
"You're hiding something, Normal."
Nick shrugged. "What do I have to hide?"
"Everything."
Nick turned his back to the Villain and walked to where Necrophere's silver mask still lay.
"Someone like you just doesn't change as fast as you did. This may be your plan, but I don't think that it is all of it."
Nick smiled to himself. "Or perhaps it is something else entirely," he spoke over his shoulder.
Phantom pursed his lips but spoke no further. It was not wise to goad this boy. However, the man still did have one more question for him. "Will you take up his mask?"
The Normal knelt and traced the hollowed cheek bones of the metal. "All I can say is that Necrophere will live one more time before this is all over."
"And after?"
Nick smiled as he stood and faced the Villain, mask held loosely in his left hand. "There isn't a better send off than one in flames."
"Meaning?"
Nick held up his hand and watched as it ignited in a small cherry flame. "He will burn like the rest of the world."
Satisfied with this answer, Phantom slowly made his way out of the chamber. The dragging of his nearly deadened foot was still heard when a copper and black striped cat strut over to the teen.
"Hello Para," he greeted with a genuine smile. The cat purred, eyes mischievous. "Back to the basics, then? I trust you brought the camera?"
The cat looked over to the shadowed corner. Nick glanced over with a smile. She had already set everything up.
"Perfect," he complimented. "But it's too clean." The Normal pulled something small from his pocket, something long forgotten by the Heroes. "That is where Tac will help us." Nick pointed the now assembled gun to the wall and blasted it with ease. Once the smoke and dust cleared, the pair could see a perfectly destroyed and unrecognizable wall and a floor littered with untidy piles of ash.
"In the past, Heroes were always able to determine location from the video's background. They would compare notes and find lairs by utilizing everyone's knowledge," Nick explained to the cat. "But how can they find out anything about nothing?"
"Lame."
Nick looked to the cat with skepticism. "What, should I set it on fire as well?"
The cat smiled darkly. "Where's the fun?"
Nick looked to the ruby that hung on his chest before he chuckled. "Right here."
The cat flicked her tail in excitement as the room began to flicker in an orange glow.
"The bastards better be ready for this," she whispered.
Nick turned his back to the fire. "They could never be ready for the hell we're about to bring."
Paragon stood at Nick's feet and looked up to him. "Then I hope they know how hide."
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"Heroes," everyone stopped as televisions filled with static and radio programs seized. "By now you're aware that this is not a time to side with a middle ground. Even the Normals understood that. So they sided with the winners."
All Heroes clenched their fists at the slick voice of the Four.
"You have no chance."
"Yes, yes we do," all of the heroes grunted.
"The Bane is gone. There is nothing that can stop me. Stop us."
The television screens flashed to picture distorted by flames. Paragon stood smugly in the middle of the frame, the hole behind her glowing with sickly embers.
"Hello, Heroes," she smiled. "What, were you expecting someone else? Necrophere, perhaps? Or maybe you were expecting some grand display of blood?"
"Well I am sorry to disappoint you," a well known voice said as he walked into view. Nick crossed his arms as he stared at the screen. "But this will have no blood, no fake torture, no acting. Just the truth."
Nick put up three fingers. "You need to know three things. One, we will not take any prisoners. Everyone who opposes us will be killed on site. We will not treat you as you have treated us. Two, your deaths will be quick, but I can't guarantee it will be painless. Three, there is no hope for you. The world will burn with the hatred you gave us."
Nick stiffened for a moment before he smiled. "Kevin? Mom?" he looked to the camera. "Those aren't my words, but they do reflect how I feel. I am not being controlled by the Four – if I was, you'd be dead."
"If you fight, you will die. If you hide and we find you, you will die. You can run, but our influence will find you. But," Nick sighed as he looked to his feet. "I know that no one is going to let us do this without a fight. Those who have died in the past are proof of that. The Normals were meant to unite the sides and bring balance. But everyone forgot that and they destroyed the lines that kept the peace. The Normals were let go."
Nick looked back to the screen, no mercy was on his face. "You brought this onto yourselves." He spread his arms and smiled. "And no," he paused dramatically. "The time was come to redraw that line."
He looked up to the ceiling as far away laughter. "And that time starts now."
Shattering of windows had all of the Heroes jumping.
"Good luck, Heroes. You'll need it."
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Chibiyu: Just a little teaser for you ;-)
I think there are three orfour chapters to go? Something like that. Point being this story is almost over. BUT I am going to go back and rewrite it entirely so it drops the title of "fanfiction." Edit it a LOT , add a LOT to it and polish it as much as I can. I want it to be published.
But I'll need your help. During the process, I will be taking it only a few chapters at a time. Anyone willing to read over these chapters/sections and give me feedback? I will forever love you! And perhaps turn you into a character...
Until Next Update!
