A/N: Ladies and gentleman, no words to introduce this except here's the premiere episode of Universal Runners! So I've been wanting to say this, let's get online!

What separates fiction from reality?

Fiction derives from impossible while reality faces the truth and limitations of our lives.

But in a virtual world created for a game, it is possible to do both.

Universal Legends Online, a game where you can free yourself from limitations and stress, proved to be reality behind the fiction, has gathered gamers, students, and workers to join this surreal, but powerful game and create massive social communities all over the worlds.

However, behind their favorite shows is the world inside it. For each world is unique in its own way. Whether it's the world of dragons, of half-ghost superheroes, of secret spies, of kids with fairy godparents, or a girl who can do anything, each world exists in peace and harmony within the universe. Most of this balance stems from a deep connection to the mysterious center of the ULO world that very few know of.

But, there are two sides of the same coin, which applies to all worlds.

Darkness reigns all over the worlds and an evil force has let some of the worlds vanish from the freedom of light. And unless the forces are stopped, the connections between the worlds vanish and chaos and disorder will reign over the worlds and the reality within.

However, when there is darkness, there is light.

Each region, or Union as they are called in ULO, has a group of youths from the various worlds called Runners. The Councilmen and women of each region choose the Runners, or "the youths that run though the worlds," to protect ULO and the other worlds from their own individual evils, as well as this universal darkness that threatens to consume them all.

And within the appearance of these running youths is the unimaginable abilies that everyone can imagine. And like the darkness arise around the worlds, the Runners shall rise up to defend the balance of the worlds.

In the ruins of a city, a samurai ran though it, with his sword drawn. He stopped and stood still in an open area for a few minutes. Suddenly, a bunch of ninjas jumped out of the shadows and surrounded him, followed by a giant sumo wrestler.

Everything stood still for several seconds. Then the ninja attacked. Using his sword, the samurai rapidly slashed, stabbed, and jabbed each and every ninja until every single one of them had fallen. As their bodies disappeared, the wrestler charged the samurai, who quickly slashed his knees, which caused him to fall on his stomach.

The samurai then jump into the air with his sword pointed down, to deliver the final blow.

"Jordan!" a woman's voice called. Immediately, the screen froze and the word "Pause" was displayed, revealing the whole thing to be a video game. The screen pulled back to reveal the paused game on a medium sized flat screen TV in a room decorated with posters of cartoons, anime, video and online games, and filled with manga, DVDs, video games, and action figures. Sitting on the bed was an 11 year-old girl, who has black-blue long hair, wears a blue vest under her light blue shirt with a fleur-de-lis-like water drop logo, navy blue pants with holster-like belt and a blue metallic string hanging on her hip, and blue and white sneakers.

As the girl stares at the screen with her game controller on her hands, the voice from downstairs says again, "Jordan, hurry up you're gonna be late for your first day of school."

"Coming, Mom," the girl, now know as Jordan said as she left her room.

Universal Runners

A New Beginning Part 1

At the dining room, the woman just finished putting some eggs and bacon on the plate as Jordan rushes down the stairs.

"Jordan, be careful not to trip on the stairs," the woman said, "You know, this isn't New York anymore, so try to behave while you run around our new house."

"Sorry about that, Mom," Jordan says as she sat down on her seat near the dining table, "But I'm really excited about my new school! They said that anything can happen in California other than seeing celebrities and stuff. I can't wait!"

Then, a man came in the dining room and said, "Good, now you better finish your breakfast or you're going to be late for your first day of school!"

As Jordan eats her eggs and bacon, the woman says to her husband, "I know I want to be with you guys, but I need to do some finishing touches on my new collection first. Ricky, can you go without me? I'll catch up later."

"Okay, Vina. I'll see you later," Ricky said as he kiss his wife on her cheek before he heads out. "Jordan, if you're done eating, I'll be at the car, okay?"

"I hope it's not your new police car to show off like last time," Jordan said in dismay.

"Don't worry, it's just our car," Ricky said as he left the house, "I'll see you in just a minute."

As the girls see him leave, Jordan then quips, "He plans to take it out after he drops me off, right?"

"Yep," the woman said, "But that's your father for you." Jordan sighed as she continued to eat her breakfast. Her voice is then heard.

Yep, definitely my dad.

Jordan finished her meal and started to gather her backpack and school stuff.

The name's Jordan. Jordan Waters. I'm just your average 11 year-old girl who just moved to Los Angeles from New York and happens to love cartoons, video games and anime. One might say it's an obssession of a sort.

"Well, I'll see you later at school, Mom," Jordan said to her mom as she grabbed her backpack and rushed to join her dad.

That's my mom, Vina. She works in the world of fashion as a designer. By far, she is a great mom and always is there by my side when I need her.

Outside the house, Jordan hopped into her dad's car and they drove away to her new school.

"Are you ready for your new school?" Ricky asked his daughter.

"I'm counting on it," Jordan said with an unsure grin.

This is my father Ricky, a "highly decorated" member of the LAPD, as he likes to call it. As a cop, he is very strict with me in just about everything, especially about boys. Only boy he ever really trusts to be around me is my brother Conway, who lives and works in Florida as a wushu instructor.

Soon enough, the two pulled up to Fils-Aime Moffitt School. Jordan got out of the car, walked up to the entrance and stood outside her new school.

"Well, time to enter a new level," Jordan said as her dad joined her and they entered the school together. Upon seeing the entrance hall, Jordan was astounded by it.

"Wow, look at this, Dad!" she exclaimed. "This is way up! Lockers instead of cubbies, driver's ed instead of kiddie bikes." She then noticed a cute boy and looked at him longingly. "Him instead of..."

She stopped as she turned and saw her father with his "don't even think about it" look on his face. "Uh what was I saying again?" Jordan's father nodded his head with a somber "uh-huh."

"Come on Daddy, you've gotta let me date someday."

"Yeah, when I'm dead. Until then, you're off limits." Jordan pouted at this.

"Hiya," a familiar voice said. Jordan and Ricky turned to see Vina wearing a rainbow-colored dress that resembled a wedding gown.

"Mom?" Jordan asked in astonishment, "What are you wearing?"

Oh, I forgot to mention that while my mom is very talented in fashion design, sometimes her work can seem a little unusual, as you can see…

"This is one of the prototypes for my special line of multi-colored wedding dresses," Vina explained. "I just feel that wearing white gowns for weddings seems a little bit overrated. So how about dresses of different colors or one with all the colors of the rainbow?"

"Wish you could have come up with an idea like that for our wedding," Ricky said. "That would've been really amazing."

"Aw, thank you honey," Vina said as she hugged and cuddled her husband for his comment. Jordan felt awkward being there.

"Okayyyy, I'm gonna go have a look around," Jordan said as she whipped out her GX Portable and walked away. She played her game as she continued to walk the halls.

Man, when they get like that I have to get away from them. I just wish I had my own boyfriend so that I could-

Suddenly a boy with blonde hair, blue eyes, and wears a white polo shirt with a red long-sleeved shirt under it, blue pants, and white-blue tennis shoes, running through the hall, runs into Jordan, causing her GX to fly out of her hands and into the air.

"Nice going, loser!" Jordan shouted in anger. Unknown to her, the boy had unknowingly caught the GX in his hand. As he looked down and saw it and Jordan, he realized what happened and walked over to her.

"Sorry, here's your game back," he said as he handed her GX back to her. Upon seeing that he saved her GX, Jordan felt sorry for insulting him.

"Thanks," she said as she took her GX back. "Sorry for calling you a loser. By the way, I'm Jordan Waters."

"No problem. I'm Zeus Starr. I'm guessing you're new here, too?"

"Yep. You're new as well?"

"Yeah. You know, we just me each other and we already have something in common."

"What's that?"

"A new friend." Jordan blushed at that. Zeus did seem friendly enough.

"So you wanna walk together?" he asked.

"Sure," Jordan replied and they walked the halls together. "So I moved her from New York, what about you?"'

"Oh, me? I, um, come from Atlanta."

"I see," Jordan said with a smile. Just then, they came to a door with the words, "Middle Schoolers' Lounge" on top of the doorway. "What's this place?"

"This is the Middle Schoolers' Lounge," a man's voice said. Jordan and Zeus turned and saw a 30 year-old man with black curly hair a short sleeved blue and white striped shirt and jeans.

"I'm Mr. Bigby, middle school guidance counselor," he introduced himself. "When they made this into a co-ed middle school and high school, they also created this lounge so that the middle schoolers could have a place to unwind and such and get away from high schoolers if they need to."

"Nice," Jordan said. "So what's it like?"

"Why don't you look and find out yourself," Mr. Bigby said. Jordan opened the door and she and Zeus were met with and astonishing sight. Inside were several big screen TVs, plus several video game consoles, lots of computers, several vending machines, a large plush couch, pool and air hockey tables, small bookshelves and magazine racks, and small cubicles for students to study privately. All throughout middle schoolers were socializing and doing all kinds of activities.

"Wow," Jordan said in amazement, "I feel like I've died and gone to heaven."

"This place is awesome," Zeus put in.

"You know it," Mr. Bigby said. "And by the way I didn't get your names."

"Jordan Waters," Jordan introduced herself.

"Zeus Starr," Zeus said as well.

"Well then Ms. Waters, Mr. Starr let me give you a short tour," Mr. Bigby said as he led them around. "Right there that's the TV/movie/video game section. Nice going there Trent. Then there's the computer section, where people can surf the web, do research for school, play online games, etc." At the aformentioned section, there was a skinny young boy at one of the computers. The three walked over to him. "That kid there is Andre Renald. 10 years-old, skipped a grade, a freakish computer prodigy. Kind of a loner, too."

"Not anymore," Jordan says as she and Zeus approached the boy.

"Hello," Jordan asked as Andre looked up.

"Hiya," he said in response. "Name's Andre. Andre Renald."

"I'm Jordan and this is Zeus. Mr. Bigby told us quite a lot about you. Said you were kinda a loner too so we figured-" She stopped as she saw a controller on the desk.

"Oh, can I play what you're playing?" she said as she grabbed the controller and fiddled around with it.

"No, wait!" Andre said too late. All of sudden, Zeus heard a female's voice on Andre's computer saying, "Missile launch initiated, launch in 10, 9, 8…"

Panicked, Andre snatched the controller from Jordan, fiddled around with it the countdown soon stoped with one second remaining, much to his relief. Andre then glared at Jordan, who sheepishly said, "I'm guessing that wasn't a video game."

"Nope," a girl's voice said. Approaching them was a girl with short, light brown hair, wears white uniform-like blouse with a green ribbon, blue skirt, light green legwarmers, and black Mary Jane shoes. "It was a missle program he was working on for the U.S. military, who believe it or not happens to occassionally rely on child prodigies to help with their programs…and I'm babbling aren't I?"

"Kind of. By the way I'm Jordan Waters," Jordan said as she introduced herself.

"And I'm Zeus Starr," Zeus said as he did the same.

"I'm Kanon Kimura. Kani for short," the girl introduced herself. "By the way, did you know that Jordan is the name of an Arab kingdom in Asia, on the East Bank of the River Jordan, that borders Saudi Arabia to the south and east, Iraq to the north-east, Syria to the north and Israel to the west… and I'm babbling again aren't I?"

"Yep," Jordan and Zeus said in unison. Mr. Bigby stepped up to them.

"Kani here is our resident genius. They call her Trading Kani because, with an IQ of 181 and an eidetic memory, she is a jack-of-all-trades in practically every school subject," he explained.

"Except Home Economics. That's my weak spot," Kani explained.

"Well, it's nice to meet you Kani," Jordan said as she shook Kani's hand.

"Yeah, good to meet another new friend," Zeus said as he shook her hand. As he did, however, Jordan noticed what was on his wrist: a white wing-shaped, watch-like device that looked like…

"Zeus, is that a RunCom?" she asked him.

"Yep," he confirmed. Jordan's eyes lit up with excitement.

"I've got one too, check it out," Jordan said as she showed hers, which was wave-shaped and was colored blue. She activated it and showed Zeus, Kani, and Andre all the apps on it. As she did Kani noticed one in particular.

"What's this one?" Kani asked.

"That is my Nap App. Never used it before, but it's supposed to emit a lullaby that puts every person around you to sleep," Jordan explained. She then activated it and as she had described, it played a lullaby-like tune that made everyone except Jordan fall asleep.

"Well what do you know," Jordan said in amazement, "It worked."

After a few seconds, everyone woke up as Mr. Bigby says, "Well, even if they are different from cellphones, we're still treating like one. Don't use it during class and put that device in silent mode, okay?"

Jordan and Zeus agree on his instructions, seeing that their studies are more important, first.

"All right, newbies. If you got some questions, Kani and I will be happy to answer your questions. If not, well-"

"Actually, sir! I have one."

He turns to Jordan, who raised her hand in curiousity.

"You said we can play online games on the computer, right?" Jordan asks, "Well, is there a game called Universal Legends Online in there?"

"Universal Legends Online?" Mr. Bigby repeated in confusion before he wonders what it is, "I never heard of that before. I'm just a guidance counselor."

"Well, I do see one of the icons that say "Universal Legends", so I think that counts that there's one in the computer."

"Yes! Well, thank you," Jordan said politely.

Just my luck! A school with the game, Universal Legends Online! I'm so lucky to be in this school!

Then, the scene cuts to the login screen of the said game before switching to a montage where some players play the game and it's gameplay.

Ever since the game released in 2011, it has been a popular MMORPG around the world, whether if it's Japan, China, Europe, or any country you think of, Universal Legends is currently the number one online game of all time. Despite the bugs on its first run, it attracts a number of players, old and new to the MMORPG world with its console-based gameplay, VR-like system with the Unimatrix Neo-Link hypnotic feature, and many unique features that the veteran players will begging for more.

Then the scene cuts again to a plain white watch-like device like Jordan and Zeus's as we saw some people using different devices like in the display screen.

Along with the features is a cellphone-like companion device called a Run Computer, or RunCom for short. Not only it has applications just like a smartphone, but it can linked to your ULO account to check on your status, inventory, chat with your friends, and more, even if you're away from your computer. Plus, you can log in with the RunCom using its Bluetooth technology to connect with the main game itself.

After that, the scene flashes back to 5 months ago on a house in New York.

To be honest, I already got the game during its new updates on the game, plus I already registered and created my character in it. However, I didn't play it until I got one more tool to get a full ULO experience.

Inside the house, an excited Jordan rushed into the living room as she shouts, "Mom, Dad! I did it! I did it!"

Then, her parents rushed to her side as Vina asks, "Jordan, what happened? What's got you excited?"

"If you say you got a boyfriend, don't even think about it!" Ricky says in a strict tone, "Because like I said many times before, you-"

"I can't get a boyfriend when you're around," Jordan said in an obvious tone, "Sheesh, Dad! Stop being paranoid already! That's not what happened!"

"Then what?"

She then pulls out a report card and shows it to her parents as she declares, "Guess who got A's and Bs on my subjects except I got a C+ on my Literature in my report card today?"

Seeing her grades on her report card, her parents become happy and excited that their daughter got a decent grade. "That's my girl! Congrats, sugar plum!" Ricky happily says to his daughter, "But you really need to work on your Literature."

"I know," Jordan says in an obvious tone, knowing that Literature is her weak spot.

"Well, you're just in luck. Dinner's on the table and there's your favorite chicken soup waiting at the table," Vina said.

"Good, I hope you made my favorite, too, honey," Ricky said as he and his wife are about to go to the dining room.

However, Jordan has other plans before that as she stops them and asks, "Hey, guys. Do you remember about our promise on when I get a decent grade on my next report card?"

"Promise?"

Her parents wondered what she was talking about until Ricky remembers it.

"Oh yeah, that thing you asks us a month ago," he said. "Well, since you were able to study without your TV and video games distracting you, I'm guessing this would be a good time to give it to you."

He then picks up a wrapped box from the closet and gives it to Jordan. Excited, she unwraps the box and when she opens it, her eyes widened in awe as she saw a blue wave-shaped watch standing at the middle of the peanut foams.

"I-I don't believe it. It's beautiful," she says in awe as she pulls out the device from the box and straps it's velcro strap on her wrist. "The companion device for Universal Legends is right in front of me and now it's all mine!"

"Well, do you want to say something to us? We worked so hard to buy you that device," Vina said nicely, "Plus, there's a special deal on designing it and I choose that design since it fits your name nicely."

Not want to forget her manners, Jordan says to her parents, "Yeah, thanks guys! You're the best!"

She then hugs her parents in glee, knowing she will loves them back as long as they love her.

"You know, you can't get more stuff for free. You need to earn them," Ricky reminded her, "You need to study harder on your schoolwork and less time on your video games, okay? We won't give you more if you slack off."

"Okay, Dad. I promise," Jordan says in gratitude, knowing that she needs to study more for her parents' sake.

Although I like my name and my RunCom, I didn't like because I was unlucky to have a water element on my avatar, which it has some low stats because it. Despite this, it didn't stop me from logging into ULO for the first time.

Then, the scene cuts to a black and grey city filled with kids and teens along with some holographic billboards hovering above the buildings. At the entrance of the city, a familiar girl appears in an holographic portal, wearing a blue tank top with a small heart on her v-neck collar, blue long fingerless gloves, denim blue skirt with a card deck box and a sword hanging on her ribbon belt, and navy blue boots.

"Whoa," the girl, who is actually Jordan, said as she saw the city's buildings in awe.

She then heads to a nearby bench, and when she sat on it, she pulls out a holographic window in front of her. In it, it contains with her name -Crystal Aquilla- along with her stats and her job class, -Blader-.

"Looks like I'm in one of those virtual reality games, only it's not entirely virtual. I might able to have some fun around here," Jordan says with a grin on her face as she pulls another window, which it's a map of the city which is called -Schwarz-, "So, what should I do first? Level up or buy something from the shops?"

"How about quitting the game now, newbie?"

Hearing a rough teen's voice, she turns around and saw some avatars grinning in an evil manner as their leader says, "Because this isn't your average MMORPG and if you want what's good for you, I suggest you better leave with all of your dignity before bad things will happen to you girly."

"Girly?!" she thought with inner anger in her head, secretly offended by that comment.

But instead of taking out her anger at the avatars, Jordan then calmly asks, "Uh, dare I ask why should I quit early?"

"Because of PVP tournaments and such, only the best of the best can play this game," the leader's lackey in black vest answered.

"And also, there are Player Killers running amok in this game, too. They are worst than the monsters in here because you will lose your items before you're history," the lackey with a buzzcut haircut added.

"And don't let us mention how hard the quests, gameplay, and the dungeons in here. You'll be dead before you know it," the lackey with headphones hanging on his neck put in.

"So you're saying that I'm weak to play Universal Legends?" she asks in curiousity.

"Yeah, everyone in this game already made their names in the PK and PVP tournament history and the other newbies already quit when they first log in here," the leader explained, "So, if you don't want to lose your dignity for this, I suggest you quit before that happens."

"Someone made famous in the PK and PVP world in here already, huh?"

She then got up from her seat as the avatars wait for her to log out. But instead, she pulls out a card from her deck box, which turns into a staff with a water drop in the middle of the stone placed on the top of it and points it at the bullies as Crystal says, "Okay, if I'm so weak to play this, then try and PK me."

Seeing that she didn't listen to their warnings, the avatars pulled out their weapons as the leader says, "Okay, newbie! We warned you and if you don't log out, we're just going to force you!"

But as he deals a strong attack on her, she quickly dodges without hesitation and cast a water spell on the floor. He and his lackeys try to attack her again, but they are quickly slipped and saw that the floor suddenly became slippery due her spell.

As they try to get up, they are being approached by Crystal as she cockingly says, "News flash, boys. You may think I'm a rookie in this game, but truth is, although this is my first time playing the game, I'm an expert in MMORPGs and video games. If you try to judge a book by it's cover again, then you'll regret it."

She then casts another spell, which her staff then magically shoots water on the avatars, causing them to crashed onto a player-made shop, which the owner became angry at what they done.

When that situation is resolved, her staff disappeared back into her invisible bag as she wondered about what they said about the game.

"They said that they made their name at the PK and PVP world, right? Well, in that case..."

She then climbs up onto a platform at the town square and shouts, "Listen up players and listen good!"

All the players nearby and in the square noticed the new player on the platform as she declares, "I'm Crystal Aquilla and I have something to tell you all! It may be stupid as it sounds, but since everyone in here wants to make it big through joining guilds, PVP tournaments as such, I'm going to accomplish something that no one has done before!"

Everyone is confused at what she was saying until she shouts out, "I'm going to conquer all of the quests in ULO! Old and new!"

Hearing her goal out loud, everyone is about to laugh at it until Crystal continues, "Laugh all you want, but I warn you, laugh at me and you'll regret it in the future! I notice that Universal Legends has a lot of quests waiting for the players to complete and when they complete it, great rewards will come for them. But my reward is to conquer all of the existing quests in this game! If you're planning to mock me and laugh at my mission, then karma's going to bite you back. How many all of you reached a hundred quests during your time here?"

Some of the avatars try to count how many and seeing that she has a point since they only completed 50 or so, they decided not to laugh at her at all.

"I thought so. Just so you know, I'm not doing this to get rewards and be famous for this achievement, but I'm also doing this to have fun. Besides, if you're not having fun while doing it, it would be boring, right? Well, it may be impossible, but I'm going to do it, anyway! And mark my words, this city, no, the whole ULO world will recognize me as a "Conqueror of Quests" and nothing will stop me from completing those quests!"

Seeing her determination, everyone is shocked at this while some are cheering for her to do her best, much to Jordan's relief and gratitude on the players who are cheering for her.

When I declare my goal in ULO in my first login, I thought I would never conquer the quests in it. However, with my determination to reach that goal 5 months later, the GMs are impressed at my goal later on and gave me an exclusive title for me, the "Quest Queen". Because of that, I've become famous in the ULO world and known to everyone as a "Quest Hunter" other than my official title.

Then the scene cuts back to present time, where Jordan and Zeus are listening to some advices from Mr. Bigby.

And ever since we moved to California because my Dad was promoted to the LAPD while my Mom was planning to move into a bigger fashion studio, I wished that something good happen in California. Because I have a feeling there's something that will happen right in front of me.

At some another city, the camera zooms in to an alley where it somehow transport us when it runs through the building at the back.

Inside, it's a room with the white walls decorated with moving and falling letters. However, the white walls became red as it emits a strange alarm while the ground of the room starts to shake.

A/N: Like the characters so far? Well watch out for the second part of the premiere episode because there's going to be action in it! Until then, review on both the series and episode so far and see ya!