"Megadale's Charles Becket Local Supermarket! A place where you can find anything - from a battery charged to work for millennia to clothing for any gender, binary or non, from a soy cheese tofu for your vegetarian friend to greens that our children can't stand, but must eat! Our founder, Charles Becket, wished to make a place where everyone will find everything they need! Today's special offer is 20-percent discount at all goods of home appliances category! Come to the Megadale's Charles Becket Local Supermarket for anything you-"
The voice from the shop's wall-bound loudspeaker was interrupted as the laser beam hit it, blasting it to pieces. Down at the ground, SheZow was fighting the group of bandits.
"Hey, that's damaging of public property! It's going in your upcoming sentence" SheZow said sarcastically as she approached the one who accidentally shot the loudspeaker. He tried to engage the fight, but the heroine took him down in mere seconds - one quick move made him drop the gun, and then she threw him over herself. The bandit hit the stage filled with toilet paper and it immediately fell from it on him. Turned out that a shop's employee was hiding behind it, they glanced scaredly at the bandit, then at Zow, and then ran away screaming.
"Oops... I'm sorry!" the heroine shouted them and then continued the fight.
People in the shop were in panic, so they were just running around, unable to actually move out the danger zone. That was worrying a lot, but SheZow couldn't leave the bandits unoccupied, or else they could put civilians in more danger.
"Ugh, where is Maz when I need him so much..." SheZow grumbled quietly. Suddenly, a voice came from the side.
"Fear not, citizens! Heroes are here to save the day! The powerful heroine SheZow and her loyal friend, me! The Shaverine!" boy jumped down the shelf and struck a pose. He was wearing sleeveless yellow and dark blue upper suit with weird helmet, that's eyeholes were input with orange lenses. Lower side was more modest - simple jeans and brown high boots. On his hands Maz wore dark blue gauntlets. Funnily enough, they were fingerless for some reason. On the outer palms plates were taped, and on these plates shavers were bolted, two on each hand. Maz flexed his hands as the shavers buzzed.
People that were close around got confused for a moment. Bandits laughed, but that was good as SheZow quickly pounced at them, taking more of them down.
"Good timing, my friend!" she exclaimed. Her voice was perfectly girly, no sign of faking - all thanks to the voice altering device under her suit's collar, given to her by a guest from another dimension. "Now please, take care of the people while I deal with this herd of idiots" she chuckled as some bandits let out a furious "Hey!" Maz, however, was not amused at all.
"That's unfair!" he exclaimed. "Why are you always the one to have fun and kick butt, while I just move around and helping people? This can be done by everybody else, like..." he looked around and saw a man sneaking nearby "Like him!" the boy dashed to the sneaking man and caught him by sleeve, which caused the man to shake. "Okay, pal, me and my hero freundin are here to help. While we're keeping the bandits busy, lead the people away, got it?" the man, who, by the way, also was the shop's employee, and the badge on his shirt said "Daxton", stopped shaking and nodded and then rushed to the nearest people.
"Alright, ladies and gentlemen, let's stop panicking and leave this place..." he spoke.
"See?" Maz said. "I can be a fighter too!"
"Maz, I understand you, but don't forget one thing" SheZow said after finishing with another bandit, and no more left nearby, others were somewhere at the other side of the shop. "I am the one with superpowers, thus I can risk myself easily. You, on the other hand, are a simple boy in a handmade superhero suit. You shouldn't risk so much... Come on, go and help Daxton, I will go deal with the others!" SheZow left to the other part of the shop, while Maz, frowning, went to follow the guy he involuntarily made to help him...
Soon the crowd was walking to the emergency exit, the only way to leave the building aside the main entrance, which was blocked. Maz was among them, "leading" them beside Daxton. But if the shop's employee was honestly trying to lead people, Maz's mind was not here - it was there, with SheZow, fighting the bad guys and having real superhero fun, not just... Side job of a sidekick. That was bugging Maz a lot. He wanted action of a hero. But he's not a hero here, he is only a partner, a sidekick. Number two, not one. Overshadowed by the real hero. And that made Maz feel... Jealous? No, nonsense! It's not pleasant, but he was not jealous about Guy. Guy is his best friend, they are like bros, two of a kind. They must not be jealous about each other...
His swarm of thoughts was interrupted by Daxton.
"We're almost here" he said. "Soon we'll be safe. With you, young hero, we feel well-protected to come this far without panic. We're so glad that we're with... Um, what's your name again?"
"Um... Shaverine" Maz smiled rather sillily. He felt nice deep inside - he got the praise and was called hero even for doing so little... It looked like something unbelievable. Suddenly, they heard loud steps and laser gun's breech rattle.
"Here you are! Freeze!" a scream sounded and a few bandits came from around the corner, right in front of the sight of the emergency door. "You really thought you can escape so easily? Not so fast! We had enough troubles by this pink broad, so you will play as our get-out-free card! Now be nice hostages and sit down with hands behind your heads, fast!" while one was talking, other two pointed their guns at the people. One of them quickly got behind the crows, so they were kind of surrounded.
"Oh no, a deathtrap!" screamed Daxton. "Shaverine, do something!"
"Uuuh..." Maz, despite being the hero here, was just as terrified as Daxton or everybody else. He wanted to have fun fighting seconds ago, but at the moment, in real danger, but when he has the chance, he's frozen, because despite everything, SheZow's right - he is merely a boy in handmade suit, without proper fighting skills. These bandits can just pull the trigger - and he's finished. But...
Maz clenched the fists and stroke a brave pose. People were in danger and he didn't want to let them down. Time to be a real hero for a second at least...
"Retreat, you, bandits" he said, "or you'll have to face me, Shaverine!" the shavers on his hands let out a buzz. It was his brother's help - Rex connected these shavers to the special wires in the tapes that made the panels with them strapped to Maz's hands. Thus Maz could activate them by just flexing his palms.
"What?!" bandit exclaimed and then laughed. "Boy, your masquerade doesn't scare us, you-" he didn't finish, because Maz jolted at him and pushed hard. Caught by surprise, the bandit bent a little, and Maz punched him with all force. The hit landed right into the bandit's chest, and the shavers only added the impact. He fell, trying to catch the breath.
"Fire!" he wheezed, and his pals prepared to shoot.
"Duck!" Maz shouted and people got down. Maz himself didn't duck for some reason, instead he dashed to the wall. The laser beam flew right next to him, but fortunately, the boy was in motion, so the beam didn't burn his body - instead it hit the shaver on his hand. Maz let out an "ouch" - heated metal slightly burned. However, adrenaline already flushed over Maz's mind. He didn't stop - instead he dashed right at the shooting bandit. He just managed to reload his gun when Maz was already near. The boy desperately thrust his hands with shavers forward. The bandit, noticing it, tried to block the hit with his loaded, buzzing ready for shooting gun...
At this moment a weird thing happened. The gun stopped buzzing and went dull and inactive. Maz's shavers, on the other hand, buzzed louder and thrust through the gun, breaking it. Maz felt incredible surge of energy flowing into the damaged devices on his hand. The bandit was utterly confused, which the boy used to land a hit. Charged shavers broke his armor and created a small shockwave that knocked the bandit unconscious. His friend was coming closer to help - and Maz hit him with the other hand. Another hit in the gun - and the second bandit fell, pushed away by a shockwave. Maz smiled, looking at his slightly sparkling shavers - he felt very powerful. The third guy slowly got up, finally getting back to his senses after Maz's previous hit.
"What the hell?" he exclaimed, seeing both his pals unconscious. Maz smiled victoriously.
"I told you to retreat, but you made your choice" he said, slowly walking to the bandit. "You try to threaten the peace of people - you face me, Shaverine..." the bandit was seemingly terrified, and Maz felt it. "And now... Boo!"
The bandit ran away, screaming. The people around began to cheer. Daxton came to Maz.
"That was awesome! You, Shaverine, are a real hero! You saved us all! How can we thank you?"
"Oh please, no need to reward me" Maz smirked. "That's merely my job as a..." he stopped for a sec. "As a hero! Now, if you'll excuse me..." he turned and headed back to the main part of the shop.
"Where are you going?" Daxton wondered.
"Helping my good friend SheZow with other bandits" Maz answered with a determined face. "Hero's work is not done yet..."
Back in the main part, SheZow continued her fight. Just a few were left, but they took a very comfortable position and didn't let her approach them. SheZow tried to think of a good strategy. But suddenly...
"Worry not, SheZow, Shaverine's coming!" heroine heard a familiar voice and saw Maz jumping from one shelf to another, holding his shavers up and ready.
"What are you doing?!" she exclaimed. "They will kill you!"
"I'll see how they try!" Maz laughed and darted down from the shelf right next to the bandits covering. They quickly shifted their attention on him, and Zow rushed there - she couldn't let her friend risk himself so much. He, on the other hand, seemed to be unstunned at all.
"Let the bash begin, pals!" he said and pounced at the bandits. SheZow got shocked - her friend was only hitting them by his shavers, but the bandits were pushed from these hits far away, as if Maz suddenly acquired superstrength or his shavers created force waves with each hit. Maz's eyes were glowing in the thrill of the fight. Soon every bandit was lying on the floor, barely able get up. Maz clapped his hands as if shaking off the dust.
"Well, now the job is done..." he said with a smile. SheZow hastily came to him and grabbed by arms.
"Maz, what were you even thinking?!" she yelled at him in the mix of anger and shock. "Have you went crazy or what?!"
"Whoah, Zowie, chill" he said, slightly confused by his friend's sudden emotions. "What's so wrong in what I did? I helped you take down the bad guys."
"You put yourself in great risk! I am even surprised how you managed to fight so good, but that doesn't matter now!" SheZow shook him. "You have no superprotection or invincibility, they could have easily ended you with a single blast! I thought you understand that, so I sent you to help people to get out of here..." SheZow slightly calmed down over the intense speech. "By the way, where are they?"
"Don't worry, SheZow, they're fine" Maz answered, putting her hands away. "Look, I understand that you are worried, but everything's alright! I protected people from the bandits on the way to the exit. During this fight my shavers got somehow charged with super energy, now I can fight bad guys greatly. And that's why I came to help you... And did so, as you saw all by herself. We can fight equally now, SheZow" he headed to the entrance, smiling, while Zow was still kinda worried. She quickly tied the bandits with ribbons and hung them up, so they won't escape easily, and followed her friend.
"Okay, maybe these shavers are now really a serious weapon..." she started, coming up to Maz, "but that still doesn't mean you can risk yourself and rush headlong into fight. You need to have the strategy to minimize the risks..."
"Yeah, I got it, Zow, chill out already" Maz groaned. "Seriously, you sound like Kelly when she's scolding you..."
SheZow was kinda shocked to hear this from her friend. She was about to engage in the argument, but suddenly the kinds felt the ground shaking. Loud roar came from the far. Kinds started to look around nervously. A giant hairy monster appeared in the distance.
"Holy cheeses..." Maz murmured in shock.
"Okay, we'll talk later, now time to save the town again" SheZow said, preparing her Ribbon Shooters. Maz grabbed her shoulder.
"I will help. Now, since I can battle, we will defeat this beast together!"
"No, you stay here and watch the people. I will deal with this giant" SheZow shook off his hand and unleashed a ribbon, pulling herself up in the air. Maz groaned, clenching his fists, and followed her. The heroine stopped at the roof and watched the monster stomping at the ground, making it shake, and grabbing cars.
"Oh no, not on my watch!" SheZow said and shoot a ribbon to pull herself closer to the beast. During the flight she unleashed her Laser Lipstick and swung it. She smelled burnt hair - monster's arm got sliced and it dropped the car. SheZow dived down to the ground, speeding herself up with ribbons, and there she caught the car and placed it down carefully.
"Alright, get away, fast!" she commanded to the people in there and returned to the beast. It noticed a pink streak down and was angry at it for hurting his arm. SheZow prepared to fight.
"The bigger they are - the harder they fall" she said and pulled herself up once again, preparing to hit the beast again. However, the monster swiped his hand in the air very fast, hitting the heroine midair and making her fall down, dropping her weapon. She hit the ground and lied still, seemingly knocked out.
"SheZow!" it was the time when Maz arrived at the place. He gulped - the monster was really huge, as big as a house, and SheZow was unconscious. He had to do something to stop the beast and not get smashed in process.
"Here goes nothing!" Maz screamed and dodged right behind the beast's leg, where he thrust his shavers forward, shutting his eyes. He heard a loud buzz and felt the slight quake. He opened his eyes and saw that monster's leg is now shorter than it was, and the monster itself now stands on one knee, growling as if he's hurt.
"Right, it's made of hair!" Maz exclaimed and his face shone with bravery. "Alright, Mr. Huge Hairball! You may have taken down SheZow, but now you're facing Shaverine!" Maz swung one his shaver against monster's body - and a huge tuft fell down, shaved off the beast. It growled again, and Maz didn't stop. He kept swinging his shavers, running around the monster, hitting its legs and arms - and they went shorter and shorter until the beast just fell. Its body flinched slightly and it kept roarong and groaning. Maz didn't stop. Shockwaves created by his shavers made tons of hair fall off the beast. As soon as the monster totally lacked the limbs, Maz manically thrust his hands into its body and just walked forward. Hair were everywhere, flying off like a grass from below the lawn mower, and a loud buzzing of shavers was heard. Soon only the head remained, and Maz just kept dealing hits. Soon, just a little tuft was left. It jumped down at Maz's feet, not even growling, but squealing. Maz grabbed it and lifted up.
"So you are the core for this giant horrendous hairball..." he said, then he put his other hand up and buzzed the shaver threateningly. "Say goodbye, little thing" he thrust the shaver at it. With a squeal, the little tuft broke into motionless hair. Maz smiled and shook off the hair from his hands.
"It's all over now, people! You're safe!" he said loudly as people began to gather around.
SheZow tried to get up, but couldn't do it easily as she was buried under a big pile of hair. When she finally got out of it and shook everything off herself, she saw how people surround Maz. She came closer to take a better look.
"It was so cool!" they screamed happily. "You defeated this beast and saved us all! You are a true hero!"
"Please, please..." Maz said with a smile. "It's just my duty as a hero. But thank you for all the praise"
"Hey, Mr. Shaverine!" said one girl. "Are you and SheZow a pair?"
"What? Oh-ho-ho, no, no, we're not, sorry..." Maz laughed confusedly. "Me and SheZow are good friends and partners in heroics, if she can't do something, I am here to save the day. Collaboration is our way, that's it!"
People continued to give Maz praise and ask questions while SheZow just stood nearby, shockedly looking at this all.
"... And this was the moment of my triumph!" Maz pompously said, actively gesticulating, before Kelly, detransformed Guy and Sheila in the She-Lair. Kelly was listening closely, and Sheila was rather amused too, but Guy, on the other hand, looked rather annoyed and grim. "I picked this little hairball up and said "Goodbye, little thing", and then I just..." Maz moved his hand in a manner like he hit the little creature back then and made an epic sound. "That was my win! I saved the day!"
"Woo, congrats, Maz!" Kelly applauded. "Really, cool thing, isn't it Sheila?"
"Agree, my girl" the computer said. "With newly acquired perk like this, crime-fighting will get much more successful for our team" she smiled. "Guess soon we'll have to register Shaverine in the database for real..."
"This will be a pleasure, lady Sheila" Maz smirked. "The saver of the day like me is surely worthy a historical note..." he flexed his arm, making shavers buzz epically. Guy just groaned quietly.
"What a poser..." he said quiet enough to not be heard, his voice sounding normal, as the voice alterer was made a part of the transformation. Kelly, however, heard everything.
"Guy, you said what now?" she said with a smile. "Did I hear it right? You, the biggest poser around, is not happy that somebody is being a poser? Sheesh, brother... Or wait..." she narrowed her eyes. "Or are you not happy because the one posing is your best friend? Are you jealous?"
"No I am not!" Guy said. "It's cool that he got his portion of being a hero... But he's acting like a total showoff now!"
"Come on, I am sure he will calm down soon" Kelly said, patting Guy's shoulder. "He just wants to enjoy a moment, you should know it as a fellow boy."
"Maybe..." Guy grumbled. "But I swear, it gives me a tic when he repeats how cool he is so much..."
"Alright, friends, gotta go home!" Maz said, still having a pose like he's surrounded by admirers. "See you all tomorrow and let's be prepared to save the day once again. Maz the hero must be ready for everything!" saying that, he left the lair. Kelly sighed and smiled, while Guy just facepalmed.
On the next day, Guy was just strolling around in the park. He's been trying to call Maz since the morning, but his friend didn't answer. Guy was worried where could he be.
Suddenly, he noticed a huge crowd standing in place and making noise. They seemingly were surrounding someone, Guy could hear gratitude and admiration words. He got closer and tried to squeeze through. He managed to get closer to the center. He saw Maz, in his Shaverine attire. Nearby was a huge bag full of various stuff.
"Thank you, thank you, people of Megadale" he said with a wide smile on his face. "It's a pleasure to have you all loving me. There's nothing a hero like me wouldn't do for you all, I love you all too" while speaking, he shook people's hands, gave them signatures and received more presents he just put in his bag. Everything said that he is extremely pleased with what's happening to him...
Guy however was not. He was overflooded with anger. Maz decided to flex his heroics and take benefit of having people's admiration. While he, Guy, was a modest hero that never thought of even getting a fan club! And more, Maz didn't even tell him! He preferred to keep his best friend out of it!
Guy squeezed back outside the crowd and hid behind the tree. He was sure that it's time to break in and stop this idiocy. He moved his hand with a ring, saying the code words. Pink flash - and he transformed, unnoticed by anyone. He then left his hiding and with a powerful leap, in which he put a lot of his superstrength, landed right before Maz in the center of the crowd. People backed off, surprised to see the heroine. Maz was a little confused as well.
"SheZow?" he said, raising an eyebrow artistically. "Mind explaining the sudden intervention in my fan meeting?"
"Shaverine! What are you even doing?!" SheZow screamed. "Fan meeting? Should I really explain myself after what you just said? You're starstruck, my dear sidekick! You saved a day once, just once - and acting like you've been keeping the whole world safe for your whole life! Taking gifts and praise, holding meetings... Should I remind you what hero's work truly is? It's not about presents and fame, it's about helping people because it's the right thing to do!" SheZow was so emotional that didn't notice how loud she was. "And even besides that, your heroics were totally reckless! You put yourself and others in the unjustified risk! You're not thinking through, you rush into fight headlong, like a total fool! Is that what you like being praised for?! What kind of hero are you after that?!"
For a second it could be thought that she acquired sonic voice power - but no, it wasn't it, she was just screaming very loud in her anger. People in the crowd were whispering about that the heroine went crazy or something. Maz was seemingly uncomfortable as well. He was looking nervoudly at the heroine, who was slowly cooling off and realizing what she just did. He shook his head and came to his heroic friend.
"Well well, SheZow... Didn't expect that from you" he said with a reproach in his voice. "I thought you would be happy for a friend having some fame on his own. But instead, I only see you being angry. And wanna know why? Because you're just jealous!"
"I... What?!" SheZow exclaimed, shocked to the point of shivers.
"Yes, you are jealous of me having the fame and you having none!" Maz pointed a finger on the heroine. "But listen here, dear freundin. It's not my fault that you decided to stay away from this all. How did you call me? Sidekick? I outgrew this title, I am a hero on my own now! And I decided to get the portion of fame I deserve for saving the day. You do it your way, and I do it my way! I've been a sidekick long enough, now I am capable of more than merely helping you! I go out of your shadow! And you can't force me to get back there... I've had enough of it" Maz lowered his hand and looked at SheZow angrily. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I am getting back to people that actually care about me and admire my successes" with that words he turned to the group of fans and said them that everything is fine and that they gotta move somewhere else. SheZow kept standing in place, stunned by her friend's words.
"Well, fine!" she yelled after Maz already headed away. "Be a hero of your own then! I don't need your assistance anymore! Let's see how you face enemies of my size alone, Shaverine!" after that she turned around, swinging her cape dramatically, and walked away.
Guy entered the She-Lair without a suit already. He was extremely angry. Kelly was standing near the entrance and was about to hold Guy down, but he just pushed her away.
"Guy!" she said angrily.
"I am not in the best mood to talk, Kelly, so leave me be" Guy grumbled.
"No, you must listen to me" said Kelly persistently, coming at Guy and grabbing him by shoulder. He backed away, waving his hand.
"I said leave me!" he said loudly.
"GUY ELI HAMDON! Get quiet and listen to what your sister says!" Sheila's voice was like a thunder. Guy shivered out of how unexpected it was and silenced. Sheila let out a sound as if she was clearing her throat. "Excuse my rise of tone, kids. Now, Kelly, talk, please..."
"Thanks, Sheila" Kelly said and turned to Guy. He looked rather annoyed now.
"Okay, what's that you want to talk to me about?" he asked.
"About you and Maz" Kelly said, putting hands on her thighs. "Me and Sheila watched you since we noticed your transformation in the park. That was awful, Guy! How could you act that way about Maz?"
"How could I? How could he?!" Guy yelled. "I tried to make it clear for him that his recklessness is going to kill him and that he needs to watch out for himself, but no! Not my fault that he decided to get totally starstruck and flex his ONLY heroic deed for the audience, despite being an utter fool in fact!"
"Do you even hear yourself?!" Kelly said, glaring at her brother. "Maybe Maz is really kinda starstruck, however it doesn't give you the right to call him a fool and scream at him in anger before a whole crowd, not even minding your and his image in folks' eyes!"
"Okay, Maybe I overdid it, but I am still right!" Guy grumbled. "And he just betrayed me!"
"Betrayed?!" Kelly exclaimed. "Who really betrays the fried right now is you, Guy!"
"How so?!"
"Have you even thought on what he said to you?" Sheila got into the conversation. "He just got a chance to engage into something interesting for him. He got a reason to feel himself a hero too, like he always wanted. He wanted to be in the center of action, not stand behind you, overshadowed. And what do you give to him when he finally uses his chance? Anger and crushing criticism instead of friendly support and calm advices. Is that how friends act you think?"
"Hey, I-" Guy was about to say something, but stopped. "I... You..." his head got swarmed by a row of realizations. "You're... Right..." Guy facepalmed.
"See?" Kelly said, getting closer to him and carefully putting hands on his shoulders. "It reminds me of something... Of Tara. She also felt very bitter for being always overshadowed by aunt Agnes, and look where it brought her. And now... I don't want you and Maz to end up like this. Neither him nor you..." Guy suddenly perked up and hugged Kelly.
"Thank you, sis..." he said. "I understand you. You are right, I was acting like a total fool. I must apologize and just calmly talk to Maz..."
"She-Mergency! She-Mergency!" suddenly the alarm broke out and Sheila switched to the town's view from the satellites. "Looks like our heroic buddy Maz is in trouble. His fan meeting near the town hall was interrupted by an attack of a monster made of gum!"
"What the-?!" Guy exclaimed, grabbing his head. "Another huge monster? I gotta go and save my friend! You go girl!" guy transformed into his heroine attire and hopped onto the She-Cycle.
Soon SheZow arrived to the place. She saw a huge pink blobby beast roaring and crushing the surroundings at the square before the town hall. The statue of Mayor Grandy was lying down in pieces. People were running away and screaming. SheZow desperately looked around, trying to find Maz.
"Come on, where are you?" she muttered and suddenly heard a scream. She looked up and noticed how the beast walks over her. Maz, in his Shaverine suit, was stuck at its left knee, seemingly stuck to the gummy mass the monster was made of. Around him, in the legs area, were stuck other people, they were screaming in fear.
"Aaargh! Let me go, you Gumball!" the boy shouted, trying to pull himself out. SheZow quickly shot her ribbon at the boy and stood firmly in place. Monster felt how something got strained, but didn't turn back. Instead, it just kept walking. Maz unstuck off it with a pop and flew right into SheZow. The heroine barely stood in place while catching her friend.
"Uugh... SheZow?" Maz exclaimed.
"Yes, Maz, me!" she exclaimed as well, smiling, and hugged him. "I am so glad you're okay! I have a thing to tell you..."
"Yeah, me too..." Maz said, but SheZow seemingly didn't hear him.
"I am sorry for being such a jealous jerk!" they said in unison.
"You are?" Guy was surprised and confused.
"You was right about me at some points, Guy!" Maz said. "I got really starstruck. I was feeling so bitter that I was always on the backseat, doing boring job of a sidekick, that when I managed to fight like a real hero, it got over me too much. But I remember Tara's story, she went this exact way and that brought her to villainy. I don't want to go this way, no!" SheZow patted Maz's shoulder.
"Calm down, Maz, calm down..." she said carefully. "I was not better. I also gave way to my bitter feelings at that moment. I really acted like I am jealous, despite me being just worried of you and frustrated that you don't listen. But this was not the way to act in your situation. I should've seen your bitterness coming and just let you have good time..."
"So... Bros forever?" Maz smiled.
"Bros forever" SheZow smiled back. "Our friendship is stronger than any of these misunderstandings..." they embraced in a friendly hug, but soon broke it as they heard another monster roar.
"Okay, now to the business here... Any ideas how to defeat this piece of chewing material?" Maz asked, looking up at the monster.
"We gotta free the people first" SheZow said. "I have the idea, but you gotta follow the plan. You're with me?"
"Till the end" Maz struck his palm with a fist.
The monster was just heading to the nearest building to crush it. Suddenly, it noticed a streak of pink dashing somewhere down at its feet. It tried to stomp on it. SheZow was staggered, but managed to hold the giant foot, not letting it crush her.
"Superstrength, baby, work good..." she groaned while pushing the giant foot up. She managed to get it up and run away from below it. The monster stumbled, as its rather stubby legs were not comfortable for such pushes. SheZow just shoot her ribbons and ran around the beast, tying up its legs tightly. It fell down at its back, causing the ground to shake. Maz ran to it and began swinging shavers, helping people to get out. SheZow also pulled some out. Soon everybody was freed and ran away, but the monster managed to get up. Now it was very mad.
"And now... I got no idea how to disable it" SheZow said. Maz gulped.
"SheZow! Shaverine!" the boys heard the scream and turned around. The short and slightly overweight man in a lab coat, wearing glasses, with brown hair with gray locks sticking up on his head like a brush, ran to them.
"Mister?" SheZow said as soon as he got close enough. He was panting heavily, trying to catch a breath.
"I... I am so glad I found you! I see you already dealt with this creature..." he said. "My name is professor Grandy. This gum monster is my accidental creation..."
"How did you even manage to make it?" Maz wondered.
"Well..." professor rubbed the back of his head. "I was experimenting to create a multi-flavored chewing gum, but something went wrong - I think a piece of floss fell in the concoction. The gum turned into a living mass and got a shape of a beast. Actually, I have such bad luck recently... Like the hair monster..."
"You made that one too? The one I destroyed?" Maz exclaimed.
"Yes, young man, I did" answered professor. "I was trying to make a shape-shifting wig. But you already disposed of the result, so it doesn't matter now..."
"Right, professor, it doesn't" said SheZow. "Now we need to think on how to defeat this one."
"And I know the way" professor said. "I have a formula that will help us deal with it. But for it to work the way it has to, we need to disable it first. It can be done with..." the scientist rubbed his chin. "With a high amount of electrical current. Something must hit it really good with electricity, like hundreds of lightnings, and it's down."
"Good" Maz said with a smile. "But... Where do we get such a charge?"
"For example... The town's power plant!" SheZow said. "We gotta lure it though... I know! So, here's the plan..." the heroine explained her plan to the others.
Monster again noticed the streak down. But this time it was even more annoying - it caused it pain with a little glowing stick. Actually, it was SheZow running down there at superspeed and hitting it with her Laser Lipstick. It roared and began walking forward, trying to stomp at her.
"Yes, follow me..." she smiled and dashed through the street. Monster followed her closely, and after it ran Maz and professor Grandy.
Soon they arrived to the field where the main transmissions towers were located, right next to the power plant itself. SheZow rubbed her hands together, covering them in Sticky Cream and climbed up the tower. Monster was approaching, arms raised to grab the towers and crush them along with an annoying pink dot. However, that was a plan - SheZow used her superstrength to bounce off the tower, slicing some wires during the flight, and they fell right onto the gum beast. It roared loudly, as if it was hurt, and electricity ran through its body. It was churning and emitting small bubbles, like it was boiled. But nothing else seemed to happen.
"We need more power!" professor shouted. "More wires! Something!"
"I can't cut more! Or else the systems in the town might crash totally!" SheZow shouted back. Everybody was puzzled. Maz looked at the monster and then at his shavers, squeezing fists. The shavers buzzed, letting out sparkles.
"Here goes nothing!" Maz screamed and ran to the monster.
"Young man! The voltage is tremendous, it can kill you!" professor grabbed his head.
"Maz, no!" SheZow added.
But Maz wasn't listening. He got right to the beast and thrust both his shavers into its leg. The energy from them surged right into its body. Maz felt how voltage leaks into him as well - and it was painful. The boy screamed. He flinched back in agony and...
His hands were pulled out of the gloves, as they remained stuck in the beast's leg along with shavers. The energy flowed into its body. The monster backed away and fell. Wires were left hanging, sparkling, while the shavers just broke from the monster's fall. The beast itself was seemingly unconscious.
"Well, it's done" professor said. "Now to the next step..." he came to the monster and took a small flask with greenish potion in out of his pocket. He poured it onto the monster.
Meanwhile, SheZow ran to Maz and helped him up.
"Ma- Er, Shaverine, are you okay?" she said. Her friend groaned.
"I think so..." he said. "I'm never dealing with electricity ever..." the boys then looked at professor, who just finished pouring the liquid at the monster. The gum beast began to shrink in size, which brought kids in awe. Soon the big pink gum mass turned into a simple gum ball. Professor put it in the empty flask and hid in the pocket.
"The failed experiment is successfully dealt with" he said, patting the pocket. "In my lab I will do some calculations to see how can I use the gum mass with a possibility of an evolving intelligent..." he rubbed his chin as the boys gulped, imagining what other giants this professor can make. "Or... Or I am going to have a little vacation" he said with slight laughter. Boys exhaled. Then they all began to walk back to the town.
Soon a car stopped by them. The window opened, and SheZow with Maz saw Megadale's mayor there.
"Here you are" he said, smiling.
"Oh, mister... mayor" SheZow said nervously. "It's unexpected to see you here..."
"Are you after us? Yeah, we dealt some damage, and broke your statue, but..." Maz began to mutter, but mayor just laughed.
"Oh, stop it, boy, you and SheZow did good saving the town from a monster. But I am indeed after you. Or rather... After him" mayor nodded at professor, who just smirked. "Leslie, you brainiac, what have I told you about holding such crazy experiments?"
"I know, Terry, but I can't deal with myself at these times. I need to create something" professor laughed. "But I think I will have a little vacation here... Got any ideas for me?"
"Just hop in and we'll have this vacation together" mayor opened the door and professor Grandy got in. Two men then noticed the shock on SheZow's and Maz's faces.
"Why the jaws dropped, young ones?" mayor said with a smirk. "Everything is simple, this professor is my dear brother Leslie."
"Indeed, our hometown Megadale's mayor, Terry Grandy, is my dear brother" professor added, closing the car's door. "Let's go then, bro!" the car drove away, leaving the heroine and her friend.
"That was... Unexpected..." Maz said. "Didn't know our mayor has a scientist brother..."
"Well, the more we know every day" SheZow shrugged.
"Hey! They're here!" they heard voice and saw a group of teens riding towards them by bicycles. One of them stopped and hop off, coming closer.
"Hello SheZow, Shaverine!" he said. "I am Jerry Prince, and I am the leader of the initiative of Megadale's Superhero Fan-club. Since you two are the superheroes of our town, I was about to ask you for a legal permission. We can't officially be a fan-club if the heroes don't want their personal space invaded..."
"Well, thanks, dude, but I am no real hero" said Maz. "First - Shaverine is no more, I quit it here. And second - I am more of a sidekick for a real hero of the town, SheZow" after he said that SheZow went shy. Jerry smiled.
"Well, okay, then SheZow, what will you say?"
"Um... Thank you really for your admiration, but... I don't think I need it. Being a hero is its own reward for me..." but suddenly, the heroine was cut off by Maz pulling her to himself.
"Sorry, I think me and my freundin gotta talk" he said and they both turned away.
"What is it, Maz?" she asked.
"I think you shouldn't let down the offer. Yes, I get it, being a hero is its own reward, but... Just think about it. They shouldn't necessarily give you presents, but they would watch your deeds and spread around your good name. Like news, but with approach closer to simple folks" Maz said with a smile. SheZow thought for a few seconds and then smiled back, nodding. They both returned to Jerry.
"I agree for the fan-club" SheZow said. "It will be fun. Besides, it's always nice to know how people that admire your deeds spread this reputation among others..." she then smirked slyly. "You know what? Try contacting a girl named Kelly Hamdon. She must help you a lot with this fan-club of yours."
"Great, thank you, SheZow!" said Jerry happily and left them , rushing back to his pals. SheZow and Maz began to walk away. Jerry shared the info with his friends and all of them cheered. But then one of them thought for a sec.
"Wait" he said. "How are we supposed to find that Kelly Hamdon?" after that question everybody quieted down.
Meanwhile, SheZow and Maz stopped, cuz they walked rather far distance.
"I think I need to try and call She-Cycle through my She-Sense or something..." SheZow said.
"Yeah, it would be faster" Maz replied. "And... What do we do then?"
"Well..." SheZow rubbed her chin artistically. "Professor and mayor left to have some bro time. So.. I think we do the same. After all, we're... Bros forever" she smiled at Maz and he smiled back.
"Bros forever!" he replied. Then they both did a brofist.