Yep :)! We're going down the line here everyone. And don't worry, i got plans for Ish's adventure-gonna take place right after he gets his powers back. But for now, WE'RE HEADING SOUTH EVERYBODY SO GET READY! And get ready for some good lore around here too that will be touched on in the future ;).

Also, The titles of each chapter represent a song Genre created in the south, as well as being ties to the main genre Jazz.

Enjoy :)!

Troy and the NFC South

Part 1: Blues

Night; Canton Ohio...

Troy sighed as he laid on the guest bed. His parents were on a business trip and his sister was staying at her friends place. He was staying with Ish and his parents but-he felt guilty on what happened in Titains training camp, with Cyclops. It was bad enough to lose a Megacore, but if anything were to happen with the Rusherz, if they got hurt or-

Troy: -groans- I'm so stupid.

He was mad at himself...Troy eyes narrow as he sat up, grabbing his travel bag as he quietly went out. He was tired of feeling sorry for himself so he was going home-and not his house here in Canton.

Night; New Orleans...

Troy looked around the streets of the Big Easy. He was glad he had access to the portals at the HOK, but He could still see the city recovering form the disastrous hurricane of 2005, the wounds and scars upon the city. He soon found himself near a community of houses, seeing where his and his family house ONCE WAS. It too was taken away once they had moved before the hurricane hit.

Troy: Even after all these years, it still hurts.

Troy sighed as he went to the plot as sat down, looking up at the night sky and allowed his mind to wander. He didn't realized that he had fallen asleep on his travel bag soon after, nor the sounds of footsteps.

.

.

.

.

Troy was not expecting to wake up on a couch, covered in a warm blanket. He sat up fast looking around and seeing he was in a lounge like office, the sounds of jazz music softly playing. He had no idea where he was-till he saw the familiar logo of his team.

Troy: The Superdome?

The music stopped and soon-

?: Morning Troy.

Troy jumped, looking over to seeing Alto sitting and checking over his saxs. He had to do a double take seeing the Saint Rusher in an outfit that was not the uniform. Short sleeve shirt and pants with the logo of the left side of his shirt, and around his one wrist was a beaded bracelet with ALLIGATOR TEETH on it.

Troy: *Awe* Alto?

Alto nodded as he walked over, placing the instrument aside..

Alto: *Smirks* First time seeing me without the uniform, heh-still turning heads.

Troy: *awe* Yeah um-How am i here?

Alto: *sits on the couch* Found you on the map and it was quite a shock seeing you sleeping on the remains of your old house, got me worried. It doesn't help you basically came to New Orleans in the middle of the night mind you. Mind telling me what's up, cause looking at your face even when you were asleep you had the blues written all over it.

Troy sighed nodding.

Troy: Well, my parents are out of town for business and my sister is staying with a friend. I was staying with Ish but well..I suppose you heard what happened at Titains Camp?

Alto: Yeah, you've been having those nightmares and Cyclops tried to convinced Warren to stop which, failed sadly.

Troy: *shock* Wait what?

Alto: *confused* What...that's what happened right?

Troy was, shocked to say the least.

Troy: I mean-yeah but-Cyclops was kidnapped cause i lost my NFLR and-well-*trails off*.

Alto: Yeah, he told me that too. He's just glad your okay Troy. Does it have a reason to why you came to New Orleans?

Troy looked away, guilt still in his eyes.

Troy: Well yeah-just wanted to be somewhere more familiar and, guess i wanted to just to forget the recent blundered i made and the one constantly pounding my brain.

Alto: You shouldn't blame yourself Troy. I know memories like that are hard to get over, *looks down; sad* know that from experience.

Troy looked at Alto, seeing the sorrow in his eyes. He knew all too well why.

Alto: *sorrow* I still remember that day before i was sent into the cold waters all to well. The sounds of fear and worry, or the scenes of horror i witnessed. The minute I saw the city when I got well enough to check on the city with Toro, i broke down. The city that was full of life, color and music-was silent and dulled, the life snuffed out. My heart broke with the lives lost and damage. Even to this day, I still have those feelings of unease and worry whenever we have strong storms. I-It haunted my dreams for a while, and it plagued me even after we got back to the Superdome-

September 27, 2006...

Alto was hesitant to leave the Superdome for the next game with the Panthers. He was still on the field looking at the ceiling when-

?: Alto?

He jumped turning to see the Panther and Buccaneer Rusher, both team Rusherz he was going to face this and next week, looking him in concern.

Peg-Leg: Alto, are ye okay?

Alto: Y-Yeah, Yeah just-*looks up*.

Claw went over and nuzzled his shoulder.

Claw: Alto, it's gonna be okay. The weather men and women said there was no level five hurricanes coming. In fact, they said it's only been ranging from Tropical storms to level two hurricanes recently this year.

Alto nodded, but was still hesitant. Peg-Leg went over placing a hand on the Saint Rusher's shoulder.

Peg-Leg: *concern* We know the vision have been plaguing your mind Alto.

He flinched hearing this, but he did agree. It still haunted him, the scene still haunted him.

Claw: *concern* Alto, do you want to talk about it?

Alto: -Yeah. Just-*all three sat down* It was so WRONG. The city looked like it merge with the cemetery yards, it was so silent and dull and-those lives. ALL THOSE LIVES AFFECTED AND LOST. *shakes; tears* I feel if i leave here then-

Peg-Leg: You might lose more. *Alto nodded* Alto none of that was your fault. You tired your best and those four lost here know that. All those lives lost in that hurricane know that, as well as those alive but effected.

Claw: They would be happy you manage to survive, what you did and gone through. Granted they probably want to chew you head off for doing something so reckless, but relived your alive.

Alto sighed nodding.

Peg-Leg: Listen, if you want to talk about it our doors are open too. Same with Talon, he told me before he went into Airplane mode he's close by if you want to talk.

Claw: Yeah, it's gonna be awhile till things get better and your mind is at eas. So we'll be close by ready to help.

Alto gave a small tired smile of gratitude.

Alto: Thank you two, and I'll thank Talon as well when i see him.

Present...

Alto:-I can't thank my friends enough for helping me even after I got better, all physically, mentally and emotionally. *looks at Troy; small smile* What I'm saying Troy is you got something on your mind, but you don't want to talk to your friends about it my doors always open. I would rather you talk to us rather than wander the streets at night, New Orleans outside the sport world is no place for a kid.

Troy was silent, but slowly smiled nodding.

Troy: Thanks Alto i-i needed to hear that. And-I'm sorry if this brought up some bad memories.

Alto: -sighs- It's not as bad as before but-it still gave me the shivers. But-I'll admit it was nice talking about it with you. Normally it's with the others Rusherz, so this was a unexpected but nice change of pace. *his smile warmed* I truly love this city and the area Troy. Yeah its-VERY STRANGE at times, especially during the holiday season, but this city and the surrounding states made me feel welcomed and at home. The team cares about me, the city too. I would take all the strangeness and obscurity any day if it means i can see them smile again.

Troy smile warmed at that-then he remembered something.

Troy: So- did you have other obligations that were effected, RZ told me that you had some when off-season started. Were those effected from the hurricane too?

Alto: Little bit, there's a organization I'm apart of that got affected. We had to get really creative with Mardi Gras in the locations effected for a while-

Troy: I KNEW IT!

Alto heart skip a beat at the unexpected loudness, Troy grinning. But he knew what Troy was talking about all too well.

Troy: *grinning* So you are a part of the Mystic Society!

Alto chuckled blushing.

Alto: Yeah, i am. Been once since the 1960s, so I'm technically one of their oldest acting member.

Troy: That is amazing! That is one of the highest ranking places to be apart of for Mardi Gras! You have to tell me more about the parades someday.

Alto nodded seeing Troy's smile at this-before he mused for a moment there , Troy wondering what his team Rusher was think. Then he smiled nodding.

Alto: Hey Troy, wanna know more about us Rusherz of the NFC South?

Troy: *surprise* R-REALLY?!

Alto: Yeah. Think it would be a good break from fighting and training, not to mention you kids have gotten curious about us if what happened with Marty and the AFC North was a indication.

Troy pondered the offer, then gave a determined nod with a smile. One shared with Alto.

Troy: Alright then Alto, I'm in. So, where do we start?

Troy blushed as his stomach growled and Alto chuckled.

Alto: We start with telling Sandra and Matt where you are so they don't go into panic mode, know full well kid your gonna get a lecture for running off. As well as getting breakfast, I got some beignets from yesterday too so perfect timing on that.

Troy: Yeah let's do that before we jump the gun.

...

This is why Troy loved his team. Alto was the definition of the team's determination and heart of the city. Alto was a but like him to, he jumped the gun and tried to protect the survivors, but unlike him he -and got hurt in the process. Yeah he was still healing from the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, as were others-but Troy knew they would bounce back strong as ever. He admitted-he was ready to see what he can learn and do from his team's division.

Alto: *opens the elevator* To answer where we start, why not Tampa Bay.

To Be continued..

To answer your question, the Mystic Society is a lot of different Krewes (that is how it is spelled) that are the main groups who help make Mardi Gras happen. Don'tcha worry, their is much more to come with this knowledge and more in the future :).

And you'll be surprise as to where Mardi Gras was actually founded, i know i was when i found out it was not the Big Easy. For those of you who do-let's keep that a surprise for now ;).