Marcus "The Kane" McGee feels... really weird.
It has been a day since the fiasco from the city and while Marcus is proud of he and his friends' heroic deeds, he simply brushes that aside as he doesn't want to make a big deal out of it.
Marcus is pretty prideful but he doesn't take pride on everything and after yesterday's events, he decided to keep his head down as he doesn't want to attract some unnecessary attention.
Still... Marcus could feel every eyes were staring at him for some reason.
Walking his way towards the Vanguard Academy's main entrance, Marcus feels the weird atmosphere getting heavier and heavier in each steps. What the heck is going on? Is what he thought. If attending Vanguard Academy is this weird then he should have not attended to begin with and let his adopted mother kick his ass.
But getting his ass kicked hurts, so he attended anyway.
However, while walking to the school's main entrance, he did start to notice students smiling as they stared at him and some whispering in awe. A crowd of students outside the school parted like the Red Sea to let him through, "What is going on?" he thought to himself.
The school fell silent for a moment when he entered, as all eyes turned to him. Then the place erupted in cheers and applause! much to his shock. Suddenly, Erika Kurumi ran up to him and gave him a kiss on the cheek then ran off giggling. Then Nicco Bondarev and Tucker Noble took pictures of him with their phones as Chicken came up to him with a grateful look on his face, "I just want to say, everything you did... wow! Anything I or my fellow bullies can do for you, just ask!" he said as Marcus was completely bewildered as the anthropomorphic chicken walked away.
Marcus then saw Aria "Arinah" Sakurada and Faye Bertha Conway approaching him, "Hey there, hero." Arinah greeted with a smile, "How are you doing?'' she asked.
"For some reason, I'm overwhelmed." Marcus replied, "What the fuck is going on around here?'' he asked nervously.
Faye giggled, "What are you nervous about?'' she asked, "Don't you see? You're getting popular!" she exclaimed in glee.
"I'm what now?'' Marcus asked in surprise.
Arinah gave him a grin, "We heard about your heroics yesterday.'' she replied, "And I must say... taking on a dragon and defeating it nonetheless was spectacular." she praised.
"Yeah! Even Duncan Rosenblatt and the Monster Hunters, who are expert in taking down giant monstrosities, were very impressed with you." Faye exclaimed in excitement.
Marcus gave them a smug smile, "Well... as much as I love to boast what I did... I can't take all of the credit.'' he admitted, "My friends helped me take down the dragon, you know.'' he said.
"Oh... don't worry... they did received the same hero's welcome treatment as you are earlier today.'' Arinah replied, "Except for one." she added.
On cue, Eddy Skipper McGee steps out of the bathroom with a smug grin, "Oh yeah baby~, Eddy, one of the heroes from yesterday's incident is here!'' he announced, "Please form a line because this handsome fella is ready to sign any autographs." he claimed as everyone stares at him for a minute before ignoring him. Eddy is then seen sitting in a corner with his head down and arms wrapped around his knees, "Why... why am I being ignored... why... why...'' he moped as a dark cloud forms above him.
Marcus, Arinah and Faye watches him with nervous looks, "Not that Eddy is hated or anything but it's just no one is a fan of him, right now.'' Arinah reasoned.
"Oh... I hope he doesn't take the rejection to heart." Faye said in concern.
Marcus shrugged his shoulders, "Nah... Eddy has been rejected multiple times already, he'll get over it.'' he claimed, "Eventually." he added with a blank look.
Suddenly, Amelia Sainthearts and Duke Armstrong appears in front of them with the former holding her mic towards Marcus and the latter focusing his tablet at the douchebag.
"Excuse me, can we get your thoughts about the events from yesterday? And how is it feel being celebrated as a hero?'' Amelia asked in excitement.
Marcus was tempted to smash the tablet focused on him as one of the things that he hates is getting exposed by the media. But Marcus held himself back as he is currently in front of Arinah and Faye, so he decided to answer her question, "Umm... what I can say... I... I mean, my friends and I just did the right thing... protect everyone." he replied, "What happened yesterday was unexpected and since we're there at the time, we did what we have to do, protect the people from harm.'' he stated earning a nod from Amelia.
"And how was it? When you took down the dragon?" Amelia pointed out.
Marcus gave her a smug smile, "It was... actually pretty good." he admitted, "I get to show-off some of my awesome moves.'' he said, "But in the end... it's the city and it's citizens safety that matters." he said.
"Like hell I'll believe in that?!" a voice exclaimed.
Everyone turns around to see Alden Cole marching his towards them, Duke let's out a groan, "What does he want?" he asked indecorously.
Alden then got in front of Marcus as everyone noticed that latter towers over the former. Alden then gave Marcus a suspicious look, "Heroes? I don't think so!" he exclaimed, "I'm pretty sure that the events yesterday was staged!" he claimed.
"Alden! What blasphemy are you blabbering about?!" Arinah exclaimed.
"Alden, you shouldn't accuse people with something like that?!" Faye scolded.
"And why do you think that the events yesterday, an event that puts everyone in danger, be staged?!" Marcus demanded in annoyance.
Alden pointed an accusatory finger at Marcus, "Because you're nothing but a troublemaker! A villain like Lazaris!" he claimed, "The events yesterday was nothing but part of your schemes just to show-off and make everyone believe that you some sort of hero!" he pointed out.
"Okay, Alden! That's going too far!" Duke spoke, "What happened yesterday was real! A tragic event like that isn't something to be staged!" he stated.
"Do you believe in that?'' Alden asked indecorously, "Everything that happens yesterday was nothing but a lie! And I am-" he tried to say but was silenced when Marcus smashes a fist to his face, knocking him down to the floor unconscious.
"Thank God, I was wondering when is he going to shut-up.'' Arinah said in relief.
Then Cornelius Fillmore and Ingrid Third arrives and grabbed the unconscious Alden, "We'll take him to the detention room, it's obvious that Alden extremely needs discipline." Cornelius said as he and Ingrid drags Alden away.
"The nerve of that guy.'' Faye spoke in disdain.
Arinah crosses her arms, "Alden is the worst!" she exclaimed, "I can't believe he'd came up with that conclusion! Even the bullies in this school won't come up with a conclusion like his." she stated.
"I'll say.'' Marcus replied in agreement.
Bzzzttt...
Later that day, we see Eddward Marion "Double D, Edd" Smith, Edwin Horace "Ed" Williams and Rolf Yrmi at the bus station waiting for someone. We then see Levy McGarden and Lucy Heartfilia walking towards the boys.
"Hey, guys." Levy greeted, "What are you guys doing here?'' she asked.
Rolf turns to them, "Hello, she who use words for magic and she who summons people from another world." he greeted, "The son of shepherd and friends are waiting for a friend to make his presence.'' he stated.
"Friend?'' Lucy repeated.
Double D then spoke, "You see... a friend of ours from the Peach Creek, Cul-de-sac decided to join the Coalitions." he explained, "We are just waiting for his arrival." he said.
"I see the bus guys!" Ed cheered.
On cue, a white & blue colored bus stops in front of them, the door opens and out came a young man holding a piece of wood. The young man has a brown skin tone, black hair styled in a buzzcut and has dark eyes. He wears a white T-shirt, dark blue jeans, and black sandals. This is Jonathan Ludgate also known as Jonny 2x4.
Cul-de-Sac Troublemaker
Jonathan "Jonny 2x4" Ludgate
The wood in his hand's is a yellow piece of wood with a blue curved line for his mouth, red circles for eyes, and blue dots for pupils. It also has a chip in the upper right corner of it's head. This is Plank.
Cul-de-Sac Troublemaker
Plank
"Heya, guys!" Jonny greeted with a smile.
"Salutations, Jonny.'' Double D greeted back, "I am very glad that you came.'' he said.
"It's an honor to be here, Double D.'' Jonny replied, "Plank and I are very excited of what in store for the both of us!" he exclaimed with a smile. Jonny then turns to Plank, "Am I right, Plank?'' he asked before pressing the wood close to his ear, Jonny nodded, "Yeah... I thought so, too.'' he said in agreement.
Lucy was bewildered by this, "Did he... did he just talk to a piece of wood?'' she asked in confusion.
Ed let's out a laugh, "Yup! Because it's Plank, his best friend!" he exclaimed with a big smile.
"No offense but... it's a just a piece of wood." Levy pointed out.
Rolf chuckles, "Do not worry, she who's hair is blue as the ocean, Jonny-wood boy talks to the wood all the time." he stated.
"That is worrisome!" Levy exclaimed.
Jonny then noticed Lucy and Levy, "By the way guys, who are they?'' he asked pointing his finger at the two female mages.
"Jonny, we'd like you to meet Miss Lucy Heartfilia and Miss Levy McGarden." Double D introduced the two mages, "Miss Lucy, Miss Levy, this is Jonathan Ludgate but we mostly call him, Jonny." he introduced.
"And this is my buddy, Plank!" Jonny introduced the piece of wood.
"Hello, Jonny.'' Lucy greeted, "Hello... Plank..." she greeted with an unsure look.
"So, Jonny, wanna tell us anything about yourself?'' Levy asked.
"About myself?'' Jonny repeated as he did a thousand-year stare, "Well... if you want to then...'' he said.
Suddenly, everything went dark, "Hey... what happened to the lights?'' Lucy asked in confusion.
Then a spotlight was then focused on Jonny as he began to sing:
Plank is my only Friend that's ever been
A Piece of Wood that's constantly giving me Split Ends
I'm not Lonely, though
My one and only Bro
An Inanimate Object that will never stop and then go
See, you don't know
The Story 'bout how he came in my life
Raising Myself I had to Deal with a lot of Strife
Single Parent Home
But I was left Alone
Papa 2x4 Raised me in a Bio-Dome
Called it the Cul-de-sac, the shit was wack
Picked on and made fun of, 'cause I was Black
Found out that my Homie was Selling Crack
Had Sex with a Girl, She a Nymphomaniac
Panic Attack
"Cause I don't know what I'm gonna do
"Cause I can't tell my Parents what I'm going through
See, who gon' talk to me?
Out of Necessity
The only Smart Person in the Cul-de-sac is Double D
I Dropped to my Knees and I Found a Piece of Wood
Somehow I knew it would do me some Good
Drew a Face on it and took it back to the Hood
Mess with me, No way Homie, I don't think you should
And that's my life... yo... that's my life...
After Jonny finished singing, everyone stares at him in silence, that is until Levy spoke.
"Well... Jonny... that was... deep...'' Levy commented with an unsure look.
Jonny smiled, "Thanks.'' he replied, "Anyway... Plank and I are thrilled to work alongside with all of you, I've always wanted to be a hero.'' he stated.
Double D placed a hand on his shoulder, "Well, Jonny, I do believe that the Multiverse needs Captain Melonhead's heroics.'' he said with a smile.
And with that, the group made their way to the Training Camp.
For those who's wondering about the song in this chapter it's called Ed, Edd, n Eddy - The Story of Plank by Akeem Lawanson. Go check it out on Youtube, it's awesome!
A/N: Inspired from someonestupED, damnlastwords, Hope the Victor and Ace Neptune. All OCs and concepts not created by moi were given permission for me to use by it's respected creators.