Return of Thundergirl
Barb and Hank Thunderman were depressed, morose and heartbroken. Today was the third anniversary of their daughter's disappearance. She just vanished without a trace, no reason, no cause and no one, no villain claiming responsibility.
They were beside themselves with worry still. The not knowing was the worst part of it. Phoebe was just gone. If there was a body or someone claiming to have taken her it would be different, they would be able to properly grieve for her.
Without anything they would continue to search for her in the hope of one day finding her. Everyone in the family was affected.
Today they had received word from President Kickbutt that she was coming to Hiddenville today and that the entire Thunderman family was going to be in attendance. Why? They didn't know for certain, but they had a bad feeling about what this was about and what was going to happen.
Evelyn Kickbutt had just arrived in Hiddenville and was not looking forward to what she knew she had to do. The Thunderman's were not only respected members of the Hero League, but she considered them to be close personal friends of hers.
To do what she knew had to be done, would hurt the Thundermans greatly, but it had to be done to let the healing begin.
As President of the Hero League, she had a responsibility to all heroes, not just one family. The Thundermans were not only friends, but to some small extant, family. The loss of their daughter was hurting not only them, but the whole community of Super Heroes.
It was two months after Phoebe and Max were accepted into the 'Z' Force and renamed it the 'T' Force after they discredited the 'Z' Force and hired on the entire Thunderman family. Everything was going well when without any warning Phoebe Thunderman, Thundergirl, disappeared without a trace.
No villain or villains took credit for the deed and no trace of her was ever found, even though her family relentlessly searched for her.
That was three years ago and still no trace had been found.
The 'T' Force neglected most of their duties trying to find their daughter/sister, except curiously her twin Max.
Immediately after her disappearance, Max was beside himself with worry, depression and anger, not caring about anything except finding his sister. He went after many villains in his search for his sister, none of them knew anything and seemed to make Max more anger. It was feared by the Hero League that he would revert back to his villainous ways.
Then suddenly after about a month everything changed. Max did a complete turn around and became reinvigorated and dedicated to being the best hero he could.
Over the years it just increased, redoubling his efforts for doing good. His younger siblings, Billy, Nora and even Chloe, took their cue from him making the 'T' Force one of the most successful and efficient crime fighting teams ever. Now that he was here, she would ask him about what caused the change.
The only ones not turned around were Hank and Barb, their parents, the loss of their daughter affecting them greatly. They were in the midst of deep depression, not knowing if their daughter was alive. As a parent herself, she could only speculate about how traumatic that would be. The loss of any child let alone their first born. She had her daughter, Simone, and could not fathom not only losing her, but not knowing.
Hopefully, this ceremony on the third anniversary of Phoebe's disappearance would help the Thunderman family with closure and allow them to properly grieve and move on.
At the appointed time they arrived. Hank looking as distraught and heartbroken as she was at what they thought was going to happen.
Their children arrived with them, Max(20), Billy(17), Nora(15) and Chloe who looks 12 but in actuality is 5, wearing their 'T' force uniforms as Phoebe had christened the elite crime fighting force after she and Max became members of the 'Z' force, then disbanded it, creating the 'T' force when they brought in their entire family.
Finally, everyone was here, Sergeant Thunder and Thunderwoman, Phoebe's grandparents. All of the Thunderman's super hero friends, including Christine, who was Phoebe's childhood friend from Metroburg gifted with super hearing. Phoebe's non-supe friends, Gideon, Oyster, Wolfgang and Cherry. A well as Doctor Colosso and his son. Mike Evilman and his son Link, Phoebe's boyfriend.
The ceremony began remembering Phoebe and all the good times they had with her the fun times and even the not so good times. Even those brought a smile to many faces, as they remembered one of their own and mourned her loss. The ceremony lasted only twenty minutes, but it was twenty minutes they would all look on in fond remembrance.
At the end of the ceremony, President Kickbutt unveiled a statue of Thundergirl, Protector of Hiddenville, to honor a fallen comrade. Everyone then started towards the Thunderman family to offer them their condolences on their loss. President Kickbutt took this opportunity to approach Max and move him slightly off to the side. His siblings noticed this and moved slightly to be able to hear what was being said.
"Max," she began, "you'll forgive me but you don't seem to be grieving your sister's loss." His siblings were offended by the comment, they all knew how much Max cared for Phoebe, but before they could say anything to defend their brother he spoke.
"No need," Max responded confidently, confusing her, his siblings and apparently his grandfather who seemed to have edged closer.
"What do you mean?" President Kickbutt asked. 'Yes Max, what do you mean?' They all thought. His siblings more interested than their grandfather, because Max often alluded to or suggested something but never came out and said. Maybe now they would get an answer.
"She's not dead," Max replied simply, absolutely confident in his answer. They were all shocked he would say such a thing. They wanted to know why.
"How are you so sure?" President Kickbutt asked. Shocked by the surety of his answer. He noticed that now his mother was trying to look like she wasn't listening.
"Back when I was accepted into the 'Z' Force," he began everyone listening raptly, "Doctor Colosso and his son, Balfour, captured us and going to melt our brains giving us the IQ of actual rabbits. Thinking this was the end we decided to go out as a family, so we all held hands. It was the first time that Phoebe and I actually held each other's hands. When we did that, our twin power became active."
"I am aware," President Kickbutt says. The others all silently agree.
"Yes, but what no one is aware of is that the bond we share as twins increased and strengthened tenfold."
"What does that mean?" President Kickbutt asked shocked. 'Yes,' the others thought, 'What does that mean?'
"At the time we thought that the only way to sever the bond was if one of us were to die."
President Kickbutt's look of shock and confusion, which was mirrored in the faces of all those around them that had gravitated towards them to hear what was being said, including his parents. He elaborated.
"Two months after forming the 'T' Force, replacing the 'Z' Force, Phoebe disappeared and our bond was broken." He said casually.
At that statement faces fell, looking despondent. Max had just confirmed that Phoebe was dead. Barb started to cry and breakdown. However, before she could completely lose it, a thought occurred to her. Earlier Max had stated Phoebe was alive, which contradicted his current statement, confusing her even more.
"I thought that I had lost her forever. I was headed into a downward spiral of despair, hate and rage. I intended to find out who it was that took my sister from me and make them pay in the most painful way possible," Max said pausing a moment.
"I was so close to becoming a villain again."
At that admission his grandfather took a hitched breath with a worried look on his face.
"I just didn't care anymore, my sister was taken from me, but even worse than that, there was nothing to mourn. She was just gone," he paused.
Everyone listening stopped to reflect on what Max was saying and realized for the first time how much he truly loved his sister, the lengths to which he was willing to go for her and realized then how badly they had misread their actions toward each other.
"A little over a month after Phoebe disappeared," Max continued, "I was ready to implement my plan, cross a line from which there would be no coming back. Once that happened that would be it, I would be a villain forever."
Everyone was listening in rapt fascination and more than a little afraid at what Max was saying.
"Just as I was packing everything I needed, I stopped and did something I hadn't really done since she disappeared . . . I thought about Phoebe."
"I thought about all the times she looked out for me, helped me, and was there for me. How she was the reason I gave up being a villain and became a hero."
Everyone present couldn't believe how much Max cared for his sister. They always fought, argued and were in competition against one another to be the best, a game of one-ups-man-ship. They suddenly realized that that's what it was . . . a game. A game to challenge each other to be better. Looking back, they now saw that there was no real heat or animosity in their arguments.
"I took an internal perspective of my recent behavior and found that I was ashamed and disappointed in myself for even considering doing what I was planning. That Phoebe would be disappointed in me and my actions and that more than anything made me stop."
"I couldn't, I wouldn't have my sister disappointed in me."
"I took a deep cleansing breath and decided then and there to dedicate myself to being the best hero possible to honor my sister and all that she had done for me."
Everyone listening was near tears at Max's declaration to his sister's memory? They were still somewhat confused as he had stated that their bond was severed but that she was alive, very confusing and not just for Billy.
"That still doesn't . . .," President Kickbutt began but was cut off by Max.
"I went to bed that night," Max continued, "and slept more contentedly than I ever had. I even dreamt of Phoebe. A very weird, confusing and at times horrific dream, I dreamt that though see was not always safe, she was happy and had friends . . . some very strange friends."
"In the morning, I woke feeling rejuvenated, more rested and more content than I could ever remember. I was at peace with myself, again thanks to Phoebe."
"I got out of bed, stood up, closed my eyes and took a deep cleansing breath to clear my thoughts and prepare for a new day."
"It was then that I felt it," he began. Everyone was wondering what it was, "My eyes opened wide with shock. I thought I was going to pass out."
"I realized then that my bond with Phoebe was back," he said amazed that he was telling anyone about this let alone this many people.
"It was weak, unstable and tenuous as if it was trying to re-establish itself from a great distance, but it was there. I knew then that she was alive and out there somewhere."
His family and the others listened to what he was saying, truly hoping that it was true, but no one had ever heard of a twin bond like the one Max was describing.
"I hope you're right," President Kickbutt said.
Barb wanted to go to her son and comfort him, but his grandfather beat her to it, approaching him and laying a hand on his shoulder, when Max suddenly swooned, dropping down to one knee and bowing his head.
Barb and Hank thought that the emotions of the situation were finally getting to him and he was collapsing in remorse.
The two closest to President Kickbutt and his grandfather, his mother and father, reached out to support their son. Wondering if he was coming to the unfortunate realization, despite what he had said, that his sister was truly gone.
Billy, Nora and Chloe closed in on him rapidly to support him.
"What's wrong Max?" Nora asked concerned.
"Nothing," he answered strangely, his head still bowed.
When he raised his head, everyone could see he had the biggest smile they had ever seen on him.
"Why are you smiling Max?" Billy asked curiously.
"I'm not smiling."
"Sure looks like a smile to me," Nora remarked.
"I don't smile . . .," Max said with satisfaction. Barb had a look of nostalgia as she remembered him saying nearly the same thing to Phoebe when he was a villain and had gotten the upper hand on her; the only thing missing was, ". . . I smirk," he completed and there it was she thought.
Barb went to Max to ask him what was going on with him, when Chloe spoke up.
"What's that . . . BABY?" Chloe said while pointing down the hill, to the previously empty large field below them.
Everyone on the hilltop overlooking the field where Chloe was pointing couldn't understand what they were seeing.
They were shocked at what they were seeing, having never seen anything like it before. As they watched, many glowing reddish-orange rectangles began appearing out of thin air, looking very much like doorways.