The soft hum of Zion's PC filled his room, accompanied by the rhythmic beats of the instrumentals he was crafting. Despite the soothing melody, something felt amiss—like a missing layer in a cake or an incomplete puzzle. Sighing, Zion leaned back in his chair, staring at the ceiling as he pondered the missing element. His thoughts drifted to the town of Echo Creek, realizing how little he actually knew about it. Perhaps a change of scene would spark his creativity.
With newfound determination, Zion headed to his closet, opening the small safe that held his savings. He counted out 2,200 and pocketed 800, deciding to explore the town and indulge in a little retail therapy—specifically, buying an electric and a bass guitar.
As he strolled through the bustling streets, Zion enjoyed the fresh perspective, appreciating the town's charm. His musings were abruptly interrupted by an irritating noise—a discordant melody that seemed to echo from a nearby parking lot. Intrigued and slightly annoyed, he followed the sound to its source.
In the parking lot, a teenage boy sat on the hood of a car, engrossed in his keytar. He had tan-brown skin and longish brown hair, and his fingers danced across the keys with a mix of passion and chaos.
"Hey, what are you doing?" Zion called out, his curiosity piqued.
The boy looked up, momentarily surprised to see someone had noticed him. "Oh, hey dude! I'm Oskar," he replied, grinning widely. "I'm working on my new song, trying to find the perfect tune for my rhymes."
Zion winced as another off-key note blared out. "Have you ever thought about trying something else? Like, maybe there's another hobby or talent you're good at?"
Oskar shrugged, unfazed by the suggestion. "Nah, music's my thing, man. It's my calling."
Despite the cacophony, Zion found himself respecting Oskar's dedication. "Alright, I get that," he said thoughtfully. "How about I show you a thing or two on instruments and lyricism?"
Oskar raised an eyebrow, intrigued but skeptical. "You play?" he challenged.
With a confident grin, Zion grabbed the keytar and leaped onto the car's hood, launching into a vibrant performance of "The Future Is Golden" by Oh The Larceny. As he played and sang, a small crowd gathered, their cheers filling the lot. Finishing with a flourish, Zion handed the keytar back to Oskar. "That's how you properly use it, bro."
Oskar, wide-eyed with admiration, asked, "Can you teach me?"
"Absolutely," Zion agreed, sealing their new friendship with a fist bump. As he turned to leave, Oskar called out, "What's your name, man?"
"Zion," he replied with a smile before continuing his walk.
Feeling energized by the encounter, Zion soon found a guitar shop. Inside, he marveled at the array of instruments. After a series of searches, he selected a crimson electric guitar with a black outline for 353 and a dark purple bass guitar with all-black strings for 280. Happy with his purchases, Zion set off once more, contemplating whether to get a bike or a skateboard for better transportation.
His musings were interrupted by a flash of platinum blonde hair streaked with aqua blue. A girl with aqua eyes and freckles whizzed by on a skateboard, her carefree energy infectious. Zion called out, curious about both the skateboard and the girl.
She skidded to a stop, grinning. "Hey! I'm Jackie-Lynn Thomas, but my friends call me Jackie."
"Is it okay to have a skateboard at school?" Zion asked, intrigued.
Jackie nodded with a mischievous smile. "Yeah, but just don't get caught riding it in front of the teachers or the principal."
Zion, excited by the prospect, asked Jackie to show him the local skateboard shop. She agreed, and as they walked, they chatted, getting to know each other better. Zion found himself asking, almost shyly, "So, do you wanna be friends?"
Jackie smiled brightly. "I'd like that."
When they reached the skateboard store, Zion was amazed by the variety. Jackie chuckled at his wide-eyed expression. "What type of board are you looking for?"
"A double kick board," Zion replied, and they began the search. After combing through half the store, Jackie called out, having found something intriguing—a 10-foot-long case behind a shelf.
Curiosity piqued, Zion opened the case to reveal a striking double kick skateboard. It was mostly black with a red outline and featured a white logo of an eagle with spread wings, forming a "V". Zion's excitement was palpable, and Jackie suggested he get it. At 150, it was a steal, and Zion eagerly bought the board.
As they parted ways, Zion thanked Jackie for her help. "No problem," she said with a wave. "I'm glad I made a new friend today."
Zion returned home, greeted his mother, and tucked away his new guitars and skateboard. With the day drawing to a close, he decided a workout was in order. Changing into his workout gear, he headed to his "gravity chamber," where he set the gravity to twice Earth's before engaging two androids in a sparring match.
The androids proved formidable, their adaptability pushing Zion to his limits. In a last-ditch effort, he unleashed his "Omega Surge," a powerful ki attack that overwhelmed the androids but left him exhausted.
Afterward, craving a drink, Zion took his new skateboard for a test ride to the convenience store. On his way, he noticed a girl his age with short dark-blue hair and brown eyes, struggling with a large brown sack. Curious, he approached her and learned her name was Janna Ordonia. The sack contained a huge book she borrowed from Star.
Offering to help, Zion carried the sack to her place. Janna teased him playfully, but he brushed it off with a smile. As they walked, Janna noticed Zion's shirt rustling slightly and tried to question him about it, but Zion dismissed it casually, piquing her curiosity. However, she decided to let it go for now.
At her doorstep, Janna thanked him, and they exchanged goodbyes. As Zion skated home, he reflected on the three new friends he'd made that day, feeling more at home in Echo Creek than ever before.
The next day, Sunday dawned bright and clear, a perfect day for skating through the streets of Echo Creek. Zion Akindele, feeling refreshed from his eventful Saturday, decided to seek out Oskar to begin his promised music lessons. After some time searching, Zion found Oskar lounging on the hood of his car, parked in the school's empty lot. It was an odd location, but Zion chose not to question it.
"Hey, Oskar!" Zion called out as he skated over, coming to a smooth halt beside him. "You ready to start your lesson?"
Oskar beamed, sliding off the car hood. "Totally, man! Let's do this."
As they made their way to Zion's house, Zion quickly called his mom to ensure she was okay with having a friend over. With her approval, the duo arrived at Zion's place, their excitement palpable.
Once inside, Zion asked, "So, what genre are you into?"
"Rock and pop, mostly," Oskar replied, his eyes lighting up at the thought of his favorite music.
"Alright, let's start with some basics on instrumentals," Zion suggested, setting up his equipment. For the next five hours, he drilled Oskar on the essentials, guiding him through rhythm, melody, and composition. By the end, Oskar had grasped the basics, ready to take his newfound knowledge home with a set of exercises Zion had prepared.
"Wow, that was intense," Oskar admitted, wiping his brow. "But I learned a lot. Thanks, dude!"
"No problem," Zion replied, smiling. "Just keep practicing, and you'll get there."
As they took a break, Oskar noticed Zion's shirt rustling oddly and assumed he had a pet ferret. "Hey, what's that moving around under your shirt? I didn't know you have a ferret."
Zion hesitated, then decided to be honest. "It's not a ferret. It's my tail," he admitted, revealing his Saiyan heritage.
Oskar's reaction was unexpectedly nonchalant. "Cool, man. That's awesome!"
Relieved by Oskar's quick acceptance, Zion felt encouraged when Oskar suggested they perform in front of the school one day. Initially hesitant, Zion eventually agreed, provided Oskar improved his skills and attended school regularly.
After Oskar left, Zion reflected on the suggestion, contemplating its potential. Later that afternoon, with time to spare, Zion decided to explore the local skatepark. Upon arrival, he saw Jackie-Lynn Thomas executing some impressive tricks on her skateboard.
"Yuuuuuur!" Zion shouted, grabbing her attention.
Jackie waved him over, smiling. "Hey, Zion! You wanna learn some tricks?"
"Yeah, that'd be awesome," Zion replied eagerly.
As they practiced, Zion quickly picked up on the techniques, impressing Jackie with his natural agility. Her amazement grew as she watched him attempt increasingly daring maneuvers.
"You're a quick learner," Jackie praised, catching her breath after a series of flips.
"Thanks," Zion replied, grinning. "You're a great teacher."
While skating, Jackie noticed something peculiar—a brown rope-like object wrapped around Zion's waist. Curious, she decided to ask him about it later.
After two hours at the skatepark, Jackie suggested they grab a bite at Britta's Tacos. Zion agreed, eager to try something new. Once there, Jackie recommended the chicken chimichanga, which Zion ordered alongside her usual. They settled at a picnic table, their skateboards by their sides.
"So, today was fun," Jackie began, breaking the silence as they waited for their food. "You really nailed those tricks."
"Thanks to you," Zion replied, appreciating her encouragement.
As their conversation flowed, Jackie contemplated asking about the "rope" she'd seen. Though hesitant, her curiosity won out. "Hey, Zion, what's that rope you have around your waist?"
Zion paused, taken aback but quickly realizing she was referring to his tail. Before he could answer, their food arrived, providing a brief distraction.
Seizing the moment to change the subject, Zion felt Jackie's disappointment, her curiosity unsatisfied. Sensing her genuine interest and recalling the acceptance he'd found with others, Zion decided to share his secret.
"I'll explain after we eat," he promised, noticing her surprise and slight blush at his phrasing.
Jackie laughed, trying to lighten the mood. "You're cute and all, but—"
Zion interrupted, blushing as well. "No, no, it's not like that," he insisted, leaning closer to whisper, "I'm only half-human."
Jackie's eyes widened in surprise. "Seriously?"
Zion nodded, confirming the truth. As they ate, he gave her a brief rundown of his Saiyan heritage, enjoying her fascination with the supernatural.
Once they finished, Zion led Jackie to a quiet alleyway. Lifting his shirt slightly, he unfurled his tail, revealing it fully to her.
"Wow," Jackie breathed, reaching out. "That's amazing. Can I touch it?"
Zion hesitated, wary of past experiences. But Jackie's earnestness won him over. "Just be gentle," he cautioned.
As she touched his tail, Jackie accidentally squeezed too hard, sending Zion to the ground, weakened and paralyzed.
"Oh no! Zion, are you okay?" Jackie exclaimed, horrified.
"Yeah... just let go," Zion managed weakly. Once she released him, he slowly regained his strength, explaining the sensitivity of his tail.
Jackie apologized profusely. "I didn't know. I'm really sorry."
"It's okay," Zion assured her, standing up. "It's just... sensitive."
To lighten the mood, Zion demonstrated his ki manipulation, creating a small energy sphere in his palm. Jackie's eyes widened with delight, her love for the supernatural reignited.
As they talked more about his abilities, Zion felt a weight lift, grateful for Jackie's acceptance. "Sorry for keeping it a secret," he admitted. "I was just worried about freaking you out."
Jackie smiled warmly. "I'm glad you told me. It's kind of awesome, actually."
The two shared a moment of mutual understanding before skating out of the alley, each feeling a deeper bond forged by shared secrets. As they parted ways, Zion's heart felt lighter, reassured by his friends' acceptance of his Saiyan heritage. With a newfound confidence, he skated home, ready to face whatever came next, knowing he wasn't alone.