Splinterbark: Trial by Gorilla V2

[Lovetheangelshadow]

This is the edited version of my story from Nanowrimo. I would really appreciate some feedback so I can get to hopefully maybe publishing this. Thanks

[Lovetheangelshadow]

Chapter 1: Just Your Average Bank Robbery

Cadric City: 40 miles north of that city and 30 miles west of the other city. If you wanted to know the meaning behind that statement that appears on every tourist merchandise you might come across; half of the citizens could not give you a proper answer and the other half would dispute the origin in sixteen different recorded ways. But despite peoples’ differences on the beginnings of such a phrase, it had stuck to Cadric City like leather car seats in summer. Catchphrase aside there was a peculiar eclectic charm to Cadric. Victorian homes and businesses stood adjacent with the roaring twenty art deco diners and chrome plated skyscrapers. And further in turn the Art Deco was neighbors with the modern concrete and steel towers and a neon lit clubs. On your average day there would always be at least one chap with a picket sign or two declaring why they had the right to the spaces they had. Neither side every budged or exactly won an argument, but it was something of a spectacle that even some travel brochures hinted at or sold food for onlookers.

Cadric First National Bank was a mix of the old and current trends. It was one of the oldest still functioning buildings of the city. It was a massive structure of brick and marble complete with grandiose columns, grotesque gargoyles, and garish painted windows. Within its walls, the brick had been plated with reinforced steel and iron bars. The interior was a gaudy grandeur of gilded teller cages and posh carpeting. Paintings from the 40’s decorated the walls despite some of them being of ‘questionable’ taste. Some, honestly, really could be thrown out. Dotting the painted mural ceiling, cameras were pointed at every possible angle within the lobby. The debate on that change was most popcorn worthy. Though there are reasons as to such security measures that even the most stubborn of preservationists had to budge on eventually.

Today would be a proper example to the reasons for the modern changes. The incident began when an elderly woman was struggling to push open the heavy glass door to get inside. A large hairy hand reached over her shoulder and pushed it gently. The lady turned very slightly to see whom had assisted her. It was a rather large and stout fellow; his massive frame squeezed into a dull grey frock coat. A large brimmed grey hat shadowed the man’s face and the only thing visible was the grey stubble chin and the edges of what might be mutton chops. The lady thought little of this kind fellow being all bundled up as he was; it had gotten quite cold this early into the fall season.
“Oh thank you, kind sir. They really should do something about such heavy doors for people like me.” The fellow glanced slightly to his left at the clearly visible plate sized button with the wheelchair sign in blue engraved on it. He slightly grinned showing a row of thick pearly white fanged teeth and chuffed a bit.
“My, pleasure madam. Yes, they really should do something for ladies of your…aptitude.” The lady seemed unware of the jab as she shuffled inside.

The fellow maneuvered his way into the center of the lobby; scanning his surroundings with huff. Everyone was either busy at the service windows or busy with their noses buried in checkbooks or phones. No one had even noticed him enter. He snorted at the indignance; but sometimes one must do in order to accomplish what needs to be done. With one genteel swoosh he flung the coat aside and bellowed out one massive guttural roar; causing the six chandeliers to rattle and chime in perfect synchronization. The percussion of two massive hands slammed upon the ground to end the primal concerto and ensured all eyes were upon him. He was a massive plum colored gorilla and had people not already been in a panic, they would have noticed certain peculiar traits of this primate. His fur was perfectly trimmed and groomed from his grey wrinkled face down to his single flesh arm. The other appendage, once you gotten over the initial first shock of a plum colored gorilla in the bank lobby, was a massive mechanical marvel. It was almost impossible to tell where the metallic carapace ended and the violet simian began. Completing the look the beast sported a custom tailored burgundy and silver waistcoat and brushed black top hat.

The gorilla adjusted his cravat and cleared his throat with a few growling chokes.
“My apologies for the pedestrian display just now; however it was the most efficient way of getting your attention.” The voice was composed and posh despite the slight background noise of throaty growls underlying it all. He placed his flesh hand upon the forearm casing of his gauntlet and slid it back and forth until it clicked and clocked like a shotgun ready to fire.
“Now, on the floor in you would be so kind. I don’t exactly have all day.”
A guard was slowly creeping behind him with one hand pressing against the handle of his Taser firearm. The beast didn’t even bother to turn his head to swing his arm behind him and fire a blue pulse of energy just as the sentry’s weapon had barely left its holster. In the same motion, the gorilla spun the casing around his wrist until it clicked into place of another segment of his arm. A nozzle sprung out from the top and belched a stream of green goo. The helpless guard was shoved deep into the carpet and held firmly in place by a rapidly crystalizing slimy mass he was encased in.
“ON THE FLOOR NOW”, the creature bellowed with rising impatience. Again he shrugged his head and chastised himself for such uncouth behavior. The simian made his way over to the counter and politely rapped the back of his massive knuckles on the tempered glass.
A doe eyed employee slowly peeked from underneath her counter at the sound.
“The cash, if you will. 40,000 will suffice.”
He tossed a silk bag over the stall frame of the teller window and it unceremoniously fell on her head before sliding down her face like a butter covered crepe. She didn’t exactly spring into action even as the bag had settled on the counter before her. It would be difficult to say if it was out of understandable cowardice or just plain stupidity on her part. The later became more likely of a possibility when she asked again what exactly was she was supposed to do with the bag. The ape inhaled deeply though his massive nostrils and calmly explained once more the instructions. Again she didn’t quite process the request as she just dumbly opened the till and began shoving the stacks of bills into it.

“MADAM! *Ahem* Madame, please count the money. I specifically said forty thousand dollars. You have a bill counter right next to your elbow, for the love of Pete.” The teller stared at the fistful of dollars in her hand. There was the faint wail of police sirens in the background. The gorilla grunted in frustration at the ineptitude of this woman. The beast sprayed more of the goo from before at the front rug of the main entrance door. He then twisted his wrist once more and shot the metallic hand towards the upper edge of the glass partition. A strong coil hoisted the beastly robber up and into the gap between the top of the cage and the roof. It was a bit of a squeeze; especially with the arm, but he managed to shove himself through and landed with a loud thud behind the counter. He apologized and shoved the dense employee aside where the bag was still on the counter. He hastily shoved the money into the bag and scampered across desks and counters towards the employee entrance on the left. He called out he would return with the correct change at a later date.

The employee entrance opened out into a secluded parking lot behind the bank. As a security measure, the lot was surrounded by four high brick walls with only one place where cars could get in or out. It would take some time for the police to get in as they would have to first deal with the iron gate that closed the entrance off to pedestrian traffic. He figured he had some time to make good headway as no human could scale a wall that high easily. Plus he could disappear into the surrounding brush and he out of sight from…him. And at least there, he had the foresight to cause a bit of a distraction to keep him busy on the other side of town for at least long enough.
“Hold it…right…there…oh shit.”

The gorilla looked around for the source of the small voice. He had to look down to find a curious sight. It was a girl, maybe no older than your average high school student. She was dressed in pink cargo pants, a pine capelet coat, and knee high work boots. Wrapped about her waist was a leather tool belt stuffed with pieces of wood. And to top it all was a bright pink helmet with a lime green visor and a peculiar set of antler-like decor. The gorilla scratched his head trying to process this sprite before him. This wasn’t the first youngling “superhero” he had seen before, but there was no cape, no insignia, not even a cohesive theme to the ensemble. Just what was he looking at exactly?
The girl’s slightly tanned face had flushed white as her eyes darted about taking in the clearly outmatched adversary before her. Then she turned to her left and started yelling at the air.
“You said bank robbery. I was expecting like…oh I don’t know, some guy in a hockey mask or wearing pantyhose. Not Metilla Gorilla!”
The gorilla was now equal parts perplexed and amused by this imp. She obviously knew who he was, but was preoccupied with arguing at the air at her side.
“Um, do you need a moment or…”
“Yes it is a problem! Metilla Gorilla, the Gentleman Cyborg Gorilla. The strength of ten gorillas AND an arsenal strong enough to take down the Specter Squad, Saint Auctor, and the Songbird. Specialist bank robber and jewel thief. Hey don’t be lecturing me, sir! I’m not THAT stupid to go against one of Cadric’s biggest criminals who even gives the Golden Guardian a rough time.” Metilla could not resist tipping his hat and thanking for the complement. He also complemented on her wise decision not to interfere with his escape and began to bounce towards the back wall. He had just moved a car’s length when he felt a tug and the bag suddenly jerked away from his grip. A logging hook tied to a corded rope had snagged on the corded draw strap of his sack and the girl had snatched the bag away from him.
Metilla was unsure to be amazed or mystified at the feat. The girl was using a logging hook as a grapple weapon for crying out loud. Her attire may have looked like it was put together from the clearance rack of a hardware store, but at least she was resourceful. He had to respect her for that.
“Miss, I really don’t have time for this. Now if you could just hand over the bag…um…what is your handle if I might ask? I would be very rude of me to challenge you without a proper introduction.” The girl kicked the bag of money behind her and declared proudly,
“The name is Splinterbark.” Metilla slowly said the name out loud. And odd name for an odd little pixie. He cracked his fleshy knuckles and huffed,

“Very well, Miss Splinterbark. I really don’t enjoy picking on others smaller than me, but you threw the gauntlet down. You have no one but yourself to blame for what comes next. I promise to make this quick.”
He shot his spring-loaded arm towards the bag. Splinterbark rolled behind a large van and had tugged the bag away just in time with a cant hook. The cyborg simian grumbled. He would have preferred to not bother with engaging with the girl directly. Even the distraction was not going to keep the flying justice or the cops away for long. He shoved his way through a row of cars and rammed his fist down upon the girl. Splinterbark was quick and darted between his legs keeping a distance between her and the monkey. The cars being so packed together was slowing Metilla down and he heaved into the tops of the vehicles. He couldn’t fire his pulse cannon or the slime shooter as it could likely damage the money. He had to get in close and this pint heroine was taking full advantage of her stature in the enclosed space. Metilla began to heave cars aside and come began to pile up at the lot gate. He could hear the police trying to push inside. Luckily for him, a station wagon had lodged perfectly into the mechanism to open the gates. That would give him five minutes at best.

He had finally created an open space to lumber after the girl. Surprisingly she pulled a bat from a strap on her back and was actually charging at him. What idiot goes after a 400 pound simian with a baseball bat? She swung it at his chin, about as high as she could reach, but Metilla caught it effortlessly with one hand. Splinterbark grinned sheepishly as he hoisted her up with her still clinging to the handle. Suddenly she let go and rolled back on the ground. There seemed to be a faint shimmer coming from her goggles as she pointed at the bat. Metilla barely reacted to the peculiar behavior as the bat suddenly exploded in his hands; sending shards of pine into his chin and nose. He heard wooden clattering about his feet followed by more sounds of loud popping and more timber shards piercing his toes. Metilla snarled out both in pain and annoyance. He swung his arm, making a car skid across the cement and the fender grazing Splinterbark’s shoulder. Her body spun a bit rapidly before she fell face first onto the cement. She felt weighty knuckles press against her back to pin her down and drag her closer. He held her tight against his body with his flesh arm while the metallic palm of the other was drawing ever closer to her face. The finger tips began to open and some kind of sweet smelling gas began to trickle into the air about her nose.

“You’re a curious thing, aren’t you? But you have caused me enough trouble for today. Now I am just going to put you to sleep…” Both of them heard the loud flapping of wings faintly in the distance. Metilla hadn’t even made the next before a gold and white blur collided with a swift punch to his face.
The simian spin with Splinterbark still cradled against his chest. Suddenly the arm was wrenched forward and a pair of hands heaved her into the air. She was airborne above the fence for what seemed like five minutes before plummeting down to the cement. The golden blur skidded underneath her and caught the girl in its arms.
“Sorry, that was a bit rough even for me. You alright, miss?” She had seen his picture in so many magazines and on the internet. She had gazed at his stature in the Heroes Museum. They paled in comparison to seeing the Golden Guardian physically and being this close to boot. He was a giant of a man standing at a good seven feet tall and was built like a god-like powerhouse. A pair of majestic golden wings that gave him his moniker outstretched behind him casting a sizeable shadow over Splinterbark and Metilla. He carefully placed her onto the side and turned with slow grace towards his opponent; his long golden hair and beard flowing about him with gravitational laws of their own. Muscles tensed underneath the gold and white suit as he grasped the halberd at his hip.
The violet simian swung the first blow as his metallic hand spin like a corkscrew aimed for Golden Guardian’s head. Golden skidded to the side with the strike just grazing the tips of his hair. His massive hands grasped the forearm carapace and he swung the big ape up above his head and slammed him back down like he was tossing a mere catfish. Metilla bounced upwards but once before twisting himself mid air and shooting a grappling hook at the car in front of him. His enormous body and the bulky form of the car slammed into Golden from both ends. Splinterbark peeked between her fingers when the sound of the collision ceased followed by a cacophony of grinding gears and strained grunts. Though he had taken the full brunt of the assault, Golden was now pulling the two apart from his body. Metilla struggled with his flesh arm trying to shut the winch off that was fighting against the winged champion. Smoke and sparks were sputtering from the appendage before with a big roaring grunt, Golden wrenched the vehicle from the primate with a loud cracking snap. Metilla’s hand bounced along the ground before landing at the awestruck Splinterbark’s feet. The creature; however, was not out of fight yet. Golden had hoisted his opponent in the air before Metilla pounded his good hand in the crook of the angel’s arm. The momentary loss in balance gave the gorilla the chance he needed to ram his sparking appendage against Golden’s chest. It was a weak stun, but long enough for the beast to hurl himself over the high wall and disappear into the trees on the other side.
Splinterbark stared as the Golden Guardian dusted himself off and was approaching her. Her heart was beating so hard against her chest that her trembling hands barely held onto the sack of money from the robbery. Golden thrusted a large yellow gloved hand at her and she sheepishly handed the satchel over. The angel glanced at the sack and then eyed her before raising an eyebrow.
“You managed to hold on to this? Impressive, miss…”
“S…S…Splinterbark reporting-s-s-s-s-SIR!” the pink pixie babbled. The Golden Guardian hummed before effortlessly removing the cars from the gate and permitting the cops inside.
“Metilla got away I see”, a gentleman in a crimson tailcoat huffed. “And where were you earlier, hmm?” Guardian didn’t even seemed fazed by the obviously scathing remark. He simply bowed like he was the butler to the master.

“My apologizes, District Attorney Commodore. I’m afraid I was baited across town. However, this young lady was about to recover the money. That should relieve some of…” Vincent Commodore was a tall man who was thin as a lath and as pale as skim milk. He bore a large hooked nose and donned tight black curly hair. He adjusted the reflective monocle in his right eye and scanned Splinterbark up and down.
“Surely you are joking, Guardian. This girl doesn’t even look like a superhero. And I’ve seen far better costumes at those…gatherings across the street we put up with every spring. And I have heard better lies from our own news station.” Splinterbark glanced at Guardian who simply crossed his arms.
“Regardless if you believe me or not, our first priority is to secure the perimeter and do not let Metilla Gorilla get very far. He’s eluded our chases so far and I don’t feel safe with him loose; gentleman or not.” Vincent snorted and tapped the ruby encrusted spider on his polished cane.
“Indeed, we at least agree on something. Officers! You have your orders! Get to it! Find that monkey!” The Guardian had taken to the skies and began soaring towards the direction Metilla had run away. Vincent was about to leave when he turned his attention back to Splinterbark.
“And you, with the garish pink power ranger cosplay-what are you, Deer Girl. Logging Lucy?”

“Splinterbark, your honor.”

Vincent spat like the name was some kind of repulsive slur. “Whatever. I have enough to deal with that gold headed fool up there and that demon brat. I don’t need whatever you are causing me any more trouble than Cadric City gives me. Now get out of my sight before I have you arrested and your parents called.” Splinterbark slinked away, though not with one little gram of pettiness as Vincent’s cane suddenly snapped in half and he almost fell to his knees. Almost. He had surprising reaction time looking as old as he was. Vincent watched her disappear from sight as his cell phone rang. He grumbled at the caller ID and answered.
“Let me guess, you saw the whole thing and whatnot. You are getting too old for that nonsense. Listen, don’t get any ideas. If this Twig Girl doesn’t get off my streets I will see to her arrest including that witch and bug brat. And I won’t hesitate to add you as well.” He promptly beeped the screen closed and walked away tapping the ruby spider against his palm with rapid annoyance.

[Lovetheangelshadow]

Chapter 2: The Valdus Academy
One month earlier…

Shelly Holmes tried to tug her skirt down even further than her knees as they pulled into the roundabout area for drop off. The white blouse and royal blue blazer felt itchy and constricting against her beige skin. Her father told her repeatedly to stop tugging at the uniform and she should be proud to have been transferred here. The only personal item she had been allowed to wear was the purple bunny hairclip that kept back that annoying lock of chestnut hair out of her small rounded face. She blinked her great dark brown eyes over to her father who was debatably concentrating on maneuvering the massive cherry colored van into position.
“Well would you look at that. I’d half expect there to be some hidden treasure map in this school’s anthem leading to treasure deep down below. Wouldn’t you agree?” Shelly peered out of her window at the high brick walls of the school that were dotted with high corner towers decorated with navy blue flags sporting the school emblem of a dragon wrestling with a bear. She hummed in half amusement.

Maybe it that were true she would not be dreading this move so much.
Shelly was a small lass, now just entering her junior year. She was quite short for her sixteen years of age and, to her, cursed with a wide pelvis and not much for her chest. Shelly shifted uncomfortably in her seat as she gripped her backpack on her lap. It could be that she wasn’t used to uniforms or the fact her father had to wrap the passenger seat in Tyvek paper before she could sit down in the car in the first place. It wasn’t like he was a slob or anything outside of a few chip packages and an empty bottle of water or two, but this was his work truck and wood shavings and dirt were bound to get everywhere.
It had been barely three weeks into the school year and she was now being dumped off at a completely different school than where she started. It’s not exactly easy to return to a school that has been half smashed up thanks to an unexplained lab accident in the biology department that somehow combined the class rabbit, tortoise, and goldfish into one massive Eldritch abomination. There may have been a staff member or student involved though they were fairly sure everyone has been accounted for. And somehow the creature had managed to completely disappear after it was done tearing up two buildings and gouging up the new PE yard. How something like that could just disappear, no one really knows. Needless to say they had to put students somewhere and thus they were divided among the three other high schools in Cadric City. Shelly’s mother told her she was very lucky that there were spots to the Valdus Academy and she had been accepted. She would have gone there in the first place if the commute wasn’t such an inconvenience for either her parents her freshman year.

Her father, Arthur Holmes, patted her on the back and told her she was going to be just fine. Shelly choked a halfhearted ‘alright’ as she proceeded to open the door and slide out. That was when Arthur grabbed her hand.
“Now remember what we talked about this morning?” Shelly rolled her eyes and groaned that yes she remembered. Arthur hit the child lock button on the van door and let out a stern clearing on the throat.
“I promise not to get into any fights, daddy.”
“And?”
“Try to make friends”, Shelly finished with a grumble. Arthur patted her on the shoulder and told her he knew she could do it before unlocking the door and reminding her that Samuel was going to pick her up after school.
Valdus Academy had once been an old training base for the National Guard before a more suitable modern location had been established towards the more rural outskirts of the city. The place was a massive stone fortress complete with towers and sections of guard walls quartering off the various sections of the grounds. The innermost keep was a solid square building that mocked the passages of time how the stone seemed to stand as pristine as the day they were mason in. Shelly turned back to see her father waving goodbye and cars behind him honking for him to move. She also felt all several eyes were on her as she made her way towards the inner grounds. After all, among the shiny SUVs and luxury cars, there stood a bright cherry red van with a few dents in it here and there and the words “Holmes Housing” painted in silver and white on the sides. No, she shook her head. She had nothing to be ashamed of. Her dad worked just as hard, if not more, than these people with their fancy vehicles. She pulled down on her back, straightened up, and began to march towards the auditorium where all the transferred students were to meet.

She had been a bit of a hurry to seem confident that she was not completely looking where she was going and the toe of her loafer caught a slightly loose cobblestone paver on the walkway. The sudden jerk knocked her forward before her face rammed into someone’s back and she collided backwards onto her rear. Her backpack clattered to the ground and the zipper jerked open; scattering her notebooks, pencil case, and comic books. Rubbing her button nose she apologized profusely to no one in particular since she wasn’t sure who exactly she had bumped in to.
The one in question turned and looked down at her. He was an exceptionally tall fellow that had to bend down to even see her. Long locks of jet black hair framed his pale porcelain face or at least what Shelly could see past the twisted curls. What was visible was a pair of narrow fire orange eyes that pierced even his thick hair. He was wearing the male uniform or the school; black trousers with the same blue blazer with the school logo on it. However, his tie was slack and his blazer was unbuttoned. His features were sharp and almost looked drawn on like he was a character who had stepped out of a supernatural manga that had been drawn by Tim Burton. She couldn’t explain it really, just that he didn’t seem to belong among the other fellows that had surrounded him. He held out a pale hand to assist her up and his skin was cold to the touch.
“A bit late to be excited to be in school, isn’t it?” His voice was quite monotone as he spoke with hardly any infection even in the question. Shelly was unsure if he was being facetious or just disinterested in general. Or a lot of people bumped into him and he just stopped caring.

“I’m sorry”, Shelly responded as she bowed again in apology. “This is my first day. I just transferred in.” The words came out a bit jabbery and she felt her face turn red in embarrassment. There was a girl along the male crowd standing beside the pale boy. Her skin was a brilliant olive brown and her hair was a strange red coloring. It was not fire red or pale red or even an orange red; but was an unusual shade of an intense wine color. She flipped her copious locks of hair from her narrow shoulders and tilted her curvy figure slightly. She scanned this short, stocky little thing that had rudely intruded on their presence and judged it was not worthy of her time.

“Come on, Alucard”, she chuffed while tugging on his arm. “We might as well head for homeroom.” Alucard shrugged and picked up his book bag from the ground.
“I suppose we should”, was his response, again in the monotone speaking without even looking at either girl. Maybe that was just how he talked, Shelly surmised. And what kid names their son Alucard?
****
Shelly had moved her away to the auditorium that was very easy to spot. It was the lower of the many buildings and it had the words Auditorium emblazoned on it. It only took a bit to navigate the curtain walls and their gates to get to the center. Seriously, why keep so many darn walls and would it kill them to take them down, Shelly groused. She had noted that several students were wearing sneakers and Shelly mentally made a note to have a certain talk with her mother about it. The interior was not as impressive unfortunately. It was plain with rows of raised seats and a simple stage. The only décor were national flags and the school’s dragon and bear emblem. Shelly barely recognized anyone from her school. Maybe she should have socialized more in for freshman year like her mother suggested. You break one girl’s nose with your book bag and suddenly you’re a leper along the students.
A whistle pierced the ramblings of the crowd. Principal Oliver Jestro rapped for attention at the podium.
“Good morning fellow students. Now I know we’re three weeks into the semester, but I promise we will do everything to ensure you are caught up in your education.” He gestured to three students standing beside him each holding a large white sign of what grade they presented.
“These fellows behind me are from the student council and will be guiding you through the school for your orientation day. Good luck to all of you.”
“Well that was the shortest orientation I’ve ever been on”, Shelly commented to a student next to her.
“He seems to be in a hurry to me. But the less time we’ve got to be in these chairs, the better”, the student responded. Then she paused and did a double glance at Shelly.
“Do I…know you from somewhere?” Thankful for the high collar to hide her blushing, Shelly replied with a quick no. The fellow transfer hummed and could have sworn she at least knew of her from somewhere and Shelly shrugged. She didn’t know the girl either. They were all filed among their respective grades with Shelly maneuvering towards a boy casually tossing the sign to himself like he was holding a billboard for a sandwich shop.

“Pleased to meet you all. My name is Thomas Payne and I will be your guide for today and yes it is my natural hair color”, he announced as he grasped a sizeable handful of shapely strands of violet black hair. His russet toned face was marked with a scar above his right eye and a slightly broken upslope nose. Though his uniform was a bit tidier than the strange pale boy there were hints it was a bit too small for his beefy frame. Thomas beamed a toothy grin and beckoned them to follow along his route as the three guides each took seperate ways.

“…and that’s the gym over there. Most of your Physical Education courses will be held in there. But you can get a pass to use after regular school hours.” Shelly had little interest at the courses and services being offered. She was too enamored by the architecture of this vast castle estate partaking in the peculiar symbols etched in the supports of the side walls. Thomas seemed to notice her distraction.
“Ah taking in the walls itself are you? I’m kinda not supposed to be talking about this because the principal would rather have us sell you this place on our glorious education but…okay okay but this is like so cool. *ahem* Valdus Academy was originally the home of General Valdus P. Wyrmglade and is one of Cadric City’s oldest buildings. Rumor has it he was…a bit crazy in the head. Claimed he had a vision that a terrible demon was coming to consume the town! Mwa ha ha!
So he had the place built to be the most impenetrable fortress of that time. I mean really, this place has survived three real big quakes and the fire of ’87.”
A boy in the group rolled his eyes. A girl pipped she found Thomas’ enthusiasm cute.
“So what became of Mr. Valdus, Thomas?” she asked. Thomas’ smile stretched to nearly both side of his square jaw.

“Well…let’s just say there are only so many shotgun riddled bodies you can hide in here without someone noticing. Ol’ Valdus started claiming everyone who was going into his castle was an agent of the demon. He even claimed that he was visited by this spooky black winged angel, but people deemed him insane. I mean, it’s not like we have an angel flying about our fair city, am I right?” Thomas laughed at his own joke despite the crowd groaning.
“But in all seriousness, Valdus got sent to the loony bin and the place just sat until his great grandson turned it into a school. He only just retired as principal last year. Oh and there is a likely chance they never found all the bodies, so you might not to be out after hours. Boo!” He shouted the last word with a thunderous roar that caused several annoyed glances from both his group and the students walked by. Upon seeing who made the ruckus they rolled their eyes and resumed their routine with Thomas laughing sheepishly. “Right, right, time and place, Thomas”, he muttered to himself before gesturing for his group to move along.
Thomas had taken them down another hallway where the plaque above the door read, “Newspaper Room”. A waif of a student was just stepping out with a large binder tucked close to his chest. He was a sharply dressed lad with his uniform perfectly pressed but seemed to fit a tingle loosely on his skinny frame. His sandy blonde hair had been pulled in the back into a coils ponytail but coifed in the front that framed a contrastingly strong Roman-esqe jawline and cold blue eyes. The student was a dwarf beside Thomas and was only just a few inches taller than Shelly. Shelly noticed that there was a slight flush around Thomas’ neck and he tugged his tie slightly.
“Oh…hey there, Reed.” Reed raised a thick eyebrow as he glanced over his shoulder.
“Ah, so that is why you were not in homeroom today. I had completely forgotten.” He sounded out each word very carefully as if he afraid to break some kind of etiquette rule and there was an unnatural stiffness in his words.
“Ha ha, right. Guys, this here is Reed Altamiri, ghost member for the Wyrmglade Waypoint newspaper club. He will make sure the paper is perfectly spelled and punctuated.” The embarrassment on Reed’s fair colored face and slight clenching of his neck showed he wasn’t exactly too pleased with Thomas’ praising.
“I just do what I can to help the paper. There is really nothing to be awed at. If you will excuse me, please.” Clutching the binder very close to his chest, he sped off down another hall; making it clear he didn’t want to keep talking about his work. Thomas let out a large audible groan sigh and tsked at the fleeing boy. Then almost immediately when he snapped his fingers he was back to tour guide mode and unreservedly continued like nothing occurred.
****
The tours had returned to the auditorium where they were to wait until the lunch bell sounded; in which they would all be escorted to the cafeteria for the half hour lunch break. Afterwards, they were free to visit the school club fair happening in the inner quad and then they could go home. Shelly clutched the old battered metal Songbird lunchbox and glanced about looking for a seat. People were already mingling with their own groups and space was filling up fast. The students transferred from her school were already gathering at one table and chatting with a few other curious students of her new school. Frankly she didn’t really feel like talking to anyone right now. This was a lot to take in still and she just wanted to be alone to read her book and put herself back into a state of peace. Maybe next week she could try fulfilling her promise to her dad, she reasoned with herself. No sense in rushing friendship as the cartoon ponies would say. There was a table in the back that no one seemed to be using. It wasn’t exactly easy to see as it was in the shadow of a support pillar. It was a clean table too so she was more than happy to simply sit there.

Shelly had arranged all her food out in a perfectly neat placement along with her latest copy of Superhero Strike- a popular magazine that showcased photos, interviews, contests, and her personal favorite section: the citizen hero highlights. Shelly had just taken a large bite out of her sandwich when a voice clicked,
“This isn’t your table.”

Shelly looked up to see it was the wine haired girl from that morning. There was no one else with her either. Shelly looked to the right and left of her thinking she was missing something out of her peripheral vision; nothing. There was literally nobody else by this table and it was a pretty big table. She forced her bite down her throat and tilted her head.
“I’m sorry, come again?” The girl placed her tray down, almost smashing Shelly’s juice carton.
“Fine I shall repeat it as monosyllabic as possible. I said this is not your table.” Again Shelly scanned around her and once more no one else was coming to the table. She had not even taken up that much space with her food. Shelly began drumming her left pointer finger on the table, annoyed with the tone this wine topped girl was using.
“Miss, the table is big enough for the two of us. We don’t exactly have time to be wasting arguing and frankly I’m starving.” Shelly’s stomach grumbled loudly in agreement. To prove her point, Shelly chomped another purposely large bite of her sandwich and began chewing it with large snapping chomps and smacking of her lips. The girl’s eyes narrowed to emerald slips and was starting to rub her thumb and forefinger together. Shelly thought she saw something start to spark.
“Who do you think you are, you plebian shrimp? Do you think you can just come in and…”
“Lynn? What’s going on?” The two girls snapped their heads simultaneously to the right. Alucard was standing there with his food tray in hand and looking confused; the first look Shelly saw other than disinterest. Lynn stood perfectly straight and cleared her throat.
“I was telling this girl to leave your table, obviously.” Shelly’s face scrunched up between bites. Her hand slowly maneuvered to the yogurt cup. Let’s see how this silver spooned witch thinks with liquid dairy on that pretty hair of hers. Alucard appeared to notice her intention because he was consciously forcing himself to not laugh though a small snort escaped.
“She can sit there if she wants,” he flat out declared. Lynn’s eyes went as wide as the saucer plate on her tray.

“W-what?”

“I said she can sit there if she wants. You, dearest stepsister, don’t even sit here anyway. Now go on to your little gaggle of girls. You know father does not approve of skipping meals.” Shelly balked a little at the coldness of the tone his voice. It was not the emotionless going-though-the-motions he had used from that morning. There was something threateningly taunting about it. Shelly felt herself shrink back into her seat. Lynn was unmoved. In anything else, Shelly thought she seemed annoyed. Lynn huffed telling him he was fine to ‘sully his feathers with the lower order’ and turned off to another table.

“Um…thanks”, was all Shelly could squeak. Alucard’s face just snapped back to that cold disinterested glare.

“I don’t have time to put up with people making petty arguments”, he remarked and seated himself on the far edge of the table. Shelly went back to her magazine and hurriedly ate her food. She glanced over every now and then, but chose to not say a word. Alucard seemed to be engrossed in a rather large textbook and just the writing on the cover alone made her brain misfire. The warning bell rang for the end of the meal period. Shelly just finished tossing her food wrappers away when Alucard had gotten up from the table and walked in her direction, presumably to the same door she was using to leave.
“Thanks”, he said gruffly to her. Shelly scratched her head at his thank-you reply, not exactly getting what he was thanking her for.
“Thank you for not talking to me”, he concluded and hurried out the door; leaving Shelly to ponder if she had been praised for insulted.

[Lovetheangelshadow]

Chapter 3: The Orb
Shelly seated herself towards the back of the auditorium hoping no one had noticed that she was late. The uniforms had made everyone seem similar to her and the fact she had been distracted by Alucard’s rather tact remarks. She could have sworn people were whispering remarks about her as she kept running into the wrong halls or the same exact path she had left. She hadn’t made that bad an impression already did she? Shelly had just managed to slip in as the principal was still rambling on his speech about the importance of education and something about self-worth. Again it was a short one; ending with a reminder that they were encouraged to peruse the club fair and that their parents could pick them up in an hour. Schedules had been mailed to everyone so there should not be any problems.

The club booths sported your standard fare: biology, anime, environmental, news, chess, various sports, etc. Shelly gripped the straps of her backpack tightly as people shouted from their booths to come join them. She slowly maneuvered down the path trying to keep to middle of the area trying to avoid any eye contact with anyone. She thought she heard someone calling her out-or at least to the silver emblem of an armored owl, however there was too much noise to be sure. Then she felt a hard tug on her lucky keychain and the sound of her backpack opening from the sudden jerk. Someone had her charm in his big sweaty hand and his bulbous eyes scrunched back into his face as he examined it. The keychain was a solid metal pin that was the same owl symbol on her backpack. The enamel was a bit chipped and there were a few scratches on the metal backing but Shelly was getting annoyed at the student’s greasy fingerprints getting on it.
“Woah is this an original 1968 Songbird die cast keychain?” Shelly smiled a little.
“Y-yea. My dad gave it to me for my tenth birthday. He’s my favorite hero.” Okay, you got this Shelly. He looks like a final day sale boston butt but he might be nice. She had expected him to at least let go of the keychain and maybe introduce himself. The portly pal did neither. Instead he drew it closer to his mountainous chest.
“You know you could sell this for a lot of money. Maybe by something more…appropriate for people like you.” Shelly’s fingers curled into a fist. One good punch to the solar plexus should make him let go. She clenched the back of her teeth remembering her father’s request.
“No, it’s my good luck charm. Now can you please let go?” The sickly sweet tone she used tasted like bile in her mouth. Instead he spat something incoherent that roughly sounded like how Songbird was old fashioned or brought up outdated ideals. Shelly’s blood began to boil and this idiot was oblivious to the daggers she was shooting at him.

“Now Fred, we talked about this.” Two students were coming from behind the anime club booth. They stopped close enough to be heard in earshot; though not enough to actually do anything.
“Aw I’m just making conversation.” Conversation my foot, Shelly wanted to spit. She couldn’t punch him, so she tried to next best thing and wrenched hard on her backpack. There was a loud snap and the chain holding the charm to her backpack twisted open. Shelly was dumbfounded. She knew the charm was old and the chain was due at any moment. Okay, don’t panic, she told herself. Her dad could just as easily fashion a new chain and ring for it. She held out her hand and expected this Fred character to at least apologize and give it back.
“Give it back”, she commanded with forced breaths. Fred stared at her like some gasping goldfish. “Why? Doesn’t look like you take good care of it anyway.” The other two pleaded with him and even tried to grab his arm to take the charm away. He thrashed and shrieked for them to back off. Shelly rolled up her sleeve. Surely her dad would understand what she was about to do. One solid strike was all it was going to take and she’d feel all better. A fair hand grasped Fred’s wrist and held it firm.
“The lady said to let go, Fred,” Reed snarled at him. Shelly was quite awestruck by his sudden and silent appearance. Fred sneered at this intruder.
“Back off, Reed, you traitor. I ain’t doing nothing wrong.”
“She does not seem to think so. Now then, let go of her keychain.” Fred refused and used his clenched fist to swing a clumsy strike at Reed. The fist didn’t even connect close. Instead Reed had caught Fred’s wrist, and twisted it behind his back. Fred started screaming something about assault, though no one seemed to do anything. Reed told him to give up the item and Fred unwillingly did. The scrawny student snatched the falling token and shoved Fred to the side. Reed then offered to escort her away with Fred yelling at his back still screaming the word traitor while the other two moved him back behind the booth.

****

“Wow, how did you do that?” Shelly exclaimed once they were a few booths away. Reed didn’t seem too interested in her adoration and more that he wrinkled his blazer.
“I partook in the self-defense club last year. It is not that big of a deal. And, it keeps people like Fred off your back”, he said as if it was the most obvious thing about him.
“He called you a traitor.” Reed nervously rubbed the back of his head.
“Let us just say we make bad decision in friends sometimes when we want to be liked.”
“Amen to that. Oh, um…I’m Shelly by the way.”
“Right, you were with Thomas’ group this morning. I am Reed. Just Reed, if you please.”
“You got it, Just Reed. Eh? Eh?” Reed just blinked back at her.
“Heh heh right, bad joke. Whoa, what’s that?”
“Hey wait! Shelly!”
The folding table was encased in a royal purple and gold pop up tent that was not surprisingly out of place. In block letters were the words “Magic Club” stenciled on the whiteboard stand. Set about on the table were various magic looking trinkets: wands, cards, some embroidered handkerchiefs, and a few other witchy knickknacks. One item in particular caught Shelly’s interest. It was a crystalline jade orb sitting on a pedestal of golden twigs. As her hand hovered over it; she thought she felt something pulsing inside. Her fingers almost touched the surface but a rush of repulsiveness washed over her and she retreated back.
“Oh, please don’t touch that. Our club vice president really wouldn’t like it.”
There was only one girl monitoring the stand-whereas other booths had two or three representatives. She had her back to Shelly at the moment as she seemed to be gathering more flyers to put out on the table. Shelly started poking at the objects on the table; keeping her distance from that unsettling sphere.
“So, is it like stage magic or the spoopy hocus pocus stuff?”
The girl was flipped her head over her shoulder like Shelly had blustered some derogatory slur at her. There was heavy dark makeup around her eyes and lips and Shelly noted a small pentagram pin under the lapel of her ascot. The girl learned in forward, pressing her eyes uncomfortably close to Shelly.
“Do you mock the great forces all around us? Do you doubt the means to guide that force for good and for ill?” Shelly pressed her finger against the girl’s forehead to maneuver her back out of her comfort bubble.
“Lady, we literally have a guy flying around on golden wings and carries a giant axe. Magic isn’t exactly something out of the realm of possibility.” The makeup girl’s despairing mood suddenly flipped to a giddy excitement.
“Oooh, you are a believer then? I can tell. Oh our president is gonna be lit if we get a real new member. So tell me, what sort of path do you have or…”
“You are quicker than you look.” Reed had finally caught up to the table, slightly winded. He glanced back over his shoulder. “I would not be here for too long because…”
“And what is SHE doing here? Oh, what was your name…Caesar, right? Are you gathering material for the paper on the fair?”
Lynn and another girl who could pass off got the booth girl’s twin were approaching the tent carrying a half-empty box of bottled water. Shelly was impressed that this gal could switch between venomous and honeyed in the same breath. Wonder why she was not in the drama club.

“Shelly and I were just looking around like everyone else. And it is Reed. We have been in the same homeroom for three years, Lynette.” Shelly peeked around his shoulder dispute him desperately trying to keep between them. Lynn hardly blinked at his less than subtle jab.
“He’s not wrong. But honest question, what kind of magic do you do here in your club?” Lynn squinted her eyes at her.
“This is club is for people serious about serious magic, and it’s obvious you’re not. So run along.”
Shelly snorted and slowly starting rolling back her sleeve.
“Look, I don’t know what your beef is with me, but I ain’t…LOOK OUT!” Shelly grabbed Lynn’s shoulders and jerked her down hard to her knees. A football came flying from across the quad and skidded across the Magic Club’s table. The items went scattering about and Lynn shrieked for someone to catch the green orb before it hit the ground. Shelly used Lynn’s shoulders to push herself backwards and caught the orb on her chest. Maybe it had been the impact of her books kind of ramming themselves into the base of her spine or she had misjudged and hit her head slightly on the ground, but she felt a sudden sharp sting through her body. It was like some kind of murky wind has swirled up just in her veins before suddenly and completely leaving in a sharp exhale. Reed propped her up to a sitting position and asked her if she was all right.
“Y-yeah I guess. Brr, it’s gotten pretty cold early this year hasn’t it.” Lynn’s mouth was stuck slightly open even as the two other girls in the club booth were helping her to her feet. She inhaled a long struggled breath and let it out slowly as she ran two fingers down her face trying to exhale her restrained panic. Lynn took the orb from Shelly’s grip.
“Thank you. Though I still think you should look somewhere else.”
“You’re…welcome? Man, you and Alucard have weird ways of expressing gratitude. Step-siblings, right?” Lynn’s eyes seemed to widen slightly, like this was some dark secret she didn’t want public. Judging from the lack of reaction from everyone else, this was a wide known fact.
“If you know what is good for someone like you, stay away from him,” she warned and then took the orb into the back of the tent.
****

There was little else exciting occurring for the rest of the fair. Shelly followed close to Reed as he mentioned the various booths and a brief description about all of them. She had seen the other transfer students mingle about with the clubs and seemed to be fitting in just fine. There were a few disinterested members and they just sat on one of the benches until they could go home. Reed suggested to Shelly she might consider Self Defense a practical investment. After all, superheroes could not be everywhere. There was a certain sharp and disdainful tone the way he said it and Shelly pulled her backpack close to her.
“You seem to know a lot about the clubs around here,” she hastily said to lighten the mood. Reed just casually shrugged.
“You notice stuff being in the background. Well, so he did get the booth set up in time. Hello there Thomas. Hopefully you have not caused property damage this time.”

Thomas’ booth was a simple table with a tri-fold diorama and portable DVD player playing the club skating and crashing into each other on roller skates to some kind of generic sounding rock music. Thomas himself was wearing a skate helmet and other protective gear that was causing very noticeable creases in his uniform.
“Sheesh, ya break one newspaper photographer’s nose ONE time…” Thomas responded in jest.
Reed’s hand unconsciously pressed against his nose and Shelly had to suppress her cooing chortle. Before Thomas could regale on the unfortunate woes of the misadventures of Reed Morgan Altamiri, Shelly began to totter and nearly collapsed into the diorama. Reed informed how Shelly had hurt herself from dodging a stray football. Thomas took Shelly’s arm over his shoulder and escorted her to one of the chairs behind the booth. He offered her water and asked Reed to see if he could get some ice and towels from one of the sports booths.
Shelly was not even sure why she suddenly felt so faint, just now. It was like something had drained her faster than she slurped her apple juice.
Who are you? a condescending voice whispered in her ear. Shelly tried to look about for the source of the voice. However; Thomas insisted she look straight forward while he wrapped ice in a plastic bag and then a towel.
How did you wake me up? the voice questioned this time with even more of a patronizing tone. Shelly passed it off as delusions brought on by concussion, instead focusing on Thomas the nursemaid. When she commented on this, he laughed saying that roller derby was a hobby of his and you tend to pick up on things after your mother stitches you up so many times. Principal Jestro was making his rounds through the fair; and reminding everyone that the fair would close in 15 minutes. He saw Shelly half draped over the folding chair and demanded to know what happened. There was something incoherently heard about school reputation and barely even asking how the staggering student was. Shelly insisted she was fine and she had just tripped before either of the boys could say a word. This seemed to appease the principal and he went on with his roaming announcement that the new students were to comingle at the turn off area. When Samuel had come to pick her up, he asked the usual questions of how her first day went and if she made any friends.

“Yeah, yeah I guess I did.”

[Lovetheangelshadow]

Chapter 4: Frix
Holmes Housing was a sizeable shop just off one of the most traveled main streets of downtown. It was no Home Depot but it had done well enough for itself. Her father had built the place up from scratch, or so Shelly had been told since she was little. Her mother’s version was that he won it in a game of poker. She was more inclined to believe her mother. The van pulled around the back where they had an on-site carpentry and woodcarving area where her father crafted custom furnishings. Right now he had a big order of specialized newel tops for a refurbishing of one of the biggest and oldest hotels in Cadric City: The Dougal Regal Arms. Shelly found her father at his workbench, hair filled with sawdust and oak curls carefully etching scales into the curving tail of the figure. He was oblivious to the back door loudly buzzing when they opened it with the large headphones on his head. Occasionally he paused to mull over a mystery solution. Samuel motioned Shelly to follow towards the front.

There was a small enclosed patio area to the right outside of the store where her father housed the garden section. One area had a raised planter box behind a cage wall. Here Shelly had made a small garden using the pots that they sold as demos to show customers what they might need. Neither her father nor her mother were very good with plants, but it came naturally to their daughter. Their only other employee, a Samuel Flagg, had noticed her talents when she was helping with the flower shop next door with their float for the Founder’s Day parade and suggested it to Arthur. Samuel was not the handsomest person to look at. His hair was almost completely grey and his youthful face was hard and cold. There were noticeable scars around his neck and chin that he tried to cover with a high collar or scarf when he could get away with it. Not to mention his piercing blue eyes sometimes made customers uncomfortable.

Samuel asked if she could check on the plants real quick before doing her homework. As Shelly turned her back to him, he grasped her shoulder.
“Why is there dirt on your back?”
“I...tripped…several times?” Samuel raised an eyebrow and he cleared his throat like a general demanding his soldiers stand attention.
“I promise I didn’t punch anybody…this time. I dodged a football.” Samuel hummed with a slow nod.
“I’m thinking teaching you self-defense might’ve been a mistake.”
“Reed didn’t think so”, Shelly muttered in whispers.
“Reed? New friend of yours?”
“I…maybe? Hey don’t be so darn nosy.”
“Now, now, I’m just looking out for my little sister. Hey, can you check the plants real quick before homework? I’m going to get some stock from the back.” Shelly groaned in a mocking tone, but suited for the task. She donned on her heavy garden gloves and her favorite pair of safety goggles. Her father had given them to her as a Christmas present when he had noticed her fascination with the workshop. She had just finished trying the apron on when she chanced to look up. The sky was a bit grey suggesting more rain that night. Suddenly streaking across the sky she saw a green light and it was speeding directly towards her! Instinctively Shelly grabbed one of the shovels from the rack and swung blindly at the approaching emerald orb. A brilliant light erupted from the blow and engulfed the patio in verdant flame. She heard something shatter and felt shards of cold glass against her bare arms where she had rolled up her shirt sleeves. Something fast and heavy struck her glasses and she reeled back at the impact. Shelly really had to stop falling like this.
She pulled her goggles up and rubbed her eyes with an ungloved hand. When she got her sight back, something was staring right at her. It was not much bigger than your average guinea pig and it was hovering right in her face. There was also a loud buzzing sound coming from it. Her eyesight was still a little hazy and she slammed the droning thing downward with her shovel.
“Must you do that, you barbaric harlot?” the thing screeched. Shelly shook her head until the daze had finally cleared from her vision. The thing stamped its back hooves and whirled right back to her eye level.

It was a curious looking creature. Its head was elongated like a rabbit’s and floppy ears like one. Its eyes were huge and took up most of the sides of its face. The beast’s body was long like a mongoose but it had the legs and antlers of a deer, the tail of a lion, and the forearms of a mantis. Long shimmering dragonfly wings kept it aloft. The whole animal was covered in an insectoid carapace- even its floppy ears bore scales.
“Well, are you going to just stand there or are you going to apologize properly to your…partner?”

“Wait, partner?” The imp rolled its eyes as if this was obviously common knowledge.
“Companion, ally, partner, affiliate, cohort, must I keep this up? You created the bond granting great and glorious power. And here I am your…ugh…guide.” It suddenly grasped Shelly by the hair and jerked up her bangs to completely show her forehead to the thing.
“Hmm no witch’s mark. No spark of magic in your eyes. No charm whatsoever. Nothing! What horrible curse have I been given to? I have been chosen to babysit some nobody? Not even the one actual witch in that pathetic little play group could…” Shelly grabbed the pixie by the ear.
“One: I am standing right here. Two: who and what are you and what’s going on here? And three: what did you do to my glasses?” She pointed to a green glowing shard embedded firmly in the rubbery plastic of her headgear just at the bridge of her nose. The beast howled and tried to jerk the goggles from Shelly’s hands.

“The stone! What have you done with the rest of the stone?”
“Was the stone the flying green thing? Because I hit something with the shovel.” The animal grasped and tugged at its ears and wailed.

“You smashed my power stone?! All of my beautiful talents of the forest and you go and smash it?!” Shelly had put back on her goggles once she got them free from the imp’s grasp.
“Oh I am sooooo sorry. Next time I’ll let a strange flying meteor hit me in the face next time!” Shelly began to feel really frustrated. It was bad enough she kept making an idiot of herself on her first day of school, but now this thing was blaming her for something she was not even sure was her fault to begin with. Something started stirring in her; perhaps frustration, rage, embarrassment. Whatever it was, it was churning up in her body until it suddenly burst out in one concentrated blast. The wooden handle of the shovel in her hand abruptly shattered; sending splinters of hardwood out in all directions and the metal blade clanged loudly on the ground.
Samuel shoved the door open and hollered if she was okay as he had heard her muffled yelling from the far end of the store followed by a loud sharp crack.
Shelly was shaking where she stood. Splinters had gouged themselves into her arms and face; and her bare legs had been cut up as well. She was trying not to cry despite how much it hurt and how rotten her day had been. Samuel had just come up towards the front desk when he had heard the loud crash and called Arthur from the back for him to bring the first aid kit. Shelly didn’t really hear him. Part of her was trying to piece together just what happened and the other was racing how to explain to her parents and Samuel. She hadn’t even bothered to see if the impish thing was still there. Eventually she just went numb as Samuel took her to the back and get help. No one else saw the rodent sized creature hovering in the garden who had finally ceased his squawking.
****
Shelly just stared down at her now blistered legs. Despite the numerous attempts her father and Samuel had asked her what happened, she could not give a straight answer. How could she? She had no idea herself what had happened. Arthur placed a call in to Shelly’s mother, Vivian, seeing if she could get off work early and pick her up. Samuel had offered to take her home, but Arthur made it clear she was not sitting on the back of a motorbike with a skirt. Shelly groaned how it wasn’t fair and Samuel commented she must be feeling better.

They were just leaving when Shelly saw the viridian imp hovering in the doorway. She was about to mentioned its presence, but stopped. Arthur and Samuel walked right through it. Great, she knew she had hit her head on the quad, but Shelly didn’t think it had been that great of a concussion. The entity hovered closer and Shelly just had to poke it to see if the thing was real. The creature was cold and smooth to her touch.
“If you must know, I cannot be seen or be interacted with those who do not have some sort of connection to the magical spectrum.”
“So, in other words, I get to deal a voice in my head and it’s a pompous insectoid chimera.”
The imp tapped the tips of its talons together and the tail curled underneath its legs.

“Yes, my…manners were…unacceptable. Oh believe me, I am still very upset you broke my stone into pieces that seemed to have just vanished save for the one there.” He pointed to the goggles resting on the bench next to her. He grabbed them and tried to shove them back into place.
“What are you…”

“I want to know something for certain.” The sprite fluttered around the room until he found a scrap piece of wood from the trashcan.
“Try to make it shatter.”
“What you want me to do what now?”
“Try to make it shatter. Are you that dull of following orders?” the creature repeated, this time with urgency. Shelly shrugged. Might as well continue to play with her delusions. She strapped the goggles on and stared hard at the piece. She sent mental commands to make it explode, but all it was doing was giving her a migraine from heavy squinting. The beast seemed disappointed and tapped the underside of his chin in hover pacing.

“Think about what happened with that shovel. Right before. What did you feel?” Shelly inhaled deeply as she thought back. She pretended the wood was that Fred guy who was clutching to her keychain. The memory of that incident made her irritated and she directed it all at that wood. There was a faint sound of cracks and pops and then the piece fragmented from the center outward. It was a much smaller explosion than the shovel but it did happen.

“So, it was not a fluke. You possess a power of destruction. And yet you obviously have no ties to the magic order, despite what that painted prima said. Trust me, I’ve heard her make that speech so many times.” Shelly snapped her fingers together.
“That green orb thing I caught. That was you?” The pixie bowed.
“I won’t bore you with my story nor do I think you are worthy of my harrowing history. However, I shall say this. I am now bonded to you and thus you are now blessed with my gifts of the forest. Or what is currently left of it. I am Frix; your guide and familiar. And what handle have they given you?”
“Shelly. Shelly Holmes.” She reached out and shook Frix’s talon. Frix seemed puzzled by the gesture.
“It’s a handshake? You know, like a greeting?”
“I know what a handshake is! I just…I am not accustomed to it, that is all.”
Vivian Holmes had entered the store. She was wearing jeans, a polo shirt, and a navy blue overcoat with the CCBC logo on the back. One shoulder had been worn down smooth and reinforced with a makeshift leather covering.
“Alright, where is the little troublemaker? Shelly Maria Holmes, what did you do to your uniform? Please don’t tell me you got into a fight…again.”
“No, ma’am!” Well it was technically true. She hadn’t used any fists. Vivian smiled and rubbed her daughter’s head like a puppy.
“All right then. Let us get you home and I’ll fix those good as new. We kinda of could only get one in the petite size at the last minute.”

They were driving home and Vivian was chatting away about the latest big crime in Cadric City. Metilla Gorilla, the cyborg gorilla, had returned to Cadric City after almost ten years and had been the first major supervillain the city had in that decade. Songbird had practically chased out or jailed most of them. Any stragglers had been taken care of by the Golden Guardian since his first appearance five years ago. The gorilla had been busy robbing smaller banks but only taking odd amounts. Her boss wanted video of the latest heists.
“And get me pictures of that menace Golden Guardian while you’re at it, Peter”, Vivian mimicked by deepening her voice and making a fake mustache with her hand. It was always good for a laugh. Shelly nearly jumped from her seat because Frix was also laughing in the back. She had to remind herself that her mother could not see or hear Frix.

Their house was a modest home out in the suburbs of town. Shelly had given her uniform to her mother and was now comfortable in a pair of sweats and a hoodie. Frix scuttled about looking at the décor in her room. The walls were plastered with old posters of heroes from both Cadric City and beyond; Songbird, The Silver Lion, Solarix and Luminux…alongside smaller artworks of fictional heroes like Batman and the Fantastic Four. Perfectly catalogued magazines of various heroes lined the shelves. One table hosted a sewing machine and a pile of sketchbooks. Frix perused through them and appeared to be swishing his tail like a clock pendulum.

“Have you ever considered taking on a heroic mantle, yourself, Shelly?” Shelly glanced at an overstuffed binder with ‘Local Heroes’ scribbled in sharpie on the cover. Frix began to circle her and rubbed his scythes in excitement. Something seemed to be brewing in that little carapace of his as his crooked maw forced an unsettling smile.
“Perhaps my dear, this is your chance. Think about it! The city writing stories of your exploits. Posters of your own image. The heroine inspiration of all children.”
“Hold it! First off, I do like for real have superpowers right? Like can I make plant monsters or entrap a villain in vines? Stuff like that.”
Frix harrumphed and pointed how it could have been possible if someone had not smashed his power stone. Alright, Shelly reasoned, lots of heroes start small.
Shelly sat back and toyed with the goggles in her hand. The green shard shone as brilliantly as before. Could she really be a heroine herself? All she could do it seems was make anything wooden go boom if she got mad enough. She thought about the posters on her wall. She doubted she could really be on their level of adoration though. The girl knelt down on the floor and pulled out a cardboard box covered in dusty puffy hero stickers and her name written in glitter with a six year old scrawl. As she opened it, she kept an eye on her room door. Shelly gingerly pulled out a metallic claw that had been roughed up to where it no longer had its sheen. She twisted it and examined it between her hands with dream-like silence. Then she returned it to the box and shoved it back deep under her bed. She got up and shoved her homework off her desk and slammed her sketchbook down. Metilla Gorilla was still on the loose and even the Golden Guardian had failed to stop him completely on his own. Then she halted and hurriedly returned her homework back in its place. Songbird didn’t get by on powers and gadgets alone and neither was she.

[Lovetheangelshadow]

Chapter 5: Trial by Gym
Shelly was not pleased with Frix following her all the way to school. It did not matter if non-magic people could not see or hear him; in this day and age anyone could be an undercover warlock for all she knew. That proved to be an impossible feat as she soon found on the way to school. Frix informed her he was bonded to her for life and he could not stray too far from her even if he wanted to. Shelly did not take him at his word and shoved the imp in her closet as she left the house. The result was she and her mother barely driving two blocks away when Frix rebounded right into the back of her head and she slammed onto the dashboard. Vivian fussed over her and twisted and turned Shelly’s head examining for any trauma. It took a lot of insistent complaining that Shelly was just fine before they continued to school.

The roundabout drop-off was blocked off by two ambulances with their sirens fully shining. One student was being loaded into the back of one while another pair were being looked over the by the EMTs. Shelly saw Thomas near the vehicles talking with one of the first responders. She excused herself from the car saying she saw her friend. Vivian was hesitant to do so.
“I’ll be fine, mom. I promise.”
Thomas had just finished talking to the EMT when he waved to Shelly. Now that Shelly was on the other side of the ambulance doors, she could see what they were doing. One student had deep gashes in their legs like someone had tried to gouge them with a trowel. Another had similar markings on their arm. Shelly felt her stomach churn a little and Frix slowly lowered himself onto her shoulder. She could feel his bony heels shaking against her skin. She asked Thomas what happened. He shook his head and pulled her away from the roundabout.
“I’m not sure. Some seniors were smoking behind the gym when they said they were attacked by some monster thing. It apparently let them go before disappearing. One kid got it good in the head, but they say she’ll be fine in a week or two.”
“And this involved you because…”
“Because it is the only time he can get away with roller skating on the running track before the coach chases him off”, Reed snapped behind them. He glanced over to the side as the other two seniors were escorted into the hospital wagon and following the other one out beyond the walled gates of the school.
“It is getting to where we are not even safe at school. I bet that devil would love this.”
“Come on Reed, we’ve talked about this…” The pair spoke at each other in some kind of best friend secret grumble code as they walked off to homeroom.
Seeing all three of them walk into the same homeroom made her giggle a little. When Frix questioned her amusement, she simply goaded him to go read a comic to find out.
“Are you just going to stand there or will you actually take your seat?” Lynn and Alucard were standing behind her. Alucard just shoved his way past his sister and moved to the backmost seat. Shelly grumbled and took her seat next to Reed. Lynn sat down across the aisle from Shelly. Frix peeked out of the bag and glared at the ruby haired student. Shelly barked under her breath for him to keep his head down.
“Talking to your backpack, are we? How did you even get into this school again?” Lynn derided Shelly. Shelly felt something press against the palm of her hand what was dangling near the open backpack. Her eye glanced down briefly seeing Frix pushing the safety goggles, the ones she could have sworn she had left behind in her desk drawer, into her fingers.
“Go ahead and make all her pencils snap into shreds”, Frix encouraged. “All it takes is one little thought. Shelly’s fingers slowly closed tighter and she could feel that slight sting of power rush through her veins. The first bell rang and the teacher rapped on her desk for order. Shelly dropped the goggles back into the depths of her bag.
“Good morning class. We don’t have much for today except we have a few new students who have transferred here from Cadric City High after an unfortunate accident. I trust all of you to make them feel welcome here.” She pointed out Shelly and a couple others who shared the room. She recognized the girl from orientation who sat on the other side of Lynn.
She addressed them that if they ever needed any help, to come to her. During announcements Frix seemed to keep peeking out of Shelly’s bag and complaining about various things. First he was hungry, and then bored, and finally kept pestering her with questions of when they could actually do something. Shelly was trying to ignore the little pest and kept kicking her bag trying to shut him up.

Shelly had been assigned to the morning exercise period; something she was inherently grateful for. Her last two years at her old school had been in the afternoon where the humidity was thick enough to drink from just by inhaling thanks to the big Cadric River that ran through the city or the winter winds cut at your arms. Thomas and Reed were part of her group as well. She commanded for Frix to wait out on the outside bleachers while she was in the locker room. The familiar huffed insultingly at such an offensive implication, but minded the order. He sat down on the bleachers and waited patiently. A bunch of students were gathering around the field area marked for baseball. One of them, carrying a large sack, was loudly explaining the rules and conditions of the tryouts. That living vampire who had accompanied with the red hair hellion in that homeroom was among the group. Frix had little interest and proceeded to stretch himself out in the morning sun. Suddenly he felt a cold gaze bearing down on him. Someone was fully aware he was there and had their eyes on his presence. It was a cruel and hungry ambient feeling he felt. It was not the harridan. This was something else. It was something between dark and primal; Frix could not figure out which. It was also coming closer to his position. He let out a yell, not that anyone could hear him, and he darted back towards the locker room doors.
The gymnasium doors swing wide open and knocked Frix to the ground. Shelly was the only one who heard him and picked him up asking if he was alright. A few girls began to giggle. After all, all they saw was some side eyed girl in loose sweats picking something invisible off the ground and talking to it.
“S-something is here. It’s...full of hatred.”
“Well Thomas did say this school might be haunted.”
“Bah, you think I’d be afraid of some ghost? This was no specter I can assure you. I know worse.”
“Whatever, look you can sit on my shoulder if you keep quiet.”

After stretches, the teacher had them run laps on the track. Frix began barking for her to run faster even as she gasped for breath harder each time.
“You want to be a hero, you have to be able to move quickly”, was his reasoning. Shelly sneered she was not built to run for long periods of time. Thankfully she was not the slowest person in her class. Reed didn’t run much faster than her. He was even scrawnier in the PE uniform. Shelly moved to keep pace with him and waved.
“Hey, last of the line buddy.” Reed’s stone cold and venomous glare was not the reaction she anticipated. Thomas was the fastest of the class. When he had done his mile run, he staggered back to the stragglers and encouraged them to finish, especially towards Reed. Reed just grumbled for him to shut it.
Their mile trek had just finished and they were allowed a five minute breather underneath the shade of the bleachers.
“We are going to have to improve your running”, Frix commented. Shelly grumbled a sarcastic huff of agreement. The coach blew his whistle, signaling for everyone to come out of the bleachers for the second half of class. He had just grabbed the ball cart when there a loud crash from the baseball area. There was a brief period of silence before the ground began to rumble and grew in intensity; shaking the whole exercise yard. The bleachers began to creak and groan above their heads. The teacher ordered for them to move out towards the open area. Most of the students had gotten out of the way before the wooden supports buckled as the earth churned upward underneath them and tugged the structure down. Some of the students of the baseball class had run over to see what was happening. Most everyone had run to the open area but Reed, Thomas, and a few others were not among them.

Reed had been thrown to the floor and was just barely able to remove his leg from underneath the fallen cross member. The dust around him was thick and was filling up his throat with fine sand. He heard groans off to his side. Squinting through the mist he felt his way towards the noise until he tumbled on the pile of twisted timbers.
“Hey! We’re under here!” Thomas shouted out from underneath the ruble. Several of the beams were tented against one another preventing the heavier beams from crushing the students underneath. There was a slight break where Reed could see Thomas and another male student bracing themselves against the insides keeping it from shifting. Two girls were underneath; and one was half pinned. Reed yelled out to the others for help; only for his voice to be drowned out by the increasing reverberations in the ground. Not exactly thinking, Reed grabbed one of the larger beams from above and tried to shove it over. His twiggy arms quivered and shook; failing to move the timber even an inch. Suddenly a shadow drew from behind him and he felt hot, sticky breath on the back of his neck. Something spiny grabbed his leg and jerked him down into the dirt. The breath was advancing ever closer to Reed’s face as saliva dribbled onto his bare skin.
Suddenly the thing lurched back and released Reed from its grip. He couldn’t see what was going on save for the hazy silhouette of some kind of wriggly beast was flailing about and a red glow tossing back and forth. Shelly had maneuvered closer into the rising storm. Through the goggles Frix had miraculously brought with him Shelly saw what Reed was trying to do.
“Well? Are you just going to stand there and gawk? Do something, harlet!” Frix sneered from her shoulder. Shelly’s nails dug into her palms. A few other students from both her class and the baseball team had made their way to the pile and were trying to clear the debris. Shelly could see though her visor that the structure was losing its strength quickly as the ground continued to shake from the large swaying beast. The monster was the only thing she couldn’t get a visual on or what was keeping it away from the students. Like the storm itself was shielding it. She took deep breaths and clapped the sides of her head to focus. She began to focus her power through the crystal though it still stung through the veins. Frix hovered in front of her.
“Now hold on. We can’t just blast these boards. You’ll hurt someone.”

“Well making it explode seems to be the only thing I can do.” The corners of Frix’s mouth curled upward reminding her of that Grinch smile from the old cartoon.

“Not if you control it. Now, breathe deeply and focus on one board at a time. Just imagine splitting it like a banana peel. You will need to concentrate on this or you will make a wooden bomb. Try the top one.”
Shelly concentrated hard on that single board. She tried to imagine just peeling it, but a loud sound startled her and the board burst like a helium balloon. Some of the students scattered as shrapnel hurled towards them and scratched up their arms.
“Shelly, careful! I said focus! Just try splitting it.” Shelly was gripping her chest as her heart was pounding with the rising tension.
“I…I can’t do this. I might hurt someone!” Frix grabbed her cheeks.
“Listen you, I don’t have time for this nonsense. And since I am stuck with you I…your power is tried to your emotional state. Just focus on the task and just the task. Get it done! Because if you think I am annoying now…” Shelly growled a ‘fine’ and had a go at it once more. The smaller boards were easier to move and they cleared the students out. The thing had also scurried away. Shelly shoved her goggles in the back of her shorts and joined the rest excusing that her leg had been caught in the crash. The released students had been taken out into the open field to examine them and get them to the nurse if needed. Shelly saw Alucard heaving slow fuming breaths and seemed to be focused on the back fence that led out onto the street. His face was twisted into one of annoyance and anger.
“Stupid little insect. I swear I’ll…”
“Um…Alucard?” Shelly inquired.

“WHAT?!” he snapped at her. Shelly was a bit taken aback by his sudden outburst. He seemed to startle himself because he retracted back to his emotionless state in a snap.
“I…just wanted to ask if your arm was alright.” Alucard tugged at the sleeve of his jersey which was now greatly torn and slightly bloodstained.
“It’s just a couple scratches. I’ve had worse. Looks like everyone else is good too.”
The rest of the day went by very uneventfully save for other students asking them questions about what happened that morning. Frix told her they would really need to up on her training and for once Shelly agreed with him.
****
Reed had done his best to hide the stinging pain in his ankle where the thing had grabbed him. He grumbled the entire way when Thomas had to practically drag him to the nurse’s office to get his leg bandaged. The rest of the day he just put up with it. His hands had been roughened by the bleacher’s supports and they were slightly red from the inexplicable wooden explosion. He kept quiet as everyone else was asking the other students what happened and how they were faring, not really asking him. Word was that the incredible Alucard Dougal had kept the beast at bay who seemed just as disinterested in talking about it as anyone was paying any attention to Reed.
The Altamiri Estate was an Italian style villa that his father had commissioned roughly ten years ago. His father, Morgan the 1st, was a self-made man who had built a successful advertisement company that had been nearly driven to the ground by its previous owners. Reed had to suppress his uncomfortable annoyance. The top life brought nothing but misery to him.
Lenora Altamiri was waiting for him at the door. She was a petite woman, only slightly taller than her son, but the resemblance between them was strong with light sandy blonde hair that curled about her shoulders. She was also confined to a wheelchair. Reed did his best to suppress his anger every time he saw it.
“Good afternoon, Reed. How was school?”
“….fine, mom.”
“Dear, why are you limping?”
“I’m not limping.” Lenora pushed her wheelchair in his path as he tried to maneuver out of the way and bent down and grabbed his leg. Even the paralysis in her calves didn’t stop her from knocking him into a chair so she could shove back his trouser leg. She tapped the swollen area under the bandages and wagged a finger at him.

“I may not be active anymore, but I am still a nurse even in my own household. What have I told you about lying to me when you get hurt?”
“I…I’m sorry, mom.” He told her everything that occurred as far as he knew of that morning as she wrapped his ankle in gauze. She seemed quite angry about the thing.
“I will talk to your father about this.”
“Mom, no. It’s fine, really. Dad has bigger things to worry about.” As if on cue, a second car pulled into the driveway. Reed could see from the window his father and older brother exiting the black sedan and chatting away happily. He tried to reason with his mother that it was not anything to really be upset over, but Lenora was having none of it.

Morgan and Marco were both tall men with the same Romanesque features that dominated the family line. Marco was Reed’s older brother by seven years. His dark blonde hair was cut shoulder length and flayed out like a glorious lion’s mane. And unlike his anemic appearing brother, had a lean athletic build. He was striding up the front stairway with absolute confidence. The father, Morgan, was a bigger man whose broad chest and arms just fitted in his suit. Unlike his son, his face was hard and craggy and impressed people the image of some mob enforcer rather than the head of an advertising company.
The door swept open as Morgan was patting Marco on the back and bellowing out big boisterous laughs.
“Lenora, you would not believe today. Marco has outdone himself this time. It took a year, but he finally got that contract from the Kieran Publishing House. His first sale all on his own!” He continued to heap praise onto his eldest son. Lenora clapped her hands and congratulated her son and how she was proud of him. Reed just rolled his eyes and slowly started to make his way up the stairs to his room. He couldn’t suppress his yelp of pain when he put more weight on his ankle than he intended. Lenora gasped and began sputtering apologies as she tried to help her son up.
“Morgan, we need to talk,” she remarked to her husband.
“Mom, really, we do not need to…”
“Reed, why are you limping?” Marco inquired. Morgan rolled his eyes.
“What? Did he sprain his ankle in PE? Really Lenora, you can’t keep…”
“Reed was attacked.” Marco and Morgan raised an eyebrow.
“What do you mean by attack, mom? Bullies? Is some little punk messing with my brother?” Lenora inhaled to contain herself.
“Morgan dearest, Reed was attacked by some kind of monster.”
Marco let out a loud scuff of a laugh. “A monster? In Valdus Academy? You’re joking right? That place is built like a fortress and then some. I know, I wrote my senior thesis on it.”
“And a most excellent thesis it was too”, Morgan added.
“Morgan, Marco, focus!” Morgan began to rub his temple with his hand and shake his head.
“Lenora, now is not a good time. With Metilla on the loose…”
“But what if it was that gorilla that attacked your son?”
“Lenora, he does not…”
“But nothing! Reed is your son too. You can’t just…” Marco grabbed Reed by the shoulder and suggested they get out of the room for the time being. They went into the kitchen and Marco started raiding the fridge for a sandwich. He insisted that Reed tell him exactly what happened while he prepared the sandwiches. When he had finished Marco started reaching for his phone and started looking for a number.

“I know a guy who might be able to help. He can be a bit of a jerk, but he’s good at what he does.”
“Do not bother.”
“Reed…”
“I said do not bother! I do not want your help! Or Dad’s! Or mom worrying about me all the time when she should be worrying about herself! Dad could not even help her when she needed him.” Marco’s hand quivered as he tried to steady himself by focusing on building the sandwiches.
“Reed, dad can’t be everywhere and there is only so much he can do. Don’t you get that?” Reed just tsked. Marco shoved Reed’s hoagie in front of him.
“Well, eat something at least. You get unreasonably grumpy when you’re hungry.” Reed sulked on the barstool but bit the sandwich anyway. Marco knew exactly how to prepare his sandwich and he was not sure if that made him happy or bitter.

[Lovetheangelshadow]

Chapter 6: Black and Gold Guardians
One month later…

Metilla Gorilla had managed to elude his pursuers once more, if only just by a mere stroke of luck. He had just barely stuffed himself through the bars of a maintenance entrance down to the storm drain system. From there, it was only a manner of finding the hidden entrances to the original underground tunnels that sprawled out through Cadric City. There had been long stories of the fabled catacomb systems beneath the city though, much like its catchphrase, were heavily disputed of their purpose. Most of the ancient tunnels had either been blocked by cave-ins or torn down to lay out new sewer systems. If there were any accurate and complete maps of the underground, it was not known even to him.

Cyrus Simmons was rumored to be an eccentric millionaire who never left his home despite his occasional and substantial donations to programs of the arts. Metilla shoved the heavy basement door to get in and forced himself into his large custom chair with a long exasperated groan. Today had been quite a nuisance from that idiot bank teller to being chased out by a rookie heroine. The idea of being bested in any way by a simian infant was embarrassing. Metilla shoved his chair over to the workbench down below and reached for the screwdriver. A few well placed tabs and the crushed stub of his hand popped off. He was impressed the Golden Guardian had been clever enough to do so. With his free hand he turned on the TV for some background noise and sure enough the news was documenting his latest spree at the bank. The reporter though, claimed that it was the Golden Guardian who had chased him off. Well, the news was never accurate anyway. Even so, the Guardian was becoming quite an annoyance. He could see why most villains of any salt had long left even after the Songbird had completely retired from service. Metilla wondered what Songbird was doing with himself these days.

The buzzer rang on the dashboard of his chair and the camera feed activated in the corner of the television. Someone was at the door by the mail slot. He was dressed in the light blue uniform of the postal service, but this was not his usual mailman. The hat was pulled down low and the face was obscured by thick sunglasses. This could be a trick, the gorilla thought. It would not be the first time someone attempted to see the elusive Cyrus Simmons. This mailman spoke into the microphone by the mail slot.

“I have a telegram for Cyrus Simmons. Shall you accept it?” People still used telegrams, Metilla questioned.
“What is the message”, he grunted over the intercom.
“An invitation”, the mail carrier responded casually.
“I request you leave. I have no interest in mingling with the public.” Metilla’s hand hovered over the switch to eject this supposed postal worker off his premises.
“Oh this is a private party…Metilla.” Metilla held his hand as he processed this statement.
“That got your attention, didn’t it?” the man at the door spoke only second later. “You can refuse it if you want. I’ll just slip it right into your little box here…and done. Perhaps we shall meet later, hmm? Buh-bye.” Metilla tried to switch to another camera to get a better look at this strange visitor but he was already gone. He grumbled and flicked another switch to send the letter down below.
It was a cream colored envelope with his name and address written on the front in ink in cursive. The letter was closed with a wax seal with the image of a winged devil inside a ring. Once he opened it, a card fluttered out. The card had been printed on heavy cotton paper with gold edging. Well, at least the visitor had some class. On the front were the words:

“I, the Black Guardian, cordially invite you; Cyrus Simmons aka Metilla Gorilla to tea in the Cadric City underground. The location will be the old Brewery Chamber beneath Ian Street. 9 promptly.” The grape gorilla narrowed his eyes and sniffed the invitation. It smelled both sweet and sour; like a cupcake next to brimstone. He had never even heard of a Black Guardian. Also why just tea?

There were large cavernous “rooms” strewn about the Underground. The Brewery Chamber was called so because it had been once home to an illegal distillery and bar during the prohibition era. It had still operated under the Alamiro mob until little over the decade ago when most of the major tunnels to it had fallen in on themselves during a mutant mole invasion. Now the bar and the rest of the furnishings just sat there crumbling from the dust and damp. Metilla had been able to clear a way thanks to the jackhammer function on his arm and was surprised to find the place well lit. The floor had been painstakingly swept and all furniture that was still intact had been wiped clean. The lanterns were lit and a slow jazz melody was creaking away from the jukebox. There was only one occupant other than himself inside that room.
He was seated cross-legged on a bar stool. He wore a tight black leather pantsuit and high platform shoes. Silver talons hugged around his ribs and shoulders emulating a skeletal pattern. The visitor’s hair was long and curled and waved about like one of those 80’s metal bands. It did not swirl about like the Golden Guardian’s did, but it seemed alive like a nest of wispy twisted black snakes. His host also bore a mask with a pair of long curved horns that obscured the top half of his chalky white face, though the mask did not obscure his icy orange eyes. He also bore a pair of long, shimmering, black wings. He slid off the barstool and glided ever so gracefully to the only table that had a tablecloth on it. He gestured for his guest to sit down with a long fingerless gloved hand.
“I am so glad you came, Mr. Simmons. Otherwise, I had done all this for nothing and that would not have been…very pleasing for me.” As Metilla seated himself he saw that the plates and silverware before him were in perfect and proper arrangement and were even large enough for himself to use.
“Tea? Coffee?” his host offered. “And do help yourself to the tea cakes. Baking is a hobby of mine, you see.” Metilla gingerly picked up a little pink cake and tucked it into his mouth. He hummed at his pleasure.
“As much as I am impressed by your formality and talent for pastries, you did not bring me here for commentary of your baking.” The host grinned as he sipped down an entire cup of coffee in one go.

“I would have not have made as much of a cleaning effort if that was the case. You see, I would like to conduct a business transaction with you or rather your services.” Metilla’s forearm began to hover over the gun barrel.
“I am not some street gunsel you can hire, mister Black Guardian wasn’t it?”
“Black if you want to be informal.”
“Oh how an original name.” Black Guardian laughed with cold bemusement.
“It is an apt title. But you misunderstand me, my good sir. I am offering a trade: a service in exchange for a service.” He offered another biscuit to his guest who politely refused it.

“Just what sort of service would you be offering me, exactly”, Metilla inquired.
“I can get rid of the Golden Guardian.” Metilla laughed and banged the table in his amusement. The idea was preposterous. He had been around the block enough to know it was better on focusing on getting away rather than removing a hero from service in a permeant manner. Not to mention Metilla had seen enough news reports on villains bigger and stronger than this glam-rocked up Bowie wannabe who had trapped, confronted, assaulted, and ultimately lost to the Guardian. Black Guardian did not smile this time.
“You doubt I can? That is fair enough to believe. But I know a few things and I can guarantee his removal.” Metilla asked for proof and Black Guardian waved his probe away stating that even if he told him, Metilla would not have the means to do it himself.
“And why haven’t you done all this yourself, hmm? What is with all this tea and contract business” Black Guardian’s recused his grin and downed another cup of coffee.
“Let us just say I like to make things interesting.” His deal was simple. The Black Guardian would remove Golden Guardian from hero work indefinitely and in exchange he wanted a favor from Metilla Gorilla that he could collect at a later time of his choosing. Furthermore, he would not impose on this favor until Black Guardian had completed his part of the deal.
“Since you doubt my abilities, what do you have to lose?” He placed a contract before the robot simian with the Black Guardian’s signature on the dotted line. So, he liked to do things in a business-like manner, Metilla mused. Metilla Gorilla perused the document carefully before finally signing it. The Black Guardian grinned maliciously.
“Well, I guess I should perform my end of the deal then. But first…would you like some cake to take home?”
****
Shelly’s social science and history class was taking a field trip to the Cadric City Heroes Museum. While the title of the building suggested a broad spectrum, most of the exhibit spaces were occupied by the Golden Guardian’s exploits. There was a half melted statue of the Guardian taken from the fight with Magma Max and a piece of crushed concrete from when Bulldozer Betty and the Sandhogs robbed an armored convoy of forty million dollars before being stopped singlehandedly by the town’s savior. Frix was casually seated on Shelly’s shoulder and hummed at the exhibits. Shelly was trying to keep her backpack from putting any more weight on her shoulder. That fight with Metilla was not something she had been prepared for. She wasn’t the Golden Guardian. She couldn’t shrug off hits like that. A glance to her opposite shoulder where Frix was sitting and noticed he too was massaging the same shoulder-or what passed for it.
“Did you hurt your shoulder too?”
“…not to my recollection. Hmm isn’t your blonde boyfriend wandering away from the group?” Civilian heroes were regulated to the back wall with mostly their pictures and a paragraph, if that, underneath their name and what they did. Shelly had found Reed there by himself who seemed to make an actual effort to not even look at anything Guardian related.

“The Guardian does not deserve the praise he gets. And they just ignore his failures or those he could have helped by didn’t because he was somewhere else.” He didn’t really seem to be talking to anyone and hadn’t even noticed Shelly was standing there.
“Even the best of superheroes can’t be everywhere, Reed. Heck, in issue 47 Songbird… Reed didn’t even turn the slightest to look at her. She wasn’t exactly sure he even heard her words but he kept talking anyway.
“He should prioritize those who are close to him. If I was the Guardian, I’d crush anyone who hurt those I care about.”
“My my my, such shadows within someone so young and pure”, chortled a voice above them.

The Black Guardian was crouched above the glass case like some form of insidious gargoyle. He flapped his massive wings, creating a gust that blew Reed and Shelly back towards the others. Black leapt from his perch and dug his nails into the floor. Shadows rose from around the doors and windows blocking any possible way out. At this point, Shelly was practically expecting Frix to urge her to take action, but he had disappeared. The Black Guardian strode casually towards the others and paused to look at Shelly. He smiled bemusedly at her.
“Now this will be over quickly. I’ve already put in a call to the police so our erstwhile Guardian should be arriving shortly. You are simply a means to get his attention; provided there is nothing else to distract him. In the meantime, just stay where you are and don’t try anything yadda yadda yadda.”
Fifteen minutes had passed and the museum was already surrounded by the police and they were demanding the Black Guardian to release the hostages. The ebony angel drummed his fingers on the armrest of a mechanical chair exhibit completely callous to the activity outside.
“Let us make this a little fun, shall we? Time to count down. Ten…Nine…Eight…Seven…Six…Five…Four…Three…Two…One!” He shot a hand at the ceiling just as the glass dome shattered above him and the Golden Guardian streaked through. Spiraling downward, he thrust a fist across Black Guardian’s face. The onyx spirit twisted out from his chair and bounced across the floor before crashing against the glass window of the gift shop. Black just stood up casually and brushed the glass from his shoulder.
“I hope that was not your best shot, Goldie. Now let us see how fast you can keep up.” He snapped his fingers and the shadows that has entrapped everyone just melted back into the darkness. Black waved and soared through the gap Golden had created like mist up an air shaft and cackled for Gold to chase him.
Black swung through the buildings of downtown, darting this way and that but not enough for Gold to lose him. Black cackled with mocking glee and tossed his shield into the side of a building and slicing the corner clean off. The debris tumbled down below towards the streets where people were exiting the building. Gold curled his wings to make him halt in mid-air and plunge him to the ground. He dug his heels into the ground and clapped his hands with a loud thunderous clash. As he pulled his hands apart-light swirled from the palms of his hands until the formed a protective carapace around the crowd in the path of the flying wreckage. He turned upwards seeing Black just hovering there.
Gold zoomed towards him, now with halberd in his hands. Black cackled in excitement and dove backwards off the roof. He could feel Gold hot on his heels as he sped towards the old districts of the city. They were approaching an old brick manor that had been cordoned off as historical monument. Black made his way down into the cellar and towards the back wall. Shoving the stone wall aside he danced downwards deeper underground until he was back in the Brewery Chamber. He heard the timely flap of his opponent’s wings right behind him. Spinning on his heel, Black summoned forth a shield and deflected the incoming slam. Gold was quick to recover and was already back on his feet. Black snapped his fingers and the entrances sprung forth iron bars trapping them both inside. The Golden Guardian held his weapon firm ready to the next strike while Black tossed his shield from one hand to the other.
“Tell me, Goldilocks, do you know who I am?”
“Can’t say I’ve had the pleasure.” Black chuckled at the response.
“I see. Well then I won’t make this…personal; however, I will be taking your Guardian Ring.” Gold glanced at the ring on his hand. He then noticed there was a ring shaped bulge under Black’s glove as well.
“Do try to make this at least fun”, Black announced.

Black swung his shield forward towards Gold’s head. Gold ducked and jabbed the handle of the halberd right at Black’s solar plexus. With the momentum he forced Black upwards and airborne. As he fell down, Gold rolled over and horse kicked Black across the room. The dusky demon pulled himself from the entanglement of a table. He had to roll forward to avoid a ground strike from Gold. The two pair clashed repeatedly in the cramped space of the chamber; their wings beating frantically to stay aloft in the stale air of the area. The hall reverberated with the sounds as the shield and halberd clashed against one another. Neither weapon could touch the flesh of the other nor disarm their opponent. Black snapped his fingers and summoned forth more orbs of energy. He bounded into the air and fired them downward in a carved arc around Gold. Gold swung the halberd in a wide arc as each orb became absorbed into the blade. One hefty swing and fired all that collected energy forward across the room. Black snapped one wing around him to deflect the oncoming shot. As the magic skirted around him, he snapped his wrist and shot forth a tether formed of magic around Gold’s leg. He snapped the tether with a massive wave and repeatedly slammed Gold into the ground and walls.
With the final slam, Gold jammed the blade of the halberd into a crack on the floor and jerked free of the binding. Black stumbled forward and Gold rebounded by ramming him with his shoulder into the wall. He gave the demon no chance to recover and rammed him repeatedly until he finally collapsed. Gold pinned him down with one foot on one hand and the handle of the halberd holding the other. He didn’t like knowing that Black was still smiling.
“You’re good”, the Black Guardian panted. “I can see why this city adores you. Fighting the mortal threats by day and taking down my monsters at night.” The Golden Guardian pressed down his weight. At mention of monsters, Gold’s halberd dug deeper into the ground and closer to Black’s wrist.
“Oh my, I hit a special nerve, didn’t I?”

“I don’t know who you are, but I won’t let you continue to threaten this city!” The demon choked out a wheezing laugh.
“Well, when it comes to pugilism you win. But I still have one little trick left.” The Black Guardian summoned all his energy in one spot and created one massive blast that threw the Gold Guardian off his body. Black pulled a small ivory box from a pocket in his glove and snapped it open. Something black spilled out over Gold’s shoe. It wriggled slightly and suddenly began to spread up his leg. It bubbled and frothed as it continued to grow and coat the angel’s legs. Gold tore frantically at it only to have gobs of the black ooze slip through his fingers and spread further. Black Guardian pounded the floor and clutched his abdomen as his laugh rose to maniacal levels.
“Well well well, our little angel has some big shadows in his soul, doesn’t he? I wonder what it could be. Heh heh heh, your ring is going to soon reject your corrupted body and pop, it’s all mine.” Golden Guardian frantically tried to fly away even as the ooze spread down his back and swallowed his wings. When the gook had coated his head, he collapsed back down to the ground. The Black Guardian waited a moment as the sludge absorbed into the Guardian’s skin. He was no longer in Guardian form once the muck had finished dissolving. The ring was gone.
Black Guardian latched Gold by his suit lapels and shook him demanding the ring. Gold was still slightly conscious.
“I…sent it away.” He then passed out. Black slammed his unconscious body back on the floor in frustration.
“I should kill you for that, but I foresee some use of you in the future. Besides, I doubt your successor can do anything against me.”
****
Marco and Reed were at the dining room table alone. After the experience at the museum, the school thought it best the students went home for the rest of the day. Marco was tapping on his laptop for the next day’s board presentation while Reed was going his math homework. Marco saw that his brother kept erasing and his pencil was almost a nib the number of times he kept sharpening it.
“Do you want me to help you with that?”
“I can do this on my own”, Reed snapped. Reed’s homework was coated in eraser dust and pencil marks.
“Come on Reed, there is no shame in asking for…” Something bounced on Reed’s worksheet and scattered them across the table. A few tink sounds and the thing settled between two of his worksheets. Reed flipped a paper aside and gasped at what the object was.
“That’s dad’s ring!” Reed grabbed for the ring, but Marco snatched it up.
“Hold on, something isn’t right here.”
“But…if his ring is here, then that means…” Marco grabbed Reed’s reaching hand and gripped it; perhaps a little harsher than he meant to.
“Reed, just wait a minute. I know exactly what is going through that brain of yours. Besides, do you honestly think the ring would even work for you? You, a scrawny little weakling who can’t even do a simple math problem?” Marco’s phone rang to break the silence as Reed just went limp on the table. Marco answered the caller with a few “yes” and “okay” before hanging up. He exhaled with relief and tossed the ring into his shirt pocket.
“That was Dad. He’s a bit beaten up, but fine. I’m going to go get him and I’m putting the ring in the safe until he gets back.” As he walked away, he stopped and sighed.

“Reed…I’m sorry. I didn’t mean…” Reed just glared back at him, rubbing a slightly bruised wrist.
“Just leave me alone and go play hero”, he snarled before burying his head in his textbook. Marco exited the room and twirled the ring between his fingers. Sometimes he wished his father never found the thing in the first place.

[Lovetheangelshadow]

Chapter 7: Rise of the Silver Guardian
It spread quickly. No one was sure how it started, but it reached the masses faster than a plague throughout the city. Maybe it was a tweet or an anonymous blog post somewhere, no one could say for sure. It was simple and to the point: The Golden Guardian was gone. At first half of the people did not believe such a story while others ate it up and posted it to every social media in their roster. The first week of the news, no criminal dared to make a move. Perhaps this was a trick to lure them out. At last someone decided to test his luck. A disgruntled office worker attacked a high rise office building while riding on a mechanical lobster he bought on the internet. The man tore up through the floor and nearly bisected the CEO in half. It was by sheer luck of a quick thinking security guard that had distracted the man long enough for the police to arrest him. It had taken almost an hour to deal with the unhappy fellow and yet no Golden Guardian appeared. Then a few days later a trio of has-been debutantes demanded tribute by holding up a stage opera. They managed to escape with fifty thousand in total. Again, the Golden Guardian made no appearance. The news surged though the criminal underworld. There was a wave both hesitation and excitement. There was only one other hero known in Cadric City, but it was only rumors that he existed at all.

Shelly had to shut off her social media because it was being flooded with panic and speculation about this now rising crime wave. Frix saw an opportunity.
“You could be the city’s new hero! Wouldn’t that be so pleasant?” Shelly closed her phone once she had finished regulating the social media apps to the back page. She rubbed her shoulder and winced a bit. The pain had somewhat subsided over the week, but it still caused some discomfort. She thought about the fight with Metilla. She had barely survived that fight and it was only because of the Guardian that wasn’t sleeping in the hospital.
“The Golden Guardian didn’t have to go to school and I’m going to be late if you don’t get out of my face about it.”
The quad was already buzzing with the news as Shelly’s dad had dropped her off. The conversation continued even as Shelly took her seat in homeroom. She happened to glance across the aisle and noticing Lynn was staring hard at her phone screen. Her eyes were squinted tight and her brow heavily furrowed. There was faint heaving through her nostrils as if she was trying to keep composure together.
“I am amused so see the harridan flustered for once,” Frix commented. Shelly snarled for him to shush and shoved him inside her backpack. She walked over just as Lynn was putting her phone down and staring at the screen. Shelly did her best to avoid peeking a glance at screen and asked if she was okay. Lynn’s eyes were the only thing to turn in her direction.
“Why don’t you go to your seat where you belong?” Lynn snapped. There was a slight cracking noise in her voice like she really did not feel like putting in the extra effort to be her usual high fluting self. Still, she could have put it a little more nicely.
“Well excuuuuuuse me, your majesty. Forgive me for trying to be nice”. She tried to say it as quietly while still having the effect as to not signal the entire classroom. There were some who were starting to turn their eyes towards them. Either that or they were awaiting the latest spat between the two since club day. Sheesh, Shelly thought, it was not like I was dating her brother or anything. There was slight pop in Lynn’s throat.
“I’m fine”, she said in a tone that was both tactless and apologetic at the same time.
“Worried what might happen now that the Golden Guardian isn’t here?”
“Something like that.” Lynn withdrew her attention to her notebook and made a gesture for Shelly to leave. Shelly decided further confrontation was not worth it and returned to her seat.

“Hey did you hear what happened at Cadric State High”, Thomas asked her from her seat behind. Shelly looked back at Thomas who had his Facebook page opened to a photo of a girl who had been scratched on her arms and face. They were almost identical to the one’s Shelly had seen on Alucard and Reed a month ago.
“She is not the only one either”, Thomas continued. He cycled through more photos on her timeline; showing students with similar wounds-some worse than others. Shelly recognized a few of them even though she did not know them personally.
“According to the posts, some giant beast attacked them and then disappeared. But it only went after the students who had come from Cadric City High after the…incident”, Thomas commented. He informed Shelly he had some students outside of Valdus Academy who came to the Roller Derby Club’s out of school meet-ups.
“It’s pretty scary isn’t it? It’s been happening all week.” Suddenly an alarm blared out followed by the loud grinding of gears. Shelly turned her gaze to the window where she saw thick steel gates rise up from the ground and brace themselves against the outer stone wall. Heavy iron gates slammed shut and she thought she heard a myriad of locks clicking in place. She tried to not make an audible ‘what the?’ watching the school transform into a darn fortress. Thomas leaned over in his seat.
“Remember when I said that the founder of this place was a little nuts? That is part of it. The controls are in the principal’s office.”
“And you know this because….?” A girl who was seated next to Thomas had overheard their talk and wrapped her arms around his bicep. “Oh it’s so scary. You’ll protect me, right Thomas?” Thomas flexed his free arm and made a declaration that of course he would. Reed just scoffed as he seated down. There were notable dark circles around his eyes and his normally perfect ponytail was slightly loose and a bit unkempt.
“Woah, what happened to you? Did you get any sleep last night?” Reed gripped the left pocket of his blazer and grumbled just having trouble sleeping.
“You worried about this whole Guardian thing too?” Reed grumbled a “not really” before the second bell rang for everyone needing to be at their seat.
It was the afternoon period and Shelly’s science class was outside in the garden to look at the special insect greenhouse they had on campus. On the way from the upstairs classroom, Shelly noted the afternoon PE classes making their way out onto the field. Frix hovered about and cooed at how warm and comfortable it felt inside. The butterflies just passed through him.

“Oh, what a lovely place this would be in that yard of yours. Just imagine all the butterflies and flowers and nice soil…” This was said as he began to snuggle himself in a pot where a citrus tree was planted in. He was not exactly being subtle in what he wanted, Shelly reflected. Then again, maybe it was something a forest familiar needed. She would have to ask her dad about it.
The assignment was to find and observe the insects on the cards the teacher handed out. Everyone had barely started when they felt a slight rumble. Suddenly there was a loud crash outside by the track. The crash was followed by loud screams and some strange gurgling squeaky bellow. As one does, the science class raced outside to see what was happening.

A mound of earth had risen from the football field and emerging from the dirt was a terrible creature. It was a strange hellish thing that was approximately the size of a large bear when standing at full height. Its body was wide and bulbous at the chest but sleek as it tapered at the waist and then broadened out at the end to form a long hefty fish tail. Its forearms were thick and shovel-like similar to those of a turtle. Thick rabbit legs and feet supported the thing with an awkward swaying gait. The head was somewhat humanoid save for the massive gaping mouth and large pulsing red brain that spilled out from its cranium. Gills flapped furiously along its thick wrinkled neck and thick armor like plates dotted its hairy back. Snapping its toothy mouth it dove back in to the ground again and burrowed its way to circle the panicked students who were trying to escape back into the gym.

The science teacher yelled for her class to get back inside to safety. Other teachers who happened to see the commotion, also were now barricading the doors and windows and frantically calling the police. Those not present were Reed and Shelly. During the pandemonium it was easy for both of them to slip away and no one had noticed. Reed slunk into the boy’s restroom while Shelly grabbed her gym bag from her locker. Shelly wisped into a restroom and hastily outfitted herself in her makeshift costume. Unfortunately she had not yet figured out how to pack enough scrap wood or her hook without anyone noticing.

Shelly moved out towards the quad area where the beast was grabbing each student with its rodent talons and examining each one as if it was picking an assortment of flowers. It got excited when it caught sight of the student she had seen from orientation. The creature hooked one of its shovel-like claws onto her shirt and held her up.
“Cadric High brat pay!” it gurgled.
Shelly had not recognized it the last time when it appeared in a dust storm, but she definitely remembered it now. It was the thing that wrecked her old school.
“Hey! Terrorfin! Time for you to split before I split you!”
“Terrorfin? Really?” Frix groaned.

“You know…Terrorfin…terrapin like the obvious shell and arms it has and-on never mind.” Terror still held the student as it charged towards Splinterbark. The girl rolled to the side and kicked the ball cart into its path. The cart unfortunately hit a bump and veered off course and only struck the heel of the horror. All it did was make it mad. It held the girl over its mouth and was ready to slap its protruding lips about her. Suddenly an orange cord wrapped around the girl’s leg and jerked her out just in time. She bounced a bit on the floor on impact while Splinterbark was trying to drag him out of the way while apologizing the whole time.
Terrorfin craned its bobbing head towards the camo clad girl.
“Cadric High must pay!” it screeched again. It bounded across with its wide rabbitian appendages and pummeled the earth where Splinterbark was. The girl was hoisted in the air by the impact of earth before being smacked in the back by the fishy tail. She spat out some dirt and pushed herself up. The pain in her shoulder spiked and both she and Frix yelped at the sting.
“What are you doing? You had no issue with that ape”, Frix barked.

“This thing is bigger and I had more tools to work with. Also no issue is a matter of opinion.” The thing was fast approaching her while spitting out the same phrase repeatedly. Splinterbark grabbed a piece of pine from her bag and heaved it at its nose. She commanded it to explode and it stunned the beast. It frantically tried to remove the slivers from its nose, but its paws were too broad and clumsy. This only made it even more violent. The brain shaped mass on its head began to hum and illuminate. Suddenly a ruby red bolt pulsed from the giggling mound at its enemy. Splinterbark just barely pushed herself back as it struck a clod of dirt and it fizzled from the head. She began to run cursing her luck as she tried to run and put distance between them. Thankfully the monster could not shoot and run at the same time. Instead it burrowed and cut Splinterbark off. Heaving its weight forward as it emerged, its meaty claws plunged down and caught her between its nails. She couldn’t move and Terrorfin was now increasing the pressure to pop her like a grape.
****
Reed held the ring in his palm. He had waited practically half the night for his brother to finally fall asleep and seize his chance to snatch the ring. His heart had been jumping frantically ever since he had taken it. He had meant to try using it all night, but his fears kept holding him back. What if it didn’t work? How was he going to explain to his father if he got caught? His brother’s words the week before ran through his mind repeatedly. Maybe a scrawny whelp like him was far from worthy. Reed shook his head. He had to do something now. He thought of how Thomas and the others were trapped once before and how he could not save them. He had the perfect opportunity now. And if it did work, he was going to do what his father should have done and make a certain devil pay. But right now, his classmates needed him.
The ring was loose on his tinny finger and he had to make a fist just to keep it on. Recalling words he had heard before many times and was never meant to hear, he shoved his fist in the air and called out,

“By the ring on my hand, grant me the guardian form!” He had cringed preparing for what should have happened. Nothing. There was no magic, no fanfare, absolutely nothing. Maybe his brother had been right. He heard a terrible scream from outside. He heaved himself up to glance out the window and saw a girl with a pink helmet and camo outfit being pummeled by the giant abomination. He dropped to the floor; grasping at his bangs trying to figure out what to do. He couldn’t go out there. He wasn’t strong enough against something like that. Another scream from the girl caught his attention. She was in between the talons of the monstrosity and no one was coming to help her.
“Fine!” he barked at the ring. “Your aid or not, I have got to help her.” The ring faintly glowed and suddenly shrunk to fit his finger almost feeling like it was aiming to crush it in half. As the band illuminated brighter, the luminesce began to travel through his skin and up his arm. Reed was starting to panic a bit as a surge of energy pulsated though his form and chest nearly exploded as heart made a loud crushing thump. His heart continued to beat faster causing his whole body to start shivering and sweating at the same time. Reed could feel some sort of energetic force swelling against flesh. He collapsed to the floor as he could feel his bones cracking and stretching. He tried to scream as his whole body as engulfed in agonizing pain but he felt like his throat had swollen shut. Through his suffering he wasn’t even aware of his irritated form growing in size or a large hunch on his back expanding outwards before it finally burst.

The light had faded and he pushed himself from the floor. His head was still spinning and everything in the room seemed a bit smaller for some reason. He now felt the sudden weight on his back and he stumbled against a stall. A large silver wing flapped him in the face when he tried to steady himself back up. He had wings? He turned and sure enough, there he boasted a pair of silver sparrow like wings that glistened even in the florescent lighting of the bathroom. As he tugged on one to make sure it was real, he saw his hands were larger and his arms now packed with muscle.

“It…worked? My voice! What is wrong with my voice?” He staggered towards one of the mirrors over the sink and almost shrieked at the reflection staring back at him. It was not exactly his face anymore. It was older and sharper. His flaxen hair was paler than before and the coif and ponytail had grown exponentially into long floating strands that reached his lower back. His uniform was also gone. It had been replaced by white pants and silver boots decorated on the side with silver swirls. His blazer had transformed into a white double breasted rider jacket with metal shoulder guards and greaves around his wrists. He wore no shirt underneath and it exposed his now washboard chest and abdomen.
“I…I did it? Ha ha ha I did it! It actually worked! In your face, Marco!” A loud crash outside reminded him this was no time to be adoring himself in a bathroom mirror. Someone needed saving.
Splinterbark dug her fingers into the turf as Terrorfin continued to apply pressure. Any minute now her spine was going to snap and that would be the end of it. Frix was desperately knocking his little body against the beast, but a guinea pig sized forest sprite was not exactly going to take down a colossal amalgamation of science animals. A curious sound began to fill the air. It sounded like the rapid beating of large wings against the air, but then twisted into a whistling cacophony as something white collided with the monster. Both beast and white blur tumbled across the football stadium until the white shape crashed into the goal post and the creature continued until it got tangled in the bleachers. The white blur was a silver winged angel who was stretching out his wings and rubbing his head from the impact.

Splinterbark and Frix caught up to the angel and offered to help him up. When he grabbed her hand, though she winced as he nearly crushed it in his grip.
“Sorry! Sorry, right super strength. Got to remember that.” Terrorfin rose up from the metal cage of the seats and galloped towards the pair.
“Hi, I’m Splinterbark and MOVE!” The two dove to the opposite side; just barely missing being trampled upon by mismatched feet. Terrorfin grumbled and burrowed back into the ground. There was no sign above ground for them to see, but they could hear low rumblings under their feet. On some kind of instinct, the angel reached for his hips and his hands grasped the handles of a pair of blunderbuss pistols in holsters.
“Huh, well I thought I was going to have an axe like…”

“Like what? Come to think of it, you do look like the Guardian.” The rumble increased beneath their feet and the earth started to upturn. The angel grabbed Splinterbark in his big arms, being much more mindful this time and just managed to carry her out of the way of a giant flapping mouth attempting to swallow them both.
“Thanks for the save, Silver.” The angel tilted his head.
“Your outfit and wings, obviously. And it’s clear you are not our lord and savior Golden Guardian.” The angel mused. Well it was a name, even if a downgrade from gold.

The beast seemed to have lost interest in them and was heading for the school doors still cussing out its single sentence of Cadric High must pay. It crashed headfirst into the gymnasium doors where most of the Phys Ed students had holed up. It tried to reach for a girl who had tripped trying to run and was just stopped. Silver held firm its tail and was dragging it outside. The beast snared and dug its fore claws into the wooden floor. Splinterbark slid under its stomach and got the girl out of the way. She tried to focus solely underneath the monster. If she could break the floor just enough, they could get it back into the open. A scream from the crowd, not helped that it echoed inside the large space, distracted her and instead she caused the molding around the doors where Silver was to shatter around him.

Silver let go to shield himself out of sheer instinct not realizing that the shards just harmlessly bounced off his skin. The sudden release jerked the monster forward and it collided with Splinterbark. She skidded across the sleek floor and forced into the hallway. Seeing a way out the creature now scrambled towards the hall hoping to continue its single minded hunt. Silver drew out one of his firearms and fired two shots aiming for the monster’s feet. Both shots nearly caught Splinterbark; once near the shoulder and another by the leg.
“Hey! Some of us aren’t invulnerable!”

Terrorfin was forcing itself through the hall towards a row of classrooms. Some students, who had been curious as to what was happening, had wandered into the hall and were now in the path of the monster. Splinterbark hurled a tether and managed to hook the tail. Feeling the pressure on its appendage, it began to swing its tail wildly trying to shake it off. Splinterbark was barely holding on and was rammed repeatedly into the walls. She finally managed to maneuver her weight with the next thrust and swing around one of the pillars and hook the tether tightly. She could barely hold on and the strap was starting to cut into her wrists. The creature slashed at the walls and hurled debris towards the pupils and barricading them in. Then it latched its claws into the roof and pull down a section to smash upon the students. They were just saved by Silver catching the heavy panel and was holding it in place. Terrorfin thrust its weight onto the slab determined to turn the kids into pulp. The only thing keeping it from applying full force was Splinterbark holding its tail. Her feet were starting to slip against the column as the monster was continuing to pull forward. It didn’t help her bruised shoulder was screaming in pain.

“A little help here, Silver!”
“I’m kind of busy at the moment”, Silver grunted back as the slab reaching ever closer to the crowd. Silver’s boots were slipping on the slick tile floor and he was losing ground fast. Some students were standing around filming with their smartphones.
“Seriously people?! Move!” The slab was starting to crack around his palms and soon the beast was going to crash into him and the students.

Then there was loud shrill and a boom. Two shots were fired from behind Splinterbark and hit Terrorfin squarely in the back. The monster screeched in pain as dark colored lightning sparked and arced all around its body; sending it into frenzied spasms before it finally collapsed on the floor. The two approached it slowly and poked it. The thing was motionless but alive. Students were now gasping and chattering excitedly and immediately started taking photos and video and uploading to the internet.
The sounds of police sirens could be heard outside. Splinterbark suggested they get out of there before they got into the building. Silver hesitated as people were now approaching the pair with both questions and adoration. No, he thought, he had to do better than this. He scooped up Splinterbark and whipped her outside.
They stopped on one of the old guard towers. The police had to wait for the gate to be opened in order to get inside.
“Well, that wasn’t too bad.”
“But who fired those shots?” Silver mused. Splinterbark glanced over at Frix. The spirit shrugged saying he had been focusing on the monster the whole time.

“Whoever it was, we owe them for stopping that monster, because we certainly didn’t.” Splinterbark laughed and slapped him on the back.

“What are you going on about? If it weren’t for us, a lot of people would have gotten hurt and…”

“And people almost did. For the love of…I almost shot you!”

“And I made a door explode in your face. We’re even.” Silver grabbed her arms and she winced.
“Right, I keep forgetting. Maybe we’ll see each other again?”
“Uh…sure.” Splinterbark gasped. Silver leapt down and disappeared through a window underneath.

Reed had transformed back to his scrawny self and was emerging from the restroom. Thomas ran over from down the hall and gripped the boy in his arms and squeezed tightly.
“There you are Reed! I was looking all over for you!” Reed gasped for air and had almost forgotten he was not invincible in this body. He wheezed for Thomas to stop. As he heaved for air, Thomas excitedly told him how this monster came out of nowhere and then a silver angel and a girl in a pink helmet appeared and saved the say. He even sheepishly admitted he snuck a quick selfie with the angel’s back to him.
“I heard the girl call the angel Silver. I don’t know the girl’s name.”
“Splinterbark”, Reed answered flatly.
“How…how did you find that out?” Reed’s face flushed realizing his mistake.
“I heard it while I was hiding in the restroom”, was his answer. Thomas seemed to fully accept the answer as he clapped Reed’s shoulder and sighed greatly.
“Silver and Splinterbark. You think they’re going to fill the gap left by Golden Guardian?” I’ll be far better than the Golden Guardian, Reed thought to himself.
“I…do not really know. We shall see…I guess”, was his outward response.

[Lovetheangelshadow]

Chapter 8: Master Blackbird
The news crew did not take long to get to the school. They had just arrived as the police had strapped down the still form of Terrorfin onto a stretcher and heaving it into a containment unit from LeBatte Industries. CCTV was the first to arrive on the scene. Vivian Holmes was among the crew. She had not exactly placed getting the scoop utmost her priority and was frantically calling for her daughter. Shelly was just leaving the locker rooms where she had hastily changed back into her uniform. She just managed to pull back on her blazer when she had heard her mother calling in the hallway. When Vivian saw her, she embraced her daughter tightly sending a bit of pain though Shelly’s newly acquired bruises. Vivian was not oblivious to Shelly’s pain and she let go and began to examine her; asking her rapid questions of where she was hurt and what happened.
Shelly replied how she had gotten caught by the monster and tossed aside when the silver-winged angel appeared. She was not entirely lying and it seemed to convince her mother.

“Holmes! Get over here! We go live in five!” The reporter Vivian was paired with was impatiently tapping her mike on her shoulder. Vivian excused herself from her daughter and heaved her camera on her shoulder.
Only a handful of students were interviewed. One of them just happened to be Alucard. Shelly, like some others, stayed to watch out of curiosity. Actually she was surprised to see him out in the quad anyway. As far as Shelly remembered, Alucard was the only one who was still in the greenhouse when everyone else had gone out to see the crash. Or maybe it was because a pallid faced, tall, dark, and mysterious teenager just stood out in the crowd.
The reporter’s first question, surprisingly was asking if Alucard remembered her and then went on chatting about some interview they had last year with him. Shelly vaguely remembered her mother once talking about an interview with a middle school genius some years back who had won the inter-city trivia competition. Alucard smiled pleasantly and chimed that he did recall the interview and this made the reporter happy. His voice was about as enthusiastic as a golf announcer. Someone barked into her earpiece and she went back on track.

“Do you think this monster is a sign of further trouble to come now that the Golden Guardian is missing?”
“It is probable but…”
“But two possible new heroes seem to have appeared to take his place. Do you think are cut to fit the role our great hero has left behind?” Alucard seemed to pause.
“I suppose so.”
“Indeed. After all, from the videos it looks like they did more damage than the monster. This Silver Guardian better step up his game if he thinks he’s going to be Cadric City’s savior from here on out.” The reporter seemed oblivious to the slight twitch in Alucard’s plastered smile. Suddenly there was a small poof of brownish powder that appeared over her nose and the reporter started sneezing. She signaled for them to cut the camera feed and they would resume after the break. Shelly slipped the goggles back into her bag. No one had noticed that she held them in her hand and she had tossed a small piece of redwood chipping in the direction of the reporter. Alucard had taken the chance to walk away, though Shelly could have sworn he was smiling in her direction.
The following week was filled with more sightings of the Silver Guardian. Some just saw him patrolling in the late afternoons while actual public criminal encounters were few and far between. There was not anything that stood out like supervillain battles or the like. It was mostly ordinary people who decided to test their luck. The Guardian was able to stop them although just barely. Splinterbark also made a few appearances here and there wherever Silver was. It seemed to be when the two were together, they performed better than solo; if only slightly. The Silver Guardian also appeared to be seen traversing the skies at night alone as well. Why no one knew as he did not seem to do anything but just fly around. Some claimed they thought he was searching for something, or someone.
Public opinion was turning from hope to uneasiness. It was clear these were amateurs trying to fill the shoes of what the citizens of Cadric City revered almost like a god. Also there were concerns that this might encourage other people to take up cape. The media was not helping much either with repeated coverage of the near failures of the duo.

Shelly could not avoid the headlines. Granted, most of them were about the Silver Guardian and Splinterbark was typically just a footnote in the article. Still people were eating it up and agreeing these so-called heroes were making things worse. She had even happened on a conversations between students having debates on whether or not their new heroes were making the situation better or worse. Either way, no one seemed impressed by the “girl hero” as they put it like it was some kind of derogatory term.
She was seated by herself as usual on the far end of Alucard’s table when both Thomas and Reed approached her seat. Apparently neither of them were interested in hearing any more complaints about the new duo. Alucard hadn’t come to the back table as yet, so she thought it would be okay.
“Citizens can be real jerks sometimes”, Thomas chimed in. “They are at least trying to do good. You can’t exactly be a Bat Man overnight.”
“The original Guardian was so perfect so naturally they expect this copy to be as well”, Reed mused with a rather harsh growling tone Shelly didn’t know he was capable of.
“Well I dunno. I think the Silver one is more handsome”, Shelly grinned.
“Ah you and me can agree there”, Thomas chirped and the two fist-bumped. Reed turned up his collar to hide his embarrassment. He tried changing the outfit to something more modest, but all it resulted was giving him a migraine in overthinking. Still, he thought, the ring did activate for him and no longer accepted his father for an unknown reason. Anything to one-up his big brother was a plus in his eyes.
Shelly saw that Alucard was approaching the table and made an expression other than cold bemusement. He seemed to be more confused that Reed and Thomas where there more than anything. Shelly expected him to sneer at them at why they were here.
“If you are going to blather on about the Silver Guardian, please take it somewhere else”, he hissed before taking his tray to the far end of the table where he usually sat.

“Well maybe if a certain so-called genius hadn’t harked on how incompetent…” Reed started to grouse.
“Reed, that wasn’t Alucard. The reporter said that”, Shelly interjected. Reed slowly sat back down and apologized.
“Do you want my honest opinion”, Alucard asked them. The question had a strange tone to it. He seemed uneasy to ask. Shelly told him he was allowed.
“They need training”, Alucard said flatly. “It was stupid of them go present themselves if they have no idea what they are doing.” Shelly rubbed the back of her neck and chuckled nervously. Reed wanted to rise from his seat again to argue with him once more. Thomas grasped his shoulder and shook his head mouthing that was not worth it.
“True. Too bad the Songbird retired five years ago. He’d whip them into shape”, Shelly interjected, trying to deescalate the situation.
“Who?” the boys asked. Shelly rolled her eyes and pointed to the logo painted on her backpack. Then she opened up her phone and pulled up Google images. On the screen there was what appeared to be am anthropomorphic mechanical owl. Some of the images were older and appeared to be scans of photos and older comic books.

“Songbird…” Shelly began.
“…was a big time hero back in the 60’s. His mechanical suit had propelling rockets, grapple gauntlets, and fired metal feather shaped projectiles with incredible accuracy. Some variants had a shield and sword or were more inclined for high altitudes. He practically single handedly dealt with the massive crime waves Cadric City used to be plagued with. Unfortunately he lost his arm in a big fight with Grand Gorilla back in ’87.”
“89”, someone coughed behind her.
“Oh right. 87 was when he lost almost half of his face in the Big Fire. I always get those two dates mixed up. Anyway, stories go he went to become a trainer for young heroes like the Celestial Calvary and the Arachnida. At least, until seven years ago. Then he just up and vanished.” The boys blinked at her, stunned at her excited chattering. Shelly tilted her head at their response.
“What? I thought it was apparent I was a superhero nerd.”
****
Both Reed and Shelly came home to a bit of a surprise beginning of the following week. When they got home, they both were greeted by irate parents. The Holmes and Altamiri family had received letters from the school and the messages were not pleasant.
“Michelle Marie Holmes, would you care to explain why you have been fighting in school…again?” Shelly blinked at her mother. Neither of them rarely ever used her full name, let alone the full version of her first name in years.
“I have not been in any fights”, Shelly answered. A half-truth sure, but she hadn’t gotten into any fights in school. Vivian grabbed her arm and pulled back the blazer sleeves to show bruises around Shelly’s knuckles and palms as one gets when you are being slapped around by a giant fish tail.

“It’s from PE. I was careless and played a bit too roughly.” Bad mistake on her part and she knew it the moment she spoke. She had flapped it rapidly and it seemed too ridiculous even for her. Samuel; in a manner he typically saved for troublesome customers, took her excuse apart with cold precision. He taught her how to fight for self-defense-not punch the daylights out anyone who irritated her.

Reed had a different sort of problem. Apparently his grades were below average and he was missing classes. Reed protested this. He was not the prodigal son of the Altamiri family, but as far as he knew his grades were at least an 80% average. Granted, the missing classes was true. It wasn’t like the underworld kept after-school hours. Morgan showed him the attached report card. It was mostly D’s and there were tardy or absence notes. Reed once again disputed that there had to be some sort of mistake. Morgan grasped his son’s wrist and jerked downward so Reed was almost on his knees.

“Don’t lie to me you miserable worthless little punk! You think I am going to let you get away with that kind of excuse?” Marco pushed his father back and yelled at him to stop. This seemed to snap Morgan out of whatever dark mood he had been expression. He let go and staggered back like he was coming out of some kind of fog. Reed was holding his quivering hand and wasn’t exactly there either. He felt something odd when his father snapped at him. It was cold and left an unsettling sensation under his skin. This was not the first time Morgan berated him and yet not once had he felt this strange sensation before.
By coincidence, the letter suggested that the pair see a counselor and an appointment had been scheduled for each of them. Both students hoped that they could clear this up and avoid being grounded. Shelly saw Lynn talking with a group of girls in the quad.
“Hey, red head harridan!” Shelly stormed over and jabbed a finger against Lynn’s chest. Lynn raised an eyebrow and dusted the spot where Shelly had touched her.
“And what is your problem, knave?”
“Look, I get it, you don’t like me and I don’t care. But framing me for something I didn’t do is low.” The other two girls were about to speak up but Lynn snapped her fingers for them to stay back.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Shelly held up the school letter and shook it in her enemy’s face.
“I haven’t gotten into any school fights.”
“And you think I had something to do with it? Oh ho how adorable. If I really wanted to make things miserable for you, I’d be a bit more creative than send a runty little chihuahua to obedience school.” Shelly started roll up her sleeve.
“H about I make it for real?”
“Hey, Shelly! How ya doing? It’s getting chilly out isn’t it? We might get an early winter.” Thomas had grabbed her by the shoulders and led her away. Shelly tried to slip from his grip and was stomping over again. Thomas side-stepped in her path and swiftly directed her marching in the other direction. His hand gripped her arm; tighter this time.
“Don’t do something you’re going to regret. She’s not someone you want to cross.” Shelly swallowed her anger and grumbled a fine. The offices were held towards the back of the school in what was formally a bunkhouse when it was used by the National Guard. It was an impressive fortified structure with its own iron gate and small guard towers. At one time it originally also held the teacher’s lounge and mail office, but teachers complained about the time it wasted walking between the bunkhouse and main building. So almost all the offices had been resituated to the main castle-like structure of the school. The only offices left behind there were the principal’s and vice principal’s offices and the guidance counselor’s office.

Frix grumbled the entire trek to the building; saying how it was unfair and that they should not be punished in such a manner for the good they were going for this city. Shelly just grunted and nodded her head a few times. Granted she spent more time being the distraction for Silver to come in and somehow save the day; and he was the nigh invulnerable one. They approached the door on the appointed hour. Painted on the glass were the words, “Michael Blackbird: Guidance Offices.” This, Shelly found odd since every other teacher’s office she had seen on the initial tour had a slot to fit a name plaque. The painted letters also seem to have faded a little too.
“Shelly” What are you doing here?” Reed had arrived there at the same time. Like her, he was holding a letter.
“I’m here because the school said I was getting into fights. You?”
“I am here due to a grading error”, he huffed. Both of them glanced at the door and then at each other. Then they compared letters. Sure enough both were stamped with the same date and time.

“Aren’t counseling sessions usually like private and stuff”, Shelly questioned.
“I believe that is how it is supposed to be.” Then he stopped and stared at Shelly, particularly her shoulder.
“Um, Shelly, what is that on your…”
“Are you two just going to stand out there or are you coming in?” barked a gruff voice from inside the office.
Michael Blackbird’s office was a grand space that was quite sizeable for a mere counseling office. Glass cabinets filled with stuffed birds lined the lower half of the walls and the upper half were shelves stuffed to the brim with books of every size and binding. The desk was a massive oaken piece of furniture ornately carved with birds as well. Sitting in a wing backed chair was the counselor himself, Michael Blackbird.
Mr. Blackbird was an older gentleman roughly in his late 60’s early 70’s. His gaunt and wiry figure barely just fitted the chair he was seated in. His face was rough with a broken nose, a slightly twisted lip, and an eyepatch over his right eye. Jet black feathery strands of hair strung about his shoulders and seemed to rest about his neck like a scraggly lion’s mane. His hooked nose and white mustache gave him a liking to a screech owl. Blackbird was leaning forward on the desk on one good arm. The other was a stump that ended just before the elbow.
“Sit down”, he croaked but in a welcoming tone. Reed and Shelly uneasily seated themselves in the two chairs on the opposite side of the desk. Frix hid himself in Shelly’s bag. Something about this man worried him. Mr. Blackbird rose from his seat. Despite his age and somewhat slim frame there seemed to be a reserve of hidden strength about him as he towered above the two students.
“Well well well, you two are in quite a mess. And if you continue down this way, things will only get worse. We certainly cannot have that, now can we?”
“Mr. Blackbird sir, about my grades I…” Blackbird suddenly burst out laughing and it was a terrible laugh to hear. It screeched and cracked and wheezed like he really was a screech owl taken humanoid form. Reed’s fair face bled red and he sunk in his hair hoping it would swallow him up.

“Oh right, I did write that didn’t I? Very unsporting of me I know, but expedience is imperative right now, is it not? You two are very naughty children and it is up to me to fix that problem. Follow me and do not dawdle.”
He tapped one of the bookshelves with the back of his knuckles until they heard a chime. The bookcase sunk into the wall and then slid to the left. Blackbird spirited down the stairs with Shelly and Reed staying behind.
“You’re not intending to follow a frankly creepy old man down dark cellar stairs, are you”, Shelly asked Reed. Reed just responded with a quick shake of the head. The pair were slowly backing away towards the door when something snapped underneath them and they plunged into darkness. The two slid and tumbled down a twisted slick pipe before finally crashing on the floor. Blackbird turned around in his swivel chair and drummed his fingers on the armrest.
“How nice of you to ‘drop’ in? Eh?” He once again wheezed that screeching chortle while the two were untangling themselves. Reed helped Shelly to her feet and asked if she was alright.
“I think you stabbed me between the ribs with your elbow” she grunted back. The space there were in was dimly lit save for the singular spotlight where Blackbird was sitting. Behind him were several monitors lining a white curved desk that was covered with various switches, buttons, and levers. The way that the light seemed to be swallowed in the far corners suggesting that the room they were in was much bigger than they could see.

“Now then, what shall we do with your neophyte behavior, Silver Guardian and Splinterbark?”
Neither seen tried to react. Shelly erupted in a big uproarious laughter.
“Really? Him as Silver Guardian? No offense Reed but…well…” She gestured a figure in the air that had considerably more bulk than he did. Reed shot a cold glare at her even if it was technically the truth. Still, he couldn’t stop glancing at Shelly’s bag. He could have sworn he had seen a peculiar green creature on her shoulder earlier.
“You deny it then?” Blackbird remarked. The two nodded and the corners of his thin beaky mouth turned into a conniving grin. “I wonder how long that will last.” He pressed the palm of his hand on a blue panel of the console and the room was filled with the sound of low grinding of gears and hissing puffs of steam. Frix leapt out the bag and jerked Shelly’s head down just as she felt a whoosh of air grace the back of her neck. There was a loud creaking groan from behind as Shelly saw two pairs of lights when she glanced underneath her armpit. It was a sizeable clunky looking robot-like the kind you’d see in those old science fiction pulp magazines. She had little time to marvel at it as the metallic beast’s spherical fist was coiling backwards for another pummel. Shelly rolled forward and just barely managed to skirt underneath the appendage. She had just barely managed to grab her gym bag that had her whole outfit inside save for her cant hook. But there was a cheap wooden baseball bat inside and it might just be enough.
The robot had managed to maneuver its foot onto the gym bag’s shoulder strap and jerk it out of Shelly’s hand. Shelly stumbled forward and the robot was about to exercise a sweeping uppercut from the side. Reed leapt between the two and took the full impact of the blow. The two collided against the wall with Reed ending up the shield that cushioned Shelly against the wall. He slid down and landed on the floor in a quite audible sickening thud. He groaned and clutched his side. His eyes glanced upon his ring. He could end all this in one blow. Silver Guardian could knock that tin can into pieces with one strike. His sights happened to turn to Mr. Blackbird who was still sitting there grinning. Reed forced himself up despite his chest heaving against his now bruised ribs.
Shelly was also looking at the instructor. Blackbird still had his hand on the blue panel save for slight twitching his fingers along the surface. She quickly asked Reed if he could still move. When he nodded she told him to grab her gym back and toss it to her when she yelled for it. Shelly ran directly at the robot and tried to grasp her tiny arms around its meaty hands. Her small arms slipped on the metallic surface and she swung around the back and tumbled behind the robot. The robot had turned its torso to follow her. With its back to him, Reed was able to snatch the bag which was surprisingly heavy for a mere high school bag. Shelly skidded to the side and yelled for it. Reed clumsily tossed it along the ground just barely out of Shelly’s hand. She ducked to catch the strap and started spinning it like an iron ball on a chain. She was facing against the robot as her bag was at its full speed. Suddenly she turned on her heel and swung the bag directly at Blackbird. The consoler had slid his office chair just out of the way and the bag just overshot the blue panel. Reed staggered between Blackbird and the console now that he had the chance for his second wind. The robot was frozen in its place.
Blackbird seemed surprised at first and then laughed. He clapped his good hand against the stump of his other.

“Well done, well done”, he praised as he approached Reed and patted him on the shoulder.
“You are a very clever girl, young Shelly. Brash, but clever. And you, Reed, you have a strong desire to protect despite your…obvious weakness. Those are good qualities to have.” He gently shoved Reed aside and tapped in a few keys onto the control panel. The robot returned to its cubbyhole and various videos appeared on the multiple monitors before them. A couple were of Reed disappearing into the bathroom and Silver Guardian emerging. Another was Shelly sneaking into the locker rooms before coming out in full gear.
“You…you’ve got spy cameras thru ought the school?! Ew ew ew!” Shelly cried out and mechanically covered her chest in response. Blackbird wheezed out that screech laugh again.
“I have better things to do with my time then look at little boys and girls in…compromising positions. Also, do you think you’re the only supers to have come through this academy?” There was a long pause as they all exchanged glances at each other.
“Now, why don’t you show me your other selves? Splinterbark, you can just show the helmet or would you prefer a changing room?” Reed thumbed his ring uneasily. He took a few steps back and shoved his fist in the air and shouted the commanding words. There was simply a flash of light and where Reed had previously stood was the Silver Guardian. Shelly blinked and tilted her head with a disappointed sigh.
“That’s all there is to it, huh?”
“And just what is that supposed to mean?” Shelly snapped forth the open palms with her hands like it was obvious.
“Dude, you look like that and you don’t do like some fancy transformation dance or something?” Shelly paused and then grinned playfully.
“Hey, do it again but then time but yell ‘I have the power’ in a big echoing voice!”
“I will not! And why would I do something so juvenile?”
“All come on! Just once? Pretty please?” Blackbird coughed loudly forcing both to snap at attention.
“I also need to show you something.” Blackbird quickly typed a few keys on the console and the screens changed to the headlines that had been circulating of late. While there were a few hopeful passages, most were scratching criticisms of the pair’s performances.
“This”, Blackbird began as he pointed to the screens behind him with his thumb. “This needs to change. You little twerps cannot go on in this fashion for both your sakes and the sake of this city. You two were idiots to go out publicly without some notion of what you’re doing. Then again, that seems to be the creeping trend.”

Silver clenched his fists and headed back to the stairs telling quite blatantly he was leaving. Shelly slid between him and the door and held her hands in front of her. This was something of an amusing sight as the Silver Guardian was of a significantly greater height than herself.
“Woah there, pretty boy. He kinda does have a point.”
“Seriously? We don’t even know this guy and I am not putting up his insults. If I wanted that I could just tell my parents about this. How can you even trust him?” Shelly raised up a finger to counter him and then paused. She really did not have any sound reason at the moment.
“Well he does know our secret identities. We might want to hear him out fully.” Frix huffed and slid over to Silver’s shoulder.
“I am with the shirtless seraph here. We are doing just fine on our own.”
“YOU are not the one getting slapped around like a toy in a toddler daycare! And I would so slap you two right now if you weren’t two feet taller.” Blackbird just sat back in his chair and watched the two arguing. It reminded him of a certain duo he once mentored back in the 80’s. Wonder what ever became of them?

“IF you two are done bickering like the Celestial Calvary, there IS a way you can prove it to me and not further waste my time.” Silver grumbled but asked just what he had in mind.
Blackbird twisted a few more dials on the console and the rest of the lights flickered to life. If any student had thought the Valdus Academy’s weight room was well equipped, this made that room look like someone’s living space. In additional to the standard weight machines and treadmills; there were also various obstacle courses, a boxing ring, and even a kitchenette. The obstacle courses appeared to a combination of military courses and those overelaborate training rooms you see in old kung-fu movies. Quite a lot of it seemed to have a fine layer of dust all over like it had not been used in a few years or so. Blackbird typed in a few extra commands and a string of green lights lit up along one of the courses. On the ground a series of walls began to slide back and forth at various speeds. From there pillars with prods and spikes began to whirl to life. From there you had to follow a ramp with rocky footholds upwards until you got to a platform. On the ceiling lined a series of various sized hoops. Along the edge of the hanging rings were rungs for those who didn’t have flying powers. At the end was a series of pipes that ended on a platform that had a timer attached.

“The goal is quite simple. Get through the course. And…” Silver was already cracking his knuckles eager to start.
“AND”, Blackbird emphasized. “You cannot be hit more than three times.” He pulled some stickers from a drawer and stuck one directly on Silver’s chest.
“It’s an impact sensor. My eyes are not exactly what they used to be.” He peeled off another to give to Shelly but she soundly declared that she would not be taking the course. She might be a little crazy, but she was not stupid. She was more than happy to accept the training. Silver scoffed at Blackbird and declared himself more than capable of this.

Blackbird pulled a chair behind the console and offered Shelly a seat. She could not help but notice his smirk as he began to countdown timer for the course. The old man pressed the buzzer and both of them watched Silver take a flying start over the moving walls. He had barely reached above them when a barrage of lasers streaked above him and forced him down to the ground. He scarcely missed being smacked in the nose by a roving wall and had to practically crouch to keep below the volley of lasers above him. Moving between the barricades was not easy with his bulky body and he had to pull his wings in with his arms to keep anything from touching. He had gone about halfway through the moving maze now without a scratch. A series of walls had parted leaving a clear path and he took it. Silver had almost reached the end when the tiles underneath his feet jolted upwards and he spiraled into the laser bombardment above. The marker on his chest buzzed and a third of it turned red. The sudden shock against him distracted him from a swinging wall that tumbled him back to the halfway point.

Silver cursed at the marker but kept moving. He just barely made a few steps when a wall to his left slid into his path and caught his arm between who panels. The marker buzzed again. Cursing, Silver wrenched the panel of its railings and hurled it across the room. Now he was at the spinning pillars. He leapt upwards to test the open space above and sure enough there was a system in there to keep him grounded until the final section of the stage. Silver maneuvered his way though, stopping the swinging clubs with his hands whenever he could. He could not stop them all as a hooked arm snagged him by the wing and flung him into the center of the section. The marker chimed for the third time and the pillars began to slow down to stop.
“Turn it back on!” Silver demanded.
“You’re done, kid. Three strikes remember?”
“I said turn it back on! I’m finishing this!” Blackbird leaned back and snickered. He flicked the program back on.

Shelly watched as Silver forced his way through the constant slamming of the blunt weapons against his body. As much as they tossed him around, he finally emerged with only a few scuffs. With some painful wincing, Silver hefted up the rock wall to the rings. He flapped though the final section even as vents of smoke spat in his face and lasers clipped at his wings. Finally he just fell through the tubes and they saw the pipes shake and bang as his body plummeted though. Finally Silver crawled to the platform. He collapsed to his knees and he reverted back into Reed-sweating heavily and gasping for breath.
Blackbird offered out his hand to help him up. He was smiling.
“You fumbled though that like a naïve moron and further proved you are not ready. And it was so hilarious to watch.” Reed might’ve responded with a snarky remark but he was still trying to put air back into his lungs. Blackbird stood him up and patted his shoulder.
“But you finished. You’re stubborn and you’ve obviously have something to prove. Ha ha ha, we’ll make something out of you yet. Good start kid. But you have a ways to go before you can really carry that weight of the Silver Guardian.” Reed wheezed a ‘thanks’ and coughed a relief guffaw. Shelly just stayed there on her seat and started fiddling with her goggles. Her heart had done backflips watching Reed get pummeled around and he could take the hits. There was no way she could even cross the first part.
“Hey Shelly, you really are not going to give it a try?” Reed asked. Shelly cackled nervously.
“No I…maybe I’ll just hit some weights first”, she answered.

With Reed finally consenting to the training, Blackbird submitted paperwork for the pair to see him every Wednesday after school for ‘further counseling’. As he watched them leave to the school pickup area, he put in a call on a separate line.
“Hey, it’s me. I know…it’s been some time since we talked, but I need to place a clean and repair order. I’ll play the expedite charges. Yes I know if he ever finds out…also you still have that weapon specialist number? I need some…custom items. Yeah I think he’ll love the challenge.”

[Lovetheangelshadow]

Chapter 9: Jinn and the Hunter
Two weeks had flown by since then. As far as either family of theirs was concerned, they were staying behind after school for extra help with their homework. Blackbird was not the easiest master to work with though. To keep up appearances, they had to complete their homework before even being allowed into the training room. Reed was quite vocal about it at first and then he was stubborn about admitting when he struggled. Shelly would just quote an old Songbird PSA comic about education in the corniest way possible until it annoyed Reed enough to submit to the forced homework time. It only took a week for that to happen much to Blackbird’s amusement. He commented how they definitely were slated to be partners though Reed failed to understand his assessment.

At first the news and internet were abuzz with speculation since the duo were rarely seen compared to before. In several days’ time they had practically vanished from internet attention save for a few internet trolls and self-righteous journalists claiming it was their efforts that drove the menaces away before they could do any real damage. The school was similar. Reed and Shelly had to listen to homeroom buzz with all the theories going about on what happened to the new heroes. Most held the belief that they were not necessary and it was better they had disappeared. Those who will still in favor for them were few and mostly silent out of terror of social ousting. Reed silently cringed before uttering patience to himself.

It was a cold night in late September. Shelly, in full Splinterbark garb, was standing on the roof of the apartment complex near her house. While they spent most of their time inside the training cellar, Blackbird had them go out and do minor field exercises and to familiarize themselves with the city. Today was a bit different. Blackbird decided that the duo were to go on to night patrol. He did not foresee them being crime fighters of the night, but the practice always helps.

Splinterbark tapped the earpiece Blackbird had given her to confirm she was at the location above the building of an old salon.
“Guess it’s just you, Frix, and me, Master Blackbird”, Splinterbark quipped.
“And blondie is not with you because?”
“Um…he kinda did mention he got a job recently.”
“The son of the self-made Morgan Altamiri having a job? What does he do? Count the money bin?” Shelly was not exactly sure if that was a mirthful jibe or malicious spit.
“Beats me. I tried asking him and he got sore at me. Thomas won’t tell me either.” There was a pause and then a long sigh over the radio.
“It cannot be helped I suppose. I don’t expect full time supers of you two. Trust me, it’s not something you want dominating your childhood.”
“Oh…but until we can figure out what happened to the Golden Guardian, myself and Reed is all the city has.”
“For now anyway.”
Splinterbark wanted to ask who he was talking about, but her master interrupted that her assignment was just a basic night reconnaissance-no getting into fights. Just observe certain areas and report back. She did have a math quiz tomorrow.

Forty minutes had passed since Splinterbark was following the directions of her master. She stopped on a park terrace for a quick snack and maybe a coffee. The café down below was one of the few bright things she had come across tonight. The jazz band was playing nice and loud and people were enjoying the discounted booze they were serving tonight. Frix clapped his hands the best he could around his floppy ears.
“The music isn’t that bad. That trumpet could shut up though. Too bad I can’t make metal explode, huh Frix?”

“I wish”, Frix snarled. The trumpet noise was getting strangely louder though. At its shrillest point it was followed by screams and a loud rolling crash. Splinterbark slid down a pipe and maneuvered on over to see just what was happening.
The band area was being engulfed by the biggest copper colored slug abomination she had seen to date. Nozzles dotting its entire body wheezed out a trumpeting wail as it exhaled large deep breaths. The boils about its body seemed to shiver and blink like a dozen eyes trying to see everything around it.
“Any suggestions, boss?” Splinterbark squawked into the intercom. Blackbird barked for her to get some distance and see if she can get people away from the area. He was going to try and contact Reed and get him over to her as soon as possible. Splinterbark acknowledged the order and pulled out some rope from her holster.

The gargantuan gastropod was looming over some unlucky guests who had been stopped by debris with tendrils oozing out of its body to snatch them in its coils. Suddenly a loud shrill whistle made the largest boil glide around its lumpy neck behind it. Splinterbark was spinning some kind of metallic weight above her head attached to her rope.
“Yo Boilanna Slug! The doctor called and he said you need more cowbell!” She flung the weight and it bounced five feet away from the slug’s body with a sad ping poing clash. It seemed puzzled at the bell as Splinterbark uneasily dragged it back to her in embarrassment. Even Frix tried to cover his eyes with his tiny talons. Okay so it didn’t exactly go as she saw it in her head. The bulbous red cyst was locked on to her. It did not exactly turn but began to roll like a soggy hot dog bun towards her. Splinterbark had to run as the thing gained speed even if it had to plow through all the patio furniture to do it. The door to get inside was, surprise, stuck and the thing was almost on top of her.
“Tally ho!” was the cackling cry of someone from up above. A blur of black and purple leapt down from the roof and a blade sliced across the gullet of the slug. The giant gastropod gurgled as it reeled back slightly and knocked into a broken light stand. It shocked itself dazed and it wiggled on the floor. The welder of the blade fluttered down with his long cape trailing behind him. He was a tall humanoid creature with long gangly limbs and a sleek elongated body. His outfit sported a black formal military style coat, black slacks, and formal shoes. The pauldrons and tassets of his ensemble were not of metal or leather but appeared to be some kind of bony shell segments that would be more at home on some kind of insectoid monster. Save for his pallid pointed chin, his face was concealed by a magenta visor and segmented helmet that reminded Splinterbark of an avian skeleton-but still made of the beetle carapace as the rest of his armor. A pair of long bone-like horns were fastened to the front and curved back and twisted akin to a goat. On the left side of the helmet there was a long crack that reached down his chin and all the way to the base of his neck like some sickle had cut it. Completing the look was a long black cape cut similar to ragged dragonfly wings. In his hand was an outlandish emerald colored sword. The blade was not metal and appeared to be a strange mix of crystal and bone. It was slightly jagged and rough but glistened like a gemstone. The handle was also bone-like but carved into the shape of a dragonfly.
This buggy demon didn’t seem to notice Splinterbark was even there and was just flicking some slime of his shoulder armor. He probably would not even observed her there at all until she shouted for him to duck and jerked him to the floor the best she could. A slimy tentacle had slithered out from the slug’s body and had managed to sneak behind them. Instead of latching onto either of the two, its suction-like appendage grabbed the wall behind them and jerked it down. Both braced for the impact of debris though it never happened. A pink barrier had encased them and the wall had bounced harmlessly off it.

“Really now, the great and glorious Hunter can’t even see an obvious blindside attack like that?”
Their savior was a young woman hovering in the air on a long black staff with two orbs on each end that seem to hover about the ends. She was dressed in a short dark blue and pink dress with ragged edges along the skirt end. Her long sleeves billowed out from her elbows like pink glittering buttercups. Long black gloves dotted with pink and purple rhinestones dressed her arms. A glittery pink domino mask concealed her face. The girl was rocking playfully on her “broom” as if watching this was amusing.
Hunter made a sweeping bow and he knocked Spliterbark upside the head when he did so.
“Aw, you’re my biggest groupie, Jinn. You wouldn’t let anything happen to me.” Jinn turned a beet red.
“For the hundredth millionth time, I am NOT your fan!”

The slug had swung the upper part of it body towards them. Hunter wrapped an arm around Splinterbark and made a bounding leap out of the path. He playfully patted her head and told her to stay put while addressing her as Stick. Hunter walked casually in front of the annoyed gastropod and taunted it with his sword.

“Do try to make it fun for me”, he quipped.
More appendages sprung out from the beast’s body as it attempted to crush the onyx demon. Hunter laughed as he bounced from wall to wall with the speed and coil of a cricket. He continued to laugh and taunt the creature.
“Come on, all those eyes and you can’t hit little old me?” He sliced off a piece of concrete wall and chucked it against the creature’s chest. The beast’s tendrils slapped along the ground missing as Hunter tauntingly moonwalked from side to side; easily keeping out the reach of the strikes.
“Oooh so close. Need some salt for that wound. Oh right, that might make it worse wouldn’t it?”

Hunter seemed to be enjoying making the thing madder. Boilanana Slug rolled along the ground with its appendages spinning around its body and lashing out in all directions. Hunter bounced over the spiraling behemoth and let it crash against the wall. The problem was that wall was shielding some onlookers. The wall began to crumble backwards towards them. Splinterbark skidded in front of the civilians and jammed her hook staff between the ground and wall holding it in place. It was still sliding but it was enough time for the people to get clear and run. The partition crumbled and nearly flattened her if it were not for the sudden pink bubble that encased her just as the concrete pummeled around her. The bubble’s tail was connected to the witch’s staff. Jinn tugged and yanked the bubble with Splinterbark inside it just as the debris had finished falling. Jinn landed beside Splinterbark and seemed to just casually take a seat.
“I would have saved them if you hadn’t gotten in my way”, she barked. Splinterbark pulled up her hook from the debris and was storming in the direction of Hunter.
Hunter’s free hand sparked with dark colored fire and pummeled several blasts against the yellow flesh of the slug. It fizzled and gurgled as its wounds spewed out foam. Suddenly a weight that went clonk smacked him upside the head. He grabbed the falling object and saw it was a cowbell tied to a rope.
“Hey! Buggy Beelzebub! Watch what you’re doing! You almost got some people crushed!” Hunter was standing on the side of a power pole and looked at the people who were standing there watching-and at least one had a phone in their hand recording the thing. Hunter snapped his fingers; sending a spark of magic in their direction where it made a small explosion at their feet and made them scatter. Splinterbark chided him for doing so. Hunter bounced from his perch and landed just in front of Splinterbark. He had to bend down to look her directly in the eye.
“You’re joking right? And did you just hit me with a cowbell?”
Jinn shoved her staff between them.
“You don’t have time for this, Hunter”, she warned. Hunter pushed her aside with his white gloved finger against her forehead with his eyes still on Splinterbark.
“Let me make this clear, pixie. If people are too stupid to get out of the danger, if they get hurt-too bad. Not my problem. So why don’t you and your little chia pet just move along and let us professionals handle this?” She said it so casually and coldly. Frix puffed up at the remark.
“All right, dapper dunce! We’ll show you! Let’s go Splinter!” He dove straight at the best before Splinterbark could stop him. Frix spun like a corkscrew and rammed his little body against one of the larger eyes of the beast. The slug, aroused into a fuming mood already by Hunter, snatched the little imp with a tentacle and applied pressure to squeeze the life out of it. Splinterbark suddenly cried out in agony and clutched her chest as she fell to the ground. She could feel something cold and slimy squeezing her heart. This seemed to spur Hunter into retaliation. His sword sliced away at the various limbs until he could finally reach the spirit. Cupping the creature in one taloned hand, he drove his blade deep into the monster’s neck with the heel of his boot. Using his weight and the momentum of the hilt, he forced the monster down until it was pinned back on the floor. The creature gurgled and flopped around before it finally stopped moving.
Splinterbark’s heart just finally getting back into normal rhythm. A flap of wings could be overheard that was growing closer towards them. Silver had just arrived, a bit short of breath and his appearance a little harried from the rush.
“Splinterbark, Mr. Blackbird just got ahold of me and I got here as fast as I…YOU!” Hunter was standing over Splinterbark with Frix still in his hand and Splinterbark herself collapsed and wheezing at his feet with her gloved hand clutching the fabric above her chest.
“What did you do to her?!” Silver rammed his body into Hunter and pummeled him into the still body of the slug monster. One of the boils burst and oozed its contents all over his suit.

“Hey! What is your deal?” Silver did not respond and tried to pull a right uppercut at Hunter’s head. Hunter ducked and let Silver get his fist stuck in the slug’s body. The plum demon kicked up his sword from the floor and leaned on it.
“Aw, is the widdle angel stuck?” Silver snarled as he flapped and twisted trying to break loose. The slime just slimed up further his arm and now his left boot was stuck in it. Even supposedly dead, this thing was a nuisance. Hunter leaned against Silver’s shoulder and started picking the nails of his battle claws with the tip of his blade.
“If you want out, say please.”

“Like hell I am, you devil!” Silver removed one pistol with his free hand and aimed directly at the mass he was entrapped in. Hunter tilted his head wondering if the guy was going to shoot his hand off. Silver fired off a few successive blasts which sent pieces of the creature all over the patio. Now free of both hands, Silver drew out the other firearm and shot two blasts directly at Hunter. Hunter managed to get his sword between one blast while the other grazed his side. Silver hurried at him and slugged Hunter across the helmet. Hunter spin back but was quick to regain control. A large crooked grin spread across his face and he cackled in delight. He could feel his heart racing with excitement. This was going to be even more fun than the slug.
Now, Jinn had actually lifted from her seat this time. She was shrieking out to Hunter that he did not have time to be toying with the “blonde meathead” and that he had a job to finish before the cops arrived. Hunter was deliberately ignoring her. He heaved his blade over his shoulder in a downward cross chop. Silver caught it against the face of his metallic greaves and deflected it away. Hunter stuck again repeatedly and each time he was intervened.

No one had been paying attention to the goldenrod pieces of the gooey giant. A ruby red rock was pulsing with increased fervidity and small black tendrils called out to its separated pieces. They were shuddering and slowly pulling itself back together. Though it only managed to retrieve half its bulk, it was enough to get it mobile, and it was starting to move out from the patio and towards the street.
Jinn saw it first. Again she called out to Hunter who was still busy trading blows against the Silver Guardian. She started to run off after it and Splinterbark followed her as Silver was not listening to her either. The slug was not much bigger than a small elephant, but it rolled at a rapid pace towards the storm drain. It had already melted most of the way through down below. Jinn darted towards a sewer cap. She pointed her staff and purple mist began to curl about the heavy steel rim. With some effort she managed to wrench it off and followed down below with
Splinterbark just behind her. Frix huddled inside her breast pocket as they traversed down. She could not entirely blame him either. The tunnel was cramped even for her size as the two girls forced their way out into the underground. There was no trace of the creature save for a few slimy drippings still clinging to the grate above. Jinn cursed loudly and shouted that this was all Splinterbark’s fault. If she had just hung back like she was told to, then Hunter would not have been distracted and done his job. Now Hunter was preoccupied thanks to as she called it “Splinterbark’s lug headed boyfriend”.
“First off, Silver is not my boyfriend. Second, your manners suck. And three, why don’t we focus on finding Boilanana Slug and then point fingers later?” Jinn paused as she mouthed out the name Splinterbark had given the creature.
“Boilanana…banana…heh clever.”
“See? She got it!” Splinterbark snipped at Frix.

Splinterbark tapped the earpiece and called Mr. Blackbird for suggestions. Luckily for them, according to her master, he doubted the slug had gotten too far away. The tunnel could only go in two directions and there had to be some trace hinting where it went. Splinterbark asked Frix if he was well enough to fly. He was still a bit winded, but assured he could do that much. The two went in opposite directions, glancing very carefully for any signs. Splinterbark’s hand graced a small bit of yellow mucus just along the edge of an archway. They were faint, but a few more droppings were ahead. She signaled to Frix and Jinn and they chased down the trail.
The slug was hanging from an old pipe above, its gelatinous body heaving and oozing like an air filled bladder. It just hung there and seemed to be unaware of the girls’ presence. Jinn plucked the red orb from one end of her staff and fiddled from her bag until she produced a purple stone. Splinterbark asked what she was going to do.
“I have to contain it and drag it back to Hunter.”
“You can’t just blast it?”
“If I could that I would not have to lower myself to being an animal trainer for that devil above us.”
“Are these monsters a new threat or…”

“They’ve been roaming about for at least a year as far as I know. For some reason, Hunter’s blade is the only thing that will vanquish them. The best my magic can do is incapacitate them. And the sword won’t respond to me if you must know. Ugh why am I even telling you this? You couldn’t even handle a moral monstrosity forcing me to save you two’s sorry hides. And you! It’s clear you have no magic ties. How did you even awaken and bond with that forest spirit? It’s not fair!” Her yells increased in volume and the sounds made the slug shudder. Its pores opened out and the trumpet like spines emerged. Honking at the annoyance it struck at the sound it thought its enemy was. Thankfully, its exhaustion from just pulling back together made the blows less severe. It latched onto the stones and its body released from the ceiling. It used the momentum to swing its body around in a wrecking ball fashion hoping to encase the two inside its body to feed on. The area was small, so there was little room to keep out of its way. Jinn kept attempting to encase the gastropod in a bubble but the constant moving shortened her concentration. She could not get a bubble large enough to encompass the whole thing.
Splinterbark managed to get her moving straps and hook free and was starting to spun the hook to get some drive going. Jinn shouted that there was no way her measly little hook was going to tie up the whole thing. Splinterbark hurled the thing and aimed for a reddish boil that was slithering about along the slimy form. She managed to get the hook caught on the edge of the spot and she tried to pull it free. The cyst was trying to get loose from the catch as it spun around the main body and the strap was slipping from Splinterbark’s hands. She yelled for Jinn to help her.
“This pimple was the only thing that kept dodging yours and Hunter’s strikes. I think is its brain or something.” Jinn grabbed the slipping end of the strap and both of them heaved as best they could. The ground was slightly slick from both the slug’s increase drippings of mucus as well as traces of the mildew around them; so it was getting harder for them to keep their footing. Spinterbark asked if it was possible Jinn could use her ‘magic flying stick’ for some extra pull? Jinn remarked that it was not powered by rockets. Frix darted out of there and squeezed himself up to the surface.
Neither Hunter nor Silver had gotten the upper hand on the other. Hunter was too fast for Silver to land an effective blow on him; and by contrast Silver was able to deflect away most of Hunter’s strikes from his sword. It was only when Hunter’s cape had caught on some debris that Silver managed to get him on his back and was pinning him under his boot.

“I don’t know what your problem is; but this is the most fun I’ve had in a while.” Silver’s face twisted in anger.
“Fun? You think this is fun?!” He mustered up the energy for another shot. Frix rammed his body into Silver’s forehead and his shot went up into the sky. Silver grabbed the imp.
“What are you going, you little shrimp?!” Frix bit his hand for all the good it did.

“Splinterbark is down there all alone with that slug, you idiot!” Hunter wrenched himself from the floor with a hard twist and ordered for Frix show him where. It took a moment for Silver to realize just what was happening. A horrible panic churned in his stomach as soon as he realized what he just done and he scrambled after the duo to the underground.
Splinterbark and Jinn could just barely hold onto the tether for much longer. The cherry boil was jerking and twisting all about its blonde mass trying to break free from the hook still embedded in its crags. In desperation it released one appendage from the walls anchoring it in place and stretched out towards it’s would be captors. The thing successfully managed to latch onto Splinterbark’s wrist and lurch her from her stance. The slimy vine bungeed back and slammed the girl into its body. As she fell, it coiled about her just before she hit the floor and was now drawing it towards a mouth-like opening that was tearing free from the main body.

A violet bubble enveloped around her and it struggled to pull her back. Jinn tugged and pulled with her staff trying to get Splinterbark away. The tether, now free, was flapping about her ankles and slapping her in the shins as the heart of the beast still squirmed about. The creature was holding firm and fighting back against her magic. The handle of the tether, now drenched in water and mucus, slapped Jinn in the face and her bubble broke loose.
A dark insectoid form skirted along the walls at a blinding pace and its talons lashed at the tendrils holding Splinterbark. A silvery feathered blur caught her and enveloped her in its wings as they dragged along the ground. Hunter hacked away at the blubbery flesh of the slug as fast it could reform itself. The thing tried to take advantage of the smaller space by seeping its gooey flush between stones and blindsiding Hunter. Silver colored blasts erupted against the stones as the Silver Guardian fired expertly at each one. Jinn yelled at Hunter to strike at the crimson heart swimming inside the slug. Hunter dug his talons deep into the slug’s oozing matter until he was able to rip open a sizeable cavity where the heart was trying to defend itself. The tether was still lodged in it and the strap was tangled up in its insides making it difficult to move out of the way. Grinning, Hunter waved his finger at it as if shaming it before plunging the sword right through the heart. The beast shrieked and wailed and its body rippled. The golden mass began to turn black and oily as it pooled at their feet before completely dissolving away.
Splinterbark was still somewhat dazed from the impact; but enough to know Silver was holding her a bit too tight. She slid out of arms and assured him she was fine despite his frantic questioning. The victory was a bit short lived as the sound of clapping filled the small area.

“Well well well, what do we have here? So you’re the ones Goldie was talking about.”
Black Guardian was leaning against the entrance to the larger chamber. It was unclear with his half-smile if he was annoyed, amused, or disappointed.
“I’ve been wondering whose been committing the terrible crime of murderer against my little beasties. Up until now, you’ve managed to keep yourself under my sights. But thanks to the Guardian here, I can finally see your face. Won’t you come out into the light so I can see you better?”
“Ooooh those are youuuuuurrrsss”, Hunter crowed. “I hope you start stepping things up. I’m starting to get bored. No really, it’s not as much fun anymore. And if you want a look at my gorgeous façade, you’re going to have to come over and see for yourself.” The curious attitude of Hunter raised an eyebrow. He then turned his attention to Silver.
“And you’re the new Guardian in town I hear. I better put you out of your misery now.”

His body became enveloped in a violent purple haze that spiraled from his body and lashed out at the group. Jinn was just barely able to pull forth a shield that took most of the blast. It was not exactly enough though and some silvers of magic pierced though. One grazed across Frix’ head and both he and Splinterbark yelped. Splinterbark could feel a slight trickle of blood pooling against the sides of her helmet and dribble down one eye. When the smoke had cleared, Black Guardian was seen running off into one of the side alleys from the central hollow.
He had not completely let go of his animosity of Hunter, but it was clear this black winged angel was the greater threat at the moment. Silver dashed after the Black Guardian even as Splinterbark was yelling for him to halt. The tunnel that Silver had followed Black into was a bit wider and the walls taller than where they had encountered the slug. There was no sign of the Black Guardian and the area was eerily silent.
“You were actually stupid enough to follow me”, Black’s voice echoed inside the space. Black thorns shot from the ground and barricaded both sides of the tunnel. Silver felt chill gust of wind rush past his shoulder. There was a slight sound of metal against stone before he felt the impact of something thin and round against his abdomen. Black dove in front of him, effortlessly catching his shield as it fell and then decking Silver with a left cross to the head. Silver’s body spun in the air for a moment before Black kicked him hard into the walls. The gray angel bounced against the stone and crumbled to the floor. Black stood over him and grabbed the boy by the collar.

“Why would the ring choose a whelp like you? Anyone can see you’re stubborn, prideful, and selfish; absolutely unworthy of being a Guardian.” Silver fired a quick shot in the air though he missed Black entirely. A small bit of rubble collapsed above and stuck Black in the wings. It was just enough to tilt him back so that Silver could grab him around the chest and hurl the angel away across the tunnel. Silver tried to belt him, but Black was quick to catch the blow. He forced Silver forward and rammed his elbow hard into Silver’s chest.
“You can’t even survive against me. And you think you can protect this city?” Black had Silver pinned down and rammed his shield hard into Silver’s wrist where the ring was attached. Even with his durability, he could feel Black applying the pressure to try and sever the bone.
“You are just a pathetic little child playing dress up in daddy’s clothes. You’re not worthy of the name Silver Guardian.” Silver cringed and tried to wrench himself from the floor, but Black had him restrained too well.

“Oh ho, did I touch a nerve? I will have your ring, boy. Even if I have to sever it from your dislocated hand!”

There was a flash of green and something knocked against Black’s eyes. He barely opened them when something shattered before him and he grasped his face as something stung his eyes and nose. A burst of magic blasted before him and forced Black to stagger back. He heard the shuffling of feet splashing of water; but the stinging sensation blinded him. When he could finally open his eyes, Silver was gone. He glanced at his gloves to see specks of pine clinging to the cloth. Black Guardian howled in frustration. He was not through yet. He had one more trick and this time the city itself was going to bring that Silver Guardian down for good.

Silver bowed an apology to Hunter. He still hated him, but there was little excuse for his behavior.
“Yeah sure fine. But let me make one thing clear; we do not need you around here. Jinn and I can do just fine without your help. Do not spoil my hunt again”, Hunter threatened. Silver took Splinterbark home; apologizing the whole time. He would not tell her why he acted the way he did, despite her pressing. Eventually she gave up. When he had left, Shelly asked Frix about the peculiar thing that happened that night. Why was it when he got hurt, she felt it as well? Frix shook his head.
“I am afraid I do not know why to that one. You are not the first mortal I’ve bonded with. Perhaps it is because the stone was shattered in such a way that there is no safeguards. Or our bond is corrupted in some way. Either way, I shall make sure keep myself out of harm. It’s not like I can use what my magic was formally myself at the moment.”
****

Mr. Blackbird had sent notice to their homeroom teacher that he wanted to see them right away. As soon as the pair sat down, Blackbird slammed the palm of his hand on the desk and demanded to know what happened. Reed just squeaked a ‘sorry’.
“Sorry? Sorry?! That is all you have to say? Both of you disobeyed my orders. You, Shelly, were supposed to hold back until Reed could get there. And Reed, you let your emotions run off and it almost got you and Shelly killed! What the hell happened?”
“Y-yes sir. I…I should not have done what I did”, Reed gasped again.

“You were lucky this time, but next time you may up paying a price you cannot undo”, Blackbird bellowed. “Until I give the word, there will be no field work for either of you. And if I find out you disregarded my orders I will personally see to it Caine takes you down! Do I make myself clear?!”
“Yes sir”, Shelly and Reed acknowledged. Blackbird dismissed them to their next class and slowly lowered himself back into his chair. From a drawer he pulled out a photo of a girl dressed in a spider pattern mini dress and standing gleefully next to a suit of bird-like armor. He inhaled deeply and swallowed a couple upcoming tears. He was not going to let it happen again even if the city paid the penalty for it.

[Lovetheangelshadow]

Chapter 10: Round Two
The next couple of days were uneventful. The pair went to school and to Blackbird’s office afterwards for couple hours of training. Reed’s heart just didn’t seem to be in it however. It was most notable when Mr. Blackbird was running a target practice drill and Reed missed just about every shot. One shot went wild and almost struck Frix in the back. When that happened, the boy practically froze and almost huddled into a panic state on the ground apologizing copiously. Later his time was double his record he managed last time. The biggest hint was when the two were going over their literature homework and Reed actually let Shelly help him; a habit usually he seemed quite adamant about up keeping. Shelly attempted several times thought the day to get him to tell her what was going on through his head, but he just answered with snapping terseness that it was none of her business. Shelly didn’t think it would do her any good, but she asked Thomas anyway.
“What’s wrong with Reed, huh? I was going to ask if you knew honestly”, was his response. He did admit though he had only seen Reed in this kind of monotone state once before.
“It was about a year ago around the same time too. It took him two months to get over that funk.”
“Aaaaannnddd?”
“Look, I…kinda promised not to really bring it up. You’re just going to have to ask Reed when he’s in a better mood.” Oh great, Shelly thought. We don’t have two months for Reed to be mopey. Metilla Gorilla was still out there and now they knew that there were monsters and a peculiar black winged felon who would be more apt in an Aerosmith music video. And could kick the Silver Guardian’s ass six ways from Monday. Shelly made this clear to Mr. Blackbird on the second day. His answer was that if he wanted to tell her, he will. Shelly had a feeling Blackbird knew full well what was going on and why, but he was not going to tell her. Frix wanted Shelly to force him to talk and was shot down. Technically, Michael Blackbird was the school guidance counselor and had to uphold a vow of confidentiality.
****
The CCTV Broadcasting station was a towering monolith in the heart of downtown Cadric City. It was one of the modern structures that dotted the skyline as the city had grown up from its mercantile days. Vivian was guiding everyone in Studio 4 for the upcoming interview that morning. She was no producer, not that she necessarily blamed anyone for not wanting to handle this one. The anchor who was presenting this piece got in the ratings but was hell for anyone else outside of the camera. Vivian was just glad to not be running around for once chasing any possible lead on Silver Guardian and the girl sidekick after the media backlash those two got. She wondered if it really was their fault they had not been seen as of late. The social media director had posted a few quick tweets about them being spotted at a café downtown and being responsible for total destruction of the patio stage. She could not entirely blame them. Everyone was still praising and hoping for the Golden Guardian to make a triumphant return and scare these brats back into their holes. But what if he doesn’t, Vivian often thought to herself. Should they have spurned these two who were honestly trying to help?
“Viviaaaaaannnn, darling! Como over here, por favor”. Vivian swallowed the rising groan in her throat and plastered a big smile.
“Yes, Miss Monkrey, how might I assist you?” Suri Monkrey was CCTV’s top news anchor. She was a small woman, even shorter than Vivian, and slightly portly in her arms and legs. However, her rounded dimpled face and large eyes impressed people as a young, adorable, and innocent child who was very enthusiastic in delivering Cadric City all its needed news. Her bubbly voice and endearing way she bounced about often took people off guard. Vivian had worked there long enough to just tolerate whatever ‘helpful advice’ Suri cried about this time.
“These flowers, why they just don’t match the book spines. And the couch needs to move a bit to the left. The books are blocking me. Arora Arora, darling!” Give it up or at least come up with new material, Vivian sneered in her head as she did what she was told. The books on the table had to be turned just so and the flowers had to match her color specifications. Vivian was almost wishing she was back out on the field even if it was freezing outside. Better to deal with the cold autumn weather than this hell inside the studio.
“Excuse me, is this where I am supposed to be for the interview?” Both Vivian and Suri raised eyebrows at the woman standing in the doorway. Irene’s hair was pulled back into a high ponytail and she was outfitted in a white blouse and grey slacks. The look was a bit off putting by the slightly muddy work boots. There were also a few specks of bark debris and some dirt under her nails.
“Ah, Mrs. Dougal. Please do come in and have a seat.” Vivian wanted to vomit in her coat at how syruply Suri was talking.
“Oh dear darling, you’ve got a bit of a smudge on your cheek there.” Suri wouldn’t touch it herself but pulled a tissue from one of the approaching makeup ladies. Irene glanced at a mirror the artist handed to her.
“Jings! I could have sworn I got it all. Bit of a huddy ain’t I? Desmond isn’t gonna like it.” Her soft cultivated voice had hastily dumped into a thick Scottish drawl for the moment, only to switch back to a much more Americanized sound.
“Oops, sorry, ya never really get rid it don’t ya?” She was so cheerful and casual about her slightly ruddy appearance that Vivian actually saw wrinkles forming about Suri’s eyes as she tried to keep her mask on. She was starting to like this Irene woman.
****
The homerooms of the Valdus Academy were permitted to watch the news broadcast since it featured a local celebrity. Shelly noted a stark contrast in the Dougal siblings as the previous news was being played before the special. Lynn was buried face deep in her textbook while Alucard was actually being attentive for once. Typically it was the other way around. Reed was only half watching the broadcast as well. Shelly grumbled that he was just spinning his pencil on his notebook with very little interest in the news. Frix popped his head out asking just what was so special about this interview. Shelly shrugged. Her mother hadn’t said anything, but then again she was typically out with the reporters.
“Good Morning Cadric City, darlings! I am your host Suri Monkrey. With me today is a rising star in our fair city. Won’t you join me as I have the first interview with author Irene Dougal, children’s novelist of the quickly rising Pagemasters series and wife to hotel magnate Desmond Dougal. Pagemasters, in which the fourth installment hits shelves next week, was originally penned under the name Athenos Morphi. But the books have started to gain national attention…”
****
Suri held up the book for the camera to see and gave a quick summary about the series. Vivian doubted Suri even read anything that did not have her name in the picture.
“My word, you come from quite the accomplished family, Mrs. Dougal. Your husband owns at least a quarter of the hotels in this city and you have a prodigal genius son, Alucard.”
“Yes, I’m quite proud of them. But you forgot to mention my daughter, Lynn. She has quite a few talents on her own. You see…”
“Oh I am quite sure, but your son…” Vivian rolled her eyes. She was amazed at Irene’s patience.
“So tell me, Mrs. Dougal, your stories are so detailed it is almost like you were there yourself. I cannot fathom how intricate your tales are. But there really aren’t any snake pirates or a demonic angel who tempts people with favors and then curses them into monsters is there?” A bit of color flooded Irene’s pale face and she tapped her fingers together anxiously.
“Yes, of course. I have just a crazy imagination that’s all.”
The camera feed started to shake just as Suri was announcing the commercial break. There was a cacophony of shouting outside the hall followed by dull roars. The doors crumpled inward on their hinges and a large lumbering form forced his way into the studio. Metilla Gorilla was busy flinging off the security guards and tossing them out into the hall. He grabbed the camera that Vivian was controlling and snarled that they went into commercial break and be ready to broadcast again.
****
The homeroom class was staring at the television as the jingle for Mary’s Muffins started playing. Alucard gripped the desk until his pallid knuckles became practically translucent. He glanced down towards his sister, but she just sat there leaning back in her chair with a closed expression. The next three commercials finished and the logo for CCTV came back on.
Suri, Irene, and Vivian were tied up backs together on the coffee table while Metilla was seated on the couch.
“Citizens of Cadric City, for the last few weeks you have heard stories of your precious Golden Guardian disappearing for good. I can guarantee that is indeed the case. And now two little primates have attempted to be your saviors and you ungratefully chuck them out like spoiled children getting off-brand cereal.” He stood up and started to encircle the three women tied up.
“You’d like to think you are the heroes, that you’ve saved the city from menaces. But I wonder how right you are. Silver Guardian! Splinterbark! You have one hour to come and face me right here before this city! If you fail to appear, then this news channel will have to find a new news anchorwoman.” Then the feed cut out to another commercial.
The teacher announced for the students to head for their first period and that the school would keep them updated if anything happened. Reed saw that Shelly was not heading for the gym lockers but spiriting outside towards one of the alcoves in the inner wall that faced the rec fields. Reed had caught up to her just as she had snapped the goggles on her head.
“Just what do you think you’re doing?”
“Uh…going out there and saving the day? Now can you like not look and go transform into Silver so we can get there in time?” Reed gripped her shoulder and tried to pull her out of the alcove.
“Are you out of your mind? Mr. Blackbird forbade us to go out.”
“Yeah I know. But I am not going to hide in here while my mom…while those three are prisoners! Now let go and hurry and suit up!” Reed’s hand was shaking as he gripped the finger his ring was on.
“I…I can’t. What if…what if I mess this up? What if I make another mistake? What if someone gets hurt because I couldn’t…” Frix jabbed him in chest and wrenched Reed’s hand open to show the ring.
“Listen you blond butterbrain, the Guardian ring chose you for a reason. Whether you like it or not, you are the Guardian now. Now quit acting a petulant child playing dress up and own up to that role!” Reed cringed and retreated back. Hearing those words again still stung just as bad as before.
“I…I can’t do it. I just can’t!” He ran off without fully realizing he had left Splinterbark behind.
****
It took almost twenty minutes by bike for Splinterbark to get to the CCTV tower. Admittedly she really was starting to wish she could fly or leap tall buildings in a single bound. Or at least have Blackbird fix her up some kind of jetpack for crying out loud. Her in superhero gear flying waywardly through the Cadric City downtown on a pink and purple bike was just humiliating. Thankfully most seemed glued to their screens to not really notice her.
The police had already surrounded the building. Splinterbark rode to the side of the building that faced away from any of the main streets. There was another building that was quite close and created a bit of an alley between the two. She tossed a logging hook over the brick wall and scaled the gate. Once over she brushed against the furthermost side of the alley until they reached a fire escape. Frix helped get the ladder down and together they climbed up until they had passed four floors and to the door for it. She shoved the door forward slightly until she could reveal the catch. Splinterbark jammed a nail between the latch bolt and the strike plate. With a bit of wiggling of the nail, she was able to slide the catch in and slip inside.
The news hall was mostly empty save for a few guards patrolling the area for any rival reporters sneaking in or any other own trying to do something stupid. Splinterbark tapped her forehead and began counting imaginary numbers in her head. She nodded to Frix and motioned for him to follow. She slid along the wall and turned left. The hall split into three ways this time and she went right. Then another split and they went to the left. The hallway they needed was clear enough. The doors to Studio 4 were still wrenched from their hinges and had been tossed out into the hall. Metilla Gorilla was pacing patiently before his captives. Splinterbark retreated back until she found a utility closet. She started searching the walls and shoving aside shelves and tapping with her hook.
“You seem to know your way in this building”, Frix commented.
“You’d be surprised the secrets in this building not even the big brass don’t know about. Mom’s side of the family have been newshounds for years. Now I could have sworn, ah ha!” She fitted her hook into a thin crack in the wall pried it open. The door creaked a bit but opened to reveal a shaft with a ladder inside. The pair pressed inside though her cant hook proved difficult to fit inside the cramped space. They had to maneuver it straight up ahead of them and then Frix had to carry it just above Splinterbark’s head as she climbed up into the vents. The vents were wide and thankfully nice and cool since heating the building was expensive. Plus the stage lights gave off enough heat as it was. The two shimmied their way until they reached the vent right above the studio.
Metilla was still keeping an eye on the door and the vent was just far back enough to put room between her and the gorilla. Irene shifted where her seat was and managed to get the gag off.
“Hey! Yeah you ya big hairy can opener! Why don’t ya lossen these ropes on me and I’ll batter ya six weeks from Tuesday!” Metilla Gorilla turned and started shifting back to her and the vent. Splinterbark backed up slightly hoping he did not look up. The purple primate leaned down and took a big whiff above the girls. Suri squirmed as moisture from his hot and heavy breath graced her face. Vivian cracked a smile underneath her gag. Metilla was about to say something when the jingle ‘This is Halloween’ came buzzing from Irene’s pocket. Metilla gingerly picked up the phone with his mechanical appendage and glanced at the caller ID. He grinned and answered’
“Ah, Monsieur Dougal. How nice to call your wife to make sure she is okay.”
“What do you want?” the yelling on the other line was loud enough for even Splinterbark to hear. Metilla was moving back towards the door now, phone still in hand.
“That is up to the town saviors, if they show up and they only have fifteen minutes left.”
“Metilla so help me, if you harm a hair on her head…”
“Or what? You’ll give me a bad room in your third class suite?”
“You wish that was the worst I could do to you.”
Metilla bellowed with laughter at the threat. His eyes were closed and his back completely to the vent. Frix pried the grate open from the outside and Splinterbark leapt, a bit gangly, down on the floor. She got up and rushed right up to the beast and yelled out, “Surprise!” before swinging her bat right across his face and shattering his monocle.
The strike only stunned him temporarily but long enough for Splinterbark to leap back and keep distance. Metilla snarled and his metallic hand shot out trying to grapple the girl. Splinterbark dodged and weaved the first three attempts. On the forth she caught the hand with her hook and jamming the heel of her boot into the floor she twisted her body until she could spin the metallic fist around and have the thing soar at Metilla instead. She did not knock over the creature as she hoped but it was enough to twist the gorilla around with his back towards her. From her pouch she tossed the hook and tether and lassoed his leg. Using the momentum of her rolling back, she knocked his legs together and forced the beast to topple over.
“You’ve gotten better since we’ve last tangled. But where is your partner hmm? You know, the only one the city can remember the name of.” Splinterbark plucked a piece of oak from her pouch and started tossing it to herself.
“Well now you’re just being rude. You and I have a score to settle”, she declared. Metilla spun the greave on his wrist and a nozzle popped up.
“If that is what you wish, my dear. As a gentleman, I shall oblige you.” He fired three consecutive blasts at his target. The dark colored ooze splattered about against the walls and floor when Splinterbark ducked and rolled her body behind the couch. She tossed up a piece of wood in the air and smacked it with extra force with her bat. She had timed it to make it explode with as close proximity as possible and hopefully blind him enough to get the hostages out of the way. Her plan did not exactly work as Metilla tapped his hat and a face shield dropped down.
“Did you really think you could use the same trick twice?”
“Honest answer? Yeah kind of.” Metilla lunged towards her and snatched up the couch she had been hiding behind. Splinterbark just barely ducked under his grab and pulled herself underneath the coffee table the hostages were still attached to. She swung towards the end of the table and tried to kick it out of the way before being smacked in the chest with the end of the couch. She careened across the room and topped unto one of the camera stands. The hefty device topped over but she managed to roll between the space between the camera and the tripod base. She was still pinned and made sure as the gorilla placed his foot on the tripod legs.
“You were a fool to face me alone, little girl.”
A dark colored orb of energy stuck itself to his broad chest and unleased a massive energy blast that sent him staggering back. Among the smoke, Splinterbark could feel the camera stand being lifted off her and spiny hands hoisted her to her feet. They then grabbed her by the hand and jerked her back towards the set. The smoke settled to revel Hunter at her side, blade ready and now pacing in a wide semicircle with his eyes on the target.
“Not complaing but what the heck are you doing here?”
“I told you I was getting bored. Oh and by the way, you’re welcome.” Metilla Gorilla rubbed the smoke from his eyes and glowered at the insectoid imp.
“And who are you supposed to be? The Black Beetle?” Hunter slapped his knees and chortled.
“Finally! Someone actually gets my costume theme. I mean really, do I look like a butterfly or a damselfly? Honestly.” Metilla turned the only working camera towards his face.
“Well well well, it seems the Silver Guardian is too much of a coward that he sends the Black Beetle to face his defeat and save his sidekick.” Metilla’s speech was interrupted by the rolling laughter from behind him. Hunter was clutching his abdomen and cackling himself into tears. He pounded the table and gasped for air between giggles. With a big inhale he centered himself and straightened out the collar on his jacket. With a jaunty twirl he faced the plum primate and leaned on his sword like a gentleman’s cane.
“Everything you just said right now…is wrong. Avanti!”
Hunter bounced up and off the light railings and struck with the butt of his sword against Metilla’s forehead. While the gorilla was only stunned for a brief moment and snatched up the broken camera stand and swung it like a club. Hunter parried the first strike with his own blade just enough to not be crushed and attempted to maneuver around him for a quick strike to the side. Metilla dropped the camera in front of him and let his weapon take the hit. With the sword stuck in the metal, the gorilla was able to wrench the sword from Hunter’s grip with one big yank around his head. With his flesh hand, he back smacked Hunter across the room. Hunter twisted his body in the air and plunged his talons into the ground to stop himself. Metilla grinned and attempted to wrench the sword from the camera.
“Oh you might not want to touch that, Mr. Monkey,” Hunter warned him. Metilla spat at him and grasped the handle of the blade. The sword hissed and then erupted into flames around Metilla’s hand.
“See, you try to be nice and people just don’t want to listen to you.” The inability to not use the blade was not going to stop the titan terror. He still had the camera for a weapon and he charged at the bouncing bug with it swinging above his head.
Splinterbark was busy untying the three hostages. Hunter was playfully swing about and was getting a bit careless where he was aiming those magic blasts. When she ungagged Suri, the woman spat,
“This is all your fault! If you hadn’t shown in the first place.”
“Oh shut up, Suri”, Vivian and Irene snapped. She grabbed Suri and Irene and tried to lead them out into the hall to escape. Metilla fired a few blasts above the doorframe and made the exit collapse in front of them.
“No one is going anywhere until Silver shows his face and I’ll break everyone’s legs if I have to!”
****
No one was really paying attention to their academics. Even the gym teacher had his phone turned into the news broadcast while everyone was doing their stretches. Thomas had noted that his best buddy seemed quite distracted. Twice he had mistimed the warm-up counts. Reed was no muscular mastodon, but he will had discipline. Even during their push-ups his arms were quivering even more than usual during exercise. As the teacher was leading them towards the track, Thomas brought up they thought it strange that Silver was not there facing Metilla Gorilla himself.
“I…I don’t know. Maybe he’s having second thoughts about being the hero?” was Reed’s meek response.
“Yeah being the city’s protector has to be tough. You don’t know if people are going to love you or hate you.” Reed bit his lip hard at his friend’s statement. They had just started on the track when the cackle of the Hunter could be heard from the speaker. Reed’s eyes went wide and the color drained from his face. Then the Metilla announced that a black beetle had come and how much of a coward the Silver Guardian was. He couldn’t see the phone where he was but he knew that laugh all too well. Suddenly there the sound of a crash and Metilla demanding for Silver to come or else. The teacher blew the whistle for everyone to start the run. Reed stumbled as usual but got going. Then halfway through the first lap, his right leg kicked out from underneath him and stuck the ankle of his left leg. Reed tumbled and a straggler fell right on top of him. Reed grasped his swollen ankle as he tried to get up. The coach halted the run and carried Reed off the field. Thomas volunteered to take him to nurse’s office and picked up the blond boy with both arms. Once they were inside, Reed was shocked to find they weren’t heading towards the nurse’s office but one of the dead end halls to the side.
“You suck at trying to fake an injury.”
“What are you talking about? I think my ankle is actually swollen.”
“And that is going to stop the Silver Guardian, how?” Reed was about to shout all manners of denial but Thomas put his finger to Reed’s lips and shushed him.
“You’ve got a partner to save, remember?”
****
Metilla’s makeshift hammer kept Hunter from getting back his weapon. To make matters even more infuriating, every time he tried to destroy the camera with his magic, the sword would draw the power away and absorb it. He mused how unfair this fight was getting, but his heart was racing with the excitement. He could not remember the last time a fight was so much fun. Splinterbark and Frix were trying to remove the debris to escape, but the stones were packed tight. Plus it was mostly steel and plastic; making her power useless. Hunter miscalculated a strike and Metilla grasped him by his cape. Like a ragdoll Hunter was swung and smashed about the room like a dog toy. Lying flat on his back Hunter braced for the impact of the falling camera. The camera shattered on a pair of silver greaves that came between him and the sprawled out Hunter.
Silver snatched Metilla by his waistcoat and spun him about like a discus before hurling him against the broken furniture. Silver kicked Hunter’s sword up in the air and caught it with ease. He handed the blade to Hunter who was surprised to see the angel not catching fire.
“I had it under control you know.”
“If becoming a beetle pate was your intention, then yes you had it under control.” Silver plucked the slightly dazed Hunter and slid him across the room towards the blocked door.
“This is my fight. I’m the one he wants”, Silver declared. He half expected Hunter to protest, but was astounded to see the demon step back and bow with a sweeping gesture towards the gorilla.
Metilla wiped a bit of blood from his lips and cracked his knuckles.
“So you at last show up. Good. I wanted to personally teach you a lesson.”
He swung his arms downward and sent a wave of debris towards the angel. Silver pounded though until he could get close to the beast. Metilla shot both arms against him and Silver held them firm. The two tried to push back the other with very little on either side budging. Silver was starting to buckle under the continued weight of the titanic primate.
“Even the Golden Guardian and that beetle boy gave me more trouble than you. The city was right, you will never be like your predecessor. You’ll never live up to his image.” Silver held fast in his position and was slowly gaining ground.
“I….I…I will protect this city from you and others like you!” Silver threw his weight back and the sudden loss of balance threw Metilla off his own. Silver tucked his legs in front of him and kicked hard upwards. The impact tore up the flooring and revealed a wooden and steel framework underneath.
Hunter was trying to leave when Splinterbark grabbed his cape.
“And where you going beetle brain? I thought you were having soooooo much fun.” Hunter shrugged and tugged his cape out of her hand.
“I don’t take away fights that belong to someone else. So I have no reason to stick around.”
“Ooooh I see. Well could you at least unblock the door? Or is that too hard for the great and glorious Hunter?”
“Oooh no, don’t you try goading me into your work.” Splinterbark put her hands behind her head and started to walk away.
“Okay then. Guess you don’t want to be in on the finishing blow since you did help with the hunt. Go flutter away and dance with a bug zapper. Buh bye.” Hunter grabbed her and spun her around to face him.
“You are a wicked little harlot, you know that? So what do you have in mind?”
“Quick question, how sharp is your sword?”
Silver was starting to gasp for breath right now. He and Metilla had traded several hard blows and neither was ready to fall. Suddenly he saw the ground crack in a circle just behind the gorilla.
“Silver! Get Metilla in the middle of the circle!” Metilla had charged up his goo blaster to keep Silver pinned. Globs the sticky stuff gummed up his wings, but Silver kept pressing forward. He ducked under the last shot and hurled his burly weight against the beast’s chest toppling him slightly. Silver jumped in the air and kicked him hard in the chest as Metilla fell into the center of the circle. The ape rose his arm, but the angel grasped and rammed it repeatedly into the ground until it was practically embedded in the tile floor.
“Hunter, now! Low and high!” Splinterbark shouted above the roaring cries of the monster. Hunter bounded forward and dug his blade between the cracks formed in the floor. Almost skating on the ground, he sliced his weapon along the line while his magic bored a hole in the ceiling above. The ground plummeted underneath the gorilla while the celling sandwiched the beast between two subfloors of steel and timber. Metilla hurled himself from the rubble and then collapsed unconscious on the heap. Hunter held his blade above the neck of the sleeping beast, but Silver gripped his wrist hard.
“He’s not one of your monsters. Don’t even try it.”
“You sure? It’s a talking gorilla with an arm canon. Kinda seems in line with the spooky scaries I deal with.” Silver tightened his fist until Hunter began to wince.
“I said, don’t…try…it”, Silver threatened.
“You…did it? Oh my god, you guys did it!” Splinterbark chirped. Hunter and Silver looked at each other and the back at her. Their conversation was interrupted by sounds below of the police trying to get in to the studio they were now in. Hunter saluted them and headed for the window.
“I ain’t sticking around. Getting dragged into the spotlight isn’t my thing. See ya peeps. It’s been fun. I’ll stick to the nightly ghouls if you won’t mind.” He cut a hole in the window and bounced out across the rooftops below.
“We should get going too”, Silver remarked.
“You stupid worthless brats!” Suri shrieked. She stormed towards them with her face smeared with a mix of dirt and makeup. “Look at what you’ve done! Look at this mess! The Golden Guardian would have been smart enough to take it outside you second rate second place imbecile!” Silver’s face slowly morphed into a grimace as his fist clenched over his holster. Splinterbark grabbed him by his coat and shook her head silently. Silver Guardian exhaled and let his face relax as he gingerly picked up Splinterbark to leave.
“Silver Guardian”, Vivian called after him which made him pause. Vivian bowed slightly.
“Thank you for saving our lives.”
“What are you doing? Don’t thank them!”
“Just try to be a bit more mindful of collateral damage. Okay?” Splinterbark saw a small genuine smile briefly appear on her partner’s face and he nodded back. All three woman watched at the two escaped out the hole and disappeared among the city skyline.
****
Blackbird paced back and forth as Reed and Shelly sat in his office after school. For almost fifteen minutes he did not say a word and just walked back and forth between the walls of his office. The teenage pair kept glancing at each other and wanted to be the first to say something only for Blackbird to glare at them to silence them. Finally the counselor slammed his hands on the table.
“So let’s run it down shall we? One, you both skipped class. Two, you disobeyed my orders and went out into the field. Three, you caused massive property damage to the television station. And four…you two worked together and took Metilla Gorilla down.” He said all with such a serious tone that neither student was unsure if the counselor was pleased or not.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Blackbird. I’m the reason Reed went out there…and sprained his ankle to do it”, Shelly admitted. “But I could not just stand by. I had do to something!”
“And it had nothing to do with the fact that it was your mother as one of the hostages.”
“Well…just a little. But I would have done it regardless! It was kind of a stupid move though. Hunter and Silver had to save me. ” Blackbird sat down and drummed his fingers on the table.
“You’re right. It was a dumb move on your part. But I am impressed none the less. Despite the structural damage you two accomplished, you got a very dangerous fiend off the streets. A lot more could have gotten hurt or worse. Still, you disregarded my orders. Now get into uniform and I want five laps around the jogging course. Then we’ll start training you to NOT blow up giant holes in buildings.” Reed and Shelly stood up and saluted with a ‘yes sir!’ before being lead to the training ground underneath. Reed stopped and snapped his fingers.
“Oh uh, Mr. Blackbird sir, one little thing I kind of forgot until right now and it might be a bit of a problem.”

[Lovetheangelshadow]

Chapter 11: Invasion of the Black GorillasKing’s Island Prison was in the middle of a vast deep lake that had long since been uninhabitable for living creatures and then further surrounded by a disused quarry yard. Once it had been a farming colony but early industrialization and crowding had polluted the area leaving the place abandoned and the lake little more than a still and sometimes stagnant body of water. A couple decades after the settlement had left, some genius found the island to be a suitable place for a prison for the rising tide of super powered criminals. It was a massive state of the art prison-a cold bleak castle like structure with walls coated in barbs and cameras. Towers stretched along the sky and burned brightly as the sun went down.
Metilla Gorilla had been shuffled into one of the underground cells slated for their more dangerous felons. The power core had been wrenched from his arm while under the lull of sleeping drugs and was now little more than a dead weight. The mechanical piece had been grafted directly to his flesh so it was impossible for them to remove it. Now he was stuck in a plastic and steel cage with his arms bounded to the wall with thick cables. His luxurious vest and tie had been taken away and an ill-fitting prison uniform had been forced on him. Metilla had been running what happened thorough his head. Not even the Golden Guardian had managed to capture him. The only one who had ever been able to do that and on repeated occasions was the Songbird. How could mere childlings defeat him?
A faint rapping of knuckles on his cage got his attention. At first he had to squint to make out the dark form of his visitor. The man had taken a seat and interlaced his fingers as he made eye contact with the primate.

“Having a bad day, Mr. Simmons? Perhaps you’re too old for this kind of work?” Metilla Gorilla’s eyes widened and he jerked towards his visitor. He could finally see who it was grinning at him like a five year old at the zoo. Metilla tried to lunge for the black angel and was snapped back against the wall by the cables.
“What are you doing here?” he snapped.
“I have come to collect my favor”, the visitor grinned simply. Metilla tried once again to each the glass with his one useable hand and the coil snapped it behind him.
“I owe you nothing! You failed your end of the bargain!” The visitor pulled out the contract and pressed it against the glass.
“The contract, the contract you signed, stipulates clearly that I was to remove the Golden Guardian from action. There is nothing about a Silver Guardian or a deer girl or a bug boy. Not my fault you got beaten by a wet-behind-the-ears Guardian.” Metilla just wheezed and laughed as he turned towards the back of the cell.
“Well, demand your little favor all you want. I am not helping you and I can’t get out of this cell anyway. You want to defeat the Silver Guardian? Do it yourself.” The visitor smiled and he pulled a small black box from the inside of his coat.

“Then you really should not have made a deal with a devil.” He opened the box and a small gooey slug slipped out. It pressed its way between the minute pores between the plastic panels and lurched its way towards the gorilla. The Black Guardian saluted and melted into the shadows.
The slug was too small for the cameras to see so on the monitor looked like Metilla was trying to get away from some kind of dust speck. The ooze latched itself onto the primate’s toes and the parasite spread itself out at increasing speed. The goo wrapped itself about though every follicle of Metilla’s fur and surged though the mechanical apparatus. Gears, wires, circuit boards, pistons all became encased within the slushy mass.
The doors to the cell burst open. A massive black gorilla had emerged. Its eyes dilated and blazing red like the exhaust of some internal machine. The guard, on instinct, fired his gun. Long silky tentacles sprung from the gorilla’s back and smacked away every bullet that came near. With a jerky motion, the beast raised up his canon arm and fired several black blobs at its attacker. One shot managed to catch the guard in the leg as he fled. The blobby substance coated the guard and forced him to collapse in terrible agony until he was fully cocooned. Suddenly his muscles began to swell in size like balloons and his gut popped a few times its original size. His head widened and the face flattened. His hands creaked and groaned as they transformed into large paw-like appendages. Standing there now was nothing human-but a large inky gorilla with hollow eyes and a gurgling screech.
More guards had filtered in upon hearing the commotion. The pitch-black beast lumbered forward and sunk its squishy fangs onto the shoulder of another guard who had foolishly gotten to close. Ink stained the wound that spread through the poor man’s body. He screamed in agony as he too transformed into one of the slaves of the gorilla master. Metilla and his two new minions stormed through the compound and infecting every guard they came upon in their escape. Black Guardian hovered above the island laughing gleefully as the ape army came pouring out of the main gate. Even the lake did not seem to stop them in their stampede towards the city. They lashed and thrashed at the water until they had finally reached the shore, not one drop of ink washed away.
“Now my little circus chimp, bring all who stand in your way into your thrall! That silver whelp doesn’t even know how to stop you and his ring will be mine!”
****

The following day had Shelly and Reed waiting nervously inside the counselor’s office after school. Finally Thomas had entered and waved cheerfully as he casually walked in. He spun the extra chair at the desk before sitting down with his arms resting crossed on the back of the chair. Mr. Blackbird tapped his beak-like nose and raised an eyebrow as this pleasant fellow.
“Sorry I took so long, guys. I had to call mom first so she’s not waiting in the parking lot. She kinda doesn’t have a parking pass and Headmaster Jestro…oh right, I’m in trouble aren’t I?” Thomas cleared his throat and turned the chair around to its proper position. Blackbird narrowed his eyes.
“So Mr. Altamiri, this is the civilian you were talking about? Tell me, boy, what made you deduce this?” Thomas put his arm around Reed and patted the shoulder furthest from him.
“Well Reed and I have been best buds for like two years now and you kind of notice certain…things. Certain tells I guess. Look I swear I have not told a single person. If there is one thing I know, it is how to keep something secret.” Reed rolled his eyes.
“And yet you like sharing stories of humiliation regarding me no problem,” Reed groaned.
“That’s because I like seeing you flustered every now and then”, Thomas jibed and ruffled Reed’s bangs in playful jest. Blackbird squinted his one good eye at Thomas. His hand grasped the purple tufts of Thomas’ hair and twisted his face from side to side.
“You look familiar”, he mused.
“I don’t believe we’ve met, sir. I’ve only lived in Cadric City for two years.”
“What’s your full name?”
“Thomas James Payne, sir.”
“Payne…are your parents James and Elizabeth Payne?” This made Thomas stand straight up in his seat.
“Y-yeah! You know them?” Blackbird smiled gently.
“More or less though I have not seen them for almost ten years. How are they these days?” For the first time to Reed’s memory, Thomas actually seemed to cringe at the thought of answering. He rubbed his wrists rather nervously and squeaked out a,
“They’re good.” Shelly raised her hand.

“Okay so as much as this crypto conversation is interesting, do we like need to mind wipe Thomas or something? Wait, can we even do that?” Blackbird wheezed a laugh.
“Unfortunately I no longer have privy to that kind of tech anymore. But, we need not worry. He’ll be silent on this matter. However, this is not the sole reason I called you. Come!”
Blackbird revealed the passage to the training grounds down below. Thomas snapped back from nervous depression to kid in the candy store mood in less than three seconds. He darted around with all the machines and courses with absolute glee and shouting that he knew it all along. Thomas even examined the walls themselves and babbled on how perfect and solid they were. Then went on a tirade of the architect who had the brilliant idea of breaking the original tunneling underneath the school stadium in favor of a ‘modern’ one.
“How else you think that Terror-Fin got inside Valdus Academy?” he explained.
“If you are done touching everything, come to the monitor. I have something to show you”, Blackbird barked.
Blackbird pulled up the monitor and revealed a still image of a black colored Metilla Gorilla breaking out of his cell.
“This was pulled from King’s Island Prison’s cameras last night.” Reed and Shelly performed a combination of groans and ‘are you kidding me?’ Blackbird pulled up a few more pictures on the screen both before and after the break. Metilla had received a visitor, but the camera seemed unable to identify him. He then played the footage of Metilla attacking the guards and turning them into syrupy simian monsters.
“You have access to the prison cameras because…” Reed inquired.
“I like to keep an eye on things. For now the police has kept a lid on this incident, thankfully. The last thing we need is to give people more ammunition against the two of you.”
“That’s true enough. Trust me Reed, you don’t want to know some of the things people say about you online. Also Rule 34”, Thomas chimed in.
“What is Rule 34?” Shelly patted Reed’s shoulder.
“Trust me, sweetie. You DON’T want to know.” Blackbird pulled up a few more images. This time it was a combination of less than quality camera footage or photos of people.

“It took some late night digging but I was able to find something of a trail. According to police reports, Metilla has been spotted at the Firebringer Gym where most of the patrons have disappeared, the Cadric Arms hotel where a visiting football team was staying, and the cheerleader squad from Cadric State High.”
“I get the gym and the hockey team, but why turn cheerleaders into monkey monsters”, Reed asked.
“You kidding? You’ve never been around them, have you? Those guys can be mean”, Shelly exclaimed.
“I can attest to that. I still have scars to prove it”, Thomas chimed in. Reed buried his face in his palm.
“I really do not want to know the story behind that, Thomas.” Thomas and Shelly burst out laughing at Reed’s discomfort. Blackbird rapped for order.
“Since then there hasn’t seemed to be further activity though I think I know why.” He pulled up the footage from the school parking lot. When Metilla had completed his task of conversion, he seemed to collapse for a moment in exhaustion before slowly lumbering back into the shadows with his new minions in tow.
“It’s most likely this new power of his wears him down after converting so many people.”
“Oh great, so in other words, wait for him to make more monkeys and then drop a building on him”, Shelly piped up.
“You can’t win all fights dropping them though floors”, Blackbird retorted, though there was no ire in his tone.
“You sure?” Shelly quipped playing along.
“You are starting to sound like Hunter. Cut it out!” Reed snapped.
“Fine fine. So Thomas, you gonna don some tights and fight crime? You can be…Skater Boy! And then there is that odd Skate Man comic…” Thomas waved his hands and shook his head.
“Whoa ho no, I don’t have a nigh impregnable bod or magic wood powers. I…super hero stuff isn’t for me. But I’ve got your guyses back none the less. You can count on that!”
“That and his mother might have my neck”, Blackbird added.

The plan was for Blackbird to keep an eye out and deduce where Metilla might strike next. If Reed would fly above the city and see if he could spot things from there. Reed protested he really couldn’t do it tonight. He had to attend a grand opening party with his family. Some words were exchanged between Reed and Blackbird while Thomas and Shelly watched. She seemed a little put out not being included, but her master did have somewhat of a point. Also she had to also attend a high rise party as well. She wondered if it was the same one.
****
The news of the impending simian invasion did not just reach the ears of the police and Blackbird. Down below under the Altamiri estate, Morgan and Marco were looking at the same prison footage Blackbird had…helped himself to. Morgan cringed as the gunk that transformed the gorilla into this unnatural abomination and infected all who stood in his path. He began to feel a familiarity with that substance. He hadn’t told about that to his son either since he still wasn’t sure what it was himself. The film was not perfect, but it seemed similar to whatever Black Guardian had used against him. An anger was slowly rising in his throat as he stood helpless watching people cry for help before being taken. What was worse there was nothing he could do.
“There is some kind of magic at work here. Didn’t you take on a witchy like person who did something similar last year? The one who turned everyone into cats?” Marco asked his father.
“Yeah, and I was able to free the victims thanks to being able to exorcise the curse from them. I could take care of this problem now, but SOMEONE managed to get the ring stolen.” He jabbed Marco in the chest and he nearly fell back in his chair from the impact.
“Hey, I put it in the safe like you told me to! I don’t know who took it. Besides, neither of us could get it work for either of us anyway. We should be considered lucky someone out there can. I’m going to see if I can contact Silver Guardian and telling him how to purify.” Marco started to head upstairs when Morgan grabbed his arm.
“You will do no such thing!”
“Dad, are you nuts? We got to help any way we can.”
“That brat is no Guardian! He’s a coward and a thief who’s only going to do harm to my city!”
“It’s not YOUR city, dad. And you’re not the Guardian right now! Now let go, you forget we have a party to attend at the preview of the Grand Dougal Regal Arms tonight?”
****

The Dougal Regal Arms was the largest hotel in Cadric City. Resting across from the Cadric Convention Center, the hotel had been given the façade of a fantasy castle with a slightly pink tone to its stone walls and weather resistant colored flags dancing on blue tinged spires. Inside the lobby was carpeted with pink and purple floweret designs and large wall paneling on the ceiling. Pictures of influential Cadric City residents through the years donned the walls in gilded frames. Along the stair spires, hand carved mythical creatures danced on the spires and along the safety railing upstairs.
Desmond Dougal was a large man standing by the door and greeting the guests into the preview party. He was not quite as tall as his stepson, but was still a man of considerable presence. Not very muscular, but had broad shoulders and meaty arms that suggested he could throw you across the conference table should he so please. Like his daughter, he boasted the unusual wine colored red hair that was tailored into a sizeable beard. His barrel like chest just fitted into his tailored blue suit. Irene was snug in a dark green velour dress that complemented her braided red hair. Alucard was in a tuxedo jacket worn casual style while Lynn was in a pink and purple evening gown. The children were hovering close to the entrance but not near enough to actually greet anyone.

“Ah my good fellow Arthur Holmes and family! Welcome welcome! They are just loving the spires.” He shook hands with Arthur and Vivian vigorously.
“Oh no I can’t take all the credit. Those designs you gave me were most excellent to work off of.”
“Between you and me, you can thank my daughter for those. Got an eye for design she does.” Shelly had already started to wander inside the lobby. Frix sat on her shoulder and was humming in tune with the band. He mused how he once attended grand parties such as this where he basked in the glory of opulence and people threw gifts at his hooves. Shelly was pretty sure he was exaggerating but let him go along since it seemed to make him happy. She had almost bumped into Lynn as she was reaching for a roving tray of garlic shrimp.
“Oh hi Lynn. You look really pretty today. Ha ha it’s like so weird seeing you out of uniform”, Shelly chuckled. Lynn’s eyes examined Shelly’s attire which was just khakis and a ¾ sleeve blouse with a disapproving eye.
“Are you mocking me?” Lynn sneered.
“No, I was being serious. Oh yeah! I just heard your dad say you designed the spires daddy made. I’ve seen the drawings. You’re really really good. And now everyone is going to see them. That’s awesome!” Lynn’s olive face turned pale and she couldn’t respond.
“You know, Shelly, you’re the only one I know to make my precious stepsister speechless”, Alucard chuckled. Lynn frowned and then huffed while rolling her bare shoulder back.
“Well I am just getting the respect I deserve dear stepbrother.” The tray of garlic shrimp had come back and Shelly snatched two. The server offered some to the Dougal siblings. Lynn helped herself to one while Alucard hissed but politely declined. He did, though grab a cracker with steak tartare topping.
“So is your brother like an actual vampire that uses SPF 1000 sunscreen or what?” Shelly ribbed Lynn. Both the Dougal children almost choked on their appetizers.
“The Dougals actually getting caught off guard? I almost wish I could have recorded it.”
Reed had changed from his typical school uniform to a white business-style suit. Truth be told, aside from the colors he did not look that much different outside his school uniform. His clothes were still professionally pressed and his hair impeccably tailored. It was hard to believe his Guardian form was a shirtless biker seraphim.
“Fancy talk for someone not a social butterfly”, Alucard nipped.
“My father’s company did the advertising designs and marketing for the hotel, hence the invitations.” He glanced up the stairwell where his dad and older brother were chatting it up gleefully with a few members from city hall. A woman in a wheelchair had maneuvered towards them. Lenora Altamiri smiled and waved hello.
“Oh Reed, are these your friends?” The Dougal children simultaneously responded with a no and they were just classmates. Lenora responded with an ‘oh’ and was about to apologize when there was a loud clatter at the front door.

Metilla had smashed over the registration podium and was surrounded by his vassals. With gruesome gurgles and growls he snarled and grunted and bellowed orders to attack and ensnare everyone inside that lobby. He fired several shots in the air and they bounced and splatted across the space. The hall, once filled with jazz music, was now occupied with screams of terror or torture as the black morass gobbled up any living thing it touched. The four had been lucky from the first volley as they had been behind a sign stand that had been up for advertising rates.
Reed grabbed his mother’s wheelchair and was clumsily hobbling to shove her out into one of the lower halls and out of sight. A gloppy gorilla snapped him by his still slightly swollen ankle and jerked him off his balance. The creature was dragging him back across the carpet and bit his leg with intent to spread its disease and induce him to their cause. The only thing it succeeded in doing was make four nice bloody holes in his lower leg. The beast was confused and frustrated at the same time. The only thing drumming through its mind was the sole order to capture and transform. This situation was not in its programming. It started to heave up Reed and take him towards its master to show the problem. A lamp smashed against its face and it dropped the boy. Lenora now had the lamp stand in her hands and the broken light bulb aimed right at the creature’s chest. She lurched forward using the lamp base as a paddle and struck the broad side of the stand against the throat of the monster. The monkey grabbed the stand and tried to wrench it from Lenora’s hands. She wouldn’t and now the two were playing a push me pull you game with the rod. She barked for her son to get out of there. Reed was frozen numb with dread. Suddenly the ape was able to jerk his mother out of her chair and chomped on her shoulder. The ooze was spreading even as Lenora was still yelling for her son to run. Reed watched in horror watching her body stretch and bloat out before screeching in his direction to entrap him as well.
Reed tried to run, but the wound in his leg impeded his movement. He felt large hands grab him and heave him away as the transformed Lenora’s fist almost collided with his stomach. Marco had hurled Reed over his shoulder and was barreling through the infected throngs towards one of the side halls and into the restroom. Reed was shaking uncontrollably and could barely choke out that their mother had been taken.
“Let’s take care of your ankle first, okay.”
“W-w-where’s father?”
“And I got split up when some baboon got us on the stairs. A folding chair saved us. Hold still will you?” He had torn the sleeve off his suit and was wrapping it around Reed’s leg to get the bleeding to stop. The bandage was a bit clunky, but it worked. Marco was now heading back outside to see if could find their father and for Reed to lock the door behind him. Once Marco had gone, Reed knew the Silver was needed on the scene. Thank god wounds as Reed did not transfer over.

Alucard and Lynn were back to back fending off the incoming horde with serving platters and utensils. Their parents had already been taken the moment Metilla had declared his invasion of the hotel party. When one had been grabbed by a monkey, the other bashed it away before it could poison. For the moment they had forgotten they were step siblings and were just trying to get out of there. They whipped and lashed until they had finally gotten to the emergency exit. They tried calling for their respective biological parents but their voices were drowned out by the rising screams and growls. Lynn had just gotten outside when a speedy screecher had leapt down from a lighting fixture and snapped Alucard by his shoulders. The emergency door slammed shut between the siblings when Alucard had let go to try and get the thing off. Of course the door could only open from the inside, but Lynn still tried. The monkey chirped and snapped its little jaws on Alucard’s neck and pumped the contagion into his veins. Suddenly the screeching beast howled in agony and lurched away. Black foam was pooling about its mouth and it was frantically scraping its muzzle clean. Wrapping his tie around the two pricks in his neck, Alucard had staggered out to join his sister outside. She saw there was bleeding about his neck and demanded to know what happened.
“I…I’m not sure. Maybe it didn’t like tartare.”
Shelly had ducked under the table. It wasn’t like she could stuff her costume in her slacks. So far the beasts didn’t look underneath and the tables were such a way most adults could not fit under there anyway. Her hiding would not last long though. Metilla Gorilla had tossed the table aside and now had his cannon aimed right at her.
“What are you doing Metilla?” Shelly cried out at him. The beast paused as if some dull concept of something besides attack and entrap was buzzing in his brain.
“This isn’t your style at all! The Metilla I know wouldn’t just bash his way into a place like this like some plebian rat. Nor would he put anyone not attacking him in intentional harm. Seriously, you’d be chilling out in the top royal suite enjoying the comforts of the elite!” Metilla Gorilla’s arm was starting to quiver. Then he held his head in his hands and shook and thrashed about. His meaty paws tried to tear at the oozing mass seeped in his flesh, but no avail. Then his form twisted and limped like a puppet on strings and he jerkily aimed his weapon at her. Shelly tried to run only for the ooze to stick to her heel. She wrenched her shoe off and ran awkwardly through the crows. Metilla was going to shoot her again but a silver blur whooped him across the room.
Shelly cried out to Silver and he snatched her up while flying towards the balcony. Morgan and Marco saw this yelled for Silver to bring Shelly up to them on the second floor gallery.
“So…you’re the Silver Guardian, are you? You could have had the decency to at least put on a damn shirt, you damn little thief”, Marco snapped at him.
“Not a good time now, Dad!” Just as he said it an inky menace had scambled up to the top and lashed its paws on Shelly’s leg. Silver kicked it off but it’s nails cut into Shelly’s ankle as it plummeted down to the floor. The ooze was slowly transforming her flesh even as Frix was trying to pry it loose.
“Well don’t just stand here! Are you going to purify her or what?”
“Pura…what now?” Silver stammered. Marco shot a glare at his father. Morgan inhaled and swallowed hard.
“As a Guardian you have the power to dispel dark enchantments. You have to concentrate your energy and think of thoughts of serenity, purity, resolve, and all that.” Silver nodded and whipped out his pistol. The three shouted at what the heck he was thinking.
“This is the best way I can concentrate.”
“This isn’t like your energy blasts, boy! Those come from righteous fury! If you lose concentration, you could do more harm than good! Don’t be an idiot!” The ooze was at Shelly’s waist now.
“The man’s right! Don’t be stupid”, Frix chimed in even if only Silver and Shelly could hear him.
“Give it your best shot, Silver. I trust you”, Shelly said to him. Silver exhaled in relief. It helped slightly but his hand was still spamming. He raised up the gun above his head and then slammed it down on his palm.
“Silver Strike”, he shouted out the moment he pulled the trigger. The light that pulsed was not the same golden color as his usual repulse strike but rather was a curious swirl of blue and silver. Shards of light struck against the ooze and it shrieked and shriveled as it had been expelled from Shelly’s flesh. The ooze tried to crawl away only for Silver to execute it permanently with a swift gunshot. Morgan lightly smacked Silver’s shoulder with the back of his hand.
“What the hell was that? Silver Strike? How corny can you get? You watch the same dumb shows as my son?” Silver clenched his fist but he knew enough it was not worth it. Plus he could snap Morgan in two if he wanted to.
“It was the only way I could concentrate, honestly. Heads up!” Silver fired two more shots as two monkeys had made their way up to the second floor. The ooze shriveled away from their bodies revealing Arthur and Vivian Holmes inside. Shelly raced up to them and hugged them. Silver tried to fire a few more purification pulses down below, but it was barely enough to make a dent in the growing army. He was started to feel a bit exhausted as well and beads of sweat were starting to form about his face.
“Purifying someone uses up the energy that gives you your Guardian form”, Morgan informed him dismissively.
“Now you tell me!” Silver gasped. Shelly suggested that maybe if they cut the power at the source, everyone else would follow.
“If you’re gasping now, you don’t stand a chance against Metilla”, Morgan sneered.
“For once you and I are in agreement. Can you get out on your own?” They said they could. Marco brought up that his brother was locked in the bathroom downstairs. Silver assured them he’d get Marco’s brother out and that they should escape while they could.
Reed had joined them later, still limping from the wound in his leg. He told them Silver had carried him outside and then went back in to hold off the army while he could. Arthur offered to drive them out of there since the Holmes company van had been parked in the back instead of the front parking lot with the other guests. Force of habit. Morgan wasn’t too big on the idea and was barely convinced by Marco to accept the ride.

The army had dissolved out by this point. No one human had been left in the building and as far as Metilla knew, he had succeeded in his mission. The army had quadruped what he had taken the night before as he had both guests and staff under his rule. Black Guardian entered the room and applauded.
“Very well done, by little primate pet. Now get some well-earned rest and tomorrow we shall move on to phase two. Hmm? What’s wrong with that one?”
On the floor one of the chimps was still slightly frothing at the mouth begging for someone to end its misery. Black snatched it up and twisted its head examining the spume. This was a magic both familiar and foreign to his own. Either way, he had no use for the beast and swiftly twisted its neck clean. He dumped the body on the floor as the ooze retreated back into Metilla’s cannon. The remains left behind was just some nobody who had just wandered in to the invasion. Black wiped his hands with a kerchief and cleared his throat.
“Will the Mayor of Cadric City please come to the front?” A smaller simian lumbered forward-his face a mix of both ape and man twisted in a terrifying grimace. The Black Guardian patted his head.
“Good little mayor. Now you are going to tell me a few things about city hall.”

[Lovetheangelshadow]

Chapter 12: City Hall Showdown
They had driven three blocks away by now. So far there had not been anyone following them and the streets were mostly empty even at this hour. Vivian had dug out the first-aid kit they kept in the truck and had sterilized and wrapped Reed’s bite wound. He was gasping and wheezing though more of it was the spent energy as Silver. He had not counted on purification being so taxing. Twice he had slipped into unconsciousness during the last half hour and hadn’t even realized it. Shelly told her dad she thought they were safe for now as she kept watch out of the back window. Morgan and Marco were a bit cramped inside the back of the van and Morgan complained about it. Vivian told them they should consider themselves lucky. They had to clear out a good chunk of their tools for that delivery.
Reed’s phone buzzed and it was Thomas on the other line.
“Reed! You okay man? I just saw the news on my phone!”
“Yes Thomas, I’m fine. Though I don’t think coach is going to be happy with me not running track tomorrow. Shelly’s okay too.”
“Shelly’s there? Ah man, I never get to do anything fun.”
“Right…what’s the news right now? They stop anyone?”
“There wasn’t anyone at the hotel once the cops get there. Well save for a dead body.”
“What about Alucard and Lynn? We didn’t see them when we got out”, Shelly exclaimed. Reed had placed the phone on speaker since his hand was still shaking.
“Mmm, nothing so far. You want me to try calling Lynn?”
“And you have Lynn Dougal’s phone number, why?” Reed inquired.
“You forgot she was my partner in that big literature project last year?”
“Oh…sure, see if she and Alucard are okay. Text me back if you get anything.”
“Will do, best buddy. You take care, alright?” Thomas hung up and none too soon as Reed had passed out again.
After a quick scouring of social media, they deemed it safe for them to get back to the hotel so the Altamiri’s could take their own car home. Reed was still conscious when they got back there. Shelly didn’t know if Thomas had any luck in calling Lynn. The next day, she found her parents arguing whether or not she was going to school. Arthur was all for still taking her to school declaring that it would do no good cower in her room while Vivian was of the firm belief Shelly was too mentally scarred and needed her rest. Shelly cleared her throat and placed her backpack on the table. Sure she was almost turned into a goopy gorilla and had to put faith in a visibly shaken Reed to NOT shoot her legs off, but she had to get to campus. It was the only way she could know if the Dougal siblings were fine. She really should get Thomas’ number.
The compromise was that Samuel would take her and be on standby in case anything happened. At least, that was the only way they could placate Vivian. Shelly wasn’t sure if they really could get away with Samuel loitering about the outside of campus. After all, a 6 foot 7 grey haired guy with a scarred up face and dressed in biker duds on his day off was not exactly the most not suspicious character hanging about a high school.
“I really don’t see why your mom is worried. This place is a damn fortress”, Samuel commented when he pulled up into the roundabout. Shelly popped off the bike helmet and smoothed down her skirt as she hopped off his bike.
“YOU want to tell her that?” Shelly chirped. Samuel shuddered and shook his head.
“I’ve learned early on in the army never piss off a Latina. But keep your phone on, okay? I’ll be downtown if you need me.” He patted her head playfully before revving up the engine and got out of the way of a honking sedan.
Shelly had seated herself in the homeroom. Lynn and Alucard’s seats were empty. Everyone was buzzing about the hotel attack. Some were in a near panic that they could be next. Others were criticizing that the Silver Guardian should have come and done something. And still more were uttering how this would have never happened if the Golden Guardian was still with them. Reed had come hobbling in just before the first warning bell had rung. Shelly saw that there was a slight budge under his trouser leg where the bite mark had been made. She had half expected him to be back into that depressed mood of his since his mother had been one of the victims. He sat down, yawned, and took out his book. His bangs had a few split hairs and his jacket slightly rumbled on the sleeves. She asked him how he was feeling.
“Didn’t get much sleep honestly. I couldn’t get what happened last night out of my head. I’m starting to wonder if…I’m really cut out for this.” He was pressing his thumb and forefinger against the ring.
“What about your dad and brother? How are they taking it?”
“Rough, but the show must go on I guess. I think they were headed to the police station to give testimony.” He couldn’t exactly tell them that they had spent a good hour or two arguing about the situation. His father in particular was ranted how he could have prevented this from happening. Marco reminded him that he hadn’t been successful when Metilla had first reappeared. Also Silver’s method of purification was plebian according to his dear father. Reed couldn’t help it, it really was the best way for him to focus. Thomas took his seat next to his pal.
“You look like crap”, were his first words.
“You try fending off an army and see how you feel in the morning”, Reed scolded though somewhat halfhearted in his anger.
“I’m sorry. I heard what happened to your mom.”
“I’m fine.”
“Reed, I know you because last time this happened you…”
“I SAID I’M FINE!” He slammed his fist on the desk sending his notebook and pencils clattering to the floor. All eyes were turning to the duo. Shelly slid between them from the front and pushed them apart.
“Hey, go make out some other time. Focus on the problem here and now”, she hissed under her breath. Frix blankly look at Reed who was gulping deep breaths to calm down. He had seen a number of Guardians before and this one terrified him save for the Black Guardian.
He too, had just now noticed the Dougal siblings’ seats were still empty and commented the harridan and the vampire were absent. Thomas commented he hadn’t gotten any messages back yet. Maybe she didn’t recognize his number anymore or promptly deleted it after the project last year. He could ask someone else and get back to them during the lunch hour.
****
Cadric City City Hall
Deputy Mayor Foxwell had gathered a session of the city officials, or what was left of them, inside the conference hall. He was a small man with long red hair that had flecks of white and grey were and there and had a habit of floofing out while he paced from side to side like a predator waiting for the rabbit to come out. He wrinkled his long pointed nose and then slapped his small rounded hands on the podium.
“Well gentlemen, I have told Mayor Ambrose time and time again that we should not be relying on supers to solve our problems. And now look where we are eh? Half of our most prominent citizens get turned into zombies! You agree with me, don’t you Vincent?” Vincent was seated on the front on the table with his eyes closed. He was trying to hide the smalt bit of cringe he wanted to express. Like, don’t lump my opinions in with yours, kind of cringe. Foxwell seemed oblivious to this.
“I say we find that Silver and his gal Friday and arrest them. We can get them for the damage they did to the tv station. It’ll show all wannabe heroes what Cadric City can get just fine without them!” Vincent raised an eyebrow. He wants to try and arrest someone who could very likely bench press a police van and then shot put it across the city stadium? He had learned it was best to let Foxwell run out of steam otherwise nothing would go forward.
“IF you can capture him, I’ll prosecute. But be warned Foxwell, if you use this for your mayoral election next year…”
“Okay, okay, dear Commodore. Commissioner Riley Kent, do you think you can get together an S.W.A.T team just for the sole purpose of capturing those two?” He raised an eyebrow. Cadric City had enough problems rising without wasting resources on trying to capture supers trying to help. After all, though not public, some of the super powered villains who had been in the lower security section of the prison had been marked as missing when Metilla had broken out and recruited for his army. Frankly they should be devoting time to finding them and Metilla’s army.
Finding Metilla’s new army was not going to be hard. They were already pounding on the front door of city hall. The police line that had formed around the building had hesitated for the moment when they first came pouring out of the aqueducts on either side of the building. After all, they had been told how all the zombies were still people underneath all that muck and no one was sure what bullets would do to them. The moment’s hesitation was enough for the army to overwhelm them and bring them into the fold. Metilla himself had pushed his way up the front; leaving the army to surround the building and block off all the roads and spread the poison to anyone getting close.
The maddened monkey pushed his way into the lobby with one particular ape beside him. He slammed his fists on the reception desk and demanded she page the mayor’s office that they were coming. The girl stood there flabbergasted unsure to press the buzzer for the office or the police. Metilla, frustrated at her paralyzed incompetence, shot her face first with the goop cannon. While she was gurgling for help, he snatched her by her head and tossed her over his shoulder. He barked for the minion he had brought inside, to page the Mayoral office and then lead him to where it is.
At the mayor’s office the door opened casually as one of the servant punched in the key code to unlock the door.
“Now now, no need to get up Deputy Mayor Foxwell. See, we need you and your…human face to send a little message”, Metilla growled as a slew of monkeys had made their way into the lobby and were now filling up the hallways. “Now then, you have an emergency broadcast system, don’t you?”
****
The lunch hour had rolled around though it seemed like forever. It seemed most of the people on campus, teachers and students alike, were not entirely focused on academics. Shelly twice noted her math teacher glancing at her phone during the test when she normally had her phone put away. In the cafeteria, Reed was late for lunch. When he finally emerged, he was a mix of haggard and refreshed. His ponytail was just pulled back straighter and the sleeves of his coat were straightened out. At least he didn’t look as half dead as this morning.
“Which reminds me, Miss Sierra from art class managed to get a text back from Lynn. She and her brother got out, but Alucard was in no shape to get to school.”
“Thank goodness for that. Hopefully we can get this thing resolved before all of Cadric City becomes the Cadric Jungle”, Shelly sighed.
Suddenly Shelly’s and Reed’s phones buzzed with two text messages. One was from Samuel telling Shelly he was going to make a quick stop at city hall to visit an old friend. The second was from Blackbird asking them to come to the office immediately and that he could send notice to her next teacher to cover her absence.
Blackbird had the monitors up with the Cadric City symbol before a neon stripped screen and below in white where the words CC Emergency Broadcast.
“This just came up ten minutes ago while I was looking for possible locations Metilla might show up next. I keep forgetting this currently is not the same Metilla I…that once terrorized this city twenty years ago.”
“I was not even aware we had this kind of system. At least, I’ve never seen it used during Golden Guardian’s time”, Reed commented.
“It’s an old system put in place in the late sixties. Cadric City used to be a lot worse than it is now, believe me”, Blackbird explained. He pressed a button for the recorded broadcast to play.
Metilla was sitting in the mayor’s chair, arms casually folded before him. Beside him was a swaying ink minion and Deputy Mayor Foxwell.
“Citizens of Cadric City, while I may have lost the bout the day before, it has proven one point. Why don’t you tell them, Deputy Mayor Foxwell?” Mayor Foxwell moved closer to the camera.
“The Silver Guardian and his pink sidekick are a menace to this city! Look at the damage they did to our fair news station! They destroyed a café downtown! And caused destroyed Valdus Academy’s new football fields! Are these the kinds of heroes we want?! We never had a problem with the Golden Guardian or even Songbird!” Metilla cupped his flesh hand on Foxwell’s shoulder and pushed him aside.
“As demonstrated, these fools are unfit to protect our city. But I am a fair minded simian-if those two surrender to me before sundown I will leave and release everyone I have captive. After all, there are a few…renegades roaming about now as we speak spreading my image to your friends and loved ones. Come now Silver Guardian and Splinterbark, for once do something the town will be thankful to you for. Maybe you’ll get a nice little photo and placard in the Heroes’ Museum when all is said and done. Adieu.” The screen flicked back to the emergency broadcast title card. Frix puffed up and snarled.
“Why the nerve of that pointy nosed little elf beet! If I was at full strength I would…”
“Take it easy Frix. At least we’re not being hunted down by the police…yet. But I don’t like this either. This isn’t Metilla’s style. We’re being baited”, Shelly said. Reed was wringing his hands about his ring.
“Reed, now isn’t the time for one your for ‘I can’t do this’ spells. We’ve got to focus here!” Shelly barked at him. Reed’s breathing increased as he slowly steadied himself.
“I know. I was just trying think this all through. We can’t disregard his threat though.” Blackbird nodded and pulled up a few camera feeds from around downtown. Various footage of the inky gorilla army spreading its venomous reach played back. There were cops doing their best to hold back the horde even if they were slowly falling.
“So far they’ve stayed mostly downtown but the cops won’t be able to hold them back from reaching the suburbs for long. And you’ll have an army to fight regardless. What do you intend to do?”
****
The Silver Guardian and Splinterbark stood on one of the high rise buildings opposite City Hall. The plaza in front of the building was swarming with the simian soldiers all pacing rhythmically in circles down below. It was a bit creepy to see something that resembled the wild walk in such rhythmic fashion. Suddenly Splinterbark giggled and Silver failed to see what she found so funny.
“Your hair, it’s still in the way that you fixed it.” Silver hissed as he rushed his fingers desperately rubbing away the stylized tussle that was even more accentuated as the guardian. He snarled for her to focus on the moment.
“I am. I was trying to alleviate the mood. Frowny wrinkles don’t look good on you. So do we like go through the front door or some underground tunnel?” Splinterbark quipped.
“Unfortunately City Hall isn’t connected to the underground network. And breaking through the roof won’t be easy either. They reinforced the thing to hades after the fire of ‘87”, Blackbird squawked over the radio.
“Well we know the best way to take out the army is to take out the general. Silver, can do you think you can hit Metilla with your ‘Silver Purification Shot’ from here?” she offered.
“I told you, it’s the only way I can focus that kind of thing! And it’s Silver Strike. Besides, I don’t have that kind of range.” Splinterbark shrugged.
“Well we could just casually walk in with intent to surrender. Beats fighting a whole army.”
“I am not trusting a word of that..thing! We’re busting in the way Golden Guardian would.” Splinterbark exhaled a long defeated sigh. He wasn’t the Golden Guardian not matter what he was trying to convince himself. But they did not have time to argue and possibly shatter his much needed confidence now. Guess the only thing they could do was fly as close to the front door as they could and bust right in.
Splinterbark hopped onto Silver’s back and held her cant hook close beside her at the ready. Silver aimed himself in direct line with the front door and crossed his arms to make a makeshift hammer. The plan was straight forward getting inside. Once in was going to be another problem entirely. With a bounding leap from the building, Silver plunged full speed towards the two large wooden doors of city hall. They were almost at the door and Silver braced himself as he was about to crash through the door. Suddenly he felt a sharp prang in his right wing. The following jerk threw him entirely off balance not helped that he was also carrying someone on his back. Silver was then lurched a complete 180 and he was spun into a twister in the opposite direction of the building. More prangs of agony stung his wings and he plummeted to the ground. Instinctually Splinterbark had leapt off him and just scarcely managed a rolling landing beside him.
Silver saw that harpoon barbs had lodged themselves in the radius muscles of his wings and the tethers was that black gooey ink the gorillas were encased in. Following the paths of the reins lead to four gorillas; each with their jaws almost completely slack and a long proboscis swaying grotesquely from their mouths. Frix and Splinterbark, knife in her hand, slashed at the ropes until Silver was free. This did not stop the approaching army. While the girl and her familiar had been busy freeing the downed angel, several members of the army had quickly formed into a circle. Their necks snapped upwards towards the sky and they coughed up more of the sticky web above their prey. The gloppy threads crisscrossed each other until it formed a massive nest and it plummeted down upon the trio.
The two pushed against the netting and had almost managed to escape from it. The ape army grasped the ends and tugged tautly against the ground; effectively pinning them down. More were now rambling towards them basically ready to pummel them to paste. There was a dull roar approaching from one of the side streets. The sound was growing louder and sounded like a caravan of lions stuffed into a RV with steaks that had been taped to the side windows. Splinterbark knew that sound anywhere and she told Silver to brace himself if he could.
Samuel’s bike bellowed ferocious grunts as he had revved up the engine and sped directly towards the cluster of gorillas holding them down. He twisted his bike and the machine drifted sideways turning the bulky machine into a wide battering ram. The motorcycle then pulled a donut around them and collided with the minions holding Splinterbark and Silver down. He had only gotten half but it was enough for the pair to break loose. Samuel looked down at them as they got back to their feet.
“Huh, you’re not as impressive up close.”
“Time and place Sa-civilian, but thanks for the assist.”
“Rrrrrriiiight. Hey pass me that hook thing you have and I’ll help you get to the door.” Splinterbark was tempted to correct him on the right term for her weapon, as he bloody damn well knew what it was, but now was not the time. She tossed it over to him and he twirled it over his head before locking it in a position not unlike a jousting lance. He signaled for them to get running while he revved the motorbike forward towards the approaching crowd. Samuel swiped the leg of another and used the momentum to hurl it against a few more and forced more of the throng to part. Silver fired several shots keeping any that attempted to attack from the higher vantage while Splinterbark just did her best to hold onto Samuel while the bike screamed ahead. They were just at the door and both he and Silver lunged against the entryway to smash them down.
The lobby was not as heavily patrolled as the exterior. There were soldiers to be sure and they were quick to make their presence known. They came pouring in from the second floor railings and hissed more netting to entrap them down. Samuel sped up and snatched an edge of the netting to keep it off Silver. Silver took a cue and grabbed the netting himself before chucking it at several members of the simian squad. One of the beasts was able to grab the handles from the bike and wrench it from Samuel’s hands. The ape twisted the barely balancing bike towards the reception desk. Samuel turned around, grasping Splinterbark, before leaping off before the bike crashed headlong into the furniture. Frix yelled for her to grab the pieces and hurl them into the crowd. Splinterbark managed to scrape together a few all the while dodging monkeys at the same time. Samuel guessed what she was trying to do before be managed to heft up the broken remains of the desk and hurl it in the center of the room. Splinterbark yelled to take cover before making the broken pile of wood explode into countless shards. The creatures yelled and howled as they scrambled outwards; now covered in mahogany slivers and dust. Samuel yelled for them to get upstairs and to the third door on the right while he kept below.
Finding the door wasn’t hard considering it was right open. Metilla Gorilla was sitting casually behind the mayor’s desk while spinning the greave of his mechanical appendage.
“Having a bit of trouble are we?” he mocked.
“No thanks to your soldiers outside!” Splinterbark snapped. The onyx primate cackled as her response.
“I told them to only attack if you did, so really it was your own fault. None of this would have occurred if you had just calmly surrendered at the front door.” Splinterbark jabbed Silver in the ribs and whispered a ‘I told you so’ under her breath. Metilla Gorilla leapt onto the top of the desk and the gauntlet expanded to reveal a ring of purple energy cores. He snarled for them to perish and blasted a massive energy pulse directly at them. The pair just about hardly ducked as the energy screeched just above their backs. A few of Silver’s alula feathers got singed though and there was a nice sizeable hole in the opposite wall.
“What the hell was that for? Killing isn’t your thing, Metilla!” Splinterbark shouted as Metilla warmed up for another shot. Silver leapt to the side and took her with him as he blasted another charge; this time in the floor where they initially collapsed.
“Splinter! Focus on NOT getting vaporized, will you? He is intending to kill us here!” Splinterbark hissed she knew full well, but she had to try something to get through to the beast. She caused the desk to split into two pieces and then smashed the front legs so it fell on Metilla’s feet. His shot sheered upward and the decorative wood and plaster crashed on his head. Plaster and wood dust got in his eyes and he was blinded frantically trying to rub the pieces out.
Splinterbark ordered for Silver to take the shot as Metilla’s back turned while he stumbled. Silver forced all his concentration into the purification shot. Calling out the words that made him focus, he pulsed a single ray of his energy right between the shoulder blades of the ape. The black ooze was just starting to retreat away and revealing the original purple color underneath. However, Silver was quickly finding out this was harder to expel than some random gorilla grunt and he had to pour more force into the beam. Metilla’s back was almost completely exposed from the ooze when Metilla spin around and his metallic arm slipped in between the beam. The light bounced away and clipped Silver in his shoulder. Silver skidded around the right and he tried firing again, and the monster’s mechanical carapace once again got in the way. The ooze he had just banished had snapped back to completely concealing the purple in his fur as well. Metilla’s arm cannon fired in retaliation and Silver was only just saved by collapsing in exhaustion in front of the window. He could already feel his Guardian form start to fail at holding together and him shrinking back into a scrawny teenager would not do him any good. The gorilla hefted his meaty hands over Silver to hammer drive his skull in when Splinterbark leaped onto his arm and slammed a magnesium flare into his forehead. She was just able to shake loose and crawl towards the weakened Silver.
“Can you fly out of here at least?” she whispered, pointing at the now large melted gaping hole in the window. He nodded silently and Splinterbark suggested they retreat while they still could.
****
They had just barely made it to another building before Silver transformed back into regular Reed Altamiri. Large beads of sweat were dripping down his forehead and his hair was practically undone save for a few locks just barely staying inside the hair tie. His body was red hot when Splinterbark had patted his back to make sure he wasn’t going to have a heart attack. He promised her he wasn’t going to pass out, but he needed time to catch his breath.
“Silver! Splinter! The comm went static for a bit. Are you two alright?!” Blackbird bellowed frantically into the radios in their ears.
“We’re alive. But Reed needs three cups of extra strength coffee before he’s back in action.”
“You couldn’t purify Metilla then.”
“Metilla’s arm deflects my shot”, Reed gasped into his radio. “Unless we find a way to shut it down long enough for me to get in a prolonged hit, purification is shot.”
“I…think I might know a way”, Splinterbark interjected. “Well I’ve got an idea, but how we do it-you’re not going to like it.”

[Lovetheangelshadow]

Chapter 13: Splinterbark and Friends, Assemble!
Metilla Gorilla stood there staring at the massive hole in the glass as Silver and Splinterbark had escaped. He did not move from that spot. Just stood transfixed as if trying to compute what he had done, but something else was interfering with such thoughts.
“Well why are just standing there? Go after them!” Black Guardian’s voice rung inside his skull. Black Guardian had been sitting back in his dwelling watching a mirror and seeing only the window and the shrinking shadows of his prey.
“They have been chased off. They are nothing to my power”, Metilla grunted though with some difficulty.
“That is not what I want, you stupid excuse for a Tarzan set piece! I want them dead! Now get out there and crush Silver and his little pink power ranger too!” Metilla stepped forward towards the window but halted. He struggled to not move forward and began scratching at the ooze slithering on his chest.
“Oh ho, resisting are we? Now we can’t have that happening right now, can we?” Tendrils burst from Metilla’s back and jabbed themselves into his arms, legs, and head. These branched outward until more had coiled themselves about his fingers and mouth. Metilla screamed and cried out as he felt every flesh and gear losing his control and their mastery being forced outside his body. His squeals fell silent as the ooze clamped about his voice box. The massive marionette now danced downwards into the lobby and picked up a few loose boards that it started to clap together like one of those old toy monkeys with the cymbals. Black Guardian giggled with amusement sitting in his chair and danced his fingers about moving his new puppet in various entertainment poses. Finally he had Metilla bark to get the rest of the army to stand at attention.
“Now then, my little monkey marionette, let’s have ourselves a little scavenger hunt.”
****
Hunter and Jinn were racing between the alleys trying to stay one step ahead of the oncoming horde. Stragglers from the hotel invasion had stumbled between the streets of populated with clubs and restaurants and had spread their sickness inside the crowded buildings. An ape tore its meaty paws into Hunter’s cape and reeled him in like a bass on a hook. On impulse Hunter had grabbed his sword at his hip and swung it with intent to decapitate the creature. Jinn snagged his left sleeve and he missed the killing blow. The blade sliced easily through the goop and the ooze dissolved from its victim. Another monkey hurled its hands down on Hunter’s shoulders. The insectoid demon braced the flat edge of his sword between them and let the beast grab his weapon instead. Whatever this gunk was composed of, it expelled away in agonizing death throes when the attacker’s hands cut on the edge. Hunter and Jinn didn’t stick around was the crazed mob was standing perplexed at the morphing of their fallen member.
The duo scrambled up to one of the roofs of one of the older churches downtown and heaved their lungs full of much needed air.
“That slime must be the same stuff that those monsters are made from. At least we know a way to save them”, Jinn gasped when she could finally form a sentence without having to run.
“Nuh uh, no good. This blade can still kill non-spooky things too. I mean, it would be a pretty dumb sword otherwise.”
“Your point?” Jinn snapped. Hunter twirled the blade on one hand and then slipped it back into its scabbard.
“You’re expecting me to cut down practically a whole army, and NOT kill anyone while doing it.”
“Oh ho, and here I thought you were saying you were bored. What’s the matter? Is that too big of a challenge for the great and powerful Hunter?”
Hunter leaned over her to spit back a response until something had snagged his leg and tugged him off balance. He landed face first on the shingle ceiling before being raked across the tiles and over the edge. Hunter gained some sense of awareness back and dug his talons on the rain gutter before he was completely taken to the floor. A long black tongue had coiled about his slacks belonging to one of the bigger simian slaves. Hunter loosened one hand and tried to reach for the sword. There was a bit of struggle getting it free while trying not to drop it into the open air below. A pink bubble formed about his slipping hand and was now pulling him in the opposite direction. Jinn was grasping her staff and could just barely hold her stance on the roof.
Now the buggy fiend was being town in two directions and the side that was winning was the side interested in making him into an after lunch snack. He managed to glance up and see a hulking shadow start to lurk up from behind Jinn without her even noticing. Hunter tried to call out for her to turn around, but he felt the coil sleek up higher up towards his waist and it pulled his attention away. He tried to slide away at the rising goop without cutting his own leg off but he was being tugged and bounced like a jump rope and it made it hard to be accurate.
Four bursts of light plummeted down from the sky. One struck the fishing monkey in the throat and another before the feet of the beast who now had his hands on Jinn. Jinn was spun around and her hold of Hunter slipped. The insectoid imp plunged to the street below and he braced for to be the next topping of street pizza. He felt a pair of large muscular hands snatched him under his arms and he soared towards the cobalt witch. Hunter snatched her hand and the pair were hoisted rapidly into the air and well out of the way of the screaming squadron.
Silver gently placed them down on a high rise office building. Hunter swept some of the still clinging goop from his pants and straightened out his slightly rumpled coat.
“If you start singing ‘here I come to save the day’ I swear I’ll…” Silver grabbed Hunter’s bolo tie and lurched him upwards to meet his eyes.
“If you think I am going to let a bunch on monkeys beat me to personally pounding you to a pulp…” Two purple orbs grabbed and knocked their heads together and the reeled back complaining how hard the other’s skull was.
“Thank you very much Jinn”, Splinterbark complimented. “IF you two are done acting like two children fighting over the same blue ball; can I have your attention please?” The two men huffed a fine and then sidestepped further away from each other. Splinterbark walked before the monster hunting duo and bowed.
“We need your help”, she stated simply and sharply. The two dark clad heroes and raised an eyebrow at each other confused. Then Hunter drove into a guffawing fit.
“You mean…ha ha ha…the all mighty Silver…heh heh…needs…needs…my…ha ha ha…my…” He rested his head on an A/C unit and was trying to steady himself back from his amusement.
“Man oh man, I haven’t laughed this hard all week. Sorry, but I’m no hero like you two. This is your issue, not mine.” Silver’s hands rose up as he braced his knuckles ready to knock some sense into him. Splinterbark snapped her hooked staff for him to halt.
“Well it is kinda your problem too, don’t ya know? I mean if you want to do your little monster hunting thing without having to keep dealing with all these apes going around…oh that’s right. You’re bored aren’t you? You should be relishing this challenge. Silver, let’s put Mr. Hunter back on the church. I’m sure he’d be so appreciative of us spicing his humdrum routine.” A cruel and smirking grimace spread on Silver’s face as he slowly stepped forward to comply with Splinterbark’s request.
“Okay! Okay! You win you a malicious, conniving, little sprite! But seriously Silver Guardian, you can’t handle something so minor as this?”
“Actually, we need you two because YOU are faster and have better accuracy. And you’re good at getting people mad”, Splinterbark explained.
“She has a point”, Jinn agreed.
“Just whose side are you on?! But albeit for me to deny such glorious qualifications and I am very flattered at the pink one’s backhanded flattery. So, how might the great and gorgeous Hunter assist you, little pixie?”
****
Metilla Gorilla was prowling down the main street, his janky head swaying back and forth as the Black Guardian used his eyes to see about him. The streets were practically deserted by now; either having being taken into the thrall or shutting themselves up tightly in their homes. The Silver Guardian could not have gotten this far as they had passed two blocks already. Or had he underestimated the capability of this fledgling? A shrill chorus of whistling pierced the air-making the gorilla general and the soldiers spun in their tracks frantically looking for the noise. A low tenor voice echoed thought the street from all directions.
“Five little monkeys jumping on the bed
One fell off and bumped his head
Mama called the doctor
And the doctor said
No more monkeys jumping on the bed.”
Hunter was alone on the street, gleefully spinning his sword beside him.
“Why Metilla Gorilla, fancy seeing you here today. Quite a chilly afternoon isn’t it? Perhaps we could do…with a bit of sun, eh?” Metilla felt a blast of energy strike him on the back of his neck. Black Guardian winced as he felt a slight burn on his own skin. Silver Guardian flew in from behind and he and Hunter raced down the street.
“You want us, monkey butt? Come and get us!” Silver called back as they raced down the street. Black Guardian’s brow furrowed even as the corners of his mouth were turned into a gleeful grin. This Silver brat was nowhere near the league of his predecessor but at least this boy was making it so much more fun. Taking his ring was going to be his sweetest victorious revenge yet.
Silver and Hunter twisted and turned down alleys and side streets though just fast enough so that the gorilla army could still see them but not quite catch them. Twice they had gotten close, but they still pressed on. The walls of Valdus Academy were finally coming to view. Once they were just at the outer barricade, Silver yelled into his earpiece, “Thomas, now!”
The iron gates in the front of the school wheezed a bit, but speedily slammed into place effectively blocking the horde. The bars were too close to pass through and the stone walls too smooth to get a foothold to climb up. Metilla rammed his fists in rage trying to break the bars down. Hissing and spitting he leapt back and converted his metallic sleeve back into its cannon mode. Two ropes, one of magic and the other a hook and rope wound themselves tightly around his feet and elevated the beast high above the wall. He was slung across the barricade and chucked unceremoniously onto the exercise field that had been blocked off for repairs. The four reconvened behind some of the wrecked bleachers while the dazed ape roared for them to show themselves.
“Well the first part seemed to work. What now?” Hunter hissed. Splinterbark tossed him a green piece of wood.
“When we were fighting him in city hall I noticed his arm sheath cocks back before he fires that cannon. There’s a gap just at the elbow that gets exposed before the shot is released. If you can get that piece into that gap I can shatter it just enough to jam his arm. Then Jinn and I can tether him just long enough for Silver to produce a concentrated purification blast. Got it? Good? Okay, let’s make him mad!” The quartet emerged from their makeshift bunker and out onto the field. Hunter grabbed Jinn’s shoulder and held her back.
“If that ape’s shot discharges, protect the pixie”, he said sternly.
“That is…very unlike you, Hunter.”
“Tch, I just don’t need Silver putting a bounty on my head. That’s all.”
“Humph, that sounds much more your way.”
The four stood before the black behemoth armed and ready.
“We’re taking you down, Metilla Gorilla”, Silver declared. The possessed primate sneered and slapped his hands on the ground.
“Cute little statement coming from you when you need to make a bargain with a devil to solve your problems. You are not worthy of that ring and I will gladly show you why!” The massive feelers burst from the gorilla’s back and thrashed the team apart off their feet. Hunter was the first to rebound back even as a coil had burrowed underneath the grass and slammed him in the back. The next volley curled backwards trying to slap his helmet clear from his neck. Silver fired several hails into the body of the tendril until it retreated hastily back to its host. Hunter thanked him with a wave of dark fire that emblazed another slimy armature sneaking from behind, though the shining seraph would have liked it if the fire had not come very close to his own face. Metilla vaulted upon the stunned angel and attempted to ram his knuckles towards Silver’s spine. A shout from Jinn gave him the impulse to spin around and meet the monkey’s hands with his own. The unexpected force drove him back if just for a moment. The two pressed their stance against each other. Metilla was far stronger this time though and Silver could feel his legs buckling underneath him. The simian spat and hissed further insults towards the boy. A sudden shriek of surprise distracted the beast giving Silver the opportunity to hurl the ape upwards high above the field and then plummeted back down to ram the beast’s face hard into the dirt. Chunks of earth sprayed about and had splatted on Splinterbark and Jinn.
“Hey! Some thanks for us saving your shining butt”, Splinterbark snipped.
Splinterbark and Jinn had been sprinting in from behind while the grand gorilla had been focused on the angel and hunter. A large bulging eye slurped out between the muscles and commanded two of the lower coils to attack.
Splinterbark swung back the strikes with her hook trying to close some gap between her and the beast. She still had a few pieces of wood left and tossed a sizeable piece of redwood right into the eye. The following shards of feathery threads and irritating powder sprayed the eye even as it tried to retreat back inward from the blast. There was just enough irritation to cause agony for the opening Silver needed. Even as his face was caked in dirt and turf, Metilla was still pumped and fighting back. His form twisted around and grasped his fleshy hand towards the pink pixie. His fingers just managed to coil about her arm and it was enough to drag her back. Splinterbark was turned to her back and forced to face the grinning maw of her adversary.
Jinn sent a series of bubbles trying to push the simian back and dislodge his hands on Splinterbark. Metilla used his metallic cannon to fire quick bursts to shield himself from her magic and several more in her direction. Silver threw himself and brunted most of the impacts. Some of the shots bounced wayward and scorched the ground around him. Small pits of fire were starting to stretch along the grass and towards the students gathering at the edge of the exercise yards. Silver signaled for Jinn to focus on the flames while he drove Metilla further back into the stadium area and get Splinterbark loose. Metilla had tossed Splinterbark a bit so now he was holding her firmly about the waist. Silver had skirted to the side attempting a side blow to stun the ape. Metilla raised up his arm and shoved Splinterbark in the path of the fist. Silver had to grasp his own wrist and force it down into the ground to keep from hitting her. The gorilla took advantage of the upset to snatch Silver’s face with his foot and bounce him repeatedly into the dirt before kicking him in the stomach.
Hunter sprang upon Metilla’s back and raised his sword above his head to cleave the arm clean. Metilla was aware enough of the buggy Beelzebub that he started hopping about to dislodge him Hunter grasped a handful of fur, just barely holding on, and his sword rocked about in erratic fashion as he held it for dear life. The blade, in its frenetic dance, diced about and struck several of the stringier coils that commanded the monkey marionette. Metilla’s arm drooped into a limp the more threads Hunter’s weapon cut away. Splinterbark was able to slip out of his grip and stumbled on her own shoes before him. Sprawled out on her back, Metilla pressed his foot against her chest. His arm cannon was moving towards her face and she could see the faint glow of the coils warming up for the blast. Splinterbark’s eyes met with his in sheer panic that he was about to ready her for cremation.
Metilla paused and she saw his face become more wrinkled than it naturally was. His fleshy arm sprung to life and began shoving away his own mechanical limb as it continued to power up. The robot appendage pushed back and inched back to its target. Time seemed to almost freeze for Splinterbark. The sheath was recoiling back and covering the elbow joints and exposing the cavity underneath. She tried to see any sign of Hunter from where she was planted on the earth. There was a dark colored blur hurling itself over Metilla’s shoulder before it bounced up and collided with the mechanical marvel. The arm hissed and groaned as gears became jammed into the soft, soggy wood. The ape waived its arm upward and the blast soared into the air. The flare caused him to recoil up and off Splinterbark. Hunter grabbed her by her utility belt and hurled her some distance away from the stunned monolith. The wood was starting to buckle even as the arm was beginning to smoke from the blockage. Jinn enveloped the mechanical arm with a violet spectral rope and kept it from moving further.
“Hey pretty boy, get your part done already!” Hunter barked at Silver. Silver grunted but obeyed. He trained his gun dead center on Metilla’s chest. He slowed down his breathing and tuned out everything. He concentrated every good will, every uplifting thought, and every desire to save this beast from a force obviously using him as their toy. His energy began to pour into the single firearm he pointed at his target. Something else seemed to take over from that point. It was comforting and warm, but determined and willful. His arm began to draw an image before him. His gun traced out an image of light that formed into a circle. Three rings forced inside and intersected in a simplistic flower-like pattern. Then the end of his pistol glowed with the rising energy.
He said nothing but a massive beam of light erupted from his firearm and engulfed Metilla. Dark colored ooze slithered and bubbled on the beast’s flesh forming a growing bulbous monstrosity on his back. Desperate to try and flee the concentrated searing heat, its tentacles made loud pops as it dislodged from the host and tried to escape. By now, Silver’s light had fizzled out and the blobby substance was attempting to run. It collided with a rose pink barrier courtesy of Jinn. Hunter wagged his talon at it and stabbed it repeatedly until the thing had stopped wriggling and dissolved.
Splinterbark hinted for Silver to make a quick exit as his form was already starting to turn into disbanding light. He flapped away exhausted and disappeared over the south wall of the school. With the mortalized angel out of sight, Splinterbark gingerly approached the fallen ape. He was back to his previous state and half conscious.
“Mr. Metilla?” she asked. The gorilla slowly raised his face in her direction.
“The…Black Guardian…he’s…” Suddenly the simian howled in torture as dark lighting struck about his head before releasing him and he fell flat on the ground. His eyes glazed out and a thin line of drool was now pooling from his lips. Splinterbark gasped in panic. Jinn put her hand on the beast’s neck.
“He’s still alive. But I don’t think anyone is home, at least not for a while.” Frix hovered close around Metilla’s head and nodded.
“I’ll have to concur with the harridan. I’ve seen this kind of magic before. The ape is essentially a prisoner in his own mind. And don’t ask me how to undo it. Even if I was at full power, I wouldn’t know anyway.” Hunter yawned and cracked his sore neck.
“Well it’s been fun but I suggest we leave before the authorities come nosing about”, was his response. Hunter dropped Splinterbark off a block away.
“Oh and by the way, tell your boyfriend to step it up. I don’t have time to clean up after him.” Then he and Jinn took off into the shadows of the downtown alleys.
Reed was collapsed on the opposite side of the wall. All around him he watched as the inky monkeys shuddered and liquefied away; freeing their victims from its control. One of them just happened to be his mother. Though his whole body ached, Reed staggered over to Lenora and he caught her before she could fall to the ground. Still hugging her tightly he gently eased her onto the ground as her weak legs lost their possessed strength.
“Reed? Why are we at school? And why are you so sweaty in your school uniform?”
“I’m…I’m just glad I could save you this time”, he uttered under his breath. Before she could ask him to repeat himself, Reed had completely passed out in her arms.
****
The Black Guardian was half slumped over his desk; holding his body tightly in his arms trying to shake off the pain. There were no visible signs on his being, but he had felt that scorching light under his skin and it was torment. He was still quivering as he staggered over to the bathroom sink and doused his face in cold water trying to sooth burns that weren’t there. And to think he once coveted that light and loved being enveloped in its euphoric warmth. Any other time he could at least have a bit of a chuckle at the irony. This time that brat’s light only stirred up memories and feelings he wanted buried. That silver brat was better than he thought. He needed time to regroup and think. Once he had that opportunity, he was going to kill that Silver Guardian personally.

[Lovetheangelshadow]

Chapter 14: Forward
The school homeroom the next day was the same as any other. Students were gossiping about the latest exploits of Silver Guardian and his pink sidekick and arguing their validity. Shelly squealed and sighed as the Dougal siblings were filing in.
“Oh thank god, you guys are alright! I was freaking out about it for the past two days!” Frix confirmed this even if the two could not see him.
“Yes…we’re just fine. You need not be concerned for us”, Lynn responded aloofly.
“Lynn, don’t be rude. I believe Shelly is being sincere. After all, she looks like she’s been dragged around like a cat with a mouse.” Alucard jested. Shelly was in too relieved of a mood to be angry and stepped aside so he could hide himself in the back row.
As she took her seat Reed and Thomas were quietly taking amongst themselves. It turns out sneaking in to the principal’s office and turning on the emergency lockdown system is a very detentionable offense. When Reed asked just how he even got in to that room, Thomas joked that everyone’s privy to a few dark secrets. He ended that with a playful wink and Shelly and Reed chuckled nervously.
“Speaking of, how did you even know how to find…them?” Reed whispered to Shelly. Shelly paused and glanced briefly at Frix who was making himself comfortable in her bag. Thinking back on certain things made her hesitate. She couldn’t tell him that Hunter’s magic felt very similar to her own. And because of that, Frix was able to sense that energy and track it.
“Like Thomas said, I have a few little secrets you are not privy to.”
****
At the Altamiri residence, the four were eating dinner when Marco tossed the newspaper into the center of the table.
“It looks like our Silver Guardian is here to stay after taking down that gorilla. Not too bad for his first super villain, eh?” Morgan knocked the article to the floor with a Scroogian ‘bah’.
“After he nearly got the city turned into monkeys and caused a lot of collateral damage. Plus what about these other three? If this Silver Guardian is so great, why did he need help from these rag tag ruffians? I don’t trust the Black Beetle or his witch. And what about that girl, Shard or something, does she even have any powers?”
“Morgan, sweetie, you weren’t perfect your first years either or would you like me to remind you of the candy factory incident?” Somehow that made Marco try to stifle a boisterous laugh. Reed sunk unto his chair and started sliding under the table as his parents were still arguing.
“You still sick, little bro? You’ve been fainting a lot recently.” Of course Marco would notice. He was practically the only one who seemed to be aware he even existed in this house sometimes.
“It’s…just been a long week. I’m going to bed.” Reed started hobbling up the stairs.
“Reed”, Marco called after him. Reed paused to look down.
“I meant what I said before. I’m glad the Silver Guardian is here. He may never be as good a fighter or as strong, but maybe he can do things the Golden Guardian never could.” Reed shook his head and wished his brother good night. Marco was wrong, he thought to himself. He had to be just as good as the Golden Guardian or better or this city and his father were never going to recognize him as somebody. He wasn’t going to need anyone’s help to protect this city. If his father didn’t need a partner, why should he?
****
The Holmes residence was stuffed to the brim with the aromas of fresh tortilla chips and two hefty bowls of cheese and salsa. Vivian insisted that Samuel join them after the beating he took down at city hall. He had a few more cuts to his face and arms to add to his marred appearance, but was otherwise mostly unscathed. Arthur proposed a toast.
“To the Silver Guardian and the Daring Deer! May their victories be true and this city be damn grateful!” Everyone laughed at the second half, even Vivian who had been growing weary of the less than favorable buzz at the station. After Arthur and Samuel had chugged their glasses of beer, they happily feasted themselves and talked excitedly about the new heroes.
“Frankly, my dear, I’m glad those two picked things up when they did. The city is too big for one super man alone.”
“Hopefully, this won’t encourage others to play dress up hero though. Or bring back all the super villains.” Vivian spoke up. Shelly almost choked on her ice tea. Right, she didn’t really think about that. She was aware there had been some real nasty ones out there before Songbird cleaned things up.
“Maybe we’ve gotten too fat on the Golden Guardian’s protection”, Samuel offered. “If this encourages people to stand for themselves when they need to, I’m all in. Still, I saw those two fight at city hall. They’re nowhere in the league of Gold yet-but they were giving it everything they’ve got. And that deer girl, she’s got brains. That’s something special.” Shelly again glanced at Frix confused. Her have brains? That’s a silly thing to think. She could just barely make 80% on her math quizzes. Though to hear Samuel, who thought very little of most people, say that was quite a compliment.
As she and Frix were preparing for bed, Shelly was looking out at the night sky while dressing in her pajamas.
“What are you thinking about, Shelly?”
“Nothing much. I really didn’t help a lot in defeating Metilla. No one can even get my name right!”
“Ungrateful harlots, is what people are. Must be the washboard abs and that luxurious hair what make people remember Mr. Silver.”
“He’s also stronger, faster, and more durable than I am. I don’t know, Frix. I mean, even Hunter and Jinn seem to know their power and purpose. What can I possibly offer to people who can leap tall buildings in a single bound or shoot magic bubbles or bring on the holy light can I get an amen?” Frix coiled himself on the throw pillow Shelly had made for him.
“You heard Samuel, you’ve got brains. It was YOUR plan after all.”
“It…it was just a bunch of ideas. No big deal. Frix, you might want to find someone else.” Frix shook his head.
“Unfortunately, I am bound to you for the time being. I may not have all my powers anymore, but we’ll make the best of it. Even the smallest twig on the branch has a purpose. You’ll see. Now don’t be slacking in your training, understand?” Shelly smiled weakly.
“Yeah I guess you’re right. Besides, what would the silver seraphim do without me?”
****

Michael Blackbird and Vincent Commodore were sitting before the fire. A platter of tea cakes and a large pot of Earl Grey had been prepared for the pair of them inside Commodore’s penthouse. There had nearly been an hour of silence and almost all the biscuits gone before either one spoke to one another.
“You still make some of the best steeped tea, Vincent, old friend.”
Commodore grumbled.
“I never could get these cakes right. She…she always knew how to make them the way I loved them.” Another long pause.
“It’s been almost a week now since Metilla was arrested the second time”, Blackbird commented. He remembered how his heart fell into the pit of his stomach as it took nearly five men to hoist the limp body of Metilla Gorilla onto the stretcher to take him away.
“I just got the reports back from LeBatte Laboratories. Based off the original reports on file when they acquired GeneCo, there don’t appear to be additional genetic anomalies aside from the ones that originally created him. His mind just seems to have completely shut down aside from basic functions. He almost a normal purple gorilla who just happens to have a mechanical limb”, Commodore exposited. Blackbird nodded thinking about how he saw the gorilla just pace back and forth and aimlessly toss around a ball without even bothering to catch it.
“Let us not beat around the bush any longer, Michael. You know why I called you here.”
“Do I?”
“Do you think I don’t recognize your training? I’ve seen the videos online. Those two are under YOUR wing.”
“I figured you would. And I figured to save you the trip of sending your goons to arrest me. But I won’t divulge their identities, you know that, Vincent.”
“I know, but that is not why I called you.” Blackbird tilted his head like a puppy trying to listen better.
“Foxwell has convinced Mayor Ambrose to start working on a squad to arrest the Silver Guardian and any other vigilantes who start popping up in Cadric City. And as District Attorney I have no choice but to make the charges stick.”
“Vincent…they’re trying to help.” Commodore slammed his cup on the table and tea splattered over the sleeve of his coat.
“Damn it Michael, I know that! But if we do not set an example, we’re going to have lunatics dressed in hockey pads going around under some delusion they’re fighting for justice too. Didn’t you think about that? Weren’t you even aware some of the inmates from King’s Island haven’t been found yet since the prison break?”
“Vincent, I can’t stop them from doing what they do. All I can do is guide them.”
“Don’t delude yourself. You’re just trying to cover up your mistakes. But no matter what you do, it won’t bring her back from where she is now. And if throwing those two in King’s Island will save them, I’ll do it.” Blackbird leaned back in his chair and ran his thumb over his long beaky nose.
“Vincent, you’re not a politician like Foxwell. You saw what happened to Metilla. Whatever drove him was something you and I have never dealt with before. It’s been over twenty years since I’ve been in the saddle, but my instincts have never failed me yet. Something big and bad is brewing in our city. Something worse than the gangsters and the super villains this city has endured before. I’m not saying we rely solely on them, but they might be our best hope in fighting this thing. I can tell you sense it as well. But I won’t stop you from doing what you feel like you need to do.” Commodore paused and took another long drawn out slurp from his teacup.
“Three months.”
“I beg your pardon?” Commodore rose from his seat and pressed the tip of his new cane staff against Blackbird’s chest.
“You have three months to change my mind, Blackbird.” He chortled a little.
“Two stubborn men who feel what they’re doing is right for this city. Will you take my wager, old friend? Can you change this spider’s shriveled heart and bring all the hope and inspiration you claim these four waifs can offer? And if you fail, can you live with damning them as criminals that this city is convinced they are?” He held his hand out to his friend waiting for the answer. Blackbird hesitated only for a moment, and then grasped the hand of his old partner.
“They are here to stay, Vincent Commodore. You and I shall both see what they can do.”

The End

[Lovetheangelshadow]

Runing some tests

[ydrive]

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