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Young Hope: Chapter 43

Standing right in the middle of a pure white void, the indigo angel keeps his eyes shut whilst taking in a deep calming breath; the blue boy letting out the drawn air before opening his eyes and discovering the white void completely replace with an entirely new scene. Set all around him does Tore witness ruin and flames engulfing the one peaceful streets of Townsville, now reduced to utter chaos by a deadly pack of ferocious beast that spew out the very elements from their gigantic maws; what citizens were left among the discord running for their very lives as these terrifying monsters pursue after them like prey.

In taking in this horrible scene of absolute terror and chaos, one of these deadly beast lunges out towards the blue boy from behind; baring its lethal set of fangs as it charges closer and closer. In but just a moment does Tore turn a complete one eighty to deliver a roundhouse kick right into the beasts maw, reducing its set of chompers to pieces in but a single blow. And yet this proves not the end for the indigo angel’s counterattack as he rushes forth and delivers a flurry of punches straight into its exposed stomach; the blows harsh enough to send the beast hurdling back across the streets. Before the monstrous beast could even take the chance to have another go at the boy, a ray of pale power quickly engulfs its body in its evaporating glory; leaving only behind just the beasts disembodied limbs littered on the broken concrete.

Right after destroying but one of these terrible horrors, a panicked scream soon draws his attention over across the street; where upon he discovers a family of four fleeing in utter terror from a pair of these feral beasts. Wings of glowing white protrude out from the boys back before he rockets out towards the desperate scene, leaving behind a trail of sparkles as he chases after. The family of four lets out pleading panicking outcries as the pair of beasts were just moments away from ripping them all to pieces; their oversized maws growing closer and closer as the fleeting family’s legs start to give out. Before the beastly monsters could chomp down upon the four, the indigo angel dive bombs straight down and grasps both of their heads before slamming them down into the broken asphalt; Tore letting the family escape as he bashed the beast heads into one another hard enough to splatter in a terrible mess.

Right upon the cusp of brutalizing those beasts, a fiery orange glow then draws his attention towards the city rooftops above; Tore witnessing another of these deathly beasts bellowing out flames towards the streets below as other citizens attempt to flee from the descending fires. Its then that this blaze spewing beast lets out a deadly inferno down towards a fleeing couple, threatening to engulf the two in the beast’s fiery wrath. Right as the flames were ready to cook the two alive, an orb of pale white zips out from the side and disperse the flames in a burst of pale power. Seeing its fiery assault having been thwarted, the burning monster peers over to the orbs origin and discovers the indigo angel swiftly on the approach; the beast letting out a bellowing stream of flames as the boy nears. With nothing but the palm of his very hand, Tore blocks the stream of inferno as he glides closer and closer towards the beast; the glow from his hand outshining the blistering flames he wards off. Once up close and personal, Tore shoves his arm deep into the beasts very throat and unleashes a pale power down the rest of its body; splattering everything below the beasts very neck.

After tossing away the head of this fiery monster, a bolt of raging lightning nearly strikes the blue boy right where he stands; Tore gazing further upwards towards the skyline to witness another of these deathly beast letting loose a flurry of bolts out from the holes along its backside. While these numerous bolt come crashing down upon the city below, the indigo angel takes off up out towards the very source of this furious storm; all while dodging the numerous lightning strands that come raining down. Tore feels their incredible static tickle his body as he passes right by them in his ascent. Rocketing right to the top of the tower, the indigo angel delivers an incredibly hefty uppercut that sends the beast hurdling skywards; lightning still spurting out from its back in uncontrolled bolts. As the flailing monster starts coming back down, Tore clasps both of his hands together and starts to charge up a glint of pale energy with glints of color sparkling in the middle. Soon does the blue boy fire out this collection of power straight up towards the sparking monster in a beam of pale and color, the ray causing the beast to explode in a surge of lightning.

As Tore heads down towards the monster infested streets below, a strange window could be seen hanging right in the middle of the air; housing both the leader of the league and the combat department leader watching the action unfold from within another room. “Seriously don’t get what the hell you were thinking here, Kingsley.” “What’s there not to get, Cayenne. Ain’t nothing wrong with testing to see what Tore’s got.” “What I ain’t getting here is why you up and thought giving that blue dumbass a shot in the League was in any way a good idea. Need I remind you of the shit show he threw against his dad the other day, the one that nearly destroy a part of the city? Think giving him a chance to get in after that whole mess is just...god, its so fucked up.” “I can see how you might think that. But this really ain’t about rewarding that sort of behavior.” “The fuck does that mean?” “After seeing all that Tore’s been capable of this week, nevermind since we knew him, believe me when I say your not the only one worried about what he can do. So it got me thinking that maybe being under someone else’s command and following orders might ween out some of his bad habits. Cuts out the middle man of having to watch him in case he does anything reckless. And who better to straighten him out than you, Cayenne?” “First that demon princess and now this blue dumbass here? Seriously thinking the only reason you appointed me as a leader was to just babysit.” “No one’s asking you to babysit here. Just...treat him like you do the rest of the combat department.” “You mean going all Sergeant on his ass Full Metal Jacket style, xept without the shotgun to the head.” “To which one?” “Which one would you prefer at this point?” “Neither! Jesus, Cayenne! Starting to think have watching a ton of army of movies to get the picture wasn’t that great of an idea.”

Skidding to a halt across the cracked concrete roads, Tore peers out to where he had been flung to gaze upon a colossal titan whose gigantic body is made of stone hard ice and constant bellowing winds; the incredible gales that emanate from its entire body toppling building after building through the entire block. As the colossus lets forth a chilling roar of arctic winds from the depths of its lungs, Tore himself takes in a deep of these shivering gales and stretches his hands out towards streets above; bits of color soon gathering in his palms and growing into colorful orbs of life. Once both of these orbs have grown to the size of his own hands, Tore shoves both of them straight into his own chest and absorbs their very life essence; a radiant aura coating his entire body as gazes upwards and readies to face the titan.

In a colorful burst of life does the angel rocket out towards the gigantic titan, blazing straight through the icy blizzards that comes from its very body as he head straight towards one of the giants legs. The blue boy punches straight through its icy shin like a streamlined bullet; the titan letting out a chilling roar as it lifts its icy foot in an attempt to stamp the angel down. No matter how many times the colossus slams its foot down upon the streets beneath, the indigo angel weaves around its mashing iceberg one would classify as its foot; Tore finally darting up its leg and piercing straight through its side. Enraged by its side reduced to pieces, the titan of icy winds flails its spike covered limbs out to the angel; one of these hands threatening to swat the blue boy right out of the sky Gathering bits of his lively power into his own hand, Tore tosses out an orb of colorful life straight into the titan’s very palm and blasts the giants hand into pieces. As the colossus reals back from having its hand shattered off, Tore takes the chance to rise up past the titans glacier of a head; continuing to rise up towards the very clouds that hang above. Once up high enough, the indigo angel starts to come spiraling down towards the giants very head; the titan below letting out a bellowing hailstorm out from its very maw up towards the dive bombing angel. Despite the flurry of bowling ball sized hail beating down upon his body, the indigo angel continues plummeting down towards the titan; crashing down upon its head and smashing straight down from top to bottom. Landing right between the titans very legs, Tore simply starts to walk off as beams of color and light starts to erupt out from almost every single part of the giant’s body; every single piece of this icy titan is left shattered by this powerful bomb of colorful light as its incredible explosion alighting the entire downtown district.

Once all of the lively light starts to dim, the entire downtown district starts to fade away as Tore starts to catch his breath; the ruined streets and buildings fading away as the white void returns. A bright smile beams across the blue boy’s face as a single door fades in from this void and opens to show the other side to be a hallway, with Kingsley and Cayenne waiting on the other side. Racing straight over to the two of them, the blue boy obviously first asks the duo: “So? How’d I do?” “Combat wise, you were absolutely phenomenal. Pasted every expectation...But-” Kingsley claims before the spice queen beside him cuts him off. “Ya didn’t save a single citizen.” “What you guys even on about? I stopped those beasts from hurting plenty of folks.” Tore objects. “The replay would like to say otherwise.” Its then that a lone screen appears and shows the moments in which Tore had indeed stopped the monsters from hurting the people; to which then shows them being crushed by some of the falling building debris. While Tore was stopping the flaming beast, some of the fires wound up diverging and setting some people alight. Some of the lightning beast sparks wound up striking a couple of others below, and some of the hail crushing a bunch of people. “Ssss...ahew…” the indigo angel moans out. “Tore, listen. This job isn’t just about beating up bad guys. The first priority of the League is to make sure everyone is safe.” Kingsley informs. “I’m… clearly not too used to actively saving people. One or two times maybe; but for the most part, we just focus on kicking ass. Mostly doing our own thing til now.” the blue boy admits. “That’s why we built this simulator. Sharpening our skills and test our rescuing methods.” “So, do I pass or…” Spice queen lets out a little moan before stepping up and reviewing on how: “While your dumb ass clearly fumbled through some parts. I think you made enough back in stopping all those monsters enough to pass.” “You mean…” Tore utters as he trembles with excitement and glee. “Yep, welcome to the Combat Division of the Vanguard League.”

“Aaah! Yeah! Yeah! What sort of rank did I get?” “Oh, we don’t do ranks in the League. Don’t want them alienating members from eachother. Were hoping this diversion from the way the Young blood Alliance practices that it’ll make some difference. Speaking off difference, better go check up on the Info department to see how Renee is adjusting now that she’s back.” the boy genius explains. “She’s outta the hospital!?” Tore exclaims. “Yep. On her way to full recovery too. Just hope I can fix everything else that broke between us.” Kingsley claims as he starts to waltz off, Cayenne looking upon him with glints of worry.

Peering away from the boy, she is soon surprised to find the indigo angel staring to her with an anticipating smile; Cayenne questioning: “The hell is wrong with you now?” “Eh, nothing really, “Boss”. Just wondering what my first assignment might be.” “Fucking, I...Ju-Just make yourself comfy around here. Mingle with some of them people you’ll be working with. Think you can do that without fucking everyone over?” “Aye aye, Captain. Set sail for the waters of friendly mingling and relationship chemistry. Hard of the starboard into the isle reef of causal compliments. Break the sturn down into the sea of shenanigans...S.S Buddy Buddy…” the blue boy blathers as he scuttles away down into the halls. “...What the hell have we done?” the spice queens whispers to herself.

From the training simulator chamber, Tore merrily skip across the marble hall of white and beige; their mix of bland coloring giving an almost relaxing business like vibe to the whole place. Almost like the hall’s themselves are casually going “Yeah, we do business stuff, But take your time on that 404, we chill here.” All that complimenting the modern décor strewn about the hall sides, from artsy pots holding flowers to pictures of gorgeous landscapes hanging on the walls. In fact, didn’t someone point out how this building was once refurbished company branch some time ago? Wonder what it was before the Vanguard League came along?

Amidst his causal venture through the hallway are his curious notions broken apart when beginning to notice most of the other League associates gazing upon him with strange glances holding excitement, wonderment, doubt, caution, confusion, or even borderline fanaticism. While strolling past these wondering eyes does the indigo angel manage to hear some of their whispers as they say how: “Is that really him? “Didn’t you hear about what happened the other day, course its him.” “He almost looks nothing like him.” “What’s that matter? We all saw him in action.” “You think he might do something like that again?” “With him being in the League now, I doubt it.” “To think this whole time that kid was hiding something like that.” What’s going on with everyone here? Been getting these looks ever since arriving at league headquarters. Is it the hair?… Don’t see a lot of other blues so much around here. Might be the hair. Eh, whatever.

Eventually, the indigo angel strolls straight through a door frame to arrive at the lounge; where upon he discovers numerous other younglings chilling in the moment with the dozens of distractions installed. Aracde machines and pinball tables lighting up as they’re played, a little kitchen equipped with usual appliances and a table to eat at, even housing a small theater with several couches facing a huge 12K flat screen. Among the seats of the theater does the blue boy make out a pair of familiar faces sitting on the couch watching the ongoing movie and darts right over towards the two of them.

On one of these couch, a rough and tumbly cowboy watches an ongoing movie with a beautiful bubbly blond right beside her, the young girl left invested in the ongoing movie as the cowboy scoots closer and closer to her side, attempting to reach his arm right around her shoulder. Just inches away from wrapping his arm around the girl however does a head of blue suddenly get right between them and greet the two of them: “Sup you two! Been a while!” Out from their initial jump back following the indigo angel’s little pop in does the bubbly blonde calm herself down and forms a smile as she greets back with: “Tore, Hi! Glad you could come by and check out Headquarters. There’s so much here I didn’t expect to see. Oh, did you wind up getting in?” “You bet. Got lucky and landed a spot in the combat department.” “That’s wonderful. Guess you’ll be going on missions with both Levi and I sometimes now.” “You guys are in the combat division, too? Awesome.” “I’ve met so many other people while working here, Tore. I can’t wait for you to meet them.”

“Yeah, speakin of meetin. Ya mind telling me who this blue belly sidewinder might be, Persi?” the cowboy then cuts in with. “Levi, you really telling me you don’t remember Tore. Both you two and Raileigh came over to help my mom build her backyard farm.” Persephone questions. “To be honest Persi, I’m having a little trouble remembering most of that myself. Last several weeks haven’t been the most kind to me.” the blue boy admits. “What I do remember then was helping ya’ll build yer little slice of country home all the way out here in the suburbs. Course that was til that little city firecracker went and picked a fight and setting half yer backyard on fire like a suburban burning man festival handing out third degree burns.” Levi claims. “Oh yeah. We three had that big fight that wound up destroying...Persi’s...backyard…huh...Wait, didn’t you cause some property damage too?” Tore recollects. “I- Over somethin I didn’t start, need I remind ya.”

Its out from this little conversational banter over these events does the blue boy peer back to notice some of the other people in the lounge whispering to one another as they peer to the three. “Is that really him?” “What’s he talking to those two for?” “How do they know him?” “I bet they knew about it before everyone else did. Lucky.”

“Hey uh. Either of you know what everyone’s been whispering about?” Tore asks the two blonde. “How should I know. I ain’t the slitherin snakey gossip type?” Levi states. “Ah, they’re probably whispering about a bunch of crush stuff is all.” Persephone guesses, one which makes the cowboy beside her blush a bit. “Not sure that might be it. Everyone I passed by just starts to whisper since I stepped into the building. Kinda wanna know what they’re talking about.” Its in that moment that the three then hear a muffle growl roars out between them all; both blonde gazing about as Levi wonders: “The heck did that come from?” “Me. Got so excited for the test, I practically skipped breakfast.” “Tore. You shouldn’t just skip breakfast like that. You gotta eat something to make you feel good to go in the morning.” Persi scolds him with. “Yeah. Guess I should go correct that, huh. Maybe getting a bite to eat outta get my mind off all this gossiping. Wonder if they serve anything good?” the indigo angel wonders as he strolls off to leave the two be once more; Levi taking another shot and scooting over towards the blonde beside him with arm stretched out.

In strolling through the partially darkened halls leading towards the lunchroom does the blue boy start to get the feeling that somebody was watching him, swiftly turning back to discover a woman with skin of pail white, ears of green, and a mane of burning red, all topped off with a crown housing a small flame along the top. “Hey there. Going my way?” Tore greets with. Yet in attempting to draw out a response to the mysterious woman does she simply stares upon him with a blend of cold silence, and yet hints of curiosity, all the while keeping her finger onto the handle of her holstered shotal. “Uh...Kay. Hope to see ya again.” the blue boy states as he starts to make his exit, all the while as the strange woman continues to gaze upon him in his exit.

Coming right out of the cafeteria kitchen, Tore proves a little disappointed with the selection spread across his food tray; staring upon the poor excuse that some jackass on the health and food board classified as food that was worth serving to people. Esh...This seriously what they serve to young heroes coming back from missions? Somehow feels like even mess than a meal than army rations. Heck, army rations would be a more satisfying meal than whatever all this is. No wonder people bailed to go get fast food. Its in tempting to throw away all that slop down into the nearest trash can that he hears his stomach let out a loud, objecting growl; tempting him to suck it up and instead head straight out towards a table. Fine, stomach. You win. Guess we’ll just tough it up and swallow it all…Hang on… In searching for a place to sit and dine, the indigo angel winds up catching a couple of familiar faces among the crowds; recognizing his own sister sitting alongside both of her friends snacking on the fast food all three of them share Hey, its Mal. Seems like she was smart enough to get her food from elsewhere. Wonder if she’ll share some charity scrapes?

“Yeah, that’s how I wound up making the dude’s pancreas come out his own ass. And that was the day another scam artist learned not to screw with this woman.” Mally gets done explaining. “Holy shit, that’s fucking cool. Think you can teach me how to do that?” Vivi gleefully requests. “Knowing you, Viv, you probably wind up shitting your own guts out trying that. I mean what guts you got anyway.” “Ya know what Ryan, piss off.”the skull girl curses out. “Yo, Mal. What’s up?” Tore greets with as he sits across the table. “Oh...hey there.” Mally halfheartedly responds with, her expression starting to sour as her brother takes his seat. “So, how have things been since ya landed a job in the supernatural department?” “Pretty good. Helps that my girl right here part of it, too.” Mally claims, an affirmation which causes the skull girl to blush. “Glad to hear. I just got into the Combat department myself. Can’t wait to roll out for my first mission.”

Once again does Tore notice several of the people around them whisper to one another once more, the blue boy getting a little miffed over the dozens of people gossiping literally behind his back and expressing how: “Man, this just doesn’t stop with everyone here. Been hearing everyone whispering all day now. What’re all of them even gossiping about?” “You don’t think it has something to do with you meeting dad the other day? Something you did without mom and I? Did you seriously not think either of us wanted to give him a piece of our mind?” Mally scolds. “I...God, I’m so sorry. I was so distracted wanting to shove my fist right into his stomach that I didn’t even think about you guys...Did mom see?” “Yep. All that was every single news livestream.” “And how did she take it?” “About as well as you expect. Just...oh my god. Seeing her son beat the loving crap out of her husband who she barely see’s. I seriously watched go through a whole roller coaster of emotions before me. Part of the reason we couldn’t get there was just trying to calm mom down.” “Ahhahahaaaa!” the blue boy whines out as he slams his face against the tray of which is somehow called food.

“Um. Mind giving us a minute guys?” Mally requests out of her two friends. “Yeah.” “Sure thing.” As both the skeletal young lady and the smartass red head get up to give them a little more room to talk, the indigo lifts his head out from the slop on his tray, bits of food running down his face as he describes how: “I just had so much I wanted to get off my chest. I felt like my body was just gonna explode any minute from looking at the guy.” “I ain’t blaming ya for all that. I just wanted a turn with him is all.” Mally tells him.

Along their side do the two start to hear shaky breathing and peer over to discover a rather nervous gent starting upon the two with an almost starstruck gaze as he looks to them; his voice trembles as he goes: “You...You two...You to a-are really the kids of Agent 344...T-to-to-to think that they that his kids were going to my school. My school. Oh my god.” Both Tore and Mally are left a little creeped out by the guys obsessive giddiness, the two scooting linches away as Mally asks him: “Um...You okay there pal?” “Didn’t I hit you with a stop sign once?” Mally questions “I need one.” he utters. “One what?” “An autograph. I need one, I’m begging you. Just...sign my face, please. Mark it with your own hands.” the fanatic requests as he leans closer and closer to the two; all the while the duo scoots further back. Its in right in their face does the creep suddenly hear someone a ways over yell out to: “Fucking piss off, you creepy jack off!” Glancing over to where the demand had come from, the creep finds Vivi charging right at him and bolts off into the other direction as fast as he can; Vivi chasing after the weirdo as Ryan pursue the girl while going: “Viv, fucking stop!”

“Oh...So, all those whispers are about us and dad?” the blue boy questions with a deflating voice. “You’re joking right?” someone approaching asks. Glancing aside do both of them find the wheelchair bound genius himself, uniform and all, rolling right up to their table; Hank adding how: “Both of you are the kids of a renowned super agent and you just figured that out now?” “Hey, it ain’t like a field trip for me either. Swear I’ve been hounded like 4 times since I entered this building by weirdo’s like that. All of them just going off on how they expect a lot outta me and guess how I joined the league to follow in my dads footsteps, saying I’m gonna be like him one day. I’m like “Bitch! I didn’t even knew what the man looked like before today, piss off!”. Thank god Viv’s got my back. Actually got to relax a little thanks to my girl.”

“So all of them are expecting us to be like him?” The indigo angel reviews with some hints of anger. “Why are you so mad about that?” Hank asks. “I don’t want anything to do with that jerk. I want people to know me for what I do, my accomplishments; not an accessory to someone else’s.” “I’m sure that they don’t. Both my parents were young kid agents back in the day and they don’t see me as them.” Hank comforts with. “Yeah, but Hank, both your folks weren’t as prominent as how you built yourself up as.” “Hmmm. Maybe a better example is in order here. Why don’t the two of you come with me and I’ll show ya a couple of other peeps?” the genius offers. “No thanks, Hank. Kinda just wanna keep hanging with my girl, Viv. Seems more fun really.” Mally claims as all of them looks towards the skull girl herself holding the creep that was harassing them in a chokehold. “You gonna fuck off, ya goddamn shit head!?” “Yes, I promise! Please stop!” the weirdo outcries. “Vivi, holy shit, he’s turning blue! Give the man air already!”

Once finished with her lunch, Mally steps out of the cafeteria twin doors with both her friends by her side; the trio passing by a few groups of passing folks that look upon the orange skater with glares of curiosity and disappointment. “That really the daughter of Agent 344?” “Think so.” “She almost looks a lot like him. Think she has the same sort of powers too?” “Not sure. Saw her a couple of times skating around. It didn’t seem like she does.” “Maybe she’s hiding them, you don’t know. Like not wanting to give away the family secret.” “Then why did her bro use his powers so flippantly?” “Look, I’m just spit balling here. Get off my back.” “You’re gonna disappoint yourself. She might just be a normal girl.”

From these gossiping jackasses, the skeletal teen peers to her orange friend to find all of it bringing her down quite a fair bit; Vivi grabbing Mally’s attention by getting in front of her and telling her to: “Hey, quit listening in to those whispering shit holes. They don’t know a single damn thing about you and how fucking kick ass you are.” “Just don’t give a fuck, Mal. It’s what I always do.” Ryan then advises. “Yeah, just look at Ryan. He can be an emotionally callus jackass, but it don’t bring his stiffy down.” “Swear to god, Viv…” “I’ve been trying like you said, guys. I didn’t wanna admit this to my bro, but all the whispering that’s been happening around me ever since news dropped about dad...Its been starting to wear me down.” Mally admits “That why you’ve been hiding from the rest of the supernatural department?” Viv questions. “That’s part of it. The other half is that they’ll first see me as the daughter of this famous guys who she barely knew anything about and’ll be let down when they get to know me.” “Mal, don’t worry too much about that shit. Most of the supernatural department troops I’ve gotten to known have been pretty big pogchamps. With the sort of badass’s they got running the show, didn’t take me too long to feel right at home. Hell, know one guys among them that can turn into a motherfucking dragon!” the skull girl advises. “Whoa, really? Maybe meeting a few of them might help me sort through all this emotional baggage that wound up being dropped off my doorstep.” Mal claims.

From within another room does a pair of twin steel door slide right open to let both Mally and Vivi right on in; letting the orange skater behold the dozen couple of supernatural department in all their glory. Beside Damian do a young boy of orange and lime green along with a woman who transforms into a ghost with skin of pale green; both of them practicing their ghostly powers with the boy firing out swirls of orange and green, and with the girl transforming her limbs into sharp, life like weapons.

Along the other side of the room, Mally then sees a pair of sword fighters sparring among one another; a young man donning a mane of ocean green and wielding a blade holding ocean waves for the guard, and a young lady with flowing golden locks and a blade holding what seemed more akin to a magic wand in place of its handle.

There is a face that she does recognize among them though, as she discovers the potion brewer Serena, busy concocting recipes with numerous ingredients laid out before her; throwing some strange looking herbs and animal parts into a cauldron. Giving the thumbs up to a boy with of jet black holding some streaks of hot pink, the orange skater beholds this man’s head taking the form of a dragon as he spews a bout of flames from his mouth underneath the pot, boiling the brew.

And finally, Mally finds the last member of the supernatural department huddled in the corner with a sketch book in hand; a girl younger than the rest doodling in her book as a strange aura emits from her head. Soon does this aura start to solidify and morph into a tangible shape, taking the form of a strange small critter that scuttles across the floor of the room.

“Holy shit! I’ve seen some folks tagging along with Biz on her jobs that do some awesome stuff, but these guys? Don’t get me wrong here, Viv, this here’s jamming as hell; but how are these guys supposed to help with my little dilemma?” the orange skater questions. “Couple of these bad bitches come from some pretty big names. See Damian over there with that girl and the kid? Turns out he’s the result of a fun night in the bedroom between a half ghost and a ghost hunter. Thank god the guy didn’t pull out in the end, right?” “Vivian, I appreciate your vitality, but can you tone down the vulgarness, please. There are children present here.” Damian then chimes in to request. “But aren’t we all children.” Mally rebukes. “Not the point here.”

“Fucking whatever, Damian. Think you could help my girl, Mal, out with some bullshit baggage going through her head.” Vivi then gets back on track with. “I’m guessing that this newfound stress and worry you seem to be going through might have something to do with your dad, right? The ghastly teen then question. “Bullseye right there.” “I thought as much. That day your brother flew in and started beating the man almost senseless was...I’ll be generous here and say it was quite stressful. Not as bad as it could’ve gotten, but still.” Damian relays. “Its just all this whole being the daughter of a famous superhero thing’s been starting to dig into me. Everyone around me now expecting me to be the like a goddess of justice and stoicism just cause I’m related to some guy I’ve never even met in my life. I’m not sure how to take all of it in grace.” Mally explains. “I see. Mally, when I first took the positions as the head of the supernatural department, the people that I lead had expected so much out of me. I wasn’t so sure if I was up for it, thought I made a terrible mistake. But when the time to act had come, I stepped up when it was needed of me.” the ghostly boy explains “Yeah, but you chose to take up that mantle, to be the pillar of support for everyone here. But all these new expectations I’m dealing with were just thrust upon me without so much as a warning. How do you even deal with that?” the orange skater asks. “Hmm. Sounds like this is a little different of a case your dealing with here. Lucky I know a couple of people in here that could lend you some words of wisdom on your specific dilemma. Come.” Damian tells her as he starts to float off. “Uh, cuz. What about us?” the one orange and green boy wonders, hovering alongside the young ghostly lady. “Oh, um. You two keep practicing and I’ll be right back.”

Leading the concerned orange skater through the supernatural department wing, the ghastly leader of the division guides Mally over to both Serena and the young boy with him standing aside what was a large cauldron; the young man transforming his hands into sharp dragon like claws he uses to chip away pieces of a strange glowing red rock; the dust and gravel from this piece of magical stone falling into the pot. “And that’ll be enough. Thanks again for helping with brewing my potions.” “No prob, Serena, happy to help.” the young man responds with bits of his freckled face turning red.

Its amidst his fluster that he than hears the sound of the ghostly boss from behind and peers back while Damian goes: “Hey there, Junji. I’d like to introduce you to another new recruit here.” “Sweet! Nice to meet ya.” the dragonic young man turns back to greet, nearly swiping Mally in the face with his deadly claws. “Whoops, hang on.” In a small plume of flames does the boy’s hands return to normal, attempting to greet her again with: “Sorry bout that.” “Uh, no problem, man. Damian up and mentioned something about you helping me out with a little problem I got, but-” “Hang on a sec there. Aren’t you the daughter of that one agent that came to town the other day, the one that saved the world a couple dozen times?” “Ugh, yes.” the orange skater halfheartedly admits. “That’s so rad! Both my folks were protectors of the once hidden magical realm. My dad having the power to turn into a dragon. Since I’m there son, their jobs are gonna be passed down to me someday. Thank goodness they’re both the same kind of job, am I right? Joined up with the Vanguard League so that it can prep me up for that whole responsibility in the future.”

“It sound like both your folks expect a lot out of you.” Mally comments. “My dad does more than my mom, really. All of it ain’t bringing me down, though. I’m more than ready to take it all on.” “But how the hell do you keep yourself from stressing out over all of it, having all those expectations hang over you like a heavy iron weight dangling on a tiny string?” “I don’t see all of it like that at all. Rather look at it as somebody waiting for me at the road ahead.” “Kay, but...It sounds like your more than excited to have all that on your plate. What if what I got is something I don’t really want?” “What’s the big deal then, if ya don’t want it, then that’s alright. Ain’t no big deal.” Junji retorts. “What about all the people that expect all that outta me then? All of them looking at me like some sort of carbon copy of my dad and do what he does. And if I refuse, they’ll just look at me as somebody who could’ve been better, that nothing she does herself will be good enough for people.” “Just do what you want, Mally. Don’t worry about what other people might think of you.” Serena chimes in with. “What if its the people I like though? What if I don’t wanna let them down? Felt like that at the very least was manageable before everyone saw me as the daughter of this world saving agent, and now it all just feels so overblown.” Upon the young skaters explanation are the people around her left silent over what to tel her among all of this, Mally herself letting out a disappointed sigh as she states how: “I don’t know. Maybe I just need time to think things over.” As the orange lass head out through the twin doors, Vivian reaches her hand out towards the retreating skater while going: “Mal, wait!”

After the very moment that the twin doors slide shut, the skull girl starts to tremble from where she stands, finally letting all that boiling anger come out with a roaring: “FUCK!...The fuck is wrong with me!? My girl over there’s just distraught with all this internal doubt shit, and I can even muster up to just a say a single god damn word to her!” “Viv, chill out for a second there, will ya. I’m sure there’s some way we can cheer her up.” Junji tells. “Hmm. I might have this idea we could try. Saw it when my family went out on a play once. The whole scene just brought tears to my eye.” “Damian, we don’t have any theater equipment.” Serena reminds him. Maybe not. But I’m sure all we need to pull it off is a spark of creativity and to phone in a few friends.” the ghostly teen claims, pulling out his phone from his uniform pocket.

Lead through halls of the technological wing of the, the indigo angel notices a striking difference in the hallway décor as he lets the wheelchair bound genius lead him through; most of what was displayed seem to be gizmo’s and gadgets locked safely in display cases. Surely a striking contrast to the rest of the League Headquarters. “I’d not worry too much about what other people compare you to, Tore. After all, a good chunk of the League members here come from similar backgrounds a lot like yours. Sons and daughters of one or two famous superheroes that’ve saved the world before their kids were born, now left to continue their legacy.” “And how do you figure that’s a good thing there?” Tore questions. “Well, like myself, the professions of our parents are what laid the groundwork for out skills and futures. Doubt I’d be where I am today if my folks didn’t support me.” “Wow...must sound real nice.” the indigo angel claims with a lack of glee behind his voice. “Hmm...Just let me show ya a couple of peeps here.”

A pair of twin doors slide right open before the two of them to let them both right on inside, Hank leading the blue boy around through a room filled to the brim with complex technological equipment of all makes and models; some made from durable steel while other’s were strangely made from wood and plastic. A site which leaves the indigo angel amazed over their designs inner workings. “Holy cow! Ya know, I’ll never in a million years understand how all you guys make stuff like this. All of it just seems like magic to me.” “It really ain’t all that complex when you understand modulation, energy flow, cufflink placement, tool practice, gear and shafts, utility workings…” In the middle of attempting to explain all of this to the young blue boy following behind him, Hank peers back to find all of it completely lost on his guest; Tore looking upon the wheelbound genius as if he was speaking an entirely different way of speaking. “Uh..Le-let’s just skip all that and get to the good stuff. Kay?”

Moving past all the ridiculously complex and intricate machinery that spirals and glows all around them, Hank ultimately leads the blue boy right at the very end of the lab; where upon they see a rather scout young woman in the middle of tinkering with a cromatic backpack. “Yo, Dani, ya got a sec here?” the wheelchair genius grabs her attention with. Prying her eyes away from the inside of her backpack, the young lady peers over to face the two boys and greets with: “Yeah, Hank. Taking someone on a little tour?” “You could say something like that. Tore, this here is Danielle, a quite gifted technological expert here in this department. All the knowhow she’s learned, all the practice she’s gotten, all thanks to both her former superhero parents, both codenamed “Bumblebee” and “Cyborg” back in their hay day. She wouldn’t be anywhere she is today without the two of them teaching her everything she knows.” “Hank, my dad was out of my life for 13 year. This isn’t making me feel any better.” Tore reinforces. “Let’s just uh, go for one problem at a time, kay. So Dani, Tore here’s upset over people comparing him to his dad. Think you got anything to say that could lightening emotional load here.”

“Well guys, let me get this outta the way first and say that their isn’t anything stopping people from comparing me to my parents, think it just comes with the territory here. That being said, it hasn’t stopped me from branching out into my own brand of gadgets and inventions. Lo and behold.” Upon stating this does the young woman close the inside of her chromatic backpack and slips it right on; Dani leaping right into the air as her backpack sprouts forth a pair of lustrous dragonfly wings. The blue boy his left amazed as the young lady daintily flutters through the laboratory, all around the tall machinery and looping pipes and wires with such seamless grace. “Whoa, those are some really pretty wings you got there. Make me wish I could change what mine looked like. Always wonder what I’d look like with some scaly badass dragon wings.” the blue boy gawks over. “Thanks. I got the idea from my mom’s own flight back he used back in her hay day.” “That, and she couldn’t reach the top shelves even with a stool.” “Hank, I don’t think you should throwing any stones when it comes to reach.” Dani warns. “Eh, your probably. I don’t really got much of a leg to stand on with that.” “I...Oh my god.” “I get it.” Tore utters.

“So, was that all you were working on or what?” Hank then moves on with. “Actually, I’ve been making some adjustments to my communication visor lately.” the young woman claims, donning what seemed like a light lavender headset along the side of her head. “Oh wow, you made an actual scouter?” Tore questions. “I...its a multipurpose combat visor/communicator designed to connect to other league members and help track adversaries in range.” Dani specifies. “So a scouter then…” “Fine, a scouter, you win.” “Um, you got anything else to say about yourself, Dani? Maybe some goals in life or…” Hank then drives them both back to. “Well, even though making tools of personal transportation are fun to work on. I really wanna land a scholarship at Norman state university for biology, hopefully I can get a job as a forensic scientist.” the young girl adds. “Forensic’s huh. Don’t that stuff involve lookin at dead bodies or something?” the indigo angel questions. “Something along the lines of that.”

“But…aren’t you afraid of being trapped under your folks shadows; like you can’t make your own accomplishments without being compared to them?” the blue boy then quarries. “What do you mean by that?” the young lady asks. “I mean like how no matter what you try to do, that people wont see you accomplishments as your own but rather as a byproduct of both your parents. Like even if you winds up landing your dream job, that others will just see your hard work not as something you’ve achieved on her own but pin it down to being someone’s kid. That feeling of having so little agency in what’s expected out of you that you’ll be seen as a disappointment no matter what you try, that massive shadow left by your parents will just be so dense that you can’t escape from it. Any achievements you work to accomplished will not be yours to everyone else; it’ll be one given to the people who made you. And at the end of it all, no one’s gonna like you for you; how they’ll see you as an accessory to someone they adore more. Who none think have passions or desires or personality or dreams of their own, but just a trophy for someone else.”

In being told this gnawing insecurity plaguing him are both geniuses next to him left completely silent by his utterly depressing words; Dani left stumbling back onto her desk as she mumbles aloud: “Oh...Oh...I didn’t think...But they wouldn’t see me like...would they...Oh...Oh…” Midst this growing anxiety that a sharp whistle escapes from the boy genius’s pair of lips, admitting to him how: “Wow uh, didn’t think what was going through your head was that bad. I’m not even sure how you could go about untangling all that. I’m a technician, not a therapist.” “I’m not either, but I might wanna take a crack at it.” another voice chimes in to offer.

Peering back from whence they strolled right into do the boy’s discover the head of the information department herself standing behind them, dressed in a few bandages along her face and forehead. A bright smile stretches across the indigo angel’s face when finding the young blonde standing before them and goes: “Renee! Glad to see that crash you went through didn’t do anything too bad to ya. Got worried you might’ve lost an eye or something. Sorry about not visiting you in the hospital during your stay, I was a tad busy with-” “Beating your dad a new one, I know. Everybody saw. It was live on every single device.” The blue boy’s smile starts to deflate as the leader of the info department relays this tid bit, his expression only withering further as she continues with: “S.U.P.E.R.I.O.R went and told the news that it was all just come some publicity stunt. But Kingsley and the other’s told me otherwise. I just serious can’t believe you scared everyone half to death doing all that.” “Agh...Yeah. They gave me the verbal beating I deserved there. Still can’t believe I wasn’t paying any attention to what I was doing. All I had to do was just look down sooner and I realize that-” “Tore, lets just drop that for now. I need you to follow me.” “Kay, where to?” “Somewhere I think you need to be.”

Somewhere else within league headquarters, Mally could be found strolling through the halls in a sulk; her little existential identity crisis still polluting her very thoughts. God, why is all this emotional baggage just showing up on my doorstep now of all times? It ain’t like I got to even know what my dad was like and now everyone here’s practically comparing me to him. Almost feels unfair. It’s just so...infuriating. Like what do these people even expect out of me anymore?

Amidst all these thoughts rummaging through her mind does she then come to find the smartass red head himself standing right along the corner of the hallway; Ryan taking a sip of a can of soda as the orange skater approaches to ask: “Ryan? Listen, if you’re looking for Viv, saw her last in the Supernatural department wing.” The young man lets out a deep exhale after downing a good half of the soda can, keeping his eyes locked to the can in his hands as he tells the girl: “You matter more than you think, Mal. All those fucking jackoffs whispering about you don’t know a damn thing about who you really are.” “Ryan...What are you talking about?” “...Just come with me.” the young red head simply orders as he leaps off the corner and strolls down the hall. “Um...a-alright.”

“I seriously can’t apologize enough for all the chaos I wound up causing the other day. I’m just happy that Kingsley the other’s snapped me out of it when they did. Who know’s what else I would’ve wound up doing.” Tore laments to the blonde leading him through the headquarters hall. “I suppose I can understand why you got so worked up. So many times I actually wanted to slug my own dad, and here, you actually got the nerves to beat yours. Felt kind of cathartic watching all that too. I’m just glad to finally be out of his shadow for once. I can actually start to carve my own path out in my life. And look at me now, I’m one of the heads of a generation of Rising stars. To be honest, I thought everyone would utterly despise me for what my dad almost did to them. But when I went up on stage alongside Kingsley and the others, I saw not one disapproving or doubting glare. But cheers and admiration. They didn’t see the daughter of the man who almost killed them all...they saw the young woman who would help lead a new generation of heroes.”

Amidst their venture through the league halls, both the blonde girl and blue boy pass by a couple of other young league goers along their trip; Tore left in earshot as he could hear all of them whispering behind them both. “Hey, isn’t that Agent 344’s kid?” “Think so. Guess he took a job in the League after all.” “Course he did. Like father like son.” “Wonder if he’s gonna grow up like him one day?” “I bet he’s gonna turn out just like him.”

“That’s wonderful Renee. I couldn’t be happier for you.” the blue boy rebuttals back with halfhearted enthusiasm. “Gee, don’t go hyping yourself up now.” “Sorry. But I just keep thinking about my own dad and his reputation. At least you could build yourself up in the opposite direction yours went. Everyone has such high regards for mine. Almost feels impossible to crawl out from that ditch that’s his shadow. Half of you guys don’t have at problem at all. Cayenne’s dad used to be superpowered ruff crook, both Kingsley’s parents were once famous villains, your dad even threatened to blow up the entire city and kill everyone for god sake. It was easy for the three of you to step out from their parents legacy and into an entirely different one. That day when all of us stopped Circe from taking everyone’s lives; it felt like everyone saw us as a nobodies working their way up in the world; people who could one day make a names for themself and make the people around them happy. Now all they see I me is the overwhelming shadow cast over a once hope filled young lad; one that’ll haunt me for whatever I attempt to accomplish, just to get people saying: “Of course he did it. He’s agent 344’s kid after all…” Every time I hear that said in earshot, all of it just sinks down; being compared to the man left me and my fam for 13 years. “Just...why!” Upon saying this does the blue boy’s body start to flare numerous colors among his fury; the indigo angel quelling his own wrath into a depressing sadness. “I want people to see me for me, not for him.”

“So do I.” he hears a familiar voice ring out. In hearing this does the blue boy finally notices himself standing within the depths of a lightless void, seeing nothing but his own orange sister standing before him. “Mally?” “You’re not the only one whose had a tough time taking all this in.” “Mal, I’m sorry. All this came down on us all so fast, I barely even got anytime to wander how it was effecting you. All I could think about was what other people see us as.” “What they expected out of us.” “How they want us to be.” “How they only see a pair of our dad.” “Or if we even wanna be. Everyone here’s not wanting to see us as us. They just wanna see us as leftovers of someone else.”

“We see you as you.” Left to illuminate this darkness himself, Tore whips his wings out and casts away this void; discovering another figure in the dark. “What?” “Your dad didn’t give me a chance to change my life when I was at my lowest.” Out from the dark void does Roy then step out before the blue boy; finishing his statement with: “You did.” “Your dad didn’t make me see the value in others around me.” From the void does Cayenne then step out, telling the boy that: “You did.” “Your dad didn’t help build a little slice of home for me out here.” Persephone then walks out from the void alongside her cousin and declares that: “You did.” “Your dad didn’t pull me out from horrible domestic abuse.” Beside the bubbly blonde did the head of the Knowledge department step out and say: “You did.” “Your dad didn’t bring somebody he barely knew from the brink of death.” Aside Renee does the princess of Hell herself standing net to her superiour; Vera going to claim that: “You did.” “Your dad didn’t motivate me to push past my fears?” Alongside the demonic princess does Vivian stand out before the both of them; gazing to the skater girl as she claims that: “You did.” “Your dad didn’t give me the chance to better myself.” Out from the dark does the wheelchair bound genius peer to the two of them: Hank finishing with: “You did.” “Your dad didn’t make me see how I treated everyone around me.” Beside him, Ryan then steps out from the void to confront the orange skater and say that: “You did.” “Your dad didn’t remind me of how great sharing your company with others was.” From the depths, Biz steps out to look upon her own pupil with a proud gaze, all while claiming that: “You did.” “Your dad didn’t help me move on with a broken bond.” It then proves Melvin’s turn to chime in with consoling them, claiming to Mally that: “You did.” “Your dad didn’t help my business blossom more then I could imagine.” Next to him does the potion brewer herself, Serena, step forth from the dark to claim how: “You did.” “Your dad didn’t inspire everyone here before you.” Finally from the depths of the abyss does Kingsley step out next to the spice queen; saying to them that: “Both of you did. I don’t think most of us would be here without you guys.”

“Oh...yeah. So many people we helped.” Tore utters. “So many adventures we went on.” Mally claims “So many lives we’ve met.” “So many we had gotten together.” “All of them right before us. Smiling.” “All of them willing to lend a hand.” “All in just the several month’s we’ve been here.” “Maybe we don’t gotta try and make everyone proud. I think what they think is good enough. Don’t you?” “Yeah...they’re what makes it all worth living for.”

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Hey, another chapter here. I've been questioning what a character would think if the others around them view their life as nothing more than an accessory of something bigger, something like maybe a celebrity, or dare I say maybe even a ship. I wanted this chapter to initially be a deconstruction over the whole shipping phenomenon, specifically over the subject of kids made up from those ships; to gaze into their perspective being seen as naught but a trophy to some. This mainly came from the fact that Boruto hadn't really done this, even though that series is crawling with potential over what would make emotional and great arc's; like being compared to predecessors or having other's see them as nothing more than a carbon copy of their parents. But from how much I've seen, they don't take these avenues; and it disappoints me. So basically here's my little shot at the subject. Nothing big really, just a test to see how well I can work with it. Danielle belongs to: PrincessCallyie Erza belongs to: d00mface Envie belongs to: ThePaladinL Junji belongs to: Japandaa

#lillaxtrigger #Young Hope #princesscallyie #d00mface #ThePaladinL #Japandaa