# data[].attributes.body
The only man to claim the title as son from both Zeus and Hades. Chadanemnon was his name; a demigod born not of natural ways but rather god-like. From the core of the earth he rested, awaiting for his call to rise. As Cronus divided the heavens, Chadanemnon too was divided between the earth. Stuck above the underworld, but buried below by the living world. Within his sight, laid the latch to the wandering souls that never ceased to stop entering; yet none cease to ever leave. That is until a man by the name of Sisyphus.

Sisyphus, the son of Aeolus and Enarete, was born heir to the throne of Thessaly in Central Greece. He would eventually take over and become king of Ephyra, later known as Corinth. Marrying his wife Merope; the only one of seven Pleiades to have wedded with a mortal rather than a god. Together they would give birth to Glaucus, Ornytion, and Sinon. Glaucus would rule over Ephyra, only to discover his gruesome fate. As a renowned horseman, he would routinely feed his mares human flesh; which they built up an appetite for. Upon losing a chariot race, Glaucus would be eaten alive by the same fate which he dealt others. Sisyphus’s reputation was that of thievery, death, and rape. He would cunningly kidnap daughters of the enemy, and ultimately betray Chadanemnon’s father, Zeus.

Asposus, a river god whose father was Poseidon, was in search for his daughter Aegina who disappeared mysteriously throughout the darkness of night. Desperate, Asposus directed himself towards Sisyphus's city, Ephyrya. Upon arrival he was given a promise by Sisyphus. He would tell Asposus the event of what happened to his daughter in exchange for the river god to plant an eternal spring for Sisyphus’s kingdom, Corinth. In an instant, the ground divided and fresh spring water began to swell up from the earth; filling a winding river 50 wide, and 50 feet deep that gave life to Corinth like veins transferring blood to your vitals. Filled with stupefaction, Sisyphus happily and energetically told Asposus that his daughter's abductor is none other than Zeus himself. As Asposus’s heart filled with anguish, Sisyphus's heart filled with greed. In disbelief, Asposus stormed towards Zeus with the only space being between them is that of his bolts filled with lightning. Zeus had decided that Aegina would be his next conquest; therefore like Ganymede, he took the form as an eagle and flew away with her in the midst of the night. Oenone is the solitary island that Zeus had flown to. Asposus tried desperately to reach Oenone, however Zeus’s colossal lightning bolts kept him at bay. Despite the dispute with Asposus, it was inferior to the fury caused by Sisphysus. It was his betrayal of Zeus for spreading the whereabouts of Aegan (Asposus’s daughter) that resulted in Zeus sending death himself, Thanatos. Thanatos is the son of Nyx (Goddess of the night), and Hypnos (Goddess of sleep.) His duty was therefore to appear to humans and guide them into the underworld. Thanatos’s mission was to guide Sisyphus through the underworld where he would spend all of eternity. Upon the arrival of Thanatos, the unthinkable occurred.

During the exchange between the two, he managed to outwit death. The personification of death was now the captive of the living. Sisyphus had trickery up his sleeves, some believe he questioned Thanatos on the use of handcuffs and to demonstrate. During the demonstration, an altercation occurred where death was now in the hands of the living. Therefore no matter how gruesome of an injury one may occur, they would not take part in death. Leaving the mortally wounded, bloodless, and those infused with diseases to suffer; leaving those begging for death to lead them into Hades. Hades himself grew so enraged, the rivers in Hades came to a boil. Death is the fate of all and Hades hated anyone who tried to escape it. With that said, the latch to the underworld where souls would enter but cease to ever escape, opened. Wandering souls flooded out of the latch, infecting the living world. Those suffering and pleading for death were denied, as now no one living could enter Hades; and everyone in Hades was released. Gloomy clouds of darkness filled and took shape of the sky, leaving no light other than that of fire. Wandering souls roamed the Earth, having envy and greed for the living they sabotaged the lives of those they could. Leaving all the people and even the gods with despair. Zeus, understanding the chaos that is ensuing, calls for Chadanemon to be awakened to hear the wishes of his father. “Son, you are the only living demigod to be that of both Zeus and Hades' son. This means only you are capable of closing the hatch to the underworld, as no one else has the ability to see it, other than you. Therefore son, arise to my call for you, and set the Earth free from the destruction of wandering souls.” Chadanemnon awakened to his fathers call, freeing himself from the chains that encased him. Within his sight, laid the latch his father had depicted during his call. Glows of red radiated from within the latch, with heat waves being visible along with the souls from the beginning of time escaping Hades. Chadanemnon thoughtfully brought himself closer to the latch, making sure of any impurities Hades might have in store. Out of the latch gave a presence to a woman so beautiful, a gasp is all he was left with. “Greetings Chadanemnon, I am Penelope. Former queen of Greece. Since the release of my death, I wish to be living with you. So if you close the latch, we will no longer have a future together.”

“Dumbfounded I am Penelope of your flattery offer, however this is the purpose my father called me too, to close the latch and release the agony of the suffering; and send the wandering souls back to Hades where they belong.”

“Don’t you wish to be with me, Chadanemnon?”

“I do Penelope, but what should I do?”

“Step away from the latch and let the dead bury the dead. Live with me and we’ll live forever. If you wish, I could even bring you into Hades before we close the latch if that’s where you wish to reside with me.” Penelope's beauty left Chadanemnon dazed with confusion, undecided with the actions he should make. Penelope tries to persuade him further with the illusion of herself climbing into the latch. Hades was truly Penelope in disguise, as he was going to go out on his own will to finalize Sisyphus's death; death is the fate of all and no one will escape it. As Penelope appears to step inside, Chadanemnon unknowingly climbs in following the slam of the latch closing all of Hades. Chadanemnon was now trapped within Hades as wandering souls bombard his direction trying to escape. Meanwhile Hades played trickery on Chadanemnon, he sent his wife Persephone to free death from the chains of Sisyphus. When death returned to Hades, a broken chain followed along and was caught between the hatch of Hades. Chadanmenon’s only escape is that of through the latch, which can only be opened from the top since no one nor god can escape. Wandering souls compress him against the latch before the pressure ignites, sending the latch along with Chadanemnon and the wandering souls firing outwards. In an act of desperation, Chadanemnon gathered around the latch, gripping his fingers around the rusted metal latch so hard they turned white. Using the might of Zeus and Hades combined, Chadanemnon closes the latch. Glowing red and yellow bolts of lightning crashed upon the Earth, piercing through the ominous darkness of the clouds surrounding the sky. Sending wandering souls dashing towards the entrance of Hades to escape Zeus’s wrath. As the wandering souls return to their resting place, so do those whose death was delayed. The line awaiting death stretched out of Hades. Closing the latch returned the world to its previous state, the descending chaos was put to an end by Chadanemnon, his call was answered. The darkness that once consumed the Earth in the form of the sky, faded abruptly. Shining brightly was now the sun, making known the marks of Zeus’s bolts of lightning that struck the earth. Chadanemnon returned to his resting spot just above Hades, but just below the living world. Zeus would make known to Chadanemnon his pride for the actions he had partaken in. Gifting him the title, “Protector of Souls' ', since only he could visibly see the latch. Sisyphus’s soul was not protected however; in exchange for all of the wandering souls being sent back to Hades, Zeus would trade over Sisyphus's to Hades himself. Both had been betrayed by Sisyphus, Hades would make him suffer for all of eternity. Assigning Sisyphus to carry a huge boulder to the top of Hades everyday, only for it to roll back down. As long as Sisyphus will carry the boulder up the hill, so will Chadanemnon await the call of his father.

# data[].attributes.headline
“ This is Johnny topside today's date is december 17, 1942 at this point in time I am 21 years old, a deep sea diver investigating the disappearances of several large cargo ships and submarines near the south coast of Iceland,” Johnny said into his tape recorder. He was recording the entire expedition for his employers who wanted to know exactly where their ships were disappearing to. “ We are just getting ready to make our first dive, we have seen nothing, not even a sign that any ships have gone past here in months. Here's hoping something turns up,” and with that he put away the recorder and dove down. 				Johnny loved his job going into a world so different from his own surrounded by darkness it was so calming but there were such beautiful lights made by the coral and few animals that lived this deep down. The reassure would kill any man not in a suit, they were made especially for this mission funded by the Icelandic government. No one had any idea where the ships could go. It almost seemed impossible that they could disappear like that but they did and it was their job to find out how. They were just beginning to get deep enough to see the beautiful bio luminescent creatures every now and then. You would see a flash of blue or purple and then be left in the darkness. But then he saw lights, not from the coral or the creatures. These lights were man made. They made it to the drop off where they saw the lights and then they saw it. A city built right under the sea, they knew this must have been why the ships disappeared but there was no way they could do anything as they turned back to tell someone about their discoveries a sub flew over them and from it came 2 huge divers. They were in suits that seemed slightly off similar to their own but bigger. They ran right for them; they almost glided through the water, easily catching up to Johnny's group. The two soldiers grabbed them all and brought them back to their sub, tearing off their suits after the water drained and knocking them all out. 		When Johnny came he was in an office and there stood a man dressed in a brown suit and tie. He was playing with a small golf set. “My name is Andrew Ryan, founder of rapture and might i ask how the hell you found my city” the man said in such a way that he was in complete control of the situation. “I.. i.. My name is Johnny. I didn't mean we were investigating the missing ships..” “I doubt that,” Andrew interrupted. “So who sent you to spy on the Russians, perhaps the americans?”  “I'm no spy sir, we really were just looking for the missing ships,'' Johnny said in his defense. “If you don’t start telling me the truth, boy, I think you will make a perfect guinea pig for the big daddy program.” Johnny had no idea what he was talking about but whatever it was it didn’t sound good. He raced to think of something to say but it was too late. “Fine if you don’t want to tell me, take him to Dr sinclair.” and at that 2 men came through the door behind him and took him away.		Next thing he knew he was on an operating table large machines all round him. They poked and prodded him, blood flying everywhere he had never known such pain. Then they brought out a suit the same as the ones the divers that had captured him wore. They began to put it on him he could feel burning all around as they grafted it to his flesh. Then finally his pain seemed to go away as did his memories; everything he knew was being lost. Until he was nothing but an empty shell to be given a purpose, they brought him out to a large room barricaded on all sides. Then they gave him a shot the liquid was a bright almost glowing red as it drained into him he could feel it in his veins it felt like liquid power. His fingers burst into flames, maybe it was the suit but he felt no pain. The fire seemed connected to him almost waiting for a command, so he gave it one. And it sparing forward in a wave of heat from his fingertips. Then they brought out a little girl who must not have been more than 7 years old. But she almost didn’t look human with glowing eyes. They gave her a shot similar to his and immediately he felt a strange feeling as he looked at the little girl he liked. It was his job to protect her as if she was his daughter. “This, Subject Delta is your little sister,” the doctor said very clearly talking to him. “You will be tasked with protecting her as she gathers Adam from across the city” delta wasn’t sure what Adam was but he was going to protect his newly found daughter. “Adam , Delta is the very same thing that we gave to you. It allows you to do that trick with fire but it is so much more than just that” at which the doctor began to ramble about the greatness of Adam but he wasn’t talking to Delta just to himself. 		The city was an incredible , massive marvel of engineering at the bottom of the sea. But the people that lived there were a very different story. Most were abominations corrupted by the Adam they held so dearly. their faces contorted and disfigured. Delta had a hard job to keep these people, affectionately nicknamed splicers by the few uncorrupted people still living there,  away from his daughter you see she gathered adam from the corpses of people that had used it and of corse the living spliceres wanted it for themeselves johnny had never killed a man but delta was a warmachine made to feel no sorrow at murder he had one thing in his mind, his daughter. In one of his arms he held a massive rivet gun ,used in the construction of rapture now used as a weapon by himself and the other “big daddys” as they were nicknamed by the spicers, and in the other he always had at the ready the fire he was given. But that day everything he had gained was going to be taken away all over again.		It was a routine day gathering Adam, they were just beginning when four splicers showed up. Not a problem for delta if they were smart they would walk away while they could. But instead they rushed his daughter, he was above them on a balcony and jumped down on one crushing it’s skull, another hit him with a shock of lightning ,another power Adam could give. The third winded up to hit him with a wrench but delta bore a massive hole in the splicers body with his drill, the second one hit him with something he had never seen before he felt tired and like he was being pulled on strings not his own person. And then she saw a wolf in sheep's clothing “there we are '' she said the click of her shoes echoing around the room. “This is not your daughter” she said, pointing to what he thought his daughter was. “Her name is Eleanor,  and she is mine” her voice sounded like daggers in his gut. “Now kneel please” delta was suddenly forced down to one knee, “remove your helmet” delta did as he was told, trying to resist to no avail. “Now take the pistol,” she said, handing him a golden revolver. “Place it against your head” once again trying to resist but he couldn’t stop himself; it was as if the hand of god moved his body for him. “Pull the trigger” her final words ringing in his ears, delta used all of his strength to stop himself from pulling the triger but it only gave him a few moments before.. BANG. 		

# data[].attributes.subject
“ This is Johnny topside today's date is december 17, 1942 at this point in time I am 21 years old, a deep sea diver investigating the disappearances of several large cargo ships and submarines near the south coast of Iceland,” Johnny said into his tape recorder. He was recording the entire expedition for his employers who wanted to know exactly where their ships were disappearing to. “ We are just getting ready to make our first dive, we have seen nothing, not even a sign that any ships have gone past here in months. Here's hoping something turns up,” and with that he put away the recorder and dove down. 				Johnny loved his job going into a world so different from his own surrounded by darkness it was so calming but there were such beautiful lights made by the coral and few animals that lived this deep down. The reassure would kill any man not in a suit, they were made especially for this mission funded by the Icelandic government. No one had any idea where the ships could go. It almost seemed impossible that they could disappear like that but they did and it was their job to find out how. They were just beginning to get deep enough to see the beautiful bio luminescent creatures every now and then. You would see a flash of blue or purple and then be left in the darkness. But then he saw lights, not from the coral or the creatures. These lights were man made. They made it to the drop off where they saw the lights and then they saw it. A city built right under the sea, they knew this must have been why the ships disappeared but there was no way they could do anything as they turned back to tell someone about their discoveries a sub flew over them and from it came 2 huge divers. They were in suits that seemed slightly off similar to their own but bigger. They ran right for them; they almost glided through the water, easily catching up to Johnny's group. The two soldiers grabbed them all and brought them back to their sub, tearing off their suits after the water drained and knocking them all out. 		When Johnny came he was in an office and there stood a man dressed in a brown suit and tie. He was playing with a small golf set. “My name is Andrew Ryan, founder of rapture and might i ask how the hell you found my city” the man said in such a way that he was in complete control of the situation. “I.. i.. My name is Johnny. I didn't mean we were investigating the missing ships..” “I doubt that,” Andrew interrupted. “So who sent you to spy on the Russians, perhaps the americans?”  “I'm no spy sir, we really were just looking for the missing ships,'' Johnny said in his defense. “If you don’t start telling me the truth, boy, I think you will make a perfect guinea pig for the big daddy program.” Johnny had no idea what he was talking about but whatever it was it didn’t sound good. He raced to think of something to say but it was too late. “Fine if you don’t want to tell me, take him to Dr sinclair.” and at that 2 men came through the door behind him and took him away.		Next thing he knew he was on an operating table large machines all round him. They poked and prodded him, blood flying everywhere he had never known such pain. Then they brought out a suit the same as the ones the divers that had captured him wore. They began to put it on him he could feel burning all around as they grafted it to his flesh. Then finally his pain seemed to go away as did his memories; everything he knew was being lost. Until he was nothing but an empty shell to be given a purpose, they brought him out to a large room barricaded on all sides. Then they gave him a shot the liquid was a bright almost glowing red as it drained into him he could feel it in his veins it felt like liquid power. His fingers burst into flames, maybe it was the suit but he felt no pain. The fire seemed connected to him almost waiting for a command, so he gave it one. And it sparing forward in a wave of heat from his fingertips. Then they brought out a little girl who must not have been more than 7 years old. But she almost didn’t look human with glowing eyes. They gave her a shot similar to his and immediately he felt a strange feeling as he looked at the little girl he liked. It was his job to protect her as if she was his daughter. “This, Subject Delta is your little sister,” the doctor said very clearly talking to him. “You will be tasked with protecting her as she gathers Adam from across the city” delta wasn’t sure what Adam was but he was going to protect his newly found daughter. “Adam , Delta is the very same thing that we gave to you. It allows you to do that trick with fire but it is so much more than just that” at which the doctor began to ramble about the greatness of Adam but he wasn’t talking to Delta just to himself. 		The city was an incredible , massive marvel of engineering at the bottom of the sea. But the people that lived there were a very different story. Most were abominations corrupted by the Adam they held so dearly. their faces contorted and disfigured. Delta had a hard job to keep these people, affectionately nicknamed splicers by the few uncorrupted people still living there,  away from his daughter you see she gathered adam from the corpses of people that had used it and of corse the living spliceres wanted it for themeselves johnny had never killed a man but delta was a warmachine made to feel no sorrow at murder he had one thing in his mind, his daughter. In one of his arms he held a massive rivet gun ,used in the construction of rapture now used as a weapon by himself and the other “big daddys” as they were nicknamed by the spicers, and in the other he always had at the ready the fire he was given. But that day everything he had gained was going to be taken away all over again.		It was a routine day gathering Adam, they were just beginning when four splicers showed up. Not a problem for delta if they were smart they would walk away while they could. But instead they rushed his daughter, he was above them on a balcony and jumped down on one crushing it’s skull, another hit him with a shock of lightning ,another power Adam could give. The third winded up to hit him with a wrench but delta bore a massive hole in the splicers body with his drill, the second one hit him with something he had never seen before he felt tired and like he was being pulled on strings not his own person. And then she saw a wolf in sheep's clothing “there we are '' she said the click of her shoes echoing around the room. “This is not your daughter” she said, pointing to what he thought his daughter was. “Her name is Eleanor,  and she is mine” her voice sounded like daggers in his gut. “Now kneel please” delta was suddenly forced down to one knee, “remove your helmet” delta did as he was told, trying to resist to no avail. “Now take the pistol,” she said, handing him a golden revolver. “Place it against your head” once again trying to resist but he couldn’t stop himself; it was as if the hand of god moved his body for him. “Pull the trigger” her final words ringing in his ears, delta used all of his strength to stop himself from pulling the triger but it only gave him a few moments before.. BANG. 		

# data[].attributes.body
Once upon a time there was a handsome satyr named Spyro that yearned for love and a child and spent most of his days playing his shepherd's pipe in hope that someone would hear his song. One day Hera, the goddess of the gods and marriage, heard his song and swooned over his beautiful song that touched her heart. She slowly emerged from the tree she was hidden behind and came into Spyros view.
“who-who are you?” Spyro asked, gazing at the alluring goddess.
“I am Hera, the goddess of marriage. I understand that you are looking for a wife.” She spoke.
“Yes, I long for a love that will last a lifetime and to grow old with and a child that I can call my own.” he said. He let out a long sigh “but I am nothing but a satyr and no beautiful being would want a satyr like me.”
“You have touched my heart with your song satyr and for this I shall provide you with said wife and child. But you must do something for me.” Hera stated.
“I’ll do anything great, Hera, anything!” Spyro pleaded.
“Very well then, you must go to the pits of tartarus and retrieve an ancient pearl that was stolen from me by Hades.”
Spyro thought for a moment. “I will do this task, and I shall not fail.”
Hera smiled. She gave Spyro a map of how to get there and where to go.
“Do not lose this map.” Hera warned. “It is the only map of tartarus and no one must know that you have this, do you understand?”
“Yes I understand.” He said as he bowed. Hera then wished him good luck and disappeared into thin air to return to olympus. Spyro looked down at the paper he had been given and started on his way. He made his way out of the woods into a quaint little village. He stocked up on bread, water, and anything else he would need for his journey. Suddenly Spyro heard a commotion coming from the center of the village. He walked over out of curiosity and saw a cyclops bound by the hands and the feet about to be burned on a stake. Spyro gasped at the sight.
“Ugly creature!” Someone yelled.
“Burn in Tartarus one eye!” Another shouted. Spyro couldn’t let this cyclops be killed for doing nothing. Spyro looked around frantically and saw a horse tied to a stand. He cut the rope connecting the wood and horse. Spyro quickly hopped on the horse and yelled and kicked the horse's side. The horse leapt up and ran forward. Spyro galloped past the crowd of people and grabbed onto the cyclops heaving him onto the horse. They rode away past the mob of angry villagers into the mountains. Spyro came to a halt on his horse and untied the one eyed creature.
“Thank you brave satyr, you have saved my life and for that I am forever grateful!” The cyclops said with appreciation.
“You got a name, one eye?” Spyro said bluntly.
“Ramiro, and you sir?” he questioned.
“Spyro.” He said shortly. “Look this is all fun and games, but I really have to be on my way. I have a quest to complete.”
“What kind of quest? Will there be danger? Will there be fighting? Can I come?” Ramiro asked. He wasn’t quite all there it seemed. Before Spyro could even answer, Ramiro blurted out loud
“Oh I won’t be a bother I just want to help you complete your quest for all you have done for me.” he whined. Spyro sighed. “All right, hop on the horse.” Ramiro giggled like a little kid and hopped on the horse. Spyro heeled the horses side and they were off. The ride to the underworld wasn’t the problem, finding your way around in there was the problem. They dismounted from the horse and stood in front of the so-called entrance, but there was nothing there but a big rock in the middle of a random field. Spyro knocked on the rock. “Is this a joke?” Ramiro snickered.  Spyro looked down at his map. There was writing at the top written in Greek that said ‘To break this rock and see you must play a soft worthy melody.’ Spyro thought for a moment before perking his head up. He took out his shepherd's pipe and played the same song that had wooed Hera. The rock began to tremble and soon cracked open to reveal a staircase creeping deep into the pits of tartarus. Ramiro gasped at the sight.
“That was amazing, Spyro!” Ramiro squealed. Spyro grinned with satisfaction before heading down the steep staircase. The humidity was unbearable. It was so hot it felt as if they were melting into the floor.
“The map says we have to go this way.” Spyro indicated with his left finger. Ramiro followed along as Spyro led the way following the map. They entered what seemed to be Hades throne room. “I wasn’t told that I was going to have visitors.” A deep voice spoke behind them. Before Spyro and Ramiro could even turn around, Hades had grabbed the back of their shirts and yanked them to the ground, sending Spyro hitting the wall and Ramiro into a painting. Spyro quickly got up before saying “Please sir we mean no harm, I have just come to retrieve a pearl.”
Hades eyed the Satyr. “You mean this pearl?” Hades said as he lifted up a necklace he was wearing around his neck. Spyros eyes widened at the glistening pearl. “Yes, yes that pearl. Please can we have it?”
“Hmmm.” Hades hummed. “I suppose, if you give me something I want.”
“You name it.” Spyro said. Hades looked over at the cyclops. “I’ve never had a cyclops eye in my collection before.” Ramiro stepped back covering his face. “You can’t have my eye! It’s the only one I got!” Ramiro spat. “Very well then, then I guess you will not need this pearl.” Hades said, turning away. “Wait!” Spyro said. “Is there anything else you’d want?” Hades thought for a moment. “That shepherd's pipe. It’s very antique, did you make it?” Spyro looked down. “Oh, my father did.” Spyro muttered. “I shall take that. Final offer. Take it or leave it.” Hades said harshly.
Spyro looked down at the shepherd's pipe his father had made for him when he was young. “Alright.”
“Splendid, now hand it over and you’ll get your pearl.” Hades said chipperly. Spyro slid over the pipe as Hades tossed him the pearl. “Alright you’ve got your pearl, now be gone!” Hades boomed.
Ramiro and Spyro didn’t waste time and were out of tartarus in the blink of an eye. The two creatures rode the horse back to the forest to meet with Hera. As they hopped off the horse the satyr yelled into the sky. “Great Hera! I have retrieved your pearl for you, now fulfill your end of the bargain!” Hera descended from the sky on a glowing golden cloud. “Thank you satyr, you have done a good deed and for that I shall reward you.” Hera waved her hand and the most beautiful woman spyro had ever seen appeared. “Her name is Fiona, she will provide many healthy offsprings.” Hera said softly. Spyro gazed into the woman's beautiful green eyes. He took her hand and she smiled. Spyro and Fiona lived a long life together in the woods in a cottage, with their three children, two boys and a little girl. Not without their godfather Ramiro of course.

# data[].attributes.body
“Go! Get out of here! Go to the mountains! They will help you and our child,“ commanded the father.

“No, I can’t leave you here. My devotion to you is stronger than anything in this world!” cried the mother.

“I will always be beside you.Take care, my love. I’ll give you enough time to escape.” Sympathized the man.

“Goodbye my love, I’ll wait for the day of your return. We will miss you dearly.” muttered the woman.

As the father turns to face the roaring flames, one last smile gazes upon his face knowing the fate ahead. The mother and their child scuttled quickly across the fallen town, racing against time, closing up on the path towards the mountain. They were soon interrupted by a loud boom, causing a rage of wind across the town, tripping everything in its counter. The mother fell to the ground holding her child tightly, losing hope her last chance was the gods.

“Gods, if you hear my plea, please save me and my child from this disaster.” pleaded the mother, “Show us away to flee from this town.”

Waiting for a sign, a hurdle of screams were released into the burnt-sky knowing those of a once-love town were gone. Who could have done such a thing so evil but yet so cruel to turn fates into these hands.

“Gods, I ask once more, help those in need to the mountains, we will settle there safely from this terrible disaster.”

Lastly, a bolt of lightning was shot across the sky, showing a path towards the mountains. Soon heavy rain began to fall, ceasing the flames. Flowers and new growth also began seizing the flood caused by the rain.

“Oh Thank you, Lord. We will forever be in your favor.” gleaned the mother. “Everyone, if you still wish to live this life, follow the path towards the mountain. We will establish our new home.”

Those who heard the speech  began recollecting themselves and headed along the path. Hours upon hours spent leaving everything behind. Halfway up the mountain, the mother looks back upon the lost town, flames continue to roar as people are still running for their lives. A total of 13 adults and 7 children were left to start over.

“My dear, if you were still here would you be able to move on?”

-Time skip: 5 years later-

“Mama! Mama! Come quick!” shouted the child.

“What is it sweetie? Slow down Rin” the mother let out a laugh. “What do you want to show me in such a hurry?”

“Mama, don't you worry.” giggled Rin.

A short while, they reach the middle of the town. A small gasp escaped from the mother as she looked in shock, a smile grew on her face as she collapsed of relief and joy. The statue which stood in the center, was a thank you towards the gods, showing each god/goddess who came to our need. Zues, the king of all gods and lightning, Poseidon  the god of the seas and Anthera, goddess of the swamps and floral wreaths. Those three gods were truly honored in our new found town.

The mother looked at Rin and said, “One day you will bring good fate to our home, and may you go on adventures, meet people who will join you or those who will bring sorrow and hatred. If you ever need assistance, look to the gods. They help us so much to give us another chance. If only your father was here to see how nice you have grown.  As the mother embraced Aharin, “Now Aharin shall we take a walk?”

“Of course mother, I’ll love too” gleamed Rin.

-Time Skip: 12 years later-

“ Watch out!” Rin yelled, tripping over their feet, trying to carry a pile of books to the library. Soon enough, fate wasn’t on their side for this one, and Rin crashed to the ground. Books flinging upwards, and fluttering downwards.

“Oh no! Oh god, what do I do?” question Rin. A quiver of thunder was an answer. Disperse into more thunder. “Oh haha, very funny Zeus,” Rin scoffed.

“Need a hand with these?” asked a young woman.

“No, all is good. I can carry it all” Rin scolds.

“Wow, what a nice greeting. I'm Liz and it seems like you need some assistance with these books.”

“Well Liz, no way would I let someone help me. Just go away. I know about you!” Rin tried grabbing the books, which is when Liz stepped on the last book, stopping Rin.

“Off the book!” scuffed Rin.

“You really believe those rumors? You don’t even know me. I could be way worse.”

“I know, that's why I'm saying it.”

“Let’s make a deal.”

“Not interested.”

“You don’t even know what it is?”

“Exactly, now if you excuse me. I’m taking my leave.”

They pick themselves up off the ground, inching and inching before picking up pace, leaving Liz alone back by the accident. “You know, you can become a hero, maybe bring some happiness to this town or… your mother,” yelled Liz.

Rin stopped, shocked, and replied “ What do you know about my mother?” “Remember the day the old town fell? I heard that the person who caused it is still out there. Which means if you defeat those who did wrong, maybe you can help your mother not grieve for your fathers death. Anyways, if you decide I’ll wait on the far side of the creek. Think about it, Rinny.” Liz left first this time, leaving Rin thinking about what it would bring.

-Time skip-(Evening)

Hours went by, doing all the chores they needed to do and coming home for dinner. “Hey ma?” asked Rin.”

“Yes dear? How was your errands?” asked the mother.

“They were alright ma, nothing I can’t do.”

“Really now? Come sit, you must be hungry.”

“Ma, how would you feel if I left town to find out what happened years ago?”

The mother froze, soon sighing knowing that at some point in time Rin's fate would begin. “I’ll be devastated that you’ll be gone, but happy you're leaving to find your own adventures. Don’t let me stop you from leaving. It is your choice after all, you're old enough to make decisions.”

“Thanks ma. I'm gonna go. Thanks for everything.”

“Of course dear, now go before a river floods our home,” the mother laughed. “Hold on a sec, take this with you, it will aid whenever you enter dangerous situations.”

Rin took the item from their mother and gave a last strong embrace and said their farewells. With that Rin rushed towards the creek, spotting Liz and telling them the news. Liz was all for it and had everything they needed ready. At the crack of dawn, they headed off towards the next town over, Nor. Nor was the most well known of trades and the start of an adventure. Traveling for hours in the blistering sun, almost reaching towards the town. “Heads up Rinny. Seems like we have a bit of a problem.” As Liz squinted trying to see further in the distance. Miles ahead, sand dunes forming quickly with each hooves stomping. “Sandworm,” Liz muttered, “Hey Rin, try looking for a way around this thing.” Rin gathered themselves searching through bags. Only to find what their mother gave them.

“Would this work?” asked Rin.

“What is that? It looks like a tiny metal ball.” Liz asked, confused, “Right now is defeating this thing, so it's worth a shot.”

Rin threw it into the sky releasing cracks of thunder. Sky roared as the metal ball turned into a bow and arrow.

“Woah ho Buckaroo. Seems like we got ourselves a bullseye.” laughed Liz.

“Um. How do I work this? Asked Rin.

“You don’t know how to shoot a bow?”

“Did I need to?”

“Alright, prompt that arrow on the bow, once you do, pull the bow back, steady your aim and look at where you want it to go. Once ready, let it fire. But you might wanna do it soon.”

Rin hesitated raising the bow and aiming, trying to keep steady, and wait for the right time. “Anytime now,” commanded Liz.

With that Rin releases the bow, flinging the arrow right towards the monster. It was extremely fast, but it looked like the monster was faster. A sudden earthquake shook Rin and Liz as well as the monster, causing all to collapse. “What do we have here? Trespassing my land.” the mysterious person asked.

“Eris!” angered Liz.

“Eris?” wondered Rin.

“I knew I smelt something stink,” smeared Eris, “Seems like you brought another toy to me.”

“No, this one is different, they will make you fall,” declared Liz.

“Oh, really now?”

“Hold on, wait a minute, we almost died from that monster, and you guys KNOW each other?” asked Rin.

“You don’t know? This pest you are with is nothing but awful, but that we gods get just because you're the daughter of-!” Eris raises their voice.
“Enough, just let us go.” interrupted Liz.

“Your toy, you brought along doesn’t even know who you are.” Eris begins to laugh. “You know what, I think my pet here, that tried to eat you earlier, and that you tried to kill. Maybe you guys will make a good meal.” Eris snapped their  fingers, “Go my pet, it's dinner time.”

Rin was shocked to witness a god they never heard of before, finding out Liz has a secret, is this the end of their journey? It just started how is it possible they ran into this mess. Would it be different if Rin didn’t go with Liz? It's all over, isn't it?

“Rin Snap out of it! We gotta get out of here!” Liz snatched Rin's hands.

A wave of relief rushed through their veins, but the earthquake was keeping them locked down. All Rin could do was nod.

“Okay, we don't have much time till we’re chop liver. Think liz think.” Liz pondered thinking what could possibly save them from being dinner. “That's right! Rinny, are you able to call a god upon help?”

“I.. um.. Not sure about that?” Rin hesitated not knowing if they could actually call upon a mighty god.

“Might as well, try”

“Uh, gods? Can we have some assistance before we are dinner?” Nothing seemed to happen, all noise seemed to be muted. “Um.. help those upon me?” Still nothing. “Liz, I don’t think it's working.”

“ Maybe you're doing it wrong? We’re losing time. Might as well get ready to be eaten,” Liz shrugged.

They both turn their gaze at the sandworm charging straight at them. “Please work, now or never,” Rin muttered. “O the mighty gods, I call upon you for guidance to help us out of this trouble.”

The sky began circling in dark clouds, crackling thunder in the distance. Wind picking up speed, causing the sand to spiral. “Enough Eris, this has gone too far!” A goddess standing right before them holding a torch wishing off the sandworm in one hand, and the other pointed at Eris. “You have caused enough trouble for humans. Zeus has given you many chances, but you're just ruining it. Be glad, we gods haven’t sent you down with the titans.”

“Oh my isn’t it our dear, Hecate, the goddess of magic and spells. Are you gonna swing your torch at me and curse me.” mocked Eris. “They trespassed on my turf, so I can do what I want.”

“Well, Eris. Zeus has made it clear that you can’t hurt this one.”

“This is berserk, if I let them live. What does it leave me in the future? I guess you gods didn’t think about me.”

“Well, we gods, made sure that one day your reign will be gone, all fate relies on their hands. So I guess you better be ready for your fight then.”

“Ugh, this isn’t over. It's only starting. I'll make sure the day you decide to fight me. I'll take something you care about and kill it right in front of you.”

Eris stormed out of the area, taking the sandworm with, destroying sand hills and leaving holes everywhere. Liz and Rin were still shocked to see Hecate before them.

“Here,” Hecate gave out a hand to help Liz and Rin up. They both took Hecate’s hand and came up to their feet regaining posture. “I’m terribly sorry, I didn’t come earlier. There was some trouble in the underworld. I guess the other gods didn’t wanna come help you.”

“I.. uh.. It worked?” Rin was shocked to see someone so graceful right in front of them.

“Liz, I guess your so-called friend ain’t used to seeing a god in person.” Hecate let out a laugh.

“I guess so,” Liz began to laugh as well.

Rin shook their head, regaining their thoughts and said, “What did you mean, I.. I mean we will defeat Eris?”

“Eris was the one who caused the fall of Troy and many other towns, including yours. So the gods decided to find a young one who could destroy Eris. Even though you can’t kill a god. That object your mother gave you, can restrain Eris from doing harm to humans. As long as you do good things the object will work. If you manage to shoot Eris, Us gods and humans will be in your debt,” Hecate explained. “I must leave you guys to continue to the town of Nor. From now on I might not be able to assist you onwards. I already did so much to protect you both. Instead Farewell, you both will make each other stronger, only as long as your bond grows as well.”

Hecate raised their torch and swirled it in a circle, and purple smoke released from the torch, covering Hecate and making her disappear in thin air.

“Well now, we made it out alive. How about we head to Nor?” Liz spoke with a sigh.

“I’ll like that.” sighed RIn, body aching in pain trying to gather their supplies to head off.

“You know what.”

“What?”

“You can probably call that your first big boss fight.” Liz shouldered Rin.

“Well I won’t put it like that,” Rin sighed, fidgeting with his fingers, “I guess it's all thanks to Hecate for stepping in.”

“You give her more credit than you think. If you didn’t learn anything from that. Then what are we doing traveling to the famous town that even Eris can’t destroy.” Liz reassured Rin.

“I guess so, thanks Liz. I just think that I’m not all cut out for this hero thing.”

Liz shook her head, quietly laughing while carrying on their way to Nor.

“How about you rest up before we get there, we will be there by sundown. By then we can start training.” Liz told Rin.

Rin nodded and laid down staring at the sky thinking if they could pull it off taking down Eris.

-Time skip-(Entrance of Nor)

“Yo, wake up Rin. We’re here. Grab the stuff.” Liz shocked Rin til they woke up.

“What do you mean we're here?” Rin looks up seeing the shunning view of the town, “Woah, it's amazing.”

“Come on, sleepy head, we still need to walk to the place we are staying at.”

Liz started walking off carrying piles of armor and weapons, draping clothes around their back. Rin stared at Liz until they disappeared out of sight, making Rin jump, grabbing the excess materials, and running after Liz. They walk upon stone paths surrounded by shops and talkative people. Rin gazes in amusement, never seeing what a town could be. Liz looked at Rin with a blissful smile, knowing possibly what leads down the road for her. Her face saddened but gained composure when Rin grabbed Liz arm and tugged them along the shops leading towards the creek. Without saying a word, Liz let Rin tug them. Hearing Rin laugh made them enjoy the choice they made. The entire night they both ran around looking at all the shops, talking, and enjoying their time together. It made them forget for a short while why they came to Nor and what's gonna become.

-Morning-

“Morning Liz.” Rin waved towards Liz, picking up arrows of the sandbags.

“Morning?” Liz slowly walked out of the tent, stretching their limbs. “Why are you up so early?”

“Well since I might become a hero. Might as well start some training. Care to join?”

Liz nodded, picking up a sword and set up dummies around the campsite. They did many trials and challenges getting stronger at attacking. Rin took out the bow and arrow, and tested its power on sandbags, watching each bag freeze as the sand fell with no motion. Day and night they continue to train, getting stronger and better each day. Until one day, they would be tested. Both walk along the path of the main entrance seeing if they can find a clue. A strange-looking man walked towards them, covered head to toe with a long robe.

“Apologies young man.” The man apologized after bumping into Rin.

“It’s alright sir.” Rin reassured the man. “That's weird, why do I feel like something is missing?” Rin patted their body seeing if anything was out of place.

“Everything alright?” Liz stepped in, curious why Rin looked panicked.

“The Ball! It's gone. Where did he go?” Rin turns and tosses looking every angle seeing if they can catch a glimpse of the strange man. Liz is still confused and trying to understand what's happening, and soon realize that the strange-looking man felt similar like they ran into each other before.

“Over there!” Liz pointed towards the man.

They both turned, dashing into a sprint, chasing after the man. Jumping over a wooden fence, dodging out of people's way. Trying to keep an eye on the man. Liz elbowed Rin saying, “Get on the roofs we will be able to see better, let's split up as well. You take right, I’ll take left.”

Just like that they both dash off, jumping and climbing towards the roof. Liz was able to get up first and track the guy. Jumping over people and skipping through the lights. Closing in on the guy, catching a glimpse of Rin on the other side of the shops. Singling the plan to Rin, they both nodded and ran faster. The mysterious man thought that they lost them looking both ways before running down a small alleyway. Liz jumped down blocking the man from the other exit of the alleyway. The man turned around trying to escape the way they came from before. RIn jumped down  and blocked the man as well. The man trapped from both ways tried jumping to a balcony above them, before the man could grab the railing. Liz yanked them down pinning them to the floor.

“Give us the item back!” commanded Liz.

“I don’t know what you're talking about?” squirmed the man.

“Don’t act like you don’t know what you did back there. Bumping into me was just an excuse for you to get the item.” Rin stepped in, squatting down searching the pockets.

“I really don’t know.”

“Since you won’t tell us why you took it. Then why were you running away from us?” LIz started digging their foot into the man’s chest.

“I can’t tell you.” The man seemed scared, staring right at Liz, trying to escape past this.

“Found it, seems like you're stealing other things that are like it,” Rin holding up the item, tossing it  into the air seeing if it's the right one, “Why or who are you stealing these for?”

“If I say anything I could get killed, worse they will kill my family.” the man begging for his life at this point.

“Who could hurt you!” Liz looked concerned.

“Liz, I think we need to go now.” Rin looked around seeing people staring at them with a secret look, Rin whispered to Liz, “I think we're being watched. We found what was stolen, so let's go before something happens.”

Liz wasn’t paying attention to her surroundings, “Who? Who made you do it!”

“Liz, stop! We have to leave.”

“No! Tell me who sent you!”

The man looked scared to death, mumbling and shaking hoping Liz would give up.

“Liz right now is not the time.” Rin nervously shakes trying to get Liz to leave before the people around do something. Rin sees a glimpse of people closing in on them. This time Rin yelled, pulling Liz off the man. “Liz, let it go.” Rin kept tugging on Liz hoping to pry her off.

“Fine. Fine! I’ll tell you. It was Eris!” the man finally budged just wanting to get away from the place. Tears filled his eyes as he squirmed out of Liz's firm grasp.

“Eris?” Liz lost in thought. Rin grabbed and picked up Liz before running off onto the roofs heading back to the campsite. Reaching the tent, Rin set down Liz who was still shocked.

“Liz, hey you there?” Rin shook Liz hoping to get a response.

“Eris was the one who sent that man.” Liz staring straight at the creek.

“Yes, the man said to Eris , should we be shocked or something. We got a lot stronger, and we found clues on where Eris hideout would be.”

“That means that Eris is already trying to stop us from beating her.”

“Well wouldn’t you like to stop your enemy if you were Eris?”

“I’m not sure.”

“Liz, look at me,” Rin took Liz's hands in theirs, causing Liz to look at Rin. “Why do I seem so shocked after hearing those words? Do you know something that I don’t?”

Liz tried to speak but her throat tightened afraid of what they said would anger Rin.

“Liz, We have known each other for some time now. We got a lot closer to be able to trust each other right?”

Liz looked down, her face grew sadder, not wanting to talk at all.

“You're hiding something?” Rin felt betrayed, letting go of Liz's hands and scooting back.

“Rin, please don’t take it like that.” Liz reaches out towards Rin. Rin pulled away from Liz, standing up and headed towards the swords. “Rin, please just listen to me. I’m sorry.”

“Sorry for what. That we spent so much time together, I at least thought we could have trust and not have secrets from each other. I don’t even know who you are. Remember what Eris said back when we were attacked. Why did you interrupt when they talked about your parents? What are you hiding!” yelled Rin. They grabbed one of the swords, and started swinging it around hitting and slashing all the dummies causing half of them to break. Liz stood there shocked, wide eyed seeing the hatred in Rins once filled content eyes. Liz sighed and looked towards the broken dummies.

“I know where Eris hideout is.” Liz fidget with her fingers hoping that Rin doesn’t get more upset.

“What?” Rin dropped the sword to their side, and turned facing Liz.

“I knew this whole time where Eris was.”

“You didn’t wanna tell me?”

“You weren’t ready, and didn’t know what you would think if I just told you without any clues.”

“How long have you known?”

“Ever since we first met.”

“Why did you know where Eris was?”

“The gods told me, they also told me to look for people who could possibly defeat her.”

“So you approach me, just because I was one of those people?”

Yes. Wait no, I mean.”

“So I am like one of her toys?” Rin threw the sword against the weapons and walked toward Liz.

“No, you're different!”

“How do you know that?

“You weren’t like the others, they all failed.”

“Who says I won't fail. I could die doing this.”

“That's why I didn’t tell you.”

Rin sighed clenching their fists, holding the urge to punch something.

“Tell me where Eris is.” Rin commanded, collecting armor and weapons to fight against Eris.

“You can’t yet.”

“And why not?”

“I don’t want you to get hurt.” muttered Liz.

“Look Liz it's now or never. We can’t wait forever. If we do, who knows what Eris is doing.”

Liz looked towards Rin and caved in, “In the middle of town.”

“What?”

“In the center of town! She hides there looking out at all the people. She has people all over the town looking for you. Maybe that's why the guy tried stealing from you.”

“Liz, we've been through a lot and I don’t want this to tear us apart. But if this is why you found me and brought me here to fight a bad guy, so be it. When I get back, we can continue our conversation.” Rin looked at Liz one last time, “If I don’t come back by nightfall, head back to our town and let my mother know what happened. Are you able to commend my wish?”

Liz, holding back their tears, nodded trying not to fall apart.

“Thanks Liz. May I?”

Liz nodded once again as Rin embraced Liz into a tight hug. That was the breaking point, Liz let out a loud cry. Sobbing and trying to collect themselves only to be hurt more than ever before. After some time has passed, Rin slowly breaks the embrace and says a last farewell.

“This isn’t a farewell,  our fates will meet again. I’ll see you back home.” Rin gave a last smile and started walking towards the center of the town. Liz turned and watched as Rin left, thinking that was the worst thing that could happen.

-Time skip: center of the town-

“Should be around here somewhere?” muttered Rin. Searching for an entrance or anything that could show Rin a way to Eris. Eyes were on them from every angle in the town.

“Well, aren’t I being watched?” scoffed Rin, “Hey gods any ideas where it could be?”

Torches begin to light up along a path leading straight to a mysterious door, Rin followed reaching to the door and hesitated before opening it.

“No turning back now.” Rin composed, getting the sword ready and the item close by.

What seemed like forever traveling down the hallway, Rin reached an open room which showed everything that was in the town, the only thing you couldn’t see was the campsite. Looking around each corner, seeking upon the goddess Eris.

“Well Well isn’t it the future hero,” Eris appeared behind Rin, whacking Rin across the back. Causing Rin to scream in pain. “You really think you can beat me? I kill many people like you, you're just one added to the list.” Eris continues to beat and toture Rin, not giving them a chance to fight back. “I don’t know what the gods saw in you, you're just a mere human whose town I destroyed.”

Rin was feeling destroyed, was this how its gonna end letting Eris win, or was it leaving Liz because of distrusted. Why did Rin come right to Eris, was it to win and go home? Or was it to save other people from losing their homes? Rin tried to recollect themselves as Eris threw them across the room. “Stand up,” a voice rang, “Stand up.” What was this strange voice, Rin was confused and tired, being beat up, like losing hope and never being able to see the people they care about ever again.

“Oh come on you're not even trying, it's like you're letting me beat you.” Eris snickered, getting ready to crush Rin. Rin looked toward Eris and seeing a strange figure appear behind Eris.Vision blurry trying to make out the figure, catching the face of Liz. “Not on my watch you're not!” shouted Liz, smashing a vase into Eris’s head. Causing Eris to stumble and fall to the ground, in rage she sent the roaring flames towards Liz. Rin was shocked but glad to see Liz by their side.

“What are you doing! Get up and let’s beat this beast.” Liz declared.

“Beast!” angered Eris, “Ugh, why won’t you stay out of this.” Eris lunged toward Liz grabbing onto Liz’s throat, wrapping their fingers around it tightly. “How bout you be a sweet human and sleep, make your father sad once he sees your body lifeless.”

Liz took a sharp dagger out of their back pocket and carved it right into Eris's chest. “You brat!” Eris dropped Liz, stumbling backwards holding their chest as it ached in pain. “Even Though we can’t kill you, we can still hurt you.” Liz shouted while regaining their breath.

While Liz and Eris were fighting, Rin was able to stand after the pain they endured. Hencing at the pain, Rin gripped their sword strongly and swung at Eris, slicing their legs. Eris fell to the floor trying to get up but the pain grew more as she tried to heal it. “Don’t even bother trying to heal. This is the end of the line for you.” Liz demanded.

“You really think that I will let you win like this, well you better think again.” As Liz walked toward Eris, Eris took the advantage of lunging at Liz, tackling Liz to the ground, ceasing the dagger and plunging it through Liz’s chest.

“Nooo!” screamed Rin.

Liz coughed up blood, looking straight at Eris. Eris took the dagger out and stabbed Liz again, but this time Liz got the dagger trying to hold Eris back as much as she could. Rin runs towards them, taking the bow and arrow, and throwing the bow behind their  back and chagrin with the arrow in hand.

“Eris, you're dead!” yelled Rin, with eyes full of tears. LIz grew weaker as she tried to fight Eris with the dagger, Eris gave all their strength into one more push and stabbed the dagger right into Liz’s chest. Liz let out a screeching scream. Stopping Rin from attacking and witnessing her death.

“No… No It can’t be.” Rin muttered, circling, holding their head as they tried to not believe that Liz’s weakened body was right in front of them. Eris let go of the dagger and stood up, “Finally, I was able to kill that brat. It's your turn now,” Eris straight towards Rin. Rin was shocked and froze to even think about fighting. Their swing became sloppy barely even reaching Eris. “Oh come on, one death and you can’t even continue? What kind of hero are you?”

That was when Rin heard the voice again, “Rin, stand up. Don’t let Liz's hard work go to waste.” Rin felt the anger start to rise through their veins. “Let your fate be rejoined with Liz, but first you must beat this fight. Even if it may seem impossible, never let your guard down, not even for a blink. I believe in you, we gods believe in you to do what's right.”

“I’m doing this for Liz,” Rin swung the sword at Eris, slicing their side, “This is for my family,” slicing Eris arms, “This… This is for my hometown!” digging the sword right through the chest.

“Are you done with your tantrum?” Eris does not even seem to be bothered with the cuts and wounds.

“My turn.” Eris swooped, popping right in front of Rin’s face, grabbing their collar, dragging them up above the room. “This is goodbye, you worthless hero.” Eris sneered. Right before digging the hero’s own sword into Rin’s chest. “How bout you say Hello to the brat for me?” And thrust the sword right through their chest.

“I think you forgot Eris, It’s my fate to destroy you.” Rin told weakly.

“Who says that fate is one thing, it can change. There is never one path.” yelled Eris, pushing the sword deeper, causing Rib to go light-headed.

“No, it was my. No, it was my and Liz's duty to take you down.” Rin took the arrow hidden behind their back and jabbed it right into Eris’s side.

“No… It can’t be. I made sure that I’ll win.” Eris said as her body started to freeze.

“Well, you're wrong. How bout you say Hi to the gods for me, will you?” mocked Rin.

They both fell crashing towards the ground, a loud bang followed with a silence as Rin and Eris hit the ground. Time went by just followed with silence, a small groan was heard from Rin as they tried to gain their life back.

“Is it over?” whisper Rin, “Liz it’s alright we did it. We beat Eris.” Rin laid down longer, resting before trying to stand up.

“Liz?” asked Rin. “Liz?” Rin called out many times but no answer.

Rin stood up with the help of the sword, limping their way toward Liz.

“Liz… why did I let this happen.” Rin holded Liz’s face as color began to drain from their face. Rin begins to let out tears, then hiccups, until bawling. More time went by, trying to process everything that happened here. The voice Rin heard can once more, “Rin, you did a good job, it might not end well for you in the end, but don’t worry. I and other gods are coming to aid and assist Eris to where they will be 24/7 supervise.”

“Hold on, who are you?”  Rin questions if they can save Liz.

“I bet you have a lot of questions regardless of what happens, but most importantly Liz will be alright.”

Rin laid down by Liz, grasping Liz’s cold hands, waiting for the gods to arrive and help heal their wounds. Swifting noises were heard scuttling across the floor from one table to the next.

“Seems like you're awake,” the man walked toward the end of the table Rin was laying at, “Don’t worry we patch you all up. Luckily we got here in time and it seems like you almost died.”

Rin looked down, seeing the bandages wrapped nicely around their wounds. Noticing they are also clean.

“You've been out for some hours now, so we change your bandages every now and then.”

RIn looked at the man with tears still filling their eyes.

The man sighed, “Kid, seems like you're hurting a lot, but I’m Hermes. Technically I am Liz’s father. Liz probably never told you since I’m just a messenger and nothing more, and was embarrassed by it.” snicker Hermes. “Well, if you think about it Liz is a demi-god, which means being stabbed a couple of times won’t exactly take down Liz. MAybe seem like they died but in reality, they sent their soul to me and switched it with someone else.”

Rin was shocked and tried getting up, wanting to look for Liz.

“You need rest, kid.” Hermes sighed once again, “Seems like you really care about Liz, but Liz isn’t here anymore. They left probably some hours ago, saying they have one last thing to do before facing you again.”

Rin’s  face grew in new hope, as Rin thinked about their road home. And thus Rin closed their eyes resting until they were ready to head home.

-Time skip: 2 days later after fight-

“You know what pal, I think it's time to head home. What do you think?” Rin looked down, jestering at the puppy. The puppy was full of bark, “Alright, Alright! Let’s head home, but first let's stop somewhere. What do you say?” Rin asked the pup. Pup bark, running towards the campsite. “Excited are we!” Reaching upon the campsite, Rin stepped and froze remembering what happened before the fight. “It's alright, it's in the past.” RIn gathered the left over supplies they brought that they could carry and headed their way back to where they called home.

“Pups, Do you think ma would enjoy a new family member.” The puppy nodded proudly while striding alongside Rin. Rin made their way towards the entrance of Nor, and looked back. “Well, it was nice while it lasted. Nor, there was good and bad that happened here. BUt I know one day I should take myself here. I think they will enjoy it as much as I did.” Rin smiled and turned and headed home.

-Time skip: Bottom of the mountain to the entrance of the town-

“Look like we’re almost home,” Rin laughed, throwing sticks for the pup to chase.

“Wow look at you, you have grown so much.” a voice rang through Rin’s ears.

“Who said that?” Rin gripped their sword ready to attack anymore.

“Really take after your mother, I see.” the voice laughed.

A strange light appeared in front of Rin, light bending and Rin was able to see a person standing there.

“Who are you?” Rin is still hesitant.

“I figure you won’t know who I am. I’m your father, Rin. I will sacrifice to save you and your mother.”

“But why would you do that? You could have escaped as well and mother wouldn’t have to grieve at all.”

“Rin, it seems like you don't understand. If I didn’t sacrifice myself, you would be able to get revenge for the town you were once born in.”

“It still doesn’t make sense.”

“Life doesn’t give you a clear answer, nor does fate. My fate was to save my family, and watch you grow up from above, and be able to see how your fate was destined to go.”

“Why would my fate affect anything?”

“If you didn’t decide to go to Nor and defeat Eris. Towns around the world could have been destroyed.”

“So you're saying, If I didn’t leave home and stayed with my mother. None of this would have happened? I wouldn't  have met Liz? I would just be a regular normal human being, just carrying books to the library?”

“Pretty much, well how about you head up. I’m sure your mother is waiting for our return. Also if it's possible to ever go on an adventure take it. The more adventures you do, the more your questions will be answered.”

“This is goodbye again?”

“It was never a goodbye. I’m sure we will cross paths again. Farewell, my child and let your fate guide you.” The father's image slowly began to fade as Rin said a final farewell to their father, “Alright Pa, I’ll take your advice. This adventure taught me many things, and I can't wait to do more.”RIn picked up pace rushing to be able to see their mother again after so long.

“Come on pup. Don’t be left behind so much, it will be a shame if you were to get lost.” Rin let out a laugh. As they both ran to the top, reaching toward the entrance Rin spotted his mother and sprinted faster , closing the distance between the two.

“Ma!” Rin yelled in joy.

“My dear.” the mother embraces her child after being separated for so long.

“You won’t believe what happened, I met someone really amazing, I fought a worm, and a mean lady.” snickered Rin.

“Must have been very nice, dear. But I think someone would like to meet you first.”

“Who could it be?

“Head to the creek, and you’ll know when you see.” the mother smiled, patting her child before sending them off. “Your father would be so proud of what you have done.”

Rin ran and dodged the people making it towards the creek. The puppy followed closely behind, panting from the running. As Rin reaches the creek, they see a figure standing on the far side of the creek staring off into the distance.

“Liz?” Rin spoke hesitantly.

The figure turned around showing the face that Rin cared for so much. “Rin,” Liz said with tears of joy.

“Liz!” Rin ran towards Liz breaking into an embrace, holding each other tightly.

“I thought you died.” Rin whimpered trying to stay stronger, but breaking into emotions just by seeing Liz.

“You can’t kill a demi-god that easily.” Liz laughed as they comforted Rin. “It seems like you were hurt more than me.”

“Yea, I guess you can say that,” Rin laughed thinking how dumb they felt.

After greeting each other, they both went inside to talk to Rin’s mother.

“Ma.” Rin went to ask their mother before their mom interrupted.

“Don’t even tell me about my child. It's your life, your story. Don’t let an old woman hold you back.” the mother laughed, “Now go, get, find new things and places. Just don;t forget to come visit from time to time.”

Rin and Liz were excited, they grabbed new materials and weapons for their new trip.

“Hey, it seems like we have a new member and you didn’t bother introducing them to me.” Liz scoffed sarcastically.

“Well, Liz. Meet Pups, our new member to our team.” Rin showed off the pup.

“Pups?”

“Yea, is there a problem?”

“A problem? Of course, it needs a name, not pups.” Liz started laughing.

“Alright, Miss Judger, what would their name be?”

“Mmm.. How about Destiny?”

“Destiny is not bad. I actually agree with you this time.”

“Hey, what’s that supposed to mean? '' As Liz chased Rin around town.

“Wow would you like that, we're gonna miss the daylight if we don’t get going.”

Rin and Liz took off, saying farewell to those within the town, searching out for new places and finding new and exciting places to adventure. As well as their puppy, Destiny who followed them everywhere, making the strong between them even stronger than before. Leaving stories behind of the adventures they went on. Saying that, “As long as one adventure ends, means the journey isn’t over, it's just the beginning for a new adventure to begin.”

# data[].attributes.body
“You are asking for too much to end this war, Cooper '' stated Caspain. All he wanted was for this brutal conflict to end but it seemed that may not come true. This conflict had been going on for 7 years and it didn’t seem like it could possibly end soon. Life for the village hadn’t been hard until the recent attacks on the supply lines. This meeting had been a waste of time for Caspain and Cooper alike. It was obvious that they weren’t going to work anything out. “I have one proposal for you, Caspain” said Cooper, “You must have one final battle with me on the seas”. “I can’t do such a thing,” Caspain said worriedly, “My people can’t lose their leader”. Cooper laughed maniacally for he knew something Caspain didn’t.

As Caspain and his men were marching home, he had a feeling of dread. He felt that something had happened but he couldn’t quite put his finger on it. When he had reached his village, he quickly learned what had happened. It had been completely ransacked. He had been on a trip to a nearby village to make peace negotiations with the clan that had been at war with his people. The negotiations were a trick so that the village would be weak. Although he was not the only survivor, the others were not fit to counter attack. It looks like he had to take up that offer to fight Cooper in a naval battle. It would be near impossible to beat such a foe, but he had no choice in the matter. This was a call that Caspain had to answer.

Caspain was still in disbelief that he had been tricked. “That dog will pay for his actions,” Caspain said with tears streaming down his face. Calypso, Caspain’s son and right hand man, tried to comfort him but it was too late. He had been completely destroyed by seeing his people and village in ruins. “Father, as much as this pains me too, we have to take the offer to fight Cooper,” said Calypso. “We are not fit for battle, we cannot possibly fight him,” claimed Caspain, “We have no weapons and all but one of our ships are destroyed”. Caspain and his small crew only had a short amount of time before they had to set sail to the final battleground. They only had one week to be fit to fight. Calypso and the crew went mining to get more iron for weapons while Caspain stayed behind. His job was to collect timber to build onto the rickety ship that they had. It took them three of the days just to get the crew weapons that were fit to fight with. They spent the rest of the time fixing the only ship they had. It was a small vessel but it was all they had time to work on.

When they were finished, they had a ship fit for the gods. It was stronger than steel. It was as if the gods had helped build it. With the time they had left, Caspain started to train his small crew of fifteen. It didn’t look good for the small crew. Many were untrained and the ones that were couldn’t fight well. By the end of the second and final day of training, the crew were as good as any soldier. They got one last good night of rest before the fight.

When they awoke it seemed very peaceful. It was as if there wasn’t going to be a fight at all. The entire crew had a feast before they set out to sail. For all they knew, it was the last time they were going to eat. After they finished, Caspain led his men to the ship. As they loaded onto the ship, Caspain reminded his men of their training. “No matter what, you musn’t back down” Caspain told his men. “We must survive to keep our village alive. We cannot let our ancestors down in this battle” he added. His men were prepared for what was to come. They finally set sail on the calm waters. The water started to get rougher as they continued toward Cooper’s ship. A storm was brewing. Rain started to pelt their ship. Lightning struck the water near them and the winds started shaking the ship. That’s when they saw Cooper’s ship over the horizon. His ship towered over theirs. It was double of the size of what Caspain’s ship. Cannon balls started flying towards them. It was an endless volley of destructions. Their ship was struck and it started to fill with water. They pushed forward toward the enemy. It was time to end this once and for all. Once they were close enough, they attempted to board Cooper’s ship. They were successful and the true battle commenced, but Cooper was nowhere to be seen. He must have been below deck. While Caspain’s crew stayed above, he went under to search for Cooper.

It was quiet. All Caspain could hear was the clanging of swords above deck. “Cooper… show yourself. It is time to pay for what you have done” yelled Caspain. Cooper turned the corner. It was finally time to finish what Cooper started. In a frenzy, Caspain charges towards Cooper. They exchanged swipes at each other. Their battle lasted for hours. The battle above them was over but they weren’t finished. They were exhausted when it finally happened. Caspain made the final blow, driving his sword through Cooper. He fell to his knees and the battle was finally over. Caspain was in pain but he would survive. By the time they set sail home, the storm had subsided.

Besides killing their greatest enemy, they had gained all the spoils from their ship. There was enough gold for a king on board. As the remnants of the crew were heading home, they discussed what was going to happen next. Caspain and his crew didn’t have a village to go back to, so he made the decision to make a new one. Once they returned to the destroyed village, they salvaged as much material they could and got to work. Caspain and his men spend several weeks creating a new village. As more and more time passed, his crew grew larger and they soon had a real village again.

# data[].attributes.body
Our story takes place in the Persean Sector, a frontier region of the galaxy newly settled and nearly 6000 lightyears from old Earth.  While starships are capable of FTL travel, the maximum achievable speed in warpspace was about one lightyear per day.  To cross vast distances from Earth, artificially intelligent drone ships were sent into the void to manually cross these distances and establish gate systems, which could provide immediate transit from any of the other existing gates.  It has been a long night since the gates functioned.  Approximately 89 Earth years ago, the gates ceased to function, stranding the inhabitants of the Persean Sector with little material or industry.  During this time of strife several polities have sprung up from the ashes, each one having its own interests at heart.  Our hero, Lokin Dauld, was born upon the Hegemony planet of Eventide, a tidally locked world orbiting the dull orange star Samarra.  His family were simple farmers located closer to the sun bathed edge of the equator, living in eternal twilight.  Lokin knew he was meant for a purpose far greater than simple farming.  When he was only thirteen he snuck into one of the great domed cities near the equator, and signed up on a Gemini class combat freighter, the ISS Lightspeed+.  He learned much about spacer life and practices from the chief engineer Ol’ Bill, and almost never set foot on the planets they traded with.  His simple life of cargo running could not last.  Tensions in the sector had been building due to the Tri-Tachyon Corporation’s rampant disregard of old Domain regulations and laws regarding the development of A.I.  The Hegemony, the nominal successor to the old government, and formed by members of Domain Battlegroup XIV, intend to enforce the old law, no matter the cost.  War was inevitable, with the Hegemony deploying both its new war fleets and remnant ships from the original XIV Battlegroup, and Tri-Tachyon unleashing hordes of Autonomous warships.  Even though the Hegemony has a greater population and a larger industrial base, Tri-Tachyon’s advanced technology is able to overcome these factors.  Lokin’s ship is press ganged into an auxiliary force, his kapitan is not amused.  While the Gemini is a combat freighter, its mere three weapon emplacements pale to even the smallest dedicated warship.  It does have one ace card, a dedicated flight deck hosting a wing of Dagger class torpedo bombers.  The bombers can be produecd on the ship through the use of a micro factory and a production chip, allowing continuous assault even if every bomber is destroyed.  This provides the ship with some actual strike capability.  Lokin had his heart nearly stop upon seeing his orders.  He had been assigned to pilot a Dagger, and had to be flight ready within a week.  Lokin knew the casualty rates of any bomber or fighter pilot, some of the worst of any combat roles in the sector.  Ol’ Bill was assigned to train Lokin in the art of the bombing run, having flown a Khopesh rocket bomber back in his day.  It was not a pleasant experience.  Piloting any small strike craft in the void is troublesome, and that's without a score of point defense firing towards you.  It was a frightful experience, and if Ol’ Bill wasn’t there Lokin would have surely died during his first few test runs.  Through strict practice and drilling, Lokin, along with 39 other pilots, were ready for deployment.  The Lightspeed+ was assigned to a small patrol fleet guarding the jungle world of Jangala orbiting the yellow star Corvus.  The patrol fleet consisted of the Lightspeed+, a pair of Hound class combat freighters, a tiny Kite class shuttle, and the only dedicated warship, the Drover class light carrier HSS Metroplex.  Lokin began to relax as days turned to weeks, due to Jangala’s distance from the main front and strategic unimportance.  Then, upon the eight week of silence, the klaxons sounded.  A small automated strike fleet had warped into Corvus, and needed to be dealt with before it could disrupt any industry within Jangala.  Lokin was in the cockpit of the Dagger with all due haste.  The enemy fleet, while small, still posed a threat.  The tactical briefings he had sat through helped him identify the warships.  The main ship was a Scintilla class carrier, flanked by two Glimmer class drones.  The Scintilla caused a gnawing fear within Lokin.  If it deployed interceptors there would be little chance for getting back to the Lightspeed+, let alone firing his torpedo.  The Metroplex ordered full burn towards the foul A.I., and within minutes they would be in deployment range.  The stress of the impending battle ate away at Lokin.  Even after training and drilling, the prospect of a real fight was daunting.  Lokin banished the thought.  He must focus on staying calm and alive.  He and the other 2 Dagger pilots deployed.  The Metroplex sent a wing of Broadsword fighters to escort both Lokin’s Dagger squad and its own Cobra bomber.  The Cobra was an interesting design, for it carried a Reaper torpedo, an enriched anti-matter catalyzed bomb, capable of annihilating smaller ships and gouging larger ones.  The Mules advanced on one Glimmer drone while the Kite engaged in a daring knife fight with the other.  Lokin and the other bombers made haste towards the Scintilla.  The Broadswords had already arrived, and launched flares to distract its point defense lasers.  Lokin and his squad flanked to the left, while the Cobra flanked right.  By the time Lokin was within range two of the Broadswords had been destroyed, and the final one was putting up a valiant yet doomed effort of distraction.  Lokin thumbed the trigger.  Missile away.  The Scintilla didn’t have enough time to act, two torpedoes struck true, while the third hit the shield.  The Scintilla began to bring its arsenal to bear on the Daggers, but in doing so made a grave error.  It opened its right flank to the Cobra.  The light from the explosion was quite a sight.  Once Lokin had regained his sight he set course back to the Lightspeed+.  While awaiting rearmament, two more explosions went off.  The Mules had won the fight with their Glimmer.  The Kite was not so lucky.  Its hulk could be seen on the hanger vid-feeds.  It had been cut in half.  The Glimmer’s AI must have finally seen how this fight was going.  It began to peel away, considering the battle lost and preservation of structure more important.  A victory for the patrol fleet, if not a bloodless one.  A pair of shuttles were dispatched to the Kite halves, and managed to find three survivors in sealed parts of the ship.  The captain of the Metroplex decided it was time to head back to Eventide and give a report on what had happened.  The patrol crew had few scant days of leave before the report had been delivered and new orders assigned.  The Metroplex would need some replacement pilots, and would then leave to join a fully fledged warfleet gathering at the Hegemony capital of Chicomoztoc, while the surviving civilian ships were to continue patrol, with a Wolf class frigate taking over the patrol leadership role.  Lokin was selected for replacement, along with the other two pilots who were in his squad.  Three days of mild warp travel later, the Metroplex arrived at Aztlan, star of Chicomoztoc.  Lokin had never seen so many warships in one place.  Carriers, ships of the line, screens, the whole package.  The pride of this warband was the HSS Descent of Angels, a Legion class battle carrier.  While it did carrier bombers and fighters like the Metroplex, it had them more as a bonus to its full arsenal of ballistic weapons.  The fleet was sent to the Magec system to engage the Achaman orbital station, a Tri-Tachyon facility.  An AI war fleet with size to match Lokin’s fleet met them at the jump point.  The head of that fleet was something monstrous, and after the war was over, any historical documentation was edited to claim that this ship never existed.  Still, they were there.  A Radiant class battleship.  A ship of death and damnation.  It hosted a score of point defense weapon systems, and several plasma cannons.  Only the Descent of Angels had any hope to last for more than a minute against the beast.  Lokin and his squad, thankfully, were deployed for a strike run on a Glimmer drone, which was already fighting a Lasher class frigate.  The Glimmer’s engines had been disabled, but was keeping the Lasher from getting around to its unshield back.  It could not keep Lokin back.  Three guided torpedoes struck the already weakened engines.  This time Lokin got his eyes shut in time, and was spared temporary blindness.  The Lasher gave a sign of thanks and headed towards a Lumen drone harassing another Drover carrier.  Lokin treasured the few minutes of rearmament, it allowed him to gather his thoughts and get a look at the battle as a whole.  It was going in their favor.  Several Glimmer and Lumen drones sat drifting in the void, and Lokin even got to see a pair of Scintilla carriers get destroyed.  The Descent of Angels was holding its own against the Radiant, and had two Enforcer class destroyers providing fire support.  After another Scintilla and Glimmer pair was destroyed, only the Radiant and a Lumen remained.  Lokin would get to see the Radiant up close, even if he didn’t want to. His Dagger was rearmed and ready to fly.  While burning towards the Radiant the final Lumen finally died, thanks to a ramming maneuver from the possibly mad captain of a Dominator class cruiser.  The Radiant could not do what the first Glimmer Lokin fought had done and flee.  It was far too slow.  Its shields were at the breaking point and half of its weapons damaged.  As the Descent of Angels moved in for the kill, a red light began to shine from the belly of the Radiant.  Clearly some sort of orbital bombardment weapon.  Lokin looked towards the nearest planet, Maxios.  An earthlike world, with bountiful farmland and a rich economy due to its proximity to the jump point.  Then he saw the red beam streak towards its surface.  One second it was a lush world of life and greenery, now a burning husk.  Whatever cursed planet killer weapon the Radiant launched set Maxios’ atmosphere on fire.  A great funeral pyre for a dead world.  It would take days for the fires to stop, and only because the atmosphere had finally burned away.  Even the lowest estimates for a death count put it at ten billion.  The Angel of Descent put maximum burn towards the radiant, and used its shield as a makeshift ram.  It sliced through the hull with ease.  Even if the AI fleet had been defeated, this was no victory.  A world scorched from existence, its people turned to ash.  Maxios now lies as a barren world, without an atmosphere for protection solar radiation beats upon it without pause.  Lokin, along with the other civilian conscripts within the fleet, were given the option to return to their homes.  Lokin did not accept.  He had seen what could happen if Tri-Tachyon and its AI abominations were allowed to continue.  The Captain of the Metroplex referred him to the Descent of Angels to bolster its veteran pilots.  Lokin’s warfleet was met by two others, another Hegemony fleet, headed by an Onslaught class battleship, the HSS Solstice.  The other fleet was from the Luddic Church, a religious group who views excessive technology as heretical and AI as an electronic Satan.  This mighty band set off towards the star of Hybrasil, where the Tri-Tachyon capital of Eochu-Bres was located.  While difficult, it is possible for a war fleet to move stealthily through the void.  With only a couple of close calls, the fleets were high above Eochu-Bres, and advised the CEO of Tri-Tachyon to consider surrender.  With that, the treaty of Hybrasil was put into effect.  Tri-Tachyon was heavily restricted in terms of technological development, and much of its non-ai armada was either scrapped or sold.  This was not the end of service for Lokin or his flight mates.  Much of the AI war fleet had been sent to the outer systems of the sector, and the Hegemony was going to go a-hunting.  After the Descent of Angels and its support ships had been repaired, they set off into the void, for as long as a single Abominable Intelligence comptues, they cannot rest.  The Metroplex was assigned to occupation duty in Hybrasil, while the Lightspeed+ was finally released from service.  It has been nearly 5 years since the AI war ended, but Lokin’s war is still escalating.  More and more systems with AI remnant fleets are being discovered.  Lokin’s work shall continue, no matter how long it takes.

# data[].attributes.body
Arkansas, Kansas, ACT 1

In a tiny, 8 foot mobile home in the middle of Arkansas City, Kansas, a young man named Frank Normalman lays, staring at his ceiling. The ragged cloth bedcover under him scratches his back in a most uncomfortable way and a breeze just under lukewarm blows in through the crappy walls with no insulation. At this moment, a great opportunity blows in through the window which was open. The breeze from the window was less aggravating than the cold he could feel from his horrid walls, thus why the window being open wasn’t previously mentioned. Anyway, this letter blows in through his window right? And he gets up onto the old, crusty carpet that he can feel through the holes in his socks and picks up this letter that has a return address that goes something like 12929 Normandie Ave, Gardena, CA 90247. He stares confusedly at this odd envelope that has intruded upon his abode.

“What is this? What could be inside this strange-uh-letter?”

Frank attempts to open the envelope without damaging it, but the adhesive on the little flap was a bit too bonded to the other part of the envelope, so after fiddling with it for a minute he gives up and resorts to tearing the envelope open, leaving it in a mess. Inside the envelope he finds a letter that reads:

Frank,

It’s me, your father, Mr. Normalman. I just sent this letter by carrier pigeon to you to tell you that you’ve been kicked out of our crappy 8 foot mobile home. I’m sending you this from my new shop in California. This place is great! I love everything about this interesting state, and decided that I would sell our home in Kansas so that I could move here full time. You, however, will need to find residence somewhere else on your own.

Yours truly,

Mr. Normalman

Frank hadn’t seen his father in 7 years, and had been living in the crappy 8 foot mobile home for his entire life until now. Frank wasn’t gonna put up with this blatant infringement on his rights as a squatter, and decided that he should up and go to California, to show his old man what-for.

“Yeah, why should that old man have a say in how I live?!”

Frank, who hadn’t left the crappy 8 foot mobile home in almost a decade, then realized a problem: he has no idea what California is, or where it is for that matter. Another problem presented itself: Frank hadn’t talked to anyone in those 7 years either, and had no way of learning what California is. This gave him only one option.

“I shall now step outside of this crappy 8 foot mobile home, and once again see my fellow man. This door is so old, okay, how do door handles work? I see. Voila!”

Frank stared bewilderedly at the world around his crappy 8 foot mobile home, amazed at the lack of dust in the air he breathed. This was life. He joyfully froliced out and about, seeing all the amazing sights, and hearing all the amazing sounds of Arkansas City, Kansas. He then saw something he could’ve never imagined in his wildest dreams: a small metal box on wheels with an umbrella covering it from the sun. And even more impressive than that, there was a man standing by the box handing out small cases of meat between bread. A hot dog stand.

“Why, good sir, could I ask you what you’re doing here today?”

“Who the f*** are you?”

“I’m Frank Normalman, and I was wondering if you could impart upon me the location of this Cal-if-o-rn-ia?”

“What are you, some kind of drunk? Get lost!”

Frank decided that he would take the kind stranger’s advice, and get himself lost. He walked aimlessly for many miles, through many kinds of terrain, and many other etc. etc. you get the idea. Eventually, Frank noticed something odd. He had been walking West for a few days now, and in front of him was a line in the ground. This long, straight line went as far as to the horizon both ways that Frank looked, and on the other side of this line the grass was no longer green, but a bland, lifeless gray. He looked up from this line and saw a deep cloud that covered the land on the other side, and finally he saw a sign. It was a road sign that said “Welcome to California! Land of the flakes!”

“My word! I’ve done it! I found California!”

“WAIIIIIIIIIIIT”

A young woman wearing strange clothes ran up behind Frank, panting heavily as sweat dripped down her face.

“You’re Frank Normalman, right?”

“Why-uh-yes, yes I am.”
“You were supposed to go from the hot dog stand to the police station earlier so that they could tell you to get lost too before you ended up making your way to the alley where you’d find me sitting there so that- “

“-I’m gonna have to stop you right there lady, I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“The hero’s journey! You’re supposed to find your guide before traveling to a strange, new land”

“A hero’s what now?”

“Nevermind.”

And that was how Frank met his drug de-I mean, “fairy” guide, Candi (that’s with an “i”), to help him through the dangerous land of despair, California.

California, ACT 2

Frank took his first step across the state border, and immediately noticed a difference. The air he was breathing was no longer fresh, for now it was filled with smog, dust, pollution, and the sound of a thousand cars screaming to each other in a long, long line. He felt another difference as well, and checked inside his wallet to find that the 40 dollars he had on him had turned to a mere one dollar bill. It was horrible. Candi noticed his confusion and chimed in.

“Here in California, the air is full of so many vitamins and minerals you won’t even need to eat! And the government has kindly taken all of your unnecessary money away so that it can be repurposed for road work! Don’t ask where though, they never told me.”

“Well, that’s not too bad I-uh guess. Where should we go from here?”

“Oh of course! We need to make our way to the City of Angels, that’s where your father is.”

“He’s dead!?”

“No no, not those angels. The kind of angels in California use their ‘angel dust’ to rise high above the clouds, and we can find millions of them in Los Angeles.”

And so they set out to get to Los Angeles. As they walked along a wall of automotive aggression, Frank took in all the sights around him. Unlike Arkansas City, Kansas, this California place was coated in the grime and muck of the darker side of life. Strewn across the ground were many bottles, both glass and plastic, many bags, and many, many needles of various sizes. He couldn’t take more than two steps without hearing the crunch of some garbage under his foot. And the smell. Oh boy the smell. It cannot be put into words the assault that Frank’s poor nose was put through during his time in California.

After walking this way for many miles of crammed road, Frank and Candi encountered the big city itself, Los Angeles. The air was oppressive. Compared to the air out in the county, walking through LA was like wading through Chernobyl, and the sound pollution nearly matched the amount of smog in the air. Frank and Candi had to scream to each other just to hear what the other was saying over the blare of city traffic. Finding their way to Mr. Normalman’s shop was also going to be difficult, as the layout of streets in LA was akin to a labyrinth. Just looking at the map, Frank didn’t think he could make it the whole way.

“I-I can’t do it, Candi. There’s no way that I’ll find my dad in this mess!”

“Don’t worry about it Frank, everything in the city is close together! We’re only half a mile from your dad’s shop!”

What Candi didn’t know was that Mr. Normalman’s shop was deep in the heart of the turf of The Bald Boys, a notorious gang that held nearly half of LA in the palms of their collective hands. And getting through their streets would be anything but easy. As they walked through the city, they were stopped by a short, old man in a very long coat.

“Travelers beware! You are about to enter the territory of the dastardly Bald Boys! It would be dangerous to continue along this path, but for the measly price of a mere one dollar, I may have something for you that could help you get through!”

The man then opened his coat, and Frank saw the most powerful weapon known to man.

“I’ll take it”

They thanked the man and continued on into The Bald Boy’s territory.

For the most part, the Bald Boy’s part of LA was no different than the rest, however, each garbage can was marked with spray paint showing some sort of insignia. Although slight at best, the change in atmosphere around them made Frank a little more anxious about traversing the city landscape.

After walking 1 block, they were approached by another man, this time wearing a leather jacket.

“Where do you think you’re going, huh?”

“I don’t know what you mean.”

“I know you know what I mean, this is the Bald Boy’s turf, it is, and you got yourself some hair!!”

Frank was puzzled.

“But you also have hair, don’t you?”

The man then grabbed his hair and pulled it off, revealing himself to be BALD.

“Yeah, that’s right. You made a big mistake coming here, and now me and the boys are gonna show you what for!”

In an instant, Frank and Candi were surrounded by nearly two dozen men, all of whom had no hair. The sea of chrome domes around them blinded Frank, and it seemed to keep growing. All the while, the Bald Boys were throwing out strange remarks.

“You picked the wrong street, fool!”

Frank knew he only had one option left, and so he grabbed the AK he got from the kind old man earlier and sprayed down all of the Bald Boys. The magic weapon propelled small pieces of metal that struck the boys, rendering them unable to move. It was a glorious sight, and Frank hit down every last Bald Boy. That is, except for one. Amongst the piles of unconscious bodies, another hair-challenged man stepped into view, the leader of the Bald Boys: Michael “The Hammer” Mikula.

“Well well well, look what we have here. Looks to me like Mr. Normalman’s son has gotten a little out of line. Guess I’ll just have to put him in detention!”

Frank had run out of magic metal for his AK, and had no choice but to drop it and get ready to fight in hand-to-hand combat. Unfortunately for Frank, The Hammer was a master of fighting who had a black belt in all known and unknown martial arts. Frank tried to throw a punch, but The Hammer had already struck him down, breaking his wrist in the process.

“I used to play ball in college.”

Frank stood back up.

“Probably at some cushy ivy league school.”

He rushed towards The Hammer to try another punch, but was stopped by The Hammer once again.

“Try the School of Hard Knocks,” The Hammer slammed Frank into the ground again, “They don’t pick no bums.”

Candi was in a state of panic, she had never been in a real fight before, and seeing Frank get dropped time and time again was too much for her. So, Candi began to cry. The Hammer, seeing the pain he caused others, stopped and reflected on himself, and his whole life before then. Was he really bringing any good into the world by doing this? Would he really make his own life better just by beating down on others?

“I’m sorry, Frank. I see now that I was wrong. I will now go back to Wisconsin, where I can take up a career in giving young teenagers the education they deserve.”

The Hammer then walked down the dilapidated streets of LA to the wonderful land of Wisconsin, never to be relevant to this story again. Frank got up, and through the smog he could see a faint light that said “Meme’s Liquor Shop”. He had found it.

Mr. Normalman’s Shop, ACT 3

Frank limped through the front door of Meme’s Liquor Shop, ringing the little bell hanging from the wall in the process. An older man behind the counter jumped up at the noise and turned to look Frank right in the eye. It was him. Mr. Normalman.

“Frank? What are you doing here?”

“I’m here to stand up for myself! You can’t kick me out of the crappy 8 foot mobile home! I’ve lived there my whole life!”

“Frank, you’re 28, it’s time for you to move on and make a life for yourself.”

Frank was appalled that his father would even suggest such a thing.

“Never! I should be able to live wherever I want for free!”

“Frank, that’s not how life works. You need to make money for yourself, get yourself a house, maybe even a family of your own. I’m getting to be too old now to be taking care of anyone else and I might not be around much longer. Please, think of what your mother would want.”

Frank stopped and thought for a moment. His mother had passed away not more than 7 years ago. What would she want? …

Was Frank really in the wrong this whole time?

Should he move out and live life on his own?

“Nah, that’s dumb.”

Frank turned and walked out of Meme’s Liquor Store, finding Candi still in shock in the streets.

“Alright, now where do I go?”

“W-what?”

“My dad was no help, where do I go now?

“I—I didn’t see this far ahead. Didn’t he tell you to live on y-your own?”

“Yeah, but that’s dumb.”

Candi was dumbfounded. Frank wasn’t saying what she thought he would.

“Frank, he had a point you know. You’re supposed to go out and buy your own house now. That’s the way this was supposed to go-”

“There’s no way that’s true. It can’t be. Why should I have to do anything on my own?”

It was at this moment that Candi realized something crucial, a great error in her thinking that led to all of this devastation and destruction, some big mistake that she had made that caused Frank to knock out dozens of bald men, and yell at his own father about something completely asinine. Frank was not a hero. From the moment he became relevant to this story he had done nothing of heroic nature.

Maybe she shouldn’t have taken her drug trips as a prophecy.