Fantastic League of Heroes

Origins (III)

Dan and Tyler were ready as the braced themselves to shoot their firsts, “You know you can’t win me in this”, Dan boasted.

One of the tutors yelled “fire!” They both shot one arrow each at the same time and it hit the tree but not the center, the tutor said again “Shoot one more” 

They quickly picked another and shot again, but this time, Dan’s arrow hits the center while Tyler’s was a miss. Tyler asked

   “Scores please?” 

The tutor replied, “Dan is on 1.5, you’re on 0.5” Dan chuckles while the tutor said again “Shoot another” 

Dan shot his first  then Bravo shot his own as well and both of their arrows hit the center” 

    “Dan, 2.5 Tyler, 1.5” The tutor said, and just as he was about to speak to them on continuing, the Old Master interrupts, “shoot two at a time” 

      “oh no” Tyler exclaims.

  “Tyler, you can do it!” Nina yelled.

Tyler sighs as he raised his arrows, Dan also. Then the tutor yelled, “fire!”. Dan shot his arrows immediately while smiling and Tyler shot his own as well and one of Tyler’s arrows hits the center as well as one of Dan’s arrows while Tyler’s second arrow hits Dan’s arrow to the side, causing Dan’s second arrow to miss and Tyler’s second arrow also changes direction and hits the center.

Everyone was amazed they gasped in surprise; then both of them took off the blindfolds while the tutor said,

     “3.5 for Dan, 3.5 for Tyler” Immediately, Tyler’s friends began to shout happily as if he won, as well as Nina and Ray then Dan asked, “How did I miss?”  

Tyler chuckles softly, and replied aloud, 

  “I think my trick worked just fine, very fine actually… it must have been that while the arrows were flying, one of mine was going to the center while the other should have missed or hit just the tree, but both of yours headed to the center, so mine which would have hit just the tree hits yours in full force and changes your direction to miss and also my direction to hit the center” 

     “that is exactly what happened”, The tutor said.

The Old Master raised his hand and they all kept quiet as he was address them,

   “no one wins the shooting round, it’s a tie… so let's move on to the next round”

A circle was drawn on the ground, and anyone who gets out of the circle loses that round. Dan clenched his fists while Tyler came running at him but Dan jumped over his head and kicked him. 

Tyler got up again and this time he charged towards Dan and tried to punch him while Dan dodged his attacks, Tyler then spun on a spot to deliver multiple punches, and kicks at Dan who then staggers. 

Before Dan could gain his balance, Tyler pushed him out with a tiger claw move using both hands.

 Dan fell out of the circle, and grunts; hitting his hand on the ground out of frustration. 

Tyler’s friends expressed their joy once again; hailing him with noises.

The Old Master even looked surprised.

They got back into the circle and took swords to fight; going on for minutes, they fought till Dan slashed Tyler’s shoulder and points the sword at him, meanwhile Tyler was on the floor. Now their scores were 1.5 each in totality.

They were about to begin the fourth round and everyone moved back meters away from them, leaving the two in the middle, staring at each other. One of the other graduating boys said to Nina and Ray, 

     “Tyler is done for, Dan’s gonna wreck him and break his bones, wanna bet?” 

Ray replied “Well, I know Dan will win this one, everyone knows that”. But Nina disagrees saying, “Tyler will win”. 

    “if Dan wins, you’ll have to come with me… I’ll take you home with me” the guy said and chuckles.

Ray yells at him, “how dare you!”. The guy retorted back sharply, “Shut up Ray, you can’t beat me… why don't you let her speak for herself?”

    “sure, and if Tyler wins, you’ll give me a million dollar, remember bets made on this island are divine” Nina said, while the guy replies “hell yeah… I know… A million's like a piece of paper”, he chuckles.

They looked towards the fighters and saw they were already fighting. 

Tyler was on the floor groaning in pain, as Dan jumped up really high and came down straight at him; but before he could land, Tyler blasts him back with fire balls which shot out of his hand, causing Dan to be thrown backwards and he hits his back on a tree. 

He fell to the ground, but Tyler stood up and clenched his fists slowly. Rocks slowly protruding out of the ground in form of a hand before it covered up Dan; squeezing him. The latter could only yell in pain, and the current turn of events was surprising everyone.

Ray asked looking stunned, “When did Tyler learn that?”. The guy Nina had a bet with was still looked confident and he simply replies “ Doesn't matter… Dan will get up now” 

Immediately, Dan broke free and jumped up; shattering the rocks in the process, but he wasn't done.

While mid air, he blew Tyler off his feet with wind and with the movement of his hand, directed him to hit his back on a rock.

That's payback!

But as Tyler hits his back on the rock, his bone seemed to snap, as one would've definitely heard the sound of broken bones when it happened. This even caused him to cough and spit blood.

Everyone was shocked, and terrified; gasping and murmuring. Even one of the tutors said to the Old Master, “We have to stop them”. 

     “Not yet, just few more minutes and then you’ll see”, The Old Master assured.

Dan was walking towards Tyler slowly, “You thought you could beat me…” he said, scoffs and continued, “… you can’t, and you never will. I will break you apart”.

    Nina’s mouth was wide open, and her eyes were filled with tears which she couldn't hold back,

    “Yeah, this is it, he’s gonna finish him”, the guy she had a bet with spoke.

Nina yells, “Tyler, get up… my fate depends on you!”. 

Dan lifted Tyler up with one hand holding his neck and at the same time he was choking him. 

And then, Dan’s other hand was engulfed in a sharp ice and streaks of lightning. He was about to stab Tyler on his chest, when Tyler closed his eyes, and opened it slowly all in a split second.

His eyes were now flaming fire, his hair also turned into flaming fire, then he shot fire from his eyes to melt the ice, and also removed Dan’s hand from his neck. Flying high along with Dan while they were fighting.

They threw punches at one another which even caused small shockwaves. Suddenly, an explosion occurred up in the sky, and they both came falling speedily.

On landing, there was a large crater on the ground and Tyler’s hair was normal again. 

Everyone moved backwards wondering what had happened, so the Old Master sighs, and said to one of the tutors, “This is it, he’s the one who can defeat Beast, now it depends on if he’ll do it or not”

     Dan and Tyler were on the ground, and all the martial art students began to count aloud, 

     “1... 2…” Tyler groans as he was moving already.

    “… 3… 4….5…” 

Dan was also trying to get up but he was too weak and so he couldn’t get on his feet yet

      “… 6… 7…” Tyler looks up and yells, as he forced himself to get up with his last bit of strength panting heavily.

        “… 8… 9…10!” 

Tyler smiles while they all began to chant his name.

He stood right on a spot with a smile, breathing heavily. Ray was looking stunned, so as some friends and supporters of Dan. 

    “You’re gonna pay me” Nina said to the guy she made a bet with.

The guy smirks, staring at Tyler and he said to himself, “How is this even possible?”.

 Three guys rushed towards Dan to get him up so he could stand. But while everyone was still shouting, The Old Master hits his staff on the ground, and they all stopped immediately.

There was perfect silence and as usual, they fell on one knee, bowing, while the other tutors only bowed their heads.

      “Today, Tyler won Dan, and now, he is proclaimed… the best amongst all of you, and the most powerful”. 

Dan grits his teeth, looking really angry and he had a deadly look on his face as he stared at the Old Master. The Old master continued speaking not minding anyone's reaction,

  “Now I have a question to ask both of you… Dan, Tyler… tell me, are you interested in fighting, and killing BEAST?”.

 Dan was about to answer when Tyler spoke, “Master, I’ll do it… I will kill Beast, I’ll be the one to finish him off” 

The Old Master smiles and replied, “Bravo! Then from now… you will be called, Bravo… the one who shall kill Beast”. Tyler looking surprised replied, “Bravo?”. The Old Master replies “Yes, it has a secret meaning which you will find out later… you shouldn’t know about it now”

Dan looked up on sensing a weird energy; and above, he saw black and red like portal high up.

He was shocked and terrified at the same time, 

       “Beast is here!” He yelled. Immediately, flying demonic creatures began to land and everyone dispersed except the Old Master and some of the tutors. 

The demons came in large numbers, attacking everyone, chasing after them, even Tyler was running as well and was being chased by two demons which were very close to getting to him. 

Ray and Nina were running with some others in the bush, and every two second, a demon would catch up with at least one of them, they were reducing in number. While they were running, Nina asked,” Where is Tyler?” 

     “I… I don’t know”, the former answered.

After minutes of running, they saw that they had gotten to the edge of a cliff, below was water and their last option was to jump into. 

    “guys let’s jump!” Nina said.

They were just five left who were running together,

     “I can’t jump… I’m sorry… I can’t… just go on… I’ll fight them” 

The others jumped into the waters except Nina and Ray, she shook her head in disagreement to Ray, “I can’t let you die… you’re coming with us”, she tried to drag him but he pushed her away to fall into the waters while he knelt down right there and just then, the demons got to him.

The Old Master and other tutors were battling the demons and were quite good with handling them. 

   “What if Tyler is dead?”, one of the tutors asked. 

The Old Master chuckles,

     “No, he can’t be dead, he must survive!”. The Old Master closed his eyes and hits the staff on the ground, then a wind began to blow around them, as a wave swept across the whole island; weakening the demons a bit, but it was mainly for something else.

 The tutor asked, “did you feel his presence?” 

The old master’s face dropped and he replied, “I can’t feel neither Tyler nor Dan, it’s either they escaped…  or they’re dead!”

(10 YEARS LATER)

(CLIFFORD CITY, 2020)

Tyler was seated amongst five others in a quiet spacious technology facility as he seemed to have been narrating how the story played out to them, 

      “That’s it… I escaped though. So, now… Barnes and Shana you have powers” 

Mr. Alfred, an elderly man answered, “yes, they do, but Jane, Dolph and I do not possess any super abilities” 

Shana, a young lady in her mid-20s, she had a black curly hair, and she was Dolph’s girlfriend.     

    “when was the last time you met with your, hum… Old Master and friends?” She asked, while Tyler looks up at her saying, 

    “I haven’t seen anyone cause I don’t know if they’re alive or not, but I’ve visited the Old Master quite a number of times after that unexpected occurrence… he told me he had locked BEAST away in the Dark World, but it still baffles me like… how did he do it? The way he used to explain Beast made us terrified but I was surprised he was able to lock Beast away even though I didn’t see him do it”

Jane, a lady in her early 20s, who had a blonde hair, packed to the back, said “So, that Beast is ALIVE!”. 

Tyler replies, “yes, and the Old Master had said I’ll kill Beast myself… he said Beast would still get out of the dark world one way or another… and if he does, chaos will hit the world, that’s why I need you guys”. 

Barnes, about Tyler’s age, he had a short brown hair, and no beard, he maintained a calm look unlike Tyler, and he said,

    “It’s done. But before Beast’s time comes, we can also dedicate to the city. I gotta go now”. 

Dolph, about Tyler’s age as well, he had a short black hair and shaved beard, 

     “okay, bro…” he was replying Barnes.

Tyler sighs while Jane and Mr. Arnold waved good bye to Barnes. He whooshed out leaving orange lightning streaks behind himself while breeze blew some papers away. Tyler exclaims, “That's Fast”. 

      “that's what we’d call a speedster”, Alfred said.

While Shana replied, “Yeah, so as I was saying earlier…”

(LATER THAT DAY – TYLER’S HOUSE)

Tyler was in his comfortable house alone seated on a couch, and watching a movie when he heard a knock on the door. He stood up immediately, and went for the door asking, “Who’s there?”. 

He got a reply from a feminine voice saying, “Hello… Tyler”. 

Tyler opened up the door immediately, and right before him stood a pretty lady with a red headband tied around her head, she had a long black hair, and she smiled at him while he was dumbfounded and could only stare back at her, then she broke the silence and said, 

     “I’m back for you, Bravo” 

(SUNSHINE CITY)

(DR. ROBERTS LAB)

The team of four; Mark, Mary, Ben, and Dr. Robert were present. Mary was speaking while the others sat listening, she said,

  “Guys, a thief came to me last night, and it turned out he had some weird super abilities, like elasticity… but I couldn’t see his face…”. Ben sighs and replies, “did his voice sound familiar?”.

 Mary answered saying, “No, he was able to escape only because I didn’t wanna show my powers”.

Dr. Robert cuts in and said, “I think… I think it’s a superhuman like both of you… who’s using his abilities to commit crime and satisfy his needs”.

 Mary nodded, “that’s possible”, she partially agreed.

Their attentions were turned towards the computer on the wall, which was displaying News.

People were talking about a thief who came into their houses and the headline was,

   ‘Superhuman Burglar Steals From Homes In A Night’.

They were surprised at the sight of that and the news displayed a woman testifying, 

    “The thief knocked and told me he was my friend at work, but when I opened the door, I saw a masked man… I tried to run in but his hands stretched like rubber and grabbed me… even squeezed me, he stole a lot of things and even my mobile phone!”

Another man was also testifying, he said, 

    “He broke the door of my house cause he got no reply while knocking, I tried to fight him but his hands got bigger and he knocked me out… when I woke up, a lot of things were missing”.

The news then shows the Captain of the Sunshine City Police Department, addressing the public as he says,

   “Whoever it is, we’ll find him… it could be the same stranger who calls himself Hero, and it might not… but we’re making this clear to whoever it is, we will find you”.

Mary said to the others, “Oh God, Now they think it’s Mark”. Mark scoffs and replied, “That’s absurd… what’s wrong with the cops?”. 

  “Now you just have to show them you are superheroes and not a thief… capture the elastic thief and hand him over to the cops”, said Dr. Robert.

    Ben nodded and replies, “Yes, exactly. That’s what we have to do now”. 

  “OK, right now?”, Mary asked, while Dr. Roberts answers, “yes, right now”. 

Mark stood up and sped into a room and out of the room again, now dressed as Hero, he said, “so, Miss Awesome are you ready to find that thief?”. 

Mary winks and replies, “Boom yeah!”

(SUNSHINE CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT - SCPD)

Bethany was clad in a black shirt, and jean trousers, she was in the captain’s office, and they were having a conversation,

  “Beth, this task will be assigned to you… you will lead the others in order to apprehend that thief, I hope you remember the outfit of that so-called Hero?”. 

Bethany smiles and replies, “sure, once we see him, we’ll take him in”. 

  “The people are counting on us and we have to do our job rightly… make sure find him”, he said, then his assistant opened the door saying,

     “There's been calls from selling the City bank; he just struck right now… we have to go”

 Bethany got up quickly and left the office with the Captain’s Assistant.