Author's Notes:

This chapter sucked to write. And no not because of writers block. I was up late working on it when for who knows why, my keyboard stopped working. I thought it was a program issue with Microsoft Word so I tried to close it. One problem led to another and next thing I know my keyboard doesn't work and my screen was black and all that worked was my mouse. I felt sick to my stomach that the computer I had for less than 4 months was broken and I had lost 4000 plus words of this chapter, along with various other things like pictures, previous chapters and so on. Thankfully letting the battery run dead overnight and trying again in the morning worked. But yeah, I wanted to puke.

After meeting with Celestia the girls and I meet up with Fluttershy at lunch. We chatted idly and put on our ‘teenage faces’. Even though I’m older than a millennia and haven’t been to school in over that same amount of time! During that and with what happened in the principal’s office, we created our back story. We used to live in Baltimore where I had raised Serenity since mom died a few years ago. After dealing with a few financial problems and school issues I sought it fit to move to some where a little less stressful. Ultimately Twilight was forced out of the house after an issue with her parents and needed to be taken care of for the upcoming year and me being the only other family member, she was sent to me.

And let the rumors begin.

Hopefully that tragic back story would show that I don’t take shit from no one. After reminding Twilight she was vegan, our conversation eventually lead to the Fall Formal. Fluttershy kindly pointed us toward the gym. Walking through the doors we saw how dressed up the place was. Streamers hung from the rafters while balloons hugged the ceiling. Finally, tables filled with food sat on the edges of the room. In the center, with her back to us, was a pink haired girl. She wore a pair of blue boots with white shoelaces going up the front to a tiny pink bow, she was in a purple dress with her pony counterparts signature three balloons cutie mark on it, a dark purple cloth belt tied into a bow in the back, a blue over coat and a white shirt with purple accent and a lighter purple heart on it. She threw her hands in the air as streamers filled the air.

“INCOOOMING!”

“Hit the deck!” I yelled before tackling both girls to the floor.

Covering our heads for protection we waited for the onslaught to stop. After a second or two we were buried from head to toe in colorful cheap paper. Digging ourselves out we rose to our feet and dusted ourselves off and adjusted our clothes. Looking up we watched Pinkie throw more confetti into the air before reaching down and… I will never understand physics around her. She actually pulled a balloon off of her skirt and started to blow it up.

Twilight hesitantly walked up and started to introduce herself, “High my names-” she ducked when Pinkie nearly clothes-lined her with the overly large balloon, “Pinkie Pie?”

The girl in question stopped blowing up the balloon and stared off into space before the balloon deflated and squeaked, causing Pinkie’s face and hair to blow backwards rather exaggeratedly.

“Huh!?” she gasped while grabbed Twilight by the back of her shoulders before turning her and holding her collar, “Are you psychic!?” she gasped while looming over Twilight.

I face palmed… again! “Were boned…”

“Uhh, no… I don’t think so!” Twilight sheepishly answered while looking to the side for a moment, “Unless that is something you can do here?” she said while holding up her right hand.

Pinkie dropped Twilight to the floor and looked to the side with an annoyed expression, “Huh, not usually!” she said before tiptoeing away with a smile.

Walking over I helped Twilight to her feet. She thanked me before looking back at Pinkie, who was blowing up a yellow balloon away from us.

“Fluttershy said I could find the head of the fall formal planning committee here?” Twilight asked nicely.

I could tell that struck a chord in Pinkie.

Turing around she wore a face of displeasement.

“Fluttershy huh?” she said harshly while tying off her balloon before letting it float away, “Don’t let the whole shy thing fool you!” she said while holding a finger in front of her chest, “she can be a real meanie!” she ended while crossing her arms and closing her eyes angrily.

I leaned over to Serenity, “Who uses the word 'meanie' in high school?” I whispered.

“Evidently, Pinkie…”

While Twilight and Pinkie talked I walked over and took a seat on the nearby stage with Serenity following close behind.

“So what do you think Serenity?” I asked while placing my hands on the edge of the stage next to my legs.

“Hmmm?” she asked while jumping up onto the stage and taking a seat.

“I mean… look!” I gestured to the two talking girls, “Back before the war this was normal. We could walk down the street and not worry about a thing! Well… besides the occasional noble with a stick shoved up his ass.”

She laughed at that remark.

I sighed, “We could go back to our normal lives if we wanted to…”

“WOW! You have reeeeally bad handwriting!” Pinkie yelled while looking at a clipboard in her hands with a raised eyebrow. “It’s like you never held a pen before?”

Looking at the two girls Twilight stood there nervously with a pen in her hands.

“Ahehe… is it?”

Ignoring them I glanced at the clock in the gym.

11:45

We had about half an hour until we had to grab our class schedules. I had passed school with decent grades. I always sucked at basic math. There was a reason I went into the construction area for work. All that required was basic math and not calculus. But after the virus infusion my comprehension exploded. Even if I did stay for the school year, I know I could pass with all A’s and not a care in the world.

“Did somebody order a dozen cases of fizzy apple cider?” a rather heavy southern accent asked from the door before walking over to place the crate she was carrying down.

“Is that?” Serenity asked while leaning forward slightly, “Applejack?”

“Sure sounds like her.”

Pinkie ran over while holding her hand high and yelling “Mememe!” over and over again to the southern girl. Placing the crate of drinks down on a nearby chair she took her hat off and wiped her brow with her arm. Looking at her she wore her famed cowboy hat, a white work shirt with green shoulders and the sleeves rolled up, a blue denim skirt with a brown belt with a red apple buckle, and finally a pair of brown boots with two apples on them.

What is it with people and boots on this planet?

She asked if someone could get the rest before a large man in a red shirt and jeans walked in carrying four cases of drinks. By the looks of it, I had to assume it was her brother. But this alternate world is the human opposite of their pony forms. Why wasn’t he red? He was the only person so far that looked like a regular human.

Pinkie hopped over on one foot that with silly smile of hers while Applejack grabbed a case from her brother and started to help him unpack the crates. Glancing at Twilight she said, “Hey, I know you?”

“You do?” Twilight questioned while holding up a hand.

“Sure!” Applejack replied while walking over and placing the crate down on a nearby table and reaching in for a bottle, “You’re the girl that gave Sunset Shimmer the what for today!” she said while swiping the bottle in front of herself before leaning against the table, propping a leg up and taking the cap off with her teeth, spitting the cap on the floor and taking a drink.

“Congrats cuz! You're famous!” I hollered at her from the stage before a I chuckled to myself.

Applejack glanced at us before lowering the bottle, “Well shoot! I didn’t know you had family here!?” Applejack pushed off the table and walked over to us. “And what’s your name stud?”

“You’ve known me for all of thirty seconds and your flirting? I don’t know whether to feel honored or scared,” I replied, “Excalibur,” I held my hand out.

“Applejack,” she said while taking my hand, “And ah wasn’t flirtin’.”

“I’d argue that,” I said with a mischievous smile, “Next thing I know you’d like me to help you in the heat so you could have an excuse to see me shirtless.”

Her face turned beet red. “N-No!” she said a little too loudly, “Ah mean… ehem… no. No I wouldn’t…”

“Yeah. Sure,” I said while jumping off the stage, “The girl in front of you is named Serenity. She’s my unruly little sister!” I said over my shoulder while walking over to Twilight.

“Hey!”

Walking past Twilight I said, “I’m going to go get our schedules.”

With Twilight safe in Serenity’s care I exited the gym and headed back for Principal Celestia’s office. Students populated the halls and classrooms of the school. Many enjoyed their time to relax and meet with friends while others were working on homework. Thankfully we were going to be here for another two days. But I still needed to figure out a way to where I could address Sunset and arrest her without causing too much trouble.

‘I could just put my pistol to her back and walk her to the portal?’

I sighed.

As simple as it would be to do with a cloaked gun, I still didn’t know if the Sunset here was the Sunset from our universe. I didn’t have the proper evidence to even arrest her! But at the first mention of Equestria, I knew I’d have her ass on my line.

“Hey new guy!”

Catching me from my thoughts I looked over my shoulder as the bad girl I saw earlier. Walking quickly, she matched my pace.

“Sup sweet cheeks?”

“Not much. You?”

She was rather nice for sounding like a bully.

“Getting my schedule.”

“Ah.”

As we continued to walk I noticed just about every student giving us the same look. Not one of disgust or high school love. This was fear. This girl had the school under lock and key. She ran the show, and the school was her stage. My looking caught her attention.

“I know what you’re thinking and don’t try it.”

“Pardon?” I asked while glancing at her.

“I rule this school,” she stepping in front of me she grabbed me by the collar. She may have been about 6 to 8 inches shorter than me but she was fierce. “And I won’t let some new punk ass kid ruin everything I have worked for!”

“And what is that supposed to mean?” I asked, unfazed by her threat.

“Wouldn’t you like to find out?” she said darkly.

I huffed, “And what are you going to do? Blackmail, beat me up at the flagpole, threaten to get me expelled?” I questioned, “I’m not scared babe. I once faced a charging grizzly and didn’t even flinch,” I lied.

“Oh? And what happened?” she questioned while leaning in close to my face.

I leaned a little closer to her, “I killed the bear and hung his paw on my wall,” I said darkly. “I think I can handle a high school bully.”

Before she could do anything else I wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her in close. She let go of my collar and yelped in surprise while both her hands rested on my chest. She blushed slightly while moving her hands up and down slightly. I looked into her green eyes and leaned in closer. Closing her eyes, she started to lean in and pucker her lips. Doing the same time seemed to slow and we prepared for one of the best moments of our lives.

I moved past and whispered into her ear.

“I’ve taken life… what have you taken?”

I let go of her and started walking again. Sunset stumbled slightly before reality started to set in. Standing there she dumbfounded in the hallway with students watching us nervously, she stood up straight with an angry scowl on her face.

“Mark my words! I will get you back for that!”

“Good luck…”

Looking at the class schedule I found my next class.

1) Calculus

2) Senior English

3) Social Studies

4) Physical Education

5) Drawing

6) Study Hall

7) Biology

“P.E. huh?” looking up I noticed that I had reached my destination, the second gym. No real surprise there. Opening the door, I walked inside. Looking around I could see about twenty something students standing around doing stretches and various other pre-workout routines. Looking to the right I saw a rather tall and fit man with blue skin and a short cut hairstyle. He had the typical coach look. Short shorts, tank top, whistle around the neck clipboard in one hand.

Sighing I walked over to him.

“Sir?” He looked at me. “I’m Excalibur. Your new student?”

He looked down at his clipboard and flipped a page up, “Iron Will was not informed of a new student.”

Again with the third person shit…

I handed him a slip of paper from the principle.

He looked it over before looking back at me, “It would appear everything is in order. Do you have a change of clothes?”

I gestured to the backpack on my back. Good thing I grabbed one of those before coming here.

“Go change and wait for Iron Will’s instructions,” he said while going back to looking at his clipboard.

I nodded before heading to the locker room. A few minutes later I walked out in a pair of shorts and a simple black t-shirt. Looking at my arm I couldn’t help but feel a little antsy at the fact that my electrical burn was no longer hidden. Since it ran up the length of my arm it’s not something easy to talk off. Stretching my arm over my head I acted as though I deserved to be in this class.

“Hey new guy!” a familiar scratchy voice said.

“Yo!?” I hollered back while turning around.

Looking at the voice I could pick out the familiar looks of a certain pegasus I know. She was blue in color, wore a pair of knee high blue boots with white shoelaces, and rainbow colored socks, a pair of black short shorts, and a white tank top with her cutie mark on the front.

“What happened to the arm?”

“Huh?” I looked at my arm, “Oh! Word of advice. Don’t grab a bare cable!”

She walked up and bent over to examine the burn, “Looks like it hurt?”

“After nearly stopping my heart… yeah it hurt a lot.”

Straightening her back she nodded her head and pursed her lips. Opening her mouth, she started to say something else before Iron Will’s voice cut her off.

“Alright class! Line up! Fifteen laps!”

Everyone let out a groan of annoyance.

“What? It’s just fifteen laps!” I said with a shrug of my shoulders.

“Yeah… but we have to sprint the last five,” a random student said while walking past me to the line.

“’Calibur, Iron Will wants you up front! Let’s see how you run!”

Now it was my turn to groan. It’s not that fifteen laps is hard, it’s the fact that I have to stay discrete. I could easily outrun and outpace any kid in this class. Might as well keep pace with whoever is the fastest…

Dash… duh…

Standing at the ready I gently bobbed back and forth with my arms limp at my sides, swaying with each lean. Iron Will held his whistle to his mouth and took a deep breath before blowing on it as hard as he could. Leading the pack, I just started jogging at a what I considered reasonable pace. A few laps in Dash and another familiar looking spiky haired orange girl with a familiar flame on the back of her shirt joined me at each side.

“Can I help you?” I asked.

“So noobie,” Spitfire started, “Dash was telling me how you got that scar. What did you do exactly?”

In reality I was hanging by a ledge in a Grineer base with a well-known commander hanging from my ankles. This was early on when I knew nothing about them other than they were a threat and they needed to be put back in their place. With no weapons at my disposal I grabbed a nearby power cable. Which not only damn near killed me but left that wonderful scar.

“Was working with a buddy of mine setting cable. Asshole didn’t tell me that he flipped the switch to test it,” I lied, “Left me damn near dead and put me away for a while.”

“Wow!”

“Equivalent to being struck by lightning.”

As we continued to run they continued to ask questions. After a little while we passed over the start line.

From the sidelines Iron Will yelled, “Dash, Calibur, Fire! Run now!”

We all looked at each other.

“Race yah?” Dash suggested.

“You’re on!” Spitfire added.

Looking past me they nodded before leaning away from me.

“Sorry new guy!” Dash said.

“But we don’t go easy on new guys!” Spitfire added.

My instincts took over. Before they crashed into me with their shoulders, I thrusted forward with my back leg and power slid a few feet in front of them. Behind me both girls ran into each other full force. Standing up and looking over my shoulder I saw them stumbling and regaining their bearings. Shaking their heads, they glared at me.

“You’re dead!” they said in unison.

I chuckled 'nervously', “Gonna have to catch me first!” I taunted.

They groaned before coming at me at full force. Quickening my pace I blazed past multiple shocked students and to the other half of the gym, leaving the two dumbfounded and way far behind. Smirking and mentally slapping myself I continued forward while the two teen girls lagged behind. 'Unfortunately', I couldn’t keep myself from taunting them. I’d slow down every once and a while only to speed up when they got too close. On the last lap with the girls hot on my heels, I passed over the line and came to stop. When they crossed Spitfire fell to the floor out of exhaustion while Dash bent over and placed her hands on her knees. Both were sucking wind.

I didn’t even break a sweat.

I chuckled, “Maybe next time,” I said while slapping Rainbow on the back.

Walking over I started doing pushups while the rest of the class finished their run. Dash and Spitfire tried to join in but succumbed to exhaustion about twenty in. A few minutes later and around a hundred pushups later we were standing at the edge of the gym while Iron Will ordered us to either stay or go. Staying like I was told, we watched him set out a long line of red rubber balls at half court. Once he was done he stood on the side line.

“Because the larger gym is being used for the upcoming formal, Iron Will thought we could have a good game of dodge ball!”

“Dodge ball huh?” I murmured to myself.

He took a deep breath before blowing hard on that whistle again, “Begin!”

Students from both sides ran at half court as fast as they could. As the carnage began I casually looked to the side. Finding a water fountain, I walked over and took a simple drink to prepare myself. Standing back up and wiping my mouth with my sleeve I turned back to see most of the class on the bleachers. And when I say most I mean my entire fucking team!

“What the hell!” I said in disbelief while holding my hands out at my sides before letting them go limp and slap my thighs.

“Sorry new guy,” one of the female students said, “Spitfire, Rainbow Dash, Fleetfoot, Soarin, Homerun and Bulls Eye are the best of the best!”

Looking to the left I noticed every one of them had a ball in their hands and a devilish smirk on their faces. This caused me to take on one of my attack stances. I stood slightly angled and narrowed my eyes. On the sidelines I could hear students mumbling.

“He’s dead!”

"There is no way he can beat them!”

“Five bucks says he losses!”

I chuckled.

“What’s so funny?” Dash asked, slightly annoyed.

“This,” I replied before I started walking toward the bleachers while looking at the wall, “Six verses one. You have one target where I have six. All you have is the hope that you can get me with multiple hits!” I chuckled evilly, “The odds are not in your favor.”

The loud audible slap of rubber on skin filled the air.

Everyone gasped while I lowered my hand from in front of the side of my head, with a red ball in its grasp. Tossing the ball to the side I said, “Homerun.” I looked at the young man, a ping of fear shooting up his spine. “You’re out…”

He looked at the rest of his team nervously before gulping and walking off to the sidelines. The entire team growled before they started throwing. Facing the onslaught I back flipped back towards the wall to dodge the first ball, landing in a crouch I rolled to the right to dodge the next one. Pushing off I rolled forward while one of the red balls flew underneath me. I grabbed an available ball mid-roll before sprinting full force toward the far wall. Power sliding to avoid another ball to the face I reached the wall and ran up a few steps. Pushing off I performed an impressive 1080, putting all my momentum into the ball in my hand.

Throwing it with a little more strength then needed, it flew through the air like a bullet. Dash’s eyes went wide. At the last second she stepped out of the way, the wind from the ball causing her shirt to flutter. The audible smack of rubber on skin filled the air. So did the grimace of the entire class, myself included. Bulls Eye stood there with a pained expression on his face and his hands on his crotch.

“Ohhhhh… wasn’t aiming for that…”

He fell to the floor in a pained heap before Homerun ran up and dragged him out of the fight by his collar. Looking back the three girls and one young man reeling back for their next assault. I leaned to the left then to the right to dodge two separate dodge balls. Jumping up I grabbed the rim of the basketball hoop to dodge a low ball before doing the splits to avoid another. I pulled myself up onto the rim to dodge a throw from Soarin.

Reaching behind I grabbed the top of the backboard and used my wrist as a pivot to dodge a ball that impacted on the backboard. Grabbing the metal support system, I used it to lower myself onto the floor. Sitting in a kneeling position I quickly leaned far to the left to catch the ball aimed form my chest before doing the same to the other side. I quickly used both to block a third before tossing them to the side. Both Fleetfoot and Spitfire walked off the court in utter shock. Standing up I eyed both of my targets.

Dash was out for blood while Soarin looked ready to piss his pants. Throwing her ball I side stepped Dash’s attempt as the ball impacted off the wall behind me and bounced on the floor. Picking it up I aimed right for her forehead… or at least…

That’s what she thought I was doing.

Before I let go of the ball I adjusted for the offset of the blue boy. Dash stood there shocked while Soarin leaned against the wall holding his stomach. Slowly he slid down the wall and onto the floor. Terror was written all over his face. Standing up from my kneeling position I looked at Dash who tensed up when we made eye contact.

Walking forward slowly I cracked my knuckles nice and slow. She gulped before looking around for a ball. While she panicked I grabbed one off the floor and started a slow jog. Dash froze in her tracks. Lazily, I tossed the ball underhand high into the air. Dash went from being struck with fear to a cocky grin and biting her tongue as she intently watched the ball hovering in the air. While she was distracted I kicked a nearby ball into the air, reaching an arm back I punched the ball forcefully. It rocketed through the air before impacting on the left hand wall, then bouncing to the back wall where it finally hit Dash in the back, sending her flying forward.

“Wuaaah!”

Landing forcefully on her stomach at half court I caught the ball in the air while I walked up to her. Lifting her head, I held the ball with two hands. Her head swayed side to side slightly while she laid there cross eyed. I lightly tossed the ball causing it to bounce off the top of her head and knocking her out of her dizziness. Turning to the side I saw the entire class sitting with their jaws on the floor.

Awkward silence filled the air.

“Are you satisfied!?” I yelled while holding my arms out to the side again.

Everyone slowly nodded.

"Good... motherfucker..."

The rest of the day involved a rather scared game of dodge ball. At the end of the class Dash came up and asked if I could hang out and show her those moves I did before she gave me her number. Like I would be around long enough to do so. Biology was fun. The teacher put up a rather to complicated math problem that I answered without even thinking. When I looked back at the dumbfounded class all I could say was.

“What? It’s just basic rocket science.”

Nooot the best answer in a class of high school students. As the day came to an end I ran into Twilight, who had spent the rest of the school day in the library doing ‘research’ on the planets history. Grabbing her, Serenity and Spike for a much needed break. I caught Rainbow walking out of the school and asked her for a ride into town. After asking her father he said yes and gave us a quick ride into downtown Canterlot, all the while Dash was asking questions of her own.

He dropped us off at a nearby restaurant we where grabbed a quick bite before exchanging a gold bit Twilight had for some cash at a nearby pawnshop. Walking out with three grand in my pocket I gave the girls a hundred bucks each and told they to use it on whatever they felt like. As we walked down one of the many streets that populated the bustling city we passed a nearby window. Inside sat an array of televisions. On the screen was a young woman holding a microphone with the words below her saying “Trouble in Downtown Canterlot!”

“Hello folks,” she started, grimly, “We are at the scene of a tragic situation. As you can see a window washers scaffolding has broken loose from its supports and is swinging freely on Canterlot tower! As of the moment it is confirmed that three men are currently trapped. Authorities are doing what they can but so far they are unable to grab a hold of the swinging structure!”

The camera panned up to show the scaffolding swing wildly out before rapidly coming back and crashing into a window, sending broken shards of glass raining down to the ground. As it swung back out, three tiny human shaped forms hung tightly to the railing.

Twilight looked at me with a scared expression, “Excalibur, you have to do something!”

“I’m sorry Twilight, but its best to let the authorities handle this. We can’t risk interfering,” I replied, not taking my attention away from the broadcast.

“But Excalibur, you told me yourself that all life is precious…”

Spike stuck his head out of her backpack, “She has a point there dude!”

“You stay out of this!” I snapped at the talking dog, “Twilight, we don’t belong here! If we act there will be severe consequences!”

“So they’re just what?” Serenity cut in, “Collateral damage?”

I groaned while turning to face her, “This isn’t a battle Serenity, this is everyday life! People live and die every day!” I started walking down the street.

“So if I went down… you’d just, leave me?”

I stopped and slumped my shoulders, “If the mission had gone that badly… yes I would.”

She opened her mouth to fight back.

“But I would expect no less from you!" I yelled while turning to face her, "If I order you to leave me and finish the mission, you better finish the fucking mission!” I walked up and looked her directly in the eye, “The mission always. Comes. First!” I turned away, “We’re grunts Serenity. We signed our lives away the day we put these suits on.”

Twilight walked up wither head hung low. I could faintly hear sniffling while she placed a hand on my shoulder.

“Please…” she looked up at me with tears running down her face, “Ponies don’t deserve to die like this…”

I looked to the side and pursed the left hand side of my mouth inward.

“...Call your wing… I’ll get the address…”

Twilight lunged forward and grabbed me in a massive hug while Serenity walked into a nearby alleyway.

“Thank you Excalibur…” she said into my chest.

I wrapped my arms around her, “…anything for my girl…” I said quietly.

We let go while I handed her a tracker and an earpiece and told her to stay where she was and to call me if anything happened. I ran into the same alley that Serenity was in. While she slipped her helmet over her head I started to undress. Once my suit was on we ran up a nearby wall before heading the edge of the building and jumping off while our wings came down the street and connected with our backs.

A large crowd was gathered behind a police line while everyone had their sites focused at the free-swinging platform. Every few seconds it would catch a gust of wind and hover away from the building before rapidly coming back and crashing into the side of the building, causing the three men to scream in fear.

“We are just learning that firefighters have reached the fortieth floor and are attempting to gain control,” a newswoman said to the camera in front of her, “Unfortunately they cannot get a tether to the scaffolding.” The camera man panned up to the swinging platform as it made its way back to the building, “I- oh my gosh!” the woman said as the platform crashed into a window. High above the streets one of the washers was seen being jolted forward and off the ledge, just barely able to grab onto one of the support bars. “It would appear the situation has become dire as- what is that noise!?”

A low hum, sounding a lot like a low flying plane filled the air. The crowd looked down the street and to the sky. After the events of several years prior, low flying planes had been a constant worry.

“What the hell is that!?” the newswoman yelled while pointing at two small objects rounding the corner of a building.

From the ground they looked like people on jet packs.

The darker one pulled a sword from his back and pointed forward with the other to his teammate. Looking back the crowd gasped as the hanging worker lost his grip on the platform.

“Oh my god!”

A loud explosion filled the air as the sword wielding jet packer increased his speed as the falling worker screamed as he flailed around frantically. As the worker fell to his inevitable fate the jet packer rapidly closed the distance. The crowd cheered as the worker was grasped by the wrist. As the first flyer flew by the second flew up to the building and looked around before facing the building. Boosting forward they crashed through a window. A few seconds later a bright line shot from the broken window and hooked onto the swaying platform.

Roaring by the first man dropped the saved worked on his feet before coming to a sliding halt on the street before taking two steps and thrusting forward with his pack, launching himself skyward. The crowd watched in awe is he roared toward the somewhat secure platform. Once he reached it he landed and waved the two workers over.

Both men refused to even move while some yelling and possible cursing filled the air. The dark man gave up and walked over and with a swing of his sword cut the men’s safety lines free from the platform. Grabbing one in each arm he lifted into the air before slowly descending to the ground. Upon landing he released both men who fell to the ground in a fearful heap.

EMT’s ran up to the men and started to escort them away while the suited man looked to the sky. Squatting down he jumped up to allow the wings on his back to rapidly gain altitude. Once he reached the platform he hung onto the edge with one hand while he used the other to attach his jet pack to the railing. Looking at his struggling teammate he nodded before jumping off causing the crowd to gasp again.

Curing up into a ball he crashed into one of the many windows sideways. The crowd watched in awe and suspense. A few seconds later yet another window exploded into thousands of tiny pieces. Gasping, the crowd watched as the man held onto the jet pack of his teammates while holding the other one outward. He hovered for a second before using his free hand to catch and hold onto the side railing, he swung in midair by one hand. Placing his feet as support he took the pack and attached it to the railing. Once it was on he used the sword he was carrying to cut the cables that held the platform on his side.

Placing his sword on his back he pulled a pistol from his hip. Two loud gunshots filled the air as the other two cables were severed. Looking at the line holder he nodded. Return the nod the second savior released their line. As it fell it disappeared into nothing but bright specks. Jumping from the platform back to the building he grabbed the ledge of one of the broken out windows.

Hanging on with one hand he leaned out and watched as the platform slowly descended to the ground via the two jet packs. Once the platform was safe on the ground the hanging man let go while his teammate jumped from her window.

“NO!” the crowd screamed while looking at the two free falling humans as they rapidly gained speed. Roughly twenty feet from the ground their rapid descent slowed as they seemed to hover to the ground. Landing in their hands and knees they slowly rose to their feet and faced the shocked crowd. Silence filled the air before the crowed let out a massive cheer.

“YEAHHHHHHH!”

The crowd rejoiced. Looking at each other the two high-fived before turning to walk to the platform. Reporters and cameramen ran up and overwhelmed the two. They pelted them with questions like, name, who do you work for, and so on. Not even a minute passed before officers pushed reports out of the way with guns raised high. The two reacted by drawing their own guns. The taller dark man held a large magazine machine gun while the smaller female held a double barreled shotgun.

“Hands in the air!”

“Drop the gun!”

Both figures continued to point their weapons back and forth at every officer, refusing to follow their orders. After a couple of seconds, they looked at each other and nodded. Placing their weapons on their backs they disappeared into thin air. Officers eyes went wide at the little ‘magic’ trick.

“What the!?” an officer said before his head reeled to the side as an invisible punch connected with his jaw. The rest turned to their downed teammate. Holding their guns high they started to panic.

Two standing next to each other fell to the ground after they randomly hit heads. Another bent over in agony as he was punched in the gut before he reeled backwards from an invisible uppercut. One cop had his service pistol pulled from his grasp before he fell to the ground with a bloody and broken nose. Another watched as a bright light shot forward before attaching to his chest and pulling him forward. Hitting an invisible wall his body folded in half midair before falling to the ground. The final -and terrified- officer had his gun pulled from his grasp before he was Spartan kicked by an invisible force.

The crowd watched horrified and dumbfounded as seven officers were literally beaten down by nothing. In the blink of an eye the two suited figures appeared out of thin air while looking down at the last two officers they knocked unconscious. They looked at each other and walked over and grabbed their jet packs from the platform behind themselves. They attached them to their backs. The female took to the skies while the other looked at the scared crowd for a moment before taking a running start and shooting toward the open skies. He rounded a corner and was lost from site to the gathered and dumbfounded crowd.

Walking out of the alleyway we originally entered, Serenity and I walked up to Twilight, who hadn’t moved from the television window.

“Happy?”

“Yes… yes I am.”

“Good,” I looked at the screen while the news woman talked, “Because I’m not doing it again.”