Cats and Monsters

Later on their new journey. Boom! Boom! Boom! The car's tires skipped up rocks as tiny arrows glued into the trunk. "Whooooaaa, where the hell are those arrows coming from, and when will my son wake up?" said Mr. Z.

"I don't know. I told Pai not to put that ring on, but it all happened so fast. He's fighting his own battle right now, so we have to survive so he could have a chance too," replied Sola.

"Dad, I gotta use it!”

"Goddammit, I still gotta teach you more about the ghost."

"Dad, WE DON'T HAVE TIME!"

"Fuck, use it, Taro!"

Dodging hell from above, the area was blinded by the intense white light as every arrow chasing the vehicle was launched by Apollo, who was hundreds of miles away at the city’s park with Kel. Apollo whirled arrows at expeditious speeds, his face tensing as he aimed. “What the hell is going on, Apollo!”

Couple hours earlier. "Holy what sounds like bullshit, but also cool," said Pai. The group coasts through a desert leading to fresh grass.

"Pai, everything in our life for a couple of days has been crazy bullshit; if this is gonna help you control your essence, then you have to get it.”

"I got a bad feeling about this," replies Pai.

"Hopefully, I remember where it's at. It’s the perfect essential tool. You are the only person who can harness it.

“Alright, how far are we from this? Ummm, what's it called again?"

"The holy ring. We're about half a day away from your lifeline. I suggest you get some sleep, because this isn't an easy task," Sola advised.

“Can't you put me to sleep like...” Pai's question was cut off when Sola knocked him out with a spell.

"How do you know about this holy ring?" Mr. Z asked curiously.

“Damn, that was quick, could you do that to him all the day,” said Taro

"Thank your father for that. He holds knowledge about the ring. The red sun essence will try fighting it off, as it’s now with Pai…It'll submit over time. That'll help him use his essence freely without losing himself in a fiery mist. I'm afraid it may happen sooner or later on our journey.”

“I love how everyone knows about this shit other than me,” teased Taro.

“Don't worry, you boys are tough and smart," replied Mr. Z.

"Oh, I know. I can see it in them both,” reassured the princess.

"Me, I'm not even doing anything, kinda just a bystander," said Taro.

"That's not true. You're probably handling this the best out of us all; you being calm and collective is a great power, Taro.”

"Well, thanks. So—" Sola’s snores cut him off.

"Damn, and she's asleep already.”

Mr. Z burst into laughter. "Yeah yeah, laugh it up, Dad."

"Oh, I will, but also what you said earlier about being a bystander. I felt that way before, but it stopped after I met your mother," said Mr. Z.

“Oh, we know you say it so much,” added Taro.

“She changed me for the better. I got something for you, Taro, something I wielded once in the Disappearing War, even before that," said Mr. Z.

"From the Disappearing War?"

"We'll start your training when they venture for the holy ring,” he changed the topic suddenly.

"You trust Sola, don't you, Dad?"

"Well, that power of her's saved me many times in the past.”

"Dad, you don't mean…”

"Get some sleep, we’ve got a long day ahead of us."

"But," Taro tried to protest.

"Come on," Taro read the look on his father's face and sighed.

“Alright, pops.”

Outside, green raindrops cut down dark rock sickles. "Oh, so let's see how this plays out, send one of the smallest bombast. We need to remind them who’s controlling things here. Will they ever notice the monster slowly creeping on them?"

"AHHHHHHHH, help me, please," one girl cried as a building fell on her. People scattered across the street as it cracked open, swallowing them into darkness. Hellfire lasers rained upon the city.

“MOM! DAD!" a young man cried out, only to have his throat sliced like butter. Someone in bloody armor stood before a child. "AHHHHHH!” The young man swung with all his might, but she easily ducked below.

Combining both hands together; a tiny beam of golden essence spawned between, creating a star. She ripped it inside his armor, sending him flying in two different directions, blood spraying everywhere.

Heavy winds erupted above, and a vast fiery rock fell towards her. "GRRRRRRRR!" Moments later, it hit the ground, leveling the whole city and destroying everything.

"Huff puff.” gasp Sola woke up from her nightmare, wiping salty sweat off her face. "I felt this energy before; it can't be the same from so long ago. Now it's here again? Is it heading straight for us? Shit, if he could control this holy ring, we could have a shot at killing it, but barely, probably making it out." She closed her eyes, trying to sleep, but Mr. Z saw the whole thing through the rearview mirror.

CHERRY. VOL 

Blue moonlight crept past purple curtains, smacking Kel’s feet. She lay in bed, her face buried in the pillow. "AHHH, damn that Apollo is trying to act cool."

Earlier that day, Kel had met Apollo at Blossom High's front gate. Apollo tilted his head to the left, signaling Kel to follow him. "Why the hell isn't he saying anything?" she wondered.

Apollo tilted his head to the left, signaling Kel to follow him. "Why isn't he saying anything?" she wondered. Apollo turned around squinting, his white dreads whip back in the air. Kel ran behind him. "Hey, why the hell are you running!" Running behind him, Kel followed as he turned into a park, but to her surprise, there was no one there.

VOOM! A blueberry-colored arrow stabbed into the ground. Kel looked up to see Apollo raining arrows above her. She tried to run to the left, but the arrows blocked her path.

Taking cover behind two trees, they were quickly cut into pieces by the arrows. Apollo fired five more arrows at her, which later formed into one giant arrow. "No, I can't let the past play back forever," Kel thought to herself.

Kel remembers her earlier endeavor, Pai and Taro were taking down their enemies one by one. The last scum took Kel hostage, but when Pai grabbed his face, Kel's true essence became the main force that launched the scum away.

A thin quick barrier of wind caused the chaos. With the arrow dawning upon her, Kel swipes her left arm. Armor of winds hovers before her. Pushing the arrows through trees. Apollo hovers off his arrow, landing before Kel.

"I knew you had some strange essence in you. There’s no way I was gonna let that stay hidden forever," said Apollo.

"Wow, that was crazy. Let's go at it some more.”

"Screw that! I’m going to sleep. Do it yourself,” said Apollo flying off. Continuing throwing punches and kicks combining her newfound power. “Jerk.”

Kel’s damp hair dries on her pillow with her stomach on the covers. AHHH, damn, that Apollo’s trying to act cool, but his brother has been on my mind. I can't imagine the feeling of losing a sibling.

Kel rolls over on her back, seeing Apollo hovering before her window on the second floor. Kel floats herself out of bed. "Wow, look at you already learning tricks," praised Apollo.

"Yeah, all by myself. You jerk.” Kel opens the window.

"Well, a little help made you finally realize you have some strength. I noticed when I shot out his tires. He was gonna run over a cat, so I had to change its course. Good thing you had it in you.”

Kel rolls her shoulders, pushing her left arm back. Apollo notices by the last second. Shooting a razor-sharp wind from her arm. Apollo barely dodges the shot.

"Whoa, I like this side of you. I never signed up to be a hero. People have the power to defend themselves. There's only one thing I want. Do I have to repeat myself for you to understand?"

Apollo launches off following the stars. Yes, you do, Apollo. I know you want to tell me more. Frigid winds skate throughout Kel’s room, calming her dreams.

New essence propelled Kel closer to passing clouds. "WOOOOOAHHHH!" Kel flew fluently, flipping along the winds. "It's only been like a day, and I'm already getting used to my wind control. This was made for me," Kel laughed.

"Hey!” Apollo said, flying on his arrow.

"What the hell are you doing here, asshole?”

"Are you still mad at me? How can I redeem myself?”

“Well…I got something perfect for you," Kel smirked.

Moments later, at the park, Apollo mumbled, "You wanna go on a date with me, Blake."

"Wait, what? Really? Sure, I guess. What’s the plan?” Blake sneezed, rubbing her nose. Despite the chill in the air, her purple eyes remained unfazed. Her long, magical, blonde hazel hair ignited in the breeze, and her bracelets bounced off her white, pearly skin.

“You guess?”

“Yeah, you’re asking me out? What’s the plan?”

"You plan it out. I'll pick you up at seven o'clock, alright?”

“I’ve never heard of a person getting asked out to make plans.”

Kel smacks her forehead behind bushes. Apollo, you’re one stuck-up guy. “Come on, don’t give me that look. You’re the one who wanted this.”

Behind the bushes, Kel smacked her forehead. "Apollo, you're one stuck-up guy. Come on, don't give me that look. You're the one who wanted this."

“I gotta love the effort, I wanted to see your face. You're just dull.”

"Screw you, why the hell am I even going on a date, do you know that girl?"

"Somewhat, she comes around the school dropping off some papers for the most part. This'll help teach you how to treat a lady…Also…” Kel smacked Apollo's back.

"MEOW!”

"If you wanted to save the cat so badly, how about you take him?”

"How did you even find this cat?”

“I swept the area around the school and found it under a dumpster alone, so it's your responsibility now," says Kel.

Kel’s essence and winds guide his new friend over. "Well, I like this one more than the date. Thanks for the cat.”

Blake sneezes walking under cherry red rainbow city lights.

"I forgive you just next time. How about you use your powers to save everyone in danger? You have the power to do that.”

"Yeah, I know. Still, I'll never live up to his legacy," pleads Apollo.

"Yes, you can. I bet he’ll say the same thing as well.”

"Sure, Kel; let's train later tonight. Let's go, little buddy.”

Apollo spawns an arrow from blood cutting with a razor blade; the arrow floats above the grass.

Apollo leaves pushing into the falling day. Jetting off, leaves follow him. "AAAKKK," the cat cries.

"I think I screwed that poor cat’s life up," cries Kel.