September, 2011

  It was 12:45 iernoon as Collin, Grace, and Lu browsed the music shop. He was looking at some CD's with Grace while Lu checked out the eleics. Right now, Collin had on acid-wash denim shorts, a flraphic-t with Jack Of All Trades written across the middle, a snapback, bck verse sneakers, and a sportswatch. They decided to skip school.

  " you guess the song?" Grace held the headphoo his ear.

  "Easy," Collin smiled. "Creep by TLC."

  "Dang!" his friend hollered. "Yht."

  He rummaged through the pylist ahe headphoo Grace's ear. "My turn, guess."

  "This song sps," Grace did the crypt-walk. "If I Ruled The World by Nas."

  30 mier, they left the music shop as Collin thought about the big game tonight. Everything was going smooth and he umped. Normally, living a double life be a drag and in tv shows the protagonist has to lie all the time. But for Collin this wasn't a problem because his family knows. The only thio do was to tell his best friends, how would they react? Just then he saw the words on a nearby stlow and ge.

  "Finally, I got a new DJ troller!" Lu bragged as he stopped near his car. "Everyo school is gonna go crazy ohey hear my remixes."

  "Weirdly cool," Collin remarked. "I mean it's cool the principal agreed to let you DJ the dance."

  "But I don't know about the niame," Grace opehe car door. His friend use to have a car too before she crashed it. Now, shes w part-time selling froyo at the boardwalk. "DJ Luo?"

  10 mier, Collin and his friends arrived at the mall. He noticed a sick mural on the wall and saw Grace smirk. 3 years ago they found out their friend ur tagger named: Sprog. When they got ihey made a B-line for the food court. Several mier, Collin ate chi fingers and tater tots with a rge lemonade. In the middle of the table was a small basket of deep-fried Oreos.

  "All the movies suck this month," Grapined and bit her cheeseburger. "What do you guys want to do?"

  He answered. "We could check out the batting cages, zer tag, Six Fgs, and Aberbie."

  "I vote for Six Fgs!" Lu replied and grabbed a deep-fried Oreo.

  Grace sipped her drink. "Dude, that's going to e an arm and a leg."

  "What about zer tag?" Collin suggested.

  Suddenly, a pop-up s appeared. [ Objective: Beat your friends in a race to earn 5 training points ]

  "Actually," he spoke and stood up. Up ahead someone was doing the robot as a small crowd watched. "What about a race? First to reach that silver street dancer wins."

  "Deal! If I win you have to buy me something from Aberbie," Grace poi Collin.

  Lu grunted and stuffed another Oreo in his mouth.

  A few seds ter they all stood side by side as Collin ted down. "3, 2, 1, Go!"

  They ran through the mall. For Collin it felt different like his legs were made of springs. His body rippled with strength and speed as his cellph. The race didn't take long as Collin stood with a panting Grace, he wasn't tired at all. Should he tell them now? Collin didn't know much about Helena's world.

  Where should he begin? The quests? Collin's st quest was a few days ago when he had to look up bat videos on WhoTube and practice sword teiques. His childhood? They already know about his bad memory, but Grad Lu don't know Helena used magi him.

  Every time Collin dreams he remembers more and more. His heart thumped in his chest as old warnings flooded his mind. Fantasy creatures are real and dangerous, be careful. Lu stumbled over to them pletely out of breath and Collin ughed. He took his cellphota his pocket and g it.

  Grace was the first to speak. "Okay, zer tag?"

  "Sorry...I gotta see my family," Collin lied.

  There was a ding. [ Reward: 5 training points ]

  31 mier, Collin arrived at Helena's mansion in ecticut. He walked up the driveway and rang the doorbell. A few seds ter the door opened and Helena was wearing a bck lolita dress with white roses, gsses, fish arm stogs, pink nail polish, crest moon earrings, stogs with bck pumps, a choker, and her e ring.

  "You look really nice," Collin remarked and handed her an Olympic jersey. He knew why he was here and it reminded him of a pep rally. Despite beied Collin was also cautious, the citizens of Xenovia wao see their Maveribsp;

  Helena took the jersey and smiled. "Thank you. Are you nervous?"

  "A little," he admitted and closed the door. "Um, how long will this meet and greet take? I have a football game tonight."

  "Just an hour," his friend expined. " I also go to the game?"

  Collin shrugged. "Sure."

  That's when a fluffy bunny with purple eyes hopped into the room. Around it's neck was a fancy bandana as it stomped it's foot and sat up on its backlegs.

  "Is that Otto?" he asked and crouched. "I thought he was dead?'

  "About that," Helena fiddled with her ring. "Otto never died, he's actually a Miwa. A mythical creature that shapeshift into 3 different animals. His full name is Marquess Otto."

  Otto hopped into Collin's arms. The bunny was adorable and for a mome his guard down, whenever he's with Helena he doesn't have to overthink. But he did have one .

  "Hey, you not use your powers on me?" Collin's voice was serious.

  "Seems like you've been studying," Helena gred at the ground before looking at him. "I vow by my family hat I'll never use my powers on you again, unless you give me permission."

  He nodded and put Otto down. "Thank you."

  After that versation was over they went upstairs and stopped infront of a grandfather clock. When Helena turhe k the hands spun and the Roman winkled as a green vortex was summoned.

  "Woah," Collin eechless as Helena opehe grandfather clobsp;

  When they ehe portal they stood in a fancy hallway with marble pilrs, a red and gold carpet, vases, paintings, a tapestry with a family crest, guards, maids, and behind them was a giaal symbol made of silver and gold.

  "Yhness!" said a voice. It was a maid with green skin, dark eyes, and short red hair.

  Helena smiled and grabbed Collin's arm. "Bethany, I would like you to meet Collin Rex. He's our new Maverick."

  Collin held out a hand. "o meet you."

  "Sir Collin," Bethany bowed. "Wele to the House Of Jaeger."

  "Lady Helena," another voice spoke. It was a guard with pale skin, grey eyes, a scar on his nose, freckles, elf ears, and a brown mohawk. The guy looked upset for some reason and Collin was reminded of Travis. "Were here to escort you."

  A sed guard came forward with shaggy bck hair, brown skin, twisted horns, hazel eyes, and a bck beard. "Hello, young man. We haven't had a Maveri a long time and the Kingdom is curious."

  "Collin this is Captain Irving and the guard behind him is Sparky," Helena expined.

  "o meet you," he repeated.

  "With all due respect we've wasted enough time," Sparky sneered. "King Casper is waiting."

  It only took a few mio reach the rendezvous point as Casper stood with a bunch of guards and servants. Otto was snuggled in Helena's arms as Collin took the sword outta his iory. Both siblings had their horns, tails, and wings out.

  "About time you got here," Casper said with a sly smile. Dude was dressed like a pirate prind Collin wao smack that smug look off his face. "The citizens are waiting for my procmation."

  Suddenly, trumpets bred as the baly gates opened. People who looked important stepped onto the baly and the crowd Collin saw was massive. Thanks to football games he's gotteo cheering and booing, so this didn't phase him. The sky resembled a va mp as Helena and Casper waved.

  All of a sudden a pop-up windoeared. [ Objective: Give a short speed i several times with the citizens to earn 10 training points ]

  "Citizens of the Xenovia Kingdom the wait is over!" Helena's brother announced. "The House Of Jaeger finally has a Maverick. I know the ret years have been challenging and the tragedy of our parents was ued. But as king I will make sure this kingdom will tio flourish under my and. After all royalty is nothing without its people, reciate your loyalty and trust. My family is strong and we will always fight to keep you safe. Now, without further ado let the meet and greet ence."

  "Scuse me!" Collin shouted and raised his sword. " I say a few words?"

  Later that night, Collin stood with his teammates on the football field as they faced ce T. Bhschool. Nearby was the cheerleaders and the mascot. The crowd was loud as people wore facepaint and held signs. His team got into formation as he threw the football, the py they chose was wildcat as Collin ran around.

  One of his teammates caught the ball and rinting towards the end zone. Before Collin's teammate could score he was tackled. When they heard the whistle he g the scoreboard, his team was leading by 5 points.

  Hero jogged over and whispered to him. "They ged formations, I think it's a 4-4 defense."

  "Yeah...they don't want us sg again," Collin spat out his mouth guard. "Okay, tell them were doing a Flexbone."

  Everybody stood in formation as the whistle blew. He quickly passed the ball to Wyatt and sprinted, out the er of his eye he saw someone rush at him. Thanks to his training he easily juked the guy as Wyatt threw the football towards him. Collin jumped in the air and nded in the end zone.

  "Touchdown!" the announcer yelled. "Did you see that? Number 0 has some wings on him."

  After a quick timeout the other team switched formations and Collin realized what they were gonna do. "6-2 defense, 6-2 defense!"

  When the whistle blew the other team faked them out and did a Pistol. He was blocked for a moment as Wyatt tried to run the guy down, it was a fast recovery as Collin sprinted up the field. Before the other pyer could reach the end zohe guy fumbled as Hero dove for the ball.

  2 hours ter, Collin and his friends decided to celebrate at Dion's which is a popur diner in town. The inside of the building was retro like an Austin Powers movie. Collin sat at a table with a bunch of people and his boyfriend, while the rest sat at aable.

  "You were amazing out there," Rafhael kissed his cheek. "It's like you were superhuman."

  Collin ughed. "You have no idea."

  Rafhael slung an arm over his shoulder. "Anyway, your friend is pretty cool."

  He looked over and saw Helena surrounded by people from his saybe this had something to do with her powers? It was only for a sed, but Collin saw his friend cross her arms and gre.

  "Yeah," he agreed and g his menu.

  "Helena, what's your favorite TV show?" someone asked.

  "Pretty Little Liars," Helena answered.

  Another person said. "Do you have a boyfriend?"

  Helena tilted her head. "No"

  "Let's go on a date," Wyatt decred. "How long are you staying?"

  "Not long," she scoffed.

  Someone else asked. "You got social media?"

  "Do you think I have a ce?" Hero suddenly spoke.

  "What?" Collin stuttered.

  Hero grinned. "With Helena, do I have a shot?"

  "Maybe," Rafhael ughed. "You crush on mean girls a lot."

  Just then someone shouted as Wyatt colpsed to the floor.