Phoenix Chronicle - Season 4

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*The leatherbound book is slowly filling with writing. Entries are in a variety of languages - both ancient and modern.*

*Below are approximate translations based on the tone and context of the writing, as well as knowledge of the author's unique psychology.*

## A Chronicle's Beginning

*(Egyptian hieroglyphs)*
Day 5
I asked to go outside again today. There's not enough to do in here. Xandrin said it's still too dangerous and gave me this blank book instead. It's pretty. He said I should try writing down my thoughts and experiences and things and that it could be fun. I don't know if it's fun, but at least it's something to do...
Should it have a name? Books have names. What about 'Phoenix Chronicle'? That sounds like a really cool book that people would want to read. Yes, I'll name it that.
*(Sumerian)*
Day 6
Still not much to do. Made a new friend though! Well, it kinda just wandered in. He is a very cute antlered bunny. If memory serves, they are called 'jackalopes'. I have named him Jean-Claude.
They were going to take Jean-Claude away, but I said I wanted him and they always let me have what I want. I understand how they lost track of him. He ends up in the strangest places and I don't know how he gets there. I wonder where he came from before...
*(Canaanite)*
Day 8
I decided not to write yesterday. They needed my help again. It doesn't hurt all that badly, but it makes me so tired...
I'm not sure what they need my blood and feathers for. They say it's important though, which makes sense. Xandrin said I'm the only phoenix, which means I'm really rare and special. So that means everything from me must be useful and helpful somehow.
It's nice to be wanted. I like helping. They also let me have whatever I want when I help. Except going outside...
That one monster they fought was really scary, but- it can't be only monsters outside, can it? Aren't there other people besides mages somewhere?
*(Akkadian)*
Day 9
I've been thinking. About thoughts. Xandrin said to write thoughts and experiences. I don't experience much here. I read a lot. I've tried most forms of art that I can remember. I've played any games that one can do alone. And I help the mages every few days. They'll ask me for help again tomorrow.
The thoughts are what confuse me though. I know a great many things! But where did I learn them? When? I don't remember learning them all in the time since the ceremony.
I have memories. Memories of events I couldn't have been at and people I couldn't have seen. Only up to a certain point though. I know what year they end and what year it is now. I know I did not exist before this year. So where does it all come from?
Is it because I'm a phoenix? Maybe we're just born with knowledge and memories from predecessors. I asked for books and history about phoenix, but there's almost nothing. People don't think they're real. But if they weren't real, why do I have knowledge and memories that aren't mine?
And I'm here now. So we had to be real at some point. There's no mention of them having a human-looking form like me though... Maybe they were hiding. Humans aren't monsters, but they can be just as scary sometimes. I remember.
I've been trying to learn about things that are now though. Someday I'll get to go outside and if there are people, I don't want them to think I'm dumb.
I'm not dumb. I'm rare and special. I'll just have to show them! Then they'll like me and accept me and I can belong too.

*The entries continue, skipping every few days. There is not much of special interest until...*

## How Two Came Together (CC)

*(Hittite)*
Day 23
I did it! I'm outside! And I met a person (supposedly). His name is Cardinal. He just wandered into my room at the house. Kinda like Jean-Claude, now that I think about it...
At first I thought maybe he was a new mage, but he's not dressed anything like them. I was going to ask him more questions but then *another* new person came in through the wall! It was all very exciting. They seemed much more mage-like, but Cardinal said we should try to get away. I think he was maybe afraid? And I love to help, plus I really wanted to make a good impression. This was the most fun I'd had since existing!
The mage was focused on stopping movement or something, so Cardinal said to make lots and lots of movement. Fire moves a lot. So I just made a bunch of that!
I led them both down to my fire playroom (Xandrin showed it to me so I wouldn't keep using my fire in the main house). Then I made a biiiig firestorm. The mage did not seem to like it. Then Cardinal punched them in the face! I wasn't expecting that, but it was very good. Then we ran away out of the house.
I guess the mage couldn't find us after that. We ran off to a hill and I could see the house burning. I felt- kind of bad... I didn't like being stuck there, but it was still *mine*. All of my stuff was in there too...
But I was able to grab Jean-Claude at least. And my Chronicle. They're probably the things that were the most mine in there anyway.
Cardinal wouldn't take off his mask for me! He said it's not because he's a monster, but I'm not sure why he expects me to believe that on word alone. We just met after all.
I followed him to what I assume is his home. But he shut me outside. And all the curtains were shut.
There are horses though! So I'm hanging out in the stables with them instead. I'll bother him more tomorrow. So there.

## Artifact Thievery 101 (CC)

*(Mycenean Greek)*
Day 24
Well I still haven't seen his face. Also today started out very not exciting. I did get a mysterious message to meet with some woman named Madge about a place to stay? I wonder if she knows Xandrin or the mages... Tomorrow would usually be a day I help them.
Anyway, Cardinal just had all these papers and investigation stuff that he *said* was important. Something about some Bishop people taking things they weren't supposed to or- I didn't really get it.
We ended up back in the area where my house was. Nothing and no one around though really. But then things got exciting!
Someone shot a dart at us! Cardinal must be really fast or something. He pushed me back just in time. I tried to look at it but then there was *another* dart.
Cardinal said we should try to find cover and get away. So I decided to fly up and see if I could find where all the shooty people were! And I could. I saw them all. There were kind of a lot, but I figured we'd be fine if we started going through the buildings (these kind are very twisty).
I flew back down to tell Cardinal, but he must have thought it was important to take out some guys on the roof before we could get to the houses. I guess he probably knows more about this kind of thing than I do. Probably.
I was going to go help him but then it seemed a bunch of these mystery men wanted to play with me too! I maybe could have just flown away, but... What fun is that?
So I made them try to find a way through my fire instead. It was very amusing to watch.
That's when new people showed up! Not mystery men. Though still kind of a mystery I guess. First I only saw the one boy leap up onto the building! Whoosh! Then he helped bolster my flames with wind, followed by shooting *lightning* at the man giving orders from a distance that I'd seen earlier. KRAKOOM!
I think he missed. Or he was actually aiming for the tower thing, which fell down as the leader grappled to a different roof.
But then the leader shot my new weather magic ally! I didn't like that, so I ditched my playmates and went to go get that guy instead. Someone shot my wing on the way and it really stung... But I got him! Picked that leader guy right up in my talons and dropped him onto his pals.
I landed next to the weather mage on the roof and he seemed surprised when I talked. I'm not sure if it was the fire part or the bird part. We went over to join Cardinal and the other mystery ally and all of us went to their van to make our escape! Oh, and then rain put out my fires...
Jean-Claude turned up in the van too (like he does). Then everyone introduced themselves. The girl was called The Jackal, and is apparently really good at fighting. The boy is The Weatherman. Not a mage though. He just makes weather like I just make fire! He asked if I was magic because my voice looked odd?
We also decided I needed a cool and important codename like them!
I had the strangest feeling that I knew both of them from somewhere, but that wouldn't really make sense...
They took us back to their base (they have a base!). We saw a strange flailing creature called George (not a monster). And we met a metal person who has multiple of themselves but is also the base itself? (Also not a monster)
They suggested Phoenix as my codename. Which is kind of obvious. But not as plain as The Weatherman's Firebird suggestion. And at least people think phoenix are cool!
Cardinal and I were invited to join and maybe do things with them. Make friends. Be 'heroes'?
We said yes of course. Apparently they have lots of fun and excitement! And as a phoenix I'm sure I can be a great hero. Because phoenix can do all sorts of things that normal people can't do. So of course I'll be good at it.
Right...?

## Year of the Rat

*(Archaic Chinese)*
Day 25
We went back to 'The Base' again today! (It sounds so official)
There wasn't all that much to do this time. We went on the tour last time. Of course we didn't get there until a bit later in the day because Cardinal was 'busy' doing his papers or research or whatever it is he's doing all the time... No fun.
Thankfully we weren't waiting around too long before The Jackal came around and asked if we wanted to go to some sort of celebration? *On top of that huge tree I saw sticking out of the water. THERE ARE PEOPLE LIVING UP THERE.* Ahhhhh how cool is that!!
Apparently it's called Zodiac City. I wonder what it's like to live up there... Maybe I should try sometime!
So of *course* we agreed to go to a celebration. It sounds so very fun! Waiting in line for the gondola thing wasn't very fun since I could have flown up myself way faster... But the ride once we got on was kind of cool. And it was packed full of people!
I'd seen a few in passing, but I'd never seen *this* many of the animal people. There was one extra large water buffalo man. He said he didn't bite. I told him I didn't bite either! He seemed very nice.
As we walked into this strange city, there were so many beautiful decorations! And the food everywhere smelled *amazing*. I kind of wish we'd gotten to try more of it. But- you could just *feel* the life everywhere. The excitement and joy and celebration! It's what I feel like life should always be like...
So first we made our way to this area filled with games and activities. Jackal said she wanted to get beaten at Mahjong by old ladies (planning to lose seems like an odd approach). I've only ever played Mahjong solitaire, so I was curious to try the game as intended!
We never got around to that though. Instead we met a new Team person! Her name was Boon. It seems she had also just lost at Mahjong. She had a friend with her named Dorothy who was a pangolin person. I think Dorothy thought I was really cool since I was a phoenix, so she's automatically good in my book!
The group decided to do archery next. Everyone did pretty well! Boon sent her arrow flying out of the area and got in trouble a little. Cardinal helped Dorothy since her claws made it hard to hold and aim the bow.
I'm not sure why, but the whole thing felt extremely natural to me- like I've always known how to shoot a bow. I got a bullseye on the dragon target at the very back!
When we finished, Cardinal said he had to leave... That he'd gotten new info that had to be checked out right away or something. Couldn't possibly wait. Heavens forbid he actually spend time having fun with us!
... He didn't even ask me to go with...
So he left and we headed to go try some of the tasty food! We ran into another friend of Jackal's now. Some boy named Lucas. He was fine I guess. The food and tea tasted as good as it smelled. Honestly I probably could have spent half the night just going around sampling all of it.
While we were eating, they were talking about what wishes they wanted to put on the wishing tree. I wanted to think of one too, but... I couldn't think of anything. What do I want? What *should* I want? Wishes are important. You don't just waste them...
We were headed to the wishing tree after food, but then some rat person on a motorcycle zoomed in out of nowhere and hit Boon! She seemed to be mostly ok somehow, but it knocked her out for a bit. I think some of us were going to chase after but then this hog man came running up (apparently he did not like to be called a pig man). Well- half running. He was having some trouble and seemed really out of breath.
There was a lot of shouting, and then Lucas tried to help him up but got blasted away by something, and then the hog man helped wake Boon up, and then said he had to go because he didn't want to explode? I got him some tea from the shop because he asked for it. He downed it all in one gulp and then started 'running' again.
The whole thing was really weird and fascinating but we felt like maybe we should figure out what's going on and help him out. Jackal gave us some ear communicator things. Dorothy and Lucas don't do hero stuff, so we left them and said we'd meet up later. I flew up to get a bird's eye view (hehe) and track down Wild Hog.
And *guess* who Jackal and I found with Wild Hog when we caught up. That's right. Cardinal. I've seen how long he spends tracking down his hunches and poring over his dumb info. If there had really been some new Bishop thing, there's no way he would have gotten back so fast... Which means he really just wanted to ditch us. Or just me...
Well- his loss! I don't need to hang out with him. This is apparently a big team. I'm sure there's no shortage of people who *will* want to spend time with me. I'm a phoenix. I'm cool and important...
So, Cardinal found out from Wild Hog that he was trying to catch up with Rat to hand off a red envelope that- contained the magic of the Zodiac or something? Which made some sense. He was lighting up like a beacon of magical energy, but he said he didn't understand magic. A meeting place was set up, and we were going to try and get Rat to meet with Hog there.
Boon had split off to track down Rat with the help of her *very* good hell hound, Brimstone. Apparently she argues with him sometimes, which is kinda weird since she said he doesn't talk. But I've heard of weirder. Rat kind of ran over her again, but then they found the motorcycle parked outside a house.
Boon told us where it was and we all met up again! Then we each chose a different entrance into the house to make sure Rat couldn't escape! I went in through an upstairs window and ended up in someone's bedroom. Nobody there, so I started nosing around a bit. I heard very loud talking downstairs, but I stayed to make sure nobody could escape that way!
After a bit, Boon yelled through my ear thing to 'make a good impression!' and I could hear someone coming up the stairs. Boon didn't say what *kind* of good impression, so I was a bit stumped and finally just went with putting on some glasses and picking up a smart-looking book that were in the room. A lady came into the room, then asked me to put the things down (I don't think she was impressed...) and go downstairs with her. So I did.
We all sat a bit awkwardly around their dinner table and explained the whole thing. Rat didn't want to take the Zodiac magic. She thought it was going to mess up all her plans and dreams, and it scared her. I don't really blame her for running away. Some kinds of magic can't be denied though, so I'm glad the others convinced her to go through with it and help Hog.
They were all really nice and supportive... They said they would help her find the next Zodiac when the time came, as well as anything else she needed. And I really believe they meant it. Is that part of what being a hero is? Not just the fun and exciting parts?
The exchange at the stadium went without a hitch. The New Year officially begun.
Cardinal ended up leaving again. More business I guess. Whatever...
We met back up with Lucas and Dorothy, continuing on to the wishing tree. I made up an excuse for not putting one up myself. Next time... Next time I'm sure I'll have something to wish for.
Then came the fireworks.
Oh they were the most breathtaking thing I've seen with my own eyes! I just wanted to fly up there and explode into beautiful flame with them!
I could have watched them forever. Even after we all left and people went home, I flew back up by myself. I watched them until they finally stopped in the wee hours of the morning, and then I just felt- sad... At least I think it was sad. It's a strange thing to know what feelings are supposed to be, but having to determine which one it is yourself.
I hadn't really taken up that invitation from the Mystic Madge yet, but I did tonight. I would have thought she'd be sleeping, but she seemed to be expecting me. We had tea and cookies (both were *extremely* good). The room is nice. I asked and she said I can go outside anytime I want, so it's not like with the mages.
I think I might like staying here.

## Big Enough

*(Phoenician)*
Day 46
Things have been pretty calm the last few weeks. Routine, even. I've been going to school, and doing superhero training with Big Team, and sometimes hanging out at this community center everyone goes to, and then helping around Miss Madge's house if she needs me.
But today- today we got called in for a real superhero incident. To help Sledge! Cardinal told me about her. She's the coolest. So we went to this bank to stop some people from robbing it? That's when everything got... confusing.
We went inside and there were all these warrior ghosts holding Sledge down. Big weird robot guys were shooting off flamethrowers and things and I couldn't really tell which side they were on. They had those red and blue flashing lights just like the police cars outside. I tried to see if Weatherman was going to tell me what to do or anything, but he was just staring at this one woman.
Libra charged in and started attacking the robosuits. Cypher tried to (I think?) help Sledge by uh- blasting her out of their grasp. I'm not really sure if it worked as intended, but Sledge ended up slamming into the wall really hard and all the ghost hands grabbed her again. I think she may have been a bit dazed or knocked out from it... Everything was just happening so fast!
Freeing Sledge seemed important right? She was an experienced hero, and also someone in trouble. And nobody was telling me anything else to do. So I took my phoenix form and went over to try and pull her free from their grasp! I was really surprised at how easily they let go- until I figured out why.
The ghosts decided they wanted me instead. They lunged out of the wall and tackled me and pinned me to the ground. It was- terrifying. No matter how much I struggled, I couldn't break free. And my fire didn't seem to be hurting them at all. Then they- they started trying to take my feathers.
I was crying out for help, but nobody was helping me! Why? Does being a superhero mean you're not supposed to need saving...? Weatherman put a big energy shield around that woman from before. Libra kept attacking the robomen. So I just closed my eyes and- I started crying. It was humiliating... But I couldn't help it. I was so scared, and it really hurt. I've never had anyone just try to yank my feathers out like that.
It seemed like forever but eventually I felt some of the ghosts get removed, and it sounded like there was electricity nearby? I opened my eyes in time to see lightning shaped like a person punch off more of the ghosts. The rest retreated, having successfully stolen a few of my feathers...
So the ghost robbers were gone and it looked like the roboarmors were trying to leave as well, since Libra had broken some of them. But I guess they wanted to fly through the glass ceiling instead of use the doors? Which- seemed really dangerous for everyone under the glass. Cypher was trying to hold them back from flying but it didn't look like she could hold on forever. So I decided I'd just make them a safer exit if they were so determined.
I flew up to the glass, expanding and heating my flame enough to melt a large perfect circle that they could easily leave through. I was still so embarrassed that I decided to just stay on the roof... and maybe still a little scared. Realized later I missed out on actually getting to *meet* Sledge though, which also made me a little sad. She probably thought I was more chicken than phoenix anyway.
Weatherman came up after a bit to see if I was alright. I tried to tell him that of course I was fine and it was no big deal for someone as powerful as me. I don't think he believed me. Which makes sense, because I was lying. He said some nice things, but I didn't feel much better.
I think he was the one who saved me though. Did I thank him for saving me? I should have thanked him...
The day's events didn't even stop there!
Later we were all hanging out at the community center. Apparently Sledge helps run it right now. There was this news broadcast thing we were all watching that was talking about the bank trouble. What they said didn't really make sense though? It didn't sound like what happened at all. Also I didn't like the guy saying it. They revealed some new version of those roboarmors (apparently they're called 'Rubicons') that is supposed to be magical I guess. It doesn't sound like a good idea to me. Magic is dangerous if not used properly.
I wasn't paying super close attention to the TV beyond that stuff though. I was more interested in the strange-looking plant animal boy(?) that was sitting on the other section of the couch. I asked Ernest if it was *finally* a monster. He said it's rude to ask if someone is a monster... but then how do you know when someone is! He said I should go say hello though. So I did.
The boy's name is Overgrowth! Well, actually it's Gray or something... But Overgrowth is such a cool name! I asked what he is and he said he didn't really know. I guess it's very new and somebody made him different than he was before. I didn't really notice at the time, but thinking back he seemed kind of sad... I think he looks so cool though! And he can do plant things. And he let me ruffle his leaf-hair.
We got a message to check in on that new magical Rubicon Black. I guess we have special access to those armor things. Weird, since I didn't think they were ours. Or that the people who have them even like us.
So we tapped into some sort of live viewing, seeing what the armor was seeing. It appeared to be in like- a park? There were some kids our age there, wearing shirts that said things I didn't really understand. It looked like they were trying to do something with magic, but even I could tell it looked like really basic harmless stuff. Some artificial voice read out the words that came up on the screen next. 'Variable Threat Assessment' or something. Then it said 'Summoning Ally', and the dumb armor summoned some sort of massive shadow boar warrior to attack the kids!
Yeah, we got to that park as fast as we could.
When we arrived, one of the kids looked hurt and was pinned under a trash can. The boarrior was holding another one and looked about to hit him with a sword?! I quickly morphed forms and flew over to distract the monster (this one *had* to be a monster, right??). I got it to focus on me for a bit, though it didn't drop the kid.
Overgrowth tangled up its legs in a bunch of brambles and Cypher was able to knock it off balance so that it fell. Then Weatherman zapped the big sword, making the boarrior drop it. I don't remember how exactly, but the boy in his hands did end up free and took off.
While the others seemed to have the big threat under control (that Rubicon Black was still just sitting there watching and talking to itself about threat assessments), I flew over to the hurt girl and shifted back to human form. It wasn't hard to move the trash can, but she wouldn't be able to get away by herself. So- I tried to heal her. Since a phoenix should be able to do that right? And it really worked!! She hopped up and ran off. She also said 'superheroes still suck', which was kind of mean after I just helped her...
That's when stuff got weird... er. The boarrior did a shockwave thing with the lightning still on its sword. The Rubicon spewed some sort of goopy foam all over us (I did not like it). Libra punched Weatherman for some reason! I would have gone over to give them a piece of my mind, but we had other things to deal with still.
Overgrowth threw a little thing I couldn't quite see and sprouted a *tree* that punched the boarrior right off its feet! After that it was kind of cowering and trying to get away.
The Rubi Black started talking about summoning another ally, which seemed like a bad thing. Cypher summoned a lightning spear to interrupt it (is she a mage? I think she's a mage).
Then I heard the armor say something about tapping into phoenix energy and- that was not okay. I decided to melt through the armor so I could tell the person inside to stop, face to face, and take my energy away from them. I got through but- there was just a girl inside. And she didn't seem very awake? The armor didn't like me melting it though, and it shot me with some sort of lasers from its hands. It really hurt...
Then it tried to send out nets to catch all of us, but Weatherman blasted them away with some wind and Overgrowth added plant debris to better catch the nets.
Libra apparently snapped out of whatever their issue was and jumped on the robot to drain it. The Rubi Black was kind of freaking out at this point and just deploying apparently everything it had. Libra took some hits and got knocked out, but the armor finally powered down. It said something about a banshee, which is odd. I wonder if there are banshees around Halcyon too.
I pulled the girl free from inside it, but she still didn't really respond or wake up. Looking around within, I saw some of my feathers and took them back. How did that thing get my feathers? Aside from the thieves at the bank, only Xandrin should have them...
Libra woke up pretty quick thankfully, and we decided to take the armor girl back to the community center before any news or police could show up. I guess the girl was someone named Samantha that people knew. She said she remembered getting abducted but nothing after that. And was strangely insistent that the police weren't involved, even though we hadn't asked?
Overgrowth asked if I was okay. Which was nice, since it really did hurt to get shot by lasers. But I told him someone as powerful as me would totally be fine! He said even though I'm a phoenix I should still take care of myself, since there's only one me. Which of course I know there's only one me and that I'm special, but- it was nice that he really seemed to care.
I apologized for if I seemed rude at first but Gray said he liked that I was straightforward instead of just not saying anything. Then we talked about how cool we both are. He said he wishes he could fly, so I offered to give him a ride sometime if he wanted. Also I said maybe he'd grow wings someday! I mean, he changed once already right?

## Earth's Mightiest

*(Aramaic)*
Day 60
I think today was a little confusing. I'm not really sure if we did well or not?
First we were all hanging out at the base. The Jackal offered to spar with me in the Danger Room so *of course* I said yes. A new teammate I met named Whiz was trying to do some sort of techie tests or something on it while we did. I met another new one, Verve (she makes the cupcakes!), but she was just watching for the moment. Another person who won't show me their face though...
GAIA interrupted us. A shame, since I thought I was doing pretty well! But there was apparently a broadcast earlier that they thought we'd want to see. It was that weird talk show guy but then there was this tall hooded mysterious person who was all like 'Heroes, show me what you've got' and had some weird ship amalgamation thing floating over one of the parks.
Then GAIA told us there were some AEGIS agents waiting at the base door, so we went to meet them. One of the agents was really grumpy but the other seemed nice. Whiz and Jackal already knew them. They wanted us to check out the weird ship thing, since Sledge and Savior and another Jackal(?) had already tried to but hadn't reported back.
Then some MORE agents showed up. From SPEAR apparently? I guess it's like a Space AEGIS. Salesa was the leader of this group. He knew the grumpy agent, Carson. I don't thiiink they liked each other? Anyway, since this giant ship was from space somewhere, they took over uh- jurisdiction? Yes, that. But they still wanted our help too! So we hopped in their super shiny smaller ship and flew toward the mystery!
They let Verve pilot for a bit, but seemed kinda uncomfortable with it. She was super thrilled though! Maybe I should try piloting sometime. When we got close though, this green light started somehow- pulling the ship in? Whiz attempted to do something to our ship so we could pull away and it almost seemed like it was gonna work but then an engine kinda... exploded? Oops.
So in we went! Which I thought was the idea anyway but I guess they wanted to choose their own landing spot.
When the ship stopped moving and we got out, that tall hooded mystery person was waiting for us. They declared themselves 'The Overlooker' and welcomed us as competitors in Clashopolis! Well, us being the team. They took the SPEAR agents to the stands so they could watch.
The Overlooker said Clashopolis is this major game show that gets broadcast all over space! And this was a special broadcast because they'd never featured competitors from Earth before. That sounded really cool. I love competing! Everyone agreed to give it a try (especially since maybe that's where the other heroes ended up), and we were taken to some sort of prep room.
The other heroes weren't there, but we did get some advice on our looks and costumes to see if we were ready to be on TV. They said the audience was sure to love me! They told Jackal she was kinda too plain, but I've always thought she had this sleek cool look... She told them her moves are the showy bit, which makes sense! They decided to give Whiz an entirely new costume. It was... interesting. They let Verve stay how she was too.
I asked about Sledge and Verve convinced them to let her go visit. I kinda wanted to go too, since I didn't really get to meet her last time... But even allowing one of us seemed to bend the rules a bit.
It was a while before she got back. Verve saw Savior in another dressing room and he was totally fine. Sledge didn't want to do the competition though I guess. Or that was the impression Verve gave. Turns out Verve didn't really want to do it either since we hadn't been told the rules and she was worried we'd have to fight to the death or something. Which, to be fair, has been somewhat common viewing entertainment since ancient times. We didn't have much time to decide some other approach though, because the door opened and we were ushered out.
There were four platforms with our names on them, so I immediately hopped on mine. Once we were all set, the platforms began to rise! Eventually we rose into this massive stadium and honestly it was exhilarating. Even more so when they introduced us - so much cheering! I gave a little flaming flair and pose when I was announced, since I think that's the sort of thing people do for this.
On the other side there were four more people (but no Sledge or other Jackal). There was Savior, who looked very cool honestly; Wyle, who I think was an alien that came with Clashopolis; Mor, a pretty ice alien who probably did too; and Ellen, a blonde girl with a glowing right eye.
The entire arena started shifting and changing and it was really super cool as The Overlooker announced that the goal of the first challenge was to get the orb that had appeared at the top of a rising tower. Easy! Or well, I thought it would be. Once it started, I immediately flew for it in avian form. Before I could get it in my talons, I got hit by this huge blast of light. It really stung! I think it came from that angry blonde girl's eye.
I was able to snag the orb in one of my talons anyway. That's when the announcement came that you could also get points for knocking out other competitors. Which I kinda didn't want to do... It seemed Savior didn't want to either, because he flew up next to me and asked if we should team up to subdue people and then decide on the orb after. (He got my codename wrong...) That's also when I found out that it was a free for all and not teams. Not cool. I didn't really know if I should trust him so I didn't agree at first. I felt kinda bad when Ellen hit him with another blast that was probably meant for me though...
Not long after, I felt something trying to pull the orb away from me. The cold told me it was that Mor person. That's when I saw Verve get hit by Ellen's eyebeam. Which was not okay! Verve handled it really well though and used her own beam(?) to knock Mor away from me so that I could swoop in and conk Ellen with the orb! Ha! She didn't like that.
Then she and Verve started yelling at each other, though it was a bit confusing. Something about being the real one? Verve knocked her off the platform but then we both got kinda distracted by this screaming on the other side of the arena. We ditched worrying about Ellen to go check on Jackal and Whiz. I still had the orb after all.
When we got there, Wyle was on the ground unconscious it looked like. Jackal and Whiz seemed okay but Jackal was like- really sad and shaken about something. Verve rushed over to comfort her. I wanted to comfort Jackal too, but... What do you do or say for that? I thought about giving her the orb so that she'd win, but- is that comforting? Would it make her happy?
That's when things got weird. Well, weirder? The Overlooker was shouting at us to keep competing but we could also see a whole bunch of those small SPEAR ships surrounding Clashopolis. I'm not sure what they were planning to do, but Selasa told us over the comms that he called them in. Savior showed up with angry squirming Ellen under one arm and a knocked out Mor under the other. It seemed like the contest was pretty much over. The Overlooker told us to just leave and that trying to do an Earth special was a terrible idea after all.
That green pulling light grabbed all the SPEAR ships and I think The Overlooker was mad at them. I'm not sure what they were going to do, but Savior said he was gonna go help the ships back away to safety. Since it seemed all the fun was done, I asked if he wanted help. He said sure! I asked Jackal to keep the orb safe for me. After all, I won it fair and square and it's very shiny and cool... Then Savior and I flew outside to help the SPEAR ships!
The news showed me on TV later helping Savior. They just called me a fire bird though... Phoenix doesn't seem that hard. But maybe I should have just gone with Ernest's name in the first place. They also seemed to not realize that I'm on the Big Team? Which was strange. I've definitely been doing more hero things with the Team.
On my way home though, guess what! Savior tracked me down. Just because he wanted to! He even remembered my name and apologized that the TV got it wrong. Then he actually *asked if I want to do more hero things with him sometime*. What!! I mean of course I did. I must have made a really good impression. I did tell him that I could only do it when I wasn't already on a Big Team thing though. Since they asked first. He said that was no problem, and I gave him my number.
I asked if he wanted to come over for tea and meet Miss Madge, but he said no and then rushed off. His loss. Her tea and treats are the best.