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Chapter 1 - My Dark Clone Kicks My Butt (Prologue First)

Ever since B.C. started, people began to gain natural powers that were later called "Elements." Everybody was born with one, so it was really common. There were three different types of Elements: Elemental, Natural, and Beast. Everyone used different Elements — some were for combat, and some couldn't be used for combat but had other uses instead. The Lost Key is the power source of the entire Land of Avangard, and it's the reason the people living in Avangard are born with Elements. It keeps the world alive and well — without it, destruction could follow. It's a very powerful key that can also be used as a weapon to destroy. The Lost Key was created at the center of the universe, then crash-landed on Earth after its long space journey. It crashed back when dinosaurs roamed the earth and stayed buried until it was found in B.C. by the first Celestianite Dragon, Vigilzante. Ever since the first Celestianite was born, it was the smartest of all creatures. When another Celestianite was born, they mated and produced two more. As more Celestianites appeared, the population grew. They took over the dinosaurs' land and waited until they died off, so they could keep the land for themselves and name it "Celestia." Celestia had the Golden Region, the Heavenly Spot, and the Enchanted Kingdom. That was until the Lost Key was used by Vigilzante to create all the Elemental Tribes, and the people who lived in them were called Elementalnites. For example, people who live in Scarletsville are called "Flamenites," and people who live in the Thunderstark Kingdom are called "Electronites." Since the Lost Key could grant wishes, it created 12 tribes on land and one in the sea — the Gadian Sea Kingdom. Then creatures like Zirixes and Uragas started to appear, and they settled in some of the tribes' lands if the environment suited them. People also began gaining beast-like characteristics representing their respective Elements, which was honestly clutch for survival. And boom — that's your intro to the world of Avangard.

 10,000 Years Ago During the CL War

Through the Pyramids of Markilao, a blood-to-blood battle raged. The sandy wind howled from afar, and the gusts were fierce. Hurricanes roared across the land, tearing up trees and pyramids alike.

The sky was a blanket of gray, with no sun to shine — just a dark, lifeless zone. In the middle of the pyramids, the Celestianites and Lunaranites clashed again.

With their spears, they stabbed, slashed, and sliced each other without holding back. Both sides fired energy bullets and beams from their mouths, causing massive destruction.

Five Celestianites huddled behind a large, cracked stone pillar. One of them was Blightscaw, a top-ranked Celestianite soldier. He had tough white scales, a shiny gold belly, and shimmering golden horns and wings. His scales from head to tail were sharp and dangerous — he was the most serious fighter in the entire army.

Lunaranites fired lunar beams at the five behind the pillar, but each Celestianite had a Divine Arrow to fight back. Blightscaw peeked over the pillar and sniped one Lunaranite, then another teammate followed. They ducked back down to reload their arrows.

Blightscaw glanced at the Lost Key behind him and sighed.

"Alright, where am I even gonna put this thing?! Why was I chosen to hide it?!" he muttered, his scales sharpening.

One comrade raised an eyebrow at him. "You're chosen because you're the most impossible one to beat, right? You should be able to hide it safely, so we can buy enough time to use it in a few years. We don't want the Lunaranites to win again — they've done too much damage."

Another teammate peered over the pillar and sniped another Lunaranite. "Look, man, you've gotta do it. For the army, your family, the world!"

Blightscaw looked down at the key, and a confident snarl escaped him. He swiped the key from the ground with his claws, and the wind kicked up.

He flapped his wings and blasted into the air, heading toward the colossal, sand-colored pyramid in front of him. The wind howled, whipping up the sand into a raging dust storm.

Blightscaw flew through the thick brown storm, struggling as the dust blinded him. The wind got stronger, pushing the Lunaranites and Celestianites apart — and making it even worse for Blightscaw. He fought through it, but the more he tried to speed up, the weaker his wings became.

"YOU CAN DO THIS, BLIGHTSCAW!"

one of the Celestianites shouted, their voice cracking through the violent air.

As Blightscaw battled the storm, more Celestianites cheered him on. He looked down, a sorrowful expression on his face at first — but then his eyes hardened with determination. He turned back to the pyramid and pushed forward through the wind without hesitation.

The dust storm tried to drag him down, but Blightscaw shattered through the barrier, speeding upward through the swirling chaos. He finally reached the top of the pyramid, flying above it as the storm twisted into a tornado around him, his celestial energy blazing.

As the dust swirled violently and the ground trembled, Blightscaw quickly placed the key into a square-shaped structure made of the pyramid's sandy blocks.

The moment the key slid into place, a massive burst of white and yellow energy unleashed a shockwave across the entire Pyramids of Markilao, sending everyone scattering. Celestial energy crackled and surged around Blightscaw, the tornado roaring even stronger.

Blightscaw was now floating — not by his wings, but because the tornado lifted him. He began to radiate a blinding light that erupted into a massive ring-shaped explosion, ending the tornado's rampage.

And at the center of the square structure above the pyramid, there was… nothing.

The Lost Key had vanished.

My alarm did not go off.

Of course it didn't.

I launched outta bed like I was late for saving the universe. Spoiler: I was just late for middle school. Equally dangerous, honestly.

Red hoodie? Crumpled on the floor like a defeated Pokémon.

Jeans? Halfway inside out.

Hair? Looking like I lost a fight with a ceiling fan.

Me? Glorious disaster.

I slapped on my clothes, shoved a half-eaten granola bar in my mouth, and bolted out the door like I was being chased by regret.

The sky was doing its golden-purple glow thing—sun barely up, air all crisp and perfect. And for once? No evil portals. No sky lasers. No dramatic boss music. Just… peace.

I hit the sidewalk and jogged toward school—well, tried to.

"YO, DON! THAT YOU?"

I looked over and saw Old Man Vek chilling on his porch, squinting over his daily newspaper, which had absolutely nothing to do with me, by the way. Looked like it had a huge headline about some squirrels taking over a bird feeder.

"Morning, Mr. Vek!" I called out, already speed-walking like my life depended on it.

"You're runnin' late again, huh?" he said, sipping a mug of something suspiciously green. "You know what happened the last time you skipped breakfast—you tried to fight a fire hydrant."

 

"ONE TIME, Mr. Vek! ONE TIME!" I shouted back, wheezing.

He cackled so hard he nearly dropped his mug.

"Watch out for those hydrants, kid!" he called after me. "They've got teeth!"

I waved as I turned the corner, smiling even though I was already feeling the panic start to bubble.

As I passed the playground, chaos erupted.

A bunch of little kids spotted me from behind the fence like they were spotting Bigfoot in sneakers.

"IT'S DON!"

"THE GUY WHO ACCIDENTALLY FLEW INTO A TREE LAST MONTH!"

"HE'S GOT POWERS!!!"

I spun around, grinning, and struck a superhero pose. "Still just Don. My only superpower is being fashionably late."

"CAN YOU FLY?!"

"Nope! But I can trip with dramatic flair!"

They cracked up like it was the funniest thing they'd ever heard. Honestly? I was kinda proud of that one.

 

Then came the rest of the walk. I passed Mrs. Lenu, sweeping outside her corner shop like she was about to start breakdancing with the broom.

"Morning, Don," she said, not even looking up. "You're running."

"Gotta hustle or I'll be toast!"

She smirked. "Well, don't burn yourself."

I gave her a little salute, then promptly tripped on a pebble. Smooth.

By now, people were peeking out their windows, giving me little nods, waves, and "there goes that boy again" kind of looks. Cars honked—not in an angry way, but in that "you got this!" way.

Mr. Nibbs, the ice cream guy, tossed me a frozen pop. I caught it without stopping.

"You're gonna need the energy, hero boy!" he laughed.

 

I turned down another block—and that's when I saw Jax the mailman absolutely getting wrecked by two rogue delivery bots going full Terminator. One was flailing around with a barcode scanner like it was a sword. The other looked like it was about to explode over a misdelivered envelope.

"JAX!" I yelled, already channeling a soft purple glow into my hands.

In five seconds flat, I zapped one bot into standby mode, then tripped the other one with a banana peel I'd completely forgotten was in my pocket. Don't ask why. It's Don logic.

"You good?" I asked as I helped Jax up.

He blinked. "Did you just throw a fruit-based projectile?"

"Strategic potassium-based takedown. Totally intentional."

 

"...You're late for school again, aren't you?"

I checked the time on my phone—and my heart dropped.

"8:27?! BRO I'M GONNA GET DETENTION FOR ETERNITY."

And then I screamed.

Like, loud. Birds flew out of trees. Someone across the street dropped a smoothie. I was full Gremlin Mode.

I booked it. Hard. Backpack flapping, sneakers skidding, frozen pop still in my mouth like a champion.

As I darted across town, Old Man Vek shouted from three blocks back:

"RUN LIKE THE WIND, YOU LITTLE ELEMENTAL WEIRDO!"

 

And that, my friend, is how my morning started. No prophecies. No shadowy figures. No ancient secrets.

Just a red hoodie, a late kid, and a whole town that somehow still loved me even when I tripped over my own shoelace.

I was sprinting through the school hallways like my life depended on it. Because honestly? It kinda did.

Name's Lens Don the Celestianite. I'm 12, I've got dragon traits, and I'm part of the Celestianite Race—which totally explains the horns, wings, and all that sparkle. But before we dive into the wildness that happened today, lemme give you the lowdown on me.

So yeah. Twelve. I've got crystallized purple horns, shiny crystal wings with weirdly fluffy scales, and a long violet tail with white stripes and jagged spikes. Thanks to Cosmonimbous (don't ask me to spell that twice), my scales are crystal-y but soft. Kinda like armored marshmallows. The rest of me? Just your average Black kid with a buzz cut, rockin' a red hoodie, blue jeans, and black-and-red Nike Skechers.

I live in Avangard—this crazy fantasy world that happened after the continents mashed together and the planet went full RPG mode. Now we've got Elements. Everyone's born with one. Mine? Celestial. A rare light-purple energy that basically lets me do anime-level nonsense. If I collect all nine Power Gems, I get even more cracked.

 

My dream? Be a hero. A real Hero of Avangard. I wanna be famous. I used to be the background NPC—awkward, loud, confident for no reason. Still kinda am. That "confidence" backfires a lot. Like, embarrassing-volleyball-game levels of backfire. Life = certified wreck.

People clown me all the time. Say I'm weak, say I can't fight. It sucks. I don't even want attention anymore—but I do. You feel me? I wanna be more. Not just loud. Not just weird. I wanna be worthy.

Anyway. Back to the chaos.

The school was lit—literally. Sunlight blazed through the windows, lighting up cream-colored walls and white ceilings. No lights on. Still buzzing with Elemental madness.

I booked it through packed hallways. I had to leap over Emely's icy hallway river. "Watch it, Ice Bird!"

"Sorry!" she shouted, already melting it. (Love that girl. Ice Element. Hyper as hell.)

Then—fireballs. Great. Archie again. I flared my wings, dodged hard, and smacked one with my tail.

"Fifth time this week!" Archie yelled.

"Just shut it, hot pot!" I snapped. Dude thrives on chaos.

Vines next. Lonnie Mae was just vibing, chucking forest magic for fun. I ninja'd over thorns and slid under branches.

Then—PRINCE. Zoomed by in lightning form.

 

"PRINCE! NO RUNNING IN THE HALLS!" the principal roared.

What did he do? Flew.

"NO FLYING EITHER!"

Classic.

I ducked Olsen's rock pillars, dodged Keyler's sticky webs, and passed Ella being totally unbothered. Room 101 ahead—I SLID in like an action hero.

Everyone. Was. Already. There.

EVERY KID I RAN PAST.

I froze. Brain: error 404.

 

Mr. Bassi, (the 24 year old man who wore a white shirt and green pants rocking a crew cut. He has the Bull Element guys) gave me that disappointed teacher smirk. "You're late."

"Uhm, technically I got here in one second so I'm not that—"

"You're lucky it wasn't two or that would've been detention. Sit."

I dropped into my front-row seat. He was the teacher that was half man, half bull, he had two bull horns on the top of his head, poking out from his hair. This was supposed to be history class. Keyword: supposed.

Mr. Bassi turned to the board and just... stood there. Awkward silence.

"Sooo… aren't you gonna teach us?" Mason asked.

 

Bassi blinked. "Wait. This is history?"

Whole class: Facepalm.

"DUDE. You're the teacher. Just do your job!"

He sighed. "Look, I'm a math teacher, okay? History ain't my thing. Should we talk about the Civil War or—"

"THE HISTORY OF AVANGARD!" we all yelled.

"Right! That! Totally knew that."

He walked over to his desk to open the drawer. He took it out and the scroll hit the desk with a dusty thud, kicking up centuries' worth of boredom.

Mr. Bassi stood dramatically by the board, robes a little too oversized, voice a little too theatrical. "And thus," he boomed, "we arrive at one of the oldest surviving records from the Era of Fractured Realms: The Lost Key Prophecy."

Don yawned so hard his jaw popped. "Bro, it's always a scroll. Why can't it ever be like... a video file?"

"Because history is sacred," Ella muttered from the second row, already halfway through translating the scroll before Mr. Bassi even started reading. "And also because it was written a thousand years ago, you donut."

"Okay, she got me there," Don mumbled, rubbing the back of his neck.

Across the room, Angel, the Portal Owl kid with glasses thicker than frozen glass, was scribbling notes like the scroll held the key to the multiverse. "Guys, guys—what if 'key' isn't literal? What if it's a dimensional anchor disguised as a frequency-based artifact? Think about it. Five heroes, five elements, one convergence point—"

"Angel, please," Starla groaned, flipping her long, royal-looking hair as she leaned back in her chair. "It's a poem, not a quantum riddle. Chill."

But Mr. Bassi wasn't done being dramatic. He unfurled the scroll fully and began to read aloud, like it was some divine gospel:

The Lost Key Prophecy

Celestial's Fight, Earth's Might,

Lightning's Surge, Water's Merge,

Flame's Burns.

The five must go through all Elemental Continents,

Defeat their worst enemies, to get more powerful as they venture on.

A secret message is hidden in the scroll,

Saying that all five of the heroes shall fold—

Their own destinies to be known as gall,

And if they don't find the Lost Key, the Celestianites will fall.

And if the Celestianites fall, the Lunaranites will prevail,

And once they prevail… the world of Avangard will become all dust and fail.

Silence.

Then Archie, slumped over his desk like a tired puppy, broke it. "Sooo... what you're saying is: this prophecy's just five kids going continent-hopping like it's a field trip and trying not to die?"

"Sounds like an anime arc," said Javier with wide eyes. "I'd watch that."

"Y'all act like that isn't literally us on a Tuesday," Olsen added from the back, half-asleep, arms crossed over his stone-like chest.

"Okay, but like," Don raised a brow, "how is this prophecy any different from all the other random scrolls we've found this semester? Like remember that one about a goat bringing peace to the Enchanted Kingdom?"

"That was actually a metaphor for astral alignment," Ella said smugly.

Angel raised his hand like they were still in kindergarten. "Do you think the 'Celestial's Fight' is talking about—"

"Not everything is about Don," Starla interrupted, shooting a teasing glance toward him. "Even if he does glow like a walking nightlight."

Don flushed. "I mean, if it's not about me... then I'm good."

Jocabed blinked from behind her desk. "So, do we like... study this? Or is it just another scroll to throw in the 'ancient doom' folder?"

"Nah," Archie grinned. "We toss it in the pile and forget about it 'til something explodes."

And just like that, the class moved on. No big epiphany. No dramatic music. Just a bunch of element-wielding kids ignoring a world-ending prophecy written in big, obvious capital letters.

Because in their minds?

It was just history.

To them, the prophecy was old news.

But to the scroll?

It had just met its heroes.

Then, suddenly, a voice echoed, "ATTENTION STUDENTS! SOME DARK SHADOW-LIKE BALL IS FLYING AT US AT MAX SPEED! MAKE SURE YOU EVACUATE THE SCHOOL QUICKLY!"

I jolted up from my desk. "What the heck?! What's going on?!"

Everybody scrambled to get out of their desks, looking around frantically. Mr. Bassi rushed to the left side of the classroom to peer through the windows. The blinding yellow light of the sun began to fade, and everything slowly grew dark and cloudy. The skies turned a deep, swirling purple, filled with thunderclouds. The wind began to pick up, howling through Iris Town.

Mr. Bassi's eyes widened in disbelief. "Oh, crap."

He quickly pulled down the shutters and ran out of the classroom, shouting, "EVERYBODY GET OUT NOW!" Everyone bolted, pushing and shoving to get to the door. Mr. Bassi was doing his best to clear the path for us to escape.

"HOLD UP!" I cried, following them.

 

Then—BAM!—the ceiling exploded inward like fragile paper, unleashing a thunderous shockwave that blasted me across the classroom like I was nothing but dust in a storm. I smashed through desks, splintered wood flying everywhere, choking dust filling the air. Drake's frantic shout cut through the chaos:

"DON!"

But my head was spinning, vision swimming in a kaleidoscope of pain and confusion.

I forced myself up, clutching my arm, each breath ragged and sharp as broken glass. And then I saw him—standing there like death incarnate.

Same height. Same face. But every inch twisted into a darker, deadlier version of me.

His hair? A wild, chaotic storm of midnight purple spikes, jagged like lightning frozen in shadow. His hoodie? Deep violet, bleeding into black, hugging him like a shadow-born second skin. His jeans looked like they'd been stained in the void itself.

But those eyes? Oh man, those eyes—purple flames licking at the edges, cold as the void and twice as cruel. A jagged scar slashed across his cheek like a wound that time forgot to heal. His wings weren't angelic—they were ghostly white but flickering with sinister lunar light, like wings ripped straight from the nightmare realm.

His tail shimmered white on the surface, but underneath the scales pulsed a violent purple, throbbing like a heart corrupted by cosmic shadow. And that smirk? One part amusement, ten parts pure malevolent chaos—promising ruin, pain, and a world of suffering.

He pointed a finger at me, voice dripping with venomous calm:

"You… one of the five Chosen. The 'next leader,' huh? I see why—stubborn fire, reckless hope. Cute. But hope? That's just a fairy tale for the weak. And I'm here to burn your fantasies to ash."

Celestial energy sparked around me as I clenched my fists, fighting back the storm inside.

"Who the hell are you?"

He stepped forward, lunar energy crackling and twisting like living darkness clinging to his skin.

"I'm the nightmare your brightest dreams pray never to meet. The hunter lurking in your shadows. The Lunaranites' second in command—your dark reflection, the abyss you're too scared to stare into."

His voice dropped low—deadly and dripping poison.

"I am Dark Don. Your twisted twin from a universe where mercy is a myth. The power you'll never grasp, no matter how hard you flail."

Before I could react, his fist rocketed forward like a meteor, slamming me through a bookshelf with a deafening crash. Splinters bit into my skin as he surged after me—rocket shoes roaring, lethal intent blazing.

Grabbing my neck, he ripped me through the classroom walls and into the hallway, lunar energy wrapping us in chains of midnight fire.

His punches rained down mercilessly, tossing me like I weighed nothing. Cold lunar beams lashed from his hands—precise, surgical, deadly.

I twisted and dodged, desperate, summoning every scrap of celestial power I could.

Then—snap!—he teleported behind me, drop-kicking me through the classroom doors like I was an empty shell.

I barely had time to turn before he charged again, lunar blasts raining down like an unforgiving storm.

Desks shattered beneath the assault as I threw them up in a last-ditch barricade. I lunged, tackling him—but he was faster.

Fists glowing with dark energy, he unleashed a shockwave so violent the room shattered around us. Walls cracked, windows exploded. The battlefield crumbled—and with it, my hope.

I hit the floor near the cafeteria, battered but not broken.

Dark Don pursued with ruthless efficiency. Every punch a calculated reminder that I was outmatched.

Before I could rise, a shockwave punch slammed me through the stage curtains. Darkness swallowed the lights.

Purple lunar mist thickened, creeping through the wreckage like a living nightmare.

Coughing blood, bitter and metallic in my mouth, I saw him step forward—Lunar Sword in hand, pulsing with black and violet lightning, forged in the deepest abyss of the moon itself.

He smirked.

"Weak. Pathetic. You're not even close to ready for what's coming."

I wheezed, "Who… are you?"

His smile twisted into something sadistic and secret-laden.

"I'm the reckoning you've refused to face. The truth your fragile little world refuses to accept."

Before he could drop more venom, the room detonated in a thunderous blast, sending us flying apart.

When the dust settled, Archie's voice shattered the haze:

"WE GOT 'EM, DON!"

Demaurion's battle cry roared out:

"ALRIGHT, DARK DON! TIME TO SURRENDER — 'CAUSE WE CAUGHT YOU SLEEPIN'!"

Dark Don rose slowly, his eyes cold and amused, facing the ragtag group of powered-up kids—fear simmering in their gaze, but fierce resolve burning brighter.

Mr. Bassi, battered but standing, cracked his knuckles.

"Time to kick some lunar butt…"

Dark Don laughed—a sound like shattered glass scraping over steel.

"You want a fight? A show? I live for this."

He snapped his fingers, and a tidal wave of lunar energy erupted, tossing everyone back like rag dolls.

Chains of shadow erupted, snaking out and binding me, Olsen, Prince, Demaurion, and Archie tight.

We struggled, but those chains were nightmare-forged—unyielding and cold.

Suddenly, the school alarm blared like a bomb going off. Kids screamed, dropping their backpacks and scrambling toward exits in wild panic. Phones were out everywhere, cameras flashing as terrified students streamed the battle live on social media.

Teachers shouted orders, trying to keep control as panic spread like wildfire.

Outside, the distant wail of sirens ripped through the air—police cars screeched to a halt in front of the school, flashing blue and red. Fire trucks and ambulances slammed the brakes behind them, lights flooding the street like a spotlight on chaos.

Parents flooded the school's phone lines, 911 operators flooded with calls, neighbors peered nervously from windows, clutching phones and whispering about the explosion and the dark figure seen through shattered windows.

Officers burst through the school doors, weapons drawn but cautious, rushing toward the battle's epicenter. Emergency responders began setting up triage stations near the entrance, paramedics ready with stretchers.

Inside, the tension thickened as Dark Don's power surged, the shadows around him writhing like living smoke.

From above, drones buzzed in, hovering with bright lights and cameras—news crews live-streaming the surreal scene unfolding in real time for the entire city.

From the sky, a scroll drifted down, landing before him. Dark Don picked it up, eyes glinting with dark hunger.

"Well, well… the game begins. Hurry up, little hero. Time's running out."

I roared, wings flaring, tail ablaze with fiery rage.

"LET US GO!"

His smirk deepened, dripping with wicked anticipation.

"Oh, you will… right after you dance on the edge of oblivion."

With a snap of his fingers, a black-purple lunar black hole spiraled into existence, swirling with violent winds and jagged, shadowy teeth.

"DON, NO!" Mr. Bassi shouted, lunging forward.

The void grew—devouring light, sound, hope.

Dark Don strolled forward, bored as hell, like this was just another Tuesday victory.

"You have a role to play, hero. Now go."

A flick of his wrist sent me screaming—hurtling into the maw of darkness.

I reached out, voice cracking.

"NOOO!"

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