This is a reboot of my first fiction story on this site. Only story on this site... but in this one I contemplated about what to do about the kids and the setting. Most of the old characters will appear in some fashion. Here we are. It's time to recharge.
Within a dimly lit chamber, a red crystal hovered above a matching-colored pedestal, its glow pouring out as if pushing the shadows to the corners of the room. On the far side, a mechanical door retracted into the wall. When it fully opened, two elven individuals stepped inside, making their way toward the illuminating crystal.
One was an elderly elf, his weathered face etched with lines His hair was short, black, and fading, with subtle traces of gray threads interwoven. He wore a stately tan robe with black trimmings and sleeves of a deep yellow hue.
The other stood tall, a silent intensity in his amber eyes that stared toward the crystal. Crimson hair flowed down his back. He wore a gray vest layered over a sleek, maroon shirt, paired with dark brown pants, and leather boots.
"A new warrior of fire?" said the younger man, his eyes narrowing. "When do I leave?"
"It's on Earth, if you're wondering," the elder said, a faint smile tugging at his lips as he handed the redhead a set of documents to the redhead. "Mission details. You collaborated with them before."
The redhead flipped through the pages, his eyes scanning swiftly. He gave a slight nod. "Good. Work will get done."
The old man nodded in return. "Time is of the essence."
-Monday. June 13. Earth, Parkerville. 10 am. House in the suburbs-
In the quiet of his bedroom, a biracial Japanese boy lay wide awake, glaring at the ceiling as if daring it to glare back. After blinking twice, he sat up and scratched his messy, short, spiky black hair. His auburn eyes turned toward the cell phone on his bedside table. Grabbing the device, he scrolled through the messages. A smile tugged his lips until his mouth turned south. Something among the messages dimmed his mood. He sent a reply before setting the phone aside with a sigh.
"Guess things change when you move away." He muttered. "What should I do before school starts?"
He tugged on a red t-shirt and cargo shorts, slipped on his sneakers, left his room and jogged downstairs. His mind was spun with thoughts of how to spend the remaining days of the summer. When he entered the living room, his sister lay sprawled across the couch, flipping through a magazine while twirling a strand of her long black hair. She sported a blue striped shirt and blue jeans.
He scanned the room before fixing his gaze at her. "Tina, where's mom?"
The girl momentarily took her auburn eyes off. Her auburn eyes were half-lidded with boredom. "Did you forget she's at work, Jake? She's in charge of some tech division."
He rubbed the back of his head. "We just moved here two days ago. I thought she would want to rest?"
She shrugged, barely looking at him. "People work."
He nodded, then his eyes drifted to a framed photo resting on the piano. A white man, an Asian woman, and the two siblings, captured in a moment from years ago.
The teen exhaled slowly. "Dad always said, 'Going to a new city is like new beginnings.'"
Tina sat up, her gaze softening. "I remember. The last time he said that... was two years ago before he…"
"Yeah." He interjected. His chest tightened, but pushed the weight away with a deep breath. "We had two years to mourn." A faint smile developed. "And we were busy unpacking yesterday. Come on."
The young lass smiled and stood up. "You seem awfully motivated."
"We're in a new city. Aren't you curious about what it's like?"
"Are you in deep thought again? Don't do that." She teased, smirking.
He rolled his eyes. "Can't help it sometimes."
"'Can't help it sometimes,' he says." She mimicked by making her voice deeper. "Last week, you wondered, 'Wonder if it will lead to something interesting?' You daydream when you are bored."
The boy rubbed the back of his head. "Well… "
Tina chuckled before heading to the front door. "Don't keep your head in the clouds, big brother. You might miss out on cool people."
He shrugged and followed her. The boy had to admit it. He got lost in his thoughts often. Sometimes he wondered if this life was all there was. Maybe exploring the city would shake those questions for a while..
-Parkerville, Downtown-
A woman stood atop of the tallest building in the city. She wore a bright pink dress, matching flats, and a frilly umbrella that concealed her face. A breeze played with the skirt's helm as she overlooked the city. A smile formed on her lip as she took in the view of Parkerville.
"Three hundred years." she whispered "Things change on the surface, but… people haven't changed… there is still corruption." She giggled, whimsical, yet with a ch edge. "Oh, this is going to be fun."
With a sinister smile, she vanished, leaving behind a faint, uncanny whisper in the wind.
-Parkerville, Plaza-
Jake and Tina wandered into a plaza not far from their neighborhood, which was active with people moving around. A restaurant, named The Hotspot, caught their eye, an outdoor seating buzzing with activity, kids and teens enjoying their summer off. More shops caught his interest such as a game shop across the street and a clothing store selling the latest brands.
The boy felt a wave of nostalgia while looking around, a faint smile displayed.
Different location, same appeal.
He moved to Hotspot's entrance with his sister following tail. Just as he reached for the door, it burst open. Someone slammed into him and knocked him off balance. He fell to the pavement with a grunt. He blinked, then stared up at the stranger.
Standing over him was a tall, muscular boy with short tan hair, brown eyes, a brown T-shirt, sweatpants, and tennis shoes. Behind him trailed a girl with long blond hair, blue eyes, a yellow sundress, and yellow wedge sandals.
The tan-haired teen glared at the teen briefly before moving away.
"Excuse me? Aren't you going to apologize?" barked the young girl, still glaring.
"No, why should I?" The brown-haired boy snorted.
"Robert, she's a little girl." The blond-haired girl giggled, eyeing Tina with smirk. "Aren't you adorable? What's your name?"
"I heard it's good manners to share your name before mine."
The older girl's eyebrow twitched before replying. "Marissa."
"Tina."
"Who cares," Robert grumbled, then turned his glare at Jake. "And you?"
"Jake Ishida," He said bitterly. "We just moved here."
"Hn, you better know who's in charge around here."
"In charge of what?" Jake scoffed as he stood up.
"What I am saying." The brown-haired boy gave a mischievous smile as he thumbed his chest. "If you stick with me, you will be 'somebody'. If not, then consider yourself a nobody."
"What about 'everybody'? Is that an option?" snorted the spiky-haired teen.
Robert narrowed his eyes. "Listen! You are probably going to the same school as me. I'm Robert Randall. I am co-captain of the football team and about to be the starting quarterback in my junior year at East Lion Hill High."
Jake raised an eyebrow. "You play soccer like me? Oh, you mean football and not futbol?" A chuckle escaped him.
The jock's sneer deepened while moving closer, but the spiky raven was not intimidated, only annoyed.
"Are you trying to be funny?"
Jake let out a long breath, feeling his brow twitch. "Only when someone acts like they are from a bad sitcom."
"Quit being a prick, kid."
"Compared to you, I am a kid. I'm a year below you."
The jock growled briefly, then shifted his attention to Tina. "And you? What grade?"
"Eighth grade." She crossed her arms, eyes narrowed. "Jerk."
Jake displayed a dark glare, "Leave her out of this!"
Robert chuckled, thinking he found something on the raven-haired boy. "Chill, bro. No need to have a sister-complex."
"Still a jerk, eh Robert?" a new voice cut in.
All eyes pivoted towards the source, a girl pale skin and shoulder-length black hair with bangs covering her forehead. She wore a turquoise sleeveless t-shirt, black Capri, and gray hi-tops. Her arms crossed against her, her pose firm. Her piercing violet eyes sent an unspoken message to everyone: she had little patience for nonsense.
Beside her stood a girl with light olive complexion. Her long chestnut-colored hair coiled in a bun with a few loose strands framing her face. She wore a lavender blouse, a tan skirt, and tanned knee-high boots. Her demeanor was more empathetic. Her teal-colored eyes fixated on Jake and Tina with genuine concern.
Robert groaned "Oh, you two. Didn't expect to see you here, Zeal, or you, Amy." He scoffed at the chestnut-haired girl, who looked away with a scowl.
Zeal, the violet-eyed girl, responded dismissively. "Not in the same timeframe, Randall."
Marissa huffed, leering at the girls. Then she turned around. "I don't want to deal with this."
"Fine, let's go." Robert and his group left the area, leaving Jake and Tina with the two girls.
Jake exhaled and turned to them with a grateful smile. "Thanks."
The brown-haired girl nodded, her gaze soft with worry "Are you okay?"
He rubbed the back of his head, feeling sheepish under her concern. "Nothing big. I'm okay."
The short-haired girl shook her head, her voice blunt. "He's an obnoxious piece of crap… steer clear of him, okay?"
"Right… I'm Jake, and this is Tina."
"My name is Amy." smiled the chestnut-haired girl.
"Christina," said the black-haired girl with a groan. "We were having a good day until that moron showed up."
"Chrissy!" Amy pouted dramatically. "Don't be such a grouch, especially in front of Jake. He might get the wrong impression of you." She flashed a playful smile at Jake. "Christina is always in a mood, even on a good day."
The violet-eyed girl gave the other girl a light flick on the forehead. "Don't tell him lies!"
"Mhm… no need to be mean," Amy whined again, but it sounded playful.
Tina observed the two girls with an amused smile, then it fell, watching them stirred a tinge of nostalgia for her old friends.
Amy turned back to the siblings. "It was nice talking to you. Maybe we will see you around." She tilted her head curiously. "Where do you go to school?"
"East Lion Hill High."
"Same as us." Christina noted, raising a curious eyebrow. She leaned forward like a hawk. "Are you switching schools?"
Jake leaned back. "Uh.. switching cities."
"Amazing!" Amy beamed, suddenly a few inches in front of him. To Jake, the way she moved was instantaneous. "You're fresh! We get to snag you before anyone else does. Let's be friends!"
Christina chuckled and gently moved the excited girl away. "You're scaring him. You better run, Jake; she bites." She checked her watch. "We got to go. It's good meeting you all. Check out the Richard Wright Community Center where we volunteer. We might give you our SnapBook handles."
Tina smiled. "We will."
Amy cheerfully waved at the duo. "Yeah, let's meet again."
The siblings watched them leave. Tina looked sideways at her brother with a mischievous look.
"So… which one?"
Jake's eyes widened before looking annoyed. "What?"
"Come on… which one? The eccentric girl or the grouch?"
"Stop it."
"Jake…"
"… Well… Amy, but Christina's cute too…"
Tina cackled, dragging him toward the Hotspot. "Let's eat, you dork."
-Downtown-
"I can't believe I got passed up for a promotion," A frustrated man stormed down the street, clutching his suitcase. "Then they fired me. I worked there for 15 years, and they gave it to the moron who was only there for five. Plus he stole my idea!" He veered into an alley and flung his suitcase away. "I'm so mad... that I could do something!"
"What is the depth of your fury?"
He froze, he didn't notice the woman standing at the far end. It was as if she appeared from thin air. The darkness of the alley shrouded the woman, but he could make out her pink dress and umbrella in the dim light.
He glared at her. "My fury? You don't want to find out."
The woman let off an eerie chuckle. "Oh, I do, darling… I do." A red aura enveloped around her. "Show me."
She clutched his throat before he could react. His eyes glassed over as red energy poured out from his chest, coiling upward as it grew, enlarging and taking form.
The woman's cruel smirk widened. "Yes."
After eating, Jake and Tina caught a bus to Petalburg Park, taking in the scenery around them. Eventually, they decided to embark on a hike deep into the woods.
Tina tapped a stick against the ground. "Okay, this place is not bad, but it's no Birchwood."
"Yep. Birchwood was home." He agreed
She perked up. "Hey, let's take trips there more often?"
"It's a six-hour roundtrip."
She pouted. "Okay... but."
He sighed. "I know you miss your friends, but at least try to befriend people here."
"I'll try," she grumbled. "I hope they aren't like Robert or Marissa, but if they are like those two girls, that would be great."
The boy's mind drifted to Amy and Christina, both seemed good to be around. However, he found his memories shifting to someone he wished not to remember. He forced himself not to draw comparisons between them. His thoughts were quickly interrupted by his sister poking him. He looked at her and groaned at her teasing smile.
"Well? Christina has a pretty face, but do you like tough girls? Amy is very pretty, but too playful."
"Can we drop this?"
"Fine." She picked up a pinecone and tossed it down the dirt path. "But please don't think of that other girl."
He said nothing, simply nodding as they walked along the trail, enjoying the scenery around them. Before deciding to head back home, a strange light shot through the air and barreled toward them.
"What's that?!" Tina shrieked, stepping back.
"Get back!" Jake yelled, pushing her away as the light closed in.
But instead of colliding with them, the strange red light stopped instantly, revealing itself to be a hovering red crystal. The two looked at it with caution.
"Wh-what is that?" whimpered Tina.
"I don't know." He gazed at it fearfully.
"That is the Elemental Crystal of Fire."
The duo spun around, seeing a strange red-haired man with long ears.
Jake narrowed his eyes, the sudden appearance of this stranger screamed threat. He pushed his sister behind and clenched his fist, facing the man head on. "Who are you!" he demanded
"Trust me, if I wanted to kill you." Right before their eyes, the man vanished before them. "I would have done so." They turned around jumped back when they found him behind them.
"Th-that's not a g-good case to make." The spiky raven shakily responded.
"True, trust may be a factor, but we don't have time. I have researched you, Jake Ishida. This was the best time and place to find you alone, even with your kin here."
"Who... what are you?"
"My name is Pilot, a canokian from Galvania. I am a member of the Guardian Corp. My duty is to ensure a new warrior of fire, a Radiant, is born." He turned to the red crystal. "That new warrior is you."
Jake nervously gazed at the crystal. "Me?"
Pilot's gaze sharpened. "You are picked to defend against rising chaotic forces that will harm you and everyone around you."
The boy caught his breath as he shifted his eyes to his sister, who worriedly looked up at him. Chaotic forces? That sounded too weird to be true. If all this was true, he would be responsible for protecting his family. Fighting these threats was very risky.
He gulped, voice waved as he spoke. "What if I refuse?"
"You can. It will either choose its second host… or keep pursuing you."
He stared at the crystal, feeling its warmth. The feeling felt as though it belonged to him. "So you say… someone else might take it?"
"Yes."
The thought gave him a cold feeling. There were a few people who would use it for the wrong reasons.
Worriedly rubbing his head. "Why me?"
The canokian shrugged slightly. "Maybe you are the most noble, or it is random… or you have potential. The last option, to me, is the most accurate reason."
Jake's voice lowered. "Potential, huh."
"You doubt yourself?" Pilot's voice was sharp. "Listen closely. No matter what people say about you, they are usually wrong and will put you down if you don't conform to their standards. Your world thrives on it."
"Yeah…" Jake's gaze dropped, deep in thought. "I'd be in danger, but I gue-."
"Hold on." The young girl jumped in, wide eyed. "Are you crazy? Listening to this guy? What kind of power is that?"
"Your attributes will increase, wield abilities unique to you, and gain the power of fire." The canokian answered bluntly.
"I don't like this." said the scared girl.
"Yeah…" The boy's voice steadied, weariness lessening. "This may sound stupid. If I don't… who will? What if it goes to… Randall or HER?"
Tina's gaze softened. "I doubt it will."
"I know…" Jake's eyes closed, his fists clenched. "But if the next person messes up, I will feel bad knowing I would have done a better job."
"That sounds crazy!" She cried out to him.
The boy's eyes shot open and grabbed the jewel. Once he did, light erupted, blinding them. Then the crystal phased into his chest. After a moment, he felt a comforting warmth emanating from within before it gradually faded.
"Good." Pilot nodded. "Now it should be instinctive on how to command the transformation."
"I see…" Jake took a shaky breath, then slowly clenched his fist.
"Raging Fire: Ignite!"