“It’s odd, isn’t it?” A small, blond girl asked with locks trailing to her heels. I don’t think I’ve seen her just yet, her appearance is anything but familiar, with her pale and sickly body; and a white wedding dress. Such a garment would usually represent a day of happiness, but for some reason, seeing it on that girl drained that reasoning right out of my mind.copyright protection348ＰＥＮＡＮＡDANYXgbV7A
Did I know where I was? I can’t say I did. It seemed as if it was a place that I would remember personally, something extremely symbolic. Déjà vu, I suspect is the term. The floor seemed to be switched with the cold ceiling, as I saw rusted metal tracks barely holding on by a few screws. A mysterious hole was lodged at the end, with the entire area covered in paint ridden tiles. On the floor, it was a cylinder like shape, also plastered with tiles. Yes, that was it: Déjà vu.copyright protection348ＰＥＮＡＮＡpl9VcWTrNq
“What is odd?” I finally responded to the question in one of the only ways I seemed to know how: asking another question. The manual shiver in my voice seemed to amuse the girl slightly, the chuckle being a dead giveaway. She was now on the other side of the area, pushing her legs up and down as she would lay on her fragile-looking back.copyright protection348ＰＥＮＡＮＡEJreSPlFcG
My hands were in a bind, by ropes, obviously. Abnormally tight ropes. I let my fingers examine my palm, which seemed to be covered in some type of liquid substance, only its moisture withholding. My fingers touched it lightly before I wince of pain coursed through my body. That answers that curiosity. It was a blood-stained scar.copyright protection348ＰＥＮＡＮＡ082h1gjHcH
“A story.” She simply put. She was being cryptic, more cryptic than her appearance. I turned to look at her, only to find she wasn’t even there; another part of the room once more, this time dangling on a rail.copyright protection348ＰＥＮＡＮＡcFccqiOA6y
“A story?” I acted bewildered, even with the unnatural calmness in my voice, regarding the unknown situation I am clearly in. “What part of the story?”copyright protection348ＰＥＮＡＮＡT3dhNbmKf4
“Not the story itself, I suppose; but the events that are hidden in it.” She put her right index finger up to prove a point, then went back to her random childish activities.copyright protection348ＰＥＮＡＮＡc3HZHbCWs4
“What is this ‘story’ about?” Another chuckle came from the girl, like the question I just presented to her was whimsical.copyright protection348ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0OWu0rhRjd
“Hmm…” She was deep in thought, as was I. “I guess I could give you a small summary, if you would like to read it with me.” The girl smirked. I had enough, that was for sure. I tried twisting out of the ropes, but it was of no use.copyright protection348ＰＥＮＡＮＡxdtTNHIjnx
“Please...where am I…” I whimpered. “Where am I?!”copyright protection348ＰＥＮＡＮＡz9EGTa5tuT
Another chuckle from the girl, but more frightening than amusing.copyright protection348ＰＥＮＡＮＡD50m0KSPTa
“Names will not help you in this situation. But I understand the need to have a few, at least.” She now appeared right in my face, tapping her finger onto my chin. “It’ll help describe the story, anyways.” She kept the finger on my chin, forcing it in deeper with every word. “March 6th, 2002. East Harlem.”copyright protection348ＰＥＮＡＮＡCgiqL7vTDL
“E-East Harlem?” The name gave me a slight idea as to where I was and why, but nothing that would explain any of the main variables that have escaped my mind. “W-Why is this date so significant?!” I screamed, awaiting an answer.copyright protection348ＰＥＮＡＮＡBGulXnyrPT
“There are 1,472 total answers to that question, but only one shall suffice.” She explained, disappearing from her original position to behind me. “Today, is a very peculiar day. A day that disobeys the fate it is supposed to lead. A day driven by pure coincidence. As this day moves on, the only thing that time can do is adapt to this day, and create something horrid to move on.”copyright protection348ＰＥＮＡＮＡxmMhjNq5hR
A day driven by coincidence...basically, she was stating every impossibility was possible. Quite a strange day, I suppose.copyright protection348ＰＥＮＡＮＡd9WNWCJ668
“This, my fellow, is a story about a hero, a detective, a ghost, a demolitioner, a robot, a pilot, and a liar...but for me? I like to shorten it to ‘The First Day to End all Others’.”copyright protection348ＰＥＮＡＮＡUs9451CgFc
MARCH 8TH, 2002: PARADE CELEBRATING THE DEFEAT OF THE “MARE SOCIETY” BY HEROES. EAST HARLEM:copyright protection348ＰＥＮＡＮＡlDAucPBuEe
It was just another abnormally cold day. Just shy of 32 degrees. Most sensible people wouldn’t set a foot outside in this weather, but that just proves that 95% of New York is not sensible. Not that that was a mystery to any local detective in any time period.copyright protection348ＰＥＮＡＮＡjuSisRoHpl
Though this time period had some- special -problems. As with any other period or place, there was conflict. Conflict between what is known as the “antagonist” and the “protagonist”, and each side had a different view of who was who. And this was no different. You had the “villain” and then the “hero”, as they battled again, and again, and again. Like a comic book slowly unfolding. And to all battles, there is a winner. And in most cases, the one that the majority classifies as the hero is the one that becomes victorious in the end. Yes, this world was inhabited. Inhabited by people with powers beyond imagination, and then beyond that as well. But conflict is conflict, however you look at it. It’s never without its after effects.copyright protection348ＰＥＮＡＮＡA3MyigJKOc
But for one measly afternoon, the people of New York City could put all this behind them. For now, they have one option. To celebrate the conflict, to celebrate the after effect. And that is what they did.copyright protection348ＰＥＮＡＮＡRAj8UEMHiw
It was a parade, something rare in this time, but definitely one needed. It was celebrating the defeat of a notorious villain group dubbed the “Mare Society” at the hands of a team of several heroes. Colorful and superfluously large floats marched through the streets, as the crowd gave an applause and a few giggles.copyright protection348ＰＥＮＡＮＡbhZ8qsXuO7
Finally, at the end of the trail of floats, there was a large, royal appearing float, with a masculine man waving to the crowd on top. At the sight of this figure, the applause almost immediately got louder and wilder. This man was known as “Gust”.copyright protection348ＰＥＮＡＮＡwS12ikppg2
He was the modern day “superhero” as they called him. Something out of a fairy tale, yet here he was, in light gray spandex and a mask made of leather. He truly was the figure for a hero.copyright protection348ＰＥＮＡＮＡOBOgzCssfx
It took him two moments to notice that he was the only one standing. He looked to his side, to find two teenagers- one boy, one female- sitting alone on the bench at the back of the float. They seemed to be extremely insecure, looking down at the ground so no one, even each other, could see their faces. Gust chuckled softly to himself.copyright protection348ＰＥＮＡＮＡclglk0LTCl
‘They’ll grow out of it eventually…’ He thought, grinning a heroic grin. The boy, blond haired with a green and black hoodie, sat with his usual droopy eyes, now wide open with embarrassment. The girl, a brunette with a dark purple strand dyed on her locks, put her pink hood over her face, making sure to never diverge her attention from the tiles below.copyright protection348ＰＥＮＡＮＡIbif4SRPEs
The boy’s name is Walker Emanuel, 15. The girl’s: Sydney Miles, 16. Two of the seven that took down the Mare Society. You wouldn’t know from the pile of timid mush sitting on the bench at the moment, that’s for sure.copyright protection348ＰＥＮＡＮＡ35oW41XRk6
“He’s looking at us…” Sydney whispered to her partner, making sure there was no way that Gust could hear their conversation.copyright protection348ＰＥＮＡＮＡa2sCgN1Icn
“Oh, shit. He only looks at us when he wants us to do something.” Walker replied, panicking just a little.copyright protection348ＰＥＮＡＮＡbDUW0kpcnH
“Hey, you two delinquents! This is your parade too. Hell, even Frosty over there is all cheerful, and he’s a year younger than you.” He coaxed. Walker looked up just a little to see Gust’s smug face. He let out a deep sigh, then pushed himself off the bench.copyright protection348ＰＥＮＡＮＡUPPY3AQeea
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“I ain’t giving a smile, I'm sure you already know." He said under his breath, glaring at the crowd. Sydney looked up at the boy's silhouette, his face blocked by the sun, in surprise. She had no doubt that he wasn't going to stand, yet here he was. With no other choice, she reluctantly stood up from the bench, and rubbed her arm nervously. 352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlS3F6ms56s
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Seeing this, Walker turned around to see the teenager, a little shocked at her movements himself, but instead of expressing this, he gave her an awkward smile. In return, Sydney did the same, giving the mood between them yet another addition to the awkward aura. They were both scared out of their minds of what was happening at the moment, even when it was only a parade, and that was the only way they seemed to be able to react to it naturally. Well, naturally for them, anyways. 352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKOalSwAOVy
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Though there was something strange. About the aura around the girl. It wasn't...happy. Well, that was an obvious one. You would expect it to be nervous, but it wasn't that either. It was dangerous. That was it. That was the conclusion Walker came to. 352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1EFJn9Ijzs
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As soon as the smile appeared on her face, it disappeared into the wind, leaving in its place a frown. Her eyebrows were furrowed, and her feet were in a position that could support a charge. copyright protection348ＰＥＮＡＮＡkEXUv7EyYq
"Sydney-" Walker tried to ask what she was doing, but a sharp pain to the brain cut off his question, as he clenched his skull. Sydney ran straight through the middle of the float, full speed, and then something that no one expected happened. The crowd went silent, and Walker stared wide eyed. It was complete silence, something extremely rare in New York. 352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqB7LThEEKk
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More rare a sight than 32 degrees in March, more rare a sight than one thousand new yorkers gathered in one place for a parade. No, this was much more rare. copyright protection348ＰＥＮＡＮＡkSeXK4SV6D
"S-Sydney..." was the only word that Walker could mutter.copyright protection348ＰＥＮＡＮＡrK9pWPQcDR
And thus starts the end.copyright protection348ＰＥＮＡＮＡuamUhaQ9eS
