//------------------------------// // The Path of Hum Drum Part 2 – Missing Sister // Story: The Power Princesses // by Phantom-Dragon //------------------------------// “Whoo-hoo!” Ken hollered. “Oh I wish my family were here to see this! Mom, dad, cousin Megan, Molly, and Danny, uncles and aunts, and—Oh!” Hum Drum stopped jumping across the rooftop, managing to deactivate the springs by landing on his toes. The young hero gazes down from the roof, adjusting his goggles to enhance his vision, zooming in on the park, and a woman in her late 30s, being stalked by a strange man in dark clothes. Sensing danger, Hum Drum activated the communicator on his wrist, “Power Princesses!” He said. “Power Princesses! Do you read me?” “Dallas here,” Mistress Marvelous confirmed. “What’s going on, Ken?” “There’s a dangerous looking guy, stalking a woman in the park,” Hum Drum answered. “I’m gonna follow and keep an eye on the man. But I’m gonna need you and anyone else to come quick!” “On my way, Sugarcube,” Mistress replied. “Don’t do anything crazy until I get there.” After the call was made, Hum Drum leapt into actions, unfolding his capes out to glide across the street and into the park. The boy quietly landed behind some bushes, rolling across the grass, being careful not to alert the man. Tapping on the side of his face mask’s lenses, Hum Drum activates an x-ray vision, enabling him to see the man was carrying a knife and a gun in the pouch of his hoodie. Without a doubt, the man is armed and dangerous. “Hey!” The man shouted to the woman, before brandishing his knife and gun, threatening her, “Give me your purse!” The woman was so frightened, she could hardly move to escape, or even resist. She was at the mercy of the man. “Hey!” Hum Drum shouted, making himself known. “Leave her alone!” “Get lost kid!” The man spatted. “I think I hear your mommy calling.” “Well, that’s my mom you’re threatening!” Hum Drum mentally berated himself for that comeback. ‘Smooth! Real smooth, Hum Drum. Just be glad your real mother never knows about this.‘ Getting back to the task at hand, Hum Drum resumes talking down at the thug, “Look! Just walk away, and there won’t be any trouble!” “Oh, there won’t be any trouble at all,” The thug grinned menacingly from under his hood. “Because you’re the one who’s gonna die!” The thug was about to pull the trigger on his gun, when he was suddenly lifted off the ground, dangling in the air, with his leg held up by a familiar golden lasso. Both Hum Drum and the woman he saved looked over to see Mistress Marvelous had arrived. “Howdy, Hum Drum,” Mistress Marvelous greeted. “How’s your mom?” In response, Hum Drum let out a sheepish chuckle, with his cheeks burning a shade of red from embarrassment. Later, the police arrived to arrest the man for stalking and attempted murder. In the meantime, Hum Drum and Mistress Marvelous both checked on the woman to make sure she was alright. “So, uh, how are you doing madam?” Hum Drum stammered. “Doing alright?” “Yes, I’m fine,” The woman replied. “Thank you both for saving me.” Hum Drum’s eyes widen once he got a closer look at the woman. In appearance, she has pale white blonde hair, over her sea blue eyes. Her attires are a hot pink jacket over a red scarlet blouse, dark blue jeans, and black Mary Jane heels. “Though, I’m afraid I don’t remember having a superhero for a son,” She said. “In fact, I don’t recall ever having a son.” “Oh, well, ya see,” Mistress Marvelous began on Ken’s behalf. “He’s actually an apprentice of me and my friends, so...he often says some of the weirdest things.” “Uh, yeah,” Hum Drum grumbled. “Sorry about that. Small error on my part.” “Oh, it’s quite alright,” The woman smiled, before looking with piqued interests at Hum Drum. “Although, you do sounded terribly familiar,” The missus commented. “Do I know you?” “What?” Coughing and clearing his throat, Hum Drum made his voice sound deeper. “I...I don’t know what you’re talking about, Miss Kisara.” “What?! How did you know—“ “Uh, I think I hear someone else calling for help,” Mistress Marvelous stammered, struggling to lie as she and Hum Drum awkwardly make their escape. “It must be this Kisara, Hum Drum was mentioning.” “Uh, yeah! Yeah! That’s right,” Hum Drum agreed, as he and Mistress Marvelous take their leave. “Anyway, take care of yourself ma’m! Have a nice day! Bye now!” With that, the two heroes took their leave, while the woman, identified as Kisara, was left dumbfounded. “What odd heroes,” She commented. Later that afternoon, after changing out of his suit, and recovering from his early embarrassment, Ken was back in his room, rummaging through his belongings, until he found what he was looking for. A photo album. Turning the pages, Ken search through all his collected memories, before he stopped at what he was looking for. There, in the photo, smiling brightly is the woman, Kisara herself. Standing at her waist, hugging each other and holding up two fingers is a girl, at the age of 8, smiling and hugging a younger Ken, when he was at the age of 5. Ken runs his fingers across the photo, looking longingly at the girl. “Kara...” He muttered. Flashback A young Ken was playing with chalks on the sidewalk, drawing pictures of mighty dragons, fighting knights on horseback, charging hard into battle with spears. Suddenly, two large boys came and smashed his chalks, before smothering his drawings. “Hey!” Young Ken screamed in protest. “What did you do that for? That hurts my feelings!” “Aw, what are you gonna do about it, huh?” The first boy spatted. “Throw a tantrum?” “I think he’s gonna go tell mommy on us!” The other boy laughed. Next thing the two big boys knew, they were grabbed by the ears and pulled to each other, slamming their heads together. “D’oh!” They groaned, before they were tossed to the side. Stepping forward and holding her hand out was an older girl, with a positive and caring aura around her. “Hey Ken,” She greeted him. “What you drawing there?” “It’s...it’s a dragon,” Ken answered. “Or it was...” “Really? A dragon?” She asked, squatting down for a closer look. “Wow, he looks likes he’s had a really big fight.” “Well, he’s defending his cave, because it holds a lot of his treasures, and this knight wants to kill him to get all of it.” “Then he’s gonna need help,” The girl smirked. “Lots and lots of help then.” “Help? Who’s going to help a dragon like him?” “Maybe his bestest friend and big sister...like ME! ROAR!!!” The girl playfully roared, as she catches him in a tickle, and Ken fall on his back, laughing happily from her attack. Present “It’s been three years now,” Ken frowned sadly. “Where’ve you been?” “Ken?” A voice spoke up, revealing herself to be Trots Summers. “Is everything alright? What’s wrong?” “I...I’m missing a friend,” Ken frowned. “Want to talk about it?” Trots asked, taking a seat beside Ken. “Her name is Kara Dragonheart,” Ken said nostalgically. “She was one of my best friends, before Gwen and Thor. In fact, she was more than my friend. She was like the big sister I never had. Strong, brave, but also kind and caring, in her own angst tough girl way,” Ken chuckled. "She sounds like a great girl," Trots smiled, before it turned to a frown of concern. “So what happened to her?” “I...I wished I knew,” Ken frowned. “I was only 11 when she was up and vanished. I asked her mom about it, but she doesn’t know. She only said that she remembered seeing Kara to bed. But by morning, she was gone. Vanished without a trace." “And she’s still missing?” “Yes,” Ken nodded grimly. “And...is anyone still looking for her?” “We’ve looked everywhere. The city, the suburbs, even in Blackwater Woods,” Ken shook his head as he concluded, “But nothing. We never found her, and...” The boy hesitated, before he covered his eyes. “Anyway, after so many dead ends, most of us just...moved on, thinking she's gone for good. But...I can't." "Why not?" "I don't know. A part of me wants to forget her and move on...but another just keeps telling me that she's alive, and that she's lost...somewhere, and..." Ken shook his head, grunting in frustration. "I know, it's crazy. But that's honestly how I feel..." Trot shook her head as she pulls Ken close, wrapping her arms around him in a comforting hug. Ken returned the hug.