//------------------------------// // Chapter 30: Suspicion Erased Or Raised // Story: One Shot, One Chance // by SpeederClaw //------------------------------// The sun had already poked its fiery body above the horizon and shone extravagantly in the healthy sky. Its rays of purifying light stretched into the hospital’s thin windows, warming the place up with energy. The warmth made its way into each room, each patient. The uplifting force gave hope and ensured happiness. Enzo’s newly wrapped body felt this natural comfort at work. His rebandaged side and freshly bandaged leg accepted the light invitingly. The black stallion slept peacefully and without sound. Enzo’s new room was a copy of his previous, albeit without the horrors of yesterday’s night to show. A figure twitched and Enzo’s peaceful slumber broke as he opened one eye with instant reaction. He sat up abruptly and regretted the decision as he felt newly acquired pain in his side. Sitting back down, he tilted his head and sighed. “Nothing.” He resumed his previous position, but found it futile to return to sleep. “The letter.” Enzo reached to the counter next to him, but stopped. 'The doctors or nurses probably took-’ He kept going reluctantly and felt a wrinkled note. His mind raced, but his body remained still in order to prevent further pain. “Gray Shark, you never fail to amaze me.” Enzo picked up the note and opened it. The introduction appeared familiar and Enzo made his conclusion. “Still the same. I hope he didn’t get paranoid and write another one just in case.” The words on the page were still the same and of the same handwriting. Enzo skimmed to the part he left off at and made a vow to finish reading what was left: It is me, Gray Shark. I know you may find it unbelievable, but I also ended up here along with you and your friend as well who I assume is from our world. Nevertheless, I want to warn you about a few instances. One, I have suspicions and facts that we aren’t alone in this world. I mean that in a sense that a few...undesirables followed us through the portal. “The portal. There it is again.” 'From the portal.’ The image of Sir Cutter X saying the same thing swiped through Enzo’s head. He didn’t pause for too long: Beware of the sins; beware the one with gauntlets, the one with the tuxedo, the one with the cane, and the one with the feathered cavalier. You will know what I mean. That being said, be careful out there, Enzo. I wish you luck in how you are living your life. To be honest, I’m already getting used to Equestria. But, the memories of the past will never be erased. Should we ever return...I’m not sure if I want to go back to the hellhole we lived in. Best regards, Gray Shark Enzo looked up from the letter and fell straight back into his bed. His body compressed into the mattress as he tried to recover from his startled self. “Everyone has to stop doing that.” Vice was sitting next to the window, sunlight outlined him. He simply gazed outside and didn’t turn to look at Enzo. “It happened again, didn’t it?” “What?” Enzo said returning to normal. “You got attacked. You were hurt and I couldn’t do shit about it.” “Vice, I-how did you know-” “I’m not stupid. I’m your friend. I saw what happened in the other room.” Enzo’s surprise was unnoticed by Vice. ‘So, Nurse Redheart really did leave the room like I asked her to.’ “So, tell me what happened.” “I-I got attacked. By Masquerade Blade, one of my rivals.” “Thought some shit like that would happen.” Vice shook his head with defeat. “I wasn’t there to protect you. Enzo, I failed you.” “Don’t say that. No one could have predicted-” “I could’ve if I was just smart enough, but I’m just a big dumbass. Enzo, I’m sorry. I wasn’t strong enough!” “Vice, stop, please. I’ve already had enough people worried over me already. I don’t need your concern on top of it all, really.” “Right. Right. That’s why I did you favor. I followed your word.” “What?” “When you said we needed to tell everybody about…us, I was afraid. Afraid of rejection and afraid of isolation. Afraid of the unknown. Again. But I’m not afraid anymore, Enzo.” Vice spoke in a whisper despite his solitude with Enzo. “Today, Applejack came up to me and said she understood what I was going through. She gave me time off, Enzo. She said she finally understood what it meant to be me.” “Vice, what are you trying to get at?” Vice smiled faintly. “We got some explaining to do.” He turned towards the door and stood up. “Hey, everybody-pony, whatever! Get in here, we’re ready!” Enzo gasped as he realized what Vice was trying to achieve. The red door opened and a familiar group entered the room. Clyde accompanied Blitz as they and the Mane Six entered the room. “Finally, we’ve been waiting for like ten minutes out there! I’ve got things to do!” Rainbow Dash said fluttering in with arms crossed. “This better be important.” Vice glanced at Enzo. “Yeah, it’s kinda important.” Rainbow Dash’s face lit up and she shied away. “Oh yeah, right. About you’re-” “Well then, Mister Enzo, how are things?” Clyde said covering up for Rainbow Dash’s ignorance of Enzo’s situation. “And, Mister Vice, what was it that you had to explain to us?” “Yeah, how come you told us not to go in that room, huh?” Pinkie Pie said bouncing with curiosity. “Was there a party in there that I missed and it was so big that the room just exploded and we couldn’t go in there?” “No-just hold on. Is everyone here?” “Yes, Vicer, everypony you asked for is here,” Twilight Sparkle said eying the group quickly. “Will you explain now? I’m interested to hear what you’ve called us all here for.” “Likewise,” Blitz said. Enzo, still in his bed, spotted Fluttershy and instantly blushed. He masked himself with a poker face and tilted his eyes away. However, this action proved inefficient as he winded up looking back at the mare. She smiled and stayed silent. “Alright, everyone listen up. I called y’all here for an important piece of information…concerning us two guys,” Vice said. “You two?” Applejack said. “What-” “It’s about our past. AKA where we’re from. Blitz, you’re gonna love this.” Blitz stepped forth and tilted his head. “So am I finally gonna get some answers here?” “Yes,” Enzo said now getting into what Vice was planning. “We’ll explain. You all are going to know everything.” Vice fidgeted in anxiety all of a sudden, but calmed himself quickly. “Right. So, uh, I guess I’ll start by saying…ugh, how should I put this.” Blank stares filled in with silence. “By just saying it.” He winked at Twilight who merely smiled. Vice stopped shifting in place and smiled happily. “We are from the future.” “Excuse me?” Twilight said almost falling over. Vice waited as everybody in the room gave him the crazy look. “Haha, I’m just kidding. But, uh, actually-yeah we’re kinda from a different place.” Blitz pondered the idea before chuckling, to Vice’s dismay. “So you mean, like, another dimension or something?” “Sure, I’m glad you put it-” “Oh my Celestia…” Blitz’s chuckling increased to a forceful laugh. “Vice, that’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard!” “Wha-” “Mister Vice, are you alright? You haven’t been doing strange things recently?” Clyde asked brushing his mustache. “This isn’t the best time to be fooling around. I thought this was important.” “Oh my-I can’t even. I can’t even! You all are taking this as a big joke-okay,” Vice said heating up. His face grew bright red with embarrassment and fury. “Hey, that’s not so bad of a joke. I like it!” Pinkie Pie said. “Yeah, Vice, nice one. I got a good laugh,” Blitz added. “Great, you called me here over a joke,” Rainbow Dash complained. “Oh well, if you need me I’ll be outside getting some sunshine-” “Aw this is fucking great.” All conversation ceased as Vice let out his anger in curses. “God damn awesome. I finally-I trust you-I’m done. Enzo, I’m sorry but I’m done. Fuck it!” Vice raised his hooves and shrugged before heading out the door. He kept his eyes forward without looking back at the stunned ponies. “Holy hell!” He was almost outside before something stopped him completely. “Get back here!” He turned and faced Enzo. “You can’t expect them to believe you that easily. Don’t you give up that easily. You hear me?” Vice closed his eyes and sighed. He swung around on one leg and dramatically re-entered the crowded room. “Yeah.” After recuperating from the sudden swears, Twilight spoke up. “Um, okay. So, wait, you’re saying you guys are from another…dimension?” Vice feebly looked back and nodded. “Yes. That’s what I’m trying to say.” “That’s-” “The craziest thing I’ve ever heard,” Blitz interrupted with a stern face. “Multiple dimensions can’t exist, how’s that possible? How can you just jump to another? You can’t.” “If you’d shut the hell-” “Ahem, Mister Vice, please watch your tone this time,” Clyde said quietly. “Please.” “Would you kindly stop talking and let me…try to explain.” Vice eyed Enzo once more before shaking his head. “Look, I know that all this sounds like complete bullshit but you have to understand.” The faces still struck Vice as doubtful and barren inexpression. “I can’t make you all believe or even understand how or why or what, but hear me out. This is hard for me to explain because I don’t understand it either. Just-” “I believe you,” Twilight said plainly. “Really, I do.” “What?” Blitz said. “I could sense some sort of foreign magical barrier surrounding the two when I first met them. However, I never brought it up because-well, I thought it would be rude and I never really got the chance to ask. I guess the answer was given granted I waited long enough,” Twilight said shrugging. “But, I would’ve never assumed this. A different dimension...” “It’s complete crap! That’s just impossible! That’s stuff you hear in myths and fiction; ponytales! This is just like a dream or something. It can’t be logically right,” Blitz said still fired up on his denial of the subject. “Like I said before, Blitz, multiple dimensions exist...but I’m curious. Dimension jumping is nearly impossible, you’re right, if you’re-well not a unicorn. Even then it’s hard for somepony like me to maintain connection for more than five minutes at most. How are you two able to stay here? Is there another unicorn accompanying you? The magic spell would’ve worn off by now.” “Spell? Twilight, it’s not a spell,” Vice said. “And it’s just us two.” “Then how-” “What we’re trying to say is that we’re from another dimension...and also another world,” Enzo answered for Vice. “Another world? As in a world that’s not Equestria?” “Yes, it’s-” “Oh my goodness! This is amazing!” Twilight exclaimed with a jump. “Entities not only from another dimension, but from another world entirely!” Twilight’s face beamed with excitement and she started to slightly bob in place. Pinkie Pie joined in Twilight’s merriment and the two danced about while laughing loudly. “Twili-how can you just believe them like that? This is crazy! You’re just going to trust them? Just like that? I know you better-” Clyde rested a stern hoof on Blitz’s shoulder and spoke solemnly. “Let it go, Mister Blitz. Just let it go.” Blitz protested harshly, but eventually let his quarries die down. He put a hoof to his head and shook it. “Unbelievable.” “I’m going to have to run some tests and gather as much information as possible!” Vice and Enzo gave each other worried looks. “You will comply, right? Of course, oh this is excellent! How is it; what is your world like?” “Hell,” Vice said softly. “More or less so.” “What?” “Death, totalitarian slash fascist dickhead as ruler-the worst kind-uh, lots of corruption; oh the complete opposite of Equestria pretty much.” “Oh, I would never have suspected-” Twilight’s anxiousness flat lined completely. Vice put up a hoof to reassure. “No, it’s fine. Like I said earlier, don’t expect you all to understand what...or who we are.” “Hey, um, I still don’t get it.” Blitz said loudly. He stomped his hooves in frustration. “I can maybe accept all this nonsense, but you said you’d explain things. Now you’re just confusing us even more. Who are you?” Vice sighed heavily. “Okay, ‘ere goes.” He cracked his neck, looked straight ahead and spoke in a monotone voice. He did not blink once. “Name: Victor Vicer, The Brown Eagle. Serial number: E021. Installation: Operation Death Skies. Fly-Bye leader of Sixth Squad Air. ‘Born to bomb’.” After finishing he turned to Enzo and lowered his hooves. The spotlight was on him. “Victor Vicer-serial-Sixth Squad-” Blitz intercepted. “I don’t-” “Name: Enzo Endante, The Quiet Kickboxer. Serial Number: A026. Installation: Silent Steel. Sniper unit of Shadow Regiment. ‘Kill quick, speak zero’.” Enzo mimicked Vice’s dry tone with perfect accuracy. Blitz’s face twisted into increased anger, confusion and even fatigue. “What are you two talking about! I don’t understand!” “Our world, our hell,” Vice said breaking away from his monotone voice. “I never believed in other worlds like you, I’ll admit. I didn’t believe in magic or talking horses either. But, after being cast into this world, into your world, my beliefs got flushed down the system.” “Can you please speak normally and stop talking in riddle or whatever. We. Don’t. Understand.” Blitz said. The group agreed in consensus with broken nods. “We, you guys versus us, we are from a different world and dimension. We got here through some sort of portal,” Enzo said. “We are different than you. Physically...and mentally,” Vice added. “Yes. Look at my leg.” Enzo removed his blanket covers and exposed his bandaged hind leg. The white taping was already a dirty dark maroon. Enzo carefully unrolled his leg and threw aside the tainted white cloth. A few screams came from the mares and both Clyde and Blitz reacted with a hoof over the mouth. “Take a good look at what’s different about me.” “You’re leg,” Fluttershy said with immense worry. “You’re bone...it’s all metal.” “That’s right,” Enzo said gesturing to his exposed leg. A dark bluish metal cylinder seemingly replaced the position where Enzo’s bone would be. “My leg bones are specifically replaced with chromium coated tungsten.” “The strongest combination of plating and metal from our land. It’s specially designed to be virtually indestructible. No one breaks that stuff, it breaks you.” Vice took the moment to step forward and spread his wings. “Take a look at my wings too. Really examine them beauties.” As the group shifted their attention, Rainbow Dash screamed in horror. “You’re metal thingy, it’s...inside your wings. It’s inside your back!” “Bingo. I always tended to hide my wings if you never noticed. Why do you think I wore a trench coat?” Vice chuckled with silent stares looming around him. “This metal around and inside my wings is pure titanium with steel attachments here and there. Not as strong as Enzo’s legs, but certainly useful for flying. Agile and strong; just how I like ‘em.” “So what are these metal devices?” Twilight said still calmly. “How does this connect to your world? And are you ponies in your world? Please continue.” “No,” Enzo said. He motioned for everyone to look at his wrist band. Two clicks and his blade extended. “We’re killing machines.” “Our world is not organic, if you will,” Vice said. “If you will. And you will. Ever hear the term, robots are gonna take over and destroy all humanity?” Less than half the group nodded. “That’s what happened. Our world, called Earth, used to be full of organic life forms called humans. Imagine yourselves, right, creating new technology every day. Well, one day, you, Equestria-ns? Equestrians make a great big discovery and figure out how to make machines that acted exactly like you. Well that’s what happened with our world; machines with free will and free thoughts. Technology was at the point where people started to play God. I was one of the first few to be created.” “As with me,” Enzo said. “But...do you know what our purpose was as free thinking machines? War. We were created for the sole purpose to kill; to destroy. Tactically, we were better than remote controlled machines because we could think on our own in battle. The humans saw the risk versus reward and took reward without regret. Soon enough more robots got created. That’s when the big boss comes in. We called him Ultra Pride. A machine created entirely out of specialized chromium coated titanium. He was invincible. Do you know what happens when you create something invincible with free will? When you try to play God, you get destroyed and that’s what happened. He turned on the humans and this invincible machine created an army, solicited other dangerous robots and just tore up our world. It was like fascism all over again; robots were the supreme.” The whole group stayed silent out of fear. Nobody dared to interrupt Vice’s explanation, not even Blitz. “Now before you ask, yes, it was the humans’ fault that they screwed themselves. I mean, I ain’t the brightest guy out there and I could tell they were digging their own grave even before they started building...us.” “It wasn’t their fault,” Enzo broke in. “You can’t blame them as a whole.” “For the most part they screwed the pooch. Okay, so maybe like a couple million were genuinely good. But, being the cynical bastard I am, I like to think that they all tried to suck God’s dick and ended up getting blasted with reality cream,” Vice defended. “That’s just an ignorant thing to say. You and I both know that they got the unfair end of the deal when things started going bad. You can’t just group them together like that!” “Hey, ignorance is bliss then,” Vice said shrugging. “Now, being the idiots we were, me and Enzo tried to fight back. We sided with the humans and we lost. We lost hard. A holocaust, a genocide, mass killing; you name it. The human race was wiped out and machines ruled as the dominant species. Of course, we were-and still probably are-targeted as high class terrorists against Ultra Pride’s shitty government. This dude recreated everything, indoctrinated everyone. He won. The production of robots stopped and everything that existed would remain the same forever. You were either alive or dead. That’s it; no change. That’s the way it worked and that’s how it’s always going to work. Everything stood at a standstill, Earth stopped evolving.” “That is what our devices are for as machine-like remnants of our former selves,” Enzo said waving his blade. “Also, you may have noticed our blood being darker than usual. As robots, we were constructed to be exactly like humans. Facial features, personality, anatomy; we were supposed to be humans. We bled like humans and acted like humans. But we weren’t. We were monsters.” “Hey, I was pretty sexy back then before...well I got turned into a horse,” Vice said. “Oh and there’s another thing, how the hell we got here you’re all probably wondering. That’s simple. As we hid from the big boss, we met another rebel machine called Electric Flaire. Good guy, one of my only friends besides Enzo. Anyway, he was obsessed with...um, you guys and this drove him to insanity. He wanted to physically meet up with you guys, so he spent his time studying on how the hell to make a portal.” Twilight was the first to finally catch what Vice had said. “Wait, obsessed with us? How can that be if we reside in two different worlds?” Vice smiled and shook his head as usual after mentally piecing together his explanation. “Now I’m fine with you finding this complete crap. Equestria, and all of you guys, are part of a TV show. That’s right.” Eventually everybody caught on and whispers echoed everywhere. Nobody wanted to speak up their true feelings or questions. They were afraid. “I’m glad y’all are taking this somewhat nicely. So, you’re all a TV show called My Little Pony: Friendship is...Good?” “Friendship is Magic,” Enzo corrected. “Right, so as you can tell I don’t know anything about it. But let’s just go along with this and don’t ask how or why because I wouldn’t be able to explain.” The chatter stopped. “So Electric Flaire, he’s crazy to meet you guys and I don’t blame his ambition. He got me standing here in this world, right? The portal’s done within a few friggin’ years. That shit only took him so long to figure it out and I don’t even know how in God’s name he did it, but he did. Granted technology is pimped out I guess it wasn’t out of his ability, but goddamn portal to a different dimension. That’s stuff of fairy tales and fiction, but it was real. Something I thought would never work, could never exist, was in front of my face.” “So where is this Electric Flaire?” Twilight spoke up. “He sounds like another interesting character that I’d love to talk to. If he can create portals to different worlds, maybe he can-” “He didn’t make it here,” Enzo said softly. “He told Vice and I to go in first and he’d follow us through. He never came. I remember hearing him screaming that something was wrong. It was already too late; we were inside-” “And being tossed like ragdolls,” Vice said. “The experience, you’re all wondering? I don’t know. One second I’m stepping into this spinning vortex of nightmares and the next I’m sitting in a field of green with my body aching. That was the first time in three hundred years I saw grass and trees. It also marked the day I lost my fingers and opposable thumbs.” “Yes, we were instantly teleported and morphed into the inhabitants of this world. We don’t know how or why we didn’t retain our robot forms.” “Yeah, pretty much we just changed like that, like magical bullshit,” Vice said. “I’d rather be-well, maybe not now, but I would’ve rather have been still a machine than a pony. Sorry.” “We’ve certainly changed our views.” Vice nodded, albeit weakly. “That was three years ago. Took us long enough to figure out that we need to breath,” Vice said breathing in air to make his point. “We also learned that we needed to eat and naturally we learned to fall asleep. It took us a long ass time to be and realize we were organic. That we had what we called human needs or in your case, pony needs. Robots don’t sleep, they don’t eat, they don’t breath, they don’t age, but they certainly felt pain. That was at least something the same. Oh yeah, I remember the time where we found out how to use the bathroom by pissing on-” “Yeah, you get the idea. After that, we kind of just went along with how your world works. We were life-like for the first time, we had flesh and for the most part bones.” “Yup. Apparently when we traveled here, it seems our machine-like aspects also fused with our body. My wings, Enzo’s legs and his wrist. All those devices were our shining grace in our world. They were our weapons of unique choice.” Vice surveyed the blank faces and smirked with satisfaction. “Yay, story time is over. Does that all make sense now? Three years ago we get transported and changed into ponies, we get used to your world and we blend in, happy fun times.” Vice paused and proceeded to speak seriously. “Do you understand why we were so illusive? Do you get it now?” “Yes,” Blitz said. “I get it now.” “Good, ‘cuz my voice box is about to implode on itself-” “I get that you’re all crazy!” “Shoot me. Someone, off me right here.” Blitz waited a bit before letting out a genuine chuckle and Vice laughed as well; the first time the two laughed together. “I understand kinda. I don’t understand, but I do at the same time. Knowing you and how you talk, the way you said all that makes me think it wasn’t a giant lie.” “That’s good enough for me, bro.” Vice shuddered as he contemplated a conflicting thought. “It’s funny that you can believe I’m here within minutes, but it took me a couple years to accept that.” “So…Victor,” Twilight said skeptically. “Why just Vice? And Enzo?” “Victor ain’t really a name you hear often in your world,” Vice answered. “Same with the last name, Entante. It doesn’t work; we didn’t want to risk suspicion. So, Vice and Enzo worked fine and we still kept our identity. That’s important.” “I see. So what should we call you now?” “I think Vice and Enzo should be fine. I’m not complaining,” Vice said. As Twilight’s question received feedback, the room became awkwardly silent. “Ahem, Mister Vice, I personally believe you. As a friend,” Clyde said in a stately manner. “Same here, partner” Applejack agreed quickly. “Enzo, now I know how you were able to buck all those trees with ease.” “...and I guess I can believe that you lost to me because of your heavy, fat metal wings,” Rainbow Dash taunted. “Hey, I thought we agreed not to talk about that!” “Hehe, sorry.” “I also believed you two from the very start, Fluttershy said. “No matter how awful and horrible it sounds, I have to believe you because I care about you both. Honestly.” ‘She cares about me? Wow, that must mean the amount she cares about Enzo...damn!’ Vice thought. “Thank you, Flut-tershy,” Enzo said choking on his words. He smiled to cover up, but failed as Fluttershy giggled. Pinkie Pie’s eye grew with delight. “Oh, oh, oh! I believe you, I believe you!” “And of course I believed every word you said. Such fascinating creatures,” Twilight said. “Hey,” both ponies said. “Oops, sorry that slipped out-uh, sorry.” Silence flew over and all eyes turned on Rarity who remained quiet until the spotlight shone on her. She smiled and backed away a little bit before answering. “Well, I can hardly find such a tragic place to even exist.” “Tell me about it,” Vice said. “But, I believe you. Really, I do.” Vice smirked his trademark smirk and did a mini fist pump. “Yeah...” He felt himself shaking. “Damn! Damn-holy mother!” “That’s his way of saying thank you,” Enzo said with certainty. “Thank you all for trusting that we’re not...totally insane.” “Yet,” Vice said. “Funny.” More silence followed and the group grew subtly restless. “So, I guess that’s it then?” Twilight said. “Yeah, that’s about it,” Vice responded tiredly. Everybody nodded awkwardly before heading out the door. “I still want to run some tests. Please?” “Fine.” Twilight nodded happily before following behind the departing group. Enzo and Vice watched, tension released, and simply waited. Minutes passed without speech or movement. The two just stayed still. They didn’t know how to react. Vice’s head twitched and he scoffed. “They sure were in a hurry to leave.” “You practically threw everything at them.” “Hey, it was your idea.” “I know, but-” “But pish posh. They’ll be fine. S’not like we’re gonna go haywire or anything. They know us enough to trust us.” Vice flopped himself on the bed adjacent to Enzo and whistled. He sat in direct sunlight and felt his body heat up with pleasure. “Ahh, freedom.” “You’re sure quick to change.” “Hey, that definitely went better than expected. You didn’t cry!” Vice said with a cocky grin. “And I didn’t swear-uh, more than three times.” “Try like ten.” “Hey, damn and hell and dick aren’t swears. Those are swears for pussies. The F word, mhmm, that’s a big boy swear for big boys like me.” Enzo shook his head. “You think they really, truly trust us? After all we told them?” “They gotta. Right? They’re not the type to discriminate against...former robots?” Vice closed his eyes in frustration. “Oh man I hate being a fleshy.” “Hah, that’s the same thing you said when we first got here. Exact words.” “Hmph, they’re words of wisdom. Anyway, I’m heading out to do some errands. I should be back before you fall apart.” “That’s not funny, and where do you think you’re going?” Enzo sat up as he genuinely found himself concerned. “What are you planning?” “I’m going in.” Enzo’s face sagged into worry. “What?” Vice sat up this time and faced Enzo. Only his lips moved as he spoke clearly. “I’m going to kick ass.” “Stop joking. I’m dying.” “No, really.” Enzo tried to speak, but ended up muffling his words as he raised his hooves to comprehend what he had just heard. “Why.” “To protect you.” Vice placed his hoof on Enzo’s chest. “Don’t worry, I’ll be fine.” “No-” “Stop worrying about me and more about yourself; that’s your problem.” “No, that’s your problem; you always rush into trouble!” “For you!” Vice sighed. “All I do is for you.” Enzo hesitated and calmed himself. “But...” “But nothing. I’m going into that damn forest and I’m gonna send those motherfuckers straight back through the portal to hell.” Vice got up and stretched out his wings pridefully. He playfully strafed back and forth in combat stance. “Hey, I’m invincible.” Enzo watched helplessly as his friend exited the room. He didn’t have the strength to physically move and the heart to call out. He hung his head low and cursed to himself bitterly. “I can’t have one good day. Every day is nothing but trouble.”