In a world where the age of heroes are a thing of the past, how will three teens bring it back?
"On this day and age, we have let the super-heroes of this world dictate how the law must be carried. Their recklessness costed people lives. They operate too freely with little to no supervison. And so I am calling to repeal the Superhero Registration Act, and make it so that any meta-human or any super-powered individual found by local government forces must submit and be transferred to a secluded facility–or be terminated."
•No set schedule set for this story, it may be changed unless I get a proper schedule done. But updates will be random unless otherwise. •I am looking for an editor, but that's only optional, you don't really have to do it. But I tend to skim over a few things when I proofread my work.
In case you haven't noticed I'm freaking out. Why? 'Cause I've been shot.
Yeah, talk about rude beginnings.
I looked to my side, and sure enough. It was wet with crimson blood, enough to make me want to faint based on how much of a wuss I've been from past experiences I'd rather not visit. At least the bullet went clean through without damaging anything. Then I would've been screwed .
Well, I'm still screwed, but I guess it's less now. If that made sense... like... at all.
Anyways, with a grunt I stood up and quickly patched up the bullet hole with a couple of webs. Sure it wasn't the best of options to do. But I was running out of time. With AMRD forces closing in at any moment. I could be apprehended and locked away in the Vault, jeez is that place freakin' creepy...
Yeah it kinda sucks being a superhero now. Times sure did change for better or for worse, I could see the debate in a better situation. But being shot isn't really going to help things.
I guess I should start somewhere, let's see...my name is Alex, I'm fifteen years old, I'm Hispanic, and I've been shot.
There, all done!
[Alex, get the hell out of there!]
Oh, right...
The guy yelling in my ear is Jay Makerov. One of new my best buds, a hacktivist extraordinaire. And a complete dickhead sometimes. But I guess that's the price for being the smartest there is. Well, besides one other person I know.
Right now I'm currently filling in the roll of Spider-Man. Except Spider-Man was supposed to be dead, and I'm in his place. And all of the superheroes were supposed to be dead. But hey, I guess some things never stay the same.
The mooks chasing me right now are led by some asshole chief-of-policeman called Shining Armor.
It's funny because I'm friends with him outside my alter-ego. Along with his sister, Twilight Sparkle. Well, technically we're close friends and he'd just on good terms with me and--
You get the point.
Anyways. We--well, you are too far in the story. I mean, it's already two months after it began.
So let's start over with less blood and everything. Shall we?
[Two Months Prior]
Alex took a deep breath as he braced himself for the bus to stop. Ever since he lived on his own. He has been constantly being told by Child Services to go to school and get a proper education. He would've kept avoiding an education had it not been for his childhood friend egging him into getting a education did he decided to take those suggestions seriously.
Even then he was having some doubts before. Now? That feeling was multiplied by a thousand.
As the school bus pulled to a halt. Alex pulled his headphones out of his ears and stuffed them into his pockets. He was, however, thankful that Twilight convinced him to attend the same school as him.
And that the school allowed students wear whatever they want, provided they stay within dress code.
So Alex assembled the most basic look. A simple grey t-shirt masked by a red and grey sleeved hoodie. Simple jeans and sneakers. The most simple look he could come up with. He would be damned if someone told him otherwise. As he exited the bus, he saw the school he would be attending to; Midtown High.
'Ugh.' Alex mentally groaned, Out of all of the high schools Twi' had to pick. It had to be this one...
Regardless, he approached the building and entered inside. And immediately was greeted by a familiar sight.
"Alex!" He soon was ensnared in a hug by one of his closest childhood friends; Twilight Sparkle. Who was sporting a pair of glasses, a violet t-shirt, a skirt, and a pair of sky-blue sneakers
The story behind their friendship was something not even Alex could fathom. Soon after he was orphaned, child services relocated him to the Sparkle family, a family friend of his mother, so he could develop better as a child before he would live on his own.
The two of them were virtually inseparable. With both of them getting along as if they were siblings. It made it all the while more heartbreaking when he had to move to another house to begin his own life. However they still kept in touch. And they still do to this day.
"Hey Twi', I need to--breathe!" Alex gasped as Twilight's hug soon morphed into something of a bear hug. Twilight soon realized this and blushed as she let him go.
"Sorry about that..." She said with a nervous grin, "but it's so exciting to see you again after so long!"
Alex smiled, truth be told he was excited as well to see someone after so long. "So I guess we're supposed to head to class?"
Twilight blinked before realizing, "Oh! Yeah, I was supposed to take you to the office, considering I was close to you and the school decided someone with a familiar face would make it more--" She shook her head to get her thoughts back in order, "let's move on."
As they walked, Alex took a look around and found the students to be chatting away with each other, ranging from who was a better superhero during the Golden Era, to who they deemed worthy of their time.
Alex heard the stories Twilights mom used to tell whenever it was time to sleep, how these heroes were selfless, brave, and cunning. Which begged the question, why did it have to end?
These days if you even tried to attempt vigilantism you would be arrested immediately, and transferred to thee most secure prison on Earth, the Vault.
The very name sent shivers down Alex's spine, he heard about the former heroes forced to go there. He heard about how it broke a lot of them. Perhaps the worst was Captain America, a man who fought for his country only to see it betray him. Rumors were going around that he went insane. Perhaps planning to exact his revenge on the world. Broken like the rest of them. Only a few heroes managed to disappear from the face of the Earth without trouble. Even then, AMRD forces were still tracking them down.
'What a time to be alive, I guess...' Alex thought as he entered the office. And saw a middle aged woman at the desk.
"Hello! We're looking for his locker number!" Said Twilight, only then did the woman looked up. With perhaps the most bored expression.
"Gonzalez?" The woman asked nonchalantly, and Alex nodded. The lady soon wrote on a sticky note and handed it to him.
"Your locker is on the second floor, and you have first period in ten minutes, have a nice day. And don't bother me if the kids start picking on you. Complain to the security guards." The woman said nonchalantly before getting back to work on her ever-so-precious game of Solitaire.
Alex and Twilight both looked at each other before shrugging and leaving the office. And were soon walking down the hallway.
A little while later, Twilight couldn't help but ask about Alex's... 'condition'. Perhaps the most baffling thing was how well kept his secret was, and how it was only revealed to her and her alone. Perhaps a lifetime ago. And she couldn't help but remember.
[Years ago]
"Do you promise?" A young Alex asked as he hung from the celling, much to the surprise of a young Twilight. Even then, her mind was way ahead of its time.
That didn't stop her from being a best-friend to Alex however.
So her head began contemplating the options. On one hand, HER BEST FRIEND HAD THE POWERS OF SPIDER-MAN! She NEEDED to tell someone.
On the other, would it be worth it? Would sacrificing a friend be worth for fame? Of course, people always said to go with your heart. So...
"Of course I do!" She said while jumping ecstatically, "Your my best-friend! I would never rat you out!"
Overjoyed, Alex let out a big cheer, and dropped down to the floor. Landing on his feet and embracing Twilight in a hug.
Before realizing he has a mind of a five-year-old and blushed furiously before pulling away. Twilight doing the same as well. And an awkward silence engulfed the two for what it seemed like an hour.
"So..." Alex said while scratching his head.
Twilight blinked, "You want to mess with my brother again?"
Alex smiled, "Sure!"
[Present Day]
"So Alex..." Twilight said as he began to putting in the combination.
"Yeah?" He said nonchalantly as he was on the final set of numbers.
"How is that...ahem...'condition' going along?" She asked hesitantly, Alex only stopped what he was doing and gave her the most confused look imaginable.
"...What?" Alex said with confusion in his voice.
"Y'know..." She leaned next to his ear and whispered, "The spider...thing..."
Suddenly Alex's eyes went wide with realization, "Ohh...yeah, they're still around, though I've gotten the hang of it, though next time say it in a less populated area..."
Twilight could only blush furiously at that statement, "Yeah..." Then realization hit her face as her eyes went wide, "We have to get to first period now!" She grabbed his arm and dashed down the halls, avoiding students and faculty alike, until they reached her first period class.
"Alright...we made it..." She said between gasps of breath. Alex didn't say anything as he looked on the schedule, and frown.
"Uh...Twi'?" Alex asked.
"Yeah?"
"This is your first period class, mine is in the third floor." It took Twi a minute to register those words. Then she muttered a reply he wished he could've recorded.
"How the hell is he going to survive after taking a bullet to the gut?"
...
Am I getting close? No?
Whatever.
Anyways I suppose you want some backstory as to what happened that led to this moment, rest assured I'm ninety-nine percent sure the info I have is true. At least, I think it is…
So about roughly sixteen years ago the greatest war between heroes erupted, dubbed the infamous “Superhero Civil-War”. Which was sparked after an incident occurred in a small town in which it killed a ton of civilians, and it was all because of a group of Superheroes were filming a new episode for their TV show. And they didn't take into consideration that they were entering a heavily populated area where children were nearby. This--of course--backfired heavily after a villain who was called Nitro self-imploded, causing an explosion that killed the superheroes, their crew, a good chunk of the town, and a shit-ton of children.
It then sparked controversy regarding if superheroes should be monitored by the government. And thus the Superhero Registration Act was born, which meant any super-powered being should register, expose their identity, or be arrested and taken to this place called the Negative Zone.
Fucking ominous isn't it?
Eventually Captain America, the First Avenger. Stood against this, saying that people should keep their identities secret. And heroes have the same rights as people, and they shouldn't be forced on how to help people. More importantly, what would happen if our loved ones were put in harm's way because we exposed our identities?
Now, I'm not gonna lie when I say the world lost its collective shit when they heard that Captain-Fucking-America, the man who stood by the U.S., the man of freedom and selflessness, was now against it. At least those who saw it that way…
What made things even more interesting was that Spider-Man joined Caps side. Saying we all have loved ones, and exposing our identities would risk their safety.
Of course Iron Man, who fully supported the Act. Was immediately pissed off at the following Cap was getting. So he assembled his own team and they fought.
Like, a lot.
Eventually, both sides realized it was pointless. Considering even more people were getting hurt from the brawls that happened between heroes. So with some talking, they dropped the Superhero Registration Act, and all's right with the world. Right?
Wrong.
One year later, some new company forms. AMRD; Anti Meta-human Response Department. And their shtick was that they were so offended by the actions both sides displayed. They decided to act and properly showed security.
Now, normally it wouldn't have been a big deal. So what? A private security company is throwing a hissy-fit and it doesn't have any real say in the government, so it shouldn't be a problem. Right?
Imagine how wrong that would be...
Eventually they wedged themselves firmly on both sides of the political party. They managed to get a guy whose actions were able to be dictated by AMRD, into the White House. All while they were raising funds for the victims of the incident.
Then everything went to hell.
First, he appointed the CEO of AMRD into an official seat in Congress. Ensuring they have a say in the government. Then, he assembles a conference, and within fifteen minutes, he manages to completely fuck-up America.
Holy shit, look at the time. I need to move!
[Two Months Prior ]
“So...how was your day?”
Alex pondered that question, and wondered if he truly had an answer to the flame-wreck that was his past four periods leading to lunch.
First he had trouble paying attention, but considering he really couldn't due to the lack of focus in his classmates. Not being completely in the moment would not be unjustified.
On the other hand…
He was considerably antisocial when it came to greeting himself, even though he came one week after school began. Nonetheless he distanced himself without even trying. Not that he minded being alone, he just hated crowds
He was also clumsy at times, fiddling with his pencils and getting constantly distracted by all the little things. In his defense, there were A TON of better things to do than being in school.
Then again, he has spider powers...maybe he could--
‘Nope,’ Alex internally thought, ‘If being a hero means you have a one-way ticket to the Vault, then it's a life I rather not have...’ He kept repeating this thought all the way into lunch, trying to convince himself not to get involved.
As he held his lunch tray, he hoped to any deity that the lunch was at least half-decent. Of course, his hopes were taken out and ripped to shreds like a crowd at a super-sale. Because the most vile source of food to ever take existence found its way to his tray.
Tofu
“Enjoy.” The lunch lady said in a almost dead tone. Scooping another wad of tofu and giving it to Twilight. Who took it with glee.
‘Heh’ Alex thought, ‘She'll probably lecture me on the benefits of tofu...'
“So...if you don't mind me asking again, how was your day?” Twilight asked again. With slight concern in her voice.
Alex blinked for a second before realizing he never really did answer her question. Realizing his mistake, he slightly flustered and rubbed his hair.
“I mean, it's okay so far. Not so many problems as I thought it would be.” He said in a honest tone. He hated lying to her, but he really wanted to move on from the awkwardness of it all. They soon found a nearly empty table and soon took their seats.
“So Twi’ how was your day?” Alex asked, desperately trying to move the subject away from him.
“Well, we didn't really do much other than go over the basics in math.” Twilight said as she recounted her day in great detail. And Alex couldn't help but smile, yet Twilight, lost in her tale, somehow noticed this.
“What?” She asked with a confused look, “Was it something I said?”
“No, but you did seemed to enjoy yourself.” He said with a smile.
She blushed realizing she had rambled on again, “Sorry about that, I just, I tend to talk a lot because of debates. I think it's beginning to rub off me…”
“Well, if I'm completely honest, you kill it at those debates.” Alex said as he kept poking his tofu. He was fairly certain it was making a sound it shouldn't have.
“Hey, can I sit here?” Both of them looked up to see a fairly tall boy who was pale, wearing a peacoat, jeans, and sported glasses similar to Twilights. He was carrying what seemed to be a sketchbook. And both looked at him with a blank expression before Alex replied.
“Uh...yeah, sure.”
The boy sat down and immediately opened his book to begin drawing.
“Um, your not going to get food?” Alex asked the boy.
The boy simply looked at him with a deadpan expression, “Why should I? The food’s shit.”
Alex couldn't help but look at his abomination of food and agree with him. After all, the tofu looked like it came from Chernobyl.
However, Twilight couldn't help but ask the boy a question, “Weren't you at the Midtown debate a couple of months ago?”
The boy thought for a moment before nodding, “I do remember being at that debate, but I don't recall anything in particular.”
Alex blinked in confusion before speaking, “Hold up, he was with you at the debate?”
Twilight nodded, “Apparently he practically owned the debate before my team took his place. I met him only a few times before he went home.”
The boy snapped his fingers, “Oh yeah, I remember how nervous those kids from east-side got once I started talking.” The boy extended his arm to shake both of their hands, “Names Jay, you?”
“Alex, she's Twilight, I just transferred here today.” Alex explained.
Jay nodded, “What do you do for a living?”
“I really don't do much, I mean, I work part-time at a couple of places. And I live on my own for the most part.” Alex explained, “You?”
“Parents thought it was a good idea to transfer me to a public school, they think I would make ‘new friends ’, and be more ‘open’ with people. Honestly, I liked them before they became more involved in my life.” Jay explained.
“Yeah, well, we can't have everything.” Alex said while picking at his food.
Jay pointed to his food, “You don't want the tofu don't you?”
Alex shrugged, “Yeah, first day of school and the food is equivalent to that of a dump.”
“Well to be fair, you expected the school to serve something good?”
Alex thought about his statement before nodding, “Touché.”
[Later]
"So, what do you have next period?" Alex asked as he dumped his tray, along with Twilight.
"Trig. You?"
"Wow we actually have the same period, along with Twilight." Alex said a bemused expression.
"So wait, Jay, what do you usually excel at?" Twilight said with curiosity.
"Well I'm good with computers, math, and physics. Why?" He asked.
"Well, we could use someone to help with math club. Since our computers are going on the fritz and--"
"Just reset it."
"I'm sorry, what?"
"Reset it. If someone else's computer continues to be experiencing problems, let me know and I'll check on it." Jay continued walking as Twilight stood there with her mouth agape.
"I think someone actually outsmarted Twilight." Alex said jokingly as he walked past her.
Twilight blinked for a second before shaking her head and only mumbling, "Shut up." Catching up to Alex as they entered Trigonometry.
