Mondo's Fabulous Pink Top Magic act

 The warm heat waves radiated off the black top of the bustling morning streets of Pink Top City. The air carried a faint chill as winter approached, prompting more people to stroll outside. Celeste happily headed home, her arms full of Frozen Chicken wings and ingredients for beer-battered onion rings. "Only get what I can carry? Bad choice of words, Fab." She said with a wide smile that revealed her extended canines.

As she headed home, she saw a huge crowd gathered outside a huge Theatre. They admired the inside as people set up a grandiose stage, with pictures of a dark-skinned man smirking. He wore a red Suit with black trim, a matching cape, and a top hat to complete his ensemble. A faint shimmer of golden light flickered in his open palm, hinting at the mysterious magic to come. The younger audience was clearly intrigued by his mysterious appearance.

"The Amazing Mondo Soft Touch? A magic show... Huh." Celeste said, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. "There hasn't been much to see in the movies or anything to do lately... Maybe Fabien would like to come with." She said with a shrug, lifting her bags and heading home.

Fabien was in the kitchen in just his Green Danny Donger's shorts, getting the fryer and oven ready. He smiled softly as he heard the familiar footsteps of Celeste coming in. "Hey, hon! You get what I asked for?" He asked with a smile. Celeste just lit up and set the groceries on the table. "Sure did! I also saw something interesting!" She said with a Cheshire grin.

Fabien chuckled and shook his head. "I know that look, so it's got to be something that sounds like fun. Let me get these wings and rings fried up, and we can discuss it during dinner, Ma Cherie!" He promised as he got everything ready, eyeing that Celeste had deviated from the list to buy ice cream as well for dessert. "Sounds good!" Celeste said, watching Fabien closely as he prepared dinner.

Fabien smiled softly as he first sliced the Onions into numerous wide rings and covered them in the batter he had been working on while Celeste was out. As he dropped them in, he quickly prepped to do the same thing in a different fryer for the wings. "Thanks to you, this process isn't going to take NEARLY as long as it should have. You did good work tonight." He told her, and Celeste flashed a bright smile. "Thank ya, Fab!" She said happily.

After about Half an hour, Fabien had managed to successfully plate both Celeste and himself while they enjoyed a lovely dinner together. After a few onion rings, Fabien looked into Celeste's eyes. "So what's this thing you wanted to tell me?" He asked curiously. Celeste just nodded excitedly while digging into her wings. "Uh-huh! I saw this ad for this big magic show coming! Nothing like you see at kids' birthday parties! This looked BIG! I wonder if it's got any surprises up its sleeve." She said excitedly.

Fabien considered it in his head. On one hand, magic shows weren't normally his thing. On the other hand, he had a few days off and no plans; sitting bored around the house didn't particularly sound any better, so he just shrugged. "Honestly, I can't think of anything better to do, so how bout tomorrow night?" He asked curiously. Celeste just grinned and nodded as she kissed his cheek. "Sounds like a plan! It's a date!" She exclaimed.

The next evening. Fabien had one arm around Celeste as he waited in line for the show. He wore a Plaid red overshirt and his "Nuklear Intoxikation SUCKS" T-shirt underneath, along with blue jeans and sandals. Celeste wore her Leather Jacket, a white striped top, a Leather skirt, and heeled boots as she smiled. "Think we're a bit underdressed, babe?" She asked. Fabien just laughed and shook his head. "For what? A magic show? I think we'll be fine." He assured her as they headed to the front-row seats they were assigned.

As they and the audience took their seats, a brilliant purple smoke began seeping out of the vents below them. The lights slowly dimmed until it was hard for the audience to see anything; then, in a flash, the spotlight focused on the stage in front of them. In a flash of light, a handsome young tanned man in a Red suit with a black and red cape smiled out at the audience. He brushed his raven hair down and smirked as he formed a ball of light in his hand, throwing it up in the air and creating a dazzling firework show that lit up the room.

"Hello, Pink Top City! Gaze and be amazed by the Magnificent Mondo Soft Touch!" He announced as a table and Giant box were raised through trap doors. Fabien just crossed his arms. "An indoor light show, and already he's announcing that he's amazed? Can you believe this?" Fabien asked, only to see Celeste going sparkly-eyed at the light show. He just shrugged and sat back as he continued to watch.

Mondo smiled softly as he stepped into the large box and grinned while the spotlights went out; his Head, Torso, and Legs seemed to separate and float around, the boxes looking like they were juggling before forming back together, with him stepping out and the spotlights focusing back on him. 

Fabien raised a brow at what he was seeing. "Okay, THAT's pretty cool. I thought this was just going to be pulling a rabbit out of a hat." He admitted as he watched Mondo walk in circles of spiraling light while Celeste clapped rapidly as he floated around the audience.

Mondo smiled at Celeste and wagged his finger at her in his Direction. His gaze locked on hers, and she obediently, yet excitedly, got up on the stage, all while Fabien looked on. He wasn't sure what he thought as he watched Mondo tickle Celeste under the chin, only to feel the same sensation as a hand made of Mondo's light tickle HIM under the chin next. "Why don't you join us on the stage next, kind sir? I hate to separate a lovely couple!" He beckoned. Fabien shrugged and headed up on stage with his hands in his pockets.

Celeste grinned brightly as Mondo guided Fabien into his magic box. "What now? You going to saw me in half?" Fabien asked with a laugh. Mondo laughed as well. "Oh no, no, no, my friend, that's old magic, and I never really cared for those outdated tricks." He said while turning to Celeste. He drew a circle in the air with his fingers and made a colorful rainbow spiral that only she could see. The confused Celeste blinked as she tried to focus on each color, only to grow drowsy as he carefully kept tickling her chin.

Fabien could see none of this, only what looked like Celeste and Mondo whispering. "Well, folks! I'm afraid the Main attraction has come... But I'm afraid my lovely assistant could not make it... which leaves me unable to do the next part." He said sadly. The audience began to boo in disappointment before Mondo held his hands up. "BUT! My new friend here, Celeste Marcella... Has agreed to help! Just have to get her... Dressed for the part!" He said as a second box appeared.

Fabien's eyes rose. "HEY! WHAT'S THE BIG IDEA?!" He demanded. Mondle locked his gaze on him as he smirked. "You really expect a lady to get naked in front of an audience?" He retorted, and the audience laughed, except for a few young men who whistled, making Fabien grit his teeth. Mondo made a similar spiral for Fabien, who, unlike Celeste, was more confused, as his power kept him from succumbing to Mondo's power like Celeste had. "The fuck is that?!" He demanded. 

Mondo just frowned and stroked his chin. "Interesting... Well, in any case, no, I will not be letting your girlfriend get seen naked by anyone! This is a MAGIC show, not a Peep show!" He promised as he walked Celeste into the box. The lights dimmed again as the box glowed with blinding golden light and spun around. After a solid minute, the spotlight flashed on, and Celeste walked out. Her old clothes were gone; she was now in what looked like a Los Campos showgirl outfit: a stunning purple bodice, a golden mini skirt, and a pair of black fishnet stockings, with her feet in glittery golden French pumps.

"Your Girlfriend is quite beautiful! And so talkative as well, perhaps a bit too much, Fabien Bellegarde." Said Mondo so low that the audience couldn't hear him. "What the hell are you-?" He asked as Mondo formed floating hands with his light. Celeste had a vacant smile as she removed Fabien's shoes while the audience was distracted. Fabien glared at Mondo. "I Don't know what you've done to her, but if you hurt her, I will-" He started as Mondo's glowing hands separated and tickled the weak spots on his feet, causing him to instantly thrash. "HAHAHAHAHA AHHHHH HAHAHAHAHA!" He screamed out as the audience clapped.

"You know, typically I don't like doing this kind of show because I HATE the smell of stinky feet, but your girlfriend here overshared when I questioned where you were ticklish... And I just couldn't resist the chance to play with not just one, but TWO sweet, fragrant cuties! But I'll tell you what, if you play nice, I'll help you get revenge!" He promised as he made more glowing hands. "GO HO HO HA HA HA! GO TO HELL!" He screamed out, causing Mondo to shake his head. "Ah, well, it's not like this changes anything." He said as he guided Celeste back into the box; this time, she seemed to elevate until her head was poking out of the top and her feet out of the bottom.

As Mondo snapped his fingers, Fabien could see Celeste snapping out of her hypnosis. "What the... Huh?" She asked as she wriggled in the box. "And now! GAZE AS I SPLIT A WOMAN IN HALF!" He announced to the audience, to Fabien's horror. "YOU'RE A LIAR, MONDO! YOU SAID YOU DIDN'T LIKE THE SAWING-IN-HALF TRICK!" He screamed. Mondo winked at him as he gave him an amused smile. "You're correct, I did say that... But I never said I'd be sawing her... I find laughter to be more effective." He said as he removed Celeste's golden pumps and began tickling her soles, making her shriek and squirm. "HEE HEE HEE! HA HA HAAAAA OH MY GAWD!" She whined as both Celeste's and Fabien's boxes were spun so that their feet were facing each other.

"Seems our young lovers are having a bit of a debate on who is more ticklish... Let's find out together!" He said as he pressed their feet together, his glowing hands tickling between their toes deeply as they both thrashed, forcing them to play a ticklish game of footsie. Fabien and Celeste both laughed and screamed as they were forced to tickle each other with their feet.

"Gaze and be amazed by the grand finale, folks!" Said Mondo as he lit a candle, letting the smoke blow under both Celeste and Fabien's noses while the spotlight dimmed so that the audience could not see it. The strong, calming fumes slowly tucked them out as they passed out in their boxes. The audience's clapping and cheering echoed in their heads like a lullaby.

A few hours had passed, and Celeste and Fabien were now back in their seats. Celeste was still in her outfit, with her clothes in a paper bag beside her. Fabien looked down to see himself in a Handsome Black Tuxedo with an emerald green vest. His former clothes were also in a separate paper bag. As they both checked their bags for their stuff, they found a flaw in their clothes.

"Our time together was short, but sweeter than gourmet chocolate. I'll be in town if you ever want a private show. Until then, I hope you enjoyed the show, my lovely friends!" Celeste huffed and sat back, looking up to see a new show going on; Fabien let out a sigh of fresh air as he sat back. "Well? Everything you hoped?"

Celeste crossed her arms. "It would have been a bit more fun to just watch YOU get tickled..." She said quietly, so as not to disrupt the show. "That said... it was interesting... and it was nice to get tickled by someone who isn't trying to kill us or marry us, or some other crap!" She added.

Fabien just nodded. "Mondo Soft Touch... He certainly lived up to his name." He muttered... "I suppose if it's just a little tickling fun, I could see myself attending another magic show!" He said with a light smile, leaning into Celeste; the two lovers sat through the next act, not caring what else the night brought them.

The Aurian Chronicles Chapter 7: Dinner and a Lyte show

 Silver pulled her jeep into a vacant parking garage and paid her fee while straightening out her dress. She headed out to the spot where Darkness was waiting, lounging against a wall. She took in a deep breath of air and sighed softly as she wrapped her arms around him tightly. "Ready to go, my love?" She asked happily with a tight smile.

Darkness raised a brow. "You're awfully clingy, everything-?" He began to ask, but when he saw the anxious look in her eyes, he just nodded and gently rubbed her back. "Fine, later... But I still need to know if it has gotten you this rattled." He said as they walked, while she clung to his arm. "So, uh... Who is this Larry guy? What's his deal?"  He asked as they crossed the street. Silver looked up at him. "Larry isn't a person, dear. It's Larry Mallrat's pizzeria, Lisa's favorite place."

Darkness's eyes widened as he immediately came to a stop. "NOPE! PASS! PASS PASS PASS!" He said as he tried to bolt, but Silver held him in place. She grabbed him by the head and forcefully made him look her in the eyes. "Now you listen to me, and you listen to me good, Derek Sonata! That girl in your absence, Lisa, has been nothing short of a daughter to me! I had to deal with her longing for her older brother. So you're gonna go in there, have some goddamn pizza, drink a beer or two, and BOND with your little sister! DO I MAKE MY FUCKING SELF CLEAR!" She said fiercely.

Darkness gulped and nodded. "Alright, alright... For Lisa..." He said with a groan. Silver raised her brow at him. "Why are you even acting like this? It's just a pizza place." She asked curiously. Darkness tensed up at the question and looked down. "My... uh, first hit was here... I managed to kill the guy as he was running through the play area, but I didn't know what to do with the body... SO I just stuffed it in one of those goofy mascot suits and dropped it off the bridge into the ocean.

Silver immediately power-lifted him over her head. "THAT WAS YOU?!" She demanded in Spanish, causing a few people to look her way. "I saw that on the news! THEY SHUT THIS PLACE DOWN FOR A WEEK! That could have devastated Lisa if it were permanent! Oh, you are so lucky Lisa needs you right now! Or I'd Power bomb you right now!" She said while putting him down. "Don't think this conversation is over either! You will be working in my clothes shop for the rest of the month!" She added for good measure.

Darkness just grunted. "I'm sorry; hell, had I known Lisa went here, I wouldn't have taken that job at all! Just... Don't tell her?" Silver rolled her eyes. "No, Darkness, I'm going to traumatize Lisa by telling her that not only is her brother a killer, but he ALMOST got the place she seeks comfort in most shut down..." She said with venom in her voice. Darkness just stopped her and made her look him in the eyes. "Okay, look, I know I fucked up, and I also know I dropped a lot on you at once, but I also know my wife well enough to know that she only acts this erratic when something has truly bothered her... So if you have something to share, please do so now, so you and Lyte don't pile on at the same time." He said calmly.

Silver wanted to struggle and tell him off, but the sudden realization began to set in. She let out a shaky sigh and rubbed his back. "I'm sorry, Derek... I truly am... Rosellia is here." She admitted, causing Darkness to raise an eyebrow. "The fuck for? I thought she wanted to live in South America?" He asked. Silver shrugged. "She didn't really say, but that's for later... Please, let's just work past this for Lyte," she said as they walked in.

Darkness looked around at the large area, packed to the brim with all sorts of video games. There were also plenty of play areas for both adults and children, like rock climbing and jungle gyms. The smell of admittedly damn good pizza filled his nostrils, and fresh pitchers of beer could be seen being taken to a table where Claire was sitting while she watched Lyte stomp colored buttons on a 'Music Stomp Station' machine. "This place is a kid's place? What kind of Kid's place has beer?" He asked as he sat by Claire.

Claire happily ogled Lyte's shaking butt, and Silver giggled. "Not just beer; there's a Cocktail menu, and even an adult section that opens up in the evening! Lyte got her first job here because she loved it so much; she helped put herself through school and such with a smile on her face... The money you sent was nice, but the girl was just... BUILT to entertain." She explained.

Darkness went to retort before looking up at a man in a big mouse costume with a sideways hat, a green jersey, and blue jean shorts! "HI THERE GANG!" He said, then pressed play on a 90s boombox. "I'M LARRY THE RAT I'M WHERE IT'S AT! I'M THE COOLEST AND THE HIPPEST LITTLE CUDDLY MALLRAT! I DO MY DANCE FROM HERE TO FRANCE WHERE CHEESE FLOWS ALL THE WAY UP TO YOUR UNDERPANTS YAHOO!" He sang, causing Darkness to cringe. Silver slipped Claire a twenty and mouthed a 'thank you' as they both silently giggled.

After a few minutes, Lyte got off the machine and sat by Claire, hugging her tight before sitting down. "What'd I miss?" She asked as she leaned back. Silver just grinned as Darkness looked away uncomfortably. "Nothing, just some paid entertainment for a really special guy!" She explained. Darkness just grumbled and kept his mouth shut while a waiter set down a Pepperoni Pizza, two pitchers of Draft Beer, and some frosty mugs.

"That... actually smells pretty damn good." Said Darkness as he cut some slices and watched the cheese pull stretch over eight inches. "A cheese pull, air pockets in the crust... this is FRESH! All this for a kid's spot?" He asked with confusion in his voice. Lisa laughed and munched a slice as she took a sip of beer; after a moment, she called for a blue raspberry soda. "Well, think about it like this, Derek. You bring your kids to a goofy kids' place so they can run around; you just sit around and watch them go bonkers... wouldn't you want something for YOU as the parent? That's why I loved DJing here! It's where I got my start!" Explained Lyte.

Darkness just considered her words and nodded as he sipped his own beer, savoring the combination of fresh mozzarella and cold filtered draft beer. "You make a compelling case, sis; I might actually come here more often!" He admitted, and Lisa smiled and giggled a bit as she relaxed. Claire and Silver just smiled at each other as they watched the two siblings bond.

"So Lisa... We came here to... Talk about something?" Asked Derek. Lisa suddenly became interested in her own feet as she grew nervous. Claire locked her right hand around Lisa's left, offering the comfort she needed. "You're right... Sorry Derek, I've... been putting this off for long enough." She admitted. The tone of her voice caused Darkness to lean in on guard.

"It's about an incident I've been insecure about since High School... I never told you about it because of a mix of shame and not wanting to disturb your career... Even though Silver and Claire encouraged otherwise." She explained. Darkness just looked to Silver and Claire, who looked down, trying to brace themselves for what was about to happen.

Lisa looked at Darkness and let out a shaky cough as she locked her gaze with his. "There was this boy who was really interested in me... He always gave me the creeps because he'd make these out-of-pocket comments about my body, or excuses to touch me." She started. Darkness glared hard as he began to tighten his grip around the handle of his beer mug.

"One day, he decided he wanted more than all of that, so he made his way into the locker room, where he tried to... Tried to...." She said, clenching her fists. "Sexually assault me." She admitted. Those last three words caused Darkness to grip his mug so hard it shattered as the glass spilled his remaining beer on the table, but nobody at the table paid it any mind. Darkness could see the scowl on Claire's face, the murderous gleam in her eye as she tried to be strong and hold Lyte all she could.

"He didn't, though! I sort of used my powers to blind him, but Claire... She found me in my underwear as Tommy stumbled blindly... I don't remember much after that, as I had a breakdown... But Claire's been helping me deal with it ever since... But Tommy disappeared, and I... I feel guilty that I might have caused it. That's why I didn't want you to come to that last concert. Krystal went out of her way to slut shame me because she thought I was dating her... I just didn't want THAT to be how you found out." Finished Lisa as she went back to trying to drink her beer.

There was a lot Darkness wanted to say, so many questions he wanted to ask, so much he wanted to yell; instead, he saw the look of sadness in Silver's eyes, the pure righteous fury in Claire's eyes. He decided he needed another approach for now. He lifted Lisa's chin to make sure she was looking at him and nodded.

"You're right, it would have been MUCH better if he simply raped Claire instead." Said Darkness. All three girls looked up in shock. "WHAT?!" asked Lisa as she started to glare. Darkness just shrugged. "Think about it: if he had done that instead, he'd never have been blinded. Sure, he'd be in jail, but hey? You'd know where he is, right?" He asked.

Lisa's rainbow aura surged as her eyes turned into bright rainbows. "You fucking asshole! WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?! IF THAT HAPPENED TO CLAIRE, I COULD-"

"Never live with yourself? So you would have gone out of your way to stop him without hesitation, right? Why can't you feel that way about protecting yourself? You acted purely in self-defense... So don't you DARE feel guilty about what you did. If anything, you made the world a better place." 

Lyte continued to glare, her teeth gritting tight as the aura began to radiate in her hands. Silver smacked the back of his head. "There was a FAR better way of saying that, you idiot." She said through her own gritted teeth. Claire just held Lisa tighter as she glared. Darkness just grunted. "Look... I'm sorry, Lisa. I'm DEFINITELY sorry, Claire... But what I'm trying to tell you is that this guy... He isn't someone to feel sorry for; he's a would-be rapist... One that stopped you from hurting not just you, but others... anytime you feel bad about doing what you did... you let those bad memories win... Is that a better way to put it?" He tried.

Lisa paused and processed what he said. "I guess so... but was using the thought of Claire being hurt necessary? I wouldn't have done that to you!" She accused. Darkness raised both hands in defense. "Again, I'm sorry. I want you to stop feeling guilty; clearly, I used the wrong analogy."

"NO shit!" Said Silver with a glare. "I expected better from someone with Sexual Harassment training!" She added for good measure. Darkness pinched the bridge of his nose and nodded. "You're right... Again, I'm sorry." He said as the weight of his words finally caught up to him. "But I hope at least the point got through. I know you don't like to hurt people, but sometimes you are left with no other option." He explained.

Lisa just looked away and let out a huff. "I guess... I'm gonna go to the bathroom." She said as she headed away. Claire went to join her, but Darkness grabbed her hand before she could get up. "Ah ah ah ah ah, There's something I want to know from YOU, Claire Beckett." Demanded Darkness.

"... What do you want, Derek?" Asked Claire defensively. Darkness drained the remaining beer from the pitcher and looked her in the eyes. "I saw the look on your face when Lisa was telling your story. I saw the same kind of look I saw on my comrades when we went to war... do you know more about that story than she told?" He asked.

Claire simply stood up and faced away from him. "... Lisa was completely naked when I found her, and I took care of the problem MYSELF! ... Do with that information what you will... I appreciate what you were TRYING to do with that statement, but you traded one problem for another, and now Lisa needs me." She said. Darkness just held onto her. "Then, where is he?" He asked. "Fifty miles out in the ocean, where I swam out and drowned him.... Now, if you'll excuse me." She finished as she ran off.

Darkness grunted. "I've been dealing with Rapists and Murderers too long." He said, placing his Left hand on his forehead. Silver just slapped the back of his head enough to make him lean forward. "Raping someone else would have been better than Lisa? CLAIRE at that?! While I understand the point entirely, I could have phrased that a million ways better!" She scolded.

"I'm sorry, Silver. What can I do right now?" He asked. Silver just let out a frustrated grunt. "Give her space... You're gonna have to apologize better than that when she's ready to talk again about Tommy Shackler!  She added. Darkness just nodded and held her. I think we should say our goodbyes and meet them at home," He said while putting the money on the table.

After texting the girls, Darkness walked with Silver. "So when were you going to tell me Claire is an aurian?" He asked as they walked to the parking garage. Silver just stopped. "How-?"

"Fifty miles out in the ocean, then fifty miles back is about a hundred miles of swimming, plus the weight of another body kicking and thrashing... How many teenage girls do you know can do that? Look, it's whatever; I've already made enough of an ass of myself, so I'm not going to press it... I've got a lot to think about if I want to fix the relationship with my sister... If I even fucking can now... I'll see you at home, Hon." He said as he got in his Dodge Challenger and headed off, leaving Silver to climb in her Jeep.

As Silver headed off, Karryn smirked in her aurian form. "So He's vulnerable to family bonds... Interesting... I suppose I'll have to look into further testing his abilities..." She said as she walked out of the parking garage, the echoes of her high heels trailing behind her as she stepped out into New York City.

The Aurian Chronicles Chapter 6: The path of the Silver wolf.

The Harsh winds of the Alaskan winter blew harshly over the forest of Tongass. A lone shadow darkened the snow as it trekked through the snow slowly. A muscular six-foot-three man in a white robe and red raven-shaped mask carried a small girl with Silver skin and a balaclava on her head. She was no more than four feet tall and wore a dark blue silk dress. Both of them wore clunky brown mukluk boots that the man had made himself.

"Where are we going, Daddy?"  Chirped the little girl in Haidan language as she gently kicked her legs. The man stopped and stood her in the snow. "Home, my child... Home," he said in a soft voice as he knelt down to her level and patted her head before removing her balaclava, revealing her to only have a very small tuft of white hair.

The little girl self-consciously tried to cover her head as she puffed her cheeks out. "But this isn't home! Home is in Florida with Mama and Rosie! ...And my friend Derek too! It's so cold up here I can see my breath! I've never seen anything like it back home," she said as she tried to reach for her balaclava, only for the man to pocket it. 

"I know you haven't, dear..." He said with regret as he took off his robe to reveal his medium brown skin. He was wearing only a black pair of self-made shorts to cover himself, clearly unaffected by the harsh cold around him. "If I had my way, you would have stayed here the day you were born... You can thank your mother for that..." He continued.

"I have heard and seen more than enough of the way children treat you at that 'school' your mother is so adamant we send you and your sister to. All because of your skin and hair color from that accident... While I admit it was unfair to blame your friend Derek, and while I ALSO admit that he has been a good friend helping you fight your battles... We are Haidan... we fight our own battles... So I will be training you properly." He told her while he flexed his muscles.

The little girl gulped. "But Daddy.. I don't like to fight." She tried to protest as she backed away, only to trip and fall on her behind. The man adjusted his mask and shook his head. "This isn't about fun, Sera; this is about Necessity... I  once thought of you as my little Raven, but fate has decided to make you my Silver Wolf... As such, you must be fierce like the wolf; you must fight like the wolf." He answered.

Sera nodded and stood up, taking a beginner's fighting stance. "Yes, Daddy... So what do I do now?" She asked with determination in her eyes. The man chuckled and took a more experienced stance. "Now? For the next six months, I will instill in you the pride of our culture, as well as the skills necessary to defend yourself... Who knows? Maybe one day instead of your friend helping you, you'll be helping him!" He retorted.

Sera's eyes lit up at the thought of fighting alongside Derek. Childish fantasies of them going on adventures together began to fill her mind. "I'm READY, Daddy!" She exclaimed fiercely. The man laughed proudly and nodded. "Excellent, my little Silver wolf! Now... hit me with everything you've got and let that pent-up energy flow!" He told her. Sera nodded and threw the strongest punch we had.

Silver opened her eyes and punched a reinforced five-ton stainless steel punching bag back in a slow, steady rhythm as she chanted. "THAT'S RIGHT, I FIGHT! THAT'S RIGHT! FIGHT!" She chanted as her punches got stronger and stronger. "For my family waiting back home. I FIGHT! In the Darkness when I'm all on my own. I FIGHT! Haidan Ancestors, can't you see? Honor pure and ripe in me! Body trained to suit my need, to meet the demand of my creed. I will pledge this until my last rest! I will pledge this until my last breath! I will pledge this until my great death!" She chanted in flawless timing with her powerful punches.

After a full hour had passed, she adjusted her sky-blue training Bra and matching spandex-lined shorts before chugging her grape-flavored vitamin water. "Good training today...  Perhaps one day Father will see how far I've come." She told herself with a proud nod.

A deep laugh came at the entrance of the gym. "Father? Really, Silver?" You still believe our parents are alive?" asked a dark-skinned woman in a rose-colored dress. Her Dark green boots echoed as she strutted toward Silver nonchalantly, as her long pink ponytail trailed behind her.

"Rosellia... Oh, how I've... MISSED you so much." Said Silver with a strained smile as she reached out for a handshake. Rosellia reached for it, only to lightly pinch the braid of white hair on Silver's head where a Golden ring shined. "I'm sure you have, dear sister... I'm sure you have..." She said as Silver smacked her hand away, causing Rosellia to smirk down at her.

"Well, Silver, I really only dropped by to announce I'd be in this dreary state for a little while... Perhaps later on you can introduce me to this quaint little family you've raised? It's been ever so long since I've seen Derek!" She said, smiling wide enough to show her teeth.

Silver's eyes narrowed hard as she glared up into Rosellia's brown eyes. "Why are you really here? You've never given a damn about me OR Derek! What in god's name could you possibly need to be here for?!" She demanded angrily, to which Rosellia waved her hand dismissively.

"Oh, calm down, little sister. I'm merely here on some personal business... maybe when we next meet, I'll talk about it with you, or maybe I'll leave without a trace and never see you again! Where would be the fun in knowing the end result in a story that's just beginning, am I right? Anyway, It's been real, and it's been fun, but it hasn't been real fun... have fun praying to the ancestors or whatever Father has you doing!" she said as she waved behind her while leaving the gym.

Silver growled angrily and headed to the shower. "She's nothing more than a brat... She has been ever since we were kids.. Not sure why I thought over a decade of not seeing each other would change that." She said while standing under the near-boiling hot water. "That's fine, my REAL family needs me right now anyway... I need to hurry up and get changed if I want to make that dinner date at Larry's." She told herself as she started her many beautification processes.

After a five-minute lather, a ten-minute rinse, the application of a deep root shampoo, and a matching conditioner, Silver finally stepped out of the shower. She then dried herself off, carefully stepped into a metallic sky blue dress, gently eased her size 8 feet into her white heels, and applied her makeup. "Flawless." She said as she blew a kiss into the mirror.

"Whatever Rosellia has planned, it can wait; right now, Derek and Lisa are my main priorities." She said simply as she got into her army green jeep and zoomed off into the approaching night, all her cares being left behind as she hit the road.

The Aurian Chronicles Chapter 5: Money vs. Power.

 The morning sun shone brightly over a large five-story mansion. Darkness rolled his eyes as he drove through the massive plantation of coffee beans. "The man has enough money to buy some offshore island, but he wants it ALLLL in New York... Over the top... Over the top." He said as he pulled into a parking lot just outside the main entrance. Darkness went through his phone and extracted the pictures he took from the previous night onto a portable drive as he walked past a large bronze game. "Collect the money, in and out," he said to himself as he kept walking.

On the uppermost floor, a Young Italian man applied a lint roller to the sleeves of his white three-piece Italian tuxedo as he looked into a dark-tinted mirror made of Pure fine carved Onyx. He casually sat down at his Ebony desk while he waited to see Darkness. "Mmm, such a beautiful day! Let's hope this transition goes quickly," he said with a picture-perfect smile while a soft knock rapidly struck his door. "Come in! Come in!" He said happily, only to be taken aback as a young woman walked in wearing a blood-red sequin dress and black heels.

This woman had a creamy white complexion and a diamond-shaped face. Her red pupils locked on his ice blues as she glared at him. "AH! KARRYN! To what do I owe this unexpected intrusion?" He asked as he placed a Solid gold coffee thermos on a personal heater. 

Karryn smirked softly and levitated into a seated position out of her heels, resting her feet on Mr. Capryse's desk. "Tony tony tony.., It's been way too long... Seems like only yesterday I was making a deal with a young up-and-coming little brat in the crime world... Can you remind me what that deal was?" She asked as she looked across the table.

Mr. Capryse just smiled back at her, waiting for his Coffee to heat up, causing Karryn's own smile to turn to a sneer. "Well, allow me to remind you! I give you access to not only aura, but aurian knowledge... and YOU use that knowledge to grant me my aurian army! I see plenty of employees around this admittedly beautiful piece of real estate... But aurian enriched beings? I'm afraid you are in... Short supply." She finished.

The sound of bubbles slowly forming in Mr. Capryse's Thermos could be heard, causing him to gently pick it up and open it while he added two sugar packets to it before taking a sip. "About that... First off, you didn't give me Aura as part of our deal; you exposed me to it before telling me what it was." He said as he poured Karryn a cup without even asking her if she wanted one.

"Secondly, you tasked me with using the research you had from your own world... This 'Aurian Realm' if you will, which you won't even tell me the full name of yet... And expect me to just make you an Aura-powered army to use as you will. I'm curious, if it was that easy, why in god's name do you need me?"

"Listen here, you arrogant brat! Don't you DARE question ME! GIVE ME WHAT I WANT OR I WILL PERSONALLY-!" 

"You did this because you know perfectly well that if you just took a bunch of people to your home and gave them powers, they'd turn on you at the drop of a hat! But me? I establish loyalty where I can, and my wife, Saryn? She's FASCINATED with the human brain... I have indeed been using the knowledge you've given me... Capryse Coffee is my best-selling product because my Aura-enriched soil allows these beans to grow year-round with minimal care. I use the profits I generate to fund my Wife's endeavors, and we use the fruit of those labors to study who and when to bestow Aura upon." He exclaimed patiently.

Karryn's eyes narrowed as her nostrils flared, causing black and red flames to blow out. DECADES LATER, mind you! Your research means nothing if it takes this long to reap the rewards! All the other dimensions I have traveled have borne fruit by now... While YOU, Antonio Capryse, have nothing to show! I GAVE You all this wealth! I can burn it to the ground all the same!" 

Mr. Capryse smiled softly as he held out his hand, forming a crystallized comedy mask over his face. "I'm having a good day, Karryn, don't turn it bad..." He told her as spikes began to grow from it at the sight of red and black flames emanating from Karryn's now dark pink body. 

Before the first blow was struck, the door was forced open. Darkness slowly walked in and sat down in a seat across from Mr. Capryse's desk. "Alright, sir, let's get this done and over with. The wife texted me, says we got dinner later, you understand." He said as he locked eyes with Mr. Capryse, who had quickly made the mask disappear.

"Get out now, boy! This is between your boss and me!" Said Karryn as she threatened him with a black fireball. Darkness glared up at her. "Halloween isn't for a while now, I had an appointment... Now, be patient, and you can carry on with whatever this is when I clock out." He told her with crossed arms. 

Karryn gritted her teeth as she brought her hand back. "I'll teach you some respect!" She said as she threw a fireball at him. Darkness's eyes narrowed as his body turned black, stepping backward through the chair as black tendrils emerged from his back. "I suggest you take this temper tantrum outside, ma'am... I am NOT in the mood." He warned.

Karryn froze in her tracks at the sight of Darkness's powers. After a few minutes, her lips curved upward into a smile. "I see... Seems you HAVE been doing your task... Very well then, Tony, I am pleased with these developments... What is your name, boy?" She asked as she looked at Darkness. 

"Darkness..." He answered as he powered down and sat back in his chair. Karryn just nodded. "Darkness... I'll be keeping an eye on you. Knowing your closeness with Tony, I'll see about a job offer for you down the line... Until next time." She said as she walked out.

Darkness lowered his eyes as he turned to Mr. Capryse. "Are we going to discuss who that was?" He asked. Mr. Capryse just laughed and shook his head. "Perhaps later, but there's no fast explanation for that, and I believe you said you had dinner reservations?" He asked as he cleared his Desk.

Darkness just nodded and got his pictures ready to present. He had many questions to ask about who Karryn was, but he had been working his job long enough to know that every question he got answered would raise more questions, and he would prefer to get back home as quickly as possible.

As Karryn left the mansion, she smirked softly and took to the sky. "Well then, Darkness... Let's see what my very first knight is like." She said while preparing her watch. Before this night was over, she'd have everything she needed to wrap Darkness under her thumb, and if she had her way, countless others would join him.

The Aurian Chronicles Chapter 4: Lyte wake up call

 The High school bell rang as a teenage Lisa Sonata grabbed her skateboard and smiled brightly. She had a small section of her hair in a rainbow-dyed twist, a black crop top, and her brother's old green cargo pants on as she headed down the hallway. "Finally! I thought class would NEVER end! I wanna try and hit the halfpipe before Claire, and I hit the books!" She said to herself as she headed to her gym locker.

As she entered her combination, a masculine hand pressed to the side of her head. "Hey Lisa!" Said a deep voice as a slightly muscular male grinned at her. He had short black hair, brown eyes, and was wearing a jersey and jean shorts. He slowly leaned over her head and smelled her hair.

Lisa inched back a bit uncomfortably and let out a nervous laugh. "Oh! Hey Tommy... You know this is the girls' locker room, right?" She asked as she looked at him while her locker opened. He just chuckled, "Yeah, I suppose it is.. But MAN, it's hard to get an opportune time to talk to you! You're always studying, skating, listening to music... Or with Claire!" He said, placing his other hand beside her head.

Lisa gulped nervously and let out a low laugh. "Sorry about that! Maybe we'll get another time to chat! But I gotta get going now! See ya later, okay?" She said, as she tried to duck under his arms, only to be pinned by them, "Maybe I'd rather take the time to get to know you now?" He responded as he slid Lyte's pants down to her tennis shoes, exposing her black underwear.

Lisa screamed out as she was exposed. "TOMMY! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!" She screamed out as he placed his hand over her mouth to muffle her. "Shhh shhh shhhhhhh, I'm just getting to know you!" He said as he felt and pinched her exposed rear with his hands. "Soft! You take very nice care of this..." He said as Lisa frantically tried to push at him.

Lisa began to frantically cry and yelp as her underwear was slowly slid down. Her hands began to glow bright as a blinding light was blasted directly into his face Causing him to be blasted backward, his eyeballs burned out of his skull. Lyte sank to her knees and began to hold her head as she cocooned in her half-dressed state. As Tommy screamed and stumbled, the door to the locker room opened, and a young, tanned girl in a Dark blue shirt and tattered jeans ran to Lisa and hugged her.

"LISA! LISA, WAKE UP! It's Claire! I'm here for you," Said Claire as she tried to shake Lisa awake. Lisa struggled to breathe as she sobbed into Claire's chest, and she slowly opened her eyes. After a few uncomfortable minutes. Lisa wrapped her arms tight around Claire and, out of instinct, kissed her. Causing Claire's body to redden.

"Thank you, Claire... I'm sorry I let the nightmare win... I'm gonna grab a shower... See you in a few minutes, okay?" She asked. Claire just nodded lightly and got up. "Sure! I'mma see about breakfast, see ya in a bit!" She said as she blushed and dashed out of the room.

As Claire left, Lyte opened a packet of THC-infused edible gummies and chewed them as hard as she could. She then opened a nearby can of soda and took a hard swig of it before making her way to the shower... "Gotta get clean... Gotta get it all clean... Gotta be clean..." She chanted to herself as she set the water to unbearably hot settings, watching her skin pinken.

As Claire headed downstairs, she saw Silver at the sewing machine, causing a blue string to straighten as she made it line up while sliding it through. "Pesky loose string... Not on MY watch!" She said as she looked up and waved to Claire. "Hey, hon! Good morning! Want some breakfast?" She asked as she put the strong down on top of a lovely sky blue dress.

Claire just smiled at her and adjusted her white T-shirt and jean shorts. "Yeah I uh... Think Lyte and I are going to need it." She said as she scratched the back of her right arm and looked at her feet while shifting the weight between them uncomfortably.

Silver looked at her and lowered her eyebrows. "Let me guess, nightmare again?" She asked, only to hug Claire when she nodded. "Thank you for staying the night, Claire... You've been a great friend to Lyte." She told her with a Warm smile.

Claire just let out a nervous laugh and blushed as she tried to turn away. "Yeah... Friends..." She said with distress. while shaking a bit. Silver rolled her eyes. "Sweetie, I don't want to press, but don't you think it's time you sat Lisa down and finally had a talk about your feelings for her?" She asked, causing Claire's eyes to widen. "You Knew?"

"Claire, you're always sharing a bed with her when you sleep here, despite us having a guest room; you invested a huge chunk of saved money in helping Lisa buy the property for her club. You're always holding her and comforting her... PLEASE do not try to test my patience by assuming I'm that dense... DEREK of all people thought you were in a relationship when he first met you." Responded Silver as she raised a brow.

Claire just nodded and sat at the dining room table. "I don't know Silver... I just... I just feel creepy for being attracted to her, I was the one she always turned to when she needed a friend... Wouldn't asking her out just be taking advantage of her?" She asked worriedly.

Silver pinched the bridge of her nose and let her long white hair droop forward. "Claire... Unless you were helping Lisa JUST to get into her pants... No, and that's a horrible thought to have! Look, the worst that'd happen is she doesn't share your feelings, but it'd be better for both of you if you sat her down later and had that talk. Otherwise, you're just going to be in perpetual agony over this." She said simply as she got started on pancakes.

Claire just looked down as she took Silver's advice into consideration and nodded. "Thank you, Silver... I'll see about doing that later, right now, she needs my support." She said with a determined smile, which made Silver let out a small chuckle.

Lisa came down half an hour later in a pair of White PJs and a rainbow crop top. "Much better! High Lyte of my morning!" She said as she turned on the radio to listen to some music and sit with Claire while she waited for breakfast.

Claire wrapped her arms tight around Lisa from behind and smiled. "Feel better?" She asked. Lisa nodded happily and leaned back. "Lots! Hoping to knock out breakfast and see if Derek is available... I think it'd be best if we had a talk." She said with a nervous sigh.

Silver turned to face her and served her and Claire their pancakes. "Your brother is collecting his paycheck, but he'll be free later tonight if you are! I can arrange that, no problem!" she said with a confident smirk. Claire just grinned, "Maybe at Larry's? It's always loud there, so it'd be easier?" She offered.

Lisa lit up into an adorably bright smile as she nodded. "LARRY'S! YAY!" She exclaimed happily. "That's a great idea! Although I was hoping you'd both be there in case... you know." She said as she looked down. Both Claire and Silver hugged her this time.

"If you need me Lisa, you know I'll be there... And I'm sure Claire will be happy to tag along." Responded Silver. Claire just nodded rapidly. "You know it! I love Y- I love tagging along with you!
 She said, turning pink at her slip of the tongue.

Lisa nodded. "Alright then... Thank you both... I should have talked to my brother a long time ago... I'll see if I can have a spot reserved." She said as she got planning. Silver just smiled as she watched Claire hold Lisa comfortingly while she dialed the phone.

'This is going to be interesting.' She thought to herself as she went back to sewing, a bunch of worried thoughts going through her head as she fretted over Lisa and the future conversation at hand.

The Aurian Chronicles Chapter 3: I thought I told you not to come here

 A few hours had passed, and the rest of the band started packing things up and heading out, while Claire and Lyte paid the cleaners for the evening. "Another good night finished, Claire! Wanna come over to my place?" Asked Lyte. "Sure! We can order some pizza!" She said as she headed out the main entrance and locked up.

As they both stepped outside, Lyte tensed up at the sight of Darkness' car. She looked around, only to find Darkness with a can of 'Platinum Galaxy' brand soda, talking to Silver. "... Derek?" She asked as Claire put an arm on her shoulder out of concern.

Derek looked at her. "The one and only! Nice concert tonight, sis! Barely made it though... I guess I-"

"Should have just gone home after work? I agree! I thought I told Silver you had permission to skip this one!" Lisa interrupted as she looked intensely at Silver, who looked away with a bit of guilt, but Darkness just narrowed his eyes at Lisa.

"Oh yeah! God forbid a guy wants to be there for his little sister! Do you just disdain me that much? I thought I was doing something right here! How can you possibly have this much hate for me?" He demanded as he looked into her eyes.

Tears began to form in Lisa's eyes as she glared up at him. "How could you think I hate you?! I barely know who you are anymore! You were always taking classes in the Army, and when you deployed, you were NEVER home! The last three years you've been back, I've seen you drinking your life away more than smiling! If that's how you want to spend the rest of your days, GREAT! But it isn't going to be mine... I'll see you at home, come on, Claire." 

Darkness just stood there, stunned as Claire looked to Darkness sadly before she and Lisa got into her Hyundai Sonata and headed home. Silver just hugged him close. "Sweetie... I think you just ripped a bandage off a wound that wasn't ready to heal yet." She explained as she guided him back to his Car.

Darkness just looked at his hands on the steering wheel before starting up his car. "I don't... I wasn't barely around right?" He asked as they headed home. Silver looked down and shook her head. "I can't lie to you, Derek, you were. I understood why, but Lisa was very young back then... And with BOTH of our parents gone, she needed our guidance. If Lisa's hard on you, it's because she missed you, and neither of you knows how to fix this." She answered.

"So what is the actual reason she didn't want me here? I don't get it?" He asked worriedly. Silver pinched the bridge of her nose and gently chewed on her pinky before turning to him. "Please pay attention this time. This isn't my story to tell; trying to force it out of her will only make Lisa's pain worse... You need to start learning to trust both her AND me when we tell you things." She said in frustration.

Darkness just nodded as they pulled into a gorgeous one and a half story house. It was a five-bedroom, 3 and a half bathroom house made from Brick but with steel framing. "I'm going to get a shower, get out of your work clothes, and I'll be with you shortly." Said Silver as she got out of the car and headed inside, leaving Darkness to think as he headed to the living room.

Darkness poured himself a beer and helped himself to an extra box of the pizza that Lisa and Claire had left behind. He laid back in a large black recliner that extended out and had the remote to the plasma screen TV, which he clicked on to see the news still covering the disappearances of the men he and Silver had just killed. "The news team worked fast. must have underestimated that bartender... Something for later if need be." He said as he waited for Silver to get done with her shower.

Silver stepped out of her dress and underwear before carefully folding them and lightly putting them in a sky blue hamper with her name written on it. "What a day..." She said after stepping into the shower and turning on the hot water to full heat as she soaped herself up with a bar of Chanel, sighing in relaxation as the lather formed over her shining silver skin. 

"I can only hope the girls are having an easier time tonight than Derek and I are... being the middle woman in all this is exhausting work... " She said with a frown as she pushed the thoughts to the side and instead turned on the bath to alleviate her stress. Admiring her naked body in the mirror, she added some luxury blue bubble bath mix into the water and massaged her breasts while lying back. "The hell with it, I've earned this." she said with a lazy smile.

Meanwhile, Lisa was in her room with Claire, watching some old mecha anime and eating a classic pepperoni New York style pizza. Lisa was casually lying on Claire's legs as they ate, causing Claire to let her eyes drink in the sight of Lisa's body. "Was I... Too hard on my brother?" Asked Lisa.

Claire looked around Lisa's room as she tried to find the words. letting the slightly messy assortment of Musical equipment, video games, and anime paraphernalia distract her. "I think... You two need to talk more. It's clear he wants to make up for lost time, but tonight was a bad night for it... If you aren't ready to talk about your past, it's just going to be a never-ending obstacle between you two." She answered as she took Lisa into her arms and pulled her up.

Lisa just nodded. "I figured it'd come back to this conversation... I'm just worried he'll think less of me, ya know?" She asked as she pressed into Claire's chest. Claire gulped and gritted her teeth as she tried to focus. "If your brother thinks less of you, he's a horrible person. I know Tommy Shackler was a traumatic experience, but you're so much stronger now... You need to have that same confidence you have when you go out on stage." 

Lisa nodded and let out a sniff of air. "Thanks, Claire... You always know what to say." She said as she pressed tighter into Claire, who was blushing in agony as she tried her best to avoid moving toward a conversation she wasn't ready for. "Yeah, well... you know me!" She said in defeat as she focused on the show now.

"I suppose you're right, I'll try to set a good time to talk with Derek when our schedules aren't overlapping... He's been back for three years, and it's felt like we've been avoiding each other." Said Lyte as she relaxed in Claire's arms. "For now, I'm tired... Thanks again for sleeping over." She told her as she closed her eyes.

Claire just wrapped her arms around her and took her focus off the TV as she kissed the back of her head and blushed. "Anything for you, Lisa... Anything for you..." She said as she turned out the light and went to sleep with her.

The Aurian Chronicles Chapter 2: Let's Lyte it up!

 Loud music blasted heavily from a club along the coastline of Long Beach. The hustle of young people trying to get in was drowned out by heavy basslines and screams in rhythm with the music. The words 'SOUND SURF ISLAND' flashed in vibrant neon colors over the huge club as the waves of the ocean seemed to rock in rhythm with the music.

In the back room, a Young blonde woman with blue eyes stepped into a rainbow fishnet bodysuit before slipping on a pair of white Daisy Dukes and a matching crop top, before posing in the mirror. "Looking good, baby!" She told herself as she giggled.

"Hey Lisa!" Called another woman as she entered the room. Her bleached blonde hair flowed behind her as she walked in. A light blue bikini was all that hid a long black dragon tattoo that spiraled up from her right foot to her breasts.

"Oh! Hey Claire!" Said Lisa as she pulled her in for a tight hug, causing Claire to blush and smile as Lisa wrapped her arms around Claire's tan body. "Hey, now Lisa! Now's not the time to be getting cuddly, you have a show to be focusing on... And this one is going to be important." She warned.

Lisa frowned at her. "So it's true then? Killah Queen is performing at OUR club?" She asked as she glared deeply into Claire's Dark blue eyes. Claire shook it off and stripped before slipping into a lime green pair of yoga pants and a dark blue t-shirt with "Surf or die" written in blood red on it. She then put on a white beanie to complete her look. "Look Lisa, I already apologized for not looking into exactly who she was... But you are a far more mature woman than you were in High School! You can handle a DJ battle with that bitch." She told her.

Lyte took a deep breath, counted to four in her head, and slowly let it out. "It's not just my dislike of Krystal that has me upset, Claire, it's what she did... And what she KNOWS! How am I supposed to perform in front of my brother when she goes around calling me a loose slut! What if he asked why she talked to me that way? What in god's name could I say?!" She asked.

There was a brief pause before Claire raised an eyebrow. "You could just tell him the truth? I may not know much about Derek, but from what you and Silver always said, he seems like a cool enough guy. I'm sure he'd understand the incident with Tom-" But she stopped when Lyte's eyes widened, and she collapsed to the floor like a puppet whose strings were cut.

Claire immediately caught her and hugged her close. "Shhhhhh," She said as she pressed into her. "I'm sorry, I should have known better... Look, Lisa, you've grown so much since that incident... You graduated high school at the top of our class, got a master's degree in engineering, and we even saved enough money to invest in this club! Surely you can handle a delusional little brat?" She asked softly.

Lisa wiped the slowly forming tears from her eyes and nodded. "Yeah... Yeah, you're right... Thanks, Claire." She said as she got back up and gave her a deeper hug, causing Claire to blush. "Come on, bestie! Let's go watch her perform and see what we're working with!" She said as she took off, with Claire following behind her.

They both joined the gathering crowd from the back as they watched a group of what Lisa could only guess to be roadies setting up an expensive-looking sound system. Claire tugged Lisa's side. "Are those people setting up a sound system for her? Shouldn't she be doing that herself?" She asked.

Lisa just rolled her eyes and smirked. "That's what normal DJs who actually know what they are doing usually do. Hell, I even made my own from scratch... Clearly, Krystal had the money to buy the best of the best equipment, and people who know how it all works to put it together for her." She said as she watched the people on stage take their leave.

Finally, a young Korean woman with Black and pink hair appeared on stage. She wore a pink and black striped tube top and ripped black leggings with Pink leopard leg warmers on. "LIKE! OH EM GIZZLE WIZZLES EVERYBODYYY! ARE YOU READY TO RAVE?!" She squealed while standing too close to the microphone, causing a high-pitched squeal to echo throughout the club, hurting the ears of everyone all at once.

"She hasn't changed a bit since high school." Said Lisa as she unplugged her ears. Claire nodded in agreement. "Were you even worried she'd be?" She asked as Lisa just smirked. "Honestly? Her system is impressive! Had Krystal actually taken the time to understand music theory, practiced with the system, or even done ANYTHING a normal DJ would do? She might have been a good... Or at least decent DJ..." She remarked.

Krystal clicked a few buttons and played an out-of-place death metal song, and tried to scratch a vinyl record before pressing her lips directly into the microphone. "RAWRRRR I HATE YOU IN DINOSAUR! KRYSTAL SHATTER SCREAMS I WANT MOREEEE" She wailed, causing people to press their palms into their ears.

"... But that isn't the case... Krystal didn't become a DJ out of joy for music, or to one day be recognized as a great musician; she did it because I did it... She hasn't changed a bit in looks OR Personality." Continued Lisa before walking off. Claire just watched her as she headed backstage.

Eventually, Krystal's wails were cut out by someone unplugging her system while people booed her. Krystal glared and tried to yell loud enough to match the original volume. "HEY! SHUT UP YOU MEANIE JERKS! I AM THE QUEEN! THE KILLAH QUEEN! DON'T YOU DISREPECT ME!" She yelled out.

As Krystal continued her tantrum, a light percussion slowly began to play, and a much softer scratching of a vinyl disc began to play out of the speakers, causing everyone to look around at the curtains behind Krystal. Glowing Neon lights pointed at Lisa like an arrow as a flying disco ball-looking drone emitted the words "DJ LYTESTRYKE" by her.

"Queen dethroned, hadn't changed a bit! Time for Lyte to spin this shit! Go ahead! Throw your fit! People came to see Lyte spin this shit!" Sang Lisa with a grin. Krystal's screams were now being drowned out by not just Lisa's music but cheers from the crowd as the main event began to play.

Lyte just smirked and switched to Electronic Dance Music vibes and emitted bright rainbow lights from her own body as security pulled a kicking and screaming Krystal from the stage. Claire grinned and recorded the entire thing on her phone to show Lisa later. 

Lisa smiled at the eyes of the crowd, all admiring her, and seductively put her lips to the microphone. "Hottie with a body feelin' naughty, Steps into the Lyte... Let loose and make your move while you both start to groove, dance away the night! Do a little more until you're sore, say no more, walk her home real slow... This night will be yours from the bed to the floor, let your passion flow!" She sang happily.

Claire giggled a bit in the crowd as she watched everyone dance, only to raise her eyes at the sight of Silver and Darkness peering in. "Uh oh.." She muttered softly and quickly turned off her phone to keep from accidentally recording them. "I'll let that play out on its own." She said to herself before turning her head back to her friend on stage while she danced with the crowd to the beat of the music.

The Aurian Chronicles Chapter 1: Voidwalker

 The crisp, cold air of New York City blew harshly by as a 1970 Dodge Challenger zipped through the roads. Behind the Driver's seat was a man in his late twenties. He had Dark purple hair and a pale white face with piercing green eyes, as well as a hair flip that just went over his left eye. "Now, Silver, are you sure you got the plan down?" He asked as he looked over to his right.

In the passenger seat, a slightly younger Spanish woman scoffed and rolled her dark blue eyes as the streetlamps reflected off her Silver skin and white hair. "Oh, PLEASE, Derek! Simple: into the crowd, find the target, isolate him, and finish! How hard is that?" She asked while applying her blue lipstick.

He narrowed his eyes at her and gritted his teeth. "I told you! It's DARKNESS when on mission! I let you accompany me on this mission, you could at least have the decency to keep it professional!" He scolded, growling as she made hand puppet motions to mock his words.

"A codename, I might add, that you use EVERYWHERE in your day-to-day life!  At some point, it stops being a codename and starts just being a name... maybe mull on that sometime, my love. She told him while she adjusted her sky blue dress and white boots. She loaded two silver-plated Submachine guns into the back holsters inside her dress. With a spark of silver, the entire dress hugged her every curve flawlessly.

Darkness just grumbled as they pulled into the parking lot of the 'Deadshot lounge.' To Darkness, it looked like it might have been a cool cocktail lounge thirty years ago, but right now, it looked out of place. The entire bar looked like the owner stubbornly refused to change with the times.

"Nice place, straight out of a dollar store Noir movie... I can SMELL the cheap booze from here." Complained Darkness as Silver shook her head. "Oh, good, I'm sure you'll love that then! I'll mingle with the crowds and find the guy we're looking for... Maybe have a drink and try to soften up just a bit? For me?" She asked as she looked up at him and batted her eyes.

Darkness tried to hide a blush as he cleared his throat and nodded. "Fine... But if you need me, please text me immediately!" He said as he hugged her. Silver just nodded and kissed his cheek, leaving a faint patch of blue on his face! "Of course, Mi Amor! Now let's go!" She said as she went on ahead. Darkness just let out an amused sigh as he followed behind a few minutes later to avoid looking suspicious. He straightened his custom Black trenchcoat and bloused his black pants into his combat boots on the way in.

As he walked in, Darkness squinted a bit from the dim lights being used to illuminate the rooms; the cheesy, outdated music echoed in the rooms around him. "Ugh, very good way to make someone want to drink.. a few gallons of watered down liquor, and I'd want to forget I was ever here too!" He said as he sat at the bar. Calling over a chubby older man. He was bald and looked about fifty-eight.

"Give me a Long Island Iced Tea, an Adios Motherfucker, and a Tokyo Tea," Ordered Darkness in a deadpan tone of voice. The bartender raised both eyes at him. "Buddy, you know how much booze is in those drinks?" He asked. Darkness just shrugged and looked around for Silver. "Not enough... if you can't break a fifty, keep the change." He said as he handed him a fifty-dollar bill.

The Bartender just made him all three drinks in rapid succession As Darkness downed them as quick as they came. 'Too much soda,' he thought as he finally got his text and headed toward one of the backrooms.

Silver, meanwhile, was happily stripped down to a golden set of Lingerie while she spun around on a stripper pole in the back room of the bar. "Come on, boys! How's that old song go? Silver and Gold!" She sang happily as a group of men cheered her on. Amongst them was a large, overweight blond man named Al Freight. He was celebrating the acquittal of murdering a young boy who had seen him Sexually assaulting a woman in an alleyway. 

"Hey girl, what say you come back to my place, and I show you some REAL GOLD!" He called as he reached out to touch one of her feet. Silver just pulled her foot back and tutted at him. "I don't think my Husband would like that!" She said, keeping up the dance, causing Al to grit his teeth until his jaw popped. "Listen here bitch! I could buy the company that MADE your wedding ring, and that means I can buy good lawyers to get me off after I'm done with that ass!" He said as he marched toward her, only for a black rope-like vine to wrap around his neck and yank him back into his seat.

When the other men saw what happened, they turned around to see Darkness and reached for their pistols, only for Silver to spray her MPX Submachine guns into them while their heads were turned. "Told ya so!" She said as she slid her Dress back on. 

Al just reached out in vain to try to get the rope off his neck as he saw it come from Darkness's body. "Mr. Allen Freight... Son of Albert Freight... A pleasure to meet you..." He said as he held up a picture of the boy he murdered. "David Greene sends his regards..." He told him before jerking the black tendril and snapping his neck hard.

Darkness just looked at the bodies and took pictures afterward as he texted a cleanup crew, "Did you have to make such a mess?" He asked as he looked up to Silver, who hopped into his Arms. "Hey! A kill is a kill!" She said as Darkness turned them both dark black and walked them outside. It seemed like no one heard any of the shots due to the music and the silenced weaponry.

"You could have just walked us through the walls." Stated Silver, causing Darkness to shake his head. "That's too much Aura at once... I only just got these powers a few years ago... and THAT'S still new... I wasn't born with these powers, or suffered some freak accident like-" But he saw Silver's glare and gulped as he set her in the car.

Silver just leaned back and stretched. "I get your point... Anyway, let's go collect the bounty and maybe see a movie or something?" She asked. Darkness raised a brow at her. "Are you kidding me? It's Lisa's concert tonight! I don't want to miss that!"

"Well, she asked us to... Lisa said something came up that might mess up the concert, and she doesn't want us around when it happens." Responded Silver. Darkness's Eyebrows raised. "She's not... Ashamed of me is she?" He asked in response.

Silver scratched her left wrist and looked down. "No Darkness... This isn't anything you've done... I honestly don't know why she wouldn't want us there... But you're just gonna have to trust your sister to tell you when the time is right, okay?" She asked as she hugged him close.

Darkness just nodded and turned the key to the ignition. "Fine... I just hope she does okay... And that I can at least be welcomed to the next one." He said as he sped off with his wife in tow. The bar rapidly fading out of vision behind them.

"Wait here." Said Darkness as he parked into a driveway in Long Island, a couple of hours later, and walked into a small white house. Darkness noted that the Paint on the outside must have been recently professionally done, which is why he was surprised to see that the inside looked like a complete mess. There were children's toys thrown all over the house, and several punch marks on the walls. The smell of stagnant beer and cigarette smoke followed him all the way to the kitchen as he took a seat and sent out a text of his arrival.

Harsh boot steps echoed throughout the house as an older man in an NYPD uniform with the badges ripped off looked at him. He had a full head of messily cut gray hair and cracked skin. His eyes sagged almost to his jawline from restless sleep, and he now looked incredibly out of shape from a poor diet.

"It's done?" He asked weakly. Darkness just silently nodded. There was a brief pause before the man let out a drunken laugh as his name tag fell off, reading 'David Greene' in front of Darkness. "Ya know? A year ago, I'd have arrested you for admitting to murder... Instead, I'm the guy paying you for doing it! This whole fucking state is so corrupt am I right?!" He asked as he wheezed.

Darkness saw behind David, was a briefcase. He grabbed it and opened it to check that the money was indeed there before he nodded to him. "David... We can't fix the past... Try as we might, what has happened has happened... Maybe try fixing what you can now..." He said, trying to show as much empathy as he could. 

David just shook his head now. "MY wife has left, my son is dead... and I have nothing... But thank you for all you've done... That's my Life savings in your briefcase... I'm ready now..." He said as he pulled a Glock out of his side holster and shot himself in the head before Darkness could stop him.

Darkness narrowed his eyes at the familiar sound of gunfire as he knelt down by David's body, with the blood rapidly staining the carpeting of the floor. "I don't think MY family would want me to die just because they suffered... I think they'd rather I work on building myself into something I could love and understand... But I guess that doesn't matter to you now..." He said as he headed out the door. "...Sorry about your son." He added for good measure.

As Darkness handed Silver the money. She could see he was deeply disturbed. "You okay, hun?" Asked Silver. Darkness just nodded and gripped the steering wheel with both hands tightly. "Yeah... just a bad memory... It'll pass." He said as he fought the urge to scream. Silver just leaned over and hugged him. "It'll pass." She echoed as he wrapped an arm around her side as they sped off into the night.