A Hero, A Team, and a Story [BOOK ONE]

Chapter 7: A Traitor

Pen and Cloud looked at Henry in disbelief and shock. They could not believe what he had just said.

"Why..." Cloud looked downwards, "Why would you do this...? Why would you do this to us? I thought... I thought we were a team..."

"You betrayed us! You monster!" Pen lunged forward towards Henry, but Cloud got a grip on him and held him back.

"Oh, suck it up, you two," Henry stood up and brushed himself off, "You're overreacting. You should've known it was coming."

"...Don't tell me to suck it up..." Cloud sniffled, "It... doesn't feel good..." Cloud grabbed onto Pen, who patted them in response.

"Well, I don't care, so suck it up," Henry scoffed, "And last I remember, Cloud Neeks don't cry. Only River Neeks cry, from what I remember." Cloud seemed to shiver.

"River... Why would you bring them up..." Cloud started to turn grey as they cried.

"Awww, did I strike a nerve?" Henry lifted up Cloud's head to his eye level, "Maybe one that involves... a cold lake?" Cloud shook. They seemed stressed.

"It was cold..." Cloud cried, "I didn't... I didn't know..." They shook.

"Henry, stop!" Pen yelled, "You're making Cloud stressed! Shh, it's okay, Cloud."

"Shut it, Pen," Henry snapped, "I really think Cloud should say what they did to River." Cloud sighed shakily.

"I... I DIDN'T MEAN TO!" Cloud yelled, "I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT I WAS DOING! I NEVER MEANT TO PUSH HER INTO THE LAKE! B-besides... She was a bad person..."

"Cloud, it's okay. If you need to talk, I'm here." Pen hugged Cloud.

"Well, I'll be off now," Henry walked away holding the map, "And I thought I'd take a souvenir!" He waved it around.

"How did you get that?" Pen looked at the map, still holding onto Cloud.

"Well, while you were comforting the little freak, I swiped this from your bag!" Henry pressed a button on a small black controller, "Henry here, you can attack now. I've acquired the map."

"Excellent," the machine buzzed, "Truly excellent. We've found where you are, we will be here soon. Don't disappoint us."

"Uh oh," Pen looked at Cloud, "Henry is gonna attack us, and I don't have a weapon, and look at my arms! Do you think I could Falcon Punch 'em with these noodles? No! No I can't!"

"Pen," Cloud pointed to Pen's black bag, "Have you not thought to look in your messenger bag? Not just people transform here!" They winked, still a bit shaky. Pen reached in the bag and pulled out two red-and-black striped fingerless gloves. The gloves flew up and started to glow, and they fell down and transformed into Fire Gauntlets.

"Woah! Fire Gauntlets? Lemme put them on!" Pen put on the gauntlets, and he felt the power within him, "Aw yeah! Let's beat up some bad guys!" Just as the two turned to Henry, a rumble came from the ground, and the Dark Legion Nouveau came up on top of a wooden sky ship.

"Buenos días, losers," Bac-Man smirked.