The Children of Ka (A story about Karuta Bot)

Chapter 18

It was that time of year that all young children grew excited for; summer vacation. Yet in the anime community it was also a time where new and upcoming Anime's would debut, allowing this that chose to stay inside a new option to enjoy their time. The internet was exploding with trailers of shows, movies, imports, manga, comics, and everything these enthusiasts enjoyed.

'Coming soon to a theatre near you...'

A trailer appeared upon a laptop screen surrounded students. The latest and greatest action anime trailer played over the screen. Scenes of familiar faces appeared across the screen as they battled, laughed, and cried. Each scene drew the students in closer and closer.

'But things would change for our hero...as a potential new foe arises...'

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"Hey you, wake up." A voice called out. Slowly North's eyes opened before him, blinking several times as his surroundings came into view. "You're up." Before North stood a massive horned ogre, wearing glasses and holding a clipboard. "No funny business though, stick to your lines."

"W-what? W-where am I? My lines?" Slowly North's memories began to return. The thoughts of what had happened striking fear through the young man's body. The sight of the monster before him is what set North over the edge, backing himself up against the wall. "What is going on?!"

The massive Ogre let out a sigh, throwing his hands up in disbelief. "Oh great, they sent me a freshie!" Opening the cell before him the Ogre stepped in and lifted North up by the top of his head, bringing the boy to eye level. "Look kid, just go out there and throw some punches or something. It'll all start becoming natural soon."

"Wait, what?! Let go of-" Before North could finish his sentence the Ogre tossed him out a door, surrounding him in a blinding white light.

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'I will never forgive you for what you did to my family!'

The scene on the laptop continued as the Hero's surrounded their new enemy. Before them stood a young man with black spiked hair with an icy aura crackling around him, in each hand he held a blade, dripping with blood. The surrounding battlefield had been littered with bodies and destruction.

'You'll never stop the North Wind!'

The villain began to launch frozen blades at the heroes as the charged in to fight their new rival. The battle was intense and bloody, flashing as teasers to the students. Finally the title of the new movie showed across the screen followed by it's release date. The students watched began to chat and speculate, excited for the new anime.

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It was as if only several seconds passed since North was returned to the cell, flying through the air and landing there; beaten and battered. "You did well kid, but get washed up cause there's more work to do." The Ogre marked a few notes on hai clipboard and closed the cell. "Be ready in ten, that preview is going to air at least twenty more times today."

"What...what just happened?" North asked, spitting up blood. "I..I had powers."

"We all do here." The Ogre said with a chuckle. "Just depends on what world you're in."

North struggled to pull him self up to a sitting position. "What world I'm in? This...this all makes no sense. First I was at the castle-"

"-and then you woke up here." The Ogre said with a grunt. "Doesn't matter what happened before, you're stuck here now."

"B-but where is here? And what is outside that door?" North wiped the blood from his nose, it was warm to his touch and real.

"You are in Ka, but not the Ka that you know. This is the place between worlds. You have been added to the collection." The ogre said simply, giving no real explanation. "So might as well get used to it kid."

North attempted to protest, but the Ogre had already walked off away from his cell and into the darkness. After several more minutes the cell door opened and before him once again was a doorway with a blinding white light. Standing up North shook off his fear and walked into the blinding light once more.

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'Coming soon to a theatre near you..'

"Hey Tarsal! Take a look at this!" Several students sat around a TV screen in a common area of the school. One student waved over Tarsal. "This guy looks like North!"

Curiously Tarsal walked over toward the television and the same Teaser trailer played once again for the new audience. Each scene free them in closer and closer just as it did with those that watched before. "You know what, he kinda does. I bet North would get a kick out of this."

Tarsal pulled out his cellphone and dialed his friend. After several moments the voicemail came on followed by a beep. "Hey North, you see the new trailer for Hero Force yet? There's a character that looks just like you, it's kinda cool!" The young boy hung up the phone and looked upon the TV screen, finishing the trailer with an excited smile.