Spectacular World

A Dream Of Flying

Humans have always had a strange addiction to telling stories. Poets, playwrights, and authors. They've existed for just as long as humanity. Storytelling is a job that will likely never vanish off the face of the Earth.

There is one piece of storytelling that addicts more than others, however.

Heroes.

They could be found everywhere. Tales of knights saving their kingdom, rebels fighting against tyrannical warlords, or even just simple cowboys fighting for what's right.

When it comes to heroes, people can't seem to get enough of them. So much so that they needed more. The heroes themselves needed to be more.

They needed to be Super...

"She was so cool, Dad! Like, I've seen her on shows. I mean, I have her action figure, but this was different, like seeing her in person was-"

"Hope, you need air." Alexander chuckled and reached up to pinch her cheek.

She slowed down, her face red as she nodded, and took several deep gulps of air. It was a few hours after the bank incident. Due to everything that had happened, her mother never got to speak to anyone about that loan. That was okay, though. Or at least that's what Jane kept saying, but she could spot the worry behind her mother's eyes.

She silently pushed her glasses further up her face and took in the sight of her dad. The hospital room was pretty bland; he used to get a ton of 'get well' stuff, but when weeks turned to months and those turned to years, people stopped asking for him to get better.

He was once a big man, and she remembered that he would carry her on his shoulders. He was frail now, though. His beard was gone, as was most of his hair, and his eyes always looked tired, and there were so many wires—too many—all connected to him, weighing him down.

Still, he had a large, goofy smile on his face as she sat on the bed next to him, and he held her like old times. Her mom and Armin were in the waiting room, so it was just her and her father.

"Mom and I are fine. The Victorian saved us." She finally said.

"I'm glad. I can't believe villains are still robbing banks in this day and age." Her father sighed, shaking his head. "When will people learn?"

"Where do you think it comes from?" The question caused her father to look back up at her. "Their powers, I mean. Do you think they always had them, or did something happen to them? Why are some people heroes, and why do some people decide to be villains?"

Alexander felt his mind race, and for a moment, he considered telling her the truth. The thing about the strange pod they had found and where she had really come from. Like always, though, he squashed that thought. He wasn't ready for it yet. He still wanted her to be his little girl for just a little longer. "Why do you ask? You want superpowers?" He finally asked.

"Well, yeah! What kid wouldn't?" She said, rolling her eyes. 'But it's more than that.' It went unsaid, never leaving her lips.

"If you had powers, which side would you be on?" Her father joked, grasping her hands.

"Obviously, I'd be a good guy." She huffed, causing him to snort.

"Yeah. Obviously. What powers would you have?"

"Something that lets me fly. I'd love to fly around the planet with Victorian, helping her kick evil's butt! Bad Timers would be the first thing we destroy!"

Alexander's grip got tighter around her hand as he chuckled once more. "Well, sorry to say, but you're still a mere mortal like any of us. Besides, I don't think my heart could handle you doing something like that. Let's stick with just being a fan of the Victorian instead of her sidekick, okay? Oh yeah. I have good news."