Second Reality: Surge of Power

Chapter XXV Tonight!

I've been writing this story for you for twenty-five chapters. Though I won't be around to hear any feedback, I appreciate the thought of entertaining some. The walls close in around me, whispering the end is near. Worry not! It is not the end of this story. That is far from over. It's merely the end of me. But back to why you are here...
The chess pieces this story established move towards meeting each other. The children training to save their friends are ignorant to the powers playing against them. Maria Sciron is locked in a stalemate with the cleaners breathing down on her neck while a dagger is slowly approaching her son's throat. And the one holding this dagger, Master Puppet. Facing the world with his own ideology in mind, he risks everything for the opportunity of a lifetime. It is soon that these pieces collide, and we will have our first fallen soldier. A moment that will change Ren's life forever. Right now, the children are in shambles, as all of them pull in different directions. Half-baked plans and impulsive actions aside, it could be worse. It will be...

-W. 2032

The weekend was eventless for the children. All of them behaved or tried to the best of their abilities. And so when Monday came they could finally meet each other again. Maria's car pulled up with Ren and Niel jumping out of the backseat. They entered the school grounds to see their friends gathering at the entrance. From a distance they saw everyone's attention gathering around Sun as he talked. The boy was slowly getting used to his role as leader. Ken stood in the shade observing them, and when he noticed Rosa running to Ren he took one more step into the darkness.

"Oh, finally some company! I was so done with being at home all day!" Ren sighed as he entered the conversation with Niel on his side.

"Ever since we got our powers, we didn't miss a day of meeting up in the Second Reality!" Marco exclaimed.

"Still, it feels weird that we miss it this much!" Niel rubbed his chin as he tried to shake the yearning off.

"I didn't think they would take this hourly check-up so seriously! One time I went to the bathroom and mom barged in to check on me." Vhiz scratched his head as he reminisced.

"Why were you in the bathroom for an hour?" Marco asked nudging his friend on the side, teasing him.

"I wasn't, you idiot! My mom checks on me every hour on the hour and I was in the bathroom when the next checkup was due." Vhiz turned bright red as he explained.

"How is your mom, Ren? She seems like a strict person." Sun asked concerned for his friend

"Huh? Yeah... she can be sometimes." Ren yawned almost swallowing Sun's head whole.

"Jeez with those bags under your eyes I wouldn't be surprised if she checked on you at night too."

"Is it that apparent? My night was terrible! I felt like someone was watching me." Ren rubbed his eyes thoroughly.

"Like the bug man?" Luna straightened her posture.

"Similar. It did not feel malicious. But it was enough to keep me up at night." Ren explained, trying to calm Luna.

"That's what we were missing another mystery!" Sun rubbed his head worried.

"I think it was just my heightened senses acting up. At least I could spend the night researching." Ren tried to shrug it off, not to worry the others, even though he himself was flustered by the implications.

"Research? Like what?"

"I looked up the Mad Carnival, prior footage from them, their members, that sort of thing."