Lost in Thought

Chapter 9

Hours of practicing have taken a lot out of me. Who knew that thinking about things all day could really be that exhausting?

The four of us walked slowly through an abandoned section of town, more dilapidated buildings to take in as we make the trek. Michelle and Xavier walk slightly ahead, conversing among themselves, while Ron and I trail about ten feet behind. The sun begins its dive into the horizon. Beams of blood-orange, yellow and faded red begin to fill the skyline, bathing the buildings in multi-colored light and casting larger and more sprawling shadows as it dips.

My mind wandering, I suddenly become very curious about the rest of Avalon. I'd seen, well created, the lush jungles that nearly swallowed me whole. I got a small glimpse of a metropolis with thousands upon thousands of people buzzing to and fro. But mostly, I'd seen destruction. I'd seen death. I really hoped that Avalon was more than tattered ruins left by the Dreadnoughts.

Suddenly, my attention focused on Michelle. My interactions with her have been few and far between and I've generally made an ass of myself in her presence. If I have any hope of swaying her opinion of me, I'll have to be more conscientious of what I do. Keep it cool and all that. Watching her as she chats quietly with Xavier, I begin to wonder about her more and more.

"What's her deal?" I ask Ron out of the blue.

"I'm not sure I know what you mean," he asks inquisitively.

"I mean why is she here? Who was she before she became this freedom fighter in this weird place?"

"That's something you would have to ask her, I'm afraid. All I know is that our paths crossed and that she is an integral part of our fight. Without her, and Xavier as well, our little resistance would be no resistance."

"Alright," I say, conceding a bit. "What about you? How did you end up in all of this?"

"I am not sure that is a story worth hearing," Ron argued politely.

"Oh, come on," I protest. "Everyone has a story and surely yours is an interesting one. Now spill."

Sighing, Ron begins. "A long time ago, this was a peaceful and beautiful place. There were a few who had the ability you do. The ability to alter and change this world for the better. And they did just that. This was a vibrant, lively and exciting place to live. Conflicts were minor and easily handled, this world had tranquility to it. And then one day, like a giant cloud of blackness, the Dreadnoughts arrived. They killed our leaders. Slowly but surely, they began to lay waste to this entire world, claiming some as their slaves while simply obliterating the rest. Since that day, they've left ruins in their wake and will not stop until everything here is nothing more than ash and rubble."

"During the initial days of their onslaught, my family and I hid. I was but a young man at that point, I had not known battle much less how to defend myself. The Dreadnoughts had attacked our town and as we were escaping, the building we had lived in collapsed around us. Despite being trapped, I managed to dig myself to freedom, but the rest of my family - my father, mother and two brothers - were not so lucky. Days of sifting through the rubble frantically resulted in nothing. I knew they were gone, but I couldn't accept it. I had to find them, to see for myself that they were truly gone."

"Since that day, I've been on the run. Shortly after the attack, I stumbled onto my abilities. Through patience and practice, I have been able to hone my abilities as best I could. Though I don't have the power to move buildings or change the world, it has been enough to keep me alive, to battle the Dreadnoughts in brief encounters. I know that if I were to meet them head on, to battle them man to man, that I would die. So I've been patiently waiting. Waiting for someone with the ability to take the fight to them to show up. Waiting for you. The Dreadnoughts will not stop. Their razing has gone on for years and they've damaged or destroyed most of the world that I used to call home. But I will be damned if I let them take it all. So I fight. And if I have to, I will die for this place. I will die to end their awful reign."