One-off short stories

Branching Paths -The Beginning-

Ryan Endo/Sky Sunset origin story go!
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"Hey Mom, Dad?" The eight year old boy asked.
"What is it, Ryguy?" His Mom replied, using the common nickname.
"When I grow up, can I be a hero? Like, a real true hero?" He asked.
"What do you mean by that, son?" His father asked.
"Well, you know, the kind of guy that saves people, and beats up baddies, and all that stuff. That kind of guy that people cheer for. You know, a hero!" Ryan said, clearly excited.
"And where exactly did this come from?" His Dad asked again.
"Well, I met someone, you know. Today. He was really nice. His name was Sky. He's a new student. You know, it was a normal recess. The mean kids went up to me again." Ryan said.
"Why haven't you told the teacher yet? You really can't keep letting yourself get hurt you know. I can tell the teacher for you." Ryan's Mom said, worrying about him.
"I'm fine, really. They never do too much. But that's what I'm talking about. So it was the usual stuff, but then Sky came out of nowhere! Like he must've jumped out of a tree or something, it was amazing!" Ryan said, his voice filled with admiration,"Then he told the bullies to stop, and for me to run away! He was so cool!" Ryan continued.
"But wasn't he left with the bullies?" His Mom asked,"That couldn't have been good."
"Ah, well." Ryan said,"Despite how cool he looked, I saw him a bit later. He was clearly hurt. Way worse than I've ever been. Those bullies are stupid." Ryan said,"But then Sky told me,'Don't worry about it. I may be hurt, but you're not. And it's a good persons job to help someone out, even if they can't really do anything about it.' It was really incredible. He was being a real hero. Helping out a kid like me, who's well known for being scared and letting himself get hurt. I want to change! I want to be just like him."
"It sounds like he got himself hurt though." Ryan's dad said,"Is that what you want to happen to you?"
"Of course! I can deal with the pain. Better me than somebody else, right? You've always said I was tough." Ryan said.
"But you can't just..." His Mom started.
"If anything, it's a nice lesson to learn. I think we need more people like this Sky boy." Ryan's Dad quickly put in,"If you really try, you can become a hero to your classmates, I'm sure."
"Yeah! I'm going to be a hero!" Ryan said.
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The next day:
"They really got us bad, huh?" Ryan said, laying on the grass.
"You think we can make it back to class?" Sky asked, clearly not caring about how hurt he might be.
"I think so. Jeez, why did you run up to them today?" Ryan asked, turning his head towards Sky's.
"I wanted to be friends. Remember what I said when I first got here,'I'm going to make sure to be friends with everyone!' Yesterday I came to befriend you, and today I wanted to befriend them. Plus, why did you run out to help me. You could've stayed back." Sky said.
"Oh come on, you really think I could leave you there with those jerks. I can't imagine how you could keep asking to be friends even when they were beating you up. You're crazy, you know that?" Ryan said,"That's not healthy, but it's kinda incredible."
"You really think so? I think everyone can be like this. Even those bullies." Sky replied.
"No way." Ryan said,"You're the only person I ever met this stupid. But still..."
"What?" Sky asked.
"From this day forth, I'm going to be just like you! Let's be best friends, okay!" Ryan said, smiling.
"Sure. I needed a new best friend anyways." Sky paused for a bit,"Let's get to class. I'm fine, anyways."
"Then so am I!" Ryan said, getting up.
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It was late at night, when Ryan heard a knock on his window. He looked outside to see Sky,"What are you doing here?" He asked.
Sky's eyes were filled with tears, and Ryan opened up the window for him.
"Can I hide here for the night?" Sky asked, looking at Ryan.
"Shouldn't you be sleeping at home?" Ryan asked.
"I can't go back. My parents are way too angry..." Sky trailed off a bit.
"Angry with you? How could anyone be angry with you?" Ryan asked.
"Because I keep getting hurt. They say I'm going to die if I'm not careful." Sky said,"They screamed and screamed at me. So I came here. I can sleep here for now, right? That'd be okay, right? What I've been doing is right, right?"
"Of course it is." Ryan said,"You're a hero, remember. And I'm your apprentice. We decided that, didn't we?"
"I guess we did, huh." Sky said,"I'll hide under your bed, okay?"
"Don't get hurt by the boogeyman." Ryan joked.
"What?!" Sky sounded shocked for a second, and Ryan just laughed.
"D-Don't scare me like that!" Sky said.
The two then got to sleep. Ryan would always help a friend like Sky, no matter what. It felt right, after all Sky'd done for him.
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But all dreams have to come to an end. And all dreamers must awaken someday. Even those whose blinding light might've even been able to change the world.
"Thanks for letting me come over to your house." Sky said,"You know how it can get sometimes."
"I'd do anything for you." Ryan replied. They arrived at a crosswalk.
"Wait for the light to be green, you know." Sky said, seeing how Ryan looked like he wanted to go already.
But Ryan waited and the two started to cross the street.
And then time stopped.
Ryan could've sworn he'd waited there for hours, unable to move. There was a truck, barreling through the red light.
Somehow Sky, in all his heroic magic, pushed Ryan out of the way. Ryan looked over towards Sky, seeing the truck about to hit him.
Sky only smiled, and said,"XXXXX XX X XXXXXX XXXX XXXX X XXXXX XXXX XX. XX XXXX XXXX XX, XX XXXX XXXXXX." Because he didn't see what happened next.
How could anyone?
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And then time stopped.
Sky looked over at his friend. And then he saw the car. He had to do something. It was his job.
But he never had the chance. Because the next thing he knew, Ryan pushed him out of the way.
Because of this Sky avoided the car. Ryan turned towards him and said,"XX XXXX X XXXXXXX XXX XXXXXXXXX XXX XXX, XX XXXX XXXXXX."
And then time flew. Sky never saw what happened next.
How could anyone?