Portal Series

Chapter 14: Put your strength to the test!

 Summer is fading, and autumn is entering the atmosphere. It's a calm Friday afternoon, and I'm reading the latest issue of "Ai Doki Doki", a popular Shoujo magazine, when I see a figure in the distance walking towards me. This figure is none other than Christine. I watch her as she walks towards me in a clumsy manner. When she finally made it to the spot where I was reading, she shouted, "Peachy! What's up? Reading those teen magazines again?" "Yeah, this issue is so good!" I exclaimed, without making eye contact with her. "It says here that Ryou Mikushiba is going on tour soon." I stated. My friend's eyes lit up. "He is?! Gosh, he is so hot!" She responded, squealing. Upon hearing her response, I glanced up at her, giving her a look of indifference. "I suppose. Honestly, I don't know what you or any other girls see in him." I stated, shrugging.

Christine paused for a moment, looked at my solemn expression, and lifted my head tenderly. "What's wrong, sweet potato? Is everything okay?" She asked, soothingly. "Yeah, I'm fine." I replied. "I'm just wondering... Why, out of all people, did Rosalina choose me to be the leader of the Portal?" Christine kissed my forehead, and replied, "She chose you because you're special, sweet pea. You're unique." "Really? Am I really that special?" I asked, smiling. "Of course you are! Heck, I couldn't ask for a better friend than you!" She exclaimed, embracing me in her arms. "Thanks, Christine! You're the best!" I responded, hugging her. "It's no problem, sugar pie! I'm always here for you, if you need me." She chirped. When I heard these words, I thought maybe being the leader of the Portal wasn't so bad after all. Besides, I had my best friend with me in case the unexpected happened. I breathed a sigh of relief. Everything was going to be okay.

I was about to drift off to sleep, when I noticed a note stuck to one of the windows of the school. I grabbed the note, and showed it to Christine. "Hey, look at this!" I shouted at her. My best friend shot me a look of confusion, and replied, "Well, what does it say?" I handed the note to her. She read it, then stated, smirking, "Well, isn't that sweet? Looks like Ash wants to have a second date with you." Upon hearing her statement, I snatched the letter from her hands, and read it in disbelief. Christine was right! Ash DID want to go on a second date with me! Overwhelmed by what I had just read, I screamed, and started to panic, like a little kid who forgot he had a test tomorrow. "AHHH! What do I do!? What am I going to do!?" I shouted, panicking. "Relax, sweetie. You've been on a date with him before, haven't you?" Christine questioned. "Yes, but he wants me to go on another date with him? So soon? Don't you think this is a little suspicious?" I replied. Christine pondered for a moment, then answered, "You know, I think you're right. Ash would've told you if he wanted to go on a second date with you in person. But just in case, head on over to the Portal." "You got it!" I exclaimed. "But what about my mom? She was pretty ticked off the last time I arrived home late." "Don't worry about it, I'll handle it." My best friend reassured me, giving a wink. "Now go, I'll be fine!" "Okay, see you! I'll call you if I need anything!" I replied. "Right, see you!" My best friend called out to me as I ran towards the Portal.

When I stepped into the green shaped dome, I expected everyone to be going about their business, walking to and from their destinations. But instead, no one was inside. It was empty. The Portal had now become a ghost town. "Hello, Mayor? It's me, Peachy! Is anyone there?" I called out, my voice echoing. There was no reply. I called out once more, and there was still no reply. Things were starting to get suspicious and odd as well. As I looked around a little while longer, my hands got clammy and a chill ran down my spine. The atmosphere grew even more tense and intimidating than before, making me even more frightened. After a couple minutes of quivering and shaking, I heard a voice echoing loudly, "Yes! She's the one. She's the new leader, our target!" Upon hearing these words, I responded, quivering, "Yes? Is anyone there? I'm the new leader, the one called Peachy." After responding to the peculiar voice, I heard instinct whispering and murmuring. It seemed to me that there was not one person, but a whole team of people watching my every move. I gulped hard, as I heard the voice state aloud, "I see. Do you have a name?" "Peachy." I replied calmly. Shortly after stating this, I heard sounds of laughter and giggles. "You mean to tell me, young lady, that your parents named you after a fruit?! How outrageously pathetic! I highly doubt that your parents would name you after such a thing. Please, let us not make this difficult. Tell me your TRUE name." The voice echoed. "Never in 1 million years!" I replied, smirking. After waiting a few minutes, I heard an eruption of evil laughter. "HAHAHAHA!" The voice boomed. "A feisty one, aren't we? That's just what the Portal needs, a feisty princess. I overheard from Rosalina that you're quite strong for a beginner. You said you were the portal leader, right? Well, you're going to become Princess of this place as well, and you will rule it with high honor."

Did I hear correctly? Did this mysterious person just say I was going to become the princess of the Portal? How peculiar... "Excuse me, did you just say 'princess'? I asked. "Indeed. As I stated before, you will become the princess of the portal and rule it with high prestige. However, you must prove to me that you're worthy of the title." The voice replied. "I accept your challenge, but could you please tell me who you are?" I stated. I looked around to see where the voice was coming from, but no one was there. Suddenly, I saw a figure appear into the light. The figure was a man who looked to be about in his early 20s, wearing a white lab coat and circular glasses. His blond hairdo resembled the style of Internet Explorer, and on the left side of his coat there appeared to be a letter P logo with a lightning bolt through it. My eyes widened. This logo was none other than Team Plasma's! "Are you Colress?" I asked. "I am indeed. You could say I'm the 'brain' of Team Plasma." The man stated. "So you're the one who tried to destroy N!" I screamed, my throat growing tense. "What you did to him is unforgivable! I can't believe you manipulated him!" "Oh no, my dear. I didn't manipulate him. That was merely Ghetsis' doing. However, I took part in the evil scheme." Colress replied, drawing a smirk. "Now, how about we start our challenge?" "Deal!" I exclaimed, shaking his hand. "I'll do it on behalf of N! He doesn't deserve you or Ghetsis!" "Ha ha! You really are cute, my dearest." The scientist replied, touching my nose. "You really think you're going to win and save the leader of team plasma? Very well, prove it in battle."

Suddenly, I was teleported to team plasma's lair. As I got out of teleporter, the first thing I saw was a huge battlefield. I stepped on the left side of the battlefield, while Colress was placed on the right. "Now the battle can truly begin!" Colress boomed, drawing a smirk, and giving his glasses a push. Things were about to get electrifying!