Heroes Versus Villains

Just A Dream

"I hope you realize that Thorn has the ability to get to the Protectors as well."

"Yes, yes I see that. Which means we just have to move quickly."

"Oh no."

"What? What is it?"

"He's already got them all."

"What?!"

BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP -click-

Owen sat up. The beeping made explosions go off on his dream. Good thing it was just a dream, he thought, Just a dream.

He was sleeping in a little room, a place built specifically for him by Elijah. He had built a place in the building labeled The Quarters where the members of his "Team" could stay. Owen stood, stretched, changed, and exited the dorm.

He headed towards the main building, the Shop, where he thought he'd find Elijah. Passing by the dorm next to the exit Owen caught a glimpse of what was inside. The door was slightly ajar and inside was some strange lights and sounds. He entered carefully.

Seeing what was inside Owen froze. Doctor Thorn was in the room. He was different, he had grown huge and many of his features were changed or new. He had what seemed to be scales or armor of some kind. There was no white in his eyes, only green. Bud was on his back and incredibly more horrific than the simple plant bud. Large and thorny vines were protruding out of Bud, covering the entire room in plant life. The strongest of the vines held up Elijah by the throat, nearly beat to death, blood dripping down his face. Elijah caught Owen's eyes and forced a smile.

"I wasn't prepared," Elijah choked out, "I wasn't ready."

Thorn laughed maniacally and threw Elijah across the room, which was surprisingly large for a dorm, seemed about as big as a very wealthy lab. Owen would've been jealous had it not been for the destruction.

"No!" Screamed a voice behind Owen. He turned around and saw Aiden, strong and sharp steel claws where his hands use to be. "No!!!" Aiden lunged forward to attack Thorn but a vine but him out of the way. He crashed into the wall and fell to the floor. The brothers were unconscious.

"How did this happen?!" Owen croaked out at last.

Thorn looked around and locked eyes with Owen - those evil, green eyes - and smirked. He took a step towards Owen, making him back up.

"You tell me, Timeblazer. You know past present and future. I won. There's no way around it, is there? Your precious BALANCE is meaningless!" Thorn shot forward a vine, but Owen leapt out of the way, missing him by an inch. "Get back here!!" Owen ran like no tomorrow, Thorn chased after him with vines to help him, making him go incredibly fast. Owen went out the exit and into the shop - wrong. He wasn't in the shop. He was... No... Couldn't be.

There was no mistaking it; Owen had entered the Chamber of Time, the otherworldly place where Father Time resides. Spinning around he saw Thorn - now the size of a skyscraper - staring down at him.

"Nowhere to run," his voice boomed, "Nowhere to hide! This chamber is nothing but empty void, now that your dear Father Time is out of the picture!"

What?! Owen couldn't believe his ears.

"You must know what is happening. You know everything, don't you?! Don't you?!"  Thorn balled his fist and slammed it down trying to hit Owen, but he ran out the way so it missed him - although he was still inside the blast radius, so he was pushed and damaged. "I win! That's what happens! I win!" Another slam, missing by mere inches, hitting Owen with extreme force from the blast. "You cannot stop me, Timeblazer! No one can! I will ALWAYS win! Mwahahahahaha!"

Owen was running back and forth, panicking, crying and screaming. He did not understand. He never saw this. This is all new. He did know what was going to, but he didn't understand what was happening. He never saw this.

Slam!

Owen shot through the air and into the ground. Thorn's booming laughter taunting him.

Slam!

Owen shouted out in pain as Thorn hit his target. He took a firm grasp around Owen's body and lifted him up, holding him close to his face.

"I am going to kill you. I am going to kill everyone. Everything. Until nothing is left. You do not understand my pain, Timeblazer. Resistance is futile. Any attempt to preserve your precious existence is just wasted effort. I. Will. Win."

Thorn's grip tightened incredibly and Owen let out a loud, agonizing scream of pain. Thorn laughed at his achievement.

"Owen!"

The pain was too much.

"Owen!"

The screams tore up his throat.

"Owen! Owen!"

Owen gasped and bolted upright in his bed. He couldn't breath, he was sweating incredibly. Elijah and Aiden stood over him with worried faces.

"Owen, dude," Elijah said, "You were screaming so loud I could hear you outside the store. Is everything alright?"

Owen looked around the room, darting his eyes from one location to the next. "Am... Was I asleep?" He asked, gasping for more air.

"Yeah, you were," Aiden answered. "Don't you remember? After telling Elijah of the new protector you went to take a nap."

Owen felt relief, but was still worried of the significance of the nightmare.

"Speaking of which," Elijah said, "Owen, I'd like you to meet Natalia Cope, she goes by Lily." Elijah turned and beckoned her forth, and she entered the room. She was wearing a black tank top and blue jeans with a blue and green flannel tied around her waist. She waved and had a very Neutral facial expression. "But," Elijah added, interrupting before Owen had a chance to say "Hi", "Using her powers as a Protector she changes who she is. She takes on a whole new look and gains immense power. When she takes on this form, she goes by Aubrii."

A silence took resident for a second while Owen made sure Elijah was done talking. "Hello, Lily," Owen had said.

"Hello," She responded.

"Lily," Elijah began, "This is Owen, if you didn't already hear, and this is my brother, Aiden." They exchanged greetings. "Now, I guess we should fill you in."

"I already know," Lily said.

"Really?" Owen inquired, unbelieving. The trio stood (well, duo. Owen still lied in bed) impressed as Lily told the Legend, Prophecy, and Elijah's Goal with incredible accuracy. Elijah was tempted to applaud.

"So," Elijah started, "Are you in?" Lily peered at her potential team, thinking about what the Water Guardian had said. She smiled and nodded. Soon the boys shared the same smile. "Then let's get to work."