SuperVillain

22

I usually heard my dad in the mornings around 7:30, so I got up at 7:00 on Monday. This must be how schoolkids feel, I thought, moaning.

The only thing I was good at making was pancakes from a mix. I remembered a time where my dad loved pancakes. So I made some.

When he came up from the Lair, I said "Morning, Dad," and surprised him. Usually we avoided each other, yet alone be nice.

"What are you doing?" He asked, coming over.

I was suddenly nervous. Why did I think this would work? "I-I just thought that m-maybe you'd like some p-pancakes?"

He stared at me suspiciously. "Um, okay," but then he sat down!

I got two plates and put four pancakes on each, putting the rest on a plate between us. "So, I wanted to ask you something..."

"Are you coming back to evil?" My dad asked eagerly.

"Uh, no, I'm kinda neutral at the moment," I said. "Plus, you fired me. I didn't exactly quit."

"Oh. Right." He stared at his pancakes.

"No, it's just that... I've been having this really weird dream every night for a week. So, we're at the election, and water just kinda sweeps over everything. Like, a lot of water. It floods the whole city. It's really bright, and it gets more vivid every night. I was wondering if maybe you knew something about that? Is it like, part of the Lightning family?"

My dad stared at me like I was crazy for a second, but then his eyes widened. He grabbed a sticky note and a pen. "There's only one person who can help you there." He handed me an address.

"Who is it?" I asked him.

"He's open all day, but you better get there before he gets busy. When you get there, tell him you're Lightinga!" I stood there, waiting for more information, when my dad yelled, "Go! Go get ready!"

I rushed into my room to get dressed. I was done in five minutes. I was about to head out the door when I decided to call "Thanks, Dad!" and then I ran down the hallway like my life depended on it.

Because my life, and everyone else in Mid Fais', actually did depend on it.

I arrived at the address. There was a door very close to the ground. I looked around, but finding no other entrance, I knew this must be it.

I knocked on the door, and a short man opened it. "Can I help you, little girl?"

Strangely, something about him was familiar... "I'm Lei-Lightinga," I answered quietly.

The man's eyes widened. "Take off your glasses." I did and he laughed. "It's you! It's really you!"

I stood there, feeling dumb. "Uh... so my dad said-"

"Come in, come in!" The man urged, so I followed him. "Oh, I didn't even introduce myself. My name is Otto."

"It's nice to meet you," I replied politely.

Otto laughed at this. "Why, we've already met!"

"W-We have?" I sat down on a nearby chair.

"Yes! Shortly after you were born. Tell me, Lightinga, how do you think the Lightning family gets their lightning bolts?" He put his finger in between his eyes, showing where it would be if he had one.

"Uh... we're born with it?-"

"WRONG!" Otto startled me. He was very loud and giddy. "It's my job, of course! My family has helped yours for generations!"

I was shocked at this. "You mean it's not a birthmark? You did this to me on purpose?"

Otto smiled. "It's a Lightning tradition. Oh, I could tell you so many stories about your family- no, wait, just take the book!" He chuckles again as grabbed a book off a shelf and handed it to me. It was called "The Lightning Family".

"Agh, I'm such a stupid evil scientist! You must be here for something! Nobody ever comes to visit the first time around. What'll be today, Miss Lightinga?"

"W-Wait.... evil?"

"Oh, yes!" Otto exclaimed, running around the room again. "Everyone knows the Lightning family is evil! And so is my own, the Slumber family!"

"I'm not evil..." I said, barely whispering. "I changed my mind about being a bad guy."

Otto went wide-eyed. "You're good? Oh, well, whatever brought you to make that conclusion?"

"My dad... he kicked me out..." I stared at the book, running my finger along the edge.

Finally, Otto calmed down. "You know, Lightinga, your dad wasn't always cruel and harsh. He was, of course, the Evil Lightning Lord, but underneath that, he was a family man. There was nothing he loved more than you and Macy. So when she left, he was heartbroken, and I guess now he's taking it out on you."

My dad... he did love me? I honestly had no idea to respond to that, so I told Otto my dilemma.

"I see," Otto said. "Do you mind if I do a DNA test?"

"Uh, I guess not," I respond, wondering what he'd need to do.

Otto took a Q-tip. "Open up," I opened my mouth and he rubbed the inside of my cheek. Then he stuck the cotton swab in a machine.

After about three seconds, it made a dinging noise, a paper came out of the printer. He then took it to a computer in the corner of the room. "Oh my goodness," he mumbled to himself. "How fascinating."

"What is it?" I asked as I walked over.

"Lightinga, were you aware that your mother has psychic abilities?"