The end was coming. No, he lied, it was already here. Brown eyes widened as he took in the scene unfolding before him, watching as more creatures flew and crawled out of a huge black vortex that lay in the middle of the town. The sky was completely dark, blood red outlining the clouds and exotic ships sailed through the air, dropping more creatures from their flanks.

Screams were the only sound haunting him, his own body in no shape to take anymore action. And though he would never consider it in any other circumstance, giving up was his only option. He was done. That realization was strong enough to wet his eyes as his knees weakened, sending him crashing to the ground.

Jumping when a light touch latched onto his arm taking his attention, he turned to look over to his side seeing a woman, also on her knees, blood and bruises clinging to her and tear stains streaking her cheeks. More tears fell from her eyes as her lips trembled, along with the hands grasping his arm.

"W-what do we do now?" She asked shakily, sadly looking for guidance he couldn't provide.

Tightly grabbing her hands in his hand while forcing a smile on his face, he stared into her eyes. "You are so beautiful and I am so happy to have had a long and happy life with you." His voice cracked as tears glazed his eyes. "I love you forever."

She choked on her sob. "I love you forever, too." She cried, throwing her arms around his neck and kissed him.

They kissed, drowning out the destruction and bloodshed around them until a big explosion consumed the entire place. Then everything faded out.

Sharmaine jumped up from her sleep with a loud gasp.

...

"Ace." The giant man had been sitting at their small kitchen table, reading the daily paper when he heard his name being called. He looked up to see his twin standing in the door frame, looking at him anxiously and gnawing softly on her bottom lip.

Ace folded the paper back together, then placed it on the table. "Wassup, Shar?"

"It happened again." She finally said.

"What happened?" Ace asked, confusion morphing his face as he stared at his sister.

She sighed, then strolled over to an empty chair and took a seat. She eyed him. "I keep having this dream. They... It is too bleary for me to make anything out of them, but Ace it's," Sharmaine choked up, tears brimming her chocolate eyes.

Ace's heart nearly dropped as it longed to be with her. He'd never enjoyed seeing her cry, no matter how old they got.

"It felt so real," it was a whisper. "I could only make out two people, but even then I was only limited to a bleary scene. They... were talking, but I couldn't hear what was being said because of the screaming. It was foggy, like I had been submerged under water, but I could still hear them. They were screaming so loud, Ace, I could almost feel their suffering." Sharmaine paused, then looked over at the wall. "And then there was a loud explosion and red, and then...nothing." She finished with a whisper, staring blankly across the table.

"Hmph," Ace just grunted, not knowing what to say.

Sharmaine lightly shook her head, blinking her eyes. They seemed to have life now. "The worse part is that it doesn't feel like an ordinary dream. It feels more like a memory, but not a past memory. More a memory that has yet to come."

"A premonition." Ace said, peering at her seriously now.

Sharmaine stared back, dry swallowing a few times. "The dream. The more I have it, the more clearer it becomes bit by bit. Ace, I sense that something bad is about to happen."

"How 'bout we get ready and head to the guild. Muffin should be done with the food by now and I really don't wanna fight over it today." Ace said, standing to his feet and stretching his arms, two overhead and the other two out front. He knew his sister could tell that he was changing the subject, but she also knew when he wanted to stop talking.

"Yes, I suppose you're right." She agreed and got to her feet as well and exited the kitchen.

9

Meet the Doves

DC...

Sharmaine and Ace entered into the house, but were nearly mowed over by a hyper Triton who was running up the stairs.

"Watch it kid," Ace growled out.

The boy continued, running down the hall until he tripped over his own foot and began headed down quickly.

Ace hurried and grabbed Triton before the boy's face became well acquainted with the floor. Lifting him by the back of his collar, Ace brought Triton up to his face.

"It's too early to be running through the house. Watch. Where. You're going."

"Sorry, Ace." Triton said scratching his blushing cheek. Ace placed him back to his feet properly. "Good morning."

"Good morning, Triton. And please, walk not run." Sharmaine warmly lectured and the boy nodded his head earnestly.

"Yes ma'am."

Ace rolled his eyes, "Who else is up round here?"

"Rockie's downstairs," Triton stopped to giggle when Ace groaned,"and the others are waking up now. You made it here just in time though. Muffin just finished setting breakfast out." Triton said, but the rest was lost to a howling Ace, whooping down the stairs.

Sharmaine and Triton snickered at the grown goofball, then followed him down to the main floor.

A long picnic bench lay in the middle of the floor with platters of steaming cloud puffs, sweet, white, fluffy fritters and bowls of fresh fruit set along it. Rockie sat looking greedily and agitated at the food before him. He wore his pajamas and wiped drool from the corner of his mouth every now and then.

At the other end of the table, a thick woman with magenta skin was setting down large pitchers filled with purple juice. Her head was bald and she had black, button eyes and full galaxy colored lips. She wore a black apron that read 'Touch the muffin if you dare', over a bodysuit that blended with her skin.

Ricky leaned against the wall watching as Muffin worked getting the table set up, but mainly was checking out her butt.

Ace raced over to a spot and started digging in.

"Ace, wait for the others." Muffin said, irritated at having to repeat herself all the time.

"Why bother, luv? He never gone listen." Ricky laughed from his perch.

Muffin cut her eyes at him. "Do you not have somewhere else to be, sir?"

"No, I agree." Ace said with a full mouth of food.

"You shut it," Muffin warned, lifting up her spatula to threaten the man. "And eat some fruit, you pit. I won't have you dying on my watch."

Ace just grunted and continued to stuff his face with the soft cake.

"Ey. How come he get to eat?" Rockie growled from his seat, facing them.

"Because I'm growner than you." Ace gloated back, but groaned when Muffin popped him with her spatula.

"Growner isn't a word." She said while rolling her eyes.

"Nah, stu~pid." Rockie sing-songed then blew a raspberry.

Muffin then spotted Sharmaine and Triton walking over. "Morning."

"Good morning," they greeted back.

"I'll show you stupid, you lil' runt." Ace argued back.

"The rest?" Muffin asked, ignoring the two arguing in the background as she removed her apron and started heading towards the kitchen door.

"They're getting up now." Triton chirped as he took a seat at the end of the table by Rockie.

Thump. Slam.

"Looks like they are already up." Sharmaine chuckled at the noises from upstairs.

Ricky laughed, "Here comes the fun." He pushed himself off the wall and went to sit.

"What are you yapping about already?" K.O asked Rockie as he walked to the table scratching his head with a yawn.

"I'm hungry!" Rockie said, pouting and folded his arms.

"You're always hungry, fatty." K.O joked, and everyone chuckled.

"And can still whoop yo slow ass, you anorexic twig." Rockie retorted back, standing to his feet with a grin.

"So you know big words now?" K.O said with a grin and placed his hands in his pockets.

"I know more words than you."

"I bet you don't know what that word mean."

"You're about to know what my fist mean."

"Is that a threat?" K.O asked, glaring at Rockie as dust from the floor started to circle around his feet.

"A promise!" Rockie said powering up with static flickering out.

The two ran for the other, but before they could hit, two fingers reached out and plucked the sides of their heads. The force sent them spinning back and crash landing into a couch against the wall. The couch knocked the wall so hard, dust flew up and fluttered down.

"It's too early," Ace grumbled as he retracted his arms back down and took his seat, and started back eating.

"Ace, don't eat it all!" Rockie flipped from the couch and dashed towards the table.

Out of the blue, Muffin stepped in his way with her tail stretched out blocking him. The end of her tail was flat, like a giant fly swatter.

"If you want to eat, you walk to your seat." Muffin growled to the ginger.

"Yeah yeah." Rockie grumbled and walked around her to sit next to Triton.

"And wait for the others to eat." Muffin added in, then she stared down at Ace, who hadn't stopped eating yet. She lifted her tail and slapped it across the back of his head.

"Ow," Ace whined with a mouthful and rubbed his head.

"That's quite enough."

"I'm a growing man."

Muffin chuckled, "You've been saying that same thing for the last twelve years." She headed to her seat.

"'s true." Ace said as he chewed his food and swallowed.

The others slowly started to fill up the empty spots.

"Um," a girl said, standing behind an open spot next to Champion.

She had coco butter skin with brown hair and eyes. Her hair was in two ponytails that came over her chest. She wore blue jean overalls shorts with a peach undershirt and tan hiking boots. Her blue guild sig was on her right thigh. Champion and Queen turned to her. She fidgeted were she stood.

"Is that seat free?" A red hue formed on her cheeks as she asked.

"It's open, Parker," Champion said. "You know you don't have to ask to sit."

Parker nodded as she blushed harder and went to sit. "It's nice out."

"It is quite the pleasant of days." Queen agreed with a smile.

Parker nodded her head in agreement. Once she caught sight of Champion's fiery eyes, she whipped her body to the side with a squeak to hide her red face. Champion and Queen looked at each other confused.

"Are you alright?" Champion asked, lifting a bushy brow.

"Uh, um, y-yeah. I'm fine. I'm fine." Parker frantically stated, waving them off.

"Maybe you have caught the sickness. It would be wise for you to see Mr. Doctor. He will certainly heal you." Queen advised.

"No, no, I'm okay really." Parker assured as she faced them again. "Might just be a little bug or something."

"More like the love bug." a nasally voice interjected across from them. The three looked up.

The nasally boy had shoulder length green hair with two hair antennas sprouting from his head. He wore white, swirly goggles, a pink sweater vest over a white long button down, brown shorts and brown dress shoes. He also had on pink knee high socks.

"The love bug?" Queen asked as the green haired child took his place before a flustered Parker.

The boy gave them a sneaky grin. "In this age's terminology, to "catch the love bug" is a figure of speech used to describe someone who has fallen for someone else."

"Ah... Beetle." Parker squeaked. She couldn't believe her deepest secret was about to be revealed.

Beetle smiled even more from her reaction.

"Fallen? I not understand." Queen noted, completely lost on the conversation.

"Not literally falling, but as in having a cr-"

"No no no, Beetle stop." Parker frantically said.

"-ush on someone, meaning they li- oof" Beetle groaned as a wooden log formed from thin air and swung into him, smashing him back into the wall.

Everyone ceased their chatter, watching as the log vanished in puffs of smoke and left a semi-conscious Beetle dented in the wall.

"Know your place weirdo. If she needed your help or your mouth, she would've asked you for it." Maya snarled as she walked to sit with her hands on her hips.

Beetle mumbled something incoherent due to his face being smashed in the wall. Debris fluttered off.

"Now why in the hell you do that?" Ace yelled at Maya from his seat.

"Oh, like you can talk." She barked back.

"There's a big hole in the wall because of you..."

"Silence children. The king and queen have arrived." King announced loudly, filled with mirth as he and Nara descended the stairs and entered the main hall.

"Finally. I've been starving over here," Rockie grumbled out loud.

"Ha ha, you lil' bastard." King said, giving the ginger a noogie before taking his seat at the head of the table.

"Good morning my babies," Nara greeted brightly. They greeted back. "And Maya, honey, go get your brother from the wall."

"Sit by me, mama," a little girl shouted patting the spot to her left.

"N-n-no, s-s-sit by m-me," another little girl stuttered out, on the other side of the spot.

The first girl had violet hair and eyes with tan skin. Her hair was in a bob cut with a bang that look like she'd cut it herself. She wore a glittery, orange beret, pink halter top, a light blue skirt over yellow tights and glittery purple high tops. Various colored bracelets lined both arms.

Her twin, the other girl, had four ponytails and a bang over her left eye. She wore a long blue sweater pullover, over brown shorts with knee high heart socks and brown shoes.

"Aw," Nara cooed as she walked around the table and sat in between the two. "How could I choose between my sweet Lacey (2nd girl) and Daisy (1st girl), so I'll just have to sit by them both." She smiled hugging them both.

Everyone got quiet and looked toward King.

A broad smile grew on King's face and he nodded slightly, "Dig in."

Everyone started to eat, humming in delight once their food melted on the tongue. Belle cringed disgustingly at how Rockie was mauling down his food. It was like the food was hitting his face more than in his mouth.

"Seriously, can you get any grosser?" she sneered, crinkling her nose.

"Wha?" Rockie mumbled around a mouthful of food, white powder caking the skin along his cheeks.

Triton chuckled at him. "Dude, you have sugar all on your face."

"Wah? Her?" Rockie tried to ask, pointing to a spot on his jaw.

"Everywhere doofus, but sadly there's no way you can get rid of ugly." K.O grinned while Triton, Belle, and Maya sniggered gaining a glare.

"You're ugly," Rockie yapped back. He picked up a cloud puff and mushed it in K.O's face.

K.O growled then grabbed a handful and mushed Rockie back. Rockie went to grab a handful too, however Belle gripped his wrist and glared at them, "It's. Too. Early." and threw his arm aside.

"I actually have the perfect remedy for that," Pretty Boy chimed in, munching on a blue fruit while admiring himself in his hand mirror. "It's called the Glo up. You just rub it on your skin twice a day, and you'll wake up looking slightly closer to handsome. Who knows, one day you might be as beautiful as I, though I highly doubt that." Everybody at the table groaned. "Actually, I know a few of you who could definitely benefit-"

"SHUT UP PRETTY BOY!" They all shouted at the teen.

King laughed at his family. His. He smiled and lifted his cup into the air. "To my family. Like always, trouble finds a way to us. No matter what happens from here on out, remember to always have each other's back and know that I love you. We have been hit, and when one of us hurt, we all hurt. We are a Hindentt and Hindentt means family, and family means that no one gets left behind. Because without family, we are nothing. Who are we?"

"DOVE CLAN!" The guild cheered, lifting their cups as well when suddenly the power popped off, leaving them in the dark.

"King..." Nara's voice growled out.

"Ha ha, oops."

...

"Oh Darling," the light masculine voice called out. The tall figure sat in the dark room, face only lit by the blue screen that was in front of them.

Heeled footsteps echoed until the slim figure, Darling, approached the other's side and asked, "Yes my liege?"

"Do you mind bringing us something to savor on? I am pretty parched."

Darling bowed over, "Anything, my liege." Then the figure lifted and turned to exit the room.

"Oh, and do hurry back. You do not want to miss this."

"Yes, my liege." The door shut closed and the other figure squirmed around trying to get comfortable in the seat.

"Now," The sitting figure said with his voice full of mirth, then peered at the screen amused. "To enjoy the view. It is finally about to start."

Outro: I caught myself, Paramore