So You Want to Be A Hero?

As those names left Kazuya's lips, something in my head clicked into place. A missing piece to the puzzle in my mind, the reason for my strange dreams and memories. I always wondered… known that Tiffany and I were different. This was it. This was the reason why. We weren't just capes, we were gods. Literally!

"Kabbal, huh?" I muttered, mostly to myself. "That sounds strange… and kinda harsh."

"Sounds odd to you, does it?" Kazuya asked. It's a befitting name for an Arcadian, for you, the god that you are. You aren't human. It's better than the name you go by now."

I frowned, not really agreeing.

"I don't know about that," Tiffany said, giving me a rueful glance. "Apparently, I'm named after Satan." She waved her arms, pretending to be upset. "I mean, really?"

My lips curled upward. "Considering how you act sometimes I'm not surprised."

Tiffany's eyes narrowed for a moment before she flashed a smile of her own. "It is kinda badass though."

Kazuya seemed amused as he faced Tiffany, running a hand through his white hair. "Though the revelation of your middle name may traumatize you, know that it represents an amalgamation of three Valterian beings, not that just that one entity."

Tiffany shrugged. "Well, I guess that makes everything just fine then," she said, her voice laced with the sweetness of sarcasm.

I hummed. So my sister and I were gods… not human. it was still kinda hard to believe even though Kazuya just said it. What could all this mean? "After all this time is everything we've been told a lie?"

"Not everything," Kazuya said. "Only the person you believe yourself to be."

With her hands on her waist, Tiffany frowned. "What are you even saying–" she squealed as Kazuya reached over and poked her forehead with two fingers before any of us could react. "–hey!"

"Simple, girl. The life you have lived here is nothing but an illusion. A carefully crafted dream you were given after you were brought from Avalon. A fantasy you were able to indulge in."

He smirked at Nathan. "That goes for you too."

Nathan's brow furrowed. "Say what?"

Ms. Frazzle placed a hand on his shoulder. "You wouldn't remember Nathan. Not with him tampering with your memories."

"It was for their protection," Kazuya said. "Their parents agreed."

"The Bloodstained Festival," Ms. Frazzle hissed and frowned, her eyes on Kazuya.

After a silent moment, Nathan spoke up. "So, are you telling me we came from another planet?" Nathan seemed conflicted like he didn't know what to think.

"What else could I mean?" Kazuya answered.

I frowned as broken memories flooded my mind. Memories of Dusk's castle. Bodies littered the city streets below as I looked from the safety of castle walls. I remembered the numbness in my body as I observed the sea of blood.

"What happened?" My gaze shifted from Kazuya to Ms. Frazzle, who was still busy glaring at the Valterian fox. "What caused us to leave Avalon then? Why were our memories erased?"

"Erased isn't quite the right word," Kazuya mused, refusing to say anything else.

"Repressed then?"

Terra chuckled. "About ten years ago, an assassination attempt was made on Dusk's life, during an annual holiday in the empire. It was during a big celebration, there was a parade and everything across the entire capital."

Nathan narrowed his eyes. "Assassination attempt? Were you involved in that?"

"No," Ashley answered as Terra shook his head. "It wasn't the Sinister Seven. Dissenters that opposed Dusk's rule finally found the courage and opportunity to rebel."

"Dusk put'em down," Terra said. "He went on a rampage, anyone that even thought about disagreeing with him was killed after that." Terra's eyes flashed toward our teacher and she flinched slightly. "Well, that's the official story. Trinity thought it was an excuse for population control, for him to let out his aggression. Guess he was annoyed about getting his ass handed to him by Kimba all the time."

Ashley snorted and folded her arms. "Witnessing the aftermath of that, I wouldn't be surprised if that was the case."

Terra smiled at her. "Oh yeah, dead people were everywhere. So many mass graves too. I think the empire opted to start burning bodies eventually. Help to save space."

I winced. "Jesus, sounded like genocide."

"It was one. What did you think of it, teach?"

"Who knows?" Ms. Frazzle asked, looking off to the side. "I wasn't there to witness it, but I wouldn't be surprised if he was performing a ritual of some sort."

"I've had dreams about this before." I bit the edge of my thumb's fingernail. "Of seeing people fighting in the city as we stayed at Dusk's castle. I was with a dragon princess watching a boy get dragged away by guards after the battle."

My sister eyed me, curious. "Another dragon princess, huh?"

"Haylianna, the crown princess of the Duskanian empire," Ashley commented as she leaned on a wall, her arms crossed as her eyes dug into me.

"We knew someone like that?" Tiffany asked, her eyes wide.

Apparently so.

"It felt like we were close," I said.

"You brats will see her again," Kazuya said with a smile, his arms crossed. "I'm sure."

A spark of joy, of genuine excitement, arose within me as I anticipated meeting someone from the past that was still unknown to me.

"Ems, you've never mentioned being friends with a dragon princess in those dreams of yours."

"Really? Maybe I forgot about it."

"How could you forget something like that?"

"What about you?" Nathan said rounding on Tiffany. "You've never mentioned any dreams or visions about the past, only Mercy has."

Tiffany paused. "…I've had some." She nudged her head toward Kazuya. "After meeting fox-boy over there." She wiggled the fingers of one hand before rubbing her chin and scrunching her lips. "I don't remember much, but I think the castle was huge. You could see across the entire city."

"Do you remember the people Mercy was talking about?" Nathan asked.

Tiffany rolled her eyes. "How about you?" she snapped. "Why haven't you shared your dreams?"

"I-I haven't really had any," Nathan said, taken aback.

Tiffany thinned her lips and gave Nathan a pointed "See? you don't remember either."

Kazuya chuckled at their exchange and started striding off, causing us all to follow. He passed at glance at me before facing forward, his golden eyes shimmering in the darkness.

"Your will is strong to have the repressed memories of your past break into your awareness, Mercy."

I shrugged feeling a bit rueful, I folded my hands and held them in front of my chest. "I guess. Maybe it's because it reminds me of what I want."

"And what is that, child?"

I shook my head, not wanting to share something so personal with someone who would cut it down with criticism and practicality.

"To be reunited with your old friends?" Ashley guessed as she walked next to Tiffany, her voice cool as her gaze intensified on me.

"…Yeah," I glanced at my sister, warmth in my heart. Tiffany blinked like she was puzzled a bit before smiling back. Her fingers crawled up my back until her hand cupped my shoulder and she pulled me in for a slight hug.

"You could say it's related to a promise."

"To Tiffany?" Ashley asked.

I nodded as I thought of my past dreams. The perfect memories of playing with my friends when I was young. "It's silly really. To promise to make a utopia where everyone gets along." I snorted, a humorless chuckle leaving my lips. "It's impossible, isn't it?" My eyes on Kazuya, I said, "I mean even heaven isn't perfect."

"Utopia… that's kind of grandiose," Nathan commented.

I lowered my head slightly. "Maybe."

Ashley huffed softly with a smirk. "For the realms to be without conflict Valterians could not exist. Truly, a task for the Elder Gods."

Kazuya made a sound of amusement but said nothing else. I put my hands in the pockets of my hoodie feeling a bit embarrassed by their reactions to my impossible promise. I felt naked, unable to hide from their judgment.

"I think it's an admirable goal," Ms. Frazzle commented brightly.

The corner of Ashley's lips curled upward. "Yes. But I wonder how someone with your history would think that."

Ms. Frazzle's expression darkened as her smile dimmed.

"It would be wise for you to learn to learn from her," Kazuya said, admonishing Ashley.

She scoffed at him.

"When you get tired of challenging everything you'll grow to appreciate peace, child."

"Peace is for the weak," she muttered.

Kazuya laughed.

"I'm surprised to hear you say that. Even though I guess I shouldn't be," Ms. Frazzle said. "Considering how you don't go out of your way to rock the boat here."

Ashley humphed. "It's only practical in my current state."

We walked further down the street, getting stared at by the people that were out, some pointing at us–taking pictures and recording video with their phones.

Rude.

I hoped no one would recognize us, I was worried as Ashley and Ms. Frazzle didn't really hide their faces, only a matter of time before they'd be associated with knowing a mysterious cape.

"This training method you have planned," Ms. Frazzle said, walking next to me and Tiffany as we walked behind Kazuya, "What exactly does it consist of? Will you restore their powers and memories?"

So we did have powers! I looked at Kazuya's back with latent anticipation.

"That's none of your business, serpent-elf," Kazuya said.

"It is if you plan to harm them." Ms. Frazzle gave Ashley a look and Ashley glared at her. Our teacher bit her lip in frustration.

Ashley said, "Do not give me such a pitiful look, they need to learn the truth on their own."

"What about me?" Nathan asked, his eyes unreadable as he turned toward Ashley.

"Ask your family," Kazuya said.

"I guess we should do that too, huh?" Tiffany asked.

"No."

"Why the fuck not?"

"No, because your parents are not in this world. The humans observing you are mere controlled lackeys."

"What…?" I felt like was out of breath. "What do you mean?"

Tiffany frowned. "…Our parents are not our real parents?"

It took a minute for Kazuya's words to register in my mind. To feel real. Was he lying? No, he couldn't be. What reason would he have to lie? Our parents were fakes? So that's what he meant. I thought of the times I used to cuddle with my dad while watching tv. Of cooking with my mom side-by-side in the kitchen. The times we had dinner as a family. How long were the people that were the most closet to us lying to our faces?

Nathan hummed in sympathy.

"Yup." Terra agreed, speaking to his best friend. "It gets deep even for you."

"How so?"

"I'm not sure he,"–Terra nodded toward Kazuya–" wants me to say. You'll find out."

Nathan grunted, unsatisfied.

"No, I can't agree to this," Ms. Frazzle said. "I can't trust them alone with you."

"So you will stop me?" Kazuya stopped and turned his head, his vulpine grin widening as he side-eyed our teacher, a glint in his eye. He faced us and everyone tensed.

Kazuya paused. "Kabballah and Kabbal," he said, addressing my sister and me, "If you truly wish to know who you are, to become who you were meant to be, you will need to follow me. Alone."

Kazuya turned and crouched to the ground before blasting off into the air, vaulting over a building in a giant leap, his tails trailing behind. Within seconds he glided across the Ravensworth skyline, flying like a gold comment over the horizon until he disappeared from sight.

With Kazuya gone, Ms. Frazzle visibly relaxed. "I don't think it's a good idea for you two to meet with him. Not without the rest of us there."

I frowned and glanced at the skyline toward the direction Kazuya vanished. Ms. Frazzle was probably right but I wanted to know who we really were and what Kazuya had in store for us.

oOo​

It was a fairly uneventful start to the weekend as my sister and I mentally prepared ourselves for meeting with the Valterian fox later that night. We spent the morning hanging out with Nathan and Terra, debating whether we should confront our 'parents' about what we knew but of course, we decided against it. Kazuya didn't want us to, and though Myadin didn't agree she warned us about being rash. Though I had an inkling that our parents already knew we were involved with some serious stuff, who knows how they would react if we told them found out we were gods?

Tiffany wasn't pleased, feeling that Mom and Dad lied to us for years. Terra says it was to protect us, but I still felt weird about it. If they weren't are parents, then who the hell were they?

I texted Ashley to contact Kazuya and tell him we'd meet him tonight, getting her to promise not to tell Ms. Frazzle.

"So devious," Tiffany said with a smirk after I mentioned what I did. "My pure and innocent Ems, how could you go behind our beloved teacher's back like that?"

I rolled my eyes, sticking my tongue at her a little as we sat next to each other on my bed. "Kazuya won't hurt us." I paused thinking about how he acted the night he returned and forced us to strip in front of him. "Probably…"

Tiffany shook her head with a smile and she pressed her side into mine, her hand reaching across my arms. "Don't worry too much, I have insurance."

I looked at her uncertain.

"Terra," Tiffany said looking at me like I was an idiot. "I talked to him about it earlier. He'll follow us for backup."

Not a bad idea, I thought back to the fight in that mystical city, Ms. Frazzles' inner world. Terra was able to hold his own against the fox god with Ashley and our teacher. I hummed. "I guess he'll be behind us."

"He'll hang back so Kazuya can't see him." Tiffany grabbed her phone off the side of the bed and she started to fiddle with the lock screen. " Actually, let me remind him that we're gonna go out soon."

"Won't Kazuya be able to sense him?" I asked. "With… what was that thing called, vapor?"

Tiffany shrugged. "I'm sure, Terra could do something about it."

We spent some more time discussing how we would get ready before Tiffany mentioned something about costumes.

I rubbed my chin in thought. I forgot about that. " Let's just wear what we had on before. It's not like we have time to make some."

"True enough. But if we're gonna start going out at capes, we need to come up with some ideas. Your costume is like your identity. You know what happens to capes that go out with something half-baked. They become stuck with it cause that's what they're known by."

"Capes can always rebrand," I muttered. "A lot of people have multiple outfits."

"But the first one is like… Iconic. Come on, Ems, you know what I mean. A cape's first costume has to pop! Give a good first impression. It's gotta be marketable, inspiring yet intimidating. Look good for interviews and pictures…"

"We don't even know what powers we have," I said, exasperated.

We settled on getting dressed in the baggy athletic wear and hoodies we wore the first time we had gone to the bar. Making sure we had our masks on, so our faces were covered. Around ten o'clock we snuck outside from the basement. We were going to be in so much trouble, I knew our parents would probably figure out we'd left. I sighed as we locked the cellar door.

Our fate was sealed.

We took the late bus downtown toward the bar we met Kazuya and the Inheritors at the other day. Looking out the window at the city lights, I felt apprehensive and gripped my phone tight as I thought about meeting Kazuya again without Ms. Frazzle or Ashley there to mediate. My sister murmured in my ear, pulling my attention away. She was on her phone. She mentioned that Terra was already in the area and I calmed down. It took us a minute to get off the bus, it wasn't full like it usually was during the day but people always tended to get off slowly when you needed to get somewhere. Cautious, My sister and I paced ourselves for a bit, avoiding any suspicious people on the sidewalk until we reached the bar entrance. Going inside, Tiffany and I met Kazuya at the booth.

"You girls managed to come alone, I'm impressed," Kazuya said, martini glass in hand.

"Of course we did," I said. "We don't need our teacher to protect us from everything. This is something we need to do by ourselves right?"

Tiffany made a sound of agreement. "Mercy, our little goody two shoes here, didn't want to break your trust and disappoint you."

I felt irritation rise in my stomach as I glanced at her, a little heat rising to my cheeks. My twin just smiled sweetly at me, always loving to get under my skin.

Kazuya chuckled. "I should thank you then, Kabbal," he said, causing me to nearly cringe." Perhaps I'll give you children a gift for your obedience."

"It's so weird hearing you call me that."

"Would you like to be called by a fake name rather than one given to you by your own parents?" Kazuya countered. He stood up and turned away from the bar, beckoning us to follow him out the door.

My anxiety raised as Kazuya led us toward an alleyway off to the side of the building. I glanced at Tiffany worried but before I could speak she held her fingers up to her lips, in a shushing motion, the light from her phone her other hand illuminating in the darkness. I relaxed, Tiffany must have told Terra we left the bar.

"Come," Kazuya commanded. "Claim your reward."

Both Tiffany and I gave each other a questionable look before stepping forward. Kazuya stood before us and we tensed up and cowered before him as he overlooked us. His hands glowed faintly with golden energy. Using a different hand for the both of us, Kazuya pressed two of his fingers on the middle of our foreheads before we could react.