The Powerless Freak 1/2

Hi! Thank you so much for taking an interest in my series! It's gonna be a long one, so i hope you enjoy the first chapter!

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Chapter 1 - The Powerless Freak

In this world, everyone has a Power. 3 types, as a matter of fact. Weaponry Elemental and Mind. And in order to get by in the world, some need a Sync. A small, personable object that, once activated, can boost a user in their natural Power, and Aura, the energy that resides in their body. A District in this world means the same as a country or kingdom in our world. The District we start our story, is a place similar to the world we already live in, except with the miracles and tragedies having Power, Syncs, and Aura would bring.… 

A young, blue haired teen runs through the backyard of his house, as jogging is a part of his work out. He abruptly stops after noticing someone is in his bedroom through his slightly opened window.

Kai: Huh? Is he in there again?

His annoyed eyes shift to the step ladder left next to the screen door.

The younger, black haired boy in the bedroom shuffles through a drawer of clothes in front of a bed. Clearly snooping around for stuff that he thinks the older sibling would have that will entice him.

Noah: Come on, where's the good stuff?

???: Noah!

He's immediately surprised and jumps by the voice of a tall woman who shares his hair color. Shouting his name. A voice that let's him know when he's in trouble.

Noah: Oh, mom, it's just you.

Ally: Noah, Kai has told you a million times by now. He doesn't like you in his room without permission!

Noah; Hey, what he doesn't know doesn't hurt him. Besides, it's not my fault he has cool junk, like this.

He raises a action figure that was tucked under a mix of clothes and books. Unknowingly behind him, a arm starts pushing the window up

Noah: I don't even know what this is!

Kai: Oh, that? That's just a rare Action-Man figure I kept as a child.

Noah: Oh, thanks Kai…. Kai!?

Kai smiles at the startled snooper, as he holds himself up with his arms on the window stool. Having used the step ladder to reach it.

Kai; Yeah, it's very special, want to know why?

Noah: Uh… sure?

Kai: It's a little secret called…

He pulls the boy in suspense closer.

Kai: Stay out of my room!!

Noah: Well, fine! Your stuff is boring and lame, anyways!

Noah storms past his mom, out of the door and starts walking down the hallway. Kai climbs through the window into his bedroom, and takes the folded shirt off of Ally's hand, helping her put his clothes away in his drawers.

Ally: I'm sorry Kai, I'll talk to him again about respecting boundaries.

Kai: It's ok Ms. Thomson, he'll learn even if I have to kill him.

Ally: Chester is almost finished making lunch, I imagine you worked up an appetite after working out!

Kai: Eh, I guess. I don't really feel all that hungry.

A stomach growl that embarrases Kai reveals contradicting deeper hunger.

Ally: You just guess, huh? Oh, and please wake your brother up. Just because it's the weekend doesn't mean he should just slouch off! Especially if you two will be receiving those forms!

Kai: Don't worry, I'll get him up.

Noah: Hey, idiot!

Noah returns to the room, waving two letters.

Noah: Dad wanted me to give these to you.

Kai grabs the letters and flips them over to see where they came from.

Kai: Huh? These came from the school? Why would they-.... 

Kai screams in excitement, and immediately dashes through his bedroom and across the hallway. Busting through the door and hopping on a bed that holds a sleeping, older teen.

Kai: Ano! Wake up! Look what just got here!

Ano struggles to open his eyes, taking a second to catch his bearings.

Ano: Kai? ....why are you on me?

Kai: Don't focus on that, just look at this!

The sleepy head focuses his eyes on the writing in front of the letter.

Ano: Hm? It's… the Guardian enrollment registration!

Kai: Well, they're job enrollment forms, but might as well just be Guardian for us! Come on, let's fill these out!

Ally quickly pops through the doorway to fix Kai's thought process.

Ally: After lunch.

Kai: After lunch!

Kai and Ano head downstairs and see Chester in the kitchen, reading the newspaper while his hand is holding a pan over the stove.

Kai: Good afternoon, Mr. Thompson!

Ano: Afternoon.

Chester: Afternoon, kids! 

Kai: What're you reading?

Chester: Just this week's paper. Can you believe it's taken the top geniuses in the world this long to finalize Aura conversion for generators? Maybe we oughta get one, Ano over there can fill er up, ha!

Ano: With all due respect, sir. I'd have to be paid to sit around and let a machine suck Aura out of my body for who knows how long.

Noah walks past them with a colorful magazine on his hand and immediately opens a page to show Chester a new bike.

Noah: Dad! There's this super cool new bike being brought over from Wynus District! Can I get it for my birthday!?

Chester: Eh... We'll have to wait and see, Noah. You know money's not the strongest thing we have.

Noah: Aw, come on! It's never our strongest thing.

Ally comes down the stairs with an empty basket, having put away all of the laundry.

Ally: Now, now, Noah. We always make with what we have. Besides, I'm sure we can find a bike here in non-futuristic Vilson District that'll be just fine for you.

Ano: We could always sell Kai's stuff. I'm sure he wouldn't mind.

Kai: Uh-excuse me! Most of my stuff is just hand me downs from you! Are you saying you wanna get rid of your own things?

Ano: ...On second thought, let's just sell Kai.

Noah: I wouldn't mind.

Kai: Both of you guys wouldn't make it 5 seconds before you started missing me!

Chester: Alright! I think lunch's ready!

Noah: Please tell me we still have those Nature Power grown berries from Mystral Forest's farm! 

Chester: We sure do! Thank goodness for coupons.

Noah: Awesome! I don't know why anyone would wanna live in a rural place, but they do make awesome fruit!

A little while later, the family gathers at the dining room table in the corner of the living room. Ally and Chester sit on one side of the table while Kai, Ano and Noah sit on the other. Plates of food and a glass with a beverage in front of them being consumed.



Chester: So, the forms finally came huh? And here I thought getting that C in map study was gonna haunt ya!

Kai: Well, it's not like I can't just use my phone in case I need to know where I am.

Ano: You're not using my phone if yours dies.

Kai: At Least they'll know who to arrest if I go missing!

Ally: You two know those jokes worry me.

Chester: Eh come on honey, I was a guardian for a bit and I came out fine!

Noah: Dad… You lasted 3 days

Chester: Uh- eh… 

Chester raises his hand and starts growing shiny plants with a green glow out of his palm.

Chester: When you find a better calling for your Nature Power then "Carpet Designing", you can tell me how long you last at your job!

Kai picks up his drink amidst the conversation.

Kai: Don't worry, Mr. Thomson. I'm sure your carpet designs look better than the ugly one we have in our living room!

Chester: That's my first design!

Kai: Oh! Uh I mean-

Kai accidentally drops his cup to the floor, while panicking, struggling to change the meaning of what he said.

Kai: Oops, I got it!

He reaches down to grab it, and as soon as he makes contact, blue markings appear, and shine on his body, breaking the glass cup by accident.

Noah: Ew! The weird blue stuff is back!

Kai sits back up embarrassed, and stares at his now blue marked hand.

Ally: Noah, it's just Kai's "unique condition".

The older brother looks at his younger brother, wanting to make sure he is okay from this clearly repeating incident.

Ano: Hey…

Kai: I'm fine!...

Ally notices Kai's sad face and catches the brothers' attention with a raised finger to show a forming idea is coming.

Ally: Hey, you two ate enough of your plate, right? Maybe you should fill out your forms! The ceremony begins at 5pm and it's already 10!

Chester: Yeah! We'll handle your chores today, take all the time you need!

Noah: We?

Ally looks at him with a grin that says "no-nonsense will be had right now".

Ally: Yes, "we".

A few minutes later, Kai and Ano are busy filling out their enrollment forms.

Kai: I can't believe we're actually doing this.

Ano: That's fair. We've only been thinking about this since we were kids.

Kai: True. But I'd say I've been more excited, since you accidentally checked "Gardener" instead of Guardian.

Ano: Huh?

Ano double checks his paper and realizes it's true.

Ano; Hey, short stuff, I've barely been awake for a few hours, cut me some slack!

The 2 brothers share a cheerful glee before they get back to their papers. After a second, Kai's mind says to himself-

Kai: I can't believe I get to prove her wrong.

His mind flashbacks to 9 years ago. To the day they decided to become Guardians.

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Mary: use it!

A younger Kai and his mother stand outside in their house's backyard. A cloudy sky causes a breeze through the grass as Kai strains his arms holding them in front of him attempting to shoot at a can on a log.

Mary: Use my Ice! You're supposed to be my child, stop wasting time and use the power you inherited from your mother!

Kai: I-...i can't! 

Mary stares at him with contempt, visibly turning to disgust and anger, and grabs one of his arms squeezing it hard. 

Mary:.Start creating ice, and strike that can right there! If you want to be my son, then do it!

Kai: I can't! Dad said I have what he has! And Dad said it wasn't anything to be worried abo-

His sentence is cut short with a slap on his head.

Mary: Don't mention him… don't ever mention him!

Her strike and the sudden grief of his dad's absence causes Kai to collapse to his knees, panting for air. Mary looks at him with a deadpan expression before turning the screen door.

Mary: I don't want to see you in this house until you can use ice.

She hesitates to open the door, before turning her head just to barely look at him.

Mary: …Just an offspring of his curse.

She enters the house, slamming the door. A loud action that has less effect on Kai than her words.

A few hours pass by, with Kai still in the cold, desperately trying to form ice from his hand. A sudden sound of the screen door opening frightens Kai for a second, before hearing the voice of who opened the door.

Ano: Kai! A new episode of Action-Man is starting! Come in and watch it with me!

Kai: Really? Aw, man. Mom said I can't come in until I use Ice Power.

Ano: Again?...

Ano looks down to the ground, saddened.

Kai: Don't look like that! Oh, ok! Just one though. 

A smile beams on Ano's face as he leads Kai back into the house. He makes it clear to Kai to keep quiet while they sneak across the living room, as he points to a sleeping Mary on the couch with dry tear streams on her cheeks and bottles surrounding her on the floor. The 2 brothers turn on the TV in an empty room, making sure to turn it down before it fully turns on.

A clock on top of the TV cuts from 4:55 to 7:03pm, as the passage of time has clearly passed by.

Action-Man: Justice Kick!

Kai & Ano: Awesome!!

Kai: He took Shady-Slug down in one kick!

Ano: He's amazing!

Kai leans back from the TV, calming down after the excitement. The 2 continue watching for a bit before Kai breaks the silence.

Kai: Hey… wouldn't it be cool if we were like Action-Man?

Ano: Us? Like him?

Kai: Yeah! Imagine it… Beating up bad guys, keeping people safe, all with cool moves!

Ano: So, basically a Guardian?

Kai: Oh, yeah! We can just be Guardians!

Ano: I doubt it… we'd have to save, like, anyone right? I don't wanna have to save those jerks from class that keeps picking on you.

Kai: Meh, it'd still be our job.

Ano: …What if we're not good enough? I mean… You don't even know what your pow-... I mean-

Kai waves his hand to show he dismisses the possibly hurtful comment.

Kai: no, it's fine!... Tell you what. 

Kai raises his fist.

Kai: We'll just promise to do our best! We don't break each other's promise, after all!

Ano: That simple?... "chuckles" You're stupid

Kai: Come on! Think about it.

Ano takes a second to think about his words, and gives a soft smile before responding, with the door handle jiggling in the background 

Ano: …Okay.

The door creaks open.

Mary: Ano, why are you making so much noise-

Her blurry vision starts to hone in on the boy that's not supposed to be in her house. The liquid in her bottle starts freezing as her ice Power starts rising in rage, breaking the glass slightly.

...

Lug: This was just another noise complaint from this house, like usual. How did this happen?

2 Guardians in officer attire stand in front of the house's door, with the 2 bruised children quietly with them. The officer in front of the door with Ano sitting next to him closes it.

Paul: Welp, the woman's passed out on the floor. Judging by the shattered wine bottle and ice shards, I'd say someone was putting up a fight. 

Lug: Hey, we can go over this after we get these kids somewhere out of the cold.

The older officer bends on one knee and places his hands on Kai's shoulders.

Lug: Listen, I'm taking you to the station. I'm gonna help you kids, alright?

No response, just a head pointed to the ground.

Lug motions for Ano to get off the doorway and walk over to him. The 3 make their way out to the car the officers came in. Kai's mind is interrupted during the last few seconds of his memories, with Paul questioning where the body went.

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Ano: Kai… Kai! Earth to spaced out idiot!

Kai snaps out of his trance.

Kai: Huh? Oh, sorry did you ask something?

Ano: No, you just conked out there, you okay?

Kai: Uh, yeah! I was just… thinking about homework.

...hey, what should I put for my Power type? 

Kai points to the part of the registration form that requires what type of Power the individual has.

Ano: Hm, just put N-A, i'm sure you can change it later once you get your sync

Kai: I've been riding on finding out my power when I get my sync for a while now. Are you sure it'll happen?

Ano: Yeah, i inherited ice power. You had to have inherited something.

Kai: Yeah, I guess you're right

The sun starts to set, with orange lighting bouncing off the gate entrance to Vilson District's High School. 

Kai and Ano look at the crowd of students, parents and school facility in the middle of the campus, talking to each other.

Kai: Yeesh, and I thought this place was crowded just from class transitions.

Ano: Too noisy 

Zeke: Kai! Ano!

A familiar voice calls out to the 2, Zeke and Saiko move past a few to greet their friends.

Kai: Zeke! Hey! How's it going?

Zeke: That's a stupid question, I'm obviously excited! 

Kai: Yeah, that's true.

Zeke: So, what do you think our syncs will look like? I want mine to look really cool!

Kai: Not sure, I just hope I get mine in general. Even if it's a weird one that only covers one of your arms.

Ano slaps Kai on the back in a brotherly manner

Ano: You'll get yours, idiot.

The 3 stop their conversation to look at Saiko, lost in thought. Ano steps over to her and places his hand on her shoulder.

Ano: And it doesn't matter what type of sync you get, either. You worked hard, too. So don't worry about it.

Saiko: Thanks, Ano. I'm just nervous… it would've killed you guys to wear something formal for today, though.

Kai: Oh, please. You wear that uniform everyday! 

A PA system speaker on the wall comes on

PA: ATTENTION ALL ATTENDEES, PLEASE REPORT TO THE AUDITORIUM FOR THE CEREMONY! I REPEAT-

The crowd starts walking to the auditorium. And just as the announcement finishes, the room is already almost packed. Several students talk about their anxiety over what type of Sync they'll get. Some worry about the Guardian exam they'll have to take, and a few question who'll be their team captain, hoping for one of the Elite Guardians, like Liam. 

The principal of the school steps to the podium of the stage, tapping the microphone for attention.

Principal: Hello, everyone… To the students, families, and facility members, thank you for pushing through with us last year to where we are now. We've all made progress to becoming-

A student secretly forms a water ball above the principal that falls from the ceiling, with the principal blocking it with a wave of wind with his Wind Power. The auditorium erupts with laughter.

Principal: Nice try, guys. Now, settle down…

This semester marks the beginning of a new-

*much later*

Principal: And now, 

A man of tall stature begins to walk across the stage, catching the awe of the whole room.

some words from the District leader, Lucas Vas!



Applause fills up the room.

Lucas: Thank you, Charles…. What I see in this crowd are faces of young, potential, and diligent models of the future. I still remember receiving reports that 70% of the school had passed the initial beginning of the year exam! I won't lie, I opened some of the registration forms before getting here. And, i'm surprised so many of you kids signed up for various business type jobs! Haha…

Today marks a point in our lives where we open up the next door into a future we don't know.

perhaps something of an enemy? A friend? We won't know until we get the courage to take a step forward. So, what do you say we get to opening up that door? Students, please line up to claim your sync!

Applause once again fills the room.

Lucas: Ruby, would you please?

Ruby: With pleasure!

Ruby places a small gray box with a hole on the top on the edge of the stage.

Ruby: Portal Aura; Location C!

She uses her Portal Power to summon a small portal to a bright void that gives people their Syncs. 

Several students walk across and place their hand inside of the void, and after just a second, receive their long awaited Sync.

Hera: Ooooh, this Sync looks like a scorpion!!

Felt: I swear, if you try to sting me with that.

Saiko places her hand In the void, pulling out hers.

Saiko: It looks like a pair of scissors, just like…

Saiko bares a soft smile.

Zeke nudges Saiko aside 

Zeke: Congrats! My turn!

He reaches in.

Zeke: Wow! It looks like a bolt!

Ano reaches in next.

Ano: Huh, kinda looks like an ice shard…

Ano looks over to Kai behind him. And gives him an encouraging smile.

Kai (inside of his mind): Any Sync, any type of all…. 

*Kai reaches into the void.*

Anything, even the smallest one can make me useful!

*He pulls his hand out.*

Kai:.... Huh?

Nothing is there

Kai: What? But… but I have to have one! 

Lucas walks over to him, and kneels.

Lucas: Kai, in case this was the scenario. The school is granting you a special fund to help with your choosing of whatever career you choose, despite your unfortunate situation.

I'm sorry Kai, you can't become a Guardian… But don't let this deter you from great things.

Kai: …Thank you.

Kai grabs the check handed to him, and walks over to the door across the stage where his friends and family are waiting for him.

Lucas looks at him as he walks away.

Lucas (inside his mind): I don't doubt you getting a Sync, Kai.

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