Brendan sat in the apartment he lived in. He was thinking over how the student body was immortal and those that were dead like he was are dead no longer, meaning the halo on his forehead was now a tattoo. His family and friends had gone to Heaven or Hell a long time ago, so he had no one to talk to. He heard a knock on the door and went to open it. Jandro was at the entrance with a grin on his face. \u201cGuess who\u2019s in House Lacey?\u201d he asked as he held up a purple ascot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou\u2019ve been accepted?!\u201d cheered Brendan. \u201cCongratulations! Let me make something to celebrate!\u201d He dashed to the kitchen, only stopping when he heard Jandro clear his throat. Brendan saw that Jandro was pointing to the doorway. \u201c…Oh, yeah!\u201d remembered Brendan. \u201cPlease, come in.\u201d Jandro entered the apartment and sat at the table near the kitchen. \u201cYou know, I\u2019m surprised you still wanted to be an After Academy student,\u201d mused Brendan as he got out a teapot. \u201cYou and I both heard what this universe was originally and what Vortoranii did.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI know,\u201d replied Jandro as he readjusted his stole, \u201cbut I wanted to continue learning and After Academy offers a whole eternity of learning. Immortality\u2019s nothing without learning something new every chance you get and this school offers HEAPS of chances. Besides, I wanted to put a Vampire\u2019s obsession with counting into another area besides money. Counting code lines is something most Vampires don\u2019t do back home. Vampire programmers are very rare, unlike our bankers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cObsession with counting?\u201d asked Brendan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYes, we\u2019re always compelled to count things for some odd reason,\u201d explained Jandro. \u201cMany scientists and mages of various fields have theories, but none have found the answer. In any case, we have since used it to our advantage in various number-related fields.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAre there other downsides?\u201d inquired Brendan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWell, long ago, we used to burn to ashes when we stepped into the sun,\u201d recalled Jandro. \u201cWhen the First Age of Unity started, we gained the ability to walk in the sun again, but now we get a wicked sunburn. We can\u2019t see ourselves in silver-backed mirrors, just our clothes. We need blood to survive, thankfully, the animal blood we get from butchers is a lot more healthy than human blood. We have to be careful that our fangs don\u2019t cut our lips.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat about turning others into Vampires?\u201d quizzed Brendan as he served the tea and cakes. \u201cCan Vampires in your world do that?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYes, but the biter needs permission from the other person to change them,\u201d answered Jandro. \u201c…Brendan, where is this going?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI want to be a Vampire like you,\u201d explained Brendan. Jandro nearly choked on his tea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWHY?!\u201d he asked when he recovered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBecause, if we\u2019re going to be living together for eternity,\u201d replied Brendan, \u201cI want us to be equals.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBut…but this is…I mean, you DID pay attention to what I\u2019m weak to, right?\u201d spluttered Jandro.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI still want to be a Vampire,\u201d insisted Brendan. \u201cI know I can\u2019t be a member of the Grelnak Clan, but I don\u2019t want you to be alone.\u201d Jandro smiled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI think we can make the Grelnak Clan greater than it was,\u201d he declared. \u201cJust bare your neck and allow me to do the rest.\u201d Brendan let himself be wrapped in Jandro\u2019s arms as he exposed his neck. Jandro inched closer to his neck and lightly touched the skin with his fangs before he sunk them into the neck. Brendan gasped in slight pain, then let the fangs pump in genetic altering liquid. It felt warm and teased its way through his body. Soon, he felt Jandro\u2019s fangs stop pumping the \u201cVampire Venom\u201d, as it\u2019s called in Jandro\u2019s home, and slowly exit the neck. The fang wounds in the neck closed quickly and he felt his canines grow longer and sharper. He then drifted into a sleep right in Jandro\u2019s arms. Jandro led Brendan to the couch and laid him so his head rested in Jandro\u2019s lap, \u201cWhen you wake,\u201d he whispered, \u201cI will belong to you and you will belong to me. We shall make a new Grelnak Clan. Sleep well, my love.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYour husband\u2019s wearing a dress?!\u201d giggled Scorpainia as she and Megumi ate at one of the caf\u00e9s on Vorton.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know why you\u2019re laughing,\u201d muttered Megumi. \u201cHe\u2019s putting aside a man\u2019s fragile ego to prove dresses don\u2019t make a man any less of one.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019m just surprised he agreed to that bet!\u201d laughed Scorpainia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s really nothing new,\u201d remarked Megumi. \u201cI now have three men that wear dresses. I mean, I don\u2019t see how it could bruise Richard\u2019s ego that…Scorpainia?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSorry,\u201d apologized Scorpainia. \u201cIt\u2019s just that I wasn\u2019t expecting to see Agus\u2019 girlfriend here on Vorton.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat?!\u201d yelped Megumi as she looked where Scorpainia was looking. Walking by the caf\u00e9 was Agus Atmadja and a female Mobian Komodo Dragon holding his arm and laughing with him as she regaled him with a story.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI think the best course of action is to say hello,\u201d mused Scorpainia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cGood idea,\u201d agreed Megumi. They both left the caf\u00e9 and approached the two Mobians. \u201cExcuse me!\u201d called Megumi. Agus and the new Komodo Dragon turned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAh, my ladies!\u201d greeted Agus. \u201cApa kabar?\u201d (How are you?)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cA little confused,\u201d replied Scorpainia. \u201cI don\u2019t recall you having a girlfriend.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAh, this jewel holding my arm?\u201d asked Agus. \u201cYou met her once or twice.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe did?\u201d quizzed Megumi. She examined the new lady hard. She didn\u2019t recall seeing her before. The long, curly black hair looked familiar, though. As did the black flower in said hair with a tiny skull in the center, and the black lipstick, and the black eyes, and the dress…Megumi then put two and two together. \u201c…LACEY?!\u201d she yelped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHello!\u201d replied the new Komodo Dragon in Lacey\u2019s voice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBu…but whe…I mean…WHAT?!\u201d spluttered Megumi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHow long have you been dating him?!\u201d inquired Scorpainia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSince the preliminary round,\u201d replied Lacey as she shifted back into her human form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBut he\u2019s…!\u201d protested Megumi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019m a Horseman of the Apocalypse,\u201d interrupted Lacey, correctly guessing Megumi\u2019s statement. \u201cI can date whoever I damn please without breaking social taboos.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cShape-shifting DOES tend to help in that regard,\u201d supplied Agus. \u201cI just wish I could learn that so I can walk with her as a human.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cStick with me and you will,\u201d promised Lacey. She then turned back to Megumi. \u201cBesides, Amelia\u2019s is on her third date with Wilson and Sophie\u2019s been asked out by Henry. Being heralds of us Horsemen, they\u2019re shape-shifters too, so they\u2019re pursuing their heart\u2019s desire.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWait, Sophie?\u201d asked Megumi. \u201cI thought she had a boyfriend already.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat happened to Bobby?\u201d quizzed Scorpainia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c…She asked me not to tell anyone,\u201d answered Lacey as she winced. \u201cShe\u2019d prefer to tell you herself.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTell them what?\u201d asked Sophie\u2019s voice. Sophie was currently a snub-nosed monkey like Henry and was letting his tail wrap around her waist. She was small for a Mobian-sized life-form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSophie, what happened to the guy you were dating?\u201d asked Megumi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cEr, Bobby?\u201d stumbled Sophie. \u201cWell, he…he dumped me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat?! Why?! When?!\u201d yelped Scorpainia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBecause of my duties as a Herald,\u201d sighed Sophie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat\u2019s just cruel,\u201d muttered Megumi. Just then, her attention was grabbed by shouting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cRAGE-RUM! NOW!\u201d roared a hulking man\u2019s voice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI told you before, kitty,\u201d hissed Joshua\u2019s voice, \u201cwe don\u2019t carry it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat\u2019s not a good sound,\u201d gulped Megumi. \u201cExcuse me.\u201d She dashed off in the direction of the voices and found Joshua getting yelled at by an Appoplexian.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING, JOSHUA WILLIAMS, SNIPER OF THE FEUDAL NERD SOCIETY! WHEN GENERAL ANGARR OF THE 39TH APPOPLEXIAN CONQUEST ARMY DEMANDS RAGE-RUM, YOU GIVE IT TO GENERAL ANGARR OF THE 39TH APPOPLEXIAN CONQUEST ARMY!\u201d roared the Appoplexian. Joshua remained stone-faced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou are Angarr, son of Ire,\u201d called Megumi. Angarr growled before turning to her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYEAH, I\u2019M IRE\u2019S SON! WHAT\u2019S YOUR POINT?!\u201d roared Angarr.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI am Megumi, daughter of Haruna,\u201d Megumi introduced herself. She turned into Tora-Onna and slashed at Angarr\u2019s face with her claws unsheathed. Angarr yelped in pain and noticed blood trickling down his face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou…you slashed my face!\u201d whispered Angarr. He then roared in the Appoplexian\u2019s usual anger and punched Tora-Onna. \u201cLET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING, MEGUMI HISHIKAWA, QUEEN OF THE FEUDAL NERD SOCIETY AND DEFEATER OF VORTECH! YOU CAN HURT ME! YOU CAN HURT THE THINGS I STAND FOR! YOU CAN EVEN HURT MY FEELINGS, IF I HAD ANY! BUT NO ONE, AND I MEAN NO ONE, HURTS THE FACE!\u201d Tora-Onna grabbed the next punch and tossed him over her shoulder. \u201cOoh, karate!\u201d cheered Angarr. He then picked himself up. \u201cI\u2019m gonna call you Karate-cub, Karate-cub!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYour mistake, Wide-Load,\u201d taunted Tora-Onna.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cGENERAL ANGARR OF THE 39TH APPOPLEXIAN CONQUEST ARMY IS JUST BIG-BONED!\u201d roared Angarr. He swung wildly, leaving Tora-Onna various opportunities to get a hit in. She grabbed an arm on the backswing, put her fingers around the claw on the back of his hand, and tore it out! The pain caused him to open his mouth, but he didn\u2019t scream until Tora-Onna released him. He then roared in pain as he clutched the area where the claw once belonged. His soldiers readied their own claws, but Tora-Onna flashed hers and roared, daring them to approach her. None of them were feeling that brave, so they tended to their general.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLet me tell you something, soldiers of Queen Phury,\u201d snarled Tora-Onna, \u201cif Angarr wants his claw back, Phury\u2019s going to have to pick it up herself. Here, the number of my room here on Vorton.\u201d She let a piece of paper fall to the floor and, with a pivot on the heel, she turned and left them, turning back into Megumi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Megumi had just finished touching up her make-up the next day when she heard a knock on the door. Correction, a pounding on the door. \u201cCome in,\u201d she bid. Phury then stormed in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou took one of my general\u2019s claws!\u201d she snarled. \u201cHand it over or I\u2019m taking it by force!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNow that you\u2019re here,\u201d replied Megumi as she retrieved the claw, \u201cI have no more need of it.\u201d She then placed it in Phury\u2019s outstretched hand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c…You rob Angarr of his honor just to get my attention?!\u201d hissed Phury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou can\u2019t take away what someone doesn\u2019t have,\u201d answered Megumi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou\u2019re saying Angarr is without honor?\u201d quizzed Phury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019m saying Angarr is a coward and a liar,\u201d clarified Megumi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat of his Queen?!\u201d demanded Phury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat remains to be seen,\u201d dismissed Megumi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c…Tell me, what did I do to earn this disrespect?\u201d growled Phury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe deeds outlined in your dossier speak for themselves!\u201d shouted Megumi as she threw Phury\u2019s dossier down to emphasize her point. \u201cEnslaving the Teslavorr Nebula! Detaining and searching Galvan ships in neutral space without warning OR provocation! And you! Executing your daughter when she refused to kill your universe\u2019s Omnitrix bearer, Gwen Tennyson!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhatever I did,\u201d snarled Phury, \u201cwas to protect my people from the threat of the Cybertronian Civil War!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou must think me a fool to make your lies so transparent!\u201d accused Megumi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI don\u2019t wish to quarrel with you!\u201d warned Phury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWell, we don\u2019t have that choice, do we?\u201d asked Megumi. \u201cI trust you\u2019re amenable to fighting in the ring? My mutant-cyborg form against an Appoplexian?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAs a matter of fact, yes!\u201d declared Phury. \u201cWhere will this fight be held?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThere\u2019s a fighting ring in After Academy\u2019s gym,\u201d answered Megumi. \u201cFirst one to send their opponent out of the ring is the winner.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cVery well,\u201d agreed Phury. \u201cIt will make it easier for you to run to your husband\u2019s arms and weep when I win.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe challenge has been set, the terms have been agreed upon, and the chance of victory is agreeable for both sides,\u201d declared Rojenthi\u2019s voice. \u201cAmavorte, the yellow-green princess of Chizara and the earth leader, will be judging. In two days\u2019 time, your fight begins! Prepare and make ready! Good luck!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI will see you when the time comes!\u201d growled Phury. \u201cBut, know this, the Master Wand will ensure the safety of my universe! Interfere, and you doom an entire universe to burn in the Cybertronians\u2019 fires of war!\u201d She vanished in yellow-green light.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe\u2019ll see,\u201d hissed Megumi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Richard approached Optimus and Arsha as Megumi spoke with Phury. \u201cHow\u2019s it going?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAwful,\u201d sighed Optimus. \u201cWe can\u2019t figure out a fight where we both have a reasonable chance to win.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOptimus, while he may be a full-fledged wizard in his universe,\u201d supplied Arsha, \u201cis still new to the magic game. I\u2019m unfamiliar with any of the children\u2019s card games he plays. We\u2019re stuck.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWait, Prime, you play children\u2019s card games?\u201d quizzed Richard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019m a three time Yu-Gi-Oh<\/em> champion, thanks to Blackarachnia coaching me,\u201d replied Optimus, \u201cbut that\u2019s not the point! We need help!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c…Target shooting, maybe?\u201d asked Richard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c…MAGIC target shooting!\u201d cheered Arsha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHuh?\u201d asked Richard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cEven wand users need to brush up on their target shooting when firing spells,\u201d explained Arsha. \u201cPrime and I both practice on a daily basis, I say we have a magic target shooting competition…no, my record will leave him in the dust.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cExcuse me, MY record will leave you in the dust!\u201d argued Optimus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOh yeah?!\u201d laughed Arsha. \u201cSo you want to go through with a magic target shooting contest?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYeah, let\u2019s do it!\u201d declared Optimus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAll right, where shall we hold this bout?\u201d quizzed Arsha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThere\u2019s a shooting range at G.U.N HQ that both organics and Autobots use,\u201d revealed Optimus. \u201cWe\u2019ll use that. How shall we decide who the victor is?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe each fire ten shots, one after another,\u201d answered Arsha. \u201cWhoever fires the shot closest to the center is the winner!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cPerfect!\u201d affirmed Optimus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe challenge has been set, the terms have been agreed upon, and the chance of victory is agreeable for both sides,\u201d declared Azuliterii\u2019s voice. \u201cBlancalmarem, the white princess of Chizara and the life leader, will be judging. In two days\u2019 time, your fight begins! Prepare and make ready! Good luck!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cLet\u2019s do it!\u201d cheered Arsha.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Brendan sat in the apartment he lived in. He was thinking over how the student body was immortal and those that were dead like he was are dead no longer, meaning the halo on his forehead was now a tattoo. His family and friends had gone to Heaven or Hell a long time ago, so […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2497,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[101,102],"tags":[9,345,337],"class_list":["post-2496","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-trinity-soul","category-trinity-soul-chapters","tag-kamen-rider","tag-three-realms","tag-transformers"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2496","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2496"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2496\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2498,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2496\/revisions\/2498"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2497"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2496"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2496"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2496"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}