Author's Note
Okay, first chapter of a new story. If I misspelled anything, let me know. Also there will be some changes in how certain Lantern Corps will work, such as the number of members in the Orange Lantern Corp being only one living being. Please comment how I did. I like being told that I did a good job.
1. Arrival
Third POV
It was the year 2013, and the comic book convention was rolling into town. It was a place where thousands would gather to trade things that were old, new, or custom made. It was also a place where something amazing would happen-
"LAURA!! WHERE'S MY DOMINO MASK?!"
-as soon as the loving couple got out the front door.
"WHAT?"
"WHERE! IS! MY! DOMINO! MASK?!"
"I PUT IT ON THE COUNTER CHRIS!"
"THANK YOU!"
When the couple was done putting on their costumes, heading out the door was a man in an orange and black costume that had orange armor on the shoulders and forearms. He was wearing an orange domino mask and had dark orange hair, he also had on orange contact lenses. In the center of the chest was an orange symbol: a circle with lines on the edge in a diagonal position at 90 degree angles with a "V" at the top. He was dressed as an Orange Lantern.
"Chris I don't think you should've dyed your hair orange."
"Well its too late for that, now is it?"
"Fine, but when we are done shopping, you are coming with me to see the section for My Little Pony Friendship Is Magic."
"Alright, but we are going to have some fun when we get back. And I have to say that you look ravishing in that outfit."
Laura was wearing black tights with blue, elbow-length gloves; blue, knee-high boots; and a blue, one-piece swim suit. She had dark brown hair and sky-blue eyes. She was dressed as a Blue Lantern.
"Now don't get greedy just yet Agent Orange," Laura purred. "If you behave, I will be certain to reward you."
Chris responded by hugging her and giving her a long kiss before saying, "mine."
After that, the couple got into their car and drove off to the convention.
Time Skip
After searching through the entire convention, the duo finally reached the section set up for My Little Pony. It was here that Chris found-
"*Gasp* NO! EFFING! WAY!"
-a power ring and power battery set for every color of the emotional spectrum in life-size.
"Ah, I see you have good eyes," said the man behind the counter. He had a deep voice and a tooth sticking out of his mouth. He was wearing a brown business jacket over a yellow shirt and green pants.
"How much for them," Chris asked.
"Wait, you're not seriously going to buy all of that junk, are you," Laura asked.
"Laura, who here has an entire room dedicated to My Little Pony," Chris replied. Laura rolled her eyes. "So how much is the whole collection worth Mr...?"
"Discord, lord of chaos and disharmony. And to answer your question, I would say about $500."
"DONE!"
As soon as the money was exchanged and Chris and Laura both had on their respective rings, they vanished in a flash of light.
"Ugh, now I have to keep pretending that I'm still stoned. Heheheheh, oh puns, how I love them so much," the strange man spoke before he too disappeared in the same fashion.
In the frozen wastelands outside the Crystal Empire
"Owwww. That was one crazy party last night. Hold on, where am I," Chris asked. To his surprise, there seemed to be nothing but ice until he noticed the orange power battery that he recently purchased. "Wait a minute... WHERE ARE MY OTHER GODDAMN LANTERNS!! I PAID GOOD MONEY FOR THOSE THINGS," he exclaimed in a greed-fueled fit of anger before breathing in and out. "You know what," Chris said to himself, "I'm not gonna worry about that right now. First things first, I need to find Laura." *GRRRRRR* "On second thought, make that after I get something to eat."
When he reached for his power battery, his ring began to glow. "What the fuck," Chris cried out in shock. As soon as he pulled his hand back, the ring stopped glowing. After getting over his surprise, Chris moved his hand towards the lantern, his ring glowing in response.
"I wonder..." He put his ring to the window of the his lantern and spoke the oath that he designed. "This power is mine, this is my might. Be it in bright of day or black of night, I lay claim to all within my sight. I'll take what I want... WITH ORANGE LANTERN'S LIGHT!"
As he spoke these words, an immense power began flowing through him. The power of the orange light of avarice. "Oh yeah, this is awesome!"
]Tell me something I don't know kid.[ Sounded a voice, smooth as though the owner could tempt one by simply speaking.
Chris pauses and blinks. Then he blinks again before asking, "who said that?"
]Down here.[
Chris holds up the power battery and, seeing the head of a snake, says, "Ophidian?"
]No, its the Easter Bunny. OF COURSE ITS OPHIDIAN! Who else could it be?![
"Okay, okay! Geeze, just trying to make certain that I'm not going insane."
]Well if you want to make absolutely sure, you could let me out to-[
"And let this world suffer your appetite? No way."
]Oh come on! What would it take for you to let me out?![
Chris started thinking about the potential of having the embodiment of greed as an ally. "... Alright, how about we make a deal?"
The serpent's eyes narrowed ]It had better be good.[
"Okay. You will answer some questions that I have and in exchange I will set you free within certain limits."
]Hmmm... Very well, but you set me free first.[
"Good. Now before we begin, what do you know about astral projection?"
]Simply put, sending your soul out of your physical form. I'm guessing that you want to use similar principles for me.[
"Yes. Unlike the actual act however, we are going to use my power ring to act as a conduit. You'll be able to move about on your own and do various other things as a construct, but should you cause too much trouble, its back in the battery. Understood?"
]Fine, just let me out already.[
"Here we go." With that Chris made a fist with his ring hand and focused on the image of a snake.
]Finally! After all this time I'm free![ There in front of Chris, was a serpent that was 7 feet long and half a foot wide, glowing a neon orange, the symbol of the Orange Lanterns resting on its forehead.
"Are you going to answer my questions now?" Chris spoke in a demanding tone.
]Of course, what would you like to know?[
"For starters, how did you wind up in my lantern?"
]Honestly, I don't know. Last thing I remember was me arguing with Larfleeze and a flash of light, next thing I see is an overgrown chimp wearing a power ring in my color.[
'Going to let that insult slide' Chris thought.
"Okay now don't yell because I just want to avoid making a mistake... are you male or female?"
]I'm male.[ Ophidian said, rolling his eyes.
"Okay, next question... can you sense greed?"
]Of course I can. Why would you even ask that anyway?[
Chris paused before speaking slowly, "I want to add living members to the Orange Lanterns."
]WHAT?! WHY WOULD YOU EVEN SAY SUCH A THING?! IT GOES COMPLETELY AGAINST THE VERY NATURE OF GREED!![
"Because I don't want to make a major screw-up like Larfleeze or the Guardians did!"
Hearing these words made Ophidian pause before narrowing his eyes. ]What do you mean?[
"*Sigh* What do you remember about the Black Lanterns?"
After thinking about it for a while, Ophidian came to a realization. Seeing the look in his eyes Chris knew that they had come to a similar conclusion. To emphasize his point Chris said, "Look from what I remember, Larfleeze had a habit of building the Orange Lanterns out of his victims. It was this habit that bit him in the ass when the Blacks showed up, they took all of his victims and made them into more Black Lanterns, leaving him as the only Orange Lantern in the entire universe. I don't want to be caught with my pants down when the Blacks come."
Ophidian asked in a questioning tone ]What makes you so certain that they are coming?[
"Because, before I got here, I had purchased both the power ring and battery of each emotion. Its only a matter of time before others find the sets, and when all have been discovered... we'll have to work together to stop the Blacks."
]Hmmm. I suppose you aren't wrong with this line of thinking... but how are you going to choose members, and how are you going to keep them in line?[
"Well I was going to choose those that possess great greed, but at the same time great self-control. For dealing with rogues, I could have you take away the charge in their rings considering your ability to control desire."
]Hmm. That's not a bad idea. So I suppose we had better get started then?[
"Right. Which way to the nearest concentration of avarice, partner?" Chris asked.
]...That direction.[ Ophidian said, pointing his head to Chris' right.
"Okay... um, I can't remember but am I able to put my battery in a pocket dimension? I don't want it to get stolen."
]Yes. Larfleeze never used it though, he always wanted to admire everything in his possession.[
"Thanks." And soon Chris had flown off to search for possible members to join the Orange Lanterns.
]By the way, you mentioned the Guardians having made a mistake before. Which one were you refering to?[
"Making super-powered robocops that had no sense of justice," Chris replied remembering the massacre of space sector 666.
