Chapter 3

Flash and I stood in front of Principal Celestia as she stared back at us with her arms crossed. The lunch bell had rung about five minutes ago, and we were immediately caught by Celestia when we foolishly tried to sneak into the school to try and act like we were already there. I twiddled my thumbs while sweating bullets while Flash just stood next to me with his hands in his pockets and looked bored.

“I’m still waiting,” Celestia said, sounding a little impatient. “I expected this little stunt from Flash but not from you, Roddy. Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t call your brother about this.”

“Well…uh,” I tried to say. “I-It’s not our fault!” I blurted out. “It was that prick Blueblood! He started harassing us and tried to pick a fight!”

“Blueblood is our top student,” Celestia scoffed. “I highly doubt he would waste his time picking a fight with you two troublemakers.” She arched an eyebrow, clearly not buying my excuse.

“Hey, I was the one who started it,” Flash spoke up. “Roddy was just caught in the middle of it.”

“Is that why my nephew has a bloody nose?” Celestia accused.

“Blueblood may be the top student, Principal Celestia, but he’s also a top-class jerk,” Flash retorted. “He’s been bullying the students here since freshman year, and today I just couldn’t take it anymore. That’s why things got physical.”

Celestia narrowed her eyes, clearly displeased by this revelation. “Regardless of the circumstances, violence is never the answer,” Celestia stated firmly. “I will have to address this issue with both Blueblood and your parents.”

“Whatever. Not like they haven’t heard it before,” Flash shrugged.

“And as for you, Rodney,” Celestia turned to me. “Since you were just a bystander caught in this, you will only be considered warned from here out.”

“Yes ma’am…” I said glumly.

“Now, you two should get going to what’s left of class. No doubt Ms. Cheerilee is still expecting to introduce you as her new student,” Celestia said.

Flash and I nodded, grateful for the leniency Principal Celestia had shown. As we made our way to Ms. Cheerilee’s classroom, Flash clapped me on the back. “Looks like we dodged a bullet there, buddy,” he said with a grin.

“Yeah, no kidding,” I replied, feeling a weight lifted off my shoulders. But as we entered the classroom, the atmosphere changed. The students all turned to stare at us, their whispers filling the room. The teacher wore a feminine white collared dress shirt under her formal chocolate brown sweater vest, a green dress skirt that went down past her knees with sunflowers sewn everywhere, and a pair of brown work boots that some heel to them.

“Late again, Flash,” Ms. Cheerilee scolded in an annoyed tone. I swore I could see her cherry-pink hair puff up to match her irritated attitude. “Take your seat immediately.”

“Yeah, yeah…” Flash said with a dismissive wave of his hand as he lazily walked to his seat. I could tell some of the students were giving him a dirty look while others looked at me curiously.

“You must be the new student,” the teacher said to me as she stood up from her desk and walked up to me.

“Yeah, that’s me,” I said sheepishly. “Sorry I’m so late.”

“Normally, I would hold it against you but since Mr. Sentry was the cause I’ll let it slide.” Flash snorted in annoyance at that. “Since you’re finally here, why don’t you introduce yourself?”

I nodded and faced the students before clearing my throat.

“Um…hello, everyone,” I said plainly. “It’s nice to meet you all. My name’s Rodney, Rodney Dvorchack, but you can call me Roddy for short.”

“Roddy here is from the suburbs up north,” Ms. Cheerilee added. “He’s not used to being in the city, so be sure to treat him with respect and welcome him as a fellow Wonderbolt.”

The low hum of whispers and murmurs in the classroom grew more intense as I finished introducing myself. I could feel a few pairs of eyes darting over me, some sizing me up while others seemed completely apathetic towards my presence. With hesitant steps, I made my way to the only vacant seat beside a girl who possessed a shock of red and orange hair that rivaled flickering flames. As I settled in, I couldn’t help but notice the distinct divide in the room between those who were intrigued by my presence and those who couldn't care less about me or my existence.

I glanced at the girl while she stared put the window. Her hair was what drew me in the most, making me wonder what kind of hair products she must use to make it look like that. She wore a black leather vest with metal spikes going up her collar, a mellow-orange shirt underneath, a dark purple skirt with a zipper going up the side, and a pair of heeled leather boots that also had metal pins adorning the sides of each boot. In my trance, I failed to notice her looking back at me, which made me flinch.

“Oh…uh, hi,” I said awkwardly. “I’m Rodney.”

“Sunset,” the fiery haired teen said with a heavy annoyed sigh.

Her tone was enough for me not to pry as I turned back to the teacher. However, not even a minute later did I find myself looking back at the girl. However, I noticed a little accessory on the bracelet she was wearing that I recognized.

“Say…are you a heavy metal fan?” I asked. “I recognize that charm. It’s from Mötley Crüe.”

Sunset glanced at me, surprised by my observation. Her eyes softened slightly as she nodded. “Yeah, I am. Not many people pick up on that. Are you a fan too?” she asked, a hint of curiosity in her voice.

I grinned, feeling a connection forming between us. “Definitely! My older brother introduced me to their music years ago, and I’ve been hooked ever since,” I replied enthusiastically.

Sunset’s lips curved into a small smile. “That’s cool. It’s always nice to meet someone who appreciates good music,” she said, tucking a strand of fiery hair behind her ear.

“Hey, wanna see something cool?” I spoke.

I reached into my pocket and pulled out my phone. I scrolled through my photo album until I found the one I was looking for.

“Feast your eyes,” I said as I showed her a pic of younger me standing next to the great James Hetfield, lead singer of Metallica.

Sunset’s eyes widened in surprise as she took in the photo, a mixture of awe and admiration crossing her features. “No way, you met James Hetfield?!” she exclaimed, leaning in for a closer look. “That’s incredible!”

I couldn’t help but chuckle at her reaction. “Yeah, me and my dad ran into him after a concert a few years ago. He was super cool, and meeting him was a dream come true,” I explained, a hint of nostalgia in my voice.

“Excuse me!” The shrill voice of Ms. Cheerilee filled my ears as I slowly turned to see her glaring at me. “I don’t recall giving permission to use phones, Rodney!”

“Oh crap…” I gulped.

Cheerilee reeled back and threw a piece of chalk at me. Before I could react, the chalk hit me square in the forehead.

A few students gasped, while others snickered at my misfortune. As I rubbed my forehead, feeling the sting of the impact, Ms. Cheerilee’s stern expression softened slightly. “I don’t want to see that phone out during my class again, young man,” she warned before returning to her desk.

Sunset leaned closer to me, a knowing look in her eyes. “Tough break, Rodney. But hey, at least you got a cool story out of it,” she whispered with a small smile.

I couldn't help but chuckle again at her attempt to lighten the mood. “Thanks, Sunset. And hey, if you ever want to share some music recommendations or talk about bands, just let me know,” I replied gratefully.

“Sounds good,” Sunset agreed as she turned her attention back to the front of the classroom, where Ms. Cheerilee was beginning her lesson.

“Let us start off with some American history,” Cheerilee said. “Who here can tell me about the Stamp Act?” No one raised their hands, me included, until Cheerilee locked eyes with me and she smirked. “Rodney? Do you know what the Stamp Act was?”

I flinched and gulped since she just put me on the spot. I tried my best to recall my classes back at my old school to give an answer.

“Uh…it was a law passed by Parliament in 1765 to raise revenue in America by requiring taxed, stamped paper for legal documents, publications and playing cards,” I answered.

Cheerilee raised an eyebrow, clearly impressed by my response. “Well done, Rodney. Looks like we have a history buff in our midst,” she said with a hint of approval. The classroom let out a low murmur of surprise at my unexpected knowledge, and I couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride wash over me.

“How did you know that?” Sunset whispered to me.

“I may not look like it, but I actually take my studies kinda seriously,” I shrugged. “You can thank my Mom for that during my time in middle school, and at my old high school.”

“Let’s move on, shall we?” Cheerilee said. “Sunset?”

“Y-Yes?” Sunset stammered.

“Can you tell me when the Townshend Act was passed?” Cheerilee asked.

“Uh…well…” Sunset struggled.

“cough 1767…” I fake coughed in my hand.

Sunset shot me a grateful look, clearly relieved by my subtle hint. She straightened up in her seat and confidently answered, “1767, Ms. Cheerilee."

Cheerilee nodded approvingly at Sunset's response. “Correct. It seems we have two history buffs among us today,” she remarked with a smile before continuing with the lesson.

RRRRRIIIIIIINNNNNGG!

“And that concludes today’s lesson,” Cheerilee said. “Make sure you read the first chapter of your textbooks. Rodney, you may pick all of your textbooks for each subject you will be learning about this year at the library.”

“Okay, thank you, Ms. Cheerilee,” I said to her as we all stood up to leave the classroom. Before I made my leave, Sunset tapped me on the shoulder, and she was smiling gratefully at me.

“Hey, thanks for the help back there,” Sunset said. “I definitely owe you one.”

I grinned back at her. “No problem at all,” I replied.

“Look…I’m sorry for the attitude I gave you earlier,” Sunset apologized with a sheepish look on her face.

“Hey, I get it. You were just having a bad day,” I waved my hand. “Trust me, I’ve had plenty of those.”

“Psst! Roddy!” I heard someone call my name and saw Flash hang by the door and beckoned me.

“Well, I gotta go pick up my textbooks. I’ll see you later,” I said with a smile.

“Yeah, you too, Rodney,” Sunset smiled back at me.

I waved the girl goodbye and made my way out the door. Flash was standing outside, and we walked down the hall together.

“We gotta talk,” Flash said to me.

“Now?” I asked.

“Yes now! It’s important,” Flash said.

“Okay, okay,” I said. “Just let me get my textbooks.

After I had picked up my textbooks from the library, Flash led me outside the school and back to the bleachers where we were before to escape from Blueblood’s cronies.

“So,” Flash said, leaning on a metal pole and crossing his arms. “Are we gonna talk about that crazy shit that happened, or are we gonna act like it didn’t happen?”

Squinting in thought, I considered Flash’s question. The events from earlier that day were like a vivid dream, still swimming around in my mind. A castle that appeared out of nowhere, replacing the familiar school. Blueblood’s odd features and the strange beings that roamed the halls. And then there was me, suddenly possessing powers I couldn’t explain and a dragon that could not only walk but talk.

My gut churned with unease as I spoke, my voice barely above a whisper. “I think we do need to address what happened,” I finally said. “It’s all too strange to just brush off and ignore.”

“Right?” Flash said. “It’s impossible to just brush it off as a dream.”

“First thing’s first,” I said. “You seem to know what’s been going on around here, and it has to do with that Blueblood guy. What’s his deal?”

Flash scowled and looked away. “Blueblood is the biggest jackass at school. Always has been since freshman year, maybe even before, back in middle school. He always uses family ties with Principal Celestia and Vice Principal Luna to get everything he wants.”

“And I take it that’s not the only thing he’s done” I ask.

“You’d be right about that,” Flash scoffed. “There’re these rumors that the only reason why he’s an honor student is because he forced other students to give him their homework or forced them to copy their test answers. Not to mention, there’s even more shady rumors that he sabotages student athletes, so they don’t get more popular than him. As if he ever was but still.”

“Wow, that’s messed up,” I remarked, feeling a surge of anger rising within me at the injustice of it all. Blueblood’s actions were despicable, and I couldn’t believe someone could be so selfish and cruel. “No wonder everyone hates him. You especially, since you were willing to actually slug the guy right in the kisser.”

Flash nodded grimly; his jaw clenched in frustration. “Yeah, he’s a real piece of work, that’s for sure. But what’s even more concerning is what happened today. That wasn’t just some elaborate prank; there was something strange going on with that castle and those creatures.”

“Not to mention those prisoners,” I added. “I recall a couple of them were your buddies.”

Flash’s expression darkened at the mention of his friends being held captive. “Yeah, Val and Sandal…”

“Did you check in with them?” I asked.

“How could I? I couldn’t just tell them what happened to us and see what they say. They’d think I’m nuts,” Flash said.

“That’s fair, I think anyone would find our story crazy,” I agreed.

“Ugh…this is confusing the hell outta me,” Flash grumbled. “Let’s just go home. I can’t think straight with all these questions. The bus should be here any minute.”

I nodded in agreement as we both walked away from the bleachers and towards the school bus pickup. I glanced over my shoulder at the school once more before turning back and continuing on my way.

After a long and absolutely batshit crazy day, I finally managed to make it home at my brother’s house. Berry was already in the process of making dinner, and I was helping Lance watch over Freddy in the living room. I sat on the floor with Freddy while he played with his little toys and Lance read a book.

“Hey, Roddy?” Lance said to me.

“What’s up, bro?” I spoke.

“Were you late to school?” Lance asked out of the blue.

Shit, I guess Celestia did call my brother after all, I thought. “Yeah,” I admitted, glancing at the clock on the wall that read that it was almost dinnertime. “It was a weird day.”

“Something happen?” Lance prodded further; his gaze serious yet concerned.

I hesitated, unsure of how much I should reveal about the events of the day.

“I…had an altercation with a bully,” I confessed, not wanting to lie to my brother. “He tried hassling me right before class, so a new friend of mine and I hid from him and his cronies. We didn’t realize how much time had already passed.”

Lanc’'s brows furrowed in concern as he set his book aside, clearly intrigued by my response. He knew me well enough to realize when there was more to a story than what meets the eye.

“Roddy, you can talk to me. I’m your brother,” Lance said gently, his voice soft and reassuring. “I may not be in school with you anymore, but I can still offer advice or help if you need it.”

“I appreciate that, Lance, I really do,” I said with a smile. “Don’t worry. I have everything under control. It won’t happen again.”

Lance scrutinized me for a moment before nodding, seemingly satisfied with my response. He knew when to press further and when to let things be, a skill that made him an excellent older brother.

“Alright, just remember that I’m here for you if you need anything,” Lance said, ruffling Freddy's hair affectionately as the little boy giggled.

As the evening progressed and we sat down for dinner, the events of the day continued to whirl in my mind. The strange occurrences at school, Blueblood'’ menacing presence, the mysterious castle… It was all too much to process in one day.

Later That Night

The dream realm once again beckoned me as I laid in my bed after a delicious chicken soup meal made by Berry. I figured that I’d turn in early after today’s crazy events since I still felt a little drained. As I fell asleep, there was a familiar chime of a grandfather clock bell. When I opened my eyes, I was in the same endless library that I had dreamed about before.

“Oh no…” I groaned as I sat up. “Not this again.”

This time, instead of my sofa being in the middle of the strange endless library, I was relocated right in the middle where the long-nosed man, Igor, sat at his desk with his attendant, Jacqueline, standing right beside him.

“Igor…” I spoke.

“So, how was your first experience within the Metaverse?” Igor asked with a wide grin.

“The Metaverse?” I repeated. “That place with the crazy castle?”

“Indeed,” Igor nodded. “And it would seem you were able to awaken to your true self and summon the rebel dwelling in your heart.”

“Can you please stop talking in riddles and just tell me what you’re talking about?” I demanded, getting annoyed.

“Watch how you talk to my master, boy,” Jaqueline said irritably.

“No, no, Mr. Dvorchack is now awakened, and is owed an explanation,” Igor corrected her. “A Persona, in other words, a mask - is an armor of the heart when confronting worldly matters. You were able to reject and overcome your weak and feeble-minded self. Thus, taking your first step as the Trickster.”

“Trickster?” I said.

“There is no need to worry, Mr. Dvorchack,” Igor reassured me. “You will learn more as you progress. By the by…have you come to appreciate the Metaverse Navigator?”

“You mean that app that keeps appearing on my phone?” I ask

“Yes, indeed,” Igor confirmed, his voice resonating throughout the vast library. “The Metaverse Navigator is a tool that will guide you in your journey as the Trickster. It will allow you to traverse between the realms, unlocking paths that were once hidden to you.”

“I…still don’t understand what the hell you’re talking about,” I said with a shake of my head.

“You should be more grateful that my master has bestowed upon you this gift,” Jacqueline said. “There has only been one other who possessed such a precious tool like this.”

Igor waved a hand, silencing Jacqueline before turning his attention back to me. “The Metaverse Navigator is a key to unlocking the power within you, Mr. Dvorchack. It will aid you in your quest to uncover the truth behind the mysteries that surround you.”

“Since you’re here, you may as well start looking for your book,” Jacqueline said.

I sighed and stood up from the sofa. I looked around at the endless rows of books and started my search for this mystery book. I wanted to ask Igor and Jacqueline more questions but I figured they wouldn’t be very talkative right now. All they did was watch as I aimlessly checked book by book, un-shelving and re-shelving each one.

The Next Morning

BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!

The sound of my phone’s alarm woke me up, making me groan in annoyance as I reached over on my nightstand to turn it off. I shakily sat myself up from my bed and sat on the edge before rubbing my eyes.

“God, it felt like I was searching for hours…” I grumbled. “How the hell does that old man expect me to find a book in that endless library?”

I stood up from my bed and walked to the steps leading upstairs. Once I reached the top, I saw Freddy laughing and running away from his mother wearing only a diaper while she chased after him with his overalls.

“Good morning, sleepyhead,” Berry greeted me with a smile as I entered the kitchen. Lance was already seated at the table, sipping on a cup of coffee while flipping through a newspaper.

“Morning, everyone,” I mumbled, still lost in my thoughts from the dream world encounter last night.

“Freddy! Come back here!” Berry yelped as she tried to catch her son.

“Is this the norm around here?” I asked as I sat down.

“Yes, Freddy’s a little ball of energy in the mornings,” Lance chuckled, folding his newspaper and setting it down on the table. “I hope you slept well, Roddy. You seemed pretty tired last night.”

I nodded absentmindedly, pouring myself a glass of orange juice as I tried to shake off the lingering unease from my encounter in the dream library. The mention of the Metaverse Navigator and being labeled as a Trickster still rang in my mind, creating more questions than answers.

“Woddy!” Freddy ran up to me and held up his little arms. “Up! Me up!”

“Uh…come again?” I said, looking down at my nephew.

“Up!” Freddy repeated, his eyes wide and pleading as he looked up at me.

I hesitated for a moment, not entirely sure what he meant. But then I realized he wanted me to pick him up. Smiling, I scooped him up in my arms, eliciting a squeal of delight from the little boy.

“Well, would you look at that?” Berry cooed as Freddy giggled in my arms.

“He sure warmed up to his uncle really quick,” Lance said.

“Since you have him, can you also feed him?” Berry asked as she walked into the kitchen and grabbed a plate of sliced fruit. “Just do the classic choo-choo train bit with him. He loves that.”

“You gave her that idea from Mom, didn’t you?” I asked Lance.

Lance just grinned in response, taking a sip of his coffee. I chuckled and began making silly train noises as I fed Freddy the fruit, his laughter filling the kitchen.

“You better hurry up and eat your own breakfast and get ready for school, Roddy. The bus will be here soon,” Berry said.

“Of course,” I said as I fed Freddy more fruit.

After feeding Freddy his breakfast and eating the scrambled eggs and bacon Berry made for me, I went and took a shower, got dressed, and grabbed my backpack and a granola bar from the pantry before heading out the door. I waited by the curb for the bus until it finally came around to pick me up.

“Well, good morning, new kid,” the driver greeted. “Second day, and you’re still standing.”

“If you say so,” I chuckled a little as I entered the bus and took my seat.

The bus rattled and hummed along its usual route towards school, the scenery outside a blur of colors and shapes as I stared out the window lost in thought. The events of the previous night played on repeat in my mind like a broken record, each detail etched into my memory with startling clarity. Igor’s cryptic words about the Metaverse Navigator and being dubbed the Trickster continued to puzzle me. What did they mean? And how was I supposed to navigate this newfound role thrust upon me?

My thoughts were interrupted by the bus making a few stops, and as I pulled my gaze from the window, I noticed a first-year student standing at one of the stops. She wore a sleek white jacket over a bright pink shirt, paired with a red plaid skirt and a pair of vibrant pink sneakers. Her outfit stood out against the dull morning backdrop, making her seem like a pop of color in an otherwise mundane world.

“Is this seat taken?” the girl asked me.

I looked at her and noticed she had light cyan colored eyes and had hair consisting of mainly pink hair with purple ends and a streak or two of light blue.

“Oh, uh…no, go ahead,” I said.

“Thank you!” She chirped happily and sat next to me. “My name is Flurry, Flurry Heart. What’s yours?”

“Rodney,” I answered with a kind smile. “Rodney Dvorchack. I’m a junior.”

“Nice to meet you, Rodney,” Flurry said with a cheerful grin as sat down next to me. “I’m a freshman.” She continued to gaze at me as if she was trying to get a read on my appearance. “Are you new?” Flurry asked. “I feel like I haven’t seen you around here.”

“You’d be right about that,” I said. “Just moved here last week. This is my second day. I’m from the suburbs up north.”

“Well, welcome to our little town then!” Flurry beamed, her eyes sparkling with genuine excitement. “I hope you’re settling in okay so far. It can be a bit overwhelming being the new kid and all.”

“Yeah, it’s been… interesting,” I replied, offering her a small smile.

“Interesting is good!” Flurry said. “You should always savor the most entertaining experiences at school. At least that’s what I think.”

“That right?” I said. “You must be pretty excited to be in high school then.”

Flurry nodded enthusiastically. “Oh, absolutely! High school is a whole new adventure, don’t you think? New people to meet, new things to learn. I can’t wait to dive into it all. What about you, Rodney? What are you looking forward to the most now that you're here?”

I leaned back in my seat, contemplating her question. The truth was, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect from this new chapter of my life. But Flurry’s infectious enthusiasm was starting to rub off on me.

“I guess I’m looking forward to…exploring new opportunities?” I finally said, a small smile tugging at the corners of my lips. “Meeting different people, trying out new things. I think it could be pretty exciting.”

Flurry’s eyes lit up at my answer. “That’s the spirit! High school is all about taking chances and discovering who you really are.”

“Heh, you make some good points, Flurry,” I said with a smile. It was then I realized that we had already arrived at school as the bus pulled up to the curb. “Wow, how long were we talking? We’re already here.”

Flurry giggled, her pink and purple hair bouncing with her movements. “Time flies when you’re having fun, right?” she said as she grabbed her bright yellow backpack and hopped out of her seat. “Well, Rodney, it was great talking to you! Hope we can chat some more later. See you around!”

“Yeah, definitely! See you around, Flurry!” I called out, watching her dash off the bus with an infectious energy that left a smile on my face.

As soon as I stepped off the bus, I saw Flash walk up to me with a serious look on his face.

“Yo,” Flash said.

“Morning, Flash, what’s up?” I asked.

“I haven’t been able to get it out of my head, no matter how much I try,” Flash said out of the blue. “That place wasn’t a dream, and I think it’s somehow connected to that prick Blueblood.”

“Okay…?” I said, sounding suspicious. “Where are you going with this?”

“Isn’t it obvious, dude? We gotta go back to that weird world,” Flash said. I gave him a look like he had a second head and a few screws loose.

“No way, Flash,” I replied, shaking my head. “That place was unreal. I mean, literally unreal. It was like something out of a video game or a sci-fi movie. Besides, what makes you think Blueblood has anything to do with it?”

Flash ran a hand through his hair, a look of frustration crossing his face. “I can’t shake the feeling that he’s involved somehow.”

“But what would going back to that death trap prove?” I questioned. “If anything, we’d probably end up risking our lives again.”

“Well, we can’t just go and confront Blueblood, can we?” Flash said. “And besides, we’re already under watch for being late yesterday.”

“Not to mention you giving Blueblood a bloody nose,” I added.

“I still don’t regret that,” Flash said. “He deserved it after what he did to me…”

“What’s that mean?” I wondered.

Flash tucked his hands in his pockets and exhaled. “I can’t really get into it, since it’s a bit personal, but he and I have history. He did some things that set me up in a bad way, and I have no way of proving it.” Flash shook his head as to try to dismiss the subject. “That’s beside the point. Please, man, you’re the only one I can trust with this. You saved my life back there with that awesome power of yours.”

“It honestly felt like I was in the heat of the moment,” I shrugged. “I just heard this weird voice in my head that somehow gave me powers. Not mention, I’ve been feeling…different ever since.”

“Different how?” Flash wondered but I shook my head.

“I can’t explain. All I know is it was like an out of body experience for me,” I tried to say.

“Call it what you want. But my question still stands,” Flash said. “Are you in or out?”

I hesitated, mulling over Flash’s proposal. The idea of venturing back into that mysterious world both intrigued and frightened me. But as I looked into Flash’s eyes, seeing the determination and urgency in them, I knew that he was serious about this. And perhaps he was right. Maybe there was more to discover about the Metaverse Navigator, about Blueblood, and about my own new and strange abilities.

Taking a deep breath, I finally nodded at Flash. “Alright, let’s do this. But we have to be careful. No reckless moves this time, and we’ll have to do this after school.”

A grin spread across Flash’s face, his eyes alight with excitement. “That’s the spirit! We’ll figure this out together, Rodney.”

“Here’s hoping, Flash,” I said, trying to sound confident.

We both walked together towards the school, both of us now anticipating our return to the strange world known as the Metaverse.

Author's Note

They return now with a purpose. To solve the mystery of the world beyond reality.

Hope you enjoyed!

~WurkyWilk has left the building…