“Jack come on! They were supposed to tell me the information because I won. Let’s go back and have dinner.”

“I bet you just want to go flirt with that Australian chick.” Jack sighed.

“W-what! No that’s not it!” I stammered back.

“What, do you think she’s ugly?” Zack asked as we walked.

The ever growing sound of club music only got louder and louder. It was like a rockier version of lofi. I couldn’t really put my finger on it, the music was just so out there. Jack had teleported us to this rocky island. He said he couldn’t teleport us directly to the party because of rules or something.

I blushed.

"No that’s not it! I just want to focus on the mission alright? I even missed out on talking to Isabella.”

Zack whistled.

“Geez Stry, Isn’t she like, spoken for?”

“That’s not what I meant! She knows the other swordsman well. I need to get more information so I can prepare myself.”

“Are you always this serious? Your hairs gonna start looking like mine if you don’t relax.” Jack joked.

“Why did you bring me with you..” Leo grumbled from behind me.

“Cuz you and the Knight both need to loosen up. When's the last time you’ve been to a party?”

“Never,” Leo replied

“Pfft, Stryder and parties? Yeah right.” Zack snickered.

“I’ve been to parties!”

“A girls night with Lux and her friends doesn't count Einstein,” Zack chuckled.

Then Jack abruptly stopped and turned back to look at me with shock.

“Have you seriously never been to a party before!?”

“I’ve just never had the time..” I muttered.

“Please, he just freezes up in any group event we go to. We once went to a friends barbeque and he hid in the corner the whole time.”

“That’s because I didn’t know anyone!”

“Considering I’m your only friend, you’ll never know anyone.”

I quickly looked away from them. That stung a lot more than I expected it too.

“Listen kid, how are you gonna be an example to the world if you can’t talk to a few strangers?” Jack asked.

And I suddenly dislike myself even more. Great. You know what, no. I’m not taking this.

“It’s not like I asked for this ya know!” I snapped. “ It’s not like I asked to shake whenever someone I don’t know talks to me! It's not like I want to overthink whatever someone thinks about me!”

“Easy Stryder no ones-”

“No! I’m sick and tired of people like you who have it so easy with your communication skills. Acting as if it’s so easy! You have no idea how hard it is!”

“Well what are you gonna do about it?” Jack asked.

“What?”

“You don’t like it right? Well what are you gonna do about it?”

“Well I..” I trailed off as my embers of rage, slowly began to flicker away.

I didn’t know what to say to that.

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“I won’t deny that it’s harder for you to be social. Icarus was the same way. But don't whine about it unless you're trying to change.”

“That’s easier said than done..”

“I know it is, just like it’s easier to stay in your comfort zone. Rather than take a risk and change. I’m not saying change, or to not change. But you really need to take a look at what you want to be, and ask yourself what it takes to become that.” Jack gave me this icy glare.

And I was frozen in place, the whole group was silent. Nothing but the music around to fill the void. Take a look at what I want to become? Have I ever really done that? I thought handling mom was all I needed to do. I thought I would be the perfect hero if I did that. But what does a perfect hero even mean to me?

“Geez Jack you didn’t have to-”

“No, Zack he's right. He’s right. I don’t think I’ve been looking ahead like I needed too.”

“Ah great! Well while you deal with your mid life crisis, I’m gonna go party.”

‘Wait, you haven’t even told us where we are.”Leo spoke up.

Jack groaned like a kid and spun around.

“This place is known as Nirvana,” Jack said quickly. “ It’s a secret place for those gifted who aren’t interested in the whole territory wars. Come on follow.” Jack said as he quickly jogged off.

We all followed off behind him. The rocks on the island were scattered about this place like a desolate mountain. Yet I could see the ocean in the far distance around us. And in the center I saw loads of flashing lights and colors. We all followed after Jack, Weislung catching up to him before any of the rest of us. The rocks hid our view of the middle.

Jack soon jumped into the air, leaving a white trail of snow behind him. He didn’t say a word and just flew straight to the center.

“The hell.” Leo groaned.

Before anyone could say anything. Weislung climbed atop a boulder and leaped to the next one, following after Jack. I looked at Zack and he smirked.

“Good luck leaping rock to rock hulk!” He cheered as his hands sparked with a green flare.

Then erupted to life as he flew off after Jack.

That dick! We could’ve taken his solid air platforms up! Or road on Bean! I groaned and just tried to ignore my frustration and activated my strength. I leaned down and bounced over on the boulders, Leo right behind me as I did. And for a moment, I really felt alive. The wind in my face, the adrenaline in my veins. It felt like doing parkour! It's been so long! It felt so freeing.

But my attention was soon taken away by the huge center. It was a giant open area! With hundreds upon hundreds of people inside! There were red and white cubes floating in the sky around it, with people dancing atop each one. Huge gigantic rainbow bubbles floating all around. My eyes were infatuated with the sight. It was breathtaking. As I scanned around I saw Jack on the outside rim of the action. I leaped over to him and landed behind him and Zack.

He was smiling reminiscently at the stage to the right, that I was just now noticing.

There were three people on stage. One was a man in all white attire, besides his bold red shirt. He had floating red disks that he was spinning under his hands like a turntable. His skin was dark, and he had a smooth bald head with black shades. Next to him was a shirtless guy in dirty white pants. He had pale skin and rainbow hair that went to his shoulder. He was dancing on stage as I saw the rainbow bubbles coming off his body. And finally to the right of the guy was a woman. She was floating on a white cube sitting crisscross. Her skin was red, and her hair was pure white and short. She was drinking a water bottle like she hadn’t drinken water in days.

“And those guys are known as the three truths. They’re the gatekeepers of this place.” Jack hummed happily. “Anymore questions?”

“Where's the rap battles!?” Zack cheered.

“Attaboy! Just run around. They’re all over the place! With that, I’m gonna make my introduction. Remember, no drinking, and don’t eat anything anyone offers you!”

Before I could get another word out. Him, Zack, and Weislung leaped into the party. Soon getting lost in the horde of the crowd. And I just sighed.

“Thanks a lot Zack. I at least wanted help..”

I stared into the sea of the crowd. I could feel my heart begin to race. I took a breath as I tried to relax myself. I wish I at least had my hoodie, or my mask...

“You're not seriously gonna join them, are you?” Leo asked.

I jumped slightly as he spoke. I had completely zoned out for a minute there.

“Well, after hearing what Jack said, yeah.” I sighed.

“Why? What does being a hero have to do with partying?”

As he said that, I saw Zack's smile flash into my mind. I smiled slightly at that and chuckled. I guess deep down I’ve always known.

“Whenever I’m scared, or feel like I don't know what to do, Zack’s always been there to back me up. Whether it was asking out a girl, or having confidence enough to help me put my foot down.” I chuckled some. “And he has this ability to make everyone around him laugh. No matter what the situation is. I don’t know exactly what my ideal of a hero even is yet. But, I know for me, Zack has always been like my hero. I’ve always been jealous of his ability to just talk to anyone and ease people's minds, make them smile. So I think if I want to be more like him in that way. I need to move forward.”

Leo blinked a few times looking at me. As if he was analyzing what I just said. He leaned back against a rock and folded his arms. He closed his eyes and nodded.

“I see, well don’t let me stop you then.” He huffed.

I nodded and took a breath. I turned back to the sea of people. Welp, here goes nothing...

….

It was like playing an old pinball game. But I was the pinball, and the machine was on steroids. I was getting smacked around person to person. I eventually got tired of saying sorry to every person I bumped into, and just quietly followed the flow of the party. I could barely hear myself think with all the noise. I tried to be friendly and say hi, but I was never in the same place long enough to do that. There was just so much dancing and partying going on. It really was like a sea.

Soon I was led to a circle. People were gathered around it cheering and hollering for the people inside. I slowly squeezed my way through and I was...well if I'm being honest I wasn’t really that shocked. There in the circle was Zack and some random guy having a dance off. The other guy was tall and skinny. He had huge white wings and was using them to show off some impressive acrobatics, sending feathers throughout the crowd. Who were all going wild.

He soon stopped and crossed his arms, looking at Zack with a confident smirk. While Zack stepped forward and looked up at him. Giving him a cocky smile right back. He tipped his fedora to the guy. Then he dropped and spun around in a circle on the ground. Quickly flicking his body up to a handstand, sending a flashy red flare out from his body like it was fireworks! He then bent his arm and flung himself up in the air! Ember trails lighting his way as he soon landed on his feet, showing off and doing tricks, treating his body like a robot! Using his flames to imitate sparks in his systems.

After a bit of showing off he stopped and took his hat off. He shot it off his hands with a small spark of fire. Making it spin in the air, while he spun around himself. He then abruptly stopped in the Micheal Jackson tip-toe stand and stretched out his hand and jabbed his hat. Then the hat seemed to defy gravity and spun all the way up his arm, leaving a smoky trail behind. Soon coming up his shoulder and landing back on his head. He moved his hand over the hat and tugged it down slightly over his face, completely stopping the smokey trail.

I even have to admit, that was totally awesome! We were all speechless for a moment. Then we all screamed and cheered for Zack!

“Winner! Zack Grendall!” I heard some low deep voice announce from one of the pink floating bubbles.

Which only prompted the crowd to scream even wilder. I ran out and shoved Zack with excitement.

“You killed it out there!” I cheered.

Zack caught himself and fixed his hat. When he looked up and saw me he gave me a huge grin. He moved his hand horizontal under his chin, then vertical beside his face. Repeating this a couple times as he vibed to the music.

“Of course! I’m repping the king of pops swagger right now. I can’t lose,” He chimed.

“Next is for all the gold! The title of floor king! Jack Frost vs Zack Grendall”

“What!”

“What!”

Me and Zack both yelled in unison. We both turned to see the crowd open up, making a path leading toward us. And there he was, with a sideways ice crown on his head walking toward us.

“You gotta be kidding me,” Zack muttered.

Jack smirked as he soon stopped in the circle. A big cocky smile plastered on his face as he looked down on us.

“So, heard you were trying to take my crown?” He hummed.