School had resumed, but it was the last thing on anyone’s mind. Knowing that Griflore had the star and was preparing his final assault distracted Dye from his studies. Nevertheless, he put on his best with his friends. Even though he had handled his PTSD with Griflore, he still had a lot of uncertainty regarding their next run in with him. It ate at him constantly and he was worried if Sam’s plan would work. He was more concerned with if he would have to destroy the star rather than use it to revive Corrine.

Corrine.

That was another issue all by itself.

Their parents were still unaware that she was alive. How would the boys spin that and would she even stay?

One thing at a time, he supposed.

The sun was almost gone from the sky. Dye walked home and from where he was he could see the light crashing of ocean waves.

He sighed.

Everything was different now.

This last year wasn’t anything he expected. He was just a kid looking to start a new life in high school. Make friends, go to parties and pep rallies, enjoy a few football games and stay out past his curfew and risk not getting caught by his parents.

He never expected he would be a superhero trying to stop an ancient demon from opening a door that would let five other ancient demons out.

It’s not like he was regretful of what went down this last year, it was more abrupt. Sometimes he couldn’t believe it himself, despite actuallybeing in his armor.

It was surreal.

But then this was his reality as he whizzed down the street past cars and through traffic.

Yes, this was fun. It was exciting. It was amazing to be able to do what he could do, but at the same time daunting.

Stopping petty crime here and there was no problem.

Saving a few people from a speed train? A little harder but doable.

Trying to take on an ancient super Xenton? That would take some effort.

In all of those other instances, he was invincible. Bullets could never penetrate his armor.

Running into a burning building? That was a joke to him.

Meeting his match with Griflore, even without his powers, was the defining moment. Despite having moved on from his anxiety, it still bothered him. Sam and Jason struggled against him and the level of beating they got just trying to subdue him was intense.

Buildings toppled over.

They broke the actual asphalt in the street.

Sound barriers and such were broken in an instant during their climatic battle.

It was then when Dye finally figured out that the fun and games were over. He needed to start taking this seriously or one minor slip up could mean the end of the world for everyone. Griflore was everything they were. A masterful adversary that would test them at every corner of being a Xenton, and Dye and his brothers would need to be ready to face him.

The boys went over their plan constantly. Drilling every aspect of it into their minds. Dye was confident it would work, but he was also concerned that it wouldn’t. Griflore destroyed an entire armada of Xenton in the past. How would three, newly formed, teenagers at that, be able to best that kind of power?

Sam was smart.

At times clever.

He analyzed just about everything, and right now his analysis of Griflore’s behavior was his weapon. What he was likely to do. How he would react. These things gave Sam an edge on anticipating his behavior and if everything went according to Sam’s plan, they would have the star to use as they pleased. If by some off chance they couldn’t get to it in time, then destroying it would be an easier play.

Mack was absorbing it play by play. To him it was like listening to Coach Connelly instructing him to do a play. There were seven seconds left on the clock and this was a hail mary.

It was do or die.

Win or lose.

He understood the threat level was higher than a mere winning or losing a game, but he was at his best under pressure. He wasn’t able to summon armor which meant he was extremely vulnerable. It would only take one minor mistake and he could face the same fate as Dye when he had been powerless.

Jason was feeling confident. Even more so than Dye and Mack. Mainly because he had been able to access the Spirit Life-Force along with Sam and gain the foothold they needed in order to push Griflore back. His only concern was if he would be able to do that again.

He sat and listened to Sam’s plan and responded with ease whenever it was his time to do his part.

Though sometimes lazy and absent minded, Jason proved to be extremely reliable throughout this last year. His sudden emergence when the monorail was in trouble was something his brothers never thought he would do. Eating and surfing was his life. If it wasn’t either of those two things, counting on him would previously have been impossible but that had all changed. He was suddenly around and willing to help his brothers whenever trouble was brewing. Though still laid back, he proved to be highly effective in using his powers the best way he knew how and that was enough for them.

It wasn’t him being cocky.

This was him being confident.

Because he knew, like the rest of his brothers, the slightest miscalculation could mean the end of it all.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

Sam was the most pressed because it was his plan that would determine if they would succeed or not. At times he seemed stressed and irritable but other times he would be calm and collected. Nobody had an issue with Sam’s plan. It was Sam who had an issue with his plan because he knew if they didn’t succeed it was all on him. Through all of that, if everyone did their parts well then they would succeed and stop Griflore.

But even he wasn't sure.

Somewhere along the way he felt as though he was missing something. If his plan was to be carried out as instructed, then at the end of it it was too easy. Sam tried to take into account that despite everything that happened in the past, Griflore didn’t have an army this time. He didn’t even have his Xentonian armor any more. He was at a severe disadvantage but that made everything easier, or more complicated. Sam was never one to leave things up to chance. However, that was the key element of his plan and everything rode on how well he anticipated Griflore’s responses.

Rumors started circulating that one of the Xenton actually went to Dye’s school. Of course this was true. In fact, it was more than true considering all of Dye’s brothers went to the same school. Dye was just the only one to have shown up when Griflore attacked and good thing he did. Still, word got around faster than normal and when it finally reached Dye it couldn’t have been Joss who spread it. It was a simple deduction considering all the doors were locked. Some even discerned that it could’ve been a teacher. Nevertheless, Dye would have to tread carefully in order to keep his identity a secret.

The days we’re blurring together now. The full moon was upon them and unbeknownst to everyone in the city, Dye and his brothers were ready to stop Grilfore.

The bell rang. The students rushed through the hallway in an attempt to get home. Dye walked the hallways with Joss and Jenny.

“I heard the armored dude is Vice Principal Charles,” said Joss.

Dye had never heard anything so outrageous before. He wanted to speak out against that but remembered that he was trying to not bring any suspicion to himself.

“That’s insane!” Jenny spoke up, basically saying what he was thinking. “Really? Vice Principal Charles?”

“I’m just going by what I heard.” Joss replied. “No one saw him enter or leave the cafeteria so it's possible.”

“Or maybe there was a door left unlocked in the kitchen,” Dye cut in. “Who says all the doors were locked? No one checked the loading doors in the kitchen. Those could’ve been left opened and that’s where that armored guy came from. Through the kitchen.”

His words were convincing. It made Joss think. Through all the panic no one could have checked the kitchen. Everyone was focused on getting out.

He was stumped.

Dye had made a really good point while at the same time dispelling any suspicion that a Xenton attended their school. Though he knew that the rumors wouldn’t die down as fast as they spread.

He was hopeful though.

They said their goodbyes as Joss turned the corner to go home, leaving Jenny and Dye alone to walk.

“Are you okay?” She asked him as they continued their quiet walk down the busy street.

“I’m fine,” he said, “Just worried about that history test next week.” If there was going to be a next week.

“I see,” She replied. There was a lengthy pause. She knew there was more to his mood than he let on. They walked in silence for a while until he spoke.

“Thanks,” he said out of nowhere.

“For what?” She asked.

“For just being you,” she smiled.

“Thanks, I guess,” she played off with a smile. “Where did that come from?”

“Oh — uh — nowhere. Just these past few months have gone by so fast. Sometimes you just have to appreciate the here and now, you know?” He took her hand and she looked up at him. Dye leaned over and kissed her. She didn’t pull away.

It lasted for a few more seconds and when Dye pulled away, he saw her eyes closed, her face swept up in euphoria.

“I’ll call you later,” he said, leaving her, holding her hand for as long as possible.

“Oh — okay,” she responded with a soft voice.

She watched him walk off, the sun setting in the sky, ending another day. Will it rise tomorrow? It was up to the Haven brothers to make sure it did.

Time disappeared quickly, and before they knew it, the clock read fifteen minutes past eleven. Mack, Sam and Jason woke up Dye, who had fallen asleep in his room. “It's time to go,” said Sam. Dye stretched and got up from his bed.

“Should we transform?” Asked Jason.

“No!” Sam replied. “We have the element of surprise on our side. As long as we keep that, then we will have the upper hand. Remember, stick to the plan.”

Mack was apprehensive as he was the most vulnerable without his armor. There was no backing out now.

“Let's go,” said Jason. The four of them opened the window to the room and gradually climbed down from the rooftop of their house. One by one they jumped from the roof and rolled into their fall.

Mack looked down. Dye looked up at him and saw his frightened face.

“It’s okay Mack, just trust your instincts.” Dye whispered loudly. Mack took a deep breath and jumped. He didn’t roll as gracefully as his brothers but he didn’t break anything either.

They quickly left the lawn and ran down the street. They could see the skyscraper from a distance and the full moon that shone brightly above it.

“This is it,” Dye said, “just want to let you guys know that if anything happens tonight that–”

“Oh god, he’s doing it! What did I tell you? He would be the one to give the ‘it’s been an honor serving with you’ speech,” Jason made a salute as he spoke. “Sammy, you owe me five dollars!”

Sam face-palmed and then smiled. “You just couldn’t help not being sentimental. Literally, the one time I make a bet I lose it because you decided to be out of character.” he jogged behind Jason.

“Dye’s not out of character, he’s always been the sap.” Mack said, tailing them from behind.

“How can you guys be so relaxed about this?” asked Dye, keeping up with his brothers.

“Because,” started Jason. “We have something worth fighting for.”

Corrine.

The people of Beach Shores and the world.

Arayan.

Their parents.

Joss.

Jenny.

“We’re going to give it our all. And if we lose, well the world is screwed.” Jason finished.

Dye felt a little bit better. It was time to see what he was made of and that thought alone invigorated him

They stopped at the foot of the skyscraper. All four of them looked up. Sam looked at his watch and saw it was eleven thirty.

“We have half an hour. Remember the plan, and we may or may not come out of this unscathed.”

Dye remained, but Jason, Sam and Mack began walking off. “Good luck, little brother,” said Mack, giving him a decisive look. Dye returned the same look and Mack ran off.

“Okay, here goes nothing,” he said, staring up at the tall sky pillar.