Dye landed on the track and took off after the train, leaving a trail of flames in his wake. The speed of the train was incredible, but it was nothing compared to Dye. Sam flew at his side

“So what’s the plan?” cried Sam.

“I don’t have a plan!” Dye replied.

“What?”

“I’m sorry I left my ‘Guidebook To Stopping Runaway Trains’ at home along with my ‘Superhero Careers for Dummies’ and ‘How To Deal With Annoying Brothers.’”

Dye and Sam caught up to the runaway train. From the back window, he saw men, women, and children banging on the glass yelling for help.

“Can you fly ahead and see if we can’t hit the off switch or something?” Sam flew up and hurried ahead of the train to see what he could find.

Dye leaped on top of the train and then quickly evaded the wall of an underpass. “Wooo that was close!”

Meanwhile, Sam soared swiftly towards the front of the train. He flew above the oncoming underpass and pushed to reach the front of the line. He descended and flew alongside the leading car. Looking through the window, he noticed the controls were destroyed, the conductor having been knocked unconscious, laying on the floor.

“Well that explains it,” seeing this Sam fell back.

Dye rode on top of the speeding train as it maintained its velocity and didn’t slow. He saw Sam returning.

“Well? Can we stop it?”

“No. The controls are completely destroyed. Any ideas?”

The two separated as the train went through another underpass.

“You’re asking me? You’re the smart one!” yelled Dye as Sam flew up high to avoid the underpass.

“DYE!”

There was a tunnel approaching. Dye leaped from the top of the train car and back onto the tracks.

“Meet me out on the other side!” he announced to Sam just before chasing after the train. He maintained his speed as the monorail snaked its way through the dark tunnel. The train passed a station where people eagerly awaited their ride. To their dismay the train rushed past them and shortly afterwards they saw Dye chasing after it. “Sorry! Experiencing minor technical difficulties! Please stand by!” he said as he ran through.

The train emerged from the tunnel and Dye emerged behind it. He looked up and saw Sam flying above. He jumped on top of the train again as Sam descended.

“We got another big problem?”

“Bigger than a couple of super powered teenagers who can’t stop a speeding train?”

“Well that depends. We’re gonna run out of track soon!”

Dye put his hands on his hips. “Yep, that’s a much bigger problem!”

“The line is still under construction so they haven't finished it yet.” Sam asked.

“How much more track do we have?”

Sam looked forward. He was quiet as if he was either trying to look ahead or calculate the distance from where they were. “We have about four miles and at this speed that’s not very far. Any ideas?”

“I’ve been going over one in my head. I’m not entirely sure about it, but I think it’ll work.”

“Well, do you wanna share with the class?”

The train passed beneath another overpass and snaked its way around a curve, making Dye crouch in order to maintain his balance.

“You got that? Now Follow my lead.”

Sam fell behind to pursue the train. Meanwhile, Dye ignited his fist and blew a hole through the roof of the train. He fell through and landed inside the car. The screams of terror ceased when all the passengers got a good look at Dye’s armored self.

“Okay, listen up, we haven’t got much time. You are all going to have to cooperate, okay?” The people looked upon him. “There’s no way to slow down the train from the inside and the track is going to end soon. So let's not panic.”

The passengers started to panic.

“Great! Shouldn’t have told them that,” he said to himself. “Okay everyone calm down! I have a plan, but it can only work if you work with me. Now grab all of your things and hang on.” Dye sprung back up through the hole and back onto the roof. He ran towards the next car but dropped between cars to find the connection. He engulfed his fist in flames and bashed it, breaking the link.

“Sam! NOW!” He shouted.

Sam dove from above and threw his body in front of the separating train car, throwing his wings out as far as he could. Using his resistance, Sam pressed against the train car, causing it to slow down exponentially and allowing it to come to a complete stop. Sam caught his breath, hearing the cheers from the bystanders in the car. He gave them a solid wave and flapped his wings to meet up with Dye.

Dye yelled in celebration. “It worked!”

“Don’t get too cocky!” Yelled Sam as he caught up with Dye who was making his way on ahead to the next car. “We still have five cars to go!”

“Right!” he said, regaining his focus.

He ran along the roof of the next car, fell between them and broke the connection keeping it to the line. Sam once again flew down in front and forced the car to slow down until it stopped.

It took just under four minutes to free the remaining car, but the leading car was in a dead sprint.

“DYE! The track is running out!” cried Sam.

“Well, get ahead of it and stop it!”

Sam darted towards the final train car and came to throw himself in front of it. The end of the track was coming fast as he forced himself against the speed car. The car broke through the barricades, Sam feeling the impacts. Dye sped up and reached for the back of the train. He grabbed the frame of the car, his metal fingers tearing through, trying to pull it to a stop.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

“Come on, Sammy, pick it up,” he said.

As he pulled, he noticed through the back door, there was someone he knew on the train. She grasped the holding rail, tears gushing from her eyes.

“Jenny,” he whispered.

Without realizing it, the train reached the end of the line and threw itself from the tracks. Dye lost his grip, tripped, tumbled and rolled as he saw the car plummet off the line.

“NO!” He got to his feet as quickly as possible.

He wasn’t sure how, but in front of him was a cyclone of water balancing the train car on top of its splashy surface. Sam flew around and saw the torrents of water erupting through the street below.

“Thought you guys might need a hand,” shouted a voice. A blue armored figure walked up to the scene in the midst of traffic, a single hand raised, maintaining the cyclone of water. Cars screeched to a halt as people got out of their vehicles to view the spectacle.

“Who is that?” asked Sam.

“Come on Dude, do you have to ask?”

It was Jason. His armor was a magnificent blue with shiny gold accents along his torso and feet. On top of his head was a fin and with a strange symbol on his face, Jason kept his focus on the cyclone, holding it in place.

“Dude, you got this?” Dye asked from atop the track.

“Yeah little bro. Who do you think you’re talking to?”

Jason now secured the cyclone with both hands and willed its ferocity to calm down. He lowered his hands and the water retreated back underground bringing the train car down with it safe and sound.

“And that’s how it's done!”

Dye looked at the train car and laughed.

“Whew!” He said, giggling, “That could have been bad. Don’t you think so?”

Sam hovered next to him. “It almost was, had it not been for Jason. I have never been so glad to see that idiot!

They both looked down at their brother, who was approaching the train car. “It’s alright folks,” he said through the windows. “We’re gonna get you out of here.” He pried his hands between the doors and forced them open. The people rushed out without a second thought. Dye leaped from the tracks while Sam descended. Their armor both clanked as they hit the ground. Dye immediately went into the crowd. He frantically looked around to try and find her but she was nowhere among those who exited the train.

He turned to the car and hustled over to it. When he entered he saw her there. She had not moved from where he had seen her before. Her arms wrapped around the holding rails, her eyes were shut, and she was crying.

“Hey…” Dye spoke softly. “It’s okay. It’s over now.”

Jenny shook her head, her leg trembling.

Dye reached out to touch her shoulder. Immediately her eyes opened. When she looked up she was mesmerized by who she was looking at. Golden armor filled her eyes and an overwhelming sense of wonder consumed her. Her eyes were puffy and wet but her crying stopped when she looked up at Dye.

“You’re going to be okay now,” Dye assured her, holding out his hand. She took it and got to her feet. He guided her over to the doors where Sam and Jason stood, waiting to help her down, with loud cheers coming from the surrounding crowd. Jenny disembarked from the car. She turned to look up at him, immersed with curiosity by the heroes. Sam and Jason exchange looks while Dye dropped from the train car, joining his brothers, landing right in front of Jenny.

“Who are you guys?” She asked.

Dye scratched the back of his head and stood up straight.

“Just a bunch of heroes, I guess,” he replied.

The oncoming sounds of the crowd applauding started to consume the area and Dye, Sam and Jason began to feel their appreciation ascend. Jason took a couple of bows in his blue shiny armor and Sam, and Dye waved at their newly gained admirers. Sam dispersed his wings and jumped into the sky.

‘Come on, we gotta go!” he said.

Jason jumped into the air and was picked up by Sam, and they both soared down the street. Dye took one last look at Jenny; she smiled back. Her eyes still showed signs she’d been crying. He backed away slowly, keeping a gaze on her, just before turning around.

“Come on, no epic fail grand exit this time…” he said to himself.

He inhaled slowly, and calmly exhaled. He braced himself and accelerated quickly down the road, blowing wind as he left.

Dye whooped with joy, running with tremendous speed. “Did you see that? Did you see that?! We were awesome!”

Dye continued his sprint down the boulevard, making his speed increase more and more until his body was completely engulfed in flames. From up above, Sam and Jason saw him surging through the streets like a fireball. His velocity increased as the flames around him grew so hot they were nearly turning gold. Dye broke off into a turn and entered an alleyway. Sam and Jason followed and landed.

“That was incredible!” said Dye. “Before it was just robberies and stuff but now we stopped a disaster from happening!”

“Dude! I know! And that was my first time. So epic!” said Jason.

Sam was quiet. Dye shoved him. “Come on, Sammy. Aren’t you happy we saved the day.”

“I am,” he replied nonchalantly. “But I can’t help but wonder if that was a set up.” he recalled the purple figure that disappeared from the scene.

“Awh, come on, Sam,” said Jason, swinging his arm around his brother. “Revel in this. It's not everyday you save a bunch of people from a runaway train.”

Just then, something tore through the fabric of space. A white, gaping hole appeared from out of nowhere. The brother’s were taken by surprise as someone started to walk through. As the silhouette lessened, the three of them saw someone very familiar standing at the event horizon of the portal.

“Mack? What’re you…” started Dye.

“You three are stirring up things you don’t understand.”

Jason chimed in. “Hey wait, how do we know you’re Mack?”

“I don’t have time for this,” he replied stressfully, rubbing his finger on his forehead. “Yes it’s me!”

“Prove it!” Jason insisted.

Mack sighed heavily. “Dye, you play with dolls, Sam, you like to sew, and Jason, you love to read romance novels.”

“It’s him,” said Jason.

Dye turned to him. “You read books?”

“Shaddup!”

“And they’re not dolls, they’re action figures,” said Dye, turning back to Mack.

“Yeah, and reading romance is good for the soul you know,” Jason shot back. ‘Whatever,” Mack huffed.

“Mack, what are you doing here? Actually, how did you get here?” Asked Sam.

“That doesn't matter now,” the older brother replied. “There’s someone here who can help answer any questions you have.”

The three of them stood in suspense, waiting as another person came through the portal. The mysterious person emerged and was wearing a heavy, dark cloak along with golden wristbands and a crystal medallion hanging around their neck. The person stood by Mack and slowly took off their hood, revealing bluish, black hair that covered his left eye. His right eye, however, focused on the three heroes standing before him.

“Who's that?” whispered Dye to Sam.

“You’re asking me?” Sam replied.

“Greetings heroes,” The mysterious person said, “or should I say — Xenton.”

“Xenton?” Asked Dye. “The hell is that?”

“Please, it isn’t safe for me to be out in the open. Come with me and I will tell you everything you want to know.”

“Go with you?” Asked Sam, “We don’t even know who you are.”

“My name is Arayan,” he replied. “Please come with me and everything shall be made clear to you.”

“Come on you three,” Mack ordered. He turned and entered the portal. Arayan followed.

“So, do we go?” asked Dye.

“We sure do. It’s about time we got answers!” Sam pushed on ahead. Coming to the portal and admiring whatever it was. He stepped through and was gone.

“Well, if this dude is good enough for Mack and Sam, then I’m down.” Jason went through the portal and vanished.

Dye sighed. “Doesn’t look like I’m beating Mom or Dad home. I guess I can add another two weeks of house arrest to my list.” Dye approached the portal and stepped through. He was gone instantly and the portal closed after him.