What Happens In Herofest

Toby pushed himself away from the computer screen with a whoop of joy. He had it! Two VIP tickets to the best show in town! Herofest, the one thing everyone was talking about, and how jealous they would all be when he announced it at school the next morning. Everyone would be clambering to get his second ticket. Well, before that he had some things to get ready, dig out his old costume, become a super hero. Loads of people attending would be dressed like heroes, and it was so hard to get tickets, but these were genuine. Genuinely genuine. He was getting them off Oz, since he couldn't go and he practically begged him for them, but it was so worth it. Not even his best friend Chester knew he had these tickets yet.

Excited, he strolled to school with a new spring in my step. There weren't any good high schools in Galaxy Hills, so they went to the one in the nearest town, and the guys there weren't too fond of some of the Galaxy Hills lot, but he had made a fair few friends. Unfortunately his new friends didn't like his old friends. They were okay with his best friend, just about, but when it came to his friend Kyle, the kids in the other town seemed to hate him.

Anyway, they all got the bus over. At the school, Toby made a huge show of walking into his classroom, brandishing the tickets. "Guess who has two tickets to Herofest!"
Heads snapped round. He could feel the stares raising goosebumps, and he grinned. Duke and one of the Winterlot Fields kids Toby was friends with got up and came over. "No way! Dude, I'd do anything for that ticket."
The Winterlot boy pushed him away. "No way, man. You're my friend! I'd be happy to go with you."
Toby thought for a moment, punctuating it with a hum of thought as he rested a finger on his bottom lip. "Well, I'll have to think on it. Obviously since I have so many great friends, I have to do a lot of thinking before I choose who to bring."
"I...I'll do your homework for a week!"
"I'll think about it!" He heaved a great sigh and went to sit beside his best friend, who he had been best friends with for years. Chester grinned.
"You're taking me, of course. Like, woah, Herofest! I never would've thought I'd be going to Herofest! I need to dig out my old costume and all!"
Toby got ready to reply, but then he realised something. He didn't want to take Ches. A quick glance around the room and he found only one student hadn't been interested. Kyle's head was bent low over his desk as he wrote something. Probably a letter to Milkweed. He had dropped those attempts for a while but as of late had been trying ever harder to get in, as he certainly wasn't happy here...oh...

He understood at once what he had been planning to do with the ticket from the very beginning. He turned back to Ches with an apologetic look. "Look man, you know you're my best friend and all, but I was thinking...if it isn't too inconvenient..." Ches' face fell, "it's just...you know Kyle's been going through a really tough time, I mean look at him, he's miserable...I thought he needs something to cheer him up, so I thought I might take him."
Ches thought for a moment before nodding, but still looking crestfallen. "Don't worry, I understand..."
"But now I feel so bad..."
"Look, as much of a big deal as Herofest is, you're a really great guy, thinking about Kyle like that...and honestly, I'd have done the same thing."
"You would?"
"He probably needs it. A bit of a pick-me-up, I mean." He was clearly gutted about Toby's decision, but he was putting on a brave face. "It's getting televised, I can still watch it."

So at break time, he went to Kyle. "Hey Kyle!"
"Hi..."
"I was thinking...you know how I have that spare festival ticket?"
"Spare? I thought it was going to Chester."
There was an awkward silence. He obviously didn't want to say 'I'm giving you the ticket because people beat you up' or something to that effect. "Well, it isn't. You wanna come?"
Kyle looked uncertain. "To...Herofest...? You sure that will be my cup of tea?"
Toby answered that by pulling out a leaflet about the festival. "Just look at the bands headlining and tell me if you like anything there."
He took it and read over it fast, then gasped. "That's my favourite band..."
Toby grinned. "Better still, I got those VIP tickets there were only 10 of, so after the show we get to go backstage and talk to the artists, we get show shirts free, we get signed photos and photos of us with the artists-!"
Kyle slapped a hand over Toby's mouth. "Okay. I'm sold. You keep hold of the tickets, come round my place on the night."

And that was what happened. Toby wore an old costume of purple and green, something he had worn as a child. Back then, everyone had called him Fanboy, and suddenly that was who he was once more. "You sure you're okay with this?" He asked as Chester threw himself onto the sofa, flicking the TV to the right channel.
"It's fine. Have a great time. Ooh, bring me back a shirt!"
With a grin, Toby nodded. "Will do. Now, Kyle's chariot awaits!"
Chester laughed as his friend launched himself out of what they still affectionately called the Fanlair.

Naturally, Kyle complained about the return of Fanboy, but since it was all in the spirit of Herofest, he put up with it, especially since many people there were in superhero costumes. In fact, Kyle felt like a bit of an outsider amongst so many people playing dress-up. The place was packed, with rising walls and balconies that people had seats on. Those people couldn't move around and get drinks and socialise, or be interviewed by the man presenting the show on TV. Even so, both boys had a great time, dancing and singing along, and it had been a long time since Fanboy had seen such a genuine and joy-filled smile on Kyle's face. Both of them had had a fair bit to drink, even though they were certainly too young for it. Well, the festival wasn't well policed, but naturally Kyle drank far less than his costumed companion, and so was quite embarrassed when, during his favourite song, the man talking to everyone in costumes came over and thrust camera and microphone into Fanboy's face. "So who's this young hero here?"
Fanboy grinned. "I'm Fanboy, friend of the people!" He yelled, throwing his arms out and his drink over Kyle, who cried out. The man laughed.
"Here's hoping that young man and you are good friends."
Fanboy turned and gasped, throwing his arm around his friend and drawing him close. "Sorry Kyle! We're real good friends though. Not, like, best friends, but still pretty damn close. I've known him years!"
The man laughed again. "Nice to meet you, Kyle, friend of the friend of the people."
Kyle struggled weakly against Fanboy's embrace as the talk went on.
"So, Fanboy...you got your own Lois Lane watching at home?"
He shook his head. "Nah, I gots no-one..."
"Have you...got your eyes on anyone special?"
There was a slight hesitation. "I do, but he's more of a Louis than a Lois..."
"Oh, right, my apologies. You could take the time to tell him."
He shook his head. "He isn't watching at home. He's here, with me." And with that, he turned and planted a kiss on Kyle's cheek. Kyle just looked shocked.
"We-he-hell, Kyle doesn't look too pleased, you may want to check your privileges with him."
But then Kyle grabbed Fanboy's shoulders, turning him for a proper kiss.

The man behind the camera laughed and cooed, thinking of how cute it is.

Back home, Chester spat out his soda with a laugh. "Man, I never thought they'd actually get together in my lifetime!"

The children from the school found it foul.

Lupe and Yo fell into fits of giggles.

And then the kiss ended and they stumbled apart.

Hours later, they were walking home with bags in hand that had their free shirts and signed material. Fanboy was drunk, hardly able to keep straight. He was leaning heavily on Kyle. They reached the stone steps outside the young Wizard's apartment and Kyle thought for a moment. "Listen, it isn't that I don't trust you, it's that you're very drunk and...I don't trust you...never mind, I'm taking you home." And with that, he dragged him on. He dragged him all the way up to the Fanlair and knocked non-stop until Chester answered and took his friend off his hands.

The next morning, Tobias sure had one whopper of a hangover. He groaned, squirming in his bed and gripping his head. Chester watched with a smirk. "Enjoy yourself at Herofest?"
He nodded. "I remember...yeah, it was great."
"Didn't realise you were so into Kyle. Now I really see why you wanted him to come."
"Huh? What?"
"You kissed him live on air. In front of millions, and you sort of said you fancied him."
He crossed his arms, frowning at Chester. "Can you call me in sick for school today?"
"...It's Saturday..."
"Oh...that's good then..." He flopped back over onto the bed. He stayed there most of the day, thinking of what Chester said. Later, Ches searched his goodie bag and had a hissy fit having found Fanboy did not have a shirt for him.

Monday, back at school.
The trio were seated together at lunch, Toby making sure his mouth was always full so he wouldn't have to talk to Kyle, who had only just sat down and given Chester the Herofest shirt Toby had bought him when Moss, one of the Winterlot children, peaked over Toby's shoulder. "Hey man, how was Herofest?"
Still having his mouth full, he only gave a hum and a thumbs up.
"Cool, cool. Man, you were caught hammered on camera."
"I wah?" He asked through a full mouth.
"Yeah, totally. Man, you said you fancied brace-face over here." He laughed, flicking a finger at Kyle, who had crossed his arms and was now just glaring.
"What? Me?" Toby laughed. "No, no!"
"You don't love him?"
"God no! Huh, as if!"
"I knew it, I knew you wouldn't go queer on us." He laughed and walked off. Kyle turned his glare to Toby.
"You mean that?"
"Yeah, yeah, no worries."
He looked at the floor. Ches kicked him hard in the ankle. Kyle got up, slinging his bag over his shoulders and went for the door. As he got further, he sped up.

For the next hour, he was locked in a cubicle in the toilets, crying silently. Toby noted that Kyle had not eaten his lunch, and spent the whole of last lesson worrying, wondering where his friend had gone.

After school, he and Ches were walking out the gates.
"This is your fault..." Ches muttered furiously.
"What?" Toby looked around, trying to find his third friend. "Where's Kyle?"
"You upset him."
"How?"
Ches' mouth dropped open. "How stupid are you? You told Kyle you freaking loved him, and now suddenly, because your homophobic friend comes along, you don't! You're not Fanboy, you're a filthy, rotten coward! Find Kyle and fix this or else don't bother coming home!" And with that, he ran off. Toby sighed and hung back for hours, waiting for a sign of Kyle, who had, unfortunately fallen asleep in the toilet cubicle. He walked out of school just as Toby was leaving. He kept his distance, but in the end had to get on the same bus. He sat on the front, and Toby was in the back, but when he saw him, he waved like crazy. "Hey, Kyle!" Kyle ignored him, though. Frowning, he went to sit beside him. "Kyle?" Kyle turned to the window. "Kyle, come on!...you didn't even eat your lunch...want some cookies?" The bus stopped at their stop and still Kyle was not speaking to him. "Listen, I know I upset you, but just listen to me, I need to explain." Kyle opened his front door and tried to slam it shut, but Toby forced his body in the way, and finally Kyle shouted at him.
"Get out of my doorway!"
"No! Let me in and let me apologise!"
Reluctantly, he did, and he went to sit on his sofa. Toby sat beside him, resting his head on his shoulder. Kyle shrugged him off and shifted up. "Kyle...listen, I didn't mean what I said to Moss...I thought it was what everyone wanted to hear...I mean, I was off my tits on gin and juice when we kissed and all I remembered was that I was drunk and then Ches said I kissed you and I thought you would be so pissed off, I couldn't remember how you reacted, so I said what I thought you wanted to hear...Kyle, I'm sorry for pissing you off, I'm sorry for leading you along, I'm sorry I upset you. I love you, I have since we were kids...I really, truly do, and if you love me back then I don't care who knows."
Kyle sat there, fiddling with his thumbs. He looked up. "Do you really mean it?"
"Yes, honest this time, I really do." He crawled over to Kyle and they shared one more kiss.

Of The Earth

Age 17, Galaxy Hills students, last day of school

We always threw a bit of a party on the last day. It was a tradition at this school. So there we were, on the school grounds, burning school work, playing music, dancing and singing and swinging one another round and round like a Catherine Wheel. There's toilet paper everywhere and burning books and the smell of alcohol. A true epitome of young adult fun. I was with my best friends, Ches and Kyle, ever so slightly drunk. All three of us were a little drunk, but I think I was the most. I mean, I was dancing around in circles, and I had matured from elementary school, and I swear I may have even been trying to chat Kyle up. One of my advances was vile enough to have him punch me in the face. I just laughed and hugged him, and there was a photo taken of me dripping nose blood over his favourite shirt.

It was a great party, but the neighbours of the school weren't too pleased with all the noise and light, and then a group of older boys, men, were by the gates. They weren't from around, and they were wearing some kind of school uniform. Among them was a famous face, wearing his own clothes. Sigmund. These must have been old school friends of his, I guessed as they got past the gates, crashing the party. I swear there were twenty or so, or maybe I just had double vision, but they sort of mixed in with the dancing crowd and enjoyed themselves, except for a few who clearly knew Kyle and were bothering him. Ches tried to make them stop but got thrown across the playground, and then...a fight broke out, Sigmund versus Kyle. No magic at first. They had hold of each other and then Kyle's feet slipped sideways and he ended up on the floor, pulling Sigmund down upon him, and they rolled, kicking and punching, biting and screaming, and then Kyle started slamming Sigmund's head into the ground over and over. Sigmund blasted something at Kyle, who screamed, jerking back and clawing at his own eyes. Sigmund launched himself at Kyle's back, wrapping an arm around his neck, smashing the redhead's face into the ground. He tried to push himself up, but quickly got slammed down again by Sigmund's weight. Magical fire burst into Kyle's hand and he brought it up to the German wizard's silver hair, which caught alight at once. He shot up with a scream, alleviating the pressure on Kyle's back, so he turned onto his back and smirked. "Had enough, Sigmordian?" He called with a laugh. Sigmund focussed on putting out the fire, not noticing Kyle coming for him again, with a bottle in hand. I don't know what he was expecting to happen as he smashed the bottle against Sigmund's head, yelling 'who's the better wizard now?', but I guess it was less than the fire growing and spreading or the Sorcerer collapsing with blood gushing from scratches. He stepped back, getting his breath back and slowly a crowd got brave enough to draw close to his back, staring at the fallen, burning body that once had been Sigmund the Sorcerer. He turned to his school chums and Sigmund's friends, all of whom simply looked shocked. He looked back to the body, back to the crowd and then disappeared.

Ches and I ran to his house, and when we finally got there we were so out of breath, but still we hammered on the door, screaming to be let in. No-one answered, so we got in via the mail slot.

No-one was there. The living room was empty, but a few books were out of place. In the bedroom, the bed had been stripped, the wardrobe ransacked, school bag missing. Kitchen, all the food had been removed.  They walked through the whole place, but they only found a few messes. Evidence of Kyle's frantic sort and shift before leaving again, and then there was the Necronomicon and the Scrivener Elf, trying to clean up. "Where's Kyle?" I blurted.
"He's gone." Replied the elf sourly.
"Where?"
"We don't know." The book said. "He said he had to go, and he made sure we couldn't follow..."

~*~*~*~

My name is Toby Cranapple. I work in a boring old office, in insurance. It bores me, but it puts food on the table. I'll admit I'm not fully satisfied with my life the way it is, but I guess I'm not disappointed with what I got. It could have been way worse. I could have ended up with no job, no home, no future, but I'm in financial comfort, I've got a safe job and can call a little house and a chevy my own.

It all started when I was sitting down for lunch with my friend, or maybe just co-worker, Carl, talking about what we had seen in the news lately. It was the same old stuff. War, disaster, famous people, embezzlement and The Conjurer. There was this thing, a Wizard of impeccable power, known simply as The Conjurer. I like to think if Kyle ever met him, he would despise him. He told me he wasn't the only conjurer in the world. I guess there are different disciplines out there. Anyway, we were talking and eating.

"I used to know a wizard, actually. Used to go to school with one."
"Did you?"
"Yeah. If he was here now he would say the Conjurer was such a show off."
"You kidding? He spends half his time saving lives-"
"Like he wants to be a superhero."
"Not a very good one. The rest of his time he hurts people for their money."
"Well, yeah, that's why he's in the news so much."
 And then my phone went off. Checking it, I saw a text from some unknown source. Reading that, I found it was an invitation. I was being asked to go to Galaxy Hills, back to the school, for a reunion. I gasped. "Carl, Carl!"
"It isn't more work stuff, is it?"
"It's an invitation! To a high school reunion! God, I haven't seen those guys for years! I'm so excited, I'm gonna see them all again! Are you excited, Carl?"
Carl frowned. "Not really, I'm not going."
"Oh, oh yeah, right. You know what? It will be awesome! I mean, we never had a big class, thirteen people at most, but everyone will be there! Ches and Duke and Nancy and Francine and Cheech, and oh my god, everyone else and I haven't seen those guys for years!"

I got a bus up to Galaxy Hills and in the warm summer sun I walked up to the school building, looking for the classroom where everyone would be meeting. And there they all were. I recognised them all off at once. Nancy by the window, wearing a mink coat and talking to someone on a phone. Lupe and Duke were talking in a corner, and my had they changed, both ever so attractive. Sat on a desk was a rather chubby form with a goatee. Ches Mufflin, my best friend ever to go to the same school as me. He leapt up as soon as he saw me. "Toby!"
"Ches!" We hugged. "Lord, it's been an age! I've missed you."
"I missed you too, man!"
"How have things been in the movie business?"
Ches grinned. "Things have been great. We're planning a new Man-Arctica movie, and it is going to be awesome!"
"It isn't going to star Blaise Payne again, is it?"
"I'm not sure. We'll see."
I looked around. Everyone was here. Cheech, Lupe, Fankylechum...not Kyle though...it didn't really register in my mind that much though. It was a lot of fun.

On the way home, I took the same bus as Ches, and we talked a lot, about what's been happening, about his career, a movie director, and then...the bus broke down. Everyone filed off, looked at the damage. Phones weren't working. Sighing, I sat on the edge of the road, head in my hands, and Ches sat beside me. "We could try see if anyone's on the other side of that forest that can help."
"That would be useless."
He lowered his voice. "I mean I'm bored and want to go for a walk. Might as well make ourselves look good."
I laughed. "You've changed."
"Haven't we all?" He stood, carefully making his way down the embankment, and sighing, I followed. We walked for a while in silence and reached a clearing, but before we could get further, something began to...materialise...sort of a small, run down cottage. We backtracked and hid behind a bush, peaking out fearfully, and then? Someone stepped out, a light in his hand, casting him in shadows but almost blinding us, and, naturally, he saw us, dimmed the light and came forward.

He wore a black cloak with a green hood and green marks on the arms and bottom of the cloak. His trousers matched and underneath he wore what looked like a black waistcoat with red buttons, allowing his belly to show. "Hello." Was all he said. His face was hidden and his voice very quiet, but with a distinct accent. English.
"Are you a wizard?" I asked as I got up. He hesitated before nodding. "Uh...we need a hand. We were looking for help, because our bus broke down and we couldn't call for repairs or anything and-"
The wizard held up his hand. "I'll help." He muttered grumpily, walking forward. I swear the trees moved before him. Excited, we hurried after him.

There was something about this wizard. "Are you The Conjurer?" Ches asked.
"I hear that damned name wherever I go." The wizard muttered. "It's always there, always  following me."
We shrugged, and then he reached the sharp incline leading to the road. Sighing, the wizard levitated us up to the bus and set to work. People gathered around to watch, and he conjured up hot chocolate for people and spoke to them very sparsely. There was something about him that reminded me of someone, and it started hurting. I thought, and looked, and I got annoyed that I couldn't see his face. People were talking in hushed voices. They were all saying it was the Conjurer. They said he had the right voice, the right build, the right clothes...and admittedly he smelled like a homeless person. He got up, job done, and went to the edge of the road, and I went over, grabbing his arm. "Who are you?"
"I'm...no-one..."
"You remind me of someone."
"I get that a lot."
"You're The Conjurer."
"And that's all you need to know."
I tried to force him to turn. "I need to see your face."
"Go away!"
"Let me see!" I grabbed his other arm, and then he slipped over the edge of the road, and down the embankment we rolled.

I was on top, groaning. My leg hurt awfully. I tried to pick myself up and fell off the wizard with a cry of pain, lying beside him. I looked at his face, which was now uncovered, and I gasped. He was pale, with large teeth that protruded from his mouth, a button nose, freckles and red hair, pinned up at the back. I went to touch him, to check if he was okay, but his eyes flew open and he grabbed my wrist. "I told you to go away!"
"Kyle!" He sat up and I hugged him.
"You're injured..."
I looked at my leg. "It's nothing."
"Let me help." He reached to my leg, hissing in pain.
"You're injured too..."
"It'll be fine in a moment. Just let me help."
Reluctantly, I let him at my leg, and he healed me. Meanwhile, I heard someone approach down the embankment. Looking over, I saw Ches.
"Kyle?" He exclaimed. "You're The Conjurer?"
Kyle stood, nodding. "I guess so. Now go home."
I grabbed his arm. "Kyle, we're not just going to go away. You're our friend."
"We haven't spoken for years, Fanboy."
He turned and walked away, and we grabbed his arms.
"Let go." He growled.
"Kyle, come home. We miss you."
Ches frowned. "We don't live in Galaxy Hills any more."
"Yeah, but what about the elf and the book?"
"Kyle, I'd love to make a movie of The Conjurer."
"And?"
"Will you sell me your story?"
"Chester!" I scolded. "Don't be mean. Kyyyyyyle, please come back to civilisation."
"I don't belong with you." He muttered before half-collapsing. We gasped and tried to support him.
"Are you okay?"
"Fine."
"I thought you were going to faint." Ches replied, sounding scared.
"I haven't eaten much today." He answered, trying to get his arms free again. "Please, leave me alone."
"What do you mean you don't belong with us?" I asked, getting a little high strung.
"I killed someone, Toby. I have to make up for it. I can't make up for it."
I guess we both started bursting out with the same old babble.
Come on
We miss you
Everyone misses you
Necronomicon misses you
Scrivey misses you
You're living in squalor here
You need to come home
Please come home
Let us help
Will you sell me your story?
Please come home
Kyle, come home
Kyle?
Kyle, will you come home?
Please, Kyle
Kyle!
"STOP!"

With that one bellowed scream, a huge, burning light burst out from him. We were all knocked to the ground with the force, and amusingly Kyle's hair pin went flying out, so his hair fell past his shoulders. It was full of tangles and dirt and parasites, and let me tell you Kyle's seventeen years of rough living had certainly taken their toll on his hygiene. His grime aside, we were all down and on the muddy ground, picking ourselves up, and Ches was the first to notice it. The huge cloud. Black, it was, with a yellow light, and around the light was teeth. It slowly descended upon us. Kyle glared.
"I told you two ninnies to leave me alone and now look what's happened!"
"What's happened?" Asked Ches.
"I'm not sure, but you can bet it isn't good!"

And it wasn't. The cloud thing hit the ground with such force we were all thrown up off the cracking ground. We landed painfully and the thing laughed.
"NOTHiNg aWAkENS THE DEMONS Of thE EartH WithOUT FACinG THe conseQueNCes!"
Screamed the voice. It sounded warped and terrifying, and then a pink beam appeared as we once more got to our feet, myself and Ches stood together and Kyle a little way off.
"GOODbYE weLPs!"
The blast rocketed towards us and we clung to each other, ducking our heads down and whimpering. There was a thump as the blast hit something, and we barely heard Kyle's scream over the rushing wind or the zing of the lazer. A strong wind passed over us and when we looked up, the thing was gone. Kyle was behind us now, having been slammed into some trees by the blast. He had gotten in the way on purpose, taken the blast for us. I ran to him and cradled him. "Kyle? Kyle, wake up! You have to wake up!" Blood dribbled from the corner of his mouth. I held his head against my chest, feeling like I might cry. "Come on, Kyle, wake up!" I had lost him before, and it was painful enough knowing he had run away. I couldn't take him dying before me, especially not if he had died trying to protect me. It was all my fault.

Then he groaned and coughed. I gasped. "Kyle?"
He pushed away, staggering to his feet. "I have to stop that thing."
"You?" I stood and grabbed his arm. "You're not going after that thing."
"I have to."
"No!" I pulled him into a hug. "Kyle, I lost you before, but I am not losing my friend again!"
He hesitated at this, then shook his head and wiped the blood from his mouth. "Tobias, I caused this. It is my fault, and I have to fix it."
"It's all our faults! Me and Ches made you lose control!"
"If you come with me, you'll get killed! I will not let that happen!" He walked on, but after a few steps, he collapsed. We both went to him.
"Kyle, if you go up against that thing alone, you'll die. You almost just did."
"I'm wounded. It will heal. If you took that blast you'd be dead."
I shook my head. "You're powerful but weak. You need rest."
"We don't have the time."
"At least eat something so you have the strength to fight this thing!"
He looked at me then with these really sad eyes and nodded.

Half an hour later we were at a restaurant, sat outside with breakfast. Kyle had pinned his hair back up into the low bun and his manner reminded me of a dog, the way he was stuffing his face.
"Well, you really are hungry..." I muttered, picking at my own food uncertainly. He held up his middle finger in response.
"Okay you two, we need a plan." He stated, putting his hood back up.
Ches put his hand up. "Ooh, ooh, me! Me and Toby distract that thing and you sneak up and kill it!"
Kyle glared at him. "That's a dumb idea. Besides, that thing had no eyes, who knows the scope of vision it has?"
He fell silent and we all sort of gave this collective sigh.
"Uh...is there something you can summon to defeat this thing? Does sunlight kill it?"
"I hardly know what it is. It certainly isn't a vampire though." We sat and thought a while longer, then I spoke.
"We woke it up, so can it go back to sleep?"
Kyle smiled. I hadn't seen him smile since the party. It was a wonderful sight. "It's an idea. I know some sleeping spells, and, um, you two...stay out of the way."
"But-"
"You'll get hurt."
"So will you if you don't accept our help."
He dipped his head before nodding. "I'll study a sleep spell, you two get us there. You have money, for public transport. I can work out where it is. In the...12th precinct..."
"Is that part of your magic?" I asked excitedly.
"No, I'm just very used to these streets, and I think where that cloud is from what I can see-"
We turned and gasped.

We piled ourselves into a taxi and drove there. All the while, Kyle muttered under his breath. I think he was whispering for the taxi to hurry up. We got out and, well, there was this huge cloud of evil and it was laughing.
"Okay." Kyle muttered. "The plan. Stay out of the way."
We nodded uncertainly as he stood, throwing his arms up as magical power flowed through him, and just as he was about to strike, a huge blast of pink from the cloud slammed him through a shop window. Shocked, we ran forward, and me, being me, threw something at it. It sort of swooped down upon me, and then I couldn't breathe, and I was choking, and then...

it went away. I opened my eyes, still coughing. I was on my butt, and I was face to face with Kyle. Actually, he was so close our noses were almost touching, so I sort of yelped and scrambled back.
"Are you okay?" He asked, frowning in concern.
"I'm fine...where's the thing?"
Kyle held up a jar. Inside was a small, swirling cloud. "I locked it up. Do you want it?"
"You keep it." I insisted, holding up my hand.
He laughed. "Of course. You'd probably break it anyway." He stood, smiling at me. A smile, a genuine smile that I adored. I smiled back and stood, and I couldn't hold it back.
"Come back with me!"
The smile faded. "Toby, I have my own home."
"With no electricity, food or plumbing. You need better." I grabbed his arm and he shook his head.
"I have nowhere else to go, and I'm not mooching off you."
There was a silence before Ches spoke. "What about your old house?
"What about it?"
I nodded. "Hey, yeah, your Elf said he wouldn't let it be taken. We should try checking."
He really looked reluctant. "Okay..."

Peaking through the letter box, I saw naught but a layer of dust. Scrivener elf, along with anyone else to exist, had not touched this place for a long time. Kyle's stuff was still there where it had been the day he went missing. "It's obvious no-one lives here." I muttered.
Kyle nodded and unlocked the door before stepping in, mouth opening slightly in shock. "It's just how I left it..." He dropped his bag on the dusty carpet and opened the door to the bathroom, taking a deep breath. "I haven't washed for years. It's vile. I missed having a bathroom. Finally, hygiene." He began washing his hands, scrubbing hard enough to rub his knuckles red raw and I just watched the dirt slowly slide away. He flicked his finger as he walked out the room again and his bag zipped open, books all going to their place and clothes all flying off to the washing machine in the kitchen. "You said earlier, about Scrivener Elf and Necronomicon." He called for them, raising his wand, and the elf appeared in the corner of the room, consulting a book and pouring ingredients into a pestle. Kyle snatched the book off him. "I told you not to try and find me. And you're using my retainer? I'm sure there are better things with my DNA on them."
"You're back." The elf was holding his nose to guard against the unholy stench coming from his former master.
"I guess so."
"Not hiding any more?"
"I think I'm safe whether I'm wanted still or not." He got up and walked to the bookshelf. "Honestly, I call this book so many times but he never answers." He pulled the Necronomicon off the shelf and flicked through a few pages. He heard the book awaken and closed it again, smiling slightly I stood away, choosing not to listen to their conversation, but I got the gist of it. As they greeted one another and Kyle told his old friends of his ventures through the world of fear and misery, I saw tears in his eyes, and I couldn't help but come over to him. "Kyle?" I asked uncertainly, "are you okay?"
He nodded. "I'm better than okay. I'm fine, thanks."
And again, I couldn't help myself. I could easily blame it on the stress of today and the fact that despite the power he possessed, he seemed to fragile and of course I hadn't seen him for 17 years...so yeah, I just pulled him into this huge hug, and he, well, he let me. Actually, he hugged me back. It was wonderful. Me and Ches could switch phone numbers and the three of us could be back in touch again and...and I'd have my old friends back.

Zit's Not A Problem

Kyle glared at his reflection in the mirror. Of all the days to get a blemish on his nose, it had to be picture day. The spot was huge and shiny and looked absolutely vile. Well, he would soon take care of it, he thought as he reached for the spot cream. Hopefully the magical properties in the cream would mean the spot will have gone by the time he got to school.

By the time he got to the playground, Fanboy and Chum Chum were in the middle of their usual idiocy. He rolled his eyes and, inevitably, they came to him. "Hi Kyle!" Chum Chum called. Fanboy was smirking.
"Hey Kyle! Is that a mountain on your nose?"
"A...what?"
"Seriously, man, it's like you've got a planet riding shotgun on your face."
Kyle put his hand to his nose and groaned. It had gotten bigger!
"Why don't you leave me alone, you thimblewit."
"I'm just saying, lay off the junk food."
Getting angry, he clenched his fists and looked away as he stormed towards the school
"Ooh, ooh, I've got one! Knock knock!" Silence. "Walter, Walter who? Walter ya gonna do about that zit, Kyle?" He laughed and Kyle screwed up his nose, trying to ignore him.
"It looks like a clown nose!"
There was a puff of smoke all of a sudden, and coughing through it, and when it cleared, Chum Chum screamed and the wizard walked on into school.

A little bit later, Fanboy and Chum Chum walked into class, still in a panic. "Kyle! Undo your spell, Fanboy's really sorry!"
He looked up, confused. "I didn't cast any spells." That was when he noticed Fanboy's mouth was missing. The most he could do was make a mildly irritating whistling sound with his nose. As he took this in, a grin split across Kyle's face.
"It happened during that puff of smoke when he was making those jokes! He needs his mouth, please give it back!"
"I'm sorry," he replied in a cheerful voice, "but as much as I wish I cast this spell, I did not, so I really cannot help you." He turned his attention to the front of the class, listening to the lesson, feeling oddly contented. Halfway through, however, his nose started to get itchy. He ignored it as long as he could, then wrinkled his nose and finally brought his hand up to rub it. The moment his fingers moved against the sore pimple on his nose, a flash of light burst from it, a blast that collided with Mr Mufflin and in seconds he was gone, turned the size of an ant. Everyone turned to look at the preteen wizard in their midst, who simply looked shocked. He had no clue what had happened. One moment there was a teacher, and the next there was not. Nobody really knew what to do.

The next time something strange happened was during recess, where as he started to read his book, a sparkling green trail erupted from his nostril and wormed its way over to where the girls were playing skipping. It tripped Lupe, causing the rope to trip Yo and Cher as well. When they got up, all three had turned green, and their hair had the appearance and smell of seaweed. The trail was still there, leading to Kyle, and now he couldn't deny that something was up with him.

He hid in the toilets from the enraged girls, desperately searching through his Necronomicon for some idea as to what on earth was going on. Was there anything about magical blemishes? Like hell there was. He couldn't find anything to explain this insanity, until he found a little fold-out piece advertising something to get rid of troublesome spots.

Are your zits causing you disdain? Are you spots giving you and your friends bad spells? Try Gideon Softlung's latest spot cream, guaranteed to stop unsightly pimples from causing you grief.

Right...so the zit was casting spells? That was curious. The door to the bathroom opened and Kyle pulled his feet off the floor, hoping he wouldn't get noticed. He heard Chum Chum talking, and the irritating whistle of Fanboy's nose. This carried on for a moment before he heard the door open and close again and deemed it safe, but the boys were still there.
"Kyle!"
"I can't help you!"
"What's going on? Why are you doing all this?"
"It's not me! It's the zit! I can't control it!"
The boys exchanged looks. "You think the spells will stop if we pop it?"
He thought for a moment. "I don't know, I think anything that got rid of it would work theoretically, but-" He jerked away as Chum Chum came at him with pinchy fingers. "You're not popping it!"
"Why not?"
"It will hurt, and it will be unpleasant."
"But if it works..." He pulled out a rusty pin, grinning. "It'll only take a second, then all your problems will be over."
"Stay away from me!" He ran out, making as much distance between himself and them as possible.

Lunchtime. Kyle made sure to sit far away from everyone else so there was a chance he would get to eat. At least the spells the zit was casting weren't causing any harm to him. He went to take a bite from his sandwich, but sparks fell from his nose and it grew wings, and feet in shoes just like his. It kicked him in the face to make him release it and flew to freedom. Scowling, he reached for his pudding, but it exploded, going everywhere. Over the other students, across the ceiling, spattering into staff's hair, burying the tiny form that was Mr Mufflin. More glares went his way and he hurried out, but something tripped him and he fell face first onto the ground. There was a loud crash, and when he looked up, Duke's top front teeth were scraping across the ground. Fanboy and Chum Chum met their wizard friend at the door, both with cutlery in their hands. "You sure you don't want us to pop that for you?"
"Quite sure."
Fanboy whistled. Chum Chum nodded.
"Exactly!"
"You can understand that?"
"Yeah, can't you?"
There was an awkward moment. "Come on, let us pop it!"
Fanboy held up a pair of wire clippers with a whistle.
"Uh, actually, I think it's going down now, it'll probably be gone in a little while..."
"Come on, it's for the best!"
"Really, it's fine, I can just learn to control it and I promise to undo all your problems I've caused, but right now...is that a peeler?"
"Every little helps."
That was enough, he decided, breaking for a run. "Get him!" yelled Chum Chum, giving chase. Kyle screamed, passing Chris Chuggy. Chris' legs suddenly grew so long his head was touching the ceiling. He passed the bathrooms. The girls' door dissolved and the boys' door symbol turned into a female symbol. He passed Francine, whose hair suddenly grew so long she resembled Cousin It. With every step, another freaky change was made to the school and the people inside. With every change, more people joined the chase, enraged. At least Chum Chum was happy with having weapons for arms now. And then, finally, it ended as Kyle tripped over a vine of what used to be a curtain and was sent sprawling. He squirmed away, looking terrified. "It wasn't my fault!" He insisted to the wave of angry voices. "I'm not doing this, it's the zit!"

And then something very strange happened. The zit on Kyle's nose grew arms and legs and rolled off his face, landing on its hands on the floor and springing itself to its feet. Everyone drew away from it in disgust, and it gave a tiny, high-pitched laugh. It sounded evil.
"Be gone, mortal fools!" The zit yelled before disappearing in a puff of smoke. Kyle gave a sheepish smile.

Class picture. Kyle in the middle, looking at his feet. Around him were Cher, Yo and Lupe, still green, Fanboy, still with no nose, Duke, whose teeth were so heavy his head was dragged to the ground, Chris, so tall his face disappeared off shot, Cheech, covered in leopard print fur, Michael, who looked like a human disco ball, Nancy covered in eyes, Francine covered in hair and Fankylechum, who appeared to be made of goop now. They were all glaring at him. Chum Chum was at the front, enjoying his new mutation.

A Story for the Ages

I guess it was a brave thing to do. Everyone had to try give an inspirational speech for a contest, and the school was really hoping one of its students would win this contest. Half were rather weak, and every student was made to at least attempt. Most students came up with unbearable drivel that didn't even come close.

The announcement came over the speakers. Five students were through to the live speech making. Most of the schools involved were sending 30 students.
"Our winners, going through to the next round, are Mylene from Mrs Roslyn's class, Lupe and Kyle from Mr Mufflin's class and Capriccia and Otis from Mr King's class."
There was an eerie silence as people in the respective classes turned to look at the winners. Lupe looked overjoyed, but Kyle was hiding his face. He didn't want to read out the speech again to new people. It was too much. It was personal. He asked to not have to go, but the school insisted he went, so reluctantly, he went and read his speech out again.

It would be the end of it after they saw how nervous he was and how uncomfortable he was with it all. At least the sooner he did it, the sooner he could have it over and done with and just burn the damned thing. The judges would only choose one student per school, and he doubted it would be him.

One month later, he got a letter. It was his speech being returned to him, with a letter.

Kyle Bloodworth-Thomason

In regards to your entry to the state-wide school 'Inspire The Students' competition, we have selected one student per entrant school and are delighted to inform you that you have been chosen as the representative for Galaxy Hills Middleschool.

He stopped reading there, screwing the paper into a ball and throwing it away. He put the speech aside, hoping this time there would just be one person who would have no impact.

Upon rereading the letter to get the details, he found it said minor additions could be made for show, as this speech was to have a large audience and big impact. Well, that was the point where the panic set in, because no amount of acting would make him seem okay with this. The entire school was coming to see, and his parents had been told. At least there was no way they would be there, he thought as the whole school was driven to the venue where he would have to pour his heart out to millions of strangers.

Only there they were, ready to greet their son and wish him luck. He watched the other students go before him and then he was called up. "Our next contestant is student Kyle Bloodworth-Thomason of Galaxy Hills Middleschool with his speech 'Every Lock on the Closet Door'." There were claps and cheers as he went onto the stage and stepped up to the microphone.
"I'm Kyle, and my speech...I..." He looked up, looking out at the audience and found the faces of his parents. "I can't do this!" He ran backstage again, pushing past everyone. A few people laughed, and in the audience, two boys got up and hurried to find their way outside again, because that was where Kyle was going.

He was leaning heavily against the wall, crossed arms, eyes closed. He was getting his breath back, and then he heard someone approaching. He opened his eyes, and only saw Fanboy, which was a relief...or maybe a curse. The last thing he needed right now was that fool messing with him.
"Kyle? Are you okay?"
He looked away. "I can't do that."
"What's so bad about it?"
He was ready to shout, but stopped himself. Fanboy knew nothing about it. "It's a sensitive subject. If I go on stage and say this in front of my parents I might as well pitch myself off a cliff."
Fanboy snatched the speech from his hands and read it, keeping Kyle away with a hand on his face as he tried to stop him.
"Woah...I didn't know you were like that."
"Shut up."
"But if you said you shouldn't let anyone rule your life with their thoughts, why're you so scared?"
"Because it's all nonsense."
"What is?"
"That you can just block it out and confidently-"
"It's about exactly the guy you are now compared to something totally different..."
He snatched the papers back. "What would you know?"
"Who's the guy you like then?"
"None of your business."
Fanboy came to him, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Want to know a secret? I'm gay too, and I've always had a crush on a guy I wasn't sure about, but now I know he's gay too. You know what? It's almost the best feeling in the world." He gave Kyle a quick kiss on the cheek. "Hurry back or you won't be able to say anything at all." He hurried back inside and Kyle stood there for the longest time before going in himself. Fanboy was talking to Scrivener elf, and they gave him encouraging looks. It would be mentioned in passing later that the Scrivener Elf, having known Kyle so long and knowing Kyle's secrets, had held Chum Chum back and asked Fanboy to go talk to him. It seemed he knew what he was doing.

Kyle was allowed back on the stage. Swallowing his nerves, he spoke.
"I've got a new introduction to this. I just have to say being part of the school I attend has been great for me, with the friends I've made I've really built the confidence I needed, and if it wasn't for them I would not be here, preaching to you about self-image. And that is what my speech is about.

A few years ago, I lived in England, attending a school at which I was ridiculed for being too frightened to be myself. I'd been taught that certain things were wrong beyond the pail as I grew up. My parents often did their best to hammer ideals into my head and mould me into the perfect boy, but they were disappointed when I was unceremoniously kicked out from a school they had worked very hard to get me into. I didn't care that much that so many people disliked me, as I thought that that was where I belonged, but I was wrong.

When I was eleven, my parents found they were no longer able to homeschool me due to extenuating circumstances, and they found somewhere to send me in the United States. I don't like being alone, but past experiences made me wary of other people. Without my parents there, controlling the order of my life, I was able to discover myself instead of force myself into this shape of the boy they wanted me to be. I felt I could relax, and the one thing that struck me was how friendly the people in Galaxy Hills were. Even the one person who punched me in the face on my first day of school, for the rest of the week she apologised profusely.  I remember one thing my parents believed quite strongly was that gay was not okay, and when I was by myself and learning who I was, I discovered a lot, including my own sexuality.  I've never been quite sure how I would react should I see my parents again, as one of the main things that stuck in my mind was gay is not okay, so I was not okay...

One thing I learnt here, however, is that I should never have let these thoughts hold me back. Now I am myself, now I've brought myself out of that mould, I am living a happier life. I have friends, and since I first wrote this speech I may have even found love. People who accept you for who you are are the only people who really matter. You should never ever let the thoughts of someone else rule the order of your life, because if someone else pulls the strings, that is not life, that is slavery. It is your life and it should be your choice how you live it, and as such you should do what feels right to you, not to everyone else. And you know what? To everyone who has ever seen fit to ridicule me, ever seen fit to tell me who I am is wrong, I am Kyle Bloodworth-Thomason! I am gay and I don't care what you think! You are all your own person. Love yourself and love each other, because the people who judge you aren't worth your time. It took me a very long time to learn that, to learn who is and isn't worth it, and I know who my friends are, and I know who to turn to...when I need them the most...even when I feel like being alone, those who truly care, who are clearly worth it, will still be there...but believe me, what I have learnt the most is it is best to be yourself rather than what people want you to be." He bowed, taking a deep breath. "As everyone before me gave a little show, I looked up a little song that could fit my speech." Another deep breath, a nervous swallow and then he started singing 'Let It Go' from Frozen. His voice wavered and was quiet, and as he reached the chorus another voice joined in, a very good voice, and when he looked, Fanboy was beside him, singing.