Amber opens his eyes, feeling the soft cushion of the couch beneath him. He sits up, small spots of gold floating around his eyes before he blinks, causing them to vanish.

  “Lana?” he mutters, gripping his head. He turns to the kitchen, watching as Lana sits at the counter, biting into an apple. He slowly sits up, placing his paws on the ground before attempting to pull himself upright, his legs shaking. Lana looks up at him as he stands, jumping from her chair.

  “Amber! Are you okay?” she asks, running to his side, catching him as he stumbles.

  “Yeah, I'm… I’m okay, I just feel a bit weak,” he admits, looking at her eyes.

  “I found you in the middle of the street, you were out cold,” she adds, directing him back to the couch. He exhales before sitting down, watching as she sits beside him.

  “I don’t really know what happened. Mark found me while I was out on errands, and he threw me into this deep pit. I don't know how I’m even alive. After I hit the ground, I… I’m not even sure if it was real or if I was hallucinating. An entire building blew up in my face, and the next thing I knew, I was inside a tunnel with a ladder that led to the surface,” Amber mutters, looking at Lana as she places a hand on his shoulder.

  “Well, you're alive, and that’s all that matters.” She stares into his eyes before the green color of his pupils suddenly flickers gold. She tilts her head, squinting her eyes as she gets closer.

  “What… are you doing?” Amber mutters, his face turning red.

  “Something’s off about your eyes,” she replies, causing him to exhale.

  “Oh,” he exclaims, glancing around. “What’s… wrong with my eyes?”

  “They turned… gold for a moment,” she adds, backing away. “Your pupils flickered like a lightbulb.” Amber takes a deep breath, looking back at her.

  “If what I experienced really did happen, then the fact that I’m still alive… means something,” he adds, watching as she stands.

  “Well… I also have something to tell you,” Lana mutters as Amber watches her. “I finished that book, the one about the legends.”

  “Well… that's okay, maybe what happened to me means something… maybe we don't need to worry about the legends anymore,” Amber replies.

  “You didn’t let me finish,” Lana adds, looking down at her hands. “The last legend in the book… was true. After finding it, I had died, but then I came back. I found an entire town of people, and one of their paramedics told me that… my heart had burst. I've felt… strange ever since.” Amber exhales, staring at her.

  “You… died? What do you… What do you think happened?” Amber replies, gripping the cushion beneath him.

  “I don't know, you woke up only a few minutes after I brought you home… I haven't had time to try anything.” Amber pulls himself to his paws, stumbling closer to her. “I’m sorry I… couldn't bring it back to you… I didn’t want it for myself,” she adds.

  “Why… are you sorry?” he replies, leaning against her. “You did it… You’ve proved that there’s hope… And you’ve embedded that hope into yourself and brought it back… You could be a savier.” Lana turns to him, returning his gaze with a somber smile.

  “Do you think I'd be… cut out for that?” she asks.

  “Of course! You’ve done so much, been through so much, I can't think of a person I'd trust more with power… and even if you struggle, I’d still be right by your side,” he answers, holding his hand out to her. She exhales, grabbing it.

  “As long as you’re next to me… maybe I can do it…” she begins, her smile fading. “If that's… even what this is… I’ve only experienced coming back to life, and that alone would just make me a punching bag for Maroon.”

  “Then we have to try things,” Amber adds, pulling her towards the door. “Let’s go to the yard, I can set up something for you to practice on!” Lana follows him as he approaches the door, staring at their hands. Amber pushes through the exit and into the backyard, pulling Lana with him as he steps onto the grass. He releases her hand, sprinting to the shed against the corner of the fence as Lana watches.

  He shoves the door open, rummaging through the pile of garbage inside before grasping onto something beneath the trash. He pulls a large, black, cylindrical bag from the pile before dragging it from the shed, turning back to Lana.

  “I bought this a while back, but stored it in the shed!” he says, pulling it closer.

  “Do you want me to… attack the bag?” Lana asks, watching as he props it upright in front of her.

  “Yeah!” he replies, looking into her eyes. “It’s a lot lighter than I remember, though.” he then backs away, watching as Lana takes a slow breath. She steps closer to the bag, raising her fists.

  “Just try throwing a punch,” Amber adds. Lana raises her fist before swinging it into the bag, knocking it over. She turns to Amber, scratching her head.

  “I’m not sure… Since the bag isn't hung up, it’s hard to tell how hard you hit,” Amber remarks, leaning against the fence. “Try… aiming at it and focusing?”

  “Aim? Like just, point my hands at it?” she asks, turning to him.

  “Yeah! Like in the movies…” Amber replies. Lana sighs, backing away and raising her hands towards the bag as she closes her eyes. She inhales, standing still.

  “So I… focus on my hands?” she asks.

  “Yeah, it’s worth a try,” he replies, watching as she remains still.

  “Is anything happening?” she adds, opening her eyes. She exhales through her nose, staring at her empty hands.

  “Try… waving your hand?” Amber suggests, watching as she gently waves her hand around. She then flicks her wrist. With this movement, her guitar appears in her grasp, her hand instinctively grabbing the neck. She stumbles forward as the heavy guitar appears in her grasp, hitting the floor with a thud.

  “Whoa!” Amber exclaims, jumping to his paws. “Is that… the guitar I gave you?”

  “Yeah, but I… planned to tell you after the good news… that I accidentally used it as a shield when I was attacked, and it… at least I thought it was destroyed… I was worried you’d be mad… and then… Shit! I forgot to tell you, Shank! He… He saved me! He caught me as I fell!” Lana replies.

  “First off, I… wouldn't have been mad… It’s yours, I gave it to you,” he replies, watching as Lana stands upright.

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  “But your… Parents gave it to you before they… went missing…” Lana adds, the engravings on the base glowing with pink light.

  “I’d be sad but… Anyways, that’s not what matters right now. Shank saved you? Him of all people? Why?” Amber remarks, taking a step forward.

  “According to the paramedic, he’s been doing this for a while, saving people and bringing them to the town.”

  “But that would… leave only two of them… Maybe we could have a better chance at… I don't even know what the end goal is… of just fighting them off, I guess,” Amber mutters. He then looks back at the bag, exhaling.

  “This is… amazing! so much is happening all at once… You should try playing the guitar!” Amber adds, turning to her, with an excited smile on his face. Lana nods, lifting the guitar and placing her fingers along the strings.

  “I… don't know how to play it, though,” she adds, turning to him.

  “I know, but if it does something, then I’m sure I can find some courses.” Lana plucks one of the strings, the note coming out sour and untuned. Lana looks down at the crack on the base, watching as it pulsates with pink light. She then glances at the very top, the tuning keys connected to the wood directly.

  “It… can't be tuned,” Lana remarks, graping the key with one hand, causing it to snap off. “But in the cave… when it broke, it created an explosion.”

  “Well, I… hate to suggest this, but try throwing it,” Amber suggests, watching as Lana grips onto the neck.

  “Are you sure? This was your dad’s guitar,” Lana replies, staring at the bag.

  “You said it was already destroyed before, so maybe you can… recreate it?” he replies, scratching the back of his neck as Lana steps away from the bag. She raises it into the air, hesitating for a moment before swinging and releasing her grip. She watches as it flies through the air before crashing against the bag, the head bursting in an explosion of pink energy. The blast tears apart the dirt and decimates the bag. Lana shields her eyes, powerful winds shooting in every direction. She then turns to Amber, who pulls himself upright. He turns to look at her, watching as she flicks her wrist, another copy of the guitar appearing in her grasp.

  “Holy… This is amazing!” he shouts, his eyes locking onto the guitar. Lana exhales, taking a step back.

  “I've… I’ve never seen anything like this…” she mutters, turning to Amber. Amber approaches her, an excited smile on his face as he grabs her hand.

  “You're amazing!” he adds, looking back at the bag. His smile fades as he stares at a pair of eyes peeking through the fence.

  “No,” he mutters, his eyes flickering with golden light as a purple hand sticks through the crack in the wood. Lana grips the neck of the guitar, turning to Amber.

  “I… We’re not ready,” Lana mutters, watching as the wood is peeled back. Maroon rips the fence open, the wood splintering as she steps through, glaring at them.

  “You two, again?” Maroon remarks, her fists bursting into flames as she steps closer. “Mark said he killed you,” she adds, gesturing to Amber, before turning to Lana. “And Skank claimed he killed you.” Her paws burn the grass beneath them, leaving behind black pawprints.

  “Did you two set off a bomb or something? What’s with the bag? I thought this world didn't have bombs,” she mutters, continuing to move closer as Lana takes a step forward.

  “What are you doing?” Amber asks, turning to her.

  “Might as well fight back,” Lana replies. Maroon bursts out laughing, stopping in her tracks as she bares her teeth.

  “Oh, this will be fun,” she laughs, cracking her knuckles.

  Maroon then lunges forward, striking Lana in the jaw, sending her stumbling back as Amber turns to her.

  “Lana!” he shouts before swinging at Maroon. She glares at him with a grin before his fist connects, sending a pulse of gold up his arm as the impact creates a shockwave, causing Maroon to fly back, crashing against the fence, her grin now gone. Amber steps back, glancing at his fist as Maroon stares at him.

  “The fuck was that!” she screams, turning to Lana. Lana pulls herself upright, her jaw snapping back into place as her eyes flash with pink light. Maroon pulls herself back to her paws, charging forward as Amber looks up. Lana swings her guitar, the head crashing against Maroon’s shoulder, the wood bursting into a much smaller blast that rips Maroon’s arm from the socket, causing her to fall to the ground. She quickly rolls back, standing as the fire around her hands becomes much larger.

  “This isn't right!” she shouts, furious. “You’re supposed to be scared of me! You’re supposed to be powerless!” She then leaps forward, striking Amber before he can react, causing him to stumble back. Lana slams the tip of her guitar into Maroon’s jaw, knocking her back before she grips the neck with her other arm and pulls in the opposite direction, swinging the head around into her skull, the blast sending her hurtling back. She catches herself, her claws tearing up the dirt, before Amber leaps forward and swings, his fist crashing into her throat. Maroon is slammed against the fence, coughing as Amber and Lana stare down at her. She stares up at them, grasping the dirt before swinging her arm, sending a ball of flame towards Lana. She then leaps towards Amber, gripping his shoulder as she slams him into the cement wall behind him. The ball of flame bursts into a large explosion, sending Lana flying back as Maroon thrusts her fist towards Amber, her punch cracking the wall as he pulls away. She then grasps his arm as he attempts to sprint towards Lana, pulling him back. Amber kicks her in the stomach, causing her to gasp and release her grip, looking down at herself in confusion. She then grabs his throat, pinning him against the wall once again, growling as he grasps her arms.

  “I’ve tried to kill you so many times. Once, about ten years ago, when you were sixteen, and then again four years ago. Then, Mark claims to have killed you, only for me to find you alive yet again!” she shouts, turning as Lana pulls herself upright, her clothes charred. Maroon snarls, turning back to Amber.

  “What happened in the few hours since Mark found you? How is any of this possible!” she shouts. She turns back to Lana, leaping back as she swings her fist, avoiding Lana’s punch. She slides to a stop, looking up at Lana as she stands between Amber and her. Maroon leaps forward, striking Lana in the head once again, sending her hurtling aside. Lana crashes through the glass door, falling into the house as Maroon swings at Amber once again. He ducks, her fist tearing through the cement, ripping a large hole in the wall. She then kicks him, causing him to stumble back, hitting his head on the kitchen floor.

  As Amber sits up, Maroon swings again, her arm being caught by Lana, who pulls her away. Maroon gasps as her head is slammed against the corner of the marble counter, shattering the surface. Maroon then grasps Lana’s throat, swinging her around onto the floor. Maroon catches Amber’s arm as he attempts to swing at her, her grip causing the bone inside to crack audibly. Amber pulls away, clenching his fists as Maroon holds him in place. She then squeezes Lana’s throat, causing her to gasp. Amber glances at Lana, his eyes flashing gold, catching Maroon's attention before his fist is launched forward at incredible speeds, a sonic boom thundering through the entire building, chattering the windows as his hand tears through her face. The impact rips her jaw off as he stumbles forward, watching as Maroon leaps away, releasing her grip on Lana’s throat. Amber then leaps forward, striking Maroon in the head, causing her to fall back, gasping as her jaw starts to reform. Lana jumps to her paws, feeling her throat as she stands beside Amber.

  Maroon spreads her arms out, jumping back and bumping against the wall as a ball of flame starts to form in each hand.

  “If you won't die from getting the shit beat out of you,” Maroon begins, watching as Amber’s eyes flash gold once again. He suddenly dashes forward, his hand clamping around her throat before he slams her against the barrier, cracking the cement. Amber raises his fist as she reaches to grab his arm. Jagged golden rings appear around his muscles, shaking violently as they spin. Time appears to slow as he starts to thrust his fist forward. The color around his fist distorts, creating a powerful shockwave as his hand suddenly moves fast enough to make a bright light that shines from each of his knuckles, the air visibly tearing as the rings spin at unfathomable speeds. The rings create a blur in the shape of a cone before his fist seems to teleport to Maroon, ripping through her head as a bright flash of light floods the surrounding area. The cone warps, becoming thinner as the incredible light is directed fully towards her. The light fully engulfs her skull, an outline of her head visible for only a moment before being vaporized. The shockwave then slams into what remains of Maroon’s body, sending her flying back before her hands can even reach Amber’s arm. She flies back so fast that she breaks the sound barrier, her body smashing through the cement as if it wasn't even there, the light burning a large hole in the wall. Amber blacks out as a much weaker shockwave passes him, blood bursting from his mouth.

  Maroon’s body flies through the air, her skin being ripped from her flesh as she creates powerful blasts around her. She bursts through a building, her speed so great that she breaks past it as if it wasn't even there, her form snapping apart, becoming a mass of flesh and broken bones. The ground is torn apart beneath her, the remaining flesh gathering around something, as if to protect it before she collides with a large mountain.

  Her body rips through the mass of land, tearing it in half, a massive fracture spreading up the middle, the impact creating a powerful shockwave that annihilates kilometers of grass around it. The peak crumbles apart, the mass of flesh skidding across the ground, each impact tearing large chunks of it away before it slams into another hill, creating massive cracks that spread through the surface, leaving a trail of blood that stretches into the distance behind her.