"Legends are a funny thing, funny to the point of daft sometimes but nevermind; you are here to press about the story of the Princess at the Lake of Longing aren't you? Well come inside then and mind you wipe your feet ; I will put the kettle on."

The old maid shambled over to the hob and swiftly setup the old black iron kettle turning to admonish us swiftly.

"And close the bloody door, you are letting the draft in!"

She busied herself as we sat at her cluttered table, my darling Monique gasped as she noticed a huge and heavily scarred old tabby cat leering at her through his one good eye. We were then interrupted by the woman as she joined us with fresh mugs of hot tea.

"Oh pay no mind to old Greebo, he's a big softie really! Now then..."

She snapped and looked us both over in a manner that felt like we were being appraised like horses at stud.

"You both want to hear about the Princess at the Lake? No doubt you took young mistress here to the theatre and watched a play? Nice choice there lad!"

She shot me a wink that seemed to heavily imply carnal knowledge that would be illegal in many kingdoms. Befors sighing heavily.

"I never should habe told that story to the playwright, he took a few liberties, and thats saying something coming from me! Yes, there was a Princess, and a Lake, and even a Prince, although he was never involved in THAT part of the story."

Monique interjected suddenly

"What do you mean Mistress? I thought that the Prince sailed on the Lake to war and she waited every day to return!"

She scoffed

"Shows what you know; why sail across a Lake when you can march AROUND it! Which may I add, is EXACTLY what the Prince actually did!"

I had to ask

"So why did the Princess wait at the Lake every night for his return?"

The old woman winked again.

"She wasnt waiting for the Prince, she was waiting for the fisherman!"

Happy cake day! That was great!

“No.”

“Excuse me?” The man replied. He was giving me a look like he knew I was joking.

I wasn’t.

“I’m not doing it anymore. I want to live my life, get a job, start a family, go on trips. I don’t want to run around thwarting bank robbers and stopping murders. I don’t want to fix broken buildings or build new houses. I want a quiet job, maybe writing or something like that.”

The man was fuming. I could envision the smoke pouring out of his bright red ears and floating up past his dirty blond hair. He licked his lips before he spoke, and his tongue looked like a thick pink slug rolling around his lips.

“I don’t care what you want. This is what you need to do. It’s your job.” He said, his voice harsh with anger.

I looked at him with a piercing gaze. Oh, how I wanted to strike him down. Would it really be that hard? Would it really be that bad? Probably not.

“Well, since it my job, I can quit. So I quit.” There was a stunned silence for a moment, then I slowly turned and started to walk out of the office. When I got to the door, I turned around. He was just sitting there looking defeated.

And as I walked out of the office, I felt lighter than I had in years.

————-///——————///——————

I haven’t written in months, so any constructive criticism is greatly appreciated!

Rachel covered her mouth as Mike’s jaw hung. “What do we do now?”

A female voice spoke. “We save the planet.”

Their eyes widened as they saw James’ body rise. His body shifted and contorted as new flesh and bone filled the gaps. However, the shape was unlike James’ body as a golden armor wrapped around his changing body. His hair lengthened, turning from black to blonde, and his face softened before turning feminine. What used to be James was now a tall female warrior.

“How about we show Zack that heroes still exist,” she said.

The couple was shocked at the new woman that stood before them. Mike held his girlfriend’s arm. Rachel asked, “Who are you?”

“I was the Harbinger of the Apocalypse,” the warrior said. “But now it’s just Becca, the majority owner of James’ body and mind as well as a shareholder of his soul.”

“Is he dead?” Mike asked. Even saying it out loud, he refused to believe the man he believed could have died, let alone refused to answer the call.

“No, James has never been more alive. He’ll wake up in four to seven days,” Becca said. “A few decades ago, your government was having trouble containing entities that wished your planet harm. The then-president asked James if they could use his mind as a super prison for these entities for the greater good. Your government had intended James’ mind to kill us, but his mind assimilated us instead.”

Mike asked, “Assimilated?”

“Don’t get too bogged down on the terminology,” Becca said. “You know those other heroes that have been rescuing the planet? That was James.”

“Wow,” Mike said. He knew James wouldn’t give up on the planet. “He’s so cool.”

Rachel glared at her boyfriend and punched his shoulders. He looked down and rubbed his shoulders. “But the prophecy said that only he can save us from the sun.”

“James may not be me, but all the prisoners inside his body are him. Whether he realizes it or not, James showed us a second chance, and I intend to honor that,” Becca said as she revealed her fiery wings. “And besides, I have an invested interest in not living on a charred planet.”

Rachel nodded and pulled Mike away. She had a feeling they weren’t needed anymore. The house shook as they neared the entrance, with a boom resonating across the halls. The two caught up with Josh and Zack.

“What was that?” Josh said.

“That was James,” Rachel said, forcing a smile.

“You mean…” Zack said with excitement in his eyes.

Rachel nodded. “Yep and James said he was sorry for being mean.”

“I knew he cared,” Zack said as he jumped around.

“I was a bit nervous that he was going to say no,” Josh said. “But I knew he wouldn’t stand by and let the planet burn.”

“You two start walking. I need to ask Mike something.” The two agreed and started on their way. Rachel turned to Mike. “Promise me you won’t tell anyone about this.”

“100 percent,” Mike said. “No one would ever believe James is that awesome and selfless.”

Rachel was about to correct him when she decided to let him believe that. “Thank you.” With that, the four left the house and walked to continue on with their lives.

“Hey, James, we finally found you!” shouted a young woman. Standing with her were two older men and a younger boy. “My father will be glad to see your face again. He says none of the other heroes that came after you can compare themselves to you.”

The former hero sighed as he turned his wheelchair to the four intruders. A blanket covered his body from the chest down. This wasn’t the first time he had to deal with intruders. Word had gotten around that he had grown soft and weak. The graves in his backyard beg to differ. But James couldn’t deny that he wasn’t the same man he was before.

With a hoarse voice, he asked, “What do you want?”

“Do you remember us, sir?” the boy asked. “You saved our city from that evil robot.”

James let out a chuckle as he reminisced about the fight. That was during his earlier years. An owner of a social media site tried to use an AI algorithm to remove all of the bots on his website. Naturally, the AI declared war on humanity. The AI had seen Age of Ultron and decided to crash a city on the planet to send Earth into a new ice age.

And who had to face the brunt of T-Bot’s and its metal army’s fists and lasers. He did. Of course, James saved the day, and the planet made memes.

What a joke.

“I believe so,” James said. “Was it New York?”

“It was Philadelphia,” the young woman said. “I’m Rachel, and this is my brother Zack. Those two are my boyfriend and his friend, Mike and Josh.” The four waved at their hero. James did not.

“If you’re here for autographs, I have a paper and pen in my drawer,” he said.

“I got this, babe,” Mike said. “With all due respect, sir, but I don’t know if you’ve seen the news lately or stepped outside.”

“What about it?”

“The sun is about to burn this planet to a crisp.”

James looked back at Mike deadpanned. “What about it?”

“It was prophesied that….”

“I’ll launch my body into the sun and restart its core. Yeah, the 2062 doomsday prophecy,” James said with disdain. “Prophecy… fuck prophecy. Apologies to the little one, ‘fudge’ prophecy. Becca says I shouldn’t curse in front of kids.”

The room was silent after he talked. Zack was on the verge of tears. Rachel turned to Josh. “Hey, can you take my brother near the entrance for me?” Josh nodded and grabbed Zack’s hand. The young boy looked back to his hero, hoping to meet his gaze. When the two were out of earshot, Rachel spoke, “Are you going to help us or not?”

James cocked his head as he let the question hang. “No.”

“No?” the two of them said.

“Are you hard of hearing, or do you need me to spell it out for you?”

“What… but why, sir?” asked Mike.

James rolled his eyes. This was why he didn’t deal with fans. “For the greater good. The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few. Ever heard of that?” Mike slowly nodded his head. “That’s what I tell myself every time I fight for your planet. That your needs come before mine.”

Mike moved his lips, but the words refused to come out.

Rachel spoke. “The prophecy also said that it was impossible to kill you.”

Immortality. James snorted. “How old do I look?”

Mike blurted out, “About 25, sir.”

With his right hand, he pulled his blanket, and the two of them gasped. James was in nothing but his shirt and underwear. But his wardrobe wasn’t the source of their shock. James’ skin suffered from second and third-degree burns from the neck down. Half of his right leg and left hand were gone, and the skin of his chest was exposed, a clear case showing his lungs and heart. “I’m 67,” James said. “My body, mind, and soul are the monument of the greater good.”

“Oh my god,” Mike said.

“But you have to save the planet,” Rachel pleaded. “I mean, it was foretold!”

“Of course, I can save the planet.” James reached over to his keyboard and pressed a button. Images of a suit and spaceship filled the screen. “I have everything I need to save this piece of dirt.”

“Then why aren’t you doing anything?”

The two watched as his lungs expanded before shrinking back down. “There was a prophecy. It involved me playing the role of the antichrist so that humanity may go into Heaven. I asked why and He told me it was for the greater good. Bull-fucking-shit.

“He didn’t like that much and knew what I was about to do. He tried to stop me, and I punched Him in the face. It shattered my left hand. After that, I hunted the Devil, killed him, and froze Hell over. Just so I didn’t have to fulfill that prophecy. That was the day I found out prophecies were bullshit.”

“I- I don’t believe you,” Rachel said.

“You can believe whatever you want,” James said. His heart started to beat faster with every word. “You would think God betraying me would be my breaking point, but it was when I found out that the US government made clones of me that broke me. All that pain and misery that I went through, the greater good, was for nothing. That was when my mind snapped, and I gave up on heroism.

“So if you want a hero to save your asses, just walk over to the White House, knock on that door and ask for a clone to do my fucking...”

His heart couldn’t take it anymore. James grabbed for his chest, but it was too late. He breathed one more time and slumped forward.

This was so good!!!

I take a good long glance into my beloved's eyes. I caress her cheek as her long brown hair fights with the wind. "Just as beautiful as the day we met." I smile. She settles her hand on mine as she looks back with a a content smile.

"You always were a charmer, my prince." She pulls my hand to her soft lips and gives it a peck. Her eyes pool with love and... concern. I know where this is going.

"No." I respond. " I can't."

"Our people, they will welcome you. They are already enamored with the idea of the Lake of Longing. I welcomed you back into my arms the moment you returned. Must you be so stubborn?" Her brown eyes contrast themselves, being filled with both annoyance and soft tenderness.

"I could never show them what has become of me. Only through your kindness and grace would you accept me." She smiles at me tenderly, as she reaches for the mask that covers my face. I freeze on instinct and clasp her hand to stop her. She shakes my hand away and unmasks me. I look down ashamedly and catch a glimpse of my face in the lake's reflection. Hideous. So many scars mark my face that I look more monster, more inhuman than man. I turn away from my reflection, turn away from her. My heart aches that she even has to look at me.

She takes both her hands and clasps my face with them to turn me towards her. "You are the same man. Just as handsome to me as the day we met." I feel tears pool to the corner of my eyes, but deny them. She pulls me in for a tender kiss. When we pull away, she gives me another smile. "Perhaps more. The scars prove what you went through, what you fought for. I wish you'd stop hiding them from me and from your kingdom." I give her a mischevous smile and pull her close.

"And what if I'm just pretending so that I may call you my lady and fufill your one and every desire? What of that then?."

"Every desire?" Her eyes light with fire as she looks at me. Ah. That look almost makes me never want to put that mask back on. Almost. She pulls me even closer and crashes her lips into mine. Perhaps I shall have to rename this lake the Lake of Desire if I ever decide to reclaim my throne.

“Come, Princess Fianna. Let us return home.”

“Faust, do you think he will ever come back?” Her pale gray glazed eyes stared aimlessly over the water.

I shook my head, “I don’t know, but I fear for the worst.”

Princess Fianna let out a solemn sigh. She turned and held out her hand. “A little more to your left.” I said “There we go.” I took her hand and we began to slowly make our way through the meadow and back to the castle.

“Faust. I’m not giving up hope.” She proclaimed, slowly hobbling along. Her long blonde hair dangling down all the way to her ankles. “Kydell…he’s out there somewhere. I know it.” Princess Fianna could not see. Nevertheless she persisted. She was a kind hearted, yet fierce and stubborn woman.

“Miss Fianna. If Prince Kydell was to return wouldn’t he have done so by now?”

“He will return. I will wait by the Lake of Longing for the rest of my life if I have to.”

“Princess forgive me but, it has already been three years. We go to the lake every day. I just worry about you.” I paused and contemplated if I really wanted to say what came out next. “Don’t spend your life living for something you’re longing for. Live it for something you already have. Your kingdom…your people.”

She fell silent for a moment. In part she knew what I said was a valid point. Still, she fought back tears. “Faust. He is the one person who ever managed to make me see anything other than darkness. He saved me -no- he saved the entire kingdom from my evil sister’s reign of tyranny. Without him…the war would still be raging and I’d still be caged in the cellar.”

“I understand that but you must find a different reason, don’t let your purpose in life be to wait around for him when we don’t even know if he’s alive. You have a duty to your people.”

“Faust!” She screamed, tears filling her eyes. I had seen the princess beaten down and broken many times. But this, was entirely different.

For three years I had been racked with guilt over one terrible fact. Prince Kydell was undeniably dead. I knew this to be true as it was my last order under the previous ruler, Fianna’s evil sister Iris. The Princess’ lover’s blood was on my hands.

She wiped the tears. “I need to hold on to the belief he is alive. Let me have this. Without it I would feel no different than I did as a prisoner.”

Though her eyes could not see, I felt as if they saw right through me at that moment. Seeing me for all I was. A broken man with a blood stained conscience. “Very well.” I said with a heavy heart. “Very well.”

Edit: This is a sort of spin-off of a story I’m working on called The Garden of Fianna. A young knight is making rounds at the castle he finds a blind girl in the garden. After a lovely talk she tells him to hide. She is then promptly taken back inside the castle. Kydell returns the next day, and daily from then on, to meet in secrecy with this prisoner. He soon discovers she is the true heir to the throne. Princess Fianna! Her power hungry sister Iris was furious to discover their parents wanted Fianna, a blind and weak girl to rule the kingdom so she conspired to fake Fianna’s death and hold her captive in the cellar of the castle.

That’s the first part, at least.

This is so good! Looking for meats to the next part!

Haha Knights gotta keep it formal!

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed.

I like how only the knight speaks old English lmao

Oh my god that was amazing!

Damn! What a ride. Well done!

I shoved the pills and note in the pocket with the other one. I pretended to put some pills in my mouth and drank the water. Jennifer had peaked her head out of the bedroom door, her eyes like a hawk’s, watching me with something, suspicion maybe, in her eyes. She seemed satisfied with my performance and disappeared back into the bedroom.

I retrieved the book from the balcony and walked to the main bathroom. I hoped Jennifer would leave before I exited. She was beginning to give me the creeps.

I re-read each note before I ripped it up and watched the small pieces fall into the toilet. I took the pills out one at a time and dropped them in the water. Each one made a small “plopping” sound. I checked them all for markings before I let it fall off my palm and into the toilet but there was nothing distinct on the pills. I didn’t know if that was strange or not.

Someone knocked on the door and I jumped. I flushed as I said, “Yeah?”

“Keith, dear,” Jennifer said, her sharp voice slightly muffled. It was nice to have a door between us. “I have to go. Claudia just got home. I’ll only be there for about an hour. See you soon.”

“Okay,” I said. My heart rate began to settle only when I heard the front door open and close.

I sighed deeply and glanced at the empty toilet. I looked at my reflection next and felt the same emotions I did this morning. This didn’t feel like my face. I leaned forwards and inspected every inch of my facial features. As I did I noticed a slight flickering. Bright green eyes hidden behind my brown ones. Black hair under the grey.

“Keith?” Claudia’s voice said through the door and I jumped, knocking over a bottle of lotion.

“Uh, yeah?” I said as I picked it off the floor.

“You okay?”

“Yes,” I said, annoyance bubbling up inside my chest. “I am not a child.”

“Okay,” Claudia said. I couldn’t tell if there was a tone of hurt in her voice. She walked away and I unlocked the door.

Claudia was reading in the living room as I exited the bathroom. She looked different now, wearing a long floral dress and a decent amount of make-up. She smiled at me but I couldn’t bring myself to return it. The confusion and irritation was beginning to catch up with me and I worried that if I spoke to her it wouldn’t be kind.

I walked towards the bedroom and firmly closed the door behind me. The silence was soothing. I took a seat in a chair by the window bathing myself in warm yellow rays. The chair was placed in front of a bookcase that was packed with books. I wondered if it were I or Jennifer who had the book addiction.

I opened the book “Get out” and started to read the first page.

Ammon, we are running out of time. You are in grave danger. She has already broken off so much from your mind. You are not ill but you are fragmented. I know you can feel it, pieces of yourself being pulled away with each passing moment. You are almost out of time, once she finds what she is looking for she will not hesitate to kill you.

I am not here, not really. I have learned how to manipulate this reality to send you messages. You are the only one who can free yourself so listen closely. I will only be able to tell you this once and you will only be able to try to escape at exactly midnight tonight. That’s it. If you miss it you will die there, do you understand?

It is now or never. I know you don’t remember who you are but you are very significant. You have to believe me that this is all so much bigger than you. You must not let her find what she is looking for. You must not let her fragment the last pieces of you. Do you hear me, you spontaneous fool? I still need you. The world still needs you. It’s time to remember who you truly are. But I must warn you, you will not like what you hear.

-End Part Four

I read it again: “Destroy this note.”

I clutched my hand, crumpling the note in my palm. It felt real but who knows what kind of tricks unwell minds can play. I could feel myself split between two main beliefs: that the notes were real and I should listen to them or the notes were a figment of my own imagination and I needed to tell Jennifer and go to the, uh, you know, the place people go when they’re not feeling well.

What was that word?

“Destroy this note.”

I bit my lip and looked around, anxiety and confusion fogging up my ability to think. My thoughts were like a whirlpool, spiralling out of control and in uncomfortable circles. Despite my best efforts, I couldn’t seem to concentrate long enough to really think this through. I rubbed my temples in frustration.

Come on you stupid, old fool.

Focus.

I took in a deep breath and closed my eyes hoping that I could try to imagine all the components of this problem in my mind's eye. I think some character in a book I read once called it his “Mind Palace”. Some detective who was super sharp. Holmes? I tried to channel him.

So:

If I continued to destroy the notes then I’d also be erasing all evidence of the notes. How could I know for sure that they’re real without this evidence? And how the hell am I supposed to remember what the notes say? I tried to imagine the first note. I recreated the scratchy handwriting with looping letters. I believed I could remember what it said but I had already learned that my own recollection was unreliable.

I could write the information down somewhere, maybe I have a journal, but that was risky since I didn’t know if Jennifer would read it.

I unclenched my hand and read the note again.

Ammon.

Ok, if I can commit that to some fragment of my broken mind perhaps I can remember at least that much.

Ammon. Ammon. Ammon.

What is it people do when they’re trying to commit something to memory? I couldn’t think of anything so I continued to play the name through my mind like a song. It felt nostalgic, if that makes any sense.

I folded up the note and put it in my pocket. I leaned forwards and looked inside the living room but all I could see was the dog sitting at the glass window. He began to wag his tail as I met his eyes.

The dog, I should really ask his or her name, began to paw at the door and I walked over to open it. The dog whined and licked my hand. I checked out its collar.

“Odin”

That was cute. I wonder who named him.

He locked his brown eyes with mine and lifted his eyebrows. I got a strange feeling, as if the dog was trying to communicate something to me. I scratched behind his ears. I couldn’t remember what the breed was called, but he had long golden hair that made him look a little like a lion. Regal and beautiful.

Jennifer walked into the kitchen and began to grab some pill bottles from the cupboards. She was on the phone and didn’t sound pleased.

“Well tell them that wasn't what we discussed. Yes Claudia, that matters. They need to respect their initial agreement. Yes, it does work like that. No, you don’t have to have it written down for it to matter. Ok sweetie, yes, I heard you. Okay, good luck. See you soon.”

Jennifer hung up and walked over to me with a cup of water and a tiny bowl filled with about three small, white pills.

“Here you go dear,” she said, handing me the pills and the glass. “You need to take these every day, doctor's orders.”

A knot began to form in my stomach and I wanted to object but figured this was a losing battle. I took the water and the pills. Jennifer put her hand on my shoulder and squeezed. Her touch made me want to recoil but I remained still. She was a beautiful woman with long silver hair and captivating blue eyes. Her age had made her look powerful, like a witch of the woods, and I found myself drawn to her physical appearance. But there was something under her skin that made my own crawl.

Was Jennifer who she claimed to be?

Jennifer turned and walked back into the bedroom. I lifted the pills and felt a strong urge not to take them. I investigated each one and played with them between my fingers. The third pill I picked up felt different. I placed it in the palm of my hand and pushed on it. It was made of paper.

I turned my back to the hallway and unravelled the pill. It pulled out into a long, thin strip of paper.

“Do not take the pills and stop hesitating. You do not have a memory problem. You get reset each night. You will remember today unless she knows about it and erases it. You are being manipulated. Destroy the note Ammon, god dammit. Do you want to be stuck there forever? Take the book on the balcony to the bedroom and sit in your reading chair. Await your next instruction. Just destroy the fucking notes. I will explain all soon, I promise.”

- End Part Three

Happy cake day! You wrote an amazing story!!!

Shaking I looked at the princess. She looked as beautiful as ever, her dark hair flowing in the wind. But there was something off about her stare.

"Princess?" I called gently. "It's time for supper." She didn't move. "The chef made your favorite! Steak and mashed potatoes!"

She turned to look at me. Her gray eyes filled with grief. I knew that look all to well. I knew what she wanted to do.

"Would you like to see it again?" I asked. She nodded. I pulled a dagger out of my dress. It was small and had a gold handle. It was also very sharp. One poke could have you bleeding.

She picked it up and smiled. "This was his dagger. He said he loved it as much as he loved me." The grief faded from her eyes. So it was working.

She wiped her tears. "When do you think he is coming back?" I laughed and told her I didn't know.

But in all reality he was most likely making friends was the people of heaven. I commented on supper and she skipped away. Talking about how it's her favorite.

But I know. That the dagger she's holding, is the same one she used to kill her prince.

"jimmy this is the third time, you show us your original superman prompt."

The stunned silence, anticipated or not stretched on until the ashes dropped from the tip of the deeply inhaled cigarette. One could almost imagine the sizzle before they fell. Outside of my palm swiped heavily across my forehead, cool and slightly oily. The months long binge of hedonistic revelry had done my health no good. I stared into the night standing at the window space, as though distracted, unaffected by the palpable need radiating through the room. The represented delegation of local leaders stood uneasily, eyes seemingly hollowed out with their fear and dread. Studying the night, half smirked bravado fell into the room rather than pouring out in beams of confidence. How could they keep asking!? When did a hero get to stop with continuous proofs? It was going to be a long night, the imported fine scotch and tray of loose MMDA beckoned with promises of easier answers and lessened, higher musings. Nope. They need another patsy this time..

Thanks! (There are more in my subreddit)

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Selected excerpts from the journal of Earth’s greatest hero.

5/12/2000

I got my powers today. It was so cool flying around. I don’t know how I ever got by on foot before. I don’t care about getting my driver’s license anymore. Dad told me he’d help me learn to control my strength tomorrow. I need to pick out a hero name and outfit. Maybe mom can stitch something for me.

10/15/2000

Thwarted my first super villain today. Dad finally thought I had developed enough to come along on a call with him. Some villain had stolen nuclear secrets and was threatening to use them unless his demands were met. Dad ultimately was the one to take out the bad guy, but I did a lot to take down the henchmen. Looking forward to teaming up with Dad more and getting stronger.

2/14/2001

I’m in love, I’m in love and I don’t care who knows it.

5/17/2001

Being in love as a hero is hard. I never have time. I feel like no matter what I do, I always let someone down. Why do we hurt the ones we love?

9/4/2001

Got beat pretty badly today. Lucy told me she doesn’t know if she can take it. She worries about me too much when I’m out there. I told her she should see the other guy. Dad says it gets easier as we age, that Lucy will care less about the possibility I’ll die in service to the world as she learns more about me. Mom punched him in the shoulder. I love them.

8/6/2003

The happiest day of my life. Lucy and I are officially married. She wasn’t too happy that I had to leave the reception early to thwart a plot, but she knows that what I do is important. I’m the luckiest man in the world.

6/7/2004

I miss dad. I miss him more each day. I can’t help but feeling there is more I could have done. Why hadn’t I come sooner. Why didn’t he wait for me. I can’t do this alone. I don’t know what to do without him.

11/3/2004

My son was born today. We named him after Dad. He would have been so proud. Lucy was my hero today—I didn’t know that such strength was possible. I have to make my son proud just as my Dad did. I can’t wait for his powers to come in so that I can train him just like Dad did for me. Today was hard. I miss you Dad.

4/29/2010

I feel like I can’t win. If I save a family on the other side of the world, I let my family down. I saved a group of kids from another villain today. But because of it, I missed Jackson’s first tee-ball game. There will be more games, but I know that each day that passes, he is changing and he soon will become a man. I have to cherish what time we have together.

5/18/2010

The light is gone from my life.

5/19/2010

I told Cyrus I’m done. I can’t do this anymore. Lucy paid for my mistakes, my Dad paid for my mistakes. I won’t let my son pay that price too.

5/21/2010

The fuckers took Jackson. Cyrus called me with a ransom! A fucking ransom from my own government. They wanted DNA from me. Said they can’t leave Earth unprotected. They have a new technology that could clone me. I obliged. I told them to leave me the fuck alone.

9/22/2010

Jackson is nervous about starting at a new school. I told him he’d make friends in no time. Its nice being out in the wilderness with him. I feel normal. I don’t miss splitting my mind in every task. I’m finally here for Jackson fully. I only wish I could have been there for Lucy. I miss her.

3/31/2012

I saw myself on the news today—6 of me. Cyrus’s contingency plan must have worked. Oddly comforting knowing I’m still out there doing good, while raising my son. Maybe Cyrus was right.

8/12/2012

Jackson’s powers kicked in this morning. Sooner than mine did! I wonder if I was a late bloomer, or if he’s early. I wish I could ask Dad. I’m conflicted. I’ve looked forward to this moment since the day he was born. This is something uniquely ours to bond over—at least, it used to be. I don’t want him to struggle with the same conflicts I did, to suffer the same losses, the same regrets. Regardless, I owe it to him to help him hone his abilities. I have to allow him to make his own choices. Just as I did.

12/12/2012

Things are bad. Cyrus’s experiment has gone awry. It appears he has lost control of the clones. Surreal to see myself on the news killing innocent people. This, too, feels like my fault.

4/14/2013

I don’t know how much longer I can hold up. I’ve trusted Cyrus to keep Jackson, Mom, and Lucy’s folks safe. I don’t know if I can trust him. I have to trust him.

6/22/2013

I feel silly to be writing right now, but it clears my head. I’ve successfully killed 5 of myself. What a sentence that is to see on the page. I’ve taken a beating. I hope I can hold out longer. I have to hold out longer. I miss you Lucy.

6/25/2013

I killed him. I’m the last of me standing. He wasn’t as strong as I would have thought. Earth’s greatest hero. I miss you Dad.

__________

If you enjoyed this, please check out my other stories at r/InMyLife42Archive

As I stood in the mayor's office, listening to his wants to help the city, I began to think.

I am so tired of being treated like this. I coke from a world of magic, and wonder. This place had none of that. And sure the Magium wasn't the best of the realms but it was home. I came here in order to help balance this unstable world. And what do I get?

Nothing. That's what.

Actually, I'm getting less than nothing. Everything I do for them is at my expense. What the fuck am I going to do with the key to the city? Nothing. At least pay me. But no, apparently "truly good people shouldn't want anythign back" well fuck that. I'm not a good person. Nobody is. You don't bite the hand that feeds you, lest you get struck. And that's what will happen for them. Crimes rates will increase, eiosmts may ensue. And hell, I'd probably join the villains side. At least they have a union. Me and my rival are pretty much actors, anyway. They kill some citizens, I stop them, we do it again the next week. We don't even hate each other, we actually hang out occasionally.

"What do you mean 'no?'" the mayor asked. I sighed.

"I mean no. Now, au revoir, you asshole." I said, gripping the air as if I was choking him. His throat began to close, feeling the effects of my power. I lifted him in the air, and closed my fist. There was a satisfying crunch, followed by the thud of the mayor hitting the ground, blood pooling out of his throat. There was an explosion, and my nemesis stepped into the hole the explosion had made.

"I already killed him, Chara. No need to fight today. But they're probably going to hunt me down for this. So I have a proposition." I said, stepping over the mayor, and sitting in his chair. Chara nodded, intrigued.

"I want to be your roommate. They'd easily find me with my current address. They've never found you before. And I'd even team up with you. And we'd get to go to that ice cream place more often. What do you say, Chara? Yes or no. Make your choice." I said, leaning in, a grin spreading across my face. Chara grinned back.

"Of course. Just think of all we could do..."

TW; mild gore and topic of sexual assault (not explicit)

I walked down the gravel path to the lake. It was almost twilight and the leaves were golden. I'd normally enjoy it, but not while I carried this box.

At the end of the trail, I saw the princess standing along the shore. She was smartly dressed in a long, green, velvet dress and a matching shawl draped over her shoulders. As I approached, she turned to look at me. She was still slightly pale and stoic. She gave a nod, motioning me to place the box on the ground.

"Is it in there, then?" she asked.

"It is, my lady," I said. The princess turned back to face the lake.

"Now that it's here, I'm scared to look inside. After everything that's happened. It's silly, isn't it?" She reached for her arm.

"Not at all, my lady," I said comfortingly. "If you wish, I can dispose of this myself. You can be done with this forever."

"No." Her voice had more strength in it this time. "I will see this through. Open it."

I obeyed. I inserted an iron key, turned it, and the steel box opened with a loud thunk. The princess looked inside, and let out a deep breath.

It was the prince, to whom she was betrothed. Or more accurately, his head. His face long since drained of blood and his eyes completely blank and empty. But there was no mistake; it was him.

The princess fell to her knees. "It's done! I'm finally free of you!" she whispered to the head. She turned to me. "It is truly over?"

"Yes, my lady. Everything went according to plan. As far as the princes army thinks, he's still captured by the enemy. Even if they find the rest of him, they'll never recognize him without this." I gestured to the box. It hadn't been as difficult as you'd think. After I told the Captain what he did, he was on the hunt like a wolf from hell. All it took were some disguises and the right moment to steal the prince away. Now, the prince will never return from war.

The princess let out a shaky breath. "Did you know, this was where he... the first time he took advantage of me?" She said. "He told me I was to be his bride. That if I refused, our kingdoms alliance would fall." She began to cry. I forgot my place, and embraced her.

"He'll never touch you again. No one will ever touch you again, I promise," I consoled her. She returned my hug. I know shouldn't think such things, but I could have held her for years.

She finally composed herself. She wiped off her tears, and I was happy to finally see some color in her cheeks. "Thank you. I'll need to thank the Captain when we're alone. But first," she turned to the box. Her strength returned as she stared into the pale eyes of the prince.

"I want my face to be the last those eyes see for eternity."

She shut the box and locked it. She then threw the iron key into the lake. "Please take this to the blacksmith. Have them seal box and the lock. Then bring it back here and throw it into the bottom of the lake."

"Yes, my lady." I picked up the box and began my way back up the path.

"And Millicent," the princess called out.

"Yes, my lady?" I asked.

She smiled. "You don't need to call me 'my lady.' I've already told you that."

"Sorry, my lady." I gave her a friendly wink, and carried the box back up the path. It never felt lighter.

> A bit darker than I usually go to in my writing. But at least there's a sort-of happy ending.