The Phoenix Wars: The Journey's Begin-Book 1

By Daniel A. McClean

NaTaviss little sister, Tracy, has the power to grant wishes. NaTavis makes a wish to go home, not knowing that his home is not real and only in his mind. Tracys power to grant wishes does something unexpected, and it starts bleeding multiple parallel worlds into their world. Many of the heroes of their world lose their powers as a result of this. So to stabilize the new world thats being created, a young woman named Carol enacts a tournament to keep all people and parties in check. Little does she know, her actions and NaTaviss failed wish starts a whole chain of events that causes thousands of people, aliens, and beings to start coming together in what they hope will be a very interesting future.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Sep 21, 2015
• ISBN: 9781504951517

Daniel A. McClean

When I was seven, I got lost in the woods behind the trailer park I was living in. It took me several hours to get home, and I felt like strange lights were following me. When I got home and told my parents about the experience, they did what parents do—they dismissed it. That never happened again, but it always made me wonder. What’s really out there? Is anything out there, and what would happen if instead of it finding us, what if we went and found it? I have never been able to shake the experience from my mind, and when I grew up, I figured I might as well write about it. If you can’t believe me in the real world, maybe someone can in the fantasy world. Daniel McClean, 33, was born in Lake Charles, Louisiana, and loves pop music, anime, swords, axes, collectibles, and any movie with a happy ending. He isn’t fond of endless political babble or living in Dallas, Texas.

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AuthorHouse™

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© 2015 Daniel A. McClean. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 09/18/2015

ISBN: 978-1-5049-5150-0 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5049-5151-7 (e)

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Contents

Volume 1

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty One

Chapter Twenty Two

Chapter Twenty Three

Chapter Twenty Four

Chapter Twenty Five

Volume 2

Chapter Twenty Six

Chapter Twenty Seven

Chapter Twenty Eight

Chapter Twenty Nine

Chapter Thirty

Chapter Thirty One

Chapter Thirty Two

Chapter Thirty Three

Chapter Thirty Four

Chapter Thirty Five

Chapter Thirty Six

Chapter Thirty Seven

Chapter Thirty Eight

Chapter Thirty Nine

Chapter Forty

Chapter Forty One

Chapter Forty Two

Chapter Forty Three

Chapter Forty Four

Chapter Forty Five

Chapter Forty Six

Chapter Forty Seven

Chapter Forty Eight

Chapter Forty Nine

Chapter Fifty

Dedication

Nobody has the power to become someone else. But, if you train hard, you can become a better version of yourself.

In remembrance of my loved ones: Gwen, Betty Thomas, Louise Kennybrew, Venita & Coy Kelly, my Best Friends NaTavis Lawton, Charmaine Abron, Christina Street, Carolyn Ford, and My Loving Husband, Ron. A special thanks to the Middleton Family, Tammy, Horace, and Carol for always encouraging me to do my best.

- Daniel McClean © 2015

Volume 1

Chapter One

NaTavis woke up in Tracy’s apartment which was now in New York, after trying an unlikely and unstable experiment. When he saw that the universes were still collapsing and that time was still moving forward, all he could do was sit down. It had been three years since they had gotten the news that the dimensions were collapsing and since the events on The Judge’s ship. NaTavis knew that he wanted to go home, back to his earth. NaTavis had one back up plan and that was to ask his younger sister Tracy.

Tracy couldn’t believe that her older brother was starting to believe that he wasn’t truly himself, so to avoid trying to have him committed she decided to take a chance. NaTavis said, I wish to finally go to my true home. Tracy smiled replying, Wish Granted. As the pink dust circled NaTavis, Tracy’s nose and ears started bleeding. NaTavis was shocked as he ran to Tracy’s side. The whole planet begin to quake as Tracy’s body exploded. NaTavis screamed, WHAT’S HAPPENING! A portal to the phoenix world opened up as the voice who resided within the phoenix world finally revealed himself.

Horace stepped out of the portal yelling, You selfish son of a bitch! Why did you make that wish? NaTavis yelled back, Who do you think you are yelling at me like that? I just lost my sister. Horace sternly stated, Your sister will be fine, she’s a phoenix, she’ll be normal again in a couple of days. NaTavis asked, How can she be normal? She just died! Horace reached forward and touched NaTavis’s arm. Horace didn’t feel anything and immediately placed a call to the phoenix of new arrivals which was Carol.

Carol used her time spear to get to Horace’s location. NaTavis seemed more confused than ever and Carol looked at NaTavis asking, What happened? I have hundreds of portals opening up all around the planet and I can’t sense my final one hundred acceptance anymore. NaTavis asked, What do you mean? Carol said, I still have all my legend powers but I’m not registered as one of the final one hundred anymore and neither are you, or anyone else for that matter. NaTavis screamed, NO! NO! I made it to the final one hundred! I’m not giving that up! Horace interrupted by saying, Wishes have consequences! By the way, your home dimension was destroyed.

NaTavis yelled, You lie! Horace said, It was destroyed, you can never go back there. Now what you have done is sacrifice everyone’s final one hundred status and for what, to save a couple of people. NaTavis replied, Wait! Wait! What! What do you mean save a couple of people? Carol interrupted, Before you go on Horace, I have a duty to perform. By the order of the Time Lords society, The Phoenix Wars shall now be started. Carol’s whole body illuminated an orange yellow as she sent out a pulse wave that hit everyone on the planet. Then it spread to everyone being brought to the planet via portals. Lastly the beam extended out into space and kept going for a dozen light years in every direction possible before it came to a stop. Carol started to fall over when Horace reached over and caught her asking, Baby what did you do? Carol replied, The final one hundred have to be chosen. I have used the law of the Time Lords to ensure that it does. Now our galaxy is locked in time until the final one hundred can be chosen. Carol’s body exploded into ash a moment later.

Horace screamed as he stood up, You have started this! NaTavis was tired of Horace yelling at him and was about to take the appropriate action when force fields erected around Horace and NaTavis locking them in place. NaTavis found that he couldn’t break out and screamed, What kind of shield is this? Horace said, Your wish can’t be reversed or stopped. NaTavis asked, What does that have to do with these shields? Horace answered, You can’t fight anyone for any reason until you receive a formal invitation. The shields come directly from the planet so they can’t be broken. To add insult to injury while the Phoenix Wars are going on, unless it’s your turn to fight, your powers are not active. NaTavis immediately tried to summon Vulkar and watched as nothing happened. Then both shields vanished and Horace continued, Now everyone on the planet and beyond that had a hint of being special will be called to war in one on one battles until the final one hundred is chosen. After the final one hundred is chosen the battles will continue until there is one winner. Whoever or whatever wins this will have supreme control over all worlds and dimensions to do as they please. NaTavis thought, Damn he’s talking a lot all of a sudden. Horace continued, I don’t know how the fights are chosen.

Carol and Tracy reappeared fully healed. Tracy still felt dizzy as Horace helped Carol to her feet. NaTavis said, I feel strange. Carol replied, That’s because you’re human. I suggest that you and Tracy get jobs. NaTavis replied, Why would I get a job? Carol answered, Horace and I are getting jobs, and until you receive your invitation your powers will remain non active. You will get hungry and weak if you don’t find food and shelter. Carol and Horace started to leave Tracy’s apartment when Carol turned around saying, When you do get your invitation don’t lose. NaTavis thought, Like I would lose. Tracy asked, Why not? Carol replied, This tournament only has one rule. If you lose your match, you will be wiped out of existence until a winner is chosen. Then Carol and Horace left the apartment building and hailed a taxi.

As Tracy watched Horace and Carol get into the taxi, NaTavis turned on the television and saw that shields were popping up around people all over the planet and they weren’t going away until people calmed themselves down. Then the news stations everywhere received intelligence about The Phoenix Wars and Rebecca Cardinalle announced that she and her producers would try to cover each match for the viewers at home.

Tracy turned off the television asking, What am I going to do? NaTavis replied, What do you mean? Tracy continued, When your powers get turned back on for your fight you are unstoppable, but me not so much. NaTavis grabbed Tracy’s hand saying, We can both make it far in this tournament. It’s just like any other tournament that we’ve been in. Tracy shook her head in the no direction replying, No this time we don’t have a way out of this. There can only be one winner and we both know that it won’t be me. NaTavis found that he couldn’t function anymore and realized that he hadn’t eaten anything in a couple of years and collapsed in that instant. Tracy immediately called emergency services and accompanied her brother NaTavis to the hospital all the while filling in their brother NaTerric of what was going on.

A few hours later NaTavis woke up in the hospital with Tracy at his side. With his mouth feeling dry, NaTavis asked, What happened? Tracy said with a smile, You dumbass. You haven’t eaten anything since you got your phoenix of time. Am I right? NaTavis smiled back replying, Maybe.

Elsewhere on the planet, Curtis was adjusting to this new Toronto, Ontario, Canada that he had found himself in. To him the world had changed overnight and he couldn’t put his finger on the fact that he was from another universe entirely. He has gotten a job and was looking into getting an apartment. Right as he was about to sign the lease to his new apartment he saw an envelope addressed to him on the top of the clipboard. Curtis asked the leasing agent, What’s this? The leasing agent answered, I don’t know where that came from. Curtis picked up the invitation and it spoke, Invitation has been accepted. You are to meet your opponent in two days in the parking lot of Seattle Grace Hospital. The invitation vanished leaving Curtis with money, a passport, and a plane ticket to America. The leasing agent couldn’t believe her eyes. Curtis didn’t sign the apartment lease and picked up his items and left the apartment building.

Meanwhile in Dallas, Texas, Brandi was busy doing schoolwork on her home computer when she heard a knock at the door. Brandi answered the door and signed for the package. When she closed her front door, she opened the package and found the invitation inside. Once she touched it, the invitation floated out of the unsealed envelope and spoke, Invitation has been accepted. You are to meet your opponent in two days in the parking lot of Seattle Grace Hospital. Brandi replied, Oh great another tournament and this time I don’t have a clue who my opponent is. The invitation vanished leaving behind a plane ticket and a pile of money.

As Brandi and Curtis each felt their powers returning they started packing and planning their strategies. Brandi got on a plane that night and arrived in Seattle the next morning. She drove by the battle sight and saw the local authorities and camera crews making preparations for her upcoming televised battle. Brandi said, I’m calling my son Xavier, he needs to be here for this. Brandi paid for her son Xavier to be on the next flight out. Later that night, Curtis arrived in Seattle and checked into a hotel while telling himself, I can win, no matter the opponent, I can win. As Curtis ate a good meal and got to sleep Xavier being a teenager now was going over new strategies with his mom on how she could use her powers. Then Xavier reassured his mom telling her that everything would be fine.

The next morning NaTavis and Tracy who were still hospital, tuned in with the rest of the world to see the first fight. When Brandi and Curtis showed up at the parking lot, the invitation reappeared in their hands. When they showed the invitation to the police officers they let Curtis and Brandi through to the parking lot. Tracy could tell that NaTavis was annoyed when he saw that Brandi would be fighting first. Then Curtis stepped onto the parking lot and Brandi was bewildered when she asked, Who are you? Curtis replied, I could ask you the same thing, but I’m Curtis, the phoenix of New Force, and you are? Brandi said, My names Brandi and I’m the phoenix of Oracle Hope. Then both invitations spoke at the same time, When the two of you shake hands the battle will begin. Brandi could tell that Curtis was scared as she walked closer to him. Brandi reached out her hand and Curtis looked down and hesitated. Brandi said, I promise you a fair and just fight. Curtis said, I don’t know you. I have no idea if your word means anything. Brandi replied, Well know this, if we don’t fight, no one else can fight and our galaxy will remain in lockdown for all eternity. Curtis looked in Brandi’s eyes saying, Very Well. Curtis shook Brandi’s hand and a force of light blasted up. When the light vanished, Curtis was wearing a red and black leather suit. Brandi, on the other hand, was wearing a free flowing white blouse and a long bright green ruffled skirt.

Curtis (Phoenix of New Force) verses Brandi (Phoenix of Oracle Hope)

Brandi looked at her clothes asking, What just happened? Curtis said, It looks like we just got battle gear. Curtis turned his back to Brandi and said, Blue Dust. A bag of blue dust appeared in his hands. He opened the bag and Brandi could see that he was doing something and immediately said, Mist. Mist spread from her body and dimmed the whole area. Curtis tuned every which way and couldn’t see Brandi anywhere. Curtis thought, Ah, this so sucks. She has mist. Curtis took his whole bag of blue dust and poured it in a circle around him. Then Curtis taunted Brandi, Come and get me if you want!

Brandi saw what Curtis had done through the mist and she pulled out a red and white colored pokeball. Brandi threw the pokeball releasing her pokemon Magikarp onto the parking lot. Magikarp was red orange in color, flat in appearance, with a yellow crown shaped fin on it’s head. Brandi commanded, Magikarp, use your splash attack. Magikarp started flopping around which summoned a gush of water. The water splashed over hitting Curtis’s feet washing away his circle of blue dust. Curtis felt his feet get wet as Brandi called Magikarp back into its pokeball.

As Brandi put the pokeball back into her pocket Curtis concluded that Brandi had to be a water type and said, Give Powers Up 2, and Brandi’s pokeball vanished from her pocket and reappeared in Curtis’s hands. Curtis asked, What is this? Brandi noticed her pokeball was gone and she recalled her mist power completely clearing the parking lot. Curtis yelled, What kind of power is this? Brandi said, You can only take one of my powers at a time, so if you don’t know what to do once you get them, it’s a pity. Brandi took Curtis’s distraction and said, Cell Phone 5, I call on my combo attack with Antwon. Brandi pulled out a plain, small, cell phone as it glowed and Antwon appeared next to her. Antwon grabbed Brandi’s hand as her Tarot Spread deck appeared in her other hand. Every card except for The Tower Card vanished. Brandi threw the Tower Card on the ground which activated it. The Tower Card shined bright as it summoned a white narrow tower onto the parking lot which resembled a lighthouse with multiple windows. All the windows became clouded over by a dark shroud. The locusts flew out by the hundreds causing people in the crowd to run away screaming as the majority of the locusts headed for Curtis.

Curtis said, Rewind Circumstance, as blue streams surrounded him and Brandi. Brandi saw everything moving in reverse as Brandi said, Ah, hell. Curtis stopped his power right before Brandi used her cell phone 5 to summon Antwon. Since Brandi knew what Curtis would do if she used her combo attack, she decided to use her son’s advice and change her style of fighting. Curtis screamed, Phoenix of New Force, I need my phoenix weapon NOW! Curtis’s tennis shoes vanished off of his feet and reappeared in his hands with the shoe strings glued together. Curtis was shocked when he yelled, This is all I get! Curtis started swinging his shoes around and around until he noticed that the motion was increasing the gravity of an area. People in the crowd started moving away because they were feeling uneasy.

Brandi sat down and pulled out her deck of cards and started placing them on the ground as if she was giving Curtis a tarot reading. Curtis tried to use his rewind circumstance, but found that Brandi giving him a tarot reading was blocking his powers. Curtis decided to throw the pokeball and was shocked when Magikarp appeared. Curtis thought, Oh my god this things looks useless. Before Curtis knew it, Magikarp vanished and reappeared back in its pokeball in Brandi’s pocket. Brandi felt the change, but didn’t stop Curtis’s tarot reading. When Brandi flipped over the last card in the reading it was the nine of swords, right side up. Nine swords fell from the sky and hit Curtis with great speed. Curtis was impaled from above as his body exploded in ash. Brandi started to gather her cards when Curtis reappeared half healed from in his injuries. Brandi asked, How are you back so soon? Curtis said, This is an official battle, we phoenixes have to be killed twice to stay dead.

Curtis started coughing up blood as she pulled out her cell phone and started to call on a combo when Curtis reached out his hand and started to choke Brandi with the power of his mind. Brandi uttered the word, Defense, and she clapped her hands together once creating a thicker and denser fog than the mist that she had used before. Curtis lost sight of Brandi and couldn’t hold her in the mental choke hold anymore. Curtis got to his feet and Brandi came up behind him saying, Hope is my Future. Brandi grew large angelic wings and Curtis was engulfed in Brandi’s loving embrace. Brandi freed Curtis of his pain. Then Brandi recalled her attack and to her surprise, Curtis was physically healed of all injuries.

Curtis smiled saying, Thanks, I’m not used to being healed in battle, especially not by the opponent. Brandi immediately sat down and started giving Curtis another tarot reading. Curtis ran over and tried hitting Brandi with his tennis shoes when Brandi said, Safe Horizon. Yellow lights came around Brandi transporting her and her tarot spread deeper into the dense fog. Curtis said, I am really starting to hate this woman. Brandi kept doing her tarot spread where she landed and this time at the end of the tarot reading she received the Chariot card and activated it accordingly. A chariot appeared next to Brandi with two horses leading the charge. Brandi jumped in the back of the chariot and signaled for the horses to charge by swinging the whips once.

The chariot and horses were taken over by an aura of flames as she charged through the fog towards Curtis. Curtis saw it coming and got nervous. Curtis’s feet started sweating heavily as it created a green mist that ignited with the Chariot’s flames causing a massive explosion that blew Curtis and Brandi in separate directions. Curtis landed on some people who were standing on the street while Brandi hit the parking lot, head first, snapping her own neck. As Brandi’s body landed, it exploded into flames. While Curtis got to his feet her body flashed into a pile of ash.

For a moment, Curtis thought he had won until Brandi reappeared half healed with a severe crook in her neck. Curtis yelled, I have a couple of stab wounds and you now have a bad neck, just give up Brandi. I mean from what I hear no one expects you to make it far in this thing, let alone, win the whole tournament. Brandi knew he was trying to make her mad, to try and throw her off her game, so she calmed her agitation and pulled out her deck of tarot cards once again. Brandi said, Defense. Then she clapped her hands once summoning a dense fog. Curtis yelled, These are the same tricks that you have already tried.

Even though the fog was thick, Curtis could see Brandi’s deck of cards, so he took a step forward and noticed a loaf of fresh bread in the middle of the parking lot, uncut and smelling divine. Curtis then noticed that the loaf of bread was sitting to the left and the deck of tarot cards were sitting to the right as if he had to make a choice. Curtis thought, This is confusing. I don’t like this. Brandi held up her cobalt colored wrist band saying, I want my Magikarp power to take on a form of its own. A light came out of Brandi’s body and was powered up by her cobalt wrist band and formed a magikarp. Magikarp landed in the middle of the parking lot and grew to the size of a minivan. The magikarp started flopping on its side causing extreme tremors that knocked Curtis off balance. Brandi yelled, Magikarp, use Tackle attack! The giant Magikarp flopped over once and knocked Curtis up off the ground. Curtis summoned his bag of blue dust and poured it down on the Magikarp which caused it to teleport a couple of feet away. Brandi pulled out a second pokeball and used her cobalt wrist band to give it form as well. Then she threw the pokeball as another magikarp appeared which also increased its size to that of a minivan also. Brandi commanded the Magikarp to tackle Curtis once more. One Magikarp launched Curtis up in the air again as Brandi yelled, Magikarp its dinner baby. The other Magikarp jumped up and swallowed Curtis. Since Magikarp has no meat Curtis landed on its flat rigged bones and was stabbed in the abdomen and chest multiple times. Then the magikarp flopped on the ground a couple of times which caused Curtis’s body to get stabbed and re-stabbed more. Curtis’s body exploded into ash a few moments later.

Winner: Brandi (Phoenix of Oracle Hope)

A flash came over the parking lot as Brandi’s normal clothes resurfaced. Brandi thought, I have never had to fight that hard in my life. The crowd started clapping repeatedly and Brandi couldn’t believe the recognition that she was receiving. As the people continued to clap, Curtis reemerged fully healed saying, Thank you for a wonderful battle Brandi. A vortex opened up as Brandi asked, What’s going on? Curtis said, By the rules of the Phoenix Wars, I must leave now. Brandi asked, Where are you going? Curtis replied, Don’t know and I don’t really care, but you won’t see me again until a winner is determined. I just wish it could have been me. Curtis walked through the vortex and the vortex closed.

Brandi’s powers were taken away once more and she was sent through the parking lot to be checked out at Seattle Grace Hospital. When Brandi was transferred into a private room and put in a neck brace, she received a call from NaTavis. NaTavis and Tracy both told her congratulations. Tracy filled her in on everything that she had missed, and this was the first time that Brandi had realized that NaTavis had a little sister. Tracy and NaTavis soon got off the phone and started to let Brandi get some rest before returning to school and her normal life when a nurse walked in with a laptop with a bunch of emails all addressed to her from witches and fortune tellers alike giving her new ideas of how to improve her powers over tarot cards. Brandi knew it would be a while before her second match so she immediately started writing down new recipes and tarot card combinations that way she could better her chances for her next round.

Chapter Two

A couple of days later, in San Francisco, at the Titan’s Tower, Starfire, Beast Boy, and Cyborg were just getting back from arresting more members of Hive. While Beast Boy and Cyborg started playing video games Starfire was roaming down the hallway when she noticed an envelope on Cyborg’s room door. Starfire started to touch the envelope, but something told her not to. Starfire flew back to the game room and said, Cyborg, you have a letter. Beast Boy and Cyborg kept playing their racing game. Starfire tried to speak once more and found that she was still being ignored. Starfire’s eyes glowed green as her voice became deeper and dark when she said, LISTEN TO ME!

Cyborg and Beast Boy paused their video game and turned to Starfire whose face had returned to normal when she said in a calm voice, Cyborg you have a letter on your room door. Cyborg seemed confused when he replied, Letter? Starfire and Beast Boy followed Cyborg back to his room. Beast Boy started to touch the envelope when Cyborg slapped his hand saying, Hold on. As Beast Boy turned his attention to Cyborg, Cyborg shined a light over the envelope and it revealed a phrase. The phrase on the envelope read, To Cyborg, you have been invited to participate in the Phoenix Wars. Should you agree to participate, you will become a phoenix carrier, dragon rider, or a member of the legion and have a true chance of earning a spot in the final one hundred. Cyborg said, I have a chance of joining them. Starfire asked, What about us, the Teen Titans? Cyborg replied, I don’t know. I have to think about this. Cyborg walked away leaving Starfire and Beast Boy in the hallway.

Meanwhile on the Judge’s Ship, LeDaun and Sagittarius were physically separated. Every horoscope that had joined with another being was separated as well. LeDaun didn’t have any clue of what was happening. The Chef brought Sagittarius a tray with a lid over it saying, Sagittarius, this is for you. The Chef took the lid off the tray which revealed an envelope that said, Invitation for Sagittarius. Sagittarius asked, What’s that? The Chef replied, You have been invited to compete in an exclusive new tournament. This is a tournament that The Judge doesn’t control. Sagittarius asked, Why would I want to compete? LeDaun noticed that Sagittarius picked up the envelope with a pair of forceps and read the back saying, If I lose the match I have to leave until the end of the tournament.

The Chef smiled and threw the tray with the envelope at Sagittarius knocking her down. Sagittarius was shocked at The Chef who was being spiteful and rude. As LeDaun helped Sagittarius to her feet, Sagittarius touched the envelope that was lying on the ground. The envelope spoke saying, Invitation has been accepted. You battle will take place tomorrow on the Las Vegas Strip. Since you are on the Judge’s ship, you will be beamed to your location when the battle begins. The envelope vanished afterwards and LeDaun yelled, Why the hell did you push her? The Chef said, I have a very strong feeling that I have to compete in this tournament, and you, Sagittarius are a threat. I have analyzed your powers. See, the main problem is I can’t beat you in a fight. With luck I’m hoping that whoever or whatever you have to fight can destroy you.

The Chef left LeDaun’s room after he finished his statement. Sagittarius looked at LeDaun replying, I trust you. You have had my powers for a year now, help me think of a new strategy. LeDaun handed Sagittarius a capture ball. Sagittarius asked, What’s this? LeDaun pressed a button on the capture ball and a flash of red light came over Sagittarius. Sagittarius asked, What just happened? LeDaun answered, I have connected the capture ball to you. Use it to capture a person or thing that is magical. Now the original creature will be released after you capture it, but you will retain a copy of the person or thing and be able to use it’s powers at will. Sagittarius reached out her hand saying, Thank you. LeDaun smiled back replying, You trusted me with, hell you, the least I can do is share a piece of myself. LeDaun shook Sagittarius’s hand still smiling.

Back at Titan Tower, Starfire said, I think that it’s a good opportunity. If you win, you get to be one of those really important people that we see on the television sometimes. Beast Boy added, Whatever you decide to do, we will back you one hundred percent. Cyborg said, Let’s make history. Starfire and Beast Boy followed Cyborg back to the envelope which was on his room door. Cyborg took a deep breath and touched the envelope. The envelope spoke, Invitation has been accepted. Your battle will take place tomorrow on the Las Vegas Strip. Then the envelope transformed into money and a plane ticket. Starfire picked up the plane ticket saying, This is most curious. Beast Boy asked, What is? Starfire asked, Why would Cyborg need a plane ticket when we have a plane of our own? Beast Boy looked around noticing that all their gadgets were now gone from the Tower and yelled, Where is everything?

Starfire looked at Cyborg saying, You’re completely human. Cyborg looked back at Starfire and screamed, You’re human too! Starfire said, That’s not possible. I’m not from this planet. Beast Boy walked over while eating a donut and screamed when he looked at Starfire and Cyborg. Then Starfire and Cyborg looked at Beast Boy and screamed. Then all three screamed again. Starfire said, I can not fly anymore. I believe I do not have my powers. Cyborg looked at the land outside of the Titan Tower saying, We aren’t even in our world anymore.

All three looked out of the window and were shocked at the lack of technology in the surrounding city.

Starfire said, Well regardless of where we are, you still have to get to Las Vegas. You have an upcoming battle. Beast Boy pointed up and saw a huge blue and red flashing bird. Starfire and Cyborg followed Beast Boy’s finger as Cyborg asked, Is that thing coming at us? Starfire yelled, I suggest we run! Beast Boy, Starfire, and Cyborg started running across the room trying to reach the elevator. The blue and red flashing bird flew through the Titan Tower’s glass like it wasn’t there to begin with and then it flew inside of Cyborg merging itself with him. As the blue and red flashing bird vanished Cyborg said, Phoenix of Emergency. Then Cyborg collapsed from the shock of the merge.

Starfire and Beast Boy lifted Cyborg over to the couch and dropped him on the cushions. For the next couple of hours Starfire and Beast Boy watched over Cyborg who stayed asleep. When he finally woke up he said, What happened? All of my circuits are going haywire. Starfire asked, Are you okay, Cyborg? Cyborg said, All these thoughts are running through my head. I have to get to Las Vegas. Beast Boy asked, Are you sure? Cyborg said, Yeah, I have to win. That way I can keep this phoenix of emergency and become one of the final one hundred. Starfire said, Me and Beast Boy look human now, so I bought two more plane tickets while you were asleep, just in case. We are coming with you, to this Las Vegas, where you want to be so bad.

Later on that night, at the airport, Starfire and Beast Boy noticed everyone passing through metal detectors and taking off their shoes and socks. Cyborg thought, What kind of world is this? Starfire and Beast Boy passed through the metal detectors with no problems. Cyborg walked through the metal detector next and every alarm in the airport went off. Cyborg found that he was on the ground being arrested. Starfire and Beast Boy were pushed back into the crowd of bystanders. Cyborg was lifted up and taken to airport security.

Cyborg was in handcuffs when they sat him down, in a cold metal chair. The head of airport security walked in as Cyborg asked, What’s going on? The head of airport security said, Airports are designed to detect phoenix or dragon energy especially if they aren’t registered to the federal government. Because of the Phoenix Wars, your powers are inactive, but the moment you shake your opponents hand everything will come back. I can’t have that. Cyborg asked, Who are you? The head of airport security said, The names Antonio. Cyborg asked, Why hold me? I have a tournament to get to. Antonio answered, See, I have it on good authority that if neither fighter shows up to their fight that both fighters are erased until the end of the tournament. I don’t have a problem with you directly, but I know who your opponent is going to be and I can’t have her in the final one hundred. It would ruin my plans.

Cyborg replied, Let me get this straight. Cyborg saw that the door was open and waited until Antonio came around to his side of the table. When Antonio was close enough, Cyborg dashed under the table and out of the room. Antonio was instantly trapped in a shield because he tried to grab Cyborg in anger. Antonio yelled, Stupid anti-violence shield. Cyborg grabbed Starfire’s and Beast Boy’s hands on the way to their plane which was five minutes from taking off. As the plane was lifting off Antonio was just now making it to the gate when Cyborg, Starfire, and Beast Boy all waved bye to him.

An hour and a half later the three teen titans landed in Las Vegas and found that more airport security were after them to take them back to San Francisco so the three headed in different directions all managing to escape the security forces. They met up a few minutes later outside of the airport and caught a cab to the nearest hotel which was right across the street.

A couple of hours later Sagittarius was beamed down to the Las Vegas strip where she noticed the large crowds and then Beast Boy, Starfire, and Cyborg walked up. The envelopes reappeared and spoke, You must shake hands to make the battle official. Then both envelopes vanished once again. Cyborg stepped out and shook Sagittarius’s hand. A huge wave of light came over the battlefield and when the light cleared Cyborg felt normal again, if only for a moment. Sagittarius found herself wearing a fire candy apple red body suit with a scarlet red looped belt around her waist. Gold heeled boots appeared over her feet. A gold visor appeared over her eyes as a red tattoo of the horoscope Sagittarius emerged in the middle of her forehead. Cyborg watched as ninety percent of his body became covered in cybernetics. The cybernetics were light blue and silver in color and then Cyborg de-transformed into his true human form which was named Victor Stone. Starfire walked up to Victor saying, You have a tattoo on your back, one half is blue and the other half is red.

Victor Stone (Phoenix of Emergency) verses Sagittarius (The Summoner Phoenix)

Sagittarius thought, Let’s make this fast. He’s a new phoenix and that’s when they are most dangerous. Sagittarius said, Bomb, as a soccer ball appeared in her hands. Sagittarius rolled the soccer ball over to Victor. Victor kicked the soccer ball back towards Sagittarius. Sagittarius moved to the side and the soccer ball was caught by a kid standing in the crowd. Sagittarius eyes grew big as the soccer ball exploded. Guts from the people in the crowd rained down on Victor and Sagittarius. Victor’s mouth dropped as he went into a state of shock.

People in the crowd started screaming, running, and wandering around in a daze. Sagittarius couldn’t believe that her bomb killed so many people or that it caused so much damage to the surrounding area. Sagittarius went into a state of shock because of the destruction and gained tunnel vision. Sagittarius said, Jedi Force. Sagittarius closed her hand into a fist and started using her mind to blast back innocent bystanders. Victor screamed, What are you doing? Sagittarius continued to blast any person that tried to move out of the way.

Starfire grabbed Victor’s hands saying, Cyborg, listen to me, stop her, but don’t hurt her. She’s in shock. Cyborg asked, How am I supposed to fight her in this, this chaos? Starfire said, Me and Beast Boy will help to clear the crowd, but you have to get her to focus on you. I do not believe she is thinking straight. Starfire and Beast Boy moved away from Cyborg and started helping the crowd get to safety. Victor started yelling, Hey Girl! Over Here! Sagittarius didn’t seem to be hearing anything when Victor thought, I, I have no choice. Victor watched Sagittarius jump and then fly off. Victor said, You’re shitting me. Oh my god I just said something that was not rated PG-13. What kind of world is this? Victor tried to jump but found that he couldn’t do anything. Then Victor took off running in the direction that he saw Sagittarius moving in. Victor thought, I am starting to think that being in the final one hundred is going to be too much work. Victor stopped running and said, Alright, come on, do something. Victor looked at his body saying, This phoenix of emergency must be a joke.

Victor heard sirens going off in his head as he looked around trying to find the source when Sagittarius landed in front of him. Sagittarius pulled out her Egyptian blue cell phone and watched it glow as Sagittarius looked at it saying, You haven’t chosen a side yet. Victor asked, Why does that matter? Sagittarius said, I need you to touch my cell phone. Victor replied, Your soccer ball attack just killed half a dozen people including a kid. Sagittarius yelled, I didn’t mean to kill those people. This Egyptian blue cell phone means that I fight for the powers of good. Victor said, I don’t understand, but besides that I have to take you in. Sagittarius replied, Excuse me, you kicked the ball into the crowd so if anyone is going to jail, it’s you. Victor said, I’m not going down for this. Sagittarius watched as a champagne red wrist band appeared around Victor’s left arm. Sagittarius said, You just chose the wrong side. That’s all I need to justify me destroying you. Sagittarius flew up and Victor lost sight of her as he looked down to see the wrist band asking, What the hell is this?

Sagittarius dived down from the sky, picking up Victor and slamming him into the side of the nearest building. As Victor started to slide down the side of the building Sagittarius called for her diamond arrow and launched it at Victor. The diamond arrow automatically centered itself on Victor’s heart. Victor saw the arrow coming and heard the sirens again when he said, Emergency Weight. Iron plates surrounded the diamond arrow and weighted it down till it weight about a ton and then it started falling. As the diamond arrow fell to the ground Victor fell as well. Victor landed hard on the ground, left leg first. Victor fell over as the bones in his left leg shattered as Sagittarius said, You need to die now. Sagittarius landed grabbing his arms and begin holding on tight. Victor yelled, What are you doing to me? Sagittarius said, This is my explosive grip attack. When I hold onto something for longer than a couple of seconds that object explodes. Sagittarius let go of Victor and Victor’s arms exploded.

Victor lost an excessive amount of blood as his body erupted into flames and turned to ash. Sagittarius started to walk away when Victor Stone was reconstituted. Sagittarius turned around to see burns on Victor’s hands and that his leg was barely viable. Victor started to get up when he saw her coming closer and said, Relentless Sirens. Victor and Sagittarius were brought to the fetal positions because the sound was extremely over bearing. Victor looked up and saw that Sagittarius had let her guard down for a moment when he said, Emergency Weight. Metal sheets started covering Sagittarius and Victor managed to get himself on his feet. He started to walk over to the metal box and noticed that Sagittarius wasn’t inside of it. Sagittarius found that the intense sound waves were causing her to go blind so she said, Archer’s Rain. The symbol for the horoscope Sagittarius formed in the air over the area and rained down millions of arrows. The arrows stopped in mid-air. Victor looked up thinking, What just happened?

Sagittarius noticed the sound of the sirens getting louder. Sagittarius said, "I didn’t have a choice so I used my last hit ability to learn one of your powers. Victor saw Sagittarius’s lips moving, but didn’t hear what she said. Sagittarius used her speed while she was talking, but because of the sound, Victor didn’t see Sagittarius move. Victor looked down to see that he was surrounded by four soccer balls. The soccer balls exploded instantly which incinerated Victor.

Winner: Sagittarius (The Summoner Phoenix)

A few moments later Victor reappeared again. Sagittarius was about to attack again when Victor yelled, HOLD ON! YOU WON! Sagittarius noticed that the sirens had stopped when she said, I killed you twice. How are you back? A vortex opened up and Victor walked through yelling, Tell Starfire and Beast Boy that I will see them again. Then the vortex closed leaving Sagittarius thinking about The Chef and how he pushed her.

Sagittarius returned to the scene of the first bomb and started helping the relief workers. Starfire walked up to Sagittarius asking, Can you tell me where is Cyborg? Sagittarius replied, He lost. Starfire asked, What ever does that have to do with where Cyborg is? Sagittarius continued, When you lose in this tournament, you must go away. Starfire asked, Does that mean Cyborg is. Starfire gulped and finished, is dead? Sagittarius said, No he has a phoenix now, he can’t die by normal standards. A vortex opened up and took Cyborg away. He will be returned after the tournament ends. Starfire said, So he will not be here for the future. Beast Boy interrupted, He’ll be back in the future, just not the right now future. Starfire asked, What shall we tell the others? Beast Boy replied, We will think about that later. Right now we have to think about everyone here that needs our help. Starfire said, I know you are right Beast Boy, but Robin will not be pleased. Sagittarius, Starfire, and Beast Boy saw people running and screaming from a couple of blocks away as Sagittarius said, Damn I forgot. Starfire asked, What did you forget? Sagittarius said, My Archer’s Rain attack, but how come it didn’t go away when I won the battle. This tournament is too dangerous. I have to find out who’s responsible. Starfire said, But first we have to help those people as well. Beast Boy said, Looks like its going to be a long day.

Chapter Three

The next night, Sergeant Wendell was on rotation when he and his men came under fire. The last thing Wendell remembered was that he was being taken by a holy light. The very next moment he felt, he was in the middle of a war. Wendell didn’t know why, but the men trusted him. Wendell opened fire on the other soldiers. When the gun fight was over and the Iranians had retreated, Wendell saw an envelope in the sand. Wendell saw that the envelope was addressed to someone named Jobe. Wendell picked up the envelope and the name changed as the envelope said, Invitation has been accepted. Your opponent will come to you. Then the envelope vanished and the American soldiers were confused as they stood around asking, What was that? Wendell shrugged his shoulders as everyone looked up to see what was blocking out the sunlight. A phoenix as big as the sky screeched and then dove down absorbing itself into Wendell’s body. Wendell collapsed and the other soldiers in his platoon lifted him up and carted him off to the safe zone.

Kano was adjusting to life in this universe when he decided to sit down to a friendly poker game. After a couple of hands he unbuckled his knives and started stabbing his playmates with pin point accuracy. A bystander immediately ran out of the club and called the police. Kano followed the screams and kept killing women and men alike on his way out. When Kano reached the outside of the club he found that he was already surrounded by half a dozen police cars. An officer yelled, Drop the knives and put your hands in the air! Kano smiled and spoke with an Australian accent, I would love to comply, but I have somewhere to be. Before Kano could take any further action a white envelope fell from the sky. Kano reached up and grabbed the envelope as it spoke, Invitation has been accepted. Kano looked down asking, Invitation to what? The dragon world shined its light down on Kano which opened up a portal. A police officer yelled, Sir, don’t go in there! Kano replied, Right, I’m supposed to stay here and get arrested. I’ll take my chances. Kano ran through the portal as the officers opened fire. The same officer said, It’s not going down this way. I’m not letting yet another phoenix get away. The police officer ran into the portal right before it closed.

As Kano landed in the Dragon world, he started to say, Quan Chi, you son of a bitch, you sent that portal just in time. Kano looked around seeing the desolate surface of the dragon world, when the officer landed next to him. The officer tackled Kano and Kano threw the officer off of him causing the officer to land hard on his back. Kano jumped to his feet and pulled out his pocket knife. Kano said, You’re a brave one, but stupid to follow me here to the Nether Realm. Then Kano looked up and started backing away from the officer. The officer was scared as he pulled his gun and turned around to see a yellow dragon laughing as it used its gigantic claw to push the officer over.

The yellow dragon kept laughing as Kano took a hard look around noticing that this place wasn’t the Nether Realm. Then the yellow dragon walked passed the officer and up on Kano who had his pocket knife out. The yellow dragon easily knocked the knife out of Kano’s hand. Kano pulled out another knife and before he could attack the orange dragon which was taller than the yellow dragon walked up to the officer. The officer started shooting at the orange dragon as it opened its mouth and ate the officer whole. The yellow dragon let out a hiss as the orange dragon rammed into it knocking it away from Kano. The yellow dragon snared as an orange glow came over the orange dragon and Kano. The orange dragon de-transformed into an orange jewel that appeared under Kano’s left wrist. Kano felt sick to his stomach. Then Kano upchucked the charred remains of the officer. When Kano finished throwing up he couldn’t believe what he tasted. Kano was thrown out of the dragon world. He landed on a plane in a bathroom that was headed for the middle of Iran.

Kano walked out of the bathroom and stabbed a man in the back of the neck as