Lost in Another World: Chapter 1: That Fateful Day

Penny loved her life. She and Trevor had been together ever since that day at the gallery. Being heroes only made them stronger. Graduation was only a few months away; soon she and her friends would start college. They had talked their parents into letting them stay close to home rather than leaving Arcadia. They couldn’t leave until they defeated Metallic Owl. Then they would go on a long trip; it was going to be great.

The group often wondered if the city would ever lose faith in them, but nobody was calling for them to give up their Elements so they kept up the fight. As Penny walked to school she couldn’t think of how life could get any better. Trevor was waiting for her when she got to the front door. "Good Morning, my flower!" He hugged her quickly and kissed her hand. "I missed you this weekend. Sorry, mom needed me at that event; I tried to get her to let me bring you… but well….”

Penny sighed. “I know she doesn’t think I’m good enough for you, I’m just some waiter girl.” Penny rolled her eyes. “It’s like she doesn’t realize I have a relatively successful business for someone who has no real training.” This conversation right here is where most of their problems came from. Her family welcomed Trevor with open arms; his, on the other hand, shut the gate in her face and barred her from their home. Trevor had taken her to meet his dad as he was in the hospital; he was fighting a terminal illness that Penny didn’t understand. He had liked her but that didn’t seem to matter. Trevor’s driver also seemed to like her, but his mother hated her.

Penny worked hard not to envy Andrew and Sophie, who were loved by both sets of parents. It didn’t seem to matter how well Sophie’s parents spoke of Penny to Trevor's mom; she wouldn’t change her opinion.

Trevor pulled her from her spiralling thoughts and squeezed her hand. “But I love you, no matter what Mother says.” She brought his hand to her lips and kissed it trying to ignore the thoughts gnawing at her. Trevor smiled at her softly, then spoke again, “Hey look - there’s Sophie and Andrew, let’s go say hi and talk about our next post on the website.” He led her over to their friends, and she was grateful for the distraction.

The group did their handshake, swapped weekend stories, then walked to class together. They were lucky enough to have their first class of the day together.

"So ladies, it’s Friday and double date night. What’s the plan?" Andrew asked as he fished his notebook out of his bag for this class.

"Assuming a battle doesn't mess up homework." Penny stuck her tongue out at her childhood friend.

"Aww come, Rose, have some hope!" Andrew tossed a ball of paper at her.

"Whatever, Spark." Penny caught it and tossed it back.

"Eash, you two and the nicknames." Sophie laughed. "Eh, Sunshine? Makes you wonder what these two besties would have done without us?" Sophie winked at Trevor.

"Probably caved and started dating," Trevor stuck his tongue out at the other two who made faces at the idea. "But ya, date night ideas - who’s got one?"

"Zoo?" Sophie suggested. The group all shrugged; they just had a battle there not too long ago.

"Video games?" Penny teased. The others shook their heads; Penny would beat them all and they knew it.

"Movie?" Trevor offered. They briefly looked through the movies at the theatre, but no one seemed impressed.

"Star gazing? It’s finally nice enough for that," Andrew suggested, and the group looked at him with smiles.

"Want to come to my house and use the roof? Then we could go for a 'run' when we are done star gazing," Pen winked.

The group reached an agreement by the time the teacher walked in and the school day officially started. By the end of the day, there had still been no battles, so the group gathered on Penny's roof. The smell of the restaurant was faint in the distance and recordings of Andrew’s piano track played in the background. The four lay on the roof, pointing at different shapes in the stars, and Penny enjoyed being held by Trevor.

Trevor smiled and pulled her closer. "Someday, my flower, this will be our life - relaxing under the stars every day if you want." He whispered so Andrew and Sophie wouldn't tease him.

"That sounds amazing; will you always read me one of your stories, Raven?" She giggled in her whispered tone.

"As long as you never grow tired of them." Trevor sighed with contentment and pointed out different stars to her.

Penny looked over at Andrew and Sophie, who also spoke in whispered tones. She was so happy for her best friend; they had both found people who made them happy and made them better people.

After an hour of enjoying the stars, the group agreed that a run around the city was a great idea. Each of them stood and double-tapped their elements, enjoying the warmth their costumes gave them in the cool night air.

"Alright, last one to the mayor’s statue is a rotten egg!" Ice Raven yelled as he darted away.

Mighty Mage quickly jumped after him. "Hey, no fair!"

"Well Rose, look like they forgot again." Flint walked over to Rose Thorn.

"Every time, Spark. I'm sorry your element doesn't give you the ability to fly," she laughed.

"Eh, it means I get to fly around the city with my childhood best friend, and my girlfriend can't get mad because she abandoned me to chase a bird." He couldn’t help but laugh.

"Fair point." Rose Thorn put her arm around his waist, and Flint wrapped his arm around her shoulder. They swung through the sky above the city.

"Hey, slowpokes!" Ice Raven teased.

"Hey, it's not our fault you two routinely forget Flint can't fly or swing like the rest of us." Rose Thorn walked over and poked Ice Raven's goggles.

Suddenly an explosion was heard in the background.

"So much for date night," Flint sighed.

"Come, Fire boy, I'll give you a ride this time. The faster we start, the faster we end," Mighty Mage teased and pulled him over to her.

"Raven? A lift if you please. Elements, link up!" Rose Thorn walked over and held on to her boyfriend.

“Looks like the explosion happened near the ice rink.” The linked-up elements explained to them.

The four heroes nodded to one another and headed off, each holding on to their partner. Unlike Flint, Rose Thorn could keep up with the other two, but her night vision wasn’t as strong so she felt better flying with Ice Raven when they needed to move in a hurry.

The heroes saw the Owl's newest victim and landed where they hoped they would be just outside of her line of vision. "Alright, Elements, what do we know?" Rose Thorn took charge as per usual.

"According to the web, there were figuring skating team tryouts tonight,” the Elements offered.

"I'm betting this one didn't make the team," Flint sighed. Suddenly they heard the screams of young girls running for the rink, followed by the all-too-familiar silver metal-covered victim. She couldn't be any older than 22 and was still in her skating uniform. Her arm was glowing like she was charging a new blast.

"Come on heroes, I know you’re out here. Come face Jaded! If they are going to split me from my partner for some new young thing, then I will rob the young of their youth! Then they will give me my partner back." Jaded struck the girl who presumably had taken her spot, and the girl became an old woman.

"Oh no! I can't lose my looks!” Ice Raven sighed dramatically.

"I'm sure you'll be fine, Raven" Rose Thorn teased. "Alright, we need to gather more info, but we also need to get the skaters out of here. I’m going to take a shot in the dark that your ice powers are not going to be helpful, Raven; so either use your water skills or just fly around and be a distraction.” Ice Raven nodded and leapt in the air. “Mage, Flint, I need you to move the rest of the skaters out of here."

"And you, my flower?" Ice Raven beamed with pride, floating in the air.

"I'm going to figure out how to trap her from higher up before we waste our energy on failed traps." Rose Thorn winked and the group fanned out. She swung to the top of the skating rink to watch her friends. Mage and Flint had quickly gotten the skaters out of the way. Flint was now heading up to help her. Ice Raven was being himself, dodging beams with the help of Mighty Mage.

"Any plans, Rose?" Shield out, Flint stood next to her.

"Notice how Jaded can't shoot if she’s moving? She probably has to be balanced." Rose pointed to Jaded’s lack of shooting as Ice Raven danced around her and dodged through Mage's wind gust.

"She’s about to get all twisted up, isn’t she?" He teased.

Rose Thorn rolled her eyes. "Just cover me, Spark; as soon as she sees my vine coming she’s going to know I’m here." He stuck his tongue out and held up his shield. Rose Thorn threw her vine lasso to wrap around Jaded’s arm and started growing vines around her legs.

As predicted, as soon as the lasso wrapped around her hand, Jaded looked behind her and saw Rose Thorn. Jaded used the last of her balance to aim a hit toward at least one of the two heroes on the roof. Flint moved quickly and jumped to tackle and shield Rose Thorn. As the blast hit, there was a bright flash of light, and when it faded…

Flint and Rose Thorn were gone. Only their elements remained.

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