The Superheroes Archive

Preface

Greetings everyone. I would like to welcome you all to The Superheroes Archive. Now I bet you’re wondering what exactly we’re archiving with a title like that. Well, I’ll tell you. I had the idea for The Superheroes since I was seven years old, thus the main character’s young age, and over the years I slowly expanded the history of the characters and the world of the series as time went on. The world itself was made to be flexible, to allow any other character from any property to exist within it. That’s because The Superheroes was originally made to be used in all of the games I used to play as a child, whether it be by myself or with my friends. It’s a world I’ve gotten quite fond of, and eventually I found myself writing in it.

As you can imagine, with such a long timespan between then and now, many drafts came before with many yet to come. While I’ve written the occasional short story for class when I was younger, I didn’t fully get into writing until the age of 13, thanks largely in part to the Agency of the 5th World series. This series, while separate from the original, acted as a continuation of The Superheroes using shared characters and roughly the same multiverse. However, while I write in the Agency series a lot more than The Superheroes, I still had stories to tell from back then so I’ve written a few down. Originally, I’ve posted the stories on FictionPress as I was a young teenager back then and I didn’t know exactly where else to post it. However, as the years went on, I kept on writing various other stories. Some I posted on Wattpad, some exclusive to my collections, and some have no relation to The Superheroes whatsoever. Which brings me to the point of this archive.

Essentially soon, I will be rewriting what I got so far of The Superheroes to both update the worldbuilding and to improve some of the older stories. However, I want to preserve those previous drafts people read for my and maybe other people’s nostalgia. Plus, I like keeping records of where I have been over the years and figured it was time to get a physical release of some of these stories. This book will have two sections: one with the original online publications of the book, back when I was heavily doing the chapter format, and one with the versions featured in Jeremiah Ellison’s Poems & Short Stories Collection 1 & 2. Originally, I was going to have each section sold separately, but after seeing the page count of each one individually, I’ve decided to put them together for my cover artist’s sanity.

The Original Online Publications section is essentially what it says: the versions of the stories that were originally published on the web on sites like FictionPress and Wattpad, just with their actual covers and adaptions of their original formatting. Because these are older drafts, they’re going to be less polished than some of my newer stories, but I wanted to preserve these Original Versions for the nostalgic or the morbidly curious. Most of these stories will have chapters as opposed to the Collection Versions, which will be in short story format. This is primarily because I was big into writing using the chapter format back then, nothing else. While all the text is largely the same, there is one major difference in this section compared to the original online publications, and that is the stories will actually have some illustrations I made for them while I was younger that was absent from their online publications due to technical limitations. There are two reasons for this. One, since I edited where the pictures would appear on FictionPress itself, the versions saved on my computer assume that the pictures are being used. And two, I always meant for these to be viewed with these pictures thus my decision to include them. The Collection Versions, on the other hand, will be presented as they appear in the Poems & Short Stories Collections, so people who just want those stories without anything else in those previous collections, *cough* Golden Radiance *cough*, can have it. Without further ado, let’s go.

The Superheroes

Elvis Star’s Last Concert

By Pokemiah

Elvis Star is a tall, skinny man who always [wears] black threads and shades. He used to be a famous rock star. His interest in music started when kids in his class started making references to his name compared to the king of rock-and-roll himself, Elvis Presley. For his 10th birthday, he got an electric guitar and played it all day and night. His music career officially started for him when he was 16 after a talent scout heard him and his band practicing in Elvis’s garage. He set them up with their first gig and they were a smash hit. This is the story of Elvis Star’s last concert before he left the band. Of course, nobody really knows the truth about what happened to him until now.

Okay. Is everybody ready? asked Elvis Star.

Ready, said Charles, the drummer of the band.

Charles is always dressed for success but he gained a bit of weight ever since he joined the band.

I’m ready and raring to go, said Angelia, the bass guitarist.

Angelia is a blond woman with rebel styled clothing.

Then, let’s get it on, said Elvis as the band started playing.

Meanwhile in the city,

There is a high-speed chase going on in the skies. Some flying muscular man (No, it’s not Superman) was chasing some guy with tornadoes for limbs. The tornado guy was wearing some shades with a grin on his face telling you that everything is going to plan.

Well, Fly Guy, what are you going to do now? The Battle of the Bands is only three days away and soon my plans will be perfectly clear. There is no way you can win, said the tornado guy.

So, you’re a music lover, eh? Well, maybe you should listen for what we got for you, said Fly Guy as the tornado guy heard some disco music turned up at max volume.

However, this was no ordinary music. The frequency was so high that it would give you a splitting headache upon hearing it thus stopping you in your tracks. The tornado guy looked in the direction the music was coming from and saw some guy dressed in 80s disco clothes next to a stereo.

Sorry I’m late. But, I had to crank up the tunes to make sure that they were working properly, said the weird disco person.

That’s alright. Glad you could make it, Disco, said Fly Guy.

On the opposite rooftop, there was some guy who looked like a pirate with a cannon aimed at the tornado guy. He fired the cannon and a cannonball hit the tornado guy on the back. The impact disrupted the flow of energy it takes to generate the tornadoes and they dissipated. He started falling out of the sky. Right when he was in front of a window of the 25th floor of a skyscraper, some guy dressed like a secret agent jumped out of the window and grabbed the tornado guy. He got out a grappling hook and it latched onto a window causing them to land safely.

He activated his watch and reported, Villain #45600 AKA Shadenado has been apprehended. I shall report back up to the roof with him at hand.

You seriously need to learn how to loosen up Stealthy. This ain’t some British agency. Oh well. Just bring him over here before he escapes, stated Fly Guy.

Roger. And I told you to call me by my code name Double OO, said Double OO.

At some faraway building, some guy is meditating at the roof of the skyscraper. He opened his eyes. Back at Double OO’s location, a sudden wind gust hit him causing him to topple over. Shadenado started generating his tornadoes. He blew Double OO away causing him to crash into a building. He fell down unconscious.

See you later, alligator. I wish I could stay but I got a concert to go to, said Shadenado.

He flew away. Double OO’s watch’s communications activated with Fly Guy’s voice booming, Stealthy, come in. Report. Stealthy? What’s going on there, Stealthy? Answer me!

Back at Elvis Star’s rehearsal,

No, that won’t do. We just can’t get the hang of this new song, complained Elvis.

Well, what did you expect? We can’t just learn a new song out of the blue, stated Angelia.

Angelia, please. Don’t criticize him. He’s under enough stress already, said Charles.

It’s alright, Charles. I’m fine. I just need a break, said Elvis.

Suddenly, their manager came in.

Hello, everyone. How is my favorite band doing? asked the manager.

Oh, just great. We’re having loads of fun, said Elvis sarcastically.

Watch that attitude, boy. One more remark like that and I’ll send you off to the dumps. Anyway, down to business. I did some research on the competition. Apparently, the other bands entered in this are some pretty tough competition. Luckily for you, I have a sure-fire way to win the whole shi-bang, said the manager.

And that would be? inquired Elvis.

I have written a song for the band that I want you three to play, answered their manager as he handed them some sheet music.

They looked at it and couldn’t believe their eyes.

I have never seen a piece of work like this before, said Charles.

All right. You caught our eye. We’ll play it but we need some time to practice it before we play it in the concert, said Elvis.

Fair enough. That’s what I figure. You just get ready to play by Friday and you’ll be good to go. Well, see you, said the manager as he walked out of the room.

When he left, he made a phone call.

Hello? Whirlwind? asked the manager.

What is it? asked Whirlwind on the other line.

Good news. Everything is going to plan. Elvis’s Stars are going to play the song as you instructed, said the manager.

Good. Nothing will happen while they practice it because conditions aren’t right, yet. But, during the Battle of the Bands, they will be. In the meantime, lay low and keep an eye on them. After all, we don’t want them changing their minds on us, said Whirlwind.

Agreed, said the manager as he hung up.

The next day at Superhero HQ 5,

Sector 5 AKA the greatly mismatched people who were chasing Shadenado were discussing matters.

So, he got away, huh? questioned the boss.

That is correct, sir, answered Fly Guy.

I see. This is troublesome indeed. You got any idea of where Shadenado could be? inquired the boss.

He mentioned something about the Battle of the Bands coming up two days from now, replied Fly Guy.

A Battle of the Bands? He must mean the one in Las Vegas on Friday. If that’s so, something big is going to happen. Question is, what? Sector 5, I want you four to enter the Battle of the Bands and find out what Shadenado is up to, said the boss.

Got it, Boss. But there is one small problem, mentioned Fly Guy.

And what would that be? questioned the boss with a menacing look on his face.

Umm…you see…Only Disco has any knowledge of music in our sector and, no offense to you Disco, but disco is out of style, explained Fly Guy.

Non taken, said Disco.

Well now, that is a problem. Tell you what. Go over to the lab and see if they can fix you up with something. I bet you that they can at least get you past auditions, said the boss.

Alright, then. We’ll do that. See you later, said Fly Guy.

Wait, one more thing, halted the boss.

And what would that be? asked Fly Guy.

You’re going to need a manager. Luckily for you, I’ll volunteer to be your manager, said the boss.

And what do you know about managing a band? questioned Fly Guy.

Not a thing. But how hard can it be, answered the boss modestly.

Fly Guy thought, "Yep. We’re doomed."

They left the room and went over to the lab.

Meanwhile at some random restaurant in Las Vegas,

Elvis Star and his band are eating lunch while talking about the upcoming Battle of the Bands.

So you two, wouldn’t you say that the song our manager suggested is coming along great? inquired Elvis.

Yeah. It’s even better than we thought, said Charles.

The lyrics are quite questionable, however, said Angelia.

I know, right? I wonder why our manager decided to write them in Latin, questioned Charles.

Don’t know, don’t care. As long as we become famous off of it and our career takes off, we’ll be just fine, said Elvis.

Yeah, that’s right. After all this is over, we’ll be rolling in dough, added Charles.

Is that all you guys care about? The fame and fortune? questioned Angelia.

Yes, answered both of them simultaneously.

I don’t know what to do with you two? complained Angelia.

I know what you should do, said Elvis.

Meanwhile at Superhero HQ 5,

Here you go. These should get past the auditions, said the scientists as they gave Sector 5 some weird looking instruments.

You’re supposed to be helping us. But instead you just give us musical instruments that we have no idea how to play, complained Fly Guy.

Arrgh. He’s right, said the guy who looks like a pirate.

These aren’t ordinary instruments. They’re special auto-playing instruments that should get you through the auditions, replied the scientist.

Isn’t using auto-playing instruments cheating? questioned Fly Guy.

The scientist made a hand gesture and said, Cheating? You’re not trying to win. You’re just trying to sneak backstage. So, it’s not cheating.

I don’t think this is groovy, implied Disco.

Enough! said the boss as he walked in, You are going to use the auto-playing instruments whether you like it or not. And your band name is Sector 5-1.

Why Sector 5-1? questioned Fly Guy.

Because you’re Sector 5 but you got only four members, explained the boss.

"This is definitely going too far," thought Fly Guy.

The next day at Las Vegas,

Elvis Star and the rest of the band were practicing when their manager came in.

Guys and Angelia, I got bad news, said their manager.

It can’t possibly be that bad, said Elvis.

Oh, but it is. You see, a new band just entered the competition and they played the best music I ever heard and completely aced their audition. You three are going to need some real talent to beat them, replied their manager.

And what is their band name? inquired Charles.

The worst band name ever, Sector 5-1, answered their manager.

Well, don’t worry. With that new song you wrote, we’ll completely dominate the competition, assured Elvis.

Well, that’s a relief. Remember, you don’t have to win. You just have to try your best, encouraged their manager.

Oh, don’t worry. We’ll win, said Elvis.

Okay. Just checking, said their manager as he left.

He got out his cell phone and dialed up a phone number. On the other side of the line, Whirlwind answered it.

Hello? answered Whirlwind.

Whirlwind, I got bad news, said the manager of Elvis’s Stars.

What is it? inquired Whirlwind.

Those heroes who were chasing me the other day just entered the competition. This could provide some complications, explained the manager.

I see your point. I want you to deal with the situation immediately, ordered Whirlwind.

Roger. Over and out, said the manager as he hung up.

Meanwhile in Sector 5-1’s hotel room,

Coolsville. They weren’t kidding when they said these instruments would get us past auditions, commented Fly Guy.

I agree. However, I wish they would have chose better music, commented Disco.

Arrgh, ye mateys. It doesn’t matter what kind of music we played. As long as we got backstage, said the pirate.

You’re right, Blackbeard. Let’s just get this over with. Luckily, we’re last. So, Shadenado’s plan should reveal itself before we have to perform, said Fly Guy.

Suddenly, they heard a big bang. They looked towards their door and see that it along with the surrounding wall was knocked down. In its place was Shadenado.

Long time no see, mismatches, greeted Shadenado.

Shadenado! said Fly Guy.

That’s right. And this time, you’re going down, said Shadenado.

Stealthy, if you please, hinted Fly Guy.

Double OO! exclaimed Stealthy as he threw down a smoke bomb, which filled up the whole room with smoke.

What the heck? exclaimed Shadenado as he felt the ground shaking.

Suddenly, the floor started cracking right below his feet and he fell down it. He quickly generated his tornadoes. He flew up straight up when a pirate sword came flying at him. He quickly dodged it. The sword pinned itself to the wall. Suddenly, Double OO kicked him. He fell back a bit. He sent a tornado straight at Double OO. However, he missed completely. Chunks of the wall hit Shadenado. He lost his concentration for a minute and the tornadoes dissipated. He started falling. The entire hotel could hear the commotion. Everyone including Elvis