Heroes & Villains // IC Thread // Chapter One

[Charlia]

Luna's smile grew wider, and she took yet another step forward.

"But you can't, can you?" she whispered. "I don't have to read your mind to know your feelings. You can't do it at all, and you know that, and you can't hide the way you feel from me. Even the coldest person can't hide their feelings from me... and you're nowhere near that, are you? You don't scare me, no, no, no. And even if you could... What's left of my mind for you to work with?"

Hannah wasn't exactly inspired with confidence when heather replied that she could take care of herself, and the ensuing things merely served to heighten her concern for the blindfolded telepathic, especially Luna. At this point, she decided it might be best to try and put a stop to Luna's creepiness and get her to leave Heather alone. To this end, she walked over to Luna, tapping on her shoulder.

"She's just the messenger at this point." She explained. "There's no need to get upset. She's just doing her job." She continued, surprisingly reasonably.

Luna turned around, grinning widely. "I'm not upset!" she said happily. "I'm just talking to her. I mean. I guess I'm a little upset," she continued, tilting her head and tapping the side of her mouth thoughtfully. "Because she's not very nice. But that's not a job, so it's okay to be upset about that, right?"

Char being Char

VK.450.P

The girl was starting trouble, delaying the progress of events and threatening his chances of completing his mission. Under normal circumstances he would simply take hold of her head at the temple and apply the need 4.6 pounds of force in one direction to snap the spinal column, thus silencing the threat. How ever, such an act this early on might cause more trouble then it's worth.

He simply stepped forward and dressed the girl quietly. "I wouldn't provoke her, some one you know little of, just might come back to bit you in the ass."

"But I'm not provoking her," Luna continued, very confused at why people were interrupting her conversation with Heather. "Why does everyone think I'm doing stuff like that? We're just talking. People do that, right? They talk. Big sister and I talk sometimes. I talk a lot. It's normal, isn't it?"

[Mundeo]

She looked up, all three of her own eyes blinking and her third eye instinctively extending on its tendrils to try and get a better look. "Oh, hello," she said in a slightly deadened tone. "What do I think? I don't really know what to think, so I can't really give that question a proper answer. It doesn't seem that unusual to me, though. I don't really understand why all of you are concerned. Isn't this normal? The only thing I was worried about was how sudden it all was..."

Oh.

She has three eyes.

Michael did not notice that... special atribute before he approached her, but there was no way he was going to just walk away. That would be rude! Maybe this would be good practice for him get used to talking to metahumans with strange characteristics; he was going to be here a while, after all.

"I suppose that it isn't strange, either: a school for metahumans. But I agree with it being sudden. Maybe they could have sent a letter rather than abducting us off the streets?" He sighed. "Desperate times call for desperate measures, I guess. I'm not even a metahuman, but that girl was trying to convince me that I can speak to animals. I mean, I had this pet rabbit once. It was eating my mom's tulips when I caught it. We never enjoyed much of a conversation, though... what's your ability?"

[Charlia]

She looked up, all three of her own eyes blinking and her third eye instinctively extending on its tendrils to try and get a better look. "Oh, hello," she said in a slightly deadened tone. "What do I think? I don't really know what to think, so I can't really give that question a proper answer. It doesn't seem that unusual to me, though. I don't really understand why all of you are concerned. Isn't this normal? The only thing I was worried about was how sudden it all was..."

Oh.

She has three eyes.

Michael did not notice that... special atribute before he approached her, but there was no way he was going to just walk away. That would be rude! Maybe this would be good practice for him get used to talking to metahumans with strange characteristics; he was going to be here a while, after all.

"I suppose that it isn't strange, either: a school for metahumans. But I agree with it being sudden. Maybe they could have sent a letter rather than abducting us off the streets?" He sighed. "Desperate times call for desperate measures, I guess. I'm not even a metahuman, but that girl was trying to convince me that I can speak to animals. I mean, I had this pet rabbit once. It was eating my mom's tulips when I caught it. We never enjoyed much of a conversation, though... what's your ability?"

"...I can read your thoughts," she replied in an equally dull tone. "I apologize for disturbing you. My sister and I were made this way. I see that it's not normal for humans... I am also capable of draining your life, or the life of any other living thing. It's necessary in order to extend my own. And I am able to pierce the skin of a living creature in order to drink its blood," she added, almost as an afterthought, opening her mouth slightly to show her impossibly sharp canines. "You may very well be able to speak to animals and not know it," she continued. "The range of abilities is quite wide, judging from what I've seen so far."

[The Flutterlands]

Filia Umbrarum

Filia looked at the blindfolded girl and frowned, biting her lip. Having someone around that can read one's thoughts wouldn't exactly be the most fun person to hang around with. So perhaps it would be a good thing if Heather kept her blindfold on. Not to mention that Filia wasn't exactly one to underestimate people."Well, I'm sure you are stronger than you look." she said, "I mean look at me. I don't exactly look strong but I'm capable of things beyond imagination."

Filia then looked at Nina, while Heather talked to some seemingly annoying teenagers, and her hellish eyes narrowed. There was a good chance that the older woman is right about the MCS not being part of this. If she is then the young half-demon could only guess what she's dealing with that brought to this place in the middle of nowhere, which only put her more on guard. "Well, ether way, I'm not one who's exactly keen on staying here." she said, "If there's one thing I don't like it's being cooped up in a place shouldn't be. One way or another, I'm getting out of here."

Filia sighed and closed her eyes in thought before taking a deep breath. Under the shade, she's completely capable of escaping right now or at anytime she wished. However, something told her that even with her unholy powers of darkness that would be easier said than done. "Perhaps we could see what this Academy is all about." said the half-demon before extending a greeting hand to Nina and Heather with a very sweet smile, "How about some formal introductions first? My name's Filia Umbrarum. You might know me as the daughter of Domini Umbrarum, the famous business tycoon and owner of S.H.A.D.E Industries. If you want to know, I can manipulate darkness and I'm somewhat immortal."

And I like take things. she added in her thoughts, hoping that the mind reader can't hear it, Perhaps I can find plenty of things to take at this Academy, whoever is actually in charge here.

[Forest State]

There was more tension. More talking. More students milling around and making introductions and asking questions, and voicing their concerns. But the adults felt like everyone had been given the time they needed to get an understanding of this place and what its rules would be like, and everything else that had been expected from this meeting. They'd gotten the initial shock out of their systems, and now it was time to get down to the real introduction, the one that would see them arrive at the place where they would now live for the first time.

"Everyone, everyone, there will be more time for questions and complaints later... For now, however, it's time to head to the dormitories. That is also where each of you will make a choice," said Ghost, and he and the group around him turned and started some ways down the road until they were away from the airstrip and headed towards the village proper. "On the surface, it looks like a choice of where to live, but it's much more than that. It's a choice of what way you want to live your life."

He flashed a brief smile before turning back to the group. "The path leading to the east dorm is that of the hero. The path to the west dorm is the path of the villain. One path is one of self sacrifice and service, while the other is the opposite. Both have their pros and cons, however, and figuring those pros and cons out if up to you. But remember... Your true colors will come out eventually while at this academy, and while you may file for a switch from your current path at any time, your classmates and those who you have formed bonds with may not be so understanding, and the same goes for your rivals. After all... Both sides live separately and study separately at times. There's a bit of a rivalry going here."

[Charlia]

He flashed a brief smile before turning back to the group. "The path leading to the east dorm is that of the hero. The path to the west dorm is the path of the villain. One path is one of self sacrifice and service, while the other is the opposite. Both have their pros and cons, however, and figuring those pros and cons out if up to you. But remember... Your true colors will come out eventually while at this academy, and while you may file for a switch from your current path at any time, your classmates and those who you have formed bonds with may not be so understanding, and the same goes for your rivals. After all... Both sides live separately and study separately at times. There's a bit of a rivalry going here."

Lily looked to the left and then to the right, frowning.

"What the heck is with this? Making us choose whether we're heroes or villains? That's pretty much moral abuse, right there," she complained. "Either we're self-sacrificing or we're villains? Yeah, no. I'm not going to play this stupid game."

She sat down right where she was, folding her arms. Let's see how you respond to this, huh?


Aurora spent no time at all thinking, and started walking to the east. The word 'service' had caught her ear. That was what she was made for, so that was where she belonged, wasn't it? She expected her sister to follow, but Luna stayed behind, looking back and forth nervously. She didn't really understand all the stuff that was being said, and started shaking her head in confusion. It didn't make sense, nope nope nope. She didn't get it at all, and big sister wasn't explaining, so she didn't know what to do.

She started trembling. When she didn't do what she was supposed to, she got hurt. It was normal, but that didn't mean she had to like it. But she didn't know what she was supposed to do. Was she supposed to go with big sister, or was she supposed to go the other way? Tears started welling up in her eyes, and she pulled her hat down farther on her head as if trying to use it to comfort herself.

Please don't hurt me please don't I'm trying I don't know please please hurts don't just tell me what to do but don't hurt me, please don't hurt me, I don't know what to do--

Big sister, I'm scared--

I'm scared--

Someone help me

[CoraSpia]

Karl Linton

Their was a lost cause, and their were things worth fighting for: Karl's freedom was neither, but to the intelligent it was clear that the fight was not going to be won right hear and now. He had to work with this school, at least for a while; to get them trusting that he wasn't going to become some sort of runaway or instigato, and for that he needed to go with the flow.
Hero or villain? That was a question that would always be hard to answer: on the one side he was generally a nice person, what he did in keeping the world running faster would help everyone in the end, but he did what he did for the main purpose of keeping himself wealthy. He wasn't going to give it all up for some self-righteous cause, and pragmaticly thinking the school would probably expect a self-proclaimed 'hero' to be more of a freedom fighter, and so he started walking to the west...until he saw the strange three-eyed girl from before standing their looking confused and scared, trembling and from the looks of it crying.
"Are you alright?" he asked softly, walking up to her. "I'm Karl, by the way...are you struggling to choose?"

[Aghrabia]

Anthony Mitchell

Anthony's day was honestly becoming a bit shit. Sure the drive down to Manchester was rubbish, but wasn't it always? The Mancs were their usual, charming selves, of course. Though, beside the usual few arseholes you'd find anywhere in the world, he did not encounter many of the possible troublemakers that often roamed the town in these parts. Smoking cigarettes while strolling around the town, he admired the simple dirt that encrusted most of every surface, that even the rain wouldn't wash away. While the concert was OK, it was what happened later that night when it would truly get shitty.

He had left the concert at about 11PM, wanting to get something to eat before l back to the frankly depressing Premier Inn near the venue. Maybe McDonald's or something. But this want to be. A group of three older men stopped him, holding out knives, demanding his wallet. Anthony refused and this certainly didn't make them happy. One of them started to move forward, hold his weapon of choice perpendicular to his body, making threatening movements. The rest followed, expecting easy prey. This wasn't exactly what they got. No, what they got was a very large explosion. Sound tore away at them, launching them backwards into a wall, before ripping away the wall too, pushing them into the crowded pub that had been behind them. This caused serious structural damage to the pretty much packed building, causing injuries to many inside as they were scattered like pins in a bowling alley. The huge decibel count of the sound caused much damage to the eas of people close to the event, even Anthony, who had set it off.

The main side effect for him was the ringing in his ears... Jesus Christ! The RINGING! Unable to hear anything, he scrambled from the ground, before stumbling and falling again. Eventually, he managed to stand up and awkwardly began to move forward, away from the destruction that he had caused. After about 15 seconds, he started to sprint away, unevenly and managed to get a few streets away. Stopping for a minute to catch his breath, he considered his options. He knew for a fact that the MCG would get wind of this and come after him, and he would rather not let them catch him. Still deaf, he pushed of towards the main road, aiming to get out of the city and into the countryside. Alas, he was not fated to get that far. First, he saw a blinding light, then felt a short, and finally a sharp shot to his neck, before falling to the ground- his mind melting away into the black ocean of unconciousness...

...then he was on a plane. This was not what he expected. Honestly, he thought he was going to end up in some dark facility miles underground, but it still didn't mean he enjoyed it. He stretched out in his comfortable chair, still very stressed at the situation in hand. He saw a small village out in the distance, presuming that they were heading towards it. Spending the rest of the flight panicking, it just got worse when the electronic voice announced that they had arrived at their destination- reminding him of using the Metro, which just made it weird. Then the rest of it's speech didn't exactly put him at ease, while the free stuff sounded nice, it wasn't exactly as if he didn't get these things from living with his parents, and the forseeable future was a very long time indeed. Either way, just waiting around wasn't good, so he followed everybody else onto the tarmac of the landing strip.

He spent most of the time being quiet and generally looking bewildered from here on out. By now, his ears had completely stopped ringing and he could hear again, so he picked up on most of the conversation. But he had little taste to getting involved in anything at the minute. At some point, the Others' leader directed them towards their first major decision here. He wasn't happy with it. He glanced around to the others that were on the runway, seeing what they were doing. Anxiously, he picked a cigarette out of his pocket and put it into his mouth, chewing the end of it a bit, before remembering that he had to light it.

[The Flutterlands]

Filia Umbrarum

Filia blinked and crossed her arms, biting her lip at the seemingly choices she had to make now regarding where she would be living and she didn't like ether. Hero? Villian? What kind of decision is that? The half-demon didn't really see herself as a bad person, but she recognized that she wasn't perfect. On one hand, she was a thief. Regardless of you look at it, Filia was indeed a thief. Plus, Filia was also a cambion. The daughter of a human and a demon, making her blood unholy and weak to light and holiness.

Yet on the other hand she stole nether out of greed or desire. Filia was extremely wealthy and as long as she asked nicely could have anything she could dream of. Thus, she merely did it for sport and the thrill out of it, simply because it was fun. Just as importantly, the young woman had a moral code to live by. The half-demon vowed to never kill as much as she could help it and she never stole from the poor and destitute. In fact, Filia often played Robin-Hood, robbing from the rich, the corrupt and the extortioners and giving to the poor. However, she was still, a thief who stole from people for fun and she was basically an unholy being born to a demon. So it was actually difficult choice as from a point of view, nether really fitted her.

Still, though. Lilly was right. "Hey, yeah. That girl has a point." Filia said, raising her hand, "How could anyone make a choice like that? To be a self-righteous altruistic goody-goody two shoes or a selfish, self-centered asshole that probably kills people for shits and giggles. A psychopath, no less. Is that suppose to be some sort of joke? Why would anyone want to be called a villian. I'm not making this choice. I'm... I'm not. I'm just not sure."

Filia then noticed that the girl she was referring to was crying. She looked at Nina and Heather, telling them that she'd talk to them later, before walking up to Lilly. Filia approached girl and looked at her with soft comforting eyes that still burned with orange hellfire. "Are you okay?" she asked, standing next to Karl Linton glancing at him for a moment before looking back at Lilly, "I don't know what choice to make ether. Really I don't think I'm a hero, but I don't see myself as a villian ether. Name's Filia Umbrarum, by the way."

[Dilange]

Aleksandr quietly stood listening to the world and the crowd around him, he heard the commotions and the feelings that some of the students (other than himself) were openly expressing...but it seemed worthless as the 'staff'/kidnappers have ignored their pleas or fears only to push them off down the road; never to be answered. It worried him a bit. It seemed like he was now stuck in this military base disguising itself as a harmless academy for preservation. Aleksandr could only bit his lip, knowing the headmaster seemed to not care, and move along.

He flashed a brief smile before turning back to the group. "The path leading to the east dorm is that of the hero. The path to the west dorm is the path of the villain. One path is one of self sacrifice and service, while the other is the opposite. Both have their pros and cons, however, and figuring those pros and cons out if up to you. But remember... Your true colors will come out eventually while at this academy, and while you may file for a switch from your current path at any time, your classmates and those who you have formed bonds with may not be so understanding, and the same goes for your rivals. After all... Both sides live separately and study separately at times. There's a bit of a rivalry going here."

"Separating us based on calling ourselves heroes and villains?" Aleksandr said to himself, almost in uncanny belief. He shook his head, somethings didnt add up.

"So why have this long conjecture and moral goal of self-presevation, when you are giving us the option to be evil? If some of us truly are evil and go down that path, whats the point in presevation as long as you allow to keep people who break the law and use their abilities malicious intent? Wouldnt that continue to put over the dark narrative of groups like the MCG who pledge their resources to the eradication of this metahuman existence that we all share?" Aleksandr said finally walking forward in front of the group, and directly in front of Ghost.

He looked directly into the eyes of Ghost, not saying anymore words. He had a bad feeling about making the first choice...but someone had to. Without breaking eye contact, he turned and started walking down the path towards the 'Hero' dorms. "You know if there truly was a choice..." Aleksandr started, directed towards Ghost but loud enough for the rest of the students. "There would be the choice of this 'self-preservation' or proving groups like MCG wrong out there. There should be no choice between becoming good or evil, when your goal is trying to fight against a morally evil group against your own views. Being evil only serves to falter this 'preservation' that you and your cohorts solemnly believe in."

With that, he continued down the path towards the East Dorms.

[Charlia]

"Are you alright?" he asked softly, walking up to her. "I'm Karl, by the way...are you struggling to choose?"

"Are you okay?" she asked, standing next to Karl Linton glancing at him for a moment before looking back at Lilly, "I don't know what choice to make ether. Really I don't think I'm a hero, but I don't see myself as a hero ether. Name's Filia Umbrarum, by the way."

Luna turned, her eyes wide and scared. "I don't know what I'm supposed to do," she whimpered. "They didn't tell me which way to go. I don't know where I'm supposed to go. An' they'll hurt me if I go the wrong way, right? But if I don't go anywhere they'll hurt me anyway 'cause I'm not doing what I'm supposed to but I don't know what I'm supposed to do and I don't wanna get hurt, why aren't they telling me where to go?!"

Big sister, why did you leave me? Why didn't you tell me what I'm supposed to do? Am I supposed to follow you or not? I don't know, I don't know, why didn't you tell me?!

[The Knockout Gun Gals]

Shizuka Minamoto

The trip was a fancy one. She admitted she never rode an aircraft before (there's no need to, anyway. She travelled with ships and trains, much cheaper). She didn't bring anything when she left the...house of her. The memory wasn't a hazy one, but she remembered it anyway. Missing few parts, too. She ended up stole a wooden sword from a student, and used it as her weapon until the Others picked her up. Now they were in a tarmac and a group in front of them could answer any questions. Perhaps this is the time to asks about weaponry.

And...she was late. They began to be directed to the path of dormitories. She cursed herself for not asked much earlier, though there may be another chance soon enough. Left led to Hero, right led to Villain. Well, actually east and west. Same thing, perhaps. She looked as the confusions and understanding swept those who were with her.

"Let's choose to be hero. I believed that's the best."

She said it to herself, looked to her surroundings, perhaps there is someone to be invited as well-

"Are you alright?" he asked softly, walking up to her. "I'm Karl, by the way...are you struggling to choose?"

"Are you okay?" she asked, standing next to Karl Linton glancing at him for a moment before looking back at Lilly, "I don't know what choice to make ether. Really I don't think I'm a hero, but I don't see myself as a hero ether. Name's Filia Umbrarum, by the way."

Luna turned, her eyes wide and scared. "I don't know what I'm supposed to do," she whimpered. "They didn't tell me which way to go. I don't know where I'm supposed to go. An' they'll hurt me if I go the wrong way, right? But if I don't go anywhere they'll hurt me anyway 'cause I'm not doing what I'm supposed to but I don't know what I'm supposed to do and I don't wanna get hurt, why aren't they telling me where to go?!"

Big sister, why did you leave me? Why didn't you tell me what I'm supposed to do? Am I supposed to follow you or not? I don't know, I don't know, why didn't you tell me?!

Someone's being confused and panicked. She couldn't do much but "there there" not helping much. "Hey, hey, relax," as she approached her in an attempt to soothed her down. "You'll be fine. Both have the advantages and disadvantages. What matters is what your heart choose. Follow your heart and instinct, and you'll find it."

[Mundeo]

"...I can read your thoughts," she replied in an equally dull tone. "I apologize for disturbing you. My sister and I were made this way. I see that it's not normal for humans... I am also capable of draining your life, or the life of any other living thing. It's necessary in order to extend my own. And I am able to pierce the skin of a living creature in order to drink its blood," she added, almost as an afterthought, opening her mouth slightly to show her impossibly sharp canines. "You may very well be able to speak to animals and not know it," she continued. "The range of abilities is quite wide, judging from what I've seen so far."

The first sentence to come out of Aurora's mouth sent a shock down Michael's spine. She can read minds, too? Just how many people can do that here? I'm going to have to watch what I think.

The rest of the three-eyed girl's abilities did not give him any more consolation. She can drain his life and drink his blood, and was apparently made in a laboratory with a "sister". Yep, he certainly chose the right person to talk to. And she believed that he might actually have powers, too...

He flashed a brief smile before turning back to the group. "The path leading to the east dorm is that of the hero. The path to the west dorm is the path of the villain. One path is one of self sacrifice and service, while the other is the opposite. Both have their pros and cons, however, and figuring those pros and cons out if up to you. But remember... Your true colors will come out eventually while at this academy, and while you may file for a switch from your current path at any time, your classmates and those who you have formed bonds with may not be so understanding, and the same goes for your rivals. After all... Both sides live separately and study separately at times. There's a bit of a rivalry going here."

Before Michael can ask any more questions, or even properly introduce himself, he and the rest of the students were led to a fork in the road. Taking the path on the right led to the heroes' dorms, while taking the path on the left led to the villains' dorms... what is this? Now they had to choose sides before they even started attending the school? The decision seemed to be difficult to some the students. It was enough to bring Aurora to the brink of a mental breakdown. Before Michael can say anything to confort her, the two were surrounded by other students, all with their own kind things to say. Even the business kid was there; that was a surprise. Only adding to the buffet of consolations wasn't going to do anything... this was ridiculous... Michael felt motivated to do something.

Michael broke away from the congregation, marching forwards towards the group of Others that had ordered them to make this decision. "What's all of this supposed to be, huh? Most of us aren't even aware that we're metahumans, less know how to use our powers! We haven't spent a second inside the school and you want us to just choose between good and evil? Huh?" The angered teen stuck out an accusing finger towards the group, in particular Night, Ghost, and Heather.

[Forest State]

"People, people, calm down. It's possible to change your choice in the future, though that has consequences, as everything in life does," said Ghost. He once again stood in front of the group and gestured for them to calm down, trying to get them to listen to the school's side of things before they complained and made their judgements. "Everybody needs to master their abilities, but not everyone is a 'hero'... You may ask why we allow you to pick the other side, and that is a valid question, but the truth is that both sides further the goal. The goal of establishing an even playing field for metahumans. You all need to learn to fight. To protect yourselves. And we happen to believe that sending you down this path, a path that will see you involved in fighting constantly, is the best thing that we can do to protect you in the future. To give you the skills that you need to stop the MCG and to keep yourself safe. Whether you are all heroes or villains, I cannot answer. You have to be very honest with yourself to choose that."

[Main Nation Ministry]

Another VTOL came that day, though only a hour late on schedule as it touched down on the tarmac, as some turbulence caused the aircraft to be late. After the doors leading out of the VTOL opened up, it revealed two new students leaving the plane. The emerging two looked away and one of them, who was a male teen wearing cheap clothes you would find a thrift store said, "Aren't we a bit late to the party or?"

"Looks like there is a path up ahead or we might need to start walking. Who knows." a beautiful girl said, wearing a suit under a hoodie and jeans that extended all the way to her weird-shaped shoes that appear too big for her. Both of them were carrying their bags for their stay at the Academy, which was in an unknown location somewhere in the world. Starting to walk away from the aircraft, the two saw a path away from the runway and figured that it was to the so-called Academy we were forced to be send to.

[The Flutterlands]

Filia Umbrarum

Filia frowned deeply upon hearing how scared Luna was about making the wrong choice and getting hurt for it. That wasn't right. It wouldn't be fair for someone to suffer for a decision they don't know how to make. In fact, Luna, despite being the same age as her, looked quite vulnerable that she didn't seem like the sort of person who could survive on her own. Eventually, an idea came to her mind. She smiled with a grin and placed a hand on Luna's shoulder. "How about you come onto which ever path I pick?" she suggested, "That way I would be there to protect you from those who wish to hurt you, no matter which path we choose. Besides, just because we pick ether doesn't mean we got to live up to the name... completely that is."

Filia looked back at Ghost and her eyes narrowed. Hmmm... she thought, The MGC isn't behind this. I must have been too sloggy earlier that I misheard them.

The young half-demon crossed her arms, her hellish eyes staring at Ghost. "It all still sounds so stupid and unethical to make us choose between being a 'good' person and a 'bad' person." she said convincingly, "What about those who choose nether path? Not everyone can be a complete hero or a complete villian. Surely life, coming with so many grays, can give a middle road for us, but that being said..."

Filia looked back and forth from the east to west towards the Heros and Villian's dorms. She sighed and shook her head. Nether path fits her worldview, but, that doesn't mean she can't create her own path where she could be both hero and villian. A path like sounded a lot more fun and exciting than some boring life of sanctimonious altruism or psychotic cruelty and selfishness. Whatever choice I make, I won't allow it to define me and change me personally against my will. she thought, I won't let these people redefine me. I am my own person, capable of my own choices, and I have chosen the middle road...

"I have made my choice." she said finally, her face now full of confidence, looking back at Luna after several minutes of weighing the choices within her desires and goals in life, chewing her hair and lip. She still felt compelled to make her own path. "I have decided the so-called 'Villain' path, because I I don't think I'd exactly be welcome on the so-called 'Hero' path with my favorite activity, but it'll certainly be welcome there. Would you like to take my offer of coming with me so I can keep you safe? Know that no matter what path you pick, we can still be the people we want to be regardless these paths. We don't even have to take part in this supposed fight this Ghost guy speaks of. We can be friends, if you'd like, and I promise I'll keep you safe."

[Parcia]

"People, people, calm down. It's possible to change your choice in the future, though that has consequences, as everything in life does," said Ghost. He once again stood in front of the group and gestured for them to calm down, trying to get them to listen to the school's side of things before they complained and made their judgements. "Everybody needs to master their abilities, but not everyone is a 'hero'... You may ask why we allow you to pick the other side, and that is a valid question, but the truth is that both sides further the goal. The goal of establishing an even playing field for metahumans. You all need to learn to fight. To protect yourselves. And we happen to believe that sending you down this path, a path that will see you involved in fighting constantly, is the best thing that we can do to protect you in the future. To give you the skills that you need to stop the MCG and to keep yourself safe. Whether you are all heroes or villains, I cannot answer. You have to be very honest with yourself to choose that."

VK.450.P

The statement caused VK to pause, perhaps for the first time in his short life. Walk the path of a "Hero" using their powers in a psudo-vigilante form for the greater good of the people, help society, save them. Or, he could walk the path of the "Villain", some one who would use their powers to gain power, riches, to make the world it self bend to his will...it was an intoxicating choice.

But had he not been a "Hero" in a loose form, for the 17 years of his life, had he not sacrificed nearly 2 decades of his short life for the common good? Then a phrase came to him. I came to a fork in a woods. One path was well traveled, safe, and known. The other was unkempted, untraveled, one that did not promise safety...

He was tired, if he was honest with him self, tired of fighting, tired of killing. He had to fight for 17 years, and yet more threats came in to light, more people that posed such a large threat that they had to be killed. Perhaps...perhaps, if one was to end the fighting, to end the war and bloodshed and strife, perhaps things, no, the word needed to change. This brought him to a logical impasse: He would essentially be doing the same thing if he chose Hero, something that, arguably, only worked in the short term but had been all he had ever known. The second path was one he knew little of, but yet those who could be called Villains seemed to always get the first strike, seemed to always rise up when knocked down and always managed to change the world, mostly for their own intentions.

He did not indicate to any of his choice, nor addressed the "teachers" as he walked by. He chose the Path less traveled, the one that promised real change in the world.

So, with the others pondering their choices, he walked the path of a Villain.

[Aghrabia]

Anthony looked confused, still, about his surroundings, taking infrequent drags of his smouldering cigarette to stop him from completely freaking out. All this "hero", "villain", good and evil dichotomy bullshit was making him slightly annoyed: and not just him either- with his compatriots looking either annoyed, confused, or, in one case, having a complete emotional breakdown over this choice (though some had already chosen their path). Fair enough, this 'Ghost' character said they could change their minds and switch sides later on, but, while their new teacher had explained this, the young Geordie still wasn't sure why this choice had to be made. He was no fighter and he had no wish to become one, even if this decision may seem selfish to certain other people, he would stand by it.

So, he turned his head towards Ghost and cleared his throat. "What if we don't want to become either, though. I don't want to fight- to live a life of self-sacrifice and service, or the opposite, for that matter," he grimaced, using his powers to do an impression their headmaster's voice, while fiddling with his cigarette. "Must we make a complex moral choice that requires information about ourselves which most of us simply do not have yet. I just want to survive, sure, but I don't want to take a proactive role in a fucking war. I'm no fighter."

[Mundeo]

Michael's frown quickly soured into a sickened grimace. "The MCG! The MCG! You keep on mentioning this MCG that you expect you actually give a damn about! What are we? Students? Or are we your soldiers to fight in your little war?"

As he spoke, he took long steps behind him, extending his arms out to motion to the village around him. "I'm having no part of this. I'm no hero, and I'm sure as hell no villain. I'm not going anywhere" Then, he stood completely still, his arms falling back to his sides.

[Main Nation Ministry]

As the two were walking away from the tarmac and were on the path, the two were planning on explaining how they got in this situation, however both didn't have the nerve to speak up, as both felt the other would be disturbed by their stories. As the path appeared to come to an end, both saw a group of people, most likely the new students. "I'm just going to act like them. I mean, they got better clothes than mine, but I don't think we judging others by your wealth here." Russell said to Cthylla.

"Can't be that bad. Surely, they will respect me as one of their own. It's only normal right?" Cthylla said back.

[Forest State]

Eventually, Ghost decided that it would be best to leave everyone to their own devices and allow them to figure out for themselves what they would choose. After all, neutral wasn't an option, not at this point. Still, he said a few parting words. "I know that this is a hard decision, but you may not be aware of history. That the most successful time for metahumans was when they were larger than life figures that were gods among men because of their abilities, who used them to change the world. There was a time when the world was split between two sides waging a shadow war with each other. Those who acted as vigilantes, and those who acted as the opposite. This group here, however, has no ambition. You all have a chance to return to those times, and you instead sit on the fence. You can always change your decision, but you must make it to change it later," he stated, turning.

"Be like this man," he added, pointing to Christian. "He may not be sure of everything, but he made his choice. And why is this choice necessary? You could say it's because of our own background as, well, heroes and villains... We're best equipped to teach others to be like us. But what that means varies greatly with who you ask. Receive instruction from Landon, and he would teach you in the ways of honor and justice. Ask Night for teaching, and she would train you in ruthlessness. There have always been two sides. There will never be a neutral path for those like us, not us as in metahumans, but us as in... Those who have become strong enough to fight the Control Group. We may not be able to abandon our sides, but what we can do is pool our resources to make sure that all of us survive. We can't continue our fights if we are dead, after all. Remember that, everyone."

[Main Nation Ministry]

Cthylla examined what the person in front of the group said to the others, as the path divided into two. All that was required was to join either being a hero or a villain. Russell remembered that one time where he managed to find a DVD copy of The Dark Knight. Having convinced some neighbors near the shelter to let him use the DVD, he remembered that one scene where Harvey Dent said, "You can die a hero or live long enough to see yourself become the villain."

Russell knew that his other side would be an obvious villain with the only goal of being bloodshed, but wanted to at least control it, so it didn't hurt others. Cthylla is already a horror that mankind will never understand without the consequences of insanity, but she didn't know what side would she want to help the gods from the worlds beyond.

Both characters were lost in thought of deciding, while Russell let out a bit of a sneeze into his right sleeve.

[The Knockout Gun Gals]

Shizuka Minamoto

Shizuka looked both and past of the paths of Heroes and Villains. Well, villainous path usually grabs more rewards and all, but the actions won't be necessary good. You do villainous things, beat innocents up and down for an example. Must be not good for her, who've been raised to be at the very least a reasonable figure, with authority if necessary. Heroic actions might not be good, but at least she will do heroic actions and for the people, not against the people.

"Let's to the hero path," as she moved towards the heroic path. The east path.

[CoraSpia]

Karl Linton

"Hurt you?" Karl asked, surprised. This Luna girl, whoever she was, had evidently came from a less pleasant and easy life than he had; the biggest punishment that his parents had ever given to him was a firm 'talking to,' probably because from the age of 14 he'd been the families main breadwinner, and annoying him was akin to smashing the limitless piggy bank. He pondered what to say next before finally "Noone's going to hurt you, this is a choice...choose whatever your heart desires. I have decided that I will be choosing the life of the 'villain,' because I see it having far less sweltering rules about how to live ones life, and I am unable I feel to always act for the good of everyone else around me. But in the end, it is up to you...however no one is going to hurt you for choosing your path."

[Charlia]

Filia Umbrarum

Filia frowned deeply upon hearing how scared Luna was about making the wrong choice and getting hurt for it. That wasn't right. It wouldn't be fair for someone to suffer for a decision they don't know how to make. In fact, Luna, despite being a couple years older, looked quite vulnerable that she didn't seem like the sort of person who could survive on her own. Eventually, an idea came to her mind. She smiled with a grin and placed a hand on Luna's shoulder. "How about you come onto which ever path I pick?" she suggested, "That way I would be there to protect you from those who wish to hurt you, no matter which path we choose. Besides, just because we pick ether doesn't mean we got to live up to the name... completely that is."

"I have made my choice." she said finally, her face now full of confidence, looking back at Luna after several minutes of weighing the choices within her desires and goals in life, chewing her hair and lip. She still felt compelled to make her own path. "I have decided the so-called 'Villain' path, because I I don't think I'd exactly be welcome on the so-called 'Hero' path with my favorite activity, but it'll certainly be welcome there. Would you like to take my offer of coming with me so I can keep you safe? Know that no matter what path you pick, we can still be the people we want to be regardless these paths. We don't even have to take part in this supposed fight this Ghost guy speaks of. We can be friends, if you'd like, and I promise I'll keep you safe."

Karl Linton

"Hurt you?" Karl asked, surprised. This Luna girl, whoever she was, had evidently came from a less pleasant and easy life than he had; the biggest punishment that his parents had ever given to him was a firm 'talking to,' probably because from the age of 14 he'd been the families main breadwinner, and annoying him was akin to smashing the limitless piggy bank. He pondered what to say next before finally "Noone's going to hurt you, this is a choice...choose whatever your heart desires. I have decided that I will be choosing the life of the 'villain,' because I see it having far less sweltering rules about how to live ones life, and I am unable I feel to always act for the good of everyone else around me. But in the end, it is up to you...however no one is going to hurt you for choosing your path."

"...Maybe I'm supposed to go with my big sister," Luna mumbled, "but if you guys are both going that way, I wanna go too... I don't like rules... so maybe it'll be fun. An' I can have new friends who talk to me. Big sister doesn't talk much," she added in a near-whisper. "An' I get lonely. So let's go left!"

"I might as well come too," Lily input, folding her arms. "I don't have 'hero' powers. And there's no way I'm being a sweet little tool for these guys. If I'm going to be anything, it's going to be a villain. And maybe once we're strong enough we can get out of this place... without whatever their code of honor is to hold us back."