Do you want to change?

Zenzo jumps out of the second-story window and runs as fast as possible. He passes through an alley, and when he looks back, he sees Xander sprinting full speed behind him.

"XAN, WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?!"

"COME ON ZEN! IT'LL BE FUN!"

"MY IDEA OF FUN ISN'T DEATH! YOU MANIAC!"

Zenzo closes his eyes and says, "Opposite."

The second he does, the town fills with the same aura from before, and he starts to fly. He opens his eyes, and for a second, he smiles. Until he realizes the grave error in his decision when he sees a mosquito flying at the speed of sound right at him. The mosquito knocks him through a house into a barn and sticks its stinger into his arm, and begins sucking his blood. In seconds, all the blood in his body drains by the mosquito's stinger as it gorges endlessly on his blood to ensure it has enough for its hatchlings.

Zenzo's vision becomes blurry, and you can see the bones in his body as his blood drains. Because of Zenzo's power, the mosquito's body fattens to an unusually large size, providing it with increased capacity and a body durable enough to sustain such a quantity. Zenzo's hand trembles when he raises it to try to defend himself by grabbing the stinger.

I can't think. But I have to get it off me or I'm going to die...This is just like back then. When I first got my power...

He uses his other hand to punch the mosquito, but to no avail. Zenzo's fist repeatedly punches the mosquito until he blacks out, and his body resembles a raisin. As the mosquito is about to finish him off, Jimba tears the mosquito apart, causing Zenzo's blood to spray everywhere. Jimba pulls the stinger out of Zenzo and licks the wound it created, but he continues to bleed. He understands that there is nothing he can do to help, so he does the one thing a lion can do to call for backup. Roar.

Jimba lets out a commanding roar that shakes the city to its core. Xander dives into the ground beside them at full speed, shaking the ground. He rises quickly and places his hand over Zenzo's wound as he says, "Effect Stacking: Power Thirty-Seven; Heal."

Xander's silhouette forms a thin golden line of aura, and his hands glow green. The blood spilled in the area begins to retract back into Zenzo as his body returns to normal. Air fills his lungs when he awakens to see Xander healing him as Joy arrives. She looks at the mosquito torn to shreds by Jimba and sighs.

We're never going to get Zen to leave town. Not if things like this keep happening. Should I even bring up the fortune teller? Something has to change, and unless he uses his power more, he'll never control it. It will always control him and his fear.

"Zen."

Zenzo's eyes were wandering around before they fixated on Joy.

"Hey, Joy. What's up?"

"Do you want to change?"

"What do you mean?"

"Do you want to change? Do you want to control your power?"

"I do."

"Then you have to use your power more."

He starts to shake at the thought of this happening to him again.

"I don't want to. I refuse. This is a pain I can't put in words." He says, coughing.

"You said you wanted peace in the world. Your power can bring peace. Think about it, Zen. What's the opposite of war, pain, strife?"

Xander finishes healing Zenzo and takes a deep breath. Zenzo thinks to himself for a moment before he responds.

"I think I need some time to think about it."

Xander extends a hand to Zenzo.

"In the meantime. Do you want to spend the day with me?"

Zenzo looks Xander dead in his eyes, grabs his hand, and answers, "Hell no."

He takes off running through the town. Jimba rises and chases Zenzo, catching him in seconds. He puts his head between Zenzo's legs and lifts him, placing him on his back so he can ride him. Zenzo laughs as Jimba dashes through the town back home, passing by all the townspeople who enthusiastically move out of the way. Past the many middle to lower-class wooden stores, stalls, restaurants, and residential areas. Minutes later, Jimba stops at their home, the only home in the town made of brick. Zenzo dismounts and hugs Jimba.

"Thanks, Jimba. You saved me twice today. You're the best."

Jimba purrs before rubbing his forehead on Zenzo's.

"Now. Keep those monsters away from me!"

Jimba rises as he turns to stand and watch over the house from outside. Zenzo turns to enter the home and closes the door behind him. When he does, he walks past the kitchen with a smile that says, I'm finally free. He doesn't even realize Xander and Joy are sitting at the table, sipping tea, when he walks by.

Joy says, "Zen."

Zenzo's heart stops.

"Yes, Joy?"

"You know, since you won't allow Jimba to run at full speed, he'd never outrun us. If you at least weren't scared of that, you might have beaten us here."

"Yeah. I know."

"Then why run?"

He raises his head to look at the ceiling.

"Because that's what cowards do. We run from things that scare us."

Xander joins the conversation, saying, "Zen, I know this isn't how you want to live your life. I know I can be brash and abrasive at times with how I push you. But I want you to be the best version of yourself that you can be." He rises and walks over to Zenzo, hugging him. "And I think that the best version is a fearless version. Don’t you think?"

Zenzo's eyes squeeze like he's trying to open a stuck jar.

"I do. But I don’t think I can ever be that. Even if I win in a fight after using my power, I lose."

"Then from now on, I’ll do my best to defeat any insects that try to harm you after you use your power."

Zenzo shakes his head, disagreeing with the notion.

"My power makes you guys weaker. How can you take on a powerful bug when you will be much weaker than you normally would be?"

Xander separates to look Zenzo in the eyes with a smile that says, Let us handle that.

"You worry too much. Live a little! Don't you want to see what life is like when you don't confide in a single place?! Don't you ever want to leave the town and visit your family?!"

Those final words struck a chord in his heart. When he thought about it, he hadn't seen his family in five years since he got his powers. He hadn't seen his family since he met them. He hadn't seen his family since they became his new family. He pinches his arm as he nods his head.

"I do want to see my family, but for some reason, my memory of them is hazy."

Xander places a hand on his shoulder.

"Then let's find out why together!"

"You can do it, Zen." Joy adds.

She turns to walk into the kitchen.

"In the meantime, I'll work on food. You guys go out and have some fun."

"I'll cook next time, Joy!" Xander shouts as he wraps his arm around Zenzo.

"I look forward to it, Xan!"

They walk outside, and the sun shines bright on them. Xander removes his arm from around Zenzo to stretch.

"Alrighty! So, here's the plan, Zen!"

He looks to his right, but Zenzo sneaks off around the house. When he turns around the corner, Xander is leaning on the side of the house, waiting for him.

"Come on, Zen. You're not even trying to hear me out!"

"What for?!"

"Can you at least listen to what I'm going to say? If you don't like it, I'll stop for today."

Zenzo's eyes look at the clouds as he exhales.

"Alright. What is it?"

"I want you to follow me around for the day while I do fun things. Just watch me. No pressure! You don't have to do anything I do! Although I hope you will."

Zenzo shakes his head.

"This is about to insane, isn't it?"

"You know it! The only way to rid yourself of fear is to face it head-on!"

"Do you even know what fear is, Xan?"

"Of course! But here's the thing. My back is always against the wall, and as long as I can feel that wall behind me. I know I can win."

Zenzo's arms widen as he asks, "What? What wall?"

"I'll let you know when the time is right. Ponder it for a minute. Now. Do you want to explore with me?"

Zenzo sighs, understanding that Xander will never give up since he has nothing better to do today.

"Sure, Xan."

"Great! BEEEEEEEEETTTTTTTTTSSSSSSSSSSSYYYYYYYYY!"

The flying land whale descends from the clouds floating before them. Her descent blows the crops back from the wind she creates. Xander rubs her head before hopping on her back. He extends a hand to Zenzo, pulling him on top of Betsy.

"Alright, Betsy! To the sky!"

Betsy howls as she flies upward. When Betsy howls, Jimba roars, and together their symphony parts the clouds. They fly high into the sky through the clouds that look like fluffy marshmallows. Throughout the day, Zenzo watched but never participated in any of the foolishness Xander got into. Xander, being his usual self, starts with something particularly interesting. Lava surfing. Zenzo's eyes nearly pop out of his head while he watches Xander surf on molten lava using his power. Xander's power allows him to stack the effects and powers of those he's defeated in battle. Where most people only have one power, Xander is allowed to use many powers without downsides as long as he understands how they work. Right now, Xander is using an ice power to drop the temperature of the surfboard to negative nine hundred degrees, preventing the surfboard from melting.

The power also places a frozen veil around his body, protecting his body from melting from the heat of the volcano. Xander rides the lava around the volcano, doing many different tricks that you would see a surfer do in the ocean. After an hour of fun, they dodge bows and arrows as Betsy flies away from an angry group of birdmen (Avissions) that Xander angered when he tried to take their eggs. They chase them through the skies for a few miles with Xander laughing while Zenzo cries in terror. The Avissions eventually calm down and return home when they can't catch them or stop Betsy. From there, Xander has the brilliant idea of startling a dragon while it is sleeping on its mountaintop.

Compared to the dragon, Xander looked like a mouse. With Betsy and Zenzo watching from the sky, Xander tip-toes over to the dragon and abruptly grabs the dragon's head, saying, "BOO!"

Slit eyes open glaring at him. The dragon rose slowly and roared, shattering the mountain behind Xander, who stood tall with a smile.

"Sorry about that! I just wanted to see your reaction!"

The dragon lowers its head and growls, noticing Xander is unarmed.

"You'd best find other places to play human. Never disturb us in our slumber."

Xander fans his hand.

"I know, I know! Trying to teach my friend up there to be fearless!" Xander says, pointing at Betsy and Zenzo.

The dragon raises its head to look at them.

"Your friend is wise. You should follow his lead. Next time, I won't be so lenient. Good night."

The dragon destroys parts of the mountain, lying back down to go to sleep since it is the size of the mountain itself. Xander signals for Betsy to come back down and get him. Betsy descends to pick him up, and the dragon says, "Mighty Land Whale. Keep your human in check."

Betsy sings, communicating with the dragon. The dragon laughs as it responds, "Yes, your human is very annoying.

Betsy laughs with the dragon in the form of a whistle, and Xander says, “Betssyyyy! That’s not very nice! But I defend your right to say it!”

“Begone, humans. Mighty Land Whale, you may return when you please.” The dragon says as he closes his eyes.

Betsy hums a methodical song that puts the dragon back to sleep, and they return to the sky.

“Betsy, you made a friend! You’re awesome! Now. To the Arctic!”

“ARTIC?!” Zenzo repeats at the top of his lungs.

Betsy speeds up and soars through the skies to the Arctic. Zenzo holds on tight while Xander stands on Betsy with his arms folded and a ginormous grin. Five minutes after they arrived, Xander started a fire in the middle of a group of snowmen. Zenzo and Xander take off running through the snow while snowmen chase them down with snow cannons shooting snowballs that explode on contact. The snowballs exploding when they miss create a blizzard that Betsy flies into the sky to avoid. Without saying any words, you can see the disappointment in her eyes as she lets out a sad howl.

Zenzo pushes Xander down and keeps running.

“What gives, Zen?!”

“YOU! WHY DO YOU HAVE TO BE A MENACE TO EVERYTHING ON LAND, SEA, AND SKY?! THEY WERE MINDING THEIR BUSINESS! I DIDN’T EVEN KNOW SNOWMEN EXISTED AND THIS IS THEIR FIRST IMPRESSION OF ME!”

Xander gets up, narrowly dodging a cannonball, and catches up to Zenzo.

“It’s okay, Zen! They can put themselves back together in five minutes tops!”

“BUT DO YOU THINK THEY WANT TO?!”

“I’m making their life more interesting!”

“BY TERRORIZING THEM?!”

“I’ll apologize and explain later!”

A snow cannonball hits the ground under Zenzo, and he flies into the sky, crying as he screams.

By the time they return home, Zenzo is drained physically and emotionally. He passes by people in town whom he normally smiles and waves at like a zombie.

I hate Xan. He’s such a fucking idiot. Does he even care about anything but himself? I can never tell what he’s thinking. Joy says he’s an open book, but there’s a reason why he does the things he does. He just doesn’t tell us.

He shakes his head as he continues to think.

He cares. This is his way of showing it. When we had nowhere to go, he bought this house for us. The best house in town. The biggest, with the most amenities, is five acres of land. A place for our pets to stay, and he took us in without a second thought. He never asks for anything in return, only that we be his friend. His family. I wish I could be a better friend. But I don’t know how to be like Xan. I don’t know how to be the fearless friend he wants. The fearless friend he needs. I bet it must be lonely for Xan. Joy’s fearless, but she doesn’t do the crazy things he does for fun. He’s all alone in this world.

He walks by their property and sees Joy grooming her horse in the stable. She looks over and waves at him. Zenzo waves back as he tends to the grass in the yard. Entering the shed, he grabs a weed puller and heads to the field to pull the weeds out to prevent them from spreading to their crops.

I should make an effort to do better. Xan believes I can be the greatest human hero that ever lived. Even better than him. What does he see in me?

He pulls out a large weed, placing it in a wheelbarrel.

Does Xan know who I was before I lost my memory? Does he see the real me? Am I supposed to be something else? BE someone else? And if so...Is he responsible for my memory loss? Is that why he takes care of us?

“Something on your mind, Zen?” Joy asks, riding on her steed.

“Plenty.”

“Come. Ride.”

Zenzo grabs her hand to climb and sit on the horse behind her. The sun sets as they ride through the field, and the wind blows through their hair. The scent of Joy’s hair reminds him of apple cinnamon pie when the wind carries it to his nostrils. A leap. A jump! And the horse is off the property, climbing up a hill that leads to a cliff. The sun sets on this cliff, and there is a vast ocean beneath it.

“Zen.”

“Yes?”

“Don’t you want to see what’s on the other side of the ocean?”

“I’ve seen it with Xan.”

“No. I mean, really explore it. Live it.”

His heart sinks knowing where this conversation is headed.

“I do.”

“Then let’s make a change. I hear there is a fortune teller in town, and she only comes out at night. I think we should stop by and see her. She may have valuable information for us.”

Zenzo looks up at Joy, who is a few inches taller than him.

“Do you think she can help me brave?”

“She might. Bravery isn’t the absence of fear. It’s doing what must be done despite fear being present.”

“But you two are fearless. I’ve never seen a shred of fear in your hearts.”

Joy shakes her head.

“Tch. We're going to the fortune teller tonight. Will you join us?”

Zenzo gets down off the horse.

“I don’t know. What if she tells me something I don’t want to hear?”

“What if she tells you something you do?”

His lips curl in understanding that it may be a possibility.

“I’ll do it.”

“Thank you, Zen.”

“For what?” He says, sitting near the end of the cliff, but leaving two feet of room from the cliff.

“For trying to improve. We’d hate to leave you behind, but I think it’s like Bill said. We’re bored here.”

“And what if death awaits you outside of our town?”

“The same thing that happens if death comes for us here. Those beautiful walls we live in won’t save us. It’s not a magical fortress, you know. It’s a place where you feel the most comfortable, but it’s not explicitly home. Home is anywhere there is family.”

That word makes his heart pound. Every time he hears it, something awakens inside of him.

“I want to eat first, then we can go.”

Joy smiles as she watches the sunset.

We might have a chance to change Zen for the better. There is so much potential in him that he doesn’t realize he has. He can be the greatest person on Infrangilmundo. But his choosing to take the first step is a big leap. A HUGE leap. I hope this goes well and we hear some good news!

“Zen.”

“Yes?”

“How did your day with Xan go?”

Zenzo beckons to Joy, and she leans down on the horse to hear what he says.

“WHY THE FUCK WOULD YOU ASK ME THAT?! YOU KNOW XAN IS A FUCKING MANIAC! I NEARLY DIED SIX TIMES AND I WAS SUPPOSED TO JUST BE WATCHING HIM HAVE FUN! THE IDIOT SNUCK UP ON A SLEEPING DRAGON TO SCARE IT! NOT TO MENTION GETTING US CHASED BY SNOWMEN!”

Joy, who feels her ear about to fall off, giggles. Zenzo stops screaming when he hears her. The giggle turned to a chuckle as she tried to hold in her laughter. She hits the ground, falling off the horse, holding her rib cage as she rolls around laughing hysterically.

“I should’ve gone with you guys! That sounds hilarious!”

"You two should get married. Monsters.” He says, turning back to go home.

Zenzo walks down the hill to head home when he hears, “Hey, Zen!” From Joy.

He looks back and sees her with a thumbs-up. Her smile is infectious, making it take every bit of energy he has to resist smiling back.

“Good job today! You survived!”

Hearing those words awoke something that had been dormant for so long. Confidence. He smiles back with a thumbs-up. After they eat the wonderful dinner that Joy prepared of grilled chicken, sautéed green beans, baked beans, and buttery buttermilk rolls, they leave home to head to the mysterious fortune teller who only arrives at night. Zenzo, holding his stomach after overeating, rides Jimba as he says, “So how do we find this fortune teller?”

Xander, who is lying on his side above them on Betsy, says, “That’s a good question.”

Zenzo yells, “YOU DON’T KNOW?!”

Joy laughs as she says, “Don’t worry. We follow the moon. Hippo here knows where to go!”

Zenzo pinches himself as he hears Joy speak. Jimba feels Zenzo’s anxiety and moves his shoulder blade to let him know it will be okay.

“You’re right, Jimba. We’ll be fine. Follow Hippo. You know, now that I think about it...Hippo is a silly name for a horse...”

Joy yells from the front, “I heard that!”

“Yeah, you two monsters hear everything.”

Xander from above yells, “Hey! That’s not nice, Zen! BUT!”

They all say in unison, “I’ll defend your right to say it!”

There is a pause before Xander yells out, “Applesauce!”

The three of them laugh until tears form.

“Bet you guys didn’t predict that one!”

Joy wipes her eyes, saying, “You got us on that one, Xan.”

Zenzo, with his hand over his chest, says, “I love you guys.”

Xander and Joy feel the warmth in his words as they reply in unison, “We love you too, Zen.”

The moonlight shines brighter in a single location as they approach the fortune teller's location. It gets brighter and brighter until it looks like a UFO (Unidentified Flying Object) is shining down specifically on a tent. It was a tent, but not like you’d think. It was a luxury tent in the middle of an open field. However, it wasn’t very big. Gemstones and diamonds are embroidered on the outside of the tent, and the moonlight illuminates the authenticity of the jewels. They dismount their mounts and stare at the tent.

“It’s open.” A voice says from inside.

The three look at each other before holding hands and following Xander inside. When they enter the tent, they see a sight their brains couldn’t fathom. From the outside, it is a small tent, yet on the inside it is a palace. Silver adorns the palace from top to bottom. There are ponds throughout the area, with gardens filled with flowery bouquets nearby. The moonlight of a moon in the sky inside the tent shines down on the single throne in the area. A table is in front of the throne with a wooden chair on the other side.

“Whoever is first, take a seat.” The voice echoes throughout the palace.

Xander, being his usual self, marches confidently over to the throne to sit in the chair of royalty.

“If you sit on my throne, I will kill you.”

Everyone freezes, understanding this is no empty threat. Xander smirks.

“Do you think I’m joking?

Xander shakes his butt with a smile.

“It’s not that I think you’re kidding or that you won’t try. But killing me is something no enemy has accomplished yet.”

“XAN NO!” Joy and Zenzo yell together as they prepare for battle.

The second Xander’s ass is about to touch the throne. He is lifted in the air by his throat. Xander looks down to see who has him restricted and sees a woman. However, this woman was different. Alive, yet not. Long, straight, jet-black hair. Skin as pale as chalk. And radiant red eyes that peered through Xander’s flesh. The thinnest black dress imaginable caresses her flawless figure, held up by spaghetti straps around her shoulders.

Her heels, six inches high and black, allow her perfect feet to breathe.

“Break free.” She speaks.

Xander grins and instead does nothing. A grin creeps across her face, and her fangs become visible.

“You are an adorable mortal.”

“And you will be my queen,” Xander replies.

Her black fingernails extend, digging into his neck as she breaks the skin. Pulling him closer, she licks the blood from his neck. Her eyelids flutter as her grin turns to a smile, and she drops her head, licking her lips. Xander places his finger and thumb on her chin, raising her head. At first, she experienced something she had long forgotten. Shock. How dare this mortal touch her without permission? Then she experienced another feeling she swore not to succumb to. Lust. Yet. Her face did the speaking for her, expressing desire without trying. Her eyes lock with Xander’s, and they have a conversation without words.

“Impressive. You won me over. I expect great things from you, Xander Greaves.”

She snaps her fingers, and a throne made of ice appears beside hers. Dropping him on the throne beside her, she takes her seat on her throne, crossing her legs.

“Jewel Octavia Yono, sit.”

Jewel and Zenzo freeze. This was the first time anyone ever called her by name. Jewel does as she says, sitting in the wooden chair across from her. Xander, who is lost in thought with a smile, doesn’t even notice that Jewel is looking at him.

“How do you know my name? I haven’t even told them.”

“I know many things. If the moon has seen it, so have I. If the moon has heard it, so have I.”

“So, you can see and hear anything that the moon does?”

“Correct.”

“So, you know all the things Xan gets into at night?”

She grins, looking at Xander on the throne beside her.

“Yes, this mortal is rather promiscuous.”

Xander shrugs, smiling, “Guilty as charged!”

Her eyes return to Jewel.

“But that’s not what you want to know, is it?”

Jewel shakes her head, “No.”

“Ask what you truly want to know and let the moon provide you with the truth you seek.”

“What lies ahead for us if we leave home?”

The moonlight shines down on the table, which has a crescent moon in the center. The woman’s eyes flutter as the answers fill her brain.

“Oh my. There is much ahead. So much that I can only explain each of your futures, one at a time. For you, Jewel, there is sorrow ahead, whether you leave or stay. Pain in the form of others since you close yourself off to protect them. There are many difficult trials ahead, and you will have to overcome them with Zenzo holding you back.”

Zenzo exhales upon hearing this.

“But you will overcome. Together. You will become powerful when reunited with family.”

The woman’s eyes open to look at Jewel, who is bowing before her.

“That is unnecessary.”

“Thank you. May I ask your name?”

“That’s my job!” Xander interjects.

The woman laughs as she looks over to Xander.

“Chinami. That’s the name I go by. I’m so old I tend to forget what my true name is. Mortals never live long enough for it to matter.”

Xander leans his head over to her.

“I couldn’t care less about how old you are. I am yours.”

Her tongue slides between her teeth as she looks at his lips.

“Oh, Xan. Don’t you want to know your future? To know if you’ll ever fill that void inside of you?”

Xander moves his head closer to hers.

“No. I don’t care if it doesn’t involve you.”

“No? You’re not the slightest bit curious about what the future holds?”

“No. I say what I mean and mean what I say. If it doesn’t involve you, I don’t want to live.”

Xander turns his head downwards, pulling his hair back to offer his neck to Chinami.

“I give you everything I am. My past. Present. Future.”

“And what do you get in return?” Chinami asks, moving closer to his neck.

Xander’s amber musk cologne stimulates her senses when combined with the blood she drew earlier. Her lips part as they inch closer to each other. The breath coming from her lips is cold, yet warm.

“You. That’s the only thing I want in return. You, Chinami.”

“How can you be so sure I am worth everything the Great Xander Ares Greaves has to offer?”

Holding his hair back with his left hand, he gently pulls her face closer with his right hand.

“You are the strongest thing I have ever seen. Stronger than me. Stronger than Zenzo currently is. Stronger than Joy. In fact, I don’t think there’s anything on the planet stronger than you.”

Chinami’s breathing picks up as she hears him compliment her power.

“And power is what does it for you?”

“No. Your beauty is. Your power itself is beautiful, your face, your pale skin, your eyes. Your immortality, your intellect, your wisdom. Your restraint despite desiring me. I want to die at my peak, and you give me the chance to do so. To have you is to have life itself.”

“XAN!” Zenzo and Jewel yell.

Xander looks them in the eyes and shakes his head no.

“Will you take my heart and give me yours?”

Chinami's face is inches from his neck. She shows her fangs and opens her mouth. Her tongue runs up his neck. And then.