CHAPTER 1: Last Minute

Pigeons flew by a young boy as he swung from the street light. His scarf unraveled from the pole, and he threw it towards the next. Leaps came one after the other: from tree branches, apartment balconies, and flag poles. The boy's black outfit was built for speed. His pace like that of a great dane chasing a thrown ball, with matching determination to reach his goal. That is, until he heard an old woman cry out, "Help! Someone help me!" Not now. I'm gonna be late for- "I'm elderly and helpless!" Someone else can do it, right? "Oh, I'm all alone!" Dang it!

The boy performed a full loop around a light pole, then landed on his feet with grace in front of the woman in need. "Gren, how nice to see you. Are you eating well? You look terribly skinny." "I'm fine Ms. Bradshaw. Are you ok? I heard you screaming." The old woman held onto her walker and said, "I need someone to walk me across the street."

A look of polite annoyance came over Gren's face, who examined the completely empty street. "Ma'am, there's no cars-" "That's what they all tell me, but I know they're waiting for me to take just one step and BAM!! Grandma got run over by a Reign DR 2045." After much internal debate, the boy slumped his shoulders and gently pushed the elder across. "There. Goodbye Ms. Bradshaw!" Before the lady could even say another word, her helper leapt and swung away. "Kids these days."

Mid flight, Gren looks at the park's clock tower. The digital display changes from a Reign advertisement to the time of day. 9:55!? Oh man! Frantically the boy whips his scarf around trees, slides down the playground slide, and leaps over the jungle gym. It's not that far! I think I can- His thoughts are interrupted by the sight of wilting flowers. I FORGOT TO WATER THE FLOWERS!! Gren changes direction by 90 degrees to the left, then reaches for the large, metal star on his back. The shuriken draws in water from thin air before he waves it in front of him. The flowers below drown in an abundance of water, much to the shock of a mother and her toddler standing by. "Sorry!"

Gren's scarf wraps around a street light as it turns green. Cars fill the busy lanes below him, some honking as he passes by in front of them. "Sorry! Excuse me! Sorry!" Wind blows through his messy, brown hair as he matches the speed of the vehicles, but all progress is halted at the sound of sirens. "Stop right there, Gren!" A look of defeat falls on his face, and he swings himself down to the sidewalk. The young police woman drives up to the boy and pushes her passenger door open. "Where you headed, young man?" Overwhelming joy fills Gren as he jumps up and down. "YES!! Thank you!" He nearly dives in the seat, and sirens sound off once more to make a clear path towards the arena dome.

The car's glowing, blue wheels don't stop moving before Gren opens the door and runs out. "Thank you SO much!" Just ahead, the open gate calls to him. It's arms welcome him like a mother's warm embrace. A feeling of absolute bliss. CLANG! The iron gates slam shut, causing Gren to collide nose first. With 3 perfectly spaced lines on his face, the boy begs the guard, "No! Please, sir. Let me in! I'm supposed to be-" A towering knight in silver armor holds his hammer beside him like a king's staff. In his left hand, a shield, nearly as large as he. "...in...there..." Gren manages to say.

"10 AM, young man. That is when the gates close." The knight's thunderous voice sent shivers down Gren's spine, like scraping a popsicle across his front teeth. Everything he had dreamt of this day, shattered. "Maybe next year, you won't be so tardy. Now off with ye." The knight's giant hand gently guides the boy's back away from the gate, but Gren can't accept it. He quickly turns and shouts, "No! I've waited for this day my whole life! You have to let me in there!" "Watch your tone, boy. Lest ye face the mighty hammer of Granknight!" Unwilling to back down, the boy, half the knight's size, declares his challenge. "Fight me! If I win, you let me inside!"

Nothing is said for a moment. Gren just stands there with his right arm raised in front of his determined face, revealing his digital watch on his wrist. Suddenly Granknight lets out a loud, belly laugh and slaps his metal knee. "Then it shall be settled in combat!" He raises his right arm and presses his pointer finger on what appears to be a watch. Gren does the same to his, and a blue glow slowly travels down his arm. Granknight grabs his hammer from the ground, and the blue outline surrounds it as well. Both fighters now stance for battle, Gren holding his water coated shuriken up high, and Granknight lifting his shield in front of him. The Symulation had begun.

Gren leaps high above the giant and darts back down in a straight, black line. Shuriken strikes shield, and Granknight goes for a counter. The mighty hammer swings over head, nearly crushing the boy. A green glow flashes over Gren, then fades away. Now he sprints even faster. Jumping off the gate, then from a light pole, then a tree, then the gate again. The dizzy Granknight spins until he loses track of the boy. Gren strikes. "Shuriken Wave!" As if the weapon hears him, water pours out from the central hole, flowing like a rapid river. He then throws it towards the giant's rear with a spin.

CLANG! Granknight's blue outline flashes red as he tumbles forward. Water splashes on his back as the Shuriken flies back to its owner's hand. Gren catches his weapon and jumps up high again to deal another blow. The flowing shuriken eclipses the sun, with only a thin beam of light piercing through the hole. Gren's eyes show determination, then fear. Granknight's mighty hammer swings from the ground, smashing the boy's body against the gate wall.

Gren lands on the concrete hard with a red outline around him, then it turns yellow. The giant rises up, his weapon held high. Just the head of the hammer was the size of the boy. "AHAHAHAA!! You thought you could best the mighty hammer of Granknight!?" Now the hammer eclipses the sun, and Gren's shaded face fills with dread. "See you next year!"