Parade Season

Ever since ancient times, there has been opposition against monsters and people with powers. This opposition has weakened and strengthened over time but the same situation has always been applied. Monsters hide and humans thrive.

---

Inside the penthouse headquarters of Atlus. Bijou is explaining the recent situation occurring in the city. Six Atlus members are standing around him in a circle, their faces staring at the large projection on the bronze wall across from them.

"The city is in danger. A threat of not just monsters or powered people, but something greater."

"What is the threat sir?" asked a short cute looking girl in a skin-tight dress.

Bijou paced in a circle with his hands behind his back. He stopped at the window overlooking the nightlight city. He had a deep dark frown.

"We are... Under attack... By..."

Everyone waited in anticipation as Bijou leaned forward pressing his hand against the window.

He said with a stern serious voice, "it's parade season."

"Parade season?" questioned the sleepy Michael as he stood at the back of the group.

Suddenly and without warning everyone standing in the circle fell back in a sad, depressed, and scared attitude.

"What? Why is everyone so... What's the parade?" asked Michael.

Zue walked up and held Michael's shoulder, like a friend had just died, "you don't want to know, kid."

---

Two days later, outside of the long central avenue of the city, where crowds of people waited behind long metal fences.

All the members of Atlus watched from atop rooftops as floats slowly waltzed down the streets, with music, and confetti, and all types of people screaming at the tops of their lungs.

Michael sat on a faraway rooftop. Next to him was the small girl from two days prior. She had long brown hair that was tied up into a bun and a large black scythe attached to her back.

"So what's the deal with this parade? Why are you all so depressed?" asked Michael.

"The parade? Oh..." She sat down next to Michael, "it's not the parade that everyone hates. It's the week-long work. I can't believe Mr. Bijou didn't tell you, but we're not gonna be here just for tonight. There are going to be nonstop parades all week, and we gotta be on watch twenty-four seven."

"All week!"

"Yup, all week, but at least the pays good. Mr. Bijou knows the struggle. He used to work for Atlus back when there were only four members."

Michael leaned back with the night wind and shining lights against his hair and face, "can you tell me more about the organization?"

"yeah, umm... By the way, what's your name?" she asked holding out her hand.

Michael shook it saying, "the names Michael."

"I'm Cinder. and yeah, I'll tell ya about the organization. It's been goin on for about as long as you and me have been alive."

"So eighteen years?"

"Yeah, I'm nineteen, so I was thinking around that long."

"Wait...!" Michael paused and looked at this young girl that looked around sixteen next to him, "your nineteen?!"

"Shut up! Let me finish what I was saying. From what I know Atlus has been around for a while and they deal with rouge abnormals who overuse their powers."

"Wait, what about monsters?"

"Nah, we don't care about monsters. Atlus is more of a militarized police force, so we're don't really have an agenda or anything. We hire abnormal people with powers and we save the city for grants from the government."

"So we're peacekeepers? Like superheroes?"

"Yeah, like superheroes, but with paychecks."

"Oh-"

BOOM!

Far off in the distance, a large explosion erupted around where the parade was. Michael got up in a scared fury.

"We gotta help!"

"No we don't, let the others deal with it, just stay put and watch the show. And it's not like you can do anything. I heard you can't actually fight."

"Yes, I can! I can... I can..."

"Sure sure. I'm good friends with Yin, and she told me all about you. If you can land one punch on me... Then... I'll let you kiss me."

"Kiss... You... I... I can't do that-"

"Just shut up and fight me!"

"Uh... Ok..."

Cinder stood up grabbing Michael by the hand. She pushed him back as she readied herself to fight. Michael stood lounging forward, he looked up at the cute girl in front of him.

"Are we actually going to fight?"

"A spar won't hurt no one."

"Ok then..." Michael stepped forward, his fists pressed up against his chest, "lets do this."