The city was peaceful. Well, as peaceful as a city could be. The sounds were constant. Car horns, random words of strangers, and the rumbling of the train that ran through between the buildings. The Sun was especially warm and bright today as Lincoln walked through the streets, not paying much attention to those around him. He even ignored the ones who looked at him funny or mad comments when they saw what he was wearing. He had gone out suddenly since there was nothing else to do, and in a rush put on his hero costume instead of normal clothes since he hadn't done laundry for a couple of days. It wasn't his fault, he just didn't have that many clothes. It was a combination of not caring and not having enough money to own a bunch of clothes. Ever since he moved to Zendrant City, he had accepted one simple fact about this place.

The people here were jerks.

But that didn't really matter to him. He lived in an abandoned part of the city and only came into populated areas to do hero work or shop. So he didn't have to deal with the people here that often. If he was being completely honest, he could get lonely at times, but he wasn't going to move anytime soon. The rent was too cheap to pass up, and the work he did as a hero didn't exactly pay him that much.

Wait, he thought, it doesn't pay at all.

Besides, what did he care if people judged him just cause he was wearing a yellow jumpsuit? Or maybe it was because he was a kid all on his own in the middle of a large city, wearing a hero walked into his favorite supermarket, simply named..."Supermarket." He guessed the owners weren't trying that hard to get attention. Which was fine to him, since the low business meant less competition for the sales they had every other week or so. He grabbed a red basket on his way in and went straight to the back of the store, holding the basket by putting one forearm through both handles. He was running low on eggs and milk. As he thought about it, he had no idea where the money he got came from. He had not run out, but he hadn't made any effort to make more. It was one of the only mysteries in his life, and he decided not to question it.

Looking through the deli section, Lincoln picked up a package of uncooked crab meat. The only sounds present in the store was the soft music playing in the background that made him kind of sleepy and the rolling of two or three carts present. The store was relatively empty, even though a sale was going on. It was one of the perks of this place. He had virtually first picked on any item he wanted, which was important during a sale. He had been going to MalWart for a while, but he liked this place better. It had only the bare essentials and it was quicker to get in and out.

As he thought this, Lincoln stopped in the middle of the aisle and sighed, his white cape ruffling a bit behind him thanks to some phantom wind. It was then that he realized something.

I'm so bored. He thought. It wasn't just today either, it was like this every day. It was a pattern he had regrettably gotten used to in his life. He had virtually nothing to do all day except shop and fight the occasional monster if he was lucky. And even then it was really boring. He had lost contact with his family a couple of years ago. He still sent letters, but they never replied, and he never bothered buying a phone since he had no one to call or text. His t.v. was enough entertainment, but the only things he could play were cable news and an occasional D.V.D., but he had already watched all the movies in his house several times. Let's just hurry up and pay for this.

As he thought that, suddenly the ground rumbled, and several explosions could be heard. He opened his eyes ins surprise as he felt that he was shaking. Looking around, he watched as the items around him flew off of their respective shelves and onto the floor. Screams erupted from both outside and inside the store, the clerks and costumers both fleeing from the store and heading left down the street. Curious now that something exciting was happening, he walked calmly outside and looked to the right.

Much of this part of the city was completely destroyed, dark rubble where buildings once stood. It looked like someone had taken a giant wrecking ball and completely squashed the city. Ominous dark clouds rose high above, nearly blocking out the sun and sky. The darkness had settled down on street level, making the destroyed area look menacing. Lincoln felt his spirits lift a little, looking at it.

There must be a really strong monster there. He thought, and quickly walked into the danger zone.

Everything was destroyed. The buildings, the streets, the cars. The only thing left of the now ghost town was piles of broken concrete, metal, and glass. Two men laid unconscious on the ground. One sprawled on his back with red and yellow spandex, and a smiley face visible on the center of his chest. The other wearing black and yellow, with blonde spiky hair, laying on a large piece of concrete. In the distance, a large black figure could be seen walking away from the two heroes. A sudden flash of blue appeared, followed quickly by an explosion as another building was destroyed.

The figure continued to walk. Its size was no laughing matter. Nearly ten feet tall, covered with nothing but jet black muscle. It possessed no head, instead, it had eyes in the middle of his chest and spike-covered it's back. Where the neck should've met the head, instead was an opening the was closed by large sharp canine teeth, acting as the mouth of the monster. Its claws were almost comically large, as were the sharp endings of each toe that it had.

As it continued to walk, it could hear a sweet sound. The crying of a human. It purred at the sensation, the audible effect of pure fear and despair. Oh, how it gave him power. The spike on his back rustled, and the monster's steps quickened towards the source.

A young girl was standing there, all alone in the middle of all this destruction. She was holding her hands in her face, tears flowing through her hands, polluted with the dust and ash of what used to be a city full of life. The spikes on the monsters back rustled more as it took slow loud steps towards the child. It wanted her to know it was their, to feel the ultimate suffering as she stared death in the face and could do nothing. Soon the monster was standing right behind her. The girl's cries stopped as she turned around. She looked between the legs of the monster. Her gaze slowly went up as her tear-stung eyes made contact with the endless lilac orbs on the monster's chest. The young girl's eyes widened as she looked at the beast in front of her, fear completely overtaking her so that she couldn't move.

The monster's spikes rustled uncontrollably, begging to be fed. A low laugh came from it's "mouth," as one large hand was raised next to the girl's head. Its palm touched her ear, the first noticeable thing was how cold it was, despite it being in the middle of summer. Making sure to look her right in the eyes, it closed its hands slowly so that her vision was cut off definite. The spikes rustled as the monster smiled, and without warning the hand closed with all it's might, creating a small shock wave of wind and a loud boom.

Wait. Where was the crunch? It couldn't feel any blood. This was not good, not good at all. It needed to be satisfied. It opened it's hand, and there was not a single trace of the girl to be seen.

"Hey, are you okay?" A voice. It was a male, not the girl who was about to satisfy it. The monster turned to where the man's voice had come from.

That was a close one, Lincoln thought but didn't say out loud. Looking down at the small brunette girl he was carrying in his arms, she was frozen for a moment, before what had happened fully processed. Her face morphed from shock to grief, tears spilling out wildly. She jumped up and wrapped her arms around Lincoln's neck. The white-haired man looked towards the small girl, whose face was buried in his neck. He let a small smile appear on his face, and gave her a comforting pat on the pack.

"It's fine now." He said in a quiet and comforting manner. "Let me take care of this monster real quick, and then I'll take you somewhere safe."

The girl did not answer, but let go of him. He set her sitting on a flat piece of concrete. He gave her a small smile before turning to the monster. His face morphed into a deadly look, stepping towards the monster.

"I was going to let you off easy," Lincoln said, clenching his fist. "But now, I guess that's just not an option."

The monster was not one for talking. The monster only had one thing in mind. Kill, kill, and kill some more. Nothing else mattered. Not every word in existence could give it the satisfaction that killing did. The monster pulled both his hands back, his claws extending longer than they already were. Its muscles bulged as it jumped at Lincoln, it's murderous intent almost becoming visible. Even so, the white-haired boy did not move a muscle. He just stared at the monster. The monster's arm swung forward, looking to crush the plain-looking man with the force to level ten square miles.

Without warning, the young hero turned his body around in a complete 360. The movement was so fast, the monster could not see it. Confusion was the last thing it felt before a fist collided with its chest. The top half of the monster exploded in a shower of blood and gore, all of it flying back away from Lincoln due to the force. The legs of the monster fell back, colliding lifeless with the ground, leaving Lincoln with his fist extended out and a shocked expression on his face. The front of the red glove on his right fist was steaming as he was frozen from the moment.

"One punch again," he whispered in disappointment, "dang it." He turned to the small girl, who was looking at him with wide eyes.

"Hey, are you all right?" He said. She nodded, never taking her eyes off of him and never blinking. He stepped close to her and bent down slightly, making them eye level. "What's your name?"

". . . Margo." She said. Lincoln gave her a small smile. He wasn't exactly sure what her reaction was, but he knew it was a good one.

"How old are you?" He asked. She blinked. Hesitant, he noted.

"I-I'm twelve." She stuttered. Huh. She's not that much younger than me. "H-how . . . how old are you?"

"Hmm?" He said questioningly. The girl jumped a little, and he wondered if he did something to scare her.

"I-I mean . . . you just don't look . . . old enough . . ." She started but faded out.

"To be a hero?" He asked. The girl nodded. Lincoln stood up and looked out to the middle distance, scratching his left cheek with one finger. A habit he had picked up pretty soon in this city. "Actually, you're kinda right.I'm only fourteen." He said. He expected some response out of her, but when she was silent he looked at her. She was staring at him with wide eyes, tear-stained cheeks, but she wasn't crying anymore. Well, time to get her out of here.

Lincoln turned and bent his knees, holding both his arms slightly out to the side.

"Hop on." He said.