League Wars: Haunted Heroes Fan-Fiction "Heavy is the Crown"

by Silver Paladin

ID: 22349

The enthusiastic cries from the crowds of watching heroes merged with the audio broadcasts from the planetary viewing stations to create a forceful claxon of excitement.

"It happened again!"

"OMG! Do you believe it?"

"Holy sh*!"

The Star Force sat dispersed between several tables, eating a late-night meal after their fight against the 5th Precinct Wise Guys. They cheered along with everyone else, but their mirth didn't carry the same measure of jubilation.

"Two down, one to go, boss," Wyldfyre said as he stabbed at his plate of General Tso's Chicken. "Do you think you can lead us to at least one win this league war?"

"I don't know," Starmaster snapped back. "I managed to defeat everyone I fought against. How about you? I saw some of the 5th Precinct Wise Guys blow 'The Wyldfyre' out like a birthday candle."

"Ouch." Chained Angel leaned back in her seat, tossing her napkin over the remains of her salad. "Are you going to judge each of us as lacking if we didn't rise to your level of performance?"

Catalyst looked between his table companions, remaining silent.

"I can only do so much, you know," Starmaster stood up and took his tray to the a garbage bin at the other side of the food court.

The rest of his league watched him walk away.

"Someone woke up on the wrong side of the space station," Wyldfyre said. He continued to eat his meal as if nothing had happened.

"Why is he so upset?" Prysmatica asked.

"Aren't you?" The Infinite Tempest replied. "He may be our leader, but he's still got all the emotions the rest of us have. I know I'm not very happy at two losses after all the hard work and effort we've put in. Bloodstar's frustrated for his not being able to get any wins for the league. Silver Paladin's in the same boat. So are most of the rest of us. Let the man have some space."

Prysmatica stabbed at her citrus salad. "Leaders don't have it easy sometimes, do they?"

"Doesn't make him having a hissy in front of all of us any better," Wyldfyre said. He wiped his mouth clean with a napkin. "He knows I'm going to be giving him guff most of the time. I think he is still feeling like he failed down in North Onnotangu when Chase got taken on his watch. Pair that up with the futile searches for her and two losing rounds, I'm surprised he hasn't cracked sooner."

A cacophony of cheers erupted as the Angels of Sorcery won another match in the overtime round. The group paused and waited for the noise to die down, which lead to an awkward silence.

"He's mad at himself." Catalyst finally spoke up. "He blames himself for our losses. He was looking into working with a different league to get more experience. If he would have left, we would have been in a lower division. Things went sour with them, which he doesn't mind because the other leader and he had mindsets that didn't click, but he regrets not dropping out for our benefit. We would have had an easier time in a lower division."

"Add to that the fact some of our newer members aren't as responsive as he would like." Wyldfyre stared at the next table where Cyber Star and Lightning R.A.D. sat with El Ray, Silver Paladin, and Winter's Fist. "He sends messages and half the time, gets no response. I get why he is stressed, but I'm not going to let him get away with it. Being the temperamental one on the team is my spot."

"You know," Chained Angel began. She shifted in her chair, one of her wings having gotten caught in the metal spokes on the backrest. "League Wars are meant to help us develop our powers and be better fighters, but don't you all think the competition also brings out some of the worst of some people as well?"

"If that ain't the truth, I don't know what is." Wyldfyre raised his glass of beer.

The others nodded and chuckled in agreement.

"Look out, he's coming back," Prysmatica warned her league-mates. Within half-a-minute, Starmaster returned to the table.

"Sorry about that, everyone," Starmaster said as he looked around at his team. "I'm as disappointed as the rest of you but it isn't right for me to take it out on all of you. Sometimes Wyld there just knows how to press my buttons at the right time, you know."

"Without a doubt.", "Yeah, we know.", "Damn straight", along with other affirmations were uttered from the league.

"Hey, I'm sitting right here!" Wyldfyre smirked while spreading out his arms with upturned palms. "Don't sweat it bro, we get it."

The league nodded.

"It just bothers me that ever since I entered the Star Force in its first league war, I've messaged our opponents to show our respect for their team. Every other time, I've gotten a response, but not with this round," Starmaster explained. "I even sent them a congratulatory message after our loss. No reply. I think you all deserve better respect than that. It got me sort of bent out of shape."

"Meh," The Infinite Tempest said. "What is the saying. 'Karma's a bitch'?"

"Now I'll raise my glass to that," Wyldfyre poured a belt of smuggled whiskey into his empty beer glass. "Here's to karma. And to next round. May we finally kick some ass!"

Together the league-mates toasted to their unity. "To Karma."