Valorverse (Grave x Destroyer)

[True Grave]

The first ever World Tournament of Earth One had been opened by Firestar, God of Fire and guardian of the planet. The purpose was to determine the greatest fighter on the planet, who would in turn become the leader of Team Firestar. Team Firestar would be responsible for defending Earth One from the most dangerous threats. Only the most elite could take on such danger, and only the greatest champion could determine who the elite truly were. Firestar's protege, Crusader, was expected to win the tournament. However, he had been challenged by great fighters in their own right.

Lone Wolf had had an impressive showing in the tournament despite being its only competitor without powers. The mutants Spirit Rider and Shell Shock had also battered almost everybody who stood in their way. And, of course, Crusader had proven why he was the tournament favorite with impressive wins over every opponent so far. The final round of the tournament saw Crusader take on Spirit Rider for the illustrious title of Champion of Earth One. It was a mighty clash with both fighters giving everything they had. It had now come down to the final push.

---

Scott Young was panting and bleeding behind his Voltari Armor. Eric Coverdale was among the toughest fighters that he had ever faced. The wind master himself was panting and bleeding from the face, as well. However, he had not lost his cool demeanor even once throughout the tournament. Scott knew that he had to keep it together, as well. He instinctively sensed that it was time to unleash his best technique.

Eric had the same thought. He knew that Nick was cheering him on from the infirmary right now. He had to give this fight his all. Summoning his motorcycle, he mounted it and began hitting the throttle and brake at the same time. His green Soul Aura flared up as he charged his power. The man also known as Spirit Rider was going to give it his all this time.

Scott read the signs and realized that it was time for him to give it all he had, as well.

Let's go for broke, Valor.

The Voltari said nothing but Scott could sense his determination. Just like him, he hadn't worked this hard and come this far just to blow it now. Scott tightened his Muay Thai stance and looked Eric right in the eyes.

"Come and get it," he said as his combined Soul Aura erupted in a fierce display of challenge.

Eric took his foot off of the brake and twisted the throttle to full speed. He raced at Scott, intending to hit him with full force. Focusing his Soul Energy into his arms, Scott waited until he was in range. Cocking his fist back, he stepped forward to meet the assault.

Million Punches of Valor!!!

Scott hammered away at the motorcycle, pushing it back as Eric continued to charge forward.

On the final punch, Scott charged it up with all of the power he had left. Both men screamed as their souls caught fire. Scott pushed forward and finally broke through. Eric's motorcycle shattered and he took the devastating punch to the face. He flew out of the outdoor arena and crashed into the wall. Scott was so exhausted that he could no longer maintain his armor and fell onto his knees.

The crowd watching all over the world erupted in cheers. Firestar appeared in the ring and helped Scott to his feet. He raised his arm in victory.

"Your winner and the Champion of Earth One! Crusader!"

Scott beamed, feeling very accomplished and proud in that moment.

After being announced the winner, Firestar opened an orange portal to teleport him instantly to New York City. Press from all around the world greeted him and he held an impromptu press conference.

"Congratulations on your victory, Crusader. What do you plan to do now?"

"I'm going to start testing candidates for Team Firestar, who will be headquartered right here in New York. To help me protect Earth One from the worst, I will need the best."

An hour after that press conference, Scott was finishing cleaning up Firestar's old house. It was a large house that might need expanding as the team grew. He planned to wait for the candidates to come and predicted that it wouldn't be long. Almost everyone on the planet had watched the World Tournament. Crusader would have to prepare himself to be team leader. A knock sounded at the door and he opened it to greet the first candidates.

 

[Destroyer]

New York is pandemonium. Everyone had tuned in to watch the World Tournament, and the fact Scott Young won the right to defend Earth One from the most dangerous threats is lost on no one. The press conference did little to quell the men and women who had no part in the fighting, but feel the need to celebrate regardless. Who will join Team Firestar? It remains to be seen. Not many can be on par or surpass Scott's strength, that much is obvious. It would have to be talented individuals that seek to take his test. People celebrate out on the streets, drinking heavily as he waits for the first candidates to knock on his door.

A young woman dares to approach, though she is hesitant to do so. Every step brings a small crunch to her ears, though it is nearly drowned out with cheering and yelling. It feels… surreal that these people are… happy to see someone with powers rise to a position of power. Thousands of miles away, across the sea… the people would protest, riot… even resort to violence in order to force the issue. Here, that seems… to not be the case. Even so, it does not hurt to be cautious, just to be safe. A hand reaches up to tug the hood of her cloak down lower, that way no one can see any defining features.

It was… difficult to shuffle past the crowds. It had taken her time to figure out where Scott Young would be establishing his headquarters, too, and how to arrive there without getting lost. The young woman decided to slip down alleys to avoid the heavy foot traffic, mindful of her step. A few homeless shot her a distrustful look, but it is not anything she is not used to receiving. All was ignored, in favor of reaching her destination.

Twenty-five minutes later… she came to stand before a large home, beautifully landscaped and meticulously maintained. It was… a lot more warm and welcoming than she anticipated. In fact, it was sort of… charming. A wrap-around porch offers the opportunity to sit outside during sunrise or sunset, or to gaze up at the stars. The house itself is painted a warm shade of green.

Anxiety and dread churns in her stomach. What if she is turned away? What if she is rejected?

I won't know until I knock on the door, dummy

The young woman crosses the small stone path that leads to the steps, amazed at how… picturesque this place is. It almost feels as though it is untouched by the ugliness of the world. A few flowers, pink and white and yellow, sway from a gentle breeze nearby.

A fist lifts… to gently knock on the door. When someone comes to answer, they will find a figure clad in all black, a cloak pulled tight and a hood up and over despite the warm weather.

Only dark, deep blue eyes can be seen glittering from inside the shadows cast.

 

[True Grave]

Scott opened the door to greet the first applicant to Team Firestar. He was surprised when the figure was clad entirely in a cloak and hood. He could only see a pair of blue eyes. Though puzzled, he gave them a friendly smile.

"Hey there. Come on in."

After the applicant was inside, he guided them to a warm and spacious dining room. There was a long wooden table and several chairs in here, as it was meant to seat multiple people for dinner. Though Team Firestar had no members currently aside from himself, Scott hoped to change that soon. He had the hooded guest sit down and offered them a cup of tea.

"That tea is from United Clans in Hokkaido, Japan. I've never had better."

Scott sat down across from them and sipped his own cup of tea. He decided to try and get to know the applicant a little. After all, if they were going to potentially fight together on the same team, it would help to be friends.

"So, tell me about yourself. What's your name?"

The Champion of Earth One and Leader of Team Firestar exuded a gentleness and warmth that belied his rank.

 

[Destroyer]

Dark blue eyes scoured the hallway, and then the dining room, keeping an eye out for any potential threats. A long, wooden table with several chairs awaits, as if to serve several people… which is an unnerving thought. Somewhat reluctantly, she joined him at the table… with a cup of tea, too. An eyebrow lifted when he decided to share what type of tea it is.

Old habits had her refraining from touching the cup.

It feels… incredibly awkward to be here. Was this a mistake? Just as she was considering the possibility of leaving, of making some sort of excuse to slip away… he asked for her name. A hand curled into her lap, holding onto the folds of her black cloak for a moment. It was only a minute or so… but it felt like an eternity before she could gather enough courage to speak.

“My name… is Lyra Lenoir, sir.” Her voice is hesitant, soft, like a whisper of shadow along a pebbly path.

A hand dared to reach up, to pull the hood back.

First he notices the dark blue eyes, suspicious and wary, as dark and deep as the sky at midnight. Lyra’s gaze is focused, intense and intent, not softened by the whimsical bits and pieces of black brushing along her jaw. The rest is pulled back in a braid, hidden underneath the cloak.

Many scars mar the soft skin of her jaw and neck, old and ugly.

“You are… Scott Young,” Lyra speaks up, stating the obvious.

 

[True Grave]

Scott nodded as he heard her name whispered as if on the wind.

"It's nice to meet you, Lyra."

He would have extended his hand to shake, but she likely wouldn't have wanted to, so he refrained. When Lyra revealed her face, she was pretty but her eyes looked like those of a combat survivor. He could see scars along her jaw and neck. To put it bluntly, Lyra had both seen and been through some shit.

He nodded with a chuckle.

"Yes, I am. I suppose 99% of the planet knows who I am now."

Scott decided to proceed gently.

"Lyra...are you...a mutant? Did you come from a place hostile to your kind?"

Most mutants found safety and community at the Shadowgreen Institute in Nice, France. It was a sovereign nation recognized by both the UN and the French government. But not all mutants in the world could get there or wanted to live by its rules. Some mutants still hid on the fringes of human society. Scott wanted Team Firestar to be a symbol of safety to all and be able to reach out to the marginalized. The gold and black hand of Crusader was extended in friendship to all who would take it.

 

[Destroyer]

“... I am a mutant, yes.” Is it that obvious? Mm, perhaps her face and scars speak more than words. Lyra lifts a hand, fingertips tracing along one ugly scar in particular that she remembers taking a long time to heal.

After a moment or two, she spoke up again.

“Not all humans accept mutants… or anyone different, for that matter. I came from a place that has… old-fashioned views of the world.” Lyra did not elaborate any further. It is in the past, and although it has shaped her future, she does not let it dictate what comes next. Dark blue eyes lifted to meet his again.

Times like this, she wishes she hadn’t gone through what she did. It would make casual conversations less… awkward.

“Is it safe to assume you will want to know more of what I can do? I am not sure if you want me to tell you, or if you want to see it for yourself.”

Lyra pushes away from the table, anticipating a test of sorts regardless.

 

[True Grave]

Scott nodded when he got the confirmation that she was a mutant.

"I thought so."

He listened intently as Lyra told him that she was from a prejudiced place. His eyes showed genuine compassion.

"I'm sorry to hear that. The world is changing, but not everyone is willing to change with it."

He nodded again.

"Yeah, if you don't mind, I would like to see what you can do."

Scott knew from experience that it was often easier to show than tell when it came to powers. They stood up so that Lyra could show him.

"This isn't a test, so don't think of it like that. Just do what makes you comfortable."

 

[Destroyer]

A nonchalant shrug rolls through my shoulders. As well-intentioned as his apology may be, it changes nothing.

The past is in the past. All she can do is look towards the future.

Lyra looked about the dining area, and decided to utilize the cup of tea he had offered earlier. If she isn't going to drink it…

A shape rises from the shadow cast by the porcelain, and then… she lets it grow bigger.

It is just a moment later that he is looking at a darker version of himself in the eye..

“Shadows,” Lyra goes on to explain. “I can manipulate, shape… and teleport objects between…” A hand gestures, but her voice trails off as she struggles to find the right words.

This is why she prefers silence over speaking.

 

[True Grave]

Scott saw that his apology didn't make up for the trauma of Lyra's past. At the very least, he hoped that it showed that Team Firestar was different from the bigoted place that she had come from. He watched as a shadow cast by the teacup grew in size until it was life sized. The hero was jolted by the dark reflection of himself. He nodded in understanding as Lyra explained that her power was shadow manipulation.

"That's really something."

He turned to Lyra.

"Your powers are definitely interesting. They could be a valuable asset to the team."

His face grew more serious.

"But what Team Firestar does is very dangerous. Even knowing that, are you still willing to try out for the team?"

 

[Destroyer]

"Yes," Lyra replies simply. It will be a safe place to lay her head at night, without fear of what tomorrow may bring. "I am aware of the risks." Dark, deep blue eyes come to meet his, steely with resolve. Maybe if she has a purpose, besides just simply surviving... she will find a morsel of happiness in her otherwise depressing days. Lyra let the shadow fall, so he is no longer looking at a darker reflection of himself.

"Does this mean I have... passed? Or do I need to exhibit more of what I am capable of?"

A small tilt of her head had pieces of black hair brushing against a pale cheek.

 

[True Grave]

Scott nodded in understanding.

"Alright. In that case, I'll have to test you."

He made a hand motion that instructed her to follow him. They stepped out into the large backyard. Maintaining a distance from her, he began loosening up.

"As team captain, it's up to me how to test the applicants. I have to make sure that the members of Team Firestar won't get killed in the field. I think the best way to do that is to fight you myself. If you can last ten minutes against me without getting knocked out, then you've definitely got what it takes to make it out there."

Scott had finished warming up and was ready to go.

"You sure you want to do this, Lyra?"

 

[Destroyer]

A dip of her head is the only answer he receives.

In the large backyard, there is plenty of space to move about… and plenty to destroy, too. It would be a shame to see these flowers ripped up.

Lyra rolls her shoulders, stretches her arms out. It isn’t necessarily to engage in hand-to-hand combat with him… not yet, that is. All he requires is a demonstration of sorts, or… perhaps that isn’t the right word.

Ten minutes later, Lyra lets her shadows drop. It was child’s play to dodge about, and to make her body insubstantial. Scott Young could not get his hands on her, no matter how hard he tried to. It was… amusing, to say the least. Lyra did use tendrils of shadow to attack him a few times, but nothing that left serious injuries.

“Well? Did I pass?” she asked quietly, not even winded.

 

[True Grave]

Scott nodded.

"Alright. Let's do this!"

He willed his Voltari Armor to appear and raised his Soul Energy Level (SEL) to 100. That would be strong enough for testing purposes. Crusader shot forward like a missile to engage Lyra.

However, he could not even touch her. Lyra's use of shadows made it seem like he was trying to grab smoke. Though he could dissipate some shadows, he couldn't stop her from moving around to dodge him. Her tendrils of shadow bounced harmlessly off of his armor. It was probably more to demonstrate that she could be offensive, as well. Regardless, she could wear out an attacking foe fairly easily with these shadow powers.

Ten minutes later, Crusader was in his Muay Thai stance and standing across from her. Lyra had done well and earned her stripes. He relaxed to stand normally and his armor dissipated.

"With flying colors. Welcome to Team Firestar, Lyra."

He motioned for her to step inside.

Back inside, he took Lyra upstairs to show her room. It was bare with a bed and desk.

"This will be your room. Feel free to decorate however you like."

He headed downstairs to meet any further applicants. If any more showed up, he would have to test them, as well.

 

[Destroyer]

Lyra looked about the room, finding it bare -not unlike her own life. It seems rather appropriate. Perhaps here… she will come to know herself better, evolve into a different version of herself that is not so affected or haunted by the past. Her eyes are drawn outside, where she sees others approach.

Many applicants came, and several were politely turned down. It is the nature of things. Not everyone is cut out to protect the world from serious threats.

One particular candidate was rather… astounding: she goes by “Gravity Guardian.”

As presumptuous as her hero name may be, it is rather adept. A young woman of twenty-one years, Xanthe Lynn can decrease or increase the gravity of her environment, or on certain objects. It is rather formidable.

In fact, it is also somewhat… disorienting. Xanthe is a bright, bubbly person who stands no higher than, say, five foot four… and to wield such power… and her temper proves to be something not to trifle with. Another rather… interesting applicant was another young woman, one who had a guitar as her weapon. It is how she channels her ability to amplify and manipulate sound waves. Her name is Regan Ryan.

 

[True Grave]

Scott put several applicants to the test, but they didn't make the cut for Team Firestar. Two rather interesting candidates showed up after that. Xanthe was a gravity manipulator and Regan was a sound manipulator.

"It's nice to meet you both."

He brought them into the dining room and served them tea.

"Why don't you tell me about yourselves?"

As Captain of the team, Scott thought it was a good idea to get to know each of the applicants. Even if they didn't end up making the team, it was good to have an extended network of connections. Besides, even if they didn't make the team on their first try, they could always try again. Scott had an open door policy when it came to applicants. Scott thought he might have seen at least one of them before.

"Did either of you attend the World Tournament?"