One year ago…
At a sacred temple deep in the heart of Apex Grove, two brothers stood tall. One represented the chillness of Ice, the other the anger built into Fire. Each day, the two brothers trained together, getting stronger, closer until the day came. Blaze was kicked from the temple after an accident in the training area. Frost hasn’t seen Blaze until this day, deep down, Frost never let his presence go. It lingered boiling the ice he once held dear as a power.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr1MdzhQ65e
That day on Frost kept training and training with his abilities, creating new weaponry he can use to manipulate his element. Until the day came, he had gotten a call that Blaze had fallen in battle. Frost was devastated, thought he had lost his brother forever, so he did what he thought his brother would have wanted and left the temple to pursue other goals in keeping the world safe.
Current day, a day from the attack…
Frost sat in his bed in the DPS chamber as Tex walked in. Bunkbeds line the walls while still having a spacious middle where a pristine white living room set sat. Eyeing Frost, Tex sat in the bed next to him, polish and chain in hand. “This isn’t over, not until we meet again under the Apex of the Silver Branched tree,” Blaze’s voice echoed in Frost’s head. Frost sat, looking down at the pure white checkered floor.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl332YzJQvx
Tex looked up at Blaze, his hands freezing as he was midway through polishing his chain. “He probably has a good reason, you know,” Tex said, looking back down at his chain. Frost looked up at Tex before sighing and looking down at a photo he had in his hand. “Did you know, I haven’t seen him in a year,” Frost sighed, folding the photo. “May I ask what the photo is from?” Tex asked, looking at the photo Frost held.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJbmqUufVCw
Frost unfolded it once more, revealing a photo of him on Blaze’s shoulders playing in a pool when they were younger. “So you do have a soul,” Tex jokingly said, playfully punching Frost’s shoulder.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡly0rn8fAW7
Frost rolled his eyes and refolded the photo, tucking it in his jacket pocket. “It’s whatever,” he replied in a cold, empty tone. His arms crossed as he continued to play with the frost bomb. “For years, I looked up to him as a hero; he was top of his class at the Silver Root Temple.” Tex’s expression dropped as he stopped polishing his chain. “Must have been hard to see him as the villain.”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhI7TTOzaL2
Frost stood up and walked to the living room, set to sit in a chair. “It’s scary, you know…”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg9qcVMiqqz
Tex looked up as Frost spoke, his eyes empty of their usual spark. “Having been told your sibling died,” Frost finished, crossing his arms and pulling out his phone. “I’m sorry,” Tex muttered, wishing he could hug Frost. “I’ll let you finish up your sulking, but afterwards, Andre has called us to the meeting room.”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9R768oKaJt
Tex stood up and walked out while Frost sat still, cold and empty, the chair slowly freezing below him.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ktw3hvz7K
Apollo patted Tex’s back as he entered the room. “What do you want?” Frost muttered as he felt the Canine’s familiar presence towering over him from behind.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKZmgVGcjCI
Apollo sighed and took a chair across from him. His arms crossed as he took out a photo from a hidden pocket in his prosthetic leg. “Laney asked me to introduce myself to you cause my dilemma is close to yours in a way,” Apollo replied, his voice full of calm and sorrow.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSwMkPg4H06
He hands the photo he was holding to Frost. “This was my brother, Hunter,” Apollo sighed, pointing to the photo. The photo showed two dogs next to a younger version of Andre. One was a german shepard, much like Apollo, the other a golden retriever. “This photo was taken before the accident where I became the person I am today.”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPIdKs7c6qo
Frost stared at the photo, his thumbs glossing over the photo Apollo placed in his hands. “Why are you showing me this?” Frost asked, his eyes hiding in the shadows of his hat.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO9MJSjj9ZY
Apollo took the photo back and glossed over it with his finger. “Tex told me about your state of shock about your brother, how talking to you didn’t work,” Apollo replied, staring at the photo himself. Apollo finally sighed and placed it back in his prosthetic limb. “Look, my brother disappeared that day; he became an anthropomorphic dog much like me, but he had simply vanished,” Apollo explained, crossing his legs, his hands resting briefly in his lap. “I’ll let you think about it, no rush, just find your way to the meeting.”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcW5liaRiOj
Apollo stands up, walking towards the door before briefly halting. Apollo turned his head to the left. “Oh, and Frost…” Apollo started. “Welcome to the team.”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ymyIgRXvH
Apollo turned and finished walking out of the room, leaving Frost in his thoughts.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlpGgjTOeI9
Moments later, everyone sat in a big room. One long table sat in the middle, splitting the group in half. Each side had about five to ten people sitting down. At one end, Andre sat with Apollo hovering over his shoulder, his longsword hanging from his back. Athena sat to Andre’s left, her arms folded while tinkering with her tablet strapped to her arm. On the far opposite end of the table, parallel to Andre, stood a tall black man with a dad bod of sorts. He wore a smug grin and had a hammer leaking acid over his shoulder. His arms and face were laced with visible burns from the acid stored in his hammer while small holes and oil stains covered his sleeveless shirt. To his left, a young girl around the age of sixteen. Her hair brown and textured like silk, her posture immature, yet oddly mature. She sat tinkering a blaster with a screwdriver.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiHL5YC8IZ2
Andre stood up and faced the black man, arms at his sides. “Welcome Damien, I see you brought Rainbow with you today,” Andre said, motioning towards the young girl. Damien perked up and laughed. “HAHAHA, it’s not like I was gonna leave my numbe rone protoge out of this,” Damien boasted, his arms crossed as his grin only grew wider. “Dare I say shes better than me at building blasters where my tallents lie in weapon alterations.”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAJIMw0m3Gt
The girl perked up, setting the screwdriver and the blaster at the table. “Sorry, just had to make some last minute adjustments to my light refracting blaster,” Rainbow picked up a pair of glasses haging off her white dress and placed them upon her face. “This blaster can refract and bend light using a set contraption of mirrors and prisms.”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOkMhB7lpca
Apollo chuckled at Rainbow’s enthusiasm towards guns, while Andre simply nodded. “Thanks for sharing that Rainbow, I’m glad Damien here finds you to be like a daughter,” Andre spoke, smiling softly before facing Damien again. Rainbow nodded before picking up her blaster to continue tinkering with it.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFks1h5OGwR
Damien chuckled before his expression went grim. His eyes met Andre, a new angry blaze set in them. “How bad?” Damien asked, visible strain in his crossed arms. “They got the Aether Core,” Andre replied, an audible sigh escaping his lips as he looked down at his hands. Apollo gently squeezed his shoulder in reassurance. Andre looked back up at Damien, we had to summon Angelo, Courtney, and Jacob as backups.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe2d0snQKlV
Angelo stood up, Courtney and the pharmacist following asuit. Damien turned to face them, his expression softening abit. “Thanks for jumping in,” Damien sighed.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi8DKhtsDyu
Angelo stepped forward with a sigh, his amrs behind his back. “Don’t thank us yet, besides… it was Courtney and Jacob here who did most of the work, but overall we failed at protecting the core,” Angelo said, gripping onto the empty tennis ball he used in battle.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZae1tmQISa
The JAcob, the pharmacist and Courtney place their hands on Angelo’s shoulders. Andre stepped forward. “You’re right, we did fail,” Andre sighed, before looking back at Angelo. “However, had you not shown up, we would have lost a lot more than the core.”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJCxoQrGD6x
Andre glanced at Apollo, grabbing his hand which was still on his shoulder. Apollo nodded and stepped forward. “Had it not been for Jacob and his pharmasuiticals, we wouldn’t have captured one of them, and I wouldn’t be here standing,” Apollo sighed, looking down, twidling his thumbs. “It’s my fault to begin with.”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM3BqZRM3Dh
Apollo hesitated, sorrow filling his eyes as he clawed at his arm. “I was too quick to charge in, we would have had a chance had I waited.”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo8l1TRLwpW
Apollo took his greatsword off his back and set it on the table. “For that, I am not as worthy of leading the tanks.” Apollo glanced towards a group of newly recruited tanks. “Moya, Anthony, Nate, I’m sorry, but I cannot lead you well as Jaylen once did.”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD2fhsh7jdM
Apollo bowed once more. “I’m sorry to disappoint you all.” Apollo stood up straight and walked out of the room. Andre took a step in his direction, but Laney who had taken Apollo’s place behind him, had placed her hand on his shoulder. “Let him breathe for a few,” she reassured Andre, her hand lifting off her shoulder. “Let’s finish the meeting, then you can talk to him.”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiI0rdsSmlC
Hours go by as the meeting transcends. Andre glances at the door throughout the remainder of the meeting.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmuvcfoYuMj
As the meeting comes to a close, Andre nods at Athena to take over as Andre walked out to find Apollo. After turning through about five hallways, Andre comes across a room labeled “Apollo’s Room.” Andre knocked gently as he heard the sounds of something being punched inside his room, most likely Apollo punching his mattress. “Apollo, open up, i need to talk to you,” Andre said, placing his hand on the door.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1e6ZVW9lHh
The sounds of punching stops as quiet but audible footsteps near the doors. As the footsteps stopped at the door, silence ensured, the only hint at Apollo’s presence was his shadow seeping out from under the floor. “Apollo, I don’t know what you’re feeling right now, but…” Andre hesitated, unsure of what to say. Andre sighed, his gaze landing on Apollo’s shadow under the door as his hands slipped off the door. “I lied, my mistake cost you your leg back during the big battle.”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMpCSQI0uQK
The door suddenly clicks and slowly opened. Apollo’s canine head seeks out, his eyes were red as if he’d been crying. “Oh Apollo,” Andre looked up, his hands moving to his heart. Andre reached out and pulled the German Shepard into a hug. “It’s not you’re fault, as the leader, the responsibility to lead everyone falls on me and I failed you, by not telling you abit sooner that I had a plan.”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmTGyRzL31z
Apollo remained silent as Andre pet his head. “Please say something,” Andre begged quietly. As Apollo finally pulled away, he looked at Andre, wiping his tears. “I’m sorry, I failed you,” he whispered as he attempted to closethe doors.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD1hgqHLLtZ
Andre stops the door with his foot before finally noticing how blood red, Apollo’s knuckles were. Andre forced his way in and grabbed Apollo’s hand, forcing him to sit down on the navy blue chair right next to Apollo’s door inside his room. “You know what it means to be a tank right?”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Z5ubpQtCY
Apollo looked up at him, nodding before looking back down at his hands. “It means being strong for the sake of the team, taking the brunt of the damage and protecting the squishies,” Apollo replied, gently caressing his bloodied knuckles.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJfRZyNyxDu
Andre sighed as he proceeded to hold Apollo’s hand, a faint blue emanating from his bloodied knuckles. “It means being strong of heart, you showed that yesterday,” Andre replied as Apollo’s knuckle wounds slowly close. “You did me proud yesterday during the attack yesterday.”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGnOU1inmvc
Apollo looked up, his brows furrowed, yet curious. “I did?” Apollo asked. Andre chuckled, a quiet laugh, as Apollo’s wound finished healing. “You jumped and used your body to protect the new recruits, of course, I’d be proud.”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtpySB3nuub
Andre helped Apollo up. “It showed strength and heart, more than Jaylen could,” Andre added, his chuckle more proud than before. “You didn’t fail me,” Andre placed his hand on Apollo’s cheek. “I’m the one who failed you, I know things have been tough since the accident…”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbaFvjL1iJl
Andre sighed and removed his hand from Apollo’s cheek. “Hunter’s disappearance, Jaylen’s capture, the attacks, the loss of your leg, it’s not fair, and I shouldn’t have let you carry the burden alone.”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrRpShMX3it
Apollo sighed, wiping the tears forming in his eyes as Andre continued. “That day you lost your leg… you wouldn’t have lost it had I not charged in,” Andre admitted, his fists tightening their grip on his pants. “I’ve wanted to apologize, but that won’t bring your leg back, and I haven’t been able to study a way using my abilities to do that.”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrEde4gCktR
Andre wipes his eyes, which were starting to water. “I’m a support, it’s my job to protect the backlines with heals and prevent flanking.”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGSeUCLfGob
Apollo perks up as he grabs Andre’s shoulder. His grip was tight as his expression was in shock. “Don’t blame yourself, please,” Apollo said, his other hand grabbing his other shoulder. “I never wanna hear you say your a bad leader, I learned a lot from you.”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmu8drBHVkM
Andre wiped his eyes once more and went to wipe his glasses using his breath. “Then you’ll understand me when I say this… You’ve earned the title of tank leader. I chose you because you’re more than my dog,” Andre sighed as he placed his glasses back on his face. “You’re a tank, a friend, family, the one person who’s gonna live by me no matter what mistake I make, you are the true representation of a tank.”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCCktsHXIzm
Apollo’s mouth hung open in awe. “But what about Jaylen?” he asked, his hands leaving Andre’s shoulders. “Trust me, he’s more reckless than me… the fool charged in at a bad moment when no support was on him,” Andre sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “He may have had good intentions, but god, I can hear him in the back of my head, telling me that I’m not healing enough.”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1hXLWyUN27
Andre chuckled a little, wiping his tears as they started falling. Apollo pulled Andre into a hug. “We will find our way through this,” Apollo reassured him, caressing the back of his head. “I promise, I’ll take the role as Tank, and I won’t let you down.”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhCfltmp61L
Andre wipes his tears as Apollo lets go. “Thanks, but to be honest, Jaylen really sucked at cheering people up,” Andre chuckled, wiping his tears with his shirt. Apollo let out a chuckle, too. “I agree, he may be brutally honest, but dude needed to learn how to talk to people having a bad day,” Apollo agreed as his tears dried a little bit. “Thanks for talking to me. I needed it, I’ll go tell the other tanks now that I’m not stepping down as tank leader.”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLfbCmbdYgM
Andre nodded as Apollo stood up. “I’ll be here then waiting for you to return so we can play your favorite game, catch,” Andre waved, chuckling as Apollo tried to hide his excitement while leaving the room. “Your tail isn’t helping you, you know.”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4RBdYsmz5i
Andre continued to giggle as Apollo finally left the room. As he left, Andre’s expression went grim as he pulled out a phone from his pocket. The number was pre-dialed to Damien. Andre pressed the call button only to be greeted. “Andre,” a deep, familiar tone welcomed him. “Project Spy is a go, Damien, send him his special weapon.”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjSeqGKawt0
Andre hung up and stood from his chair, snapping the phone in half. Andre started to walk out, leaving the broken phone hidden in the trash can of Apollo’s room under layers of trash.
and then Add to home screen.