Two words: FUCKING AWESOME

Two more: THANK YOU ;)

Like the Thumbnail, thought you were going to turn the last 2 white letters red.

I still say the price of keeping Dr. B around would have been worth it, but that is just my call and I can definitely see the one that was made... (SPOILERS BEGIN BELOW)
(SPOILERS BEGIN BELOW)
(SPOILERS BEGIN BELOW)
(SPOILERS BEGIN BELOW)

especially given what she managed to do (or was that Jimmy?) even while "sensibly" restrained in this episode. You ever seen the straight-jacket escape in "Lethal Weapon"? I guess Dr. B could do that with every part of her body... Then again, since Jimmy probably passed the scoop on to Karen (so the D.L. know who where she is)... well... They aren't going to run out of ghosts any time soon and: "My name is Mindwipe."... so maybe some time later... not to say that it would be a sure thing that Mindwipe's power could beat Beverly's... but sooner or later someone should be able to... "I wonder if I can age?". In addition it wouldn't always have to be the same ghost... lots of people would want to snag some Good Karma before moving on... also, with "Jiminy (NOT JIMMY) Cricket(s)" in her head, MAYBE Beatrix would grow up with a better psyche in her head the second time around.

I say it would be better PR if they had skipped beating up the murderer (keep the duct tape part)... but... well, they have some anger to work out at the world in general at that was one of their first 'cases'. Even if the Government as it stands can't be negotated with, the Government is supposed to be answerable to the citizens, so working towards a truce wouldn't be all that bad.

I wonder what the "twins" did to support themselves for the years it took them to get their heads on straight? Maybe they just picked pockets... can't seem them mugging anyone who didn't deserve it... at least not very often.

Re: thumbnail. _Never_ give your audience what they expect!

You do make some valid points, but part of the 'moral' of the story is that sometimes you come upon people who are so irrideemably evil that no truce should or *could* ever be given with them. I've experienced in real life what it's like to deal with people so heartless, so crazy, that it becomes clear that trusting them, even for an instant, is like handing them a written invitation to hurt you. In this case, Karen's army aren't out for P.R. This is about retribution. They are going to _obliterate_ The Project for no other reason than that it Needs To Be Done. I quite firmly believe that people who willfully hurt children deserve zero mercy. Hell, Mr. Trivenzia got off light.

And too, I'm sure there are other healers out there who _aren't_ sociopaths. Beatrix is going to stay right where she is. Jimmy and the others know she hasn't *earned* death. For all she's done, she needs to spend centuries in a Hell of isolation.

And *years*? Naw, it didn't take quite that long. I can imagine Kuri tracking down Karen and the others fairly easily, having a battle royale with Holly, and the two of them coming to mutually respect the other. This is another aspect of what I mentioned above; the twins DO deserve a second chance because they were never truly evil, only ignorant.

The "Twins": Well you said in Book 5 something along the lines of "They didn't see eachother until a long time later" or something.

Regarding "Truce": I may have picked a poor word. I meant "Truce" not necessarily with the actual members of the project, but with the government as a whole and/or the nation that supports that government (not knowing what is going on).

I also wonder when they will get around to trying to "Deprogram" the more powerful adults who would probably have been in the records.

Well, by 'a long time' I meant a few months. Which is pretty long when you consider most of DL takes place over, what, five days?

I still dunno... The government doesn't make deals with those they consider 'terrorists' anyway.

The kids' goals, at least for now, are pretty specific: Get the other hospitals shut down and help as many of Karen's ghost friends as they can. they know that, in time, they won't need to do any strenuous recruiting. People like Diamond will hear of them and come to them when they're ready to accept who they are.

Timing: Ah, that makes sense.

"Terrorists": Exactly why PR is important... MLK won (no less for being partially posthumous), the unibomber lost. I am also reminded of the following passage in the Bible: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage.....amp;version=31

As for shutting down the other places... yeah, that would be pretty high priority. Minimum necessary force (which DOESN'T mean taking any chances) would probably boost the polices opinion of the incidents. Wonder if/how they cleared out the pharmasutical production line (I would THINK those would run 24/7 just like GM or whatever). Wait... what am I thinking about... Keith could trigger the sprinklers/fire alarms (which they are probably required to have by code even if there might happen to be next to zilch that can burn). Or that bat girl could do a broadcast...

I guess what I am saying is that stopping an ongoing evil is one thing... justice/punishment is another. The police can tolerate civilians doing the job of the a beat officer if it comes down to it, or even the SWAT team (on rare occasions). Judge, Jury, and/or Excutioner tend to really get on their nerves... and the police AREN'T the enemy... besides, more suspects to intergate = more greif for the project to try to undo it... although that might be a little harsh on the police ("11% chance the effects are perminant" for example... but a little warning next time if and when the DL figure out what happened there could go a long way).

Hmm. My thought is that The Project obviously has its tentacles deep into the government, at all levels. If Karen's army attempted any dealings with the police's cooperation, it's an extremely likely probability The Project would use that as a perfect and easy way to 'neutralize' them. While the police aren't the enemy, they are most definitely the TOOL of the enemy. And too, cops are rarely on the side of the small, revolutionary minority (even if they ARE in the right).

Wasn't thinking of having hotlines to contact eachother. More of a tacit, "deprioritization" of the searh for the DL and/or stuff like that scene in Spiderman 2 (or was it 1?) where the police try to arrest him when he shows up at a burning building, then someone screams from the top floor and the police officer and Spiderman look at eachother and Spidey says "If I go I am not coming back." and the officer tells him to go.

Mmmeh... I still don't think it would work.

I didn't say it clearly... the thumbnail, while not what I was expecting, fits perfectly. Red = danger... but since we are past the climax of the story that has now dropped off. The good-guys don't suffer any setbacks in this part, it is the "living happily"... if not "ever after".

You've got it exactly. The return to white letters and uncracked background represents calm after the storm.

Do the words SO FRIGGEN AWESOME!!!! mean anything to you!? This has to be one of your best yet.

And let me gathermy thoughts together before I send you my sequal ideas, Okay?

Why thank you! Your exuberance pleases me. ^__^

Okey doke! Bring 'em on!

All righty then! ^_^

You shall not be dissapointed.

WIN.

...nebago.

ROFLCOPTER

Amazing! I couldn't have ever thought of a greater way to leave off the end of a novel! Or movie, for that matter.

Out of curiosity, do you think there'll ever be a sequel?

Really? Sweet! Thanks!

Sequel? Eh... That's really up to fate. i have ideas, but mostly they're just that. Just ideas for elements OF a story, but not enough to weave a story out of altogether. Plus, I'm kinda bushed. I may take a break from writing for a while.

...not *too* long though. ;)

Yay! And yeah, you should take as long of a break as you need. Such an awesome work (and awesomely long at that) had to be taxing. ^^

Well, can't wait to see what you come up with next!

And at the end, I totally have this image of Diamond saying his name, and as more people start saying theirs (you hear a bunch of names echoing from all over) the cmera zooms out and zooms to wherever our little art room rebels are for the last shot, where they'd be, like, watching a computer screen fill up with names or something.

That's just the image that pops into my head.

'Taxing' is a tad of an understatement. ;)

Ooo! Neat image! Very cinematic (which is exactly what I was hoping for through the whole thing)

BTW, fun fact: The list of superherocrazycub names at the end kept growing and growing long after I'd finished everything. Even while I was starting to upload it here! Me 'n Alfador just kept coming up with more ideas!

superherocrazycubs. Heh. That's fun, isn't it? It was interesting just how many names you came up with.

Yeah, I even had some idea of music for that last scene in my head, being like some kinda superheroish music that crescendos until the screen goes black (I think the music in my head was reminiscent of Superman, kinda).

Credit Alfador with that adorable little term. :)

Well, download the album and see if anything lines up!

Oh, I'll definitely do that. Though I might just be able to write something myself (just for fun), cuz I do that sometimes. Right now I'm remixing the Harry Potter theme on my computer for another of hose "Story-Time" things me and Vashy Boy did.

Also, my name is Crosshatch. I can make my drawings into reality.

Looking at the dark screen on his computer, he wondered what he was doing. It looked like an online game for little furs. He noticed it out of the corner of his glasses while a little one at his library typed away. Like a secret the world should not know.

His eyesight was always bad, but for some reason, this was crystal clear. He went to his work station and followed the little boy's key strokes, and before long he was staring at the same screen. Reading about this group. Something about this site, and resent news reports chilled him. This can't be real.

He closed his eyes... The Fool Card.
He shook his head... The Eagle Totem
He gritted his teeth... The Death Card Upright.
He opened his eyes... Teiwaz Rune.

He was always good with that. No matter how new the techniques. In his hands divining was as simple as drinking water. Rune Stones, Tarot Cards, Totems, Spirit Reading all of it easily understood. Heck he even had conversations with spirits using a necronomicon.

WHAT IS YOUR NAME?

What if this was just some cub's game? What if this was real? He would be too old to help. He had responsibilities.

WHAT IS YOUR NAME?

He pets his dog's tag. Knowing the long dead terrier was still beside him grinning as his friend and master began to tremble and type.

My name is NewAge.

You're never too old to help.

*********

Sorry, but your story got a serious hold on me, so I just had to type something. These are some wonderful characters and story plot. You had me shaking mad with Tyler's little episode (shame on you for making me tear up ;) ). You've made quite an amazing universe here, and I hope to read more sometime in the future. You are one of the greatest writers on FA. Bravo!

What a cool little scenelet! Yeah, I knew there wouldn't *just* be cubs with powers. The Project can't catch *everyone*. Still, Mr. NewAge is very lucky to have kept off the radar as long as he has.

Thanks for the praise. I love knowing my words have had such an effect on people. Writing is like releasing a flock of balloons into the sky and hoping they make people happy as they float by. It's nice to get a shout out from someone who found one of my balloons. ;)

It must've been easy for him considering his gifts make him look like a Ms. Cleo wanna-be. Although noone has heard from that particular person in a good while ;)

Call me now, sugah!

Aww girl, ya know he be cheetan on you... Now send meh moneh.

Sir, you know what I think of this story. This epilogue is merely the sweet, sweet frosting on the amazing cake that is Dangerous Lunatics. I haven't had this much fun, felt such anxiety, or held this much happiness for characters while reading a story in years.

Thank you.

Y'know, the frosting metaphor is quite apt, the more I think about it. The book *could* have ended with five, but I just couldn't resist making a few futures clearer and throwing a few more surprises out there. ;)

You're welcome. and thank you too. ^__^

The teenaged dog took an airsoft gun out from under his bed, loading it with pellets. He visualized the computer behind him... and fired at the wall.

A multitude of the small plastic balls bounced off the walls and ceiling of his bedroom, clattering on the computer desk before coming to rest on it.

He turned, brushing his long brown hair out of his eyes. The pellets lay scattered around his keyboard, mouse, and monitor. The prompt on the screen displayed a simple question:

"WHAT IS YOUR NAME?"

The dog peered in for a closer look at what was typed below, and grinned at the perfectly-formed reply.

"My name is Trueshot."

And I never miss my mark, he thought.

HOLY FUCKTRUCK!!!! LOVE IT!!

Reminds me of Bullseye from the Daredevil comics. It remains to be seen whether he will use his powers for good or evil...

Actually, that's something I thought about near the end of the story. Inevitably, once people begin to believe in their powers, a lot of them are going to use those powers to hurt others. However, just as many will likely have 'Uncle Ben Parker' moments (With great responsibility... yada yada). By bringing The Project down, Karen's army acknowledges there will be chaos at first, but that people have the right to determine their own futures. No group should have absolute authority over other people's lives. Obviously, I'm not advocating total lawlessness; people who do evil things need to be punished. But they also deserve to see ALL the options that are open to their lives.

I don't know how much information is being exchanged on the website, but especially if it isn't a lot, you are also going to see a certain number of "training accidents" especially with kids working in secret. Will "Break" wear safety goggles at the very least as he tests the upper limits of his power? If drawing on the wall is a common childhood "no-no" then did the kangaroo ever come close to bringing the ceiling down on top of herself because she liked the way drywall and 2x4s look when they melt? Will a boy with lightning in his hands damage his vision because he never really understood UV radiation (arc-welding requires some SERIOUS goggles)? What if the skunk had tried to "crank the volume" while tooting out some rock-n-roll and discovered the true extent of his talent THAT way, instead of in panic desparation?

All I am saying is that exchanging tips, while dangerous to security, may be indicated as a purpose of the website. Maybe even some pointers (or, in extreme cases even some members of DL showing up in person to help smooth the first revelation) on "how to ask your parents for help safely practicing your super-power".

You know, that's actually a pretty good idea. I imagine most, if not all, of the cubs discovered their powers suddenly, like Brad and Sherri. I can only *imagine* what Keith's moment of revelation must have been like!

Alex? I feel the incredible urge to give you a fuckton of money so you can get this published (and at 321 pages in Microsoft Word, in Verdana font and 7.5 font size, I think that'd be easy, considering publishing standard is Times New Roman and 12...) just so you can have a true book to your name, and all of your fans, like myself, can point to you at a book signing and tell everyone around, "That's Alex Reynard. I was there when he originally posted this work online, and encouraged him to keep writing as well."

That may not be unattainable. There's actually a very good chance it WILL get published one way or another...

...just as soon as Alex has a chance to recover from burnout. I, the lowly proofreader, am the one who's still obsessing over it, because I'm the one who hasn't been at it for TWO FREAKING YEARS.

*giggles!* We're going to be awesome when that time comes! Mwehehehe! <3

Mi amigo Alfador has already pointed out how this might be possible. I'm thinking of maybe doing this for one of my earlier works first though, as sort of a test run. *shrugs* Nothing's definite.

Hmmm, a way of figuring out how long this would be equivalent to in pages occurs to me...

I read the seventh Harry Potter book on Saturday, at a calculated rate of about 1.5 pages per minute, including breaks of a few seconds to eat, drink, text-message my boyfriend, and change my diaper. I could read DL all the way through and calculate how many pages it would effectively be, at that rate.

Yes, but if you did that, the universe would achieve Ultimate Geekiness and asplode.

;)

Oh my god. Man, this was freaking incredible. I really have no way to relate how impressed I am with this body of work. It needs to be on... hell, it needs to be on every fiction-based website you can find. Fictionpress for sure, but any others you can find as well.

I salute you, man. I simply could not stop reading this, and I loved it. And I would absolutely love to see a continuation of the story of these characters.. or at least the main ones. Even if it's just short stories of their activities, and the stuff they do from now on...

Thanks a ton! :)

I do have ideas for a lot of little stories, but I don't know how up to writing them I am. I've even thought of doing something like a series of vignettes of other superherocrazycubs discovering their abilities. We shall see.

Alex, this has been a fantastic ride, thank you. And I agree that you should try to get some of your stuff published :)

Cripes, I've missed looking forward to new stories from you :)

Glad to know the wait was worth it for you! ;)

I did something very foolish.

After reading Book 1..I decided I would wait until it was completed in its entirety. A writer myself, I know what sort of suspenseful tricks you'd employ.

DUMB MOVE. I wound up getting 2 through most of 5 before going to work. I know what Benjamin is talking about getting a raw data overload: and it feels EXACTLY as he describes it.

I came home, finished 5, then this last installment.

I am utterly and completely blown away. If you DON'T get published, that would be a goddamn travesty if there ever were one.

Truth has been spoken here! Alex, I'm not going to push you to fix it up for publishing IMMEDIATELY...you've said you need a break.

But I am going to start poking in a couple o' months or so.

Well, reading what I've read in the afterword. He's certainly deserving of one.

~Ah! You're za proofreader! This must have been tough on you to keep under wraps.

VERY. I had to figure out how to advertise without giving away plot details!! And now that this is finally finished...I still have to keep Harry Potter spoilers from the people who haven't finished that yet. (I read book 7 on Saturday...in 8 hours 25 minutes.)

I welcome your poking. I dunno what DL woulda been without it! ^__^

Obscure?

Yikes! Y'know, there IS a reason I released this week-by-week. I was hoping to give everyone time to integrate the last book before delving into the next one. You, my friend, have the reader's equivalent of a tummyache. (Which I am quite familiar with, due to a certain book series by J.K. Rowling)

J.K Rowling? I've never heard of this author. I'm going to have to check him out! *shotwithAK-47*

We might wanna have a chat with the goons over at NBC. While I like 'Heroes', it's like they slipped us drugs and microchipped us. But how would they have known? Does it mean...?

Nah!

Now I'm just being paranoid.

~MY NAME IS MUD~

Hey, no worries. We all readat different speeds. And plus, another reason I relesed it in chunks was to get more comments. ;)

... oh shit, I so totally didn't mean that as an insult! D:

I just randomly thought of it and had been trying to respond to this by saying how I'd read this in three days with no ill effects. I erased that other comment and forgot to cancel out the reply thing.

Seriously, I was just trying to make a Looney Toons reference. >.>

Oh! I thought you meant you thought I was gonna kill you when I found out you'd read it quicker than I had intended. Feh. Writers can try to structure their work all nice 'n perfect, but we can't control how a reader reads our shit.

Yeah I'm generally pretty quick at absorbing anything I'm given, whether it be a book, a beverage, or even a nice TV series (I prefer DVD sets over watching them on TV 'cause if you watch them on TV it takes for fucking EVER for the next episode to come on). >.o

This is reason number 2 that I don't drink alcoholic beverages. if I did, I'd likely go through WAY too many WAY too quickly. Though I'd likely have a record for "quickest drunk", but that's not something I'd want. >.>

We are kindred spirits on the TV thing!!!

I don't drink just because alcohol tastes nasty as fuck to me.

yeah, most alcoholic things taste awful, but I do like Irish Cream and Bailey's and what not... and that kind of stuff I'd be absolutely guzzling just because of the flavour... and that would not be good. .o

Abso-freaking-lutely great. Amazing. Read all 6 books back to back. Crazy awesome. Praise should be sung from every rooftop, etc. I seriously admire the quality of your writer's craft. Your descriptive phrases, in particular, were excellent IMO. I could go on about my favorite lines and scenes, but then I'd wind up with a page-long comment.

Suffice it to say: SO AWESOME.

Please, please! I LOVE page-long comments! *giggles and bats eyelashes*

B-E-A-UTIFUL. Awesome.

T-H-A-N-K Y-O-U!

A great ending to an amazing story. It's both conclusive, and provides a solid ending to the story, and at the same time, gives a sense of versatility and near-perpetuality. You, my vulpine friend, are a master of words.

P.S. I love your use of logic in the story. My brothers(and fellow furs) often get into arguments, and it's up to me to beat a good idea into their heads. I've already used an argument I found somewhere in the novel.

Neat-o! Glad you think so!

Really? My philosophy is actually doing good in the real world? *squee of happiness*

Wonderful story. And when you say that art about the darker adventure, does that mean I can hope for a sequel/continuation?
Also... what, no theme for Alf?
My favorite characters never get any love..
T.T
Still, fantastic job, Alex! Let me know if I can ever do absolutely ANYTHING to help you in your quest for literary world domination.

As I've said elsewhere, the possibility of a sequel is totally up in the air. If a good enough idea hits me, then maybe. I'd as soon leave this one stand by itself forever rather than trot out a subpar sequel.

And *sigh* sorry no Alf. There's only so much I can type!

P.S.

"The Doors
Twisted Nerve - Bernard Hermann [Beatrix's theme]
Asian Kung-Fu Generation
They're Coming To Take Me Away Ha-Haaa! - Napoleon XIV
O Fortuna - Carl Orff"

...
I now love you more than I did on the post about Cthulu.

Didja download it? Does everything play okay? I've never put something on Rapidshit before.

Alas, I am cursed with dial-up!
But I have bookmarked the link. ^_^

P.P.S.

..My name is Glimmer...

( . _ o )

O RLY? And what can YOU do?

My name is GuyWhoDrinksBathtubsOfDrPepperNightly

...
GRR!!!
STOP MAKING THE LOVE GROW!!!
Dr. Pepper s what was drunk from the Holy Grail...

Anyhoo...
My power
Are you ready for this?
With a mighty flash of light,
I, Glimmer...

Redecorate rooms in a fantabulous manner!

. . . *face-palm*

I about fell over laughing at this, dude. I'm glad you read it, I knew you'd like it!

Haha. All your recommendations are excellent, my friend. *glomp*

Why thank you!

Bowl of ROTFLles!

Alex, regarding the soundtrack, I think 'Frontier Psychiatrist' would fit Doc Jones...

'Sonne' would work for Monsoon...

aaaaand... 'Insane in the brain' for... heck, it works, to me, for Thurston.

Just some ideas.

Actually, most of the rest of the soundtrack is meant for background tunes 'n whatnot. Only a few of them really seemed like personal themes to me. I'd imagined Frontier Psychiatrist as maybe an opening credits dealy.

So here I sit, having borrowed a friends computer to finish this tale. And yet again, I find myself in a problem. How do I accurately describe how truly wonderful and magnificent this story is without 1) sounding like a massive fanboi, B) plagarizing all of the other comments made, or &)running so long as to bore you?

Not too sure I can pull that off, but here goes:

YOU.
RULE.

That ok by you, Alex? Sorry it took me some time to be able to finish it, but I found it to be like a good wine, and savored the wait for it.

Congratulations on an awe-inspiring story and successful completion of it. Truly, a compelling read from one of the great writers of our time.

And yes, I may have failed with those requirements above......... I don't really care. :D

P.S. My name is Velocity. Do with that as you will. ;)

I'm very, very, very glad you liked it so much. You rule as well, amigo.

Ooo, actually, Velocity's already taken. By a character in the supero team Cyberforce from Image comics. And she's a girl. ;)

Oh, hey lookie: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Velocity_%28comics%29

<a la Stewie Griffin> BLAST!

Oh well, you think of a name that isn't taken and has something to do with speed, you let me know. Cuz outside of what I think up in the cavernous space between my ears, I am horrible coming up with new stuff. Sorry. <pouts>

Thesaurus.com!!!

Gotcha!!!

WONDER WEBSEARCH POWERS.......ACTIVATE!!!!

......<damn, I am wierd...>

OK, got one.

*ahem* My name is Reckless.

That better?

Sounds good to me! I've never heard of a superhero named that before. Good job!

<blushes furiously from praise, then asplodes from the sheer awesomeness of it>

Ker-BOOOMITY!

*aherm* Sorry bout that. Not every day you get complimented by one of your writer heroes.

Glee!!

Wow... Simply wow. Awesome story, I loved it.

Fantastic! Thanks!

Wow. Simply amazing. You really do need to get this published.
And since I just can't resist. . .

~~~

The teenage lion stared out his window through the rain. He concentrated, but the rain just poured harder. The boy fell back in his chair. 'Why isn't it working?' he thought to himself. He had done it hundreds of times before on accident, why not now? The boy felt angry at himself. Suddenly, he had an idea. He redirected his anger at the tree outside his window he had been staring at. The boy grinned as lightning struck the tree. He waved his arm as if dismissing someone, and as the rain cleared, he turned to his computer.

"My name is Stormbringer."

Tee hee. Neat visual there!

Okay. How do I start this?

Today is finals day. I decided to take a break for a bit and read a little bit of your story. I decided I would finish my last lab assignments after that, then make up my equation cheat-sheet for my physics exam. (30 equations, no words, check by the professor when you get your exam.) Then I would have the usual review for a major test that all students do followed my plenty of restful sleep so that I would be at my best.

I did not sleep last night. I did not sleep one minute. I did not finish my lab assignments. I did not make up my cheat-sheet. I did not study/ I was even ten minutes late. And when I finally arrested myself from the masterpiece under pain of failing the class, it was during the freaking climax!

DAMN YOU! DAMN YOU AND YOUR INSANELY GOOD WRITING SKILLS! DAMN YOU TO HELL!

Wait. I just realized who I was talking to.

BLESS YOU! BLESS YOU AND YOUR INSANELY GOOD WRITING SKILLS! BLESS YOU TO HEAVEN!

On a happy note, my science professor is insanely cool and told me that if my final lab-reports were on his desk before he finished grading the exams, he would accept them. And then he followed up by commenting he was planning on playing golf directly after everyone turned in their assignments. Talk about a swell guy!

*wonders if Alf and Keith would make a cute couple...*

Holy balls! My writing's so magnetic it actually made you very nearly fail a class!? That's so freakin' awesome I'm nearly basturmating now! ;)

Very happy you liked it. And, now that you mention it, the image of Alf & Keith kissing (and blushing) is *really* adorable! ^__^

Ah, I would've thought Keith&Brad would be cuter.....

As usual, I am late with commenting, so there is not so much left for me to say besides chiming in: Alex, _you_ _are_ _awesome_. Your story is _awesome_. Simply _awesome_.

I think you said somewhere that you have been working on this for the last two years. I daresay that the amount of work you put into DL shows clearly, and bore rich fruit in form of a really shining, wonderful story. Kudos to you also for this kind of perseverance! And yes, I agree that you should try to get DL published in print.

You also said that you are considering taking a break. Well-deserved the break would be, so take your rest. Seriously. You deserve it.

Though I cannot help but mention that thereafter, at least I would be delighted if you were to go forth, and write some more of the wonderful stories you write so well and which are so fascinating, thrilling, thought-provoking, funny, exhilarating and through-and-through wonderful to read.

Thank you thank you thank you!

Yeah; I'm probably gonna do some work cleaning up the computer files and other non-creative work for a while. Give that side of my brain a chance to rest. (Plus I just got Quake II for Mac! Woohoo!) But I am quite certain story ideas will come flooding back to me one of these days. ;)

I saw my name in the credits and it just perked me right up. Being mentioned as a helper for such an awesome work is such an upper. I see you used my suggestion about 'thanking' your mother for her inspiration, that must have felt good.

Quick questions, would Keith be like Brad, get very mad at seeing someone else being teased for something? And what, generaly was his home life like? Good or bad? (If it's been mentioned in the story, sorry, but I can't remember)Want to make sure of those before I release my muse on something.

You're welcome! I hope you caught that other reference to yourself in the scene with Sheriff Bill Pardy. ;)

As to your questions, I'm sure Keith will be more like Brad now that they've met, and certainly injustice must have sparked his anger before, but for most of his life, the rage just comes from nowhere, overwhelms him, then leaves him trying to pick up the pieces afterwards. Keith normally tries to avoid things that'll make him angry, if he can help it.

Also, his home life is as good as can be expected with his condition. He loves his parents and they love him, yet there's probably a lot of screaming fights in their house. Although (unlike Karen's) Keith's parents know he can't control his rage, so everyone's always quick to forgive and hug each other after a fight.

No, I didn't get a reference to myself in the story, which means I guess I'll be reading it again. Which is about as unwanted as, say, having to eat a perfect meal twice.

Hmm, that does make it a titch more difficult...oh well, hope my muse co-operates.

This is for the person who wondered what it must have been like when Kieth discovered his powers.
---

'...and if you call now..'Click'...the teams are raring to go Frank..'Click'...What do you mean it isn't...'Click'

'Junk, nothing but trash on this time of day' thought Keith, flicking his tv off. Looking around his room for something else to do, his eyes settled on a book he'd picked up recently at the library. It had drawn his attention first with the odd title 'SVOTLD' and after reading the back cover he'd decided to pick it up.

Keith had just picked up the book, and picked out his place when he felt it happening again. He felt his arms start to shake, and a fiery energy coursing down his body; at the same time he felt his mind clouding up with pure mindless fury. But something this time was different. Usually the energy rose up to a point and then sort of simmered, leaving him shaking with rage, but this time it just kept on rising.

Clenching his eyes to try and hold back his rage, Keith was brought out of his concentration by the smell of burning plastic and paper. Looking down, he was shocked to see that the book he was holding was smoking, with the areas around his paws black and crinkly, turning brown around the edges, as if someone had taked a flame to it. Tossing the book down, Keith looked around to the source of the fire, but he couldn't see a thing. His eyes however kept being drawn back to the book, and the paw shaped burn marks on the covers...

'No way...'

---

Well, it might not be what Alex was thinking if he did the background on him, but there's an idea on how Keith may have discovered his powers. Hope you like.

The reference is in Book Five. In the list of names Sheriff Pardy reads off, one of them is 'Charles Oscar Blackwing'. I thought you'd spot that immediately!

And, SERIOUS AMOUNTS OF WOW! This is an awesome little scene. Very well written. Admittedly, it's not at all what I imagined. I always saw Keith's fire ability as unconnected with his rage. He just happens to have both, you see. I thought his origin would be more like he'd go to sleep one night as a baby and when his parents check on him in the morning, one of his plushies has 'spontaneously combusted' ;) Still, at some point Keith must have learned how to _control_ his ability, and this is certainly a plausible start in that direction!

Thanks, Mr. Kickass!

Oh, that would explain why I missed it. The first time I read a story, if it's good, I tend to read more the 'feel' of the story, rather than the words. It's difficult to describe.

I was kinda thinking that the rage was sort of the trigger to the fire. And I might have been going off of the fact that the first few times he manifested it he was angry, but if I was, I wasn't thinking about it.

I think I can dig that. I've read novels before in such a white heat it was like the words translated directly into images.

Keith is angry most of the time, so its not surprising you'd think that. Remember him burning the initials in the ping pong table though? He was quite calm then. In fact, it's kind of the opposite; the calmer his mind is, the easier it is to control the fire with more precision.

Well I suppose if you liked it, then it was pretty good for a stab in the dark, which is all I can ask from my muse.

It was more than pretty good! Maybe you could develop it into a bigger story?

How so?

*shrugs* If you want, you could try to do a short story about the day Keith first realizes he can control his weird habit of occasioanlly setting things on fire. Or not. I'm not pressuring you, just saying it's an idea good enough to support a larger story if you wanted it to.

Hmmm, my muse is intrigued...I'll think on it, maybe do a bit.

This talk of "For Now" intrigues me...;)

Well, that's just something I attach to the end of all my stories. Kind of a trademark. It means not only that I'm usually not opposed to the idea of a sequel, but more importantly, that the characters' lives go on past this story. I want the reader to sit and daydream about what might happen to them next. :)

Yay, finished last book!
Awesome!

I kinda hoped Always-Jimmy-Never-James would stay with the team, because he can help too. And maybe it would be even better punishment for Beatrix to helplessly watch her body healing others and her brain giving out all nasty secrets about The Project.
I'm glad that the "twins" finally joined others.
I'm proud of Alf that he confessed.

Well, waiting for what you will write next.

Yay! Glad you finished, and that you liked it!

I wish they could have found a way to tap Beatrix's power too, but Jimmy knows best. It'd be like carrying around a loaded gun all the time with your finger glued to the trigger. Not worth the risk.

And yeah, the twins were never really evil; just misinformed.

What I write next should hopefully be up in a day or so! :)

I have two songs that you could fit into it. First up, I Want To Be Sedated-The Ramones. The context fits with the story. Secondly, Madhouse-Anthrax. It is FUCKING AWESOME , and King's Orchard is a madhouse, so.....duh!

I also couldn't resist........


The young caracal gaped at the computer, suddenly realizing there were more like him. He stopped staring, then smiled. It was a great day out, blue sky, pleasently warm. The fur stood up, opened the window, and streched out his wings.

"My name is Angel."

Out There-Fuzzbubble. A bit of an upbeat song, maybe during a fight scene or the epilouge.
Remedy-Seether. No question. You have to hear it to believe it. Get it on iTunes NOW.

By "upbeat" i mean fast, but not 'screamo' fast.

I'll try to track down those songs. I have heard the Ramones one tho'. Very appropos.

I forget what that means........appropriate? Fits the context? Whatever. Thanks for replying. You're like, a friggin' god (or rather, Satan, after reading 'Bartleby's Descent') to me!

Alex:

I have come up with an idea for you to get names for all your demon (or fallen angel) characters! This link is a demon/angel name generator, using a combination of Greek and Hebrew (speaking of Hebrew, my real name means 'Gift of God' in it. Which, after reading your stories, is practically an insult. Oh well.). Try the link out:

http://www.seventhsanctum.com/gener.....Genname=adname

Hey, that is super-helpful! I was fiddling with that and already got a few ideas.

You're welcome!

Simply put: my mind is blown. This is the perfect story in every aspect. great characters all around, friend. Good job! :D

And dude, if you published this, I'd buy a copy every week. I'd donate them to libraries and other places like that so other people could read it. The simple fact you're not publicly stuck on a pedestal next to the likes of King and other such writers is absolute blasphemy.

Thanks, thanks, thanks!!! :D

And that thing about the libraries is one of the most creative and enjoyable bits of praise I've ever been given. ^__^

Well I'm happy I can be of service. I'm no good at felating cock, but I can felate egos with a few simple keystrokes. it's a purely honest gift. :)

... but you know, I've always wanted to see a psychiatrist, if only to see if there really is anything "wrong" with me. Or maybe just to see if I could freak the guy out with some of my fetishes... watch him try and figure them out... hopefully it'd intrigue him more than anything and we could, like... talk about things... or something... o.o

Speaking of things I want, you know... I've always loved things like this... things like Digimon and all those other forgotten examples of a "group of kids brought together by 'chance' and their own uniqueness"... I blame my over active imagination and above all else my rampant escapism, but I'd give oh so much to suddenly be a part of something like this... gaining special powers and special friends and banding together to thwart those who truly deserve to be thwarted... I realize that I'm not taking into account all the grief and suffering one would have to endure in such situations... but, well... I can't help but hope that it would all be worth it, the feeling of triumph over evil, knowing I've done well and done good, and made new friends and all that jazz...

*sigh*

... maybe it's just this infernal heat that's making me all melodramatic, but... dammit I wish this thing went on forever so I could continue living out the innocently voyeuristic life of "the Reader" and be with them through more and more adventures...

But, as you said before, leaving them wanting more is likely the best way to do things... and oh how I'd love for another of these... v_v

NO. Beware of psychiatrists. All they do is look at you for twenty minutes then write you a prescription. I'm not even exaggerating. They really are nothing more than pill-pushers. therapists and counselors are far better, since they actually have to *talk* to you.

I guess I'm usually more of a loner, but yeah, I definitely do like a lot of movies and novels with a bunch of people coming together to fight impossible odds. I was probably inspired quite a lot by Stephen king's "It".

Also, I wanted the ending to be like that of Steamboy; suggesting that this is merely the origin story for an ongoing struggle that would span years and generations of Dangerous Lunatics fighting back against The Project all around the world.

NO. Beware of psychiatrists. All they do is look at you for twenty minutes then write you a prescription. I'm not even exaggerating. They really are nothing more than pill-pushers. therapists and counselors are far better, since they actually have to *talk* to you.

Okay, a therapist then... I was never quite sure which one was the one I was talking about... o.o

guess I'm usually more of a loner, but yeah, I definitely do like a lot of movies and novels with a bunch of people coming together to fight impossible odds. I was probably inspired quite a lot by Stephen king's "It".

I still need to read/see that, but I always here it's scary as shit, and I don't like nightmare-inducing movies. :/

Also, I wanted the ending to be like that of Steamboy; suggesting that this is merely the origin story for an ongoing struggle that would span years and generations of Dangerous Lunatics fighting back against The Project all around the world.

We can only hope... we can only hope...

>Okay, a therapist then... I was never quite sure which one was the one I was talking about... o.o

I'm currently seeing a therapist now. They're probbly the best type of the bunch. I have met decent psychiatrists, but they are few and far between.

>I still need to read/see that, but I always here it's scary as shit, and I don't like nightmare-inducing movies. :/

I wasn't particularly *scared* by it, but I'm an anomaly. Books never scare me (with the exception of King's story "1408") and movies usually don't either. I guess it's because I know so much about their construction.

>We can only hope... we can only hope...

I have entertained the idea that they could royally fuck The Project forever by simply having every single powered kid who's able all upload a video showing off their abilities to YouTube on a certain date.

I wasn't particularly *scared* by it, but I'm an anomaly. Books never scare me (with the exception of King's story "1408") and movies usually don't either. I guess it's because I know so much about their construction.

I saw 1408 with John Cusack and thought it was an awesome movie. I'm wondering what made the book so scary... o.o

I have entertained the idea that they could royally fuck The Project forever by simply having every single powered kid who's able all upload a video showing off their abilities to YouTube on a certain date.

That would be pretty awesome, though I'm not sure how you could work a proper story around such an event... :/

>I saw 1408 with John Cusack and thought it was an awesome movie. I'm wondering what made the book so scary... o.o

The story was scary because in it, there were no ghosts in the room. Whatever was in there was so completely inhuman as to be unimaginable. As King says, "At least ghosts were human once."

>That would be pretty awesome, though I'm not sure how you could work a proper story around such an event... :/

It'd probably be more like a third-act reveal. Like if Karen's crew were currently liberating another hospital and got caught, she could be like, "It doesn't matter what you do to us now; you're already screwed."

I was thinking today about how a sequel could work... you know, maybe have it from the perspective of some kids in another institution... basically the thought came to my head "what if the person running the place was actually a GOOD person and was being forced to work there or die?" Just think of all those moral dillemas that furson would go through... I'm thinking they might go so far as to get a split personality and suffer from severe PTSD... but then you'd need all the kids and what not, and other supporting characters...

... and you know, if i thought I could do a well enough job, then I'd likely take a stab at it myself, but this one is DEFINITELY your baby. I ain't touching it, 'cause it'd just tarnish this mountain of gold. I am literally not worthy of continuing. o.o

I've considered ideas like that. actually, the one I've come closest to doing something with is that maybe the DLs aren't the only group out there fighting back against The Project?

Hmmm, interesting idea... o.o

I had in mind a sort of hardcore new wave band made up of kids who all have powers. The drummer's dad is their manager, who has his own power too. To keep them all safe, he's trained them as musicians and uses their minor celebrity status to keep them safe. Like hiding in plain sight.

One idea I had was that the lead singer is completely blind during the day, but at night his vision is so sensitive that he can see farther and clearer than anyone alive.

Wow dude, that's awesme. Like sort of Jossie and the Pussycats but cool. @.@

... I have no idea which instrument I'd want to play. o.o

Speaking of which, Rock band for the wii is coming out this month... I forget if you have a wii. >.o

That, and I was thinking one of them could also control their density at will. Never seen that before.

And I don't even have a fecking Game Boy.

Wait, what? You hath NO game consoles? Oh fuck dude... you need an electronic hug. D:

Naw, I don't need 'em. I have a few computer games, but for the most part, I shun video games because they eat my free time.

In a room lit only by a computer screen, a young raccoon boy of roughly 14 sat in front of his favourite piece of technology and was rendered both speechless and motionless by the question it now posed for him to ponder.

The answer he knew for sure; there were no doubts there. It was what it would mean TO answer the question that made him wonder... should he, or should he not?

Should he risk becoming a small part of this group, adding to its innummerable numbers and causing it to grow by his own single, personal integer... should he risk possibly to be called upon to become a part in such wild adventures has he'd seen recently on the news (oh how he'd wished for a way to help; for a way to be out there doing his part to fight the GOOD fight)... and should he risk those things and in turn risk recieving unspeakable punishment upon himself for having done NOTHING but be himself, and for doing what was truly right?

He quickly came to realize that he would not have to risk anything to suffer that last risk, and it was this solemn fact, that even if he truly did NOTHING and just went about his regular life, forgetting everything about this site, this group, and this cause... he'd still be punished.

He blinked and nodded silently, holding in his hands a large ball of black plastic with a long wire coming from it. The wire reached all the way to a USB plug in in the back of his computer. He began to squish it and mold it back into its original shape... a small, slightly irregular rectangle with many letters... he spent much time reforming all the intricate buttons...

... he learned not too long ago that he had the power to take any object in his hands and mold it as he saw fit... it was usually only does as a reflex, bending things in his hands subconsciously as his mind concentrated elsewhere. He was learning how to control it and not only turn things into other things, but also how to reform them back to their original shapes...

... as his keyboard became fully functional once again, he answered the posed question quickly:

MY NAME IS SCULPTOR

Oooooh, that suggests quite a lot of possibilities.

HOLLY: Sculptor, gun please.

_BANG_.

And then he turns it back into a blowdryer. ;)

Basically, yeah. And he could do it to ANYTHING, technically... anything he touches is like clay in his hands. he can shape it and work it into anything he can think of. Now, what exactly the limitations are (does it work on liquids or gasses? If he created a person, would they be able to move by themselve's or would they just be like mannequins?) haven't been worked out but, I'm sure I could think of something.

But that'd be an awesome power, IMO. o.o

Still, to keep it within the realms of plausibility, whatever he changes should have equal mass to what it started out as. Not, like, turning a basketball into a Porsche. I really tried to keep the kids' powers from becoming *too* comic-booky. Nothing that's completely *unthinkable* by the laws of physics.

Well yeah, that was in my head from the beginning. It just makes sense for that sort of power, you know? Can't make a mountain out of a molehill, in this case anyway. >.>

LOL! Nice use of phrase there.

Also it'd be useful for other pursuits. Mom comes in suddenly, you can take that dildo you've been playing with back into your homework!

Hehehe, I was definitely thinking of sexual stuff with that as well... like molding someone else's bits into something, or turning them female... oh so many possibilities. :D

"Heyyyy!! You turned my cock into a Rubik's cube!"

"Yeah, and you've gotta solve it to make it change back."

(Of course, with me it'd take around four minutes.)

Hey, i just recently learned how to solve one of those things myself! What a coincidence! :D

Also, I'd likely jizz like fifty times before I got the damn thing worked out. >.>

Hee hee! So far my best time's around two minutes, but that's largely because my cube's old and really sticky. I need one of those speed cubes I see on YouTube.

yeah, mine's just plain junk. I only do it when I'm bored. :/

My name is Signalswitch. I can make red lights turn green with my mind.

My name is Wizz. I can piss through concrete.

My name is Divider. I can make copies of myself.

My name is Silent Whisper. I can communicate with mimes.

My name is Divider. I can make copies of myself.

My name is Joe, and I am Canadian... wait, what site is this again?

esrever ni daer nac I. drawknaB si eman yM.

My name is Divider. I can make copies of myself.

My name is Divider. I can make copies of myself.

My name is Divider. I can make copies of myself.

My name is Flashfoot. I have laser feet.

Dude, these were awesome. Wizz made me LMAO. And 'laser feet'? This I gotta see!

Feel free to use 'em if you want.

My name is Young Nasty Man, arch-rival and nemesis of Wonderboy, with powers comparable to Wonderboy!

What powers you ask? How 'bout the power of flight? That do anything for ya? That's levitation, Holmes!

Or how 'bout the power to kill a yak, from two hundred yards away... WITH MIND BULLETS? That's telekinesis, Alex!

How about the power... to move you?


Man, I wish I could recommend this story to my brother. He loves superheroes, but he's not big on furries.

Reccomend it anyway! With any luck, the story'll be good enough that he'll keep reading to the end and not care. Seriously; just give him a brief plot synopsis an don't even mention everyone's got fur.

Also, long live the D. ;)

I see how he feels when he comes back from college.


Anyway, more serious superhero character time:


The young ferret boy blinked at the screen, a single steel wing nut dropping out of his mouth and into the small paper bag full of wing nuts he had been happily munching down like popcorn seconds before.

Byron re-adjusted his glasses. This was real. He wasn't alone. This was almost like the time he discovered that forum for ice cube chewing enthusiasts, only this time the absolute shock, the sheer, mind-boggling realization that there were actually others like him- fursons whose very existence kicked the laws of physics in the balls- nearly made the frail little ferret boy faint.

With twitching paws, Byron reached over and plucked the little paper brochure he had gotten in the mail only a week ago. It was for a mental ward; St. Basil's Hospital for the Mentally Needy. His parents had wanted to send Byron there, as they had tried many times before to send him away since he was three, but could never find a ward within his family's price range, until now.

His crime? Pica. Before he even grew his first tooth, the little mustalid would quickly devour whatever metal bits he could swallow whole. Nuts, bolts, screws, nails, washers, drill bits, coins, jewelry, wire, springs... if it was metal, he'd eat it. Galvanized steel was his favorite.

Naturally, his parents were concerned. At least, his mother was.While she called doctor after doctor and visited hospital after hospital, his dad kept pressuring him into swallowing whatever metal things his poker buddies had on them for his own amusement. His mother hated that, and so did Byron. He hated being treated like some circus freak.

But Byron knew something they didn't. Unlike other people with pica, the metal-munching ferret did not eat such things out of habit or showing off. It was for something much more.

He glared at the brochure, as if beams of heat were shooting out of his eyes, focused by the lenses of his glasses, and were burning through the paper itself. His eyes were open at last. Byron knew that whatever this place was, it was no hospital. That website proved it.

Raising one paw and spreading his fingers, Byron concentrated.

Muffled clicking and clanking noises like machinery parts could be heard from deep within his stomach, traveling up along his arm and into his hand. Like mollusk shells, Byron's fingers split open lengthwise, tiny blood-red gears could be seen whizzing and spinning about within the pulpy red meat. With a sudden series of wooshing noises, a dozen unrecognizable but definitely lethal slicing mechanisms shout out from the openings in his hands.

"My name... is Factory."

His new slicer-hands all geared up, they made short work to turn the brochure into confetti. After that, Byron's paw clicked back into it's normal furry self, and aided his other hand to pack up an extra set of clothes into his backpack. He was not going to stay here any longer.

<slack-jawed speechlessless>

...DUDE!!!

That is the fuckin' BEST one I've seen yet!!! Amazingly well-written, emotional, excellently described... I like how you based it on pica, which I have heard of. And his NAME! Jesus, it's PERFECT!!!

Wow, man, I hereby give my enthusiastic permission for you to write fanfics of anything of mine you want forever.

Thank you so much! That means a lot coming from you.

I've been tooling around with the concept of a superhero character who eats metal and turns it into Inspector Gadget-type machines that pop out of his body. He can make mechanical things (gears, levers, pulleys, etc) but he can't make anything digital, like circuit boards or computers. So like, he can turn his hand into a drill or a hammer, but not a USB drive. His favorite method of travel is via wheels popping out of his feet.

Wow, man, I hereby give my enthusiastic permission for you to write fanfics of anything of mine you want forever.

Oh, I will! I'm already working on one in fact.

>I've been tooling around with the concept of a superhero character who eats metal and turns it into Inspector Gadget-type machines that pop out of his body. He can make mechanical things (gears, levers, pulleys, etc) but he can't make anything digital, like circuit boards or computers. So like, he can turn his hand into a drill or a hammer, but not a USB drive. His favorite method of travel is via wheels popping out of his feet.

Bloody gawddamn awesome. Reminds me a bit of a Japanese manga character called EAT MAN who can swallow guns 'n stuff, then poop them out again into his hands. I Am Not Making This Up.

Ah, guns, yes! I couldn't decide weather or not he would be able to make guns. I'm sure he could make all the basic mechanisms (springs, hammers, cylinders, etc.) but he wouldn't be able to make bullets. In fact, as much as Byron could do it, I doubt he's actually want to do it.

Plus, I think guns require chemicals 'n stuff, so that'd be out. Still, some kind of mechanical, spring-loaded projectile launcher would work.

The only chemicals I can think of are the explosive charges, and those are all in the bullets. The rest of the gun is all spring-loaded. At least, they are in things like revolvers.

If Byron ever did decide to make guns, he could point his fingers at someone, yell "Stick 'em up!" And while his opponents are laughing at him, bullets shoot out of his fingertips.

True; he could create the gun, then just put bullets into it.

But what'd be even cooler? CHAINSAW HANDS.

FUCK. YES.

And/or hedge-trimmer-penis.

Or better yet, a gun penis. That way he could drop his pants and say, "HERE'S A BLOWJOB FOR YA!"

BEST IDEA EVER.

Duuuuuuude, that's AWESOME! I would love to see any fanfic Alex gives you permission to write--which apparently is all of them. :D

Yet another idea for a supposed soundtrack to this: Psycho-Puddle Of Mudd

Have not heard that song, but I'll give it a listen.

Black. Dark. Shadow.

This world devoid of any light was the prison that cradled his mind. No sound was to be heard. Faint taste of something, but most likely nothing. Couldn't move.

Couldn't move?
What is movement?
So tired...

Consciousness slipped away unnoticed.

<><><><><><><><>

Awake. How long ago did that happen? How long ago was sleep? Not sure, he decided. What was being awake like anyway?

'What was it like?' he thought.

Wait.

What was that sound?

'What was that sound?' There it was again!
is... is th- '-is thought? Is this...' me?

<><><><><><><><>

'Where am I?' nothing but darkness answered him. Forever nothingness.
'Who am I?"

<><><><><><><><>

What was that? Something different. Different? What's different?

Something... wet? Wet.
Wet, and moving.

He explored this new thing. This wetness. It moved, and bumped into other, harder things...

Days, weeks, months, years, decades... time passed. How much time, he wasn't sure. How much was irrelevant, just so long as he noticed its passing. And with the passing came the boys explorations. Several times he had a one-furson orgy, elated by the pain and pleasure alike.

<><><><><><><><>

After many more adventures of the now known body, he was ready to know the outside. The darkness, though his one universe, seemed incomplete. Not right. There must be more.

But there was nothing else there... is there?

Then, with a startling revelation, he tried something. He readied what he knew was his body. He thought it was too spread out. He collected it. Moved it, formed it, compacted it. Strengthened his body. Another revelation, and with the help of the surrounding fabric of his universe he pushed himself out to the beyond.

Light.... Light! What is this light!

'I... have been born... into this world of light...'

There were four walls, a floor which simply hovered below his feet, and a ceiling preventing him from going any higher. All of it uniformly padded. all of it a brilliantly bright black in his eyes.

<><><><><><><><>

Time passed, and he explored the room. He found that he could easily dive into his own universe and jump back out wherever he pleased in the room. Nothing got in the way, except... the light.

Where the light grew too bright, his body would not travel under cover of shadows. Still, he could move! He could still pleasure himself! Wherever he was, there is nothing that could imprison him but himself. Nothing could stand in his way!

He danced about, laughing maniacally, sinking into one wall and coming out of the ceiling to continue dancing on it.

'This is fun! Dancing!' But he frowned as he remembered that he forgot.

"My name...." He spoke. He waited there, waiting for an answer to come to him.

Waiting... Waiting...

The door... it opened. The door actually opened. A door?

When the door opened, the light was so bright that he couldn't keep the darkness around his body anymore. It slipped away, leaving him naked on the ground.

"Holy shit! You okay, man?" Shaking off his head, he stood up to his full height, and smiled cruelly. His darkness... This THING disturbed his world, leaving him weak. Still, he was strong enough to take revenge on those who disturb his beautiful solitude. In fact, why not everyone? Don't want to risk anybody else taking away his shadow like this. It wouldn't be... fun.

With the tabby cat straight in his sights he realized what he himself was... the sharply angled antithesis of the cat in front of him, with long pointed ears, black, black and spikey fur, and no eyes; He simply began to gather and concentrate whatever darkness was left around him into his hands.

"I... am the ShadowDancer... and your world will crumble," Even as he said this, he watched as several others beyond him were ready to put up a fight. Fine with him. He was a god, the only being within his own universe, and the existence of these pitiful creatures amused him greatly.

*phew!* Taking at least three days of writing and condensing it into a one-hour short is HARD!

Anyway, Alex, one thing that did suck: I connect with Tyler more than any other character. Having some pretty bad ADD myself I completely understand what he's going through, and being the skinny annoying kid all my life I also understand all that jazz. Just seeing him in action makes me proud to have ADD! I know, I know, he has ADEFHD, but still, they are similar! ^.^;;

When I saw Tyler getting shocked... right after that, I had to go to work. I was shaken up for the rest of the day, wondering if my hero was actually dead! Thank you for bringing him back, though!

I will admit, while it was poetically written, I had no idea what was going on in your vignette. <shrug>

>I connect with Tyler more than any other character. Having some pretty bad ADD myself I completely understand what he's going through, and being the skinny annoying kid all my life I also understand all that jazz.

Yep. Same thing with me as a kid. I just channelled my younger self directly into him.

>When I saw Tyler getting shocked... right after that, I had to go to work. I was shaken up for the rest of the day, wondering if my hero was actually dead! Thank you for bringing him back, though!

That was exactly my intention! Disturb the hell out of the reader, then have them explode in joy when he comes back. ;)

>I will admit, while it was poetically written, I had no idea what was going on in your vignette. <shrug>

I was trying to get across the effects of absolute sensory deprivation (which, as far as I know, the closest thing you can get to that is in a spacesuit floating in the middle of a pool of lukewarm water). Being completely unaware of self, and then discovering it bit-by-bit. In the end, I wanted to paint the picture of the birth of an evil entity, one whom wants to master or destroy the new world he was thrown into with his manipulation of shadows, and cover the world in darkness.

Basically, your super-villain. ^.^;;

I really hope I didn't cross any lines. I mean, I don't know if I did, and if so I'm really really sorry and I'll take it down asap if it bothers you.

Oh no, it doesn't bother me a bit! I just didn't get how it related to my characters at first. It does certainly make sense that as more people realize they have powers, not everyone will use them selflessly.

*phew!* For a second there I thought that I made a fairly bad faux pas.

Sorry for being a little... well, wary. I've had a few bad experiences talking with fellow writers and having them being really, really offended over what I had perceived as a compliment, but worded really badly. Kinda like Tyler and first impressions. ^.^ Another reason why I like him!

Naah; I'm an easygoing mofo. Taking onesself too seriously negatively impacts one's creativity, after all.

So does too much work ;_;

Seriously, my muse is all but gone right now. I tried to write up a quickie scenario during a lull (gate guard) and I found myself staring at the paper for twenty minutes with a mind as blank as the page. It really got me down ;_;

So instead I made a squadron of paper airplanes! The squad leader was my favorite, he could fly the farthest ^.^

I need a vacation from reality!! DX

Alex, I never commented on this back when you first released it. I wasn't on FA, and I didn't have the heart to email you again outta the blue. The simple fact is, however, when I'm asked who the best furry author is- in the entire fandom- I point to this story and say "Alex Reynard. No contest."

I pray to a god I don't believe in that you still write projects such as these. OK, not really, I never pray, but you know what I mean.

My only problems here are that I couldn't write this praise back when you uploaded this story; and that I can't be as ebullient and gushy as I want to be, because for some reason FA is messing up or something and I can't actually see what I'm typing here until about a minute after I stop writing. Buh?!
Rock on, man! ^.^

>The simple fact is, however, when I'm asked who the best furry author is- in the entire fandom- I point to this story and say "Alex Reynard. No contest."

Dude, I got choked up for a second. Thank you very, very much. It feels incredible hearing that. :)

>I pray to a god I don't believe in that you still write projects such as these.


Well, maybe not any as backbreakingly LONG as this one, but I've got stuff in the works (assuming I ever finish 'em...)

>My only problems here are that I couldn't write this praise back when you uploaded this story; and that I can't be as ebullient and gushy as I want to be, because for some reason FA is messing up or something and I can't actually see what I'm typing here until about a minute after I stop writing. Buh?!

That's bizarre! Never heard of anything like that before...

He's inspiring enough that I've been working on a continuation with a character of my own. I'll be uploading another draft of my story as soon as I quit picking at it.

Can't see what you're typing? What browser and OS are you using?

IE, coz I haven't yet installed Firefox, and Windows Seven. I think it gets worse the more comments are ALSO on the page. Weird.

So strange, but it's actually longer than a minute. I was waiting just then for about three minutes for the last paragraph and doubtless I'll be waitin' for this one! Bah!!

Hmm. Give Firefox and possibly Opera a try, see how they work. If those have the same problem, it could well be a problem with Windows 7. If that happens, the next thing I'd do is load up a CD-based Linux and see if that has the same problems. (I know that sounds like a Micro$oft $uck$ statement, but something in Windows could well be the problem.)

I use Damn Small Linux for a lot of troubleshooting.

Speaking of troubleshooting, this probably isn't the forum for it!

You, sir, have an incredible gift. To be able to write like you do is... ironically, words fail me.

One moment in this opus of awesomeness that demands comment from me is the little bit at the end of Part Three. That bit is absolutely gut-wrenching; there's no other word that could be more accurate. I knew there had to be a happy ending coming, because I know by now that that's how you operate, but for a while there I was wondering how you could possibly pull it off. I felt compelled to applaud when I finished.

<big warm happy smile> Thank you. That's exactly the reaction I hoped for, and knowing I succeeded means a lot to me. ^__^

Michelle Zahn typed in the address and immediately felt stupid. This website was a joke; it looked like it had been designed by a first grader. She felt it was a perfect example of how not to build a website: distracting background, dozens of crudely animated gifs, blocks of poorly punctuated text, and random links that probably led to sites that were just as bad; at least there wasn’t any obnoxious background music.

Michelle considered leaving right then, but she reminded herself why she was here in the first place and decided to give this site the benefit of the doubt.

Two days ago, Owen Young had abruptly approached her during recess. Michelle had been sitting by herself reading; it was the only activity available to her. The young hippopotamus girl was too big to fit in the playhouse, and the playground swing set couldn’t support her weight. She knew it wasn’t her fault; some species were just built out of scale with the rest of the world. Nevertheless, no one wanted to play with the girl who had once gotten stuck in the tube slide and then struggled so much that the slide had cracked right in half.

Michelle had never told anyone the real reason the slide had cracked. She sat by herself and read.

So when someone went out of their way to tell her something, Michelle listened. Owen was a gerbil, and had the best grades in their class. Michelle, however, had sat next to him in class and never seen him take a single coherent note. While their teacher talked, Owen filled his notebook with line after line of gibberish. Yet even when he appeared to be in another world entirely, the teacher would call on him and Owen would never give a wrong answer. Michelle suspected that if he needed to, Owen could repeat word-for-word what the teacher had just said. A lot of kids thought Owen was probably insane; Michelle thought he just operated on a different wavelength.

Owen had told Michelle about this website and urged her to check it out. Apparently there was a secret area that was only accessible with a special password. He said it would answer a lot of her questions.

“What questions?” she’d questioned.

“You’ll see,” was all Owen said in reply.

So now Michelle was looking at this train wreck of a website, scanning for the link Owen had mentioned: “Gigabyte reviews.” Michelle didn’t know what Gigabyte was or why anyone would review it, but she clicked the link anyway. She found the computer icon and typed in the password: JIMMY.

The screen went black; for a moment Michelle was horrified. What if this was some kind of cruel trick? What if her hard drive was being wiped clean right this second? It wouldn’t be the first time she’d been the butt of a cruel practical joke, but she had thought Owen was better than that. Come to think of it, he was the only furson in her class who hadn’t ever made fun of her at some point.

A logo appeared on her screen, followed by a greeting: “Welcome home.”

Michelle read the text. She saw the blurry faces and names. She didn’t feel stupid anymore. This was real; Michelle instinctively knew it. With a trill, she realized that Owen had somehow recognized that she wasn’t ordinary. She realized that Owen clearly wasn’t either.

The website asked one question; a simple question that Michelle would never have hesitated to answer if it had been asked anywhere else.

Trembling, Michelle reached up to her head and pulled out a single long black hair. She held it between her pudgy hippopotamus fingers and stared at it. Trembling, Michelle pressed the hair between her right and left index fingers. Slowly, she pulled her fingers apart.

The hair divided lengthwise right down the middle.

“My name is Split.”

Oooooooohhh!!!

<lots of clapping> Excellent job, amigo! I like that you picked an unusual species and gave her just the kind of power DL is all about; not too showy, a little strange, but with interesting potential.

If you want to write more in my universe, you (and pretty much everyone everywhere) have my permission!

Your approval fills me with glee.

I actually started writing a "How it All Began" spinoff a while ago, but it stalled because I wasn't sure where to go with it. DL has given me a few possible ideas, though. I'll have to resurrect that project next time I feel especially creative.

Sounds like something I'd love to see!

HOLY SHIT.
I'm sorry, but no other words come to mind, This is brilliant! You'd better post some other stuff! Otherwise, I fear I shall take all of your stories and re-read them into oblivion. ^^

Have ya already read them all? Check my frontpage or any journal; there's a link to all my work here on FA.

Oh, and obviously, thank you!! :)

I told myself that I would pace myself in finishing the last three books in this story today, and maybe spread it out over a few more days.

Well, apparently I'm a big, fat liar. XD

I swear, your writing is like a can of Pringles. I can't tear my ass away from them until I'm down to an empty can, lol! I blame you for my lack of sleep these past coupla weeks. *gives you a fake mad glare*

Loooooved this story. This one seems to be the most lifelike one of yours I've read so far. And now I'm sad because I've finished all your multi-book stories, and now have to go back to real life. Curse you, real life! *shakes fist*

I know your position on doing sequels, but are you planning any more full-length novels any time in the near future?

Ok, now for specific things about DL I liked:

First, I for some odd reason, I got The Breakfast Club vibes during the first two books, with the way all the characters interacted, except, of course, in a nutterhouse instead of detention, and Ms. Crazybunny to deal with instead of a school principal. Though I could see Beatrix taking a job as a school principal if the Project didn't exist. She'd fit right in. XD

(Btw, please say you've seen the breakfast club. ^^ If not, I command thee to see-eth it. Nao! XD Otherwise, I'll slip $5 to the Flying Spaghetti Monster to thwack you with a meatball)

Once again, congrats on making a story and characters so real that I was literally shaking in rage whenever Beatrix was doing something evil. I mean, holy shit, she's got so much over-the-top meanness in her its like a caricature, but at the same time, I feel someone like her could actually exist. And probably works in government somewhere. I was kinda hoping she would redeem herself near the end or something, but nah. With what she's done, there's no chance in hell. She needs to be locked in a cell with Elmira from Tiny Toons. Big Fluffy Bunnybunny! She would be crushed to bits. XD

I was kinda hoping Jimmy would humiliate her when/if she was put on trial by making her jump onto the judge's bench naked, singing "I am the model of a modern major-general" while shoving the gavel up her vag, and various other antics. *evil grin*

I'm so glad the twins joined up with the other kids in the end. They are just too adorable to be bad guys.

The ending kinda reminded me of the ending of the first Matrix movie. It just had that awesome "the evil organization's troubles have only just begun" thing. And if you haven't already, you should totally grab that domain name and make the website as it appears in the epilogue. Just for fun. ^^

Anyhoo, can you tell I've had too much coffee today? XD

>Well, apparently I'm a big, fat liar. XD

Hee hee. Don't worry. It's happened to other people too. ;)

>I swear, your writing is like a can of Pringles. I can't tear my ass away from them until I'm down to an empty can, lol! I blame you for my lack of sleep these past coupla weeks. *gives you a fake mad glare*

Hee hee hee! Oh man, I am just basking in the glow of how good it feels to hear that. ^__^

>I know your position on doing sequels, but are you planning any more full-length novels any time in the near future?

I have one that I'm trying to finish now (unrelated to DL), that's actually one of the earliest stories I've ever written.

I have gotten a lot of little ideas for a DL sequel, but nothing good enough to really put the effort into that it'd require. A story has to stand on its own merits for me to write it. I love my characters too much to put them in something sub-par.

>First, I for some odd reason, I got The Breakfast Club vibes during the first two books, with the way all the characters interacted, except, of course, in a nutterhouse instead of detention

Thanks! Ironically, I didn't see the movie until several years after writing DL, but if you think I pulled off that level of realistic character development and dialogue, I'm flattered!

>I mean, holy shit, she's got so much over-the-top meanness in her its like a caricature, but at the same time, I feel someone like her could actually exist.

Thanks again. And she is based on a real person after all. She is a caricature of all my mother's worst traits, plus everything I've ever hated about myself.

>I was kinda hoping she would redeem herself near the end or something, but nah. With what she's done, there's no chance in hell.

Exactly. I hate in stories when some character's done inexcusably evil things, but then the main characters forgive them at the end just because the author thinks it'll be cool. No. I wanted to convey that some people are so evil that they can never be forgiven, can never be trusted, and should be put away forever.

>I'm so glad the twins joined up with the other kids in the end. They are just too adorable to be bad guys.

Thanks. What I just said in the last paragraph seems to contradict what happens with the twins, but that's the point: to show that they ARE redeemable. They were never truly evil, they were just lied to. If someone's doing something evil, but it's because they have every reason to believe they are doing the right thing, that is forgivable. I also wanted people to imagine the inevitable hurricane that would occur when Kuri and Holly met again!

>The ending kinda reminded me of the ending of the first Matrix movie. It just had that awesome "the evil organization's troubles have only just begun" thing.

YES! EXACTLY! I was totally thinking that when I wrote it! :)

>And if you haven't already, you should totally grab that domain name and make the website as it appears in the epilogue. Just for fun. ^^

I would, but I have no website skills. I talked with some other furs about doing that, but it never materialized.

>Anyhoo, can you tell I've had too much coffee today? XD

I'm on Mountain Dew Code Red & spicy Cheez-Its, myself.

Wow. Okay this page has so many comments you're probablly sick of responding to them but I feel like I need to tell you how awesome you are. I havent had a work of literature make me cry since Boromir died, (always Boromir for some weird reason, never anything else) and I must have been crying ten times harder than that when they fried Tyler. Also I've been operating on nothing more than Irn-Bru for quite a few days now.

I don't know how you do it, your writing should come with a warning label; "Warning WILL cause sleep deprevation!" But I must be a masochist because now that the story is over I'm trying everything possible to delay my return to that cold boring "reality" place I keep hearing so much about. I think someone commented a whilke back that they wished the story would just go on forever, I officaly second that. I suppose too many people have asked you about a sequal so I wont, I can hope like hell though, and I will.

Actually you are the reason I made a Fur Affinity accout, just so that I could read all your storys, I never was intending on doing anything with it, but dammit I think you just lit a bonfire in whatever part of the brain it is that's responsible for making me get off my arse. (That bit loathes me by now I imagine) So I shall finish with a few questions, 1) What is your opinion on fanfiction? And 2) Do you know of any good artists who do commisions? I wanna get my avatar changed to... well something at least.

Keith is now my favorate character. He is mighty I am puny, I tremble before his glory.

>Okay this page has so many comments you're probablly sick of responding to them

Are you kidding? I *love* knowing that my novels are still being read!! :)

>I don't know how you do it

Well, I care about my characters as if they're real, and I become them as much as possible when I write about them. I usually have a loose plot and ending in mind when I start, but I always let the characters' personalities determine what happens.

>your writing should come with a warning label; "Warning WILL cause sleep deprevation!"

I've done that to myself a few times!

>I suppose too many people have asked you about a sequal so I wont, I can hope like hell though, and I will.

As much as I'd like to write a sequel, the plot would have to be good enough to deserve all the time and energy I'd devote to writing it. This one took me two years.

>Actually you are the reason I made a Fur Affinity accout, just so that I could read all your storys,

Really? WOW! Thanks very much, I'm very flattered. Did you see the link to my library?

>1) What is your opinion on fanfiction?

I've done plenty myself, and I freakin' adore when people do fanfics of my stories.

>2) Do you know of any good artists who do commisions? I wanna get my avatar changed to... well something at least.

Um... Tryin' to think... Omny87 draws pretty good. Asuraludu does toony cute stuff. Just look around: unless an artist specifically says they won't do commissions, there's usually no harm in politely inquiring.

>Keith is now my favorate character. He is mighty I am puny, I tremble before his glory.

<chuckle> Keith would be the first one to say he's just as messed up as anyone else. ;)

> Really? WOW! Thanks very much, I'm very flattered. Did you see the link to my library?

Actually I first saw your storys on Yiffstar, just after it turned into SoFurry. I discovered The Witch In The Woods and after reading it decided it wouldn't be a bad idea to check out your other story in there, Summer Vacation Of The Living Dead. I noticed you had left a link to your library in the comments so I came here and joined up to read the rest of 'em.

Oh good. I can't navigate SoFurry, so here's the only place I can reply to comments.

My name would probably be dimestore, since I can also take a very large amount of pills.

my and a friend emptied a bottle of 150 500m. Vicodin.

EEEEEEK! Why!?

We were stupid young adults. I was like 23. But after that I overdosed on no2 *Nitrus Oxide* and saw I think god. Since then I can relax myself and semi leave my body, but I cant really do anything but see posiblilities. not whats really going on but what could go on. kinda weird to explain. When I do it I see myself where I'm sitting and everything around me, but if theres alot of people there I cant concentrate. If I do it and someone tosses me something I can catch it if theres not alot of people around. But usually I cant really get it right.


But also this could be from self medicating myself.

There's a link of the soundtrack you were using that doesn't work. :( Imma try to find all of those songs though.

Unfortunately, yeah. Rapidshare only hosts things for so long. It shouldn't be too hard to find the songs through. Limewire's pretty good with that. Or if you ust want to hear it, you can find almost any song on YouTube.

Another one I kinda had to force read at first. Had to remind myself who was writting this one again XD. Another well done series and I'm overjoyed the otter lives! I like otters and he's one of the nicest otters I've ever read about ^^ I think you can guess who my favortie character was from that.

PS. I think now I've read just about everything of yours. You working on anything else at the moment?

>Another well done series and I'm overjoyed the otter lives!

I really hate when authors kill off likable characters just to manipulate the reader, so I enjoy inverting that a lot. ;)

>You working on anything else at the moment?

Been trying for a damn long time now to finish a story about Bartleby, Gillian, Justin & Lena.

Until my creativity sparks, all I shall put is,

My name is Gambler. Cards do what I want, sometimes.

Sounds cool. I like the 'sometimes' too. Makes it interesting. Feel free to write more; I love seeing fanfics.

You really like it? It was quite spontaneous on my part, actually.

Basically, as is stated, about 50% of the time, the cards will do what he wants. He can make them sharp enough to cut through metal, make em large so as to act as a shield, or go Gambit on an enemies ass, and throw exploding cards. The other 50% of the time though, they will do the opposite, pretty much. The cards will become fragile as glass, shrink so small, it's like they don't exist, or explode before they even leave his hands. It's really situational, and tends to be unstable, as his thoughts determine the cards effects.

Also, his name is William, and he is a ferret.

I like the idea of someone whose powers only work sometimes; it's an idea I don't see much in superhero comics.

This is a furry superhero novel. It is made of Win and Awesome.

Well done, well done. I love how you ended it.