Heroes Rising: Golden Hunt part 17

Part 17

“Stop! Stand down! BACK OFF!” Nova yelled at the heroes. Nothing helped. They were just as insane as the humans. It was a feeding frenzy.

While the civilians fought over who would get to the crock first, and most of them couldn’t make it to the island, the heroes were pushing and shoving each other out of the way to get their coins into the crock. Each time a hero dumped the coins, something would appear in their hands.

The Leprechaun, still in the grips of Nova, watched this madness with glee in his little eyes. He laughed and said, “Yes, keep it coming, you lot!”

Nova stepped back, aghast by the mobs of lunatics. He listened to the Leprechaun urging them on and thought about all of this. Slowly, he turned away from the insanity and looked at the Leprechaun. “Wait a moment, something doesn’t add up.”

“What? Soon I’ll have me power back and all will be just right.” The Leprechaun seemed to change his own tone back to a genial attitude.

Nova shook his head, “No, I’ve been blind. I didn’t see it at first. You contacted us about your coins and crock.”

“Aye. And?”

“The message was sent through Chase’s communicator. It was her signal we first registered. How is that possible?”

“Uh, I, uh, don’t know what yer talk’n about.”

“Yes, you do. Where is she?”

***

Chase pushed hard one last time and shoved her shuriken over, knocking over part of a bookcase that had fallen and trapped her against the wall. The room was a complete disaster, the ceiling now open to the world above.

“What's going on?” She watched people running all over the place, most screaming and yelling at others to get out of the way.

“FLEAGLE!” She yelled.

“RIGHT HERE!” Fleagle worked his way backward out of the doorway. His fur was blood-stained in places and he had a limp, but he was focused on getting Justin away from the destruction. “He’s okay, just knocked out.”

Chase was about to help him when she heard the commotion above. “You stay here, I have to warn them.”

“Go!” Fleagle pointed up. "We'll be fine."

Chase climbed over broken objects and bits of earth as she ascended through the hole. People were running by in a craze. She caught sight of Nova, standing with his back to her, angrily holding the Leprechaun.

“NOVA! HEY! NOVA!” She waved her arms and yelled, but her little size prevented him from noticing.

Getting topside, she jumped and then rolled away as feet nearly ended her life. No one noticed her as they ran around. She stopped long enough to look back and see the hoards of people crashing over the cliff, heading for the island.

“NOVA! NOVA!” She yelled as she ran for him, dodging feet the whole way.

***

Nova held the Leprechaun near his one good eye. “I’m warning you. Tell me where she is?”

“Or what, cyclops? I’m a mythical being of great power. What could you do to me?”

Nova’s face grew red, “You have no idea what I am capable of. Now, tell me what is this all about? Are you working with...” Nova suddenly put it all together, “You’re working with him. This is all part of his plan.”

“His plan? HA! I’ve been using him. He has only impeded me slightly. When I’m done, even he will fear me.”

Nova looked up, “The coins, the crock...I have to stop them.” He turned and then looked down. A tiny woman ran toward him, waving her hands. “Chase?”

“Oh, look, she survived.” The Leprechaun mused.

Nova knelt down, “Chase?”

“STOP THEM, IT’S A TRAP!” Chase yelled in a tiny voice.

Nova stood up just as the last hero dropped a coin into the crock. The top beamed out a golden light that split the clouds above. The Leprechaun laughed, “Too late.” He snapped his fingers, and a sharp light flashed from the Crock. A massive wave of energy followed it, exploding outward,

scattering the heroes and civilians. Some people flew through the air while most crashed into the water. The shock wave crossed over the land, toppling people, including Nova. Once it passed, everything went quiet.

Nova looked up from his fallen position. The Leprechaun now stood in the grasses. Everyone immediately noted the new person. Out, hovering over the island, was the Hooded Man. In his hands, he held that crock.“WHAT!” The Leprechaun yelled.

The Hooded Man’s voice boomed over the landscape. “I must thank you, my friend. I never expected any of my kind to willingly give me all of their power.” He vanished in a puff of smoke.
“NOOOOO!” The Leprechaun bellowed.