"I am well aware of that, Eric...," replied Maxum Man. "That is why I live in you... to be your strength... To be the superpower you will need to defeat Vana, once and for all..."

"But.. how are you going to do that..?," I asked.

"...Watch and see..."

Just then, a lot of lightning began to erupt from all over my body as I was lifted into the air. "WOOOOAAAAH!," I yelled.

Meanwhile, time was running out for Kitty. As she continued to sob, unaware of Vana approaching her with the flaming stick, she was merely seconds away from the end of her life as she knew it..

"AAAAAAAAAAAAH!," I continued to scream, feeling the charge through my body.

"Do not fear, Eric!," pled Maxum Man. "This may hurt, but it will all be worth it in the end!"

But Vana was just getting closer and closer... until she finally came to a stop. Suddenly pausing in her crying, Kitty slowly looked up to a stick, flaming from the top, with Vana as its holder.

"Prepare yourself for death... Kitty," said Vana with an evil smile.

"AH!," yelled Kitty, quickly moving back.

"HURRY, MAXUM MAN!," I pled, seeing what was going on below. Just then, my burned face slowly cracked... and eventually shattered to pieces, only to reveal my old face, back and good as new! And yes.. my old glasses came with the package. Next, the hole in my stomach shrunk, growing smaller and smaller, until it finally disappeared! Then all the bruises and boo-boos I was covered in, courtesy of Vana beating me earlier with my wheelchair, poofed away like magic! Next to go was the hole in my back as well, shrinking smaller and smaller until it was no longer there. Then, all my broken limbs slowly regained their composure, healing themselves and becoming anew! Then, all the small holes on my left arm, courtesy of Vana poking me with those needles years ago, faded away! And finally, now with my body fully healed, the transformation continued as my body's composure began to change, becoming exactly like Maxum Man's, only smaller. I even grew a big chin, just like his! Then, before I knew it, the surge of electricity stopped. And a giant ball of light erupted from my body.

"AH!," yelled Vana, covering her face from its shine.

"Wooooah...," exclaimed Kitty, not covering her eyes, and looking right at the explosion of light.

Seconds later, the light faded...

"Rrrh..!," groaned Vana, slowly reopening her eyes and looking to the sky. "AH?," she gasped. "I can't... believe it!"

"Super cool!," exclaimed Kitty, happily seeing the new me.

Before them was a buff me, with all of Maxum Man's clothing! From his mask, to the M on his purple super suit, I had it all! I floated in the hair, with my fists clenched to my hips.

"But... this is impossible!," spat Vana. "I HAD YOU BEATEN! YOU WERE DOWN FOR THE COUNT! AN INVALID! YOU WERE GOOD AS DEAD, NEEDLES!"

"You would have enjoyed... wouldn't you..?," I replied, sternly. "I'm going to ask you nicely, Vana... Leave Kitty alone.."

"Why don't you come down and make me...?," she teased.

With a smirk, I replied, "If you insist.."

I then flew down towards Vana, with my fists clenched forward, prepared to stop her.

"Rrrh...!," she groaned, throwing her flaming stick into the fire behind her. She then touched her index fingers to the heart on her tiara, as part of her Galacti Lass outfit, and spat, "Eat laser, Needles!" Her little heart then emitted a long pink lightning beam towards me, only for me to hold my finger forward and stop it, backfiring it at Vana.

"WHAT?," she exclaimed before being struck down by her own attack. "AH!," she yelled, falling on her back to the ground.

I landed before her, not saying anything, but just watched her with keeping a stern look. My eyes narrowed deeply...

"RRRRRH!," she groaned, now very angry. Leaning up from the ground, she said, "Alright then... TASTE MY TIARA!" Vana immediately pulled off her tiara, spinning it towards me like a Frisbee. I immediately leaped toward the air, dodging it as it flew forward.

"Looks like you missed, villainous foe...," I said. And with those words, I quickly realized how heroic it sounded for me to speak like that. I guess with Maxum Man being a part of me now, it would only come to be natural..

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!," screamed Vana. "My tiara might've missed, but it'll be back around in no time, HA!"

I noticed how she emphasized the term 'back around.' I then turned my head, watching the tiara approach me from behind. Using my laser eyes, I zapped the tiara into sawdust... much to Vana becoming speechless.

"...I.. I don't understand! That attack was full proof... FULL PROOF!," she yelled.

"WOOOH! Way to go, Eric!," cheered Kitty.

"Give it up, Vana...," I warned, sternly. "You're no match for the force of Maxum Man.."

"Maxum... Man..?," she asked curiously.. before breaking out in laughter. "AHAHAHAHA! Yeah right! I KILLED Maxum Man, moron!"

"Not so, Vana..," I continued with Maxum Man's voice speaking in unison to mine.

"AAAAH?," she exclaimed in shock.

"I still live Vana..," I said, continuing with our voices merged. "And you will never defeat the two of us as a whole! Sidekick and superhero will stop you, here and now!"

"AHAHAHA!," Vana laughed. "I can't believe Maxum Man entrusted you to take his place. It's hilarious enough he made you his sidekick.. But now this? I'd say in his old age, your superhero has become senile!"

With that, I grew very angry, clashing my hands together and sending a tornadic wind at Vana.

"WOOOAH!," she exclaimed, flying through ten trees behind her. On the ground and covered in many bruises, she slowly leaned up, wiping the blood from her mouth... Then, slowly opened her eyes and saw me, walking towards her from the distance.

"Vana...," I said with a stern expression, now speaking in my regular voice again, "You deliberately abused me.. tortured me... cheated on me... lied on me... starved me... tried to kill me... and even leave me in a burning mansion to die!" As she grinned her teeth, nervously, I continued, "You even abused your own mother... punched her in the mouth and kicked her out of your home! That is dishonorable... and the exact reason why you must be punished!" I quickly flew at her, punching her in the gut. As she coughed blood, I grabbed her by the head, kneeing her in the jaw and sending her flying to the air. Flying after her at lightning speed, I elbowed her in the stomach, making her cough even more blood, and kicked her down, sending her flying into the ground below and knocking down many trees.

"Wooooow...!," exclaimed Kitty, amazed.

I hovered over the area she crashed in, watching from above. Below I saw Vana, covered in dirt and on the ground, weakened and even more injured than before.

"...You brought this on yourself, Vana...," I said with pity.

She remained down for a few seconds... before squinting her closed eyes and grinding her teeth, only to reveal she still had some fight left in her.

"I wonder what's going on down there..," said Kitty, realizing we were further away from her by now. "I'd better go see!," she continued, running to the scene.

Meanwhile, Vana slowly began to regain her balance, looking down in great anger and still grinding her teeth. Finally, when she stood back to her feet, and clenched her fists, she looked up to me with great hatred in her eyes...

"You.. PUNNNNKKKKKK!," she yelled with veins showing in her eyes. It was quite obvious she could quickly become temperamental when the odds were stacked against her. "I HATE YOU! I HATE YOOOUUUUUU!," she spat.

But I remained calm and replied, "Vana... please... stop this... There's no need. It doesn't have to end this way.. You can go peacefully... and never return to Splittsboro again.."

Her eye twitched as she replied, "Never return...? NEVER RETURN? YOU FOOOOOOLLLLLL! YOU NOR THIS CITY WILL EVER BE RID OF ME, AND YOU WILL DIE!"

Just then, Vana turned her head to see Kitty approaching from the distance. She smirked, deviously, as Kitty finally made it to where we currently were. Before Kitty even had the chance to speak, Vana pulled out a knife from behind and grabbed Kitty in a headlock, pointing the blade to her neck.

"AAAAH!," screamed Kitty.

"KITTY!," I panicked.

"Hahaha!," laughed Vana, evilly. She held the knife closer to Kitty and said, "You see, Needles? Now the shoe's on the other foot! If you dare try to harm me anymore, I'll slit this brat's throat straight from her neck! AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

Grinding my teeth very nervously, I quickly realized I did not know what to do...

"Eric... don't.. worry about me...!," pled Kitty, struggling to breath. "This is her only way to ensure you can't make the final blow!"

"No, Kitty!," I said. "Your life is more important to me than killing Vana! And she'll certainly kill you if I make any sudden movement!"

Just then, lightning struck once again, as the storm was getting closer to Splittsboro. The rain would begin to fall any time now, as would Kitty if I were to do anything against Vana's orders at this point. Once again.. she had me under her control. And this time, my best friend's life was on the line! The wind began to pick up in speed, blowing many leaves and our hair.

"Eric! What are you waiting for? Kill Vana, now!," pled Kitty.

"QUIET, BRAT!," spat Vana, squeezing Kitty in her arm.

"Rrrrh!," I groaned, slightly moving forward, only for Vana to quickly hold the knife even closer to Kitty, warning me not to lose my cool... if I got her point.

Just then, behind Vana in the shadows, footsteps could be heard through the leaves.. getting closer and closer..

Vana's ears twitched as she quickly looked behind herself, not expecting to find... "TREVOR?," she exclaimed, seeing him much older now, and holding a knife in his right hand.

"Put her down.. Vana..," he warned with a deep glare, pointing the knife forward.

"Wow, Trevor!," I exclaimed. "I haven't seen you in years! You look so much older now!"

"Well, uh... yeah, dude. We are 18 now...," he said, blankly.

"Oh, uh... right..," I replied, rubbing the back of my head.

"Ha!," spat Vana. "So the big doofus from our Sidekick Academy decided to show up and play hero?"

"Okay, first off.. I'm no hero. Just a sidekick. And two: I know I'm a doofus! I don't have to be reminded of it..," Trevor replied.

Vana rolled her eyes, threw Kitty to the ground, and charged at Trevor with her knife.

"TREVOR, WATCH OUT!," I pled.

"Rrrh...!," groaned Trevor, nervously. He quickly struck his knife forward, only for Vana to duck and knee him in the gut, causing him to drop it. She then jolted her knife forward, stabbing him right between the eyes.

"AH!," I exclaimed, completely shocked.

"TREVOR!," exclaimed Kitty in fear.

"Aaah.. aaaah...," he weakly moaned as Vana held the knife inside his face.

"Aaaww... what's wrong? Did I make it too painful..?," she teased, much to Trevor having no reply. His face became paused with a shocked expression... and his eyes soon rolled to the back of his head.

"NO, TREVOOOOORRRR!," I cried.

"TREVOORRRRR!," cried Kitty.

"Heh...," scoffed Vana with a spiteful smirk. She then pushed his now motionless body to the ground.

"YOU MONSTER!," spat Kitty with tears coming from her eyes.

"TREVOR, NO!," I cried, flying down to him. I shook his body, repeatedly. "Trevor...," I pled with tears. "TREVOR..! TREVOR, NO! YOU CAN'T BE DEAD! YOU CAN'T BE!"

"Hahahaha!," laughed Vana, proudly. "Sorry, Needles..," she teased. "Looks like your brainless pal's met the end of the line." As I continued to cry, not even knowing what to think, she continued, "He's gone... Gone forever. And there's nothing you can do about it..."

"You'll... pay for this, Vana! YOU'LL PAY!," yelled Kitty with tears in her eyes.

Though I was deeply hurt, I had little time for crying... But I could not help myself but to continue. Before my very eyes, my best friend, Trevor Troublemeyer, laid dead on the ground. In his motionless expression, I could see his cry for help... He needed someone to make Vana pay for ending his life in such a manner. Poor Trevor never even had the chance to make a girlfriend.. nor did he even have the chance to say goodbye... And then... something inside me was beginning to boil. Within my very being was a storm brewing. One even more powerful than the storm at hand approaching Splittsboro...

"HAHAHAHA!," laughed Vana, evilly, enjoying the misery at hand..

From the the way she played me... to the abuse I endured... and now, even the death of my best friend! ...I could no longer keep the anger inside of me concealed.. I was done showing mercy to Vana... I was done making excuses for her! She had to die! SHE HAD TO PAY FOR KILLING MY BEST FRIEND!

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!," I screamed so loud, it caused the entire forest to shake.

"WOOAAAAH!," exclaimed Kitty, falling down.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAH?," exclaimed Vana, suddenly sporting a very shocked expression.

"I PROMISE TO KILL YOU, VANAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!," I exclaimed as tears continued to run down my face. I then immediately flew towards Vana, socking her in the gut with all my might,

"GAAAAAAH!," she went, coughing out many ounces of blood.

I then grabbed her by the body, pinned her to the ground, pulled my fist back, and started beating her in the face, seventy times.

"AAAH! AAAAAAH! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!," she exclaimed with her eyes, nose, and mouth becoming bloodier and bloodier. She also gained black eyes, both very dark and swollen by the time I was done.

I then kneed her in the chest with all my might.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAGHHHH!," she yelled, feeling many of her ribs break.

I then held up her head and punched her straight in the mouth. "OOOOOOF!," she went as over twenty teeth flew out. And before I knew it, my punches became like wildfire, as I beat her from all over, unmercifully. I was like a wild beast, ruthless and unstoppable. Vana stood no chance against my fury as I stopped beating her, grabbed her by the head, and threw her right into an oncoming bolt of lightning from the clouds... And BULL'S-EYE!

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!," she screamed, getting electrocuted by uncountable bolts of electricity. Once the lightning faded, she went falling from the sky and crashed into the ground on her face, severely burned, with an entirely gray body, and steaming like cooked turkey...

"Ooooh... ooooh...," she moaned weakly, slowly regaining her balance. She looked forward and laughed, "Ahahaha... hahahaha...," only dumbly and weakly. It was quite apparent she now suffered a slight concussion..

Just then, a bolt of lightning struck a tree behind her. The tree quickly set on fire from all over, causing it to come falling forward. She looked behind herself. "Aaaaa... aaaaaaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!," she screamed, seeing the tree come towards her. And then.. she was crushed beneath it, engulfed in the flames.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!," she cried, being burned alive at the scenes. Trevor may have been gone... But one would lie if they were to say he was not avenged.

A few seconds later, the rain began to fall. I now held Trevor in my arms, looking down sadly and shedding a tear. I then heard the voice of my remaining best friend...

"You... you did it, Eric...," said Kitty with a smile from behind me. I slowly opened my eyes and looked to her. "You're... a hero...," she concluded. To that, I smiled...

...

By six o'clock that morning, the sun would once again rise.. and dawn on what would be Splittsboro's new hero..

Everyone in the entire city of Splittsboro stood in the forest, seeing the remains of what was the ultimate battle. The fallen trees and craters in the ground told all...

"We are live with breaking news!," exclaimed a news reporter to a camera before her.

Meanwhile, I was consoled by my old professor, Pamplemoose, who floated before me in his hovercraft, and was accompanied by many people who surrounded me. Some were even taking our photos... especially mine.

"Eric... you did it!," he exclaimed, rejoicingly. "You saved Splittsboro!"

"I... I did!," I exclaimed. "I'm a hero, just like Maxum Man!"

"Correction...," said a voice inside me, obviously being Maxum Man. "You areMaxum Man... Maxum Boy.."

Hearing Pamplemoose, of all people, deem me a hero was one thing... But hearing such words from the man who made me what I am, Maxum Man.. it brought me to tears of great joy...

I then lost my train of thought, remembering something...

"Uh... just hold on, guys," I said to the crowd. I then walked from them and over to Kitty in the distance. I came to find she had just finished burying Trevor in the spot he was killed. Kneeling over his grave, she shed a tear... and wiped it from her eye.

Standing beside her, I paused... "Hmmm... it needs something...," I puzzled. I then looked next to his grave, seeing his war helmet. "Aha!," I exclaimed, getting an idea. Kitty looked to me curiously as I picked up the helmet and placed it on top of his burial.

"It's just how he would've wanted it...," I said with a smile. "Trevor...," I said, saluting, "I salute you...," with deep emotion. With that, I knew what my next move would be... Looking to Kitty, I smiled and said, "So... I take it you like me...?"

Kitty grew a puzzled expression. "What?," she said, pretending not to know.

I chuckled. "Aw, come on, Kitty.. Here... I'll help you," I said, reaching my arms forward and holding her by hers. I then leaned forward, puckering my lips, and kissing hers, deeply.

"Awwwwww...," went the crowd, very happy for us. As for Vana, the ashes of her body blew with the wind... showing she was truly gone, and no longer a threat to humanity.

Kitty blushed.. and caressed her arms around me, kissing as well.

Maxum Brain floated to the crowd, shedding digital tears. "This is truly beautiful.. Absolutely beautiful!"

Finally, I let go of Kitty. The two of us blushed and giggled.

"Eric...," she said with a smile, "thank you..."

I smiled as well and carried her in my arms, much to us both smiling to one another.

"Congratulations, Eric...," said a peaceful voice from the crowd, all too familiar to me.

"Mrs. Glama..?," I replied, seeing her walk to me. "Hey, uh.. sorry about Vana.. and your guitar getting burned in the fire..."

"It's quite alright, Eric...," she said, peacefully. "I've learned I don't need it anymore... Not when I have the wild on my side.." With that, many creatures of the forest surrounded her, acting as though she became a mother to them.

With a smile, I said, "You don't have to stay here if you don't want, Mrs. Glama. I think Brain wouldn't mind keeping you at the Maxum Mansion until you could get back on your feet."

"It is true," said Brain with a nod. "We have more than enough room for your humble company, Mrs. Glama!"

"The offer is tempting..," she said with a smile. "But I've come to find the wild is my true calling. Thanks to Vana, I now know my true home... I even made a new friend." Just then, an all too familiar cat crawled out from her shirt.

"NIGHT!," I exclaimed, happily. He quickly jumped on my shoulder and licked my face. "Ahahaha!," I giggled. "I missed you too, buddy.. It's been so long!"

"Awww, Eric, he's adorable!," exclaimed Kitty.

"He's an old friend I made back when Vana put me out to work," I said. "Had it not been for her, I wouldn't have found him." I then said to Night, "But I think you should stay with Mrs. Glama, little guy. She needs you..."

He smiled and nodded, jumping in Mrs. Glama's arms. She laughed as he licked her face.

Having said my goodbyes, I knew it was time for me to go. "Well, people of Splittsboro... My time with you today is short. But just know the evil Vana is gone... and you may all live at peace once again!"

To that, they all cheered. I continued, "And remember, my good people.. if you ever need a hero, I will be there! Until then... I, Maxum Boy, bid you all adieu! Until next time..." And with that, the people cheered even more as I flew to the sky with Kitty. Maxum Brain, Mrs. Glama and Night waved to me, happily.

"Goodbye, Eric... Maxum hero to us all...," said Brain with deep emotion.

Meanwhile, I continued to fly with Kitty.

"Eric..?," she said.

"Yes, Kitty..," I replied, looking to her with a smile. She then pecked my lips, much to me blushing again. I then looked forward, exclaiming with glee, "MAXUM BOY, AWAY!"

And with that, the two of us headed for the sun.. embarking on a journey of what would be the rest of our lives... together. Sadly, I would never discover until a later time that Master XOX was actually Trevor's father. And Trevor died not knowing the secret... But regardless, I knew he would be proud of me if he were still around. And somehow... I believe he watched over me, proud of the hero I had become. With Splittsboro finally seeing me for my true importance, and me finally having someone in my life who would truly care about me, I was more than just a superhero at this point.. I was a completed superhero.

...

The End...