[Bloodstalker]

Bloodstalker felt the eyes upon him. It was disconcerting to say the least, esp since he had double checked the room before he had laid down to rest. Opening his eyes and raising his head, he checked his surrounding. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary, and he was just about to shrug the feeling off when a loud whistling sound reached his ears. For a moment, BS was amazed. Then he became aware of a gentle blowing next to his ear and sat sharply upright. Staring down to where his head had lain, he saw a figure that brought sheer terror to his heart.

"Hello, miss me?"

BS brought a hand to cover his face. "God's, I've been molested by a mouse."

"I was simply trying to wake you up. I have important news concerning your current quest. Gird yourself, and hearken to my words, for I am.."

Rolling his eyes, BS snorted with disgust."Yeah, yeah, Mickey the Giant Wizard Mouse. Blah bloody blah. Can we skip the intros and get right to the point where you send me chasing off after some damned failed attempt at comic relief?"

"Right then," Mickey stated cheerfully, adjusting his pointy hat. "These orcs, there are many of them. You alone cannot stand against them, and it's doubtful that even with companions you will have a chance. Therefore, I bring you a secret weapon. You will be offered a choice, and once that choice is made, your powers will skyrocket to unimaginable heights. For you will be.... A Superhero!"

"A what?" BS managed to stammer.

Mickey sighed loudly and beckoned BS to lean closer. As BS got close enough, Mickey offered him a dazzling grin, stuck his thumb is his mouth and blew on it. Once his hand had swelled to ten times its original size, Mickey removed his hand and swung mightily, knocking BS's head back to connect with the wall. 'Will you just shut up and listen for once!?!?!?!?!"

BS of course, listened. He did not wish to feel the wrath of Mickeys Hand'O the Goon again. Besides, superheroes sounded sorta cool. They probably got all the chicks.

"Now, where was I, oh yes, enter the first choice."

Mickey waved his hand, and a portal opened. Stepping through the portal was a figure clothed in red from head to foot. A symbol of lightning adorned the figures chest, as well as the sides of his head. BS groaned inwardly. "Not on of those. I hate Talonians."

"He is not a Talonian. Mystery figure #1. Identify" Said Mickey hautily, which was indeed impressive for someone of such small stature.

"I am the Flash, and my super power is to.."

"Hey now, none of that!!" BS retorted hurriedly. "This is a family story you know. You just keep your bits to yourself."

"No you utter moron. The flash, as is super speed. I'm faster than any being you could possibly imagine. None can keep pace with me." The figure replied smugly, looking very self confident, as he and Mickey turned an expectant eye to BS.

"Well, that's just plain stupid." BS commented, causing the jaws of his companions to drop. "I mean come on, that's a power for a hero? I can run really really fast? Please, that's a villians power. They're the one who do all the running. What else can you do, scream at the top of your lungs for the guard while you follow the bad guys like a little snitch?"

Flash hung his head and stepped back through the portal, mumbling something under his breath about BS being a meanie.

Disgusted, Mickey opened another portal, and stepping through was something that simply looked odd. A man it appeared to be, and yet he was encased from head to toe in flame. “I am the Human torch, and my special power is to, well, burn stuff.”

BS laughed mightily. “ That’s it? You can set yourself on fire? Hells, I’ve done that a few times on accident, it’s nothing special.”

“Yes, but I can also do this.” The Torch replied, pointing a finger and letting loose a jet of flame that lit the wastebasket on fire.

The smug look of superiority was short lasting however, as BS waved his hand dismisivlly. “So what? Any mage can cast fireball.”

“You’re not a mage though.”

BS shrugged. “So? Hate to break it to you, but the ability to use fir has been around for ages.” Reaching into his pocket, BS produces a match, which he struck on his thumbnail. “See? Ooooo, impressive, right? Wanna see a real trick?”

Mickey’s questioning look, BS strode over to the water basin and emptied its contents on the Torch, causing his flame to die. Screaming in shame, the Torch ran back through his portal, BS’s taunting call of “Glorified fire elemental” ringing in his ear.

Turning a skeptical eye on Mickey, who was just opening another portal. “So what’s next, some idiotic merman who has the power to talk to the fishes? Or is that even to ridiculous for you?”

Mickey sighed and the portal snapped shut immediately. ”I have only one more Mystery figure to show you. Try and keep an open mind this time?”

BS nodded cheerfully as the last portal opened and a rocklike figure stepped into the room. He did look powerful, BS thought. Probably could take a lot of punishment as well. This may be useful if….

“I am called The Thing and I..”

BS collapsed into a heap on the floor, laughing hysterically as Mickey cursed his juvenile sense of humor and dismissed the last contestant. Making his way toward the struggling warrior, Mickey grinned and raised his hand. BS’s eyes widened as the hand began to swell, and he braced himself for the coming blow…..

Only to awaken in his bed, heart pounding as his eyes searched for any sign of the mouse. Finding nothing, BS lay back. Damned Syup ’O Disney. All these years, and he still had flashbacks from time to time. Sometimes, he really hated his magic resistant constitution and the odd way it tended to harbor traces of certain things in his system.