FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Star Haven, a city planned with every intricate detail in mind, built from scratch.

The project had started almost two decades ago, architects, construction workers and

even a few superheroes, all focusing their efforts on a single goal.

Skyscrapers, gleaming like polished silver from the distance, made up the center, home to

international companies, some of which had put money into the Haven Project themself.

Suburbs that looked like the originals for magazine covers, or the background for a creepy

suspense thriller, made up the outskirts of this ambitious metropolis.

The project had started as a simple idea, a city that could actually withstand the growing

problems of having superheroes, and villains, around.

People were grateful for the protection of course, but it also meant destruction should

a huge fight ensue, even though, often enough, the heroes tried to handle it

non-violently.

While only added to the project halfway into it's building phase Hero Academy was

probably the most important complex in the maze made up of concrete and glas.

Not the most creative name it still showed the purpose behind the school,

teaching young people with the potential, superpowered or not, to be heroes.

Showing them how to use what they were able to do in a way that could benefit society.

Not all would become crimefighters, some of them would go for quite normal jobs, still

giving it their unique touch with some of their powers.

Nonetheless they had to learn, learn how to control powers, focus them, and even

to not use them for every, little thing as some were tempted to do as soon as they

discovered them.

Brian "Hammer" Collins was the one to actually propose the academy a few years after

going public with his identity.

The man had been a superhero for roughly a decade at that point, his first outing as more

of a vigilante before he made his name known.

The rottweiler had early on become somewhat of a leader, some time after his big reveal

forming the Protectors, organizing superpowered beings for the first time since the fifties.

His newfound responsibility led him to retire the cape, or at least crimefighting unless

it would become necessary of course.

Sometimes, for nostalgias sake, he still put on his old costume, reminiscing the good ol' days,

even though they weren't that far away.

The other teammembers helped of course, taking in students as sidekicks, or even as teachers.

Although every power had it's own flow, even enhanced strength not always the same for

every person, there often enough were similarities that allowed for basic training in a group.

It wasn't a bad job, not a bad place to live in.

While the crimerate wasn't down to the zero that the people behind the project had

hoped to achieve, it still was quite low.

There still were people who thought they could take the heros of course, some with their

own superpowers, some just equipped with gadgets or other hightech devices.

And while the public still liked the heroes, everyone with powers knew that for each

person using it for the right thing there probabyl were two using it for their personal gain.

They kept on fighting, would always do that, none of them was perfect but they could

aim to be better everyday...

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The foo dog was still nervous as he checked out of his hotel room, smiling at the receptionist

before heading out into the street.

It was sunny, not too hot but a pleasent warmth all around with a fresh breeze here and there,

busy cars making their way through the manmade canyons.

Joshua still wasn't too sure about this all, today was the day he would meet with the dean,

see his new home for the next few years.

It all just felt so... big, too big for someone like him who, until recently, only had heard of

superheroes on the news or the net.

The foo dog took a deep breath before shouldering his duffle bag, looking at his reflection

in the head-high window of the hotel lobby, his mane still looked a bit chaotic, even with the

hairband trying to tame it into a ponytail.

He took a few seconds to try and fix his look a little, hands moving through chestnut fur and platin

blond hair before Joshua looked himself over again, sighing a bit.

-Okay, you don't look perfect...you have no idea how exactly your power works, but you're accepted

into this school, now get a grip on yourself,- it wasn't the first time he held the little speech to himself.

This time however something was different, for a split second, the fraction of a moment, he could've

sworn he saw someone else in the window, someone like him but not quite the same.

As he blinked in disbelief though the impression was gone, leaving him a bit befuddled.

-That... was weird.-

With that he shook his head, started walking down the sideway to the busstation.

While he still had time the youngster wanted to be on time, make a good impression with the dean.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

As so often Joshua strolled through the woods, enjoying the spicey scent of pine in the air, the cooling

shades the woods provided and a wild blueberry once in a while.

There wasn't much to do in the little community he called home, the woods were as good as any other

place to pass some time although this grove was something special to him.

When he was younger he had come here pretty often, pretended it was enchanted, filling the space with

imaginary friends, Joshua never had been the most popular of kids at that time.

It hadn't changed of course, he still was the oddball of the school, constant target of ridicule, but while

he didn't like it, he wasn't as mad about it as any other person probably would've been in the same

situation.

He didn't like getting angry, he rarely did anyway, almost always going about with a smile, in a way he

knew it wasn't normal yet he still enjoyed it, it seemed a bit easier than constant worrying.

Joshua, as usual for him, had spent a few hours when he decided to go home, do some chores,

help his mother with dinner, maybe they would make some lasagna...

Lost in thought it took him a while until he heard it, faint, almost a whisper as a soft breeze made the

treetops rustle.

'...lp...'

-Huh?,- his ears twitched as he tried to find the direction from which the sound had come.

It didn't take him too long, the voice sounded weak and troubled, a slight hoarseness to it as if the

person had tried to shout for a long time.

Had he been that much inhis own thoughts?

Joshua shook his head as his feet already moved into the determined direction, he could worry about it

later.

It still took him a few minutes before he found the voice's source, a tree had fallen over and there was a

person underneath it.

-Oh God!,- was all he could get out at first, moving already, trying to find a way to help the assumed hiker.

The trunk looked heavy, felt heavy too as he tried to lift it away, or even push it, sure, it moved a little

but fom what he could tell this was no solution.

-How long have you been here?,- was his first question as he remembered that talking to a person

in such a situation was important.

'...hours, dunno what happened...,' the hiker, a cheetah as Joshua only now noticed, sounded exhausted,

only fitting if he had been here for hours.

He couldn't leave him to get help, even his own home was at least half an hour away if he were to run,

and his cellphone wasn't on him either, he just never really needed it and out in the woods there was no

reception anyway.

-Do... do you think you could move if i lift the trunk?,- Joshua tried to sound calm, he was getting a bit

desperate, the man clearly needed help and at the moment, he was the only one here.

'...could try...,' came the answer, weak and hoarse, the cheetah trying to smile a bit in return, he probaly

could tell that Joshua wasn't too sure if he could do anything after his previous attempt.

-Okay...here we go... on 3...1...2...,- he had already squatted down a little, took a deep breath as he tried

to summon as much strength as he could.

-3,- came only a second later, but not once, as would be expected, from his lips, had he shouted and produced an echo?

He couldn't really tell, tried to lift with all his might, and for some reason the fallen tree moved.

Little by little he really lifted the trunk, could hear a painful moan from the cheetah as he, presumedly,

got out from under it.

Somewhere, in a candlelit room with a meditating lion at the center, a crack formed in an otherwise

beautiful amethyst.

His head spun, his thoughts were a bit jumbled but he made his way, the lean cheetah braced against

one of his shoulders.

It had to be a dream, or some hormones had gone haywire in his brain, he thought.

Why else would he have seen four other versions of him helping with the trunk, one of them

pulling out the hiker from under it, and then vanishing into nothing.

Adrenalin often was claimed to give you a boost in strength, speed, stuff like that, maybe it

was just something along those lines.

For some reason he felt a nagging fear, a sensation of dread at the prospect of finding an

answer to that.

Confused he shook his head, only a few steps more and they would be at the doctor.

He didn't feel, or had chosen to ignore, the blood running down his muzzle from his nose.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

As buildings passed by, the bus stopping at a station here or there from time to time, Joshua

kept musing a little.

He had asked himself quite often during the last few weeks why exactly he had been accepted.

Sure, he had talked to Mr. Collins on the phone, had gotten a letter presumedly explaining everything,

but he still didn't feel like a hero, not even after that incident two month ago.

A deep breath later he shook his head, he got accepted into this school, was promised an education

as well as training for his talents.

He didn't have to feel like a hero, he could just as well get a normal job later.

As Joshua looked up he noticed that the next stop would be his, slowly he got up, heading for the

door with his luggage.

Moments later he stood at the gate to the campus, already he could see people of different age,

either enjoying a bit of the sunny day lying on the grass, studying with fellow students,

or training their skills.

While there were no fireballs flung across, he still could make out people summoning small flames,

ice crystals or even sparks of electricity.

Some even displayed their ability to fly and he could've sworn that there were one or two

speedsters as well.

Taking the whole thing in it looked quite impressive, at the same time though doubt started to

crawl back into his thoughts, while he had an unique ability, at least he never had heard about

another person summoning clones, he just didn't feel like he could compare to these guys.

Still, he was here and it was a bit late to make the step back, especially since the dean

was someone he could call a role model, someone he had wanted to meet for years now.

With a deep breath and all the courage he could summon he made his first step onto the

campus grounds.

He was nervous, could feel his heartbeat in his entire body and if the feeling was any

indication his ears probably were glowing like a flashlight.

Most of the students didn't seem to notice him, some looked up as he passed by, smiled at

him, waved in a friendly gesture he returned, still Joshua could feel his tension rising.

Simply walking up to the front door of the building had been a taxing task for him, he took

another deep breath before walking in, looking around for a sign or anything showing

the general direction to the dean's office... or at least a restroom to throw some water in

his face.

The latter he found first, leaving his luggage next to the door before heading in, looking into

the mirror as he already opened the water tap.

-Just keep calm Josh, you can do this, it's no big deal, just a talk with the dean.-

His reflection didn't show the conviction he tried to put into his words, seconds later

he splashed cold water into his face, once, twice, before he tried to dry it with

some papertowels.

As he looked into the mirror again a small voice whispered in the back of his mind,

the reflection somehow distorted as if it was trying to show him someone else.

'Try to summon one, just to make sure that you could do it, what if he wants a demonstration?'

-Jesus, what if he wants a demonstration.-

Whatever calm he had been able to built up was gone in seconds as the thought occurred.

He had done it of course, quite often during those two months, right after the first call

Joshua had received from the school he had tried to train, at least a bit.

Maybe, just maybe he should try it, try to summon one of his doppelgangers, just to make

sure, not once did he feel like he was manipulated.

Slow, deep breathing, closing his eyes before opening them again, looking at himself in

mirror and trying to visualize a second reflection next to his own.

Like fog being blown away by a soft breeze something was beginning to show,

seconds later, the foo dog panting as he still wasn't used to it, there stood someone

people could mistake for a twin if they were to walk in now.

Something was different this time though, something...

As Joshua still looked into the mirror he slowly noticed a weird glow in his eyes,

the canines brow furrowed.

-... that... never happened before,- he mused to himself, rubbing his eyes to

make sure he didn't just imagine it.

Suddenly hands were on his shoulders, giving him a gentle massage,

confused he looked up just to see his doppelganger, smiling at him.

'It's okay, just relax Josh,' his own voice said, just stronger, with more confidence.

They had been independed before but still, something was just... off.

He couldn't help himself though, relaxing a bit, leaning slightly back, it felt

good at the moment, slowly the other canines hands moved down his back,

running over his sides before gently rubbing his tummy.

'Now Josh, close your eyes and try to imagine another one, just for training.'

-I... i can't, haven't been able to since that one time,- he looked up at his

clone, swallowed a bit, why was he so intimidated?

'Oh? I bet you can,' he whispered, rubbing his nose against Joshuas ears, softly

rumbling.

'Just give it a try, i'll help you.'

This wasn't how it usually went, they never were so talkative on other occasions,

or so demanding.

And yet...

-Okay.-

What was he thinking? But he did as instructed, slowly closed his eyes, tried

to imagine another clone, just like the first as gentle hands still caressed his

torso, soon joined by another pair.

As he came to his head felt dizzy, his thoughts jumbled and... and...

How long had he been standing here? Nervous he took a glance at his watch.

-SHIT!,- was all he got out before his body started moving on his own already,

trying to run out of the restroom, his hands frantically grabbing his backpack and

duffle bag.

Just as he made it around the corner to maybe find someone who could point

him into the right direction he felt like he had run into a brickwall,

landing on his ass in a rather comedic display.

-Uff...s...sorry.-

"You okay there?"

As he looked up he saw a rottweiler, mid thirties but still in great shape,

although the business suit looked rather comedic on the muscular hound,

before he even realized by stature alone who it was he saw the edge of a black

spandex costume at the collar.

-Ha.. i... uh... Mr. Collins, Sir,- he stammered as he tried to get back up to his feet,

the rottweiler extending a hand to help him.

The towering man looked Joshua over as if he tried to remember him before a

smile spread on his muzzle.

"Ah, you must be Mr. Williams, Noxfires newest discovery."

-Uhm, yeah... i, sorry for running into you, was just trying to get to your office.-

"Well, we can go there together, it's just a formality, a small talk before

i show you to your room."

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The office wasn't quite what Joshua had expected, from all he knew about the rottweiler,

he would've guessed there'd be training equipment everywhere, or at least a few

newspaper clippings showing his achievements.

But this, it still was impressive with the expensive furniture and quite big collection

of books on the high shelfs, just didn't seem to fit what he had pictured the hero to be like.

"Sit down, make yourself comfortable," Brian said with a warm smile as he took his own seat

behind the huge desk.

In a way, Joshua thought to himself, seeing the man like this was more imposing than he had

guessed.

-Thanks,- was the single worded answer as he sat down himself, his luggage left near the door.

"Now, as we had talked about on the phone, you were accepted here after displaying your own,

special talent," the rottweilers hands moved through some folders.

"Cloning yourself, right?," Hammer looked up as he had found the info in one of the files.

Joshua nodded.

-That's... that's right.-

"Nervous? You don't have to be."

-I just don't feel like the right materia- -

He didn't get out much more as the rottweiler raised a hand to stop him.

"We talked about this already, i trust Noxfires judgement, when he says you have potential,

believe me, you do have it."

Intimidated the foo dog nodded, ears folding back a little.

"This is just a formality, i like to know my students a little, you know?"

Again Joshua nodded, although a little bit less nervous, the other canine didn't sound angry,

or even annoyed, rather warm actually.

"Now, if you don't object i'd like to see your power myself," he said with a smile that showed the

curiosity of a teenager.

-Uhm, okay... here?-

"Well, as far as i know you wouldn't burn down my office or freeze the door with your power,

so go ahead," again he smiled.

Joshua slowly stood up, moved to the middle of the room and took a deep breath.

A little demonstration wouldn't do much harm, would it?

Slowly he closed his eyes, tried to imagine it, focus on the picture of another like him

standing there.

This time however he felt different, a weird tingling spreading over his body as he, for no reason

known to him, openend his eyes during the summoning.

---

Hammer couldn't wait to see what the boy had in store.

Cloning oneself maybe wasn't the most impressive power on it's own, but with proper training

it could become pretty useful.

He had talked about it with Noxfire some times now, they both agreed that this particular skill

probably wasn't one of those suited for battle, but in the civilian sector the applications were

without comparison, on paper at least.

The chubby foo dog stood there, took a few deep breaths as Brian kept his eyes on him.

Slowly he opened his eyes as left and right of him something happened, as if someone was

blowing away smoke or fog to make something visible.

Strangely though this only held his attention for a few split seconds, his own eyes meeting

the student's, they looked odd, glazed over, unfocused, yet pretty.

Yeah, pretty was a good word, that glowing, pulsing, soft hue of pink slowly moving through

the iris.

Another warm smile started to form on the rottweilers lips while the two clones manifested

fully at both sides of his new student.

---

Suddenly Hammer shook his head, Joshua standing there, panting as the two clones tried

to support him, smiled at him before moving their attention to the dean.

Two? He managed two? That was... weird, he couldn't remember being able to move up

from one even once after the incident, everytime he had tried to his head had started pounding.

"Impressive," he could hear from Hammer as the hound had finaly shaken off the dizzyness.

'Thanks Mister,' one of the clones said, even saluting him while the other helped Joshua to

stand straight.

-Yeah, uhm, thanks-

"If it weren't for the difference in behaviour i probably couldn't tell you guys appart."

'Well, that's the idea, isn't it?,' said the other clone now, grinning a bit.

They weren't usually so talkative, had he done something wrong? Visualized something

different? Joshua wasn't sure, but it did impress the dean.

"With some training i bet we can help you to master this, it's really an impressive

ability you have there."

Joshua didn't hear the praise anymore.

Confused the two clones looked at him as he fell to the ground while they disintigrated.

A small drop of blood running down the foo dogs nose as he lost consciousness.

Something had been odd the entire time, was the last thought Joshua's mind formed before

he hit the floor and everything went dark.