The storm raged on, lightning illuminating the dark sky. The rumbling earth seemed to pulse with an energy beyond nature. Billy, Sophie, and Leo stood frozen on the field, staring in disbelief as a massive rainbow-colored portal swirled open before them.
From within the swirling vortex, a shadowy object emerged. Slowly, it floated out—a sleek, futuristic flying boat, its silver surface gleaming even under the stormy skies. Two glowing side engines hummed softly, steadying the ship as its landing skis unfolded.
The three friends squinted against the rain, their faces a mix of awe and confusion.
"What... what's that?" Sophie whispered, her voice trembling.
Leo's jaw dropped. "Dude, you were from the Wakanda kingdom all this time?"
Billy shook his head, a small, nervous smile playing on his lips. "Not really. I'm from a completely different universe... well, just a bit similar."
Leo's eyes widened. "I knew it! I was right all along!"
The flying vessel landed gracefully, its engines powering down with a gentle whir. A ramp extended from the side, and two men clad in gleaming armor stepped out. Their attire resembled royal knights, with intricate patterns glowing faintly on their breastplates.
The knights approached the trio, their movements precise and purposeful. Stopping a few feet away, they bowed in unison. Rising, one of them spoke with a commanding voice.
"Prince Billy, you must come with us. Your mother, Queen Lysandra, wishes to see you."
Leo and Sophie turned to Billy, their expressions a mix of shock and curiosity.
Billy sighed, running a hand through his hair. "He's talking about my real mom. This is what I was trying to tell you, guys."
"You never said you were a prince..." Sophie said, her gaze shifting between Billy and the knights.
Billy took a deep breath and stepped forward. He looked back at his friends, his voice heavy with emotion. "I've got to go, guys. Thanks for always being there for me. It's time I face my fears."
Leo stepped closer, clapping him on the shoulder. "It's alright, bro. We get it now. We believe you."
Sophie crossed her arms, her expression softening. "This is your destiny, Billy. You've got this."
Billy smiled faintly. "Goodbye, guys."
The knights turned and walked back toward the ship. Billy hesitated for a moment, then followed them. The ramp retracted, and the engines roared to life, lifting the craft effortlessly off the ground. Billy looked out one last time, catching sight of his friends waving as the ship ascended.
The portal's colors swirled again, drawing the flying vessel into its depths. In a flash of light, the portal disappeared, leaving only the stormy skies—and two friends who finally understood the secret their friend had been hiding.
The portal then disappeared with all its magic. The storm, the clouds, and everything faded out and was replaced by the previous reality. Leo and Sophie found themselves seated on their previous spot. They were puzzled at first but took everything in.
"I can't believe he is gone... just like that," Sophie said, staring at the tea bottle and the snacks.
"Looks like we are complete strangers to him even after being with him for 5 years. What a friend," Leo sighed. "At least now you know he's a prince, a reason to like him more, sister..."
Sophie looked at her brother with boiling anger but then looked away.
"I learned that a long time ago. It's just you two were a bit shy towards each other and..."
While Leo was talking, Sophie saw Billy's bag lying where he had sat. She went over, picked it up, and came to sit near Leo. She opened it and found a book... a comic book to be more precise. Leo came closer.
The comic book's title read: " Prince Billy Morphine: My Secret Origin"
Leo blinked, confused. "What is this? Is this Billy's? What's with the title?"
Sophie sat there, frozen for a moment. "I… I don't know," she whispered, flipping through the pages. The comic depicted a young prince, his adventures, and a kingdom that seemed so far removed from their reality. It was unlike any comic she had ever seen. The art was stunning, and the story—about a secret royal identity, ancient magic, and a hidden world—felt oddly familiar, as though it mirrored what Billy had told them, but in a fantastical way.
"This is…" Sophie trailed off, staring at the illustrations. "This is Billy's story."
Leo leaned closer, studying the pages. "Wait... so, Billy's really a prince?"
Sophie nodded, her mind racing. "All this time, Billy was hiding this. He… he's not just some guy from college. He's royal, and this comic... it's his secret."
Leo blinked a few times, still processing. "So, the portal, the ship, the knights… it was all real?"
Sophie closed the comic slowly, her hands shaking slightly. "I don't know, Leo. I don't know what's real anymore. All I know is that he was hiding something from us—something big."
For a moment, there was silence between them. The air felt heavy with everything they had just experienced. Billy was gone, taken by the mysterious knights, and now they were left with more questions than answers.
"I never imagined Billy would be... this," Leo muttered, looking at the comic in Sophie's hands. "I mean, he was always different, but I thought it was just his personality."
Sophie stood up and paced around a bit, still holding the comic. "It's not just his personality, Leo. There's a whole world we don't understand. A world Billy was trying to protect us from... or maybe one he was trying to protect himself from."
Leo stood as well, looking out at the spot where Billy had stood just moments ago. "You think he'll come back? I mean… maybe the ship will come back with him when his destiny's over "
Sophie bit her lip, feeling the weight of his words. "I don't know. But what I do know is that we can't just sit here and pretend like everything is the same. Billy's life... it's changing. And now ours will, too."
Leo nodded slowly, a determined look on his face. "So, what now?"
Sophie glanced at the comic once more, then back at Leo. "Now, we figure out who Billy really is... and what his kingdom needs him for. He's got responsibilities we don't even understand yet."
She closed the comic with a sense of finality. "This... is just the beginning."
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