Chapter 19 – The First Move
Two years had passed since Arthur had made the decision to pursue writing. What started as a small idea had grown into something massive. With the knowledge from his old world, he'd been able to publish several iconic books—The Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, and Percy Jackson and the Olympians—as if they were his own creations. In this new world, no one had ever heard of them, and they took the literary world by storm.
The success was astronomical. He made more money than he could have imagined. That marked the end of Phase One of his grand plan: build wealth using the stories of another universe. Now, standing at the edge of Phase Two, he felt stronger—smarter. After two full years of focused training, he had finally mastered the powers of Shadow the Hedgehog. Not just speed and agility, but his control over Chaos energy. He was no longer just a writer. He was a force.
Arthur sat on the porch of his house in the countryside, his eyes watching the endless fields. In the distance, he could see Clark sprinting across the land, laughing as Krypto, their loyal white dog, chased him with playful barks. His parents were busy working near the barn, tending to the crops. Everything was peaceful, simple. A good life—but not the life Arthur was aiming for.
He leaned back on the wooden bench, stretching. His eyes reflected the blue sky.
"I think I'll take a walk," he muttered to himself.
Without waiting, he called out toward the field. "I'm going inside to play, okay?!"
His mom raised her head and waved. "Alright! Just don't make a mess!"
Arthur smiled as he stepped into the house and climbed the stairs to his room. Once there, he threw himself onto his bed, eyes fixed on the ceiling.
"Man, I'm so bored…"
He rolled to the side, mind wandering. What now? He had money. He had power. But he didn't have… her.
Then, the idea hit him like lightning.
"What if… I visited the town where Sheldon grew up?"
He sat up instantly.
"I remember that old news report. He looked about seven years old at the time. If that's right, then when I was three, he was already seven. So he's four years older than me."
He paused, thinking further.
"Which means… Missy, his sister, must be fourteen now. That means—she probably hasn't dated anyone yet."
A mischievous smirk crept onto Arthur's face.
"If I can get to her before anyone else… I could make her my girlfriend."
He remembered how beautiful Missy became in the future. In the show, every one of Sheldon's friends had a crush on her when she got older. She was smart, kind, and—well, stunning.
"In this world, where fiction is now reality… that means I've got the chance to intercept the heroines I like before they become " he whispered to himself, almost in disbelief. "I can rewrite their stories."
Arthur sat up, eyes sparkling.
"Alright. First target: Missy Cooper."
He paused again, trying to recall a detail he'd once read or seen.
"What was the name of the town Sheldon grew up in…?" He scratched his chin. "Think, think…"
Then he snapped his fingers.
"Medford! That's it. Medford, Texas."
He stood from the bed with sudden energy.
"Okay, now that I know the town, and that it's in Texas, it's time to go."
Arthur took a deep breath and activated Shadow's power. His body shimmered with dark energy. The aura surged around him like a cloak of controlled chaos. He grinned.
"I could've taken Sonic's power… but Shadow's is way cooler," he muttered. "Let's go."
With a shout—"AURA!"—he burst into motion, dashing across roads and plains in the blink of an eye, barely leaving a blur behind.
He eventually stopped in a small Texas town, catching his breath and looking around. It wasn't Medford yet, but he was close. He approached an old man waiting at a bus stop.
"Excuse me, sir. Do you know how to get to Medford from here?"
The man looked up, surprised at the boy's sudden appearance, but kindly pulled out a worn map from his bag.
"Sure do, young man. Medford is about two towns that way. Follow this highway, then take this exit, and it'll lead you straight there."
Arthur memorized the directions, nodding.
"Thanks. I really appreciate it."
He waved goodbye, then took a few steps back, activating his aura once more. In a split second, he vanished, racing toward Medford like a shadow in motion.
As he ran, his mind spun with thoughts and strategy.
"How do I win over Missy Cooper?" he asked himself.
"She's always been overshadowed—always the forgotten one. All the attention went to Sheldon. That makes her… vulnerable. Lonely. She probably wants someone to finally notice her."
Arthur grinned again.
"That's it. I'll make her feel special. I'll become her hero."
He imagined it in detail: letting her "accidentally" see him using his powers, just enough to plant the seed of curiosity. She'd tell someone, but no one would believe her. Then, she'd start looking for him—wanting to prove to herself she wasn't crazy. And when she found him again, he'd make sure she caught him in action one more time.
After that? He'd pretend to be surprised she was watching. From there, the rest was simple—an innocent conversation, shared secrets, and the spark of a teenage romance.
"A neglected girl meets a boy with superpowers," Arthur said out loud. "Classic story. Romantic. Mysterious. Perfect."
Now that the plan was clear in his mind, he picked up speed. The outline of the town appeared on the horizon.
"Medford," he whispered. "Now I just need to find the Cooper family."
As he reached the town, he slowed down and adjusted his appearance. Couldn't look too suspicious. He walked into a small store and casually approached the clerk.
"Excuse me… do you know where I can find the Cooper family? I'm looking for someone named Missy. I heard she's around my age."
The woman looked up, puzzled but polite.
"You mean George and Mary Cooper? Yeah, they live over by the east side, near the church. Big white house, red roof. Hard to miss."
Arthur nodded, smiling with gratitude.
"Thanks. You've been super helpful."
He stepped outside, heart racing. There it was. The beginning of Phase one He tightened his fists.
And just like that, Arthur turned in the direction of the Cooper household, ready to rewrite the fate of someone else's story—and make it his own.
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