by Prometheus X and Gooz
The being/apparition/essence that was once the MBLer known as Gooz sat on nothing. The cosmos continued to dance its hyper-multiverse diorama "around" the unmasked figure in front of him. The figure (whom he had always known as Prometheus X, but now was revealed to be a future incarnation of himself) stared at him, pity grazing his expression.
Prometheus X: "I understand how difficult this is for you..."
Gooz, half in shock, half-angry, shouted, "Understand?! How could you possibly understand?"
Prometheus X: "Because I remember this from your point of view."
Gooz: "I... I... what am I becoming?"
Prometheus X: "What I am. Me, you... we... I was chosen by a force known only as the Moderator. You will come to understand."
Gooz, looking at the aura of purplish-blue beginning to coalesce around him, his eyes darkening to an opal hue, asked, "What... what's our purpose?"
Prometheus X, his form becoming transparent by the minute, replied, "You... are the guardian, the keeper, the order. The physical world will not concern you unless it transgresses the transpatial plane. The universe is your sandbox. The cosmos is your blood. Starlight is your air. Reality is but a set of strings to be plucked and cut by your will. There are worlds within universes within raindrops. There are colors and knowledge that collapse mathematical functions. You are the orchestrator, the conductor, the needlepoint of hypertime. It is up to you from now on."
Gooz: "What? What is up to me?"
Prometheus X: "Life."
Gooz stared at Prometheus X, his physicality a ghost, his voice now only a whisper.
"My time has come, Gooz. This is the end. But, the moment has been prepared for..." Prometheus' phantomlike finger touched Gooz's forehead. In that instant, the coat, which was now his, completely enveloped him with the gravitational shudder of an imploding star. His eyes ceased to exist, and in their place, opal eyes stared back, two-hundred million galaxies swirling within his pupils.
"Good-bye, my friend. It... it has been an honor to serve with you and your comrades. I will... miss... you. The chaos comes. It is your time now, your responsibility. You are no longer Gooz. You are a stranger. You are the keeper of the god-light. You are everyone and no one. You are the X. YOU are... Prometheus..." With that, the stranger faded out, smiling with the knowledge that rest was his at last.
The being formerly known as Gooz stood up, his coat billowing majestically. The multiverse coursed through him. He understood now. He was complete. And, at his feet, a lone fedora lay abandoned. Instinctively, he picked it up and placed it upon his head. It was a perfect fit.
He was the stranger. He was Prometheus X.
In a small home on Long Island, New York, at night:
A boy sat on a bed. There was a sad look on his face. In his hands was a picture of Gooz, Caped Cadet and him. The boy was Ritchie, and now he was alone again. Once he was from another place, another world. His father in that world died, and he made a wish to have him back.
Ironically, on a different world the team known as the MBL were battling against the being once known as Evil Cadet. Gooz was betrayed and was trapped in another universe. He took the role of the Gooz there who had died earlier, who had been the leader of the Meta Boarders X and became Ritchie's adopted father. There Gooz fell in love with Marisa Valentine, the double of his deceased love from his world. Once again Gooz lost Marisa during a battle, but he gained a son in the process.
Now, Ritchie is all alone again and has lost everyone whom he has held dear to him. Even with his unmatched powers, little Ritchie couldn't bring them back. Ritchie thought back to only a few days ago, when Gooz and he were at a park. There was a fire nearby. Of course, Gooz couldn't just stand by and not help. He died a hero, saving a little girl on an upper floor of the burning building. Ritchie felt sadness like no other. He knew that he should go to the MBL, but he didn't know how to, or what to say.
He closed his eyes to try and sleep, but he could do nothing. There was a tear in his eye.
A figure appeared in the room, a man in the shadows. A dark coat swung from the man's side. His lips moved together, and a whisper came out. "I'm sorry." He touched Ritchie's forehead, and Ritchie was asleep.
"Sleep well, my son. In the morning you will know what to do. I shall never forget about you. I shall watch over you from the shadows."
In the blink of an eye, he was gone. Ritchie was now sleeping, and a smile formed on his face. He also knew what he must do: inform the MBL that Gooz died a hero, so Gooz was never forgotten in the hearts of his family.