The Pink Avenger gets her name

How I got my name :-)1

For a while I rattled my brains for a name and a costume. The Whips of Vengeance were easy enough to come up with, dad had a tonne of quality leather crap in the basement he forgot about years ago that I could use. I suppose they're a standard superhero aid, in both fantasy and reality: strong, flexible, versatile. With weighted tips I could use them to swing between the trees and houses and stuff, like that bug guy from them movies and comics but not so far. Just a few metres, in fact. Oh well. The real problem was, though the heavy tips grabbed junk better they were harder to do that really really cool KEEERRRAAACK!2

Dang. Still, they looked nasty enough.3

Anyways, I named them The Whips of Vengeance because The Whip of Truth was taken.4

So far so good. The name was still lost to me. The costume? I needed something light and flexible, strong and wouldn't tear. Armour wasn't my style, it would only hinder my mainstay, my super-acrobat powers. But I could still use with some protection. I knew sooner or later a spitball gun or supervillain would eventually land a blow.5

Hmm.6

I had my old dance uniform. From those stupid dance lessons mom and dad made me take. Gosh I hated putting it on and stepping out onto that stage! Mom splurged on a high tech nylon-acetone-nuclear something or other for my last year because I kept tearing my other ones. Good and thick, I couldn't tear it apart with just my hands. It isn't pink, really, more like a pretty fuchsia.7

I love fuchsia!8

Perfect save that girly and silly pleated skirt. But it would make a good mask and gloves. And the shoes, gosh they looked stupid. They needed some major modding. Nothing me and mom's sewing machine couldn't fix (mom taught me how to sew as well! I love mom when she isn't getting on my nerves! Which is rarely, when I think about it.)9

I still didn't have a name. The rest was easy, the name was so gosh-darn hard!10

Information travelled fast in those days: The Internet. I staked out the school website and the networks and their chatrooms, knowing this early in the school year there must be some villain, super or otherwise, out to make a name for his or herself. 11

I heard of one whispered in the school halls. An open villain by the name of Big Billy heading a gang calling themselves The Twenty-Ninth Street Gang. Their modus operandi was control of the lengthy 29th street strip. By open I mean he didn't have a dual identities, he was the bully full time. This always meant equally rotten parents that would never sentence their sons or daughters for their misdeeds. But there were two aspects to this. One meant he could never be truly super. The other that he couldn't be unmasked and exposed and thereby ruined. These facts made them easier to defeat in battle but harder to put away.12

And apparently Big Billy was really big. Huh. They always are.13

Whatever. His gang was running a paper route protection racket. Repression of The Press, the voice and power of the kids! He had to be stopped. I knew putting him away might be tough so I had to play the bully-ego card: any bully successfully wailed on by a girl half his size has to go into hiding for face death! More like get laughed at, nearly as good since bullies fear this as if it were death.14

So I donned my newly-modded costume and mask and went out on my first super-patrol.15

At first the whip-swings were difficult, I even bailed a few times and got dirt and flowers all over my costume. That bug-guy makes it seem so easy! But it was on the job training and thanks to my superpowers I quickly improved. In short time I was through trees and over houses faster than any skateboard or bike. Maybe even a car!16

Superpowers are awesome!17

Anyways. I followed my target: Kenny Robinson. Grade four. Diligent boy, he manned one of the largest paper routes in Billy's territory. But slow to collect, he often didn't have all the money until well into the second week. This meant slow to pay Billy and his gang. Silly boy. 18

And a perfect stakeout.19

Over the next two nights I learnt my first lessons in super-patience. I hadn't figured superheroing would entail so much watching and waiting in the shadows, bored to tears. But staying alert and keeping up with Kenny on his bike, a tireless rider, was excellent practice. 20

Finally Kenny collected money from his last house. It was here I knew Billy knew what he was doing. Clever thug, he was waiting until Kenny had all the cash in one place and couldn't cook the books to make it look like he was earning less. The hand it the pot, as it were. Worse, Kenny was a successful businessman, that route of his paid big. He must of had nearly a hundred bucks on him.21

As if on cue Billy and his gang appeared out of nowhere and surrounded Kenny before he could get to his bike. Big Billy was obvious, being kinda big and fat. Gross! Strong, for sure, but sure to be slow. The rest were low level scum and nothing to worry about. Their so called bravery was merely fed by Billy and superior numbers.22

Unlucky for them, The Pink Avenger IS superior numbers!23

I crouched and waited for the right opportunity.24

"Hiya Kenny," sneered Billy. "Seems you're late on your payments. It's time Big Billy started charging you a little... interest!"25

"Look, Billy," said Kenny, trying his best to appear brave. "Things have been tough, the economy is slow, people have been hard to get a hold of. It wasn't my fault, I swear, Missus Stephens-"26

"Big Billy and his gang don't care," barked Billy, pushing Kenny down. "We're sick and tired of you being late all the time! To avoid a wailing, this one is gonna cost ya!"27

"Come on Billy," said Kenny. "I-"28

"All of it," said Billy, holding out his hand. "Everyone knows you make a c-note a month. Taking all of it will remind you to be on time next time!"29

"All of it," Kenny's voice stuttered. "Please, Billy, I got up at six o'clock in the morning all month to earn that money! I have other payments! You can't just take it all!"30

"Watch me," sneered Billy, pulling him up by the scruff. "And this is gonna be a message to the others: don't cross Big Billy and his gang!"31

I heard enough. I swooped down and landed on two of his goons. With my super-speed I super-punched them both into submission before anyone knew what was happening. I stood and tried to crack my whip... but it didn't work. Totally killed the intended effect. Nuts. The whip thing still needed perfecting.32

"Get lost, scum," I said, super-crouching. "Me and Big Billy are going to discuss... new business arrangements."33

They hauled themselves up with bruised ribs and tears in their eyes. They ran home, crying for their mommies. Typical bullies. They can dish it out but they can't take it. I turned to Billy.34

"Two of your goons were just wailed on by a girl, Billy," I said. "Just the same I'm gonna do to you! Kenny! Skedaddle!" I snapped my fingers and took my dignified super-stance.35

As Billy and his goons stepped back Kenny ran to his bike. A few seconds later he was safely down the hill.36

"What have we here," sneered Billy, now composed. "The Pink Pansie? How about the Pink Pushover? You think you're the newest superhero in town? Do you see me wearing a mask, hero? That's right! Big Billy cannot be unmasked. Unlike what I'm going to do to you! Tommy! Jeffery! Pull that darned mask off and put her out of business! Now!"37

Neither moved.38

"Move it you losers!" Billy snapped. "Andrew and Colin are total wussies! She just had the element of surprise! She's just a girl! Get her now!"39

They rushed me.40

Billy was half right. About the element of surprise, not the just a girl part. I was no ordinary girl. 41

They were poor fighters. I ducked and parried two sets of fists at the same time with ease. One resorted to a karate kick, I judo chopped it down. Another a clothes-line to my chest, I twisted out of the way. For me it was all in slow motion.42

But I knew if I kept toying with them sooner or later one would land a lucky hit. And it could well end my super-career before it started.43

Time to finish this.44

I back-flipped and landed in the splits. With super-speed I whipped both their feet out from under them. They hadn't hit the ground when I was onto them, wailing them into submission with a series of super-elbow-slams. They went limp, barely breathing, lucky to be alive.45

"Beat it," I hissed, standing to face Billy. "Remember this day... the day you got wailed on by... a girl!"46

They ran down the street, crying all of the way.47

I cracked my whips (at least this time it worked).48

"Just you and me, Billy," I said, motioning him to make the first move. "You're right, you can't be unmasked. But you can be wailed on... repeatedly! And that's just what I'm gonna do. Unless you can pull off my mask!"49

Billy looked at me with a snarl and clenched fists. He knew the stakes had been raised. All or nothing was on the line. He was formidable, I had to hide my doubts. The time to was now for both of us to show our true worth. He did the one thing expected of bullies:50

He turned and ran in terror.51

Big Billy. Big but slow. In no time I whipped his feet out from under him, when he landed he was already crying for mercy. I turned him over and super-slammed him until he went limp, barely alive, whimpering:52

"I give I give stop stop please stop it hurts I won't do it again I give I give I give..."53

"You just got wailed on by a girl," I hissed near his ear. "You're finished, Billy!"54

"Please don't hurt me," he cried. "I won't do it again, I promise, I'll give all the money back I swear I'll-"55

Total victory, the neighbourhood safe once again. The Press can now freely flow. I looked to the sky with my super-stance and the wind in my face. I admit I was giddy after my first battle.56

I cracked a whip and took to the trees and rooftops, leaving not so Big Billy to his fate.57

Then came morning.58

As usual The Four Ridges Gazette was already out when I got to school. Adrian Brody, a true newspaperman, was handing it out, as he always did with his high energy. It was obvious there was a big story afoot.59

"Extra extra! Read all about it! The Twenty-ninth Street Gang disbanded! Big Billy wailed on by a mysterious girl in pink! Who is this pink avenger?"60

Kids whispered:61

"Pink avenger? There's a pink avenger out there..."62

"The Pink Avenger!"63

My jaw dropped when I saw the headline:64

NEW HERO IN TOWN!65

Below it, a picture of me wailing on the crying Billy. I couldn't believe it! Jason White, the paper's star photographer, and very cute if I may add, had been working with Kenny in pursuit of a hot story! Wow, none of us could've known! And he had been taking pictures the whole time!66

At least the pictures and story made me look like nothing less than the superhero!67

According to the article Billy's goons folded under parental pressure to explain the tears and bruises. They confessed to everything. In exchange for lighter sentences they handed Billy to Principle Anderson on a silver platter. Some unsolved school yard bullying had come to light, right in Principle Anderson's jurisdiction. Gosh, he's tough with the sentences! Instant detention, he narrowly escaped an expulsion! Federal time! He gave Billy six months mopping floors and picking up school yard garbage. Wow!68

When paroled, Billy will be nothing but a disgrace. To everybody. Such are the costs of choosing a life of crime.69

And it worked out better than I could've hoped! A major victory and instant superhero status!70

From then on I was known as the Pink Avenger. Like I said, I didn't choose it. The Press did. Actually, I like it.71

Of course, Billy and his gang are one thing. Supervillians are something else. Shortly after that the real tests would begin.