Galactic Guardians

Submitted into Contest #190 in response to: Write a story about a fandom... view prompt

2 comments

Contemporary Coming of Age Fiction

Riley, Lily, and Max had been planning their trip to the “Galactic Guardians” convention for months. They had each invested time and energy into making sure that they would have the best experience possible. But as they made their way to the convention, they were hit with a wrench in their plans. Max’s car broke down on the side of the highway.

They tried everything they could think of to fix the car, but it was no use. Max called a tow truck, and they all piled into the backseat, crammed in with their bags and cosplay gear.

When they arrived at the hotel where the convention was being held, they were exhausted and disheveled. Max was feeling particularly upset about the whole situation. He had been looking forward to the convention for months, and now he was worried that they would miss out on some of the best events.

The three friends checked into their room and tried to shake off their bad mood. They decided to take a nap and regroup later. When they woke up, they decided to go to the vendors’ hall and see what was new. They spotted a vendor selling “Galactic Guardians” figurines and rushed over.

As they were perusing the selection, they overheard a conversation between two other fans. One of them was saying that the panel with the actor who played Nova had been canceled due to scheduling conflicts. Riley, Lily, and Max were devastated. That panel was one of the main reasons they had come to the convention.

Max was feeling especially down. He had been looking forward to meeting the actor who played Nova and getting his autograph. Without the panel, it seemed like that dream was slipping away.

The three friends regrouped in their hotel room, feeling disappointed and dejected. They decided to look for other events to attend, but nothing seemed to capture their interest. The convention just wasn’t living up to their expectations.

That evening, they attended the fan party, but even that wasn’t enough to lift their spirits. They tried to have fun, but they were all still feeling let down.

As they were leaving the party, they overheard a group of fans talking about a secret panel that was taking place the next day. The panel was only open to a select few fans who had won a contest online. The panel was being held by the actor who played Nova and would include a Q&A session and an autograph signing.

The three friends were thrilled. They had a renewed sense of hope that their convention experience wasn’t over yet. They rushed back to their hotel room and started scouring the internet for information on how to enter the contest.

After a few hours of searching, they found the website for the contest. They quickly submitted their entry and went to bed, feeling hopeful once again.

The next day, they anxiously waited to hear back from the contest organizers. Finally, around midday, they received an email saying that they had been selected to attend the secret panel. They were ecstatic.

They rushed to the panel, barely containing their excitement. They listened intently as the actor who played Nova talked about his experiences on the set and shared behind-the-scenes stories. After the Q&A session, they each had their turn to get an autograph from the actor.

As they were leaving the panel, Max turned to Riley and Lily and said, “You know what? This whole experience has made me realize something.”

“What’s that?” asked Lily.

“That sometimes the best things come out of the unexpected,” Max replied.

Riley and Lily smiled and nodded in agreement. They had all learned an important lesson about the power of perseverance and the value of keeping an open mind.

As they left the convention, tired but happy, they knew that they had made some unforgettable memories. Even though things hadn’t gone exactly as planned, they had still managed to have a great time.

On the car ride home, they talked about their favorite moments from the convention. Max couldn’t stop talking about the secret panel and how lucky they were to have been selected.

Riley and Lily shared their own highlights from the weekend, from the amazing cosplay they had seen to the fun they had at the fan party.

Despite the setback with Max’s car and the canceled panel, they had all come away from the convention feeling more connected to the “Galactic Guardians” fandom than ever before.

As they arrived back home, they were already making plans for the next convention. They had a newfound appreciation for the unexpected twists and turns that life can throw their way.

The experience had brought them even closer together as friends, and they knew that no matter what challenges they faced in the future, they would always have each other to rely on.

Looking back on the weekend, they realized that sometimes it’s not about the destination, but the journey. The convention may not have been everything they had hoped for, but it had still been an adventure, and they wouldn’t have wanted to share it with anyone else.

Despite their newfound appreciation for the unexpected twists and turns of life, the trio couldn’t help but feel a sense of disappointment about the canceled panel. They couldn’t stop wondering what the big announcement would have been.

Max was determined to find out. He spent hours scouring the internet and social media, trying to find any clues or hints about what had happened.

Days turned into weeks, and before they knew it, a month had passed since the convention. Just as they were starting to give up hope, Max stumbled upon a website claiming to have insider information about the “Galactic Guardians” franchise.

He eagerly clicked on the link, and to his amazement, he found a detailed account of the secret panel from the convention. The article described how the show’s creator had taken the stage and announced that a new season was in the works.

But that wasn’t all. The creator had also revealed that he was holding auditions for a new character, a villain who would shake up the entire “Galactic Guardians” universe.

Max couldn’t believe what he was reading. He immediately shared the article with Riley and Lily, and the three of them were over the moon with excitement.

They spent the next few weeks brainstorming ideas for their own audition tapes, determined to land the role of the new villain. They knew it would be a long shot, but they were willing to give it their all.

Finally, the day of the auditions arrived. Max, Riley, and Lily nervously made their way to the studio, rehearsing their lines and practicing their best evil laughs.

As they waited for their turn to audition, they couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride and excitement. They had come a long way since that fateful convention, and they had grown even closer as friends.

When it was finally their turn to audition, they gave it everything they had. They poured their hearts and souls into their performances, channeling their love for the “Galactic Guardians” universe into every line and gesture.

As they left the studio that day, exhausted but elated, they knew that they had done their best. Whether or not they landed the role, they were proud of themselves for taking the chance and following their dreams.

Months went by, and the trio heard nothing from the studio. They started to assume that they hadn’t been chosen for the role and resigned themselves to disappointment.

But then, one day, Max’s phone rang. It was the studio, and they had news for him.

He listened intently as the voice on the other end of the line told him that he had been selected for the role of the new villain in the upcoming season of “Galactic Guardians.”

Max could hardly believe his ears. He was over the moon with excitement, and he couldn’t wait to share the news with Riley and Lily.

As he hung up the phone, he felt a sense of pride and accomplishment. He had taken a chance, followed his dreams, and it had paid off in the most incredible way.

As he thought back on the journey he had taken with his friends, from the canceled panel to the auditions, he realized that sometimes the biggest adventures come from the most unexpected places. And he knew that no matter what challenges lay ahead, he would always have his fellow “Galactic Guardians” by his side.

March 24, 2023 21:47

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2 comments

Kathryn Kahn
20:06 Mar 30, 2023

Great depiction of this world. As a story, I almost feel like this is bigger than one story, more like three stories. The restriction on the length meant that you had to tell us what happened instead of show us what happened, if that makes sense. But I enjoyed the enthusiasm of these characters!

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Pete Obe
16:16 Apr 02, 2023

I agree that this could/should be bigger. And, yes Ma'am, I plan to put more work into it, expand it, flesh out the characters, etc. Having to tell and not show what happened due to the restrictions makes perfect sense. I fully intend to rectify THAT situation, as well. Thank you so much, Kathryn.

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