When humanity is threatened only the super-powered might of the Toronto Maple Leafs can be counted on to save the day. A season of danger and excitement has arrived for the National Heroes League. With untarnished hopes and untested vigour the campaign begins. For the Maple Leafs it is a time to show the rest of the league what true power looks like.

Cam Atkinson lops the head off of one Mitch Marner, and runs another Mitch Marner through with his longsword. Seth Jones slams a Mitch Marner onto a car and throws another Mitch Marner through a cinder block wall. Unfortunately for the Columbus Blue Jackets heroes there are more Mitch Marners, many many more.

The multiple Marners work together to keep the two out of control heroes contained while the rest of the Toronto Maple Leafs look for the evil boulder that is controlling them. Morgan Rielly coordinates the search with his technopathic powers, but he also has his boots on the ground to help in a more tangible way.

The pulsing red tendrils of energy that tether the heroes to the boulder lead Morgan into the basement of a designer pet clothing store where he finds the sinister glowing stone in an impact crater.

“Bingo.” Morgan says over the Toronto Maple Leaf comms. “Converge on my location to attempt an extraction.”

The boulders have been popping up all over the continent without rhyme or reason. As a rule they are being destroyed on contact but Morgan and the Leafs want to analyze the threat. Maybe if they can learn more they can find out where the boulders are coming from, why, and how to stop them. It is presumably a risk to the heroes under the things control but no more of a risk than getting ripped apart by a dozen Mitches.

“How you holding up Mitchy?” Morgan asks.

“We’re good” The Mitch who answers is panting out of breath. “Ouch, that hurt. Oh, damn! Did you see that? What do you mean you’re not recording. Well I didn’t tell you to stop, did I? Gotta go Mo.”

Morgan shakes his head and laughs. Auston Matthews and The Captain: John Tavares step into the basement together, both laughing as well.

“I guess Mitch has the Jackets handled.” John says. “What do we do about this?”

“Can you guys feel that?” Auston asks. He means the strange itchy tickle inside the back of their skulls that seeks to become the only thought in the heroes minds. His own amazing self control has no problem ignoring the sensation. Morgan and John are likewise unbothered, and so just nod in response to the young Leaf.

“We aren’t sure what moving it will do to the heroes under it’s control” Morgan says. “We also don’t know if touching it will help it take over our minds.”

“Didn’t seem to have any effect when I touched it.” John offers.

“Small sample size though.” Morgan answers.

“Well lets see what happens.” Auston steps into the crater, then looks up. “Guys, the ceiling is fine. This thing didn’t fall from anywhere above.”

“So how is the crater so deep?” Morgan and John both say at once.

“We’ll just have to get it home and see what we can find out.” Auston says, kneeling to wrap his arms around the boulder. “I wish Freddy was here.” With a grimace the hero picks up the heavy stone. Immediately the pulsing intensifies and two things happen at once.

“Guys.” Mitch says over the comms. “Whatever you’re doing is making them totally nuts. They are, ouch, they are fighting like demons to get to the boulder.”

“Auston!” Freddy Andersen blasts into the basement through a small portal and the Toronto Maple Leaf mage immediately begins casting a spell. “Put it down, right now!”

Auston drops the boulder and looks down to see that his armour is smouldering where it isn’t completely melted off. Freddy finishes his spell and a containment shell materializes around the boulder. With a gesture the mage beckons and the magical shell floats into the air to follow him.

“I finally found the source of these spores.” Freddy says. “They are seeds of chaos.” The Leafs follow their mage out of the basement with the boulder floating before them.

“Okay, they calmed down.” A Mitch says over the comms. “Was that Freddy? I bet Freddy’s there.”