When humanity is threatened only the super-powered might of the Toronto Maple Leafs can be counted on to save the day. All over the continent small seeds of chaotic force have been seeking to control the powers of the National Heroes League. The battle to save the planet is on, and it is fierce.

Mitch Marner rolls away from the heavy attack of one Montreal Canadien but gets cut in half by the bullets of another. Across the field Mitch Marner ducks behind some bushes only to be caught in an explosion of deadly magic. Two Mitch Marners pull down one of the Canadiens heroes but their triumph is short lived. Carey Price is rampant in the field, soccer posts torn from the ground, play sand whipping through the air in the gale of his magic.

None of the Mitches, and there are hundreds of them, care about the Canadiens. They don’t even care about the deaths which they each feel every time. All any Mitch cares about is the awful itching on the inside of his skull and the strange red tint to his vision.

Auston Matthews arrives at the field too late. He sees the red glow surrounding the eyes of his friend and teammate.

“Mitch has been taken.” Auston says over the commlink.

“I see it.” Morgan Rielly answers. “We gotta find that seed. This is bad.”

It is as obvious as it is an understatement. Mitch will typically make two or three copies of himself, which is often enough to handle any threat. In extreme cases he will make a dozen or sometimes even two dozen copies. One time he made over two hundred copies for an elaborate flash mob. He has never discovered a limit to his powers and now it seems as if the seed is going to learn just how many Mitches it can make.

Auston lands near the Canadiens position. Jonathan Druin cuts down two Mitches then turns to the Leaf.

“What do we do about your friend? At least he is fun to kill.” Another Mitch is decapitated right in front of Auston.

“Stop it.” Auston knocks one Mitch into another, both get back up and split in two. “You don’t have to kill him, we just need to find the seed.” The four Mitches dogpile on to Auston who unleashes his light, immolating his friend.

“Ha.” Jon laughs. “You see, he is fun to kill!”

Auston doesn’t answer. All he can do is keep fighting, and hope.