-1Viva Pinata: Into the Future
(A story by: Tobias Pretzhog)
Prologue
Mistakes, we all make them. We learn and we move on… But sometimes that's not the case. What I'm about to explain might be a little confusing if I just start from here, so I'll just start from the beginning… It was just another normal day… If you want to call it that. Like every teenager, I was spending my summer mornings sleeping in. Boy… I would have been dead until late afternoon if it wasn't for my friend Myra…
"Frazil, wake up!" Her voice finally echoed in my head as a pillow came crashing into my face.
"Ah! … Just a few more minutes, please!" I begged as my arms covered my face.
"Frazil, it's a nice day outside! I'm not gonna let you blow it off by sleeping in again," the pillow came down again, and this time for good.
"There's always tomorrow," I groaned under the pillow, shooing her away with a paw.
"Make tomorrow today, you're not going to get any days back Frazil," Myra ended as the silence settled back in. But unfortunately, I had let my guard down to the tickle machine. I flailed my arms and legs about mercilessly in forced laughter to fend off the beast. "Heh heh heh… You're not getting outta this one Frazil!" Myra found my weak spot: My armpits.
"Myra! Stop, please! I'll wake up, I'll wake up!" I mentally waved the white flag, laughing hysterically all the while.
"Good," she began to drag me out of the bed by my legs when I yanked away from her grip, able to get up on my own. I finally opened my eyes to see a red mallowolf, smirking from her recent victory, standing at the end of my bed.
"So what did you have planned for us to do today then?" I let out a groggy yawn.
"Well there's a big gathering downtown, something about the 'Gateway to the Future' or some baloney. I thought you might be interested in something like that,"
She was right, it caught my interest alright. But if she could see into the future, she probably would have let me sleep to my heart's content. Anyways, I was curious about this 'Gateway to the future.' I asked Myra for the details, however all she informed me of was an assumption of hers that she though it was some breakthrough with technology that was probably going to change the future… Well, she wasn't far off I'd say.
"Boy it's hot outside," I fanned myself off with a paw as we completed the last few steps to the convention.
"You should have brought a few ice packs in a cooler then…" Myra lectured as we welcomed ourselves in.
"Meh… I'll live, hopefully," I wiped the sweat forming on my forehead as I gazed over my surroundings.
"Well this is it," Myra halted and placed her paws on her hips, as if she was already bored.
"Why not have a look around then?" I tugged her with my free paw over to a nearby information booth.
It was like the roles switched around, I was the enticed adult and Myra became the impatient child wanting to go home… Or at least somewhere else. With a little effort, we came to find out that this 'gateway to the future' thing was an opportunity for normal, everyday piñatas like us a chance to 'hibernate' into the future. The business behind preserving artifacts and certain life forms were opening its doors, welcoming all who were interested, or at least had the money, the opportunity of a lifetime. I was skeptical about it all at first, but as I delved deeper for information, the more I became fascinated.
"I can't believe you're hooked on this thing, Frazil, let's just go to my house and play a videogame," Was just one of the many complaints Myra sputtered out as the day went on. I tried my best to tune her out, but every major attempt got more and more annoying, Eventually we broke out into an argument about it.
"What's wrong with life today Frazil? Why are you so fascinated with going to the future?" Myra got in my face. I had to push her away to gain back my personal space.
"Don't you see Myra? The future holds promising things," I started to explain.
"So? What if this is all just a scam? Just a way to steal your money and leave you frozen for good. Have you thought of that?" The mallowolf countered back.
"What would give you that idea? Maybe they need the extra bucks to extend their research? Have you thought of that?" I recited her words in a mocking tone.
"Okay, maybe this business is really legit then, No one's guaranteeing you the future that you're imagining in that thick skull of yours!" Myra knocked on my head a few times.
"Grr… Quit it!" I batted her paw away, "So? I'd rather be there young than old… Anyways, I don't see a reason why you shouldn't go either!" I retorted.
"So this is what it's all about? Prolonging your youth? There's more important things than that Frazil, what about your friends, or your family?" I didn't have many friends really, there was just Myra. And as for my family, I really didn't talk to them much seeing as I live on my own now.
"Sometimes you have to make sacrifices and take risks. Seriously, where would we be now if we didn't do the things we did?" I pointed out.
"Yeah, and sometimes certain fudgehogs shouldn't be so cocky and arrogant about their decisions," the mallowolf growled.
"Ugh… You're so difficult sometimes Myra…" I grumbled.
"I wouldn't be standing here talking you out of it if I didn't care about your well being!" She crossed her arms and stood her ground.
"Well there's nothing you can do or say to talk me out of it!" I mimicked her body language.
"Hmph… Fine then," She started to walk away, but turned back to say one last thing, "I'll be the one to tell your parents about your choice today. Consider it my last favor as friends Frazil," and with that she marched off, steaming pissed.
And it all went downhill from there. I watched Myra leave until I couldn't spot her in the distance. Once she was gone, I had gone to register myself up for a hibernation cell. Luckily it was cheap enough that my pocket change was enough to buy one. Before I had jumped in, I stood over my cell and gazed inside, chewing on the words Myra said earlier. She did have some valid points, I'll give her that. But now that I had time to really think about it, I came to figure out that Myra nor my family would be in the future, or at least anyone I knew. It probably would have been a good idea to make friends with another 'future fanatic,' just for the sake of having someone you know meet up with you once you awoke.
But I was crappy with making friends, it was a miracle that Myra stayed with me for so long. When I reflected upon myself during those few moments alone, I ended up not liking me either. So it made me wonder what Myra saw in me that I didn't. Well the future presented me with one thing that's for sure: A new start. An opportunity to etch out a clean slate.
As I rested inside the cell, waiting for it to engage, I took a few moments to cherish today. However it wasn't that long before I was knocked out for a good one hundred years. One hundred years that felt like just a second.