Hello everyone! Again, sorry it has been so long since I have touched my story. I've gone through a lot and now that things are on track, I will be updating and writing this story again. I will do my best to keep updates to this story coming. I have developed more as writer and hopefully it improves the story overall. I hope you enjoy!
It has been four years since the incident with the machine. Ol' skool has still been missing ever since that fateful day. Ever since then, the Dojo crew has helped rebuild the destroyed sectors of Progress City to its former self. With the rebuilding of the city mostly complete the Dojo members have returned to their job as couriers, with Burn now in charge.
"Alright guys listen up." Burn spoke as he walked over to his crew in the living room. Loogie was buys scarfing down his second large plate of extra cheesy nachos of the day. Fizz was humming as she worked on a new invention to give them an edge. Deets and Ed were sitting on the couch watching the ZG semi-finals.
Burn grew a little impatient at being ignored. He cleared his throat.
"Hey guys!" He yelled gaining their attention.
"What's up Burn?" Ed asked looking over his shoulder. Burn was wearing his casual clothes that he wore during the Hover Squirrel Stomp. Fizz set her screwdriver down and turned to him.
"Why are you all dressed up?" She asked.
"Aren't you all forgetting that today is the anniversary of Ed's victory over Bedlam?"
"I try not to remember honestly." Ed said sinking back down in his seat. It was a day he tried forgetting. That day was one of the worst of his life. He lost the one person who was like a real father to him and he was still beating himself up over it. Deets placed a hand on his shoulder and gave him a small smile. Her thumb rubbed against his shoulder which seemed to make him relax and bring out a small smile of his own. Burn came over and placed a hand on his other shoulder.
"Well hot shot, the past three years Loogie, Fizz, and I have taken you out somewhere to have fun. This time it's Deet's turn and she's picked a really cool idea." Burn smiled at him. Fizz and Ed both exchanged confused glances. Loogie didn't even pay any attention. He was still inhaling his nachos while Dr. Pinch shook his head at the boy. Deets giggled and stood up.
"Burn is right. You guys better get ready. We have to leave soon if we want to make it on time." Her tone made Ed curious enough to bring him out of the sadness he was briefly in. He thought back on the past three years.
During the first year anniversary Fizz took Ed down to the Bizarre and they bought a ton of things. They spent the next week building and upgrading all of their rides and equipment. Ed really enjoyed learning how to repair and upgrade his own hover board to how he wanted. Sure it took a few tries and crashes, but he quickly learned what he needed from Fizz to maintain his gear on his own.
Two years ago Loogie took him to see a show with the clowns. They were surprisingly friendly and a lot nicer than during deliveries. The clowns showed their sympathy for the loss of Ol' skool and even helped in aiding Dojo in repairing Progress City. Once the need or aid ended and things began to smooth over for Ed, the clowns were back to their shenanigans on deliveries. However, there was now more of a friendly competitive spirit between the two courier teams.
Last year Burn took him down to the race track and they raced for hours on end. Testing the upgrades to their equipment and pushing it to their limits, Ed and Burn had a lot of fun. They also went to the gym and Burn began to teach Ed more and more hand-to-hand combat skills he knew from his father. It gave Ed the outlet he needed to get emotions out and vent all the pent up aggression he had stored inside. It even led to Ed talking more with Burn about how he felt guilty and not good enough. Burn would take the time to remind Ed he did matter and had a family there for him, no matter what. They soon made sparring at the gym a common occurrence as it kept them fit and let them vent any frustrations.
This year, it was Deets turn.
Ed looked up at her pretty green eyes. "So, where are you taking me this year?" He asked hoping to get her to say. She laughed and put a finger up to his lips.
"I can't tell you that Edward. It won't be a surprise that way." She winked and walked away towards her room. Ed sat slightly red in the face and curious what she meant. Burn and Fizz couldn't help but laugh at their friend.
Deets and Ed had been growing closer and closer since time went on, but they had decided not to get together yet. Ed felt he still had a lot to learn and had felt lost most of the past four years. It took the support of all his friends to help get him back to his normal self again. And to Ed's surprise and honestly his relief, Deets was willing to wait for him.
Burn decided to take pity on Ed and got his attention.
"Alright guys, we better not waste any more time. Let's get ready!" They all headed to their rooms and changed into their casual clothes. This time Ed used a very minute amount of cologne that Deets had picked out for him. He had thanked Burn for about a week after teaching him how to properly use it, as well as how to shave when he began to have the need. When they were ready they met in the living room.
"Alright, are we all ready?" Burn asked.
"For now until Loogie spills hot cheese all over himself again." Dr. Pinch stated staring at Loogie.
"Hey it's not my fault that nacho cheese is messy. And I couldn't waste the cheesy goodness."
"But you didn't have to spill them all over yourself in the process, or eat them as you changed." Fizz grabbed Loogie's arm.
"Calm down Loogie. Yes Burn, we're all ready." They heard a honk outside. Deets excitedly jumped.
"The taxi's here! Let's go!" She said grabbing Ed's hand and running for the door. The rest of the Dojo followed close behind to the taxi. Deets leaned in and whispered to the cab driver telling him their destination. He smiled and nodded. Ed shook his head at the whole secret keeping thing as he got in the back row of the taxi. Burn was laughing as he got in sitting in the front passenger seat. Loogie and Fizz got in and sat in the middle row between Burn and Ed.
"Don't worry about it hotshot. You're going to sap all the fun out of it if you keep this up." Burn said looking back at Ed. Ed gave Burn a fake agitated look.
"But Burn, I want to know." Deets sat next to him and gently elbowed him.
"Don't worry so much Ed." She said as she buckled her seatbelt.
"Yeah," Fizz added turning in her seat to look back at them. "Deets wouldn't take you to a place where you wouldn't want to be." Ed looked at her then out the taxi window. Unknown to him or the rest of his friends, the vehicle had already left the city limits. Ed curiously looked around at their surroundings. Ahead of them was an extremely long tunnel.
"Where are we going exactly Deets? Burn asked looking back at her. Deets sighed.
"You and Ed really are impatient aren't you?" Loogie and Fizz giggled at her statement.
"All I'm going to tell you is its going to take a few hours to get there."
"A few hours?" Ed and Burn said at the same time.
"Yes, a few hours."
"It's going to take forever to get there." Ed groaned. Deets shook her head.
"Then take a nap Ed. It'll make the time go by faster." Ed reluctantly agreed and laid his head back against the seat. He looked out the window watching the tunnel walls fly by. He had to admit, he was uptight lately. He always was this time of year, at least for the past few years. He tried to relax and think of the good memories of his mentor. Times when they all laughed and had fun. The sound of the humming engine and the good memories began to lull him to sleep. He closed his bright blue eyes and soon was out. Deets looked over at him finally sleeping and couldn't help but smile. He looked so peaceful from his usual tense and stressed self.
"He looks so calm now." Deets whispered. Fizz overheard hear and looked back.
"That's good. He's been so stressed ever since Ol' skool disappeared. Usually it takes one of us to make him relax even for a few minutes."
"Yeah. He's been working himself to death. All he does is deliveries and spending all his spare time tracking down Ol' skool." Deets said concerned. Burn turned to face her. Loogie was luckily following Ed's example and was leaning against the frame napping, giving Burn a clear view of the pink courier.
"What do you expect? Ol' skool is pretty much Ed's father. Any of us would do the same if it was one of our parents." Deets nodded understanding him. She would do anything to find her parents if they went missing. But it still wasn't comforting seeing the guy she cared so much for run himself constantly into the ground.
"This is why we try to do this for him Deets, remember?" Fizz asked. Deets of course nodded.
"I know. It would just be nice to find some evidence to give him hope and a chance to stop working so hard." Burn gave a slight chuckle.
"Since when does Ed ever slow down or take things easy?" The other two smiled agreeing with his comment. Burn turned back around deciding to take a nap of his own. Fizz leaned back towards Deets.
"So, where are you taking us Deets?" Fizz smiled. Deets groaned and shook her head.