Gold's Recovery
Carl's New Found Resolve
Carl and Frank were waiting in the waiting room of the hospital wing. Mal went right to work on patching up Gold from all the damages he took in the fight. Carl was pacing back and forth across the floor while Frank was sitting on a near by couch. Neither of them spoke. Silence filled the room brim full. After what seemed like eternity, Mal come out of the operating room. Frank stood up and Carl stood at attention.
"You're friend is going to be fine," he said with a smile.
"Really?" Carl asked happily.
"He did take a lot of damage," Mal explained, "but he will make a full recovery. All those explosions did a number on him."
"I'll bet," Frank said sadly.
"But he will be fine," Mal re-ensured them. "He just needs some rest."
"Can we see him?" Carl pleaded.
"Not now," Mal replied. "I'm sorry but right now he needs rest. You two are more than welcomed to stay here though. I'll get some blankets for you two." Mal then leaves to fetch what he said. Carl fell to his knees.
"It's all my fault," he said sadly. "If only I was stronger, then this wouldn't have happened. If only. . . .if only I wasn't such a wimp."
"This isn't your fault Carl," Frank said seriously. "If it's any ones fault, it's mine."
"What?"
"If only Gold and I trained you more," Frank explained, "then maybe you would be strong enough to walk on your own. To be able to hold your own ground more here at the school. Yet we did nothing." Frank punches the near by wall and leaves a large dent.
"Frank," Carl said in sad awe.
"I hate feeling this powerless," Frank ranted. "It sucks. It just plain sucks to feel like this. And you have had to put up with this feeling for a long time. Gold and I didn't help you. If anything this is our fault and not yours." Silence fell over them once again. Mal then walked back in with some blankets and pillows.
"If you ask me it's the Packs fault," he butted into the conversation.
"eh?" Carl said in confusion.
"I didn't mean to over hear," Mal explained, "but it seems to me that it is there fault. After all, they are the ones that did this."
"But if I wasn't so weak this wouldn't have happened," Carl replied.
"Carl everyone has to start some where," Mal said with a smile as he looked out the window. "Everyone at one point in their lives is weak. Even the Enforcers and the teachers."
"What?!" Frank asked with a surprised tone.
"The teachers, the principle, even myself," Mal continued. "We aren't born with the power we have now. We had to develop them through training. While it is true that some develop faster than others, but that doesn't change the rare fact that everyone starts weak. Some of them, including the Pack, just don't want to remember that part."
"That does make sense though," Frank agreed. "My dad taught me everything about fighting I knew before coming here."
"You see," Mal stated. "It's all fine that you are weak because you have to start some where. If getting stronger isn't working on you should just get something to help you fight. Whether you make it, buy it, or just get help from your friends." Carl looked down at the floor.
That does make sense, he thought. I can clearly understand what he is saying but I still don't know what to do.
"Sleep on it tonight," Mal suggested. "See what happens tomorrow."
"I am pretty pooped," Frank said as he laid down on the floor. "Take the couch Carl. I wouldn't be able to fit on it any way." He put a pillow under his head and covered up with one of the blankets. Carl hopped on the couch and did the same after taking off his helmet. As they closed their eyes, Mal turned off the lights and left the room.
*The following morning*
The students assembled in their classrooms and waited for morning announcements to begin.
"I wonder what all that commotion last night was," Samantha asked curiously.
"I don't have a clue," Becky replied. "There were a lot of explosions."
"We all know that," Alex chimed in. "No one could have missed those."
"Well except for the Outcasts," Samantha pointed out.
"Right," Becky agreed. The three of them started laughing as Sky walked into the room with the Pack. Lyle, Steve, and Bulk took their seats while Sky went up to the podium looking very upset.
"Excuse me Professor Sky," Will called out, "but why are you so upset?"
"Indeed," Louis stated. "Does this have to do with the explosions from last night?"
"It most certainly does," Sky said angrily while having a focused stare at the Pack. All the students could see that clearly. Before anyone could say anything, the intercom came on.
"Good morning students," Donald's voice rang out over the intercom. "Last night there was a serious fight on the practice field that wasn't supervised. Which is why there were all those explosions and such." The students started talking back and forth wondering what happened. This was happening in every single class room.
"Quiet and listen," Sky said seriously. The students were silent right away.
"And due to this fight a student was nearly killed," Donald continued. The students gasped in shock.
Some are going to be happy when they hear the rest, Sky thought angrily.
"The Pack attacked the Outcasts last night," Donald explained. "Because they did not accept their challenge from earlier that day. Consumed by a desire to fight them for a rematch after losing to them in New Pork City, Lyle Lycanthrope and Steve Mercury nearly killed Gold while Bulk McHeavy distracted Frank. Carl was working to lower the shield that Steve hacked into." The students carefully listened.
"He also hacked into the item generator and spawned many items on the field," Donald continued. "These were mines and other sorts of explosives to give them a huge edge and gave them victory. However, they continued to attack him after he was defeated with more explosions nearly killing Gold. Because of this event, they have lost half of their score and are prohibited from taking part in the next test tournament." Silence of the students filled the school. Donald took a long pause.
"Let this be a lesson to you all," Donald said with a quiet angry voice. "That there is a point when you have to stop fighting your opponent. Killing the other students isn't what this school is about. I refuse to have any more incidents like this. Gold, Frank, and Carl are excused from normal class activities until further notice. And if any one tries to attack Frank, Carl, or Gold, I will cut your scores down as well. That is all." The intercom turned off. For a few minutes, no one made a sound. Then, cheering could be heard from most of the students across campus. Cheering for the Pack for beating up the Outcasts. Some students in the class couldn't believe their behavior and were appalled. Samantha and Becky walked over to them.
"Way to go you three," Becky said happily. "Way to show those Outcasts who is boss."
"Yeah," Samantha agreed. Alex remained in her seat, not sure how to act to this. Some other students were congratulating them as well. However, soon the cheering in Sky's room stopped when Mark Potato slammed his hands on his desk.
"What is the matter with you?!" he shouted. He stood up with great anger. Louis joined him as well.
"Yeah," he agreed. "It's one thing to beat them, but to nearly kill one is a completely different story."
"Yes," Will agreed as he stood up as well.
"Why are you sticking up for them?" Becky asked curiously.
"Yeah," a kid that sided with the Pack called out.
"We don't hate the Outcasts," Will replied. The students with the Pack gasped in shock. Sky just stared at his students, waiting to see what happens next.
"We aren't friends with them either," Louis added.
"We are really just neutral towards them," Mark stated. "With this however, we will side with them over the Pack any day."
"It's not their fault that they are weak," Lyle said seriously.
"More like you ganging up on them!" Mark shouted. "What you have proved is that you can gang on up one student."
"Yes because that is a GREAT talent to have," Louis said sarcastically.
"I don't get it," Steve said with a confused tone. "You three are goof balls. Why?"
"We have already told you why," Will said seriously. "We will take their side over yours when you pull stuff like this."
"If it was the other way around," Mark added, "then we would be taking your side."
"But that isn't the case," Louis said with a huff. Will then turned to Sky.
"Professor Sky," he said calmly.
"Yes Will?" Sky replied.
"We-"
"THE POTATO SIBLINGS!" Will, Mark, and Louis shouted together as they posed.
"Would like to leave the class room now," Will finished.
"We have someone to go visit," Louis added. The students with the Pack gasped in shock. Sky simply nodded his head towards them. Will, Louis, and Mark left the room without saying a single word. The silence in the room stilled with everyone else.
WwwwwwW
Frank and Carl were still asleep in the hospital wing. Mal checked up on them when he woke up. They were doing fine. He then went to check on Gold, who was awake and staring out the window in his bed.
"Glad to see that you decided to wake up," Mal said with a smile.
"How long was I out?" Gold asked in a daze.
"Only for the night," Mal said as he looked at a clipboard of his. "Which is surprising given what happened to you last night." Images of last night flashed into Gold's head. The pain from the explosions, the way Lyle and Steve were fighting him, they were trying more than just to beat him.
"Lyle is weaker than I thought," Gold stated.
"The fact that he had to fight using such tactics is proof enough of that," Mal agreed.
"We can agree to that too," Will said as he randomly popped in with Louis and Mark.
"What the?!" Mal said as he jumped back. "When did you three get in here?"
"Just now," Mark replied.
". . ." Gold was silent towards them.
"Wondering why we're here right?" Will asked curiously.
"That's what I want to know," Frank's voice came from outside. He walked in as if he just woke up. Carl soon joined him.
"Is there a problem with us being here?" Louis asked.
"Seeing how that you guys aren't are friends," Frank pointed out.
"But we are not your enemies either," Will stated.
"What d-d-do you mean?" Carl stuttered a question.
"You guys haven't given us a reason to hate you," Will explained. "Neither have you given us a reason to be your friends. We just left you alone. The only time we had a scuffle was when we fought in past test tournaments."
"And you guys beat us fair and square," Mark added. "We can't hate you for that."
"We aren't petty like Samantha and others," Louis said with a smile. Carl was surprised at this. He thought back and the Potato Siblings didn't really ever do anything to them. Sure when they had to fight, they fought for the score. But they didn't hate them for that. They didn't hate them at all. Frank was surprised in general that the famous goof balls of their class were acting so serious.
". . .thank you," Gold said plainly to them.
"No problem," Will said with a smile.
"But you do know that many will start hating you for not taking the Pack's side right?" Frank asked.
"Which is a stupid reason to hate us," Mark said with a smug smile.
"Let them hate," Louis chimed in. "It won't make a difference to us."
"We will stay the same and act like ourselves no matter what," Will said proudly. "For we are-"
"THE POTATO SIBLINGS!" Will, Mark, and Louis shouted together as they posed. Gold did smile at that. Frank was laughing with Carl.
"Now that we are done with are visit," Will said happily, "it's time to get out of here." He takes out a capsule and throws it at the ground. It explodes and the Potato Siblings go flying out of the room.
"Why did they do that?" Frank asked curiously.
"I have no idea," Mal replied. "I'm amazed that they are fine after such explosions though."
"Agreed," Gold said plainly.
"Moving on to a more important topic," Mal stated. "You have to stay here for at least two more days."
"Which will be fine," Frank stated. "Right Gold?" Gold nodded his head in reply.
"Is homeroom already done?" Gold asked plainly.
"No idea we didn't go," Frank replied.
"But we were excused given the situation," Carl explained. "With that, we slept in the lobby."
"That must have been uncomfortable," Gold said with a worried tone.
"It wasn't that bad man," Frank said with a smile. "The floor is actually quite comfortable."
"As are their couches," Carl added.
"The hospital wing is designed for maximum comfort any where at any time," Mal said proudly.
"Well you have held up to it," Frank said giving him a thumbs up. Carl stared down at the floor ashamed.
"Gold," he said seriously. "I need to apologize to you."
"Hmm?" Gold said in confusion.
"If I was only stronger," Carl began. Frank then slapped the back of his head.
"Don't get started on that again Carl," he said with a smile.
"Ow!" Carl said in pain.
"Mal put it best," Frank continued. "This is the Pack's fault and no one else."
"But-" Carl protested.
"They are right Carl," Gold said kindly. "I do not blame you for what happened." Carl was stunned. He truly believed that it was his fault that this happened. But now that thought was disappearing. Mal said it and Frank said it, but it was Gold that finally was making him believing that it wasn't his fault.
"Looks like he is finally believing it himself," Mal said with a smile.
"Took him long enough," Frank said with a sigh.
". . .if you guys will excuse me," Carl said with a smile. He looked at Gold, then Frank, and finally Mal. He then rushed out of the room. Frank and Mal were confused but Gold just smiled.
"What's with him?" Frank asked curiously.
"Don't tell me you didn't see it," Gold stated. Frank and Mal looked at Gold with puzzled looks.
"What do you mean?" Mal asked curiously.
"We shall see soon," Gold said happily.
"What is this?!" Frank shouted in shock. "You sound happy! YES! This is a rare occasion and we must celebrate!" He strikes a funny pose. Gold sighs in response.
WwwwwwW
Donald was organizing some papers in his office. A knock was heard at his door.
"Come in," Donald said seriously. Cannon opened the door and walked into the room.
"You wanted to see me sir?" Cannon asked.
"Why didn't you use your master key?" Donald asked with a hasty tone. Silence filled the room.
"Was I suppose to?" Cannon asked in reply.
"Every teacher, Enforcer, and myself have master keys to the shield generator and item generator," Donald explained with a serious tone. "You could have prevented Gold being so seriously injured. All you did was stand by the console and watched!"
"Those Outcasts are nothing but trouble sir," Cannon explained calmly. "A set back like this will get them to see that they need to take their school career seriously."
"Why do you think they were using the practice field for then?" Donald asked seriously.
". . ."
"No answer?" Donald continued. "You have nothing to say for yourself."
"I did it so that they would-"
"AND I TOLD YOU THAT THEY ARE TAKING THEIR SCHOOL CAREER SERIOUSLY?!" Donald shouted angrily. He took some deep breaths to calm down.
"I still don't see it," Cannon said seriously.
"It doesn't matter whether you see it or not," Donald replied. "You are one of the school's three Enforcer's. Blub is with Kaiser Blade on a trip right now so that leaves only you and Red here. I'm taking over Kaiser's class for the moment myself and I'm pretty busy. I don't have the time or the staff to put you on probation right now. From now on Cannon, you WILL do your duty as a Enforcer. Do I make myself clear?" Silence fell between them. It was broken when another knock came from the door.
"Sir it's Carl Stumbleston," Carl's voice came from the other side of the door.
"Just a moment," Donald replied calmly. "We will finish this later Cannon. You are dismissed."
"Understood sir," Cannon said plainly as he left the room. He nearly bumped into Carl on his way out.
"Come in Carl," Donald invited him. Carl nervously walked into the room. "Now what can I do for you?"
"I. . . .I need. . . .help," Carl said nervously.
Come on Carl, Carl thought. You need to be brave. You can do this.
"What do you mean?" Donald asked curiously.
"I. . .I need to. . . .I need to get stronger," Carl pleaded. Donald remained silent and waited for him to finish.
Not like that, Carl thought. Say it bravely.
"I don't feel that I have. . . .progressed like I should have," Carl said as he started to stand firmly. "I will admit it. I am weak. I'm not that fast. I also can't take too many hits. I know that if I stay this way, I will continue to hold back Frank and Gold. But I don't want to do that any more!"
Don't shout man, Carl thought. He took some deep breaths to calm down. Donald remained silent.
"So I need something to help me fight," he continued. "Something that will not hold myself back, and in return I will not be holding back Gold and Frank. Red has a wide variety of arsenal weapons to help him fight. Cannon has that battle suit. So there must be something that I can create that would be allowed to use in fighting. Please Principle Donald, help me with this. I don't want to hold my friends back any more!" Carl was shaking nervously, but still standing tall. He wasn't wavering, and Donald could see that he was serious. Donald opened a drawer in his desk and looked through his papers. He then brought out a pile of papers, about five papers. He put them on his desk and pushed them forward to the edge.
"Here," he said kindly. Carl walked forward nervously and picked up the pile. He looked at it and smiled widely.
"Thank you," Carl said happily. He rushed out of the room as fast as he could. He didn't even notice Cannon was outside the door listening to the entire conversation. He looked back at Donald as the door was slowly closing.
"Do you see it now?" Donald asked Cannon. They continued to stare at each until the door closed and broke the eye contact.
End of Chapter
With Gold recovering, and Carl working on who knows what, what will happen now?
Will Carl get the power that he wants?
Or will it crash and burn in his face?
Find out in the next chapter of. . . . .
The Outcasts
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