And now, time for the next chapter! Anyway, enjoy!
"And so, over the course of the next few days, our dear heroine, Penelope Pitstop, had started to make attempts at making up for lost time with her sister, Pandora."
The next morning, Pandora was peeking outside as she looked both ways, before attempting to sneak out... before being met with two arms hugging the girl. Pandora frowned as Penelope was smiling happily, hugging her close.
"But despite Penelope's attempts at talking with her and having fun, Pandora would rather want to spend time doing something else."
Over at an amusement park, Penelope hopped on a roller coaster as she looked over, waiting for Pandora, who had mysteriously disappeared. Penelope looked concerned as she rode the rollercoaster alone by herself. All the while, Pandora was walking around in a Hall of Mirrors, giggling over some of the reflections she seen... before running into a familiar blonde haired girl, who was standing near the exit. Penelope happily embraced Pandora as the black haired girl frowned in annoyance.
"But, at least to Penelope's relief, she didn't need to worry about the Hooded Claw or the Bully Brothers at all... as long as the Ant Hill Mob kept an eye on them."
All the while, Sylvester Sneekly was doing his best to try to be alone to get into a place where he can disguise himself as the Hooded Claw alone, but with no luck at all as one of the Ant Hill Mob, mostly Zippy, kept following him and keeping an eye on him. He gave a frown as he held his head. The Bully Brothers, on the other hand, were happily enjoying some scones and food as they happily shared with Yak Yak and Dum Dum, who ate happily. Clyde could only sigh as the rest of the Ant Hill Mob were keeping a sharp eye out (save for Snoozy, who fell asleep).
"This kept going for at least a couple of days straight, and not once had Penelope brought up the subject matter of why Pandora had disappeared. She wanted to, but Pandora just didn't want to be around her for some strange reason."
The next morning after, Pandora looked around hastily as she decided to make a break for the elevator. She quickly pushed the down button as she waited for the elevator to open. As soon as she opened the elevator, she ran inside and sighed in relief... only for a hand to be placed on her shoulder. Pandora deflated a little as she noticed the smiling Penelope standing right next to her.
Over at an aquarium, Penelope clapped happily as she was sitting down in her seat, watching a giant whale do tricks for its owner. Penelope attempted to nudge Pandora as she pointed over, but noticed an empty seat, much to her confusion. All the while, Pandora was walking around the shark exhibit as she watched them swim, giving herself a small grin as she happily watched the sharks enjoy swimming around. She followed her eyes as she watched the sharks swimming around... until her eyes instantly locked with innocent blue eyes that were right next to her. Pandora jumped as Penelope gave an innocent wave. Pandora turned her head, showing a very annoyed expression.
Meanwhile, Sylvester Sneekly was getting very annoyed as he sat down on the bench, with Pockets and Zippy sitting on his lap and talking about a recent joke the other just heard, with the Bully Brothers having some hamburgers and fries with the rest of the Ant Hill Mob.
On Wednesday morning, Pandora didn't bother leaving her hotel room... from the outside of the door. Rather, she had opened up a window and tied up bedsheets as she threw a line of them out the window. Pandora slowly, but surely climbed down below as she gave a smile... only to be met on the bottom by a smiling blonde haired woman as she pointed to the car. Pandora could only shut her eyes in frustration.
Later that day, at a skateboard stunt show, Penelope was watching in amazement and taking a photograph at a man doing stunts with a skateboard on the half-pipe as she applauded. She turned to her seat, only to be disappointed that her sister was sitting next to her... once again. It was then Penelope spotted her nearby, talking with another skateboarder who was signing an autograph book for her. Much to Penelope's delight, she walked over to Pandora as the skateboarder looked up... and gasped as he dropped the autograph book to talk to Penelope, who seemed to recognize her from a day she did an air stunt show. Pandora couldn't help but stomp her feet in anguish as Penelope signed an autograph book for the famous skate star.
Sylvester Sneekly, on the other hand, was not having a good time as he was seated inbetween the Ant Hill Mob's own Softy and Yak Yak, as he covered his ears in annoyance. The Bully Brothers, on the other hand, were having a fun time as they were eating popcorn and soft pretzels they brought from the food convention as they seemed to be having a good time...
It was on that Wednesday night after this event occurred that everybody had arrived back at the hotel as Penelope gave a smile. "Oh, I just had the most wonderful time with you, Pandora!"
"Really? Because I think differently." Pandora gave a cross of her arms in disappointment as the Ant Hill Mob, Sylvester Sneekly and the "Scully" Brothers came out of the car as Sylvester looked annoyed.
"And I've been a little moody myself." Sylvester complained as Clyde gave a smirk.
"Oh, what's the matter, Sylvester? Are we bugging you too much?" Clyde gave a chuckle.
Yak Yak joined in the giggling as he said, "Yeah, are we DELAYING your progress?"
Penelope ignored the comments as she turned to Pandora. "Pandora, you must join us for dinner once again..."
"Gee... no thanks." Pandora glared at Penelope. "I'm tired, I'm ready to go to bed after a long day, don't bother talking to me, good night!"
With that, Pandora started to walk right for the elevator as she pushed the up button. Penelope, in concern, started to walk over to Pandora as Sylvester Sneekly, noticing that he and the Bully Brothers seemed to be surrounded by the Ant Hill Mob, gave a frown.
"Blast..." Sylvester muttered as he whispered to Crane and Tank. "As long as the Ant Hill Mob are on my tail, I can't get out there and do Penelope and Pandora in!"
"Well, maybe it's for the best." Crane whispered. "Every time you think up a peril, they either repeat ideas or Penelope escapes or the Ant Hill Mob help her..."
"So yeah, no real big loss here." Tank shrugged. "Now, why don't we just forget about it and enjoy the rest of our vacation, huh?"
Sylvester Sneekly glared at the Bully Brothers, before smiling as he whispered, "Say, that's not a bad idea? Maybe you'd like to take a permanant vacation! Maybe to the unemployment line!"
The Bully Brothers winced at that as they sighed, Crane saying, "Okay, okay, fine! Point given! What do you want us to do?"
"I think I may have an idea..." Sylvester smirked heavily as he started whispering to Crane and Tank as they listened carefully.
"Pandora, come on!" Penelope said as she knocked on Pandora's door.
"No, I said I'm tired. Go away!" Pandora yelled from the other end of the door.
"Please, Pandora, I just want to talk for at least three minutes. Just a few minutes, then I'll be out of your hair until tomorrow." Penelope said as silence was met. "I just want to know why you left!"
"Why I le-" Pandora's voice started as she opened the door to her room, narrowing her eyes at the innocent Penelope. "Why I left? You should know why I left! Heck, Mom and Dad probably know it, how do you not? You all never bothered looking for me!"
"Looking for you? What are you-" Penelope started to ask in concern... as she sighed. "Please, Pandora, I've been nothing but supportive to you all this time..."
"Supportive? More like annoying!" Pandora scoffed.
"Please... just... let me talk with you for at least a few minutes!" Penelope begged. "I've been trying to speak with you about it, but you won't let me speak!"
Pandora growled as she sighed, opening the door. "Fine. I'll give you three minutes to come inside and talk, no more, no less!"
"Oh, thank you very much, Pandora. It's so great to finally be able to bond as sisters!" Penelope smiled as she walked inside Pandora's room.
"Yeah, yeah, shut it, sister." Pandora scoffed as she watched Penelope come inside.
As Penelope went and sat down on her bed, she couldn't help but notice something by Pandora's desk. She gasped as she looked over and picked up the item. "Oh my goodness, the purple pen I gave you for your birthday! You still kept it after all these years!"
"What?" Pandora blinked before noticing Penelope holding the pen, before scoffing. "Ugh, I meant to throw that tacky thing away!"
"It's nice that you kept it." Penelope smiled as she looked over to Pandora as she put it back down and turned to her. "I have so many questions about why you left..."
"Excuse me? I left? I didn't leave! Okay, maybe from your perspective, I 'left', but I ran away from home!" Pandora growled as Penelope's eyes widened.
"Ran away?" Penelope asked, not comprehending her words. "But why?"
Pandora crossed her arms. "Ever since we were born, I have done nothing but become your shadow, even when I do great, you still come out on top! Mom and Dad even think you were better than I ever was!"
"What? Now, Pandora, you know that's not true!" Penelope said in surprise.
"Do I know? DO I KNOW?" Pandora screamed, causing Penelope to be silent. "Every day since I was born, I was known as a nobody! Someone who lived under the shadow of a successor! And I got sick and tired of it! So on the night of April tenth nine years ago, I ran away, making up my mind, knowing that nobody cared about me at all!"
"April tenth? But that's the night-" Penelope gasped as she covered her mouth. "You mean, you didn't know what happened the night you ran away?"
"What did happen the night I ran away, hm?" Pandora crossed her arms. "Oh, wait, don't tell me, I suppose you won another medal for a success? You saved an innocent puppy? You took one step in a talent show and won the trophy!"
"No! Please, just listen! If you had just read about it in the newspapers, or heard it from word to mouth-" Penelope started.
"I don't need to hear anything!" Pandora screamed. "I have a new life now, Penny, don't you get that? And so far, I've been happy with the nine years I lived and survived! Ever since I ran away, I found myself getting into the life of crime! CRIME, Pitstop!"
Penelope covered her mouth in shock as Pandora crossed her arms. "And you know what? Being a criminal mastermind was exactly what I want to be when I joined in! And I lived nine years stealing many things and breaking a lot of hearts! And when I become known as the best mastermind, you and my old family will be humiliated for ruining my life, so you better watch your back!"
"Pandora..." Penelope uncovered her mouth. "I never knew you were feeling neglected... but I've been being nothing but nice to y-"
"Nice to me? More like being an annoyance! You can't even let me go to the bathroom alone without your annoying cheers. You always have been the worst sibling!" Pandora crossed her arms. "I'm sure you can tell Mom and Dad that when you return to that mansion of yours!"
"But I can't tell them that! If you'd just listen to me for just a-" Penelope started before Pandora started pushing her out the door.
"Now excuse me, I believe your three minutes are up!" Pandora growled as she pushed Penelope out the door and slammed it. "GOOD NIGHT!"
"But Pandor-" Penelope started, before sighing as she looked down. She started to walk off and head back to her room.
Over at Penelope's room, she sighed as she arrived when she noticed the Ant Hill Mob approaching her, noticing her sad face.
"Something the matter?" Clyde asked.
"I talked with Pandora, and I learned that she ran away from home. She never even knew about the Hooded Claw and our parents being murdered at all." Penelope sighed.
"Oh my!" Dum Dum gasped. "How did she react when she learned the news?"
"I didn't tell her. I wanted to, but she wouldn't listen to me. She kept talking about how she always felt neglected and how she joined in a life of crime after running away from home." Penelope looked down.
Yak Yak couldn't help but giggle as he said, "Sounds like Pandora didn't have such a happy childhood..."
"I thought she did... but I never realized that she ran away until recently, I just thought she knew about our parents and saw the Hooded Claw and..." Penelope sighed. "I don't know what to do..."
"Well... tomorrow is the beach day." Zippy pointed out. "Maybe just talk to her and bring up the subject of your parents carefully."
"But-" Penelope said as Clyde coughed.
"Zippy's right. Pandora may hate you and your family, and doesn't want any part of it... but she at least deserves to know what happened..." Clyde said as the other members of the Ant Hill Mob nodded.
"Guys..." Penelope gave a warm smile towards the Ant Hill Mob... before giving a smile in determination. "You're right. She needs to know, even if she doesn't want to hang out, she really needs to know the whole story! I'll tell her when we arrive at the beach."
The Ant Hill Mob gave a cheer as Sylvester Sneekly and the Bully Brothers peeked out of their rooms and overheard the story as Sylvester gave a cheeky grin as the Bully Brothers looked at each other with concerned looks on their faces.
And this chapter is officially done! How did you guys like it? Next time, Penelope tries to talk with Pandora, only for the Hooded Claw to finally interfere and capture them both! Anyway, read, review, criticize and suggest, folks!