Chapter Ten: Hobbes' history

Calvin and Hobbes followed Cloud up the path that led them to the top of the canyon. Hobbes was more eager to get there than Calvin was because he wanted to know why people in Cosmo Canyon knew him as well as they did.

Calvin was also interested with what Bugenhagen had to say about Hobbes' past here at Cosmo canyon. For six years now, he always knew Hobbes and never exactly figured out where he came from that day they first met. Calvin remembered it well.

He was off to check his tiger trap that he had set the night before. He had rigged the trap with tuna fish. For some reason or another, his father didn't seem to believe that tigers would like tuna fish. However, when Calvin got to his trap, there was a tiger dangling in the air with the rope around one of his feet. Sure enough, he was eating the sandwich he had set for bait. Calvin was a little shocked at first to see that his trap had actually worked, but he was happy nonetheless.

He helped Hobbes get back to the ground and took him back to his house. There, he had done as his dad had told him and stuffed Hobbes. He gave him all the food in the refrigerator and Hobbes ate until he was stuffed. Calvin chuckled at the fact that his dad had gotten mad at him after he found out that a tiger had eaten all the food in the house. For some reason though, his father never believed that the tiger had eaten all the food.

That night, Calvin and the tiger were playing in their bed. It was late and they were jumping on the bed. It wasn't too long until their father came into the room and shouted at Calvin for making so much noise. Calvin never understood why his father always got mad at him and he never got after Hobbes for doing anything.

The next day, he wanted to show his class in school that he had caught a tiger and that he had learned the night before that his name was Hobbes. For some reason, the class wasn't too impressed with his tiger. 'Maybe they all have one or something,' he thought to himself. Then, after show and tell, his teacher, Miss Wormwood, wanted him to put Hobbes in his locker. Calvin was shocked at the thought that his teacher wanted him to put a live tiger in his locker. Didn't she know that suffocated tigers? After a quick debate, Miss Wormwood had agreed to let Calvin put Hobbes under his chair. Not only did Hobbes have a place where he could breathe, but now Hobbes could help him with his math. Hobbes said tigers were good at math, but when Calvin got his math quiz back that Hobbes had helped him with the next day, Calvin began to have second thoughts.

Calvin stopped thinking for a minute. Now that he had thought about it, he had never asked Hobbes where he had come from before. Despite the years that he and Hobbes had spent together, he knew nothing of Hobbes' history. This was going to be the day when he learned where Hobbes came from.

As soon as he finished that thought, he noticed that they had finally reached the top of the canyon where Bugenhagen was located. On the top was a large building. It almost looked like a laboratory of some sort. What gave it the scientific look was the giant telescope that was coming out of the roof. The telescope was as large as the smallest building in Cosmo canyon. The telescope could make the closest planet look like it was just a hop away.

Cloud walked to the door of the building and knocked on the door. After a minute of waiting, a man came to the door. This man looked like no other man Calvin, nor Hobbes, had ever seen before. He looked like he was about one hundred years old and for some reason or another, floated around on what looked like to be a green orb. Other than that, he had the normal features of an old man: long, white beard, bald headed, and wore glasses. Not to mention that he looked to be extremely wise.

"Calvin and Hobbes, this is Bugenhagen, Red XIII's grandfather," Cloud said.

Bugenhagen floated over to where Calvin and Hobbes were standing and greeted them.

"Ho! Ho! Ho! Hello to both of you. This young man must be Calvin and this must be the famous Hobbes. Truly an honor it is to meet you at last, Sir Hobbes."

"Yeah…about that," Hobbes began. "Cloud said that you could tell me how everyone here knows me and why I'm so famous here. What was it that I did to become so famous?"

"Ah, yes," Bugenhagen replied, deep in thought. "There is a story behind all that. If you'll have a seat, I will be more than glad to explain that to you."

Hobbes eagerly found a seat and forced Calvin and Cloud to sit on both sides on him.

"Now then, Hobbes, you are so well known here because of your parents. See, many years ago, Cosmo Canyon was at war with another nation that is now extinct. For many years, they had been harassing us and our allies.

One day, our enemies decided to try to take Cosmo canyon by attacking the town head on. This was the day you and your parents became famous along with Red XIII and his parents. You see, your parents and Red XIII's parents were in the front line of our army. They fought their hearts out for our home and they indeed did bring our side to victory almost single-handedly. Their lightning speed and their strong use of magic was stuff of the legends. Our enemies didn't stand a chance. On that day, they risked their lives for our protection. It is because of them, Cosmo Canyon is still here today."

"What does that have to do with Hobbes?" Calvin demanded.

"You see, Hobbes was born six moths prior to the attack. Because his parent's powers were part of their DNA, they were passed down to Hobbes. Before they went to battle, they went to their cub, Hobbes, and asked me to transfer his powers into them for the battle. You and you parents are unlike any tigers I have ever seen, I must say that. Anyways, that is why you're famous, Hobbes. Your powers that you had were used by your parents to help win the battle along with the war. It was a very important battle that marked a turning point in the war. It is because of you, Hobbes, and your parents, that Cosmo Canyon is a place where your name and the names of your parents are legendary."

Hobbes' expression told everyone what he was feeling. He had a look of pride for his race and his parents. He also had a couple of tears in his eyes at the fact that the powers he once had saved Cosmo Canyon from evil.

"Wait a minute," Calvin said, breaking the silence. "If he's so famous, why did he end up living with me?"

"Another question I can answer," Bugenhagen replied. "You see, after Hobbes' parents received Hobbes' powers, they asked me to take him somewhere safe. Naturally, I had to fight, so I assigned someone to take Hobbes somewhere where he would be safe. But for some reason, that man never returned, so no one ever found out what happened to Hobbes. I had people search for him, but for six years, no one ever found him. A few months ago, I finally got hold of some aliens to search for Hobbes. Their names were Galaxiod and Nebular. They searched for him and eventually returned with news that he was still alive and that he was in the care of a six-year old boy. Ever since then, I sent them to give me updates on how he was doing. One day, I ordered them to actually speak with Hobbes and the boy. When they returned, they gave me information here on Calvin and how Hobbes was getting along with him just fine. They gave me an interesting story. They said that they were gathering leaves for a school project and that they asked Galaxiod and Nebular for fifty alien leaves. When they asked me what to do, I told them to just cut up fifty maple leaves into different shapes so they would earn their trust. I wanted them to keep updates on the two."

Bugenhagen was about to continue, when Calvin jumped out of his seat and started shouting.

"WHAT? YOU MEAN THAT THEY REALLY WERE MAPLE LEAVES AND THAT THEY DON'T OWN THE PLANET? THEY TRICKED ME JUST TO GET AN UPDATE ON CATAPULT-BUTT OVER HERE? I FLUNKED THAT PROJECT BECAUSE OF THEM! WHY DIDN'T THEY JUST GIVE ME SOME REAL ALIEN LEAVES?"

"Because," Bugenhagen chuckled, "I needed you to think they were there for the world. You see, it was not yet time for Hobbes to know the truth; He was still a little young. Therefore, I had them play along so they would earn your trust."

"WELL, THEY JUST LOST MY TRUST!" Calvin shouted, still outraged.

"I had them visit you two one more time after that," Bugenhagen continued. "It was around Christmas. This time, I needed proof that there two were who they said they were. So, I sent them to return with proof that it was them. When they returned, they showed me some Christmas stockings with their names on them. Right then, I knew that it was them."

By now, Calvin had turned red with fury. "FIRST THEY GIVE ME A BAD GRADE ON MY LEAF PROJECT, AND THEN THEY TAKE OUR CHRISTMAS STOCKINGS JUST FOR PROOF THAT WE ARE WHO WE KNOW WE ARE? MOM AND DAD HIT THE ROOF WHEN THEY FOUND OUT WE LOST OUR STOCKINGS! PLUS, SANTA COULDN'T FILL THEM WITH OUR LOOT! HE HAD TO PUT THEM ON THE STUPID COUCH! HE MUST HAVE BEEEN LAUGHING AT US THAT YEAR!"

Hobbes, however, was silent. When Calvin had finished shouting and saying things he shouldn't have, Hobbes finally spoke.

"So…that's how it happened," he said just above a whisper. "My parents were warriors…I was taken away for protection…I wandered alone for years until I fell into that tiger trap…Galaxiod and Nebular spying on me to give my home updates on my status…it all makes sense…I think."

"I understand how you feel," Bugenhagen replied. "It's a lot to find out in one day. Are you all right?"

"I'll be fine," Hobbes replied. "Actually, I'm glad I finally know the truth. Now, I know who my parents really were and to be honest, I've never felt better."

"WHEN I GET MY HANDS ON THOSE TWO ALIENS, WHEREVER THEY ARE, I'M GONNA GIVE THEM SUCH A THRASHING! IT'S GONNA BE BOLT THIS AND FIRE THAT! OH, THEY'RE IN FOR IT!" Calvin shouted, cracking his knuckles.

"Thank you very much," Hobbes said to Bugenhagen, ignoring Calvin. "Thank you for telling me that story."

Just then, Cloud's PHS rang. He answered it and hang up just about as fast.

"Come on you two," Cloud said, guiding Calvin and Hobbes to the exit. "Everyone's waiting by the fire. I'm sure they want to hear all about it." h