Chapter 11 – The End of the Term
The Team Static incident had made it necessary for the Academy to call off Parent-Teacher Conference Week. Though she would've liked to see her parents then, Pelame was content to rest up for that holiday week, needing it after her showdown with Paras. Torden had stopped being a pikachu as he had wanted it. He immediately enjoyed his new raichu form. His voice and attitude were no different from before. Simpson and most of the students working on the Llyria Rocket were livid with Pelame for not being able to save the rocket. However, any student who didn't resent her for that (as well as any student she just couldn't please) had found a new respect for her, which she insisted on not hogging all to herself. All in all, life had returned to normal.
After two-and-a-half months, it was finally graduation week at Llyria Academy. Classes had ended on the previous Friday. All the students had already turned in their end-of-term assignments and taken their finals. Torden had achieved high marks in Professor Henry's technology class, Pugno aced Professor Aramir's combat class, and Blessing had surprisingly managed to get an above-average grade in Professor Euclid's Architecture class. Of course, it was no surprise to anyone that Pelame passed Professor Bibli's class with a completely perfect score. The four friends were definitely set to graduate.
However, as Parent-Teacher Conference Week had been canceled, that meant Torden would have to see his father today. All the parents had arrived for the upcoming graduation ceremony, including Torden's parents, to his surprise. It didn't make him happy to be seeing his father again. Even as he was being fitted for a graduation gown and cap, his mind was only on the upcoming visit.
"You'll have to face him sooner or later, Torden," Pugno said as he stepped out of the fitting room. "The ceremony is tomorrow. He'll likely be there along with your mom."
Torden said nothing to that. He opted to change the subject. "How do I look?"
"You look fine. But you're deep in thought about your dad. I can tell by your face. I remember you having that expression when you opened up about him—"
"You look great, too, Pugno. I think we're both ready to graduate now. They ought to reschedule the ceremony to today."
Pugno sighed in resignation. He knew he was getting nowhere with his friend. Unbeknownst to him, Torden had already made his mind up about something.
"I gotta admit, Pelame, I'm kinda jealous of the fact that you can handle those harsh things said to you by the science majors," Blessing said as she tried on her gown. "I mean, it's not your fault the Llyria Rocket exploded. It's Paras's."
"It's all right, Blessing," Pelame responded. "I wouldn't like it if a project I spent semesters on was wrecked, either. Would you?"
"No, but I'd blame the culprit for it, not the bystander. After all, it was an accident." Blessing took a moment to admire herself. "By the way, how do I look in this?"
"You look great," Pelame answered. "Please don't follow that question up with—"
"You sure? It doesn't make my butt look big?"
"I hate vain questions like that…" Pelame then answered out loud. "No, it does not. And I don't want to look there, so don't ask me to."
"All right, then. And for the record, you look stunning in that gown, Pelame. Totally top student material!"
Pelame giggled at that compliment.
It was now 6:00PM in the evening of Sixthmonth 24th, 1512. Tomorrow would be the graduation day. Torden was now standing in front of the Llyria County's local Sing Inn, waiting for his chance. After about ten minutes, he took his chance. As soon as he saw his mom leave, he quickly snuck by her and propped the door open with his foot.
"Well, there's an advantage to my big walkers," he thought to himself. He then grabbed the door and let himself in. To his surprise, no one was inside, though he heard a shower running. He remembered how his dad always showered before bed. "I've got time. I'll wait him out. I always was the more patient one, anyway." To occupy himself, he got out a piece of paper and a pencil. With his new hands lacking fingers, he had to use a special pencil for Pokémon with no fingers. He slipped his left hand into the ring in the middle of the pencil. His penmanship hadn't diminished a bit as a result of his evolution. As he was writing, he heard the shower water stop, meaning his father was about done in the bathroom. The moment finally came, and his dad exited the bathroom. He took a look at the raichu in front of him and was confused.
"Pauline?" he asked. "Didn't I tell you to bring back some food? Or did you already?" Upon closer inspection, he noticed the pencil in the raichu's left hand. "Wait… you aren't…"
"Yes, Demetrius," Torden responded. "It's me, Torden. Your son."
Demetrius glared at his offspring. "No son of mine writes with his left. Nor does any son of mine enroll in a class taught by that hussy Adorbs. And also, nor does any son of mine work with a blinder. Who do you think you are, calling yourself my son?!"
"A contributing member of society," Torden answered with surprising calm. "Why can't you accept that it's moving forward? Why do you insist on living in the past, and why did you let those beliefs of yours cause you to abuse your family?"
"Abuse? You're calling everything I've ever done for you 'abuse?'"
"Well, what more appropriate word is there to describe forcing me to write with my right by sticking my left in a ball glove, sending me off to that slave camp of a school where I got caned for trivial but justified offenses—seriously, talking to the opposite gender was forbidden; what institution in their right mind does that?!—treating mom like an object rather than the family member she is, shunning any Shiny Pokémon who exists, and trying to get me to be you? You've never been a real dad to me, Demetrius. All you've been is a domestic abuser. I may be a raichu now, but I still have this scar to prove your abuse." He pulled back a section of fur on his left arm to reveal a small claw scar. "You're lucky I never showed this to anyone, or you'd be in jail."
Demetrius simply sighed. "See, this is why I didn't want you taking Adorbs's class. She indoctrinated you with this nonsense. That whole corrupt Academy brainwashed you!"
"You're wrong, Demetrius. I have felt this way about you my entire life, ever since you first saw me write with my left! Look, I know you were raised in a stricter time, but did you forget that you yourself were part of a new generation? Times change, Pokémon grow, and society progresses. And in time, we adapt to change. It's not just wild Pokémon that need to do that; all Pokémon do. But for some reason, you wouldn't. And when it became clear to you that I would move forward along with society, you stopped wanting to have anything to do with me. That's why you let me go to Llyria Academy, because you just wanted me out of your life. But even then, you still made one more attempt to control me. You tried many times to have the Academy put me in classes that conform to your ridiculous standards. Even they knew you were full of it, so they kindly refused your requests. In all the time I attended Llyria Academy, I've never felt a greater sense of belonging and support. Professor Adorbs and Professor Henry have both been some of the most supportive Pokémon I've ever known. If I had gotten such support from you, I wouldn't feel so harshly about you. But what you did wasn't support. You've tried everything you could to hold me back and turn me into some kind of fundamentalist. If anyone's 'brainwashed' me, it's you."
Demetrius said nothing to that.
"But saying that I hate you would be too strong a way to phrase how I feel about you. After all, as I said before, I understand why you're who you are. I can't blame you for being a product of your time. I had just hoped you would let the past be the past, so you could raise a happy family. If you can't be proud of me for disobeying you about class enrollment, then can you be proud of me for helping stop Team Static, or for creating a helpful computer program and a popular website?"
"Absolutely not," Demetrius answered. "There is no making up for associating with blinders, females, and advocates for corrupt modern society. My son is a Pokémon who would know that."
"Well then, you never had a son."
Demetrius's glare hardened as Torden continued speaking.
"I will always appreciate the forward direction society is going. I always have. You never had a son who lived in the past. You have a son who was reluctantly willing to put up with your hot air for years if it meant the happiness of his parents. But no one in your household was happy except yourself. I wasn't happy, and mom wasn't happy. One of these days, you'll lose her, too. And you'll only have yourself to blame."
Demetrius snapped at that, retaliating with a Fire Fang attack. Torden anticipated this and blocked it with a timely use of Protect just as his mother entered the room with some groceries.
"This is your problem. Excessive physical violence at the dumbest of provocations. You've bitten me many times with that Fire Fang of yours. But it won't work on me anymore."
At that, Demetrius gave up.
"I see how it is, Torden. And you're right: I never had a son. Pauline is my only family."
"Fair enough. Then let's both stay out of each others' lives."
Torden then exited the Inn room. Pauline waved goodbye to the son she saw her husband disown.
"I love you, my boy."
"What was that?" Demetrius said threateningly to his wife, who instantly got to work preparing dinner.
"I see…" Henry sadly responded after Torden recounted the earlier confrontation. "Well, Torden, it's good you finally let him know all that and handled it so well."
"Yeah…" Torden said. "You know, Professor, you've always been like the father I always wanted but never had. You've always supported me in everything I did. To me… well… you're more than just a professor."
Henry didn't know how he would respond to such a giant compliment. He called after his pupil as he started to leave.
"Torden? Look… if you need somewhere to stay then…" Henry stammered. "Then… why not stay here with me? I'd be happy to share my household with you."
"Wh-what?! You really mean that?!"
"Certainly!"
"Well, how could I say 'no' to that?"
Henry and Torden exchanged a quick hug.
"I'll see you tomorrow at the ceremony!" Torden said as he left.
"I'm looking forward to it!" Henry responded.
At 7:00PM, Pinna and Neve arrived at Pelame's dorm, ecstatic to see their daughter again.
"There's my little girl!" Pinna said, giving his daughter a hug.
"Pinna, she isn't our little girl anymore," Neve scolded. "She's our young lady!"
The family group hug lasted for a couple more seconds.
"I'm so happy to see you again!" Pelame greeted. "It's been too long."
"Likewise," Pinna responded. "We came to see our young lady graduate. Suma Cum Laude in History sure is a prestige. As is taking on Team Static."
"We heard all about it when we got into town," Neve added. "We're so proud of you!"
"Mom, I can't take all the credit," Pelame modestly answered back. "I had lots of help. Plus, Paras disbanded the team himself."
"Nevertheless, you still played a valuable part in their downfall," Pinna summated. "I heard from Professor Bibli that you drove out some kind of weird power out of him. A 'Dark Blessing,' right?"
"Yeah. It was a weird experience, but it was somehow refreshing. It's like his soul connected with mine."
"Sure sounds mysterious. Hopefully one day all this craziness can be solved. But if anyone can solve it, it'll be you, Pelame."
"Ehehehe… maybe…"
At the same time Pelame's family reunited, so did Pugno's.
"Well, well, look at our little guard-in-training," Beltier and Jackle greeted upon entering the dorm.
"Mom! Dad!" Pugno cried, hugging his parents. "It's been ages!"
"My goodness," Jackle said. "Your hugging sure feels tighter. Your muscles really developed."
"Yeah… I've been working out a lot. Professor Aramir was quite a firm Sifu."
"I bet."
"I'd love to meet the guy," Beltier responded. "From your letters to us throughout the semester, he seemed to be a great match for you."
"Oh, he's amazing!" Pugno reminisced in excitement. "He taught me all kinds of stuff! I'll show you after the ceremony."
"Sounds good, son."
As the soon-to-be-graduates agreed, they all decided to treat their families to dinner at Café Flabébé. Pelame, Pugno, Torden, and Blessing were far from the only students who had that idea, as the restaurant was packed near to capacity. This added lots of time to the waiting for their food, and therefore lots of time to catch up.
"Well, your final semester went smoothly," Neve said. "I mean, despite the Team Static incident."
"That sure must've been some fight," Pinna added. "I wish I could've been here to see it. Nevertheless, I sure am proud of you, Pelame."
"Hey, don't give the credit just to your kid, Pinna," Beltier interjected. "From what Pugno said, everyone played a part in Team Static's downfall."
"Yeah, like how Torden charged an Iron Tail EMP," Henry added. "That sure was awesome of you, sport." He gave Torden an affectionate pat on the shoulder.
"By the way, Henry, how's that adoption thing working out?" Blessing asked.
"Oh, it'll go through in a week or so, once I fill the paperwork out. I just wonder how good a parent I'll be." He turned to Professor Adorbs. "I'll come to you for help if I need any."
"I'm flattered," Adorbs said, blushing. "But really, Henry, it's not hard to raise a child. Besides, you'll soon have a wife."
"I WHAT?!" Henry was shocked to hear this. As far as he was aware, no one had any romantic feelings toward him. "Who is it?"
"That would be me," said a raichu who took the saved seat at the table.
"Mom?" Torden exclaimed.
"So, I'm gonna be his stepdad?" Henry asked incredulously. "But isn't that bigamy?"
"No, it isn't. Demetrius kicked me out of the motel we were staying in once he saw me cry after Torden left last night. He didn't give me time to explain. He just threatened to break my neck with his Fire Fang attack if I didn't get out of his sight that moment, adding that anyone who pities sympathizers of those he hates should be executed. For my own safety, I got an annulment from my marriage to him."
"Aren't you worried he'll find out?"
"No. I don't fear him anymore. It was only because I was afraid of him before that I let him do all those terrible things to Torden. The boarding school that beat him for anything they could think of, his beating of him for much the same thing; our house was an abusive one. By all rights, Child Services should've been called long ago. It was only because we were both too afraid to make a report to the police. He ruled us with fear and force."
"Well, I promise not to be anything like that. I'd like to be the father Torden always wanted. Will you marry me?"
With happy tears in her eyes, Pauline said "Yes!"
Soon after the proposal, everyone's food arrived. Since Pauline was an unexpected guest, she had to make an extra order for her own dinner. Torden immediately dug into his food.
"Aren't you going to wait until your mom's food arrives?" Pugno asked in a somewhat offended tone.
"I'm starving, Pugno!" Torden complained as a response.
"Well, at least show some manners in front of your new family."
"That's my boy…" Pauline said. "It's kinda nice seeing him act like his true self. Get used to that, Henry."
"Oh, I have in the time I've known him as a student," Henry replied.
Everyone had a hearty laugh at that. Once Pauline's food arrived, they all had their dinner.
The big day finally arrived. Sixthmonth 25th, 1512 was the date and 10:00AM was the time for all the students to get ready for the ceremony, which was to occur at 12:00PM. As soon as the students got into their gowns and caps, they were off to the island in the middle of Lake Llyria. Seeing that island brought back lots of memories for all the students, but most especially Pelame and Pugno.
"My dreams began coming true on that island," Pelame wistfully thought. "It's been three years already." She pulled out her anthology book and took a look at the blank spot. No new words had appeared in it since the Team Static incident, but she was still happy to have gotten somewhere in solving that mystery. But now that she was graduating, where would she go from there? She couldn't worry about that now. And meanwhile, Pugno was reminiscing as well.
"The Lake where my training really started…," he remembered. "I can't wait to show Captain Keldeo my new moves." His parents were certainly impressed when he demonstrated to them last night, giving him a vote of confidence. But like his girlfriend, he was now focused on the graduation ceremony.
Now was the anticipated time. The small stage in the middle of the plaza was now much bigger and more ornate. All of the students packed the plaza to capacity, as the families of the grads did the same for the bleachers. Whenever a student's name was called along with any special achievement titles they earned, the family member of that student cheered the loudest of all of them. But then, this happened.
"Pelame," Professor Kudzu called. "Summa Cum Laude. History Department top student." At that, Pinna practically deafened everyone nearby with his uproarious cheering for his daughter.
"YOU'RE THE BEST, SWEETIE!" he cried. Pelame turned to smile and wave at him after receiving her diploma. She also directed a quick "shush" gesture at him. On the other hand, Pugno's parents were much more modest.
"Pugno," Professor Kudzu called. "Summa Cum Laude. Combat Department top student." While Jackle and Beltier's cheering was loud, it was nowhere near to Pinna's extent.
"Torden," Professor Kudzu continued after Pugno got his diploma and took his seat. "Cum Laude. Technology Department top ten placer." Henry and Pauline cheered for their son.
"Blessing. Cum Laude. Archaeology Department top fifteen placer." Professor Adorbs cheered for her daughter.
"Kasumi. Magna Cum Laud—"
Suddenly, there was a scream from the bleachers, getting everyone's attention. A manectric was using Fire Fang to bite down on a raichu's left arm as two vigoroth security guards caught up to him and began prying him off. Torden knew exactly what was going on, so he went up to the bleachers. While he was getting there, Henry stepped in to try to defend his fiancée, only to receive a Flamethrower for his trouble. It was then that Torden stepped in between them and used Protect. He then followed up with a Flash. With Demetrius temporarily blinded, the vigoroth guards cuffed him.
"This is all your fault!" he screamed in a random direction. "You stole my family from me!"
"No, Demetrius," Torden said. "You drove your own family away with your forceful ways. Now, mom and I belong to a kinder family." He then addressed the guards. "Take him away."
"With pleasure," officer Vigoroth answered. "We got a special place for domestic abusers." And so they were off with Demetrius ranting and raving. Torden then went to his parents.
"I'll be fine, son," Pauline said. "Thanks for your help. Now go with your fellow students."
"Okay, mom," Torden answered. "Dad, look after her, okay?"
"I will," Henry replied.
With that interruption over, the ceremony got to conclude.
Soon after the ceremony ended, Pelame, Pugno, Blessing, and Torden went to Lake Llyria with their families. They wished to create one final memory to share before going on their separate ways. All the parents had finished setting their cameras up and got into the picture once the timers were activated.
"Blessing, please face forward this time," Pugno advised.
"Just this once, only 'cause our families are here," Blessing responded.
"Okay. Smile," Pelame said. Everyone smiled pleasantly as the cameras took their photo. Surprisingly, Blessing cooperated with Pugno.
"Parents only now!" Pinna suggested. The graduates left the picture and let their folks have this next picture to themselves. "All righty! Kids only now!" And at that, the graduates gathered around to have their very own picture.
"Excellent work, everyone," Pinna congratulated. "Now then, I think it's time we roasted our marshmallows before any wild Pokémon snatch them up." On that note, the adults were off to their campground. "Be careful, kids. And have fun!"
"We will, dad," Pelame responded. She then went with her pals to their own campground.
That night, the graduates gathered around their campfire, roasting marshmallows. Pugno had bent one of the skewers in a way so that Pelame could grip it.
"Thanks, Pugno," she said.
"No problem, Pelame," Pugno responded. He then addressed Blessing. "Blessing, thanks for cooperating for those pictures."
"Yeah, sure," she said, slightly dismayed. "Though I don't like denying any camera the sight of my beautiful bottom."
"Blessing, don't you think everyone's seen your 'beautiful bottom' enough times already?" Torden asked. "I mean, for the entire time we've known you, you've flaunted it around worse than how I gloated that I had a first-run widescreen TV."
"Hey, when you have a figure as male-gazeworthy as mine, why not show it off? Besides, the scar I got on it from Team Static sure is a nice touch, right?"
To that, no response came from anyone.
"Puh. Whatever."
"Thing is, Blessing," Pelame said. "I'd like to remember you for more than just the fact that you have an abnormally big rear end. And the fact that you kept turning it to the camera every time I took your picture until now really had been crushing that desire. Every picture of you that will be going into my Llyria Academy photo album will be having your rear in it."
"Well, what else about me is worth remembering, Pelame?"
"Lots of stuff! All the class projects you did with us, all the movies you went out with us to see, all the games of Dodrio Talon Trot we played,…"
"Ah. I get it. I agree; those were fun times."
"That's the kind of thing I'll remember you by, Blessing."
"Well, you don't have to say it like that, as if we're never going to meet again. We're all pals here. We can meet any time… But… until then, I'll miss you guys. Except for you, Torden, since you'll be moving here to Llyria County."
"Yeah. I'll sure miss you, Pelame and Pugno," Torden added.
"We'll miss you, too," Pelame and Pugno said to Blessing and Torden. Torden then went to go poke the fire with his skewer to turn the firewood over. Suddenly, a cry of pain came from the ground under the fire pit.
"Hey, did you guys hear something?" he asked. Just then, Weston emerged from the ground, to everyone's surprise. "Weston? What were you doing in the ground?"
"I figured I'd play a harmless prank on you guys," Weston explained.
"By being our campfire?" Blessing asked incredulously. "So we've been eating marshmallows heated by your—"
"You know my flame doesn't work that way, Blessing. But yes, that's what I was doing."
"So, when were you going to reveal yourself?" Pugno asked. "Hopefully before you suffocated."
"Oh, I had air down there. I dug an air hole. I didn't plan on revealing myself, at least not until I got skewered."
"Yeah… sorry about that," Torden said. "You okay, Firebutt?"
Weston shot a quick glare at Torden for the nickname. He then placed a hand on the source of his flame and the looked at his hand once he put it in front of his face. "Yep, no blood. I'm fine," he answered. "I'd never know if I was bleeding. My flame would cauterize it immediately. And Torden, would you please stop calling me that?"
"Sorry, but it's just such a fun thing to say…"
"Well, then refer to me as that in private conversation. I just don't like hearing it myself."
"Okay. If you say so. By the way, Weston, you're just in time for a special treat." Torden then went to the cooler he brought with him and brought out four metal canteens. He then poured the contents of one of them into the four small glasses on the table. "Sorry there's no glass for you, Weston, but you have a canteen."
"What is that stuff?" Pelame asked. "It smells awful!"
"Oooh, someone sure is adverse to alcohol. These are straight from the Twilight Kingdom's booze capital: Dustin Iced Teas!"
"Wait, Dustin?!" Pugno asked in shock. "Torden, you do know that those are made out of all the strongest alcoholic drinks, right?"
"Yeah. So?"
"Torden, are you trying to kill yourself? If you've never had alcohol before, Dustin Iced Teas are the worst ones to start with."
"Well, why do you think I'm starting with this barely-the-size-of-my-hand glass here?" At that, Torden gulped it down before Pugno could stop him. He slightly convulsed from the bitter taste. "Whoa, that's rough. You gonna have yours?"
"No thanks," Pugno answered.
"I won't be seen dead drinking it," Pelame curtly replied.
"Just a quick sip for me," Blessing answered.
"A quick sip for me, too," Weston added.
"All righty, then," Torden said, pouring out the appropriate denominations, including another helping for himself. "Bottoms up!"
The three then drank their shots, convulsing at the bitter taste.
"Sheesh, I'm surprised Blessing didn't take that literally," Pelame whispered to Pugno, who nodded in response.
"How my stomach didn't explode just now is a miracle," Weston said.
"Well, I know what drink I'll live happily without ever drinking again," Blessing added.
"Can't handle it?" Torden teased as he poured himself another helping. "This stuv's amaving!" He then drank his third helping, and then a fourth soon after.
After five helpings, Torden could drink no more. It only took that many to inebriate him.
"Hey, did annyon e-er wonner why widesreen mooies haa those black bars on the top and bottuuh uhthe screen?" Torden asked. "I mean, when will the Taailight Kinggum g—*hic* give widesreen TVs? I wanna watch Charge Brothers as iwaz meant to be see-see…" Torden crossed his legs. "Jussa sec." He got up and hobbled toward the bushes, but then fell over. Pugno and Blessing came forth to help him to the bushes. Once they brought him there, they let him have his moments alone.
"So, how is that stuff?" Pugno asked.
"Bitter," Blessing answered. "If I ever booze, I'd like it to be something that's much lighter, and I certainly wouldn't binge myself to—" She gestured toward Torden, who was currently relinquishing a lot of his stomach's contents. "…that point."
"Me neither. In fact, Pelame and I both hate alcohol. It tastes like so many of the worst-tasting medicines in the world. I actually imagine that being what it would taste like if you were to orally take a medicine not meant for the mouth."
"Heh. That sure is a way to put it."
Suddenly, Blessing felt a sharp pain in her behind. "YOW!" She quickly turned around and noticed Torden was holding one of her tail feathers in his hand.
"Hey, Blessing, whya got feathers, huh?" he asked. "You related to a Flyin'-dype Pokémon, or sommin'? Yapart pidgeot er what?"
"No, I'm not, Torden," Blessing answered, snatching back her tail feather. "And thanks for that sharp pain in my butt, boozo!" She then fitted her tail feather back where it belonged. "You're lucky it hasn't been long enough for me not to fit that back in. You almost ruined one of my body's best features!"
"What're feathers, any-yay? Like, birr-fur? Is fur too good for birrs? Is feathers too good fo—*hic* Feathers're cool! I wannahavefeathers!"
"I think you need to go to bed, Torden," Pugno said. "You've had too much to drink."
"NoIdin't! I only— *belch* I'm thirsty! I'm nahsleepy! I castayufer hours! Sleep's for weakings!"
"Sure it is, Torden," Blessing replied sarcastically. "Now come along." She and Pugno guided Torden back to the tent area.
"How is he?" Pelame asked.
"No better than before," Pugno answered. "He plucked out one of Blessing's tail feathers shortly after he relieved himself."
"Luckily I was able to place it back in," Blessing added. "As long as a plucked feather goes back into where it goes within two minutes, it can be saved. But still, it really hurt." At that moment, she cringed slightly. "And is sure is gonna be the biggest patience test ever not to scratch the resulting itch." She barely stopped herself from giving in to the urge to scratch. "Ugh… By the way, where's Weston?"
"He had to go back to his dorm," Pelame answered. "He still has one year left here, after all."
"Then won't be get in trouble for drinking with us?"
"No, he's of legal age."
"Oh, that's good. Jail's no place for a good kid like him, especially considering his dream to be a cop. Please tell me one of you brought a punch bowl or something."
"Not me."
"Nope," Pugno added.
"I'd ask Torden, but I think he's asleep," Blessing said, letting out a sigh afterward. "I'll be right back…" She then left the tent.
"Well, this sure was an interesting night, huh?" Pugno asked Pelame.
"Yeah, up until Torden fell victim to those Dustin Iced Teas," Pelame answered. "But overall, this was a fun day. I'm glad we got to go back to a normal life after the Team Static incident."
"Me, too. I mean, I don't want a mundane life, myself. However, I'd like a memorable life."
"I'd like a safe life. I don't like that feeling of constantly being in danger. When Team Static was around, I couldn't get rid of that uneasy feeling. I don't know how you stayed so comfortable, Pugno, but I envy you for that."
"Well, although I was more at-ease than you were, I was scared, too. When the mine collapsed, a part of me thought you got buried. All the time we contended with them, I worried about you. And like you, I was also definitely worried about the consequences of Paras succeeding in Operation Everstone. So, I was as relieved as you were when they got arrested."
"Yeah. I'm just hoping that wherever I end up working, I don't end up in the middle of some big debacle like that. I've heard that the Trailblazing International Guild of Historical Studies has had a reputation for being a safe place to work, so I've thought of applying there."
"Oh, they'd better accept you. But back to the point, being a Royal Guard definitely isn't a safe job. But it's my dream. Somehow, it doesn't worry me the danger that I'll be facing. I mean, it might not be as ludicrous as the Team Static incident, but still. But no matter how crazy things get, I'll do my best to stay alive. After all, I don't want to die on you, Pelame."
"Same goes for me."
As the two lovingly stared into each others' eyes, they went in for a kiss.
"Well, look what I hobbled into," Blessing said, entering the tent. Pelame and Pugno ended their kiss at that moment. "You won't do that in front of me, but you'll do that in front of a drunk and unconscious Torden?"
"We didn't see you come in," Pelame explained. "Also, why are you wearing a punch bowl on your posterior end?"
"Because I needed a way to keep me from scratching that itch on my tail feather area. My claws can't get through this thick glass."
"How did you even fit into that thing?"
"I'll spare you the details, Pelame. I gotta say, it's working out for me so far. But, boy is it humiliating. I feel like all those slapstick actors from five decades ago right now."
"And how will you remove it once you no longer need it?" Pugno asked.
"I'll worry about that tomorrow morning. It sure will be uncomfortable sleeping with a glass bowl on my butt, but what else can I do to save my tail feather?"
"Sheesh, the lengths you go to to preserve your looks…"
"Hey, I gotta look my best for all occasions. Good night." With that, she wriggled herself into her sleeping bag and went to sleep.
"Well, I think it's about time we turned in, too," Pugno noted. "Good night, Pelame."
"Good night, Pugno," Pelame responded back.
Blessing was the first one to awaken. Her rear end was quite chafed from wearing a makeshift cast on it all night, so she went outside to remedy that.
"All right, time to put that Rock Smash training video to use," she mentally noted. "Claws, do your thing."
The sound of the glass breaking woke Pelame, Pugno, and Torden up instantly. Blessing reentered the tent at that moment. "Good morning, everyone."
"Good morning, Blessing," Pelame and Pugno greeted.
"Good morning," Torden said with lots of lethargy. "I heard you break a window earlier, so thanks for adding that to my headache."
"Wow, Torden, hung over much?" Blessing responded. "And by the way, that wasn't a window I broke. See, you plucked off one of my beautiful tail feathers last night while you were drunk, so I had to stuff my butt into a glass punch bowl so I couldn't scratch my tail feathers clean off of it."
"How did you fit it onto that giant seat of yours?"
"Easy. I jumped butt-first into it, like Minus did in the silent film rip-off episode of Charge Brothers. And yes, it aches like crazy." She rubbed her bottom to relieve the chafing. "It can't be as bad as how much your head must be hurting again."
"Yeah… worst headache ever. I hardly even have the energy to stand up. Just gotta rest…" Torden fell back asleep.
"So, you two are looking healthy," Blessing said to Pelame and Pugno. "Good choice staying away from those Dustin Iced Teas."
"Well, we wanted to be healthy to say goodbye," Pelame responded. "Once our families get here, we're all leaving."
"Oh… that's right…" Blessing sounded sad upon noting that. "Isn't that them now?" She pointed at the four cars that had pulled up near the camping area. Two of them were packed near to capacity, with just enough room for one more passenger each.
"Good morning, Pelame," Pinna greeted from one of the cars. "Ready to put some road behind us?"
"Just a sec, dad," Pelame answered back. She turned back to Blessing. "Well, Blessing, I guess this is goodbye for now."
"But only for now," Blessing reassured. "We have each others' phone numbers. We can stay in touch. Still, it just won't be the same as you and Pugno not physically being here."
"I agree," Pugno added. "Life sure will be quieter without you and Torden constantly around, but it'll be a bit lonely because of it."
"Heh, that's a creative way to put it. But yeah, it sure is gonna kill me to wait until our next meeting. So, until then…"
The three friends went in for a group hug which was joined by Torden a few seconds later.
"Good luck, you two."
"Thanks. And same to you two," Pelame and Pugno said.
The group hug ended and the friends entered each of their families' cars. Adorbs and Henry drove off in the direction of Llyria Academy Campus while Pinna and Neve drove off in the direction leading back to Promised Land, with Jackle and Beltier following along.
"Hey dad," Pugno said. "Thanks for letting us use your tent."
"No problem, sport," Jackle responded.
From their seats in their families' cars, Pelame and Pugno took one last look at Llyria County.
"Oh, Pelame," Neve said. "We brought a letter for you from the King."
"Excuse me?!" Pelame said in shock. "King Kangaskhan II wrote to me?!" She took the letter and tore the envelope open. She set the paper on the back of her mom's seat and read it aloud.
"To Pelame,
I regret not being able to meet you during the last Genesis Day. And now that you've saved my country, as well as possibly the world, from what Team Static had planned, that regret has grown. Of course, I am a busy King, so I hope you understand why I couldn't personally thank you for your heroic efforts. I hope you can settle for a letter. Anyway, I thank you on behalf of my country for putting an end to Team Static.
As one of the World Leaders, I am indeed an Alpha-type. But you and all of Pocketurn know that already. I was surprised to hear you are also an Alpha. I must admit that I'm very curious about this, and I'm sure you are, too. But between us, I am the more experienced Alpha, which is why I'd be more than happy to train you in your Alpha power. I don't know much about that 'Dark Blessing,' but from all the coverage of the Team Static incident, it sounds tenacious. Please do write back with an answer. Whatever you decide, it'll be fine with me. And even if you refuse, I'll leave the offer open in case you change your mind. It's up to you.
Sincerely,
King Kangaskhan II of the Twilight Kingdom Royal Family
P.S.: This is Captain Keldeo writing now. Tell your dad I said 'hi!'"
Pelame was feeling a mix of flattery and bewilderment. Lots of things were running through her head at this moment.
"Wow. My daughter, thanked by the King himself," Pinna said proudly. "And what an offer that is! Want to take it?"
Pelame snapped back to reality at that question.
"You don't have to if you don't want to," Neve said, sensing her daughter's hesitation.
"Whew…," Pelame responded in relief. "Yeah, I'll have to turn him down for now. I'd like to focus on the Trailblazing Guild for now."
"Good idea, sweetheart," Pinna responded. "It's never a good idea to lapse from one major struggle directly into another. Just rest up for now."
And so, the trip back to Promised Land began. Neither she nor Pugno would ever forget their experiences nor their friends from the Academy. But their hopes were very high for now, as they knew their lives would truly begin.