For the next following weeks whatever channel Violet was trying to watch on TV talked about the single same thing, the way the supers had frustrated the Underminer´s attempts at world conquest. Though at first she had felt flattered, now Violet found it irksome.
Seeing the same blurry footage of the Gilgenbot and eight figures fighting it at night; under the rain in the middle of a totaled street.
At least none of them had been seriously injured, even Merida; the most vulnerable of them all showed up at school the next week with only some slight bruises and cuts.
When Mrs. Fink, the school Nurse and the principal in that order asked what had happened, the answer was always the same.
-Ae have begun fighting again locally tae get back in shape- She lied with the best smile she could muster, the same kind she always used when caught doing something wrong; obviously fake but barely acceptable.
Of course this answer wasn´t exactly welcome among the school staff but at least they left her alone, so things continued until the much anticipated final school week arrived.
One could almost feel the tension in that room; students practically jumped in their seats with excitement, all except five of them, to which summer vacations eren´t exactly something special.
These five listened (or at least pretended to) as Mrs. Fink droned on -…this will be the last week our friends will be attending with us, after that they´ll be returning home to Scotland, I hope your stance here was a pleasant one and that you learned lots of new things- until finally something caught Violet´s attention.
Merida was sitting next to her and was poking her softly, the brunette turned around to look at the redhead.
-Whit did she just say? - Merida asked.
-About you going back home? - Violet asked back.
-Nae, not that- The redhead answered –After that-
She hadn´t been paying attention either but something had interested her so Violet listened carefully.
-…and finally this Thursday, Metroville high will host its annual talent show, where all students are encouraged to participate…- The teacher said in her usual, raspy voice.
-Uh, it´s just the school talents show…you know we prepare an act, the parents come and then we play that act in the auditorium- she whispered back at Merida
The redhead was about to say something when the teacher asked them to keep quiet, so both girls remained silent until the end of the day when they were walking down the halls and out of school Violet decided to ask her friend why she was so interested in something as simple as that.
-So- she began –are you planning on entering or something?-
-Maybe- Merida answered thoughtful as they headed side by side towards the end of the street –Ae was thinking maybe me and the boys could prepare an act-
This caught Violet of guard but she replied sarcastically as quickly as she could –Sure, ladies and gentlemen the Metro Ville high school is proud to present!- she said in an ominous voice –The archer that never misses and the boys that can control storms!-
Merida didn´t laugh –Ae am serious Vi-
Looking at her stern face Violet realized she indeed meant what she was saying –Ok, ok sorry. But what do you plan on doing?-
-Well…-
(skip) (skip) (skip) (skip) (skip) (skip) (skip) (skip) (skip) (skip) (skip) (skip)
Thursday came as all days do and the school auditorium was overflowing with mothers, fathers, boys and girls taking their seats or ready to go up front into the wooden platform with a red curtain on the background.
Some looked nervous, others quite confident and most of them where doing some last minute rehearsals behind the stage.
The Parr family was dressed casually, walking through the crowd as Bob apologized on several occasions for bumping on people as their struggled to their seats, and finally they made it to four unoccupied chairs. Helen and Bob sat together with Jack-Jack on Helen´s lap. Violet and Dash sat next to them.
With everyone on their places the lights went out with only a spotlight shining on the center of the stage, the principal appeared under the light and began giving a speech.
-Hello and welcome to Metroville high school's annual talents show, I want to thank you all for being here…-
As the man talked Dash mocked a mouth opening and closing with his hand and a very bored look on his face.
-Our first act tonight will be Cassie Berenson, please let's give her a round of applause- Claps echoed in the auditorium as the principal backed away and a small, dark-skinned and short haired girl took stage.
The girl recited a poem about nature and global warming and when she was done she left the stage with another round of applause. The principal took stage once again and announced the next act; this process repeated itself over and over again as Violet saw a boy who could walk in his hands (pretty sure Merida could do that too if she wanted), a girl doing a split (same), a boy juggling, stuff and a girl taking a white rabbit out of a black hat.
-And now our foreign exchange students will present us a piece of traditional Scottish music, please…-
The curtains opened once more and behind them appeared Andhra, Duncan and Artair. The way they were dressed caused some giggles and many amazed looks; they wore formal kilts.
That meant that the upper part of their outfit was as that of any tuxedo but instead of that, there were carefully ironed, black skirts that reached to their knees, high white socks and shiny black shoes. But no one laughed when they looked at Merida in a light blue dress with golden trims that seemed to sparkle under the white spotlight. The dress had long sleeves and a golden belt that hung loosely in front of her.
Over her fiery red hair a golden tiara with a small blue gem completed the outfit.
The three boys were holding musical instruments, Andhra something that looked like a flute but Violet recognized as a low whistle; Artair held a ten-string violin that she was pretty sure was called fiddle and Duncan (obviously VERY nervous) was sitting next to an enormous harp (while the brunette ignored it, the instrument was called clàrsach) that almost matched him in size.
Merida however didn´t carried any instrument. The redhead walked towards the microphone and cleared her throat before speaking.
-Uh, hi! - She began doubtful, but her speech took more strength as it went on –As ye may ken my friends and Ae will be returning home tomorrow, in the name of all of them Ae want tae thank ye fir being such a charming hosts and teaching us many things. We´ll always carry a piece of yer city in our hearts- Bob and Helen where smiling with the eloquence of the speech and listened carefully for her next words –and just like that we would like ye tae carry a piece of Scotland in yer hearts tae-
The redhead stopped to take breath and continued.
-Truth is we have been feeling a wee bit homesick lately, so we chose this song fir ye tae hear. Et is called "Caledonia" that´s the name the ancient Romans gave to Scotland, maybe ye´ve heard et before but if ye haven´t …well, here et goes-
Suddenly Andhra began playing his instrument and several notes pierced the silence, everyone in the audience grew completely quiet as the haunting sound transported them to a faraway kingdom from times lost long ago. Merida began singing
-I don't ken if ye can see
The changes that have come over me
In these last few days Ae've been afraid
That Ae might drift away
So I've been telling old stories, singing songs
That make me think about where Ae came from
And that's the reason why Ae seem
So far away today-
Violet smiled, Edna had picked the right name for the redhead. The Skylark had a beautiful singing voice.
-Oh, but let me tell ye that Ae love you
That Ae think about ye all the time
Caledonia ye're calling me
Now Ae'm going home
But if Ae should become a stranger
You ken that et would make me more than sad
Caledonia's been everything
Ae've ever had-
Once again the whistle came into the music and Violet could barely hold back tears. If Merida had really felt like this why hadn´t she told her?
-Now Ae have moved and Ae've kept on moving
Proved the points that Ae needed proving
Lost the friends that Ae needed losing
Found others on the way-
As she sung this line Violet saw for the briefest moment that the redhead looked at her and smiled, but then continued singing.
Ae have kissed the fellas and left them crying
Stolen dreams, aye there's no denying
Traveled turns and tides with coattails flying
Somewhere in the wind-
The chorus repeated itself and then came another verse; the song was over after a few minutes. When finally they music stopped most of the audience was smiling broadly, others held back tears and a few were full out sobbing but absolutely all of them erupted in applause as the Highlanders made small bows and abandoned the stage for the next act to take place.
(skip) (skip) (skip) (skip) (skip) (skip) (skip) (skip) (skip) (skip) (skip) (skip)
Friday was the last day of school and Mrs. Fink spent most of the day wishing them happy holidays, when the bell finally rang everyone said goodbye to Artair, Merida (girls and boys equally sad about them leaving) Duncan and Andhra.
Violet and Merida walked outside for the last time.
-So, you´re leaving…- Violet began timidly.
-Ae- the redhead answered and both shared an awkward silence until Violet revealed what was worrying her.
-Merida? - She began –Those things you said in your song, why had you never mentioned them?-
Merida doubted before answering –Vi, remember the story about how…ye ken, the one Artair told ye?-
Violet nodded and the redhead continued –Et mentioned a great danger that we would have tae face, until a few days ago we didn´t ken whit it was, or when would et arrive but this last few days…the boys and Ae, all of us have been feeling…strange- The lass struggled to find the right words –Et is like homesickness but more powerful, we feel empty and we ken we have tae go back-
Violet fixed her eyes on hers –All of you feel this? I thought only, you know ...the boys would-
-So did Ae, but strangely Ae was the first tae feel et and et became stronger as day passed, great danger approaches and we have tae stop et-
-Do you want us to help- Violet offered –my family and I can…-
Merida however politely refused her offer –Nae Vi, thanks fir everything but this is our fight, everyone has one-
The sun shone brightly over the empty suburban street as the redhead said goodbye
–Our flight leaves tonight, actually Ae am heading tae the airport in a few hours…just in case ye want tae, ye ken, come and say farewell-
Violet hugged her friend, who returned the hug slightly surprised at first; then a bit stronger –Wouldn´t miss it- Violet assured her.