Chapter 14 – Destiny Bond

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As they're having dinner, Mr. Peabody noticed Sherman's evident blushing and Penny's sweet smile. Knowing that something's going on, he decided to start a talk with them.

"So how's the project, Sherman?", Mr. Peabody asked.

"We got it covered, Mr. Peabody.", Sherman replied.

"How's working along with Penny?"

"She's very nice, and sweet, and caring. She's very good at drawing, too. She even.. "

"Even what?"

"She even..."

"I even punched him when he tried to slack around.", Penny interrupted, giving a mean look to Sherman, and trying to save their secret.

"A punch? You're blushing because of a punch, Sherman?"

"Uh... Yeah. ", Sherman replied, and then covered his mouth.

"Really?"

"Yes, Mr. Peabody.", Penny said, rolling her eyes to her partner.

"Hmm... Somethng's not right."

The project partners skipped a heartbeat. Their secret might have been disclosed.

"Anyway, would you like me to tur your presentation to a pop-up book? It's more aesthetical and interesting.", the genius suggested.

"Uh... okay, Mr. Peabody.", the two sighed in relief.

Being the first to finish, Mr. Peabody got the book and went to his room to "upgrade" it. The secret keepers were left on the dining room.

"Sherman, are you sure you remember what we promised?", Penny asked in an annoyed voice, "You almost spilled our secret!"

"I'm sorry, Penny. I don't intend to."

"Be careful next time, okay? We'll gonna get trouble once you spill it."

"A promise is a promise and I'm not gonna spill it."

Minutes later, the couple were finished eating and stood to have a walk.

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The two came in a picture-laden corridor. Penny stopped to look at her partner's pictures, and Sherman stayed beside her.

"So you've been on a flight with the Wright Brothers.", she asked, pointing to the picture.

"Yeah. I even learned how to bike."

"You already flew with them... Wait! I thought you don't know how to fly."

"They had the steers."

"Oh. How does it feel to be on that big plane?"

"It's awesome... but I prefer Mr. Da Vinci's plane more."

"Huh? Why?"

"Because I flew it with you, Penny."

"You preferred it because of me?", and she clung to his arms.

"Uh huh. Flying with you is much more... fun."

"Geez, thanks.", she replied with a tone of disappointment, pushing him lightly.

"What a crock! I'm expecting something sweeter than fun.", she thought as she crossed her arms.

Then, she looked closely on the adjacent picture.

"This painting is beautiful.", she complimented, "Who's that person beside you?"

"He's Mr. Vincent van Gogh. He painted that painting called The Starry Night."

"I wonder whan can I see he sky brimming with stars... You know, like in the painting."

"Mr. Peabody said that we cannot see too many stars at night because of the light we have on our devices and lamps."

"You mean we have to be on somewhere like the wild to see it?"

"Kinda. Or, perhaps, a total blackout will do."

The blond girl replied with a slow nod and pushed him to the next picture.

"Oh, look! Elephants with weird spiky hair!", she shrieked.

"They're not elephants. They're mammoths."

"Mammoths?"

"They were the relatives of the elephants that lived in the Ice Age."

"Ice Age? That place looked more of a winter wonderland to me."

"Haha. I guess so. Maybe we can go there and do some ice skating sometimes."

"I don't know how to...", she replied with a sly smile.

"Oh.", and he swiftly pulled her to slide the smooth floor. The two slid to and fro, both laughing in enjoyment. All of a sudden, Penny stopped and Sherman came crashing to her.

"Are you okay, Penny?", he asked.

"I'm fine.", she replied, fixing her hairband, "I think I saw a picture of Egypt."

"This?", he pointed.

"Who's that baby?"

"That's me."

"No, the other one."

"That's Moses."

"Moses? The one in the bible? The one who raised the sea and divided it in two?"

"Yeah. He's real."

"Woah! I want to see him!"

"We may as well tell Mr. Peabody about that."

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Some 45 minutes later, Mr. Peabody finished the pop-up book and called for the two. They ran towards the former's room.

"We're here, Mr. Peabody. ", Sherman said as they entered.

"Here's your project with my pop-up add-on.", Mr. Peabody replied, giving the book to the kids.

They did not hesitate to open it, and the pop-up thingy laid before their eyes.

"Wow... This is one of the best pop-up books I've ever seen.", Sherman said in awe.

"The way the pages pop and fold is so smooth.", Penny added.

"Way to go on the presentation, Sherman, Penny! Give your best, okay?", the genius suggested.

"We will, Mr. Peabody!"

"And one more thing, the coloring you've used dissolves in water, so do your best not to spill water on the book."

With that, the dog father went to the kitchen.

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By midnight, Sherman went for a walk and found Mr. Peabody in the kitchen. The latter has been eating.

"Why aren't you sleeping yet, Mr. Peabody?", the former asked.

"I'm not yet in the mood to sleep. Is Penny asleep?"

"Yeah."

"So, why aren't you sleeping yet too, Sherman?"

"Can we ask you something, Mr. Peabody?"

"What is it?"

"Can we go to the future?"

"Why?"

"We just got to a talk about our futures. And, we want to see our looks when we grow up."

"Is this her idea?"

"Nope. It's our idea."

"Hmm... You just want to see if you two are getting married. Am I right?"

"N-no, Dad.", Sherman blushed.

"Sherman, time travelling is a very serious business. Going to the future is extremely dangerous, for it may alter your present self with what you've seen there. What's the point of living here in the present if you already know what lies ahead?"

"I see, Mr. Peabody.", Sherman agreed, yawned, and later fell asleep.

The dog father carried his son to the latter's room. He put his son beside his evident-yet-denied crush and saw that they inevitably cuddled each other.

"Good night, Sherman, Penny.", he whispered, tapping their heads.

Afterwards, he went to the WABAC to do something. As he entered, he saw the picture of the kids in his cellphone. He came with an idea for his new invention and rushed to his room.

"The future is really exciting to see. It's like being driven by the Wheel of Fate. Hmm...", he thought, "That made no rhyme."

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Notes:

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To start with, just a tip and a mystery effect.

Always remember that all of the chapters here were interrelated by one way or another. It might seem that some were irrelevant, but I assure you that they have importance. Not to spoon-feed anyone, it's for you to find out. It could be here or there or on the next titles.

*insert scientific trollface performing Mr. Peabody's hypnosis*

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Anyway, I have my reasons also for the weird chapter title. And yeah, it shared the name to a Pokemon move (Too bad, but still relevant. Research it for further info).

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Up next, I'll adhere to what I've written in the story description/summary.
"S**t's going to get real" in Chapter 15, so beware! … And, read it too, of course!