As always the standard disclaimer applies: I do not own the Happy Tree Friends; they are the property of Mondo Media. I own only my own characters and this story.
73 – DATE AT SUNSET
Barry kept his date. The early evening found him up on the roof sitting beside Emily on a picnic blanket while watching a spectacular sunset. It was warm evening, even for the roof at so many meters above sea level and the two teens were watching the sunset display with appreciation. They were alone on the roof at that moment and neither was sorry about that.
"It's nice to have some quiet time for a change" said Emily.
"Yeah" said Barry, "we've been spending so much time these last weeks dealing with crisis after crisis that it's good to have an evening to ourselves."
"Very true" said Emily, "and we have a great evening for it too, no clouds, the breeze is very light, you wouldn't guess that we're so high up."
"Nobody out here but us" said Barry, "that's a little surprising, wouldn't you say?"
"Yes" said Emily, "but sometimes that happens. I think people are getting a bit tired of flying and not being able to go outside the city. Coming up on the roof can be a reminder of that."
"Citywide cabin fever, huh?" said Barry, "I suppose that's predictable but somehow it shouldn't seem like that. The city's so big that it's not like everyone has to stay in their own homes."
"Maybe not," said Emily "but there's something to be said for being able to get outside, really outside, and wander around once in a while. We might want to think about finding a place to land pretty soon."
"I don't know" said Barry, "we can't land here on the plains, it's too flat. Not very defensible although we would see any attackers coming from a long way off. But that's not enough if it's very easy to approach us."
"But how long do we stay up here?" asked Emily, "eventually we have to land."
"There are more mountains east of here" said Barry, "not as high the huge ranges we've already crossed but still respectable. We'll at least have to go through those mountains too. The Animal City is there and we'll definitely need to confer with their leaders. After that, who knows?"
"Mmm" said Emily reflectively, "the famous Animal City. I've never seen it. Is it nice?"
"I always think so" said Barry.
"I wish we could go see it" said Emily.
"We can when we get there" said Barry.
"You mean you can" said Emily.
"You can too" said Barry, "as my guest. I have a right to invite my friends to my home. When we get there you can come down into the city with me if you want. I'm sure Loco won't mind."
"Then all my friends will be mad at me" said Emily with a smile, "because I'll get to leave the city. They'll all want to go with me."
"That's no fun" said Barry with a smile, "that would cramp our personal space." Emily laughed.
"But seriously" she said, "I think when we get to the Animal City a lot of our people are going to want to go down and visit it, if only to get out of Metramegopolis for a day or two."
"I don't know if that's a good idea" said Barry seriously, "I don't think the Animal City is prepared for an influx of tens of millions of visitors. They'll have something to say about that and I doubt it will be very welcoming. No humans live there. Some A.I.s do, but only a very small number. The Metramegopolitan animals will probably be able to go there without much trouble but there's a lot of crossover between those two communities. A lot of our animals have relatives there. I'm sure they'll be allowed to visit but I don't know about anyone else. Not many humans or A.I.s have ever been there even for a visit because it's been so far away until now. We need to discuss it in council. This is a new situation that I don't think has ever come up before. We'd better deal with it while we still have the time." Barry considered the problem for a moment. "This may be a touchy one" he said at last, "you and I, as Councillors, could probably visit regardless of what policy is adopted, if only for business reasons. Still, I wouldn't be surprised if Mayor King and Dane pushed for the non-animal Councillors not to leave Metramegopolis, if only to keep solidarity with everyone else and not arouse bad feeling."
"Meaning none of us get to go" said Emily, "except you because you have citizenship in the place along with your citizenship here."
"And you if you want" said Barry, "but we'll save that problem for when we have to actually deal with it."
Emily nodded and the two of them fell silent for a time. While they had been talking the sun had set and the evening deepened toward night. The stars were coming out one by one and far off in the west not far above the horizon they saw the thin crescent of the new moon just beginning to wax.
"Look at that" said Barry pointing at the sky, "no matter what happens here the universe continues to go about its business like always."
"Yes" said Emily snuggling up next to him, "at least there's that constant in life."
As the night had darkened the Milky Way had become visible as a luminous band across the sky. Both teenagers looked at it.
"When there's such beauty in the universe" said Barry softly, "it's hard to believe we're always involved in wars."
"I don't think XL-Jack-3 has any appreciation for beauty" said Emily with a sigh.
"Maybe not" said Barry turning Emily's face towards his own, "but I do."
"Look!" said Emily suddenly pointing upward, "a shooting star! Make a wish."
"Already have" said Barry drawing Emily towards him, "and I got it."
They kissed then and it was good.
(To Be Continued)