After the...everything involving Nolan and the Black Suns Mari proposes going on a trip to where else Faraway town, a proposal that unsurprisingly the group did not find appealing for many reasons honestly the only reason they decided to go at all was because Sunny and Basil's therapists said it would do them some good to visit a familiar place with friends to work things out thus the Sunshine gang make their way to a familiar place
A Simple Empty House
We see the house Sunny and Mari grew up in still for sale with the 2 children now adults standing in front
Sunny: how has no one bought this yet? It's a good spot to live in
Mari: well, SOMEONE supposedly broke into it during a violent thunderstorm dragging a coffin inside
Sunny: funny (a grin on his face)
Mari: And they say a girl roams the house stalking any who enter always staring with her one open eye (trying way too hard to sell the "spookiness")
Sunny: less funny
Mari: come on don't be like that *giggle*
The 2 siblings walk away from the house
Sunny: why didn't da- sam- Father come with us?
Mari looks sadly seeing Sunny who still has "complicated feelings" with their father, but she completely understands
Mari: dad said he never wanted to come her after our mother passed saying "I want to be buried where she is that's how I've always wanted it and I don't deserve to go back to that town especially with everyone"
Sunny: oh, so he does care?
...
Sunny: I'm sorry it's just... we've been getting better lately especially after "that" entire ordeal but I...
Mari hugs Sunny
Mari: It's okay Sunny I don't want to force anything I just don't want you to be stuck in the past were well...past all of that were here in the present together we should be grateful for...pretty much everything
Sunny: are we still talking about Father or someone else?
Mari: *Sigh* That's the irritating part He's completely forgiven Basil and is at least accepting of Father but anytime you come up it's like a switch turns on then he becomes cold and distant and uses the "I've got work to do" line to get out of the conversation
Sunny: Oh yeah, he is a doctor now what exactly is he?
Mari: right now, just a general practitioner but Hero being Hero has impressed the wider medical community with his "groundbreaking thesis" that could save many lives in the future, from what I've heard so far if it works it could "bring people back from the dead" especially from here
Sunny froze after that line and turned around to see Mari pointing to her Neck and Head
Sunny: gooooood for him tch I know our lives are crazy but when did we go from over the top but plausible situations to just science fiction nonsense
Mari: well, it is all still in the planning stages convincing people to invest their wealth and resources to something that will make them even more rich, and giving our oh so lovely Hero a rather cushy job because you shouldn't milk and burnout the golden boy until the real work begins
Sunny: ugh let's just stop there makes me sick, come on let's go see Aubrey I think she went to her former home too
Mari: oh, then maybe you should go alone, she told me most of the details but I'm pretty sure she needs you more than me, I'll meet you at the secret spot
The 2 siblings go their separate ways
A Home Full of Warmth
It had been some time since Kel or Hero visited their home or even talk to their relatives over the phone after the incident with Mari and her subsequent re-appearance Hero has always been distant and Kel was busy with sports but now it was time to close the gap
Sally: Big bros you're here! (she is 6)
She goes for a group hug when Kel picks her up and hugs her along with Hero, Kim is there too since Faraway was her home as well and wanted to meet Kel's Family and visit her own
Hector: It's good to see you boys again you had this old man worried stiff especially you Kel you just can't stay out of trouble
Kel: sorry dad all I can say is that trouble found me this time and I didn't want to have it
Kelly: and who's this woman you brought with you a friend?
Hero: actually that's Kel's girlfriend if you can believe it(said with some snark)
Kel: Hey!
Kim: calm down babe it's alright, anyway it's nice to meet you Mr. And Mrs-
Before Kim could finish, she noticed that Kel's parents were "frozen" is a way which caught Kel and even Hero off guard
Hector: dear be honest is he paying you to be here
Kim: EXCUSE ME!? NO!
Kel: ARE YOU GUYS KIDDING ME?!
Hero: w-why would you e-even assume that?
Sally: eww love
Kelly: It's time to celebrate
Hector and Kelly explain that they never thought Kel would get with someone much less a pretty girl like her and they are very proud. They have a nice and hearty lunch as they talk about everything that has happened since they left Faraway everything from parts 1-4 from their perspectives. After Lunch Kel and Hero clean the dishes while Kim plays with Sally, Kel stares at Hero
Hero: yes Kel?
Kel: Nothing it's just been a while since I saw you smile man it's nice
Hero: heh barely noticed
There is some awkwardness
Hero: Kel I'm asking this as a brother how did you feel when Mari "died" and what you did after
Kel: whoa seriously man
Hero: I'm asking because I know you remember that one time, I snapped at you, and I know you remember most of what I said, and I still feel bad about it so now I ask genuinely how you felt and what you did and no I won't make this about Sunny I can tell all of you are getting sick of it
Kel motions towards the couch, Kim sends Sally to her room and listens in as both men sit down Kel begins to explain that when Mari was found "dead" of course he was shocked, scared, sad, and most of all worried for his brother, Aubrey, Basil, and especially Sunny. At the funeral he wanted to believe that Mari wasn't actually dead but sleeping and would wake up any moment a thought that now is incredibly ironic with hindsight since he believed he saw her breathing. He tried to be with Sunny but after their father left Sunny would also leave which was around the time Kel and Hero had their little fight.
For 8 years Kel tried to think positively and move on with his life especially after Hero moved to college keeping up with his sports and making new friends, this was around the time Aubrey changed for the worse and became the leader of the Hooligans one day he found them bullying Basil and without a second thought rushed in to help him.
Hero: so, wait doesn't that mean you met then?
Kel: huh? (looks at Kim) huh, hey babe don't take this th-
Kim: it's the hair
Kel: yes
Kim: Always the Hair
Hero: please continue
Kim (mouths to Hero): 'I always remembered him'
Kel continues saying he was able to eventually get back the photo album she took (with some pictures missing) and hung out with Basil to try and reconnect with him an effort that was halted twice, once by Aubrey who more or less kidnapped him and brought him to their Hang out spot Kel of course rushed in like always despite less than favorable odds...that didn't matter much because he bought his mom pepper spray and used it on the Hooligans.
Kim: God that stinged like a bitch
The Hooligans except for Kim left Aubrey who preceded to meltdown like in the original story (minus Sunny) and accidentally pushed Basil in the pond, Kel tried to go in but Aubrey was just hysterical so he had to hold her and practically begged Kim for help who was already in water to try and get Basil
Kim: I'm pretty sure I got him too, but it was so dark and cold I couldn't move my body I was so scared
Hero: That's where I came in, I followed where the commotion was coming from and got there just in time and if I remember correctly, we berated Aubrey harshly for her actions
Kel: did we? I think we said something, but I was just happy Basil was okay...for the moment at least.
Hero: hmmmm...continue
Kel and Hero returned Basil home and didn't see Aubrey again until they met in Nearby city, like before Kel wanted to hang out with Basil now with Hero in toe but yet again something happened this time to Basil's grandmother I won't go into much detail here since most should know what happens minus Aubrey. The main difference is when Hero and Kel stayed over Kel wakes up to check on Basil...in the middle of killing himself thankfully the wound wasn't deep, and he yelled the loudest he ever did to get Polly and Hero's attention and thankfully Basil survived. But as said before his mental state would eventually revert back to his memories of childhood to protect himself from something and the Truth
Sometime after high school graduation Kel was approached by the coach of the Forward Frontiers seeing Talent in the young man and wanted to have him on the underdog team to compete in the Compass Tournament that would happen in a few years. Hector and Kelly, we're hesitant but Kel was more than ready to get going since he wanted to see the rest of the country and the world someday and didn't want to stay cooped up in the town. Thus after 2 years of harsh training Kel was given the job to scout out Nearby city for the tournament, somehow by either fate or luck he caught a glimpse of Sunny and the rest as they say is history.
Hero: so, were here because of you? of course we are
Kel: what can I say? I go with the flow and the flow lead me too here
Kim: that's rather profound, for you sweetie
Soon the parents come down and wish the boys well in their lives
Hero: hold on, dad we need to talk...alone
Hector: *sigh* okay
Kel: bro?
Hero: don't worry I know I have little right to say this but...trust me
Kel: I will
Kel and Kim leave and decide to go to her house and talk with her family and then to the park, it's sunset now
Notes:
That's right not only did Kel find Sunny in Nearby city he also went through most of the events of the original story on his own
which is pretty sad when you think about it
anyway next time Sunburn fluff and angst along with some implied sunflower
(seriously how did people come up with these names so fast)