As Arnold laid unconscious, flashbacks soon came up as his mind was thinking back to what brought him here…
It was a couple of weeks after the best day of his life, marrying the love of his life. It was a cloudy night that night, and Rhonda and Arnold were getting ready for bed. Before they went to sleep, they always had nighttime cuddles and kisses.
Arnold was already in bed, waiting for his wife to come to bed. Soon, Rhonda came into the room as she soon got in bed.
"Someone took their precious time." Arnold smirked as he snuggled up with her. Rhonda merely giggled. "Oh, you think you're so funny, mm? Well, in that case, how about no sex until next month? How does that sound?" Rhonda smirked back.
"Would it help if I said, I'm sorry?" Arnold nervously smiled. "Oh, I'll forgive you… just give me a passionate kiss and then we'll see." Rhonda kept smirking as she soon played with Arnold's shirt.
Arnold then slightly smirked as he lifted Rhonda's chin, and initiated a wet, passionate kiss between the two. After a few seconds, Rhonda soon pinned Arnold down on the bed as her tongue wrestled his tongue.
Rhonda then separated from Arnold as a line of saliva connected the two. "If I don't ask you to fuck me, It's 'cause I much prefer this."
"I'm all yours, my sweet." Arnold smirked as Rhonda started kissing him again. As they recklessly tongue kissed, throughout the night, only dreadful news would soon await in the morning.
The Next Morning
It was around seven in the morning, Arnold had his arms around Rhonda's waist, and her hair looked all messed up as the two slept comfortably. That is until Rhonda's cellphone went off.
It rang for a minute, but she didn't wake up. Her phone rang a second time, soon waking her. "Ugh… Why does my phone go off randomly? I seriously need to consider a new phone…" Rhonda mumbled to herself as she sat up and picked up her phone. "Hello…?"
"Rhonda, it's your mother. And… I'm sorry to wake you up this early in the morning but… your father and I have devastating news… I think you'll wanna wake Arnold for this."
"What? What's wrong?"
"His grandparents…" Brooke sniffled. "Their boarding house was broken into and they are both critically injured…"
"WHAT?!" Rhonda couldn't believe what she heard. Arnold barely heard her scream as he merely moved in bed. "Mom, where you guys at, Arnold and I are heading over there right now!"
Her mother told her which hospital they were at. "We're on our way there now!" Rhonda hung up the phone as she set it aside and immediately turned to Arnold. She felt extremely sorry for what she was gonna do but knew he had to know. She lightly shook him. "Arnold… Arnold, wake up. Arnold, sweetie, wake up." Arnold soon awoke as he soon looked over at his wife.
He only grinned. "Morning, my sweet." Arnold was about to go in for a kiss when Rhonda put a hand up to his face. He was left confused. "What? Did I do something last night?"
"Arnold, it's not that… I loved the way you kissed me just so you know, but it's not that! It's… its your grandparents…"
"Rhonda, what's wrong?"
"Get dressed, I'll fill you in on the way."
Arnold was absolutely confused as he got out of bed and soon got dressed. He had on his regular shirt along with a dark green hoodie.
Before they headed to the hospital, Rhonda told him what was going on. As much as Arnold wanted to break down, he needed to stay composed and to the hospital as fast as they could.
Later
Arnold ran towards his in-laws with Rhonda behind him.
"Oh Arnold, thank goodness you're here now!" Buckley approached the two. "Arnold, I'm sorry to ask this but, where are your parents right now?"
"They're on a trip in Australia, unfortunately, they don't know yet. How did you two know all about this?"
"At first we had no idea about it, but it wasn't until I was just about to get ready for bed last night, I was staying up late watching a little tv and then doing my usual things. I remember hearing police sirens going by. I also saw like two or three ambulances heading towards your old boarding house." Brooke started. Arnold's jaw dropped. "There's currently an investigation to find out who could've possibly done it. Arnold, I… I'm extremely sorry for you…" Brooke put a hand on his shoulder as Arnold wiped off a tear from his eye. Arnold couldn't believe what he was even hearing, he felt helpless to do anything as he only hugged Brooke tightly. "Oh, there, there Arnold."
Buckley couldn't say anything but just give a somber look.
Soon, a doctor approached them. "Excuse me, are you the Lloyd-Shortman family?"
"We're the Lloyd's, my daughter and son-in-law are the Lloyd-Shortman." Buckley started. "Doctor please, tell us you have good news…!"
The doctor gave a very somber look. "Mr. Lloyd… I'm sorry to say this… they won't make it…"
"WHAT?!" The four yelled.
"Their wounds are far too critical for us to save them, and given their advanced age… there's nothing more we can possibly do… I recommend going there and saying your final goodbyes… Their room is over there, I'll leave you all alone now." The doctor soon left as he hung his head in sorrow.
The four of them went towards their room, Arnold couldn't believe his eyes. He knew their time would come, but never would he have thought he had to see them suffer in their final moments.
"Grandma…? Grandpa…?" Grandpa had an oxygen mask while Grandma Gertie was just hanging on.
"Arnold… is that you…?" Grandma weakly said. Her injuries weren't totally severe so she had enough strength to be able to say her final words. "Yes, Grandma, it's me, your grandson…" Arnold got onto his knees at her bedside. Brooke put a hand on his shoulder as she felt extremely sorry for her son-in-law.
Grandma gave a weak laugh. "It's funny… I always thought… I'd die peacefully… and look how life… shoots ya, literally."
Arnold merely smiled. "You've always had an amazing sense of humor."
Grandma chuckled weakly. "Yup… Arnold, I want you… to promise me one thing… in my death."
Arnold soon had a sad look. "Anything."
"I want you to promise me… that you'll have . . . this city . . . under your protection. . . Everything you need . . . is with the Lloyds. . . Arnold . . . just know, your Grandpa and I . . . are always with you, and we'll love you eternally. . . We'll always shine our light in the right path . . . I love you, grandson. . ."
Arnold's eyes were filled with tears as another tear fell on him from Brooke, who couldn't contain her emotions. "I love you too, grandma…" Arnold hung his head as tears fell from his face and clenched his grandmother's hand.
A minute later, Arnold got up and said his goodbyes to his grandpa.
After Arnold got done, grandpa flatlined, so did Grandma. Arnold broke down in tears as he embraced Rhonda who couldn't contain her tears as well. Brooke also had tears running down her face as Buckley had tears streaming down his face.
A few hours later
It was hours after the death of Arnold's grandparents, and they were in the home of the Lloyd's after Grandma hinted something for Arnold.
Arnold was just sitting in the living room, quietly as he had his face buried in his hands. Rhonda was next to him as she rubbed his back and gave small kisses to his cheek, but nothing worked.
Soon, his in-laws came in. "Alright Arnold, I think it's time for you to see this. It's something your grandmother wanted you to see. She thought it was pointless but it looks like it may be necessary now. Come with us, Arnold." Brooke soon said.
Arnold only nodded as he soon stood up and went with them, Rhonda followed behind.
Upstairs, they entered a room they had never seen before. The room lit up as an artificial intelligence soon greeted the four. "Greetings, Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd. Greetings Mr. and Mrs. Shortman. My name is Impulse, and I'll be your trusty AI throughout your journey."
"What is this?" Arnold asked. "I am a gift. A gift your grandmother left behind for you, whenever she passed away. I have an old video in my archive that'll explain everything. I think you'll also want to hear this, Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd." Impulse replied.
Soon, Impulse played the archived video that Grandma left for Arnold.
The video then started playing. "If you're watching this… it means I'm dead."
Twenty minutes later
"And that's all I ask from you, keep this city safe. I hope you do come through with this, alongside a partner. Perhaps maybe your wife, or whoever you choose, just know, I'll always be with you every step of the way. My artificial intelligence will guide you through what you need to know and will soon hand it over to your parents so that you can start your training. Alright, sonny, take care of yourself and know that your Grandpa and I are always watching over you and are always with you, we'll always shine our light on you. Goodbye Arnold."
Arnold's tears streamed down his face as Rhonda gave him a side hug.
"Mr. Shortman, the question your grandmother left for you is, do you want to go down the path as Hillwood's protector?"
Arnold knew it was the only right choice. "Yes."
"What?" Rhonda looked at her husband in surprise. "It's the only thing I can do. And it's the only way to keep this city safe."
"He does have a point though. Crime rates have been up now that you two are grown up." Impulse replied. "Mrs. Shortman, do you wish to accompany your husband, and join him on his journey?"
Rhonda was hesitant to answer, but looked over at her husband, Arnold. And then made her decision. "I will. I know it may sacrifice our normal lives, but anything to see others live another day."
"Alright, now that we have agreed, I know Grandma Gertie will be proud of the both of you. I'll walk you through the things you need to know. First thing, you two will still live normal lives, but most of the day will probably be crowded by fighting crime."
"Sooooo, does that mean Arnold and I can still have a baby?" Rhonda then asked. "I don't see why not. But Arnold would have to carry more of the crime load if you were to decide to become pregnant."
"Note to self, need more members when possible." Arnold said to himself. Rhonda merely giggled as she rubbed her cheek against Arnold's cheek. "Looks like we'll still be able to be parents!"
As impulse kept informing the two on everything they needed for their new path in life, he soon notified Miles and Stella, who were down in Australia.
In Australia
Miles and Stella were currently at an Australian zoo as they were feeding the elephants. Suddenly, Stella felt her pocket vibrate.
"What could that be?" Stella put the watermelon aside as she cleaned off her hands and checked her cellphone.
A notification straight from impulse came through notifying her 'The Time has Come'. Stella was shocked, knowing that her parents-in-law are now gone, and Arnold has decided to go as Hillwood's protector.
"Miles! We need to head back home, it's urgent, look!" Stella showed him the notification. Miles gasped. "Let's head home, looks like we have a new journey ahead." The two soon went to excuse themselves from the zoo as they had to attend to important matters. The zoo thanked the two for what they had done for them in the few days they were there.
They immediately headed to the hotel they were staying at and showered themselves, packed their things, and took a flight back to Hillwood.
Around Ten P.M That Night
Arnold and Rhonda were back at their place, Arnold was taking in what a crazy day it had been, as he just sat on his bed, holding his head. He was at his highest of highs, to now being at his lowest of lows.
Rhonda saw how hurt Arnold looked as she was peeking in from their bedroom door. She wanted to make him feel better, but nothing worked, and she wasn't going to get dirty with him at a time like this, so sex was way out of the question.
She slowly walked into the bedroom. "Hey, Arnold. Feeling okay?"
Arnold was about to give a sarcastic answer, but he realized who was asking him. "Hey, Rhonda. I'm glad you're here now."
"You are?"
"It's been a wild day, and I need someone to be with me right now." She sat down beside him and pulled him into a hug. "Everything will soon be okay, Arnold. I know it will be. With us soon being Hillwood's protectors, we'll soon find who could've done this. I know we will."
Arnold cried on her shoulder as Rhonda rubbed his back and gave light kisses on his cheek.
"Sweetheart, it's been a long day. How about some cuddles and we get some sleep?" Rhonda suggested. Arnold merely smiled. "I'd love that."
Rhonda only giggled as she soon comforted herself in bed. Arnold soon got into bed and he wrapped his arms around her as Rhonda merely giggled.
Arnold lightly kissed her forehead as Rhonda soon laid her head onto his chest. Arnold stroked her hair as he put all his thoughts aside, and shifted his attention to his wife.
"I love you, Rhonda." Arnold said with a small smile.
"I love you too, Arnold." Rhonda replied with a comforting smile.
As they kept cuddling and kissing, they soon fell asleep until the next day, where Arnold's parents would surprise them at their home.
Miles, Stella, Arnold, and Rhonda all soon got to training as it was rather relentless. It was hard for Arnold and Rhonda but knew they had to push through.
Arnold's flashback's soon started fading as he slowly started gaining consciousness…
