In Brightest Day, In Darkest Night

by Gary D. Snyder

Part 14:

Cindy walked slowly along the street to her home, lost in her thoughts about the events of the evening. Some of those thoughts weren't very pleasant, and while she didn't want to deal with them she realized that she really had no choice but to face up to them. She paused at the walkway leading to her house and with a shrug of resignation turned to cross the street, heading for the Neutron residence. As she drew nearer she stopped in bewilderment at the sight of a shadowy figure dropping slowly from the sky into the shadows to the side of the Neutron's garage. Hesitantly she stepped forward, calling out, "Dyno Lad?"

Concealed in the shadows Jimmy froze, wondering what to do. Battered, bruised, and bone-weary from his ordeal he had not paid much attention to his surroundings during his flight home. If he spoke with her she might discover who he really was, and she would never believe that he disguised himself as Dyno Lad for all the right reasons. On the other hand, if he left without saying anything he would undoubtedly arouse Cindy's suspicions. He decided to take a chance, hoping that the darkness and grime of battle would keep her from recognizing him. "Yes."

Cindy moved closer, stopping just a few steps away from him. "What are you doing here?"

"I…I had to return something to Jimmy Neutron." He held out the holocorder in the palm of his hand. "He thought this might help me."

Cindy looked at the holocorder with some surprise and then back at the dark shape before her. "Did it?"

"Yes. But Jimmy isn't in. Would you give it back to him for me? And tell him thanks for me? Please?"

Puzzled, Cindy took the small gadget. "Yes, of course. I'd do anything for you. But you can always give it to him tomorrow." Jimmy's next words stunned her.

"No. I can't." The next words came harder than he had expected. "I'm…not coming back."

The words seemed to make no sense to Cindy. "What?"

Jimmy tried again. "I have to go away. Forever."

"But…" Cindy tried hard to understand, but failed. "But why?"

Jimmy took a deep breath. "It's not easy to explain, but I was never meant to have the powers I had. It was just a mistake that I ever got them." He hung his head. "Dyno Lad was just an accident. And now I have to correct that."

"No. You're wrong." Something in Cindy's voice made Jimmy look up and she continued. "Maybe your powers were a mistake. Maybe it was an accident that you got them. But who you are isn't an accident. The first day you came to Retroville you saved my life. Over the past week you've put yourself in danger time and again to help others. And tonight…" Cindy paused a moment to steady her voice. "Most of all, tonight you went alone to fight against Professor Calamitous even when we could all see that you didn't have much of a chance. Those weren't accidents. You were a hero. And being a hero is never an accident." Her voice took on a pleading tone. "You were the best thing that ever happened to us. And now, after all that, you're just going to turn your back on everyone and leave us like it was all nothing."

For one of the rare times in his life Jimmy found himself at a loss for the right words as.he thought about that. What Cindy had said about Dyno Lad was absolutely true. Dyno Lad had been a hero. Ernest had made him a hero, and despite the terrific battle that Jimmy had fought tonight it would be a lie of sorts to say that he had fought and won it. Dyno Lad had really won the battle. And what had had done was something, he realized, that no one could ever know. No one could ever know that it had been Jimmy who saved the day. It would be a betrayal of everything that Ernest had tried to make Dyno Lad stand for.

. "You said I was a hero," he said at last. "And if you believe that then you have to believe me when I say this is something I have to do. Because being a hero is more than wearing a flashy costume, or having special powers, or even fighting the bad guys." His voice sank to nearly a whisper. "It means doing what's best for everyone, even when your heart begs you not to. I hope you understand."

Cindy shook her head sadly. "No. I don't." For a few moments she stood there silently, staring down at the ground. Then she looked up, stepped closer, and reached out for Jimmy's cowl. Jimmy, realizing what she intended, stepped back, shaking his head.

"No," he said.

Cindy pulled her hand back, looking hurt. "But why?" she asked. "If you're not going to be Dyno Lad anymore, why won't you let me know who you are?"

Jimmy shook his head. "Because if – when – we meet again, I want whatever you may feel to be because of who I really am, and not just because of who I may have been."

Cindy nodded sadly. "I think I understand." But it doesn't mean that I like it, she told herself.

"I hope so." Jimmy turned to leave. "You'll be sure to tell Jimmy thanks? And everyone else good-bye?"

"I'll tell them," Cindy promised hoarsely. "But there's something I have to tell you before you go."

Jimmy paused. "What's that?"

In answer he felt Cindy's hand on his shoulder turning him around, and then the gentle touch of her hands on the sides of his face and the soft press of her warm lips against his. For half a second he felt astonishment, as much from the kiss itself as the absence of the gag reflex he had always imagined would accompany kissing Cindy. Then the astonishment passed, and for a timeless moment everything else faded as Cindy's tender caress and the feel of her in his arms became his whole existence.

He could never recall afterwards who pulled away first. All he would recall was the pain of turning away from her afterwards and then drifting away into the sky, leaving Cindy standing tearfully behind. Cindy watched his silhouette against the bright starlit canopy above her until he disappeared behind a stand of tall trees in the distance.

"I will find you," she whispered to the star-filled sky. "Someday."

End of Part 14.

Author's Notes:

I had originally intended to leave the identify of "Dyno Lad" during the fight with Calamitous a secret, but decided that it would be fairly obvious that it was Jimmy and not Ernest battling the professor and that it would also tend to dilute the events in this chapter somewhat. I had also intended to include this chapter as part of the epilogue (coming up next…at last) but decided that it and the epilogue would be more effective standing on their own. Hopefully the readers will agree once all is done.