HURRICANE WALLY.
And finally, the last day before Christmas Break came. Wally called the principal asking for an appointment the previous day, to tell him about his decision of leaving Perfecto. The principal wasn't happy with that, and called Wally's uncle so they both could talk with him, and convince Wally to not leaving. I saw when Wolfson arrived, and decided to go to the principal's office to overhear the conversation. Of course, Wally had already taken his decision, and he would leave that day... but he did it with a bang.
Ruby was outside the principal's office, trying to hear what was happening inside. It wasn't hard, since they were yelling.
"I can't believe you, Wallace!" Wolfson's furious voice was easily heard. "You have the chance to study in one prestigious school like this, and you want to go to Acme? That's the most stupid thing you can do!"
"Sorry, uncle, but that's what I want to do." Wally answered, in a slightly loud tone, but keeping himself as polite as possible. "Look, I really appreciate what you and my great-grandpa did for me, but I just can't stay in this school. Most of my classmates hate me, and the only reason they had stopped teasing me as much as they did when the classes started, is because I use this collar to show I'm a pet/servant. And I want to be respected... or even liked, by my classmates, because of myself, not because of this thing on my neck." Wally paused, waiting for his uncle's answer.
"You idiot! The reason they mistreat you is because that's the only way you'll stop being a useless do-gooder! I even paid them to do that! And you're back-stabbing your family!" Wolfson practically roared.
"You paid for me being bullied, and I'm the one back-stabbing the family? Uncle, I'm not going to change; this is the way I am, and I like it. But you're right, we are family, a pack, and we must support each other; that's why I'm asking you to please understand my decision, and support me." Wally told his uncle.
"I'LL NEVER SUPPORT THAT IDIOTIC DECISION, WALLACE! AND I'M SURE GRANDPA WILL NOT, EITHER! IF YOU GO TO ACME, YOU CAN FORGET ABOUT HAVING A FAMILY, EXCEPT FOR YOUR USELESS ONE AT YELLOWSTONE, WHO ARE NOTHING BUT A BUNCH OF LOSERS THAT RAISED A WIMP KID!" Wolfson said in rage. Ruby got so impressed by this speech, she jumped on her place. A moment later, Wally opened the door, and walked out. Then, he turned back to talk to his uncle and the principal.
"I am really ashamed for this, uncle, but I said my last word. I'm leaving right now, just after I pick up my stuff from the dorm. I hope you can reconsider your words, and we can meet again someday in friendlier circumstances." Wally told the elder toons. Wolfson growled.
"You, little ungrateful..." Wolfson said while adopting a menacing pose, and then he charged against his nephew. Wally reacted by taking a deep breath, and then...
WHHOOOOOSSSSSH!
Wolfson flew backwards thanks to the little hurricane-like wind created by Wally. The wind also made a mess in the office, and made a few things to fly out through the window. Wally sighed, and then spin-changed into his regular clothes... who now included the cap. He dropped his old Perfecto's uniform in the door (he decided to conserve the new one, since it was a gift from his former mistresses), and directed to Rhubella.
"Sorry about that mess, Miss Rat. You came to say good-bye?" Wally asked her. She nodded.
"Yes. Come on, I'll give you a ride to the airport... or the bus station, wherever you are going." Ruby said, a little sad, but keeping a gentle smile. She and Wally went to the dorms, and he picked up his things, who were already packed in two gym bags and a very large backpack. Ruby offered to carry one, but Wally refused.
"The fact you came here is enough help for me, Miss Rat." Wally told her while they were walking out of the dorms. Ruby blushed, and smiled at him.
"Hey, Imbecile!" Ruby and Wally turned back when they heard Roderick's voice. He was walking towards them, with Drake, Nigel, and other five classmates. They all looked really pissed.
"So, you're leaving, Idiot?" Nigel said to Wally from behind Drake (he was too coward to do it face to face). Wally nodded.
"Yes. I realized that I really don't belong here, so I'm going to study on some other place." Wally told them. Roderick growled.
"You're going to Acme! One guy that was close to the principal's office told me that! We are glad you're leaving, Mutt, but going to Acme... that's not just leaving, but a treason! And you're supporting him, Ruby?" Roderick snapped at the pair. Ruby placed herself in front of Wally to show her back to Roddy, and winked an eye to the wolf.
"Of course not, Roderick, but he had decided that. And since I can't really stop him, I decided to release him from his promise to serve me and Margot. I'm taking him out of the Prep myself to be sure he'll not come back." Ruby said in a fake angry tone. Wally smiled slightly.
"Well, he's not just leaving peacefully! We're going to give a lesson to this fool... who is so stupid, imbecile, idiotic..." Drake was cut by Wally.
"And I'm half Mexican, too, by the way." The wolf said in a proud tone while dropping his things. The Perfectos, except Ruby, gasped.
"What? We had been attending classes with a wet-back? That's it!" Roderick clenched his fists, and he and the other Perfectos prepared to pounce on Wally. Rhubella gasped, but Wally kept his cool, and motioned the rat girl to move aside.
"You know, I never did anything to any of you because of the way you treated me, and you know why? Because, even if I was mistreated, I considered my classmates as a surrogate pack, and had some respect for you guys... but, now, I'm no longer part of the pack. And I'm glad to be half Mexican, because that allows me to surprise you with this." Wally said in a confident tone, and then spin-changed. The Perfectos moved a step back.
When Wally ended his spinning, he was wearing a red outfit, complete with a red hood, yellow short pants, and a heart-shaped symbol on the middle of his chest, with a big red W on it, plus having two antennae on his hood. The Perfectos did a double take.
"Who are you supposed to be?" Nigel asked, confused.
"The ColoRed Wolf... and I'll show you a thing or two." Wally said, and, a second later, took a red and yellow mallet out from his body's pocket, and charged against his enemies.
SKWEAK! SKWEAK! SKWEAK! SKWEAK! SKWEAK!...
The mallet made a funny sound every time it hit, but it was as effective as any ordinary toon mallet. Soon, all the Perfectos were unconscious on the ground, except the girl, of course, who was clapping at the wolf's performance.
"Hey, Wolf!" Wally turned back, and saw Gunbo in a fighting stance, at a certain distance. "I had been training, and I'm not alone!" Gunbo pointed at something that was behind Wally, and the wolf saw Ramon, the black ram, getting impulse to charge against him.
Gunbo and Ramon started their charge against Wally from opposite directions. Wally then placed his mallet back into his body's pocket, and took out a bicycle's horn. He then aimed at Ramon with it, and made it honk.
HONK!
The ram became as steady as a statue, totally paralyzed. Gunbo then tried to do a flying kick, but Wally repeated the procedure on him.
HONK!
Gunbo was paralyzed too, and stayed frozen in mid-air. Rhubella was impressed.
"Hey, how you do that?" The rat asked the wolf. Wally walked out of the Perfectos path, and explained.
"This is a Paralyzing Horn. With one honk, I stop an enemy, and, with two, they move again. Watch this." Wally then aimed again at the Perfectos.
HONK, HONK!
HONK, HONK!
KAWHAAMOOCK!
Ramon and Gunbo were unfrozen, and they hit each other at the same time. Ramon received the full power of the kick, while the hybrid flew several feet back because of the ram's charge, knocking both of them out. Wally and Ruby chuckled.
ROOAAR!
Both toons turned back when hearing a powerful roar, and saw several players from the football's team charging against them. Wally decided it was time for another change. He started spinning, and then emerged wearing a wrestler's outfit, consisting on a mask, pants, boots, and cape, all in a bright silver tone, and complete with black wrist-bands.
"And now... Lobato, The Silver Masked Wolf!" Wally said in a cool voice. He then charged against his enemies.
Wally received the first attacker, a large dog, with a judo-like toss. He then made a kangaroo-kick against a hawk, and rolled on the ground to avoid an attacking gorilla. He stood up, and started punching his enemies as fast and hard as possible. When the gorilla tried to grab him, Wally gave him several strong punches on his mid-section, and then jumped on the ape's shoulders; from that high position, he extended his arms in a cross-like way, and then body-slammed two Perfectos who were trying to get him, knocking them out. Wally rolled again on the ground to avoid another attacker, this time, a black bear, and when he stood up, grabbed the bear in a strong head-lock; he then used the bear's head as a battering ram, making him collide with the already groggy gorilla, knocking both beasts out. The rest of the fight was a fast series of punches and kicks to finish the job.
"Lobato! Lobato! Lobato!" Rhubella cheered Wally during the whole fight; even if she was worried for his safety, she was also enjoying the scene a lot, and didn't care if any Perfecto could see her (all of them were too focused on Wally to do it anyway).
"You... are dead, Wolf." Gunbo's pained voice was heard. Ruby turned to see him, and gasped, noticing he was holding a Swiss blade, and approaching Wally; he couldn't move so fast because of his injured leg, but it was obvious he could still give a fight.
Luckily, Wally noticed him too. Since all his other enemies were already out of the fight, he decided to use a slightly super-powered character to stop the hybrid. He started spinning, and his voice filled the air.
"Gentleman with men... gallant with women... kind with children... and terrible with evil-doers...I am..." Wally ended his spinning, making both Gunbo and Ruby to do a double take. He was wearing a totally white outfit, consisting in a long-sleeved shirt, pants, cape, and an Indi-like turbant on his head, with a little red gem on it.
"KAAA-LIIII-MUTT! The Incredible Wolf!" Wally said, in a loud and cool voice. Gunbo recovered from his surprise, and raised his blade, ready to throw it against the wolf. Wally then made eye-contact with him, and started concentrating. The hybrid froze on his place.
"Drop that blade." Wally ordered. Gunbo resisted a little, but eventually dropped his weapon. Rhubella realized that the wolf was using hypnosis on Gunbo. Wally was sweating a little because of the effort, but still he could give another command to the hybrid.
"Knock yourself out." Wally ordered him. A second later, Gunbo was punching his own face!
WHACK! WHAM! ZOCK! ZAS!
The hybrid fell to the ground, with both eyes blackened, and without a couple of teeth. Ruby smiled widely, and directed to the wolf.
"That was amazing! Wish I could do that trick!" Rhubella commented, excited. Wally gave her a little smile.
"Serenity and patience, little rodent." Wally said in a calm tone, and then changed back to normal. The first two changes weren't so exhausting, but Kalimutt was a difficult impersonation, so Wally was panting a little.
"We'll better go before they wake up... and this time, I'm helping you witha bag. You're a little tired to carry everything." Ruby told him. Wally nodded, knowing she was right.
I drove him to the bus station. During the whole ride, we were commenting about everything we have lived together... his first days, the whole pet/servant thing, the football's incidents, he defending me... it was both a happy and a sad moment, because I knew he wouldn't be around any more, but it felt great to know I had someone I could always count with.
Margot was already on the bus station, waiting for Rhubella and Wally. Even if she still considered Wally as nothing more like a servant, she realized Ruby was right about him being a great guy, and wanted to say good-bye. She owed him that at least.
Wally and the girls sat together, waiting for the guys at the station to announce Wally's bus time for departure. They chatted a little more, and, after a few minutes, the speakers were heard, announcing that the bus would leave in 10 minutes. Wally sighed, and stood up; the girls did it a few seconds later.
"Well... I guess this is it... Miss Mallard, it was a pleasure to serve you. Please, take care of yourself and Miss Rat... and don't let that Danforth guy mistreat you, okay? If he does, just call me, and I'll come back to give him a little bite." Wally directed to Margot. The duckette gave him a wicked smile.
"Just a little one?" Margot joked, making both Ruby and Wally to chuckle. Margot shook her head, smiling, and offered her hand/wing to the wolf, who gently kissed it.
"Hate to admit it, Wolf... but I'm surely going to miss you. Take care you too, okay?" Margot told him. Wally nodded.
Margot and Wally still treat each other this way... but, even if they don't admit it, I'm sure one considers the other as a friend.
The wolf stood in front of the rodent. They both got silent for a minute; Ruby was looking down, and he was trying to say something, but no word was coming out from his jaws. Margot just looked at them, without saying a thing. Rhubella realized that her own mood maybe was making Wally to hesitate about his decision, and decided to do something.
"You know, if you don't go into that bus, you'll regret it. Maybe not today, or tomorrow, or in a year... but it will be soon, and for the rest of your life." Rhubella said to him. Wally made a double take, and smiled.
"Casablanca?" Wally asked. Ruby looked at him, and smiled back.
"Sounds like the best option right now. I'll be okay, don't worry. Look... take this." Rhubella handled him a card.
"It's my e-mail address. You can send me a message anytime you want." Ruby told him. Wally looked at the card, and smiled.
"Littlemarchioness-alt-hotmail-dot-com?" Wally asked. Ruby blushed, and Margot chuckled a little.
"Noble heritage, remember?" Rhubella said, shrugging. Wally rubbed his chin.
"So, in Spanish, you are a Marquesita, uh?" Wally commented. Both girls chuckled.
Wally gave Ruby a little hug, and then started walking away with his stuff. Ruby remembered something, and moved next to him.
"Wait! Almost forgot the most important!" The rat said, and then she unlocked Wally's collar, retiring it.
"There. You noware a free wolf." Ruby said to him. Wally looked at her with fond eyes, and leaned to kiss her paw.
"Thanks a lot, for everything, Miss Rat." Wally told her. Ruby shook her head.
"Thanks to you... and... skip the "Miss Rat" thing, okay? You can call me Rhubella, or Ruby... Wally." The rat told him, blushing. Wally had his widest smile; this was the first time she had called him by his "for friends" name.
"I'll keep in contact, Ruby. So long." Wally told her, and then left to take his bus. Margot approached the rat.
"Eh... are you going to conserve the collar? You know, if you don't, maybe..." Margot said in a nervous tone. Ruby smiled at her friend, and gave her the collar, since it was obvious the avian wanted it as a way to remember Wally.
We stayedat the station almost for an hour after the bus left. I was feeling so happy for him... but sad for myself, a lot more than I could had ever imagined. That night, I retired to my room earlier than usual, but couldn't sleep until two in the morning.
I spent most of the night hugging a pillow, and sobbing.
(AN: Wally spin-changed into Mexican superheroes in this chapter. The first was a comedic one, El Chapulín Colorado -The Red Colored Grasshopper/Cricket-; next was El Santo, The Silver Masked, a wrestler made hero that made many movies during the fifties and sixties; and, finally, Kalimán, The Incredible Man, our main comic books' superhero.)