Chapter 28: Final Performance And Final Meeting
After transporting back to the world, the Duo of Justice, who were now in their normal versions, and the guardians saw the sky looking light blue and no longer black as a void, even the sun was still bright as day. They all looked around their surroundings and saw the animals returning to their normal state once again. With Noelle and the Demonic Nightmare Squad banished and long gone forever, the heroes had some time to kill before they could arrange the marriage. But one of the guardians spoke up and had a proposal to make.
"I thank you all for saving me and all the dreamers from the evil forces," Luna announced. "But there is something we, guardians, have to propose."
"And what's that?" Vicki asked.
"You see, we've been thinking about this since you two defeated Noelle and her forces..." Wisp explained.
"Yeah, what we're about to say is..." Serena sighed, as she paused for a moment before she continued. "W-We're going to leave this world and planning not to return..."
Vicki and Robert were shocked and saddened by the guardians' proposal that they had no idea of what to think. If all the four guardians were planning to leave the world, could this mean that they missed out the duo's wedding ceremony and such? Would they plan to leave sooner or later?
"W-When are you guys planning to leave?" Robert asked.
"Soon..." Neon replied.
"But how soon?" Vicki asked impatiently.
Before one of the guardians could answer, Luna raised her hand and said, "Actually, I have a request to make if you don't mind..."
"Um, sure, what is it?" Vicki shrugged.
"W-Well, if you don't mind me saying this, b-but...can we watch your performance one last time? I mean, I recently heard the other guardians that you could sing and play the instruments."
"Oh, I think you're referring to the concert," Robert suggested. "And no, we don't actually mind at all! We can start arranging the stage and the place, so we'll perform the concert one last time. Right, Vicki?"
"That's right, we can do that without any issues!" said Vicki. "It's a good thing you made that request, Luna. Although, it's not just for you guys, but why not everybody in the whole world watch our final concert?"
"Everybody in the whole world?" Serena asked curiously. "Where is this all going?"
Vicki and Robert started to set up the plan for their final concert, so everybody could watch their performances in their heroic versions. The concert would take place outside of the Paradise Planning, and they needed the floating stage, just like the one DJ KK used. The duo needed the guardians' powers to send everybody a special announcement in their smartphones, instead of using their own phones. The final concert would be set by the next day before the guardians' departure. That's all there was for their plan, so they could all get ready.
The next day, everybody gathered around at the beach and outside of the Paradise Planning. They were all very excited about the concert they couldn't wait. Nick, Serenity, Lorelei, Darren, Sammy, Jimmy, Claire, and Sonia were all here in the big crowd. But there was only one big issue they had in mind, which it seemed to bother them.
"Hmm, where are Vicki and Robert?" Claire asked. "I don't see them anywhere..."
"That's what I like to know," said Sonia curiously.
"Probably, they're at the back of the crowd?" Sammy suggested.
"Or they got lost in the crowd they don't even know that we're here?" Jimmy pointed out.
"How can you guys make jokes by the time like this?" Claire asked in irritation.
"Yeah, it isn't funny at all," said Sonia, "but you may be right though..."
"Sonia..." Claire glared at her childhood friend.
Even if the Slapjack twins were joking, they still had no clue of where Vicki and Robert went. Suddenly, the music started to play while the audience stopped chattering and begun watching the performance. There was the floating stage sailing through the ocean waves, and it was none other than the Duo of Justice performing a special concert for everyone to watch. Phantom Angel was singing her song while Masked Swordmaster was playing the electric guitar. In the crowd, Nick, Serenity, and Darren's mouths were wide opened and almost dropped to the ground. Lorelei, on the other hand, was very impressed to see her big brother playing his instrument in front of the crowd, including herself.
"L-Lorelei, did you know about this?" Darren asked quietly. "I mean, your brother's...you know, musical talent?"
"What? He didn't tell you about it?" Lorelei asked in confusion, as Darren shook his head in response. Neither did Nick nor Serenity who gave her the same answer. "Oops, I guess we forgot to mention this to you guys..."
"Mention about what?" Sammy interjected, as he, Jimmy, Claire, and Sonia couldn't help but to find this topic very interesting.
Lorelei tried to think of a way to come up with an answer without the dynamic duo's secret identities being exposed, since she already knew of who they truly were. "Oh, uh, it's nothing interesting really. Although, it might bore you all really fast."
"Oh, okay then..." said Sonia in despair, as she, Claire, and the Slapjack twins continued to watch the concert.
Nick, Serenity, Lorelei, and Darren made a sigh of relief and almost blew the Duo of Justice's cover. Otherwise, if one of them accidentally made a wrong move, then the dynamic duo were done for.
It's been over an hour since the concert began. After Phantom Angel ended her song, the crowd gave her a round of applause. While they were applauding, she handed her microphone to Masked Swordmaster who has no idea of what to do with it. She gave him a smile and a nod that she wanted him to start his speech. Without any hesitation, he took her microphone and started his speech in front of the crowd.
"Ahem, thank you all for coming to our concert!" Masked Swordmaster announced. "We are very appreciated your support and all, so we thank you again! Anyways, there's something we want to announce, and it might disappoint you a bit. So, I'm going to say it to you all...because we, the Duo of Justice, will start the retirement by tomorrow. That's why...this concert will be our last and final for today..."
The crowd fell in disappointment and despair after hearing the announcement. Some began to complain, and some were begging for the Duo of Justice not to enter their "retirement." Masked Swordmaster knew this would've happened, just like before when he was still living in the former town of Emblem. His past presentation, back in Emblem, ended up with a disaster and put him in shame because of his nemesis, Allen Parker. That was a lot worse than his current presentation, where he was now. He clenched his fists and bit his lip in hesitation that he couldn't say a word anymore. Phantom Angel slowly held his hand for comfort, and they both looked at each other in disbelief. All of the sudden, they heard someone clapping somewhere within the audience. They both searched for the one who was doing it. The crowd glanced at someone who has pink hair and wore a smile on her face. No doubt that girl was none other than Lorelei who always gave her brother and his fiancée some support. Followed by Darren, Nick, Serenity, Claire, Sonia, the Slapjack twins, and the rest of the animals began cheering and applauding.
"At least, there's someone who understands your speech," Phantom Angel whispered. "Besides, your speech is now becoming more success, unlike the one in the past."
"I know, but don't mention it," Masked Swordmaster whispered back.
After Masked Swordmaster's speech ended, Phantom Angel sang her final song. The crowd swayed their bodies left and right, just like they were dancing. Few minutes after the song ended, the four guardians were on top of the building, where nobody would see them, and used their magic to summon the fireworks. The crowd were very impressed by them and the concert, so they gave the dynamic duo a round of applause. Phantom Angel and Masked Swordmaster waved at the audience before they vanished into thin air.
The next day, Vicki and Robert were at the lake to see Serena, Neon, Wisp, and Luna off. This was their final meeting before they parted ways.
"Yesterday, the concert was truly amazing, I must say," said Luna. "But now, it is time for us to go; and we are truly sorry that we will be unable to see your wedding..."
"It's alright, but at least, we fulfilled your request, Luna," said Vicki, shaking her head.
"Well, I hope you two will have a wonderful time once you'll get married," said Serena.
"Yeah, may the future blessings be granted," said Wisp.
"Thank you all," said Robert. "Oh, by the way, what about our transformation items? You want them back, right?"
Neon shook his head and said, "No, you guys can keep them. Think of them as a keepsake, so you'll remember us after we're gone."
"Okay, we'll do that, thanks," said Vicki.
"Now, it's time for us to leave this world," said Luna, "until then, farewell, young heroes..."
Serena, Neon, Wisp, and Luna formed a circle and summoned the transportation gate that only the guardians passed through. One by one, they went through the gate. When Luna was last in place, she glanced at the duo and waved at them.
"Maybe, we will see you guys again in our dreams?" Vicki asked.
"Who knows?" Luna shrugged. "Only the time will tell..."
After listening to Luna's final words, the transportation gate was sealed and disappeared into thin air. Vicki and Robert would never see the guardians again since they couldn't come back to their world, not even a single visit. The duo were very sad to see the guardians off and started to miss them dearly.
