A/N: I'm back everyone! Long time no see! Really hoping to update things more now—new year, new stuff! Enjoy this chapter where we have some family fluff and fun with memory orbs!
Disclaimer: Cartunes and I own the world of Terracordis, that's it.
It was late at night when Riley opened her eyes, feeling much stronger and actually glad to be in her container. Though she considered Delight's and Joy's home her home, the lab wasn't too bad when she needed it. Like today.
Not to mention all the scientists on the team understood her. More or less.
She glanced down to see Joy sleeping in a sleeping bag next to her, her body glowing lightly. Riley felt that she looked so peaceful that she hated to try waking her sister up.
"Riley?"
Riley's heart leapt at the voice that she knew so well as she turned to her right, seeing Delight hurrying toward her, looking immensely relieved. "How are you feeling, sweetheart?"
Riley smiled. "A lot better, Mom."
Delight had a feeling she'd feel her heart melt every time Riley called her that. "Ready to go home?"
Riley nodded enthusiastically. Now that she was feeling better, she just wanted to go back home and be with her family.
Delight smiled as she went over to the control panel to turn off the energy flow in the container, and unhooked the wires from Riley. Once the container was opened, Delight ran to her daughter and hugged her tightly, like she never wanted to let go.
"I'm so glad you're safe, Riley," Delight murmured, feeling tears of relief come to her eyes. "I felt so scared for you!"
"I know," Riley said, hugging her tighter.
The mother and daughter hugged for a few moments more before parting, Delight ruffling Riley's hair. "Let's wake Joy up and head home. We have a bit to talk about."
Riley couldnt agree more.
While Riley had thought it was past midnight, it turned out that it was only 10:00. On the way home, Delight had explained the plan to pull Riley out of the school and have Bing Bong tutor her when he could.
Joy wished that things could be different, having hoped that Riley would be able to have as good a year at school as Amoy herself had. But alas, it seemed that fate had a way of throwing a wrench in that.
And Riley much preferred the option that kept her away from those terrible students.
It didn't take much discussion for them to both agree.
While Delight called Bing Bong to discuss Riley's future plans, Joy and Riley sat together in the kitchen, eating pepperoni pizza she had got while Riley was sleeping that the girl was very thankful for.
Joy noticed that Riley looked lost in thought, and patted her on the shoulder. "I'm so sorry things didn't work out."
Riley shrugged. "At least I can stay with you guys more."
"I know, but...". Joy leaned over and gave her a light hug, "I just wanted you to be able to have a great time at school like I did.". She looked at her sister, managing a small grin. "But hey, at least you get to be tutored by Mr. bing Bong!"
Riley couldn't help but smile at that. Bing Bong had turned out to be one of the nicest people she had met, and she was glad he might still be her teacher.
Delight hung up her phone and poked her head into the room. "Bing Bong agreed to tutor you, Riley. He feels sad that you won't be attending, but he definitely understands."
Riley felt relieved. "Thsnk you."
"You're wel—"
Delight stopped talking as her phone started vibrating again. She picked it up and stared, suddenly gasping and answering so quickly her finger was a blur. "Oh my gosh, Pride!"
"Who's Pride?" Rilry asked,turning to Amoy. But she paused as she noticed the absolutely ecstatic look on Joy's face as she leapt up.
"Dad!"
Riley's eyes rose in surprise. Joy had mentioned only little about her dad. Being a traveller and all, Riley found herself wondering more and more what he was like. If he was anything like Joy and Delight, Riley hoped maybe she would get along with him too.
Maybe enough to call him dad?
The meeting with him would be awkward, she was sure of it. After all, she called Delight mom now, this would probably confuse him. Riley watched as Joy babbled into the phone along with Delight. It must have been some time since they had a call from this man, let alone had him home. Kind of like the feeling Riley had whenever she was away from either of these people.
It was then Joy turned to her with a wide grin.
"Also, dad," she said happily, "here's Riley! My new BFF!"
Riley was glad she didn't say 'sister' or this would have been even more awkward.
"Come talk to him, sweetie," Delight encouraged.
Unable to say no, she slowly lifted up from her seat. Approaching them, she accepted the phone from Joy. At this moment she realized this was the first ever time she was going to use a phone. But thankfully she knew what to do and placed it to her ear.
"H-hello?" she spoke carefully.
"So this is Riley, huh?"
The voice was indeed masculine. Not timid like Panic's, or gruff like Aggravation. Almost like another cheerful voice that met with Joy's and Delight's. And a little of Bing Bong's. Sounded very happy toward her as well.
"Um, yeah..." Riley responded nervously.
"My wife's said a lot about you," he said affectionately, "I know this is a little too late, but welcome to the world, Riley."
Her cheeks warmed, and she smiled at this sheepishly. He was very kind, and very loving. Joy sure was fortunate to have him as her dad. And Riley felt herself being more fortunate to be talking to him.
"She's sent a picture of you," Pride added. "You're as lovely as Joy."
Riley's eyes widened at this. Was he serious? She looked nothing like his own daughter! The eyes might be equivalent, but her skin was not a starlight yellow, her hair was not an exquisite blue, and her joints were not like that of an emotion. For a moment she thought he had eye trouble with her image...
"My wife and her team did a great job bringing you to life," he added. "I hope you're doing well in this world. I'm really sorry school was a sack of lousiness for you."
She pressed the phone further against her ear. "It's okay," she said sincerely. "I think I'll like being homeschooled better."
"Bing Bong is a great man," Pride stated. "He'll teach you very well. He was good to my daughter, he'll do an even better job for my second one."
Riley sighed, the memory of her first day still embedded in her mind. "Thank you. I'm really excited to have him tutor me and all-"
She suddenly paused right there. Her jaw fell as he processed his sentence. She stiffened with realization.
Did he actually mean that?
She didn't even have time to find words as Joy took the phone back from her.
"Mom and I will make sure Riley's well-educated, dad!" the yellow emotion promised. "When will you come home?"
"Soon, I hope," he responded. "Still got a lot of ground to cover. But I promise to come before the holidays even begin."
"We'll get the tree up and everything!" Joy said excitedly. "And Riley can put up the star!"
"Sounds like a great idea," Pride chuckled. "You and your mom have to teach her what holidays are, of course."
"I know, dad," Joy laughed. She turned back to her mom. "Did you hear that? Riley gets to put the star on the tree this year!"
Delight said nothing. She just bit her lip, tightening her smile and nodding. She glanced over at Riley; she was still stunned by what her husband said.
"My colleague needs me right now," Pride said regretfully. "Can't be on the phone long."
"We get it, dad," Joy sighed, still smiling. "We love you."
"Love you girls too," he said.
"Goodbye, sweetheart," Delight called into the receiver. "We'll see you soon." She glanced over at Riley. "Want to say goodbye to him too?"
Still stunned, she gave an awkward smile.
"B-bye..." she slipped past her lips.
As he hung up, Joy giggled happily before reaching over and hugging Riley.
"I can't wait for dad to come home!" she gushed. "He'll meet you, his new daughter, and everything will be even better because you won't just have a mom..you'll have a dad!"
A dad...
When Riley was first brought into this world, she had no idea what the significance of parents was. Now she knew. It meant love. It meant acceptance.
And Pride accepted her even after seeing a picture.
A lot of things were changing in her life. Adapting to this growing world, a better education, and finally, might possibly, meeting her father.
Things were starting to look up a bit.
Seeing the look on Riley's face meant so much to Delight. But that expression wouldn't be there long. After all, Riley wouldn't be here to hang that star on the tree. But maybe she would do it for someone else on Earth.
The least Delight could hope for was maybe that Riley could meet Pride. At least know she had a sister, a mom, and a dad before she had to leave them all behind...
Riley couldn't help but feel that things were alright with the world whenever she was with Joy and Delight. They taught her what she needed to know, showed her around the city (and promised to take her to places like the beach, whatever that was), and were just about the kindest people she could ever hope to be with.
After all, they were her family. And maybe that was all she needed.
Homeschooling was turning out to work well, and Fear and Sadness even came over to help tutor when they weren't busy with college. They warmed up to her more and more, and soon even Fear was able to talk to her without even flinching. Almost as if she was just as much a part of their planet as anyone born there.
Joy only texted Dusgust a few times, and Anger... well, just on occasion. He still hadnt apologized for his behavior toward Riley, so it seemed that Joy's hopes of having them all be BFFs were, for now, out of reach.
Still, at least things were improving.
Joy noticed that her mother put a bit more focus onto the book about humanity lately. She figured that was good—after all, her parents worked in that field, and both worlds were linked in some form. At least, the Terracordians helped those on Earth on occasion.
Delight tried to be as patient and gentle as she could with Riley concerning her studies on humanity, and kept up her chipper attitude as she helped her daughter to see the good and interesting sides of the human world.
She just wished Riley didn't have to be sent there. She wished that they could just call the whole project off and adopt Riley into their family. After all, there was a chance that Riley might not even survive the transfer!
But even if Riley wouldn't be here long enough to spend her first winter holidays with them, or even her first Halloween, Delight vowed to make sure that Riley learned and experienced life here to the fullest. before she had it taken away. No matter what Aggravation said.
And for when that time did come, Delight had another objective in mind: find Riley a human family who would love and care for her.
But she loved Riley so much, she wished that time would never come.
But that was a problem for another day. This Saturday was a special one for Riley.
Bing Bong sat across the table from Riley, with Joy, Delight, Sadness, and Fear standing nearby. The elephant smiled gently at her. "You've been doing wonderfully, Riley."
Rileyfelt a blush overtake her face at the compliment. "Thank you, Mr. Bing Bong."
"You've shown that you are indeed capable of harnessing energy in a way that humans can't.". He smiled. "So I think you may be ready to put that to the test."
He removed what looked to be a large clear sphere that reflected light off its surface, and noticed Riley intently look at it.
"It's time for you to try your hand at making a memory orb."
Riley gazed at the object that was carefully placed on the table. So that's how those things started. It honestly looked like some transparent baseball that was not to ever be hit. How she could slide a memory into that was the real question.
"It looks hard, I know," he said. "But it's how you work into it is where the real fun will begin."
He gestured for Riley to touch it and the little girl did. She gently placed her palms over it, allowing herself to get familiar with the surface. It was smooth, and it didn't fear like glass. More like some texture that was a mix between hard and soft at the same time.
"How do make this into a memory?" she asked.
"Well, first, what's a memory you want stored in here?" he suggested.
Riley mulled over that question. According to Joy, storing a memory into an orb was like having moving imagery inside safe in a container. It was almost like a recorded moment from inside the head. There were so many moments the blonde thought up at the moment, from the first time she met Joy to that night she saw the city for the first time.
She smiled to herself, knowing what exactly which memory to have as her special keepsake.
"When Joy and I were inside the Plutchik wheel," she said proudly. "That was a great memory."
Bing Bong grinned. "Perfect."
He took the sphere from Riley before hovering it over her head. This action confused her and she gave him a questionable look.
"Press this to your head," he instructed her.
She obeyed, taking the object once more. She lightly rubbed it upon her forehead, the surface almost cool to her flesh.
"Now concentrate," he added. "Think about the memory you just said. Think of nothing else but just that one moment."
Riley closed her eyes, focusing just as she was told. Her mind gripped that time with Joy as if it were her reason for living. She could still feel the way their bodies had risen from the ground in that ride, her hands gripping the rails. The excitement rushed through her body as they went higher, and the brightest colors were forever embedded into her still developing mind.
Bing Bong watched, nodding. "Okay, good," he said, "now press the orb right on top of your head."
She did just just, sliding it above her forehead before allowing it to sit on her hair like a crown. Eyes still closed, she focused entirely on her most beloved memory like how she focused on scoring a goal. Somehow she could feel the sphere warm a little, and the image of her and Joy itself began to become a little brighter.
"Ah, it's a very happy memory," the teacher chuckled, watching as a golden color curtained over the orb.
"How can you tell?" Riley asked, eyes still closed.
"It depends on the color, really," he answered. "Good or bad memories, they are defined with a color. Yours is yellow, so it's a happy memory. However, if you looked at it a certain way, like it's a reflection that bothers you, it can slowly turn into another color. For instance, if the memory is something like if you missed someone, it can be looked at in a sad way. That's blue."
Riley absorbed all this information. Somehow she was getting it. She had regarded her most happiest memories like chapters of her own book. And usually when she was verbally struck, looking back on them with almost painful. Like the moment she and Joy had walked up the steps of her old school. That was a happy memory that immediately turned bitter every time she thought about it. The same went for when she stood before her homeroom class; that was depressing. The sight of Wrath's face, Riley had been both terrified and disgusted by her. Seeing her mother after waking up, a mixture of being overwhelmed and happy at the same time.
She could feel some essence slide out of her mind like a breath of air. It sifted from her thoughts, and the image grew even brighter.
"You can open your eyes, Riley," the teacher said.
She did, and she glanced upward at what she had done. She silently gasped as she watched her work unfold.
Riley held so tightly to the orb as it shone like a star in the sky. She lowered it away from her head and peered into it. There was a moving image of Joy and herself, the sound of their talk and laughter able to be heard as if they were still at that exact moment right now.
The sight of it was astounding, and Riley could feel her heart nearly burst as the entire moment inside that Plutchik wheel played before her.
"Wow..." she muttered. "So this is what a memory orb looks like?"
"And you did really well for a first time," he said warmly. "Most of my students would take about three or four times before they made one."
Riley smiled at this, feeling so honored right now. She doubted either Wrath or Bitterness could have succeeded on even a second try. That girl Surprise probably might have made a good attempt on the first.
She gently placed the orb down before her, watching as the image played out like a mini movie of her own. The feeling just rose again, that same euphoria in which Joy helped her receive when she got her into the city. And now here it was for Riley to look at every time she wanted.
"It's amazing," she said in awe.
"That's what Joy said when she made her first memory orb," he stated with a grin. "You two really are sisters."
Riley cheeks reddened a little, feeling too proud to answer. She couldn't wait to show Joy this achievement, especially Delight. This was something Riley could keep in her room and watch whenever she wanted. In fact, it would make a great night light she and Joy could look at before falling asleep.
Running her fingers over it, the image of Joy's face nearly made Riley's heart burst.
"That was a really nice memory, wasn't it?" Bing Bong asked.
"It really is," Riley said affectionately. "Joy really opened my eyes that night. Everything about the world...I just wanted to learn so much from it."
Her expression deflated a little, recalling how hard she had tried on her first day of school.
"I really thought I could pull it off in class," she sighed. "I kind of hoped maybe it would be just like how Joy and I bonded..."
She let out a gasp when a hue of blue ascended over the memory. She quickly drew her fingers away, gazing at it in horror.
"What di I do?" she cried.
"Easy..." he told her calmly, rubbing her shoulder. "You thought about this memory in a sad manner. So that's why it turned this color. You're looking at it from a depressed view."
Riley gawked at her orb, the color reminding her too much of a day about to be rained on.
"Can I fix it?" she asked.
"Of course," he assured her. "Just think happy on the memory again. Concentrate on that, and it will come back."
Riley reached toward the orb once more, running her fingers over the surface. She thought once more about how this moment was the world to her. And how it all nearly had been taken away because of Aggravation...
The teacher's eyes rose as he looked over the color. It was not the bright gold either had expected.
"You're getting angry..." he observed.
Riley glanced down at the memory orb, drawing her fingers away from it as she watched the colors within the orb be joined by a crimson red. Her eyes widened.
"Why are you getting angry?"
Riley paused before her eyes slowly narrowed. "Aggravation tried to take that life away from me. He didn't want me to experience that..."
Delight felt a deep distaste toward her coworker again upon hearing that. Even now Riley still felt angry toward him.
"Riley, just relax," Bing Bong said evenly. "Focus on the happiness of the memory. Don't try to let any other feelings get in the way. Focus on how important it is to you."
Riley closed her eyes and focused on the memory again, her fingers closing delicately around the orb. She cast aside her anger toward Aggravation trying to prevent her from her true happiness, or any despair she felt at the fact that she'd never have any school memories as happy as that moment on the wheel.
She just focused on the pure elation of that memory, the sense of euphoria she felt when riding on the wheel with Joy. The colors, the brightness, seeing the world with the one she came to know as a sister... it was a memory she wanted as a keepsake forever, to always be there.
And she was going to make it happen. School may not have been perfect, but the memory was a perfect moment in her life she would gladly keep forever.
The red and blue began to fade, leaving the luminescient orb a brilliant yellow color like before. The image shone clearly again.
Riley held the orb in her hands, gently stroking her finger along the surface to rewind the memory to the beginning. It was beautiful. It was wonderful.
It was hers. It was a memory that she was able to capture and hold in her hands.
Imagine if the others at the school could see this! That would show them that she wasn't just a human!
Joy moved closer to see, tears of happiness at the corners of her eyes as she looked at Riley, who was holding the orb with a proud grin on her face.
"You picked that as your first?". Joy's voice was quiet in awe, touched that Riley had picked that memory as the one to contain in a memory orb. Watching it play out, everything was just as she remembered it. She loved it just as much as Riley did.
"Of course I picked it," Riley said happily. "It's my first real happy memory."
Hearing that had Joy feel as if she had revived the best birthday present in the world as she hugged her sister tightly.
Riley hugged her back, looking at the others who were coming closer to see. Delight was absolutely beaming, Sadness looked pretty happy for her, and even Fear gave a smile and a "Congrats". Maybe this could be another happy memory to store.
Bing Bong chuckled lightly at how close the two were, fully convinced that Riley was meant to be with her and Delight. It baffled him as to why Delight hadn't taken official measures to adopt her yet.
He got out a few more of those shimmering clear orbs. He loved seeing Riley's face light up. "How about we try some more?"
Soon they got right to work on the next one. Riley placed her new orb upon her head. This time she didn't have to close her eyes to focus. The image was clear as diamond as she thought of various other memories.
This was one was the moment she tried ice skating with Joy for the first time.
However, the yellow glow did not come just yet. It turned a bright shade of violet. Joy knew too well what the feeling was, peering at it with a sheepish smile from both her and Bing Bong.
"That was a scary experience, wasn't it?" he asked Riley.
She lowered the orb and peered into it. The image of her trying and nearly falling was no lie, especially as she peered at her own expression. She really had been afraid during her first time, because falling was scary. As if she wasn't fragile enough in mind...
"Does this usually happen?" she asked her teacher.
"A lot," he answered simply. "Memories can be looked at so many ways, which is why the colors can change depending on your mood toward it."
Riley looked back at her orb. "This really was a happy memory," she assured him. "It's just that it was a scary experience and the feeling can still come back."
"It's perfectly fine," he told her. "Now, do you know how to revert it back to a happy memory?"
She nodded. Riley knew she was getting better at this. She just needed to feel more positive.
Gripping the orb, she focused her eyes on it, rubbing her fingers over the surface. The image of her trying upon the ice kept playing, which was followed by Joy helping her at every attempt. Holding her hand really did bring a fondness for this memory, and that slowly brought down the violet hues of the orb.
Joy smiled happily, watching as the golden texture lit up in their faces.
"That was a really good memory," she sighed happily.
Riley beamed, gazing at her new orb. A few more of these and her and Joy's bedroom would be decorated like the city at night.
"You having fun?" Bing Bong asked.
"I really am," she responded sincerely. She turned to Joy. "You were right, this part of learning really is fun!"
"See? I told you!" Joy laughed.
"How come I don't see your orbs?" Riley asked curiously.
"Oh, mine?" Joy chuckled. "Well, I have them in a trunk for safe-keeping. Like a photo album, I look at them when I want to. It's in the closet of my room, just to let you know." She grinned. "Soon you'll have your own storage for these orbs too."
Riley liked the idea as she placed her new orb down. Her smile deepened, watching two memories play before her eyes. There was just something so majestic and calming about seeing them outside her head.
"They're always so nice to look at," Bing Bong said with a nostalgic sigh. "I have a whole room full of them at my house."
"You have that many orbs?" Riley gasped.
"A lot of them feature my years at the school," he explained. "Believe me, there are many happy memories...and some not so happy ones." he added dejectedly.
Riley didn't even need to ask. No doubt in her head that he might possibly have "salvaged" the incident with a bright red engulfing it.
"But never mind the negative things in life!" he declared, brightening up. "Here are a few orbs of your own! Let's get cooking!"
Riley and Joy smiled at each other before the former reached for another one.
Delight smiled at this, appreciative that her old friend had done more good for Riley. He never mentioned this to the girls but Wrath had been suspended for what happened. Even if Riley and Joy learned about it, neither would exactly feel much except probably relief. After all, she knew her own daughters would never actually wish harm on anyone.
That Wrath was some character to do all that. Probably the first time ever for a student to actually get suspended after just the first day of the year. Delight hoped her parents would reprimand her for what happened, and hopefully she would learn from her mistakes once she came back to school.
But she was pretty much history, and Riley was doing much better being homschooled. While kids at the elementary could only have one lesson with Mr. Bing Bong for an hour a day, Riley had him much longer and with more improvement.
Delight was grateful he had taken the time to teach her. Part of wished she could tell him exactly what was going on. But now wasn't the right time; when it did come, he would be there to watch Riley go. Hopefully, alongside her husband.
A/N: I'll try to update this a lot more often, and my other stuff (hopefully Intercom as well). Good to e back doing this again! Reviews are always appreciated!