Chapter 18: The Dawn
"They are adorable children, Michelle," said Death.
"Yes... but I am afraid," said Michelle.
"You don't have to be. As long as your kind exists, you don't have to be."
"Adam... he has ruined everything for me."
"That's in the past. You need to focus on the future now, Michelle."
"If this is what my future will be, I would rather not have one."
"Then come with me and I'll help you." A gunshot was heard and then there was blackness.
Michelle woke up from the dream, gasping for air and sweating. A bright light was coming out of the window and she looked over and saw the dawn. Her quadruplets were beside the window in their own individual cribs. Skips lay beside her, still asleep. She sighed and got up and put on a robe. She wished things were easier as she cooked breakfast for herself and Skips. Her breasts were heavy with milk, ready to feed the children.
Just as she was putting the finishing touches on breakfast, she felt Skips's arms embrace her from behind. "Good morning, beautiful," he said, kissing her cheek with affection.
"Good morning, Walks," she replied. The babies then began making noise and Michelle sighed, "I've got 'em."
"I got the other two." They would each take two of the children to take care of since if one started crying, the other three were soon to follow.
When the children had been satisfied and Skips and Michelle had sat down for breakfast, they began talking. "Walks, I had the dream again," said Michelle.
"Oh?" he asked.
"Yeah… Walks, you've got everything covered here, don't you?"
"What do you mean?"
"If I were to leave for a little while, would you be able to take care of things?"
After a moment, Skips replied, "No."
"Then I'll stay for another year."
A year had passed and the children had begun walking and saying a few words. The park had its usual problems (usual for them, in any case) and things seemed to be going well. Then, one day at breakfast, Michelle asked Skips the same question again. "If I were to leave for a little while, would you be able to take care of things?"
Skips replied as before, "No."
"Then I'll stay for another year."
This went on for seven more years. Michelle never explained why she was asking the question, only hinting that her dream had something to do with it. It was almost as if she were asking for permission to die.
One day, Skips and Michelle were at the swings with their children. They took a break on a bench to let the children run around and play. Michelle asked again: "If I were to leave for a little while, would you be able to take care of things?"
The truth was, he would be able to, but he couldn't stand the thought of losing her. He had been happy with her, he was happy with her. He didn't want her to leave him. "I can't go on without you," Skips replied.
"I'm glad you feel that way, because at least I know there has been at least one in my life who has truly loved me. Unfortunately, I can't be here for much longer. One day, Adam will return, and I do not want you or my children to pay the price that is mine to pay," said Michelle.
Skips turned away from her to look at the children. "How long would you be gone?" he asked.
"Just long enough to convince him I'm dead. Please, Walks, it's the only way."
"And what am I here for if not to protect you from threats like him? Anything that's come against us, I've been able to protect us from, let me protect you from this." His eyes pleaded with her.
"I love you too much to let you do that."
"And I love you too much to let you go."
"I won't be gone for very long. Just a little while."
Skips kissed her and quietly said, "Go" and she did.
His children came over and asked, "Where did Mommy go?"
"She's going to go see some friends and she'll be back in a little while," he replied.
"Okay, Daddy," they said.
Six months later, Skips and the guys were playing poker while the girls were spending time with the kids. Skips was beginning to think that Michelle wasn't coming back. It was hard to deal with her being gone, especially since little Evangeline looked just like her mother.
"Skips?" asked Benson.
"Hm?" asked Skips.
"It's your turn," said Benson. Skips didn't reply, just stared blankly at his cards. "Skips?"
"I'm just gonna turn in for the night. We've got a long day tomorrow." He got up and headed for the door, but a tapping at the window stopped him in his tracks. He turned and looked at the window and saw a raven with bone coverings over its body. "It's one of Death's messengers." He opened the window for the bird and it came in and landed on the table, scattering the cards everywhere. Skips caught the bird and took a message from off of its leg. "This is Evangeline's writing."
"What does it say, Skips?" asked Rigby.
Skips read:
"'To my lover, Walks, and his fellow park workers:
My plans have gone awry and I am in trouble. While Adam is off of my scent and is no longer pursuing me, I had to lead him to the underworld to do so. Fear is no longer in the picture. Unfortunately, I have become trapped in the underworld. I don't know how to get out of here and no one, not even Death, is jumping to help. Perhaps this was Death's plan all along, to get me to be his by drawing me into his realm.
I know that this is the last thing you wanted to hear and I know that no immortal has a good history with Death, but I need your help. Please.
I will await your response in the positive or the negative.
With love,
Evangeline (Michelle)'"
"Well, what are we waiting for? Let's go," said Mordecai.
"Are you serious?" asked Skips.
"Skips, we know how happy you are with Michelle and how unhappy you are without her. We're going to save her," said Benson.
"I just don't want any of you guys getting hurt," said Skips.
"We've been to the rock and roll underworld, how can the regular underworld be any different?" asked Rigby.
"All right then, let's do this," said Skips.
The guys made arrangements for the girls to stay with the kids at the park while they went to the underworld in Skips's van. There was a legend about a door to the underworld accessible by mortals. When they got to the place, they continued on foot.
The door was supposed to be in a cave and, upon entering the cave, they began seeing signs of the legend. Pictures on the wall, portrayed by the ancients, showed Death and his world on the other side.
"Keep moving," said Skips.
Meanwhile, Michelle was in a cell, awaiting Death. When her cell door opened and he came in, she didn't expect what he told her. "You- you want me to do what now?" she asked incredulously.
"Oh, come on now, Michelle. Did you really think you could rid the world of Fear and not get any consequences for it?" he asked.
"You wouldn't hurt me," she said.
"No, but I've been given an order, an order that isn't in my hands to revoke."
"I have a family, Death, a life. I just want to go home and live normally for once."
Death laughed. "Did you really think you could have a normal life in that park? You know that is cursed ground that it sits on."
"True, but that doesn't mean that it can't have its moments."
"Michelle, we both knew that you were meant for more than this and that your immortality was granted to you for a reason. I was made to reap the souls of the living so that they might know mortality and be separated from the higher beings who are immortal. Your brother was given immortality so that he might act as Chance, giving people a better 'chance' at life when they deviate from the path. Fear is just another tool that is needed in this world. Can you imagine a world without fear? It's not time for that yet and I don't think it ever will be time. There are those who are immortal and those who are mortal, and that's the way it has to be. To not know fear is to know immortality."
"I know, Death, but surely there is another?"
"There's you and Skips. Immortality is given to those who are worthy, so it cannot be inherited."
"I wouldn't even think of giving it to my children."
"Yet you're sick of watching them die, aren't you?"
Michelle sighed. "It's hard to watch a child grow old while I stay young, and she never understood entirely why." She paused. "There is no other?"
"Well, there are candidates, but you know as well as I do that they need to earn it."
"Then, let's have a tournament."
"A what?"
"A tournament where those who are candidates for immortality compete for a chance at it. Then, that person might take the role of Fear."
"We'll need someone to act as Fear in the meanwhile though." Death removed a contract from his pocket.
"You're not pulling my leg here, are you? There really are other people out there who could become immortal?"
"Would it make you feel better if you put your 'tournament' together?"
"It would help. Besides, you're already pretty frightening, why can't you take on the role of Fear temporarily?"
"It's against the rules. No one immortal can possess two roles at once."
Michelle sighed. "I guess… but I at least have a chance, correct?"
"I promise you, Michelle, that there is a chance at your getting out of this."
"Very well." Michelle signed the contract that Death presented to her.
"Your siren powers will have to be taken away for this to work."
"So, I'll be mute again?"
"Your natural voice would eventually return."
Michelle would have said something on this, but decided against it. "Very well. Whatever needs to be done, let it be done."
Back with the guys, it was late at night before they returned to the park. "That whole cave was a waste of time!" said Rigby in frustration.
"I guess the only way to get to the Underworld is through Death himself," said Skips. He parked his van and they all got out. When they did, it was Rigby who first noticed the park visitor.
Rigby gasped. "Look!"
Aboard a black horse was a figure in a black cloak. It was a thin figure and there was no indication that could tell them who this figure was. The figure's silence sent chills in their spines.
"Who are you?" asked Mordecai. The figure was silent.
"You know, any of the other monsters would have told us who they were by now," said Rigby.
"I say we make the first hit," said Muscle Man, punching his hand in emphasis.
The figure on the horse rode the horse toward them and stopped the horse so that its right side faced them. The figure looked down on them and they could not see its eyes. The awkwardness was close to frightening.
Skips pushed the horse a few steps back. The horse still had its side facing them, but was now further away. "Look, if you want something, you're gonna have to go through me," said Skips. The figure gave a loud exhale like that of someone who was undead.
"What do you want from us, bro?" asked Muscle Man. The figure made its horse run quickly and dirt flew. In the dust, they saw a gleam that looked like metal. The figure had a weapon. It extended the weapon to the dirt and soon stopped the horse. It backed out of their way to let them view the message it had written:
I am Fear. I will plague your life in your wake and in your thoughts and in your dreams. Your only salvation is to hold a tournament for my replacement. There are mortals who possess the skill to take my job. Do this and I will leave you and you may yet see your Michelle alive.
"What did you do?" asked Skips.
The figure leaned down and wrote in the dirt more words:
Michelle is trapped and the only way to save her is through a tournament that will determine which mortal may take my place.
"Wait a second, I thought Michelle trapped Fear in the Underworld," said Benson.
Fear wrote more:
That was Adam. I am Fear. Do as I command and your Michelle may yet be safe.
"And what if we refuse?" asked Skips.
Then you will never see Michelle again. I give you one plague-filled week to think it over.
The figure rode off. The dirt scattered from the horse erased the messages on the ground. They stood shocked.
"Well, I guess there's only one thing left to do then," said Skips. He began heading for the storage shed.
"Skips, where are you going?" asked Pops.
"If Fear wants a tournament, then he's getting one. I promised I would do whatever it took to protect my family," said Skips. In truth, his plan was for him to take Fear's place. He had promised, and he had it in his heart to keep it.
A few days later, the tournament was set up at the park and there were people crowding in from all over the world. Some persons had received anonymous invitations promising glory if they were victorious in a tournament. Others were there to try their luck or to spectate this strange event. Everything was in place and, when the sun had finished setting and the last of the light had left the sky, Fear appeared and the tournament began.
The tournament was comprised of a few different stages: an obstacle course, battles to the death, and a few written exams. Fear watched from its perch on its horse. It was a bloodbath, and Death was reaping the benefits of it.
"This is wrong, Death," rasped Fear.
"I don't know what your problem is. These people here came of their own will," said Death. There was a pause as they watched the contestants battle it out. "Besides, we might just see a solution to all of your problems coming real soon." He pointed to Skips, who was competing and in battle armor.
"No." Death grabbed Fear's horse's bridle and pulled it back. "Let me loose."
"Sorry. No can do."
"Then allow me to do it for you." Fear kicked Death in the head and rode into the crowd. It took a cane from inside of its cloak and raised it. Every mortal fell at the sight of the cane, the immortals felt headaches when looking at it. Fear's voice wasn't strong, but its influence was.
The Guardians of Eternal Youth were in the grand stands and Fear waved them forward. "What is it, Fear?" asked one of them.
"Select the best mortal in the competition to become immortal and take my place," ordered Fear.
"Michelle?" asked Skips, coming closer. He had recognized the cane as being hers. Fear removed its hood and it truly was Michelle, but with makeup that made her look menacing. "What happened?"
"She belongs to me now, Skips," said Death, walking up.
"Now, hold on, Death. There is one here who may take her place," said one of the Guardians of Eternal Youth.
A few days later, everything was better than it ever was before. Everyone on the park staff had somebody to be with. Michelle had been released from her duties as Fear and was replaced by another who promised not to plague her nor her family.
Michelle and Skips were playing with their children on the playground. There was no longer any worry and Fear was nowhere in sight. The park would still have its fair share of problems that the staff would have to fight off, but there was nothing they could do about that except cope with it and fight it off as best as they could. Even if the mortals would die, Skips and Michelle would still be there to defend the park. It was home to them, and it had been home to them for most of their lives. It was worth protecting as much as it was worth Skips protecting his friends and family.
"Hey, Skips. Hey, Michelle," said Mordecai, walking up to them with CJ on one arm.
"Hey," Skips and Michelle both replied.
"Uncle Mordy and Aunt CJ!" said young Evangeline excitedly. The children ran up to the bird and hugged him. The children considered the rest of the park staff family as much as Skips and Michelle did.
"Hey, guys," said Eileen, walking up with Rigby.
"Hey!" the rest replied.
It wasn't long before the whole family was together on the playground. It was a beautiful day and everyone was happy. For the moment, everything was normal and they knew that they needed to enjoy it while they could.
"So, what'll be our next adventure?" asked Michelle to Skips.
"What did you have in mind?" he asked.
"I have a few ideas. Even if Adam's no longer in the picture, there are still plenty of monsters to fight and things to discover… and I'd be more than happy to share those experiences with all of you because for once, I'm not afraid."
"You could go treasure hunting," came a suggestion from behind them. They turned and saw Death standing there. "You know I have thousands of unexplored wonders on maps," he said to Michelle.
"I'm aware… and I'll keep that in mind," said Michelle. I have all eternity and I finally have all the chips in place. I'm content. What more could an immortal want?
Well, that's the end. To be honest, I was running out of inspiration and possibilities for what I wanted for the story in the future. I could see oneshots being made out of this, maybe, but I think that's it for this story. I would like to extend my thanks to the reviewers: Ben10extreme, RegularShowFan1592, and CuteFoxSage-NightShadeOwl; the followers: TheWorldOfUniversalPower, RegularShowFan1592, DJ Meltdown of Ground Xero, and CuteFoxSage-NightShadeOwl; and my favoriters: TheWorldOfUniversalPower, SlightlyTilted003, and DJ Meltdown of Ground Xero. I would also like to thank the most important person of all: you. I hope you enjoyed the story and if anyone would like to expand on this, PM me and I'd be more than willing to give input, but I don't think I'll write a sequel... maybe. I don't know. Anyway, thanks you reading, laterz :)