Friends Forever

Fate has a plan for all of us and sometimes that plan isn't the one we wanted. And that was just the case for Kid Muscle now.

Earth the place he'd made a name for himself, risen to become the champion wrestler of the world, the place he called home he now had to leave.

He was called home back to Muscle Planet because his father was stepping down as King, it was now Kid's time to step up and embrace his fate to rule his planet. He of course would take his wife Roxanne with him, but as for all his other friends he would have to leave them behind.

So he made one last trip to the Muscle League training grounds to say goodbye to his beloved friends. They talked and laughed as they spoke of old times and adventures. But it was short lived because all too soon it was time for Kid to depart.

"Good luck lad." said Checkmate.

"God speed Kid." said Terry.

So with one last goodbye he left the training grounds. Then he entered his limo which began driving him off to the airport. It was a time of sorrow for Kid. The people he'd grown to know and love were the very people he was leaving behind. And to top it all off he never got to say goodbye to Kevin, his greatest friend and ally.

Kevin was however not far away, staying up in a hotel room with Fiona. The two had been told of Kid's leaving and while Fiona was heartbroken by the fact but Kevin didn't appear broken up at all. Fiona thought he just needed some time to deal with the fact but his mood didn't change and he carried on as if everything was normal.

But Fiona knew the time of Kid's departure was drawing near and for the sake of her husband she had to go and knock some sense into that big iron mask of his.

She made her away over from the bed and to the bathroom where Kevin stood looking himself over in the mirror, mostly at his mask.

"Darling." he said as he saw her in the doorway." Does my mask have a dent in it?" He moved closer to the mirror and continued to examine it.

"No." she said taking a step closer and paused before continuing." Kevin don't you think you should go over and see Kid Muscle one more time?" Kevin cocked his head over to her, his eyes full of confused questioning.

"Why?"

"Because he's leaving." she said flatly." And you don't know for how long."

"Not this again." he straightened himself out." You know Muscle he's one for theatrics, he's just trying to get attention." Fiona looked at him shocked." He'll moan about this but I'll see him tomorrow at training." He turned and went back to inspecting his helmet.

Fiona now decided it was time to get assertive and stormed over to her mountain of a husband and gripped him.

"Kevin Mask!" she yelled." Do you not understand what's go on here?!" Kevin looked at her confused and shocked." Your best friend is leaving and he may never come back, you may never see him again." Hearing the way she spoke it dawned on Kevin that this was all real.

"My God." he finally spoke." I haven't much time." Then he quickly moved past Fiona and ran out the door, grabbing his jacket and his keys as he went.

Meanwhile Kid Muscle and Roxanne had made it to the airport. Kid dragged himself and his baggage along, making his way towards the ship that would take him home. The whole situation was still a heartfelt one for him and he leaned on his wife for support.

But then the sound of a roaring engine filled the air that suddenly caught his attention. Kid shot around to see a large man in an iron mask riding up on a motorcycle.

Kevin had been over half the island looking for him. He'd stopped at all Kid's favorite restaurants and turned up nothing. It was only when he went to the Muscle League camp that they pointed him in the right direction.

A smile formed on Kid's face as he saw his friend there and he quickly hurried over to him.

"Kevin." he said with a silly grin on his face.

"Muscle." said Kevin getting off his bike." I'm glad I found you." But it was already to late, they were on borrowed time. A sudden cry from the spaceship got their attentions as it called to them, calling for their passenger and for it's departure.

Roxanne stepped back and let the two have their moment.

"When will you be back?" asked Kevin. He knew the answer but he thought of nothing else to say.

"I don't know." said Kid." Could be tomorrow, could be next week, could be-" But he stopped himself, a silence taking over them. "I wish it didn't have to end this way Kev." Kid finally said." But I guess it had to end sometime."

This wasn't the way either of them wanted it to end. They still had to have their rematch at the next Choujin Crown, the still had to have children and have them grow up together. They thought their adventures would last forever, but time has a way of changing things.

"Time to go Kid." said Roxanne as she put her arms around him. Kid looked at Kevin one last time, their eyes matching up. Then Kid turned and began walking away.

Kevin was silent at first but this mattered too much, their friendship mattered to much to end like this.

"Kid Muscle!" his voice boomed at him causing Kid to turn around. He turned and saw Kevin marching towards him until they stood nearly inches apart.

Then Kevin lifted his hands up to his mask and slowly pulled it off. Kid and Roxanne were shocked, not that they hadn't seen his face before but because he'd done it in public.

He pulled the mask off and held it out before him." This is for you." said Kevin to Kid." A token of our friendship." Kid reached out his hands and took the blue mask from Kevin.

"Thank you." he said finally able to find his voice." I'm gonna miss you Kevin." Looking back up at Kevin they saw his face was ridden with sorrow, his eyes watering and his lips pursed.

Kevin stayed where he was and watched as Kid turned and walked into his ship. Then with a blast of it's engines he saw the ship take off into the sky.

Kid and Roxanne went to the window and saw that Kevin hadn't moved. They both raised their hands and waved him goodbye to which he replied with the same.

Then quick as a flash the ship turned and flew out of sight and Kevin was left alone. It took a moment to collect his thoughts but after a few moments he slowly turned and lumbered back to his bike, dragging his feet along. Then he slowly started it up and prepared himself for the long ride back to his hotel.

Kid was melancholy as well. He sat himself down on the ship put his hand in his face and began crying.

Kevin pushed open the door and slowly dragged himself into the room. But he didn't get far as he finally collapsed, resting his his arms and head on a nearby chair. Fiona quickly came over to his side and held him, felling his body as he too began to cry. Kevin had never had a friend in all his life until Kid Muscle, when he left a bit of himself went with him.

One week later the world still felt the pain of Kid's leaving. And none more so than Kevin. He roamed around the mansion in his new iron mask. He said very little and Fiona knew that when he was ready he'd talk about it. But that moment might come sooner than later.

Because the world was in a buzz and everyone wanted to know what Kid's best friend Kevin thought of his leaving. So Jacqueline McMadd came over and conducted an interview right in the Mask family's living room.

Needless to say this was going to be a bother.

Kevin and Fiona sat next to each other, while Jacqueline sat across from them.

"So tell me." she began the interview." How does it fell with Kid Muscle gone." Her question was directed at Kevin but he stayed silent with his head bowed, it was Fiona who answered.

"Well I think we all, my husband and I included feel sad with him gone. Kid was like one of the family." Jacqueline smiled in an annoyed manner, she wanted to hear from Kevin not his wife.

"Do you feel any resentment towards him leaving. Him going off to become a king and leaving you all behind?" Once again her question was directed at Kevin.

"Kid was always destined to be a king." answered Fiona." Whether it happened now or in another fifty years this outcome couldn't be avoided." Jacqueline sat back even more annoyed.

"Did he tell you of any plans of his? Any indication that he might return?"

"No." said Fiona." and he doesn't have to he's welcome her anytime. Tea is at three he can just come in, and bring his family if he wants to."

Jacqueline was now very annoyed so she decided to get specific.

"Kevin." she said identifying who she was speaking to." What if in the upcoming years you become even more successful than Kid Muscle? What if you become the next Choujin Crown champion. Money, fame, and power are all yours. Your adored by your wife, children and people all around the world. You have everything you ever wanted." She paused a moment to look Kevin over." But then Kid Muscle comes back and in one match defeats you and all that crumbles away. Your money and fortune gone, your wife takes your children and leaves, your life simply put comes to an end and all because of Kid Muscle. What then would you have to say?" She waited at smirked at Fiona who she knew couldn't answer this question. Kevin did not stir, he hadn't moved the whole interview.

Fiona moved as if she was going to answer but then Kevin shot his hand up stopping her. Fiona sat back and Kevin picked up his head and looked at Jacqueline. He looked right at her and beyond her into the camera, his yellow eyes like a hawk glaring at them. He took in a deep breath as he prepared to speak, everyone inched forward ready for what he had to say. Then in one quick breath Kevin spoke in his deep British voice

"I'm glad it's you."