CHAPTER 81: Epilogue: Here's to the Future!
And here we are! The final chapter of TTTBAF! Damn, I've come pretty far, haven't I? 81 chapters . . . that's a lot!
Anywho, this chapter might be a bit . . . cheesy. But hey, I gotta lighten it up!
Enjoy!
Since that blessed day of August 11, my life has been overflowing with bliss, happiness and joy. I was working three jobs ― yes, three! After taking a few courses at the University of Toronto in economics alongside Peater, we both got jobs on Bay Street in the Toronto Stock Exchange building. We both thought our jobs were fun, because for one thing, they were exceptionally interesting, and for another, we were steering our economy back on the right track. I mean, after all, during Zomboss' years, the economy was completely out of whack. That deranged zombie couldn't understand and apply the intricacies of economics, even if his life ― or, rather, un-life ― depended on it. Not to mention that he and his zombies couldn't care less about what was taking place on Bay Street. True ― eight hours of meetings, typing and printing might seem boring to the average plant, or human, but hey ― if you've just been through hell and back in a 15-year war, peacetime jobs like this one are simply nirvana. For my second job, I work part time at St. George, a treatment home that specialized in combating mental health issues like schizophrenia, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder that were brought about by the war. While I was taking courses in economics, I took the time to learn a little bit about psychology and healing. The plants that were getting treated there would always go nuts when I walked in through the door because 1) I was the Coponeva Insuperabilis, 2) I told them all kinds of fascinating stories, and 3) I would always be able to squeeze some fun things into their schedules.
Oh, and about the third job that I worked . . .
Well, it's not really a job. Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, Peater and I would head on over to Mosspark Armoury and train. Train, train, train, from six o'clock in the evening to ten o'clock at night. Because it was a well known fact that Zomboss was still at large, and could be anywhere at this point (like, anywhere), we had to train our butts off. And we're not getting paid to do it. It's actually more like a military training program that the government pays for, and the only payment we get is the skills we learn, practice and master.
Well . . . turns out that life isn't torture when you got friends, lots of things to do, and peace.
Today was Saturday. The beginning of a weekend. After nudging Peater awake, washing my face, and making a small breakfast of bacon and eggs, we sat down to eat. We were about to dig in when I heard a knock on the door.
"Who in the world could it possibly be?"I muttered as I shuffled over to the front door.
I opened it, and saw several plants that I did not expect to see.
"Roosevelta? Temi? Martin? Mareya? Albert? Brian?" I squeaked as I looked at each of them in turn.
"Oh my gosh, it's so good to see you! Come on in!"
I led them into the dining room, making Peater jump up in shock.
"I thought I'd never see you again!" he cried as he hugged Temi and Martin.
"Hey, why don't we make a nice, big breakfast?"I suggested, gesturing towards the stove.
Our six happy guests erupted in cheers as they rushed to pull out ingredients from the cupboards. We happily made pancakes, waffles and French toast as we chatted about our current lives, memories, and plans for the future. Half an hour later, we had cooked enough food to feed all of Rexdale. We joyfully ate, chatted and laughed as our little fighting group was reunited once more. After breakfast, we decided to hop on the subway and go to Sneaky Dee's.
Before Zomboss took over, Sneaky Dee's was a human bar that served plain old, regular food. But since Zomboss had disappeared, Sneaky Dee's had turned into a hip, trendy plant eatery that served both classic and contemporary plant foods. We all sat down at a huge table, and started chatting again.
"So . . . where are you guys living?" I asked.
"Most of us can't really afford our own place, so we all live in one place. We're in this apartment in Scarborough!" Temi answered.
"I've been taking English and medical courses at the University of Toronto!" Mareya gushed.
"Now, I'm a medical doctor, and I work at Mount Sinai hospital! I got enough money to get all six of us a place to live, and as a treat, I bought myself this necklace! It cost, like, $600!"
I looked at Mareya's necklace, which was made of brilliant gold, with a pendant that had emeralds, sapphires, rubies and diamonds. It didn't take too long for me to notice that Mareya was different. She wasn't that shy, jittery little girl-plant I had escaped from a graveyard with a little over a year ago. Her accent was gone, and to cut a long story short, she had become a total scenester. Roosevelta had changed as well. She was a stylish punk, with piercings, tattoos, and a funky pair of pink glasses. By the looks of it, she, too, had transformed into a scenester.
"What happened to you, Roosie?" Peater asked as he looked at her numerous piercings and tattoos.
"It was weird. She randomly decided to get this crazy makeover!" Martin answered.
Albert and Brian nodded. "Crazy is an understatement!" they declared simultaneously.
I giggled as Roosevelta swatted the three boy-plants with a tattooed arm.
"I got this makeover because I thought it would be cool, okay?" she snapped.
I heard footsteps behind me and clapped my leaves as I saw a waiter bearing a tray with burritos, bowls of soup, chips, and glasses of red wine.
"Food!" we cheered as we made mad scrambles for whatever looked the most appetizing.
I took a bite out of a burrito and grinned. "This tastes good!" I laughed as I took another bite.
I leaned on Peater's shoulder and hugged him.
"Don't you just wish every day could be like this?" I whispered.
"Yeah . . ." he replied, before he kissed my cheek.
"Oooh!" the six other plants at our table squealed.
"Aw, shut up! You guys are just jealous!" I guffawed as I grabbed another burrito and several chips.
"We're the jealous ones here! I mean . . . Martin and Mareya. Temi and Roosie!" Brian spat bitterly.
Martin and Temi blushed and socked the Split Pea.
"Don't you go blabbing about our relationships!" Temi squawked.
"Yeah! Don't you dare!" Mareya shrieked.
Roosevelta cleared her throat.
"I believe we should make a toast." she announced.
"To what?" asked Albert.
"Elyssia, the Coponeva Insuperabilis!" Mareya piped up.
"Food!" suggested Albert.
"Friends!" Martin declared.
"Peace!" Brian said.
"Love!" Roosevelta sighed, before hugging Temi.
"The future!" Peater and I blurted out simultaneously.
Everyone else nodded and expressed their approval.
"Here's to the future!" we cheered as we raised out glasses, quickly gulping down the wine afterwards.
Peater looked at me and grinned, before kissing me yet again.
"Hey ― did you know that my bag is a subspace bag? It has, like, an infinite capacity!" I exclaimed as I showed Peater my bag.
"I've been with you for over a year and you never even told me this?" he gasped.
"Hehe . . . maybe . . ." I giggled as I flopped down onto the bed and curled up next to him.
"Honestly, Peater . . . I love you so much." I sighed as I snuggled up closer to him.
Peater grinned at my confession of my love for him. "Heh . . . I love you too, Elyssia." he whispered as he stroked my face.
I closed my eyes and let out a sigh of contentment, and for a few minutes, we lay there in a warm embrace, savouring the moment, wishing it would never end.
"Hey . . . what's that?" Peater asked.
"Huh . . . what's what?" I mumbled as my eyes flickered open.
"The red envelope."
I gasped as I took the envelope into my leaves. It was the letter that Ash gave to me before he . . . disappeared. I opened it and read the contents of the letter inside, only to feel a sharp pain at the back of my head. I put a leaf to the aching area and gasped as I recalled a moment in my life that I did not want to remember. Tears needled their way into my eyes and poured down my face like a waterfall.
"Elyssia, are you all right?" Peater asked as he wrapped an arm around my shoulder.
"No . . . they left . . . Alduin . . . Adria . . . Alana . . ." I sobbed.
"Why . . . ?"
TO BE CONTINUED . . .
A/N: And that is a wrap, y'all! That is the end of Through Toil, Tears, Blood and Fire! Damn, I've been hacking away at this thing for eight months! EIGHT MONTHS! Jeez, that's a lot. *-* So I'll be taking a little 32-day break, and then I'll see y'all round in "Talisa Glace-Blanche of Queen Street"! Will I be working on a sequel? HECK YEAH! But, I need a bit of help with planning, so you won't see it up for a while. I'd like to say a big thank you to the following people:
-My amazing classmates, teachers and principals for being there for me
-All the people at my treatment/recovery center that helped me out
-The staff and my besties at Humber River
-Stwolfgang 'Peas' Ambrose, ThePeawithGoggles, Asiandude0111 and TimeMan63 for all the love and support that they gave me.
And last but not least, thank you to all of you readers and reviewers for giving me the love and support. You guys were the number one reason why I decided to keep going! If it wasn't for you I would have abandoned this story (and the world) altogether!
LUV ALL OF YA! SEE YA ROUND!
~GamerGirl ;)