Near the campfire, Cody was looking at the sunset in the Wrath Ring, and Chop was still next to him. It was like this demon pig and human boy had bonded into something special, something similar to Charlotte's Web a little. Cody honestly wished that he could keep Chop as his own pet, but even he knows an apartment was not really a proper place for a domestic pig, especially pot bellied or kunekune pigs.
A kid can always dream at least. The faint sound of cows mooing were heard in the pastures and the crickets were chirping in the night.
While he did win the race, the boy still could not believe it. It was like he was in a weird fever dream. But, alas, it was all too real. As real as the sun in the solar system. Still starring at the evening sky where the sun was almost done setting in, Cody heard the sound of thumping footsteps. When they stopped, it was Vortex. "Hey champ. Doing alright?"
"Yeah. I feel like..."
"A winner?" The male hellhound smiled
"Uh-huh. I never really won any race before."
"And look at all the money in the prize. Know what you wanna spend it it, Cody?"
"Well, there is something I would like to get. But I just need to look at them."
"Ooh, what is it?"
"Well, you'll see." Cody said. It was quiet for a little while, but the boy finally said: "Tex, can I ask you something?"
"Of course, Cody. What is it?"
"Were you in the pound before? Like... in the same place as Loona was? But if you don't want to talk about it, I'm ok with."
"Nah, it's cool. But yeah. I did come from the pound that Loona was from. It wasn't exactly the best place. Think of it as like... Hell's version of a puppy mill, but probably worse."
"Loona told me that the place was like a jail a little."
"Kinda was. But with more freedom and privileges to have in your cell. Luckily, I got adopted by this nice demon family when I was only eleven, and I was one of the best pups in the facility. People recognized me for my muscles and called me the Tank Kid was I was younger."
Cody let out a little laugh. "Tank Kid?"
"I know, it sounds funny. But they called me that for my strong body and muscles. Hell, I was even the strongest kid in the place. Lot of people wanted to adopt me, but I just couldn't find the right kind of people I wanted to be my parents."
"huh. Have you seen Loona there?"
"A couple of times." Tex pointed, "but I didn't really interact with her so much or talk to her lot of times."
"Ah."
"any more questions?"
"Probably one more." The boy took a little breath in himself and asked: "Did you have any friends in that place."
"Not really... quality friends." Tex sounded a little embarrassed. A couple of people took advantage of me and my hospitality. But I did break a few bones... a necks as payback."
For the boy, it wouldn't surprise him that Tex would easily break someones' neck since his arms say it all. Only a complete and utter fool would want to fight or pick on Vortex (unless if the fool was bigger and more muscular than Tex).
"Didn't have any friends in that place?"
"It's not easy making friends in those kind of places, Cody." Tex remarked. "Especially if you just wanna get out of that literal hellhole. But i did have a few. They're probably living happy lives or, Satan knows what they're doing right now."
"Hmm. So, do you like working at IMP better than with Verosika?"
"Actually... I do." The male hellhound smiled. "Blitzo didn't seem to trust me at first since i worked for his ex, but he eventually... grew to warm up to me. He gives me more money in my check than Mayday ever did. And it's more fun to rip the heads off targets with my teeth and mouth." Those words made Cody a little scared at first, but these are demons, and the kid wouldn't have expected any less from these guys.
"As long as you guys are secret about it."
"Don't worry, we demons know how to keep secrets." The male hellhound boasted. "And, anyway, i'm proud of you, Cody. You showed a lot of guts and courage."
Cody smiled at him gratefully. "Thank you. So where's Eclipse?"
"Ah, she's getting us some drinks for the night." He looked and just saw his girlfriend bringing in two drinks with her. One looked brown and the other looked like red wine. "Hey, baby." Tex walked up to her and they shared a kiss on the lips. "That was some race, huh?"
"Yep. And here's something for our little champion." Eclipse gave the kid the glass of icy red juice. "Some root beer for you, Cody."
"Thanks Eclipse." the kid smiled before drinking a few sips. Chop licked Cody's face again and it made him laugh. "Sorry Chop, I don't have anything else to give you."
"He's a pig." said Tex. "There's no changing that."
"I wish i can keep him but it's not big enough for him."
"Yeah, that's true." said Tex.
"So do you know what you plan to use the money on, honey?" asked Eclipse curiously.
"I think I have. But don't tell Loona. I wanna surprise her."
"Oooh, doing something nice?" asked Eclipse.
"You really are the greatest little brother she can ever ask for, Cody." said Tex.
"I know. And about Slasher, will you rip his head off if he tries to hurt me again?"
"Don't worry, Cody. I'll make sure he doesn't hurt you. And i will make him hurt." he cracked his knuckles to prove his point. Just hearing his bones crackle was enough to make Cody's spine have shivers. Yes, only a fool would want to pick with a muscular, tall hellhound like Vortex.
"Thank you." Cody smiled as he took a few more sips of his root beer. He looked at Chop again and gave him a few pats on his head, and gently stroke his long, flappy ear. Then the demon pig made a few grunts as he was sniffing Cody's face some more. "I know, i wish i can keep you, but i can't. Besides, don't you have any friends here?"
"Chop is a loner kind of pig." said Joe, walking up to the group with a cast over his leg and holding crutches. "Some of the other pigs don't like him very much. Ah!"
"You ok?" asked Cody
"My arm is still splitting and aching, but i'll live." Millie's father replied. "Cody, You did good. Showed some real guts." Yes, Joe did seem proud of the boy as well.
"Can you be a little bit more nicer to Moxxie from now on?" Cody couldn't help but ask.
Then Joe couldn't help but let out a loud laugh. "Be nicer to that fucking weakling? Come on. He can't even lift a fucking moth with his puny arms, and he-" before Joe could finish however, he caught sight of Cody quivering his lower lip and having big teary eyes. Yes, he was giving him the classic puppy dog face. "Look, it's not that I-"
"Come on, old man, have a heart under your muscles." said Vortex.
It looked like Cody was about to cry any second now. At last, Joe Gave in by saying: "Ok, ok, i'll be more nicer to him." Then Cody's face immediately changed from sad to happy.
"Thank you." Cody said.
The next morning, Cody was back on the Pride Ring and at the apartment. It was a shame that he left Chop, his noble swine, but that was his home after all. Still, he can always come visit that pig when he wanted to. Unpacking his stuff in his room, he had an idea of what to give Loona. Yes, something really special for her and nice. But he wanted to make sure it was of good quality and the greatest kind for her to have. He decided to come see Blitzo for his help, telling him about the idea in the process.
"Wait, what?" Blitzo exclaimed
"Shhh, shhh, shhh. Not so loud." Cody said. "I want to surprise her.
"But it's way to dangerous. Even with a helmet, what if she accidentally kills herself?!"
"Calm down Blitzo." Cody said. "If Loona can handle fighting and killing people, then she can handle a m- i mean, you know. You know that she is a young adult."
Blitzo made a sigh. "True. I know she is a young woman. And... she always talked of having one someday." he looked down as he was thinking. "OK, I know a good dealer that can help us get Loona what she wants."
"Is he trustworthy?"
"Very trustworthy... mostly.
When they both went to the dealership, Cody was surprised to see Wally Wackford once again. "I say, i say, I say, if it isn't the pig racing champion himself!" Wally patted Cody's head. Well, at least it was from someone Cody met a few times before. At last, Cody found what he was looking for. And he knew Loona was going to love it so much.
Later
Cody was holding Loona by the hand while she was blindfolded in the parking lot. "We're almost there, Loona." said the kid. "You'll love it."
"Ok, what is going on?" Loona chuckled.
"Trust me, you'll thank me for this."
When they stopped, Cody told Loona it was ok to lift the blindfold off her eyes. When she did, she was certainly surprised and awestruck at what she was beholding. It was a cool motorcycle. It was colored black and a read helmet with red paint that looked like blood on it was on the right handle. There was also a scary dog on the bumper of the vehicle and Loona felt like she was dreaming
"Surprise!" said Cody.
"Cody." said Loona. "Oh my Satan." she felt like crying tears of joy as a smile appeared on her canine face. "Where did you get this and... how much did it cost?"
"At Wally's place. I got it for twenty-thousand dollars. So that means I still have thirty thousand left from the prize money." Cody said. "I wanted to make sure that it was rideable and that you would like it."
"Like it?" said Loona. "I love it! I always wanted a motorcycle." then she hugged him tightly. "This is so cool. But... you didn't have to give me this."
"I wanted to."
"Really, it's not big deal." Loona smirked.
"It is."
"Well... thank you Cody. Really, thank you so much for getting me this. Now i can go wherever i want to go. I won't have to rely on Blitzo' van anymore. And hey, wanna go for a ride with me?"
"No thanks. I feel like eating dinner."
"Sure. what would you like?"
"Maybe some meatballs with noodles."
"Ooh, good choice."
