"GAMMELTHORPE!?" Both Arnold and Rhonda exclaimed. "Who?" Spinelli lowered her eyelids.
Yup. That's right. Thaddeus 'Curly' Gammelthorpe was under the mask.
Militia soldiers with rifles dropped down from the helicopters and pointed at them. "Come on, Boss!"
"Time to go!"
Alastor was helped up by one soldier while another picked up his mask. "I'LL BE BACK TO END ALL OF YOU! I SWEAR IF IT'S THE LAST THING I EVER DO! I WILL END YOU, AND YOU ESPECIALLY!" He pointed at both Arnold and Rhonda.
After Alastor was taken up to the helicopter, the soldiers were lifted back into the helicopters.
"Let them go, at least we know who was under that mask now." Arnold mentioned. "So Helga Pataki and Thaddeus Gammelthorpe were under those masks and the Militia leaders? How could we have been that blind?" Rhonda questioned.
"Again, who are those nobodies?" Spinelli asked while crossing her arms. Arnold rubbed her shoulder. "It's a long explanation."
Spinelli turned around and pulled Arnold into a hug. "I'm glad you're back, Arnold…" She hugged him tightly.
Arnold hugged her back without hesitation. "I'm more than happy to be back… And thanks." He rubbed her back.
After Spinelli let go, Rhonda came up to Arnold with a big smile.
"Arnold, my beloved husband, am I glad to see you're back." She hugged him tightly. Arnold hugged her back. "Rhonda, my beloved wife, I'm happy to be back. I'm happy to be back with my family." They soon let go and kissed.
Soon, Arnold walked up to Nadine and Star Sapphite to help them up. They smiled once they saw their friend was back to his normal self.
"Alright, guys, how about we head home?" Arnold smiled at them.
"We're with you."
"No argument here."
"No need to tell me twice."
Back At The Lair
The Hyperjet landing gears touched down in the garage. After the engine shut off, Miles and Stella soon came over to find their son. Arnold came out after his quad was wrapped up. He found his parents awaiting him.
"Mom! Dad!" He walked up to them and hugged them. "Arnold, sweetie!" Stella smiled while tightly holding her son.
"Son! We're so glad you're back!" Miles patted his back.
"It's more than great to be back." Arnold replied with a smile. He then rubbed his neck area since he still felt the sting of the syringe. He looked back and smiled at Spinelli while she was facing away and conversating with the others.
Olivia soon came down to the lair and found her father. "Daddy?" She asked, rather scared. Arnold looked over and gave a big smile. "Olivia! Sweetie! There's my baby girl!" He opened his arms for a hug. "Come here, sweetie, I'm back to my normal self. I promise you."
Olivia hesitated, but soon, she ran from the stairs and toward her father's arms. "DADDY!" She hugged Arnold tightly. "Olivia, my sweet, sweet, baby girl!"
"I missed you, Dad…" She whimpered. "What I don't miss is you hurting my ribs." She chuckled softly.
"I'm really sorry about it, Olivia. I- I wasn't myself, but you don't have to worry about me anymore, I'm ok for the most part. Right now, I'm worrying about my entire family since I know the damages I caused, but I'm mainly worrying about you, sweetie." Arnold kissed Olivia's forehead. "You're one of the most important people in my life, and I wouldn't have it any other way. I love you, sweetie." He kissed her forehead again.
"I love you too, Daddy." She smiled. "I'll meet you upstairs so I can check you out, ok?" Arnold suggested. Olivia nodded and soon ran back to the stairs.
While Phoebe was distracted typing away at the monitors, Rhonda walked by Arnold with a smile. Arnold would approach Spinelli with a special thing in mind…
"Hey, Ashley." He smiled.
"Arnold!" Spinelli blushed.
"Listen, Spinelli, I know I wasn't myself, but I know one thing." He started.
"What's that?" She rubbed the back of her neck.
"You probably feel guilty this stuff happened, but none of this is your fault. And I know you were the one working the hardest to make me come back." Arnold smiled. Spinelli started to blush again. "Yeah, well, uh… I- I'm just glad you're back and that this is all over." She tried to walk away, but Arnold grabbed her arm.
"Time to come home, Ashley." Arnold smirked and then pulled Spinelli into a small but passionate kiss.
After only a few seconds, Arnold separated from her with a smirk and walked away. Spinelli stood there for a moment with a lovesick smile. She eventually followed behind.
"Hey! Phoebe! I come home and I see you busy as ever, and without greeting your friend? I'm quite disappointed." Arnold smiled. Phoebe turned around with a smile. "Arnold! Oh, thank God you're home again!" Phoebe hugged her close friend. Arnold hugged her back.
"Yeah well, I have all of you to thank, especially Spinelli here." Arnold let go and lightly pinched Spinelli's cheek. "But it's not just her to thank, all of you, but you too, Pheebs."
"Oh, it was nothing." She giggled.
"Phoebe, there's a reason you're the brains of this team, and I'm so grateful you're with us. Without you, I wouldn't have had the antitoxin! Again, thank you." Arnold smiled. "Say, what were you even working on?" He asked.
"Nothing, really. I-" A notification beep sounded. "Hang on…"
An email from the mayor. "Let's see here…"
"Dear Shadow and to all of the Vigilantes. I am personally organizing a ceremony to honor all of you for all your courageous acts for all of the citizens of Hillwood and for always keeping the city safe. And after we saw the latest news, you guys more than earned those medals! There are no words to ever express our gratitude for all that you do for this city and around the world, and we are forever in your debt. The ceremony will be in two weeks. We'll see you then!" The email read.
"A ceremony in our dedication? Well, isn't that sweet or what?" Spinelli crossed her arms.
Phoebe snapped her fingers. "Ah! This is the perfect time to debut something new!" She clapped twice. "Impulse?"
"At your service." Impulse replied as he lit a light in the locker area.
A whole row of Class A outfits was displayed, all custom designed to fit all of them. Even the dress caps, which all of them were white with a black badge and a golden V symbol.
"You're nut if you think I'm wearing that…" Spinelli groaned. Arnold shrugged. "Probably better since you don't like dresses."
Spinelli rolled her eyes. "Fine… But that doesn't take away the fact we're all getting a medal, right?" Arnold smiled and rubbed her shoulder. "You got that right."
Fast Forward Two Weeks Later…
A whole crowd was clapping as the Mayor of Hillwood was at the podium. A military member soon sat down with his family.
"On the night of June 22nd, Hillwood's own Vigilantes leader, Shadow, was brainwashed by their archnemesis, but that didn't stop his team from saving their own. His teammate, Scarlet, stepped up to the challenge and led the team to save their leader. And once they administered the necessary cure, they also revealed the identity of the Militia leader. So let's give the Vigilantes a hand!"
The entire crowd started clapping and cheering.
"Shadow." The Mayor called him up for his medal. Shadow soon walked up to the Mayor. The Mayor shook his hand. "Congratulations, Shadow, for having an amazing team having your back." He placed the medal over his neck.
"Thank you." Shadow smiled as he soon walked away and back to his team.
"Scarlet." The Mayor called up Spinelli for her medal. She took a deep breath and soon got up.
Shadow sat down next to his wife and daughter while his parents and in-laws were behind them. Arnold kissed both Olivia and Rhonda's cheeks and looked up at the podium to see Spinelli getting her medal.
As the clapping and cheering started to decrease, this was perhaps Arnold's final memory as everything would soon fade out into the dark present day… Now that we know what happened in the past, we can see why the present is more challenging than ever…