Chapter Nineteen: To Cross the Space Between Us
With a small nod, Chomper took her hand and rose, letting her lead him to another area of their home. It was massive, a set of sliding doors revealed an even bigger part. A great pool sat, and items that he didn't even know how to describe were all over.
"Once you're in the salty water, it'll help you relax." Holding a set of goggles, Jonathan offered them to Chomper. "Place these on, for you'll need absolute darkness to focus."
"If it gets scary, we're here for you, okay." Nancy knelt by, taking and holding his hand.
"All right." With the items in claw, Chomper let go of her hand and waded into the pool, finding he floated easily. Placing the goggles on, he found his world went black, thinking about only one, Ruby. He was in complete darkness, water all around his feet, only blackness below, above, surrounding him. Taking a steady breath, he took a few steps, wondering if he were alone. Suddenly, he heard a voice, and echoes of memories flashed by. During their time apart, Ruby left the Valley, giving up everything to find him. He took her for granted and regrated leaving her.
(Replay this over the song later never comes)
"Chomper, is there something you wish to say, something you not saying that you really should be saying?"
Chomper stopped and sighed. "Ruby, I umm, well, we'll talk about it later."
"You said later before and later it is. How long are you going to keep me out?"
"You couldn't possibly understand, okay."
"Then explain it to me, help me understand."
"I'm sorry, Ruby, I just, can't put it into words."
"We used to be so close, tell each other everything. I thought we'd be that close again."
"A lot has changed, Ruby, did you honestly think I'd be the same? That was years ago, we were two very different being back then than who we are now."
"Do you still love me?"
Chomper saw her eyes grow glassy, feeling his own get moist. "I do love Ruby, I just have to do this alone. I was alone for so long, it's hard to get out of the frame of mind. I'll explain it all later, I promise."
"Don't make a promise you can't keep."
Giving her a small nuzzle, he went to leave. "I'm going out again, I'll be back later."
He took her for granted and left. Chomper saw himself, his past self, the stupid, the one who let her go. If he could, if it were in his power, he'd take it all back, try to fix his mistake. With a lower gaze, he inhaled and exhaled.
Chomper (Ruby):
"When you met her, you were so free,
Her love for you was plan to see,
You kept looking for something, a measure of security,
But she was really all you need,
You kept on telling her later, but never comes around,
Please stop telling her later, stop searching for what can't be found,
Take her hand go with her now and you'll fly free,
No more later we both know that's a lie,
This will be the day, she says goodbye,
(Goodbye) Goodbye! (Goodbye)"
The image shattered, Chomper wishing, missing Ruby. "Ruby?" He whispered and looked up, noticing a figure not too far away. Splashing with each step, he found the figure was Ruby, sitting down and trembling. He could tell she was crying, was scared, yet she couldn't see him, unresponsive to his voice. "Ruby, I'm here, I'm right here, Ruby." When he reached out to her, his hand went right through her. "Ruby, no, don't go, come back, Ruby!" Frantic, Chomper ran, getting nowhere. "Ruby, Ruby, where are you?"
Waiting and watching over Chomper, Nancy, and Jonathan saw the lights overhead flicker, hearing Chomper mutter while he floated. Suddenly, he jerked up and threw the goggles off. "Ruby, I need to get to her!"
"But Chomper, if you leave now, we can't further your, training. Don't you wish to be strong, the best you can be?"
"Power means nothing if I have no one to protect. I know that now, I won't ever lose sight of it, what's really important, which are my friends, Ruby, my love." Chomper said, climbing out of the water, shaking himself, and preparing to leave. "I thank you for all you've done, but I must get to her, before it's too late."
"Wait." Glancing at him, Nancy smiled. "That's exactly what we wanted to hear."
"What?"
"Chomper, you are truly remarkable Chomper, the body of a monster and the soul of a hero." Jonathan went and took Chomper's hands, gazing up like a proud father. "There is so much we can teach you if you decided to come with us. Yet, it seems your heart is elsewhere."
"We might not have been there for you in the past, but we might be able to get you there faster."
Chomper was led back up to where he first met them, noticing it changed, Nancy took a seat and strapped in. "Right, you might want to buckle up."
Jonathan assisted Chomper, who was stunned, to say the least, having a belt go around his waist. "Indeed, Nancy is known for her led foot."
"Her what?"
Before them, light poured in through a sheet of what appeared to be ice. Chomper gripped the armrests, feeling them jerk forward, the jungle moving by them quickly. Nancy smiled and hit a few leavers, slamming her foot to the peddle. Chomper's stomach jumped, finding the ground became the sky, spinning and seeing the Big Water below them.
"Isn't this fun," Jonathan stated, looking back to find Chomper was terrified. "Dear, perhaps you could take it easy, you're scaring our son."
"Sorry, sweetie, but you'll be okay. Oh, and if you feel the need to throw up, say so before doing so."
Not wanting to pass out, Chomper forced himself to remain awake, finding they crossed the Big Water and zoomed over the Mysterious Beyond. In no time, he saw the Great Valley, noticing a pack of predators swarming around his friends, who were on the outside of the Great Wall. Hovering in the air, the pair looked back at him.
"Well, this is where we part, son," Jonathan said, holding a sorrowful grin.
"And remember should you need us, we'll return to aid you." Nancy hit a button, Chomper vanishing before them.
The pair disappeared and Chomper found himself on the ground, close to where his friends were. "Mom, Dad, thank you," Chomper saw the shiny object leave into the blue sky. Turning to the threat, he heard a series of growls and took a deep breath. "Hang on gang, I'm coming."