Dun, dun, dun! Got a lot of drama in this chapter, on and off the stage. I do want to provide a warning about the mention of suicide at the end of the chapter. I know this is a touchy subject. The original story "For Good" touched on it in Karena and Wilbur's point of view. This time, this is touched by the people impacted by this: Donnie, April, and Lily. You'll notice throughout the chapter that all of it is in the eyes of the Hamato family. With that said, enjoy the chapter!
DISCLAIMER: I do not own anything related to "Meet the Robinsons," "TMNT," nor "Beauty and the Beast." I only own Karena, Lily, Athena, and friends.
March 17, 2041 - Todayland, North Montana, USA
ATHENA'S POV
I walked onto the stage right on cue and started singing.
"Little town, it's a quiet village every day like the one before. Little town, full of little people waking up to say..."
The entire cast started to walk past me on the stage, yelling "Bonjour!" to each other.
"There goes the baker with his tray like always," I continued singing. "The same old bread and rolls to sell. Every morning just the same, since the morning that we came to this poor provincial town."
"Good morning, Belle!"
I turned around to see John, who played the character who would eventually be revealed to be Mr. Potts.
"Good morning, Monsieur Jean!" I greeted him enthusiastically. "Have you lost something again?"
"Well, I believe I have. The problem is, I can't remember what."
I chuckled in response.
"Oh, well. I'm sure it'll come to me. Where are you off to?"
"To return this book to Pére Robert," I answered, holding up a copy of Romeo and Juliet. "It's about two lovers in fair Verona."
"Sounds boring!" John scoffed at me.
John walked off the stage, and I walked off to the side looking dazed and distracted as the male cast sang behind me.
"Never part of any crowd," the female actors sang. "'Cause her head's up on some cloud. No denying she's a funny girl that Belle."
"Bonjour, good day, how is your family?"
"Bonjour, good day, how is your wife?"
"I need six eggs. That's too expensive!"
"There must be more than this provincial life," I sang as I walked into the library.
"Ah, if it isn't the only bookworm in town," Wilbur, playing both Lumiere and the librarian in the play, greeted me. "So, where did you run off to this week?"
"Two cities in Northern Italy," I answered with a smile, giving the book to Wilbur. "I didn't want to come back! Have you got any new places to go?"
"I'm afraid not," Wilbur answered. "But you may reread any of the old ones that you'd like."
"Thank you. Your library makes our small corner of the world feel big."
"Bon voyage!"
I waved goodbye as Wilbur disappeared behind the curtain. I paid no attention to the singing in the background as I "read" my new book, apparently a hard copy of The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.
"Oh! Isn't this amazing?" I sang in awe. "It's my favorite part because you'll see. Here's where she meets Prince Charming. But she won't discover that it's him 'til chapter three."
"Now it's no wonder that her name means beauty," I heard my cousin Lily, doubling as Mrs. Potts and the mother of the Bimbettes, singing sweetly as always. "Her looks have got no parallel."
"But behind that fair facade, I'm afraid she's rather odd," the trio of girls sang.
"Very different from the rest of us."
"She's nothing like the rest of us. Yes, different from the rest of us is Belle."
All of us got off the stage, and Luke and Jacob came on the stage as Gaston and LeFou. I watched the two act from the side and then Luke broke into song. Once the Bimbettes started singing again, I prepared myself to go back on stage. Once the Bimbettes finished singing, everyone came on the stage and walked amongst each other.
"Bonjour."
"Pardon."
"Good day," I sang.
"Mais oui!"
"You call this bacon?"
"What lovely flowers!"
"Some cheese--"
"Ten yards!"
"One pound."
"Excuse me--"
"I'll get the knife."
"Please let me through!"
"This bread--"
"Those fish--"
"It's stale!"
"They smell!"
"Madame's mistaken."
"Well, maybe so!"
"There must be more than this provincial life!" I eventually belted out.
"Just watch, I'm going to make Belle my wife!" Luke belted out.
"Look, there she goes," everyone else sang in unison. "That girl is strange but special. A most peculiar mademoiselle. It's a pity and a sin. She doesn't quite fit in. But she really is a funny girl, a beauty but a funny girl. She really is a funny girl... that Belle!"
We all stopped in our tracks with my looking back at everyone else as the audience roared in applause.
DONATELLO'S POV
April and I enjoyed ourselves so far. Athena was doing an amazing job as Belle. In fact, everyone was cast well. I had seen little of Wilbur and Lily as Lumiere and Mrs. Potts so far, but in the one scene I watched with them together, they nailed their parts. Now, it was time for Gaston to propose to Belle.
"And you, LeFou," Luke said to Jacob. "When Belle and I come out that door--"
"I know, I know!" Jacob replied nonchalantly. "I strike up the band!"
Jacob waved his baton at the orchestra, who performed a big band version of Here Comes the Bride.
"Not yet!" Luke yelled.
Karena immediately prompted the band to stop, and the audience laughed.
"Sorry!" Jacob yelled back in annoyance, rushing off the stage.
I watched Luke knocking on the door, and Athena came on the stage. She groaned before answering the door. Luke waltzed in looking proud.
"Gaston!" Athena faked a smile. "What a pleasant surprise!"
"Isn't it, though? I'm just full of surprises. You know, Belle, there isn't a girl in town who would LOVE to be in your shoes. This is the day your dreams come true!"
"What do you know about my dreams, Gaston?"
"Plenty! Here, picture this: a rustic hunting lodge, my latest kill roasting in the fire, my little wife massaging my feet while the little ones play on the floor with the dogs. We'll have six or seven."
"Dogs?" Athena asked, playing along with her fake smile.
"No, Belle! Strapping boys like me."
"Imagine that."
"And do you know who that little wife is gonna be?"
"Let me think--"
"You, Belle!"
Athena started to walk back to the door.
"Gaston, I'm... I-I'm speechless! I really don't know what to say."
I heard the audience start to laugh again. I noticed Jacob sneaking up behind Karena, preparing to conduct the orchestra again.
"Say you'll marry me," Luke told Athena as he trapped her at the door.
"I'm really sorry, Gaston, but I... I... I just don't deserve you!"
Athena opened the door, putting her innocent smile back on her face as Luke fell on the floor. Jacob and Karena conducted the orchestra again as the audience roared in laughter.
"They did really well with this scene," April whispered in my ear. "This is funnier than I thought it was going to be."
"Did you know that Wilbur was behind this?" I replied in question. "He may not know comedy routines, but he sure does know how to make one moment comedic."
"I'll HAVE Belle for my wife!" Luke yelled to the audience. "Make no mistake about that!"
Luke and Jacob disappeared from the stage with everyone else, and only Athena was left.
"Is he gone?" she asked nervously and then she scoffed. "Could you imagine? He asked me to marry him! Me! The wife of that boorish, brainless--"
Athena paused, preparing to sing.
"Madame Gaston. Can't you just see it? Madame Gaston, his little wife."
Athena stomped.
"No, sir. Not me. I guarantee it. I want much more than this provincial life!"
Athena ran off the stage, and the curtains closed as the orchestra continued to play. The curtains rose again, revealing a nature background. Athena ran back on the stage and sang again.
"I want adventure in the great wide somewhere! I want it more than I can tell. And for once it might be grand to have someone understand. I want so much more than they've got planned•
We all applauded at the song's finish. Suddenly, two students dressed as a horse ran onto the stage and neighed like a horse.
"Philippe!" Athena yelled in shock. "What are you doing here? Where's Papá? Take me to him!"
We applauded once again as the curtains closed.
APRIL'S POV
The entirety of the musical had been amazing so far. To my surprise, Athena made an amazing Belle. James, Lily's boyfriend, did just as well as the Beast. We enjoyed watching Athena acting out Belle's first adventures in the enchanted castle and seeing Wilbur's nonchalant manner as Lumiere.
The cast had just finished performing Gaston, which Karena and Mrs White did an amazing job choreographing for every person. The curtains had closed to transition to the next scene, and then they rose again, revealing Athena crying on the bed. Lily appeared on the stage, dressed in a white dress with a huge teapot costume over it. Lily's face was covered in white with a purple hat on top. She knocked on the door.
"Who is it?" Athena asked.
"Mrs. Potts, dear," Lily answered sweetly.
Athena got up and answered the door. Lily let out a pleasant gasp.
"Oh! Well, aren't you a vision! I'm so glad to make your acquaintance. I thought you'd like a gracing cup of tea."
Next to Lily was Skyker, Athena's homecoming court partner who played Chip.
"Pleased to meet you," Skyler said as Athena sipped the 'tea.' "Wanna see me do a trick?"
There were sound effects in the background consisting of bubbles forming and then a pop.
"Chip," Lily sternly but gently scolded him, and then she turned back to Athena. "That was a very brave thing you did for your father, my dear."
"Yes, we all think so," Sophia, the wardrobe, said with sadness.
"I'm worried about him," Athena replied. "He's never been on his own."
"Cheer up, my poppet," Lily said sweetly. "Things will turn all right in the end. You'll feel a lot better after dinner."
Athena gave her cousin a confused look.
"But he said if I don't eat with him, then I don't eat at all."
"People say a lot of things in anger. It is our choice whether or not to listen."
Lily started to walk off the stage.
"Are you coming, my poppet?"
"Go," Sophia encouraged her.
Athena followed Lily off the stage, and then the curtains closed. The audience applauded. The interlude was short. The curtains rose again to see a long table set up. Wilbur was already standing on one end. Lily and Athena walked on the stage, and then Lily walked off the stage. Wilbur clapped his hands twice, which gave Karena the cue to start the music again. The lights had also changed, and the spotlights were on Wilbur and Athena.
"Ma chère, Mademoiselle," Wilbur said proudly, facing the audience instead of Athena, outstretching his arms in a welcoming matter. "It is with deepest pride and greatest pleasure that we welcome you tonight. And now, we invite you to relax. Let us pull up a chair. As the dining room proudly presents... your dinner."
The audience immediately applauded.
"Was this Wilbur's idea, too?" I asked my husband. "That was absolutely perfect!"
"Shh, he's about to sing," Donnie replied quietly and quickly.
"Be... our... guest!" Wilbur sang, facing Athena this time. "Be our guest. Put out service to the test. Tie your napkin 'round your neck, chérie, and we'll provide the rest. Soupe du jour, hot hors d'œuvres. Why, we only live to serve! Try the grey stuff, it's delicious. Don't believe me? Ask the dishes."
"This was a good call on Karena's part," I whispered in my husband's ear as Wilbur twirled around.
"I knew Wilbur could sing," Donnie whispered back. "But I didn't know he was that good."
"Lumiere truly suits him."
"They can sing, they can dance," Wilbur continued singing. "After all, Miss, this is France. And the dinner here is never second best. Go on, unfold your menu. Take a glance and then you'll be our guest. Oui, our guest. Be our guest."
Suddenly, some of the guests brought in actual dishes and placed them on the table.
"Beef ragoût, cheese soufflé, pie and pudding en flambé! We'll prepare and serve, with flair, a culinary cabaret."
Wilbur turned towards Athena, who looked extremely excited about the performance.
"You're alone and you're scared. But the banquet's all prepared. No one's gloomy or complaining while the flatware's entertaining. We tell jokes. I do tricks with my fellow candlesticks!"
"And it's all in perfect taste that you can bet!" the male cast sang.
"Come on and lift your glass," Wilbur continued, holding his hand up as if he was holding a glass. "You've won your own free pass to be our guest. If you're stressed, it's fine dining we suggest. Be our guest. Be our guest. Be our guest!"
Everyone suddenly ran off the stage except for Wilbur, Rich, and Athena.
"Life is so unnerving for a servant who's not serving " Wilbur sang solemnly. "He's not while without a soul to wait upon. Ah, those good old days when were were useful, hey Cogsworth? Suddenly, those good old days are gone. Too long we've been rusting, needing so much more than dusting, needing exercise, a chance to use our skills! Most days we just wait around the castle..."
Wilbur paused as he and Rich suddenly started walking off the stage.
"Flabby, fat and lazy. You walked in and oops-a-daisy!"
Suddenly, the lights changed to much brighter colors. Wilbur walked off the stage and Lily ran onto the stage with a big smile on her face.
"It's a guest!" she sang excitedly as the audience cheered. "It's a guest! Sakes alive, well, I'll be blessed. Wine's been poured and thank the Lord I've had the napkins freshly pressed. With dessert, she'll want tea. And my dear, that's fine with me. While the cups do their soft shoeing, I'll be bubbling, I'll be brewing."
"Woo!" Donnie and I yelled at the same time.
The rest of the audience echoed us as the girls vocalized. Lily found us in the audience and blew us a kiss with both hands.
"I'll get warm, piping hot," Lily continued but suddenly let out a gasp. "Heaven's sakes! Is that a spot? Clean it up! We want the company impressed. We've got a lot to do."
Lily turned towards Athena.
"Is it one lump or two for you, our guest?"
"She's our guest!" Wilbur sang, reappearing onto the stage.
"She's our guest!"
"She's our guest!" Rich finally joined in as Cogsworth.
The audience cheered wildly as the entire cast sang behind the four students. Wilbur had joined in the ensemble, dancing his life away. Suddenly, Rich sang with a proud voice.
"Course by course!"
"One by one," Wilbur sang. "'Til you shout, enough I'm done!"
"Then we'll sing you off to sleep as you digest," everyone on the stage, excluding Athena, sang. "Tonight you'll prop your feet up but for now, let's eat up. Be our guest. Be our guest. Be our guest. Please be... our... guest!"
Everyone finished their choreographed dancing as Lily handed Wilbur a bowl of pudding.
"Pudding?" Wilbur offered to Athena, who only laughed as the last notes played.
We all roared in applause.
"Bravo!" Donnie and I yelled happily at the same time.
LILIANNA'S POV
Our last performance of the weekend was our best performance yet. The audience today was louder than the audience for our other two performances. I felt proud of myself and all of us for all the hard work we put in to make this musical a success.
Right after our Something There number, I had taken off my costume, so now I was just wearing a long-sleeved white dress with the artistic pink-and-purple finish at the bottom of my floor-length skirt. I had paced ever since the next scene started.
"You're still nervous?" Athena, now wearing a yellow ballgown, asked me.
"I'm just as nervous as the first night," I answered, touching my braided bun in the back of my head. "And I was still nervous last night. It was just our parents those two nights. This time, the entire Hamato family is here. What if I mess up?"
"Lily, please relax," Athena assured me, putting her hands on my shoulders. "You've done amazing so far! It sounds like Wilbur's advice involving your favorite singer played a key into your performance. Just remember, you're strong, so own it. Take a deep breath."
I took a deep breath just as the curtains dropped and the audience applauded.
"That's my cue," I said.
"You got this, Lily," Athena replied with a smile. "I believe in you."
I walked to the middle and emerged from behind the curtain onto the stage. The audience cheered wildly when I appeared and right then, the curtains rose behind me. I walked to my left side as Athena emerged onto the stage, which was Karena's cue to start the song. I glanced behind me to see James emerge from behind me in his Beast costume. Then, I glanced at Karena, who nodded at me to start singing. I brought the microphone up to my mouth and started to sing sweetly.
"Tale as old as time, true as it can be. Barely even friends, then somebody bends unexpectedly."
I took a quick glance at Athena and James, who walked towards each other with fond smiles on their faces.
"Just a little change, small to say the least. Both a little scared, neither one prepared. Beauty and the Beast."
There was a small interlude as Athena and James first held hands. Then Athena guided James on how to dance. I looked back towards the audience.
"Ever just the same!" I belted out. "Ever a surprise! Ever as before, ever just as sure, as the sun will rise!"
I took a quick glance at Athena and James, the latter twirling her around.
"Tale as old as time," I sang sweetly. "Tune as old as song. Bittersweet and strange, finding you can change, learning you were wrong."
The audience cheered when James lifted Athena up in the air and twirled her.
"Certain as the sun," I continued singing. "Rising in the East. Tale as old as time, song as old as rhyme. Beauty and the Beast."
Karena conducted the orchestra to quiet down as I sang my last lines.
"Tale as old as time, song as old as rhyme. Beauty and the Beast."
I started to smile and cry as the audience roared with applause. I disappeared behind the pillar and made my way backstage to put my teapot costume and my white makeup back on.
DONATELLO'S POV
After Lily's performance, James delivered quite the performance singing Evermore. Athena had a strong performance as Belle, trying to convince the villagers that the Beast was real and her determination to return to the castle. Wilbur, Lily, and Rich performed admirably in their fight scene, with Lily screeching at the assumption her character was Chip's grandmother. April and I had a good laugh at that. James and Luke performed a convincing fight as Gaston and Beast. April and I were amazed at the effects of the curtains dropping as Gaston had fallen to his death.
After a short time, the curtains rose again to reveal the students playing the servants.
"We did it, Plumette!" Wilbur shouted excitedly. "Victory is ours!"
We watched as the student playing Plumette slowly fell down to the floor. Wilbur glanced down in agony.
"Plumette? Oh, my darling, Plumette!"
"You were so brave," Sophia said to her character's partner. "Goodbye, my love."
Sophia crossed her arms and closed her eyes, being still.
"No, don't leave me!" the student playing Cadenza yelled, and then he sat down and stayed still.
"Chip!" Lily yelled frantically, running up to Wilbur and Rich. "Have you seen Chip? He ran off! Oh! Oh! Where's my little boy?"
Lily slowly sat down on the floor and sat still.
"Mom!" Skyler yelled, running onto the stage. "Mom! Where are you?"
Skyler than sat down close to Lily and sat still.
"Lumiere, I can't... can't speak," Rich stuttered.
"It's alright, Cogsworth," Wilbur replied calmly.
"Lumiere... it's been an honor... to serve... with you."
Rich stood still.
"The honor was mine," Wilbur said with a smile.
Wilbur made one twirl around, and then he stood still.
The curtains then dropped as the saddening music continued to play. After a short time, the curtains rose to reveal Athena and James. Athena was bawling in tears over James, who was lying down pretending to be dead.
"Come back!" Athena yelled. "Please, don't leave me! I love you."
Karena took that as her cue to point to the orchestra first to change the songs. Then she pointed to the spotlight where the lights dramatically changed from a dark setting to a light one. One curtain fell momentarily, and then it rose again. Athena was standing up while James was also standing, but no longer wearing the Beast costume.
"Belle, it's me," James said.
Athena studied him for a few moments, and then she put a big smile on her face.
"It IS you!" Athena said happily.
We cheered when Athena and James drew into each other and kissed each other. The curtains dropped again, and behind the curtains, we heard lots of dialogue from James and the students who played the servants. The music suddenly turned grand as the curtains rose to reveal the entire cast except for Athena and James wearing white. Athena wore a white dress with pink roses on it while James wore a light blue suit. Everyone was dancing happily. After some time, Lily emerged with the microphone and sang into it, facing us.
"Winter turns to spring, famine turns to feast. Nature points the way... nothing left to say."
Lily paused, putting a smile on her face.
"Beauty and the Beast."
Lily set the microphone down and walked back to John, and then everyone, except for Athena and James, stopped dancing and faced us. They burst out into song.
"Certain as the sun, rising in the East. Tale as old as time, song as old as rhyme. Beauty and the Beast. Tale as old as time, song as old as rhyme. Beauty and the Beast."
The entire cast vocalized until Karena brought the music to a grandiose end. We all stood up, applauded and cheered as the curtains closed. The orchestra then started to play a song, and Karena walked onto the stage, picking up the microphone Lily left, and she started to sing.
"How does a moment last forever?" Karena sang as Athena emerged and bowed. "How can a story never die?"
Athena went behind the curtain and James emerged, bowing to us.
"It is love we must hold on to."
James and Luke then switched places.
"Never easy, but we try. Sometimes our happiness is captured."
Luke, after posing for us, went behind the curtain, and the student playing Maurice emerged, giving us a gentle bow.
"Somehow a time and place stand still."
Jacob then appeared, giving us a pose as LeFou.
"But love lives on inside our hearts and always will."
Jacob switched places with Wilbur, who also did his best butler pose possible. We cheered wildly when he appeared.
"Minutes turn to hours. Days to years, then gone."
The students playing Madame de Garderobe and Cadenza emerged after Wilbur retreated back, and they bowed together.
"But when all else has been forgotten, still our song lives on."
The girl who played Plumette came out as the other two students retreated. She blew a kiss at the audience as we continued to applaud.
"Maybe some moments weren't so perfect. Maybe some memories not so sweet."
Karena suddenly bowed, revealing herself as the Enchantress. In response, we cheered loudly.
"But we have to know some bad times or our lives are incomplete."
Karena then gestured to the curtain again as Skyler skipped out, putting his hands on his hips with confidence and then bowing.
"Then when the shadows overtake us, we feel all hope is gone."
Skyler swapped out with Rich, who emerged and did a grandiose bow.
"We'll hear our song and know once more, our love lives on."
Karena gestured to the curtain one more time as Rich walked back behind it. She clapped and encouraged us to clap as Lily emerged, wearing the long white dress she wore earlier. The audience roared and cheered wildly as Lily did the sweetest pose while holding a teacup, and then she dipped into a curtsy. Lily then walked over to Karena and started to sing in harmony with her.
"How does a moment last forever? How does our happiness endure?"
The curtains rose one more time, revealing the entire cast, who all bowed together.
"Through the darkest of our troubles," Karena and Lily continued to sing together. "Love is beauty. Love is pure. Love pays no mind to desolation. It flows like a river through the soul. Protects, perceives, and perseveres, and makes us whole."
Karena paused as Lily belted out her voice.
"Minutes turn to hours, days to years then gone! But when all else has been forgotten, still our song lives on, oh!"
Lily and Karena sang one last line together.
"How does a moment last forever? When our song lives... on."
We cheered wildly as the curtains closed, concluding the show.
LILIANNA'S POV
After greeting my family and receiving many compliments from them, I walked outside and saw Wilbur just standing there, holding the gift Mr. Samuels gave him for being a senior.
"Penny for your thoughts?" I asked.
Wilbur turned around and smiled at me.
"This weekend ended with our best performance. I'm... so happy right now."
I beamed.
"Good! I'm so glad!"
"And you... James is so lucky to have a young woman like you. Your performances was the best I've ever seen. You made both of those songs fit you."
"To be fair, the duet with Karena was her idea," I replied. "It was her way of thanking me for my help."
"Lily..."
Wilbur paused. I glanced up at the raven-haired teen.
"Yeah?" I asked.
"Would you and your family like to have dinner with us?" he asked. "I mean, just you and your parents. I'm sure everyone else has plans."
"Sure! Though I'm sure Athena and her parents wouldn't have minded either."
"Well, yeah, but your family helped us the most."
I gave my friend a firm nod.
"Gotcha. Then in that case, we'll certainly be there."
"Great!"
"I gotta get back to the apartment. My parents asked for my help with packing."
Wilbur's smile disappeared.
"They're moving back to New York?"
"Yeah. Karena's got most of her memories back and because my foot's healed, there's no reason why I have to stay in Todayland... yet."
"I'll leave you to it then."
We smiled and hugged each other.
"See you tonight, Lumiere."
"See you tonight, Mrs. Potts."
As soon as Wilbur walked around the corner to get to his car, I decided to practice flying. I closed my eyes and concentrated, picturing myself flying. I felt myself flowing off the ground. I smiled, using my powers to bring myself to new heights. I opened my eyes, and I looked down. I laughed merrily and I started to fly like I had a dove's wings.
I grinned as I flew all over Todayland, thrilled that I finally mastered the art of flying. My mother April had flown over New York when she was possessed by Za Naron. But me? No one was controlling me and I felt so free! I had mastered telekinesis, mind reading, mind manipulation, and mind defense. Now that I had mastered flying, I wonder what I would master next.
Deciding I had a good flight, I flew into my bedroom window at the apartment my parents had rented. I frowned at the sight. The room was empty. Cornelius must have come to retrieve the borrowed furniture. I walked out of the room to find my parents packing up the last of their things.
"I can't believe we're moving back to New York again," I told them with a frown.
"Well, your foot has healed," Dad explained. "Karena has just about all her memories back. And I've met all of my fellow colleagues on campus. There's really no reason for us to stay."
"Well, maybe there's a reason to stay just a little bit longer," I replied, a smile coming on my face. "Wilbur invited us over to dinner. Can we go?"
"What do you think, Donnie?" Mom asked my dad with a smile.
"I don't see why not! We do need to finish bringing this back to our home though."
"I'll help you," I offered.
APRIL'S POV
Donnie, Lily, and I returned to Todayland to have dinner with the Robinsons after we moved all of our stuff back to our home in North Hampton. From the portal, we landed just outside the garage.
"Wait!" Lily yelled, freezing herself in place. "Something's not right."
"What's going on, Lily?" Donnie asked.
Lily concentrated on her surroundings.
"Wilbur's not here," she said. "In fact, he never came home from the high school."
"Maybe he had to go to work," Donnie suggested.
"On a Sunday?"
Lily shook her head.
"Wilbur never works on Sundays. I think something is wrong. Let me get higher up and see if I can track him."
Just as Lily was about to fly, I heard a noise above me.
"Lily, that's his car I'm seeing, right?" I asked, looking up to see a blue flying car landing in front of us.
"Yeah, that's him."
Wilbur got out of the car and turned to us with a flat look on his face.
"Lily, I think you're right," I told her. "Something's definitely wrong."
"Wilbur, are you alright?" Lily asked her friend.
"Who are you?" Wilbur asked with quite a bit of anger in his voice.
"What?" Lily replied with bewilderment. "It's me, Lily! And these are my parents, Donatello and April. Is something wrong?"
"Where is Cornelius Robinson?" Wilbur asked.
"Cornelius?" Donnie asked in reply. "Wilbur, is someone controlling your mind?
"Where is Cornelius Robinson?"
"Wilbur, snap out of it!" Lily yelled, preparing to fight with her bo staff.
"Tell me where Cornelius Robinson is," Wilbur threatened us. "Or I will hurt you."
"Wait, let me try something," Lily pleaded.
Our daughter inched herself closer to Wilbur and waved her hand around like she was a Jedi.
"You will tell us who you are."
"What are you, a Jedi?" Wilbur asked. "Just answer the question."
"You will tell us who you are," Lily demanded, waving her hand again.
This time, Wilbur winced.
"You'll never get me!" he yelled.
"You will tell us who you are," Lily demanded one more time.
"I am DORIS the second," a controlled Wilbur explained. "I was made to control these lowly humans to do everything that I will. I was caught by a frog named Frankie and was stuck in a car trunk for four years. Now, I am planning my revenge on Cornelius Robinson for destroying my mother all those years ago."
"We won't let you do that," Donnie replied, drawing his own bo staff and preparing to fight.
"Wilbur, please," Lily pleaded one more time. "Fight this. This isn't who you are."
To my horror, Wilbur used a spinning roundhouse kick on Lily! She flew back into Donnie's arms.
"Thanks for the save, Dad."
"Anytime," Donnie replied. "What's the plan here?"
"Dad, you need to distract Wilbur. Mom and I will try to find a way to get Doris out of his mind."
"Wait, if Wilbur is under Doris's mind control, then where's the hat?" Donnie asked.
"Lily, where did you last see Wilbur?" I asked her.
"The high school."
"I'll go there and check things out. You stay here and help your dad."
"Got it!"
I borrowed Wilbur's flying car and drove it back to the high school. I used my psychic powers to find anything out of the ordinary as I drove around. When I got to the front of the school, I heard some electricity crackling on the ground. I parked the car, got out, and searched around.
Suddenly, I fell to the ground in pain. I saw Wilbur walking around when a flying hat landed on him. Wilbur struggled, ramming himself into the wall. The hat came off and flew away despite it being damaged. Then I saw Karena, running up to Wilbur and giving him a hug.
"Wilbur, I just wanted to say you were amazing in there," Karena had told him.
I watched Wilbur pushing Karena away.
"Whoa, are you okay? It's not like you to not accept a hug."
"I'm fine," Wilbur had rudely replied. "Now please leave me alone."
"Wilbur, I may not remember much about our relationship, but I know this isn't like you. Are you sure you're alright?"
"I said, leave me ALONE!"
I watched Wilbur storm off into his flying car. Karena had stomped her right foot and stomped away. I gasped, now realizing how exactly Wilbur fell into the control of the bowler hat. Once my brain returned to reality, I called my husband.
"Donatello."
"Donnie, I know what happened to Wilbur. The bowler hat found him outside the high school and landed on him. Wilbur rammed the hat into the wall--"
"But the damage was enough to damage his brain," he finished my sentence. "Well, Lily had to knock him out. He was getting out of control."
"Lily didn't break another body part, did she?" I asked nervously.
"No, thank goodness. Lily's fine. It's Wilbur I'm worried about. Lily and I dragged him to his room and Lily's been trying to reach him through his unconscious. She's having trouble getting through to him."
"Do you need my help? Maybe Lily and I can work together."
"We can try that. I had to explain what happened to Cornelius. Of course, he was thankful we are here."
"Right. I'm on my way back."
I drove back to the house and meet my family in Wilbur's room. The teenage boy was lying in his own bed unconscious.
"Hey, A," Donnie greeted me in a stressed tone.
"Hey, D."
"I've already told Cornelius about the hat. He's enlisting security again. Do you think we should bring the family into this?"
"Not yet," I answered. "Right now, Lily, let's help Wilbur wake up."
"Wilbur seems to have some kind of mental shield," Lily explained. "This was not the first time I've had trouble reaching him."
"When was the first time?" I asked.
"When Wilbur contracted the parasitica virus. I had meditated for days trying to get into his unconscious to figure out where exactly he was at."
"We'll test that theory later. Right now, let's help him."
Lily and I both placed our hands on Wilbur's head and closed our eyes, preparing to meditate.
"Wilbur, it's me, Lily. I want to help you. Come back to us."
"I'm here too, Wilbur. It's April. We want to help you together. You were controlled by Doris and now it's time for you to wake up."
"Please take your shield down. Open your mind to us. We know the real Wilbur is in there somewhere."
We both chanted the healing mantras in Wilbur's mine three times before he finally woke up.
"Lily? April? Don? What are you all doing here?"
Wilbur's eyes widened in panic.
"Wait, how did I get here? Last I remember, I was at the high school getting ready to head home."
"You don't remember Doris at all?" Lily asked.
"No, nothing. I remember the bowler hat coming onto me and it was trying to mess with my brain somehow. I tried ramming myself against the wall to see if it would get off of me. But I remember nothing after that."
"Okay, well, the good news is you recognized the three of us," Donnie replied. "Are you able to describe your family?"
"Yes. My parents are Cornelius and Francesca Robinson. My dad was adopted by Bud and Lucille Robinson. Bud has two brothers named Joe and Fritz. Joe is married to Billie. Fritz is married to Petunia and has two children, Tallulah and Laszlo. Lastly, my mom has two brothers, Art and Gaston.
"Now, do you remember who you are?" Donnie asked.
"Wilbur Robinson. My fiancée is Karena Edwards."
"It sounds like all of his memories are intact," I spoke up. "What do you think, Lily?"
"I agree. Wilbur, if you don't mind me telling you, I had trouble reaching your unconscious a couple times now. I think you have a mental shield that protects you from any mental attacks. And that would also explain why it would take longer for you to physically heal. I'd like to test this theory out later."
"Sure."
Wilbur panicked again, looking around the room.
"Where's Karena?" he asked.
"She's not here?" Donnie asked.
Lily closed her eyes and concentrated, I'm guessing to scan the house for Karena's presence.
"No, she isn't here. Let me call and find out where she is."
Lily took out her T-Phone and dialed Karena.
"Hey, Wilbur's wondering where you are. It's almost dinner time."
There was a pause, and then Lily put on a puzzled expression.
"Karena, I don't believe you understand what is going on."
"What's going on, Lily?" Donnie asked.
"Karena's refusing to come to dinner because Wilbur was rude to her earlier," Lily answered, putting her hand over the phone.
"What?!" Wilbur reacted with shock. "Lily, please give me the phone."
Lily handed him her phone.
"Karena, it's me, Wilbur. Listen, I have no idea what I said to you earlier, but I am so sorry. Whatever I had said to you was beyond my control."
There was another pause. Wilbur's face started to turn red.
"Karena, I was controlled by Doris," he sternly replied. "Lily and her parents are here helping me out, just like they helped you."
Another pause. This time, Wilbur's eyebrows burrowed.
"That is a low blow, missy," Wilbur angrily replied. "Lily has a boyfriend. Why would she be interested in me like that?"
"Karena thought I was Wilbur's new girlfriend?" Lily asked.
"Oh boy," Donnie said, shaking his head.
"Will you listen to me for one minute?" Wilbur yelled into the phone. "I only have eyes for you. Lily has a boyfriend and Doris is a metal, mechanical hat. Do I need to make myself even more clear?"
"I'm not liking where this is going," I finally spoke, shaking my head.
"If that's what you think, Karena, then fine!" Wilbur yelled again. "We're done!"
We all gasped in horror. Wilbur hung up the phone and handed it back to Lily.
"I need to go blow off some steam," Wilbur told us.
"I'd ask what happened," Donnie replied with a frown. "But I think we know what happened. I'm gonna try to talk to Karena, see if I can get through to her. April, can you and Lily keep the Robinsons company?"
"Of course, D."
Donnie and I embraced each other and then kissed each other.
"Be safe, D. I love you."
"I love you too, A."
DONATELLO'S POV
I knocked on the door to Karena's apartment. I did not have to wait long for her to open the door to greet me. I put on a frown when I saw her. Her face was reddened, as if she was crying.
"Are you okay?" I asked with a concerned voice.
Karena shook her head.
"Come in, Donnie."
I followed her in and closed the door behind me.
"Would you like to talk about it?" I asked.
Karena slammed her fist on the table.
"Just when I thought I was starting to remember my relationship with Wilbur, he goes and messes it up!"
I shook my head, knowing the true story. I sat down at the table, and Karena followed suit.
"Karena, Wilbur was telling the truth over the phone," I consoled her, holding her hand. "Right after the musical ended, the same hat that took your memories away found Wilbur. He was under Doris's control and fought the three of us trying to find his dad."
I paused, putting on a stern expression.
"But accusing my daughter of being with your fiancé was not okay. Lily would never steal another's loved one. And she has a boyfriend. I want to know why you would do such a thing because this isn't like you."
"I don't know, Donnie. What's the point of all of this if you can't remember your relationship with the person who is supposedly the love of your life?"
"The point is to never lose hope," I sternly replied. "And from what I am hearing, it sounds like you did. Wilbur loves you, Karena. I wouldn't be here if he didn't."
"Wilbur is a stuck-up spoiled-rich kid," Karena said angrily. "Why should I marry someone like that?"
"Okay, Karena, we are no longer having a productive conversation. You need to calm down."
"Donnie, I've decided to move back to Los Angeles and start a new life there."
Shock came to me. I took a few deep breaths, composed myself, and put the stern expression back on my face.
"Karena, you are not thinking clearly. You have already accepted a teaching position here."
"I don't have all of my memories back, remember? And quite frankly, I don't want them back."
I scoffed.
"Are you hearing yourself right now?" I asked angrily.
I decided I had enough and stood up.
"Karena, you need to go to Wilbur's house and apologize to him. Breaking up with him over the phone because you judged a book by its cover is not the answer."
"Wilbur should apologize to me!" Karena snapped, standing up.
"He did apologize!" I yelled in response. "And instead of being your normal self and forgiving him, you wrongfully accused him of cheating on you and broke up with him over the phone!"
"Wilbur was rude to me, Donnie!" Karena yelled back.
"What you are doing, missy, is holding a grudge and blaming him for something you did," I replied sternly, pointing my finger at her. "Wilbur had no control over what Doris did to his mind just like you had no control over your amnesia. Karena, remember why you moved to Todayland: because you love Wilbur."
"Shut up!"
I blinked a few times, not believing what I was hearing. My stern expression returned once again.
"Karena Michelle Edwards, you are acting like a spoiled brat. You need to knock it off, right now."
"You're not my father, Donnie," Karena sternly replied. "And don't you dare call me a spoiled brat, because I'm not."
"You are acting like one. Stop."
"Get out. I want you out of my apartment, Donnie, right now."
I shook my head, still holding my stern expression. I walked towards the door and then I turned around.
"After all we've been through together... I expected better from you, Miss Edwards."
I opened the door and closed it behind me.
North Hampton, New York, USA
LILIANNA'S POV
"Home sweet home, Lily!" Mom said with relief as we emerged from the portal.
"It feels like it's been ages since I've seen this house," I replied. "It feels longer than two months."
"Well, while we wait for your father to come home, what do you wanna do?"
"Hmm... we could start a game of Pandemic?" I suggested.
"I don't that would be fair to start without your dad," Mom replied. "It's his favorite game."
"True. Well, what about UNO?"
"With only two people?" Mom asked with a raised eyebrow. "And besides, it's more fun in the lair."
"Yeah, a 12-person UNO tournament sounds like a blast compared to just the two of us."
I let out a sigh of contentment.
"I can't wait to see everybody again. It's been too long."
"Ryan and Venus have talked about how much they've missed you," Mom replied with a smile. "And so have your aunts and uncles."
"So... what about Scrabble?"
"Yeah, let's do that! I'll grab it from the closet."
I watched my mom walking into the hall closet to grab the game. I suddenly cried out in pain, falling to my knees. In my brain, I watched Karena stabbing herself in the heart with a knife.
"NO!" I screamed.
"Lily!"
Mom rushed over to me, putting the game down.
"Are you okay?"
"It's Karena!" I cried. "She's going to kill herself!"
"Your dad was still talking to Karena when we left. Maybe he's still there with her. Let's go!"
Todayland, North Montana, USA
Mom and I took the portal to Karena's apartment, but there was an eerie feeling in the air, a feeling of emptiness.
"Karena?" I yelled out.
"Donnie?" Mom yelled. "Are you here?"
I closed my eyes and concentrated to try to find a presence.
"There's no one here," I said out loud.
"Where could they..."
Mom paused, picking up a piece of paper on the table.
"Lily, I can confirm your vision," Mom said with fear in her blue eyes. "Karena's flying to Los Angeles tonight."
"Does Dad know?"
"I... I don't know. I'll call him."
"I need to find Wilbur," I replied. "He deserves to know what's going on."
There was no time for me to borrow a flying car this time. I opened the portal, taking me straight into Wilbur's room.
"Who's there?" Wilbur asked angrily.
"Relax, Wilbur, it's me."
"Lily?"
Wilbur joined me on the bottom floor, using his levitation platform to lower himself.
"You look worried," he said with a frown. "Are you alright?"
"It's Karena. I had a vision of her committing suicide and my mom found a note in her apartment. She's flying to Los Angeles to commit the deed."
Wilbur's frown turned into a look of determination.
"Lily, we need to go. Karena needs me and so do you. But where is your dad?"
"I don't know," I answered with a frown. "He wasn't at Karena's apartment when my mom and I went there."
North Hampton, New York, USA
DONATELLO'S POV
I returned home for the first time in two months... only to arrive in total darkness.
"Lights."
The lights in the house turned on. I saw April and Lily's luggage in the middle of the hall with the game of Scrabble sitting on the bench. I got out my T-Phone to call my wife. Just as I was about to call, my phone started to vibrate. April had beaten me to the punch. I answered.
"Donatello."
"Donnie! Karena's going to Los Angeles to kill herself!"
"What?! Are you absolutely sure?"
"Yes. Lily saw a vision and I found a suicide note in her apartment. Did your talk with Karena go okay?"
"I'm afraid it went the complete opposite," I answered, shaking my head in shame. "We had a fight. But she mentioned nothing about committing suicide."
"People tend to hide their suicidal ideations really well," April replied. "I think this was sudden after Karena broke things off with Wilbur."
"It must have hurt her more than she realized."
"Lily's heading to Wilbur's house as we speak."
"We need to get to Los Angeles and find her, fast!"
