The road to Oak Glen started on a blustery Autumn afternoon. Being in a more urban part of the city, Pyra and Mythra were remiss to the massive shift in atmosphere the fall colors would decorate their part of the world in, those colors Frankie would describe commuting to LA every day they'd secretly be jealous of getting to see. That would be, however, until they got well into the mountains. Down in the city, the trees, though changing, would only drop their wrinkly, pathetic gray leaves on the ground waiting for the wind to whisk them away. Up here, however, the leaves were painted wonderful delicious colors of orange, red, yellow, brown, even a strangely pleasant pale green. They danced and rolled and twirled in the wind as they leapt free from their branches to decorate the rest of the land in their beautiful Fall colors.
Frankie smiled widely as he took glances of Pyra and Mythra every so often. Their mouths swung agape in absolute awe. Frankie guessed-while Pyra and Mythra knew- that the world so long ago only really had the cold and hot seasons. Life was teeming or it was sleeping with no in-between. Spring and Winter reigned supreme and even if Fall or Summer tried to let themselves be known, certainly weren't a sight to behold such as… THIS. Pyra's eyes twinkled with wonder and happiness as she imagined little insects dancing on the sprinkling leaves, her creative juices flowing… perhaps a bit too much. She had to sit back in a daze as she tried to let her brain catch up with all the idea she was considering all at once. She couldn't help but laugh at herself- so many thoughts with no plot!
Mythra, on the other hand, rolled down her window and stuck her head out peacefully. The wind caught her long, golden mane of hair and flung it gracefully. She took a deep breath in and smiled as the leaves followed, her eyes never losing sight of them. For just one moment of her life… she felt relaxed… truly relaxed. And that relaxing feeling could only be felt with a certain other someone who she turned to face in the driver's seat. His happy brown eyes and peaceful smile as he looked both ways on the road combined with the way the colors of the wind just… suited him… yup. That was a heartbeat and smile of Mythra's that she could very much get used to. She blushed heavily and happily as she sat down back in her seat, quietly saying, 'hehehehehe… Dummy…' quietly to herself over and over again.
Even Pneuma… though she couldn't quite see what was going on outside, the elation everyone felt, the serenity that washed over them as they drove through the countryside, the nature that reclaimed all their souls back to where they originated so very long ago… it was an incredible feeling… she worked so very hard… one small slumber wouldn't hurt.
As the trio had made their way up the mountain, show tunes blaring proudly and happily in the car, Frankie and Pyra in particular singing their hearts out, Mythra smelled something… a very familiar something. She popped her head out the window again and smiled widely as smoke billowed out of a large stove way off into the distance.
"Pyraaaaa- do you smell that?!" Mythra asked excitedly.
"It's great to be a celebrity! An actor- huh? Smell what, Mythra?" Pyra asked, halting her singing.
"It's Barbecuuuuueeeeeee…!!!!" Mythra squeaked gleefully as she fidgeted around excitedly in her seat
"I don't know about you girls… but I'm starving!" Frankie announced loudly.
"Whatever your taste buds are feeling, Frankie, they better make up their mind fast. I think Mythra's about to explode." Pyra joked.
"Well it has been a few weeks since we last had some Barbecue… let's swing by here before we really get into our day!" Frankie said.
"YES!" Mythra cheered excitedly as Frankie drove his way into the parking structure, finally landing at their destination… Oak Glen, otherwise known as Apple Country.
…
Mythra tore a rib clean off the bone and reveled in the tender, smoky, sweet and spicy flavor of the meat as she took a hearty sip of sparkling water and slammed it down on the table excitedly.
"Not Dummy's ribs, but they'll do nicely enough!" Mythra exclaimed.
"Mmf… I agree…" Pyra responded, swallowing the bit of her pulled pork sandwich before sitting up straight as she began to make a point. "What I've noticed from the few barbecue spots we've been to previously is that they focus much more on their sauces and variety of them to really make the meal… losing some of the texture and flavor of the meat itself in the process… Frankie packs on the flavor with all of HIS seasonings on top of dabbing it with generous amounts of worchestire sauce to allow it to stick! THEN when or if we DO add the sauce, that's what really makes the flavors blend together!"
"Don't forget the marinade, Pyra!" Mythra exclaimed.
"Oh yes! Mr. And Mrs. Guosmán WERE quite the wise couple to teach him about the orange juice thing!" Pyra added as she took a potato chip and ate it lightly.
"My mom had her own little ideas from time to time, but it was those days after school with my dad that REALLY got me started." Frankie explained from afar, walking away from a little market that wasn't far at all from the place they were eating at.
"Well it's about time! It was getting lonely!" Mythra complained, chewing on her food indignantly.
"Mythra, hush, now, we can't be clinging to him ALL the time, now…" Pyra scolded.
"Maybe you can't…" Mythra muttered under her breath.
"Besides, with the way he tore apart that Tri-tip sandwich, I'd say a little walk around to help him digest is just what he needed!" Pyra lightly teased as Frankie sat back down in his seat shyly.
"Mmm, Pyra… don't say it like that…" Frankie muttered. He cautiously shot a glaring glance Mythra's way as she chuckled naughtily.
"You must've been REALLY hungry… you ate it piece by piece like some kind of fuzzy little creature…!" She giggled.
"He didn't even put it down!" Pyra added.
With both girls chuckling at his expense, Frankie sat flatly and dryly in his seat as he stared far into the distance, powerless to stop their little game with him.
"You guys are the worst…" He mumbled.
"It's your fault for being such a Dummy, Dummy…" Mythra cooed as she pinched his cheek.
Her having seemingly replaced his real name with "Dummy" at some point was not lost on Frankie. Of course he wasn't shy from giving her similar nicknames in kind, but Mythra especially insisted on calling him this one as much as possible. Whether that was purely out of affection, a playful attempt to get a rise out of him, or perhaps a combination of both, Frankie couldn't tell. But at this point he'd gotten familiar with it and…somewhat attached to it. Just hearing the phrase come from Mythra's voice with such energy set him at ease in a way he couldn't fully explain.
Needless to say it would require the intervention of an outside party to combat the nickname at this point, because Frankie surely wasn't going to pay it any mind. He did wonder if someone else would consider this type of commentary grating though…but that notion in his mind quickly subsided when he looked at Mythra's playfully and teasing grin.
"So long as it makes her happy…" He thought to himself.
"Mythra, stop treating him like a child… as adorable as it is…!" Pyra chuckled again.
"Well let's not get too comfortable shooting the breeze out here… ¡Míra!" Frankie brought out a plastic bag and placed it on the table, taking out three plastic bottles with a dark golden brown liquid inside of it, handing two to Pyra and Mythra while he kept one to himself, excitedly licking his lips as he twisted the cap off.
"What in the world is this, Dummy?" Mythra asked as she lifted the bottle to the light.
"If you were to ask me, I'd say it was some kind of cider! Have you changed your tune and finally decided to have a spirit or two with us?!" Pyra clasped her hands excitedly.
"You're right, Pyra. It IS cider… non-alcoholic cider…!" Pyra frowned instantly and pouted his way. "Just give it a try!" Frankie added excitedly.
"Mm- smells good!" Mythra exclaimed as she took the cap off her bottle.
"Oh… alright… let's have a little taste…" Pyra did just the same, and with an approving smile from each of them, the three took one big swig of this delectably sweet… tangy… cold… fresh…
"MMM! MAN IS THAT GOOD!" Mythra hollered excitedly. A few people sitting nearby turned to look at her in shock, only to turn to their own business once again after watching her simply down the drink in her hand.
"Mmmmmm! This is amazing!" Pyra excitedly said, twinkly-eyed, letting the taste linger in her mouth as she licked her lips happily. Frankie looked on at both of them with a big smile.
"I told you didn't I?" He asked before finishing off the rest of his drink, sighing loudly as he slammed the bottle down on the table. "Back when I was little, my parents and I would get the big gallon for us to share over the week- this with some Menudo and tortilla?" Frankie placed a hand over his heart and shut his eyes in an exalted manner. "Beautiful…"
"Mmm… I'd say it perfectly encapsulates the season… brisk and tangy… homey and nostalgic…" Pyra nodded her head as she drew to her conclusion. "I do think I can see myself getting used to this…"
"Me too! We can get the big gallon too, right, Dummy?!" Mythra asked excitedly.
"Didnt bring the ice chest for no reason! Let's go grab one before I show you… everything else…" Frankie answered slyly.
"Hmm? There's more?" Pyra and Mythra asked simultaneously.
…
"And here it is! This is where the REAL fun begins!" Frankie announced loudly- as the trio stepped out of their car, being greeted by a menagerie of sweet shops, restaurants, and a whole plethora of Apple trees spread as far as the eye could see. Beyond the main sets of stores lied family games, even more food stalls, children's entertainment, hayrides, and a petting zoo and aviary!
"Apple strudel, Apple pie, candied apples, deep fried apples…" Pyra began reading some of the banners that the shops had displayed proudly.
"Apple butter, Apple picking, Apple whiskey, Dutch Apple- Does everyone just have a hard on for apples around here or something?!" Mythra asked.
"It's Apple season, girls…" Frankie explained as the three began to make their way over to the festivities. "Every Autumn, this cozy little part of Oak Glen opens to the public and people near and far all come together to get those first, succulent, sweet taste of fresh apple everything!" Frankie explained, accentuating his speech with delicate hand movements.
"Ah! That would explain the apple cider from earlier!" Pyra clapped excitedly.
"Sweet and succulent, eh…?" Mythra asked, already drooling. "W-well… I don't want no full tummy of mine getting in the way of enjoying some tasty snacks… if you're so smart, Dummy, why don't you show us around…?"
"Oh! Frankie! Can we check out the petting zoo, please?! I really wanna see what other kinds of creatures this world has to offer!" Pyra chimed in.
"I thought you'd never ask! First stop- let's go!" Frankie answered back.
"Perfect! Race you there!" Pyra giggled as she shot forward, weaving in between confused families as she had her sights on the petting zoo.
"Hey, Pyra! Slow it down you idiot! Someone's gonna get hurt!" Mythra called back as she chased after her sister.
"¡Híjole, chico!" Frankie uttered as Mythra pushed him aside, leaving him to hopelessly try and keep up the pace with the two much more nimble ladies.
…
"Enjoy, you three!" The attendee cheerfully greeted, collecting Frankie's pay as she handed the three of them cups of feed corn for the animals that lie in wait just up ahead.
"We will, thank you!" Pyra exclaimed as she walked alongside Frankie and Mythra.
"Not sure what you have here that could possibly blow us away." Mythra stated blankly.
"Huh? What are you trying to say?" Frankie asked suspiciously.
"Oh, don't play dumb with me, you know just as well as I do what kinds of creatures Pyra and I used to hang out with on a daily basis- you got anything like that up in here?"
"Well- seeing a giant non-avian dinosaur living and breathing so naturally WAS quite a sight-" Frankie admitted, sheepishly as he rubbed the back of his neck. "But… the less said about those snails the better…"
"Hmph! My point exactly!" Mythra boasted.
"Whoa! What on earth is THAT?!" Pyra hollered suddenly. Frankie and Mythra rushed to her side quickly while she stared in awe at the tall hoofed creature decorated in a red and green saddle being posted up against a carousel. It chewed its cud nonchalantly and batted its long eyelashes diligently away from the sun… but perhaps the most striking feature of it… was the enormous hump coming out of its back.
"I…take it back… what the heck am I looking at- it looks gross!" Mythra asked.
"That's a Dromedary Camel!" Frankie explained. "Back in prehistoric times, the ancestors of these guys used to live all OVER North America… but when the land bridges formed, they and their two humped relatives, the Bactrian Camels, took to living pretty much exclusively in the Middle East…"
"There's two different kinds? Incredible!" Pyra flexed her arms excitedly as she peered over the railing like a little kid.
"One hump is fine enough… I can't even begin to imagine what two would look like on those things…" Mythra snided in disgust.
"Oh, they're very shaggy! Hey, Mythra… did you know that Miko likes to listen to their grunts and purrs to relax herself?"
"From those things?!" Mythra pointed emphatically at the creature, to which Frankie nodded his head, smiling cheekily. "Heheh… Now I know one way to get her to shut up if she oversteps her boundaries…" Mythra and Frankie snickered to themselves while Pyra stared at them, unamused.
"That's inappropriate, you two…" She chided.
"Oh, come off it, we're just having a little fun!" Mythra argued as she walked over to the fence. "Hey, if you're so in love with that hideous beast of burden over there, why don't you take it for a ride? 5 dollars for 5 minutes- see?" She pointed to a flyer pasted on the gate advertising just that in an overly cartoony manner, with bright popping colors and characters' eyes about to bulge out their skulls… it was garish, to say the least.
"Hmm… I could do that, I could do that…" Pyra pondered briefly, closing her eyes in thought and putting a hand to her chin before clasping both her hands together and delivering a very apologetic look at Mythra. "But, you see, I'm afraid I might be just a BIT too warm for the poor thing to handle!"
"Oh, I get it… you're just too scared, aren't ya?" Mythra teased.
"What?! I'm not scared! I'm only concerned about the poor thing's health!" Pyra protested vehemently, mere seconds before flashing Mythra her own teasing smile. "You've only know the thing for a minute or two and yet you're already denouncing its very existence… if anything, I think YOU'RE the one who's too scared~"
"I'm sorry… WHAT… did you say…?" Mythra leered.
"Um… is this a bad time…?" Frankie chimed in from behind.
"Far from it, my friend!" Pyra called as she walked away from the gate and over to Frankie's side cooly while Mythra glared daggers at her. "If Little Miss Hotshot Mythra over here wants so badly to prove herself to me, then I say she should go on right ahead! What do I know? I've always got my head in the clouds brainstorming and whatnot… perhaps as someone more down to earth, Mythra over here would rather draw a line in the sand!"
"You're darn tootin' I would!" Mythra stamped her feet angrily as she furiously flipped her purse to her front and dug through it hastily to find some loose change. "You're not gonna make me look like a clown in front of all these innocent civilians! They've got a future law enforcer on their hands over here! And I'm gonna prove it to you and anyone else watching!" She emphasized her point by shaking the five dollar bill towards Frankie and Pyra before stomping off to pay the man and ride the camel.
"Have fun, Mythra!" Pyra waved excitedly.
"What are you trying to accomplish, here…?" Frankie asked.
"Oh, nothing in particular… it's just fun to mess with her…!" Pyra admitted cheerfully.
"Mph- can't argue with that…!" Frankie said, cupping his mouth and preventing a chuckle from escaping.
After paying the camel's handler, Mythra hopped aboard the saddle without much thought. The sudden load on its back made the camel jolt to attention and suddenly move on its own. The handler didn't even have the time to settle Mythra down himself, as he had to make sure the camel wouldn't run off on its own and trample any nearby visitors, a small family or two of which were waiting patiently in line, happily watching Mythra try to ride the thing.
"Oh I come from a land… from a faraway place, where the caravan camels roam… where it's flat and immense and the heat is intense- it's barbaric, but hey, it's home!" Frankie sung cheerfully as he recorded Mythra struggling to get adjusted to the awkward seat of the saddle atop the erected lump of fat.
"Um, Mythra, you might wanna be careful over there! I think you're starting to bother it!" Pyra called over.
"P-please! We've got into a lot more scraps th-then just this over here!" Mythra excused herself as the camel flapped its gums nervously. "If I fall off, it's nothing I can't handle, and what better way to show the folks they're in good hands than with my own reflexes?!" Mythra still shifted back and forth uncomfortably on the camel. The beast itself was getting uncomfortable; its gums stopped flapping, and its cheeks puffed out suddenly as it turned to face Mythra. The handler's face dropped in horror.
"Miss, Duck!" He shouted.
"I'M OKAY! I GOT THIS!" Mythra screamed back- only to be smacked on the back of the head by a large glob of slobber, projected directly from the camel. It knocked the wind out of her and doubled her over. She was still on top of the camel, but she was all sticky, stinky, and embarrassed. The children waiting to ride stifled in their laughter while their parents reprimanded them. She blushed angrily and turned away from the crowd.
"Oh… that wasn't supposed to happen…" Pyra gasped sadly while Frankie cringed. "A-at least it's just spit… nothing a quick rinse down won't finish…"
"A-actually, Pyra… when camelids spit at someone, it's a little more than just saliva, it's actually…" Frankie lowered himself to Pyra's level, whispering something in her ear. Pyra's face turned a sickly white as her mouth swung open in horror.
"Mythra! Quickly! Get off and let's get you cleaned up, right away!" She hollered.
The handler stopped the camel and helped an angry Mythra off.
"S-sorry about that… h-here… you can have your money back…" The handler sheepishly handed Mythra the dollar bill, to which she snatched from him harshly and stomped away, meeting back up with Frankie and Pyra once again.
"Happy now…?" She grimaced, face welling up in tears.
"Oh, Mythra… I'm sorry, I… I'm afraid I overstepped I… didn't mean to embarrass you like that… I-i don't expect you to forgive me, really, you don't have to…" Pyra apologized meekly. Frankie glanced nervously at both her and Mythra, unsure of what to do.
Mythra delivered a similar, albeit more fed up glance before taking a deep breath and softening her expression.
"It's… I can just clean myself up… I forgive you, Pyra… really I do…" She said.
"Y-you do…?" Pyra asked back. With a forced but honest smile, Mythra hummed and nodded her head.
"Mmm… my mom always said that if something bad like this happens… it'll sure make a funny story in the future…" Frankie advised.
"Heh… yeah…" Pyra sniffled towards Frankie before turning back to Mythra again, "One day at a time, right Mythra…?" She smiled weakly.
"Yeah… sure… little turd…" Mythra ruffled Pyra's hair playfully.
"Oh… Mythraaa… you're getting gastric juices all over me…" Pyra complained.
"I- WAIT HUH?!" Mythra hollered in surprise.
"Oh- hey! There's a clean up station over there! Come on girls- let's get a move on, ¡vamanos!" Frankie worriedly announced as he tried to deescalate the situation. This little mishap wouldn't ruin their day… but Pyra definitely would have to suffer a few more minutes of well-deserved death glares from Mythra… no matter how playful or not they were…
The sun was still high in the sky, and after Mythra cleaned herself up, the trio got a chance to see more of the animals. Frankie was all too eager to go on and on about the biology and origins of creatures as simple as llamas and pigs to more vibrant and exotic ones like the water buffalo or stags, Pyra, of course, listened on intently while Mythra was left wondering how exactly they ended up in this situation to begin with, the animals, that is. They even got a chance to put their feed corn to good use! Pyra was more than happy to drizzle a few grains into the mouth of a particularly shaggy cattle behind a fence, while Mythra tried to get some does to follow her and pose for a picture to… little success. Not like Frankie would be able to take it anyway, he was busy getting harassed by a goat, causing him to drop all of his feed onto the ground and get swarmed by nearly a dozen of the smaller ungulates… that, and the stag in the area kept a very close, judgemental eye on Mythra. Frankie immediately rushed to get her out of the area the moment it lowered its head to show off its antlers.
After watching a piglet race and reaping the winnings of a bet Mythra placed with another woman, the three headed to the nearby aviary, of which Frankie was particularly excited about. Pyra eyed a Mallard duck family cautiously, still hung up on her ambush at the beach, and Mythra lost all of her own feed at the wings of a Graylag Goose, silently swearing at it as Frankie tried to comfort her. There was a pond with a number of Trumpeter Swans swimming by the edge, and Pyra, still having fond memories of The Trumpet of the Swan, BEGGED Frankie for a picture. Another selfie to add to his collection… the three of them smiling excitedly as one of the cobs stretched its wings out proudly. Pyra would get her just desserts at the parrot pen, where Mythra was busy arguing with a particularly snappy Scarlet Macaw, as a Lorikeet swooped down to say hello… only to defecate right on Pyra's fingers and directly into her remaining feed corn, completely ruining it, she was rightfully disgusted and searched frantically for a cleanup station. Frankie, meanwhile, was covered from the chest up by a flock of Cockatiels and Masked Lovebirds, of which he was powerless to shoo away. The Cockatoo in the back watched the whole ordeal in great jest. There was even a Kookabura laughing cheerfully at the ensuing chaos. Their entire trip would end with a Peacock exhibit. Mythra and Pyra were blown away by the iridescent purples and blues and greens the males possessed on their impressive train of feathers, and Frankie was sure to get a shot of the albino one that flashed him in intimidation.
'Living… breathing dinosaurs…' He thought to himself as he bid the aviary a fond farewell.
"Well, apart from our sticky situations, I say it was well worth checking out! Made all the better by our resident biologist!" Pyra cried excitedly.
"Mmmm… oh geez… I dunno about that…" Frankie fidgeted awkwardly with a goofy smile on his face.
"And the sun hasn't even dipped over the mountains yet! We still got a full day ahead of us!" Mythra cried, taking a big, hearty bite out of the cob of corn, slathered in butter, cheese, and mayonnaise from the stand not too far away from the petting zoo.
"Mmm… I haven't a good bit of eloté in a long long time! But I really wanna save my appetite for dinner and dessert…" Frankie sucked his teeth in anticipation before continuing, "Especially dessert…"
"We… we are gonna bring more than our fair share of snacks besides all the apple stuff with us home, right, Frankie…?" Pyra shyly asked.
"Oh, Pyra, I thought you'd never ask… you've never lived until you've tried dark chocolate covered honeycomb…!"
"Yay! Can't wait!"
"Bah, you two suit yourself- a big girl like me's gotta eat…" Mythra indignantly said before taking another bite of her corn.
"Funny, you said something of the exact opposite sort when we first got here…" Pyra pointed out.
"We've walked plenty! And all I said was I didn't want a full tummy ruining my snacking- not that I WAS full! Gotta learn to listen, Pyra…" Mythra spoke through a full mouth.
"Oh… whatever…" Pyra rolled her eyes in annoyance before opening them up excitedly once again as she saw a man behind a large barrel popping open large bottles of alcohol and serving small samples to a small crowd of adults, patiently waiting their turn. "Oo! A bar crawl! Nobody's stopping me this time!" Pyra pumped her arms up and down excitedly as she rushed over to the line.
"Pyra! Otra vez…" Frankie scratched his head hopelessly.
"Heh… Pyra's got more freedom than ever now, Big Guy… she'll do what she do… never expected her to be the… alcohol connoisseuse, though…" Mythra intoned.
"Well, she does have a rather mature palette, and for someone as gourmet as her, it makes sense I guess…"
"C'mon, let's go follow her and make sure she doesn't bowl anyone over…"
"¡Pasalé, Pasalé! ¡Aqui, Aqui!" The man running the stand hollered cheerfully as a satisfied couple walked off with their own drink in hand. His face lit up the moment he saw Pyra coming his way. "¡Ah! ¡Hola señora! Anything in particular you're looking for? Free samples all day!" He explained.
"Oh my… it's hard to say… they all look quite eye catching, I must admit!" Pyra answered, scanning the five small cups of sweet and tangy golden liquid standing before her. The man chuckled heartily.
"Always a pleasure to see a young lady like yourself know what she's looking for- and don't you worry about a thing, everything is fresh from the orchards back here!"
"How fresh can they be, there's a fermentation process…" Mythra snided as she and Frankie showed up next to Pyra.
"Mythra, hush! There's no need for such hostility!" Pyra exclaimed as she eyed the drinks again, taking notice of one of a dark amber color with just a hint of red. "What can you tell me about this one?" She politely asked the man.
"Ah! Now, see, thats our Strawberry Tart cider! The apple trees we start from got a good sturdy root structure that really lets us get all nice and fancy with our craft! Then we get just a liiiiitle bit of strawberry juice and raspberry tart and mix em all up to get that pretty pink color. A bright little thing like yourself years for a sweet drink just like this, I feel!"
"It's so pretty…" Pyra awed in a light trance before turning to Mythra. "What do you think, Mythra? Wanna taste with me?"
Mythra cringed as Pyra brought the drink closer to her, and held up her hands in protest.
"N-no thanks, Pyra… the wine I can handle but after the Casino… I'm not sure I want anywhere near the harder stuff…" She explained.
"Mm… I didn't even think of that… and now that you say it, I'm not sure I want you to, either…" Pyra said as she blushed, turning her head away in embarrassment.
"And for the gentleman? You look like a guy who can take a nice, strong, kick, and I've got just the thing for you!" Frankie was about to protest awkwardly, but the man had already popped open another hard cider bottle and happily poured the sample into a cup and offered it to him gleefully. "Arkansas Black… thick and herby with just a touch of our apple sweetness… MMM…! To DIE for if you ask me!"
Unsure of what to say, Frankie shyly and quietly took the sample cup from him and stared at the dark liquid in fright.
"Oh, Frankie, just one little sip! You don't get an experience like this every day!" Pyra pointed out, still holding on to her own sample.
"Well…" Frankie raised an eyebrow curiously at his drink.
"Pretty please…?" Pyra asked with pleading eyes.
"Hey! That's cheating!" Mythra barked back as Frankie pondered just a bit more…
"Oh… alright… but just this once, and that's it, okay?" He said.
"Wouldn't expect anything more! Bottoms up!" Pyra downed her drink immediately, letting it rest on her tongue so she could capture the flavor profile. Frankie, however…
"…Name of the father, son, Holy Spirit, amen…" …Quickly performed the sign of the cross on himself as he gingerly took a sip, lips puckering in anticipation… and one sip was enough. He swallowed what little liquid he actually WAS able to take and promptly stuck his tongue out in disgust, dropping the rest of the sample on to the ground, and throwing the cup away in the trash. With no water on hand, he had no choice but to turn himself around and suffer the bitterness of the alcohol for just a bit longer. Mythra rubbed his back in consolation as the two kept to their own little disgusted corner.
Then there was Pyra… whose eyes lit up in absolute delight as she took a hearty gulp of the drink and licked her lips in absolute delight. Cold… fresh… sweet and tangy all at once… it was heaven…
"That was amazing! Can you teach me the recipe?!" Pyra asked excitedly. The man laughed in response.
"Every familia's gotta have their secrets, ¿Que no? But I'll tell you what I can do- one bottle… for you and your little friends to take home… twenty bucks, how's that sound?"
"You've got yourself a deal!" Pyra and the man shook hands excitedly and quickly finished their transaction. He handed Pyra a paper bag with the bottle inside and the two bid each other a polite farewell.
"¡Pasalé, Pasalé!" The man shouted again as the trio left his stand, glad to have made another happy customer.
"I think this'll go great with some poultry and hearty greens! What do you two think?" Pyra asked Frankie and Mythra.
"Sure, Pyra… whatever you say…" Mythra responded as she patted a coughing Frankie on the back. Eyes filled with tears, he regained his composure and shivered in disgust.
"Never again…" he bemoaned.
"Oh, Frankie… I'm sorry… but it was nice to have a drink with you nevertheless, so thank you for that, really!" Pyra beamed.
"Happy to be of service…" Frankie responded dryly, but honestly.
Before either of them could speak another word, a loud TOOT-TOOT sounded in the area and captured their attention. A small train had just arrived at its stop and let off a number of guests while the conductor cheerfully waved by to them all.
"Oo! That looks like fun! What is it?" Pyra asked.
"Looks like the touring tram- I think it's going through the orchards this year." Frankie guessed.
"The orchards? You mean the source…?" Mythra eyed Frankie hungrily as she spoke. Frankie sighed fondly and chuckled.
"If you really wanna go apple picking that bad, I guess I can't stop you…" He said with a smile.
"I'd love to learn more about this place! We certainly didn't get much of this way back when! Come on, let's-!" Before Pyra could dash off again, Mythra grabbed her arm suddenly.
"AT! OUR pace…" She growled.
"Right… sorry…" Pyra laughed in embarrassment before fixing herself up. "Um… let's check it out…?"
"Yeah… let's…" Mythra walked a short distance from Pyra and cheekily thwacked her upside the head, leaving her and Frankie behind with a smug smirk. Pyra rubbed the area and glared her down.
"Mean…" She grumbled as she and Frankie, who couldn't hold in a few more chuckles, followed suit.
…
After collecting their payment-in addition to some extra for Apple picking- the conductor allowed Frankie, Pyra, and Mythra; along with a few other families, aboard, and began the tour. After waving goodbye to the little shops and games, she directed everyone to the path that lay ahead- the heart of all the Apple orchards. No longer were Pyra and Mythra on the outside looking in- every last rich and delectable aroma enveloped them in a sweet embrace, burning their nostrils in the freshest sensation one could imagine, and tantalizing their taste buds as the plump fruit that hung low seemed ready to burst with juice. Someone as used to the environment like Frankie would probably be listening in on the history of the orchards and their development and not be distracted too much by all the sights and smells… but he was right there alongside Pyra and Mythra eyeing the tasty fruit from inside the tram, as a matter of fact, Pyra and Mythra were actually listening in much closer than even they thought they were… all thanks to Pneuma.
Pneuma, from within the core crystal had woken up from her light snooze in a bit of a huff, she wasn't done resting quite yet, as selfish as it sounded to herself, but, oh, it didn't matter. She was still thinking and wondering and dreaming about her first encounter with Frankie and the results of all that led her down a more provoking path than she could've expected. She still wasn't exactly sure what to make of all these sudden bursts of emotions that came and went so quickly, but she did her very best to stick to them when she could, and now was no different. She fidgeted around uncomfortably in her usual thinking space trying to get back to sleep, but she just sat there, lazing about, tired, but just unable to fall back asleep… she almost felt upset with herself… until a voice rang out.
"Now, you're probably wondering how we got our start up in these here mountains…" The train conductor announced jovially. "For the past hundred years, when our first apple trees were planted just here at the foot of the San Bernardino Mountains, we've made it a personal goal of ours to establish a cultural gathering based around some of our finest agriculture- we're all country folk at the end of the day… getting to share it all with so many people every year, those are our roots… these are our people… this is where we reside…!"
A cultural gathering… Pneuma has gotten so used to living in her own little world for so long that… what this future held for her nearly frightened her… she didn't want to let Frankie know that… she didn't want to let him know she needed him just as much as Pyra and Mythra did, and vise versa in order to feel comfortable enough to come out… but it was Frankie's own fascination for the evolution of their worlds combining together into one that really made her think… let her imagination run wild. She couldn't see, but she could hear… mile high trees stretching outwards to the heavens, a beautiful blue and orange skyline illuminating the tastiest fruits and vegetables to gorgeous degrees, and the four of them… right there, together, enjoying every last savory bite, every last hearty chuckle, every last nostalgic reminiscing and tellings of the past and future… everyone looked so happy… and for once, Pneuma did too… her mind raced with such wondrous thoughts of just… existing… right here in this brand new world, that she fell right back asleep, much more comfortable than the last time.
"Just say the words, Frankie… whenever you're ready… I'm right here…" Were the last things she said before she drifted off to sleep once again, dreaming of this new, magnificent world she could only hear tale of.
The rest of the tour showed off a round of stands with fresh produce from the orchards- apples, oranges, even pumpkins. Frankie quickly put two and two together in assuming the pumpkins being out at this time was to prepare for Halloween. When asked by Pyra and Mythra what it was, he chuckled slyly to himself and simply said, "You'll see…" the confused look both of them gave each other hardly changed his stance on the matter.
With the sun slowly beginning to set in the distance, the trio had ended the quaint and brisk tour of the area with the apple picking Mythra and Pyra wanted to do. It was definitely a bit of work and not as fun as they had hoped for, but as Frankie and Pyra congregated with each other to look at each other's apples, they bounced ideas around on what to make.
"Deep fried with ice cream on top would be nice, right?"
"Oh- save that for later, Pyra- we haven't even had the piéce de résistance of Oak Glen yet! Freshly squeezed Apple Juice and Apple Cider is the way to go!"
"I haven't ever had candied fruit before- we can do something with that!"
"Ee- you go right ahead- had a bad experience with one back in elementary school- never touched them again…"
"Oh! What about coffee cake?!"
"With hot chocolate and say… pork chops and applesauce for dinner?!"
"Sounds good to me!"
"We got dinner for tomorrow!"
"And dessert!"
"AAAAH! FRANKIE- WHAT THE HECK IS IN THIS APPLE?! IT'S ALL SLIMY AND SQUIGGLY!!!!" Mythra suddenly screeched.
"I think Mythra found a worm- I thought that only happened in cartoons…" Frankie guessed.
"Mythra is an enigma in and of herself…" Pyra pardoned nervously as the two went to go help her out of her situation.
…
It wasn't dark yet, but the setting sun cast a beautiful dusky glow over the settlement- the amber sky was decorated with lavender clouds, the ground dotted in orange lights, and the wind picked up considerably… perfect for a nice hot cup of cider or a nice hearty meal… the trio could eat, but they still had a good hour or two left in them- so they took to some of the other festivities Oak Glen had to offer- like playing some of the axe throwing games- of which Mythra performed extremely well in and Frankie stood back embarrassed at his own follies while Pyra tried to cheer him up. They took to the market for some kitschy souvenirs, grabbed a drink, and listened to some live music from afar, very much enjoying each other's company. Not dancing. Not joining in the growing crowd… just… existing together, with a beautifully orchestrated guitarist singing his heart out with songs of the old country.
When all was said and done, it was finally time for dinner. While Pyra and Mythra grabbed a table inside, Frankie went to go collect their food. Mythra munched impatiently on the onion rings they ordered, looking out for Frankie to come around the corner and present them with their food. Every second she would do this, and with no Frankie in sight, she would grumble and mumble in an upset manner and chew louder. Pyra couldn't care less, she enjoyed the homey atmosphere of the restaurant and snacked on some onion rings herself before taking a sneaky little bite of the chocolate covered honeycomb Frankie had suggested her to try, and she was VERY pleasantly surprised!
"Mm! The bitterness of the shell blends well with the honeycomb inside! You should try some when we get home, Mythra!" Pyra exclaimed.
"Mm hmm." Mythra grumbled as she chewed her onion rings some more.
Pyra decided to entertain Mythra a bit with some conversation.
"It was nice today, wasn't it…?" She asked dreamily.
"Yeah… up until now at least…" Mythra answered.
"Oh, Mythra, come on now- the food will be here soon! Besides, you've been snacking all day- if you're serious about this policewoman business, you gotta keep in top form!" Pyra gently scolded.
"Hah! My metabolism is through the roof! I can eat just about anything and feel just fine afterwards! If you ask me, you're the one who's been putting on a few pounds…"
Pyra pouted angrily and turned away with an embarrassed blush.
"I'm just comfortable… that's all…"
Mythra chuckled.
"Yeah… comfortable… that's a… word to use…" she traced the rim of her glass thoughtfully as she looked at her own reflection in her drink. Mythra was so used to seeing this overly confident and angry woman staring back at her every time she woke up to use the restroom, but now… after nearly two months of getting to experience the new world with Pyra, Frankie, and now, even Pneuma… that same woman was as happy as could be… they all were. She wouldn't tell Pyra aloud but… she couldn't wait for the future… as if Pyra couldn't tell already.
"Mythra… when will she come back…?" Pyra asked.
Mythra sighed. She knew exactly who Pyra was talking about.
"I think… that's a secret she and Frankie get to keep for themselves."
"Ouwhhhhh… no fair! She deserves all of this just as much as we do!" Pyra dug her heels to the floor childishly as she spoke.
"Hah- I think she knows that, you doof… she'll be ready when she's ready… when WE'RE ready…"
"Yes… when we're all ready…" Pyra blushed heavier, as did Mythra, sitting in silence in their own thoughts for a small bit until…
"Ma chére Mademoiselle, 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!" Frankie suddenly called in a ridiculous French accent as he lay out their dinner plates flat on the table: Fried Chicken and Mashed Potatoes for Frankie, a bread bowl with Clam Chowder for Pyra, and a Chicken Pot Pie for Mythra.
The girls' eyes twinkled with excitement as the food was placed in front of them. Mythra took one big whiff of her pie and sighed in content as she melted into her seat.
"It smells like heavennnn…" She drooled, then suddenly, something else was placed by her side… it was another piece of pie- but this one looked different. It was gooier, fluffier, sweeter looking… and it had apples in it as well as… a big scoop of vanilla ice cream right on top…! Her mouth hung low as she inspected the treat closer. Pyra received one of her own, and Frankie took one as well.
"Oh my…! Is this dessert, Frankie…?!" Pyra asked.
"Just a little taste~ cuz I guarantee you that you'll be begging for more once we're done~" Frankie bragged as he brought out a plastic bag with a big box on the inside.
"Is… is that the whole thing…?" Pyra asked in astonishment.
"Fresh from the oven, baked with only the finest produce! Just like the ones we picked out in the fields! All we need to do is pick up some more vanilla ice cream on the way home, and with that! Pyra, Mythra, may I introduce you… to Apple Pie… a la Mode!" Frankie gestured to the singular slices each of them had as he finished.
"It's beautiful…" Pyra said in awe before returning to her dinner plate. "But I don't intend on spoiling my appetite! This delicious creaminess and bready casing won't last long while I'm around, right, Mythra?"
"Hmph? U shay sumfin, Pruh?" Mythra asked with a full mouth, her slice of pie and scoop of ice cream were completely gone from her plate, instead resting in her cheeks like a hungry chipmunk. Pyra sweat in nervousness as she stared blankly ahead.
"Um… never mind…"
"Well I think someone's really grown to appreciate Oak Glen, eh, Mimi~?" Frankie teased as he poked one of her full cheeks.
Mythra angrily glanced his way before taking one large gulp and eating the whole thing in one bite. She was about to rebuttal, but it was then did the flavor really hit her… sweet, flaky, cold, and warm all at once, Mythra felt fireworks going off inside of her, so much so that she practically melted into her seat as she reveled in the taste.
"Yeyyyy… Yummy Dummy…" She cooed woozily.
"So much for the stoic and hearty future law enforcer~" Pyra teased as she raised a knowing eyebrow Mythra's way.
"Aww, Pyra, be nice…" Frankie pleaded as he sat down.
"Sorry…" Pyra chuckled as she put a hand to her mouth. "I guess I am having a little too much fun…!"
"Nope… not at all…"
Frankie smiled brightly as he looked Pyra's way. She always looked so radiant when she smiled… her laugh was so warm and kindly, just like her… and the pounds Mythra said she was putting on? Oh, that made his tender heart beat even faster than before. He looked up at the sky in amazement and reflection… with September already almost over, the weather would cool and… December would draw nearer… just a couple more months… just to be confident enough…
As he was doing so, he neglected to remember that Pyra and Mythra were, in fact, still Blades, and as such, felt his tingling palpitations as much as he did and each of them looked his way with an embarrassed look on their faces.
"F-Frankie…? Is everything okay…?" Pyra asked suddenly. Frankie snapped out of his trance and came back down to earth, blushing intensely as he tried to explain himself to both girls.
"U-uh- y-yeah! Everything's fine-! Just… it's… been a full day… hasn't it…?"
"Hmph… certainly has… you big Dummy…" Mythra answered back with a pout.
Pyra brushed her hair back shyly-as Frankie took a quick shy glance himself- and let out a deep breath as she sat back a small bit.
"Come Monday, we're all really gonna have to start cracking, aren't we…?" She wondered aloud.
"Yeah… but that's what this was for… to just… enjoy ourselves…" Frankie explained.
"To see… more of… all of this…" Mythra added wistfully, looking out the window and watching the branches of the trees outside dance gracefully in the wind, watching families carry their little ones back to their car, ending the day so wonderfully.
"…"
"W-well… it's not exactly the whole world like you've been wanting but… this is California girls… we got mountains and beaches… that's something, right…?" Frankie asked shyly.
"Yes, Frankie… in fact…" Pyra shut her eyes and sighed dreamily. "It's even better than I could have hoped…"
Frankie blushed happily towards Pyra while Mythra shook her head teasingly.
"Look at you getting all romantic… and you call me the softie…" Mythra poked fun at Pyra.
"Laugh all you want, Mythra- we've both gotten payback on each other earlier today- I'm just letting my mind wander- I still need to find a set piece for my scripture…" Pyra pointed haughtily.
"Heh… alright, whatever you say you red headed idiot~" Mythra teased.
"Ya-ya- pues- we can have more fun later- let's just eat!" Frankie exclaimed.
"Right!" Pyra and Mythra exclaimed heartily before clasping their hands and gently shutting their eyes in a sign of grace, following a before-meal prayer that Frankie had taught them a while ago… more grateful now than before.
"Bless this food, lord, in which we are about to receive, in the nourishment of our bodies… in Jesus' name we pray…"
"Amen…" Pyra and Mythra joined with Frankie on that last part.
"Dig in!" All three said at once as Mythra dug into her pot pie, Pyra scooped up her chowder, and Frankie took a big hearty bite out of the drumstick on his plate.
"Oh no… the ice cream on my pie is starting to melt…" Pyra complained.
"Never could enjoy it like I could, eh, Pyra~?" Mythra asked teasingly.
"HUSH." Pyra snapped back.
"Don't worry about the bill, girls… it's on me…" Frankie announced as the three of them ate their fill, ending off their big day in peace.
