(A/n: I may or may not upload a Stenny Christmas one-shot on Christmas day, I'm really considering writing one)
Chapter 36: Taking An Inevitable Step Forward - Pt. 2 (Final)
Sharon
"The moment has come sooner than expected..."
Sharon has done a lot of thinking, ever since yesterday morning after her talk with Stan. The many thoughts almost kept her up last night, instead they gave her a pounding headache once she woke up this morning. She used a bit of healing magic to soothe the pain away. She hasn't moved from her spot on the sofa in the living room. She thought back to the current state of the darkness; knowing that its progression had ceased astounded her, but also left her very skeptical. Why did it suddenly stop? Her son provided the cause, revealing that the moon was a powerful obstruction the darkness couldn't get past, which allayed her doubts and got her to believe that their circumstances were well in their favor. Especially since they're being aided by another spirit. Even though she harbored a mild disliking towards Chris due to his past misdeeds and patronizing attitude, she was thankful that he went out of his way to obtain significant information.
After their brief discussion, Stan went to his room, then Sharon thought long and hard about what they should do. Her, Cloud, and Raven had discussed a few actions they would inevitably need to take, the main one was leaving South Park. Sharon knew very well that staying here would get them nowhere, every single monster they killed respawned the next day or two, putting no guaranteed end to their existence. However, Colorado as a whole could not be left unattended, the same treatment applied to Ike as well. Her status as the Queen of Darkness' descendant didn't garner too much attention it seemed, and so she thought it would be in their best interest for Stan and the others to go out and help the remaining survivors across the world. Cloud and Raven acknowledged her plan with genuine approval, but voiced their precaution measures right after.
Sharon may have anticipated this outcome, however that doesn't mean she's inclined to carry it out. The timing doesn't correlate with their predicament right now. Kenny is still unconscious, who knows when he'll wake up. It's been a week now, soon to be half a week after a few more days. He did undergo 'Forced Power Link' and suffered heavy injuries all the while, it's no wonder his body hasn't fully recovered yet.
But Stan... This is a personal trepidation for Sharon, a fear any mother would feel towards their child or children. Just the thought of him being far away from home, fighting all sorts of deadly creatures, ails her. She knows he won't be alone, he'll have his friends and his Inner Guardian accompanying him, but even so, things can take a turn for the worse. Furthermore, he and Kenny not too long ago survived their confrontation with a Being of Darkness and its minion. Whenever Stan leaves the house now, Sharon cannot block out the possibilities of him running into another Being of Darkness from her mind. He'll undoubtedly come across them more frequently if he were to journey across the world. Not just those, but even fiercer entities as well.
In spite of her disinclination, Sharon calls for everyone to be present at her home for an important meeting through telepathy to some individuals. She mustn't let her emotions tamper with her responsibilities, the world is in desperate need of saving.
She suddenly perceives soft footsteps descending the stairs, then the sound of rushing water coming from upstairs.
She looks over at the staircase to see a girl stepping off of the last step, then timidly entering the living room, her hand clasped over the other over her lower abdomen. Her weary, maroon-colored eyes hold direct contact with Sharon's, despite being nervous. Sharon can tell right away that she is a spirit that possesses both Light and Dark magic, her Inner Aura is a dazzling grey color. She doesn't seem to be an ordinary spirit like Raven, rather her status feels similar to Cloud's.
Once the girl steps into the living room, she stops and bows. "H-hello, my name is Yuna Edgewood. I am Kenneth's Inner Guardian."
Sharon's suspicions were correct. She gives the youthful spirit a warm smile. "You don't need to be so nervous." Yuna straightens her posture, her body tensing up even more. "Nor feel guilty."
Sharon's kind words do not smother the unpleasant emotions that plague Yuna. "Forgive my impertinence, but you're wrong. I shouldn't have told Kenneth about his old home. I warned him that its unaltered appearance was a ruse, but he was so insistent on going there regardless, to see if his siblings still resided in it. I couldn't dissuade him, and neither could your son. I'm terribly sorry for getting him involved as well."
"That is a fault Kenny must bear alone," Sharon says firmly. "His hopes and worries clouded his judgement. You don't need to feel any remorse for doing the right thing, for looking out for your host." Her soft smile returns. "And it's just in Stan's nature to help people, he chose to go with Kenny of his own volition."
Yuna stares at her with a conflicted gaze. She appears to have more to say, but she eventually curbs her rebuttals, seemingly out of a sense of respect. "I...understand."
Sharon chuckles. "Kenny isn't the only one who's stubborn." Yuna blushes, abashed. "So, what brings you to earth? I'm assuming Inner Guardians haven't been granted permission to leave their domains yet."
Yuna nods her head. "That's right. I came here to quicken Kenneth's recovery, though I had to beg His Eminence endlessly until he conceded. Being in 'Forced Power Link' plus receiving fatal injuries heavily impaired Kenneth's body. May I know who healed him? I would like to thank them for saving his life."
Sharon frowns. "His condition was that grave, huh?" She asks. She thought the wound in Kenny's chest had already been healed. Yuna nods again. "The person was Wendy Testaburger, she and the others will be here shortly. I have something important to tell everyone."
"Okay. Stan and Kyle are both currently taking a shower," Yuna says. Sharon already figured that. "I would also like to say that I will not be returning to my domain. I'm going to fight alongside you all."
Sharon is pleased to have another Inner Guardian assisting them more openly, though she has to ask, "You won't get in trouble, will you?"
Yuna purses her lips. "I am not sure, but I'm willing to take the risk."
Someone raps three times on the front door. Sharon stands up. "Well if the day you are forced to leave ever comes, just let me know. I'll be sure to back you up, so you can remain here." She walks to the front door.
Yuna smiles. "Thank you. I apologize for the inconvenience in advance."
Sharon shakes her head. "It'll be nothing of the sort."
Now in front of the door, Sharon touches the doorknob, twists it, and pulls it back. Standing outside before her are Leopold, Tweek, Cloud, and Raven. Welcoming them with a brief smile, Sharon steps aside to let them in. They head to the living room, greeting a stunned Yuna, whose eyes are transfixed on Cloud. She quickly snaps out of it to greet them back, a blush creeping up in her cheeks. She moves out of their way, standing next to the table lamp. Leopold and Tweek sit on the sofa, and Cloud and Raven sit in the armchairs. While closing the door, Sharon realizes that she doesn't hear water droplets ceaselessly pelting against a hard surface anymore. Seems Stan and Kyle have both finished showering. The moment Sharon lets go of the knob, there is another set of knocking on the door. She opens it again.
"We're not late, are we?" Nervously asks Wendy. Bebe, Clyde, and Craig are behind her. All four of them are dressed in the clothes they got from the mall, though their jackets are the same as when they first arrived to earth. Craig is wearing black Winter boots this time.
"Not at all," Sharon says. "Actually, there's someone here who would like to speak with you, Wendy."
A now curious Wendy and her friends enter the house. After closing the door, Sharon follows the teens to the living room. They greet the others with a friendly wave, then Bebe takes a seat on the sofa next to Tweek. Clyde and Craig stand beside the sofa, leaving the extra space on it for Wendy to claim.
"Yuna, this is Wendy," Sharon says, introducing the noirette to the Mixed spirit. "She's Kenny's Inner Guardian," she tells Wendy.
Yuna moves away from the table lamp to be across from Wendy, and bows meaningfully. "Thank you so much for saving Kenneth's life."
"You don't have to thank me, I was more than happy to help. It's what any friend would do, after all," Wendy replies amiably.
Yuna shakes her head as she stands up straight. "Whether you're Kenneth's friend or not, a benignant deed cannot ever go unreciprocated."
Wendy shows no indication of responding back. She knits her eyebrows, appearing bewildered.
"Did I say something wrong?" Yuna asks, frowning.
Wendy blinks, realizing her sudden silence gave the wrong impression. "Oh, no, no. It's nothing. You're welcome, by the way." Ending the conversation on an awkward note, she sits herself next to Bebe, sensible of her confusion but chooses to be oblivious.
Sharon looks to Clyde and Craig. "You two can go grab the chairs from the dining table to sit in." They walk away to do just that. "Now we just need to wait for Stan and Kyle, which shouldn't be too long."
Clyde and Craig return with their chairs just as there are footsteps coming down the stairs, soon showing themselves to be Stan and Kyle. They're both wearing a different colored long-sleeved shirt, jeans, but similar clean white socks. They wave at their friends and acquaintances as they enter the living room, being forced to stand since there are no available seats. Clyde and Craig set their chairs next to each other by the armchair Cloud is in before sitting down.
Sharon walks in front of the television, then turns around, not a single person missing from her sight. "First, there's news I must tell you all that prompted this meeting." She pauses for a moment, observing her son's face throughout the corner of her eye. From his thinly pressed lips and furrowed eyebrows, it seems he's figured out the main subject of this gathering. "Stan's Inner Guardian has discovered that the darkness has come to a complete standstill, thanks to the moon acting as an impenetrable barrier, and that we've gained another spirit as an ally."
Everyone, except Stan, can't believe what they just heard. Bebe is quick to break the ephemeral silence by asking, "Seriously?!"
"That's some amazing news," Craig says, modulating his voice to speak calmly.
"It is, but..." Clyde says, his face contorting into a slight frown. "Leon wants to know how Chris knew about all of this."
"Hm, I'm also curious," Cloud says. "Not that I'm skeptical or anything. It's just, this is very valuable information that not even I was able to stumble on while being on earth."
His last statement gives rise to a comparable feeling of curiosity within everyone else. All eyes turn to Stan.
/
Stan
"I Told You They Would Want Proof. So? What Answer Will You Fabricate, I Wonder?"
Stan could detect the levity in Chris' tone as he fights to keep his composure. He didn't necessarily lie, he also told the truth. He still can't reveal who the actual info provider is, especially not while the real Kyle is right here next to him and not until he learns the spirit's true identity. He has no other choice than to pile a genuine lie on top of the harmless half-truth.
He makes it seem as though he's waiting for Chris to give him his answer, using this moment to rack his brain for an ideal fib to validate Chris' 'discoveries'. Perhaps he can mention a spirit from the Realm of Darkness. Yes, that should make it sound convincing enough. "Chris said a spirit from his realm delivered all of that information to him recently. He had them keep track of the darkness' movements for a while now."
His response earns him the expected result, however not from everyone. Chris sighs, Stan can practically imagine him shaking his head, not that he cares. At least he managed to issue, what he believes, was cogent proof.
"...I see," Cloud merely says.
Stan knows what to make of that tone, he doesn't fully believe him. And as for Raven—she appears the same way, however there is a vague hint of amusement bleeding through her expression. Then, she looks away.
"That's not all I wanted to discuss," Stan's mother says, bringing everybody's focus back to her. "Since the darkness has been immobilized indefinitely, I've decided it's time to take advantage of this by expanding our horizons. And by that, I mean..." She pauses again as she looks at each person in the living room. "You all will travel the world and lend a hand to those still alive and fighting. You can also tell them about the darkness' immobilization if they're unaware."
"Oh?" Says an intrigued Chris.
Stan feels a weight settle heavily in his chest, nearly on the brink of suffocating him. "You all?" He repeats, tone brimming with worry. "You're not gonna come with us?"
His mother shakes her head. "No. I'm going to stay here."
"But-" Stan begins to protest, but his mother cuts him off.
"Someone has to—to protect Colorado and look after Ike."
"I-I know that, but...still..." Stan recalls his mother struggling to beat the first Being of Darkness, making him grimace uncomfortably. He'll never forget the despair and hopelessness he felt that fateful day, wanting so badly to help both his mother and Kenny, but lacking the resolve to move any of his limbs.
"I totally understand how you feel." Stan slowly shifts his troubled gaze towards Kyle, whose eyes are to the floor. In that split second, Stan could've sworn he'd seen a shadow cast over in Kyle's lime-green irises. "But even so, I think it's a good idea." He raises his head and looks directly into Stan's eyes. "We all know Mrs. Marsh is more than capable of defending herself, she's been training just as much as me, you, and Kenny ever since we-well, you guys defeated the Being of Darkness twelve years ago. It's okay to be concerned, but we also shouldn't underestimate her. No matter the foe, she won't lose to them so easily."
Mrs. Marsh gives a resolute nod. "Yes. I will protect this place and Ike, even if it costs me my life."
Kyle looks to her with a small smile. Stan's frown deepens to a point where it looks like he might start crying, his fists clenching at his sides.
"Um, shouldn't we have waited ta talk about this until after Kenny woke up?" Leopold asks.
"I did contemplate doing that, but this was an urgent matter I couldn't put off," Mrs. Marsh says. "I'm sure one of you will tell him whenever he comes to. Thanks to Yuna, it shouldn't be too much longer of a wait." Yuna nods, confirming her assumption to be true. "So until then, the meeting is adjourned. Unless anyone has questions?"
Stan tunes himself out of the conversation. What Kyle said left him feeling puzzled. How can he sympathize with his worry, but be so accepting of his mother's decision at the time? Every single day, Kyle is by his little brother's side, telling him things he deemed were worth talking about and always reminding him of the degradation of their hometown. Stan knows his mother has gotten incredibly strong over the years, but that doesn't make him feel any less apprehensive about her safety. If they all leave, then she will be the only person left here to fight the monsters. What if the conflict that transpired five years ago repeats itself in the midst of their absence? Stan doesn't want to imagine his mother facing such a large horde alone, but his mind disregards his unwillingness. In his mind's eye, he sees his mother surrounded by hundreds of bloodthirsty creatures in an empty, dark space, their house encased in her barrier is not far from them. Bloody injuries from sharp claws and fangs were on his mother's arms, torso, and legs, her face and clothes stained with red and purple blood. She's barely able to hold her Royal Sword, utterly exhausted from both the pain and the constant fighting. Stan discerns that she is beset by the monsters' tenacity and her duty to keep Ike and Colorado safe.
"Stan?"
Stan blinks his eyes, feeling tears in them. Had it not been for the hand touching his shoulder, he wouldn't have noticed his mother standing before him, not happy to see him sulking. He realizes that it's just the two of them in the living room now.
"M-mom, I-" His mother embraces him.
"I will be okay, sweetie," she says in a dulcet tone, inducing the tears to flow down Stan's cheeks. "I promise."
Stan hugs her back. He doesn't speak, even though he wants to, afraid that the lump in his throat will cause his voice to tremble uncontrollably. His desire wins out against his hesitance. He opens his mouth and murmurs, "I trust you, I really do, and I know what Kyle said was the truth, but..." He clenches the back of his mother's sweater. "You'll be here...by yourself." The clod in his throat finally takes a toll on his voice, making it sound deeper than it normally is and melancholy. "You'll have to fight monsters by yourself. What if...what if what happened five years ago happens again?!"
"Oh, Stanley, sweetie..." His mother gently pats his back more than several times. The sob he's been choking back forces its way out. He buries his face into his mother's shoulder, wanting to muffle his crying, his tears soaking through the soft and fluffy fabric. His mind is racing with thoughts of his mother facing a dreadful future without anyone by her side. He knew the day would come where they would have to depart from their home to obtain more allies in various places across the globe, way before Chris mentioned the likelihood to him years ago, and ever since then he made sure to never forget, so he could be mentally prepared once that day came. But the one thing he did not anticipate was his mother excluding herself from leaving. He really does understand that someone needs to be here to maintain stability in Colorado, but...he just...doesn't want that person to be his mother, at least not by her lonesome. If only his father and older sister were here...
"I can use the opportunity to search for them." Since they may not return, the only other option is to seek them out. Stan feels a strong pang in his chest, fueling his entire being with purpose.
He doesn't know how much time has passed when he feels himself calming down, both in body and mind. It must've been long enough because his eyes stopped exuding tears. He pulls his face away from his mother's shoulder, frowning guiltily at the profound damp stain.
"Stan." At the gentle utterance of his name, Stan lessens his grip on his mother's sweater as he leans back to look into her cerulean eyes, her lips in a tender smile. "It's been so long since I've seen you break down like that." Stan feels not an ounce of shame for expressing the fear he naturally harbors for his mother's safety, mainly because she was the only one who heard him. He really hopes Chris didn't witness him weeping like a child. He sees his mother raise a hand tucked into the hem of her sweaters sleeve up to his face, closing an eye when she tenderly rubs away the tears in his eye and the wet trail on his cheek. "Every tear you shed and every sob you let out showed the true extent of your worry." She dries his other eye and cheek. "But now," she lowers her arm and Stan opens his eyes. "Your eyes are displaying something other than distress."
Now that the emotional strain is no longer burdening him, Stan has the confidence to use his voice without any hesitation. "I've realized that I can look for dad and Shelly while we're journeying around the world. I'm also gonna make a promise to you..." He steps back, separating himself from his mother. "I promise I'll bring them home," he cracks a smile. "So we can give them the scolding of a lifetime." He'll apologize to them first though, for neglecting their safety.
His mother chuckles. "We sure will. But don't rush," she then says in a stern tone of voice. "Make sure to ask questions and always be on your guard."
Stan nods. "I will. Just..." He purses his lips pleadingly. "Try to stay alive until we return."
His mother raises her arm slightly while sticking out her pinky finger. Stan, after entering a state of temporary shock, comprehends her gesture. He does the same, and when he wraps his pinky finger around hers, she smiles and speaks the words that will finalize her vow, "I promise." Then they let go.
"That's two promises you've made," Stan points out.
"And I'm going to fulfill both of them." Stan notices a shift in his mother's eyes, though it was brief and didn't convey her determination. He doesn't know what to make of the fleeting emotion. "How about we do some training?" His mother asks.
Stan smiles at the offer. Perhaps he imagined it. "Sure."
Wendy
"Yuna is your daughter?!"
Wendy is in her room, sitting at the end of her bed. Her snow boots are off and on the floor by her feet, her purple and white polka-dotted socks exposed only for her wandering eyes to occasionally glimpse at. The ceiling light is on instead of the lamp. Bebe and Clyde are chatting in the living room—something they've been doing quite often lately, Wendy noticed—and Craig is out training, trying to grasp the fundamentals of a new spell Stripe wanted him to learn before they ventured out. Not a single thing has changed within Wendy's bedroom, at least that wasn't the case at first. On her nightstand is a sliver picture frame of her and her parents out on a clear and sunny day, it's propped next to another cherished item: the flower she, Bebe, and Nichole made out of Play-doh when they were children. It's not just her bedroom that's remained unchanged, even the entire interior of her home is the same as she remembered it. When she and Bebe first came across her house, it was nearly covered in white and black snow. The only indication that led Wendy to believe it was her home and nobody else's was its pristine condition underneath the snow. The other houses in the neighborhood were either completely demolished or dilapidated. Elena was kind enough to clean the big house, both inside and out, and even put a protective barrier around it similar to the one Mrs. Marsh had over her own home, except Elena's barrier was transparent.
"Yes. Unlike Leon, She And Her Two Siblings Consider Me Their Mother..."
Wendy frowns sullenly at that. "I see..." It was one day last week when she and her three friends were familiarizing themselves with each other's Inner Guardians. Wendy and Bebe were thunderstruck when they found out Craig's former pet guinea pig was his Inner Guardian. Clyde laughed, mentioning he had the same reaction as them when he first saw Stripe in the Light Realm. He kept the spirit's appearance a secret, and so did Craig, being frivolous teasers. Wendy and Bebe were left to wonder if Craig's Inner Guardian either maintained its guinea pig form or looked like a human. Wendy's shock wore off, though, once Clyde told them his Inner Guardian's name, confused by the gasp Elena let out. Wendy questioned her, but had to wait a few seconds to get an answer. Elena told her with a mousy voice that Leon was her eldest son, and that he hated her. Then it was Wendy's turn to tell the other's her Inner Guardian's name. Clyde tried not to make a perplexed face, but he failed, and Wendy noticed it. So did Bebe and Craig. Leon must've vocally expressed his indignation at the mention of his mother's name.
Wendy stands up and approaches her nightstand. She stares down at the picture of her younger self and her parents, her heart longing to see their smiles again. She touches the frame. "I don't know why Leon hates you, but whatever the reason, I hope you both will talk things out one day. No parent and their child should ever have a rocky relationship."
"...Thank you for your concern. I, Too, Hope That Day Comes Soon."
Smiling softly, Wendy decides to go out and train as well. She walks away, heading towards her closet to put on casual clothes.
Kenny
Kenny comes to an hour before it is the next day. He opens his eyes, which are a muddy brown color, warmed by the lamplight spreading along the ceiling. He instantly knows he's lying on a bed, and recognizes whose room he is in. He blinks slowly, then sits up at a similar speed. He looks at his clothes, inwardly disgusted by the blood - both red and purple - staining his shirt, and the hole burned at his stomach area, uncovering skin. He could've sworn he received a devastating bruise there, he guesses Yuna healed him, despite probably not regaining all of her magical energy. His pants just have powdery smudges from the snow and dust, and he's not wearing any socks.
"You're finally up."
Just when Kenny was about to wonder where Stan is, he heard the noirette from the other side of the bedroom. He turns his head, seeing Stan standing in front of the window, staring straight at him with a relieved yet commiserating smile. He's wearing a grey long-sleeved thermal shirt and plaid white and black pajama bottoms. A futon with a puffy, white pillow and a tousled, thick patterned blanket is on the floor near his nightstand. Seems he couldn't sleep.
Tears bubble and slip down Kenny's cheeks. The first emotion he shows is the extreme guilt he now feels. Everything that happened at his previous home comes surging back to him at full force: him and Stan wandering into an obvious trap only to get separated so easily, Kenny falling for another flagrant trap that came in the form of his little sister, soon having to fight the real culprit, which turned out to be a Being of Darkness while Stan had to fight its pet, Kenny nearly losing his life to the Being of Darkness, and Yuna being forced to step in to protect to him. Same situation happened to Stan when Kenny saw his body after he thought he killed the Being of Darkness, though Chris initiated 'Power Link'. The Being of Darkness lived somehow, and Kenny fought it once again, but lost the motivation when the pressure became too much for him to handle. Then he met a mysterious entity while falling to his death that granted him a great power to put an end to the Being of Darkness once and for all. He did not fail, and he then succumbed to the physically demanding 'Forced Power Link' and his injuries.
Kenny feels he failed to recount a few events, but that doesn't matter right now. All of that happened because he took the risk just so he could get a definitive answer to his siblings' whereabouts. Their absence confirmed they are not here.
Kenny looks away and down at his lap. "Stan...I'm so sorry." His voice came out heavy and timorous.
Acquiring a forbearing sadness in his sapphire eyes, Stan closes the curtains and nears the bicolor-haired teen. "It's okay." The intonation of his voice is caring and earnest.
Kenny disagrees by shaking his head. He has so much to say, so much to apologize for, but he doesn't even know where to start. He senses Stan standing closer to him. For some reason, his presence feels intimidating to Kenny.
"What exactly are you sorry for?" Stan asks, as if baiting Kenny to pour out all of his regrets.
And it works without fail. "For everything," Kenny says, closing his eyes. "For being an idiot, for not listening to you and Yuna...For getting both of us nearly killed..." He sighs deeply, overburdened by the growing guilt.
"Still, it's okay. Really. Did you think I would be mad at you because of everything we went through?"
Kenny opens his eyes halfway. "You should be. You should be pissed like your mom was. I... God, I'm so, so sorry." He feels a hand on his shoulder, but is afraid to look at Stan again.
"Well you can give the rest of your apologies to my mom and everyone else. I was never mad at you in the first place, I came with you out of my own free will, and also because...I knew how you felt." Kenny widens his tear-leaking eyes and directs them at Stan. He is frowning. "I'm sorry your brother and sister are gone."
At the mention of his siblings, one of the forgotten memories presents itself within Kenny's mind. The Being of Darkness, who he now remembers was actually his father, enlightened him about his family's situation. They were freed from corruption by someone and are in that person's custody. He gives a faint smile. "They may not be here, but at least they're not corrupted."
Stan's frown dips into confusion. "How do you know?" He asks as he removes his hand from Kenny's shoulder.
Wiping his eyes using the back of his hands, Kenny says, "The Being of Darkness told me. Turns out it was my dad."
"W-what...?" It took great restraint for Stan not to shout in disbelief.
"I didn't believe it at first, but..." Kenny drops his hands on his lap. "It proved itself by talking in my dad's voice, and the fact that it knew what happened to my mom, Karen, and Kevin proved even more that it was actually him. A parasite transformed him into a Being of Darkness. The rest of my family were once corrupted but were freed and taken someplace by a brown-haired man with glasses. I don't know who he could possibly be." He hates himself for not thinking about his mother, he for sure thought she and their good-for-nothing father would've gone to wherever the corrupted people were taken to. He's very glad they still have their mother.
Silence overtakes the room, becoming numbing on the ears expeditiously.
Stan speaks over it a few minutes later in a flabbergasted undertone, "Holy shit, this is a lot to take in." The bedroom becomes quiet again, lasting less than a minute. "A brown-haired man with glasses..." Stan muses thoughtfully. He shakes his head. "Doesn't ring a bell. It's obvious he uses Light magic though."
"Yeah, that's true," Kenny murmurs. That only leaves Mrs. Marsh, Kyle, Clyde, and Craig. Hopefully one of them remembers who the man is.
"My mom definitely needs to know about all of this."
Kenny nods his head in agreement. The thought crossed his mind the instant he found out his father was converted into a Being of Darkness. He suddenly becomes anxious. It's time to know the extent of their punishment. "How...badly did we get punished?" There's no way Mrs. Marsh will let them off with just a severe chiding.
"It's honestly not as bad you think. We're not allowed to have any junk foods or sodas for two months."
Stan was right, that isn't so bad at all, which confuses Kenny. Given how mad she was at them, he expected something worse. He casts his dull, bemused eyes at Stan again. "That's all she gave us?"
Stan frowns, appearing a bit sad. "Kinda. I don't think it'll matter though, because...we're gonna have to leave Colorado soon."
Kenny instantly becomes worried. "Why? Did something terrible happen?"
"No, it's the opposite of that, actually. The darkness has stopped moving," Kenny's eyes widen in absolute shock, "and so my mom wants us to go out to help other people and even inform them about the darkness' current condition if they're unaware."
Kenny's eyes return to normal size, the shock abating. "So that's why you couldn't sleep?"
Stan heaves a sigh. "Yeah." Sensing that this might be a long talk, Kenny positions himself to sit on the edge of the bed. Taking the hint, Stan sits down beside him, and resumes talking. "I'm not worried about leaving home for a long time, I already knew we couldn't stay here forever. My mom...won't be coming with us. She's gonna stay here to protect both Ike and Colorado. She plans to do that all by herself. I know full well that she's strong, but I'm scared that one day, she might get overwhelmed by a mob of monsters and none of us will even know..." Stan lets out another sigh, signaling the end of his rambling.
Kenny may not look it, but he was listening intently to Stan while he spoke his mind. He takes a couple moments to find the right words to say. "Even if that does happen, you just have to believe she'll be fine. It's mostly thanks to her that we survived against all those monsters five years ago. Remember that spell she shot out of her sword with one swing? It killed a whole lot of those things. Shit was badass." He grins, his listless eyes portraying an unorthodox emptiness.
Stan chuckles, a small smile forming. "Yeah, I'll never forget that cool attack she did. I actually tried learning it again today with her, but still haven't made any progress."
"You'll get the hang of it eventually, I'm sure." Kenny's lips drop into a line. "But don't worry too much. If you ever think she might be in danger, then think about her using that spell or an even stronger one that will get her out of any bind."
"...Seriously?"
Fearing that he might've said the wrong thing, Kenny nervously looks over at Stan, the sight of his smile that looks like it's about to burst with laughter putting him at ease.
Stan shakes his head. "I wonder when you started having odd ways of cheering people up." Kenny pouts, feigning being hurt by his comment. "Thanks, dude. I'm glad you're still you even though your eyes look as if you've given up on life."
Kenny frowns. No wonder he's been feeling...not entirely there. "I guess it's an aftereffect of 'Forced Power Link'. I don't ever wanna go through that again," he ends with a grumble. "But I should thank you too, for following my stubborn ass into a deathtrap."
"It was the least I could do since you wanted closure, though we could've went about it a safer way. Ultimately, you managed to get some good news and bad news too, so going to your old home wasn't a huge waste."
Kenny doesn't regard finding out his father turned into a Being of Darkness as bad news, but he smiles nonetheless, touched by Stan's kindness. The lingering guilt increases slightly, he's ashamed of himself for putting Stan through a dangerous situation. "You're right. Oh, how long have I been out for?"
"A little over a week."
Kenny is surprised. "It felt way longer than that."
"Good thing it wasn't." Stan yawns.
Kenny checks the alarm clock, it's one minute away from striking midnight. "Finally ready to get some shut-eye?"
"Yeah, since I've gotten my worries out of my system thanks to you. You can use my shower and wear one of my pjs...and, um," Stan blushes. "My underwear too if you want."
Kenny's feels heat rising up to his cheeks. "T-thanks." He and Stan get up from the bed. Kenny turns around to inspect the degree of the stains on the bedsheets and pillow. They are not as dirty as he is. "I'll change your bed for you after I'm done."
Stan nods his gratitude. He ambles to the futon while Kenny heads towards the dresser. "Goodnight," Stan says as he's making himself comfortable under the blanket.
"Goodnight," Kenny says back.
While rummaging through the drawers for a shirt first, Kenny reminds himself to keep the lamp on throughout the night.