Note: Great thanks to Meian16 for his help here!

Chapter Thirty-Five

Back in Mutopia, Jun was sitting with Dahlia at one of the tables near the front feeling a little nervous.
After he had said to Tyroth he wanted to apologize to the village for his behaviour, Tyroth said he would speak to Old George about making an announcement at suppertime.

Dahlia looked at her boyfriend as he sat there staring at his empty plate and tracing his glass with his finger.

"You okay hun?" Dahlia asked looking at her boyfriend.

Yeah, I'm alright." Jun said chewing his lip yet Dahlia could tell he wasn't really alright as he was looking worried.

"You still feel you want to apologize to the village hun?" she asked, like Tyroth she felt Jun didn't need to apologize, but the tiger was adamant that he needed to get his feelings out as he had felt guilty for his behaviour.

"I do." Jun said "Its the right thing to do."

Dahlia gave a small smile as she squeezed his paw.

"I'm proud of you Jun." she said.

"Thanks." Jun said as he looked over at Tyroth who was sitting with Sephie and the Geckolings finishing off a stew.

"I wonder when would be a good time to speak up?" Jun asked as he watched the dragon then looked at everyone in the mess hall, some were eating quietly whilst others were in deep conversation.

"Tyroth said he'd make the announcement soon." Dahlia said "You'll get your moment soon."

"Hopefully sooner rather than later." Jun thought to himself "I've got butterflies in my stomach and my legs feel like jelly."

He could have laughed at himself, as Jun had never been one to be nervous, whether it was going into the rings to do his fighting, or facing up opponents who challenged him in the street.

But then again, he was using his skills, and he could use them blindfolded, but when it came to public speaking or admitting his faults, he felt giddy.

After five minutes, or to Jun felt like five hours, Tyroth stood up from his table and walked to the stage.

As he did, some of the residents noticed him and started to quieten down, yet he still clapped his paws and everyone stopped talking and eating and turned to look at him.

"Attention, attention please!' he called yet he still heard some voices at the back and he coughed loudly "Excuse me! Less talking at the back there!"

"Sorry!" the voices at the back called sheepishly and Tyroth frowned and nodded then cleared his throat.

"Okay, I'm sorry to disrupt your meal, but one of our newest residents has made a request to speak to you all."

As he spoke he looked towards Jun and Dahlia and Jun felt his heart beat faster and his legs shook a little yet he felt Dahlia's paw squeeze his.

"Jun?" Tyroth asked looking to the tiger "May you join me up here please?"

Jun sucked in a breath and he wondered whether he still had the courage to go up there, but Dahlia gently nudged him with her knee to stand up and go to the dragon who held out his large paw.

Jun swallowed hard as he gathered his courage and he lifted Dahlia's hand to his lips, kissed it then went to join Tyroth.

"Good luck hun." Dahlia said softly as she watched him.

Jun took a few deep breaths as he walked up tot eh stage and Tyroth took his hand and gently pulled him up.

As he did he saw the many eyes looking at him as well as heard a few murmers then he heard one voice speak up.

"So what you got to say Tiger Boy?"
Jun almost jumped out of his skin and he looked to see Rattletrap had been the one than had spoken, that was until Sarah the Cheetah clonked him on the head with one of her wooden tonfas.

"Be quiet you!" she snapped which was then followed up by "Shut up Rattletrap!" in unison.

"Give him time you moron!"

Tyroth growled making everyone shut up and he cleared his throat shaking off the embarrassment for his people before looking at Jun who ran a hand over his head as well as pulled on his tee-shirt collar.

"Man, where do I start...?" he said yet as he looked at Dahlia she mouthed to him.

"Just speak from the heart hun."

Jun nodded at his girlfriend then looked back at everyone a little longer before puffing out his chest and began to speak.

"Everyone, I owe you all an apology."

As he said that, a few murmurs went around the room.

"Apology?"

"What for?"

"What you got to apologize for?"

Tyroth rolled his eyes and clapped his paws again.

"Everyone! Everyone!" he said loudly "Quiet! Please! Let him speak!"

Jun sighed as he took in another breath and looked over the heads of everyone.

He had remembered the times he had spoken to the crowds after his fights, and usually he was confident, but then there were times he had to address the crowd when they booed him, especially to those who had bet on a fighter he had defeated and he had to rise above their wrath.

Also there were the times he had to face prejudice during his fights, especially being an African American, but he had used a technique that he had been told by his teachers in school when he had given a show and tell speech, or by his family and even Dahlia himself, to look over the crowd rather than directly at them and it stopped him feeling intimidated.

Once again, the tiger stood up straight and took a breath before he spoke again.

Ever since what happened to me and my girlfriend, I've been acting completely ungrateful and as I don't appreciate the fact that some of you are the reasons why she and I are still alive."

He looked down at the crowd before him and he saw the many faces looking up at him.

Many were looking curious, others had soft understanding smiles.

Old George was one of them as he sat near the stage, leaning on his cane and giving Jun a soft proud smile.

"Trust me," Jun went on "It's not like that at all. I was just so angry about what happened to us, I still am. But...I've been taking my anger out on the wrong people…"

As he spoke, a few more voices were heard as murmurs went around the room, especially from the Chicago Knights who had seen Jun's wrath in the Dojo yet they went silent as Tyroth glared at them.

Old George meanwhile watched and smiled softly.

"Such a remorseful young one." he said softly "He carries so much anger, so rightfully, yet he understands how his behaviour has affected others and he has shown how he understands."

"We had so much planned for our lives, so much we wanted to do and it was taken away, just like that.." Jun went on "As I said, I was so angry but it was misguided...After some time to myself, and things that happened, I realized just how selfish I was being...everyone here as gone through things as well, it wasn't just me…

He looked at the crowd who was now silent as they listened yet he carried on.

"I went about things the completely wrong way and came off as being an ungrateful punk to you all. I promise you, that's not who I am at all."

Dahlia gave a small smile as she listened, even though she felt he was being too hard on himself, she was proud of him pouring out his emotions and feelings since he had been mutated.

"You've all been nothing but helpful and welcoming to me and my girlfriend and I've been nothing but the opposite."

As he said that sentence, a few voices were heard from the crowd.

"We can understand man!"

"Totally!"

"Yeah!"

"You're not the only one!"

Tyroth clapped his paws again to silence everyone and Jun went on.

"Yeah…" he said in a sheepish tone "so um...I'm sorry everyone. I hope you can forgive me."

He then waited.

There was a brief moment of silence then the whole mess hall broke into wild applause.

Jun was rather surprised as he watched the Mutopians rise and clap for him, and Dahlia too was rather shocked but she joined in as well.

As the applause went on a few more voices were heard.

Nothing to be sorry for!"

Your feelings are valid!"

Welcome to Mutopia!"

As he listened, Jun smiled softly and he felt more relaxed, relieved and glad that everyone understood his feelings.

Tyroth smiled then patted the tiger's shoulder.

"You did great!" he said winking at Jun "You have a good soul."

Jun smiled back at the dragon then walked back to join Dahlia which he was more than happy to do so.

"So?" Jun asked as he sat down "How did I do?"

" you did great hun!" Dahlia said kissing his cheek"I'm so proud of you!"

Jun blushed.

"Thanks" he said then he looked at the ceiling then at Dahlia, a thoughtful look on his face.

"What now, I wonder?" he said.

"I guess we just try and carry on with our new lives now. Dahlia shrugged.

"Yeah…" Jun agreed then he reached up and stroked her cheek making her look at him.

"Hey," Jun smiled "We got this. We're gonna be okay.

"I hope so," Dahlia said with a returning warm hopeful smile.
"I've found a way to continue my nursing here with James, slowly I can adjust, and you can too?

Jun blinked.
"By doing what?"he asked cocking his head.

Dahlia was silent before she looked at the residents, mainly the Chicago Knights and Tyroth then back at Jun.

Well you could teach the residents here your fighting, as well as what you learnt from working in your dad's garage?" she suggested.

Jun listened to Dahlia and he thought hard on what she said.

He was proud of his fighter skills, and he was also pleased and thankful for his skills in machinics and cars after learning from his father.

"mmmm, maybe." he said.

"Or" Dahlia said giving Jun a side look.

"You could join Tyroth's Chicago Knights?" she suggested.

Jun's eyes widened.

'Wait what?" He asked "Me? Join them?"

Dahlia nodded.

"Think about it Jun," she said "After all the skills you know?" she paused "It's up to you, but after what you did topside, the Knights do the same thing."

Jun didn't reply as he listened yet he took in Dahlia's advice.

Dahlia at the same time saw despite his silence he was thinking, and she nodded at him.

"It's up to you hun," she said, not wanting to make him feel pressured, yet she knew he could be a valuable asset to the Chicago Knights.

"But you could make a difference."

Jun cocked his head as he looked at Dahlia.

"I'll keep it in mind…" he said.

"You don't need to make a decision now," Dahlia said quickly as she didn't want to push her lover, given his feelings.

"But I'm sure you'll make the right one." she promised.

Jun smiled softly at her and leaned down to kiss her.

"I trust you hun."he said "I love you so much."he kissed Dahlia's nose.

"And I love you too." Dahlia replied, nuzzling her lover back.

Looks like Jun's turned a personal corner, it takes a lot to move forward, which I'm sure I lot of you would know.