Chapter Text
That same night
AUBREY had just woken up, she didn’t have lunch or dinner so she was pretty hungry, she grabbed some spare change and with extreme caution, she went straight for the door of her house. I should get some food for BUN BUN too. AUBREY thought and at the moment she went out, she felt an urge to visit THE OLD HANGOUT SPOT, so instead of going to the local 24 hours store, she went to the place where she held fond memories.
…
What am I even doing. AUBREY as thinking, she remembered how is that she was beaten up by THE MAVERICK’s older siblings right here. I can’t get a hold of this weird powers and a lot of other people are already mastering them. She remembered being stabbed by SUNNY and not receiving any mortal wounds, she remembered being thrown a rainbow ball at her and she remembered being punched by a pair of DEPRESSED twins. Maybe I should forget about this stuff and stop messing with people. And when she finally reached the lake, tears started welling in her eyes.
“M-MARI?” The first thing she saw was the friend she considered an older sister seated in a picnic blanket with the same basket she used all those years ago and with a bunch of food around her. “Hi there AUBREY, how are you doing?” MARI smiled sweetly, when AUBREY got closer she noticed that her hair was purple and that small detail made her finally break down in tears. “Aww you dyed your hair pink as we promised, what do you think of mine?” MARI stood up and walked closer to AUBREY that was still crying in the ground and gave her a maternal hug. “I-It’s beautiful.” AUBREy said between sobs, her stomach roared right at that moment. “Seems you’re hungry, want to eat something?”
…
After a delicious meal full of candies, fruit, sandwiches and sushi, AUBREY and MARI were laying in the picnic blanket. “So… that’s why you are bullying BASIL.” MARI said after AUBREY confessed what she had been doing. “Yeah, I guess I’m sorry.” Then MARI stood up and AUBREY followed. “Alright, there are some things I can’t tell you right now but I just want to tell you to not blame BASIL for what happened to the PHOTO ALBUM, everything will be revealed at its due time but trust me about this one, but for now, I think you should practice your technique.”
MARI pointed at the nailed bat that was laying besides AUBREY. “I’ve seen you fight with it and let me tell you, there’s a reason you’ve been beaten up so easily.” MARI just walked towards her basket and pulled out a JUMP ROPE, she did some whipping at the ground with it and waited for AUBREY. “But wait, didn’t you had a bad knee?” AUBREY was reluctant to fight against MARI. “Keyword had, I am good as a SPROUT MOLE after eating a block of TOFU.” While still a bit doubtful, AUBREY grabbed her BAT from the ground and readied her stance. “Alright, let’s start with your stance AUBREY, do you really think that’s how you wield a BAT?” MARI said with bit of disappointment in her voice.
MARI was a tough teacher, she had been criticizing every error she noticed AUBREY made but who she was to complain since MARI was the best in the softball team. “Don’t use one arm when swinging, you can injure yourself.” AUBREY was tired as hell but she was having the time of her life, being trained by your formerly deceased friend was something she never thought she would do.
“You are going to twist your ankle if you keep your posture like that.” MARI said after avoiding another hit from AUBREY, she was extremely agile and with the long reach of her JUMP ROPE she was proving to be a formidable fighter. “Woops, sorry!” MARI said with a smug smile after TRIPping AUBREY off. “Ugh, can you at least go a little easier.” AUBREY said after removing some dirt of her clothes. “Aww, but I’ve been holding off the whole time.” The though of seeing MARI using her full strength sent a shiver down her spine and continued her failed attempts at landing a hit on MARI. “Come on keep up! Have you tried becoming HAPPY?”
After the mention of that, AUBREY felt dumb for not trying that before, saying a quick PEP TALK to herself, AUBREY started glowing yellow and a smile formed in her face. “I’ve been waiting for you to try that, you can also stack up emotions.” AUBREY tried to PEP TALK to herself again and she felt ECSTATIC, glowing a brighter shade of yellow, with a higher speed being able to almost surpass MARI, AUBREY continued her assault now with the advantage of being HAPPY. “See what did I tell you, if you use your abilities wisely every battle will be easier.” Despite being faster, the low accuracy of her moves still made her unable to strike MARI.
Until she did. “Hmph, good hit.” AUBREY used an ability called MOOD WRECKER that MARI taught her, apparently it never missed but that left her a lot more tired than before. “Can we take a break now.” AUBREY was panting due to the great work out she had been doing. “Yeah, I think is a good time for one.” MARI then proceeded to sit down once again and pulled some WATERMELON JUICE from her basket, after drinking it AUBREY saw a number 78 above her. “So, did you like your training?” MARI said. “Whew, it was tiring but I feel great.” And indeed she did, AUBREY felt like she could beat a gang with just one swing of her bat. “Hey AUBREY, can I ask you something?” AUBREY just looked at MARI and nodded. “Can you hang out with the others tomorrow, please?”
MARI had a sad look on her face that made it impossible for AUBREY to refuse. “Alright, you’ll be coming too right?” MARI directed her gaze to the ground. “I’m sorry, I would love to but just not yet, there is something that needs to be said and until then, I don’t think I could be able to be with the rest of you.” The picnic blanket disappeared from the ground and materialized in MARI’S BASKET. “Take care of this, you can give it back to me when we see once again.” MARI then gave her basket to AUBREY who looked down at it for a second and when she looked up once again, MARI was gone. “I promise to give it back, MARI.” And she shed a single tear.
You got MARI’s BASKET
Increases all STATS and healing ITEMS will regenerate more HEART and JUICE.
~~~
*KNOCK KNOCK*
“Ugh, go open the door HERO.” Said KEL while trying to go back to sleep. “I’m going.” HERO then got up from the pillow fort with caution of not stepping on his friends.
”Hey SUNNY, BASIL, HERO hasn’t come up yet.” Said KEL after finally deciding to wake up. “Maybe he is making breakfast?” BASIL had woken up a few minutes earlier but waited for his friends. “Well, let’s check up on him anyways.” Like that, the three boys had finally stepped up from the comforts of their pillow fort and walked towards the kitchen, only to notice that AUBREY was there. “AUBREY!” KEL stepped backwards and summoned his BASKETBALL. “Dude, I don’t want any trouble!” AUBREY raised both of her hands in the air. “I just want to say… I’m sorry, especially at you BASIL.”
That surprised the three of them, especially BASIL. “I don’t know why, but I’m ready to left everything behind and start once again.” She extended her hand and the three boys took their turns to shake her hand. “Hey guys, breakfast is ready.” HERO said from the kitchen, SUNNY and KEL were the first to go, BASIL was trailing behind them but he was stopped by AUBREY. “Hey BASIL, I wanted to give you this.” She handed him the restored photos of his photo album, BASIL looked at them and he felt tears prickling at his eyes. “Thank you…” He wiped them off and walked towards the kitchen, AUBREY following close behind.
…
“HERO’s breakfast is the best breakfast!” KEL drank the last of his ORANGE JUICE, the ENERGY of all of them was completely restored. “I’m glad all of you liked it, now, let’s make the most out of today, after all, SUNNY is moving out tomorrow.” BASIL seemed to freeze after that phrase. “U-um, I have to check on my grandma at the hospital.” BASIL then left without saying goodbye leaving the four friends.
~~~
In a pink bedroom with walls covered with posters of foreign animated series, a woman with grayish pink hair was laying on her mattress. “Good morning SWEETHEART.” A bunch of voices called making MISS CANDICE woke up immediately. “AAAAAHHH!” The first thing she saw were five brown balls with a sprout in their heads looking at her from the feet of her bed. “We made you breakfast your highness.” A sixth ball entered the room with a slice of pink cake and a glass of WATERMELON JUICE on a tray that it was balancing on its head.
“WHAT ARE YOU?!?” She grabbed the pink flail she left on the side of her bed and held it with both of her hands. “We are the SPROUT MOLES, your loyal servants.” CANDICE just stared at them before saying. “LEAVE THE CAKE ON THE FLOOR AND GET OUT OF MY HOUSE.” The SPROUT MOLES did as she ordered and soon left her room, CANDICE picked up the cake and a fork and gave it a taste. “Hey this is pretty good.”
~~~
“God dammit!” AUBREY was on the 8th place at Lario Kart after everyone ganged up on her. “Sorry not sorry HERO!” KEL then proceeded to throw a red shell at him, meanwhile, SUNNY was still in first place, not even blue shells seemed to stop him. “How about we play Lario Party after this?” HERO said to which everyone agreed.
…
“Sometimes I wish I was an only child.” HERO said after KEL stole one of his stars. “Don’t be salty dude.” AUBREY had a smug smile on her face after winning all the minigames by sheer LUCK. You’ll see. SUNNY signed angrily, no matter how much he tried, LUCK was not on his side, it was almost as if AUBREY had a CHARM on her that increased LUCK. Hmm, suspicious. He thought.
~~~
“Alright MARK, sigh, how do I look?” CANDICE said after trying the pink dress that MARK gave to her. “You look perfect for our superhero identities.” Meanwhile he was thinking about introductions and catchphrases, most of them revolved about talking about love and the stars. “You know what, this is stupid.” MARK turned at her with a confused expression. “What do you mean CANDICE?” She removed the pink ribbon she had on her hair and looked at him. “Wouldn’t it be more flashy wearing our old cosplays rather than, I don’t know, a black hoodie or whatever.” She had a point, MARK crumpled the paper where he was writing and tossed it at the garbage bin. “Well, you’re right, let’s wait until later so that we can start looking for bad guys.”
~~~
The gang was currently waiting for their order at GINO’s. “Hey KEL, dad said that they were going to make burgers at the park later in the evening.” HERO said. “Let’s go there when they are ready, I also wanted to visit the OLD HANGOUT SPOT with SUNNY one last time.” Their order was ready and HERO stood up from his seat to pick it up. “Alright, eat up guys.” KEL was quick to dig in and AUBREY tapped HERO’s shoulder. “Hey dude, I’ve been thinking, don’t you think we should get something for SUNNY? Y’know, as a goodbye gift.” Before HERO could answer, they heard a loud burp, KEL finished the WHOLE PIZZA all by himself while SUNNY stared in awe. “KEL you little…!”
~~~
He was alone
Aubrey hates him
Kel made new friends
Hero was studying
His grandma is dead
Mari is dead
Sunny is going to abandon him
Sunny is going to abandon him
Sunny is going to abandon him
He should just die.
…
The four of them were currently exploring SUNNY’s house one last time and it was KEL’s idea to visit the old tree house. “So, this is the tree we’re MARI, y’know…” AUBREY said while they were standing in front of said tree. “I still wonder why she did it…” tears were prickling at HERO’s eyes. “Come on guys, do you think MARI would be HAPPY seeing us crying like this?” KEL said, AUBREY was about to speak up but she decided to keep quiet, the four of them just moved on.
…
“Wow it’s mister plantegg!” AUBREY rushed towards the abandoned toy and hugged it, it was dirty yet she felt a mysterious strength emanating from it. “Hey HERO, do you remember this?” KEL pointed at the toaster that was on the floor, HERO chuckled. “I remember mom being ANGRY at you for taking it from home.” While they were talking, SUNNY looked at a single photo on the wall.
The key for the toy box was behind it.
SUNNY grabbed the bat on the floor and got closer to AUBREY. “Oh, do you want me to take it?” SUNNY nodded, AUBREY grabbed it and looked at it with surprise. “I feel… stronger? How did you knew it SUNNY?” AUBREY looked at him. I had a hunch. He lied, but AUBREY didn’t seem to notice. “It’s getting late, I think we should check on BASIL, what do you think guys?” HERO said to which everyone agreed.
~~~
This was it. He was standing in the middle of the bathroom, a pair of garden shears in hand, SOMETHING was looking at him.
Yet it felt more… real?
He got closer to inspect it but SOMETHING attacked him with a black tentacle.
He screamed.
Instead of the oppressive feeling he usually felt, this time it burned at his skin, he could actually see a mark where he got attacked.
Footsteps came from the hall.
Great, he woken up his friends.
“BASIL, what’s wrong?” AUBREY opened the door and looked at him, but she immediately froze with fear. “AUBREY?” HERO came from behind her, yet he was also frozen in fear, if BASIL squinted his eyes, he could see how is that their skin was completely grey. “Guys?” KEL and SUNNY entered the bathroom. Big mistake.
SOMETHING closed the door with one of its tentacles and several smaller ones covered it, making it unable to open. “W-we are not AFRAID.” HERO summoned his FRYING PAN, the rest of the friends did the same with their own weapons, the room felt bigger than before, enough for a battle to occur. “L-Let me help.” BASIL stood up from the ground and held his garden shears close to his chest, he was AFRAID as the rest of them but he won’t leave them alone in this fight.
“C-come on guys, let’s do it.”
…
“He must be somewhere.” DAPHNE was carrying her twin around town by the hand, Mikhael has gone missing, they already asked all of his friends and neither of them knew anything about him. “Miss, Mister help us please!” DAPHNE shouted at a couple that was walking around the street, they were wearing shady clothing but they were desperate enough to not care. “Wow, you shouldn’t be running around town this late you know?” The male figure said.
“Wait, aren’t they the kids from the bakery?” The female figure revealed themselves to be MISS CANDICE. “CANDY! Don’t reveal our identities like that.” The other figure was the shopkeep from HOBBEEZ. “Please, we need your help to find our brother.” CANDICE raised a finger to her template. “Don’t they hang out in, how was it called? The hangout spot or something?” That clicked in the head of both twins. “Thank you Miss, we didn’t think of that.” The two twins were ready to leave but MARK stopped them. “Kids wait! Let us go with you, it’s not safe for a pair of kids to go alone at night.” The two of them were reluctant but agreed in the end.
…
“So, this is where THE HOOLIGANS hang out?” CANDICE was looking at the abandoned place. “Hey, do you feel that?” MARK said, all of them could feel a ominous aura emanating from the forest. “Let’s go.” The twins summoned their weapons, a ROLLING PIN for DAPHNE and a BAKING TRAY for BOWEN. “How did you kids- wait never mind, let’s just go.” The two adults summoned their respective weapons and the team walked deeper into the forest.