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Nights were usually quiet on Isle One. The Fly Trap was closed, the Root Pack slept soundly, and even the small cottage tucked away had its lights out. All was still…except for one resident. Goopy LeGrande was busy practicing moves on an unfortunate tree. He spoke aloud to himself, like a sports commentator.
"And here comes Inkwell Isles number one boxer, Goopy LeGrande!" He gloated. He began to pose triumphantly before the invisible crowd. "And on this side of the ring, his opponent." Goopy faced the already dented tree and began readying a punch. "Who will come out as the victor?" Unknowing to Goopy, sitting above him in the clouds was Hilda Berg. Her quiet stargazing was being interrupted by Goopy's fake ring match. Glancing down below with a stink eye, she tried to ignore it, but all his grunts and yells for victory began getting on her nerves. Reaching into the cloud she was lounging on, she ripped off two pieces and stuffed them into her ears. She looked up at the stars, trying once more to concentrate on her beautiful view. For a moment, all was peaceful, that is, until a tree branch was sent flying through the air, nearly hitting her like a missile.
THAT'S IT!" Boomed Hilda, her voice like a clap of thunder. She turned right around and dived straight for Goopy. The slime stood victoriously over his fallen opponent, the tree, now felled with several branches missing, and strewn about the ground. He was too busy celebrating to notice the angered Hilda approaching him with a darkened, stormy cloud. "Hey! Knock off all that noise! You nearly hit me, you blockhead!" Hilda snapped. Goopy finally noticed her and looked up to see an actual spectator, albeit an angry one.
"Oh! Well, hello," He greeted. He tipped his cap to her. "And apologies, miss. I didn't mean to hit you. When I start punching, stuff starts flying." He began to pose with a confident grin. "I was just in the zone.” The slime's politeness slightly took her aback.
"I was in my zone watching the stars, and you interrupted." She continued.
"Watching the stars?" He looked up. "Why? They aren't going anywhere." Hilda stifled a chuckle and rolled her eyes.
"I study them." She said, waving at them." "The constellations and their formations. It's very important."
"I'll try to keep it down then for you, Miss."
"Hilda."
"I'll try to keep it down then for you, Miss Hilda."
"Good," Hilda said, nodding. She floated back up towards the sky. She lay back on her cloud, though now something else had her attention. She looked back down, watching Goopy, who had set his sights on the felled tree and continued practicing on it. She watched him as he began punching more dents into the side. She descended once more, floating right above him.
“How will you hit anyone like that?" She barked with a laugh. Goopy glanced up.
"Back for more already?" He teased. Hilda was slightly thankful for the night's darkness, which hid her bright pink cheeks. She shook her head and waved him off.
"I just want to make sure you don't hurl more branches at me, that's all."
"Alright, well, how about this?" He slightly lowered his arm.
"That's better. At least you'll hit something better that way. You swing that high, you'll only hit your opponent's head. What good is that?" She commented. Goopy swung his arm back and hit the tree lower, making a new dent.
“Hey! That felt pretty good!” He beamed. “I gotta try that again.” He practiced the same move again and the tree was nothing more than some splinters.
“You got a real nice left hook.” Hilda praised. Her smile turned far more kind. Hilda watched Goopy train all through the night, until he took a break, wiping the sweat from his forehead. Hilda stared up at the stars, fully resting on her back.
“So. What kind of stuff do you look at up there?” Goopy asked. Hilda turned to look at him.
“Oh. Well, you know constellations, the positon of the stars and planets. That’s why I’m around more at night than in the day. I prefer the night more than the day anyways. It’s more quiet. Everyone is asleep and no one is around to bother me…well accept you.” Goopy chuckled, as he looked up at her.
“I prefer the night too. There’s just something so serene about it. I prefer training at night, it’s more cool, and no one is around to steal my moves and technique. Everyone else is asleep. Accept you.” He flexed his arm.
“Pretty smart tactic.” Hilda said. “Look. You see that there?” She pointed up at one of the stars. “That constellation is hydra. That one there is cancer.” Goopy stared at the stars and could see the constellations Hilda was pointing out.
“Yeah. I see it. What’s that one?”
“That’s gemini.” Hilda replied with a little more excitement. “That’s one of my favorites.” Goopy stared at Hilda as she began to giddily explain more about the stars and their various formations. He couldn’t help but stare at her, to him out of all the stars, Hilda shined the brightest of them all. A warm blush crept along his blue cheeks. He sighed as he relaxed with her. It was just them and the night sky in all its quiet, vast beauty. This was exactly why Goopy preferred training at night.