Chapter Thirty-Three: Whoops

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The big city of New Metropolis never failed to impress Charlie. After Belle had left for Brisvegas without saying good bye, Charlie had decided to head overseas. Awesomica had always been the one place he wanted to visit, so after his messy break up with Sunny, he packed his bags and left.

New Metropolis was wonderful. Very little to no crime, beautiful clean streets, no crumbling dam to worry about. Public transport ran like clockwork, schools were all well-funded, there were several Universities to pick from and did I mention the lack of crime? The capital of Awesomica was definitely a standard to live up to.

He walked along one of the many long, bright, happy streets, looking in all of the windows at all of the beautiful displays. He was about to head back to his apartment, when he bumped into someone.

“Oh! Sorry mate, didn't see you there!” Charlie readied himself to get punched out as one would in Pleasantville, but all he heard was a chuckle.

“That's all right friend. You're foreign?” The stranger asked. He was dark, tall and grinning. Charlie grinned back.

“I'm from Pleasantville, Ostraya. Name's Charlie.” He offered his hand in greeting.

“Damien.” The stranger shook his hand. “Welcome to Awesomica.”

“Thanks.” Charlie felt great. The people here were awesome!

“Let me show you around.” Damien motioned for Charlie to follow him. Damien showed him a far bit of the city, all of the best places to grab a coffee or a meal or see a show or some sports. Charlies mind was blown.

“Thanks for the tour!” Charlie smiled at his new friend.

“No problem. You're free to hang out with my friends and I any time.” Damien replied.

Charlie watched as his new friend walked away. He was about to head back to his apartment, when something he saw changed his mind on Pleasantville forever.

A young lady had been walking past, minding her own business. She was clearly wealthy and proud of it, with expensive looking clothes and jewellery. From her shoulder swung a beautiful red velvet handbag.

Charlie squirmed uncomfortably when he saw her – anyone who dressed like that in Pleasantville was just begging for an attack, and it seemed no different here. A young thug grabbed the woman while another went for her handbag.

She screamed loudly as the two men ran off. A loud wailing sounded throughout the street as a police car appeared and took off after the crooks. Charlie blinked. How on earth did the police respond THAT quickly?

Within the hour the handbag had been returned and the thugs apprehended. Within the week, Charlie read in the paper that the crooks had been placed in gaol for a year, where they would be making bricks to be used in construction. It was a shock to Charlies system – the law enforcement here actually WORKED!

Over the next three years, Charlie saw more and more that made him realise that Belle might have been right.

“Charlie! We need you to help us with a new campaign!” Damiens boyfriend Jake barged in the door one day.

“Campaign?” Charlie looked confused.

“They're going to knock down the old Cat Manor to build apartments!” Jake cried in anguish. “We have to stop them!”

“If the Council says that the building is going, what can we do?” Charlie resumed his breakfast.

“If we stage a peaceful protest they'll have to back down!” Jake pointed out.

“You'll just get arrested.” Charlie pointed out.

“No we won't! If we keep within the letter of the law, then they can't do a thing!” Jake grinned. “Haven't you ever protested before?!”

“Uhhh...” Charlie hesitated. In Pleasantville, protesting was unheard of. No one dared upset the status-quo, everyone was too afraid of the criminal element.

“Come on!” Jake dragged him out of the house.

“My cornflakes!”

–

Charlie was quite surprised. It was nothing like what he thought a protest would be like. The very large group were standing on a large patch of grass just outside the Council office, singing old songs about history and the Awesomica way of life.

“And the Council will listen to this?” Charlie was stunned.

“Of course! They know that we won't vote for them if they upset us.” Damien pointed out. “There's a fair whack of the voter base here today.”

“Voting?” Charlie was intrigued. Voting meant nothing in Pleasantville, everyone knew the Mayor was just a figurehead who bowed to the will of the Death Valley Mobsters.

“What planet did you come from?” Jake laughed.

Charlie went bright red. Not from his ignorance – but from how shamefully he treated Belle. This had been what she'd been talking about. The people of Pleasantville standing up and saying “No more!”

And they could do it too. The civilians and the police easily outnumbered the hundred or so Mobsters. However, as proven by the peoples wilful ignorance when it came to the flood, the people of Pleasantville had no intention of rousing themselves.

While the people around him started singing of their founding fathers, he thought back to his last few months in Ostraya.

–

“Where WERE you?!” Sunny cried. “Ruby completely kicked our backsides out there! We needed you!”

“Forget it. I'm not doing the whole Chuckles thing any more. Not without Giggles.” Charlie lay down on his bed, looking across to the bedroom that held his ex-best friend.

“Why not? What's wrong with you?!” Sunny sighed. “Belle can't be Giggles any more, she's leaving for Brisvegas remember? Plus she's still sick from being flooded with Ruby power.”

She sat down next to him. “Talk to me Charlie.”

“I just can't. She won't do anything with me any more. I keep trying to include her but she just won't have it.” Charlie sighed.

“She just needs some space Charlie. You know she's been working hard. Plus this has been a bit of a shock to her, and now on top of losing her aunt she's lost her grand-father.” Sunny pointed out. “You needed a lot of space when your grand-father died.”

“She's been pushing me away ever since we got together! She's nothing but a jealous brat!” Charlie snapped, slamming his window closed.

“You've been pushing this all on her since we got together! You were so insistent that we all got along that you didn't give her time!” Sunny hugged him.

“I just wanted things to be the way they were. Her and me.” Charlie looked sadly at Sunny, who frowned.

“They couldn't be Charlie. It's you and me now, not you and her.” She smoothed his hair. “You'll always be best friends, but you can't be joined at the hip any more.”

“I didn't realise dating YOU meant choosing.” Charlie scowled at her, pulling away.

“It was always going to be that way!” Sunny cried. “Do you REALLY think that we could carry on together with HER always hanging off you like the leech she is?!”

“Don't you DARE call Belle a leech!” Charlie got up. “You're still jealous aren't you?”

“Jealous? I'll ALWAYS be jealous. Every night I walk into that house and everyone is cold and awkward around me. They don't know how to treat me well after years of ignoring my existence, while Belle walks home into hugs and toys and pampering!” Sunny shot back. “And then I finally get you, but nooooo, she's still got her little claws stuck into the one person I thought I could have to myself.”

“You sound like you're only with me to get back at her!” Charlie spat. Sunny was shocked.

“That's not true!” She defended herself. But a shadow of guilt haunted her face, and Charlie knew that while it wasn't the whole reason, it was part of it.

“It isn't, huh?” He stared coldly at her.

Sunny couldn't bear the cold. She felt it all the time, and to have it directed at her from Charlie was too much.

“It WASN'T.” She corrected him, just as coldly. “It's over Charlie, go back to your stupid unwanted bastard.”

She ran out of the room, slamming the door behind her.

–

Thinking over it more, Sunny had been right. Belle had needed more time. She also really DID have a need to study.

A few months after the rally, the Mayor was voted out in favour of someone who would protect historical land. Charlie was beginning to understand what Belle had been trying to tell him – that when people took responsibility for their community and held their chosen leaders to account, the community benefited. It wasn't the task of eight kids to stop the Death Valley Mobsters and their hold on Pleasantville – it was up to the people to hold the Council to account, and then the Council needed to stand up and fix the problem.

Belle was studying so she could make a difference. So she could set an example to others. So she could even get into the Council and change it from inside, to continue the work her father was starting.

She had talent, brains and had a brilliant work ethic. Not like him, who simply relied on sheer dumb luck.

“Oi! Wake up Chuckles!” Damien laughed

“Wha-?” Charlie jumped a mile. Did Damien just call him Chuckles?!

“Your name is Charlie, which is shortened to Chuck, and your eyes were glazed over. It was a joke.” Damien reassured him.

They were sitting on the balcony of Charlies apartment, sipping beer and looking out over the beautiful coast.

“Aren't you glad the right guy won the election?” Damien grinned.

“Yeah, it's pretty different from Pleasantville.” Charlie admitted. “You only get to run for Mayors Office if you're under the control of the Death Valley Mob there, otherwise you don't get a look-in.”

Damien looked disgusted.

“If any of our elected representatives were corrupt there'd be HELL to pay! People would be marching down the streets demanding a resignation! How do you LIVE like that?!” He asked, taking another mouthful of beer. “Doesn't anyone stand up for themselves?”

“We did. My friends and I.” Charlie said. “Chuckles and Giggles, with the Knights of the Last Order. We were the local vigilantes.”

Damiens eyes grew wide. “That's why you were startled when I...you FOUGHT the bad guys?!” He yelped.

“Keep it down, I don't want it going around.” Charlie chuckled. “Yeah, I did. Managed to get my hands on the Lions Claw Blade for a short while too before I lost it.”

“Why aren't you fighting any more?” Damien asked as Charlie took another swig of beer.

“Belle and I had a fight. I broke up with my girlfriend too, who was a Knight. Plus I lost my magic. The family magic, the Improbability Clause.” Charlie explained.

“Magic?” Damien looked quizzically at Charlie.

“Yeah, it was pretty much sheer dumb luck. Made even better when Belle was around – her family and my family have been friends for centuries.” Charlie said. “My Dad and her father are brilliant at using the Clause – apparently there's some secret about it that they know that we don't.”

“Secret? How did it work anyway?” Damien asked.

“I'd come up with a brilliant plan, Belle would pooh-pooh it and then everything would work.” Charlie explained.

Damien thought for a second. “When you say she pooh-pooh'd it, what do you mean by that?”

“She basically would tell me...every...thing...that...” Charlie stopped.

Belle would tell him everything that could have gone wrong with the plan. THAT was why the Improbability Clause worked. Because when Belle told him off, she was really going over the finer points of his plan that he missed. His quick brain would then take her information in and, with a bit of dumb luck, formulate something that worked every time.

“I am such a moron.” Charlie sighed. Damien looked at him quizzically.

“Ah...okay.” Damien sat back. “You said you got a hold of the Lions Claw Blade?”

“Yup. Belle had the Lucky Seven Gun for a bit there too, a modified Colt .45 with an extra chamber and an interesting pattern on the handle..” Charlie smiled with the memory. It had been a few years now since those days.

“I wonder...I have a gun, and Jake has a whip. It's an average Colt .45 though, but the handle has a weird design.” He got up and pulled his gun from his holster. Charlie jumped up.

“That's the EXACT same design as on the Lucky Seven Gun!” He pointed to it. “Jakes whip, does it have a small chain with a talisman at the end of it?”

“Yeah, it does. It's called the Stingrays Tail Whip, and this is the Palatable Six Gun.” Damien said. “We got them at a sale, the guy was insistent that they be sold together.”

“I wonder if there are other weapons like this?” Charlie wondered.

“I bet there is.” Damien smiled.

Charlie sat back down.

“I was horrible to Belle.” He sighed. He told Damien what had happened between himself, Belle and Sunny.

“You should go back and apologise. You've been here for years, surely it's time you went home?” Damien looked at his friend.

“I know.” Charlie sighed, finishing off his beer. “Another drink?”

“Of course!”

Chapter Thirty-Two: I Don't Want To Fight Anymore

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Belle lay in bed, still unconscious but stable now that the Ruby Suit had been removed. It had taken a while for Charlie and Peter to get it off, but at least Belle was safe now.

“She'll be sick for a while. I've contacted the school and the University so it should all be okay.” Peter sighed.

“She needed to take a break anyway I guess.” Bill rubbed his brothers back. “She's going to be devastated when she wakes up.”

Peter simply buried his head in his hands. He didn't want to think about it, but then he felt horrible for not wanting to think about it.

His father was dead. Killed saving Belles life. It should have been him. Belle was his daughter.

“I'd kill Johannas if he weren't already dead. That's two he took from us.” Bill continued, angry.

“He can't hurt anyone ever again.” Peter said quietly. Bill sighed.

“I know.” He looked up at the roof. “Thanks Dad.”

–

Daryl Jones was having a rotten day.

Those idiots at work had torn shreds off him for doing what they considered a “sub-standard job”. Given that if it wasn't for his father they wouldn't even HAVE a job, Daryl thought that was a bit rich.

The really annoying bit was that he no longer had his former victims to take his frustrations out on. Belle, Charlie and Sunny were now backed up by their stupid group of friends, and sheer weight of numbers meant that going after them was pointless.

Daryl flopped down onto his bed and sighed. Looking out of the window, he could see Sunny comforting that dumb boyfriend of hers. He smirked. He thought Sunny was brilliant for stealing Charlie out from under Belles nose. It was the sort of thing she used to do back when she was cool.

From what Daryl had heard, Belle had gotten very ill at the news of her grand-fathers death at the hands of Johannas. Daryl wasn't completely heartless, and did feel bad for the loss of Joe Masters.

He sighed, and continued to watch the young couple.

Charlie felt insanely guilty. He knew he could have saved Joe if he hadn't been so stubborn. He could have helped stop Johannas, and perhaps even saved him.

“Stop beating yourself up Charlie, it wasn't your fault.” Sunny tried to talk him out of it.

“If I had headed out with Belle in the first place then I could have grabbed the detonator. Johannas wouldn't have dared go near me with the Arm Scythes.” Charlie sobbed. “Joe would still be alive.”

“Johannas could have just as easily have seen you and blown himself and everyone else up anyway.” Sunny pointed out.

“The detonator had been knocked out of his hands.” Charlie tried to argue.

“Charlie!” Sunny groaned. She hugged him tightly. “It's not your fault.”

Charlie said nothing, but looked grey, drawn and sad. He slumped a little further down in the old sofa, fresh tears rolling down his cheeks. Sunny kissed him, smothering him with kisses, trying to stop the flow of guilt.

Upstairs, Belle was starting to stir. Peter quickly grabbed her hand while Bill called Charlie.

“Pa?” Belle slowly woke up.

Peter swallowed hard. She'd have to know eventually.

“Hey Beauty.” He stroked her hair as she turned to face him.

“Hey Daddy.” Belle smiled weakly. “Where's Pa?”

Peters lip began to quiver and the tears welled in his eyes.

“Pa is gone.” He sobbed. The pair clutched each other and cried over their loss.

–

“Belle?”

“Go away.”

“Belle, I'm really sorry about what happened.”

“That's nice.”

“I can understand if you're mad at me-,”

“You accused me of not having your back, and then you left me to die.”

“I came eventually and I got you out of there! Johannas would have killed you if it wasn't for me!”

“If you'd been there from the beginning, Johannas would never have had the chance.”

“You're blaming me for your grand-fathers death?”

“No, I'm pissed off at you for coming in here trying to be all apologetic after your hypocrisy.”

“Belle-,”

“Go away Charlie.”

“Belle!”

“GO.”

Charlie looked shell shocked. His shoulders slumped and he turned and left the room.

–

He had NO idea why his sister decided hanging around the tip was a good idea. The place stank and it was messy.

Daryl Jones was looking for Sunny. His laundry needed doing and his parents were out on a business trip. His coworkers had again been stern with him about his work ethic, and he was getting quite annoyed about it.

“SUNNY!” He yelled. If she wasn't here he was going to hit the roof (figuratively of course). What a mess.

He came across what looked like a cubbyhouse made out of garbage. He'd seen several of these around the place, he guessed they were made by those stupid friends of hers. He had a quick look around it, but found nothing.

He sighed, and was about to move on when something caught his eye. It was bright red and small.

The Ruby Suit.

“Ruby Giggles must've left it here!” Daryl grabbed it. It had been badly stretched by Peter and Charlie when they'd forced it off Belle, but it was still in one piece. Making sure he was alone, Daryl pulled off his own clothes and struggled to get the Ruby Suit on.

It tore a little, but the Ruby Ooze soon moved out over the tears and healed them up so the Suit fit perfectly.

Daryl grinned. The mask hid his face just as well as it hid Belles, and it still functioned beautifully. Daryl soon got a hang of flying and forming the Ruby Weapons.

“This is most excellent.” He laughed. “Those morons at work don't stand a chance against Ruby!”

He flew off in the direction of the offices, ready to take out whomever he found there.

–

“Where's the Ruby Suit? I want to wash it before Belle packs it.” Bill asked Peter and Belle, who were sitting in front of the TV eating popcorn and looking bored.

“Dumped it.” Peter deadpanned.

“Dumped it where?” Bill asked.

“Dump.” Belle deadpanned.

“So you're not taking it to Brisvegas?” Bill asked.

“Nope.” Deadpan.

Bill sighed, and continued to do the washing. Then a thought struck him.

“You dumped it? At the dump?” He asked the other two.

“Yup.”

“Where at the dump?”

“Just dumped it.”

“Where anyone could get it?”

“Doubtful.”

Suddenly the TV changed to a news bulletin.

“NEWS JUST IN! Someone has stolen Giggles Ruby Suit and is now holding up the Pleasantville Investment Centre!”

“You ever get the feeling things happen way to conveniently sometimes?” Peter turned to Belle.

“It's not my problem anymore. I'm moving to Brisvegas soon.” Was the sullen reply.

“Beauty-,”

“I lost the Suit, I lost the Lucky Seven Gun, and my friends hate me. I'm not fighting anymore.” Belle got up and tried to storm up the stairs, but she was still too weak. Bill grabbed her to stop her from collapsing.

“I just want to go away.” She whispered as her uncle hugged her.

“I know. In two weeks you'll be outta here.” He kissed her forehead.

–

“I hope you didn't get hurt by that Ruby creature.” Mrs. Jones scooped another healthy serving of pasta bake onto Daryls plate three weeks later.

“Nah, I was fine. I hid.” Daryl tucked into the delicious meal.

“Sunny, you look a little sick. Maybe you should head off to bed after dinner?” Mrs. Jones then turned to her daughter.

“I'm fine.” Sunny mumbled. Thankfully her mother hadn't noticed the bruises all over her body from where Ruby had belted her black and blue, much like the other Knights of the Last Order. Neither Chuckles nor Giggles had shown up.

Belle she could understand, still being weakened from the whole Suit incident, but she was furious with Charlie. The pair had broken up very angrily afterwards, which left Sunny feeling completely miserable.

Who was Ruby? Where did they come from? How did they find the Ruby Suit, which had been pretty well hidden?

Sunny didn't like the situation at all.

And she knew it would get a whole lot worse before it would get better.

Chapter Thirty-One: Joe vs Johannas

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Daniel looked at Tammy. She was out for blood. It was up to him to make sure she didn't-

“OW, OW, OW, OW!” Daniel limped away as Sunny lifted her finger to the sky. “THAT WAS NOT LBW!”

“It would have hit the wicket if your fat knee hadn't been in the way.” Sunny pointed out.

“I think you guys are cheating.” Sammy pouted.

The game of cricket at the tip had taken a turn for the nastier. Charlie was certain that bats were going to start flying shortly.

“What,” Petunia narrowed her eyes. “Did you just accuse us of?”

“You heard him!” TJ fired.

Tammy shot the filthiest glare she could at him.

“Guys, let's just take it easy. It's just a game of cricket.” Charlie tried to calm everyone down.

“If you guys think for a SECOND that we're going to let you get away with SLANDER, you have another thing coming.” Sunny and Petunia stood on either side of Tammy.

“HI GUYS!”

Everyone jumped a mile. Belle ran over, waving wildly.

“What did I miss?” She asked breathlessly as she hugged Sunny, Tammy and Petunia.

“Dodgy umpiring.” Daniel muttered earning him three dirty looks.

“Hi Belle! Nice of you to drag yourself away from your studies and grace us with your presence.” Charlie scowled at her.

“I have to keep my grades up otherwise I'll get kicked out of my course!” Belle protested.

“Why is it so important that you stay in that course for? Aren't we your friends?” Petunia asked.

“I'm doing it so that I can start making changes around here! The Council is so corrupt that any time the DVM mess up they only get a slap-on-the-wrist sentence and no one does anything about it!” Belle explained. “There's no point in us saving everyone if the same threats just keep coming back again and again!”

“That's what my grand-father said, and you disagreed with him.” Charlie said coldly.

“No, your grand-father wanted to kill them outright. That wouldn't have changed anything, because the same threats still would have kept coming. You saw that Demon came along when we managed to put Marion and Revolver away for a little while. The only thing that will fix the crime problem in Pleasantville is the constant application of tough penalties for those who disobey the law!” Belle moralised.

“Or you just can't tolerate the fact that I have a girlfriend now and you're jealous.” Charlie bit.

Belle was furious. On one hand she couldn't exactly deny the accusation. On the other hand, she HAD been studying to some effect, having gotten very high marks in all her courses and almost completely securing her path to the very best scholarship, thus Charlies words rankled her right to the core.

So she insulted him back.

“If anyone is jealous Begly, it's YOU. You're jealous that my high intelligence and hard work has finally paid off and you're going to be left in the dust. The only reason you've kept up with me all these years is the stupid Improbability Clause, and even that seems to be failing recently.”

This infuriated Charlie no end. The Improbability Clause was a sore point with him at the moment, so naturally he fought back too.

“How's being smart working for you, all alone and forgotten?” He snapped.

“Forgotten? YOU'RE the forgotten one, when's the last time Chuckles saved anyone?”

“You think you're SO much better than me because of that stupid suit?!”

“Plus the fact that I'm smarter than you.”

The Knights of the Last Order slowly backed away. This was nothing like their little spat over the cricket. This was a real fight between the two best friends.

“Charlie, maybe we'd better head off?” Sunny tried to take her boyfriends arm, but he brushed her off. He was livid.

“I can't believe you. You've changed.” Charlie said coldly.

“You've changed too.” Belle shot back icily.

Everyone was thankful when Daniels phone rang.

“Johannas? Demon's lost control of him? How?” Daniel spoke to the person on the other end of the phone. “Right, we'll be there.”

He hung up. “That was my Grandad, Johannas has gone berserk again. This time he's strapped himself up with explosives and is threatening to blow up Pleasant Gardens Shopping Centre.”

“I'll handle this.” Belle rushed to get changed.

“No, WE will handle this. We're a team, remember?” Sunny tried to pull her up.

“Let her do what she wants, it's the only way people will notice her. Especially with her head constantly in a book.” Charlie snapped. He stormed off angrily

“Charlie no!” Sunny tried to pull him back. “Sorry guys, I'll have to sit this one out too.”

“No problem.” Daniel sighed, watching the pair head off.

“Charlie, we really should head back and help. They're our friends.” Sunny tried to persuade Charlie to turn around.

“What's the point Sunny, we'll just be playing second fiddle to Miss Perfect over there.” Charlie snapped.

“You're just upset because you've had a fight, you'll get over it.” Sunny tried. “If she got hurt because you weren't there you'd never forgive yourself.”

“It'd serve her right.” Charlie muttered.

“Charlie, don't be like that! She's your best friend!” Sunny stood in front of him.

“WAS my best friend. I don't know her anymore.” Charlie tried to step around her. Sunny grabbed him around the waist and held him.

“I don't think she's changed at all. She was always pretty studious even before she started uni.” Sunny kissed him. “Try to understand where she is right now.”

“I've tried but she's not helping!” Charlie protested. Sunny sighed.

“You two can be so stubborn.” She rested her head against Charlies chest.

Charlie looked back towards the impromptu cricket pitch, where Ruby Giggles had just taken off with the other Knights of the Last Order in hot pursuit. He scowled and continue to walk in the opposite direction.

He wasn't going to concern himself with her.

–

“Chuckles and Giggles should be here soon...I hope.” Peter Masters ducked behind a clothes rack with Lara close beside him.

“This one is your brother-in-law?” Lara asked quietly as Johannas stalked around angrily, waving a shorn-off shotgun around.

“Yeah. Bastard killed my sister.” Peter grimaced. He looked towards another clothes rack and saw his father and brother looking pretty ticked off.

“What are YOU doing here?!” Peter mouthed silently.

“Dancing the can-can, what do you THINK we're doing?!” Bill mouthed back angrily.

“No need to be a smart-arse!”

“No need to be a dumb-arse!”

“Do you guys always argue?” Lara whispered, looking amused at the silent exchange.

“It's our thing.” Peter shrugged.

“I'LL KILL YOU ALL! I HATE YOU ALL! TELL ME WHERE JESSIE IS!” Johannas screamed, firing off the shotgun.

“In the ground where you put her.” Joe growled under his breath.

“In the ground where YOU put her!” A loud yell was heard.

“YOU.” Johannas spun around. Ruby Giggles was floating just above the ground.

“Me.” Ruby Giggles replied. “And I'm going to stop you.”

“You can't stop me from finding Jessie.” Johannas grinned his sick grin.

“Jessie? You MURDERED her, remember?” Ruby Giggles groaned, readying a Ruby Shard in her hand.

Johannas looked troubled.

“Murdered. Murdered her. YOU MURDERED HER!” He screamed. He flew at Ruby Giggles, who threw the Ruby Shard at him. It hit his arm, making him drop his detonator.

Joe suddenly bolted out of his hiding place and grabbed the detonator. With his good hand, Johannas fired off the shotgun wildly, making some of the innocent shoppers scream.

“Oh man...!” Ruby Giggles tried to fly at Johannas, but he fired at her and she had to dodge. She looked out of one of the windows and saw Sir Lionheart and Sir Hyper outside.

“We need to get everyone out of here!” She called to them. “Pa has the detonator, I don't think Johannas can hurt anyone at the moment!”

“Right!” Sir Lionheart nodded. Ruby Giggles formed a Ruby Shield and took on Johannas while the Knights of the Last Order cleared the civilians out.

A swift kick from Johannas winded Ruby Giggles, giving him enough time to attack Joe and try to get the detonator back.

“Forget it!” Joe shoved the younger man down easily – although old, Joe was still large and dangerous.

“Dad, c'mon, give the detonator to Ruby Giggles and let's get outta here!” Peter begged.

“GO!” Joe barked in a dangerous tone. Bill and Peter always obeyed that tone. Peter grabbed Lara and the three quickly got out of there.

Joe glared at Johannas. The man who had brutally murdered his only daughter. In a way, he felt some pity for Johannas. He obviously had mental issues that had never been tended to. Another blow against the Pleasantville City Council – there had never been a mental health facility here. If you wanted a psychologist or psychiatrist (or even simple counselling) you had to travel south to Brisvegas.

But that would never make Joe forgive the man for what he had done. He shoved the younger man away again, allowing Ruby Giggles to grab him.

“Now to quiet you down.” Ruby Giggles formed another Ruby Shard and prepared to stab Johannas with it. Crazed and furious, Johannas grabbed her hand and forced it back onto her.

Ruby Giggles hadn't been expecting that. The Ruby Shard pierced the Ruby Suit, causing a the Suit to malfunction. Ruby Giggles screamed in pain as her body was flooded with the Ruby power.

“NO!” Screamed Joe. Johannas grinned, and was about to fire his shotgun on the wounded Ruby Giggles when the gun was struck out of his hands!

“CHUCKLES!” Joe cried.

Chuckles swung one of the Arm Scythes at Johannas, who dodged and kicked him in the shin. While Chuckles was stunned, Johannas turned his attentions back to Joe.

The two men began to struggle over the detonator, Joes age finally catching up with him.

“Get Belle out of here!” Joe roared at Chuckles.

“Sir-,”

“NOW.” Joe bellowed. Chuckles grabbed the now unconscious Ruby Giggles and ran out of the building as fast as he could.

Now it was Joe vs. Johannas. Johannas finally managed to ease the detonator out of Joes hand. Grinning, he grabbed the older man around the waist.

“DAD!” Screamed Peter in agony. There was a loud explosion inside the building, and both Peter and Bill knew they'd never see their father again.

–

White. Bright white. Breathlessness.

The end.

Two sets of footsteps. Coming for him. Coming to get him and take him away.

“I tried my best. Am I forgiven?”

The two sets of footsteps came closer.

“Forgiven? Joey, you have nothing to be forgiven for. If anything, we should be begging your forgiveness.”

“We're sorry Joey. For all the rubbish we put you through.”

A smile.

“You two are idiots.”

“C'mon Joey, they're all waiting for us.”

“Yeah, let's go!”

And the three friends were reunited, and everything was okay.

Chapter Thirty: My Best Friends, Part 2.

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 Chuckles sighed. Alongside him, the Knights of the Last Order were standing around looking bored. Meanwhile, Ruby Giggles was singlehandedly making life hell for the Death Valley Mobsters.

It had been a week since Ruby Giggles triumphant debut, and she was only getting stronger. She'd learnt how to form Ruby Shields which were strong enough to keep even the Lucky Seven Gun at bay, and her aim with the Ruby Shards was deadly.

Chuckles sighed and examined one of the Arm Scythes. Lady Courage checked her watch. Sir Lionheart and Sir Dark were playing on their Game Pads, and Sir Hyper was sending text messages to Lady Luck and Lady Silent, who were back at the tip preparing for any injuries.

“She finished yet?” Sir Lionheart looked at his watch.

Chuckles looked over. “Yeah, the DVM have run away.” He got himself up off the wall.

Ruby Giggles grinned to herself. She felt strong, powerful, relevant. She didn't need anyone!

She swooped down to join the others. “How good was that?” She bragged.

“Saves us a job.” Lady Courage scowled, which made Ruby Giggles feel even better. Antagonising her rival was always good fun.

“I'll catch you guys at the tip!” Ruby Giggles soared off.

“Wait! Giggles!” Chuckles ran after her, but she was gone. “What happened to being a team? She always used to fly me back to the tip.” He pouted.

“The Backpack always gave out and she nearly always dropped you.” Sir Dark pointed out.

“THAT'S NOT THE POINT!” Chuckles wailed. “No one understands me.”

“You're starting to sound like Belle.” Lady Courage raised an eyebrow as Chuckles dissolved into hysterics.

–

“Hey Uncle Bill. Hey Pa. Hey...Dad? Who's this?” Belle walked into the house that afternoon. She had just dropped her bag on the table when she noticed Lara sitting there, holding hands with her father.

“Beauty, this is my friend Lara Vargus.” Peter introduced his daughter to his new girlfriend.

“Hi...?” Belle was a bit dumbfounded. She'd known that Lara existed, she'd known that her father was seeing a woman, but now she was actually MEETING her fathers friend?

“Hi Belle. Your father has told me a lot about you. You're going into Law too aren't you?” Lara shook hands with the younger woman.

“Yeah. Criminal Law.” Belle looked quickly at her father, who was grinning.

“Belle is doing her University studies part-time alongside her Year 12 studies.” He said proudly, making Belle blush a little.

“How smart!” Lara smiled pleasantly.

Belle felt rather uncomfortable. In eighteen years Peter had never had girlfriends. Not even female friends. Belle had no idea how she was supposed to behave.

“I'm just trying to make a difference.” Belle shrugged, figuring modesty was the best way to go.

“Lara and I met through work – she does Family Law.” Peter tried to edge the conversation along.

“Yes, he told me about what happened to you, very interesting from a legal perspective.” Lara smiled.

Belle tried not to scowl. Even after all this time, the thought of what she had been through still hurt. Lara quickly realised she'd said something wrong and tried to make amends.

“But that's in the past, you've grown up to be quite a grand young person even without your mother.” Lara put her foot in it again.

“I need to go and study.” Belle stomped upstairs, leaving her father bewildered.

She dumped her bag by her wardrobe and closed her door. She then flopped down on the bed and sighed. She rarely thought of her absent mother, or her maternal grand-parents who had only appeared on the scene after her mother died. She didn't even know her mothers name.

And now her father was in love again. Was Lara going to try and be Belles mother? Did Belle even NEED a mother? Betty Begly had always been like a mother to her, even after the whole Charles/Sapphire affair.

Belle looked outside. Charlie and the others were sitting outside near the old rotted stump, talking about something. Now she was on the outer with her friends too. Belle began to wish she had never started University. If she'd stayed in school full-time then Charlie would never have had the opportunity to get close to Sunny (who he now had his arm around), she would still be getting all the jokes and having fun still. Instead she was constantly studying and trying to keep her grades up so she could stay in University.

At least she was going to make a difference.

A knock on the door woke her from her thoughts. Joe walked in and sat down on the bed next to her.

“After the war, Tim and I had a huge fight – it's how I got the scar on my lip. Charles took Tims side of course, and I didn't speak to either of them for two years, even though I lived next door to Tim and our sons were best friends.” Joe sighed. “We only became friends again when Thomas lost his little brother Jack – Jack and Bill had been inseparable, and Tim was devastated to lose his youngest son.”

“It seems the Masters and the Beglys are always having fights.” Belle pointed out. “Dad and Thomas had one too didn't they?”

“Yep, but only one. Ever since that fight both Pete and Tom have been inseparable again. Ever since the fight I had with Tim we were the greatest of friends again – one could say our friendship was even stronger for the argument.” Joe smiled. “You and your friends will work this out, it might take a little while but everything will be fine.”

Belle tried to smile back, but it was hard when all her friends were sitting there happily without her.

“Why don't you go out to play?” Joe suggested. “Surely you can take a break from the constant study?”

“I have a couple of assignments due for school Pa, and if I fall behind at school I'll lose my University place.” Belle pointed out.

“You're as bad as your father.” Joe shook his head. He kissed his grand-daughters head and got up. “Staring out that window isn't going to help you study or make you feel better.” He pointed out.

He closed the door as he left, leaving Belle to her thoughts.

–

“It's good to be home, isn't it boys?” Tim sighed and stretched out in the sun next to Pleasant Creek. Young Peter was playing with young Thomas, and it looked like Delilah was pregnant again.

“Sure is. No more jungle fighting or hand-to-hand combat.” Joe sipped his beer.

“What are you talking about, you never fought at all!” Charles laughed as he set his fishing rod again.

“I didn't kill anyone you mean. I got in plenty of fights thank you.” Joe frowned.

“What, while you were hiding?” Tim sniped.

“I was gathering intelligence!” Joe tried to defend himself.

“You were hiding in a village trying to avoid getting into a fight!” Tim corrected him. “I don't know why you bothered signing up, you did absolutely nothing.”

“I saved your lives! If I hadn't come along when I did you would have both bled to death in the jungle! If that bullet had hit you instead of my cheek then you would have been done for!” Joe pointed to the nasty cut on his cheek, which was still being held together with stitches. “I only signed up to protect you two.”

“So that no one would realise how much of a coward you are.” Charles stated.

“My orders were to wait in that village!” Joe yelled. “You could have stayed too.”

“We wouldn't abandon our mates like that.” Tim stood up. He was still very wide, and very short. “Charles is right, you ARE a coward Joey, and you use your loyalty to the Masters Code as an excuse.”

“Can you NOT say that in front of my son?!” Joe growled.

“What, you want him to be a coward too?” Tim spat. “I used to look up to you Joe, but you let me down.”

“That is complete and utter rubbish!” Joe roared.

“I don't see you proving it.”

“I don't need to. I don't have to spill blood to prove myself like you do you short moron.” Joe hissed.

CRACK. Tim punched Joe hard in the mouth, splitting his lip open with his wedding ring. Joe glared back at him, but said nothing – the old scar, the healing scar and the new scar all combined to make him look hideous and for a split second Tim regretted striking his best friend.

“We're leaving.” Joe said, seething. Delilah quickly gathered up Peter and the small family left.

–

Joe flicked through his old photo album. He missed Tim and Charles. He wondered when his time would come.

He wondered when he would be forgiven.