Tough Thoughts - Mildcard - We Can Be Heroes the Threequel

Chapter 10 || Chin Up, Stay Strong

MISSY MORENO

I got up off the floor.

"We've gotta keep going," I decided, "Or we fail over grief."

I felt something heavy in my chest plate and took it out. Ojo's iPad. I scanned through her drawings and tried to look for clues. But it was useless without Ojo. On this planet... anything could pop up at any time. I thought about how Ojo had always loved to draw. She was an artist by heart.

"Wait... why is there a pool on the floor and why are we in it?" Noodles pointed.

I frowned, peering closer.

"I have no idea." 

Wheels suddenly stopped.

"Oh my gosh... that's it!"

He ran over.

"What's it?"

"The Velocrian King is monitoring us through these cameras."

He pointed at the cameras.

"This is the control panel. If I can use Missy's sword to cut off the connection of the cameras and microphones to the King's monitor, we're all good!"

I handed him my sword.

"Here!"

And he sliced it clean off.

Back with the King...

"Impossible!" he exclaimed, "No one... No one has ever found those cameras before!"

"Sir, that child is Wheels. His brain is supercharged. He's a genius."

The king stood up.

"Then I guess he'll have to go... won't he?"

Back with Missy...

"Anyways, we've just gotta keep our heads held high and our hearts are strong like a bull."

We continued walking along the harsh greenery.

"Guys..." Guppy said, handing us a bottle of water, "You guys look like you're gonna collapse."

"But you need--"

"I've still got a lot more. It's just one bottle."

We couldn't take it any longer. We sipped from the plastic bottle happily.

"Thanks, Gup," I exhaled.

I looked around.

"Okay, this place smells... awful."

"No kidding," Wheels gagged.

"I wonder if Wildcard and the others have been here yet," Noodles looked around, "I don't see any footsteps or anything."

"Why don't you just stretch your head around to look for a little?" I frowned.

"Okay..."

Noodles' neck stretched all the way out, scanning the scenery in a wide circle.

"Find anything?"

"Nope. Nothing."

WILDCARD

"Find anything?" I asked 

"Nope," Fast Forward shook her head, "Nothing. No trace."

"Ugh..." I put my hands on my face.

FAST FORWARD

You know, by now, I feel like a bad person. Why? Because even after I know Wildcard would never love anyone else other than Missy, I still wish he could love me. And now, another person I envy and hate myself for envying... A-Capella.

She moved on from her crush on Wildcard so fast! I guess... it's fitting. Missy is her best friend. My best friend's probably my headphones or everyone in the Heroics team. But A-Capella really had someone like Missy to trust forever, whilst I felt like such a terrible person I couldn't even dare approach her, even if Missy told me I could tell her anything and she would never judge.

I watched as Wildcard pressed his hands to his face and let out a small groan. I felt sorry for him. Because just like I had lost Rewind, he had lost Missy. And just like I couldn't live without Rewind by my side, he couldn't live without Missy by his side.

And since this stupid Velocrian King doesn't seem to wanna leave us be and is controlling our surroundings... I guess he was counting on this the whole time. The fact that if we lost each other, we'd break to pieces small enough for him to tear apart further until we were gone and there would be no heroes left.

But I try to think I'm not a terrible person.

I try not to think that way because Missy told everyone that blaming yourself for anything that's bound to happen is awful.

And I wondered if she already knew.

WILDCARD

There are specific reasons for many things in life. Me cupping my hands over my face. Not a sign that I'm trying to cover my face from the sun or UV. Not a sign of my eyes hurting. Not a sign of my lips being so chapped they couldn't bear any more dryness. Those things would happen even if I tried to prevent it. But in the darkness and comfort of my own sweaty, dry, cracked hands, I could picture Missy.

Perfectly.

Standing there in a meadow of flowers.

Just like in my dream.

And through the sensation of day dreaming, was that one question she kept asking me. Over and over and over again. So I tried to ignore it. Stare at her beautiful face. With her eyes sparkling with sunlight and her lips twitching up ever so slightly to form her delicate and gentle smile. So when I uncovered my eyes and faced reality--what we really were facing--I smiled. Even if my lips began to bleed and my skin began to burn.

Because if I had to keep going, I was gonna keep my chin up and stay strong. For Missy. For my family. For the Heroics. For the world. Yes, that sounds cheesy but SO true.

"Hey, Wildcard," Facemaker smirked, "Thinking of Missy?"

"Yep..."

FAST FORWARD

So when I see Wildcard smiling from ear to ear with blood running down his face from his lips, not caring about anything but his thoughts of his girlfriend, I felt less bitter about it, and more bittersweet. I liked Missy. I really did. She was probably the best person I've ever known. And I just had to feel happy for them.

But a small part of me continued to say no. And I hated myself for it.

"You hate... yourself... for... what?" Slo-mo asked, "You're... an... awesome... person..."

And I couldn't help but smile a bit.

"Okay, guys," I turned back to Wildcard, "Chin up, stay strong, keep the happiest memory in your mind, and let's keep going."

I followed his directions and thought of my happiest memory. It was with Rewind. When I was 12. Of course, it was with Anita Moreno. And when we fought together in sync for the first time. So I thought of Rewind and how he would be smiling and thinking of me, too. And I kept going. Because I knew that I cared about him, no matter how irritating he could be. And I loved him for it.