The Bad Guys in All About Millicent

Free... Sort Of

After getting out of Marmalade's lair and away from Serenade Cliff, the rest of the group returned to the wedding, where everyone was still waiting. Soon enough, the police showed up with an ambulance.

“Is she gonna be okay?" Piranha asked a paramedic as Gabi was strapped to a bed.

“She's unconscious, but stable," he answered. “We're only taking her as a precaution."

“I told Cuddles to find an angelfish, gene-altering steroids, and any shred of Gabriela's DNA. Once he helped me get out of prison and kill all of the guards and inmates, I used those three things to create Millicent. Her brain took longer to develop, so I used that time to condition it so she would ultimately obey me whenever I said ‘be a dear.' I said it every single time I wanted her to kill someone, including herself, ultimately."

“This is very serious stuff," Luggins said as Wolf turned the recorder off. “Where's Marmalade now?"

“I killed him," Millicent confessed. “You don't have to worry about him anymore. Before you take me in, though, there's something I have to do."

“Please, Chief," Wolf insisted. Luggins hesitantly nodded and Millicent went to Piranha.

“Mr. Piranha?" she asked as he turned around to face her. “I just want to say... what I did was unforgivable. You can hate me all you want, but I have to know... Why didn't you really kill me?"

“Well... Why did you tell me the truth?"

“Because it was the right to do," Millicent answered. “You love Gabi, not me. By lying and pretending to be her, I was hurting myself and you."

“And even if I killed you, it wouldn't have made anything better," Piranha admitted. “No one deserves to be killed out of cold blood... even if we're fish."

Millicent laughed and then took off the engagement ring. With one last look at the beautiful gold band decorated with tiny gemstones, she kindly handed it back to him.

“Goodbye, Piranha," she said, hugging him before heading back to the police, who had just finished forcing Cuddles into the S.U.C.M. van. “Okay, I'm ready."

“Millicent Marmalade, you're under arrest," Luggins said as she handcuffed her. “Come on, you're coming with me."

As the police escorted Millicent to a police car, the guests joyfully threw rice at them. Millicent climbed into the car, Luggins shut the door, which had a sign that read “JUST ARRESTED" taped to the back, and Millicent waved at the Bad Guys as the car drove away.

“This is probably my favorite arrest!" Luggins shouted with ecstacy.

🐺🐍🕷️🦈🐟🐹🦊🐠🌹💍🥂🎇

When Gabi woke up, she found herself in a hospital room similar to the one she was in when she first met Professor Marmalade five years ago. Only good thing was that he wasn't there.

“Gabi?" a familiar voice said. Gabi turned her head and who she found brought her some sense of comfort.

“Piranha?" she muttered weakly. “What happened?"

“That girl who pretended to be you killed Marmalade and went to jail," he explained. “Look, Gabi, I'm really sorry. The only things I liked about her was the stuff that reminded me of you. And when she acted jumpy, I just thought it was because she... you got scared about Marmalade coming back."

“Piranha, there's something I have to tell you," Gabi confessed. Piranha raised an eyebrow. “I've been terrified every minute since I broke free, that he'd somehow find his own twisted way back into my life. I should've told someone, but I just kept hoping I would be wrong. But even if Millicent did kill him... I'm still afraid."

“Oh, Gabi..." Piranha sighed, climbing onto the bed. “I had no idea."

“I didn't want you to," she admitted, holding back tears. “It was my battle to fight. If you burden those you love, you'll soon have no one."

“No, nothing about you is a burden," Piranha assured her. “I saw the way he treated you. I'd be scared all the time, too."

“No, you wouldn't."

“You're right, I'd beat him to a pulp," Piranha admitted. “But you don't have to go through this alone. I'm here for you, Gabi, and I want to be there forever."

At first, neither of them noticed Webs stepping into the room. After talking with Wolf, she decided to tell Piranha that she didn't care if he and Gabi started a life without her and the others. After what happened with Millicent, she was happy if her friends were.

As Webs crawled up on the bed, Piranha pulled out the ring from his pocket and said, “Gabi... the real Gabi... will you marry me?"

Gabi softly gasped in surprise. She longed for this day for a long time.

“Of course," she answered, finally letting her tears fall. Piranha slid the ring on Gabi's fin, got under the covers with her, and just held her close to him as she sobbed. When he noticed Webs, Piranha made a gesture signalling her to join them.

“Congratulations, guys," she said quietly. “I wish you both happiness."

“Thanks, Webs," Piranha replied. “I hope you and I will always be best friends."

“We will."

At first, I was gonna make this the final chapter, but there are still a couple things I want to wrap up. So... it's not over yet. 😉