Where The Wild Things Go (Joshler AU)

Chapter 2- Ceremony

~Tyler~

Tyler enters the banquet hall. There were people gathered all around the area- in small groups, saying goodbye to loved ones, Tyler assumes. He scans the crowd for anyone he recognizes. He spots his teacher- Pierre, talking to a tanned woman. She turns to look at Pierre, and Tyler realizes that she's Rebecca Odele- one of the city leaders. There are four leaders, each voted into the position by the citizens. One of the other leaders Myle's had recently been robbed, the thief stole around $40 000.

Odele whispers something to Pierre and he turns around, he searches the crowd for a few second before noticing Tyler. He waves at him, and motions for him to come over. Tyler obeys, and drags his cart full of bags toward the two of them. Pierre wasn't much older than he was. He was probably around twenty-four, while Tyler was twenty-one. 

"Hello Pierre-" Tyler begins, and averts his gaze to Odele. "Odele." He greets, acknowledging her presence. 

"Joseph." She states. "On behalf of the former citizens of the zones, and all the leaders of the city- who wished they could be here today- I would like to thank you." She smiles and stretches out her hand for Tyler to shake. Suddenly, a bunch of news reporters surround the three of them, their cameras all flashing as they take photos, of the city leader and the monster hunter. Tyler shakes her hand. 

"Mrs. Odele, we need to speak, now." Someone who Tyler presumes is her assistant demands. Odele nods, and walks away with her assistant, the reporters follow them, bombarding them with questions.

"I have something for you." Pierre mentions. 

"Me?" Tyler wonders. What could Pierre possibly have for him?

"Yes, you." Pierre sneers, he laughs lightly. "I had a spare notebook, and so I figured I could give it to you. You could write down all the cool animals you see." Pierre had noticed Tyler's interest in animals. "Or use it as a journal if you'd like." He holds out the book in front of Tyler. He takes the book from his hands, and pulls Pierre into a hug. This might be the last time he'll see him. Tyler suppresses the thought, he didn't want to cry in front of everyone. Pierre wraps his arms around Tyler. 

"Tyler?" Someone yells. Tyler lets go of Pierre, and turns around. His friend- Ben waves at him. Leaving his cart behind with Pierre, Tyler runs over to him and hugs him. Ben moves back a bit, but steadies himself by moving his foot behind him. He wraps his arms around Tyler. 

"It's today, man. How the hell is it here already?" Ben exclaims. His eyes are glistening with tears. 

"I will really miss you." Tyler whimpers, he blinks fast, to keep himself from crying.

"Yeah, but I will see you again. This isn't goodbye." Ben falters, and he hugs Tyler again. This isn't goodbye. This isn't goodbye. 

Pierre walks over with Tyler's cart. He sets his hand on Tyler's shoulder. Tyler lets go of Ben, and Pierre takes his hand off and holds it out for Ben. Ben wipes his eyes, and shakes his hand. 

"Good luck." Pierre says, he looks at Tyler and then back at Ben. "I should get going, and greet the other students." Pierre walks away, towards the three monster hunters that just entered. 

***

Tyler slips the notebook Pierre gave him into the suitcase labelled: INFORMATIONAL. He walks over to the lady standing at the doorway. All the monster hunters had gathered behind the stage. The ceremony was beginning, but first they all had to hand their bags over, that way they would be put on their train section ahead of time. They didn't know what Zone they were getting, although, they would find out at soon enough. His weapons bag would be filled with weapons, and then loaded on the train, waiting for him after the ceremony.

"Name?" The woman asks, she has a clipboard in her hand, and a pen in the other.

"Tyler, Joseph." He states. She scans the list for a few seconds, and nods. Tyler lets go of his cart and she places a sticker with his name on the cart handle. 

He lines up behind the monster hunters who had already put away their stuff. There were twenty of them- one for each Zone. He said goodbye to the rest of his friends and family after Pierre left him and Ben. Tyler had cried so much, he didn't think he would be able to cry again. The last person lines up, and Ion- the training instructor stands in front of them.

"I hope you've all said your goodbyes. The ceremony is about to begin." He announces. He pauses and takes a deep breath. "I'm so proud of all of you." This isn't goodbye.

Pierre walks to the front of the group. "Use what you've learned here. I hope to see you all again." I will see you again. This isn't goodbye. This isn't goodbye. "Enough said, let the ceremony begin." Ion and Pierre walk up the stairs leading us onto the stage. The crowd starts cheering as we enter.

Odele takes her place in front of the microphone. "Quiet down," she orders. "We gather here today to celebrate the departure of the monster hunters. Today, we will be sending them off into the Zones." Odele turns to face us. "On behalf of the leaders of the city, and former zone members- we wish you the best of luck, may you return victorious."

Odele moves away from the microphone and stands next to Ion. Pierre moves over to the podium, and begins talking. Tyler zones out from his speech, as much as he loves Pierre listening to him would only make him cry, he didn't want to do that in front of the whole city. He looks around the crowd, trying to find his moms. He spots them in the third row. From where he was standing, they looked nothing more than two tall pale figures, intertwined together by their hands.

"Now, let's get on with the ceremony. Entering Zone One," Pierre announces. He pauses to look down at his list, "Wade Thomas." The crowd shouts, as Wade walks over to Pierre to receive his Monster Finder. Pierre reveals the next monster hunter. 

"Zone Two- Benjamin Hadden." Tyler shouts along with the crowd, as his friend walks over to Pierre. He announces the monster hunters for Zone Three, Zone Four, and Zone Five. "Zone Six- Tyler Joseph." The crowd starts clapping and yelling. Tyler walks over to Pierre, and shakes his hand. This isn't goodbye. "Good luck." Pierre whispers, and all Tyler does is nod. This isn't goodbye. Pierre hands him his Monster Finder and Tyler moves over to Ion and Odele and shakes their hands. Tyler takes his place in line, and catches Ben staring at him. Tyler smiles, and Ben looks away, as the next person's name is spoken. 

*** 

"This isn't goodbye." Ben asserts. Tyler doesn't respond, he just lets Ben's words sink in. This isn't goodbye. This isn't goodbye. Tyler presses his head against Ben's shoulder. He had been telling himself that all day, but it wasn't true. This may be goodbye. No. This isn't goodbye. They could survive this. They have to.

"Zone Two." A woman calls. Ben raises his hand, and the woman spots him. "Follow me." Ben let's go of Tyler, and follows the woman to his train section. All the monster hunters shared a train, but they each got their own section. He watches Ben climb the stairs to the train, and disappear inside. 

"Hey," someone whispers. Tyler feels a tug on his arm, as someone pulls him. As he turns around, he notices Pierre standing there. "I just wanted to see you before you left." Tyler smiles, and pulls Pierre in a hug.

"This won't be the last time." Tyler mutters. Pierre leans into Tyler's shoulders, and takes a deep breath. 

"Remember what you've learned." Pierre murmurs. "You're smart, Tyler. Use it." Pierre lets go of Tyler, and stands beside him, until someone comes to lead him onto his train section.