A Moment of Calm

Tensei and I had found an elevator that led up the Mothbordia tower. It looked kinda’ like an oversized dinner plate made by aliens. As it climbed higher and higher, we got a clear view through the tower window at part of the battle raging below.

Zorro and his daughter, who was riding Ruth, were still fighting Trollja. They were hopping around at high speeds, whittling away at the wood of the horse, which appeared to be taking on different decals from all around it to strengthen its skin.

From the looks of it, they weren’t winning, but they weren’t losing either. They had just enough power together to hold him off.

“You ready, Teny-chan?” I took a deep breath.

“We have a plan, so I-I think we’ll be okay.”

That’s right. Everything we’d been working for was about to pay off. Her and I knew our roles, and we needed to be good dancing partners on that final stage. There were no do-overs. No respawns. No going back. This was the big leagues, and mama was going to see it done right.

“Teny-chan. I just wanted to say you’re the cutest thing ever, and I’m so so happy we got to meet.”

“Aww, thanks Mama. I wish we could have met under better circumstances…”

“You know something? I’m actually glad we got to meet under these circumstances. Every step we took together strengthened our bond, made us more of a family. We got to make awesome friends and do some fun stuff. And you know, I’m pretty sure none of that would have been possible so quickly if it weren’t for the chaos.”

“Everything happens for a reason. From the day we're born, to the day we go to heaven. It’s all got meaning to it, the good and the bad. Even if we don’t see it at the moment, things will work out for the best,” I said.

Tensei held her hands over her heart, listening very carefully to me.

“Did you know, Ray and I actually started talking seriously because he got shoved into a locker?” I sat on one of the railings at the edge of the elevator.

“What?! Who would do something like that to Papa?”

“Just a bully who was jealous of him. Ray was so smart, which got him a lot of attention from the teachers…and me.” I said with a pleasant little smile. “I knew really young I didn’t want to date a jerk. I was a popular girl though, so there were a lot of expectations. But I said screw it!”

“Ray was a once in a lifetime opportunity for me. Someone who brought out my best side. I knew when he got shoved in that locker, it was my time to stop ignoring my curiosity and take a leap of faith.”

“He was so shy, so I kinda’ had to push him, but eventually I got through and he asked me out.” I snickered and shook my head. “He took me to this hotdog joint, but they ran out of hot dogs, if you can believe it. If that wasn't enough, it started raining!”

“Rain on a first date isn’t a good sign.” Tensei had a solemn smile.

“Yeah, but we thought it was kinda’ fun anyways. Talk about a memorable first date. We worked our way into his garage for shelter, and he let me try out a game he’d been working on. Things had like, three pixels, but my imagination did most of the work.”

“That really was a memorable first date.”

“Well, it’s actually a little more memorable for me…” I took another deep breath and bit my lips. “See, we’d got drinks at the hotdog place, but when Ray went to the bathroom, I kinda’ spilled mine all over his keyboard…”

Man, I’d never shouted a swear louder in my entire life. Thankfully there was plenty of thunder outside at the time to mask it.

“Oh no!” Tensei leaned forward with fright. “What did you do after?”

“Ray was taking his sweet time, so I ran inside with the keyboard and found his mother cooking...”

🌹🕰️🌹

“Uhm, who are you, young lady?”

“No time! I need rice! Lot’s and lots of rice!”

“Rice? You barge into my home and demand rice?”

“Yes! Now give me a bag, and stat! I gotta' put this thing in there”

“H-hay! I’m cooking with that! Don’t make me call the police, young lady! Wait, isn’t that Ray’s keyboard?”

“It is! I… I… Uh… I kinda’ spilled on it… Please don’t say anything to him.”

“...”

“...”

“...”

“Uh… Ms. Ramond? That smile is kinda’ creeping me out.”

“Ray woke up this morning very happy and in a rush. I asked him why, but he refused to tell me. I think I know why now.”

“R-really?”

“You’re Rose, aren’t you? Goodness, I remember when you were just this big.”

“What? I don’t remember meeting you when I was a kid.”

“You and Ray had different classes, but I was your kindergarten teacher.”

“Y-your… Ms. Roberts? Oh my God, seriously? I totally forgot about that! That’s crazy! You’re Ray’s mom?”

“Sure am! You were so curious and cute back then. Such a bright child. Great at math. Never thought I’d be treating you in my own home, but feel free to stay for dinner.”

“Oh, you don’t have to do that, Ms. Roberts… I don’t want to overstay my welcome.”

“I insist. Do you like spaghetti? Oh, what am I saying? Who doesn't like spaghetti?”

“Spaghetti sounds so good right now, not gonna’ lie… But, uh, what about the keyboard?”

“You want to know a secret? Ray always gets these things so dirty, so he keeps a few spares on the shelf in the back of the garage.”

“Oh, for real? I’ll go switch them quick! I-I’m so sorry about this, Ms. Roberts. P-please don’t tell Ray!”

“Keep shouting like that and he’ll hear you himself.”

🌹🕰️🌹

Tensei was sitting on the railing next to me with wide eyes, listening in like it was story time.

“To this day, he has no idea what happened. To make it up to him though, I got a job and bought him a new keyboard for Christmas that year. It was a top of the line thing that all the geniuses were using. Or, at least that’s what the salesman at the store told me.”

“Wow,” Tensei kicked her feet. “Did he like it?”

“He still uses it back home. It was the one plugged into his computer there.”

That warm feeling soon faded when I thought about how I kinda’ mutilated it by pressing the keys way too hard. But we could fix it later. I’m sure he’d understand my predicament at the time.

“Ahh…” she cooed out. “I thought that thing was kinda’ outdated. But some keyboards can last a long time if you take care of them.”

Ray was not the type to take care of his equipment, but that was different. He was always very careful with it, but used it well. I was happy he liked it so much.

The elevator finally came to a stop and we both were brought back to the intense moment. A pair of doors slid open. Fog rolled in through the ever-widening gap in the door. But we didn't see the throne room. It was something else...