Justin
Esther joins the party a little late, but still gets the full rundown from Yggdra. My mind already feels like it's melting after hearing the sermon that Yggdra had to deliver. I dunno how she would've explained it all twice without running out of breath, but if she's still this energetic, then we already know how bad the situation is. That, and I don't have much else to say, considering that my plans are already clogged down the drain. "Wait!" Tim shouts, interrupting my train of thought. "So... is this the actual future we're talking about here? Or another timeline here? I need to know!" Yggdra seems none too pleased to answer. Probably considering that Tim has other motives for this information. Either way, she still answers. "I used Justin's time machine. Seeing as how you guys used it and triggered an alternate dimension." Ah, that's right. Season 9. I brought my time machine for shenanigans, starting the Justinpocalypse. Karma goes a long way..
"Going by that logic, I'd say that I'm from an alternate dimension. A parallel universe, if you will." Tim snaps his fingers at the news, and immediately points to TG. "Not canon!" He smiles and points back. "Not yet." That waves his finger back and forth, adapting a mocking tone to his voice. "Remember, I still have all season for this. The bet is still on!" Tim stands silently, before wordlessly falling to his back, completely and utterly defeated. "Whelp, there goes all my savings." I think on this for a moment, sighing in response. "How much?" I quickly say, trying to get to the point. "One grand, nothing too spectacular." Anna sighs, and Yggdra just silently spectates. "I still don't have any money myself, yet you two made a bet about TG getting LAID? What kind of imbeciles are you?" More than me, at least. Anna walks up to TG, and promptly slaps him in the face. "I am NOT happy about my involvement in this! You idiots!" She concurs. I cross my arms and nod my head. "Yeah, I mean, only a grand? I would've tripled my bet, in TG's favor, thank you very much!"
Everyone silently looks at me after that one simple sentence. All silent, yet gesturing to me in very awkward poses, TG making the most out of them all.
"What? It's inevitably gonna happen, thanks to the fans. Might as well go off of the pandering and turn up a profit. TG gets his dreams, and so does Anna. I make money, and everything is good!"
"S-seriously?! Even I'm not THAT apathetic! I thought that you'd be better than that!"
"I-I thought that you were on MY side of this argument! Now you support it?!"
"I'd rather not comment..."
"Wow. I mean, good for me, but... wow. Such a thinker..."
Yggdra just smiles back. "What a wonderful and... colorful crowd. Justin, you can thank me later." I raise a hand up in victory. "Already am! Thank you very much!" "Even then, to clear up some issues, no ripples in time won't kill me. It didn't directly kill you guys, so I know that I'm good. I won't disappear on anyone. I promise." That recovers, and is the first responder. "And we won't either." The hug out inevitably happens, along with the collective "awwww." I'm not one too fond for drama, but I decide to join in anyways, lightening the mood a bit more.
After we all collect ourselves, I reassert the situation. "So I have my ideas." Anna speaks next. "Spit it out, then. We're not going anywhere, yet our assailants will. So we can't be standing around all day." I wink back at her. "Precisely that." I joke at her. "We need to stay on the trail, though. It's my new plan." I change my tone to confirm my beliefs. "Let's hear it. We're been waiting." Tim grunts, none too pleased with me leading the operations. "As you wish." I say, taking a bow of courtesy. I hear the faint sigh of disappointment from above, and take a deep breath for the speech to come.
"We stay on the path. Simple as that." Tim immediately raises his hand in objection.
"What good would that do fur us?! They'll find us again if we stay on the path!"
"Then surely Yggdra must understand."
She frowns, but nods in agreement. "Justin knows himself the best out of us all. Trying to throw off the scent won't work on him. You can stall, but I doubt anyone's up for a sacrifice." "Surely there must be another way... right?" Esther inquires. Anna crosses her arms in disagreement, a scowl creeping up on her face. "No... Justin would listen to reason, but these dastards attacked us unprovoked. They can't be reasoned with!" "B-but..." Esther turns to TG for his opinion.
"Est, c'mon. You may be reasonable, but think about it. They already killed Charlie without hesitation. I don't think you, or any one of us will change their minds soon. She then hangs her head down, knowing that our plans are set. I posture myself to be as straight as possible, entering back into the conversation. "I myself am pretty steadfast in my beliefs. Nobody without more reasons than me would get through. Sorry, Est." She hesitates for a moment, before responding. "As you wish..." She moans. Yggdra hovers over by her for a moment, taking in her status. She then turns back to me, a serious face as ever. "The plan?" "Ah, yes. The plan. We stay on path, taking the most direct route possible. Independence Rock is the next landmark, signaling our 1/3rd mark so far. No unnecessary stops. They might catch up to us, and I have contingencies for that in the future. Only reasons to slow down, is major emergencies, like sickness, or death itself. We make it to the end, Justinpocalypse disappears like last time. Don't question the production values, as we're using it to our fullest advantage. Yggdra, I don't mean to burden you, but you're gonna have to work as hard as the rest of us. No excuses." She nods in agreement. "Yes sir."
"Anyone else?" An air of silence fills the forest. "No? Then back to the wagons. Lunch, then we're on the road."
"Yes sir!"
"Pssh, whatever you say."
That Guy
As we continue to walk back to our wagons, we all split into conversation pairs. Justin and Yggdra talk business while leading the charge. Anna and Tim discuss possible battle strategies for the future, leaving me and Esther as the leftovers. Better start counting my blessings... Nothing better than perfect timing to make more amends.
"Hey, Esther."
"Ah? That?" She sheepishly responds, taken a little aback that I'd actually try to speak to her.
"I want to talk to you about before. I want to apologize." I sternly say.
"Oh, that, That? Well, I guess if you want to..." Her tone is wavering, so I'd best not push the subject too far.
"Look, I honestly didn't want to hurt you earlier. It was all unintentional. I was thinking more of myself, and my image. So I'm sorry about not flirting with you."
"That... It's all good... It's nothing major... It's my own fault for being a bit selfish. Anna was just getting all the attention of the fans and you... along with Ivory back then... so I felt excluded out of it all... Plus..."
"You're older than both of them." I swiftly cut her off, getting to the point.
"Ah!" She jumps, shocked that I knew about her age. "M-most people don't see it in me at all... I just never hit a growth spurt... It's not my fault..." She starts to tear up, hanging her head down before crying into her hands. I let silence pass, as we continue walking forwards, up until Esther runs into a tree.
"Ah... Not again..." She squeals, now gripping her forehead in pain. I rush over to her aid, seeing that everyone else in front didn't see the flub. "You're going to be alright, it's just a little headache, right?" I worriedly say, trying to care for Esther as if I had medical training. "Y-yeah... It's all going to be fine..." I frown. "Are you sure?" She raises her head up, revealing her face, a faulty smile barely hanging on. "I'm just happy to know t-that we can all get along... I'm sorry for judging you so early... I just felt so... neglected..." She says, tears streaming down her face. "Well, I guess since you care for people and their issues so much, nobody really noticed how much help you needed as well." I reason, finally understanding her weird behavior since the trip started. "Friends?" I ask, extending my hand out to her in peace. She sniffs a bit, before cracking a big grin, and accepting my offer.
"Friends. All of us, we can work together, and make it out of this."
"You can count on it, Est. All of us will."
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