Chapter 23: Dedication
???: What is truly meant for loss? Whether it be your first love, harmony, hope, patience, or soul. Some also lost their certainties, & some had nothing to lose. I risked too much to be back to my family, going far to even accidentally getting my drones. My son, no matter what happens, i will succeed.
(For the second round of the final Splatfest, Team Splatsquad had survived a narrow elimination [in thanks to Mario catching the cheated team]. While the gang celebrates heading to the finals, Lo still thinks it wasn't enough)
~Lo's dream~
Desti: And just like that, BOOM, she finally joined you.
Lo: That really is interesting, i didn't think Maya had that deep lore on her.
Desti: Yeah, I'm glad that i told this to you. Now don't slip up at the finals.
Lo: I know. & you still had to go undercover. Who knows what will happen if they spot you.
Desti: Granted. See you tomorrow, bro. (signs off from his dream, just so she'd meet up with Meggy)
Kel?: Well, that was interesting. (Lo then turns around, only to find her at her spirit form) So you actually got her back & tried hard to make me proud, huh? How does it feel with all that weight around?
Lo: I couldn't care less on Meggy. But it be a special case for you. I just wanted you to be proud on me. Besides, it felt a bit lonely without you around.
Kel?: I know...
~March 3, Hospital~
(Earlier, Kel had apparently fell into a river induced coma. During then, she manages to meet 3 ghosts that taught her important lessons, being for Love, Hope, & Faith. After realizing that she's Lucky on having many friends, she finally wakes up, at time of the Final Competition)
Kel: (wakes up, notices a clover on her hand, & notices grandma on the doorstep) Gramma? What are you doing here?
Susie: Oh thank goodness you're finally awake. We are all really worried you ain't gonna make it.
Kel: Grandma, I'm sorry you'd experience this. It's just... i missed my grandpa so much.
Susie: Honey, i miss him too, by every day at this rate.
Kel: Yeah, but he did say that if you think hard enough, he'd still be here. (but then, she saw the 3 ghosts again, one of them being her grandpa) & he really took that personally.
Susie: Wait a minute, ain't today be the Splatfest Championships? Your boyfriend's team's one of the finalists.
Kel: They are what now?!
(As grandmother & daughter watch the Championships, she starts remembering one of the letters Dave gave to her)
An excerpt on Dave's letter: Experiencing loss is a part of life, but good things come, too. Be faithful onto what's to come, for it always be an adventure awaiting for you. You'll find new friends worth to both entrust on, & that trust can be repaired. Despite being in a path that'll get you lost, you'll be sure to arrive with the right people.
(Eventually, SplatSquad won, & Kel decides to take her time to head back home)
~Front Lawn, that new home~
George: I'm so glad you came back after this.
Kel: Yeah. It's almost a long time since I'm back to my new home.
Brenda: At least you still have us. No matter what happens, we'll always be here.
Dave: Come on, let's go celebrate that new chapter of yours.
Kel: Wait, i think i had a plan for that.
Mario: (notices Kel & heads to her) Kel, congrats on going back to us.
Kel: & congrats to you for winning Splatfest. Meggy sure feels proud, huh?
Mario: She surely does. I'll go tell the others. That way, it be a win-win for the gang.
Kel: You go on ahead. I'd like some time with my boyfriend.
(Meanwhile, Meggy & Lo are at the balcony, celebrating their victory. That's when Desti called in via holo-communicator)
Desti: Why it be the MVPs. How can somebody like both of you can manage to win Splatfest?
Meggy: Well you see, we had those things called "Friends". I assume you heard of that one?
Desti: (snickers but then notices someone behind Lo) Dude, look who's here.
(Lo then turns around to find what appears to be his spiritual girlfriend)
Kel: Relax, this is temporary. I'll be back by the time its over.
Desti: Ok then... (to Meggy) So, what are you suppose to do now?
Meggy: What do you mean?
Desti: Well, throughout the year, you're busy training & moping yourself. & it might be fun for me to say it, but it's time for you to move on.
Meggy: I just... it's hard for me to let you go.
Desti: (thinks about it) Well then, let me make it easier for you.
(Desti then hugs the gang, despite the fact she did it remotely)
Desti: Goodbye Meggy. Thanks for keeping my promise.
Meggy: G-goodbye Desti.
Desti: (to Lo) & Lo, at least make her happy. She deserved it.
Lo: Till next time.
(They then brofist as Desti ends her call. The three then watched as her holo-particles flow to the sky)
Kel: It sure is beautiful.
Lo: Yeah. (looks at Kel) Thank you.
Kel: For what?
Lo: Thank you for giving me the strength needed to go through all this. I would never be the same without you, my lucky clover. (reveals on his pocket matching rings) Trust me, when you're back, will you finally choose me?
(Just then, in an overflow of emotion, the ghost disguise had came out. Her ancestors have been too shocked, they burst out from her body. Lo is unusually shocked from that event)
Kel: (tearing up) You had a knack for words, huh?
Lo: I learned from the best.
(The happy couple then finally reunites as Meggy & the ghosts watch on)
Meggy: They sure are happy together.
Dave: That's our girl. I'm Dave by the way.
Meggy: (suddenly notices the ghosts & sighs a bit) It surely is a special day for all of us.
Another excerpt from Dave's letter: As we grow old, we realize life doesn't always give us all the gifts we hoped it would. I'd love you tell this in person, Kel, but if you'd read this, I'd be gone. But you shouldn't be sad. As stated back at the beginning, experiencing loss is part of life, but it doesn't define it, neither being to win or lose. It's whether we accept change in ourselves. It's accepting that even if life doesn't always give us the gifts we were hoping for, the real gift is life itself.
???: Are you ready for the next phase?
SMG3: I'll be ready.
???: Good, initiate the SNITCH protocol. (notices the animatronic) & take this bot with you. He'll really make use.
End of Ch. 23
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