Part 1:
News of the QCP’s heroism soon spread across Quinicia City.
Across the country.
Across every continent on this similar-yet-different Earth.
The planet continued its ebb and flow, safe from disaster.
The QCP was hailed worldwide for its efforts.
Rick, Dale and I felt proud to stand among them.
With the mission over, it seemed time to return to Town Worth.
Del said there was a victory parade planned for the team; that we should stay and enjoy it.
We took his advice.
How many times in life do you get a parade?
For the rest of our stay, we saw no more threats or catastrophes.
The only challenge left?
Our newfound fame!
Media accounts of our heroic deeds made us stars, as highly regarded as the rest of the heroes.
We gave so many interviews.
Our faces upon posters, coins and commemorative plates.
The mayor gave us keys to the city!
Best of all, better than anything else, was the parade itself.
We filed into convertibles and started down the route.
Work stopped throughout Quinicia City.
Onlookers clapped from windows as crowds lined the streets in wild celebration.
Across the country.
Across every continent on this similar-yet-different Earth.
The planet continued its ebb and flow, safe from disaster.
The QCP was hailed worldwide for its efforts.
Rick, Dale and I felt proud to stand among them.
With the mission over, it seemed time to return to Town Worth.
Del said there was a victory parade planned for the team; that we should stay and enjoy it.
We took his advice.
How many times in life do you get a parade?
For the rest of our stay, we saw no more threats or catastrophes.
The only challenge left?
Our newfound fame!
Media accounts of our heroic deeds made us stars, as highly regarded as the rest of the heroes.
We gave so many interviews.
Our faces upon posters, coins and commemorative plates.
The mayor gave us keys to the city!
Best of all, better than anything else, was the parade itself.
We filed into convertibles and started down the route.
Work stopped throughout Quinicia City.
Onlookers clapped from windows as crowds lined the streets in wild celebration.
Lars Ember insisted on riding in the lead in the parade.
Even suggesting he might not otherwise attend.
In this instance, however, the other heroes supported him heartily.
Lars sat in the front of the procession with a huge, framed photo of Proogg beside him.
The caveman had survived, although he was in a medically induced coma.
His burns were quite severe.
But in time, said the doctors, he would be back.
Many corporations had offered to advertise on Lars's car.
He turned them all down flat.
The Man of Magma kept an arm around Proogg's picture the entire ride.
Even suggesting he might not otherwise attend.
In this instance, however, the other heroes supported him heartily.
Lars sat in the front of the procession with a huge, framed photo of Proogg beside him.
The caveman had survived, although he was in a medically induced coma.
His burns were quite severe.
But in time, said the doctors, he would be back.
Many corporations had offered to advertise on Lars's car.
He turned them all down flat.
The Man of Magma kept an arm around Proogg's picture the entire ride.
The motorcade chugged ahead, bringing a bit of magic: Jimmy Sherman and Elena Divine.
After the battle at the Equator, Jimmy had asked Elena to formally adopt him.
The stunned sorceress, after warning him about her checkered lineage, instantly agreed.
They are planning on taking some time off from the heroic life.
Jimmy Sherman-Divine looked quite happy smiling at the many families cheering him onward.
Elena, for the first time ever, looked serene.
After the battle at the Equator, Jimmy had asked Elena to formally adopt him.
The stunned sorceress, after warning him about her checkered lineage, instantly agreed.
They are planning on taking some time off from the heroic life.
Jimmy Sherman-Divine looked quite happy smiling at the many families cheering him onward.
Elena, for the first time ever, looked serene.
Arc’x’vestula's four arms waved enthusiastically, even as her face remained stony.
We'd learned she had asked to stay with the QCP.
The team welcomed her gladly.
Uubiquatus sat looking quite pleasant and relaxed.
A far cry from the grim spirit who’d initially come to find us.
He’d even enlarge his head to its puffed-up size, seeming quite pleased with the response.
He held up his hands peacefully, bathing all around in a rich purple glow.
We'd learned she had asked to stay with the QCP.
The team welcomed her gladly.
Uubiquatus sat looking quite pleasant and relaxed.
A far cry from the grim spirit who’d initially come to find us.
He’d even enlarge his head to its puffed-up size, seeming quite pleased with the response.
He held up his hands peacefully, bathing all around in a rich purple glow.
In the next car, the Lark and Jossen snuggled together in a private world of their own.
Smitten with both his new companion and new world, Jossen also asked to stay with the team.
He also divulged the truth of his status in the Red Shell.
His king had volunteered him merely due to his expendability.
That his service there had been nothing special.
The Lark agreed to teach Jossen what it meant to be a hero.
She promised to test his heroic mettle; he smiled and promised to meet her for dinner.
Smitten with both his new companion and new world, Jossen also asked to stay with the team.
He also divulged the truth of his status in the Red Shell.
His king had volunteered him merely due to his expendability.
That his service there had been nothing special.
The Lark agreed to teach Jossen what it meant to be a hero.
She promised to test his heroic mettle; he smiled and promised to meet her for dinner.