Lost and Found R2 Epilogue

It was over an hour before Fizz got back to his room. In his search for the infirmary, he'd first endured a tirade from Glenn, the six-armed maid, for getting blood on the carpet, then a surly attitude from the one-eyed wolf in the lobby, who gave him some vague directions before dozing off again. Then he'd met a small, dripping black creature named Mel, who was, to Fizz's surprise and consternation, looking for Allony. Fizz didn't tell him about their fight, not wanting to earn the ire of yet another person (though that would probably come later if Mel found Allony). But he did say that he'd seen her, and where Mel could find her. And, to Fizz's relief, Mel knew where exactly the infirmary was, and pointed the way. In parting Fizz advised him to avoid running into Glenn.

He had found the nurse on duty, unlike the rest of the hotel staff, actually a decent fellow who showed some sympathy and concern. He'd patched Fizz up fairly well, sealing the deepest scratches with something he called "butyl cyanoacrylate" (which, judging by the smell, was in fact super-glue), then bandaged the rest. As the doctor tended him, Fizz was dismayed to learn that this fellow also knew Allony (How many friends does she have?). He excused himself as quickly as he could, and the doctor waved him off with smile, encouraging him to eat something, and get some rest.

Fizz had made a quick stop at the breakfast bar (checking quickly for that nasty Corgi cook first), and grabbed treats and goodies he knew Magenta would like. And, glory hallelujah, he finally found a vending machine with root beer, right there in the breakfast area in plain sight. Bundling everything up in a plastic bag, he had made his way quickly and quietly back to his floor. He met no one else, and was somewhat relieved. If he ran into anyone else who knew his opponent…

Now he stood outside his door, still trying to absorb all that had happened since leaving his bed.

"Magenta?" he called, "It's me, I'm back."

No reply, but he didn't think much of it. She was probably too afraid to call out in reply. He clumsily pushed the door inward, balancing on his right, non-injured leg, and stepped inside. He peered around the dimly lit room, and spotted a small heat sign. Magenta was crammed under her pillows, curled up in a tight little ball, and Fizz felt a stab of guilt.

Dammit, must've been scared out of her mind.

"Mag," he said gently as he moved to the head of the bed, "Before you come out, I need to warn you-"

He stopped in midsentence as she unexpectedly shot out to plant herself nose to nose with his bandaged snout. Her back was arched, her tail puffed to twice its size, and her eyes bulged out of their sockets, practically blazing. Fizz realized with a shock that she was not just upset, but damned near beside herself with a mixed bag of anger, relief, and sheer terror.

"Where were you?!" she yowled, "You just sailed out the door, didn't take me with you, and all these things started happening! Your phone was here, it started ringing, and some creepy guy was there, making weird noises, and then he yelled at me, wanted to know where YOU were, and he made more funny noises and then one of those freaky birds came and stole your phone!!! WHERE DID YOU GO?"

Burned out from her diatribe, she then collapsed into a sobbing heap on the bedspread.

Fizz could only stare, stupefied. Then his mind began to process her hysterical gabble, and suddenly something the Thief had said came back to him. He went rigid.

"Magenta…?"

"Please don't leave me alone again."

"… my phone was here?"

Hearing the odd note in his voice, she raised her head. Her eyes widened at the sight of the bandages.

"F-Fizz? What happened? Who did that to your face-?"

"Mag," Fizz cut her off, leaning down close, "Listen to me. The phone was here in the room?"

"Y-yes. I-I don't know how it-"

"I have a good idea how. And who put it here. It rang?"

"Uh-huh. It was that creepy ringtone again. A-and then it picked up by itself."

"Auto-answer," Fizz hissed to himself, "Now I wonder who set it to that? Go on, Mag."

"Whoever it was, he was making weird noises. I said 'hello' and then he asked where you were."

"What did you say, Mag? Please, Mag, it's critical."

"I just s-said you weren't here-"

Fizz screwed his eyes shut, and buried his face into the bed.

"Hell."

"I-I'm sorry, Fizz."

"Not your fault," came the muffled reply, "I never should have left you alone. I'm sorry you had to deal with- with... them."

"Who are they, Fizz? Why don't you want to talk to them?"

"It's complicated. Like everything else is getting to be, Mag. I was just hoping I could throw them off a little longer… So a bird came for it, huh?"

"Yeah, he said that you'd-"

"I did. Let him take it, I mean. And he's welcome to it."

…

"Fizz, why are you all bandaged up?"

"I'll explain later," Fizz smiled sadly, and held up the food-laden bag, "Right now, we have breakfast waiting. I'm starved."

"… you get any waffles?"

"Right here, with syrup, sausage, and everything else you like."

***
Elsewhere...

The phone began to ring, and the ringtone made the Thief grin. Mr. Barqs certainly had good taste in television shows. He flipped it open, and saw Call from Kio-pal flashing on the screen. Ah, yes, the "off-worlder's" name for it. He held the phone to his ear.

"Hello-oo?"

…

"Good day to you, sir! No need for your pitiful attempts at English, I can understand you just fine in your- Eh?"

…

"Oh, I'm terribly sorry. Mr. Barqs is no longer available at this number."

…

"No, no. I don't think you understood me. This phone is no longer his."

…

"Ah, well," the Thief sighed and rolled his eyes to the ceiling, "I guess you'll figure out what I'm saying eventuall-"

…

"Now sir, I'll have to ask you to use a more civil tongue."

…

"Well, now, Mr. Barqs is my, ah, guest at the moment, and will be for a while yet. He simply can’t come for your planet's silly mountain-hike."

…

"Ahaha! Do feel free to try, sir."

…

"Well, it was nice, um, talking to you! Buh-bye, now."

*click*

The Thief grinned, stroking the phone thoughtfully.

"What a silly, savage world you come from, Mr. Barqs… I simply must pay it a visit someday."

End Round 2