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A Relaxing Vacation


by violinoutoftune

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Author's Note: This story's characters were based on the characters in a short story called "A Visit From a Villain" by blubblub317 in issue 147.

"So, Flowrey what do you think? A calm, relaxing weekend vacation just for yourself."

      Flowrey, a rainbow Acara who was quite shy to everyone but her family and easily embarrassed, was sitting in her room reading a book when Fantasia, her owner, came in.

      "Why do I need a vacation of my own?" asked Flowrey, momentarily taking her mind off the story she was reading.

      "Well, for one thing, maybe it would get you to do something other than reading books all day," her owner said. "Plus, I know Luna and Dane, and even myself have been a little annoying to you lately; I thought it might be a good break for you."

      It was true about her siblings and owner being a little annoying. Actually, 'little annoying' doesn't describe it. They had been acting absolutely weird!

     It had all started when Luna, Flowrey's yellow Ixi sister, had brought a strange 'friend' to their Neohome. This 'friend' of hers was none other than the notorious Dr. Frank Sloth. What Flowrey had witnessed that day was exceedingly embarrassing and just plain scary! Yes, seeing a big, green, weird, black-cloak-wearing guy do the cha-cha had not been a pretty sight. And to make everything even more embarrassing and scary, the rest of her family also joined in the dance! Flowrey had spent that evening in her room to avoid the unpleasantness.

     The next day her family had apologized to Flowrey. But that still didn't get rid of the awful memories she that had been glued to her brain. So perhaps this whole vacation thing was a good idea.

     "Okay," Flowery told her owner, "I'll go."

     "Great! I'll drop you off this afternoon!" Fantasia said, and left the room to let Flowrey pack her bags. She packed sunscreen, her sunglasses, some clothes, one of her beloved plushies and of course, a good book.

     "This should be a wonderful vacation!" the Acara said aloud. "No Luna, no Dane, no owner, and no scary green guy doing the cha-cha!"

***

That afternoon when reaching the hotel and resort, Flowrey thought she was in paradise! The lobby was a huge red carpeted room with flowers in large vases that the Acara thought were surely made of gold. A glorious chandelier hung from the high dome ceiling and the front desk was made of pristine white marble, making Flowery feel like she was a princess in a palace.

     After getting her room key, she said goodbye to Fantasia and walked up the marble staircase to her room on the third floor. She opened the door of her room to find a wonderfully decorated suite. A beautiful pink bed was on one side and a nice sitting area with plush chairs was on the other side next to a window. She put down her bag and flopped up on the bed. It was perfectly soft and very comfortable. She almost didn't want to get up from it; it was that relaxing. But the rainbow Acara did finally get off the bed right before she fell asleep in it's serenity. She went over to the window to see a large pool in beautifully landscaped area. In a few minutes she went for a swim and then found a comfortable lounge chair in the sun to read her book.

     "Ah, this is the life," Flowrey said to herself. She looked at her surroundings. Pets swimming happily in the pool. Other guests soaking up the sun while waiters served them refreshing drinks.

     "It's all so perfect here," Flowrey said quietly, "and there's no Sloth here to ruin it."

      She feel asleep laying there. She had rested just a few minutes when a voice behind her interrupted her pleasant dreams.

      "Would you like a drink madam?" said a deep, cunning voice. Flowrey awoke suddenly and one thought passed through her mind: Sloth.

      She didn't want to turn around. Didn't want to see that awful green villain. Didn't want to ruin the perfect world she found herself in. But reluctantly she did. The rainbow Acara turned and saw a tall, green… Techo.

      "Oh," she said dumbly, "sorry waiter. I thought you were someone else."

     The waiter nodded, as though his identity was mistaken all the time and it was no big deal.

     "Yes, I would like a drink." Flowrey continued. "Perhaps a small slushie, thank you."

     The waiter went off to do his bidding. He returned shortly, with a drink that Flowrey found most delicious. The rest of the afternoon she finished reading her book and kept telling herself that she had nothing to worry about. Sloth and her family were nowhere near here. And they wouldn't be for the rest of her vacation.

***

Dinner that night was completely exquisite. Flowrey sat in the dining room of the hotel eating a delicious slice pepperoni pizza, her favorite. Eating the scrumptious pizza reminded her of when Sloth had come to the Neohome. They had had pizza for dinner then, too. Well, actually she hadn't been able to eat anything that night, as the villain gobbled up the whole pizza in one mouthful. Flowrey stopped eating her pizza at the reminder of that unpleasant memory. She glanced around the table to see three empty chairs. Then she looked around the dining room. All the other tables were occupied by whole families, laughing and having a good time. She sighed.

     "It sure would be more fun with the rest of the family," Flowrey said to herself. "But just them, no Sloth!"

     She was in a bad mood for the rest of the evening. In bed that night she hugged her Rainbow Acara Plushie close to her.

     "I don't really need them," Flowrey said. "I'll still have a nice vacation without them."

     And with that she feel asleep.

***

The next morning when breakfast in the dining room was served, Flowrey again found herself at alone at a table with three empty seats. But she tried not to think of her family, and instead thought of what she would do that day. She would probably play a nice game of tennis with some of the other guests that afternoon. Then maybe go swimming again. She wished she had brought another book to read, and regretted only having brought one.

     She dug into her pancakes that were covered with syrup and butter.

     Just like Fantasia used to make, Flowrey thought to herself.

     She was trying to forget about her family again when she heard an unmistakable "CHA-CHA-CHA-CHA-CHA-CHAAA!" coming from the other side of the room. Flowrey spun around in her chair to see her family dancing the cha-cha towards her table. She looked around the room to see pets at the other table laughing and staring at Luna, Dane, and Fantasia. Flowrey was embarrassed and positively mad.

     "Why did you guys come here! This was suppose to be a time for me to just relax! So leave me alone!"

     Her family broke out of their dance. Luna's head dropped to stare at the floor. Dane's huge grin disappeared. Realizing what she had just said, Flowrey sighed.

      "I'm sorry," she said. "I don't know what got into me just then. I really do love you all. It's just sometimes… well sometimes your craziness just embarrasses me a little. But I do love all of you."

      Luna's head gradually lifted and smiles spread across their faces.

      "We love you too, Flowrey," Fantasia said.

      "We were actually starting to miss you a little bit," Dane said.

      "I was starting to miss you guys, as well," Flowrey admitted.

      "We all need each other," Fantasia said, "but if you want Flowrey, we'll try to stop being so insane sometimes."

      "No," Flowrey told them, "You've got to be the way you are. If you changed things it just wouldn't be right. And of course, I'm always here to make sure you guys don't lose your heads."

      "So could we stay with you for the rest of the day?" Dane asked, giving her a dazzling grin.

      "Well…" Flowrey started, "I guess so. At least you didn't bring along your friend Sloth, anyway."

      "YAY!" shouted Luna, moving close to Flowrey for a hug. Soon the whole family was in a warm embrace. It was then Flowrey remembered the rest of the resort still eating their breakfast. She pulled away from the hug to see faces quickly turning back to their pancakes and Sphinx Links.

     When her gaze returned to her family, she saw Luna and Dane gobbling down pancakes like they had never ate a proper meal in their lives. Flowrey looked up at Fantasia and did something she'd never thought she'd do. She grinned. Though this family had it's strange ways, it was her family. And she couldn't dream of it being any different.

The End

 
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