Chapter 16 — when the universe plays tricks on you
The next day, Dante woke up of his own free will, no longer because he shared a room with half a dozen kids who didn't understand the concept of silence or the sacredness of sleeping in. For the first time since arriving, the room was quiet. He stretched, feeling the morning breeze sneaking through the cabin window, carrying the scent of pine trees and lake water. As he sat up, he glanced over at the cluster of kids already gathered in the living room playing video games at full volume. Their excited shouts echoed through the hall.
Dante rubbed his eyes and sighed.
Man… when I was their age, I used to wake up early just to play too.
Now, if waking up early were optional, he would simply pretend the "early" part didn't exist.
Dragging himself out of the room, he walked toward the kitchen. The wooden floor creaked softly under his bare feet. The warm smell of breakfast—well, something pretending to be breakfast—floated through the air. Rob and his slightly older girlfriend Gloria stood by the counter, working on pans and bowls with suspicious enthusiasm.
"Good morning, guys," Dante greeted them, grabbing a glass.
Rob turned with an all-too-cheerful smile.
"Good morning, Dante! A beautiful morning, isn't it?"
Gloria nodded, still mixing the greenish batter in front of her.
"You woke up early, young man."
Dante filled his glass with juice and took a sip before answering,
"Well, you should thank my roommates for that."
Just then, Lenny and his daughter entered the cabin.
"Good morning, everyone!" Lenny announced dramatically. "So, what's for breakfast?"
Rob puffed up with pride.
"Well, we'll be having a vegan alternative! Gloria and I worked hard on it. Look at this algae pancake."
He held up the plate like a trophy. It jiggled. And shimmered. And probably moved on its own.
Lenny and Dante stared at the unknown green disk.
"This looks more like something a fish vomited and you decided to make a dish out of it," Lenny muttered.
Dante sighed internally. There was no universe in which he was eating a seaweed pancake. Not even if it granted immortality.
He turned to Lenny.
"Hey, Mr. Lenny, does this lake have fish to catch?"
"Yeah Why?"
"Because I'm going after my breakfast. I'm a carnivore to the end."
Without waiting for a reply, Dante walked out of the kitchen toward the lake. Behind him, Lenny stared down at the algae pancakes and admitted:
"Can't deny it… the kid was smart."
Outside, the morning sun shone brightly over the calm lake. The water sparkled in shades of blue and gold. Dante took off his shirt and jumped in, the splash echoing across the quiet shoreline. Roxane, Diana, Sera, and the other girls, who were nearby chatting, turned to look.
"What is he doing?" one of them asked.
Sera smirked.
"I'd guess Rob's vegan breakfast didn't please him very much."
A few minutes later, Dante climbed onto the pier, dripping water and carrying four large shimmering fish—caught with nothing but his hands. He set them down on the wooden deck, admiring his catch.
I've got the meat.
He left the fish and jogged back toward the cabin.
Inside, Gloria heard footsteps.
"Ma'am, could you tell me where the spices are? My fishing trip was apparently successful," Dante asked.
She smiled, amused.
"Thanks for the politeness. Here they are."
"Thanks!" Dante replied, grabbing everything he needed and rushing out again.
Back at the lake, he cleaned and seasoned the fish, then set them over the fire pit outside. As the flames crackled, he sat back on a log, gazing at the sky. The soft breeze brushed against him, carrying the scent of forest and smoke.
Well… this experience isn't so bad.
Meanwhile, in the kitchen, Charlie walked in.
"Guys, has anyone seen Dante? Bella is with Sera, but I still haven't seen him."
Lenny pointed at Rob accusingly.
"The dehydrated-banana guy here scared the kid away with his vegan food."
Rob crossed his arms defensively.
"Come on, guys! The food I made is way better than those processed ones."
Erik, chewing bacon like it was the food of the gods, added:
"Admit it, Rob. Your food has the same thing your hair has: no taste."
Lenny and Kurt burst into laughter. Gloria poured juice for Roxane and said:
"Well, if you want to know where Dante is… he's at the lake. He came for the spices to cook the fish he caught."
Lenny moved to the window and spotted Dante sitting by the fire, eating in peace.
"How did he catch those fish? I clearly remember there are no fishing tools here."
Kurt walked up and observed:
"Sheriff… why does your son look manlier than you?"
Charlie sighed and explained,
"Well, my wife comes from an indigenous tribe. She taught Dante to hunt since he was small. At first I didn't want that, but since both loved doing it, I let it go. And the fish… he must've caught them with his hands."
Lenny whistled.
"I've discovered who wears the pants in the sheriff's house."
Before Kurt could fire a comeback, Diane's voice echoed from the hallway:
"Kurt! Come here, I need your help!"
He instantly straightened.
"I'm coming, sweetheart!"
Charlie laughed.
"Looks like it's not just me, huh?"
Lenny and Erik shrugged in agreement.
"Well," Erik said, "I don't feel like eating this. So who wants to get some food with Charlie's kid?"
"I do," Lenny volunteered.
Charlie raised a finger.
"Let's go before Sera shows up saying I have to eat Rob's food because it's healthy."
They made their way to the lake. Dante opened one eye as they approached and smirked.
"Looks like nobody wanted to change their routine for algae pancakes."
They sat on the wooden benches around the fire. The smell of roasted fish filled the air.
"If I eat that stuff," Charlie began, "your mother will have the perfect excuse to cut my bacon when we get back."
"Help yourselves, guys," Dante said, turning the fish on the fire.
Erik took a big bite.
"This is the tastiest fish I've ever had."
"Glad to hear that," Dante replied.
Once everyone had eaten, Lenny stood.
"Well, guys, it's good you filled your bellies. We need to row to the island to fulfill the coach's last wish."
Charlie glanced at his son and something caught his eye.
"Son… when did you do this?"
Dante looked down at his skin—the blue, dragon-shaped tribal markings that had appeared ever since he gained Acnologia's powers.
"Well… remember how, in my mother's culture, teenagers get these tattoos? These tribal marks are a way of honoring her."
Charlie paused. His wife had mentioned transformations during adolescence in their traditions. He nodded slowly.
"It's nice you want to honor your mother's culture. But next time let me know, okay?"
Dante smiled softly, knowing Charlie understood the truth but still appreciated the lie.
"I'm sorry. I should've told you."
Finishing his meal, he stood up.
"Well, I'm heading out. Have a good ceremony, guys. I'm off."
Charlie watched him walk away, a heavy fatherly sigh escaping.
"No one told me being a father would be this hard."
Lenny clapped his shoulder.
"Welcome to parenthood, my friend. Where the difficulty is high and the wife's scoldings are even higher."
While the men prepared to leave for the island, Dante went for a quiet stroll near the cabins. The peaceful morning was broken by a frustrated voice:
"What a piece of crap of a car!"
Dante looked over. A blonde girl stood beside an old car, slamming the hood in frustration.
Universe… I'm trying to stick to my convictions, but you have to cooperate too.
He saw her struggling with the engine, alone on the dirt road.
I can't leave her. And knowing this fusion world, I wouldn't be surprised if a Jason popped out of the woods or a giant crocodile from a low-budget movie jumped at her.
He sighed and walked toward her.
"Do you need help fixing the car?"
Jasmine looked up, ready to snap at whoever was "hitting on her"… but froze. A muscular, tanned guy with glowing golden eyes, blue tribal tattoos, and blue hair stood smiling.
"If it's not too much trouble… please," she said, suddenly polite.
Dante inspected the engine while Jasmine stared as if she had found an oasis in the desert.
"Jasmine! Looks like Dad is at the lake cabin!" Amber called from behind.
Jasmine tried to block Amber's view, but too late—Dante closed the hood.
"It wasn't serious. Just a small leak in the oil hose. If the house I'm staying at has a toolbox, I can fix it."
Amber looked at him the same way Jasmine did… and whispered:
"I want you to fix me up too."
Jasmine gave her a He's mine, I saw him first glare.
Amber fired back a Keep dreaming glare.
"So," Dante said, trying to cut the tension, "what brings you two here?"
"We came to see our dad," Jasmine said, "but the stupid car broke down. Still, we got lucky meeting you."
"And who's your father?" he asked, pretending not to know.
Before she could answer, Briget appeared.
"Sisters, did you find someone to help? Oh! Nice! I'm Briget."
"Dante. Nice to meet you," he said warmly.
"So… your dad is Rob, right?"
Briget blinked.
"How did you know?"
"You all have the same energy as him," Dante said with a smirk.
Jasmine whispered, "He's mine."
Amber replied, "Over my dead body."
Trying to end their silent war, Dante added:
"Why don't you wait for your dad at the lake house? He'll take a while."
"I don't mind," Jasmine said quickly.
Amber, refusing to lose ground, asked:
"Does this invitation from our handsome mechanic include breakfast?" She winked.
"If you haven't eaten yet, I don't mind making pancakes," Dante replied.
They both lit up.
"We couldn't ask for anything better!"
As they walked with him toward the lake house,
"At that same moment, at the lake where they were going to hold the ceremony, Rob looks at Charlie and says:
"Sheriff… I suddenly feel like punching you. I feel like, because of you, the universe screwed me over."
Charlie laughed.
"Looks like your scented candles and grains fried your brain."
Lenny and the others burst into laughter as Rob groaned in despair.