Pete McGee and the Master of Darkness (17 page)

The final punch sent Syra flying into the back wall, and he slid down it to the ground, unconscious. Ashlyn turned away from him and raced over to Marloynne, holding him tight, never wanting to let him go again. They would be married. Nothing would stop them now.

Tell the world I'm coming home

T
he group walked out of the darkness of Syra's forest and into the light. Syra was with them, hands tied. Bob, still quivering and twitching from the electric shock, was being dragged along by Smithers. They would be taken to the King to face the full extent of the law.

Pete, leading Lightning, walked at the front of the group with Smithers and Molloy, his two best friends. He had wanted to spend some time alone with Tahnee, but it seemed as though that would have to wait.

‘So then,' Smithers said. ‘I was just wondering, McGee. The last two adventures you had—you told me you learned things: how you don't need to have the title of a knight to act like one, that sort of thing. What have you learned this time? How a good leader gives others a chance to shine? How you can be part of a team? How you don't have to do everything by yourself all the time?'

Pete laughed.

‘Oh, that's easy. I've learned that you never, EVER mess around with a girl's wedding.'

Molloy and Smithers laughed, and so did Ashlyn and Marloynne, who were walking behind them.

‘Damn straight, Pete,' Marloynne said. ‘And trust me, when we get back we are going to have the best wedding ever. After I whip your butt for that “spend my life rescuing you” comment, of course.'

Pete smiled and slowed his pace so that he could walk with his mum. Tahnee was at the back of the group, behind Syra, making sure he didn't try anything sneaky.

‘I am so sorry, Mum,' Pete said. ‘I am so sorry I couldn't save you this time.'

Mrs McGee put her arm around her son.

‘Oh, Pete, my brave knight. That is what I was trying to tell you as we dangled above the pool of acid. You don't have to be the hero every time. Just the fact you were there trying is enough for me. You have always tried, Pete, no matter the odds. Don't you see? You won't always win. You can't. No one can. As long as you are there trying, I will be so proud of you.'

‘But I don't get it,' Pete said, trying to figure it all out. ‘Ashlyn won, so aren't you proud of her and not me?'

‘I
am
proud of her, Pete. She is like a daughter to me, and she saved my life. But I don't set limits on my pride. It isn't something to take from one person and give to another. You face great odds, every day, and inspire me to be my best. As I said, as long as you are there trying, as long as you are giving everything you can, I will always be proud of you.'

Pete nodded, not willing to talk. Maybe this was another lesson he was to learn on this journey. That as long as you try your hardest, as long as you act out of love and honour and good intentions, then that is enough. The result is out of your hands.

Maybe, he thought, but seriously the main lesson is that I'm never gong to mess up a girl's wedding. Ashlyn was scary back at Syra Tanooth's house! He hugged his mum tight and kept walking. As he did so he looked back, past Syra, to Tahnee, who he knew had been watching and listening. He smiled at her, and she smiled back. It was a beautiful moment, ruined only by Syra Tanooth.

‘I don't get it, Pete McGee. Are you smiling at me or at her? I hope it's her, because you look all lovey with the dovey. It's her right? Please say it's her. I can't turn out the lights with my hands tied up. Oh, come on, seriously, you're freaking me out a little here.'

Pete laughed. Tahnee did too and right there, in that moment, he knew it was going to be okay. They were going home, and it was time for a wedding.

Here comes the bride … again

W
hat a wedding it was. Everyone was there. The vows were

touching
(as in the vows were nice, not that they were holding hands. They're vows, they don't have hands)
, the bride looked beautiful and Marloynne was handsome. Pete, as best man, remembered the rings. There was no way he was going to forget them. There had been one moment when he couldn't find them, but an image of Ashlyn kicking into Syra Tanooth flashed into his mind, and he had searched with renewed vigour, finding the rings in an instant.

After the wedding ceremony, the beginning of Syra Tanooth's punishment began. The King had ordered him to be a part of making this wedding the most spectacular ever, and so, as the groom kissed the bride, everything went dark.

‘Oh no, not again!' someone cried, but it was okay. Syra wasn't going to risk the wrath of Ashlyn again, and the darkness simply allowed him to put on the most amazing light show ever seen: fire-works and laser beams and everything in between. At the end of the show, the crowd gave Syra a rousing cheer. He felt a burst of pride. Maybe not being evil wouldn't be too bad after all. He grinned and sent a flash of light into the sky. At its peak it burst into a love-heart of colour.

‘Awwwwwwwwwwww,' the crowd sighed. Syra lit up the sky again and the reception began.

Food was served, speeches were made, and it was time to dance. Two of Marloynne and Ashlyn's favourite nobles from the castle, DJ Lady Bree and DJ Lord Lachie, struck up a rocking tune. Pete walked over to Tahnee, who was sitting on a chair. He looked at her, and then at the ground, twisting his toe into the earth. Tahnee smiled.

‘So,' Pete started. ‘Would you, ummm, you know, like, soooo, well, I was wondering if, you, me, dance?'

Tahnee laughed and jumped to her feet.

‘Pete McGee,' she said, ‘you may be a brave knight, but that was pathetic! Of course I'll dance with you. Come on!'

She grabbed Pete's hand and led him to the dance floor. Smithers and Molloy stood watching. Smithers turned and smiled at Molloy, who took a step back.

‘Woah. Dude! Relax. It's nice to see them dancing and all, but find yourself another partner! I'm not dancing with you!'

Smithers laughed. He really hadn't liked Molloy at first, mainly out of jealousy of his friendship with Pete. Now though, he saw him as fun, loyal and brave. They would be friends for a long time, of that he was sure, but they would never stop teasing each other either.

‘Trust me,' Smithers replied. ‘I wouldn't want to dance with you. You'd step on my toes all the time. Now, I notice there are two fair maidens all alone waiting to be asked to dance. Shall we?'

Molloy laughed as well.

‘We shall, Withers,' he said.

The two friends walked off, still going at each other.

‘That was your rhyming slang? Withers isn't even a word! Is it?'

‘What am I, a dictionary? Anyway, neither is Smithers, and you use that.'

‘Smithers is a family name.'

‘Yeah, a stupid family.'

‘What's Molloy then? Did they misspell Molly? Were you meant to be a girl?'

‘No. Were
you
meant to be a girl?'

‘That is the worst comeback ever.'

‘You're the worst comeback ever.'

‘Okay, sorry,
that
is the worst comeback ever.'

‘That's right you are!'

And on they went until they finally remembered they had been going to ask the fair maidens to dance, so they turned around and went to do that.

Pete danced with Tahnee. Mrs McGee watched them: her boy, her knight, all grown up. He had been forced to become a man sooner than most, but he would always be her little boy. She looked over at the DJs and nodded, and they struck up a slow tune. Pete glanced at his mum, who smiled and nodded again. Pete smiled back and stepped in closer to Tahnee. She moved in and they began to slow dance, sending Pete's brain to mush as Tahnee rested her head on his shoulder.

Marloynne and Ashlyn danced past them. Marloynne punched Pete on the arm.

‘Way to go, champ,' he said.

‘Thank you, Pete,' Ashlyn said. ‘For everything.'

She kissed Pete on the cheek and they danced off. Pete watched them go, feeling Tahnee's arms around him, her head on his shoulder. It felt as though while this journey had come to a close, a new one was just beginning. It was a journey into the unknown. It was scary, but it was a journey he would take with everyone he loved, and if that was the case, he couldn't wait.

So there you go! We're done! That's it. No more records on Pete McGee have been found, so there are no more stories to tell. Oh, we can assume stuff. 
You know, I reckon Marloynne and Ashlyn will have seven children. Pete and Tahnee will get married. 
Smithers and Molloy will become great knights, and word of their deeds will spread throughout the land. Mrs McGee will live a long and happy life. 
Syra Tanooth will start up a business as a wedding entertainer, doing light shows and being the MC 
at receptions. Bob the blob will end up living at a house with a wonderful family with kids who think he is the most comfortable beanbag EVER!

It's all happy, people. It's all very, very happily ever after!

And so it should be. As I said at the very start of this journey, way back in book one, The Incredible Journey of Pete McGee isn't a fairytale of sorts— 
it's an out-and-out-magical-good-versus-evil-dashing-hero-beautiful-maiden-dastardly-villain-marvellous-fantabulous fairytale!

I hope you enjoyed it.

And now, my job is done, and we must part ways. 
So, until you read the book again—or hear my voice on the big screen, in the movie version—be good, dream big, and always take the chance to show the world just how great you can be.

P
ete McGee sat bolt upright in bed. It was the middle of the night and he had just remembered something extremely important. He slapped himself on the forehead.

‘THE GREEN BOOK!'

The Green Book still lay beside the tree.

‘Hellooooooooo? I'm still out here! It's really cold now. My pages are wet and I think the wolves are coming back.'

‘AHHHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!'

‘HELLLLLLLLLLLP!!!'

Pete McGee and the Master of Darkness

Adam Wallace

Published by JoJo Publishing

First published 2013

‘Yarra's Edge'

2203/80 Lorimer Street

Docklands VIC 3008

Australia

Email: [email protected] or visit www.jojopublishing.com

© Adam Wallace

All rights reserved. No part of this printed or video publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electrical, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise) without the prior written permission of the publisher and copyright owner.

JoJo Publishing

Editor: Honeytree Thomas

Designer / typesetter: Chameleon Print Design

National Library of Australia Cataloguing-in-Publication entry