CHAPTER 51: VICTORY FOR THE VALE

The procession moves like a parade of misfits through the forest. Birds chirp, goblins squabble, and half the party spends the time whispering conspiratorially about Pip’s "sacred hardware." Even Veena, who’d taken up the rear, can’t stop shaking her head with a smirk.

Penelo bounces along the front with Vuvi, her ears twitching with every breeze. "I never thought I’d help liberate a village, save a forest, and become friends with goblins. Honestly, I thought my life would end in a fruit cart."

"Same," Vuvi says dryly. "Except I thought mine would end under a desk in a very cluttered lab."

Suddenly, they crest a hill and saw the village below.

"Wait," Veena says, squinting, "is it just me... or does it look... greener?"

Before they could respond, an old woman comes hobbling toward them at an alarming speed.

"You!" she cries, pointing at Vuvi, then Pip, then everyone. "Are you the ones responsible?!"

"Responsible for what?" Veena asks cautiously.

The old woman turns, waving her hands. "That!"

The entire Green Vale looks like it had been painted by a divine brush. Where yesterday there were dry, struggling rows of crops, now the farmlands burst with color. Vegetables bulge on vines. Wheat sways in glimmering waves. Even the scarecrows look perkier.

The old woman turns back, eyes misty.

"This morning," she whispers, "it rained... while the sun still shone. Magic rain. Then ... the crops... they tripled. Quadrupled. We’ve never seen anything like it."

Penelo’s eyes sparkle. "Oh! Magical rain! I’ve heard of that! The nymphs must’ve blessed the land!"

The old woman’s breath caught. "Nymphs... the twin water spirits of the Vale? But... but we thought they were gone! Faded from the curse!"

Penelo nods. "They were weak. Almost gone. But Pip helped restore their power."

The old woman stares at Pip, then falls to her knees.

"You saved our land... you saved our daughters...!"

More villagers appear, drawn by the commotion. Cheers erupt as the returning women crest the hill. Screams of joy, laughter, and tearful reunions spread like wildfire. One woman shrieks a name, then bolts down the hill. Her daughter runs to meet her, and they collide in an embrace that nearly knocks them both over.

Vuvi watches quietly, arms folded.

Veena sidled next to her. "You planning to cry, or should I?"

"Shut up," Vuvi mutters, wiping her eyes anyway.

An hour later, the team sits in the village chief’s house, now far more lively than their first visit.

The chief puffs his long pipe and lazily leans back on a cushion. "Y’know," he says between puffs, "I had a feelin’ y’all were special."

Vuvi arches a brow. "Uh huh. And what what happens now? Will the men of this village finally start contributing?"

The chief coughes awkwardly. "W-Well, y’know... it’ll take time to retrain some of ’em. Get ’em off the pipeweed. But we’ll try."

One of the old women smacks him over the head with a wooden spoon. "Try harder, Harlen."

He winces. "Y-Yes, ma’am."

Before they can enjoy the next bite of lunch, a scream rings out from outside.

They rush out to find a group of goblins surrounded by men and older women, all yelling and panicking.

"THEY’RE BACK! THEY’RE HERE TO STEAL AGAIN!"

"NO!" cries one of the village daughters. "They came with us! They’re not enemies!"

Several daughters, elves, humans, and goblins alike, stands in front of the small goblin group, arms outstretched.

"These goblins are just like us!" one declares. "Cast aside, afraid, looking for purpose! They’re not monsters!"

A tense silence falls over the street.

Then Vuvi steps forward.

"Every species suffers under the curse," she says calmly. "And every species deserves a second chance. We can’t let past grudges get in the way of healing. And building a better future."

The villagers look at each other, muttering. Eventually, heads nod and the crowd parted, offering apologies and cautious welcomes.

The goblins let out squeals of joy and throw themselves into grateful hugs.

Veena walks up, flipping open her notebook.

"With that sorted, we can proceed. Pip’s scheduled appointments are due to begin shortly." she announces, cocking a brow at Pip.

He turns to the crowded street and waves with a humble beep.

Swoons echo from all sides.

Before he can do more, Penelo grabs his arm and yanks.

"Not so fast, mister! You’re not taking anybody to poundtown until you’re scrubbed, oiled, and glowing!"

Pip beeps joyfully and nods in complete agreement.

A village woman chimes in. "We’ve got a hot spring just outside town! Perfect spot!"

Penelo lets out a squeal so high-pitched that three birds fall from the sky.

"TO THE SPRING!"

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The hot spring steams gently beneath a curtain of vines and cherry blossom trees, its waters shimmering like liquid moonlight.

Pip sits back in the pool, letting out happy little puffs of steam while Penelo, perches behind him on a rock, gently massaging oils into his shoulders with her plush paws.

"You’ve really changed everything, you know," she says softly.

Pip whistles, almost bashfully.

"I mean it. The women, the goblins, the land itself... You’re incredible. And you’ve changed me, too. I never thought I’d find a purpose outside survival. But now..."

She trails off and rests her cheek against his smooth, warm shoulder.

"I can’t imagine life without you. Or without Vuvi. Or Veena."

Pip’s eyes flicker gently, his hands resting quietly in the water.

Penelo grins.

"...Sooo, I’ve been thinking..." She says as she shifts to face him, her hands sliding lower. "Last time I peeked at your golden goodies, I passed out, right?"

Pip tilts his head and beeps affirmatively.

"Well..." she brushes her fingers gently against his pelvic port. "Maybe I’ve grown stronger since then."

Pip pauses.

Then, dramatically, he stands up. With a proud flare, he plants his feet, raises his hands to the sky and activates his pelvic port with glorious abandon, letting it swing open like a prized treasure box.

Penelo gasps.

Then there’s a pause.

Then she lets out a dreamy sigh, slumps over onto the rocks, and promptly passes out... grinning, mumbling and drooling slightly.

Pip sits back down in the water with a resigned whirr, crossing his arms.

A poof of smoke appears above him as he steams with frustration.

Veena then appears from beyond the steam, casually unbuckling her outer robe as she approaches.

"Let me guess," she drawls. "Penny tried to peek again?"

Pip nods sheepishly and answers with an amused nod.

Veena tosses her robe aside and begins peeling off her boots. "You don’t mind if I join you, right?"

He beeps in suprise, then whistles a cheering tune of high approval.

And then...

His pelvic port pulses.