Dollylina Part 11

Chapter 11: Meet Sir Grodus

As they walked through the tunnel, Parappa was starting to get scared while Dolly Pink shed a tear. While Calumon comforts Dolly, Talen noticed Parappa scared, "Parappa are you okay?" she asked.

"It's scary." Parappa shivered. Talen felt bad for their newfound friend and comforted him, by patting his hand like a little sister would do to her sibling the same way she does for Dolly and Calumon.

A moment later, Dolly, Rachel, Talen, Calumon and Parappa went inside of a lavish but dark place with jewelry and technology. Dolly, Rachel, Talen, Calumon and Parappa then saw a purple and black colour-schemed wizard-like x-naut, outfit also has golden trim and he carries a golden and light blue staff in his gloved hand. This was Sir Grodus.

"Good afternoon, Sir Grodus," Rachel said.

"Ah, Rachel," Grodus said. "Good afternoon. Lovely day."

"Parappa and I wants you to meet a new friend of ours," Rachel said, as Dolly walked over with Talen and Calumon behind her. "Dolliette Pink. She and her two pets just came down from up there."

"Up there?" asked Grodus.

"Up there," Rachel said, pointing upward.

"Terrible place," Grodus said, before he shook Dolly's hand. "Pleased to make your acquaintance."

"Uh, h-how do you do, Sir Grodus," said Dolly. "I'm—"

"Come in, come in. But don't touch anything. These are my things." Grodus said to Dolly. "And you too, Parappa."

"Yeah, sure." Parappa replied, rubbing his arm a little.

"We brought some corn cakes for you, Sir Grodus," Rachel said. "Try one."

Dolly held out the basket of corn cakes to Grodus, who took one and ate it.

"Very nice," Grodus said. "Well, tell us about up there. I went up there once and nearly blinded me. I hurried back down where it was dark and decent."

"Oh, but I love the light," said Dolly.

"Me too," put in Talen.

"And me." finished Calumon.

"I hate it," Grodus said. "End of story."

"Story?" Rachel said. "Dolly, tell Sir Grodus a story. A lovely sad story."

"Well…" said Dolly, as she lend the basket of corn cakes to Calumon and took her shawl off then lend it to Talen.

"Stand right over there where I can see you," Grodus said while he, Rachel and Parappa took their seats and Dolly stepped forward like a stage.

"I love love stories, they're very nice." Parappa sighed, but Rachel hushed him.

"Once upon a time, there was…er, the sun." Dolly began.

"Sing it, Dolly." Rachel urged. "Sing."

"She sings?" Grodus asked, but Rachel shushed him.

Dolly paused, "Oh, um…" Then she started to sing.

Dolly Pink: Once there was the sun
Bright and warm and wonderful
Shining like the love within my heart

As Dolly sang, a vision of Paul Pink appeared. She and the vision began to dance, as an instrumental version of 'Let Me Be Your Wings' played in the background.

Now there's no more sun
Winter has killed everything

Dolly and the vision of Paul then playfully chased each other near a castle, before they sat down on a cloud wall and hugged.

And although it's dark December

She was about to kiss the vision of Paul, but it disappeared and she was back in reality, as she looked sad.

Forever, I'll remember sun

Dolly sighed sadly, as she said, "Winter has killed everything. Even the sun."

Talen and Calumon sadly nodded in agreement.

Parappa wept one tear from his eye, it sounded sad but touching at the same time to him as Rachel said, "Wonderful story."

"Dreadful thing, the sun," Grodus said. "And now I have a story to tell you."

Dolly, Talen, Calumon, Rachel and Parappa got up and followed him, as he said, "Just this morning as I was going out for my early morning stroll, I stumbled across the most extraordinary thing in my tunnel: a dead letter boy."

"No!" Rachel said.

"Yes," Grodus said. "Now how do you suppose a dead letter boy got in my tunnel?"

Dolly, Talen, Calumon, Rachel and Parappa followed Grodus into a tunnel, before Rachel said, "Oh, there it is!"

Dolly, Talen and Calumon turned and gasped in shock. The 'dead' letter boy was none other than an unconscious Mr. S.

"Now what do you suppose happened to him?" asked Rachel.

"I have no idea, but at least there's one less letter boy to make noises up there," said Grodus.

Looking moved to tears, Dolly, Talen and Calumon went over to Mr. S, as Dolly said sadly, "Oh, Mr. S." She knelt beside him along with Talen and Calumon, as she said sadly, "Mr. S, my dear, dear friend."

Grodus, Rachel and Parappa watched Dolly and her two critters, as Rachel commented, "Tender-hearted little things."

"Yes, quite lovely," Grodus said. "Rachel, Parappa, may I have a word with you?"

"I wish you would," said Rachel.

"What's going on?" Parappa asked.

"Now, you two, I've been meaning to get married for a while now," said Grodus.

"What a lovely idea," said Rachel.

"I find myself, sometimes, you know, lonely for companionship," Grodus went on.

"What could be more natural?"

"And I wonder if…"

"Yes?"

"If I could ask you to help me persuade Dolliette to be my wife," Grodus finished.

Rachel looked momentarily surprised, before she said, "Dolly?"

"Rachel, no!" Parappa whispered, realizing what she's doing.

He chuckled before he said, "She would keep me company and tell me stories, don't you think?"

"Yes," Rachel said.

"And for your service in helping to arrange this match," Sir Grodus said, grabbing a gold coin and giving it to Rachel, "I will reward you and your family handsomely."

Rachel smiled and took it, as she said, "I will, I will!"

"No, Rachel, no!" Parappa whispered, not liking the idea at all.

"Thank you very much, Rachel," said Grodus.

Rachel cleaned the gold coin, as she said, "You leave the arrangements to me and Parappa." She then called, "Dolly?"

Dolly leaned into Mr. S's chest and said, "I-I hear your heart! Oh, thank goodness, you're not dead!" She then said, "Oh, Mr. S. Mr. S, we'll come back tonight."

"Dolliette," Rachel said, and Dolly got up, ready to leave with Talen and Calumon following her from behind.