The beach was not a common sight for the DWMA students. True, their missions took them all over the world--but every time they had to head back home to that city in the Nevada desert.ย
โBut today is a beach day!โย
Patty Thompson was shouting to no one in particular. While her classmates were still unpacking the van, she already had all the belongings she needed: towel, umbrella, floatie ducky innertube, phone, Bluetooth speaker, magazines, cooler full of ice and drinks--all of which she carried effortlessly, practically skipping across the sand. She was wearing sandals, a buttoned shirt, a straw beach hat, and jean shorts--and with her swimsuit already on underneath, she couldnโt wait to take them off and dive into the inviting blue ocean.ย
As she ran forward, she shouted, โNothingโs gonna get in my way!โย
Almost immediately her face collided with the sand.ย
โUmph!โ She lifted up her head, spitting out sand. โWhat the hell got in my way--โย
Her tirade was interrupted by her phone landing on her head, as it had flown out of her hands when she tripped. Then the speaker. Then the magazines. Clutching her banged-up head, she waved her hand to get the papers out of her eyes--before her towel slowly floated down and landed on her head. She let out an annoyed groan. Thatโs when the cooler finished the job, its corner practically lodging into her skull. She laid dead-motionless for a few seconds.ย
Then came the scream: โAAAAARGG!โ Patty growled, throwing the mess up into the air, fire in her eyes, pounding her fists against the sand like a child having a tantrum. โWho is responsible for this--โย
While she was still lying down on her belly, her now sandal-less left foot felt something.ย
โITโS A FURRY BEACH TARANTULA!โย
Patty was on her feet, armed with the beach umbrella, ready to stab it downward into the hairy threat--when she saw a round furry ball atop the sand.ย
โHuh--how did I miss that?โย
She poked it again with her foot.ย
She nudged the ball a little harder with her foot.ย
โMMMM!โ she whined, before she just stepped on it, slamming the bottom of her foot down hard onto the ball--
A stream of water splashed right at her forehead.ย
โEW! Spitting beach tarantula!โย
Patty wiped her face with the towel, then she had a realization:ย
โTarantulas donโt spit water.โย
Thatโs when the ball started to cough, revealing who he really was.ย
She looked more closely at the furball--and her eyes widened in realization.ย
โOh my god--Chopper?!โย