“Hmm. What gave you the impression that’d be enough? Have you taken a good look at the treehouse anyway? Have you even seen all its furnishings, do you even know how labor-intensive it was? Did you even see the lighthouse on top? Do you even know how expensive that was to install?”

Blow after blow was striking down Mike at his core as PK went on and on. What...?

“Well?”

"Th-- That can't be! Here, you didn't see everything here, look at these!" Mike pointed his claw to a specific gem on the table. "Are you familiar with the utility rocks? How about this?! Seen a chargestone before???"

“I’m familiar with all manners of stones, idiot! But do you have any idea how hard it was to build on that tree? It got really smashed up during... you know. I’m afraid these just won’t cut it.” PK turned away, and Mike knew he already wounded her with the remembrance of Sorbet.

Great... I really blew it, I guess it's time for the 'trump card.' Mike sighed as he walked up to PK and placed his claw on her shoulder. "I'm... I guess I got too ahead of myself again. I... I didn't think this wouldn't be enough. I'm sorry, but I'll do whatever you want. I mean... yeah, anything. What do you want?"

“Anything... do you mean that, Mikey-boy?”

Yup, it's working, just as I expected. And I was looking forward to having the night with Opal... "I.. I, I... guess... even that, if that's what you're asking. Opa-- I guess... she'd be okay with it too! Anything for the Rescuers, you know..."

PK finally started laughing, almost heinously. This was it, her goal had arrived, and her haggle had come to fruition.

"What... PK, this is really scary. Is there really more to you than... that?"

PK turned around to face Mike with a maniacal look that knocked him off his feet to the ground. And then, after all the build up, she dealt her fatal blow, a smile. “You dumbass! Fresnel already paid for the whole thing out of his own pocket! You don’t owe me anything but the insurance each month. And even then, he’s paid a year in advance, so you don’t even have to worry about your forgetfulness for a while!”

Mike was flabbergasted, nothing could really formulate in his mind. "...I... All that... tension. Kheh... is that so?"

“Yup. Turns out you did waste my time after all, huh? Now get your sorry ass outta here.”

Just then, a thought sparked in Mike's mind. He had never thought of doing this, but he just had to try it. "...no."

“Excuse me?”

"I can't. This... this has been in my heart."

PK was baffled, as she should have been.

“What? Stop babbling-”

"I mean!! This!!" Mike stepped forward and grabbed PK by the arms, initiating what seemed to be a deep kiss in the way the two could actually execute. PK seemed to feel entirely frozen in what the scant few seconds felt like an eternity, and so did Mike. In fact, Mike's heart felt like it was going to burst from fulfilling what it had desired him to do, and then began conveying the thoughts to take the step even further. Mike bought into the false claims his heart was whispering to him and thought that maybe now would be the best time to-- Well, be shoved away from PK by her own hands. Darn.

“What the HELL Mike?! Get OUT OF HERE!" PK shoved him right out of her office and then slammed the door shut.

Mike couldn't believe what he had done, but his blood was ignited from the act that he couldn't care less if he... oh, the gems were left in her office! Another ruse by PK that he couldn't help but laugh at. "HAHAHA That was worth all those gems! You can keep them!"

PK then opened the door in response to his shout and dropped the bag full of gems on the ground beside him.

In that split second, his mind immediately connected the pattern of what was to ensue, and before the final part of PK's 3 second act could play out, he had responded. "KHEH, I FOr-- WAIT!!" Mike stuck his foot to where the door would close, and had his foot smashed in order to prevent its complete closure. "OWWWWWWW"

“WHAT more do you WANT?!” She yelled, while sporting a color similar to him.

"Look!" Mike haplessly tossed a handful of gems and the precious 'gift' that Syrup entrusted him to give to PK. "Opal does more than just gems! She's an expert jeweler too! Keep those, and show it to Shroomsworth too! I'm sure he can see business from Opal more than a mile away. And that drink... it's for you to keep. But, if you don't like it... I guess you can give it to him too if he fancies a hard tea."

PK reverted back to her newly standarizard black color. “Yeah. No. That won’t be happening. Thanks anyway, but..." PK looked around anxiously. "Just stop it. I’m really sick and tired of people making fun of me. Just tired of it.” Those words stung Mike as he felt he unexpectedly hurt her on a personal level, and jerked his swelling foot away from the door leaving her to close it... and then lock it.

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Part 3 of Mission 6 Epilogue by
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