Epilogue: Future Glimpses
One week after the Future Cave incident...
Life at the Science of Universe Academy was finally returning to normal.
Well...
As normal as it could be for students who had survived mind control, evil professors, mysterious robots, and a universe-controlling machine.
The six friends were sitting beneath their favorite tree near the academy garden.
Professor Luca had temporarily forbidden them from entering the Future Cave.
Which meant they were bored.
Very bored.
"I miss adventures," Mili said.
"You almost died three times last week," James replied.
"Exactly."
James sighed.
"I don't understand your logic."
Meow floated beside them.
"Correction. She does not have logic."
"Hey!" Mili protested.
Everyone laughed.
Suddenly Meow's eyes flashed.
A holographic screen appeared.
"Interesting."
Luna looked up.
"What happened?"
Meow tilted its head.
"The Future Cave left residual future energy connected to all of you."
Kai immediately looked worried.
"That sounds dangerous."
"It is."
"Great."
"But it is also funny."
Everyone stared.
"Funny?" Zoey asked.
Meow nodded.
"Would you like to see possible future outcomes?"
The group instantly became interested.
"YES!" Mili shouted.
Mili's Future
The screen lit up.
An older version of Mili appeared.
She stood on a giant stage.
Thousands of people were cheering.
"Wow!" Mili said.
"I become famous!"
Then the future Mili tripped over her own feet and fell off the stage.
The crowd gasped.
James burst out laughing.
"I knew it."
Mili threw a leaf at him.
James's Future
The screen changed.
Future James sat peacefully in a chair.
Finally reading a book.
"No mysteries."
"No danger."
"No adventures."
James smiled proudly.
"See? Perfect."
Suddenly future Mili crashed through a wall behind him.
The building exploded.
Future James dropped his book.
Current James buried his face in his hands.
"Of course."
Lucas's Future
Future Lucas stood in a laboratory.
He appeared to be a famous scientist.
Several students were listening to him.
"Nice," Lucas said.
Then one student asked a question.
Future Lucas spoke for three hours without stopping.
Everyone in the vision fell asleep.
Even the robot recording the lecture shut itself down.
The group laughed.
"Okay, that's unfair," Lucas complained.
Zoey's Future
Future Zoey was surrounded by hundreds of fans.
She was apparently the owner of the most popular social network in Stairthaire.
"Look at me!" Zoey said proudly.
Then the screen zoomed in.
She was secretly spending all day watching cat videos.
Meow nodded.
"Accurate."
Kai's Future
Kai crossed his arms.
"This should be interesting."
Future Kai stood heroically on a mountain.
The wind blew dramatically.
He looked incredibly cool.
Mili whistled.
"Not bad."
Then future Kai turned around.
He was practicing how to talk to a girl.
"Hello."
"No."
"Hi."
"No."
"Greetings, fellow human."
The entire group exploded with laughter.
Kai immediately covered his face.
"Delete that."
"Negative," Meow replied.
Luna's Future
Everyone became curious.
The screen slowly activated.
Future Luna appeared.
She looked older.
Confident.
Happy.
Standing beside her were all her friends.
Mili.
Kai.
James.
Lucas.
Zoey.
And Professor Luca.
Everyone seemed safe.
Everyone seemed happy.
The group smiled.
Then future Luna suddenly shouted,
"JAMES! STOP TOUCHING THE MACHINE!"
A massive explosion occurred.
The screen went black.
James stood up.
"Why is it always me?"
"Because it usually is," Kai replied.
The friends laughed together.
For the first time in a long time, there were no mysteries to solve.
No villains to fight.
No dangerous machines.
Just friends enjoying a peaceful afternoon.
As the sun began setting, Luna looked around.
Mili was arguing with James.
Lucas was explaining something nobody understood.
Zoey was teasing Kai.
Meow was secretly recording everything.
And Professor Luca was watching from a distance with a smile.
Luna smiled.
Whatever future awaited them...
She knew one thing.
They would face it together.
And somewhere beyond the stars...
Professor Jasmine was smiling too.
Bonus Future Glimpses
"Wait!" Mili said. "Show us more!"
Meow's eyes flashed.
"Warning. These are only possible futures."
"Show them anyway!" Zoey replied.
James's Future
The hologram activated.
Future James stood in the academy garden holding a bouquet of glowing flowers.
His hands were shaking.
"Oh no," current James said.
"Oh yes," Mili replied.
Future James walked toward someone.
The figure turned around.
It was Mili.
The entire group immediately started laughing.
"NO WAY!" Lucas shouted.
Future James nervously cleared his throat.
"Mili... I've wanted to tell you something for a long time."
Current James covered his face.
"Please stop."
Future Mili smiled.
"Tell me."
Future James took a deep breath.
"Will you go out with me?"
The screen suddenly froze.
Everyone groaned.
"WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?" Zoey shouted.
Meow blinked.
"Future temporarily unavailable."
James looked relieved.
Mili looked annoyed.
Mili's Future
"Show mine!" Mili demanded.
The hologram changed.
Future Mili was sitting at a café.
Across from her sat...
Future James.
Everyone immediately screamed.
"I KNEW IT!" Kai shouted.
Future James was talking excitedly while Future Mili laughed.
The two looked happy together.
Then Future James accidentally spilled a drink all over himself.
Current James sighed.
"That actually seems realistic."
Future Mili laughed and helped him clean up.
The vision ended.
The entire group turned toward James and Mili.
Silence.
Five seconds.
Ten seconds.
Then—
"MILI AND JAMES!" Zoey shouted.
Both immediately turned red.
"IT'S JUST A POSSIBLE FUTURE!" James yelled.
"Sure," Lucas replied.
"Totally possible," Kai added.
Mili crossed her arms.
"It's not happening."
"That's exactly what people in future visions always say," Luna replied.
Everyone burst out laughing.
Even Meow.
And for the next hour, James and Mili never heard the end of it.