Chapter 3 – Final Blow

Tamama arched his back and gathered together all the injustices of the day. Gritting his teeth, he thought about the whole experience from getting scolding from Sarge to seeing her greatest rival taking pictures with his beloved.

"AND THEN YOU SIDED WITH HER!" cried out the Private with all the malice and envy his little body could muster. Realizing the jealousy had peaked and was now pulsating ominously around his right hand, Tamama grinned a terrible grief stricken grin. "I hope you're prepared to DIE!"

A warm hand fell on Tamama's shoulder causing him to falter in mid-throw. It was Keroro.

"Who's taking sides? I'm merely trying to improve relationships with everyone on my team. Only together could we ever hope to make Pekopon Invasion a reality." Keroro ambled off a few steps, "I wish I knew what was bothering you, Tamama, and why you feel so much hatred toward Lady Mois. I'm sure you'll come to me with your problems when you feel ready."

Tamama nearly choked with joy. "Do you really mean that?" he asked, warmth filling every pore. Jealousy fled from his skin in the form of a noxious purple mist. Suddenly, he noticed the dark energy ball still in his hand. The loss of conviction had caused the ball to wobble unstably and finally fall off Tamama's shaking hand.

At the last moment, Tamama reached out to try and catch it, but it was too late. The ball exploded and the Private appeared a moment later sprawled on the ground sporting a rather obscene black afro.

"That would be karma," nodded Keroro all-knowingly, "Attacking a fellow team member is never the solution to the problem." With that, he marched away singing a jaunty tune.

Looking from the collapsed Tamama to the body of Sarge melting back into the crowds, Mois felt extremely confused, but in her gut, she knew that some sort of serious problem had been solved, and her leader had been the one to do it. Smiling, she called after Keroro and ran off.

Tamama lay in the dirt seething. Something Keroro had said was stuck in his head. Perhaps the Sarge had been right. Remembering his superior's kind words, Tamama's jealousy and hate melted and was replaced with only gratitude. Private Tamama tried to get up but fell over. Happiness would fade and Jealousy would come back, but until then, he was powerless.