This story is too cleche, but oh well.
This takes place long after the basic story line of 'Laichzeit'.
If you did not read Laichzeit, this is what you need to know;
Lifty made a suicide bombing in HTT, killing Pop, himself, Mime, and Cro-Marmot, forever. Russell and Fritz were bisexual rapists, Handy is a necrophiliac clinging to his dead wife, Flaky is Cub's biological mother, Evil Flippy is infatuated with saving his long dead brother and Flaky (despite both leaving the area years ago), and Nutty is now addicted to sex, candy, and heroin.
It gives hints as to what happens next in 'Laichzeit', which I need to work on.
Cub trots slowly through the snow, staring into each storefront window. He remembers when The Mole used to stand and collect money for the salvation army. He permanently retired after Lifty's Bomb, and no one stands there. His dad died in the bomb, and he was raised in joint custody, shared between Flippy and Disco Bear. The town died with the smoke from the bomb. Most left to for better work, or to escape horrible memories. Those who stayed are bitter, and uncaring. Even with Lumpy as a compitent sheriff, the rule of the gun topped the Law.
He passed the residential areas, peering into the windows. He was looking into Nutty's House. The wallpaper was falling down in strips, and the house was dark and devoid of valuable items. Nutty was lying in newspaper, still suffering withdrawl. He opens his eyes and charges at the window, and Cub fled.
Cub stops, panting, glancing around. He realizes where he is standing, next to the destroyed apartments, and runs away. Evil Flippy shot anyone who was near the apartments, still fearing after 16 long years that his brother and wife were still alive in the rubble. Trying to protect them.
Flaky's house was very familiar. He didn't live with her anymore but he always loved dropping by his mother's house. There was rarely anyone home though. Flaky was visiting her son, Flipper, in jail. Red and Tierney were both in college. And of course, he lived on his own.
Life in Happy Tree Town was much more bitter than in his childhood. His older friends used to play at the playground near Sniffles's house. Now, Nutty and other drug addicts stalked among the equipment. Lumpy once was an active over acheiving go-getter. He couldn't lift any child any more. Russell occasionally came to the city's port, but spent most of his time back at sea, visiting his friend and wife's graves. Handy was clinically insane, isolated from the others by a sea of rubble, clinging to his wife's corpse for happiness and companionship. Petunia and her child only came back to give money to Nutty for support. Disco Bear decided to abandon Disco, for it reminded him of his dead brother. Fritz was normal Fritz, but, because of the shock of almost killing Cub, he stopped talking. Skippy turn towards a more pessemistic outlook on life, but still never stopped talking. Splendid was still a major authority in the town, but he wasn't able to do what he needed, and that was be socially accepted as a hero. Toothy and Cuddles left, but Giggles stayed, fearing the worst for her old friends. In the least, it was hell compared to his amazing childhood.
The empty streets just filled his heart with dread. The holidays were here, but Cub had no family to celebrate it. If he could, he'd rewind the clock to before Nutty and Petunia experienced 'Laichzeit', he would.
He looked up, a grin sliding across his face, an idea brewing inside.
Sort of an introduction into Cub's new life post-spawning time.
Review, even if you hate it!
Joe and William