Disclaimer
I do not own Bolt, Mittens, or Rhino. The only aspects of Penny or Emily Wallace that I "own" are the name Penny and the name Wallace. They are owned by Walt Disney Pictures. The rest unmentioned are owned by me.
Intro
Well, for all of you fans of my first fic, I'm sure you'll be happy to know that you are now entering my sequel. I have gone through some ideas and I hope you all like this one just as much, if not better, than my first. If you have not read Until I'm Saved, I highly recommend you do.
Bolt's 6th birthday is approaching, and a new invention has given Penny the perfect birthday gift. Now, what is this gift, you ask? Well, it's big enough to cause a national debate over whether it's morally right or wrong, especially after the strange side-effects caused by said invention start to take their toll on their first "patient," who just so happens to be Bolt. Again, I'm rating this teen as there will be some violence, crude humour, mature themes, suggestive dialogue, blood, and possibly some violence (I don't have it 100% planned out yet).
Chapter 2 will come ASAP. I am writing this as we go and I'll give it my best.
Vertigo
I: Modesty
"Only one week left! O-N-E! One!" Rhino yelled from Emily's room. Bolt, who had been sleeping, awoke to a bright October sunrise bursting through the front window and door. It blinded him at first, but he quickly adjusted to the light and inhaled the fresh morning air. His white, well-groomed fur had grown out to a soft, flowing length. He looked to the right to see Rhino, in his ball, rolling out of the hallway into the living room. "Totally be-awesome, Bolt! This time next week you will be six years old!"
"Oh, come on, Rhino! It's just a number." Bolt said, somewhat modestly. "Pff! No, you come on, Bolt! You're gonna be six whole years old! That's... uh..." Bolt rolled his eyes, keeping the same content expression on his face as Rhino counted slowly on his fingers. Bolt then interrupted, "Save your breath, Rhino. I don't celebrate my birthday. I don't care that the Earth has gone around the sun one more time since I was born. I don't care how old I am. All I care is that I'm still here and I've got a long way ahead of me." Before Rhino could make another excuse, Bolt turned his head to see the sun shining on Isabel's golden fur. Bolt leaned over and gave her a quick kiss, waking her up. "Hey, baby." She said softly. "What are you talking about? Baby? Bolt's not a baby, he's Bolt the Superdog! The most beyond be-awesome living thing on Earth!" Rhino commented. "Uh... Rhino? Do you mind?" Bolt asked. "Oh, yes. Yes I do. I'm not gonna leave that easy. Not even Bolt the Superdog can make me leave. I'm stayin' right here!"
"Rhino, I told you... I'm not a superdog. I don't even know if there's such thing as a superdog." Rhino's jaw dropped, astounded. "That's crazy talk! You are the superdog, Bolt! I don't know what you've been watching, but from what I have seen, you are incredibly beyond the very existence of be-awesome." Bolt sighed and glanced at Isabel, a little frustrated that Rhino wouldn't let them have any privacy. Then again, this was typical of Rhino. Every morning, Bolt would awaken to the shrill voice of the rodent and it took some doing to get him to go away. "Rhino... I don't..."
"Who saved their Owner's life from the scorching belly of the beast?" Rhino asked knowingly. Bolt rolled his eyes and did not answer. Though he loved to brag about it, he was very modest at heart and did not want to look like he had a big ego. Not only did this prevent him from responding, but he thought twelve times was enough. "Mmmhmm. That's what I thought, Bolt." Rhino commented, as if Bolt answered him. "And who saved the beautiful angel from the prince of hell?" Bolt, again, did not respond, and instead turned to Isabel, an irritated look on his face. Eventually, Bolt turned his head and responded, "Look, Rhino. I like that you are a fan and all, but I am not a superdog. I'm just a regular dog. I may have done those things, sure... but that doesn't make me more amazing than any other dog. If your family or friends were in danger, you'd do the same, Rhino." A somewhat sad look appeared on Rhino's face. Rhino didn't respond, but looked down at the ground, keeping the sad expression. "You okay, Rhino?" Bolt asked. Rhino stuck out his hand, palm out, not wanting to answer. And he slowly turned and rolled his ball away to the couch, obviously hurt. "What did you do?" Isabel asked Bolt. Bolt looked at Rhino and responded softly, "I don't know."
Regardless of whatever had just happened, Bolt and Isabel now had time to themselves and nuzzled each other for awhile, losing themselves in the passion of their love. Mittens awoke, seeing them together. It was a sight for sore eyes; they were probably the most beautiful couple Mittens had ever seen. She smiled at them and left the soft, black bed that she always slept in, giving Bolt and Isabel their privacy in the adjacent white dog bed. She then looked toward the couch and noticed Rhino on the couch in his ball, but he wasn't staring at the TV as he normally would. He had his head rested on his arms and he was looking away from the TV. Mittens hopped onto the red couch and padded her way over to Rhino, "What's up, rodent?" She asked him playfully. Rhino sighed, "Oh... nothing. It's just... I..." Rhino couldn't find the words and finished off his sentence with, "Don't worry about it. I'll be fine." Mittens hesitated for a moment, giving Rhino a concerned look, and then eventually nodded and turned her head around, scanning the room for Penny, Emily, and Joe, who had now moved into the house. Penny entered the hallway outside the living room with Emily, they were discussing Bolt's birthday coming up. "Mom, don't you think a chew toy is too cliché? I mean, I get one of those for him all the time. Don't you think we need to surprise him?"
"Well, honey, we don't have the money for a four-story condominium for him. We need to keep it simple. After all, he's just a dog." Emily got somewhat of a surprised look on her face following this response. "Uh... mom? Dogs have feelings too, just as we do. I mean, if we get him just a normal gift he'll just think it's a normal day. I want him to learn what this day means. He's gonna be six years old!"
"Dogs don't run on calendars and clocks, dear. I don't even think dogs can count. I doubt he remembers how old he is, let alone what day his birthday is on." Penny gave up arguing, walked to the couch and sat down, pulling out her cell phone from her blue jeans pocket. Emily entered the kitchen and prepared breakfast for the family. She entered cabinet after cabinet, pulling out boxes of cereal, cat food, dog food, hamster food, milk, orange juice, etc. which attracted the masses; Bolt, Isabel, Mittens, and Rhino all ran to the kitchen, exicted. Joe entered the kitchen, his hair (or lack thereof) wet as he had just exited the shower and he was dressed in his police uniform. His once bushy mustache was much shorter and much more groomed, but his accent still remained just as southern as it always had. "Good morning, Emily." He quickly leaned in and kissed Emily on the lips. Yes, this man was something special to Emily, alright. Bolt, Isabel, and Mittens had already begun to call this man 'Dad'. Penny then entered the room with her cell phone in her right hand, scratching her head and wearing a puzzled look on her face. She approached Emily and Joe, "Mom, have you heard anything about this?" She started as she turned the phone so Joe and Emily could see. Joe and Emily looked at the screen on the phone and then collectively answered, "No."
"What is it?" Emily asked. Penny then answered, "It's a text message from my friend."
"No, I know that... but what is that new invention he's talking about?"
"I don't know. I'll text message him back." Penny exited the room and head back for the living room. "Joe, I thought we'd bring everyone out for dinner tonight. I found this wonderful restaurant on the way back from the mountains yesterday. They allow you to bring your pets."
"Really? I've seen that place. Isn't it called like... uh..." Joe cringed slightly as he tried to remember. "The House of Jericho Burger Outlet." Emily completed for him.
"Yeah, that's it. I've been there before. Long time ago. I'd love to go there with you. But, in the meantime, I have to go to work!" He gave her another kiss on the cheek and quickly scurried out of the house. Penny waved bye to Joe as he left as she re-entered the room. "What'd he say, Penny?" Emily asked as she was giving the pets their long-awaited breakfast. "He said..." She attempted to read the text message as she approached Emily, who was putting food bowls down by her feet for the zoo, but just then Penny's cell phone slipped from her grasp and landed on the ground, remaining intact and still on. Bolt peeked over at it to read the text message Penny's friend had sent. "Turn on the channel 4 news in 20 minutes, they are gonna talk about the new invention." Penny reached down, grabbed her phone, and brushed it off on her black Linkin Park t-shirt, and then read the message aloud. The message did, indeed, get Bolt's attention. Mittens, Isabel, and Rhino did not budge, and continued to eat their breakfast as Emily began to pour bowls of cereal and cups of orange juice.