ICY GIRL1234: Sure, I'll include them! They'll appear in the next chapter. By the way, thanks! I'm glad you like it.
Chapter One
Sellbot Headquarters was not a place Willow had visited often, but she had clear memories of it. She had earned her aoogah here, and it had soon become one of her favorite gags. She recalled the victory dance; it was awkward celebrating in such a gloomy area. The same bleak clouds were visible, and nearly everything inside was gray. The doors were gray, the statues were gray—even the ground she stood on was gray. However, one thing was different: there were no Cogs roaming around, and Willow had a hunch about where they were. She wandered further inside, avoiding the large crater in the middle.
She climbed up a ramp and reached a line of gray doors. Cautiously, Willow opened one of the doors and walked into yet another empty room: the room in which boarding groups were formed before fighting the VP. This time, she was going solo—something she never thought she would do, especially without a Cog suit. She descended the stairs, crossed the floor, and ascended the next set of stairs. Without hesitation, she stepped onto the elevator and sat down, setting the birthday cake next to her. She had only just realized how exhausted her arms were. She pulled her knees in, wrapped her arms around them, and let her head fall back against the elevator wall. "We're off to see the VP, the horrible VP of Sales..." Willow continued to hum the tune weakly as the elevator doors closed. She felt the elevator begin to rise.
After stretching out her arms, she stood up and picked up the cake again, which felt fifty times heavier than it was before. By now, though she was trying to hide it, she was practically drowning in anxiety. "Strong," she whispered to herself. "Just be strong. There's no turning back now..."
As if on cue, the doors slid open to reveal the dreary area known as Sellbot Towers. The Vice President was there, just like she had expected, deep in conversation with a Two-Face. He was wearing his usual plaid, violet shirt—the definition of ugly, if you asked Willow—and sitting on his uncomfortable-looking gear. As Willow stepped out, the Sellbot boss turned to see her. His eyes widened. "A-a toon," he gasped. His undercarriage dropped open, and the Two-Face walked inside.
"But of course." Willow's voice was back, stronger this time. "Did you not expect your plan to be flawed? Did you really believe that you buckets of bolts could rid the town of all of toonkind in three hours?" She resisted the urge to let out a scornful laugh, but she rolled her eyes as she stepped off of the elevator and advanced towards him. I hope you do realize what an idiotic idea that was, she thought bitterly. The Cogs' stupidity was crucial to the success of her own plan.
The VP studied her for a minute before saying, "You are alone."
Well, duh. "Who else would be with me?" Willow asked.
The VP ignored this question. "I believe you and I have some unfinished business to attend to-"
"Whoa, whoa, whoa," Willow interrupted, stepping back in fright. She could see where this was going. "I just dropped by to wish you a happy birthday..." She held out the cake for him to see. "Here's your present."
"It's not my birthday," the VP hissed. "Only toons celebrate such foolish holidays. You cannot trick me!" His voice was rising rapidly, more and more anger in each syllable. Willow bit her lip, shrinking slightly as the VP started to advance toward her. He raised a mechanical arm, ready to strike. At this point, one thing was running through Willow's mind.
Surrender to sadness or join the Cogs?
She had one second to make the decision.
Neither.