Written by Buck Tick
The racoon stands there in the grass outside of Skips' place, wondering why the yeti told them about the dragon story, which happened to be the exact story Benson was going to copy. Clearly, Skips was secretly trying to tell them to stop Benson from completing his task, right? Rigby places a hand on his chin. "Hmm..." he says, screwing his eyebrows together. "Skips said that there needed to be a personal sacrifice to whoever makes the copy...So maybe Bensno's sacrifice would be... Losing his job?" The racoon throws up his hads, groaning loudly. "All this thinking is hurting my brain!"
"One should not talk to oneself in public places." says Pops as he wanders over, pushing a push-mower.
"Hey Pops, what do you know about dragons?" asks Rigby at once.
"Not much, I'm afraid," admits the lollipop man. "I'm sorry I could not be of much help..." he turns away and starts walking quickly, cutting the already-cut-grass.
Rigby bounds forward. "Pops! Hold up, man! I need to ask you something."
"But I've already told you all I know..." sighs Pops, looking down.
"No, this is different." replies the racoon swiftly. "If Benson had to make an ultimate sacrifice, what do you think that would be?"
"Oh my..." The lollipop shudders in horror.
"Without dying." groans Rigby, rolling his eyes. "Come on." he adds, watching Pops stammer in confusion.
Pops turns off the push-mower and frowns in thought.
Rigby stares at him impatiently, chewing his lips. "Well?" he presses.
"The greatest sacrifice one can make," answers Pops with wide, unfocused eyes, "is to give up the greatest quality that makes you who you are..."
"So what would that be?"
"Well, my little man," says Pops cheerfully. "In your case, you would lose-"
"My charming good looks?"
"Oh'hah hah hah!" squeals the lollipop, clapping his hands. "Oh," Pops wipes a tear from his eye. "You are lots of fun, Rigby!"
Rigby scowls darkly at him.
"Hmm..." hums Pops thoughtfully. "In your case, you would lose... your loyalty. You would no longer care about staying close to people, or having people respect you. You would be alone, and live the rest of your days confused and alone..."
Rigby stares at him uncomfortably, not sure to agree or disagree. "And what about you, Pops?"
"That is easy; I would lose..." his eyes widen tearfully, all cheerfulness lost in his voice. His bottom lip begins to tremble. "My one-ness with nature. I would ever again appreciate the blossoming flowers, or the laughter of the trees... I would not stop to listen to the birds, nor have the willingness to wake up before dawn to watch the sunrise..."
Rigby smiles weakly and lays a hand on Pop's arm. "It's all right, Pops..." After recieving a sad smile from the lollipop, Rigby asks, "So what about Benson?"
Pops places a hand on his chest. "His heart." he answers.
._._._.
"Sh'mells like pie up in here!" cries Mordecai, raising his hands to the roof as he waltzs into the kitchen.
"Just got outta the oven~!" sings Muscle Man, springing across the room in a brown Kiss-The-Cook apron. Hi-Fives laughs happily as he sets out two extra paper plates, then he stops and looks at the blue jay. "Where's Rigby?" he asks, sounding worrisome.
Mordecai shrugs. "I don't know..." he says. He sighs and plops himself down in a chair. He reaches over and drags a plate over to himself, muttering a thanks. Thomas is sitting across from Mordecai, and gives him a sympathetic smile.
Muscle Man slices a thick piece for Mordecai and gives it to him while Hi-Fives pours him a tall glass of milk. The Man pulls up a chair and sits next to him. "Talk to me, bro." he says deeply.
Mordecai sighs again and nudges the warm pie with his fork. A sweet-smelling steam rises from the center of the ooey gooey pecan pie.
Thomas leans forward. "Oh boy, that looks really good!" he says enthusiastically.
"Quiet, Thomas! We're having a moment!" yells the Man. "Go ahead, bro." he repeats gently to the bird.
"Well..." Mordecai looks at them. "Has...Has Benson seemed a little...Harsher than usual lately?" he asks.
"Harsh?" Muscle Man's eyes narrow judgementally, thinking Mordecai is going to speak badly about his boss.
"Strange." Mordecai corrects himself quickly. "Has he been acting strange?"
Muslce Man thinks back to Benson hiding under the staircase, with his notebook and his secrets. "No." he says flatly.
Mordecai looks to the ghost for reassurance.
Hi-Fives looks away quickly, feeling awkward. Not wanting to lie.
"He has seemed a little distant today." says Thomas slowly. "Like he's scatter-brained..."
Muscle Man throws a fat pointing finger to the goat. "You're scattered brained!" he shouts.
"Urrrgh!" moans Mordecai, holding his ears. "Stop yelling..."
"Where's Rigby?!" demands Skips loudly, skipping into the room, his nostrils flared.
"Rigby?" repeats Thomas. He strokes the wilted flower in his lap fondly.
"Why?" asks Mordecai. He pushes back his chair, standing. "Oh my gosh, what has he done now?"
"It's what he's going to do." replies Skips. "We have to stop him."
"What are you talkin' bout?" asks Muscle Man.
"I met Pops in the park. He says Rigby is going to find the take back the dragon book."
._._._.
(To Rammstein: That's for Woody's "phonecall" to Andy! Keep in mind it hasn't even been one day in this story)
