AN - Enjoy and review!
"TRA-LA-LLLAAAA!", came a voice somewhere in the distance.
Their appearances changed from worried to sly as George and Harold high fived each other.
Melvin, not knowing what was about to happen, took a few cautious steps forward. "I'm warning you, Poopypants! Get your hands off of her", he said determinedly.
"Or what?", asked Poopypants.
Suddenly, the one and only Captain Underpants, wearing his signature cape and briefs, flew above them all. "Or expect justice, Poopypants!", he exclaimed triumphantly.
"What-", said Tuck.
"The-", said Melvin, smiling. He remembered this guy.
"Heck", said Ruth, still trying to get away.
Captain Underpants swooped down next to George and Harold. He beamed at them. "Hello again, sidekicks."
The boys smiled.
"Hey", said George.
He then flew over everybody. Passerbys stopped to stare at the strange man in his underwear.
"You!", yelled Poopypants.
"Me!", yelled Captain Underpants. "Think fast!"
Before he could react, Poopypants was hit with a fresh pair of underwear. The first hit caused him to release Ruth and made him fall backwards. As soon as she was free, Melvin pulled her behind him, the other boys joined them, retreating behind a car to watch the ordeal.
Before Poopypants could get up, he was met by more pairs of underpants, thrown by the Captain himself, which were much too heavy for him, restraining him to remain on the sidewalk.
"I'm still glad we gave him that superpower", said Harold to George. Harold then whispered something to Tuck, who immediately ran over to the firehouse.
"NIEN!", yelled Poopypants before he passed out.
"Hahahaha!", chuckled Captain Underpants. Next, he retrieved Poopypants from under the pile of briefs, grabbing him by his underwear and hanging him from a flagpole, hanging a sign on him that said "Arrest Me". "Some gags never get old!" He landed on the ground, watching as his sidekicks came out to congratulate him.
"Good job, Cap! Nicely done!", said George.
"Why, thank you sidekicks! It's just another days work! Oh, I see I have more sidekicks!", said Captain Underpants, staring at Melvin and Ruth. They looked awkward.
Tuck returned, dragging a hose behind him that was spraying a ton of water.
"Alright! I must fly again! There's more evil afoot!", said Captain Underpants.
George and Harold grabbed Melvin and Ruth. They hid behind the car again.
"NOW!", yelled Harold.
Hearing the signal, Tuck pointed the hose at Captain Underpants, (dowsing him in water), who shook his head as he fell to the ground. Throwing the hose away, Tuck joined the kids behind the car.
Principal Krupp came to, shaking his head back and forth. He sneered at the crowd looking at him. "What are you peop-", he began. Looking down, he turned red. Why was he almost naked?! Again?! Why did this keep happening to him?! Krupp did his best to cover himself with the cape and made a run for it to his car.
The cops soon came for Poopypants.
It was 7:50. Since they still had time for their day off, the kids finally made it to the treehouse. After Melvin, Tuck, and Ruth checked out all of George and Harold's comics, their stories, drawings, the boys figured it was enough to tell them the full story. They sat in a circle and drank grape juice.
"So... you're telling us, Principal Krupp was that Captain Underpants?", asked Tuck.
"That's exactly what we're saying", said Harold. "And we don't feel like repeating it again. Especially since the readers know."
"The readers?", asked Ruth. "What are you talking about?"
George and Harold pointed at their other audience. The trio stared shocked at the readers.
"Say hi", said George.
"Hi", said the three of them, slowly waving to us.
"So, why do you guys think Poopypants is back?", asked Melvin.
"We don't know", said George. "There's a ton of questions we have. Like, how is he big again? How did he find us? What does he want?"
"What did he mean when he said he had plans for us?", asked Harold.
"Maybe he's just crazy. I'd go crazy too if my name was Poopypants", said Tuck.
"What if he comes back?", asked George.
"I did help him, and I'm sorry for that", said Melvin. "But, if he does come back, I have some inventions that can help if he attacks us again."
"Well, I'm not sure how much help we'd be, but Ruth and I could keep an eye out, just in case", said Tuck.
"So, I guess we really are friends?", asked Melvin.
"Of course. There are some things in life you can't go through without becoming friends afterwards", said Harold, smirking.
Ruth squeaked. The guys figured out she did that when she was nervous.
"What's wrong?", asked Tuck.
"Guys! It's 8:38! We have to get back to school!", yelled Ruth.
They scrambled out of the treehouse, made their way across the street, and dashed to the door that led to the Janitor's closet, climbed up the shelf, shimmied through the vents, moved the panel that showed the Library. Tuck ordered the Clones to rebuild the book ladder.
The kids were down in no time. They put the books away as Melvin pulled the gun out and shot the Clones with it, causing the pixels to disintegrate.
It was 9:00 p.m.
The kids took their seats as the doors opened up, echoing throughout the room. Principal Krupp came in looking distraught. "Hmmm, seems as though everything is still in once place."
"How was the Convention, Principal Tubb?", asked Tuck.
Krupp glared at him. ""Educational. I uh, had to step out for an hour or two, and uh, I have a meeting after I leave. So, let's go!"
They all gathered their belongings and headed out the main doors. As soon as Krupp had left the kids high fived each other. They pulled it off.
It was now night. The group decided to walk each other home.
Tuck was first.
"Thanks for today, guys. It was awesome", said Tuck.
"We'll see you on Monday?", asked George.
"Bet on it", said Tuck, waving goodbye as he entered his Pap's trailer. It smelt of cats and soup. He saw his Gran sitting by the fireplace. His Pap must be sleeping.
"Gran?", asked Tuck.
She was eating fudge. Her favorite. "Oh! Hello, Carl! How was school?! Did you get straight A's?", she asked.
Carl was Tuck's dad, and her son.
"Yeah, mom. I did", lied Tuck. "All A's today."
She gently brushed a hand against his face. "That's my boy!", she said, smiling.
Next was Ruth.
She smirked. "Thanks, Harold. Thanks, George. You two are wild."
"We could say the same about you", said Harold.
She then turned to Melvin. He got nervous.
George and Harold glanced at each other, whistled and pretended to be looking around.
"Are you going to be okay?", asked Melvin.
"Yeah... do you still think I'm weird?", asked Ruth.
"Uh-huh. But in a good way. Do you still think I'm a snitch?", asked Melvin.
She gave him an exasperated look. "Duh", she said. They both scoffed. Before he could say anything else, Ruth kissed him on his cheek. It lasted for 5 seconds. She squeaked, and immediately ran inside her one story, dilapidated looking house.
George and Harold snickered.
Melvin glared at them. "Shut up."
Ruth closed the door behind her. A lamp was turned on. She jumped. "Daddy! I didn't know you were still up", she said, bracing herself against the wall.
Her father stood up, staring straight at her. He looked angry. Slowly, he walked towards her, forcing her to move herself into a corner.
"D-daddy-", she started.
"Did I just see you with three boys? At your age? You're already hanging around with boys?", he said. His voice very deep.
"They're my friends", she said.
"I saw you kiss one of them", he got louder. He started to clench his fists.
Ruth knew what that meant. She squeaked as she prepared for the first strike.
Next it was Melvin's house.
"I know, guys. I'm still annoying, but you can't help but find me all the more pleasant company", said Melvin as a matter of factly.
"We're doing our best to see you that way from now on, Melvin", said Harold. "Don't let it go to your head."
"Fine", said Melvin. "See ya."
"See ya", said George and Harold. They walked back up the street towards their houses.
Melvin entered his. It was a very nice house. But it was like a museum; very cold and very quiet. If it hadn't been for the robotic nanny Melvin had made, he would have been all alone. He figured since his parents car was gone, they were working. And they'd be working until who knows when.
George and Harold made it to their houses.
"Could there ever be another day like this, Mr. Beard?", asked Harold.
"You never know, Mr. Hutchins", said George. He could still feel the Hypo Ring in his pocket. "Goodnight." He smiled.
"Goodnight", said Harold. He smiled back. They high fived. He watched as George got into his house. About to open his front door, he heard someone call his name.
"Harold?"
Harold turned around.
It was Harrison.
"Dad?", asked Harold. "What are you doing here?"
Harrison slowly made his way up to him, but kept his distance. "I need to tell you something Harold. I wanted to tell you before but your mother wouldn't let me."
"What do you want?", asked Harold coldly.
"I want you to move to Nevada with me."
