It was impossible. Everyone knew that Colonel Clyde spared no expense when it came to security. But they had all just saw someone single-handedly create a diversion, smash the Cold Amplifiers, and melt all of the jellybeans in the two-hundred square foot storage chamber. The question was: who?

The toons thought no cog, with their extremely limited memory and hard drive would ever be able to make thirty-minute plan that could cause an economic meltdown. Literally.

Everyone was still staring at the T.V, which now showed reporters interviewing some people affected by the crisis. They didn't have to look far. A mob had amassed at TCHQ that held nearly every toon in Toontown. Once again, they had put their wealth in a banking system that once again failed them. They were losing faith in the Toontown 'law' system fast.

But in Clyde manor, Icy was dumbstruck rather than outraged. Toontown Central to this day was protected by a magical border around its premises set up and withheld by Mickey Mouse himself. No cogs could get past it, for it was the strength of all of the Toontown Heroes that kept it going, and it warded cogs from all playgrounds in Toontown. Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy, Daisy, Pluto. Nothing could penetrate the barriers, unless…

"Those poor toons!" Icy heard a servant say. "Why, they must have lost nearly all of their jellybeans!"

"Clyde will figure something out." Icy heard Loop de Hoop say. "He always does."

Colonel Clyde Cheezymash was feeling a little under the weather. They just didn't understand the potential of this new villain. "I need to go to TBHQ (The Brrrgh Headquarters). Cold air helps me think." Is what he found himself saying, although that wasn't the reason at all.

Tuft tried to help out. "Yes, and he needs to talk to the officers there too." She pulled out her teleportation hole and Icy jumped in holding Clyde's hand. Tuft jumped in after them.

***

The Lone Toon stood in TBHQ. Littered across the floor were the dead bodies of several guards and HQ officers who had gotten in his way. Another was convulsing in pain. And, tied at his feet, were the six Toontown Heroes. Minnie and Daisy were passed out, Pluto was unable to move, and Donald tried to speak, but all that came out was a muffled, "Quack."

Goofy leaned in close and whispered something to Mickey. Mickey nodded and started to say something, but The Lone Toon just said, "If you're going to try to guilt me into setting you free, let me save you the air. I am familiar with all cog attacks, and Guilt Trip is one of my specialties." Mickey looked downcast and started to ask a question, but the toon said again, "And NO, I am NOT a cog!"

Goofy shook his head. "Ya know, we were bein' awfully nice to ya back at that there playgrounds and this, well, isn't what we deserve, A-hyuck."

"Oh please. I only kidnapped you unintelligent bilge rats because I need Toontown to be defenseless. If I wanted to listen to your idiotic jabber all day, I would have invited you for tea and cookies."

Goofy and Mickey flinched, and Pluto put his tail between his legs. Perfect. The lower their spirits, the lower Toontown's defenses. He held up his dip gun. "And you see this? Once I am done with the majority of Toontown's residents, I will pick the rest off with this gun, you see? Plain as the NOSE-" -The toon slapped Goofy- "on your face."

"You're a monster." Mickey said defiantly.

"Oh am I? Well, at least I'm not the kind of monster that hides under your bed at night. No, I'm more the kind of monster that invades your minds, making you do stupid, no, more stupid things than you ever did before. Like putting your faith in that old coot Clyde. Have you checked the news? After the Meltdown of 09', present, a swarm of toons is outside TCHQ demanding an answer from the officers, and I've already killed them all!" The toon burst out into maniacal laughter.

Mickey's eyes widened. "No."

"Yes, in fact-"

Just then, there was a knock on the door. The toon quickly put on his hood.

***

Clyde heard someone laughing inside. He hoped all of the officers were all right. Maybe they were all laughing at a funny joke they heard, yes, they were all sitting around a fire drinking hot chocolate and complementing the joke they heard.

Yet Clyde knew that was wishful thinking. He knew the villain was in here. He knew what he could be doing to the officers. He knew what he would be doing at midnight.

He knew that this was the end.

***

Icy was scared. He was the traditional fraidy-cat. He wasn't used to an audience. The only thing that pushed him though the orientation was Tuft's presence. Yet he pushed on. He had to tell the Officers what he knew, however dreadful it may be.

***

Tuft was prepared for anything. She just had her first kiss, for Sound's sake! She was energetic and happy and ready for anything. She hoped this would all blow over. Toons could handle anything.

She quietly grasped Icy's hand and opened the door.

***

They all walked inside. What they saw was a horror. Several toons were strewn across the floor, dead, and one died right in front of their eyes. The Toontown Heroes were tied up in a bundle like sausages, and in the center, a cloaked toon holding a remote and a ray gun.

Icy felt faint and tried not to throw up and he felt Tuft's hand squeeze his. They were utterly horrified.

Only Clyde had the courage to speak. "Why? Why did you do this?"

The toon just stood there.

"Well? Answer me."

"I do not take orders from you anymore." The toon said as he pointed the mysterious ray gun at Clyde. "If you back away, maybe I'll let it slide."

"You are not my master."

"Still have that spirit?" The toon pointed his ray gun at the side of Mickey's head. "Then what about him? He is certainly more important. Now back away. Slowly."

Tuft and Icy started to back away, but Clyde stayed firm. He pulled something out of his pocket. It was a piece of candy. The toon cocked the gun.

Faster than lightning, Clyde put the piece of candy in his mouth and blew a puff of black smoke to the Toontown Heroes. They instantly teleported away.

"STUPID OLD MAN!" The toon yelled. "YOU'VE INTERFERED FOR THE LAST TIME!!" The toon shot Clyde ten times.

As Clyde faded from existence, his last words were, "Goodbye, Crazy."

Tuft and Icy stared and the spot Clyde had been. Tuft squeaked, "Crazy?"

The toon pulled off his hood to reveal Crazy Loopy Trickythud. "Long time no see. I'm sorry, but I'm going to have to ask you to take a little nap."

***

"Clyde will figure something out. He always does." –Loop de Hoop