While Mudsy and Boo had been stalling the builders, the kids stayed at the mansion to think of a plan.
"Okay guys" Augie said "Skip and I will go help Mudsy stall the workers and the mayor, you girls stay here at the mansion and wait for the professor and govenor"
"Got it" said April.
"Anything for Uncle Mudsy" said Brittany.
Skip and Augie both nodded before racing off.
"So what do we do?" Augie asked his brother as they raced to join Mudsy in stalling the demolition crew.
Skip looked down at some rocks.
"I have an idea" said Skip "Why don't we throw some rocks into those tube things in the bulldozers and stuff?"
"What're are you talking about you dweeb?" asked Augie "How is that gonna help Mudsy and Boo?"
"Don't you see, doofus?" Skip said. "Those tube things are exhaust pipes. If we throw our rocks into those pipes, the machine won't be able to exhaust and that'll cause them to break down."
"Oh, now I see." Augie nodded. "In that case, why don't we get going?"
"Pick up as many rocks as you can find" said Skip.
Skip and Augie picked up as many rocks as they could find, climbed a tree and they were right in the perfect shooting angle.
"Okay bro, now we can shoot the rocks into the exhaust pipes" said Skip.
"Allow me, Skip" Augie said as he took a slingshot out of his jacket pocket "I've been sharpshooting ever since we were kids, I can handle this"
Skip nodded as he handed a rock to Augie, who aimed the rock for an exhaust pipe before firing it.
The rock sailed through the air before entering the pipe.
"Bulls eye!" Augie pumped his arm.
"Awesome, bro" said Skip "Now it's my turn!"
"Be careful, Skip." Augie replied as he handed the slingshot to Skip. "Don't misfire."
Skip looked carefully at where he was aiming and released the rock right onto the pipe. Unfortunately, the rock riccocheted right off the pipe and started ricocheting from tree to tree like a super ball until it finally landed right on Mayor Iverson and knocked him out.
"Oaaaaah." Augie hissed. "Another bulls eye, right in that slimeballs' head!"
"What'd I tell you, Augie?" Skip folded his arms.
"Not bad for a pencil necked geek" Augie playfully punched Skip's shoulder.
"Yep." Skip nodded. "That slimeball sure deserved it."
"Anyways, what now?" Augie asked.
"We have to check with the girls and see if the professor is back" said Skip.
"Perfect" said Augie "I'll call them"
He then pulled out his cell phone and dialed April's number.
"Hello?" April answered the phone.
"April, thank god" said Augie "We've finished helping Mudsy and Boo divert the mayor and his goons. Is the professor here yet?"
"I think I see him and the governor in his car" said April "Bring Skip and Muddles back here before the mayor catches you"
"Got it" Augie hung up the phone "Mudsy! Oh Mudsy!"
Mudsy appeared on the branch Augie and Skip were on "You called Augie, my boy?"
"Yes." Augie nodded. "April says that she has saw the professor and the governor in his car and that we should go join them."
"Then, let's go." Mudsy nodded as they left the hiding spot.
During this time, Iverson started to stir after the knockout.
"Ohh..." He rubbed his forehead. "What happened?"
"You got knocked out by some sort of flying rock" one of the builders told him.
"What?" Iverson barked before noticing the demolishing equipment being sabotaged. "Where did that flying rock came from?"
"That tree, sir." Another demolition crew member pointed towards the tree Augie and Skip were at a minute ago.
"Stupid squirrels!" Iverson grunted "Always throwing some dang thing"
It was then that he saw a car arriving at the site. As the car came closer, he recognized one of the men in the car as the state governor.
"Oh no" he gasped "That's govenor's car"
He ran over to the estate as fast as he could.
At that same time, Mudsy and the boys met up with the girls, who were waiting at the balcony. Mudsy and Boo were flying Augie and Skip right to where the girls were.
"Here comes the professor with the governor, guys." April said as they saw the car arriving. "And look who's running like a guy being late for school."
Augie, Skip, Mudsy and Boo looked towards where April was gesturing at.
"Ha." Augie laughed. "Look at that mayor running."
"He'd better run alright" Mudsy chuckled "He looks like he's getting on in pounds, ounces even"
The car soon pulled up, and out came the professor and the governor.
"Here I am, kids." Hyde White said as they got off the car.
"Professor, thank goodness you're here, present even" said Mudsy "Is the governor ready?"
"Yes, I am." The governor nodded. "Professor Hyde White explained everything to me, and I'll be happy to see what historical treasure we've got in the Muddlemore Manor."
"Right, sir." Augie nodded. "Follow us."
Mudsy and the kids led the professor and the governor right to where the Muddlemore mural was.
"Here it is, governor" said Mudsy "The entire Muddlemore family on this wall. It's quite a pretty picture, don't you know"
The governor took a close look at the mural before nodding.
"I agree." The governor nodded. "Well then. This mural is all I need to have this manor declared a national historical landscape."
"What?!" A voice bellowed and everyone turned and saw Mayor Iverson panting and struggling to catch his breath.
"Hello Mayor" Brittany placed her hands on her hips "Glad to see you could come"
"What's going on here?" Iverson demanded "And whatever is going on, you'd better get out of this place because this dump is going to be reduced to rubble!"
"Too bad, Mayor Iverson." The governor replied with his arms folded. "You're going to have to call off the demolition of the manor. As of this moment, Muddlemore Manor is a declared historical landmark."
"What?" Iverson exclaimed. "You can't do that, Governor Butler!"
"I just did." Butler replied. "This mural of the Muddlemore family, dated back from the colonial era, is a national historical treasure, thus qualifying the manor to be a historical landmark."
"In your face, Mayor!" Augie and Skip gloated.
"This is outrageous!" Iverson pounded his fist "You'll here from my lawyers! And by the way, that the ugliest picture I've ever seen!"
Just then Iverson started floating in midair and was being hung from the back of his pants.
"What? What's going on here?!" he demanded.
"You forgot me, the Spirit of '76, Mayor!" Mudsy replied as he appeared.
"What?" Iverson bellowed. "Let me go, right this instant!"
"As you say, your Lordship." Mudsy shrugged as he let got of Iverson, who fell to the floor as everyone chuckled.
"This isn't funny!" Iverson sneered as he faced the laughing kids. "You won't be laughing when my lawyers launch a lawsuit against you!"
"Oh really?" Butler snorted "You can do that, Mayor Iverson. But I wouldn't advise that course of action, because I can then ask the state senate committee to investigate your actions. You may be able to go to your party and ask for their support to stop me in the state legislature, but don't forget that your party holds a minority of seats in both the Senate and the State Assembly, so doing so will only be a waste of your time and money, not to mention that you risk making yourself look ridiculous in the process."
"So you can't stop us" Brittany placed her hands on her hips.
Mudsy picked the mayor up by his trousers.
"And it looks like you've gotten the boot" Mudsy said as he kicked Iverson right into the pond.
Iverson then got up from the pond, looking humiliated and earning several laughs from the kids and some of the nearby construction workers just as a newspaper photographer captured the moment with his camera.
Iverson glared at our heroes as he got out of the pond.
"This ain't over Muddlemore's" Iverson said in an angry and threatening manner "I'll be back!"
"Sure you will." Skip replied evenly. "And we'll be waiting when you do."
"Not to mention that you're going to have some bad press to deal with." April added, nodding at the newspaper photographer as she spoke.
As soon as the mayor left, our heroes started cheering for themselves.
"We did it" Augie cheered "We saved Muddlemore Manor"
"And it's all thanks to Mudsy" April hugged Mudsy.
"Yeah" Brittany said as she hugged him as well "Our uncle is a hero"
"Ah shuck." Mudsy's cheeks reddened "It was nothing."
"You're also a real spirit" April said before kissing Mudsy on the cheek.
"You sure are" Brittany kissed Mudsy's other cheek.
Mudsy's cheeks turned even redder as he blushed.
The next morning, the kids gathered after Skip got the morning newspaper.
He read the paper "Muddlemore Manor declared a national historic landmark thanks to four kids and a little girl"
Mudsy read the paper as well "Some sources say that there may have been some paranormal activity involved, but none can confirm it"
"Wow" April remarked as she read another paragraph. "And look at this paragraph on the mayor."
"Looks like he's all wet" Kate giggled "Right Uncle Mudsy?"
"Indubitably, Kate" said Mudsy "But I wouldn't be celebrating too soon"
"What do you mean, Muddles?" asked April.
"If I'm not mistaken, he'll be using his political connections to try to sought a way to get even with us." Mudsy replied "We better be on our guard, posts even"
"Yeah" Augie said "And we know Iverson will do anything to do away with Brittany and Kate, so we're going to have to watch them at all costs"
"I can't lose Kate" said Brittany "She's just a baby and the only family I have left"
"Don't worry" Skip said "We'll keep an eye out for you two, and we'll make sure that Iverson doesn't get anywhere close to you girls."
"Promise?" asked Kate.
"Promise" Mudsy and the kids nodded.
"Thanks Uncle Mudsy" Kate leaped up and hugged him "I love you"
Mudsy smiled as he hugged her back "I love you too, Kate"
Later that night, as Augie and Skip went to bed, Mudsy sat on the rooftop of the house wrote an entry down in a new diary April bought for him.
He brainstormed a few ideas before started writing:
FUNKY PHANTOM'S LOG: STARDATE ONE
"Dear Diary,
So, my cat and I are now ghosts and we are stuck in the 21st century with my two last living relatives, a beautiful blonde girl, two bumbling brothers and their yellow bulldog. It's not too bad I guess, but I now have a sworn mission; to protect my new friends and my two nieces from the clutches of Mayor Iverson, who is plotting to erase the Muddlemore clan from history. Until then, I will represent my generation with pride, try to continue the Muddlemore bloodline, fight all paranormal evil and make sure everyone I care about is safe.
Yours truly,
Jonathan Wellington Muddlemore, but I will now and forever be known as, the Funky Phantom, Spirit of 1776"
THE END
Author's Note:
Muddlemore Manor has been saved, but the war has just begun. Iverson will do anything to erase the Muddlemore's from existence and now it looks like Mudsy is here to stay and protect his nieces and his new friends. But what could Mayor Iverson have in store for the girls? Whatever it is, they'll be ready.
Oh and by the way, if I were to animate this Meddling Kids series, here's who I'd cast as the Funky Phantom gang:
* Tom Kenny as Mudsy and Boo
* Rob Paulsen as Augie
* Richard Horvitz as Skip
* Kath Soucie as April and Kate
*Bill Fagerbakke as Elmo
*Liz Georges as Brittany
Stay tuned folks! For the next installment where we do the origins of the Neptune's!
