Okay, this chapter will contain violence, just so you know. The reason it took me so long is I was trying to decide the best way to end this chapter and the what the exact content would be for the next one. Will Slinky be okay? Will they make it out of this one alive? Does Spike know they're here? Will they be able to find Mitsy? They don't even know about Wheezy, Fox, and Link their old friends! Can they help?
Buzz hurried out of the classroom, with Slinky dangling over his shoulder. "Are you okay, Jessie?" Buzz asked his wife. His was worried about Slinky, but Jessie was always his main priority. Jessie looked at him gratefully but sadly. She was still shaky, but appeared calmer.
"I'll...I'll be all right." She nodded. "Where's Mitsy?"
"Mitsy?" Buzz arched his eyebrows.
"She was in there! We found her! But then she slipped from my arms and everything went dark!" Jessie cried.
"Well, if you lost her, it means there was a trap set for you." Carl said dismally. "Which means there's no point to going back in there. I'm afraid you won't find your friend."
"Slink!" Woody blurted out, rushing over to help Buzz with his little buddy. Matthew, Jessie, and Carl scurried over too. "Slink, what's wrong?" Woody asked concerned, holding his old pal in his arms.
"I think he's in shock, Woody." Buzz said grimly. "He just had a nasty fright." Jack peered over from behind Woody's shoulder. He stared with sadness at his canine companion and nudged his head with his large nose.
"Aw, Slink." Jessie moaned sadly.
"It's okay, Slink. I'm here." Woody said quietly, rubbing his pup's ears. The touch brought a reaction from Slinky. He blinked, and looked around him to get his bearings.
"Woody?" He yipped.
"I'm right here." Woody said kindly.
"What's going on?"
"We've got to find Mitsy and get out of here." Matthew spoke up from behind the cowboy.
"Mitsy. L-let's go!" Slinky barked, scrambling for a foot hold when Woody let him out of his lap. He wasn't completely recovered from his near-death experience just a few minutes ago, but knowing his friend was still in trouble snapped him back to reality, at least for the time being!
"Right behind you, partner!" Jessie perked up.
As they began to search again, they heard something that nearly made their hearts skip a beat. Through the ventilation shafts, it echoed throughout the entire building. Screams, horrible screams pierced the air. It was Mitsy, her cries filled with pure terror and it made her friends' spines tingle. "What are they doing to her?!" Jessie wailed, clinging to Buzz frightfully. Jack didn't speak, he dashed off and his friends followed. They could still hear the princess, screaming desperately for help. Jack had no idea where she was, but he shouted at the top of his lungs.
"Whoever you are, stop what you're doing! Stop right NOW!" A few moments later, the screaming died down. They heard a heavy door open, then plastic feet pattering and stomping on the tile floor.
"Sounds like they're coming from around the corner," Slinky said with an ear raised.
"Katan, get behind me, buddy." Matthew said firmly, and the cub obeyed by scrambling onto the soldier's back.
"Stay close to me, Bullseye." Jessie warned her horse who nodded and obeyed timidly.
"From here on out, we remain silent." Combat Carl warned.
"Right. No slip ups." Potato Head whispered. Bonnie's, Billy's, and Bobby's toys all marched forward, then stood their ground and waited. All the gang but Spike and Scar showed up. Buzz, Jessie, Potato Head, Slinky, Matthew, Katan, and Jack could not believe their eyes, recognizing members of the Spikes Toy Gang, and glared menacingly. They were ready to fight this time.
"You maggots!" Buzz fumed with his eyes narrowed. "Where's the princess? What have you done to her? TALK! If you don't, we'll make you." The crooks chuckled.
"He's ain't bluffing." Jessie snarled. "You murderous low-lives. You wanna play Cat and Mouse again? Then bring it on! It'll give me pleasure to fix your hides good!"
"We'll just see about that. Not so fast, Miss Feisty," Puss in the Boots sneered. Then Spike and Scar appeared behind him. Buzz and the others were shocked to meet Scar face to face, but that was nothing compared to when they laid eyes on Spike the Bulldog. Spike, the cruel gang leader; Spike, the fearsome monster toy; Spike, Jack's murderer!
"YOU!" They all gasped. Of all the things they'd expected to encounter on this journey, Spike was the last one they'd imagined! "You again?" Potato Head spat. "You dirty swine! I'd like to bust your gadgets!"
"Yeah!" Slinky growled. "You're going to pay for the crimes you've committed."
"Oh yeah? And who's going to make me?" Spike sneered.
"We will. You devil, you! Your game's over!" Jack scowled. Spike's eyes turned wide at the sound of Jack's voice. Jack angrily stepped forward and tossed off his goggles. "We meet again, King Kong!" He snarled.
"YOU?!" Spike sputtered. He wasn't acting this time, and Puss with Stinger and Snaps shared his disbelief at the sight before them.
"It's a ghost, Boss!" Puss panicked. Scar smacked his face.
"Shut up, Squeaky." He rolled his eyes.
"But you're dead! I got rid of you!" Spike insisted, still shocked.
"I was dead, but not anymore. I warned you, Spike. I told you to leave my friends alone, but you wouldn't listen." Jack curled his lips. "I saw what you did to them when you decided to take me out, and what you did to my princess. And we can see what you've done to our sheriff friend. He's lucky to be alive in this infernal rat hole of yours! Did you really think I was just gonna forget all that?!" Spike didn't say a word, but his face hardened coldly. "Now, you're going to leave this place, and I NEVER want to see your grisly face in this city again!"
"That's right!" Jessie and Slinky added, pursing their lips.
"And, you're going to tell us where Mitsy is." Jack said, taking charge of the situation just like he did the night at the warehouse. Only this time, Spike would not get off Scott free!
"Aww, isn't that sweet?" Puss grinned. "Good old Jack: always caring, always worried about others, always saving the damsel in distress."
"Very touching." Scar agreed in mockery.
"Shut your lips!" Potato Head yelled. "You want me to stick a pin in you, cabin boy?" He squinted at Puss. "Don't think I won't."
"Spike? I'm only going to ask once, and I expect an answer," Jack threatened. "Where is she?!"
"You're too late, Rin Tin Tin," Spike smiled wickedly. "She's gone for good this time...what's left of her, that is. You can't save her now." He said with satisfaction.
Jack's meek brown eyes turned to balls of fire, he reared back his head, and let out a thunderous, deafening howl. His friends had to shut their ears. Then, like a mad bull, the big dog charged forward and skidded around as he slid on the tile floor. He barged into the entire ruthless gang, scattering them. When he opened his eyes, he was facing Spike. At first, they just glared at each other. Then Jack snorted viciously through clamped teeth. Spike clumsily got to his feet and scampered away. Jack wasted no time and raced after him.
"After them, troops!" Buzz and Combat Carl both commanded. Jessie pounced onto Puss and they collided, tussling around on the floor till he had her on her back. But this greedy feline was no match for the angered cowgirl. Jessie flipped over and pinned him to the ground, grabbing his left thumb and yanking his tail back, with her boot on top of his back to keep him down. Potato Head rushed over and pulled his other arm.
"Give it up, cabin boy." Potato Head said. "You're busted!"
"Let me up, you red-headed bobcat!" Puss spat at the cowgirl. But Jessie yanked back hard, just like when she fought with Woody all those years ago in Al's apartment.
"Watch your mouth, Pussy!" She growled. Puss hissed and, wrapping his foot around Jessie's, he tripped her and tried to lung forward and get away, but Potato Head pounced on him and Jessie grabbed him before he could get very far. They all rolled around on the floor again until Jessie had the cat pinned to the floor, sitting on top of his back. "Give me that paper clip." She told Potato Head, who obeyed, and using her teeth like she'd seen Combat Carl do, she untwisted the paper clip and cuffed Puss with it, tightly entwining his paws behind his back till he could barely wiggle them. "And you'll stay where you are if you know what's good for ya." She snarled, clenching his head up by digging her fingers into his bandana.
"One more squawk out of you, and compared to me, that giant brute Doberman will look like your best friend!" Potato Head declared. Puss just glowered and lay incarcerated on the floor. "Nice work, Wrangler Jane." Potato Head smirked and they gave each other a high-five.
"Sit on him till we can get rid of him." Jessie said and the spud did so, but not before Jessie stuck out her tongue down at the miserable feline and then ran off to help someone else.
Bullseye was bucking left and right at Snaps and Stinger till they fled.
Woody was trying to brace himself, fending against Scar who was standing on his hind feet. The cowboy, still weary and sore from his torture, collapsed to the floor and panted. Scar was grinning wickedly, just like in the movie. But this time, it was real! He was about to bash Woody's face in with a stapler. Woody frightfully tried to scramble away and get his footing, but Scar kicked him in the chest again and again until Woody had to gasp to breathe! Though he was stuffed inside and had no broken ribs like a human would have at this point, his chest still tightened painfully, straining him hard to catch his breath. Plus the beating he'd just taken made him dizzy. The movie character toy knew he had his prey and aimed to harm him. Woody raised his arms to protect himself, then out of nowhere, Buzz's boot was above Woody's face and jarred Scar's jaw, sending the devilish lion onto his back! Then Buzz pounced on him and sucker punched him in the jaw! "Don't even think of getting up!" Buzz barked, standing on top of him.
"Th-thanks, Buzz." Woody sighed in relief.
"No problem." Buzz smiled then he felt a small pattering of feet hop onto his shoulder. It was Katan. He was staring in astonishment down at Scar.
"It's really you?!" The cub exclaimed.
"Katan, this is not the time." Buzz scolded. Katan raised his eyebrows, and with a fast swipe of his small, plastic paw, he slapped Scar on the nose.
"I've been wanting to do that for years!" Katan smirked and hopped off of Buzz and stood guard beside his fantasized nemesis. "He's not going anywhere!" Katan growled with satisfaction. Woody just lay there trying desperately to breathe normally, but it was so difficult! He may not have ribs like a human, but Scar must have caused a small dent or something in the right place, because he certainly felt like someone had thrust a cement block into his chest. The battle around him became a blur.
"Stay down, you four-legged muck." Combat Carl ordered, glaring down at the lion and keeping his big boot on top of him. Scar started to get up but Carl gave him a vice-tight headlock and squeezed till the evil cat groaned in resignation. He resumed standing on top of him and pinched the back of Scar's plastic mane and Junior was behind him, ready to grab the cat's tail if needed. "Help the sheriff, Lightyear." Carl smirked. "Combat Carl's got this." Buzz nodded then he and Matthew came to Woody.
"Woody? Woody!" Buzz tried to regain his friend's focus.
"Buzz...find...M..." Woody tried to say, but it was hard.
"Take it easy, cowboy." Buzz said. "Slow down. Just try to breathe, okay? Breathe for me." He patted his arm.
"I'll get some help. Stay with him, Buzz." Matthew said, and raced to find Jessie and Bullseye so they could take Woody away from the heated battle area where he'd be safe and hopefully able to calm down. Matthew spotted Jessie up ahead. She was whooping Pinch up a good one. Matthew hurried to get her attention, but he tripped over something and fell flat on his face and dropped his plastic gun. Then without warning, something coiled itself all around his body, and squeezed so that he couldn't wiggle free! He looked up to see the snake, Slim gleaming at him. Then he curled the very end of his tail tightly around Matthew's throat. The brave soldier gagged as he choked, but he couldn't help himself. Slim just sat there, slurping his felt red tongue in and out of his mouth. Matthew was starting to black out! But he couldn't, his friends needed his help! The princess, Mitsy needed his help! He frantically looked around. His gun lay a few inches away from him, and there was no way he could get it! Then he heard a familiar, kiddish roar above his head. There was Katan, snarling, nipping, and clawing in every direction on Slim's cotton head! The cub was angrily digging his plastic but sharp little claws into the stuffed snake.
"Take that!" Katan growled. "You want a piece of me?! Let go of my friend! You can't hurt my friend! Let go of him!" The kitten snarled viciously. Slim kept a grip on the soldier but furiously wriggled his head around trying to rid himself of the little brute. Then Katan bit him hard in the back of the neck. At that point, Slim let Matthew loose and hollered. With the end of his tail, he whipped Katan hard, stinging him, and the cub went flying as he was slapped away. Matthew's face glowered. He rose to his knees, grabbed his gun and fended the snake.
"Nobody does that to my cub!" Matthew shouted in fury. Pinch picked up Katan by his tail, then with his other crane hand, gripped him by one of his ears. Katan slapped at him and flailed wildly.
"Come on, Woody. Just breathe, that's it." Buzz encouraged the sheriff.
"Buzz, look out!" Woody cried out. Snaps the crocodile was coming at the space ranger from behind with the stapler that Scar had intended for Woody! Buzz ducked and shoved Woody aside, just before Snaps flew right there with the heavy object! It banged hard on the floor but he snarled and raised it again. Buzz sprang to his feet and raised his arms to keep the stuffed reptile at bay. Woody was still on his back, but he had to help his best friend. He could think of only one thing to do: he whistled.
Stinger was grabbing Slinky by his coils, while the dog pulled the scorpion by the end of his tail. Jessie was astride Bullseye. She was desperately looking around for some large object she could use to scare off the bad guys that were hurting all her friends! Where was Jack? He was the only one here that she didn't see. Maybe he could do something! She took a deep breath and yodeled loudly.
Not two minutes later, loud voices were heard behind them. Jessie and Bullseye looked to see what it was. Heading straight for them was a book cart, rushing at full speed! "LOOK OUT!" Jessie screeched and the horse jumped quickly out of the way as the cart on wheels sped by. "Good boy." Jessie gulped.
Everyone, including the bad guys ducked or threw themselves out of the way just before the speedy vehicle ran over them! It ran into the wall with a thud, then slid to the middle of the floor. There were toys on top of it. They hollered and all jumped to the floor, setting themselves in a defensive stance. Woody, Buzz, Slinky, Jessie, Bullseye, Matthew, Katan, and Potato Head could NOT believe their eyes: there, standing before them were...Fox and Link! Their old friends! They were alive, and...here to to help! There was also a green hammer and dirty yellow bunny they didn't recognize, but they were dumbfounded. "G-Guys?!" Woody, Buzz, and Matthew sputtered in shock. Then Stinger went after Slinky again. The rescuers sprang into action.
"Leave these bloody blokes to us!" Fox ordered at Woody and Buzz. "Let us handle them." He and Matthew nodded to each other in determination, then he raced forward, charging straight at Snaps. Hank twirled in the air in all directions, knocking on the crooks upside their heads, with aggressive vigor!
Spike burst into another classroom and threw whatever obstacle he could behind him in an effort to thwart his pursuer's chase, but it was useless. Jack was out for blood! He took a flying leap and tackled his arch nemesis. He was raging mad. He was nose to nose with Spike. "Okay, Spike!" Jack fumed. "Where is my princess? What have done to her?!" Jack shook Spike really hard.
"I'm not saying nothin to you!" Spike snarked. Jack grabbed him and tossed him across to the wall where Spike hit his head hard. When the villain opened his eyes, Jack was right there!
"You'd better tell me! Tell me now!" Jack commanded dangerously.
"Nothin doin!" And Spike tried to scamper away. But just as he made it outside the door, he was grabbed up into the air by something. He looked back: it was Slugger! He had raced to the hall, answering Woody's whistle! The Doberman was growling and shook Spike really hard, then dropped him to the floor. Slugger snarled angrily. "Run for your lives!" Spike shrieked, and his gang raced off running down the hall. Though Puss was cuffed with his paws behind his back, he hobbled along in terror.
"Hey!" Woody called, pointing his finger. "Get them, Slugger!" He commanded. "After them, boy! Chase them away from here!" Slugger chased the wicked toys to the lobby door where they were trapped,-Fox, Link, Buzz, Jessie, Carl, Junior, Katan, Slinky, Potato Head, Bullseye followed in pursuit-then they burst out the first emergency exit door closest to them. The guard dog pursued them. Woody, Buzz, and their friends watched from the exit door as the evil toys scurried into a pile of garbage a couple driveways up across the street where a trash can had been knocked over.
"Hey, get out of here! Go on, get out!" The owner shouted at Slugger, thinking the dog had made the mess. Slugger departed and the man grudgingly put the muck back into his dumpster and closed the lid, with the toys inside, then he stomped inside his home to wash his hands.
"Well, at least they can't hurt anyone now," Potato Head muttered.
"Yeah," Slinky agreed quietly, knowing full well what awaited the accursed toys.
"When I told him to chase them off, I didn't mean for..." Woody bit his lip.
"Don't waste your sympathy on them." Fox snarled.
"The cowards deserve what they'll get." Combat Carl pursed his lips. Though Jessie agreed that Spike and his thugs didn't deserve a happy ending, she couldn't help shuddering a little at the thought of the dump. Buzz glanced at her thoughtfully and clasped her in a warm hug. Carl looked at them.
"It isn't murder, Jessie." He said kindly. "It's retribution." Jessie slowly nodded.
"What's retri...retri..." Katan cocked his head.
"What happened to Scar on the movie, Katan." Matthew sighed. "They're getting the punishment they deserve. That's what it means."
"Hey, thanks a lot, partner," Woody smiled up at Slugger and the dog licked him.
"I thought this humongous critter was on the wrong side." Jessie interjected.
"Looks like he decided to switch sides." Junior chuckled.
"You must have the touch or something, Sheriff." Hank remarked, cocking his head. "That giant mutt doesn't play nice."
"Neither do we, when someone hurts our friends!" Slinky barked. Suddenly, everybody took a deep breath, taking in that the battle was over. Katan happily bounded up to Fox and Link.
"Where have you two been?" He licked their faces and pawed at the cone-shaped end of Link's hat. "We thought you were dead!" The rest of their old friends agreed.
"Well, thankfully, we're not." Link chuckled. "We'll talk about it later."
"Guys, I...I've missed you both." Matthew said in a choked voice. Fox gave his old friend a warm hug.
"Same here, Sgt." He smiled. Slinky and Bullseye eagerly licked their new found friends' faces.
"It's so good to see you guys!" Woody, Buzz, and Jessie all told them.
"You too." Fox and Link nodded. Combat Carl and Junior just stood by, smiling in happiness for their friends, old and new.
"So glad to know you're both alive." Matthew stared fondly at his two long lost buddies.
"We're mangled," Link said, looking down at the whole where his arm used to be, "but we're here."
"Thanks for helping us, guys." Buzz complimented.
"What'd you butt in for? We were doing all right." Potato Head said sarcastically, though he was truly grateful for their pals stepping in.
"Hey, what about us?" Hank spoke up.
"Aw, yeah." Jessie chuckled. "And thanks to you fellas too."
"Happy to help." Daisy smiled a toothy grin.
"Wheezy will be so glad to see you guys." Link said.
"Wheezy?!" Woody, Buzz, Jessie, Slinky, Potato Head, and Matthew all gasped. "Wheezy? Andy's Wheezy? He's here?! He's really here?" Woody sputtered, his heart pounding with excitement.
"Where is he?" Jessie asked anxiously, jumping for joy. "I wanna see him!"
"He and Jiminy are with Mitsy." Fox said. "We told them to stay with her." When he heard that, Matthew dashed back inside the building out of sight. Woody's eyes widened. In the midst of all this reunion and taking a breather after the battle ended, he'd almost...he was ashamed to say so...he'd nearly forgotten about Mitsy, and in his heart he kicked himself for doing that to his own 'daughter'!
"Where is she?!" Woody begged. "Take us to her!"
"Come on, folks. Our mission isn't complete yet," Buzz said.
"Follow us." Link said.
"Is she okay?" Jessie asked anxiously. Fox turned his head back toward them as they all shuffled back inside. He shook his head.
"I've got to warn you," he spoke up, stopping his friends dead in their tracks, fear filling their faces, "you're not going to like what you see."
Oh no!