Disclaimer: I do not own Animaniacs, it belongs to Steven Spielberg, Warner Brothers Studio, et al. I claim no rights to any of this, it was made purely for entertainment and for writing practice. No profit is made off of this. There are original characters featured within.

Authors Note: Well, we have finally reached the end. Thanks for reading everyone, and knowing me I'll be bringing and tidying up another old favorite. This next one has never actually been on this site before so hope you enjoy it. So now, enjoy the last 4 chapters of Animaniacs Return. Thanks for reading.

Animaniacs Return

Chapter 36: Warren Is Down but Not Out

"Minerva, how about some more pop?"

Minerva tucked her hair back and took the pop. "Sure, ma." She opened the can in no time flat. Not being around the lot, or having to look impressive, she stayed plopped on the couch and watched television sans makeup. She had decided to take some time off since her part in the show wouldn't be for some time again. Some time? They were trying to weasel her off the show, she knew it. She'd even seen that blasted chairman holding auditions for 'potential doubles'. Potential doubles, yeah right! They weren't even minks that looked like her. All because she didn't want to degrade herself enough with their writers' scripts.

She had thought about telling someone, but she was beyond mad and flat out left. It wasn't like she'd be gone for too long, as much as she hated it, she was under contract. They would have to terminate her. And of course, Newt wouldn't care. He was too busy playing boyfriend/patsy to Aroma. Her mother's house wasn't a great distance away, but she needed time to veg out and complain about it.

"Min, maybe there is something else?" Her mother asked. "You're a bright girl, you could do better than that show. What about a soap opera maybe?"

"Ugh," Minerva stuck out her tongue. "Soap opera? Nuh uh." She groaned. "Too small for movies, not 'ambitious' enough for the show. Smack dab in the middle of I-don't-know-where. I quit my old job, I really shouldn't have. I was doing good selling perfume and makeup."

"Could you get it back?" Her mother asked her.

"Doubtful." Minerva said. "Not after the second season, and I've been to the store. Someone else in there. I better start looking, I know my time is running out."

"Well, there are always jobs around here. The town is smaller, but it's nice. You could move back in again?" Her mother said, hope rising in her voice. "It's nice to have company."

"I don't know." Minerva tilted her head back. "I like living on my own. I'm not young; I can't really live with you without being seen as lazy."

"In today's economy, I think you have that right." Her mother sighed. "But, I suppose I know what you really mean. You want your independence. I would probably miss mine too." She patted her daughter on the leg. "The offer is open though."

Minerva's attention became distracted as she stared at the news reporter on TV.

"Later on News at Eleven. Animaniacs Return or Animaniacs Lost? This once again rising show, often worshipped or hailed as insane, has been a cult hit, but the studio is having problems that may end up cancelling the show at its height. One of the main stars, Yakko Therapy, has been accused of murder and is on the run with family and friends. More news at eleven."

Minerva frowned, "Oh no, this isn't good." She picked up the remote and pressed guide to check out information on the other channels. "Possible cure for outbreak?" She clicked enter to watch the new program.

"Sad news indeed. Two more lives have been taken through what has been dubbed 'needling'. An injection that can cause a single scratch to end a toon's life. It all began in Warner Brother's studio parking lot, but cartoons are beginning to take refuge in and around the state of California, worried about where this toxin is coming from. Reports are coming in of a possible cure that will reverse the effects, but no new coverage has been added to this rumor."

"Oh my goodness, Minerva." Minerva's mother gripped her daughter's shoulder. "You'd better stay here a few more weeks. Call your friends, I don't want you leaving this apartment."

"I have to go back for the show," Minerva insisted. "It's my job. I'll be careful."

"Just promise you'll be careful?" Her mother asked.

"I promise," Minerva smiled.

"Aw jeez, they said the legal name," Yakko complained as he pointed to the TV. "Yakko Therapy." He groaned and looked at Aroma. "Would have been better the other way around."

"What, her as Mrs. Yakko Warner?" Dot smiled at her brother. "You want her to be Mrs. Yakko Warner?"

Yakko looked back at his sister. "Knock it off."

Dot approached her brother and whispered in here. "I think you should knock it on. Renraw's gonna make a move soon you know."

"Anyhow," Yakko stood up and fixed his tie with beard and hat. "I've got to get to work. Dot, you and the others come up with any crazy idea to get us out of this. I'm open to anything. Oh and you know, fixing dinner or cleaning is always a good idea, this place has been empty awhile. Meanwhile, I'll work per hour for the ol' boss as Mickey McWhiskers." He straightened his beard. "This thing itches."

"How come Brain doesn't have the cure yet?" Wakko said as he went over to Yakko. "There's got to be a way besides, well…you know."

"I don't know, it may be tougher than he thought," Yakko said. "The only real way to stop this is to nab Warren."

"But what if we don't?" Zenny had to ask. "Look, I know you guys are the champions of fast ideas, but we don't have long. If we don't figure it out, and we can't make our deadline, then what?" He looked over at Yakko. "You seem to be settling into your old life pretty good. Do you think this it?"

"Well, if it were, I wouldn't be going as Mickey McWhiskers," Yakko said nonplussed. They didn't have much money, and they spent it all on rent for an apartment (hotel for all of them was too dang expensive without sharing the same room.) Zenny was lucky he even came up with the idea. "We'll figure out something."

"You have to figure out something fast," Iri said as she came into the room. "I was in the kitchen, getting a sandwich. I just saw the news. An inoculation against the needling has been found!"

"Well that's good news," Aroma smiled. "Why is that a bad thing?"

"The cure was not found by The Brain," Iri told him, "it was a simple balance of ingredients found by their 'top writer Renraw'."

Renraw's mouth flew open. "Oh crap."

"Don't they know Renraw's missing?" Wakko whined.

"Warren!" Yakko shouted. "Dammit, the inoculation is probably the needling. Everyone's going to line up for it." He looked at Iri. "When?"

"Tomorrow," Iri said. "Noon. Tomorrow."

"Okay, so…we need a fantastic plan now." Dot urged her brothers. "Anything?"

"Uhhh…" Wakko looked around the room. "Send Renraw back and set it straight?"

"He'll be expecting that," Aroma spoke for him. "Renraw will be in danger. Warren will torture him to find us. That's too dangerous. Right Yakko?"

"…right." Yakko looked over at Aroma. "Idea one, let's get more. Come on sibs, we need to think fast."

"Have Brain head over and claim he has the cure instead?" Wakko suggested.

"Getting there," Yakko agreed, "doesn't quite have the right feel to it." He held his hands out and brought them back inward. "Warren has been getting away for years, he's a total nutcase, and he's even committed murder. Sibs, we gotta bring him down. For good."

"For good," Dot agreed.

"For good," Wakko added after her.

"Right, now we really need to concentrate." Yakko nodded at his brother and sister. "Two gallons of pepsi, peppy music, a song and dance routine, coupled with some pizza. It's time to remind Warren why we are the Warners."

Three hours later…

"It's risky," Dot said as she looked at her brothers. "It's really, really risky."

"If we pull it off though, Warren's done." Wakko looked over at his brother. "Yakko?"

Yakko beated his tongue up and down on the roof of his mouth. "The idea is insane. It's bold. There is a lot of destruction, cost and risk in it." He grinned. "It's perfect."

"Now you know the ****ing plan," Renraw said as he held Aroma's hand tightly in hers. "Were gonna go set these ******* straight then deal with Brain." He watched as she shook her head, slipped on a pair of shades and banged the door to a studio meeting in. "Surprise! You need to stop the inoculations tomorrow."

"Then couldn't you have told us outside of the meeting?" Plotz complained as Renraw came over with Aroma.

"No way, this place is too ****ing dangerous," Renraw said as he brought Aroma to the other side. "I'm not even letting my girlfriend out of my site."

"Oh no, you brought the instigator back for Warren," Plotz grumbled. "We have enough troubles with this mysterious needling."

"Brain has the cure, mine doesn't work." Renraw said, "but he wants something in return. A bigger shot in the show."

"Fine, fine, for the cure I don't care." Plotz banged his fist on his meeting desk. "Give him whatever he wants for the show. Animaniacs Return won't be around much longer anyway."

"Zenny will take over Yakko's spot for the show," Renraw answered. "I'll still write the episodes, Aroma can be Dot, and Iri can be…oh **** I don't ****ing know, something. We'll use the copies 'til Yakko gets his *** cleared. We'll save the show."

"Fine," Plotz agreed, "now let's contact The Brain already, get his cure distributed so my studio lot isn't considered ground zero anymore. And you, why did brazenly march into my office and tell me you accidentally stumbled on it?"

Renraw blinked. "…****. Attention?"

"Just get out!" Plotz yelled, "get out now!"

Renraw yanked Aroma out of the room, "Well, that didn't go too smooth. I think that was pretty close to the real deal Warners."

"Are you sure we should go through with this?" Aroma asked him. "This really doesn't seem like a good idea, Ren." She sighed. "I just…I think they are putting too much on the line."

"Why, are you worried about Yakko?" Ren asked. "Don't be, that ****er can take care of himself. You, however." He looked over with a soft look in his eyes. "Yakko never said anything to you, did he?"

"About what?"

"About you two."

"There is no us two. We're friends."

"Oh, well then-"

"I'm dating Newt," Aroma said before he could continue.

"The dog likes Minerva," Ren said. "What you're doing is stupid babe, Minerva likes him too. If he knew, he'd dump you. Especially after all the **** you put him through. And if there's nothing in between you and Yakko, then I want to know it straight. Do I got a chance of landing you again?"

"Hey!" Yakko looked around the corner at both of them. "Ren. Hurry up."

Ren looked back at Aroma, squeezed her hand and headed onward.

"Told you he'd go after her," Dot said from behind him. "Told ya, told ya, told ya."

"I don't care," Yakko grumbled. "Why should I care? Come on, we need to make sure the squirrels are okay in the tower. Whatever you do, don't say a thing about the tower. If we want this to work, not a word can be spilled. Got it?"

Oh, I got it. A man straightening his tie down the hall and proceeded to the elevator. Once in, he dialed a number on his phone. "Boss, you were right. They are up to something. Renraw stopped the show, with his arm around your girl. Huh? Oh yeah, they did. The squirrels are in the tower. What? Yeah, Renraw. Looked like they got back together but in the hall, it didn't sound like it. Although it sounded like it was, and that Yakko guy was on the side. He looked downright pissed. Yeah, definitely. "

"I hate this idea," Snappy complained. "It puts you and our son at risk."

"It puts Skippy and his aunt at risk."

Snappy looked back at Midge. "Midge."

"It's Slappy," Midge complained. "I don't care what anybody says, I know who I am!" She stomped off and sat in the chair. She caught Skippy looking over at her a second. "What?" She looked the other way, ignoring him.

Snappy opened the door to look out the tower. Slappy was still in denial of who she was. No matter how much evidence anyone could give her, she wouldn't change her mind. Classic Midge. He twirled his cane, wondering how much more life would change. Would the Warners plan actually work? It seemed ill conceived, but if anyone could trick them, he guess it would have to be them.

"Snappy."

Snappy looked down and his heart stopped. Warren?

"I don't understand, I don't have the cure." Brain pointed to some tubes nearby. "It is much too-"

"Doesn't matter," Renraw said. "Look rat, you've got to give us anything. If they go with what 'I' gave them, everyone will be needled."

"It was simply a way to draw you back," Brain insisted. "You were foolish for coming."

"Yeah, it was better for thousands of cartoons to be needled instead," Renraw complained.

"You need a better plan than this."

"The Warners came up with it, we've got nothing else." Aroma said beside him. "Please, Brain?"

"A fake cure will end more lives when they stop being so careful," Brain warned them.

"It's going to attract Warren," Renraw said. "That's all we need, and then we can nab him. Then there will be no more needling."

Brain closed his eyes. "This is a risky and insane plan. However this situation has grave circumstances if I do not find one, however fake it will be. Fine, I will proceed to the chairman and enter into discussions about the inoculations."

That's what they think. Warren backed up from the outside window of ACME labs. So, the Warners were battling their wits against his? Well, he welcomed it. Brain was creating a fake inoculation, and Aroma and Renraw were supposed to be a couple to make him enraged again. It didn't work as well when he knew that truth, and he wouldn't get mad and screw everything up. He may not know their total plan yet, but he would. Let's see, I'm rambunctious idiots trying to figure out my next move. I'd assume it was to mess with Brain and his fake inoculations or the Squirrels. God, I want those squirrels…

No, he'd go for the last thing first.

"I hope you know what you're doing," Wakko warned Yakko as they turned the corner. "You're a suspect for murder."

"Which is why this will work," Yakko said.

"Yeah, but…" Wakko groaned. "I don't know, I'm having second thoughts. If this backfires, we'll never get out of this one. No talking, no evidence, nothing will get us out of it. We're putting everything on the line for this."

"We have no choice, Wakko." Yakko hit his brother on the shoulder playfully. "You got the spray can?"

Wakko shook the spray can. "After this, Animaniacs is gone forever."

"It's already gone," Yakko took the spray can. "Plotz hates the show, he won't reinstate it. Just as well, this show isn't the same. I though uncensored would be fun, but it's awful. I just care about getting our names cleared so we can all see each other again. For good."

"Are you going back to San Diego?" Wakko asked. "Alone?"

"Huh? No way, you can come with!" Yakko jostled him. "I'd love to sell cars with you, Wakk. Lot of suckers out there, really good money. Who knows?" He sprayed a message on the wall. "Dot could come too, selling was made for us. We could even start our own company. Warners Cars."

"It's that secure, huh?" Wakko asked as he looked around.

"You bet, my boss would never sack me. I sell more cars in a week than any of his others have sold in a year." Yakko looked around too. "Think anyone notices yet?"

"Oh my god!"

"…yep. Time to start the show."

"Okay, the squirrels are in place in the tower. We made sure one of Warren's guys heard that." Renraw wiggled his fingers together. "And Brains got the inoculations going on, he's on his way over now. Warren is bound to show up for either one. Then, he'll come for you." He looked over at Aroma. "You really going to do this? I know it's part of the plan, but you could get hurt. Again."

"Warren needs to be stopped, once and for all. Only the Warners can ever accomplish it," Aroma answered.

"Did you think about what I said though?" Renraw reminded her as he pushed his fingers together. "You and me?"

Aroma pushed her tongue into her cheek. "Um, Renraw-"

"Yakko of course," Renraw answered. "Right?"

"No, I just don't think it'd work. You tried to get with my sister after all." Aroma stopped talking. Maybe he'd get the point. "I like being friends."

"With me or Yakko, *****?"

"And it would help if you didn't cuss every second," Aroma reminded him.

"Well, excuse me for not having the saintly mouth of-"

Aroma gasped as Renraw was knocked out. Clearly copies of the cast. "No. No, no, you are supposed to be going after the others first!"

"Sorry for disturbing your plans," Warren said as he held out a huge burlap bag. "Really? You really expected to trick me into going after Brain or The Squirrels? I admit, I want the squirrels to hang, they irritate me worse than a mosquito bite, but I'm not stupid." He grabbed her arm roughly. "Come on."

"Okay, Yakko!" Wakko shouted as they both ran down the street spraying on any walls they could find. "Are we moving to the next phase yet?"

WHeeeooo! Wheeeeeeoooooo!

"Police Sirens? I guess so." Yakko jumped up on a fence. "Hear ye, hear ye! We are here to inform you that Animaniacs Returns sucks! And you suck! And it's time you find out what the Warners really stand for! Lock your doors, 'cause we're not playing today!" He grabbed an Axe from behind him and started chopping down a telephone wire. "There she blows!"

"Get out of here!"

"Thanks for the memento!" Wakko shouted as he came running from someone's house. "Nice goods on that one, Yakko!"

"Get off of me!"

"Ooh, come on doll, one more kiss." Dot grabbed cuffs and pinned the man on the ground. "We're just having a little innocent fun."

"And so, the inoculations-" Brain stopped as Plotz answered his phone.

"What? What do you mean the Warners are reaking havoc?" Plotz looked out the window. "I haven't heard a word about the stu-they're not reaking havoc at the studio? Well then where? Where? Where?

"If there's one thing that annoys me," Yakko watched as people started to seal up their homes. "Is how unfriendly people are when you visit a residential district!" He looked over at the next corner. "Helloooooo Nurse! Hey, are you over eighteen?"

"Run Diana, run!" The girls' mother grabbed her by the hand quickly.

"A residential district, we'll never survive this." Dot whispered to her brothers. "Add insult to injury Yakko, that girl wasn't even sixteen years old."

"We've gotta make it as bad as we can," Yakko reminded her. "Hey ho! Warners coming throu-ough! Paid promotional visits brought to you by Plotzy, the annoying chairman of the studio that brought you us! Animaniacs Return! If you have any problems, take it up with the show!" He looked over at Dot. "Think we're getting closer?"

"Everyone is ringing about them!" Plotz threw the phone against the wall. "They've gone mad."

"It seems so. Therefore, the inoculation?" Brain asked. "Yes or no?"

"Advertising has already been paid to get everyone over here." Plotz said. "Then again, having a 'fake' cure also looks bad. And what are the Warners doing, why are they making a mockery on the side of this?"

"They want to be arrested."

"Why?"

"I do not comprehend their plan myself."

"Hey, hey, hey! I'm a legal resident, I should be allowed to come out here and mingle!" Yakko complained as he was pushed down along with Dot and Wakko. "So are they, what the heck?" He felt handcuffs on his arms. "This is absurd, we're just spreading the good word. People want to hear from us, they worship us. We're gods!"

And with that last statement, Yakko knew the deal was sealed. One way or another, it was over.

"I'm afraid that even now I don't know what the hell your plan was," Warren said as he jumped over a nearby fence. His copy creations went after the cops and cuffed them themselves. "I can't…see it. You come back and you make a riot in a residential neighborhood? To get arrested, why? I'm not there. You pretend to have Renraw get back with Aroma, why? To make me mad? You tell The Brain to come up with a fake inoculation even though Renraw stopped the inoculations. Why?"

Yakko grinned at him. "What do you mean? Aren't you smart enough to figure it out?"

"You said The Squirrels were in the tower, then Renraw said I was supposed to overhear that. Then when I checked it out, they were being dragged away be me?" Warren pointed at Yakko. "I demand to know what's going on!"

"…no." Yakko smiled. "Figure it out. As for us, we deserve to go to jail. Right sibs?"

"Right," they both chimed in.

"Why? Why are you destroying the show yourselves?" Warren demanded. "What are you planning?"

"Figure it out, Einstein," Dot smiled. "We're eventually going to get arrested so if I were you, I'd skedaddle and figure out your next dumb move. After all, that's what they are compared to us. Dumb."

"Completely stupid," Wakko agreed. "Really? Dip? And Needles? I've seen way more original things that that written on a whoopee cushion."

"No kidding, you always lead a straight trail." Yakko looked over at Warren. "So come on, come up with something original. Whatever you come up with is always copies. And you know what? You can't beat the real deals with a few copies." He groaned. "Actually, it's irritating."

"Annoying," Dot added.

"Like a bad mosquito bite," Wakko said, "but not much more than that."

"No kidding. And look at this plan. So simple, and you don't know if you're stepping in or out of it." Yakko added. "You haven't come up with one original thing."

"Oh yeah?" Warren grabbed Yakko roughly. "I made everyone believe you killed that dumb squirrel on the ledge, that didn't have anything to do with a single copy!"

"Try again," Dot yawned. "Been there, done that."

"Have the T-shirt," Yakko added as he slipped out of the cuffs and out of his hands. "Complete amateur." He pulled a recorder out of his pants and clicked it. "Complete confession. Thanks, helpful. Besides that, you're pretty boring."

"I am not boring, I am a genius! I will get rid of all of you, I will get every single cartoon on this lot needled whether you like it or not. Nothing will stop me!" Warren yelled. "Starting tomorrow, everyone will get that inoculation."

"No they won't, Renraw said it was messed up," Wakko reminded him. "It's over, your little game's done. They were really boring by the way. Monopoly is more exciting. And your copies are wearing pretty thin, especially since the police are on their way. Oh, did you ever make any copies of policemen?"

"Probably not, he's an idiot and his copies are as dumb as him," Dot added. "So Warren? What are you going to do?" She looked around at all the pretty red lights. "We're all boned. You going to attack them with your copies? You've got enough to take on all the police?"

"Ooh hey look Sibs, we did enough damage the SWATS are here too," Yakko whistled. "That's impressive. Hey guys! You must be really good at swatting flies, but are you good at anything else? Doubt it!"

"The plan…" Warren looked around him, surrounded by lights. He only had about fifty copies left and only twenty followed him. Dot was right, most of them were dumb and suicidal. "…was to trap me."

"Hey sibs, he finally figured it out," Yakko laughed. "About time." He winked at Dot and Wakko. It'd all be okay now.

"I might get away if I call all the copies." Warren looked at the cops trained on him. "Every single one I have. But then I wouldn't have enough to make any more plans."

"Well, freedom or no?" Yakko crossed his arms. Either way, it was over. Warren wouldn't go after them without at least twenty or thirty copies. His others would be too stupid to get him out. If he used the twenty of thirty, he wouldn't have enough copies to pull off anything major. After all, there was a big cast, but it wasn't neverending. In the meantime he put the recorder in his hand and kicked it to a policeman. "Confession clears my name, and puts him in the suspect chair." He heard with pride the words Warren spouted on the recorder.

"Fine." Warren glared at Yakko. "You win. The originals won. Fantastic for you. But you should know by now." His eyes narrowed. "I don't like being a sore loser, and you left Aroma wide open with Renraw."

"Who is safely away from Burbank, California now," Yakko chuckled, "by the time you get to her to try and take on 'revenge for being tricked', big baby, she wouldn't be near enough before you got caught. And you'd definitely get caught, if you don't think we could chase after you, you're wrong."

"We all drank Red Bull and ate energy bars," Dot laughed.

"And I've still got more," Wakko insisted.

"You may be right on most of those counts." Warren looked around him, "but one. That wasn't a threat."

Yakko stopped smiling. "What? You had us messing everything up, you had Brain dealing with a fake inoculation, why would you go after her first?"

This time, Warren smiled. "I decided to do the last thing, first, since I couldn't figure out your plan. You underestimated what was more important."

"No way, but you had her, YOU had her." Yakko pointed at him in frustration. "You had her once and you let her go, to get to us. To get to the originals. I mean you like her, but you wouldn't put her first above revenge against us. You let her go. You…put her in the hospital but you let her go and you needled her too. You wouldn't grab her that fast, and Renraw and Zenny wouldn't be pushovers."

"Not together, but one alone was fine. I'm surprised you didn't plan more. Thinking I would leave her alone for the bigger fish first." Warren tisked his tongue. "Thought you finally had me pegged?"

"Sure, you bet," Yakko said. "You think I'd leave Aroma unguarded by no one but Renraw?"

"Oh no, too late." Warren pointed at him. "You want to make me think that you guys aren't you, you're actually Iri, Aroma and Zenny that were faking it. That the guy pretending to be me was Yakko and that Aroma was actually Dot and Renraw was actually…Wakko?"

"I don't know," Wakko shrugged his shoulders, "my mind is all messed up."

"Mine's not. You are Yakko, Wakko and Dot." Warren looked over at Yakko, "and yes, I did bag her. Underneath your very nose. And this isn't over. I may not have known your plan, but I didn't leave it to chance!" He began to run and quickly ducked the first shooting as all the copies came to his aid. "Go ahead, head to your tower to find her!"