Throughout the years, Barney had lived up to his promise and stuck by him through thick and thin hail and hardships. Through junior high and in high school.
Eventually, Fred and Barney had reached their senior year of high school and graduation was right around the corner, which also meant that the big game was approaching.
"Well Barney, the big day is almost here." Fred said as they were unpacking their .
"My birthday? Gee Fred, I thought you had forgotten." Barney said.
"No Barney, I'm talking about the big football game!" Fred corrected him. "This is our one chance to prove that we will be remembered as heroes!"
"But Fred, we are playing against the Stalagmite Sabers and they always win." Barney pointed out. "Practically everyone backs out because they know they don't have a chance."
"And that's where we come in, Barn." Fred said. "We are going to go undercover and find out their secret plays and strategies."
"Isn't that cheating?" asked Barney. "It seems kinda wrong."
"Cheating? Yes!" Fred nodded. "Wrong? This is competition, grow up! Now, anyways, Philo told me that the team will be meeting at Billy's Bronto Ribs and Burgers for a team meeting. We are going to go undercover as members of the team and record all their plays. Now come on, let's-"
"Flintstone!" Someone shouted. It was Mr. Slate.
"Hiya Nate, what's up?" asked Fred.
"That's Mr. Slate, to you, Flinstone!" said Mr. Slate.
"You know you could just call us Fred and Barney." Barney pointed out. "Besides, you're a student like us. Why should we call you, Mr. Slate?"
"I prefer the formalities of last names." Slate clarified. "Anyways, the principal told me to remind you that you and Rubble will be staying after school to clean up the cafeteria!"
"Hey, that was an accident!" Fred folded his arms.
"No excuses, Flinstone!" Slate waved his finger at him. "I'm going to be keeping an eye on you, so don't even think of trying to weasel your way out of this."
Just then, Slate's shell phone rang.
"Yeah, what?" Slate picked up his phone. "Oh, father. What? Oh, of course. I will be there at once."
"Something wrong, Mr. Slate?" asked Barney.
"Yes, my father wants me to meet him." said Slate. "So, I'm afraid I won't be able to watch you."
"Hooray!" Fred cheered. "Oh, I mean, that's unfortunate."
"Don't be sad, Flintstone." said Slate. "I'll still be able to see if you cleaned up the place or not."
Mr. Slate reached into his pocket and took out a bird.
"Presenting, the stool pigeon!" Mr. Slate showed them the bird. "He will watch your every move like a hawk."
"I squeal, you deal." the pigeon remarked.
"You're darn tootin!" Slate said to the bird. "Now, watch these two hooligans so they don't try any funny business."
"Anything to pay off my tuition bills." the pigeon deadpanned.
Later that day, Fred and Barney met in the bathroom to discuss their plight.
"What're we gonna do, Fred?" asked Barney. "That bird is going to be watching our every single move."
"Don't worry, Barn, I've got a plan!" Fred proclaimed. "We're still going to find out those plays!"
"But how?" asked Barney.
Fred smirked.
At the end of the school day, Fred and Barney drove to the diner to begin their big undercover operation.
"You sure this is going to work, Fred?" asked Barney.
"Of course, Barn." Fred said. "That birdbrain won't know the difference."
Back at the school, Dino and Hoppy were wearing Fred and Barney's loin cloths.
"Alright you big troglodyte fellas, get to work!" the pigeon handed the two pets brooms.
Dino and Hoppy shrugged and began cleaning up the cafeteria.
At that same time, Fred and Barney finally made it to the diner.
"Alright Barney, here we are." said Fred. "Now, put these on."
Fred handed Barney some loin cloths and hats that had the diner's logo on it and put on some fake beards.
"Gee Fred, where'd you get these?" asked Barney.
"My cousin runs a costume shop." Fred said. "But enough of that! Lets get inside and try to act...somewhat professional."
"It's you I'm worried about, Fred." Barney deadpanned.
The duo got inside and found the Sabers at their usual booth. They walked towards the team all tough and gritty-like.
"...and then I was like, 'I don't even like soy sauce!'" said the team captain.
All the jocks started laughing loudly and obnoxiously at the captain's joke with Fred and Barney approaching them.
"There they are." Fred whispered to Barney. "Now, you go take orders, while I try to get in on their secrets."
"You got it, buddy boy." Barney winked.
Fred then walked over to the Sabers to take their orders.
"Greetings fellow cavemen, shall I take your orders?" asked a disguised Barney.
"Yes, give us a slab of bronto ribs and coleslaw." said the captain. "Extra sauce."
"Of course, young man." Barney said. "We will have it for you momentarily."
As Barney went to give the order to the kitchen, Fred snuck to eavesdrop on the visiting team.
"Anyways, back on schedule." said the captain. "As you know, our final game is coming up and we are going to crush those Bedrock Brontosaurs like the parasites they are!"
"Yeah!" The Sabers raised their tall, frosty mugs of root beer.
"Yeah! Down with the Brontosaurs!" said the jocks.
"We will make them wish they were extinct!" said the captain.
"These guys had better say their blasted plays right away..." Fred mumbled. "I don't know how much longer that dinosaur can stay in disguise."
At that same time, Barney was taking other customers orders and gathering tips.
"Gee, people sure are giving out nicely these days." He thought as he put the tips in his pocket.
Just then, Mr. Slate arrived with his father and sat at a booth.
"Oh no!" Barney gasped.
Back at the jocks table, Fred was getting bored with hearing the jocks brag and tell jokes.
"Binky's kinda creepy looking, but when she looked at me today, I could've died!" One of the jocks laughed.
The jocks all laughed loudly and obnoxiously.
"Yeah, I know!" The jock laughed. "She makes Lisa Rhinestone look like Shelly Millstone!"
Fred was getting really irritable, so he secretly snuck behind one of the jocks
"Can we discuss the big game first?" Fred said in a deep voice as he moved the jock's mouth. "I gotta know how we are gonna win."
"Of course, Bonesky." said the captain. "Now, here's the thing: We need to have those Brontos distracted during the game and how do we distract them?"
"Smokin hot cheerleaders?" asked one of the jocks.
"Our good looks?" asked another jock.
"No, rock head!" said the captain. "The secret is our mascot. Yep. He's the reason we always win!"
Fred secretly carved down what the jocks were saying.
"As you know, he is the one who comes up with all the plays and strategies." said the captain. "If it wasn't for him, we wouldn't have our skills."
"Yeah, like whenever we are on halftime, he sneaks into the other locker room and discovers the weaknesses of the other teams." said the assistant jock.
"Not to mention, he does some pretty awesome tricks that boost our team spirit!" The captain winked. "Now how about those Brontos? They're built all wrong for participating in a sporting activities."
Fred wrote down this as well.
"This is juicy stuff." He said.
"Psst! Fred!" Barney whispered from inside the kitchen. "Come here!"
Fred walked over to Barney to see what all the commotion was about.
"What is it, Barn?" Fred whispered.
"Look!" Barney pointed to Mr. Slate and his father.
"Don't worry, Barney." Fred whispered. "I got everything we need. Let's just sneak past them."
"Shouldn't we wait till they leave, Fred?" asked Barney.
"Are you crazy? They could be here all night." Fred whispered. "Let's get go through the back exit."
"Okay, Fred." Barney nodded.
As Fred and Barney tiptoed to get to the exit, Mr. Slate and his father were discussing something.
"Son, you're probably wondering why I called you here today." said Father Slate.
"Of course, father." said Mr. Slate. "But first, we must eat. I'm starving."
"Of course, my boy." said Father Slate. "Oh waiters!"
Fred and Barney stopped when they heard Slate's father calling them.
"Who, us?" They gulped.
"Yes, you." said Slate's dad. "Aren't you gonna take our orders or not?"
"One minute, sir." Fred said in a high pitched voice.
The duo then reluctantly walked over to the Slates.
"Can I take your order, sirs?" asked Fred.
"Yes, we will have the Cactus-Noodle Soup." said Slate's dad.
"Right away, sir." Fred said as he wrote down their order.
"Say, wait a minute." Mr. Slate noticed something. "You look familiar. Don't I know you from somewhere?"
"Of course not." Fred lied. "You must be mistaking me for someone else."
"Oh, thought so." Slate shrugged. "So, what were you saying, father?"
"Well son, as you know, I won't be around for much longer, so this isn't just a simple father-son bonding gig." said the father. "I will be retiring soon and as my only son, you will be working alongside me in the company."
"Why father, this is quite a surprise." Slate gasped. "I don't know what to say!"
"Think nothing of it, son." said Slate, Sr. "Think of it as what you'll be doing your whole life after you graduate."
Just then, Fred and Barney came back with the cactus-noodle soup.
"Here you are, sir." They handed the bowls of soup. "Enjoy!"
"Why thank you, waiters." Slate handed Fred and Barney a tip.
"Anytime, Mr. Slate!" Barney said in his normal voice.
"Wait a minute! I know that deep, chuckle voice!" Slate snapped his fingers and ripped Barney's fake beard off. "Barney! Which means this must be..."
Slate ripped Fred's fake beard off and revealed his true identity.
"Flintstone!" He snapped. "I knew it!"
"Please Mr. Slate, let's handle this like adults." Fred grinned nervously. "Run!"
"Flintstone! You get back here!" Slate chased after the duo.
Fred and Barney both ran out of the diner and drove off in their car.
"You can run all you want, Flintstone, but I'm still telling the principal on you!" Slate shouted.
"Boy Fred, that was a close one." Barney said as they drove back to school. "We are so going to get permanent detention now."
"But it was worth it, Barney." Fred said. "We now know their secret to success and we can steal it."
"Yeah, I always thought it just their skills, hard work and good looks that had them win every time." Barney said.
"That's what they want you to think, Barn." Fred assured him. "Now all we have to do is sneak into their school and take their mascot."
"After we face the principal, of course." Barney chuckled.
Author's Note:
Looks like Fred and Barney have found the key to the Saber's success. Can they steal the mascot before it's too late? Stay tuned!