After one week of humiliation, torment and grief from their former teammates, Fred and Barney were ready for their finals.

"Well Barney, the big day is almost here." Fred said.

"Yeah, my birthday is in two weeks." Barney said. "I can't wait!"

"No Barn, I'm talking about graduation." Fred said.

"Oh yeah." Barney nodded. "Once high school is finished, we begin our unfortunate transition into adulthood and go out into the world to fend for ourselves. We might never even see each other again."

"Don't worry, buddy." Fred smiled. "You promised that you'd stay by my side ever since we were kids, so we've got nothing to worry about."

"Until I can repay you, that is." Barney pointed out.

"Of course, we know that's never gonna happen." Fred deadpanned. "You couldn't repay a piggy bank."

"Yeah, I'm paying that off, too." Barney nodded.

"Anyways, we'll think of a great plan for the future once we pass our finals tomorrow." Fred said smugly.

"Uh, Fred, there's something you should know." Barney said.

"You know, Barney, all these nerds, geeks, dweebs and squares think they're so smart, but I'm three steps ahead of them." Fred smirked.

"But Fred-" Barney tried to speak.

"Not now, Barn." Fred didn't listen. "Anyways, as I was saying, these dorks are gonna study all night, but I know for a fact that they're going to sleep that information away. Not me! I'm gonna get a good nights sleep, get up at the crack of dawn and cram all morning. That way, all that information will stay in my head and I'll pass with flying colors!"

"That's a great idea, Fred, but unfortunately, the test is today!" Barney said.

"SAY WHAT?!" Fred gasped.

"Flintstone! Rubble!" Mr. Slate came up to them. "Hurry up and get to class! We don't wanna be late for finals, now do we? Now come on, let's go! My future is riding on this!"

Fred and Barney got to class and everyone was ready to take the test.

"Alright class, don't think of this as a final exam, think of it as something your entire future depends upon." Mrs. Magma said. "So, get to work now! You have two hours! Go!"

The students each began their tests and began carving the answers into their respective stone tablets. Fred was especially nervous, due to having not studied, so he began trying to remember what he knew.

In no time at all, it was time for everyone to turn in their tests and have them graded. Everyone waited outside the classroom for their results.

"So Fred, how do you think you did?" asked Barney.

"Who cares? All I know is that I'm gonna fail for sure." Fred sighed.

"Well Flintstone, maybe if you spent a little less time scheming and more time studying." Slate pointed out. "After all, I have to study because I have a bright future ahead of me."

"The only Fred could study is if there were word problems involving ribs and pizza pies." Barney chuckled.

"Hey, don't rub it in, guys." Fred glared at them. "I've got enough problems right now as it is."

Just then, Mrs. Magma came out with the faux ground sloth folders containing the results.

"Here are your results, kiddies." She said.

The students each opened up their respective folders and saw their results.

"I did it! I passed!" Barney cheered. "I got a B minus!"

"Don't be so smug, Rubble." Slate showed his results. "I got a triple A plus!"

"What about you, Fred?" asked Barney.

"I'd better prepare for the worst." Fred gulped.

Slowly, he opened up the folder and looked at his test and he got a C plus.

"Oh no, not a C." Fred whined. "I'm doomed! I gotta spend another year at this school!"

"Fred, a C is a good thing." Barney said. "It's a passing grade! Fred, you're graduating! You have passed!"

"I passed!" Fred gasped. "I did it! I knew I could pass! Yabba Dabba Doo!"

Fred jumped up and clicked his heels together.

"Gee Flintstone, I guess even a bonehead like you gets lucky once in a while." Slate joked.

One week later, it was time for graduation and the principal was handing out everyone's diploma.

"...Fredrick J. Flintstone." The principal continued reading the list of students.

Fred ran up to the teachers and grabbed his diploma.

"Yeah! Fred! Fred! Fred!" Barney cheered. "Whoo! Whoo! Whoo! Whoo!"

Meanwhile somewhere over in the town of Limestone Port, was Slaghoople Manor, home of the ever-wealthy Slaghoople family, consisting of Wilma Slaghoople and her mother, Pearl. They lived in the lap of luxury and only mingled with the finest people.

On this particular day, Wilma's family was having a special party for her graduation. All of the richest folk in Limestone were attending, but Wilma wasn't so interested. She preferred to be on the balcony of her room and look over the city.

"Wilma, what do you think you're doing?" Pearl demanded. "The party has started and you're not attending!"

"I don't want to attend." Wilma sighed.

"But, the whole neighborhood has come to celebrate your acceptance into Princestone University." Pearl said. "To carry on the Slaghoople family legacy!"

"Mother, I don't want to attend." Wilma placed her hands on her hips.

"Listen dear, this party cost us a pretty penny, so you'd better get down, right now!" Pearl ordered. "I'm not having the guest of honor not be at her own party!"

"Very well." Wilma sighed. "But only if Betty is attending!"

"I don't get what you see in that Betty girl." Pearl said. "Her parents probably still bash each other with clubs."

"That may be, mother, but Betty is a good person and as long as she's here, that's the only way I'll attend." Wilma folded her arms.

Wilma went downstairs to meet everyone. Most of the guests just talked about their fancy new stuff and investments, stuff like that. Wilma couldn't even get a word in edgewise.

"Wilma! Wilma!" Someone called out. It was Wilma's best friend, Betty Jean McBricker.

"Oh, hey Betty." Wilma walked up to Betty. "Thank granite you're here. I was about to die of boredom in there."

"Die of boredom?" Betty said as eating a bunch of hors d'overues. "How could you do that? They've got an ice sculpture of you, exquisite lobsters and prime beefsteaks, and they even got imported music. We never have this stuff at home!"

"That's nice, Betty, but quite frankly, none of this stuff interests me." Wilma explained.

"How can being rich ever be bad?" Betty kept eating. "You can buy and have whatever you want, whenever you want. Plus, you don't have to pay taxes."

"I know, but it's just that I've lived my entire life in this posh lifestyle and sometimes, I wonder what it would be like to enjoy a simple life." Wilma said.

"Well, why don't you go take a vacation?" Betty suggested.

"Betty, I don't want to go on a vacation." Wilma said. "If mother hears about it, she'll probably send me somewhere like Rockapulco or the Boulderhamas. I've already been to those places too many times."

"No, what I mean is that we can take a year off before college and travel to a nice, simple place, if you need a change of scenery." Betty said. "My aunt has an old RV that we can use."

"Gee that's great, Betty, but where would we go?" asked Wilma. "What's the most simple, primitive place that we can go to?"

"Bedrock!" Betty smiled.

Author's Note:

Well folks, we've finally been introduced to our mail leading ladies, Wilma and Betty! Stay tuned for the next chapter, in which we get to see how Fred and Barney begin their journey to adulthood!