"Wh-wh-wh-where is Da-Da-Da- that gosh darn Duck" Porky Pig exclaimed, checking his watch. Both he and Bugs were standing in the middle of an abandoned parking lot in what felt like the middle of nowhere. Of course, it wasn't really the middle of nowhere, but with how far they had to travel from the Warner Brothers studios, it sure felt like it. He looked up for any sign of Daffy approaching on the horizon. The Duck had told them to wait for him at this precise location, yet miraculously he had yet to show up. Of course, Porky should have known better than to expect Daffy of all people to be on time, yet he could not help but feel irritated none the less. He looked to Bugs, who was nonchalantly chewing a carrot.
"I thi- I thi- I thi- I feel like he should have been here by now" Porky sighed. Bugs shrugged, taking it all in stride.
"He gets here when he gets here. Not the first time Daffy would'a been late tah his own meet'n" The Bunny took another bite out of his carrot. In truth, he was just as annoyed as Porky with Daffy's irresponsible tendencies. He had grown to tolerate most of them, but the Duck's inability to keep time often proved to be one of the most irritating. Never the less, he maintained a calm and cool demeanor. After all, he prided himself on always appearing level headed under pressure.
Porky looked at his watch once more, tapping his toes, "Th- th- th- That's it! I've ha-ha-had just about enough of this waiting. I'm g-g-g-go- leaving!" Just as Porky was about to step away, a bright flash of light appeared before them. A great wave of heat washed over them, as the two shielded their eyes from whatever had appeared. Slowly the light began to dissipate, leaving rouge sparks scattered about, and a figure soon emerged. It was none other than the triumphant visage of Daffy Duck who now stood before them.
"Well it's about time ya got here" Bugs noted, rubbing the spots out of his eyes.
"Wh-wh-wh- why did you take so long? We've been waiting here for al-al-al- about an hour" Porky complained. Daffy seemed unfazed.
"Fear not, friends" Daffy answered, "For I will arrive shortly."
Bugs and Porky looked to each other, confused, then back to the duck in front of them.
"Daffy, you're already standing here" Bugs noted.
"That is correct" Daffy affirmed, "But while I am here now, I have still yet to arrive. It might be difficult for your primitive minds to understand, but I assure you that all will be revealed shortly." Before either Bugs or Porky could get the chance to ask what Daffy meant by this, or why he was being so pompous, another flash of light blinded them. When they recovered, they saw that he was gone.
"Abe-abe-abe- What was that all about?" Porky asked, mostly just to himself. Before he had the chance to be disappointed in Daffy's disappearance, they saw someone on the horizon. If Porky didn't know any better, then he would have assumed it was Daffy riding a bicycle up to them. After all, it was a black duck with an orange bill. Come to think of it, this duck did look a lot like Daffy. Wait a minute… that duck was Daffy. Porky rubbed his eyes, nearly double taking at the sight. Daffy was riding up to them now on an old bicycle. But that was impossible, surely; Daffy had just appeared in a flash of light, yet here he was again. Porky looked up to Bugs for any indication as to what this meant, but his companion in confusion merely shrugged.
Daffy ditched the bicycle, running up to the two of them excitedly, waving his arms in the air. He was clearly holding something, though from this distance Porky could not quite make out what. Some sort of electric wrist watch by the look of it. Daffy stopped in front of them, trying to catch his breath.
"You two aren't going to believe this! It's absolutely stupendous! It's incredible!" Daffy panted.
"Yeah Daff, we know. You said all that in the texts you sent us" Bugs remarked.
"You don't understand!" Daffy exclaimed, his signature lisp apparent, "I've gotten my hands on something super top secret. None of the studio heads want it getting out that I have my hands on this, if word spread about this then nothing would be the same!" He stood up straight, holding out the digital watch he was waving around earlier.
"I hate to break it to ya doc, but most people just check the time on dare phones nowa days" Bugs shrugged.
"It's not a watch! It's a time machine" Daffy explained.
"Wh-wh-what would a movie studio need with a time machine?" Porky asked, not quite believing what Daffy was putting down.
"It's all quite simple. Nowadays, movie studios spend lots of money to bring back dead or old actors with CGI. This of course costs them millions of dollars. So, what's the alternative? It's simple, go back in time, grab the actor, then film a few scenes with them here in the present, and you don't even have to pay them the same amount a normal actor would get, due to inflation!" Daffy began fiddling with the watch, "Of course, we're going to be doing much more exciting stuff."
"Ya know Daff, if dat ain't the most irresponsible use of time travel I evah seen den I don't know what is" Bugs tsked.
"D-do-do-do- You can't tell me you actually believe him, d-do you?" Porky looked up at Bugs, his arms folded indignantly. Bugs simply shrugged.
"Oh, you don't believe me?" Daffy exclaimed, "Then I shall have to prove it to you!" With that Daffy slipped on the watch, pressed a few buttons, and in a blinding flash of light he disappeared. Porky and Bugs stood there for a moment, not saying anything. Porky could not help but think how typical this was, of course right as Daffy arrived he would leave again! Before either of them had the chance to comment, however, the duck returned with another blinding flash.
"Wh-wh-wh-what was that supposed to prove?" Porky asked, unimpressed and wishing that he had brought sunglasses.
"Seriously?" Daffy sighed, "I just time traveled a few minutes into the past!"
"So, we're supposed ta believe dat when you appeared earlier, before riding in on da bicycle, dat was actually you from now, travel'n back in time to prove to us dat you really could travel troo time" Bugs recapped.
"Yes!" Daffy affirmed.
"I-I-I'm sorry, but I'm still d-d-du-dub-dubiou- skeptical" Porky said. Daffy might have presented them with what appeared to be evidence, but he was still unsure whether all of this was actually some sort of elaborate prank. It just seemed so out of nowhere, not to mention highly improbable.
"Fine!" Daffy sprayed, "If you don't believe me then I'll just take you back in time and prove it!" With that Daffy resumed hitting buttons on the watch.
"Th-th-that's not necessary Daffy, w-w-we really don't need to be going back in time" Porky said nervous. He might not have believed in time travel quite yet, but even if this was all some ruse, then the pig knew there was a potential for things going poorly.
"Pick a year!" Daffy commanded.
"1947" Bugs answered casually. Porky looked up to him, surprised at his complete lack of concern for whatever danger this might put them in.
"Got it, 1947!" Daffy punched in the numbers, "Why 1947?"
Bugs took another bit of his carrot, "Just feel'n nostalgic I guess."
Before Porky could respond, Daffy finished imputing all the necessary calculations into the device, and waltzed in-between them. He placed his hands on their shoulders.
"Ok, here we go. A random day in 1947!"
Before they knew it, another blinding flash of light occurred. This time it was different, however, they were surrounded by it, totally engulfed in swirling sparks and electricity. Fortunately, it did not last long, and before Porky knew it the light had dissipated. It took a moment for his eyes to adjust, and once they did, he was unsure if what he was seeing was real. They were no longer standing in that abandoned parking lot, instead sitting before them was the Warner Brothers studios space. Porky could have sword that, if he didn't know any better, then they appeared exactly like…like…like they did in 1947. He blinked in disbelief, rubbing his eyes to make sure he was not mistaken.
"I-I-I-I don't be-believe it" Porky said.
Bugs whistled, impressed, "Well Daff I gotta hand it to ya, that time machine really worked."
"That's what I've been saying" Daffy stood, quite proud of himself, at this admittance. It was then that Porky noticed something rather odd. There was something separating them from the outside world. It appeared that they were within some kind of bubble.
"Say now, what the b-bi-the-bi-b-bi- what's going on here?" Porky asked, pointing to the think barrier separating them from the outside.
"Well, I couldn't very well have us interfering with the past, now, could I?" Duck scoffed, "So I set it to observation mode. With this, we can see them, but they can't see or touch us."
"Ya know Daff, I don't mean ta pry, but how is it you know so much bout dat ting?" Bugs asked, pointing his partially eaten carrot down at the watch.
"It has a surprisingly handy user interface" Daffy answered.
"B-b-bu- How do we know this isn't ju-just some projection? W-we were at an o-ol-ol- abandoned parking l-lot when we left, but now we're back at the studio" Porky inquired, poking the thin bubble.
"Look, if you're going to do time travel without teleportation, then you might as well just give up right now" Daffy said.
"W-w-well I'm still not convinced" Porky folded his arms.
"Porky, we're out here look'n out at da old studio. Look around, how could we not be back in da 1940s?" Bugs asked.
"I-I-I ju-just need some more evidence" Porky said.
/
Just then, as if in response to the pig, a door on the side of the studio suddenly swung open, and two familiar figures stepped out. One was a plump, pink pig with rounded cheeks and a distinct lack of pants. The other, waddling out beside him, was a black feathered duck with a white band around his neck.
"Well old chum, another day another dollar I always say" the Daffy Duck of 1947 commented as he lit up a cigarette.
"Y-y-yo-you- I don't recall you ever saying that" replied the 1947 Porky Pig, brushing away some of the cigarette smoke.
"Well, that's why I'm starting to say it now" Daffy took another puff.
"C-c-ca-can- would you stop w-with the smoking already" Porky sighed, "I-it's bad for your health you know."
"All the other big stars do it, why can't I?" Daffy asked, before coughing profusely and tossing the cigarette away, "Ok, so I'm not the best at it, but I'll get the hang of it in time." He grinned sheepishly. Porky rolled his eyes. Suddenly, a third character stepped out of the door from behind them.
"Alright, alright, make way, make way. Just because da work days over doesn't mean some-a us don't have places ta be" a grey bunny rabbit with white gloves announced, as he stepped out, partially joking and partially serious. There was no doubt about it, this was Bugs Bunny.
/
Meanwhile, from within the safety of their bubble, the Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, and Bugs Bunny of the 21st century stood in shock and awe at this sight. It was them, there was no doubt about it, but it was them from quite a long time ago. They were now seeing themselves virtually near the beginning of their careers, at least in comparison to what they would go on to do. They all looked so fresh and full of vitality. Bugs blinked a few times, pinching himself in the arm.
"Erm, is dat who I tink it is?" he asked, turning to face his two friends.
"I…I believe so" Daffy answered, almost just as shocked.
"I-I-I-can't-bel-be-belie-belie- How is this possible?" Porky stammered.
"It's time travel, what isn't there to understand" Daffy said, pressing a few buttons on his watch.
"What'cha doin' now?" Bugs said, this time slightly concerned.
"I'm bringing us closer of course!" Daffy exclaimed, then suddenly the world around them blurred as they glided forward, soon finding themselves standing right next to their past counterparts.
"I-isn't th-this dangerous?" Porky shuddered, now within talking distance of his past self.
"Relax, we're still in observation mode" Daffy explained, "They can't interact with us, and we can't interact with them."
/
"You know, I have to ask, do you always act so pompous or is it just an act?" Daffy asked Bugs, his hands on his hips.
"Oh well, being da studios big star tends ta inflate an ego" the bunny replied playfully, bashing his eye lashes in a feminine manner.
"Listen, I hate to break it to you, but just because you're the studio's big star now, doesn't mean it's bound to last. Me and Porkster here have been playing this game longer than you" Daffy warned, placing an arm around a somewhat uncomfortable Porky.
"Oh, do you work in showbusiness too?" Bugs teased, knowing full well who the duck was.
"You know full well I do, we've been in cartoons together" Daffy huffed.
"Is that so" Bugs grinned. It was then that the two burst out laughing together. Porky scratched his head, not quite sure what to make of their relationship.
"You know Duck, for someone wit' not much'a future, you're not half bad" Bugs joked, leaning on the railing protruding out of the building.
"Me? I think you'll find that I have a longer shelf life than you"
"Oh, who are we kidd'n, show business is come and go, for all we know we could be washed up has bins by tomorrow" Bugs shrugged, "I'll see you two around, we should do a picture together some time" he said as he walked off down the street. Porky looked at the Bunny as he walked away, then over to Daffy.
"D-do you two k-know each other or what?" The pig asked confused as to what had just happened.
"Me know Bugs? We've seen each other around the studio and worked together a little, but it's not like I would call us friends or anything. I barely know the guy to be honest with you" Daffy said casually.
/
Back within the safety of their bubble, the trio were still observing in utter fascination at how different they were back then.
"Well, tings certainly have changed" Bugs remarked.
"They haven't changed that much" Daffy said.
/
"Well, it's Friday night, and I have the whole afternoon ahead of me. So, if you excuse me then I'll be bidding you adieu" the Daffy of the 1940s then began sauntering down the side walk, intending to leave his friend behind.
"W-w-wa-wai- Could you h-hold up a minute please?" Porky called after him. The duck immediately stopped, turning around, a slight hint of nervousness worn on his face.
"Yes?"
"I-I d-didn't have any p-p-pla-p-plan-pla- anything on my schedule for tonight. If y-you're going out then c-could I join you?" The pig asked innocently. There was something so naïve about Porky; Daffy knew that if his friend were to find out where it was he went on his Friday nights, then it would shatter the little fellas perception of him. He needed to come up with an excuse, but what would sound plausible?
"Um, well as much as I would like you to tag along, that might not be for the best" Daffy said, perspiration beginning to form on his forehead. Think! Think! He needed to come up with something that would make it clear Porky could not tag along, yet at the same time did not make him sound like a jerk. He had already made it clear he was going out for pleasure and not business, so that alone limited his choices.
"R-really? W-w-why not?" Porky asked.
"Because I… because I uh…" Daffy tapped his foot trying to come up with something, "Because I wanted to make my life sound more glamourous than it actually is, and in reality, I have a doctor's appointment." It was by no means the best excuse, but it was the best he could think of on such short notice. Porky was totally oblivious to all of this.
"W-w-well why d-didn't you just say so? I-I'll see you on M-mo-m-mon-mond-m-monda- next week." The pig waved goodbye as he walked off. Daffy let out a sigh of relief, wiping the sweat from his brow, then proceeded to head in the opposite direction.
/
As they were observing this scene play out, the Daffy of the 21st century was beginning to realize what day this was. He didn't remember it at first, but the whole interaction with Porky made it quite obvious what had happened later that day.
"Alright, that's enough. You two get the point now let's go back" he said nervously, about to punch in the coordinates to send them back home.
"Why? What's the big rush?" Bugs asked casually.
"You don't remember what happened later that day?" Daffy did his best to try and remind Bugs of what happened, without spelling it all out in front of Porky.
"Daff, it was 70 years ago, how am I suppose'ta remember…oh" the realization came over Bugs rather quickly, hitting him all at once, "Ya know what there's nothing ta see here, lets head back." He was very quick to change his mood once he was reminded of what had happened. It was true that if someone asked him to remember a random day from back in the 40s, then he would have no idea. This day, however, this day was something…special to say the least.
"N-now hold on j-just a m-mi-minu-minu- just a second" Porky interrupted, "W-what exactly a-are you two h-h-hi-hide-hidei- keeping secret from me?"
Both Bugs and Daffy glanced down at Porky then back to each other, nervously. It wasn't that they didn't trust Porky, he was a very good friend at this point, but this was most certainly an element of their past that they would have preferred to not dig up. It did happen 70 years ago after all; to Porky, however, it was happening here and now.
"Just mind your own business, we're going back" Daffy said crudely as he began punching in their destination.
"W-w-would it k-kill you to have some manners? L-let me s-s-see that thing" Porky reached up, trying to grab the watch from Daffy.
"Hey now! Get yer' hands off'a me!" Daffy tried to shove Porky away, the watch coming lose as he did so.
"I-I-I just want to s-see what it is y-you two are hiding" Porky proclaimed, trying to reach for the watch.
"Um, guys, maybe we could settle dis in a calmer manner" Bugs was about to intervene, when suddenly the watch flew out of Daffy's grasp, landing on the ground. The bubble shook, warping like the static on a tv screen, before calming down. The three of them stood there for a moment in shock and terror. Bugs could feel his heart pounding in his chest. Daffy reached over to the only device which could bring them back home. Upon picking it up, he noticed several cracks running along it's glass screen.
"It's broken."
A/N: I originally planned for this to be a one shot, but it wound up longer than I expected, so here we are. In doing research for this, I actually found it surprisingly difficult to find out what year was the first time Bugs and Daffy ever appeared in a cartoon together. If I did it right, then they first appeared together in 1943, so I tried to factor in that familiarity a little bit, but not too much.