Weddings were always a lively event in Retroville. The still newly built playground became a paradise for those longing for a simpler time, far away from the newfangled technology and fast pace of the twenty-first century Toontown. The playground had been constructed in black and white to preserve the elegance of a former time period, yet it did not dampen the cheer of the Toons who lived here. Especially not at a wedding. Walter Ralph Edward III was the finest bachelor in all of Retroville, and now he was finally off the market. The handsome, rich, orange rabbit was finally marrying his short-time sweetheart, Anna Banana, a yellow monkey from the nearby Acorn Acres. When it was revealed that the only son of Toontown's richest family was marrying a tailor from a poor family it had caused ripples throughout the elite community. While his parents had initially declined to accept his choice, they eventually gave in once they realized that happiness was the the truly important thing. Plus, Walter Edward Ralph II was running for council and this would help his support among lower class Toons. The Edwards' had spared no expense for this wedding. Inviting the creme a la creme of Toontown, they needed to show how they threw a party. They had rented out the largest Ballroom in Retroville. Overhead, magnificent chandeliers made of beautiful, translucent crystal gleamed rainbow beams onto a polished wooden floors. Large, silk curtains lined gigantic stained glass windows. Tables circumvented the dance floor. Each one with its own unique colored cloth and vase combo. Large white columns were decorated with rows of flowers and campaign posters picturing the portly orange rabbit wearing a monocle. Exquisite Toons, dressed in their finest outfits sat at their tables, watching as the vows were read and the first kiss completed, eliciting a range of excitement and confusion. Shortly after, a large, forty piece orchestra began to play a slow, jazzy song as the newly married couple walked their way down to the middle of the dance floor.
Anna, wearing an expensive pink dress that her new step-mother had helped her pick out, winched a bit as she stepped down the stairs. This dress was quite constricting, however they had insisted as it "slimmed her figure" much to her discomfort. But she knew how important this was for Edward. He had never looked as handsome. He had chosen to go with an ashy white, silk, three piece suit. Ditching his regular polo shirt, khaki shorts combo that he was known for. Stopping, the two stared at each other and smiled. All the preparations, planning, anxiety, and stress had been wiped away when the two had finally seen each other. Placing her hand on Edward's chest, she winked at him as she placed her other arm around his back. Feeling a soft hand reach down and grab hers, Edward mimicked his wife and scooped his arm around her. As the music continued, the two gracefully began their first dance. Neither one had much experience dancing, and had secretly spent weeks preparing for this moment with hidden classes and late night mirror sessions to avoid embarrassing each other. Around them, Toons swayed to the music. Soon enough, couples stood up and made their way to the dance floor. The lights began to dim, as the music mellowed even more, as large hordes began to embrace their loved ones and rent-a-dates, enjoying the company and the tunes.
Eventually the music ended, and there was a loud applause from the crowd as the couple bowed. Running up to the stage, Walter grabbed the microphone and began to shout. "Let's say we get this wedding STARTED!" leaping onto the floor, trombones and trumpets erupted into a faster paced swing. Sliding over, lines of toons in a row began to step back and forth, kicking their feet forwards and backwards. Some took their hats off, tilting forward, inviting their partners to join in. "Let's show them how we dance here in Retroville." he exclaimed to the excited monkey. Grabbing her hand, the two began to twist and step, putting on quite the show for the gawking onlookers. Perfectly pulling off a spinning twirl, Walter dipped Anna beneath his legs, quickly puling her up and tossing her into his arms. As the song pace quickened, the pair stepped it up, laughing to themselves as their guests struggled to keep up.
"When did YOU learn to dance!" Anna giggled as Walter spun her around again, her dress flowing up in the air.
"Learn? Mrs. Edwards I'm appalled. I'm quite the natural. I don't need to learn! I just do!" stretching themselves backwards, the two kicked forward, their arms the only link between them. "I guess the three weeks of private lessons probably helped as well."
Anna grinned, at the silly rabbit. How such a charming, funny Toon came from such a stiff, boring family never ceased to amaze her. Just the fact that they had met seemed like a miracle. Wealthy toons hardly ever left their immediate playgrounds, unless they were vacationing or performing some sort of other elite Toon shenanigans. However one day Walter had torn his brand new khakis when partaking in a friendly game of golf with his friends on the Back Nine. Unable to bear the embarrassment of being seen by somebody he knew, he quickly raced to a nearby tailor where he met Anna. It was love at first sight as he gazed upon the beautiful primate. She remembered accidentally walking in on him in his underwear. She had turned so red, that she thought it would never fade. Snapping back to reality, she wiped her brow as the song ended and the crowd began to cheer once again. "Hey sweetie, I'm going to get a drink really quick. Want anything?"
"Hmm. I'll take a glass of that delicious tomato juice." he chuckled as he watched his wife jog across the room. Even at her own wedding she never failed to be the goofy Toon he fell in love with.
Squeezing her way through a group of guests who were enjoying the free beverages a little too much, Anna grabbed two cups and slowly began to fill them as small talk became more audible now that the music had ended. "Did you see them dancing? No way a Toon like her learnt that by herself." an older mustached deer chortled, joined in by two other fancy looking bears in matching black suits.
"Well, I guess you know what they say. If you want class, you come to Retroville, if you want to finish last, you go to Acorn Acres." one of the bears joked. Anna gripped the ladle and did her best to ignore the condescending crowd. She knew that many here refused to accept her, but it was something she was going to have to accept. Finishing pouring into the cups, she nearly dropped her glasses as the lights overhead began to flicker, and then shut off. A small panic ensued among the crowd, many speaking loudly in confusion. Anna felt her way through the crowd calling out to Walter, who did likewise eventually reaching him.
Handing him the glass, the two spoke quietly among themselves, sipping on their juice. A figure in the darkness stood out on the stage, calmly explaining the situation and before they knew it the lights came back on. A light coughing from nearby drowned out by the cheers of the crowed. Turning to face Walter, Anna giggled again. "Uh oh, looks like you spilled on yourself hon!" a red stain covered the front of his suit. The rabbit did not speak, instead grabbing for his stomach, be began to couch again. Doubling over, the glass fell to the floor and shattered on the hardwood floor. Blood spurting from his mouth, Walter reached out with a pained expression on his face. Gasping for air, he reached and clinged to his wife's dress who fell to the ground in horror. "Somebody, please get a doctor!"
Around them, Toons gathered in horror, as the young rabbit laid on the monkey's lap, choking up blood between pained moans. Unable to speak, he looked at his wife in horror as she began to sob with worry. An olive green horse ran over and kneeled down with medical equipment. After an ineffectual pixie dust, the horse neighed out in panic. Walter's parents ran over and kneeled down in horror. Walter II held his wife, covering her eyes as their son slowly began to fade in color. The doctor began to call out, but Anna could not seem to hear it. All she could hear was her heartbeat slamming against her chest, as she finally watched her husband cry one one last agonized cry, before finally closing his eyes, and falling limp in her arms.
Deputy Skids held tightly to Susie's arm as she slowly guided him up the stairs towards the house. Covered with a blindfold, he grinned in anticipation at whatever was coming. Deputy was no idiot, knowing that it was his birthday, his beautiful fiancee likely had something planned. When she had sent him out on a bunch of meaningless chores, it just sealed his suspicion. As he heard the door slowly creak open, he was still unable to see inside of the dark room. Trembling with excitement he whispered to the pink cat. "Come on, can I take it off yet?" Doing his best to slip from underneath the makeshift mask, he was quickly reprimanded.
"Not yet! We're almost there! You are the most impatient Toon I know!" she stated sarcastically. "Now get your cute butt in here" pushing him forward Deputy stood in place, feeling as the cat stepped behind him and began to untie his blindfold. "Surprise!" she screamed out as the lights flashed on, surrounding him with several of his closest friends.
"Oh my cog, you guys made it!" the lime green dog cheered out watching as various Rangers and Officers held up glasses of fizzy drinks and smiled.
A chubby brown mouse wearing a colorful party hat that looked a size too small for him waddled over. "Couldn't miss my best bud's thirty-fifth birthday!" he plopped his friend around the taller dog and blew an unfolding toy. "How does it feel to be so old?"
Susie walked over and pinched the mouse's ear. "Hey watch it sonny, you're in the presence of a certified senior citizen. Show some respect!" the group laughed. The night turned out to be very enjoyable. It was only a small crowd, but it turned out to be quite lively. Susie had bought a large German Chocolate cake from a nearby bakery, they had put on a playlist of his favorite music and played games. Eventually the crowd began to think as the drinks began to hit and the dancing began to slow. Eventually it was just Deputy, Susie, and Brownie who sat on the couch and recounted hilarious anecdotes.
"Thank you guys for the amazing night. If I knew turning thirty-five was this much fun I'd do it every day." snapping his party hat up, he felt his land back on his head.
Blowing on his toy, Brownie laughed manically. "Deputy, if you turned thirty-five every day, I think my stomach would explode from all the cake." patting his jiggling belly, the three laughed.
"Yeah, I guess we can spare you a bit." reaching into his pocket, he pulled out his whisper device to check the time. Furrowing his brow as the seven missed messages. "Hey, can you guys excuse me. Looks like something is going on." Walking into the kitchen he listed as the pair continued making Jokes about Deputy's age. Scrolling through the messages all of them were from his captain, Reessess. The older black cat had been promoted several months ago when Lord Lowden Clear was arrested on charges of kidnapping and attempted murder along with a subordinate. It was actually Deputy who had initially investigated it along with several of his other guests and had almost died. It had all led him back to reigniting the spark with Susie though, so not all bad.
"Hey, I need you to respond." "I know you're probably busy but this is urgent!" Deputy felt his spine send a chill as he continued reading, finally landing on the last message. "Deputy, there's been a murder in Retroville." crime in Toontown was extremely rare. Even smaller crimes like stealing were uncommon, but murder? It was almost unheard of. Since the Great Cog Wars had ended almost two years ago, there had been one documented murder and it was between two Anti-Toons. This level of angst was unnerving, especially from the usually calm captain.
Walking back into the living room Deputy stared at the two others with how mouth agape. Turning to their beloved friend, both jumped up and ran over. "What's wrong, babe?" Susie meowed out concerned. Deputy held up the whisper device so the other two could read. "Oh my cog." she whispered, kneeling down.
Brownie wiped his sweaty forehead and pulled out his whisper device, finding similar messages. "Deputy.."
"I'm sorry sweetie, we need to go." Leaning down, he held his fiancee's hands and kissed her on the cheek as she nodded slowly. Standing up, Deputy ran over and grabbed his sunglasses and badge. "Let's get this thing started."