Dispensers of Inflated Justice

It seemed quiet tonight. From atop the roof, it always seemed quiet. Even with the city hustling and bustling beneath, from up here it all faded away into a near total silence. The various lights of windows and cars winked in the distance. A time when anyone else would want to relax and settle in for the evening.

But not him. Not Balloon Boy. His eyes peered through the mask he wore, his cape billowing in the breeze behind him. He and his friends had sworn an oath to protect this city from those who would threaten it. Criminals never rested and neither would they. They would remain here, watching over everyone, making sure they were all safe and-

"Why on earth are we all the way up here?" said an irritable voice.

"So we get the best view!" replied a chirpy one. "Then we can leap into action!"

"But we're at least fifty feet above the ground! Surely, we are better served by being lower down, so that we may more readily react to potential peril."

"Hey, I'm fine being up here," said another. "If things stay this quiet, maybe being a superhero isn't all that bad."

"Hmph, you would think so, Clyde."

"Teddy!" the chirpy voice hissed. "You gotta use our hero names! He's Kick-Start!"

"You just did exactly the same thing!" Theodore argued. "I am the Tabulator and you'd do well to remember it, Her… I mean, Skater Girl." He groaned. "What a ridiculous name."

"This coming from you?" retorted Clyde. "You sure you didn't want to call yourself the Accountant or the Organiser? Or was that too dull, even for you?"

"It's a perfectly fine hero name! I started with cleaning your messes, now I'm here to clean the greatest mess of all: injustice and chaos!"

"Oh aye, I can hear those criminals shaking in their boots already," noted a rough, but pleasant voice.

Billy turned at the sound of laughter from the others, all of them dressed for their roles. Theodore, flushing from the joke at his expense, looked like an old fashioned detective with a long coat and wide brimmed hat, his eyes covered by a black mask. He distracted himself by reading a pamphlet he was holding. Hermana had added a pink cape and matching skirt with her short shorts, along with a pink mask. She'd also added wings to her skates. Clyde's only concession for his usual outfit was the addition of a small red cape and matching mask. Vevina had made few changes to her outfit as well, adding a white cape and pair of goggles instead of a mask. Her biggest change was a pair of metal endoskeleton arms that had been attached to her own like gauntlets, making her cut an intimidating figure.

Following everything that had happened with the fragments, Golden had suggested that they have a little fun. After reminding them that she could do virtually anything for them in this world, Billy had excitedly suggested they all be superheroes. Hermana and Vevina had enthusiastically agreed, while Clyde and Theodore seemed uncertain. Some glaring from Vevina soon changed their minds. After designing their costumes, Goldie had dressed them up and placed them in the city simulation while she went off to 'change'.

Billy was buzzing with excitement. He expected them to squabble a bit, but he knew that was just them. Hopefully, they could all start to have some fun again and do it together. Vevina noticed he was watching and strode over, kneeling down to his level.

"Any sign of danger there, Balloon Boy?" she asked.

"Not yet, Mangle," he reported. "But we'll find it soon enough. Those bad guys won't escape us."

"Aye, too right they won't." She ruffled his hair. "With eyes like yours keeping watch, we'll track them down."

"You uh, sure about that hero name, Vev?" asked Clyde. "I mean, after everything, I would have thought that-"

"Thought what? That I'd be all scared and fragile about it? Fu… nuts to that," she corrected quickly. "I'm taking the name and I'm making it mine. That a problem?"

"No, no," he said quickly. "Just um… never mind, whatever. Do what you like."

"Good, I'm going to."

An uneasy tension settled in. Clyde didn't meet her glare, his eyes directed at the floor. Vevina held it for a few moments before turning back to Billy. Before she could say anything, a cry came from somewhere nearby.

"Help! Help me, someone!"

Billy gasped. "Somebody needs help!"

"Gee, never would have figured that out. Ow!" Clyde rubbed his arm where Vevina punched it. "What? I'm just saying, we all heard it."

"And we're still standin' around here." Hermana skated towards the roof's edge and bounded to the next one. "Come on, everybody! Party Patrol, away!"

"Wait for us, you dolt!" Theodore hurried after her whilst stuffing the pamphlet in his pocket. "And our name is the Organisation Alliance!"

"Only you could make a superhero team sound boring!" retorted Clyde.

"Well, what would your suggestion be?"

"Not that."

"Both of you, shut it and move!" Vevina overtook them. "Besides, we agreed on Billy's suggestion."

Theodore huffed. "We are not calling ourselves the Balloon Buddies!"

"Why?" asked Billy from next to his hip. "What's wrong with it?"

"As if you need to…" Theodore trailed off when he saw the look Vevina was giving him. "I mean, yes, of course. Balloon Buddies, away!"

"Way to stand your ground there, dude," muttered Clyde.

"Oh do be quiet." Theodore looked at his coat. "I fail to see why we are all wearing these capes. Surely, they're more of a hindrance than a help."

"We're superheroes," Billy said plainly. "We gotta look the part and that means we wear capes. Besides, you have a long coat, not a cape."

"Yes, but that's beside the point," said Theodore. "They could get caught or snagged, slow us down if we try to run. They serve absolutely no practical purpose."

"But they look so cool!" Hermana skated past them, her own cape billowing. "Look how mine flutters and flies about! Weeeeee!"

"Yeah, yeah! Look, watch this!" At the next gap, Billy stretched his arms out as he jumped. "I'm flying! Wooo!"

"Oh, I can make it loads better!" Hermana scooped him up in her hands and held him over her head while they skated along. "Now you're flying!"

The two of them laughed while Billy stretched his arms out, feeling the wind rush through his hair and past his cape. Until he was suddenly snatched away and placed back on the ground.

"What do you think you're doing?! Prancing about up here, what if you drop him?" Vevina snapped.

"Sorry!" she squeaked. "I-I was bein' careful, really!"

"Aye, holding a wee lad over your head while on skates on a rooftop, the definition of careful." Vevina held him up. "You okay there, Billy?"

Billy managed a smile. "I'm fine, don't worry. Remember, none of this is real, Vevvy. This isn't my actual body. Even then, there's no way Goldie would let me be badly hurt or any of us. You don't have to worry."

"Oh. Right." She glanced around awkwardly. "Well, be that as it may… what I mean is that…"

"Wow, usually it's Ted who ends up fumbling for his words when he's flustered," said Clyde.

"Shut your mouth or you'll be the one having an accident."

"There's the Vevina I know. Now, you putting him down or are you going to carry him like a sack of potatoes?" Clyde said this last part with a very bad Irish accent, followed by running when Vevina took off after him.

Hermana was about to skate away, looking rather put down. Billy managed to tug on her hand and stretched out his own. He winked when she looked uncertain. A smile coming back to her face, she lifted him up again and they were off.

The calls were coming from a nearby alleyway at street level. The surrounding buildings and flickering lights made visibility limited, but they could make out what appeared to be a woman, being held up by a man with a gun. She looked like she was holding something over her shoulder, wrapped up in a bundle.

"No, please!" she was crying. "Not my baby! Someone, help me!"

"Be right there!" called Vevina. She slammed her fists together. "Oi, you! Back off or you're Mangled!"

"Hey, hold on a sec," said Clyde. "Something doesn't feel right. We should hang back and make sure that-"

"Oh-ho, yes!" Theodore chuckled. "You would want to simply hang back, wouldn't you, Clyde? I, for one, am a man of action! Come then, Mangle! Let us lead the charge!"

"Stay out of it!" she barked. "I'll show you all how it's done!"

Vevina bounded down the alleyway, straight towards the mugger while Theodore hurried behind. The man didn't even turn around or glance back, didn't say anything. The woman seemed completely motionless as well.

"Guys, wait!" Billy called.

But it was too late. Vevina's metal fist struck the man in the head. Billy heard the sound of something clattering away down the alleyway.

"Oh my gawd! You killed him!" cried Hermana.

"He had a gun! What did you expect me to do?"

"What on earth are you playing at, Vevina? That was entirely unnecessary!" Theodore turned to the woman. "Rest assured, madam, you're safe now. I'm terribly sorry you had to witness that."

Still, the woman said nothing. Billy went to her side and tapped her leg. It made a hollow sound. Then he went over to the fallen man. Vevina had punched his head clean off, but there was no blood and a metal joint. His skin felt like it was made of…

"Plastic," he whispered. Louder, he said, "They're dummies! They're not real!"

"Aren't most people dummies anyway?" asked Clyde, tapping the fallen man with his foot.

"Yes, they are and I'm looking at five of them," came a new voice.

It was coming from the woman. But now they were closer, they could tell it was being said through a speaker. It was attached to the woman's neck, hidden behind her 'baby'. It didn't sound frightened and scared, but full of evil and menace, cackling at the end of her remark. Billy recognised who it was, but played along with her role.

"We should have known!" he declared. "This could only be the work of our arch nemesis, the meanest magician ever: the Ghastly Goldie!"

She laughed again. "That's right, you pathetic bunch of do-gooders! You're so terribly predictable, I knew that you'd come running if I only staged a reason for you to do so."

"Why is she laughin' so much?" asked Hermana, when Goldie started up again. "Did I miss a joke or somethin'?"

"That's what evil villains do, they always laugh," answered Clyde. Everyone looked at him in surprise. "What? Come on, it's basic stuff!"

"But why though? Is she like, really happy or what?"

"I don't know, it's just what they do."

"But that's gotta be it right? Like, things are goin' well for her and she laughs. It's like me, I laugh when I'm really happy. One time, I remember I thought I lost my favourite shirt and I was lookin' all over for it. Then I found it and it was all like-!"

"Silence, you fools!" declared Goldie. "Your prattle is meaningless before me! You can never hope to stop my latest plan to take over this city and to finally see you all on your knees, in surrender to my greatness!"

"Ah-ha, that's what you think!" replied Theodore. "Well, you shall see, madam, that we will not kowtow to your wickedness! We are the light of justice, that shines light under the dresser of evil so that the single penny of hope can always be found after it's rolled under it!"

A moment of silence passed. Then, somebody snorted a laugh. Then everybody, barring Theodore, was laughing as well.

"Well I didn't see any of you coming up with anything!" he cried.

"Sorry, Teddy. It's just…" Hermana sniggered. "'Penny of hope'… under the…" She let out another fit of laughter.

"Now, you see here…" Theodore paused, as if to reflect on his words. Then, a smile tugged at his lips. "Actually, I suppose it does sound… rather silly, doesn't it?"

"Utterly daft!" guffawed Vevina.

"Completely silly!" agreed Billy, but he smiled up at Theodore. "But I still like it."

Theodore looked surprised, but Billy could see that smile getting a little bigger. For once, he seemed to have no idea what to say.

"Laugh all you want, heroes," said Goldie after it had died down, "but you will all rue the day you crossed me! My new plan shall have me overlooking this entire city and seeing it remade in my image. Come find me, if you can. But you'll never succeed! Allow me to give you a taste of what is instore!"

A loud beeping started to sound from somewhere in the alley. It started slow, then seemed to get a little faster each time. Clyde's ears twitched and followed the sound towards the dummy woman. He unwrapped the bundle of cloth she had over her shoulder, showing some kind of object with a red light attached to it. It was flashing in time with the beeps.

"Bomb! Take cover!"

Vevina shoved a nearby dumpster off the wall and hauled the ones closest to her behind it. She and Theodore braced against it, while the others all crouched and covered their ears. Even then, Billy could hear the beeping get faster and faster until…

SPLAT!

Billy frowned. Had he heard that right? What kind of bomb went splat instead of boom? He peered around to see part of the alley had been coated in a layer of golden paint.

"Oh." Hermana had peered out as well. "That wasn't so bad."

Then, the paint started to move. It bubbled and burst. Then it rose up. It became hands, feet, legs. Within seconds, five skeletal figures had formed from it. They had pointy ears, bat wings and glowing, bulbous eyes that bore into them while they snapped rows of sharp teeth from protruding jaws.

"Oh no! Goldevils!" Billy cried. "Her evil minions!"

"'That wasn't so bad,'" mimicked Clyde. "You had to open your mouth, didn't you?"

Vevina slammed her metal fists together. "Finally! Something to hit!"

She charged one of them, angling her fist towards its head. Another tackled into her, pinning her to the wall.

"Vev! I've got you!" Clyde bounded towards her, at the same time that Hermana made a move and the two crashed into each other. "Hey, watch it!"

"My bad!" she chirped. She scrambled to her feet, but fell over a trash can. "Oh, come on!"

"You dolts! We need to get better coordination or- EEP!" Theodore ducked under a swipe from a Goldevil. "Oh, trying to get one on me, are you? Well, have one of-!"

He drew his fist back, but it smacked off the dumpster they took cover behind. A moment later, he smacked off against it when the Goldevil struck him.

"We're in too close!" Vevina was pulling one of her fists out of a wall. "We can't fight them in here!"

Billy looked around quickly. A fire escape! Maybe they could get up to the roof of the building. A snarl came from nearby. One of the Goldevils had targeted him. It was crouching low to reach him, stretching out its clawed fingers. He felt a flash of fear, but ignored it. He wasn't going to be afraid.

He waited until it lunged, then hopped onto its back. When it straightened up, he bounded off up to the ladder of the fire escape. It came down with him.

"Guys! Up, quick!"

Hermana was nearest and hurried up the ladder, followed closely by Theodore. Vevina managed to punch her assailant off her, then dug her gauntlets into the wall and scaled up. Clyde was now surrounded, cut off from them. His eyes met Billy's.

"Go, get up there! I've got this!"

Billy hesitated, then followed everyone else. Looking back, he saw Clyde tense his legs and leap towards the wall. He bounded off it onto the fire escape, hauling Billy up with him. The Goldevils were following them, scaling the walls with their claws.

The rooftop was flat, except for a couple of AC units and a door which led down into the building. Much better for a fight. Billy saw one of the claws rise up from the other side and prepared to battle, only to be held back by Vevina.

"We'll handle this, you stay safe!"

"But-"

She was already running off, grabbing the Goldevil by its wrist and punching it in the face. Another bounded up and knocked her down, followed by a third. Before she could be swarmed, Hermana skated over and barged one of them away, swiping another off her as she zoomed by.

"Woo yeah, take that!" She came back around and started to help Vevina up. "Here, I gotcha-"

"Don't touch me!" she spat, shoving her hand away. "I don't need your help! I had that under control!"

Hermana recoiled, her lip starting to wobble.

"Sure, it really looked like it." Clyde kicked away one of the other ones.

"Got something to say?"

"Yeah, lay off her. She wanted to help, you don't have to be a jerk about it."

"You're one to talk about helping!"

Clyde took a step back. "Wow. Wow. Way to go for the low blow, Vev."

"Fuck you! I'm not going to be talked down to by the likes of-!"

Both of them were blindsided by Goldevils, hissing and shrieking. They dodged Vevina's angry swipes and backed away from Clyde's kicks.

"Can you two focus?" Theodore was having trouble with his own, boxing with a Goldevil. "We have more pressing matters!"

"Ted, come on!" Clyde ducked under a swipe and kicked the legs of his enemy. "You can't think what she said was okay!"

"Like I give a shit what either of you think!" she retorted, before getting punched by her Goldevil and returning the favour.

All of them got so caught up in bickering, they didn't see what Billy saw. Hermana had been tripped by a Goldevil and it had her by the leg. It was dangling her upside down, holding her away so she couldn't hit it.

"Hermy, no!"

Billy charged up to it and punched behind the monster's knee. It dropped her and she kicked it in the face. It was floored by a combined punch between them, melting back into liquid gold.

"Yeah, go Balloon Boy!" She scooped him in a hug. "One down! Thanks for the help."

"No problem," he murmured, feeling his cheeks go warm. "Hey, I have an idea."

He whispered in her ear. She grinned and held his hand before skating off. She zoomed by the others while swinging Billy like a mace while he kicked with the momentum she gave him. They struck all the Goldevils to the ground before skidding to a halt and tossing him up in the air.

"Balloon Bomb!" he cried.

He fell from the sky, elbow dropping onto one of the fallen monsters and turning it into goop.

"Billy!" Vevina shouted. "I thought I told you to stay back and let us-!"

"Yeah, 'us'. Not just 'you'," he retorted. "You can't get mean and angry when you need help. And my name is Balloon Boy!"

Vevina opened her mouth to say something, but the words stopped before they could. Billy felt a little bad seeing her look so ashamed, but he told himself that it was fine. Besides, they still had other problems.

"Kick-Star! Get Tabulator's one so he can hit it!"

Clyde broke off from his fight, angling a kick at Theodore's Goldevil. He smacked it in the back, sending it careening into Theodore's fist. A follow-up kick and punch later, it was reduced to a gooey puddle.

"Mangle, give Skater Girl a boost!"

Vevina frowned. "What are you-?"

"Arms, skates, push, go!"

Taken aback by Billy's sudden command, Vevina grasped Hermana's arms while she tensed. With a firm shove, she sent Hermana shooting off towards one of the Goldevils. She blasted right through it, leaving only one left.

"Skater Girl, give Kick-Star an alley-oop!"

Now Clyde looked confused. "What even is that?"

"I know, I know!" Hermana skidded to a halt and cupped her hands. "Run at me, come on!"

Clyde still looked flummoxed, but he did what was suggested. He sprinted at Hermana and hooked his foot into her hands. She flung him skyward and he angled towards the remaining Goldevil. It tried to move away, but Theodore held it in place from behind, diving away when Clyde's foot struck.

"Oh yes! Did you see that?" he cheered and started yelling at the goop. "How about that? Kick-Star and Skater Girl just knocked you down!"

"Yeah we did!" She skated up to Clyde and high fived him. "Did you see that, you went flyin'!"

"I know! Didn't know you had it in you."

"Me neither!" She laughed and hugged him, which he returned after an awkward moment.

"Yes, capital work everybody, well done," said Theodore while clapping. "Admittedly got off to a rocky start, but we all pulled through. And while I want it known that I called for you all to focus, I would be remiss to ignore the efforts of our young man here."

"Yeah, good call on doing all that combine attack stuff. Like something out of those fighting games back at the Palace," said Clyde.

Billy's cheeks heated up when everybody's attention turned to him. "I just did what I thought was right."

"Yeah and you saved the day!" Hermana gave him another hug. "Look at our little guy, bein' a big shot superhero."

"Yes indeed." Theodore stood for a moment, uncertain of what to do. He settled for patting him on the head. "Excellent work, my boy. Keep it up and you may make as great a leader me one day."

"Is that a compliment or an insult?" remarked Clyde.

As they all celebrated in their victory, Billy noticed one of their number shying away. Vevina was stood at the rooftop's edge, gazing down into the alley they'd just come from. She didn't say anything when Billy came up to her, didn't even look at him.

"Just say you're sorry, Vevvy," he said quietly. "It's okay. We're still figuring stuff out, especially you."

Still, she said nothing. She glanced down at Billy, then over her shoulder at the others. He was about to say something else when he was interrupted.

Laughter echoed from below. "You fools think you've won? This was only the beginning! You have one hour before this is the fate of everywhere in your pathetic city! Come and stop me, if you really think you can."

"Oh no!" Billy hurried back with his fellow heroes. "We've got to stop her or the city is doomed!"

"Hey, shouldn't be a problem." Clyde wore a more genuine smile now, hopping from foot to foot. "Just point me in her direction and Kick-Star will give her what's coming."

"Yes, but that's the trouble. We don't know what the right direction is," said Theodore. "We need to try and figure it out."

"But this city is so big. She could be anywhere!" Hermana noticed Vevina at the roof's edge and approached her, stopping a few feet away. "You got any ideas, Mangle?"

Silence was her response. Billy noticed her shoulders tense and her arms fold around herself, her head staring resolutely down. Hermana sensed the tension and looked contrite.

"Sorry," she murmured. "I didn't mean to bother ya. A-And sorry for, you know, earlier. I didn't mean to-"

"Stop." Vevina's voice cut like a knife through the air, but she still didn't turn around. "There's… nothing for you to apologise for."

Hermana blinked in surprise. "Huh?"

"Don't act like you don't know. I'm the one who… who should…" She growled and turned around, still staring at the floor. "I'm sorry! I acted like a bi… a bad person and you don't have to… apologise. You idiot. Sorry."

She nervously flexed her fingers and turned away sharply again. Hermana pressed a hand to her mouth, looking uncertain of what to say. She went to hug Vevina, but stopped herself. She settled for standing a little closer and speaking gently.

"It's okay, Vevvy. I get that it's hard for you. After what… happened." She paused, swallowed and continued. "But it's okay. You're back now. A-And if you need to be mad or have your space o-or whatever you want, you can have it. I-I won't annoy ya, I promise. I just… I d-don't wanna lose my first sister again…"

She sniffed loudly, her voice shivering a little at the end. Before she could turn away, something stopped her. Vevina, latched onto her in a tight embrace. Her shoulders were shaking slightly as she clung to Hermana. She overcame her surprise and returned the hug, running a hand through Vevina's hair and letting her own tears fall. Even so, she was still smiling.

Billy hurried up, wanting to help as well, then hesitated. But Hermana noticed him and opened her arm to him. Beaming, he wrapped his arms around their legs. He looked up and saw the two remaining of their number, standing awkwardly nearby.

"It's okay, guys. You don't have to hug if you don't want to," he told them.

"Okay, thanks. I mean, hugs aren't really my thing, but…" Clyde groaned suddenly. "Oh, what the hell?" A moment later, he was in there too, on the side closest to Vevina. "Didn't think I'd see this from you."

"Shut it," she said. Her single eye regarded him. "Sorry about… what I said. That wasn't… I mean, it was… fuck, you know what I mean."

"I do, yeah. It's cool, Vev."

The two exchanged a small smile before resuming the hug.

"Yes, well, that's quite enough of that," said Theodore, his voice breaking a little. "Now come along, we have to-"

"Oh no, you don't. If I'm stuck in this, so are you." Vevina's grin was shark-like. "Everyone, pile on!"

Before he could get away, Theodore was right in the centre of the hugging. He squirmed and complained, but Billy could hear the occasional chuckle and glimpse a hidden smile. He didn't even squirm all that hard.

"Yes, yes, alright." He eventually wormed his way out and straightened his coat. "Come along then, you lot. We need to stop this vile villain in her tracks."

"Smartest thing you've said so far," agreed Vevina.

"Hold on…" Clyde tapped his chin. "She said she'd be overlooking the entire city for her plan. What if that wasn't just taunting? What if that was some kind of clue?"

"Maybe she's on a rooftop somewhere, like we were," suggested Hermana.

"We can't be scouring every rooftop in the city," said Vevina. "We've only got an hour, remember? It has to be somewhere specific. Somehwere she can see the whole city for whatever she's planning."

"Ah-ha! There!" Theodore pointed towards something. "The Hilltop Observatory! Abandoned for some time now, but it offers an overlook of the entire city. The perfect place for one as nefarious as her!"

Hermana looked amazed. "How'd you know that?"

"Thanks to this!" He whipped out the pamphlet in his pocket. "A pocket guide to places in the city. I picked it up earlier."

Clyde arched an eyebrow. "You're the kind who goes through a game, looking for all the secrets and reading all the flavour text, aren't you?"

"Indubitably! Now, let's bring this ne'er do well to justice!"

They burst through the doors to the observatory. It was very brightly lit for an abandoned building. Patches of golden paint coated the walls, with Goldevils scattered around. The telescope had been changed and added to, connected to giant cylinders, full of paint. Overlooking it from a balcony above was the Ghastly Goldie. She was dressed in a glittering golden tuxedo with a sparkling purple cape with a matching hat and bowtie.

"Well, well. So you found my secret hideout. Well you're too late!" She thrust her cane at them. "I have accelerated the countdown! In just a minute, the entire city will be coated in the essence of my pets! Then I will summon them from it and the city will be mine! Nothing can stop me now!" She cackled heartily. "Minions! DESTROY THEM!"

Billy looked past the gathering Goldevils around the room. He could see the control console, on the other side, with the countdown displayed on it. They wouldn't be able to get to it in time, fighting all of these monsters. Unless…

"Mangle! Stop the machine! Everyone else, let's show these guys who the bosses are!" he ordered.

While they engaged the enemy, Vevina jumped over their attacking foes, digging her gauntlets into the walls and scaling up them rapidly until she was crawling along the ceiling. She kept going until she was right at the console and used her metal fists to smash it.

"Fool! That only delays the countdown, but it won't stop it!" declared Goldie. "You can't stop it now!"

"Then we smash the whole thing!" roared Vevina. "All of you, get ready! Tabulator, soften this thing up for me!"

"Tally ho!"

Theodore punched his way through a pair of devils and ran to the base of the machine. He balled both of his fists and brought them crashing down on the supports. They creaked and groaned, but didn't break.

"Move it!" Vevina had scaled to the ceiling right above the supports. "Time to wrangle with the Mangle!"

With a bellowing cry, she dropped from the ceiling, her fists pointed straight down. With an almighty crash, she struck the supports. They broke. The whole thing started to sway.

"Tabulator, boost Skater Girl into it! Kick-Start, get it from the top on the same side!"

Theodore ran to Hermana and hauled her towards the support. She slammed into it, causing it to careen to the left. At the same time, Clyde bounded up and kicked it towards the top, giving it the final push it needed to go tumbling right through the wall. With a resounding clang, it hit the ground. Wires started to spark and fizzle with increasing intensity.

"It's going to blow!" cried Clyde. "Everybody out!"

Hermana scooped up Vevina where she lay on the ground, her gauntlets broken. Theodore grabbed Billy and ran for the doors while Clyde bounded back down, running beside them. They could feel the heat as the machine exploded in a brilliant fireball. The screeches of Goldevils caught in it echoed all around.

"No! Curse you, Balloon Buddies!" Goldie was flying away on some odd contraption that looked like a giant version of her golden suit head. "I'll get you next time!"

With the taunts and jeers of the five chasing after her, she fled into the night.

"Next time, we'll just smash it up even more!" Hermana was whirling around on the spot. "How's that for a party favour? Woo yeah!"

"Most exhilarating, marvellous!" Theodore chortled. "Goodness, I don't believe I've ever struck anything that before! And look at the mess we've made!" He laughed again. "Bloody brilliant!"

"Never thought I'd see you happy about a mess!" Clyde clapped his hands and raised them to the sky. "Did you see that? Huh, did you see that?! That's how Kick-Star does it, yes!"

"You'd be blind to miss that!" Vevina looked over her broken gauntlets. "Can't say I don't live up to me name."

"You did amazing! And you have a catchphrase! 'Get ready to wrangle with the Mangle'!" yelled Billy, putting on a deep voice. "That was so cool!"

"Aye, like your plan there, Balloon Boy." Vevina ruffled his hair and grinned. "Nice work, hero."

Billy couldn't help himself. He grinned and hugged Vevina, which she happily returned. They all cheered and whooped as the environment around them started to change. The night suddenly became bright, a sweeping meadow stretching out before them with a grand manor in the distance. Their clothes also returned back to their normal ones, though that didn't deter their celebrations.

"Well now, that was fun." Goldie approached them, back in her normal appearance. "Even you two sticks-in-the-mud seemed to be enjoying yourselves."

Clyde shrugged. "Was okay, I guess.

"Yes, it does well to uh, cut loose every now and then. Eh?" Theodore barked a laugh. "See? I'm 'down with the kids', am I not?"

"No, you're not." Billy tugged on his jacket until he knelt down to him. "There, now you are."

"Oh-ho, he's a sharp one!" chortled Theodore.

"Can we go again? Please, please, pleeeeaaaase?" begged Hermana. "That was so amazing, I could scream! In fact!" She let out a shrill cry while hopping up and down.

"Please, do it," said Vevina. "Or she won't stop."

"Certainly we can. Before that, I'd like a moment of your time," said Goldie. In the blink of an eye, they were out of the city and in the drawing room of the manor house. "I have something I need to tell you, about what me and the others were doing. About those fragments. You may want to have a seat."

Billy did as she suggested and settled in to listen. Oh well, it had been fun while it lasted. But they could still have fun again. Of course they could. There was always time for that.