Inked in Mystery
Chapter 9: First day out failed
Several weeks passed (with Candice's birthday on the 18th) and Halloween was fast approaching. Apparently, that date had meaning for Bendy so Aiden had decided it would be the perfect moment! Finishing his plan in the greatest secrecy, he spent hours drawing and showed all his sketches to Pepé. The skunk helped him as best he could while ignoring the end of the story.
For his part, Eddie was conducting his little investigation on Bendy. The few people who worked in this studio that he was able to find seem to have been traumatized by this case but, at the same time, they couldn't blame the little devil. According to them, it was mostly a happy little guy with the soul of a child who loved everyone and everyone loved him... except the director of studios: a man named Joey Drew. From what he could understand, the Human was a perfectionist and he couldn't stand the idea that Bendy was a nice devil.
According to him, the demons were powerful beings, controlling black magic and doing Evil everywhere around them. But this little Toon was just the opposite. The daughter of one of the team members who had known the little demon had fun making the connection between Bendy and Casper the friendly little ghost of Paramount Pictures. Eddie smiled at that, thinking that indeed these two Toons could be very similar and that they could even become friends ... but for now, he had to learn about this mysterious director of the SillyVisions: Joey Drew!
The detective took the time but eventually found the address of the man in question: in a quiet suburb of Los Angeles, in a small apartment in a newly renovated building. Knowing that Mr. Drew was in his thirties when the SillyVision adventure started, it must have been a person between 55 and 60 years old. Finally finding the door of the apartment, Eddie strikes and wait. He hears movement inside ... and a young man with an unbuttoned shirt opens the door. In any case, if he's really 60, he doesn't do it that much and Valiant is surprised. He checks the address again ... but it's this apartment so he's in face-to-face with Joey Drew!
Joey frowns at the detective and straightens his glasses.
« Can I help you ? » he mumbles as he leans against the door, opening his shirt further, revealing an impressive red scar on his chest that intrigues Eddie.
« Joey Drew? » Valiant asks.
« Myself… »
« Eddie Valiant, Detective for Humans and Toons. » he introduces himself, frowning at the young man. « I have a few questions to ask you about your old studio. »
« The SillyVision? It's been 30 years since no one went there! The building must be totally deserted now. » Drew sighs, straightening up to run his hand through his hair. « And what are you interested in? »
« There were weird things in this studio ... like the madness of one of the studio's stars! Bendy the Dancing Demon! Does that remind you of something ? »
Eddie is surprised to see Joey go dark ... and the young man shows him his scar.
« Do you know how I got that, Mr. Valiant? »
« No idea. »
« It's thanks to this demon! His crisis of madness was completely under the same roof! And in panic, I took a burst of pipes in the chest. »
« It seems to have been violent. » Eddie admits, watching the mark. « But not so bad considering you're still alive. »
« Ha ... ha ... ha ... If it had been that! » the former director cringes, finally buttoning up his shirt. « Therefore, impossible to find work in the animation. No matter how passionate and motivated you may be, with a task as ingrained as the SillyVision disaster on your resume, no one takes you. »
« I spoke with some of your former collaborators and they said you didn't have very good contact with the Toons. »
« Did you see how big the studio was !? » Joey gets upset. « I had to settle the contracts with the investors! So, sure, unlike some like Henry, I didn't spend my time with the Toons! »
Eddie is a little surprised by this explosion of anger ... but an element intrigues him more.
« Henry? »
Joey seems surprised to find that the detective hasn't yet spoken to Henry.
« He was one of my closest collaborators. A talented animator and the creator of all the characters, be it Bendy, Boris, Alice Angel or Pandora. Bendy is the first Toon he saw born, even though he had already drawn Boris. » the young man explains.
Valiant nods and takes note of the various names, recognizing some that Candice, Keffan and Aiden have used.
« Do you know where Henry lives? » he asks.
« No. He had left the studio well before the disaster. He was a little too visionary and wanted to add new magical adventures to Bendy so he went around the others studios. » Drew responds with a shrug. « If he wasn't picked up in a studio, he had to try to find a house near ToonTown. He always loved hanging around with these critters so ... »
Eddie frowns further, disturbed by the term used to describe the Toons, but he recovers and thanks the former director of SillyVision moving away with in mind the intention to find the famous Henry. He doesn't notice Drew's curious look before the latter closes the door of his apartment.
Halloween arrived faster than Aiden wanted ... but he was ready! During the guard tour with Pepé, he had exposed his plan to his ''friends-accomplices'' and all had accepted hands down. Since then, covered by the Looney, they had returned to SillyVision with a little surprise for their devilish friend.
Bendy is quietly flipping through an old script while singing the songs while Boris sorts through the reels of movies. Suddenly someone knocks on the door. Intrigued (because nobody other than children and Pepé sometimes came here), the little devil goes to the entrance and opens ... to face three little monsters who shout happily ''BOO!''. Jumping, the little Toon fled into the studio and jump into the arms of Boris. The little monsters then arrive, laughing and remove their masks to reveal Aiden, Keffan and Candice.
« Hi, little ones. » the wolf grinned, calming Bendy, who allowed himself to turn to them, surprised and slightly ashamed of having been so scared. « What brings you here? »
« It's Halloween today! » the human-faced rabbit happily exclaims, painted with false stitching reminiscent of a rag doll.
« And the Toons are having a great party tonight! » the Tunman adds, his facial skin has been painted white with small red streaks like drops of blood (since he is disguised as a vampire cat). « A great parade with costumes! Everyone in ToonTown will be disguised! »
« And we thought it was the perfect opportunity to get Bendy out! » Aiden concludes, his face and beak white with small devil horns on his head and a black suit to hide his legs and a white bow tie to look like Bendy.
« WHAT!? » the little devil jumps, falling from Boris's arms.
He lands on the ground in a loud roar, under the laughter of his friends, and rubs his head to chase the feeling of whirling while the little magpie explains:
« You've been locked here since you were born! We thought it was high time that you go out! »
Bendy stands up, visibly annoyed before taking a small forced smile.
« That's nice, kids, but there's a tiny mini maxi problem! »
« What? » the children wonder.
« Those of ToonTown ARE AFRAID OF ME! » he irritates himself. « So if I come to ToonTown, the others will hurry to use diluent to erase me! »
« Of course not ! » the chick laughs as he pulls a large cloak out of his hammerspace. « It's Halloween! And on Halloween, everyone is disguised to scare! Look at me ! Dad and Mom are always afraid of you but I had the right to make a costume of you! Camouflaged under this cloak, nobody will see anything! »
Bendy watches the clothes, disturbed, but shakes his head.
« No ... no no no, I can't ... »
Fear invades the head of the devil. He never went out. He doesn't know what is outside. Even if the idea of going to ToonTown pleases him greatly and he absolutely wants to go ... but fear frightens him. Boris had already seen the outside but not him. The fear of the unknown paralyzes it. The wolf smiles, amused, and lifts the devil's chin.
« Everything will be fine, Bendy. And, if you want, I'll be here. Invisible but near you. Like always. For better and for worse, I'll be with you. »
And there, to the surprise of the children, Boris lays his lips on those of Bendy who is at first surprised ... then he closes his eyes with a sigh as if he had just found something he had lost, leaving a tear poured on his cheek. After a kiss of a few seconds, the wolf spreads with a smile and the other Toon slowly opens the eyes as disturbed but at the same time happy. He smiles as he strokes his lips and gives a little laugh.
« I didn't know we could do that... » he said, blushing.
Boris shrugs ... when Candice starts screaming with joy, making them all jump.
« AHHH ! I KNEW IT ! I knew it, I knew it! » she whines, leaping everywhere before jumping on Keffan's back, missing the kitten. « I knew they were too close to be just friends! You owe me a dollar, Keffy! »
Aiden chuckles as his friend grunts at the girl and Bendy blushes even more with a small smile.
Boris and he had been together for years. Joey had wanted Bendy to have a fiancée imp but the little devil had never liked anyone other than Boris. Their relationship had remained platonic and then, one thing at a time, they had come closer to becoming lovers. Bendy smiled, thinking back to their first kiss and the time they had to hide so Joey would not find them together ... then another memory goes to Bendy. The little Toon feels his heart tighten, the tears beaded in his eyes and his hands instinctively pose on his belly. Aiden doesn't know why he has this weird reflex, but he smiles at him, handing him the cloak.
« Come on! Put it on and let's go! You'll see, you'll have fun! »
Bendy looks at his young friend, intrigued ... but facing the four encouraging faces in front of him, he cannot refuse. Sighing, he grabs the dark blue cape and puts it on, tucking the hood before the three little boys take his hand and drag him outside.
No sooner has he passed the door than Bendy is dazzled. Distraught by this sudden light, he screams and rolls into a ball trembling.
« Bendy, it's nothing! It's just the sun. » Aiden laughed.
Trembling, the little demon straightens his head and blinks his eyes. When his vision gets used to so much light, he can finally see ... and finds himself breathless. The studio's street may not be the most joyful, but all these colors and new sensations (like the wind blowing or the earth under its feet) seem to him a delight. Although he doesn't smile because of these novelties that overwhelm him, he walks forward observing.
He gets scared walking on a rock but he calms down when he sees that it doesn't hurt him. The wind then blows in his cloak and the sensation of the fabric flying over his body makes him laugh. He even starts to dance, trying to follow the rhythm of the wind, laughing with all his lungs, marveling at how he feels ... when he hits a tree. Recovering from the shock, he is amazed to finally see a real tree and not a drawing one on a cardboard. He puts his hand on the bark and almost feels the energy of the vegetable giant with his sap running down his trunk like blood in a man's body. Bendy is subjugated.
« That's it, ToonTown? » he asks innocently, like a child.
Candice and Aiden burst out laughing as Keffan approaches the darling devil.
« No, that's the real world. The world of Humans. ToonTown is there! » he explains, pointing the tunnel.
Bendy is a little worried by the dark and uncomfortable effect of the passage ... but as Boris and the children accompany him, he lets himself be guided.
After a few minutes to cross the tunnel, the children pass between the boards followed by the soul of the wolf... but Bendy hesitates. Finally, as the sound of the wind in the tunnel is more frightening than the fear of ToonTown, he passes the boards and runs away from the tunnel. He is stopped when he stumbles on an old board and falls to the ground. He is also surprised to not have the same feeling as out of the studio. Intrigued, he stands up, puts the hood on his cloak so he can see ... and freezes.
The marvelous city of Toons, ToonTown, stands before him in all its splendor. The little Demon is amazed by all these colors brighter and more joyous than the others. He remains shocked at first ... then he begins to smile and laugh with full joy, leaving a few tears of joy running down his cheeks. Unable to stay away from his biggest dream, he starts running towards the city with a huge smile followed by the children and Boris (who becomes invisible so he won't scare the other Toons).
The whole city was decorated for the occasion and everyone was singing happily, preparing to have fun at tonight's big party, with the Halloween parade, the most terrifying costume election and many more things ! Bendy is even surprised that they are so happy that it's Halloween. Joey had always told him that his birthday was a dark day when the dead and black spirits could come back to Earth! Where black magic is the most powerful ... but like everything else, Joey had lied to him!
Smiling, he watches the streets, amazed as a child, ... when he feels the ground trembling under his feet as if something huge was happening. Intrigued, he turns his head to see a huge black and white dinosaur slowly advanced in the streets and other Toons immediately stop what they do to bow to it. Because this is Gertie the Dinosaur*! She could be considered the first of all the Toons even though she doesn't have any cartoons other than her only movie and all ToonTown respected her for being the precursor of all the Toons and being the oldest of the Grand Council (so the most important one).
When she arrives in front of the small group, the children hurry to kneel but Bendy remains standing, amazed by the size of Gertie and not understanding why all bowed before her like a queen. The dinosaur then stops and observes him, intrigued by the Toon that she has never seen and doesn't behave like the others. The two Toons look at each other, intrigued by the other, as Betty Boop walks into the street, holding a neatly folded dress. The black and white bimbo freezes as he sees that Toon wearing a cloak standing in front of Gertie and running to join him.
« Come on! » she exclaims sweetly as she puts her hand on Bendy's shoulder, which jump. « But where do you come from? You don't know that you have to be respectful towards Gertie? »
« It's nothing, Betty. » the dinosaur reassures. « You all know that I don't ask for so much. »
Laughing, amused by the look of the dancer who bows in front of her, the mastodon moves away. Bendy stays frozen watching her disappear and Betty walks away, leaving the little group alone.
« You are lucky, Bendy! » Candice exclaims. « Even Bugs and Mickey bow to Gertie! If it had been someone other than Betty, we would have had a lot of trouble. »
The little devil shrugs ... when he hears a merry:
« What's up, Doc ? »
Jumping, Bendy turns around and falls in front of Bugs Bunny. The young leader of the Looneys is disguised as a skeleton as we saw the painting on his face and wears a big black suit. He is a little surprised when he sees the imp so the children decide to intervene.
« Hi, Bugs! » Aiden screams happily.
« Wow! My Gods, help! Two Bendy in front of me! » the rabbit laughed before rubbing Bendy's head, dropping his cloak over his eyes. « Very good costumes, children! You participate in the disguise contest? »
« Yeah! » Candice exclaims. « And look at my dress! I did it alone with Dad! »
Bugs smiles and observes Bendy carefully. The little devil shivers with fear of recognition... but before he begins to dribble, the rabbit stands up.
« Great mask! We can swear it's Bendy! » the young Looney exclaims. « It is absolutely necessary that you participate! »
Before any of them can say anything, Bugs drives Bendy after him into the city. The children decided to follow them because, even if Bugs hadn't seen that it was the true Bendy, others could recognize him.
They are unaware, however, that someone stranger to ToonTown has already noticed and recognized the dancing demon: Joey Drew. The Human looks at them with a neutral air ... then he moves away in an opposite direction, smiling in a dark way.
Pepé and Penelope had decided to walk in the fields that bordered the ToonTown's buildings before going to get ready for the party and, for the moment, both of them were lying side by side admiring the set of their sun.
« It's so beautiful. » the cat purrs, curling up against his skunk lover, below his neck.
Pepé smiles at her... but his smile disappears suddenly. He sighs loudly, attracting the attention of Penelope.
« Pepé? What's wrong? » she asks, worried.
« Oh nothing, my little chérie. But I cannot help but think about how much more sunsets until we forget. » he answer.
This surprised Penelope.
« What are you talking about, Pepinou? » she protested.
« My thing is that, of all the Looneys, we are the least used. We only do one episode by year, and that worries me. » he said. « To have to lose everything, including you ... I couldn't bear to be oublié before and to be separated from you, my lovely petit chat. And if you ever had to be forgotten with me, I could never forgive myself for doing such a thing to you. »
That was what worried the skunk: to lose everything he cherished, including his great love. Having meet Bendy, who had lost everything because of a heartless Human, made him think. He knows he won't survive.
It touches the black and white pussy that makes a kiss on the cheek of her lover.
« Aww, my Pepé d'amour. Don't say that! » she says. « Let's talk about something else before it becomes depressing. It may be Halloween but it isn't worth seeing everything in black. »
« You're right, my little pretty girl. » he says, recovering himself. « And if we were talking about 'bébés'. » he said, waving his eyebrows.
Penelope chuckles while making him an eskimo kiss ... before moving away suddenly, making his lover fall flat on the ground.
« Touch ! You're on it ! » she laughs.
« Ah! Alors you want to play, little petite! » Pepé sneers at her.
The two black and white Looneys continue running on all fours (leaping like the skunk used to do in his episodes) while laughing like children. Their pursuit race slowly brings them back to ToonTown.
In Mean Street (the copy street of Disneyland Park), Disney's Forgotten Toons are quietly living their lives. In the neighborhood named Wasteland (or World of Desolation for some), they had their lives revived, led by Oswald the Lucky Rabbit. Of course, they could still wander in ToonTown but they couldn't live there anymore by being forgotten. But they didn't complain about this life.
The Gremlins fly everywhere, happily singing the song from Donald Duck's episode Trick or Treat and decorating the street. But as the boastful Prescott approaches a dead end, he sees a shadow and hears grunts with a red light. Intrigued, he flies to Ortensia who smiles following the advanced decorations and watching her many children.
« Ortensia! » he calls as he approaches, drawing the attention of Oswald's wife. « There is a strange thing in the alley there. It doesn't seem natural. »
« Really ? » she worries before noticing that one of her babies rabbits is about to make a foolishness. « Hopper! Put this brush down! Halloween party hasn't started yet! »
« Do you think we should call Oswald back to see that? »
« No, I'll go see that. » the black cat in pink skirt answers before seeing another foolishness of her little ones. « Walter! Leave your sister alone or you won't have candy tonight! »
Sighing, she follows the Gremlins to the alley ... when she sees a movement at the bottom.
« Is someone there ? » she calls worriedly.
Suddenly, before Prescott or her has time to react, a large, dripping ink hand comes out of the alley and catches the feline Toon. Ortensia yells while being lift from the ground, frenzied all the inhabitants who stop decorating. The babies rabbits are so frightened by seeing the huge monster that has caught their mother that they run away screaming and run to hide at home. The Gremlins fly to help their 'queen' but the creature suddenly catches one of the youngest and, to their horror, after stuck Ortensia on his body, he plunges his hand into the chest of young Toon who screaming in pain ... before stopping when the creature pulls out his hand, holding the heart of the Toon. He collapses then, 'death', and the monster drops his body like an empty shell.
Ortensia cannot help but screaming in horror at seeing this 'child' dead on the ground. The creature then swallows the heart and grabs the cat Toon, smiling with all his crooked teeth. Suddenly, watching the beast in front of her, Ortensia recognizes a Toon she saw in old cartoons before being forgotten.
« The SillyVision's Demon? ... » she is horrifying.
The creature smiles as satisfied ... then he plunges his hand into Ortensia's chest. The cat freezes under the pain, feeling her heart being squeezed by a cold, brutal hand, and when it recedes with her heart, she collapses without life. The Gremlins then flee, panicked ... but many are then caught and emptied of their hearts. All hiding at home and barricading themselves, not wanting to be the next victims of this 'serial killer', when laughter attract the attention of the creature. Turning, he sees two black and white silhouettes approaching with a laugh and he cruelly smile.
Penelope arrives stunned in the street where the massive ink figure had taken refuge, then, turning towards the deserted street, she quickly returns to her mind and begins to worry when she sees no Toon in the street. Freezing on the spot, she intrigues Pepé who arrives behind her.
« Honey, darling? Well quel est-ce, my little darling? » he asks, arriving at his side.
« This alley is too quiet. Usually, it's all over the place, the Gremlins are flying all the time... something must have happened. » the cat worries.
Pepé starts to watch the surroundings and slowly advances in the street, prompting Penelope to stay where she is.
« Be careful, Pepé. » she says.
Pepé looks everywhere as he walks down the street. The atmosphere was too quiet for him. He swallows loudly ... when he hears a grunt.
« Hey ! Someone there ? » he calls.
He walks slowly down the alley ... when he sees a Toon on the ground. Intrigued, he runs towards him ... and freezes when he sees him lifeless. He is about to call Penelope when another grunt is heard. Raising his head, he sees an inkling creature standing before him, dripping everywhere and smiling diabolically. The skunk is horrified by the monstrosity ... when he recognizes the horns on his head, a melted white bow tie and dance shoes on twisted feet.
« Bendy? » he suffocates, unable to believe what he sees. « But what is happening to you, mon ami? » he is unworthy.
The creature starts to roar and tries to catch him... but Pepé is fast! With one bound, he escapes the creature's hand and runs away as fast as he can. The monster who look like Bendy roars while pursuing him.
Penelope jumps when she hears the animal roars coming from the alley ... when Pepé rushes out scared, pursued by a strange ink creature.
« RUN, PENELOPE ! » the skunk shouted, joining her.
The two Looneys flee first to the fields, followed by the creature... but the big legs of this big monster allow it to go fast. Knowing that they cannot escape alone, they turn around and run to ToonTown, hoping others can help them. But on entering Mean Street, Penelope shrieks in horror. Dozens of dead bodies (mostly Gremlins) are lying on the ground. She watches, horrified, the corpses in front of her. Pepé joins her and is also frozen in horror. Bendy did that? Turning, he sees the filiform ink creature running towards them smiling. He is far too big to be Bendy... but the resemblance is striking! And he had already seen Toons doubled in size. Worried about the safety of his companion, he grabs her by the hand and pulls her to the city center. Once out of the street changed into a graveyard, he releases her hand.
« Run looked for help, mon amour! I hold him back! »
« Pepé! No ! » the black and white cat is horrified, intrigues Speedy as he passes by.
But when the monster goes out, the mouse screams and runs to the city center, where all the Toons are.
« PENELOPE RUN! RUN! » he shouts, pushing her away.
The monster rushes on the cat, when he takes a violent kick by the skunk before he bites his arm violently. Penelope then runs to the city center even if her heart squeezes with terror. Pepé manages to hold the monster long enough to disappear in an other street but the demon suddenly catches him, squeezing him tightly in its large hand. The skunk struggles to break free despite the pain of the creature's grip ... when it plunges its hand into his chest. Feeling his heart to be caught in these claws increte and disgusting, he finds himself breathless and understands immediately that he was right.
« You're not Bendy ... » he says, his breath short and his face deformed by hatred.
The beast grunts ... and withdraws his hand violently.
In the center of ToonTown, the party goes on happily without suspecting what is happening in the district of Wasteland. The Toons sing and dance, having fun scavenging and swapping candies under the amused gaze of Eddie, who came every year to support his goddaughter who was still participating in the disguise contest.
Bendy observes all this happy excitement, his heart beating with joy. This city was even more magnificent than he had imagined following the descriptions of Boris and Alice. Everything seems wonderful, joy, happiness and it seems that all dreams can come true! Joey had still lied to him ... but he was finally free! Free like any Toon! He was finally entitled to his place in the sun, even if it was only for today. By the time children find out how to convince adults that he was harmless... or at least innocent of the horrors Joey accused him of.
A little further, in front of ToonTown's official ToonLogist's house, there seems to be a problem ... for the owner anyway! Because his friend, Sam the shepherd dog, seems quite enthusiastic.
« Come on, Wile! » the dog insists disguised as a sheep in front of the Looney coyote door.
« No way ! I stay here ! » the Coyote cries from his home.
« Come on, we'll miss the party! » Sam said.
He is waiting for an answer but nothing comes from his spouse.
« Good! Ready or not, my little quail, I'll force you out! » the sheepdog smiles and enters the house.
He came back a moment later, carrying the coyote like a bride out of his lair. Wile was disguised as a Bo Beep shepherd and he glared at the other canine.
« You'll pay it, Sam! You said we would disguise ourselves in costumes that go together! » the Looney rages, disengaging himself from the sheepdog's arms.
« What? I don't lie. The shepherdess and the sheep, it goes together! » Sam defends himself, reaching out to the coyote who accepts it and leads the way. « Come on! We go to the party! »
Coyote cursed in silence, complaining of having a heart that was a little too tender when it came to the Sheepdog. Maybe it was because he isn't as used as he or Road Runner... he doesn't know. Arriving at the party, he drops the hat on his eyes to hide his face... when he sees a little black and white Toon dressed in a cape who smiles while observing all around him. He is a little surprised because this Toon reminds him something ... but when the little one says to him ''Pretty dress!'' with a sincere and not mocking smile, he calms down. Sam and Wile walk away in the crowd without paying more attention to Bendy who continues to look around like a child.
While everyone is laughing and having fun, music begins to play and one of Disney's ghosts walks up on a platform mounted on the biggest of all the floats of the parade, laughing and presenting:
« Ladies and gentlemen! Toons and ghouls! Step right up! This is the moment you are all waiting for! The beginning of the night where everything is Delight! Horror! Fantasy and Terror! Your every wish is our command! Your every whimsical desire brought to life! But I'm warning you… There's always a price! Welcome to the greatest Halloween Parade! The one of ToonTown! »
Everyone begins to scream with joy and the music starts to get more lively. The ghosts of Paramount Pictures then fly into the sky laughing, having fun scary ... except the little Casper who flies smiling before descending to the children who greet him happily.
Suddenly, all the Toon Chiefs of the different studios begin to march between the Toons singing:
The Dark Carnival Is In Town
You Better Be Ready !
Just Follow The Parade
Of Dancing Skeletons
The skeletons of an old Disney cartoon appear and start dancing by making music with their bones as in the cartoon under the song of Chiefs.
Full Of Ghoulish Delights
Around Every Corner
Don't Tell Your Parents You're Here
They Will Soon Be Mourners
The other Toons start singing while dancing and making monsters.
Welcome To The Lower Birth
The Greatest Show Unearthed
We Appear Without A Sound
The Darkest Show Around
We Will Leave You In A Daze
Madness, Murder, Dismay
We Will Disappear At Night
With Blood On The Concrete
Bendy watches all this, amazed. He can't believe they can make something as dark as Halloween, the darkest day of the year, as something cheerful, dancing and fun. Felix approaches the children and smiles at Bendy without recognizing him. The cat is disguised as Frankenstein monster and drives the little demon with him, in the dance. The kids are so busy playing with Casper that they don't see their friend go away.
I Will Be Your Ticket Taker
Come Inside It's A Dream
Enter The Fun House Of Mirrors
No One Can Hear You Scream
The cat gives him a mirror and Bendy scream at seeing his misshapen reflection, thinking he's dripping ... when he understands that the mirror is doing that. Amused by his stupid fear, he laughs heartily with the black and white Toon.
We Can Supply Anything
That Your Heart Desires
But The Consequences
Will Surely Be Dire
Aiden suddenly notices Bendy's disappearance and silently alerts his friends. Under Casper's intrigued gaze, the little group sneak into the crowd. All begin singing again while dancing happily.
Welcome To The Lower Birth
The Greatest Show Unearthed
We Appear Without A Sound
The Darkest Show Around
We Will Leave You In A Daze
Madness, Murder, Dismay
We Will Disappear At Night
With Blood On The Concrete
Suddenly, the three little ones arrive next to three Toons of their age: Huey, Dewey and Louis. The three Disney ducklings are disguised as in the episode Trick or Treat and dance happily.
Come Inside
For The Ride
Your Deepest Darkest Fears
While Huey and Dewey begin to dance together, Louis notices the little Candice and leads her in a dance despite the protests of the girl under the laughter of her brothers.
The Best Night
Of Your Life
You're Never Leaving Here
Keffan and Aiden continue to look for their friend ... when the kitten is caught by Betty, disguised as a beautiful Snow White, and the young black-and-white bimbo laughs while making the Tunman kid dance in the air.
The Unknown
The Unseen
Is What You're Gonna Find
Aiden, then, falls on his parents (disguised as devils for stuck in the costume of their boy) and Jeckle catches his son to make him dance happily.
Witness This
Witness That
Until You Lose Your Mind
The three children look around for their friend when they see Boris looking for him in the merry crowd.
While everyone is having fun, Speedy arrives totally panicked.
« Amigos! Amigos! There is a problem ! » he yells...
But nobody hears him in the hubbub of the party. He decides to try to run to join Bugs on the platform of the largest tank of the Parade (where all the Chiefs dominate the party) so that he can warn him and thus warn everyone. The crowd hinders him but his speed is an advantage to avoid being crushed by the happy dancers.
On the stage, the Chiefs continue to dance happily, joined by Felix after the cat has had a small crowd with Bendy spinning. The little devil had been trained in many dances, he had almost lost his cloak because of Sam the Pirate (disguised as Rackham the Red) who walked on it. Luckily, Boris had handed him the garment before anyone noticed him.
Welcome To The Lower Birth
The Greatest Show Unearthed
We Appear Without A Sound
The Darkest Show Around
Mickey (disguised as Dracula) and Oswald (dressed as Van Helsing to tease his brother) then notice Bendy and, finding his ''disguise'' great, they drag him with them, high, so that everyone can see him. The devil is careful not to drop his cloak but he is carried away by the rhythm of the music. The children suddenly notice... but as he seems to be having fun, they are reassured. At least he still has his cloak.
We Will Leave You In A Daze
Madness, Murder, Dismay
We Will Disappear At Night
With Blood On The Concrete !
All dance, making a teeming crowd, ''scary'' but happy. When the music stops, they applaud with Bendy who can't help but laugh. And he who saw Halloween as a horror and who feared that all would chase him, he found himself surrounded by all the Toons and sang and danced with them. And to say that his fear of the world had almost made him miss this.
Suddenly, as the children get ready to go get their friend to avoid the worst, in all this merry hubbub, someone starts screaming:
« HELP ! HELP ! THERE IS A DEMON IN TOONTOWN ! »
All turn to see Penelope undisguised and visibly horrified. The Toons move aside to let her pass and she goes up on the platform.
« What's wrong, Penelope? » Mickey worries as she joins her.
« It's terrible! » she screams panicked. « In Wasteland! There is a horrible monster lurking! He attacked many Gremlins! He ripped their hearts! »
All suffocate with horror, unable to believe that anyone could do that (except those who knew the truth about Boris) but the most panicked is Oswald because it is his ''kingdom''.
« And Ortensia? You saw her ? » he spins as he runs to join the black and white cat of the Looneys.
« No, we just went to run away! Pepé is still there, fighting! »
The Looneys are all looking at each other, worried that one of them is facing such a monster.
As everything is calm, Speedy finally arrives on the platform. But with the speed he has taken, he can't stop in time and takes the cape of Bendy in the face. Under the sudden pull, the garment is carried away and, at this moment, Aiden regrets that Bendy has no neck. The knot of the stuff goes under Bendy's head without strangling him, the hood falls off and the whole cloak follows, falling slightly to Speedy, completely entangled in the fabric.
All of them start screaming in terror and horror at seeing the most feared Toon in the city standing in front of them. Bendy freezes when he notices too late that he is unmasked. He sees worried faces clinking with horror and fright ... but the worst comes from Penelope when she sees him who starts to dribble under fear.
« IT'S HIM ! THIS IS THE DEMON THAT HAD TAKEN THE GREMLINS HEARTS! »
« NO ! » Aiden screams, panicked.
« No it can't be him! » Keffan defends.
But the Toons don't hear their cries, too furious to see Bendy. What did this demon want? Why was he attacking Toons? Why did he tear away their hearts? The hateful howls scare Bendy even more, who dribbles more and more and goes back until he fall down to the platform, touching the ground in a sound splatch. Distraught, he gets up and runs away as fast as possible in the city.
« He's trying to run away! » Donald shouted.
« Let's catch him fast! Before he kills someone else! » Sam cries, pulling out his guns.
Without thinking, he begins to shoot the imp but Bendy avoids each shot with his agility dancer. When he disappears at the bend of a street, all start pursuing him screaming with rage, recovering all that could be used to fight him. At this point, Eddie is stunned to see all the Toons embark on a sort of witch hunt instead of happily celebrating Halloween. Candice then rushes to him, tears in her eyes.
« Uncle Eddie! He is for nothing in this! We must help him! » the little girl begs.
« What? Your father told me you didn't talk about Bendy anymore. » the human is astonished.
« YOU UNDERSTAND NOTHING ! YOU ARE LIKE OTHERS ! »
Furious, the girl moves away crying and rejoins her friends. The three children then join Boris and all go after the Toons to help their friend.
Bendy runs, distraught hearing the howls of hatred behind him. Everything started well then everything went wrong! Why did that female Toon accuse him while he was partying with the others? Suddenly, something falls inert before him, stopping him in his flight. To his horror, he recognizes the corpse of Pepé LePew! Before he has time to react, the others arrive and the Looneys are horrified to see their friend's body. Penelope then starts crying and yells the name of her companion running towards him to hug him. Bendy walks away as quickly as possible before the male Toons rush after him, leaving the poor Toon in tears with other female Toons. The kids who come after are horrified by what they see but they know that Bendy can't do that. He had to be helped before others hurt him.
The little devil feels his legs about to drop and the ink cascades from his body, leaving big black imprints that guide his pursuers. But as he looks back, he doesn't notice Speedy and his friends Pedro and Fernando pulling a rope in his path. The little Toon stumbles and falls heavily while projecting his overflow of ink. Distraught, he looks up and turns ... to see that all the Toons have surrounded him. They are all furious.
« WHY DO YOU DO IT, DIRTY MONSTER !? » Roger gets upset.
« What are you doing here, Demon? » the Weasel Smart Guy (who were resurrected by their studio) rage.
« You all want to kill us, is that it? Don't count on us to let us do it! » Daffy shouted with Donald, who started shouting insults as he jumped up and down excitedly.
All rage and ask for an explanation or immediate revenge, scared Bendy who gets up and sticks to the wall behind him, shaking. The children arrive behind the crowd and scream:
« STOP! You make him afraid! HE IS NOT BAD! »
Bendy trembles when he sees those formerly smiling, now hateful faces all screaming at once. He feels the same fear as when he discovered what Joey was doing. His breath accelerates with his heartbeat, the hateful screams seem to him to be daggers close to him skewer the heart, the ink of his body drips cascading on the ground and he feels the same energy as this fateful day where he was became Bendy the Cursed Demon of SillyVision. Clenching his teeth, he closes his ears to silence them ... but the pain and the sadness seem to him too heavy. Too shaken, he begins to scream with all his might, hoping to silence them, no more hear them. And there, to the horror and amazement of all, a pentagram begins to appear on the ground, shining with a thousand lights as if the fires of Hell were coming out of the ground to draw it.
Seeing what he does, Bendy panics. That's how he unleashed the full power of the ink machine and caused the catastrophe that scared all the Toons. Distraught, he runs straight ahead of him without thinking of the Toons who block him. All move aside, worried by what this Demon could do to them in this state ... when Candice and Keffan run to take his hands.
« CHILDREN! GET AWAY QUICKLY! » Roger shouted, panicked for his daughter.
Candice doesn't listen to him any more, just like Keffan and the two children take Bendy after them. SourPuss tries to run to join his adopted son when Boris reappears, furious, and growls by damming him. As soon as the children and Bendy are far away, he disappears, quickly returning to the tunnel to calm his little devil. Aiden stayed behind and when the Toons try to chase down his friends, the magpie chick drops various items to slow them down while following Bendy's progress. As soon as the tunnel is seen, the little magpie is stunned to see all the planks torn off. Regardless of this detail, the small group runs towards the passage. Aiden is about to join them... when he is caught by his father.
All the Toons arrive at the Kansas City Tunnel to see the gaping opening and the dripping devil throwing themselves on the ghostly wolf's neck. To their horror, Candice and Keffan follow the two demonic beings.
« CANDICE ! » the father of the little one screams.
But, without looking at her father, the girl disappears with Keffan and Bendy. Gandy in vain call his son, this one doesn't even look back. The only one of the group to be still in ToonTown, it is the first to have become friend with the demon: Aiden! Jeckle runs to hug his boy but the little one is struggling.
« You are manipulated! Bendy isn't mean! You just scared him! He can't tear someone's heart off! » he screams, struggling under the dumbfounded gaze of the adults.
They thought they had finally removed this fad to the little ones to discover that they had never stop fraternizing with the monster but that, in addition, this demon had really brainwashed them. Only Eddie wonders, puzzled that the three kids are saying exactly the same thing as the old SillyVision members.
« What are we doing ? » Minnie worries, unable to believe that this monster was so close to them.
« It's too late for the two little ones. » Droopy said softly, frightening Roger and worrying Jessica. « Bendy has probably corrupted them for a long time. »
« But he can come back now! » Chilly Willy panicked. « What are we doing to stop him from attacking us !? »
« Let's close the tunnel! » Sylvestre the Looney cat gets upset. « We did it thirty years ago so let's do it again! »
« It won't be enough this time! » a voice exclaims.
Everyone turns around and Aiden is horrified at the recognition, thanks to the photos he has seen in the offices. It's Joey Drew! The former director of SillyVision! The murderer of Boris and executioner of Bendy! The human had shown a lot in ToonTown in order to bond with the Toons and he had won the trust of many. The former director approaches in a fairly lively manner for his age and perches on a bench.
« Bendy has been a monster for a long time! The studio doors and barricades have only slowed down the inevitable! If he has managed to go out now, he will start again! He will rewind your children, invade ToonTown and destroy everything that brings happiness! »
The Toons scream, horrified at the thought of losing everything because of someone who was one of them. Aiden is outraged that this man dares to say that Bendy is a monster while the real monster, it was him! But Joey is very convincing and why would he lie? The Toons don't see any reason for a human to lie to them.
« There is no other way to stop this demon! » the human said, smiling. « YOU MUST KILL BENDY! »
« NO ! » Aiden is horrified as the other Toons scream, raising their fists.
All agree with the human. Bendy had gone too far! He had indoctrinated three children and already attacked a dozen Toons (many are forgotten by Disney). He had committed the same horror as the Toon that was the judge Doom! He deserved the same fate! SourPuss turns to the others, furious, and he is the first to react.
We're not safe until he's dead!
Tom the Cat nods and his mouse friend Jerry, perched on his head, adds:
He'll come stalking us at night
Baby Herman approaches them, a cigar in his hand and a determined look on his baby face.
Set to sacrifice our children to his monstrous appetite!
Penelope Pussycat advances in her turn, furious. She lost her companion because of this monster and she was demanding revenge for her dear Pepé!
He'll wreak havoc on our village if we let him wander free!
Joey smiles, proud of his small effect, and stands higher on his bench and continues his false propaganda.
So it's time to take some action, boys!
It's time to follow me!
All the Toons nod their heads and all start screaming, being fooled by the words of the Human.
Through the mist, through the woods
Through the darkness and the shadows
It's a nightmare, but it's one exciting ride
Joey jumps from his bench and walks between the Toons with a serious look, as if it was his own life that was at stake.
Say a prayer, then we're there
At the drawbridge of a studio
And there's something truly terrible inside
He then take a terrified look as he turns to the Toons, pretending to imitate Bendy as he shows them his own face ... but they trust the Humans so much that they don't see him.
It's a beast he's got fangs, razor sharp ones
Massive paws, killer claws for the feast
The children scream and hide in the female skirts (or like Pinocchio, in his dad's legs). Bambi and his friends will even run to hug Snow White and Dumbo is hiding under his big ears. Males are more motivated than ever to solve the problem with Joey.
Hear him roar, see him foam
But we're not coming home 'til he's dead
Good and dead
« Kill Bendy! » the Toons scream, raising their fists.
Aiden is paralyzed, unable to believe that the happy Toons he has ever known can be so violent. Taking advantage of the fact that everyone is turning to Joey and his parents let him go, he slips away and runs towards the tunnel, determined to arrive before them.
All rush to their homes to collect containers from the Humans world and fill them with solvents, diluents and even leftover dips that have been sealed after the demise of Judge Doom. The strongest Toons take the large water guns full of solvent and all arm themselves to face their enemy.
Light your torch, mount your horse!
Joey restrains himself from laughing badly even if the envy tears him. Beside him, Eddie frowns, intrigued ... but the former director of SillyVision is determined to lead the Toons to the Inkon Demon.
Screw your courage to the sticking place!
Once armed, everyone rushes in front of Joey, ready to fight.
We're counting on Joey to lead the way!
The Human smiles and walks towards the tunnel that leads to Kansas City.
Call it war, call it threat
You can bet they all will follow
For in times like this, they'll do just as I say!
Jeckle and Heckle look at each other, worried. Unlike the others, they weren't reassured by this man. Gandy approaches them, worried too especially because of Keffan. Shaking his head, he whispers to his friends:
There's a beast running wild, there's no question
But I fear the wrong monster's released….
The two Talking Magpies look at each other and look at their friend, worried ... when they notice that their chick has disappeared. And anyway, the other furious and armed Toons are already heading in the wake of Joey, creating a furious crowd.
Sally forth! tally ho!
Grab your sword, grab your bow
Praise the Lord and here we go!
Aiden flies as fast as he can to the studio and opens the door he slams behind him before running into the studio looking for his friends. In the room where Boris's body is, Bendy is in tears, tight on the body of his friend and lover while the soul sighs. Candice jumps as she hears the door slammed, but she is more sorry for the tearful demon.
« Sorry Bendy ... » she sighs. « I don't understand that my daddy can be so mean. »
« And I am sorry too. » Keffan adds. « I didn't think Papa Chat could react like that. »
Boris sighs while stroking the head of his dear demon, but Bendy doesn't answer to the children any more than to his lover ... suddenly, Aiden arrives, panicked!
« BENDY! You have to leave now! They will be here soon! »
All turn to him, surprised. Bendy wipes her tears, intrigued, but it's Boris who questions the fledgling.
« What are you talking about ? »
« The other Toons! All ToonTown! They will be here soon! » the little magpie panic. « They are guided by Joey! THEY WANT KILLED BENDY ! »
All are horrified and turn to Bendy. The demon is frozen in place, black tears running down his cheeks. Joey had just convinced all the Toons that he was a monster when it was this Human who was the real monster.
« You have to hide and fast! If they find you, they will immerse you in the Dip! »
Candice suffocates and Keffan refrains from screaming, knowing very well what the Dip is. Had the Toons all lost their mind?
Joey smiles coming out of the tunnel to see the dilapidated studio in front of him. Bendy was there, behind, at hand. He would finally reach his goal. The Toons hold their weapons and raise their fists. Roger is leading with Mickey, Bugs and SourPuss and he seems the most determined. His little Candice was in the clutches of this Demon and he would deliver her at any cost.
Hearts ablaze, banners high
We go marching into battle
Unafraid although the danger's just increased!
He doesn't know she's hearing them as she and her friends drag Bendy with them out of the studio. She is afraid of what could have happened if Bendy was discovered. The Looneys bring a large ram (a Toon ram determined to honor his name) and advance under the songs of other Toons.
Raise the flag, sing the song
Here we come, we're fifty strong
And fifty Toons Mens can't be wrong!
With a certain air, the Looneys rush to the door with the ram and hit his head on the door. The proud animal Toon stands straight and takes the shot without flinching. The door resists but it is so damaged that it won't last long. The Looneys recoil and start again under the encouragement of the other Toons.
Let's kill Bendy!
Kill Bendy!
Kill Bendy!
The door finally gives way and those who hold the ram fall heavily on the floor of the entrance. Toons armed with cannons filled with diluent rush inside and search the first pieces ... but, apart from dust and cobwebs, they find nothing! If Bendy was here, he's gone now!
VOILA: D Chapter 9 posted! It's the longest of all I wrote :) Bendy is enjoying the Halloween party to go out ... but not everything is going as planned.
the Halloween party song is Creature Feature - The Greatest Show Unearthed, a song maybe not as innocent as that, but it's in the style I wanted: festive while sticking to Halloween spirit.
The song "Kill Bendy"... I don't think I have to tell you! Everyone had to recognize Beauty and the Beast. This is the 2017 version of the song, in the live movie.
Ah! before I forget, the notifications noted *:
* Character of the eponymous film of the 1914's. Officially, she isn't a Toon but it is the first animated creature to appear in the cinema and, since she interacts with a real Human, we think she can have her place in ToonTown.
That's it :) Don't forget to leave a comment / review! it doesn't cost anything and it makes me very happy to have the opinion of readers :)