Chapter 5: Finding the Reality Stone

FOGGY BOTTOM, 2016

It was just like any other day in Foggy Bottom, weather-wise: foggy. In the park, a man dressed in purple from head to toe was scheming with his six minions.

"Such good kitties. Keep filling those balloons with helium," said Mayor Humdinger.

The Kitten Catastrophe Crew had a bunch of baskets of candy set up, as well as a pump and a bunch of balloons.

"Just look at all this delicious carrot and cabbage candy!" said the fat mayor. "What could be friendlier than sending a balloon basket full of teeth-tingling candies to everyone in Adventure Bay? Especially since Foggy Bottom has all the dentists."

As the mayor gave an evil snicker, Cat Chase started meowing at him.

"What?" Humdinger said, as if he understood everything his cat was saying. "A giant cake? That's diabolically friendly. You kitties keep working." Then he turned his attention back to Cat Chase. "You, come with me! We're going to stop Mayor Goodway's sickeningly sweet cake from getting delivered."

As the mayor left, his other cats just meowed at each other before returning to their evil scheme.

Meanwhile, about halfway between Foggy Bottom and Adventure Bay, Farmer Yumi and Cap'n Turbot arrived behind a tree.

"Whoa, where are we?" asked Turbot.

"Or when are we?" asked Farmer Yumi. Before they could ask anything else, they heard a vehicle approaching.

"Quick, hide!" whispered Cap'n Turbot. He and Yumi backed further in the small grove of trees to hide themselves. Then they heard a familiar voice.

"Time to make our point," said the voice with an evil chuckle. Cap'n Turbot and Farmer Yumi peeked out from their hiding spot. They saw Mayor Humdinger and Cat Chase, the latter shooting a bunch of thumbtacks onto the road. After hearing the sound of tires popping, the two time travelers heard another familiar voice.

"Whoa! This is a cake-tastrophe! And my tires are as flat as pancakes! There's no way I'm getting to Foggy Bottom now."

"It's Chase," Farmer Yumi whispered.

"Let's get back to our balloon baskets. We have a Friendship Day contest to win," Humdinger said before he and Cat Chase left the crime scene.

"Ah, peach fuzz," said Farmer Yumi.

"What is it?" asked Cap'n Turbot.

"Our stone is located in Foggy Bottom, and that's where Mayor Humdinger and his kittens are."

"What are we gonna do? We have to get that stone."

"Cap'n, tell me what you know about Pup-Fu."

"What's Pup-Fu?"

"That's what I thought. We're gonna go to Foggy Bottom. You're gonna be the lookout while I sneak in and steal the stone using my Pup-Fu."

Just then, they heard more familiar voices nearby.

"Someone played a tacky trick, Ryder."

"We'll have to let Mayor Goodway know about the cake. Can you change those flat tires, Rocky?"

"Green means we'll get you go, go, going soon Chase. Ruff! Ratchet!" Then, 2016 Ryder's pup pad started ringing.

"Ryder!"

"What's up, Skye?"

"I've got bunnies on the breeze, hares in the air. They're everywhere!"

"The friendship cards will have to wait, Skye. Get those bunnies back to earth."

"I'm hopping to it. Skye out."

"This is the craziest Friendship Day I can remember. What else could go wrong?"

Farmer Yumi and Cap'n Turbot made their way over to Foggy Bottom. "We're finally here," the farmer panted as the sailor fell to the ground next to her.

"You go on ahead, I'll keep an eye out. I'm too tired," said Cap'n Turbot.

"That was already the plan, Cap'n," said Farmer Yumi. She started to creep over to the park, not drawing the attention of Mayor Humdinger or the Kitten Catastrophe Crew. But all of a sudden, she heard the sound of an ATV and started to panic. She turned over by the mayor and saw 2016 Ryder and 2016 Mayor Goodway pull up.

"Mayor Humdinger," said 2016 Mayor Goodway. "Perhaps you'd care to explain what you've been doing to those poor bunnies."

"Bunnies? I don't see any bunnies. I was just, uh- oh, I was just making you the world's biggest balloon bouquet. It's my ultimate Friendship Day gift to you and Adventure Bay."

Farmer Yumi kept creeping over to where the Reality Stone was located. Once she reached the right picnic table, she crouched down and crawled underneath one. She spotted the red glow and using a container similar to the one Jake had used with the Mind Stone, slid the Reality Stone inside without touching it herself.

As she glanced over to the quarreling mayors, she saw 2016 Chase and 2016 Rocky show up with a giant cake.

"Why-why, that is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen," 2016 Mayor Humdinger said as his kittens started licking it.

"Ah! Shoo! Get away from that gorgeous cake. No kitten fur on my frosting!"

As Farmer Yumi continued back over to where Cap'n Turbot was, she heard a loud "Help!" She looked back over and saw Mayor Humdinger and Mayor Goodway being carried away by Humdinger's balloon bouquet. She took that opportunity to sprint back over to where Cap'n Turbot was.

"I've got the stone," she said, out of breath. She held up the container for Cap'n Turbot to see. "Let's get out of here. Too many crazy things are happening today." She and Cap'n Turbot directed their attention to the sky, where they could still see the two mayors drifting away in the wind. Suddenly, a familiar voice stopped her dead in her tracks.

"Farmer Yumi?" said the voice. Cap'n Turbot ducked back down and moved backwards away from the farmer while still staying crouched down.

"Farmer Yumi, is that you?" said 2016 Rocky.

"Oh, uh, hi, Rocky," said Farmer Yumi. "What are you doing here?"

"The same could be asked about you," the mixed breed replied. "I was just helping Mayor Goodway deliver a cake to Foggy Bottom for Friendship Day."

"Right, I heard about the cake idea," said the farmer.

"From who?"

"From, uh, um, the mailman."

"Right..." said Rocky. "So, back to my question: what are you doing here?"

"I'm planting flowers over here in Foggy Bottom for Friendship Day. I've been going around the area doing this and I thought Foggy Bottom could use some flowers here despite how far from Adventure Bay it is."

"Well that's really thoughtful of you, Farmer Yumi."

"Thanks Rocky. Well, I should be getting back to my barn."

"Yeah, I better get going too," said Rocky. "I'll see you at the party back home!"

"Bye, Rocky!" said Farmer Yumi. She watched the eco pup leave before cursing under her breath.

"That was close," said Cap'n Turbot as he walked back over. "Let's get the heck out of here, can we?"

"Yeah, and I can say that I am never time traveling again."

SPACE, 2013

Silverclaw looked at his Robo-Dog, then at the Robo-Dog belonging to Ryder, then back at his Robo-Dog.

"Sir," said Brutus. "I've found something you might want to see."

"What is it?" asked Silverclaw. Brutus pressed a button and the projector turned on, showing Ryder's Robo-Dog's video feed.

"After I snapped my fingers, I no longer saw any use for the stones."

"You murdered billions of people!"

"You should be grateful. I saved your trash heap of a planet."

"Where are the stones?"

"Gone, reduced to atoms."

"You used them yesterday!"

"I used the stones to destroy the stones. It nearly killed me, but the work is done."

As the video feed kept playing, a smile appeared on Silverclaw's face.

"I did it," he said, turning to Brutus. "I found all six stones. The universal scales tipped back towards balance."

"Sir, keep watching," Brutus replied. Silverclaw directed his attention back to the video.

"We have to tear this place apart and find them."

"No, I don't think this is something he would lie about."

"Ahh, thank you Ryder. You still have my respect-" The sound of gunshots startled Silverclaw and Brutus as they watched a German shepherd murder 2022 Silverclaw.

"And that is destiny fulfilled," said 2013 Silverclaw.

"Sire, these beings are trying to undo your hard work."

"It seems as if they are." Silverclaw turned to the two Robo-Dogs. "But I'm going to make sure that doesn't happen. I am inevitable."