Dot had her eyes shut tight, willing the horrible image of her brother's scarred back to get out of her mind. Shock continued to seize her to the very core as the image of awful, pale-pink patches of scarring stayed stuck to her mind like an insect to sundew.

Memlo did that.

Her shock quickly evaporated, being replaced almost instantly with rage. It coursed its way through her veins at the realization that Memlo had done that. It was Memlo that had hurt Wakko like that and had poured DIP down his back. Had stripped away all the fur like…like some kind of unhinged monster.

That bastard! Why I ought to find him and beat him to a blood pulp! Or sick My Pet on him! Or both!

Oh sure, Memlo had hurt her too; constantly yelling at her for not being "feminine enough" (his words, not hers), had played so many head games with her, and insulted her coffee-making skills.

But, she had to admit, he had never actually physically harmed her. Well, he pinched her cheek but that was one time! Besides that, he never poured DIP on her like he clearly had with Wakko.

Her thoughts were soon interrupted by Yakko speaking. Her ears perked up at hearing the low, barely disguised rage in his voice.

"I, uhhhhhh, listen - can we all just sit down at the kitchen table?"

Dot couldn't help but grin slightly, knowing that her eldest brother was beyond pissed and yet trying so hard to hide it. She knew right then and there he wouldn't hesitate to go on a little quest with her and help hurt Memlo.

It would be wonderful, the two finding him and harming him….oh she could just imagine it now.

But for now she removed her hands from her face just as her brothers were starting to make their way to the kitchen. Yakko tried to reach out to Wakko but he flinched away, squeezing himself even tighter.

Dot quickly followed and they all sat close together in complete silence. The air was still thick and uncomfortable. Tension crackled as another loud thunder clap was heard from outside.

Sheesh, will the weather ever let up?

She let out a little sigh as she dug a claw into the wooden table. She wanted to speak; to say something, anything to Wakko but the words kept fizzling on her tongue. Uncertainty swirled around in her mind.

What can I say? 'Oh Wakko, sweetie, it's alright, everything's just fine.' That sounds like loads of horseshit to the umpth degree. I guess I could say, 'We'll find that bastard and beat him to a bloody pulp.' But I got a feeling he'll prolly tell us not to. I mean besides, Memlo's prolly dead anyways. I hope he's dead. Stupid, evil bastard.

"Wak, I hate to ask but we need to know." Yakko spoke in a low yet crackly voice. As if he were still trying to keep his anger in check. Although, privately, Dot kinda wanted to see what he would do if he cracked.

Don't look at me like that, you know as well as I do you'd wanna see how he does when he cracks. He'd probably take back his 'use the pen and not the sword' rule in a heartbeat lemme tell you.

She glanced at Wakko who was staring down at the table like something was about to pop out and attack him.

"Did he do anything else to ya?"

Wakko stiffened almost immediately and tried to get up but Yakko grabbed him by the arm. After a bit of a struggle he managed to pull him back down and into a firm hug. Dot quickly joined in, hoping to provide some form of comfort to him.

Guess this is as good as I got for now. Sorry bro.

He didn't burst into sobs, despite how hard he was clearly shaking. She briefly wondered if that was a good or bad thing.

The three stayed there, all wrapped up for who knows how long. Just trying to comfort each other as best as they could.

Eventually though Wakko broke the silence.

"Dot, can I have my diary back?" he said, in a deadly quiet voice.

Dot reached behind her back and sifted through her hammerspace trying to find it. Eventually her hand brushed against something book-like and so she grabbed it and pulled it out. She took a quick glance to confirm that yes, it was his blue diary and handed it to him.

"Sorry I read it…"

Wakko shrugged. "It's okay…y'didn't know."

She couldn't help but feel conflicted. One hand it was a good thing that she had read it, because they had found out the (likely) cause of his depression but on the other hand…she still felt guilty at having invaded his privacy.

Wakko flipped through some of the pages, a confused expression on his face.

"Oh, I guess you read my new diary…"

New diary?

"Wait, you mean you have another one?"

Wakko nodded before reaching behind his back and pulling out another blue diary, this one looking quite dusty and frayed at the edges. He looked away while handing it to Yakko, as if he was ashamed.

Yakko took the old diary and placed it on the table for Dot to see. She wasn't sure if she wanted to read it, the guilt continued to naw at her heart. But she relented, deciding to go ahead and just get it over with.

I already read his other one, might as well read this one…

Yakko flipped to the very first page.

It seemed pretty innocuous, simply saying:

This belongs to Wakkoreno Winter Warner ❤ ❥

Dot smiled. She couldn't help but think that the hearts at the end were a cute touch.

Then Yakko flipped to the next page with the first entry:

Dear Diary,

Dadoo gave me this diary so that I could write my feelings down or whatever comes to mind. I don't have much to say today so I'll write tomorrow!

Dread began to steadily creep up her spine as she read it, realizing too late how eerily similar it was to his first entry in his other diary.

'Tis like Déjà vu.

Yakko merely flipped to the next page:

Dear Diary,

Today was fun!

Dadoo took us to the park. We climbed the trees. I almost fell but Yakko caught me. I dunno what I'd do without him, I love him so much! And Dot too! Oh, and Dadoo! I love them all! After that we went to the diner and got milkshakes, I ate the glass. The waitress thought I was weird. Dunno why. I think I'm cool!

Well, gotta go.

Goodbye, Diary!

Dot didn't miss the way that Yakko smiled while reading this entry. Something loosened in her chest after reading it, Wakko sounded a lot happier.

Then Yakk swiftly turned to the next page:

Dear Diary,

Today was weird.

Weed Memlo, he's our director. He said something. Can you keep a secret? He yelled at me. And called me a mean name. Said I was dumb. Am I dumb? I don't think I'm dumb.

Well, whatever. He's prolly just grouchy from no sleep. I get that way too!

Maybe I'll give him a big ol hug and then he'll be okay.

Well, that's all.

G'night Diary!

A soft growl split the uncomfortable silence. Dot didn't miss the way that Yakko briefly clenched his fist nor the way his eye twitched. She began to feel the dread start to build up the more that she read the entries.

Something tells me this is only the beginning…

Then the next one went as follows:

Dear Diary,

Today wasn't good…

Memlo yelled at me again. And called me more mean names. This time he, um, he said that I was a disappointment and I was a fucking disgrace? I don't like to swear, it's not nice. But, Diary, do you think that I'm those things? Am I dumb? Am I a disappointment?

Nevermind, I'm still cool! Memlo is just a grumpy bear, that's all. I'll give him another hug to make him happy.

Everybody likes my hugs!

I have to go now, Dadoo is taking us to the diner again.

Goodbye!

Dot watched as Yakko grimaced while flipping through more pages, some having blank entries, others having only brief words. Then suddenly he stopped on a page with another long entry:

Dear Diary,

Today was awful.

Memlo grabbed me by my throat and choked me. I almost passed out? I asked him why he did it and he said, "You need to stop sassing me like a little bitch." I still don't like to swear…but I dunno why he did that, I just wanted to take a break 'cause I was feeling dizzy. Dadoo says I might have hypoglycemia?

I don't think I'm as happy anymore. I think I'm starting to hate myself. I love myself. I still love myself. Right?

Anyways, we're going to the park. Please don't tell Yakko or Dot or Dadoo about this!

Goodbye.

Yakko clenched his fist again before turning the page to the next entry. It was blank so he flipped to another page, and then eventually landed on another entry, this one worse than the last:

Dear Diary,

Today was horrible.

Memlo hurt me. My back burns, it hurts so much. Why can't the pain just go away? Why does he hate me so much? Too bad he can't hate me more than I already hate myself.

He grabbed me by my scruff and poured DIP down my back. It still burns. I tried to take a bath and it hurt worse. I wanna cry, scream, die? Another part of me died.

I think he likes it. The pain. Likes seeing me hurt.

How messed up.

Goodbye.

Dot stared at the page, mouth agape, unable to comprehend what she had just read.

'Too bad he can't hate me more than I already hate myself.' 'I wanna die? Another part of me died.' Okay Memlo you are…you better hope and pray that you're dead dead. Otherwise-

Then something in the corner of her eye caught her attention. It was Yakko, and oh boy did he look even more pissed off. He was trembling in his seat with his fists clenched.

"You doing okay?" Dot asked, trying to hide the sudden joy she felt as seeing her eldest brother so mad. It wasn't every day she saw him like this, so sue her if it made her happy!

Yakko shook his head and tried to flash her a grin but all that came out was a grimace.

"Fine," was his short reply.

Oh just say how you really feel, Yaks-a-lot.

She kept that thought private, instead turning her attention back to the open diary. They needed to keep plowing through, figure out how much of a dick Memlo really was. And then go and find him and get their sweet, sweet revenge.

Yakko flipped to the next page, another entry:

Dear Diary,

I tried it. I tried to die.

I tried to swallow a whole bunch of pills. Sleeping pills?

I think I passed out but then Memlo woke me up. Punched me in my back. Told me that pills don't work on Toons, said to quit wasting company time. Clean myself up.

I can never leave, can I?

I'll never be free.

Never.

I think Memlo was right. I'm nothing. I'll never be anything but a punching bag. Not that I mind, I don't. It's not like I go to sleep hoping I never wake up.

Have to go, Dadoo's taking us to the park again.

Goodbye.

Dot flinched as she heard a low, strangled growl emitted from Yakko's throat. Okay, maybe she was wrong, maybe she didn't want to see how pissed off her eldest brother could get. Maybe it was better, him being the calmest out of all of them.

Except now none of them were calm. Yakko was pissed, Wakko was upset, and she was…she was stuck somewhere between wanting to scream or cry or both…

Meanwhile, Yakko soldered on, despite his clear boiling anger. He turned to the very last page, the very last entry. This one took it all home, the worse out of all of them.

Dear Diary,

Dadoo's dead. He's gone. Just like that, gone.

Poof, gone.

Heart attack, Memlo said.

And then he said he's going to take us in.

Yakko seemed happy, but I'm not surprised. Memlo likes him best.

I wish he liked me.

Dot didn't seem happy though. She keeps getting really mad lately. Did someone pee in her cheerios? Is she getting hurt by Memlo too?

But,

You're prolly wondering what I think, Diary.

Well, I'll tell you.

It doesn't matter what I think. It never mattered. It'll never matter. I don't matter. I deserve what I get. What Memlo does to me? I deserve it. The pain, the fear, the hurt. I deserve it.

He's right, I'm nothing more than a punching bag.

But you know what, Diary?

I won't let Dot feel this way and I won't let Yakko feel this way. I won't let anyone feel this way. Because Diary, I hate it. I hate it so much.

I hate myself. Why can't he just end it? Just kill me already. I want to…please…just end it already? I dunno how much more I can take before I snap.

I think I'm done with writing.

Goodbye forever, Diary. Maybe I'll see Dadoo soon?

Dot stared wide-eyed at the page before her, wishing that she could look away. A strong surge of guilt rammed right through her heart and she winced.

This is not okay. None of this is okay. What the hell, what an absolute hellish nightmare.

She looked over at Wakko who was stock-still, staring at the table as if something were going to pop out and attack him. The urge to just leap over and tackle him into a hug was stronger than ever before.

I don't know how you did it. How did you hold all of that for over sixty years?

Dot was just about to open up her mouth to tell him how brave he was when, suddenly, a loud scraping noise split the uncomfortable silence. Yakko had scooted his chair back and was now getting up and walking away from them. As she looked at him she suddenly noticed just how tense and stiff he was. The fur along his back and shoulders were spiked up like that of a porcupine.

"Uh, Yaks-a-lot?" she called out, hoping against hope that he was okay.

Yakko stopped dead in his tracks, his shoulders rigid as well as his tail lashing and frazzled. He shook his head a little bit before swiftly turning around, a scowl on his face.

"What?" Yakko snapped, practically glaring daggers at her.

"I just-" Dot swallowed hard, suddenly overcome by a slow-building sense of dread. "-wanted to know if you were….okay?"

Yakko stared at her for what felt like forever, all the while that sense of dread just kept rising higher and higher within her. She wished he'd just say something, anything. Eventually, a dreadful sound pierced her ears; it was laughter.

He was laughing. At what? She didn't know. But he was laughing.

It wasn't his usual laughter, the kind that you could tell he was happy, the kind that had mirth in it. No, this laughter was…dreadful. It was dark with just barely a hint of boiling-under-the-surface rage.

The kind of laughter that made the fur along her spine rise up, the kind of laughter she had never heard him utter. It was downright terrifying and yet all she could do was just stare at him while his shoulders shook, while he covered his face with his hand.

Dot looked to Wakko, hoping against hope that he was hearing this too. He met her gaze, eyes just as wide as hers. She was ready to go over to him when Yakko's laughter finally ceased.

She glanced at him and nearly screamed. Yakko was advancing on Wakko, some dark emotion sparking in his eyes. He grabbed a hold of his shoulders and shook him slightly.

"Tell me, Wakko," he said, his voice quivering slightly. "That this is just some sick prank."

Dot tensed, ready to leap over and shove Yakko off of Wakko if she needed to. All the while Wakko looked up, his eyes as wide as ever and he himself was starting to tremble.

"Please," Yakko whispered. "Just say it isn't true…" his voice cracked at the end, piercing her heart.

"Y'want me t'just lie?" Wakko asked, his gaze hardening. "So it'll make you feel better? So the guilt won't get t'you?"

Yakko shook his head, his brow furrowing in worry and confusion. "N-No that's not-" but he was cut off.

Wakko stood up, his entire body going stiff.

"Well, guess what big brother, it happened. Feel guilty all you like, but it happened to me. I get t'carry that burden with me." Then Wakko turned to Dot right as she looked up at him. Worry sparked in her chest as he did. "I wish you'd never read it. I wish you'd never told him…"

Well, fuck me I guess…

Although, she guessed it was a good thing that he was calling her out on it. She expected Wakko to maybe say something more to her, but what happened next shocked her to the very core.

It all happened in a wild blur. Dot guessed that Yakko had maybe tried to touch Wakko on his back — his bare, scarred back — which triggered his fight or flight reflexes because the next thing she knew a loud thunk was heard as well as the sound of someone falling to the floor and then the front door was opened and then that was it.

Wakko had left.

Holy Ruegger.

Wakko was gone.

He had left.

Ran right out the door.

Had slammed a mallet into Yakko so hard he now lay face down on the floor, groaning.

Dot closed her eyes and let out a long, slow breath before opening them up again and going to check on her eldest brother. She knelt down beside him and reached out a hand, gently brushing the back of his head.

He let out another loud groan.

"Well, at least you're alive." she joked, or at least tried to.

Yakko pulled himself off the ground in one fluid motion. He looked around the room, trying to drink in his surroundings.

"Um, earth to Yakko? Hello, Major Yakko?"

He sighed. "Major Yakko isn't here right now."

"Okay?" she asked, confused.

"Dot, am I a bad brother?"

Eesh, way to drop that heavy bomb.

Dot hummed. "Ye-yes? Yes. Definitely."

Yakko turned to her.

"Ya sure about that?" he asked, his voice tense. "'cause I think I remember a certain someone saying that I was a few years ago."

Dot stiffened. Did he really need to bring up the past right now? Their brother had just run out the front door in the pouring rain. Couldn't they talk about this later?

"Yakko I really don't think-"

"Well, that's obvious." he shot back.

A low growl ripped its way through her throat at that. Who the hell was he to say that?

"Look just 'cause you're a guilt-ridden mess doesn't mean you can just dump it all on me!" she snapped. "In case that mallet knocked something loose, our brother just ran out the door!"

Yakko narrowed his eyes. "You weren't exactly helping me!"

"What was I supposed to say?" she shrieked. "'Oh, Wakko, sweetie, it's alright, everything's just fine'? That sounds like loads of horseshit to the umpth degree. I guess I could say, 'We'll find that bastard and beat him to a bloody pulp.' but I got a feeling he'd prolly tell us not to. I mean besides, Memlo's prolly dead anyways." Then she added, "I hope he's dead. Stupid, evil bastard."

Dot shook her head, trying to get her thoughts back on track. She was rambling by this point, she needed to get out of it.

"Look, we're wasting time here. We have to go find Wakko before he hurts himself!"

He could be anywhere, hell, he could be at the park by now!

She looked up at Yakko, hoping that he would say something. That he'd kick his butt into gear and they would set out to go find Wakko. But all he did was just stare at the floor, his head bent low.

It was at that moment that Dot realized she didn't envy her eldest brother at all. Being the oldest, having to watch over two siblings that were just as zany and rambunctious as he was for over sixty years…how he never snapped was just a miracle onto itself. Of course she had called him a bad brother once in a while. Mostly in the throes of her own fiery temper. The temper that she had acquired because of Memlo all those years ago.

It was kinda funny really.

All those years ago she and Wakko had been hurt by the same man and yet neither one had known. Never one breathing a word about what happened. Until today. Until now.

And, there went her thoughts again. Always drifting.

"Look, I've got a vindictive streak wider than the Grand Canyon! But what does that have to do with anything?!" she huffed. "This isn't about me, this is about our brother Wakko, who's out there in the pouring rain probably feeling the lowest that he's ever felt and neither one of us is there for him!"

"I'm sorry, Dot," Yakko muttered. "I guess I just…I don't know…maybe you're right. Maybe I am a bad brother…"

Guilt weighed heavily in Dot's chest as she went up to him. Without so much as a single thought she flung her arms around him, squeezing him tightly. She hoped this would be enough of an apology for now.

It took a bit before he hugged her back but when he did, the guilt steadily dissipated, being replaced with a warm feeling of contentment.

A few moments passed before Yakko let go of her, she looked up and saw a new spark of determination in his eyes.

"Alright Dot, let's go find Wakko."

Dot nodded, eager to go find their brother and make things right.

They could do it. She knew they could.


Let me know what you thought in the comments down below; I always enjoy reading your alls' comments/reviews.