Thank you so much for your reviews, favorites, and follows! The support means so much to me and I'm glad you're interested in my story! Also, I do have a few OC's in the story, so anyone you don't recognize belongs to me. And a few of the scenes will have some foul language in them (that's why there is a T rating), so I'm just warning you now. It won't be too bad, but I wanted to give you a heads up.
"Are you alright, doc?"
Dot turned her head slowly and stared at the toon standing behind her. Her mouth opened slightly when she found Bugs Bunny looking down at her.
She noted that he was in no better condition than herself, as his fur was covered in a thick layer of soot and grim. His clothes were torn and his whiskers were bent at odd angles. Behind his ruffled appearance, a small frown pulled at his mouth. While Dot had recognized him immediately, she was surprised to see the usually lively toon look so downtrodden. Remembering the situation, she couldn't blame him.
"I- yes, well no, but-" she stammered. Dot felt like she would be okay physically- other than her wrist, maybe. But she was lost and confused without her brothers by her side.
"I'm going to take that as a no," he said, his frown pulling farther down.
She glanced around the at the jagged earth. The ground- or what was left of it- was hidden by rubble and debris. Water lines had burst and smoke filled the air. While the day was still cool, Dot suddenly felt warm. She turned around and watched as an inferno of flames quickly engulfed the area.
"Come on, kid. We need to get out of here!" Bugs said with wide eyes.
Bugs scooped Dot up and took off running. Usually, Bugs would have used his toonspeed to get them out of harm's way. But not knowing if another aftershock was going to hit, he decided against it. The last thing he needed was to lose his balance while doing 90 and drop the little girl in his arms. She looked pretty beat up, and he didn't want to hurt her any further.
She watched as the fire chased them, destroying everything in its path. Dot glanced ahead and saw one of the lot entrances off in the distance. Hopefully everyone had gotten out in time.
Her breath hitched- Yakko and Wakko were still on the other side of the fire.
"Wait, we have to go back!" she screeched.
"Sorry, but I don't plan on becoming the 'roasted rabbit special' today." Bugs said. Dot bit down on her lip.
"No, we need to go get my brothers! They're still back there!"
Bugs slowed down a bit and Dot noticed his mouth pull into a thin line. Right when she thought he was going to turn around, she felt him speed up.
"What are you doing? We need to save them!" she cried.
"We'll all be toast if we go back now!"
Dot's fear grew at this. There was no way she was leaving the lot without Yakko and Wakko. Panicking, she began thrashing in Bugs arms. Dot kicked the rabbit in his stomach as she tried desperately to get down and find her brothers.
"Ouch! Look, there's nothing I can do- you've gotta hold still!"
Dot, determined to be reunited with her brothers, struggled against him even more. This only made Bugs tighten his already strong grip on her and tears welled in her eyes. Although she had made a vow to stop crying earlier, she couldn't help but think of her brothers being trapped by a wall of fire.
Finally submitting to the fact that she couldn't get down, Dot stopped struggling. She glared at the fire behind them. The flames cackled as they tore through the lot as though they were mocking her. She wouldn't be in this mess if the fire hadn't separated her from Yakko and Wakko. A few tears spilled down her cheeks. Gosh Dot, she thought, now the biggest cartoon star in history thinks you're a wuss, too.
Bugs felt her settle against his chest. He didn't want to be the bad guy, but he couldn't risk both of their lives to go back for toons that may already be dead. Yet the weight of his decision pressed down on his shoulders as he tore through the studio gate.
He had watched Animaniacs often. If it weren't for his superstar status he would even consider himself a fan. He had exchanged pleasantries with the Warners at studio events in the past, and had noticed the close bond the siblings shared both onscreen and off.
He had seen it first hand at the studio's anniversary party last year. After Daffy had moved to another table, Bugs had little desire to join the crowd of celebrities. Many of his friends and colleagues had encouraged him to join the party, but he was content on sitting in the corner and relaxing after a long day of shooting. As he observed the crowed, as well as the alluring way Jessica Rabbit moved her hips when she walked, the Warner siblings sat down at the table next to him.
He looked on as Yakko conversed with Pinky and the Brain. While the kid was animatedly talking a mile a minute with the two mice, Bugs noticed the small glances he shot in his siblings' direction every minute or so.
Turning his attention to the group of children playing in the corner, Bugs caught the threatening glare Wakko sent Montana Max after he pushed his sister a little too hard during a game of tag. And when the desert carts had been rolled out, he saw Dot place a cupcake on both of her brother's plates when they had gone off somewhere with Scratchansniff.
While each sibling had been subtle in their actions, it was clear that they cared deeply for each other.
Now he was pulling them apart. Boy, did he feel like a jerk. As he turned the corner and continued onto the sidewalk, Bugs felt the stress of the morning catch up with him.
He had come in for an early morning shoot. Shelly, who was in charge of his clothes and makeup, had gone next door to the wardrobe closet to find a shirt he needed for the next scene. Bugs had been reading yesterday's Variety issue when a small tremor shook the room. Thinking it was nothing, he leaned back and waited for Shelly to return with whatever ungodly article he had been assigned to wear for a western shoot.
As he set the paper down on his dresser, a violent shaking rattled his dressing room. Before he knew it, the walls started to crack and the floors began to split. Bugs sprinted out of the room and knocked into Shelly. He grabbed her by her forearm and pulled her towards the emergency exit at the end of the hallway. But as they moved through the panicked crowd of stagehands and extras, he lost his grip on her and had to continue towards the door alone once she ran down an adjacent hallway.
Smoke met his lungs when he finally made it outside. A golf cart had crashed into the sound stage next door and burst into flames. The fire was spreading quickly. He took off in the opposite direction, dodging debris and earth as he sprinted. He slowed down a few blocks ahead, gasping for air. To his relief, the quake seemed to be over as he surveyed the damage behind him.
CRASH.
Bugs shot around as he watched the water tower collapse. Shit- the Warner kids were probably still in there, he thought He took off towards the scene and started to search for them in the rubble. He quickened his pace when he noticed that the fire had grown and was now swallowing the lot at a rapid pace.
"C'mon, kids. Show your fuzzy little heads, already." Bugs muttered as he dug through the rubble surrounding the tower.
The fire had nearly scorched him by the time he finally took off. Then, as he was running, another set of vibrations shook the ground. The earth suddenly split beneath his feet and he was thrown into a nearby crater. He hit the ground with a thud and rolled over, clutching his head.
As his vision cleared, Bugs could make out a small pink and black shape huddled a few yards ahead. Looking closer, he saw that it was the youngest Warner shaking with sobs. He staggered towards her and placed his hand on her shoulder. His heart broke when he saw the pitiful look she gave him.
They continued to move down the sidewalk at a slower pace. Dot clutched Muffin as best she could with her wrist and held onto Bugs's shirt with her other hand. The wind picked up and Dot shivered. Bugs must have felt it since he started moving towards a relatively untouched building across the street.
"Let's get inside. It's kinda chilly out here."
As he began to cross the road, a low, unsettling laugh made him stop dead in his tracks. Dot peered over the rabbit's shoulder to find a large toon rat staring at them. He wore stained clothes that were torn beyond repair. His eyes glowed a bright yellow and his crooked teeth were stained and cracked. Patches of his fur were missing and his long, worm-like tail twitched in an uneven rhythm.
Several smaller rats surrounded him in equally dreadful attire, but none of their glares rivaled the terrifying glow seen in the largest rat's beady eyes. Dot shrunk back into Bugs when the glower met her own gaze.
"How ya doin', Long Ears?" the rat growled. Looking completely calm and collected, Bugs turned and faced him.
"What's up, doc? It's been awhile since I've seen trash blowing around in this district. The quake must have brought it up from the sewer." he said coolly.
"Aw, come now, Looney. No warm welcome for your old friend? I'm hurt."
"Don't be, Smokey. I only meant to flatter you," said Bugs. "Say, did you get a hair cut? Cause I think you might want to go get your money back. Why don't you go do that while we get on our way."
"Not so fast, Looney. Who's your little friend there?" said Smokey, his eyes widening when he looked at Dot more closely. "Wait, I know you. You're one of those Warner brats. The 'cute' one, right?"
Dot shuddered when he sent her a chilling smile. One of the rats behind him came forward and Bugs pulled Dot closer against him.
"Hey boss, after you get the rabbit can I take the girl? She'd make a good snack." he laughed.
"Sure, Tango. You deserve a reward for your last assignment. A damn fine job, you did." A few of the rats shook their heads in agreement.
"So your sending a bunch of baboons to do your dirty work now, Smokey? It sure is a sad day for all the dumpster dwellers when their leader is no longer competent," Bugs raised an eyebrow. "Here, have a cookie. It will make you all feel better."
Bugs chucked a large chocolate chip cookie with stick of dynamite lodged into it and threw it. It landed at the rats' feet and exploded as Smokey and Tango started towards them. He took off down the street chucking banana cream pies at the two rats, running as fast as he could.
"Now listen, kid. I know throwing pies may seem a bit cheesy, but I can assure you that they are quite effective." he called out. Dot watched Smokey narrowly avoid one of the pies while Tango was hit square in the face and knocked down.
"I guess the proof is in the pudding." Dot muttered.
Bugs continued to chuck banana peels and pies behind him, but Smokey easily dodged them and was quickly catching up to the two. Dot reached into her hammerspace and pulled out a stick of dynamite. The rat was so focused on dodging Bugs's attacks that she figured he wouldn't see it coming. Using her uninjured hand, Dot threw the dynamite as hard as she could. It bounced on the ground in front of Smokey and exploded seconds later.
She watched as he collapsed in a blackened heap. Bugs used this opportunity to increase his speed and finally turned into an ally after sprinting across what felt like half of the city. He placed Dot down in the shadows and slumped down next to her.
"Who were those guys?" Dot asked after a moment, hugging herself tighter as a cool breeze drifted over her.
"No one important," Bugs responded with a small huff. "We've just known each other for a long time, is all."
Dot was about to ask him why they were chasing him when she felt herself shiver again and clenched her teeth in an effort to keep them from chattering. Although the temperature had risen slightly, Dot still felt cold in the winter air. As she glanced around the dingy alley and waited for the cold spell to pass, she felt something large and warm wrap around her shoulders and looked up to find a now jacket-less Bugs.
"You don't have to-"
"Nah, don't worry about it," said Bugs as he swatted the air. "All that running really heats up a guy."
She muttered a small thanks and pulled the jacket tighter around her. As they continued to sit in silence, Dot was struggling more and more to stay awake.
"That was a nice toss back there, doc."
"Thanks." Dot yawned as Bugs watched her eyelids flutter. She looked like she was about to pass out cold. Feeling a heaviness settle in his own head, he slumped further down against the wall.
"I know it's only eight in the morning, but I think I could go for a nap. You should probably get some shut eye in now, too. Who knows when we'll find a spot to sleep again," Bugs exclaimed. Her eyes grew wide. What did that mean?
"Don't worry about it, kid- I just meant that I don't know when we'll get to the shelter." Bugs stammered at her confused expression.
Dot, who was too tired to press the matter, nodded her head and slide down against the wall. Bugs watched her slowly fade into restless sleep. The poor thing looked like hell, and it pained him to see someone so young look so defeated. Sighing, the rabbit wrapped an arm around her. Hopefully the rats wouldn't be paying them a visit within the next couple of hours.
He wasn't sure why Smokey and his gang were hanging around the lot at such an early hour. He'd heard from other toons that they usually stayed in the slums of Toontown, causing a bit of trouble here and there, but rarely venturing out in the human world where there were enough human gangs already running the streets. But Bugs didn't see why any gang would be hanging out in this part of town. Not only was it well off and a popular tourist district, but it was also heavily patrolled by police. So why would they be here?
Knowing he wasn't going to get an answer, Bugs peered around the alley again to make sure they were alone. He tried to drift off into a light slumber, since early morning shoots never helped his sleep schedule, but the hammering in his chest after seeing Smokey and finding only one of the three Warner kids amidst a burning lot wouldn't let him. Resigning to this fact, he pulled Dot closer against his side, stared at the beginning of the alley, and pulled his mallet out of his hammerspace.
With his luck this morning, another threat could be thrown at him at any time. He wanted to be ready for it when it did.
"Go faster, Bosko! They're gaining on us!"
"Dammit! The ground's too uneven. If we move any faster we'll fall into a ditch or some shit- Oswald, look out!"
Bosko pushed his ragged friend out of the way of a rolling truck. The aftershocks had only just subsided, and downtown Towntown was covered in destruction. Bosko looked back as the vehicle rolled over several police cars that had been chasing them for the past 15 minutes. He covered Oswald's bleeding head as the truck made impact with a crumbling building and exploded. Shrapnel ripped into his back as his ears rang from the blast.
"GAH- OH F-"
"Bosko, watch out! That tire's heading towards us!"
Bosko- who was gritting his teeth in pain- ran as fast as he could after Pulling Oswald up. Bosko sped down Main Street with Oswald trailing closely behind him, dodging falling debris and pushing his way through the frantic sea of toons. He ignored various cries for help and continued running as more police began to arrive on the seen. But a red blur collided into him as he turned onto Fleischer Way. The force of a furry body pummeled him to the pavement. Bosko's vision blurred as his head made contact with a rock.
"Hey! Watch where you're- wait, I know that face!" The figure yelled.
Bosko couldn't make out the toon's features. Knowing his luck, a cop was probably staring down at him with handcuffs ready to restrain him. Rage began to boil inside of him. No. He couldn't go back to that hellhole. He was finally out and would rather kill himself than end up in Clampett again. Pain shot through his head as he sat up and swung at the toon. Bosko grinned as his fist made contact with the side of his face.
CRACK. The red figure flew backwards and landed flat on his back, clutching his jaw.
"Aw shit!... Bosko, buddy, it's me! It's me, Gonzo!" he cried as Bosko prepared to strike again. His vision started to clear and he could make out the slim frame of a fox.
"Gonzo? What are you- no, we don't have time for this. Come on, the cops are crawling all over the place," Bosko said back, panic ebbing at his voice.
"There's an alley over there. We can hide out 'till some of Smokey and Tango boy's get here. They have to, ah, drop off some cargo." Gonzo said as he began pulling Bosko off of the street.
"Those two are still kicking? The word around Clampett was that they got picked off in a factory raid a couple of years ago." Oswald added as he jogged beside the two toons.
"You kidding me? I swear they're immune to every kind of rat poison there is," Gonzo said as they entered an alley. "Hell, Tango was here last night with a job. Said something about 'tying up a few loose ends' with Buddy's boys. Heard they screwed Smokey over in a deal a few weeks ago and took off with the cash." They stopped for a moment to catch their breaths before continuing their conversation.
"So why was Tango knocking on your door if you weren't in on that deal?" Oswald asked.
"The asshole wanted to drop the bodies on me. I mean, come on- do I look like a freakin' mortician to you?" the fox snorted. "I swear, the next time I see Smokey, I'm gonna lay one up on him. I've gotta enough cops on my back without his problems up my ass." Bosko rolled his eyes.
"Shut up, Gonzo," he grunted. "We both know you'd wet yourself at the sight of Smokey, let alone swing at him. Now, do you know where he's hiding out right now?" The throbbing in Bosko's head was slowing but the shrapnel in his back was causing unbearable pain. If he didn't get it out soon, he might just go crazy.
"He's campin' outside of Burbank. Said somethin' about havin' a chat with an old pal. I could probably take you to him- for a small fee, of course." The fox grinned.
"I'm not here to play games, Gonzo. Get me to Smokey or else. It would be a shame if you were to have an 'accident' or something." Bosko smirked with a malicious glint in his eyes.
"You wouldn't-"
"I would. I may have spent 39 years behind bars, but I can assure you that I still have connections on my end. If I wanted a job done, all I'd have to do is make one phone call and you'd be ripped apart before you could even blink. Now, take us to Smokey. I need his help with an errand."
"Get one of your connections to help you then." Gonzo shrugged.
"Why have them do me a favor when you're right here?" said Bosko.
"What do you mean?" the fox grinned. "One phone call is all it takes, right?"
"Sure, but what's easier? Finding a working phone in this shitstorm or... persuading the toon in front of me?"
Gonzo's smile fell at this. "Fine. I'll bring you to Smokey if-"
"If?" said Bosko.
"-if you tell me what you're up to," Gonzo offered halfheartedly. "You've only been out of the hole for what, an hour now? And already you've got a job planned? Most guys take a day or two to get back into the groove of things, so why are you so quick to get back to the grind? "
"It's none of you're damn business, fox. Besides, I've had plenty of time to think about what I was going to do when I finally broke out," Bosko spat, jamming a finger in the fox's chest.
"Alright, fine. We'll leave tonight," Gonzo said, putting his hands up. "You can come back to my place for now- what's left of it, at least."
"Don't you think a soggy cardboard box will a little too small for the three of us?" Oswald smirked.
"Shut the hell up- I haven't lived in one of those since Eisenhower! You should be grateful for my hospitality," Gonzo glared.
"Well it's not like you have much of a choice, fox." Bosko grunted. "Now where's this little abode of your's at?"
"At the end of the alley. C'mon, my buddy can fix you guys up while we're there. You both look like mutilated shit." Gonzo looked around the alley before walking further into it. He shoved his dirty hands into his patched pockets and glanced down at the ground. "And, ah- whatever you do, don't open the door at the end of the hall."
"Why's that?" Oswald asked.
"You've got your business, I've got mine. So stop askin' questions and move your asses. The cops are probably close by." he took off at a quick pace down the alley.
Bosko and Oswald shared a suspicious look. While Gonzo was no big shot in the underground life of Toontown, he was definitely someone you didn't mess with. Even though he still had the disposition of an inexperienced kid, Gonzo was in fact a sly and skillful convict. He had befriended Bosko and Oscar quickly during his short time at Clampett a few years ago for his involvement in the murder of a Toontown gang boss.
Bosko was surprised when Gonzo first told him what exactly had gone down on the night he was arrested. While he the fox was convicted for being the getaway driver, he had been proud to say that he was the one who killed the walrus toon. Apparently, he had owed Gonzo and another toon $20,000 and had refused to pay it back. The walrus had tried to argue it was a payment for taking out a detective who had been tracking them a few months earlier, but it didn't matter. Gonzo had snipped his neck all the same.
Bosko had struggled to believe Gonzo was capable of this at first, with his young and seemingly harmless disposition. But after seeing what Gonzo did to his cellmate for stealing his toothbrush, he didn't question the fox's past.
With no other allies in sight for the time being, the last thing Bosko needed was to piss off Gonzo. He'd land him back in Clampett, with his luck, and he didn't like the small chill that ran down his spine at that possibility.
"Well, are you two idiots comin' or what?"
The mattress moaned as Yakko turned over. He just couldn't seem to avoid the twisted spring that kept digging into his back. Giving up, he sighed and stared at the gym ceiling.
Scratchansniff had brought him and Wakko to the nearest shelter a few hours ago. It was a large high school gym that had both humans and toons crowded together on musty old army cots. Yakko figured they had been stored in the school's basement since the Cold War, seeing that his cot had a pretty crude depiction of a Russian on it. He also noted that the room reeked oddly of fish.
Yakko turned his head towards Wakko as he shifted next to him. There were so many people seeking shelter that the aid workers could only spare them two mattresses. Scratchansniff quickly claimed one while he and Wakko had to share the other. This had only gained an tense expression from Wakko. While the two would easily fit on it, neither Warner felt comfortable in the presence of the other.
Wakko hadn't spoken since they got into the car, and it seemed that his pitiful pout was permanently glued to his face. Yakko was simply nervous to be around him at this point, and it killed him to see his brother like this. The tension between them only intensified when they hit a road block and had to walk the rest of the way to the shelter.
"Now come on, boys. They don't have enough beds and your little monkey bodies are small enough to- oh, don't give me that look, Wakko!" Scratchanstiff sighed. "I know this is hard, but you two need each other more than you realize."
Wakko simply slumped down on the cot and turned away from his brother and the psychiatrist.
"Just give him some time, Yakko. It was a traumatizing event and this is just his way of coping. He'll be okay in a few days."
Yakko nodded and stared at his feet. The horrible feeling that had been growing inside of him was almost unbearable. His little sister was missing and now his brother probably hated him for it. It was like his entire life was shattering around him. He felt Scratchansniff place a hand on his shoulder. Great, now there was a heart to heart coming on with the world's most nosy psychiatrist.
"Are you doing alright, Yakko? This must be very hard for you, too."
"Oh yeah, I'm just dandy. It's not like my brother hates me and my little sister has basically fallen off of the face of the Earth. No, Scratchy, I'm absolutely peachy." he finished with a huff.
"Listen, Yakko. I know this is hard, but you would feel a lot better if you just talked to me. It's not healthy to bottle up all you're feelings after an event like this. If you just-"
"Look, Scratchy. I appreciate the sentiment, but what's there to say? What's done is done. I just have to focus on finding Dot and then everything will be okay-"
"Yakko-"
"I'm gonna go get some food for us and then I'll go back to the lot to look for her-"
"Yakko-"
"I know she might not be there, but it's a start. I just have to-"
"Yakko! Would you just listen to me! You can't go back! It's too dangerous. There are fires all around the city and, well, she may not have... survived."
Yakko glared at the doctor. How dare he say that Dot was dead! Even though she was a six year-old girl, she was one of the toughest toons he knew. She must have made it, right?
He watched as Wakko got off of the cot and walked off. Yakko thought about following him but decided against at. He didn't want to upset his brother any further. Maybe some time apart would help Wakko.
"Dot's still out there. And I'm going after her whether you like it or not." Yakko said in a low voice.
"You need to come to terms with what might have happened... Yakko, get back here!" yelled Scratchanstiff as Yakko took off through the crowd.
He pushed through the hoards of bodies. Glancing over his shoulder, Yakko saw that the psychiatrist was following close behind him. Turning into one of the school's less crowded hallways, Yakko ran as fast as he could. He finally lost Scratchansniff after weaving through the maze of lockers and classrooms.
Coming to a halt, Yakko took in his surroundings. The energy of students still lingered beyond the damage of the earthquake. Sheets of homework were scattered on the tiled floor. School day messages and bits of gossip were written on the walls and lockers. Flyers for class elections, bake sales, and fundraisers were posted throughout the halls, and a few forgotten books rested in various nooks and corners. It almost seemed normal.
Yakko felt a slight pang of jealousy as he continued walking. Unlike most kids, he never had the chance to go to a real school. He and his siblings were tutored in between takes of Animaniacs, and before they booked the show- well, he'd rather not think about that now.
Yakko was pulled out of of his thoughts by small whimper. He turned around to find Wakko curled up behind an old metal trash bin. His tail was wrapped around his ankle and his red baseball cap sat askew on his head. Wakko sat up and wiped a few loose tears off of his fur when he noticed his brother's sad stare.
"What do you want?" he sighed. Yakko was taken aback by the sadness and pain in his voice.
"An apology."
"Look, I'd really rather be alone right now. I'm sorry, okay?"
"No, not from you. I wanted to apologize for everything that's happened."
"Well, it's done. We left Dot behind and there's nothing we can do about it now." Wakko wrapped his arms around his legs and turned away.
"Please, Wakko. Just hear me out. I'll even let you have that godforsaken cot all to yourself if you just listen to what I have to say." Yakko took his brother's silence as permission to continue.
"You're right, I shouldn't have left Dot behind. I shouldn't have to ever leave one of my sibs behind. But you have to understand that it was the hardest decision I've ever made. I love you both so much, and it's my job to protect you. But I failed, Wak. If I had just held onto her a bit tighter she wouldn't have fallen into that ditch," he started.
"When the fire separated us, I knew I could either grab you and get out of there or go in for her and risk killing all of us. I just... I just couldn't lose both of you at once," tears began to well in his eyes as the weight of his decision came crashing down on him again. "It kills me to think that she's out there alone and scared. She probably hates me too. I'm so, so sorry Wakko. I let us all down." he sat down next to his brother and placed his head in his hands. After a few moments of silence, Wakko spoke up.
"I don't hate you. And I know she doesn't, either."
"How could you not? I just separated our family," Yakko laughed bitterly. "I wouldn't be surprised if you never wanted to speak to me again."
"I've been thinking about what happened, and I guess things would have gotten worse if we hadn't left when we did. I'm sorry I was such a jerk. It wasn't fair for me to say that it was your fault. There was nothing you could do. I just feel so guilty and angry about what happened, and I miss her so much that it..."
"Hurts?"
"Yeah."
Yakko placed an arm around Wakko and pulled him close. He slowly felt some of the pain that ebbed at heart fade away, and he found comfort in his big brother's embrace. Yakko squeezed him against his side.
"Don't worry, Wak. We'll get her back."
