I own nothing except the stuff I made up. This story was planned Concepted, outlined and written prior to the announcement of Kingdom Hearts IV as such it must be treated as an AU also of note everything dealing with Kairi in the Manga adaptation going forward is canon to this as is the Child of Destiny prophecy so yeah I might be cherry picking going forward.
Justice for all
Kiro was glancing over Starry Path, thinking about what Barbosa was like vs. what he did for Carina. It honestly surprised him then. He thought back to what the voice, his mother's voice, if that was even her said. "A Parent's love," Kiro muttered.
"It's pretty powerful," Zidane replied. "It's what drove Barbosa, to sacrifice himself for his daughter." Zidane muttered nearby he seemed lost in thought. "It's so weird. It's something I always had, but didn't realize it for a good while."
"You never told us about this." Nanaki said lying down nearby. Kiro dismissed his Keyblade as he sat up to listen.
"A Long time ago. I set out to find out who I was, and find my family. Not unlike Carina, all I could remember was a blue light. So I searched for that light. I traveled all the worlds I could, but lost hope in ever finding it. But at the same time, I missed everyone, Noctis, Ignis, Prompto Barret all of them. So eventually I went home. Barret was the first to greet me. He hit me upside the head with his metal hand." Zidane said laughing.
"Harsh…." Amei muttered listening as well.
"Then he said, 'took ya long enough, welcome back.'" Zidane said imitating his father figure from what Kiro surmised. He couldn't help but smile. "I'm sure your family will happy to finally have you back Kiro." He said winking.
"Yeah…." Kiro replied
X X X
Eddy looked up reacting to the sting from the Acme buzzer, to see a tall pale man wearing a black trench coat rounded spectacles large fedora using a cane to walk for his old age. The wild sounds of Toon town instantly drowned out by his presence. How, did such an old coot give off such a feeling of dread, "Is this man removing evidence from the scene of the crime?" he growled.
"Uh no sir Valliant was just picking it up for ya weren't you Valliant." He hinted.
"Hand it over," the man growled.
"Sure," Eddie slyly replied having worked it onto his hand and buzzing the creep; "his number one seller."
"I see working with Toons, has rubbed off on you." the man noted.
"I wasn't working for Toons! I was working for R.K Maroon!" Eddie snapped.
"Yes, we talked to Mr. Maroon," the stiff replied. "He told us, the Rabbit became quite agitated when you showed him the pictures. The Rabbit said one or another he and his wife are going to be happy! Is that true?"
"Hey Pal, do I look like a Stenographer?" Eddie snarked.
"Shut your mouth Eddie, he's a judge!" Santino groaned.
"That's alright Lieutenant from the smell of him, I'd say it was the Booze talking!" the man replied dryly. "No matter the Rabbit won't get far, my men will find him!"
Suddenly veering into the Acme warehouse, was a black van that recklessly spun into a park. Eddie knew that wild style anywhere and could hear chittering. "Weasels?!" he asked surprised.
"Yes, I find they have a special talent for the work." The Judge replied. If by talent he met they'd sell out their own kind in a heartbeat and were relentless, than sure.
"Alright Ya Mugs fall out!" shouted the leader a tall brown weasel with a red toned suit and Fedora and the most well-dressed, one crazy one in a strait jacket who had been giggling insanely; A stupid looking one in a blue striped shirt a bat and red propeller hat carrying the bat. there was one right behind the leader in a green suit hands in his pocket and a grey weasel dressed like a poker dealer with a cigarette in his hands.
"Did you find the rabbit!?" the Judge asked.
"Don't worry Doom; we've got deformants all over the city." The moron meant informants. "We'll find 'im." He added sinisterly.
"You wouldn't have any idea where the Rabbit might be Mr. Valliant?" Doom asked.
Eddie smiled. "Have you tried Walla Wall, Cucamonga? I hear Kokomo's very nice this time of year." He replied.
"I'm surprised you're not more cooperative Mr. Valliant. A Human has been murdered by a Toon! Don't you appreciate the Magnitude of that!?" he growled. How far did word of his brother travel to reach this Goon, this was the first he had seen of him.
The two heard squeaking one of the Toon loafers was out and lonely. "Since becoming judge of Toon Town my goal has been to reign in the insanity. And the only way to do that!" he said grunting as he pulled a thick rubber glove on. "Is to make Toons Respect the Law!" he said before picking up the shoe by its rim. It got scared trying to struggle.
"How'd that Gargoyle get to be a judge!?" Eddie hissed to Santino.
"He spread a bunch of Samolis around Toon Town a while back, bought the Election." Santino told him.
"Yeah?" Eddie asked realizing this goon was crooked right away. Doom took the loafer to the back of the weasel's truck and pulled open the barrel a hiss coming out of it and a foul smell.
"Remember how we thought there wasn't a way to kill a Toon?" Santino asked.
"Yeah?" Eddie asked.
"Well Doom found a way," he said ominously. "Turpentine, Acetone, Benzene, he calls it the Dip."
"I'll catch the Rabbit Mr. Valliant, Try him, convict him and execute him." he said as he dipped the shoe that instantly reacted in fear to the Mixture. Eddie watched as the shoe was dunked being dissolved alive it couldn't really scream but whimpered in pain, its eyes horrified as Judge dunked it deeper and deeper until the cries were choked out. Santino and the other cops had turned away. Eddie couldn't stop looking as his eyes widened.
"Geez…." He hissed.
"That's one dead shoe hey boss?" one of the weasels said; As Doom, pulled out his glove to see the ink of the shoe soaked all over the glove like blood. He walked holding his arm up for all to see. "They're not kid gloves, Mr. Valliant. This is how we handle things down in Toon Town. I think you of all people would appreciate that," he said moving his hand making a sickly stretching sound.
X X X
A Red car drives by with a city rising it's its wake in a silhouette until a toony sun shoots up
a cartoony town appears behind the silhouette making it show a Monochrome set of buildings
The Names World walks on screen
Toony Noir City
A Fridge falls on it as stars and birds spin around
Kiro and the others were checking themselves out. Zidane was wearing a bright teal dapper suit with a brown ribbon over his fedora and a large blue jay feather. He had a white undershirt a matching tie and brown gloves. His shoes had white tops to them.
Amei had a blue grey jacket and a purple shirt underneath. A blue skirt and purple dress shoes and blue panty hose, her hair styled in a way similar to Nancy Drew, and her choker had become a scarf. Kiro thought she was cute in that outfit. Not as Cute as the Pirate outfit. No! Stop!
He himself was in a black and brown detective Jacket, with a pale orange stripe around the bottom. The black part was divided by a keyhole shape a red tie a black fedora with a white ribbon and black gloves.
Nanaki looked like something out of Kimba the White Lion. He was a cartoon character now with more simple features and large eyes. Kiro gazed around the city, it looked like a late forties early fifties city. He could see some kind of train track in the middle of the road and off at the bottom of the hill was a tram.
"A Tram Cart like in Twilight Town!" he said amazed, While suddenly a large black van of sorts suddenly swung up in front of them almost hitting Kiro and Nanaki, who had to dodge out of the way.
Rushing out was a bunch of Weasels that looked like something out of a Mafia cartoon one of them just looked not very bright…or even intelligent, "Hey you could've hit someone!" Zidane shouted Nanaki growled at them.
The Weasels didn't seem remorseful in fact they got right in Zidane and Nanaki's faces.
"Well, well tough talk for some scrub who doesn't respect his elders." The Leader sneered.
"You almost ran us over!" Nanaki growled, as Amei helped Kiro up. He dusted himself off, as the Weasels took special notice on how unintimidated Nanaki was at them.
"And who are you!? We know every toon in Toon town and got the dirt on them." He said putting his arm around Nanaki who lowered his eye lids but looked unphased.
"I'm not sure, I should tell you," Nanaki said coolly.
"I suggest you do unless, you want to be dipped." The Leader sneered.
"Dip?" Kiro asked. The weasels opened up the back of their truck Nanaki gagged a little at the smell.
"One 'dip' and you'll be burned down to nothing!" He sneered the group looked at each other. Crazy or not they seemed serious. "Now you keep yer nose clean Jappy! Caprice!" Nanaki just nodded to get them out of their sight. The weasels then dove into the sewers chatting about that some Rabbit oddly.
"What was that about?" Kiro growled.
"No idea, but I have a feeling they're not exactly good cops." Amei added.
"Let's follow them!" Zidane said as everyone nodded and quickly and quietly made their way inside.
Kiro then noticed a newspaper, 'Cloverleaf puts in highest bid for Toon Town, in light of missing will and Acme's Death.' It had been dated a couple days earlier. As he began to read music floated into his ears. "What's that?" Kiro asked absentmindedly shoving the paper into Zidane's hands to go to the source.
Inside the bar, was a cartoon white Rabbit with Red suspenders yellow gloves an orange hair tuft and yellow and blue polka-dot bowtie, singing and joking around with a few of the bar Patrons he slid over to a stack of plates. And thanks to the record skipping, he was caught in a loop.
"No Pain, No Pain, No Pain!" He said smashing plates. A Woman in a purple dress with brown hair and hat gasped in horror. However a larger man with a white shirt with thing blue stripes a patterned red and blue tie and grey suit and Fedora grabbed the Rabbit by the ears, and pulled him away breaking all the plates in the process as Kiro followed the others followed him. Without thinking they snuck into a small hidden room. The Smell of Alcohol instantly assaulted his nose. What was this room? It was then the Man yelled.
"You Crazy Rabbit?! I'm out there riskin' my neck for you and what are you doing?! Singing and Dancing!" he growled. He noticed the others out of the corner of his eye and turned. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?!" he half screamed.
"Uhh we just got caught in the confusion, we see nothing and no nothing!" Zidane muttered.
"Like hell that works, Congratulations you're accessories." The man growled.
"Uh oh," Kiro squeaked wanting to be invisible.
"Eddie! I'm a Toon my purpose is to make people laugh." The Rabbit said noticing the kids. "Like children, hello It's me Roger Rabb-AHH!" he yelped as Eddy pulled him away.
"Uhh, Mr. Uuhh" Amei began.
"Valliant," Eddy grunted.
"Mr. Valliant we're from out of town, and we only just now saw the commotion, but you should know that some shady looking weasels are looking for you!" Amei warned.
"The Toon Patrol!" Roger yelped. "They've been bullying everyone in toon town since Doom took over!"
"That explains how they treated Nanaki!" Kiro growled in anger.
"One of those new Anime characters eh?" Valiant replied. As Roger tried and failed to pronounce Nanaki's name.
"What exactly is even going on here? Why are they after you?" Amei asked echoing Kiro's thoughts. Kiro found Valliant intimidating, especially with that Temper so he didn't feel like asking anything.
"Actually they want the Rabbit." Valliant replied. "All I did was take, a couple of dirty pictures of some dame named Jessica."
"So what does that have to do with Roger here?" Nanaki asked.
"I got steamed when he showed me the photos and I went off to write her a love letter." Roger added. "But during that time Mr. Acme kicked the bucket, and went up to the Toon Town in the sky!"
"But if you were trying to write your girlfriend-"Kiro started for Roger to cut him off.
"Wife!"
"Sorry, Wife a Love letter to try and sort this out, doesn't that mean, you have an Alibi?"
"Not quite. The time Acme died is around the same time the Rabbit ran out from Maroon's office." Valliant pointed out.
"Then the letter could come afterwards." Kiro hissed to himself. "And now this Toon Patrol are convinced it was Roger. So he's right you shouldn't have been out there!"
"But I'm a Toon! Toons are supposed to make people laugh!" Roger argued repeating himself. "And those people needed to laugh."
"Yeah and when they're done laughing, they'll call the cops! That Angelo is a Rat who would sell you out for a nickel!" Valiant snapped.
"Not Angelo! He'd never turn me in!" Roger argued.
"Why because you made him laugh?!" Valiant growled in disbelief Roger undeterred.
"That's right," he said simply. Kiro had to be with Mr. Valiant on this one you couldn't trust everyone and if Valiant knew him better than Roger then they were in trouble. But Roger waxed a bit Philosophical.
"A Laugh can be a very powerful thing. Why sometimes in life it's the only weapon we have. Why sometimes it's the most important thing-"A Red light was flashing with a buzz.
"Shh," Valliant told everyone. They rushed over to the Peep hole. Kiro and Roger with him getting the best view as a Ghoulish man he deduced was Judge Doom came in.
"I'm looking for a Murderer," he said as everyone turned back to the business, behind him were the weasels the group had ran into earlier. The Bar had gone extremely silent. He went over to a Table. "A Rabbit," two of the Patrons ran off. "A Toon Rabbit, about yea big!" he said roughly pushing down a Patron that was picking up the still unbroken plates to his knees.
"Look there's no rabbit here." Said the Bar Tender. She was a pretty woman with a black dress with floral pattern apron and a matching hat, "so don't harass my customers!" She added defensively.
"I didn't come here to Harass. I came here to reward…" Doom said going over to the Chalk board for the specials and erasing it all except the word Dip. Then with the Chalk he began to write in a way that made the Chalk screech. It was much like nails on a chalk board. Nanaki and Roger were visibly flinching from the sound while everyone else except for Valliant was very uncomfortable from the sound. Kiro was even tempted to cover his ears. When he finished the board now read 'Rabbit Dip five hundred dollars'
A Man whistled. Kiro guessed it was Angelo because Roger's eyes widened in horror. "I've seen a Rabbit." He said as Roger gasped and Valiant just grunted a told ya.
"Where?" Doom asked getting closer almost obsessed.
"Right here in the bar." Angelo replied Zidane began looking for a way to escape. Kiro was about to help when suddenly he moved his arm and held it up like it was an around someone. "Well say hello, Harvey," Angelo said grinning. As the Patrons began laughing, Kiro sighed in relief cracking a small smile himself.
"See I told ya," Roger hissed proudly leaving the peephole, as Kiro and Valiant kept watching Doom had a Ghoulish smile; he used to stop the laughter immediately. He turned to the Record player and picked the record off it.
"Merry Go- Round Broke down, what a looney selection for a bunch of drunken reprobates." Doom growled as everyone cleared their throat looking away. He sniffed it and grinned. "He's here!" he said tossing it like a Frisbee and sending it into the mouth of the stupid one making the others laugh.
"Stop that laughing!" he shouted going over to the leader and hitting him hard to where when he landed he broke a table. Making Valliant Flinch to his surprise not that he didn't flinch as well. "Have you forgotten what happened last time?!" he roared. "If you don't stop that laughing you're gonna end up dead like your idiot Hyena cousins!"
"He had more before?!" Kiro hissed in his mind.
"Hey boss you want we should disassemble the place?" The Leader asked straightening himself up like nothing happened.
"No, Sergeant disassembling the place won't be necessary; the Rabbit is going to come to me." He said tapping on the bar with his cane. He heard a slight laugh from Valiant as Doom spoke again. "No toon can resist the Shave and Haircut trick!" he said.
"I don't know who's loonier you or Doom," Eddy said turning from the peephole.
Kiro had done as well but saw Nanaki's Tail began to get antsy. He seemed to be anxious. Roger on the other hand was actively straining not to respond. Doom kept doing it moving slowly towards them. As Roger seemed to get more and more strained his ears twisted around themselves his arms rigid at his sides and the claws on his toes sticking out. His eyes swirling with pink and blues, Eddy had gone to move but was caught on the Peep hole by his sleeve.
"Roger no!" he hissed, Kiro dove as he heard a tap on the wall, only crashing into Nanaki who he and Roger both sang two bits. The former getting grabbed as Kiro rushed up coming out of the hole.
Only to get surrounded, by the Toon Patrol. He saw that Judge Doom had grabbed Roger by the throat so tight he couldn't breathe. "Hey boss!" the lead Weasel said as Kiro felt a knife prick his side. "What should we do with the wallflowers?
"We'll see to them later, right now." Doom said with sadistic glee. I feel like dispensing some Justice! Bring me some Dip!" he said with a grin.
Valiant quickly explained what it was, all things meant to dissolve paint and ink. Kiro was horrified this was the equivalent of dipping people in acid. Roger gasped in horror at the sight of it.
"Do the condemned have anything to say, before I carry out his sentence?" Doom asked.
"Why sure I-"Roger started only to have his throat roughly squeezed. He was then taken over to the barrel.
"Stop this isn't right! You don't even know if he did it!" Kiro protested.
"I have the evidence, the motive and culprit, what more do I need." Doom replied.
"You still don't know it was him! It could've been an enemy of his! Roger went to write his wife a love letter last night, nothing else! Are you even considering what time the murder happened!? Whether Acme had other enemies? You're not gathering all the necessary evidence! That's not justice that's just needless killing and bullying!" Kiro snapped.
Doom stared straight at him with his cold aura now incredibly enraged and yet he remained calm. "I am a Judge of the Law! You doubt my skill my judgement?! A Man who has studied the laws of this land, being wrong in the face of the whelp who understands nothing!?" he yelled clearly trying to intimidate Kiro.
"Stand your ground! You can't be intimidated by this goon!" Kiro growled in his mind.
"Hey Judge!" Valliant suddenly yelled making the two turn to him. "Don't a dying Rabbit deserve a last request?"
"Yeah some nose plugs would be nice." Roger said noting the foul smelling liquid that not only had the smell of the chemicals it was made of but left over paint and ink in a barrel that had clearly never been cleaned out as well.
"I think you want a drink." Valliant said. Kiro looked at him like he was an idiot but Doom and Valliant ignored him. "Well Judge?"
"Oh why not, I don't mind prolonging the execution." He said squeezing Roger's throat again slightly.
"Happy Trails," Valliant said handing him the drink.
"No thanks Eddie, I'm trying to cut down!" Roger said.
"Take the drink!" Valliant demanded.
"But I don't want the drink!" Roger protested.
"He doesn't want the drink!" Kiro and Doom said together.
"Yes he does!" Valliant argued.
"I don't!" Roger argued.
"You do!"
"I don't!"
"You do!"
"I don't!"
"You don't!" Valliant said suddenly switching gears.
"I do!" Roger argued.
"You don't!"
"I do!"
"You don't!" Valliant shouted.
Roger snatched the drink away. "Listen! When I say I do I mean it!" he said tossing the drink into his mouth the smell of the Alcohol at its most strong as he downed it. Roger suddenly flinched. His eyes swirling all different colors as he changed as well. Doom lost his grip on him as Roger turned into a Rocket and flew up to the ceiling screaming and letting off a high pitched whistle that hurt Kiro's ears. He shattered Valliant had started fighting the weasels knocking a couple back one of them into Doom and the Bar Patrons.
However he was suddenly surrounded by Heartless Kiro Cast Thunder just as Pete and Mortimer appeared. They looked similar to Nanaki but had different outfits obviously. Pete had a pair of light blue overalls a long tail and small Captain hat. Mortimer on the other hand, was wearing a yellow sweater and white shirt underneath brown Khakis and a flat hat.
He cast slow on the group immediately but a Lunar High from Nanaki had brought them back to normal as Kiro launched thunder as soon as he felt the pain from Roger's screaming go away. Amei had waved her staff, "how'd you do that!?" Kiro asked.
"It's a spell to keep out annoying spells." Amei replied simply.
"You'll have to teach me!" Kiro said as he slashed a Crook Heartless down. Pete launched a punch at Valiant but he got back up. Two of the Weasels attacked but Amei quickly cast Blizzaga they yelped and were instantly turned into blue ice cubes blinking helplessly. She had also frozen several other Heartless which Kiro had taken out with a Blade Charge. Badder hounds German Shepard like Heartless with Green and brown fur launched themselves at Nanaki who snarled and tumbled around with a couple.
He managed to kick one off towards Zidane who stabbed in the back, while grabbing one of the weasels with his tail and slamming them into the wall.
"C'mere!" Pete snarled Zidane skillfully dodged out of the way and landed a punch and hit Pete in the head with the handle of his knives. Pete tried to spin at him. At the same time Mortimer was spinning around with water on his feet he managed to counter Kiro's thunder surge, knocking the boy back. However he quickly cast Reflega causing Mortimer to stop. Then Kiro swung his Keyblade.
The Magic suddenly seemed to wrap around the blade as he it Mortimer in the knee causing him to spin in the opposite direction incredibly fast. Zidane had just jumped on top of Pete's shield to move it around. He saw Mortimer coming towards them and pushed Pete towards him. Causing the two to bounce around and tumble into a dizzy heap just as the Toon Patrol was subdued and the Heartless gone.
At this point Roger had fallen but Valliant had caught him just in time. "Gotcha kid!" he then dumped over the barrel of Dip Pete and Mortimer barely touched it when they screamed and yelped in pain rushing to get away from the liquid as much as possible as Nanaki seeing as he would be in danger from the substance jumped out the window the others following Valliant Put Roger down where it was safe.
"Come on let's get out of here!" Roger cried as they escape. "That was good thinking Eddie using the old noodle! The old Spine flower," he went on as they rushed out past the Toon Patrol car. Valiant grabbed Roger and tossed him in.
"Let's use this!" The others followed.
"Come on let's go!" Kiro shouted as he could see their pursuers rushing out through the window.
"There's no damn key!" Valliant shouted.
"Hey you Weasels! Let me out of here! Come on, I've gotta make a livin'!" shouted a voice that Roger recognized.
"Benny is that you!?" he asked.
"No! It's Eleanor Roosevelt!" shouted the voice back as Roger pulled himself through the small hole. "Get me out of here Roger!"
"Guys we've gotta ride open the door!" Roger shouted from behind as Valliant caught a piece of paper with lipstick all over it. Kiro immediately jumped out of the door summoning his Keyblade and unlocking the back once he pulled the door open out came a Nineteen-Thirties taxi bright yellow with white rims and bumper where the mouth was. His eyes were the headlights. Roger was already in the driver's seat hands on the wheel.
"That's better I can't believe they arrested me for driving on the sidewalk!" that would be a crime normally but probably not in Toon Town a Zany place of Cartoon Characters where a Toon wouldn't care about that if they were late or in a hurry. Kiro and the others jumped in, fitting without issue though it looked snug maybe they looked funny? Valliant had pushed Roger to the shot-gun seat and grabbed the wheel himself. "It was only a couple of miles,"
"I'm driving!" Valliant declared.
"But I wanna drive!" Roger whined.
"No! I'll drive! I'm the Cab!" Benny stated as he began driving himself. "Out of my way Pencil neck!" he shouted at a passerby that jumped back to avoid getting run over Kiro looked behind as the Toon Patrol, Pete and Mortimer had rushed out. Watching Kiro could see them piling in their own car, "How about this weather!?" Benny said clearly happy to be free.
The Siren went off. "We've got company!" Kiro shouted.
"Would you look at these two excuse me ladies!" he shouted weaving between two cars that were about to get close to each other everyone screamed. But he had just managed to get through.
"Now that's what I call a couple of Road hogs!" he shouted as the Toon Patrol leader began shooting at them from behind. And in front of them were Heartless Kiro blasted them with Fira spells as they tried to throw dynamite that Zidane quickly threw away. Fortunately it landed in the Toon Patrol car leaving a couple of them with ash face. They laughed.
"Hey stopping laughing! Or you'll laugh yerselves to death!" Pete shouted.
Benny moved and swerved through the traffic. "Benny, look out for the red CAAAAARRR!" Roger half shrieked his eyes getting huge and moving towards to point at the Red car. Fortunately he managed to spin around and quickly take another road as a couple of Hot Rod Heartless rushed at them as the Toon Patrol had slowed down from their own attempt at spinning. They relentlessly banged on Benny's sides.
Zidane and Kiro however managed to quickly destroy them, "what's with the Road Hogs!?" Benny yelped.
"They're Heartless and they're after us!" Amei cried.
"There's more behind us!" Roger cried as Kiro looked his eyes widened to see More Hot Rods chasing them.
"Not for long!" Benny said swerving in a way that Roger almost fell out and had to quickly jump back in when Benny slowed down. And started driving backwards, "Now they're right in front of us!" he shouted.
"Not funny!" Nanaki shouted as Kiro climbed out on top of Benny's hood.
"What are you doing!?" Valliant screamed.
"Saving out skins!" Kiro replied as he summoned Legacy of Light tossed it into the air and it turned into its Keyblade Glider form. He rushed at the hot rods with a Thunder Surge and tackled a couple of them away and crash into other cars destroying them instantly. This got the other Hot Rods angry as they tried to jump on top of them but Kiro managed to slip out from under them but lost track of Benny.
"No!" Kiro cried. He tried to chase after them as best they could.
"The Heartless are still on our tail!" Roger cried.
"I know the Heartless are still on our tail!" Valliant shouted.
"Look out!" Zidane shouted as everyone screamed Kiro tried stopping the Toon Patrol Car that was now trying to stop it with Magic but Mortimer had done something to it to make it immune. After hearing shouting from down below about a Lever Amei had pulled it and suddenly Benny had rose up Kiro managed to grab Benny's back bumper and deactivate his Keyblade Glider and held on for dear life as Benny rushed around. A Couple of his now elongated wheels lifting out to the side.
"I'm getting too old for this!" he shouted. Kiro managed to climb onto Benny and slowly make his way to the back seat.
"Kiro!" Zidane shouted as he and Valliant pulled him in.
"That was stupid kid!" Valliant scolded. As Kiro looked up and saw something that made him scream and point.
"BRIIIIDDDGEEE!" Roger shouted as Benny jumped up Kiro feeling himself lurch as he landed on all for wheels.
"Alright fellas where can I drop ya?" he asked calm now that they had escaped.
"Somewhere we can hide!" Roger said getting down low.
Incidentally should you ever need a ride, "Benny said as a Heart Binder appeared in Kiro's hands, just stick out your thumb!" he said before shouting at an innocent driver and their car about sharing the road. Kiro blinked before sighing.
X X X
It was something called a Nickelodeon; they were in the nose bleed seats far from prying eyes. But Kiro thought they had a good view of the screen regardless. "Duck Season!" shouted a grey rabbit. With white tips on his feet a white stomach and white gloves that had a smug look on his face.
"Wabbit Season!" shouted a black duck, with a white stripe on his pencil neck. And bright orange feet and beak, that seemed determined to get the Rabbit killed, by a small bald hunter in brown hunting clothes and a round nose and large eyes.
There was a back and forth before the final poster revealed 'Elmer season'! This caught Kiro and the animals on the screen by surprise. He let out a chuckle as the entire audience burst out laughing. Roger was especially loud as the cartoon ended with the two teaming up to hunt the Hunter.
"I tell you the comedic timing and genius of the Looney Tunes is something else! It's so wild so bouncy!" Roger declared before Valliant pulled him back roughly by the ears everyone looked over in shock.
"You're supposed to be in hiding what's the matter with you!?" Valliant hissed.
"What's the matter with you?" Roger argued quietly. "You're the only person in this theater that isn't laughing! Is there nothing that can permeate your impervious puss?" he asked. Roger tried making a funny face. Valliant just whipped the spit away from his face. "Boy nothing, what could've possibly happened to you, to make you such a sour puss?"
Kiro couldn't help but he curious about this as well, even Nanaki the most serious of their group had been laughing albeit much quieter. He wasn't expecting Valliant to reveal something that could've been private, especially to kids he met today and Roger, but to his surprise though Valliant answered.
"You really want to know?" He asked Roger nodded. "I'll tell ya. Toon killed my brother."
"A Toon no!" Roger gasped quietly in horror. The idea seemed to go against everything Roger believed in about Toons. His hands over his mouth in horror as Valliant confirmed this.
"We were investigating a robbery at the first National bank of Toon Town. Back in those days, Timmy and I we liked working Toon Town thought it was a lot of laughs. Anyway this guy got away with a zillion Simoleons." He said with a slight laugh. "We trailed him to a little dive down in Yockster Street. We went in only he got the drop on us literally." He said his eyes filling with pain. "Dropped a Piano on us from fifteen stories, broke my arm but, Teddy never made it."
"Mr. Valliant…." Kiro muttered his voice a hoarse whisper from the horror.
"I never did find out who that guy was. All I remember is that he was standing over me laughin.' With those burning red eyes, and that high squeaky voice, he disappeared into Toon Town after that," Valliant finished. Just then Roger burst into loud blubbering sobs.
"No wonder you hate me! Boohoo, if a Toon killed my brother I hate me too! Boohoo!" Roger sobbed.
"I don't hate you," Valliant said.
"Yes you do! You wouldn't have yanked my ears all those times if you did!" Roger moaned.
"Alright I'm sorry, I yanked your ears." Valliant said.
"All the times, you yanked my ears?" Roger asked.
"All the time I yanked your ears," Valliant assured.
"Apology accepted put her there pal!" Roger said bouncing back quickly "I feel better," He said shaking Valliant's hand only for new music to start up. "Oh I hope it's another Cartoon!" he said running up to the edge of the Balcony. But it wasn't. "Oh it's just a stupid news reel. I hate the news!" he groaned sitting down and being bored. Kiro found Roger slightly annoying but he meant well and was good-hearted. But clearly he was easily distracted. Kiro noticed Delores Valliant's friend come in.
"Do you have all my stuff?" Valliant asked her when she sat down, Kiro listened in.
"It's outside in the car. I would've been here as soon as you called but I had to shake the weasels." She said. Kiro slumped down a little in his seat. None of this was fair. Judge Doom was not doing his job correctly. He was being a murderer and a bully! How long would this go on for? How many innocent Toons were going to essentially be dissolved alive before he was satisfied?! Supposedly with no leads in this case. Valliant and Roger were going into hiding. And they had to leave. The Grand Leon Sword wasn't even here anyway. He sighed as Valiant apologized for the trouble at the bar. That was when he started listening again.
"Yeah, well, stuffing Olives for a living wasn't for me anyway." She replied.
"Dolores you ought yourself a good man." he said as he sensed them looking longingly at each other.
"But I already have a good man," She admitted. Kiro stayed quiet. They all heard Roger sighing Kiro turned to see Roger his ears in the shape of a Heart with hears in his eyes.
"Puh-puh-puh-lease don't mind me." He said, Kiro sweat-dropped at this.
"You'd better get going Eddie," Delores told him. Everyone began to leave Roger started walking up the steps Kiro moved closer towards Zidane's group.
"Good thing, Teddy's not here to see me running with my Tail between my legs." Valliant muttered as the News reel.
"It's not so bad, once you get used to it…" Roger said trying to comfort him but Eddy just let out a sigh.
The Announcer however started talking about something from News Paper Kiro read hours ago, "The Pacific Red Car Trolley line and the Venerated Maroon Cartoon Studios. Here R. K. Maroon is seen Clenching the deal, with Clover Leaf's Bankers and Execs, in one of the biggest Real estate deals in Toony Noir History!" they suddenly heard Valliant call out.
"That's it! That's the Connection!" he shouted. The group looked at each other and followed a new lead had opened up in the case.
X X X
The Studio had some clean fancy looking white buildings in the front with large warehouses for making movies out in the back. Kiro gazed in awe reading "Maroon Cartoon's" in 'AR Bonnie' Font on the small subtely lit up sign they drove under.
"Let's forget it there's no one here." Roger said from inside Eddy's Duffel bag.
"Is that it or are you scared?" Valliant asked.
"Puh-Puh-puh-lease! Me scared don't be ridiculous!" He said getting out of the car before biting his nails and shaking with an audible rattling sound. "When you called Maroon you told him you had the Will! But you don't! When he finds out he's gonna be mad! He might try to kill ya!"
"That's why he has us," Zidane assured.
"Don't flatter yourself I can handle a Hollywood Cream puff on my own. I just don't want the odds to change." Valliant explained. "Roger, cover my back! And if you see or hear anything beep the Horn twice!" he ordered as everyone climbed the stairs Kiro last in line listening a bit to Roger's speech of assurance.
"Yeah that's, right cover your back! Boy I'm ready! Dukes up eyes peeled ears to the ground! Why no one gets the Drop on Roger Rabbit!" he heard Roger say as he playfully rolled his eyes. But then there was a loud bang Roger let out a slight gurgle before Kiro heard a thud.
"Roger?!" Kiro gasped he rushed down and looked everywhere in the Garage. Roger was gone he rushed out towards the only way he could've been taken.
X X X
Amei kept a firm sight on Eddie's back. "Don't come in till I give you the signal, got it? And the signal is a good punch to the bastard's mug." he said to them, they nodded.
"We'll make him squeal!" Amei said trying to sound tough and keeping her voice low.
"We can't be careless. If Mortimer and Pete were with the Toon Patrol, then they're in this too. As are the Heartless!" Nanaki warned as he always did. Eddie led them through a secret hallway towards an office.
"He's got his own private hideaway huh?" Zidane asked.
"Yeah perfect for scheming," Eddie replied as he started pushing on the wall causing it to open surprising an older man with dark hair in a suit vest and red tie. And a similar shirt to Eddie's, he yelped in fear when Valiant tapped on his shoulder.
"What's up Doc?" Eddie asked dryly.
"Valiant what are you trying to do!? Give me a Heart attack!?" Maroon cried.
"You need to have a Heart before you can have an attack." Eddie pointed out. Nice come back.
"Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, you got have the will?" he asked quickly. Amei noticed he looked a bit shifty like he had something to hide.
"Sure, I got the Will. The Question do you have the way. Cause I can tell ya now, it ain't gonna come cheap." They heard Eddie warn from inside the office.
"You've got a lot of Brass to coming up here by yourself!" Maroon snarled.
"Who said I'm here by myself." Eddie asked as Maroon was looking more and more aggressive. Eddie merely poured himself a drink unphased by him.
"Lemme see that will!" Maroon Growled holding out a gun; Amei was about to jump out. But Zidane held her back shaking his head.
"I told you I got it," Eddie said calmly.
"I want to see it now!" He shouted roughly pulling at Eddie to turn him around causing him to drop his drink. Maroon found Roger's love letter and red it. "How I love thee let me count the ways?" he asked confused as Amei saw he was reaching back for some kind of bottle with a Spray nozzle on it. "Is this supposed to be a joke?!" he snarled shoving it back at him into the front of his pants.
"No this is!" Eddie replied spraying him. Stunning him long enough, for Eddie to punch him, the others jumped out as Eddie grabbed Maroon by the tie and pulled him up pressing the gun Maroon had dropped to his back.
"What are you gonna do to me Valliant?!" Maroon cried as he found himself surrounded.
"We're gonna listen to you spin the Clover Leaf Scenario. A Story of Greed, Sex and Murder! And the parts I don't like I'm gonna edit out." Eddie growled.
"You got it all wrong! I'm a Cartoon Maker not a Murderer!" He begged.
"Everyone's gotta have a Hobby," Eddie growled as he shoved the tie into a nearby machine and pressed the pedal to start yanking his face towards him. Amei sprung into action.
"Eddie not necessary," she said pushing him away from the machine. Maroon got himself free only for Nanaki to block his way growling.
"I don't remember giving you permission to use my first name." Eddie said to her flatly. Maroon backed away slowly from Nanaki until he bumped into Zidane who had his arms crossed.
"I'm not sure how long we're gonna be able, to keep Valliant from attacking you again. You better tell us what we want to know." Zidane warned.
"Alright, alright!" Maroon said moving back towards Eddie back to the Window. "The truth is I had a chance to sell my studio! But Clover Leaf wouldn't buy my property unless Acme sold 'em his! The Stubborn Bastard wouldn't sell! So I was gonna Black Mail Acme with pictures of him with the Rabbit's Wife! Black Mail that's all!" He cried practically in tears. "I've been around Toons all my life! Sob I didn't want to see 'em Destroyed!" he cried putting his face in his hands.
"Toons Destroyed?" Eddie asked.
"What are you talking about?" Zidane asked.
"If I tell ya, I'm a dead man!" Maroon cried.
"You're a dead man if you don't!" Eddie said pulling out the gun again. Maroon went pale his eyes widened as he spoke. Eddie however suddenly saw something in the reflection.
"Unless Acme's will shows up by midnight tonight, Toon Towns gonna be land for the Free-AHHH!" Eddie shouted at them to get down as several shots went off.
BANG! BANG! BANG! They went Amei screamed as she cast a protega spell over them as four more shots went off. BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! The Gunman ran off when they kept quiet. Amei looked up and too her horror Maroon was on the ground in a pool of his own blood, dead.
She, Eddie and Zidane went to the window seeing a Toon Woman with bright red hair and sparkling pink gloves and shirt an hour glass figure and a well-endowed chest running off somewhere, from the window.
"If I wasn't sure she just shot at us I'd find her hot." Zidane muttered. They then heard a car screech off.
"Let's go lover boy!" Eddie said as they ran back the way he came. And found Roger gone.
"That Rat!" Eddie growled betrayed.
"Wait why would Roger run off?!" Amei asked.
"In the Car everyone in the car now!" Eddie ordered as they jumped inside. He immediately hit the gas and drove off after the brown car.
Special Attacks and Spells
Reflect Slash: Cloaks the Keyblade in reflective magic to knock back attacks and counter foes to double the damage.
Roger Rabbit: A Good Hearted but Ditzy Cartoon Character. He's currently the prime suspect in the Murder of Mr. Acme. But he's actually innocent and Its basically a witch hunt! He has a philosophy about laughter and what a Toon's purpose is. To bring joy, which on some level I could see being true. (Who Framed Roger Rabbit 1988)
Eddie Valliant: A Private Eye that once worked Toon Town with his brother before his death. Which has left him Jaded and temperamental. Despite this he is genuinely helping Roger. Even going into hiding with him when we didn't have any leads….I wonder what I'd be like if…No they're out there! Stay positive! (Who Framed Roger Rabbit 1988)
The Toon Patrol: A Bunch of Weasels hired by Doom to pull and capture Toons that they believe to be criminals. They wouldn't look out of place in the Mafia. They were a bit racist to Nanaki because he now looks like an Anime Character and tried to threaten him! No doubt they terrified Roger. (Who Framed Roger Rabbit 1988)
Judge Doom: A Murderer and a Bully who uses his position to terrorize the denizens of Toon Town. He currently has his sights on Roger Rabbit as his next Victim. How did he get to be judge?! Probably bullied his way into Power, (Who Framed Roger Rabbit 1988)
Theodore(Teddy) Valliant: Mr. Valliant's younger Brother who used to work on cases in Toon Town with him. They were trying to find a Bank Robber when he was murdered by a Toon who dropped a Piano on the two from fifteen stories…How awful! (Who Framed Roger Rabbit 1988)
Delores: Mr. Valliant's Girl Friend. Who used to work as a Bar Tender but I guess not now thanks to us…I should apologize later too. She was helping them to escape town when Eddie found out the connection between Maroon and Clover Leaf. (Who Framed Roger Rabbit 1988)
?:The Toon who robbed Toon Town first National Bank and Murdered Teddy Valliant. He's still out there somewhere. But I wonder if what's going on now and him, are connected in anyway? (Who Framed Roger Rabbit 1988)
Maroon won't get a Profile until the next Chapter when Kiro asked about them as despite appearing in this chapter they didn't interact.
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