What stood near the ruins of the fairground was what looked like a normal block of flats, but how did it look normal with a power surge running from a basement window?
Anyhow, that power surge was running all over the lab and in the darkest corner a strange being stood there, shrouded by darkness. He was about to come into the light, with his blue eyes glowing, towards a dog-like creature at the other side of the room, also shrouded in darkness. He got out his hands and caused a tight grip with four fingers and two thumbs shared between them, and was about to grab it... but that was until a door was slammed open. This caused the creature to dash back into the corner.
"Hey Bubble! We've got company!" shouted a voice from above.
"Drat!" the creature cursed with a deep voice and a London accent. "I was so close too!"
He finally emerged from the darkness, showing himself as an anthropomorphic starfish wearing a black hat and same-colored dark clothing, with brown hair hanging down near his pink skin. Looking down at the dog-like creature, he showed regret in his eyes.
"Don't tell him, Goliath. Or I'll be mincemeat again, and so will you next time they leave us."
And with that, Bubble headed up a dusty set of stairs and through a brightly lit hall, where Chad and the others stood near him.
"Oh hey there, Chad!" greeted the starfish. "How's it going?"
"Absolutely brilliant - we have found success!" he responded back.
"As in...?" Bubble questioned.
"We have brought you a gang of four lead by Neo Cortex, AKA the Chosen One."
The starfish then gasped. "HE'S ARRIVED!!!" he smiled, before focusing his attention towards Neo and his accomplices. "Oh... sorry if I didn't get to introduce myself to you four. I'm Bubble Starfish, Chad's apprentice and Misty's best friend."
"Oh, I see – you try to help him achieve his anthro-creation goal!" Neo winked back.
Chad then started to giggle to himself. "Where would I be without him?"
The basement door swung open and out came the dog creature, showing himself... as a blue wolverine! He started barking quickly at the others.
Gadget then gasped. "Have you been tested by Bubble again?"
Bubble then sighed. "I'm sorry. I wanted to help you get an army of anthros..."
"Yes, but not by placing my wolverine on the evolution machine!" he growled at the starfish.
While they quarreled, Brio brought his attention to the wolverine itself – it had blue fur, leather clothing and bushy orange hair with a small moustache under his nose. "Ah, he looks just like Boron, but the fur coat is different. What's he called?"
"He goes by the name of Sir Goliath!" Chad shouted back.
All of a sudden, Boron's eyes lit up. He then screamed, before jumping straight on towards Goliath's back. As they played about, Goliath's pendant dropped off, and Neo picked it up. After looking inside he saw the blue wolverine's family... and a familiar looking cub...
He then gave off a smile. "I think I know why he's so excited."
"What?" Travis asked back with a curious expression.
"It seems like both of them... are father and son!" Neo smiled sweetly.
That gave enough time for everyone to respond back with "awww"s and "aah"s. However, Snappy just remained silent and looked around the apartment room.
"This place seems to get weirder by the minute", he growled. "Oh wait - now can you tell me who was Newton's creation?" he turned his attention to Chad.
Chad couldn't help but chuckle. "YOU were his tested animal in his research for animal evolution. You've been that way since the day you were born!"
The alligator then gasped. "WHOA!"
"And after that", Chad continued, "his old machine was blown up by a power surge, after just a few days of life. He was still happy because he was a pro at this, and so he had to leave for a bigger challenge. Where is he now?"
"He's dead", frowned Brio.
Chad paused for several seconds of silence. "I never knew", he said while looking down. But it wasn't long until he looked back up. "However this mission will be set in memory of him! Soup, you're mine!"
But before he can continue any further, the sound of a TV's news jingle was running in the room next to them.
"We interrupt this programme to give you the following newsflash."
With that, everyone peeked into the room and saw what was going on.
"A few minutes ago a criminal group of six have broken into the Town Hall and are holding the mayor hostage."
Everyone else soon gasped.
"We are unsure about the criminals", the news reporter continued, "but through the security cameras inside the mayor's office we can see them clearly."
The TV showed the situation... and the crooks were instantly recognizable!
Neo then gave off an instant gasp. "TIKO!!!"
"And Sergeant Soup!!!" Gadget exclaimed next to him.
"And all the others that we don't need to go through", Snappy said with sarcasm.
"If you can recognise the criminals, please contact the Police on the following number on the screen", the reporter said while displaying a local telephone number on the bottom of the screen. "They will do the job, so we advise you to stay indoors until it's all over. We will now return to the advertised programme."
Having heard about that, Chad lead the group outside, towards the colder open air. Once there, they all closed the door.
"Did you hear that?" he asked the others. "The next battle has only just begun! If they conquer the Mayor's office, who knows what they'd do next!"
"Ey, you're not gonna take him out, aren't you?" Bubble asked him.
"Chad told us that you guys are stronger than the Police force, so we don't have a choice!" Neo shrugged with a straight expression.
"Awww... do we HAVE to?" Travis responded with wide puppy-like eyes.
Snappy then gave out an angry sigh. "Would you rather have your lives wrecked by this monster or live a happy life?"
"Er…" Travis then sighed. "OK, let's deal with him before anything bad happens."
"That's the spirit, Travis my boy!" Corona smiled with a devious expression. "We can't wreck your life any further than this!"
So they quickly headed out towards the Mayor's office. Who knows what could happen next – it could be really good or really bad for them. But who knows – the fate of the town is in their hands, and in a situation like this, anything can happen!
Inside the office, all hell seemed to have broken lose – the city's Mayor was tied up in the corner, and struggling to break free, but the only areas of security that he can't escape... are the clutches of Tiko's crew.
"Ey, please let me out, you ignorant jerks!!!!" he exclaimed.
Tiko then brought his attention to his partners. "Shall we?"
"No way José!" Lio said while sticking his tongue out.
"His name's not even José, bro", said Hallie, shaking her head.
"We need to do a bit more reasoning with him", blinked Mozzarella.
"Don't let him escape – chances are that he'd send that brotherly Chosen One on us!" Deksta replied with a giggle.
"Well no matter what we've got enough power combined to eliminate this so-called Chosen One", sneered Soup.
"OK", Tiko smiled back.
"No please – you don't understand!" the Mayor exclaimed with panic. "I'll do anything for you guys if you let me go!"
"Anything?" Tiko smiled.
"Anything", the Mayor nodded shamefully.
"Anything?" Tiko and the others asked in unison, in a set of gradual tones.
"Absolutely anything!" the Mayor cried out with fear.
Tiko then gave out a vicious smirk. "I have something in mind. I want you to turn down your position of Mayor of Miami!"
"No... please... anything but that!" the Mayor continued to panic.
"And send it to us!" Tiko finished off his sentence.
"Thar she blows!" Gadget exclaimed, while looking on at the city hall from her view on the sidewalk on the opposite side of the road. "Now before we get inside, do any of you have any questions to ask?"
"I do", said Neo as he raised his hand in the air. "What's so different about being the Chosen One?"
"Hoo boy... you don't wanna know", Misty said, scowling into his face.
"Yeah he does!" Bubble shouted while pulling her back a few paces. "We heard that the Chosen One can do totally different things to what normal people could do."
"Oh, get a grip", growled Snappy. "He can't fly, breathe fire or attract a dragonfly to go with him everywhere."
"Snappy, I know that the Chosen One possesses hidden power", Gadget said with an annoyed tone, "but that doesn't necessarily mean Dragon Power, OK?"
"OK", the alligator shrugged.
"Well I heard that the Chosen One is born with a high health rating", blinked Kiwi, "so this means that he can't get defeated."
It was there that Misty thought back towards her time in the Mystic tent at the fun fair. "But the gypsy told me about-"
"Don't take the mick out of him – I'm thinking that you're jealous", sighed Brio.
"No I'm not!"
"Hey, let's just wrap this up with one simple sentence – the Chosen One is stronger than many normal people", nodded Bubble.
"But I want more of an explanation", frowned Snappy.
"Any more questions, boys and girls?" Gadget asked.
There was silence.
"Good. This is gonna be too easy", she winked.
So they quickly stepped through the doors of the city hall and dashed down the corridors towards the mayor's office...
During the walk, Misty gave off an angry sigh. "YOU'VE GONE THE WRONG WAY AGAIN!!!"
"Misty, you told us to go right", Neo responded back with a confused glance.
"Ignore her", nodded Chad. "For a girl her age she doesn't know her left from her right. Remember – do the opposite direction to what she says. She's always been crabby at Geography, explaining this lack of direction."
Finally they reached the doors and glanced at them. There was silence for a while and then Snappy kicked the door down, without suffering pain. Sooner enough they embraced themselves and stepped inside, with Travis hiding behind Chad's back. Time was slowly slipping away, and bearing that in mind, who knows what could occur inside the most important area of the whole city.
A whole set of feet stepped into the office and after a few steps they came to a halt.
And all that they saw... was just a normal, quiet mayor's desk. There was nothing suspicious anywhere.
"I have a bad feeling that Mozzarella was the TV reporter back there", blinked Neo.
"What are you talking about?" Travis asked him.
"Look, I think we've been fooled."
Misty gave off a vicious sigh. "Oh for God's sake, I still think that them jerks are hanging around in here! Now shut yer pie hole and listen."
There was silence, and the only sound that could be heard was the sound of rustling behind the mayor's desk.
"Heehee!!!" Snappy said while chuckling to himself. "They're doin' it in the back!!!!!"
"Snappy!" Neo exclaimed while slapping him across the face.
"Hoo boy... where did you get him?" Bubble asked.
Gadget shrugged. "Don't explain now – I think I've found an important piece of the puzzle."
She climbed onto the desk and peeked around the back, trying her best to avoid her long tree brown hair getting down there. She finally smiled.
"And an important piece it was too – I've found the Mayor!"
Chad then gasped. "You have?!?!?"
"Lemme take a look!" shouted Kiwi as she flew over to the desk.
Then, Corona came round the other side of the desk and grabbed Kiwi's beak tightly.
"OW!" the bird screamed.
"Sorry, but you're essential for help here", said the bear. "Now open wide and say 'ah'."
The parrot opened her beak as wide as she could go. "Aaaaaaah..."
Quickly she placed one of the ropes tied around the Mayor in between her upper beak and lower beak, and when they closed sooner enough it snapped the string! Within no time at all, the mayor was able to wiggle free within a few seconds.
"Oh, thanks for rescuing me!" the Mayor said in a more feminine voice, keeping his back onto the group. "Hmmm... how can I be able to thank you guys? Maybe by making all your dreams come true?"
"My dream is to drive around the world in a Ferrari and wear only Calvin Klein underpants!" Snappy exclaimed, with everyone else rolling eyes near him.
"Maybe I should try and give you something that you want for a long time", the Mayor said in a deeper tone.
"YEAH! YEAH!" Boron yapped from his position.
The Mayor then snickered viciously. "How about a NASTY AND DIRTY FIGHT!!!"
The Mayor removed his wig and tall hat, and showed himself – herself rather – as Hallie!
"SUCKER!" she sneered.
"OH NO!" the others looked on with widened eyes.
Bubble then sneered at her angrily, bringing her close towards one of the walls. "Tell us where the real Mayor is, or else!"
"Bad guys never reveal their plots to the good guys, so why bother?" Hallie sighed.
Bubble resorted to ramming his knee into her stomach. "Show – us – the – mayor!!!"
Hallie's eyes soon started to glow as bright as burning bluebells and with that she drew out her whip and leapt into the air, and caused a slash across the whole room, regardless of who she hits. When her attacks finished she looked around the room... and saw that Brio and Corona are the only ones standing!
"I was afraid that something bad like this could happen", frowned Corona.
"Well well well, if it isn't the bear and the white boy", sneered Hallie.
"Who are you calling white boy?" growled Brio.
"That's all I CAN call you, ever since I never saw you travel with Neo before", she said with a straight face.
Corona resorted with a growl. "Stay away from us – we're tougher than you think!"
Hallie started to giggle in her direction. "Show me what you've got!"
Unexpectedly, from right behind Corona, Brio's eyes started glowing a bright red, and the skin colour gradually changed. There was no notice of this, as the girls made their way into the middle of the office for a catfight, although they're not cats. Brio tried to drag everyone else out of the room while suffering the effects of changing shape, skin colour and eye colour, not to mention species. He then gave out a light squeal that was a crossover of his own and a wolf's.
"Look – I may be a girl, but bears are more ferocious than you think, no matter what sex they are", smiled Corona.
"Who cares about that?" Hallie screamed back. "All that you've got on you is just a puny little guitar, and what can you do with that? Absolutely nothing!"
Corona then brought out a twelve-string guitar strapped behind her back. "We'll see about that!"
"Prove it!"
With Hallie's evil smirk spread across her face, Corona opened up her musical instrument and... pulled out a flamethrower! She took aim, and instantly fired it onto her opponent! She tried to block it... but...
Hallie started to scream and run as her clothes caught fire. "FIRE! FIRE! FIIIIIIIIIRE!!!"
But she stopped running around for a while and then a thought came into her head – a random fireman speaking in front of her.
"Stop, drop and roll."
The thoughts soon faded back into reality. So quickly she dived down and started rolling on her back across the room, and a few seconds later... the fire was out. She looked fried and burnt to a crisp. Finally, Corona stepped slowly towards her, with her flamethrower pointed at her.
"Any last words?"
"My tea's gone cold, I wondered why…" Hallie randomly sang.
Corona then rolled her eyes. "That sadistic trick is not gonna work."
With that she pulled the trigger of her flamethrower... and nothing came out!
"WANKER!!" Hallie exclaimed with a cheeky expression.
Despite looking sizzled round the edges, Hallie made a jump back up onto her feet and landed perfectly. She got out her whip, and then started slashing it towards Corona, who was now on the run so badly. The chase occurred for a while, yet there seemed like there was no chance of escaping. Finally she was cornered in the far back of the room, which was far away from the door and the window, and it seemed like she was done for. A final whip slash was about to come down when... she heard a snap.
"Grrr... MISSED!!" she screamed.
As she reclaimed her, she saw… that she didn't miss her shot – instead, the end of her whip had been chopped off!
"Hoo boy", she exclaimed with fear.
A black shadow lurked right behind her as her eyes were focused on the broken whip. It came closer and closer... and closer! It showed claws like a werewolf, and a face that could strike fear into the hearts of all men… and women. The appearance caused Corona to scream.
This caused Hallie to turn around, and then scream right in front of him, and was chased across the area. Gradually she became much slower as her strength gradually slipped away as she ran, giving time for Corona to check everyone else signs for life. Meanwhile, the chase continued near the window, and there was no way of escaping. Back with Corona, most of her companions were beginning to regain consciousness already! Whilst she ran over to Kiwi to check on her... she came to a stop due to a shout.
"HEEEEEEEEELLLLLLLLLLP!!" exclaimed Hallie's voice.
Corona turned towards a window, where she saw a hole broken through from it. "What the...!"
She quickly dashed across to the now broken window and looked down at the two. In fact, it was just a 1-storey drop! Both of them had cuts of glass in their bodies, with the beast being the most effected. Gradually, Hallie regained consciousness.
"Ow..." Hallie moaned with pain.
"Now before you DARE do that again, don't bother", the bear growled before jumping down to her level.
"No, please... you don't understand!" Hallie screamed back.
But before she could do anything else, Corona quickly gave her a strong kick so strong it booted her out of the city, screaming her head off.
"Guess we won't be seeing her for a long time", the bear shrugged.
Behind her a yellow glow occurred. This finally caught her eye and she turned around, looking at the beast changing shape. Within a few seconds she saw... that it was Brio who was the beast!
"I don't believe it..." Corona whispered.
"You should do", said Neo's voice from nearby. "He told us he's been like that all his life."
The sound of his voice caused Corona to turn towards the window, to see everyone else fully revived.
"Where did Hallie go?" Snappy asked.
"Oh, I just... kicked her out of town... er..." Corona paused. "Am I in trouble?"
"I don't think so", nodded Neo. "Although she didn't end up behind bars-"
"And we don't mean serving cocktails!" Snappy interrupted with a laugh.
"I think you showed a pretty good fight with her", Neo finished off his sentence.
"Thanks!" smiled the bear. "But... wait a minute – weren't you knocked out?"
"Close, but not close enough", Neo replied back.
Corona's eyes then lit up. "Ah, I see where you're coming from!" She winked before picking up Brio from off the tarmac. "Come on - we have to progress back quickly. Who knows what could happen to him."
"Good idea", frowned Gadget. "We don't want to lose someone at this stage, don't we?"
And with that they quickly dashed back down the streets towards the parking lot, with the real mayor starring at the window with a proud smile on his face. But as that happened... a snowflake touched the ground unexpectedly. For the alliance of Neo and Gadget, it's going to be a cold summer with what they're doing. Fortunately it's six-become-five and they're now one step closer to weakening the forces of their archenemies.
-end of part 2-