Chapter 3

Cornered

Dot poked her head into the room, a cup of hot cocoa in her hands. She made a few hesitant steps towards Crystal. "How are you feeling?"

Crystal looked up and smiled a little, feeling a bit uneasy at Dot's nervousness towards her. "Okay, I guess...Dot, are you afraid of me?"

"Whatever gave you that absurd idea?" Dot laughed, then grew serious. "I'm NOT afraid of you, Crystal. It's just that when I first saw you, I thought you were a criminal."

"Oh...I didn't mean to make a set off a bad first impression..."

"Don't worry about it! Besides, if Yakko likes you, then you can't be all that bad."

Crystal smiled at her. "Yakko likes me?"

Dot covered her mouth. "Aheheh...h-he likes you as a friend, that's what I meant..." She quickly set down the cup beside her. "That should keep you warm."

Crystal eyed her as she ran out of the room. She lowered her gaze to the cup beside her If he does like me as more than just a friend, he'd tell me himself...

"You gonna drink that or are you just gonna stare at it?" Yakko's joking voice interrupted her thoughts.

"Oh, Yakko!" Crystal sat up, carefully picking the cup up.

Yakko smiled a little. "How's that ankle?"

"I don't feel the pain anymore...that's a good sign."

"That's great, Crys. Can you stand on it?" He asked, holding out his hand for hers.

Crystal set down the cup again and took Yakko's hand; Yakko helped her stand up. Still feeling no pain, she nodded. "Good. Let's try walking a few steps."

The first couple of steps was a success. As soon as they neared the kitchen-like room, Crystal slipped. Luckily, Yakko caught her in his arms before she fell. "S-sorry, Yakko..." she mumbled.

"There's no need to be sorry. You tried, that's all that matters, Crys."
Crystal shook her head, standing up, leaning against his arm. "No, I have to try harder. Please, let's all just go outside," she begged.

Yakko stared at her. "Crys, don't put so much pressure on yourself."

"I'm not! Just...take me outside, I wanna try again," she pleaded.

Sighing defeatedly, he turned and helped her towards the tower's exit. "Dot, Wakko! Come on, sibs!"

Wakko dashed into the room, laughing delightedly as he beat Dot. "Beat ya!" he stuck his tongue out.

Dot returned the gesture and stuck her own tongue out at him. "Where we going, bro?" Dot asked, sweetly.

"Crys wants to see if she can walk a couple of steps outside the tower, so that's where we're going. If she can, I promised her we'd take her sight-seeing," Yakko explained.

"The ankle's healed already?" Wakko asked, surprised. "That was fast..."

"Not completely healed, but I just want to walk again. I can't stand not being able to walk," Crystal started.

Dr. Scratchensniff shook his head, crossing his arms. "This is ridiculous! With her healing status, it'd take at least a day for the injury to completely heal! I don't have time to wait a full day!" he complained.

"Oh, shut up! When I created her, I made her look like an older Dot, with superior powers. Her healing powers should be kicking in right now!" Dr. Stevens grunted. A smile appeared on his face as he saw the Warners step outside the tower. "Aha! See? What did I tell you?"

"What now?"

"We wait..."

Dr. Scratchensniff groaned. "Again with the waiting?"

Wakko and Dot stood on the ground, waiting for Yakko and Crystal. "Can you make it?" he asked gently.

"Yeah, I think so.." Crystal took his hand and they stepped off the ladder with the others. "Well, let's start walking," she smiled brightly towards her new friends.

As soon as the took the first couple of steps away from the Tower, they were cornered. "Oh, no..." Crystal whispered, standing behind Yakko, peeking over his shoulder.

"What do you want? We haven't done anything!" Yakko spat, motioning for the others to be quiet.

A tall looking male scientist stepped forward. He had shaggy neck-length brown hair and grey eyes. He wore a grey Acme Labs Scientist uniform. "Greetings, my name is Dr. Stevens. I believe you have someone that belongs to me. I suggest you hand her over before someone gets hurt..."

"Some way to greet your guests..." Yakko muttered. "Sorry, Doc, Crys stays with us now. Once a Warner, always a Warner!"

"You tell 'em, bro!" Dot cheered.

"You wanna play it that way...two can play that game..." Dr. Stevens sneered, watching the group walk away with Crystal. "AFTER THEM!"

Crystal and the others looked at each other, looks of alarm showing on their faces. "Come on, let's get out of here!"

Yakko picked Crystal up in his arms and started running after Wakko and Dot.