Dripping Yellow Madness
By TossingTheScissors
Chapter 1: Old Friends
Stan and Coach Z arrived at Bubs' Concession Stand in an oddly solemn mood. Stan's comment to Coach Z about his "news" had troubled the Coach deeply – just what kind of business had Stan been up to since he left Free Country, all those many years ago?
Stan stepped up to the door of the concession stand, and pulled out an old, rusty key that looked like it hadn't been used in years. Unsurprisingly, the door opened. Stan made his way to the right wall and knocked three times. A slide in the door swished open to reveal a staircase. Stan walked down, and Coach Z followed, bewildered. Coach Z had never been in Bubs' apartment before – in fact, he was only vaguely aware of its existence and never bothered to question where it could be hidden.
The staircase did not go down for long until they reached a tiny room with a bed on one side and a small bookshelf on the other. Lying on the bed was Bubs, who apparently had not even taken the trouble to get under the covers before crashing in his room. Coach Z snickered, snuck up to Bubs' bed silently, and began to tickle him.
A loud, hooting laugh erupted through the tiny room as Bubs jerked up, looking around the room. Bubs was about ready to direct his anger and confusion towards the Coach when he spotted Stan. Bubs' eyes opened wide as he goggled at the man standing at the foot of his bed.
"Dripping Yellow…" Bubs began, in a tone that reflected pure shock.
"Please!" Stan said, raising his voice. "It's not Dripping Yellow Madness and it's not Coach X! Lord knows how I survived with so many nicknames when I lived here. My name is STAN!"
This comment only added to Bubs' shock. At this point, Coach Z decided to add more to the discussion than a mere tickling fest.
"But you always loved your nicknames, X!" Coach Z interjected,
"STAN." Stan corrected firmly. "Times change, Zedbert. I can tell most of you are oblivious out here in the country, but bad things have been happening all around the world while I was gone. I helped but an end to them and thought I'd settle down, but there are rumors that they are… returning again." Stan gave both Bubs and Coach Z a pointed look… a meaningful look.
"Is that what brought you back?" Bubs asked, finally speaking.
"Yes." Stan said, pacing and taking on an explanatory tone. "It is time for both of you to fulfill your assigned missions, as I did when I left."
"I thought you said everything was over a long time ago. You said it was over before you left!" Coach Z said, pointing at Stan accusingly. "Did you lie to us?"
"To protect you both, yes." Stan said casually. "You both grew up here. I didn't. I didn't feel it was right to rip you two from your homes and place you in the alien world of Big City, USA. But I grew up there – I knew I could handle it. So, partly as an act of mercy, I fed you lies about returning home for sentimental reasons and let our plans fall to the wayside. I went to fight alone."
"But we were ready!" Bubs interjected. "We wouldn't let you go if we knew you were out having all the fun without us!"
"Precisely why I lied!" Stan said matter-of-factly. "Besides, I wouldn't describe fighting the most powerful and most evil force to ever threaten man 'fun!'"
"Well, I would!" Coach Z said smartly.
"That's nice…" Stan said, narrowing his eyes. "Because the reason I came back here is to say this: All deals are back on. I thought I had defeated him a few years ago, but the fact is I just managed to keep him at bay. And now he's more powerful than ever. You're coming with me to Big City to help me fight!" Stan let his words sink in. The looks of jealousy and betrayal in Bubs and Coach Z's eyes now turned to looks of fear.
"You mean… ACTUALLY go with you? LEAVE… Free Country?" Coach Z stammered.
"No way!" Bubs insisted. "Maybe when you first left, I would have come with you. Like I was supposed to! But not this time. I'm older, wiser, and there's money to be made!" Bubs glared at Stan, as if daring him to continue his proposal.
"I understand this is a rather late follow-up…" Stan said, half pleadingly and half smugly, as if hoping to win Bubs' approval but knowing he would win out in the end. "But you have to understand, if this evil is not defeated it may once again purge the boundaries of every town in the country. Even as far out as Free Country. You KNOW what happened last time." Stan stared pointedly at both of them.
"Yes…" Coach Z said, hanging his head. "A spy among us. Someone we wouldn't suspect…"
"Someone YOU let go right under your nose, Zedbert…" Stan said, smirking. "Don't you want a chance to redeem yourself from that horrible mistake you made?"
"Of course!" Coach Z said, jerking his head up with an almost unnatural newfound drive. "I'm in!" Coach Z turned his head to the man sitting on the bed. "And you, Bubsy?"
"No way!" Bubs said, and with that he curled up under the covers and shut his eyes tight, as if to say that he was done talking and going to sleep right then.
"Very well, then, if that's how you feel…" Stan said, sighing. "But, if you please, before you fall asleep… Could you take me to meet my child?"
