Billy chuckled to himself as he walked down Main Street. There was still something hilarious about seeing a bear's foot caught inside of a toilet. It just led to so many questions that he didn't want answers to. Billy liked to take the long way whenever he went home. There was something about strolling down the serene street with the small town atmosphere that tickled his insides. The last of the shops had been recovered from the Glad Hander invasion and all the attacked had fully recovered. The sheriff was still unsure why the cogs had chosen to attack when they did, and why they attacked Toonstone of all places. After all, it didn't really have much to offer. Whistling a hearty tune, he stopped near his favorite saloon. Billy's best friend Rook was the owner and always had a drink and a story when the monkey was feeling down, or particularly stressed. "I think I have some time. Muffin won't be expecting me home for a few hours." He thought to himself as he tried to convince himself to take a break. "I mean, I'm always working. I deserve a break. Just one root beer though." Pushing through the saloon doors he stepped inside.

"Ah, Billy. Its about time you show up. How long were you supposed to keep a friend waiting?" A white horse leaned on the counter and flashed a toothy grin. "Come on, take a seat. I'll grab you a root beer."

"Nothing sounds better right now, bud." The orange monkey walked over and took a seat on his favorite stool. It had an indent from how frequently he had sat there. It was known to the rest of the town that this was Billy's seat, and nobody else dared to sit in it. Letting on an exhausted sigh, he stretched out his arms as his friend pulled out a pint glass and filled it to the brim with the frosty drink. "Been a hell of a week. You get elected sheriff and Toons expect you to work. If I knew that would happen I would have just become a bartender instead."

Rook winked and slid the glass across the bar, causing the liquid inside to splash around wildly but miraculously never spilling out of its container. "Never too late. I could always use a second pair of hands. Although I don't think I could stop you from drinking the entire supply." The pair chuckled and allowed a few moments of silence to pass. "So any news from Toontown about the invasion? Man, I sure showed those cogs a thing or two about messing with my bar."

"No kidding. I don't think I've ever seen a cog actually run away from a battle before. I guess that's what happens when you try and mess with Eagle-Eyed Rhubarb, the sharpest shooter in the west side of Toontown." Billy closed his left eye, stuck out his tongue. and pretended to shoot around the bar, wiping out endless cogs. "Anyways, no news. Flippy told me they'd be sending out of of their best Deputies to come and investigate, but I told them not to bother. I think it'll be best if we all just try and move on."

"Yeah, you just can't account for how foul those beasts are. Not content just minding their own business, coming here and harassing the poor folk. They're just pure evil through and through. Whoever invented them should have to deal with serious consequences." Rook looked down sadly, pulling out a rag and rubbing down the polished wood. "Never thought I'd see the day they'd come here though. Heard they greened poor Miss Guacamole. She just widowed too. Just pure evil, I tell ya."

The orange monkey took another sip from his glass and placed his elbow on the counter, resting his head on his free hand. "Hey, Rook. Have you ever wondered if there are cogs that aren't bad? Like maybe not all of them want to be the way they are? I mean, there are Toons who work with the cogs. Maybe there are cogs who aren't all bad, maybe."

Rook rolled up the dirty rag and tossed it into a sink behind him. "Man, I hope you aren't getting soft on me. You were in town when everything happened. You saw what these savages are capable of. If there's a good cog, I'd love to meet him. I personally think they're all just as evil and blood-thirsty as the next of their line." Grabbing a second glass, Rook poured himself a drink and walked around the bar, joining his friend on a nearby seat. "I think Muffin might be getting to your head. You know how these young Toons are now-a-days. They're getting soft. They're all about peace and love. It's ridiculous."

"Maybe you're right. Although Muffin is certainly no slouch. I think she just takes after her mom. Fluffy was always very sweet and caring." Pausing, Billy didn't speak for a moment, grabbing his glass and polishing off the rest of his drink. "Hey, actually do you think I could get a second round? I still have a few hours."

"Sure, bud." Standing up, Rook walked over and took his original position behind the bar and grabbed the glass and began to fill it up. "Hey, if you're ever feeling down, just remember; I'm the only horse in Toonstone. Just imagine how that feels. Gets pretty lonely if I'm being honest with you." Winking, the white horse chuckled and slid the drink back to his friend. "But I got great friends like you to keep me going. Just remember that. Those cogs won't break our spirit." Holding up his drink he called for a cheers. Clanging the drinks together, the two chugged their root beers and laughed, telling stories and enjoying their simple existence.


Muffin finally landed in Goofy's Speedway after a tenuous journey had caused her to tumble back and forth between playgrounds looking for somewhere that sold oil. She wasn't sure why she hadn't thought of this first, but somebody had pointed her towards a small shop called Chip's Oil. It certainly couldn't be any worse than anywhere else she tried. As she walked around the small playground, she eventually caught eye of a small brick building adorned with a silly sign of a brown monkey winking and giving a thumbs up. "Well, this looks like the place." She muttered to herself as she pulled open the door. Almost immediately once inside she was overwhelmed by various scents; pine, lemon, coconut, and other smells that she couldn't pinpoint. It wasn't bad, but she was a bit confused about what it had to do with oil. Stepping up to the empty counter, she noticed a small bell which she rang a few times. Getting into a rhythm, she bounced her hand off the small contraption not noticing a tall brown monkey was now standing in front of her with his arms crossed.

"Good afternoon, ma'am. Didn't mean to keep you waiting. You sound like you are in a dire need of oil! Are you here for Cupcake?" The chimp pulled out a clipboard with a piece of paper attached, sliding it over to Muffin.

"Um, Cupcake? I'm not sure who that is. I'm sorry. My name is Muffin. I was just here to buy some oil?" The blue cat scratched her head in confusion. Looking down at the paper, she noticed it was an order sheet for a large quantity of oil.

Grabbing his clipboard back, Chip chuckled. "Oh, I'm sorry about that. Cupcake is one of my best customers. She often sends somebody here to pickup orders for her though. Kind of surprised you don't know her. Cupcake Doggenbottom? Daughter of Flippy?" Muffin's eyes widened, shaking her head. She knew who Flippy was but she had never heard of Cupcake. "She's the one that's dating a cog? Real crazy situation, I'll tell you. I've never actually met him before but I heard he's an alright guy. Anyways, she loads up on this stuff about once a month and I haven't seen her yet. She was supposed to come pick it up today." Slapping his forehead, Chip bowed his head. "I'm sorry, I don't mean to ramble. You said you needed some oil, not a story. What kind were you looking for?"

"I'm not really sure, I'm sorry!" Muffin frowned at her lack of preparation. How could she show up without knowing the most basic of information. "I can run home and ask really quick!" As she turned around, she pondered and it hit her. Turning back around, she placed her hands on the counter. "What kind of oil does that cog you mentioned take? That must be pretty good quality, right?"

"Oh, it is the best. It is actually a special blend that I created myself. Real high quality. It can even be recycled and re-used if you add water and pixie-dust. Anyways, this is top of the line. It will work on anything you need, cars, planes, cogs...?" He narrowed his eyes. "Hey, I can keep a secret. Are you maybe helping a cog out?" The atmosphere became tense for a moment as Muffin gulped and tried to come up with a quick lie. Standing up, Chip stuck his elbow out and laughed. "Just kidding. Anyways, one barrel costs sixty jellybeans, is that going to be alright?"

Reaching into the pocket of her dress, Muffin pulled out the remainder of the jellybeans Billy had given her a few days prior. Placing them on the counter she counted them out. "Forty-nine... Fifty. Dang it, I'm ten short. Um, do you think you might have something a little cheaper?" The blue cat frowned, once again disappointed in her failure to prepare.

Chip smiled and walked into a small room that was behind him, disappearing out of sight momentarily. Muffin began to scoop her jellybeans back into her pocket when the monkey came back out, lugging a large silver barrel labeled "Chip Blend." Slowly lifting the heavy barrel up onto the counter he gasped for air. "Gosh, not as in shape as I was ten years ago." Winking at the cat, he grinned. "Don't worry about the other ten jellybeans. I'm not too worried about that. Now, will you need help bringing this out to your car, or do you need delivery? It is free delivery anywhere in Toontown!"

"Oh, I actually live out in Toonstone... Plus I teleported here. But I should be able to carry that back!" Muffin pumped her fist in excitement, quickly emptying her pocket of the rest of her money and handing it over to the shopkeeper.

"Toonstone, eh? Don't think I've ever been there. Kind of reminds me of Funny Farms... Never going back there again. Er, sorry. There I go again with my rambling. Um, anyways. If you think you can carry that out, just be careful! It doesn't look too heavy but you drop that on your foot and you're going to know it, alright? Now, is there anything else I can do for you? Do you need an air freshener?"

Sniffing the air, Muffin rubbed her stomach. "Ah, so that's what that is. Um, I'll be okay! I actually don't drive. This is for a friend! Thank you so much Mr..."

"Chocolate. Chip Chocolate. Absolutely. Anyways, if you happen to run into Cupcake, tall pink cat, tell her that her order is ready. I can't drag this whole order to her house, so she's going to have to come get it." Waving to his new customer he dropped his jellybeans into a small bank as the blue cat left the shop, struggling to carry the gargantuan tub.

Slowly lowering the barrel to the ground, Muffin wiped the drenching sweat from her forehead and wiped her hands on her dress. Face red, and exhausted after only a few feet she would have to reconsider how to do this. "Hmm." Tilting the barrel over on its side, she shimmied with glee. "Yeah dad, I have a real big brain. Took me that long to figure it out." Throwing down a teleportation hole, she held onto the top of the barrel and rolled in, back home to feed the hungry Glad Hander.


"Eight-Hundred-and-Seventy Glad Handers destroyed." The VP sat at his desk and stuffed a lit cigar into the ashtray in frustration. "Do you know how long it is going to take to replenish those numbers?"

Gary sat with his arms linked behind his back, eyes gazing down at the ground. There was nothing more demoralizing than getting dressed down by a superior, and in this case it was even worse because there was a good chance that he would be demoted. "I understand sir. However, it was not for all naught. We did green at least forty-eight Toons, and took over fourteen buildings."

"Well, what good is that when eighty percent of your battalion was destroyed? Frankly, I was considering demoting you and finding somebody else who could lead an actual strategy. However, due to the circumstances of everybody being a level four, and the fact that I'm in a good mood, I'll let it slide this time. Another slip-up like that though? Well I believe that the factories are in need of some new foreman..." Gary gulped when he heard the thinly veiled threat.

"I understand sir. I will make sure that this failure is rectified. That town is going to know that their actions will not be tolerated." Pausing, Gary took a deep breath. "Sir, do I have permission to utilize the Anti-Toons?"

The VP turned to face his subordinate and looked up. "Ah, now you're using that brain that got you where you are, Gary. You have my permission to utilize any resources needed to ensure a quick defeat for the Toons. Go ahead and reach out to... What's his name. Beppo? He's head of the Anti-Toons over in Bossbot HQ. Most of our Anti-Toons here are currently working to make enhancements to the Sellbot Lobby to try and better detect Toons who have been sneaking in with those disguises and to wipe out incoming fakes.

"Very good, thank you sir." Gary bowed his head and left his superior's office with a slightly better outlook than he had just a few minutes prior. As soon as he was outside in Sellbot HQ, the high-ranking Glad Hander propelled off, scurrying over to his least favorite of the headquarters. Bossbots were known for being quite a bossy bunch, and dealing with them was always like pulling teeth. However he needed Anti-Toons in order to complete his mission. After a short flight, he touched down in the back courses of Bossbot HQ. While he hadn't been here often, he was very aware of where he needed to go and that would be anywhere that didn't have the CEO.

"Hey, you! Glad Hander!" From across the way, a level six Downsizer stormed over angrily, clenching his fists and squinting his eyes. "What is a Sellbot doing here? I think you might have taken a wrong turn. I'd recommend getting out of here before a superior sees you and chews you out!" the uptight cog was immediately shut up when Gary flashed his badge indicating that he was a high-ranking cog. "Oh, er. Excuse me sir. I didn't realize your rank. Please forgive my rash judgement." The android clenched his hands together and closed his eyes, dropping to a knee. Speaking ill towards a superior ranking cog could lead to immediate demotion. However Gary was too focused on his mission to get into bureaucracy, much to his disappointment.

Waving off the fearful cog, Gary continued through until he reached a small office building. Anti-Toons were not often allotted very many resources to operate with, and Bossbot HQ was no exception. While it wasn't the worn down, decrepit base that Sellbot HQ had, it paled in comparison to the outstanding monuments that housed the cog leaders. Stepping inside the clacking of footsteps on the polished marble floors echoed through the nearly silent hallways. It was still early in the morning, so it was possible that most of the Anti-Toons had not shown up yet, as they tended to start later to avoid any detection from normal Toons. "Beppo. Beppo." he whispered to himself. He had worked with the green cat once, and didn't care much for him. After all, he was a Toon. Finally reaching a small office with a faded nameplate, he knocked and entered. Sure enough, the cat was inside, furiously working away at some paperwork, unnoticing the guest in his presence.

Clearing his throat, Gary waited for Beppo to finally take notice. "Oh, um, sorry about that. Good morning... Can I help you?" The green cat was surprised to see a Glad Hander of all cogs in his office.

"Let's skip the chit-chat. I am Gary, head of the Glad Hander Invasion Faction in Sellbot HQ. The VP sent me here because I need an Anti-Toon for a special task. We don't have anybody that can handle it so I am here now to request somebody who can handle it." Standing firm with his arms at his side, his eyes glued on the cat, and gears churning, he waited for the cat's response. While he technically had superiority over any Anti-Toon, he didn't want to cause any ripples after everything that had happened earlier in the week.

"Oh, um alright. Well I have a couple of Toons available. Could you tell me a bit more about the task? I want to make sure I'm giving you the best Anti-Toon for the job." Beppo pulled out a list of names, grabbing a pencil and readying himself.

Gary walked over and grabbed a chair, sitting down he crossed his hands and rested them on his lap. "Very well. Due to unforeseen circumstances, our invasion into Toonstone didn't go as well as we hoped. Our intel had led us to believe that there were not many Toons who had fighting experience and gags were limited but that appeared to not be true. I want to know what happened. I want better intel on Toonstone so we can have a follow-up invasion. I want to destroy town. They need to be complete demoralized. This cannot be a black stain on my record. Do you have somebody that may be able to do this without giving away our operations?"

Tapping the eraser on his pencil on his tongue, the bright green cat shivered as he thought about his answer. "Well... There is someone."

"Well, spit it out. I don't have time for shenanigans, Toon." Gary spoke angrily, slapping his hand on the table.

"Listen. There's this monkey. His name is Ninja, or at least that's what he goes by. He comes and goes whenever he pleases. Even a lot of the higher-ups are a bit wary of him. He will work for anyone, but if you pay him enough he would probably do it. He's sneaky. Most of the time you don't realize he's even in the room unless he tells you. I wouldn't want to be on his bad side. I have his whisper number, but be sure that you are very respectful when dealing with him. One of our supervisors got on his bad side. Next day, his apartment was torched and he was found in pieces."

Chucking at the ridiculousness of the situation, Gary reached out and grabbed a card from Beppo. "Very well. A Toon is a Toon though. You're all the same. Willing to sell out your own kind. You'd never see a cog turn on another cog, let alone working with Toons. Just ridiculous." Shaking the cat's hand he stepped outside and cackled. He was one step closer to enacting his plan. Maybe if things went well he could still salvage a promotion.