CHAPTER 5 - THE KEYHOLE

Leaning over the edge of the railing, holding his red cap, Wakko looked over the Warner Bros studio. The place he called home. They place he felt like he belonged. The place where he knew everyone and everyone knew him.

The place where he was taken to, unwillingly, by his so called brother. He may have had his reasons but the mere fact that he had lied made Wakko uninterested. Though he heart hungered for more answers.

How did they arrive so far away from home?
What initiated the sudden family disbanding?
Why was it only Wakko and his two siblings who left?
Was everything from Wakko's Wish accurate to his past? Were they perhaps orphaned and alone until someone came and brought them to the studio? Dr Scratchy, maybe? That would explain why he's so close.

...what were they like? Mother and father. Were they generous? Kind?
What did they do for a living?
What was home life like?
Did they tuck him in at night and read him bedtime stories?
Did they kiss his forehead and call him sweetheart?

Did they love him?

Clenching his hat tightly, Wakko was adamant that he wouldn't cry. He wasn't going to let this break him. At this moment, he just wanted to be alone with his thoughts. He was, perhaps, a 'bit' unreasonable. A 'bit'!

'I mean, I don't know the circumstances I guess...' He pondered. 'And, for as long as I can remember, Yakko has always been there for me. And Dot, of course. He's always done everything to make sure we were happy.' His heart aches. All he could see was Yakko's face when he snapped. It was as if Wakko could physically see his brother's heart snap in two. Two, hopefully, fixable pieces.

'He must have felt bad.' Wakko said to himself quietly. 'Keeping it from the two people he cherished more than anything.'

Wakko's anger had been replaced by guilt.
'Don't ever speak to me again!'
'Why did I say that..? I didn't mean it, it just came out with the rage.' He tried to convince himself that it was simply the anger talking through. Nothing more.

Wakko looked down at his hat free hand. He didn't even notice he was still holding the broach. The small, metallic object glistened in the mid-morning sun, emphasising the areas of wear and tear as these areas were dull. Fondling the so called 'family heirloom', Wakko looked once again at the four quadrants. A large W. A crown. A cross, of some kind. And a bizarre, unrecognisable flower. None of them really fitted together. Nor did they answer any of Wakko's questions. They were all so random. But Wakko was sure they all had a meaning.

Suddenly, it clicked. Perhaps there was a place that Wakko could find answers. And it was so closeby.

The Wakko's Wish set.

After the movie, the throne room set was left untouched for a potential sequel that never saw the light of day. Regardless the real portrait was still on the wall. Maybe there was more there that he didn't notice before.

There was only one way to find out. After hurrying into the water tower and finding a flashlight, Wakko bounded down the ladder, broach and hat still in hand.

*****

'Wakko! WAKKO! Honestly, where did you go!?' Dot was yelling at the top of her lungs as if she expected Wakko to appear willingly. It was apparent from his reaction that he wanted some 'alone' time. Yakko followed slowly behind her, still partially startled. He didn't expect that much anger out of such a little Warner. Wakko was always so loving and understanding. That must have just tipped him over the edge.

'WAKKO!' Dots voice was echoing now. Her volume just kept increasing. Eventually only dogs would hear her. The longer Dot shouted with no reply, the more concerned Yakko grew. His younger brother had been gone for this long before without Yakko knowing exactly where he had gone, why, who with, how long for, when he would be back, what was he going to do and sometimes...if he had to go at all?

'Who knows where he's gone or what trouble he's gotten into. What if somethings happened to him...?' With his heart now racing and his mind spinning, Yakko joined Dot in her cries.

'Maybe he went back to the water tower?' Dot suggested making a B-line towards the ladder. Scurrying up the metal bars, she listened for any sign of someone else being up there. But there was silence. There was no one around the outside. She stood at the large iron doorway and shouted again. Wakko's name bounced off of the inside walls then faded to nothing. She entered and check in the kitchen. Opening all of the cupboards and even the fridge. Then she checked the bedroom. Under the bed, in the cupboard, nothing. Dot was all alone.

'Any luck?' Yakko asked, hopeful, as Dot came slowly down the bars.

'Nope. No sign of him. His mallet and gaggy bag's still up there so he couldn't have gone far.' Dot said with a sigh.

'Well we'll just have to keep looking. Wakko! Wakko!'

'Look, Yakko. Instead of just blindly calling out, why don't we think about where he might have gone.'

'I can't think of anywhere! We're wasting time Dot!'

'Ok calm down.' Dot took her brothers hand again. 'He's on the lot somewhere, we will find him quicker if we keep our heads and think. If I was Wakko, all I would want now more than anything is answers. So where could he possibly get them?'

'Ehm...Dr Scratchinsniff?'

'Well no we just came from there.'

'Mr Plotz?'

'Hmm...I doubt Wakko would go there alone. He hasn't trusted Mr Plotz since the clown incident at his birthday.'

'Are you sure he didn't just run away!? He was really upset! And angry...at me. Plus he said he didn't want to see me ever again.'

'Correction. He said he never wanted to SPEAK to you ever again. But trust me, he would really want answers. His mind was set!'

'...set...' Yakko believed Dot may have hit the nail on the head. 'The set!' He exclaimed.

'Of course! The Wakko's Wish set! He must have went there! Let's go!'

'Dot, run up and grab a torch! I'll go on ahead and meet you there!' Yakko sprinted as fast as he could past so many camera men, boom operators, producers and directors walking and chirping away, script in one hand and what was probably a coffee in the next. Yakko was pretty sure he was going to smash straight into one of them. But he boldly kept going.

*****

Quietly entering the side door, Wakko turned his flashlight on. He wasn't sure if this would be classed as trespassing, he was a cast member and all but he wasn't taking any chances. He wanted to, also, avoid turning the large lights on as this would attract more attention.

Shining the flashlight around the set, the glistening particles of dust floated in the air and landed softly on randomly placed props and abandoned costumes. Mesmerised, Wakko moved forward into the dust cloud and watched as his mere movements set the particles into a frenzy. They danced about the air like little house flies. He looked, first of all at the closest wall to him. There was no sign of any paintings, just a couple of photos taken of the Warner siblings in their costumes. Wakko wore an oversized cloak and a small crown which was balanced on top of his red cap which he refused to remove at the time.

'The hat is a part of me! You can never make me remove it! You either get me and the hat or nothing!'

He could remember comically debating with the director about this when the costumes were introduced to them. Eventually, the director gave in and let Wakko wear his signature cap for the photos. Dot, however, was very pleased with her costume from what Wakko could remember. A lightweight, floor length, flowing, pink, sparkly ball gown with matching tiara. The matching tiara had a flower in its centre to match Dot's signature hair tie. Yakko stood proudly in the middle of his two siblings in this particular photo, sporting the same style of cape as Wakko and a similar crown. In his right hand he held a sceptre up to the sky, said in triumph; a large smile spread across his face.

Seeing the smiling face of his brother made Wakko's guilt grow further. Yakko was still able to smile through all of his torment. How admirable.

Progressing further down the wall, Wakko kept hitting dead ends. He found one of the guard helmets, however, which he humorously placed over his cap.

'You're using your cuteness on me man! Your irresistible cuteness! Stop it! Wrong! Wrong! Cut it out!' He mimicked, with a small chuckle, and placed the helmet back where it was.

Thud! Ouch!

Looking down to what he just smacked into, Wakko shone his torch to reveal a large trunk. It was large, dark wood and 'rock solid' - as demonstrated by his shin. Feeling around, Wakko found the front and knelt down. There was a dusty keyhole cover in the centre of the lid which he wiped with the edge of his sleeve. Quickly he pulled the broach out of his pocket for confirmation. It was, in fact, the exact same emblem.

This could be what he was looking for. All of the answers he seeked could be within.

Lifting the cover, much to Wakko's dismay, a key was obviously required. Despite this, he tried to open it anyway, failing in the process.

'Damn...' He muttered. 'If I were a key...that could reveal the greatest secrets of the Warner family...where would I be...?'

Dusting off his knees as he stood, Wakko stood and thought for a second. The only thing he hadn't found yet was the painting. So that would be the next place he would check.

The painting was located on the opposite side of the set, propped up against the wall. By-passing, and nearly whacking into, many objects dotted across the floor, Wakko looked up and confirmed that this was the painting he was looking for. It was identical to the photograph from the book in Dr Scratchinsniff's office. Laying down his flashlight to the side, he brought the painting to the floor.

'The key must be here somewhere...it has to be...'

Determined, Wakko felt about the fabric of the painting for a key-shaped lump. Nothing. He then shone his flashlight around the edges of the framework. Nothing again. However, Wakko noticed once again, that engraved within the bronze were the same symbols in the emblem. Obviously, Wakko had never noticed them before. Regardless, Wakko was about of luck. There was no sign of the key within the painting. Unless...

Having to double-take, Wakko looked more closely at the younger version of his older brother. In the pocket of the beige overalls he was wearing, a gold ring was protruding. Wakko didn't notice this in the photograph. Then again, he was pretty upset. Touching it lightly with his gloved finger, Wakko pondered whether it could be the key to opening the trunk. But why did Yakko have it in his pocket? All those years ago as well.

'If he had it then, maybe he-'

'Looking for this?'