Mark plopped down on the hotel bed next to Cupcake. After the events of the previous day, they had chosen to cancel the rest of their trip to Silly World and traveled to the Brrrgh. Outside was a typical Brrrgh night. Flutters of snow blew wildly in a heavy breeze, Toons in heavy winter clothing made Snowtoons and had snowball fights. Usually Cupcake would be outside, frolicking in the winter wonderland, but today she just didn't have it in her to be silly. The heavy stress of the situation was wearing her thin, and she knew it was only going to get worse before it got better. Laying down, she mindlessly watched whatever was on the TV from when the previous guest was here. Mark handed her a small pink mug, still steaming from the hot liquid inside, and filled to the brim with whipped cream and sprinkles. "Here you go, honey. I hope this is chocolatey enough for you. They only had 3 packets of hot chocolate left down in the lobby. I was able to find some whipped cream and sprinkles leftover from our trip to Animationville." laying down next to Cupcake he started running his fingers through her fun, eliciting a soft purr.
"Thank you Marky. You know just how to cheer a girl up." sipping the hot chocolate, Mark laughed as she gained a new white mustache. "What's so funny?" Cupcake teased him, acting oblivious.
"Oh sorry. You just remind me of when your dad dressed up as Santa Claws, and he forgot that Santa has a beard and not a mustache.." Mark's words tailed off as he realized he was talking about Flippy again. Neither one said anything. Cupcake shifted around uncomfortable, placing her drink down on the bedside table. Mark lifted his hand and placed it on Cupcake's thigh. "Cupcake, I think we need to talk about things."
Cupcake quickly grabbed the remote and started flipping through channels. "Sorry, what was that hon? I couldn't hear you. The TV is super loud." pressing down the volume button until the TV drowned out the pair. Mark sighed and walked over to where the TV was plugged in, slowly releasing the plug from the wall, shutting off the TV. Cupcake stood up and squeaked out "Hey, I was watching that."
"Cupcake, we can't just ignore what happened today." walking back to the bed he sat down on the edge, patting the blanket next to him, motioning for Cupcake to sit with him. "Babe, you were attacked earlier. You could have.." Mark could not finish what he wanted to say, unable to fathom the thought. "Something bad could have happened to you. I'm just worried about you. Maybe we can handle everything from Toontown Central, don't you think the Officers and Rangers can handle this? I mean that is their job."
Still standing, Cupcake looked down with a look of frustration on her face. "Mark, I know you're worried about me, but I am the Mayor. How would it look if I ran and hid when Toontown was in danger? Dad never ran away from a challenge. He was always there and I need to be too." watching Mark's pained face, she sat down and pulled him on the bed, so they were lying down. Rubbing his chest, she calmed her voice. "Babe, I need you to be there for me. I'm scared. I know you're scared too, but I need you to be strong for me. Because honestly right now, I don't think I can do it myself. I'll be more careful. I promise" kissing his cheek, she watched his face warm up and he smiled at her.
"I know you will. Because you are the strongest Toon I know." he waited for a few seconds to continue. "I know you will."
Mark walked briskly through the Toontown Central Hospital. The soft padding of his shoes was the only thing keeping his mind off the beeping of medical equipment, and the hectic chaos of the normal hospital atmosphere. The plain white walls, polished floors, and burning fluorescent lighting reminded him of his office at Sellbot HQ. Breathing heavily, catching his breath after a long sprint from the office one he had gotten the call. "202. 202. 202." Mark whispered to himself, repeating the room number that he was told. Eyeing the numbers on the door, he slammed the brakes as he finally arrived at room 202. There was nothing different about this room than any of the others. It had the same brown door with a small window above the handle. Yet Mark was surprised. he was expecting something different, considering who was in here. Slowly reached out he grabbed the door handled. Twisting it slowly, he released it before it was made it's full rotation. His gears were running a million miles per hour. Taking deep breath, he closed his eyes and burst through the door. Inside was a typical hospital room A small television hunt in the front of the room. Dimmed fluorescent lighting similar to the one outside. Natural light flooded in from an open window across the way, giving him a simple view of the bed.
Walking over, he kneeled down by the bed and gazed upon the light blue dog laying in front of him, he tried to speak but found no words were coming out. The dog scooched over to Mark's side of the bed and weakly lifted his arm from beneath a thin blue blanket. "Hey Mark, how's it going" he muttered slowly.
"Flippy. What happened? I just received a call that you were here but the nurse would not give me any other details. I didn't even have a chance to call Cupcake." stopping he slapped his face. "Oh I need to call Cupcake!" he yelled out hoarsely.
Flippy placed his hand on Mark's arm, shaking his head. "There's no need for that Mark. I will be out of here in a few hours, it isn't a big deal, I will be fine." coughing a few times, Flippy leaned over the bed and dry heaved, helped by Mark to return to his sitting position. "Anyways. I don't want Cupcake to see me like this."
"But, Cupcake.." Mark started. He stopped when he saw Flippy from, something that the Mayor never did. "But what about you, sir? What's going on?" Mark grabbed a chair from a table in the corner and sat, keeping eye level with his ill father in law.
"I guess it has been wrong of me to keep this a secret for so long. But I know you guys would just worry about me if I told you sooner. I have a very rare, genetic disease that affects my silly levels."
Mark stood up in terror. "Genetic?!"
"It's okay. It's not something Cupcake will have to worry about, as she is adopted. It's called Copyright Syndrome. Usually it doesn't start affecting a Toon until they are in their late 60's, however apparently sometimes it can onset sooner, usually due to high levels of stress. Anyways, I have tried to keep this information from you both as I thought I had more time. I didn't want Cupcake to live her life knowing that this could happen and waiting for this inevitability. I apologize for this terrible burden I have placed on both of you."
"But, sir. She's going to find out eventually. Don't you feel it's better she knows?" Mark sat back down, unable to fully process everything he had just learned. He knew Flippy was doing his best to keep it together, so he had to as well.
Flippy grinned weakly. "Mark. We have known each other for over twenty years, you don't need to call me sir. Just call me dad, okay?"
Streams of black oil began to pour from Mark's eyes. While he had the built in capacity to cry, it was usually only activated under severe emotional stress. " Yes si- I mean dad." Trying his best to smile he placed his hand on Flippy's. "Did they say when.."
"I have about two years at most with treatment and proper care. However that means spending a lot of time here, completing some complex medical mumbo-jumbo. Honestly I'm not sure that's what I want. Spending the last of my days inside of this place. Listening to the sounds of these machines, the lifeless, colorless walls, and the food? Forget about it." he could see Mark was beginning to break down. "Mark. I know you are scared. I am scared too. I know it is a difficult thing to be hit with out of the blue, and I'm sorry. But I need you to be strong. Not just for me, but for Cupcake. Because right now, I don't know if I can. I have been fearing this day for the last thirty-five years. Ever since I brought that sweet little pink cat home, I knew this day would come." a tear rolled down Flippy's cheek. Unable to lift his arm to wipe it away, he let it foll off and onto the blanket. "Cupcake is the strongest Toon I have ever met. I shouldn't fear this day. It's something we must all come to terms with. I wish I was as strong as her. But I am scared, Mark. I am scared. Just, please don't tell her yet. I need to be able to do so myself."
Mark had stained his brown suit with large splotches of oily tears, unable to calm himself. "Please don't say that Flippy. You are strong. You are Flippy. You are going to beat this. I know you will.."
Nightmare had been given a few days off to recuperate from the events that had transpired at Silly World. Cupcake would be in the loving hands of Mark, so Nightmare didn't have any reason to worry about her. At first she didn't want to leave, but Cupcake insisted. Walking down the moonlit cobblestone road of Lullaby Lane, she pulled out a piece of paper and read it to herself. The paper had faded in color over time, from a bright white to a yellowish-brown. It had a small tear on the top right corner from when she had originally retrieved it from the envelope. It had taken her a long time to actually read it. At first when she received it, she had placed it into a box and left it there. But one day she had finally gained the courage to read it. Now she would read it every day, without fail. Stopping near a street lamp, she leaned against it, scanning the words on the parchment. After she had finished, she folded it back up and placed it into her pocket. Walking down Lullaby was always a nostalgic trip for Nightmare. After all, she had spent her first seventeen years primarily stuck here. Usually only getting out to occasionally go to Pajama Place, or sometimes Minnie's Melodyland if she was lucky. Turning down a dark alley, she placed her fingers against a wooden fence, and continued walking. Feeling as the soft wood scratched against her gloves, making a tingling sensation that she enjoyed, she looked up at the familiar sights. Although she had come here numerous times for Toontasks, it had been a long time since she had taken this particular route. About eight years or so. A few more minutes passed until the purple estate came into view. The outside fence was covered in multiple colored graffiti, many saying similar things. "Anti-Toon", "Traitor", "Go back to Cog Nation." as her fingers passed over the last one, she noticed that the words smudged. This one must still have been fresh. Pushing open the gate, she looked around at the front yard. The grass was unkempt and patchy. Some areas were much longer than others. Garbage was scattered throughout the area. Likely from Toons throwing it over. The house itself was not in any better shape. Paint has been chipped away from years of rain, wind, and a general lack of upkeep. The windows were broken, boarded with large wooden or cardboard pieces. The front door had also had several large planks of wood made into an 'X" shape. Nightmare sighed, and approached the front door.
As soon as Nightmare had reached the front, she pulled out the paper again. Slowly unfolding it, she scanned the words again. Folding it up, she returned it to it's holding spot. Taking a deep breath, Nightmare knocked on the door, silently. A few moments passed in silence and nothing, so she knocked again. More time passed and nothing happened. She turned around and made her way out of the front gate, careful to step over shards of broken glass or rusting cans. Shutting the gate behind her, she walked a short distance down the alley until she saw it. It was still here. Bending down, she grabbed the large manhole cover and slid it to the side. Taking a deep breath, she placed her foot on the rung below, and then another. After a few steps, she was out of the way, reaching up she pulled the barrier back over, watching the light fade away. Finally reaching the bottom, Nightmare patted her way around. Although the tunnel was quite expansive, it had been such a long time since she had been here that she struggled to stay upright without tripping on anything. As she walked she heard a light voice call out, attempting to be intimidating. "Hey. What did I tell you kids about coming down here! Don't make me get the fire hose!" coming into sight came a dark red cat.
Nightmare started to slowly walk forward, hesitantly. "Dad?" she called out quietly. She watched as the cat stopped in his tracks momentarily, which soon switched to a brisk job.
"Nightmare!" the cat called out. As he got closer, Nightmare could see that the red cat's features had changed significantly. His whiskers and surrounding face fur had turned grey. His eyes seemed hollow, and he was much thinner than she remembered. Wrapping their arms around each other, the pair let the moment wash over them like a wave on the beach. Nightmare could not resistance breaking into tears as the sight of her estranged father. "Baby. You're home. I can't believe it." the cat struggled to speak. Unable to find the appropriate words to express the happiness and relief he was feeling. The two held each other for another minute before the cat finally let go. "It's been so long, sweetheart. Oh my cog, I need to go get dad. He was actually just wondering about you earlier. Oh my, this is.. I mean. This is just so great. Nightmare. Just, oh my cog.
Holding his hand, Nightmare followed Benny through the remainder of the tunnel and to the familiar ladder. As she grabbed each rung, the memories began to flood her mind. The many times that she had climbed this ladder after running home to get away from bullies, sneaking in after stealing food, or when she could come down into the tunnel to cry alone. Looking up as Benny pushed open the trapdoor, he felt his hand grab hers as she made her way up. Looking around, not a lot had changed. The torn, green couch still sat in front of the TV. The boarded up windows, everything. Nightmare composed herself as she walked around the house. Benny rain upstairs to look for Daron, yelling as loudly as he could that Nightmare had come home. Walking over into the kitchen, Nightmare looked at the table. In her usual spot, laid an empty white plate, and a set of silverware, across from two other similar set-ups. The thumping sound of feet on the stairs caught her attention, and she turned around just in time to see the tall black cat running towards her with Benny in tow. He too had been caught up to by father time, as his black fur and turned to a dusty gray. Almost leaping the last few feet, Daron wrapped his arms around Nightmare and began to sob. No words were said, but Nightmare knew that eight years of fear and anxiety had been washed away as her father wept.
Several hours had passed, as the trio had saw down at the table. Benny had made them all a cup of tea, and broken out a stale box of doughnuts that read "Baker's Dozin'." Nightmare recounted everything that had happened since she had left. Her time traveling Toontown, her loneliness, her ascension to the Mayor's aide, which had caught both Toons off guard. Benny shook his head and grinned. "I can't believe it, my own daughter, an assistant to the Mayor. Honestly, they should probably just make YOU mayor. You'd probably do a better job anyways." he bit into a crusty glazed doughnut, crumbs getting trapped in his aging whiskers.
"I'm just glad you're home honey. You know. I was just telling your father here that I had a dream the other night. A dream that you would be coming home, and here you are." Daron smiled, and passed the box to Nightmare, who politely declined. "Mayor's assistant. Wow. I knew you were destined for greatness from the day we animated you."
"Thanks, dad. It has been a whirlwind of an experience for sure. I feel like I never really know what's going to happen, but in a good way. It's exciting. I get to help Toons, and I feel like many of them are starting to warm up to me now." Nightmare wanted to smile, but she struggled, instead leaving her mouth in neutral.
Benny broke the awkward silence. "So sweetheart, how long do you plan on staying? I can go get more doughnuts.. or if you want something else!" standing up, he started rushingly putting on his shoes.
Chuckling, Nightmare stood up and hugged Benny. "It's okay dad, no need to worry about that. I'm off for a few days.. and I figured that now would be a good time to stop by!"
"Ah, I think I understand." Daron whispered. "You think that we are involved, don't you? You came to confirm this, no?"
Nightmare dragged her chair near Daron, and looked at him sadly. "How could you say that, dad? Of course not. I just have been worried." biting her lip, Nightmare thought about her words. "I just worry about you guys. No matter where I go or what I do, you are still my dads and that will never change. Besides, where else would I get doughnuts as delicious as these?" picking up a small jelly filled doughnut, Nightmare took a bite and smiled.
"Honey, there's no need to beat around the bush with your old man." Benny joked, returning to his seat at the table. "We watch the news too, we're not complete hermits here."
Chewing slowly, Nightmare pondered her response. Looking at Benny, and then Daron, she finally swallowed. "I think it's time for you guys to come out into Toontown again. I mean, you can't just live in here forever, can you?"
Daron and Benny's eyes met. Daron decided to speak first. "Sweetie. You know just as well as we do that there is no place for us out there. Not anymore."
"He's right, hon. I mean, look at everything that's going on out there. It's hard enough on a good day to even step outside. I just don't think it's the right time." Benny rubbed his hands together anxiously, knowing his daughter would likely not like his answer.
"Dad. I know what I'm asking doesn't seem, well, great. But it's not healthy for you guys to live like this. If you don't do something now it's just going to get worse. We need the world to know you guys are good Toons. You're excellent fathers. I know if they had the chance to see you, they would agree." Nightmare felt her breaths becoming shorter, as the anxiety swelled inside of her. "I don't want to only see you guys like this.. I don't want anybody to see you like this.. Not anymore." starting to sob silently, she felt the embrace of four arms blanket her. She heard the whispers of the two Toons going back and forth, unable to make out what they were saying.
Feeling the arms release, she watched as both cats sat back down and looked at her, adamantly. "Okay, cupcake. I guess we can try to give it a shot." Daron stated silently. "But just know that any signs of trouble we'll have to come right back here, and honestly I'm not optimistic about any of this. You're lucky you and your dad are so cute. You know I can't say no to you guys.
Jumping up, Nightmare hugged the older black cat and started kissing his face. "Thank you, dad. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! I promise, this is going to be great. I know just the person who can help."