Nightmare paced back and forth through Lullaby Lane. Cupcake was supposed to meet her here twenty minutes ago. Did she get lost? Wandering back and forth, looking down alleys and occasionally checking her whisper device, she sighed. When she had asked Cupcake to come meet her parents and to see if they had a chance to re-join society, Cupcake seemed excited. She had told Nightmare that she was busy the night before, but would be here today after a quick meeting. Nightmare and Benny had spent the entire night getting the house cleaned up and in the best shape possible for their guest. Checking her whisper device, one last time, Nightmare sighed when she saw no reply. Slowly she began to sulk back towards her childhood home, knowing she would just have to be patient.
"Come on Marky, we're going to be late!" Cupcake looked around for Mark after she exited her teleportation hole into Donald's Dreamland. They were already behind on time because they had been stopped by several Toons along the way who wanted to ask questions about the war, or about their relatives. As much as Cupcake wanted to address each of their issues, she had promised Nightmare she would meet her today at noon. Crossing her arms and tapping her right foot on the colorful Dreamland street, she watched as Mark finally made his way out of his own hole.
"Sorry about that honey. You think I'd be used to those by now. I got a little lost." he grimaced. He knew that Cupcake was in a hurry, and he felt bad for wasting her time. Cupcake walked over and kissed him on the cheek, laughing she grabbed his hand and they sprinted towards Pajama Place.
Nightmare finally reached the secluded alley which led to her fathers' estate. Sitting down on an empty crate, she began to think. Had something happened? What if they were in trouble? But what if they were just busy? Cupcake is the mayor after all. She has important things to do! Nightmare felt selfish for asking for such a big favor when there were much more pressing issues at hand. Her worries were erased when she felt her whisper device rumble. Picking it up from her lap, she read the message, her face gleamed with delight. Running out of the alley, she looked up towards the Lullaby Lane entrance path. Sure enough, just a few short minutes later the couple came into view, now at a slow job. Nightmare decided she could make up the remainder of the gap, and quickly made her way to the two. "You guys made it!" she yelled as she jumped over and hugged Cupcake.
"Sorry about that, Nightmare. We ran into a few snags on the way here." Cupcake meowed, as she gasped for air. "You know I'm not quite as young as I used to be. I used to be able to sprint from Daisy Gardens to the Brrrgh with no issues." placing her hands on her thighs, she leaned over.
"Yes, sorry Miss Decavity. I must apologize for my error, I hope we have not caused you any worry." Mark scratched the side of his head in worry
Nightmare chuckled. "It's okay, Mr. Doggenbottom! I'm just glad you guys could make time! I so appreciate this! I know you have other things to be doing."
Cupcake, still holding Mark's hand with one hand, wrapped her arm around Cupcake's shoulders with her other, leaning on her a bit. "Absolutely, Nightmare! You help me all the time! I figure you should get SOMETHING in return. It's not like I pay you or anything." Cupcake laughed.
"Wait, what?" Nightmare's face turned to surprise.
"I'm just kidding. Just kidding. Maybe." the trio wandered down the street towards Daron and Benny's house. After a short walk, they made their way down the deserted alley.
Mark cringed as he walked past the graffiti and broken windows, and piled up garbage. "Someone lives here? This doesn't seem, well, healthy?"
Nightmare frowned. She knew he was right, and this is exactly why she had dragged Cupcake here. If anybody could talk her dads out of leaving, it would be her. She could do anything! Stopping at the manhole cover, she paused the other two in their place. "Okay guys. Be careful going down. There's a small gap after the last rung, so just watch your step. It's a bit dark, so just hold on to me and we should be okay." pushing aside the metal circle, she slowly descended, followed by Mark and Cupcake, who made sure to cover their tracks.
"This sure is something." Cupcake whispered to Mark as they clung tightly to the ladder. "Can't believe we didn't come here on our honeymoon."
"Well I think our twenty year anniversary is coming up later this year. Don't give me any ideas." Mark replied sarcastically. The two laughed as they finally reached the bottom. Reaching out, the duo grabbed a hold of Cupcake's blouse and crept slowly behind her.
The area was much larger than either anticipated. It looked like it had been hollowed out over several years. Nightmare must have known what they were thinking, as she waved her arms in several directions. "Good afternoon you magnificent Toons. Welcome to the Donald's Dreamland undercover path! On your left you will see total darkness. On your right? Pitch black. This historical site was once a quick getaway for Anti-Toons escaping the law. It was built well before I was born, but abandoned after the cogs were defeated. Now it is the simple home for two gentle-toons who live our their days in this wondrous paradise!"
Cupcake and Mark applauded for their tour guide. Finally reaching the second latter, Cupcake's excitement turned to defeat. "Another ladder? Nightmare, are you trying to kill me? I'm just a poor old lady." stopping to feign pondering, she gazed at Nightmare. "I knew it! You want me dead so that you can take the mayor's position for yourself!"
"I - I would never Mrs. Doggenbottom!" Nightmare shrieked out.
"Honey, please stop teasing the poor girl. She's probably stressed enough" Mark laughed, and started to climb the ladder.
Grumbling softly, Cupcake followed him upwards. "Making me exercise. I became Mayor to avoid this."
Pushing up the trapdoor, Nightmare helped her two friends up into the house. Although it had been cleaned up, the boarded up windows and doors still caught their eye. The tear on the couch had been taped over, and the flimsy metal walls had been painted a brighter grey. Pointing towards the kitchen, Nightmare watched as Mark and Cupcake went and sat down at the table. Benny had scavenged two extra chairs and place set-ups for them. "I'll be right back. Let me go get them!" Nightmare exclaimed, running upstairs.
"These poor Toons. How could anybody live like this?" Cupcake meowed out softly.
"Well, these are notorious Anti-Toons, after all. I imagine it isn't easy getting an estate out in Toontown Central with that kind of reputation." Mark shrugged. Looking down at the table, he noticed there was a small carving at the place he was sitting at. "Nightmare." Mark furrowed his brow and stood up. This must have been Nightmare's seat. Walking around the table, his suspicion was confirmed when he noticed a similarly carved "Daron" and "Benny."
The pounding of feet on the stairs caught their attention. Mark took a non-labeled seat next to Cupcake just in time for Nightmare to make it downstairs. "Can I get a drum-roll, please!" jumping over to a wall, she began to drum the sheet metal with her hands, making an awkward clanging sound. Cupcake and Mark joined in, slowly tapping the wooden table. "Myyyyyy DADS!" leaping back, she threw her arms out towards the stairs. Both Mark and Cupcake felt their anxiety rise. Both had heard about Daron and Benny through rumors, but they had never actually seen them.
Hopping down the stairs, Benny ran and did a slide on his knees, pretending to play the air-guitar. Daron slowly walked down behind him. Both cats were wearing matching yellow t-shirts, and white shorts. Daron was much taller than Benny, which surprised the other two. Their grey-splashed fur and decaying bodies were much different than Cupcake had imagined. She had always assumed they would both be large, imposing, destroyers. Instead they were just regular, middle-aged toons. Benny walked over with his right hand out, a large smile plastered on his face. "Mayor Doggenbottom. It's an honor to meet you! Nightmare here has told us so much about you!" as soon as Cupcake grabbed his hand, she was wrapped into a hug. "Aw, there's only hugs in this household!"
"Come on, babe. We're not in Valentoonia, tone it down a bit, alright?" Daron rolled his eyes, but could not help but smile at his lover's genuine attitude. Dragging himself over, he reached out and shook Cupcake and Mark's hands. "Mind if I sit down? That trip down the stairs wore me out." pulling out the chair in front of the 'Daron" marking, he plopped himself down. Joined by Nightmare and Benny. There was an awkward silence for a few seconds aside from a cough and a clearing of a throat.
"So, Benny - Daron. Nightmare has gushed about you guys non-stop since we've met! It feels like I'm meeting a celebrity!" Cupcake smiled, doing her best to relieve some of the awkwardness.
Nightmare smiled. "Yeah, well it's hard not to when you have two great fathers like these guys.." nobody knew how to approach the topic in the room.
"Okay, how about we just cut to the chase." Daron stated bluntly. "My daughter has this crazy idea that you might be able to help us. Is this something that can actually possible? I mean, I just don't want to crush her dreams." Daron pinched Nightmare's cheek, receiving a small hiss in return.
Cupcake placed her hands together into a ball, and placed them on the table. "Cutting to the chase." she moved her arms, as Benny poured a cup of tea into the mug next to her, nodding thankfully. "Honestly, I'm not sure what can be done. So I was fortunate enough to get some records from our archive... and it doesn't look good." lowering her head, she sighed. "For Daron."
"Daron? What do you mean?" Benny placed the teapot down on the table and sat down. "What about him?" Benny's face contorted.
Grabbing a folder from her jacket pocket, Cupcake slid it across the table to the couple. "We have eighteen confirmed reports of greening on file for Daron. That's already pretty bad. But hundreds of reported cases of theft? That's just.. I mean.. yeah." Cupcake grimaced.
"What about me? I'm just as responsible as he is!" Benny yelled out sadly.
Mark handed Cupcake another folder, who slid it across the table to Benny. "Well, we thought about that. While there are a few reported thefts. Nobody has ever reported you for greening. Now don't get me wrong, it's certainly not great, but it's workable."
"Aren't you the mayor, though?" Nightmare cried out. "You can do anything you want! I mean my dads aren't bad people. They haven't even greened anyone in years! Why are people so worried about them. Why can't people just worry about their own lives!" she began to tremble with anger, biting her lip she watched Cupcake sigh again.
"Nightmare. I understand you're frustrated, but we have to be realistic here. We have an uprising of Anti-Toons. We can't show them we take it lightly." grasping her hands together, she looked towards Daron. "Now, as you both know, greening wasn't technically illegal until a few years ago, so we can't actually charge for anything. However, there are a lot of Toons are out for blood. Honestly, the other stuff is probably nothing to them. I imagine most would get over Benny's actions if Daron were to take responsibility for the greenings."
Daron nodded slowly, tapping his fingers on the table. "So.. what exactly are you saying? Could you please just get it out?"
"We would need a public apology.. and we would probably need Daron to take some jail time." Mark responded.
"Jail!?" Nightmare and Benny blurted out, angrily.
Cupcake stiffened her lip. "I know it's not great, but I think it would be a step to forgiveness for many. Listen, I know that it isn't ideal. But you do a few years, you get out, and you're free. No more.. hiding in sewers. No more needing to steal food to survive.. No more.."
"Waiting eight years to see my daughter.." Daron finished the sentence. "Let's just say I do decide to go through with this? How long am I looking at?" grabbing Benny's hand, he felt his husband clench tightly.
Mark stood up and pulled out a piece of paper from his suit pocket. "Well, considering that it has been eight years since your last reported greening, and with Nightmare's testimony, wed probably be looking at two years. Maybe one with good behavior."
"A year!" Nightmare now had tears in her eyes. "But he hasn't done anything. You were the one who was telling me to forgive others! Isn't that what Mayor Flippy always did! Hasn't he suffered enough!" grabbing her jacket, Nightmare ran off, opening the trap door and disappearing from sight.
Daron bit his lip. "She's always wore her heart on her sleeve. She's just like her father, here. Please don't hold it against her. "
"Two years? I don't know if I could lose him for that long" Benny interrupted. "Even a year. That would just be. I mean. We can't!"
Cupcake stood up and kneeled between the nearly sobbing cat and his husband. "Benny. I know it is hard. But aren't you tired of always living in a prison? I mean. Are you happy living like this? Besides, think of Nightmare. She's already struggling to shake her reputation. You three could have a clean slate. It wouldn't be easy, but isn't it worth the sacrifice?"
Unable to hold back his tears. Benny erupted into tears, falling into his lover's arms. Daron stroked his fur, and his hollow black eyes looked emptily at Mark and Cupcake. "Do you really think this would work?"
"Well, there will likely always be wounds. But we need to start the healing process. Toontown is a more forgiving place than it used to be. I don't think anybody wants to stay angry. Mark has become widely respected, but it took a long time. Don't worry. You would have the protection of the Toon Rangers, and we would be moving you into a brand new home in Minnie's Melodyland." Cupcake smiled. "Benny, well we heard there is a spot at the greeting card shop that just opened on Lullaby Lane that is struggling to fill the Valentine's Day hole in their heart." doing her best to stay optimistic, Cupcake watched as Benny continued sobbing into Daron.
Daron kissed Benny on the forehead and stood up. "Okay."
"Okay?" Mark lifted his hand inquisitively.
"Yeah, okay. But I want to talk to Nightmare first. She's the whole reason I'm even considering something like this. Give us some time, please."
Cupcake grabbed Mark's hand and nodded. "There's no hurry. The offer will be on the table. Nightmare has been such a bright spot over at the office. You guys really raised a sweetheart. She doesn't deserve the burden she has been put on her. Please consider that when making your decision." walking towards the trapdoor, Mark lifted it and helped Cupcake down the ladder. "Please." Cupcake quietly whispered, as she descended the latter into the darkness.