Rudy rubbed her frozen hands together. She had come to the Brrrgh on a limb when she left Slapstick Villa. She didn't really know why she left so abruptly, but she just knew she couldn't go back home. Once she had heard from Berry that Allen was arrested, she had quickly made her way from Donald's Dock. As she slowly meandered down the chilly Polar Place she took in the nostalgic sights. She hadn't been here since she left home two years ago to take a job at the bakery. She did not prepare well to come here, she hadn't brought mittens or a jacket. She had stopped at home to put on some clothes, as running around in her underwear was starting to garner a lot of attention. Passing by Lil' Oldman's shop she shuddered at the sight, reminded of the amount of time that she had spent here growing up, doing tasks for the talkative and cranky rabbit. Inside of her pocket, her whisper device began to rumble. Cupping her hands together, she breathed into them, doing what she would to warm them up. After that didn't work, she reached inside of her shirt and placed them beneath her armpits. Shivering from the sudden chills, she soon felt her hands begin to warm and slowly tingle with numbness as they unthawed. After a few moments she reached one hand into her pocket and slowly pulled the device out. Taking a deep breath, she watched the exhale quickly turn to frost as she found a place to sit down. Brushing some snow aside with her foot, she plopped down and closed her eyes. Imagining all of the possibilities, she could not bring herself to open it. Tapping her foot on the ground anxiously, she watched as a group of Toons ran by yelling and joking with each other, including a light blue duck that sort of looked like Allen. Sighing again, she pulled open her messages and saw that Romeo had sent her one. Even the sub-zero temperature could not stop her forehead from burning up. Slowly tapping the touch screen, she watched a blue bubble pop up. "I think we need to talk." it was something nobody ever wanted to receive. Everybody knew that it just meant something bad, and even though she had an idea that he knew, she didn't want to believe it. Now she had to. Blowing into her hands again she started to type back. She didn't have it in her to see him, not now. Not after all the pain she had caused him. Maybe it was selfish, but she knew it would be worse if they discussed it so soon after. Plus Allen was out and it seemed like he knew what had happened. Stopping she thought to herself. How did they find out? Surely she didn't tell anybody, and it seemed unlikely Berry would. As much of an annoying jerk he was, he wouldn't do something that could jeopardize his own future. Standing back up she continued her slow pace down the frozen street.
Just before she reached the entrance to Silly World, she looked up at the large colorful street sign. She had remembered when this was still being constructed. Even though she lived just a short distance away, her parents never allowed her to go here. Instead she was "encouraged" to work while her parents stayed home and ate junk food and watched TV. One time she had snuck out with some friends, she had gone to Silly World when she told her parents she would be going to stay at a friend's house, and when they found out she wasn't allowed to leave the house unsupervised for six months. The frustration inside of her began to mount. The memories of all of those days, running tasks for Oldman while balancing doing her best to learn and improve her baking skills. The feeling of her parents words lashing through her like a whip when she made even the smallest of mistakes. Her fists clenched into themselves, Rudy's nails digging through her gloves and into her skin. Ignoring the pinching and pain she slowly turned around and walked back away from the entrance. Going from a brisk walk to a hectic job she cut her way through the familiar shortcuts and finally to the estate section of the street. Slowing down, she looked into the fences at excited Doodles who barked excitedly as she passed by. The familiar houses made the fur on the back of her neck prick up as the memories flooded in. Eventually she stopped in front of a small, novelty mailbox. "Sodapop." looking up at the tattered, unkempt estate she sighed.
Peeking around into the back, she didn't see anybody, and the window blinds were down as well. Slowly approaching the steps, she trembled with anger and anxiety. Pulling out her whisper device, she nervously pulled up the read message from earlier and began to type. "I think we should take some time apart. I'm in the Brrrgh. Not sure when I will be back." Standing in front of the door, she reached her fist out slowly and rapped against the peeling wooden door three times. Taking one last breath, she prepared herself as she heard heavy footsteps and the sound of screaming and barking from inside the house.
"Oh my cog, you Toons are so gullible. All it takes is some dainty looking dog and you idiots will drop everything to come help! No wonder you guys are dropping like flies!" the pink dog held out a sharp looking object and held it up to Bloople. Generally Toons did not carry weapons as there were no need for them, and even then they were strictly prohibited anyways. Bloople gulped as the dog held the point to his throat. Watching her turn her head she shouted out to a crack in the alley "Hey, Boofie, I got one!" a beige monkey slipped through the small opening, tossing a similarly looking weapon and catching it by the blade, somehow avoiding injuring himself.
"Ain't these guys ever gonna learn!" the fat monkey jiggled with glee, his toothless smile unnerving Bloople even more. Joining his partner near Bloople, he stuck his knife-like object out right in front of Bloople's face. "Ey pal. You should be thanking us for this little lesson. Never trust a Toon!" he continued his raucous laughter before the dog butted him in the stomach with her free elbow.
"Shut up, idiot. Just find his jellybeans." Bloople grimaced as the blade pinched his skin, pushing in deeper with each bated breath. The monkey had sheathed his weapon and began patting around the green dog's figure before finally grinning and hopping up and down. "Found it Stella!"
Bloople was unable to speak. Darting his eyes behind him, he felt his pocket open up and his jellybean bank loosened out, spilling out several gags as well. The pink dog had looked away to focus on the monkey, giving him a quick second. Using his left foot, he scooped a cream pie over to him. "Dang it Boofie, how many times do I have to tell you, that's not my name! I look nothing like that old hag!" the dog had stepped away to observe the heavy bank. Bloople had just gotten paid yesterday and had not gotten to deposit his jellybeans at home yet. Yet he knew that it was not worth it. These Toons likely meant business and he certainly didn't want to risk anything. "Well look at that, four thousand beans. Mechanics pay well!" the pink dog grinned.
"Yeah, but not as much as thievin'!" Boofie chuckled, pulling a jellybean out and popping it into his mouth.
"I guess even a half-brained baboon like yourself is right sometimes!" joining in the monkey, the dog scooped a handful out and stuffed them in her mouth, trying to talk over the sound of chewing and spitting half-chewed beans as she laughed.
Bloople peered down at the pie next to his foot, and gauged the situation. Neither one had quite let their guard down, attacking was likely too big of a risk to take. Inhaling, he put on a sad face. "Are you guys satisfied? You got everything I have. Now can you please let me go? I have two young daughters at home and I'd like to make it home to see them tonight."
"Aww, look at that Spellbind, he's got two daughters." yucking it up, Boofie looked at the sarcastic dog.
"Yeah, how unfortunate for them that their father was such a bludgeoned idiot. It's a real shame, honestly." stepping back towards Bloople, the dog lifted her weapon towards his throat again. "Can't risk anyone finding out about this. If the In-Sells find out we've been robbing Toons like this we'd probably be in worse trouble than you are, pal. Can't take that risk, now can we?" the pair laughed manically.
Bloople's heart was about to burst from his chest at the mention of In-Sells. He had heard about this group on the news. A group of Anti-Toons that were so evil that they broke off and formed their own organization because they felt the others were too lenient. They were known to not just green Toons, but to outright kill them. Taking a deep breath, Bloople fell to his knees and began to beg. "Please. I swear I wont tell anybody! I'll give you guys anything you want. I'm all those two have!" trying to hold back his anger and fear, Bloople clenched his fists as the evil Toons just laughed at his plea.
"Sorry pal, too little too late now!" Boofie unsheathed his stabber and pressed it against Bloople's chest. Saying a small prayer to himself, Bloople closed his eyes and awaited his face, feeling the point digging in, the murder was interrupted by a booming voice.
"Step away from him you scum!" echoed through the alley as a bright green cat came darting forward. Before Spell could act, she felt the hard sole of a shoe land right in her chest, knocking her backwards and taking her breath away. Turning around swiftly, the bulky monkey swung his knife out and slashed towards the cat, barely catching her leg as she winced. Bloople saw his opportunity, lifting the pie, he smashed it down over the monkey's face, momentarily blinding him. Adrenaline took over as the lime green dog jumped on the monkey's back and began pounding on his head with both fists. Bloople had never fought and it showed as he was quickly dispatched by a quick movement. "Watch out, Bloople!" Clover screamed as the pink dog started charging the laying figure. Rolling aside, he narrowly avoided a stab from the fuming dog.
"Spell, I need help with this cat!" Boofie slashed and missed thrice as the nimble cat hopped back and forth, before kicking out and getting a solid hit on the monkey's hand, knocking away the knife. Seeing an opportunity, she jumped forward and began scratching his face with her sharpened claws, as the monkey screamed out in pain. Turning back to face the more formidable foe, Spellbind tossed aside her knife and leapt into the cat, barreling her over. Grabbing for a small block of wood, the dog smacked it across Clover's face twice before feeling the same shoes bury themselves into her stomach, launching her backwards.
Unable to see anything but red, Bloople charged the winded Monkey, grabbing the back of his head, he began to pound Boofie's face into the pavement, before standing up and running for his jellybean bank which the pair had dropped earlier. Yelling out for Clover, he was relieved to see her stand up and grin, spitting out a bloody tooth as she ran over to continue pounding on Spellbind. Everything became a blur for Bloople as he took the jar and smashed it over the monkeys head, watching glass shatter and pieces sticking out of a now bleeding skull. The monkey fell limply over to the ground.
"Boofie!" the pink dog screamed, watching her friend fall unconscious to the ground. She was interrupted by a short green cat landing on top of her, connecting fist with face multiple times as the dog did her best to avoid the pummeling punches. Bloople stopped to catch his breath and looked down on the monkey who was twitching, still alive but unable to fight back. Quickly realizing that there was still a threat he turned around in time to see Spellbind stretch out and grab her knife. Clover, noticing the same, headbutted the dog, causing her to drop the knife. Bloople ran and kicked it away, watching as Clover continued to beat on the dog until finally it ended with Spellbind crumpling on the ground.
Rolling over, Clover gasped for air. Running over, Bloople cradled the cat as she smiled at him. "Fourteen years of kickboxing lessons. Looks like it finally paid off! Told you dad!" she giggled between large breaths. "Are you okay, Bloop?"
"Yeah, yeah I'm fine." Bloople alternated gasps with his girlfriend. "How did you.. how did you find me" he managed to squeak out.
"You think I'd let you wander off on your own with a girl? You haven't been dating me long enough, I guess." the pair laid back and watched the sky, still trying to comprehend what had just happened. Slowly lifting himself up, Bloople reached out a hand and pulled up the cat, who winced immediately upon stepping down. "ugh, looks like that stupid monkey got me deeper than I thought." pulling up her leg, she hopped on one foot, leaning on Bloople for support as the two looked at the deep gash in Clover's leg.
"My cog! We need to get you to a hospital!" Bloople began to hyperventilate at the sight of blood. "Oh cog, oh cog!" ripping out his whisper device he began to panic type and send for help. "We need to call an ambulance. No, no we need to bring the doctors here!"
Clover managed to laugh through the pain, doing her best to calm down the freaked out dog. "Bloople. I'm going to be fine. Just toss me your shirt and I'll get this tied up. I think we should probably be doing something about these two before we do anything else." nodding towards the two unconscious Toons, breathing slowly, and covered in blood and bruises. "Better get our story straight too. This wont look too good." Crouching down, she grabbed Bloople's still shaking arm and helped him to send a message to the Resistance Ranger hotline, pulling him to her she slowly rubbed his arm as the two waited for help to arrive.
Raindrop sat at his desk, staring down at his diary. The resistance had came and brought him home from the hospital a few days ago and since then he had mostly stayed in his room. The first time seeing his parents devastated him. They were right. It was a bad idea for him to go off and fight. He had spent the whole trip home imagining how they would gloat and nag about how stupid he was, how angry they would be, and how they would probably disown him. Instead for the first time in his life he saw his father cry. Both with anger and happiness. His mother had almost fainted when she saw him. But they were just happy he was alive. Somebody had told them that he was killed, mistaking him with a different Toon who had gotten to Cog Nation a few days after he was hospitalized. He felt so immensely guilty, seeing the pain that he caused his parents, yet they did not get mad. They didn't yell at him, nag at him, or tell him how he was wrong. They had just hugged him, and cried and in a way that made him feel worse. The first day he had to stay downstairs, as a ramp was fitted over the staircase so that Raindrop would be able to get to the second floor. His parents had both stayed home from work and made him breakfast, lunch, and dinner and almost never letting him out of their sight. Even using the bathroom was nearly impossible without begging his parents to let him have some privacy. Being in a wheelchair was harder than he had thought. Most of Toontown was not set up for it, as most injuries could be healed with Toonup. Even older Toons with difficulty walking generally stayed in retirement communities built around their disabilities.
A light knock on the door caused Rain to look up, and wipe his eyes as his mom entered slowly. "Hey honey, just checking in with you to see if you're hungry. I'm making dinner. It's your favorite, spaghetti." she smiled weakly as she watched her son struggle to turn himself around to face her.
"Thanks mom. I'll be down in a few minutes." he muttered. He knew that she cried when she was alone. It hurt him even more. This was all his fault. If he had listened he never would have been in this situation. He had been given a gold star, one of the highest honors a Toon could have bestowed on him. The mayor was unable to attend the ceremony as she was busy, but she had personally written him a thank you card and promised that his sacrifice was not in vein. It was the only thing holding him together, the knowledge that without him his best friend might not have made it home. But he still couldn't kick the depression that he was feeling. He spent most nights alternating between crying and ranging anger. He had tried to write, but he found the words just couldn't come. Sighing, he closed his diary and rolled his way downstairs.
The delicious aroma of simmering sauce filled his nose as Raindrop made his way down the ramp. Rolling into the kitchen, he saw his parents whispering to each other near the stove, before breaking apart at the sight of their son entering. "Hey Rain, looking hungry!" his dad quickly quipped, walking over and patting his son's stomach. "Echo.. echo.. echo.." he called out, doing his best to laugh. An awkward silence fell on the room. Raindrop rolled to the table as his mother walked over and began plating his dinner.
"So honey, did you hear that Adam Lamb-Brrrgh is going to be in town this weekend?" his mother cheerily spoke, ladeling a large pile of noodles onto Raindrop's plate. "I know you were really excited to go see him. Maybe we can all go together!"
"Yeah and I can be the only Toon who is sitting down when he plays Joggin'. No thanks, mom." Raindrop spoke sullenly and dug his fork into the pile, twirling it around and watching as his utensil was slowly encompassed.
Sitting down, his father frowned and picked up his fork and held it to his mouth like a microphone. "Cause I keep joggin' joggin' joggin'" he sang out comically, before deflating as his son just bit his lip and continued eating.
Chewing quietly, the three sat in silence as they ate. His parents had attempted small talk a few times, but Raindrop could not seem to find the words to respond. He appreciated his parents trying to cheer him up, but it annoyed him that they seemed to want to ignore the elephant in the room. Rolling himself back, he placed his fork down and exhaled. "When are you guys going to hurry up and get mad at me? Tell me how wrong I was and how I got what I deserved?" he spoke quietly, staring down at the ground. "You were right, I was wrong."
"Honey.." Blossom, Raindrop's mother, stood up and walked to her son, unable to speak. "Cloudy.."
"Rain. We would never say that. You're our son and we love you more than anything. We're just glad that you're home and that you're safe."
Feeling four arms wrap around him, Raindrop bit his lip, trying not to try. "Safe? You think this is safe? My cog guys do you just refuse to see the world! Look at this!" he pointed to the nubs where his legs had been. "I'm worthless! I'm a worthless cripple! I should have just let the cogs kill me!" Raindrop immediately regretted his words as he watched his mother run out of the room crying.
Staring down, he felt the tears streaming down his face, as his father kneeled in front of him, softening his face. "Bud. You're not worthless. You're still the same intelligent, amazing, handsome, strong Toon you were before. You made the greatest sacrifice that any Toon possibly could. Of course we'd rather you never would have gone, but that's just not you. You're destined to do great things and to help others. You should be proud of yourself. Not only because you're a hero, but because you're going to do great things someday." a tear rolled down Cloudy's face as he watched his son's pained expression. "Go easy on your mom, okay? Should have seen her when those two Officers showed up at the door. You mean everything to her, Rain. I can't pretend I know the pain you're dealing with, but just remember that no matter what we are here for you." standing up he kissed his son's forehead. "I'm going to go talk to her, okay?"
Watching his father walk away, Rain called out. "Wait dad. I'm coming with." rolling over and grabbing his form he placed it near his mouth. "Because I'm comin' in hot, comin' in hot." mimicking a performer, he made his way and caught up with his father as the pair sang along, bopping their heads to the imaginary music.