"Honey.. Do you really think it is a good idea for you to be doing this?" Mark stood at the entrance of the bedroom the two shared and tugged on his collar. Cupcake was in the room, putting on her favorite cog-busting outfit. A purple Resistance Ranger shirt/shorts, and a pair of Steampunk Goggles with brown boots. Admiring herself in the mirror, she walked over and kissed Mark on the cheek.
"Mark. I know you're worried. Trust me, I am too. But this is what needs to be done. We are fighting them back and this is our first chance to strike while they are on the defensive. Besides, we have Valentoonia's army coming to help and they don't have a leader with Crayon busy. Reessess already has her hands full with Toontown's resistance.." Mark's face showed much more visible emotion than usual, frowning as he listened to his wife defend her actions. "Sweetheart.. I'm the Mayor. I have to do this. It's not what I want, but how can I ask other Toons to risk their lives while I'm hiding here at home?"
Contemplating Cupcake's words, Mark covered his chest and felt the warmth from his health indicator as it slowly changed colors to a nervous emotion. "I am afraid Cupcake. I mean, the rules in Cog Nation are different from Toontown. You've seen the reports, the wounded Toons, the grieving families? I don't want to be one of them. If the fighting is going so well, why do they need you?"
Cupcake closed her eyes, remembering that Shapeshifter that she had fought. "Mark. I'm sure you remember that I was born with extra silliness. Just like being the Mayor, it's something that was thrust upon me, although it is something I wish wasn't." sitting on the edge of the bed, she patted the blanket and indicated for Mark to sit down. "Babe. Do you remember a long time ago when my dad got that invitation from the CEO to initiate peace talks?"
"Of course, sweetheart. How could I forget. That was one of the longest days of my life." Mark dug into his memory banks, vividly remembering the experience.
"Well, this is kind of like that. Dad knew that it was probably crazy, and that he could have been seriously hurt, but he did it anyways. Besides, I'm so tired of all of the fighting. Seeing Toons killed. Worrying what will happen to you? I have a weapon and it needs to be utilized. I promise.. I will be very careful. I am going to be surrounded by thousands of Toons and I will only be fighting if absolutely necessary. I have to be brave, Mark, and I need you to be brave for me. Because I can't do it all on my own."
Mark's mind was sent back to that day, when he had encountered Flippy in the hospital. "I need you to be strong for me, because I don't know if I can.." were the same words that his father-in-law had told him. "I understand sweetheart. I believe in you.." his words tailed off, fear still in his voice. "I love you, Cupcake.."
Cupcake and Mark embraced in one long hung, neither wanting to let go. Feeling each other's slow breathing, they both knew that there was the possibility that this time would be the time Cupcake wouldn't be coming home. Neither wanted to believe it, but they could not dwarf their fear.
"Hi there sweetheart. It's good to finally see you." Benny watched as Daron was led to the visitation area. Deputy had stayed true to his word and since that day, neither Peanutbutter or Daniel had been seen. Smiling for the first time in who knew how long, Daniel placed his hand on the glass, matching the cute red cat across from him.
"Babe, I don't know if I have the words to tell you how happy I am to see you right now.." Daron watched the cat slightly deflate at his words. "Anyways, how are things going with you and Nightmare?"
Benny shrugged and tilted his head slightly. "Well not much. Nightmare got me a job at the Toontown Central Gag Shop, which has been way harder than I thought." stopping to flex his newfound muscles, Daron licked his lips and giggled like a school girl. "I've been staying with Nightmare at her estate in a spare bedroom. However, I've been saving up all of my spare jellybeans and I think in a few months I should have enough saved up to get us our own house. There's a cute little place right down the road from Night. There's a big apple tree in the back with a tire swing. I was thinking maybe we could re-paint.." he continued to yammer about his hopes for the house.
"Sweetheart that is wonderful!" Daron clasped his hands and grinned. "Not going to lie, I never imagined you with ripped arms, but I have to say I am a fan." the pair laughed. "Anyways, how is Nightmare doing? I was kind of hoping she would show up?"
"Yeah, I thought so too. She sent me a message about twenty minutes before I left that she was going to be busy today with something. I guess she's in charge of some kind of project or something. Anyways, she said she will try to drop by tomorrow!" Benny gleamed with his pride at his daughter.
Daron looked on amazed. "Wow, can't believe she's growing up so fast. Gosh, at this rate she's going to end up as the Mayor of Toontown!" chuckling at his unknowingly accurate statement. "So Benny, I guess I should update you on things. So apparently some punk guards have a vendetta against me for something I didn't do. I think somebody might be impersonating me. I just want you to be careful, okay? So far things have been fine in here besides that, but you can never be too sure. There's some Toons I knew from my time in the Anti-Toons, but they haven't been causing me any issues so I think I'm okay. Deputy Skids came and assigned personal guards for me for the remaining eight months. But now that you have brought up the house.. it sounds so amazing Benny."
"I know! Well I'll keep working hard, because you deserve nothing but the best sweetheart. I love you so much." Benny made a heart shape with his hands and pressed it against the glass.
"I love you too, Benny. I'll be out of here soon enough. Anyways, it looks like visiting times up. Maybe you can come by tomorrow?" Daron looked at his husband sadly.
Nodding and smiling, Benny kept his heart shape. "Same time tomorrow!"
Chase Hucklefink sat in the cafeteria, reading a book, chuckling as the protagonist in the story had a mental breakdown at the death of his wife and children. "Aw, good old cog literature. They don't write them like they used to." he was joined by an orange monkey who had appeared almost silently. "Geez, Ninja, no need to sneak up on me like that. So, what do you got for me?"
Hissing and nodding, the monkey put on an evil smile. "Well sir, it appears that the "lesson" was a success. Dumb Dumb Dumb Rabbit is now Dead Dead Dead Rabbit."
"Very good. You know, me and Stupid Rabbit actually used to be friends. It's a shame he couldn't see things my way. But I guess that's what happens. The In-Sells made him a generous offer and he refused. The old bogey was always stubborn and wanted to do this on his own. Hope he realizes how, no pun intended, stupid that was." Chase rubbed his hands together and made a mocking laugh.
"Thank you sir. I assure you that there will be no ties back to you. It was actually much easier than we had thought. Dumb Rabbit was already in a medically induced coma. I guess he got into a fight with some duck and got stomped into oblivion. So on top of everything, now the duck is the primary suspect! We hardly had to do a thing!" proudly smiling, the monkey watched Chase whose eyes scanned across the room, locking on a tall black cat who entered the cafeteria.
Chase spit on the ground. "Ninja, do you know Daron Decavity?"
"I know a bit about him, sir. Although I thought he was out of the game for a while?"
"Yeah he was. Although doesn't something seem off to you? I mean he just out of nowhere surrenders and voluntarily comes to this hell-hole. Now he's being escorted by guards at all times and I've heard that he had a meeting with that stupid Deputy Skids fella? I'm thinking maybe he's gonna narc."
"You want me to take care of him, boss? I can probably get into his cell, give him a nice surprise between the ribs tonight?" the monkey devilishly shrieked in delight at the idea of taking a life.
Shaking his head, Chase continued to watch Daron as he sat down by himself at a table. "No.. not yet. I want you to follow him. See what he's up to. He could still be useful to me so I don't to take him out prematurely. If you hear anything about giving up names, bring it back to me immediately. I'm only in here for three more months, I'm not taking any risks. Besides, maybe he gives up a few Anti-Toons and saves us the trouble of hunting them down ourselves." picking his book back up he looked up and Ninja was gone. Chase shuddered at the almost invisible monkey, and continued to read.
Nightmare walked into the empty council room and breathed in the silent air. Although she had been here numerous times over the last few months, suddenly she would be the one in charge. Part of her was overwhelmed, but part of her was excited. In a way, knowing that most Toons had seen her as some Anti-Toon, and treated her like garbage, made this much sweeter. But at the same time, even though Cupcake had promised her it would be simple she was still concerned. Taking a seat in Cupcake's pink rolling chair, she spun herself around by pushing her foot off the table a few times. Stopping as she got dizzy, she looked at the empty seats. She could vividly remember her first day here. When Cupcake had introduced her to everyone. In a way this all seemed like a dream anyways. Somehow she had been chosen as the Mayor's assistant, repaired her relationship with her fathers, and was now leading Toontown during a war? While she rotated between spinning and clenching her stomach, the door opened and another black cat walked in. "Captain Reessess!" Nightmare leapt up and stopped the chair, trying to look professional.
"Oh, it's great to see you Nightmare!" walking over she hugged the younger cat. "No need for the Captain stuff though. Just Reessess is fine. Although maybe I should be calling you Mayor Cupcake!" she lightly elbowed the black cat and giggled. "You've come such a long way sweetie."
Blushing, Nightmare had always admired Reessess. While the two had never really talked very much outside of council meetings, Reessess was well respected for her gentle and caring nature, and for her genuine care for everybody. "I guess that's true. Hopefully not for long though.." sitting back down, she was joined by the older cat. "Ressess, did you ever envision yourself where you are?"
"Well I'd certainly be lying if I did. A sweet, loving husband, two beautiful children? I only dreamed of that growing up. Although leading the Toontown Resistance? I ALWAYS knew that was coming!" Reessess rolled her eyes and laughed. "But sometimes life throws things at you, and you're not going to be ready for it. But true strength will always make itself known during times of crisis."
"Gosh, Reessess. You really are the wise old woman around here." pausing she defended herself. "I'm just kidding!"
Reessess continued chuckling. "Ah, don't worry about it. I'm an old skeleton now. I'm going to be sixty-two next month. We all have eyes. But fortunately age doesn't mean much, for me or for you, because we are awesome!"
"You're right!" Nightmare exclaimed. "Hmm. The more you talk the better things seem." pondering, Nightmare popped a grin. "Hey Reessess, can the Mayor pardon inmates? Asking for a friend."
"Well, they CAN. But I don't know if that would necessarily be a good idea." Reessess looked at Nightmare sadly and seriously, knowing her joking tone was covering pain. "Sometimes we have to do not what is best for ourselves, but best for society as a whole. It is why we fight. Showing favoritism or bias, while personally rewarding, may have consequences. I would tell your friend that the best thing is to be patient and to be strong." gripping Nightmare's shoulder lightly, she smiled. "Because I guarantee your friend is amazing and she is strong." standing up Reessess made her way to the door. "Anyways, council meeting isn't until tomorrow. You're a day early!" laughing at Nightmare's flustered face, she jogged off being chased by the younger cat.