It's cold and raining so the best thing I could do was finish this chapter up and take a long nap. Hope you enjoy this!
Chapter 9: Things get more complicated
Marvin had received an urgent call from Hazel while he was busy with an old time machine they had recently used.
Marvin had near given up on finding Daffy but a tiny flame was still burning in his heart, telling him to try again. So he did and he did multiple times but his mind kept pressing on. He had long since stopped treating this as a project. It was a mission, a mission to restore order and balance back into the Looney Tunes before the family teeters off the edge. So he pressed on, telling himself that he was doing this all for the family, and not to feed his selfish heart (something that painfully made his drive to get Daffy back harder because Daffy too was selfish many times).
So when Hazel called him to tell him that there was intruders tied up in Bugs' house, which nearly made him blow a gasket because 1. Bugs is sick and is in no condition to fight if those intruders get away and 2. was look at reason 1. Bugs was the closest thing Marvin had left to Daffy and he wasn't about to lose another one of his favourite older brothers. So obviously he would speed over to the forest for Bugs. What wasn't so obvious was what Marvin was greeted with.
Two martians (he was sure they were Martians) stared at him in shock and he stared back. Then there was the more pleasant surprise: Daffy was back and Marvin was too in a state of shock to even remotely say how happy he was. But he saw more unfamiliar faces and immediately panic grew.
And of course, instinct told him to reach for his blaster.
" Nobody move!", Marvin said hissing as he pulled out his evaporator.
" Woah, don't shoot", X-2 said pulling out his own blaster.
" Marvin, it's okay. They're with me", Daffy said softly," Put the blaster away... why don't you give me hug, huh. I missed you a lot, cue ball", Daffy said pushing the blaster down slowly as he hugged Marvin gently.
" But-"
" They're all with me", Daffy murmured.
" You're a martian", X-2 said shocked," How even- how did you-?".
" I should be asking you the same thing", Marvin said glaring suspiciously at X-2," As far as I'm concerned, I am the only male martian of my kind unless... you were made to replace me...", he said, a low hiss coming from him.
If it weren't for Hazel holding Marvin back with her magic, X-2 would've been torn to shreds. Daffy sighed, he knew this would happen. Luckily it wasn't Porky. Toons don't react well when they've found out they've been replaced.
" Marv, X-2 ain't here to replace you. He's Martian from the future where I was for the past couple of years", Daffy explained," So is everyone else that you don't recognize in here".
Marvin sighed," I'd like to say that's illogical but then I remember this is ToonTown and our family we're talking about", he muttered," I need a drink".
Daffy chuckled," Good to see you again, baby bro", he said.
Marvin sent Daffy a similar soft look as he sat down next to Bugs who was near dozing off. Tweety removed the glass from Bugs' grasp, setting it aside before flying over to Daffy.
" I don't think he ate yet", he whispered concerned.
" I'll handle him", Daffy said with a small wink before making his way over to Bugs.
He gently shook him and Bugs' eyes fluttered open, still tired and awfully warm.
" C'mon, Kit, let'sth get ya sthomethin' to eat and then get ya bed", Daffy said patting his arm.
" But my butts asleep", Bugs groaned.
" Then wake it up", Daffy retorted.
Bugs rolled his head back in exasperation and let out a loud groan, making Marvin and others nearby wince before chuckling. This... this entire interaction was warmly familiar and they were glad to have it back.
" C'mon, to bed with you, troublemaker number 2", Daffy said.
" Who's troublemaker number 1?", Bugs asked tiredly.
" I'm insthulted that you even ask that. It'sth me, you maroon", Daffy said as he helped Bugs get to bed.
There was silence before Bugs quietly spoke up," I think I'd make a better troublemaker number 1", he stated.
" Sth'cuse me?!"
The rest of the light-hearted argument was carried on beyond the hallway where the rest of them couldn't even hear what they were saying anymore. Two loud bangs signalled the two were in the room at last.
There was a small, awkward silence between the Looney Tunes and the Future gang, mainly because Daffy; or Dodgers as the latter calls him was a barrier between the two totally different groups. Now that he's gone, they are now forced to face each other.
" So...", Tweety started.
" So...", IQ said twiddling his fingers.
" How'd you all meet?", Granny asked interested.
" Well, I... was the one who released Dodgers- uh... Daffy from cryogenic sleep and had him integrated into the Galactic Protectorate", IQ explained.
" Wait... Dodgers... as in Duck Dodgers?", Marvin questioned.
" Yes", IQ answered.
Marvin snorted," Of course. He suddenly goes to the future and he decides he's going to use Duck Dodgers as a codename", he said.
" Is there a significance behind the name?", Tyr'ahnee asked curiously.
" Yes there is, your majesty. Alright, who of you know where Bugs keeps all the copies of our cartoon?", Marvin asked.
" All the copies are at the Looniversity", Lola explained," And I doubt either of us want to take a glimpse at the film vault to see where Daffy's cartoons are".
" You're going to show us a cartoon?", X-2 said with a raised brow.
" Yes. That one specifically. It was called 'Duck Dodgers in the 24 and 1/2 century' starring Daffy Duck featuring Porky Pig and Marvin the Martian", Lola explained.
" Our father directed the short and Daffy loved the idea of being a space captain from the future. I think Duck Dodgers was his favourite role out of everything he did", Marvin explained," I think that was also the very first time I worked with Daffy on set".
" So he WAS an actor", X-2 said eyes widened.
" Yes. And a very good one at that. Taught most of us everything he knew about showbiz and comedy that we needed", Yosemite said speaking up.
" That ra- Bugs... as well?", Johnson asked.
" Nah, Daffy was still too young back then. Sure, made a lot of films but was an amateur compared to Mickey Mouse", Miss Prissy stated.
" Is Mickey good?", Tyr'ahnee asked.
" Is Mickey good?! IS MICKEY GOOD?!", Speedy exclaimed," Mickey is practically one of the pioneers of my beloved home. He's one of the many reasons why we still exist!", he said.
" But you would know that... if Mickey was still alive in the future", Granny said in a grave tone.
There was a sense of dread amongst the Looney Tunes. If Mickey isn't even known in the future, what were the odds that they were.
The future gang didn't understand the dread that was travelling amongst the Looney Tunes. But the gang knew they had chant the subject immediately.
" So how are you all related to each other?", Tyr'ahnee asked.
" Most of us are siblings, but Goopy is a distant cousin and Honey is our mother. She's not here at the moment, running a few errands but she'll be here tonight. Also Gabby's our cousin too", Marvin explained.
" D-Do you have d-d-different fathers or a-a-adoption?", Cadet asked curiously.
The Looney Tunes looked amongst each other, as if quietly discussing the matter with their eyes. They were deciding how they should answer that.
" Diffewent fathers, I guess", Elmer said shrugging.
" But if I recall this correctly, Bugs was adopted by Daffy's father after his 'real' father abandoned him at the studio", Granny said thoughtfully.
" Really? Because I could've sworn their smiles look exactly the same", Johnson said with a frown.
" You better believe it. 'Cause if this was Daffy talking, he wouldn't be talking at all", Speedy said," He hates bringing up his papa".
" Why?", X-2 wondered.
" Beats us. According to Bugs, Daffy loved Mr Avery with majority of his heart, just like he did. Mr Avery was stern but loving man when it came to his kids. And he was creative as well. Never was there a cartoon that didn't blow the audience away", Lola explained picking up the photo the martians were staring at earlier," I wish I got to meet him. He died back in the 80s. I barely even met my mom or dad before I got shoved here. At least you guys got to bond with them".
The Looney Tunes smiled sadly at Lola.
" On the bright side, you met Chuck", Prissy said happily.
" Chuck hated me"
" Chuck hates everybody and everything when it doesn't go his way. It's just the way he was", Granny said," Remember 'Who framed Roger Rabbit?'. I believe he was at his most unreasonable during that time".
" Very true", Marvin groaned.
" If it's any conciliation Lols, I think Tex would've liked ya"
Everyone turned to the hallway to find Bugs and Daffy smiling cheekily at the crowd, the duck with an empty bowl in hand.
" Aren't you supposed to be in bed, young buck?", Granny scolded.
" We were interested in the conversation", Bugs said defensively.
" By the way, X-2, I can sthee the cogsth turning in your head. I'm not telling you my age", Daffy said.
" Bugs, go back to bed", Granny ordered.
" He can't", Daffy said, his expression more grave than ever
" Why not?", Elmer asked.
The sound of the doorbell alerted everyone, Bugs headed over to the speaker casually. He pressed the button before speaking.
" State your business, doc", Bugs said seriously.
The speaker came to life as a voice emitted from it.
" Mr Bunny, it's the studio executives"
Bugs turned to everyone, the Looney Tunes' face moved from confused to horror.
" Oh biscuits"
" What's going on?", Tyr'ahnee asked.
" It seems our 'owners' caught wind of your arrival. We're going to play a little game of hide the newcomers and a new game of 'Keep the exects away from Daffy"
End of Chapter 9
I'm trying to gather my wits together after writing this. I've been planning the actual plot this whole winter holiday (3 weeks to be exact). I've had several other stories that need updating but I'm going to have this story prioritised by end of August for the latest.Because trust me, I hate updating late just as much as you guys do.
- Some of the relationships have been changed due to the fact I'm liking that sort of direction. Honey (from Bosko's cartoons) is now granted with the title 'Mother of All Looney Tunes' and Bosko is 'That one uncle that flirts with Mom'. Gabby Goat is a cousin due to being created by Ub Iwerks (I didn't want them to be related to Mickey).
- One day, there's gonna be a chapter where the Future gang (that's what I'm calling them now) is all gonna sit down and watch Daffy's cartoons.
- Daffy's got a reason for not talking about Tex but it's not necessarily a good one
- You guys might wait a while for Porky to pop in.