And we're back with another episode... which introduces another new, recurring character- and antagonist. Enjoy!

Credit again to Mr. Cartoon for his idea and help.

d~b

Episode 2

*Flip's Bully Problem*

It was a quiet-

*CRASH!*

...Scratch that. It was anything but a quiet morning in Paradise Towers, as Flip gave a jolt, hearing the noise in the kitchen. "What the heck...?" he said to himself, running out, finding Pugsy slammed against one of the lower cupboards underneath the island-counter in the kitchen, pots and pans littered around him. "Pugs! What happened?"

"Shaggy just sealed his death-wish, that's what happened!" Pugsy sneered, then pointed up at a cupboard where they kept the cereal... where a boxing-glove attached to a spring dangled out.

Flip helped him up, watching as the older man ripped the boxing-glove and spring off the shelf. "Well, you have to admit you'd do the same thing if you had a dog who kept swiping your snacks,"

"Flip, three years ago, I had a lanky pin-head of a friend who came over and ate any groceries I brought home every weekend, but I didn't resort to setting traps... although... that would have been a good idea."

Shaggy walked out just then, yawning and stretching. "Like, what's going on, guys?" he asked drowsily- snapping awake as Pugsy stormed up to him.

"If I find another one of your booby-traps in the kitchen again, you're going over the balcony!"

Shaggy yelped. "Like, sorry man! But if someone breaks into the house, I don't want anything valuable to get swiped!"

"Who the leaping ignorpotomases could break in here?"

*flush*

Everyone looked over at the bathroom, and out stepped their neighbor, Zippy. "Oh, hey guys. Hope you don't mind, but I had to use your bathroom- mine flooded over last night." she walked over to the balcony... where a Zippy-shaped hole had been cut in, and she put in the missing piece as if it were a puzzle, sticking a glass-cutter in her pocket, then gave a salute to the others before diving off the edge via bungee-cord.

Pugsy blinked. "That doesn't count," he said quickly.

"How does that NOT count?!" Shaggy demanded.

"Because she's not a burglar... she's just crazified!"

"Thank you!" Zippy exclaimed, springing back up on the bungee-cord before dropping back down.

Flip shook his head. "I'm going to get dressed. Holly and I are hanging out today,"

"Oooh, hanging out with your girlfriend, huh?" Shaggy asked, smirking.

"Oh, knock it off already, guys! I told you, we're just friends!" he walked in his room, shutting the door, but smiled to himself. "...for now."

"We heard that!"

"Alright, Shaggy, are there any OTHER traps I should know about?" Pugsy demanded, getting back to the subject at-hand.

Shaggy pondered a minute. "No, I don't think so. I think it was just the one in the kitchen,"

"Good," Pugsy then walked into the bathroom.

Shaggy then gasped. "Except that one in the shower-"

*BAM!*

*THUD!*

"SHAGGY!" came Pugsy's shout from the bathroom, making the lanky young man cringe in fear.

d~b

Meanwhile, in the apartment across the hall, Uncle Ted sat in an easy-chair, watching television. Shawn K. walked out, heading for the front door. "I'm heading to the beach, Ted. You sure you don't want to tag along?" the latter asked.

"I'll catch up with you later, Shawn. My nephew, Derek, is going to be here in a short while." Ted replied.

"Alright, see you around!" With that, Shawn K. walked out, heading over to the two elevators that awaited in the hall, stepping in one and going down.

In the other elevator, someone was just coming up. The doors opened and out stepped Howard Generic, with his now-13-year-old son, Derek. "I don't see why I can't stay home..." the teenager was muttering, running a hand through his buzz-cut hairstyle and sticking his hands in the pockets of his torn jeans. He snorted a bit, picking his nose then wiping it on his torn-sleeved dark blue shirt.

"I believe we've discussed this after your mother and I came home to that party you were throwing, last weekend." Howard replied firmly. "Besides, your Uncle Ted loves hanging out with you!"

"Well, why does it just have to be me? Why didn't Bobby or the twins come too?"

"Bobby's had summer-camp and your mother is taking the twins to play-dates, I told you that... Honestly, Derek, sometimes I wonder if you're even listening to me."

Derek only scoffed, and they walked down the hall to Uncle Ted's apartment, knocking on the door. Uncle Ted answered it quickly. "Hey, there's my full-grown nephew!" he exclaimed, then greeted Derek with a noogie. "How ya doing, Derek?"

"*urk* fine!" Derek grunted, pulling out of his grip.

"I'm running late for work. I'll pick you up this afternoon, Derek. Be good, and have fun!" Howard said, walking down the hall.

"Geez, dad! I'm not a little kid! Sheesh!" Derek sneered, walking into the apartment.

"Ah, the independent teen-years... wanting to be alone, treated like a grown-up, trying to be cool- something I never understood," Ted said, then clapped his hands together. "So! What do you feel like doing, Derek? How about if you and I go get a smoothie?"

"Pass," Derek sat down on the couch and took out a Nintendo DS, putting all of his focus into a videogame.

Ted shrugged. "Alright, if you change your mind, I'll be down the block!" With that, he left.

"Whatever,"

*beep beep beeeeep... thpth* went the DS until the screen turned blank.

"Ah, c'mon! I charged this thing six hours ago!" Derek chucked it across the room. "Lousy piece of junk..." he then walked out of the apartment, taking an elevator downstairs and going outside. "Whatever, I'll just go find an arcade somewhere." he passed by the backyard, where Holly Trueblood was sitting in a lawn-chair, reading.

...That's when Derek back-tracked a few steps, looking over.

"Hubba-hubba!" he said to himself, immediately entranced by Holly's beauty. Licking his hand and running it through his hair in a slick manner, he strutted over. "Think it's time I took up a new hobby..."

Meanwhile, Flip was walking over to Holly, carrying a couple snow-cones from a passing vendor. "Here you go, Holly," he said to her, handing her a cherry snow-cone.

"Thanks, Flip. Man, I can't believe summer's already over," Holly said with a sigh.

"Yeah... But, at least this time, we'll still get to see each other,"

Holly smiled at him. "Aw, Flip-"

"Hello, lovely lady," Derek stated as he shoved Flip aside, taking a seat next to Holly, while the tween got his face stuck in his snow-cone. "I'm Derek Generic- just moved to town. What might I call you, besides sexy?"

Holly cringed, leaning away from him. "Um... Holly Trueblood,"

"Holly Trueblood? Should be Hottie Trueblood..." Derek smiled suavely- that is, if grinning like a creepy elf was considered 'suave'.

"Excuse me, I was sitting there..." Flip stated, wiping the snow-cone off his face.

"Beat it, shrimp!" Derek spat at him, then turned back to Holly. "So, how's about you and me get lunch?"

"How about, 'no thanks'? I already ate lunch... and I'm about to lose it," Holly sneered.

"Derek Generic..." Flip muttered to himself, the surname sounding familiar. "Are you related to Howard Generic?"

"Yeah, now shut it and scram already, twerp! Can't you see I'm talking to this..." Derek snarled at Flip, then turned to Holly speaking in a calm tone. "...divine young beauty?"

"I see that, and I think you should lighten up how you speak to my friend, you're creeping her out."

"Yeah, what he said." Holly agreed.

"Ah, forget what he said... lets talk about us, sweetheart."

"Lets not... in fact, don't even think it, either." Holly stood up, walking away. "I'll see you later, Flip. I'll come back when Pest Control removes the rat,"

"Holly, wait-" Flip tried to say, but Holly already took off, and he was suddenly grabbed by the shirt-collar by Derek. "Yipe!"

"Way to go, dork! You just made my future prom-date ditch me!" Derek growled.

"I-I didn't do anything! Let go of my shirt!"

Derek smirked. "Alright... how about if I grab on to THIS instead?!"

In a swift motion, he spun Flip around, grabbed the hem of his underpants, and yanked them over his head! "YEOW!" Flip screamed, then found himself kicked to the ground! "OOF!"

"And that's just a sample of what you're going to experience, if I catch you around my girl again!" With that, Derek walked off. "Now, where'd she run off to?"

Flip lied on the ground, groaning weakly. Wham-bam... I'm in a jam... he thought.

d~b

Back in the apartment, Pugsy was giving a thorough inspection for any more traps...

*THUD!*

...mostly by accident. "A trip-wire in the closet, Shaggy?!" he questioned, standing up after having tried stepping into the closet to retrieve his fedora.

"A walk-in closet, Pugs." Shaggy corrected... only to get swatted with the fedora.

"Are there any MORE traps you forgot about?!"

"I swear, that's the last one! ...Except for the one in the freezer. And the oven. And the ceiling-fan. ...I think that's it."

"Get to work- I want this place de-trappified by the time I get back from work!" With that, he began to walk off, though turned around back to the kitchen, putting some bread in the toaster. "Better make something quick for breakfast, first."

Shaggy gasped. "Pugs, wait-!"

*POW!*

Another springed boxing-glove shot out of the toaster the moment Pugsy pushed down on the lever, knocking him out. Shaggy gulped. "I forgot... I rigged the toaster, too... Pugs? ...Pugsy?" he looked down at his unconcious friend. "I'm in trouble."

Just then, the door opened, and Flip walked in, looking depressed. "Hey, Shaggy... has Pugsy left for work, yet?" he asked.

"Um..." Shaggy tapped his fingers casually/skittishly on the counter, looking back down at Pugsy, lying on the ground behind the island-counter, out of Flip's sight. "H-He's out at the moment, yeah. Why, what's the problem?"

Flip sighed, sitting down on the couch. "There's this new kid, Derek. He was acting like a total jerk to me and Holly... then he gave me a wedgie and kicked me to the ground,"

"Oh no, I was hoping I could've avoided talking to you about bullies... *sigh* Well, I guess I could share some advice. I had a bully at my school in Coolsville, named Red Herring. He was a jerk too, but me and the gang managed to handle him."

"How?"

"Just outwitted him- he would try to do something sneaky, but we all just kept our cool, ignored him, and his tricks would backfire in his face. Sometimes, Scooby managed to play some tricks on him, back. So, don't worry too much, Flip- just do what I did, and you'll be fine."

"What did you do?"

Shaggy thumbed behind him. "Ran like heck while getting on good terms with God."

Flip sighed. "Thanks, Shag... I guess." Flip then headed into his room.

There was a groan, and Pugsy stood up. "What hit me...?" he muttered, looking at the toaster, then slowly turned and glared at Shaggy...

...who bolted for the door, running. "God in Heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven-!" he was saying quickly as he took off down the hall.

Pugsy, of course, pursued. "You'd better pray I don't catchify ya, pinhead!"

d~b

Flip went back down to the backyard later that morning. He walked over to a basketball court, deciding to shoot some hoops, when suddenly he found himself being shoved to the side! "Waah!" he cried out, before hitting the ground. He turned around, glaring. "Hey! ...oh no..."

"Watch it, dipstick!" Derek sneered, bouncing a basketball. "I called dibs on the court, already!"

"I was here first!"

*Bonk!*

Derek bounced the ball off Flip's head. "I said, I called 'dibs'. That means, I own the court until I decide to get off!"

Flip stood up, brushing himself off. "Look, lets compromise. Maybe we could play a little one-on-one, keep things even,"

Derek scoffed, smirking. "Sure, I think we can work something out..."

Within minutes, Flip suddenly found him stuck in the hoop, Derek brushing his hands together. "There. How's the weather up there, twerp?"

"H-Hey, get me down!" Flip stammered.

"Why? I bet the view is nice,"

"No, this thing's all rusty! Any minute it might-"

*Snap!*

*Thud!*

"...break..." Flip grunted, after the net broke off and he fell... having landed on Derek. Quickly, he stood up. "Are you alright?"

Derek growled. "Not until I get my hands on you!" he snapped, standing up.

Flip gulped, then deciding it was best to take Shaggy's advice... and run.

d~b

In the apartment, Robotnik was having his lackeys load crates into the basement. "Careful with those crates!" he hissed. "They're full of tubes, filled with nicroglycerine! If you tip over just one, it'll blow us to smitherines!"

"We're under enough pressure already, thank you!" Jasper retorted, as one-by-one they walked down to the basement, Robotnik following...

Zippy walked in, whistling casually, then held up a bowling ball, which she threw down the basement stairs. "Into storage you go!" she exclaimed.

*BOOM!*

A mushroom-cloud appeared through the doorway. "Huh, manager must be bombing for roaches," she stated, then headed for the elevator.

Flip stumbled in by this point, his hair messed up, shirt and jeans torn, his tie wrapped around his head, his hat crooked, and he was missing a shoe. "I need to take up track..." he groaned.

Zippy turned, bewildered at his condition. "Yikes, Flip, you look like you lost a wrestling match against a blender! What happened, did Pugsy catch you going through his CD collection?"

"No..."

"Oh, good, because he doesn't like it- believe me."

"I had a run-in with a creep named Derek Generic. He was picking on me outside, tried shoving me through a basketball hoop until I fell on him, and he chased me down the block until he caught me at the crosswalk! He's such a jerk..."

"Ah, bullies, never been a fan of them."

Flip walked with her into the elevator, going up to their floor. "Did you have to deal with bullies too?"

"Yeah, but it was more on a verbal level- that is, up until I showed them my katana collection and scared the daylights out of them," Zippy shrugged. "Got me expelled, but then again I wasn't supposed to be going to an all-boys boarding school in the first place... Anyway, I think I could give you some pointers."

Flip couldn't help but give a nervous expression. "It doesn't have anything to do with katanas, does it?"

"Oh no no no... I won't teach you about that until you're 15. No, I think you just need to learn how to handle this Derek kid. Think: what's the one tactic every bully uses?"

"Violence?"

She shook her head. "Intimidation. Don't run away next time- instead, next time he tries giving you any grief, just look him in the eye, stand your ground, and show him you're not the weakling he mistakes you for. And if push comes to shove, that's when you give him a good ol' fist to the face!"

"I don't know... I'm not much of a fighter."

"Yeah, but HE doesn't know that! It's all attitude." The doors opened, and they walked down the hall. "Speaking of attitude, I have to take care of a rabid gerbil infestation in my kitchen drawers. ...But, if you need someone to strike some fear into Derek's heart, give me a call."

Flip gave a jolt. "Um... I-I think I can handle it now, thanks."

She shrugged, then entered her apartment. Flip continued to his own. Whoever bullied that girl must've lost a bet! he thought.

Meanwhile, back downstairs, Robotnik and his lackeys stumbled out the basement, looking charred. "What now, boss?" Scratch coughed.

"Well... we'll go to Plan B once the color returns to my vision... until then... take five..." Robotnik groaned, passing out.

d~b

Later that afternoon, Pugsy sat with Uncle Ted in his apartment. "So, what brings you by to visit, Pugs?" Ted asked.

"Just waiting for my room-mate to clear out the traps, before someone rips off Home Alone," Pugsy answered. "Be lucky you don't have problems like that with Shawn,"

"Oh, every set of room-mates have something to argue about- with Shawn and I, it's always where I keep my novelty items. I like to set them up in every room, and he says he doesn't want all the miniature lawn-gnomes lining the walls of the bathroom, but we manage to make compromises."

"Yeah, well, at least none of your knick-knacks knocked someone out," Pugsy rubbed his jaw as he said this.

There was a knock at the door just then. "Come in, it's open!" Ted called.

In walked Flip, still in his ragged state. "Hey, Pugs, any reason why Shaggy's duct-taped pillows to his chest and is wearing a helmet and crawling everywhere?" he asked.

Pugsy's eyes widened. "Forget Shaggy- what happened to you?!" he gasped.

"Yeah, Flip-o, you look like you lost a wrestling match with a blender!" Ted added, his statement sounding familiar to the tween.

Flip sighed. "Some jerk is hanging around the backyard. He keeps pushing me around. I tried running from him, but... well, he caught me, obviously."

"C'mon, lets head over to our place and get you cleaned up, you look like a wreck." Pugsy stated. "I'll give you some tips on how to stand up to your bully, too."

Flip paused. "It doesn't involve a katana, does it?"

"What?"

"N-Nothing,"

"I'll come by once my nephew gets back- he's a tough kid, and could give you some pointers!" Ted told them as he walked them out, his statement full of irony.

d~b

Flip had changed into some clean clothes, and was holding an ice-pack over his black eye. "...and after he shoved me into the lamp-post, he tried to hang me with my own tie," the tween was stating. "He took off when Officer Tibbles was passing by."

"The way I see it, Derek is just a brute," Pugsy stated. "Guys like him always pick on guys weaker than him, just so he can push them around and make them do their bidding,"

"Sounds like someone I know," Shaggy scoffed, walking by with a football helmet on his head and pillows strapped to his chest, carrying a broom.

"Get back to checking for traps!"

Shaggy yelped and ran to the next room.

"Zippy said I should try being intimidating, so he'll back off." Flip continued.

"Well, she's only half-right... meaning she might have half an ounce of sense in that wacko mind of hers." Pugsy replied. "You can try to be intimidating, but what matters is that you've got to stand up for yourself, whether you scare them or not. I'll teach you a couple self-defense moves to use, too, when he tries to rough you up,"

*Knock knock!*

"...Which will have to wait till later, sounds like Ted is coming in," He walked over and opened the door... suddenly being yanked forward, given a noogie.

"Hey, five minutes sure seems to fly, doesn't it, Pugs?" Ted chuckled, releasing him.

Pugsy put his hat back on. "Yeah... too bad..."

Ted then turned to Flip. "Hope you're feeling better too, Flip. My nephew would like to meet you,"

"Okay," Flip replied. "Who's your neph- eep!"

Uncle Ted stepped aside, allowing Derek to enter. "Well, look who it is!" he said with a smirk.

Flip paled instantly. "Pugs... I could use a quick self-defense lesson now..." he whispered, earning a confused look. "That's Derek, the bully I told you about?!"

"I see. Wait here, Flip. Ted, mind if I have a word out in the hall with you?"

"Sure thing, Pugs." Ted replied, following him out.

"Flip, why don't you show Derek some videogames?"

"Do I have..." Flip began to ask quickly, but a firm glance from Pugsy warned him not to argue. "Okay."

Once the adults were out, Derek turned to Flip, cracking his knuckles. "So, where's the videogames, dweeb?" he asked.

"In the cabinet, under the TV," Flip sighed, pointing over at the TV stand.

Shaggy was walking out by this point. "Whew, I think that's every..." he began to state, though paused when he saw Derek kneeling in front of the cabinet under the TV. "Uh-oh! Kid, get away from-"

*SPLOT!*

A water-balloon was suddenly launched out, soaking Derek! "Yech! What the...?!" he sputtered, then turned towards Flip. "So, thought you'd pull a joke on me, huh?!"

"No! It wasn't my fault, I swear!" Flip stammered, but Derek was already coming his way. Without hesitation, he bolted for the door.

Meanwhile, Pugsy was telling Uncle Ted about all Flip had told him about Derek's bullying. "...So you'd better have a talk with Derek about all this," he was saying. "Because if Flip comes in looking like that again..."

"Don't worry, Pugs, I'll have a talk with him," Uncle Ted replied. "Besides, Derek's a good kid, deep down. He's just adjusting to moving to a new town. Why, I bet if you give it time, he and Flip will be great friends!"

"AAAUUUGH!" Flip screamed, bolting out the door and running down the hall.

"GET BACK HERE, DORK!" Derek shouted, running after him!

Shaggy rushed out, panting. "FLIP! I forgot to mention- if all else fails, play dead!" he called.

Pugsy looked at Ted. "O-kay, so maybe it's going to take a while..." Ted replied with a shrug.

Flip raced down the hall, coming to a dead end. "Oh, why is it that in a moment of crisis, someone always ends up in a dead end?!" he whimpered.

"Because they're dead meat, is why..." Derek replied, approaching him and raising his fist. "Hold still, and I might make it quick-"

"Something wrong here, boys?" came a voice.

Derek turned. "Ah, none of your-" his eyes widened just then. "Your-your- you're Shawn K!"

Shawn K. crossed his arms. "Yes... and I would like to know why you're cornering one of my friends,"

"Friends? Him? You?"

"Yes... now answer my question, please."

"Huh? Oh! Yeah... well, Flip and I were just messing around, is all!" Derek put his arm around Flip, making him flinch. "Ain't that right, buddy?"

"If you call trying to kill me 'messing around'!" Flip sneered.

Derek shoved him aside, and stepped up to Shawn K. "By the way, I'm a huge fan of 'Who Wants To Be A Cartoon Millionaire'- I once won a chance to go on that show, do you remember?"

"I never forget anyone who breaks the bleeper after cussing out when missing a question," Shawn K. deadpanned. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I'd like to speak to Flip- alone."

"Oh, right! Anything you say, Mr. K! ...Hey, can you wait around? I want an autograph!" Derek took off.

Shawn K. turned to Flip, who sighed heavily. "Bully problems?"

"Yep," Flip put bluntly.

"Lets walk outside and talk." They walked down the stairs, and into the backyard, Flip telling Shawn K. about the miserable day he had since Derek arrived, and the advice each of his friends gave him. "So he's been at it all day, huh? I may have some advice of my own to share,"

"I can't outrun him, I don't know self-defense yet, and unless Zippy lends me her katana collection, I can't intimidate him. What else can't I do?"

Shawn K. looked at him. "What Holly did this morning- turn and walk away,"

Flip gave him a surprised look. "That's it? Just walk away? W-What if he calls me a wimp?"

"What he would call being a wimp, I believe is being wise. He may be strong, Flip, but you can be stronger by turning the other cheek, walking away. And if he assaults you, that's when you call on your friends for help- another wise move only the strongest rely on."

"But... what if he doesn't stop? What if he keeps tormenting me?"

"Then keep coming to us for help, we'll always be around. And don't worry, sooner or later he'll back off- especially since you've got an all-star like me, a tough-guy like Pugsy, and a trap-setter like Shaggy on your side... Zippy can be used as a last-resort, if he gets too brutal," he patted Flip on the shoulder. "Think you can do all that?"

Flip nodded, grinning. "Yeah... Thanks Shawn,"

Shawn gave a nod, then headed back inside. By this time, Holly came running up. "Hi, Flip... sorry for ditching you this morning, but I couldn't stand Derek's smarmy remarks," she told him. "I hope you can forgive me..."

"Of course I do!" Flip replied, then took her hand in his own. "But next time he talks like that to you, I'll-"

"Ah, you've finally returned!" Derek exclaimed, shoving Flip aside once again as he stood before Holly. "Couldn't handle being away from me all day, could you?"

"Sure, Derek, I can't handle a day without out," Holly said sweetly, linking her arm with his...

*WHAM!*

...flipping him onto the ground! "So lets try a whole lifetime!" she then walked over and helped Flip up. "You were saying, Flip?"

"Um... never mind," Flip replied, seeing that Holly clearly knew how to handle Derek, and they walked off.

Derek lied on the ground, looking up at the afternoon sky, a goofy smile appearing on his face. Howard Generic walked over, a bit stunned to see his son sprawled on the lawn. "Derek! Is something wrong?" he asked, concerned.

Derek only continued to grin. "I'm in love..." he sighed, dreamily.

d~b

"So Shawn helped you out, huh?" Pugsy asked Flip later that night, as the trio sat on the couch, watching television.

"Yeah, I don't think I'll have many problems with Derek anymore," Flip replied, then turned to Shaggy. "Did you get rid of all your traps, Shaggy?"

"Yep! And I'm one-hundred percent sure of it, this time! Every room is absolutely clear of traps!" Shaggy exclaimed.

"Good, now maybe I don't have any horrifyable wake-up calls." Pugsy replied, then stood up, stretching as he walked towards his room. "Speaking of which, I'm heading to bed."

Shaggy froze. "...oh no..."

*Twang!*

*Thud!*

"SHAGGY!" came Pugsy's bellow.

Without hesitation, Shaggy shot out the door. "See, Flip, the key to outrunning your enemy is to get a head start!" he called quickly, bolting down the hallway, while Pugsy raced after him.

Flip shook his head, then clicked the remote, turning off the TV, and the episode.

d~b

A/N: Yep, looks like we've got a lot of running gags to keep track of- Shaggy setting up traps not being one of them (Pugsy made me sign a contract on that- darn it)

What's in store in the next chapter? Stay tuned to find out!