Everyone was riding in Bucky's van on the way to his house to find his great-great grandfather's diary and hopefully discover the Moonstone's location. It was a bit cramped with nine people inside, but no one was complaining too much. Except Eliza of course.
"How much farther until my misery ends?" Eliza groaned.
"We're about a minute away." Bucky called back from the driver's seat.
"Grat mal arg za?"
"It's not you Bonzo, it's this stupid van, even though your elbow is right in my kidney. Assuming I don't die of embarrassment is anyone sees me walking out of this pink tin can."
"Hey, all of this was custom made. I guarantee you won't find a better chariot in all of Seabrook." Bucky patted the steering wheel affectionately.
"Yes, that makes me feel so much better about this."
"Anyway, we're home!" Bucky announced cheerfully, "Oh wait." Bucky stopped the van just before he reached his driveway.
"What is it Bucky?" Addison asked from the backseat.
"My mom is already home, and well…"
"Well what?" Willa asked.
"She still doesn't like zombies, and would probably only freak out even more if werewolves show up on their doorstep. How about this, I'll drive around the block and drop you guys off at the park, and Addison and I can get the book and bring it over."
"Will this improve your chances of success?" Willa asked.
"Yes. Immensely."
"Fine." Willa agreed, a note of authority filling her voice.
So, Bucky put his van back in motion and drove a few blocks away for everyone to pile out.
Right before Addison was about to jump back in, Zed tugged on her hand, pulling her a few feet away from the rest of their friends.
"Zed, what is it?"
"I know we don't like talking about thanksgiving but has Bucky's mom apologized since then?"
"Um, no she hasn't I don't think I've spoken to either of Bucky's parents since then."
"Do you want me to go with you?"
"Zed, I'll be fine, if I remember right, she was mostly mad at me about dating you, not about the hair. I'll have Bucky there, and as he said, they don't know how great you are. Even though they should from coming to all your games to watch Bucky cheer. I'm doing this for the wolves. She can say whatever she wants about me, they're more important. I'll be fine."
"OK, but call me if you need anything. And remember, anything they say about you, or me, or anyone else isn't true. You are the most perfect, beautiful, gorgeous, amazing, person on the planet."
"Thank you Zed, we'll be back in a few minutes."
"Gar Gar Gaza."
"Gar Gar Gaza."
They shared a sweet, tender kiss before Addison walked back to the van and jumped into the front seat.
Bucky drove up to his house, and this time parked in the driveway. "OK Captain, what's the game plan?"
"Realistically do you think it's best if we don't mention werewolves are real and waiting two blocks away?"
"Yeah probably. Both Mom and Dad are still just as against zombies as I used to be, throwing werewolves into the mix probably won't help our case."
"OK, then can we say I need it for a school project?"
"Works for me."
"We got this Bucky."
"Yes, we do Addison."
Bucky let Addison into the house and Addison looked around, just as Seabrook perfect as her house, one major difference was that the walls were pretty much plastered with pictures of Bucky. She hadn't been over in long time, but every time she did come over there always seemed to be more.
As they walked into the living room, Bucky called out. "Mom! We're home!"
Catherine walked into the living room and smiled, "How was your day Bucky, and…Addison, I haven't seen you around here in a while." Her smile disappeared for a moment before returning to its place.
"Yeah, I've been super busy with school and cheer and stuff lately."
"Yes…stuff." Catherine said slowly.
Bucky jumped in to fill the silence. "School was pretty fun today, and practice was just as amazing as usual with Addison, Bree, and me leading it. But the reason Addison's here is that she's working on a history project for school and her topic is about how Seabrook was founded, and anyway long story short, she specifically chose the most important figure of Seabrook's past, Grandpa Bartholomew. Isn't that just great?"
"Alright, and?"
"And I was hoping I could borrow the diary you guys have for a few days? I'm sure it would be really informative, and help me with my research." Addison smiled sweetly.
"I suppose we could, what do you want to know Addison?"
"Oh you know, just like what happened when Seabrook is founded, and all that fun history stuff."
"Well if you're so interested in Seabrook's history, wouldn't it be better to study zombie outbreak?"
"Uh, Mom, um I don't think-" Bucky tried to interrupt before an argument could ensue.
"Don't worry Aunt Catherine, I have been studying the history of the zombies, my friends have been constantly teaching me how everything I was taught for most of my life is wrong. In fact, I would be happy to give you a lesson someday." Addison carefully kept her perfect cheer smile façade up, but her eyes were shooting daggers at her aunt.
"I'm sure you have, I will say I'm happy to say that zombie hasn't eaten you yet, or any of the other monsters you put on the cheer squad."
"Mom, please don't do this."
Addison's voice rose. "Zed will never hurt me, and neither will any of my other friends, and the Cheer Squad is better than ever, and we'll prove that next week at the Cheer Championships."
"You really expect to win with zombies on the squad? Seabrook will never win again until you give up your delusional fantasies."
"They aren't fantasies, Bucky, what do you think, you agree with me right? Bonzo and the others are valuable members of our team."
"Of course, they are, Mom, we were wrong about the zombies, they are different, but that isn't a bad thing."
"Bucky, I know you don't mean that, are you doing this so she'll make you captain again and you can return everything to normal?"
"No! Of course not, would I like to be captain again in the future? Yes, if Bree and Addison want me to be. They are both amazing cheerleaders and I know we will win, all of us together, you've seen our performances at basketball games, have you not been impressed?"
"No I haven't been, those freaks don't belong in Seabrook, no matter how much they claim they've changed. It's only a matter of time before one of them gets hungry and snaps again."
"Look," Addison said, her voice hardening. "all I want is your book, so I can do my project. Is that too much to ask?"
"Fine, you can have the book…" Catherine started, "if you make Bucky Cheer Captain again. He deserves it much more than you."
"What?" Bucky and Addison both shouted in unison.
"Bucky knows better than to change things because you don't mess with success, or let freaks on the team, his only mistake was letting one freak on the team and that ruined everything in our perfect town, perfect lives, and our perfect winning streak."
"Mom stop, I don't want to be captain for something as dumb and horrible as this. And Addison isn't a freak. She's our family."
"You don't need to defend her anymore, she chose to reveal herself and throw in her lot with the other freaks. That is my final decision, make Bucky captain, or no book, you can complete your project in some other fashion. You still have time to make the team normal again so you can win next week. I'm doing this for both of you, and for Seabrook."
"Look, Mom, you really think Addison will make me captain over some history project? Just give her the book, and she'll leave."
"No Bucky, you'll thank me for this, and Seabrook will thank me for this. We need to stop all this pro-zombie propaganda, hopefully before they build the new cheer pavilion in Zombietown, how can anyone expect it to be safe for cheerleaders or anyone on the other side of the barrier?"
"Fine, Aunt Catherine, if that's what it takes for you to give me the book, I'll do it." Addison turned to Bucky, rolling her eyes. "Bucky, you can be captain again. Effective immediately, Bree and I are still co-captains and you will not be kicking anyone off the squad anytime soon. Not that I think you would do that, because I know you have changed."
"Thank you, Addison, I will make you, and all of Seabrook proud. Mom, can we have the book now, please? She did what you asked."
"Fine." Catherine marched away and came back a minute later with an ancient-looking, leather-bound volume. "This is our family's prized possession, our greatest claim to history and fame, other than Bucky of course. I expect this back. And don't let any disgusting zombies near it."
"Don't worry, I promise I'll give it back. And it will be in the same condition it is now." Addison nodded. "Goodbye." She turned to head to the door.
"Bucky, Addison, where are you going? I almost have dinner ready." She asked as Bucky turned to follow Addison.
"I need to help her out with her project some more. I'll be back later." Bucky said, without any emotion.
"Alright. You're welcome Bucky."
"No thank you Mom." Bucky paused after Addison exited the front door, and turned around. "Why do you still act like you hate her? Addison is an amazing cheerleader, and a great captain for the team, all of her zombie love aside, she is just as great of a cheerleader as I am, maybe even better. And you shouldn't call her a freak, I know I have, and I regret it. She is literally the nicest person in Seabrook. The fact that she still cares about me, after all, I put her through and even gave me some leadership back, Addison will always be my cousin, nothing can change that, and she is perfect just the way she is."
"Do you really believe that? Seabrook is all about precision, and perfection, and she obviously isn't. It's no wonder she couldn't even hide under her wig."
"Enough Mom, I'll be back later." Bucky finally stormed out the door, and he nearly ran into Addison, who jumped back from the front door.
"I'm so sorry for dragging you into this Bucky." Addison apologized.
"No, I'm the one who should be sorry, Mom didn't have any right to say any of those things to you. You are a great cheerleader Addison, and for once, I don't just mean because I taught you everything, you've taught me so much this year too. I know you just made me captain for the show, I won't hold you to it. I am totally fine just being assistant captain with the Aceys."
"I may have tried to eavesdrop when you didn't come out right away, thank you for defending me, even when you really didn't have to." Addison reached out and gave Bucky a hug. "Maybe, we can talk after the cheer championships about making you captain again next year."
"No Addison, I was being serious, I don't want to be captain for a stupid reason like that. I want to earn it again, for the right reasons. For being the best cheerleader Seabrook has ever seen."
"And you showed me, you have changed Bucky, would you at the beginning of the year even entertain the thought of helping out the zombies with something, or letting three ride in your van, along with three other monsters?"
"I think we both know the answer to that one Cuz. A big fat NO!"
"Exactly Bucky, you have changed, but don't stop being you. You should be yourself it's the coolest thing, you don't have to hide your real self, you are proud to be fighting for what's right, I know you are."
"Thanks, Addison, let's just say I learned from the best, and I really mean it." Bucky and Addison shared one more hug, before separating to jump back in his van. "So…that's the diary."
"Yeah, this better work. Have you read it before?"
"I don't think I've actually read it, but it was my favorite bedtime story when I was a kid, and I'm sure that wasn't embellished at all, well that and 10 Cheerleaders Backflipping on the Bed."
"Yeah, that was my favorite story too." Addison laughed.
"So…I know Zed is going to ask you too, but are you OK?"
"It's fine, I've heard it all before, and I know the people I really care about, love me for who I am."
"And you know that includes me right? "
"Yes, Bucky, I know."
"Good, but what exactly are you going to tell Zed, and can you make sure I have some space between us when you do? Not because he's a zombie, but because he's Zed."
"I'll tell him everything, eventually, but first let's go save the wolves."
"You got it Cuz."
They rode back over to the nearby park where all their friends were waiting.
"Here you go, trust me, it wasn't easy to get this, but we did." Bucky held out the book.
Willa practically ripped it out of Bucky's hand and took it to a nearby table. Willa, Wyatt, Wynter, and Eliza bent their heads over it, rapidly flipping through the pages for some mention of the Moonstone.
"OK then." Bucky said, eyes wide at their ferocity.
"Thank you Bucky, you were great." Addison smiled at him.
Zed was walking over to Addison just as fast and threw his arm around her shoulder. "What do you mean by it wasn't easy?" He asked, gently massaging her shoulder.
"Aunt Catherine still doesn't like me, or you or Bonzo. She had to cause some drama. No big deal."
"What kind of drama? Whatever she said, you know it's not true, you are perfect." Zed said, looking directly into her eyes.
"I know, it was still mostly about letting zombies on the team, and, you know."
"Did she use the word?"
"What word?" Bucky asked.
"Yes." Addison sighed, "Bucky, Zed and I agreed to never say certain words that begin with F and M, because we both know they aren't true."
"What words? F…M…oh…Oh! Addison, I am so sorry, I ever called you that. You know I am, and Zed, I'm sorry I ever tried to prove you were, you know."
"It's cool Bucky, as long as you protected her."
"He was great, Zed."
"I should have been with you though."
"It's OK, I have all my friends and real family to tell me the real truth. I know everyone is perfect just the way they are, whether they have green hair, claws, white hair, or sparkly cheer smiles."
"Especially you." Zed smiled.
"And you are too." Addison smiled back.
Zed and Addison both leaned closer to meet for a kiss, and they quickly forgot everything else. They continued drawing it out for as long as possible, deaf to the world around them.
"OK, break it up….you guys…Addison!" Bucky clapped his hands until they finally separated for air. "How about we go see if they found anything yet?" Bucky said a bit awkwardly.
"Sorry Bucky, there is only one person on the planet that can control this zombie, and she's standing right here."
"Sorry Bucky, fine, we won't make you uncomfortable anymore." Addison laughed.
"Do we have too?" Zed whined.
"For now." Addison whispered in his ear, sending shivers down his spine.
"YES! There we go!" Wynter howled.
"What is it?" Bree asked, sitting with Bonzo at a table over from the readers.
"He's finally started talking about werewolves!" Wynter announced.
"So far it's even worse than the history books. Let's see, the werewolves attacked blah blah blah….an accidental wildfire helped drive them away, stole the Moonstone…Here it is!" Willa shouted.
Eliza read aloud slowly, "We found the source of their energy, maybe if we take it, all the monsters will go away for good. We stole it while they were distracted by the wildfire that sprung up accidentally from our campfires. Bucky I really hate your grandfather."
"I may actually agree, I guess I never thought about the monsters in the woods actually being real, I always assumed it was just like one of the stories about zombies."
"The monsters attacked again, but I heroically drove them off, but no mention of the Moonstone." Wyatt growled.
"OK then, let's keep reading, we'll find something eventually." Willa reminded them.
Willa continued to flip through the pages even faster, finally, nearly twenty pages later, she stopped. "The construction of Seabrook Power will provide all the energy needs for both Seabrook and the surrounding communities, our economic security is all but guaranteed, our town will be able to prosper from the sale of limitless, clean energy. I predict our perfect town will continue to grow. And it's all thanks to the mysterious energy source we stole from the beasts."
Everyone paused and looked at each other.
"So, the Moonstone is at the Powerplant?" Addison asked.
"Lunezztone crearr zombies" Bonzo shouted in excitement.
"You're right Bonzo, the Moonstone created the werewolves and must have created the zombies." Bree agreed.
"So we finally found the missing piece of how zombies were born. Fifty years and still no one knows how it really happened, but I guess it was magic." Eliza said, slightly in awe.
"That makes total sense now!" Wyatt slapped the table in excitement.
"What is it Wyatt?" Willa asked.
"When I checked out the powerplant with Eliza, we went down to the Mash Pit, and I felt something weird down there, my necklace got hot and all my senses grew stronger. I felt better than I have for months down there. The Moonstone must still be there. Right, Eliza? In that collapsed section."
"That would explain why no one has ever known about the Moonstone then. Ztergoge!" Eliza slammed her fist on the table in anger.
"What is it Eliza?" Zed asked.
"They're about to destroy the powerplant! In about…" Eliza checked the time, "30 minutes, the demolition's scheduled for six!"
"We have to move! Now! Wolves!" Willa howled.
"Awooo!" Wynter and Wyatt answered her.
"Let's go before it's too late!" Willa shouted, her eyes glowing golden, along with Wynter and Wyatt's and they took of sprinting down the street, much faster than any human could possibly hope to run, leaving the rest of their friends in the dust.
"What do we do now?" Bucky asked.
"We have to go help them, no one knows who they are, they'll probably call the Z-Patrol on them." Addison worried.
"That won't be necessary, the place is already surrounded for the demolition." Eliza informed everyone.
"I told my Dad that they weren't dangerous last night, but I don't think Willa's in the mood for calmy talking things out. If Dad thinks they're dangerous he won't hesitate to stop them."
Bucky pulled out his keys. "Come on let's go then."
Eliza grabbed the book and bundled it to her chest as everyone piled in the van again before Bucky started racing off, but the wolves were already so far ahead they couldn't even see them.
Addison pulled out her phone and dialed her dad. "Come on pick up, pick up." She got sent to voicemail and left a message, "Dad, this is Addison, remember the three new kids I told you about? They're about to come and try to stop the powerplant demo, but they aren't dangerous and don't want to hurt anyone. Just hear them out and stop the demolition. I'll be there in a few minutes to explain more. Call me back when you get this message. Love you, Bye."
Addison hung up. "I had to leave a message, Zed can you call your dad?"
"He doesn't have a cellphone yet."
"Bucky, step on it." Addison ordered.
"I'm already going the speed limit Cuz."
"This is an emergency, and all the Z-Patrol's at the powerplant already." Addison reminded him.
"Bucky I know you like to be perfect all the time, but trust me, this is the time to put this neon pink tin can into overdrive." Eliza yelled.
"Fine, you guys win, but if I get a ticket I'm blaming you." Bucky said, pressing on the gas.
The wolves were running as fast as possible through the darkened powerplant, but they could still see clearly, an ear-piercing siren ringing all around them.
"We triggered the alarm! Hurry!" Wila led her pack onwards to the center of the powerplant, but suddenly they were lit by the lights from the Z-Patrol and demolition crew.
Dale jumped out of his car. "Wolves! Freeze where you are!"
Within a few moments, the wolves were surrounded by Z-Patrol on all sides, but they weren't going to back down. They formed a circle, claws, and fangs out, their eyes glowing yellow. All three knew they didn't have a choice, the time for negotiation was over.
"You're trespassing werewolves!"
"How can we be trespassing on our own land?" Wyatt retorted.
"This is werewolf territory!" Wynter declared with a growl.
"I don't know anything about that. You need to leave. Now! Or we'll have to take you in!"
"We can take them!" Willa ordered, all of them growling and baring their teeth. This got Dale and the Z-Patrol to back off a little bit. But everyone was still on edge.
"Hear it getting louder a call for revolution. We came for what is ours it's time for restitution. We'll protect our own take back the stone No human nature cannot hold us down!" Willa snarled to to the Z-Patrol, she and the rest of the pack forced them farther and farther away to give them more space but they were still surrounded.
"Shredded at the bottom, way more than a whisper. No we'll never be forgotten our bloods thicker than silver. When worlds collide its do or die. So tell me is it wrong to stand your ground? We won't hide away, we aren't like the zombies, you can't chain us down!" Wyatt howled proudly.
"Here is how all or nothing, fangs are out we ain't running here is how its all or nothing. This is our declaration of our new generation. It's now or never we're in this together. We'll fight through the highs and the lows. No we won't break were more than flesh and bone." Willa, Wyatt and Wynter howled in unison.
"We will never surrender, we need our Moonstone, after you stole it. We are taking it back. Before you people destroy it forever!" Willa warned the humans and zombies surrounding them.
"Arrest them!" Dale yelled.
Several Z-Patrol guards began blowing a silvery-gray mist over the wolves. Willa could feel it entering her throat, forcing her to cough and take in choking breaths, the gas burned in her eyes and skin. The wolves were all dazed by the silver gas and Z-Patrol officers easily locked them in Zombieproof handcuffs and pulled against the wall. With the effects of the gas and their moonstones near empty, none of them had the strength to break free.
"Colloidal Silver. That will tame those beasts." Dale informed Zevon, with a smirk.
"This seems strange Dale, how did you know that will work?"
"Zed and Addison told me about them, but said they weren't dangerous, but there are some old files at Containment that talked about how silver was used to protect people from the monsters in the woods, we've even had those gas cans in storage since before the outbreak in case they ever attacked us again. And it looks like I was right to be prepared."
"Don't you think we should talk to them?"
"No, the countdown's already going on right? I'll talk to them at Containment, you keep everybody moving."
"Double Time! Everybody clear out!" Zevon announced beside Dale. The Z-Patrol was preparing to take the wolves to Containment and leave so that the demolition could remain on schedule. Many of the zombie workers resumed their final tasks before the demolition.
Willa could hear the beeps from the remote as the demolition technician armed the charges.
"I failed you." Willa gasped, still breathless from the gas. "They'll destroy the Moonstone. They'll destroy us."
"We have to keep fighting." Wyatt said beside her, struggling against his bonds, with tears running down his cheeks, both from the gas and from fear.
"Please, stop this, there's something we need. Or we'll all die." Willa choked out in desperation.
"Look, we have a schedule to keep, and it's my job to keep everyone safe, we're going to take a trip downtown. Addison told me you weren't dangerous, but I see you took advantage of her good nature. You tried to attack us for no reason. You need to calm down. We'll talk about this at Zombie Containment." Dale said sternly.
"No, you don't understand. Our Moonstone is down there somewhere and we need to take it back."
"Never heard of it. Gus, load them up. We'll continue this conversation later."
"No!" The three wolves howled and fought even more, but they couldn't break their bonds and were forced into Z-Patrol vans and taken away.
"How much time do we have?" Dale asked.
"Um, about 10 minutes." Zevon said, glancing at his watch.
Alright then, I guess I'll go deal with whatever that whole mess is. "Do you need anything Zevon?" Dale said, rubbing his forehead.
"No, we should be good, but this doesn't feel right."
"Not now Zevon, let's just get everyone out of here safely, everyone's safety is my primary concern."
"Whatever you say Dale, you know what's best."
Dale was about to hop in his own Patrol car when a familiar pink van screeched to a halt outside the powerplant, and to his surprise, Addison and her friends all jumped out and ran over to him and Zevon.
"Dad, did we beat the werewolves here? You have to stop the demolition, right now!"
"We already took care of them, and they're more dangerous than you realized Addison, they attacked us. But it's all taken care of. Gus is taking them to Containment, we'll get to the bottom of whatever their problem is. But first, you have to stay back, the demolition is about to happen, this is an active zone."
Zed turned to his dad. "You gotta stop the demolition Pops. I know how hard you worked to get this job. But if it's going to hurt the werewolves, you have to stop it."
Zevon's eyes slowly scanned the crowd of teenagers, from his son's determined face to Addison and Eliza's, he thought back to the terrified looks on the wolves' faces, looks that he knew all too well from when his friends and family were dealing by the Z-Patrol or faced any kind of hatred because they were monsters.
"You're right." He told Zed. "And Addison's right." Zevon said speaking loud enough for the whole crowd to hear. "Shut it down. Stop the detonation. Tomorrow, when it's safe we'll find what you're looking for! But right now, you can all go home!" Tell us what's going on, I'm sure we can get it sorted out, and hopefully get your friends out of containment."
"Zevon, what are you doing?"
"Doing what's right, look at them, are you really going to say no to Addison and all of them? Whatever's going on, the powerplant can wait a day or two. No harm done."
"Fine, Addison, everyone, the werewolves are already being taken to Zombie Containment, we can go meet them there and you can all explain what's going on." Dale finally agreed.
"Thanks, Dad. I promise this is all a big misunderstanding, the wolves just got scared that the powerplant would be destroyed, and they didn't think they had time left to try to negotiate."
"Well, alright, you don't need to worry about that now. Eliza, this isn't some crazy scheme of yours is it?"
"No, I swear, for once this has almost nothing to do with me, not that I'm complaining about the powerplant staying standing, in fact, how about we negotiate."
"No this is only temporary to solve your specific problem, we've already done too much planning and investment into this project to stop it for good. No arguments there."
"Seriously? You don't even understand."
"Eliza, more important matters, let's go break the wolves out of Containment." Zed reminded her.
"You know that might actually be fun. In fact, new idea, what if we demolish Containment instead of the powerplant, then everyone wins."
"Eliza, you and I have been over this many times, the powerplant is just a building, and this will bring Seabrook closer to us." Zevon sighed.
"I am not done fighting this." Eliza kept up her glare.
"How about we go get the wolves?" Zed suggested trying to change the subject once again.
"Sure, so does anyone need a ride?" Dale asked.
"We can go with Bucky." Addison said, "We'll meet you there."
"OK, Addison. Zevon, will everything be OK here?"
"Yeah, we'll just wait and make sure everything's shut down before we go home for the night."
"I can't believe I have to choose between riding in Bucky's cheer mobile or a Z-Patrol jeep and I'm willingly going to Containment for once." Eliza almost laughed out loud to herself.