Disclaimer: Hurky doesn't own C3PO from Star Wars.
Friday came very quickly. Barney spent the past day holed up in his apartment putting together the final touches on his latest creation. As he worked harder on his project, Barney stopped seeing Penny's ghost altogether. This didn't bother him, naturally. He was too bent on getting Captain Hammer. He had to stop him before he took Robin away from him. It seemed as though Penny was the last remnant of Barney's sanity, but that was gone now thanks to his lust for vengeance.
Friday was a gorgeous day. The sky was blue with a shining sun, no clouds in the sky, and perfectly warm. Ted and his friends all took the day off from their jobs just to be at the ceremony at town hall with Captain Hammer.
"I am SO psyched to be here today!" Marshall said, clutching a program of the day's events in his hands. "Like, you guys have NO idea!"
"Marshall, you're wearing your Captain Hammer T-shirt," Lily pointed out to her husband, who was wearing his Captain Hammer t-shirt along with gloves like Captain Hammer's, jeans, and sneakers. "I think we get it."
"Come on, Lily," coaxed Ted. "It's a celebration where Marshall's superhero gets honored and he gets to be onstage alongside him. Let him be happy."
"I still don't understand why you're wearing your red cowboy boots," Robin added in disgust, pointing to Ted's unstylish red cowboy boots.
"You never know when you're going to need them," Ted shot back.
Lily noticed that Barney wasn't there, seeing the seat next to her was empty. "Hey, has anyone seen Barney?" she asked, pointing her thumb at the empty chair.
"He called me and said he was going to be a little late," answered Ted, looking at his phone, checking for any missed calls or any texts, which there were none of either from Barney. "I wish he would hurry up. The ceremony's about to start any minute now."
The sound of the microphone screetching and someone thumping on it interrupted Ted's train of thought.
"Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen!" began the mayor of New York City. "Welcome to the Key to the City Ceremony for Captain Hammer!"
The crowd below began to applaud and cheer. Many were wearing t-shirts like the one Marshall was wearing. Others were holding up signs declaring WE LOVE YOU CAPTAIN HAMMER! and MARRY ME HAMMER! and waving them in the air along with balloons.
"Today is such a perfect day for such a celebration," continued the mayor. "The sun is shining, not a cloud in the sky! Crime has been reduced and volunteer work has increased thanks to this incredible man! He has also taken steps towards fighting pollution and making an effort to go green in this city. Thanks to this gentleman, our-"
As the mayor's speech went on, Marshall and Robin listened intently, with Marshall being the fanboy he was and Robin being supportive and smiling. Lily faded in and out of the speech, as was Ted, though he was lost deep in thought.
Where is Barney? he thought to himself, shifting eyes from the empty seat to in the crowd below the stage. He said he'd be here by now but he is so-
His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of C-3PO bleeping from his jacket pocket. Ted quickly grabbed his phone. 1 new message from Barney! Thank heavens! Ted opened the message and read it. What up, Ted? Hey, just ran into Sven in the GNB parking lot and I am like totally kicking their asses. Will be late to the Hammer thing.
Ted's face twisted into a grimace. "Sven..." he growled angrily. Sven was a Swedish architechtural firm that was rival to Ted's own firm. He had often lost jobs to these guys of blonde hair, sunglasses, and black leotards.
The mayor went silent and cleared his throat. "Ahem?" he asked, trying to acknowledge Ted's rudeness.
Ted blushed. "Heh heh, sorry!" he whispered. He slid his phone back into his pocket and remained silent for the remainder of the speech. Wait, Barney would never fight Sven! I think he's lying about something...
"And now, ladies and gentlemen, I present to you!" concluded the mayor. "Captain Hammer!"
The audience went wild as Captain Hammer walked onstage, waving to his fans and smiling. The mayor smiled, handed Captain Hammer a plaque with a key to the city on it, shook his hand, and took pictures with him. Finally, once the photos were done, Captain Hammer walked up to the podium to give his speech.
"Hello and good afternoon, New York City," began Captain Hammer. "I don't know what to say, other than-"
Suddenly, the sky filled quickly with thick, gray clouds, and snow began to lightly drift down from them. The audience gasped in shock and amazement.
"Ah, a little snow," Captain Hammer chuckled until he realized something. "Wait a minute, that's not natural snow, that's-"
"-Miss me?" yelled a familiar voice.
Everyone turned to the very end of the audience to see Dr. Horrible, standing there in his red coat, goggles over his eyes, hands behind his back, and grinning evilly.
"Dr. Horrible," Captain Hammer said with a grin. "So, we meet again."
"Naturally," said Dr. Horrible. "I can't believe you had the guts to actually show your face around here."
"I can't believe YOU had the guts!" Captain Hammer shot back.
"Shut up!" cried Dr. Horrible. "Remember the elementus stone back at the museum? Well, as you all know, it's in my posession and I used it to make my latest creation!"
He moved his hands from behind his back to reveal a giant ray gun with the elementus stone embedded in it.
"Presenting!" he declared. "The Elementarius 5000! Capable of changing the weather! I can make it perfectly sunny, blazing hot, or blistering cold! And to prove I'm not bluffing..."
Dr. Horrible pointed his gun at the sky and shot at it, causing the clouds to grow darker and the snow to fall harder along with some wind to blow.
"Make it stop!" yelled the mayor.
"Only if Captain Hammer meets my demand!" yelled Dr. Horrible. "Either he leaves and never shows his face here again or I'll take his beloved girlfriend, Robin!"
Captain Hammer jumped off the stage to charge at Dr. Horrible. "You will never take my girl and I will never leave this city!"
Dr. Horrible smiled. "Oh. Well that's too bad," he said.
He took out a smartphone-like device, pressed a button on the touchscreen, causing the floor underneath Robin's chair onstage to give in. Robin screamed as she fell in and the trapdoor closed up. Captain Hammer along with Ted, Marshall, and Lily stared at Dr. Horrible in horror and anger.
"Come and find us, Hammer," laughed Dr. Horrible, running away into the nearby alleys.
"Someone stop him!" shouted Lily.
Captain Hammer began to chase after Dr. Horrible, but unfortunately, due to blizzardlike conditions, he slipped and fell onto the sidewalk, flat on his back.
"Oh no..." squeaked Captain Hammer. "My back..."