"Another candy coma, Strong Bad?" A whiny voice broke him out of his daze and he opened his eyes to the round, white, elephant footed toon he called his little brother, Strong Sad.

"Gah?" Strong Bad sat up with a start. "Strong Sad... Where am I?"

"Uh..." The gloomy one stopped cleaning up candy wrappers and looked over to his older, yet smaller brother. "You're in the basement, weirdo..."

"I am?" Strong Bad shook his head. "I guess it was all a bad dream... How long was I asleep?"

"Since last night. We found you on the floor in front of the tv..." Strong Sad sighed. "Did you bump your head, Strong Bad?"

"No... Actually I don't remember..." Strong Bad held up his husky head with a gloved hand. "What day is it?"

"November first."

"The day after Halloween...."

There was a moment of uncomfortable silence as Strong Sad gave his brother his best, 'have you been into my pills again?' look. Finally he gave up and just went on his way, upstairs, leaving Strong Bad alone.

The wrestler sighed, cracking his neck. "What was that? It had to have been a dream... A candy induced dream." He yawned, slowly going up the stairs to go find breakfast. He simply pushed the dream to the back of his mind and ignored it from there.

The day went pretty normal, but Strong Bad couldn't shake the feeling something was wrong, even if he was ignoring the dream he had. Finally evening set in and he settled downstairs with a bag of chippity chips and the tv blaring unnecessarily loud. He sighed at the sounds of screaming blonds on some blob related b movie.

Then he heard a cry that wasn't part of the movie. His eyes quickly scanned his surrounding, until he saw the golden figurine on the tv. The cat stood there, seeming to be pulling away from something disgusting, or frightening.

He reached over and took it up. "Weird... I could have sweared this was a cute kitty, not a freaked one..." He ran a glove across it slowly, then dropped it as he began to cough.

It felt as through smoke was filling his lungs. Actually it felt more like smoke was filling the room. Strong Bad tried to get out of there, hurrying to the door, but as he felt something touch the back of his neck he fell and the darkness surrounded him.

When he opened his eyes again he felt stiff all over. He slowly looked around at the grass behind Homestar's house, and he was leaning against a fence. The house was nothing more than charred remains. Strong Bad went to get up, his eyes wide at the memories of Homestar's dying eyes. He found, however, that he couldn't get up. Looking down he found he was human, and Homestar's pale human form was laying in his lap. He quickly pulled out from under him and reached over to check his pulse.

Nothing.

Squeezing his eyes shut he looked away from his form. "I... I'm sorry, Homestar..." He whispered.

"Strong Bad?" He looked up to see Marzipan, Pom Pom, and who he could only assume was his little brother, Strong Sad. The pale, white haired young man with them was thick under his dark clothing, but under that possibly bleached hair were dark green eyes, so dark they were almost black.

"Meow?" Strong Bad came up with as he didn't know whether or not he was just imagining he was human. Marzipan seemed to ignore him for a moment as she turned away and leaned against Strong Sad.

That's when Strong Bad noticed, she was dressed all in black, and her hair was down.

Pom Pom frowned. "You fell asleep outside Homestar's house again, hm? Come on, guys, I have a team to coach..."

"You're so... depressing sometimes, Strong Bad..." His brother muttered before he turned to follow. "Let's go make those chocolate soy cookies for the game, sweety..."

" Depressing? Sweety?" Strong Bad wrinkled his nose at the two as they all walked off. "Hey what about--?" He looked down to where Homestar was laying dead. Instead he saw a cat laying in the grass in the body's place.

He wandered over and gently touched its bluish silver and white fur. It was a sleek short hair with pale stripes and a darker silver star on his chest. Slowly, with a bit of a purring sound, the cat opened his eyes. Two dark pupils seems to take over most of the equally dark sapphire irises.

"Homestar? Why the crap are you the cat now?" He was answered with a bit of a shrug, followed by more purring. This made Strong Bad chuckle. "You are such a dork..."

He took up the cat by his armpits and held him out for a moment. He was stared at by the same doopy expressing he was use to. This earned the Homestar cat an unimpressed glare. "Ok, this isn't funny, Dr. Kidiot. You were dead, and now you're a cat. That and I think your girl is dating my baby brother."

The happy expression faded and Homestar growled a low sound. This didn't look very intimidating as he was still being suspended by his front arms, but Strong Bad got the idea. Just like he could understand everyone when he was a cat, Homestar could too. Finally he sighed and brought the cat close, supporting him under his long thin tail and equally thin back legs. "Ok, I might as well repay you with all the nice things you did before." He muttered as he scratched behind Homestar's ear. "At least until I figure out how to understand you."

He took his cat towards his house. Seeing as Strong Sad was no longer in some mental hospital, that meant things had changed. He stopped for only a second to make sure there wasn't any police tape. Of course there wasn't, so he stepped inside.

A small guy in a spotted jacket looked up from where he sat with a newspaper in his grip. He grinned a big toothy grin at the newcomers. "Hey!"

"The Cheat?" Strong Bad blinked as the guy stood up and walked over.

"Yeah," The Cheat muttered before looking around. "You were expecting someone else?" Then he peaked up. "Hey, you got a cat!"

"Huh, yeah..." Strong Bad petted Homestar as he turned his attention to the sleek fur-ball in his arms.

"Geez man, what are you thinking.... If Strong Mad sees it that C-A-T will be going in the ways of the dinosaurs."

Strong Bad chuckled. "Not this guy. He has to be the fastest creature I've ever... Er... Seen." He thought back on how Marzipan reacted to Homestar wanting to call him Strong Bad as a cat. "That's why he's Speed. Just speed and nothing else..." He shrugged nervously at the look Homestar gave him.

"Ok... So where'd you find him?" The Cheat quietly asked, making sure his other friend wasn't about to show up.

"Just outside Ho--" He stopped himself. "I mean the field."

The Cheat blinked then rolled his eyes. "So that's where you were last night. You fell asleep outside Homestar's old place again. Holy Crap, man... You're obsessed." He sighed, expecting his friend to get angry at him. "I mean, you did everything you could... You're a bloody hero, even if you couldn't save him."

Strong Bad frowned. "He died in a fire... Didn't he?"

"You said you didn't start it... And the police proved that... You were going to go egg his house, instead you rushed in there and pulled him out. You proved..." The Cheat wrapped his arms around himself, looking away. "You proved that you'd be here for any of us, if you were willing to risk your neck for someone you didn't really like in the first place. So stop acting so guilty."

Strong Bad looked away from his short friend. "I..."

The Cheat couldn't help but roll his eyes. "You could have saved him? No, man. There's no way you could have had the foresight that his house was going to burn down. Besides, its been nearly a year and... Just get over. I'm tired of comforting you for something that was never your fault, and since when were ever guilty about anything. Its been nearly a whole bloody year, Strong Bad!"

Homestar arched his back and growled at The Cheat. This only earned him a growl back as the little blond man grew increasingly agitated. "Shut it, Speed, or I'll gnaw your face off!" Then he turned to Strong Bad. "Keep that cat out of sights if you want to keep it. If Strong Mad gets his hands on it its' not my problem!"

With that he threw down the newspaper and stormed past Strong Bad out the door, muttering something about needing a drag.

"Great, now I'm apparently the obsessed one." Strong Bad muttered. "And I'm starting to believe it too... Especially since I'm waiting to hear your annoying voice in my head."

Homestar just tilted his head and chirped a happy sound.

With a sigh Strong Bad took the cat to his room. He was a little surprised his bed wasn't covered in junk, but it wasn't made, so he wasn't so surprised. It was definitely his room, with the posters and drawings of Teen Girl Squad. He harrumphed and flopped on the bed, dropping the cat next to him. "So... Homestar, make with the talking."

The silvery tabby smirked, looked around, then realized he was itchy. First he tried to reach behind his neck with his front paw, but when that didn't work he looked irritated. He made a low sound towards Strong Bad, as though asking what he was doing wrong. Strong Bad chuckled. "I'm not sure what you're trying to do, man... Maybe if you tell me..." That gave him a sudden idea.

"Scratch me, Homestar!" He instantly regretted that as Homestar seemed to have a quick, happy 'ok!' look on his face, then swiftly slapped his claws across the closest surface of the masked man's skin. That happened to be his neck.

He shot up, pressing a hand instantly to the four thin sliced across his windpipe. He glared down at Homestar, hoarsely hissing. "What the crap? Are you trying to kill me!"

Homestar backed himself into the wall the mattress was leaning against. Strong Bad got up and hurried for the bathroom. "Ugh!"

"Gweat genius... What's his pwobwem... He said 'scwatch me, Homestawr!" Homestar sat quickly, brushing his fur upwards against the wall and looked down at the little bits of red on his paw. He sighed as guilt washed over him. "I hope I wasn't twyin to kill him..."

For a long moment the nearly white cat sat, waiting for Strong Bad to return. When he didn't Homestar decided to go find him. If there was something else he was good at, besides being a terrific athlete, it was finding (and annoying) Strong Bad.

Strong Bad looked at his reflection as the stinging antiseptic bubbled in the cuts across his neck. He wasn't originally going to use it, but after remember Homestar was sick, he wasn't going to take any chances. He was glad he did, too, even if it hurt. Judging by the bubbles there was a lot of germs there to kill.

He sighed and took up a roll of bandages, wrapping it gently across his neck. Bandages were usually a good way to indicate to people not to touch somewhere. "Great... Tell a cat to scratch me and this is what I get."

"DINOSAUR!" Came a voice from the bathroom entrance, tearing Strong Bad from his reflection. Strong Mad, in all his burly tallness had a stuffed dinosaur in each hand, holding them out. "PLAY WITH ME!"

"Not right now, big guy... I'm tired." Strong Bad quietly said, turning back to the mirror. "Maybe later, after a nap."

"HOMESTAR?" Strong Mad questioned, raising an eyebrow at his little brother. "LITTLE DOG?"

"Huh?" The middle Strong looked confused to his older, but less intelligent brother. "What are you talking about?"

"DID YOU BRING HOMESTAR THE DOG?"

"I--"

Strong Mad nodded, putting down the dinosaurs on floor outside the bathroom and disapearing. He came back quickly with a piece of paper, a pencil, and Strong Bad's drawing desk. Strong Bad frowned. "I'm not sure you seem to realize this man, but isn't Homestar, you know... Dead?"

The older brother nodded, putting it all down in the hall and putting Strong Bad in front of it. "MAKE HOMESTAR'S GHOST CRY."

"So you don't have to." The Cheat quietly said as he came from the stairs. "That's what you usually do every two or so weeks since it happened. So are you going to draw another picture of Little Brudder to put on the guy's grave, or are you finally tired of that?"

"Look, little buddy, I'm actually more than a little confused right now." Strong Bad pushed away the paper. "I'm not feeling like myself, or like I belong here... What exactly happened?"

"What exactly happened?" The Cheat repeated before muttering under his breath. "Last year you were going to egg his house, so you went ahead. By the time Strong Mad and myself got there for trick or treating you were giving a statement to the police and Homestar was getting put in the back of an ambulance."

Strong Bad nodded slowly. Then he stretched, yawning. "I see... Look guys I'm really tired. I'm going to go downstairs and catch a few..." Both of the two looked at him with wide eyes. "...Z's?"

"Too soon, man..." The Cheat muttered, rubbing the back of his neck.

Strong Bad just gave them a weird look, but neither of them seemed to want to elaborate, so he left it, for now. He went downstairs and flopped on the couch, closing his eyes.

A few minutes later Homestar joined him, and crawled onto his chest. The long bodied cat was thin enough and light enough the sleepy Strong Bad wasn't that bothered by his presence.

A few day went by with very little happening. Strong Bad didn't mind, hanging out with a cat. He wasn't excepting much to occur for a while anyways, and he was beginning to find Homestar easier to deal with as a persistently annoying cat rather than a human. He felt a little bad when he found out Coach Z died of alcohol poisoning, after Homestar was killed by that fire, but didn't bother him too long.

It did, however bother Homestar. The cat stopped eating the day he found out, and since Strong Bad still hadn't figured out how to get him to talk, he didn't even bother trying to tell anything. He laid on the couch with his head on his front paws, mindlessly watching the tv, even when it wasn't turned on.

Strong Mad came down to find his younger brother, or The Cheat, when he spotted the cat laying there. He grinned a big grin and walked over, laying a heavy hand on the tabby's head. "KITTY!"

Strong Bad was upstairs, playing video games with The Cheat, when he heard his older brother's voice boom through the house. He looked over to his smaller friend with wide eyes. "Oh crap!"

"Strong Bad, I thought you made sure that cat was good and hidden!" The Cheat hissed as he stood up. "If its got any broken bones the vet bill comes out of your pocket."

Strong Bad wasn't listening as he raced down the stairs, hoping Homestar ran, or something. When he finally stopped down in the basement, where his brother sat, cat in his massive grip not moving. Whether that was because he was still bummed, or he wasn't breathing anymore the middle Strong didn't want to take any chance.

"Strong Mad! Put the cat down." He called over, easing himself closer. "Come on, little buddy... Its not a stuffed animal." Strong Mad looked over, clearly confused, then looked down to the tabby. He refused to let go, just squeezing the silvery cat tighter. Strong Bad cringed, as he could had heard some of the bones cracking.

"KITTY'S MINE!" Strong Mad proclaimed as he stood from the couch. "I FOUND HIM!"

"No, man," Strong Bad hissed, swiping at his brother. "He's m--" He suddenly found himself staring down at a bloody paw again, but it was enough to get his titan brother to let Homestar go. Strong Bad shook his head, finding himself a cat again, then looked up to his even bigger human brother. "Well crap..." The angry monster of a man was coming down at him.

"KITTY HURT ME!" He was about to be hit by a flying fist, when something else hit him in the chest, pushing him away.

"Don't just stand thewe, Stwo-Bwo!" Homestar wheezed as he quickly limped away from Strong Mad. "Come on!" Strong Bad wasn't going to argue, despite his incredible confusion. He followed the slightly beaten silver and white tabby upstairs and out an open window.

When they were finally outside, and hiding within the bushed they both breathed heavily. Strong Mad could be heard, stomping away as he called out for a kitty and a Strong Bad. When his thunderous disturbance faded into the distance Strong Bad looked over to Homestar.

"What the crap just happened?" Homestar carefully licked his slightly crooked foreleg before answering.

"You came to wrescue me... And in a golden light a cat came out of you. You tuwned and wan off while the cat you stayed. I'm glad you can understand me now... It was kinda lonely not able to talk to you."

Strong Bad gave him a confused look, before looking away. "Ok, that's weird. Are... Are you ok, man?"

"I'll be fine." Homestar chirped, purring a deep sound as he layed down. "I just need a little nap, yanno..."

"Well ok, Homestar. I guess I'll keep watch, or something." Strong Bad peeked his head out for a second, before returning back to the safety of the bush they were hiding in. He turned his attention back to the paler tabby, who already seemed deep asleep. With a sigh Strong Bad sat, curling his tail around himself. "What in the world is going on here..." He muttered to himself.

With a bit of reluctance he walked around Homestar and laid himself around him, resting his chin on his dark paws and sighing. He wasn't tired in any way, so he had plenty of time to think as he stared off at the dirt, grass and foliage of the bush.

When the brightness of day faded, and his eyes were filled with moonlight instead Strong Bad sat up, blinking. He was starting to get hungry, for one thing, and a little bored not coming up with any ideas as to why he was suddenly a cat again, like how he began this crazy adventure. He nudged Homestar's shoulder.

"Come on, man. No point in sleeping anymore." Homestar just mumbled a reply, making Strong Bad growl. "Come on, Dorkster, we can't just stay in this bush all night."

Finally the paler cat lifted his head and yawned. "Ok, Stwong Bad. I'm up." He tried to stretch, but quickly pulled back his forearm. "Sweet genius!" He yowled, realizing he was still in much pain.

Strong Bad frowned. "Ok, I'm going to try and get some food... Stay here and wait for me." He stepped out of the bush, but instantly bumped into another cat. He turned his attention to the new feline and was surprised at what he saw.

Before them growling a low sound, was a very feral looking tabby with white and slightly greenish grey stripes. His eyes were such a pale silver they nearly looked blind in appearance.

"Whoa!" Strong Bad backed off, "Nice kitty?"

"Jerst get out of my way!" The new cat muttered in a low threatening voice. Homestar stood up to the best of his abilities.

"Coach Z, is that you?" The silvery blue eyed cat asked slowly.

The feral cat stopped, only for a second. "Hamstray? Yer lookin a lorttle under da' weather der." He crouched down low before springing over Strong Bad and pinning down the injured cat.

"What's wwong, Coach Z?" Homestar meekly questioned as he tried to struggle against the strong, older looking cat.

Coach Z dug his claws in deep. "Its yer fault I'm a trash-cat. If you hadn't berned in der fire I would've been fern." With that he bit down on the pristine fur of Homestar's neck.

The bite didn't get far, though, as Strong Bad rammed himself into the coach gone cat. They tumbled a bit of ways, landing outside of the bush.

"What the crap are you doing, man?"

Coach Z snickered as he quickly gained the upper hand, getting Strong Bad on his back. "I wers goin ta eat Hamstray... But yer'll do."

With suddenly wide green eyes Strong Bad had to push the feral Z with all his might just to keep him from biting him. That didn't stop Coach Z from swiping his face and neck with claws caked with blood dirt and garbage.

"Homestar! Help me!"

Homestar perked up, frowning as he tried to hurry over. But he was scared, and hurt. He knew he wasn't going to be much against Coach Z's brutal behavior.

Finally a good slap threw the Strong tabby across the grass. He tumbled to one side and for a moment just laid there.

"Stwong Bad? Stwong Bad?"

Slowly he opened his eyes again and got up. He stung all over, but that wasn't going to stop him from stopping Coach Z. He crept low for a moment before pouncing the savage looking tabby. Then he bit down, closing his eyes.

Strong Bad opened his eyes again suddenly. His mouth tasted like clean underwear, emails, and tomato sauce. He quickly sat up and looked down at himself. Bare fleshy stomach and red boxing gloves for his hands. Not a hair in sight. He sighed and looked around, finding himself outside his house, in the grass. The moon shone down on him.

"Are these just crazy dreams?" Strong Bad quietly questioned no one in particular as he stood, cracking his neck. Something in the bushes rustled, startling him. "Who's there?"

Slowly Coach Z came out of bushes, stretching and making a yawning sound. "Oh hey der Strong Bad. I wersn't sleeping in yer bushes or noarting."

Strong Bad stared at the Coach, wide eyed. Given his last dream, or hallucination, or whatever it was, he was freaked.

"Get out of here, you old weirdo!" He suddenly snapped, cletching his gloves tightly. "Go away!"

"Fine, fine." Coach Z defended, holding up his hands and backing away. "I'm goin."

As soon as he was gone Strong Bad grabbed his head. It was pounding like an ice cream headache mixing with blinding light and not sleeping for forty eight hours. Stumbling to the door he let himself in. He leaned against the door as soon as it was closed and slid against it, breathing deeply.

"What the crap is goin on?" He covered his husky head in his arms and knees. Eventually he fell asleep there.