A/N:

So… let the plan commence XD Sorry for grammar and spelling mistakes, it's like 4.30 am and my editing is not what it's meant to be, lol!

*Talia's POV*

It's so dark in my dreams… And damp where the walls and floor were soaked in ink. It stained my skin and bubbled within me. I didn't want to be this. Anger and fear pushed it from me. But I knew that if I ever let it free, then there would be less chance of pulling it back. I'm not a mindless creature, I'm me. I'm Talia Nolan. I will not allow what I can control to take over me for a second. This needed to be put to be stopped. Both this, and this feud with R.J. I didn't want him having this ability to bring this side out of me. It was going to take a lot of strain, I knew this. But for the good of the others, and myself… I must keep in control…

*3rd Person POV* (because I haven't done it in a while and if we could see into one of the characters minds at this point, then there'd be too many spoilers XD)

The Warner's walked side by side as the headed out. They were alone, looks of mischievous determination fixed on their faces as they marched. They knew where they were going and weren't turning back for anyone. The plan was in motion and with any luck it would work out. This needed to be done and if this was the best way to do then, then that's that. Knowing that the others were alright gave them a push forward. But then again, they were Warner's through and through; it could have just as well been the thrill of adventure that urged them on.

Like R.J had told Yakko just the afternoon prior, it didn't take that long to arrive at their destination. Or rather what they assumed was their destination. After all, all R.J had done was simply point them in the general direction of where he was hidden. Before long, even they didn't know where they were going, let alone which way they'd just come from. But they remained adamant that this was the right way. After all, they'd stuck to the one simple direction. Right?

"Well this is going to a great start." Dot stated sardonically, "Are you sure you know where we're going?"

"As sure as Rhianna knows those high-high boots are a good idea." Yakko answered confidently.

Wakko tilted his head, "So you're clueless."

"Pretty much." He scratched his head and looked around, "You know it's times like this the villain laughs off in the distance before emerging dramatically and claims he's been expecting us or something…"

There was an expectant pause, interrupted by Dot placing her hands on her hips, "You really thought that was gonna work?"

"Worth a shot."

"Hey guys, R.J has a thing for creepy buildings, right?" Wakko asked and upon waiting for his siblings clarification, he continued with a casual point to the side, "That seem like a good enough place?"

Not too far off was a simple shack of sorts, pretty hidden in the midst of the overgrown and almost unnoticeable if it wasn't pointed out. It was a decent size, enough that there could be at least three rooms in there, an upstairs didn't look likely. But considering they were live animated characters wondering around a town designed for toons, they didn't hold much for visual judgments. It looked run-down, and forgettable. But most of all, it looked abandoned. And that was the selling point.

"Looks about right to me." Dot agreed, "He really needs to change his style."

"But if he did that then he just wouldn't be the same creepy-lunatic-psycho-with-anger-issues we know and love." Yakko insisted.

"That's a shame." Wakko snickered.

That was one thing the three could not be faulted on. The ability to pull a slither of humour into a situation that would otherwise be filled with tension and anxiety. Not that they weren't nervous. They just had more of a sense of adventure and eagerness to drown it out and vastly outsize it. And with that settled in their minds, they pressed on. All the while they felt as though eyes were fixed on them. But they didn't mind so much. Sure it gave a few effective goosebumps here and there, but at the end of the day it gave them a signal that they were heading in the right direction.

Pushing the doors open with an ominous creak, they noted the inside as being surprisingly clean. One large room containing nothing but a battered beige sofa and a door leading to another room. Feeling that they didn't have a choice, after all agreeing that at least R.J could keep a tidy home, they peered around the corner of the next door, being sure to keep the front door wide open just in case of, well, anything really. In here, there was an active computer on a wooden desk, a sturdy metallic briefcase beside it, sealed shut. Again, there was another door. But they were more interested in the case to think about rushing off an investigating some more.

"Do we dare?" Yakko asked knowingly.

"I dare you." Dot replied smugly.

"Well I dare Wakko."

"I dare Dot!"

"Now that we agree that we do in fact dare," Yakko clapped his hands together to get their attention, "It's only fair to carry it out."

"Agreed." The siblings chanted.

They curiously stepped closer, Wakko poking his finger into the section under the handle where a button was fixated. The lid of the case sprang open and the trio's eyes widened as they set on the content. It was padded for extra security. The protected objects was an empty syringe, and a palm-sized bottle filled with an electric-blue liquid. However they didn't have enough time to examine it before the sound of footsteps could be heard behind them. Turning around, they came to notice the cynical figure in the doorway. The thick-framed glasses, bulbous balding skull and the ever formal suit made him instantly peaceable.

"Nice place you got here," Yakko nodded, "Really a step up from the last place you set up shop."

"Shop…" R.J mused, "Funny you should say that."

"Why? Having a change in career?" Dot asked, "Yeah I hear prison doesn't pay well."

"Oh, I won't be going back there." He said calmly, eyes slowly scanning the room and seeming a little sceptical at only seeing the three toons, "So, it's just you."

"Don't sound too disappointed." Wakko pouted.

"Oh I'm not. Either way, it makes no difference to me. You'll all come crawling here sooner or later."

"Uh-huh." Dot waved her hand passively and looked back at the case, "What's this stuff?"

"Nothing you need to worry about unless I'm the one holding it."

"And if we were to hold it?" Yakko challenged, hovering a hand readily over it.

"Then you'd know what it does and have no regrets in using it on yourselves, or someone else, you'd only need it once."

At that, Yakko retracted with an air of uncaring. But wheels were turning in his head that allowed things to slot into place. Using this stuff on themselves, or on someone else… just once. It couldn't be rosehip, that was a different colour and in all was just a temporary trick. So if this stuff was a one-time deal… It was a death penalty for them, but for someone else, a second chance maybe.

"Someone's been busy with the chemistry set." Yakko smirked, "So now you've got two ways to do us in."

"Well it's always good to have options." Dot said sympathetically.

"Yes it is. Too bad for you they're running out."

"I thought that was time." Wakko questioned, mimicking the action of tapping his fingers on an invisible watch much like R.J had done in the past.

"Time is running out." He clarified, adjusting the syringe carefully, "For you. You see, you're not going to be around for much longer."

"Roadtrip? Great, where're we going?" Wakko asked.

"Hey now, what've I taught you about going travelling with people who have a vendetta against us?" Yakko scolded.

The siblings huffed, "Make sure they're paying."

"Haven't I taught them well?"

R.J narrowed his eyes in pure hatred. The way they so openly ignored the fact that the very item that would end them right there, and with no ink spilled like a blade would ensue, made his blood boil. He did not exactly care if they gave the reactions he wanted, he'd still get his way. Although some kind of fear would be appreciated. But then again he'd have to improvise at this point. In all the options he'd predicted, such as the elder abomination appearing alone or having Miss. Nolan in his place, even having to track them down himself; he did not foresee all three creatures appearing together and so willingly. He knew that the others would not be far behind once they realised that the creatures had run off alone. All he had to do was wait. And there was nothing stopping him from disposing of them while he waited.

"If I remember correctly, you were taught better lessons by me back in the day."

"Oh don't start all that again." Yakko rolled his eyes pointedly, "You were a jerk leaving us with a childhood trauma that Scratchy is taking care of thanks for asking, and you're still a jerk."

"You undermine me, but it's pointless. At the end of the day, you're finished. Sooner or later, all that the Fleischer's stood for, all that could have been mine, will end. Starting with you."

"Why?" Wakko asked.

"You made them abandon responsibility, you made them neglect what they should have been giving priority to. And don't think I'm unaware of the origins of this town either." He smirked, "It's amazing what you can get from computers today, isn't it."

It was not unknown that R.J wanted to be rid of the Warner's because they marked the affection and attention that should have been given to more important things. And this town did not help the matter. The Fleischer's, one being his father regrettably, could have gained so much. The very thing he himself aimed for, this power, they could have already gained and perfected by now. It was misuse of power and authority. And he hated them for it. So he wanted all proof of that ignorant weakness to be eliminated. All of it. And by luring the experiments here, he could continue his work to make sure he finished the job with a result worth keeping.

"Yeah well, ya see, while you've been rambling, and let's face it that's the nicest way we can put it," Yakko stated, "It's been more like you underestimating us."

"As usual." Dot smirked.

"Yeah, you think we're bad, but really, we're just doing what we always to around weirdo's like you." Wakko added simply.

"And prey tell what that might be?" R.J snarled.

The Warner's stole glances at one another. Not of nervousness, it wasn't their style. It was a knowing look that only they knew the meaning of. Because, as they'd been talking, they'd made sure to keep firm eye-contact with the man at all times. Slowly, one step at a time, they'd edged around, subconsciously signalling for R.J to do the same. It was a natural instinct. If you see someone start to circle you, the first thing you do is match their stance. For every step they take, you do likewise. Even if you don't know it. And that's what R.J had just fallen victim to.

"We're distracting." Wakko grinned.

"A distraction to be exact." Dot shrugged.

Yakko winced, "Oh, and we're sorry for this cliché but…"

The three grinned from their newfound position in the doorway, where R.J was not in front of the computer and open case. Just as he realised the accidental switch, the trio chanted a smug and childlike: "Look behind you."

*Yakko's POV* (yay for insight and opinions! XD)

Oh it was so worth all this playing around just to see the old man's face harden in anger as he turned around slowly after the good old switcheroo. Now don't you start underestimating us, you don't think that as soon as he turned his back we were going to run for it do you? Heck no! You see while the switch was happening, R.J didn't see or hear the light steps of a certain kiddo walking behind him all the way. The minute he set eyes on her, there was a brief moment when he wasn't sure if he should deliver a supposedly intimidating sneer, or jump back in surprise. Kiddo however… did not give him the time to figure it out before giving a solid punch to the jaw and sending him stumbling to the wall for support.

Yikes I could see those eyes getting a little dark but nothing to worry about, but some steam needed to be let off. She glared at the guy and said what we were all pretty much thinking, "I can't believe you fell for that one…"

Yep, you guessed it! Me and the sibs made a fake-out 'go it alone' trip and had kiddo follow. And then this happened. Not the best dynamic destruction planning ever but hey, it got the job done. And anyway, getting too complex with planning is like R.J going through all this trouble, or like Nostalgia Critic trying to quit his job: it's just not worth the hassle.

Cue Jar-Head barging in and struggling with the loon to keep him still. R.J must be getting desperate, he started laughing, "You really think this'll work?"

"From where we're standing, yep." Dot shrugged.

"You see we've been thinking long and hard about this." I shrugged.

"Introducing you to my pet..." Dot mused.

"But that was far too comical."

"Then we figured we'd polish up the mallets." Wakko added.

"Now that was a strong contender, but that'd be a little cliché. But then we came up with something that even you didn't see coming…" I grinned devilishly, siblings joining me in drumming fingers together and waiting patiently as the tension started to build until I started to see the slightest glimmer of curiosity behind the man's eyes. And just like that, I concluded his plan, "He's all yours, kiddo."

"What?" not only kiddo, but the sibs and Jar-Head demanded.

What? I was serious. The guy had done nothing but give her a hard time to say the least, all of us in fact, but at the end of the day, look at those eyes. If they had any more pressure building up and there'd be one angry scribble running around. Besides, you know us, we get laughs through awkward situations and dropping the odd anvil. If we do that now, aren't we just acting out what R.J thinks we are anyway? Heck don't get me wrong I love living up to peoples expectations, especially my nurses out there, hehe… But on this case I'll pass. So that honour moves on to kiddo. Seems fair, right? What can I say I'm just loving to be unpredictable today, I may just get a job to boot! Uuuuhhh-On second thought I'll just take baby steps.

"Yakko?" Kiddo asked, "Not after last time…"

"Why not give in, Miss. Nolan?" R.J mocked, "It was so entertaining last time."

Jar-Head gripped his arms tighter, "Don't you dare say anything to her."

"Then why don't I ask you, for help?"

"That doesn't work on me. You know that."

By the looks of it, R.J did know and was just humouring him, "You don't say…"

"Shut up!" Kiddo cried, looking ready to hit him again but holding back, "Just..."

Here comes the headaches. Kiddo gave me last look before giving in. And there was the black. Heck I wasn't totally complaining I mean the Warner look was good on her; who wouldn't want a bit of us in them? But I had to admit, what she was gonna do with it wasn't exactly in my taste. So I shoved my hands in my pockets and turned on my heel. If didn't like it, I sure didn't have to see it. Sure they were just gonna knock the guy out which is less then the guy deserved, but meh, we have our preferences. But instead of the sounds I was expecting from last time this happened, I didn't hear anything.

So, I swallowed my pride and turned my head. You heard it here folks, pride is a bitter thing to swallow but I did it. And I wasn't exactly sorry for it either. Turns out it was old Jar-Head who was dragging off R.J. As far as I was concerned, they were heading away which was good enough for me. Bound and Jar-Head secured, he wasn't going anywhere. Not bad work actually. But what surprised me most was having Kiddo with her hand on my shoulder. Sure I was pretty pleased, but to heck if I was going to show it.

"What happened to putting an end to it and getting your own back, Rambo?" I asked, not shrugging her off but giving her a sarcastic eyebrow arch.

"I guess there wasn't any point in letting something I'm not take over me. And besides…" she gave me a playful nudge, "I've got you're high expectations to keep, remember?"

I smirked and nudged her back, "Yeah, and don't you forget it. Priss."

"I'd never do that, Pervert."

A/N:

So just to clarify, Jack is taking R.J back to the studio in wait for the police arrive, Talia managed to keep in control and the Warner's now know that R.J has in fact created a permanent 'cure' for the Nolans and Jacks 'toonism', and that the same thing can also kill a toon. More on that in the next chapter!

I'm sorry if you were expecting more combat or stuff, but this is Animanaics, a childrens show that goes on visual gags and clever jokes, I had to keep in character! I really hope I haven't disappointed you guys, but remember, there's still four more chapters left! Don't leave me yet XD I love you guys for sticking with me this far!