Chapter 5: Thinking Of You
Gerry was thinking about how to get to Bentley and how to kill him, his family, and the rest of the TTC without them knowing. That's when he had a bigger and better idea. He said to himself, "I need someone to keep them busy while I set my bombs around the premises. Time to call some old friends of mine..." He took out his cell phone, dialed a number, and said into it, "Hello? Vega, Balrog, Sagat and Akuma? It's me, Gerry. I need your help."
They met him at Gerry's secret hotel embedded somewhere in the forest. Holding his mask, Vega said, "So, who are the targets you want us to take care of?"
Gerry replied, "Akuma, you'll take on the Tiny Toons team, since Alex II will be with them. Vega, you'll take the Raccoons team, Sagat will take the Road Rovers team, and Balrog will take the Pound
Puppies team. And while you're at it, I'll set up some things."
"Yes," said Akuma. "Since Alex II's power is also Master of the Hadoen, he will be a good change to me."
But what they didn't know is that Gerry's new plan would fail, thanks to the power of reaffirmed love--that's what Bert Jr. and Nose Marie did that night. Having been separated from her beloved husband to be with her team, Nose Marie hasn't been herself lately. A few years ago, when she was struck by the De-Maternalizer that Morgana had shot at her during the TTC's last showdown with their nemesis, Nose Marie couldn't get over the joys of being a mother. She and Bert Jr. had already adopted a child, but every time she looked back at that haunting memory, she broke down and cried. "Adoption was good enough," she thought. "But, oh! How I so wanted to be a real mother again!"
That very night, Nose Marie sat at the edge of a cliff. She put a paw on her belly and sighed. Her reproductive system had finally been healed after three years, and this was her big chance to try to get pregnant again. However, Bert Jr. wasn't around to fulfill her wish--he was with the Raccoons team at the time. Nose Marie sighed again. Along with a desire to become a new mom, there was a desire to be with her husband at all times.
Bright Eyes came up to her and said, "Nose Marie, what's wrong?"
"It's about Bert Jr.," answered Nose Marie. "He's been away from me since I got my reproductive system back."
"So have mine, but Rocky isn't around me, either."
Nose Marie looked up at the full moon in the sky, shining bright and distributing its beams all around a few spots of the forest--including the cliff where she had sat. She sighed again. The glowing full moon reminded her of the night she and Bert Jr. first met. Bright Eyes said, "Well...if you need anything, I'll be in the tent." And she left Nose Marie sitting alone in the moonlight, to gaze at the same shining object that has since captivated her during her courtship with her husband.
The brightness of the moon, the stillness of the night, and the soft chirping of crickets in the bushes lulled the Pound Puppy to sleep. After what seemed like about an hour, someone cautiously approached her and put his paw on her shoulder. Nose Marie woke up and looked up to see who it was. It was her husband. She moaned, "Bert Jr.? What are you...?"
Bert Jr. put a finger to his lips and shushed her, saying, "Come with me. We have to be quiet."
"Why?" whispered Nose Marie.
"If you'll come with me this way, I'll tell you."
Without hesitating, Nose Marie followed her raccoon husband out of the Pound Puppies camp into the deep glade right in the middle of the forest. As they sat on a solitary rock, Bert Jr. explained the reason why he left his post to come to get her. He said, "I'm sorry if I had been away from you too long--we just haven't been very close recently, even though we're married and with a kid. But then, something told me that you had healed from that De-Maternalizer injury Morgana inflicted on you years ago. And I was wondering if we could ever do it again."
"We could," said Nose Marie. "But I'm not so sure."
Bert Jr. gave her a pice of paper and said, "I wrote this while I was still standing guard with Dad and his friends in the southern part of the forest. I was hoping if you'd like it."
Nose Marie proceeded to read Bert Jr.'s poem.
From what I see behind those big brown eyes,
There's a beautiful world the likes I've never seen,
From what I see on your little flower on your head,
There's a heavenly scent reminiscent of a crowned queen,
And from your dress so purple and fine
I thank the heavens that you are mine
My dear Pound Puppy, I love you so true,
Yet you don't even know that I've been thinking of you.
Nose Marie smiled and gave Bert Jr. a tender hug. She whispered happily, "Oh, Bert Jr., you shouldn't have!"
Bert Jr. smiled. After giving her a kiss, he said, "Let's make this the best night we've ever had in the years of our life together..."
Meanwhile, Vega and his pals were off to strike the TTC. When he spotted the Raccoons camp, he smiled evilly and whispered, "Now, I've got you where I wanted you." Bert and Ralph were sitting at a campfire, toasting marshmallows. Jus then, they heard some rustling from the bushes not very far away. Ralph said, "Did you hear something, Bert?"
"Oh, that must be that deer again," answered Bert, chuckling. "I guess he's back for a second helping of some of my popcorn."
But it wasn't a deer--in an instant, Vega jumped out, exposing his one "clawed" hand. The Raccoons team were taken by surprise. Bert shouted, "It's Vega! Everybody, quick! Get out your guns!" It was then that they knew the battle had only just begun.