Author's Notes: Yes, I know it's been a long time. Seriously and deeply, I apologize to the readers of this fanfic. Though I can finally say my hiatus is over and I should be getting back to my normal schedule. Sorry, and without any more delay, here!

Chapter 10: Masque

The doors to the café opened wide. All of it's customers looked up and saw Double D walking in. From behind him, the rest of his group walked with him. However, his non-human friends where all covered in bed-sheets.

The group of people inside of the café all rose eyebrows.

"What the heck's up with them?" One of the customers asked.

Eddy's brother reached the counter, placing a 50 dollar bill down.

"Replace the tires on the Flame-painted van outside. Fill her up, too. And get one of those workers there to get us a set of donuts, will ya?" Eddy's brother asked.

"Right away, sir." the cashier said, before walking toward his fellow workers to spread the news.

"Let's find a table, huh guys? I'm famished." Eddy's brother said.

The group walked towards a series of seats.

"I'm burning under this thing, can't I at least take it off for a second?" Eduardo jr asked.

"We can't risk anything right now." Double D said.

"Besides, I could use some food, I'm so hungry right now." Eddy said.

"Eddy, we had breakfast before we left." Eddy's bro said. "They're for the road."

"Aw, bro…" Eddy sighed.

"When you pay for something, then you call the shots, but for now, I say we save them for later." His elder brother said.

"It's only fair, Eddy." Double D said.

"Yeah, whatever." Eddy said.

The group under the sheets stayed quiet. Double D sighed and looked down. "Sorry, but was can't risk anything so soon." Double D said.

The sock-headed kid looked to his left and saw a single customer at the counter. It was a female, with red hair and a green sweatshirt that was open. She also had a blue skirt, and blue shoes with orange socks.

"Hello, what can I do for you?" the cashier asked.

She placed a set of dollar bills on the counter. "I'll need about 50 boxes of donuts."

"Fifty boxes?" Eddy asked Double D. "That's more then Ed eats!"

The red-head sighed and slapped her head. "Oh, this is a real pain." She said. "Why can't someone else get dinner for once?"

The group watched on, as the clearly aggravated red-haired woman sighed. "I mean, the house surely has some friends that can cook or get dinner, so why do I have to always?"

"Miss, your donuts are here." the one at the counter said. A huge stack of boxes was hauled in.

"Thanks. Can you just load them onto the bus like always?" she asked.

"Sure thing." the one at the counter said.

"Then she owns that bus I saw earlier…" Double D thought. "But who is this, and why does she need so much food?"

The woman turned back and looked right at Double D's group. She instantly froze, in wonder about his friends which where concealed under blankets.

"…you guys alright?" She asked.

"They are fine." Double D said. "Thanks for your concern, but we should be going soon."

The group got up from their seats, but the red-headed one just got closer.

"Are you sure. I mean, are the hurt or something? There's a hospital a few miles south of here." she said.

"Look lady, they ain't sick." Eddy's brother said. "Just do us all a favor and hit the road."

She woman replied with an aggravated growl. "Well then, try to help out someone once and awhile, and they just slap you in the face." she began to walk off.

"I apologize for his behavior." Double D said. "He didn't mean that."

She turned back. "Well then, what is going on then?"

"Well, it's hard to say." He said.

"You should probably lose the sheets." the red-headed one said. "I can think they would have a hard time breathing under there."

"She's not kidding." Eduardo jr said under his blanket.

"See?" She asked. She walked toward the group.

"Wait, don't!" Jimmy shouted.

It was too late. The redheaded woman had already reached the for a few of the blanket's. In a swift movement, she pulled them off, revealing his otherworldly friends.

"No, not so soon!" Double D thought.

The rest of the group gasped as well, terrified at what may be about to occur.

The red-haired one didn't respond. "…and… you had them covered why?"

Double D gasped. "Does she even notice they aren't human?"

She looked over toward Double D, noticing his look of surprise.

"Well, I suppose it's common." She said. "People don't like to show they still have imaginary friends, but this is kind of extreme, don't you think?"

Double D rose an eyebrow. "Imaginary friends? Certainly you jest." Double D said. "Why, there's no such-"

Eddy decided that it was time to intervene. He rushed toward Double D and placed both of his hands over his mouth.

"Yeah, that's what they are. Imaginary friends." Eddy said.

His otherworldly friends blushed and wove their hands. Well, the ones that could wave hands.

"…do you have a place to stay at? I mean, your group is rather large." she said.

"Not really." Jimmy said.

"You came all the way out here and don't have a place to stay?" She asked.

Double D had never thought of that before. It had been a while, and their great haste has failed to make any sort of reservations at any hotel.

"…I suppose not." Double D said.

Doopliss, who had been sitting down in the back of the room, gave a sigh. "Ok, I'm getting' bored. I say we head off. How's about you, slick?" he asked, pointing to Double D.

"…erm, slick?" the woman repeated. "Is that your name?"

"No, of course not." Double D said. "I am Eddward. My friends call me Double D, though.

"…that's cool." She said. "Nice to meet ya. My name is Frankie-"

Suddenly, the door burst open. All of the diner's occupants gave a gasp. Slowly yet surely, a middle-sized lean man walked through the doorway. His black shoes echoed as he stepped through the gateway. His pants where also black, leading all the way up to his white suit. His face was concealed underneath a white mask that slightly resembled the mask of Ms. Mowz's, which otherwise looked like he belonged in a masquerade. Brown, wavy hair covered up most of his head. He was giving an ominous smile.

The customers of the diner gasped and ducked beneath their tables. Frankie woman also dove beneath a table.

"Whuz everyone doin'?" Eddy asked.

"Don't you know who that is?" Frankie replied in a whisper.

"…nope." Eddy replied.

"That guy's been on wanted posters all over the area." She said. "They say he's responsible for all sorts of kidnappings and robberies. Nobody knows his real name, so people call him after his trademark item: Masque."

"How awful." Vivian said.

The man slowly walked toward the counter. The startled people gasped.

"…can… I help you?" the clerk asked.

"I won't beat around the bush." Masque said. "I'm looking for a woman by the name of Frances Foster."

Frankie gave a gasp and hid under the table. "…what does he want with me?"

The clerk looked down at the table where Frankie was hiding, and spotter her shaking her head in distress.

"She ain't here." the clerk said.

Masque reached for the clerk's tie and pulled him toward himself.

"This isn't a joke." Masque said. "I know that she comes here every day around this hour. Tell me, where is she?"

"Hey, you!" a voice sprung out.

Everyone at Double D's table gasped. Eduardo jr was boldly standing on top of the table, pointing at Masque.

"ARE YOU MAD?" Koops asked, before diving under the table.

"…what the heck-" Masque asked. "Do my eyes deceive me, or are there monsters before me?"

"Hey pal, we're not monsters!" Eduardo jr shouted.

"Wait, hold up Eduardo." Goombella said. She jumped up onto the table. "…uh, yes, we are like, monsters!"

"Hm…" Masque said calmly, before giving out a small devious smile. "Really, now?"

"Yes!" Goombella said. "And if you even try to do anything to Frankie, we'll-um eat you?"

Double D could sense the amount of confusion coming from Goombella.

"Eat me?" Masque asked. "By the looks your face, I'd say you prefer muffins over people."

Goombella looked back, remembering the huge amounts of breakfast they had got.

"But really, that's aside the point." Masque said. 'What's more amusing then your pathetic intimidation tactics…" he held an arm up to his face to cover his mouth while he let out a chuckle. "…is that fact that you are actually standing up to me. Do you realize who you're talking to?"

"Who cares?" Rolf asked. "As the son-of-a-Shepard refuses to let you cause harm to Frankie-Girl!"

"Aha!" Masque said. "Then Francis is present!"

"Vivian!" Eddy shouted. "Make a diversion!"

"What?" she asked, looking at Eddy. He grabbed her abruptly and grabbed her hand, forcing her to point right at Masque.

"Eddy, don't!" Double D shouted.

"Do it, Vivi!" Eddy shouted. "Make fire!"

Vivian gave him a confused look. "Uh-Fire!"

Suddenly the tip of her hand gave a flash. A huge burst of fire erupted. Masque gasped and grabbed onto the edge of his mask. He then jumped and avoided the blast. The fire struck a wall, setting it to flames.

The room erupted into a frenzy of chaos.

"Now!" Eddy shouted, pointing at the door. "Let's scram!"

The group picked up, dragging Frankie along with them as the bolted out of the door in a single-file line.

The group rushed outside screaming. Double D looked back to the diner, as he could see smoke rising from the windows. "Come back!" He shouted. "We need to put out the fire!"

"No time!" Mario shouted. "Masque's coming!"

Masque was running out of the building, heading right for them.

"Go!" Frankie shouted. She ran for her bus. She jumped on the seat, ignoring the fact that she left the doors to the bus open. She looked back into the vacant bus before turning the key to the ignition. The bus gave a loud rev, before speeding out of it's spot, and over a patch of grass and onto the highway.

The other cars that belongs to the group speed off afterward, with Eddy's flame van in the lead, then Mario's sport's car, and Marie's trailer. Double D's car was in the rear. Double D, through the rear-view mirror, gave one last look at the diner that was now caught a-flame. Though at the same time, he spotted a jeep rushing down the road.

"That freak's still after us!" Eddy shouted.

"We got-a stop him!" Mario shouted.

"How are you going to do that?" Peach asked.

"I'll take care of it." Double D said. He opened up the window, and held his head out.

"Jimmy, hold the wheel steady!" he shouted.

Jimmy grabbed the wheel with both hands. Double D pointed out of his window as Masque's jeep.

"Double D, don't kill him!" Vivian shouted.

"I won't!" Double D said back. "I'm going to try and blow out his tires!"

The passengers of the other cars all looked out to watch.

"Fireball!"

A small fireball flew from his hand. It shot backwards, headed strait for the jeep. There was a loud pop-sound, as the jeep's wheels began to let out smoke. They could hear Masque giving a scream. The driver's seat burst open, and Masque jumped from his jeep, just before it skidded off the road and smashed into a telephone poll.

Double D grabbed the wheel again with one arm, and with the other, picked up a radio. "We better get out of here now."

"Where to, then?" Marie asked.

There was suddenly a bit of static. "Thanks a lot for the help. I think I will go home now, I need to rest."

"Let us come with you." Double D said.

"…what? Why?" She asked.

"A criminal came after you." Double D said. "Somehow, you're in danger. We should escort you back home, at least until we can make sure the authorities can investigate this."

Author's Notes: Short and simple, I know. Masque is my own personal creation, and thus I have all right to his character's name. And if you haven't figured out the crossover by now, I'd be surprised (well, maybe some of the readers never heard of it anyway). I'll try to have the next one up much faster now.