Author's Notes: Ah, another delay, but my school is getting out soon, so after that, I may be able to update faster. Not that the first arc is moving right along, expect my twists, events, and more. As well as a few emotions played with in this chapter. Enjoy:

Chapter 12: Terrance and Mac

"Gather around, everyone!" a voice said. "I have an important announcement to make!"

Everyone in the lunch room turned their attention to the front side of the long table. One of the so called "imaginary friends" was in the end of the long table. Everyone sitting there, of all shapes and sizes, stopped talking and all paid their attention to the one that had called their attention.

This was what appeared to be a rabbit of sorts, gray with a white belly, and a gray, old moustache. He had an small black suit on, and an eyeglass over his left eye. This one also had a top hat. By the overall look of this one, he was probably of a very high status in the house, possibly a staff member.

"I have an important announcement that I must say to everyone in his house." he said.

"Aw cute, who's the bunny?" Jimmy asked Madame Foster.

The old woman gave a quiet chuckle to herself. "You like? He was my creation when I was a little girl. I call him "Mr. Herriman." I guess you could say he's the oldest here. He used to be such a careless little guy, but my, the years have really made him one serious hare. Come to think of it, it's almost as old as I am." She gave another chuckle. Jimmy joined her in the quick chuckle.

"Anyway…" She went on. "He was around when I first founded this house, to take in imaginary friends. I offered him the position of president almost 17 years ago, when I first founded this place. So aside from me, he make all of the calls around here."

"Excuse me, Madam?" Herriman asked.

"Oh, my bad." Foster replied. She turned toward Jimmy and whispered in his head: "But he's a little bit of an extreme rule follower."

"Well then, friends. I have heard a story this morning, about some sort of attack on Ms. Francis."

Frankie scoffed quietly and lowered herself in her seat.

"It seems that she was at a local restaurant, but unfortunately got attacked by someone. This someone, is none other then the notorious Masque, who has been eluding authorities for months now. Since his target is clearly Ms. Frances, I have no choice but to enstrengthen security in the building."

Everyone's curiosity had been reached, and everyone in the room was looking over at Herriman.

"First off, the curfew is at 5 PM." Herriman began.

Everyone in the room gave a groan.

"Second…" Mr. Herriman continued, ignoring the others' complains. "I will have guards blocking every door of the staff's rooms and main hallway. Unless you are an imaginary friend or staff members, you won't be allowed to pass."

"My, my, such strict new laws." Ms. Mowz said.

"Pardon for interrupting…" Rolf said. "But, has anyone seen Double D-Edd boy, Eddy-boy, or the first born of Eddy's kinfolk?"

"Weird, no." Koops said.

"I also noticed that Wilt, Eduardo, Bloo, Coco, and Mac are missing." Herriman said. "I would appreciate it if someone would go and find them."

"Don't fret." Vivian said, getting up. "I'll go for a search."

"I'm going to go too." Eduardo jr stated, getting up from his seat.

They both began to walk away from the table.

"Be careful, it's easy to get lost in those halls." Frankie said.

As soon as they walked away, most of the hero visitors also decided to get up.

"That was-a very nice-a meal." Mario said. "Though we should get going soon."

"Oh, you want to leave already?" Frankie asked. "I mean, you guys all just got here. Isn't there anything else we can do?"

"Oh, thank you." Peach said. "You have all be very hospitable, but we really must get going. There's something urgent we need to go and take care of."

"Very well then." Herriman replied.

Double D had walked all the way up to the roof. He was observing the area below, looking down on the streets. It was quite a ways down from the top. He felt like being perched atop a tower in a city.

"Strange… this house resembles that of a castle." he thought, aloud. The boy walked away from the rails and proceeded back towards the door, leading back into the house itself. As soon as he reached it, the door opened up. Behind it were Bloo and Mac. Both of them ran out, laughing as they ran, passing Double D on by. The confused sock-hat boy looked back at the two, seemly playing a game.

"That was a lot of fun, wasn't it?" Bloo asked.

"Totally." Mac replied.

The brunette-haired boy looked around. "…so, now what do you want to do?"

"I say we do some more gloating." Bloo said. "We found one of the coolest treasures in the world!"

"Yeah, who would have thought?" Mac asked.

Double D smiled. "You two found treasure?"

"Oh yeah, it's this really cool-" Mac wanted to continue, but Bloo stopped.

"No Mac, it's our treasure, not his." he said.

"Hm… whatever you want." Double D said. "…I can just sympathize. You see, me and my friends came a very long way. We're also looking for something. A treasure, you know?"

"Oh cool!' Mac said. "So you're explorers? Or like treasure hunters?"

Double D smiled. "Well, there's more to it."

"Can you tell us? You know, about your explorations?" Mac asked.

Double D frowned. "…well, just like you guys said about your treasure, the things we have done are better left unknown to the public. It's been… amazing. You see, all of those creatures that are with us… they are…"

Double D looked back to see Mac and Bloo, who were both waiting to hear, gazing back at him like they would a TV screen when something amazing was about to happen.

"Well, I better not say it." Double D said. "…it's a bit too far-fetched."

"It's ok, then." Mac said.

"Yeah, whatever." Bloo said.

"I still don't see why we can't tell anybody about it." Mac said.

Bloo walked closely toward Mac. "Mac, what's with you? I told you, it's not cool to talk about the green star gem-"

Double D gasped, his face turned to complete seriousness. "Wait, what?"

Mac gave Bloo a stare. "See, and you said I was the tattle-tale."

"Says you, Mac." Bloo said.

"Bloo, Mac." Double D said, with complete seriousness in his voice. Both of them, surprised by his sudden change of tone, looked back at him. "You found a star-shaped gem?"

"We've said too much." Mac said.

Bloo frowned and walked toward Double D. He pointed one of his fingerless hands up at Double D. "Lookie here, pal. If you came all this was to get the Emerald Star we found, you're out of luck. So why don't you and all of your little friends just get back in those cars and head home now?"

Double D growled. "You don't realize how serious-"

"Save it, pal!" Bloo shouted. He turned around and walked back through the door, slamming it shut behind him.

Mac gave a sheepish laugh. "Don't worry about him, he's kind of hot-headed."

"Mac." Double D said. "You have to listen to me. That star that you found is very dangerous."

"…er, what?" Mac asked. "Isn't it just… you know, a big emerald?"

"No, no." Double D said. "It's called the Emerald Star of Boggly Woods. It's one of the seven Crystal stars."

Mac's eyes widened. "…how do you know what?"

Double D looked down. "…because I used to have it before."

Mac's eyes narrowed. "No way, not possible. It fell from the sky, it came from space."

"Oh trust me, it came from a lot farther away then that." Double D said.

"…it what?" Mac asked.

"Listen." Double D said. He knelt down aside Mac, to be level with the 8 year old. "…I don't want to frighten you, but that star is much more dangerous then anything you have ever seen. You have no idea how much danger if you keep it."

"Is this a threat?" Mac replied.

"Please trust me…" Double D said. He closed his eyes. "I don't want to do any harm to any of you. Neither do any of my friends. But there are others…"

Mac's eyes opened up again. "…others?"

Double D closed his eyes to remember the night before. "…you don't even want to know how dangerous these others are. …but they are coming."

Mac took a step back. "Double D. I think you better tell me the full story here."

Double D knew there was no way around it. "Ok, Mac. I'll tell you everything."

Mac sat down on a deck-chair nearby. "I'm listening."

Double D opened up his mouth, getting read to say something.

"There you are!" Vivian shouted. She and Eduardo jr stood in the doorway. "We've been looking all over for you."

"Oh, don't worry about me, I'm fine." Double D said. "Um… Vivian, Eduardo jr, I'd like you to meet Mac."

"Hello, Mac." the both said at the same time.

The little boy gave a weak wave back.

"Mac, meet Vivian, ex Shadow Siren, and Eduardo jr the yoshi." Double D said.

"Hi." he said back. Mac turned to Double D said. "Your imaginary friends?"

"Not the first time they've been confused for that." Double D said. "They are… well, a part of the story I was about to tell you."

"Which story?" Vivian asked curiously.

"Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeey Mac!" they all heard a voice shout from the ground level. All four of them walked to the edge of the roof and looked down, spotting a little girl waving at them from the ground.

"Oh cool, she's here." Mac said.

"Who is that?" Eduardo jr asked.

Mac gave a smile. "That's Goo."

Vivian, Eduardo jr, and Double D all raised eyebrows. "Goo?"

Mac ran toward the door, looking very happy. Double , Vivian, and Eduardo jr all exchanged glances before shrugging and deciding to follow after.

There was a loud rushing sound in the air. The sound of a flying projectile could be heard, rushing through the air. At last, it came a messy end by striking a wall. The white casing of the object shattered to countless pieces, as the goop inside splattered about the once clean wall. The yellow yolk also smashed, spending bits of yellow coloring all about.

"How was that, bro?' Eddy asked, lowering the slingshot he had fired.

Eddy's brother grinned. "It was alright."

"Yes!" Eddy exclaimed victoriously.

"Oh, but bro…" Eddy's brother said. "Next time, try hitting the target." He pointed to an area bout three feet away from where the target hit, where a huge red bull's eye was drawn with chalk.

Eddy gave a small chuckle and slowly lowered his slingshot. "Heh…"

They were both outside, shooting eggs at the wall of the house.

"So bro, why're we doin' this?" Eddy asked.

"Target practice." Eddy's brother said. "escential for our big plan. You know, the one to win that small fanged smart-aleck back."

"Hey, you watch who you're talking about." Eddy said.

"Don't talk to your older bro like that." Eddy's bro said. "No hurry up and fire another one." with that, he tossed another egg, which Eddy caught, giving a growl as he did.

"But why eggs?" Eddy asked, before firing another one. This time, it hit the target's rim.

"Because chaos is always the best way to break up a relationship. Trust me, once they break up, you're a shoo-in. I mean, who else is going to want to be with a girl like her-"

"Shut up!" Eddy shouted. "Just shut up, man."

"Alright, alright." Eddy's bro said. "Stubborn." He quickly eyed the position of the second egg. "Closer, but try shooting it again faster."

"Shooting what?" a low voice asked.

The brothers turned around and spotted Eduardo, giving them an annoyed stare.

"AH! Monster!" Eddy and his bro shouted at the same time.

"I is no monster, I is Eduardo." Eduardo said with his Spanish accent. "What are you guys doing?"

Eduardo gasped, pointing at the wall. "Did you do that?"

Eddy began to shiver. "Well, we-"

"Oh no, we didn't throw anything." Eddy's bro said. "It was just a lunch accident."

"Oh, I see…" Eduardo said, smiling. He turned around for a few seconds, then quickly turned back. "Uh, I don't see."

"That's what happened." Eddy's brother said casually. "Believe it or not."

"Oh, I believe it. I just don't get it." Eduardo replied.

Well, big guy, I hope you don't mind, but we're kind in the middle of something." Eddy said. "So, could we get some privacy or what?"

"Oh, sorry." Eduardo said, walking away.

Eddy looked back up to his brother. "Whew, smooth."

His bro nodded. "Alright, back to practice."

Suddenly, Eddy felt a jolt against the back of his head. He quickly turned around, positioning the slingshot behind himself. "Who's there?"

But there was nothing around.

"Uh, what are you doing, Eddy?" Eddy's bro asked.

Eddy ignored his brother and looked around. Finally, he looked down and spotted a letter, the same object that he had presumed to hit him on the back of the head.

The younger brother reached down and picked up the envelope. Then, opening op the flap, he took the lined paper.

"Who's it from?" Eddy's bro asked.

Eddy looked down and continued to read the note. His eyes bulged out and his mouth opened up very quickly. "WHAT?"

"Baby bro, what is it?" Eddy's bro asked.

Eddy's hands were shaking, as the letter slowly slipped from his hands and blew in the warm breeze, until it landed in the grass softly.

"Eddy, what's going on?" Eddy's brother asked. "EDDY?"

Eddy was trying his hardest to find the right words. He eventually sighed and repeated the same phrase that was written on the paper. "Dear Eddy: The walls have eyes. Signed your old friend… JIB!"

"Hey, Mac!" Goo shouted from the ground in the front yard.

Mac, Double D, Vivian, Eduardo jr, and Bloo all stood at the first floor window.

"Hello, Goo." Mac said.

"Your name is Goo?" Double D asked.

"Well,that'swhatidecidedtocallmyselfwhenIwasreallyyoungsinceIdidn'thaveanicknameatthetimebecauseIwasababbyandwhatelsecanbabiessaybesidesGoo?Idunnodoyouknow-"

"Wait!" Double D called out. "Please… calm down."

Goo tilted her head slightly.

"Look, just hang on." Mac said. "I'll be right down."

Mac was about to proceed down the hall toward the front doors, when he suddenly heard someone else shout.

"MAC!"

Mac gasped. "Oh, great."

Everyone at the window watched as an older kid rushed into the scene. Double D reminisced earlier when he spotted the ugly bully that was chasing Mac, Bloo, and Coco earlier.

"Terrance." Mac said.

"That's me." Terrance said. "Looks like you have some guests over. A sock-head, a purple ghost freak, and a lizard monster. Your kind of people, huh?"

Vivian and Eduardo Jr both gave glares at Terrance. Double D frowned. "I don't like this guy's attitude at all."

"What do you want now?" Bloo asked.

"Oh, not too much." Terrance said, walking forward. As he walked, he pushed Goo aside, making her fall on the grass. "….just to continue what we started."

Everyone stood firm at the window.

"So Mac, ready for another run and beating?" Terrance said. "Ready to run?"

Vivian stepped forth. "Sorry pal, but we don't take kindly to your kind."

Vivian grabbed the top of the windowsill and proceeded to close the window. However, to her surprise, Mac reached out and grabbed the top of the window, stopping her from shutting it.

"Vivian, let me." Mac said.

Vivian sighed, opened up the window again, and floated out of the way. Mac stood in front of the window, with Double D, Vivian, Eduardo jr, and Bloo behind him.

"Hiding behind your friends, huh." Terrance asked. "Some people never change."

"You would know, huh Terrance?" Mac replied.

"Well, you've always been a runner." his older mean brother continued. "Ever since the day Dad left."

Mac suddenly got angry. "Terrance, shut up."

Everyone else around him watched as the conversation continued.

"Yeah, remember that day? You were three, and dear old dad decided to leave us, remember? Then it was just mom and me? Since mom was around, I was the only one you had." Terrance said, cracking his knuckles. "well, until you got so pathetic, you actually created that blue freak behind you."

"Terrance, shut up!" Mac repeated.

"What are you going to do about it?" Terrance asked.

Mac jumped and climbed out of the windowsill, to everyone's surprise. At the same time, Goo was slowly getting up.

"Don't, Mac. He's too big." Goo said.

I'd listen to your freaky friends if I were you." Terrance said. "Go and play with your imaginary friends. Eventually, you may even make a real one."

Mac had enough. He was slowly walking toward Terrance.

"I mean, I don't blame you. What would you do, after our family fell apart? You had nobody, all because of all of your stupid ideas. Tell you what, act strong after you make some real friends-"

"Shut up!" Mac commended. This time, he rushed Terrance, delivering a punch to his face. Terrance gasped and took a few steps back. "….why you-"

"Don't you ever talk about my friends like that again!" Mac shouted.

"…I got punched by an 8 year old. Now I know something is really wrong with this kid." Terrance thought.

"Mac, you ok?" Bloo asked, jumping out of the window and landing next to Mac. "Dude, what's going on with you?"

"I hate it when people talk like that. Just because they aren't human." Mac said.

He was still breathing heavily, sweating a bit as he stood there.

"Mac… you better go inside." Goo said. "C'mon, let's go."

Goo and Bloo led Mac back to the window. They helped him climb back in, then climbed in themselves. Terrance gave them all an angry expression, holding his face were he had been hit.

Double D looked out the window, and gave Terrance a very angry glare. Then, proceeding along with the others, they all walked away, leaving Terrance alone.

"That was pretty extreme of you, Mac." Goo said.

"Yeah man, what's gotten in to you?" Bloo asked.

Mac sighed, trying to calm himself down.

"Mac, let's go." Double D said. "I think that story I was about to tell you may help calm you down."

"You guys go ahead." Bloo said.

"Alright." Eduardo jr said.

All of them walked away, into the house, except for Bloo. He turned back toward the window. As he looked, he noticed that Terrance still hadn't left yet.

Bloo looked down the street, and spotted another person walking toward Terrance.

"…who the heck is that?" Bloo thought.

The person began to walk closer and closer to Terrance. As he did, it was apparent that he was wearing something white over his face.

"Terrance." he said calmly.

Terrance turned his head. "You're late."

The man shrugged. "What did you want me to do, walk in public right in the middle of that little fight?"

Bloo raised an eyebrow. "Who is this guy… and of all places, why doe Terrance want to meet him here?"

The man sighed. "Well, fine, I am late."

"That's more like it, Masque." Terrance said.

Bloo gasped. "MASQUE?"

Author's Notes: That's it for now. More on the way, possibly, as well as the reason why Terrance is involved with Masque. Please review, as always, that would be very appreciated.