"Penny, I look absolutely ridiculous!" Rudy complained from inside the closet.

Penny stood in front of the closet, tapping her toes. "Oh come on, Rudy, it's not that bad! Come on out!"

But Rudy was being very stubborn. She heard him lean loudly against the door and she imagined he was crossing his arms. "No way! Not until you let me wear what I want!"

Penny walked up to the closet and knocked on it a few times. Not that she thought it would work, but they were in a bit of a hurry. "Snap's party is going to start soon! He'll be upset if we aren't there in time! You don't want to disappoint him, do you?"

"No, and I don't want to humiliate him either by showing up in this." Rudy said.

"But we'll look so cute together!" Penny said.

"No!"

Penny frowned. She had to find some way to get Rudy to come out. They didn't have much time left to get to ChalkZone. She understood that he would never want to disappoint Snap, but that was the very reason he didn't want to go in his...current state. He must really believe he'd upset Snap especially if he showed up dressed the way he was. For a moment, she thought of giving in and letting him dress the way he wants to.

No, she wanted to be firm with him on this. She had planned these outfits for a few months. She wished Rudy wouldn't be so difficult and step out of his comfort zone once in a while. She did that for him once a year ago. Now it was time for him to return the favor.

She looked over at the chalkboard. A smile crept onto her face. She knew exactly how to get Rudy to come out. She went over to the door and swung it open, then began to slam her feet into the ground to try to sound larger than she was.

Then she put on her best Mrs. Tabootie impression.

"Rrruuudy! Dear? Where are yooouuu?"

No surprise, Rudy didn't come out. Likely he was so embarrassed he didn't even trust his own mother seeing him like that. No matter, Penny had expected this and had another trick up her sleeve. Making sure she still sounded loud, she went up to the chalkboard and grabbed a piece of ordinary chalk.

"Ruuudyyy? Honeyyy? Come on ouuut!"

Penny took the chalk and pressed it against the board. She slowly drew a circle, the squeaky sound of chalk against board clearly heard. She dropped the chalk on the ground and kicked a few things over to resemble stumbling back.

"R-Rudy? What is this?" Penny gripped the chalk board and swung it around and pushed it forcefully back down. "I think I need to take my meds! Oh wait I have none...I need some now! Wait I can go in? What happens if I..."

Practically on cue, the closet door swung open. A resounding "No!" echoed out of Rudy's mouth as he rushed out to stop his mother...

...dressed as a flower.

Rudy stopped when he realized he had been had. He saw Penny leaning against the chalkboard, smirking almost smugly. He could have sworn her eyes were screaming at him 'I got you good didn't I'. As the shock of what happened left him, it was soon replaced by anger.

"Penny! How could you?!" Rudy pointed a finger at her. "You know we never joke around with that stuff! What if it was the real deal?!"

Penny seized his hand before he could go back to the closet. "I know, and I'm sorry. But it was the only way to get you to come out." She dragged Rudy towards the chalkboard. "Come on, we'll be late for Snap's party if we don't hurry up."

"But...I look...stupid." Rudy complained.

"Well I think you look cute." Penny smiled at him.

Rudy looked at her, surprised. "R-Really?"

Penny nodded her head. She looped an arm around him and pulled him close. "Well of course I do, silly!" Her smile broaded when she saw him return hers with his own goofy smile. She gave him a quick kiss on the cheek, causing them to turn red. "And I'm going to be your bumble bee." She pulled out a hat with two antennas attached to it. "So we'll look silly together."

Rudy was in a daze for a few seconds due to the kiss. He regained his composure and, feeling encouraged by Penny, picked up the magic chalk. "What are we waiting for? Let's go!"

He drew a portal and the two climbed inside. Rudy made sure to erase the portal just in case his parents happened into his room. It was one thing when it was just Penny, but the real deal was no joke. He had left a note behind just in case htey went into his bedroom, but he wasn't sure how long that would fool them.

As Rudy and Penny walked around in ChalkZone, they noticed a long line of zoners, all going in the same direction. The two were impressed, and a little disturbed, by how long the line was. If this was the line to Snap's party, they couldn't fathom at just how their little blue friend was going to fit all these people into his home, or even Rapsheeba's home.

Rudy walked up to one of the zoners in line. He tapped his shoulder to get his attention. "Uh, excuse me? Could you tell me what this line is for?"

The zoner, with a big smile on his face, said, "It's for Snap's birthday!"

Rudy slumped his shoulders. "That figures. When it comes to him, Snap wants everything big, doesn't he?"

"Yep!" The zoner said. He made a motion with his arms, spreading them outward. "He's invited everyone in ChalkZone!"

Rudy and Penny were shocked. Startled, they took a step back. They glanced back at the line. Everyone in ChalkZone? Just what kind of party was this? Snap had insisted on a costume party because he felt they were the most fun to host. But costume parties were usually not this large. Just what was Snap doing?

Another thought crossed their minds. If he invited everyone, wouldn't that mean that some less desirables, like Skrawl and Craniac 4, were going to show up? Then again, they couldn't imagine either of them going. Skrawl always hid some place and only occassionaly came out to attempt a scheme, and Craniac 4 was always busy in his Dome Of The Future to bother with anything fun.

The zoner seemed to almost hear their thoughts. "And don't worry, he didn't invite any of your enemies. He said they would spoil his moment."

Penny giggled. "Yeah, that sounds like Snap alright." She glanced at the line. "But look at this line. It will take us forever just to get in!"

Rudy nodded. "Yeah I know. And I don't know if my note will fool my parents forever."

Penny asked, "What did you write in the note?"

"That you and I went out shopping." Rudy admitted. When he saw Penny's expression, he sighed. "Yeah I know. I don't think my parents would believe the story of us going down to the minimall in town for five hours, or however long this party will last."

Another zoner, female this time, waved to Rudy and Penny to get their attention. Once she did, she said, "Oh you two don't have to wait in line! Snap says he put you two on the VIP list. You can go on ahead!"

"Really?" Rudy and Penny said in unison, smiling and looking relieved.

The second zoner nodded her head. She pointed at the direction the people were heading in. "Just follow the line down there! Biclops will let you in!"

"Okay thanks!" Rudy waved at the zoner as he and Penny walked along the line. He wiped his forehead. "Phew, that's a relief!"

Penny said, "Agreed. I guess Snap may have foreseen this predicament and thought ahead."

Rudy smirked at her. "Or maybe he just wants to share his big moment with his closest real worlder friends."

Penny pointed at him. "Yeah, there is that."

They walked along the line for about fifteen minutes. The line was much longer than they thought it was. Up and down hills it went. They were starting to get a little tired when they heard the sound of Biclops's voice. They must finally be at the entrance now.

They ran around the corner and stopped dead in their tracks. There was Biclops alright. He was letting everyone in one by one, wishing them all to have a good time. But behind Biclops was the reason the two teenagers had stopped.

"Well...I guess that is how he was going to get everyone in..." Rudy whispered under his breath, Penny nodding in agreement.

It wasn't a house Snap was having the party in. It was a mansion. The biggest mansion they had ever laid eyes on. The thing looked almost like a skyscraper with how tall it was, and it was about as wide. It was so large that Rudy could easily see it fitting almost every zoner into it. It was even large enough for Biclops to squeeze through.

Rudy never recalled this being here before. It must have been recently drawn, perhaps by someone with big ambitions for the future. Indeed, it looked like this house could support everything, even a farm and an indoor lake.

"Hey Rudy, Penny!" Biclops spotted them and waved to them to come forward. "I was expecting you two!" He gestured for them to go into the mansion. "Snap is waiting for you inside. Go on in!"

The two waved at Biclops and headed into the mansion. The doors were massive, as if they were made for someone Biclops's size. And inside was just as impressive. The structure reminded them of a mall, except the shops would be much larger and more elaborate here. Several huge light chandeliers hung overhead, lighting the mansion's ballroom.

There was an upper level above them. A twin pair of red carpeted staircases spiraled above them and met at the opposite sides of the floor above them. They could see more stairs above them, about ten pairs at least, which gave them some idea at how many floors this mansion had.

Every part of this mansion was impressive to look at. Even something as simple as the ballroom. It was just one large room, like any other ballroom, but it was very fancy, complete with beautiful lighting and well placed tall windows. At a glance, it looked like Snap was throwing a sophisticated party, but the other costumed zoners dancing wildly and the presence of fried food such as crispy chicken threw that idea out the window.

"Amazing." Rudy said, the place feeling more massive than it looked. "Snap sure knows how to pick the right houses to throw parties in."

"Wow..." Penny said as they walked slowly around the mansion. She looked around. "This place is humongous!"

"Well of course it is!"

The two swerved around and saw Snap standing there. Unlike the others, he was not wearing a costume. He was standing next to one of the windows. He was smiling very widely at the two, as if he had been waiting for them forever and was plain happy to see them now.

"Snap!" Rudy said. He and Penny walked up to him. "Happy birthday!"

"Thanks, Rudy!" Snap said. When Penny followed suit, he gave a small nod to her. "And thank you, too, Penny. I'm glad you two could show up!" He paused as he stared at Rudy's flower costume. "Uh..Bucko? Why are you dressed like that?"

Rudy blushed slightly. He shook his head in Penny's direction. "It was her idea."

Snap glanced over at Penny. He finally took notice of her bumblebee costume. "Oh..." He saw how uncomfortable Rudy looked. Wanting to cheer him up, he said, "Well, you two do look cute together."

Rudy perked up almost immediately. "Thanks, Snap."

"No prob!" Snap grinned.

"Snap, why aren't you wearing a costume? Wasn't this a costume party?" Penny asked, holding her hands to her sides in confusion.

"Me? In a costume? Nah!" Snap said, waving his hand in front of himself. "If I wear a costume, how will everyone know it is me? How can I be a star if I just blend in with everyone?" He knocked himself gently on the head. "Come on! This is my chance at the big time! Now is the time for me to stand out and get the attention I deserve!"

Penny smiled sly at him. "Is that why you chose a mansion to hold the party in? Was it so you could fit all your ego in one place?"

Snap glared at her. "Buckette...You are so lucky I consider you a good friend, or I would..."

Penny gave a small laugh. "Oh come on, Snap, you know I was just joking!"

Snap cooled down quickly. Almost too quickly, but given what day it was, he just wanted to have a good time, not waste it on pitiful anger. "What are you two waiting for? Let's dance!"

"D-Dance?" Rudy said. He looked over at Snap, but he had already disappeared. He was doing some good moves with Rapsheeba on the dance floor. He glanced at Penny and noticed she was smiling at him. "But I..." He gulped. "I don't..."

"Don't be modest, Rudy. I know you can dance!" Penny said.

"But never in a flower costume!" Rudy exclaimed. He looked around at everyone. "What if I look stupid?"

Penny grabbed his two hands and began to pull him onto the dance floor. "You'll be fine! Just relax, trust me."

Soon the two were in the middle of the dance floor. Some of the other zoners made room for them. Penny held onto Rudy's hand while her other was placed at his waist. She guided him through the dancing as some zoners cheered them on.

The sound of the others faded away in Rudy's mind. As the dancing continued, he just focused on Penny. Her vibrant face lightened up his mood. He had forgotten about his embarassment. He forgot some zoners were watching him and her dance. He forgot about his anxiety of dancing in a large room wearing a flower costume. All that was in his mind now was Penny.

"Feeling better now, Rudy?" Penny asked.

Blushing, Rudy said, "Yeah..now I am..."

sss

The party lasted hours into the night. Rudy and Penny didn't stay long enough to see how it ended. They remained for about two hours, dancing, partying, just having a great time. It really did lift Rudy's mood and he had forgotten about the fiasco at school, with what Mr. Wilter had said.

It was difficult to leave. They wanted to remain for the games Snap had planned, as well as him opening his gifts, which was always entertaining with how he reacts to each one as if he were in a drama club. But they had no choice. If their parents found them gone for too long, especially if they came back during dark hours, they would never hear the end of it.

Rudy and Penny came through a new portal drawn on Rudy's chalkboard and it was quickly erased. They took turns and changed back into their own clothes in the closet, keeping the costumes in there for the time being.

Before they had time to do anything, Rudy's mother shouted, "Rrruuudy! Is that you? Come on down, there is someone who wants to speak to yooouuu!"

Rudy winced at that. "Oh it must be Mr. Wilter. Probably going to convince my parents to send me to summer school or something."

With no choice, he and Penny headed down the stairs. They entered the kitchen where Rudy's parents were waiting.

Rudy was surprised that it wasn't Mr. Wilter at all, but he wasn't sure if that made him feel better or worse. Instead, there was a woman sitting at the dinner table. He was relieved that it wasn't Terry again, though this woman did not look familiar to him. Who was she and what did she want?

"Rudy, this is Ms. Saffron." Mr. Tabootie said, gesturing a hand at the woman. "She's a reporter, and she said she wanted to talk to you."

Rudy's eyes widened. "A...a reporter?" He looked at Penny. She looked just as worried.

"Hello Rudy Tabootie." Ms. Saffron said calmly. She signaled for the boy to come up to her. "Sit down. I have some questions to ask you."