Nearly a hundred Dalmatians crash through the local Camden park like an ocean wave. By now, most of the other pets and animals have grown used to the chaos of ninety-nine dogs roaming London. Even after the DVPI, no one would dare attempt to intervene, unless they want to be nicked for potential pup-napping. That, and stricter laws to protect pets and local wildlife, of course.

One top dog of the day, Deepak, nests upon an inflatable ball. A couple of Dalmatians sit in front of him, attempting to mimic his pose. He purrs and begins his mantra.

"Miaow-wow-wow-wow... Now, siblings, let us commence with…" He stands on the ball with little effort and curves his back skyward like a cat. His head just barely leans over the edge of the ball as he leans inward. "Cat pose. To be truly at peace, we must learn to appreciate all life, try and feel as one with others…"

Several of the other Dalmatians attempt the pose, quickly faltering. Deepak didn't count on his siblings being hyperactive Dalmatian pups, unlike himself. Soon, Deepak breaks out of the pose, having to calm several siblings that dogpiled one another.

Dai-ichi inhales deeply. "Many thanks are in order, Deepak. While I cannot truly fathom Guru Miaow's cat teachings, I can learn to appreciate them either way."

"While that is all tickety-boo or whatever," Duck interrupts, hopping in place. "Can we go for a swim soon? The pond's calling to MY inner avian. Topically appropriate, innit?" He smirks.

Deepak returns to his ball. "I assumed this wouldn't hold most of us for much of the outing. Anyone not vibing with today's mediation is free to roam as you please." Several pups cheer and begin running off. "O-oi! Within reason, siblings! Ugh, where is Dylan's helicopter parenting when you need it…"

On the walkway, several dogs with their pets nearly fly off the concrete as Delgado and several pups speed through. Delgado pants, peeking back. "Clear off some of the walkway, fam! Can't be roadhogs, now!"

Just as Delgado looks ahead again, a human child on a bike barrels towards him and the others. With a quick sharp turn, Delgado steers his family into the grassy area close to the flowerbeds. A piercing "Oi" rings through Delgado's ears as PC Pearl approaches. He didn't notice that his siblings trampled several of the park's flowerbeds in his quick escape. Being the eldest dog within the smaller group rewards the speedy Dalmatian an earful from the police-horse.

Delgado groans. "Where is Dolly's quick excuses when you really need one…"

Dylan and Dolly hang from a nearby tree, just barely escaping PC Pearl's view. The two decided to meet somewhere private so they could talk about "older dog things" without siblings asking too many questions.

"Woah, Prince Flapjack is wilder than he looks!" Dylan gasps. "I didn't even know dogs could do that with a board."

Dolly shrugs. "Exactly. No dog with any old board could make a jump like that. They'd need a gajillion old scones, hahah!"

"Heh, yeah…so are you and the Prince a thing?"

"You gonna tell Mum and Dad if I said 'yes'?"

"No!" Dylan places a paw on his chest. "Siblings only, sis!"

Dolly shakes her head. "See, I wanna believe you…but that was maximum dork! Hahahahah!"

Dylan growls.

Dolly sighs. "Besides, Romeo, what about you and the pampered princess Corgi next door, Clarissa?"

Dylan gulps. "Uhh, I-I'm not…I mean, well…" He lowers his ears. "It's complicated. I don't know if she likes me like that!"

"…You're kidding, right? She let you spend the day with her! Nobody except those two snooty dogs get to do that, Dyl! She clearly has it bad for you, bro!"

"Y-you think so…?" Dylan blushes. "I mean! It's still weird getting used how she is now! Not that I'm complaining, I lov- really like the new Clarissa!"

Dolly smiles uncomfortably big. "Ooh, ooh, ooh? Did I-"

"No, no, no!" Dylan flails as he nearly falls off the branch. "You didn't!"

"Aww, look at technically-the-age-as-me-but-likes-to-be-called big bro! Finally having some luck with a crush for once, hahahah!"

Dolly teases Dylan a while longer as they continue sharing stories about their own adventures. Eventually, the two decide to find something else to do, happy that their sibling listened to them. Dolly heads off to find Roxy and Snowball, who are having a very lopsided sit on the seesaw. Meanwhile, Dylan, using a set of binoculars borrowed from Dolly, peeks at Clarissa's picnic. The Corgi and her usual friends sit and lap up what appears to be tea of some kind, gabbing about their surroundings. Occasionally, Clarissa leans far to the side, seemingly looking for someone. Dylan smiles confidently.

Meanwhile, Hugo, Prunella's human, and Arabella's human sit side-by-side, apparently absorbed by their smart devices. As Dylan watches, he notices a couple of dogs approaching the picnic with their pet human. The human seems vastly bored with life, more interested in the kid that tumbled off of their bike than anything else.

"Wait! Is that…" Dylan leans forward. "Woah, woah, ahh! Oof." He lands on his chest, just barely missing stray twigs. Peeking from the ground now, he realizes that the human is in fact, Portia and Spencer's. He shudders, remembering his former crush on the goth poodle and how many times she would use that against him in cruel pranks. Dylan tilts his head in confusion as Portia and Spencer's human seems to have been invited to the picnic?

"…Weird. Since when do those two hang out with the crown watchers?" Dylan sneaks underneath a bush to get a closer look.

For some reason, Spencer and Portia are making nice with Clarissa's clique! Meanwhile, the humans get back to their smart devices, only making room for the fourth person and simple greetings. Even with the somewhat crowded blanket, Dylan notices a human-less black dog approaching Clarissa's group. The dog appears more nervous than usual, looking back and forth as if he is hiding from someone or something.

"Woah, Dante? What the dog is going on over there?" Dylan squints. Suddenly, Dylan feels an itchy-ticklish feeling down his back. He turns to look… "Ah! Spider! Get it off, get it off, get it off!" He thrashes in the bush, tumbling out covered in leaves and webbing. Without a second thought, he jumps back into the bush, hoping he didn't alert the group of dogs and humans. But in his panic, he left Dolly's binoculars on the other side.

Dylan looks around for the spider, then reaches a paw through the bush, gently feeling around for the binoculars. Instead, his paw finds something…damp and slightly coarse. He reels back in disgust! And the "thing" he touched sneezes with the might of a teddy bear. Before he can reach again, the being on the other side jumps through the bush, shaking their fur clean.

Clarissa grits her teeth. "Dylakins!? One did not expect you of all dogs to be a peeper! Have you no shame!?"

Dylan waves his paws in fear. "No, no! I'm not! I was…oh dog, ooh, this is not a good look…I was waiting for Prunella and Arabella to be distracted so I could sneak over! Then everyone else arrived and I got curious, and then the spider, and-"

"Dalmatian! Cease your yakking!" Clarissa sighs. "…if you desired to spend time with moi, it would have been simpler to approach Hugo, hmhm."

"Yeah, I guess that would have been easier, huh?" Dylan sighs. "Anyway, what's with Portia and Spencer?"

"I haven't the slightest clue. They appear invested in some sort of 'meeting'. Supposedly, one is not apart of this meeting! How very rude! And what of your sibling, the dark one?"

"He hangs out with Portia and Spencer."

Clarissa approaches Dylan, taking a loose bush branch out of his fur. "Let us forget that for the moment. One has arrived~" She bats her eyelashes at him. "Come along now, it is time for walkies with moi! Hugo is keeping an eye out to ensure one's safety, but he has nothing to worry about."

Dylan smiles. "Ohh, I'd love to! Though I guess that wasn't a request…" Clarissa growls at Dylan. "Uhh, nevermind. L-lead the way, princess!" The two dogs walk along the path hidden to Clarissa's group. Dylan stops briefly to check on Delgado's predicament, but continues onward when Pearl attempts to rope him into the incident.

Meanwhile, Portia, Spencer, Arabella, Prunella, and Dante sit in a binding circle of sorts. Gossip flies left and right as each dog gabs up a storm about things they've been hearing about Clarissa and Dylan's "acquaintanceship".

Portia's ears perk up. "Right, I've come up with a name for this…temporary alliance of ours." She leans in, with every other dog following suit. "For now, let us embrace the moniker…'Doom is Rich'!"

"Ohh, splendid, Portia, AHAHA!" Arabella cackles.

Prunella curls her snoot. "Wait a moment, what exactly can 'doom' be 'rich' with? Darkness?"

Spencer rolls his eyes. "Ugh! Ignoring the 'witty' comment, it is a brilliantly dark name, Portia."

"Yeah, credit where credit is due, that's clever." Dante nods.

"As if you lot expected less?" Said Portia. "Moving on, let us address the colorful catastrophe that is your Clarisser and Danny being an object!"

"Portia, dear, you are clearly mistaken!" Arabella smirks. "Why would one that is so prideful and royal even think be an object with…with…wait who is 'Danny'?"

Dante sighs. "Dylan."

Arabella nods. "Right. Why would Clarissa dare lower her standards for that stickler of a dog?"

"How dreadfully ironic." Spencer mutters.

Prunella gasps. "Oi! So that's where Clarissa has been sneaking off to. One assumed she was hiding something drastic!"

"Really?" Portia pretends to gasp. Spencer and Dante roll their eyes as she exaggerates her surprise. "Well now, bit of a shame, innit? Your own Clarisser, a high-class of sorts, being with him?"

"An outrage is what it is!" Arabella frowns.

"It doesn't seem that bad," Dante shrugs. "Both of them seem happy. How do we know they are a thing, anyway? I'm one of Dylan's closest bros, I would know."

"That bad?" Portia stands. "It's an affront to the way things have been, and it must stop, Dante!"

Arabella raises a paw. "I agree, one-hundred percent. If Clarissa deemed her companion an embarrassment of the highest caliber, it is clear they are not meant to be together!"

Prunella nods. "Suddenly, Dalmatians and Corgis are a popular thing it seems! Perhaps she learned of the Royal Corgi's companion, the skating…device thingy Dalmatian, and assumed she could obtain something similar."

"I simply detest the Dalmatian family-" Spencer glances at Dante. "Present member excluded, due to them destroying my Nose Off winning streak! Ohh, dog!" He dramatically faints. Prunella and Arabella gasp in surprise.

"Spence, really?" Portia grabs him by his vest with her teeth. "I didn't think you to be petty."

"NOT petty. Thorough."

Dante yells, almost catching the attention of the humans. "Wait, wait! That seems like a bit much, don't you think? Why ruin this for them? It's not dooming anyone…"

Portia stares at the Dalmatian. "Ye got kibble in your ears, Dante? WE do not like it, and WE are ending it. Don't even think about fibbing to Danny, by the way. Spence and I will make sure you regret it if you do." Portia and Spencer chuckle, their noses curling with vile glee.

Dante shrivels into a shaking terror. "N-no, please! I'll be s-s-silent, promise!"

"Hm. Good boy." Portia leans back as she inhales. "Moving on, we need a plan. I figure you two-" She points to Arabella and Prunella. "-can help with this. We need to find an easy way to spread a rumor…perhaps Danny's friends?"

Spencer tilts his head. "Who, the rat, the squirrel, or the fox? They will not not budge without proper payment."

Portia stares forward. "Perhaps not. But maybe…heheh, oh yes, I just remembered. One of Dolly's friends fancies Danny!"

"Who?" Prunella and Arabella ask.

Dante shudders. "Y-you don't mean…"

"Oh!" Portia's eyes grow wide. "There she is now! Oooooi! Roxy!"

Four of the dogs laugh with wondrous glee, ready to enact their plot against the supposed "relationship" of Clarissa and Dylan. Dante pretends to join in, but continues shuddering. What would happen if their plan goes through? Would Dylan and Clarissa's friendship be irreparably damaged by Doom Is Rich's schemes? Would Clarissa go back to her hateful, snooty ways? All Dante can think about is the moment he can break away and try and warn his older brother.

"So, Dylakins…" Said Clarissa. "How has your day been, other than the peeping, of course."

Dylan huffs. "Hmph. It's been just fine, thank you."

"Oh, Dylakins!" Clarissa titters. "One wonders when you will learn to appreciate humorous conversation!"

"Haha, like you're one to talk about lightening up! When Hugo rubbed your tummy clockwise five times but only four times counterclockwise, you nearly barked his ears off!"

"One's pet must learn skills properly! Would YOU want a pet that, oh, I don't know, organized your library of Mars books in reverse order?"

Dylan cringes. "Eesh…I guess not, heh. Hey, about our-" He cuts his sentence short as he freezes in place.

"Dylakins? Did one take that too far? One apologizes if so! …Dylan?" Clarissa turns to look at what Dylan stares at. For a moment, she sees a human clad in black-and-white, approaching the two dogs with an almost bird-like strut to their movement. Their face is buried in their smart device, completely unaware of their surroundings. Dylan begins to shudder heavily as his eyes swell with tears. He tries to say something, but all that comes out is a mere squeak.

Clarissa, unsure of what to do, grits her teeth at the approaching human. As the person continues to approach, Clarissa begins growling. The approach continues.

Grrrr-row-ow-ow! Grrrrrrrr!

Clarissa jumps in front of Dylan, yipping her Corgi nose off at the strange human. Suddenly, the person looks up from their phone and cowers at the sight of the dog's aggression. The person yells and begins running in the opposite direction at full speed. Clarissa couldn't get a good look at the person, but she knew it wasn't that awful Devil woman. She looks back at Dylan.

Dylan's eyes begin to spill on the pavement. Visions of the devil woman's jaunty stride haunt him, approaching at alarming rates. She opens her head, her claw-like nails scraping against one another. She cackles madly, and begins reaching for the Dalmatian. Dylan yelps loudly, stumbling onto his back before getting up immediately. Suddenly, a warm feeling presses against Dylan's chest. This feeling extends past his chest and onto his back as it grows stronger. Something that sounds like a voice bounces through his ears as he is caught in a trance. The voice grows louder and clearer by the minute. Eventually…

"…Alright, I will try something else. Dylan! Are you alright?! You appear…how did Dolly say it… umm, 'absolutely shook'?" Clarissa's voice cracks. Dylan looks down at the Corgi's face. Her eyes are big and wobbly. He becomes aware of his surroundings again, realizing that Clarissa has grabbed him into a full hug.

As Dylan sniffles, he pulls Clarissa in closer with a hug of his own. Her ears shoot up in surprise. "T-thank you, Clarissa! Normally, you uh, probably shouldn't hug someone who is panicking, but-"

Clarissa places a paw over his mouth. "Be silent, Dalmatian, allow one to heal your wounds with one's embrace."

Dylan's breathing remains frantic as he readjusts to the world around him. The gentle, delicate gusts floating by the trees. The distant laughs, barks, and yells from others at the park. The cream colored Corgi embracing him with a tight hug, her gentle whimper causing his ears to perk up. Longingly, the two dogs embrace for a while longer before breaking away awkwardly. Clarissa blushes heavily, making a face that Dylan seems to be able to read even more than before. Alongside the warm smile, Dylan notices a delicate sparkle in Clarissa's eyes as she stares back at him. He didn't notice, but Dylan's snoot curls parallel to the Corgi's.

Dylan begins to speak. "Clarissa, I…" His cheeks burn bright red. "I think…I…"

Clarissa interjects in the awkwardness, lowering her ears as she looks up at him. "Perish the thought for now, Dylakins. YOU require nourishment! One, uh, heard your stomach grumble. Come along, one will sneak you a biscuit. Arabella and Prunella's humans are likely to head home soon, but Hugo likes to stay a while longer. I invite you to rest, as you clearly need it~" Clarissa begins walking back the way the two arrived. She tries to ignore her wagging tail, hoping Dylan won't notice it.

"Oh! Y-yeah, okay." Dylan stands slack-jawed. He couldn't believe that something as simple as a hug snapped him out of his trance. Especially a hug from Clarissa. Dylan's chest feels like a fluttering bird, and he isn't sure why. Maybe it was flashbacks to a near death experience. Maybe it's something (or someone) else. The Dalmatian quickly follows behind the Corgi, unsure whether the next mundane event would be life-changing as well.

Notes: I never really liked how Prunella and Arabella only had minor personality in the show so they could act as Clarissa's sidekicks. Here, I based their personalities on the few times they had proper dialogue / moments, like Arabella cackling at the spa or Prunella not knowing what a skateboard is.

Featured Incidental Dalmatians: Dai-ichi as another spiritual dog, and Duck as a not-so-clever swimming animal verbal gag.

Song: Blood on the Dancefloor by Chris Christodoulou & Christos Spirakis during the Doom is Rich scene.