Eddy opened his eyes. He was no longer in Nazz's sitting room, he was back in his bedroom. Was it all just a dream? Was this his second chance? To show up at the party more like his old self? He shoved that idea out of his head. All he needed to do was show more confidence this time. Then things wouldn't be awkward between him and the others.

He got out of his bed and froze when he saw the clothes he had on him. The mafia outfit. He wasn't dreaming, what had happened in Nazz's house was real. Someone had spiked his drink, something even he wouldn't have done all those years ago.

I gotta find everyone and explain myself. Before they think I did all of this.

He sprinted to his door and yelled. There was some graffiti pinned on the door.

Time for round two. Pipsqueak.

Bro.

"No! No!" His brother was back, the one who taught him how to prank, the one who he had to play "uncle" with, the one… who used to be his mentor.

His breathing became more rapid, his hands started shaking. Said hands were thrown over his mouth but it didn't stop him from screaming. "I'm not a pipsqueak! I'm not a no neck chump! I'm…" Eddy's mouth opened and closed several times but no sound came out. It was only after he heard someone knocking on his door that he found his voice.

"I'm not a loser!" The door flung open and he heard someone calling his name. Eddy didn't see them; he had collapsed to the floor with his arms around his knees. He felt someone trying to pull him up. "Go one! Just get it over with!" He was finally pulled to his feet and forced to look at the person in front of him.

"Dude." Kevin stood before him, his face blankly staring at his. He released Eddy and cleared his throat. "Are you okay? I heard you screaming."

Eddy tried to respond but once again words failed to leave his mouth. Seeing that Kevin was getting agitated he pointed at the graffiti on his door. Kevin didn't say anything when he saw the writing, but his skin did get paler. Ten long seconds passed before he finally said something.

"You need to stay near me at all times Eddy. If we find your brother I'll do my best to protect you." Kevin cracked his knuckles and adjusted his hat. "You have my word pal."

Eddy meekly nodded. "Just answer this question Kev. Do you still hate us?"

"Us?"

"Ed, Double D and me. After everything we've done to you guys?"

"How honest do you want me to be?"

"Don't hold back. I need to hear the truth." Eddy closed his eyes and braced himself for the worst. Nothing happened. He flinched when he heard Kevin sighing.

"Eddy. Look at me." Eddy reluctantly opened his eyes. "I'll be straight; I don't fully trust you right now." Kevin crossed his arms and glared at him. "I trust Ed and Double D because back then you were the problem, you were the one causing trouble with your scams. If they had stopped hanging with you, we would have accepted them. I mean it."

Eddy meekly nodded.

"Aren't you going to say anything?"

Eddy shook his head.

"Just remember you asked for this. And-" Kevin paused, uncrossed his arms and briefly fiddled with his hat. "Forget it, it's not important." He took a deep breath and shot a somewhat forced smile at Eddy. "Regardless, at least you're no longer a Dork. If you were I wouldn't have-" Kevin's eyes widened when Eddy started shaking. "Eddy?"

"Don't! Don't call me that!" Several tears fell down Eddy's face. "Just don't," he whispered softly.

Kevin briskly nodded. "Alright dude. Come on, we need to get you some tissues and then we need to find the others. And then- Rolf! Whoever is doing this must be going after Rolf next!"

Eddy gasped. "We got to get to him! Come on Kevin!" Eddy quickly wiped his tears and sprinted out of his room. Kevin waited a few seconds before he also left, allowing the faintest of smiles to appear on his face as he followed Eddy.

About time I got to see the new Eddy. Just need to hope that Ed and Double D were right about him changing.

Nazz's house was in a deplorable state when they finally made it back. The front door was broken in two, the sitting room was destroyed (all of the furniture was demolished) and the door to the basement was locked. There was no sign of Kevin and Eddy, and they didn't see Rolf, Ed, Sarah or Jimmy on the way back. They had searched the house for clues to find out who was responsible for this reprehensible affair but found nothing. It wasn't until they made it to the bathroom that they found something.

The bathroom wasn't badly damaged, in fact there was next to no damage done to it. But there was one act of vandalism present, there were several red lipsticks marks on the mirror. And underneath the marks were several signatures. Ones Edd and Nazz knew very well.

"It's them," whispered Edd. "The Kankers."

"This isn't good," said Nazz, who was fearfully glancing around the room. "Keep your eyes open Double D. Although they usually stick together they would separate from time to time. They could be anywhere."

Edd yelped. "They could be after the others right now! Rolf, Kevin, Ed, Sarah, Eddy, Jimmy, we've gotta find them now before the Kankers do!" He tried running out of the bathroom but was stopped by Nazz. "Nazz?"

Nazz shot him a significant look. "Double D, you forgot someone."

Edd scratched his head. "Jonny? But we haven't seen him since we survived Eddy's brother. The only reason his house is still intact is because it's occasionally rented by travellers."

"And why do you think Jonny's house wasn't destroyed after he and his parents left us?"

"Because…" Edd fiddled with his ski hat, it was only after he'd touched all of its corners that he realised something. "It's where the culprit is hiding! They must have been planning this for years! How else could they have taken us all out so quickly?"

Nazz giggled. "You found out dude. Though I'm a bit surprised it took you this long to find out, you always were the smart one."

Edd started pacing around the bathroom. "Forgive me Nazz it's just tonight has been very hectic, and although me and Ed managed to get into your good graces I was just worried about Eddy, after everything that's happened to him tonight was supposed to be different, tonight was supposed to be the night we all officially become accepted by everyone, and now something has caused the events of tonight." He stopped pacing and looked nervously at Nazz. "I just don't want everyone to think that the three of us were responsible for tonight. It would destroy all the progress we've made the last five years."

"Don't worry Double D I believe you. Kevin might be a bit slow trusting Eddy, but if he can learn to trust you and Ed, then he'll trust Eddy as well."

"I sure hope so. We should go to Jonny's house next right?"

"No not yet," Nazz said as they left the bathroom, "We should go to Rolf's, he's the only one who I didn't see today. His nana said he'd show up after he was done with his chores."

Edd's eyes narrowed. "Rolf would be tired after doing all of his chores. He'd be an easy target."

They exited Nazz's house and started making their way to Rolf's house. Rolf's house didn't have any outside damage, although the fact that his animals were freely roaming his backyard made it clear that something had happened. The animals shouldn't be out at this time of the day.

"Let's try his door, though I don't expect it to open for us." But it did. Rolf's front door started moving the moment the handle was pulled. Nazz slowly opened it but no trap awaited them when it was fully open. "Something's not right."

Edd was about to voice his agreement when they heard several hard knocks coming from Eddy's house. Then they heard someone yelling expletives. Edd sprinted towards the house when he recognised Eddy's voice.

"Wait Double D!"

"It's Eddy Nazz! I have the spare key to his house!" Edd had found the key in his pocket by the time he had reached the house. Unlocking the door, he felt two bodies crashing into him, sending him to the ground. When he regained his bearings he softly gasped at the short, muscular boy on his left. "Eddy?"

"Double D?" They both stood up. They both opened and closed their mouths, trying to say something, anything. When that failed they opted to go for the first thing that came into their heads. They reached out and hugged each other.

"I've missed you," whispered Edd. "After your parents sent you away, after everything that had happened beforehand. I must confess I wasn't sure if you'd make it Eddy. I know I wouldn't have."

"I made it," said Eddy softly. "All thanks to you and Ed. Your letters kept me from losing my mind. But how did you convince my parents that it was okay to send them to me?"

Edd released him and let out a small chuckle. "Let's just say that Ed found a way of "convincing" them. With some help from Sarah."

Eddy smiled gratefully and nodded. "Remind me to thank Lumpy and his sister later." He turned to Kevin and Nazz. "S-sorry about that."

"Nah don't be," said Kevin. "I can tell you needed that. Listen, me and Nazz were talking. Eddy, if you and Double D go to Jonny's house, we'll go to Rolf's and see what's happened there. Once we're done we'll come help you two."

"Be careful when you're over there," said Nazz. "And keep an eye out for traps, we all got caught in one already."

"We will," Edd said firmly. "Whoever is responsible for this reprehensible act shall pay when we catch them. Right Eddy?"

Eddy nodded. "You know it! Let's get this chump!"