Looks like it's an early update for all. YAY! I have nothing more to say so let me not dwell. Read on!
CHAPTER 17: HOME SWEET HOME
"WOW!"
It looked like something out of a fairytale. In the one hall they stood the floor was covered in white ceramic tiles engraved with golden vines everywhere you could imagine. What made the room even brighter were the white marble walls surrounding the place. It was a beautiful sight. Five thirty foot pillars stood in the long hall with four parallel to each other and the remaining fifth one stood at the end of this hall in front of a two path stairway with shiny silver railings. Still whirring to life the giant marble fountain in the middle of the room brightened up and in the blink of an eye the water came flowing out. Looking up Yakko found the ceiling was painted to resemble posters belonging to actors and actresses of the 1930's, but right in the middle of this was something he didn't expect.
Very similar to their own show logo Zekko, Gekko, and Shayna were in this giant blue star with the word 'Animaniacs' etched in golden letters across the span of the star. He didn't give it another thought as two hyper siblings rushed past him. Looking back forward he saw as Wakko and Dot raced for the water fountain. Yakko smirked as Wakko jumped right for it and dived in with a whoop of joy. Water came up from the sides and the Warner sister was soaked in no time. He never got to hear what Dot's threats were when his focus switched to the arm around his shoulders and the mischievous grin following it.
"Nice isn't it?" Zekko said, not even bothering to hide the gloating under tone in his voice.
Yakko pushed off Zekko. "Yeah, think if we wait long enough Oliver Warbucks' staff will start dancing?"
"Hilarious. I'm just dying of laughter." Zekko drawled.
"Where are we anyway?"
"Is there anyone working in that brain of yours?" Zekko said pulling on Yakko's ear and peering in. "I just told you."
Yakko slapped his hand away. "Then remind me o' great one."
Zekko chuckled forcefully, holding his stinging hand. "Well since you asked all so nicely…" He drawled.
Zekko cleared his throat and once more wrapped an arm around Yakko's shoulders, walking forward while bringing his brother along.
"Well Yak like any mad man we all have our places of sanctuary ya know." Zekko giggled. "We might have a few loose screws in the head, but it don't mean we're always on the prowl like animals. Even psychos need a home."
"All I asked what the place was. I don't need your philosophies Zekko." Yakko said squirming from Zekko's grip. His brother only brought him closer.
"Relax little bro-"
"Don't call me that."
Zekko shrugged. "Fine..." He grinned. "Little bro."
Yakko rolled his eyes. "Such a rebel."
Another chuckle and Yakko was free from Zekko's grip. "Well I try."
Yakko watched as the toon walked forward with a suspicious gaze. Zekko seemed awfully relaxed and not at all like the toon he had first seen. He couldn't help seeing the guy as a twisted two face. He had gotten the full load of Zekko's...unfriendly mask back at his cell and now mask number two was up and here came in his supposed good side as far as Yakko could tell. Let's just say with the lowered amount of emotion switches and far fewer anger outbursts he had a feeling this was Zekko's good side. Yakko just hoped mask two would stay for the time being. He had no hidden wonders of bringing out the rumored psychotic he's heard far too much about already.
"You call that a cannonball? Ha! I'll show you a cannonball!"
Brought from this thoughts Yakko looked up to find Gekko hanging off the top of the pillar wearing swimming shorts (and backwards cap because why not?). A grin slipped on the toon's face and he let go of the pillar jumping forward. With a whoop of joy the middle child spun forward curling into a ball before changing right into cannonball position. He landed directly into the waters of the fountain sending a wave of water right towards the other dry Warner sister. Gekko sprung back up spitting a stream of water onto Wakko's head.
"Hey!" Wakko complained trying to block the water, but failed miserably.
The water stopped and Gekko slung an arm casually against the fountain grinning victoriously at his annoyed brother.
"Whoops." He sneered.
Wakko rolled his eyes folding his arms over his chest. "Show off."
Gekko snickered wringing out the last of the water from his cap and slipped it on.
"Well I try."
Zekko nudged Yakko. "Just like his brother, ain't he?"
Yakko shrugged with a smirk. "For the world's sake he better not be. There's enough Zekko already."
That earned punch to the arm. "You're a riot Yaks."
"Ahem."
Gekko turned to face a seething Shayna dripping of water. He gulped and chuckled nervously at the fact literal steam was coming off her.
"Gekko," She said twisting the water out of her glove far too tightly. "You have five seconds."
With a yelp Gekko jumped out of the fountain as Shayna pounced at the spot he had been at. Running at top speed he was back in his normal attire and looked back to his sister with an outraged expression to his face.
"You said five seconds!" He protested.
Shayna growled and ran after him going up the stairs.
"For me to MURDER YOU!" She shrieked.
Once both were out of sight Zekko turned towards the others chuckling nervously.
"Ah they'll be back later." He shook his head and grinned. "But for now I get to be your tour guide of The Bunker."
As Wakko climbed out the fountain he looked confused. "The what?"
"The Bunker my good man!" Zekko exclaimed wrapping an arm around his shoulders and gesturing above them where a neon sign flashed the words 'THE BUNKER' in blue lights. Then one bulb popped and the whole thing fizzed out.
Zekko groaned and placed his forehead against Wakko's shoulder. "So much for grand introductions...I knew I should've gone with lifetime guarantee."
Yakko's nose wrinkled in distaste seeing Zekko so close to Wakko, but he didn't speak of it and said, "It was a lovely intro. Now the bunker is…?"
Zekko stood back straight, but did not release his grip on Wakko, making Yakko frown, but Zekko grinned.
"Why Yaks you're standing in it."
"Actually I'm standing in a puddle." Yakko observed quickly stepping out of the water and shaking his pant leg of the liquid.
"Eh that too, but what I meant was this whole place is The Bunker." Zekko said as he moved for the stairs bringing an uneasy and curious Wakko along for the walk. Yakko followed along, not because he was excited for a tour more like he'd rather keep an eye on the psycho near his brother, while Dot wasn't too far behind.
"Since 1929," Zekko began going up the stairs. "This place has been our home. Back then the studio had been generous enough to give a place to call our own. Although we perhaps, not saying it's true or not, may have helped ourselves to a bit of Plotz's account and added a few upgrades here and there."
Dot raised an eyebrow. "Plotz? He was alive back then?"
"I knew it!" Wakko exclaimed with a giant smile. "He is a ghost! I called it!"
"Then that is one bitter ghoul." Yakko quipped.
Zekko laughed ruffling Wakko's head of hair, getting a deeper frown from Yakko, and said, "As fun as that sounds Plotz's no ghoul and I'm not talking about the studio's current tyrant."
Wakko fixed his hat. "Who then?"
Dot gasped. "Don't tell me he's got a twin!"
Zekko's face morphed into one of dismay. "Darling now that's a thought that would make even the most bravest of men run away like frightened school girls."
He covered Wakko's ears. "So let's not scare the little ones here."
At Wakko's scowl, Zekko laughed and tapped the middle child's head. "Just joking Wak. I actually think you're rather brave."
Wakko looked to Zekko with a smile. "Really?"
"So Zekko," Yakko suddenly said getting between the two, moving Zekko further away as well. "Mind telling us who this other Plotz is before I start jumping on the twin conspiracy here."
Zekko briefly looked at Yakko weirdly before waving a hand. "Fine fine, don't get your ears in a twist."
He gestured for them to follow as they reached the top of the stairs and made a right heading into more brilliantly white walls aligned with more posters of famous people along with a few other posters advertising old plays and movies. In the middle of the hall stood very over grown trees, splaying their branches just about all over the place.
"As I was saying." Zekko continued, moving a branch out of the way and quickly let it go.
Yakko yelped as the branch slapped his face leaving a red mark against his white face.
"Oh watch for the branches." Zekko said smirking at his scowling brother. "They sure pack a punch."
"So I've noticed." Yakko drawled a hand on his stinging cheek.
Zekko giggled and marched forward this time having mercy on his brother and instead ducked under the next branch.
"Anyways when I said Plotz I meant Plotz Senior not o' Plotz Jr. Thad wasn't the first to take up the CEO position."
The grin on Zekko's face had more hidden meaning behind it then he was letting on, but to his three guests it was quite psychotic looking.
"Daddy Plotz beat him to it." Zekko said with a hysterical giggle. He marched forward once more.
"Gotta say though." He began once more, but this time there wasn't much of a chipper tone as before. "The saying is true. Like father, like son. Even Plotz's little boy has his father's same nasty habit of...ah taking things that don't belong to them. Hehe...hilarious isn't it?"
Yakko took notice of snarl hiding under his words. "I doubt it."
Zekko chuckled, but very little humor stood in it. "Glad you think that way."
They turned right and walked out of the overgrowing forest and into more hall.
"What I was trying to get to though is I'm far more acquainted with Plotz Senior than I'd like to be if I'm being frank here. He wasn't the most tolerable of men and I was glad to make him a buddy of mine."
"Zekko you're giving us mixed messages here." Yakko said.
Dot crossed her arms. "You said you didn't like him, so why make him your buddy?"
"Because Dot, sweetie," Zekko grinned her way. "A buddy of mine is not to far off from a special friend of yours."
He patted her head. "Get the picture?"
"Guess so and you ruined my daisy!" Dot said fixing the daisy between her ears with a narrowed gaze at Zekko. He bended it.
Zekko chuckled nervously. "Sorry...my bad."
"Why are we going down this hall again?" Wakko asked.
Zekko snapped his fingers. "Oh! Almost forgot about that! Come on, enough chit chat."
He waved at them to follow and they went down the hall. Continuing onward they had to be amazed at the fact this place seemed to go on forever. As they looked down the other corridors they only saw more hall. Or in Wakko's case as he looked to his right, down yet another hall obviously, there was a single door. Curious he peeked a glance at the others. They were still walking on with Zekko talking up a storm and Yakko continuing the conversation as Dot looked bored out of her mind. Wakko shrugged and went for the corridor.
"Woah...tiny door." Wakko said entering the hall.
The wooden door was about half his size from where he stood. Wakko wondered why, but then realized this was probably one of those weird illusions Yakko had showed him once. Well used to prank him on April Fools, but anyway wakko wouldn't be fooled by that trick again. With a huff he went towards the door. As he walked on then the middle child noticed the ceiling was getting awfully closer and actually the door wasn't changing in size. Wakko went down on all fours and had to begin crawling when the hall turned into a narrow passageway.
"This is weird-oof!"
Wakko's nose collided right with the wooden doors. Rubbing his nose tenderly he looked to the door. He tilted his head at the door's engravings. Pulling the sleeve of his sweater down Wakko rubbed off the layered dust. He wrinkled his nose at the overwhelming dust and quickly waved it away. Wakko looked back to the door and blinked in surprise. Similar to the painting on the hall ceiling was the blue star with the word 'Animaniacs' over it, but this time it didn't include the three siblings. Wakko grabbed hold of the handle and tried twisting it open, but it wouldn't open. Placing both hands on the door he jingled the knob and the tattle tale metal click that repeated told him it was locked.
With a huff Wakko sat on the heels of his feet, annoyed. He blinked feeling some rough material under him at his toes. Wakko looked down and suddenly saw a welcome mat. Getting an idea, also as a bulb popped over his head (which he ate), Wakko scooted back and pulled the mat back. Just as he suspected a key laid there. He reached for it.
"Now what do you think you're doing?"
Wakko gasped as something grabbed the back of his sweater and he was roughly pulled back. In that moment the key jumped from his hand spinning in the air before it landed safely back to the ground with a clink where the mat replaced itself back to the floor like it was never touched.
Wakko was pulled back from the hall and out into the normal sized portion of it where he found himself staring into some very familiar intimidating eyes.
"Wimpy," Gekko warned lifting Wakko a good two inches off the floor by the front of his sweater. "You got five seconds to spill before I end up getting a new punch dummy. Now tell me why the hell you were back there. Don't lie!"
Wakko panicked as Gekko shook him. "I was just-"
"Gekko! You put him down this instant!"
The two brothers turned to their right to find Shayna only feet away and only getting closer. She didn't look very happy either. Gekko looked at her in outrage.
"Shayna he-"
"Now." She ordered only a inch from his face.
Wakko looked back and forth between them as they stared into each other's eyes, neither blinking. He could feel Gekko shaking with anger, as the said toon was holding him, and felt this could either go very badly or...worse then badly. Wakko wasn't sure if there a good side to this-
"Fine." Gekko said dropping Wakko.
"Oof!" Wakko yelped falling onto the hard floor. Okay so this was the good side, but it certainly hurt.
As Wakko grumbled about why the floor wasn't covered in pillows instead of tiles, Gekko faced his sister, a murderous glare set on his features.
"I hope you're happy." Wakko heard Gekko spat at Shayna. "Because that the last time I'm ever listening to you."
Shayna scoffed, turning from him with a disgusted look. "As if you ever listen."
Gekko's jaw clenched and his flexed his fingers. Wakko winced as his claws slipped out in a flash.
"Oh I listen." Gekko said in a controlled voice. He pointed a clawed finger at her. "You're my sister Shayna. I'm supposed to listen, but does that ever stop you from ignoring every word I say? No."
His claws retracted. Gekko snapped his jacket's collar up and turned towards the opposite way, but didn't walk just yet.
"Be glad you have more brothers cause this brother's not dealing with you anymore. I'm done with your crap."
Hands stuffed into his jacket pockets and walked forward.
"If Zekko's asks I'm in my room where the world makes sense."
Wakko watched as Gekko kept on going and once he reached the corridor he and his sibs had come through with all the plants. Once Gekko turned the corner the toon went into a full sprint before vanishing out of sight.
"You okay?"
Wakko looked to his right and found Shayna holding out a hand to him, some concern in her expression. He grabbed her hand allowed her to pull him.
"I'm okay." He said with a smile. Wakko rubbed the back of his neck. "Um...thanks for-"
"It's nothing." Shayna said dismissing the subject. "Someone's got to keep his reigns in check once in awhile." She sighed crossing her arms. "It's a just a pity he picks on anyone weaker then him."
"Hey." Wakko said not looking amused.
Shayna backtracked. "Bad choice of words. I mean he's just looking for someone else to use up all his steam at. Someone who got the better end of the deal…"
Wakko titled his head. "What do you mean?"
Shayna shook her head and then gave him a smile. "Anyone ever tell you you have a nice hat? I like it."
"Oh well no, but-hey wait. Are you trying to change-"
"Hey! You know what?" Shayna suddenly announced turning Wakko around towards where the others had went. "We better catch up with the others! You're missing the grand tour! Is that a new turtleneck sweater? It looks rather dashing."
"Uh thanks…" Wakko trailed off trying not to trip over his own two feet. Shayna wasn't really letting him walk right now.
As she continued to push him away and he kept on trying not to fall, neither noticed the piercing glare upon their backs.
"Wakko you better watch your back." A deep liverpool voice whispered.
Once they were out of sight, sharp nails embedded themselves into the corner wall. Gekko's hardened stare still staring straight ahead where they once stood.
"Cause if you hurt her in anyway."
With a crack of marble Gekko tore a piece of the corner wall with his bare fist. He let the rubble particles slip down from the palm of his hand and sprinkle onto the floor, a satisfied grin spread on his lips.
"...I'll deal with you myself."
(gulps) I don't like the sound of that! Anyways tune in next time for Digimon Digital-Wait wrong show. Whoops! Hehe...well see ya around! The Queen has left the building! Bye! :)