Chapter 5: Cold War
Winter break in Pac-World. Pac, Spiral and Cyli were all packed up and ready to leave school for their winter break. "Ah, is there anything better than winter break?" Spiral asked. "Well, if you wanna count the carnival days, Easter Weekend, Halloween." Cyli said. "Yeah, I know. But this is gonna be even better." Spiral said. "That's right. Because the President is hosting the special winter break party at the round house tonight. It'll be a feast like no other." Pac said, his mouth drooling. "Easy, Pac. Wait until we get to the party tonight." Cyli said. "Yeah, bro. Plus, it'll be nice to get an actual winter break from fighting evil for once." Spiral said. "Yeah. Hopefully, they have winter breaks in the Netherworld." Pac said.
Unfortunately, they don't. Betrayus cackled within his throne room as he cooked up his next big master plan. "This is perfect. I don't think I could've thought of anything better. Dr. Buttocks, how goes my brilliant plan?" He asked as he called Buttocks. "It is going better than expected, your supreme slimy-ness." Buttocks said, revealing himself to be in the mountains. There were Fire Ghosts hearing up the mountain peaks. "Once your fire ghosts heat up the mountains, it will cause a massive avalanche, swallowing up all of Pacopolis." Buttocks explained. "And once things freeze over in Pacopolis, I will heat things up and rule over them all!" Betrayus declared, cackling madly.
"Hold up." Buttocks said suddenly, making Betrayus stop cackling. "What's the meaning of interrupting my evil laughter?!" Betrayus demanded. "I just discovered something." Buttocks said. "Never mind your discoveries and continue with the plan!" Betrayus ordered. "Oh, but this is a major discovery." Buttocks said. "What would be major is you continuing the PLAN!" Betrayus exclaimed. "Not this time. For I, Dr. Buttocks, have just discovered the footprint…of an Abominable Snow-Pac!" Buttocks announced, focusing the slug-cam on a large footprint. Betrayus' eyes popped out as he saw this. "The Abominable Snow-Pac, the only other legendary creature besides Hugefoot of Creepy Hollow!" He said in excitement. "This footprint is fresh. That means it must be close by." Buttocks said. Suddenly, there was a growl nearby. Buttocks and the Fire Ghosts slowly turned to face the nearby forest in fear as something was coming towards them.
Meanwhile, Pac and his friends were heading to the Round House to help President Spheros with preparations for the party. "Hurry up, guys. The sooner we get to the Round House, the sooner we can help the Pres to prepare the party." Pac said. "Oh, Pac, we all know you just want to get a sneak peek at the food table." Cyli said. "Yeah, bro. We thought you were taking care of your habit of getting carried away around food." Spiral said. "I am. Don't worry. Even with my eating habits, I'm still working out my habits." Pac assured. "Well, let's hope so. We're here." Cyli said, gesturing to their arrival at the Round House. "Alright. Let's go in and get ready." Pac said.
As they walked in, everyone was setting up the decorations for the party. "Ah, Pac, my boy, so glad you lot could join us." Sir Cumference said. "Wouldn't miss it, Sir C." Pac said. "Excellent. Now, everyone, grab a decoration and set it up. The party starts in a few hours and I don't want anything to ruin it." Spheros said. Suddenly, as Pac and his friends started helping with the decoration, everything started shaking. "EARTHQUAKE!" Clyde cried. "No. The shakes aren't violent enough to be earthquakes. Something's outside, stomping around and making all these minor shakes." Sir Cumference said, checking the readings on his earthquake scanner.
Pac and his friends hurried outside to see what was causing the shaking. Just then, they gasped at what they saw. Buttocks cackled as he led, not just an army of ghosts, but an entire pack of Abominable Snow-Pacs! "No way!" Cyli exclaimed in shock. "Abominable Snow-Pacs?!" Spiral asked in shock. "You like my new associates, Pac-Man? I just happened to come across them while acting out my latest plan for Pac-World." Dr. Buttocks said. "So, you're forcing these poor creatures to do your duty work?" Pac asked. "Not this time. They're working for me on their own free will." Dr. Buttocks said. That shocked the team. "What? Is it hard to believe that I, Dr. Buttocks, can actually develop a friendship with such a variety of beautiful creatures?" Buttocks asked. "Especially if they weren't from Betrayus' useless ranks? It kinda is." Blinky said.
Betrayus watched the scene through the Slug Cams. "Oh, you would know about being useless." He said.
"Anyways, I'll make this offer once. Surrender the Round House to me or my new friends will have to get rough." Buttocks said. The Snow-Pacs growled. "I think I'll go with the alternative. Having you for lunch." Pac said, launching his tongue for Buttocks. But one of the Snow-Pacs caught his tongue, shocking him and his team. The Snow-Pac whipped the tongue, sending it back to Pac. "Hey, what's the dealeo?! You're interrupting my lunch time!" Pac exclaimed. The Snow-Pac just roared. "Uh, bro, I don't think he cares." Spiral said as he and Cyli got their PSCs ready. "Get them!" Buttocks ordered. The ghosts and the Snow-Pacs started to attack. Pac ate a Power Berry and took off into the air. He started to eat a few of the ghosts. "Mmm-mmm. They may not be Buttocks, but these guys are just as tasty." He said, licking his lips before burping out the eyeballs.
Just then, as Spiral, Cyli and Sir C were sucking the ghosts with their PSCs, they were suddenly being attacked by big snowballs. The Snow-Pacs were taking the snow and throwing the big snowballs. "Those Snow-Pacs really know how to throw a snowball fight." Cyli said. "Then maybe I should heat things up." Pac said as he ate another berry and transformed into Fire-Pac. He flew down and blew fireballs from his mouth, hitting the snowballs and melted them. "Come on! Keep them coming! I'm all fired up!" Fire-Pac exclaimed daringly. He blew a big fireball towards the ghosts. But suddenly, one of the Snow-Pacs fired an ice beam from its mouth, freezing the fireball. That shocked everyone. "But how?! What happened?" Fire-Pac asked. "Oh, it's a little extra special power Snow-Pacs have. They have an ice beam that's powerful enough to freeze even the hottest of fires." Sir Cumference explained. "Even your Pac-Berry fire won't be enough to burn through their ice, Pac-Brat." Buttocks gloated. "Everyone, back inside!" Spheros ordered as Pac's berry power wore off. Everyone quickly hurried back into the Round House and shut the doors. "Good. Freeze it shut!" Buttocks ordered. 2 Snow-Pacs fire their ice beams at the doors, freezing them shut.
"Yes! In a matter of moments, I will have the Repository and the Tree of Life! And soon, Pac-World will be all mine!" Betrayus cheered as he cackled victoriously.
Inside the Round House, Larry tried to break down the doors, but no avail. He growled sadly. "That's okay, Larry. You tried your best." Pac said, comforting his pet. "Those Snow-Pacs really froze these doors tightly. We're stuck but good." Sir Cumference said. "So, what can we do to get out of here?" Cyli asked. "What about Sir C's lab? We can get to it from here." Spiral suggested. "Good idea. To the lab!" Sir Cumference declared. Unfortunately, the power suddenly went dead. "What happened?" Pac asked. "The power went dead. We can't power the secret door to the lab." Cyli said. "Those beasts. The coldness from their ice beams must've frozen up the place enough to kill the power." Sir Cumference deduced. "What about you ghosts? Can't you phase through the floor and get into the lab?" Spiral asked. "W-W-W-We'd l-l-l-love t-t-to. B-B-But the c-c-c-cold is hav-v-ving an effect on us t-t-t-too." Buttler said, feeling the cold get to him too. "Then I guess we're stuck. Betrayus might actually win this time." Pac said.
Meanwhile, outside the Round House, Betrayus arrived as the Snow-Pacs surrounded the building. "Excellent work, Dr. Buttocks. You've not only built the perfect army, but you've also trapped the Pac-Man and his entire team inside." He said. "And we are mere moments away from total victory." Buttocks said. "So, what are we waiting for? Let's phase into the Round House and get the Repository and the Tree of Life." Betrayus ordered. "Uh, I'm afraid that if we were to phase into the frozen Round House, our ectoplasmic bodies would surely freeze up. Even your fiery plasma will freeze up." Buttocks explained with regret. "Oh, please. No ice is cold enough to withstand even my fire." Betrayus said. He readied 2 fireballs and threw them at the frozen doors. But the ice didn't even trinkle from the heat. "WHAT?!" Betrayus exclaimed in shock and anger. "I told you so." Buttocks said. "Well then, let's get those monsters of yours to mash that ice so we can get inside and get the Repository and the Tree of Life!" Betrayus ordered. The Snow-Pacs just grunted, not listening to his orders. "I said do it now! Now, now, now, NOW! Do it you good-for-nothing beasts!" Betrayus ordered. The one Snow-Pac just glared at Betrayus, not liking how he was talking to his kind.
Meanwhile, Pac and his team were trying to think of some way to break out of the freezing Round House. "Come on. Any ideas besides just sitting here and freezing to death?" Spheros asked, starting to feel cold. Grindor came in holding a tank of rocket fuel. "I think Grindor wants to try to use his rocket fuel breath to try and melt the ice." Cyli said. "Great idea, Grindor. But I'm afraid your rocket fuel breath won't be enough to melt the ice. And if the fire doesn't melt the ice, it could burn down the entire Round House." Sir Cumference said. Grindor, knowing his creator was right, gently set the rocket fuel down. Just then, Pac realized something. "Wait a minute. What time is it?" He asked. Everyone checked their watches. "It's about 3:00. Why, Pac?" Cyli asked. "It might be winter break, but I recall that around this time, the sun gives off its one last powerful ray on Pacopolis before chilling for the break." Pac said. Everyone looked at each other in shock. "By golly, Pac is right! And that ray should be hitting us right about…now!" Sir Cumference said.
Meanwhile, outside, Betrayus was furiously continuing to try and get the Snow-Pacs to obey his orders. "For the last time, I order you monsters to break down those frozen doors! NOW!" He exclaimed. But the Snow-Pac just snorted in his face. "That's it! I'm now in the mood for a barbeque! Tonight's special: Roasted Snow-Pac!" Betrayus exclaimed, getting ready to burn the Snow-Pac alive. "Wait! Betrayus! Look!" Buttocks exclaimed. Betrayus looked up to see a ray of sunshine hitting the Round House and melting the ice. "What's happening?" He asked. "It's the last known ray of sunshine before the winter break. It's melting the ice. And it's melting the door!" Buttocks explained. "Finally! The Repository and the Tree of Life are finally mine!" Betrayus cheered as he flew towards the door. But as the door opened, Pac leapt out with his mouth wide open. "NO!" Betrayus cried before he was swallowed whole. "Ah. I forgot how good you taste, Betrayus." Pac said before belching out Betrayus' eyeballs.
"Oh, no, you did not just eat Lord Betrayus and spit out his eyeballs! GET HIM!" Buttocks ordered. The ghosts got ready to attack. "Stand back, guys. This one's all mine." Pac said as he ate a berry and leapt in to attack. As the ghosts flew towards him, Pac started eating them one-by-one. As this happens, Buttocks noticed the Snow-Pacs were glaring at him and not fighting against Pac. "What're you doing?! The Pac-Brat is attacking! Attack back, you lazy beasts!" Buttocks ordered. But the Snow-Pacs just growled at him. "Wait! What're you doing?!" Buttocks asked as one of the Snow-Pacs grabbed him. "Oh boy. Hit me! I'm open!" Pac called. The Snow-Pac threw Buttocks as hard as it could, making him scream. Pac caught Buttocks in his mouth as he ate him. "Mmm-mmm. I love a good evil scientist in the end." He said before belching out his eyeballs and glasses. Just then, the Snow-Pacs started attacking the other ghosts with snowballs and ice beams. "Retreat!" One of the ghosts cried. The ghosts flew off back to the Netherworld. The Pac team cheered in victory. "Totally epic. Not only did we stop the ghosts from breaching the Round House, but the Snow-Pacs also helped us." Spiral said. "But why did you help us?" Pac asked. One of the Snow-Pacs, who was the leader, started growling, as if it was trying to talk to them. "He says that while they wanted to help Buttocks, it was until they saw Betrayus' true colors that they decided to do what they felt was right." Clyde translated. "Is that how you truly feel?" Pac asked. The Snow-Pac leader grunted with a nod. "Well then, there's only one thing left to do now." Spheros said.
Later, all of the Pac-Worlders gathered at the Round House, not just for the party, but for a special announcement. "And with the signing of this contract, I hereby declare that the Abominable Snow-Pacs are now Pac-World citizens and allies to the Pac-Man." Spheros declared as he and the Snow-Pac leader signed an official treaty. The citizens cheered and applauded. Even the Snow-Pacs were happy. "Now what's say we get this party started!" Spheros exclaimed happily. And with that, the party had begun. Everyone started dancing while Pac was enjoying himself at the buffet table.
Meanwhile, in the Netherworld, Betrayus and Buttocks, after regenerating their bodies, had caught colds from being in the cold. "Nice plan, Buttocks. Gather an army of monsters only to have them turn on us when victory was within our grasp." Betrayus said. "I didn't see you do anything. You were getting your eyeballs spat out after being eaten." Buttocks said. "When I get better of this cold, you are gonna get quite the scorching, Buttocks." Betrayus said before letting out a big sneeze.