Lion Tale (my version)

by cartoonman412

Tommy Pickles is a nobody. 'til he becomes real super popular for killing off Stalker, who was the older son of King Rambo. but his fibs get him in real super big trouble.

Cast of Characters

Oscar...Tommy Pickles (All Grown Up!)

Angie...Kimi Finster (All Grown up!)

Lenny...Artemis (a made up kid family friendly lion character)

Lola...Vicky Taylor (The Fairly Oddparents)

Frankie...Stalker (a made up fearless and tough looking lion character)

Mrs. Sanchez...Grandma Lydia (Codename: Kids Next Door)

Don Edward Lino...King Rambo (another made up lion character

Sykes...Knuckles the Echidna (Sonic the Hedgehog franchise)

Other Workers at the Whale Wash/Dragon Wash...Chuckie Finster, Lil DeVille, Phil DeVille, Susie Carmichael, Harold Frumpkin, Angelica Pickles and Dil Pickles (All Grown Up!), Sonic the Hedgehog, Shadow the Hedgehog and Silver the Hedgehog (Sonic the Hedgehog franchise)

Don Ira Feinberg...King Tyson (a made up karaoke singing lion character)

Katie Current...Sam Sparks (Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs franchise)

Giuseppe...Truffle (another made up lion character)

Other Sharks...(other made up lion characters)

Crazy Joe…..Iago (Aladdin franchise)

Luca…..Banzai (The Lion King franchise)

The Shorties…Huey, Dewy and Louie (DuckTales franchise)

Horace the Shrimp….Hamton Pig (Tiny Toons franchise)

Chapter One: Meet Artemis and Tommy

There was a little chao trapped in a cage. the chao was terrified that he was gonna be the bait. unknown to him, there was something coming up for approaching. he looked up. and there was a lion coming closer to him. the lion turned out to be a kid family friendly lion with light blue eyes. his name was Artemis. "Hi. I'm Artemis." Artemis said to him. but he fainted in fear. "oh! little buddy, did I scare you? wake up, wake up. now don't worry about it, I'm gonna get you out in a jiffy. just hang in there, little chao." then all of a sudden, another lion's voice is heard saying, "hey, Artemis!" "I'm coming, Stalker!" Artemis called back to him. "well move it! come on! Uncle Rambo's waiting!" Stalker called out to him. just as Artemis unlocked the cage. and the chao was finally free at last. "okay, buddy. you're free. now escape. go. just go. fly for the freedom."

Artemis said to him. 'til he was startled by the other lion he heard from before. this lion had light green eyes. he was Artemis's older brother, Stalker. "aaaaaaah! oh! you've almost gave me a heart attack." Artemis said to him while catching his breath. but Stalker was having none of it.

"Artemis, what are you doing?" Stalker asked him.

"well? I was just…..(he picked up some pink tulips.) picking you some tulips." Artemis said to him. but Stalker slapped them outta his paws. "hey! Mom and Dad say it's not okay to hit." Stalker slapped him in his face. "yowch!"

"Mom and Dad aren't even here any longer." Stalker said to him. just as they began walking around on their way back to the lion's cave. and in a neighborhood city town called Cartoon City, a news reporter lady named Sam Sparks was a bit nervous. "are they gone? are they gone? you sure?" Sam asked the viewers. "good morning, Cartoon City. I'm Sam Sparks, keeping everything up to date. we've received official confirmation that the lions are gone. I repeat: the lions are gone."

that's when almost everybody came outta their hiding places. 'cause the lions like Stalker and Artemis would attack and kill anybody off.

Male Singer: Don't worry

about a thing

Male Singer (continued): 'cause every little thing

is gonna be alright

"up next, a mother of six, tells us how she does it all." Sam said to them. just as a mother cat was with her kittens. who were all meowing constantly. "but first, over to Kent Brockman for the traffic report."

the next scene went over to Kent Brockman, who said to them, "thanks, Sam. a slight congestion here on the interpol. there's an overturned man. authorities are trying to calm him down." he saw Brian Griffin trying to keep Peter Griffin calm. "get out those smartphones. and call in to the boss. 'cause you'll be late."

"what's taking so long?!" Peter yelled out loud, impatiently.

"don't you yell at me. my brother is your brother. okay?" Brian said to him. just as Peter rolled his eyes. and he drove his car some other place. and yes. of course. this was a real super busy city town. with rush hour traffic. with lots of other people working. and more. in the bank, Yogi Bear sat in the counter. just as Mike Wazowski showed him the golden sparkle diamond. "yep. it's fake." Vector said to him while taking a look at the false sparkle diamond." "fake?! but it took me real super long time to dig it up!" Mike exclaimed angrily to him.

Male Singer: don't worry

about a thing

Male Singer (continued): 'cause every little thing

is gonna be alright

inside a diner, Big Friendly Pete stayed still for twelve minutes. then he got out a knife. and he furiously put it on the cutting board on the countertop. Knowing that the entire diner was only just about empty. "that does it!" he said angrily to himself. "I give up!"

"according to the latest danger poll," Sam said to the viewers. "fear of lions is at an all-time high. join us for an in-depth report. how long must this neighborhood city town live under siege? is there no hero among us? who can stop this lion menace?"

later on, there was a real super thrilling place. and there was a boy with dark purple hair, a golden-yellow and white t-shirt, light blue pants and black and white sneakers. he turned himself around to introduce himself. "hi. I'm Tommy. you might think you know, but you have no idea."

Tommy said to the viewers. just as rap music began playing in the background. "welcome to my crib. the good life. the way the other half lives. check it out. I've got my fifty high-def flat-screen TV with speaker surround sound, CD, DVD, Nintendo Switch hook-up. and a track player for days when you're feeling just a little…." Tommy began beatboxing for a bit. "old school. 'cause every superstar Mack daddy boy like me needs to have the basic necessities."

"yeah. like money." Huey laughed along with Dewy and Louie. the entire place was only just a billboard. and Tommy didn't even have any cash.

"come on, ducklings. why you messing with my fantasy?" Tommy asked them.

"'cause you're so broke. your baloney's got no first game." Dewy said to him. just as Huey and Louie laughed a bit.

"that's very funny." Tommy said to them while rolling his eyes.

"hey, Tommy! over here! I need to talk to you!" Iago exclaimed to him by the dumpster.

"be right there." Tommy said to them. "hang onto these." he handed the disco tags to Huey.

"Tommy, you're the dude." Huey smiled a bit at him. just as Tommy walked over to Iago.

"hey, Iago." Tommy said to him.

"now that you live in a penthouse, can I be your financial advisor?" Iago asked him.

"that's a billboard, Iago." Tommy corrected him.

"you live in a billboard? and they call me crazy!" Iago laughed a bit like crazy. just as he began flying up in mid-air. making the boy freaked out a bit.

"hey, Tommy. look who came to visit." Dewy said to him. who only just finished spray painting the walls. Tommy screamed a bit in fear when he saw a picture painting of a lion that was about to eat him alive.

"got ya!" the three ducklings exclaimed to him in unison.

"no! don't do that!" Tommy removed some of the paint. "shouldn't you be in school?"

"shouldn't you be at work?" Louie asked him.

"right back at me, huh?" Tommy asked him. "little smart beak. look. I'm on my way. stay outta trouble. okay? and clean that stuff up."

"see ya!" the three ducklings began cleaning off the paint. Tommy smiled a bit just as he was on his way to work.

"see ya, Tommy!" Iago called out to him. still flying around. Tommy continued on his way to work at a place called Dragon Wash. which of course was owned by Knuckles. it was a wash for dragons. Tommy continued on his way. saying hello to his fellow workers.

"hey. what's up, you guys? the T-man's in the house!" Tommy high-fived some of the workers. while they all began doing their real super hard work.

"hey, Chuckie! is it lunch yet?" Tommy asked his best friend for life and team partner.

"you've just got here." Chuckie said to him.

"that's my point." Tommy said to him.

meanwhile, Dil, who was listening to music by his headphones, was putting air fresheners on Spyro and Cynder.

"hey, Dil!" Tommy exclaimed to his younger brother. but he shook his head. knowing that he didn't even hear him. he walked past Angelica, Susie and Lil. who all began waxing Ord, Cassie, Zak and Wheezie.

"looking good, girls." Tommy said to them.

"hey, Tommy." Angelica, Susie and Lil greeted him.

Tommy stopped by the punch-in. so that he can clock in and begin his shift. but he couldn't even find his name on the card. 'til he found his card on the punch-in section.

"huh. I'm already punched in?" Tommy asked himself. but he smiled about who did it. "Kimi."

at the counter, a girl with dark black hair, a yellow and pink dress-outfit and purple sneakers named Kimi Finster, was on the wireless telephone. but she spoke with another customer.

"good morning." Kimi said to James. "can I help you?"

"one wash and lube, please." Dojo said to her.

"hot wax?" Kimi said to him.

"please." Dojo said to her again.

"metal scrape? we're having a special." Kimi said to him.

"why not? it's mating season. and I'm feeling lucky." Dojo said to her. and he began getting all cleaned up.

Kimi began answering the wireless telephone she answered before. "Knuckles's Dragon Wash. you get a dragon of a wash and the price…oh my gosh." Kimi listened to herself. just as she scribbled in the notebook: Tommy + Kimi. she had a crush on Tommy. and she was his best friend for life and one true love. "may I suggest a rusteez? it removes rusted metal."

"hey, Kimi." Tommy greeted her. just as Kimi panicked a bit. covering the paper she scribbled on. she didn't even want Tommy to see it. 'cause otherwise she would be embarrassed.

"oh my gosh. hi, Tommy." Kimi said to him.

"thanks for covering me up." Tommy held the wireless telephone Kimi was using. "hey. I'm sorry. Kimi needs to get her freak on. would you hold for one moment, please?" Tommy pressed the hold button.

"Tommy." Kimi said to him.

"come on, Kimi. dance with me, my girl." Tommy said to her while trying to dance it off with Kimi."

"Tommy. you're gonna get me fired." Kimi sat by the counter.

"please. you? fired?" Tommy asked her. "that can't happen. 'cause then I would have no reason to come to work."

"oh. you don't mean that." Kimi said to him.

"course I do. you're like, my best friend for life and one true love." Tommy said to her. Kimi gasped and groaned a bit. while the boy put on his gear. "listen. tell me. what do you think about this? this is like, the best idea ever. okay? it's a sure thing. guaranteed cash extravaganza." Kimi took a look at him. "fresh air."

"oh no." Kimi groaned a bit.

"all I need is an advance paycheck from the boss. and, Kimi. I am outta this place. I mean, I am…pschoo!"

"Tommy? instead of getting in Knuckles's face with another get-rich-quick-scheme, go do something you're actually good at: your job." Kimi placed the belt around Tommy's waist. "which by some miracle you still have."

just as Tommy began doing his real super-hard work, he stopped and got something for her. "oh. I almost forgot." the boy held out a food bag from McRonald's. "I've brought you some breakfast."

"you didn't. breakfast egg and turkey sausage bagel sandwich?" Kimi asked him.

"your favorite." Tommy replied to her. "by the way. you're still on hold."

Kimi gasped a bit. and she quickly picked up the wireless telephone. "thank you for holding. busy, busy, busy. how can I help you?" Kimi watched. just as Tommy began doing his shift while listening to a certain somebody on the wireless telephone. "no. I'm sorry. Knuckles is at a meeting right now. he won't be back 'til later."

whenever Knuckles was at a meeting, he was at a meeting with the boss of the neighborhood city town.

Chapter Two: The lion boss

in the caverns, there was a lion standing in front of the Sharpedo tank. he was King Rambo. "how are my little Sharpedos this morning? you miss me? you doing good?" King Rambo gave the food to a few Sharpedos. "you see, Knuckles? it's a cruel globe. you either take or you get taken."

Knuckles was a bit nervous when he watched the Sharpedos eating the food like rabid critters. "true words have never been spoken." Knuckles said to him. "is that it? we're done?"

"now you and me. we've worked together a long, long, long time." King Rambo explained to him.

"please, King Rambo. it's hardly been like work." Knuckles said to him.

"you know-" King Rambo continued.

"I like that about you." Knuckles interrupted him.

"let me finish. that I've lived my life for my sons." King Rambo said to him. "raising them and protecting them-"

"you're the best. he's the best. right? am I right? or am I wrong?" King Rambo asked Banzai the Hyena instead of King Rambo.

"Knuckles. it's all been to prepare-"

"right?"

"to prepare them-"

"sorry."

"it's okay. for the day they run the neighborhood city town. well. today is that day." King Rambo sighed heavily when the record of the record player began scratching while he sat in front of the desk. and Knuckles sat in the armchair. "Banzai."

Banzai began fixing the record. 'til it began playing the Wiggles' Fruit Salad, Yummy-Yummy on it. King Rambo and Knuckles took a look at him. just as Banzai stopped the record. "hey, boss. fruit salad yummy, yummy." he chuckled a bit.

King Rambo sighed heavily in annoyance. and he continued the conversation with Knuckles. "long story short. from now on, you work for Stalker and Artemis. got it?"

Knuckles laughed a bit. "Artemis? Stalker I understand. but Artemis? you can't be serious."

"I'm dead serious." King Rambo said to him. "it takes more than muscles to run things. now Artemis, he's got the brains. that's something special."

"oh. he's special, okay." Knuckles said to him.

"what does that mean?" King Rambo asked him.

"nothing. I'm just sayin'-" Knuckles began explaining to him.

"I bring you here. look you in the eye. and tell you what's what. and what?" King Rambo asked him.

"what?" Knuckles asked him.

"what 'what'?"

"you said what first."

"I didn't say what. I asked you what."

"you said and then, what? I said what."

"no. I said what, what. like what, what."

Knuckles looked a bit confused. "you said what first."

"oh. now you're making fun of me?" King Rambo stared right at him. just as he got up.

"no. you misunderstood." Knuckles replied to him. but the conversation was interrupted when Stalker and Artemis entered the office.

"sorry we're late, Uncle Rambo." Stalker said to him. "Artemis had an accident. he was born."

Artemis laughed a bit sarcastically. while sitting on the turning stool chair. "you're a comic genius."

Knuckles whispered to King Rambo. "look. all I'm saying is that kid ain't exactly no killer."

"my nephew, Artemis is a killer. you hear me? a cold-hearted killer. look at him." King Rambo took a look at Artemis crazily. just as Artemis played around on the stool chair. acting like a younger kid. Knuckles smirked a bit. by telling him that Artemis wasn't even a killer lion. King Rambo stared angrily at Knuckles. he had quite enough. "that's it! that's it! you are out!"

"what?!" Knuckles asked him. shocked. "what do you mean I'm out?"

"you're fired!" King Rambo swung his right fin at Knuckles. Knuckles screamed in fear. just as he crashed into the wall. "and on top of that, you're gonna have to start paying me!"

"for what?" Knuckles asked him in fear.

"so nothing happens to your little Dragon Wash." King Rambo replied to him. while smirking.

back at the wash, Tommy, along with the others, began scrubbing the tongue of Dojo. Tommy frowned at the job. "welcome to Tommy's crib. forty foot slime covered tongue. with canker sores. cavities. and encrusted teeth for when I feel a bit old school."

"stop your moaning, Tommy." Phil said to him. "it could be a lot worse, you know."

"that's true. I could have this job and look like you." Tommy laughed a bit. suddenly, he saw the bucket full of slime began shaking. knowing what was about to happen. "indigestion. he's gonna blow!" Phil and the others took cover.

"wait! Dil's still in there!" Susie explained to them. Tommy saw Dil. still scrubbing and listening to music on his headphones.

"I've got you, Diiiiiiiiil!" Tommy raced over. and he grabbed his brother. the rumbling grew louder. 'til Dojo let out one little belch. suddenly, blue slime flew by. and it hit Tommy's face. Phil and the others laughed a bit. while the boy wiped the slime off him. "yeah. still think it could be worse?"

"yeah. I could look like you." Phil replied to him. still laughing a bit.

"you're all funny." Tommy said to them while holding the slime. "well? see if you can laugh at this!" Tommy threw the slime at Phil. but he dodged. without warning, the slime hit Chuckie. causing him to push the button. and the soap bubbles hit on Dojo's left eye. Dojo howled out loud in pain. just as Chuckie began pulling down the lever. but it didn't even work. if they couldn't even think about a way to get the soap off, Dojo would go completely crazy.

"soap in the eye! soap in the eye!" Tommy pulled the lever. activating the chains. the chains held Dojo down. so that he wouldn't even struggle. Tommy raced over towards him. and he removed the soap real super carefully. "it's okay. I'll get you some coupons. a free hot wax and all that. you like that?"

"thanks, Tommy." Dojo said to him.

"okay." Tommy said to him. but all of a sudden, Crash and Eddie, the twin possum brothers, slapped him in his face.

"well. look who it is, Eddie." Crash said to him.

"just the boy we're looking for." Eddie smirked at him. "the boss wants to see you now."

"Crash. Eddie. my possum friends. hey. what's up, you guys? it's good to see you all…huh? what did you say, Kimi?" Tommy asked Kimi who was speaking with Angelica and Susie. "you guys? I'm gonna go ahead over there. but-"

Tommy: Don't worry

about a thing

Tommy (continued): 'cause every little thing

is gonna be alright

Crash slapped the boy in his face again. "that's not the way you sing that song." in Knuckles's office, the twin possum brothers threw Tommy inside. Tommy tumbled towards the desk. and he crashed into it.

"hey, Knuckles. my brother from another mother. what's the deezy, baby?" Tommy asked him. just as Knuckles stared at him. not super thrilled from the meeting with King Rambo. Tommy grabbed Knuckles's right front hand. trying to do the secret handshake. but Knuckles only just took a look at him. and he rolled his eyes.

"Tommy!" Knuckles exclaimed to him. while putting his right hand away.

"hey. don't sweat it." Tommy said to him. a lot of humans and critters can't do it."

"would you just sit down? okay? Knuckles asked him. just as Tommy took his seat. "I've been going over my markers. you're into me for five grand. five G's. okay?"

"five G's? man. you're tripping." Tommy said to him.

"oh yeah? see if this refreshes your memory." Knuckles threw a pile of bill papers at Tommy.

"whoa. that's crazy. look at that." Tommy said to himself. reading the bill papers. knowing that he owes Knuckles five hundred dollars.

"you wrote everything down. so you wouldn't forget." Knuckles said to him.

"this is a perfect example of why you're in management. and I'm not." Tommy smiled at him. "you go, dude."

"I have to pay King Rambo protection. so everything you owe me, you owe him." Knuckles explained to him.

"how did you figure that out?" Tommy asked him.

"simple. the food chain." Knuckles got out the food chain chart. "see? on top, there's King Rambo. there's me. and there's regular humans and critters."

"that's me." Tommy said to him.

"no. there's trees. there's dirt."

"then there's me?"

"I'm getting there." Knuckles continued. "there's water. there's rocks. there's dragon drool. and then there's you." he pointed at a photo of Tommy, holding a brush, telling him that he was at the bottom of the food chain.

Tommy stared right at it. "that's messed up."

"so if King Rambo's squeezing me, he's squeezing you." Knuckles said to him.

"what?!" Tommy exclaimed out loud. just as the chart rolled up. and it began hitting Knuckles in his face. "sorry."

"easy, boss. find your happy place." Crash said to him while reading a magazine.

"happy place." Eddie added.

"there's no happy place with him here!" Knuckles exclaimed to them in fear and annoyance. "I'm serious!"

"okay, please! just give me some time!" Tommy begged him. "that's all I'm asking. I'm begging you, Knuckles! please! please!"

Knuckles took a look at the boy. he knew Tommy worked real super hard. "okay. 'cause I like you. I'm gonna give you twenty-four hours to pay up."

"all of it? how am I supposed to do that?" Tommy asked him.

"that's your problem." Knuckles replied to him. "bring my money to the race track tomorrow. or else."

"or else what?" Tommy asked him a bit confused.

"the boys will explain." Knuckles left the office. Crash and Eddie both laughed a bit. and Crash gave the boy one single slap in his face. telling Tommy that he would be in real super big trouble.

"unpleasant." Tommy whimpered nervously.

Chapter Three: Artemis's troubles

"five hundred dollars?!" Kimi exclaimed to him. while putting an ice pack on Tommy's face. a little while back, Tommy came over to her apartment. and he explained what just happened after the conversation with Knuckles. Tommy sat on the bench of the backyard. just as Kimi continued, "you borrowed five hundred dollars from Knuckles?! Tommy? why do you always get yourself into these situations."

"I don't know, Kimi." Tommy sighed heavily. "it's just hard. okay? 'cause I'm a boy in a big neighborhood city town. a really big neighborhood city town. the city town. I'm a nobody. I want some of that." Tommy looked right up, telling her his dream vision.

"Grandma Lydia?" asked him. looking a bit confused. Ash saw Grandma Lydia doing her makeup.

"what? no. that." Tommy took a look at the real super big building of the neighborhood city town. "the top of the city town. where the somebodies live. I wanna be real super popular like them. but I'm stuck down here."

"well? what's wrong with down here?" Kimi asked him.

"I'll tell you what's wrong with down here." Tommy explained to her. "remember my dad? he worked at the wash his whole life."

during the year 2003, the late Stu Pickles worked real super hard as a tongue scrubber at the Dragon Wash. he had worked there for years. "he was the number one tongue scrubber. every year. for forty years." Tommy explained to Kimi. all of the photos of Stu are hung on the wall. seven Year Old Tommy smiled a bit. just as he showed the other students in class during show and tell. "to me, working at the wash was the coolest job in the neighborhood city town. but then I've learned something I will never forget."

Harold Berman laughed a bit. "Tommy's dad's a tongue scrubber!" all of the other kids teased him. seven Year Old Tommy looked down. humiliated by the other kids.

end of flashback sequence.

"my dad was the greatest." Tommy said to her. "but nobody loves a nobody. I wanna be a somebody."

"Tommy. you don't have to live at the top of the neighborhood city town to be a somebody." Kimi placed her right hand on the boy's right shoulder. Tommy sighed heavily. and he sat back on the bench.

"what's the difference? if I don't pay Knuckles back by tomorrow, I'm dead anyway. so-"

Kimi was feeling terribly sorry for the boy. if Tommy didn't even pay the cash back, he'll be in real super big trouble. so she decided to help him out. "wait right here." she walked back inside her house. Tommy only just sat there, taking a look at the building. he looked down that his dream vision of becoming a somebody was nearly ruined. then he saw Kimi holding a little blue box.

"what's this?" Tommy asked her. just as Kimi opened the lid. "a pink gem?"

"yes." Kimi replied to him.

"where'd you get that?" Tommy asked her.

"my Grandma Shirley gave it to me." Kimi replied to him. "she said it started from a tiny grain of sand. but then, after a while, it grew into something beautiful. dream visions can begin small too."

"no. I couldn't." Tommy didn't even wanna sell to something she had for so long.

"take it." Kimi said to him. while handing the gem over to him. "it'll get you the money you need for Knuckles."

Tommy sighed heavily in relief. and he smiled at her. knowing that she was always there to help him out.

back in the caverns, all of the lions were in the dining room to eat something for their dinner meal. some of them were speaking. and some of them were goofing off. but King Rambo was having a conversation with Artemis. just as Stalker continued eating. Artemis looked a bit concerned. 'cause he wasn't even learning how to be a killer lion. he did help the little chao to be set free a while back.

"what do you mean you don't understand?" King Rambo asked him. "we've been over this a hundred times. I don't wanna say it again. you're really giving me anxiety. I don't know how else to say this to you, Artemis. you see something. you kill it. you eat it. period. that's what all lions do. that's a fine tradition. what's the matter with you?" Artemis took a look at him. still holding the dining menu. just as King Rambo continued, "Your brother, Stalker here, he's a killer."

"thanks, Uncle Rambo." Stalker said to him. while eating his dinner meal like a savage lion.

"he's beautiful. he does what he's supposed to do." King Rambo said to him. "but, you. I'm hearing things." he sighed heavily. "you've gotta understand. when you look weak, it makes me look weak. I can't have that."

"I know. Uncle Rambo, I'm sorry." Artemis said to him looking a bit upset.

"Artemis. look at me. look at me." King Rambo said to him. just as Artemis looked right at him. "this handling business. it's for you. it's for both of you. and you're acting like you don't even want it. I need to know that you can handle it." he sighed heavily. but he took a look at the cage, where Hamton, Porky and the three little pigs were. he had an idea. just as he got Hamton out. "okay. right here. in front of me now. eat this." Hamton shook in fear, knowing that his entire life was about to end real soon.

"Yeah. thanks, Uncle Rambo." Artemis said to him. "here's the thing: I'm on a diet. and I read an article about these pigs. they're not good for you. you know how many calories are in one of those pigs? a lot."

"It's true." Hamton explained to them. "it's true. and the other thing is, one of my cousins got married and later had little twin piglets. and she and I took it over 'cause my oldest cousin passed away. and then the piglets lost some of their legs. but I still take care of them with my parents and grandparents. and they're growing. and they're happy. but it's difficult 'cause I've been working a second shift at the factory to put food on the table. but all the love I see in the little ones' faces. makes it worth it in the end." King Rambo took a look at him. "true story." Artemis cleaned away a tear drop from this right eye. while Stalker rolled his eyes.

King Rambo sighed heavily. "I'm not asking you anymore. I'm telling you. eat it."

"noooooooo! have mercy!" Hamton begged to Artemis.

"Uncle Rambo! please!" Artemis exclaimed to him. the other pigs exclaimed out loud. begging for Artemis not to eat Hamton. Artemis and King Rambo began snapping and arguing. just as Stalker kept taking a look at Hamton. about to take one single bite.

Artemis had quite enough of it. "put the pig down!" he grabbed Hamton and the other pigs, making King Rambo shocked. the other lions took a look at Artemis. just as he set the pigs free at last. "go now. no one's looking. get outta here. you're free. now go."

"thank you." Hamton said to him. "you're a good person." he took a look angrily at King Rambo. and he punched his right pig-like hand by telling him that he'd be back sooner or later. "come on, guys." Artemis smiled a bit while watching the pigs make their leave. but he took a look at King Rambo. who was staring at him. while Stalker looked a bit worried and confused. Artemis sighed heavily. just as he sat right down. looking terribly upset about it. King Rambo sat back down, taking a look at his second born nephew. refusing to eat any single critter.

"Uncle Rambo. I can handle the neighborhood city town. it's not a problem." Stalker said to him while hoping everything would be all set up.

"no. we're gonna do this as a family." King Rambo said to him. "Stalker. I want you to take Artemis out and show him the ropes."

"aw. come on, Uncle Rambo." Stalker said to him.

"Artemis. you're gonna learn how to be a lion. whether you like it or not." King Rambo said to him. just as Artemis took a look at him. shocked. now knowing that he would be in real super big trouble if he didn't even learn how to be a true lion.

Chapter Four: Betting on Oreo

at the horse racetrack, everybody came by to watch or bet on oreo. everybody was cheering and betting. but Knuckles paced around in his private box. hoping that Tommy would show up with the cash. "that dude better show up or he's ground beef."

"just say the word, boss." Eddie said to him. while getting prepared to punish Tommy along with Crash.

meanwhile at the lobby, Tommy came by. holding a package full of cash to give to Knuckles. thanks to Kimi, he sold her gem. and he got all of the cash he had in his entire life. when he was finished, his problems would be over real soon.

"carrying the big envelope full of money. gonna give it to Knuckles." Tommy said to himself.

"hurry up! this is our chance! we don't wanna miss it!" Shrek accidentally knocked the envelope by accident. Tommy managed to catch it.

"you sure?" Donkey asked him.

"my trainer friend ripped me off." Shrek replied to him. "the race is rigged." Tommy began listening to them. "we can't lose!"

"what's the horse's name?" Donkey asked him.

"Oreo." Shrek replied to him. Tommy gasped in shock and surprise. and he took a look at the board. Oreo was gonna be the winner in the next race.

"we're gonna be rich! riiiiich!" Shrek cheered out loud.

Tommy grinned a bit like crazy. "top of the neighborhood city town! here I come!" but he snapped out of it. "no. wait. what am I doing? remember what Kimi said. remember what Kimi said. what did Kimi say?"

Tommy began remembering what Kimi said to him before from yesterday evening. "dreams can begin small. you just have to….bet it all! bet it all!" he imagined that if Oreo won the race, he would win lots of cash. and he would also live at the top of the neighborhood city town. he forgot everything Kimi said to him. so he had a new plan. he slammed the envelope on the counter. "five hundred on Oreo!"

"hey. that's two hundred to one." Wallace said to him. while taking the envelope. and giving him the ticket. "that'll pay a million dollars!"

Tommy took the ticket. "well. I guess that makes me Tommy. the millionaire." at the front door, a female figure turned herself around, taking a look at Tommy. the figure was none other than Vicky Taylor. Vicky raised her left eyebrow, still taking a look at Tommy. and just as Tommy began leaving, he stopped. and he took a look at her. just as she did her dance off moves.

Male Singers: She's dangerous

super bad

better watch out

she'll take the cash.

Male Singers (continued): she's a gold digger

she's a gold digger

Male Singers: she's dangerous

super bad

better watch out

she'll take the cash

Male Singers (continued): she's a gold digger…

"nice bet." Vicky said to him. just as Tommy snapped out of it. and he chuckled a bit. "you got a name?" Tommy chuckled a bit again. "you're gonna tell me what it is?" Tommy chuckled, goofily. "well? mine's Vicky."

Tommy snapped out of it. "come on, man. get your game face on." he smacked himself. and he followed Vicky around. "so, Vicky. my name's…" he bumped into the pillar. "my name's Vicky, sweetie." he saw Grandma Lydia taking a look at him. just as she was reading the newspaper. "ahhh! Grandma Lydia!"

"the hippity-hop smooth talk doesn't work with me." Grandma Lydia said to him. just as she continued reading the newspaper.

"Sorry 'bout that." Tommy apologized. and he followed Vicky around. "hey. so…"

"Tommy. I was starting to think you skipped out on me." Knuckles came along with Crash and Eddie.

"Knuckles. I see you're already on your way to the concession stand." Tommy said to him. just as he escorted Knuckles.

"hey. what are you doing?" Knuckles asked him a bit confused.

"mind bringing us back some drinks?" Tommy asked them while Knuckles took a look at him. "that would be great. thanks. and some of those little corn dog thingies."

"you mean the ones with the sticks?" Crash asked him.

"what are you doing?!" Knuckles slapped Crash in his face. "don't listen to him!"

Tommy escorted Vicky. "let me escort you to…my box."

"your box?" Sonic asked him while stepping in front of Tommy and Vicky.

"his box?!" Knuckles exclaimed to him. "you can't even afford the gum under the seats!"

"he just laid five grand on Oreo." Vicky explained to him. just as Tommy kept telling Knuckles that she was real super crazy. "I think he can afford anything he wants." she took a look at Tommy. who smiled nervously.

"five grand?! my five grand?!" Knuckles exclaimed to him.

"no. it was another five grand." Tommy replied to him while panicking.

"you've had the money to pay me back?! and you've bet it anyway?!" Knuckles grabbed the ticket from Tommy's right hand. "give me that!"

"clearly, I've made a mistake." Vicky walked off.

"no. no. wait! Vicky!" Tommy exclaimed to her while catching up to her.

"look. deep down. I'm really superficial." Vicky said to him while caressing his face. "and don't get me wrong. you're cute. but you're a nobody." Vicky left, leaving Tommy stunned. Tommy saw the faces on the corn dogs.

"Tommy. you're cute. but you're a nobody." Crash mocked him.

"wait! Vicky! come back! I'm not a nobody! I'm a corn dog!" Eddie laughed along with Crash.

Knuckles grabbed Tommy's right arm. "you are unbelievable. you're in trouble up to your nose. and still. you're asking for more?" he shoved him over to his box. "now go on! get in there!" Knuckles, Tommy, Crash and Eddie took their seats. "Tommy. you'd better pray that this horse of yours comes through. betting my five hundred." he saw Tommy sitting in his seat. "hey! outta my seat! outta my seat!" Crash grabbed Tommy, forcing the boy to sit between him and Eddie. "unbelievable."

"sit tight and watch the race." Crash said to him.

"with your good eye." Eddie joked a bit. just as they watched that the horses began racing around the racing track.

"the horses are at the post. and they're off!" the announcer announced while the horses began racing around. all of them but Oreo. who was trying to break the gate open. "Percy. then Vandy. and Victor. Oreo seems to be having trouble getting outta the gate."

"what?" Tommy asked himself.

"only a joker would bet on this horse." the announcer continued.

Knuckles took a look at Tommy. "don't sweat it. he does this all the time. he's playing." Tommy said to him when he saw that Oreo broke through the gate. and he ran around while catching up.

"what's this? Oreo's now crashing his way through the gate. and he's off and running. Percy, Vandy…"

"please, Oreo. go fast." Tommy whispered to himself while hoping that Oreo would win the entire race.

"coming around the turn, it's Victor by a length and Oreo well behind." the announcer continued. "and here comes Oreo, coming up from behind passing Percy, Vandy!"

Tommy gasped, excited, "you see? who's your dude? go!"

"around the final turn, here comes Oreo." the announcer announced, "Oreo's now caught up to Victor. they're head-to-head. neck to neck. Oreo's ahead!"

"I'm tired just thinking about counting all of this money." Tommy said to himself. just as Knuckles cheered loudly that they would be super rich and popular. "look at Oreo go!" they began celebrating while Crash and Eddie smiled a bit.

"absolutely amazing! this looks to be Oreo's big day!" the announcer exclaimed to himself. just as Oreo was almost to the finish line, he began losing proper control. and he hit himself, causing himself to lose proper control. "what happened? Oreo's down!"

Tommy and Knuckles danced around a bit. Tommy noticed that Oreo was about to win the entire race. but what he really saw was that Oreo fell down on the ground. "nooooooooo!"

"Here's Percy, Vandy and Victor…and Vandy wins!" the announcer announced out loud.

"what's going on?" Knuckles asked himself still hanging right on to Tommy.

"wait. I just wanna hold you." Tommy said to him. while hoping that Knuckles wouldn't even see what was going on around here.

Knuckles shoved him away. "no. get outta my way. let me see. will you?" Knuckles saw that Vandy was the winner. Knuckles's eyes widened in shock that Oreo had lost. and that meant Knuckles lost five grand.

"remember your 'happy place', Knuckles." Tommy said to him as Knuckles got angry and upset while tearing up the ticket. "that's the way they call him the long shot." "hey, that was crazy, right?" "who knew?" "everything's set." "it's a lock." "we're good to go." "we're in the money."

"and he trips on four legs." Crash and Eddie smirked at one another, knowing that they got a job to do. just as Tommy continued. "who in the dang heck trips on four legs? and by the way. on what?"

"that's it! that's it! I've had it!" Knuckles snapped to himself. "Crash! Eddie! I want you to find the deepest hole in the ground! and when you do! dig deeper! and put him in it!" Knuckles's power-punch popped a purple balloon nearby. which of course made an unknown girl scream out loud.

suddenly, Crash duct-taped Tommy's mouth. while Eddie tied the rope on Tommy's entire body and legs. later, they threw him into the trunk.

"sorry, dude. it's nothin' personal. it's just business." Knuckles said to him. just as Crash closed the trunk. now Tommy was really gonna get it.

Chapter Five: Tommy, the lion slayer

at Elephant Graveyard, Tommy was all tied up due to what happened back at the race. he continued muffling and struggling while Crash and Eddie began having fun and excitement with him, by hurting him.

Crash and Eddie: Don't worry

about a thing

'cause every little thing

is gonna be alright

"this is how you sing it, Tommy." Crash said to him.

"Knuckles. he likes you." Eddie said to him. "he said to take it easy on you."

Crash smirked a bit. and he pinched Tommy's face. just as Tommy screamed a bit. "but Knuckles isn't here." he laughed a bit. "Eddie. let me ask you something."

"yeah, Crash?" Eddie asked him.

"why's it that our powers can hurt other people and critters. but they've got no effect on me or you?" Crash asked him. just as he began slapping Tommy in his face. but Tommy ducked down. causing Crash to slap Eddie in his face. Eddie yelled out loud. and he fell down over, screaming out loud in pain.

"Eddie!" Crash exclaimed out loud. "I didn't mean it, Eddie! I didn't mean it, dude! Eddie!" Eddie began laughing a bit. "Eddie. you've made a joke. good one, dude." he and Eddie high fived one another. Tommy kept taking a look at them. depressingly that he was in real super big trouble.

meanwhile, Artemis and Stalker kept walking away from the caverns. Stalker took Artemis someplace for him to eat a young human or critter in order to become a true lion. but Artemis was a bit nervous. "Stalker. you know I can't do this."

"Artemis. if you wanna make Uncle Rambo happy, you've gotta kill somebody." Stalker said to him.

"or, I can find a very old sick human or critter and just wait." Artemis said to him.

"it's getting around. your thing at the restaurant." Stalker explained to him. "you know how people and critters talk. this, that, the other. how you doing? boom! forget about it. you're dead."

"okay. seriously. I can't understand wise guy. so you have to be more specific." Artemis said to him.

"specific? you want specific?" Stalker slapped Artemis in his face. "be a lion for once in your life."

Artemis whimpered nervously. "what am I gonna do?"

Stalker sighed heavily. "Artemis. forget about it, okay? we do a couple of practice runs. badda-bing. badda-boom. Uncle Rambo's happy. you're a lion. life goes on. you got it?"

"okay. I've got it." Artemis said to him.

Stalker covered Artemis's mouth while smirking a bit. "bingo." Stalker and Artemis stopped behind some elephant bones, watching Crash and Eddie slapping Tommy in his face. "right there. dead ahead. TV dinner. doesn't get easier than this."

Artemis began concentrating. "okay. come on. eye on the tiger. Stalker. I can do this. what if I can't do it?"

"then don't bother coming home." Stalker replied to him.

"good point." Artemis began walking towards the group. back with Crash and Eddie, they kept slapping Tommy in his face. "slap him in his face again." Crash said to Eddie. just as Eddie slapped Tommy in his face again. and Tommy continued screaming out loud through the duct-tape.

Eddie laughed a bit. "I like the funny face he made." Eddie said to himself. but the fun and excitement didn't even last longer when they saw Artemis coming towards them. "Eddie!"

"look out!" Crash exclaimed to him. just as he and Eddie raced off, leaving Tommy behind. Tommy looked around. just as he managed to get his arms outta the rope. he ripped the duct-tape off his mouth. which caused him to yelp in fear.

"guys? guys? don't leave me alone!" Tommy exclaimed to them. "come on! there could be lions out there!" all of a sudden, he began feeling a real super-hot breath behind him. he turned himself around. and he saw Artemis with his mouth wide open. looking like he was gonna eat him. but not really. Tommy screamed in fear and panic. while trying to escape the rope. but it was no use. he kept screaming in fear and panic.

"oh no. wait. I'm sorry." Artemis said to him. "no. I'm not gonna-"

"Artemis. like this." Stalker showed him how to eat a human boy.

"oh no." Artemis began licking Tommy's head. but he gagged a bit in revolt.

"just get over it!" Tommy exclaimed to him. "wait a minute. do me a favor. don't chew me. I'm not made for that."

"I'm not gonna eat you." Artemis whispered to him.

"don't do the whole head trip thing with me!" Tommy said to him.

"listen to me. don't move 'til I tell you to." Artemis growled a bit and he cut the rope. "back up!" he pretended to eat Tommy by forming the cloud dust.

"that's it, Artemis." Stalker smiled a bit. "there you go, buddy. that's it. wave those paws, baby. dig in."

Tommy stared at Artemis, confused about what he was doing. "look. I'm just pretending so you can get away. now when I turn around, you take off." Artemis turned himself around while pretending to chew away. "tastes just like chicken tenders."

Stalker smacked his right front paw on his forehead while groaning a bit. "oh no. no."

Artemis turned himself around. and he saw that Tommy was still there. "what did I tell you?"

"I'm sorry. I didn't get it. you want me to go now?" Tommy asked him.

"what are you doing?! just go!" Artemis exclaimed to him.

"that's it! I've had it up to here!" Stalker roared out loud. and he began racing around towards Tommy.

"oh no!" Tommy exclaimed out loud.

"hurry! run!" Artemis exclaimed out loud. just as Tommy continued racing around. "no! Stalker! wait!" but Stalker wasn't even paying much attention 'cause he was still chasing Tommy around.

Tommy continued racing around. "get your boy! get your boy!" Stalker was getting real super close to killing Tommy off. but all of a sudden, a giant elephant rib bone fell all the way down. and it landed on Stalker. which of course was causing him to fall over near Tommy. far away, Crash and Eddie heard distant rumbling. they both turned around. and they saw a real super big cloud of dust. back with Tommy, he crouched down, shaking. just as the dust began clearing up. Tommy slowly turned himself around. and he saw that Stalker wasn't even moving around.

Artemis gasped in shock. "Stalker!" he removed the rib bone off Stalker.

"Artemis?" Stalker coughed a bit. "Artemis. is that you?"

"I'm here, Stalker." Artemis replied to him. while hanging on to him.

"come closer." Stalker said to him. just as Artemis came closer.

"yes? what is it?"

"I'm so cold." Stalker whispered to him.

"that's just because we're cold-hearted." Artemis said to him. just as Stalker slapped him in his face once more. "ooooow."

"moron…" Stalker coughed a bit and closed his eyes. he was now deceased and gone for now.

"Stalker. nooo…" Artemis wailed out loud. "nooooooo! this is all my fault. I'm so sorry, Stalker. how am I ever going to explain this to Uncle Rambo? oho no!" Artemis raced away sobbing a bit. the cloud of dust formed. causing Tommy to back away near Stalker's motionless body. Tommy noticed that a certain somebody was pointing something near his back. he shrieked a bit. and he stuck his hands up. he turned himself around. and moving around, martial arts karate style.

"back up! I'm crazy! I'm tripping!" Tommy exclaimed out loud while making martial arts karate sounds. unknown to him, Crash and Eddie saw in surprise and amazement on what just happened. Tommy continued doing the moves. 'til he karate kicked Crash by accident.

"ow. what the-" Crash said to himself. just as Tommy screamed out loud. and Crash and Eddie screamed out loud back at him. Tommy screamed out loud again. just as the twin possum brothers screamed out loud while hanging on to one another. Tommy went behind Stalker's motionless body while taking cover.

"don't hurt us! we're sorry! it was all Eddie's idea!" Crash said to him. just as Eddie nodded his head in agreement. but he took a look at Crash. and Tommy took a look at them. a bit confused.

"Tommy. did you kill that lion?" Eddie asked him. Tommy began thinking about the question Eddie asked him. if he told them that the rib bone killed Stalker off, the twin possum brothers would continue where they left off. unless of course he answered them in a much more different way. by fibbing. he smirked a bit. and he stood on Stalker's motionless body. "uh…yeah. exactly how it looks? that's how it is."

"what happened?" Crash asked him.

Tommy smirked a bit. "oh. you wanna know what happened?"

"yeah. you're standing on top of a lion." Eddie said to him.

"go on, dude." Crash said to him.

"well. I'll tell you what happened." Tommy said to them. back at the Dragon Wash, Tommy began his entire story, not only in front of Crash and Eddie, but everybody. everybody came all around, listening to Tommy's entire story. while Kimi sat on the stair steps near him.

Tommy began his entire story. "big old lion about forty-feet-long. so he's racing at me. right?" the entire crowd gasped in shock. "with teeth like razors. and I was like, you're gonna come at me like that? you're gonna come at the T like that?"

"hey. do the muscle thing. the muscle thing." Kimi said to him.

"oh. right." Tommy said to her. while flexing up his muscles. "so I've told that dude. 'you see this guy?' and I pointed like this. well. he's got a brother. and he lives right over there. and I think it's time for a little…" Kimi joined in with him. "…family reunion!" Tommy and Kimi laughed a bit as the crowd cheered. Kimi smiled a bit. just as she stood next to him, bright and cheerful.

"you see? I've told you." Eddie said to them while taking a look at the camera operating man. "we were right there."

"pardon me. move it!" Sam shoved them aside.

"oh. sorry." Crash said to her. "she seems so nice when on TV."

Sam walked in front of Tommy. while holding the microphone. just as she lightly pushed Kimi next to the camera operating man. "Tommy. Sam Sparks. as the first boy in history to ever take on a lion and win, tell me. does this mean you're now protector of the neighborhood city town? new sheriff in town?"

"Sam. I'm keeping it real." Tommy said to her. "can I call you Sam?"

"of course." Sam replied to him.

"any lion who tries to mess around in Tommy town is going down." Tommy explained to them. in the neighborhood city town, all of the people and critters cheered. while watching Tommy on the real super big screen on the building. Vicky and Trixie, who was carrying Vicky's shopping bags, watched the real super big television screen. while seeing Tommy.

"yeah. it's poetic. in the heat I get poetic."

"Tommy. hmm…Tommy." Vicky said to herself. back at the Dragon Wash, Knuckles got next to Tommy. "get outta here. any further questions will be filled in by me."

"and you are?" Sam asked him.

"I'm his manager. Knuckles." Knuckles replied to her.

"and I'm his financial advisor." Iago said to them. just as everybody took a look at him. just as he was feeling a bit embarrassed. "you wanna see my puppets?" he got out his hand puppets. "hello."

"could you excuse us for a moment?" Tommy asked them. just as he and Knuckles turned themselves around. and they both began their conversation with one another. "my manager?"

"dude. you're a superstar. we're going to make a fortune." Knuckles said to him.

"what about the five G's?" Tommy asked him.

"forget the five G's." Knuckles said to him. "from now on, we're partners."

"so what are we talking about?" Tommy asked him.

"I'm thinking about the money split." Knuckles explained to him.

"that's generous." Tommy grinned a bit.

"you get fifteen. I get ninety-five." Knuckles said to him.

Tommy frowned a bit. "I don't think so."

"talk to me." Knuckles said to him.

"you get twenty-five."

"thirty."

"forty-five."

"dude. you're going the wrong way." Tommy said to him.

"fifty-fifty!" they both said at the exact same time.

"you happy?" Knuckles asked him.

"no. you?" Tommy asked him.

"no." Knuckles said to him.

"deal." Tommy and Knuckles began doing their handshake. and they both faced the entire crowd to continue.

"my manager and I are now prepared to take your questions." Tommy said to them.

"Tommy. are you gonna continue working here at the wash?" Sam asked him.

"please. I barley work here now." Tommy replied to her. just as the entire crowd laughed a bit.

"keep it up, dude. you're slaying them." Knuckles said to him.

"no. he's slaying lions." Sam corrected him.

"hey. that's good. I like that." Knuckles said to himself. "Tommy, the lion slayer."

"whoa. a lion slayer." Huey, Dewy and Louie said to themselves in surprise and amazement.

"you've heard it here first." Sam said to them while Tommy flexed his muscles on the real super big screen. "from now on, any lion tries to bother this neighborhood city town, it's his funeral."

Chapter Six: Tommy becomes real super popular

back in the caverns, the grief and heartbreak only just began for the passing of Stalker. King Rambo's retired father stood there with King Rambo's retired mother, who was sobbing silently on his left shoulder. he stood there just as the other lions picked up the casket and buried him. King Rambo's retired parents stood there. to see Stalker's grave one more time. inside the mansion, King Tyson only just finished the song dedicated to Stalker's memories. "Stalker. we'll miss you."

"to Stalker." the lions said to themselves. while toasting for Stalker's memories. meanwhile, King Rambo and Banzai sat there. just as Truffle began speaking of Stalker's passing.

"It's a terrible thing, King Rambo." Stalker said to him. "everybody loved Stalker. may whoever did this, die a thousand deaths. may his stinking maggot-covered corpse rot in the fiery depths of heck."

King Rambo took a look at him. and he sighed heavily. "thank you for your kind thoughts, Truffle."

Truffle nodded his head. "oh. and may Artemis be found safe and sound too. hope he's okay."

Truffle left the entire room.

"oh. Artemis." King Rambo sighed depressingly.

"don't worry, boss." Banzai said to him while pouring red rose tea.

"I've said some things to him. we've gotta find him." King Rambo said to him.

"we're searching everywhere." Banzai said to him. "forget about it. he'll turn up."

"what's wrong with that boy?" King Rambo asked himself. "why does he have to be so different? Stalker. god rest his soul, he was perfect. perfect." but unknown to him, Artemis stood outside by the window, watching him. he looked really upset and heartbroken that he would never become the true lion within him. he had no other choice but to run away. 'cause King Rambo would never accept him for who he really was.

"oh, Banzai. who could've done this?" King Rambo asked him.

King Tyson cleared his throat. "King Rambo. at this most difficult time, please accept my deepest condolences."

"thank you, King Tyson. for honoring my first born nephew with your song." King Rambo said to him.

"I've got some news. about the guy who took out Stalker." King Tyson said to him.

"let's talk over here." King Rambo and King Tyson walked towards the window to have a private conversation.

"he came outta nowhere, this guy." King Tyson explained to him. "calls himself 'the lion slayer.'"

King Rambo cleared his throat that King Tyson faced him in the wrong way. "King Tyson. over here."

"sorry. 'the lion slayer.'" King Tyson said to him.

"where do I find him?" King Rambo asked him.

"he's from Cartoon City." King Tyson replied to him. "that's all we could dig up."

"thank you. thank you." King Rambo said to him. just as King Tyson bowed. and he left the entire room. " Banzai. get Knuckles. he knows that city town better than anybody. I wanna find this guy. I wanna know about him. where he lives. where he sleeps. he pops the skins or furs. I wanna know about it. who is the lion slayer?" King Rambo wouldn't even stop at anything to get his revenge on the dude who took Stalker out.

"here he is! the lion slayer!" in the city town, Tommy turned himself around, wearing a cape and sunglasses. everybody began cheering wildly for the new action hero in town. from magazines, television commercials and billboards, he was now real super popular. later on, he went in the elevator, taking him to the top of the neighborhood city town. the doors opened up. just as he walked into his new apartment. Tommy's eyes widened with amazement that everything he dreamt about had already came true. he was a somebody right now.

"let's get this party started right…" Tommy said to them when everybody came around him and they all danced it off for the house party while Crash and Eddie were the DJs.

"there he is. the big T." Knuckles said to him.

"Knuckles." Tommy said to him.

"pound that dude. pound it." Knuckles said to him. just as Tommy gave him the pound. "Tommy. raise the neighborhood city town. raise the neighborhood city town, dude." Knuckles continued dancing around like crazy.

"uh, yeah." Tommy backed away.

"oh yeah." Knuckles continued dancing around. just as Tommy backed away, Kimi entered the entire room, holding something in her hands.

"Kimi. you've made it." Tommy said to her. just as he was about to snuggle up with her.

"wait. you're gonna break my gift." Kimi said to him.

"come on. you didn't have to get me anything." Tommy said to her. "what'd you get me?"

"well? what does every bachelor pad need?" Kimi showed him his gift: a lava lamp.

"a lava lamp?" Tommy asked her while smiling a bit. "how'd you know I love lava lamps? you know what? I'm gonna put it right next to my other one." Kimi smiled a bit. but her eyes widened. and her mouth dropped open when she saw a real super big lava lamp. this penthouse had everything.

"hey. come on, Kimi." Tommy said to her. just as Kimi snapped herself out of it. "I wanna show you the best thing about this place." Kimi walked over to the balcony. and she sat next to Tommy. they both took a look at the beautiful viewing. "how great is this view?"

"top of the neighborhood city town. it's amazing." Kimi said to him while gasping in amazement.

"I know. it's beautiful. right?" Tommy asked.

"like you. like your new apartment. it's…wow. awesome." Kimi said to him. while hoping that he didn't hear that she was real super beautiful. "what I'm trying to say is, that I'm proud of you."

"yeah. it was nothing. really. you know." Tommy said to her. "hey. you know what? wait right here. don't move. I'll be right back. girl, you are gonna flip." Tommy left the balcony to get something for her. Kimi began checking her breath and she was hoping that this was the time to tell him how she was feeling about him.

"I'm back." Tommy said to her.

"oh you're back." Kimi said to him.

Tommy chuckled a bit. and he walked around towards her while holding something behind his back. "you know what, Kimi? where I'm at right now, this whole new life I got. all my dreams coming true. in a weird kind of way. well. I never could've done it without you."

"oh. sure you could. probably not." Kimi chuckled a bit.

"Kimi? here." Tommy showed her a little purple box.

"oh. Tommy." Kimi said to him while knowing that she thought it was gonna be an anniversary date gift.

"I know. I'm just sorry that it took so long." Tommy apologized to her.

"oh that's okay." Kimi said to him. just as things were going real super good. Tommy opened the lid while showing her the pink gem. "my Grandma Shirley's gem."

Tommy showed her the gem along with the other gems, forming a necklace. "with interest. now I don't forget anything. and I never forget who my friends are."

"ohhhhh." Kimi was a bit crushed. but it was real super nice that he gave her the pink gem. they both chuckled a bit. he took a look at her. just as Kimi smiled a bit at him.

"Kimi. I-" Tommy was about to say something. but their entire minute got interrupted by Vicky. "oh hi. I'm not interrupting, am I?" Vicky asked him.

"yes. we're talking." Kimi said to her.

"no." Tommy replied to her. "hey, Vicky. you're here." Kimi cleared her throat a bit. "oh. you've gotta meet my best friend, Kimi."

"your best friend? oh that's sweet." Vicky said to him. "so you won't mind if I steal him for a while. will you?" Kimi shook her head silently. Tommy and Vicky walked inside. just as Vicky took a look at her. Kimi watched them going inside. and she sighed depressingly that she was real super close of telling Tommy how she was feeling. back inside, Tommy and Vicky walked inside, holding hands with one another while everybody kept dancing around.

"so. look who's a somebody after all." Vicky said to him while smirking.

Tommy chuckled a bit. "well. you know-"

all of a sudden, Plucky Duck entered the penthouse, breathing in fear and terrified. "lions! on the…on the edge of the neighborhood city town! they're real super big!" everybody began screaming in fear and running around for cover.

"lions!" Tommy hid behind Vicky. "okay. everybody go home to your loved ones. spend the last few hours that you have with each other." everybody stopped screaming in fear and running around. they all took a look at him when Vicky stepped aside. Tommy, on the other hand, took a look at them. "oh. I mean…that's the way it used to be around here. we'd have been all scrambling for cover and stuff. but not since Tommy came to town." everybody cheered wildly while Tommy spoke with Vicky. "so, Vicky baby. just wait here and I'm gonna be right back. I'm gonna go take care of the lions." Tommy walked around towards the elevator with a terrified look on his face.

"go get 'em, tiger!" Knuckles cheered out loud to him.

"biceps! triceps!" Tommy laughed and growled a bit heroic.

"oh yeah! Tommy!" Chuckie cheered out loud to him.

"go get 'em, Tommy!" Knuckles said to him. just as everybody kept cheering wildly. and Vicky stood there. Tommy kept growling a bit just as the elevator doors closed. just then, he began sobbing and wailing while knowing that he was gonna be in super big trouble.

Chapter Seven: Tommy and Artemis meet again

During the evening time, two lions named Blitz and Nova were walking around the neighborhood city town, looking for Artemis. "Artemis!" Nova called out loud to him. "where the heck is he? Artemis!"

Blitz slapped Nova in his face. "hey. what are you doing? there's a lion slayer out there. you wanna be next?"

"oh yeah." Nova began whispering a bit loudly. "Artemis!" Blitz rolled his eyes. just as he and Nova continued looking for Artemis.

meanwhile, Tommy was hiding in the tall sunflowers. when the lions went by. Tommy sighed heavily in relief. "that was close."

"super close." a peculiar voice said to him. he looked right up, real super slowly. and he saw that Artemis was behind him, looking way down. "don't panic." Artemis said to him. just as Tommy smiled a bit. and he was about to scream in fear. but Artemis covered his mouth. and he began hanging on to him. "quiet. we're safe."

"oh no. not you again." Tommy said to him. while getting outta Artemis's grasp.

"yeah." Artemis said to him. 'til he screamed in fear. and he hung on to Tommy. "aaaah! what was that?!"

"hey. what is with you, man?" Tommy asked him while getting outta the lion's grasp again.

Artemis shushed him. "he could be anywhere."

"who?" Tommy asked him.

"the lion slayer." Artemis replied to him.

Tommy got outta Artemis's grasp. "there's no lion slayer out here."

Artemis chuckled a bit. "yes. there is."

Tommy mimicked Artemis's chuckle. "no. there is not. trust me on this one."

"get a hold of yourself, man!" Artemis exclaimed to him. "this is no time to act crazy!"

"no. you're the one who's acting crazy, crazy!" Tommy exclaimed back to him.

Artemis sighed heavily. "you're right. you're right. I'm sorry. I haven't been myself since the uh…the uh…don't cry." Artemis fell on the flower beds, crying a bit. he would never forget that incident when Stalker was killed off and he never came back home in the first place.

"no. no. it's not all that. just relax." Tommy went up to Artemis.

"it's my fault. kinda. not really. but still." Artemis said to himself. "my brother-"

"you just need a little more time, man." Tommy said to him. "look. things will work out."

"you think?" Artemis asked him while calming himself down a bit.

"yeah." Tommy nodded his head. "so look. I'm gonna take off. and you can just go home. okay?"

"okay." Artemis nodded his head in agreement.

"hey. good luck." Tommy began leaving. but Artemis grabbed him. "wait. I didn't catch your name."

"Tommy." Tommy introduced himself. while trying to get outta Artemis's grasp again.

"I'm Artemis hi." Artemis waved to him. "wait. where do you live?"

Tommy got outta the lion's grasp. "Artemis. where I come from, humans like me, don't like being grabbed by lions."

"sorry 'bout that." Artemis apologized to him.

"now go home." Tommy said to him.

"there is no home for me anymore." Artemis said to him. while he was still hanging on to Tommy. "don't you understand?"

"you're too big to be grabbing on me like that." Tommy said to him.

"take me home with you." Artemis said to him. while letting go of Tommy. "you won't even notice I'm there. I'm like the invisible lion." Artemis covered his eyes for a bit. while he uncovered his eyes. then he was taking a look at Tommy. who took a look at him.

"are you crazy?" Tommy asked silently to him.

"please! I'm begging you!" Artemis said to him. while sobbing a bit and begging at the exact same time. "don't leave me alone!"

"hey. put your hands on the wall where I can see them!" a certain duckling exclaimed to them by the wall. Tommy and Artemis hid by the wall, flat. Tommy shushed Artemis. and he began looking. 'til he saw Huey, Dewy and Louie.

"got ya!" Huey said to them.

Tommy sighed heavily. "hey. the ducklings."

"Tommy!" the three ducklings cheered out loud.

"what are you all doing here?" Tommy asked them.

"check out my mad burner." Louie said to them.

"whoop, there it is." Huey and Dewy said to them. Tommy saw the picture painting of him riding around on a lion.

"hope you like it." Dewy said to them.

"Wow. you guys got some skills." Tommy said to them. real super impressed.

"It's wild style, dude." Huey said to him.

"hey. what did I tell you?" Tommy asked them. while taking a look at them. "you ducklings shouldn't be doing this. and besides, it's not safe for you to be out here at night." Tommy lightly pushed the three ducklings.

"It is now, Tommy. you're the lion slayer." Dewy said to him.

"lion slayer?" Artemis whispered to himself. a bit confused that Tommy was a lion slayer.

"what was that?" Louie asked them.

Tommy coughed a bit while covering Artemis. "sometimes I would be coughing up for nothing. look. I need you off these streets. seriously. get your behinds home. I'll tell your Uncle Donald and your Great Uncle Scrooge that you're all doing bad stuff." he watched the three ducklings leave.

"bye, Tommy!" Huey waved to him while leaving with Dewy and Louie. Tommy walked back to the other corner. where Artemis listened to the entire thing. "Artemis. did you see what just happened there?"

"I know. they think you're the lion slayer." Artemis began laughing a bit. "as if."

Tommy frowned a bit. "I don't appreciate your funky tone, actually." Tommy began leaving.

Artemis followed him. "no wait up. I'm sorry. seriously. I don't want you mad at me. and I certainly don't want you to…" he snickered a bit. "…slay me." the lion began laughing his head off.

"you having a good time?" Tommy asked him. while Artemis continued laughing his head off. "you enjoying yourself? well. for your information, I am the lion slayer. Tommy, the lion slayer. that's what people and critters will be saying." Tommy kept bowing while imagining that the other people and critters continued cheering wildly. Artemis stopped laughing a bit. when he heard what Tommy only just said to him.

"wait…you mean you…" Artemis said to him.

"yeah." Tommy said to him.

"when the rib-bone-" Artemis gasped in shock and alarm. "oh. you're a liar."

"hey. I didn't lie, alright?" Tommy said to him. but Artemis took a look at him sternly. "alright. I lied. but it was a little lie. come on. who's it gonna hurt anyway? man. I'm not explaining myself to you. you're on your own." Tommy walked right off.

"no problem." Artemis followed him around. "and if, God forbid, someone should, I don't know find out the truth about the lion slayer on my way back."

"you wouldn't." Tommy knew that Artemis would tell everybody the truth.

"Oh. I would." Artemis smirked a bit. Tommy didn't even wanna be the laughing stock in the neighborhood city town and be a nobody again. he sighed heavily. and he smiled a bit while petting Artemis's head. "come here. of course you can come with me. but you know, you're a lion, right?" Tommy entered the hole to the sewers. "and I'm a lion slayer. so we can't be seen together. got it?"

"got it." Artemis understood. and he followed Tommy over to the neighborhood city town. later on, Tommy opened the sewer lid on the road, checking to see if everybody was out there. but there were no signs of him nor her. "okay, Artemis. follow my every move and don't make a sound."

"you've got it." Artemis understood. just as he heard his echo. "oh. an echo. echo." Artemis chuckled a bit when he heard more of his echoes. "now batting for the Mighty Power Lions-" Tommy slapped him in his face. "ow. it's not okay to hit."

Tommy removed the lid. and he climbed up on the road. Artemis began climbing up. but without warning, he was stuck due to his real super big body. Tommy grabbed his front paws. and he pulled him out. but suddenly, they've heard speaking. Tommy pulled Artemis outta the sewers. and he took cover by the building. Tommy saw Phineas and Isabella walking by. he watched them walking by. and he signaled Artemis to follow him. he began doing some martial arts karate moves towards the mailbox. and he went towards the garage by the Dragon Wash. he pushed the button to open the door for Artemis. the boy signaled for him to come on.

Artemis smiled a bit. and he began following Tommy's moves. but without warning, he began tumbling towards garbage cans and mailboxes, making all sorts of loud noises. he crashed into the dumpster. and he entered the garage. Tommy cringed a bit. and he got a bit annoyed. "get yourself in here."

"do you think anybody heard that?" Artemis asked him. when he hit his head on the door. and he came inside. Tommy groaned a bit. but he hoped nobody woke up from their slumber and beauty sleep.

"who was that?" Iago opened the door to the dumpster. "hey. who's out there?"

"hey. Iago." Tommy greeted him.

Iago smiled at him. "hey. I thought I've heard something. did you get that lion?"

"you have no idea, Iago." Tommy replied to him.

"that's great." Iago said to him. "well. I've gotta go. my show's on." Iago closed the door. and he began watching television. Tommy heard him laughing inside the dumpster. and he came inside the garage, closing the door. "okay. we're safe. for now."

"wow. hey. a bed." Artemis went on the bed, relaxing himself. "that's heaven. yeah. snuggly, buggly, wuggly." Artemis snuggled up with Tommy. while giving him a noogie. "I love you, man."

"whoa. hold up. stop it." Tommy got outta Artemis's grasp. "you wanna be friends? fine. but we gotta lay down some rules. rule number one: no snuggly, buggly…whatever that just was."

"you've got it. anything else?" Artemis asked him.

"rule number two: and this is the most important rule. in the event that possibly you get hungry-" Tommy explained to him.

"don't worry. I'm not gonna eat anybody." Artemis began explaining to him with a super upset look. "in case you haven't noticed, I'm different from the other lions. let's put it that way, leave it that way. goodnight." Artemis was terribly upset 'cause he couldn't eat anybody like Tommy.

"define 'different.'" Tommy said to him.

"you'll laugh." Artemis turned right over to the other side.

"I'm not gonna laugh." Tommy said to him.

"that's what you say. and then what happens later? you laugh." Artemis said to him.

"Artemis. I give you my word." Tommy held his right hand while promising that he won't laugh his head off.

Artemis sighed heavily and he sat on the bed. "okay. I will tell you. I…I really enjoy eating crickets, grasshoppers, mealworms and cicadas." he covered his head with a pillow while ignoring the laughter from Tommy. he took a look him that Tommy didn't even laugh his head off.

Tommy, on the other hand, tried super hard not to laugh. "hold up." he took one deep breath. "so that's it?" Tommy tried real super hard to hold in his laugh.

"what do you mean that's it?" Artemis asked him while getting up. "you're the first boy I've ever told. I'm so tired of keeping it a secret. and my father. he'll never accept me for who I am. what's wrong with me?" Artemis began crying a bit.

"nothing's wrong with you, man." Tommy said to him while walking next to the nightstand. "I think all lions should be like you."

"God, that's sweet of you to say." Artemis said to him.

"and stop blaming yourself for what happened." Tommy said to him.

"really?" Artemis asked him.

"if you wanna blame anybody, blame me." Tommy said to him while getting up. "if I hadn't been there in the first place, none of this would've happened." he walked away from him.

"jeez. if Uncle Rambo knew that, he'd ice you for sure." Artemis said to him. just as Tommy stopped. and he turned himself around. "what's he? the godfather or something?"

"yeah." Artemis replied to him.

"what do you mean yeah?" Tommy asked him.

"yeah. he is." Artemis answered him. just as Tommy's eyes and ears twitched. and he gulped nervously in fear. "hey. are you alright?" Artemis asked him. but Tommy didn't even answer him. he was now terrified that if King Rambo had found out, he was one doomed boy.

Chapter Eight: Artemis's plan

back in Tommy's apartment, Crash and Eddie were playing a video game when they saw Tommy, being chomped by a lion in the game. they were the only ones in while everybody left to get their slumber and beauty sleep. "I've told you, man!" Crash snapped at him.

"I'm doing it, dude!" Eddie snapped back.

"a, b, left and right." Crash explained, helping out.

"a, b, left and right!" Eddie continued playing. while Knuckles was on his smartphone with an angry and serious look on his face. "oh yeah? well, I've got news for you. the lion slayer made me his manager. so I'm now, what I like to call, untouchable. you hear Me?"

"Knuckles!" Tommy entered the living room, panicking.

"hey, Tommy." Crash and Eddie greeted, still playing the game. Tommy saw himself, being chomped, again. "oh…hey, Knuckles."

"hey. here he is. my brother, my player, the lion slayer." Knuckles said to King Rambo on his smartphone. "now you'll have to pay me protection!"

"Knuckles. the deal is off." Tommy explained to him. "that lion I killed was King Rambo's nephew."

"I know. isn't it great?" Knuckles asked him while grinning.

"not if he finds out." Tommy replied to him. still terrified.

"what do you mean?" Knuckles asked him. "he's on the phone right now." Tommy gasped in fear that King Rambo found out already. "that's right, Rambo. I've got the lion slayer right here in front of me." Tommy told him before to shut the dang heck up. but Knuckles nodded. and he gave him thumbs up, "and he's gonna slay you and all your lions."

"Knuckles! shut up! shut up!" Tommy snapped at him.

"hey. that's good. I like that." Knuckles smiled a bit. thinking that Ash was telling Master Ripjaws to shut the dang heck up. "shut up, Rambo! ha! shut up!" Tommy sighed heavily. knowing that he was in real super big trouble. "what? dude. he wants to talk to you."

"no. I'm not here. I'm not here." Tommy backed away.

"yeah. he's right here." Knuckles handed Tommy the smartphone. and Tommy took it.

"hellooooo?" Tommy said to King Rambo gently.

"shut up?! shut up?!" King Rambo snapped at him on the other line. "you don't tell me shut up! I tell you shut up!" before King Rambo finished, he heard a beep on the on line. "hello?"

"how you doing?" Banzai asked him. "let me a pie with everything on it. anchovies, meatballs, mushrooms-"

"Banzai!" King Rambo snapped at him.

"oh. hi boss. what are you doing working at a pizza joint?" Banzai asked him.

"get off the phoooone!" King Rambo exclaimed out loud.

"but I'm hungry." Banzai said to him. just as he hung up.

King Rambo sighed a bit. and he continued where he left off. "my guys are coming for you, lion slayer. and they're gonna tear you arm from arm!" King Rambo hung up the phone, angered. Tommy slumped on the sofa. knowing that he was done for.

"come on. who's your puff daddy?" Knuckles asked him. while holding the smartphone. "who takes care of you? okay, boys. game's over. time to get busy." he turned off the game.

"aw. come on. I was winning!" Crash said to him. just as Eddie sighed heavily. just as he saw two scraps on the floor. "Crash. weren't you supposed to pick those from the dance off party?" Eddie began picking them up. and Crash stopped him. "hold it there, dude. these two are mine."

"wait. what?" Eddie asked him.

"that's Ernie. and that's Bert. Ernie's very noisy. and Bert's the calm and silent one. but get them together as always. and-woohoo. hang on to your sides." Eddie explained to him. just as Crash picked up the scraps. and he smirked a bit. "real super nice meeting you both." he crumbled both of them up. and Eddie gasped in shock and horror. "aaaaaaaah! you psycho killer!" he began chasing Crash around. real super ticked off. but Knuckles grabbed both of them. while leaving.

"Knuckles. you've got it all wrong." Tommy followed him around.

"they're gonna write songs about you, dude." Knuckles said to him. just as the elevator doors closed on Tommy.

"Knuckles! come on!" Tommy pushed the elevator button. repeatedly.

"maybe I can help." Tommy turned over. and he saw Vicky sitting on the other sofa. then he smiled a bit. "hey. Vicky. what are you doing here? you're just popping up sometimes. places."

"well you said to wait. so…" Vicky clapped a bit. when the unusual music played in the background. and the lights dimmed a bit. "…I've been waiting."

Tommy laughed nervously. just as the doors opened. "look. I don't have a lot of time for the hand-clappy making-lights-go-off music-playing-in-the-dark thing."

"what are you afraid of?" Vicky asked.

"afraid?" Tommy laughed a bit. "yeah. that's funny. I'm not afraid of nothing. it's just…ohh…" Tommy relaxed himself when Vicky began massaging his shoulders.

"oh, baby. you're so tense." Vicky said to him. just as she continued massaging the boy's shoulders.

"yeah, I've been stressed lately. you know. protecting the neighborhood city town." Tommy said to her. while stretching a bit. "I do that myself. you know. It's just crazy."

"it's too much. it's piling up." Vicky said to him.

"yeah. you know. one thing on top of the other." Tommy said to her. "actually. I was thinking about retiring."

Vicky slammed Tommy against the lava lamp. "you don't wanna do that."

"I don't?" Tommy asked her.

"you have worked your way to the top." Vicky explained to him. "and you don't wanna go back to the bottom. do you?"

"no." Tommy replied to her. "no way."

"you just show them who's boss. and those lions will leave you alone." Vicky said to him.

"yeah. you're right." Tommy said to her. "Artemis." Tommy left the apartment, leaving Vicky smiling a bit. later on, Tommy went back to the garage to speak with Artemis. he had a plan. so that the other lions won't even bother him again. he opened the door. and he looked for Artemis. "Artemis. where are you?" all of a sudden, Tommy jumped a bit. when he saw Kimi taking a look at him.

"hello, Tommy." Kimi greeted him.

"Kimi. what are you doing here?" Tommy asked her.

"what? did you forget something?" Kimi asked him. just as Tommy looked around. "oh maybe you forgot…" Kimi slammed the door angrily. "…your lion!"

Artemis kept sipping on a mixed berry banana smoothie. when he saw Tommy. "hi."

"uh…lion! run, Kimi! I'll cover you!" Tommy protected Kimi. "quick! before it's too late! go on without me!"

"oh stop it." Kimi turned on the light. still angry and upset about it. "your pet lion here told me everything."

"dang, Artemis. why would you do that?" Tommy asked him. a bit upset about it.

"I don't know. I like her." Artemis replied to him.

"thank you. I like you too." Kimi smiled at him. but it didn't even last longer. when she got angry and upset with Tommy. "what were you thinking? bringing him in here?"

"no. I'm still working out the kinks." Tommy replied to her.

"kinks? you lied!" Kimi snapped at him. "everybody thinks you slayed the lion!"

"who am I to tell them they're wrong?" Tommy asked her.

"how could you lie to me, Tommy? me!" Kimi exclaimed to him.

"don't take it personally." Tommy said to her. "come on. I lied to everybody!" Kimi looked a bit hurt that Tommy, not only that he fibbed in front of her. but also in front of everybody as well too. "okay. look. I'm sorry. I totally betrayed you. but listen. I've got one little problem I've gotta take care of."

"oh? what's that?" Kimi asked him. a bit upset about it.

"lions are coming to get me!" Tommy exclaimed to her.

"and they should." Kimi said to him. "I mean, what'd you expect? you'd take credit for killing a lion, and then everything would be fine and dandy for the rest of your life?"

"uh…yeah." Tommy answered her. "but hey. don't you worry about it. me and Artemis got it. we're gonna fix it."

"whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. I don't want any part of this." Artemis said to them.

"too late, insect eater boy. they're looking for you too." Tommy said to him.

"point taken. what's the plan?" Artemis asked him.

"this is what we're gonna do." Tommy began his plan.

"here's the plan. you tell the truth. and, you. go home." Kimi said to both Tommy and Artemis. just as Artemis and Tommy looked right at her. and at one another. until they began to laugh. Tommy continued. just as he held the brush full of red paint. "okay. look. this is what we're gonna do. we're gonna paint you up all bloody. a mess. right? then you're gonna race out. and meet the lions before they get here. and you're gonna say 'stop. don't y'all. don't go no farther! that lion slayer's crazy, man! he beat me senseless. he's a stone-cold killer, man!' then you could tell them I'm huge. tell them I'm handsome. throw that in. say I'm buff."

Kimi rolled her eyes at Ash. "you're going way too far, Tommy."

"actually. he hasn't gone far enough." Artemis said to her. while looking right out the window.

"exactly. what?" Tommy asked him.

"you need to slay a lion. and I need to disappear. so here's what we're gonna do." Artemis said to him. just as Tommy began paying real super close attention and listening for what Artemis's plan was.

Chapter Nine: the pretend street fight

back in the neighborhood city town, Sam was on camera. but she looked a bit terrified. "this is Sam Sparks, reporting live. we've just received reports of a-"

"lion!" Homer exclaimed out loud. just as he and the others ran around right past Sam, screaming in fear. Artemis raced around in the neighborhood city town. just as everybody continued screaming in fear and running around and taking cover. he pretended that he was gonna attack everybody. which was a part of the plan from last evening.

"look! it's the lion slayer!" Sam exclaimed to them. just as the camera operating man used the filming camera, seeing Tommy. Tommy stood on top of the Mystery Machine, wearing a blue cape. it was time to take on the lion. Tommy turned himself around. and he posed as a brave young hero. but the breeze blew the cape, covering him. he removed the cape. and he chuckled a bit. Tommy yelled out loud. and he ran around. while holding out his right fist. just as Artemis raced near the road. and towards him, roaring a bit. they kept going towards one another. 'til Tommy karate punched Artemis's left eye. sending him flying and crashing through the billboard.

"Holy mackerel! did we get that?" Sam asked them.

at the Dragon Wash, Kimi kept writing the papers. just as Chuckie was by her desk. seeing Tommy on television. "hey, Kimi. Tommy's on TV." Kimi turned herself around. and she saw Tommy. who was showing off. she rolled her eyes. and she continued her real super hard work. while the entire gang joined in. while watching him. back in the neighborhood city town, Artemis and Tommy hid by the wall. just as Artemis cringed a bit in pain. holding his left eye due to the karate punching.

"do you hear that, Artemis?" Tommy asked him while hearing the wild cheers. "they are going crazy, man. they love us."

"they love you. they hate me." Artemis said to him. "can we switch sides? I can be the human slayer. they'll never see it coming."

"come on. you sell this. you'll never have to go home again." Tommy said to him. "you can start a new life. now give me a growl."

"okay." Artemis nodded his head in agreement. he began purring a bit. just as Tommy sighed heavily. Artemis cleared his throat. and he began roaring real super loud. and near Tommy's face. that roar got everybody's attention by the building.

Artemis had already quit snarling. "like that?"

"that was…pretty good." Tommy replied to him. "let's go." they continued where they left off. just as Tommy ran around. and Artemis stomped around. chasing him around. past Sam. back again at the Dragon Wash, everybody continued watching the street fight. while Knuckles was on his smartphone. speaking with King Rambo.

"is that all? do you understand how huge my client is? turn on your TV." Knuckles said to him.

back at the street fight, Artemis stopped closely towards Tommy. chomping his teeth to capture him.

"Artemis! Artemis! Artemis!" Tommy exclaimed out loud. just as Artemis got him on time. everybody, including Kimi, gasped in shock and surprise. back at the Dragon Wash.

"turn off your TV. turn off your TV." Knuckles said to King Rambo on his smartphone. in the neighborhood city town, everybody took a look at Artemis. but they took cover real super-fast. when Artemis turned himself around. Artemis, on the other hand, began looking for Tommy.

"don't swallow." Tommy said to him. still inside Artemis's mouth.

"Tommy?" Artemis asked him.

"no. it's Professor Bugs Bunny. of course it's me!" Tommy snapped at him. "why did you do that?"

"I'm sorry." Artemis apologized to him. just as he hung onto his stomach, not feeling too good.

"no. 'sorry' is when you step on somebody's foot at the movie theater." Tommy explained to him. "'sorry' is when you say 'when's the baby due?' and it turns out the person's just fat. this is as far away from 'sorry' as you could possibly get!"

"but…Tommy. I think I'm gonna puke." Artemis said to him. just as he was about to spew him out.

"no, no. Artemis. just open up. nice and easy." Tommy said to him. just as Artemis began opening his mouth. real super nice and easy. just as Tommy strained a bit. everybody, including Huey, Dewy and Louie watched. hoping it was Tommy. and all of a sudden, Tommy opened Artemis's mouth. just as everybody cheered wildly. while flashing their cameras.

"are you not entertained?" Tommy asked them. "you can't handle the truth! you've had me at hello!"

Kimi looked a bit confused. when she watched him on the television screen. she shook her head left and right. while Knuckles was on his smartphone. "turn you TV back on. what are you doing turning your TV off?"

Tommy began riding around on Artemis. like Link on Epona. while everybody continued cheering wildly. meanwhile, Banzai and the lions walked around towards the neighborhood city town. by the order of King Rambo. Tommy began using Artemis as a barrel. just as Artemis began getting motion sickness. Banzai and the lions continued looking for Tommy. to settle up a score with him.

"this neighborhood city town is huge." Banzai said to them. "how are we supposed to find the lion slayer?" that's when he and the lions heard Artemis wailing loudly far away. just as he was thrown. Artemis fell on the bridge. while Tommy flexed his muscles. but it didn't even last long enough. when he saw Banzai and the lions. Banzai watched the boy. finding out if he was real super good. Tommy knew this was the time for the grand finale. he pulled Artemis's tail end. just as Artemis pretended to struggle in pain. "this is it, Artemis. big finish. just like we've practiced."

"the flying lion?" Artemis asked him. while grinning a bit.

"the flying lion." Tommy replied to him. just as he began picking Artemis up. but he was way too heavy. "a little help here, buddy boy?"

"Sorry." Artemis apologized to him. just as Tommy managed to lift him up. and he spun him around for the finish. he grabbed his tail end. and he spun him around. real super-fast. 'til he threw him around. Artemis screamed out loud. just as he got thrown around. without warning, he smashed into the screen of the building. and he began falling over to his near-death experience. Artemis continued screaming out loud. just as Tommy watched him.

"curse you, lion slayer!" Artemis wailed out loud. while falling into the deep dark pit. he continued falling all the way down. 'til he came over to the side. and he continued wailing loudly. he began wailing silently. and he made some real super loud crashing sounds.

back on top, Tommy sighed heavily. and he came on top of the Mystery Machine. just as the light bulbs popped outta the screen. due to the crash. "yeah. and you tell King Rambo that I don't never, ever, ever, never wanna see another lion on this neighborhood city town. again. ever!" Tommy snapped bravely and heroically to them. just as Banzai and the lions retreated back to the caverns. "remember this name. Tommy. the lion slayer!"

back at the Dragon Wash, the entire gang cheered wildly. just as Knuckles cheered wildly. "you see? you see?" at the bottom, Artemis went to the secret pit. finally finished with the job. back on top, everybody continued cheering wildly for Tommy's victory. Vicky was in the crowd. real super proud that Tommy had won the street fight. so she walked towards him. about to do something. Tommy continued showing off. in front of the camera. just as Vicky came by. she grabbed Tommy. stunning him.

"whoa. hey. Vicky…" Tommy was interrupted. when Vicky put her mouth against his. back at the Dragon Wash, Kimi smiled a bit at Knuckles. Knuckles grinned a bit at her. and he watched the television screen. but he stopped smiling a bit. and everybody stopped cheering wildly. Kimi looked a bit confused. and she watched the television screen. what she saw made her gasp in shock and horror. she saw Tommy kissing Vicky.

"seems the lion slayer not only conquered a few lions today. but maybe a few hearts?" Sam asked them on the television screen. "has the neighborhood city town's most eligible bachelor pad been snapped up? I'm Sam Sparks. here live. watching the lion slayer. making out." Kimi felt her heart broken. just as she left her desk. Knuckles watched her leave. knowing that she was in love with Tommy the entire time. and it looked like Kimi's heart was now broken.

Chapter Ten: The argument/planning to set things the right way

back at the Dragon Wash, Kimi was reading the newspaper, taking a look at the photo of Tommy, being kissed by Vicky. she was angry and upset from what she only just saw. while Artemis was behind the curtain, about to dress up as something. "hey, Kimi. can you hand me a black, orange and white one?" Artemis asked her. just as Kimi handed him the can of black, orange and white paint. and she continued reading the newspaper. "thank you."

Tommy came in, laughing his head off. "look who stepped in the room." the boy continued laughing his head off. just as Kimi continued reading. and not smiling at anything at all.

"yeah!" Artemis laughed a bit.

"Tommy and Artemis! what a team, baby! give me that! give me some five!" Tommy said to him.

"high five! low five!" Artemis high and low fived with Tommy.

"did you see me? I was like…" Tommy began making martial arts karate noises. "I was crazy."

"when you punched me, the crowd was…ahh!" Artemis said to him.

"yeah. they ate it up." Tommy said to him. "it was like a Tommy explosion."

"how good was I?" Artemis asked.

"oh. you were the bomb." Tommy replied to him.

"thank you." Artemis bowed. and he smirked a bit. "and hey, hey, hey. Casanova." Kimi turned herself away angrily. "I was your big finish on the news. nice smooch, lover boy."

"whoa. ixnay on the isskay, man." Tommy whispered to him. "that's private."

"private?!" Kimi asked him. "the entire neighborhood city town saw you do it!" Tommy held her right hand. but she swiped her right hand away.

"hey. somebody's in a bad mood." Tommy joked a bit. "come on, Kimi. let me see that smile." Tommy pressed his fingers beside Kimi's mouth making her smile at everything.

"knock it off!" Kimi pushed his arms away.

"what's gotten into you?" Tommy asked her a bit confused.

"me?! I swear! sometimes I wanna take your big dumb dummy head and just…" Kimi punched her left hand real super-fast.

"Kimi? what's your problem?" Ash asked.

"problem? there's no problem. I don't have a problem." Kimi answered him. "Ms. Perfect is the one with the problem."

"hey. you guys-" Artemis said to them.

"what do you got against Vicky?" Tommy asked her in concern.

"not my lips. that's for sure." Kimi said to him. just as Artemis cringed a bit.

"what's going on?" Tommy asked her. while not knowing what the girl was talking about.

"I'm gonna stay outta this one." Artemis hid behind the curtain.

"why would you even care about Vicky anyway?" Tommy asked her a bit upset.

"I don't!" Kimi exclaimed to him.

"You don't?" Tommy asked her.

"no!"

"no what?"

"I don't know!"

"you wanna-" Artemis began explaining to them.

"nooooooo!" Tommy and Kimi snapped at him. making him back away.

"just tell me something, Tommy. 'cause I'm curious." Kimi said to him. while walking away. just as Tommy paid real super close attention listened to what she was saying to him. "why do you think she's interesting? huh? do you think for one minute that she would even be with you if you weren't the famous lion slayer?"

"please. don't fight." Artemis begged to them.

Kimi ignored the insect eating lion. "are you blind?"

"at least she treats me like I'm somebody!" Tommy said to her. getting angry and upset about it.

"would she love you if you were a nobody?" Kimi asked him.

"nobody loves a nobody!" Tommy snapped at her.

"I did!" Kimi confessed to him. just as she walked away. Tommy was real super shocked from what she just said to him. he took a look at her, now found out that she had been in love with him this entire time. Kimi continued. depressingly. "before the money. and before the fame. before the lie. to me, you were a somebody, Tommy. now you're nothing. but a fake. a sham. a con. you're a joke." Tommy only just stared at her. terribly upset. since she admitted that she was in love with him.

"here I come." Artemis opened the curtains. revealing his disguise. "ta-da! Ranger. the Dragon washing tiger." Artemis/Ranger smiled a bit at them. but his smiling face faded away. when he saw Tommy and Kimi taking a look at one another. terribly upset about it. Kimi sighed depressingly. and she looked away.

"Kimi?" Tommy tried real super hard to say something to her.

"just forget it! just go!" Kimi exclaimed to him. "'cause I'm tired of hearing how everything you had in your life wasn't good enough. including me." Tommy tried real super hard to explain to her. but he was feeling defeated. he began leaving the garage. depressed and heartbroken. Kimi watched him leave. and she began sobbing silently.

"Kimi?" Artemis/Ranger asked her.

"oh. I'm sorry." Kimi apologized to him. "go back and do it again."

Artemis/Ranger looked depressingly at her. knowing that she was crying a bit. he cleaned the teardrops away. "hey. come on. it'll be okay." Kimi smiled a bit.

meanwhile, Tommy just closed the door of the garage. and he walked away from the Dragon Wash. he was still terribly upset that Kimi was in love with him all this time. and he didn't even know that after she confessed. he walked around in the neighborhood city town. staring right at the billboards of his popularity. but he wasn't bright and cheerful.

"you can't handle the truth!" Tommy said to them in the video clip. "you've got lion breath!" Tommy sighed heavily. and he continued walking around. all he wanted was to become a somebody. but what about Kimi? he took a look at another video clip of him. drinking a Coca Cola. he walked away from the neighborhood city town.

later on, he saw Huey, Dewy and Louie playing around with the fire hydrant. and cheering wildly for him. and they saw Grandma Lydia yelling and snapping violently at them. telling them to go back home and get their slumber. Tommy chuckled a bit. just as he saw them messing around with Iago. who only just woke up. Tommy chuckled a bit silently. 'til he saw his new home. which of course made him terribly upset about it.

at his penthouse, he entered the living room. where Knuckles and the others were dancing it off. but he wasn't even in the mood. he passed by, not paying real super-close attention. meanwhile, Vicky, who sat by Jack Spicer, saw Tommy going over to the balcony. she looked a bit concerned.

Tommy went outside. and he took a look at the viewing. still not bright and cheerful.

"preparation T…slays hemorrhoids. like Tommy slays lions!" Dojo said to the viewers. "oh. hey, Tommy."

Tommy waved hello. just as Dojo flew away. he sighed heavily. while Vicky stood by the door. "Kimi is right. I am a joke."

Vicky rolled her eyes. but she smiled at him. "hey, lion slayer. why are you out here? all your friends are inside."

"not all my friends." Tommy said to her.

"you mean that girl at the Dragon Wash?" Vicky asked him. while caressing his face. "forget about her. she's a nobody."

Tommy walked away. "no. I'm the nobody."

Vicky chuckled a bit. "oh. let me guess. she told you that she loves you. is that it?" she laughed a bit. just as she took his right hand. "it's not like you feel the same way about her." she continued laughing a bit. what she said to him was true. Tommy did feel the exact same way about Kimi. so he smiled a bit at her.

"you know what? I don't think it's gonna work out." Tommy backed away.

"wait. are you dumping me?" Vicky asked him. just as Tommy sighed heavily. and he nodded his head. but he yelped a bit. when he saw her getting ticked off. "let me explain something to you."

back inside, Knuckles continued dancing it off with Julie-Su. 'til he and the others stopped. and they saw Vicky throwing Tommy against the glass door a couple of times and the door didn't even break apart.

"young love." Knuckles laughed a bit. along with the others. Vicky threw Tommy against the wall. one more time. and she walked away. leaving Tommy. who slid down on the glass door.

Chapter Eleven: Kimi kidnapped

during the morning time, Tommy had only just bought balloons and a box of chocolate hearts. this was his chance that he was gonna tell Kimi that he really loved her. he ran around towards the Dragon Wash. while Artemis, who was disguised as Ranger, was working. 'til he saw him. "hey, Tommy."

"I can't talk. I've gotta find Kimi." Tommy said to him. "I've gotta tell her…I love her." Artemis/Ranger grinned a bit. and he followed the boy. just as everybody cheered wildly.

"way to go, Tommy!" Susie cheered out loud to him. at the office, Crash and Eddie were now in charge of answering the wireless phone. but they weren't doing so well.

"hello. Dragon Wash." Eddie said to them. Crash grabbed the wireless telephone. "give me the phone, Eddie! we get a dragon of a wash."

"give me the phone!" Eddie grabbed the wireless telephone. "and the price is…very, very low. considering good washes."

"how many times do I have to tell you?" Knuckles asked them. "it's 'gosh!' you get a dragon of a wash. and the price. oh my gosh!"

Eddie answered the wireless telephone. "Dragon Wash."

"rhymes with gosh." Crash said to them. just as they laughed a bit.

Knuckles groaned a bit in annoyance. "give me that! get outta here! both of you! go be useless somewhere else!"

"Knuckles? where's Kimi?" Tommy asked him.

"you tell me." Knuckles said to him. just as he answered the wireless telephone. "Dragon Wash. you get a dragon of a…oh…it's for you." he handed Tommy the wireless telephone.

Tommy handed the stuff over to Artemis/Ranger. and he answered the wireless telephone. "hello?"

"is this the lion slayer?" a certain somebody asked him.

"yes. it is." Tommy answered him.

"it's Banzai the…I mean, forget about it." Banzai said to him. "now you follow these instructions to a lot of lies. okay? file cabinet, top door. there's a package. get it." Tommy did what Banzai only just said to him before. he opened the package. 'til he saw what was inside of it. it was Kimi's necklace.

"that's right, tough guy. we've got your girl." Banzai continued. "now there's gonna be a sit down in one hour."

"who is it?" Artemis/Ranger asked him. just as Tommy already shushed him.

"be there. if you don't wanna see her sleeping with the humans and critters. the dead ones." Banzai said to him. "now nod your head that you understand." Tommy nodded his head. "now tell me if you nodded."

"I nodded." Tommy said to him. just as he hung up the wireless telephone worried and concerned. "they've got Kimi. and they want a sit down. I never meant for anybody to get hurt. especially not Kimi. this is all my fault."

"that's a classic move. I saw her a hundred times." Knuckles said to him.

"they take the thing you love the most. and then they use it against you." Artemis/Ranger said to him. just as Tommy had no other choice. he was gonna rescue her. "look. we've gotta go to that sit down. and we've gotta save her."

"whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. look. I wanna save Kimi too. but I can't just waltz in there and say 'hi, Uncle Rambo. I'm a tiger'." Artemis/Ranger said to him.

"Artemis?" Knuckles asked him.

"and my friend, the lion slayer is a fake." Artemis/Ranger continued.

"fake?!" Knuckles exclaimed in shock.

"come on. we're gonna need a better plan than that." Artemis/Ranger finished.

Knuckles laughed a bit. "this is a joke. right? 'cause you know. I've told Rambo-" Knuckles stopped. and he remembered what he said to King Rambo back then.

Flashback Sequence….

"shut up, Rambo! shut up!" Knuckles exclaimed to him. just as King Rambo growled angrily on the wireless telephone.

End of flashback sequence…..

Knuckles panicked in fear. now knowing that he was one doomed red echidna. "tell me you didn't make it up, dude! tell me that's not Artemis! tell me that you're a real lion slayer! please!"

"I'm sorry, Knuckles. I'm not." Tommy sighed heavily but his face brightened up a bit. "but the lions don't know that." since Knuckles now knew that Tommy wasn't even the lion slayer, the lions and King Rambo didn't even know that neither. Tommy was still gonna rescue Kimi. no matter what happened.

Chapter Twelve: The sit-down showdown

back in the caverns, all of the lions were sitting at the dining table for the meeting. but however, they were still terrified 'cause Tommy was at the end of the dining table. along with Artemis, disguised as Ranger. and Knuckles. both Tommy and Artemis/Ranger gulped nervously. while Knuckles was breathing repeatedly in stress. 'cause if the lions and King Rambo had found out that Tommy wasn't even the lion slayer, they're skins and furs would be barbecued. they all sat there not saying one single word. just as the lions still took a look at Tommy. the boy was about to pick up a mug. but he saw that the lions moved away in fear, thinking that he was about to strike at them. he smirked a bit seeing that the lions were real super terrified. he decided to have a bit of fun and excitement by pretending to be terrifying. so he let out a tough growl at them. terrifying them just as one lion fainted a bit. Tommy chuckled a bit. just as Knuckles took a look at him.

"will you stop horsing around?" Knuckles asked him. "this will never work! we're dead! we're dead!"

Tommy shushed the red echidna. "thank you, Knuckles. thank you." he spoke to the lions. "and my man, Knuckles, has just begged me not to murder-lise all of you up in here. now I might listen to him. but then again, I might not. and that depends on the individual behavior of all the individuals in here. individually. isn't that right?" Knuckles nodded with one single grunt.

"look. he's got tiger muscle." Blitz whispered to Truffle.

"my Great Uncle Lyle got beaten up by one of those." Truffle whispered back to him.

"now. which one of you lions called this meeting?" Tommy asked them. just as King Rambo walked in there.

"that would be me." King Rambo slammed the door. making Tommy and the group jump nervously in fear. Artemis/Ranger covered his face. so that he wouldn't even notice him.

King Rambo walked frontwards. just as he took one single look at Tommy. "so. this is the lion slayer. I've been looking forward to meeting you. I feel like we're practically family. you know that? funny. isn't it? I've brought my never to this world. full of love and care. and you took them out. you know who I am? do you know who I am? I'm the king. the boss of the lions."

"hey, boss. I saved you a seat." Banzai offered King Rambo one of the dining chairs.

King Rambo sighed heavily. and he took his seat. "I've been running this neighborhood city town since before you were born. and if you thought a guy like me can't take a guy like you. well guess what?" he signaled the butler to bring the tray over to the dining table. "you've thought wrong." he grinned evilly when he removed the lid, revealing Kimi. who was tied up and gagged. Kimi looked around. 'til she saw Tommy. but she took a look at him.

Tommy scoffed a bit. "man. you're the one who's wrong. I barely even know that girl. what's your name, miss?" Kimi was outraged that she was being ignored.

"oh yeah? well I say he's bluffing." Vicky came out with her arms crossed. all of the other lions were in love with her. especially King Tyson.

"how you doing, baby cakes?" King Tyson winked at her. while making Vicky roll her eyes in annoyance.

Tommy stared angrily at her. "Vicky. we meet again."

"you know, lion slayer. there's only one thing I like better than money. revenge." Vicky said to him. while wanting revenge for being dumped and ignored.

"I'm in love." Nova smiled a bit.

"your lion slaying days are over. and there's nothing you can do about it." King Rambo smirked a bit. but all of a sudden, Tommy began laughing a bit. making him a bit confused. Tommy continued laughing a bit. just as Artemis/Ranger and Knuckles joined in with him. especially Banzai as well too.

"what's so funny?" King Rambo growled a bit. making Banzai stop.

"you've got nothing. nothing. Ranger. take her out." Tommy ordered him. and Artemis/Ranger went towards King Rambo. and he chomped Kimi in his mouth. and he went back to Tommy. King Rambo and the other lions stared with wide eyes. when Tommy began dancing it off for his victory.

"okay. new rules. nobody. I repeat. nobody makes a move without my okay." Tommy announced to them. just as he picked up a spoon. "I am the Panama Canal, baby. from now on, everything flows to me." he placed the spoon on top of Truffle's head.

"what'd he do? I can't see it!" Truffle panicked in fear.

"you don't lose a tooth. you don't grow another one back without my okay. okay?" Tommy snapped at Blitz.

"okay." Blitz nodded his head. just as Nova sneezed a bit.

"if you sneeze, you don't wipe that boogie without my okay. okay?" Tommy asked him.

"okay." Nova whimpered nervously in fear.

"and you don't say okay without my okay. okay?" Tommy asked them.

Knuckles noticed that Artemis/Ranger was holding his mouth. meaning one single thing. "okay. thank you all for coming. we gotta go."

"one more thing. what's with all of you loving in the love boat?" Tommy asked them.

"Tommy." Knuckles called out to him. just as he saw Artemis/Ranger gagging a bit. 'cause Kimi was still in his mouth.

"you were all supposed to be the mob. get yourselves a real hideout." Tommy continued.

"Tommy." Artemis/Ranger gagged a bit once more.

Tommy ignored them. and he took a look at King Rambo. "and take a good look, Rambo. it's over. you're old school."

"Tommy!" Knuckles and Artemis/Ranger exclaimed to him.

"what?" Tommy asked them. just as without warning, Artemis/Ranger spewed out Kimi and the other things that he ate besides other people and critters.

"the horror! the horror!" Artemis/Ranger exclaimed out loud. just as Tommy chuckled nervously. "uh…excuse me." he went back to Kimi. "Kimi? you okay?"

"no. I am not okay!" Kimi snapped at him. "he ate me!"

"I couldn't take it. the taste was killing me." Artemis/Ranger said to himself.

King Rambo gasped in surprise. when he had heard Artemis/Ranger's voice. "Artemis?" King Rambo gasped in shock and surprise. and he sighed depressingly just as he walked up to him. "is that you? you're alive?" King Rambo snuggled up with him. "I thought I'd lost you. what are you wearing? what is that?" he asked him while seeing what Artemis was dressed up as. Artemis sighed depressingly that he had been discovered. and he began removing his disguised outfit. the other lions gasped in surprise and amazement that Artemis was in the meeting the entire time.

"hey, boss. it's Artemis. he was wearing a disguise so we wouldn't recognize him. but now he's not wearing a disguise. so we do recognize him." Banzai explained to him. while making King Rambo real super annoyed.

"hi, Uncle Rambo." Artemis grinned nervously.

"are you kidding me? are you kidding me? are you outta your mind? do you have any idea how this looks?" King Rambo asked him. knowing that his younger nephew was in disguise.

"this is the best sit-down I've ever been to." Truffle whispered to the other lions.

"what are you doing with this guy? he took out your own flesh and blood. Stalker." King Rambo said to him.

"but, Uncle Rambo. listen." Artemis began explaining to him.

"but nothing. you never take sides against the family. ever." King Rambo said to him.

"hey. King Rambo sir. it's not his fault. this is between you and me." Tommy came in. so that things wouldn't even get much worse than before.

"what did I ever do to you? you took my older nephew, Stalker away. and you've turned my younger nephew, Artemis into a tiger." King Rambo said to him. "I'm gonna get you!" Tommy screamed in fear. and he began running around.

"Tommy! look out!" Kimi exclaimed to him.

"Tommy! run! run for your life!" Artemis opened the door. and Tommy ran out. he jumped out the tunnel hole. and King Rambo got his head through the tunnel hole. he snarled in anger and revenge. while Tommy panted in fear.

"you're gonna regret the day you became the lion slayer!" King Rambo snapped angrily.

"well, well, well. look who's stuck in the tunnel hole." Hamton came out. while smirking a bit. "you still hungry, big guy? well. say hello to my little friends." all of the other pigs came out. and they all began attacking King Rambo's face. Hamton laughed a bit. that he got his revenge back then. Tommy smiled a bit. and he ran off to get away from King Rambo.

King Rambo was now outraged that he broke free through the part of the caverns. and he got the pigs off him. he saw Tommy running around. and he took off after him. he wouldn't even stop at nothing to get his revenge. and avenge his two nephews.

Chapter Thirteen: Tommy tells the truth/King Rambo reformed

Crash and Eddie were seen at the wireless telephone trying to get the saying right.

"try it again." Crash said to him.

"Dragon Wash." Eddie began. "you get a dragon of a wash. and the price..." but then he stopped short when he saw King Rambo coming towards the wash. and he screamed out loud. "oh my gosh!"

"hey! you've got it right!" Crash said to him. before he turned himself around. and he saw what they were speaking about. and also screamed out loud in fear.

"everybody outta the way!" Tommy screamed out loud to some workers. who didn't need another invite. and they all moved the lions. Tommy ducked under some machinery trying to avoid King Rambo. who was swiping his right fin at him. "okay, Rambo." Tommy said to him. just as he ran away. "it's time to clean up your act."

"Uncle Rambo!" Artemis yelled out to him. "leave him alone!"

Tommy got to the tower where Dil usually worked. and he activated the bubbles. lots of bubbles showered everywhere. making it real super hard for King Rambo to see everything. Kimi, who was standing near the bubbles, was trapped in a giant size one by accident. however, from Tommy's height, he could see the silhouette of a lion. and when the lion got closer to a clasp, Tommy smashed the button for it to go down. and the clasp held the lion.

Tommy, thinking that he got King Rambo, got outta the tower. and he went over the clasp. just as he said to him, "okay, Rambo! game's over!"

however, King Rambo wasn't even in there. but it was Artemis instead.

"Artemis?" Tommy asked him in confusion. "what are you doing in there?"

"sorry." Artemis apologized to him.

"where's Rambo?" Tommy asked himself. however, just as he asked that, King Rambo suddenly popped up behind him, grinning evilly. Tommy blinked his eyes, seeming to realize it. and he said to himself, "he's right behind me. isn't he?"

"you're mine now." King Rambo said to him. just as Tommy turned around nervously in fear.

Tommy screamed out loud. just as he dodged King Rambo. and the chase continued 'til he climbed up to the tower.

"let's finish this, lion slayer." King Rambo said to him. just as Tommy continued luring him to another clasp.

"oh. we're about to." Tommy said to him. just as he pushed the emergency button. and the clasp grabbed King Rambo.

a toothbrush came out. and it brushed King Rambo's teeth. and it sprayed water in his mouth. which of course he spitted out. and Dil walked over. and he put an air freshener on King Rambo's tooth.

"thank you for coming to Dragon Wash." Dil said to him.

"okay." Kimi said to them. still trapped in the bubble. hovering over Crash and Eddie. "somebody needs to get me outta the bubble. today."

Tommy popped the bubble. and he held Kimi. knight and princess style.

they both took a look at one another. 'til Sam pushed her outta the way. and she said to them, "the lion slayer does it again. this time, luring two lions into his death trap of hygiene. Tommy, you're the somebody everybody wants to be. the top of the food chain. tell our covers how it feels to be you."

Kimi sighed depressingly before she turned back. and she walked away. which of course Tommy noticed. just as he yelled out, "Kimi!"

"Tommy." Artemis said to him. while struggling to get outta the clasp. "get me outta here. quick. I need a head start to get as far away as possible."

"look what you did to him." King Rambo said to him angrily.

"this is a misunderstanding." Tommy began. but he was ignored by Kimi. just as somebody yelled out, "Tommy! over here!"

everybody continued chanting out loud, "lion slayer! lion slayer!"

finally, Tommy couldn't even take it any longer. "stop! I am not a real lion Slayer!" everybody gasped in shock and surprise. just as he also said to them, "I've lied."

"what?" King Rambo asked him in confusion.

Iago popped up. and he yelled out just as he began sobbing a bit, "and I'm not a real financial advisor!"

"okay." Tommy said to them before he continued, "it was a rib bone that killed Stalker. I didn't have anything to do with it and neither did Artemis."

"well? if that was true," King Rambo said confused to Artemis. "then why did you run away?"

"because you've wanted me to be like Stalker." Jawsome said to him. "I'll never be the lion you wanted me to be."

"what is your problem?" Tommy asked him. "so? your nephew likes eating cricket, grasshoppers, mealworms and cicadas. so? his best friend's a human boy. so he likes to dress like a tiger. so what? everybody loves him just the way he is. why can't you? don't make the same mistake that I did. I didn't know what I had. until I lost it."

King Rambo then sighed heavily. just as he said to him, "will you get me outta this? so I can hug my nephew? and tell him I'm sorry?"

Tommy nodded his head in agreement. and he ran up to the tower. and he pushed the button. and he ran back door to the entire scene. the two lions walked up to one another.

"Uncle Rambo." Artemis said to him.

"come here, you." King Rambo said to him while embracing his younger nephew. "I love you, Artemis. no matter what you eat or how you dress."

"Tommy?" Kimi said to him. just as Tommy walked over to her. smiling a bit.

"Kimi?" Tommy said to her. "Kimi. I wish I knew now what I know then. I mean, I wish I knew what I knew. I mean before this-"

"you're blowing it, man!" Iago exclaimed to him.

"mind your business!" Tommy exclaimed back to him. "it's emotional and pressure." Tommy turned back over to Kimi. "what I'm saying, I just, I didn't need the top of the neighborhood city town. everything I wanted was right there in front of me this whole time."

"but what about being a somebody?" Kimi asked him.

"I'm nobody without you." Tommy said to her.

Iago made some kissing noises. 'til Crash and Eddie hit him on his head while Tommy said to him, "You're not helping."

"come here. you big dumb dummy head." Kimi said to him. before she embraced Tommy. in which of course Ash returned.

"I've never told you two this." Knuckles said to Crash and Eddie. "but you're the best henchmen an echidna ever had. come here. group hug."

Crash and Eddie went for the group embrace. when they accidentally zapped Knuckles. and Knuckles pulled away. and he began rubbing where he had been zapped.

"sorry." Crash apologized to him.

"come on, Knuckles." Eddie said to him. "try again. don't fret."

"forget it. the moment's gone." Knuckles said to them.

Tommy stopped embracing Kimi a bit. and he turned over to King Rambo. and he said to him, "so, King Rambo. uh… we're cool? I mean like, the neighborhood city town is safe? walk the street, you know, without...aaah! you know."

"yeah. we're cool." King Rambo said to him. just as everybody cheered. knowing that they wouldn't even need to deal with lion trouble ever again.

"Tommy." Sam said to him. "excuse me. you've lost everything you lied so hard to achieve. tell me. what's next for you?"

Tommy smiled at her for one single minute.

Chapter Fourteen: Working at Knuckles and Tommy's Dragon Wash

Tommy was now in Knuckles's office, putting up a photograph of the late Stu Pickles. when Kimi came inside.

"come on. everyone's waiting. Mr. Manager." Kimi smiled a bit at him.

it turned out that Tommy only just asked Knuckles for a partnership. surprisingly, Knuckles only just agreed. 'cause he was a real super nice red echidna.

"okay." Tommy said to her. "I've just gotta put the finishing touch on my new desk." he said to the photograph, "love you, Dad."

he walked out to where Knuckles was. and Knuckles said to him, "hey, Tommy."

"Knuckles." Tommy greeted him with one single smirk on his face.

"okay, partner." Knuckles said to him. "let's see what you can do."

they both walked out. and Tommy announced to everybody, "Knuckles and Tommy's Dragon Wash is now open for business."

"yo, Crash, Eddie!" Tommy said to them. just as the twin possum brothers began joining in. "let's get this party bump-bump bumping!"

everybody cheered. before he turned over to Ami and Yumi. "yo! Ami! Yumi! how 'bout we have a little Tommy-licious fun."

Yumi: "you're a short little caterpillar in one big catch."

Ami began singing to the tune of Car Wash.

Ami: You might not ever

get rich

but let me tell you

it sure beats

digging a ditch

Ami (continued): there ain't no telling

who you might meet

Ash began doing some dance off moves. before he said to them, "don't try this at home."

a movie star

or maybe a jewelry thief

Backup Female Singers: workin' at the Dragon Wash

whoa, whoa

yeah, yeah

workin' at the Dragon Wash

yeah

Ami: oh yeah

at the Dragon Wash

sing it with me now

Kimi was at her desk. when she heard Artemis's voice. she looked up to see a lot of lions behind him.

"hey, Kimi." Artemis said to her. "sorry Uncle Rambo and I are late. but we've brought some new customers."

"hey. how you doing?" Banzai asked her.

"wooow." Kimi said to them. "okay, guys. come on in."

Artemis and the others went inside. and they began dancing it off.

Ami (continued) this is no place to be

if you're planning on

being a star

Ami: let me tell you

it's always cool

Ami (continued): and the boss don't mind

sometimes

if you're actin'

like a fool

Backup Female Singers: workin' at the Dragon Wash

"no. snap it." Knuckles said to King Rambo. "you ain't snappin' it."

"I'm snapping it." King Rambo said to him. "a lot of lions can't do that. you know."

after that, King Rambo was trying to teach Knuckles how to say "yo."

"yo. what's up?" Knuckles asked him.

"up with what?" King Rambo asked him a bit confused.

"yo! yo! yo! yo! yo! yo! yo!" Knuckles said to him.

"you say yo one more time. and I'm gonna yo you!" King Rambo said to him.

"sorry."

just as the music played in the background, the three ducklings were giving paint jobs to some lions.

some looked real super thrilling. but one of them had been spray painted to look like a rodeo clown. before he said angrily to Huey, "hey. you think this is funny? what am I? a clown to you?"

meanwhile, Tommy saw Artemis and a few other lions dancing it off like rap stars. while Hamton and the other pigs danced it off as well.

when they've finished, they struck a pose. and Hamton said to them, "okay, dudes. I'm beginning to think you've got served!"

Backup Female Singers: workin' at the Dragon Wash

workin' at the Dragon Wash

yeah

while the two girls continued singing the entire song, some photographs of the characters appeared on screen along with the names of their voice artists.

Elizabeth Daily

Corey Burton

Stephanie Sheh

Danny Cooksey

Grey DeLisle-Griffin

Troy Baker

Sean William Scott

Josh Peck

Kirk Thornton

Cheech Marin

Jim Cummings

And Anna Faris

just as the entire scene was drawn to a closing, Kimi could be seen embracing Tommy. and everybody continued dancing it off. the little chao from the beginning of the story sequence came by. and it winked at the audience. just as the entire scene faded to a black screen.

the entire scene switched over to Tommy's old penthouse. the elevator doors opened. and Vicky appeared. unaware that Tommy wasn't living there any longer.

"hello? hello." Vicky called out to him. "Tommy? listen, baby. I know I was a bad girl. but come on. you have to be crazy not to take me back."

"did someone say crazy?" Iago appeared outta nowhere. with a pink rose in his beak.

he clapped. and the lights went off, making the entire scene go off.

Voice Cast Members Credits

Elizabeth Daily as Tommy Pickles (voice)

Corey Burton as King Rambo (voice)

Stephanie Sheh as Kimi Finster (voice)

Danny Cooksey as Artemis (voice)

Grey DeLisle-Griffin as Vicky Taylor (voice)

Troy Baker as Knuckles the Echidna (voice)

Sean William Scott as Crash (voice)

Josh Peck as Eddie (voice)

Kirk Thornton as Stalker (voice)

Cheech Marin as Banzai (voice)

Jim Cummings as Big Friendly Pete (voice)

Maurice LaMarche as King Tyson (voice)

Anna Faris as Sam Sparks (voice)

Danny Pudi as Huey Duck (voice)

Cree Summer Francks as Susie Carmichael (voice)

Ben Schwartz as Sonic the Hedgehog and Dewy Duck (voice)

Kath Soucie as Lil DeVille (voice)

Bobby Moynihan as Louie Duck (voice)

Michelle Ruff as Dil Pickles (voice)

Carlos Alazraqui as Hamton Pig (voice)

Justin Shenkarow as Harold Berman (voice)

Barrett Leddy as Iago (voice)

Dan Castellaneta as Truffle (voice)

Kevin Michael Richardson as Blitz (voice)

Zeno Robinson as Nova (voice)

Mike Myers as Shrek (voice)

Eddie Murphy as Donkey (voice)

Brock Baker as Kent Brockman and Peter and Brian Griffin (voice)

John DiMaggio as Vector the Crocodile (voice)

Billy Crystal as Mike Wazowski (voice)

Candi Milo as Chuckie Finster and Grandma Lydia (voices)

Wayne Knight as Dojo Kanojo Jo (voice)

In Memoriam: Gilbert "Iago" Gottfried (1955-2022)