This is for ChelleNorlund and I, who are huge Bupkus fans. Enjoy, Chelle!
Chapter 1: Naleen
It was another day at the gym.
The Monstars were goofing off in the basketball stadium, shooting hoops and getting a good workout.
It had been several weeks after the end of the ultimate game in which they'd lost to the Tune Squad and Michael Jordan, but in the end they didn't really mind; the silver linings that accompanied their defeat more than made up for the loss. First off, they were no longer working under the cruel thumb of their previous boss, Mr. Swackhammer. Second, the Looney Tunes had allowed them to stay on earth, and the aliens found that they enjoyed their new home.
Life for them was good, but it wasn't all silver linings. The Nerdlucks had missed being able to take on their Monstar form, and with a little help from Witch Hazel (more than a little, in fact), they'd found a way to retain their forms as the powerful Monstars. Witch Hazel refused to tell them what was in the potion she gave them, which led them to suspect that she herself had some kind of help in the real world, but those were questions that couldn't be answered. They decided to leave well enough alone and simply be thankful for the chance at being Monstars again.
Pound had just made a shot that inadvertently knocked Blanko on the head. He grimaced and held the injured spot while Pound chuckled and bent to pick up the ball.
"Had enough practice already?" He joked lightly to the tall blue alien.
Blanko, already recovered from the bonk to the head, was looking around the gym. "Hey...do you guys ever feel like we're being watched?"
The others paused and glanced first at Blanko, then around the room. Bupkus mock-shielded his eyes and scanned the gym. "Nope. I don't see any-" He stopped short upon spotting a small crowd of people that had gathered on the bleachers, not just Tunes but real human beings as well. Bupkus's face froze in shock for a moment, but he quickly recovered himself.
"You were right, man," he said to Blanko, who by now had caught on to what his friend was staring at.
"Hey," Pound said coming forward, ball in hand, "who are these guys?"
Bang shrugged and looked at Nawt, who did likewise and stared back at the folks on the bleachers.
Pound took initiative and approached the small gathering. He didn't recognize any of the Tunes, and he certainly didn't recognize any of the humans gathered, having only met a few in his life.
He realized that he had no idea what he intended to say to them, so he faltered. "Uh..."
One of the human girls sitting on the bleachers flashed him a smile, and his embarrassment deepened. But he shook it off and resolved to speak the first thing that came to mind. He held out a hand, and asked, "Who are you guys?"
"Just call us fans," a small lady mouse said from between two much larger Tunes.
The other Monstars came up beside Pound.
"You said 'fans'?" Bang asked, looking slightly confused.
The tiny Tune mouse nodded eagerly. "We Tunes were happy that our side won the basketball tournament, but you five still gave a memorable performance! We Tunes haven't had that much fun watching a spectacle in years."
"You all have got a bigger fanbase than you think," a young human man said, adjusting his cap.
"Gee," Blanko said, accepting the praise without consequence.
The others, however, were still slightly confused as to how a group of humans got into Looney Tune land. That they could possibly have fans among the Tunes wasn't so crazy a notion, but how on earth did the humans find out about it? The answer, they supposed, was obvious: news must have leaked out from one of the three humans who had been to their world, and so the story spread.
"Hey," Bupkus stepped forward. "It's pretty cool to have fans from the outside, but just how did you all get here?"
The young human man who'd spoken earlier said, "Tune logic, man." He splayed his hands. "Word got out, and before we knew it, some of us actually tried getting here." He chuckled. "And it worked!" He seemed as amazed at being there as the Monstars did.
The Monstars all exchanged glances, and Nawt shrugged again. They might have been a little weirded out by the fact that some of their fanbase consisted of human beings. It had been one thing for Michael Jordan and his associates to appear there, for they'd been assisted by Bugs Bunny. But were these people allowed to be here, and did anyone else know about it?
"Don't let us distract you," a human girl said. "Go ahead and keep playing. So long as ya'll don't mind us watchin'."
"Well...ok," Pound said mildly. "C'mon guys." He still seemed unsure, but quickly decided to let it go. So what if there were humans in their world? It'd been done before, why not again? And after all, what harm could it do? Besides, even if it wasn't allowed, he was sure that things would get sorted eventually. After all, it wasn't their job to police this world.
Bang turned and headed back to the hoops, with Nawt and Blanko following behind. Blanko, in his usual amiable manner, waved to his fans before heading back to the court. Bupkus cast one glance back at the group before leaving also, and happened to catch the eye of one individual who, apparently, had already been looking at him. It was a human woman sitting a little ways off from the rest. He didn't hold her gaze for long, however, and quickly resumed his practice.
By the end of the day, the Monstars had long retired and called it an awesome bout of practice.
They were all tired and thought a bit of freshening up would do them good. Nawt had suggested that they get cleaned up and head to a sports bar, to which they all agreed.
Outside, the the last rays of the sun were setting on Looney Tune land, casting the peaceful countryside in a soft orange glow. The birds were twittering their last songs before heading to sleep, but for others, the night was only beginning.
Bupkus took a small hand towel from his duffel bag and wiped at his brow, Blanko was tying a shoelace and Pound was sipping on a sport's drink. Bang was rifling through his bag for a candy bar when Nawt said, "Hey, look who it is!"
The door to the gym had swung open to admit a very unusual character. She stood about five feet, seven inches tall. Her black hair was tied in a messy ponytail, and she sported a black tank, shorts, and sneakers. Her skin was lilac with a few darker spots, and her ears stuck out on each side of her head like tapered leaves.
Bang tilted his head to the side. "Naleen?"
The Monstar woman waved. "Hey!"
"Naleen?" Pound was taken aback for the second time that day. "What are you doing here?"
"And how did you get to look like us?" Bupkus asked.
Naleen had been a lowly employee of Swackhammer's for a few years, and was on friendly terms with the Nerdlucks. They saw her only occasionally when they passed her by in and out of work or in the break room for a two-minute breather (which was a generous allowance by Swackhammer's standards.) They'd exchange friendly conversation with her at times, often complaining about Swackhammer's impossible demands on them, get-togethers after work, family life and whatnot.
The last time they'd seen their fellow employee was two days before they'd traveled to earth and became Monstars. Now, they wondered what she was doing here on earth, and looking like a Monstar herself.
"It's sort of a long story," she said, walking up to them and dropping her duffel bag on the floor. "Are you all finished playing?"
"We was just heading out to clean up and spend a few hours at the sports bar," Nawt explained. "But -"
"Let's hear your story, first," Pound interrupted, folding his arms. Then he shook his head. "I don't believe it...the last time we saw you was in the break room at Moron Mountain."
She faltered. "Like I said, it's a long story."
"We have time," Bupkus said and looked at Blanko, who nodded. "We don't mind keeping the bar waiting, do we?"
A chorus of "no's" sounded back, and she gave a smile in resignation. "Well...alright. I'll tell you all how I got here, and how I got this new form. Which, by the way, I've taken a huge liking to." She said this last part as an afterthought, but the others made silent noises of agreement. They, too, had been happier when they were able to keep their Monstar forms.
They followed her over to the bleachers where their fans had previously been congregated (they'd left some time ago in ones and twos.) She sat down and heaved a sigh, not in frustration but in an attempt to decide where best to start her story.
"Swackhammer wasn't happy when he'd made it back to the office." She glanced at them. "I'm sure you guys know that. He was in a bad way and seething like there was no tomorrow. I swear, I'd never seen him that upset." She shook her head and shuddered. "Anyway, I never really found out why he was upset. I didn't stay at office long before quitting altogether and coming here."
"You came here right after quitting?" Nawt asked.
"Just about. I mean I had to get some things together first before leaving." She gave a nervous laugh. "Needless to say, my parents weren't sure about my coming to earth...but they're cool. Anyway, like I said, I didn't know much about what went on down here when the boss sent you guys, or what happened when he left to come watch the game. You know he never told us lowly employees much of anything."
They all nodded and murmured agreement, all too familiar with Swackhammer's ways.
"I'd heard him mumble a few words about basketball, and when he came back in a tizzy I caught the name, uh...Michael Jordan a few times."
"That's the guy the boss wanted," Bupkus put in.
She shrugged and shook her head. "I don't even know why he sent you all down here. Why did he?"
"Finish your story first," Bang said, "then we'll tell you our side."
"Fair enough. Well, when I quit working at Moron Mountain, I heard more than a little gossip on the streets talking about this Michael Jordan, and Looney Tunes, and a game called basketball. I'd never heard of any of these people, or the game, so naturally I got to asking around. I found out a lot. Long story short, I knew that you all were still down here on earth." A pause. "I was surprised to hear that none of you had any plans of returning home."
"We're happier here," Blanko said.
"You all do seem happy." She trailed off and seemed to be lost in thought for a moment, before continuing, "Well, I rented a space pod that would take me here. I came partly to search for you five, and partly to find out just what happened down here while you and the boss were gone. And...I admit, I was curious about the whole affair. I remember how agonizing it was sitting up in that stuffy office, knowing you all were down here doing who-knew-what." She gazed at each of them with unmitigated fascination. "And from the looks of it, you all were having some kind of crazy shebang down here."
They chuckled and exchanged glances, shuffling in their places.
"But how did you turn into a Monstar?" Pound asked.
"Yeah, you don't look the same at all. I'm surprised we recognized you!" Bang said.
"As for that," she continued, slyly, "would you believe that when my ship landed me here, in Looney Tune land, that the first person I came across was a strange-looking woman in a black hat?"
"Witch Hazel," they all said in unison. The name said it all.
She nodded enthusiastically. "I didn't know who or what she was. But the strangest thing is, she seemed to know who I was, or at least that I was a Nerdluck."
Blanko looked confused, but before he could ask a question, Pound encouraged her to continue.
"She said, 'Well my dear, you must be here to see your friends!' That confused me, but she didn't give me any time to wonder what was going on. She'd pulled out a bottle from her dress and told me to drink.
'I don't drink strange liquids on alien planets, ma'am!' I told her.
'Nonsense,' she laughed in a creaky voice, 'Your friends had the same thing, in fact they practically begged me for it!' Then she lowered her voice and looked me straight in the eye. 'It will make you taller and larger, my dear. Can you say no to that?'"
Here, she paused.
Pound and Bang exchanged glances, while Bupkus looked a little uncomfortable and Nawt averted his gaze. Blanko just stared. During their time on Moron Mountain, as they had gotten to know their shy co-worker, they'd come to learn that she was vastly uncomfortable about her small stature and short height. For some reason, she was never truly at peace with her physical appearance. They saw, now, how uncanny it had been for the witch to have spoken to her like that, as if she knew exactly where the Nerdluck's weaknesses were.
"As you can see, I didn't say no. Not to that. I've always hated being short. I drank the liquid whatever it was, and it turned me into this." She jabbed a finger at her face. "Then the strange woman directed me to this stadium. She said I'd find you all here. It was kind of her to help...but now I'm in a daze...so much has happened in so little time." She stared at them, hardly believing what she was seeing.
"I feel you there," Blanko said.
"'Course when we got changed, we were kinda expecting it," Bupkus said, folding his arms.
"Yeah, you had no idea what'd happen to you if you drank that stuff," Pound said. "But now that you have, what do you think?"
"I think it's a bit early to say for sure, but so far..." she actually giggled, allowing some mirth to shine through, "being tall is everything I thought it would be!"
They mirrored her smile, understanding her sentiments exactly.
"So are you stayin' for good?" Nawt asked.
"Well, I just might. For now."
"But you'd be giving up everything back home," Pound said.
She gave him a look. "There wasn't much to give up back home. I mean, I was working for Swackhammer just like you guys." She gestured to them. "Look at you, you gave up your life back home and traded it for this one. Do you have any regrets?"
They had to admit she had a point.
She raised her dark eyebrows. "So...care to tell me just what did go on while you guys were down here? I'm dying to know."
They filled her in as to what went on when they left, starting from their arrival to Looney Tune land and ending with their decision to stay on earth with the Tunes.
She was riveted, especially when they'd described playing the ultimate game against the Tunes and Michael Jordan, not to mention the fact that they'd actually stood up to Swackhammer for the first time in their lives.
"You guys really did all that...I don't believe it..."
"Life's never been better," Bupkus said.
Nawt agreed and said, "Yeah, man, we've been having the times of our lives down here!"
She stood up. "You all wouldn't mind if I stuck around, would you?" Before they could answer she rushed to put in, "I won't be a nuisance, I promise! I've already got a place to stay here, too! I won't be in the way at all. Besides, I..." She faltered.
Pound's shoulders slumped. "Guess you wanted to run away from home too, huh?"
She paused, then nodded. "Yeah...I guess I did." She heaved a sigh and then faced them. "I'll be honest with you guys: I'd had enough of what my previous life had to offer me. I didn't just come here to search for you all and to find out what happened. I came...well...hoping for some change for myself, the way it looks like you guys have found it."
Bang shrugged, and Bupkus put a finger to his mouth thoughtfully. Pound said, "The guys and I don't have any problem with you staying, do we?"
She smiled. "Well that's just great." She yawned and covered her mouth. "I had a big day you know. Well," she bent to pick up her bag, "I've got everything I need. I'll catch up with you all tomorrow, I guess?"
"Sure thing," Nawt said.
"Where are you staying?" Bang asked.
She stopped and turned back to face them. "You know that witch I mentioned earlier? She found a little place for me to stay." With a last wave, she exited the gym.
Pound breathed out a sigh. "That witch sure comes in handy, huh?"
"Tell me about it," Nawt said.
"Well, let's get on home so we can hit that bar," Bupkus said. They all packed their stuff and shut the lights off on their way out, leaving the once-lively gym a ghost town.