Short Version

"You need to find Ronald!" Mayor McCheese snapped!

Officer Big Mac ran back to the last day, when he saw Ronald as if he were a worn-out videotape. The clown was happily helping the town, as always. He didn't seem in particular distress or gloom on the surface. But Officer Big Mac always reflected on the look. It was so subtle that had Officer Big Mac not been paying attention, he would have missed it. For a few moments, Ronald's smile faltered, his eyes weary, as if pondering something very deeply. Was it a hint that maybe under the joy, Ronald was, in a way, suffering in silence? But he quickly snapped back to his usual cheery demeanor with a shake of his head as if dismissing whatever had disturbed his happy mind. But the day after, Ronald was gone. And no one knew where.

Happy gave him the meal in the precinct. "The Ceo Sends his regards!"

He got a bit teary-eyed when he saw what was inside the box of Big Mac.

He pinned the note to the photo of Ronald. A simple two-word question on the picture: "Where's Ronald?" The note read, "I will always be with you in your heart~ Ronald."

Long version

Welcome to the wonderful world of McDonaldsland! Where some burgers and some fries can walk and talk like regular people! A whimsical world of magic and opportunity.

The mayor of this fine city was once a regular Cheeseburger Man. His yellow cheese mustache complimented his rosy tomato cheeks. His name was Mark McCheese. His life changed with the arrival of Ronald McDonald.

He blessed the city with his presence. Ronald wasn't just a menu item—he was a magic clown! He was set on helping McCheese fulfill his dream of becoming mayor, so Ronald became his campaign manager and most trusted advisor. And thus, Mayor McCheese came into being!

But one day, the beloved clown vanished without a trace.

"Which brings us all up to speed." Mayor McCheese said to his friend Officer Big Mac. Officer Big Mac looked up from his notes and asked, "So, what am I doing here?"

"You need to find Ronald! Last night, The Hamburgler snuck into my vault and stole most of my golden cheese!" Mayor McCheese whined. "If he comes back, I fear he'll come back to finish the job."

"I see," Officer Big Mac said. "It seems like all of McDonaldsland is trying to find Ronald these days."

Mayor McCheese said, "Well, if anyone can find him, I know it will be you!"

Officer Big Mac put his notepad away with a sigh. "I'll do my best for you, Mark."

He left the town hall for his car and gazed into his reflection in the rearview mirror. The mismatched green and yellow eyes looked back at him wearily. He turned on his car and started driving.

He ran back the last day he saw Ronald like a worn-out video tape. The clown was happily helping the town, as always. He didn't seem in particular distress or gloom on the surface. But Officer Big Mac always reflected on the look. It was so subtle that had Officer Big Mac not been paying attention, he would have missed it. For a few moments, Ronald's smile faltered, his eyes weary, as if pondering something very deeply. Was it a hint that maybe under the joy, Ronald was, in a way, suffering in silence? But he quickly snapped back to his usual cheery demeanor with a shake of his head as if dismissing whatever had disturbed his happy mind. But the day after, Ronald was gone. And no one knew where.

Officer Big Mac came to his little precinct with the weight of the world on his shoulders. He came to his desk to a sight that sent a chill down his spine. It was him—the living Happy Meal box with a smile too wide and eyes too small. Uncanny and out of place. Happy sat on his desk like he'd been waiting.

Happy chirped in his raspy little kid voice, "Hi-ya, Officer Big Mac! Hope I didn't scare you!"

Officer Big Mac was beside himself in shock.

He opened himself up, pulled out a bag, and drank from it. "Here's a present for you! The CEO sends his regards!"

Happy set the meal on the desk before Officer Big Mac could ask any questions. Happy was already putting on a helmet and summoning a skateboard out of nowhere. "Catch you later, dude!"

He rolled out with a flourish. Officer Big Mac turned his attention to the meal on his desk. He took a sip of the large drink; it was Coke! He opened the bag to find a large fry and a Big Mac! He pulled out the box and opened it. It was a Big Mac burger, alright, but on the lid, Officer Big Mac saw the words, which made him a bit teary-eyed. "I will always be with you in your heart~ Ronald."

He tore off the note and pinned it to the corkboard he'd been working on. It was a mess of photos, strings, and a map of McDonaldsland. He pinned the note to the photo of Ronald. A simple two-word question on the picture: "Where's Ronald?"

The note acted as the reply. "Always with you in your heart."