Sick of it
The atmosphere in the dimly lit room was tense, punctuated only by the soft hum of machinery and the distant echoes of the Toons’ footsteps.
As the elevator doors began to close, Shelly made a split-second decision. With a burst of determination, she launched herself forward, her beige shell glinting under the dim lights of the corridor.
Her heart raced as she leaped into the air, barely clearing the threshold just as the doors slid shut behind her.
The moment felt exhilarating, a rush of adrenaline coursing through her as she landed with a soft thud inside the elevator.
She steadied herself, her breath coming in quick bursts, her cheeks flushed with excitement and a hint of anxiety.
She quickly glanced around at the other Toons inside, her mind racing with thoughts of the chaos that had just unfolded, knowing they had narrowly escaped a terrifying confrontation.
Dandy stood behind his shop counter, a forced smile plastered on his face, but inside, a storm was brewing.
It had been 10 floors since they brought ANYTHING from his shop. The flickering lights above him cast shadows that danced ominously across his features, illuminating the unease that lingered in his eyes.
Astro, Sprout, Vee, Shelly, Pebble, Goob, and Teagan were too engrossed in their own tasks to pay him any mind.
It was a familiar sting—one that had become all too common. With each passing moment, the feeling of being ignored seeped deeper into his core.
Dandy clenched his fists, trying to suppress the wave of frustration and hurt that threatened to spill over.
He. Was. SICK, of it.
“You're making a big mistake” he spoke, but his plea was met with silence.
The other Toons continued their ‘talk’, oblivious to the turmoil brewing just behind the counter. It was as if he were invisible, a mere shadow in their vibrant world.
The tension reached a breaking point. Dandy's heart raced, anger swirling with despair as a familiar heat began to envelop him.
The transformation was swift; his form twisted, the colors of his petals darkening, morphing into a grotesque reflection of his pain.
His twisted form emerged, eyes glowing with a malevolent glint, a shadow of the cheerful shopkeeper he once was.
“Those tapes were NEVER yours!” he roared, his voice echoing through the elevator, startling the other Toons.
They froze, turning to face him, wide-eyed and shocked.
“Dandy, wait—!” Astro pleaded, but it was too late.
The elevator door slammed shut, sealing the Toons inside for a brief moment of respite. It was completely silent until a creepy, ambient, music box-like melody echoed through the halls.
The haunting tune sent shivers down their spines, and the tension in the air thickened, like a fog creeping in.
Suddenly, the silence shattered as the other Toons' instincts kicking in. Astro darted toward the first machine, his calm demeanor shifting to urgency.
“…oh god…” Astro murmured quietly.
Sprout was on a machine beside him, his expression serious as he ro used on the skill check.
Vee moved to another machine, quickly using her Veemote to complete it. She looks around after completing it, only to spot Sprout on a machine.
“Seedly, behind you—!”
Shelly jumped to the machine sprout was on, her shell shimmering as she focused on the task at hand.
“I’ve got this one! Just hurry!” she urged.
Meanwhile, Goob was trying to keep pace with Pebble, who was darting around the room, determined to distract Dandy.
Pebble, with his small, rock-like body, zipped around the room, barking and playfully jumping in front of Dandy’s twisted form.
“Arf! Arf!” he yipped, his tail wagging as he attempted to maintain the attention of his owner.
Dandy’s twisted eyes flickered with a mixture of confusion and anger, the internal struggle visible as he hesitated.
As the Toons worked feverishly, the atmosphere around them grew electric with urgency.
Each machine was filled one by one, with Astro, Sprout, Vee, and Shelly synchronizing their efforts to complete the machines.
The ambient melody transformed into a chilling backdrop, enhancing the sense of impending danger.
Finally, the last machine hummed to life, its lights blinking in triumph.
“They’re all done!” Sprout announced, relief flooding his voice.
But just as they began to exhale, Pebble, exhausted from his relentless running, felt his stamina wane. His little legs trembled as he darted one last time to catch Dandy’s attention.
“Bworf!” Pebble barked, the determination in his eyes fading as he glanced back at the other Toons.
The strain was visible; he had given it his all. Suddenly, he was pulled toward the elevator by Goob, effectively pulling Pebble into his hug.
“Cmon!” Goob exclaimed, his strength helping Pebble escape the danger that lurked nearby.
With a soft thud, Pebble landed safely in Goob's arms, panting heavily but grateful for the reprieve. The elevator doors began to slide shut, sealing them away from the chaos and uncertainty of Dandy's wrath.
The elevator door closed tightly. Shelly was lying down on the floor, trying to catch her breath, while Sprout gave pebble a cupcake because he had gotten hit by twisted Poppy in the process.
Astro was sitting on the floor, fiddling with the blanket in hope it would take his mind off of what had just happened.
Dandy, back in his normal form, stood at the entrance of his shop, a mix of annoyance and sarcasm etched on his face.
“Let’s not make that happen again, shall we?” he said,
crossing his arms as he focused more on the items in his shop than the chaos that had just unfolded.
But then he heard it—a soft whimper. He looked up to see Pebble, eyes glistening with tears, trembling as he stared back at him.
The sight made Dandy’s heart soften, and guilt washed over him.
“Pebs, I—“
But he was cut off mid-sentence. “You think this is okay?” Sprout yelled, stepping forward, his eyes blazing with anger.
Vee chimed in, her voice sharp and unyielding.
“Yeah, Dandy! You went too far this time!” The intensity of her anger was palpable, and for a moment, it felt as if the air itself crackled with her frustration.
Astro, standing quietly to the side, took a deep breath, his voice barely above a whisper.
“G-guys, maybe he—“
But his words barely registered amidst the rising tide of accusations.
Dandy blinked, surprised by the sudden onslaught.
“Well, you’re the ones who didn’t buy from me!” he shot back,
annoyance creeping into his tone as he tried to regain control of the situation.
“Didn't buy from you?!” Sprout interrupted again, his voice rising.
“Is this because of those STUPID tapes?? You tried to kill us over STUPID t—“
he started, but was cut short by Dandy's sudden reaction.
"Stupid...? STUPID?!" Dandy's voice rose, a maniacal laugh erupting from his throat.
The sound was jarring, a sharp contrast to the previous tension. His laughter grew, high-pitched and unhinged, filling the space with an unsettling energy.
The room erupted into chaos. Voices overlapped, a cacophony of shouting and accusations.
Arms waved, bodies moved, but their words became indistinct—a blur of angry sounds and heated emotions. The argument transformed into a wild, incomprehensible scene of collective fury.
Shrimpo stood to the side, mouth slightly agape, completely stunned. For once, the perpetual bully was rendered speechless.
His typically aggressive demeanor melted into pure shock, watching the other Toons descend into absolute madness.
Even for him—who lived to create chaos—this was too much. His usual scowl was replaced by a look of pure bewilderment, eyes wide and unblinking as he observed the spectacle before him.
Without a word, Goob moved forward and enveloped Dandy in a tight hug.
Suddenly, Teagan stepped forward. Her usually calm demeanor shattered as she drew herself up to her full height.
"Everyone stop!!" she commanded, her voice sharp and precise, carrying a posh undertone that demanded immediate attention.
The room fell silent.
“. . .”
Vee's screen flickered ominously as it glitched with her rising anger, as she paused and looked over to Teagan.
Teagan stepped forward, her voice calm and soothing, cutting through the tension.
“Everyone, let’s take a moment to calm down,” she said, her tone quiet yet firm.
“We’re all feeling a lot right now, but yelling at one and other isn’t going to solve anything.”
The group fell silent, the weight of Teagan’s words sinking in. The Toons gave each other looks, thinking about her words.
“Tch, whatever” Sprout rolled his eyes and waited by the elevator door.
“Fine.” Vee leaned against the elevator wall.
The moment Teagan’s voice cut through the chaos, a palpable silence descended upon the room.
All eyes turned to her, the authority in her tone halting the fray. Sprout crossed his arms, a frown still etched on his face, clearly annoyed but unable to dismiss Teagan's command.
Vee mirrored his irritation, her expression a mix of frustration and disbelief, but even she knew better than to challenge Teagan in this moment.
Goob nodded, his voice soft and compliant.
“Okay,” he said, as if trying to diffuse the tension with his simple agreement.
Astro remained silently by the elevator, watching the scene unfold with a thoughtful expression, his gaze flickering between his friends and the mounting tension.
Pebble, sensing the shift in energy, let out a few encouraging barks, trying to uplift the mood as he wagged his tail.
“Arf!”
Meanwhile, Shelly chimed in with a quick nod of agreement, her tone supportive.
“Yeah, we should listen to Teagan,” she added, eager to restore some order to the group.
Shrimpo remained rooted by the elevator, his expression still one of disbelief. He watched the interaction unfold, eyes wide as he processed the sudden shift in dynamics.
The usual bravado that characterized him was absent, replaced by a look of genuine shock as he took in the scene around him.
As the tension in the air began to settle, the elevator doors slid open with a soft ding, breaking the silence that had enveloped the room.
In an instant, the Toons sprang into action, the urgency of their mission reigniting their focus.
With a renewed sense of purpose, they rushed out, scattering toward the machines with determined expressions.
Astro led the charge, quickly assessing which station needed attention first, while Sprout and Veebegrudgingly followed, still simmering but ready to work as a team.
Shelly and Pebble moved alongside them, the little rock-dog barking enthusiastically as he darted between their feet, eager to help.
Goob brought up the rear, glancing back at Shrimpo, who remained by the elevator, still processing the whirlwind of emotions from moments before. But there was no time to dwell; they had work to do. . .