Chapter Twenty-Nine: Leave It To Me!

Art by GincDmon

“Are you serious? I didn't realise Pete knew what women were!” Bill looked mock-shocked at the news. “And LARA? They hated each others guts in school!”

“Quiet you.” Joe frowned at his youngest son. “We should be happy for Peter, he's been alone for so long now.”

“Why didn't he tell us?” Belle asked, sitting at the table. The moment she'd figured out what was going on with her father, she'd flown back to the tip, gotten changed and then bolted home.

“Could be that things aren't quite serious yet.” Bill shrugged. He turned to the pot of spaghetti sauce he was making. “Don't sweat it kiddo, he'll tell us when he's good and ready.”

“Yes Uncle Bill.” Belle sighed. She was about to reach for her textbook when a warning look from her grand-father stopped her.

“I'm going to go and play with Meow. At least SHE doesn't judge me!” Belle huffed off. Joe chuckled and leaned back in his armchair.

He absentmindedly rubbed his face. A scar across his eye, from that stupid go-cart race. A scar on his cheek, from the war. A scar on his lips, hidden by his beard, from a fight with Tim after the war. He thought over his life, all the twists and turns. He thought of when Peter first came home with Belle, begging to be allowed to move back in. He thought of the awful court case against her maternal grand-parents after the news of her mothers death reached them. He thought of her now.

She had her heart in the right place at least, he thought. At least she was trying. Unlike him. Even in the war he'd been a coward, hiding behind the Code, trying not to get involved in anything. It wasn't his business, he'd tried to rationalise with himself, he was only there to look out for the two men he called brothers. He'd been just as bad when he'd gotten home, pretending that the crime problem in Pleasantville didn't effect him or his family.

It was a lie, it HAD affected them. Peter, Bill and Jessie had all grown up scared. None of them had been allowed to spend time with friends after school, none of them had been allowed on sleepovers or to have friends over. It had killed Jessie, scarred Bill and steeled Peter.

'You're a coward.' Joe thought to himself. He closed his eyes and leaned back into the chair. 'But I'm cool with that.'

–

Belle stomped upstairs and into her room. She opened the window and was about to jump out when she remembered the tree no longer existed. There was just a rotten stump where it used to be.

She rested her head on the window sill and sighed. Charlie was out on a date with Sunny, so playing with him was out. Meow was fast asleep on her bed, so that plan was a bust too.

She thought back to a time when the tree was still standing. She and Charlie had used it as a refuge against the Jones siblings. She wondered what Daryl was up to, she hadn't seen him since he left school.

Suddenly her watch began to flash blue. Charlie and Sunny were in trouble!

–

“Put the money down and get out of it.” Chuckles glowered at Mobster Marion. “And while you're at it I'll have my sword back.”

“Naw, is the little loser feeling a bit lost without having someone elses weapon to hide behind?” Mobster Marion sneered back.

The Death Valley Mobsters had struck again, this time at the biggest bank in the city. Master Revolver was directing Mobsters who had looted huge amounts of money and valuables towards the big trucks that were parked outside.

“We're almost done here.” Master Revolver grinned. He swung the Lucky Seven Gun around his finger, looking very pleased with himself.

Sir Lionheart, Sir Hyper and Sir Dark were trying to impede the loading of the trucks, but it wasn't working very well. Sir Hyper had nearly had his head removed twice already and Sir Dark was sporting a new cut on his arm.

“You'll need to see Lady Luck about that, get out of here, we'll handle this.” Sir Lionheart threw another rock at the head of a Mobster, missing.

“You guys can't do this alone.” Sir Dark protested.

“Give this up you two!” Lady Courage cried from behind Chuckles.

“Aww, does Chuck-Up have a new girlfriend? Where's that floaty little friend of yours?” Master Revolver laughed. A flash of red hit him in the arm. He screamed in pain as his arm was rendered immobile.

“I'm up here doofus.”

Chuckles and Lady Courage spun around. Ruby Giggles was floating behind them, looking pleased with herself. Master Revolver ripped the Ruby Shard out of his arm and flung it to the ground where it shattered and disappeared. His arm still stung with numbness and he glared at Ruby Giggles.

“You. What the hell have you done to me?!” He roared angrily.

“Only what you deserve.” Ruby Giggles replied. In her hand five more Ruby Shards appeared, and she flung them with deadly accuracy at the other Mobsters, making all of them drop in pain as arms and legs were struck.

She prepared to have another go at Master Revolver, but the Ruby Shard was blocked by Mobster Marion and the Lions Claw Blade.

“Let's get out of here.” Mobster Marion called off the attack.

“I don't think so. You're staying here until the police come to arrest you.” Ruby Giggles glared. She flew at Mobster Marion with the tips of her fingers alight with the Ruby Power and swiped at her foe. Marion jumped back but was too slow to avoid a nasty cut on her cheek. Immediately the side of her face started to sag.

“You little weasel!” Master Revolver ran to Mobster Marions aid. Ruby Giggles grinned beneath the mask.

Chuckles looked up at his best friend. Now would have been the perfect time for her to swoop in and steal back the Lions Claw Blade and the Lucky Seven Gun, but she wasn't moving.

“Uh, Giggles? Wanna go and get our weapons back?” Chuckles asked.

“You can go get the Lions Claw back if you want, I don't need the Lucky Seven anymore.” Ruby Giggles smirked. Chuckles shrugged and ran back to get his beloved sword back.

“HEY!” He jumped back as Mobster Marion swung at him. “A little help here Giggles?”

“The police are here now, we'd better check out. See you losers later!” Ruby Giggles flew off, leaving Chuckles fuming.

–

“Why didn't you help me get my sword back?!” Charlie yelled.

“Will you chill out? It's not like you need it. I've just proved that I can beat the lot of them without your help.” Belle brushed him off.

They were sitting at the tip waiting for Thomas to come and pick them up. Charlie was still furious over the lack of support coming from Belle.

“That's not the point! You know how much that sword means to me!” Charlie cried. “I thought we had each others backs!”

“We DO. Didn't I just save your bacon?” Belle rolled her eyes.

“Charlie, it's okay, we can always get it back later.” Sunny tried to comfort her boyfriend. He shoved her off.

“You're supposed to be my best friend.” Charlie said coldly.

“What's that supposed to mean?” Belle frowned.

The honking of a horn broke up the argument. The eight friends filed dejectedly into the two cars driven by Thomas and Petunias father.

Things were changing.

Chapter Twenty-Eight: Ruby Giggles

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“We lost the Lions Claw Blade.”

“Yup.”

“Then we lost the tree.”

“Yup.”

“And now the Lucky Seven Gun.”

“Yup, yup and yup.”

“Can this get any worse?”

“Yup.”

“You're optimistic, aren't you?” Charlie scowled at Belle, who was sitting on the old tree stump.

“I think given the rubbish we've been through this past year, we deserve a bit of pessimism. LIFE SUCKS.” Belle replied.

“Most of it we kinda brought on ourselves.” Charlie tried to reason.

“I don't see how your grand-fathers death was our fault, I don't see how we could have stopped the flood, I don't see how we could have stopped Johannas from murdering my aunt and I don't see how the University was in any way our fault.” Belle pouted.

“Technically it WAS our fault that Grandpa died – if it wasn't for us, there wouldn't have been a Demon in the first place.” Charlie tried.

“Oh come off it.” Belle got up and walked away. She already felt like a coward for giving up the Lucky Seven Gun so easily, she didn't need Charlies guilt-trip on top of that.

Charlie watched her retreating back. Ever since she'd started University things had been different. She started studying more and talking strangely, about apathy and group-think and protesting and making their voices heard. Weren't they already doing that? Weren't they already fighting? Why blame the citizens of Pleasantville for what was going on, why not blame the real bad guys?

“Hey Charlie.”

Charlie jumped a little as Sunny and Tammy walked over.

“Hey guys. Where's Petunia?” He smiled and gave both of them a hug.

“She's signing up for some program that will help her fast-track into a nursing career.” Sunny replied, while Tammy grinned. “And tomorrow Tammy is going to start trying remedial speech again.”

“You're going to try to talk again?” Charlie asked. Tammy made a funny squeaking sound with her throat, trying to make a sound. “Well, things are changing around here.” He said with a hint of bitterness.

“Things always were going to change Charlie. Look at Belle and I. THAT certainly changed.” Sunny pointed out. “We used to hate each other so much.”

“I just wish we didn't have to grow up. That we didn't have to change and move away from each other.” Charlie looked towards Belles window.

“Sometimes we need to move away from each other to become closer.” Sunny said.

Charlie still looked doubtful.

–

“Belle, no more. Go out and play with your friends PLEASE!” Joe begged his only grand-child. “Your studying is going to be the end of you.”

“I'm fine Pa, really.” Belle tried to read her textbook, but the lines were starting to blur a little.

“Your eyes are glazing over, you need to put down that book and do something else. Watch some cricket with your Dad or go to Brisvegas and watch the Leos play or even go and beat up the Death Valley Mobsters for all I care, just get your nose out of those books!” Joe pulled the textbook away.

“I can't really go beat up the Mobsters without my gun can I?” Belle snatched the book back.

“What's wrong with the Desert Eagle?!” Joe looked affronted.

“It's not the Lucky Seven Gun Dad, you know that. It wouldn't be right would it Beauty?” Peter walked in with a stack of paperwork and a large box.

“Don't tell me you're going to kill yourself with work as well!” Joe fumed.

“I don't see that it's any of your business old man!” Peter snapped.

“Watch how you speak to me sonny, or I'll deck you where you stand!”

“Like to see you try without breaking your hips!”

Belle rolled her eyes. She looked out of the window and saw Charlie, Sunny and Tammy beckoning. She turned back to her book and was about to start studying again when Peter removed the book from her this time.

“I have a present for you.” He said.

“Oh?” Belle piped up.

“You can only have it if you let your friends in.” Peter nodded to the window.

Belle sighed, and opened the front door.

“Hi guys.” She deadpanned.

“Geezus, don't sound so happy!” Sunny laughed, giving her friend a hug. Belle hugged her back.

“Anyway, do you want to see what I made you?” Peter smirked.

“Oooh, is Belle getting a present?” Charlie and Tammy rushed to the box to try and catch a glimpse of the present. Peter merely pulled the box away from them with a maddening smile.

“We have to go to the tip first. Coming Dad?” Peter grabbed the keys to the ageing Elantra.

“I'll pass, thank you.” Joe turned to the kitchen and prepared himself a coffee.

“Eh. Come on you lot.” Peter led them out to the car.

–

The ruby-coloured one-piece suit was skin-tight with two powered boots attached for flying. There were pink pads on the fingertips and palms of the attached gloves, and the top lifted up to cover Belles face, with two little nodes that sat on her temples and connected with a band over her head which could unclasp from the left side to make it easier to get it on/off. The back locked up with a plastic zip, making the whole thing feel very uncomfortable. Two small pink power boxes sat on the shoulders, and around the middle was what looked like a pink belt.

“Dad, seriously? You want me to fight crime in THIS?!” Belle groaned.

“You look like a video game character!” Peter defended. “You have your usual flight capability, plus you have the ability to form these carbon weapons using your mind.”

“Wha-?” Everyone looked dumbfounded at Peter.

“Just say this old dart board here is a bad guy. Form a dagger and throw it at him.” Peter instructed.

Belle looked at her right hand. Slowly the pink pads glowed, oozing a ruby-coloured substance which hardened to look like a ruby weapon.

“Wow.” Belle threw the Ruby Shard at the dart board. It hit easily, lingering for about ten seconds before disintegrating and disappearing.

“The best thing is, this stuff will leave your opponents limbs numb, incapacitating them for a few minutes without killing them.” Peter grinned.

“How did you find that out?” Sunny asked.

“Plus you can fly now without the issues that the Backpack has!” Peter ignored Sunnys question. “Just jump up and away you go!”

“Whoa-OAAA!!!!!!” Belle cried. As soon as she'd gotten airborne, her top half had fallen and she was nearly hanging upside-down. She struggled to get back up.

Charlie roared with laughter, Sunny and Tammy tried to hide their giggles and Peter groaned.

“You're too used to the lift coming from your back, leaving your legs free.” He sighed. “Still, this is an improvement, at least it's harder to shoot both your feet.”

“Thanks Dad.” Belle groaned. She eventually righted herself and landed heavily.

“Anyway, I have another meeting to get to, and I'm almost late! You guys can get yourselves home right?” Peter asked.

“Sure.” Was the general reply. Peter quickly sped off. Belle frowned.

“I wonder why Daddy has so many more meetings recently.” She floated up wobbily and watched her father leave.

“Probably getting hammered at work after the whole flood thing and the University getting destroyed.” Sunny pointed out. “I know my Dad is copping it.”

“But this many meetings? And on weekends too?” Belle hovered in the direction her father had taken.

“You should surprise him, Ruby Giggles!” Charlie piped up.

“Ruby Giggles?” Was the reply from above.

“Well, you're not exactly regular Giggles anymore are you?” Charlie pointed out.

Ruby Giggles slumped slightly, but it was enough to make her lose her balance again.

“Whoaaaaaaaaa!”

–

“I'm glad you could get here. I had this place booked for weeks!” Peter smiled at Lara as they both enjoyed their pasta dinner.

“It was close, but I managed to get away in time.” Lara Vargas replied, smiling into his eyes. She had beautiful long chestnut brown hair and deep hazel eyes. She was a little on the bigger side, but had a huge smile that was kind and warm. “I would have left tennis anyway, I love spending time with you.”

“Managed to win a few games?”

“All of them sweetheart.”

“Oh, you're good.”

The pair laughed. Peter was on cloud nine. Not since Belles mother had broken his heart had he thought he would be able to love again. Now he was sitting in a restaurant with the woman of his dreams.

“What about Oscar? Isn't it your weekend with him?” Peter asked about Laras toddler son.

“No, Irwin is taking him on a camping trip.” Lara replied. “He might not have been a decent husband but I will admit he's a damned good father.”

“And that's all that counts.” Peter smiled.

“How about Belle? How's she doing?” Lara asked. She was always curious about the Masters clan, she loved the idea of the family code and the Improbability Clause.

“Still over-studying. She's a good kid and wants to save Pleasantville but she doesn't realise that if she over-does things she's just going to make herself sick.” Peter sighed.

“Reminds me a bit of her father.” Lara grinned cheekily.

“Hey, I was never that bad!” Peter argued.

“Are you kidding me? I remember in school while we were all out at the sports carnival you were holed up studying. Your brother had to drag you away for your events!” Lara laughed at the memory as Peter turned pink.

“I was such a little snot then. But you were a complete cow so it all evens out.” He laughed as she poked her tongue out at him.

Outside meanwhile, Ruby Giggles was sitting on a rooftop across the street and could see her father and Lara sitting in the restaurant.

Her father had a girlfriend?!

Chapter Twenty-Seven: ...To Worse

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Charlie sat in the tree, looking up through the dying branches at the sky. He was probably too old to be climbing trees. He WAS nearly nineteen after all. Yet the tree had always been a comfort to him, especially when he'd sat here with Belle so many times, talking.

But now she wasn't here. She was hunched over her desk studying her heart out. Another thing he'd lost. First his grand-father, then his best friend, and now the Lions Claw Blade.

Sunny had been nothing but sympathetic. She'd held him for a long time that night at the tip, as he complained about his loss. Belle hadn't said a word, choosing to stare at the sky. It was okay for HER. She still had the Lucky Seven Gun. She still had everything.

That's where he was wrong. Belle missed Charlie badly, but her wounded pride and broken heart kept him at arms length. Her only solace was her studying – at least she was good at that.

She sat back from her assignment. It was some of her best work, and she was proud of what she was able to do. She just wished she hadn't had to have lost so much to get it.

A tapping at the window brought her back to reality. Charlie was outside, looking like a little lost puppy. Belle smiled in spite of herself, that face always got to her.

“Hey goof-ball, what's up?” She opened the window.

“Nothing much. How's the assignment nerd-face?” Charlie replied, happy that they could at least still banter like they used to.

“Almost done. If I get it handed in on Friday then I can go for an extra-credit assignment, which will all but get me to Brisvegas.” Belle bragged.

“Aren't you overworking yourself?” Charlie asked.

“Nope.” Belle replied.

“You look pale.” Charlie pointed out.

Belle sighed.

“I really want to get to the University Dad went to. Then I can come back and help him make a difference here. People here simply don't care enough to try and change things.”

“We do!” Charlie said indignantly.

“Yeah, eight kids with a bit of optimism.” Belle said bitterly. “I reckon that's how Tate convinced the DVM to help her – keep the people under-educated so they won't fight back. I don't see Revolver or Marion thinking of something like that do you?”

“Not really.” Charlie sighed.

A loud creaking interrupted their chat.

“What's that noise?” Belle asked. Suddenly the tree lurched forward. Charlie got away just in time, the old tree finally snapping and falling.

“What happened?!” Thomas ran into Charlies room. He looked out of the window and saw his son hanging out of the opposite window, Belle holding him tightly. The tree lay between the two houses, having taken down the power lines as well.

“Well, that could have ended badly.” Peter walked over from the car, having just gotten home from another meeting. “Being old to begin with, the flood probably rotted the wood away.”

“It HAS ended badly!” Bill cried from inside. “The cricket was on TV and now we have no power!”

Peters wail of pain could be heard throughout the city.

–

Even though she had finally gotten her assignment done, Belle was having trouble sleeping (it probably didn't help that it was a pretty warm night and the power hadn't been restored to the air conditioning). Eventually she got tired of not sleeping and pulled on her Giggles attire.

Flying was a relief. Feeling the wind surrounding her, the Backpack lifting her up, the clouds around her, it made her forget for a while how her life was slowly going downhill.

She looked down. Master Revolver was standing atop a tall building. Giggles hovered in the air for a second, wondering what it was with people and tall buildings in Pleasantville. He wasn't really hurting anyone at that time, so she decided she'd leave him alone and head home.

The sound of a gunshot in her direction changed her mind however.

“Can't a girl go for a midnight flight without some moron firing his gun at her?!” Giggles fumed, hitting the face of her watch. After the scolding she'd received from her father over the whole Tate incident, she wasn't going to risk fighting anyone alone ever again!

“And waste the opportunity to finally get my gun back? Are you kidding me?” Master Revolver grinned. The bullet had just grazed Giggles helmet, leaving it with a “scar” very similar to the one that her father had earned across his cheek from the fight with Johannas so many years ago.

“Fine, you're on!” Giggles flew at him, dodging a few more shots that came her way. She shot at his feet with the Lucky Seven Gun, which forced him to retreat.

“Shooting my feet won't do much little girl, I'm on to your trick! You're too scared to kill me!” Master Revolver fired again, this time nicking her hand. “Marion has been impossible the last few days after getting back the Lions Claw Blade, it's about time I shut her up by getting the Lucky Seven Gun back!”

“Like hell you will.” Giggles glared at him. She swooped down at him, with a nasty punch into his guts. He tried to regain composure but she swooped again, kicking him over.

“That'll learn you to – OH NO!” Giggles cried as the Backpack gave out again and she fell down next to him, knocking all of the wind out of her lungs. “I am going to KILL Dad.” She muttered.

“That'll learn me what hmmm?” Master Revolver stood up and pointed his pistol at Giggles. “Give me the Lucky Seven Gun and I'll consider letting you live.”

Giggles froze. Where was everyone?!

“I'm not going to ask again, you either hand over the Lucky Seven Gun or you die.” Master Revolver growled. “You're defenceless and alone.”

Giggles gulped, and slowly extended the hand holding the Lucky Seven Gun out towards him. He grabbed it as fast as he could, before she could pull any of her tricks.

“It's mine again! It's mine! My family gun!” He cried in glee. He turned to Giggles and smiled.

“I don't know how you got a hold of this.” He said softly. “But now I'm going to make sure it never happens again. Good bye Giggles.”

Giggles heart stopped. She was going to die at the hands of this mad man. Her life was over.

“Hold it Revolver.” Said a voice that Giggles thought she'd never hear again.

Master Revolver slowly looked around. The tip of one of the Arm Scythes was pointed directly at him. A small buzzing alerted Giggles that the Backpack had enough charge to fly a small distance. She used the distraction to get herself back up in the air and get the Desert Eagle in her hands.

“We gotta get out of here Chuckles!” She called down to her best friend.

“Right. See you at home Giggles.” Chuckles quickly backed off and ran from Master Revolver. Giggles flew backwards, keeping the Desert Eagle trained on Master Revolver until she was sure she was safe. Then she quickly landed and ran away to the tip.

Now she'd lost the Lucky Seven Gun, and she now knew exactly how poor Charlie felt.

Chapter Twenty-Six: From Bad...

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Belle was elbow-deep in legal history. Even though she was only a part-time uni student, she still had assignments that needed to be done.

Due to the destruction of the University, Belle had to do all of her courses now online. While it meant she could do school full-time again, it was still a disappointment. Belle had loved being a uni student.

She could hear Woof yelping outside as Meow chased him. She figured one day she'd teach that cat to leave the poor dog alone. It was embarrassing really.

“Hey Belle! We're heading off to the movies, you wanna come with us?” Charlie poked his head in the window.

“I can't. I have an assignment due.” Belle replied.

“The Legal History one that you have a month to finish?” Charlie looked at her quizzically.

Belle sighed.

“Who else is going?” She asked, preparing to close her books.

Charlie hesitated. Belle immediately turned back to her books.

“If it's just you and Sunny then I'm not going.” She said flatly.

“It's not!” Charlie protested. “Actually, it's just me.”

“DEFINITELY not going.” Belle picked up her pen.

“We used to go to the movies together all the time Belle! Why not now?” Charlie begged.

“You have a girlfriend for that sort of thing.” Belle fired.

“Sunny doesn't have a problem with it!” Charlie snapped back. “You're the only one acting like this.”

“I don't feel comfortable with it, why is that such an issue?!” Belle turned around.

“Because we used to be inseparable. Don't you remember?” Charlie begged.

“Yeah, I remember. But you have someone else now.” Belle turned back to her books. “Go to the movies with Sunny. If everyone else is going then I'll come.”

“Belle-,”

“Go away Charlie, I'm busy.” Belle brushed him off. Charlie sighed. He climbed back across the shaky tree to his own bedroom and slammed the window shut.

Belle sighed too. On one hand, heading out to the movies with Charlie and everything being like it used to be sounded great...but things weren't the way they used to be. Plus, if she got this assignment done early enough, she could apply for an extra credit assignment, making getting into the University her father had studied at in Brisvegas a whole lot easier.

It had been a few months since Tate died. Webster and Maddy had headed back to Brisvegas to continue studying – Maddy was now pregnant too, which Webster was thrilled about. It seemed the impending baby took the edge off his pain of losing Tate.

Soon after, Bill came up with some snacks for Belle.

“Thanks Uncle Bill.” Belle dug into the yummy cream puffs.

“No problem.” Bill sat down on the bed. “You know, your father and Thomas had a HUGE fight just before we left for Brisvegas.”

“Really?” Belle perked up.

“Yeah. Your Dad was pretty jealous that Thomas had gotten School Captaincy, especially as your Dad was top of the class.” Bill remembered. “They needled each other all year, before finally they had a huge dust-up in the school yard. It didn't help that Thomas was a right royal prat about the whole thing.”

“He was?” Belle asked, curious.

“Your Dad thought he'd try and help out, try and pretend he wasn't jealous. Thomas let the power get to his head a bit and passed on a few of Petes ideas as his own. They were both in the wrong.” Bill laughed. “They made up a few years later when you were born though – Thomas flew down to Brisvegas almost the moment he heard you were in hospital, bringing a lot of Charlies old baby clothes and stuff. The night they found out that you were going to be okay, they went out drinking and made up.”

Belle smiled.

“The fact is, you can't just throw 500 years away over petty jealousy. Sooner or later you two will make it up.” Bill looked out of the window. Sure enough, Thomas and Peter were sitting down drinking a beer together.

“Yup. The moment they found out the secret of the Clause, they were inseparable again.” Bill laughed.

“The secret of the Clause?” Belle asked.

“Anyway, how's your studying going?” Bill quickly changed the subject.

“Okay...” Belle figured she wasn't going to get any more out of Bill.

“You're just like your father.” Bill chuckled. He ruffled her hair and let her continue her work. “He'll be late home too by the way – he's got a meeting to go to.”

“He's had a few of those.” Belle commented as Bill left.

–

“Kidnapping and extortion,” Mobster Marion said as she sat in her expensive limo with Master Revolver a few nights later. “Are two of my families staples. It's how we've kept a firm hold of the City Council for so long.”

“I still don't see how brute force wouldn't be at least as effective.” Master Revolver argued. “The Death Valley Gang was easily as powerful as the Mob, and we didn't resort to such wastes of time.”

“You were only able to keep your foothold because of our hard work!” Mobster Marion fired back.

“Then how come you were never able to get rid of us?” Master Revolver smirked.

Mobster Marion's eye twitched.

“Look, the point is, we're here to scare the Mayor into acting on our orders. Usually we don't need to resort to this, but due to the emergence of certain brats we don't have a choice.” She snapped.

Master Revolver didn't reply, but wore a satisfied smirk that rankled Mobster Marion.

“Stop here.” She barked at the driver. She limo stopped and she quickly got out. Master Revolver lazily joined her.

She went over to a nearby limo and punched out the driver. Her driver quickly stole the mans clothes as Mobster Marion pulled off the licence plate and swapped it with her own.

“Seriously?” Master Revolver looked amused.

“The Mayor has started taking security measures – not very good ones, but they're there none the less. We're just making sure we don't get caught.” Mobster Marion explained.

“Isn't this how you lost the Lions Claw Blade though?” Master Revolver asked.

“Don't remind me.” Mobster Marion growled. “At least I didn't lose the Lucky Seven Gun while trying to kidnap a bunch of kids!”

Master Revolver growled back. That foolish mess had been his idea, trying to mimic the Mobsters of Misneach, thinking that by expanding their operations they could become the dominant crime syndicate in Pleasantville. It had lost him his father and the family gun.

Never again.

Meanwhile, up above, Lady Courage, Chuckles and Giggles were sitting on the roof of a nearby building.

“The others are hanging around the Mayors house in case we stuff up.” Lady Courage explained. “Hopefully that won't be the case though.”

“This'll be easy. Let's just go in, kick some backside and get outta here. Mum's making meatloaf tonight.” Chuckles grinned.

“Whatever you say.” Giggles deadpanned. Chuckles was rankled, usually she'd rip his plans to shreds.

'I still have the Improbability Clause though. She can't take that off me.' He thought foolishly.

Chuckles bolted out first, followed closely by Lady Courage. Giggles flew overhead.

“And look who we have here.” Master Revolver pointed to Mobster Marion. “Now who'd have thunk it?”

“Luckily for you, I did.” Mobster Marion clicked her fingers.

“Argh!” Chuckles quickly stopped. Fifteen Mobsters had jumped out of the limo, and stood facing the heroes.

“Uh-oh.” Lady Courage looked at the group. “Well?”

Chuckles was frozen. He hadn't thought of what to do if they'd brought back up. He'd just assumed the Improbability Clause would mean it was only the three of them, proving that he had no clue on how the Clause really worked.

“Get them.” Mobster Marion smirked.

“Oh NO!” Giggles fired the Lucky Seven Gun at the feet of a few of the thugs, but it didn't deter them. She could only keep them at bay.

She panicked. Chuckles ALWAYS knew what he was doing, but now he looked like a fish out of water. She hadn't realised how much she relied on his confidence for her to know what to do. She thought of trying to take out the tyres of the limo, but the moment she aimed at them Master Revolver shot at her, making aiming impossible.

“Nice try little brat, but I learnt from the whole truck incident.” Master Revolver smirked.

Lady Courage and Chuckles were in big trouble. Lady Courage was already being contained by five of the Mobsters, while Chuckles was badly bruised and in danger of succumbing to them too.

Giggles swooped down and fired at the Mobsters who had a hold of Lady Courage. They jumped away giving Giggles enough time to grab her friend and deliver her to safety on top of a nearby roof.

“I'm going back for Chuckles, you let the others know what's happened.” Giggles commanded.

“Giggles! Wait! It's not safe!” Lady Courage tried to stop her, but Giggles was gone.

Chuckles was barely holding his own against the horde. Mobster Marion clicked her fingers again and the siege subsided. She slowly walked towards Chuckles, the clicking of her heels contrasting with the silence of the night.

“Now. This is where your life ends, and you stopping annoying the living daylights out of me.” Mobster Marion raised her sword. She brought it down hard, but one of the Arm Scythes stopped her.

She kept pushing, forcing the Arm Scythe back into Chuckles arm. He dropped the Lions Claw Blade in pain, just as Giggles swooped in firing the Lucky Seven Gun. She grabbed Chuckles and made her escape.

“No!” Chuckles cried, trying to reach for his sword. Too late, it was gone.

The last thing Chuckles and Giggles saw was Mobster Marion holding the Lions Claw Blade up to the sky.

“The Improbability Clause...it didn't work?” Chuckles looked dumbfounded as Giggles flew him off into the night.