Author: Crofton77

 “NEWS JUST IN: Marion Misneach of the Mob has laid waste to the citizens of Fallsville. The population of 200 has lost 74 lives tonight, 40 of them members of the notorious criminal organisation the March Hill Crusaders. For more on this devastating development, we go to our crew on the ground…” The radio blared as Belle and Charlie raced to the tip.

“Saw that coming a mile away.” Charlie grimaced.

“This is bad.” Belle grit her teeth, turning off the radio. They'd heard enough. 

It was dark, and the full moon loomed overhead as the beaten old Elantra made its way down the roads. 

“Two of the biggest threats to the Haunted Maze Troupe are gone, no way Marion and the Mob survive this. Argh, it's going to be brutal now the Troupe are the only game in town.” Charlie said as they pulled up to the tip.

“Until the next threat comes along, and who knows what form THAT will take.” Belle got out of the car and ran to the hideout, Charlie hot on her tail. 

They rounded a huge mound of garbage and met up with the Noble Knights of the Last Order, who were all glaring at Daniel by the light of some old neon tubing Sammy and Tammy had rigged up a long time ago.

“WHERE’S MY SWORD?!” Charlie immediately bolted towards Daniel, who smirked as the others looked confused. “WELL? Where is it?”

“Judith is dead and all you can think about is your sword? I thought better of you Charlie.” Daniel stared right into the eyes of the younger man, who stopped short angrily.

“What? You stole the Lions Claw Blade?!” Sammy cried. “Why would you do that?”

“I have my reasons.” Daniel replied maddingly. 

Suddenly a long stretch limo arrived. Out stepped Mobster Marion, looking defeated. Her makeup was smeared all over her face, her hair was a mess, her dress was torn and dirty and it was plain she’d been crying. She dragged the Lions Claw Blade behind her, to the horror of Charlie.

“It’s done. You can have the sword back, I won’t need it anymore where I’m going.” Marion said, throwing the sword at Daniels feet.

“Where are you going?” Petunia asked. “Please don’t do anything silly.”

“Sillier than what she's already done?” Belle quipped.

“I don’t know where I’m going.” Marion replied, her voice wavering. “I just know I can’t stay here anymore.”

“What about the Mob?” Belle asked.

“It’s over. So is the Gang. We’re through.” Marion replied.

“Well, makes sense given you beheaded Revolver.” Daniel pointed out.

Everyone rounded on him. “WHAT?!” Charlie cried.

“I killed him. I killed Timothy.” Marion said softly. “There is no place for me here any more.”

The light from the neon tubes left haunted shadows on Marions face. She was broken, completely and utterly destroyed. 

“There's no place for me anymore.”

She got back into the limo, and it drove off. To finish Marions story, she and the few Mobsters who went with her went overseas to the War Wastes between the Great Nations and Awesomica. She lived in a tiny hovel in a tiny village, and eventually had two children of her own before passing away relatively young, her heart forever broken at the loss of her baby sister.

The Knights and Belle and Charlie watched the limo drive away. All of them were shaken.

“I don't know what right she has to be all upset, not after all the lives she's stolen.” Sunny pointed out as both Charlie and Daniel both reached for the sword.

“Back off Dan.” Charlie growled. Daniel laughed.

“It isn't even your sword, and I don't even want it.” He reached for something attached to the hilt of the sword – it was Judith's necklace. Daniel put it around his own neck as Charlie nursed the Lions Claw Blade. 

“It IS his sword, he won it!” Belle snapped.

“Puh-lease. You don't even know the full history of those weapons.” Daniel snapped back.

“Oh, and you do?” Petunia stood up for Belle.

“Of course I do. My great-great-great-grandfather was the one who made them.” Daniel said.

The group froze.

“It was in the war, 150 years ago. He created seven weapons, weapons that could only be used by blood they had been bequeathed to, or those with extraordinary skill.” Daniel told them. “Those two were stolen by the Misneach family, thus they became the Bequeathed Blood.”

“Okay, that just sounds like a fantasy novel.” Belle rolled her eyes.

“Where do you think your father got the power for the Ruby Suit from? The power that's in those weapons, because of that talisman.” Daniel pointed to the Lion talisman on the Lions Claw Blade.

“So you're Bequeathed Blood by default.” Tammy said.

“Yup. The Dragon Scale Scythe and the Mystic Eight were buried with their creator, but my great-grandfather stole them to impress my great-grandmother, who was the heir to the Lightheart family who owned the lands of Silent Lake in the War Wastes. She had no time for that, she was a hardened criminal through and through.” Daniel said.

“As interesting as all that is, the fact is you gave Marion the sword back to kill Crusader Roger!” Sammy cried. “How could you?! How could you make yourself a killer?!”

“It’s not the first time.” Charlie said quietly.

The group didn't know where to look.

“Ah. You figured it out.” Daniel looked less than amused. “That confounded Improbability Clause.”

“Figured what out?” Sammy went pale.

“Dan killed Wallace Dingbat.” Charlie said in that same quiet voice.

It took everything he had to say it, but he’d said it. It was true. The weight of that knowledge wasn’t lifted by saying it however, if anything it became even heavier with the weight of the stares of his friends, all of them begging it not to be true.

“It’s not true. It can’t be true. Not our Dan.” Sammy almost whimpered.

Daniel grit his teeth. “I didn't mean to! I didn't want to! He just kept at me and it was hot and we'd just failed AGAIN to right any of the wrongs in this city and…”

“You murdered him in cold blood. While he was unable to defend himself.” TJ, who had been silent up to this point, stood up. “If you had killed him in a fair fight or in self-defence we would have understood, but you murdered him while he was defenceless BECAUSE HE WAS PICKING ON YOU?”

“HE TOLD ME HE WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR RIGGING THE MAYORAL ELECTION!” Daniel yelled. “What would YOU have done?!”

“HE WAS WEARING HIS CAMERA YOU IDIOT HE BASICALLY INCRIMINATED HIMSELF!” TJ roared back.

“Great job on destroying all our evidence against him by the way.” Tammy snapped.

“You would have done the same thing!” Daniel roared, his voice straining. “You remember how horrible it was!”

Charlie felt his heart drop. He’d nearly killed Demon that night, the only reason he hadn’t was because Giggles had shot him. 

Belle must've been thinking the same thing. She put a hand on Charlies back and looked at Daniel sadly. “We all make mistakes.” She started.

“HE MURDERED A DEFENCELESS HUMAN BEING.” TJ cried.

“We ALL make mistakes, and we all need to atone for them.” Belle continued, pointedly ignoring TJ. “You, in less than ideal circumstances, ended the life of another human being. It might be unforgivable, but in your right mind you would never have done it. If one of us had been there, we could have stopped you. While you alone carry responsibility for what you did, we have to acknowledge our own shortcomings that allowed it to happen.”

“Like letting Demon and his ilk run free?” Daniel shot.

“Dan, I'm not even going to respond to that. You know why we've been doing things the way we have.” Belle said evenly, trying to keep the situation under control. 

“We're FAILING.” Daniel snapped. “Nothing has gotten better, and this city is still a hellhole!”

“That's not true!” Tammy stood beside Belle. “Stop making excuses for your impatience.”

“Your actions were not only immoral but set us back. If Dingbat was alive he would have had to answer to his crimes, Sir Hedgehog would have made sure of it.” Belle continued. “And you can bet your bottom dollar if Dingbat was going down he was taking everyone down with him. Not to mention you basically murdered 75 people by proxy if you include Revolver.”

“I didn't mean for Revolver to die.” Daniel muttered.

“But you meant for the March Hill Crusaders to die. You made a conscious decision to keep killing after you made your first mistake and that is truly beyond redemption.” Belle told him.

“I got rid of two threats, didn't I?” Daniel asked. 

“You put all of us at risk!” TJ thundered. “And for what, revenge?”

“The sod who killed Judith is now out of the world, and can't hurt anyone anymore.” Daniel said bitterly.

“No he's not.” Sunny said. “Did you see the security footage they blasted over the news?”

“Yes, I did.” Daniel snapped.

“So then you'd know it was my brother who killed Judith and he's still fine.” Sunny told them. “He just texted me bragging that Dad would be welcoming him back soon, did I want anything?”

Daniel froze. Daryl Jones. He was still alive and he had killed Judith.

“Marion wouldn't care, she's too far gone. You should have known better.” Sunny finished. 

Charlie still felt sick. He could have easily been Daniel. Or even Daryl. If Belle hadn't been there…

“We can fix this Dan.” Belle said, as if she'd read Charlies mind. “You've got to hand yourself in. You'll probably be gaoled for life, but we'll visit you and things will be okay.”

“WHAT?!” Daniel cried.

“If you go to Brisvegas and turn yourself in there you'll be treated fairly.” Belle continued. “No matter what we're trying to do here, we can't forget who we are.”

Daniel looked horrified. “No.” He said.

“Mate, you heard Belle, she's the only one talking sense at the moment.” Tammy put her hand on his arm, which he quickly shoved off. Daniel was seething. He'd known this would happen when he stole the Lions Claw Blade, and he hadn't cared then. Now faced with the stark reality of the consequences of his actions, he felt like it was all brutally unfair.

“Sense. Tell me, what sense is there left in this city?!” He looked at his friends. Friends he’d known forever. Friends who were like family to him. “I’ll tell you what, there’s no sense!”

“Think of Marcus! Think of your family!” Petunia pleaded.

Daniel scoffed. He had no family, just senile old grandparents and an infant son. He would have had a family, but they died in the battle of Silent Lake. 

The Silent Lake Gang. Destroyed by the Death Valley Gang and the Mobsters of Misneach. So without meaning to, he’d avenged them too.

“My family died protecting their patch. Maybe it’s time I honoured them.” Daniel said slowly.

“Dan, you’re not thinking straight, you’re still grieving. Hand yourself in mate, you can get help and we’ll look after Marcus.” Sunny begged.

“On the contrary, I think I’ve finally figured things out.” Daniel looked up at the full moon.

“Daniel, you’re not thinking of reviving the Silent Lake Gang are you?” Sammy asked. Everyone froze again.

“It’s my birthright. It’s what I was born for.” Daniel told them.

“NO, you’re no more a Silent Laker than I’m a Haunted Maze Trouper. Dan, think about what you’re saying!” Belle cried.

“Belle, you only found out a few months ago that you’re an heir to the Troupe. I’ve been a Laker since the day I was born. It’s the memories I have of my mother.” Daniel told her. “You couldn’t understand.”

“I understand more than you think.” Belle said quietly. “I never knew my mother, she dumped me when I was a newborn.”

“You think you do but you don’t. You never can. You think your books give you all the answers but you’re wrong. You didn’t even know Master Revolver was your cousin. He knew the whole time that you two were Chuckles and Giggles.” Daniel spat. 

“I had my suspicions.” Belle replied.

“And you don’t mourn him. Your own family.” Daniel looked at her, disgusted. “No wonder your mother dumped you, you unwanted-,”

“Dan, don’t!” Charlie warned.

“You unwanted bastard.” Daniel finished.

The only reason Charlie didn't slam Daniel to the ground was because a black-haired blur shot past him. Sunny slammed her fist into the side of Daniels face, hard enough that it was going to leave a very black bruise the next day.

“DON'T YOU DARE CALL MY SISTER UNWANTED!” Sunny screamed as she pummelled her former leader.

“Easy Sunny, you don't want to hurt your fists.” Belle pointed out, pulling Sunny away.

TJ looked at Daniel, sad and angry and confused and hurt. Behind him, Sammy was crying silent tears. Petunia was looking at Sunnys fists, making sure she hadn’t hurt them, and Tammy stared hard at Daniel.

He had been their leader. Their protector. Their brother. Their friend. Now he had betrayed everything that they had stood for. Memories danced in all of their minds of Daniel, being the brave and reliable Sir Lionheart, being the one they could rely on. Now it was all gone.

“As of now, Sir Lionheart is no more.” Tammy said coldly. “You are no longer welcome in the Noble Knights of the Last Order.”

Daniel exhaled. It was done. He had known this would be the ultimate price, but still he couldn’t bring himself to believe it. He had loved all of them so much – he still loved them! Now they were casting him out forever, and he had only himself to blame.

No. He told himself. It’s Demon and Daryls fault. Them and the Haunted Maze Troupe and the Death Valley Gang and the Mobsters of Misneach and all the cowards who let them get their way.

“I warn you Daniel, I WILL find the evidence I need, and I WILL make sure you pay for all the lives you have stolen.” TJ warned him as he turned to walk away. “I WILL bring you to justice for what you did to Dingbat and the people of Fallsville. Dingbat might have been an evil, racist and incompetent fool, but he deserved a fair trial and to pay for what he did. As do you.”

Daniel scoffed and began to walk away. All of them were united against him. For a moment, it stung. He would never again fight over cricket with them, or fight crime together, or eat at Bills restaurant together, or go fishing together…

But then his heart hardened as he knew that he would never fit in with them ever again. He snarled, and turned away, and thus Sir Lionheart, the leader of the Noble Knights of the Last Order, was no more.

 Crusader Roger had just returned from another successful day of torturing the populace of Fallsville. Not that they had much. He groaned and poured himself yet another whiskey. Running around Fallsville was one thing, but the true prize was Pleasantville. Unfortunately the Haunted Maze Troupe had beaten them to the punch.

That was okay, there was always time to fix that. Having Daryl Jones in the March Hill Crusaders was going to pay off eventually, especially when Demon realised that he'd never get to even meet his only current grandchild. He'd come back for Daryl purely because he was a misogynistic prat.

Speaking of…

“Anyone seen that little berk?” Roger poked his head out of his office.

“He stole your car.” Crusader Alice reminded her boss. “Which is why you ran the hat around town for a new one.”

“Surely he'd be back by now though.” Roger looked annoyed. “It's nearly dinnertime.”

Suddenly Crusader Alex bolted into the hall, terror on his face. “Have you seen the news?! It's all over the telly, they're saying one of us killed Sidewinder!”

“Wait, what?” Roger left his office and walked towards the breakout room where the television was blaring.

“Security footage taken from City Hall shows a man, estimated to be in his early to mid twenties, wearing March Hill Crusaders insignia, who was hiding in the Mayors office, where he sprung out and shot the leader of the Misneach Mobsters sister Sidewinder. Authorities are trying to piece together how the intruder got in. On the ground we have reporters ready…” The host of Pleasantville Nightly News droned on.

All the colour drained from Rogers face. 

“That's Daryl…” Crusader Aiden gulped. “He killed Judith.”

Roger could barely choke down a breath. “She's on her way, isn't she?” He said hoarsely.

No one said anything.

“Marion is on her way here. For revenge.” Roger swallowed hard. “She'll have us all slaughtered.”

“We can hold off the Mob if it comes to a battle, there's no doubt about that. Fallsville is OUR territory.” Alex grinned at Aiden, who smirked back.

“Daryl must've known Marion would come here for vengeance and set her up for a fail.” Aiden said. “Let's get everyone armed!”

“Yes…yes of course…I'll be getting ready in my office.” Roger bolted back to his office and locked the door. He sat at his desk and groaned. Daryl Jones had known Marion would march on Fallsville all right – he'd been counting on using her to kill Roger and get comeuppance for the hard love Roger had been dishing out.

“DAMN!” Roger slammed his desk. That little bastard had outsmarted him. The Crusaders had no chance of fighting off the Mob, not now. If they'd known beforehand then yes, but Marion would now only be minutes away and most of the March Hill Crusaders weren't ready for a battle. 

To prove his point, suddenly he heard the sounds of gunfire and screams of agony from the lower levels of the hideout. Suddenly he heard Alex banging on the door, begging to be let in so they could regroup.

No chance. Roger downed another glassful of whiskey and headed to the safe. No one knew it was a secret passage out of the building. Roger quickly made his exit as Alex finally got the door open.

“Sir, we've got the barricade up, we need you to-,” Alex stopped. He saw the passage. “You're running away?!” Alex cried.

“Yup.” Roger got inside the safe and slammed the door locked behind him.

“NOOOO!!!!” Alex screamed. “YOU CAN'T LEAVE US TO DIE YOU BASTARD! YOU DID THIS TO US! YOU CAN'T LEAVE US!”

He yanked at the safe door, but it wouldn't budge. Crusader Roger had truly abandoned them.

“ROGER! COME BACK! YOU BASTARD RAT, GET BACK HERE AND SAVE US! YOU DRAGGED US INTO THIS YOU BASTARD NOW COME BACK! ROGER!”

“Alex, you were supposed to bring Roger downstairs, now the Mob have overrun us!” Alice ran in screaming. “They killed Aiden!”

Alex wanted to vomit. Aiden, his beloved, was dead, and Alex wouldn't be too far behind. 

“Where IS Roger?!” Alice asked, skittish and scared. “WHERE IS ROGER? HE'S SUPPOSED TO BE HERE!”

“He escaped. The rat ran off on us. He forced us into his web and then left us to die!” Alex threw himself against the safe. 

He watched Alices face fall as she realised that she was going to die. She was going to die because Roger had promised to save her father in exchange for her service. She was going to die because Roger lied.

To all of them.

An Emerald Mobster appeared at the door. He shot both Crusaders, sticking around to make sure they died.

“You want Roger?” Alex coughed, blood choking him. “The safe is…he's in…”

And Alex joined Aiden and Alice in death.

–

Crusader Roger could hear the sound of someone following him. Lots of someones. One of the little weasels must've sold him out. 

He kept running down the long sewer corridor, where the drop from the safe had left him. He did his best to stay quiet, mentally cursing every time he stepped in water. He silently cursed himself for drinking so much whiskey. He silently cursed himself for letting Daryl get through his fingers.

If he somehow survived this, he was going to tear that little berk limb from limb. Slowly.

Roger finally made it to the gate where the sewer met Pleasant Gorge. The rain had stopped, but everything was wet still. He scrambled up the side of the gorge, slipping and cutting his hands on the sharp rocks. Finally, he reached the top. 

He looked around. There was no going back to Fallsville, not now the Crusaders were toast. He couldn't go to Pleasantville either, he'd be killed on sight.

Unless…

Killing Judith only helped Demon Jones. It lessened the strength of the Mobs influence in City Hall. If he could get to the Haunted Maze Troupe in time, then he could beg for clemency. Life in gaol was better than death.

“Now how'd I know I'd find you up here?”

Crusader Roger froze. Daryl Jones was smirking at him from the hood of his car.

“You traitorous swine…after I took you in!” Roger spat.

“You only kept me around as leverage against my father, let's not get it twisted.” Daryl laughed. “And now Marion is going to slaughter you.”

“You're the one who killed her sister, you're the one she really wants!” Roger barked.

“Prove it.” Daryl grinned. “And make Marion listen to you.”

Roger felt himself sweat. He couldn't think. He shouldn't have drank all that alcohol! Daryl got up off the boot of the car.

“Hope you can think fast. Catch ya in hell.” Daryl shoved Roger, sending the older man tumbling back down the side of the gorge where the Emerald Mobsters were searching for him.

“Ma'am, we've got him!” One of the Mobsters called Marion while two others bound and gagged Roger, who desperately tried to plead his case.

It took ten long minutes for Mobster Marion to show up, riding her gleaming black limousine. She stepped out, holding the Lions Claw Blade in front of her.

Roger desperately tried to spit out the gag and tell her the truth, but he was bound too tightly. Marion smirked, but her eyes were hollow.

“I don't care which one of you did it. I just want all of you gone.” She said softly. “As their leader, you should have kept them under control. Their sins are your sins, and you must bear the weight of their cost.”

Roger squirmed, desperately trying in vain to get past the gag.

Above them, Daryl lit himself a cigarette. 

“She died instantly. I'm glad. I wouldn't want her to have suffered like you're going to do.” Marion steadied the sword in her hand. It still trembled though.

“Now you die.”

Daryl watched as Marion began to dismantle Roger slowly and methodically. It was disgusting and brutal. Rogers' screams echoed through the gorge. 

“Wow. I could learn a thing or two.” Daryl mused to himself. He flicked the butt of his cigarette away. He contemplated a second one, but decided to wait until the fun was over.

Finally, Roger was left on the brink of death. Marion smirked that dead smirk one more time, before turning away.

“Leave it, we have better things to do and it's almost dead anyway.” She called to her Mobsters, all of them scared of Marion.

She walked to the limo, and slid in. “Pleasantville Tip.” Was all she said.

“At once ma'am.” The driver replied. The limo shot off like a rocket back towards Pleasantville. The leftover Mobsters quickly made their way back to Misneach Manor.

Once they were gone, Daryl slid down the embankment to see what was left. Roger lay on the ground, still breathing, still glaring through his gag.

“Oh beauty!” Daryl laughed. “I get to finish you off!”

Roger coughed. He continued to glare at Daryl. The little berk had beaten him. The slimy little scum had actually defeated him.

He didn't get to think much about it, as a kick to the side of the head finished him off. 

–

“They knew where to look.” Belle said as Charlie fumed over the loss of his sword. “If they didn't the room would've been destroyed.”

They had returned back to the Begly house after being unable to find Daniel, and instead had found the Lions Claw Blade had been stolen.

“It was Dan wasn't it? DARN him!” Charlie slammed a fist on his desk, cracking the wood. “He's replacing that.”

“If you say so.” Belle looked worried.

“The Clause says so.” Charlie sighed. 

Belle touched his arm. “We need to go. We said we'd meet everyone back at the tip.” She squeezed his arm gently. “I'm sorry. I promise you we'll get the Lions Claw Blade back.”

Charlie exhaled loudly. “I know.” He took Belles hand in his and squeezed back. “We'll figure this out.”

Belle looked out the window. The rain had stopped and it was dark outside. The full moon was making its way through the clouds as a cool breeze blew.

Death hung on the air, and Belle knew the pain wasn't over yet.

 “Sitting around doing nothing blows.” Charlie sighed, lying on his bed.

“There was nothing we could do anyway. We would have been killed if we had stayed.” Belle pointed out, as she sat at his desk, reading over the news websites on his laptop. 

“Especially with you shooting out chandeliers. I still can't get past that.”

“Just shows you how far even I have fallen.”

“It's kinda refreshing.”

“I bet.”

“Hey you two, want some hot chocolate? We've been cooking and we decided that it was the best way to finish our baking spree.” Izzy poked her head in.

“Sure, we'll never say no to chocolate.” Belle grinned. Izzy dashed off to get two mugs of hot chocolate.

“You know, I'm kinda glad we decided to stay in. It looks like it will rain soon anyway, and we all know how you hate getting your cape wet.” Charlie teased.

“Almost as bad as you and your trench coat.” Belle fired back.

“I can hear them teasing each other, they HAVE to be together!” Lizzy said to her twin downstairs as she ladled the chocolate into mugs.

“Leave it alone. Please. I can't take much more speculation.” Betty poured a decent serve of rum into her hot chocolate before chugging it down.

Lizzy and Izzy looked at each other, worried.

– 

“Okay, okay, okay, the food is coming!” Daniel groaned as Marcus kept wailing. He'd had his nappy changed, now he was hungry and was determined to let the world know about it. 

Daniel meanwhile was frazzled. Not that he doubted his girlfriend could handle herself, but more that he was certain that he had pulled the wrong bottle out of the fridge to be warmed up and was in for a yelling at once Judith got home. The yelling from his son did nothing to quell his fears.

“Okay kiddo, bottoms up!” He got the bottle in the baby's mouth. Suddenly sweet silence as Marcus gobbled down his food like he hadn't been fed in years. “I feel you kiddo, I'm feeling kinda hangry myself.”

He sat down on one of the comfy chairs, watching his son drink for his life. He felt cozy, content and didn't care how much he was getting yelled at anymore. The little man in his arms made everything worth it.

Dingbat had two kids.

Except that annoying little voice. Daniel sighed. He guessed he had to accept that voice in his head, as punishment for murdering another human being. It wasn't fair, especially after all the pain and suffering that Wallace Dingbat had caused and let happen in his reign at the police, but life was never fair.

It had been a few hours now since he'd left City Hall. He wondered how much violence and bloodshed had occurred when suddenly there was a knock at the door.

He looked at Marcus, who was falling asleep over his half-empty bottle. Sighing, Daniel got up and went to the front door.

Standing there was Master Revolver, looking thin and pale.

“Wow mate, you need a protein shake or ten.” Daniel was taken aback by how sick the older man looked.

“Judith's dead. She was killed by a Crusader.” Revolver croaked out.

Daniel's world stopped.

–

“I mean, surely if I invest in Nozz softdrinks that's fine, they're local!” Charlie groaned.

“They're indirectly owned by a known investor of the Crusaders.” Belle didn't even lift her head off his desk.

“You're…” Charlie did some more typing on his laptop “Jupiter Clothing, that's small enough that it shouldn't be a criminal endeavour!”

“Lindsay from Transport, his wife owns it. I'm not sure she knows he's a Trouper.” Belle mumbled, half-asleep.

“Are there ANY local businesses apart from your Uncles restaurant that I can invest in without inadvertently supporting the local crime syndicates?!” Charlie fumed, shaking his laptop.

“You're invested with Restorative Cosmetics though.” Belle pointed out. 

Charlie blanched.

“Troupe owns controlling shares. They're not a local gang y'know.” Belle sighed.

“That just makes way too much sense.” Charlie frowned.

Suddenly Izzy burst into the room. “Dan just dropped Marcus off at Sunnys, Judith was killed!” She yelled.

“Wait what?!” Belle and Charlie shot up, horrified. The Improbability Clause began to niggle at Charlie again. If, and that was a big IF, Dan had killed Dingbat, then would he seek to kill the Crusader that left his son motherless?

“We need to stop him and talk to him. He's not thinking straight. Last thing Marcus needs is his father drinking himself to death.” Belle rushed to the door. 

“ Absolutely.” Charlie agreed, for a very different reason.

They bolted out of the house, nearly knocking over Sunny, who was holding Marcus.

“Where did Dan go?!” Belle yelped.

“I thought he'd come over here!” Sunny yelled back.

“We need to split up and find him before he does something he'll regret.” Charlie said, looking pale.

They quickly got Charlies family and they all headed out – Izzy and Lizzy were going to get Sammy and TJ, Betty headed to Daniel's grandparents place to check there before getting Peter and Thomas, Belle and Charlie headed to Daniel's place and Sunny took Marcus back to her place to look after the children. 

This suited Daniel perfectly. After everyone left, he carefully scaled the back fence where he'd been hiding on the creek bank. He scaled the big tree and forced open Charlies window. Once he was in, he looked under the bed where Charlie kept his weapons.

The Arm Scythes were on top, resting on felt. Daniel tossed these aside, not really caring if he damaged them or not. Under the felt was Charlies grappling hook and daggers, also resting on felt. Daniel shoved these aside too, before he found what he was looking for.

The Lions Claw Blade. Daniel lifted it up. He didn't know how to get the giant blade to his destination without getting spotted, but then he realised he didn't care. He strapped it to his back and left the way he came in.

He jumped back over the fence, then headed to the dock attached to Sunnys place. Sunny never really used the little motorboat that her father left there, and she wouldn't miss it. He jumped in and untied it. Immediately it started drifting in the wrong direction – Daniel needed it to go back up to where the creek met Pleasant Creek. Throwing all caution to the wind, he turned on the motor and shot off.

The creek was peaceful. Daniel began to think about what he was doing as the tiny boat shot towards the city. About why. About the consequences. 

He almost turned back, but then he remembered what Master Revolver had told him about how Judith had been shot point-blank in the head. By a masked Crusader. 

He turned up Pleasant Creek and headed towards Pleasant Lake and the CBD. Nothing mattered now. Marcus was motherless, and nothing would be done about it – in fact, Demon would probably reward the sicko who'd done it. It was time to take matters into his own hands.

But first… the tiny boat had finally reached its destination. Daniel hurried out of the boat and towards City Hall, where Master Revolver was trying to console Mobster Marion.

“He shot her in the head.” Marion wept quietly, cradling her sisters body. “Why did he shoot my baby sister in the head?”

The Haunted Maze Troupe had quickly and wisely backed off after Sidewinder had been shot, and now the Mob were left to count the cost.

“It's time to let her go now Marion, we need to put her to rest now.” Revolver was having no luck with the distraught Mobster. 

It was the scene that Daniel walked into as the rain started falling outside. The sunset was straining to be seen behind the clouds, casting an eerie red light on the scene.

“It's true.”

Marion and Revolver turned to look at Daniel as he choked out the words, looking down at his lovers almost decapitated body. The mother of his son. 

“You didn't bring the boy did you?” Revolver asked, shaken.

“What kind of father do you take me for?!” Daniel snapped. “I'm here to help Marion get vengeance for her sister.”

Marions head shot up. Daniel pulled out the Lions Claw Blade from its scabbard. 

“ARE YOU INSANE?!” Revolver cried. “She'll slaughter every member of the March Hill Crusaders!”

“Well, it was time for another March Hill Massacre anyway.” Daniel quipped. “Like you and your father weren't responsible for your fair share of murder.”

Revolver grit his teeth. “Well, it didn't get us anywhere did it? In the end we became everything my great-grandfather wanted to destroy.”

“Your great-grandfather? What does he have to do with anything?” Daniel rolled his eyes as Marion eyed off the Lions Claw Blade. 

“Lachlan Masters founded the Death Valley Gang to get revenge for the death of his older brother over one hundred years ago.” Revolver sighed.

“Lachlan…you mean Damons brother?!” Daniel cried. “He and his best friend Pythias were murdered in the March Hill Massacre!”

“His name was James Masters and yes, he moonlighted as Damon.” Revolver sighed again. “The same way Chuckles and Giggles will go, mark my words.” 

“You know who Chuckles and Giggles are.” Daniel realised.

“Always have. What other family could wield my gun?” Revolver said, voice laced with bitterness.

“Whatever.” Daniel made a mental note to deal with Revolver later. He handed the sword to Marion.

“DON'T I JUST TOLD YOU!” Revolver cried. “Once you've killed you can never go back.”

“Already crossed that bridge mate.” Daniel smirked.

Revolver sighed again. “So be it. I'll stop her my-,”

Suddenly Revolvers head went flying towards Demons office, his body crumpling where he had stood. Daniels eyes widened in horror. What had he DONE? Master Revolver now lay dead as well, and he had done nothing.

He looked towards Marion, and decided to quickly get out of the madwoman's way. 

“Good choice.” Marion hissed at him as she walked out of the building. Daniel watched her leave, horrified and disgusted. He looked over at the body of Master Revolver. A long-lost cousin of Belle, who had never revealed her secret identity, even though he could have easily. 

He then saw Judiths body. He walked over to it and fell next to her.

“I’m sorry. I couldn’t save you and I couldn’t save Marion.” He whispered.

Meanwhile, Daryl Jones was sitting in his car, watching as Marion stepped out into the darkening rain, holding the Lions Claw Blade. He saw her talk to one of her lackeys, before gutting that lackey and turning to another, who quickly rushed off to get her limo and drive her to Fallsville.

He lifted his coffee in salute before taking a sip and laughing.

 Sir Lionheart and Mobster Marion were fighting tooth and nail. Chuckles rushed in to defend Sir Lionheart, who couldn't keep up with Marions speed, especially using a scythe. Soon all you could hear was the clashing of swords as the two fought with extreme speed and skill.

“Almost sounds like a good beat.” Sir Hyper started tapping his foot along with the rhythm of the clanging swords.

“I can't even.” Giggles groaned.

“Makes two of us.” Sidewinder joined her next to the chandelier. “I am going to KILL him when he gets home.”

“You two really aren't natural blondes?” Giggles asked.

“Not platinum blondes, no. Naturally we're a more darker blonde. Strawberry blonde even.” Sidewinder shrugged. “Marion is sensitive about it, so was Dad and Grandpa.”

Giggles noticed the Mystic Eight Gun sitting on Sidewinders hip. She felt her fingers wanting to try it out.

“Don't even think about it.” Sidewinder told her. “Or I WILL fire you.”

“You're mean.” Giggles pouted.

“How do you think I got this far in life?”

“Mostly nepotism.”

“How rude!”

The battle between Chuckles and Marion was firing up the rest of the Mobsters of Misneach and Haunted Maze Troupers, who had started taking pot shots at each other.

“This is going to turn into a brawl, get ready!” Sir Lionheart had caught his breath and was ready to go again.

“I think not.” Sidewinder held the real Dragon Scale Scythe at his chest. “We came to take back what is ours, and that means bloodshed.”

“But I had paperwork on my desk…” Giggles whined.

“Your own fault. Clean desk policy.” Sidewinder said.

Lady Silent sighed. “REALLY?” 

“Yes, really.” Sidewinder said.

Lady Silent blinked. Her introversion hadn't worked? Sidewinder should have at least been a bit startled!

Giggles glared at Sidewinder and gripped the Lucky Seven Gun tightly as it sat in its holster.

“Giggles DON'T!” Sir Lionheart saw her. All the colour had drained from his face.

Giggles pulled out the Lucky Seven Gun.

“Go ahead. Do it. Just be ready for the consequences.” Sidewinder sneered at her.

“Giggles, THINK ABOUT IT!” Sir Lionheart cried. The Dragon Scale Scythe moved closer to his neck.

“She wouldn't, would she?” Lady Silent asked her brother.

“I don't know, you know how she gets about paperwork.” Sir Hyper pointed out.

Giggles hesitated…then shot the new chandelier, destroying it..

“That…was not what I was expecting…” Sir Lionheart scratched the back of his head.

“You…you DIDN'T!” Sidewinder wailed.

All the violence in the office stopped. Even Marion and Chuckles stopped, looking confused.

Then the sobs started.

“You REALLY want to take over this?” Chuckles asked as the office workers mourned, rather loudly.

“I really need an EAP or something, the fact that my employees are doing this is embarrassing.” Marion sighed.

“If you didn't MISTREAT them and gave them FULFILLING WORK this wouldn't be an issue!” Giggles screamed.

That got everyone laughing again.

Then the police arrived.

“Are we leaving?” Sidewinder asked Marion.

Marion smirked. “Nope.”

Giggles looked at Chuckles, who looked pale.

“You lot should probably leave. A bunch of vigilantes isn't going to achieve much.” Sidewinder shoved Sir Lionheart away. “This is now between us and the Troupe.”

“Mobsters! To me!” Marion called. 

Chuckles looked at Giggles, who was trembling. He then looked towards Demons office. Giggles realised what he was up to and nearly fainted.

“We have to do it.” He said, walking over to her.

“I know.” Giggles sighed. “Let's just make it quick.”

Chuckles nodded. As the cops began to force their way in and the Knights of the Last Order escaped, Chuckles and Giggles rushed to rescue the Mayor and get him home safely.

“I can't believe we're doing this.” Giggles shoved Demon towards his car.

“YOU can't?! I'm tempted to put in a lotto ticket for tonight, that's how shocked I am!” Demon unlocked the car and got in.

“We didn't do it for you, we did it for Pleasantville.” Chuckles warned him.

“Oh, of course.” Demon sneered. He drove off, leaving Chuckles and Giggles feeling exhausted.

“Why does it feel like we're constantly going one step forward, two steps backwards?” Chuckles asked.

“Because we are.” Giggles replied. “The whole system is geared towards keeping the status quo in check, and in order to fix it we need to play by its rules. It's impossible.”

“You know what ISN'T impossible though? A burrito at your Uncles restaurant.” Chuckles said.

“I hate burritos. Seafood pasta here I come!” Giggles felt better already.

They headed back to the tip as City Hall burned.

“By the way, what IS it with the chandeliers?”

“Well, most of the office drops some hard drugs before work anyway, but it's mostly that we all hate our jobs with a passion like no other. The chandeliers are a nice distraction.”

“That is pathetic.”

“Your face is pathetic!”

–

Daryl smiled as he saw his father drive off with Chuckles and Giggles. That would have been quite a blow to Demons ego! 

Meanwhile the battle raged inside and outside. The building was going to need repairs after this whole mess. Daryl watched from his car across the street, waiting for the lull in proceedings that he knew would come. 

In the meantime he wondered where Master Revolver was. Surely the leader of the Death Valley Gang would want his finger in this pie? Or were the rumours true that he'd lost his nerve? Anyway, he was another factor that Daryl knew he had to take into consideration.

He looked outside again. Now the factions were taking up defensive positions against each other, rather than outright fighting. Good. It meant the time was close. Daryl fixed up his mask and got out of the car (that he had “borrowed” from Crusader Roger). 

He marched to the battleground, no one paying attention to him. He walked around to the back entrance. His father hadn't taken his key off him – big mistake. He quietly and gently eased the door open. He slowly peeked in, his hand on the handgun in his belt in case there was a guard. There wasn't. He slipped in, keeping the door open behind him for a quick escape. He quickly and quietly made his way to his fathers office to hide – everyone had seen Chuckles and Giggles evacuate the Mayor, so no one would expect anyone to be in the office.

Now it was time to watch and wait. After seeing if his fathers liquor cabinet key was still in its hiding place. Yes, it was! Perfect!

–

 

Timothy Masters, better known as Master Revolver, sat at the end of the bed in the dark bedroom. He knew that he was pretty much alone in the building, the Mobsters of Misneach had gone off to support their beloved (if insane) mistress Mobster Marion. 

And they WERE Mobsters, every single one of them. All of them had forsaken the Death Valley Gang (which was a stupid name anyway. What was his great-grandfather THINKING when he named his vehicle for revenge). Now not even the Death Valley Mobsters remained. Had that been her plan all along? 

Revolver sighed. It was over. Instead of revenge they'd just become what they had been fighting against. Just like Damon and Pythias would have turned into if they had lived, and what Chuckles and Giggles would turn into as well. You couldn't fight the system without becoming part of it, and once you became part of it, well then it was very hard to get out.

He weighed the gun in his hand. It was heavy and solid. In his other hand was a glass of port. He finished the port in one quick gulp, then flicked the safety off the gun in his hand. It should have been the Lucky Seven Gun, but that was long gone now. He pointed the muzzle at his left temple. 

Suddenly there was a knock at the door. Snipes, the servant, had his phone and would sir like to take a call?

Revolver sighed again, and pressed the phone to his ear. It was just a lackey letting him know that disaster had stuck and that Mistress Marion was going mad. Would sir please come to assist?

“Can I get you another drink sir?” Snipes asked after Revolver had hung up the call.

Revolver responded by shooting him in the head. 

— 

The disaster in question?

The Haunted Maze Troupe had circled the building, putting the Mobsters of Misneach at a disadvantage. The Emerald Mobsters were equalled by the drugged up weapons of the Troupe, and were now in trouble.

“Damn, where are the backups?!” Mobster Marion hissed as she sliced another Trouper in two. 

“I wouldn't be surprised if the Crusaders were involved.” Sidewinder replied, firing out of a window. 

Daryl, who was listening in from his hiding place, grinned. The rest of the Crusaders were actually out terrorizing Fallsville, so the lost Mobsters had no excuse.

“Hang on, I see them!” One of the Mobsters called. “They're breaking through now!”

“Excellent!” Sidewinder grinned. She continued to provide cover fire for the Mobsters who were slowly getting through the Troupers, who were now confused and starting to lose the battle.

“Once they get here we'll go out for a full offensive. Back away from that window, let the flunkies do their job.” Marion called her sister back. All of the Troupers in the building had been slaughtered. There was time for a breather before starting the battle again, this time from a stronger position.

Daryl pulled out his gun and turned off the safety. 

“Hopefully we'll be finished here soon. Marcus will be going to bed in a few hours.” Sidewinder stretched her arms above her head. “I like being there for bedtime.”

“Don't babies sleep all the time anyway?” Marion asked, pulling a whetstone out of her pocket and running it along her sword. If she only had the Lions Claw Blade, she wouldn't have to worry about sharpening it…

“He's starting to be more curious about the world, so he's not sleeping as much. I swear he wants to get his hands on anything he can!” Sidewinder grinned with pride. “Of course most of the time he throws it away and then gets upset because he doesn't have it anymore. Just like his aunt.”

“Sod off before I skewer you.” Marion glared at her sister. They laughed. No matter what happened between them, they would always be sisters.

The pair were standing at the back of the main part of the building, while the rest of their Mobsters were around the perimetre making sure the reinforcements could get through. No Mobsters were close enough to protect them.

Daryl couldn't have planned it better. He shot out of his fathers office and tore towards Sidewinder!

Sidewinder saw him and grimaced. Random Crusaders?! She threw a pair of Emerald Daggers at him…and they just shattered against him!

“JUDY NO!” Marion cried, rushing to protect her sister. 

Daryl laughed. It was too late.

The bullet went right between Sidewinders eyes. Judith Jofrey died instantly.

“Roger WILL be pleased!” Daryl laughed behind his mask. He got out of there via the back door as the Mobster reinforcements arrived.

And that's when Mobster Marion lost the last of her sanity.

“I TOLD you dumping my Dad would
drive him up the wall!” Sunny laughed as she sat at the tip on a
chilly Saturday morning. At her feet, Melody was smacking a tennis
ball with a plastic cricket bat. “You are so cute!” Sunny
couldn't help but coo over her daughter.

“He went bright red, then pale, then
said “Fine” and signed the bill.” Belle grinned, sitting on an
old sofa. “Still felt sick afterwards, just being close to him
makes me feel ick.”

“While that's nice and all, can we
please get on with it?” Daniel said, holding his replica Dragon
Scale Scythe. Since Marcus had been born, Daniel had become his old
bossy self.

“Yeah, it's go time!” Sammy swung
his nun-chucks around. Charlie, who was sitting on a fridge, noticed
that Sammy tended to agree with Daniel a lot recently.

“We're having a CONVERSATION,
training can wait.” Sunny said.

“We're the DEFENDERS OF THE CITY,
training CAN'T wait. This isn't your fast bowling.” Daniel frowned
at her.

“WHAT was that?!” Sunny was
suddenly up on her feet.

“Your over rate makes the
International Cricket Authority's wallets wish you were an actual
cricketer.” Daniel fired.

“I'm so glad we're all friends
again!” Belle smiled as Sunny punched Daniel with all the force she
could muster.

“I know, now I can go back to ratting
on your economy.” Charlie smiled back.

“THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH MY
ECONOMY!”

—

“Stupid Charlie and his stupid
batting average and there's nothing wrong with my economy!” Belle
continued to sulk the next day at work.

“Hey Belle. Oooooh, that shiner looks
like it hurt!” Harriet from Community Services said as they stood
at the water cooler.

“Not as much as what I did.” Belle
grinned.

“Which was?”

“Quoted back his past four cricket
scores at him.”

“Oh Belle you are NAUGHTY!” Harriet
giggled. “By the way, have you seen Judith around?”

“Not today, she probably has to take
Marcus to the doctor or something.” Belle replied, sipping her
water.

“How is Marcus doing? I hope she
brings him in one day.” Harriet asked. “Counsellor Barry bought
his little girl in yesterday, she was telling me all about her
gymnastics medal.”

“Kids are so adorable, aren't they?”
Belle smiled. “Marcus is doing fine for a premmie. According to his
father his lungs definitely aren't premature!”

The two chuckled. Then Harriets phone
rang.

“Let me just get this.” Harriet
answered the call. “Hello? Yes! Absolutely!”

Belle checked her own phone and
continued to sip water.

“Will do! Thank you!” Harriet
finished the call. She turned to Belle. “The only reason I'm
telling you this is because I like you – GO HOME NOW.”

“Why?” Asked Belle, but Harriet was
already heading back to her desk. Belle shrugged. She went back to
her desk, sent an email to Judith saying she was heading off for the
day, and headed for Bills restaurant.

“Hey Belle. Aren't you supposed to be
at work?” Bill asked as Belle walked in.

“Hey Belle! I was picking up lunch
for the guys at work, you want something?” Charlie asked.

“No thanks Charlie. Harriet from
Community Services got a call while we were talking at the water
cooler. She then advised I should get out of there.” Belle shrugged
as she sat down.

“Harriet?” Charlie asked.

“Yeah, really nice. Would be a friend
if she hadn't been an ex-Mobster.” Belle poured herself some water
from the jug that sat on the table.

Charlie froze. Belles eye started
twitching.

“Mobster Marion has been pretty spry
since Marcus was born…do you think she's going to try something?”
Charlie asked.

“My stuff is at home. I'll meet you
at the tip.” Belle downed her glass of water and got up. “See if
you can't get onto a few of the Knights.”

“Will do.” Charlie agreed. “I'll
have to drop this all off at work first. Never get on the wrong side
of hungry blacksmiths.”

“I'll keep that in mind.” Bill
smiled as the pair bolted.

—

Harriet had been wise to tell Belle to
escape. Sure enough, the Mobsters of Misneach still had plenty of
loyalists in the Council ranks. So when Harriet got the call from her
former lieutenant, they were all ready to storm City Hall from the
inside.

“Of course they would!” Demon
barricaded himself in his office. He ran to his phone, and put the
call in to Haiter. “Get your cops here NOW, and get your Troupe
here as well!” He barked into the phone. He then slammed it down
into its cradle. Damn! How had Marion kept her spies in the Council?!
They all should have changed allegiance to the Haunted Maze Troupe!
Especially as Marion had gone crazy.

He peeked out of the peephole in his
door. Several of the Haunted Maze Troupe plants in the office had
started fighting back. Two of them had stationed themselves in front
of his door. Demon gritted his teeth. He knew full well that those
Troupers weren't protecting him.

—

Meanwhile, the Masked Crusader had made
his way to Pleasantville. It hadn't been too hard to find out that
Judith Jofrey was out of hospital, especially as his mother had told
him all about how his father had spent a full hour in Judiths office
when she got back – was he sleeping with her again?

Daryl really didn't give a toss either
way if the baby was his sibling or not. He just knew that if he went
in as an unidentifiable Crusader and killed Judith, then Marion
wouldn't give two hoots about getting the right Crusader – she
would do him a huge favour and get rid of Crusader Roger.

So Daryl had made his way into the city
to make his kill – the only thing he hadn't counted on was Marion
and Sidewinder coming in to take the Council back for the Mob.

So instead of going in, he watched,
knowing that Chuckles and Giggles would be arriving soon.

Sure enough, they arrived, bringing Sir
Lionheart, Sir Hyper and Lady Silent with them.

“Gets me out of marking. Man I hate
school holidays.” Sir Hyper had pointed out when the others had
asked how he could be attending a fight in the middle of the work
day.

“Now, this is going to be a very
tense situation. It's basically Mob vs Troupe. We have to be CHUCKLES
GET BACK HERE NOW!” Giggles cried as Chuckles merely walked into
the building.

“Please tell me this is a JOKE. IT'S
A CHANDELIER!” Chuckles cried as he surveyed the scene in front of
him. A new chandelier to replace the one that Giggles had so
callously destroyed was being installed just as the Mob had attacked.
Now the Troupe had the chandelier surrounded and were threatening to
destroy it.

“This isn't going to end well is it?”
Lady Silent asked her brother as Chuckles and Giggles rushed in
between the warring factions, Sir Lionheart on their heels.

“There'll be tears.” Sir Hyper
agreed.

“Okay, okay, break it up you lot.”
Chuckles pulled out the Lions Claw Blade. “There's no need for
this, you all have citizens to serve.”

“Stay out of this you…sword-thief.”
Mobster Marion stepped forward.

“Razor-sharp wit there.” Giggles
said, hand on the Lucky Seven Gun, ready to draw if anything went
wrong.

“We're here to take back what ours.”
Sidewinder said. “Especially as the Haunted Maze Troupe rightly and
royally stuffed up letting a Chamber of Commerce be formed.”

A drug-laded dagger came flying out of
no where towards Sidewinder, who used the Emerald Suit to block it.

“Rude.” Giggles frowned at the
Trouper who threw it, who she suspected was Terry from Public
Relations.

“Look, can't you all just get back to
work?” Chuckles groaned.

“This IS work!” Lisa from Amenities
yelled.

“Noooo, you should be serving the
public and making life better for the citizens you serve!” Giggles
yelled.

Everyone laughed.

“I hate you all.” Giggles grumbled.

“Look, Sidewinder, give this up or
I'll tell everyone.” Sir Lionheart warned.

“Tell us what?” Giggles asked.

“You wouldn't dare!” Sidewinder
went white.

“Come on, the Troupe have our
chandelier, we need to get it back!” Luke from Accounting cried.

“We'll handle the chandelier. Sir
Lionheart will handle the Mob.” Chuckles said. Giggles followed him
to where the Troupers had surrounded the chandelier.

“You know there's a quick way to sort
this out, right?” Giggles said.

“You wouldn't.” One of the Troupers
said, sounding suspiciously like Tessa from Gardens and Parks.

“I've done it before.” Giggles
aimed the Lucky Seven Gun at the chandelier. The Troupers looked at
each other, panicked.

“Okay you win we'll leave it alone!”
Another Trouper who sounded like Bailey from HR cried.

“This workplace is pathetic.”
Chuckles groaned as the Troupers scattered.

“I'm warning you two, I will let
everyone know the truth.” Sir Lionheart was still debating with
Marion and Sidewinder.

“Again, you're bluffing.”
Sidewinder glared at him. When he got home that evening she was going
to have some very stern words with the father of her son!

“No. I'm not.” Sir Lionheart took a
deep breath. “I know for a fact that you two, and your father, and
all your ancestors…you're not natural blondes.”

Marion screeched with fury and swung
her sword at Sir Lionheart while Sidewinder groaned and wondered why
her life turned out like this.

“And THAT will stop businesses from
being able to bully people into taking down bad reviews or
complaints.” Charlie grinned as he signed off on another policy. It
was a few weeks after Judith and Marcus had returned safely home from
hospital, and Charlie was well into making sure the Chamber of
Commerce did what it needed to do.

“Only if Arnold agrees to it.”
Eugenia Wallow pointed out drily. “This particular policy dips over
into Pleasantville law, and you KNOW he's got the Haunted Maze Troupe
in his pocket.”

“For now.” Charlie replied. “I'm
pretty sure we'll get this one through though.”

“I hope you're right.” Eugenia
sighed. “Certain businesses have been using connections with the
criminal underworld to threaten and extort customers long enough.”

“Anyway, I need to go to City Hall
anyway to pick up Belle, I'll take the paperwork with me and drop if
off. Anything else we need to take?” Charlie asked, putting all
their hard work into an envelope and sealing it tightly.

“That should be all for today.
Nothing that can't wait until next week.” Eugenia yawned.

“You sound ready for bed.” Charlie
laughed.

“I wish, but alas my oldest needs to
be picked up from Ozzie Rules training, the youngest needs picking up
from dance class, and the middle child is probably fighting with his
father as we speak. Then there's dinner with the
in-laws…bllaaaahhhh!” Eugenia groaned.

“Middle child and husband still not
getting along huh?” Charlie asked sympathetically.

“It's a tweenage rebellion type
thing.” Eugenia shrugged. “What's going on with you and Masters
anyway?”

“We've been best friends since we
were kids.” Charlie shrugged.

Eugenia raised an eyebrow.

—

“Seriously Belle, I can't thank you
enough for all your hard…that should have gone in THAT pile…I
can't thank you enough for all your hard work while I was…that
should have been done by now…while I was pregnant.” Judith
couldn't help inserting some criticism into her thanks to Belle as
she looked around her office on her first day back to work. “You
really should have dusted the windowsill, and did you remember to
water the plants?”

“Yes, I did.” Belle gritted her
teeth.

“Yes, well, it WAS a relief to know
my work was taken care of, although you probably should have used
blue ink on this letter…it made coming back to work SO much
easier…these should have been in plastic folders, it would have
protected them better…”

“I did my best.” Belle replied,
with a slight edge to her voice. Judith might be the mother of
Daniels child, but she was still the worst boss ever!

“Yes, I'm sure you did. Anyway, you
can go now. Thank you again!” Judith shoved Belle out of the
office, making the young Masters feel very much annoyed. How rude!

Just then, the beloved Mayor of
Pleasantville walked past. Belle sneered at the door before she
walked back to her desk, brushing past Demon.

“You look a little harassed today
Miss Masters.” Demon said smoothly.

“Nunya.” Belle snapped back.

“Now now Miss Masters, that's no way
to speak to your boss.” Demon smiled at her.

“Technically Judith is my boss,
you're her boss.” Belle muttered under her breath, sitting down in
front of her computer.

“You need to relax more. Tell you
what, how about we do lunch tomorrow?” Demon leaned over Belles
desk, making her feel EXTREMELY uncomfortable.

“Charlie is picking me up, I need to
go.” Belle quickly packed her things into her bag and rushed to
meet Charlie, who had thankfully just walked in.

“Give me a second Belle, I gotta give
this to Mr. Jones.” Charlie told her. Belle groaned.

It took Charlie fifteen minutes to talk
Mr. Jones around to at least considering the proposal, but eventually
he came out. “Fingers crossed he actually signs it.”

“I hope he does.” Belle said as the
pair walked out to Charlies ute.

“You right mate?” Charlie asked as
they approached the ute.

“No. Demon keeps hitting on me.”
Belle shivered as Charlie unlocked the ute and they got in.

“Ewwwww!” Was Charlies reply. “That
is SO icky!”

“I KNOW!” Belle replied.

They spent the rest of the trip back
home complaining about how disgusting Demon Jones is.

—

“Yeah, Mum and Dad are having extreme
marriage issues. Mum's been sleeping with everything she can pay to
get into bed with her, and Dad is furious.” Sunny told them that
night as they ate dinner together around the Begly table. “Of
course, Dad can't talk, he's been sleeping around since before I was
born.”

“Might be a way to get in and make
some changes.” Judith pointed out.

Nearly half the table spat out their
dinners.

“You want Belle to stoop to seducing
Demon for power?!” Lara cried.

“Why not? I did.” Judith took
another spoonful of beans. “Slept with Jones to get ahead on a few
business deals.”

Daniel looked at her, horrified.

“Dad's idea. It was just after he
murdered Uncle Hector, so before I inherited the businesses, I got in
with Jones to make sure he didn't come after them.” Judith
explained.

“The same father we named our son
after?!” Daniel squeaked, hugging Marcus a little closer.

“I dunno, I think if you could get in
with my Dad and then dump him, that would mess him up.” Sunny said
with an evil gleam in her eye.

“You definitely got your fathers
genetic material.” Belle said drily, earning a dirty look from
Sunny.

“We've all had to make sacrifices and
do things that go against our beliefs for the greater good.” TJ
pointed out. Charlie couldn't help but notice Daniel flinch slightly.

“Good point.” Peter sipped his
beer.

“PETER!” Lara looked at her husband
in horror.

“I can't believe we're talking about
this at the dinnertable!” Betty groaned.

“We could be talking about the
cricket.” Thomas pointed out.

Suddenly every Knight at the table shot
each other a filthy look.

“Back to Belle seducing Demon.”
Betty quickly changed her mind!

—

The next day, Belle spent the whole day
feeling extremely ill. Especially when she overheard Demon scoffing
at Charlies proposal for more consumer protection from being
threatened.

“Why would I sign this? How does that
idiot think I've stayed in business for so long?” Demon laughed
with a few of his lackeys at the water cooler.

She didn't want to. The thought of
Demon Jones made her skin crawl and her stomach turn. She wouldn't,
she couldn't, she…

She had to. Not just for Charlie, but
for every person in Pleasantville who had been bullied into silence
by the Death Valley Gang, the Mob and the Haunted Maze Troupe. She
had to stop businesses from threatening people who just wanted to go
home without being ripped off. She could stop people losing money and
sleep. All she had to do…

So when Demon invited her into his
office, she took in a deep breath and accepted. She felt like she was
walking to her own execution.

—

Charlie had been having a good day that
day. At work, he and his team had managed to have a huge breakthrough
with one of their new designs for streamlining metal parts
construction, and now it was a matter of getting things built in
order to maximise production. It meant that repairs to farm machinery
could be expedited, meaning damaged machinery wouldn't impact
harvests nearly as much. Everyone was going to win out of this!

He decided to walk home that afternoon,
taking in the sights and sounds of the city that was now much safer
than it had ever been when Charlie was a child. Maybe soon he'd be
able to retire Chuckles, putting his swords away and never having to
worry about protecting the city again.

He continued along the street towards
home, the air getting chilly as winter started to settle in.

“Hey Belle…Belle, are you okay?”
Charlie asked as he walked past Belle sitting under the old tree.
“You look like you're ready to spew.”

“I got your proposal through.”
Belle told him, looking pale. “And now I want to throw up.”

Charlie looked horrified. “You
DIDN'T!”

“No, I didn't.” Belle looked
equally horrified. “I threatened him with a sexual harassment
suit.”

“Ohhhhh…that's cool.” Charlie
breathed a sigh of relief.

Daniel couldn't breathe. He was sitting
with Sammy and TJ, waiting to see if his girlfriend and their child
would survive.

“We brought coffee.” Belle and
Charlie walked in. Belle handed Daniel a coffee and sat next to him.

“You gonna sit down?” Sammy asked
Charlie, who shook his head.

“How did arresting Marion go?”
Charlie asked TJ.

“Well, Haiter was definitely enthused
about doing it.” TJ replied. “I don't know if the Troupe still
consider the Mob a threat or not, probably just Haiter being his
usual hateful self.”

“She'll be out by next week, count on
it.” Sammy sighed. “She knows things about Demon and Haiter that
could bring them down.”

“Courtesy of being Judiths sister.”
Belle said.

“Actually, we've been chatting while
Judy's been having tests and stuff. She's actually really nice when
she's not being the leader of the Mob.” Sammy said. “I might have
let a few things slip accidentally.”

The others stared at him, dumbfounded.

“Hey.” Petunia nudged open the door
with her arm. “Just letting you know things are stable for now, but
the baby is coming and coming fast. We can't stop it.”

“Will they live?” Daniel asked.
“Will my baby live?”

“We don't know.” Petunia said,
looking tired and upset.

“For Globs sake, you useless WHOA!”
Daniel had gotten up and was heading towards Petunia, but was stopped
by the Lions Claw Blade.

“So THAT'S why you wouldn't sit
down.” Sammy mused.

“Sit down Dan. You know full well
that the staff here are doing everything they can to keep Judith and
the baby alive. You know they're not miracle workers. I suggest you
get over yourself before I make you.” Charlie said evenly.

“Well that escalated quickly.”
Belle sipped her coffee.

“I don't think it did. I think it's
been escalating since Judith got into hospital.” TJ said, standing
up. He turned to Daniel. “Mate, we've been nothing but supportive,
but you've treated us like we're the reason everything has gone
wrong.”

Aren't you though?
Daniel thought. He thought back to all the times that they could have
outright killed Marion, Revolver, Roger, Daryl, Demon…all of them.
He thought about how easy life would be if they had.

And killing was SO
easy…

“Please,
we're all on the same side here. We want you to be happy, we want
Judith to live and we want your baby to be okay.” TJ continued.
“Please, believe us and stop treating us like we're the enemy.”

“You sure you're
not the enemy? You've got a sword to my face.” Daniel pointed out.

“And you're not
supposed to have it in my hospital.” Petunia frowned.

“Are you going to
stop being a butt or not?” Charlie asked impatiently.

Everyone looked at
Charlie.

“Yes, I know I'm
the butt right now, but Dan has been a butt longer than me.”
Charlie snapped.

“Fine, I'll sit
down and not say a word shall I?” Daniel slumped into a chair
grumpily.

“Better than
being snarky.” Charlie sheathed the Lions Claw Blade.

“Wouldn't it have
been easier to bring your daggers instead of shoving that thing under
your clothes? It's gotta be uncomfortable.” Sammy asked.

“But it wouldn't
have been as classic.” Charlie grinned.

“We're leaving.”
Belle dragged Charlie out by his collar. “REALLY Charles, you
couldn't help yourself could you?”

“I had my
reasons!” Charlie argued back, his voice fading as Belle hauled him
away.

Daniel stiffened.
Charlie couldn't know. There was no way Charlie could know…

Could he?

—

Sure enough, not
even 24 hours later Marion was back at the hospital looking frazzled.

“Hey Marion. You
okay?” Tammy asked, sitting near the water cooler that had been put
near Judiths room.

“I've just been
in gaol overnight and now my sister is giving birth!” Marion
snapped.

“Yeah, I'd be
pretty pissy too. Water?” Tammy offered her a drink. Marion
accepted it wordlessly.

“I'd be careful
going to the waiting room. Dan's not biting our heads off anymore but
he's still being cold.” Tammy warned Marion as the older woman
sipped her drink.

“Oh stuff him.
It's Judy I'm worried about.” Marion sighed. “Do you think
they're going to be okay?”

“Well, 'Tuney is
looking after them, and she says it's 60-40 in favour of them both
surviving.” Tammy said.

“So they'll be
perfectly fine then.” Marion grinned. “Judy's faced worse odds
before and won, easily.”

Tammy couldn't help
but smile. Marion really WAS likeable when you took away the Mob.
“Well, you've made me feel better.” She admitted.

“Good. Now let's
deal with Danny Daddy-o. See if we can't get him to wise up.”
Marion smiled back.

Tammy followed
Marion into the waiting room, wondering which one would be more
dangerous if things went wrong – Daniel or Marion?

—

Thankfully, a few
hours later, it turned out everything was okay.

“IT'S A BOY!”
Daniel came running out of Judith's room, looking rapt and nearly
taking out Sammy.

“And Judith?!”
Marion asked.

“She's tired, but
all okay. They'll have to stay here for a few more weeks, but Marcus
is in surprisingly good health considering how premature he is.”
Daniel's face hurt with all the grinning, but he couldn't turn it
off.

“Marcus?” TJ
asked.

“That's his name.
After her father.” Daniel looked at Marion, who started crying
silently. “She wants to see you Marion. She wants you to meet your
nephew.”

Marion nodded, and
went to see her sister. Daniel sat down, looking exhausted and
excited.

“Congrats mate!”
He wasn't allowed to be exhausted for long, not with TJ and Sammy
mobbing him with hugs and kisses. Tammy cheered and started running
laps around the room in excitement, only stopping to help Petunia sit
down when she finally emerged from the delivery room, also exhausted.

“It's almost like
old times again, isn't it?” Petunia smiled, leaning back into her
chair. “Just the five of us against the world.”

Daniel looked
around. He was surrounded by his old playmates, who had stuck by him
since they were children.

“I guess I owe
you guys a huge apology…and a steak dinner…and ice cream…okay
I'm not made of money!” He laughed at the greedy stares he was
getting.

Inside his
humicrib, Marcus looked around at his new life. His mother and aunt
smiled down on him.

Back at Sunnys
place, Melodys fever finally broke, and she started to sleep
naturally. Outside, Belle was chasing Charlie, who had stolen her
Highly Mega Ultra Super Advanced Dictionary First Class.

All was well in the
world. For now.

“This past few weeks has almost been
perfect.” Belle sighed as the leaves of the old gum tree left
shadows across her face. “Ever since you established the Chamber of
Commerce life in Pleasantville has gotten better for everyone.”

“Except Dan.” Charlie grimaced. “I
give it another month before he storms out of the Knights of the Last
Order again.”

“It'll be fine, once the baby is born
he'll get over it.” Belle reassured her friend.

It had been several weeks now since the
first victory over Demon with the Chamber of Commerce. Everything was
going smoothly – except Sir Lionheart and his abrasive attitude.

“I hope you're right – for the
baby's sake.” Charlie chuckled. Belle swatted him.

“How long until they admit it?”
Peter put the curtain back and returned to his book, sitting in his
comfy chair in the Masters lounge room.

“As long as it takes.” Lara
shrugged, lying on the lounge.

“Anyway, the baby is only a month or
two away. What's the worst that can happen?” Belle sighed as a cold
breeze began to pick up.

—

Naturally, the next time Belle and
Charlie went to the hospital, they walked into the iciest silence
anyone had ever encountered.

“I think I might wait outside, it's
warmer out there and it's negative six out there!” Charlie yelped.
“Are you guys STILL fighting?!”

“Dan is now refusing to speak to any
of us.” TJ told him. “Which doesn't bode well since he's our
leader.”

“Honestly, I wish he'd stayed away.”
Sammy said. “At least until he'd gotten his head together.”

“It's his first child and a
complicated pregnancy.” Belle pointed out.

“I know, but even Judith is getting
tired of him.” TJ said.

Sure enough, Judith chose that moment
to kick the father of her child out of the room.

“I can't BELIEVE this!” Daniel
cried angrily. “Oh, hi you two.”

“G'day Dan. Having a rough time?”
Charlie tried to be sympathetic.

“Well THIS lot aren't helping!”
Daniel snapped, turning to TJ and Sammy who were glaring at him.

“Well if SOMEONE would just pull his
head out of his arse and realise he's not the only person in the
Universe with problems then we'd be fine!” TJ shot back.

“Well MY problems are the most
pressing right now!” Daniel snapped.

“Sunny still can't get a job, and
Melody has gastro at the moment. Petunia is suffering from extreme
overwork and is showing signs of falling apart. I think those are
pretty pressing problems.” Sammy said evenly.

“Oooh, gastro, that's SO dangerous.”
Daniel snapped.

“For a three year old, it can be.”
Sammy told him. “Besides, if she came here and brought the gastro
with her, she could put your baby in danger. So she's staying away.”

“Whatever.” Daniel said, although
he was starting to look guilty. He stormed off to get himself some
coffee.

“I don't understand. He used to be
such a great leader, always putting us first.” TJ sat down.

“Something's changed, and I don't
think it's just the baby either.” Sammy thought out loud.

Charlie blanched.

—

Daniel sat quietly in the café
downstairs. Inside, he was churning up with guilt, anger, fear and
exhaustion.

His first baby, and both they and his
beloved girlfriend were in danger. Was this his fault, the Universe
paying him out for murdering Wallace Dingbat? Was it punishment for
being a bad leader of the Noble Knights of the Last Order?

He stared at his coffee, the smell
making him nauseous. Everything was happening all at once, churning
him up and wearing him out. He was irritable, moody and didn't want
to be. Especially not to the friends who were backing him up.

But would they continue to back him up
if they knew the truth?

—

“NO NO NO NO NO NO NO!” Giggles
cried, chasing after Mobster Marion who was driving away with a sack
full of jewellery.

“Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, YES!”
Marion laughed. She was a lot more daring again now that Judith was
in hospital.

“I don't object to you having pretty
things, but you need to pay for them!” Giggles landed on the roof
of the speeding car.

“NEVER!” Marion cried.

“Look, I really don't want to shoot
out the tyres of this really, really nice car you have…especially
as I don't think it's yours.” Giggles tried. “Can't you please
turn around?”

Marion thought about it for a second.
Suddenly the Lions Claw Blade was stuck out from behind a bin,
hitting the front tyre of the car and spinning it out!

“I NEARLY HAD HER CONVINCED YOU
IMPATIENT PERSON!” Giggles roared at Chuckles, who shrugged.

“I SPENT $5000 ON THESE TYRES!”
Marion screamed in fury as she got out of the car.

“You got ripped off.” Chuckles
pointed out.

“REALLY ripped off.” Giggles added.

“I mean you got EXTREMELY ripped
off.”

“Mega-ripped off.”

“Ripped off and Ripped off 2.”

“All the ripped off and then some.”

“I GET IT!” Marion screamed.

“Oh lookie, the policeman is here!”
Chuckles saw TJ approaching. “We'll see you next time!”

“Great. Just great.” Marion sulked
as Chuckles and Giggles left. “Hey TJ. Have you seen Judy today?”

“Yeah, I was at the hospital this
morning picking Petunia up.” TJ handcuffed Marion and took her to
the police car. “Judy looks fine, the baby is fine too. A few more
weeks and it'll be safe to give birth.”

“I do thank your wife for looking
after my sister.” Marion ducked her head as she got into the car.

“She does her best.” TJ replied.

—

“On one hand, it's great that Marions
mental health is starting to improve. On the downside, I really don't
want to have to keep chasing her away from every shiny thing in
Pleasantville.” Charlie took off his coat back at the tip.

“She's in better shape than Dan. I
can't wait for the baby to be born.” Belle stretched her arms out
over her head. “How's the COC going?”

“Great, we've established a solid
dispute resolution process for both customers and businesses. Means
we can look at every case on its merits and make sure everyone is
protected.” Charlie said proudly. “How's Demon behaving?”

“The usual. Leering, hints, snide
remarks…he needs to remember he's a married man.” Belle replied
as Peter Masters drove up.

“You two going back to the hospital?”
Peter asked.

“Nah, I need to get home and have a
shower and finish off some paperwork.” Belle said. “Plus I need a
lot of sleep.”

“Makes two of us.” Charlie agreed.

“Ah to be young and busy.” Peter
chuckled.

Then Belle's phone went off.

“Hello? Oh no! DAD! We gotta get to
the hospital, the baby is coming and it's not good!” Belle cried.
“That was Sammy, we gotta step on it!”

“I'm on it!” Peter sped up and
headed towards the hospital.

“I just hope everything is okay. I
don't think it'd take much to push Dan to do something he'd regret.”
Belle worried as the streets flew past.

Charlie didn't say a word.

 “The world is is illuminated by the
sun, heading towards a shining tomorrow, nah nah nah nah nah nah nah
nah nah!” Belle and Charlie sang as they entered the hospital
waiting room where the others were waiting. Webster followed behind
them, amused.

“We just saw the news! Oh Charlie you
did it!” Tammy rushed up and hugged Charlie tightly, followed
closely by Sunny, Sammy and TJ. A loud snore came from Petunia in the
corner.

“Wow, out like a light. Is she
overworking herself?” Belle walked over to Petunia and made sure
she was covered well by TJs jacket.

“Since the fight with Dan, she's been
working longer.” TJ replied bitterly. “I swear if he weren't my
best friend I'd kill him.”

“He IS under a lot of pressure
though. His girlfriend and his baby are in danger.” Webster pointed
out.

“I don't see how that's our fault!”
TJ pointed out. “At least ONE of us is always here in case anything
goes wrong, we even take shifts overnight, because we want to protect
Judith, and that's just not enough for him! He wants Petunia to work
for free too!”

“Fear makes people unreasonable. I've
been plenty unreasonable myself.” Webster said calmly. “I'm
always scared of losing Maddy and Tate just like I lost my best
friend. That fear has made me do stupid things.”

“Plus putting up with a bunch of kids
in superhero costumes tried your patience.” Belle pointed out.
Tammy bopped her on the head. “Owch!”

“Anyway, I'm gonna head back home to
Brisvegas. Being here in Pleasantville makes me edgy.” Webster
shuddered. “Please look after each other. We're now closer than
ever towards cleaning up not just this city, but the whole country.”

“Uh, yikes much?” Charlie asked as
Webster left.

—

The changes soon came rapidly. One of
the first things Charlie did was make sure that Sammy and Tammys
parents could finally own the shop they had been managing for years.

“You want to let THEM own a shop?”
Haiter looked at the paper work dismissively. He was still livid that
he had lost his power.

“And what, pray tell, is wrong with
THEM?” Charlie snatched back the paper work. They were standing in
the new Chamber of Commerce office, that was in Pleasantville
Shopping Mall.

“You've seen them. Bloody monkeys.”
Haiter scoffed.

“I'd watch it Haiter.” Eugenia said
drily as she took the paper work from Charlie and put it away. “My
father was a 'monkey' as you put it, and he was one of the reasons
this very building is standing.”

Haiter bristled, before leaving in a
huff. Eugenia scowled after him.

“He's a jerk.” Charlie shook his
head.

“A powerful jerk. I don't know how
you got him to budge, but you've made an enemy who could very well be
the end of you.” Eugenia warned the young man as he gathered up his
work and prepared to head back to the metalworks. “Be careful.”

“I'm always careful.” Charlie
grinned, before heading back to his own business, which was now
thriving again.

Later that day, he handed Sammy, Tammy
and their family the news of their new business. Tammy ran laps
around the her parents house in glee, while Sammy stood looking at
Charlie with tears of happiness in his eyes.

—

“Do we risk going back to the hotel
to get our paperwork?” Harold asked as he and Lady sat in their
car, which was hidden in a back alley.

“We need our birth certificates at
least, and our passports.” Lady told him. “I don't know why we
brought them with us.”

“Because we couldn't leave them in
the house, they'd have been swiped within an hour after we'd left!”
Harold snapped at her. “Damn that brat and her friends! She's
pretty much killed us.”

“Don't say that!” Lady cried. “Oh
glob, I don't know anymore, we're doomed, we're so utterly doomed, I
doubt we'll even get out of the city alive…”

“We just have to do the best we can
until we can get out of the city and out of the country.” Harold
tried to control his breathing. “We'll go to the Great Nations.
They're so war-torn right now that we'll be able to slip under the
radar very easily. Start a new life.”

“And to do that we need to go back to
the hotel and get our paperwork!” Lady shrieked.

“Will you calm down?!” Harold
hissed.

Suddenly something heavy landed on the
car…and something wearing blue slid down the bonnet and landed on
the ground.

“YOU DROPPED ME AGAIN!”

“IF YOU HAD JUST STAYED STILL WE
WOULD HAVE LANDED FINE!”

“Chuckles and Giggles! What do you
two want?!” Harold got out of the car.

“Belle contacted us. Here's your
stuff from the hotel.” Giggles handed him a small suitcase.

“That worthless piece of trash!
What's she playing at?!” Harold snatched the suitcase and went
through it. Sure enough, everything they owned was safe, including
passports.

“You're still her grand-parents.”
Giggles said quietly. “Even if you are criminal scum.”

“Get out of Pleasantville and stay
out. You will never be welcome here again.” Chuckles added.

“Can we even get out of Pleasantville
safely?” Lady asked.

“You'll have to escape up north
through Pleasant Gorge. Then you can double-back along the coast to
Brisvegas. From there, you can do what you like.” Chuckles told
them. “The Noble Knights of the Last Order have secured the gorge.
We'll get you to there.”

Harold glared at the pair while Lady
started sobbing. “She was supposed to be ours. She was supposed to
make us the top clan in the Haunted Maze Troupe.”

“Well, you should have tried to be in
her life when she was younger.” Giggles snapped.

“We couldn't! Her father stopped us!”
Lady sobbed.

“You could have.” Giggles glared at
her grand-parents. Their blood flowed through her veins too, more's
the pity.

Harold and Lady we subdued as they
drove out of the city, Chuckles and Giggles keeping a close eye on
them. Along the way, they saw their old friends from the Haunted Maze
Troupe glaring at them from the shadows, but not daring to step in
against the two vigilantes.

Harold and Lady weren't worth the
annoyance.

Finally, they made it past Pleasant
Gorge and on the road out of Pleasantville. If they headed west, they
would have gone to Fallsville, which Giggles advised them was a bad
idea.

“Head east. Don't stop in Oaksville.
Just keep driving until you hit the coast, then go straight down to
Brisvegas. You might need to stop for fuel, wait until you're out of
the council area first.” She told them.

“Thank you.” Harold said shortly.

“Please…tell Belle we're sorry.”
Lady almost whispered.

“I'll tell her nothing.” Giggles
snapped. “Now sod off.”

Harold and Lady drove off. Giggles
watched until they disappeared over the horizon, and then she took
Chuckles back to Pleasantville.

To finish off the tale of Harold and
Lady, they made it out of Ostraya safely and went to live in a little
village in the snowy north of the Great Nations. Harold became a
great fisherman and Lady made a living as a tour guide. They never
spoke of or to their grand-daughter again.

Haiter was feeling very smug as he
walked past Charlie and Webster, who were waiting outside the court
room.

“Hello Andrew.” Charlie said
smoothly.

“Begly.” Haiter made to push past,
but Webster, with the gleam of Sir Hedgehog in his eyes, put a hand
on his shoulder.

“You might want to see what we have.”
Sir Hedgehog smirked. Haiter sighed, and smiled as Charlie pulled out
his phone.

Charlie grinned as Haiters face
contorted into rage. “That…those…they're…!” He spluttered.

“And we have it saved in plenty of
places.” Sir Hedgehog told him. “Imagine if this got out.”

“How did you get them to talk?!”
Haiter was furious. The video was of Harold and Lady telling Belle
about how Haiter was a Trouper!

“Belle is their grand-daughter.
They've been trying to get her to join up for months.” Charlie
chuckled. “So, I suggest you change your mind about our little
Chamber, or else you and Demon will have a lot of explaining to do.”

“And after what happened last week, I
don't think you're all that popular at the moment anyway.” Sir
Hedgehog added. “Wouldn't take much to have the entire city
demanding Demon fire you. And as much as he likes to think his power
is absolute, he knows damned well he needs public favour.”

Haiter was so furious he couldn't
speak. Only moments before he'd been bragging to the Mayor and now
he'd been brought down HARD.

Charlie watched him, satisfied. If
Haiter was on-board, then all he needed to do was win the election.

“F-fine.” Haiter spat. “But you
WILL pay for this, just see if you don't!”

“I think I'll take that chance.”
Sir Hedgehog patted his briefcase. Haiter swallowed hard. What was in
that briefcase? What did this little upshot lawyer know?

He snarled at the pair, and stormed
back inside the courtroom. Charlie grinned at Sir Hedgehog, who
smirked back.

“Nice work Sir Hedgehog.” Charlie
said.

“Shhh. I'm only Webster, remember? I
left the Last Order.” Was the reply. Charlie silently disagreed.
Webster might not have been much of a combatant, but he was still a
Noble Knight of the Last Order who was doing his part.

—

Belle felt rather dirty as she sat back
down in the court room gallery. It was time to see if her work had
paid off.

“Andrew Haiter, do you still object
to the implementation of a Chamber of Commerce or shall we proceed
with the debate?” Judge Constance Dougherty asked.

Haiter looked ready to kill.

“I've considered the motion, and I
withdraw my objection.” He said through gritted teeth. Demon shot
him a look of confusion, but said nothing. If Haiter was going to
play ball, Demon wasn't going to look a gift horse in the mouth!

“Very well. Then with no objections,
the establishment of the Pleasantville Chamber of Commerce will
proceed.” Constance declared. Charlie saw Belle in the gallery and
shot her a grin – not quite a triumphant one just yet, the battle
was only half won!

Belle felt a little bit better. Not
much though, talking to her grand-parents usually made her feel icky.

“Now, for this establishment, we need
to have a committee, that consists of a secretary, treasurer,
vice-president and president. The president and vice-president are
elected, the others can be nominated members of the public selected
by the president and vice-president.” Constance rambled on. And on.
Soon Charlie was starting to zone out again. Belle watched him and
was silently betting he was going to start drooling.

“Now, for our nominations.”
Constance finally said. Charlie snapped to attention immediately,
wiping the drool from his mouth.

“Can those who wish to nominate for
the position of president please step forward in an orderly fashion?”
Constance said. “Remember you must have been a business owner in
Pleasantville for the past 18 months in order to qualify, and must
have plans to continue business within the next three years.”

“Good luck Chuckles.” Webster
whispered as Charlie stood up.

“Thanks Sir Hedgehog.” Charlie
whispered back. He straightened his shoulders and walked forward to
hand his name to the judge. Sure enough, Demon had stepped forward,
and so had the woman who owned West Pleasantville Jewellers. Another
older man stepped forward as well. Charlie was the youngest person
who had nominated.

Belle sucked in a breath. Hopefully
Charlie could get in. Hopefully he would win.

“Okay, four nominations. Arnold
Jones, you have the floor.” Constance read the first name off the
list.

“My family has owned businesses in
Pleasantville for generations. Being a business owner is in my blood.
I have also led this city for five years.” Demon Jones began.

“And gotten our healthcare workers
killed.” Someone muttered. A few people scowled at Demon, who
realised he had no chance.

“Yes…well…” He faltered, before
stepping back, embarrassed and angry.

“Is that all?” Constance asked,
confused. Demon glared at her. “So be it. Charles Begly, your
turn.”

This was it. Charlie stepped forward
and began to speak.

“Like the Mayor, I come from a long
line of business owners, and I am a direct descendant of the founders
of this city. However, that is not what you want, you don't want to
hear about the past. You want a future. A fair, just and good future
where we can minimise the risk of owning a business while making it
fairer for our consumers. I might be young, but that just means I am
more open to learning and being flexible. I can grow with the growing
business landscape of this city. Please consider voting for me.”

Charlie smiled at Constance and then at
the business owners who had assembled. The room applauded strongly.
Charlie stood with the rest of the nominees and exhaled. It was out
of his hands now. He had done everything that he could have possibly
done.

“That was very well spoken Mr.
Begly.” Constance said approvingly. “Eugenia Wallow, please step
forward.”

Charlie looked at the jeweller. Yes,
she was a strong member of the Pleasantville Community Committee, but
she was also someone who believed in the future of the city. Charlie
thought she'd make a good vice-president.

Eugenia spoke about how she'd had to
fight tooth and nail to start her business. How having a Chamber of
Commerce was a great idea, and she thanked Charlie for his work. She
also talked about fairness and protecting people, and how she could
draw on her experiences to do it.

She also got a decent round of applause
as she went back to stand with the rest of the nominees. Charlie
smiled at her. She smiled back.

The last nominee wasn't much to write
home about, and it was obvious to everyone in the room that he was a
Haunted Maze Trouper. A few people shot dirty looks at Andrew Haiter,
who was seething. Finally, it was time for the vote. All of the
business owners forwarded out to cast their ballot.

“You've done well, I wouldn't be too
worried about it.” Eugenia smiled at him. “All your hard work is
paying off.”

Charlie smiled back. “Thanks. It's
people like you who helped though.”

Demon snorted in disgust, and the other
nominee tried to hide the fact that he was trying to ingest a drug in
court. Charlie and Eugenia couldn't help but giggle together.

Slowly, the business owners forwarded
back in, having cast their votes. An independent contractor from
Brisvegas was counting the votes, so no chance of cheating.

Belle felt her phone vibrate. She
pulled it out of her pocket and had a look.

“I think your grand-parents are
stuffed.” Was the text from her father. Belle was confused and sent
back a question mark. The next message gave her chills.

“Haiter has advised the Haunted Maze
Troupe that they're the ones who gave you the information to
blackmail him with. They've just been chased out of your Uncles
shop.”

Oooooh boy. Belle gripped the phone
tightly, not sure of how to feel. She heard people walking back into
the room, and put her phone away. Her grand-parents could be dealt
with later. Now it was time to support her best friend.

Constance walked back in and everyone
sat. Charlie was sweating. Had he done enough?

“The votes have been tallied and
verified.” Constance said. “The president of the Pleasantville
Chamber of Commerce is Charles Begly. The vice-president will be
Eugenia Wallow.”

Charlie felt like he was floating. He
could barely breathe with excitement, although a huge sigh of relief
escaped him. He was the president of the Chamber of Commerce. The
first blow had been struck against the corruption of the
Pleasantville City Council. They no longer had control over the
business domain of the city.

Constance ended the proceedings there,
and everyone made to leave. Eugenia patted Charlie on the back as she
left.

“I'll call you tomorrow and we'll get
things organised. Well done!” She said.

“Thanks. You too. I look forward to
working with you.” Charlie said breathlessly.

“We did it. We really did it.”
Webster could barely believe it. “This is huge. This is really,
REALLY huge. You're now one of the most powerful people in this
city.”

“I just hope I can do it right.”
Charlie said. Suddenly he was nearly barrelled over by Belle, who was
ready to burst.

“YOU DID IT CHARLIE YOU DID IT! I
KNEW YOU COULD!” Belle laughed as she hugged him tightly.

“You helped. You were there the whole
way through.” Charlie squeezed her back.

“Are they dating?” Demon leaned
over and asked Webster.

“That's the question.” Webster
shook his head as the two friends continued to cuddle.