Chapter Forty-Three: Chuckles Gets An Owchie

When it finally ended, it ended with a bang.

“Give it up Revolver!” Giggles flew alongside the truck that the Death Valley Mobsters were speeding down the main street in. In front of them was a armoured van full of priceless jewels. Beside it, Chuckles was speeding along on his motorcycle, yelling directions at the driver.

Up ahead, Sir Lionheart and Sir Hedgehog were getting ready to plant roadspikes, while Sir Hyper and Sir Dark cleared the streets of any innocent bystanders.

“I'm coming with the armoured truck, be ready with the spikes after we come past!” Chuckles said into his watch.

“No problemo!” Sir Lionheart turned to Sir Hedgehog. “Time to roll!”

Sir Hedgehog ran to the other side of the road. The armoured car sped past, and Sir Lionheart rolled a line of road spikes out towards Sir Hedgehog.

“Look out! Here comes the DVM!” Sir Hedgehog yelped.

As expected, the truck ran over the road spikes and blew all of its tyres, sending it spinning. Giggles floated in the air, trying not to laugh as the truck stopped right in front of an adult store.

“Not funny you little pest!” Master Revolver jumped out of the truck and slammed the door shut.

“You're right, it's freaking HILARIOUS!” Giggles giggled (oh har har har), until she landed on her backside, courtesy of the Backpack again.

“You should really get that fixed.” Master Revolver pointed out.

“It's a work-in-progress.” Giggles shrugged, getting up and rubbing her sore bottom.

“Anyway, time to sort you out!” Master Revolver aimed his shotgun at her.

“Rude!” Giggles frowned. She pulled out the Lucky Seven Gun and aimed it back at him.

“Well this looks entertaining.” Chuckles walked over casually.

“I wouldn't be so cocky. It's sheer dumb luck that you lot are alive at the moment.” Master Revolver snarled.

“A sword to a gunfight Chuckles? REALLY?” Giggles shook her head at her best friend.

“At least SOME of us have class.” Chuckles stalked off. Without warning, Master Revolver turned his gun on Chuckles and fired, striking him in the shoulder!

“CHUCKLES!” Giggles cried. She fired the Lucky Seven Gun at Master Revolver, hitting the hand that had shot Chuckles. As Master Revolver dropped his shotgun and yelled in pain, Giggles flew over angrily and kicked him fair in the face.

“HOW DARE YOU SHOOT MY BEST FRIEND?!” She screamed in rage. “And in the BACK as well you COWARD!”

“Police are coming Giggles, we need to get outta here!” Sir Hedgehog called to her. Chuckles was being held up by Lady Courage and Sir Hyper, while Lady Luck was looking at his shoulder.

Giggles gave Master Revolver one last kick to the crown jewels before escaping with the others. She was seething. How could she have let Chuckles get shot?!

Chuckles leapt gingerly into her arms and she flew back to the tip.

“You okay mate?” Giggles asked as they soared through the sky.

“He shot me. How rude!” Chuckles said, affronted.

“We'll get Petunia to look at it when we get back to base. She'll fix it up no problem.” Giggles promised.

Suddenly, the Backpack gave out again.

“FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THAT IS GOOD IN THIS WORLD!” Chuckles roared angrily as Giggles managed to straighten up.

“Sorry.” Was the sheepish reply.

–

“Aren't you just the cutest?” Lizzy Begly lifted up baby Madeleine Masters, who squealed with laughter.

“You're smitten.” Izzy laughed as Lizzy danced around the Begly lounge room with the baby Masters.

“I can't help it.” Lizzy defended herself. “Isn't that right Madels?

Madeleine hugged Lizzy tightly in response.

Suddenly, Belle and Charlie burst in, with Thomas and Betty close behind. Petunia was with them, and started directing everyone at once.

“What happened?!” Izzy noticed that Belle was holding a sodden red rag to Charlies shoulder.

“Master Revolver shot Chuckles.” Thomas told them, pulling a chair from the dining room into the lounge room so that Petunia could get started on cleaning Charlie up.

“Owch.” Was Charlies contribution to the chaos.

“How did it happen?!” Izzy cried as Lizzy went to sit on the couch near her brother.

“Giggles and Master Revolver were having a stand-off when Revolver turned around and shot Chuckles in the back.” Petunia said. “Thankfully it only went through his shoulder, no major organs hit.”

“WHY DIDN'T YOU FINISH OFF REVOLVER?!” Izzy roared at Belle. “YOU COULD HAVE GOTTEN OUR BROTHER KILLED!”

“I'm not a killer Izzy, you know that.” Belle scowled as Peter Masters ran in.

“Is Charlie okay?” He asked.

“Never better.” Charlie groaned sarcastically.

“Oh good.” Peter took Madeleine off Lizzy, who was staring daggers at Belle. “Oh dear, we're not going to have THIS fight again are we?” He sighed.

“We wouldn't be having it if these two could do their job correctly!” Lizzy scowled.

“It's not OUR JOB thank you, we happen to do it out of the goodness of our hearts.” Charlie scowled as Petunia stitched up his shoulder. “OW!”

“Well you should do it properly or not at all!” Izzy snapped. “You got Grandpa killed-,”

“UPSTAIRS.” Thomas Begly pointed to the stairs.

“Dad-,” The twins began to protest. However, one look from their father was enough to have them both begrudgingly head up the stairs to their room. Betty followed them, looking harassed.

Not long after, Daniel and Sam burst in.

“I found the bullet!” Sam grinned, holding a small bullet in his hand. “I also found the one you shot Revolver with. Should I give it to him?”

“In his shoulder would be fantastic.” Charlie quipped dryly, feeling sorry for himself. Petunia had finished stitching him up and was admiring her handiwork.

“No fighting now for at least a month.” She said, setting his arm up in a sling.

“Say WHAT now?!” Charlie cried.

“The bullet fractured your shoulder blade. You're going to need to rest for a long time.” Petunia told him matter-of-factly.

“I really don't like Master Revolver right now.” Charlie groaned.

–

“What's the matter with my girls today huh?” Hugo Graziano, son of business mogul Great Graziano, looked bemused at the Begly twins as they all sat together in a high-end restaurant for lunch the next day.

“Nothing.” Izzy scowled, viciously ripping a bread roll in half and dipping one of the halves into her pumpkin soup. Lizzy rolled her eyes.

“We're a bit upset that Chuckles managed to get shot, personally we think he, Giggles and the Knights of the Last Order need to step up their game.” She smiled at Hugo.

“You mean those vigilantes?” Hugo looked amused at Izzy. “I don't know why they don't just mind their own business.”

“Especially if they're not going to do their job properly and get themselves shot.” Izzy growled through a mouthful of bread.

Hugo chuckled. “I didn't have you two pegged as social justice warriors.”

Lizzy narrowed her eyes at him. “You do realise we live in a city where we could get mugged at any second and our legal system wouldn't do a thing about it?”

“Oh come on, you would NEVER get mugged with me around. I'll protect my girls.” Hugo patted her cheek. Izzy giggled as Lizzy blushed.

“Have you girls ever thought of joining the cause yourselves?” Hugo asked as they continued their meal.

“Not really. Like I said, it needs to be done properly. It's sheer dumb luck that Chuckles and Giggles are so well-armed, and you've seen what the Knights have got.” Izzy replied, completely ignoring the fact that the Masters have been gunslingers for centuries and that the Howzats were brilliant hand-to-hand combat specialists paired with the Begly swordsmanship and blacksmithing.

“Fair enough. Although it IS a bit rich of you to dump on Chuckles and Giggles when you're not prepared to put yourselves on the line as well." Hugo pointed out.

"Is it rich of someone to criticize a meal without being a chef?" Lizzy frowned.

"I'm just saying…" Hugo threw up his hands. "Put yourselves in their shoes."

"You have no idea." Izzy said bitterly. "You seriously have no idea."