Dandys pov

I jump awake from a call on my vintage phone, it's 2:00am for crying out loud. Who could it be?!

I bitterly pick up and mutter,

"What do you need."

A calm, staticy voice came through, "Dandicus. Rise and shine darling."

Oh my flower factory, it's Astro. "O-oh! Uh yeah... listen, I know you probably forgot, but us toons need sleep at this time."

"I do understand, I haven't forgotten that yet, but there are some intruders on floor 75. Would you be a dear and take them home?"

...oh my goodness. THEY SNUCK OUT AGAIN? "...I'll be there. Thanks for telling me... friend."

Scraps pov

I bash in twisted Finn's head, swinging down the pipe recklessly

I like the sound of his glass head cracking open. but after repeatedly bashing the fish bowl, another took a strike at my back. Inturn, I swung the pipe square on its neck, separating its head from its body.



3 down.

But I also only have one heart left, I have to be careful. I know that. I have to remind myself that I have to stay alive to protect Goob and Toodles. I am the oldest, after all.

That's why I can't die, I refuse to die, I don't WANT to die.

I look down at my hands, and my right eye is blurry. But that's fine. I can fix it when we are done.

I strolled around, dragging the pipe along with me. After inspecting the area, I noticed a Twisted Goob running around. Looking for something.

....well, I already killed my twisted. Might as well take his, too.

Shrimpos pov

Toodles somehow fell asleep despite all of this. Makes my job easier, she's easier to hide, and I can have some thinking space without her talking about her dolls.

Weirdly enough, though there are supposed to be a lot of twisteds here, everything's so... quiet.

I keep sauntering the same place over and over again it's driving me mad. Where could they be?

I sat down on the floor just for a moment, setting down Toodles next to me. Grabbing at my head to get it to think straight before I hit something. Then again, someone was pulling on my shrimp tail.

"Toodles. Cut it out. Go back to sleep." I turn my head slightly to face her, but... she was already sleeping? I felt my tail being yanked again.



Oh, Goob.

"How did you get here?" I whispered, just enough that he could hear me, but not too loud that Toodles wakes up.

".....missed you."

He leaned in and hugged me tight, not even acknowledging Toodles.

I raised one of my hands and patted his head.

"Wait in Astros' room, ok? I'll be there in a minute."

Goobs grip tightened, then loosened, his claws falling to the floor. Shaking his head in refusal.

"We..... go back together..."

Mmh, fine, I guess... I stand up, settling Toodles on my back again and keeping my bat tight in my hand. Goob has better hearing and sight than me, so he can be my scout for now.

I was about to lead Goob around, but he kept staring at a wall. As I was about to grab his arm, he walked to the next room over.

"Goob-? Where are you going?"

I tried to call him out, but he didn't listen. So much for sticking together... I followed him and tugged on the back of his fur before he could walk into the room.

"Goob- Don't just wander off. We are going to stick together this time, ok?" I scolded him,

CRACK-

the sound of metal against wood pierced my hearing as I peeked into the room to see what Goob was so determined to see.

Scraps was welding a ichor stained pipe, the liquid staining her whole being. I leaned out a little more to see who she was attacking...

GOOB?

Goobs pov

As I turned around, I realized all of the twisted are... gone? So are everyone else.

"Scraps!?... Toodles!!?" I yelled into the darkness, slowly forgetting about distracting and just focused on finding my sister or at least Toodles.

The sound of a metal pipe scratching the floor pierces my hearing

I turn around and see a pipe swinging at me from the darkness. I throw my head back to dodge the blunt object, only for it to parry right back and crush my arm,

I wince, trying to ignore the pain. I grab onto the attacker, digging my claws into it's thin flesh and throwing them across the room, I limbed out of the room, trying to catch my breath to have the strength to run again.

"Goob."

My eyes widen as I look back to where I heard my sisters voice. It came from... where I threw the attacker.

"...come back here..."

I stopped. There's no way she's the one who attacked me, right?

With a hushed tone, I asked..."Scraps?"

The sound of muffled footsteps followed by a pipe flooded my ears.

Then followed by a screech-

"COME BACK HERE, YOU, BRAT."

CRUNCH-

I closed my eyes, ready for the impact. The sound of a skull being crushed with Ichor dripping onto my fur filled a nightmare within me. I waited for some kind of pain to rise in me, but then I realized... I wasn't the one who got hit...?

Scraps... she laid motionless on the cold wooden floor, the ichor that made her leaked from her wounds. A star ingrained into her forehead...

I look up at the twisted.

Shrimpo.... so I was too late.

... but he isn't attacking me. Just kinda standing there. I see Toodles on Shrimpos back and smiled.

"You softened up, you know?" I lightly chuckled,

"....You aren't supposed to be here." Shrimpos voice grumbled, worry starting to seep through.

I nodded, glancing back at my sister's corpse, "I am in big trouble, huh?" Tears start welling up, "how could I mess up this badly... I failed everyone." I kneel down, grabbing my sisters hand and squeezing it tightly. She's cold... so cold.

"Goob..." Shrimpos voice stardled me out of my grieving.

"Yeah?" Just as I responded, he scooped me up to a hug. I laid there in shock. My wobbly arms not having the strength to reciprocate the warmth back.

"You found me."

...

.....

...........

I burst out in tears, wrapping my arms around him as tight as possible, waking up Toodles as a result.

"Hm-? Oh! Mr, Goob! Yayyy! " her joyous laugh drowned out my sobbing. Slowly and softly, I started giggling as well.

This, is so nice... finally being able to find Shrimpo, knowing that he is alive.

Red and blue claws emerge from the dark and grab Toodles away. I snap out of my laughter and try to reach out, but it was too late.

"S-shrimpo! A twisted just took Toodles- we have to go-" I try to free myself from his grasp, but he just held on tighter.

"She's alright. I promise." He responded in a eerie calm.

"SHRIMPO. LET GO." Ignoring his words, I try prying his arms open, hoping that he will eventually just let me go.

Out of anger I bite down hard on his claw, my teeth digging into his hard flesh. After no reaction, I retracted and glared at him again.

But he gazed at me.

And whispered.

"Close your eyes and forget."

...

A blunt pain spread on the back of my head. And before I knew it... I closed my eyes and slumbed into his embrace again.

Dandys pov

I threw back the pipe near Scraps corpse. Shaking off the Ichor off my hand.

"Well, I guess I'll have to make Scraps a clone now. Looks like she's going through the first stages of impurity, seeing that she isn't a twisted yet. Let's see Toodles we can just lie and say that this was just a crazy dream..."

Shrimpo interrupted, "What about goob? You can't just revive him. He'll remember this. Won't he." He held the fluffy corpse with one claw brushing its fur out with his other.

Ahhh, Shrimpo does have a point... hmm....

Twisted Goob peaks through a doorway, walking in with a sleeping Toodles.

"Shes... quiet now...." It speaks softly, carful not to wake up Toodles

Hmm, I study Twisted Goob, he's well taken care of, memories is a mess but is still sweet enough to pass as your regular Goob. But I know Shrimpo won't be happy with this.

"I might have a solution. But Shrimpo, you are not going like it."

He gazed at me and nodded, willing to hear me out.

"If I take a Twisted, and enough Ichor, I can repair it to a toon-"

"Stop."

As expected, he isn't happy. I sigh and shake my head, "Well, I don't have many options. It's either that or Goob knowing what happened."

Shrimpos pov.

I'm going to be alone all over again.

I get that was always my fault from the beginning. Saying that I hated everyone and everything. But after I got twisted, and started hanging out with him, I realized that, this isn't so bad. I put down Goobs body on the floor, letting him get ready to twist.

I glance up at Twisted Goob... my main reason to keep going. But I'm sure he wants other things other than me. He would be much happier with everyone else. It's the least I can do.

"...fine."

Dandy sighs in relief and walks Twisted Goob over to the elevator.

The elevator door opens and he takes Toodles from Goobs arms, the Shop pops from the hatch and he hops in, pulling a lever from underneath the table,

"Twisted Goob, go up to the lobby, I'll meet you there!"

Dandy said in glee as the shop closed.

The count down started, warning that the elevator will close in 20 seconds.

Goob walked in as I stood just outside.

"......not coming....in?" Goob questioned, tilting his head slightly.

"Not this time."

"...next... time...?"

"Yeah, next time." I leaned in, hugging him around his waist, with him now hugging me back.

ELEVATOR CLOSING IN 10

I leaned out and gazed at him, face to face. One last time.

"I'm going to miss you, you know that?"

"...why- why are you saying that." He spoke clearly.

I giggled,"You finally got the hang of it."

I pushed myself away from him, his confused gaze the only thing looking back as the elevator door closed.

I sat down, processing how I will spend my days alone...

But I... I did the right thing...

Goobs pov.

I woke up bright and early, ready to solve Shrimpos' disappearance. I hop out of bed and walk out to the bright morning of garden view.

Scraps greeted me first, "Goodmoring Goob! You are happy as ever, huh?"

"Sure am!"

I march up to Dandy's shop with a determined expression.

"Alright, Dandy! Where is Shrimpo-"

"Right behind you buddy." Dandy chuckled.

Confused, I turn around, and see... Shrimpo, not to far away talking with finn!!!

Excited, I launch my arms, wrapping around his waist and reeling him in!

"SHRIMPO! I MISSED YOU SO MUCH!"

"UGH! I HATE HUGS!"

Finn ran up, also surprised from my sudden appearance, "Well, that was a reel surprise!"

Scraps not too far away, giggled, "Hey! Be gentle!"

I chuckled, today is going to be a happy day!



Dandys Pov.

I watched the scenario play out before me, and smirk.

I put down a closed sign on my store before I go to the back room. Locking the door shut.

I ring up the old telephone, waiting for a response.

Ring...

Ring...

Ring-

"Hey friend! How is she settling?"

"Oh, Dandicus, she's doing marvelous. She has multiple arms just like me. Isn't that peculiar?" Astros sweet voice came through, settling my nerves.

"Thats great, I hope you and Shelly are dealing with her well, sorry I can't be there."

"That's fine, next time."

"Yeah... so hey..."

"Yes?"

"How is Shrimpo doing?"