The Old Classroom By Kieron Wells ( Dark Helmet ) ( dark_helmet5@hotmail.com ) Note: This fanfic takes place ten years after TTA ( so all the characters are 23 or 24 years old ) Also I write this under the assumption that Acme Acres is located in California. "Are you sure about this?" Daffy asked with the faculty of Acme Looniversity, which had remained mostly unchanged over the years, sitting around him as they all pondered the proposal made by Bugs. "Eh, what have we got to lose by trying it out?" Bugs asked. "A lot of studio money, our jobs, and everything else," Daffy said. "I don't think you'll lose any money over this, doc, so you don't really have to worry. And, it worked out to so well the last time," Bugs said. "Oh brother. How can you say it worked out so well the last time? Well, for you anyway," Daffy asked. "Simple. It brought a whole new generation of Warners cartoons out," Bugs said. "Yeah, but they came and went. Also, we aren't dealing with our own proteges here. We can't mold these characters to be like us like last time," Daffy said. "How many of them turned out like us last time?" Bugs asked. "We need a new direction anyway." "And you think the students we have here are good enough for this?" Daffy asked. Bugs nodded yes. "Why do we have to try this out now anyway?" Daffy asked. "The deadline for new Warner Bros. show ideas is Monday, and we don't have much time after that to come up with da details," Bugs explained. "Oh brother," Daffy commented. "Fine, you can send this idea in but I won't be responsible for how absurd they think you are for coming up with it." Every other teacher reached over and placed their name on a proposal to the Warner bros. head men. The idea was to revive Acme Looniversity to how it used to be. Since Buster, Babs and company had graduated years ago it left Acme Looniversity as just a school for training new cartoon stars but not actually making the shows there. It had been a long time since they had made a cartoon here. They felt the current student body was good enough to make a new series out of. Also no graduate had gone on to be in a WB cartoon. There weren't too many options at WB anymore, so most left. Daffy's doubts were well founded. Last time it hadn't turned out exactly as planned. Warners had hoped to have the students continue with cartoons after they left Acme Looniversity, but it didn't work out that way. From what they always did at Acme Looniversity they had come up with other career ideas from it. The only characters left from -Tiny Toons were Sneezer and Sweetie, both much more grown up now. Bugs sealed the envelope without Daffy's signature on it and handed it to Porky to go send off. He then walked down the halls and into his office. He took a deep sigh as he sat back in his chair. "I can't believe we want to try this again. It's crazy. Speaking of crazy, why am I talking to myself?" Bugs said. He opened the drawer to his desk and lifted out a picture of him and Buster from ten years ago, when Bugs was still his mentor. "Why couldn't he just have kept going? He had a promising cartoon career ahead of him," Bugs said as he put the picture back. He then slammed the drawer. The school day was over and Bugs sat thinking about how he hoped Buster's life would've played out, and pondering the question that never got answered. "It's going to work better this time, doc," Bugs said. Bugs always thought Tiny Toons was a great show, but Buster's career choice didn't meet his approval. Bugs got up after a few more minutes and began walking out. On his way down to the gym, he saw the reminder of what Buster ended up doing instead of being a cartoon star after he left. The poster in front of the gym Buster standing with a football in what Bugs sometimes called " that cursed red uniform." He stood with a football in the picture and an autograph in gold colored ink on it and the San Francisco 49ers logo behind the picture. He was the only pro athlete to ever graduate from Acme Looniversity, and with the 49ers being so close to Acme Looniversity in southern California, Buster was worshiped as a hero there. Bugs told Buster not to take the UCLA football scholarship, but he did it anyway. He was now the quarterback for the Niners, and Bugs hated it. "I never thought they'd let a toon on an NFL team," Bugs said as he kept walking, trying to ignore the picture which haunted his existence. Bugs walked into the parking lot of Acme Looniversity on this May Friday. A small lair of snow still covered the ground as Bugs walked outside and into his Mercedes Benz and drove off. The weekend would pass with Bugs wondering if he would be a more profound influence on the students in making a cartoon now. He only taught them now how to be cartoon character, but nothing on his personal technique and nobody the teachers tried to mold in their own image and nobody who looked up to them. Daffy was opposed to the idea for two reasons. For one he was too lazy to get back on camera for the school day, because that would mean he would have to do his job with some effort. The next would be he didn't want to mess with success. He was perfectly content with how his protégé had turned out. Plucky was still involved with Warner Bros. He still did acting of just about every kind. He wasn't really a star yet and he was still waiting for his big break. "That was wonderful," the stage manager said as Babs walked off stage. "It was just another concert," Babs replied as she walked off. "Ah, who am I kidding, it was great wasn't it?" Her and her stage manager laughed. They could still hear the crowd cheering for her. Babs had grown a lot. Not personality wise, just physically. She was the same as ever. She was handed a bottle of water as she walked through the back stage at the Joe Louis Arena in Detroit where she had just performed a concert for her first major hit CD. Before she could take much of a breather, an MTV camera was in her face. "Babs, MTV here. We want to know, what is the song " Blue " about? I mean, what inspired that?" he asked. "Breaking up with an old boyfriend," Babs replied, smiling a little. It made sense. The song was about choosing football over a relationship. It didn't go into the specifics of the breakup she had at age eighteen with her long time boyfriend, however. Babs walked into her dressing room saying nothing else as she went to unwind in peace after the long concert. "Why did I ever write that song? That over - reacting immature... rabbit wasn't worth the twenty minutes I spent thinking that up," Babs thought to herself as she drifted off in the chair of her dressing room. "What do you mean I only have TWO LINES?!?" Plucky yelled at a director standing in the crowded movie set. "Two lines. As in more than one, less than three," the director, Cooper Deville, replied, not even facing him. "My agent said this was a BIG part!" Plucky said. "For you, duck, this is a big part," the director said. "What are you talking about? I'm a star!" Plucky said. "Star, huh? Name one thing you've starred in!" he said. "Tiny Toon Adventures," Plucky said. "Sidekick. Next," Deville said. "I was no sidekick! I made that show! Without me it would have fallen flat on its face!" Plucky said. "You're livinig in a dream world duck. Buster and Babs were the stars," Deville said. "And do you see either of them in any movies, huh?" Plucky asked. "No, because Buster chose a football career and Babs sings and occasionally does TV. She has a hit song now," Deville explained. "Babs didn't even have to write that song. She just took a break up when she was seven teen and described it. That's nothing! I have talent!" Plucky said. "YOU think you have talent, I don't," Deville said," now, do you want to take this role or don't you?" "Take this measly, insignificant, role wannabe? Ha!" Plucky laughed as he walked away from the set. "Doesn't that stubborn duck realize that you have to take smaller roles before you become a star?" Deville asked himself as Plucky walked off the set. Plucky was now a foot taller than before, but other than the height discrepancy he looked mostly the same as he did ten years ago. His face didn't really age much. Babs looked a lot different. She always wore her ears down now, and she did strange things with her hair, the most recent being dying a part on top of her head purple. The color was starting to fade now. Babs wore more revealing clothes and a ton of make up. She didn't get any taller, but the rest of her did develop. "Do you want to come in?" Buster asked the stunning light red rabbit standing outside the door of his San Francisco mansion. Buster had already signed a contract with the 49ers and gotten paid for the first year, so he had the money to buy this new house. "No really, Buster, I have to go home now. I had fun tonight," she replied. "Alright. Call me tomorrow," Buster said. "Don't worry, I will. Sorry about the screaming and spilling that water at dinner tonight. I've just never dated a celebrity before," she said. "It's alright. Truthfully, I'm not really a celebrity yet. I haven't even played a single game," Buster said. "I don't care about all that. I like you for you anyway," she said. The two then gave each other a long, passionate kiss and she walked off. Buster could handle a kiss now much better than he could when Babs would kiss him when he was fourteen. Buster walked in and sat on the couch in front of his 78 inch television. He sat back and relaxed. It was eleven o'clock now. This was the third woman he'd been out with in the last week. None of them were serious relationships, but he was having fun. Until he was eighteen he'd never been out with any girl but Babs. He chuckled when he thought that for the very same reason Babs and him broke up is the reason so many women wanted to date him now. Sure, it was six years later, but he still found it ironic. He didn't miss the serious, long term relationship like the one he had with Babs, but if he ever did, he could always find someone. Nobody had seen Shirley the Loon since she joined a group of traveling psychics when she turned eighteen. Montana Max never finished school; he just bought a diploma and dropped out. He is living on investments and the family fortune. Fowlmouth never graduated. Ten years later he's still trying to pass high school, and unlike Montana Max, he couldn't simply buy his way out. In one of the many classes he kept failing, English, a now eleven year old Sneezer was a classmate of his ( that's how long Fowlmouth, who is the same age as Buster, has been failing ). "Sir, this arrived for you," a man at the Warner Bros. head office in California said, handing over a large business envelope. "What the heck is this?" the Warner president, who had his back turned to the rest of the room asked himself as he opened it. "Hmm. From Bugs Bunny. Maybe he's announcing his retirement." "Of course. That place must be what all that money goes to every month. I didn't know the school was still running. I really have to keep track of things better," he said to himself as he looked over the documents, and continued reading. After half an hour of reading over the documentation he hit the intercom button in his office and said, "Louise, get me Bugs Bunny." The following morning was a Saturday, and Bugs was waken up by a car honking the horn outside his bedroom window. "Eh, what's up, doc?" Bugs said when he walked outside. It was a stretch limo. "I'm here to bring you to the Warners president," the driver said. "The last time he wanted me there he sent his grandma driving a Pinto," Bugs said. "He's changed, and the last time he called you in was when Tiny Toons was being cancelled," the driver said. "Yeah, and he only gave me a lousy phone call when they put it back on," Bugs said as he stepped into the back of the limo. "You do know what he wants, don't you?" the driver asked. "No clue. All the message on my machine said was he wanted to meet with me, doc. What is this about anyway?" Bugs asked. "It's simple, he got your show proposal. He wants to discuss it with you," the driver said. "Wow, the driver knows he likes my idea before I do. He must really have it in for me," Bugs said to himself. "Actually sir, he might feel the slightest bit intimidated by the rumor you want to become the Warner Bros. president," the driver said. "Uh, doc, I have no idea what you're talking about," Bugs said. He did know, of course. He mentioned it once in confidence to Daffy who then sent it to Entertainment weekly. Bugs had denied it on every opportunity since, but he felt he would make an excellent president of Warners. He feared if he said anything, than he would be relieved of his duties as president of Acme Looniversity and be forced into retirement. Daffy had presidential ambitions of his own, and was public about them, but everybody knew that was just a wild fantasy and he would never gain that much power. After a twenty minute ride in the long black limo, they reached the office. "Come in, Bugs," the president said. "What's up, doc?" Bugs asked. "Bugs, this is business, you don't have to use your cartoon lines here," he said. "Eh, doc, I haven't been in a cartoon since my guest appearances on Tiny Toons, so I'm not used to using cartoon talk anymore. After sixty years or so I'm just used to talking like this," Bugs explained. "Fine, I don't care how you talk. I just want to talk to you about this proposal you sent me in the mail about the new cartoons," the WB president said. "What about 'em, doc?" Bugs asked. "Truthfully enough, I didn't know Acme Looniversity was still running. I have finance managers that keep track of that kind of thing. I thought all the 1990's stuff was destroyed when the company decided to clean house," the president said. A few years earlier, Warner Bros. wanted to reduce costs on television and focus on the movie industry. They also wanted to cut cast members. At this time the Tiny Toons had graduated so they were a non-issue. They destroyed the water tower and kicked the Animaniacs cast out in the street, using their option to terminate their contracts. They also burned all the Animaniacs cartoons and never showed it again. They placed the Tiny Toons cartoons in the classics vault at the studio and the cartoons were released in multiple volumes on DVD, which sold very well. Hysteria! Was a venture WB would rather forget, so they destroyed all of that as well and like the A! cast members, they too ended up in the street. Warner Bros. went through their heartless phase and unemployed just about everybody. Pinky and the Brain ended up in a pet store in Iowa somewhere. The cleaning house of four years ago didn't come as a surprise and everybody received their pink slips in advance. At the time, Bugs had some hope of luring Buster back to doing cartoons and giving up football, but when he heard what was happening, he stopped even considering it. Bugs was going to use his influence at Warner Bros. to make sure Buster stayed a star had he stayed. The only reason Buster was considering coming back to cartoons was he failed to earn the starting QB position at UCLA and he was highly disappointed. Plucky's current acting career wasn't in cartoons. It was more real movie situations. After a law suit filed by a cartoon character at another studio, toons had ended up being allowed into all sorts of real life jobs outside of cartoons. This helped Plucky, Buster, Babs and many others to get the jobs they hold right now. "Well, we still train cartoon stars for your movies and other cartoons, doc," Bugs said. "Yeah, but nothing had had great success since the 90's," the president said," and do you really think, using the students you have now, who have never been in a televised cartoon before, are good enough to make our next show about?" "Yeah I do, doc," Bugs said. "Why?" he asked. "I think that the students we have now are good enough and entertaining enough to make a great show from," Bugs said. "Well, you know if I didn't think the idea had potential I wouldn't have even called you in here. Do me a favor and don't start changing around the office mentally while you're here for your inevitable rise to being WB president," he said sarcastically. "Doc, you know that story was false," Bugs said. "Whatever. Anyway, how's about you explain to me who these new cast members are and how they'll work for a new show, alright?" The Warners president asked. "Okay, doc, but weren't they explained in the letter I sent you?" Bugs asked. "Just explain them again, okay?" he said, sounding more annoyed this time. "Okay, doc. First, we have two carry over cast members," Bugs began. "Wait a sec. Didn't we clear everybody out after the 90's?" he asked. "No, at the time they were too young so they were just left as Acme Students. The two carry overs are Sneezer and Sweetie. Sneezer is eleven and Sweetie is fourteen. Sneezer is a mouse who probably needs a name change since he's on allergy medication now, and Sweetie is even more sarcastic than she used to be. Needless to say, they aren't going to be the stars of the show, but they're going to be more important to the show than they used to be. Next off, we have Nomar the Lynx," Bugs said. "Hold on a second! Who came up with the name Nomar for a character?!?" he asked. "Eh, doc, we don't come up with the names for these people. They're students at the school," Bugs said. The WB president rolled his eyes and Bugs continued. "And just what might a Lynx be?" he asked. "It's kinda like a wolf," Bugs said. "Oh, parents are gonna love that!" he said sarcastically. "Can we got on with this, doc? No more interruptions please," Bugs said. "Fine," the president said, sounding angry. "Next, next is Brendan the Moose," Bugs said. "Oh God! Tell them to all get name changes! None of the names flow like Buster Bunny or Plucky Duck or anything like that," the president said. "Granted they all have bad names but..." Bugs began. "But nothing. Why are they all exotic animals? Why not anything domesticated?" he asked. "A couple of things, doc. Hamton J. Pig never exactly flowed off the tongue and we do have some more domestic types for you, but keep in mind I am listing the best of the group based on skill and not name. Now, can you stop interrupting me until I'm done?" Bugs asked, now sounding very irritated. "Look, you don't tell me what to do in my studio and my office. You still work for me until whatever plan you have to steal my job succeeds. If I have questions about your idea I am going to ask them!! For your stupid little idea to get approved it has to get through me and don't you EVER forget that!!!" the WB president screamed at Bugs as his face grew extremely red and his pulse raced. "Calm down doc," Bugs said. "Now, this next one does have a name that works. Karen Kat," Bugs said. "Spelled with two K's?" the Warner president asked. "Yeah, doc, it's a pun," Bugs said. "Not good. Parents of younger children will think it teaches incorrect spelling and not let the kids watch it. Change it and you have a decent name," the president explained. "Okay, I'll ask her to change it. Anyway, Tim Mallard. I know it doesn't go but the character will work. Christie Cardinal is another. Those two are on the verge of becoming a couple. Same with Sneezer and Sweetie, actually," Bugs said. "Cross species couples?" the president asked, sounding a bit confused. "Yeah, doc. It adds variety," Bugs said. "I like it. The longest term relationship ever established by Warners characters was a cross-species one. Good thinking," he said. "Uh, doc..." Bugs began. "Yeah?" he asked. "Mmm, nothing," Bugs said. Bugs could have easily pointed out that he didn't have to think that up and it was just the real character's lives here, but he said nothing and took the credit. "Anyway, is there anybody else or do you have in mind for primary roles in this?" he asked. "Yeah, I've got some other ideas," Bugs said. They spent a few more hours going over characters and discussing their personalities. They narrowed down the cast to ten main characters on the cast, not including the teachers. This cast included Sneezer and Sweetie, but they were moved up to be two of the main characters because of their past experience with the original Tiny Toons show. The other cast members' names really aren't important since they aren't the focus of the story anyway. "So, you're sure these are the kids you want on the show?" The WB president asked. "Yeah, doc. I think we got the right kids for the job," Bugs said. "Okay. Now, what about teachers?" the WB president asked. "Same as before. Us, the old Looney Tunes characters, Plus, we have another student teacher who we think will fit very nicely as one of the teachers on the show," Bugs explained. "Good. And, all the other teachers back up this idea?" the president asked. "Almost all of 'em, doc. Daffy doesn't like it," Bugs explained. "Hmm. Well, I'm sure as soon as we shove a big contract for it under his nose he'll reconsider. Now, how do we sell this? A completely new cast without anything in common with the old characters?" the president asked. "Eh, think of it this way doc. The contrast between both species and generation could work wonders for plot lines," Bugs said. "I like it. I'll admit I'm not completely sold yet, but I will give it a shot. You talk to the kids. All of them. Explain the situation to them and speak to potential main cast members about it and tell them, if they like the idea, and tell them how to get an agent and we'll begin negotiating a one - season contract for them all. I'll contact the presses and let them know, alright?" the WB president. "That's fine. Thanks for everything, doc," Bugs said, extending his hand towards him. "For once could you call me sir? I am your boss, you know," the Warner president said, shaking his hand. "Someday I will, doc," Bugs said as he walked out. "I don't know why I agreed to this project. I hope it works, because I'm too old to have any major failures," the president said as he leaned back in his chair. Bugs was very satisfied as he drove back from the studio to his Los Angeles home. He hoped that Lola had returned home by now. A couple of weeks back was their second wedding anniversary, and they had hardly seen each other since. That meeting had lasted all afternoon. It was around six P.M. now. Buster blew off his date to go work out at the gym, something he did at least every other day since he was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers. He needed to be stronger. If he screwed up, everybody he knew would know since they're all in California. Buster was currently running on a treadmill to improve his speed for now, but that was never recognized as his main problem on the field. Babs was onto her last concert on the "Heavy Rain" tour ( the name of her first and only CD ). It was in Boston and she was preparing to go on stage. "Ms. Bunny, don't you need somebody to do your make up right about now?" one of the people in the dressing room asked. "I do have my make up on," Babs said. "Uh oh. I'll go find a new make up guy while you fire the other one," the man said, rushing off after he saw the terrible job that was done. It was always hectic back stage. Whenever one of the people work back stage would ask if Babs was short with anything, they'd get slapped, kicked and fired. Babs had yet to reveal her full name to the public, and she had no plans on doing so. Plucky Duck was in the middle of a conversation with his agent. "Plucky be reasonable!" his agent pleaded. "No! I'm not going to take measly little jobs like that!" Plucky said as they discussed the two-line part brought up yesterday. "Look, Plucky, in order to get big parts you need to be a known actor. To get known you have to appear in smaller roles and hope somebody likes your work," Plucky's agent explained. "I'm such a great actor that I don't need to take lousy little roles like that. Any competent director can take one look at a performance of mine and tell I'm a star," Plucky said. "You need a performance to show them! And what you did when you were fourteen isn't going to sell you at twenty four to anybody. You need to do something already or your career is going to die and fast!" his agent said. Plucky couldn't believe what he was hearing. His acting career could be done before it began. He didn't want to believe that, and he told himself that his old buddy Steven Spielberg would make a movie specifically for him to star in. "Ha! Spielberg, the greatest director of all time, can vouch for my talent!" Plucky said. "He's busy on another project until next year. You need a job now. Are you going to take this part or not?" his agent asked. "No," Plucky said. "If you don't your career is dead in the water," his agent said. "Your career is dead in the water! You're fired!" Plucky said, hanging up the phone. His agent sighed in frustration at the stubborn duck who wasn't willing to do any role except starring ones. By this time, memos from Warner Bros. had gone out all over the entertainment community about Warners new Tiny Toons with new characters. Sites with the news were going up all over the internet and they were going to the newspapers in the entertainment section. Warner Bros. executives were trying to contact Steven Spielberg about directing it. The show wasn't going to be on the air by the end of this school year. Since it was early May now the show would have to wait until September so the scripts could be written and the contracts could be made up. By Monday the announcement would be all over. Monday morning came. Buster Bunny walked with his cup of coffee in his hand in a bath robe to the front door and picked up the paper. He sat down, yawned, and began flipping through it. "National news. Boring. Local news. Boring. Classifieds. Boring. Ah, sports," Buster said, setting it aside. "Entertainment. Ah, that could be interesting," Buster said, setting it by the sports. He weeded through the rest of the paper and eventually ended up with only sports and entertainment. He saw an article on himself along with a picture of him at the gym on the second page of the sports section. "When did they photograph me at the gym?" Buster asked himself. He liked seeing himself mentioned in the sports pages. All the headlines always addressed him as " 49ers first round draft pick." Now in the NFL draft, the better you are the lower the pick you get. The worse you are, the higher the pick. High picks go first. Buster thought he would have been drafted by a bad team since he was good enough to go early, but he slipped to 25th overall out of 31 teams so the 49ers, the second closest team to his home besides Los Angeles, which was only miles away from Acme Acres, took him. He was disappointed to fall so far, but was happy to be playing for them. He would have a good chance to earn the starting job since the legendary Steve Young retired following the previous season. Next, he got to the entertainment. On the second page, top right hand side, he spotted it. "Whoa," Buster said to himself, suddenly feeling shocked when he saw the headline "New Tiny Toon Adventures series to be created for fall season." Buster read on and saw it was going to be made at Acme Looniversity. He shook a little and he had what felt like thousands of flashbacks all at once. He seemed to remember every important event from Acme Looniversity. "I don't even believe it..." Buster said to himself. He didn't leave under the best terms with the faculty or fellow students, but he still loved the place and a part of him still felt like it was home. It had been six years since he stepped in the school, but he suddenly felt like he needed to go there. He wanted to see it again before they used it to make another show. To him, making another show would seem to erase the original Tiny Toons. All the great cartoons they made there and all the great times Buster and friends had there. "If I tried to go back later, that place would be crowded with cameras and new students looking to get on TV. I won't even have a chance to get in the front door. I've always told myself I'd go back one day. Guess this is my last chane. I wonder if Bugs is going to try the protégé thing again," Buster said to himself. "Should I even go back? Well, if I don't go now I might not have another chance and I'll regret not going for the rest of my life. Still, I'd better think it over anyway," Buster thought to himself. After a few hours of considering, Buster told himself he'd think it over for one last day before making the drive from San Francisco to Acme Acres to go see the old school one last time. If he still wanted to, he'd go tomorrow. He couldn't help but wonder what had changed since he last went. Babs was in her hotel room after the sold out concert at the Fleet Center in Boston last night. He opened up the entertainment section and the first thing she did was read her own review. "Well, let's see. Last night's Babs Bunny concert was a spectacle of wondrous singing talent, great showman ship and a dress that was way too revealing," Babs said, reading out the review. "They could have left that last part out, but at least the review is good." That last comment wasn't anything she wasn't used to. Her fashion consultant studied under Cher's fashion consultant from the eighties, so Babs ended up with a similar look, only more modern. Babs often longed for a look more like Cher in the late nineties, but since her career was just starting to be successful, she wasn't going to mess with any of the elements leading to her success. She reached the second page of the entertainment news to see the second part of the review when she spotted it. The same news Buster had seen over is his home on the west coast. Her jaw hit the floor when she read about it. "I can't believe it!" Babs yelled. "I know, another critic mentioned your outfit," her agent said as he walked into the hotel room. "No, not that!" Babs said, pointing to the article. "New Tiny Toons series coming this fall from Acme Looniversity. So?" he asked. "So, Tiny Toon Adventures was my first star acting job and I spent my teenage years at Acme Looniversity. Now people are going to forget my star role on that show because it'll be replaced by this new show. I have to protest!" Babs said. "Why? You have real acting opportunities and music opportunities now," her agent said. "Excuse me?" Babs yelled after he said TTA wasn't a real acting job. "Maybe I should rephrase that," her agent said. "If you want to keep you job as my agent you should," Babs said. "Fine, but I don't see the significance to you about WB reviving an old project you used to be a part of," her agent told her. "You don't get it. Tiny Toons was my first great role. It can't just be replaced by a bunch of unknown kids with old, washed up teachers," Babs said. "Wasn't Tiny Toons a bunch of unknown kids with old, washed up teachers?" her agent asked. "Yeah, but Steven Spielberg created ours. This article says he doesn't even want to get involved with this one. He was always smart enough to stay away from bad sequels," Babs said. "Like when?" her agent asked. "He didn't direct Jaws 2, and that stunk," Babs said. "Fair enough. But do you really care enough to protest this though?" Her agent asked. "Maybe. It says here Bugs is behind all this, so I think I want to talk to him about it first," Babs said. "Book me a flight to Acme Acres as soon as possible." "And you need to go right away why?" her agent asked. "Simple. Bugs doesn't have much time to work out the details. If I remember how it works correctly, now that the idea just got approved, they only have a few days to work out the details. Hence, we have to go now," Babs said. "Okay," her agent said, sounding confused. He took out his cell phone and calling the airline. After a few minutes, her agent put his phone away and said," you're booked on a flight for one this morning." "One in the morning!?!" Babs shrieked. "It was the earliest flight available," he said. "Yeah because you can't get much earlier than 1 A.M.!" Babs said. "No, I mean earliest from now," he said. Babs groaned and walked into the bathroom. Plucky opened up his paper and immediately went to the entertainment section, hoping to get word of good roles that needed filling or a good agent he could hire. He saw the headline about the new series as well. "New Tiny Toons series? I'd be perfect for that! I mean, I was so great on the first one!" Plucky said. He pulled out his mirror from his pocket and kissed his reflection, thanking himself. Plucky immediately called up the agent he fired a short time ago. "Hello?" His agent said. "It's PD," Plucky said. "Why are the police calling me on my cell phone?" his agent asked. "It's Plucky Duck," Plucky said. "Did I imagine this or did you fire me?" his agent asked. "I want to hire you again," Plucky said. "Why?" he asked. "I have a job I want you to get me," Plucky said. "The new TTA?" he asked. "How'd you know?" Plucky asked. "Because the only job you ever talk about is the original TTA, and you think because you were on the old one they'll make you a star on it. I don't think they will, but Daffy still likes you so I guess it's possible," his agent said. "We have to try," Plucky said. "No, Plucky, you have to try. I don't think I want to represent you again. It was hell the first time," his agent said. "What are you talking about? You're the one who couldn't get me a good role. If anything you're lucky I'm willing to take you back," Plucky said. "Excuse me? You're selfish, immature, and desperate for the spotlight. I couldn't get you any good roles because you had no credentials to earn one on," he said, "in fact the only reason they even considered you was because of your work on TTA." "Are you going to come back to represent me or not?" Plucky asked. "No," he said. "Fine! I don't need you to land that job! I'm a star!" Plucky yelled, hanging up the phone. Plucky called his agent back in five minutes and said, "this is your last chance. Take it or regret it for the rest of your life." "No," the agent said. Plucky called back after another ten minutes and said, "I really mean it! Last chance this time!" "For the last time no," the agent said. Plucky tried after ten minutes and a voice said, "You have been blocked from calling this number. Please hang up now." Plucky frowned. "Fine, if he doesn't want to help me get that job, I'll go myself. Tomorrow," Plucky said as he walked out of the room to pack. Just then something struck Plucky. "If I don't get there soon, all the good parts could be taken!" He thought to himself. This caused him to pack frantically and leave early. One A.M. came around and Babs was boarding her plane with a pile of luggage being carried by both her and her agent. "Are you sure you want to come with me?" Babs asked him. "You couldn't carry all this stuff without me, and besides, I can't let anything happen to my best client," her agent said. "Am I really your best client?" Babs asked as she stepped onto the plane. "No. I just want the free trip to Hollywood," he said. "We're not going to Hollywood, we're going to Acme Acres," Babs said as her agent walked onto the plane. "Close enough," he said, sitting down next to the stunning pink rabbit. The plane took off in the dark Boston sky as her old friends on the west coast slept, prepared to leave tomorrow morning and not knowing the other two were on the way to the old school. The flight landed at nine that morning. "Hurry up, we need to get there," Babs said, sounding anxious as the two dragged their luggage off the plane. "Babs, calm down. The school isn't going anywhere," her agent said, carrying more luggage than she did. "Yes, but the chance to fine tune the show before they release is going fast!" Babs said. "Do you want me to come to the school with you or should I go to the hotel and make our reservations?" her agent asked. "You rent a separate car and go to the best hotel you can find and I'll drive down to Acme Looniversity," Babs said. "Gotcha. What about the luggage?" her agent asked. Babs walked over, dumped a load of luggage on top of the pile he was already carrying, and said, "You take it." "Gee, thanks," he said sarcastically. "Well, I don't have time to be slowed down by all of that luggage," Babs said. "So why did you bring it?" he asked. "Because I have somebody to carry it for me," Babs said. "Lucky me," her agent said sarcastically. "You rent a cheap car. I'll get the most expensive one there," Babs said. "Why?" he asked. "Well, I'm the star and you're the agent," Babs said. "Remember your old friend Plucky? The guy you complain about all the time as being the greediest, most egotistical thing to ever walk the Earth?" he asked. "Yeah," Babs said. "You're starting to remind me of him," her agent said. "Ick. Get a good car," Babs said. The two walked off to separate car rental terminals. Babs kept a veil in front of her face to avoid anybody recognizing her. "Can I help you?" the clerk asked when she close to the counter. Babs, realizing the veil isn't entirely transparent, crashed into a few things before reaching the counter. "If you don't mind me asking, miss, what's with the veil?" he asked. "Oh nothing. It's just for fashion that's all," Babs replied. "Miss, that went out in the eighties," the clerk said. "Fine. I'm wearing it to avoid being recognized, but you can't tell anybody," Babs said. "If you don't mind me asking miss," the female clerk whispered," who are you? I promise I won't tell." "Okay," Babs whispered," I'm Babs Bunny." "Babs Bunny... Babs Bunny... oh right, that singer my teenage daughter loves. Don't worry, we don't have too many teenage girls here. Nobody is going to recognize you," she said. "I think somebody will!" Babs said as she removed the face covering. "Oh no. Nobody over sixteen likes you," she said. "How comforting," Babs said sarcastically. "How can I help you Babs?" she asked. "I need the best car you have, and I don't have much time to waste," Babs said. "Sorry miss. The best thing we have left is a Geo Metro," she said. Babs frowned, snatched the keys and walked off to her car very unhappy. "I can't believe I got stuck in this!" Babs yelled inside the cramped little car. "How do I drive fast enough to get there in time in this thing?" It was so small and her knees were almost touching the ceiling. Buster had been driving for a couple of hours and now saw the sign saying, "Now entering Acme Acres." "Welcome back," he said to himself. Since he left Acme Looniversity he hadn't been to Acme Acres. He didn't know if he was ever going to return once he left for college, but here he was. The place was just full of his memories. He could see his old burrow from here. "There it is," Buster said as he glanced over at his old home. "I wonder if anybody ever moved in there. I'll come back later and check." Buster couldn't keep his eyes off the burrow. When he left, he came back once to get something he'd forgotten and the for sale sign had already been placed out front. That didn't affect him at the time, but looking back it did. He now looked at all he knew growing up. From out here on the road nothing looked different, except a few more trees had been cut down. Finally, he was about to pull in front of Acme Looniversity. "Can't this piece of junk go any faster? The part might be gone before I get there!" Plucky yelled as he drove down the road. His drive was a lesser distance than Buster's and Babs' trip there, and just as he pulled it, he saw another car drive up. Just as those two pulled up into the parking lot around the back of the school, a Geo Metro with a very disgruntled looking driver pulled up. Her face was too mashed from the cramped space to even be identified, and nobody had seen each other yet. Finally, almost simultaneously, all three car doors opened at once. They all emerged with their back turned for a moment. Finally they turned around and all got the same stunned look on their faces. After a few minutes of staring stunned at one another, Babs broke the silence by saying in a shocked voice, "You." "You," Buster replied in a similar tone. None of these three had seen each other since they went their separate ways in college. "You two," Plucky said. They all screamed at once. "What are you doing here?!?" Babs yelled at Buster. "Coming to see the school before they start making new shows here. What are you doing here?" Buster asked. "Making sure they don't ruin this place by making an inferior cartoon from it," Babs replied. After a few minutes, nobody had asked Plucky yet. "Oh, what am I doing here?" Plucky asked himself, annoyed that nobody asked him, "I came to get a part in the new TTA." "Oh, you're here too," Babs said unenthusiastically. "Well, Buster, how's about you go home and come back tomorrow?" Babs asked sounding annoyed. "No, I have every right to be here just like you. Now, I hope you've grown up some and can deal with being in the same place as me for five minutes. Unlike the two days of school when we were eighteen right after we broke up," Buster said. "Trust me, Buster, I have grown up and become much more mature and sophisticated. Last one to the door has to go home!" Babs yelled as she dashed for the front door. Buster ran closely behind her, but Plucky couldn't match their speed. "Stupid children's stories. They teach you the rabbit loses the race!" Plucky said, recalling the tortoise and the hare. Out of breath, Plucky reached the front of the school to see the two rabbits giving each other angry stares. "Wow, isn't this just a cozy scene? It makes you miss the good old days, huh?" Plucky asked sarcastically. "Shut up, Plucky!" The two rabbits said simultaneously. "Okay, it is just like the old days," Plucky said. "We're not here to talk about the old days," Buster said. "Why not? How about how you dumped me because I didn't like you spending more time on the field than with me? Will talking about the old days just remind you of how much of a jerk you were at eighteen?" Babs asked now sounding very angry. "Calm down, Babs. It's been six years. Get over me," Buster said smugly, seeming like he was trying to make her mad. It worked and her face turned very red and she began grinding her teeth. "Let's just go inside and try to remain calm," Plucky said. "We must've all changed. Plucky is acting as the voice of reason," Buster said. "Should we just walk inside or do we knock?" Babs asked. "I think..." Buster began, before Babs interrupted. "PLUCKY, should we knock or barge in?" Babs asked. "I thought you said you grew up some," Buster said. "I lied," Babs replied. "Refresh my memory. How did you two break up again?" Plucky asked. "I'll tell you," Babs said. "Why you? I'll tell it right!" Buster said. "No you won't!" Babs protested. "Yes I will!" Buster said. "I'm going to tell it!" Babs screamed. "We need a third party to tell this," Plucky said. "Why?" Babs asked, "we have me, who will tell you the right version and Buster who will tell you a messed up version." "Somebody tell me some version! Any version! I don't care what happens in it so long as it explains why you two haven't spoken in six years! It can be made up. It can involve space abductions! I don't care!" Plucky yelled. "Babs, go first. Buster, at the end tell me what's wrong with her version." "Fine, I'll begin," Babs said. Just then everything began to look hazy. "Hey, what's going on?" Babs asked. "What, you don't remember what happens when you go to a flashback?" Plucky asked. "Oh sorry. It's been a a while," Babs said. ( Flashback to Age 18. June at Acme Loo six years ago. Nearing the end of football season ). "Buster, I think we need to talk," Babs said, walking up behind Buster at his locker. "What about, Babsy?" Buster asked. "Well, lately you've been kinda absent," Babs said. "What are you talking about?" Buster asked turning around. "Well, you've been gone just about every night," Babs said. "So?" Buster asked. "So," Babs said, stepping out in front of him, "I miss seeing you." "Well, I'm busy," Buster said, turning away from her. "What have you been so busy with?" Babs asked. "Football. What else? I've got scouts coming to see me next week about a scholarship. That is the most important thing to me right now," Buster said walking away from her. "But, Buster, can't you spare just one day for me?" Babs asked. "Sorry, Babs, but football is my future," Buster said. "And what about me? Aren't I in your future?" Babs asked. "Sorry, Babs, but this could lead to fame, fortune, and my dreams could come true," Buster said. "But, Buster," Babs said," aren't I anywhere in those dreams?" "Oh yeah, somewhere near the back," Buster said. "Buster!" Babs yelled. "Sorry, but this is bigger than you," Buster said. "Buster!" Babs yelled. "Sorry, Babs. If you have a problem with me chasing my dream than I can't see you anymore," Buster said. "But, Buster!" Babs protested. "Consider yourself dumped," Buster said, walking away. Just then, the flashback ended with Buster yelling, "Freeze!" in the present time. "What? I'm just telling the story!" Babs said. "Yeah, incorrectly," Buster said. "It was nothing like that. I would never act like that. Let me tell it now." ( Flashback to the same time as before ) "Buster, we need to talk!" Babs yelled slamming Buster's locker door close. "Babs, can you give me a second to get my books out first?" Buster asked. "No! You always do stuff before you see me!" Babs yelled. "Calm down, Babsy," Buster said very calmly. "Don't Babsy me! You're always playing football. I bet you just like seeing that Lisa the cheerleader, don't you two-timer?" Babs asked. "No, I didn't even know there was a Lisa the cheerleader," Buster said. "Right. I order you to drop football now! You know you like me more," Babs said. "Actually, at this moment, I don't think I do. If you can't accept me playing football then that says you can't accept me, and I'm afraid we can't see each other anymore," Buster said. "You're dumping me? HA!" Babs exclaimed," You'll come crawling back!" Babs yelled similar remarks as Buster walked away. This time the flashback ended with Babs yelling in the present time, "Wait a second bub! It was nothing like that!" "Let's ask Plucky and see who he believes!" Buster said. "Well?" they asked simultaneously. "I think you're both full of it," Plucky said. "What?" They said simultaneously. "For two rabbits who don't like each other, you sure say the same thing at the same time a lot," Plucky said, "even more than you used to." "Old habits die hard, I suppose. And what better place to bring out old habits than here?" Buster asked. "Why? Its just a school," Plucky said. "To you maybe. But think about it. The most fun times we've ever had came in that place, or during the years we went there. Don't you still feel even the slightest bit attached to It?" Buster asked. "No," Babs said, lying. "Who asked you? I was talking to Plucky," Buster said. Babs stuck out her tongue at him. Buster returned the gesture. "Who would have though I would seem like the mature one after so long?" Plucky asked himself. "You're not mature. Buster just has the habit of bringing out the worst in people," Babs said. Before Buster began trading shots with her once again, Plucky said, "Look, I'm sure we would all like to sit here and continue the insults, but shouldn't we do what we came here for?" "Fine," Babs said, knocking on the school door. "Since when do you knock on the door of a school?" Buster asked. The door was opened slowly. When it opened, Principal Bugs Bunny saw Babs, Buster and Plucky standing on the thirteenth and top step of Acme Looniversity. "Hiya, Bugs," Babs said. Bugs seemed to be looking past her. He saw Buster on the step and immediately slammed the school door shut. Buster walked up and knocked himself. "What part of having a door closed in your face don't you understand, doc?" Bugs asked, followed by the door being slammed again. "What' s with him?" Buster asked. Plucky shrugged his shoulders. "Don't look at me," Babs said, followed by some nervous laughter. "Well, what do we do now?" Plucky asked. "What do you mean we? We don't all have to do all the same stuff. We aren't kids anymore, and we aren't friends that hang off one another," Babs said. Five minutes later, the three were walking around Acme Acres together. "Are we going anywhere or are we wandering aimlessly? The roles are getting filled as we speak! Can't we just go back?" Plucky asked. "Really. Bugs could be coming up with tons of bad ideas for the show and we wouldn't know about it! Think of what he could be doing!" Babs pointed out. "I realize that, but we can't get in there. Bugs isn't going to let us, you know," Buster said. "So what do we do now?" Plucky asked. "I know where I want to go," Buster said. "So do I," Plucky said. "So do I," Babs said. "Well, where I want to go is right over here," Buster said. The three of them walked right up to the burrow near Acme Looniversity. "Gee, a hole in the ground. You always did think big, Buster," Plucky said sarcastically. "You don't remember what this is?" Buster asked, sounding very surprised. "No," Babs said, "I think I blocked most things involving you out." "Why? We had fun together," Buster said. "I don't want to get into this now," Babs said. "Why not? What other chance could we possibly have to get into this?" Buster asked. "I was hoping never to have to get into this," Babs said. "What is there to get into? We broke up. That doesn't give you a reason to hate for me now," Buster said. "We're ex's. I think we're supposed to hate each other. And besides you don't seem to be too pleased about reuniting with me either," Babs said. "I'm just reacting the same way you are. Had you acted differently, I would have too," Buster said. "You think I hate you?" Babs asked. "It sure seems that way," Buster. "Well, let me remove all doubt from your mind," Babs said. Plucky rolled his eyes. "Can we get back to why we're all wasting time peering at a hole in the ground while Bugs is probably giving away roles that rightfully belong to me?" Plucky asked. "Of course," Buster said. He then jumped in. "Oh no, I'm not going down there," Plucky said. Buster reached up and pulled him in. Babs shrugged and jumped down too. "What is this place?" Plucky asked. "You really don't remember?" Buster asked. "No," Plucky said. It was very dark with only the light from the surface above streaming in, and that wasn't the strongest source of illumination. After you went a few feet in there was no longer any light. "Where's the light switch?" Buster asked himself. He looked around and realized that the power wouldn't work anymore. "Anybody got a flashlight or anything?" Buster asked. "Oh yeah everybody carries flashlights with them everywhere," Babs said sarcastically. "Right here," Plucky said, handing over a flashlight. "Why would you have a flashlight on you?" Babs asked. Plucky shrugged his shoulders. Buster flipped the switch. What they saw was a room with dust covering the walls and doors also gray with thick layers of dust. "So, we're in an old abandoned burrow, and... now I figured it out," Plucky said. "This was your burrow, wasn't it?" Buster nodded yes. Buster ran into another room to look around. The kitchen still had an old broken fridge. Other than that, it had several empty cupboards. "I can't believe nobody ever moved in here," Babs commented. "Why is it hard to believe? Who would want to live in a hole in the ground?" Plucky said. "A rabbit," Babs replied. Buster walked back through the room Babs and Plucky were standing in and over into another room. His old room. He had checked ever drawer and cupboard for anything. In the kitchen there had been nothing. Babs and Plucky walked into Buster's old room to find him rifling through old drawers. "Found anything yet?" Plucky asked. "No," Buster said. At that moment he opened the top drawer and found something. He paused for a second. His ears went down, and he sniffed. "What?" Plucky asked. Buster gave no answer, so the two walked over. In his hand was a picture of him and Babs at age 14 at on their prom night. "You okay?" Plucky asked. "Fine," Buster said, his voice a little more muffled and his eyes a little red and forming slight tears. Babs then got sight of the picture. She gasped a little. That was one thing she never expected to see again. At that moment both Bunnies were flooded with old memories. More than when they had heard about the upcoming second TTA. They remembered the prom first and how much fun they had then. Then they remembered how they were so devoted to each other, like at the end of thirteensomething. They remembered every special moment they had together at once. After a few minutes of sitting in silence, Buster placed the picture back in the drawer. "It's only a picture," Buster said very quietly. He then stood up and walked out of the room. Neither Buster or Babs had had a serious relationship since each other. They had all been single dates or brief relationships. The only special relationship they'd ever had was each other. "Buster! Get back here!" Babs yelled, getting the picture herself and running after him. "You're just going to throw something away that obviously holds a special memory for you?" Babs asked. "Why do you care? And, its just a picture," Buster said. "No. It brought back memories for me and it seems to have done the same for you," Babs said. Buster turned away. "There only fading memories. I have my whole life ahead of me to make new ones," Buster said. "Have you had any relationships since us?" Babs asked. "I really don't think that's your business," Buster said. "I think it is," Babs said. "Fine. I have. I've had tons of other women since you," Buster said. "Have you been serious since us?" Babs asked. "Why should I tell you?" Buster asked. "You responding like that tells me the answer is no," Babs said. "I'll be honest. I haven't either." "Why do you think we were some deep, serious relationship? We were only kids," Buster said. "If we were just kids than how come you got all choked up over that picture?" Babs asked. "The dust in here. Allergies," Buster said. "You were never alergic to dust before. I think you forget how well I know you. Can you please just admit that I'm right already?" Babs asked. "First of all, it's not how well you know me. It's how well you knew me. I've changed. And second, you're not right," Buster said. "Fine, then you just take the picture and tell me when you come out of denial," Babs said, throwing the picture ( which was in a frame ) at Buster. He caught it. "Can we leave yet? Maybe there's still time to get the role of an extra on that show," Plucky asked. "Yeah," Buster said, slipping the picture out of the frame and placing it in his pocket," I would like to get back to the school before the cameras and lights are shoved all over the place." "Hey! We aren't going back there yet! Some of us would like to visit somewhere besides you're burrow!" Babs said. Babs came out and they all left. Neither Buster or Babs said another word to each other before they had walked to yet another burrow. This one was alive with noise. "Where are we now?" Plucky asked. "We went to his burrow. Now we're at mine," Babs said. Plucky looked down inside and saw several teenagers and a few pre-teen children. "Wow. How many kids still live here?" Plucky asked her. "Beats me. Truthfully enough I can't keep track of them," Babs said. "You can't keep track of your own siblings?" Plucky asked. "If you had like hundreds of kids running around your house would you be able to keep track of them?" Babs asked. "Well, no," Plucky said. "See, you and him over there never had any siblings to keep track of. The producers of the show just shoved them all at me," Babs said. "You're lucky. I would have liked it better if I had a brother or sister," Plucky said. "Well, that's your problem. Anyway, I'm going inside. You and Buster stand out here and wait for me," Babs said, jumping down into the burrow. "She thinks she can just order us what to do," Buster said," well, she can't!" "It seems like she can," Plucky said. "How so?" Buster asked. "We're waiting outside aren't we?" Plucky asked. Babs went down and all her brothers and sisters stopped talking and stared at her. "Hiya folks. I'm heeeeere!" Babs said. "What's going on out there?" Babs' mother said from the next room. "Mom! It's me!" Babs yelled, "I'm home!" "Who are you and why are you in my house...err, burrow?" she asked. "Mom, it's Babs," Babs said. Babs' mother froze for a second, then walked into the other room. It had been six years since she'd been back to Acme Acres, just like Buster and Plucky. Also, she had never called home and hadn't talked to anybody here in all that time. "Babs. When do you get here?" she asked. "Just now," Babs said. "Are you planning to stay?" she asked. "Probably not," Babs said. "Then I should say this now," she said, sound like she was about to say something very important. "What is it?" Babs asked, sounding like she was expecting something very significant to be said. "Young lady, what's the big idea not calling home in six years?!?" she yelled. "Mom?" Babs asked, sounding surprised at what she was saying. "Could you not pick up a phone in six years of running around, guest starring on TV shows and recording an album? Have you not had ten free minutes to let me know where you are and what you're doing?" she asked. "Well, I could have but..." Babs began. "But nothing! You should have called! Now go to your room!" she yelled. Babs began walking in the direction of her old room, but then stopped. "Wait a second! I don't have a room here anymore. And I'm 24. You can't tell me to go to my room!" Babs said. "Sorry, old habits," her mother said. "So who got my room?" Babs asked. "Nobody," she replied. "Nobody?" Babs asked. "Nope. Almost everybody wanted it, but well, I couldn't give it away," she said. "But I'm sure one of them could use it," Babs said. "Come with me," she said. The two walked into Babs' old room. To Babs' great surprise, it was kept in tact after all this time. "Mom, it's still the same," Babs said, the surprise very apparent in her voice. "I know. I could have just put all the stuff in the attic like I've done to everybody else's stuff once they left, but I couldn't," she said. Then, her mother walked out of the room leaving Babs to look around. She saw her old phone in the corner, where she used to spend countless hours talking to Harriet about almost everything, especially boyfriends. She would also call Shirley and Fifi, two more old friends she'd had no contact with over all these years talking about the same kinds of things. She would also hear Shirley complain about Plucky. They were just conversations at the time but she missed them now. She didn't have any friends like that now where she could just call up and talk about anything. She jumped and landed on her old bed. All she took with her when she moved out was her clothes and some money. She began to remember the day she moved out. ( Flashback to six years ago. July 5th, the day she moved out ) "Mom, I wish you would just calm down!" Babs said. "Babs, this is a terrible idea!" her mother yelled. "We've been talking about this for weeks. Can't you just accept this already?" Babs asked. "No. Babs you have good enough grades to get into some sort of college. Why won't you even try to further your education?" she asked. "Because, I can do so much better than what a job I'd get from going to college will get me. And, you've got lots of other kids to think about. They might not be able to make it without college, but I can. Don't waste that money on me," Babs said. "I'll be alright. The money is not a problem!" her mother said. "Mom I've made up my mind. I can make it this way, trust me," Babs said. "You don't know that. One little singing job isn't going to assure you of a career, and neither is that small movie part you got," she said. "I think I'm good enough! Don't you?" Babs asked. "Does that matter?" her mother asked. "Yes! Since I became interested in singing you haven't offered a single opinion on my talent. Same goes for acting," Babs said. "It doesn't matter what I think. It matters what the studios think and what the record companies think," she said. "What do you think about my talent? Do you think I'm good enough to make it in either singing or acting?" Babs asked. "You want my honest answer?" her mother asked. "Yeah, I do," Babs said. Her mother inhaled very deeply before saying, "No Babs, I don't think you have the talent." "Fine, who cares what you think?" Babs said, now sounding very angry. She walked into the corner, grabbed her packed luggage and rushed out the door. ( End of Flashback ) Babs stood up from her bed and walked back into the living room to see her mother sitting with several of her siblings. "Now I remember what it was like the day I left," Babs said. "You got mad when I didn't say what you wanted to hear," Babs' mother said. "I know," Babs said. "Did you learn anything from that?" Babs' mother asked. "Yeah, don't trust your assessment of talent," Babs said. "What?" Babs' mother asked. "I have a hit song and I just finished my U.S. tour! I was right, I could make it," Babs said. "Babs! Don't talk to rudely!" Babs' mother ordered. "Why not? You just told me I wasn't good enough so I would continue with school, didn't you?" Babs asked. "I don't have to listen to these allegations," Babs' mother said. "Tell me the truth this time," Babs said. "Alright, yes I thought you could make it. I didn't think you'd end up as a mega star, and I was right about that. You aren't. But I did think you could make a good living with your voice and your acting talent," Babs' mother admitted. "I understand your motivation for saying what you did, but it really hurt me when you said my best talent wasn't good enough!" Babs said. "I know, and I never meant to hurt you like that, but before I could apologize you stormed out of the house and off to the airport and I never saw you again," Babs' mother said. "I'm sorry for just running out like that, but I had a plane to catch," Babs said, "that recording studio in New York was waiting for me." "I know that, but was singing for a Pepsi commercial really important enough to sever your ties with your family for?" Babs' mother asked. "No, but I also knew that record companies listen to commercials for potential talent. And, after a few more commercials, I got on a couple of movie sound tracks and then got my first video made." "You know I've never heard your hit song, uh... what was it called again?" Babs' mother asked. "Blue," Babs said. "Right, I knew it was some color," she said. "Well, maybe you should some time," Babs said. "I'd like to. So, what are you doing in Acme Acres?" she asked. "You know about what they're doing at the school?" Babs asked. "Oh yeah. A new Tiny Toons, if I'm not mistaken," Babs' mom said. "Right," Babs said. "Well, I came to find out what its going to be like. Meet some of the new stars and make sure they aren't wrecking what we had with the original Tiny Toons. Speaking of which, I'm kinda in a hurry to get back there and make sure Bugs doesn't go through with any bad ideas for it." "Well, sequels rarely live up to the original," Babs' mother said. "I know. Actually we already went to the school, but we couldn't get in." Babs said. "We? And why would you go to the school before you'd even come to see your own family?" Babs' mother asked. "Oh, I didn't tell you. Plucky and somebody else are waiting outside," Babs said. "Somebody else?" Babs' mother asked. "Yeah, somebody who should remain nameless," Babs said. "Why should he remain nameless?" Babs' mother asked. "Because mentioning him just makes me want to break things. The only reason I let Buster come with me is because we all need a way to get into Acme Loo," Babs said. "It's Buster?" she asked. "Yeah," Babs said. "Isn't it rude to leave those two waiting outside?" Babs' mother asked. "I didn't think you'd want them to come in too," Babs said. "And you three are just going to the school to check on the new cast?" Babs' mother asked. "Well, I am. They have their own reasons," Babs said. "You wouldn't try for a job on the new show?" Babs' mother asked. "I don't think so," Babs replied. "Oh," Babs' mother said sounding very disappointed. "Well, I think I should go now. The sooner we figure out a way to make Bugs let us in, the sooner I can stop him from making any mistakes with it," Babs said. "Are you coming back?" Babs' mother asked. "I might," Babs said. "Well, in case you don't," Babs' mother said. She then walked over and they hugged. "Good bye, Babs," Babs' mother said. "Good bye, mom," Babs said. Babs then walked out, saying good - bye to every sibling she recognized on her way out. "You're finally done in there," Plucky said. "Yeah. Plucky, did you want to go somewhere?" Babs asked. "Yeah, I do," Plucky said. "Babs, me and Plucky were talking. Now, I've never heard any of your music, but Plucky explained to me how your lone hit "Blue" goes," Buster said. "What about it?" Babs asked. "After hearing the lyrics, I came to the realization that the song is about me, isn't it?" Buster asked. "Oh, Buster, that's absurd," Babs said. "No, that song is about our break up, isn't it?" Buster asked. "Fine, I admit it. Yes, it is!" Babs said. "What's with the part that says something about a reason to my anger you never knew about?" Buster asked. "That part is made up," Babs said. "I don't think it is," Buster said. "Stop bothering me! Where that came from is none of your business!" Babs screamed about an inch from his face. Buster looked stunned at this sudden pouring out of rage on her part. "I would love to sit here and discuss the meaning of Babs' songs, but can we please get going?" Plucky asked, sounding very impatient. "Alright let's go," Babs said. The three discussed a few ideas about getting into Acme Looniversity, but none of them would work. The best idea would've been try being the Vanderbunnies offering to donate money to the school, but there were two reasons why that wouldn't work. One was Buster and Babs didn't like each other enough anymore to be able to do something like that together and two, Bugs would probably see right through it. After a few more ideas were shot down, Plucky just shouted out, "Why don't we just break in there tonight?" "That's brilliant!" Babs said. "I was only kidding," Plucky said. "No, that's the best idea you've had all day. We could find out more by sneaking in that if we just ask and find out whatever they want to tell us. And we won't be rushed through by impatient teachers who are busy and they don't feel like talking," Babs said. "This is insane. We're going to break into a school. That's ludicrous!" Buster exclaimed. "Ah, who asked you. If you don't want to get in then we'll go without you," Babs said. "Give me some time to think about this, but it still sounds crazy to me," Buster said. "With or without you, we're breaking in," Babs said. "Plucky, how is breaking in going to help you get a job on the new show?" Buster asked. "Simple. I just slide my resume onto Bugs' desk and hope he finds it in the morning and calls me for an interview," Plucky said. "And Babs, how do you plan to make sure they're doing the new show right?" Buster asked. "Simple. Bugs has to have some files on both the new show and the cast. Since we're going to brake in anyway, I could bust into his desk," Babs said. "Babs, this isn't like you," Buster said. "How do you know what I'm like anymore?" Babs asked. "I don't but..." Buster began. "But nothing. I'm going. Plucky's going. If you don't want to go, you don't have to," Babs said. "Fine, I'm going. Speaking of going, where are headed to right now?" Buster asked. They walked up on a swamp and saw a bridge leading out to a house. "Oh, Plucky's house," Buster said. "Gee, what gave it away. The fact that we're walking up to a swamp or how we've gone back to you two's houses but not mine?" Plucky asked. "No need for sarcasm. It's just that I thought you would be rushing back to the school beginning for a job at this point," Buster said. The three of them walked up to Plucky's house. Plucky took a deep breath and rang the door bell. A woman in a wheelchair came to the door and opened it. A green duck woman with hair that was beginning to go gray. "Mom?" Plucky asked. His mother grew wide eyed at the first glimpse she'd seen of her son in six years. She stared at him completely frozen for a couple of minutes. "Well, are you going to say anything or aren't you?" Plucky asked. "I was pausing for effect," she said. "Can I come in?" Plucky asked. "Sure," his mother replied, wheeling herself out of the doorway. Plucky closed the door before Buster and Babs could walk in. He sat on the couch inside. "So why are you back?" Plucky's mother asked. "Is there something wrong with me coming to visit?" Plucky asked. "I seriously doubt the reason you're here has anything to do with visiting me and your father, Plucky," Plucky's mother said. "Well, what have I missed in the last six years?" Plucky asked. "What do you mean?" Plucky's mother asked. "Well, for starters, what's with the wheelchair?" Plucky asked. "Oh. Boating accident," she said. "Since when do you have a boat?" Plucky asked. "Well, as soon as you left, we could stop spending hundreds on stuff for you and we ended up with enough money to buy a boat," Plucky's mother said. "Oh. Is it permanent?" Plucky asked. "What, us not having to buy you things or the injury?" Plucky's mother asked. "What do you think?" Plucky asked. "Yes, Plucky, us not having to buy you stuff is permanent," Plucky's mother said. "I meant the injury," Plucky said. "No. They said within six months I should be able to walk again," Plucky's mother said. "That's good," Plucky said. "So, what have you been up to? I watch the entertainment section for your name," Plucky's mother said. "What a coincidence, so do I," Plucky mumbled under his breath. "Any projects in the works?" his mother asked. "No, I'm not in the middle of anything right now," Plucky said very unenthusiastically. "Oh. You don't sound very up about your career. I still remember the day you left. You were so excited," Plucky's mother said. "Does this mean we're about to go to another flashback?" Plucky asked. "Yes it does," his mother replied, "back to when you first agreed to go with Don to Hollywood on your way to an acting career." ( flashback to the afternoon Plucky decided his future six years ago ) "Wow! That's great! Bye!" Plucky yelled as he hung up the phone. "Who was that?" Plucky's mother asked. "Don," Plucky said. "Oh right. That agent professor Daffy says will represent you and make you a star. Did he call to tell you the truth? Like, he can't live up to what Daffy said about him?" Plucky's mom asked. "No. He came to discuss my future. And we came up with a plan for me to become a star," Plucky said. "And he can wait until you finish your four years of college for this plan?" Plucky's mother asked. "Well no. Actually I need to talk to you about that. The first part is for me to leave Acme Acres and go to Hollywood to live," Plucky said. "Plucky, you really need to finish your education. Acting is no sure thing," his mother said. "I can't waste time learning while others get all the good roles," Plucky said. "Plucky, you're eighteen. You're not going to get the good roles anyway," Plucky's mother said. "I think I can get some good roles," Plucky said. "There is really nothing to talk about. Tell him to call back in four years," Plucky's mother told him. "No. I already accepted his offer," Plucky said. "Plucky! How could you?" she asked. "This is my future!" Plucky said. "You don't know if you can make a future out of this. The risk is too big," Plucky's mother told him. "There is nothing to talk about!" Plucky said. Plucky then stormed off into his room. It would only be a couple of weeks before he left, and when he did, no real good-byes were exchanged. His parents fully expected this to fall through at some point, but it didn't. Until now that is. ( End of Flashback ) "I remember. Don said he'd make you a star. I can't believe him making all those promises like he did, and taking you to Hollywood before you even finished school," his mother said. "There was a part of all that I lied about," Plucky said. "What part?" His mother asked. "Well, back then. Don wanted me to finish school before I left. He said it would make me a more intelligent person and that I could learn more acting techniques, and if acting didn't work out I could always get another job. But, I pressured him to help me get my career under way immediately, and eventually he submitted and he agreed," Plucky said. "Plucky why?" his mother asked. "I wanted to become a star right away," Plucky said. "But you're not a star yet. What have you been doing since you left?" she asked. Plucky could tell her the truth. That his acting career was bust and he now had no agent and he was here with one last chance for an acting job before he gave up on his dreams, but he wasn't about to admit to her that he failed and she was right. "Reading scripts and doing some small parts. I have some options for my first star role I'm thinking over right now," Plucky said. "And how's Don?" she asked. "He's doing alright," Plucky said. "There is one thing I forgot to mention to you, Plucky," Plucky's mother said as she noticed her husband walking up to the house. "What?" Plucky asked. Just then the door knob turned and Plucky's father walked in. Holding his hand was a small duckling, maybe three years old. "That was fun, daddy," the child said. "It was better than the last time I went miniature golfing," his father said to the child. The kid than ran into Plucky's old room. Plucky's father then looked over and saw Plucky with a stunned look on his face. "Plucky! Oh my God, what are you doing here?" he asked. "I have a bigger question. Who the Hell was that and why did he call you daddy?" Plucky asked. "You've... missed a lot son," he said. "Apparently. Somebody tell me what's going on!" Plucky demanded. "Well, a few years after you moved out, your father discovered a small blue pill," Plucky's mother said. "Huh?" Plucky asked. "Remember when we went miniature golfing when you were just a duckling. You beaned me in a sensitive area with the club by accident, and I said you'd be an only child because of it? Well, I hope you've figured that statement out by now. And this pill corrected that," he said. "Oh," Plucky said. "So three years ago we had that child. He's your brother Plucky," his mother said. Plucky fainted. Plucky's eyes opened slowly and he saw Buster, Babs, and his parents standing over him. He sat up on the couch they placed him on. "I must have hit my head pretty hard, because I thought you said I had a brother," Plucky said. "You do," his mother replied. Plucky almost fainted once again, but managed to retain consciousness. "So what's his name?" Plucky asked. "Dale," his mother replied. "He just turned three a few weeks ago." "This is really too much. You know, I think I have to be leaving now," Plucky said, getting up. His mother grabbed him by the shoulder and he sat back down. "I know it's unusual to have a brother that you're twenty one years older than. We never expected to have another child. Ever. But, we did and we love Dale. I think you'd like him too, if you would talk to him before you dash out the door for another six years and go back to your career." "Fine, I'll go talk to him. Does he even know about me?" Plucky asked. "No," his father said. "What? You never told him about me?" Plucky asked. "No. Sorry but we never thought you were coming back. He's just now old enough to even understand, and before today it had been six years since we heard from you. You never even called," his mother explained. "You still could have told him he had a brother. You could have told me I have a brother," Plucky said. "And how did you expect us to tell you? We didn't know how to reach you and you never called us!" His mother said. "I want to meet him. I'll stay for at least a little while and talk to him. Buster, Babs. You go somewhere. I'll meet you at eleven thirty tonight you know where for you know what," Plucky said. "Alright," Buster said. "See you then, Plucky," Babs said. The two rabbits tried to get through the front door before the other, but ended up getting caught in the doorway until they eventually squeezed through. "Maybe you should explain to Dale who I am first," Plucky said. "Yeah, that would be better," Plucky's mother said, "I'll go talk to him." "Son, how is the acting going?" Plucky's father asked. Plucky got nervous. He had one chance left of making it work before it was over, but he couldn't admit defeat. "Alright. I've got some scripts I'm deciding between right now," Plucky said. "Really? What are they?" his father asked. "If I knew that than that would mean I already read the scripts," Plucky said. They both laughed a little. "And you're here why?" his father asked. "Scouting a location for a film. One movie I'm thinking of doing has a scene they want to do in Acme Acres and I want to check the place out for myself," Plucky said. "Alright," his father said. "What's Dale like?" Plucky asked. "He's a great kid. Kinda like you were at that age," his father said. "That bad, huh?" Plucky asked. They both laughed. "He's full of energy and very lively. He asks so many questions and seems to always be having fun," his father said. Then he sighed. "What?" Plucky asked. "Well, it's hard to keep up with a three year old at out age. We're into our fifties now and while he can move like that, we can't. And if we want to retire in ten years or so, we can't afford to hire help with him," Plucky's father explained. Plucky almost expected to be asked to help with him, but fortunately enough his mother came in at that moment. "Okay, Plucky. Dale seems to be looking forward to meeting you," Plucky's mother said. Plucky smiled and walked into his room. "How much like Plucky do you think Dale is going to be?" Plucky's father asked. "Oh, not too much. They're both full of energy, and they were both full of curiosity at this age. But Dale isn't as demanding," Plucky's mother said. "What do you mean?" Plucky's father asked. "Remember the golf balls? And the elevator? He needed to have everything his way or no way. Dale isn't like that," Plucky's mother said. "I know. Dale was also quicker to catch on to some things than Plucky at this age," Plucky's father added. Plucky walked in and saw what used to be his room and saw the child that resembled him when he was young playing on the floor of his room. "Hi, Dale," Plucky said. "Hi," Dale said in a loud, squeaky little kids voice. Even his voice reminded Plucky of himself at that age. "So, what are you doing?" Plucky asked. "Nothing," he replied. "Okay. Didn't look like nothing," Plucky said. "I'll tell you, but it's a secret," Dales said. Plucky closed the door and said, "Okay tell me." "I'm practicing for the WWF!" he yelled. Plucky's eyes grew wide with horror and asked, "Why?!?" "I want to be Stone Cold Dale Duck!" Dale yelled. "Do your... our parents know that you watch that junk?" Plucky asked. Plucky then realized that he was now starting to sound like an adult. "No. I sneak out of my room to watch it," Dale said. "Now you really do remind me of myself at your age," Plucky said. "Why?" he asked. "Because I used to sneak out of my room to watch TV too," Plucky told him. "Why?" Dale asked. "Are you one of those kids who says why after everything?" Plucky asked. "Why?" Dale asked. "Obviously you are," Plucky said. Plucky talked for a while longer with him before he emerged from the kid's room. "What did you think of him?" his dad asked. "He seems nice enough. A little odd, but who am I to judge that?" Plucky asked. "Yeah. He's a handful," Plucky's mother said. "I noticed that," Plucky said. "Are you staying for dinner?" his mother asked. "I can, yeah," Plucky said. "Can I go get my car first?" Plucky asked. "Sure. How about I drive you to wherever you left it, and then you drive home in it and I'll drive home in my car?" his father asked. "Okay," Plucky replied. Plucky couldn't believe that waiting outside was the same car his father had ten years ago. "You never got around to buying a new car?" Plucky asked as he stepped into the front seat. "Nope," his father replied. The two talked a little as they drove off towards the school. When they drove around back to Plucky's car, the two bunnies car's were gone as well. He also saw the door to the gym. He remembered during the junior prom when he was fourteen seeing his dad still waiting outside in this very same car while Plucky and Shirley went inside and danced. "I'll go to my car now. See you at home... err, you know what I mean," Plucky said. "Yeah okay. Bye, Plucky," his father said. Plucky walked over to his car. The sun was beginning to set in Acme Acres. All the teachers had already left the school, except for one. A single light was left on inside and two cars were in the teacher's parking lot. As Plucky sat down in his car, since he saw the place where he and Shirley had their first really serious date, he also remembered how Shirley left. ( flashback to age 17 ) Plucky saw Shirley, crying uncontrollably, running towards down the hall at the end of the day. She ran up, wrapped her arms around him and cried on his shoulder. "What's wrong, Shirl?" Plucky asked. "Plucky, this is like totally HORRIBLE!!!" Shirley yelled. "Well, of course it is. It's report card day," Plucky replied. "No. I've like never done this bad before," Shirley said above the tears. "Don't feel bad, Shirley. I do this bad all the time," Plucky said, looking at her report card. She began crying even louder now. "Why did you do worse than before? Did you not study? Dog eat your homework? You sleep through exams? What?" Plucky asked. "Plucky, that's like what you did I like did totally bad because of that idiot Yosemite Sam!" Shirley said. "What? What'd Sam do?" Plucky asked. "He like told me the whole semester during history that like this like psychic stuff is all phony and he liked kept failing me because of it. Then he like made the other teachers," Shirley said. "It's okay, Shirley. You only have a year and a semester left to deal with him," Plucky said. "Like, I can't put up with him anymore!" Shirley exclaimed." And I have a class with him next semester. He's totally ruining my whole school life!" "What can you do about it?" Plucky asked. "Like, I don't know!" Shirley said. She went home crying that night. She didn't call any of her friends. She did make one call and the next day, a note was found on her kitchen table explaining that she left to join a large group of Loons like herself in Arizona. Plucky was upset when he found out, and had no address, phone number or email address to contact her at. Plucky never saw her past that day, and he was still angry with Sam for driving her out of the school. Plucky couldn't do anything at the time, but if he got on the new TTA in some capacity he could get back at Sam some how. Shirley left just as the two were getting serious as a couple. ( end of flashback ) Plucky shook his head after the flashback and began driving home. It was almost totally dark now. As soon as Plucky walked in the door, he walked into his Dad's office and began typing out his resume. "Plucky, dinner!" His mother yelled from the other room. Plucky hit the print key, grabbed and folded the printed resume and pocketed it for dropping on Bugs' desk later on that night. The diner was one of the most pleasant Plucky had ever had with his family. When he was a kid, most dinners consisted of him grabbing his food and running to the TV Now he was sitting with his parents and his brother eating and talking, dispite the fact he was very anxious to get to the school. He was under the impression a role might be given away in the middle of the night if he didn't get to it right now. While all this was going on, Babs had gone to eat with her family and Buster was eating out and driving around. He wasn't going to go sit in the powerless, dust riddled hole in the ground he used to call home. All the families were asleep. Plucky didn't know if he was going to come back or not. He placed his cell phone number on the form he was leaving for Bugs. Babs had no plan to stay in Acme Acres. She was going to go to the hotel that her agent was at after this and then begin discussing her future in the morning. She did call him and tell him when she would be showing up. Finally, the time came. All of them in their respective locations put on black clothing. "This should be interesting," Plucky said to himself as he walked out the door. He didn't say anything to his family. He figured when he was done leaving his application for a job on the new TTA and doing some looking around, provided he didn't get arrested for breaking and entering, he would be coming back tonight. Babs told only told one person that she was even leaving: her now seventeen year old brother Mortimer. She then walked out of the burrow and began driving. Buster had ended up in a singles Bar because he had no place to go. He looked at his watch, kissed a girl good night and drove away. Around eleven thirty all three cars drove up. All three of them were carrying flashlights. "Are you sure we want to do this?" Buster asked. "I told you before. You can leave if you want to," Babs said. "No, I'm just making sure nobody is going to have any regrets later," Buster said. "We don't have time for this. Bugs could be casting the wrong people as we speak!" Babs said. "Let's all hope we don't get arrested," Plucky said. "Okay, here we go," Buster said. He climbed the thirteen stairs to the doors of Acme Looniversity. All three tried pulling, but they were locked too tightly. "Anybody bring something to break the door with?" Babs asked. "Hang on," Buster said. He ran back down the stairs and stood ten feet from the door. He then dashed forward and kicked it in. The lock on the door shattered and the doors opened. Acme Looniversity never got around to installing a security system. They walked in and drew their flashlights. Right away they knew everything was different. The school looked ominous when it was almost completely dark. "Doesn't it seem weird that three minor celebrities are breaking and entering into a school?" Plucky asked. "That would be any of our agents worst nightmare, for us to do something like this," Buster said. "Yeah... hehehe, agents," Plucky said, laughing nervously. "Where do we go first?" Babs asked. "Bugs' office of course," Plucky said. The three of them ran down the dark hall with only their flashlights providing light. They reached the door to the Principal's office and kicked it in. "This office hasn't changed a bit!" Buster exclaimed. He looked around and saw an unchanged office. Plucky quickly placed the piece of paper he brought with him on Bugs' desk. "Help me find the new show files," Babs said. "It's harder to break into a desk than through a door," Buster said, "that is, if he locked his." "Nope," Babs said as she pulled it. "I wonder why it has locks on it then," Babs said. "The keyholes are just stickers," Babs said, peeling one off. "Very clever," Buster said. Babs began throwing files around as she looked for the new show file. "Let's see here... attendance, grades, credits earned..." Babs said as she looked through them. "Found it!" Buster yelled. All three crowded around to look at it. "It says there are still two cast vacancies, both for adult roles," Buster said. "Yes!" Plucky yelled. "Calm down, Plucky," Buster said. Plucky picked up a pen and wrote his name in one of the vacant spaces. "Plucky, I don't think that's going to work," Buster said. "Why not?" Plucky asked. "Well, for one thing the rest of the file isn't written in pen," Buster said. "Oh fine," Plucky said, ripping that part of the file off. "Babs, go back into that other file and get these students' files out," Buster said. "Hey you can't tell me what to do!" Babs protested. "Babs, this is for your information. Personally, I couldn't care less. I'm just here to see the school. Speaking of which, we probably don't have that much time until somebody shows up here. Let's not waste more time than we have to," Buster said. "Oh calm down, nobody is going to come to a school in the middle of the night," Plucky said. Babs found the files and began looking them over. "These kids don't sound half as interesting as us!" Babs exclaimed after looking at them. "I know. I was a once in a lifetime find," Plucky said. "Shut up, Plucky!" Buster and Babs said simultaneously. They both chuckled a little, but tried to hold it back. They didn't want spending time together again to be fun, but this was. None of them had had this much fun in years. "They're going to use these boring, faceless kids as the cast?" Babs asked. "Sneezer and Sweetie might not be bad," Buster said. "Because they learned from us," Plucky said. "Consider this. Do you think Bugs, Daffy, and the rest of them thought the same way about us?" Buster asked. "I don't think so," Plucky said. "Why? If you just describe our personalities to somebody else how interesting do we sound until you meet us?" Buster asked. "Better than this!" Babs declared. "Well, anyway, I think we should reserve judgement on them" Buster said. "Have you seen what you want to see in here?" Plucky asked. "I didn't want to see anything in here, so yeah, I am," Buster said. "I guess so. Hey, should we put back all these papers we just kinda threw everywhere?" Babs asked. "Nah!" All three said simultaneously. They then ran out of office and stopped in the hallway. "Take a look at that," Buster said, shinning the flashlight on the wall. "What about it?" Babs asked. "Look at the color they changed it to," Buster said. "Ugh. Why did they paint the walls?" Babs asked. "I don't know," Buster said. "Look at these floors," Plucky said. "Why'd they have to change the floors?" Buster asked. "I want to see if some stuff is still here," Plucky said. He took off down the hall and the other two followed. "What room is this?" Buster asked. "Elmer Fudd's," Plucky said. "It's locked," Babs said, trying to open it. "Well, we've already broken a couple of doors. What's another one?" Babs asked. "Nothing," Buster said. He then kicked in the door. "Does anybody else feel weird with this breaking and entering thing?" Plucky asked. "Well, yeah. My heart is pounding out of my chest and I feel dumb for breaking into a school. On the other hand, being in here gives you a good feeling. It kinda feels like the old days, doesn't it?" Babs asked. "Not... not really," Buster said, sounding very insincere. "Why did you want to come in Fudd's room?" Babs asked. "To check something," Plucky said. He ran over to his old desk. "They're gone!" Plucky said. "You haven't been in here in six years. Unlike you they have cleaned up in the last six years. They clean the old gum off at the beginning of every summer," Babs said. "No! I left some stuff hidden well at the back of this desk and now it's gone!" Plucky said. "And that suprises you?" Buster asked. "Oh great. Why did they keep my ruler? Why did they keep my notebook?" Plucky asked himself. "I still remember how much fun everybody had in this class making fun of ol' Elmer," Babs said. "We were cruel and immature back then," Buster said. "Would you do the same thing now?" Babs asked. "Of course," Buster said. "You wanna trash Elmer's room?" Babs asked. "Trash a teacher's classroom? Do we dare live out every kid's dream?" Plucky asked. "Babs, we aren't here to trash the place. We're here to look around. We just needed to check Bugs' office for information," Buster said. "Sorry. I just always wanted to trash certain teacher's rooms," Babs said. "I know one teacher's room I'd love to trash," Plucky said. "Who's?" Buster asked. "Sam's," Plucky said. "I can figure out why," Buster said. "He drove Shirley out of the school, and I wouldn't be surprised if that year fifteen kids transferred wasn't his fault," Plucky said. "Plucky, we all hated Sam, and we all wish Shirley would have stayed, but we can't change that now," Buster said. "You weren't exactly his favorite student," Plucky said. "Well actually he hated me," Buster said. "He hated me too," Babs said. "Yeah, but can you blame him for that one?" Buster asked. "Hey!" Babs yelled. Buster chuckled. "Just kidding, Babs," Buster said. "Plucky, we want to keep property damage caused by us to a minimum. All destruction so far was necessary. We'd all love to trash Sam's classroom to get back at him, but if we get caught we're in big trouble," Buster said. "The police aren't going to add anymore on to our punishment if we get caught. We've always ripped apart a room and broken in. One more room won't make a big difference," Plucky explained. "Hmm. Plucky, you've got five minutes. Get down to Sam's classroom, do as much damage as you can short of blowing the place up and come back," Buster said. Plucky dashed out of the class and down the hall into Sam's room. "Now was that a good idea?" Babs asked. "Yes," Buster replied. Just then they heard a loud thud coming from down the hall. "Plucky turn your flashlight back on!" Buster yelled down to him. Plucky flipped his light on. "I'm tired of sitting in here. I want to walk around," Babs said. "Fine, let's go," Buster said. "Who invited you?" Babs asked. "We're not all getting separated in this dark school," Buster said. "Why? We have it memorized," Babs said. "Let me go by myself!" "Barbara Anne Bunny, I'm coming with you!" Buster yelled. "Don't call me that! EVER!" Babs yelled. "I just remembered that it ticks you off now," Buster said. "And I happen to know that the press has no idea what you full name is. Would you like everybody to call you by your full name?" "No! You can't tell them!" Babs yelled. "Then let me come with you," Buster said. "Fine," Babs said. The two walked out of Elmur's old room and could hear the smashing of objects from down the hall. "Has it been five minutes yet?" Babs asked. "Not yet," Buster said, shinning his light on his watch. After two more minutes, Plucky emerged from his destructive raid on Sam's room. "That felt good!" Plucky shouted. "Where do we go now?" Buster asked. "The locker area. Let's throw the kid who's in there now out!" Plucky yelled. "Plucky, we aren't here to cause destruction!" Buster said. "But it'll be fun!" Plucky said. "Has any of this been fun?" Buster asked. "Yes," Plucky and Babs said simultaneously. "Okay, we'll go to the locker area," Buster said. They reached the area and saw locks on their old lockers. "Think of how many conversations we had in front of these things. I asked Shirley out by lockers more times than I can remember," Plucky said. "Yeah, I discovered more bad smells because of these lockers than from anything else," Buster said. "What about the cafeteria?" Plucky asked. "I stand corrected," Buster said. "Well, this locker doesn't belong to this kid anymore!" Plucky yelled. He brought a chair with him from Sam's room and he smashed open the locker with it. "What's the name of the kid it belongs too?" Babs asked. "Sneezer," Plucky said. "Oops." "Oh well. I'm next," Babs said. She did the same thing to her old locker. "I'm next," Buster said. "I thought we weren't here to break stuff," Babs said, mocking what Buster had said repeatedly. "You two are going to do it anyway, I might as well," Buster said. "Let's see. I have a chair in my hands and Buster's head is only a few feet away," Babs said, "if this was an anvil or mallet I'd be nailing you with it." "Babs, if we were still fourteen and this was still like a cartoon then that would work and I'd just get flattened. But now they call that assault," Buster said. "Really? Darn," Babs said, "growing up bites." "No kidding. We have to get a job and act like people instead of being toony," Plucky said. "That's one reason I wanted to come back in here. To relive those days before life becomes totally serious come June. I figured my chance to come back was about to expire," Buster said. "What happens in June?" Plucky asked. "I go to 49ers training camp and work out for fifteen or sixteen years before I retire," Buster said. "How do you know you'll make the team?" Plucky asked. "Not many teams cut a first round draft pick in training camp," Buster said. "Okay, but it could happen," Plucky said. "Yeah, but I completed university, too," Buster said, "I could always find a normal job. I won't have to, but if I did I could." "Ew. How long has that picture been here?" Babs asked from down the next hall. She was standing in front of the Buster picture on the walls. "They asked me for an autographed picture to inspire the football team," Buster said. Babs reached up and ripped it off the wall. "How long has that payphone been down here?" Babs asked. "I don't know. It wasn't there when we were," Plucky said. "Well, I'm tearing the phone out of the wall," Babs said. She then ripped the phone out of the wall and it fell to the ground with a huge crashing sound. All the change spilled out. "Why did you do that?" Buster asked. "If it wasn't here when we were than it doesn't belong here!" Babs declared. "What are you talking about?" Buster asked. "Back there when you said how seeing this place made you miss the old days. Well, I get the same feeling, and now I want it to be like the old days!" Babs said. "I didn't know you were the sentimental type," Buster said. "There's a lot of things you don't know," Babs said. Down the hall from them, Buster flashed his light on a sign that said," Left: Football Field. Right: Gym." "Ah, your precious football field!" Babs yelled. "You never had a problem with me playing until one day when we were eighteen, and now that has caused you to hate me. Tell me why," Buster said. Babs got a little misty eyed. "What? What aren't you telling me?" Buster asked. "Nothing!" Babs insisted. "Tell me!" Buster said. "Fine, I'll tell you why at that time I really got mad at you. Bugs was angry that you wanted a football career instead of making more cartoons despite the future he could promise you at Warner Bros. He also knew that me and you were getting really serious. He asked me to get you to quit football by threatening not to see you again, but act like I wanted you to quit. Personally I was happy for you and the success you were having. Bugs promised me a major starring role in a Warner Bros. movie, a part where I could sing and act, if I could get you to quit. I tried the only way I knew how to get you to quit and you dumped me because of it," Babs said. "The reason I act so angry towards you know is because, even though it was unintentional, you cost me a shot at instant stardom. Now I'm a quasi famous singer who has had no major acting parts." "I didn't know," Buster said. "I haven't seen you play in a long time. Are you any good?" Babs asked. "I'm in the pros now," Buster said. "Lots of people in the pros are lousy. Look at the Detroit Lions. Do you have one of those football nicknamed yet?" Babs asked. "Somebody in college called me the buoy," Buster said. "What's that?" Plucky asked. "One of those things they throw in the water to mark where it gets deep," Buster said. "And why do they call you that?" Plucky asked. "Because they want to toss him in the ocean," Babs said. "No. Because when I've made my best plays, I've always been tipping over or leaning hard to one side. Buoys bob from side to side," Buster said. "Remember the Senior Acme Bowl?" ( flashback to Senior Acme Bowl, age 18 ) "You do know there are ten scouts looking at both you and Roderick out there, don't you?" Plucky asked him in the Acme Locker room before the game. "Thanks for reminding me," Buster replied. "Oh relax," Plucky said. "Relax. Ha! My whole future depends on this game. The scouts don't care about the passing records I set before this game. They wouldn't even be looking at me if our team didn't make it this far. My whole future depends on this game, you know. If that wasn't enough, I broke up with Babs today," Buster said. "You did?!?" Plucky asked, sounding very surprised. "Yeah. Apparently she had some big problem with me choosing football as my future," Buster said. "That's too bad. But listen don't think about that. Maybe one of the scouts out there will notice me, too," Plucky said. "Plucky, I'm the quarterback, you're the receiver, and I don't notice you out there," Buster said. "Is that why you never pass to me?" Plucky asked. "That and you always drop the ball," Buster said. The Acme uniforms had changed. Thanks to Montana Max's sizeable bribe to make the team a few years back, they could afford new uniforms. Instead of just having the old white, boring, A on their uniforms, these ones were a darker shade of blue with numbers on the front and back, the players names on the back and an italic " A " on the shoulders. It wasn't a big surprise that Perfecto was the opponent in the senior championship. There had been rumors about the team being on steroids for three years, but nobody could prove it. Rumors also surrounded the doctors about them taking bribes to say Perfecto tested negative. "Buster, they're about to introduce you," Plucky said, running out of the locker room. Buster put on his #9 jersey and his helmet and he ran out of the room. "Quarterback from Acme Looniversity. Wearing #9 Buster Bunny," the announcer blared. The packed Acme stadium cheered, but Buster couldn't hear them through his helmet very well. He actually preferred not to hear them so it would be one less thing to distract him. The scouts weren't just there to see Buster. They also wanted to see Roderick Rat on perfecto. Perfecto also changed their uniforms to look better. The difference was the rich Perfecto team had Nike make theirs for a cost of $150 a jersey. It had reached the fourth quarter and Buster hadn't missed a pass in thirty attempts. The problem his team's defense was playing terribly and they couldn't run the ball at all. It was the stereotypical TV situation where it all came down to one play. The problem was, they were fifty yards from the end zone and they needed a touchdown to win. The scouts stood up and watched. "Hey! I think those guys on Perfecto are ringers," Plucky said looking over at the Perfecto sidelines right after Buster called the last play. "What do you mean?" Buster asked. "Well, that nearly seven foot tall guy is wearing a Jacksonville Jaguars helmet with his name on it instead of the Perfecto helmet," Plucky said. "I didn't see him there before," Buster said. "He just came out," Plucky said. "Great. Well, here goes nothing," Buster said. The team came out of the huddle with disappointed looks on their faces like they already lost the game, except for Buster. The ball was snapped and Buster ran around behind the line waiting for his receivers to make it to the end zone. Time just expired, so after this play the game was over. As his receivers were a few yards from the end zone, Perfecto players were a few inches from him. He ran horizontally and was now about two steps from the end zone. This was it. If he took another step forward he'd run into Perfecto defense. On one side was defenders and if he stepped the other way he would go out of bounds and end the game. He leaned as far as he could into the end zone, since you don't count as out until your foot goes out, and threw the ball as hard as he could. He then fell onto the Acme sidelines face to the ground. He couldn't bare to watch anyway. He heard a deafening cheer and heard fireworks shoot off. "Don't even tell me that made it," Buster said as he stood up sounding excited now. He was mobbed by his teammates as soon as he got on his feet. He was knocked down again. He couldn't believe that the pass made it considering how incredibly off balance and how far he was leaning to the side. The coaches compared that pass to what a buoy in the water does. Hence the nickname. ( end of flashback ) "Oh yeah, I remember that," Plucky said. "I never did find out who caught that pass," Buster said. "Oh, uh... I did," Plucky said. "You did not!" Babs said. "How would you know? I looked at the seat reserved for you and you weren't there. You didn't see that game," Buster said. "Okay so Furrball did. So you made one leaning pass, big deal! Why would that earn you that nickname?" Plucky asked. "I won six or seven games in college on passes just like that," Buster said. "Buster, that reminds me. There's another part of why we broke up on that day I never told you," Babs said. "Oh great, more to this story," Buster said. "Yeah. Well, there was a reason Bugs told me to say what I said on that day specifically. He figured that it would distract you so much that you'd blow it in the championship game, the scouts would think you were bad and you'd go into cartoons," Babs explained. "If I ever see him again I definitely have some words for him," Buster said. "Right. I remember one time you wanted to tell Bugs off and you choked on the spot. You can't tell him off. He's your hero," Babs said. "He's not my hero anymore. He's just an old school principal that I used to admire," Buster replied. "Well, then who is your hero?" Babs asked. "Don't have one. I have to be some kid's hero now," Buster said. "Don't get so full of yourself, especially since you haven't even played a game yet," Babs said. The two didn't notice that Plucky had taken off and gone into the gym. "You two! Come here!" Plucky yelled. The two rabbits walked in and saw Plucky shinning his flashlight on a sign on the wall. "Proms: Juniors: Friday, May 16th Seniors: Friday May 23rd " the sign read. "Wow. I remember every prom we ever went to at this school," Babs said. "Me too," Buster said. "You should. You went to all of them with me," Babs said, but not in the harsh tone she'd used in talking to him most of the time since they reunited recently. This was in a nicer, gentler voice. "I remember all of them. Well except for when we were seventeen. I didn't go that year," Plucky said. "Oh right. That was only a little while after Shirley left and you hadn't found a new girlfriend yet," Buster said. "Right. And I wasn't looking again yet either," Plucky said. "I think that was the first time anybody realized you had a sensitive mature side," Buster said. "We're still looking for yours," Babs said to Buster. "There's that tone again. Answer a question for me Babs. Why are you mad at me? If I had known that me giving up my dream would allow you to fulfill yours than I gladly would have done it, and I don't know what you have to be mad at me for. You have given me the cold shoulder since I got here and I'm tired of it," Buster said. Babs looked surprised at what he said. "Well, what do you have to say to that?" Buster asked. "Buster... I'm... I'm sorry," Babs said," I feel terrible for acting like that. But people hardly ever like their ex's. And, when we broke up I was angry that you dumped me. I never saw you again after we broke up, so there was never any chance of an apology. I got mad at you because you never tried to find me and apologize," Babs said. "Well, we're here now aren't me?" Buster said. "Yes, and we might not ever see each other again," Babs said. "Maybe you two want to be alone for a minute," Plucky said as he slipped out the gym door. "Babs," Buster began. "Yes Buster?" Babs asked. Before Buster could say anything else, Plucky yelled, "Come here quick! I think somebody's in here!" The two rushed out into the hall with their flashlights on. Down the hall they could see a light get turned out. "When did somebody else come in here?" Babs asked in a whisper. "I don't know," Buster whispered. "Oh man," Plucky said sounding very nervous. "Why did we have to break in? We only came here to talk!" "Quiet down, Plucky! They'll hear us!" Babs said. "We should hide," Buster suggested. "Where?" Babs asked. "The gym," Plucky suggested. The three of them turned off their flashlights and ran into the gym. When they got in there, they flipped their flashlights back on and began looking for somewhere to hide. "Back here in the equipment room!" Plucky said. "No, that's too crowded!" Babs pointed out. "What about the dressing rooms?" Buster asked. "Okay, but we're going in the girls' one. The guys' one is always messy and disgusting," Babs said. "How would you know?" Plucky asked. "That's not your business," Buster told him. "Now I figured it out," Plucky said. "So, let's go!" Babs said. They began running, but Plucky ran into a floor hockey net that was left out in the gym. It made a loud crashing sound. "That hurt," Plucky said. "What was that?" They hear a nasal voice from down the hall ask. "Oh great! We're caught!" Plucky yelled. They scrambled for a place to hide, but before they could find a spot the lights got turned on. "Don't arrest me!" Plucky yelled. Standing next to the light switch was a pig in a suit, with a round face, a little overweight and a mile wide smile on his face. "Plucky!" He yelled. "Oh no, the cop knows my name! I'm toast!" Plucky yelled. "Cop? What are you talking about? It's me Hamton!" Hamton said. "Hamton? What are you doing at this school? And at two in the morning!" Plucky said. "I'll explain that in a second. Buster, Babs, get off the floor. Ducking down there isn't going to work as a hiding spot," Hamton said. "Oh sorry. Hi, Hamton," Babs said as she stood up. "Hamton. It's been forever since we saw you," Buster said," why are you here in the middle of the night? Actually, why are you here at all?" "I'm a student teacher. Currently I'm learning how to teach from Porky after going to university studying teaching," Hamton said. "I always thought you would make a good teacher. Especially since you were their pets for so long," Plucky said. "Well, Porky has taught me a lot of useful things. I'm here so late because me and him are collaborating on a new food class curriculum we want to submit to the board. Porky went home and I kept working on it. I fell asleep a couple of hours ago and woke up now. Fifi's going to kill me for being out to late. What are you guys doing here?" Hamton asked. "Well, we came here during the day but Bugs wasn't exactly happy to see us," Buster said. "That makes sense. He wasn't happy for a while when I started here," Hamton said," he's still bitter than none of us ended up doing cartoons after Tiny Toons, so he has it in for every cast member. I get the feeling that he came up with the idea of a new Tiny Toons series to either replace or forget the old ones." "I'm here to try to get a role on the new Tiny Toons," Plucky said. "Hmm. Don't know what you could do," Hamton said. "Well, I left my resume in Bugs' office," Plucky said. "When you broke the door open and ripped apart his office?" Hamton asked. "Actually, that was my fault," Babs said. "You see, I wanted to check what the new cast was like to make sure the new show wasn't going to be boring. My original idea was to talk to them in person or have Bugs give me a rundown on them. When they wouldn't let us in, I broke in with those two and checked the school records on them myself." "And Buster, why are you here?" Hamton asked. "Cameo pay," Buster said. "Be serious," Hamton replied. "Okay, okay. I was just curious to see how this place has changed. Since in June everything gets totally serious with my new career starting, I wanted one last chance to remember when everything was... what's the word I'm looking for?" Buster asked. "Happy?" Hamton suggested. "That works," Buster said. "Well, I guess I can understand that. I mean, while we were still going here as students everything was simple and enjoyable. Now life is complicated," Hamton said. "Wait a second! Did you say Fifi will kill me for getting home this late?" Babs asked. Hamton nodded yes. "You two are married?!?" she asked sounding stunned. Hamton smiled and nodded yes. "Wow! That's great! When did that happen?" Babs asked. "Well, after high school we both went to the same university. She actually studied business but found it boring and I kept studying teaching," Hamton said. "So what did she end up doing?" Babs asked. "Attending the modeling school of California," Hamton said.' "Wow," Buster commented. "Yeah. She studied there for three years and now she'd doing some small modeling jobs. Some catalogs and stuff like that," Hamton said. "Sounds like a great job," Babs said. "Well, she hasn't made it big yet. I'm confident she will. She's beautiful and talented," Hamton said. "Sounds like a lot of us," Babs said. "Why? We're not all beautiful and talented," Hamton said. "No, I mean we all haven't made it fully yet. We're all working towards making it big. You'd think by this time we'd all be doing what we always dreamed of," Babs said. "We're still young. You can't really expect to be a big star just yet. And Babs, Fifi likes your music," Hamton said. "Really? That's good," Babs said. "So, what are you going to teach?" Buster asked. "History, English and food," Hamton said. "All the stuff you were an expert in," Plucky said. "Well, if you want to talk to Bugs, you aren't going to get in the front door. You could stay here for a few more hours until he shows up," Hamton said. "Okay, but what about the damage we caused?" Babs asked. "We'll blame it on some Perfecto kids," Hamton said. "Works for me," Babs said. "So you are going to stay and talk with Bugs?" Hamton asked. "Yeah," all three of them replied. "Good. I think he has some issues to work out with you anyway," Hamton said." Specifically Buster." The three of them walked into Porky's old classroom down the hall and sat in the desks. "How do we explain to Bugs why we're here?" Babs asked. "I think he'll be so surprised you're here he won't care why you're here at five in the morning," Hamton said. "He comes in at five in the morning?" Plucky asked. "Yeah," Hamton said. "Since when?" Babs asked. "I don't know," Hamton said. For the next few hours they talked about how their lives and careers have been going. Hamton explained that he and Fifi lived in a large house in the suburbs of Acme Acres. "So you and Fifi are happy together?" Buster asked. "Oh yeah. We were together so long that we couldn't see each other with anybody else," Hamton said. "Oh," Buster said, sounding a little sad now. The part about being together so long with somebody got to him. "I noticed none of you have said anything about relationships," Hamton said. "Well, I've had some girlfriends, but none of them were really up to my standards," Plucky said. "They've all dumped you, huh?" Hamton asked. "Yes," Plucky replied. "What about you, Buster?" Hamton asked. Babs suddenly became very curious. "What? Oh right. Yeah, I have a girlfriend she's, uh, great," Buster said very nervously. "Oh," Babs said. Now she sounded disappointed. "Do you have a boyfriend, Babs?" Buster asked. "Yeah," Babs said. Both of them had lied to not look pathetic in front of the other. The fact that the other was involved with someone else deeply disappointed them both. Neither of them could deny they wished they were still together. At least not to themselves. They would deny it if anybody else asked, of course. "Oh no," Babs said. "What?" Hamton asked. "My agent probably thinks I'm dead or something. Is there a phone I can call him on?" Babs asked. "Well, there was a payphone, but that's not an option anymore. Use the one in the main office," Hamton said. Babs walked down and into the office, avoid the mess of papers on the floor, and picking up the phone. "Hello?" her very tired agent said when he picked up the phone. "It's Babs," Babs said. "Babs where the hell have you been?" he asked. "Sorry, I got sidetracked with some stuff," Babs said. "Well some guy called with a job offer I doubt you'd be interested in," her agent said. "Really? What?" Babs asked. "A lead role on a new WB sitcom," he said. "The lead role?" Babs asked. "Yeah. You're not thinking of taking it are you?" he asked. "Well, where does it film at?" she asked. "A studio ten minutes from Acme Acres, right by that sound studio you recorded your hit album at," he explained. "Right there? That's great!" she said. "Babs, have you lost your mind?" he asked. "It's the WB network!" "I don't care. Think about it. I could record my next CD and work on this job, and still be right next to Acme Acres," Babs said. "Well, if you really want to take it, I'll call them in the morning," her agent explained. "Thanks. Bye!" Babs said. Babs then ran back into Porky's old class ecstatic. "Guess what!" Babs yelled. "What?" Buster asked. "I got a starring role on a new WB show!" Babs yelled. "What?" Plucky asked. "It's a new sitcom on the WB, not the new TTA Plucky. I was offered the starring role!" Babs said. "Congratulations, Babs," Hamton said. "And you know what the best part is?" Babs asked. "What?" Hamton asked. "It's filmed like ten minutes from Acme Acres," Babs exclaimed. "And here I thought this place was a whole wide world apart," Plucky commented. "Remember the false advertising lawsuit because of that line in the starting?" Babs asked. "Oh yeah," Plucky said. "Well, that means I'll be working right there and I can live here!" Babs said. "Wow. That's amazing!" Hamton said. "You're moving back to Acme Acres?" Plucky asked. "Yes!!" Babs yelled. "I'm... happy for you," Buster said insincerely. Now he was jealous. "I can't wait!" Babs exclaimed. "It really hasn't changed that much since you moved away. Sometime I'll show you anything that has changed a lot," Hamton said. "Did you ever move away from here?" Plucky asked. "Nope. I went to school close by and now I work here," Hamton said. Just then a pair of headlights could be seen in the Acme Looniversity parking lot. "It's five already?" Babs asked. "Yes," Hamton said. "Well, here we go," Buster said to himself. Bugs walked into his office and noticed it looked like a hurricane hit it. He then saw the messed up hallways. Hamton walked out into the hall. "What happened here doc?" Bugs asked. "Just as I got here an hour ago I saw these Perfecto kids taking off. They must've done this, sir," Hamton said. "Why were you here so early?" Bugs asked. "I had some work I wanted to get a jump on. And, you have some visitors, sir," Hamton said. "At this time in the morning? Who, doc?" Bugs asked. "Buster, Babs, Plucky! Come out now!" Hamton said. The three former students walked out. Bugs' jaw hit the floor. "I thought I slammed the door in your faces yesterday," Bugs said. "No, I think we need to talk," Buster said. "I've got nothing to say to you, doc," Bugs said. "Why not? Why does it make you so angry that I don't do cartoons anymore?" Buster asked. "I'll tell ya why. Because when you left to take that football scholarship you acted like cartoons were below you. Well I'll tell you something, doc. I've been doing this for over sixty years and it isn't below me. And this has made me a star and rich beyond my wildest dreams. Football is temporary and this is forever. You've blown your chance at it too, doc, when I could have made sure you have a bright future in it. I have a lot of influence you know," Bugs said. "I know. But why did you assume I wanted to be a cartoon star? You see those two behind me? Babs and Plucky? Yeah, they're the acting types. They love it. I don't and why you apparently had some desperate need for me to follow your lead is beyond me," Buster said. "It has a secure future!" Bugs said. "How do you know? People could eventually get sick of me!" Buster said. "They're not sick of me, doc," Bugs said. "That's what you think," Buster said, "and unlike you I never had any catch lines or gags to run into the ground." "Even if they got sick of you, Warners would never take you off as long as I tell them not to," Bugs said. "So I stay there while nobody likes me and I look like an idiot?" Buster asked. "No, then we get you some co stars and make you more interesting," Bugs said. "Being in a cartoon was fine when I was a teen, but not now. That isn't what I want to do!" Buster said. "That is clear, doc," Bugs said. "So why do you have this hate for me because I don't want to be just like you anymore? Do you feel bad because you lost your protégé?" Buster asked. "No, it's just..." Bugs began. "And that's why you want to start a new TTA. Forget about me and mold somebody else who will be just like you for their whole lives, isn't it?" Buster asked. "Yes! You used to idolize me, and I thought you would end up just like me," Bugs said. "Why does it bother you so much that I didn't end up just like you? You're not my father and I wasn't going to follow in your footsteps," Buster said. "I know that, doc. I remember when we went on the Sally Jesse Raphael show and took that paternity test to prove that," Bugs said. ( flashback to the Sally show. Buster was 15 ) "Please welcome out next guest to the show. Buster, come on out," Sally said. Buster walked out from behind the door on the set and sat down. "Now Buster explain the situation to our audience," Sally said. "Well, I never see my parents and I don't remember even meeting them, so I don't know who they are. And, a lot of people say that Bugs Bunny might be my father, and I want to make sure he isn't," Buster said. "So you don't want Bugs to be your father?" Sally asked. "No. It's not that I don't like the guy, but it would be too weird for me. He's kinda my hero, and I like him better as just a person to look up to rather than a relative," Buster said. "Okay, let's bring Bugs out," Sally said. "Hello, Bugs," Sally said as Bugs sat down. "What's up, doc?" Bugs asked. "You know the situation. Is there a chance that you are the father of Buster here?" Sally asked. "Small chance. You see, me and a woman named Honey Bunny had a relationship but she took off fifteen years ago. There was something going around that she may have had a child and it might be from me, but I can't confirm anything," Bugs said. "I see. Well, you two go backstage and get tested and at the end of the show we'll see the results," Sally said. Buster and Bugs got backstage and saw a man in a white coat waiting for them. "I'll be testing you guys. My name is Rob," he said. "What's up, doc?" Bugs asked. "Oh, I'm not a doctor," he said. The end of the show came and Bugs and Buster were back on stage. "Rob, what was the result of the paternity test of Bugs and Buster?" Sally asked. "Sally, there is no possible chance Bugs Bunny is the father of Buster," Rob said. Buster smiled. Bugs didn't have a visible reaction. ( end of flashback ) "Were you disappointed when you got the proof you weren't my father?" Buster asked. "No, I knew it all along," Bugs said. "You act like you think you are by wanting me to have followed in your footsteps," Buster said. "I thought you had potential kid," Bugs said. "Well that isn't what I wanted to do. And I'm sorry that it seems to have made you angry. I wish you would get over it," Buster said with some of the anger removed from his voice. "I was hurt that you acted like my career choice was below you, and I wanted to see you succeed in cartoons. I just don't know how much you'll like playing in the NFL, doc," Bugs said. "I know, but I'm excited about it. After a while, cartoons felt more like work and became less and less enjoyable," Buster said. The tension had died down between them now. "I hope it works out, and I'm sorry for slamming the door in your face and how I was acting," Bugs said. "I'm sorry too," Buster said. "I think I have to go now." "I'm sorry to hear that, doc. If football doesn't work out and you need a job, make sure to come back here," Bugs said. "I will," Buster said. He then walked out. Bugs sat down and closed his eyes. "Buster, didn't you say before that you had some words to have with him?" Babs asked. "Nice way to ruin the sentiemental moment, Babs," Buster said. "Can you give me a job on the new TTA?" Plucky asked. Bugs looked up with his eyes being a little red and misty. The first time Buster left on bad terms the first time and Bugs was only angry. Now Buster was on his way out after they made up, and it did affect Bugs. "This isn't the best time, is it?" Plucky asked. "If you go away, doc, I'll give you a role on it. Come back in September," Bugs said. "Woo hoo!!!" Plucky yelled. Hamton and Babs smiled. The Tiny Toons reunion of sorts ended up with two cast members coming back. Babs bought her own burrow near her old one. She moved in that June. Plucky bought his own house on the side of the swamp opposite to where he used to live. Babs and Bugs had consulted about what to do on the new TTA several times. Nothing of major consequence happened until two days after the school year ended at Acme Looniversity. "Bugs here. What's up, doc?" Bugs asked when he picked up the phone. "Bugs, this is the Warner bros. head office. The president of Warners has stepped down and we want to offer you the job," the voice on the phone said. "But what about the new TTA?" Bugs asked. "We'll let you choose your own replacement. Do you want the job or should we offer it to Daffy?" he asked. "No I want it. I'll get back to you on the replacement situation," Bugs said. The following day Bugs still hadn't chosen his replacement when Bugs' secretary came in and said, "Bugs, you've got a visitor." "Send him in, doc," Bugs said. Bugs went to his feet when he saw Buster standing there. "Remember when you said if I ever needed a job to come back here?" Buster asked. "Yeah, doc?" Bugs asked. "Well, the 49ers cut me. During training camp my heart wasn't into playing," Buster said. "I've got the job for you. WB offered me the job as president and asked me to choose a replacement," Bugs said. "Okay," Buster said, sounding confused. "Are you back for good, doc?" Bugs asked. "Yeah," Buster said. "Now it's time to prove that you've come back here to rebuild then. What do you say to being named principal of Acme Looniversity? You would be able to run the school as you see fit, and occasionally appear on the new TTA like I did on the original," Bugs said. "I think I'd say I'll take it," Buster said. "You've got the job," Bugs said. "Thanks," Buster said. "You stop by this summer and I'll teach you the job. Have you got a place to go?" Bugs asked. "Before I came back, I arranged to buy a place. Until then I know where I can go," Buster said. Buster walked up to Babs' new burrow and knocked on the ground next to it. "Buster!" Babs said when she saw him. "I'm back. For good," Buster said. "That's great!" Babs exclaimed. "I'm really excited to be back. I really was looking forward to letting you know that I'm back," Buster said. "And I also have a confession to make to you. I had no girlfriend back in San Francisco." "If you're going to admit that, than I'll admit this. I have no boyfriend and I didn't. Every relationship I've had since I was eighteen has been meaningless," Babs said. "Same here. You were the only girl that I ever had a long term, serious relationship with," Buster said. "I wish we never had that fight six years ago. Think of all the time we missed," Babs said. "Well, football is out of my life. When I got to San Fran, I didn't want to play. I found myself missing Acme Acres after seeing it again, so I intentionally got cut. I wanted to come back here and rebuild my old life," Buster said. "I'm happy your back," Babs said. Then for the first time in six years Buster and Babs kissed. This was a long, passionate one. It was like the old days again. Sort of. After six wasted years almost everybody and everything was back the way it should be. Plucky was sitting at home releshing his time where he could sit around and do nothing before he actually had to work again. He got to thinking about what was the same and what had changed. He had no way of knowing something that was going on hundreds of miles away. "Like, you over there! We totally need funding from the southern California area. Get on the phone!" somebody ordered. Right then a long haired loon girl picked up the phone and began dialing. After three hours she reached the D section in the Acme Acres phone book. The phone rang at Plucky's house that afternoon. Actually, it was his parents house and Plucky was helping them out with Dale. "Hello?" Plucky said when he answered. "Like, would you totally be interested in donating to the loon society?" the voice on the other end asked. "Yes, I would. I knew somebody who went off and joined them a long time ago," Plucky said. "Like, I'll totally need your name first," she said. "Plucky Duck," he said. "Like, Plucky Duck?" she asked. "Ah, you a fan?" he asked. "Like no! It's me, Shirley!!!" She yelled into the phone. Plucky's jaw hit the floor the minute she said that. "It's been a long time, Shirl." THE END