New story- Pretty Polly. Ya want violence? Fine, you got it!

[pollygirl]

Ya want violence? ya want violence? Fine, you got iot!!! I was going to wait until I fully finished with this story to post it, but seeing as how you're so damn hungry for violence now, here, enjoy! But it's not finished yet!

Speedy was in Good Bird’s restaurant, leaning against the counter, waiting for an extra-special pizza to be ready. It wasn’t just ANY pizza, it was part of an important thing he had been planning for a while. He nervously held a small daisy in his hand, thinking about the circumstances that lead him here today. Ever since he had discovered that Polly, his life long best friend, was the one he had been deeply in love with the entire time, he had been planning this! He smiled when he thought of her and how much she truly meant to him. He had always cherished her friendship, but God what had taken him so long to finally admit that these feelings he had always carried deep down were MUCH MORE than just feelings you would have for a best friend?! For the longest time that’s all he thought it was, and had been too distracted by Lucielle to think it was anything more.

True, there was nothing wrong with Lucielle, nothing at all. She was sweet, kind, and charming. But there was always something…missing. Something just wasn’t there between the two of them. He chalked it up to just the few first months of dating…but as the months went by he couldn’t shake the emptyness that not even Lucielle’s kisses could fill. Something just wasn’t there…but now he knew what it was! It was something only Polly had! It was the excitement and adventure that pulsated around her! With Lucielle he had felt comforted and secure….but it wasn’t enough! He thought it was, but it wasn’t. with Polly he felt so much more. He felt excitement, daring, adventur that seemed to follow everywhere she went. With Lucielle life was simple and peaceful, with Polly it was daring and exciting! Every day was a surprise, and now that he was spending even more time with Polly in the Pizza Restaurant, he had discovered she even made pizza planning exciting! He had noticed new things to admire in her….why had it taken him so long to see them? But now he had…and now that Polly was his one true love he would NEVER let her go!

The Rescue Team had taken early lunches from their restaurants to give Speedy encouragement and to wait with him while the pizza was getting ready. Speedy smiled and bgan to pluck the daisy in his own version of ’she-loves-me’.

“She’s gonna marry me!” he said, plucking the first petal off the daisy.

“YEAAA!” They all cheered.

“She won’t,” he said, picking another petal.

“Awww,” they said.

“She will!” Speedy said, picking another petal.

“Yeeeeaaaa!”

“She won’t.”

“Awww.”

“She will!”

“Yeeeeeaaaaaaaa!!”
“She won’t.”

“Awww.”

“Speedy,” Carla interrupted him. “The pizza’s all ready!” Sh took it out of the ovn and opened it. It was zesty extra cheese- perfect! “All it needs is the special topping!” Speedy smiled, took something out of his pocket, and gav it to Carla, who put it right in the center. “There…perfect! What a romantic way to propose!”
“Thanks, Carla! Speaking of proposals…” he noticed just one petal on the daisy. “where was I?”

“She won’t marry you, she…” Spritz said, urging him.

“She will!” He said, plucking the last pedal.

“Yeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaa!!!” they all cheered. Good Bird then picked up the pizza and gav it to Speedy.

“There you are, buddy, all ready to go. I wish you every bit of luck!”

“Good luck! Go get her!!” the Rescue Team called out and Speedy waved and was gone. Carla tugged Good Bird’s sleeve.

“Let’s follow him and hide. I just HAVE to see Speedy in action!”

“Ya read my mind!” Good Bird said.

A little later Speedy arrived at the Pizza Cat Pizza Parlor. He stopped for a moment and took a deep breath, rehursing to himself one more time what he would say. Finally he opened up the door, causing Francine and Polly to look up.

“Hey, Speedy, bout time you came back,” Francine said.

“Oh, Francine, we got ourselves a small problem with th pizza!”

What, what problem?” Francine asked.

“The customers, they said this was the wrong pizza, it wasn’t what they ordered!”
“How could it not be the right order? I know I put the right pizza in there, pepperoni and mushrooms!” Poly said,.

“well, open it and see for yourself!” Speedy said, handing the pizza Carla made to Polly. Poly opened it and stared. “Hey..how come a cheese pizza is in here, I know I put a….hey….there’s something in here!”

“Huh?” Speedy said, pretending to be surprised.

“Yeah…it’s…it’s…”she reached in to fish it out. “It’s…A SCALDING HOT RING!!!” She dropped it into a nearby pitcher of ice and took it out to clean it. She held it up, gasping. “Oh, Speedy…it’s beautiful!”

Speedy took the ring and went behind the counter next to her, taking her other hand. “Polly, that ring is for you. That’s to show you once and for all, that I’m done. I’m finished with all the flirting and done with all the girl chasing and staring. I’m not going to stall anymore when I deliver pizzas cause I have no reason to stop anywhere anymore!”

“Could you put that in writing?” Francine asked, recieveing filthy looks from Polly and a lot of the customers…who Speedy and Polly temporarily forgot about.

“Polly, I love you, and I realise now that I’ve always loved you! You’re the one, Polly, and there will never be anyone else, ever! It’s you, Polly, and it’s always been you and will always be you! You have my heart, and you always will.” He got down on one knee in front of everyone in the restaurant. “Polly Pururun Esther, you are the most wonderful cat in all of Japan! You can make me the happiest Samurai in all of Little Tokyo if you would be my wife. Pollyanna, will you marry me?”
Polly’s eyes had filled with tears at Speedy’s heartwarming speech. “Oh, Speedy,” she gasped. “Yes, I will!” Speedy put the ring upon her and stood up, sharing a passionate kiss as all the customers, sitting in the booths and lined up to order burst into spontaneous applause. For the longst time Speedy and Polly kissed deeply, unaware of anything or anyone else, not even th customers for th longest time.

Meanwhile on Prisoner;s Island Big Cheese and Jerry Atric made their way to the other side of the island. “Are you sure you know what you are doing, Seymour?” Jerry asked. “Dr. Heroshi has gone completely mad, so they all say from being on this island for too long! “

“They may say that, Jerry, but he’s also a brilliant doctor and a fantastic inventor, and his expertise may serve us all very well!”
“That’s only because he’s got more than two functioning brain cells, even if they’re not all there, unlike you!” Jerry said.,

“HEY!!! WHAT was THAT?!?! ARE YOU CALLING ME AN IDIOT?!?! IF IT wasn’t for YOU we wouldn’t even BE here!! YOU COULDN’T KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT!! ARRRRRGH!!” Before Jerry could duck he got covered in soot.

A little later after he calmed down Cheese went to see Dr. Herishi. “Good aftrnoon, Doctor. How is your newest invention?”

“It’s just about done,” the doctor said. “But remember your promise. I give it to you and then you build your raft and help take me OUT of here!”
“Of ourse of course! Now, what do you call this?”
“The Sleeping Death!” The doctor produced a green bottle. “You simply put this formula into any dart gun and shoot it. Once the victem injests it, a feeling of cold and drowsiness will rin through their veins. Their pulse will cease. No warmth, no breath, will indicate they live. Of course it will continue to beat but oh so faintly and silently no doctor’s machine in the world will detect it, breath so faint nothing can deduce it! The skin will turn cold as ice the muscles go limp. The redness of lips and cheecks will fade to pale ashen color. Eyelids close as to signal life’s end, each body part, losing its movement, will appear stiff and stark and cold, like death. In the deathlike coma they remain for 2 weeks.”

“Excellent! Excellent!” Cheese said, knowing EXACTLY which group would be his first test victims as soon as they got back to Little Tokyo.




“Oh Birdie, did you hear that?“ Carla asked from her and Good Bird’s place on top of the Pizza Place.

“I heard it!!” Good Bird said. “She said yes!!” Good Bird said, embracing Carla happily. “Come on, Carla. Let’s congradulate them!”

Guido came into the Pizza Place a short time later with a smile on his face. “Hey, guys, what’s going on here, I can hear the cheers from outside! If it’s what I think it is man, I want details, and don’t leave out anything!”

“How’s this?” Polly said, showing off her ring.

“Oh my GOD!” Guido said. “Ya did it, man, I can’t believe it!” He embraced both Speedy and Polly. “Congradulations, both of you guys!! wow, this is….my best friends are getting married!! Man this is unreal!”

“It’s VERY real!” one of the customers said.

Another customer sniffled. “I’m going to cry…I really am!”

“It was the most romantic thing I’ve ever seen!” another customer added.

“CONGRADULATIONS!!!” Good Bird cried out in a loud voice as he and Carla came into the restaurant and hugged them.

“Congradulations, oh I’m so happy for you both!” Carla cried.

“Hey, were you guys on the roof the entire time?” Speedy asked.

“Hey, we couldn’t wait to hear the news!” Good Bird said.

“Yeah. This calls for a celebration! Frannie, I think I’ll have a pizza!” Another customer said.

“Better than that today!” Guido said. “Set em up, Fran, soda for everybody!” Francine looked like she was about to protest, but Guido waved his hand. “Put it on my tab, Francine! This is a special day!” He grabbed himself a soda, poured one for Speedy and Poly and made sure all the customers had one. ‘Now if I could have everyone’s attention,” Guido began. ‘I’d like to make a toast.” Speedy, Polly, and Francine pretended to groan. “Thank you,” Guido said. “You’re all too kind!” He cleared his throat. “I’d like us all to raise our glasses to Speedy and Polly!”

“Hey, be nice there. Guido, I haven’t picked my best man yet!”

“Uh...two very VERY nice sweet people…who I’ve known FOREVER and I can honestly say that their GENEROSITY, and GOOD HEART…”
“Aw, ya can stop, Guido, I was just kiddin! You’re my best man no matter what!”

Guido laughed. “How about this guy, huh? And how about this girl? Two of the greatest Cats ever..”

“He better say that, just ask the lumps on his head if ya got any doubts, curtesy of the bride-to-be and her frying pan!” Francine cracked.

“The owner of our lovely place, Ladies and Gentilemen!” Guido said.

“Just finish and get back to work,” Francine said.

“Anyway,” Guido said. “Speedy, Poly, seriously, I hope you have a wonderful, meaningful life together. If anyone deserves this, believe me both of you do. You two are the best friends anyone could ever have, and I mean that from the bottom of my heart. I love both of you guys!”

“Hear, hear!” the customers said, clinking their glasses.

“So, Jerry, how’s the raft coming along?” Cheese asked. “Are we about done?”

“The Crows are almost finished with it! We should be ready to set sail really soon.”

“Excellent! I’ll tell the Doctor to get ready to set sail! Bye, bye, Prisoner’s Island, it was nice while it lasted…YEAH RIGHT!!! Ha,ha, I can’t wait to get back to Little Tokyo, and I especially can’t wait to give those felines the punishment thy SO RICHLY deserve and FINALLY take my place as the RIGHTFUL ruler of Little Tokyo!”

“Then you can probably afford another set of clothes, no offense,” Jerry mumbled.

“HEY, I HEARD THAT!!! ARE YOU SAYING I GOT BAD TASTE IN CLOTHES ?!?! DO YOU THINK YOU’RE A FASHION PLATE YOU HALF BRAINED IMBASILE?!?!!” Before Jerry could apologise Big Cheese gave a fireworks demonstration! When he picked himself off of the floor he went to see the doctor. “ Dr. Hiroshi? Start getting ready, cause we’re sneaking the hell off this island in a few hours!”

“Oh, fantastic!” Hiroshi said. “But you DO remember our deal, right? As soon as you become Emperior you give me my own hospital!”

‘Of course, that’s the first thing I’m gonna do! Now, if you would be so kind your solution, please?”

Hiroshi gave him a huge green bottle. “Just put this in any kind of needle or dart, take aim, and shoot! The victem will enter the deathlike coma in about 4 seconds!”

“Fantastic! Now start packing everything else, we leave in about an hour!”

“Hey, look over there,” Speedy said pointing to a spot in the distance.

“Wha... Polly asked, turning her head…and Speedy planted a small kiss on her lips. “Hey, no fair!” Poly said, giving him a playful shove. “You stole that kiss without asking! I won’t stand for it!”

“Oh yeah, “ Speedy said, reaching around her waist and tickling her ribs. “What are you gonna do about it?” he teased.

“I’ll have to take it back,” Polly said teasingly, pulling Speedy close and kissing his lips. Speedy ran his hands down her back, pulling her even closer, enjoying the excitement that came with her kisses, no one else’s kisses, not even Lucielle, made time stop and made him feel like flying like Polly’s. “we really have to stop this ‘young love’ phase,” Polly said. “People might be appaled having to look at us!”

“That’s a good thing, cause I don’t want to share you with anyone else,” Speedy said playfully, lacing his fingers through hers as thy walked. “I like being with you alone, just us!”

"I do, too," Polly said, lowering her eyes seductively at him. He leaned against a tree and pulled her into his arms again, kissing her deeper and deeper.

“Ahem!” Came a familiar voice. Speedy and Polly broke apart and turned around, coming face to face with Al Dante. “Public displays of affeection? Now you both know better than that!” He smiled. “But just for the occasion I’ll let this pass. I havn’t seen you to present my congratulations!”

“Thank you, Al!” They both said.

“So, have you set a fate as of yet?”

“We’ve decided on May 20th.”

“Oh? That’s just three months from now! There’s much to do!” H smiled. “Let me know if I can help in anyway at all!”

“Off we go!” Cheese said proudly as he, Jerry and Dr. Heroshi sailed away from Prisoner’s Island while the Crows followed in another raft. “Bye, bye. Can’t say it was a lovely stay..cause it wasn’t!!”

“So, now that we’re finally on our way, would you care to explain to me just what th plan is?”

“I’m only gonna say this one more time, Jerry,” Cheese said. “once we get back to Tokyo we find the nearest cave and hide out…then we start constructing a new robot…only it’s gonna be bigger and better than ever!”

As opposed to the hundred other “bigger and better” robots we’ve had?!” Jerry asked.

“HEY, I HEARED THAT!!” Cheese said. “For your information, this robot is just a distration for the Cats. That’s where you come in! You take the doctor’s potion and load it in a dart gun. Then perch yourself on a high building. I want you to take careful ai and shoot Speedy with it.”

“why Speedy?”

“why do ya think ya idiot?! Speedy is the leader! Without a good leader the whole team will fall like dominos! They’ll be so busy monring his death, thy won’t be able to stop us from taking over!”

“Only for two weeks!” The doctor said,.

“Yeah, what happens at the end of that?” Jerry askd.

“By that time he will be laid in the family tomb! He’ll awaken bolted in an airless waterless place surrounded by death and decay! He’ll either suffocate or be driven mad and die of that! Either way we’re rid of him!”

“I have to admit, it’s brilliant! will wonders never cease sometimes!”

“HEY, ARE YOU CALLING ME STUPID??!!!! YOU’RE A FINE ONE TO TALK!! IF YOU ONLY SHUT UP IN THE FIRST PLACE…..I NEED SOME ASPIRIN!!”

“LOOK OUT!” Jerry cried at this explosion…which was so massive it blew them right back to Tokyo!


The song here is ‘My Best Friend’ By Tim McGraw

A few days later the phone rang at the Pizza Cats Pizza Parlor. Polly ran over to pick it up. “Samurai Pizza Cats, home of the hot and spicy. You got it. Get out the cash, we’ll be there in a flash!” She hung up. “Hey, Speedy?”

He came up to her. “You rang, Kitten?”

She put a pizza pie in front of him. “One large pepperoni and mushroom pizza for Guru Lulu and make sure it gets there hot!”

“You got it!” He put it in his carry-out pouch. “I’ll be right back!’ He gave her a peck on the lips. “I love you.”

“I love you,” she answered as she watched him go out the door.

Lucielle then entered after waving a hasty good bye to Speedy. “Hello, everyone!” she said, waving happily.

“Lucielle!” Poly said happily, going over to hug her.

“Oh, Polly, I heard the wonderful news, congratulations, I’m so happy for you!”

Polly smiled and put out her hand, showing off her ring. “Oh, Polly, that is so pretty! Oh, it’s incredible!” Lucielle began to tear up, so Polly took her hand.

“Francine, I’m going on break,” she said. Francine nodded her head understandingly. Polly managed to get her out just before her missiles went flying.

“I’m sorry, I’m…just so happy!” she wiped tears from her eyes.

“Thanks, Lucielle,” she fingered the sparkling ring on her finger dreamily. “I really do love him.”

“I know,” Lucielle said happily.

“Ya know, I as hoping you’d be my maid-of-honor!”

“Me?!” Lucielle asked, touched beyond belief.

“Yeah…I mean, you’ve always been there for me. You were my ’Pointless Sister‘, after all! Without you, I don’t know where I’d be!”
“Oh, Polly, the honor would be all mine!” Lucielle answered happily. “Hmm…I wonder if THAT’S why they call it ‘maid-of-honor?”

“Maybe,” Polly said. “So, will you do it?”
“Of course!” Lucielle said. “Oh, Polly, thank you!“ Polly ducked as more missles flew out.

“Thank you,” Polly said.

“So, when’s the wedding?”
“May 20th.”

“Oh, only three months!” Lucielle giggled. “well, let me know if I can help, that’s what a Pointless Sister is for!”

“well, maybe tomorrow afternoon you can come with me and help me pick my wedding dress, and of course your maid-of-honor dress!”

“I’ll meet you right here after you close tomorrow night!”

True to his word Speedy came running up just then. “Hey, Kitten,” he greeted Polly, kissing her lips. “Hey, Lucielle, what’s up?
“Hello, Speedy, I came by to wish you congratulations!”

“Hey, thanks,” Speedy said, giving her a small, friendly hug.

“She’s going to be my maid-of-honor!” Polly said.

“Hey, that’s great!” Speedy said. “e got to important members of the wedding party out of the way!”

Hey, Speedy, are you back already?” Francine asked from inside the restaurant.

“I TOLD you I would,” Speedy called out, going inside.

“well, Jerry, how is the robot coming along?” Cheese asked from inside the cave they had found to use as a hideout. “Is everything going according to schedule? I hope so.”

“everything is going according to plan, Sir,” Jerry said. “we should be ready by tomorrow.”

“Fantastic!” He gave Jerry the gun that contained the dart in which he had poured the solution. “No remember what you are to do!”

“Yes sir, I climb onto the topmost roof I can find and take aim at Speedy. while you distract them with the robot, I take aim and shoot.”

“Yes, make sure you aim at either the part of his arm that has no armor or at his tail! The doctor said that the potion works in a matter of seconds! Just think, while they’re all mourning their dearly departed, we sneak in and take over!”

“I have to admit, for once you had a good idea!”

“Hey, what do you mean by that?!?! Are you calling me stupid?!?! At least I didn’t shoot my mouth off to the Princess!!!” Before Jerry could react, they ere both covered in soot.

That night Speedy had returned from his last delivery of the night and was helping Polly with the cleanup. Sighing he put away the mop and pail as Polly walked into his arms.

“He, busy day today!”

Yeah,” Polly agreed. “I think it as one of our best ever!”

“Ya know, I think this is one of the few moments we had alone all day?”

“Let’s not waste it,” Polly said, kissing him tenderly.

Speedy smiled and returned Polly’s tender kiss. He removed her helmet and stroked her hair, kissing her even deeper. He moved over to the jukebox and started it up, going over to Polly. “Shall we dance?”
“Right here?” Polly giggled as Speedy swept her into his arms. One of his hands rested on her back and his other held hers gently as he lead her in small circles around the room to the lyrics of the song.

I never had no one
I could count on
Ive been let down so many times
I was tired of hurtin
So tired of searchin
til you walked into my life
It was a feelin
Id never known
And for the first time
I didnt feel alone

Youre more than a lover
There could never be another
To make me feel the way you do
Oh we just get closer
I fall in love all over
Everytime I look at you
I dont know where Id be
Without you here with me
Life with you makes perfect sense
Youre my best friend
Youre my best friend, oh yeah

You stand by me
And you believe in me
Like nobody ever has
When my world goes crazy
Youre right there to save me
You make me see how much I have
And I still tremble
When we touch
And oh the look in your eyes
When we make love

Youre more than a lover
There could never be another
To make me feel the way you do
Oh we just get closer
I fall in love all over
Everytime I look at you
And I dont know where Id be
Without you here with me
Life with you makes perfect sense
Youre my best friend
Youre my best friend

Youre more than a lover
There could never be another
To make me feel the way you do
Oh we just get closer
I fall in love all over
Everytime I look at you
And I dont know where Id be
Without you here with me
Life with you makes perfect sense
Youre my best friend
Youre my best friend (my best friend)
Youre my best friend (my best friend)

As the song finished Speedy gave her a long, lingering kiss. “I love you, Polly.”

“I love you, Speedy.”

The next afternoon as Speedy and Polly were outside in the backyard enjoying a romantic lunch picnic, Francine stuck her head out. “Speedy, Polly? Al’s on the phone, he says it’s an emergency!” They both sighed, but got up and ran to where Guido and Good Bird stood by the videophone, seeing Al’s worried face in it.

“hat’s up, Al?” Speedy asked.

“Not exactly sure, but I think that Big Cheese has escaped from Prisoner’s island and is up to his old tricks again!”
“Big Cheese?! Ho can you be so sure, Al?”

“A huge robot, very similar to many of his, has been spotted destroying houses and buildings all along Little Tokyo! I’m counting on you, Pizza Cats!”

“Ya won’t be disappointed, Al!”

“Yeah, you can count on us!” Guido said.

“Oh, and one more thing. Speedy, Polly? The wife and I would like to invite you both to dinner this weekend to celebrate your engagement and also to sample her cuisine. She would like to bring a dish to the wedding and wants you to pick the one you like best.”

After accepting the invitation, the Cats jumped into the ovens and donned their armor. Making their way to the center of town, it wasn’t too long before they spotted the ugly, dark grey robot making its way downtown.

“God, that’s orse than anything Seymour ever did before!” Good Bird said.

“All the more reason why that’s gotta be him up there! Hey Cheese, I don’t know how you got back here, but that was a big mistake, cause were about to hack it to pieces!” Speedy called out.

“HAH, that’s what YOU think!” Cheese said from inside the robot. ‘Little do you know this is your LAST day your eyes will see this earth!! Jerry, take aim!”
“You betcha, Cheesy boy!” Jerry cried from his post on top of the building, shouldering the gun and taking careful aim at Speedy’s tail.

“Come on, guys. Let’s get him!”

“Ninja’s attack!” Cheese ordered. Speedy took out his sword and began to take on three at once. But whenever Jerry tried to launch the gun, either Guido, Polly, Good Bird, or more Ninjas got in his way. “Hey. Get out of the way,” Jerry thought. “Cheese gave me direct orders to get Speedy!”

Good Bird easily took out several of the Ninja Crows using his on experience as a former Ninja Crow. Polly shot her heart shaped bombs at the rears of several more and used her Cats’s Paw Attraction to lure more to her and scratched their faces when they got close enough.

“ARRRGH!!! MY face!!! Jerry, get her!!!! SHOOT her!”

Guido used his umbrella to shoot a stream of fire at the Crows. “Ouch, Jerry, get him!”

“Get Speedy!!”
“I’ll get one of them if they manage to stand still!!” Jerry said, trying to aim, but the fast methods of the Cats making it seem impossible. “OK, OK, I’ve got it!!” He said, taking careful aim at Speedy. “Oh Fearless Leader…time to go permanent night-night!”

Meantime Guido had hypnotized five of the Crows. “There’s only one ticket left for the fireworks display, and if ya want it you’re gonna have to fight for it.” They started attacking each other until they all fell down in a heap.

Speedy jumped up, again out of Jerry’s aim. “OK, Cats, let’s finish this!” He held up his sword as energy surrounded him. Pink energy surrounded Polly and Guido jumped onto his umbrella. Speedy’s energy collected into his swords as he crossed them in front of him. Polly’s energy collected into her flute and katana that she crossed in front of him. Blue energy formed at the tip of Guido’s sword.

“Cat’s eye slash!” Speedy formed the energy into a big yellow circle.
“Azure Dragon Fire!” Guido brought down his sword.

“Heartbreaker!” Polly said forming a heart with her pink energy in the flute and katana. The triple whammy destroyed the machine and caused the foundation to rock. Jerry was thrown clear off.

“OK, heck with this…I’ll just aim at the one closest!” A flash of red and pink crossed his face and Jerry took aim at the tail and pulled the trigger.

Polly felt a sharp pain on her tail as her body slowly went numb. “Speedy!!” she called before she fell as consciousness left her.

“POLLY!!!!” Speedy cried out as he ran to catch her. “Oh God…oh God..OH MY GOD!! POLLY!!! Polly, wake up!!” Her face was already turning pale.
Taking the opportunity, Cheese jumped out of the robot, calling out, ‘Retreat!!” He and the Crows took off.

Guido and Good Bird ran over. Speedy looked up through worried tears. “Get Al Dante, get the doctor, I don’t think she’s breathing!!” He began to perform CPR on her as Guido and Good Bird took off. “Hang on, Poly…oh please hang on!!!”



Speedy paced back and forth in the hospital.’ “God, how long is he gonna be?!”Speedy said. “I can’t stand not knowing!”
“Try to calm down, Speedy,” Al Dante said, although he couldn’t hide the worry in his own voice.

“Yeah, Pol needs all of us to be strong for her right now!” Guido said, but the tears in his eyes were building.

“She’s dead, isn’t she?” Speedy whispered, choking on tears. “I was holding her in my arms and she wasn’t breathing…”

Al put his hand on Speedy’s shoulders. “Speedy, listen to me, we can’t give up hope! The doctor’s couldn’t revive her at the scene, but they said there can still be brain activity….they’re running all sorts of tests…all we can do is wait.

“Oh God,” Guido whispered, holding his head in his hands.

Good Bird came over with paper cups of hot chocolate. “Thought we all could use something to drink.” Al forced Speedy to accept a cup. Speedy drank it mechanically, not even tasting it. Finally the door opened and the doctor slowly came in. Just from the look on his face Speedy could guess what the news as.

“No..” he whispered, not even noticing his hands trembling so much the chocolate ran down the sides. He didn’t even notice Al taking it out of his hands.

“I’m so sorry,” the doctor began. “e tried everything, but the damage as to great.” He sighed. ‘I don’t know what kind of poison that monster injected into her, but it as stronger than any of us had ever seen.” He shook his head. “I’m terribly sorry,” He said again. “But we couldn’t save her. Polly Esther is dead.”


Speedy stood there frozen, his eyes big and glassy, his mouth hanging open. "No..." he whispered again. "No...NO.. not Polly...NOT POLLY!!!!! NO, NO, YOU CAN'T TELL ME SHE'S DEAD!!!! NO, YOU CAN'T TELL ME THAT!!!!" He grabbed the doctor by his shirt collar. "YOU'RE LEING!!! WHY ARE YOU LIEING, ARE YOU WORKING FOR CHEESE, IS HE MAKIG YOU SAY THIS?!?! POLLY'S A FIGHTER, SHE'S NOT DEAD, I DONT BELIEVE IT!!!! YOU CAN'T TELL ME THAT!!!”
"SPEEDY!!"Al cried, gentily prying his hands off the doctors collar. "I'm sorry," he said.
"That's all right, I can't tell you how many times that's happened to me!" The doctor sadly shook his head. 'I'm used to it, believe me." he turned to go. "Sometimes a doctor like me feels useless!"

Speedy by this time had lost his footing and collasped on the ground. Guido and Good Bird gasped and helped him up, but Speedy shook them off. "Not Polly..." he said again. "NOT Polly!" His whole body shook with grief and rage...and before anyone could say anything he threw open the door of the hospital and ran out into the street.
"CHEESE!!!!! CHEESE! COME AND GET ME TOO, CHEESE!!" he threw down his swords and pulled off his helmit. ""CHEESE!!!! COME KILL ME TOO, GET ME TOO, CHEESE!!!! GET ME TOO!!!"

Cheese and Jerry had hidden themselves behind some bushes just in time to hear Speedy's outburst. By this time he was running down the road yelling. "KILL ME TOO!!!! COME AND KILL ME YOU ROTTEN RODENT, YOU WANNA!!! I GOT NOTHING TO LIVE FOR ANYMORE, COME ON!!!!!"
"Should I take aim now, Cheesy, he's asking for it!" Jerry said, grabbing the gun. But a slow smile crossed Cheese's face.
"No, Jerry...let's let him live for now. What's he's going to go through is punishment enough!"
"Let him live?"
"Isn't it obvious, Jerry? he's miserable, he can't live without her! Let;s just sit back and watch him try!"

"CHHESE, WHERE ARE YOU?!?! LET'S SETTLE THIS ONCE AND FOR ALL!!!"
"Speedy, what are you doing?" a voice cried out. Speedy turned around
"Who's that?"
"Me, Meowzma," he came into view. "I can hear you all the way across town, what are you doing?"
"Get out of here!!! CHEESE, COME AND GET ME, DAMN YOU!!!'
"Speedy, what happened?!?! What's going on?!"
"Just leave me alone!"
"But what's going ON?!"
"SHE'S DEAD!!!!! POLLY'S DEAD, ARE YOU HAPPY NOW?!?! SHE'S DEAD!!!!" he ran on, not even noticing the shocked expression on Meowzma's face. Speedy reached an empty park and raced through the fence. "CHEESE...I'M GUNNING FOR YOU CHEESE...THERE'S NOBODY HERE BUT ME, COME ON!!!!! Please, will ya!" he sank to his knees. "Please...I want you to...I'm not gonna fight you...just come do it..." he felt a hand on his shoulder, and looked up to see Al and Guido standing there.
"Go away...please..."
"Come on, Speedy," Al said gentily, helping him up. "We need to go back to the hospital and make a statement...then someone has to tell her parents..."
"I'll do it..." Speedy said standing up. "I should be the one to let them know..."
"Both of us will," Al said. " As captain of the Samurai I should do this with you."

Princess Vi was walling down the street, taking in everything she saw. "Wow, what a beautiful day!" she said happily. "I think this day is one of the nicest in Little Tokyo, wouldn't you say?" she asked one of her handmaidens.
"Oh yes, Princess, just lovely!" she quickly agreed, causing Vi to smile ear to ear. She came across Francine, walking with her head close to the ground, obviously in complete shock, clutching a pastic bag to her chest.

"Good day, Francine! What have you got there, pizza supplies.?"
Francine didn't even look up. as she sat on a nearby bench. 'Yes yes. pizza supplies," Francine said absently, settling them between her knees.
"Hey, I said good morning, you're supposed to bow to me!" she looked into Francine's face. "Francine...is something wrong?"
"OH GOD!!!" Francine said, bursting into tears. "Oh God, she's dead, she's dead!!!!" We're ruined, Princess, she's gone!!! Oh, she's gone!!"
"What?! Someone died?!" she turned to her servants. "WHY WASN'T I INFORMED OF THIS?!" She turned to Francine. "Who died?"
"I was at the hospital, I saw the wound, right on her tail, I saw it with my own eyes! She's a corpse now, nothing more than a corpse, pale as ashes! This morning I said hello to her, she was so happy and bubbly and so in love...and a few hours later she's a corpse!!!"
"WHO IS A CORPSE?!?!"
"OH, POLLY, POLLY!!!! ONE OF THE DEAREST FRIENDS I HAD!! THAT I SHOUD LIVE TO SEE HER DEAD!!!"
"WHAT?! POLLY?! POLLY ESTHER IS DEAD?!"
"YES, YES!!!" Francine cried hysterically...and Vi put her arm around her as her eyes were teary too.
"Polly Esther? No...not possible...'
"Yes, I saw the corpse, I saw her!!!"
Princess Vi stood up. "I solumnly swear this foul murder will NOT go unavenged! Get Al Dante, fetch him! Obviously poor Speedy and Guido are in no condition to deal with this so we'll need backups, the rescue tea, any volenters to find out who did this.."
"I KNOW who did this, is was Big Cheese!!!"
“BIG CHEESE?! Seymour is back?!"
"Yes!"
"Track down this murderer, he must be found! THIS time he's gone too far! Servents, prepare a declaration to be given in an hour. Seymour Cheese, 9,000 yen to anyone with any information we could use to track him. 12,000 yen for his capture dead or alive. That rat will be EXECTUTED IN THE PUBLIC SQUARE FOR THIS!!!" She turned to her Handmaiden. "When we get to the Palace, summon my goldsmiths, I have a project to commission. In honor of Polly Esther, our fallen heroine, let a golden statue be made of her, to be set up in the middle of town so she and her bravery in protecting our fair city will NOT be forgotten!"

Spritz was sitting on the cold stone steps of the Pizza Cat Pizza Parlor, staring at his hands. Next to him Carla was sobbing. Francine had closed the restaurant after coming back to identify the body...and had summoned the Rescue Team. Meowzma already knew the tragedy, but it was still a shock. They had all gathered outside on the steps, unable to believe what had happened. Spritz himslf felt isolated and cold. They were all a team, had saved each other numerous times. Just yesterday he had come into the parlor to wish them both congradulations on their engagement. Now...just like that, his friends, the bride-to-be, was dead. It didn't make any sense at all.
"Where's Francine?" BatCat asked, looking around.
"In the building," Spritz explained. "She wanted to be alone for a few minutes." They all nodded.
Meowzma looked at his watch. "It's 3:00. How long do you think it'll be before the Cats come back?"
"No one can say for sure. " he choked back tears, thinking of the grief and horror they must be feeling, especially Speedy. Meowzma had told him of Speedy going crazy though the streets...hard to believe SPEEDY would do that...but at the same time not too surprising, considering the cirumstances. Heavy footsteps were heard coming up the walk, and they jumped to their feet. Lucielle was running toward them, and Spritz sat down again, suddenly feeling very heavy.

Lucielle stopped short when she saw their faces and her body started to tremble. She buried her head in her hands. "Then it's true about Polly?" she whispered tightly.
Spritz couldn't even talk so Genral Catton answered for him. "Yes, it's true."
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!" she screamed, sinking to her knees on the sidewalk as her missles went off. Seeing Lucielle lose her composure was almost more than Spritz could stand. He felt he should comfort her, but he was too numb to move. Batcat stepped forward and put his arm around her. "Does anybody know what happened?" Lucielle choked on tears. "All we heard on the radio was that Big Cheese somehow shot something at her..."
"That's what we heard too," General Catton said. "She was poisoned."
Lucielle's sobbing grew louder. "She was only 25!" Carla couldn't watch them, couldn't watch any of them. She just stared on the ground.
"Where's Francine?" Lucielle asked.
"She'll be back in a minute," Carla said.
"The Cats might be back soon," General Catton said. "We have to all calm down, they need us to be strong for them now."
"I don't know if I can," Francine said, coming out of the Palor just then. Carla took her hand.
“How are you holding up? Francine just shook her head. Carla could see the anguish in her eyes.
"We should all go to the hospital," Lucielle said. "We should all be there to help them.."
"Al asked us not to," Francine said. "He said to all gather here instead of causing a mob scene at the hospital."
Lucielle stared at the ground. "Polly was so happy these past few days," she said, remembering. "wasn't she, Francine? Talking non stop about her wedding. She said she knew it was going to be the best year of her life!"
"And now it's gonna be the worst year of Speedy's life," Spritz finished. He saw big wet spots on the sidewalk, but he didn't know it was his own tears until Francine Put her arm around him.


There, character death, can't get any darker than that, huh? Well, how's this?

[Razgriz27]

Oh gods...Poor Speedy! This is a real tear-jerker so far, and it's already shaping up to be a really great story.

[Cloud-Boy]

I know this topic is old, but this story deserves to be boosted back to the first page again. 

I loved it. I always did like drama/tragedy stories.

[pollygirl]

Thank you so much, and for that, here's more of the story!

The song is 'I'll Be Blue For You' from 'Muppet Babies' (some lyrics changed to fit the ep)

Speedy sat on the edge of his bed, staring at his collasped hands in front of him. He didn't know how long he had been sitting there, it could have been ten minutes, it could have been ten days. But the bright sun was streaming through his windows as if this were a normal day- as if his world hadn't ended. He wished the rain was pouring down, or it was cold and snowing even if it was March. With Polly dead, the cheerful weather seemed mocking, laughing at his misery. Without her time had no meaning at all, life just stood still. He gazed at his nightstand where his favorite picture of Polly sat- her in her uniform, brandishing her flute proudly, ready for battle. He even remembered when that picture was taken- at the first anniversary of their formation of the Pizza Cats. It sure seemed like such a long time ago. On his walls were several framed pictures of all three of them- at Samurai graduation, there they were with Francine at the opening day of the Pizza Parlor...God, was there ANYTHING he didn't do with Polly since 3rd grade? She was such a huge part of his life...he didn't know any life without her! He felt a stabbing pain in his chest and quickly turned toward the windows again.

The Rescue Team, Francine, and Carla had been waiting for him, Al, Good Bird, and Guido when they had finally come back. But Speedy had been to numb to speak. Meowzma tried to reach for him, but he pulled back and stared at the wide-eyed, tear stained faces of his friends before he had run up to his room to be alone.

If I could make a wish,
And have that wish come true
I'd take us back to yesterday,
When you were good as new.
Until we meet again,
You're still my closst friend,
And I'll be blue for you!

Only now he was more alone than he had ever been. or even concived of being. True, he and Polly had had more than their share of arguments. There had been times when they had been separated through distance or conflict. But he knew deep down through it all Polly was always there for him, and always would be, just like he had sworn to always be there for her...now she wasn't.
A knock was heard at the door and Guido came in, pale and lined with grief. Speedy sat up. "Howdy, Guido," he said, staring at his hands.
Guido crossed the room and sat down beside Speedy, taking one of his hands. "How are you doing, Buddy?" he said with a voice thick with unshed tears. Speedy shrugged.
"I don't know," he said. "I just don't know..." he lowered his voice to a whisper. 'I...I can't believe she's gone."
Guido wiped his face with the back of his hand. 'Neither can I." He sighed. "I almost walked into her bedroom just now...just to feel her presence one last time...but I couldn't do it. I couldn't go in there."
"I know..neither can I." He stared at the door. 'I keep waiting for that door to burst open and Polly to rush in telling me to get cracking and get back to work, or to ask me if I wanted to go for a walk with her, or to tell me Al is on the phone. I have to keep reminding myself it's not gonna happen anymore."
"I know what you mean" Guido admitted. 'The place seems so quiet without her rushing us all off to work or answering the phone or barking out orders, or gabbing with Francine. She feels the same way we do. She said we should wait at least a couple of weeks before we even try to go through her things."
"How's Fran doing?" Speedy asked. 'Guess I haven't been much help to her lately."
"Nobody expect you to be," Guido reassured him. "This is a nightmare for all of us, but we all know it hits you worse than anyone."
"Did ya see the Rescue Team?" Speedy asked. "Everyone was devistated."
Guido clentched his hand into a fist. "I swear, we'll get Cheese for this! That creep has gone TOO FAR this time!"
Speedy looked up, angrier than Guido had ever seen him. 'if I ever get my hands on that rotton rodent I'll make HIM SORRY HE WAS EVER BORN NEVER MIND COME BACK HERE!! HE'S GONNA WISH I NEVER SPOTTED HIM!! HE'S SOMEWHERE GLOATING ABOUT THIS, BUT HE WON'T BE WHEN I'M DONE WITH HIM!!" He threw one of his pillows up against the wall with all his might. "And the worst part is," he whispered faintly. "This is all my fault!"

Al then came into the room. "Speedy? Guido?" Speedy and Guido sat up quickly. "Polly's parents are here, and they want to talk with all of us." He looked down. "They asked for Francine and Lucielle as well, so I suggested we all go outside. "
"How's Lucielle doing?" Guido asked.
"Well, she's pretty shaken up, you can understand. I mean, next to Speedy isn't Lucielle...WASN'T Lucielle her best friend?"
"So I guess she hasn't been inside her teahouse all day."
"If the missles give us any indication...no she hasn't been." He put one arm around Guido and one around Speedy. "Come on, I'll walk both of you down.

When they got outside Lucielle was sobbing so hard it was obvious she had run out of missles, Francine sat next to her, her look shattered. Good Bird had his arm around Carla. Polly's parents and younger sister, Suyaka, were sitting on chairs Francine had set up for them. Speedy was shocked at their faces, they had looked even worse than when he and Al had told them the news. Mrs. Esther's face was red and puffy, her husband's was tense and weary, and Suyaka was just devistated.
"Hello, Speedy, Hello Guido," they both stood up.
"Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Esther, hi, Suyaka," Speedy greeted them, and Guido did they same.
Mrs. Esther wiped away tears. "We both needed to talk to you," she said, gesturing for them to sit down.
"We've been making plans for the funeral service," Mr. Esther explained. "It's gonna be this Wednesday, the day after tomorrow." Speedy kept his face down, so Guido took his hand.
"Where will the funeral be held?" he asked.
"We were thinking of a service at Holy Name Funeral Parlor," Mr. Esther explained. "Then we'll held for the cemetary to lay her in the family tomb.."
"NO!" Speedy said, quickly jumping up. "No funeral parlors!"
Polly's mother winced. "Speedy," she explained. "I know how hard this is for you, but every member of the Esther family has had their funerals at the Holy Name Funeral parlor.."
"Polly would have hated that!" Speedy said with certainty. "It's too depressing. A stuffy funeral parlor, with a lot a big, ugly flower arrangements and conservative clothes." he broke down in sobs. 'It isn't what she would have wanted!"
"Speedy," Al said in his no nonsense voice. "This is the way things are done. It's all right.."
"No, Al," Speedy said. 'This isn't all right. It's all wrong!"
"I don't see how.." Mrs. Esther began.
"No, No, I agree with Speedy, this isn't what Polly would want," Guido said, standing up next to him.
"I agree too, Polly would hate that kind of funeral!" Lucielle spoke up.
Al put an arm on Speedy's "Tell us, then," he said. 'Where would YOU hold the funeral?"
"In the middle of town!" Speedy said insistantly. "Right on that small stage Princess Vi uses to give speeches! Right in the center of Little Tokyo!"
"Speedy," Al objected. "I hardly think the Princess would consent too..."
"She HAS to!" Speedy insisted. "Don't you see? Polly loved Little Tokyo and she loved defending it more than anything in the world! THAT'S where I wat to say goodbye to her!" Sobs overtook him again. "That's where she would have wanted to say goodbye to everyone!" Poly's Mother put her arms around Speedy and nodded to Al.
Good Bird whiped tears away. "Please, Al, he's making sense!"
Al stood up, after looking at Polly's parents, who looked at each other and then nodded. "All right, Speedy," he said. "I admit, it's a bit unusual, but I can't refuse you something like this! Princess Vi has already commisioned a statue of Polly to be built in her honor, so she might OK us to have the memorial service in the center of town- if you believe that's what Polly would have wanted. I'll go give her a call right now."
"You can use our phone," Francine said, pointing inside.
"Well, hardly traditional, but Polly was never one for tradition," her father said.
"That's true...guess that's why I loved her so much," Speedy agreed.
"But we're at least going to bury her in a black kimono, as tradtion..."
"What?! NO!" Speedy sopke up. 'She'll want to be laid in the tomb in her uniform!" Her parents stiffened.
"No, she's going in the kimono!" her father said. "We're having ONE tradtion around!"
"Polly would hate that! She'd want to go in her uniform!"
"Please," he mother said, "Please!"
"Polly fought like a warrior, she would want to die like one!" Speedy said angrily.
"She would," Guido agreed.
"She was an ESTHER first and foremost and ALL Esther women are laid in Kimonos and SHE will be NO exception!!"
"But Polly would HATE that!!"
"JUST FOR ONCE CAN'T YOU CATER TO OUR WISHES?!" Her father yelled. "She was OUR DAUGHTER!
"But she was MY FIANCE!" Speedy said. 'I should know what she wants too!"
"WHO ARE YOU TO SAY HOW WE BURY OUR DAUGHTER!!" Her father said. "You HAVE to say in this matter cause you are NOT part of this family!!" Mrs. Esther gasped.
"Hey!" Guido cried.
Speedy stood back at this...looking like Mr. Esther had hit him. he stepped backward in shock, causing Lucielle and Francine to looked worredly at him.
“Speedy?" Lucielle asked carefully.
Mr. Esther caught what he said. "Oh God, Speedy, no, I didn't mean..." he said quickly, but the damage was done. Speedy backed away, turned around and ran off, sobbing his heart out.
"SPEEDY, wait!" Guido cried and gave Polly's father a dirty look. "Well? Happy now?!" Mrs. Esther gave her husband a dirty look and ran after Speedy.

Speedy ran and ran as fast as he could. he didn't even know where he was going,tearswere blocking his eyes. He just ran and ran as fast as his legs would go. he couldn't stop himself, he didn't even want to, he just ran with Mr. Esther's hurtful words in his ears mixed with Polly's lovely words echoing in his mind. Finally he tripped and fell facefirst on the ground. He looked up as a familiar building took shape in frotn of him. It took him a while to recognize it...it was the old school! HIS old school...the school where he had first met Polly! he loked at the ground in frotn of him...right under the big oak tree. This was where that mud puddle was that those bullies pushed her in...the very moment they had met. Speedy cringed and put his head in his hands again.
"Oh, Polly," he finally said, looking up to heaven. "Polly...I know your dad didn't mean what he said...I mean, he always treated me like a son whenever I came over. God, we grew up together I spent as much time in your house as you did in mine...I must have eaten half my meals at your place. But in a way he's right...I'm not really a part of your family. And...it's all my fault. You remember when we were little, it was the day after we met...and I saw how strong you were when you hugged me after I gave you your flute? I thought you were strong enough...you had it in you...and you could be a great Samurai warrior. Abnd...you did! God you were the best Samurai i ever saw...but don't tell Guido... Yet, I can't keep thinking...ever since...this happened...that if I had opnly kept my mouth shut...if I had just become your bodyguard or something and JUST remained friends...if I didn't give you the idea to be a Samurai..you might be alive today, Polly...and this would have never happened!!" Behind his back Polly's Mother had found him and was quietly standing in the back listening to him. "What kind of friend am I that I caused all this?!" Sobs overtook him. "Being a Samurai wasn't the only way...it...it couldn't have been the only way! But...I didn't see it...if I did..you might be alive! But I missed...I didn't...and I just wanna say...that..I'M SO SORRY, POLLY!! I'M SO VERY SORRY!!" He broke down and cried onto his lap, causing tears to form in Polly's Mother's eyes. She approached him.

When I say I love you,
It's coming from My Heart,
I mean it,I really, truly do.
Oh, I'll be blue for you!

"Speedy?"
Speedy looked up. 'Oh, Mrs. Esther," he stood up. Mrs. Esther touched his arm and gestured for him to sit down. they sat down on a nearby bench.
"I should aplogise for listening to you."
"Oh, that's OK"
"Speedy, you know my husband didn't mean what he just said...he’s just upset over all of this..this is hard on all of us.."
"I know..and I didn't make it easier.."
"Oh, Speedy, don't say that! Speedy, listen to me..this whole thing wasn't your fault! It wasn't your fault at all!"
"But..I encourasged her to be a Samurai."
"Yes...and it was the happiest time of her life! Speedy, Polly loved being a Samurai! It was her favorite thing in the world, aside from her flute. She loved the challenges and the bravery she gained from her training! Speedy, you helped her out in so many ways.."
"Helped, her, I caused her to die!"
"No you didn't! Listen to me, YOU didn't do this to her! YOU didn't fill that dart with poison and shoot her with it, it was that horrid devil rat! You can't see in all directions at once no matter HOW good a leader you are! And...you had no way of knowing what was going to happen, no one did! But believe me, you helped her! You remember what she was like in 3rd grade? So shy and quiet and unsure of herself...she hardly ever talked to anyone...but when you encouraged her to become a Samurai, she gained so much confidence! She knew she could do ANYTHING if she put her mind and body to it!"
"She also got a bit of a temper.."
"Believe me,. Speedy,THAT she always had! But you were able to accept it and deal witb it..one of the reasons why she loved you so much! She wouldn't give up her samurai life for anything cause she loved it so much...and she loved you...and everything the both of you did! You gave her a lot Speedy and she was always grateful! This wasn't your fault, Speedy, please don't blame yourself anymore...my husband doesn't Suyaka doesn't and I don't, OK?" Speedy nodded. "Her life might have been short but she loved it so much! " She gave Speedy a hug and both of them cried into each other's shoulders. "Come, Speedy, let's go back. Let's all three of us work this out. After all..you ARE a part of our family, and you always will be!"

I remember taking walks,
You'd always hold my hand.
I didn't have to talk to much,
And you'd still understand.
We had memories,
And I'll take special care of these,
I'll be blue for you.

Big Cheese laughed out loud,. “Ha,ha,ha!! Oh, Jerry, this couldn’t get any better for us!”

“You think so, Sir? I didn’t get Speedy…”

“No, but ya got the next best thing! At least Little Tokyo is gonna be a lot more peaceful around here after I become emperior!”

“I think this calls for a celebration!!’ Jerry took out a bottle of champagne he had hidden in his pouch.

“Hey, where’d ya get that?”
“I snuck it out of the Palace while Princess Vi as making her commission to the goldsmith to make Polly’s image out of gold.”

“Ya gotta be kidding, she’s building a statue to that hothead?! WEll, when I’m emperior, that’ll be the first thing torn down!!” No, let’s have some of those drinks!” Jerry poured and Cheese lifted his glass. “To my new position as emperior, and to Jerry my new Vice- President!”

“And to my new Hospital!” Dr. Hiroshi said.

“Jerry send some of your men to spy and find out when the funeral is. I wanna make sure she ends up in that tomb!”

The next day Dee Dee, Sundance, and Cosmo came out of the plane as soon as it landed in Little Tokyo. Dee Dee herself was particularly upset, looking down and ringing her hands to herself. “Oh God, Oh, God,” she kept saying. “Oh, Sundance, Cosmo, what do you say to fellow Samurai’s whose member has just kicked the bucket…I mean passed on.”

Cosmo shook his head. “It’s horrible, horrible. Just horrible.” He said.

“I don’t know why we had to come here in the first place!” Sundance said. “Can’t we just send a card?”

“Send a CARD?! Sundance, where’s your sense of decency! As fellow Samurai’s we have a sense of duty to attend this funeral!”

“who are you, Don Corleone? ‘we have a duty to attend this funeral!’?”

“Yeah…ya think after this we can hit the town, I never saw Tokyo before!”

Dee Dee slapped both of their arms. “How can you think of yourselves at a time like this?! Do I look alright?”

They reached the Pizza Place and knocked on the door. Francine sadly came up and opened it. “I’m sorry, we’re closed.”

“Oh we know,” Dee Dee said. “My name is Dee Dee. This is Sundance and Cosmo. My fellow Pizza Cats have come from New York to pay our respects.”

“Oh, yeah, I heared about you guys.” Francine opened the door. “Come in.”

“Thank you,” Dee Dee said.

Sundance stepped forward. “Permit me to introduce myself, I’m the Sundance Kid..”

“Yes, I know who you are,” Francine said angrily. “The one that kept making fun of Speedy. Look, he’s going through a very difficult time right now , and the last thing he needs is someone picking on him because of his height.”

“Hear that, Sundance?” Dee Dee warned him. Sundance put up his hands.

Good Bird came down the stairs just then. “what’s up, Francine? who are ya talkin to?” He noticed the Manhattan Cats. “who are these guys here?”

“Good Bird, this is Sundance, Cosmo, and Dee Dee, the Manhattan Pizza Cats.”

“Oh, right I remember you.” He shook their hands. “So, which one of you made fun of my pal, Speedy?”

“PAL?! weren’t you the one ho tried to knock his block off when we last saw ya in Manhattan?”

“Hey, I admit I did do that, but that was then, this is now. I’ve completely reformed and I can honestly say Speedy’s one of the best friends I ever had! And I guess that would make YOU Sundance?”

“In the flesh! So, if you’re not Bad Bird anymore, who are you?”

“Good Bird.”

“No surprise there!”

“Hey, at least I didn’t make fun of his height then OR now!”

“Look, I know the shrimp can’t help it that he’s so puny…”

“Could you keep your opinions to yourself for these next few days?!” Francine said angrily. Dee Dee kicked him under the table and gave him a dirty look.

“It’s such a tragedy,” Cosmo said. “ She was such a sexy lady..”

“I don ‘t think that’s appropriate for a funeral!”

“You want me to lie?! She as sexy…bet she still is!”

“That is TOTALLY inappropriate! She died!”

“Oh, tell me again, IS she dead? Cause I didn’t get that!” Sundance asked.

Good Bird looked outraged. “Francine, I’m gonna choke this Cat! I’m gonna, I’m gonna rwap my hands around his neck…”
“SHUT UP, Sundance!!” Dee Dee said before standing up. “I’m sorry, please excuse my teammates. They have a habit of not thinking before they talk. we are truly sorry that this happened, and our sympathies go with all of you on this tragic time!”

“Say, where are Speedy and Guido?”

“They went to Polly’s Parent’s home to help them prepare for the wake tomorrow.” Good Bird sighed. “I don’t know how ANY of us are gonna get through this day!”

“we thought you both might want a say in the readings and so forth,” Mrs. Esther said sadly to Speedy and Guido as they all sat together at the main table of the kitchen/ All they could do was nod their heads. The door opened and Jerry came in in a disguise followed by two of the Ninja Crows also dressed up.

“Good afternoon. Sorry to disturb you, we know you’ve been disturbed enough. wE’re undertakers from the Golden Cross Funeral Parlor sent to help prepare the body for the wake tomorrow.”

“She’s in her old bedroom…on the top of the stairs to the left.”

“Thank you,”he said. He beckoned to the Crows to go up the stairs and told them to carry the body down to the living room here the wake would be. The Crows took the white bir that was given to them. They made their way into the bedroom and slowly opened the door. There, laying on the bed, was Polly. At first they didn’t even recogninze her without her uniform. She was laying on the bed, looking as if she was sleeping. She had been dressed in a black kimono, with a matching black ribbon in her hair, and her arms were crossed in front of her.

“Look at her,” One of the Crows snickered. “Look, one of the greatest Samurai’s in all of Little Tokyo!!” He struck a Shakesperian pose “Oh, where be your fighting, your claws, your temper now? where be your fearlessness now?!”

The first Crow snickered. “Ya know, I‘m glad Jerry got her! There‘s something I‘ve been wanting to do for a hile… ”

“what’s that?” The Crow took off a shoe and began to tickle Polly’s foot. “Cootchie, cootchie!! Cootchie, cootchie coo!!” They started laughing. “Cootchie cootchie coo!”

“what are both of you idiots doing?!” Jerry screamed through the door. “Both of you hurry up and get that body and bring it down here!! Move it!!”

The crows set up the bier. “Do I have to touch her?” the first Crow asked.

“’Do you have to touch her’?” the second Crow asked. “She’s dead…or she’s definitely gonna be in two weeks, it’s not like she can get up and claw our faces off THIS time! Now, on three. One, two, three,” and they transferred Polly’s lifeless body to the bier and slowly carried it don.

“Oh, where be your hothead now, your BIG MOUTH?!” The first Crow cracked.

“Silence up there, do you want them to hear us?!” Jerry asked. “Attend to your work!”

Polly’s Mother met them on the bottom of the stairs and gentily guided them to the center of the living room here the wake would be held. A platform was set up and under her guidance Polly’s Body as brought to the platform. Guido and Speedy were setting up candles on either side. Speedy’s eyes glassed over at the sight of Polly’s lifeless form on the beir. Her mother touched Speedy’s arm and slowly put Polly’s katana into his hands. Speedy looked at it.

“Go on,” she said. Speedy walked over, folded Polly’s arms across her chest and placed the katana in her hands, as was the compromise he had worked out with her parents. Polly would be buried in the black kimono but her weapons would be in her hands and her uniform would be laid out beside her in the tomb. He lingered near her, gentily stroking her cold hand and kissing it tenderly. Polly’s father touched his arm.

“You know I didn’t mean what I said before,” He explained. “I know how much you and my daughter loved each other. Speedy, you’ve been a member of our family since day one. Feel free to come over anytime! For Christmas, for our birthdays, you will always be welcome here!”

“Thank you,” Speedy said, hugging him. “I….I miss her so much..”

“Now, now, silence everyone!” Jerry said, holding up his hand. “Silence, for shame! Misery is not cured by crying! Heaven and you all had a part of this lovely girl, now Heaven has all of her, and THIS makes you cry? It’s to her advantage! Didn’t you say you wanted her to have the best, and you’re crying, now that she HAS the best?! You can’t do any better than Heaven! Higher no one else can go! No one can save anyone from death, now Heaven has her soul eternally, and THIS makes you sad?! This sort of love is selfish, for you’re crying at the thought that she’s so fortunate!” He pointed to Speedy. “Do you think you can ash her from the grave with tears? And even if you can you can’t bring her back to life again! No, dry your tears. The wake is tomorrow, and the day after, put flowers on her lovely corpse and in her finest carry her to Church. The Heavens frown on you for some wrong you’ve done, don’t anger them more by agitating them!”

Princess Vi was pacing up and down her royal parlor, wondering how on earth she or anyone in Tokyo was going to get through these next few days. She was particularly nervous because she would have to give the speech at this…and it was the first funeral she had to officiate! A familiar fanfare sounded throughout the Palace, causing Vi to sit at attention with a hopeful expression on her face. The massive door opened and with it a familiar welcome face entered. “Mother!” she cried.

Empress Friedia entered the parlor with a stunned look upon her face. She crossed the room as her daughter raced over and buried her face in her neck. “Hi, Sweetheart,” she said softly, running her hand through her hair.

“Oh, Mother, thank God they fetched you!”

“I came as soon as I heard. How are you holding up, Dear?”
“Mom…I’m scared. This time Big Cheese has gone too far.”:

“So I heard,” she hugged her daughter close. “Bad enough he tried to ursurp the throne, but now he’s resorted to murder!”

“I already issued a 9,000 yen reward for any information leading to his capture, 12,000 yen FOR his capture, and a public execution for him when we do find him….but it doesn’t seem like enough!”

“Believe me, it is enough…it’s the best you could do.”

“But, Mom, this time we have a murderer in Little Tokyo! A killer! wE don’t even know what he’s planning to do next! who’s he going to get next?! I’m scared to death to even leave the Palace…and I have to speak at the wake tomorrow and the funeral the day after! Oh, Mommy, how can I do it?”
“You just have to hold your head up high, and trust your guard. That’s what they’re there for! Being the Princess and a friend of the deceased you have an obligation to be there to give your speeches.”

“Also I have to dedicate the statue to her as soon as they’re finished with it. I’ll have to write a speech when that happens as well. Oh, Mom, I never realised how much responsibility comes with royalty.”

“well, it suits ya, Honey,” her Mother said, stroking her hair. “It’s part of your Royal Duties as Ruler. Come on, Honey, I’ll help you.”

“will you go with me tomorrow?”

“Of course, Dear, I’ll came here to pay my respects.”

Meanwhile Big Cheese, his Crows and the Doctor were hiding in the cave listening to Jerry’s report on the wake preparations. “Ha,ha,ha!! Oh, Jerry, this plan is going so smoothly this can’t fail at all! Oh, hooray, hooray, I just love this! I think I’ll do a dance, join me, Jerry!”

“Right with ya, Cheesy!” Jerry said, jumping up next to him.

“Oh, I’m just a little Cheesy!”

“I’m just a little old!”

“But when we all get together..”

“Our plans are big and bold!”

“No one can ever stop us,”

“And it’s plain to see,”

“I’ll be Ruler of Tokyo,”

“And his second I soon will be!”
The Crows all cheered and clapped “Good job, Great job!”

“Now, all I need is to see that hothead inside that tomb once and for all, and she’s as good as gotten rid of! with those to in the state they’re in, it should be easy for us to sneak into the Palace and use the potion on the Royals!”

“Not with a bounty on your head, you idiot!”

“what as that, Jerry?! Ar you calling me AN IDIOT?! Are you saying I GOT NO BRAINS?! I’M NOTHING BUT STUPID?! POT calling the kettle BLACK!! That gets me angry…ANGRY!!” The Crows managed to get out before he exploded. Jerry wasn’t so lucky.

“Do ya really need to go to a wake?” Sundance asked from their hotel room./

“If all you’re gonna do is complain about this, you can just stay here,” Dee Dee said.

“Oh, OK.”

“You’re gonna stop complaining?”

“No, I’m gonna stay here! I mean ya gotta go to the mortuary and see the coffin…I hate those places, they give me the heebee- geebees!”

“we’re not going to the mortuary, we’re going to her parent’s home.”

“Ya mean the casket is in there?”

“No, don’t you know anything about Japanese culture? They don’t bury people, they either get cremated or put in a tomb. She’s being laid out tonight and tomorrow she gets put in the tomb.”

“Ohh…..ya mean..she’s not in a casket? You’re gonna go…and her lieing there?!” He shuddered. “Now I’m GLAD I’m not going!”

Cosmo shook his head. “Look, Dee Dee, I found the lovliest flower! Perfect for the most beautiful flower in all of Japan who is being buried tomorrow.”

“Very nice, Cosmo, I’m sure the bugs that are going to end up eating that flower are going to be very impressed!”

The song is ‘All I Know’ by Art Garfunkel

“Ya don’t have to go to the wake, ya big baby, but you are going to the funeral tomorrow,” Dee Dee said angrily.

“I’ll go, I’ll go,” Sundance said.

“Stop being such a child,” Dee Dee said. “As fellow Samurais we have a duty to pay our respects.”

“I know and I’m aware,” Sundance said. “And I’ll do it tomorrow. But wakes creep me out, especially with her lieing there with no casket.” He shuddered.

“Then just stay here,” Dee Dee said. “Honestly, I can’t believe you didn’t read anything on Japanese culture on the plane! If you did, then you’d know!”

“Yeah, just relax, call Lucinda while you’re here,” Cosmo cracked before they left.

Sundance did try to call Lucinda, but she wasn’t at home, so he called Abigail.

“Hey, Sundance, how’s Japan?”

“It’s alright, although they’re going all out. The streets are covered in black streamers and people are in morning everywhere! who‘s the Pizza Parlor?”

“we’re managing. Hey, seriously, I really am sorry that fellow Samurai bought the farm,” she said. “But hey, she lived a good life. May have been short, but hey, she got to carry a sword everywhere, got free pizza…got to beat up men whenever they got fresh..that sounds like a really great life to me!”

Sundance smiled. “Sometimes I like ya, Abby, ya can always say the right things.”

“Hey, I’m in pizza sales!”

when Cosmo and Dee Dee arrived at the esther place, there was already a great number of people already there. Several people were sitting on the white chairs that had been set up in the room, others were mingling around, and a row of people had lined up where Polly was laid out. There she lay, looking so peaceful she looked as if she were asleep, with her arms folded in front of her and holding her katana. She as dressed in a black kimono with a matching black ribbon in her hair. Her eyes were closed and her face had a calmness that showed only once in a while. There were candles set up on either side of her body, bathing her in a soft light. Polly’s parents and Sukaya were to the left of her, Al Dante, Speedy, Guido, and Good Bird were to her right. Speedy himself was closest to her, and he couldn’t take his eyes off his fallen beloved. He had to bite his lower lip to keep himself from breaking down, and his hand gripped the beir like a vice. Dee Dee and Cosmo joined the line of mourners. They walked over to here Polly lay and said a prayer over her body. They came first to her family and then to Al, Speedy, Guido, and Good Bird, shaking their hands and saying how sorry they ere. They then waked over to some chairs and sat down.

“In a way I can sympathise with Sundance…her laying there, she looks like she’s sleeping almost.” Dee Dee poked Cosmo.

“Shhhh!”

Suddenly all the people who were seated stood up as 2 trumpet players entered and played a fanfare. Princess Vi and her parents entered the room. The people all bowed low to them, so Dee Dee and Cosmo did the same. The Royals went over and prayed over Polly’s body and then hugged her family, Al, Speedy, Guido, and Good Bird. They sat down on the nearest chairs. Francine entered just then, burst into tears over Polly’s body, and came to sit next to Cosmo and Dee Dee.

“Oh, there, there,” Cosmo said. “It’s alright, just let it all out.” Francine whiped her eyes and looked down. Soon the incense was bright in, signaling the ceremony would soon start. Minister Kato took the podium that as set up near her.

“Silence,” he called out, holding up his hand. “Silence, please, our Princess, Violet of Little Tokyo, will now speak.” Vi looked at her mother nervously. Frieda patted her arm encouragingly and Vi took the podium as everyone took their seats and silence fell over the room.

Vi cleared her throat. “Citizens of Little Tokyo,” she began. “Today is truly a tragic day in our city. Today we all gather here to mourn the loss of one of our city’s greatest heroes. But as we mourn let us never forget all she stood for and what she died for. Let us never forget her short but brave and compassionate life. This young angel who we all mourn today was not only a true heroine, but a good friend to all who followed the law. This brave woman was not only a fantastic fighter, but a caring, thoughtful, generous person who we were blessed to have in our midst. wE mourn for her today, but let us never forget her kind and thoughtful ways and her deep love for our country, this love that defended all of us in our time of need time and time again. while we all know she is now an angel in Heaven , here on earth may she never be forgotten. God Bless you, Polly, and may you forever have love and peace.”

Frieda patted Vi’s shoulder. “That was wonderful, Honey.” she whispered.

The priest then began the prayers to ward off any evil spirits and to guide her to Heaven. Soon the incense sticks were lit and one at a time Polly’s parents and Sukaya came forward, knelt before the body and offered up the incense three times. Speedy slowly came up and did the same before Guido, Lucielle, Francine, Good Bird, Carla, and Al did the same.

“Tomorrow, as we lay her body in eternal rest, let our hearts never forget her bravery and generosity. Let us never forget her loving ways and her never hesitating to help her fellow citizens. Let us never forget her kind words and gentle tenderness that lit up the room wherever she went. Into your hands, Dear Father, we commend her spirit. Let us all pray together..”

After the wake, Guido, Good Bird, Al and Speedy staid behind to help clean up a bit and put the food away everyone brought over. Polly’s Mother approached her body with something in her hands. She beckoned Speedy to follow her. Hen they reached her body she opened the box and shoed Speedy hat it contained- a lovely, jeweled necklace. “This is a special necklace,” she told Speedy. “I was planning to give it to her on her wedding day.” She took it out and put it around Polly’s neck and fastioned the clasp.

Jerry, who was watching this from outside the open window, drooled at the sight of the necklace. “Cheese would love to get his hands on that!” He thought. “How much he could sell it for!” He ducked down and flew away, returning that night. He slowly climbed through th window and made his way to where Polly lay. The necklace sparkled around her neck in the still lit candlelight like tiny stars. He reached over to take it when he heard a voice and ran off, ducking under one of the seats as Speedy came in, holding a candle and in his bathrobe, obviously unable to sleep. Slowly he went to Polly and stared at her for a while, the made his way to the front seat, set the candle down and sat down on the chair to sit with the body. Jerry cursed to himself and climbed back out the window, flying away.

Speedy just sat on the chair with his hands collapsed in front of him, all the tears he held in at the wake finally spilling down as memories surrounded him. Memories of Polly all in his head, playing like his own little good-bye movie. All kinds of times he had shared with Polly, the good as well as the bad…yet he knew he cherished them all!

I bruise you, you bruise me
We both bruise too easily
Too easily to let it show
I love you, and that's all I know

All my plans have fallen through
All my plans depend on you
Depend on you to help them grow
I love you, and that's all I know

When the singer's gone
Let the song go on...

But the ending always comes at last
Endings always come too fast
They come too fast, but they pass too slow
I love you, and that's all I know

When the singer's gone
Let the song go on
It's a fine line between the darkness and the dawn
They say the darkest night
There's a light beyond

But the ending always comes at last
Endings always come too fast
They come too fast, but they pass too slow
I love you, and that's all I know
That's all I know
That's all I know

Some more for ya.