Scarlet Traces, A Toontown Fanfic (REMASTERED)

Prologue

    It had been a long day of completing Toon tasks; long and tiring. But the sight of the completed list was well worth it because it meant more beans. Little Taffy grinned triumphantly as she handed the shop keeper the small sheet of paper, “Here’s the list of less experienced Toons I helped out.”

     He took it in his hand and looked over the names. After quickly running the names through a computer to confirm the signatures of the other Toons he smiled back at Little Taffy, “Well done,” he ducked below the counter for a moment before popping back up, “It’s nice to help the younger fighters out, isn’t it?”

    “Yeah, it is.” She smiled, but in the back of her mind thought: sometimes…when they don’t badger for you to be their friends.

    “Well, here’s your reward for helping out,” he then pulled a somewhat large sack of jelly beans from bellow the counter and handed them to her. A little overwhelmed by the bag’s size (nearly half the size of her head) she chuckled, “Wow, that’s quite a lot,” before she carefully stuffed it into her pants pocket.

    “Now, you take care then Little Taffy. It’s getting late, and the Bloodsuckers like to come out around this hour; especially with it so close to Halloween.”

    “I’ll be fine, good night,” she waved happily at the shop keeper, he returned her good night with a wave also before she exited his shop.




    Little Taffy’s feet crunched loudly on the fallen leaves blowing around the street and side walk. It was a cool autumn night; the wind blustered about and made the leaves dance in wild, rhythmic patterns about her ankles as she walked. It would have been more enjoyable for her, had the breeze not been so bitingly cold.

    “Brrr…I should have brought my scarf with me for the walk home. It’s chilly out.” She shivered and rubbed her arms, trying but failing to warm herself.

    She continued her lonely stroll down the still empty street, unaware of just how empty it really was and unaware that she was being watched. He smirked when he laid eyes on her. Wrapping his evening cloak tighter around himself, he followed after her; being careful to tread as quietly over and around the leaves as he possibly could. She was further ahead, true, but then felines had exceptional ears, didn’t they?

    Still oblivious to her prowler, she continued musing aloud to herself, “I hope that I’ve finally saved enough beans for that darn pipe organ in Clarabelle’s Catalogue. The price is ridiculous, 3000 jelly beans for it! But it’s just so cool I’ve got to have it! And even if I can’t, might just be better off getting a larger wardrobe. I’ve had to tie the door shut just to keep all my clothes in there…”

    Still he followed her, checking every so often to make sure no one else was sneaking up on him; and getting rather annoyed that he was still no closer to catching her. Finally, the opportune moment arose. She had stopped, dead in her walking and was kicking at a pile of leaves that had accumulated on the edge of the street.

    “Hmm…I wonder if Pearl’s decided on what she wants her costume to be this Halloween yet?”

    Without another thought, he smirked and quickly closed the distance between them; but at the cost of losing his stealthy approach. His footsteps echoed loudly though the night and empty street. It didn’t take her long to hear them, and when she whipped around to face the source of the footsteps, “Woah!” she shouted and jumped back in surprise at the sight of the Bloodsucker; managing to pull out a seltzer bottle to defend with in the process.

    The Bloodsucker’s face was calm, unnerved by the seltzer bottle that was being practically shoved into his eye. He crossed his arms, his face still cool and collected. Eyes bearing into her’s, and he spoke in a calm, almost tender tone, “Put that down.”

    Glaring hatefully at the Lawbot, she gripped her gag tightly and hissed at him, “Why should I?”

    A smile graced him lips, exposing more of his fangs that already protruded slightly. Again, his tone was calm, only this time it seemed a little more enticing, “Because, you want to.” He continued looking directly at her in the eyes.

    “Pssh, yeah right; keep telling yourself that!” she growled again, returning his unwavering stare into her eyes by staring back into his.

    The Bloodsucker’s smiled widened; she was playing right into his hand. Continuing to stare into her eyes, he said, “Yes, you do.”

    Little Taffy felt like someone was probing her mind, trying to make her obey. She blinked once and the feeling seemed to waver slightly.

His eyes…she thought, I’ve got to stop looking at his eyes.

But try as she might, her eyes didn’t seem to want to move. All she could seem to do was speak, “N-no, I don’t…”

    “Yes, you do,” he said once more, “Now, put the Gag away, and come with me.”

    It took every last bit of mental strength she had to not listen to him. In her fight to win, she dropped the seltzer bottle on the ground. It shattered, spilling the fizzy water every where. Finally, she was able to tear her eyes away from his.

“No!” she shouted at him once more, before quickly running from him as fast as she possibly could. The Blood-sucker sighed, before giving chase after her.

    Little Taffy tore down the street, looking for some way to escape from the Blood-sucker, knowing well she had no more gags left after helping the younger fighters out from before. That Seltzer she’d carelessly dropped had been her last. Her Sticker Book was buried deep inside one of her pockets, and she needed a safe place to look for it so she could teleport home. Suddenly up ahead was an alley way, it was her only chance, she had to take it. She dared to look back once, and to her horror, the Lawbot was hot on her heels. This alley way was her only chance to get away, it couldn’t fail her; it just couldn’t.

    Rounding the corner, her only hope faded. The alley was a dead end, “No!” she cried out. There was no time. Still, she desperately began digging inside her pockets trying to find her sticker book. The footsteps of the Bloodsucker slowed to a walk and she turned to face him, her hands still fishing for her lost sticker book.

    “Nowhere to run, Toon,” He chuckled.

    Still looking, he took advantage of the situation and closed the short distance and grabbed hold of one of her wrists and Little Taffy let off a shriek of fright. His voice, no longer calm or seductive, but somewhat rough and demanding, “Look into my eyes.”

    “N-no,” She shouted once again, using her free arm to cover her eyes with, and turned her head away from him.

    Now getting very impatient with her, he grabbed her ear, and pinched it as hard as he could, “Look at me!”

    Little Taffy yelped in pain but continued to look away. When the pain became intolerable, she hesitantly looked back at him; the making of tears in her eyes. At the sight of her, his face softened a little, and his calm tone of voice returned, “That’s better. Now…” he trailed off in thought before continuing, “I want you to relax.” He caressed her cheek softly, wiping a stray tear that had managed to fall as he did so.

    She stared into his eyes, and all fear disappeared from her. Calm enveloped all her senses. His touch was oddly welcoming. She leaned into it, savoring it. It was comforting, the feeling of his hand running over her cheek.

    What the heck am I doing?!

    Feeling her relax, the Bloodsucker released her wrist and smiled at her, “Good girl…” he paused and held out his hand for her to take, “Now come with me.”

    At his words, all other thought faded. She looked down at his hand and grasped it. When his hand was in hers, she leaned up against him. He was surprisingly warm, and it was a welcome change from the bitter cold, she drew as close to him as she could. He smirked at her and wrapped his evening cloak around her. His arms wrapped around her waist, and he quietly led her off into the night.