Silencer's Wrath

Synopsis: Taking place after ‘Star Over Toontown’, the toons have been made mute by Silencer’s ability. However, the steely-eyed ninja reveals his true nature after the Rangers sit him down and get him to confess his reasons why he wants the toons to remain mute. Will the Rangers be able to convince him to return their voices, or will the Toon world continue to be silent ?

Chapter 1—Deafening

It was wrong. Toons were supposed to sing, laugh and make goofy sound effects when they walked. Even their effects had been robbed from them. Stripped bare until absolutely nothing remained. Many of them could overreact to be understood but some had result to thought bubbles to make any sense. Some of them were so distraught that they broke down. If these tears weren’t stopped, the whole of Toontown and Blancopolis would be drowned in a river of toon tears unless Silencer was found and brought to justice.

Silencer knew he’d never been found. Since becoming trained in martial arts and learning about ninjitsu, he had known what it was like to be still and never speak ever again. It was so long ago since he had uttered one syllable. He remembered that fateful night and it made him fume with rage.

He, Walter Nimitz, had been an outstanding comic. Everyone loved him. He thought he might even get lucky and nab the love of his life. That was until a toon grandstanded him. He bogarted the limelight and ruined Walter’s career. Walter couldn’t keep up with Woody Woodpecker’s frantic antics. Woody had been doing stand up since he had been hatched. He was always hilarious and people paid top dollar to see him. Woody was even seeing dignitaries and getting awards. Last time Walter had seen him, he was ‘Sir’ Woody. The little pecker had been Knighted.

Walter couldn’t believe that the only woman he had ever loved, that horrible, terrible, despicable, reprehensible night had been stolen from him, just like his career. That night, everything in his mind began to obscure. His thoughts were vengeful.

He learned everything he needed, including a spell that would rob any living creature, doodled or carbon based, of its voice. He could reverse it, but with it, any power that he had with his new identity would also fade. It was the law of equivalent exchange.

Chapter 2—Darkness Found Out By Light

Silencer didn’t do much work in the morning but preferred to work under the cover of darkness. He knew that going after his girl, Sylvia was worthless. She belonged to Woody now and he was certain the two were getting married. Feeling absolutely horrid, he went to his favorite pub, O’Malleys. He wasn’t the type to get snockered but he felt he had no other options.

‘One Mai Tai please.’, he said, after snacking on some peanuts. He had ordered himself a Philly cream cheese sandwich, replete with kosher pickles.

‘Still moonin’ over Sylvia ? Walt, let her go.’, the bartender said. Raul had known Walt for a long time and knew that seeing him here in his establishment meant Walt had hit rock bottom as far as depression went.

‘Firstly, Raul, don’t call me that here. You don’t know me. No one knows me and that’s the way I want it to stay.’, he said, almost in a whisper.

‘Man, you’ve gone way emo. You are far too dark. Not the guy I remember. I don’t know if I should be givin’ you this Mai Tai, man...’, the sweet Puerto Rican said, concerned for his friend’s well being. This was a man who had gone to school with Walt and seen him come up in the world. It was all because of Woody Woodpecker that Walt had lost his career in stand up and was working a passionless job behind a desk for some heavy-handed, hard nosed CEO that made Walt’s life terrible.

‘Give me the bloody drink.’, Walt demanded. Raul knew it was a bad decision but obeyed.

Chapter 3—Super Sleuths

The gang, bots and friends had enlisted the help of Nancy Drew, Veronica Mars, Scooby Doo and the Mystery Machine, Josie and the Pussycats, Sherlock and Periot to assist them. Veronica was the first to discover traces that Walter had left behind and he had become easy to locate.

‘I knew he would be here ! We owe it to the Themascirans for our transport here safely, too. Remind me to thank them when we close this case.’, she said, confidently.

Jessica Jones shook her head as she overturned Walt’s arm to reveal a pentacle seal on his wrist.

‘Black magic ? You are playing with fire, ninja.’, she warned. It had twisted Walter’s original happy nature and it was obvious. He had to reverse the spell himself but Walt had no intention of doing so. It was either going to come down to an out and out fight, in which he would be severely outnumbered, or a battle of wits. All of them preferred the latter, so before Walt could inebriate himself further, they took him into the light, the one thing he hated more than his currently pathetic life.

Chapter 4—Let’s Just Talk, Walt…

‘Where is he ?’, Synde questioned. Clearly, Veronica and the others had nabbed Silencer, brought him out in the open, but when they had become distracted, he was gone.

‘I have no idea.’, Synde’s lovely wife said, totally confused. They were all puzzled as to where the ninja had gone.

Walt had found a haunt that no one else knew about. It was a locally owned bookstore that barely had any clientele. How they were still doing business was beyond anyone’s logic but it was likely that Walt kept it in business with his love of paranormal fantasy, steampunk, graphic novels and his massive collection of manga.

Sherlock had been the only one to track him down and was sipping a piping hot cup of Earl Grey tea. Walt started to panic.

‘I wouldn’t try running again, Walter. It didn’t work last time and it won’t work now.’, Sherlock said, in a very matter-of-fact way. Watson had accompanied him, impressed with how immediately Sherlock had deduced the ninja would be heading to his favorite ‘escape spot’.

‘Now, start explaining. Everything. We need to know what possessed you to do what you did.’, Watson started. Forcefully being marched back to Toontown felt like how desolate and embarrassed a vagrant would in the dark ages, paraded, thrown rotten tomatoes at, and eventually displayed in the stocks for all to see and to take heed lest they follow the same destructive path.

Walt began to tell his story and could feel the necromancy beginning to bore a hole into his ‘kind’ personality. With whatever strength he could muster, he unleashed some of the most unreal martial arts defensive moves ever witnessed. Sherlock wasn’t keen on violence but Watson was combat trained. He had been able to subdue Walt. They all waited for the magical girls to arrive. If anyone could heal Walt’s condition, they could.

Chapter 5—You Must Reverse the Curse

It seemed, sadly, that the girls couldn’t suppress Walt’s fears, insecurities, abandonment issues or his deep seeded anger.

‘There’s not much we can do.’, Zatana began, a bit sadly.

‘I’ve seen darkness, but his soul, my stars, is darker than anything I’ve witnessed !’, Raven said, becoming increasingly disturbed. Seeing the Gothic queen become unnerved made the crew a bit edgy.

‘I know you’re really miffed about that bird leavin’ you.’, Constantine began, hoping he could talk some sense into this obscure young man. Walt began to cross his arms but the more that Constantine spoke, the more loose and open his posture became. In time, Green Lantern looked at him seriously and said, rather gravely,

‘There’s nothing more any of us can do. Even the Lanterns. You have to reverse the curse yourself.’, he said. Walt heaved a sigh that felt like it embodied the weight of the Cosmos itself. He knew what he had done in hate, anger and revenge wasn’t right. He had done it all out of spite and impulsively. Remembering the incantation of reversal, Walt felt the darkness dissipate and although he still felt some emptiness, the deep, dark depression he had was totally gone.

Chapter 6—Reticent

All the Toons got their voices and sound effects back once the incantation had done its work. Toontown was back to what it had originally been and even better. Most of the toons weren’t happy to see him. Many shrunk back in fear, which was mitigated and duly noted but Walter made an appeal.

‘What I did was wrong. I acted out of vengeance rather than logic. I paid the ultimate price. I’m asking for forgiveness and a chance at friendship.’, Walt began, a bit demurely. There was a cute Gothic girl named Stormy who had witnessed this change and boldly walked up to him.

‘I think what you did is more than admirable. I came to the park by myself, but I was wondering if you would like a companion to accompany you ?’, she said.

‘You bet ! Let the quest commence ! Oh, I’m Walter, by the way.’, Walt said, holding out his hand. Stormy giggled coquettishly. She was blushing behind her violet/turquoise ombre bangs.

‘I’m Stormy.’, Stormy answered. The two shook hands and Walt felt himself melt in her velveteen touch. He gently took her hand and the two were off like a shot.

‘It starts. Love is in the air again.’, Timon said, all knowingly. He and Pumba were out on a jaunt looking for bugs but were headed in to Pandora in the park to do a bit of scouting there for new marketing opportunities. Everyone went back to their regular schedules and the park resumed its typical hustle and bustle. Especially with Runaway Railway recently opened, more people were coming to scope out the latest, greatest, and most promising ride that Disney had offered in a while. Needless to say, 9 out of 10 park guests walked away with huge grins on their faces.

Epilogue

    'More ideas for attractions, themed lands, food offerings and even shopping locations are on the way, despite our stock's recent tanking at the New York Stock Exchange.', Michael said to a crowd of Guests gathered at Cinderella Castle. Among the people in the crowd were the Rangers and their kids, as well as the robots. An actor playing a royal herald, clearly from a certain actors' union out of Orlando, had given him a scroll containing the information.

    'Hey, wait a minute !', a 12-year-old girl's voice piped up. 'Which stores have you decided will be available ?'

Minnie leaned to meet the tweens’ glance and beamed.

‘Our latest film, Onward will be showcased. Of course, all rare and unusual Pixar merchandise will be sold in our stores as well. Since we have recently acquisitioned some of Universal’s IP, we even have Harry Potter related products, some Lord of the Rings merchandise and of course, Star Wars and Star Trek. Something for everyone !’, Minnie retorted. The Onward store was brand, spankin’ new. To do the honors, Barley and Ian were given an oversized pair of scissors to cut the red ribbon for excited patrons to scope out the multitude of different types of merch there actually were.

‘So, did I miss anything ?’, Deadpool questioned as he was passing through time with Cable’s time jumper. Before anyone could respond to the 4^th wall bursting merc, he had already winked away into who and when knows where.

“Well that was odd.”, Zach quipped.

“Compared with what ?”, Andrew added. Everyone laughed. Given that it was a full day, everyone enjoyed the rest of their day and savored their time together before dispersing to go about their ordinary lives.

Everyone’s day ended as typically as it had begun; nestled all snug in bed, calm, quiet and lulled into dream land. The appearance by Deadpool had been a bit unusual though. What could it have all meant ? None of the gang really knew and soon that question became forgotten as everyone became lost in their own reveries.

To Be Continued...