User blog:Cartoonprincess/Somnium: Chapter 6 Slappy Gets Pinged

'This chapter is dedicated to SlappyWiggins, who is probably not reading this. Thank you for putting up with me. :P'

' NOTE : This chapter gets pretty intense''. Also, I know Wilt the Waiter would technically say "I'm sorry" a lot, but I just thought it would sound weird. Try to keep all comments related to the chapter/story and keep the side-conversations to a minimum. Thanks! :)'''

Chapter 6: Slappy Gets Pinged

(and I don't mean on chat)



         The warm, 6AM sun slowly rose and began to shed a serene, tranquil light over every edge of the fantasy world. A brisk draft blew a flyer into Isabel’s face as she peacefully took a nap on the couch in the game room. When she opened her eyes, a bright, neon yellow memo appeared before her:

Ping '' Pong Match: ''

''When: Tonight at 6 ''

''Where: In park area ''

''Who: SlappyWiggins and Cartoonprincess ''

''BE THERE! ''

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center; line-height: 200%;">''<span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">P.S. Team Slappy or Team Toon? ''

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center; line-height: 200%;">''<span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">xD ''

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">           Isabel grabbed the paper from her face in shock. She stared strangely at it, determining its legitimacy. As she got up from the couch, she realized that the flyers were posted all over in various neon colors. Inquisitively, she inspected for a clue as to how they may have gotten manufactured and who was responsible. Up ahead, she examined more signs that read either TEAM SLAPPY or TEAM TOON in bold.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">           The entire cottage appeared to be empty until she spotted Sydney out in the distance. In spite of her general displeasure in reasoning with her stubborn creation, she did not hesitate to approach her, so as to alleviate her confusion.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">           “Sydney, did you poof up these flyers…?”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">           Sydney chuckled frivolously, “No, that was your friends…man, they don’t play around, do they…?”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">           Isabel narrowed her eyes in suspicion, “…Yeah…”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">           She continued to venture throughout the cottage and eventually headed out the door to the park, where even more flyers colorfully announced their presence.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">           In the distance, Isabel could see Alica casually walking down the trail, by herself. Anxiously, she loomed towards her, “Alica, what is the meaning of this!?” She pointed to the flyer she was holding.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">           “Don’t look at me! Reason and Yoshi made the flyers!” Alica informed her.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">           Out in the horizon, Isabel could see the said users working their butts off near a machine. Frantically, she made her way up the hill to give them a stern talk.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Upon reaching their location, she observed a large, noisy printer that was spewing out flyer after neon flyer. Yoshi and Reason were both collecting the paper and handling the machine, chortling madly and admiring their work.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“What the hell are you two doing!?” Isabel finally asked.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“What does it look like we’re doing? We’re promoting the Ping Pong match!” Yoshi affirmed.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“You guys have only been living here like, 2 days and you’re already overloading my fantasy world with propaganda…?”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“It’s called business, baby…” Reason pointed out matter-of-factly.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“Why would you ever need to start a business, here!? You have an unlimited supply of everything you need to survive!” Isabel replied in exasperation.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“Well, excuse us for wanting to have a little pride and self-worth in our lives!” Yoshi retorted.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“Besides, you did technically challenge Slappy; we needed some way to get the word out…” Alica added.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“Y’all took that seriously!? It was the middle of the night! I didn’t even know what I was saying! It was all just a senseless rant…” Isabel griped.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“Does that mean you didn’t mean what you said to us at the banquet, last night…?” xx asked sadly.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“NO, no I did mean that…with all my heart…but Slappy just got into my head and started pushing my buttons and provoking me…as usual…” Isabel explained.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“Well, all the uproarious hype it has created is too great for us to cancel it, now…” Reason avowed. “Plus, we’ve been up since like, 1:30…”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“Ugh, I don’t even know how to play ping pong…” Isabel droned.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“Relax, it’ll be fine…” Alica said apathetically.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“It better be, because I need to win this thing…I need to…’cuz…”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“Yeah, we get it…” Reason said with a smirk.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“…Wait, what…?” Isabel’s eyes widened.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Everyone laughed knowingly.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“WHAT!?” Isabel screeched in embarrassment and aggravation.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“Hey, everybody!” Slappy chirpily barged into the scene.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“Oh, good god…” Isabel muttered miserably.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“Hey, Toon!” Slappy sneered.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Isabel scowled intensely as she looked over, “…Yeah, hi…” she said flatly.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“Looks like this Ping Pong match is the real deal…” he smiled smugly.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Hiding her intimidation and ignoring his cockiness, Isabel choked out, “Guess so…”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Slappy pondered thoughtfully for a moment, “You know what we should do? We should have a pre-match, lunch-type thing…just so we can discuss exactly what will go down, tonight…”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">''<span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"> ‘Exactly what will go down, tonight’…what the hell does that mean …? ''<span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">She thought apprehensively.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Growing more nervous by the second, she awkwardly stuttered out a response, “Th-That sounds great…”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Slappy grinned self-assuredly, “Great! Meet me at the fancy restaurant in the hotel, at around 2PM….sound good…?”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“Yes, I will be there…” Isabel faked a smile, attempting to show some confidence.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“Awesome,” Slappy responded as he smiled softly.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">As Isabel watched her brash and arrogant ex walk away, she knew that if she intended to win this thing, she would need to get tough, get bold, get sassy, and become completely unforgiving. Naturally, she knew just the person to turn to.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“Sydney, I need your expertise…” Isabel admitted reluctantly.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Sydney <span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"> groaned, “Is this about that dumb match between you and baldy…?”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“Yes!” Isabel said in frenzy, “and I need your freaking help to beat him!”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Sydney stared at her coldly and uncaringly, “…Sweetie, I hate to tell you this, but there’s really no way you’re going to beat him; have you seen how big he is!? He could probably eat you alive…and you don’t even know how to play…”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“…Well, can’t you use your supernatural, magic-y business to help me get skills…?” Isabel desperately suggested.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Sydney <span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"> deliberated on this idea for a moment as she chewed her lip, “Mmm, you can’t use magic to win a competition…so, you’re out of luck there…”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Isabel was becoming restless, “Sydney, we’re in my fantasy world, right now; there are no rules!”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Sydney <span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"> tilted her head in consideration, “Good point, but let me put a spell on baldy, too; just so it’s evenly matched…”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Isabel sighed deeply in relief, “Good, because I need to win this thing, ‘cuz-”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“Yeah, I get it…” Sydney rolled her eyes.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Meanwhile, on the other side of the park, a stimulating discussion was going on between the users.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">ILoveSeddie1234321 got up on a park bench and randomly yelled out, “TEAM TOON OR TEAM SLAPPY!!!???”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“Totally Team Control!” Tara said positively.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“Ha-ha, yeah!” Churchpants nodded in agreement. “Loony could kick Slappy’s butt, any day!”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“Honestly, I’m a little torn,” Alica admitted.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“Yeah, so am I,” Tash chimed in. “Slappy and Toon are both my friends…”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“Personally, I’m on Team Toon, all the way. She may play it off all sweet and innocent, but when it comes time to fight, she fights hard…” PurpleJerk elucidated.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“I don’t know…” Samlovesham said timidly, “like me, she tends to be really sensitive and emotional, and I’m just afraid she won’t do well under the pressure…”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">It was almost 2PM, and Isabel was deeply dreading her endeavor with Slappy. She took a deep breath and entered the eating establishment.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Slappy was already there when she arrived. Their eyes locked in a grave stare. As she made her way to the table, she tried not to make any further eye contact. She quietly looked to the ground as she sat down.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Before any words could be said, the waiter Wilt (from Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends) came over to them.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“Would you like anything to start out with?” he inquired.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“Um…you got any bread?” Slappy asked.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“Oh, yes, we have sweet rolls with lots of butter and olive oil,” Wilt replied merrily.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“Um, okay, we’ll take those…” Slappy said in a slightly skittish manner.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“Great,” Wilt smiled and walked away.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Slappy cagily looked over at Isabel, “Wow, your fantasy world is—”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“I know,” Isabel bitterly interrupted.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">There was a brief gap of silence between them as the rest of the restaurant seemed to lose itself in the hustle and bustle.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“So, you do know I’m going to beat you, right…?” Slappy shrewdly pointed out.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“Ugh, I really don’t want to be doing this, right now…” Isabel informed him in exasperation, “I think we should just call the whole thing off…”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Slappy smirked, “Oh, we’re definitely not calling it off…”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“You just want a chance to show me up and publically humiliate me…”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“Of course,” Slappy joked.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Isabel grimaced and banged the table in frustration.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Slappy glared, “See? There you go again with your attitude; you’re so impossible, sometimes.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Isabel buried her head into her hands and moaned softly. Why did she always get like this when she was with him?

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"> “Come on, it will be fun…” Slappy encouraged her.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Isabel continued to loudly lament, “Okay…” she finally said.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“Good,” Slappy said softly.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">In the meantime, everyone was still rampantly raving either Team Toon or Team Slappy. Tash and Lucy were walking tranquilly throughout the park trails, in spite of it all.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Lucy sighed in annoyance, “You know, no offense to Toon or anything, but she has like, no athletic ability; meanwhile, Slappy has tons of experience since he’s been doing sports all his life…”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Tash raised an eyebrow and nodded perceptively to Lucy’s comment.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“Besides, life isn’t all about being cute and peppy; it doesn’t require you to write blogs and crap…” she added spitefully.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Taken aback by Lucy’s harshness, Tash was unable to respond. Even though he and Lucy had been close for years and she had always been known to be outspoken on the wiki, he had never seen her get so malicious towards someone.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">A few hours later, everyone started to gravitate towards the same place in the park. Sydney had poofed up a set of bleachers for all of the users to sit and watch the match from. Some early arrivals started a conversation on the top seats.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“Poor Toon,” Tash said repentantly, “she’s going to get destroyed by Slappy…”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">A user named PurpleStripedFudgeParole239, who was sitting next to him laughed heartily and said, “Poor Toon!? Poor Slappy! “

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“Yeah,” Alica elaborated, “Toon can be pretty ruthless and forceful when she wants to be…”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“This whole thing just seems so reckless and violent; I don’t approve…” Samlovesham anxiously confessed.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“Come on, guys! We all know the real reason they’re doing this; it’s so obvious they’re still not over each other…” Becky stated adamantly.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Churchpants giggled, “Yeah!”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">At that, everyone but Tash started to laugh.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“You don’t really think they’ll get back together, do you..?” he asked quietly and uneasily.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Fudge smirked, “Why do you care..?”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“I don’t…” Tash said softly as he twiddled his thumbs.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Fudge stared at him and raised her eyebrow suspiciously.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">           All of a sudden, everything went quiet. Both Slappy and Isabel showed up at the same time, staring absorbedly into each other’s eyes with a fixed glare. Things were about to get ugly.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">           Slappy had the first serve. The ball bounced briskly and rushed towards the other side in one swipe. Isabel smashed it back in irate determination.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">The users were all fixed on the ball as it swiftly went back and forth in continuous blows.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“GO, SLAPPY!” a user named The Sam Puckett cheered on.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“WHOO, YEAH SLAPPY!” Candy yelled in agreement.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“YEAH, MURDER HER, SLAPPY! SHOW HER WHO’S ADORABLE!” Lucy shrieked.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Isabel suddenly stopped and put her hands on her hips as she stood aside, “Wait a minute, I’m not adorable!”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Lucy rolled her eyes in minimal tolerance, “Ugh, save it Toon, and get back in the game!”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“GET ‘IM, LOONY!” Churchpants exclaimed.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“YEAH, YOU CLOBBER  HIM, SEAPEE!” Becky screamed.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“AW, YEAH! YOU GO, CONTROL!” Tara squealed.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Right then, at that moment, the intensity hit its peak as the two strong-willed, former online lovers continued to stare with bladed eyes into the other one’s soul.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">In a random burst of spontaneity, Isabel threw her paddle, got down on her knees and smacked her elbow on the table.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“Let’s arm wrestle,” she said in a crotchety voice.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Questioning mumbles came drifting from the bleachers.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Slappy’s mouth curled into a Grinch-like smile, “Oh, you’re so on…”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Noises of sweaty rage came from their throats as they both strained to keep their arms up.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Every eye was glued to the two lunatics.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Finally, Isabel’s strength started to falter, and the sweet taste of victory kept getting further and further away from her grasp. She unrelentingly persisted with all of her might.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">At last, she stood up, regained her paddle and rapidly served the ball while Slappy was still kneeling on the ground.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“What the—” Slappy became incensed. He quickly got up and returned the ball with the same hasty force.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">The ball flashed right past Isabel and landed beside her on the grass. Unfazed, she picked it up and closely examined her target.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“This one’s for the Lucy quote!” she cackled sinisterly as she cogently served the ball.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">The audience oohed in stun as Lucy daggered in disgust.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">This particular serve almost hit Slappy’s head. Isabel could see the trepidation in his eyes and she fed off of it like it was pudding.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Abruptly, Slappy took the ball and clobbered it into the table.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“I won,” He stated proudly.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Isabel scoffed in angry defeat, “…Wait, what!? Using what logic!?!?”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“I’m me; I always win,” he said simply.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“Ugh, that is the biggest load of—”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“BALOGNA!” Spencerfangirl interrupted.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“Oh, really!? And what are you going to do about it…?”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Furiously, Isabel came at him. Everyone in the stands eagerly anticipated what they knew would happen next.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“They’re so going to make out…” Becky whispered to Reason.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“Aw, yeah! This is what we came here for!” Reason rejoiced.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Once again, all eyes were glued to the two maniacs as they inched closer to each other. Tash winced slightly as he watched the two of them magnetically attract towards one another. Finally, right as everyone was at the edge of their seats, Isabel rammed the paddle once more as she let out a cold, unforgiving grunt. The hit was so powerful it cracked the table.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Everyone gasped in shock.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">In sudden realization of what she had just done, Isabel began breathing short, terrified gasps of breath. She ran off in pure horror and humiliation, leaving everyone confused and frazzled.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Later that night, Isabel was found lying underneath the Weeping Willow tree, looking sad and feeling devastated.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“What’s the matter, Izzy?” Arnold from Hey Arnold asked in concern.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Isabel sighed, “Oh, nothing…I just made a complete fool out of myself, today.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“Well, how so?” he followed up.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">At that moment, all of Isabel’s Cartoon Pals began to crowd around her, wondering what was wrong.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“Well…it’s this guy Slappy; he gets on my nerves…” she explained.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“Who is this Slappy?” Mac asked.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Isabel groaned softly, “Oh, just this guy I dated over the internet…”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">A mild shockwave ran through the small crowd of caricatures.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“I met him almost a year ago on chat. He was impersonating users and causing all kinds of ruckus…but…there was a certain child-like innocence about him…”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">The toons all nodded in an attempt at sympathy and understanding.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“but I was 16, what the hell did I know!? He was 22…and I told him that I liked him and at first, I thought nothing would come out of it but later he confessed that he liked me, too…”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Isabel rolled over embracing the painful memory.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“I had no idea what I was getting myself into…I just wanted to feel loved…I mean, why would he like me? But I just wasn’t ready for the relationship, so I started getting all emotional and freaking out over the stupidest things….like apparently, he doesn’t like the beach and I do…and I nearly cried because of it. Also, near the end we started fighting about really dumb, controversial things like religion and crap. Pretty soon, we just came to terms with the fact that we had nothing in common…”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“So…you broke up?” Bloo asked.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“Yep, but I realized that I didn’t really appreciate what I had with him when I had it. Now, I’ll be lucky to find someone who’s half as sweet as he was to me…” Isabel sighed again.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“Well, I think you will,” Mordecai said with a sincere smile.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Isabel smiled back, “Why would I need to look when I have you guys…” she kissed him on the cheek and walked into the dark void back to the cottage.