Question of the Week! The year of 45^2 is nearly over. It's hard to believe it's gone by so fast... But looking back on this year, I'm curious to know... Which Alan Becker episode (from 2025 so far) is better than you thought it was gonna be? Is there one episode in particular that overperformed given your reservations about it? One you love even though you were skeptical at first? Or one that you thought was gonna be great, but blew past that high bar you set for it? If there is an episode like that for you, I'd love to hear them in the comments! And now... it's RECAP TIME!
SC, Yellow, Blue, and Green split off from the reds and the Tangos, heading back to their secret hideout, only to find that everything stolen of theirs was gone. SC, however, was told he had instructions for him, and when he found them, his brain worked overtime. He had a plan, and the instructions confirmed his idea. Giving his friends orders, he took off, being deliberately cagey about it.
As for the Tangos and reds, they returned to Candy's secret base to get suited up and prepared. With the Tangos driving their getaway vehicle, the reds snuck into Marmalade's compound to steal the mind-controlling meteorite, only for them to get zapped, knocking them out.
When they woke up, they found themselves dangling upside-down, with Marmalade and soon after SC, in front of them. Marmalade ordered the two reds to slowly drop into a death trap, but Yellow, Green, and Blue arrived just in time to save them. After a reunion, the three of them, along with the reds, schemed to steal the meteorite back.
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===GUESS THE POV!===
The guys had saved us, and just in time, too, as Candy and I were about to be minced sticks. After reuniting, we had a plan: Do what the Bad Guys do best and steal something. This time, our target was the meteorite, and after sneaking around Marmalade’s compound, we reached the room where it was, and we got there undetected. From there, Candy called the Tangos, we needed them to help with this heist, and they arrived soon after, just in time for Marmalade and SC to witness the theft.
“Don’t mind us, just robbing this place.” I quipped. “Get it, guys!”
On the signal, we dropped the meteorite into the trunk, I flew back to rescue the kitty, and we were speeding back to return it to the Chief. However, Yellow pointed out the money trucks on a bridge above us.
“We can’t let Marmalade get away with this.” Purple insisted. “Can we stop them?”
“Yes, I believe that I can.” Yellow replied. “I just need a way to access their controls…”
“I got you covered, Yellow.” Candy smirked, pulling out a small device.
“King, double back.” I instructed. “We have a new target.” King sighed deeply.
“It’s all for the greater good…” He muttered, making a quick U-turn to follow the trucks up an exit. “Purple, Gold, do not drive like this when you get your licenses. This is very unsafe.”
“Got it, Dad. Don’t drive like a criminal.” Gold said.
“Exactly.” King replied, chuckling. “This is why the Bad Guys are wanted. Not to mention it can endanger your lives and other sticks’ lives as well…”
We soon found ourselves in the middle of several trucks, but Candy couldn’t get her device on the trucks. When they began splitting up, we knew we had to change plans again.
“Grab your wings, boys.” Candy ordered. “Grab one and put them on the trucks. They’re magnetized, so they’ll stick, and once they’re on, Yellow…”
“I will hack into them and retake the controls.” Yellow finished.
“Meet back at the car when you guys are done.” Candy added.
“Sounds like a plan to me, boss.” Green replied.
“Pick your targets, everyone.” Blue said, putting his wings on. “And be careful!”
Candy grabbed one for each of us and we took to the air, except King, who was driving, and Yellow, who remained behind with his laptop, waiting for us to do our thing. I caught up to one van and stuck my device on the back of it, doing the same for a few more, albeit rather recklessly. Hey, if there’s another way to do a thing, I don’t use it very much. After I finished, I doubled back to the car, where almost everyone was waiting.
“Where’s Candy?” I asked.
“Coming in hot, boys!” I heard her voice shout. She flew toward us and over us. “Did we get all of them?”
“Affirmative.” Yellow confirmed. “I’ve hacked into each one and redirected them to arrive in their appropriate locations. They should be there within minutes.”
“Awesome.” Candy smiled. “Tangos, join me. We can’t have the police linking us to known criminals. Red, I’d imagine you can take the wheel since I saw you on the police report.” She smirked at me.
“Yep. I got it,” I replied as King slowed down to a stop on the shoulder, “but before I join you… We need to get someone else…”
“We need our leader.” Blue added.
“We need our homie, SC.” Green piped up. “And I’m not doing this without him.”
“I expect nothing less.” Candy conceded. “Save him, and watch out. You’re dealing with a wolf in a hamster’s clothing.”
“Please, Candy, don’t bring up wolves.” Gold shuddered.
“Sorry, Gold.” Candy said. “But are you, King, and Purple ready?”
“We are.” King replied. “Lead the way, Candy, and kids, stay safe.”
“We will, King.” I promised, taking the wheel in my hands and speeding off. Luckily, it wasn’t long before I found Marmalade and SC in a helicopter above us. Green was quick to cry out to him.
“SC!” He shouted. “Boss, we need you!”
“I’ll give you one last chance to hand over the meteorite!” Marmalade threatened.
“Or what?” Blue shouted back.
For a response, Marmalade put the helmet on and summoned a herd of guinea pigs behind us, hundreds if not thousands of the fuzzy animals were behind us, and they were gaining fast. Admittedly, a part of me wanted to hug the little fuzzballs, but my friends urged me forward, and I knew I couldn’t let my animal lover side take over. I had to drive, and I had to drive fast.
“My dream is becoming a nightmare!” I exclaimed.
“Just punch it, Red!” Blue ordered. I didn’t need to be told twice, I floored it, swerving to avoid the massive herd of guinea pigs, which seemed to form into a singular unit that attempted to destroy the car, and us inside. Even worse, I could see SC trying to talk Marmalade down, only for Marmalade to toss him from the helicopter. SC grabbed onto it before he could fall, but seeing SC in danger, I had to do something.
“Wait wait!” I called. “Fine, you win. You can have the space rock!” I insisted. Marmalade dropped a claw on a chain to grab the meteorite. I let Yellow take the wheel as I slowed down, and the guinea pigs stopped attacking, but they were surrounding us. I had a catch, however. “Pull SC up first, or else this chain’s gonna get melted.”
I pulled out a blowtorch that looked like lipstick and lit the flame. Marmalade, however, delivered a swift kick to SC’s face, knocking him off the helicopter.
“SC!” I cried, retaking control of the wheel and gunning it after him. The only problem, he was falling over a massive hole caused by the meteorite, and the bridge was out. I looked at my friends.
“Guys, I’m jumping this.” I said determinedly. “Grab your wings.”
The guys nodded and put their wings on. Fearlessly, I drove over the hundreds of guinea pigs to the edge of the bridge and drove off. The gap was too big to cross, obviously, but we didn’t need to cross. All we needed was our wings, and a massive jump. We leapt from the car and reached for SC.
“SC!” I shouted, grabbing his hand in mine. He put his wings on too. “I’m so glad to see you.”
“Same with you, Reddy Bear.” SC replied.
“Get ready to fly, my friends, we’re escaping danger once again.” I said.
“Who needs wings when you have FISHING RODS!” Green exclaimed, pulling out his rod and casting it. He hooked onto the edge of the broken bridge onto solid ground, he grabbed the rest of us, and pulled us up. The car was a goner, exploding in the bottom of the hole, but the explosion was so massive it knocked Marmalade’s helmet into the spinning blades of his helicopter, destroying it and sending the helicopter spinning downwards. The guinea pigs he was controlling left to go about their business, and as we reached the bridge, the first person to greet us was Chief Luggins.
“Aww, Shih Tzu…” I muttered.
“That is it!” Luggins said as she pulled the line up, revealing me and my friends. “There is absolutely NO WAY you’re getting away this time!”
“Wait! Chief!”
Candy had arrived, the Tangos right behind her. She was back in her governor attire.
“Governor Kane?”
“Don’t do this. They weren’t stealing the meteorite, they were bringing it back.” Candy explained.
“Ha! How could you know that?” Luggins asked. “Unless… Unless you were conspiring with a bunch of known criminals.”
“Well…” Candy began, clearing her throat. “As a matter of fact, it’s time I came clean about something. The truth is I’m really… really-”
“Really a big fan of redemption arcs.” I interrupted her. “Yeah, we know.” I looked back at my friends. “Guys?”
They nodded in approval.
“Take care of this little kitty, Candy.” I said, handing her the kitten in my hands. “We’re done running away.”
The rest of the Gang extended their hands, ready to get arrested.
“Chief, do what you need to do.”
“What?!” Luggins gasped. “You’re turning yourselves in?”
“We might not have stolen the meteorite,” I explained, “but we did steal a lot of other things. It’s time we took some responsibility, start a clean slate. Take us in, Chief.”
“Wait, really?” Luggins asked, still in shock.
“You finally did it, this is your moment, Chief, drink it in.” I said, taking the cuffs and cuffing myself. Luggins, overwhelmed with excitement, gave a speech to the officers behind her. Candy glanced up at me.
“I’m impressed, Red Wolf.”
“You know, a Solid and a Stripe are not so different.” I replied. “You’ve got a good thing going here, governor.”
Several officers led us to a police car as Tiffany Fluffit reported on it. As we were taken away, we heard the whirring of helicopter wings.
“Wait… is that…?” SC began. “Yeah, it’s Marmalade’s helicopter!”
“And the meteorite is still attached to the claw.” Blue pointed out.
Everyone assumed Marmalade was bringing the meteorite back, so he went along with it to hide his crimes. He planted it on the street in front of everyone and hopped out of the helicopter.
“Look no further! Help has arrived!” He proclaimed. He put on his “good boy” act for the media, promising to bring the meteorite back to his compound, garnering applause from the police officers. We sticks, though, were not impressed.
“There’s no plausible reason he should be getting let off the hook.” Yellow muttered.
“No way, bro.” Green agreed. “He should be in cuffs with us.”
“Don’t worry…” SC said calmly. “It’s not over yet…”
“Thank you!” Marmalade exclaimed, clapping for himself. “Give it up for me!” However, when he clapped, Chief Luggins noticed that the meteorite was turning on and off for some reason.
“Wait a second, this isn’t the meteorite.” She said, clapping her hands again to turn it off. “It’s a lamp!”
Yellow, Green, and Blue gave a confused look, but SC began chuckling.
“SC?” Green asked. “Homie, what are you-?”
“Just embracing my inner bad guy.” SC explained. “If everyone could turn their attention over there,” he pointed into the distance, “your meteorite has been taken as a part of the Old Switcheroo.” He smirked.
As we looked, we saw a giant light blue beam erupt from behind the distant mountains. The meteorite had exploded, and the look on Marmalade’s face was priceless. I couldn’t help but walk over to him and give him a few pats on the head.
“Good try, buddy.” I said cheekily as I headed back to join my friends in the back of a police car. I got in last, and the door closed behind me. “Governor Kane, Tangos, we’ll be seeing you once our sentence is up.”
Candy nodded back at me, and I was able to see the Golden Dolphin hit the lamp, which in turn fell on Marmalade, knocking the Zumpango diamond out of his pocket. Chief Luggins picked it up and immediately realized what it was. Putting two and two together, she figured that Marmalade was the Crimson Paw and had him arrested for Candy’s crimes. I watched, beaming with pride as Candy and the Tango family slowly disappeared from view.
“SC, how did you do that?” Blue asked, in awe.
“What can I say? I guess I’m a natural bad guy.” SC answered, smirking. “But it was rather easy with the helmet, and a certain set of instructions… Thanks, Red.”
“I got friends in the right places.” I replied, beaming. “I knew you had a little bit of a bad guy in you!”
“You were AWESOME, dude!” Green praised.
“Exemplary plan, I need to hear more about it!” Yellow squealed.
“I should have a lot of time to do it.” SC figured, laughing. We all got some chuckles out of that before instantly finding ourselves falling through the black hole again, and it wasn’t just us. Candy and the Tangos were right with us.
“Whoa!” Blue exclaimed. “That’s it?”
“In a sense, yeah.” I answered.
“The Bad Guys served their time, getting released early for good behavior, and with a friend in the governor, they start a new life.” Candy explained.
“A happy ending for all.” Purple said. “Do you two think there will be a sequel?”
“I hope so, I LOVE this movie.” Candy gushed. “Especially Diane Foxington, she’s my favorite character.”
“I can’t imagine why…” I said sarcastically, laughing. “But I hope for a sequel, too. I love it and Wolf and Diane are SO CUTE together!”
“Wait… Are you saying you and Candy are…” Green began, chuckling.
“Back off, Green Bean.” I protested. “We’re still friends!”
“For now…” Candy teased, smiling at me. I felt my face turn pink and the guys got a laugh at that.
“Where are we going now, Red?” SC asked.
“Our final destination: Puss in Boots: The Last Wish.” I answered. “Ooooooh, this is my favorite movie of all time!”
“It’s the last movie?” Purple asked. Candy nodded yes.
“This nightmare is almost over.” Gold sighed. “I loved riding on Toothless, but I don’t think my heart can handle many more meetings with Death.”
“I just hope that doesn’t happen, kiddo.” King agreed.
“I fear it might…” I admitted. “This is his domain, his movie. The Wolf is part of the reason I love this movie so much, so it wouldn’t surprise me if he was the ‘final boss’ of this adventure.”
“If that is the case, it’s fitting that the incarnation of the literal last thing we do on this Earth is our last challenge.” SC pointed out.
“Get ready, kids!” King exclaimed. “Our final landing spot is coming in hot!”
We grabbed our wings and put them on, flapping them quickly until we landed in none other than The Last Wish.
===POV CHANGE!===
Unbeknownst to anyone, sticks, officers, good and bad guys, there was one more spectator to the Gang getting arrested and Chief Luggins’ speech: A hooded figure with piercing red eyes and a whistle that could stop a heartbeat, literally. Death himself stepped out from behind the parked helicopter, going unnoticed, as he wanted to be.
He growled a low growl. Each of the villains he had sent the sticks’ way was defeated. It was about time he emerged from the shadows once and for all. It was time to strike the fear of Death in them once again.
“They’re entering my home… They’re running away again…” Death growled. “It’s time that one arrogant little legend learned to fight. I’ve enjoyed the chase, but we’re reaching the end. Gold is reaching his end, and I’m going to enjoy this.”
He gave a whistle before disappearing once again, ready to pay a few more visits to the Gang, ready to hunt them once more, and if possible, have his sickles stained red after one more out of countless successful hunts.
TO BE CONTINUED...
Thank you all for reading!! What was your favorite line/phrase/sentence/paragraph? Let me know in the comments! I got another January teaser planned for the 21st, as well as a winter-themed drawing for that same day! Chapter 86 is planned for next week, our first venture into Red's (and my) favorite movie, The Last Wish. I hope you're excited for it! I know I certainly am.
A pup who loves fluff,
-Purrito
