Dog Man: For Whom The Ball Rolls: Petey and Maddie

Chapter 14: The Mud and The Stars

"So,  let me get this straight," Petey said as Bark Knight, Razor Claws, Cat Kid, and Lightning Dude removed their costumes, becoming their every day selves. "You eat cupcakes? That's all you do?"

"Yep," Commander Cupcake answered.

"How is that a superpower?" Petey asked.

"Never question a cupcake, for its powers are delicious forever, amen," Commander Cupcake told him.

"That doesn't even make sense!" Petey said, agitated. He walked over to Lil' Petey and Maddie. "Let's go."

Petey then saw Dog Man and 80-HD looking at him. "Yeah, yeah, I know, it's Friday night," Petey said. "I'll bring them over in an hour, okay?"

Petey, Lil' Petey, and Maddie climbed aboard the Ratterfly. "Bye, everybody!" Lil' Petey said, waving at his friends as the Ratterfly took off. "Let's all play again tomorrow, okay?"

As the Ratterfly flew, Lil' Petey and Maddie noticed that Petey looked angry. "What's wrong, Papa?" Lil' Petey asked.

"It's not fair," Petey answered. "We did all of the work, and that cupcake guy got all the credit."

"It's doesn't matter, Petey, everything still worked out okay," Maddie told him.

"Oh yeah, I forgot, you guys are Mr and Mrs rainbow and unicorns," Petey said.

"And lollypops," Lil' Petey added.

"Alright be my guest," Petey told Maddie and Lil' Petey. "Keep your heads up in the stars. The only problem is, there's a whole lotta mud down there, pals."

"Hey, look," Maddie said, noticing something. It was Grampa. He was riding in a rent 'n' move truck. "There's Grampa."

"Where's he going?" Lil' Petey asked.

"Beats me," Petey said.

"Where did he get that truck?" Maddie asked as the Ratterfly flew into the lab.

"I have no idea," Petey answered.

"Well, we're home," Maddie said. That was when they noticed something was wrong. "Hey, what happened?"

"Where's all our stuff?" Maddie, Petey, and Lil' Petey climbed down from the Ratterfly. "Our computers are gone. Our tools are gone. The tables and chairs are gone. The couch and the TV are gone. The refrigerator and the oven and the food... Our beds...our books...my toys..."

Lil' Petey looked at Maddie and Petey. "Did Grampa do all this?" He asked. Petey crouched down and placed a hand on his son's shoulder.

"Look, kid, that's what I was trying to-" Petey was about to say when Lil' Petey noticed something.

"Hey." Lil' Petey saw that his comics were the only things that Grampa didn't steal. "My comics. He took everything and he didn't want my comics."

"Let's go." Maddie picked up Lil' Petey and she and Petey started walking.

"Where?" Lil' Petey asked.

"You're gonna stay at Dog Man's house this weekend, remember?" Petey answered.

"But, Papa-"

"No, we made a promise and we're gonna keep it," Petey said.

Maddie and Petey walked outside, with Lil' Petey in Maddie's arms. "You were right, Papa," Lil' Petey told Petey.

"About what?" Petey asked.

"The world," Lil' Petey answered." It's a horrible place. It's nothing but mud puddles and pollution, and weeds. And look, Papa, they're dying. Even the weeds are dying."