Making Fantasia: The 12 Days Of Christmas (Taking Fantasia Prequel)

Chapter 5: You Better Watch Out

Chapter 5: You Better Watch Out

"Happy Christmas Rapunzel! Happy Christmas Ms. Gothel! Oh Happy Christmas little Tritons! Happy Christmas Admiral! Happy Christmas Naveen! Happy Christmas Mr. and Mrs. Maldonia! All righty children – play nicely on the playground until your parents arrive! Almost time for Christmas vacation!"

Cobra Bubbles touched his earpiece. He murmured into his wrist microphone. "Stiletto. Come in Stiletto. Over."

"Hello!" Mistress Minnie's sang over the connection. Mr. Bubbles flinched. Someday - her falsetto was going to blow the system. "This is Stiletto to Juicy Fruit. Over."

A vein twitched in Mr. Bubble's temple.

Juicy Fruit. Bubble gum. Cobra Bubbles. Hilarious.

"Your microphone's picking up everything, Stiletto." Mr. Bubbles leaned back. He scanned the playground. "Could you bring down the volume? Hard enough to hear you without the background noise."

The earpiece crackled. Mistress Minnie was laughing. "Mr. Bubbles – "

"—it's Juicy Fruit. Stick with the espionage speech."

Mistress Minnie laughed again. "All righty, Juicy Fruit." she replied, clearly occupied with students. "I'm sorry for the background noise. But they can't help it – they're children! And it's almost Christmas! Children have to laugh, and run, and play – "

"—I didn't."

"- I can imagine."

"Just lower the volume, Stiletto." Mr. Bubbles said. His lip curled, distastefully. "Please. Working two jobs here. Need both ears."

The earpiece buzzed. The effervescence in Mistress Minnie's voice flattened. "How is she?"

Mr. Bubbles glanced. His head didn't move, but the mirrors behind his sunglasses revolved, focusing on the little girl sitting beside him.

"Bluebird's still not singing." he curtly replied. "Commencing operation Nice Guy."

Minnie tsked. "Mr. Bubbles! You are a guidance counselor!" she scolded. "A social worker! A school psychologist! So try to remember that she is not a target suspect! She is a little girl in need of a friend!"

Mr. Bubbles raised an eyebrow. "Over and out." he said, killing the channel.

Mice he thought. Overemotional.

Discretely twisting the earbud, Mr. Bubbles turned to the little girl.

And he commenced operation Nice Guy.

Mr. Bubbles tilted his head, scanning the girl. Encrypted script scrolled across the inner lens of his sunglasses. He read silently.

Subject: Wendy M. A. Darling.

Species: Homo sapien

Gender: Female

Age: 10 years, 3 months. Minor.

Residency: Towne (Division), Center-Point (Sector), Fantasia (Country), Gaia (Planet).

Occupation: Elementary Student, Fantasia School for the Magical Skewed.

Weapon Status: Unarmed.

Objective: Apprehend suspect and interrogate for psychological distress and emotional suppression 9 days post death mother, Mary G. Darling. Activate grieving process.