The Secret of Edd Part 4
by: Kittn Lovr
Eddy kept his eyes closed and remained where he was. There was soft breathing elsewhere in the room, but he didn't know where. He slowly opened his eyes.
A large face was directly above him, peering down at his face.
"Ah!" He yelled, jumping back.
Ed stood up. "Sorry, Eddy."
"Grrr.... Oh, that's okay..." Eddy muttered sarcastically, then looked puzzled. "Ed, what are you doing in my-- um, why are we in Rolf's shed?"
"We slept here, and I hugged the cow." Ed remarked.
Eddy was completely lost. He thought about what had happened; using the gate, talking to Rolf, coming into the shed to spend the 'night', and...
Eddy remembered suddenly, and slowly turned around towards the door. Edd was sitting next to the doorway with his knees bent and his head bowed down. His arms were crossed on his knees and he looked asleep.
"Double D?" He asked softly.
Edd opened his eyes and looked up. His face, his black hat, red shirt and blue shorts were all the same, as well as his shoes, socks, and skinny arms.
"Yes, Eddy?" He asked in his own voice, but he gazed out of eyes that seemed different. Eddy stared. His eyes had dark shadows under them, and the expression in them was fear.
Edd and Eddy stared at each other across the room for a minute. Ed gazed between the two in a puzzled silence.
"It wasn't a dream, was it?" Eddy murmured.
Edd sighed and turned his head to the right, staring at the floor. "It would appear not..."
"Then, what happened? How-how did you...?" Eddy exclaimed.
Edd grew rigid and looked back at Eddy, his hand tensed up. "You think I know!?!" He said in a strangled voice, then raised it, his hand in a fist. "If I knew what was happening, do you think I would have been as startled, as terrified, as I was?!?" His voice rose even more sharply, and he half-yelled, "Do you?!?"
Eddy drew back, shocked at his friend's behavior, and didn't answer.
Edd looked puzzled, then startled. Somewhat appalled, he calmed down and relaxed his fist, leaning against the wall again. He gazed up at the ceiling and murmured, "I just don't know what's going on, Eddy.... I just don't know..." He whispered softly.
"Ed-boys?" Rolf's voice came from outside. "Will you assist Rolf in his hunt?"
Eddy gave Edd another look, then walked to the door and opened it, going through towards Rolf. Ed glanced in a puzzled way at Edd, and then followed Eddy. Edd gazed after them, then silently got to his feet and walked out.
It was light out, about 7:00am, although Edd's watch said 4:30pm.
"What hunt?" Edd was asking.
"There is a werewolf around here," The boys froze and looked at each other, "who has been terrorizing Wilfred and Victor all night. Did you not hear it's howling?"
"Well, Rolf, we did, but we thought it was coyotes. Are you sure that it was a werewolf?" Eddy stammered.
"Yes. Will you help me to hunt it down?" Rolf asked expectantly.
"Um, we'd love to help, but, uh..." Eddy started.
"But our parents will be expecting us soon, and we still want to look around here some more." Edd added.
"So, we'll have to be going." Eddy finished. "See ya around, Rolf." Eddy started walking towards the street.
"Farewell, Rolf..." Edd said, then followed Eddy.
"Bye, Rolf. Your gravy's really good, as good as my mom's... mmmm, gravy! Yum..." Ed commented before following them.
Rolf gazed after them thoughtfully, then jumped as a coyote howled in the distance.
They snuck to the edge of the house and looked around the corner. Surprisingly, the cul-de-sac was empty again. However, they could hear music and laughing.
"I wonder where everyone is..?" Eddy asked, looking for the source of the sounds.
"Maybe, they were sucked into an alternate universe... wait, WE'RE IN AN ALTERNATE UNIVERSE!!!" Ed suddenly yelled.
"SHH!!" Eddy exclaimed, clamping his hand over Ed's mouth.
"Perhaps they are simply at Nazz's house, having a party?" Edd suggested softly, pointing up the street towards Nazz's. When they turned to look, they saw someone prance around the backyard, then run towards the house again.
"Oh...." Eddy said, then shrugged. "Then, what are we waiting for? Let's go already!"
They ran across the street, then up the road to Ed's house towards the woods. They went through the woods, not towards the clearing, but towards the trailer park.
"I don't know about this, Eddy..." Edd complained.
"Oh, come on, Double D! Don't wimp out on me now, and don't you want to know what's going on?" Eddy exclaimed, stepping high over a root.
"I suppose... but it's so-unsanitary-there..." Edd trailed off and kept walking.
Eddy stared at him, and they walked in silence.
"I am the king of the jungle!" Ed suddenly yelled from up above them. Edd and Eddy stopped in fright and stared up. There, Ed was standing on a tree branch, holding something that looked suspiciously like a vine.
"Ed! Get down!" Edd exclaimed, and then muttered, "Why must he keep going in high places where he could easily hurt himself?"
"Because it's Ed, why else?" Eddy remarked.
Ed slid down a tree and ran ahead, and the other two followed slowly. They remained silent for another minute.
"So, what do you think he'll be like?" Eddy asked as they threaded their way through some thick trees.
"Very different from myself, especially if he's friends with the Kanker sisters and lives in the trailer park..." Edd said.
Eddy looked puzzled. "We don't even know if he does live in the trailer park, Double D. Just that he doesn't live in the cul-de-sac."
Edd rolled his eyes slightly. "Eddy, think about it. We don't hang out with anyone from other cul-de-sacs, do we? We're not really allowed to leave the neighborhood. But we can go to the trailer park..."
"So?" Eddy demanded.
"If Rolf knows who he is, then they must have seen each other at some point before then." Edd said as if it were extremely obvious.
"Okay.... I guess that makes sense..." Eddy said.
"Of course. But we still don't know what he will be like, so--" Edd was interrupted by Ed.
"Trailer!" Ed exclaimed as the first trailer was visible through the trees. He then stopped and looked down. "Water!"
"Oh yeah, the creek's here..." Eddy muttered. The water flowed by, between them and the trailer park.
"Hmm... We'll need some way to get across- good idea, Ed!" Edd exclaimed, watching Ed pick up a tree and set it over the water.
Eddy slowly looked up and stared at the root mass towering several feet above his head. "How did he pick that up so quickly...?" He asked Edd.
"Considering recent events, I don't find that very unusual, Eddy. Who really knows how he does that kind of thing?" Edd commented.
"Let's go, Eddy!" Ed exclaimed, about to run across.
"Wait!" Edd exclaimed, and grabbed his coat.
"Huh?" Ed questioned.
"Why?" Eddy asked irritably.
"Is it really a good idea to openly walk around the trailer park?" Edd asked.
"Fine then. We'll sneak in. Happy?" Eddy said.
Edd nodded, then turned towards the trailers. "Let's go." He said.
They crept across the makeshift bridge into the trailer park. Eddy warily made his way between trailers, followed closely by Ed and Edd.
Eddy suddenly stopped, peering around the trailer. "There are the Kankers, and some other kids." He whispered.
All three looked around the corner. There were several unfamiliar kids, as well as Lee and Marie. Lee was on ladder washing the trailer while Marie sat on a beach chair wearing her normal clothes, smiling wickedly. A kid was sitting next to her in another chair, wearing black pants and a dark, blood-red shirt, but they couldn't see the kid's face because of a large cowboy hat with the brim resting on his/her chest. A redhead in a black t-shirt and red pants was next to the boy, tossing a football to a tall blond boy in a gray sweatshirt and army pants.
May walked out from behind the Kankers' trailer, talking to a medium height boy with short brown hair. He looked slightly like Jonny, with a dark orange shirt and brown pants on.
"Well, that's not me..." Edd whispered.
May and the brunette boy froze when they saw Marie and the boys. The four turned to May and glared, the cowboy-hatted boy still hidden.
"What do you think you're doing?" She asked softly.
"We-we were just, um..." May faltered, looking nervously at the boy standing next to her. He looked at her, with the same nervous expression.
"You were getting out of doing your chores, weren't you...?" The cowboy-hatted kid hissed in a dark, male voice. He still didn't look up.
"N-no, I wasn't--" May protested.
"Robbie, get out of here, if ya know what's good for your girlfriend..." The boy threatened from under his hat. "Will, Tom, you two leave. Marie and I have something to take care of..."
"Sure thing." The blond said, holding the football and walking away.
The redhead pouted. "Why can't I watch?" He complained.
"Cause he said so, Tom, why else?" Marie answered.
Tom shook his head, but grinned and ran to follow the other boy.
Marie frowned at Robbie. "Weren't you going somewhere...?" She demanded.
May and Robbie looked at each other again, then he ran off.
"Why'd you have to do that?" May asked.
Marie grinned, and the boy chuckled. "You have other things to do than make out with the neighbors."
May's shoulders sagged, and she looked upset. "But, don't you have chores to do too?" She pleaded.
The other two started laughing again.
"Oh yeah, I'm making lunch..." Marie commented, grinning at the boy.
"Better do it now... and get it over with..." He suggested, then snickered.
"Marie, it's not even 8 o'clock... don't do that yet---" Lee started.
"Oooh! Food!" May exclaimed happily as the two stood up.
Marie looked towards May, who was between her and the Eds, a started snickering again.
The Eds ducked behind the trailer so they wouldn't be seen, and listened intently.
Marie said, "You still need to do your chores, stupid."
May started to say, "But--"
A slapping noise came from there, then a short silence.
"Hungry?" Marie finally asked, and the door squeaked open.
"Yeah, let's eat something now..." The boy said.
Eddy peeked around the corner. May had a large bruise forming on her face, and Lee climbed off the ladder. There was no sign of Marie and the other boy.
Lee put her hand on May's shoulder, and they walked towards the trailer Will had gone into.
"The coast's clear! Let's go!" Eddy whispered.
They snuck around the trailer to the back, and looked in the kitchen window. There, Marie was putting a pie in the microwave.
The boy walked in, staring downward. He looked up at Marie and gave a familiar, gapped-tooth grin.
Edd gasped and fell back into the dirt.
Eddy stared and snorted. "Double D! That's you!" He whispered, and then covered his mouth so he wouldn't laugh very loudly.
"Whoa... that's so weird..." Ed whispered.
Edd was shocked. "That's-- me? That unsanitary, gothic, jerk? Th-that source of countless hurts to the people around him?!? How could I have ever grown up to be him?!?" He whispered fiercely.
"Let's go say hi!" Eddy whispered, snickering even loader. "What do you think he'd do, Double D? Hit me?"
"Pie, yum..." Ed suddenly commented.
"Huh?" Edd asked as he got to his feet and peered back in.
Marie took out the pie and put a slice on a plate, then gave it to the boy. "Here ya go, Edward..." She said.
"Thanks. Too bad your sisters can't have any--" He started.
May and Lee stood in the doorway behind him. "You have to make lunch for us too!" May exclaimed angrily.
"Oh, fine..." Marie muttered, handing them two small pieces.
"Huh? Hey!" Lee exclaimed when she saw the size of the pieces. Edward and Marie only snickered some more, so she sighed and started eating.
"So, who you wanna freak out tonight?" Edward asked Marie idly, leaning against the wall and picking at his teeth…
"Um, either that farm-kid again, or that short kid Lee likes." Marie said.
"Who, Eddy? Good idea... He acts tough, but I bet he'll scream like a little girl. Heh heh heh..." He said, laughing softly.
Lee glared. "Don't you dare! You two'd bite him, and then he'd really freak out!" She exclaimed.
"Yeah, 'cause you two are freaks!" May taunted.
Edward jerked and stared at her in shock, then leaned back and relaxed, giving a cruel grin. "Ya wanna repeat that, pipsqueak? FREAK? Did ya say? Ya want FREAK? Just wait 'til tonight. I'll pay you back for that one." He said in a cool and menacing tone.
"Oh, don't. She doesn't know what she's talkin' about, poor little baby." Marie said, and leaned back. 'No, I say the tall smelly kid. He'll start ranting about what he should do to save himself..."
"Yeah... Like he knows how to stop two... what was that?" Edward exclaimed, looking around.
A sneeze erupted from outside the trailer. May jumped and looked confused. "Who just sneezed?" She asked vacantly.
"Probably your boyfriend, spying on us again." Marie said, going to the window.
Eddy crouched down. "Ed, you idiot! Why'd you sneeze?"
"Something went up my nose Eddy, and made it tickle." Ed commented.
"Eddy, we need to get away before they look out here." Edd whispered.
"Alright, let's go around." Eddy whispered back.
They got into crouched positions and snuck around to the side as Marie looked out the window curiously.
"There's nobody there!" She reported as the Eds sighed and leaned against the corner of the trailer.
"Hmm… I'll check it out.' Edward said, but the Eds couldn't hear him.
They continued sneaking around to the front of the trailer, and Eddy collapsed against it. "Wow! This is so funny!" He exclaimed, grinning. He leaned against the door while Ed and Edd stood looking at him. "Did you guys see that? He looked just like--- whoa!" He exclaimed as the door opened behind him.
"Well, well, well. What have we here." Edward said, leaning down and picking Eddy up. "A little, loud-mouthed pipsqueak. What are you doing--- what the heck...." He trailed off and dropped Eddy as he stared at Edd. May, Marie, and Lee came to the door.
"What's goin' on out here?" Marie exclaimed, and then saw Edd. "Oh my..."
"Um, hi..." Edd said nervously, crouching his shoulders slightly.
"What the %#$% is going on here?" Edward exclaimed. "Who are you?!?"
"Um, heh heh, I'm Edd...." Edd said softly, glancing down at Eddy. "A little help here would be nice..." He asked.
Eddy stood up and wiped the dirt off his pants, grinning wickedly. "You're nuts. You're seeing and hearing things." He told Edward, then grinned at Edd.
Edd slapped his forehead. "Oh, that was really helpful, Eddy..." He commented sarcastically.
Marie stared at Edd. "Who are you, and why do you look so much like Edward?!?" She demanded.
Edd sighed and rubbed his hat in frustration. "Um, well, you see, the three of us," He gestured at Ed, Eddy, and himself, "We are from another world..."
Silence fell, and the Kankers and Edward stared at Edd in disbelief.
"By 'another world'... do you mean planet? Or universe...?" Edward finally asked.
"We are from a parallel universe." Ed said, then examined Edward's hat. "Um, do you wear that 'cause you have a weird haircut?" He asked Edward.
The boy grabbed his hat with one hand. "Wha-what?!? How do you---- oh..." He stared at Edd's hat, and then snorted. "Uh, is that a sock...?" He asked.
Eddy started laughing and Edd put his hands on his hips. "Why does everyone always say that?!" He exclaimed.
"Because that's what it looks like, Double D." Ed said, and stopped staring at the cowboy hat.
"Who?" Lee asked.
Eddy looked at her irritably and Edd chuckled. "Here we go again, Eddy..." He said.
The seven sat down to listen to Edd and Eddy explain what was going on. They left out the details of the previous not, saying only that they had stayed in the shed. As they explained, Robbie, Will, and Tom, the three trailer-park boys, came and listened in shock. They asked for the beginning to the story, so they started over again.
Edward and Marie stared at each other at each other. "Then, he's not... he's completely normal...' Edward muttered, looking shocked.
Ed laughed. "Double D isn't normal! Just last night he--"
"Ed, shut up, we're still explaining here." Eddy quickly interrupted, then turned to the three other boys.
Edward looked curious, then angry. "What happened last night that you didn't tell us about?" He asked in a low voice.
"Um... Nothing, nothing at all..." Eddy said nervously.
Edward glared and stood up slowly and menacingly. "What happened?" He repeated in a threatening tone.
"Nothing that concerns you!" Edd exclaimed as Edward stepped towards him.
"Oh, yeah right..." Robbie said.
The 'Edds' stared at each other for a minute, and then Edward spoke in a low, rough voice. "Well, do you understand me...?"
"Y-yeah...." Edd whispered in an equally rough voice, backing down to the ground.
"Your friends can't..." Edward said slyly.
Eddy watched nervously as the other Double D approached the one he knew. The two stared at one another, and then Edward muttered something, like he was growling.
Edd murmured something as he cowered down, then Edward grinned wickedly. He said something else and Edd started, and then stared at Ed, then Eddy.
"What?" Eddy asked.
"Did you...?" Edd started, glancing at Edward, then back at him and Ed.
"Did I... do what?" Eddy repeated in an annoyed voice.
Edd just stared at him and looked puzzled. "Never mind..."
Eddy frowned. <What was that all about?> He wondered irritably.
Marie smiled and leaned against Edward's shoulder. "Hey, don't we have a date tonight?" She asked dreamily.
"Yeah..." He replied, and then leaned over to kiss her.
Eddy stuck out his tongue in disgust and looked away towards Ed. Ed was covering his eyes, and Edd was watching the kiss quizzically.
Edward straightened, and Marie stretched.
"We're going..." He commented to Lee.
"But- you still need to do your chores, Marie! And we aren't supposed to make lunch!" Lee exclaimed.
"It's in the fridge. Just microwave it for five minutes. See ya..." Marie said, and she and Edward walked off.
"Well..." Edd murmured.
"Okay then... um, what should we do now?" Eddy asked him.
"We have chores to do, and we want quiet, OK, boys?" Lee asked, to all five boys. She then got to her feet and went back to washing the trailer.
May smiled at Robbie and he followed her to behind the trailer.
Tom and Will looked at the Eds. "You guys leaving?" Tom asked, staring at Edd again.
"Yeah, no reason for us to hang around." Eddy said.
"Besides, we'll get in trouble if we don't get home soon-- again..." Edd added, then slowly stood up and stretched.
Ed leaned over and examined the plates Edward and Marie had left. "Pie...yum..." He said, then stuffed the remains in his mouth.
Will watched Ed eat with an eyebrow raised. "He seems... pretty hungry..." He commented, trailing off as Ed finished.
"That's Ed for you..." Edd replied, glancing at Eddy. "Are we going yet? We need to get home soon..."
"Yeah. Come on, Lumpy." Eddy said, then slapped Ed's back and started walking off.
Ed smiled and followed Edd and Eddy leave the trailer park, some pie still smeared across his face.
They walked towards the clearing the gate was in silently, each in thought about something.
Eddy was irritated. <We didn't make any money in that world either, and we're already down to $7.35 and three days... this stinks...>
Edd was lost in thought, pondering the day's events. <Why didn't Eddy understand what--Edward-- said, but I did? All of this makes no sense...>
Ed was thinking about something he would have considered far more important than the things on Edd and Eddy's minds. <Was that pie cherry or blueberry...? >
They finally came into the clearing, and Edd activated the gate.
It didn't appear.
"Um, Double D...?" Eddy asked nervously.
"Hang on... oh yeah! The gate's not here, it's in-- the middle of the cul-de-sac..." Edd trailed off dully and looked nervously at Eddy.
"Uh, oh..." Eddy said softly.
They ran at top speed to the cul-de-sac and came out behind Ed's house.
"Oh, man..." Eddy whispered as they peeked around it.
All of the cul-de-sac kids were gathered around the gate, talking wildly.
"What do you think it is?" Nazz asked Kevin.
He shrugged and looked at the other Eddy. "What is this, dork?" He demanded with an annoyed voice.
That Eddy shrugged, and opened his mouth to talk.
The other Ed beat him to it. "It is a gate into an alternate universe, where the cul-de-sac is filled with all sorts of people who we don't know, and maybe even monsters who have come to invade this world."
Edd and Eddy looked at each other behind the house. "What do we do now?" Eddy asked.
"I suggest we break through to the gate. We really need to get home soon, and an explanation would be too long." Edd replied.
"Okay. Ed, you ready to run?" He asked.
"Yep!" Ed answered.
"Then let's go.........now!" Edd exclaimed, and they broke out from behind it and ran towards the middle of the street.
Ed and Eddy broke ahead and ran to the top, and Kevin grabbed Edd. "What are you doing here!?" He exclaimed.
Most of the kids clustered around, but Jimmy looked up at Ed and Eddy. "Oh dear! I think the heat is making me see things, Sarah!" He exclaimed, collapsing to the ground.
"Huh? Ah!" Nazz exclaimed, backing away from the gate in fright.
"Wha-what the heck?" Kevin exclaimed, looking between the Ed and Eddy pairs in shock. "How are there two of..."
"Who are you guys...?" The other Eddy asked, his face pale.
"We're from another universe, now will you let go of him? We need to leave, now." Eddy replied, glaring at Kevin.
Kevin stared at Edd and let go abruptly. "Um, he-here you go..." He said.
Edd rubbed his arm and walked up the stairs, the kids around him backing away slowly. "I'm ready when you are, Eddy."
"Okay, see you guys." Eddy said with a wave to the kids, then turned and walked into the gate.
Jonny looked concerned. There was no sign of the Kankers. "Um, May? Marie? Lee? Are you in there?" He asked shyly.
The door opened and Lee and May came out, grinning. Marie cautiously poked her head out behind them with a nervous expression on her face.
"Yeah, we're here." Lee said.
"What'd'ya want?" May asked.
Sweat trickled down the side of Jonny's head. "Um, you see, I was going to call everyone in the area together, because, um..." He trailed off and tried to re-word it.
"Everyone?" Lee questioned deviously.
"Even the Eds?" May continued.
"Um, no, not unless they get back soon. Y-you see, it's my and Plank's opinion that all kinds of weird things are gonna be happening and I wanted to warn everyone..." Jonny replied.
"Oh, what kinds of...things..." Marie stammered.
"Um..." He paused, listening to Plank. "Vampires, monsters of all types, people vanishing, things floating, that sort of thing..."
Lee and May grinned at each other. "Okay, we'll go. Where to?" Lee asked.
"The path, in about twenty minutes." Jonny replied, then turned and walked off.
"Why'd you let him go, Lee?" May demanded.
Lee shoved her in the dirt. "Cause in twenty minutes, we'll be able to get every kid, not just one. Duh..."
"Oh... heehee..." May said, and then started laughing.
Lee grinned and joined in the laughing, while stared at the two nervously, then snuck back in the trailer.
The Eds walked out of the gate.
"This stinks!" Eddy exclaimed, kicking the side of the gate.
Eddy, please don't break it... and we still have 7 dollars..." Edd said, trying to calm Eddy down.
"Let's just get some jawbreakers and go home." Ed suggested.
Edd and Eddy stared at him.
"And yet another sudden intelligent idea from Ed." Edd commented.
"Betcha a quarter it won't last." Eddy said slyly.
"Not to degrade Ed, but I'm not going to take that bet..." Edd replied with an ashamed look on his face.
"Buttered toast!" Ed suddenly yelled, then ran to the edge of the clearing and stooped down.
"How'd we know?" Eddy asked sarcastically.
Edd shrugged, and watched Ed pick something from the ground. "Um, Ed, THAT'S A POISONOUS MUSHROOM!" He yelled, running towards Ed.
"You go, Lumpy!" Eddy exclaimed as Ed popped the mushroom in his mouth, chewed, then swallowed it.
"Oh, dear..." Edd murmured as Ed's face grew splotchy and swollen again.
"I feel funny, guys..." Ed said.
"We'll have to sneak him home." Eddy said, staring in shock at Ed's face.
"How about to my house? I'll have some medicine that can counter the effects of the mushroom..." Edd suggested.
"Okay, then. Come on, Ed..." Eddy said, and they walked out of the clearing.
Edd looked around cautiously. No one was in sight, and he sighed. "Coast's clear, Eddy." He said, and they walked into the street.
"So, Ed's allergic to rabbits and eels, dandelions make him sneeze like crazy, and mushrooms make him all blotchy. He has some serious issues..." Eddy commented as they walked along the street, then looked thoughtful. "About what time is it?"
"I'd say... 5:20?" Edd replied.
"Good, dinner isn't til 6:00. Where's everyone at, I wonder...?" Eddy asked.
They became aware of voices from the path, and two singing very badly.
"Huh?" Edd said, turning to Eddy.
He shrugged. "Let's check it out."
All three walked over to the fence and looked over curiously.
There, every kid in the cul-de-sac was circled around Kevin and Jimmy, talking frantically. Kevin and Jimmy were standing in the center of the group, the source of the singing.
"This is the song that never ends,
And it goes on and on my friends.
Some people-starting singing it, not knowing what it was,
But they'll continue singing it forever just because,
This is the song that never ends,
And it goes on and on my friends.
Some people-starting singing it, not knowing what it was,
But they'll continue singing it forever just because,
This is the song that never ends,
And it goes on and on my friends---"
The Eds stared in shock, and Eddy covered his ears. "Stop the singing already!" He yelled.
The kids looked up at them, Kevin and Jimmy still singing.
"I'm getting a headache, guys…" Ed complained.
"What's going on?" Edd asked, opening the door in the fence and walking through, followed by Ed and Eddy.
"Kevin and Jimmy can't stop singing!" Nazz exclaimed.
"Nothing we do stops them. We can not even cover their mouths, our hands just don't go near them." Rolf added.
" --Never ends, and it goes on and on my-" The singing continued the whole time.
"CAN'T???" Edd and Eddy asked simultaneously, looking at each other with startled faces.
"Yeah, can't! We tried everything we could think of, but…" Jonny said to them, and then looked down at Plank. "Right?"
"………" Plank replied.
"Well, could you answer my first question?" Edd said, going to Kevin and looking down at his face. "You really can't stop?"
Jimmy nodded, on the verge of crying, and Kevin looked down, and then stared angrily at Edd. He motioned furiously with one hand, like he was holding a pencil and writing.
"You want something to write with?" Edd asked, and Kevin nodded. Edd pulled his notebook and pencil out of his pocket, and then held them out. "I think this will suffice?"
Kevin took it and scribbled something, then showed it to Edd. The others crowded around him as he read it silently, then out loud.
Yeah, we can't stop.
It's all your girlfriends' fault.
They came here and told us to sing, and we did, and couldn't stop.
Where were you dorks anyway? With them?
Eddy looked furious. "WHAT?!? We weren't with them, we-"
Edd interrupted him. "They aren't really our girlfriends, Kevin. They might think so, but they aren't. We were just-- exploring in the woods, and doing stuff like that…"
Sarah hugged Jimmy, and the others glanced at her. He and Kevin were still singing, and unable to talk.
"PLEASE stop singing already!" Eddy exclaimed.
Kevin glared at him, but the singing continued.
Edd rubbed his face in frustration. "Kevin, Jimmy, stop singing. I don't think I'll be liable for my actions if I hear more of this song…"
No one answered, and they all sat there silently.
Rolf sighed, and then looked startled. Edd blinked in surprise, and Eddy looked around, puzzled.
"Huh?" Kevin asked.
Nazz stared. "Kevin!" She exclaimed.
"Sarah! I-I'm okay!" Jimmy exclaimed, and then gave her a huge hug.
Kevin yawned, then looked at Edd. "What did you do?"
Edd looked back at him with a confused look. "What do you mean?"
Rolf nodded. "Yes, how did you stop the wailing of Kevin and Jimmy?"
"I did nothing odd, I simply told them to stop singing." Edd said, frowning.
"Uh huh... sure thing, Double D." Kevin said, glaring at him. "You and the Kankers were in on this together, weren't you?"
"Hey! We already told you, we weren't with them!" Eddy yelled.
"Well, you guys are going to need to know what's going on, if you don't already know..." Nazz said. "How about I hold a slumber party, and everyone come so we can try to figure out what's going on."
"Agreed. I'll go inform Mother and Father. What time should we show up?" Edd said, glaring at Kevin uncharacteristically.
"Um, around 7:30. Okay?" Nazz said, looking around at everyone.
"Sure thing, Nazz..." Eddy said, looking uncomfortable.
"Um, I still don't feel good, guys..." Ed said from the side. Everyone looked over at him. His entire face had turned blue.
"Oh my! I forgot about the mushroom!" Edd exclaimed, running over to Ed. "Eddy, we need to get that medicine, immediately!"
Jonny looked shocked. "What happened to Ed's face?"
"Let's just leave Lumpy like this, it's not like anyone would notice." Eddy snickered.
Edd frowned again. "Eddy! Ed, come with me, I'll fix that up in a few minutes."
"Okay-dokey, Double D." Ed said, following Edd down the street.
"Ah... much better." Edd said, holding a mirror up for Ed.
He examined his face in it. "What happened to the blue?"
Eddy opened the door. "Can I come in yet?" He demanded.
"Certainly, Eddy." Edd answered. He put the medicine away. "Let's see..." He murmured, looking at his wrist. "5:53..."
"WHAT?!" Eddy exclaimed.
"It's 5:53, or 5:54 now." Edd answered.
"Oh, man! I'm gonna get in trouble again! I'm outta here!" Eddy exclaimed.
"Trouble? I don't want to get in trouble, Eddy!" Ed yelled, latching himself around Eddy's leg.
"Leggo, Monobrow!" He yelled, trying to kick Ed off.
"Trouble bad! I'm not in my happy place guys!" Ed continued, still lodged to Eddy's leg.
Edd looked nervous. "Trouble? Ed, you won't get in trouble, as long as you let go of Eddy and go home now..."
Ed gasped and released Eddy, who fell down. "Out of my way! I can't get grounded again!" He yelled, and then ran downstairs.
"Thanks, Double D." Eddy said, getting to his feet.
"You're wel--" Crashes came from downstairs, "--come. What was that?!"
"Ed plowing through your door? I'm leaving." Edd said, then walked out.
"Honestly..." Edd muttered, and then followed Eddy down the stairs. The door did indeed have a large cut in it.
"Not again..." Edd complained, then shook his head and went about making himself some dinner.
Marie cringed as Lee kicked her. "Stop it!" She exclaimed.
"Where were you?" May asked in a dark tone.
Lee stopped kicking her. "Yeah, why'd ya sneak off?"
"I was here... I didn't want to go..." Marie cried.
"Tell the truth." Lee commanded darkly, crossing her arms and glaring at her sister.
"I wanted to stay away from you, so this wouldn't happen!" She said, obviously against her will.
May pointed at her, then slowly turned it towards the wall, then towards the ceiling abruptly. Marie floated where where May's finger had pointed, then slammed against the roof.
"Ohh!" She cried out. <Why do you two have to do this to me?!? Why?? > She thought as May slammed her to the ground. There she lay, in a pocket of the full moon's light, as though she were unconscious.
Ed smiled and left the kitchen. Sarah followed him. "So, are you three really with the Kankers? Or was Kevin just saying that?" She demanded.
"We're not with them, they're scary..." Ed said, then went down to his room.
Sarah stopped at the door down, and looked thoughtful. <Yeah, I have trouble seeing Double D do something like that. Still, poor Jimmy and Kevin didn't stop until he said to.... > She trailed off, and then ran up to her room to get her stuff ready.
Eddy pulled a flashlight and a bikini magazine from under his bed.
"I've gotta have this..." He said, and then went into his closet to look for stuff. Various types of clothes were thrown out, and he stopped to regard a black cloak. "Creepy... Bet I could sneak around in the dark easily with this..." He said, stuffing it in his bag. He looked back in the closet. "There it is!" He exclaimed, grabbing a tape-recorder.
"Heh heh heh... this'll make for some good laughs." He said, then put it in his bag with another change of identical clothes.
Edd put sunscreen, toothpaste, a toothbrush, a hair brush, lotion, a compass, a map, a science book, an astronomy book, some nutrious grain bars, spare clothes, his pajamas, etc, etc in his bag. After slight hesitation, he put his notebook and a pencil in, and then closed it.
He sighed, and then looked out the window. There were houses in the way, but he had an eerie feeling that the full moon was already rising...
"Yo! Double D!" Eddy yelled from outside.
Edd stuck his head out the window again. "Yes, Eddy?"
"You wanna come with me and Ed? The chicken ran off into the woods, and he's gonna go get it..." Eddy asked.
Edd looked thoughtful, then nodded. "Certainly, as long as we can get back here soon... where's your bag?"
"My stuff? Left it at my house, I don't wanna be carrying it around everywhere." Eddy answered.
"Good idea, I'll do that too. I'll be out in a sec'." Edd said, pulling his head in and closing the window. He then walked downstairs and outside.
"Okay, come on." Eddy said, leading him up the street.
The two walked through the woods.
"I can't believe Ed ran ahead like that, we might not find him in time..." Edd complained.
"Well, it's Ed we're talking about. His mind says: Find a chicken; go with my friends to prove we weren't collaborating with the Kankers to take over the cul-de-sac. Isn't obvious which which is more important? You need to get your priorities straight, Double D." Eddy commented sarcastically.
"Collaborating? That's five syllables, Eddy!" Eddy gave him a look, and Edd continued. " I hope they don't honestly think that. It'd make it so uncomfortable if the only people who trusted us were the Kankers..." He muttered.
Howling surrounded them. Edd and Eddy backed together and stared around at the trees surrounding them.
"Friends of yours?" Eddy whispered nervously.
"What do you mean by that?" Edd demanded.
"Do not fear!" Ed's voice rang out. "It is I, Ed!"
Edd and Eddy sighed and looked irritated, and Ed came into the clearing, making howling noises with his mouth. "Arroooarooarooo..." He added.
Eddy jumped up and seized Ed's mouth. "Don't do that!" He yelled.
Ed's mouth stayed squished together. "Sorry..." He said, then held up a chicken. "I found Nestor, we can go home now."
Edd rubbed his head, and then froze, staring up. "Uh, oh..." He said.
"What? Oh, man..." Eddy said, staring at Edd.
The moon had risen high enough to come into the clearing, and the Eds were standing in it.
Edd winced, and Ed and Eddy stared in shock as he again curled up and seemed to mutate before them.
"Edd's doing it again..." Ed commented.
Edd's hat fell off, and he stood on all fours wobbly, a wolf again.
"Well, I think we've decided it's not just because of going to other worlds..." Eddy commented, leaning down to pick up the hat. "I'll keep this, so we don't lose it." He added, and then put it in his pocket.
Edd nodded, then Ed yawned. "We need to get going, guys. Or we'll miss the sleepover..."
"'Kay..." Eddy replied, and with a last glance at Edd, shook his head and started walking the way they had come from.
The three walked along for several minutes silently, each thinking.
<So, what do we tell the pigeons to get 'em off our backs? > Eddy wondered.
<This is so--- unreal... How can this be happening to me? > Edd thought.
<Hello? Hello? Who's there? Who's there? I am. I am. Who? Who? Ed. Ed. Wait, I'm Ed! Wait, I'm Ed! No, I am! No, I am! Stop it! Stop it! I'm not listening! I'm no listening! > Ed argued with himself, then pouted and stopped thinking.
"Hi, guys. Whose dog is that?" Jonny asked suddenly.
"Ah!" Eddy screamed, jumping in the air and whirling around. There, Jonny was standing in the middle of the path, holding Plank and smiling.
"Don't do that!" Ed exclaimed. "I thought you were one of the mutant sausages, come to---"
"Ed, shut up..." Eddy moaned.
Jonny stared for a second, and then repeated, "Whose dog is that?"
"Um..." Eddy said, glancing at Edd, "It's, uh, my uncle's. Yeah. We're walking him for $2..."
"REALLY? Two whole dollars? Cool... But, um, it's getting close to the time that you guys are gonna be expected, and Nazz sent me to find you..." Jonny said.
<Huh? Time that we're expected? That means everyone else is already there...> Edd thought, looking down solemnly. <Then they don't believe us...>
"Oh, we were already headed back." Eddy replied.
"Okay. Hey," Jonny looked around curiously, "Where's Double D? Isn't he coming too?"
"Uh---" Eddy started, then Ed interrupted. "No, his parents had plans, and they brought him with them."
"Gotcha. Well, see you guys later!" Jonny said, than ran off ahead.
Eddy shook his head. "Well, what's our story gonna be? They won't believe us if we tell the truth, so..."
"Hiya, boys." Lee's voice suddenly said from in the trees. She and May laughed manically, and jumped out to block the Eds from running down the path.
"What are you doing all the way out here?" May asked.
"Um, heh, heh..." Eddy said nervously, the three bunching together in the middle. He and Ed started sweating, and Edd's fur stood up on his back.
"Oh! What a cute doggie! Can I have him?" May asked, running forward to pet the 'doggie', who crouched down and tried to back away.
"N-no, he's not mine..." Eddy stammered.
Lee frowned. "Give him to us." She commanded.
Eddy froze, and thought about it. <Give? No! But she said--- Don't care! But... Ain't giving him away, and that's FINAL! > He thought furiously, and slowly shook his head. "No." He said with great effort.
The other two stared. "How'd he do that?" May asked.
"I don't know..." Lee replied, then grinned and held up a 10-dollar bill. "10 bucks, then."
Eddy thought, and then remembered that they had made $15 before. "No, he's not for sale..." He said with an even greater effort.
Lee frowned, looking really mad. "20 dollars. Sell him to me!" She exclaimed, and Eddy's self control broke.
"Okay, then. Give the money to me first." He said in the business-voice that he used during scams.
<WHAT?!?> Edd thought frantically, watching Eddy accept the 20-dollar bill. <Eddy, WHAT ARE YOU THINKING?!?> He backed up into Ed.
"Give him to me, Ed..." May said.
"Come on, puppy..." Ed chimed, picking Edd up. "Here ya go." He said, handing Edd to May.
"Okay, May, bring 'im back home." Lee said, turning to Ed and Eddy. "Now, then, where were you boys going?"
Edd struggled as May carried him back into the woods. <Ed! Eddy! NO! >
Nazz looked bored, and Kevin was irritated. "When are they gonna get here?" He complained.
Someone knocked on the door, and Rolf ran to open it. "Hello?" He asked.
Jonny came in. "They're on their way, or at least Ed and Eddy are."
"Where's Double D?" Jimmy whimpered.
"Out with his parents, but I didn't ask where..." Jonny replied.
"Oh well... Anyway, we need to know everything we can before the Eds get here." Kevin decided.
"Huh?" Nazz asked, looking puzzled. "Why?"
"I bet they do know what's going on, and that they'll try to charge us to make them talk." Kevin replied.
The group nodded.
"Probably..." Rolf said.
"That sounds like Eddy, the jerk... This is important, too!" Sarah complained.
Kevin nodded, then turned to Jonny. "Alright, what do you know?"
Jonny grew thoughtful. "Well, you see, the Eds built this machine, that lets them travel into different universes--"
"WHAT!?!?" They all exclaimed.
"How did they do that?" Nazz asked.
Jonny shrugged. "I don't know, but Plank says they've been to at least three. He got bored of watching them when they walked out to the shed of one of those other world's Rolf... Any way, from the start..."
<No.... Why'd you do this, Eddy? I have trouble seeing even you do this for money...> Edd thought mournfully as Lee and May brought him into the trailer.
"Stay in here!" May commanded, then tossed Edd into an open-topped cage. He lay there for a moment, feeling rather depressed.
<Oh, you jerks, LET ME OUT! > Someone yelled nearby Edd's head.
He opened an eye and looked up cautiously. There, a dog about his size was yelling at the Kankers.
<Yelling...? > Edd thought vaguely, and slowly sat up.
<You don't have a right to keep me in here!!! > The dog yelled, then noticed him. <Ah! >
Edd blinked. <How can I understand...? > He thought, and then stared at the dog. <What's going on? And why do you have to be yelling so loudly? > He asked.
<You--you can talk? Intelligently?? > The dog asked, clearly startled.
<Of course. Why shouldn't I? How can you? > Edd replied. <The last time I checked, dog's brains weren't advanced enough to communicate with humans...> He stopped, realizing what he had said.
<Humans...? Then the same thing happened to you! > The dog exclaimed.
"Yo, keep it down it there, or else!" Lee yelled from another room.
<Um... yes, I-I fear that it was because of the--> Edd started.
<Moonlight...> the dog finished.
They stared at each other.
<Well, we're going to need to get out of here, goodness knows what the Kanker sisters will do to us...> Edd commented.
<Yeah, these two have gone totally out of control...> the dog added.
<You're from around here? > Edd asked as he looked around at the bars of the cage.
<Well, yeah...> the dog replied, as if it were obvious. She then came over to look where he was looking. <These don't look too strong...>
Edd glanced at her. <How'd I know she's a girl? She is, there's no doubt in my mind about it...> He thought, and then opened his mouth. <Maybe, if we rammed them... or better yet...> He pulled himself on the side of the cage, and stretched as far up as he could.
"Stay in that cage." May said, walking by with some cake.
<Hmm... I don't think I could jump that high...> Edd muttered, getting down. He found that she was staring at him oddly. <What? >
<You can't get out now, she told you to stay in here...> She reminded him.
<So? They told Kevin and Jimmy to sing, but they stopped when I told them to. They told Eddy to 'give' me to them, and he didn't react until they offered him twenty dollars. > Edd said.
She froze. <Eddy...? Y-you know Eddy...? >
<Yeah, he's one of my best friends...> He said, feeling puzzled at her reaction.
<Th-then, you're one of the Eds? > She continued cautiously.
<I'm Double D...> He said slowly.
Her eyes widened. <Oh, my, god...> She tilted her head, and appeared to smile.
<Well... Huh, I never thought that you...> She paused, then shook her head. <Any way, we need to get out. We can exchange stories then...>
<Um, okay...> He looked around again, and then got an idea. <Hey, see how the cage is right next to the window? If you jump from my back, you should be able to get out. > Edd suggested.
<But, how would you get out? > She exclaimed.
<Don't worry, if I really try, I'm sure I can jump that. > He said reassuringly.
<All right...> She said nervously, and then walked over to him. <Um... here goes nothing...> She leapt onto his back and into the window. <Come on! >
Edd backed up, ready to spring.
"Hey! Lee, they're getting away!" May yelled, running over.
"What?!" Lee exclaimed, jumping up from her chair. "Stay in there, you stupid dogs!" She continued, running into the room.
<Now or never, Double D! > Edd thought, jumping as high as he could as May tripped over the cage and fell below him.
<Outta here! > The dog exclaimed, and the two jumped out and ran as fast as they could.
"Get back here, Marie!!! > Lee screamed, then the two ran out of hearing.
"Hello, everyone!" Ed exclaimed as he and Eddy walked in.
"What took you dorks so long?" Kevin complained.
"Figured, hey! You guys have been here so long, that you wouldn't mind waiting a little more. Sorry..." Eddy said sarcastically as he stuck his stuff in a corner of the room.
"Well, you're here now. So, what have you guys been doing?" Nazz asked.
Ed looked at Jonny. "What did you say?" He asked.
Rolf looked astonished. "Ed-boy? How did you know Jonny has already told his part of the tale?"
"Why else would you guys have gone behind our backs and come early?" Eddy asked slyly. No one answered, and he smiled.
"Um, I told everything I saw, then what Plank had seen..." Jonny answered.
"Which was...?" Eddy pressed.
"You guys going into that shed..." Jonny finished.
"Ah... Well, let's see... We had a little meeting, where I said we would leave soon, since it didn't seem like we'd make any money there. I asked him if we'd get in trouble for getting home late, since it was night there and we were going to sleep til their morning. He said no, so we relaxed and hung out the whole night---"
"I slept with Bessie." Ed commented.
The group stared at him. "Um..." Nazz started.
"Who is this 'Bessie'?" Rolf asked.
"The cow." Ed said, grinning vacantly.
"..........." Plank commented, while everyone else was silent.
"Yeah, Ed is weird, Plank..." Jonny replied.
Eddy blinked, then shook his head. "Any way, we stayed there 'til morning and went to check out the trailer park, to see if what that Rolf said was true. You see, that guy had said that in their world, there were only TWO Eds, Ed and I. And that there was a kid like Double D around, who didn't live in the cul-de-sac, but in the TRAILER PARK."
"WHAT?!?" Jimmy, Sarah, Kevin, and Nazz exclaimed.
"Weird! Why would Double D live there?" Jonny asked.
Eddy shrugged. "I don't know... After we went, and checked it out, we found that there were a lot of kids there, the Kankers, Double D, although they just called him Edward, and some other boys. They caught us, so we told them about here, and why Double D looked like Edward, and then we came home. Ed ate a mushroom so Double D said he'd give Lumpy some medicine, and we heard really bad singing, so we checked it out. That's about it."
"That's it? Sure you're not leaving anything out? Like why you were late?" Kevin said in a dangerous tone.
Ed sniffled. "Nestor ran away, so I went out to get him, and Double D and Eddy came to find me, and we came back."
"Huh? What about the dog? And I didn't see Double D with you at all!" Jonny exclaimed.
"Hang on!" Eddy exclaimed. "Look, I went to tell Double D that Ed here had run off after his chicken, and he told me that we'd have to be quick, since he was going with his parents. I got the dog from outside, where I had him tied on a leash, and we went to find Ed. Double D got tired of looking after a little while, told me good luck, and left. I kept looking, Ed snuck on me, you snuck up on us, and we took a nice, slow pace home. Then, we got our stuff from our houses and came here. OKAY?" Eddy demanded, finished telling his story.
The group looked thoughtful. "I suppose that makes sense, but we'll have to check it with Double D." Nazz decided. "He of all people definitely wouldn't be lying to us."
"Okay, then. So, what happened to you guys before we got back?" Eddy asked, and Kevin leaned back to explain.
Edd and Marie stopped running by the swimming hole. He panted, out of breath, while she sat down and looked out at the view.
When he had his breath back, he looked up at her. <You're Marie? > He asked.
She nodded, and he stared.
<How-- Why did your sisters do that to you? > He asked.
She looked down awkwardly. <I--I don't really know... Revenge? I'm always the one, picking on them, beating them up. Suddenly, they get a power to tell other people what to do, no matter what it is...>
<Then, that was real? It never affected me...> Edd said, completely confused by now. <This makes no sense. People doing whatever someone says? Werewolves? What next?!? In one of the worlds we went to, there was a vampire after us! Is that going to happen too?!?> He exclaimed.
They sat there silently for several minutes, gazing out and thinking.
<They were going to do that to you. > Marie suddenly said.
<Do what? > Edd asked.
She closed her eyes. <Make you fall in love with me, completely in love. They're going to do that to Ed and Eddy, but now... I don't think they'll be doing me any favors...>
<Make us fall in love with you three...? > Edd whispered. He sighed, and looked up. <You know... it's your fault, somewhat, that we don't...>
She looked at him quickly. <What?!?> She exclaimed.
<You three... are just so... aggressive... chasing us everywhere, forcing us to kiss you, instead of getting to know us, and letting us know you...> Edd continued slowly. <If you three had just...not lost your patience...> He sighed again, and looked at her. <Of course, we were rude, and you had every right to do that...>
<You mean...if we had just...> Marie started, and then looked down, silent for a moment.
Edd watched her solemnly, waiting for an explosion of anger. Instead, she started giggling.
<What's so funny? > He demanded.
<All...hehehe...All this time, we've been... chasing you guys around... thinking if we paid enough attention to you... you'd fall in love with us... but we've actually... just been chasing you away! > She started laughing out right, and he chuckled.
<Odd, the way these things work, isn't it? Love is such a complex emotion... But, you know, it would have been possible. Between us, anyway...> Edd said.
<Really? How do you know? > Marie asked, looking up at him from where she was lying.
<In one of those other worlds... the other you, and the other me... started kissing in front of everyone... and went out to go on their date...> Edd answered.
<Well, then... Huh. > Marie said softly, then 'grinned' at him. <Well, the two of us are basically in the same boat, so... why don't we start over? >
<Start over? > Edd asked slyly.
<Yeah... Hi, I'm Marie! > She said, giggling.
<I'm Edd, or--> Edd started.
<Double D. You don't have to worry about that. > Marie finished, and then they both started laughing again.
<You know... if, two hours ago, someone had asked me if I'd ever befriends with any of the Kanker sisters, I'd have frozen on the spot in fear and disbelief...> Edd commented.
<If someone had asked me if you'd ever be my friend, I'd have said 'He better! Or I'll give 'im a knuckle sandwich!'>
They laughed again, and then Edd looked startled. <Rolf! I forgot...>
<What? > Marie asked.
He looked nervously at her. <Rolf, he's--- superstitious about things like vampires, werewolves, etc...>
<So? He's not gonna know...> Marie said.
<Actually, Ed, Eddy, and I were supposed to go to a sleepover, to discuss what's going on... And we were planning to tell them about what we've been doing... so, they'll find out that...> Edd started.
<Shoot! > Marie exclaimed, getting to her feet. <We've got to stop them! >
<Right! > Edd replied, and they ran towards the cul-de-sac as fast as they could.
Eddy yawned and leaned back on his pillow. "That's everything, then... and we don't know much more than we did before..." He complained.
"Oh, well..." Ed commented. "Nighty, nighty, nighty..."
"ZZZZZzzzzzZZZZZzzzzzz" Kevin started snoring.
"Oh, man..." Nazz complained. "Anyone have an extra pillow?"
"Sure thing, Nazz." Jonny said, handing it to her. "Plank doesn't need three."
"Thanks." She said, then stood up and carefully stuck the pillow in Kevin's mouth. "There we go."
Eddy snickered. "A pillow? Good idea..."
"Okay, let's go to sleep, it's already 9:17..." Sarah complained.
"Oh, fine..." Eddy muttered, and turned over.
The door slowly opened, and Edd and Marie snuck in the room. It was dark, so on one noticed them creep behind a sofa.
<They seem to be done already...> Edd whispered.
<I hope they didn't say anything...> Marie muttered.
"What's that, Plank?" Jonny asked sleepily. "The door's open?"
"Huh? How'd the door open?" Eddy asked.
"Eddy, can you close it? You're the closest..." Jimmy murmured.
Eddy muttered obscenities under his breath as he went over and closed it.
<Okay, then... I'm going to sleep...> Edd commented, curling up and closing his eyes.
Marie sat another moment, watching him, <I can't believe this... it's almost too good to be true! > She thought gleefully, then curled up beside him and slept.
End of part 3
p.s. Thank you to 'And I Quote' for informing me that two of the chapters were reversed, and to everyone else who have reviewed....