As they drove away in the cab, the anthro-fox driver listened to their story, pointing out that, since getting into the car, John's nose had turned black and cold. Carrie looked on the verge of tears, but John put his head in her lap. Most likely he was in shock, but he was calm, whatever the cause. His calm, in turn, helped her.
The cabbie looked at them, and gave a small smile. Love conquers all, he thought.
"Hey. Before I take you guys outta town, how bout I take you to see some people who might know how to deal with an Author?"
John perked up.
"What's so big about an author?"
"Not an author, an Author. Capital A. They write reality."
"That's pretty big."
"As a rule, yes."
Carrie was beginning to warm up to the conversation, seeing John speaking in his normal, joking manner. She glanced at the cabbie.
"Who're the people?"
"Some of the Old Guard here in Toon Town. They've been here so long, they've got experience in nearly everything. Here, we're at the park where they tend to congregate at this time of day."
The cab pulled to a stop in front of a small, heavily treed park. As the cabbie lead the two to a chess game in the middle of the park, they noticed that they were, indeed, passing many of the Old Guard cartoons; Goofy and Donald, Sylvester and Elmer Fudd, and so on. Even characters who were recalcitrant enemies, like Tom and Jerry, seemed to have a truce in this park; instead of chasing one another about, they all were settled into more peaceful amusements: Chess, checkers, cards, some where even having lunch. Eventually, the cabbie led them to a small nook in a rock wall, where a mouse and a rabbit were playing checkers.
"Uh, Bugs? I think these are those two about to go see Prospero."
"Yeah. What's up, docs?"
John tilted his head in a very canine way,
"You know about us?"
"Eh, *munches on carrot* rumor travels at half the speed of light, kid."
The cabbie had doffed his hat.
"Ah, sirs? I don't suppose you could help them?"
Mickey nodded, and pulled out a portable hole, handing it to Carrie.
"Take this. Reach inside if you need something."
Carrie nodded, and thanked Mickey, before rolling the hole up and placing it in her pocket.
"And take this too, doc."
Bugs attached a brass doorknob to a chain, and hung it around John's neck.
"Huh? A doorknob?"
"Eh, don't gimme that look. It'll come in handy. I promise. Would I lie, doc?"
Carrie, John, Mickey and the fox cabbie all gave Bugs a patented Look.
"Uh, lemme rephrase. I ain't never lied to a good guy, right?"
The others nodded.
"Well, der you go. Now listen, you two. This ain't no cartoon short. It's a full length adventure. You'll find Master Prospero in the Clockwork Castle. You will face many dangers, et set erra. Don't give up on you love fer each other, and keep your eyes on the prize. Don't take any wooden nickels. This above all, to thine own self...something or other, I don't remember. And most of all..."
Bugs leaned on air, and took a bite of carrot.
"*munch munch* Good Luck, Docs."
~*~*~*~*~*~
Eventually, the cab reached the edge of town, and stopped at the foot of the Ominous Mountains.
"Sorry, guys, I can't take you any farther. Beyond here is the wilderness, full of Spooky Woods, Spooky Houses, Spooky Caves, Spooky IHOP-"
Carrie raised a brow.
"Spooky IHOP?"
"Eh, what can I say? It's still technically Toon World. Gotta be SOME jokes."
As they got out, John turned back to the cabbie.
"Hey, you never did tell us your name."
"Call me Rey. In fact..."
Rey tossed them a cell phone.
"Really, call me. If there's any trouble. Mine's number 3 on speed dial. Good bye, and good luck."
And with that, he drove off. Carrie and John started walking towards the mountain. John, who looked to be about halfway through his man-to-cartoon-pet-dog transformation, whined.
"My paws are gonna hurt."
"Maybe there's something in that Hole Mickey gave us?"
She reached in, and pulled out a motorcycle, complete with sidecar.
"Awesome! Hop in, John."
Putting on their respective helmets(Safety First!), John receiving some help, they began to speed towards the nearby mountains; on the other side of the nearest, they new they would find the Clockwork Castle, and John's only hope of returning to Humanity.
~*~*Meanwhile*~*~
Rey flipped a switch in his dashboard, revealing a small screen. On said screen, a figure was visible in silhouette, obscured by steam and darkness. Said figure was at work in some form of smithy, tinkering with a knight made of steel and brass, powered by clockwork and steam.
"What is it, Reynard? I'm in the shop."
Any observers, had there been any, would have noted that Rey looked very little like a Toon anymore, more like a real anthro fox.
"Two people are coming to see you, Master Prospero. As part of your bargain with the Tricksters, I thought I should let you know."
"Oh? Tell me more..."