The Hunchback of the Lost Star

THE RACCOONS FAN FICTION

THE HUNCHBACK OF THE LOST STAR

Written by Stephen Ricketts & Jacob Turner


The Raccoons © Skywriter Media & Entertainment Group
Michelle Raccoon © Michelleraccoon
Alicia, Melanie & Zoza © Alicia Martin
The Railway Dragon © Lacewood Productions


THE EVERGREEN FOREST: NIGHT TIME
NARRATOR: 'It was nearly Halloween. And Schaeffer was planning a Halloween costume party at the Blue Spruce Cafe. But Bentley Raccoon isn't in the festive mood, because something big was troubling him.'

THE RACCOONS' HOUSE
Bentley sat on the steps outside. He looked up at the stars, thinking about something that happened very recently.
EVERGREEN DRAGON'S VOICE: (in Bentley's mind) 'I sense a great and powerful evil, which will attack the Evergreen Forest while I'm hibernating. So be very careful, and find a way to protect this beautiful place, no matter what.'
The front door opened, and Lisa stepped out.
LISA: 'Bentley, I think it's time you came inside. What's troubling you? The Dragon's prediction of a great evil threatening the forest?'
BENTLEY: 'Well, yeah.'
LISA: 'The only great evil I heard of that threatened the forest, was Cyril Sneer. But that was way before we met him. Then there's his evil look alike from outer space, who's gone forever. And that also goes for Zydos.'
BENTLEY: 'But, what if this is a new evil threat?'
LISA: 'Bentley, stop worrying. The chances are we'll get a visit from Jenny, when this evil shows up. And we will all use the Power Rings to stop it.'
BENTLEY: 'You're right, sis.'
LISA: 'Great. Now, let's get you inside, where it's nice and warm.'
Lisa and Bentley stepped inside.

THE OUTSKIRTS OF THE FOREST
A meteor descended from the sky and landed near a mountain of rocks, causing an explosion. Once the smoke cleared, a dark figure was seen in a small smoking crater. In the dark it was difficult to make out. The figure looked a bit like Cyril Sneer, but with one red glowing eye. There was a red orb on its chest which glowed in rhythm, like a heart beat. And the red orb had the Sneer Symbol in black. The figure raised its metal hand, and fired two metal cables directly at a tree. The ends of the cables dug into the tree, and they began sucking its life energy. All the leaves came off and the trunk shrived up, and broke apart. The figure glowed, and raised its metal arm, and clenched its hand, followed by Cyril Sneer's evil laugh.

THE NEXT DAY: EVERGREEN STANDARD OFFICE
Bert ran into the office.
RALPH: 'It's about time you came back, Bert. Surely it doesn't take you that long to deliver the papers.'
BERT: 'I know. But guess what? I unexpectedly made a thousand dollars. Then I had to run for my life.'
MELISSA: (shocked) 'What?'
BERT: 'I'll explain. After I finished delivering the papers, I thought I'd do a bit of bike riding around the forest. I found this roadhouse, so I thought I'd stop by for a peanut butter sandwich. Then these two bizarre travellers from showed up. They were probably from Texas.'

FLASHBACK: ROADHOUSE
As Bert talked, flashback scenes occurred of Bert stopping by outside the roadhouse. The next scene, he was inside, sitting at a table among several other customers. Then two foxes walked in, wearing cowboy type clothes. One fox was silent, and the other fox did the talking.
FOX: 'Ladies and gentlemen.'
The silent fox reached into his vest, and pulled out a bundle of money.
FOX: (singing) 'He's gonna give away a thousand dollars. Someone's gonna get a thousand dollars. Who do you think is gonna get a thousand dollars? Could be you, or it could be you, because… Someone's gonna get a thousand dollars. He's gonna give away a thousand dollars. Who do you think is gonna get a thousand dollars?'
The silent fox pointed at Bert.
FOX: (to Bert) 'You're gonna get a thousand dollars. He just gave you a thousand dollars.'
The silent fox handed Bert the money, as the talking fox finished singing.
BERT: 'Wow. Thanks guys. Err, it's not stolen, is it?'
FOX: 'Nah, we make a lot of money doing stage performances. And we like to give it to the needy. And my friend here can tell that you need money to buy something very important.'
BERT: 'Wow. (to the silent fox) You must be psychic or something.'
The silent fox smiled and nodded at what Bert said.
FOX: 'All right. Now, ladies and gentlemen.'
The silent fox reached into his vest, like he was about to pull out some more money. But instead he showed off his fist.
FOX: 'Uh oh. (Sings) Someone's gonna get a punch in the head. Who do you think is gonna get a punch in the head?'
As the talking fox sang out his question, the customers all got up, and began rushing out of the roadhouse.
END OF FLASHBACK

EVERGREEN STANDARD OFFICE
BERT: 'And that's what happened.'
MELISSA: 'I know those guys. They're the Texas Brothers. They perform country songs. Well, one does the singing, and the other plays the guitar. They usually perform at the town miles out of the Evergreen Forest.'
BERT: 'So, they're not criminals?'
MELISSA: 'No, Bert. In fact, they may have done you a favour. They donate most of what they make, for worthy causes.'
BERT: 'Wow.'
RALPH: 'But what's with the punch in the head?'
BERT: 'Oh that. I made that part up.'
Ralph and Melissa both groaned.
BERT: 'I thought it would make the scenario a bit funnier.'
MELISSA: 'Well, try and be a bit more serious. It sounded like you were running from real danger.'
BERT: 'Sorry about that. But I am close to my goal.'
RALPH: 'I think it's time you told us why you need all this money.'
BERT: 'Sorry, can't tell you. Top secret.'
He ran out of the office.
MELISSA: 'I hope this doesn't have anything to do with what Bentley said about a great evil threatening the forest.'

OUTSIDE EVERGREEN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
The school bell rang, and the kids came out. Bentley and Penny walked out of the school together.
BENTLEY: 'I'm going to the Blue Spruce Cafe, once I've dropped my backpack off at home. Wanna join me there?'
PENNY: 'Sure. But first, I'd better return home, and drop off my things. See ya at the cafe.'
They walked off together.

IN THE WOODS
Penny left her home, after dropping off her backpack, and she walked through the woods on her own. She stepped into a clearing, and she noticed a few trees missing. Little did she know, there was something in the woods. The creature's red digital camera vision locked onto the raccoon girl, like a robot targeting someone. Penny stopped by and looked around.
PENNY: 'I could've sworn I heard something in the trees.'
The creature's vision was still locked onto Penny.
PENNY: 'Bentley, if you're trying to scare me, it's not working!'
The creature's vision now moved right towards Penny head on. Penny turned to see what was charging at her, and screamed. The creature stepping into sight looked like Cyril Sneer, but as a cyborg. It was actually the Lost Star Cyril Sneer.
SNEER: 'Stop screaming already!'
Penny stopped, and took a proper look at the creature.
PENNY: 'Mr. Sneer?'
SNEER: 'I am not Mr. Sneer, kid. Not the Cyril Sneer you know anyway. I am from outer space, and I tried conquering your world many times. But now I am more powerful. Powerful enough to succeed this time!'
Sneer fired his cables at a tree, and drained it of its life energy. The leaves all shrivelled up and fell, and the trunk shrivelled up, and broke apart into pieces of dead wood.
SNEER: 'See? I can now absorb all organic life for energy.'
Penny gasped.
EVERGREEN DRAGON'S VOICE: (in Penny's mind) 'I sense a great and powerful evil, which will attack the Evergreen Forest while I'm hibernating.'
PENNY: 'It's you.'
SNEER: 'So, your raccoon friends have told you about me? Excellent.'
He fired his cables, which wrapped around Penny's waste, and lifted her up. Penny screamed as Sneer lifted her up.
SNEER: 'Stop screaming!'
Police officers Aardvark and Raccoon walked along.
AARDVARK: 'Hey look, it's a space alien attacking a child.'
RACCOON: 'What are we gonna do? We aren't trained for this. I know.'
He got out a pocket handbook, and the aardvark looked at him.
AARDVARK: (trying to take the handbook) 'Give me that handbook.'
RACCOON: 'Hey I'm looking at it!'
AARDVARK: 'That thing could attack us any minute!'
RACCOON: 'I'm trying to find a section on aliens!'
The Raccoon got the book free from the aardvark's grasp.
AARDVARK: 'Ow, that hurt. It hurt.'
RACCOON: 'That had to hurt.'
AARDVARK: (mad) 'That really hurt!'
SNEER: (to the police officers) 'You two know Cedric Sneer?'
AARDVARK: 'Yes.'
SNEER: 'Then tell him to meet with me near the Evergreen Mountain in one hour, if he doesn't want any harm to come to this creature.'
Sneer used his powers to teleport out, taking the scared Penny with him. The two police officers screamed, then stopped for a moment.
AARDVARK: 'Why are we screaming?'
RACCOON: 'Because an evil space alien is using his magical powers right in front of us.'
AARDVARK: 'Oh.'
Then all of a sudden, they both screamed again, and ran away.

BLUE SPRUCE CAFE
Bert was decorating the cafe, getting it ready for Halloween. Bentley ran in.
BENTLEY: 'Hey guys Has Penny arrived yet?'
MICHELLE: (at the bar) 'Not yet, Bentley.'
BENTLEY: 'Cool, because I wanna scare her with my Lord Zedd mask.'
He put the mask on.
MICHELLE: 'Good luck. But you will apologise if she doesn't find it funny, right?'
BENTLEY: 'Sure.'
Officers Aardvark and Raccoon ran into the cafe.
AARDVARK: 'Call 9-1-1! Call 9-1-1! There's a monster on the loose.'
RACCOON: (looking at Bentley) 'Whoa, it's Lord Zedd! Hey, you're a lot shorter in real life. Err I mean you're under arrest. That evil monster had your name all over it.'
BENTLEY: (pulling the mask off) 'I'm not Zedd. This is just a Halloween mask.'
BERT: 'Yeah, and what's all this about a monster?'
AARDVARK: 'It was horrible. He looked like Cyril Sneer. He destroyed a tree, and captured a raccoon girl. (To Bentley) About your age, kid.'
BENTLEY: 'Penny's been captured? Did you say he destroyed a tree?'
RACCOON: 'Yeah. He absorbed it. Kinda like that Cell monster from "DragonBall Z".'
Bentley gasped, and remember what he heard.
EVERGREEN DRAGON'S VOICE: (in Bentley's mind) 'I sense a great and powerful evil. Powerful evil. Powerful evil. Evil. Evil.'
BENTLEY: 'No way. It can't be him. Not Cyril Sneer.'
AARDVARK: 'He also wanted Cedric to meet up with him near the mountain. Or he'll destroy the girl.'
BENTLEY: 'No. We can't let that happen to Penny!'
MICHELLE: 'You're right. We must go see Cedric.'
BERT: 'Hey Schaeffer. Can I take an hour off to help the others?'
SCHAEFFER: 'Sure, but make sure you're back by lunch rush.'
BERT: 'Will do, Schaeffer.'
Bert, Bentley and Michelle all left the cafe.

THE SNEER MANSION
Bert, Bentley, Lisa and Michelle all stood outside.
LISA: 'Good thing I bumped into you guys on the way here.'
Bert knocked on the door, and Cyril answered it. He was wearing his knight armour suit from the episode, "Science Friction".
CYRIL: 'What are you raccoons doing here?'
LISA: 'We came to see Cedric. Is he home?'
CYRIL: 'Cedric and Sophia have gone on vacation to Florida.'
BERT: 'Why are you wearing that suit?'
CYRIL: 'I'm breaking it in ready for the Halloween party. Gotta problem with that?'
BERT: 'N-N-No, Cyril.'
CYRIL: 'That's what I thought.'
MICHELLE: 'I'm sorry, Mr. Sneer. We didn't mean to offend you. We'll be going now.'
CYRIL: 'Very well. See you all at the party.'
He closed the door, as the raccoons left.

NEAR THE EVERGREEN MOUNTAIN
Penny was trapped in a metal cage. Sneer stood by on watch.
SNEER: 'If that Earth Cedric Sneer doesn't show up in ten minutes, I'll be feeding on Raccoon flesh.'
Penny had tears in her eyes, as she was scared of what was to happen. Bert, Bentley, Lisa and Michelle ran towards Sneer.
SNEER: 'You guys? Your survival could only mean one thing. You succeeded in destroying Lord Zydos.'
The raccoons gasped.
LISA: 'No way.'
BENTLEY: 'Impossible.'
SNEER: 'Well it is. I am the Imperial Commander Cyril Sneer! You may remember what happened the last time we met. Lord Zydos tricked me, and planned on destroying this planet.'

FLASHBACK SCENE: RETURN OF THE POWER RACCOONS
LORD ZYDOS' LAIR
SNEER: 'Hey Raccoons!'
Bert, Bentley, Lisa, Michelle and Jenny turned to look at Sneer.
SNEER: 'I may not like you, but we can't let this fifty foot dragon destroy our worlds! Stop him at all costs!'
ZYDOS: 'Silence, Cyril Sneer!'
He pointed his finger at Sneer, and zapped him away.
END OF FLASHBACK SCENE

SNEER: 'You must be wondering how I escaped the Vortex of No Return. I'll be happy to explain. But don't expect any visual flashback scenes.'
BERT: 'Why not?'
SNEER: 'Because my back story is too bloody and gruesome for this type of show.'
LISA: 'Oh.'
SNEER: 'When I was trapped in the vortex, my body mutated. Most of my body became too grotesque, but also, I somehow obtained unimaginable powers. I used them to escape the vortex. And I was back at Zydos' old fortress. My heart was almost giving out, and most of my body was dying. I used my magical powers to construct an artificial heart, which you can see right here (points at the glowing red orb on his chest). I also constructed a robotic body to replace my partially destroyed one.'
BERT: 'And now you've returned to the Evergreen Forest, ready to destroy this place and get revenge on us.'
BENTLEY: 'We're onto you.'
PENNY: 'A friend of ours predicted a great evil will attack this forest. And we now know you are it!'
Sneer looked confused for a moment, then he sneered.
SNEER: 'You got me. I am the great evil, and I will destroy this forest.'
He raised his organic hand and it glowed. He fired a beam of energy at the forest trees in the background, and they all went up in a big explosion of fire. The raccoons looked in horror as they saw the trees on fire.
BERT: 'No way. You destroyed the Evergreen Forest.'
LISA: (to Sneer) 'You monster!'
She charged after Sneer, who fired his cables, wrapping Lisa up, and sent her flying towards Bert, Bentley and Michelle.
SNEER: 'This charade ends now.'
He raised his organic hand, which glowed, and the blazing fire disappeared. The trees were all still standing unharmed.
SNEER: 'What you just saw was an illusion. I don't know who your psychic friend is. But his predictions are way off. Sure I'm evil, and now a great powerful one. But conquest is no longer of interest to me. Look at me. This is what my plans of invading this planet has reduced me too.'
BENTLEY: (looking at you, the reader) 'Boy, some people just can't handle change.'
Sneer  ran up to Bentley and turned to see who he was talking to.
SNEER: (to Bentley) 'Who're you talking to? There's nobody there.'
MICHELLE: 'So, you've regretted what you've tried to do in the past.'
SNEER: 'That's right. My hatred towards you raccoons, as well as trying to take over this planet has reduced me into this grotesque cyborg. Worst of all I disowned my own son. I came here to find your Cedric, because he has the Portable Transporter I invented. I need it to return to my home planet, find my son, and make peace with him.'
BERT: 'Wow. Will he inherit everything from you again?'
SNEER: 'Absolutely. And very soon too. My artificial heart has a limited energy supply, so I have fed off of trees to keep it going. When the heart shuts down, I will die. But I won't feel at peace, if I die without apologising to my son.'
BERT: 'We'll help you, return home.'
LISA: (grabbing Bert) 'Are you crazy? This could be a trick. When Sneer gets what he wants, he'll just go back home, and round up an army to invade us. We don't know if Sneer is sincere.'
SNEER: 'If you still doubt me, then I shall just convince you I'm serious. I shall now release my prisoner.'
He raised his organic hand, and the metal cage around Penny magically disappeared. Penny ran up to Bentley and hugged him.
PENNY: 'Oh Bentley. I was so scared.'
BENTLEY: (to Lisa) 'I think he's sincere to me. All in favour of returning to Sneer Mansion for the transporter?'
Bentley, Bert, Penny and Michelle all raised their hands.'
LISA: 'Okay fine. (Raising her hand) You win.'
They all cheered.

THE SNEER MANSION
Cyril (still wearing his knight armour) answered the door, and it was Bentley.
BENTLEY: 'Hi again, Mr. Sneer.'
CYRIL: 'Bentley, it's a pleasure to see you again. What can I do for you?'
BENTLEY: 'I need to borrow the Portable Transporter.'
CYRIL: 'What for?'
BENTLEY: 'We have a friend who wants to go home, and it's far away from here.'
CYRIL: 'Very well. But on one condition. I'm going with you.'

BACK AT THE EVERGREEN MOUNTAIN
Bentley returned, holding the device. With Cyril behind him.
CYRIL: 'So what's going on here? Who is this friend… (looks at Sneer) What in the world is this?! A monstrous Halloween costume of me?'
SNEER: 'Watch it.'
BERT: 'Guys, calm down. Cyril, this is your evil self from the other planet.'
CYRIL: 'What?! (to Sneer) You?! Why I'll...'
PENNY: 'Calm down, Mr. Sneer.'
MICHELLE: 'He's changed now, just like you. All he wants is to be reunited with his son before he dies.'
CYRIL: 'You serious? What if it's just a ruse to get back home and launch another attack against us?'
LISA: 'That's what I said.'
Sneer looked down at his artificial heart. It was beating slowly now.
SNEER: 'We must hurry. My artificial heart could shut down any moment now.'
CYRIL: (to Sneer) 'What happened to your body?'
SNEER: 'It's a long story. And I'm sure your Raccoon friends will explain later. We must hurry.'
CYRIL: 'Right.'
MICHELLE: (taking the device from Bentley) 'Bentley and I will go with you, if that's okay of course.'
SNEER: 'Whatever, let's go.'
PENNY: 'Bentley...'
BENTLEY: 'Yeah?'
PENNY: (hugs Bentley) 'Be careful.' (lets go of Bentley)
BENTLEY: 'I will.'
Sneer, Bentley and Michelle all held onto the device. Bentley pressed the button, and they were all teleported out.

THE LOST STAR PLANET: SNEER MANSION
L.S. Cedric and  L.S. Sophia were in the office, working together. Sneer, Michelle and Bentley materialised into the room.
L.S. CEDRIC: (jumping in shock) 'Guys? Don't you know how to knock?'
BENTLEY: 'Sorry, Cedric. But this is an emergency. Someone wants to see you.'
Bentley and Michelle stepped aside, revealing Sneer, who scared Cedric a bit.
SNEER: (nervously) 'Hi son.'
L.S. CEDRIC: 'Pop? I don't get it. The Pigs told me you were sent into some vortex.'
SNEER: 'But I escaped. I don't have much time. I just came here to tell you how sorry I was for throwing you out years back. You had the courage to stand up to me that day, just like your Earth self. I'm proud of you, son.'
Cedric's eyes were in tears. He ran up to Sneer, and they hugged.
SNEER: 'I never wanna harm anyone again, especially you, Cedric.'
All of a sudden, Sneer's heart stopped beating. Sneer lost grip, and he collapsed on the ground.
L.S. CEDRIC: 'Pop!'
SNEER: 'It's time. My artificial heart has stopped beating. I really needed to see you and apologise to you, before I die.'
L.S. CEDRIC: 'Die?'
L.S. SOPHIA: 'Isn't there anything we can do?'
SNEER: 'I'm afraid there's nothing no one can do for me. Most of my body was destroyed in the vortex. That's how I ended up like this. It's time to go. Please continue the Sneer family business, and make this world a better place for everyone. I love you, son.'
The glowing artificial heart stopped glowing, and it shut down. Sneer's left eye closed and his lit up red eye went out. And his body stopped moving. There were tears on Bentley, Michelle and L.S. Sophia's eyes, as L.S. Cedric cried over his father's body.

EVERGREEN FOREST: NEAR THE EVERGREEN MOUNTAIN
Bentley and Michelle returned, still with tears in their eyes. Cyril, Bert, Lisa and Penny were still there.
BERT: 'Hey guys. You're sad. Does that mean…?'
MICHELLE: 'Yes, it does.'
BENTLEY: 'We made his last few moments very memorable. We also told Cedric that he still has you. If you wanna visit him anytime you want.'
He handed the device back to Cyril.
CYRIL: 'Thanks, Bentley.'

BLUE SPRUCE CAFE: HALLOWEEN NIGHT
MUSIC SCENE: BOBBY "BORIS" PICKETT: Monster Mash
Almost everyone well known was at the Halloween Party, all wearing costumes. Cyril wore his knight armour. Bert was dressed up as a Musketeer, and Melissa was dressed as an angel, just like they were in "The Sky's The Limit". Ralph was dressed up like his Uncle Rocky. Penny was dressed up as Dorothy Gale from "The Wizard of Oz", with Broo close by her feet as though he was Toto. Bentley was dressed up as Harry Potter. Lisa was wearing the Princess dress from Bert's fantasy in "Spring Fever". Cedric was wearing his hockey outfit from "The Raccoons on Ice", and Sophia was dressed as Repunzel from Disney's "Tangled".
CYRIL: (walked up to Cedric and Sophia) 'How was your vacation in Florida?'
CEDRIC: 'It was great, Pop.'
SOPHIA: 'We saw some great sights, and the palm trees.'
The Pigs walked in dressed up as zombies.
FLOYD: 'Good idea to come to the party dressed as Zombies, Lloyd.'
Alicia, Melanie and Zoza showed up dressed as the fairies from Disney's "Sleeping Beauty". Alicia as Merryweather. Melanie as Fauna. And Zoza as the Flora.
ALICIA/ MELANIE/ ZOZA: (to the Pigs) 'Hi boys.'
PIGS: 'Wow.'
Michelle was dressed up as Amy Rose. She and Lisa sat at the bar, as Schaeffer popped up from behind, dressed as Dracula.
SCHAEFFER: 'I von to suck your blood!'
LISA: 'I'll take a pass, Schaeffer.'
SCHAEFFER: 'How'd you know it was me?'
MICHELLE: 'It's obvious isn't it, being a sheepdog standing behind the bar.'
SCHAEFFER: 'Yeah. You're right.'
CYRIL: (walking up to Bentley and Penny) 'Did you two kids have fun trick or treating earlier tonight?'
BENTLEY: 'We sure did.'
CYRIL: 'I can remember the days when I went trick or treating. I just wish money was an option as well as candy.'
The Texas Brothers walked in.
TALKING FOX: 'Trick or treat. Smell my feet. Give me something good to eat. If you don't I don't care. I'll pull down your…'
CYRIL: 'Hey watch it you Westernised foxes!'
TALKING FOX: 'Hey, you're Cyril Sneer.'
CYRIL: 'That's me. You must be the Texas Brothers.'
BERT: (walking up to them) 'Hey guys. Glad you could make it to the party.'
TALKING FOX: 'It was our pleasure.'
CYRIL: (to Bert) 'You invited them?'
BERT: (nervously) 'Err yeah.'
CYRIL: 'I'm impressed.'
Bert sighed in relief.

OUTSIDE THE CAFE
The party continued on, as seen through the windows of the cafe.
END OF MUSIC SCENE

THE NEXT DAY: BLUE SPRUCE CAFE
Bert and Schaeffer were cleaning up the mess left over from the Halloween party, using broom.
BERT: 'That was one major party last night.'
SCHAEFFER: 'At least this place is still standing.'
BERT: (dumping some of the rubbish in the bin) 'I think that's the last of it, Schaeffer.'
SCHAEFFER: 'Well Bert, I wanna thank you for coming in early to help clean this place up. Which reminds me. Here's your paycheck.'
He handed the envelope to Bert, who opened it.
BERT: 'A check for a hundred dollars. Yes!'
SCHAEFFER: 'Glad you're happy, Bert.'
BERT: 'Happy? I'm more than happy. After working for you, Mr. Willow, getting a check from Mr. Knox and a thousand dollars from the Texas Brothers, I now have all the money I need. I'm gonna cash this in, and then I'm gonna go get what I've had my eyes on the last few months. See ya later, Schaeffer.'
He ran out.
SCHAEFFER: 'Glad you're happy, Bert.'

OUTSIDE
Bert got on his bike, and started riding off.
NARRATOR: 'Bert Raccoon has saved up enough money to buy something very expensive. But what is it? The answer will finally be revealed, in the next exciting episode of "The Raccoons".'


THE END


MUSIC
BOBBY "BORIS" PICKETT: Monster Mash
LISA LOUGHEED: Run With Us


12.10.2011