Chapter Text
Syringeon sat in his office, slouching in his chair and staring into space. He was lost in thought, so lost in fact that he didn’t hear the movement and grunting that was coming from outside the window and didn’t notice the knock at that same window.
Syringeon stood up and was about to walk out the room when- “Syringeon.” a deep voice with a familiar southern accent called out. Suddenly snapped out of his daydream, Syringeon turned around and saw Sheriff Toadster standing next to the now open window. Syringeon stood there for a moment, staring speechlessly at the sight until he found the words that were hidden in his throat. "Toadster? How'd you get in here?" he eventually asked.
"The window." Toadster said, casually shutting the window as if he didn't just climb through and break in. "I already told you; You ought'a start locking your windows." "I can see that." Syringeon said, crossing his arms in annoyance and ploping down into the chair he was just sitting in. "What'dya want?" he asked, already sounding fed up despite being a bit excited to see Toadster again, especially because of how long it had been since their last meeting.
"I...we need your help." Toadster said. Syringeon paused, looked Toadster up and down before giving a smug smile. "ooohhh.. I get it now. Something went horribly wrong up there and now you and the queen desperately need my help to fix it!" Syringeon cockily declared. "Well I-"
"The queen is dead."
...
Syringeon froze. The queen? dead? "Dead?" The words felt tangy and bitter in his mouth. Toadster took a seat on the chair next to him and buried his head in his hands. "Bittergiggle made her laugh. And all the Naughty ones escaped..." Syringeon made a small noise that sounded like a mix between a sigh and a whimper. “Dadadoo is free. And now he’s looking for us, you specifically. He wants the remaining scepter piece you've got, and he wants revenge.” Toadster continued.
Syringeon groaned, resting the side of his syringe hand against his head. “Dammit…” he muttered, he knew Dadadoo very well and was more than aware of just how strong Dadadoo was and potentially still is, even if he's 2 years past his prime.
With a sigh, he sat up slightly. “Well, Dadadoo may be tough, and potentially still stronger than us, but he is outnumbered..I think the two of us.. and maybe a couple of others, could take him down.”
"He has an army." Toadster said without looking up. "You and I both know that." "His army consists of mostly children that haven't seen the light of day in 2 years." Syringeon responded, feeling his confidence starting to return. "You seem to forget that I have an army as well, a whole cities' worth!"
"You don't get it." Toadster said, slowly looking up at Syringeon. "It isn't just the Naughty ones. He got his hands on the Queen's scepter." "Well, he's only got one piece" Syringeon said, trying to cling to some form of optimism "Doesn't matter, he's already been putting it to use." Syringeon said nothing, Toadster continued “He’s got that two headed turtle..thing, Mrs. Mason, that damn cat, and Bittergiggle. They’re all under his control..he might have others under his control too, I didn’t see all of them.”
Syringeon groaned and shook his head “Do you have any idea where he is now?” Syringeon would immediately get his answer as an explosion suddenly rang out in the distance, he quickly shot up and ran to the window to locate where it came from and the damage it did to his city. In the distance, Syringeon could see thick purple smog and smoke rising from the destruction of the city. Screams could be heard as another explosion rung out right next to the first one.
"GODDAMMIT!" Syringeon shouted as he looked at the damage to his city. "Get away from the window!" Toadster warned, "You don't wanna get hit by anything or spotted by any Naughty ones."
Syringeon took a step back, away from the window, staring at horror at the destruction that was caused in a matter of seconds. With a shaky breath, he quickly turned and walked over to his desk, yanking out a bucket of lollipops from underneath, snatched a lollipop, and shoved it into his mouth. The sweet strawberry flavor of the lollipop seemed to soothe him, but not entirely, reliving him of only a bit of the immense stress he was feeling.
Toadster gazed out the window, fiddling with his badge with a grim look, he glanced back and made eye contact with Syringeon. “Don’t bother asking for any.” Syringeon said, shoving the bucket back into his stash. “Wasn’t gonna.” Toadster retorted with an eye roll.
Toadster looked back towards the window and sighed, turning towards the door. “I’m gonna go down there.” he said. After hearing those words, Syringeon immediately perked up and turned to Toadster with a concerned look “ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR DAMN MIND?!” Syringeon shouted, trying to shut down the idea before Toadster acted on it and got hurt. “You’ll die!”
“I’ll be fine,” Toadster countered. “Plus, I have to make sure everything’s alright. I can’t let another person get hurt on my watch.” he added, his expression turning grim and his eyes dropping to the floor in a faint mix of guilt and shame. Syringeon noticed the look but said nothing. "...Fine." Syringeon said reluctantly. "Just don't die." he said, heading into his operating room without another word, shutting and locking the door behind him.