#i was gonna make a comic but I would've burnt out before it even got to the sketch phase

[artistdove]

So some were interest in the rough story idea on Mickey revealing he was the cause of the Thinner Disaster for my Between the Screen au... Welp here y'all go.

It's over.

The Blot as been dealt with, thanks to the magical brush. Whimsy flows through the once viscous creature as it flies off into the distance with a friendly wave of goodbye.

An exhausted mouse falls to the ground.

Ink and sweat drip from Mickey's temple. A gust of wind rushes by him, followed by the shadow of a familiar toon looming above him.

Concern is written on Gus's face as he takes in Mickey's condition. A faint yell reaches his ear as he turns toward the green bottle where Oswald was fighting.

"By Jove! Quick Mickey, Oswald needs our help!!"

Hazey eyes land on the bottle the gremlin pointed toward. Its nauseous, green hue shines against the murky, sunset sky. His mind and eyes regain focus as a memory from long ago resurfaces.

"It can't be."

"Hurry Mickey!"

Quickly, Mickey follows Gus.

Loud heaves and grunts are heard as the pair reach the mountain's peak. Blot remains and dark liquid litter the area.

Towards the end of this inky path, Oswald is struggling to push a bottle's cork back into place. The two rush to his aid.

"It's your lucky day, Oswald! The calvary has arrived," Gus exclaimed.

"What else... is new?!" Oswald grunts. "On... Three! One... Two... Three!!"

A loud squish is heard as the trio use all their strength to push the cork back into place. Sighs of relief fill the air as the toons slide onto the dusty floor.

Swiping the sweat from his brow, Ozwald turns to Gus, "That was close for comfort. Thanks, Gus."

"Don't thank me. My strength is that of a mere fly, twas Mickey that really pulled through."

"Mickey?!" Oswald shouts as he glances toward the mouse before turning back toward Gus.

"Yes." Gus states, "I think he deserves the praise more than me."

Anger laces the rabbits face. "GRRRR... No!! How can I thank the rat responsible for ruining my life?!"

Gus is appalled by Oswald's reaction. With arms crossed, Gus sternly scolds his dear friend.

"I say Oswald, how long are you going to keep that up?! Mickey here has been doing nothing but helping Wasteland. Why can't you see that?"

Annoyed, Oswald pulls his ears over his face in a knot. "Grrr... He's probably just doing it for his own motives!!"

A hand falls on his shoulder. A look of concern fills his view. "Please, Oswald."

A deep sigh rings from Oswald's mouth. His shoulders slump and his ears return upright.

"Maybe your right, Gus."

He looks towards Mickey. "Hey, mous- er Mickey!"

His shout had barely disturb the mouse as Mickey appeared frozen. His gaze fixed on the cork and the bottle.

Colors of blue, green, and black consume his mind. He remembers. The cold dripping claws reaching out for him as a sinister green hue blinds his eyes. The paint spilling, the thinner burning, and footsteps approaching his location. He thought he destroyed it. Oh, how wrong he was.

A shout breaks his spiralling thoughts.

"Oi, Mickey! Mickey!! MICK!!!!"

Mickey snaps his gaze onto Oswald, surprising the rabbit.

"W-What is in there?"

Confused, Ozwald answered with a huff, "The Blot."

Oswald must be joking. "B-but I've been fighting him? I just took care of him."

"Tch, you've only been fighting the drippings and the Phanton Blot. The real deal is trapped in there." He rubs the back of his head, slightly embarrassed. "Guess I never mentioned it to ya."

Mickey stares back at the bottle in disbelief.

A sigh draws his attention back to the rabbit, "Look, maybe I've misjudged you. I can't let go of my hatred for you easily, but maybe. I can start by understanding you."

Oswald reaches his hand out to the mouse. A sign of peace and potentially... A new start.

For the first time since he's been here, Oswald is actually being nice to him. Mickey is overjoyed to at this chance for a new start. He reaches for Oswald's hand, but the truth rings heavy in his mind.

Before Mickey's hand makes contact, it is quickly withdrawn. Oswald and Gus look at the mouse, puzzled.

"Uh?"

"I thought it was a dream."

"What?"

"A long time ago, I stumbled upon this workshop. My curiosity got the better of me."

"There was paint and thinner. A loud road. Cold claws reached for me. Things got out of hand so fast. I-I thought I fixed it. I scrubbed and scrubbed."

"I-I caused the Thinner Disaster."

Mickey looks up with teary vision. Gus is staring at him, horrified at this revelation. Oswald. Oswald has gone deathly quiet.

"I am so sorry. I never meant to cause so much pain to you all."

Gus slowly approaches Mickey as his shock slowly recedes. "Mick-"

A mad cackle rings through the air. The two turn to the rabbit, who's entire demeanor seems to have shifted into a craze.

"Oh man, you almost had me mouse."

Before Mick can respond, pain shoots though his face.

"OSWALD!!" Gus shrieks.

Dust whirps around him as he dry, rough ground scraps his skin. Jawline aches with pain, his vision is muddled with colors and shapes. Heavy stomps approach.

A heavy kick lands on his ribs, knocking Mickey the wind out of his lungs. He is launched further away.

Oswald's voice rings out again, "ALL THOSE HEROIC ACTS AND KIND WORDS!!"

Hands quickly latches onto Oswald's arm. A desperate plea from Gus rings forth.

"Oswald, get a hold of yourself!"

His plea lands on deaf ears. Face ridden with madness and despair meet the gremlin's eyes.

"STAY OUT OF THIS!"

In an instant, Gus finds him self hurling into a pile of rubble.

"This is between me and that rat!"

Shakey legs and aching body heaves Mickey up.

"Oswald, please." Mickey groans. "I-i never meant to-"

A large rock interrupts him mid-sentence as it barely misses its intended target.

"Please, Let me explain!"

The mouse's words only fuel the rabbit's rage.

"What is there to explain?!"

"FIRST, you replaced me and stole the life I could have had!!"

A broken bug cart is thrown, but Mickey quickly dodges the projectile. More objects are posed to launch.

"THEN, you create the monster that destroyed-"

"MY HOME!l

Smash

"MY FRIENDS!!"

Crash

"MY SWEETHEART!!!"

BAM

"AND NOW, YOUR HERE TO FINISH THE JOB!!!!"

A gumball machine adorned with the mouses face is chucked. Thinner melts it before impact.

Before he could blink, the rabbit appears behind the thinned out machine. A charged attack ready for impact.

Mickey quickly spin attacks the rabbit to send him backwards. Mickey once again attempts to reason with Oswald.

"I understand you're mad, but you've got to believe me! I never meant for any of this to happen!!"

"OH, SAVE IT!"

Enlarged hands ensnare him at blinding speed. The rabbit's ears begin to spin and the two are launched high into the sky.

Any attempts to escape fail has the rabbit's grip tightly binds him. At the peak of the momentum, both toons eyes meet.

"You'll never understand!!," Oswald remarks. "You think all this can be fixed with an apology?!"

Mick is spun at high speed, then sent hurling toward the ground.

Rubble shifts as the gremlin slowly comes to. Never has he seen his dear friend in such rage. His dazed eyes frantically scan for the two toons. A loud crash quickly grabs his attention. He spots Mickey skidding across the ground toward the large bottle. His impact creating a large dust cloud.

Crack

"Oh, no!" He hastens clearing the rubble off himself.

Ringing is all that fills his ears. His body screams with pain. A burning sensation makes itself known. He must have landed near some thinner, but how...

The rabbit lands nearby and slowly approaches the mouse.

"Nothing you say will change how I feel or what's been done!"

Mickey slowly gets up.

"I know." He grunts. "But, you can."

A growl escapes the rabbit's mouth. "THAT'S EASY FOR YOU TO SAY!"

"You change things for the better, but when I change it, I change it for the worse!!"

Oswald goes to punch Mickey only for a shield to block his attack.

Crack

Mickey notices Gus heaving in distance, he must have thrown in just in time to block the blow. He quickly braces the shield.

Oswald growls again and winds up another punch, only to be blocked again. Mickey is pushed against the bottle once more.

Crack

"EVERYTHING WOULD HAVE BEEN PERFECT HAD YOU NOT BE SO STUPID!"

Bang

Crack

"YOU JUST COULDN'T STAY OUT OF OUR LIFE OR MY LIFE!"

Bam

Crack

"OSWALD STOP!!" Gus hollers but to no avail.

With each swing, the rabbit slowly crumbles. His anger dispersing into misery.

"HAHAHAHAhahaha..."

Thump

"Hahaha, you know. It's funny. He also wanted us to be friends."

Thunk

"No wonder he never came back for me... I never was good enough."

Tink

"Hehehe.. so much for a lucky rabbit, uh."

A sniffle escapes from the rabbit. Mickey's face fills with concern as he slowly lowers the shield.

"Ozzy-"

Before he could finish, a cacophony of cracks cries out. Ink and glass fill the air as an enormous roar erupts.

Oswald is unsure what happened next. In the blink of an eye, he is tackled out of the way. A body and shield covers him.

A scream erupts from the mouse's throat.