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cringetownusa · 5 months

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Yax, the How and Why:

Part 1: Why do people ship them?

Decided it was time I put together all my thoughts about why I think Yax works particularly well as a ship, and what they all bring to the table.

There's a lot to talk about here, and I'm going to try and hit at least all my big points. I'm also going to be looking at them from the standpoint of Goof Troop, and A Goofy movie, as well as the Og Animaniacs and reboot, Wakkos Wish, (even though that's out of universe for animaniacs) comics, and even the toys.

This is about to get really long, so I'll put it under a read more.

From a personality standpoint, they compliment each other's strengths and weaknesses so well.

Max is earnest and honest. He always has been.

From Goof troop where he wants so badly to do good things, and goes immediately to an adult when he messes up, to A Goofy Movie, where he goes so far to impress the people around him, to his want to do a good job in House of mouse. It's a constant whenever we see him on screen.

Max has seen a lot of growth through his shows and movies, but he's also been consistent. Goofy has clearly done an incredible job raising Max. Max is pretty open about his emotions. He doesn't hide them from his friends or family. There's a level of vulnerability that comes from that, and despite being bullied and picked on, he knows who he is, it only become a matter of insecurity getting other people to see that.

In A Goofy Movie, he doesn't worry about being good enough for roxanne. He says with conviction that "after today, she'll be mine". He doesn't doubt his own abilities. He's confident in what he does, and what he knows he's good at, like skateboarding.

Max is dramatic, he's flamboyant and a show off. He has made himself the center of attention on purpose before; as long as it's something he's well versed in and is confident he can impress with, he thrives. He loves to have that positive attention from big crowds. It pushes him forward.

He is also, and this is very important, a troublemaker.

He always has been, and not just in a well meaning sense.

In Goof Troop, he shows that he's the scheming type, he's the type to cause problems on purpose, just because it's fun. It's often the problem or the solution to several episodes.

Just like the Warners.

Now, these are never super harmful, he's a good kid at his core. He's kind and patient and understands his mistakes, but he's an absolute menace. He would have no trouble fitting in with patented Warner antics.

This next point is talked about a lot.

Max's issues and insecurities make for a fantastic story of growth with Yakko and his siblings. He's worried about being laughed at, at people hearing his laugh (something that is the best part of individuals and their expression of self) and worries about what other people think of it. This issue of his hits against Yakko's need to make people laugh.

They're complimentary. They're foils to each other.

Yakko is similar, but because of how he grew up, and the role he was forced into, he mirrors Max's traits as well.

Yakko is sarcastic, he undercuts a lot of sincerity with humor or hides it behind a veil of snark. He hides his feelings for fear of backlash. Unlike Max, who has his emotions on his sleeve, and has been encouraged to feel them openly from a young age.

Yakko's not able to be so open emotionally, because doing so has gotten both him and his siblings hurt.

Yakko is smart. He's tactical where Max is emotional. He schemes as well, as the spearhead and leader of the zany trio, but he sees more angles than Max does.

He does it out of self preservation in ADDITION to doing it to be a menace and for fun. He's the mastermind of the group, just like Max is to his own group. They're both the snarky personas. Yakko wants, NEEDS to make people laugh, his self worth is tied to it, it's what he was made to do. It's a source of anxiety for him, but also a source of joy. We've seen several instances of moments where Yakko falls back on his "Nations of the World" song, because he wants to make a good impression. We also have evidence of him stressing about his ability to perform in his sleep.

Being able to tell exactly how others are feeling helps Yakko pivot his plans and react in line to the antagonist. He has a hard time being sincere sometimes, prefers to keep himself protected.

But he also craves attention. Loves to be at the center of it, loves it more when it's something he's passionate in or prides himself with.

His jokes, his wit, his singing. His ability to sing and speak tongue twisters that nobody else can. All things he's confident in.

Yakko's strengths lie more in his mind, as opposed to Max's physical capabilities.

Together, they create a dynamic duo of mischief, being people with similar senses of humor, (we have seen both Yakko and Max tell almost identical jokes)they make each other laugh.

With strong senses of justice, they both aren't afraid to bring out the schemes on "special friends", or on people who deserve it; we see that a lot in Goof Troop.

Max is used to havoc. He's closely acquainted with it, he's been doing Goof Luck damage control since he was a small child, constantly being pushed to take the wheel of his dad's mishaps, sometimes very literally.

He would fit in seamlessly to the Warner's adventures, egg them on or do damage control. He's perfectly suited to fill in the space where he's needed, like a liquid changing shape to its container.

They're two sides of the same coin. They are opposites but they support each others weaknesses.

The emotional openness vs. The guarded emotions.

The need to make people laugh vs. The need to not show his laugh.

The physical vs. mental strengths.

Together, they gain inner and outer strength. They'll have someone to confide in, someone with much different upbringings and experiences than their own. Both in and out of universe.

But that's not really all there is to it, is there?

No, because family is so integral to both of their characters, we can't really talk about how good Yax is, and why it works, without talking about Goofy, Wakko, and Dot.

Yakko would never date someone, or even be friends with someone if they didn't like his siblings. Not just get along, like.

The Warners are "All for one, and one for all times 3". There is no talking about such a major change to the Warner dynamic without addressing every Warner, because they're affected too.

Dot and Wakko need someone to be friends with outside of themselves. They need familiarity and kindness.

Who better to open the Warner's to a kinder life, than a toon from a company all about the power of familial and romantic love? The themes that surround Max and Goofy(as well as many other Disney's), are exactly the kind of thing that those kids need the most.

Wakko and Dot need to have love that comes from the outside. Love from a parental figure who isn't their older brother, and love from a real friend, someone who cares about them who they aren't related to and can talk through issues they may otherwise be uncomfortable talking to their siblings about. The Warners are closer than any siblings that have or will ever exist, but there's still some things that are easier to talk about with a third party.

With Goofy, (someone who knows how to raise a kid, and what they would need to thrive) the Warners can finally, just be kids.

Yakko being happy is a the big part, but having the Warners brought into the Disney family by Goofy Goof, the man with so much understanding and love to give, who GETS kids, and has always let Max be a kid and help him through it?

It would help all three of them lean on outside help.

His appearance through Yakko and Max knowing each other, gives the Warners a positive adult figure in their lives who will be there to support them instead of criticize them for being "too much".

Yax isn't JUST about Yakko and Max, it's about the connections these kids make beyond the studio lot.

The connections that start with the eldest himself opening up. Start with Yakko overcoming that fear of rejection and letting people in.

It's about learning the world around them isn't just filled with people who want them locked up.

It's also about Max having someone who can match his energy. Max already has some friends who let him be himself and are wonderful people , but The Warners open up a different side of Max that can allow him to show that freer, mischievous side and have fun in that same way he had enjoyed in Goof Troop. He's allowed to revel in it, instead of worrying about stressing out his friends by getting them in on the antics.

The world is also filled with people who embrace their weirdness and energy, and who will guide them.

Even if you just like yax as friends, it's easy to see the potential and benefits

The Warners and the Goofs, to have lives grow richer.

And more, with them being from separate companies, their worldview would be able to grow to incorporate new ideas and thoughts.

The Warners aren't very open with their emotions, so a father son duo who have always been open and communicative would be able to show them the benefits of doing so themselves.

Plus, watching the Warner Siblings wreak havoc with a smile, hurting no innocents, would be exactly the type of thing to make Max smile in turn.

They deserve each other, deserve kindness and acceptance. ALL of these kids do. And every single one of them get that through Yax.

Plus, through Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Yakko and Max exist within the same universe. They're so close. It's not a stretch to see them interact and understand each other.

Now, there's a lot more to talk about. How it came to be, and how the shipping climate and the timing of the original shows allowed for this to line up to happen.

So look out for that in Part 2, featuring an interview with the person who started it all.

#a goofy movie #animaniacs #yax #max goof #yakko warner #the warner brothers #animaniacs reboot #animaniacs1993 #animaniacs analysis

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pines-troz · 3 years

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Weekend With The Warners Chapter Four - Animaniacs & Pinky and The Brain

Summary: When the CEO assigns Pinky and The Brain with the important task of watching over the Warners for the weekend, Brain is prepared for any antics that the children have in store. What he didn’t take into account was forming a familial bond with the kids.

Word Count: 7,686

AO3 Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/27849962/chapters/69887568

The mice and the Warners walked together to McDonald's. Brain, piloting his man-suit, was a few paces behind the Warners, who merrily skipped along the city sidewalks. Pinky was gently cradled in Dot's hands, clearly enjoying her company. Yakko and Dot gracefully hopped from one foot to the next without a care in the world.

While the Warner brother, Warner sister, and buck-toothed mouse were a few feet ahead, the middle Warner sibling trailed behind. Wakko tried to act as enthusiastic as their siblings, but there was a slight hesitation in each step.

Brain noticed how worried Wakko appeared, from the fretful look on their face to their shuffling feet skirting the sidewalk. The anxious behavior coming from a typically wacky child was terribly troubling and Brain was concerned for the Warner sibling. Taking a deep breath, the smaller mouse decided to take matters into his own hands and alleviate the child's woes as delicately as possible. "Is there something wrong, Wakko?" Brain gently inquired, causing Wakko to stop in their tracks.

After a moment of hesitation and shuffling their feet, Wakko finally spoke up. "You aren't really going to sell us to the zoo, are you Brain?" He asked while anxiously wringing their hands together. "Because I don't know if I can handle having to share my bedroom with the giraffes."

So that was why the normally jubilant Wakko felt so worried.

Brain exhaled and shook his head. "No Wakko, I have no plans on doing such a thing to you and your siblings." He said while placing the robotic hand onto the middle child's shoulder in an honest effort to comfort them. "I only said that so you three would be on your best behavior."

"Really?" Wakko replied, gazing at the big-headed mouse with hopeful eyes.

"Of course." Brain assured, patting Wakko's shoulder. "I apologize for troubling you with my meaningless threat. I promise to never say such things and to be more careful with my wording from now on."

Wakko was relieved by the reassurance. "That's okay, Brain!" He responded with an eager grin and their tongue playfully sticking out. He then bounded as fast as he could in a typical boingy fashion to catch up with the others.

Brain watched as Wakko merrily skipped a few feet ahead to join their siblings and Pinky, noting the pep in each stride as he hopped from one foot to the other. Yakko and Dot were particularly happy to see their sibling again. The smaller mouse softly smiled at Wakko's renewed enthusiasm.

The Warners and Pinky clamored through the front doors of McDonald's, eager to satiate their desires for fast-food. By the time Brain entered the restaurant he found Yakko, Wakko, Dot, and Pinky crowded by the counter as they delivered their orders to the apprehensive cashier.

"I'll have a cheeseburger Happy Meal with apple juice please! Zort!" Pinky joyfully cried out.

"And I will have three large Big Mac meals, two eight-piece chicken nugget meals, three large sodas, and two M&M McFlurries!" Wakko eagerly declared.

"I'll have an eight-piece chicken nugget meal please with a large soda." Yakko requested.

"And I'll have a double cheeseburger, no onions, with a small fries and a medium soda." Dot instructed.

Brain maneuvered the man-suit ever so carefully as he joined the jubilant group by the front counter.

"And you sir?" The cashier asked the smaller mouse.

"One cheeseburger, small fries, and a large hot coffee, black." Brain ordered flatly.

While the eloquent mouse paid for dinner with the company credit card, The Warners retrieved their soda cups and made their way to the drink dispenser. Pinky went along with them, cheerfully riding on Wakko's cavalier hat while holding his bottle of apple juice. Once their cups were full, the siblings immediately claimed a booth in the dining area. Yakko and Dot sat next to each other while Wakko took the opposite seat, and Pinky settled himself on the table between the Warner brother and the Warner sister.

The Brain took the two trays that contained their meals and approached the crowded table. Wakko got out of their seat and stood outside the booth, bowing before the smaller mouse and gesturing to him to enter first. Brain was touched by the middle child's gesture and scooted in the booth. Once the mouse settled his man-suit in his seat, Wakko sat back down next to him.

"Thank you, Brain!" The Warners chorused.

"You're welcome." The mouse replied nonchalantly. Once he unceremoniously placed the trays right in the center of the table, he flinched when the children greedily snatched their meals.

Pinky tried to open up his Happy Meal box. Dot realized the taller mouse struggling to open his box and swiftly intervened. She opened up the box for him and placed it on its side so that Pinky could easily grab his food and the toy that came with the kids' meal.

"Oh, thank you, Dot!" Pinky chirped.

"You're welcome, Pinky!" Dot happily replied as she gently scritched his chin. Pinky's right foot tippy-tapped upon the table as he welcomed the affection from the Warner sister.

The lanky mouse eagerly ventured into the open Happy Meal box and was ecstatic by what he found inside. Seconds later, he emerged from his fast-food cave with his Happy Meal toy. "Oh look! I got a little choo-choo!" He exclaimed, holding up a small Thomas the Tank Engine toy.

Wakko quickly chowed down on their meal. He tried to consume the trays, but Yakko and Brain immediately stopped the middle child in their tracks. Brain firmly held Wakko steady in their seat while Yakko yanked the trays from his sibling's mouth. Yakko took the saliva-covered trays and placed them on top of the return pile above the trash can.

Brain resumed his meal in silence. As he ate his cheeseburger, he drummed the robotic suit's fingers on the table. Soon enough, he noticed Wakko was mimicking his behavior, drumming their fingers on the table, and even matching the same cadence. Brain remembered what Dot informed him earlier about Wakko copying people he looked up to and decided to put her theory to the test. Brain placed his cheeseburger down and started to rub his chin while wearing a serious frown. Wakko immediately took note and imitated Brain's behavior. The mouse glanced over at Dot, who gave him a knowing smile. Brain found Wakko's attention to detail when copying his behavior to be quite endearing, and was secretly flattered that the middle child greatly respected him.

On the other side of the table, Yakko was entertaining Pinky with one of his jokes. "So you see Pinky, melons are the only fruit allowed to have weddings because they cantaloupe." The eldest Warner delivered his pun-filled punchline.

Pinky fell into a fit of laughter, clutching his stomach and kicking his legs into the air as he guffawed at the joke. "Oh Yakko, you are hysterical! Narf!" The lanky mouse complimented as he blinked away the tears from his eyes. The oldest Warner beamed at Pinky, basking in the positive attention.

Dot rolled her eyes at the dad joke, shaking her head in annoyance. "You're lucky I forgot my pun gun back at the hotel." The Warner sister sneered before taking another bite from her cheeseburger.

"I didn't!" Wakko sang, taking out their pistol from under their tabard. The Warner sibling fired on Yakko, stunning him in his seat. The oldest Warner felt a wave of electrical shocks course through his body for a few seconds.

Brain stared concernedly at the sibling antics while Pinky kept on laughing. The pudgy mouse grabbed a french fry from the pack. As he took a bite, his face soured, noting how stale it was. The smaller mouse placed the french fries back on the tray and looked out the window. The mouse secretly wished that he took Pinky and the kids to an upscale restaurant, ordering expensive dishes that they normally wouldn't have and live it up in the high-life so to speak. But alas, he and the others were grossly overdressed as they consumed their fast-food meals in a fast-food restaurant.

"Hey, Brain," Wakko gently tapped his shoulder, gaining the mouse's attention. "If you're not going to finish the rest of the fries, can I have them?"

Brain pushed the tray with the fries over to the middle child. "Sharing is caring." He said flatly.

"Yay!" Wakko cheered as he gobbled down the french fries. The middle child then scooted from his seat and started to hop around the floor on all fours like an energetic puppy about to go out on a walk with its owner. Brain watched Wakko's silliness with a quizzical expression.

"That's just their way of letting off steam." Yakko casually informed the intelligent mouse.

"Ah, I see." Brain acknowledged. So long as Wakko wasn't hurting anyone that wasn't related to them, then it was fine.

"Look, Brain!" Pinky called out. The lanky mouse stuck two french fries in his mouth, clearly trying to imitate a walrus. "I'm a dolphin!" He declared as he clapped his hands.

The Warners laughed at Pinky's ridiculousness. Brain felt his cheeks heat up as he scoffed at his partner’s inane behavior.

As the intelligent mouse watched the ridiculousness surrounding him, he was pleasantly surprised by how things were going so far. Sure the only thing remotely ridiculous was Wakko's strange eating habits, the violent back-and-forth antics among the siblings, and Pinky's fun-fun silly-willy nature, but it was manageable.

Once everyone finished their meals, the mice and the Warners left McDonald's and strolled about on the sidewalk as they eagerly journeyed towards their next stop. The Warners were bouncing about in front of Brain while Pinky was snug in the robot's coat pocket.

"Now we're going to go to our surprise activity!" Pinky gushed as he pulled out his smartphone.

Before he could read the directions Dot gently took the smartphone from the taller mouse's grasp. "Maybe I should take the helm on this one, Pinky.." The Warner sister kindly suggested with her signature cute smile.

"Right, good call!" Pinky replied with a thumbs up.

Dot scrolled over to the map app and pressed on the icon. She typed in the name of their next stop and quickly received the route. "Okay everyone, we need to continue walking down the street, and in a half a mile, we're gonna take a left turn." She directed in a confident voice. The Warner sister clearly enjoyed exerting some power over the group.

The mice and the Warners walked in a row together. Brain trying his best to keep up with Dot for the girl had the power walk of a confident CEO. As the mouse maneuvered the robotic man-suit, he felt something squeezing the robot's right hand. Brain looked over to find Wakko happily holding his hand and swinging their arms to and fro. The pudgy mouse looked at Wakko, who smiled at him with their tongue bouncing about. Without any hesitation, Brain smiled back at the middle child.

Yakko's eyes lit up when he saw a lamppost. The oldest Warner sprinted ahead of the group and leaped onto the pole. With dramatic flair, he swung around the street light with one arm.

"I'm singin' in the rain! Just singin' in the rain!" Yakko belted out, despite the fact that it was a mild evening with no precipitation. "What a glorious night, with Pinky and The Brain!" He sang as he gestured towards the mice. With great theatricality, he jumped off from the lamppost and made a smooth landing with both feet on the sidewalk.

Brain and Dot smiled at the oldest Warner while Pinky applauded. "Bravo! Bravo!" The taller mouse cheered.

"My turn!" Wakko declared, letting go of the suit's hand and sprinting down the sidewalk. He hopped on the street light and swung around with one leg in the air as if he was pole dancing. "Showgirls!"

Yakko clapped his hands and broke down in a fit of laughter. "Very risque, Wakko." The Warner brother cackled.

Pinky giggled at Wakko's silliness, while Brain and Dot exchanged befuddled glances before turning their attention back at the middle child.

"Catch me, big brother, catch me!" Wakko declared. He leaped from the lamppost and landed straight into the arms of their older brother. Yakko laughed merrily as he caught Wakko and swung around in a circle.

But the childishly endearing moment was broken when a small group of four young men in their early twenties shoved the two siblings off the sidewalk, and the both of them landed face down on the street.

Pinky, Brain, and Dot gasped in shock. The Warner sister immediately rushed over to her older siblings, tending to their aid. After realizing that they were not seriously hurt, she growled at the gang of goons.

"What's the matter with you!?" Dot shouted angrily whilst shaking her fist.

Brain stepped forward, shielding the Warners from the group of careless young adults as he angrily stared down the young adults. "You should all be ashamed of yourselves for assaulting those young children!"

"So we got ourselves a wiseguy, huh?" The head hooligan spat.

"You're poorly mistaken, numbskull. Nobody treats my children like garbage and gets away with it!" Brain fiercely declared. He was too furious at the punks to fully realize that he just referred to the Warners as his children.

"Oh yeah?" The ruffian challenged. He charged at Brain, preparing to throw a punch. Pinky struggled to get out of the pocket in time to yank his partner away from trouble. The Warners were prepared to take out their weapons of choice to fight back, but Brain stopped the head goon by blocking his fist with his metallic hand.

The siblings stowed away their wooden mallets while Wakko grabbed a box of popcorn from underneath their hat and watched the exciting fight play out. Pinky cheered on his partner with words of encouragement and flailed around his cheerleader pom-poms. After a moment of struggling, the mouse thrusted the lever in his suit, picked up the punk, and threw him straight into his equally moronic gang, all of them falling down like bowling pins.

"You've made a powerful enemy." Brain growled. He pressed a button on the suit's wrist and positioned himself in an intimidating power pose. As he stood, a pair of laser guns emerged from his forearms, and various missiles were propped up from his shoulder blades. "Prepare to meet my wrath!"

The Warners gazed at Brain in amazement. They remembered how Brain stood up to the egotistical director back in the studio, but they were surprised that the mouse was willing to wage war in their honor. Even Pinky was in awe of his partner's gumption and dedication to the kids. The hooligans cowered and immediately fled in the other direction.

"Yeah, you better run! Narf!" Pinky shouted as he shook his pom-pom at the retreating punks.

Once the gang of goons was out of sight, Brain pressed the other button on his wrist and the weapons retracted to their original position. The pudgy mouse turned around and carefully approached the children. He offered Yakko his hand, who graciously accepted the offer, and was pulled upwards while Dot guided Wakko back on their feet.

"Are you alright?" Brain asked concernedly.

"That. Was. AWESOME!!!" Yakko exulted.

"I was going to use my mallet on those fools, but I'm pleasantly surprised that you did my job for me." Dot complimented.

Wakko rushed towards Brain and eagerly hugged his robotic legs. "My hero!" He proclaimed with their tongue bouncing out. The mouse was surprised at receiving such praise but was no less touched by the compliment. Brain carefully shifted the controls in his suit to gently pat Wakko's head with his robotic right hand.

Pinky managed to escape from the coat pocket and scurried up the robotic suit. Then, in one swift motion, he pulled Brain into a passionate kiss. The smaller mouse blushed furiously as his lips collided with Pinky's. With wide eyes, he glanced over at Yakko and Dot, with the Warner brother giving him a playful grin and a thumbs up while the Warner sister clutched her chest as she soaked in the romantic sight. Brain closed his eyes and surrendered to Pinky's affection. Once they broke away from the kiss, Pinky wrapped Brain in a tight hug. "My hero!" He gushed, gazing at the smaller mouse with twinkling blue eyes.

Brain was overwhelmed by the adulation from the Warners and Pinky. He motioned for his partner to release him from the embrace and was gently placed back on the suit's shoulder. Once the eloquent mouse gathered his bearings he smiled at the siblings. "Thank you, children." He kindly replied. After a moment, Brain locked eyes with Pinky, took his hand into his and patted it. "And Pinky."

"Narf." Pinky purred at the compliment with shining eyes. After Brain released his grasp, Pinky hopped back down to the front pocket of the suit.

"You know, even though we could have beaten those guys on our own it's really cool that you stood up for us back there," Yakko admitted. "Not a lot of folks are willing to do that..." He added in a much quieter voice.

Brain's ears perked as he listened to the oldest Warner. He settled back in the driver's seat and turned his attention to the rambunctious siblings. "I'm well aware of how capable you children are. But I also know what it's like to be trampled on and scoffed at, and the last thing I want is for others to go through the same thing. But once I become the ruler of the earth, people wouldn't treat each other so poorly."

Wakko looked up at Brain as a stunning realization formed in their head. "Oh, so that's why you want to take over the world." He said, finally putting the pieces together.

Brain solemnly nodded. "Indeed." The mouse found an empty wooden box with the word SOAP labeled on all four sides next to the street light and decided to take a stand. "If I ruled the world, I would transform it into a better place, where violence and bigotry are relics of the past, and kindness and decency are desirable traits to possess. And under my regime, Under my regime, people who were once marginalized and disenfranchised by society could flourish and live without fear and oppression from outside forces!"

"Woo!" Pinky cheered, pumping his fists in the air. The Warners eagerly applauded while Brain soaked in their adulation. But the soapbox soon collapsed under the weight of the robotic man-suit.

Brain looked at the damaged box beneath his feet, the moving moment now shattered. The mouse shrugged, deciding not to dwell over a broken soapbox. "Come along children. Let us continue our journey to our next destination...whatever that is."

Brain noticed the kids traveling by his side. Not a moment later, he saw Wakko and Dot taking his right and left hand respectively. Like a parent taking their kids out in public, Brain controlled the levers from his suit to gently hold their hands, swaying them back and forth as they journeyed on.

The mice and the Warners continued walking their path for about five minutes. After turning the street corner, Pinky's eyes lit up. "Here we are!" The lanky mouse exclaimed as he pointed his finger towards the karaoke parlor.

"Kar-karaoke?" Brain sputtered with unease. "No, I-I'm not singing in front of a crowd."

"Don't worry, Brain, there won't be a crowd." Pinky comforted. "I reserved a small room where we can sing together for an hour! It'll just be the five of us sing-sing-singing to our hearts' content!"

The Warners cheered, but Brain was still unsure. Pinky noticed his partner's concern and tried to cheer him up. "And besides, you're a wonderful singer!"

"That's preposterous, I am not a singer!" Brain protested.

"But how come you always sing so beautifully whenever you work on your blueprints?" Pinky playfully teased while poking at the suit's chest.

"Come on, Brain, it'll be tons of fun!" Dot insisted, tugging on his left hand. Wakko took Brain's right hand and Yakko eagerly pushed the back of the man-suit. The intelligent mouse groaned as the Warners pushed him out of his comfort zone.

"Alright, alright! I'll join, but I'm not going to like it!" Brain surrendered.

"Troz! That's the spirit!" Pinky cheered.

The mice and the Warners stepped inside the parlor and approached the employee behind the front desk. Pinky kindly informed him of the reservation he made, and the man stepped out from the desk and gestured for the group to follow him down the hall, where he led them to their reserved room.

Once they arrived the Warners and Pinky excitedly plopped onto the couch. Yakko and Dot picked up the tablet that contained the song playlist. Brain hopped out of the pilot seat, slid down the arm of his man suit, and made his way down on the couch next to Pinky.

"I wanna pick the first song!" Dot exclaimed.

"Of course, sweetie!" Pinky encouraged.

"Make sure it's a good one!" Yakko jested, gently elbowing her side.

"Sing Free Bird!" Wakko shouted, which earned a shove from their sister.

Dot ignored her siblings' clamoring and perused through the expansive song list until she found the perfect song to start the karaoke session: Mamma Mia by ABBA. Pressing the button, the song started to play from the speakers.

"Come on, everyone!" Dot announced as she grabbed her microphone. Yakko, Wakko, and Pinky eagerly retrieved their microphones. Brain's face contorted to a nervous expression as he timidly took his microphone.

Dot immediately took notice of the smaller mouse's apprehension. "It'll be fine Brain," She reassured. "I'll take the first verse, and we'll each take turns." Despite the reassurance from the youngest sibling, Brain nervously gulped.

The Warner sister strutted ahead of the group as she sang the first set of lyrics, bopping to the rhythm of the music.

I've been cheated by you since I don't know when

So I made up my mind, it must come to an end

Pinky waltzed right next to Dot as he belted out the following lyrics.

Look at me now, will I ever learn?

I don't know how but I suddenly lose control

There's a fire within my soul

Yakko and Wakko followed up on the bridge, bouncing up and down in time to the music.

Just one look and I can hear a bell ring

One more look and I forget everything, whoa

As the chorus arrived, The Warners and Pinky eagerly sang along while Brain reluctantly joined in.

Mamma Mia, here I go again

My, my, how can I resist you?

As the five sang together, Brain allowed himself to smile. The mouse felt at ease in the company of his partner and the Warner siblings. He decided to put some more passion into his vocals as the group continued to sing the chorus.

Mamma Mia, does it show again?

My, my, just how much I missed you

Feeling bold, Brain confidently stepped forward and decided to go solo on the next verse.

Yes, I've been brokenhearted

Blue since the day we parted

Pinky clapped his hands upon hearing his partner's verse. Brain grinned at his partner as he continued to sing as he locked onto his shimmering blue eyes.

Why, why did I ever let you go?

Pinky and the Warners joined Brain as they wrapped up the chorus.

Mamma Mia, now I really know

My, my, I could never let you go

As they sang the rest of the song, Brain felt a wave of joy that he hadn't felt in a long time. His confidence in his singing has grown astronomically thanks to the enthusiastic support from his partner and the kids. He never realized how much fun it was to sing with a small group of friends.

Once they finished singing the classic ABBA tune, the five decided to take turns singing their own solo songs. Yakko kicked things off with One Week, followed by Wakko who belted out Uptown Funk, Dot sang Dreams. When the mice were up, Brain sang a soulful rendition of My Way, and Pinky followed up with Umbrella. The Warner siblings then sang a passionate rendition of Who Loves You. Once they finished the song, they looked over towards the mice.

"Who wants to go next?" Dot asked.

Feeling courageous, Brain decided to take over. "Pinky, care to join me in a duet?"

Pinky's eyes glistened with joy. "It would be an honor. Troz!"

The smaller mouse picked A Whole New World from the playlist and pressed play and returned to his spot on the couch next to Pinky.

"Oh, I love this song, Brain!" Pinky exclaimed as the intro music swelled. "Can I please sing Jasmine's words?"

"Well of course you can, Pinky." Brain replied as he smiled at his partner.

I can show you the world

Shining, shimmering, splendid

Tell me, Pinky

Since when did you last let your heart decide?

Brain pulled Pinky into a gentle side hug and gestured dramatically as he continued his verse.

I can open your eyes

Take you wonder by wonder

Over, sideways, and under

On a magic carpet ride

Brain released his hold on Pinky's side and gently took his hand, leading him to the edge of the couch as he reached the song's iconic chorus.

A whole new world

A new fantastic point of view

No one to tell us no

Or where to go

Or say we're only dreaming

Pinky then stepped out to sing his part whilst holding Brain's hand and lovingly staring into his eyes.

A whole new world! Zort!

A dazzling place I never knew

But when I'm way up here

It's crystal clear

That now, I'm in a whole new world with you

As the music swelled, the mice leaped from the couch onto the table, using it as their makeshift magic carpet.

Now I'm in a whole new world with you

Pinky almost dropped his mic, but quickly retrieved it before his next set of lyrics.

Unbelievable sights

Indescribable feeling

Soaring, tumbling, freewheeling

Through an endless diamond sky

During Pinky's part, Yakko had the bright idea of enhancing the already great performance by offering his hand for Pinky and the Brain. The mice looked at each other before jumping onto Yakko's palm. Once they hopped aboard, the oldest Warner started to run around the room to give the mice a magic carpet experience. Brain steadied himself as he adjusted to singing while hovering around the room, Pinky held his partner's shoulders to keep his balance. Wakko giggled with joy at their brother's theatricality while Dot retrieved her phone and started filming, eager to capture the romantic moment while the mice continued their duet.

A whole new world (Don't you dare close your eyes)

A hundred thousand things to see (Hold your breath, it gets better)

I'm like a shooting star

I've come so far

I can't go back to where I used to be

Pinky held out his left arm in the air, pretending to fly around. Brain instinctively wrapped his free hand around his partner's waist.

A whole new world (Every turn a surprise)

With new horizons to pursue (Every moment red-letter)

I'll chase them anywhere

There's time to spare

Let me share this whole new world with you

Yakko slowed down to a gentle walk to reflect the pacing of the song. The mice got used to the motion of flying so to speak, they held their free hands together and gazed into each other's eyes as they concluded the duet.

A whole new world

That's where we'll be

A thrilling chase

A wondrous place

For you and me

When the song concluded. Dot stopped filming and applauded while Wakko gave an enthusiastic whistle.

"Well, I guess it's time to pack it up and call it quits, cause I think we just reached our peak for the evening." Yakko quipped.

"Now now, don't let our admittedly amazing duet discourage you, Yakko." Brain replied, still feeling the rush of jubilation from singing with his partner.

"Yeah, we're only halfway through our session, Narf!" Pinky added. "Let's keep it going!"

The Warners and the mice continued to sing throughout the allotted time in the karaoke room, belting out to different rock ballads, pop songs, and classic show tunes. For the final track, the five decided to close out the karaoke session by singing the classic ballad, My Heart Will Go On.

The main melody swelled as the song reached its climax. The Warners and the mice soon belted the final chorus, all of them singing off-key, but too invested in the song to care about the quality of their vocals.

You're here, there's nothing I fear

And I know that my heart will go on

Yakko and Wakko side-hugged while Dot raised her left palm as Pinky and The Brain dramatically gestured as they embraced the moment.

We'll stay forever this way

You are safe in my heart and

My heart will go on and on

- - - - -

It was a quarter to nine when the group returned to the hotel room. As the door opened, The Warners bounced into the room, still full of manic energy. Brain piloted his man-suit a few steps further until he reached his bed. Once he stopped the robot, he got up from the driver's seat and dived straight into the soft mattress. Pinky followed suit, jumping from the suit's coat pocket and landing right next to his partner. The lanky mouse let out a laugh as he began to make snow angels with the soft covers.

Brain was still laying flat on his stomach and his face was still buried in the covers. "I'm exhausted." The smaller mouse muffled through the bedsheets.

Pinky's ears drooped with concern after hearing his partner's complaint. He got up and flipped Brain over onto his back. "Don't worry Brain, Pinky is on the case!"

The lanky mouse bounced across the bed and leaped over to the nightstand. He looked over to the Warners, who were engaged in an intense pillow fight on their bed. Pinky clapped his paws as loud as he could and alerted the siblings.

"Alright, jammies on children! It's time for bedtime! Zort!" Pinky ordered in a playful voice.

"But we're not tired yet," Dot complained.

"Yeah, and all the cool kids stay up until two!" Wakko argued.

"How about a compromise?" Brain offered as he got up into a sitting position. "Pinky and I will let you kids stay up until eleven."

"Sounds good, chief." Yakko agreed as he looked over to his siblings.

"Sleepover! Sleepover! Sleepover!" The Warners sang as they went into different places to change; Yakko going into the closet, Wakko in his suitcase, and Dot in the bathroom. Three seconds later, the Warners appeared in their pajamas. Yakko in his green pajama suit, Wakko in blue footie pajamas, and Dot in a pink nightgown.

On the other bed, The mice began to change into their nightwear. Brain discarded his blazer, shirt, and red tie and dressed in a plush light blue robe. Pinky tossed aside his green checkered jacket and blue bowtie and casually put on his fuzzy purple robe.

"We should watch a movie," Yakko said as he grabbed the remote. The eldest Warner scrolled through the different movie titles that the hotel offered. "What are you two in the mood for?"

"Oh, let's watch The Sandlot," Wakko suggested as he pointed at the screen.

"Sure!" Yakko agreed. "Is that okay with you, sis?"

"I'm curious to see if it holds up." Dot replied.

As the kids settled in their bed as the movie began. Wakko turned the nightstand light off to enhance the movie-watching experience. Brain lied down on the mattress, basking in its softness. The mouse closed his eyes and allowed himself to drift off to sleep. The mouse was in the midst of his slumber when a soft pair of hands gently shook his shoulder. Brain opened his eyes to see Pinky staring back at him with an eager smile.

"Pinky, what is the meaning of this?" Brain tiredly inquired.

"Poit! The kids want you to tell them a story before bedtime." Pinky told him.

The three siblings were nestled under the covers. Yakko settled in the middle, with Dot on his right and Wakko on his left.

"Can you tell us a story, Brain? Please?" Dot asked as she worked her most irresistible pout.

"Yeah, how about a self-insert fractured fairy tale- no wait! A self-insert movie parody!" Yakko suggested.

Brain pondered over the eldest sibling's specific request, trying to come up with an entertaining enough story for the children that also bolstered his ego. "Very well. I shall tell you the story about an American mouse named Rick Brain! A weathered and cynical nightclub owner in the city of Casablanca during the early years of World War II, who became entangled with his former flame, Ilsa Pink, and how he learned to put his selfishness and neutral stance aside to take a stand against the Nazis."

"Historical intrigue and romance!" Dot exclaimed. "I like the sound of this combination."

"Well, I'm sold!" Yakko added excitedly. "I can't wait till we get to the part where the Nazis get their butts kicked!"

"Well go on, tell us the story!" Wakko encouraged the small mouse.

Brain reached into his fur pocket and retrieved a small paper cut-out of the world. With the world in his hands, the mouse started his dramatic narration. "With the coming of the Second World War, many eyes in imprisoned Europe turned hopefully, or desperately, toward the freedom of the Americas..."

Soon enough, the Warners were captivated by the intelligent mouse's loose parody of Casablanca. Repurposing the iconic lines for his characters (many of which were modeled after his old co-workers during the original run of Animaniacs). The mouse sang the classic tunes during the musical portions as he no longer felt insecure showcasing his vocal talents in front of his small audience. Even Pinky was enchanted by his partner's tale, especially during the romantic scenes between Rick Brain and Ilsa Pink. Brain was able to keep their attention all the way through as he reached the final scene.

"With somber eyes, Rick Brain watched as Ilsa Pink and Victoria Pharfignewton took off on the plane that headed towards Lisbon. The heartbreaking moment was rudely interrupted when a Nazi officer arrived on the scene. Luckily, Rick Brain shot him before he could intervene. Just when things looked bleak, Captain Louis Yakko ordered the police to round up the usual suspects. When the two were left alone, Yakko suggested to Brain that they ally themselves with the Free French in Brazzaville, and the mouse agreed, feeling a renewed sense of purpose. As the two walked into the fog, Brain looked over to his new companion and said 'Yakko, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship'. The end."

The Warners and Pinky cheered, clearly entertained with the mouse's story. The Brain bowed to his spellbound audience.

"Egad Brain, what riveting story!" Pinky complimented.

Brain smiled as he turned his attention towards the Warners. "Well, I held up my end of the deal. Now it's time for bed."

"But Brain, we need you and Pinky to give us a goodnight kiss on the cheek before bedtime!" Wakko said while Yakko and Dot nodded in agreement.

"With pleasure!" Pinky happily proclaimed. The taller mouse got up to deliver his affectionate goodnight kiss to each sibling's cheek. Pinky first trotted over to Dot and kissed her cheek. He then maneuvered his way over to Yakko and kissed his cheek. Finally, he approached Wakko and gave them a swift kiss on their cheek. After fulfilling his duty, Pinky hopped over to the nightstand and bounded over to his bed.

"Your turn Brain!" Pinky called out to his partner.

Brain looked at the eager siblings and exhaled. "The lengths I have to go to please you, children." He muttered to himself.

Brain walked up to Dot and gently kissed her cheek. He then made his way over to Yakko and swiftly kissed his cheek. The mouse finally arrived by Wakko's side and gave them a soft goodnight kiss on their cheek. Brain started to make his way to his bed but was surprised when the middle child carefully picked him up and planted a generous kiss on his head. After receiving the tender smooch, Brain was gently placed on the nightstand and Wakko gave him a couple of pats on his enormous head. The eloquent mouse gave an amused expression to the Warner sibling. Brain leaped over to the bed to accompany Pinky. He landed on the soft covers with a quiet thud. Once the smaller mouse was back on his feet he walked over towards Pinky and settled himself under the covers.

While the bed was larger than the sponge bed back in the lab, Brain did not mind one bit as he immersed himself in its softness.

Wakko turned to their siblings with a sleepy smile. "Goodnight big brother. Goodnight baby sister." The middle child then turned over towards their left and looked at the lab mice. "Goodnight mouse dads."

Brain froze upon hearing Wakko's heartfelt goodnight.

"Did...did I hear that correctly?" He pondered.

"Goodnight my little angels!" Pinky eagerly replied without hesitation as he waved to the Warner siblings.

Brain looked over to face the Warners. While Yakko was already out like a light, while Wakko and Dot smiled sweetly at the mice. Brain scanned the siblings' expressions, searching for any traces of irony or smarminess only to discover the sincerity in their eyes. The mouse sighed, giving the Warners a small smile. "Goodnight children." He softly acknowledged.

Wakko swiftly lifted his arm from underneath the covers and guided their hand towards the base of the nightstand lamp. With a flick of the off switch, the room was engulfed in darkness.

Brain contentedly sighed. After a long eventful day filled with hijinks and merriment, it felt great to rest on a luxurious queen bed while wrapped in a comfortable plush robe and sharing said bed with the mouse he loved.

He felt Pinky's index finger gently prodding his cheek, and he turned his head over to meet his partner. Even in darkness, Pinky's blue eyes shined like the stars that sprinkled the vastness of the celestial heavens.

"Oh, today was all fun-fun silly-willy! Narf!" Pinky whispered excitedly. "And to top it all off, we get to be parents again!"

Brain found it hard to resist his partner's enthusiasm and smiled. Pinky then took Brain's hand into his own. "Egad, I've always wanted to have more children!"

"Now now, don't get too excited Pinky. It's quite clear that these children latch onto any adult figure who would give them the time of day." Brain softly explained as he used his free hand to caress Pinky’s hand. "Perhaps we should have this discussion sometime tomorrow. For now, let's go to sleep."

"Very well," Pinky said as he released his grasp, but kept his loving stare on Brain's pink eyes. "Goodnight Brain."

Brain leaned in and softly kissed Pinky, savoring the tender moment of gentle intimacy. After departing from his partner's lips, the smaller retreated to his original sleeping position. "Goodnight Pinky."

Just like any other night, there was a reasonable distance between the two mice in the bed that would eventually be bridged within an hour's time. While Pinky was already out for the count, Brain stared at the ceiling, placing his hands underneath his large head as he pondered over what Wakko said to him and his partner.

Sure Brain and Pinky cared about the Warners, but they were on friendly terms. When the mice agreed to supervise the siblings over the weekend, they thought it would be a great way to reconnect and have a relatively fun mini-vacation. But Brain never took into consideration that kids would develop such a strong emotional attachment to him and Pinky. He also didn’t take into consideration that he himself would develop such a strong emotional attachment to the kids.

This was preposterous!

The kids were able to take care of themselves. They were powerful agents of chaos who would have already taken over the world if they wanted to. But even still, they were still kids with the mentality of children their respective ages who craved love and validation just like any other child.

Brain thought of the Warners’ behavior during the day. Seeing the genuine fascination from Dot’s eyes as she complimented his robotic suit, or how excited Wakko was when he explained their favorite anime to Pinky, or how Yakko wanted to share his music playlist to Brain. He reflected on Wakko’s need for reassurance when Brain was upset with him about his prank as well as expressing their anxiousness over the ridiculous idea of being sold off to the zoo. Or how Yakko’s face lit up when he complimented his brilliantly devised diversion from the pool as well as trying his best to make Pinky laugh with his childish pun. Or how Wakko imitated his behavior at McDonald’s. Brain allowed a smile to escape when he thought of the endearing way Wakko and Dot held his hands as they walked down the street.

"Do the Warners really see me and Pinky as father figures?"

Brain began to reminisce over his previous parenting experiences. The most poignant of his moments of fatherhood came with raising Romy, the cloned mouse who was the product of Brain and Pinky's combined DNA. The intelligent mouse initially wanted to clone himself for the sole purpose of world domination, but despite Pinky's toenail accidentally merging with Brain's DNA sample, he was determined to transform Romy into a reliable assistant. Pinky, on the other hand, took on the role of a traditional parent, reading him books like Pat the Bunny and displaying Romy's artwork on their makeshift refrigerator. But Brain and Pinky's time raising Romy was all too brief as the clone grew up at an accelerated rate until he reached adulthood. And while there was tension between Brain and Romy in regards to how his son's ambitions were drastically different from his own (Brain still had a hard time figuring out how ventriloquism was more appealing than world domination), the two reconciled and remained on good terms.

The other major fatherhood experience was the brief time he spent raising the humanoid alien infant that crash-landed from a distant planet. While Brain initially wanted to use the alien babe's incredible powers of superhuman strength for world domination, he and Pinky were too preoccupied with caring for the baby's basic needs, such as feeding him, changing him, and educating him. But the baby fled back to the crash landing sight after watching the inane drivel that was Baloney the Dinosaur (not that Brain blamed him for such a reaction). Before Brain and Pinky could retrieve the infant, he was found by a more responsible older couple who were eager to love him and provide him a proper upbringing. But as Brian watched the child depart from the landing site and move to his new home, the precious alien waved at the mouse and called him "da-da". A sentimental gesture that moved Brain to tears.

Heck, even the filming of the 'Ex-Mousina' segment filled the mouse with a longing to return to fatherhood while acting alongside his robot son, B.R.A.I.N. These feelings culminated with the 'Bonding' musical number, which made him realize the missed opportunities he had when raising Romy and the baby alien. He could have spent those precious moments with typical familial pastimes, such as playing baseball, building sandcastles, and flying kites on a sunny day, sans the preparation for world domination.

Despite being preoccupied with his plans for world domination and his acting career on Animaniacs, Brain longed to raise another child again. Oh, how he wanted to have those special moments of bonding, sharing his superior intellect, and having another family member in his life. But this time, he wanted those moments to last longer so he could create many cherished moments.

The mouse began to realize that watching over the Warners presented him with the opportunity to become a father again. Only this time, he knew now not to use the Warners in an effort to take over the world. And even if he tried to rope them into his plans, they proved to be far too chaotic, which clashed with his need for order and precision when executing his schemes. He didn't want his desire for world conquest to drive off the Warners as they did with Romy, and he certainly didn't want the siblings to turn on him and become powerful enemies similar to the part-microwave robot. Brain was already perfectly content with being the Warners' friend as opposed to one of their 'special friends'.

All he needed to not have the kids involved with his work.

Instead, Brain decided that it would be best to only focus on forging a powerful bond with the children. Encouraging them to follow their dreams, supporting their interests, using his superior intellect to educate them, teaching them valuable life lessons that they would apply to their adulthood. Even with Yakko's penchant for educational songs and Dot's wit, they easily complimented Brain's keen intellect. As for Wakko, Brain found their amusing antics to be quite endearing and would strive to validate their interests and be supportive of them.

But Brain stopped when he remembered that the Warners were toons. Do toons even age? But then again, he and Pinky had a much longer lifespan than the average mouse, thanks in part to the gene splicer. They were all anomalies in their own right.

The only thing Brain could do was prove to them that he and Pinky could be capable and compassionate caregivers. And if the Warners still want him and Pinky around after the weekend, then the mice will be determined to become the parents the children never had, but so dearly deserved.

Sure, the only obstacle that stood in their way was the matter of relocating from Acme Labs. But Brain was willing to abscond any materials from the facility to fulfill his destiny of becoming the supreme potentate of the world. He only hoped that there was enough space in the water tower to pursue his work. But he was getting ahead of himself.

Brain shifted over to his right and stared at the snoozing Warners. For rambunctious kids they proved to be quite docile while they slept. The mouse smiled. He didn't plan on becoming so emotionally attached to his amiable but chaotic co-stars, and he certainly didn't account for them to declare him and Pinky as their parents after an entire day of wholesome shenanigans. But Brain was willing to step up to the plate and become a father to those crazy kids if they wanted him to.

He suddenly felt a pair of slender arms wrap around his chest, pull him into a warm embrace. Brain felt his cheeks heat up as he felt his backside collide with Pinky. The taller mouse gently cradled him in a loving hug while heating him up like a radiator.

For a mouse who enjoyed being in charge and craved control, he happily surrendered to Pinky's strong and unconditional love. Brain smiled and hummed. He contentedly closed his eyes, immersing himself in Pinky's hold, and finally fell into slumber.

AN: Happy new year folks! Sorry if it took a little longer than usual to post this chapter up. This chapter was long, but I had a lot of fun writing it.

I had a lot of fun expanding on the dynamics between the mice and the Warners, from Wakko trying to emulate Brain to Yakko wanting to make Pinky laugh and Wakko and Dot holding Brain’s robot hands while strolling down the street.

The karaoke and bedtime story scenes were especially fun to write out.

For the karaoke scene I took inspiration from the segments ‘Close Encounters of the Worst Kind’ and ‘The Baby Sitter’s Flub’, both of which highlight Brain’s anxiousness when it comes to singing even though he’s a really good singer, as well as the PATB episode ‘Brain’s Way’ (which is one of my favorite episodes). The scene was wish fulfillment because after episode six, where Brain didn’t perform karaoke in that episode, so I wanted to write out a scene where he’s just letting loose so to speak, and having fun singing. And I wanted to expand on Pinky and The Brain singing ‘A Whole New World’ together because I feel like that’s their song (and it was a nice callback to one of the jokes from the second chapter lol).

For Brain’s previous fatherhood experiences, I referenced two PATB episodes, the iconic ‘Brinky’ and the heartwarming ‘Two Mice and a Baby’. I was originally gonna make ‘Ex-Mousina’ another parenting experience he had, but I decided to have that be one of the segments Brain acted in and having Brain long to be a dad again while acting out a story where he forms a familial relationship with the robot.

And I figured it would be interesting if Brain and Pinky’s renewed interest in parenthood was motivated by Wakko being the one to adopt them as their parents.

Anyway, I hoped you all enjoyed this chapter. The next chapter should be ready to post up within a week or so.

Thanks for reading!

#animaniacs #pinky and the brain #patb #brain #pinky #yakko warner #wakko warner #dot warner #fanfic

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