Barnyard: Tex and The Original Party Animals Part Two: Maddie. EXE

Warning: Prepare to bawl your eyes out, as this story contains content that will make you cry.

Toppy, Tex, Rohan, Dave, Asriel, Otis, and I were keeping watch, to make sure that the farmer didn't disturb the party by being awake. But as soon as he went to bed, we knew the party was on.

"All clear!" said Toppy.

"MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" yelled Otis, letting the whole barn know.

"All clear!" said Pig, as he put in a request to the band. "Do the usual opening song, please."

The house band nodded and began to play. Then, what happened next was like magic. How so? Well, the barn quickly became a giant party area. The floor of the barn elevated to become a stage, the bar magically appeared out of nowhere, poker tables popped up left and right, and, the best part, there was an all-you-can-eat-buffet, premade with a ton of food. As soon as we walked in, I saw the buffet and my heart stopped.

"I love buffets!" I yelled. "Otis, when did you get this installed?"

"Eight years ago," said Otis. "No one, other than Pig, has ever even touched the buffet, so it's just there if people want it. No biggie. Help your..."

Otis was interrupted by the sound of me burping after eating the entire buffet in one go.

"Self," said Otis, before he turned to Toppy. "Is he OK?"

"Yeah," said Toppy. "He is a huge foodie."

"I can tell," said Otis. "I respect it."

At that moment, Root came into the stage to introduce the next act of the night.

"How is everybody tonight?!" asked Root, as he got a round of applause. "This is gonna be an awesome night!!!!! Here to kick things off, the people who saved our butts from the coyotes today and who are here on a mission to protect the multiverse, give it up for The Multiverse Protectors!!!!"

"What?" I asked.

"I told them that you guys would be able to perform tonight," said Otis, with a sheepish look on his face. "Good luck!"

"I'll sit this gig out, guys," said Toppy, as he grabbed a drink at the bar. "Good luck!"

"OK," said Dave, as me, him, Rohan, Tex, and Asriel walked on the stage, while the various animals eyed us suspiciously.

But luckily, Otis and Toppy cheered for us as we went onto the stage.

"Thank you, two people!" I said, as I turned to the house band. "OK, guys. This is a tough crowd. So, nothing too crazy, please. Do you know any Avril Lavigne?"

"We can pull off Wish You Were Here," said the guitarist. "But under one condition."

"What?" asked Rohan.

"You guys perform with Biggie Cheese!" said the guitarist, as Biggie Cheese walked on the stage.

"Let's do this, man!" said Biggie Cheese.

"OK," said Dave, nervously. "One, two, three."

The performance of our song actually went really well. We had the crowd eating out of the palm of our hands, as I sang, Tex played guitar with the house band, Dave did the spoken word bit, Asriel played the drums, and Rohan played piano.

Meanwhile, Maddie was walking outside of the barn, being her ADORABLE little self. Toppy saw her outside of the barn and walked outside to see what she needed.

"Hey, kiddo," said Toppy, as he walked outside. "What are you doing out so late?"

"Well, I was out on a walk and I got lost finding my way home," said Maddie. "I'm trying to get home as quick as possible, as it's coyote season."

"I heard and saw," said Toppy. "Your mom told me that they are willing to do whatever it takes to get chicken for dinner."

"I've also heard that Dag recently opened up a new chicken factory that makes pot pies," said Maddie, getting nervous. "But it's a good thing you guys are here. You're gonna help us get rid of those meaner coyotes once and for all!"

"Yes ma'am," said Toppy. "You know what? Why don't Asriel and I walk you home?"

"That would be helpful, please!" said Maddie.

"Asriel!" called Toppy, as Asriel exited the barn.

"Yes, babe?" asked Asriel, as he walked out.

"Do you want to walk Maddie home with me?" asked Toppy.

"Oh, sure! Sure! Let's do it!" said Asriel, as he and Toppy walked to the coop with Maddie. "Biggie Cheese was overshadowing us during our performance. So, I figured I'd need a break with the cutest boy ever."

"Stop it! I'm blushing!" said Toppy. "So Maddie, you and Otis seem very close."

"Yes," said Maddie. "Odie is like a father to me. Times have been tough for him, since The Great Slaughterhouse Auction Incident."

"What was that?" asked Toppy, as his eyes widened.

"Well, here is the video I took," said Maddie, as she handed Asriel and Toppy a video tape.

Toppy and Asriel took the video tape and put it in a nearby television. It showed the barnyard, with a bunch of animals, including Bessie the Cow, Daisy the Cow, Abby the Cow, and Etta the Hen, Maddie's mom, lined up in a row, getting loaded into a truck. A man, who looked like the rapper, Roddy Ricch, gave the Farmer several thousand dollars for the animals, as the Farmer looked on with a sad expression on his face.

"Thank you," said the Farmer, sadly. "It really pains me to do this. But I'm about to lose everything, and this was the only way I could make any cash. Crops are pretty much dying at this point and I don't know what else to do. I feel so bad, though."

"Mom!" yelled Maddie in the video, as she rushed over to Etta, dropping the camera in the process. "What's going on?! Why are these people taking you away?! I'm super scared right now!"

"Maddie, look," said Etta, sadly. "These nice people are gonna take us to a place and I'll have to go away for a while."

"Do you know when you will be back?" asked Maddie, tears in her eyes.

"No," said Etta, as she handed Maddie a challenge coin. "Take this. You will need it in your time of need during the next adventure."

"OK," said Maddie, as she hugged Etta and ran, ending the video tape.

After watching the tape, Toppy and Asriel bawled their eyes out. They knew that the Great Slaughterhouse Auction Incident was bad, but they never imagined that the footage would be that emotional.

"I still have the challenge coin that Mom gave me to this day," said Maddie. "Odie was devastated the most by that day. His wife, friends, and son were gone. In fact, tonight is supposed to be the third anniversary of that day."

"Maddie," said Toppy, as he and Asriel got back up and continued walking to the coop. "We promise you that we will protect you during our time here. Whatever it takes, those coyotes won't have you for dinner."

"Thank you, guys," said Maddie, as she ran to the coop. "Thanks for walking me home! I'll see you tomorrow!"

"OK, kiddo," said Toppy, as Maddie went into the coop. "Asriel, why do you think Tex. EXE sent us to this world?"

"I think it's because of Maddie," said Asriel. "He wants to use her to mess with our heads. We can't let that happen."

"For sure," said Toppy, as he turned on some slow music, setting the mood for a romance moment between him and Asriel. "For now, let's have our own adventure. A romance adventure."

"Oh, kiss me now," said Asriel, flattered.

Asriel and Toppy leaned in to kiss each other, as the music kept playing. But at that moment, they were interrupted by none other than, you guessed it, Dag.

"You know, in the future, if you're gonna kiss, don't draw so much attention to yourself!" said Dag, as he turned off the music.

"Dag!" yelled Toppy. "How dare you interrupt our romance moment?!"

"Top, it's OK," said Asriel. "We'll have our moment later."

"OK," said Toppy. "But you will not get that chick, Dag! We won't let you cook her for dinner!"

"I agree with Toppy!" added Asriel.

"You guys really think I'm phased by your yelling?!" asked Dag, with a chuckle. "These are stupid animals! I'm just respecting the natural order! Predator on top, prey on the bottom! But Maddie. Now, Maddie is special. She belongs somewhere in the middle. As in, between two pieces of brioche, smothered in mayo, garnished with pickles!"

Dag laughed like an absolute psychopath after he said that, much to Toppy and Asriel's rage.

"But I didn't come here to eat anything tonight," said Dag, as he held up a bottle with a smiley face. "I came here to give you this. Actually, it's for Maddie. She will be happier with this. Make sure she drinks it."

"Why should we trust you?" asked Toppy, getting suspicious.

"Don't worry about that," said Dag, as he handed Toppy the bottle. "Remember: This is for Maddie. It'll make her happier. Bye now."

At that moment, Maddie walked out of the barn, as Dag was being really loud.

"Hey guys!" said Maddie, happily. "What is that?!"

"Maddie!" said Toppy, surprised, as he accidentally yeeted the bottle in Maddie's direction, causing her to get covered in EXE.

"No, no, no!" yelled Asriel, as he watched Maddie become Maddie. EXE. "Maddie? Please fight it. Please!"

"Maddie's gone," said Maddie. EXE, as she swiped towards Asriel.

"No, kiddo!" said Toppy, as he watched Maddie. EXE laugh and splash around in the EXE mud, with tears in his eyes. "She shouldn't have to go through this! She doesn't deserve this!"

"You're dead!" yelled Maddie. EXE, as she pinned Toppy down.

"Get off me, kiddo!" said Toppy, with tears welling in his eyes, which alerted us. "Guys, we need to help Maddie! The EXE's got her!"

"Maddie, no! Stop!" said Otis, as he broke down, bawling. "Who did this to you?! You never were evil like this! You are an angel! Maddie, please! Wake up! I still remember you, kiddo! You're like a daughter to me!"

"Odie?" asked Maddie, getting back to herself, slowly. "What is this?!"

Maddie began bawling as she tried to rip the EXE off of her.

"Leave me alone!" yelled Maddie.

"Maddie, you're back!" said Otis. "I have to help her!"

As Maddie struggled to get the EXE off of her, Otis hugged her, which caused the EXE to spread to him, much to our horror.

"Odie! Please!" yelled Maddie.

"Maddie," said Otis, covered in EXE. "Don't worry about me."

We watched as Otis went into a field and sat down, as the EXE took control over him.

"The EXE can now spread person to person?!" I yelled in horror, as I hyperventilated.

"That's not all!" yelled Rohan, as he pointed to Maddie, going over to Otis. "Look!"

"Odie?" asked Maddie, as she watched her friend get corrupted by the EXE.

"Don't come close! It's OK! Everything will be OK!" yelled Otis, as the EXE overtook him.

"This is all our fault!" yelled Toppy, as he broke down.

"I'm sorry, Maddie!" yelled Otis.

We would be getting milked by Otis. EXE.

(To be continued...)