Underdog 2

Hey, guys! It's me, Imagigirl20, with a brand new story! To those of you who are still waiting for part two of Seth's Revenge and Dragons: New Allies, please continue to be patient! I will start writing those very soon, but I have a rule where if I can't come up with an ending/continuation of a story I'm working on, I step away and start a new one. So, I came up with this idea from watching both Underdog the series and the Disney remake from 2007. I decided I'd like to explore the Underdog universe and do more than just Simon Barsinister (although, how GREAT was Peter Dinklage in that role, am I right?!). So, without naming names, if you read the plot synopsis, you already know that I am introducing a new villain to Capital City. Wow, this is the longest intro I've ever written; you know what, let's just get to the story.

Shoeshine sighed and laid down with his head between his front paws in front of the TV in the living room. It was a bright sunny day, and he was sitting indoors, watching the news. What was wrong with this picture? Isn't Shoeshine supposed to be Underdog, canine superhero? Well, he used to be. Ever since Dan Unger had gotten back onto the police force, crime was at a stand-still. No one needed saving. No saving, no Underdog.

It had been ten years since Underdog had stopped Simon Barsinister's bomb from exploding and turning every Capital City citizen into mindless, obedient zombies. In that time, Dan had been awarded with a Medal of Honor, Jack had graduated high school and headed off to college, and Molly moved away with her parents and Polly.

Shoeshine had tried to make the best of it, tried to be there for Dan whenever he was missing Jack, but he missed the kid like crazy, too. Of course, he didn't know that the first days of summer were right around the corner, and Jack would be coming home soon. All he knew was that he felt like he wasn't needed as a super dog anymore. So, here he sat, in front of the TV, as he usually did. But today, something new would happen that would change his life forever. It started with a knock at the door.

Shoeshine's ears perked up, and he quickly ran to see who was there, careful not to let whoever it was see him floating in mid-air and looking through the peep hole. On the front porch, there was a girl who looked to be about Jack's age. She had short brown hair down to her shoulders, dark green eyes, and looked to be very tall. She was wearing a plain red shirt, khaki pants, and turquoise flip-flops. Shoeshine also noticed the large suitcase behind her.

"Who is this girl?" he thought, "and why does she have a giant bag?"

"Hello?" the girl called, fanning her face from the 90 degree weather. "Uncle Dan, are you home?"

"Uncle Dan? She's related?"

The girl noticed a sticky note attached to the mail slot and picked it up.

Elizabeth,

I was so sorry to hear about Martha's passing. Please know you can stay with us as long as you need to. I hope you don't mind dogs.

Uncle Dan.

"Dog?" Elizabeth smiled. "I LOVE dogs! I wonder what kind they have?"

"Well, she seems friendly", Shoeshine thought. "Too bad Dan's not here to let her in."

Elizabeth flipped the note over.

P.S. There's a key under the mat for you. Go inside and let yourself in.

Elizabeth lifted the floor mat and found the key. She opened the lock and turned the knob.

"Time to scatter!"

Shoeshine scampered back into the living room and sat down. If this girl was coming to stay here with them, he wanted to make a good impression. Elizabeth lugged her suitcase inside and set it down by the stairs. She smiled when she looked into the living room and saw a beagle sitting in front of the TV.

"Well, hello there!" she said in a sweet voice. "I've never met a beagle before!"

Shoeshine cautiously got up and went over to her. Elizabeth bent down and petted his head.

"My name is Elizabeth", she said. "Now let's see who you are."

She read his name tag: Shoeshine.

"Shoeshine, huh? That's an interesting name."

Shoeshine barked to refrain himself from speaking, not sure how the girl would react.

"I'll bet you're looking forward to Jack coming home from college, huh, buddy?"

"Wait a minute…Jack's coming home? And no one told me?!"

Shoeshine's tail wagged excitedly, and Elizabeth giggled.

"I'll take that a yes", she said. "Well, if you'll excuse me, Shoeshine, I'll go get settled in. And then, you and I can go for a nice, long walk. How about it?"

Shoeshine barked.

"Good stuff. See you in a minute."

Shoeshine watched as she ascended the stairs, shocked as she carried her big suitcase without even a grunt of effort.

"Wow", he thought, "she's stronger than she looks."

Elizabeth sighed as she finished unpacking and stared at the photo by her bedside. It was of her mom and her at the Christmas party ten years ago. They had been so happy, laughing and singing and having a good time. Elizabeth flashed back to what had happened after the party that night…

Elizabeth's eyes lit up with fear as she and her mom pulled up to their house. Police cars surrounded the place, and her dad was being led out in handcuffs.

"Mommy!" she yelled. "Where are they taking Daddy?!"

"Elizabeth, stay in the car", her mom ordered, as she got out and went to talk to the officers.

Elizabeth obeyed and watched as the officers explained what was going on. Though she couldn't hear what they were saying, Elizabeth could tell it wasn't good news. Then all of a sudden, her mom sank to the ground in a fit of sobs. Elizabeth gasped and opened the handle, running to her mother's side.

"Mommy!" she cried, hugging her chest.

"Elizabeth", her mom said, her voice shaking, "I told you to wait in the car!"

"Actually, ma'am, you'll need to come with us down to the precinct for questioning", said an officer next to them.

"Please", said Elizabeth's mother, "she doesn't understand. She's just a little girl, for God's sake!"

"I'm sorry, ma'am", said the officer. "It's just protocol. We'll simply ask you both a few questions and send you on your way."

Elizabeth's mother nodded.

"I understand", she said.

"Mommy?" Elizabeth said as she walked with her mother to a police car. "What's happening to Daddy?"

"Your daddy did a bad thing, Elizabeth", said her mother. "A very bad thing, and he has to go to jail for it."

"Will I ever see him again?"

"Elizabeth, I can't explain this to you now. One day, when you're older, I promise you'll understand."…

Looking back on that day, Elizabeth did understand. Back then, her father was the most wanted criminal in the city. He had pulled off bank heists, started fires, robbed hundreds of houses, stolen purses, almost killed someone just to get a handful of cash. Her father deserved to rot in prison for what he did, especially for what he did to her mother. After that day, she had fallen into a great state of depression, had to work three jobs just to support them.

Elizabeth hardly saw her, they never did anything for fun. She had grown up and graduated high school, but couldn't afford to go to college, even though she was an exceptional student. She wound up taking a job in an office building, getting paid minimum wage and just barely getting by, helping her mom pay the bills. It wasn't until she had turned 23 that she found out her mom was sick.

Elizabeth's mother, unbeknownst to Elizabeth herself, had become so depressed she had started drinking, which poisoned her liver. It gave her cancer, and she passed away just ten weeks ago. After that, Elizabeth couldn't stand living anywhere near her father, and Dan had offered to let her move in with them, seeing as how she couldn't afford a place all her own. But Elizabeth didn't care. She would take up a job, help Uncle Dan pay the bills, just as long as she never had to see her father again.

…

Locked up in Florence Square prison, Conrad Conger stared out of the window in his cell. For ten long years, he had been trapped here, stripped away of much-wanted time with his daughter. Martha refused to see him, or bring Elizabeth anywhere near him. He had tried many times to write her letters, but never got a response. Martha probably threw them away before Elizabeth could even see them. Conrad didn't even know Martha had died less than a month ago, wasn't aware that his daughter had moved away to live with his brother-in-law because she couldn't stand being anywhere near him. All he did know was that he was tired of being locked up, tired of eating the same old slop every day, and tired of being away from his daughter. Today, he decided, today he would get out. And he would find her.

Sort of a lengthy chapter, isn't it? I think I'll stop it there for now, see what you guys think. Please be sure, to comment, rate, and/or review, thank you for your time!

-Imagigirl20