“You think a talking animal would be more fun.” One of the two boys explained after leaving poor Wellington in the dust when he tried to sell them oatmeal cookies.

“Yeah, talk about ancient!” The second boy nodded. “What a disappointment!”

Suddenly, the two boys stopped when they heard something. The sound of people talking excitedly. Looking ahead, the two children saw a group of people around another cookie wagon.

“ANOTHER cookie wagon?” The first boy asked surprised.

“Yeah, but this one has a lot more customers than the last one.” The second boy noted.

Inside the cookie wagon, Gentleman gave a box of cookies to a woman while accepting some money.

“Thank you, sir!” The woman smiled before accepting the box.

“No, thank YOU, miss!” Gentleman grinned. “Now, who's next?”

Nearly every person in the crowd shot their hands in the air. They then started to push and shove.

“Now, now. There is no need to shove! There are plenty of cookies for everyone!” Gentleman reassured. “My, I am better at this than I imagined.”

“Yeah, but do you know what will attract every more customers?” Larry asked in the back of the wagon.

Gentleman frowned. “Larry, we are not threatening the customers! Miss Rumshack specifically said it is against the rules!”

“Aww... You're no fun...” The demon briefcase frowned.

Then, Gentleman noticed the two boys that Wellington was talking to looking over them. His eyes lit up at the sight of more customers.

“Oh, boys! How about you get in line for some lovely cookies!” The young man said having to shout over to the crowd.

“Depends! What flavor are they?” The first boy yelled while cupping his hands.

“Oatmeal.”

The two boys scoffed in annoyance.

“Oatmeal AGAIN? What is this? Bland sweet day?” The second boy snapped.

“Give me the newer flavours any day!” The first boy nodded.

“Wait! Don't leave! Just don't because you don't like them doesn't mean someone else won't!” Gentleman insisted.

“What does that mean?” The first boy asked.

“Well, first of all, tell me. Do you kids have grandparents?” Gentleman asked.

“Um, yeah?” The second boy replied.

“And do they love these kind of cookies?” Gentleman quizzed.

“Pretty much.” The first boy asked.

“Then, you should come here and buy some for them!” Gentleman announced. “People, when was the last time you seen these kinds of cookies around? A very long time I can assure you! This is an one-in-a-lifetime opportunity! Buy these cookies for your elder ones so they can enjoy the good old days!”

“Hey! That's not a bad idea!” The first boy said. “I want to play with my grandparent's old soccer ball and so I need to get on his good side!”

“Then, what are we waiting for?” The second boy shouted.

“Give me a box!”

“Give me two!”

“Give me ten!”

“Now, now. One at a time. Everyone will get a turn.” Gentleman said. He then turned to Larry. “This is going great, Larry! At this rate, we will win the first round!”

“To be fair, Gentleman, our victory was decided the minute we got that wolf as our opponent.” The briefcase said matter-of-factly.

“Oh, come now! A wise man never underestimate his opponents!” The young man scolded. “I believe Wellington has sold quite a few boxes by now.”

/-/-/-/-/-/

Wellington took a deep sigh as he watched a tumbleweed roll past him. He haven't sold a single box of cookies yet.

“This is NOT going too well...” He said. “Perhaps I was not cut out to be a cookie salesman.”

Unknown to him, a bunch of teenage boys were walking down the road while talking to each other. Judging from their clothes, they looked like they were delinquents.

“So that was when I said “Do I look like I give a care?” and then I punched him in the face!” The leader said causing everyone else to laugh.

“What a loser!” Another one said between laughs.

“I know! Right?” The leader sneered.

The group of vandals continued to walk and laugh until the leader noticed Wellington's cookie wagon and stopped.

“Wait up just a minute!” The leader said holding up his hand making all of his friends freeze.

“What is it, man?” One of the boys asked.

“Look.” The leader said pointing. Everyone looked turned to see the cookie wagon.

“Yeah, it's a wagon? So?” Another boy asked.

“Look at WHERE the wagon is.”

Everyone looked at the wagon again to see its about ten feet from the hill. All of the boys stared in silence at the moment.

“Dude, you are not seriously going to...” A boy started.

“That's the plan.” The leader said simply.

“Dude, that is SO beyond awesome!” The second boy said as everyone else smirked evilly.

“I know.” The leader said with an evil smirk of his face.

The teenagers then walked over to the wagon. Meanwhile, Wellington again took another deep sigh before absent-mindedly looking around. His eyes did a double take when the teenagers coming his way. The butler's eyes lit up seeing his chance for some money.

“Oh, welcome to my cookie wagon!” He said before bowing politely. “May I help you?”

“Well, yes, actually... Could you answer me a question?” The leader said.

“Um, sure, I will do my best to answer it. What is it?” Wellington asked.

“Do you have any seatbelts in that thing?” He asked.

Wellington raised a confused eyebrow at this. “What? Why?”

The leader smirked evilly. “Because you are going to need them.”

With that, the boys went to the side of the wagon and started to push it.

“S-Sirs... W-What are you doing?” Wellington asked nervously.

“Oh, just taking you for a little ride.” The leader smirked.

Wellington's eyes bugged out in horror realizing what they were going to do. “NO! Please reconsider! If I upset you, can't I make it up to you? I mean, I didn't do anything that deserves something! Can't we talk this out over some cookies?”

Unfortunately, his plea fell on deaf ears when the delinquents pushed the wagon right down the hill.

“AAAAAUUUUUGGGGGHHHHH!”

That was the scream of Wellington as the wagon rode down the hill at a zooming speed. The boys on the top of the hill started to laugh hysterically at the werewolf's misfortune.

Wellington continued to screaming in horror looking at the window to see he was about to hit some innocent by-standers frozen in fear.

“MOVE OUT OF THE WAY!” The butler shouted at the top of his lungs. “MOVE OUT OF THE WAY! I DON'T HAVE BRAKES!”

Thankfully, nearly everyone saw Wellington coming and quickly ran to safety screaming allowing the runaway cookie wagon to zoom past them without hurting anyone. Soon, the wagon reached the bottom of the hill but since it got so much momentum, it continued to roll out of control.

Meanwhile, in another part of the park, a bunch of slightly over-weight people dressed in exercising outfits sat on the grass in a yoga fashion. They all looked as if they were concentrating. In front of them wearing an exercising outfit and in a yoga stance as if was a slim, beautiful woman.

“Okay, everyone. Say it with me.” The woman said. “Fruits are good. Vegetables are good. They are good because they are good for my health.”

“Fruits are good. Vegetables are good. They are good because they are good for my health.” The pudgy people said.

“Very good. Now, repeat after me.” The woman said. “Sweets are bad. Pastries are bad. They are bad because they are bad for my health.”

The woman smiled. “Good. You all have done well. Now, hopefully you will not give in to temptation.”

Suddenly, everyone heard the sounds of panicked screams. They all looked around to see what was the trouble about.

“MOVE OUT OF THE WAY!”

Everyone turned to see Wellington's wagon charging towards. They all screamed in horror before scrambling out of the way barely avoiding being run over by the wagon. Soon, the wagon continued rolling until it charged into a wall.

CRASH!

The runaway wagon had finally stopped its destructive journey. Its front was completely smashed while one of its front wheels rolled away. Wellington laid on the window unmoving.

The slim woman gasped in horror before she ran over to the wagon. “Oh my gosh! Sir, are you all right?”

Wellington's eyes opened up to reveal that they were swirling as stars starting to fly around his head. “My, the stars here in London are beautiful.”

After the aging canine shook his head to get rid of his dizziness, he looked around the wagon's damage.

“Oh, look at this wagon!” Wellington frowned. “Miss Valentine is going to disqualify me!”

The slim woman scratched the back of her head. “Um, sir? In your case, I would be more concerned that I am still alive.”

“Yes, don't misunderstand. I am happy that I somehow lived but...” Wellington said.

“Um, excuse me?”

Wellington and the woman turned to see the pudgy people were in some sort of trance.

“Is that a...” A man said before smacking his lips. “Cookie wagon?”

“Um, yes?” Wellington asked confused.

“And do you have any cookies inside of it?” A woman asked.

“Um, yes, but after a crash like that, most of the cookies are probably now cookie CRUMBS.” Wellington noted.

The slim woman's eyes widened knowing why they were asking questions like this. “Oh no! No, no, no, no, no! Do not give in into temptation! Remember! Fruits are good! Vegetables are good! They are good because...”

“Shut it, toothpick!” A man said rudely shoving the slim woman out of the way.

Then, all of the pudgy people started to surround the cookie wagon holding out money in their hands.

“Give me a box of crumbs!”

“Give me ten boxes!”

“Give me twenty! Crumbs or not, they are still delicious!”

Wellington simply lay on the window with wide eyes.

/-/-/-/-/-/

Gentleman smiled before he gave a young woman a box of cookies.

“Here you go, miss.” The young man said.

“Thank you, kind sir!” The woman smiled before she skipped off.

As she did so, she passed Cassandra who was walking over to Gentleman's wagon.

“All right, time's up.” The stoic woman said.

“Oh, a hour had passed already? Where does the time go?” Gentleman said happily.

“You seem preppy. I take it that you had a lot of success?” Cassandra asked.

Gentleman nodded. “Quite so, Miss Rumshack! I sold a lot of boxes today!”

“Ha! I bet that fuzzball didn't even sell one single box!” Larry laughed in his friend's hand.

“Remember, Larry, NEVER underestimate your opponents.” Gentleman said. “He must have sold at least a decent amount.”

“Yeah but not decent enough.” The demon chuckled.

“Well, we'll see how well you both did.” Cassandra explained. “Let's go...”

That was all she got out before the three heard a strange noise. Cassandra and Gentleman all looked to the direction of the noise when they did, their eyes widened to the fullest. (Well, Gentleman's eyes did. Cassandra's own only went halfway.)

In his werewolf form, Wellington pushed the broken-down wagon into the area. His clothes were torn, his fur was scruffy and his monocle was shattered.

Gentleman didn't know what to be more shocked at. The fact that Wellington looked like he been to Hades and back or the fact that the short wolf was now a giant.

“M-Mr. Wellington? Is that you?” The purple-clad man said in awe.

The now-muscular wolf stopped pushing the wagon and looked down at the ground. “Yes...”

“Whoa. Good thing that this round wasn't a fighting one otherwise you would been creamed.” Larry said.

Wellington got on his knees and started to bow repeatedly. “Oh, Miss Rumshack, I am so, so sorry about the wagon! I swear it wasn't my fault! Honest!”

“Calm down. Now, tell me what happened.” Cassandra said calmly.

Wellington took a deep sigh. “I had a little more adventure than I thought selling cookies.”

“Sooo... You failed?” Larry asked.

“No, actually... Somehow I managed to sell most of the boxes in my wagon.” Wellington explained.

“Really?” Cassandra asked. “Well, hopefully you got enough to pay for the wagon.”

Wellington gave a deep sigh. “I hope so too.”

“Mr. Wellington, I don't know what happened you look terrible.” Gentleman said. “Here, let me help you. I may not know much about medicine but I do know basic first aid. Someone could you be so kind spit out something that will help Wellington?”

“Okay.” The briefcase said.

Larry then opened himself up. He then literally spat out two items. Gentleman looked at the two of them.

“A spoon and a bottle of caster oil.” The young man said flatly. “Larry, honestly, how is this going to help Wellington?”

“What? Medicine is good for you.” Larry cackled.

“Darn it, Larry...” Gentleman said.

/-/-/-/-/-/

After Wellington shrank down to his normal form and got bandaged up, he and Gentleman stood in front of Cassandra who had her arms crossed.

“Well, I already counted up the money of both of you.” Cassandra said. “I must say, you two sold more cookies than I thought you did.”

Wellington blushed before scratching his head while Gentleman smiled proudly.

“But, in the end, there is only one winner.” Cassandra explained. “Gentleman, you made one hundred-and-five pounds pounds.”

“Splendid!” Gentleman smiled.

“And Wellington...”

The aging wolf took a deep breath ready to await his judgment.

“...You got one hundred-and-ten.”

Wellington looked up surprised. “Excuse me?”

“WHAT!?” Larry said just as surprised.

Gentleman, on the other hand gave a small sigh.

“Just as I said. You have got one hundred-and-ten pounds meaning that you won the first match of the competition.” Cassandra explained.

“You got to be kidding!” Larry said in disbelief. “We actually lost to that fuzzball!”

Gentleman raised an eyebrow. “We? I was the most who did most of the work while you did literally nothing!”

“Hey! You wouldn't let me!” Larry countered.

Gentleman rolled his eyes. “If I told you once, I told you a hundred times. Threatening is not allowed.”

“Humph. Whatever!” Larry scoffed.

Wellington was still in shock. It was unbelievable enough to hear that he won but he won a contest of social skills and presentation against Gentleman? He was half-expecting to lose the first round. The brown-furred wolf then held his hands with a very happy look on his face excited by his win.

However, when looking up at Gentleman and seeing his sad face, that preppy expression instantly disappeared.

“Gentleman, it was nice having you here but I am afraid that since you lost, it is time for you to go home.” Cassandra said.

“I understand.” The young man said before bowing. “It was a pleasure being here.”

“I still can't believe you got kicked out of the first round.” Larry said grumpily.

“Oh, hush!” Gentleman scolded.

Cassandra turned to Wellington. “As for you, Wellington. You may go back to headquarters to check if your injuries aren't too serious.”

“Um, thank you.” The wolf said not feeling too good about himself.

“Well, Mr. Wellington, the better gentleman won. Congratulations.” Gentleman said trying his best to smile.

“Mr. Gentleman, I am so terribly sorry...” The butler said sadly.

The purple-clad man looked confused. “Why? Whatever for?”

“For ruining your chance in the tournament.”

Gentleman shook his head. “No, no. It's not your fault. I lost to a better salesman. I can take a loss.”

“But you had such a noble cause in the tournament!” Wellington countered. “You wanted to become an upper-class gentleman and impress the love of you life and I spoiled it for you!”

“It's quite all right, Wellington.” Gentleman sighed.

“To be fair, I doubt Marley will ever go out with a circus clown so no big loss in my opinion.” Larry said.

Gentleman glared down at his ally but said nothing.

“If it makes you feel any better, I am quite surprised to find that I won.” Wellington explained. “I could see you doing quite well in this tournament.”

“Thank you, Wellington.” Gentleman said.

Wellington then realized something. “Come to think about it... I don't think you need this tournament to reach the status of upper-class.”

“Hm?” Gentleman asked confused.

“Well, you had proven to be a great cookie salesman. I barely beat you.” Wellington explained. “I believe you have more than enough potential to be famous in anything if you put your mind into it.”

Gentleman stared at Wellington in shock. “You're right, Mr. Wellington. I CAN do anything if I put my mind to it. Actually, I just don't know how to do it.”

“Well, I'm sure you will think of something.” The wolf said.

Gentleman then started to think. “Wellington?”

The butler looked up. “Yes?”

“Why did YOU entered the tournament?”

“Me? Um, well...” Wellington said looking to the side. “A friend of mine thought I needed a vacation to have some fun...”

“For some reason, that doesn't surprise me.” Larry said flatly.

“LARRY!” Gentleman said.

The middle-class man then turned to Wellington with a gentle smile on his face. He then held out his hand in form of a handshake.

“Well, I do hope you enjoy yourself. Good luck in the tournament and thank you.” Gentleman said.

Wellington stood in silence before returning the smile and accepting the handshake. “You're welcome. And good luck with you and whatever you will be doing in the near future.”

“Thank you.” Gentleman nodded.

“Oh, and farewell to you too, Larry.” Wellington said.

“Yeah, yeah. I guess you were fun to take advantage of.” The demon said. “I guess I will miss you too...”

“Well, I suppose I better start going now.” Gentleman said turning to Cassandra. “Please tell Miss Valentine farewell for me.”

“If it means that much to you, very well. Leave it to me.” The brunette nodded.

Gentleman gave a small smile. “Thank you. It does mean a lot.”

With that, the young man walked off with a proud look on his face while carrying Larry in his hand. Wellington continued watching the man walked further away.

“So, Wellington? Shall we go back.” Cassandra said in her trademark stoic tone.

“Huh? Oh, yes. Let's.” Wellington nodded.

Cassandra and Wellington then walked in the opposite direction of the departing Gentleman. Wellington looked back at his new friend. Now that he was out of the tournament, he will have the room all to himself but that wasn't his main concern as he looked sad.

“He wanted to impress the love of his life and I only wanted to have fun...