"Let me go!!!" Michael shouted in his muffled voice but he heard no reply. He tried to breathe but it seemed that he was choking.

Michael could finally breathe properly as he was placed and tied up in a dark and scary place. He panted and panted hard.

"Where am I?!?" Michael asked bravely. "Untie me and get me outta here!"

"Well well well," said a voice. "Be careful when you talk to the almighty Master Doom!"

"Who's this 'Master Doom'?" Michael asked. "And who are you?"

"Oh we're closer than you think, Michael!"

"Huh?" Michael thought of something. "No, it can't be..."

"It's been a long time!" said another voice. "Old friend!"

"Oh dear..." Michael remembered something. "Not- no, this can't be you too!"

"Turn on the lights, please..." said a third voice as the lights were switched on.

Michael blinked for a while, getting used to the brightness of the place- and what he saw shocked him.

"P-P-Penelope...? EAGOR?!?" He said to the two people standing in front of him. "Why are you two- and did you two just KIDNAP me?!?"

"Oh, I kidnapped you." Penelope replied. "And don't call me Penelope no more, I'm the almighty Master Pain!"

"Penelope, you-" Michael was shocked. "And Eagor...?"

"Eagor?!?" Eagor chuckled mischievously. "Pfft! Nobody calls me 'Eagor' now! I'm the almighty Master Plague!"

"What...happened to you two?!?" Michael could not believe his eyes. "It's been years, but- I thought we're still friends- aren't we...?"

"Yeah! IF you join us with the Doom Lords!" Master Plague replied.

"The...Doom Lords...?" Michael asked.

"Yes, the Doom Lords. It's hard to become one!" came the third voice. "You're chosen!"

Michael looked up and saw a green figure kneeling in front of him.

"Ah, you must be 'Master Doom'," Michael said as his face expression started to change. "And WHAT DID YOU DO TO MY FRIENDS?!?"

"Oh- I only 'changed their points of view about life'-" Master Doom replied. "...and a few others, of course-"

Michael looked around as he saw a few more Doom Lords standing next to Master Doom. There's Master Malice, Hazard, Misery, Fear, and also Papercuts.

"Even this little guy?!?" Michael pointed at Papercuts.

"Ah, about that," Master Doom replied. "He came to me, and even said he loves me! So I granted him his wish and turned him into a Doom Lord- the lowest rank, of course! Petty Papercuts! And no- I didn't brainwash him- he's already too stupid!"

Michael looked at Papercuts and sighed.

"What do you want from me, Doom?" Michael asked.

"Nothing, it's just- look- your petty little friends are here to join me to cause torment and despair across the land. Don't you think you'd wanna- spread the fun with us?" Master Doom asked, with a cheeky smile on her face.

"I know I'm a jerk, but even I won't do that!" Michael replied bravely and firmly. "I have my family!"

"Family? FAMILY?!?" Master Doom's face changed. "Don't you ever mention about FAMILY when you have overbearing filthy rich parents like mine who ignores me all the time and does charity instead!"

"Charity..." Michael thought of something. "You must be..."

"I'm not the Madelaine Esther Doom everybody knows now, okay?!?" thundered Master Doom. "I-I'm different! I stand out! And you're no better anyways!"

"Me?!?" Michael defended himself. "And why is that?"

"Hah! Says the pathetic little dummy whose parents NEGLECTED HIM AND TREATED HIM LIKE TRASH!" Master Doom boomed as Michael started crying.

"Stop! Stop this instance!" Michael pleaded.

"I've been watching you from the very beginning, Michael Frown!" said Master Doom. "And boy, I thought- what a pathetic little pipsqueak you are! Ha ha! You can't even defend yourself from BULLIES and LITTLE KIDS who asked for your MONEY cuz your father, GLOOMWOLD FROWN is a FILTHY RICH BINGLEBERRY much like MY OWN PARENTS!"

"And mine too!" Master Pain added.

"Penelope," Michael, with a terrible headache, said. "...your parents were never-"

"Oh, SHUT UP, you!" Master Pain thundered. "And it's MASTER PAIN!"

Michael started crying again.

"Please just- stop already!" He pleaded. "My head couldn't stand this!"

Michael remembered about his awful and terrible past once more. He couldn't bear it any longer.

"I-I'll do whatever you want!" Michael pleaded for mercy. "I-I-I'll join you!"

"What did I just hear?" Master Doom chuckled.

"I WILL JOIN YOU, YOU HAPPY NOW?!?" Michael repeated with a shout, as tears overflowed his face.

"Good!" Master Doom replied with a nod. "You're called Master Frown from now on, understand?"

Michael looked up at his new superior.

"Understand, Master Doom." He replied with a bow.

"Good," Master Doom replied. "Hand me the groceries, Hazard!"

Master Hazard, with a basket of groceries in his arms, flew towards Master Doom.

"Here, Master Doom." He replied.

"Take these." Master Doom took the basket from Master Hazard and handed it to Master Frown. "My treat."

"Thank you, Master." Master Frown, after he was freed by Master Doom, took it and bowed down the second time.

"Here, your starter model robe." said Master Doom, handing him a black robe with various shades of blue. "Work starts tomorrow morning. Don't be late, or else!"

"Yes, Master Doom." Master Frown, with his third and final bow, exited the Doom Lords' lair as they all laughed evilly.

"Brock," Master Frown opened the door as he reached home. "You there?"

"I'm here!" Brock replied with a smile. "Ooh! Thanks for helping us get our stuff! We owe ya'! Wow! Mom says my massaging techniques are improving-"

"Brock, I've made up my mind." Master Frown interrupted.

"Huh? What do you mean?" Brock asked, puzzled.

"We're moving, NOW." Master Frown thundered. "Just you and me."

"But what about mom and dad-" Brock asked.

"I SAID JUST YOU AND ME, YOU HEAR ME?!?" Master Frown thundered. "I'll explain later. We'll rent an apartment."

"O-Okay..." Brock replied as the both of them started packing.