One Step Ahead
is a Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends fanfic by Skillet Lord.
Bloo knows that he’s one step ahead of his creator Mac; he can always trap his human partner with his pranks. But what Bloo doesn’t realize is that his latest prank was the last straw for Mac, and Bloo isn’t prepared for what will happens next.
This fanfic contains examples of:
- Accusation Fic: Responds directly to the events of "I Only Have Surprise for You", presenting a scenario where Mac decides to stop visiting Foster's after being utterly humiliated by Bloo.
- Armor-Piercing Response:
- Duchess attempts this when she snarks at Bloo that "If you were one step ahead of him, then you would have found him already." Subverted when, instead of its intended effect, it inspires him to go out looking for Mac.
- When Terrence teases his brother about kissing his girlfriend on school grounds, Sam shoots back that at least they're kissing other people rather than their own pillows. Terrence stammers and sputters, but notably doesn't react as violently as he might have before.
- A Birthday, Not a Break: The inciting incident; Bloo made a tradition out of pranking and humiliating Mac on his birthday, and gleefully ropes everyone at Foster's into helping him out with his latest prank.
- Bittersweet Ending: Mac never returns to Foster's, much to the dismay of all the other imaginary friends. But life moves on, and three years later, new friends are arriving while others have been adopted. Mac has also built a better relationship with his brother, has a girlfriend, and is overall happy and content. The only one who remains miserable by the end is Bloo.
- Blaming the Victim: Bloo insists that Mac is at fault, and should 'get over himself' and accept that he's always one step ahead of him.
- Book Ends: The fic begins and ends with scenes showing Mac, who is otherwise absent; the opening shows him breaking down in the immediate aftermath of his humiliation, while the ending shows how much his life has improved over the last three years, including building a better relationship with Terrence and finding a girlfriend.
- Character Development: Terrence appears to have become much less of a Big Brother Bully over the years. When he picks up Mac from his middle school, Mac is much more relaxed around him, and while he still teases him, it's on a far lighter, purely verbal level, with Mac barely bothered.
- Deconstruction Fic: In the show, Bloo was often Easily Forgiven for his self-centered and jerkish behavior by the end of the episode, no matter how cruel he was — even to his own creator. Here, after tricking the whole house into helping him humiliate Mac during his birthday in "I Only Have Surprise for You", he has to deal with the consequences, as Mac decides enough is enough and refuses to return.
- Dramatically Missing the Point: Bloo completely blows off Wilt's scolding, bragging that "I act like a totally awesomeness super-pants should, because I'm the best imaginary friend ever!"
- Et Tu, Brute?: The impact of Bloo's prank was worsened by how so many of the others Mac had befriended at Foster's were involved. The only one he isn't upset with is Eduardo, who wasn't involved.
- Even Evil Has Standards: Despite being a massively self-absorbed Jerkass herself, Duchess is just as disgusted with Bloo as the other residents.
- Has a Type: Mac’s girlfriend Sam is noted to essentially look like a younger version of Frankie.
- It's All About Me: Bloo never considers Mac's feelings, solely focusing upon his own frustration at Mac failing to show up on time. Or ever again.
- Jerkass Realization: The rest of the residents at Foster's, aside from a handful who are noted to be less empathetic, have a collective one after realizing just how horrible the prank they played on Mac was. Wilt ends up slapping Bloo after he shows no remorse for his actions, declaring that they drove Mac away.
- Karma Houdini Warranty: Bloo's runs out when Mac decides to stop visiting Foster's, no longer feeling safe there after the big birthday party prank. While Bloo doesn't recognize what he's lost, the rest of the imaginary friends do, turning their backs upon him.
- Karmic Shunning: The entire fanfic is basically Bloo suffering from this; unlike in canon, where Bloo was Easily Forgiven and suffered no consequences for his actions, Bloo ends up being permanently shunned by the residents of Foster's for his actions in "I Only Have Surprise For You." In addition, contrary to Bloo's expectations, Mac himself has also decided to cut Bloo out of his life to the point where Bloo has to go looking for Mac himself. Worse, Bloo refuses to accept that he's responsible for his isolation, insisting that Mac is just being a baby who should get over what happened.
- Laser-Guided Karma: Bloo is hit hard by this; his cruelty costs him his friendship with Mac, Wilt, and the rest of the residents of Foster's, as he winds up a social outcast at the home. When he finally goes looking for Mac, he finds how much happier his creator's become without him and realizes that he's likely never getting him back.
- Never My Fault:
- Bloo dismisses Mac's absence as his best friend 'just being a baby' after he was humiliated in front of everyone. Even after three years have passed, he continues blaming Mac, and finally decides to go looking for him with the intent of dragging him back into their usual cycle.
- Subverted by Wilt, who admits that while he doesn't know how Bloo managed to sucker them all into participating in his prank, they're still responsible for their own mistakes, and are all being punished for their actions.
- Percussive Therapy: Attempted by Mac when he notices a pile of items that remind him of Bloo and his other friends, prompting him to grab a baseball bat and try smashing them to bits. However, he's not strong enough, and ends up sobbing tears of frustration while pounding the floor.
- Status Quo Is God: Subverted. Bloo falsely assumes that Mac's absence the day after his big birthday prank is just him sulking over being outwitted again, and that he'll have to come crawling back and admit that Bloo's always one step ahead of him.
- "The Reason You Suck" Speech: Wilt gives one to Bloo for his actions.Wilt (angry): I don't know how you suckered us all in to your prank. But this time you went too far in the case that you didn't last time. You've been mistreating Mac and everybody since you moved in this house! And now your getting what's coming to you for your behavior now that Mac's never coming back. We're all getting punished for what we didBloo: Well of course,I act like a totally awesomeness super pants should, because I'm the best imaginary friend ever!Wilt (huff): Best imaginary friend ever. Yeah right, more like worst imaginary friend ever
- They Just Dont Get It: Even after three years without any contact with Mac, with the rest of the residents summarily snubbing him as well, Bloo continues to insist that he hadn't done anything wrong. It takes seeing just how happy and content Mac has become without him for Bloo to finally start grasping that he's never getting his buddy back.
- Title Drop: Bloo repeatedly asserts that he's always 'one step ahead' of Mac.
- Toxic Friend Influence: Bloo played this role towards the rest of the residents at Foster's, convincing them to go along with an incredibly cruel prank. After this costs them their bond with Mac, they wise up, and Bloo becomes an outcast.
- Verbal Backspace: After smacking Bloo for his insensitivity, Wilt starts to apologize before correcting himself:Wilt: Look, Bloo, I'm sorry, but... No, wait, I'm not sorry!
