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Agent Pepper Pounce was an elite housecat spy. Her mission was to protect the domestic realm from external threats, like unsupervised dust bunnies and overly loud delivery drivers. Pepper’s current assignment was guarding the kitchen fruit bowl, which held a top-secret artifact: a large, spiky pineapple.

The Pineapple, according to Pepper’s intelligence network (a trio of worried hummingbirds), was not safe. It was being targeted by "The Phantom of the Fruit Fly," a villainous insect who only attacked the juiciest targets.

Pepper, wearing a tiny, custom-made night-vision collar, sat guard on the counter. She was focused and silent, her tail twitching only with professional concentration.

Suddenly, a tiny, high-pitched, buzzing noise filled the air. The Phantom of the Fruit Fly, a sleek, black insect, zipped past the counter.

"Halt! I am Agent Pounce! Identify yourself and state your intentions toward the designated pineapple!" Pepper hissed, ready to deploy her tactical paw.

The Phantom landed delicately on the pineapple's crown. "My intentions, Agent Pounce, are to sample the nectar of this magnificent fruit. It is my destiny!"

"Destiny is no match for the Pineapple Protocol!" Pepper sprang into action. She tried to swat the fly, but her paw only hit the spiky pineapple skin.

"Ouch! Retreat! Too much defense!" Pepper muttered, shaking her paw.

The Phantom, delighted by the cat's clumsiness, began to dance around the pineapple, landing a quick, daring sip on a juicy segment.

Pepper realized she couldn't catch the fly with brute force. She needed strategy. She knew that fruit flies, like all villains, were vain.

Pepper cleared her throat. "Phantom! You claim to be the best, yet you target the outside of the fruit? A truly elite fly would breach the defenses and go for the soft, juicy center! If you are so skilled, why are you afraid of the rind?"

The Phantom stopped buzzing. His tiny, complex eyes narrowed. "Afraid? I am not afraid! I simply prefer the texture of the outer layer!"

"A likely story," Pepper taunted. "The center is too sweet for you, isn't it?"

The Phantom couldn't take the insult. He launched himself at the center of the pineapple, flying directly down the hollow core created by the removal of the stem.

THWUMP!

He got stuck halfway down the core, buzzing helplessly. Agent Pounce simply strolled over, placed a large, round lemon over the top of the hole, and sealed the Phantom inside.

"Protocol complete," Pepper purred, dusting her whiskers. The pineapple was safe, the Phantom was neutralized (and probably enjoying the center, despite himself), and Agent Pounce settled down for a well-deserved, pineapple-guarded nap.