Ch.1- Stolen Innocence

It was the middle of the night in the two story home somewhere in the more docile part of Luxembourg. Years after the war which had end all of carbon based life forms through poisonous gas; leaving the land barren in ruins of crumbling builds and nothing but dust and dry landscapes.

Yet there was still life here as a few humans had found and studied under darker forms of science in which one could transfer parts that made up their soul into tiny mechanical beings covered in fabric and sewn together in a humanized way. They were called stitchpunks and this was the home of nine such creatures; all named after planets with love from their human mother long since passed. It was here in this home that had once belonged to the mid-aged woman that a green fabric covered being with dark green shaded shoelace hair and leather vest held closed by hooks and eye loops paced the floor frantically in concern and worry. His mind going back to the events leading to this and the knowledge that he had to wait outside the hole in the wall sustained during war days, later done up to be a medical room for their kind; the curtain there blocking his view from what was going on inside.

'How long is this going to take?' he asked himself distraughtly well having to remain in the blue on his little brother's condition. 'It's going on three hours now. What if that monster broke him? What is I was to late saving him for Saturn to fix him up again? Oh creator…if something happens to him?! Than I'm going right back out there and slay that stupid mindless machine that did this to him! I swear on my mother's good name!'

How had all of this happened he wondered deeply; one moment Neptune had been right beside him after he had snuck the younger outside to see what Mercury had been sheltering the boy from and than everything had gone so wrong so fast. Earth had taken his eyes off his small brother for a few minutes to investigate some strange tracks and noises only to discover too late that it had all been a trap to separate him from the younger.

By the time he had gotten to Neptune it was too late; the beast had cut through his voice cords and circuits meaning the young 'punk would likely never speak again. But on top of that his inside joints, gears, wiring and mechanics had been heavily damaged as well. The oil still present on Earth's hands from crouching down next to his brother that meant everything to him and trying to stop the hemorrhaging before the small body had lost every drop of oil inside of his frame. It was only by little miracles that their sister Mars and Uranus had gone out looking for them because with their help the beast had managed to be driven off well emergency medical care could be given to the youth to keep him stable till rushing back home.

But now hours had since passed of arriving home and Neptune being handed over to their sister Saturn who knew much about their anatomy and care. Uranus was assisting her through this because another pair of hands was needed but Earth had been asked to stay outside and wait for news; when was it coming? No one seemed to care as Earth continued his frantic pacing up and down the small hallway that stretched on to him from their smaller stature. The others only showed up every once in a while to ask if there was any word and when getting the repeating head shake of 'no' they left again.

The last time another had joined him for only a few seconds was twenty minutes and that had been his sister Venus asking if there were any changes with frightened optics under her signature red hood. It hurt Earth to tell the only other person who cared for Neptune like he did that there was nothing to tell. The way her head had slumped down and shook like she was silently crying had been almost to painful to see; her bright spirit so darkened to know that the one she loved to play with and teach could be dying with no way to know because of the dead silence from the room.

'You left us too soon Mom,' Earth thought to himself as he turned to start heading down the wooden floors again in his trance, 'We need your help here. Neptune is hurt bad and we don't know if his going to be okay. If there's anything you can do up there among the angels than please; save him. Don't let the darkness take him yet.'

The earth named and color toned 'punk stopped in his pacing to instead stop right in front of the curtain and backed himself up against the wall opposite of it with a heavy soul. As soon as the leather of his back hit the solid object which was the wall he began to slowly slide down as if his legs no longer had any strength in them. His silver eyes closed well convulsive trembling over took his body and heart; Earth sobbing in pain from failing his family and not caring anymore to stay strong after he had hit the floor below him. Curling up so that his head rested on his knees for his long legs were pressed into his front and than wrapping his arms around them; he had effectively created a small shelter within himself to block out the outside world.

'This is all my fault,' he thought heavily as his shoulders hitched with each sob and the burn in his eyes of tears that his body just couldn't release made him want to scream, 'If I had just listened like Mercury had said and not taking him outside…If he dies than I'll never forgive myself! Mars was right; I never think before I act. If I'm going to be rebellious and get into danger that's fine but I NEVER had a right to bring Neptune into this. He can't die, he just can't.'

He sobbed on for an unknown amount of time, just letting the pain and heartache out before he felt something on his shoulder; cold metal fingers right before someone crouched down next to him and embraced him in a very awkward hold like the action was foreign to them…

"What do you want Mars?"

"How'd you know it was me?" his normally aggressive sister replied very softly, not sounding like herself at all. Earth turned his head up from his knees and looked at her blankly like he really didn't care about anything right now; the embrace actually very welcomed to his stupor right now.

"No one hugs like something is going to explode from it," he replied depressively, "Other than you that is Mars. There's still no words yet on how Neptune is doing so just go on and I'll let you kn-"

"I didn't come to ask about Neptune," she said firmly and cut him off to his misplace idea on where her motive came from, "I came to see you. How are you doing bro? Holding up okay?"

Earth stared at his younger sister in surprise to her caring all of a sudden when she normally was so aloof and only seemed to show kindness to the younger siblings when desired by only herself. But he knew that she had a kind heart when it came to family and gave a negative shake of the head to her questions.

"No…I'm not okay at all Mars," he replied with a sigh and returned to pressing his head to his knees and out of view. "Neptune's busted and could be dying as we speak but no one will tell us anything. I only can wait here praying that everything is okay and that he pulls through this. I'll never forgive myself if something goes wrong…"

"Now you stop that right now," Mars suddenly ordered sternly as she quickly jerked his head out of his knees by holding onto his chin so he had to look at her. "This isn't your fault okay? You couldn't have known that Neptune was going to be attacked like this; you were right there and it just snuck in there and did what beasts do. They break, they maul and they destroy what we thought was safe. You did your best to keep him safe and alive so you have nothing to be sorry about."

No matter what he heard though, Earth only shook his head in denial and painful confusing to why Neptune had been attacked. Was it because his blue fabric stuck out against the landscape? Was it the smaller size of the youth which had made him an easier target? Or was it the single fact that no one had bothered to mention to the youngsters of the family that there were machines that seemed designed to kill them? Whatever the reason, Earth felt he should have know better than to take his little brother outside for the first time in years and than NOT kept a better eye on him.

"I shouldn't have taking him outside though," he argued as he started to sob again, but more soft shakes as apposed to trembles like fighting against a cold. "I took my eyes off him for one second and…"

Suddenly there was a sharp sound echoing through the hall; Mars glaring at Earth with a angry stare and by the stunned expression on Earth's face he hadn't expected that from his sister. It actually took him a moment to realize that he had been slapped by her and slowly brought a hand up to his face with blank eyes.

"You hit me…"

"Darn right I hit you!" she exclaimed with very narrow eyes, "Now you listen to me before I MAKE you listening with my fists!" She become more docile after the threat and returned to a more soft expression to ease he brother. "These things happen okay? Especially in this world we live in. Neptune is going to be just fine. Saturn and Uranus are very good at what they do and I have no doubt that very soon one of them is going to come out and tell us that everything is fine and that his going to make it. We both know he wanted to go outside and how long could we expect him to live in a bubble? He had to learn there was danger in the world eventually…"

"But not like this," Earth rebuttal to her, "No innocent youth should have to learn about the evil in the world like this. I'm so scared that even if he does make it that now after this his going to be different. Not just because of his injuries or the fact that he may never speak again. I'm worried about him losing his innocence over this…That somehow that THING took it from him."

Just mentioning that vile creature put Earth's oil of slow boil to rage. Seeing that thing over his brother, hurting him and making oil spilling out all over had been the most horrifying thing in the green 'punks life. Neptune meant everything to him and the mere thought that something had hurt him made Earth rearing to get back out there and kill the thing that had done this to him.

"It's going to be okay," Mars assured him with another awkward but well meant hug, "Just remember that if all goes well than Neptune is going to need you now more than ever before. His not going to understand this and you are the only one he listens to without doubting or questioning why. Your going have to be strong now Earth, for the both of you."

Not knowing how to respond for the first time he could remember, Earth just nodded sadly and pressed his head just under Mars neck as he cried softly again, allowing Mars to hold him and assure him that somehow this had to be turn out okay. "Thank you…"

"No problem bro," she said softly and gently run a hand over his head and through his hair in light touches; something their mom had used to done when he was upset which wasn't often. "Family has to stick together and you need someone right now. I'll stay till your okay to be alone again." Earth merely nodded and let Mars pet over his head in soft gestures that eased his troubled mind down. Before to long he had actually fallen asleep against her and Mars continued to hold him as she adjusted their posture so that she was leaning against him as well so that she could sleep with him with their backs to the wall.

Another hour passed quietly with no sounds but the soft noises inside the medic room and the few softly hums of sleep from the two sleeping ragdolls. Not aware of anything around them as the curtain finally opened and their brother Uranus with his many patches against the brown of his original burlap stepped out.

He blinked in surprise that Earth was sleeping instead of pacing like before and 'aww'ed lightly to seeing the two siblings that normally acted like they hated each other so close and still right now. He may have left them but new had to be spread and he was the one to do it. So he approached cautiously as poked Mars lightly on the shoulder to rouse her; brown optics fluttering open with shutters as she stretched and looked to her younger sibling.

"What's going on?" she asked in a tired voice well looking to Uranus for answers, "How long have we been sleeping here?" The other shrugged and crouched down beside his older siblings with a small smile.

"My guess would be an hour or so," he assumed well giving her a rub on the shoulder, "I came out here to tell Earth that everything is fine now and Neptune is going to be okay." Mars beamed at this and brought one hand to her chest in relief; he was okay. It was going to be a long recovery she already knew but it was all going to be okay.

"Neptune was asking for him most of the process," Uranus sadly as he nodded his head towards Earth, "Well…asking the only way he can right now. Saturn had to promise him that Earth would be right there when he woke up before he stopped fighting us so we could fix him. I never knew he could hit so hard." Saying that well rubbing at his ribs made it clear that the young one must have either punched or kicked his older sibling in the terror of being operated on; this had been Neptune's first time going into the room for more than check ups that were done weekly to make sure everyone was performing at top condition.

"I understand…" Mars smiled knowingly as she shook Earth gently to awaken him and let him know that it was now okay; Neptune was okay and that he wanted to see his brother. "Awake up Earth, this is no time for a nap when someone wants you to see them."

A soft groan escaped Earth as he stirred and opened hi eyes very slowly, nodding off again only to jerk himself awake when seeing another there and wondering if there was any news to the situation. "What is it…?"

"Neptune's going to be okay and wants to see you when he wakes up," Mars coaxed him and laughed when Earth suddenly snapped his eyes wide open and jumped up from his place on the floor, staggering a bit from moving to soon right after sleeping.

"His going to be okay? Everything is all better now and his not going to die? And he wants to see me?" All of these questions came pouting out of Earth quickly as Mars got up as well with a stretch to her sore joints from having sleep against the wall like that.

"Yeah, his going to be okay and able to get back up in time," Uranus assured him with a smile and pointed towards the curtain. "You can go in and wait for him to wake up; Saturn is just finishing off the last few things now. He wanted to see-"

Earth had quickly gone through the curtain after hearing his answers and didn't want to waste one second on seeing his brother now that he could again. Uranus blinked in surprise well Mars laughed at her brother's expression. "You…"

Inside the room made from a hole in the hole but done up to feel more homey and warm inside, Earth stooped once he was just inside, letting the curtain fall behind him as he stared on with a trance like state at the room and the two inside of it.

The room had many items neatly put away inside of its walls; three cots made from benches that Mercury and Jupiter had done together. Scissors, pliers and many other such tools lined a single wall to keep the room neat and were visible from the Christmas lights that were hung in here, lit by the generator the family had kept going after things had turned sour in the world.

It was made like a medical room but had purposely been made to appear more homey and secure so that the younger ragdolls in the family didn't freak out when needing to come in here; speaking of younger siblings…Earth locked his gaze to the cot on the right side of the room and let his face drop into a small sad frown at seeing what it was he had come in to see, his little brother laying motionless on the cot with a soft face as he slept on from unconsciousness; the planetary clan knowing nothing about magnets and how they could be used to ease pain or sedate patients before heavy internal work. This meant the small blue colored youth 'punk had been wide awake as the process had started and no doubt had passed out from pain at some point.

His sister of younger age and with looped ribbon of blue was finishing off her work it seemed as she tied medical wrapping around Neptune's injured throat and than closed up his front with a soft clasp of his jeweled fastener. She seemed distress and tired which she no doubtedly was entitled after working on saving a life for four hours now. She turned after grabbing a rag and than halted in her movement when seeing her big brother Earth, him wincing as he saw all the oil on the rag which he know could tell had been wiped from her hands; all of it belonging to his small fragile brother.

"Hey there Earth," she said softly with very sad tired eyes of purplish pink, tossing the rag to the nearby pile. "I take it you got the news than? About Neptune and him wanting you to be there when he first woke up?" The taller green 'punk nodded to the shorter 'doll and she smiled to him before getting a blanket made from varies fabrics and colored patched, handing it to the male who looked down in confusion the folded cloth offered to him.

"I'm going to bed now because I'm exhausted," she exclaimed with a gentle smile as she took his hands in her own and made him take the blanket form her. "Why don't you go and cover him up so that he stays warm tonight and in the morning we can tell everyone the news okay? His going to be out for awhile and your welcome to grab another blanket and sleep in one of the extra cots here tonight; I know how close you two and how hard this must be for you."

Earth smiled in gratitude and held the blanket closer to his front now and stepped out of the way so Saturn could go off for the night and get most much needed rest. "Thanks Saturn. I'll take care of him tonight; you just go get some rest now." She immediately took him up on that offer and escaped the room with a soft pat to his shoulder and than moved the curtain out of the way before disappearing altogether out the doorway, leaving the two brother that most times acted as one soul together.

The older 'punk turned back to his brother and exhaled a very soft sad breathe before walking over and dropping the blanket out of its many folds before gingerly placing it over his smaller sibling who indeed felt colder to the touch from heavy injuries and loss of oil which had been replenished judging by the carriers left empty on the other side of the room. Earth tucked the fabric close to his brother's frame and looked around in small bit a paranoid fear before getting deciding the coast was clear and moving his hands to his front and undoing his three hooks from their loops and reaching inside himself for something…

"Hey Neptune…Guess who I got," he said in a very soft playful voice that normally had his brother giggling in excitement for it always meant fun but today was meet with silence. "It's your good buddy Twone," he finished as he finally located the plaything he had been searching for and than closed himself back up as he placed the toy under the cover right beside his brother.

Twone was actually a small bunny rabbit plushie that Saturn had sewn for Neptune soon after his creation when he started having nightmares. The bunny was maroon in color with small black button eyes and varies black and white patches where the maroon had stopped; one ear, one arm, one leg but it all worked together well and made for a rather cute equation of a teddy bear for a youngster to play with. The name came from the adorable fact that the bunny had a patch upon its back bearing the number twenty one. Neptune in endearment had mispronounced and this is where the name Twone had come from; it turning into a companion that always seemed to ease the youth in times of distress.

The only reason Earth had had the small bunny was because Neptune had taken him and yes the young 'punk actually called it a him, outside when scared and needed something to feel safe even with his brother nearby. Than he had become calmer and asked Earth to hold his friend well he looked around for a bit. Earth of course had agreed and placed the bunny inside of himself without a second thought, completely forgetting at it until right this minute when wanting to do something, anything to ensure that Neptune would be comfortable in this room until he woke up again.

"Your going to be just fine," he said as he crouched down so that his head was resting on his crossed arms that he layed on the cots edge with his knees below, reaching one arm up and stoking over his brother's face lightly with a smile, a false one of just hoping the younger could pull through this and find a way to awaken when ready. "You did so good out there and never freaked once when knowing you were injured; you helped me to stay calm and showed me what to do to keep you alive until help came. Not everyone can be that Nep, your special and I need you to stay. That promise I made about not leaving you goes both ways little man; I'm going to stay right here with you all night and you need to be strong and stay with me. Don't you dare surrender yet; because I'm not giving up on you."

Earth raised himself up to place a small kiss to his brother's forehead and than lightly pressed his own to the smaller one with closed eyes as he started to shake lightly as sobs threatened to spill out again. His normal so energetic and hyper bother was suddenly so still and quiet. He was never quiet like this other than when he was asleep and even than he usually released very soft mewing noise when trying to seek warmth out. But now he was injured and may only been quiet forever…

"No, no; Can't think like that," he scolded himself as he pulled off his brother but continued to stroke his face lightly, "Your going to find a way to pull through this like you always do. You're to smart and wonderful to let a small 'what if' rule you. We'll find out in the morning just what that thing did to you. Till than you just rest and let big brother keep the nightmares away tonight."

That being said Earth raised himself more from his current position and crawled over his brother to join him on the cot which easily held them because of Neptune's smaller size. The taller layed down next to his sibling and wrapped a single arm around his brother as he moved to his side well the blue one had to stay on his back because on his injures. Earth took the time to slip under the cover as well when feeling how cold Neptune felt and just wanted to keep him warm through the night; skin on skin contact was good for this so the same basic idea worked when one stitchpunk with a normal temperature held another with less than perfect temps close.

"I'm never going to let anyone ever hurt you again," he vowed as his head layed down on his other arm for comfort, wishing he could move Neptune off the cot and onto his front like they normally did when sharing a bed but knew it was stupid when the smaller needed to remain still. "If I ever seen that monster that did this to you than I'll end it on sight just so I know it can never touch you again. I'm not going to lose you too Nep. Mom was hard enough, but I'll actually die if something happens to you. You know I care about you so much…I could never lie to you."

He gave a long yawn after this and closed his eyes to get some sleep alongside the one he often felt that he favored in this family. But he couldn't help his feelings or that him and Neptune just clicked together as more than just siblings. They were also extremely good friend despite the age gap and never seemed to argue or disagree on much, and when they did it was so small that they never dwelled on them for long. These two were as close as any brothers could be and Earth wanted to ensure that he protected that at any cause.

But the fates had already decided and right now, even as the green rebellious male held onto his blue curious brother things had begun to change. Neptune was never going to be the same 'punk he was when awaking that morning. No, he was going to awaken small in his soul, hurting in his heart and soul and something changing inside of him even as he slept on with a protective arm of his brother around him.

Neptune was going to be faced with a challenge that would test his spirit, morals and even his sanity in the next few months. But for now he was just a tired child that had lost some of his innocence to a monster that had invaded into what little safety he still had left after losing his mother and his siblings losing themselves to confusion on what they were suppose to do now. Hopefully some good could come from all that was about to happen to the young 'punk.

After all; innocence may die but perhaps there was strength to be found here inside the boy who was about to go through what most people would never dream up in their nightmares.

He'd be needing all that he could get…

First tears (sorrow)