"Hey ya, Toots." Your eyes widened, searching for that voice. You knew that voice. It was like a faint memory from the past, but you knew it and feared it. From the second center most elephant sat an automaton that bore sharpened fangs on the side of her face. A lonely jade eye glowed menacingly as she ruffled her crimson hair.
"The Hare…?" Your voice whispered the question, having remembered The Hare once being a male, but changed their gender to accommodate their good half's decision.
"Oooh hoo! She's all alone! Alllllllllll alllllllllllllllllllllllone…" The Jackal cackled, doubling in laughter and nearly falling off his copper African elephant.
"She's a lesser known Walter, but a Walter all right!" The Hare joined in with her maddening tone. "Let's give 'em something to weep over."
"Get away from her" Peter called out from his perch and his fingers worked furiously at the controls.
"Silly boy," The Hare cooed. "What can ya do up there, when we're down here?"
"Anything I want." Peter retorted sharply and from other gifts emerged an army of steam powered giraffes. As they charged forth with their bright red eyes and their even brighter cores, you noticed three familiar faces were riding the first two storming giraffes. Relief settled your heart some as Rabbit extended her hand and pulled you up onto her giraffe as she rode by. Clinging to the lady bot, she stared with lethal optics at her evil counterpart.
The Jon rode alongside The Rabbit to his left. Hatchworth rode in to Rabbit's left, somewhat thankful to not have a villainous counterpart like his siblings. They stopped their fleet a few mere inches away from their opponents to which The Hare scoffed. In elephants and giraffes, they were nearly equal, but for automatons they were not.
"Outnumbered? How unfair!" The Hare sneered.
"Rest assured, we will still triumph." A grave voice spoke up and lifting the brim of his fedora, you felt your heart stricken with terror. The Skull was far from kind and his lethal grin flashed at you with all the intentions of murder and ruin. His eyes bore no sympathy or solace as he watched you tense with fright at his appearance. Burying your head into Rabbit's shoulder plate, she immediately grasped your hand, her fingers stroking your knuckles softly.
"Remember me, (_)?"
"I don't want to," you murmured into Rabbit's blouse and she pulled you as close as she could to her back to reassure you that she would be there for you. She didn't want to have to activate her war weapons, the process would be quick but the aftermath would be a nightmare. When the war technology within them was reactivated, it brought about even more flashbacks than the rare they received overtime due to minor malfunctions. In their war settings where nothing was spared other than their comrades and their fierce weapons would arise once more. Peter had heard stories of their war days and hoped that they could use everything but their war modes.
"You're so scared now." The Skull's low, murderous tone stretched between the elephants and giraffes.
"Just like you were back then."
"Yeah? Well-"
"We'll defend her and the Walters just like we did back then!" Emerging from the back, rode in The Spine action figure whose limited movements resorted him to standing in a chariot being pulled by the tallest steam powered giraffe, Delilah. Stopping at Rabbit's giraffe, he regarded you with a smile which he winced at, his jaw still aching from his tumble down the stairs. His elbows or knees could not bend as only his head turned and his eyes and core glowed brightly. He was still the same action figure Peter had left under the tree and you smiled softly at how he would defend your despite his pain.
"Th'Spine, t-t-t-take 'er, she can't get hurt." Nodding to you, you climbed off the giraffe and into The Spine's chariot of brass and cogs. He stood before you protectively, the corner of his eye watching you.
"Ah, about time you arrived." The Skull chided. "The fun was about to begin. CHARGE!"
The Jackal cackled and The Hare maniacally laughed, driving and leading their elephant fleet forward. Hatchworth, The Jon, and Rabbit grimaced and followed The Spine's command as he led them to war. The clash of tusks and necks was catastrophic as cannons were fired and recruits were lost on both sides. Some minor Becile bots serving as elephant drivers were caught in the fray against Peter's toys that he had handed out earlier in the evening. Ballerinas kicked drivers, drivers punched soldiers with hardened fists. The end seemed nowhere in sight, but incredibly the automatons held their own. Even The Spine lost his chariot at one point by The Skull's elephant's tusk smashing it, sending you both flying. Scrambling to him, you helped him stand and a titanium soldier who had fallen from the elephants' rage handed him a sword.
"HA! Swordplay?" The Skull scoffed, leaving his elephant to trample any foes in its path.
"Very well then," The Skull spoke and stole a scabbard from one of the deceased drivers. "I'll play your game and win"
The Spine knew his chances of winning were slim. As to where he had limited movements given his status, The Skull was flexible and fluid in his actions. The Spine understood that he had to win not only to defend you and his siblings, but the Walter Manor and all its family. His core shined brilliantly which temporarily blinded The Skull, causing The Spine to take his opportunity attack and lunge forward. You watched from the sidelines, occasionally helping fight off elephant drivers who attempted to interfere with The Spine's battle. Your eyes never left the silver automatons as they exchanged parry for parry, blow for blow. You could feel your heart tremble every time one of your robotic friends was harmed even in the slightest way. At one point The Skull grew weary of The Spine's jerky movements and slammed his foot into The Spine's chassis. If his eyes could they would widen, but all they could do was glow a fierce green as a yelp escaped his lips. The Spine hit his spine hard causing him to cry out in pain and his sword to slide across the room.
"SPINE!" Peter shrieked in horror, quickly trying to leave his perch. His feet couldn't carry him fast enough and you watched as The Spine struggled to stand. The Skull grinned with triumph as he raised his foot, aiming it for the Blue Matter core.
With no weapon in sight and wasting no time, you knew you had to deal the finishing blow. Removing your slipper, you chucked it at The Skull's head and in that moment you swore a Yulemas miracle unfurled. The slipper struck his forehead which caused him to reel back. In his head, a few wires fell loose stealing from him any control he had over his movements and thus rendering him to a still figure of titanium as he hit the ground. The impact had also triggered his off switch as the ivory dots for his eyes turned to darkness. His fall silenced any elephant calls and any threats The Hare and The Jackal yelled at their enemies, causing everyone to look over at the sight: two motionless silver bots on the ground while you stood in the center with one slipper clinging to your foot. You backed away slowly, terrified of the murder you believed to have caused and the condition of The Spine figure who didn't even seem to be breathing.
Rabbit, The Jon, and Hatchworth bolted from their giraffes as The Jackal sneered at you and aided The Hare in carrying their powered down brother away among the debris of destroyed elephants, soldiers, and broken giraffes.
Peter finally managed to climb down from his position on the clock with the Walter Girls following him. They all began to rush toward The Spine figure, but you were already there. Dropping on your knees, you tried to find any movement from The Spine action figure. When neither his core nor eyes glowed you felt your heart crumble and you reached for his cheek, hoping that some form of touch would awaken him. You pressed your fingers to his hard, plastic exterior with the idea that he would feel your palm and at least open his optics. When no such thing occurred, you slowly withdrew you hand and swallowed sobs in your throat.
"S-S-S-Spine, ya gotta wake up!" Rabbit started, oil welling up in her eyes. Hatchworth and The Jon couldn't find it in them to speak or do anything, yet they could feel their optics line with tears and their bodies become lifeless with shock.
"S-S-Spine?!" Peter's fingers fumbled, searching for any sort of way to awaken the bot. His fingertips triggered the on switch which strangely did nothing. Cursing to himself, his hands dove for the Blue Matter core only to be thrown off by the sudden flare of his emerald optics. Closing them for a brief moment The Spine figure took a deep breath as he felt his core reignite and from its glow, his plastic exterior began to give way to realism.
His clothes were no longer hard, but soft and smooth the fabric clinging to his slender frame. His joints were stiff no more and he stretched and bended them as though he had been resting for thousands of years. Even his jaw moved as though it had never been damaged and the strands of his hair were wispy and thick. Opening his photoreceptors, The Spine easily sat up – something he couldn't before as an action figure and saw you. Greeting you with a smile, your terror was instantly vanquished as his brothers proceeded to dogpile him with embraces and gave great thanks of him being alive. The Spine laughed and hugged them all close in return, even Peter and the Walter Girls wrapped their arms around him. You kneeled before the joyful automatons, grinning and barely containing yourself as you reached out and embraced the titanium alloy automaton tightly. Looking down at the crown of your hair he smiled and pulled you close to him.
"Thank you for freeing me."
"By all means," you started, smiling softly. "You and everyone else saved me from the Becile Bots. If you hadn't shown up, I'd-"
"It's no problem." He spoke and did his best to smile which turned into a rather dorky smirk that made you giggle. Steam rushed from his vents as he cleared his throat.
"W-w-w-what happened to ya though!?" Rabbit interjected as she playfully slapped his shoulder. "Ya had us a-a-a-all worried ya dummy!"
"Well, it was the weirdest thing, Rabbit." The Spine began, straightening up and watching his siblings like children as they crowded around him for his story. "I went to retrieve a few decorations from the Room of Randomness and before I knew it, I was in a miniaturized version of myself. I couldn't move my limbs much or even talk. My lips were forced together until my jaw was broken and repaired."
"That's terrible," The Jon responded, bitterness in his tone. "Who would do this?"
"The Beciles probably had something to do with it." Peter spoke up, running a hand through his hair. "It sounds like you were cursed to spend so much time trapped inside the figure I made. From what I remember, the Beciles have been tampering with alchemy and curses. You were probably cursed after I finished your figure."
Peter and The Spine would sometimes read together about alchemy and curses. While The Spine was incredibly skeptical, he allowed himself to have an open mind. He theorized with Peter over matters mystical and scientific, but usually aimed for the latter concept. Peter would too, albeit he would shift his views sometimes to the prior. After all, they both knew of the Cavalcadium and all its wondrous tales and the things that had occurred there. It was a story passed down from the initial Peter Walter and something that the VIth had remembered every now and then. The Spine had read of it in old records written by his original master.
Registering what Peter had said, The Spine was about to respond before you noticed that the window pane behind the Yulemas tree was gone. In its place rested a wintery scene that made your eyes widen. The others gazed upon the pane-less window as a gush of cold air flew into the ballroom and chilled the Walter Girls. They bunched together, watching as the snow flung itself onto the tree and making it glimmer brighter than what it was before. A soft gasp escaped from their lips and yours as the automatons stood to further investigate the scene.
"Huh…where did the window go?" The Spine questioned aloud and neared the glassless pane. Poking his out, he was met with snow flurries cascading down into the shadowy forest behind the manor. You hadn't ventured into that forest often and when you did, it was never at night. Darkness wasn't your best friend and dark forests at night seemed more intimidating to you than they did inviting.
Following The Spine's lead, you stood beside him. The flurries caught onto his fedora and fell upon his silver frame, his hand stretched out into the night absorbing the little frozen stars. He had been out into those woods dozens of times, but tonight, tonight they seemed different. Even the glassless window was a gateway to something new, something unexplored and on Yulemas Eve, anything could happen. Looking over at you, he grinned and took your hand. Before you could even question what was happening, he leapt over the empty window pane and took you with him. You dared not protest, knowing that you trusted The Spine much like anyone else of the Walter family. Looking over your shoulder you swore that everyone else faded into the shadows of the manor and you went to call to them, but were thrown off by the sudden impact of the snow beneath your feet. The crunch that came from your soles and The Spine's resounded throughout the trees and the overall silence of the woods before you.
Looking ahead the forest seemed to stretch forever and yet, The Spine had protected you from the Beciles. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad. Taking a deep breath, The Spine turned to you as a puff of chilly air escaped your lips.
"Are you all right?"
"Yeah, yeah. I'll be okay. The dark scares me so…," your voice trailed off and The Spine gave his best soft smirk.
"It's okay." The Spine responded and looked into the forest ahead. Scanning the area with his photoreceptors, he was confident to detect that no danger awaited either one of you. Well, maybe hypothermia for you, but the chances were incredibly slim.
"Based on my analysis, we should be more than fine."
"I wish I had your scanners so I could detect what awaited me."
"I suppose these are a blessing," The Spine started. "But it robs life of its spontaneity and surprise. To not know what awaits you is a thrilling experience. It's a testament of life, to see how strong you are or how strong you will become based on what awaits you."
"I….never really thought of it like that." Your voice was tinged with awe and realization as you felt your body relax at the forest before you. "I suppose you have a point."
Flashing a quick grin, The Spine regarded your statement. His expression was gone by the sudden observation that the flurries had changed drastically into heavy snow. Taking your hand once more, he didn't want to lose you in the sea of white rapidly forming at your ankles. Leading you into the forest, he believed there would be some sort of escape and that the snow would be absorbed in the tall trees, thus biding time to leave the premises. As you both started into the woods, the snow seemed to gather in the boughs above your heads causing the moonlight to be obstructed and catch on the fallen flakes, glittering before your eyes. Pulling your hand from The Spine's, he registered your action, but failed to notice you quickly scooping up a ball of snow and chucking it at him. It hit his chassis with a gentle thud and he looked at the snowball and the grin on your face.
Blinking, The Spine felt the snow with his hand and returning a coy grin, he bolted forward and took cover behind a tree. You rushed forward, tossing snow at him as he amazingly dodged nearly every one.
Wasting no time, he crafted some reinforcements and began chucking ball after ball at you. You had forgotten how he served in the wars and how quick his speed was. You were impressed, but couldn't help to wonder what else he had thrown with those hands and arms before. You shrugged off the thoughts, laughter tearing from your lips as you knew you had to return fire. Shifting from tree to tree to throw him off, you pelted snowballs at him when you could. While your aim wasn't necessarily the best, you managed to hit him a few times before a loud roar emerged from the depths of the forest. Eyes widening, you knew to end the snowball fight as you ran to The Spine who quickly ushered you behind him in case any danger arose.
From the darkened depths of the forest emerged a brass sleigh pulled by Marshmallow who regarded you and The Spine with a rather deafening meow. Crouching low to the ground, the feline watched you both as you looked at The Spine, wondering what exactly this cat wanted you two to do. His brow furrowed, trying to discern that for himself. When you didn't receive an answer, Marshmallow flopped onto the snow, its wide green eyes never leaving you.
"I think we're supposed to get in the sleigh…" The Spine inquired and helping you into the vehicle, Marshmallow suddenly rose. The harness around the feline's hips jingled with the bells attached, but now they glowed a wild electric blue. A soft hum came from the sleigh as a dashboard before you both flickered erratically with numbers before landing on a '10'. The '10' gave way to an interstellar map as a portal in the shape of a '10' appeared with the hole filled with cosmic dust.
"We're going to space travel?!"
"Apparently so," The Spine retorted as a bright blue portal emerged in front of the feline who reared its front paws and sprinted towards the swirling mass. Quickly latching onto The Spine, he held you close knowing how nervous and scared you were. He himself gripped the edge of the seat and watched as Marshmallow charged forward into the blue portal. His photoreceptors attempted to detect any danger beyond the portal and when he found none, he smirked. The Spine had been to space before and while he knew it seemed to eternally stretch and bore dangers that not even he could dream of, he knew that it was wondrous and thrilling.
The portal swallowed Marshmallow, you, and The Spine in one bite. Closing behind you, you buried your head into The Spine's chassis, not knowing what to expect. Your eyes were sealed shut as The Spine's optics widened at the sight before him. He swore that for every time he would return to space, he would find it much more wondrous than the last. His smirk bled into an awed smile as he looked down at you and gently rubbed your back reassuringly.
"Don't close your eyes." He murmured softly. "It's actually rather beautiful."
Opening your eyes, The Spine was right. All around you, stars streamed endlessly like a thousand meteors tearing past you on an indigo sky. Planets were dots on the plain of darkness and constellations were blurs of white. Pulling away from the automaton, you looked out over the edge of the sleigh in awe. Beyond Marshmallow, was a faint blue portal in the shape of a '10' and you swore that even though the feline was running as fast as it could, time seemed to be increasingly slow. Looking down, you found yourself spellbound by the mere fact that the cat was running on the very fabric of space itself. Nothing supported it, no meteors, no asteroids, not even planets.
"Oh wow….," you started, your voice soaked in amazement. "I've…I've only seen pictures, but they're nothing when compared to this…this is wonderful!"
"The dark can hold some of the most beautiful light." The Spine remarked and you looked over your shoulder, registering his words. There was light to every darkness and why should space or dark hallways be any different?
"I know the darkness can be rather unnerving at times, but by no means should it distract you from the brilliant light hiding within it." No sooner he spoke, a portal in the shape of a '10' appeared with the blue vortex welcoming Marshmallow as the feline darted forward. Nearly losing your balance, you held onto The Spine once more as he pressed his fedora to his head in case he lost it from the sudden rush of speed.