Chapter 2: Blame it on the Name

"Aaaaaahhhhhhh!"

I flailed around in a panic as I descended towards what looked like an island town. More specifically towards a hard looking stone floor.

Thinking quickly, I reached into my sleeve and pulled out my yo-yo. It was a bright green colour and had a purple spiral design on both sides, but it was far more then a toy for me. I spun the yo-yo above my head with such speed it turned into a propeller, slowing my descent so that I landed safely on my feet, only to watch in despair as Time Pieces fell from the sky like shooting stars.

'This is bad...really bad!' I thought. 'What do I do, what do I do?...First, I've gotta...I've gotta...head back to the ship!'

From inside my sleeve I pulled out a small grey remote with a red button. I extended the antenna and pressed it, causing me to instantly be teleported back to the ship...where I was almost immediately sucked out of the hole again. But I was prepared for it and tossed my yo-yo towards the stairs, where it wrapped around the banister and anchored me.

'First things first...!' I pulled myself to the stairs and sprinted up, quickly pushing the vault door shut before anymore Time Pieces could be sucked out. I then opened up the secret compartment next to the vault and took out a single Time Piece. This was a separate one that should only be used in emergencies...so yeah, now!

Carefully holding on as I made my way down, I held the Time Piece aloft and smashed it into the ground, causing everything to freeze for a moment. Then, the pieces of the broken window slowly rewound back into their original position, and the window fixed itself.

When a Time Piece breaks, one of two things happens. Either time around it gets rewound, or it creates a tear in reality called a Time Rift. Time gets rewound when it smashes into someTHING, Time Rifts occur when they smash into someONE. I learned this all the practical way when Captain was explaining the fuel.

Unfortunately, all of the other things that had occurred; the Captain and the Time Pieces falling out, had not been rewound. Most likely because they were now out of the Time Piece's range of effect.

"Whew..." I breathed a sigh of relief, but instantly knew it was no time to relax. I had to inspect the damages. But first...

"Roombi! You okay, buddy?" At my call, the Roomba revealed it had hidden under the television, quite scared. "Yeah, looks kinda bad, doesn't it?" I walked over to one of the power screens and examined it.

"70 Time Pieces? We lost 50! Nearly half!" I hissed. "There's no way we'll have enough power for our final jump with this! More importantly..." I hurried down the stairs and looked at many of the mechanical doors, which were glowing red and smoking. "Yeah, emergency power conservation has activated. Most of the rooms have been locked to conserve power..."

I folded my arms and tapped my foot. What else was I supposed to do in this situation? Captain never taught me...but then I had an idea and headed over to the TV. Thankfully it also functioned as a transmitter as well as a receiver, so I managed to twist the dials until it began broadcasting an SOS.

"Hopefully somebody will come to help us." I hoped with all my heart. "Let's see, what else...?"

Roombi bumped into my feet, then spun around as if to indicate something.

"Missing?...Oh, you mean the Captain!" The Roomba gave me a disappointed look. "Hey, I was getting to her! Why hasn't she returned yet?" I pressed my face up against the window. "Don't tell me she's running around down there? She CAN'T be fooling around at a time like this!"

I headed into the one room that was available, the kitchen, and activated the telescope. There was a telescope in each room for observation purposes...because just one in the living room was apparently insane...thankfully this one was able to focus on the town I had just come back from.

"I can't see the Captain anywhere..." I mumbled as I stared at the town through it. "No good, I'm gonna have to go down and look for her, along with all the Time Pieces if they miraculously didn't fall into the ocean!"

I ran back to the living room. "Look after the place whilst I'm out, Roombi!" I yelled out before opening the window and closing it behind me as I jumped back down towards the planet.

As gravity took its hold on me I repeated my process of slowing my descent with my yo-yo, and landing in what looked like a port, judging by the ship I was standing on. And this time I got a good look around.

The place seemed to be built around a mountain of some kind, more like a geyser spewing out water...with a building on top? That was just impractical. From what I could see there was this rocky port I was in, and a town around the other side, along with balloons everywhere.

"Alright...gotta find the Captain, and the Time Pieces. Whichever comes first." I told myself as I jumped down. Thankfully, I was prepared for this.

I tugged on my tie. "Okay, tie. Where's the Captain?" It then stood straight and pointed like an arrow towards the mountain, most likely she was on the other side.

Oh yeah, it's more then just some handsome neckwear. It can find anything I tell it to...I've just gotta be specific, otherwise it'll point at multiple things rapidly and start both strangling me and burning my neck.

"Okay...and, the closest Time Piece?" It then pointed towards the town to the east of me...I weighed up my options...

"Fiiine, back to Captain." My tie pointed north, she was on the move. "Let's head around."

Being petite has its perks y'know. I gave an impressive jump and landed well before heading off at a brisk pace. Sorry to say I don't have any magical glowing fingers or second mouths...but a compass tie is just as cool, right?"

I leapt between two building walls to climb higher and pulled myself up to get a look around. I could see that Mafia guy everywhere! And they were all the same! Same suit, same apron, same FACE!

"Geez, did they have cloning coupons or something?" I mumbled. I perfectly understood that different planets had different rules...but some things you still gotta question, right?

I ran along a rooftop to avoid anybody spotting me, when I noticed something. It was a little capsule with a small green gem in it...in fact, now that I noticed it, they were everywhere!

"What are these?" I picked one up and examined the gem as it clattered around in its capsule. "Wait...don't tell me this is their currency? If it is...why is it literally everywhere? What kind of economy is this!?"

I looked at some Mafia members walking past some of them on the road and just casually picking them up and putting them in their aprons, sooooo...

"Follow the leader." I mumbled as I pocketed it in my sleeve. Oh yeah our species can make Hammer Space. Forgot to mention that.

So now here I was, running around picking up money, balancing on tightropes and diving around to avoid being spotted. This came to a halt though when I saw some particularly angry looking black birds nestling on the roof in front of me.

'What a lovely diet they must have.' I thought, staring at their practically spherical shapes. Apparently they could read minds as they all turned to face me. "Hey, I'm not looking for a fight."

They were. One pecked me on the face. "Owch! That hurt!" I jumped back as two more lunged for me. "Alright, I've got retaliation rights now, birdies!"

I pulled my yo-yo out and instantly lashed it forward, causing it to smack into the closest bird and sending it flying off the rooftop. You see, when you go on 'adventures' with the Captain, you have to learn how to defend yourself.

The other two birds looked a bit shocked at me fighting back, and I made the best intimidating cats cradle I could...which was apparently enough for them to hop off.

"Can't even fly away." I mumbled as I lazily rolled my yo-yo up and down. I then noticed the bird I smacked away had dropped another capsule, only this one was pink and had a heart in it.

"Hello. What are you?" No, I didn't like it more because it was pink! "So, what? Does everything in this planet come in capsules?" However this one almost instantly popped open and the heart inside flew into me...now 'violated' wasn't the right word, but it felt along those lines.

"...That just happened." I acknowledged. I had to admit, so far this planet was one of the more unique ones, and this was one island!

My tie indicated I was close to the Captain now, however as I made a diving leap for the next rooftop, I miscalculated and smacked face first into the side of it, falling back onto a table.

"Gaaaaahhhh! Sugar! Donuts! Fudgsicals!" I'm not sorry for that incredibly vulgar language, it really hurt!

"...Mafia eating child?" It was then I realised I was on the table of two Mafia members.

"Child tie look like candy. Mafia think it could be good." His companion said.

"Woah, woah, slow down, people, I ain't food." I told them.

"If not food...then are you Mafia?" One asked.

"Little boy does have tie...but boy is red! Mafia is blue!" His companion said.

"Mafia not see colours, only personality and face." The other one commented.

"Whilst that's very noble of you, I've gotta go." I stated as I jumped off.

"But if boy not Mafia...then boy is intruder!" Both of them surrounded me. "Mafia cannot let you go."

"...Fascinating." I held out my yo-yo and began spinning it around at my side, building up power. "Y'know, you guys look a lot alike. Any reason for that?"

"Oh, is actually very interesting and perfectly logical reason. See, Mafia-" I smacked him upside the chin with my fully charged yo-yo, knocking him down to the ground.

I call it the Charge Shot. What it lacks in originality it makes up for in power. Really, he should've been grateful I didn't aim for the crotch.

"Mafia, no!" His friend ran to his side. "How will Mafia go on without Mafia in Mafia?"

'Do they hear themselves talk?' I couldn't help but think as I Walked the Dog past them. "Tie, Captain still there?"

My tie then straightened right up and smacked me in the face, pointing up at the sky.

"Wha-? She's back on the ship now!?" I groaned. "Fine, I'll go up and-" Then, my tie slowly began lowering. "...Did she jump out again!? Captain, make up your mind!"

I finally made it to the other town side of the place...picking up some capsules along the way, and found an interesting sight. Some Mafia goons were building a pyramid of barrels, one of them at the top seemed to have a girl in his arms with a red hood and...a moustache? Was I seeing that right? Really?

"Caaaaaaaaadeeeeeeeeeeeeet!" Suddenly, I was being strangled from behind. But it was much worse then a sneak attack, it was my Captain hugging me. "I finally found you!"

"C-Captain...! Can't...breathe!" She released me as I gasped for air. "Hah...hah...you...looking for me? I've been looking for you!"

"Aw, did you miss me?" She asked, hugging me.

"...Gimme another minute with you to decide." I mumbled.

"Um...hello!?" I looked up to realise that girl had yelled at us. "Are you two going to help me or what?"

"That depends. You gonna ask nicely?" I called up.

"Cadet..." Captain frowned at me.

"Politeness costs nothing, Captain." I told her. Hint, HINT.

"What are tiny children doing here?" A Mafia member asked. "Mafia very busy building stronghold."

"Stronghold, huh?" I stared up at the pyramid of barrels. "Right."

Captain made her view not so clear by blowing a raspberry in his face. Ever the diplomat.

"Tiny children insulting Mafia will regret it!" The Mafia declared as more of them suddenly appeared.

"It looks like war to me, Cadet!" Captain declared as she pulled her umbrella out of her hat. "To battle!"

"Less a war, more like a temper tantrum on their part." I said as I rolled my yo-yo out.

Captain leapt in umbrella a-swinging, smacking several men twice her size around like ragdolls, whilst I kept my distance and smacked one in the face with my yo-yo if they got too close.

'Don't aim for the groin, don't aim for the groin, don't aim for the groin...' I had to keep telling myself to resist the temptation.

The next one I smacked in the groin, causing him to fall to the ground and begin crying.

'Worth it.' Hey, they caused this mess, I'm not gonna take moral high ground here! Captain certainly wasn't!

We had managed to dispatch with all of them, save for the one still on top of the barrels with his hostage.

"Tiny children are strong...but Mafia has high ground! And hostage!" He declared.

"And I have knowledge of physics." I declared just as proudly. "Captain?"

"Oh, I've got it!" She beamed, before smacking one of the bottom barrels away, causing the entire structure to collapse.

"One of you catch me!" The moustached girl cried out as she fell. Captain did, I didn't. She should have asked nicer in my opinion.

"Phew...wow!" She marvelled at us. "You two really taught those Mafia goons a lesson! You're pretty tough, aren't you?"

"Tough and cute!" Captain proclaimed proudly.

"Have to be." I stated.

"Hmmmmm..." She seemed to be thinking for a moment. "Oh! Right! This is what you were looking for, right?" She then presented-

"A Time Piece!" I instantly grabbed it and held it close. "Thank goodness! That's one out of...well...a whole lot..." I was suddenly sad again.

"Yeah, you're uh...friend? There said it powered your ship." The girl said.

"R-Right, thank you." I nodded. "We'd better go return this then."

"Oh! Idea!" Captain suddenly declared. "Let's bring her with us!"

"What? Captain, we can't bring aliens into the ship!" I said.

"Oh, I'm the alien here?" She retorted.

"C'moooon! It'll be fun to have somebody new!" She giggled, and before I could argue again she'd already decided. "Let's go!" She then pulled her own button out of her hat and linked arms with me and the girl before pressing it, teleporting us all back to the ship.

"Woah...that was crazy..." The girl said, looking around. "So this is your ship, huh?"

"Don't touch anything." I stated as I headed up to the Vault to put the Time Piece back in, when I noticed something. "Huh? 71?"

"Oh yeah! I found one and came back to put it in!" Captain told me.

I just blinked at her. I was actually impressed. If there was one thing about the Captain I could say, it was that she seemed to be capable when it came to action.

I put the Time Piece back into the vault and watched as the number on the screen rose to 72. Just a whoooole ton more to go...

"So you two really are aliens." The girl said as I walked down to join them. "...What are your names?"

"She's the Captain, and I'm Vice Captain." I stated quickly.

She scoffed. "Don't tell me those are your actual names? Can't call you that." She then seemed to be thinking for a moment. "...I've got it."

She pointed at the Captain. "You'll be Hat Kid." She then pointed at me. "And you'll be Tie Brat!"

"Bra...? Excuse me!?" I cried out indignantly. "Why 'Brat'!?"

"It suits you." She snickered that little-!

"Aaaaaahhhhh!" The Captain squealed happily. "Nicknames! That's so cute! I like them! What do you think, Tie Brat?" Oh no, please...

"Captain..." I practically begged.

"Oh, I've got it!" She realised. "Tie! Hat and Tie! It's perfect! As Captain, I hereby decree that you now call me Hat!"

"I...uh..." I realised horribly that I wasn't getting out of this.

"See? Hat and Tie! Perfect!" The girl clapped.

"Well, I think you could of at least called us Tie Kid and Hat Brat. At least those kinda rhyme..." I muttered, trying to get a say in.

"Like I said. Brat fits you perfectly." She laughed.

"Well then, what's YOUR name?" I challenged.

"I'd...rather not say." She admitted.

"Ha! My go, then!" I smirked. "I dub thee...Mustache Girl!" Little Red Riding Brat only sounded good in my head.

"What!?" She cried out.

"Mustache!" Hat laughed. "Perfect!"

"You...!" She growled at me. It was a game at this point...and I was winning! "...F-Fine! Anyway, what really matters is our plan to drive the Mafia out of Mafia Town!"

I snorted. "Mafia Town? That's what it's called?"

"It wasn't always called that! Those monsters renamed it when they invaded our town!" Mustache said. "But now with your strength...we can drive them out!"

"Our strength, huh? So what are you, princess in the castle?" I snickered.

"Quiet, Tie." She emphasised the name, to make sure I knew I was now stuck with it. I didn't like her. "Here's my plan."

From out of nowhere, she pulled down a whiteboard which had a picture of her beating up the Mafia. Captai-...Hat, sat down, head in her hands in fascination whilst I chose to remain standing. "First, we beat up all the Mafia members and take back the town.

She pulled down a new slide, and both me and the Captain's eyes widened. "Then, we chop off all their limbs and ground them down into a red paste, which we can then sell as...I dunno, Revenge Ketchup? Justice Jam? Ooooh, I like Justice Jam!"

Me and the Captain looked at each other with something new; the same thought. That this girl was mental.

The slides then vanished from sight. "So, any questions?" I took a deep breath. "Great!" I sighed. "Then we've got to get to work immediately!" She practically skipped over to the window and opened it. "...So...how do you get back down?"

"Here, let me help." I kicked her in the behind, knocking her out the window as I closed the door.

"Tie!" Captain cried.

"Don't worry, I aimed for the ocean." I assured her. "But seriously Captain, this is why you don't invite just anyone onto the ship."

"She's still my friend." The Captain pulled a pouty face before pinching my cheek. "And call me Hat!"

"Ow...you're not really going with those names, are you?" I groaned.

"Like I said, I like them." She smiled. "It suits you. Heheh, get it? Suit? Tie?"

I rolled my eyes. "In any case, Captain-"

"Hat."

"...Hat. We still need to recover 48 more Time Pieces. The ship's lost a lot of power without them, we can't even get into the bathroom!"

"Don't worry, Tie! I'm already on it, aren't I?" She patted me on the shoulder, opening the window. "And besides, this gives us a chance to explore this planet! Pretty cool so far don't you think?"

'I can't believe you're still thinking about adventuring in this situation.' "As long as we get the Time Pieces." I told her.

"No problemo!" Hat smiled as she grabbed my wrist. "Let's get going!" So we both jumped out of the ship, falling back down to Mafia Town below us.

Welp...felt like writing the next chapter and before I knew it...I'd written the whole thing. How about that?

In this chapter, Hat Kid completes the first two Acts of Mafia Town without Tie Brat's help, and the both of them get their names. Tie Brat's main abilities were shown of in this chapter, mainly his yo-yo and Charge Shot.

Ohhhh yes, people, that's right. This story will treat Tie Brat as if he was an actual character from the game! Meaning he will have his own moveset, Badges, Neckwear, and even Colour Changes and different Neckwear styles.

What you saw in this chapter was his basic attack and hovering; his yo-yo, as well as his Charge Shot, which you would be able to do by holding the button down until charged, which does double damage. Otherwise he controls identical to Hat and Bow Kid. However, his idle animations would be him playing with his yo-yo, making a cats cradle or going around the world.

Additionally, on a completely unrelated note, if you're a Pokemon fan, check out my Profile where my first Poll is up! Vote for your favourite Pokemon story idea, yaaaaay!

Next chapter we're gonna do Badges, Neckwear, Time Rifts and more Mafia Town Acts! Look forward to it!