A/N: Hello! First of all, I just want to say a huge thank you to my reviewers! If I've said it once, I've said it a thousand times: LEAVE A REVIEW, OTHER PEOPLE!
Anyway, this chapter turned out really well. When I look back on it, I probably should have split it into two chapters, but all of the ones before have been quite short. So, this one is super long! Don't expect them all to be this long, it was just that I was really into a writing mood at the time. There's a flashback to a scene from the movie, so I hope I portrayed it well. I also put a few new poems in, and I just want to say that I used a rhyming dictionary this time. Before, I had to think up the rhymes, but now, it's much easier to write poetry.
DISCLAIMER: Do I even have to say this anymore?
Chapter 7- Reflections and Old Feelings
"We were just… uh, dancing," I said quietly, trying not to look at 7. I could tell she was steaming mad.
9 dropped me, letting me fall. I nearly hit the floor, but caught myself just in time. "Where were you?" he asked with a mixture of relief and anger.
"Didn't you get my note?" 7 asked.
"Yeah, but why were you gone for so long?" 9 continued. "You had me worried sick!"
My gut twisted. Earlier, he'd seemed so intent on being with me. It even seemed that he'd almost liked me! Now, when 7 was here, it seemed that they had a full blown relationship. I felt a little guilty for dancing with 9 now, but I also still smiled at the memory of his warm form holding mine just before I'd hit the floor.
"You don't seem very sick," 7 stated, eying me suspiciously.
9's brow began to furrow. "You still haven't told me why you were out in the Emptiness for so long."
"I found another group of stitchpunks," 7 plainly said.
"Were they like me?" I asked. "Was there a little one, with brown pigtails? And another, wearing a blue hat?"
She nodded. "Yeah. I left 'em out there. Not far away, just down near the statues. They're in some kind of wagon, I think they called it. And they're really hurt."
"What?" I exclaimed. "Can I go see them? I shouldn't have left… I just thought that 14 would take better care of them." I cocked my head. "Why'd you leave them out there?"
7 shrugged. "I couldn't have gotten them in here on my own. It was hard enough dragging them through the Emptiness, but now, their wagon's wheel is jammed with some piece of rubble."
I shoved my way past her, disgusted. What kind of small-minded idiot would leave those little ones out there on their own? Running out into the stone garden, I spotted the old rusty red wagon. I ran over to find 11, 12 and 13 huddled against the cool night wind.
"10?" 11 asked, not wanting to believe her eyes. "Is that really you?"
I smiled down and ruffled her hair. "Of course it's me, sweetie." I looked over at 13. "Where's 14?"
13 looked down at her feet. "I'm sorry, 10… the Beast was too fast…It wasn't like anything I'd ever seen…I just… I'm sorry."
My mind put two and two together. "Oh," I quietly said, catching on. "She's dead..."
"Oh, 10, it's ok," 11 comforted, placing her left hand on my shoulder. Only then did I catch sight of her mangled right arm.
"What happened?" I wondered aloud.
"The Beast got her…" 13 answered, then nervously taking her arm off her left leg, she revealed her wound. "And me."
Sighing, I helped 13 up and wrapped my arm around her shoulder, helping her balance. "Let's get inside," I told them, and 11 and 12 followed.
When we entered the library, 11 raced up to 3 and 4 immediately. "Are you two twins?" she asked, but before they could answer, she'd ran off to a painting.
12 was gazing around in awe. He'd never seen so many books before in his life. His hand instinctively flew to a small golden ring which he'd found out in the Emptiness. He now wore it over his head. 13 wasn't sure if it meant something to him, or if it was just for show. She didn't really mind him wearing it, though. For once, he seemed quite happy.
Suddenly, his right optic twitched shut. Spiraling words, letters and numbers tumbled through his head, jumbling all coherent thoughts that he'd had before. Kneeling down, he ripped out a piece of paper from the back of a book. When he'd spread it on the ground, he realized that this was one of the only pieces of paper that he'd actually been able to write on. Most times, it was a scrap of fabric or the back of a label, but here, he had paper! All his pens had been left at the camp site, so without thinking, he dipped his fingers directly into the pot of ink. Using his hands, a new poem began to form.
If you are searching for success,
First you must, of course, confess,
To those of which you will caress,
Or tumble into deep distress.
He looked proudly down at the paper, the moved onto another one.
13 was now sitting down, testing the durability of a red string that 7 had supplied. She smiled at the white stitchpunk. "14 would always be the sewer, if Mum wasn't around. She fixed 10's chest, and did a pretty good job. Still, she's not the same as Mum."
I looked down at the sloppy stitching on my chest. 14 was definitely not as good as Mum.
13 bent down, sizing up a small scrap of mild green fabric on her leg. Luckily, the Beast had mainly ripped her fabric. As she began to sew it on, it became clear that she had skills way above what she thought. Neatly connecting the fabric to her leg, she was done within two minutes. The green now ran from her mid-thy to her knee. Her scars were adding up now. She had a few stitches, neatly placed by Mum, on her left arm where she'd once ripped it on a loose nail. Also, on her chest, there was a thin patch of beige fabric that ran from her zipper over to her right shoulder. In a training exercise gone wrong, I'd went a little crazy and dug my spear into her chest. Now, I was glad that it was over.
Once 13 had sewn up her leg, she headed over to get a look at 11's arm. The Beast had managed to hit her metal skeleton, ruining her arm for the time being. The metal in her upper arm was mostly scratched, but her lower arm was snapped in half. 11 winced as she closed her hand into a fist.
13 examined her upper arm, then hopped over and ripped the edge off a piece of paper. Gently running it though a small puddle of paste, she wrapped it around 11's skeleton in her upper arm, winding it over the scratches to keep them from getting worse. She then sewed up her fabric with some of what remained of the red thread.
Next, she moved onto the lower arm. After scrutinizing the break for a few moments, she rushed off. She returned, clutching a small silver pole. She lined it up. It was almost exactly the same length as 11's forearm. Through her hollow skeleton, 13 inserted the pole, so that the crack almost lined up straight, as it had before. Now, with the small pole to keep the skeleton secure, she covered it with another piece of pasted paper. She then sewed it up with the last of the red thread.
Finally, she stood back and admired her handiwork. 11 tried out her newly-repaired arm. "Aw, thanks, 13!" she exclaimed. "It's just like new!"
As 13 sat down next to me, 7 leaned onto 9's shoulder. I glared up at her. So much for her not liking 9! She sighed, ignorant of me and looking down at 12, who was now surrounded by his poems. "He reminds me so much of 6…"
9 felt a pang of sadness in his heart when the little striped stitchpunk crossed his mind. "Yeah," he said, at a loss for words.
13 walked up to 7 again. "If you want, I could fix your arm," she said.
9 looked down, slightly surprised. He hadn't noticed that 7 was hurt. Now, he saw that she had a few new tears in her fabric just above and below her shield.
Suddenly, 12 ran up, grasping a piece of paper in his ink-covered hands. "I wrote you this poem," he said proudly, giving the paper to 9
9 straightened it and read,
You're the one who guards us all,
Within danger, you stand tall,
But when the Beast attacks your one,
Then your courage shall be done.
He stared at it. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"The one you love is in danger!" 12 cried, then ran off and began writing again.
"What?" 9 wondered, "But… 7's been attacked by Beasts loads of times. And my courage was never shortened then."
Looking over his shoulder, 12 cried, "Is 7 really the one you love?"
Just as 9 was about to answer, something struck him. He loved 7, but she could never be with him. She was a loner; she'd never settle down. But, I could give him everything he wanted, but he wasn't sure if he loved me. He looked over at 7, who was now being mended by 13. He felt a warm, intimate love towards her. He knew that he loved her, but he wasn't sure if she even liked him. Then, he turned his gaze to me. I was a much more childish stitchpunk in his eyes, someone who he could have a true relationship with, someone who he could dance with, someone to playfully kiss in the morning, and someone to hold his hand when he was scared. Even through he knew that I was an adult stitchpunk, he saw me as much less mature than 7, who'd fended for herself most of her life. He was sure that I liked him, but it seemed that 7 might like him as well. Unknown feelings clashed inside him.
11 was back with the twins, and the three of them were flipping through a book. "Oh, 10, look! It's beautiful!" 11 cried, pulling me over by the arm. She pointed onto the page to a fancy dress. "It suits you," she smiled.
"I probably won't ever get to wear anything that fancy," I grinned.
Suddenly, 4 tugged on 11's arm and dragged her over to the black instrument. 11's little optics lit up when her eyes fell onto it. Soon, all three of the littlest stitchpunks were banging away again, sending music through the library. 7 laughed and sat back down next to 13. I made sure to drag 9 up with me this time, and soon we were both dancing. 13 joined us soon after, but 7 didn't move. I waved her in, but she ignored me. Even when 9 tried to pull her onto the dance floor, she sat herself back down. 11, 3 and 4 had no trouble cranking out new tunes as they went. Finally, as the last pinks of the sunset faded from the sky, the younger stitchpunks slowed down. They weren't used to playing the black instrument for such long periods of time.
13 had sat down as well, just leaving 9 and me on the dance floor. As a slow song started, 13 rushed up and shoved 9 towards me. At first, I blushed like crazy, until 9 smiled at me. "Can I have this dance?" he asked.
I smiled. "Of course, 9."
As he wrapped his hands onto my waist, I encircled mine around his neck. Slowly, we rocked, back and forth. Something deep inside me stirred.
He stared into my eyes, seeing straight into the heart of my soul. He could see that I was pure; there was no hostility left. What he saw, deep in my eyes, was love. A reflection of love. Not mine, but someone else's. And, when I was with him, it filled me up completely.
I gazed up into his eyes, examining him. There was confusion—definitely about 7. He knew that she cared about him, but not as much as I did. There was also fear, for me and for 7. But, those emotions were clouded by another. I also saw love. He'd always wanted someone, and he'd been so sure that it'd be 7, but now, I could see he was having second thoughts.
Immersed in each other's eyes, we were oblivious to the world. As the song slowly came to a stop, he began to withdraw. Seeing what was happening, 13 rushed up behind me and gently pushed me forward. I went hurtling into 9, our lips gently touching. At first, shock was reflected on both of our faces, then his arms found their way back around my waist. Holding him tightly, I kissed him passionately. All my cares seemed to melt away; all that existed was 9's lips and his warmth. If I'd been paying more attention, I would've noticed 7 glaring at me. But, I was lost.
After what seemed like an eternity, we separated, each going over to our little families. 13 patted me on the shoulder. "I knew he liked you," she smiled. "You just needed a little… motivation." She looked down at her feet. "I… I got the idea from 14. Just before she died, I caught her and 15 kissing. They're probably both dead now, but at least you still have your guy."
I sighed. "Well, I guess he knows I like him now. I just hope that 7 won't be too mad. I'm sure that she and 9 had some relationship before. I just hope I didn't anger her…"
On the other side of the dance floor, 7 was boiling mad. Luckily, she kept all her emotions concealed inside of her for now. She didn't know why she was mad; she had no reason to be jealous. She was sure that she'd never liked 9 anymore than any of her other stitchpunk family. Then again… No, she was sure. There was no relationship between them. But still, something was nagging at the back of her mind. She cared about him. If he died, she'd want to die, too. Every second her eyes fell on 9, her stomach clenched. She grabbed her spear and her tipped down her skull helmet, then sprinted off in the other direction.
"7, wait!" 9 called after her, but it was too late.
7 sprinted down to her hideout. The first time she'd ventured into the library, she'd found it. A small hole in the wall that had once belonged to a family of mice. Now, she over turned the rock that covered the entrance and jumped into it. Gently twisting the bulb that hung from the ceiling, the small cave was soon illuminated by it's soft yellow glow.
7 wrapped her arms around her knees as the tears began. Now, she knew. She loved 9, but it was too late. He'd moved on; onto someone newer, someone more childish. Someone like me.
*Flashback*
"Please!" I cried, tugging on his arm. "We can't do this without you."
"They all died because of me," 9 said, guilt reflecting in his eyes. "I started this, and now I need to finish it."
He gave my hand a reassuring squeeze, then rushed off to face the in me stirred; something made me want to run after him, take his place, die for him. But, that something wasn't strong enough.
As 7 remembered that, she truly realized how much she cared for 9. Letting her head droop, she thought to herself, Face it. You've had a million chances to express how you felt about 9. It's too late now. Oh, how many times he'd shown his affection. I should've admitted it then.
As sadness rolled in onto 7, a rumble from above forced her to raise her head. She cautiously lifted the entrance rock and caught sight of a Cat Beast, bigger that the usual ones. Ducking, she grabbed her spear, fastened on her skullmet and slid on her shield. She took a deep breath, then launched herself out of the cave. The Cat Beast followed in quick pursuit, following her every move. She used the blunt end of her spear as a pole vault, using it to launch herself forward. In mid jump, she veered off to the side, landing on a higher book. Now, at the Cat Beast's eye level, she launched herself into the air. Bringing her spear down, ready to chop off it's head, something stopped her. It was a voice.
Great, now I'm hearing voices, she thought. But, then she heard it again. "Stop!"
She whirled around and caught sight of 9, waving his arms. "Look!" he cried, pointing to the Cat Beast. Around it's neck was the Talisman.
The Cat Beast roared again, it's metallic paw colliding with 7's body. She was sent flying backwards. Her skullmet was sent hurtling in the other direction. Hitting into a book, she landed, partially unconscious on the ground. The twins rushed up from behind and pulled her to the safety of their shelter. 13 rushed forward, grabbing 7's spear, and charged at the Cat Beast. As she rushed past 9, he grabbed her by the arm. He pointed at the Talisman, and she instantly got the message. Using the spear as a crowbar, she wedged it between the Talisman and the Cat Beast. Forcing it out, she caught the Talisman, and then brought the spear up into its neck. Using a crowbar-like motion again, 13 popped its head right off of its shoulders. There were a few sparks, the red light from its one eye faded, and it was still.
She walked back to 9 and handed him the Talisman. 7, who'd regained full consciousness, rushed up to 9. "Why did you just leave it there once you released their souls? You should've known that some other Beast would find it sooner or later. Who knows what it might've done with that? I don't want to lose any more of you!"
"I'm sorry, I didn't think," 9 cried. "At least we have it now."
"She's here," 12 whispered from his place behind me.
"Well, there's another Talisman," 13 called, walking forward. "14 had it, then that Beast took her body. I'm sure that this was the same Beast, but I don't know where 14 and 15 are."
"How do you know it's the same?" 7 asked suspiciously. "There's a lot of roaming Beasts out there."
"When it attacked us, it had that Talisman," 13 snapped, pointing to the coppery Talisman that 9 still held. "That's the Talisman that contains 14's soul!"
"Well, if the Beast had this Talisman, and 14 had the other, you'd think that the Beast might've started to reassemble the Fabrication Machine? They're learning creatures; they could figure out how to fix it!" 7 cried.
"What's a Fabric-Nation Machine?" 11 asked.
"There was this thing, the BRAIN, that was created by the same Scientist that made us," 9 explained to her. "When it was put into this big body, it began making new machines, then those machines attacked the people. There was a huge war, and when it ended, we thought we were the only life forms left. Then, the Fabrication Machine was reawakened–"
"By you," 7 interrupted.
9 sighed. "Yes, I reawakened it. Then, it killed about half of our friends, taking in their souls to become more powerful. Eventually, we defeated it, and it blew up. We all thought that that would be the end of it."
"But, of course, it's not the end," 7 snapped. "Now, there's another Talisman out there, and some Roaming Beast could be bringing it back right now."
"She's here," 12 repeated, but this time, he was noticeably louder. "I can feel her… she's here… so powerful…"
"What?" 11 asked as 12 began to quake.
"She's here… she thinks she can communicate… through me…" Suddenly, he walked over to the wall and banged his head. "Get out of my head! I don't want you here!"
"Who's in your head?" I asked slowly. When 12 didn't answer, I gently shook him. "12, tell me!"
"F-F-Fourteen," he whispered. "She's here… she tells me that the F-F-Fabrication Machine isn't a-a-awake yet. It's going together, finding parts… fixed now. But 15… he's still alive. The Beast… it's close, too close… She says that we h-h-have to save 15."
"Where are they?" I asked again.
"The Machine… it's been moved. N-N-Now, it's over the bridge. We have to find it."
7 looked at the rain-spattered window. "Not in this weather."
"We have to go now!" 12 cried. "Soon, it'll be too late. The Beast is close… the Beast is close! No, no, no, no…"
"Well, I guess we're going now," 13 said, looking at poor fragile 12. "Even if he's a little crazy, he's never been wrong before."
"I don't want to get soaked," 7 said, looking out at the now pouring rain. "It's so hard to fight with wet fabric. It just weighs me down."
"What if we used some of this?" 11 asked, holding up a piece of tarp. "It looks waterproof. We could cut it into jackets to keep us dry… right, 13?"
She shrugged. "First of all, I'm not some kind of seamstress."
9 shivered. "Ok, don't say that."
13 looked a little freaked out, but continued, "Ok, then let's say I'm not that good at sewing."
"But you fixed me!" 11 exclaimed, waving her arm wildly in the air. "You're really good, and I'm sure that you could make us some jackets!"
"I could try," 13 admitted. "But it'd take a while. We won't be going anywhere for at least half an hour."
"That could give us time to prepare our things," I pointed out. "If we're going on a mission, we'll need some supplies."
11 smiled up at 13. "Please?"
Sighing, 13 smiled. "Ok, 11. I'll start with you."
A/N: Well, I knew I had to put some 9x7 in this story. But, it's too late for her now.
If you have any suggestions, or comments, please leave a review. I think that's it. Happy Holidays, everyone!