Mable: Here we are with the next chapter! I don't own 9, Enjoy! ^_^


The Inmates Run the Asylum

Chapter Eight: Dancing by the Sea

For the entire trip Nine had been relatively calm. The webbing sort of cocooned his body so his fabric didn't skid when dragged along the ground and the Wockyworks were joined by others making the trip a bit faster. He stayed alert as he remembered the path they drug him through, hoping it would be of assistance when he escaped, which he was certain he could. They carried him to the sandy shore, though couldn't turn his head to see the water which distressed him. He wanted to still see the world shifting around him and was simply unable to do so.

They drug him into a cold, damp, and incredibly small tunnel and he was pulled along for what felt like a long while before eventually being pulled out into a forest. This one, however, was much darker and filled with water like some sort of bog. It also smelled bad; like a mix of mud, forest decay, and oil. It took Nine only a short while to realize that the thick mist in the air was actually smokestack smog. That was his only warning that the factory was closer than he thought. He was dragged through a grate and taken into the hot and murky depths, drug into the core.

Oddly enough the inside of the factory seemed to resemble the factory's from his world. Once here the Wockyworks started to pull the webbing free and at first Nine was confused, but the confusion dissipated quickly as he realized that the Machine was nearby. He had just gotten back on his feet and still almost fell backwards as he took a few shaky steps back. The Machine didn't respond and Nine peered closer before realizing that it was either off or destroyed, "So… So there definitely was a Machine here too… but like back in the Emptiness it's not awake."

His thoughts were interrupted by a sudden scuffling nearby and he turned in the direction, watching as a Wockywork dashed over towards the noise. It suddenly occurred to Nine that they had brought him here for something else and he felt his body stiffen and he looked around for his staff. It was laying nearby, still having some webbing hanging loosely off of it. Nine leaned over and lifted it, lightly shaking it to get the webbing off. Once free he turned around to face the same direction again, only to suddenly freeze in place. Suddenly a new Stitchpunk entered his line of sight; or it somewhat looked like a Stitchpunk.

Its fabric was stark white and mechanical arms stuck out from its back, resembling the Machine's arms. Its optics were deep red and glowed with the intensity of any machine. Nine suddenly felt cold and began to stumble backwards in desperation as he stared at the creature. As though his mind couldn't comprehend the being that suddenly was right before him. This thing, this Machine Stitchpunk of some kind, stared at him with this look that almost seemed familiar. Almost as though he recognized the empty and aggressive look a Beast made when it stared at a Stitchpunk.

The Fabrication Machine lay unmoving nearby and this Stitchpunk creature somehow had that same look. That same stare that the Fabrication Machine once directed at him. Again Nine felt just as bare as he did so long ago, like it was studying every breath. "Who are you?" It asked, its voice sharp and demanding, and Nine sputtered, "I'm Nine…" Then he regained some bravery and grew firm, supposing that it was worth not showing fear and getting some sort of answers. "Are you… The one who sent those things on the city?"

"You are lying." The Machine Stitchpunk hissed and came in closer as it glared at the male, "Who are you?!" It suddenly occurred to Nine that maybe it was talking about the difference between him and his Wonderland counterpart. "Did I- Did this Nine fight the Machine too?... Creator, please tell me that this wasn't the Jabberwock Six was talking about." It suddenly occurred to him and he had the urge to give Six a long talk about details. It was moving in closer, twitching aggressively as electricity rolled over its optics. Now Nine had a new thought, "But he would have… Is he like Cat was?"

The zippered male wondered, taking a step back to put distance between them. Something was eerily uncanny about the Fabrication Machine being a Stitchpunk. It almost made it seem more disturbing than when it was actually a hulking machine. Still the zippered male managed to find his voice. "I know who I am." Nine remarked almost matter-of-factly to show he wasn't afraid. He raised his Lightstaff and looked towards the pale male, "Maybe you just don't know who you are." He accused.

The Machine Stitchpunk for a split second got an almost unimpressed look, but there was another light static and it reverted to frustration, moving further in. Soon Nine's back was against the wall and the Wockyworks, as well, moved in…


"Don't you two keep eyeing each other like that, you both had a suspicion that you would meet eventually." Two pointed out in an attempt to break the awkward silence as he guided the others out of the city and towards the shore. Eight and Wonderland Eight had yet to say even a word to each other. It was too awkward and uncomfortable to do so. Though when they did get spaced out enough Eight, the normal one, leaned down and muttered to Six, "You could've warned me." Six quirked a brow, "It surprised me too." He reminded but Eight scoffed, "Nothing surprises you. You always know when something's happening."

Said in a different tone it might have been a compliment, but Six was pretty sure that Eight was trying to insinuate something. He was used to it and found it ironic that he wanted to roll his eyes more than hang his head. He looked over towards Wonderland Eight and Five who were talking. "Did you… Find him?" He offered and the larger male shook his head, "I thought he got stuck here delivering a message or something… But nobody's seen him." Six suddenly inched over and quietly asked in, "I… I don't mean to intrude, but who are you talking about?" Wonderland Eight looked to him before remarking, "One's messenger."

"One's wild card." Five chimed in, "I think we mentioned him before." Six nodded, "You did. I hope he's okay… He probably is. Maybe he's hiding down in that cave carnival." Wonderland Eight raised a brow and Five laughed nervously, "Yeah, that's possible…" Then the bodyguard looked amused, "He loved a good celebration. I guess I should've expected you down there." Six gave a small smile and looked ahead to see Two still leading them and Eight, oddly enough, looking back at the three following. The second he saw that Six was looking he casually looked forward again.

The walking continued for a short while longer before Six looked to Wonderland Eight again. "Umm… Eight?" The red armor clad male looked down at him, "Yeah?" The Artist quietly murmured a soft, "Is the White Kingdom safe?" A few moments passed before the larger scoff, "I wish, but me being there's not fixing anything. I left the guards back there so they should help…" Two glanced back and encouraged, "The guards will be able to keep a decent hold on the city. I'm certain of it." This seemed to be enough encouragement and Wonderland Eight decided to boldly approach the other Eight.

"So, you got a One too?" He offered and Eight gave him a weird look before surprisingly opening to the other version of himself. "Yeah. Pretty much the same as yours too." He smirked a little and Wonderland Eight returned it, "Does he know you're down here?... I'm guessing he doesn't. Probably should start thinking of some sort of excuse now and save yourself the trouble later." Eight waved it off, "That might work for your One, but my One sees right through a story. Can't get anything passed him." Wonderland Eight raised a brow, "Huh. Mine gets offended if there's not a story."

Somehow suddenly Eight and Wonderland Eight were talking. A part of Six felt an overwhelming relief as he noticed it and gave a small smile as he continued along with the others. When the group got to the port they were alarmed to see that there were many, many boats that were chained securely to the dock, but no sailors. "Where is everyone?" The Mad Hatter asked in confusion, furrowing his single brow, "I've never seen the port this empty! Not even during a typhoon!" He looked to Two who looked down at the chains, "Hmm… This is odd too. Usually they don't lock boats this tightly. They must think that someone's planning on stealing."

"Us." Wonderland Eight announced, "That was going to be our ticket to the island." Eight smirked at the comment and Five was insistent, "We couldn't steer a ship!" The bodyguard looked to Two, "He could." The White Rabbit lowered his optics, "And it's been so long since I've been on the water that I most likely would have too… Alright, we need a new plan." He abruptly announced and clasped his hands together before Eight suddenly spoke in, "Wait a second. The factory's on an island, right? So how'd those little beasts get over the water? I've never seen any of them swimming."

The White Rabbit perked, "Actually, that's a good point. There must be another way out there." He pulled out his pocket watch and checked it before steering them to the end of the docks. When they ended the group stepped down and continued along the sandy shore. It didn't take too long until Six, who was walking ahead, spotted a hole in the ground. "Here." He announced to the others before crouching down and looking in, "It's… A tunnel?" He peered down the length as Five crouched beside him, "They must have tunneled under!... Somehow? A tunnel made of sand should have caved under the pressure."

"Not in this sea. This sea is more foam than salt." Two quickly pointed out as he pulled his hat off. This was the first time Six saw the White Rabbit without his bunny ear resembling, bulb coil hat on. Like with the March Hare, Two was hiding an actual pair of rabbit ears underneath, and they perked and listened in carefully. "Hmm… Do you hear that?" Immediately both Eights went to draw their weapons, Wonderland Eight getting his out while Eight was half way to doing so when Two stopped him. "No, no. Not that sort of noise. Listen…" They paused, all four of them, but couldn't hear what Two was pointing out.

"It's coming from this direction." He announced before hurrying down the beach and Five called after him, "Two, wait for us!" He slumped briefly in exasperation before giving Six an amused smile. "He's as bad as Nine sometimes." The Mad Hatter stood and took Six's hand to pull him upwards before they started after the Inventor. Two led them down the beach some ways until they started to hear the noise too, but what they didn't expect to hear was music, and singing. As they came closer it was obvious that it was a celebration of some kind. Eight lagged back at the thought of it being some sort of festival.

In fact, it was. There were torches arranged in the sand which glowed a same orange as the setting sun. The section of beach had widened into a sandy alcove beneath the cliff and was filled with life. A couple of sailors sat by the edge of the invisible circle on old crates, playing instruments and watched a group of eight, strange creatures dancing. They looked somewhat like Stitchpunks head-wise, but they had large, bulky arms with claws at the end, and strangely stout legs, twirling and dancing on the beach. "My goodness, they're Lobsters?!" Two blurted out, "I thought Lobster-punks were just a myth!"

The group of Lobsters suddenly halted as the noticed the coming Stitchpunks and started to scuttle towards the water. "No, no, wait!" Two called out desperately, "We aren't dangerous! Please come back!" Yet as he hurried to the shoreline they all dove into the brine. The White Rabbit stared after them desperately and Five looked towards the sailor's, "We were just- Oh, you're sailors!" He stepped forward with an eager smile, "You could help us! We're trying to get to the Jabberwocky's island, but all the ships are abandoned. We'll be willing to pay, or-."

"No can do." One of the sailor's chimed in. "The White King banned ship use until the Island is deemed safe." The Mad Hatter slouched and the Heart Guard approached, "Wait a second. That can't be right, the White King wouldn't have made that order. I don't even think he's qualified to make an order at all." He gave a suspicious look and the sailors all seemed to look away. "That's what the rule is." One pointed out before another chimed in, "Besides, going to that island is suicide! It's running mad with Boojums and Wockyworks!" Naturally now Wonderland Eight no longer believed them and was a bit annoyed.

Either way, Two dragged him back to the other sluggishly, "Our friend has been taken to the factory by Wockyworks." He looked to the others, "We'll have to try the tunnel." Suddenly Six felt his body quiver as he imagined that tight tunnel deep under the ocean. Tight and dark, and cold, closing in under the foamy waves. "No!" He blurted out as panic shook his frame, "I can't- We can't- Not the tunnel…" The four looked to him in alarm and the sailors stared. "Six…" Two began in confusion and Five suddenly seemed to remember, "That's right, Six is claustrophobic…"

Six looked to him in alarm and was surprised by the Mad Hatter's abrupt reveal, "W-What?" There was a small exhale from Eight, "It's not like we were fitting through there anyway." He remarked to the group, though mostly to his counterpart. Wonderland Eight gave a nod and glared at the sailors, "Yeah… It's a shame we don't have a boat." The sailors again looked away and Two gave Six a small smile, "It's fine, Six. We won't use the tunnel. There's no telling that they don't have it sealed closed on the other side." Six was relieved and exhaled slowly.

This was interrupted by another voice, "We could take you to the island." Two gave a gasp and looked back with the others to see one of the Lobsters poking its head out of the ocean. "Oh! Dear Lobster, you didn't leave!" The Lobster smiled and nodded a little, "We were making sure you weren't looking for soup. Anyway, we would be able and glad to carry you all to the island. We Lobsters do not fear the waters around the islands as long as we don't step upon them. In return you could help us." The others looked confused about the 'help' that the Lobster was seeking.

"Do… Do you need someone to stop the factory?" Five offered and Two chimed in, "Ah, yes! I'm sure it spills a good deal of waste into the water." Six couldn't imagine it; the thought of the oil and grime floating on the water almost made him not want to touch it. The Lobster waved a claw, "Nothing like that! Today is the day of the Lobster Quadrille! Usually there's only us eight, but with you five joining it should be quite a treat! Will you, won't you join our dance?" The offer seemed simple and Two looked back to the others. Eight looked skeptical, Wonderland Eight was confused, and Six was strangely enough looking excited.

"Well… We've dealt with worse for a ride!" Five playfully joked before growing quiet, "Uh… Not that there's anything wrong with dancing with you, Mr. Lobster." The Lobster chuckled again, its voice bubbly and gurgling like the sea itself, and then he leapt from the water and landed on the sand. The rest of the Lobsters followed, one by one, and soon all eight were back on the sand. "Our dance is simple! We dance and dance, and when the music grows finite we get thrown into the ocean. You'll throw us in, swim out to us, and then we'll carry you just as we promised!"

"Sounds easy enough." Wonderland Eight remarked and Eight looked to him in alarm, "You're getting into this?" The heart bodyguard gave an amused rumble and shrugged, "I've danced with worse. You can dance with anyone after you've danced with the Duchess." Everyone seemed to be in agreement. "Any of you want to start?" The lead Lobster asked and offered his claw to the group. After a few seconds Six smiled and took it, "I haven't danced before…" He warned but the Lobster didn't care, "Nobody except Lobsters do our Quadrille, so of course you wouldn't know! But it's really easy. We start…"

The Lobster began to circle Six while still having his hand, coaxing Six to circle as well. They began to move faster and faster until the Lobster took both of Six's hands and they began a quick, but more traditional looking dance. Six managed to catch the pattern quickly because it was rather simply before the Lobster stopped him, "Now…" He took Six's arm upwards to spin him, the Artist following slowly, and then the Lobster ducked enough so that Six could spin him. Both spins were repeated again, this time much quicker. After the spinning the other Lobsters moved in and they all stood in a circle.

The Lobsters and Six took hands and they started to dance in a circle for a short time before breaking into four, then into couples again. A different Lobster with a lighter voice was paired with Six. It stayed mostly silent though and seemed either baffled or shy as it just stared at him while they danced. They didn't hold hands in this segment and seemed to just dance with each other, or in front of each other, with feet scuffing in the loose sand. The Lobsters clicked their claws at this time and Six decided not to mimic the gesture, as he wasn't certain if he could. Then the Lobster took Six's hands almost nervously and they began to dance together like they did in the beginning.

"That's it!" The lead Lobster announced and all of them stopped, "As easy as that! When we're finished we'll need to be tossed out into the water- I already said that. Anyway, let us begin!" Three of the Lobsters left the group, maybe to make the number even, and went off near the makeshift band of the sailors who played their instruments. "You can't really have a notion how delightful it will be, when they take us up and throw us out to sea! Will you, won't you, will you, won't you, will you join the dance?" The three sung together as though with one voice of many tones. Two, Five, and Wonderland Eight joined in before Eight reluctantly joined as well.

Six danced with the skittish Lobster as they continued to go along before the group met in a circle yet again. After briefly dancing in a circle Six changed partners again, this time ending with Five who seemed already familiar with the dance. The two had a little bit of laughter as they stumbled together with the dance. Finally Six was having fun again, even if Nine was at risk. Part of him didn't think that Nine would be hurt, considering how the Jabberwocky and the March Hare got along. Then they shifted back into the circle once more and danced in one ring as one. Then they broke into couples again.

Suddenly the Artist was in the grasp of none other than Wonderland Eight. He smiled at the taller male and noticed that he was looking friendly, but had a strange trance in his optics, and the striped male had to look down in shyness. They danced together briefly before Eight was spinning the male in his grasp, doing in extra times instead of exchanging spots to be spun, mostly because Six clearly couldn't reach over the Guard. As the striped male looked around he could see that Eight was dancing with Two and actually had an amused look on his lips, like he was finally starting to have a little fun.

A hand on his back stopped the spinning and Six looked upwards at Wonderland Eight only to regret it. The other was bluntly staring as though lost in thought and the striped one sputtered out, "Is something wrong?" Wonderland Eight murmured with a, "What?" Six quietly continued with, "You, umm… You seem… Distracted?" The hearts bodyguard suddenly realized it and shook it off, "Sorry. Thinking about something… One's parties and stuff." It was relatively dismissive, but Six believed him to an extent. They started to move back into the ring again. What Six didn't notice was that now Eight was the one staring.

Eight wasn't even certain why he felt weird about the way that Six and the other Eight were carrying on. He watched them until they broke apart, in which he was paired with a Lobster. Every one of the Stitchpunks was now paired with the Lobsters who suddenly began to dance incredibly quickly. Before any of the Stitchpunks were left behind, Two was starting to have trouble keeping with the fancy footwork, the Lobsters pulled back. "Toss us in! Into the sea! Into the foam!" They chimed and requested. Eight was the first to lift his Lobster and toss him out into the sea. Next was his counterpart's.

Six and Five managed to lift one together and tossed it into the very shallow water. This Lobster gave them a weird look before swimming off. Both Eights handled the last two Lobsters while Two caught his breath. "Are you okay? Do you need to stop and rest?" Five asked quietly and Two patted his hand, "I'm alright. I just- I just needed a moment. It's been a while since I've been out and about." Five gave a nod, "As long as you're able to swim." There was a voice clearing cough from Eight, "Yeah, about that…" His tone was uneasy and he rubbed the back of his neck in an uncomfortable fashion.

Five looked to him in alarm, "You can't swim?" He then looked to Wonderland Eight who was shedding a small amount of his armor, calling to the sailors and warning them not to touch it while he was gone. Naturally he could swim, so it confused the Mad Hatter that Eight couldn't. "I'll sink like a rock." Eight promised and Five looked to Six, "Six…?" Six massaged his key and admitted, "I can swim a little. I don't know if I can swim that far." Now Eight chimed in again, "We're coming from a place without water in the area other than a puddle or a fountain. There's no sea back in the Emptiness."

"Well…" Five began before perking, "Wait, I have something!" He pulled his hat off, "I'll need Two's bag." Eight took it off and tossed it over, looking to the White Rabbit who seemed completely fine with his apprentice using it. He looked proud if anything. Five pulled out his teapot and fiddled with it before looking through the bag and pulling out some powdered leaves. "This should help. They're called Aqua Fiducia herbs. Mostly because when used properly they can help with buoyancy." He closed the teapot and it started to bubble on its own in the sand. Six crouched down beside him and Five smiled to him.

"This will help both of you by making you float on the water. Then you don't have to swim. You can just nudge yourself along." Six perked, "Really? How long will it last?" Five paused now, his optic moving somewhere off into the air, "Well, it's not permanent." Now Eight leaned over and pointed out, "Which means it's going to run out. How quickly?" The Mad Hatter hesitated before reciting, "I can't guarantee that you could swim all the way to the island, but I can guarantee that you could swim to or almost to the Lobsters." He gave a nod afterwards while Eight stared dumbstruck.

"You just- That means you can't guarantee anything!" There was a loud splash as Wonderland Eight dove into the water and started on his way. Two was next, pulling a key out of his waistcoat and plugging it into his hat. As he wound the hat the bunny ear wires disappeared inside and what looked like a spoon head covered the top, blocking it from water damage. "I-I am sure that if you are quick you'll make it." Five insisted, "But you'll have to go right to the Lobsters without stopping." The teapot suddenly whistled and he poured a cup of the mixture, which Two took first. He downed a mouthful.

"No need to strain myself when I don't need to." He pointed out with a chuckle and handed it back to his apprentice before hurrying to dive into the water. Five refilled the cup and passed it to Six who took it. He stared down into the oddly blue liquid for a second before throwing caution to the wind and downing some of it. It actually didn't taste bad. A hint of a sweet and tart berry flavor if anything. He passed it back and Five insisted, "Hurry into the water." The Artist nodded and rushed over before starting to wade into the salty ocean. Five filled the cup again and handed it to Eight, "You'll probably want the whole thing."

Eight didn't argue. He downed the cup and hurried to the water. Five put his things back together into his top hat. He then pulled some laces out of the bottom and tied them under his chin once it was positioned on his head. Better safe than sorry when it came to his hat. He soon joined in the water and all five of them were travelling along towards the Lobsters. Eight was definitely the most uncomfortable. He could just imagine the tea giving out halfway through and him sinking down into the water, far enough that the others couldn't salvage him. Just the thought was making him start to panic.

He didn't start to feel heavy again until he was right near the Lobsters. He stroked as fast as he could but made no progress. As Six grasped ahold of one of the Lobsters and looked back he could see the problem; in his panicking Eight was thrashing instead of swimming. At this rate he was going to sink. He felt his own concern take over and he called back. "Eight, you're almost here! Keep going!" Two and Wonderland Eight now noticed and the latter called, "Pull yourself together, you got this!" With Two continuing with, "The sooner you get here the sooner you'll be safe!"

Finally Eight started to swim again, though now he was just slightly dipping under the water, and Six looked on in terror. "Is- Is he going to sink?!" Before he could even be answered Eight got a burst of energy and managed to make it the last way, gripping onto a Lobster that was able to hold him. "You did it! See, it wasn't that hard." The Lobster beamed and Eight resisted the slight urge to say something in retort; he felt too tired to do so. Five arrived and the Lobsters began to ferry them the rest of the way to the island. It took a while and during the trip the setting sun dropped further, turning the orange sky a darker navy.

It would be dark once they reached the island, but as Six remembered it was perpetually dark on the island, so he doubted that it would matter. Then they would rescue Nine and continue on their journey. "Wherever we go next…" Six thought before adding in, "Where do we go next? If we get there and save Nine, and stop the Wockyworks, does that end our adventure?" He was confused at how simple it all seemed and wondered if it would just end. "But that's good… I didn't want to come back for something like this, something terrible happening and everything, so I should be happy it's almost over."

Part of Six felt guilty; he was enjoying this too much. Even with the scare at the Diamond Kingdom he loved being here and he loved being some sort of a hero, but Six's heroics were just as mismatched as he was. He doubted that he truly did anything without the rest of the group's insistence. He slouched against the Lobster. "…But wait." Suddenly he slowly began to straighten again as his mind pulled itself free of its own pit, "The scepter… I thought that maybe Child had it, but the scepter- Would it have caused the change at the Diamond Kingdom?"

His mind raced as he remembered the facts One had told him about the scepter. The others knew this, they knew that this was why the Diamond Kingdom had fallen apart, but now that Six really thought about it he realized that the scepter was still in immediate use. The paper, the ink, the trap; may it be the Jabberwocky or someone else the scepter was currently in use, and either they were able to use the power from far distances, or else, "They're following us…" He suddenly felt cold and the warm sea did nothing to help it. He wanted to pass off his thoughts as the ravings of a desperate Stitchpunk, but couldn't.

To Six's horror he had gotten his own wish; this small adventure was suddenly much bigger, and much more terrifying.


Mable: I actually didn't think the dancing would go on as long as it did. XD But at the same time, you can't have enough dancing Lobsters. That's just how life works. I hope everyone enjoyed! The next chapter should be finished shortly!
Note: The name of the herb is simply Water Confidence. Nothing special or anything other than directly promoting swimming.