Mable: This time it wasn't lack of inspiration that caused the delay in posting. Instead, I've been going to a sort of a night school thing that runs during the afternoon; which is good because I don't get any writing done in the afternoon anyway. XD It's mostly arranging everything that took my time so the next uploads will return to normal. Anyway, in today's chapter we shall see the fate of Five, Nine's experimentation, bunnies, and even more! I don't own 9, Enjoy!
The Inmates Run the Asylum
Chapter Twelve: A few Steps Closer to Home
"Here's our stop." The Jabberwock suddenly spoke and Nine asked in response, "What do you mean our?" At this point Child jumped off of the back of the carriage and dove into the grass on the side of the road. The last glimpse Nine had was of him rolling into some sort of trench. The zippered male stared for a few seconds just out of confusion before following suite. The long grass cushioned his jump but he also tumbled a bit and landed in a heap. He got to his feet quickly and soon Child made it back to him. "Alright," Nine began, dusting off his knees, "How long should it take us?"
The albino shrugged, "Not too long. It will be the walk from there to the Red Kingdom that's going to take time." This displeased the zippered male, "There's got to be a way to get there quicker… Wait." He reached into his clothing to his zipper and Child optics focused on his front, "What are you doing?" Nine fiddled around inside before bringing out the mushroom pieces, "We could eat the mushroom and grow in size. Then we'd cover a lot more ground!... But there's not much mushroom." Nine now noticed that the mushroom was beginning to shrivel and knew that it probably wasn't as strong.
"Alright, slightly different plan; I eat this and get big. Then I can carry you easily and we'll be there in a snap." He looked to Child who got a small smile, "Clever. Six informed you of what happens when you grow?" Nine nodded, assuming he meant something about size or shape, or the feel of gravity. He tasted one of the mushrooms and his guess turned out to be accurate, causing him to slightly grow. Before he ate any more he handed over the shrinking mushroom to Child and continued to chew at the fungus until it vanished. Then he began to grow. It was much more disorienting than any shrinking or growing before.
He closed his optics and waited for it to stop as he grew taller and taller. Soon it stopped and he looked downwards. Nine was now quite tall, but thankfully his clothes seemed to grow as well; save his hat which fell off as he grew. Child lifted it off the ground, shook off any dirt on it, and looked upwards. He seemed hesitant to look directly at Nine for whatever reason and Nine gave a playful smile before crouching, "Let's get going. Five's waiting for us." He held his hand out to lift Child only to notice how much lighter colored it was; no longer copper and now some sort of softer material. "What…?"
He looked over his hand only to suddenly recognize it as a human hand. "I'm- What is this?!" He asked in alarm and slid his sleeve upwards, revealing more human skin underneath. "I thought Six told you." Child quizzed and tried to somewhat coax him with, "Just calm down. It's a bit surprising at first, but it will wear off." Nine patted at his face and could recognize it as being humans, his now formed hair as well, and dropped his hands down to sit there for a few seconds. His optics, now eyes, were wide as he took in the new form. "I'm… A human now. I'm just a human now…"
"I know it's a surprise, but it happens to all Stitchpunks who grow to a certain height." Child pointed out, "I personally don't grow in size because of it. It's… awkward." Nine choked a bit, "You're telling me… But we have no choice." He straightened a bit, "Okay, I can handle this. Hold my hat and let's get going." He lifted the Jabberwock and set him on his shoulder before standing straight. He towered over everything in an awkward fashion and took a testing step, having to watch his feet carefully. His feet were much softer feeling and shoes hadn't appeared, but thankfully his own tolerance managed to stay.
Soon he was striding over the landscape. Nearly tall enough that it seemed like he could touch the cloudy sky. The male continued onwards and broke the silence to remark, "I bet you're glad you didn't have to go into the desert." He remarked, but the Jabberwock gave a frown, "Not exactly… If it was anywhere else I would have to find him… But I cannot go into the desert." Nine was confused by it and Child continued, "I am confident that Six can do it. He's been through there before, he has befriended the Sawdust Eaters, so the threat is minimum. If I tried to go in I would be rejected."
"Why?" Nine asked and Child shrugged, a few moments passing, and then Nine asking again, "Are you and the March Hare friends or…?" For a second the smaller seemed like he was surprised by the question, but then admitted, "A bit like that. It's complicated to explain." Nine wasn't sure what that meant and fell silent as he continued walking. A few moments passed and then Child added in, "I could tell you, but I think it would scar you. Or at least make this more awkward." Nine gave an amused smile, "Then it's a good thing I didn't ask." A few moments continued to pass and Child added in, "You're too innocent."
"You're acting like you want to tell me." Nine playfully pointed out and finally Child finished with, "The March Hare and I are romantically involved." This triggered a sputtering stutter from Nine, "I-What?! But I thought Seven-." Child quietly continued, "Seven and the March Hare used to be involved… Somewhat. Nine had feelings for her, she didn't return them, and then we got together." This sent Nine reeling and he just stared ahead in alarm. The Jabberwock dared to ask, "Back in your world are you with Seven?" Nine bit his lip; it was softer, especially under his newly formed teeth.
"Uh, well… No." He admitted in defeat, "I have feeling for Seven, but she… She doesn't feel the same… You're not back in the Emptiness, or another version of you, or- I don't think so." He continues to ramble, "There's another Machine, but I've never seen another you. Then again I haven't seen many of anybody." He gave a crooked smile at the seeming tension and Child looked away, uncomfortable himself but not sure if it was because of the conversation or Nine being a human. "Does it make you uncomfortable knowing about it?" Nine contemplated this and playfully added in.
"I'm actually surprised that you two having killed each other yet." He teased and Child seemed to be relieved. The rest of the trip was uneventful as they arrived at the village. "I think the witch he's talking about is the female in the red hat. I suppose Five mentioned her?" Nine got a small smile as he remembered, "I actually saw her. Five was talking to her before we left." Child nodded, "Could you tell which house was hers?" Nine shook his head. "Well… I suppose it would be the one with the garden behind it." He approached the outside of the town and looked downwards, "They... All have gardens."
Now he noticed that Child was smirking and gave his own, unimpressed look. "You could have warned me." Child instead quipped with, "It's a garden of flowers more than vegetables. Lower me down and I should be able to see well." Nine took Child into his hand and lowered it somewhat, circling the circular set homes and searching for a proper match. Soon they managed to find what seemed to be the proper garden. Nine crouched down, leaning over the garden, and reached in only to prick his finger. He pulled his hand back and shook it, "Ugh, not as durable. Here, you find it. You'll know what you're looking for."
Child dropped inside of the fence and started to seek around through the thick flowers and bushes. Nine lowered his head closer to see better as the distance and overcast sky made it a little more difficult to see. He leaned his hand against the house, one finger slipping in to grip ahold of the window, and almost immediately after there was a cry. "Eek! A serpent!" A voice cried and followed by the window landing on his finger. Nine cried out and yanked back, massaging the abused finger as the window opened again. A female Stitchpunk looked over and looked surprised, "Oh, I'm sorry! I thought- I don't know what I thought!"
"No problem." Nine shook it off and looked to the female only to recognize her quickly. "Hey, you're the girl in the red hat that Five was talking to!" She wasn't wearing her hat currently, but he was certain of it. "I am." She answered, almost quizzically, and noticed Child scuffling around. With him bent over she couldn't recognize him. "So… Uh… What are you doing in my garden?" Child suddenly straightened and called out, "I found it!" Now the female's optics widen, "Oh, Mr. Jabberwock! Hello! I didn't recognize you down there!" Child looked towards her window, "Yes, that's me. Have we met?"
"Not exactly. Not formally. I've seen you with Nine." She pointed out and he nodded, "And I have seen you with Five." She nodded almost sheepishly and introduced, "I'm Velvet." Nine chimed in, "Nine… The other Nine, not the March Hare. It's a long story." He waved off. "I'm Child. It's a pleasure as we are in dire need of your resources." He lifted a handful of Snark Scale petals, "The Mad Hatter has been poisoned by the Boojum and we must get these scales to the Red Kingdom as quickly as possible." Velvet's optics widened, "Five was poisoned?!" She was horrified and the two nodded.
"He was…But he's with Two at the castle. We're heading there next." Nine explained as he reached down to offer his hand to Child. Velvet immediately blurted out with, "I know this is very sudden, but may I come with you? I have to see him." She was desperate and grabbed her hat off of the dresser, placing it on. Nine gave a small smile and nodded, "Sure. The more the merrier. The least we can do since we raided your garden." Child climbed onto his shoulder before murmuring, "It's almost as though you don't realize that was illegal. Ah well, the more accomplices the better. Don't run fast, just run faster than them, right?"
Nine playfully rolled his eyes and offered his hand to Velvet. She pulled on a red jacket and climbed out of the window, onto his palm and pulling it back to his shoulder. "Alright, I'm going to have to go a little faster. Hold on!" They braced themselves and he began to quicken his pace until Child added in, "Turn about twenty degrees to the right." Nine didn't even say anything, he just turned and continued, suppressing his embarrassment.
"What happened?!" One asked assertively with a clear indication of dread as the guards entered in with the stretcher. As soon as he saw Two hurry over, still completely intact, he felt a spreading relief. Not caring of appearances at the moment he tightly hugged onto Two. Two hugged back and pitifully explained what happened, "Five was poisoned by a Boojum while we were on the Jabberwock's island-." Suddenly Eight broke in, "Poisoned protecting Two." Two glanced back and Eight shrugged, "He was going to figure it out anyway, right?" Two begrudgingly nodded and One tugged him closer.
"I knew it wasn't safe, I knew that someone was going to get hurt!" One pointed out as he cuddled the shorter who spoke, "One, it's alright. It… Five protected me and now he's the one hurt, so we must take care of him." Eight turned to the guards and started to lead them towards the medical wing. Once they were gone One began to nuzzle Two affectionately. "Oh, my Bunny, you could've been killed again." He lamented and Two sighed, "It's… It's fine. We discovered much; Child was innocent, Nine and Seven have been taken, this is just spreading more and more…"
For a second Two became discouraged, but One was strangely being optimistic. "It'll be fine, you're safe now." Two nodded and admitted, "But the others aren't… But you're right, I can't dwell on this. Five needs our help until Nine and Child come with the Snark Scales." The King nodded before Two smiled sheepishly, "Now would you mind terribly watching Five while I quickly see Twenty-One and Twelve? I've been missing them so much." One actually managed a chuckle and instructed, "Go to them before you drive me insane. I'll see to One." Two smiled and nodded, then rushed off quickly towards the nursery.
Twenty-One was sitting cross legged on the floor with Twelve propped on a pillow. He had a bowl of pudding, most likely his snack, and was trying to feed it to his smaller sister. He would offer her a spoonful and she would suckle on it in delight. Two cleared his voicebox in a One-like fashion, causing Twenty-One to jump with a start, "Daddy! I was just- She wanted the pudding-!" He tried to excuse until he stopped as he realized who it was and gasped, "Papa!" He squealed in delight and dropped the spoon, scrambling to his feet and dashing over to leap onto the White Rabbit. He hugged him tightly and Two hugged him back.
"Oh, my little Twone, I missed you so much!" He knelt down and hugged him tightly, feeling as the tiny Stitchpup nuzzled into his chest. Twelve seemed to notice him as she began to squeak in a needy way and Two looked towards her. "I'm coming, Bunny." He greeted and smiled to Twenty-One as he stood to start over, "Taking care of your little sister?" He asked and Twenty-One nodded quickly, "Yes, Papa! I was giving her some of my chocolate. She likes it!" Two was proud of his son and lifted the tiny, pink Bunnypup. He lifted her to his chest and she cuddled into him as her brother did, squeaking and cooing in delight.
Two stroked over her tiny pink ears and back, watching as her little, barely fur covered tail trembled in delight. Two held his still new baby close as he sat down on the soft rug, pulling Twenty-One into his lap as well. After everything he just wanted to hold them and love them. Meanwhile One headed into the medical room that Five had been taken into. It was a single room with a comfortable, white bed and a counter nearby for preparing medicine. He signaled for the guards to leave and approached Five's bedside. The male was panting tiredly and was missing his hat and jacket.
"Let me see." He insisted in a surprisingly soft tone. Five gently pushed the white blanket down to reveal the small wound that was now spilling more blackness that was spreading across the fabric. One looked at it with concern and his slanted optics widened slightly at its condition. It wasn't the worst he had seen, but it was growing, and he spoke, "Five… I know you were injured protecting Two. Eight told me." Five went to defend his mentor, but One continued, "I would like to thank you as deeply as I can… Two looks and acts strong, but he is still weak from the birth… It would've already overtaken him."
"No problem." Five insisted and added in honestly, "I love him." One nodded softly, "As do I… But as for your condition, I expect a quick recovery once we get ahold of the antidote." He reassured and the one eyed male smiled a bit hopefully. One forced a rare, small one back. "Let me find Two. He went to check on Twenty-One and Twelve." The Hatter nodded and leaned back against the pillow as the King of Hearts exited the room. After a few moments Five leaned over to his jacket, ignoring the sharp pain in his side, and reached into the pocket of his jacket, letting it drop to the floor and retrieving the pocket watch.
His optic stared at the face before him. The numbers eyed him silently as the hands continued to tick. He clicked a small button on the side and the pocket watch opened. The glass covering and face popped open, but so did a compartment in the back revealing a set of three pictures. One was of Two and him when he was young. The second was of Two, One, he, and Nine after they saved the Heart Kingdom with Six. The final was a picture of himself and Velvet. It was the latter two that Five focused on the most. "Nine… Velvet…" He murmured softly, "I'm sorry, I should've been more careful."
He closed his optic tightly and dropped the watch onto his chest, his other hand raising to brush his patch, "It wasn't the first time either…" He stared at the roof for a few moments. It was so quiet in the castle at the moment, mostly from the thick walls of the medical room, and he could slowly feel the changing patterns on his fabric around his wound. "Now that I have lived a lifetime's worth of days, finally I see… The folly of my ways." He lulled softly and exhaled, looking out the window at the cloudy sky, a few light drops of rain on the glass. All he could do was wait.
"There's the castle!" Nine cried out in relief as he continued walking towards it, "We can finally give the cure to Five!... And I can finally get back into my body. My feet are killing me." He playfully pointed out. Though he was somewhat serious as his feet were starting to grow sore. The Guards started to run in circle and pull out weapons out of fear and Nine called down. "It's me! Nine! I'm here with the cure for Five!" They still seemed skeptic, but suddenly Eight's voice broke out, "Stand down, men! It's fine!" The Guards immediately stopped and regrouped as Nine stepped over the wall and leaned down.
He set down Child and Velvet, the former handing the petals to the latter who rushed inside the castle. Nine then knelt down and looked to Child, "Have the mushroom half?" Child nodded and began to fool with the piece. "Hold on for a moment… Here." He handed the trimmed piece. "This should be enough." The younger trusted and ate the mushroom piece. He quickly began to shrink and loose his human features, returning to the Stitchpunk part as he was. "Whoa…" He stumbled back a bit as he adjusted to the size, Child catching him, "Are you steady?"
Something was different about the concern and Nine knew it was because of what he now knew. He felt hot in his face, sheepish, and nervously chuckled, "Yeah, I'm fine! Just… Just fine." He had been attracted to Seven for a long while and hadn't had it returned, yet now here was someone with feelings towards him, or one of him. It was sort of a giddy feeling along with a slight embarrassment. He stretched out his legs and took his hat back thankfully. "Alright. Let's head inside and find the others." Child announced and Nine paused before asking, "If Five's safe now then shouldn't we- Shouldn't I head into the-?"
"No." Child suddenly spoke out firmly. Nine was surprised and Child caught himself in alarm at his own behavior. He immediately apologized, "I'm sorry, I just… It's dangerous to go alone. More unstable, unsteady, I just think it is safer if you stay here." His protectiveness was showing even though this was the wrong Nine, but he couldn't let the second one get trapped too. For a few seconds Nine just stared and then nodded as he snapped to reality. "Alright. I will." Suddenly one of the guards called out past them, "Captain, there's something coming towards the wall!"
Nine watched as Wonderland Eight suddenly dashed by towards the front, "Is it the messenger?" He demanded in questioning and the card guard shook his head, "No sign of him, Sir, but there's something out there… It looks like some creature from the woods." They continued to the front and Nine watched them go. He then looked to Child and dismissed the incident, "Let's go find Five."
The door to Five's room opened and Five glanced over to see Two slip in. He was then surprised to see Velvet follow him inside. "Velvet, you… You got here!" He exclaimed, struggling to sit upwards, and Velvet rushed to his side and clasped his hand, "Oh, Five! How did this happen?!" She asked in horror and the Hatter simply raised her hand and held it to his chest. She blushed slightly but was too concerned to notice, "My poor baby…" Two took the Snark Scales off to the counter and began to prepare them with Five's teapot, "Almost there, my boy. Soon you'll be feeling much better."
Velvet sat down on the bed beside him and held his hand until Two finally came over with a small pair of scissors. "We'll want to snip the stitches holding it closed. After we get the cure in it we can stitch it again." He went to lower his hands when Velvet spoke, "Two, umm, let me try to do it." She carefully took the scissors and the Inventor nodded, "Go ahead." He headed back to the workbench and Velvet turned towards Five. She lowered the small scissors to the stitched wound and snipped the first string. Five tensed at the motion, but kept his mouth closed tight, not revealing any pained noises.
She snipped another thread and the wound was securely opened. "Alright… It's ready…" She bit her lip and Five smiled to her, "Don't worry, Darling. It's okay." It was almost as though his comforting of her comforted him as well. She forced a smile as Two came over with the warm teapot, "Now this will sting for a minute, but then you will feel immediately better. Though don't expect perfect results for a few days." Velvet moved to hold the wound open as Two poured the water directly into it. Five jumped slightly, "Ah!" His hands clenched onto the bedding as he took in the surge of heat and pain.
After a few moments it started to change into a dull numbness instead and Five groaned as the pain was quickly exchanged by a relief. "Better…" He sighed as weariness began to set in and he felt the blackness slip out. Indeed a large amount of black fluid spilled out of the wound and onto the bedsheets and floor. "Almost there." Two coaxed, "All of the poison is spilling out. Just a little longer." Velvet leaned closer over the Hatter, "How are you feeling?" He smiled in almost a stupor of a daze, "Feeling great!" Velvet got an amused smile and looked to Two, "We're losing him." He gave a chuckle as well.
Suddenly Nine burst into the room, "Five?" It was then that he noticed the black mixture that had spilled on the bed and floor. "Five!" He cried in horror as One slipped in behind him, who had been jostled by Nine before the younger had rushed in. "It's alright!" Two insisted as the teapot ran dry and Nine ran over, "That's just waste poison. Five's much better now, and by tomorrow he'll be right as a ticking clock." Five looked rather tired now as he nodded and leaned back against the pillows. Nine smiled in relief and gave a bit of a nervous laugh, "Oh… Oh good! Glad to see you're okay, Five."
Five smiled back, "Yeah. Me too." One cleared his voice box, "And of the scepter? And the perpetrator behind this madness?" Nine winced and looked back, "We don't know. We found the March Hare and Seven, but Six and Eight went into the desert alone." Suddenly Child stumbled into the doorway, leaning on it, "Come quick! All of you…" When the Healer started to sit upwards he gave a flat sigh and remarked, "No, not you, Five. Good Creator." One looked to the Jabberwock, "What is it?! What has happened?!" The albino male pointed back, "That thing outside the gate has gotten in! It's some sort of Beast!"
Two sprinted out of the room and Nine followed behind him with growing horror. They passed a few windows facing the courtyard as they continued to the stairs and while Two didn't stop to look Nine couldn't help it. The sight made him immediately stop in his tracks and he gasped in alarm. "H-How?! How here?!" He sputtered out as Child stopped behind him, seeing the recognition in his optics. The thing standing in the courtyard, tearing through guards, was a Beast most definitely.
Cat was nowhere to be seen, and yet there was a Cat Beast in Wonderland, a real one.
Mable: You're probably wondering how Six and Eight are doing in the desert. Well, you shall soon see, in the next chapter in fact! I hope everyone enjoyed!
Speaking of which, if you're wondering about the short blip of a song that Five sung it is 'Beautiful Ride', actually sung by John C. Reilly as well.