Been one heck of a ride, guys! The last chapter of this book before the epilogue comes out! Made it extra long, a whooping 6000 words! Thank you for everything again, for sticking with me till the end. It's been fun!

I have more plans in the future though, for Julia and the others, so don't worry!

(Chapter Thirty: Last Stand)

Julia was awoken by the sudden bounce of a child next to her, turning her head, she saw Melody with the brightest smile. Making Julia chuckled, grogginess still present. "Hey, kid."

"Hi!" Melody giggled out a smiled "it's time to go!" The child was excited, all their hard work had been payed off! They had all the missing time pieces and she could finally go home!

"It's time to go home!" She ran out of the room leaving Julia to pull herself together. The taller girl sat up and took a moment to look around, Gabriele, the badge seller, heck even the nomads where all..

Gone.

Where we're they? She expected Gabriele and the twitching seller to disappear on her, but why weren't the nomads around? Taking a hand to brush back her hair, she noticed she didn't... feel anything. At all.

Taking a quick glance, her left hand was..

Disappearing.

Scrambling around she tried to find anything that's she could use to hide it from the kid. What was happening?! Was this what the badge seller meant?

Is she dying?!

Julia couldn't break this to the kid; it would destroy her happy mood.. taking a breath and then a long sigh, Julia walked out once her hand had been wrapped up.

The kid will be long gone before she could even notice, right?

"Kero!" Julia yelled out, the two girls had made it back to the ship; however... "Kero?" Julia wondered off leaving Melody to herself. It was rather suspicious that the ship was so quiet; with how loud the Mafia jar was and how cheerful Cooking cat always seemed to be. Putting a hand to her chin, the child turned her head as she walked.

Two things left her speechless.

"Kero? Kiddo, where are you?" Julia wondered around the left side ship, and looked through Melody's room; where would he have gone?

"Julia!" Melody nearly screamed out in a panic, Making the taller girl turn right around and bolt. When she arrived back at the hub the entire ship was covered in a red light; but it wasn't from the ship. Turning her head towards the planet, Julia agape in pure terror-

The planet was nothing but lava, near the center was a large castle that could be seen from space.

"J-Julia.. she.. she took them.." Julia turned around to a very distressed child, behind her was the counter with the current amount of hourglasses that had; Eight. "They're all gone, all of them.." Melody whimpered.

"Oh, kid.." Julia crouched down to hug her, Melody holding on tightly "it's.. it's-" Julia wants to say it's gonna be okay, that's everything will be fine. Nothing about this was fine, though! Taking a moment to think; The next best thing she could say was "let's go take 'em back."

This made Melody look up with tears in her eyes "wha..?"

"I know you don't like it, but take a look..." Julia pointed out, holding Melody's shoulders "there's nothing much we can do but take the fight to her now." The child took a breath as she looked at the burning planet; she had just saved the alpines from the flower storm, now this?

"I.. I can't do it anymore," She cried "I'm tired.. and scared.." she's not a super hero; Melody is a kid..

"I know sis, I know.." Julia patted her, taking a quick glance at her own hand that was disappearing before looking back at Melody "I'm tired, and I'm always scared; it doesn't stop me from doing idiotic things.." Julia stood up, looking at the planet for while "but I'm not gonna let that stop me, all of our friends could be down there; my baby.. Kero.."

"It's okay, it's okay to be scared, it's not okay to give up." The tall girl removed her top coat, tying its sleeves around her waistline; loosening up her neck tie and looked down at her captain, "Melody, I can't leave like this."

"Leave..?" Melody questioned her, but understood that she was getting ready to go down into that mess Mustache girl had made. The small child knew she had to; she wouldn't be able to go home otherwise.

One last battle, one last stand;

One last friend to save.

Planet looked even worse as the jumped; Volcanoes erupted everywhere and nothing but this castle remained. Falling towards the the only platform that was safe, Julia and Melody found themselves... behind a queue line?

"Cc!" Melody yelled, running up to the cat, as Julia lacked behind.

The small cat turned around, a somewhat relief on her face "My children! Oh, thank goodness y'all are okay!"

"Cc, what happened?" Julia asked, looking around; the heat was starting to get to her as well as everyone else. Maybe they should have brought water..

"I don't quite know dear, one moment I see the red hooded girl push down Kero, the next I was here!"

Julia's eyes widened, she did what to her child. Melody looked up a little worried, and patted her leg. It was incredibly hot because the color black soaks up more heat the anything, how was Julia not cooking alive?

In truth, Julia had already lost most of the feeling in her legs on the short ride over, but yet.. she could still move.

"Now, I've been in hot kitchens before;" Cc started taking again "but this is something else!"

"Tell me about it." Julia huffed

"I don't know how you're not breaking a sweat, but I'm really Cooking." The cat chuckled to herself, lighting up the mood a tad bit. "Maybe you girls could skip the queue and find out who the head chefs here is? Though, I probably have a guess."

Julia and Melody nodded making their way up the ramp and spotted a whole bunch of other people; the nomads and goats, the express owls, the crows; Mafia was expected, and almost everyone from Subcon.

"Children!" The two stopped and looked down as the were about to pass, the were greeted by their favorite man stuffed in a jar-

"How have you not evaporated yet?!" Julia freaked out.

"It's only so hot to make my liquid almost boil- I will be fine" he confirmed "but.. Mafia boss is happy.. to see you two are alright..-"

That was.. surprising actually. Maybe the heat is getting to him?

"Mama!" Julia snapped her head over to the sound of her child, Kero was waving his hands around while sitting in the arms of Snatcher- who she'd rather not see again but he's.. alright. Julia ran over to the two, arms open as Kero jumped from him and to his mother.

The two embraced for a long time, as Melody made her way up to Snatcher "Hey, kid! How's that soul of yours? Still rattling around in there?" The large ghost chuckled, "Wish I could say the same for you friend..!"

"Can it Snatcher, not now." Julia stood up, still holding Kero.

Surprisingly he laughed heartily at that, which kinda confused Julia, but hey. The world was at its end; "I'd love to know who thinks they're big enough deal to judge me!" He shouted, looking around to the end of the line and wanting to just barge in there.. but his minions were out here. He needs to make sure they're okay. "So I've taken a few.. hundred.. souls- big deal!"

"That is a huge deal!" Julia pointed out.

In a more somber voice he replied "Do us all a favor, kids! Go check out who thinks there better then us, and hit them!" Sighing, he added "I don't usually advocate that kind of thing, but this is pretty authoritarian!"

"Kero, baby; stay with Snatcher" Julia set him down as she talked "Mama, and Auntie Melody are gonna go fix everything, okay?" She quickly caught herself from choking; with how fast her body is losing feeling, she's afraid she might not come back.

"..Mama..?" Kero asked as he stayed behind the larger ghost.

"Melody; there are two stairs going up, you take left and I'll go right!" Julia stated, pointing the way up, the small girl nodded and the two split up for just while.

You could here the different people chatting and talking, some losing hope, others scared; the Firefoxes we're having a hell of a time here. Julia couldn't believe what was happening.. this all really feels like a dream. To be honest, she was kinda hopping to see Moon again.. but as she ran up the steps she didn't even get a glance of him anywhere. Or Gabriele and the badge seller for that matter.

She started slowing down when from the top of the steps she heard a familiar yell "Oi! Lassie! Up here!" Her head snapped up and she hurried.

"Yer here too, lass? What is this place!?" The Conductor questioned "I've never broken a law in me life!"

Julia cocked a brow at him "are you sure about that?"

This made him chuckle nervously "Well, eh- not on purpose!"

Julia smiled at him as she saw Melody reach the end of her steps to be greeted by DJ Grooves; "Grooves is here to, huh..?" She mumbled mostly to herself as the Conductor started yelling again "Oh, whoever they are, I'm nae gonna to be judged be some..."

"Mustached,"

"HATLESS, HOOD-WEARIN',"

He's really going-

"STATUE-POSIN', CASTLE-DWELLIN',"

Oh god, here we go!

"TICKET-GIVIN' PECK NECK!"

"hallelujah!" Julia heard somebody shout, making the taller girl laugh slightly. She made her way up and waited for the kid by the closed doors.

Melody made her way up, taking a look at everyone around; when she made it to the top she could hear the Conductor talking, but was greeted by her favorite DJ! "Good to see you, Darling!" He hugged the child, looking around to see if Julia was anywhere, "where is-" Melody pointed over to where the Conductor was now yelling in the distance.

"Ah! Nice to know I'm not the only super star waiting around this... Tawdry place.." Melody smiled as him. "Slide on up past those doors and find out who's calling the shots, won't you?"

Melody nodded, waving goodbye as she heard somebody yell hallelujah in the distance; it was out of place, but kinda funny.

She and Julia made their way up to the closed doors, the taller girl anticipating what could be ahead. The doors opened, and more stairs led up. "She really likes her stairs, doesn't she..?" Julia added as they walked; this was gonna be troublesome.

Down the path and into another door way, they were finally inside.

Julia could almost hear the boss level music; kinda reminded her of the last Mario level.. the classic one. The lava jumped and fell, hook shots were gonna be needed. "Ready, Melody?" Julia asked, umbrella armed.

Taking a few breaths, the small girl nodded "let's go." And off they went; Melody taking the lead.

Using the first hook shot, the child waited for Julia to arrive, then waited for the pillars to come back up. "Just like at the lava cake; the pillars run on some sort of pattern system." The older girl informed as Melody watched the pillars rise and fall.

Once she was ready and times right, the child ran ahead; Julia close behind. Once they made it to the spring, they jumped up. Ahead of them was one of those spinning contraption, but a fox now danced on it giving it more power-

"Well, that's.. new." Julia mumble.

"Not like at the lave cake?" Melody asked, the taller girl shook her head in confirmation;

"Watch yourself.." Julia added in. "I'm going in!"

"I should be telling you that!" Melody said as she watched Julia hop around the fire walls like jump ropes. Once Julia was cleared, Melody finally jumped though, she had more grace as usual.

"Ah- Kid? I don't have an ice hat-" Julia spoke up, but The child handed over her old beanie hat; Melody now wore a shell like helmet and jumped to the next location waiting for Julia to arrive.

"Ah-" Julia gaped, "okay- uh.." she struggles to put the hat on, but once it was on she still had no idea what to do- "think cool thoughts..?" She mumbled to herself.

Eventually she had turned completely into ice as she was flung across the way. They were then intercepted by a panicking owl; they wanted their back of the line ticket-

"Don't worry about the ticket!" Julia shouted, "get out of here we'll deal with what's ahead!" That seemed to calm the owl down, and the others across the way. "Go!" She shouted once more as they all got out of there.

"Good.." Melody looked at Julia, "we won't fight unless it's necessary.." trying to get some people to get out was a good idea.

Once the owls were out of the way, all they had to do was deal with the egg cannon that seemed to make a comeback as a defense for this burning castle. Julia glared the eggs.

Running in between them and their pattern, they jumped and grabbed the ledge of the next area, were a cherry bomb waited for them. Melody looked questioning at it, but Julia had grabbed her attention and pointed the way. Far off, she could see a dweller waiting.

"I'll grab the cherry and toss it to you, get going!" Julia said, looking at the next pillars they needed to cross. Quickly, the taller girl grabbed the explosive fruit, tossed it once she was on the first pillar. Melody grabbed it and tossed to the dweller and once that happened, the ice cube exploded;

Now Julia wasn't going to question the fact there was a frozen object here, nope, not at all. Just keep moving.

Up ahead, there was an even larger egg canon, a narrow walkways, and two hook shots away to the large entryway. "C'mon, lets do this!" Julia shouted jumping down and running to the side platform to stay out of the eggs way. Melody observed from the beginning, waiting for Julia to get cleared before she ran.

The taller girl booked it, right at the edge of where the egg shot out; she made it just in time! Julia waved as she then hooked her way to safety. Melody smiled, nodded and started making her way, just the same a Julia. This first part was rather easy, two hook hoops at the end, two platforms and then finally the entry way.

"Looks like there more obstacle in the way, Sis;" Julia pointed out as she already gotten rid of the little crows that were on fire. "More climbing it seems. I wonder how long this place was.."

Melody hummed "knowing Mu, probably annoyingly far; She's want people fall on there way over.."

"At this point, do you really think you'll get through to her?" Julia questioned.

"... maybe?" The child was unsure of herself.

They were halfway to the second part of the area, they had passed green realm objects, more fire and eggs; this area seemed more Dweller mask oriented. They needed to be more careful now. The next platforms a head were hanging by chains as fire spun around.

"This is getting ridiculous.." Julia stated; not realizing her leg caught fire.

"J-Julia..-" Melody pointed out, making the taller girl notice and started patting it out quickly; once it was out, Julia smiled a stupid grin.

"Few! That's was close!" Melody whipped her forehead, and sighed; it was a good thing too, Julia might not had noticed. This place was starting to become to hot for the child. "You okay? Need a break- I could carry you!"

"How do you have so much energy now..?" Melody questioned.

"I.." Julia hummed, she wasn't actually sure. Maybe because she can't feel the heat anymore? Had it already spread to another area? She was to scared to look honestly. "I don't know.. but still, You want a ride?"

Melody nodded "just for a little.." With that, Julia jumped.

She carefully jumped over the spinning contraptions of fire, minding not to get set on fire again; hook shot her and Melody through the air, and then quickly ran over the falling platform; last obstacle was a larger green platform that needed the dweller's mask.

This place was absolutely the worst; having them take out the three express owls to continue. That made Julia's blood boil, the lave still wasn't helping. As the gate lowered, the two ran ahead. There they were stopped by large hammers slamming down on the path.

"Guess with as many time pieces, she could make whatever.." Julia confirmed.

"Not to mention, very dangerous still." Melody added.

Timing it carefully, they jumped one by one, not wanting to bump into each other and get hit or squashed. Once the hammers were cleared, they had to spring up; there they saw a large Goat stomp around.

"These guys are nice to look at, but I'd rather not get slapped again-" Julia said, mindful of the way it walks. Once in the clear she climbed the wall with Melody. At the edge of the wall, they were greeted by a Subcon minion,

"Watch your step, guys!" He cheered as they walked on; this made Melody smile.

Past more burning contraptions, some sleepy raccoons, and balloons plus hook hoop; they stopped at another hammer gauntlet. Only three, but still a lot more then before.

They watched the pattern for a second and then ran ahead. Hammers are cleared and now-

"More spinning fire." Julia let out a groan. "Come on!"

The place was getting to her head now. But the two girls were almost to the end! Once they pass the rest of the fire, and a bunch more hammers, that should be it!

Once they cleared the entire run, the two girls were now head to head with a large door; it was time to approach the end. When they were close enough, the doors opened on their own and there she was-

Mustache girl; sitting on a pile of Melody's time pieces, while a Mafia man was on his knees. Their voices echoed through the room.

"I didn't punch old man for like, two days straight that one time!" Julia heard the man say; and comping from the Mafia, she'd consider that an achievement.

"Oh, wow! What a touching story." Mu said in a fake tone, but then continued "Just kidding! Bad guy! Next!" She quickly yelled not giving the Mafia man a chance as he dropped to his doom.

"I said, Next!" She shouted again.

Her eyes narrowed as the two girls walked ahead, Melody and little frightened; Julia crossed her arms, with a fierce face. The two girls looked like a mess, covered in soot and ash.

"Oh, it's you." Mustache girl said without interest towards Melody, "you've been kinda a selfish little pest. But eh!"

"Selfish-!" Julia was about to go up there, but Melody stopped her. Letting Mu go on without interruption.

"You haven't actually stood in my way. You get to go on, you're a good guy, I guess." She shrugged, without a care. "Go on! You get to live!" As the doors opened back up.

"And go where exactly?!" Julia shouted "if you haven't noticed, the entire world is filled with lava! There's no where else to go!"

Mu scowled at the suit wearing lady. "I said go! Next!"

Melody was shaken, looking at what was her first friend sitting upon a thrown of corrupted time, she wanted to run, she didn't know how to deal with this;

But Julia places a hand on her now. Making the child look up.

"Now or never kid."

Taking a deep breath.

Melody ran.

Up the hill that belonged to her!

But she was smacked away, with Julia catching her before she hit the ground. "Excuse me?!"

The two girls looked up, an angry girl looking down at them. "Don't you dare come anywhere near me! I don't think you quite understand who's in charge, little missy."

"Give back my time pieces!" Melody shouted, as she was placed back down, umbrella at the ready.

Mu scoffed "you know, I was willing to forgive you. I once thought we were gonna be best buds;"

"We were! We are!" Melody shouted again "best friends don't go stealing each other's belongings though!"

"The kid even warned you, told you these things were not to be used as they were!" Julia spoke up "if you don't stop, this world will become nothing but rubble in space!"

"You're just selfish, and rotten! The both of you!" She yelled "Save the planet from bad guys, hah! Who need that, am I right?!"

"You think this is any better!?" Melody screamed.

The area went quiet.

"It is; because I've done a lot without you! I restored justice, became justice! No more bad guys, ever!" Mustache girl yelled.

"At what cost? Destroying your home and everyone else with it?" Julia voice was heard but it sounded like a deathly whisper.

The child, sitting upon the throne grit her teeth "I don't need you, I don't need any of you; this planet doesn't need you. Nobody will miss you, and nobody will care." Making Melody flinch at those harmful words.

"That's it!" Julia yelled, she was against child cruelty, but this kid needed a wake up call; she was about to run up there when Mu came down herself.

"You two are the bad guys; I'll show you how this justice system deals with bad guys!" Mu started a fight; charged up with time pieces.

"Look alive kiddo!" Julia got ready, Melody took a bit, she was ready as well. Julia ran for Mu, but she dodged out of the way, she was getting quicker and quicker until she tried making a hit for Melody.

The child dodge as well, but she ended up getting hit by an hourglass!

"What, no! Don't throw those!" Julia yelled. Conking the hooded girl on the head.

Mu jumped up into the air, and started homing in on the taller one, Julia ran around to avoid getting hit, and when Mustache girl slammed down, Melody came in for a hit. She had hit a lot harder then Julia.

Who would have thought the power of the time pieces could make you act like a missile? Because after that attack, she was shot towards Melody; luckily she missed and Melody got another hit in. Mu was back to throwing time pieces again, Julia got hit with a few, the magic actually hurting her more when they made contact.

One had hit her in the face, and she stumbled. Energy in her legs draining and a piece of the wrap from her hand came undone. Was she even in fighting condition?

Julia was trying to get herself to move as she watched the two girls duke it out, it was like some crazy super hero fight. Melody was looking worse for wear as she kept getting hit; But in the last moment the child hit Mu so hard it made her get pushed back.

In the brief amount of time, the three girls heard a voice yell out;

"She can get lost!"

Behind Julia, somehow a Mafia man got in during the fight broke out. "Mustache girl is not welcomed here. Mafia say, get lost!" Was he helping?

Suddenly the Conductor appeared, along with a few other who came out of nowhere! "That's right, get LOST! Nawone wants yer here! Isn't that right big lad?" The goat stepped up, and nodded, it was actually kind of cute;

"This alternate reality stinks! Get lost!" Snatcher yelled, Kero on his shoulder. He saw his mother having trouble standing up; as well as the rest, but didn't mention it.

The large group of moon penguins appeared, snapping their flippers at Mu "Get lost! Ain't that right, gang?!" And they cheered around in agreement.

Then, mama cat herself pop up, sitting upon the goats head "yeah! Get lost!" She saw her babies all messed up and dirty, the hell this hooded child put them through.

Melody took a look around, everyone was here chanting and cheering; but she didn't smile. She appreciates it, but it's not Mu's fault.. even after she said those mean things..

"Wh-wha? But I'm fixing everything!" Mu cried out, looking around confused "no more bad guys! Why can't you see that I'm doing this for all of us!"

Julia finally got the will to stand back up, slowly but surly, even when staggering; "Ever heard of the term, 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it'?" God, Why was standing so hard?

"How can you.. how can you stand behind these people!?" Mu shouted, more mixed up the Julia "They're crooks! Criminals!" She huffed out a breath "and you're.. helping them?"

"You think everyone is a criminal.." Julia mumbled "that's not how you should go through with things."

The red child growled, "this ends. Now!"

Melody and Julia didn't like that tone in her voice.

Smashing another time piece, the world glitched out; everyone disappeared and it was just Julia; on Melody's end it was just her. They couldn't see each other and this worried them. Melody dodged falling hourglasses while Julia dealt with her own problems.

She was spent; undoing her arm wrap, she found that her limbs to be completely gone, her legs almost there. No, no no! Not now! "Just.. give me more time!" Julia cried " I'm not leaving here, not now; not when she needs me the most-!"

"But.. does she..?" An anonymous voice called out

"Of course she does! Even if it's not a lot!" Julia cried again "I want to be here until this fight is over, until I know she can go home!"

Julia crumbles to the ground, unable to stand back up, she wanted to keep going; for once she wanted to move on. But the voices kept ringing in her head, phantoms from the past holding her down, caller her things, and putting words in her mouth.

"Shut up! Shut up!" She cried.

"Hey, Pumpkin; you're doing great" a pat to the back and somehow..

She got back up.

"You keep that kid safe, yeah hear?" The voice ringed in her ear; even beyond the grave.. "use what I gave you; go get 'em."

Julia was back, arms, legs; everything. Her second wind. "Thanks, grandpapy.."

Then the light came back; bright flashy and bothering here eyes, but Julia could see Melody, running around dodging the beat she could. A spark flashes through her eyes; her charm glowed.

Everyone was cheering them on, time for a show.

As Melody ran, she was about to get hit with an attack from Mu; a large beam that was coming straight for her! Julia jumped in the way and in an instant her shield shot up! A lot thicker then before, and able to withstand the pressure of the attack!

"Julia!" Melody smiled

"Sorry! Am I late?"

"A little," The child smugly smiled and used her as a ramp to jump off and hit Mustache girl. It seemed like she was already fighting a lot, as she tried to continue firing off that beam, Melody kept running;

However Mu kept getting away.

Like a game of cat and mouse!

"Little hat kid and Mafia girl cant even hit evil Mustached girl! We have to help!" A Mafia goon started taking to the Conductor, he nodded in agreement.

"Yer got it, lad! Let's give them something they can jab at that lil' red nuisance, so she'll get lost!" Next thing Julia and Melody notice was that the large Mafia ball from way back when appears; the Conductor riding on top!

"Lassies! Let's roll!" He shouted with laughter "give us a shove right into that red lass' ugly mug!"

"I got the shield kid, go!" Julia cried

"On it!" Melody ran and with the immovable shield, she smacked it right into Mu!

She shot off more hourglasses, creating temporary wall, making Julia lower her shield, and moving around; the ball of men were closer to her so she ran and gave it a great push; smack number two!

Another beam; aimed at Julia this time; shield was going back up- Melody took this distraction to ran over to the ball and hit it at her again.

This kept repeating over and over till something new happened! The ball of people exploded, and the child the two girls were fighting was encased in an impenetrable orb; "hah! I can make shield too!" Mu mocked Julia.

"I can only make a wall; that's insane!" Julia cried out

"I got it!" Melody yelled, smacking the orb a couple of times; to no avail. "Uh oh-" she was smacked away from Mu.

In the distance, Snatcher started talking with the large goat next to him "let's sign a contract and make this girl get lost, once and for all!" The goat nodded, signing the floating paper without a another word. Snatcher laughed out, "alright, let's go! I'll create, you throw!"

"Yay!" Kero cheered, watching his mother in action again; she was so cool in his eyes!

Snatcher then started creating cherry bombs, and the goat started throwing! Melody heard the commotion, and grabbed it immediately after. Tossing it, it collided with the barrier and shattered it!

Mu then started slamming the ground, trying to make getting to her a little difficult; but it didn't stop Melody. As she ran, she jumped and smacked Mu right in the head. Getting away, another barrier appeared.

Same song and dance, throw the cherry, and hit the over powered child; one, two more times, then finally..

Mu was done. She screamed out "That's enough!" And started attacking people behind the burning barrier.

"No!" Both Melody and Julia shouted, the taller girl doing her best to shield Snatcher and mostly Kero. Some of the other bystanders didn't make it.

Then realization hit a Mafia in the head- "oh..! When Mafia explode, they drop pons... this gives Mafia an idea!"

"Little hat girl, and Mafia girl need help to turn back time! If Mafia explode, Girls can get useful pons. Mafia has to explode to save world!" Julia quickly looked at the two, then at Melody. A somber look, but those crazy guys aren't wrong.

Melody was running on fumes, Julia's not sure how much more extra time her grandfather gave her. She could poof at any moment.

"What!? Plan is crazy!" The other Mafia shouted.

A soft smiled came from the first one, a sign of reassurance "Fellow Mafia no worry. If little girl and Mafia girl succeed, Mafia come back when time rewinds!" Putting a hand on his fellow ally's shoulder he continued "Now.., punch me with all your might, fellow mafia! No hesitation!"

In that moment, the other Mafia exhaled, nodded and they did just that. The one punched the other, pons slowly going towards the two girls who've stayed by each other for a long time now. "Hat girl, Mafia girl, here! Take these!"

The orbs were absorbed by them"you crazy lug heads.." Julia smiled sadly.

The Conductor laughed, hands behind his back "heheh, those mafia lads, so foolishly brave. But they be right!" He turned to his rival, Grooves turned to him "alright DJ Grooves, the two of us are gonna help the lassies this time! get ready for a mean punch; you already know me face is me weak spot!"

"Gladly, darlin.." Grooves smiled sadly.

"We'll be seeing you around, lassies!" The Conductor smiled, within a moment the two punched each other and then..

They were gone.

Everyone started catching on; they all started sacrificing themselves to help the two girls. Mustache girl started to panic "w-what!? What is this?!" She looked around "if everyone disappears but me, then I'll be all alone! Bad guys, stop it!"

"No!" Mafia boss shouted, "you're the bad guy! Get lost!"

"We don't need a hero!" Snatcher called out "Get lost!"

Everyone started chanting, get lost, it was all starting to get to the over powered child.

"That's what happens when you push most people away.." Julia announced "if you don't want them, they won't be there. However, there are still some stubborn folks around!" She laughed, looking at Melody.

The world started shaking violently, if they don't finish soon, the world will really be gone! "My- My powered are disappearing?!" Mu cried out.

That's when everything started going crazy! Mustache girl saw this as a way to go all out! Everything she had, came raining down. Melody was handling it just fine, but Julia was screaming all the way, trying to put up shields in places that needed them!

"Oh god, Oh no!" The taller girl kept moving. "Kid! I leave the final rush to you!"

Melody moved like she was on caffeine! Even the attacks that did hit her didn't stop her! This was for everyone!

Eventually, it all came to an end; this was finally it, and the three.. yeah.. three. The three of them were back at the throne room; Mu knocked out, and a huge mass of hourglasses floating in place.

Melody ran, she was happy to have her stuff back; she looked back at Julia with a huge smile on her face!

But then it faded.

Julia sat on the ground, legs and arms completely see through. Particle floating away, That was it. She was done. Time wasn't up yet though.

"Julia...?" Melody choked back her tears, this was supposed to be a happy occasion!

"Hey, kiddo.." her voice was nearly a whisper. "Don't let me hold you back; don't you dare forget what you needed to do because of me..."

"But Julia..!" Melody got closer, but Julia held up her hand to take a look.

"Remember what the badge seller said?" The older girl asked "it was bound to happen.." she sighed "man.. and I still have a lot of stuff left to do! This sucks.."

She smiled tiredly "Go, Melody. Go home."

With tears in her eyes Melody's asked "what will happen to you after I reset?"

"Who knows? Maybe I'll go back to where I started.." Julia whispered.

With haste, Melody ran to her time pieces; she smashed them down and reset time.

Melody woke up, back on her ship. Everything was like the way it was. Quickly looking out the window just in case. She smiled, and was about to call out to her friend. Right, she was down there-

Her face scrunched up with sadness, and waited for while, Then secured her time pieces. All of a sudden there was a bang that rocked the whole ship, startling the girl. She quickly ran over to the edge, everyone was there, holding on!

...she had an idea.

There Julia was, clothing good as new, but she was more then halfway gone. Only simple outlines could hold her up as she leaned against the wall. The alleyway she was first found in.. it seemed bitter sweet; seeing the blue sky the way it was.. and the ocean stretching for miles.

She chuckled bitterly to herself "Sorry Moon, I promised I'd come back.." taking another last look out before closing her eyes. "I'm not even sure what's gonna happen now."

"Mafia girl doesn't have to be so down, it will be okay!" Her eyes snapped opened and she looked up, a Mafia goon sat down next to her "Even if Mafia girl vanish, she will live on in all Mafia!"

It took a second, but she started giggling, at least she won't be forgotten. Not ever.

"Ya know, not just the Mafia will remember you kid!" Julia smiled, they all came for her. "You where a huge pain in my side! That's not something I'm gonna forget!"

"I'll miss you to Snatcher.."

That almost made him choke. Almost.

"The kid is probably long gone by now." Julia sighed.

"Not really, darling!" DJ moves aside.

"Did you really think I was gonna leave like that?" Melody smiled sadly, "if you're leaving too, then let everyone say goodbye first!"

Julia's head was left, the rest of herself was nearly bright lines of light.

"Mama.."

"Kero.. be good, okay?" Julia smiled, but it didn't stop the tears "mama's gonna go away for while.."

"I promise to take good care of him, Julia." That was.. that was the first time Snatcher had ever said her name.

"Lass, am nae sure where yer goin, but yer better come back!" The Conductor pointed "I almost lost yer once, not gonna lose ya now!"

Julia nodded, unable to speak now; her head was almost gone.

Everyone wanted to say something, but they kept talking over each other. She knew though, Julia knew they were wishing her well. Wanting for her to come back. Just to stay a little longer.

There were tears; Definitely from her, but others cried as well.

She wore a smile on her face nonetheless.

This was her home.

Wasn't that crazy?