Heyo! Never thought I'd get back to this story for a while, but here we are. Time to really make things interesting. ;)
Welp, here's the next chapter for this. Enjoy! :D
It was quiet back in Subcon Forest. An hour has passed since Hat Kid's work to clean the Subcon Well, where she almost drowned trying. Not only has the apple exploding cause Hat Kid to be in that predicament, but the symbol she saw on the ice cube was enough to get her curious, too.
But a circle with wings doesn't really seem like something that would come out of a creepy place like Subcon Forest. It was dark, spooky, and just a place that no one should really head to.
But if it means getting back the Time Pieces, the hat-wearing adventurer will stop at nothing in order to-
ZOOM!
Hat Kid was sprinting away from... what seemed like a headless statue that was chasing her. Hat Kid wasn't sure why the statue came to life, but once it attacked her and came off its still position, it gave Hat Kid that feeling to run.
Plus, she tried to attack it with her umbrella. But it did nothing. Nothing at all.
Finally, after what seemed like a long time, Hat Kid wound up back in the center of Subcon Forest, where she bent down to touch her knees, panting from exhaustion.
"Watch your step there, kid! You almost fell!" A Subconite shouted from afar.
"Yeah... *huff* thanks for the heads up..." Hat Kid grumbled as she rolled her eyes. She reached up to grab her hat. But it wasn't her signature purple hat with its yellow ribbon surrounding it.
That hat she was wearing right now was a Sprint Hat, a special red visor with tiny wings on the side. This was what allowed Hat Kid to run so fast, unlike her regular hat.
She took the Sprint Hat off, and put her regular one back on. It just suited her for some reason. Once the hat was on her head, she placed her hands on her hips and smiled, showing her proudest position.
But now that she was dried off after the Subcon Well incident, she decided to explore a little more of the forest in hopes of finding out the mysteries of the whole place.
She was also curious about where Snatcher came from. Why is he so obsessed with contracts? Why does he eat souls for his whole living as a ghost? And how did Subcon Forest get so spooky? The backstory behind it?
Hat Kid also thought about the Subconites. She barely interacted with them, but everything about the large and spooky forest was just getting to her mind.
This isn't much like Mafia Town, where it was just an island with the same people as its population. And Dead Bird Studio has way less mysteries surrounding it than what this forest would have to offer.
Hat Kid then got the weird symbol in her mind? What could it mean? What's the origin behind that?
...
As Hat Kid was once again distracted as she was walking, some sounds made her jump, and caused her to get out of her daydreaming position.
Purple vines raised up where Hat Kid was, ultimately surrounding her. Those vines just kept going up, and up, and up... until the whole background turned black. Hat Kid gulped. She knew what was gonna happen.
The area she was standing on became a lavender circle. And then the looks of ghosts surrounded her as soon as that circle came, mixing in with the deep purple sky. The vines also disappeared when the background came, to make it more scary.
Out of nowhere, the Snatcher jumped out at her in an attempt to scare her. He had his arms up wide, and his mischievous evil grin on his face.
"AHHHHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! FOOOOOOOOooooooooooooo..." Snatcher laughed, but then he slowed down and frowned upon seeing who he was looking at. Instead of some other random person coming in...
Instead, the long, serpentine ghost just got met with a 9-year old girl, who smiled nervously.
"...oh wait. It's you?" Snatcher said quietly upon realizing.
"Hi, Snatcher. Were you... waiting for me?" Hat Kid greeted, not stuttering at the slightest. She did feel a LITTLE nervous, but she was used to much worse at this point.
"I was kind of expecting a new victim to step in my traps. I've already taken your soul and everything." Snatcher stated. Hat Kid slightly shrugged her shoulders. Despite her soul being taken, she didn't feel any different.
"Have you even completed your contractual obligations yet?" Snatcher asked.
"Yes," Hat Kid immediately said, "I finished cleaning the well, so that's one contract done. But... I didn't know you were waiting for someone else. Sorry about that."
She rolls her right ankle as she points her finger at her chin, while also looking down slightly. Snatcher only sighed in annoyance, then loomed over the young girl.
"Don't take it personal, kid... but stay clear of my traps," Snatcher warned, "There's only so many times my voice can handle yelling like that. You're taking the experience away from other people."
"..." Hat Kid stays silent, as she didn't know how to respond. She does tend to be a little shy at times.
"Uh, but since you did step in my trap... I might as well extend our business endeavors!" Snatcher exclaimed as he backs up, his grin coming back. He clears his throat after then, closes his eyes... and then...
"FOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOLLLLLLL!" He purposely screamed. But Hat Kid wasn't even fazed at all. But Snatcher continued, waving his hands in a squiggly motion as he attempted to be some kind of cartoonish ghost to scare kids.
"Ooh, you've steeeped intooo my foooreeeest, and noowww you must paaaay the priiiiice!" The tall ghost teased. Hat Kid only raises an eyebrow, kinda annoyed at Snatcher's childish attempt.
The ghost snaps his fingers, and two contracts appeared.
"Pick your poison! Which burden do you want to carry for the rest of your life?!" He questioned. Hat Kid then sighed, showing an unamused look. The contracts were getting a little bit out of hand for her. Not that she minded though.
"I pick this one." Hat Kid pointed at the contract on the right. She just eyed it for a few seconds, and then wrote her name down in her alien language, along with a face of herself winking one eye and showing a peace sign.
Snatcher's grin grew wider as he put a stamp of his face next to Hat Kid's name. Now the contract is officially about to be made out.
"Not a bad choice! This one should be a breeze!" Snatcher complimented. But he looms over the 9-year old alien again, showing a small frown.
"You're leaving all the difficult contracts for the newbies, though, which is really rude when you think about it." Snatcher said. Hat Kid glares at Snatcher. But the tall ghost just smiles again and backs up.
"Whatever, I'm off! Smell ya later!" He laughed. Then he slithers under the ground, disappearing as soon as Hat Kid didn't see him anymore.
The black background goes away, along with pretty much everything else. Hat Kid looks around, and saw she was back in Subcon Forest.
"Hmm... I may need some help." She thought.
*scene: Snatcher's dome in Subcon Forest*
Snatcher was back in his small little home, reading the same book he has been saving since the time Hat Kid was cleaning the well.
Suddenly, Hat Kid entered the small dome, and approached Snatcher again. The serpentine ghost peeks over to see the small child with a smug look. He groans loudly before setting the book down.
"What do you want know, kid? Didn't I already remind you you're not getting rewarded until you complete your contractual obligations?" He asked.
"Can I have a book?" Hat Kid requested.
"Why though?" Snatcher exclaimed as he raises an eyebrow.
"Um, to read?" Hat Kid continued, lowering her eyebrows.
"Kid, I've been giving you work to do," Snatcher reminded, "You're not gonna be getting your soul back until all of it is done. I don't understand the reason of you needing a book has anything to do with this."
"Well... some books have tips, right? Or some are made to be guides?" Hat Kid asked with a smug look, "So, maybe with those tips, I can explore more of this forest. Or maybe anything else. But I just need a little. You'd at least go easy on a child, wouldn't you?"
Snatcher grumbles under his breath, then he floated over to somewhere in the small house. He reaches over to a shelf, and grabs another book. He gave it to Hat Kid, and the child takes it with a smile.
"Here, this book is about powerful creatures and/or gods," Snatcher said, "You may get to know more about those who are far from your own home, or those who can end the world in the blink of an eye. Hope you're not illiterate to understand every detail! HAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAA!"
Hat Kid rolls her eyes upon hearing the tease, but she kept a cute smile on as she finally gets to have a little break.
"Thank you, Snatcher! You're really great!" The child giggled as she skips away, holding onto the book. Snatcher heard the compliment and wanted to angrily retort that he's not her friend.
But then he just groans as goes back to his chair with his own book.
"I'm not nice, kiddo..." He mumbled.
Hat Kid went back to Subcon Village, where some of the snake spirits looked at her upon arrival. When she came to a large but quiet spot, she sat down and opened the book.
"Gods and creatures, huh? If possible, maybe some could help me..." Hat Kid said to herself. Unbeknownst to her, however, there were a few Subconites watching her. Surprisingly, though, they weren't ordered by Snatcher to watch her.
Maybe they did this under their own will to watch the child.
Hat Kid skipped a few pages to look at brief descriptions of different god-like people.
"Hmm... Time Goddess? Mmm... nah. I already have my Time Pieces." Hat Kid shook her head as she saw that picture. She thought about someone who betrayed her as soon as that came to mind, but she scoffs and shakes the thought off.
"Giygus? No, seems too... dark. Then there's..." Hat Kid skips another few pages. "Ragnaros? Fire god? Mmm, I'm not all wet from the well, so I don't need that. I need to keep looking..."
So Hat Kid skims through more pages of the book, but then something caught her eye.
"Huh?" She saw the next page was large, that it connected two as part of one page. On the left page, there was a giant light circle with white wings, but the other side of those wings had shades of orange to shades of blue.
And the one on the right was a blue eyeball with a black opacity surrounding it, but it had a yellow iris and a black pupil. And it was surrounded by dozens of black tentacles, with a red point at the end of it.
She then saw their names above the two of them.
"Galeem? And... Dharkon?" Hat Kid mumbled those names to herself. But then, she payed more attention to the image of Galeem. Something sparked in her mind. She remembered the symbol in the ice cube was a circle with wings.
Could this be Galeem?
Hat Kid looked at a description of the light god, also noticing a summoning technique like a couple other god-like entities.
"Beware Galeem, the Lord of Light," Hat Kid read out loud, "A dangerous creature who also likes to fulfill wishes to those who summon him. But he is powerful than ever if he manages to get in control."
Below the page, also connecting with Dharkon, there was a large red font that said:
DO NOT SUMMON AT ALL COST!
"I may have to try this out." Hat Kid mumbled as she shows a determined look, adjusting her hat.
*5 minutes later*
5 apples were made into a circle. Hat Kid also put her Sprint Hat in the middle of it as a way of connection.
"I made the circle the best I can. But... I sure hope this works." She said to herself. She looks at the book to remember the phase she found on the next page, which had both Galeem's and Dharkon's summoning quotes.
Hat Kid inhaled through her nose, then held it in. After waiting 5 more seconds, she began to chant:
"Great gleam, great light, lead me to the greatest fight!"
And after she got the quote down, she slowly puts the book down and says that same quote two more times. The Subconites began to walk behind Hat Kid, curious.
"This is gonna be wild!" One of them cheered.
"But also a bit nerve wracking!" Another cried. Hat Kid looks around.
...
Nothing happened.
"*sigh* Just as I thought. It's nothing but a fa-" She groaned, but then she cries out in pain as she fell to her knees, grabbing her head with her hands.
"Hey! What's wrong with the kid?!" Another Subconite yelled. Hat Kid's signature hat fell off as she groans from the pain inside her. Soon she lets go of her head as her eyes turn a pure yellow.
"!thgil eht nommuS !thgil eht nommuS !thgil eht nommuS !thgil eht nommuS !thgil eht nommuS !thgil eht nommuS"
Everything slowed down until it stopped. The only people that were moving was Hat Kid and the Subconites watching.
A large yellow portal showed up, and soon, the swirl went away as it became a pure yellow.
"Grah ha ha ha! GRAH HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!" A loud evil laugh was heard from the yellow ball. Hat Kid shivered as she backed up. The Subconites did, too, as they didn't know what threat they were dealing with.
Soon, giant wings circled around the ball. And soon, they got into position as the yellow ball shines out rays of light.
...
The wings became sharper as the core kneels down a little.
"Ack! Dark place! D**n, I have to make this quick. Upon the one who summoned me!" The core shouted. Soon, it stopped its little pain streak and stared at Hat Kid and the Subconites.
Hat Kid yelped as the core approached her.
"Ohh, what do we have here? A child? Well, I suppose I was summoned here for a reason, so I guess I'll make it brief," The core said, "Name's Galeem, the Lord of Light. Trillion years I've been wandering my decaying multiverse. Pleasure's all mine."
"O-Oh! Hello... Galeem." Hat Kid greeted.
"And I assume you must be some... reckless, obnoxious human? Grah ha ha! Just kidding! I know who you are, Hat Kid!" Galeem laughed.
"Wait! Y-You know who I am?!" Hat Kid yelled.
"Yeah, I just so happen to know LOTS OF THINGS, little one." Galeem replied. He talked in a deeper voice when he said "lots of things", and his core glows brighter as he did so.
Galeem then looks at the group of Subconites.
"Hey, Hat Kid! Do you wanna see a magic trick? First off, I need a volunteer." The lord of light requested.
"Uh... okay?" Hat Kid tilted her head and raised an eyebrow upon hearing that.
"So I'll pick... you!" Galeem pointed at a Subconite in the back with one of his huge wings.
"Uh, me?" The Subconite asked.
"Yeah, you! Get over here!" Galeem chuckled. The Subconite waddled up to the giant good looking over at it.
"Now, just stay still, aaaaannnndd..." Galeem started.
Then he shoots a light beam at the Subconite. The small create screamed as it was soon turned to stone. Everyone was horrified by that. Even Hat Kid.
Then Galeem shoots a smaller light beam, and it... made a copy of the stoned Subconite. After that, Galeem summons a small white spirit from his wings, and forces it to get inside the copy.
Once it did, the copied Subconite came to life as the spirit took control. It also... turned light blue, and its yellow face turned red. Galeem shoots a large light beam back at the real Subconite, and turns him back to life.
"Ta-da! Carbon copy! It's on the house, free for you to keep!" Galeem laughed. The Subconite and its copy looked at each other.
"Whooooaaa!" It said in awe. Galeem then floats back over to Hat Kid, who shuddered upon seeing the god so close to him.
"Anyways... there's gotta be a reason you summoned me here, kid," Galeem responded, "So, do you have anything troubling you? The Lord of Light can GLADLY help!"
"Well... there is a reason, actually," Hat Kid explained, "See, I've been forced to labor upon meeting this ghost named 'The Snatcher'. He's been giving me contracts about work he wants me to do. They were a little rough so far, but they don't seem so bad. But the problem is that they are starting to overwhelm me with how much contracts that Snatcher is giving to me. Also, he took my soul."
"Hmm... how interesting. A ghost forcing a little girl to sign a contract. Isn't that... illegal?" Galeem asked, his wings spread out.
"I guess? But I'm also looking for my Time Pieces, which fell off my ship," Hat Kid continued, "I need to find them in order to get home. I was wondering if you can... help me with some of the contracts so I can get my Time Pieces back."
"Grah ha ha ha! Of course, kid! You seem way more mature than any other child I've ever seen!" Galeem replied.
"Oh! That's great! Thank you, Galeem!" Hat Kid giggles cutely.
"We'll talk in the World of Light. My own personal hideout." Galeem stated. A small white portal opens up. Hat Kid looks at it curiously.
"Come on now, go inside. I'll be waiting for you there." The light god insisted. Hat Kid looks at Galeem and nodded. Then she goes inside the portal.
"And I will see you all... when my work is done." Galeem said to the Subconites. Galeem floats higher up and disappears.
A bright flash is made. Time goes back to normal, and the portal disappears.
All the Subconites were actually stuck in their mind. They yelped as they got back to the real world. They scrambled around Subcon Village, and they got worried about one thing.
Hat Kid.
"Oh no! The kid is missing!" One of them cried.
"Quick! We need to report this to the boss!" Another shouted. And they all sprinted to where the Snatcher is at, ready to report the news.
Except for one Subconite, who was busy staring at its carbon copy, which stayed for some reason.
A/N: Aight, that's all for that chapter. I'll try to get one chapter in by almost every weekend as I work on some other projects I had in mind. :p
But that's my chapter for today! Bye guys, I'll cya next time! :)