Chapter 23: Homeward Bound

"This is just a dream come true!" Gaster laughed a bit, watching as cages with the UnderGround fighters lift up into the air by cranes. "Years of you guys being a pain in the ass, and I finally got you right where I want ya! Still pretty disappointed with you, Groober." He stopped in front of the purple cat, crossing his arms.

"I already told ya. We were goin' too far, and I wasn't going to be a part of taking over the city with somebody else's militia." The cat huffs. "I wanted to take over by doin' what we did best. You lost focus of the sight we had for years, man." The two stared at each other for a moment before they start to snicker, then burst out laughing.

"Oh man, this was too easy!" Groober laughed. "Don't know how much longer I could've lasted with these losers."

"I appreciate letting us know when they were going to visit the town." Gaster snickered. "You haven't lost your ways a bit."

"Oh, you goddamn snake…!" Rammy snarled, shaking her cage violently. "When I get out of here, I'm kicking your fat ass into the ocean!"

"Save your energy." Came an exhausted sigh. Looking over, the group saw Scratch, sitting in her own cage, tiredly rubbing her eyes. "These bars are pure titanium, even I can't rip these things apart. We're going to be here for a bit."

"I gotta say, I'm pretty impressed." Gaster scoffed as he approached the cells, using the dummies as makeshift stairs as he pulls out the USB Lammy had plugged into the main computer. "You guys thought you could pull a fast one on me, huh? It was a nice attempt. Close, but no cigar!"

"You actually check on The Syndicate Central Nervous System?!" Colonel Noodle's eyes widened as he stared at the USB.

"'Course we do! What, did you never check on it?"

"I never had to leave it!"

The rabbit just smirked, sliding the usb back into his jacket pocket before stepping down the stairs of syndicate dummies, which collapsed when he finally reached the bottom, causing the dummies to fall on top of each other.

"Next time, I suggest minimizing the program window." He chuckled, looking towards his companions. "So, doc! Is our surprise ready for when the sheep show up?"

"Just a few more adjustments to the arms, and they won't know what'll hit 'em!" Muto laughed, tightening a bolt he was working on. "There's also the control panel…need to finish the programming for those buttons."

"We'll have to wrap it up, they'll be here any second!"

"We told him the thing didn't need a freaking shoulder death laser!" Bob huffs, tightening another bolt on the large machine. "It was a huge waste of time to install!"

"Yeah, the things size is good enough to destroy anything just by tapping it!" Jock says, helping Bob with the bolt. "Plus, it's a bit overkill."

"It's not a death laser, you dolts! I took time to backwards engineer that old De-Noodlizer design of Patrick's! Who knew simply removing a little video game cartridge can turn it into a shrink ray!" Hearing this, PaRappa and Papa felt a sudden chill up their spine as they look at each other. "In fact, I say we test it."

The mouse grins before opening up the robot, a ramp like platform extruding from its abdomen before he gets in, the ramp following after him before the robot closed up. Muto sat down at the control panel, looking around the junkyard. Spotting a car, he aimed the device at it and fired, shrinking the car down to the size of a toy.

"A-HA! Wonderful!" He cackled. He was going to have so much fun with this! But then the weapon itself exploded. "Damn it!"

"So, what's the plan?" Lammy asked, looking up at X as they continued to ride down the road to the junkyard.

"We'll have to be really careful, whatever it is." Lars said, lighting a cigarette to calm his nerves.

"If I can distract them, you two can get the others to safety." X said, not taking her eyes off the road. "Outside of that, I don't have any other plans besides us winging it."

"Great plan. I'm excited to be a part of it." Lars chuckled softly before taking a huff of his cigarette.

Soon, they arrived at the junkyard. Abandoning the motorcycle, the three snuck in, moving behind several towers of trash, moving whenever the dummies who were on patrol weren't looking in their direction. It didn't take long before they reached a large arena like area, a giant robot resting in the middle of it, with their friends in cages off to the side.

"Alright, X, what's the plan?" Lars asked as he and Lammy poked their heads out, watching the dummies walk around, only to receive no answer. "…X?" He looked behind him before looking up to see the masked figure climbing up the trash tower. Once on top of the tower, they whistle, catching everyone's attention. Gaster just smirked at the sight.

"Ahh, I was wondering when you were gonna show your masked face again." He chuckled. "Come to save the resistance? Be the big hero they need in their time of need? Pfft! How predictable! Haven't heard that before!"

"That's part of the plan. The other part is stopping this nonsense once and for all." X cracks their knuckles.

"Ohh, adding that to the cliché quote bingo." He smirked, pulling out a bingo card, and stamps one of the squares on it. The figured growled a bit before jumping off the tower, charging at the rabbit, only to get tackled by a few dummies, pinning them to the floor.

"And now for the best part." The rabbit snickers as the dummies slowly stand up, forcing X to stand with them, facing the Underground members. Gaster removed the hood, allowing X's hair to flow out, and in one swift movement, removed the mask, reveling in the sudden uproar of gasps.

"…Lammy?" Katy stared at the older lamb, dumbfounded, shocked, any other word she couldn't quite think of.

"….Heeeeeeeeey." She responds with an awkward tone in her voice, her ears folding to the sides as she was suddenly pushed towards the cages and shoved inside.

"Why don't you guys catch up on lost times? You'll need it." Gaster cackled before moving for the giant robot. Lammy and Lars couldn't take their eyes off of what was happening.

"…X is you? How the Hell did I not see that before?" Lars rubbed the back of his head, trying to process this entire situation. "Man…what are we gonna do, kid?" He looked to his side, only to see Lammy was gone. He looked up to see she was doing the same thing her older counterpart was doing and climbing the trash tower. "Oh, not you too…" He sighed before following suit. Once at the top, Lammy grabbed her guitar and pick, looking to see it was still giving off its static like effect. Maybe it could still work…clearing her throat, she whistled, getting everyone's attention before gripping her guitar, ready to play.

"Heh, there's the other one!" Groober chuckled, crossing his arms.

"And the chain smoker's with her." Bob smirks. "Surprised you're still kickin' man."

"My supposed partner in crime, and you did absolutely nothing." Groober shook his head, a disappointing look on his face.

"You got a lot of nerve showing your face again." Gaster says, putting his hands in his jacket pocket as the robot moves it's arm towards them. Lars shoved Lammy out of the way before he was grabbed by the metallic giant as Lammy rolled backwards, landing flat on her back before sitting up. "You had one job to do, man, just give me a little info, and you couldn't even do that!"

"What…what are they talking about?" PaRappa asked.

"Lars?" Katy stared at him with a brow raised as his ears fold back a bit.

"Uhh…" The sheep gulped, his eyes shifting away from everyone's gaze.

"You were working with these guys the entire time?" Lammy asked as she stood up.

"Alright, look, I know this looks bad but-" He was squeezed again, another cough escaping him. "J-Just hear me out, okay? It was years ago, back when I got rejected from being MilkCan's new guitarist…"

A young Lars strolled down the hall, sighing to himself as he looked down at his guitar. A hand me down from his pop-pop, he practiced with it every single chance he could. Just a shame he didn't have time to get replacement strings for the old thing. It was a hand me down from his passed Pop-Pop, back when he use to play in his own band, and now, it was his. Though, what use was having his own guitar if nobody would accept him into the band? He felt he wasn't going to be able to achieve the goal of being a rockstar at this rate.

"Right there!" A noodle syndicate dummy called out, pointing at Lars before he was suddenly tackled by two other dummies, pinned to the floor. "Get that guitarist to the holding cell! Boss'll want a good word with her!"

"W-Woah, what?! Hey, let me go!" Lars cried, trying to break free from their grasp, but to no avail. He was being dragged away to…somewhere. Somewhere he had a feeling he wasn't going to like.

And he was right. He found himself inside a holding cell, next to a few others who were being held there. He gripped at the bars, looking out as far as he could to yell at the dummies. But none were around. There weren't even any keys he could try to reach for so he could make his escape. All he could do, was hope that the dummies realize they made a mistake and let him and some of these other artists go. After some time, the door opens, with Gaster standing at the door, twirling the cell keys in hand as he walked towards Lars, his steps echoing in the hall.

"Heh, looks like it's your lucky day, pal." He said with a smirk as he unlocks the cell. "You'd be surprised how often this happens." A sigh escapes Lars as the door is opened wide for him.

"Oh, thank you, man. Wasn't really hoping to sit in here all day. It was pretty bad enough." He steps forward, only for Gaster to place a hand on his chest.

"Ah, ah, ah! You and I need to have a little chat." He smirked a bit, wrapping an arm around the sheep's shoulder as they walked out of the holding cell area. Lars found himself being walked into one of the offices, two dummies stood by the door, just so he couldn't book it. The two sat down, Gaster lit a cigarette, and held the pack out.

"Ya look like you could use a smoke." He said, popping the lid open.

"N-No, I'm good." Lars said, putting a hand up. "I don't touch that stuff."

"Ah, come on, man. One little cig ain't gonna kill ya!" He said, shaking the pack a bit. Lars sighed before taking one, letting the rabbit light it before sitting back in his seat, while the rabbit propped his feet onto the desk, one hand under his head, and one on his cigarette as he let out a puff of smoke.

"S-So…what did you want to talk with me about?" The sheep questioned, looking down at the cigarette in his hand before taking a small inhale, nearly choking on what he was trying to breathe in.

"You got a lot of talent, man. It's a shame those schmucks don't see it."

"It's the guitar…it's so old and worn."

"Even still, you're probably one of the best guitarists I've seen in a while, you know? But uh…I think I might know a way to get you into MilkCan's band, if, you're willing to cooperate, of course."

"…Go on." He cocked his head before taking another inhale, taking it easier this time.

"You, are going to go back to the holding cell."

"No thank you." Lars says as he slowly stands up.

"Wait a minute, wait a minute!" Gaster shakes his hands. "At least let me finish my sentence, damn! Look, I don't know if you've noticed it, but tension is starting to swell around this town, thanks to me. Pretty soon, people are going to want to start a revolution of some sort. When that comes, they'll want to free the people in those cells. Call it a feeling in my gut, but I'm positive the MilkCan girls will take some part of it. You wanna get closer with them? You'll have to sit back, let me do my thing and you'll be chilling with the rockstars in no time." He smirked, standing up and holding his hand out. Lars paused as he stared at the hand, looking the rabbit in the eye.

"Is that all?" He questioned before taking the hand, feeling a sudden sharp pain in his palm. He winces, lowering himself as he gripped at the desk. Looking down, there was a prick, right in the center of his palm.

"No, there's one more little thing I want you to do. When you do become a part of their little resistance, you, and Groober, are going to feed me information. Whenever someone goes on a supply run, when someone goes out to do some spy work, anything, you will report it to me. I've chipped you, and if you don't keep up your work? I'll blow your cover." He smirked, holding his hand up, a small trigger device slid up from his sleeve and into his palm. He pressed down on it, and Lars could feel a sharp shock from the prick, making him shout, the pain great enough to force him to his knees. Gaster kept his thumb down on the button, smirking as the sheep fell on his side, finally letting go, feeling he made his point. "I've made myself clear, right?"

"Y…Y…Yeah." Lars nodded. "I-I'll do whatever you say, man! P-Please, don't do that again!" Gaster lets go of the button, and Lars flopped onto his back, panting heavily as he stared at the ceiling.

"Glad we could reach an agreement." The rabbit smirked, grabbing him by the hand and pulls him up from the floor, shaking it firmly. "Now, be a good hostage, and head back to the holding cell."

Lars blinked, rubbing his hand before quietly leaving the room.

"A few years pass, and the faithful day soon came whem the Underground finally broke everybody out." Lars explained as the flashback fades away. "Everything kind of falls into place from there. I join the Underground…never sold Gaster any intel like Groober was doing, and I helped keep morale around the base up or doing whatever I could on the field." Suddenly, the robot squeezed him again, forcing out another harsh cough, as if the oxygen in his lungs were forced out of him.

"And ya think I wouldn't have noticed?" Gaster smirked, shaking him about in the robots hand. "Think I wasn't aware you were doing your job or had someone remove that chip?! Now you're gonna see what I do those who go behind my back!" With a flick of the robots wrist, he chucked Lars towards one of the car towers hard enough to make a dent in one of the cars. Everyone watched as the sheep fell to the ground with a thud. He wasn't moving a muscle.

"Lars?!" Lammy rushed over, sliding on her knees, shaking him once she was close enough. "Come on man, you can walk that off!" She watched as Lars' spirit sits up from his body, standing up before floating above his body. Gaster and his friends laughed, while Katy was slamming her fists against her cage in anger.

"Well…this is unfortunate." Lars simply comments as he stared as his lifeless body, the baddies cackling with joy.

"Man, that felt good!" Bob laughed, sadistically.

"Ya know, I kinda feel bad." Gaster smirked, leaning against the control panel. "Maybe I'll name a building after him. Maybe a casino."

Lammy's ear twitched. Casino. The word echoed as it bounced off the walls of her skull. It suddenly felt as if the world around her stopped, and started to rewind, as she saw events moving pass her. Joining the Underground, traveling to the future, getting trapped in Hell, brawling through the streets of PaRappa Town against the sprite Noodle Dummies, admitting her love to Katy, the first instance they came across Gaster, saving the town from the noodle takeover, MilkCan's first concert, her journey to said concert, and suddenly, it all stopped. She stood on a stage; one she was familiar with thanks to a reoccurring nightmare she once had. Brown, orange and purple boards for the flooring, the stage lights that shined multiple colors, the raised steps for Ma-San's drum kit with wings on its sides, and the MilkCan logo, with milk drops painted everywhere on a blue background. No one was there, besides her. She looked around before sitting down.

"Huh…been awhile since I've seen this place." She said to herself, sitting her guitar by her side. "But…why am I seeing it now?" Suddenly, the room began to shake, the floorboards under her creaking aggressively before the walls and ceiling broke off, floating in separate directions, making her jump up. She felt a small shiver up her spine, as if someone had just spawned into the world with her. Looking down, she could see the shadow of a familiar onion man, looming over her. Turning, she saw Chop Chop Master Onion, standing in front of the setting sun, arms crossed, and eyes closed.

"Lammy…" He spoke, his mustache twitching. "What are you afraid of?" The question echoed as she felt a soft gust of wind blow against her.

"I…" She pauses, looking down, picking her guitar up and holds it close. "I'm scared of failing. Everything is getting really intense right now, a-and if I'm not careful, things are going to get worse for the town, a-and I don't know if I can actually stop this!"

"Do you remember what I taught you?"

"H-Huh? Y-Yeah, You lost your dojo."

"That's right. I failed to keep my Dojo safe, but it remains in my mind…it even has?"

"A casino."

"That's right. Don't doubt yourself, Lammy. You can do this. I know you can. I am proud of you, my pupil. Dojo Casino…"

"Dojo Casino…" She says with him, the world around her fading away into darkness as she stood on top of a giant roulette wheel.

"It's all in the mind." They say in unison, Lammy jumps in the air, getting into a meditative position and begins floating, everything she had witness flashing by her again.

"You have nothing to lose." Onions words echoed in her mind one final time before she finally snapped out of it. She reached into her pocket and pulled out the pick, grimacing once she saw it was still glitching. She gulped, took a deep breath, and faced the giant creature. Her older counterpart spotted the pick in her hand and grabbed the one from her pocket as well. It was glitching as well, but it gave her an idea.

"Katy!" She looked over at the blue feline, who's attention was instantly snapped towards her, and she tossed her pick over. "Do what you do best and chuck that thing!" It took a second for it to register, but she grinned, nodding her head.

"Lammy!" She called to the younger lamb. "Catch!" She chucked the pick hard enough to have it fly around the world in one trip. When Lammy saw it coming back, she ran for it and jumped in the air to catch it, only for the robot to grab her just as she was about to catch it. She was completely hidden by the fist. Gaster laughed in pure delight.

"HA! Nice try, losers! You think the kid would be enough to stop us?! Nothing can! Nothi-" His gloating stopped when he noticed the robots fist was shaking violently, sending vibrations throughout the robot. Slowly, a rainbow bubble began to form from inside the fist, the sound of a muffled guitar being played could be heard as it expands outwards. Dark clouds begin to form above the junkyard, lightning crackling throughout the skies. Older Lammy felt herself being forced against the wall of her cage, hard enough for the bars to start bending outwards. With a smirk, she starts pushing them outwards, and once she had enough space, she was able to get out, and found herself flying right for the rainbow bubble.

Upon making contact and sinking inside, lightning strikes the bubble, causing the robots arm to explode off of its body, forcing it to stumble backwards as everyone shields their eyes from the blinding light caused by the explosion. The sound of a guitar riff being played could be heard, and once everyone's vision returned, the saw Lammy in the air, going all out ham with her guitar. To their surprise, she was in the red armor again, surrounded by the flame like aura, the phoenix wings flapping to keep her in the air. Even the guitar had changed to its lightning bolt of flame design.

Lammy was supercharged, jamming out, a smile on her face, which curled into a smirk once she looked at the robot, her eyes nothing but pure flames.

"…Oh poop." Gaster blinked.

"GET 'EM, LAMMY!" PaRappa cheers, everyone else following suit as they began chanting her name. Lammy's guitar glowed as she aimed at the robot, firing blasts of energy at it in rapid succession. Blasting holes through its armor, taking off its other arm, shaving half the head off so she could see the fear the faces of Gaster and the others.

"No!" Muto cries. "The robot can't handle this level of rock and roll!"

"S-Shit! I think it's time to bail, guys!" Jock ducked down.

"Ditto!" Bob tugs at his shirt collar nervously. Gaster looked for the ejection button, and once he found it, he pushed it, only to receive an error noise blaring in his ear. He pushed it again, then again, then started slamming his fist on the button, but nothing was happening.

"Muto, it's not working!" He said, starting to sweat nervously.

"Oh, confound it…I knew I forgot something!"

"Why'd we bring this guy on again?!" Groober questions, death gripping the control panel as the robot started to sway, getting weaker as Lammy continued attacking. "What do we do now, boss?!" Gaster blinked, reaching under the control panel, grabbing a purple violin.

"Gentlemen, it was a privilege playing with you tonight." The rabbit simply says as he stands up and begins playing the instrument. The others just stood solemnly, heads hung, and eyes closed as the robot continued swaying. Smirks grow on their faces as Gaster suddenly starts thrashing on the violin, and it began to glow, the clouds above swirling above him.

"You gotta be kidding…" Joe blinks. "HE HAS ONE OF THOSE THINGS?!"

"HOW?!" Katy's eyes widened in fear as the rabbit began to levitate. "HOW'D HE GET THAT?!"

"What? You think I was gonna let you win that easily?" Gaster smirked, purple lightning began shooting from the sky as the robot falls over, letting his friends roll to safety. "I worked too damn hard to get where I am now and won't let you and your washed up has been friends, TAKE IT AWAY FROM ME!"

One bright crack of thunder roars through the sky as Gaster was suddenly hit by lightning, causing a sudden flash that nearly blinded Lammy. When her vision came back, She was greeted by the sight of a Gaster made of pure electricity, his eyes glowing an orange color, and that plastered on smirk of his stretched over his face from ear to ear. Her eyes widened a bit as she floated backwards.

"What's the matter? Scared that we're on an even playing field?" Gasters voice crackled like a cocky personality being filtered through a radio microphone.

"Hold your ground, Lammy…" Master Onion's voice echoed in the lamb's mind. "Don't back down now or buy into his bluffs. You can do this!" Lammy nodded and faces the rabbit, gripping her guitar.

"Gaster…this…all of this, needs to stop!" She points at him, just to receive snickers from the electric rabbit.

"Is that all ya got for your hero speech? HEH! That's a laugh!" He cackled. "Ah, whatever, let's just get to the good bit! You, vs me, the fate of this town hangs in the balance, yada yada yada." He tossed the violin's bow upwards, making it spin before catching it and getting in a playing position, with Lammy following suit. "Let's dance!"

"With pleasure." Lammy nods. "LEAVE IT TO, LAMMY!" She played a thrashed note, the sky lighting up from the thunder above them.

(Boss 2: Lammy Vs. Gaster)

The two stared at each other as they hovered above the junkyard arena, flying sideways as they circled the area, still glaring at each other. Gaster grinned as he started playing first, just to have Lammy follow suit, throwing in her own rhythm. It was a back and forth that continued, with everyone cheering for either the rabbit, or the lamb. Their instruments charge up between turns, and soon, they would start attacking, firing beams of energy and plasma rounds at each other, the impacts of their attacks causing small explosions in the sky. The two charged at each other in between the attack charges, swinging their instruments like swords before unleashing more energy attacks at each other.

The two weren't showing any signs of being winded, but after one swing, it knocked the two back a bit. Gaster grinned as he continued to play. Though something went wrong, one of the strings suddenly snapped off the violin, making him jump a bit. He felt the power slowly fading.

"H-Huh? Hey! What's going on?!" He questions, trying to keep it going, but it all faded over time as another string snapped, causing him to fall to the ground, face first. He shook his face before looking up at the still jamming lamb.

"She's going cool mode!" PaRappa grinned, laughing as Lammy thrashed on her guitar, finishing off with one long note as she landed safely on the ground, changing back to normal, her friends rushing up to her to congratulate her.

"Alright, Gaster. Your game is over!" Lammy said before being put down, everybody gathering around the rabbit and his lackies, who were trembling in response.

"N-Now wait a minute!" Gaster held his hands up.

"GET 'EM!" Matt declared Before they all jumped at the group. Punches and kicks could be heard, smacks, grunts and clangs rang out amongst the cries of pain as a giant fight cloud started to form. Lammy took a deep breath, sitting down and wiping the sweat off her brow.

"Wow…your friends are pretty violent." Scratch said, approaching the lamb.

"Tell me about it." Lammy and PJ said simultaneously as the bear sits next to his friend before laying down on the dirty ground.

"And PJ's still the same old sleepy bear." She chuckled, shaking her head before looking over to see Gaster and the others getting chased, and kicked in the seat of their pants. PaRappa and the others stood back as the other underground members chased him off.

"Hey, look what I found! It fell out of Groober's pocket!" Joe Chin smirks, holding up Sunny Funny's pendant.

"I knew something was up the second he wanted to join us." Paula crossed her arms.

"You trusted him right off the bat…" Matt points out, pointing a finger at her.

"Shush!"

"Heh, you did pretty good, kid." Lars smiled, looking at Lammy.

"Yeah…but you still died."

"Hey, it's alright. I rather it be me than you."

"Did it hurt?" Scratched questioned.

"Like hell." He nods as everyone stood around them.

"You know, it's funny…" Lammy's eyes shifted to the floor. "When I was playing and fighting against Gaster, it felt like everything was okay, even though…it wasn't."

"Heh…like my Pop-Pop always told me; that's the power of music. Lifts the spirits…well, literally in my case. Sorry for, ya know, dying by the way. Would've loved to groove you guys more after all this was over."

"Y-You still can. All I have to do is go back in time and stop this from ever happening."

"True, but in this timeline, that's not the case. Besides, if Gaster didn't kill me, the cigs probably would've done the job themselves. My death probably would've been for nothing if that were the case."

"B-But…"

"It's alright. I didn't want him to hurt you. One way or another, it was my time…" He said before moving around her. "I'm just glad it wasn't yours. It won't be for a long time, either! I'm sure everything will work eventually. And until it does, you have friends and family to keep pushing you forward through insane times like this."

Lammy felt two hands on her shoulders. Looking to her left, she saw PaRappa with his hand on her, Sunny, Ma-San, PJ and Joe, who was giving a thumbs up. To her right, Katy had a paw on her, with Matt, Paula and Sweetie by her side. A soft smile grew on her face as Lars chuckled.

"Heh. Man, if I'd only met you guys sooner."

"Yeah…" Lammy nods, looking down at the dirt, in a small bit of awkward silence. Lars approached her and lifted her chin up to have her look at him.

"You guys stay safe, alright?" He asks, seeing her nod her head. With a smile, he backed up, and began fading away.

"So, that's it, huh? A bittersweet victory."

"Sure, but…it's still a victory. And hey, like you said, you can still stop all of this." PaRappa patted her back, giving her his smile.

"That's right." Sunny nods, taking the pendant from Joe. "Once we get you back, this awful future should fade away…are you ready to go, Lammy?"

"As ready as I'll ever be." The lamb nodded to her. The sound of someone clearing their throat was heard, and her attention was turned to scratch.

"Do you still have the contract, I gave you?" She asks.

"Yeah, I do." She says, reaching into her pockets before pulling out a rolled-up piece of paper.

"Give that to my past self. I'm hoping that and telling me what has happened will help stop all of this. And destroy your friends' contract as well, if you can…"

"I'll do what I can." She nodded her head, furrowing her brows a bit before she felt Sunny take her hand. Sunny closed her eyes as everyone started to clear a space, holding onto her pendant. Lammy watched her before closing her eyes as well. The two started to float above the ground, the wind picking up around them before they vanished in a flash of light. They were gone.

"God speed…" PJ snored, saluting in his sleep.

Within another flash, Lammy and the older Sunny appeared backstage, out of anyone's view. Poking her head out, Lammy could see Scratch was finishing up with showing everyone the contracts that had been signed.

"…You got it from here." Sunny told her, putting her hand on her shoulder. Lammy nodded to her, allowing the flower to leave, and get back to her time. She watched carefully until her past self was thrown into the portal. Now it was time to strike.

"Now…" Scratch said as the contract hovered over to her hand again, and she pockets it. "If you'll excuse me, it's time to get to work.."

"Wait!" Lammy called out, sliding on her feet onto the main stage. Everyone looked utterly baffled at the sight of her sudden appearance.

"W-Wha…how did you get back here?!" Scratch took a step back. Lammy stopped, pulling her contract out, and hands it over to the Hell Hound. With a raised brow, she took the document and began reading it. Over and over, she had the most dumbfounded look on her face.

"I…I don't understand. I don't remember talking this over with you. Ever."

"Look, Scratch, it's a long story. The way you have everything set up, and the transportation spell you just used on me, it wasn't a location spell, it launched me straight into the future, and everything was completely messed up. Our town was taken over!" That bit caught everyone's attention as they started to murmur to each other. Lammy looked out into the crowd, spotting Gaster sitting amongst the audience, and points at him. "By him!" Everyone's heads quickly snapped to the rabbit, who was sweating bullets. Before he could say anything, him and his friends were grabbed by security, and dragged out of the building.

"Boss, what just happened? We didn't even do anything." Groober looked to Gaster, confused.

"I guess a plan from the future failed?" The rabbit shrugs. "I really have no idea, Groober." Scratch watched as they were dragged away, as Lammy continued explaining, getting her attention.

"I get set into the future, and he offered to help you find me. But what happened, you allowed him to take over the entire town, with Colonel Noodles syndicate as a personal army!"

"Okay, but…" She looked down, hitting the contract in hand. "What about this?"

"I know exactly what your plan for me is. You want me to help find the lead singer of your band, My mother, Luna. I want to help, but I refuse to do any of it, if my friends aren't with me." She crossed her arms as everyone got behind her. "No separations, no stand-alone albums…I want to be with MilkCan, all the way."

"…Well then, In that case…" She slides the contract into her suit, pulling out Katy's, PaRappa's, and Ma-San's, tearing them up one at a time. "I think we can work together. I apologize…I should've been more open about what I wanted to do and considered what you would and wouldn't have accepted. I hope our partnership proves fruitful for all of us. You girls have a bright future ahead of you." She smiled.

("Yeah, thanks…can we play our gig now?") Ma-San huffs, tapping her drumsticks together. Kitty blinked, feeling her phone ring, and she pulled it out.

"I think we could use a good show to unwind after all of this." She read the message out loud.

"I'm up for it!" Katy nodded, pulling her bandmates closer.

"Hold on. There's one more thing…" Lammy said, looking towards her hellish counterpart before approaching her.

"Oh, what? Want to rub it in again? Go ahead! I don't give a shit anymore!" She crossed her arms, turning away. After a moment, she looked back, seeing her hold her hand out. "…What? You wanna be pals or something?"

"You can say that. Rammy, this rivalry has been going on for a long time now, and after the events I've been through. I think it's time to put it all behind us. We can keep going with it, sure, but things can only get worse. It's time for us to stop butting heads and, maybe, play together for once? We are performers, still looking out to entertain others, instead of being on top. What do you say?" Lammy watched as she stared at her hand, a sigh soon escaping her nose.

"Oh…screw it, I guess you're right. No reason to drag this on any longer.": She says before taking Lammy's hand, shaking it firmly. "You've always were the better one. Should've gotten over that a long time ago. Besides, Gaster and his pals are kinda dicks." The comment got a chuckle out of the lamb.

"So? You wanna perform with us?"

"Nah…this is your show. Maybe some other time." She said with a smirk.

"Come on, babe. We're heading home." Kitty called, waving her over.

"Finally!" RaParra groans in annoyance. "Things were starting to get boring around here!" Rammy rolled her eyes before nodding to Lammy, then ran off to catch up with the others. Katy cleared her throat before approaching the mic.

"Heh…well, sorry for the wait, everybody!" She says, catching her base that was tossed by Ma-San. "Now, without further ado! Let's rock!" Everyone else dashed off the stage, allowing MilkCan to rock the house. After a few of their songs, Katy grabbed the mic, listening to the cheering crowd.

"And now, the band you've all been waiting for! PaRappa Town, please put your hands together, FOR SNOG!" She declares as Lammy helps Ma-San with her drum kit off stage. The theater erupted into a roar of applause. The gang stood backstage, watching the rock band perform their songs. After a couple of hours, they rocked out to one last song as the curtains began to close, the audience roaring with applause once more.

"So let me get this straight, your mother was-"

"The lead singer of Sheep in Wolves Clothing. You and your dad use to listen to their songs all the time." Lammy smiled at Paula as they sat around a table in Beard Burger for a celebration dinner.

"…Did I ask that in the future?"

"Yup." She chuckled before biting into a burger.

"Sheesh…first you get trapped in Hell, then you get trapped in the future." Joe comments. "You oughta take a vacation Lammy, before you revert to that nervous wreck of a lamb you use to be!"

"What? No way that'll happen!"

"I ain't taking any risks with you, hon." Katy said, tapping away on her phone. "I'm already ordering you tickets to Isle Paradiso, and there's a flight for it tomorrow afternoon."

"Y-You don't have to do that, Katy."

"You deserve it though." PaRappa argued, everyone else nodding and speaking their agreement on that Lammy should just take the vacation.

"B-But it'll be more time without you guys."

"Well, yeah, but you won't be in a place that'll be impossible for us to get to!" Matt shrugs. "Sorry Lammy, but I don't think you're gonna argue your way out of this. You should really take it."

"I agree." Sweety nodded her head before she and PJ picked their burgers up and ate them in one gulp. "I heard Paradiso is the best place for anyone to unwind. A beautiful island off the coast of Italy, it'll be worth it! I wouldn't mind going there one day myself." Everyone began agreeing again, and Lammy sighs.

"Alright, alright, you guys win!" She chuckled. "I'll take the trip."

"Good! Because I wasn't taking no for an answer." Katy smirks before booping Lammy's nose. Everyone had a good laugh and continued to enjoy their meal.

"So, they're sending you away already." The shadow lamb rested on Lammy's dresser as she laid in bed, the light of the moon shining through her window. "When you just got back from the longest adventure you've ever had."

"It isn't like that…" Lammy groans, rubbing her face, trying to be quiet enough for no one else to hear her.

"Oh, are you sure? They seem pretty quick to get you on a plane to another country."

"It's for my own good…please, leave me alone."

"We've already been over this…you-"

"Can't get rid of you, I know…I know…" She Sat up a bit, gently gripping her blanket. That's when she heard a gentle knock at the door. It creaked open, and Katy stepped in, wearing her red night gown.

"Lammy? Are you still awake?"

"I've never been more awake in my life…" She admits as the blue feline sits down next to her. Lammy Scooted over, letting Katy lay next to her.

"What's wrong?"

"Are you kidding? I put everybody through Hell in a different timeline…I nearly turned the entire town into a nuclear testing site…and you probably don't love me as much anymore after I burned your arms…" Her ears fold as she slowly hugs her legs. Katy looked down, pulling a sleeve up on her gown to look at the black marks left on her fur after hugging the lamb in her critical meltdown.

"Lammy…it wasn't your fault. None of that was. And besides, if anyone's still upset with you about it, they'll get over it."

"…What about loving me?" Lammy mumbled.

"Ohh, come here…" Katy wraps her arms around Lammy and pulled her close, resting her head on her chest, gently running a hand through her hair.

"You are so beautiful, to me…." She hummed softly. "You are so beautiful, to me…can't you see? You're everything I hope for."

"I'm everything…you need."

"You are so beautiful, to me…!"

"I am so beautiful…to you…!"

The two embraced each other, planting a kiss upon each other's lips before they laid down. Katy took off her slippers, chucking one of them at the light switch on the wall to turn the lights off before snuggling up to the lamb.

"You know…the burns don't even hurt anymore." She comments.

"T…They don't?"

"No…weird, huh?"

"H-heh…yeah."

"You know what that means?"

"What?"

"I was healed by the power of love."

"Shut up…" Lammy playfully pushes her. The two rested their heads against each other, closing their eyes, embracing each other as they peacefully slipped into a comfortable sleep.

They definitely needed it after everything they've been through.