A/N: Alright, I know. I'm late. It's somehow very discouraging to write on a phone, after your laptop breaks down. I'll get through it, though.
Somehow, they had done what Tim wasn't able to do.
The bright light that engulfed them faded away, and Hat Kid and Cloak Kid were back in the lobby of their spaceship. They were safe. All of the Time Pieces were laying around them.
Hat Kid looked around, and immediately jumped towards the giant window. The planet was back to its old wacky self, and if that was the case, then everyone was probably fine, like the Conductor and DJ Grooves.
Cloak Kid ran up to the captain's chair and did a scan of the ship. The only people on board were him, Hat Kid, and Rumbi, who rushed into the lobby doing flips. Mustache Girl was nowhere on it. He sighed in relief and sat down in the captain's chair. Hat Kid joined him at his side.
"We… We did it…" Cloak Kid said, almost speechlessly. The panel beeped. The scouters were still out, so he called them back to the ship, but one of them picked up an image of Mustache Girl. She was in Mafia Town. She seemed okay, but unconscious. The hat-wearing girl had a closer look, and it looked like she was in the alley Hat Kid had fallen into when this all started.
The boy's head leaned forward, a slight frown on his face. Hat Kid wasn't sure what was wrong. They had gotten all the Time Piece's back. Now, they can finally go home… wherever that was.
Cloak Kid picked up the Time Pieces, being extra careful with them. Hat Kid helped and soon they were all loaded into the vault and shut away.
"I'm not gonna let this place remain as Mafia Town!"
Suddenly, Mustache Girl's words were echoing in Hat Kid's head. Cloak Kid slowly walked over to the chair and started typing in the coordinates and pressing buttons. She looked down towards the planet. Why did the thought of leaving make her sad? They had been through a hectic time, but she'd be lying if she said if there weren't moments that they were having fun. She knew Cloak Kid probably shared similar thoughts.
Although, Mustache Girl was there…
Mustache Girl should be happy that Cloak Kid spared her life. She had heard tales of much more… vicious outcomes for messing with time.
But, they both had seen what happened to her.
"What's wrong?" Cloak Kid asked as he locked up the vault. He looked at it solemnly for a moment. Maybe once they got to their destination he could find someone to help him find a way to change the combination. After all, his grandfather made it, so of course it would be tricky to tamper with.
"Just… Is it really okay to leave her like that?" said Hat Kid.
Cloak Kid sighed. Despite everything, the girl still felt some kind of sympathy for Mustache Girl. She lost everything, just like they did, but unlike her, it may have taken some time to realize it, but… Hat and Cloak Kid had each other.
Still, Hat Kid had a kind heart… it was almost to a fault of how nice she could be.
"But what can we do?" said Cloak Kid. "It's not like we can just… give her one Time Piece. Look how much trouble she caused with all of them. Besides, we probably wouldn't be able to get home without all of them…"
He paused. Why… did that not seem like such a bad thing?
"Yeah… It's just… Those Mafia took over her home."
"Crazy birds make movies," said Cloak Kid.
"And a noodle ghost thingy steals people's souls."
"We can't help everyone, Hattie…"
The girl nodded. "I know…" He was right. Their main object was getting the Time Pieces and they achieved that. They had to protect them and move, before they caused any more trouble.
Awkwardly, they stared down at the planet they had come to know. It was kind of this place's fault that they had to go through so much trouble, but if not for it, they never would've met all those people.
People that they could call friends…
"Well, I'll set a course, then," said Cloak Kid. He walked up and sat in the captain's chair, pressing buttons to initiate the ship's engines. He got confused on what the confirm button was, but Hat Kid, as usual, was there for him and pressed it with a small, "boop."
The two heard the loud roar of the engines springing to life at last, with all the Time Pieces loaded up into the ship. Cloak Kid did one last check of the functions at the control panel. All the engines were up and all systems were ready to go.
"This has to be the right place," said Cloak Kid. "Sorry, I was never good at mapping when it came to space. There's more than one dimensions when it comes to space, and-"
Hat Kid giggled. "That's okay. I'm sure it'll be the place this time." She held her hands close to her chest. "Do you… think we'll see Bow if we get there?"
"If she made it out…" Cloak Kid looked ahead at the vast number of stars. "She's probably okay. I know it." The boy turned to his shipmate. "Hat… Harriet, Would you like to do the honors?"
Hat Kid nodded, her cheeks slightly pink. Cloak Kid scooted over, so Hat Kid could sit in the chair with him. She grabbed hold of the lever and pushed it forward. The engines roared to life and Cloak Kid held on tight for the initial g-force. The ship pushed forward, but suddenly yanked back. Both children were thrown to the back of the chair disoriented as a few sirens went off.
"Ugh…" Hat Kid adjusted her eyes as her vision swam for a bit.
Cloak Kid fixed his hair and hopped down from the chair, checking the main panel. "Looks like there's some kind of debris, or something. It might be sticking to the ship. It would only make sense. If everything was back to normal, there would probably be remnants of Mustache Girl's attempt to bomb her way into the ship with those fireworks.
Hat Kid followed him to the door on the window. When they opened it and looked down, however, they found, not debris, but a few people hanging onto the windowsill of the ship from outside: DJ Grooves and the Conductor were hanging onto Snatcher who was gripping the ship with one hand, and a Mafioso with the other who was grabbing the ship with both of his hands.
"Don't leave us!" the Mafioso pleaded.
The Snatcher grabbed a sheet of paper. "Hey, kiddos! Let's make another contract!"
"Don't you dare leave!" said the Conductor.
"Let's watch our movies, darlings!" said the DJ.
Cloak Kid pulled up his cloak and looked away. Hat Kid was dumbfounded, but kept looking at them. They… wanted the pair of them to stay? After everything that happened?
The girl looked over at her partner. Cloak Kid hadn't pulled up his hood to read their thoughts or desires, had he? He wasn't looking at them. His hands formed fists and trembled.
"Hattie, I…" he said. "I can't…"
Hat Kid patted his shoulder. This was going to be harsh on all of them. She grabbed the giant brush from under the yellow slide tunnel. It was really tall, so it made cleaning the giant window of the lobby easier.
The girl brushed away the Mafioso's right hand and then the left. She aimed for the Snatcher's, when suddenly she felt a yank and saw that the Snatcher was gripping the brush with his other hand.
"You're not getting rid of us that easily," said the Snatcher. "Let us on so we can explain, or I'm yanking you down with us."
Cloak Kid sighed. Hat Kid heard him snap his fingers. She looked to see him wearing his Cloak of Flames and his fingertips were holding a small flame while he gazed down at them.
"Wait, no!" Hat Kid quickly blew out the tiny fire on the boy's fingers. Cloak Kid saw those teal colored eyes looking at him while her lip trembled. He sighed, and unclipped his cloak, putting his normal one back on. He left the hood down and joined his shipmate at the window.
"We have to get home," said Cloak Kid.
"And ye ain't gonna even say goodbye, laddie?" said the Conductor.
"We… there's… I'm not good at conversations…"
The Conductor could only scoff. Of course him sneaking around the studio when they first met said as much.
Hat Kid was getting tired of holding everyone up with the brush and just let everyone onto the ship. While Cloak Kid was nervous, after the events that had just occurred, he just stayed near the vault that was overseeing the whole lobby on the higher floor, while Hat Kid stood near him and let the boy say what needed to be said.
"After everything that's happened, you should know why we can't stay," said Cloak Kid. He looked to the side slightly dejected. "'Its power is too great to leave in the hands of people. The greed for the Time Pieces' power is an invitation to disaster. They must remain dormant, the knowledge of their existence, along with our own, hidden from history.'"
Hat Kid frowned. "Their own existence." It was probably one of the reasons Cloak Kid was homeschooled on their old planet.
"That… sounds like a mouthful," said the Snatcher.
"Not even your existence, darling?" said the DJ.
"My grandfather told me those words a long time ago…" said Cloak Kid.
The boy thought about him for a moment, but then he saw everyone's eyes on him.
"And where is he, laddie?" the Conductor asked.
"You… Why would you want to know?" said Cloak Kid.
"I mean, what kind of adult leaves two kids unattended, darling?" said DJ Grooves. "Sure, you're not from this planet, but parents must still have at least that decency."
Hat Kid rushed to Cloak Kid's side. She grabbed one of his arms.
"I-If you don't wanna talk abou-"
Cloak Kid took his arm away from the girl's grasp before she could finish her sentence. He looked forward, eyes on the Mafioso, the birds and the Snatcher.
"I'll show you," he said.
Cloak Kid opened the vault and took a single Time Piece before closing it again. He stepped forward towards the railing in front of the vault and saw Hat Kid smiling at him a little, but her shakiness told him she was equally as nervous. Despite this, Hat Kid thought the boy was brave for facing his past like this. So, she decided to be brave, too.
Cloak Kid pulled up his hood and pressed his forehead onto the Time Piece. Everyone watched in awe as the ship was enveloped in a white light.
"And… king me!"
Hat Kid looked down at the chessboard and crossed her arms. "No fair! You're too good at this game!"
The two kids were playing in Cloak Kid's bedroom. It was a bit small, but big enough for two beds and a few toys. There was a window on the roof that could open and close, so the pair could look at the night sky while falling asleep at night. The walls were painted blue with star patterns and the floor was covered with crescent moons.
"Nuh-uh!" said Cloak Kid. "Grandfather is the only one who can beat me."
Suddenly, the boy gasped, ducked his head hiding it under his hands as something tapped the window outside. Hat Kid stood, seeing pebbles hitting the glass and went to investigate. She gasped, a smile growing onto her face.
"Cloak, it's okay!" said Hat Kid. Her roommate had hid behind the bed out of the window's view. He peeked up, his form shaking slightly.
"Wh-Who's there?" Cloak Kid asked, timidly.
"Come on!" Hat Kid yanked the boy's hand and dragged him out of the room with a yelp.
"Hattie!" the boy tried to pull away from the girl, but her grip was strong. She dragged him outside of their home on the side of Time's End Library. The girl swore he heard a slight hiss from her cloak-wearing friend as the sun's light hit them and he pulled up his hood. "Grandfather said not to talk to strangers."
"She's not a stranger," said Hat Kid. "She's my friend."
"Not mine…" Cloak Kid grumbled.
They went through the garden, filled with flowers, plush grass, and stone paths to the metal fence. There, they met with the girl with a bow in her curly brown hair, purple eyes, a light green jacket, with cat shaped pockets, a light blue skirt and wearing little brown boots.
"Hey, Hattie!"
"Bow!" Hat Kid exclaimed. "You finally made it! Hi! Look! I told you he was real!" She yanked Cloak Kid forward, who just stood there awkwardly. With his hood up, the girl outside of the fence could just make out his green eyes and his mouth.
"Wow! I've never seen you before!" said the girl. "I really like your cloak!" She reached out, but when she yanked it down, and revealed his brown locks of hair, Cloak Kid grew nervous and hid behind Hat Kid.
"Yeah…" Hat Kid said. "He's… pretty shy. Cloak, it's fine. We call her Bow."
"So this is where you've been the past few months?" Bow Kid said, as Cloak Kid snuck to the nearby tree to sit down under.
"Yeah, the man who owns the library here was really nice and said I could stay with him and his grandson."
Bow Kid turned to the boy peeking at her from behind the tall tree. "Hey, how come I've never seen you at school?"
"Grand… Grandfather teaches me…" Cloak Kid answered, timidly.
"Hey, kids!" a voice yelled from inside the house. "Dinner's almost ready."
Cloak Kid was the first to dart back towards the house. Hat Kid turned to her friend. "Well, that's dinner. I'll see you at school tomorrow, okay?"
Bow Kid nodded. "Okay!" she chimed happily.
Cloak Kid ate at the dinner table like nothing happened. He was just happy he was safe and with his grandfather, eating his delicious cooking.
"Hattie, I know you mean well, but please, don't cause my grandson any undue stress," the elder said.
"I just wanted him to make new friends," said Hat Kid.
Knock! Knock!
"That's the door," said Tim. "You two eat up. I'll go see who it is."
Tim got up and left the dining room. Cloak Kid continued to kick his feet and eat.
"You don't have to be so wary," said Hat Kid. "Bow and I have been friends for years."
"Grandfather says our work does not give us time for friends," said Cloak Kid. "An enemy of ours could be anyone."
Hat Kid frowned. "Is that… why you're homeschooled?"
"Probably." And the boy took another bite of his stew. The girl was appalled. How could he accept that like it was nothing? "Besides, Grandpa Tim says you have bullies at your school. Why would I want to meet people who pick on other people for no reason?"
"Well, yeah…" said Hat Kid. "But don't you get lonely?"
"I have my grandfather, lots of toys… Oh! And all the books I can read! Did you know the library never stops getting new ones?! There's this collection I was told that-"
Tim returned, reading a letter. There was an hourglass emblem on the top right corner. It was probably word from someone who was like them.
"What is it, Grandfather?" Cloak Kid hopped down from his chair and rushed to his side. "Is it… bad?"
"My sources have been looking into this masked man who attacked our friend here," said Tim. "This could be quite troublesome if we don't find him."
Hat Kid tilted her head. "Really?"
"Yes."
"Well, he wasn't really after me," the girl said. "I remember he was asking about Cloak."
Tim raised a brow. Cloak Kid turned to Hat Kid confused.
"Is this true?" said Tim.
Hat Kid nodded.
Cloak Kid looked up at the old man. He seemed puzzled and worried, too.
"So, he knows about you, as well…" Tim said to himself. "He must have seen you leave the library… but if that's the case…"
"Grandfather?" Cloak Kid said, softly.
Tim shook his head. "Sorry. I need to figure this out, kiddo. Go ahead and get started on your homework for tonight." He turned and walked towards his study.
"Are you still gonna read that next chapter to me tonight?"
Tim chuckled. "Of course."
The next few days were… odd to say the least. Well, it was odd for Hat Kid. Increased security patrols, especially at night, curfews for spending time outside, and Tim would constantly check on the two, even if they weren't outside. When he wasn't checking on them, he was in his study. No one was allowed in that room without permission. Bow Kid wasn't allowed on the house grounds, but it was fine for her to spend time in the library with Hat Kid. The two were always sad when it was almost curfew time.
Hat Kid couldn't help but feel a bit suffocated with all the rules and extra protection, but Cloak Kid didn't seem affected by it at all. He was reading and studying in the library, happy as a clam, and went back to the house when needed like a good little boy.
"And then…?" Bow Kid asked Hat Kid one day. They were doing some math in the library and were down at a table.
"Uh…" Hat Kid tilted her head. "X equals-"
"Hold it right there!"
Cloak Kid practically leapt down from above and on top of one of the bookshelves. Then he jumped to the floor, landing perfectly on his feet. His hood rolled off his head, revealing his brown locks of hair.
Keeping his voice low, the boy spoke. "What is that strange item on the table?"
Bow Kid looked over to the opened box on the table. It was filled with chocolate chip cookies.
Bow Kid raised a brow. "Um… cookies?"
"How do I know they're safe for consumption?"
Hat Kid sighed, eyes half lidded in unamusement. She grabbed a cookie and showed no hesitation in taking a bite. Cloak Kid gasped, but lowered his head, his cheeks turning red.
Bow Kid giggled and held out a cookie. "Do you want one?"
Cloak Kid flinched, but saw the cookie, eyed it very closely before taking it very gently in his hands. He looked at the two girls before taking a small bite, before proceeding to munch down on the rest of it. He walked up to Hat Kid and finished the math problem before fleeing the scene.
"Ha!" Hat Kid exclaimed. "X does equal four!"
Hat Kid was a little annoyed after today, and it wasn't just because of Cloak Kid being on high alert. She had known about their need for discretion and Tim being quite protective of Cloak Kid. She had gone under training, learning to run and jump and even fight back in a real pinch.
But why?
Maybe if she was careful enough, she could convince Tim to loosen his iron grip, and maybe Cloak Kid would come out of his shell a little.
She walked towards Tim's study after dinner. Cloak Kid had already gone upstairs to play. All too suddenly, Hat Kid had forgotten about Tim's rule over her annoyance to try and dissuade this need for the extra protection.
Hat Kid swung the door open.
"Tim, I need to talk to you!"
Tim was standing at his desk. He turned around in shock, a shining hourglass slipped from his fingers.
"NO!" he shouted.
Hat Kid gasped and leapt forward, falling onto the floor in her attempt to catch it, but it hit the floor and there was the sound of glass shattering.
Hat Kid swung the door open.
"Tim, I need to talk to… wait, huh?"
Hat Kid paused. She swore she was just on the floor, but then she looked just in time to see Tim pick the hourglass up. It was completely intact. The girl blinked a few times as her mind and body tried to process what just happened.
Did everything just rewind for a moment?
"Did that… did we just…" She looked up at Tim, who was holding the hourglass close to himself. "Did, um… Did you know about… that?"
Tim closed his eyes and nodded firmly. Then he opened them, glaring at the child.
"I-I… I didn't…" said Hat Kid. "Is that wh-"
"I told you not to come in here without permission!" Tim said, sternly. After setting the hourglass on the desk behind him, his brows furrowed and Hat Kid gulped. He was mad. She had never seen him angry before. "Upstairs, now."
"I-I'm sorry," the girl whimpered, softly. "I-" She jumped when the old man slammed his cane into the ground.
"GO TO YOUR ROOM!"
Startled, Hat Kid rushed up the stairs without another word. The elder sighed, rubbing his temples and turned back to the hourglass.
This was only the beginning of Hat Kid's problems…
Tim hated that he had to be so harsh on the girl. What could he do now? He promised the boy's parents he'd protect him.
A few nights had passed since his outburst. Hat Kid was still in disbelief. An item capable of rewinding time itself?
It was in the middle of the night, days after the outburst, that Tim decided it was now or never. He woke Hat Kid and Cloak Kid and brought them out of their house to Time's End Library, and upstairs to the observatory.
Hat Kid looked up at the night sky, seeing the endless stars around them. Cloak Kid sat down in one of the chairs and Hat Kid sat down next to him while Tim walked up to the podium.
"So…" he said. "Hattie, are you… aware of what you saw that night?"
"Yes," said Hat Kid.
Tim bowed his head. "I see. Well, then I guess it's time you know. That item… there's more than one."
"Huh?"
"These are what Cloak Kid and I strive to protect." The starry sky Hat Kid saw above her faded to white and she saw the hourglasses. "These are Time Pieces. They are what the name suggests. They are Pieces of the fabric of time itself. There is great beauty in their power…"
Hat Kid stared in awe, the background showing a beautiful hue, and the silhouettes of the many tall buildings on their home planet.
"But there is also great danger," Tim said, sternly. The background turned red. The buildings faded away. "If they fall into the wrong hands… They could destroy everything." The Time PIeces exploded into dust and the picture show ended.
Cloak Kid was squirming in his chair a bit, while Tim made his way down the podium. "Now, I'm sure you're wondering why I brought you here to tell you this," the elder said.
Hat Kid was still unsure of herself, but she nodded.
"Very well then. With things getting more dangerous on this planet, I've made something that will be the answer to our problems."
Tim pulled out a key, turned something on the podium and then quickly jumped off the stage and sat down.
Hat Kid was shocked when she was strapped into a seatbelt suddenly and so was Cloak Kid who was sitting next to her. The ground rumbled a little and then the entire floor began going downward. The girl screamed at first. It felt like they were shooting downwards past the ground level. They must have been going for what felt like a while.
Eventually, it stopped. The room was dark, but they could see a light at the front of the room and a doorway that led somewhere. The seatbelts unfastened and the two kids followed Tim through it.
Lights turned on as they trekked through the hallway. They were yellow gentle lights, but it didn't stop Hat Kid from jumping every time one turned on.
Finally, they made it out of the hallway, and Hat Kid rubbed her eyes as they adjusted to the light in the next room. It was massively big for a place deep underground. However, it wasn't the room that shocked Hat Kid. It was what was in there.
It was a ship. A giant spaceship made of wood. The front had a massive window and they could see inside to what looked like a lobby. There was a captain's seat and wheel, controls, and doors on the back of what looked like the first room that probably led to other places.
Hat Kid looked up at Tim who was gazing at it proudly.
"Did you build this?" she said.
"Well, it did take me a few years, but a little help did accelerate things," said Tim.
Cloak Kid giggled and waved at Hat Kid.
"With this…" said Hat Kid. "We can protect the Time Pieces?"
"Precisely," said Tim.
"How?"
"Our enemy can't get us in space."
"What?"
"When the time is right, we will leave this planet in our spaceship. Any dangers that may come our way, we can fight it or get away from it."
Hat Kid's mouth was agape. "You mean, you're going to leave this planet?"
Tim nodded. "Yes, we are."
The girl shook her head. "We can't do that! What about our things?! Our friends?! Bow?!"
The elder sighed. "Do you not see, girl? If the wrong person grabs hold of the Time Pieces, all of existence could be lost. One man or woman could rule over everything with an iron grip, if we don't keep them safe."
The child crossed her arms. "I can't leave Bow! You can leave without me! I'll be fine!"
"Hattie-" Cloak Kid tried to say.
"The man with the mask knows who you are," said Tim. "He's after them, and he was trying to hurt my grandson. You are a part of this, now. Are you willing to die to be with your friend? If you linger, you could put her in danger as well."
Hat Kid sniffled. It was just Bow she didn't want to leave. What about her parents? What if she ended up… just like them?
"Who is he?!" said Hat Kid.
"Pardon?"
"The man with the mask! Why does he want the Time Pieces?"
Tim sighed. "The same reason as most who know. He wants to rewind time… He wants to go back and fix something, I suppose." He looked up at the ship. "Unfortunately, messing with the flow of time, while it can be cruel, can lead to disastrous consequences. Despite this, people don't understand, and will stop at nothing to claim them."
"Do we really have to leave, Grandfather?" Cloak Kid.
"If the danger becomes too great," said Tim, "then yes."
The boy nodded. "I understand."
Hat Kid glared. "That's it? You 'understand'? He's asking you to leave behind everything you know!"
"All I know is my duty and the Time Pieces," said Cloak Kid. "It doesn't matter. As long as I have my family, I'll be fine."
The girl sniffled. Family… But what about her friend?
Hat Kid laid awake later that night, once Tim brought them back and ordered them to sleep. Cloak Kid was sleeping like a baby. In fact, he seemed quite content now that there seemed to be a means of protecting themselves and the Time Pieces.
Hat Kid wished she had known what she was getting into. She felt loved, but at what cost? Leaving behind everything she knew?
The girl sat up in her bed. She didn't grow up sheltered like Cloak Kid did. Her whole world wasn't just the library, books, toys and a grandfather, who kept her safe from the dangers of the world. She went to school, had friends and enemies and the like, even before the fate of her parents.
Maybe if she told Bow Kid sooner, she could have stayed with her.
She could have stayed out of all of this.
Hat Kid's jaw slowly dropped at what she was thinking. What if she could go back? What if she could prevent herself from stealing Cloak Kid's lunch in the first place. She could tell Bow Kid's parents what happened to her own parents, and maybe end up with her.
No, wait. She could make it so that her parents never left for their space trip. Everything would be fine. She wouldn't have to make a sacrifice.
"If they fall into the wrong hands… They could destroy everything."
She could use a Time Piece. Just one Time Piece. Right?
They spent the next day loading Time Pieces' into the ship. Tim had installed a special vault in the lobby, where the Time Pieces' would not only be safe, but act as the ship's power supply. There were a lot more Time Pieces' than Hat Kid initially thought.
So… surely Tim wouldn't miss one that Hat Kid pocketed away.
On the next night, Hat Kid's alarm clock rang, and she shut it off before it could awaken Cloak Kid, who was sleeping in the bed next to hers. She hadn't changed into her pajamas tonight, so all she had to do was slip into her boots and put on her top hat. The girl walked up to the door, but when she put her hand on the doorknob, she realized something.
If she managed to change time, she and Cloak Kid will have no need to see each other anymore. In fact, they might never even have met. She was aware that time rewinded in that moment with Tim, and she remembered it, but there was no telling what would happen if she changed events such as ones that happened over a year ago.
She had to ask herself: Was she really willing to throw away everything she knew, for the sake of protecting the Time Pieces. She didn't ask to get pulled into all of this. The girl was way happier when she was just trying to prove that there was a boy living in the library. She liked playing at school, spending time with her best friend, Bow Kid.
"I'm sorry, Cloak," Hat Kid, quietly.
Hat Kid closed the door to her bedroom. She tiptoed downstairs, Time Piece in her hands. She couldn't bring herself to figure out how to use the Time Piece in the confines of the place where two kind souls reached out their hearts and took her in.
Hat Kid twisted the doorknob, opened the door and stepped outside.
However, this choice would turn out to be her worst mistake.
The second the girl closed the door, a strong arm wrapped around her waist and lifted her off her feet. She yelped, her mouth covered by a gloved hand. While she struggled, the Time Piece she tucked away slipped out. In a moment, he dropped the girl for the hourglass instead.
The girl sat up and saw him: the man with the mask.
"Well, I was going to use you to get to it," the man said. "But instead you gave it right to me."
"Wait, no!" Hat Kid rushed onto her feet, but it was too late. The man smashed the hourglass onto the ground.
And then it happened: Time Piece corruption.
When Hat Kid opened her eyes the sky was red. To think that one Time Piece would cause all of this… especially when used improperly. The earth was cracking open, lava lying beneath the fissures, earthquakes so harsh it would knock the girl off balance. Worse yet, plants were turning poisonous.
"GRANDPA!" Hat Kid heard the shrill shriek of a child: Cloak Kid.
Hat Kid couldn't believe what had happened. In her attempt to save what she had… he gave that evil man what he wanted. She couldn't see… she couldn't hear, she couldn't think.
She was frozen.
When Tim emerged from his home at Time's End Library, along with Cloak Kid, he looked up at the sky and then he looked in front of himself, only to see the hat-wearing child on her knees, paralyzed.
Hat Kid pleaded and sobbed. She confessed everything to the old man, how she didn't want to leave her friend, and everything she knew behind, all while the old man nodded along, listening to her every word.
Cloak Kid on the other hand, was not as understanding.
"You destroyed our world!" Cloak Kid shouted.
"Cloak!" Tim turned to the boy behind him, while Hat Kid hugged Tim like the world was ending…which it kinda was.
"How could you?!" the boy cried.
"That's enough!" Tim shouted. The girl was a child. There was no way someone like her, who didn't spend her whole life learning their code would truly understand the gravity of Time Pieces' power. He stood, eyes locked the giant clock tower that could be seen from anywhere in town.
Another quake shook the planet. The three looked up, seeing ships already starting to leave the planet.
Tim pulled on a top hat of his own, and handed Hat Kid the key to the observatory elevator.
"Get to the ship. Cloak and I need to take care of some business."
"But-"
"Unlike you," said Cloak Kid. "We know what we're doing! At least grandpa does."
And Hat Kid's mouth was shut. She took Tim's key and darted off to do what he ordered.
And so, while Hat Kid hurried to ship, Cloak Kid and his grandfather ascended Time's Square's clock tower. It was an old building, so it continued to fall apart and crumble with every quake. There they met with the man with the mask, clutching the Time Piece in his hands. If they could stop, and take the stolen hourglass back, they may save this planet.
Both Tim and Cloak Kid had the man cornered, but he still wasn't giving it up. He held out a knife towards them with one hand, and clutched the Time Piece closely with the other.
"Don't you see what the Time Pieces have caused everyone?" the man said.
"You're only saying it now, because you didn't get the outcome you wanted," said Tim.
Suddenly, the ground shook again and the ground felt like it was slanting. The floor they stood on cracked and one side of it bent downward. The masked man slipped, dropping the knife he held. It flew through the air as both Tim and Cloak Kid grabbed onto the edge of the solid ground. The rest of the floor gave way and plummeted below.
Cloak Kid grabbed onto edge for dear life. He climbed up.
"Cloak!"
Just as the boy climbed up to safety Tim jumped on top of him to cover the child's body like a shield.
"ARGH!"
Cloak Kid opened his eyes when he did, Tim slumped over beside his grandson.
It was too late for the masked man. He slipped and fell towards the lava pit below, him and the Time Piece forever lost to the destructive force of the lava and magma.
However, Cloak Kid was too concerned over his grandfather at the moment. He crawled quickly to his side, seeing the knife stabbed into his back. He jolted, his skin turning pale at the sight. Tim coughed, droplets of blood leaving the old man's mouth.
"Grandpa!" Cloak Kid cried.
"It's… too late…" said Tim. "With the Time Piece that started this gone, this planet is doomed."
"No, don't say that!" The child held the elder's hand tightly. "Come on, we've gotta-"
"Get off the planet, Cloak," said Tim. "Protect the Time Pieces that still remain."
"Not without you!" the boy yelled. He tried to pull him along, but he wouldn't budge. "Please!" He sniffled. Tears filled his eyes.
Tim groaned. Bless this kid's heart.
"I'm not afraid to die as long as I'm with you!" Cloak Kid cried.
"Take action, Colin!" With the last of his strength Tim shoved his cane into the boy's hands, but used just a bit of his power to push him away, the force enough to knock the wind from his lungs. Cloak Kid was shoved through a large gap in the wall.
Cloak Kid opened his eyes to see that he was falling from the clock tower. He screamed as he tumbled through the air, but knew what button to press on the cane. A parachute sprung out.
The boy drifted to the ground seeing tons of purple flowers blooming on the ground. They were everywhere.
Cloak Kid was too dazed to care. He looked up at the Clock Tower, unable to do anything but watch it crumble, eyes filling with tears. He landed on the ground, but even then, he didn't move. Even as the strange spores were starting to burn his lungs or rubble from the building fell around.
Finally, the clock tower could no longer stay standing. It fell to the side, on top of a field of purple flowers. There was a force of wind and spores from the crash that sent paralyzed child flying backwards and the darkness embraced him.
He was gone. Tim, his protector, his teacher, his grandfather, the only family he had…
Was gone.
"Cloak! Cloak, stay with me!"
Hat Kid carried Cloak Kid on her back as she rushed back to Time's End Library. She went to the top of the observatory, took the elevator down and ran towards the ship. Once inside, she found the science lab.
Cloak Kid barely stirred, his breath shallow, as his battered body was placed on the examination table. Hat Kid did the best she could, bandaging him and applying a breathing mask with oxygen. His vitals were stabilizing, but he looked dreadful. Judging from where she found Cloak Kid…
Tim wasn't coming, was he?
The planet continued to quake and crumbled. She strapped Cloak Kid down, before heading back to the lobby.
Hat Kid hopped into the captain's chair and initiated the launch sequence.
"Ready to launch on your command, captain."
A single tear raced down from Hat Kid's eye. She hit "confirm" and fastened her seatbelt.
The floor beneath the ship shifted so that the spacecraft was facing up. From below, she could see the top of the observatory like it was at the end of a tunnel. The glass dome came down showing the reddened skies.
"Launch in 10… 9… 8…"
The engines whirred on. Hat Kid shook in seat.
"7… 6… 5…"
The ship began to shake. The girl grasped the armrests.
"5… 4… 3…"
Louder and louder engines became.
"2… 1…"
And then, with a quake the thrusters ignited, pushing the ground below away. Hat Kid headed towards the end of the tunnel, above ground and out through the roof of the observatory. The reddened skies turned blue, then purple then black. Hat Kid could see the stars.
The shields came on.
"Caution: Approaching orbital debris field."
Hat Kid flinched, shielding her eyes as the ship hit other ship scraps or random asteroids. There were tons of collisions from people leaving the planet in a scramble. Her body shook, as her mind replayed what had happened. A fresh batch of tears escaped her eyes. In trying to get back to her old life… she lost everything.
"Orbital debris field clear. Performing gravity turn maneuver."
Hat Kid could see what the planet had been reduced to. It was almost nothing but a ball of magma and poison.
The ship drifted further and further away. Hat Kid gasped once she heard an explosion. She didn't look. She couldn't, but she had a guess as soon as she saw asteroids drifting by.
Hat Kid sobbed, covering her eyes. All that existed to her in that moment were her tears and the voice of the ship before it took her and Cloak Kid into hyperspace.
"Engaging boosters in 3… 2… 1…"
There was murmuring as Cloak Kid and Hat Kid we're wiping their eyes, trying to recollect themselves.
"Aw, laddie…" said the Conductor. "We had no idea."
DJ Grooves was stunned. If he actually broke one back then… he could've doomed the entire planet, himself…
Cloak Kid put the Time Piece back in the vault.
"Now you see why we have to leave…" Cloak Kid spoke softly, as soon as he closed the vault hatch.
"Mafia is confused," said the Mafioso. "Do little kids want or have to leave?"
Hat Kid sighed. As much as she wanted to stay, she already knew why they couldn't. "We can't stay. The Time Pieces' caused so much trouble here. And Mustache Girl-"
"That was the angry red lass' fault," the Conductor spoke up. "Besides, it was fun having some new faces in me movies."
"He's right, darlings," said the DJ. "Both of our ratings were through the roof."
"And little hat girl saved Mafia Town from lava and little boy save town from evil Mustache Girl using Mafia's fireworks," said the Mafioso.
"Well, you brats seem to make the Subconites happy," said the Snatcher. He squinted at Cloak Kid, "even with the sneaking around." He looked to Hat Kid. "And besides, I had no idea a girl like you would last so long with my contracts.
"But…" Cloak Kid stuttered. "But you all know about the Time Pieces', and the vault…"
"That is easy for Mafia!" the Mafioso exclaimed. "Mafia knows all about stashing thing in safes. Mafia can make child new lock to keep Time Pieces' safe in."
"Don't worry about it, darlings!" said DJ Grooves. "After what we've been through. I don't think anyone would want that power."
The Conductor sighed. "You know, I'd have to agree with DJ Peck Neck for once. I'm perfectly content with the awards I have and me grandchildren. As long as I've got me train, I don't think I need anything else."
"I guess we all have things we wish we could take back," Snatcher grumbled. Cloak Kid looked at him, briefly seeing the beautiful princess that was once Vanessa. "But eh, revenge just turns you into an idiot, I guess. It's more fun not knowing your future. Just let that Mafia help you lock up those Time Pieces' and we won't talk about them anymore."
They wanted to help protect the Time Pieces? If that was true… maybe they wouldn't have to leave. Maybe Hat Kid wouldn't have to leave everything she knew again… or everything Hat Kid and Cloak Kid had come to know.
Hat Kid and Cloak Kid looked at each other. Cloak Kid was tearing up, so Hat Kid just patted his shoulder.
"You…. really want us to stay?" she said.
"We wouldn't be here, if we didn't, darling," said DJ Grooves.
Hat Kid smiled, tears in the corners of her eyes. There was a sob and the girl turned to see her shipmate bursting into tears.
"Laddie?" said the Conductor.
"I do!" Cloak Kid hiccupped between sobs. "I want to stay! I want to stay here, too…"
And the tears escaped from Hat Kid's eyes, as well. She approached her shipmate, her friend, and pulled him into her arms. Soon DJ Grooves had joined them, along with the Conductor, and the Mafioso. The Snatcher wasn't much of a hugger, so he just sighed and patted the kids on their heads.
They weren't alone anymore.
A/N: Don't worry, there's still one more chapter. :)