I don't own any of this Paranorman belongs to Laika, all other characters belong to their respectful companies. And The Stand belongs to Stephen King.
July 11
The train is now moving through the state of Iowa, Raz and Lili watched the passing cornfields from their boxcar. During the past three days; the two spend it in this boxcar, only coming out when the train stopped, which allowed them to get some food and water, along with much needed bathroom breaks.
They felt like that they were being sneaky upon being in this train without alerting whoever is driving the vehicle, plus with them being in Iowa it meant that Nebraska is just the next state over. "Well Lili, we're almost at our primary destination." Raz informed while watching the passing corn.
Lili nodded. "Hopefully this train parks at the right station."
"True, the possibility of ending up in the right town is a slim chance, but as psychonauts we must always adapt to whatever circumstance delays one of our mission." Raz stated, remembering his training and what he read through the field guide.
"You really think that this is a mission?" Lili question with a raised eyebrow.
"Well, I mean we are set on a certain thing that definitely has a strong psychic ability." Raz replied.
"Face facts Raz, the psychonauts are no more, along with the government." Lili informed with a very serious tone.
"But Lili, the psychonauts don't have to go extinct. We can restart the psychonauts." Raz stated.
"Restart the psychonauts?" Lili question, not really sure what to make of it.
Raz nodded. "We know most of the moves and we can learn the ones we don't know, or even make up our own moves."
"Raz your babbling. Anyway you do know that even if we do restart the psychonauts, it's going to be very difficult to find any psychics."
"That maybe true, but we just can't let something hard or a big disaster for that matter, get in the way of rebuilding."
Lili couldn't help but roll her eyes for as no matter how much she loved her boyfriend, he can sometimes be too enthusiastic. "Whatever you say."
The train continues onwards by the field, the cornfield soon disappears and is replaced by a prairie, which is eventually replaced by the buildings of a empty small town. Upon seeing the empty town with its desolate streets, abandon cars, and some bodies laying on the ground, made that guilt resurface from within Raz and Lili as yet here was another town that was devastated from Project Blue.
The train slowly comes to a stop next to a station, it must be another supply stop. This is a good chance for them to get some food and some more water, they at first checked for anyone, but upon seeing no one the two jumped off the train and walked into town.
Walking through the town, the two witness several corpses lying about. They saw some on the sidewalk or road, most in cars or trucks, and the others in the windows of stores. This was the consequence of Project Blue, a town that was once a bustling community is now just a ghost town that's left to the elements and the animals that will replace the humans as the residents.
All this happened because the higher ups made a deadly flu virus to attack enemies. This really shouldn't surprise them as it seemed like humans are always making things to kill each other with. They bet that right now, some people who had survived the flu were killing each other for supplies. A morbid thought? Yes it was. But it was honestly human nature to want something more than anyone else.
The two eventually walked into a market, upon entering the market they were met with the stench of rotting bodies and food. Lili covered her nose in disgust, "It stinks in here!"
With his own nose covered, Raz stepped into the market. "Let's just get what we need."
The two quickly went through the market, picking up cans of food and bottles of water, they also picked up some medicine from the pharmacy section just in case. Now having what they needed, Raz and Lili quickly headed back to the train.
Reaching the train, the two walked over to their boxcar, they were just about to enter when. "You need some help?"
They looked back to see an orange hair, boy standing behind them with a joyful grin. They were both surprised to see him as it seemed like he came from nowhere. "No thanks, we got this." Raz told him.
"Oh ok, it just looked like you both had your hands full." The boy replied.
"Who are you exactly?" Lili question.
The boy lightly smacked his forehead. "Sorry, I'm Neil Downe the driver of the train." He raised his hand for a greeting, but Raz and Lili didn't as for one: their arms were full, and two: they were both surprised to learn, that this kid is the one driving the train.
Lili places her share of items in the boxcar and then pointed to him in confusion. "You? The driver? But your about ten years old."
Neil grinned wildly. "I know, it isn't it awesome! I'm living up any ten year olds dream and not to toot my own horn, but I believe I'm getting the hang of it."
Now Raz placed his own items in the car as he needed to gather his thoughts. The train that they are on, is being driven by a kid. How have they not gotten into a crash? Or drive off the tracks? Is a wonder of it's self.
Before either him or Lili can say anything, a boy with his hair standing up came out from the station while looking at a map. "Alright Neil, according to the map we should be reaching our destination in two-" The boy looked up from the map and gazed towards the two psychonauts in surprise. "Days"
Neil gleefully turned to him with his hands clenched in excitement. "Look Norman, we're meeting our stowaways!"
Ok, scratch their earlier surprise. This is a bigger shock! These two knew that they snuck aboard. How could that be possible? Both of them were being very stealthy whenever they got off and on the train. Either they weren't stealthy enough, or these two had heightened senses.
The boy who they picked up that his name is Norman stepped up rather awkwardly. "Hi, I guess it's glad that we can finally meet face to face. I'm Norman Babcock."
"I'm Raz Aquato and this is my girlfriend Lili Zanotto." Neil makes a excited grin. "Oh! You look like a good couple!"
Both Raz and Lili looked at each other, not sure what to say. They slowly looked back to them with Raz replying. "Thanks, so how did you know that we were on the train?"
"We saw you get off during one of our stops." Norman answered.
"And don't worry! We don't mind that your riding with us, since we're all going to the same place anyway." Neil then frown with question. "Your going to Nebraska to right?"
"Yes" Lili answered.
"Great! So you don't have to hide from us anymore! By the way, where you from?"
"Michigan" Raz answered. It wasn't a complete lie as they were station there, but these two couldn't know the whole truth as who knows how they might react, if they found out that they were part of the same government that driven the human race into the endangered species list.
"Cool! Were from Massachusetts." Neil exclaimed.
Raz smiled a bit. "That's far."
"It sure is, it's a good thing we came across this train or we wouldn't have made some good time." Neil stated.
"Speaking of which, we should get moving now." Norman spoke up.
"Oh right." Neil suddenly cupped his hands to his mouth and shouted. "All aboard!" Everyone looked at him blankly, Neil smiled proudly. "I always wanted to say that."
The four entered their parts of the train: Neil the cab, Norman the first car, and the two psychonauts the fifth car. As they boarded, Raz was very sure of one thing, Norman was lying. His psychonaut training has taught him to look at people's expressions and it allowed him to easily see that Norman was lying.
He didn't see them when they stopped at the other stations, somehow he knew that they were on and Raz is going to find out how.
Meanwhile in a one story motel in Wyoming. Wybie is looking out a window that showed a prairie with the mountains in the background, it was a sight to behold on this cloudy afternoon. After journeying for several miles since earlier that morning, his group had decided to rest up in this town they had walked into a hour earlier.
Tomorrow they would continue onwards as they were getting more closer to the end of their journey each passing day. Although in these times there is a bit of tension between the group; he and Mabel were cool, but for Coraline and Dipper. It was safe to say that they weren't exactly the best of friends.
Coraline is still mad about him not telling them about Scarface and Dipper is upset for how snarky she has become with both him and his sister. In all honesty, Wybie knew that Coraline had every right to be annoyed with the twins with holding that information on Scarface, but they couldn't just keep being angry with each other during their journey, it just wasn't healthy on keeping that much anger on someone as you might say or do something you may regret later.
Unfortunately though, while Coraline is his friend. Wybie had to admit that she can be a little bit stubborn when she's mad at someone, so it would be difficult for Dipper to get back on her good side again.
Wybie didn't know how that was going to be possible, so he decided to get his mind off it by stepping out of his room and go to the back pool. Coraline and Dipper were out getting supplies, (separately of course) and Mabel was out somewhere in the motel.
Wybie wasn't alone at the pool though, Mabel's pig and Cat were laying nose to nose of each other. That was another thing during this journey, it was clear that Cat wasn't comfortable with Waddles as he kept away from the pig at first, but over the days of traveling, Cat slowly got comfortable enough to be by Waddles when they camped out for the evening.
Anyway the two animals weren't the only ones at the pool area, there is also a dead, sixty year old man in blue swim trunks. He was sprawled out on a chair with his mouth wide open, he was quite decayed, right to the point where you can see the outlines of his ribs and other bones, not to mention his dark eyeholes as his eyeballs had rolled into the back of his skull.
It was a disturbing sight, but after seeing corpses for the past weeks, Wybie was kinda getting used to the sight of them. He still kept his eyes away from the body though as he instead kept them trained to the cloudy sky.
"If only you can see me now grandma." He muttered as he honestly never traveled this far before, the only place he travelled to was really just the outside of his home town. Other than that, this was really the first time he travelled to other states.
"Hey Wybie!"
Wybie jumped in fright as that was right in his ear. He was so frighten that he nearly jumped into the pool, which hasn't been cleaned in awhile as proofed by the leafs, sticks, and dead bugs. Wybie just managed to balance himself, he quickly turned around to face the smiling Mabel.
"Geez Mabel, you scared me there."
"Sorry, I just saw you standing here and decided to see what you were doing."
Wybie shrugged. "Just thinking."
"Oh yes, the classic thinking near the pool. Dipper does that sometimes when he gets into his theories. Speaking of which, has he and Coraline come back yet?"
Wybie shook his head. "Not yet."
"Are they still mad at each other?" She asked in a little bit of glumness.
"Afraid so."
"I wish they weren't fighting, it's straining the group."
"I know what you mean, it's feels like were walking on thin ice every time we travel."
Mabel then places her finger on her chin, thinking hard. "If only we can make those two make up."
Wybie softly chuckled. "Good luck with that, it can take a lot to have Coraline forgive someone."
Suddenly Mabel turned to him and cupped his cheeks much to his surprise. "Then we will work hard, as Mabel is the master of bringing friends back together!"
"It's going to be a crazy way of doing so isn't it?"
Mabel now placed her arm around his neck, then turned to the sky, raised her fist and shouted. "It will be!"
After two and a half hours; Coraline finally returned with a backpack full of supplies. After gathering everything she thinks the group needed, Coraline couldn't wait to rest up on a cozy bed for a bit, before cooking up her dinner.
Coming into the parking lot, she had to utterly hold in an annoyed sigh as Dipper came in at the same time with his own backpack full of supplies. Upon seeing her Dipper held in his own sigh as they both just glared at each other, they didn't speak to one another as they walked over to their individual rooms, they both placed their hands on the doorknobs when a whistle blows through the air.
They both jumped and looked around as they wondered where the whistle was coming from? They listen carefully and it sounded like that it was coming from the pool area.
They went over there quickly to see what was up? When they got there, they were both utterly loss for words on what they saw. The tree next to the pool is decorated by various colorful streamers, red and green balloons are tied to the chairs, and the corpse of the man is wearing a party hat and funky glasses.
"What's all this?" Coraline question, utterly bewildered by this whole scene. A cheerful Mabel jumped out from behind the tree with Wybie, who slowly came out while avoiding eye contact with them. "Surprise!"
"Mabel, what's all this?" Dipper question.
"This is a make-up palooza!"
"Make-up what?" Coraline now question.
"Make-up palooza! It's a fun celebration that will make you two make up!" Mabel explained.
"It was all her idea, don't look at me!" Wybie called out.
It was utterly silent for a bit, Coraline glanced slightly to the right where she caught sight of Waddles and Cat standing next to each other with Waddles happily oinking with party streamers wrapped around his body, while Cat sat there completely unamused with the small party hat on his head.
"Where did you get all this stuff?" Coraline question.
"From the local party store, it had everything I needed." Mabel cheerfully explained. "Anyway are you two going to make up now?" Mabel asked hopefully, Coraline just looked at her blankly. "No"
"Yeah Mabel." Dipper added. "I don't think this is going to make us automatically friends."
"That's the first thing I agree with you on." Coraline snarked.
Mabel went over to them with a plea on her face. "Come on guys, it's time for you two to make up."
"Make up?" Coraline question with a raise of her eyebrow. "How can I possibly make up with a bozo? Who neglected to tell anyone about a dog creature trailing after him."
Dipper glared at her. "Maybe a certain blue, hair girl isn't all that high and mighty and is hiding something herself." Coraline instantly looked at him with her own glare. "Watch it nerd, I know how to do a nasty indian burn!"
Mabel quickly gets in-between the two. "Alright let's settle down."
"Yeah, I think it's time to burry the hatchet." Wybie added as he kept his distance, Coraline now turned her glare at him. Wybie meekly smiled at her and backed a way a bit.
"Look." Mabel began. "Coraline has a point that we should've told her and Wybie about Scarface." Coraline smugly looked at Dipper with her arms crossed. "But" Mabel continued. "That doesn't give Coraline the right to insult us, since she's hiding secrets as well."
Coraline and Dipper huffed in response, they crossed their arms and turned their backs at each other, both of them too stubborn to admit that they were wrong. Mabel in response wrapped both her arms around their waists and pulled them into a close hug, which made both of them uncomfortable. "Now, let's hug up and make up."
Coraline struggled in her grip a bit, before stopping and looked down at her. "Your not going to let this go are you?"
"Trust me, she won't." Dipper pointed out.
Mabel continues to hold the two in place with her hug. Wybie stood there in anticipation, waiting for the two to give in or Coraline pushing her way out from Mabel's hug. Eventually Coraline sighed in defeat. "Fine, I'll forgive him. What about you Dippy?"
"I'll forgive you to, since knowing Mabel. She'll just keep trying, until she makes us forgive each other."
Mabel beamed in happiness. "Great! Now hug it out."
"No" They both replied.
"Ok, then how about a handshake?"
"Fine by me." Dipper replied.
"Likewise" Coraline added.
Mabel released them from her hug, with both of them now released, the two slowly reached out and shook each other's hands. "See now doesn't that feel better?"
"Yeah, sure." They both answered blankly.
"Great, now let's get this palooza started!" Mabel throws out a strand of confetti from her pocket, showering the three with it.
The next hours were chaotic as Mabel ran around with various party stuff, Wybie provided music with some drums he had found, while Coraline and Dipper just mingled about in the pool, that they cleaned by the way. Coraline just settled herself, when Mabel cannonballed next to her, which resulted with the water splashing her. The next thing that happen was an intense splash fight between them, where Coraline was actually having fun.
Meanwhile Dipper who had swam out of the splash zone, is looking up at the night sky. He is busy thinking about on how close they were getting to their destination. They still had miles to go, but soon their journey will end and then he guessed that they will begin to rebuild a community, as he had this feeling that their were other people that are on their way to Nebraska as well. Dipper didn't know how he knew this, it was just coming to him like that.
"Hey Dipper!"
"Huh?" Dipper felt water splash him in the face, when his vision cleared he saw Mabel and Coraline with their hands at ready for splashing.
"Hey Mabel?" Coraline began.
Mabel turned to Coraline while suppressing her giggles. "Yes Coraline?"
"Do you see a dork that needs a good splashing?" She asked with a evil smile. Mabel formed her own evil smile that somehow looked more scary. "Yes I do."
"Well then." The two girls bombard him with what seemed like tidal waves. After getting hit a couple times, Dipper splashed back at them.
The three laughed at the intense splash fight they had with each other, while Wybie provided background music. At that moment; the horrors brought on by the superflu is forgotten and they are acting like children again, just like they should be.
