Double effect; doing something morally good has a morally bad side-effect.

(Chapter Seven: Double effect)

The train ambiance was rather nice when you're not filming a murder mystery or a havoc cluster of hell that was train rush. Sitting around and just listening? This was relaxing. Day time had come, a majority of the owls where asleep so the three nonnocturnal beings would be able to wander freely once awoken.

By the time night comes, they'll be at Subcon's doorstep. Julia always wondered if there was an entry for the forest. She knew it was past the swampy area, that's what prevented her and Melody from leaving before, but was there a walkway they could have found?

Guess she'll figure things out when she gets there.

Julia had woken rather early, just early enough to figure out that Gabriele can.. in fact.. sleep. He seemed in more of a meditative state, but he was unresponsive either way. Lifting herself up slowly from his shoulder, the girl makes a note to never sleep on a couch while still sitting up. Cracking her back she decided to walk out of the room.

It would be reasonable to save the sandwiches that Cooking Cat had made for Lynn and herself, because they were heading into a forest that was practically, mostly dead. Also on fire, if she remembered correctly. However, Julia was unsure if she wanted to eat bird-related food that was on this train. Maybe there were human foods as well?

It looks like she'll just have to find out.

As she walked through train car to train car, Julia has been having this.. odd feeling. Before they had fallen asleep last night Gabriele did mention something was strange about the train. Or at least, something that was on it. Now that she feels it too, she couldn't help but reach for the bat she kept tied around her shoulder.

When that feeling was now unbearable, Julia, in a blink, backhanded her bat and slammed into someone. That figure flew backward with a crash, and a groan that sounded familiar; but whatever, or whoever it was is still giving off an aura of 'danger' and 'don't get close'.

In short, the feeling was strong.

But when the being popped out of wherever they had landed, Julia was at a loss. "Doc..?" No, that wasn't right. Gabriele didn't have an aura unless he took his frilly tie off. This thing... that wasn't Gabriele.

"Ah, That was quite the swing, Julia.." it knew her name, which means it had been following them around the train. The next thing she noticed was that it was readjusting itself; The plague doctor was a doll.. he didn't need to stretch his neck.

Julia narrowed her eyes, "Oh, hey.. uh... Sorry?" She scratched the back of her head. She didn't want to get close at all.

"It's quite alright," he.. it, brushed itself off and looked up at her, "You seemed rather tense, and I just wanted to make sure you were alright."

"Thanks.." she didn't let go of her weapon at all, "what.. what were you doing so close behind me..?" Julia moved her head to the side but still looked at it. The only other danger she could remember came from Zephyr. "You could have called out to me, let me know you were there.." Zephyr was a user of Illusions...

Could this be..?

From a dark corner of the train car the two were currently in, a black blur sprung into action. Taking out a shiny object from the inside of their coat, it stabbed the unsuspecting thing that looked like Gabriele.

It's was Guy! The fork thief, who is currently coming to Julia's rescue. The being Guy had stabbed yelled out in pain, and tried to buck off the Crow from it's back. Guy could only aggressively Hum as he held on; definitely a bird of little words.

"Julia!" The Human girl turned her head to look at the door she had come through before all of this started, there he was- the real Gabriele "What in heavens is going on here?!"

"Looks like we got a doppelgänger!" Lynn suddenly yelled with excitement from behind Gabriele, causing him to turn around as well.

"Lynn-! I told you to stay back in the room!" He panicked.

"And I- don't take orders from you!" She crossed her arms "I don't like taking orders from anyone!" She then noted, "Cc is taking care of me, and Julia is a temporary gig."

"You make it sound like I hired a freelancer," Julia shouted, turning her attention back at the doppelgänger "if you ask me to pay up when this is over, I'm locking you in a box!"

Once Guy had gotten thrown off, Julia came around and swung her bat once more, not sending him flying back, but staggered the thing. It was now more acquainted with how hard she hits. That wasn't a good sign at all, it can adapt, it can turn into anything else; what else could it do?

"Well, it seems like keepin this form is no longer useful.." the voice had drastically changed from the doctor's old English accent to what sounded like- a Boston one? "So, I'll tell ya what; you go down all peaceful like, and nobody gets hurt." It pointed to Julia, who immediately raised a brow at the thing. It was strange, it was like multiple voices at the same time, but you could clearly hear the Boston vocals.

Though, that wasn't the only part that made everyone freeze. It was the fact that this thing's true form was like an amalgam stitched figure that stood way taller than her; Taller then Gabriele, and he's around seven feet tall. It also was very much not Zephyr.

Multiple eyes looked back at the human girl, all those eyes belonged to the being. "What the hell are you?" Julia slipped out, to stunned to even move.

"Doll, ima shapeshifta," it smiled with its many eyes "One an only in existence!" It seemed too proud when it said that. "Just one touch, an your looks are mine!"

It lunged at her, and Julia panicked; raising a few walls, she trapped herself in a cube. The doppelgänger smack into her magic, who was dazed for just a few seconds before knocking on said wall. "Oh, I see now, that's why you swung at me!" It looked all giddy "you could sense, but only to an extent!"

Which explains why she only attacked when the thing was right next to her. She's strong, but she has no idea how to properly use herself to the fullest. To someone who's more accustomed to magic, the being will have a fun time being her.

From behind, Guy ran along and head-butted the being in the spine. However, the amalgam immediately turned around. Getting picked up by said being, Guy was tossed out.. the moving.. train. The glass broke from the strong force and everyone else shouted after the bird as he was lost to the speed.

Guy was gone.

"You.." Julia looked up at the broken window "threw him.. out the window." Did he just seriously kill the most quirky bird she'd ever seen?

"I, in fact, did, thanks for statin the obvious, doll." It still smiled, however, in the cube where Julia resides, he noticed her move the eye patch out of the way so she could see. Something seemed off about that; The eye looked familiar to the being.

"Lynn.." Gabriele whispered to the small child, "back up, and close the door." He untied his necktie, getting ready to intervene if it was required. "Find The Conductor if you must, but stay away from this car."

Hearing Julia scream out with rage Lynn had ever heard, she immediately ran and slammed the door. "He was a thief, but he could have been a friend!" Julia whiplashed her strings out towards the shapeshifter once the shield fully dissipated, slicing a small part of the cloth it wore.

Compared to most outbursts, this was pretty mild; it kinda reminded the being of-

"Oh, oh, yeah!" It laughed looking at it's cut clothing "That's who ya remind me of! That ol' moon demon." It didn't seem all to fazed, maybe a little on the cautious side, but nothing the being couldn't physically deal with "You're one of his cronies, yeah?!"

"Oh man, oh man! What a treat this is!" It was really excited now, then looked towards the doctor as well, "and you; I knew I felt something when I snagged your shape; your an escapee!"

However, during the being's talking, it was being assaulted by Julia from afar, who wasn't having this thing's overconfident attitude. While it's attention was back to the tall girl, Gabriele snatched a few scalpels out if his coat pockets; with good precision, he threw them into the being shoulder.

"Ow, What the-!?" As it tried to look down, Julia came up and slammed a wall into it. That was the first time Julia had ever made one of her walls slide. However, she was to pissed off to realize the achievement. "Hey! Teamin up like this ain't fair!" The shapeshifter yelled, then looked at the doctor "and you! Stop spewin that noxious gas of yours! It's given me a headache!"

"Oh, no, no; this is actually for your safety;" Gabriele walked up, looking at the doppelgänger with his always straight face "you see, you've gone and made my dear, mad." He gestured towards Julia "mentioning The puppeteer as you did, only made it worse."

"She could easily slice you into bits if she wanted." Was what he finally said. Julia took a quick glance at his back, fingers crossed. At first, the girl thought he was being serious. But clearly, he was playing a trick as well. Could they intimidate this thing? "After all, she's not just some 'crony' as you say!"

"She's the heir to his throne."

Julia's thought about this as well... she.. she technically.. was...

Holy shit.

"Ya gotta be shittin me." Was the doppelgänger's reply, it then looked at her again "That carrot stick? The heir? Hah! Ack-" Julia squished harder on the wall. In the shapeshifter's eyes, all the more reason to take her figure; then again? If they ever ran across the moon demon himself at some point, said demon would definitely feel it.

The doppelgänger had been steering clear of that guy to avoid being used as a puppet; does it really want to start a war? No, it would rather pick on weaker beings then itself. This was to much work now. "Alright, alright, new deal; ya let me go, and I'll stay outa ya hair-"

It looked at Julia expecting a change of face "I won't bother ya, and you won't turn me into ribbons!"

"You'll also get the hell off this train and never come back," Julia growled at him, pressing harder.

"Cool, cool! I get it!" It was out of breath. If the shapeshifter doesn't turn into ribbons, it'll definitely turn into a wall pancake. "We good!?"

Julia gave a side glance towards the doctor, who in turn shrugged as if to say 'go-ahead'. Releasing the wall, the doppelgänger huffed and feel to the floor. "Man, you puppet folk; always so moody."

"Watch it." Julia glared

"My point exactly." It let out a chuckle.

"What in peck is goin on here!?" Every head turned as the loudest bird on the train, as he came running into the car; taking a glimpse at the destruction and the broken window, alongside the odd-looking passenger that wasn't Gabriele.

His first reaction was to take out his knife and point it at the Shapeshifter. Before the Conductor could even attack, the amalgamation turned to look at Julia, "Name's Doppler by the by; gotta scuttle now, Dolly!" quickly turning into a large spider, the being crawled out the broken window; Never to be seen again.

"I don't like that nickname.." Julia mumbled. She then turned to Gabriele "also, 'my dear'?" She raised a brow, he normally says this at the beginning or end of his sentence with her name that follows; something was off about it this time.

Gabriele just cleared his throat and walked away without a word. Avoiding the questions thrown at him.

"Not a trouble fer four years," The Conductor looked at Julia "till ya came along again lass.." he chuckled with a smile "aye, stuff kickin up now. Excitin!"

Despite the whole train rush movie, a broken window and missed placed objects seemed alright. Though, now he'll have to keep an eye out now.

Night rose once again, the train slowed down to a stop. Just a few blocks from the old looking station, which looked like an over-glorified bus stop, Julia and the others stepped off to see the start of the woods. Grass fading from a golden dead brown to purple as it was then consumed by the swamp. Willow trees and mangroves could be seen mixing in with the taller trees that reminded her of redwood. An odd combo, but it was kinda.. nice?

But it was also cold.

A lot colder then she remembered the place. Shivering, Julia sighed, "We better get walking, we're almost there... I think."

"I'd give you my coat, but it's currently sown onto my body.." Gabriele commented, noticing the chill. He personally didn't need this coat.

"Do you.. want me to take care of that for you later..?" Julia turned her head and taking another moment to remember that she had a charm for navigation; "I could detach it from you later if you want-.." taking hold of her locket and giving it one good look at the picture within; she closed it and held it out. It will tell her where she needs to go, despite if the path ahead might be broken.

"You'd have to be incredibly careful cutting the small strings, but yes.. that would be much appreciated." Gabriele folded his arms behind his back, taking his normal stance as he walked.

Once they arrived at the forest front, Gabriele noticed that where the swamp starts, there was, in fact, a boardwalk followed by old candle lanterns. He pointed it out to the others as the locket moved in that direction. In the beginning, the boardwalk seemed fine, a few rotted spots, but people could travel through the path. Though, as they went deeper in, the boardwalk was starting to show signs of creaking, and separation. Not only that but sometimes they would hear.. things.

"I.. don't like this place. Too dark, and I can barely see!" Lynn spoke up, crossing her arms "why didn't we bring a light with us?!"

"Yes, it would seem wise to wait till day.." Gabriele spoke up, "however, we would have to backtrack a bit to find a more stable place to rest.."

Knowing Julia, she'd want to keep moving until she was finally in Subcon. But a small little idea popped into her head.

Raising a hand she called out a small square of her barrier. Smaller and smaller until the light that came from it focused on one area. It looked more like an odd pyramid without a tip. The light wasn't as good, but at least they could see the floorboards.

"Neat.," Lynn spoke up, but after that it was silent.

The noise they heard earlier, sounded more and more like whispers and chimes of bells. It was really unsettling for the smaller girl but Gabriele was not moved and Julia had her guard up. They don't exactly know what lingers in the swamp area beside Julia's knowledge of the hands.

She hates those hands.

Particles of light started floating around as Julia dismissed her odd light maker. Each light that floated around were different colors; Blue, Red, Green-

"Hey.. what's that up there..?" Lynn whispered, getting everyone's attention.

The path up was even more splintered off as a small little figure stood, looking at them; Teal orbs glowed in the dark with an angry expression.

"Trespasser!" It yelled, arms raised as the swamp around it started to bend. "Go away!"

Everyone was pushed together noticing how the swamp was coming alive, Julia squinted her eyes to get another look; that voice.. no- it couldn't be!

"..Kero..?" Julia spoke up; chest in a bind from unfamiliar emotions.

It took a second, but the swamp stopped rising and fell back into place. The little thing was stunned as now and more lights started popping up. Those lights belonged to a few dwellers.

"..Mama..?"

Julia finally got a better look once the place was lit up like Christmas, it was Kero, but he looked different. His body shape was the same but he wore a good and a few more articles of clothing.

"Oh my god-" Julia smiled at her child; was it strange that he seemed a little taller? "My baby!"

The two ran for each other, hopping through the sludge of the swamp and then embraced in a crushing hug.

"Mama!" Kero smiled through his eyes.

Get ready folks here's a long one!

OPFan37: Thank you for the long review! to answer some of your questions, I consider this story as a slow start because the DLCs haven't started yet, nor had Hat Kid made an appearance; It just seemed like a fare warning to put up. Yes, Gabriele is going to be one of the many characters following Julia around at some points in the story, later off might give other characters a chance so that she's not being followed like a posse.

As for how the romance will work, it's not going to be a heavy key romance; Just light things. (sorry if vague, not trying to spoil this part). It's also really nice to know you check back on my gallery from time to time, Thank you for that! I do post some related stuff and unrelated things about my story, so some things might be confusing! Now, about Guy with many Forks, Guy is his actual name and he's just as old as a character alongside Julia and Kero; I wanted to include him because he was a rather popular character in the AHiT Amino before I left. I love my crazy bird.

For the last thing, about time; Yes technically time would have a different flow, But how far you decide to go through the space rift effects that. Julia in her world has been gone for four years, but she wanted to even out her flow of time, so- Four years since her disappearance. though, in all honesty, she wouldn't know this very well since she was knocked out half of the first ride with Moon.

Mr. Mega: Good to hear, Hopefully nothing changes your view much later on.

Mad King C: I'm also happy to hear you're excited about this! Also, Thank you! Maybe I will keep this title. I'll give it a little more time.