Sorry for the short chapter, I'll try my best for the next one, which will have a lot more happening. I'm just feeling a little out of it right now.
(Chapter Fifteen: Aboard the Cruise)
Melody and Bonnie made early preparations before everyone was to head back down to the plant, right to the marina. Like the captain of the spaceship thought, there were a few Timepiece left behind, far older than the ones she had lost. Leaving the machine room, the two girls had seen Gabriele, who had requested to come along for a faster arrival, walked into the kitchen with Cooking Cat. This seemed a little odd because she was supposed to be with Lynn, but Melody shrugged it off.
It was about time to wake up her sister who was back in her usual spot in the mound of pillows in her room, the only difference was that Kero held onto Julia while the two slept. Sometimes, the stuffed child reminded her of a teddy bear that fought away nightmares. It was a nice thought since she remembered Julia having those terrors thanks to that crazy lunatic.
Melody was glad to hear he wasn't going to bother anyone anymore.
When they were in the captain's room, Bonnie made her way to try and wake up the older girl, but Melody stopped her midway.
"Hold on, you see.." The hatted child held her hand out, then picking up a pillow "we have our ways of waking each other up." Melody smiled mischievously, making Bonnie blink a couple of times, but then smiled.
The two children armed themselves with a few kinds of cotton stuffed headrests, however, right as they were about to make a move, Kero jumped up and threw a pillow at Bonnie. His original aim was at Melody, but he missed his mark. "Uh- oops." Kero laughed, as he dodged a throw from the Captain.
The commotion woke up Julia as she received a face slap from a pillow anyways while she was trying to wake up fully.
"Well, if I wasn't awake before... I am now." Julia muttered while placing a hand to her face. Taking a moment to look at the children tossing stuff at each other, Julia then decided to toss a pillow at Melody.
Shortly after, Julia was walking out of the bedroom with all three kids grappling onto her. Melody and Bonnie on her legs and Kero stuck to her back. It was hard, but she trudged on. Everyone was having a blast. Once she had reached the main hub, everyone was greeted by Gabriele as he watched Cc leave.
"Ah, I see the children have woken you up," Gabriele said, his hands placed behind his back in his normal stance. "I've.. taken deliberately of learning how to use this kitchen.."
"You can cook?" Julia asked, raising a brow, Melody giggled at her. She remembered the first time she asked Julia that and she brunt her first dish on her ship. Julia glared at the small girl, realizing what she was laughing at.
"I did, a long time ago.." he stated, scratching his head "much use it does me now though, however.." he held his hands out, "I'm now in the presence of people who can eat for once.."
Melody and Bonnie were slightly excited to see what this guy had made, charging to the kitchen just to get first dibs if the food was good. Though, nothing compares to Cc's cooking.
"Gabriele weren't you scared of using or being near fire..?" Julia asked, climbing up the ladder while Kero was still on her. "You could have gotten burned.." she whispered.
"Fret not, Julia. This is only part one of my apologies!" He oddly reassured her.
"Oh, so you think bribing me with food will win me over?" Julia did her best to hold a straight face, Gabriele was frantic trying to say something, "Just messing with you," she smiled softly, Julia could see small burn patches on Gabriele's hands where he might have lost himself. "Thanks, by the way.."
"You're... Welcome.." He was at a loss as he watched her move behind the doors. He sighed to himself as he soon followed.
Surprisingly, the food Gabriele had made was rather nice looking pancakes. Julia was slightly shocked to find that little Macaroons were leaning against a stack of three pancakes each topped with berries, mostly blueberries and raspberries and a dash of powdered sugar on top.
"I'm sorry, what-?" Julia was the one who was at a loss for words. The two smaller girls just cheered with glee.
Gabriele was happy he was able to get such a reaction. Though, he was glad for the chef cat's assisting him.
Julia stood at the ready, small bag next to her. Her appearance had changed for this little getaway, she remembered how some of her clothing had changed when she arrived back to this dimension, some being warmer clothing for a certain arctic area she was about to jump headfirst into.
She had removed her normal suit getup and was now wearing a green turtleneck with grey and black stripes, and a black long cardigan that was currently unbuttoned. It had three big white buttons that looked more for the style than actual use, however. Her pants were white and were rather fuzzy on the inside, which should keep her warm on the trip.
One last thing, Julia had thought of leaving her hat behind, just in case something were to blow it away. She wouldn't want to fuss over her cherished hat being lost forever. She was on vacation now!
The two children were just bouncing off the wall, not just from the breakfast they had, but from the excitement about being on a boat. They were ready to explore another new area that the cruise would hold and wondered what it would be like.
Kero contently held Julia's other hand as Gabriele finally met up with the others. "Everyone ready?" Julia asked as Melody headed over to the taller girl, giving her umbrella to her.
Just like before, now that Julia doesn't have an umbrella anymore, the child grabbed onto her back. The taller girl will be carrying the Melody and Kero while Gabriele was going to carry Bonnie.
"So wait-" Gabriele stared back to the planet "We just.. jump..? Seem rather dangerous.." he looked to the second group how were just about to head out the window, looking back at him "Right.. but you lot have done this so many times before." He sighed.
"Just hold on tight to that umbrella, you'll be fine!" Melody waved, just as Julia jumped out with her group.
Bonnie patted one of Gabriele's shoulders, in a way of say ' let's go!' And he looked back at her. Slightly nodded to himself, he soon made his way out the window as well. "This is like a strange dream," he muttered to himself "but then again, this was better than when I normally see.."
There they were! All five of them lined up and staring at the large ship before them. Melody and Bonnie took action and ran off without the two adults and Kero. Nice music played, everyone who was about to come aboard was lined up near the grass.
Julia could see a few Owls, Crows, and Penguins, hell, even the Conductor was here! The girl was slightly intimidated by the sudden environment, all she could think was 'what can go wrong?'. Now that she thought about it, something has always gone wrong.
Gabriele turned his head to look at Julia, noticing her unease. "Come now, Julia.." he held his hand out to her, she hesitated, just looking at it for a moment before taking it. "You deserve this break, don't overthink too much now."
Julia sighed, looking at him "yeah... I guess you're right.." she was still unsure, but stepping away from the large door they came through was a start.
As they walked down the path, a few passersby waved at her, mostly the few birds that worked with Grooves and the Conductor. Maybe one tourist that remembered her from a movie too.
"Ey! Lassie!" Her favorite director shouted out once he saw her walk near him "Come say hello to me wee lil ones!"
The tall girl broke away from Gabriele and Kero as she turned to the side, immediately getting jumped by a few tiny little yellow.. things..? Babies!? They chirped and pulled on her hair and clung onto herself as Julia was knocked down.
"Nae, yer weren't supposed ta jump her children!" The Conductor carefully plucked the little children off of the taller girl "I know yer excited ta meet her, but there are other ways to greet people!"
Julia laughed, plucking a child off her head and holding them. This one seemed to be wearing a small conductor hat, but all of them were so cute!
"It's nice ta know yer comin along, lass." The Conductor smiled "but, anyway... I'd better go ask about the childcare onboard." He scratched his chin, chuckling to himself as he watched the children hobble around Julia "I love these little blighters, but I cannae bring them to the bar with me, can I?"
Julia sighed at that, of course, there was a bar on board. The Conductor noticed her worries, and tried to reassure her "I've been doin a lot better lass, still tryin, but better."
Julia softly smiled at that, then she turned her head to the main front, where Melody and Bonnie were saluting a large... Walrus..? A large Walrus captain, stood next to two small little seals that softly bounced in place. Above them read a welcome sign, but the girl couldn't read what was written under the welcome.
It was drawn out in paint and crayons.
"Sweet mother of mercy.." she held a hand to her chest, approaching the two girls the captain of the cruise ship looked at her.
"Ma'am, these pups belong to you?" He sighed. Saying this man was tired was an understatement. He just looked done with everything.
"Uh, yeah- sorry." Julia looked back, scratching her head "My little sister and her friend didn't cause any destruction, did they?" The two girls looked up at her, insulted that Julia thought they'd destroy anything this soon.
They did plan on breaking a few.. things...
The captain of the cruise then spoke into his radio, "Are we ready to sail?" He asked, but only crashes and noise could be heard, making the older Walrus sigh once again. "Just... Just head on up." He pointed ahead.
The two little seals called out to the group as they walked "Wewcome to the cwuise!" And then "We howp you have a gweat twime!"
Julia felt like she was going to die from their adorable speech.
Melody and Bonnie once again shot off, wanting to explore just a little bit more before heading up the ramp. Julia noticed them run ahead and behind a smaller parked boat with large boxes in front of it. One of those boxes looked rather.. sketchy.
"Julia!" The three stopped at the ramp, Kero looked up and waved at the Jar placed on top of a large suitcase. "It is good to see that you've made it!" The boss of the Mafia of Cooks announced, a goon standing next to the case he was placed on "and I see children from space are running amuck..."
"Yeah.. you know Melody.." Julia softly chuckled
"Indeed," He mumbled out "Might need to keep an eye out for them."
With that in mind, Julia and Gabriele alongside Kero wandered off to go see exactly were the two children ran off too. She motions Gabriele to keep going with Kero while Julia couldn't help but look at the large box that radiated dark energy.
As she had gotten close, the box started to talk, but before the box got past clearing its throat, Julia cut them off with a single question:
"Snatcher..? Why are you in a box?" She asked, making the box groan.
"It's just you, Pumpkinhead.." he muttered, but Julia could still hear him "Look, I can't turn invisible like Moon boy, okay!?" He sighed, almost sounding like he was deflating "I deserve a vacation as much as anyone else. You don't rat me out, and won't bother you, deal?"
Julia shrugged "Fair enough, but I can't speak for Melody and Bonnie, however.." she heard him groan again.
"Don't tell 'em I'm here." He asked
"You got it." She pats the box, "by the way, where is my dad?" She asked, waiting for an answer.
"Probably already on the ship." He said, "Now leave before some catches you talking to a box, Kiddo!"
Who would have thought? A few minutes in and Melody and Bonnie already found a time rift, retrieved the timepiece, and Bonnie was already headed back to the ship.
Melody was left with the group to get situated on the SS. Literally Can't Sink. That was one heck of a name, as Julia was lost in thought from it. They went up the broken ramp, Melody has a fun time jumping from platform to the next while Julia just made bridges for her and the other two.
It was just easier to do so. You could say it was lazy, but Julia was done with the whole platform jumping gig. Hell, she was even done with Timepiece; sure if Melody needed help, Julia will help out, but like she kept thinking.. she was on vacation.
The final stretch of the red ramp brought them all aboard the ship. Bonnie soon after rejoined the group, only to have then brake off again.
Sometimes it felt a little lonely watching the girls run off, but Julia was just glad her sister had someone to keep up with her. She had her problems now.
Over the main speakers, she and Gabriele could hear the captain of this ship announcing that all passengers should go check-in at the front desk and that he'll be on board shortly.
"Right then, shall we?" Gabriele held his arm out to Julia, Kero was starting to get excited to get moving.
Julia, still unsure of the situation, looped her arm into his, while the group was being led inside by signs.
"I guess so." She said, before going quiet.
We're finally onboard the cruise, a few idle chit-chatting between characters and our main girl Julia. Gabriele doing his best to make things up to Julia and Melody and Bonnie are up to their normal shenanigans.
Fighter33000: Thank you! I'm glad you like my bush cat children, I was planning on adding my own take on rough patches into this story for some time now. It's a shame that they were cut from the game.
Mad King C: Your right man, Me and a few friends refer to them as bush cats. The original files my friend had sorted through, they had found that the models were as big as Hat kid. So I developed a small little community that could have survived Vannessa ice terraforming, though they may be smaller than they originally were. Another thing, I'm going to try my best to expand this ark for what it was, as much as I liked this DLC, it was way too short.
OPFan37: that's alright, don't worry about being late! Everybody has things to do. I hear you about the rough patches man, I really wish they kept them around, and If you're wondering, Bombshell and Kiwi are the newest members if my rough patch creations! If you go further back into my A Hat in Time Da files, you can find Pictures of the three that I introduced in the previous chapter! those three were the very first rough patches I had ever made.