(Chapter Thirty-Four: It's just business)

MoonJumper stood before a dilapidated tower. Broken, crumbling, and forgotten. When he had escaped Vanessa's wrath for the first time, this is where he hid. Where he hid from Snatcher and every other resident the remained after the frost. He sighed, picking up a stone slab and rethinking everything he had done up to this point.

So much unnecessary pain he had caused just because he was angry about what happened to him. MoonJumper wasn't thinking, he shouldn't be mad- though he has all rights to be! But he should have thought of some other way to go about unleashing it.

Who would have thought one little girl could string so many people from his past together? To ease their pain he had caused...? To ease his own pain with them?

Angry, but he wasn't sure at what anymore, he threw the stone away. It knocked down another stone as they both thud loudly in the quiet empty area.

The puppeteer rested on the ground, breathing in heavily to stop his tears as he held his head with his hands. What was he to do now? It seemed his rage was the only thing that had given him a purpose, now he had Julia and no matter how many patches he seems to fix, more holes keep opening up between them.

Does she hate him now? Does she fully understand what kind of monster he was?

"My... how the mighty have fallen." Came a voice that broke the silence.

Quickly turning his head, he looked to see someone he never thought he'd see again. His puppet, a true puppet.

The badge seller stood, looking at him as he twitched and twisted. "It truly has been while; the moment you had reappeared, I had to keep myself hidden." The masked man said. "To say I was surprised to see you weren't hunting after me is an understatement."

"Funny... because I had thought you were lost for good." MoonJumper floated back up and looked at the puppet. Not with attitude or spite for getting away but pure curiosity "it seems you've developed a voice and a personality..."

"And an identity." The badge seller noted, "alongside a business too." He chuckled.

"You definitely were busy, I must say." MoonJumper turned away. "Why have you decided to appear before me now? Are you not afraid now? Not afraid that I might make you my vessel?"

"By now I've been studying you... no." The badge seller said, looking at him "you mean no more harm, I can clearly see this. You don't wish to anger your daughter any further."

He was right on that, MoonJumper didn't want Julia to drift apart any further than he thinks they have.

"Though, I have come to tell you that... when she returns from her final mission..." The badge seller continued to look at his former puppeteer "I plan on telling her the truth about me. I made a promise after all."

"I don't plan on stopping you, there's no doubt she finds out either way..." MoonJumper went back to resting on the ground and removed his coat to try and feel comfortable. "Honestly I'm surprised you haven't told her yet despite me."

The badge seller twitched and glitched again, the strain of being around places... being stretched through time and space really did take its toll. "...I wanted to feel human... for just a little while longer." He quietly said, but enough to where MoonJumper could still hear him. "I wanted to keep feeling like I was alive; Benjamin... that was the name I had given myself."

"Just because you were created by thread and needle, doesn't make you any-less alive..." MoonJumper said to him, realizing that his creation really has evolved with his magic "you've proven that. You stand before me with more than I actually gave you... thoughts and ideas..." MoonJumper went on "emotions, even though you try to hide them... and a sense of right and wrong."

The badge seller... Benjamin looked at his creator with an indistinguishable face. The best part about having a mask for a face.

"It was you... you kept an eye on Julia when I couldn't at the time." MoonJumper said with the realization "thank you."

"I tried to keep her away from you." Benjamin said, sitting down on a stone "but she was adamant about seeing you again. When she remembered you at the least."

MoonJumper was quiet, remembering how happy he and Julia both were. Now she's always worrying about his past messes that he had made.

"I do wish to tell you this, though." Benjamin grabbed Moon's attention "no matter how angry or frustrated Julia is towards you... she'll never truly hate you."

"How are you so certain...?" MoonJumper doubted him

"Because I've seen what she's like when she truly hates someone. Me and Gabriele both have." Benjamin pointed out to him "she has not raised a fist or thread at you; she has not attacked you despite your wrongdoing. Julia only wishes for everyone to get along."

"You were the man who decided to give her everything you had after all." The twitching man said before turning his eye to the sky.

Their moment was cut off, but definitely not forgotten when they looked to the heavens and saw a red sickly looking rift. Large in size and fractures of what was happening on the other side slowly played.

MoonJumper and Benjamin recognized one of the combatants that were fighting.

Julia shook Allen in her arms; the man went limp when he was exposed to the bright neon lights. With entering at such a speed she wouldn't be surprised if he were having an epilepsy attack. Though that couldn't be the case, he was a puppet after all! Julia will not be going into the thought of how this idea worked.

Meanwhile, Bonnie spotted a cat wearing a face mask carrying one of the timepieces she and her group needed, and when the cat spotted her looking at them, they panicked.

"Stop, thief!" Bonnie yelled as Kero worriedly chased after her remembering the rule of not being alone.

Julia, stupidly unaware of what was happening, looked intently at Allen when he finally stirred awake. Only to realize his open eye seemed to have a crazed look to them, then looked at her with a splitting smile. It sent a shiver down her spine.

"Allen is currently unavailable, Zephyr will take his place." He laughed "seems like the bright life was too much!"

"Oh, like you're any deferent when it comes to that..." Julia deadpanned at him.

Zephyr just laughed again, holding onto her as they got back up. He then inquired, smile miraculously fading from his face"...where are the children?"

Now the woman's smirk faded from her face as they both looked over to see the children chasing after a cat with a timepiece.

"I take my eyes off of them for a few moments!" Julia cried out as she hurried over to the kids, Zephyr close behind her.

She watched as Bonnie got frustrated and attacked the cat, making it relinquish the stolen property. Julia mentally screeched at this. So much for not being hostile.

With a victorious smile, Bonnie held onto the hourglass tightly. Kero inched closer to her after realizing that she angered a few other cats with the same face mask.

"Hey, that belongs to..." their threatening faces immediately melted when they saw the two adults approached the situation, kids they can handle, but two towering adults that looked like seasoned fighters scared them.

Realizing this, Bonnie stuck her tongue out at the group of cats while Kero grabbed hold of Julia.

"I think that, belongs to me." Another voice called out as a clawed hand reached in between Julia and Zephyr to grab at the timepiece. Everyone was startled by the large cat, not like the cats pulling the trains, but a tall bipedal feline with a fur coat. Like the actual clothing coat and not the typical fur animals have.

"Who do you four work for? The two of you seem to have a dress code." She eyed Julia and Zephyr.

Julia had forgotten that they were wearing the same outfit minus the ties being different colors. Zephyr's was his yellow while Julia kept her usual green.

Steeling herself, Julia steps up. This Cat didn't seem too different than the mafia boss she had grown so used to. "No one, ma'am. We're just picking up what is our's." She made sure not to give attitude, but enough force to prove she wasn't a pushover.

The cat chuckled, smirking at Julia then slowly glance at the hourglass before putting it away. "Well, I can't have you lot running around freely, not after one of your own have..." she trailed off to see the other cat pick up the fallen one "roughed up one of mine." She circled the four of them.

Bonnie immediately regretting what she had done, and Kero held onto Julia tighter. He was unknowingly glaring at the cat lady.

"Do you know how much that sets back my jewel business...?" She glared back at the squad. "So!" She smiled kindly, but Julia could tell it was a sickly sweet to hide her anger. "You'll all work for me now." She got up in the fedora-wearing woman's face, and Julia was doing her best to hold back a sneer.

It was just like working for Snatcher it seemed. Round two for being lackeys.

The tall cat then tossed the group a large wad of cash, which Julia, who had taken charge, caught. Her eyes bulged at the stack of hundred dollars bills. Stuttering. Even though it wasn't like the currency back home, she was still familiar with what dollars looked like.

But then again... it seems like pons would be worth more since they were literally diamonds in capsules.

"Come to my store. We have some business to discuss." The cat said, walking away behind the crowd of cats that work for her.

Unbeknownst to the entire people below, a person from above watched everything play out before vanishing.

The group all stood in a jewelry shop, Julia and Zephyr looked directly at the cat while Bonnie and Kero looked around despite not leaving their side. They were both too scared too.

The cat, who they haven't gotten the name of yet drummed her claw on the pedestal she stood at, studying the four of them. While the kids refused to look at her, the two humans before her; the female seemed to be holding back a frustrated look while the other one seemed unhinged.

'Quite the visitors.' She thought, then said "there's more of these, I'm sure. It looks like you all came down here on a mission." She folded her arms at the humans "some of you seem... talented. I pay you, and you bring me more. It's a simple arrangement."

"And if we refuse?" Julia asked, truly curious, but she knew the answer to this kind of thing.

"Then I'll personally off you myself." She said, looking at Julia. "My boys can handle the children, but you too look like you can really fight." She smiled viciously at them.

"Zephyr wishes to stab you," Zephyr stated but immediately got the side of his head smacked by Julia.

The cat raised an unamused brow at the two.

"Sorry- my brother is a little crazy." She glared at the mage "we are not stabbing anyone." She stressed at him.

"I should hope it stays that way." The cat threatened. She then swept back stray white hairs out of her face, "start looking by the yellow overpass. I'm sure you lot can find your way. Now get going..., and don't come back empty-handed."

With a nod, Julia starting to leave "come on, everyone." The woman called out.

Once everyone was out of that shop, the children let out a sigh while Julia placed her hands on her hips in thought while glaring at the floor. Not the first time receiving a death threat from someone, but Julia could clearly see the children slightly shaken from that.

"What do we do now...?" Bonnie, shoulders slumped. "If we can't get those hourglasses back..."

Shaking her hand a bit, the woman turned around to look at the child and whispered "we will get them back... we just need a plan."

Everyone looked at her for answers, but she clearly didn't have one yet.

"But for now... we'll just play along." Julia looked at the group, adjusting her hat while she looked around at the vast underground.

"Zephyr still says we should kill her." The mad jester muttered to the group. "End it while we still can."

Julia only sighed in frustration towards him, hand to the bridge of her nose trying to fight back the urge to hit him again. Not like it actually hurts him but still. It's not like he can just stop being himself.

"Where's the fun in the adventure is we just end it before it begins?" Julia held her hands out, pointing at everything "We'll just have to split up and go two ways if you want to end that badly."

There was silence among the group. It was his idea to tag along and Bonnie was the one who wanted to lead the mission in the first place.

"You want some experience, nows' the time to get some kiddo." Julia looked down at the bow child "take Zephyr and go see what you can find."

Putting her lips in a fine line, she nervously nodded her head, then looked at Zephyr who looked at her. "Come on... let's go."

"Zephyr, this will probably sound familiar to Allen but listen carefully: don't fire unless fired upon. Got it?" She looked at him with a glare "I don't want to hear the boss lady sending her goons after you because you were stab-happy."

It took him a moment but eventually, Zephyr nodded slowly, following Bonnie on her way.

When the two were out of sight, Julia sighed once more, not realizing just how stressed she was. Both she a Kero walked down the yellow tunnel holding hands. There were trash and currency littered about. A couple of cats here and there glued to their phones or just ordering something from the food cars. The ones that weren't doing something else were gawking at the two... well mostly at Julia.

"Mama... this place is huge. Will we actually find those things here...?" He asked her as they reached the end of the tunnel.

"We're gonna have to try." Julia just smiled down at him with reassurance.

"...what happens if Zephyr does... you know...?" Kero watched as a train passed by with his mother.

"Then we have to back him up." Julia said blankly, watched another train "he's family, we have to watch out for each other."

"...I definitely think you can win against the scary cat lady... because you're strong, mama," Kero said, with a soft smile.

Julia just chuckled at him, picking him up and placing him on her shoulder. "Hang on tight, bud." She said, climbing the largest scratching post she'd ever seen and waited for the next train to come by. It seems like train hopping is going to be a common thing for now.

Once they reached the end of that line, they hopped onto a platform and then to another train. Finally, they landed on another section and hopped down, only to find out it was a fountain. It was pretty, though more cats were starting to looking at them more due to their entrance and bypassing the train system.

"Do you think I should have changed...?" She asked her son, looking at the small area and another train passing by. Then looked up at a possible area they could go. "Maybe I should have worn something other than my usual suit." She muttered.

She'll get a better grasp of outfit-making soon, she'll definitely have a change of style. Not the hat though, that will always be her thing.

"Maybe there's a store that sells clothes... oh we should buy some souvenirs for Gabriele and Button!" Kero happily pointed out, "and grandpa too!"

Julia smiled at him even more, maybe a gift will soothe things over... she had been seeing MoonJumper less and less as of recently.

"Yeah... we should." Julia nodded, climbing up the moving train and hopping the wall. There were a few more food cars and food shops around here as well.

Julia wondered if cats here were the actual culinary folks of this planet... it's just so interesting.

There was also a yellow gate as well blocking their path to what the two would think would've been back where they started. Not even thinking about getting close, Julia wondered what was on the left side of them.

It was a long spacious walkway, with plants and posters. All seem to be advertising of some sort, in a language none of the two understood.

"Didn't even realize cats had their own language... do the others have native languages too?" Julia muttered to herself mostly.

"Hey! Are you the one they call Fedora?" A voice called, by the sound of it, it sounded like it belonged cat resident. It was a little deeper octave than the normal cats Julia had been hearing due to their loud conversation with one another.

When she turned around, she wasn't expecting to see a golden eye California spangled cat with a grey plaid hoodie. It was up covering their head preventing anyone from seeing their identity properly. More so, how did they know her other name?

"Who wants to know?" Julia coldly looked back, unsure if they were trying to start something.

"The cat named jack, that's me by the way." He placed his paws in his hoodie pocket, trying to act cool, but Julia can clearly see its an act. "I wanted to know if you're actually the real deal and not some bozo prancing around as a famous movie star."

"Bozo...?" Julia snared and whispered under her breath; who was this cat calling bozo?

"You look like her, but you clearly have the style all wrong." He pointed out, looking at her up and down "she has a long sleeve jacket, and she definitely didn't look like a pirate."

It then just clicked, the older 'movies' she and Melody stared in. This cat, Jack, clearly hadn't seen the newest release yet... "Sometimes I still can't believe I have fans..." Julia deadpanned, scratching at her own head, and turned around to walk away.

"Whoa, whoa! Hey!" Jack flailed about, walking a little closer to them in the process "where are you going!?" His cool demeanor broke into a panic.

"Listen, kid, I'm not gonna sit here and argue with you that I'm me." Julia pointed to herself, "especially not in front of my son. Either you stop insulting my style and tell me what you want. Or you leave." The woman folded her arms "it's that simple and I'm in no mood to get mad now."

"Holy carp, you really are her." He breathed out. A ghost of a smile stretching across his feline face.

Julia was just at a loss for words, completely confused, and she was just half tempted to just blip away...

Her gold charm is missing. Julia left one of her charms at home; she can't teleport away. Julia forgot to equip her charm Allen gave her.

Taking in a deep breath, the woman tried to calm down, but kero could feel her anxiety even without their bond.

"It's going to be okay, mama..." he patted the side of her head.

"Look, look, look... look-" Jack tried to continue his sentence with the help of hand movements but he couldn't get past the first part "I- I'm a huge fan, I'm sorry- I didn't mean..!" He inhaled and exhaled "this is the best day ever." He said holding his head.

"Fedora, I need yours help!" He finally said, holding his paws out to her. "Your help, gosh dang it..." he whispered.

"Hey! You shut up!" Kero called out surprisingly, snapping both Julia and the frantic cat out of their own worlds. "A lot of stuff has happened, you need to stop getting my mom all stressed out!"

Julia let out a sigh, patting her boy on the hand that was still on the side of her head.

"I- uh... sorry." Jack lowered his head

Putting the search on hold for a bit, the least Julia could do was hear out what the cat wanted to say, it not like he just started following them when she clearly told him to leave them alone or anything. They sat down on the side of a wall, far away from prying ears, looking off at all the trains rolling by; what train she'll have to take to get a yellow pass, and what way she needed to go to find the hourglass.

In the meantime Jack sat with her, giddy out of his mind "I really can't believe it you..." he stated one last time before clearing his throat "okay, okay... so... the thing I need your help with is actually serious." Jack pointed out turning his head to her.

"It's not an autograph or a picture is it?" Julia slumped her chin on her hand that was propped on her knees.

"I mean- I'd like one, but n-no." He twiddled his fingers together with anxiety "I saw how you stood up to the empress... I need someone like that to lead my gang of cats... to boost morale too."

Julia just gave him a look, "how old are you?" She asked him, rather confused still.

"Sixteen" he then quickly added, "in human years- I'm sixteen in human years."

"And you have a gang...?" The woman inquired while Kero turned his head to look at the cat.

"I... no it's..." Jack somberly lowered his head "I was my older brother's before..." he paused then continued "you see, the metro used to be such an open kind place... we never saw ourselves like... like them. We protected this place from cats like them."

"But one day, the Empress showed up, and everything started to change. Nobody really notices because they're either in their phones or... being taken out." Jack explained looking at her "the debt many cats have are high because of her, and when they can't pay they work for her... and when they work for her. She can do whatever she wants."

"What happened to your brother...?" Julia rested her hands at her sides now, almost not wanting to know.

"The Empress and her goons... that's what." He clenched his hood, wanting to feel something get crushed under his hands "and the worst part is... we don't even have proof to take into the cops... I'm pretty sure half are spies too."

"Proof, huh...?" Julia mulled over what the cat was saying.

So there was actual death happening here, and no one is either brave enough or has the means to prove it. It really does change the situation, but then again... all the missions she has done for Melody had a high risk to them.

"And you want me as moral... and... a leader? This group is rightfully yours and you're giving up your leadership to a total stranger." Julia looked at him, but he looked away. "No. I won't be the new leader. I have enough problems right now..."

"We could help you look for whatever it is you're looking for!" Jack stopped her from trying to get up "you- you can be my tactician instead!" He pleads "you don't have to be the leader! Please... me and the other are big fans... and you being around would make us happy."

"How do you even know I'm good at fighting or tactics at all?" Julia looked down at him as he held onto her leg "I'm a movie star, I act. Well.. ex-movie star. Not in the business anymore."

"What!?" He cried out, looking up at her. Jack couldn't believe he heard that. Fedora not being an actor anymore.

"Look, I'm sorry. I really am. But you need to calm down and let go of my leg..." Julia strained "you're clawing me in your panic-"

"Ah!" Jack quickly let go. "Sorry- sorry!"

Julia let out a sigh, looking at her pant leg, it definitely broke through the fabric and her skin. But she was familiar with cats, they do that. Not even on purpose. She placed a hand on his head to let him know everything was alright.

"Look, just... let me

Think about it, and let me tell the others before we start making anything solid." She said, looking down at the boy who was doing his best to keep it together.

Jack was definitely an emotional wreck. Trying to play things cool to make it seem like things were alright, but really... not so much. Why he even decided to go to her for help is beyond her. Technically she can help him... but in doing so, Julia will more than likely insight the wrath of the Empress he's so afraid of.

Which was something she didn't want.

She didn't want to put Kero or Bonnie in any kind of danger she was so familiar with. She didn't want Zephyr to go back and rampage like he used to do.

"Just... let me think." She said. It was what she was good at. Though making the right choice was still to be determined.

With a sniffle and a nod, Jack pulled further away. Breathing in and out to recomposes himself. "I... If you ever decide on anything... you can meet me at the green section of the metro." He looked up at her, the hood still on his head "just call out for some playing cards and my boys will find you." He softly chuckled.

"Get it... becomes my name is Jack...? Yeah..." he muttered awkwardly, then eventually walked away.

Julia cracked a small smile but as fast as it was there it was gone. Maybe she shouldn't have been so forward with him. Given his situation.

With a sigh, Julia looked to her son. "I'm sorry you had to see that, bud."

Kero shook his head, "no... it's okay. But I'm not sure what to say..."

"Yeah... me neither." Julia sat back down to take apart what had been unloaded on her. "Me neither."

Hey hey! long chapter and stuff are starting to hit hard! The dark story of the metro begins and so does my new metro cat named Jack. I will warn you all again that things will be getting darker from here with mentions of death murder and possible emotional wrecks. Okay, I'm just rambling, but murder and death is always a thing here. It's the mafia, boys.

Stealthee125: A ribbon tied to faith or life always interested me, just the concept of it being compared to a tied up string or a lace just hits me with the feelings. As for the Empress and the group's magic she won't be seeing it anytime soon- but it will definitely be a shock!

OPFan37: It is a little sad that this story is near its end, but there's always the epilogue stories I plan on doing! No sadness there, It'll all be happy. I promise! The contingency plan is definitely mysterious, but it will also play an important role. I'll take to you on more of that when the time comes, but for now, it's quite hushed time, ssshh. I really shouldn't be up at 2 am replying to people.