And here it is; chapter nine at last. ^_^ (Though I wish it weren't). This is the chapter I've been dying to write since the first day. I can't believe we're actually here.

There's a lot that needs to be explained; check the bottom for details. As I finish this story, let me start off by thanking you all for joining me on this literature journey. :) I wouldn't have done this without you. I meant to post this chapter earlier, but you know me. Always putting things off till the last minute.

Reviews are always appreciated. Let me know what you think. =D


The sun set bright gold against a navy sky, bathing the interior of the library with a faint orange glow, shedding light into the darkest corners. The railings of the fountain were intertwined with wine-colored ribbons; candles thrusted onto silver candlesticks were set on either side of the fountain, flames alit. The overall decorative display made the library look less like a ruin and somewhat more...luxurious.

9 strode through the hall, his dusk gray cloak dragging on the floor. A gold brooch clasped the cloak in place; the hood was worn down. He held two handmade necklaces cobbled out of string and diamonds that were once earrings.

Another set of footsteps crept up his audial receptors. 9 turned around, seeing the twins stroll up to him. He took in their ensembles. 3 wore what he could deduce as an animal skull, belonging to a mouse. It was the right size from the way 9 observed it; the jaw was the same shape, and it still had its front teeth. 9 had no idea where he even found it, but he liked 3's smoky gray cape. It had fur trimming outlined. 4's costume consisted of a pastel pink dress that dragged on the floor. It had a gold filigree pattern on the top part, and she had a pink feather boa wrapped around her. Her hood was down; a silvery crown rested atop her pale head.

"3," said 9, looking at each, "4; your costumes look great."

'Thank you,' said 3, smiling.

4 smiled. She lifted the dress, curtsying politely. 3 turned around to show 9 the entirety of the costume.

"Where did you find this?," asked 9, looking intently at 3's mouse skull.

'We found it in the Emptiness,' replied 3, turning to face 9. 'I saw it laying in the rubble.'

'Mine was found in an old toy store,' stated 4, stepping forward. She stood in a pose, a hand on her hip, holding out a hand.

"Ah, well, she did a great job looking for costumes," said 9.

4 beamed.

"What's 7's costume?," asked 9.

'You'll see,' retorted 3. He clasped 9's hand. 'Come on, the party is about to start.'

"Wouldn't want to miss it," quipped 9, smiling.

The twins led 9 down the hall on the path that led to the fountain. On their way, they saw 6 appear from behind one of the bookcases across from their path.

"6!," called 9, waving to him.

The striped artist turned to look at him. He blinked his optics quizzically, looking from 9 to the twins. The three approached him.

"I like your costume," commented 9.

6 looked down over his body. The striped artist was decked in a dark purple coat with gold outlines. On his head was a matching witch-like hat that drooped at the end. Even with his costume he wore his black key, which surprisingly combined well with the coat.

"T-Thank you," muttered 6, running his hand up and down his key. He didn't meet his gaze, but he glimpsed up at him every few seconds to let 9 know he was attentive.

'Come on,' said 4, tugging 6's arm.

The black-and-white striped stitchpunk looked at her before smiling. He followed them to the fountain.

"You l-l-ook," stuttered 6, looking at 4, "p-pretty."

'Thank you,' said 4, a smile appearing on her face.

The group made a turn to their right and continued that way. By the time they arrived at the fountain, they saw 5 already standing by the edge with 2 by his right side.

"5!," chirped 9, waving to him.

5 turned around, smiling.

"Hey," he said, "you look great."

"Thanks," quipped 9, "so do you."

5's costume consisted of a black coat with red trim. He wore a matching top hat, and there was a small red feather that was either already part of it or it was placed on after 5 found it.

"I like yours, 2," said 9.

"Oh," said the inventor, "thank you."

2's costume consisted of a green coat. Since his first lantern hat was lost the day he met 9, he opted to build himself a new one. With the right materials, 2's new lantern hat was similar to the first one. 9 liked how it combined well with his coat.

"You look smashing, 6," commented 2.

6's protruding pupils looked on at the elderly inventor. He looked at 2, then at himself, registering in seconds that he had been complimented.

"T...T-Thank you, 2," he piped. He grabbed at his black key reflexively.

2 looked down at 9's hands, tilting his head.

"What's that you got there?," he asked, pointing.

"Oh," said 9, glimpsing down, "I made these necklaces." He lifted them up for 2 to see. The diamonds threw the light back in a glint. The colors of the diamonds changed color whenever they dangled, making it hard to grapple what color each facet was before.

"They're beautiful," said 2.

"Are you going to give one of them to 1?," queried 5, looking from the necklaces to 9.

"That's what I'm going to do," replied 9.

3 and 4 flickered their optics at the handmade necklaces, admiring its glinting facets.

'I like them,' said 4. 'They're so pretty.' She smiled.

9 beamed.

"Ah," said 2, looking up, "here come two more."

9 turned around, hoping to see 1, but his hope dimmed slightly the moment he saw 7 and 8 ambling up to them.

"Hi," said 7, lifting her bird skull helmet.

9 knew full well that her costume would consist of her usual bird skull, and the extra additions made it all look the more tribal. 7 wore a light tan piece of fabric around her chest, and she had on a short taupe-colored tattered skirt with brown feathers trailing in the back, giving the impression of a tail. Two more feathers fanned behind her, obviously they were stuck on her back through the quills. A thin mahogany ribbon was tied around her left arm. Around her neck was a small, pointy tooth tied together with a dark brown string. 9 wondered what animal that tooth came from, if it was even a real tooth at all. With her scars enhancing the look of the costume, the overall appearance was...authentic.

'Wow, 7,' said 4, 'you look beautiful.'

"Thank you," replied 7.

"What about me?," asked 8.

8 wore his salt shaker cap, obfuscating his face. He had on his usual metal collar, along with a black hand-sewn vest with matching silver hooks holding it in place. He wore matching black arm bands. It appears as though he had two broken silver spoons tied to his elbows, acting like elbow pads.

"Spooky as ever," replied 5, forcing a smile. Beside him 9 nodded.

'I like it,' uttered 3.

Beneath his holed mask, 8 smiled.

6 spun around, blinking, mouth slightly open.

"Look," he said, pointing a pen-nib finger.

9 glimpsed at 6, then looked at where he was pointing. He craned his neck, searching the library hall for an answer. Sure enough, he spotted 1 strolling toward them, and his costume was by far the most eye-catching of all. He was dressed in a navy blue coat decked in minuscule studded jewels that shimmered like stars. But the coat wasn't what drew the eye, but the wings attached to the back. 9 had no idea where, or how long it took, but he found himself unable to tear his optics away. The wings looked so real, he wasn't sure if these were fake or the actual wings of a bird.

"1...," said 9, optics locked on the wings.

1 smiled, stepping closer to the zippered stitchpunk.

"How do you like my costume?," he queried.

"It's," uttered 9, sounding out of breath, "beautiful."

1 chuckled lightly. "Thank you." He gazed at 9 lovingly. "Yours is lovely, too."

9 smiled sheepishly, unable to deny that it was true.

"Wow," said 7, "that looks great." She looked at the wings with admiration mixed with envy.

"Thank you, 7," retorted 1, glancing at her. He looked over at 2, adding, "I had some help from 2. We found wire hangers, cut them, and found some feathers."

"I helped by using nylon and sticking the feathers on with fabric glue," explained 2, smiling contently.

"Well, you did a great job," said 9, looking over his shoulder at him.

"Oh, it was nothing," remarked 2.

9 beamed.

1 glimpsed down, noticing the two necklaces.

"What's that you got?," he asked, pointing at the necklaces.

9 snapped his head to him.

"Oh," he uttered, "these are for us." He held out his left hand, offering him the handmade necklace.

1 took it, observing it in wonder. He like how the diamond's facets threw back the candlelight in a gleam. He undid the knot, and retied the necklace around his neck. It fell to his chest, its surface gleaming brightly in the candlelight.

"Now we both have one to match," said 9 as he tied his necklace around his neck.

"I love it," said 1, briefly touching the diamond dangling over his chest.

9 smiled. He stepped closer to 1, wrapping his arms around him.

"Look!," chirruped 6, pointing upward, optics protruding.

"Huh?," said 7, turning around.

"You see that?," said 5.

2 turned around, optics locked on the sky. The sun had already gone and the sky was a dark, untroubled blue sprinkled with miniature stars. There was also something else in the sky that caught their attention. A display of lights streaked across the dark mantel; a river of greens and purples swirled and danced, enhancing the sky with its vividness. It was a sight so beautiful, so enchanting, it was impossible not to behold.

"What is that?," queried 5, optic widening.

'We know what they are,' said 3, 'they're the Northern Lights.'

"The Northern Lights," repeated 8, lifting his holed cap mask.

4 nodded. 'They're a natural phenomena that occur when the sun's surface give off a 'curtain' from electrically charged particles.' She glimpsed up at the sky, a smiling tugging at her lips. 'They're very beautiful.'

"They sure are," commented 7.

"Let's go outside and look at them better," said 5.

"Sounds good to me," said 8.

"Come on," said 9, taking 1's hand in his own. He led him down the hall, following the others who were eager to make their way outside to the see the Northern Lights.

Once the stitchpunks were outside, they gathered around the courtyard, standing in its center. The lights moved in waves, undulating down the navy abyss with the pulsating stars shining like diamonds. The display was resplendent and so dazzlingly beautiful that no human word could describe it.

"Wow," said 7.

3 and 4 looked up, recording every moment to remember forever.

6 pointed at the green lights, wishing he had a scrap of paper to draw this on.

"This is so incredible," said 5.

"It is," uttered 2.

1 walked toward 9, reaching out a hand. He clasped his shoulder, prompting the other to glance over. He flung his arms around him, smiling contently. 1 wrapped his arms around him; the decorative wings showing off their majestic glory.

"Am I your angel?," he crooned.

9 tried to not look shy, but it bloomed on his face.

"Yes, you are," he said. "Did you make those wings because of my dream?"

"Perhaps," teased 1, shrugging. "Perhaps I just wanted to make part of your dream come true."

9 giggled. He nuzzled 1's neck.

"But I am right about what I said," said 1.

"What?" 9 glanced up at him.

"That we saved each other," he said.

"And we always will," quoth 9.

He pressed his lips against 1's, catching him by surprise. 1's arm snaked around 9's waist. In that moment, the surrounding stars enveloped the stitchpunks in blissful aura, promising to bring about more wonders to see for the rest of their unforeseen future.


I started this story because I had the idea of 9 trying to search for something he thought he lost. The word entreat means to "ask someone earnestly or anxiously to do something." The story was basically 9 and 1 begging the other find their way back. I'm not very good at explaining; this all sounded better in my head.

Also, the iron wings 1 wears as his costume were from a dream I had last summer. I thought I'd use that as part of my story in which 9 sees it on his dreams. And the wings were supposed to allude the Skimmer's coming, but also unintentionally inspiring 1 to choose them as his costume.

Well, now that I've gotten that out of the way, I want to thank you all again for enjoying my story. =)

Until next time.