Chapter 22: Dates with Fates

"Are you okay, Tie? Do you need a bandage? A pillow? Cookies?"

"Honestly, Hat, I'm fine."

We had just returned from the Twilight Bell. A couple of Heart Pons had patched me up fine, but Hat was worrying the whole way there. I mean, I'd taken worse hits before and she was happily ignorant, but now she was fretting over me. Our species had a problem with going full-on either side of the spectrum and not resting in a middle ground.

"They actually got that Time Piece." Bow mused aloud, which caught our attention.

"Yeah, they're better then I thought. Or faster at least." Hat admitted. "That one who was with her..."

"Voice is their name." I told them. "Me and Knit met them once before, in Subcon."

"The guy with the white cloak and tuning fork?" Knit asked, as she sat beside me.

"That's the one." I nodded. "With Voice's power and Moustache's ambitions, they're pretty troublesome together."

"Well, that just means we'll have to get those Time Piece back from them at some point." Hat folded her arms and nodded. "In the meantime, we need to collect as many as we can before they do! Right now!"

"Now? Hat, the sun is beginning to set over Alpine Skylines." I pointed out whilst pointing out the window. "Plus, we've been up for hours now."

"Sleep is for the weak!" Hat declared. "Come on! Let's go right now!"

"Captain's orders I guess." I shrugged as I stood up and followed her.

"Be careful!" Knit called after us.

"Don't worry, we'll be ready for those two if they turn up again." I reassured her.


The final location in Alpine Skylines we hadn't been to was called the Windmill. Guess what it was? A jungle. Not really, it was a giant windmill. Constantly turning, but what for? All there were was bags of grains everywhere, and the occasional spillage of grains blocking our path that I had to vacuum up with the Cleaner Cape to progress.

"Who do you reckon built this?" I voiced one of the many questions in my mind, just for kicks.

"The Nomads, maybe?" Bow pondered.

"If they did, it must've taken them a loooooooooooooong time! And they totally neglected safety!" Hat emphasised by jumping across some gears that could have crushed her if she got stuck in them.

"Nice view though." I admitted as I stared out at the golden orange sky through the glass face of the giant contraption. "Getting kinda late..."

"I'm fine!" Hat replied, even though it was a passing comment.

We got to the top of the Windmill and found the Time Piece resting there...how it got there when it fell from outside don't ask me.

"Nice! Got one before them!" Hat declared. "Now let's go get...another...ahhhhh…" She gave off a big yawn and began looking groggy.

"I think that's the cue to settle down for the night." I said, noticing Bow was rubbing her eyes.

"What? No! We need to...to..." She yawned again.

'The moment she gets serious about collecting Time Pieces she tries to burn herself out. Typical.' "Back to the ship we go. Vice-Captain's order."

"Cadet can't overrule...captain..." She mumbled as I took hold of her arm and teleported us back to the ship.

"Welcome back!" Knit cried as she let go of the light and landed on top of my head.

"You really need to stop greeting me like this." I sighed.

"I've gotten used to how fluffy your head is." She stated almost proudly. "Hm? Are Hat and Bow okay?"

"Just tired." I assured her. "CC! We need some dinner, please!"

"I thought you'd say that!" CC called, coming in with some pot pies. "Got a little something ready for you all."

"Thank you, CC." We all chorused.

"Hope it's not too much trouble for you now that we've practically got a crew on this ship." I said.

"Please, in comparison to the entire Mafia of Cooks, you lot are a breeze to cook for." She chuckled.

"I heard that!" Boss complained.

"You were meant to." CC chuckled.

"Can we eat it in front of the TV?" Hat pleaded.

"Sure." CC nodded.

"Let's pull some gatcha capsules whilst we're at it." She added as she waddled over to the machine.

"Okay, okay..." I said as we walked over and I put in three Rift Tokens.

"I like getting capsules." Hat spoke sleepily. "They're so pretty...but I like that we do it together too..."

"You're dropping off." I warned her as I pulled a Flair capsule and popped it. Going by trends I switched to the Cleaner Cape expecting it to be different, but it turned out that it was the Bat Bow that gained another new change. It had changed into a jabot with a blood red gem on it, and the wings had turned pale white with red insides. I think it was going for a vampire look, but hey, it looked nice.

"Sleep shall not defeat me!" Hat declared, before yawning as she spun too, getting a Flair for her Brewing Hat that reminded me of Vivian from TTYD...did you know Vivian was transgender in Japan? Now you too are cursed with knowledge.

So we ended up sitting in front of the television and eating beef and gravy pie watching anime reruns, until the two girls fell asleep. I had more mental strength then them...stayed awake a lot when I was younger because of nightmares.

"Sleep time, crewmates." I whispered as I picked the two of them up and carried them into Hat's bedroom. Bow had her own bed made next to Hat's so I could put them both to bed. I was beginning to get sleepy myself.

"Are you going to bed, Tie?" I looked at Knit.

"Yeah. Everybody's gotta sleep." I then stopped. "Knit, have you got a bed here yet? CC sleeps in the kitchen, Boss just passes out because he's a jar..."

"I didn't stay here the night whilst you were still passed out." Knit said nervously.

In smiled softly. "I'll make you a bed up. Where do you wanna sleep?"

"...Can I sleep in your room? With you?" She practically whispered.

'Really? My room specifically? I know you wouldn't want to sleep there normally because it's an attic!' She stared at me with big golden glowing eyes, and I sighed. "Okay..."

I made a bed for her, on the other far side of the attic. Nothing but a spare mattress , a pillow and covers, but she seemed overjoyed with it as she bounced on top of it.

"Good night, Tie." She beamed as she fell asleep.

"Good night, Knit." I said as I took off my boots and slipped under the covers.

By the way, never mentioned this...but having the sun right outside your window is a pain, but I fell asleep anyway.


Now what?

Everything was blurry...as if it was all covered by a blanket of snow. Completely white.

"Where in space is this?" I wondered aloud as I looked around.

Then, a noise. I looked behind me and saw a dark pink portal open up.

"Okay then..." I obediently went through it, and popped out in...Subcon? "Why am I here?...Wait..."

I narrowed my eyes at the surroundings. "This feeling...this is an alternate dimension. But I'm not wearing the Necro Necklace...what is this?"

Then I heard a bark. Or a meow? A mix of both? I looked around, until my eyes fell on something, from behind a tree. It almost looked like a bush...cat...thing. It was a bush with yellow eyes and a matching mouth, as well as little stubby black legs and a tail with spikes on it. It was pretty cute in all honesty.

"Hello there." I knelt down. "What are you?"

The creature approached cautiously. I held out my hand for it to give a sniff, before I gave it a light scratch behind its ears, causing the creature to purr before rolling on its back.

'Putty in my hands...' I chuckled in my head as I rubbed its leafy belly. It was surprisingly soft. "You obviously live here, seeing as how you look so much like Snatcher. Oh?" Turns out there were more of them, all peeking out from behind trees, some even different colours! "A whole species?"

I looked at them as they all crowded round, pining for attention and petting. "You things...are..." A name came to mind. "Rough Patches. That's what you are."

'That's funny...' I thought as they all began cuddling up to me and each other. 'Voice never mentioned you guys...wait, does that mean...you never existed in my dimension?' I picked the green one up and looked it in its cute little eyes. 'Why is that? Could it have something to do with Moonjumper?'

Suddenly, I heard rustling, and I thought it best to hide behind a tree, the Rough Patches actually following me. I peeked out and watched as one of Snatcher's minions ran over, but it was different then normal. It wore green robes instead of purple, and its face glowed bright yellow instead of blinding white. It wore a cream coloured flat top hat with a green and blue ribbon threaded through it, as it ran around happily.

"Where'd they go?" From their speech, they appeared to be female. "I thought I saw Rough Patches over here..." So that WAS their name.

"Sweetie!" A voice suddenly called out.

"Here I am, master!" Master? That didn't sound like Snatcher. I tried to look closer, but the person the minion was talking to was right behind the tree, so I couldn't see them.

"Hey, I told you not to call me master." He said.

"I can't help it, that's what you are to me." The minion said as somebody picked them up.

"It's almost time for you to go. Are you nervous?"

"Not at all!" The minion boasted. "I'm gonna go and get so much treasure! All of the treasures from Mafia Town, Dead Bird Studios, the other Subcon's, all of them!"

"You're going to be amazing." The other person said. "But please be careful, some dimensions are very dangerous. And always remember; you're very precious to me. Come back whenever you need to."

"I'll be fine!" She boasted. "I'll bring back lots of treasure!"

"Focus." The other person told them. "Stay safe."

The two seemed to share a hug. "Bye, Sweetie."

"Bye, master." Sweetie said as she jumped off and ran, before a green portal opened up that she went though before it faded away.

'Did she just cross dimensions?' I thought. 'So casually as well? Voice made it sound like such a big deal! But then again...that's because it is a big deal in MY dimension...so, just how powerful is this one in comparison?'

"Oh, also, I know you're there." The figure spoke, making my heart stop. "If you bump into her at any point, be nice." I looked around the tree, but whoever was there was already gone.

"...Well that's a thing." I stood up amongst the Rough Patches, just before a pink portal opened up in front of me. "Guess that's my one. Sorry guys, you're adorable, but I can't bring you with me."

The little things whined as I walked through the portal, and I could not have came out in a more different place. This was a desert, filled with golden sands and pyramids, as well as colourful sails and market stalls.

"Where is this?" I wondered, when suddenly I felt a tingle all over. "This is-?"

To any ordinary person, this tingling could be compared to the burning sun beating down on them. But this feeling was magic. The planet was practically radiating it!

'I see...so this is the planet Voice talked about. The one that was erased.' I slid down the dunes towards the pyramids and market stalls. Were those...Nomads? I knew they seemed out of place! So wait, how did they end up at Alpine Skylines?

Just then, the sand erupted and a giant sandworm leapt over me giant whale style before diving back down into the sands. It popped up in front of me, and it seemed to have a banner on it saying 'SALE! SALE! SALE!' as well as articles of clothing hanging off of the needles that were its mouth.

"Purchassssse…?" It almost hissed at me.

"Uh...no thanks. Sorry." I said, causing it to began digging back into the ground.

'The Sandworm...' The name came to me as I watched it go. 'A creature erased from existence...along with everything else on this planet. But then...why did the Nomads reappear? What is the point of showing me all this?'

I stared out across the sands. 'No...something isn't showing me this...I'M reaching out and looking at all of this. What Voice said to me back in the Twilight Bell...it must've subconsciously made me curious. So my spirit is jumping across dimensions. Before I had the Necro Necklace...maybe because I wasn't aware of what I was doing and was unstable. In fact...how am I even coming up with all of this? How much of these are my own thoughts?' This was frustrating.

"Please wait, Hat!" Contrary to belief, that wasn't me.

'Who was that?' The fact they called out meant that they were with this dimensions Hat. I walked cautiously around the stone buildings, trying to discern where the voice had come from, when I bumped into him.

Black hair like mine, a red shirt like mine, black trousers like mine...but black dots for eyes, blue markings on his face, a white shirt with a black design on it underneath the red shirt, which was brighter then mine, no tie, and a grey cap on his head.

"Ow! Sorry..." He mumbled, looking at me. "Didn't mean to bump into you."

I just stared at him. "Are you...?"

"Hm?" We stared at each other. "You seem a bit out of place, pal. Who are ya?"

I took a step back. I knew who he was. I knew everything he stood for, and he terrified me.

"You alright there?" He asked.

"You're...Timmy..." I pointed.

"Huh? We met before or something?" He questioned.

I knew him. Definitely. He was the one. The one that was always at her side. Rarely, maybe, but if nobody else, it was him. He was who was there with her when nobody else was. Who I...replaced? No! That can't be right! That's NOT right! I wasn't a replacement!

"Hey, are you okay?" I think I heard him ask.

'I'm not just someone who filled in the empty spot you left behind!' I thought. 'My friendship with her is genuine! Right!? RIGHT!?' I looked at him in fear as he looked at me with concern. 'Why do pieces of you remind me of myself!? Why do I know your name!? Why!? I...I...!'

I took a step back, and fell.


I woke up with a gasp. In my bed. In my room. A lot to process. Rough Patches not existing (as in not being erased from time) that minion, Sweetie, being able to cross dimensions, the entire planet, the Sandworm...Timmy...

"Nightmares?" I realised Knit was standing next to my bed.

"...Something like that." I admitted.

"It's okay, I get them too." Knit said. "About my destiny."

"Your destiny?" That word reminded me of what the Nomads said, about something bad fated to happen... "What about it?"

"That I don't have one. That dad left me to do something important...and I don't know what it is." Knit admitted as she sat at the foot of my bed and kicked her feet. "That I'm wasting the existence he gave me."

I turned on the bed and sat next to her. "And how do you feel about it?"

"Sad. Really sad, and worried." She admitted. "But I figured...if I'm fated to do something, my heart will find it, and I'll be happy along the way."

"...What about if fate means you doubt why you're here?" I asked.

"That's kinda what I mean. I kinda found an answer. I might doubt my purpose, or if I have one at all...but if fate means I can still be here, with you and everybody else...and be happy...I accept it, even if I have doubts."

"That's a good answer." I admitted. "I promise you'll stay happy."

"I hope you stay happy too." Knit responded.

"...Thanks, Knit." I nodded.

That was enough for now.

We headed down for breakfast, when-

"TIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIE!"

We both jumped at the loud yell as Hat ran out into the room in a panic. "We've got an emergency!"

"What is it, Hat?" I gasped.

"It's Alpine Skylines! Come quick!" She rushed.

Me and Knit looked at each other before we jumped down and ran into the Engine Room. "What is it!?"

"See for yourself!" Bow gasped.

I peeked through the telescope. Alpine Skylines was completely obscured by dark purple clouds that flashed with lightning as thunder boomed. "What on earth is that storm?"

"It's definitely unnatural." Hat said.

"The plants..." Of course that was the case...but was this truly 'fated' to happen? Could it have been stopped?

"We need to go down and help!" Hat said. "After all I...kinda sorta promised I would if all went bad, right?"

"That you did." I nodded. "You ready?"

"Of course!" Hat nodded. "Better be careful though, looks like it's gonna be bumpy going down."

"Bumpy is one way of putting it..." I whispered. "Let's go."

The three of us leapt out, and descended into the chaos.


What a rollercoaster this was, huh? I know I said the infection would start this chapter...well it technically did but you know what I mean, I had enough stuff inbetween it to make up one more chapter before the finale of the Alpine Skylines Arc! This arc has been longer then expected.

But more importantly then that! *Picks up Sweetie* This little sweetie is...Sweetie! She's my own little minion gifted to me by Konan720, and if anything happened to her, I would kill everybody in this room and then myself.

Sweetie: Hi dimensional overlords! Nice to meetcha!

Her name comes from the fact that her colour scheme reminded me of sweetcorn, and because she's a little sweetheart. She's got a passion for adventures with treasure at the end, specifically gold and jewels, aaaaaaaaand I might have given her a couple of super abilities because she's my special little minion. But she's gonna be dimension hopping for a bit, searching for treasure so use her if you want, but please be nice to her! You can find a picture of her on Konan720's deviantart page!

Thank you to Konan720, Happiness studios and HunterHQ for reviewing the last chapter!

Next Time: The final act of Alpine Skylines! With a twist!