The next morning, 9 woke up earlier than the others. For the last few days, he had been able to sleep better than the past few weeks since bringing 1 and 2 back, and it had already been three whole nights without having the same bad dream. He looked over at 3 and 4, who were still asleep in their sock beds, then at 7, and she was still fast asleep. 9 got out of the bed and kissed 7 on the forehead as he covered her entire body up to her shoulders with the blanket. He got onto the lift and was about to pull the switch to go down, but then he started having second thoughts. He thought the lift would possibly wake up the other Stitchpunks, and 1 wouldn't like to have his well-deserved first sleep back in the world interrupted.

He decided to climb down the small rope ladder at the edge of the living quartes that 2 had created for the past couple of days for him in case anyone needed to go down or up without waking anyone up from their sleep. It took a couple more minutes than the lift to climb all the way down to the solid ground, but it was worth not waking the others up.

As soon as he reached the floor, 9 stopped at the exit when he saw a familiar moth near the giant opened book. He came over to where it was to get closer to it now that he was no longer weary of it, and the moth didn't fly away when he stood in front of it. He grinned and said to the moth, "I guess you like following me around. You must be lonely in this world." The moth moved its wings a little, as if answering him yes.

9 nodded in agreement, "I'm lonely in this world myself. I may still have the woman I love and the twins, and my very first friend and the man who used to hate me but now accepts me are back, but there's this one person I miss more than anything. He was my best friend who saved me after 2 was captured by the Beast and he stood by my side when I needed him, and he never gave up on me. I was only alive for a little while when I knew him, but I knew him like he was my older brother and he was just like one; loyal, kind, caring, and one I could trust." He sighed sadly, remembering his last moments with 5, from when they blew up the Factory and celebrated their victory until they learned they were unsuccessful at destroying the Fabrication Machine.

He could still remember the pain he felt when he witnessed 5's life being claimed by the Fabrication Machine right in front of him and the others. He sighed, "If only I was there in time to save him. I could never forgive myself for letting him die at the hands of the machine I awakened. He died all because of me." He closed his eyes tight and looked away in shame. He sighed heavily and said sadly, "I just want to see him again."

He watched with curiosity as the moth fluttered away and up to 2's quarters. They were only above the jars and stacked books that the twins kept in the globe for safekeeping in case of research. He climbed them to reach 2's quarters and found 2 asleep in his slipper bed. He looked over at the corner where the telescope rested against, and he quietly walked over towards it while trying not to wake 2 up. He saw the moth resting on the lens. 9 began to wonder why the moth was resting there. But then he realized something as he saw a connection, since the telescope was built by 5 and 2 long ago, and 5 would use it in the watchtower.

Was the moth telling him that he could bring his friend back next?

"9?"

The young Stitchpunk gasped in alarm and tripped over a pile of spare parts that 2 kept in his quarters. 2 got out of his bed and came over to where 9 was. He took his hand and helped him up on his feet, and the older Stitchpunk asked him, "What on earth are you doing awake early? And what brings you into my workshop?"

9 brushed himself and said to him, "I was following the moth here."

"Moth?" 2 asked with a raised brow. 9 nodded, "Yes. It's right there, on the telescope." He pointed at the telescope, but the moth had disappeared. 2 looked at 9 with a raised brow, and the younger Stitchpunk said to him, "It was right there! I found it near the book, and it went here and on the telescope."

"What are you trying to say, lad?" 2 asked him. 9 explained, "You see, after we- well, I set you free from the Talisman, a moth started following me, 7, and the twins around. We all didn't know where it came from or why it was following us. But since after I met the Scientist, I began to think it was helping me in fixing everything. First it was leading me back in the Emptiness to get me back home, and when I got you out of the drain, I found it resting on a flower that was fresh and in full bloom."

"Smashing." 2 smiled with interest. "I guess when the others and I descended to the clouds that very day, the rain we caused must have blessed this world with new life. Not for humans, but for the lost organic life." He said to 9, realizing he was throwing his friend off track with his speaking,"I'm sorry, you were saying?"

9 continued, "Anyways, when I woke up this morning, I found the moth in here and I was telling it how I missed 5 being here, and it led me into your workshop. When I saw it on the telescope you and 5 first built together, I began to think it was telling me that I could bring 5 back next before 6 and 8." 2 listened, and he looked like he didn't think he'd believe 9's story. After a little bit of thinking, 2 said to him, "9, if this is what you think we should do next, then this is our next step to our fresh start of living again."

"So, you'll let me find him, and bring him back here?" 9 asked with a smile. 2 nodded, "That's why I'm going with you." 9's smile turned to worry, and he said to him, "No! I asked 5 to come with me to rescue you once, but what have I done? I got you killed anyway. I can't let that mistake happen again with both you and 5. It's best if you stay here, and the others too."

"What's going on down there!? Can't an old man get some sleep?"

"What's happening down there?"

They heard 1 and 7's voices from out of the workshop, and they both came in as the twins yawned silently and rubbed their eyes. 1 scowled, grumpy from being woken up, "What is all this blabbering about here?" 2 and 9 explained that they were now planning to find and bring back 5, and 9 was refusing to let 2 accompany him out of fear of getting him killed once again and for the others' sake. 1 told him, "Out there by yourself? That's suicide!"

"1, there are no more dangers out there, and I now know my way around this world so I'll be okay on my own." 9 explained. 1 scoffed, "No dangers? What if there's still more monsters left behind by the Machine?"

7 said to him, "That's insane! We destroyed everything the Machine created in the factory when we blew it up. There's no way any other Machine will be out there." 1 nodded in agreement but still frowning, "But still, if one managed to escape the devastation and somehow made its way to the Emptiness, then we're still living in fear."

"Listen!" 9 cut everyone off. They all looked at him and waited for him to answer. He took a deep breath and continued, "I know it doesn't sound right going out alone, but this part is something I need to do on my own." He left the workshop and everyone watched as he activated the switch on the lift and it took him up to his quarters. He came back down a few minutes later with his lightbulb staff and wearing the cloak he made from the torn flag he used a while ago.

Before leaving, he came over to his friends and said to them with a reassuring smile, "Don't worry about me. I'll be fine." He looked at 7 and the elders and said to them, "Look after the twins while I'm gone."

"We'll do our best." 1 said to him. 9 and the elders exchanged one last smile with each other before 9 ran towards the exit of the globe and left. Once he was outside, he made his way across the books and towards the Library exit. He looked up at the sky and the sun was starting to rise, preparing for a new day in their world. Before he could take a step outside, he heard a voice from behind him.

"9, wait!"

He looked over his shoulder and saw 7 coming up to him wearing her skullmet and shield and carrying her spear. She looked at him and said, "I've been out there longer than anyone else has, including you. So you're going to need a guide, and I'm not taking no for an answer no matter how much you tell me." At first 9 was concered about her well-being, but his concern disappeared and was replaced with a smile of relief. While he is out in the Emptiness once again, this time, he has his beloved by his side.

With a nod, they took off together as the sun rose in the distance.

So what did you guys think so far? Sorry I took so long to write this. I had a major writer's block for this chapter and I was focusing on other stories. I held a vote on my deviantART page a couple days ago to see which of the last few Stitchpunks should be brought back next, and after a lot of voting, it will be 5 coming back now.

9 belongs to Shane Acker and Tim Burton