A/N: Hello. :) Here is another chapter for "Infinity Train: Book Two: Return to the Beach City Car". With Pink Steven and the Book One gang involved, things are sure to tell an interesting story in this chapter. Anyhoo, enjoy. :)
Infinity Train: Book Two: Return to the Beach City Car
Chapter 2: The Family Tree Car
"Wow. Now, that's a long way down...", Pink Steven spoke in slight worry.
"You took the words right out of my mouth.", Sad One responded.
"Whoa. We're on top of a tree.", Jesse spoke before M.T. flicked him in the head, which made him feel like getting hit by miniature metal.
"Ah! Hey.", Jesse groaned as he felt the pain.
"If you hadn't distracted me with that ridiculous name, I would've noticed he walked away.", M.T. blamed.
"Easy, guys. Let's not try to point fingers.", Tulip warned.
"She's right. The important thing is, how are we gonna go get him without hurting ourselves?", Pink Steven asked.
"Especially with a good chance of us plummeting to our doom.", Sad One added.
"Okay, first off, that was unnecessarily dark. Secondly, they might be right. About finding Alan Dracula and making sure he's safe, that is. And thirdly, it's too late to change it. I already put him in my phone as 'Alan Dracula'. See?", Jesse spoke as he got out his phone before noticing that he named a lot of animals 'Dracula'.
"Ah, right. He's still in here just as 'Dracula'.", Jesse realized.
"I think M.T. might be right about that name being ridiculous because it's been used too often now.", Pink Steven commented.
"Be that as it may, we have to focus our present efforts on locating and rescuing Alan Dracula.", Atticus responded.
"Atticus is right. He could be hurt!", M.T. agreed as she began digging out leaves to clear up some space for her to fall through.
"Wow. Do you have, like, special metal strength?", Jesse asked in slight wonder.
"No. I just don't feel pain like you with your 'squishy flesh'.", M.T. responded.
"That was kinda blunt, but accurate.", Pink Steven responded.
"Well, she came from the mirror world, after all. I'd say that comes with a territory.", Tulip responded.
"I hope it's a nice one.", Glad One spoke.
"You've been there before, One-One, remember?", Tulip reminded.
"Oh, yeah.", Sad One responded before M.T. jumped down through the hole in front of her.
"Oh. Yeah. I am pretty squishy, and, like, really good at feeling pain. If I fall, I'm gonna feel a ton of it!", Jesse shouted to M.T.
"Fine! Bye!", M.T. only shouted back.
"Pain or otherwise, we're going to look for this aptly named deer whether you want to or not.", Atticus spoke before he jumped down and landed almost gracefully onto a branch.
"I'm going there, too.", Tulip added before she tried to squeeze through the hole but got a bit stuck.
"Uh, a little help?", Tulip puzzled.
"Just try to shrink down a bit.", Pink Steven suggested.
"Really? I can do that?", Tulip puzzled.
"Yeah, but a word of advice, don't shrink for too long.", Pink Steven responded.
"Uh, okay?", Tulip responded before shrinking down a bit and then falling through the hole.
"Hey. It worked.", Tulip spoke as she re-grew back to her usual monster size at 9 feet.
"All right. Now, for me and One-One.", Pink Steven spoke as he picked the conductor on question up before jumping down and landing on Tulip's head softly.
"All right, Jesse! You're up if you still want to go find him!", Pink Steven shouted to Jesse, who looked back at the exit before deciding what has to be done.
"Oh, man.", Jesse groaned a bit before climbing down to join the others.
Sure enough, the others were moving and/or smashing branches in their paths as Jesse slid down.
"Hey, wait up!", Jesse shouted.
Then, Jesse looked around and saw the tree's beauty in every direction.
"Wow...", Jesse spoke before bumping into a stray leaf with his face and moving it to notice M.T., Tulip, Pink Steven, Atticus, and One-One.
"Uh...Chrome Girl?", Jesse asked.
"I'm not answering to that.", M.T. responded.
"Sorry.", Jesse apologized.
"It's all right. You're still learning more about her.", Pink Steven responded as Jesse carefully slid down to meet up with the others just as M.T. was pulling against the small branch in her path before half of it snapped.
"Uh, what is your name?", Jesse asked.
"You won't know me long enough for it to matter.", M.T. responded.
"Still, all the same, I think you should introduce yourself. It's not polite otherwise.", Atticus suggested.
"Plus, at least it'll be better than 'chrome girl', that's for sure.", Tulip assured.
"I honestly like that name. Kind of like a nickname.", Glad One spoke.
"Still, that's not actually her name.", Sad One responded.
"Thank you, One-One.", M.T. sighed almost sarcastically.
"Do I hear some passers-by?", the voice asked.
"Huh? Who said that?", Tulip puzzled.
"I think it's coming from over there.", Pink Steven responded while pointing to the direction the voice came from before the group came down the branch and were met by two wooden people on the branch.
"Why, hello, there. Who might you and your friends be?", the wooden woman asked.
"Hello, there. I'm Steven Universe, but you can call me Steven. And this is Tulip, Atticus, and One-One.", Pink Steven introduced.
"Hi.", the pink monster girl waved.
"Greetings, denizen of the tree.", Atticus greeted.
"Hello.", Glad One waved.
"And possibly goodbye.", Sad One added.
"And I'm Jesse.", Jesse added before she and her wooden husband turned to M.T.
"Well?", the husband asked.
"I told you it'd be rude not to introduce yourself.", Atticus whispered to M.T., who sighed before then answering.
"You can call me 'M.T.'", M.T. responded.
"Hey, how come they get to...?", Jesse began.
"Because they asked.", Pink Steven interrupted.
"Something you might need to work on sooner rather than later.", Tulip suggested.
"Have you seen a deer falling through here?", M.T. asked.
"Hm. Can't say that I have, but it's a right pleasure to meet you fellas. I'm Great Great Great Great Great Great Great Grandpa Wilbur Gillicutty. And this here's Great Great Great Great (inhales) Great Great Great Grandma Sinesta Gillicutty.", Wilbur introduced in reply.
"You can call me G.G.G.G.G.G.G.G.S. for short.", Sinesta added.
"That is a lot of greats.", Atticus commented.
"How about we just call you guys Wilbur and Sinesta? That's simple enough.", Pink Steven suggested.
"Can we at least call you Wilbur and Sinesta?", Tulip asked.
"Of course.", Sinesta replied.
"Thanks.", Pink Steven responded.
"And you kids are standing on the mighty Gillicutty family tree.", Wilbur stated.
"Huh. I guess that explains why there are so many people down on those branches.", Pink Steven responded.
"This ain't no stankin' Gillicutty Family Tree! This is the Trundleshank Family Tree! Ptooey!", a cranky wooden man named Ithmus shouted with a spit.
"Ugh. Even the cranky ones.", Pink Steven sighed.
"Maybe he woke up on the wrong side of the bark.", Glad One guessed.
"If it even has any sides.", Sad One added.
"If you don't mind my asking, Sinesta, has he always been this cranky?", Atticus asked.
"Yep. The Trundleshanks are angry 'cause one of our descendants married one of theirs about 100 years ago and now, they have to live in our family tree.", Sinesta responded.
"100 years?", Tulip puzzled in surprise.
"And not one of them ever thought about resolving their differences with you guys? That's terrible.", Pink Steven added.
"Hey, maybe the Trundleshanks have seen Alan Dracula.", Jesse guessed.
"Yeah, I don't know about this.", Pink Steven responded.
"Mr. and Mrs. Trundle...", Jesse began before branches grew in front of Jesse, barring his path as if to illustrate Pink Steven's point.
"Oh, no, you don't! As long as you're on our tree, you ain't allowed to talk to no bone-headed Trundleshanks.", Wilbur forbade.
"I'll talk to whoever I want!", M.T. retorted.
"There's no use getting through to them, M.T. They've been caught up in their feud for so long, I doubt they even saw him. At least not for very long.", Pink Steven responded.
"Hey, I know. You could name the tree after both your families. Like, my friend, Troy. He took both his parents' last names. So, instead of being Troy Banks, now he's Troy Snooterly-Banks.", Jesse suggested.
"Snooterly-Banks? That doesn't sound like a good name.", Tulip responded.
"Yeah. No wonder you thought Alan Dracula was a good name.", Sad One added.
"Well, I think it is.", Glad One spoke up.
"Sure, if you like things that sound ridiculous.", Sad One responded.
"No way, no how! Ptooey!", Ithmus refused.
"Fine. I don't need your help anyway.", M.T. responded before then smashing the branches in front of her and then moving forward as Jesse laughed nervously.
"Yeah, M.T.'s going through some stuff right now.", Atticus spoke.
"Still, if it's the last thing I do, we will find Alan Dracula! And possibly help you resolve your differences with them.", Pink Steven assured before he, Tulip, Atticus, One-One, and Jesse slid down and met up with M.T.
"You shouldn't have left like that. Now, they're mad at us.", Jesse spoke.
"Or at the very least, Wilbur is mad at us.", Pink Steven added.
"They were being totally unfair.", M.T. responded.
"But maybe they could help us find Alan Dracula. If we can get them to stop fighting...", Jesse began as M.T. hopped on another branch and swung around on another.
"Look, I like helping people resolve their differences as much as the next guy, but it's not that simple. They've been fighting for over 100 years. What makes you think they'd stop now? Or anytime soon, for that matter.", Pink Steven responded.
"Well, I bet I could help. I'm friends with every kind of group at school.", Jesse assured.
"Really? What kinds?", Tulip asked.
"Jocks, theater kids, eraser kids...", Jesse began.
"Eraser Kids?", Pink Steven puzzled.
"The kids that collect their eraser shavings during the day and compare them on the parking lot after school.", Jesse explained.
"Oh. I thought you meant different.", Atticus spoke.
"Well, that makes sense. The school I go to had those kids, too.", Tulip responded.
"I collect my own pencil shavings myself.", Glad One added as M.T. gave an uneasy look.
"I didn't say it was a common group, but I just said I'm able to be friends with them.", Jesse explained.
"Wow. Fitting in. What a gift...", M.T. spoke sarcastically before sliding down as Jesse responded.
"It's not like that, it just means I'm likable. Except to you, I guess.", Jesse spoke before he, Tulip, Atticus, Pink Steven, and One-One caught up to M.T.
"Why are you so mad at me?", Jesse asked.
"Look. It has nothing to do with you. It's just...", M.T. began before sighing and then explaining bluntly what happened in her life.
"Okay, so...I used to have this friend named Tulip, which is the pink monster girl that used to be human as we all know, and we did everything together, but as we grew up, I didn't have much in common with her anymore. But, um..., my parents thought Tulip was perfect and wanted me to be exactly like her. So, I had to stop hanging out with her so I could be free.", M.T. responded.
"Why would you do that to your friend? That's...that's crazy.", Jesse responded as the branches started growing.
"Because, I helped her be free.", Tulip responded, ceasing the branch's growth.
"You did?", Jesse puzzled.
"Yeah. I noticed how sad M.T. was with what she's going through. So, naturally, I had to let her go, so she can be free to be whoever or whatever she wants to be and make her own memories.", Tulip exclaimed.
"Wow, I-I never thought of it that way before.", Jesse spoke in surprise.
"Yeah. Haven't really seen her since then. Until today, that is.", Tulip responded.
"It's nice that the two of you met each other again.", Glad One spoke.
"Huh. Cool.", Jesse grinned.
"Okay. So, what do you think's our best shot at finding Alan Dracula?", Pink Steven asked.
"Simple. I'll form a truce. It'll be a piece of cake. Or pie. Some people don't like cake.", Jesse responded.
"Like I said, it's not that simple. Still, I'll help you out with this.", Pink Steven assured.
"I'll come along, if only to laugh at your misfortune.", Sad One added.
"Atticus and I'll stay behind with M.T. and see if we can get those branches off.", Tulip responded.
"Yeah. You guys do that.", Jesse responded before he and Pink Steven jumped down toward a nearby branch as One-One was on top of his shoulder.
"The whole tree is buzzin' 'bout you fellas. Way to stick it to those awful Gillicutties.", one of the Trundleshanks names Richard spoke.
"We weren't trying to stick it to anyone.", Jesse responded.
"Yeah. If anything, M.T. was the one who did that. Look, the point is, we're just looking for a deer named Alan Dracula.", Pink Steven added.
"He's a deer and he's about...this deer height.", Jesse added.
"Well, what was the look on Wilbur's face when you told him you didn't trust the Gillicutties?", Seth asked.
"Unease, I guess? And again, it was M.T. who practically said it. Not literally, practically. There's a difference.", Pink Steven responded.
"Oh, you know what? I bet, uh, you have a lot more in common with them than you think. In elementary school, we learned this song that I think might be helpful.", Jesse spoke.
"Really? How's it go?", Pink Steven asked.
"It's called, 'When I look at you, I see me.' And it goes...", Jesse began before inhaling only to be interrupted by Richard.
"Is it true you spit in his face?", Richard asked before Jesse coughed.
"No!", Jesse responded.
"Where'd you even hear that?", Pink Steven asked as Sad One was snickering, trying to contain his laughter.
Meanwhile, Tulip, Atticus, and M.T. were breaking branches.
"So, which ones should we break?", Tulip asked.
"First, break the branch on your left and move forward.
"Got it.", M.T. spoke before she and Tulip broke the branches on their left and then moved forward.
"What next?", M.T. asked.
"Good. Now, go for the ones on your right.", Atticus spoke.
"All right.", Tulip spoke before those branches were broken next, leading them to Nathanial Trundleshank and Marietta Gillicutty.
"Hi, there, fellas. Goin' down the tree?", Marietta asked.
"As a matter of fact, quite.", Atticus responded as Tulip and M.T. broke the branches off.
"You shouldn't talk to her, fellas. She's as dumb as they come.", Nathanial discouraged.
"Can it, ding-dong.", Marietta retorted.
"Aw, this from a woman who choked to death eatin' an orange peel!", Nathanial responded before Marietta snapped back (not literally) and caused more branches to grow.
"I told you, it's the most fibrous part of the fruit! You died because you sat on the toilet seat too hard.", Marietta argued.
"Look, can you guys stop arguing for a minute?", Tulip asked.
"Also, have you per chance seen a deer fall down this tree somewhere?", Atticus asked.
"No, I ain't.", Nathanial responded.
"You?", M.T. asked before Marietta only shook her head.
"Ugh, didn't think so! See you later. Sorry you both died in such embarrassing ways.", M.T. responded as she kicked a branch down and got off.
"Yeah, she's kinda going through some things right now, guys.", Tulip assured to Marietta and Nathanial.
"She'll come around soon.", Atticus added before Tulip climbed down.
On Jesse's end, he, Pink Steven, and One-One were now speaking with Wilbur and Leona Trundleshank as well as Charlie, Clara, Jack, and Mande Gillicutty.
"Okay. So, from what I heard, Wilbur and Leona are mad because you kids broke their milk bottles every morning.", Pink Steven guessed.
"Think you could apologize?", Jesse asked.
"No! They never invited us to their kids' birthday parties.", Charlie refused.
"We couldn't afford to feed every child in town to our parties!", Leona responded.
"But we were the only kids who weren't invited.", Clara retorted.
"Ooh, boy. Okay. On one hand, not being invited is definitely tough on a kid, especially when you shouldn't even leave them out in the first place. But on the other hand, affordability is equally important, too.", Pink Steven sighed.
"Ugh, why is it so confusing?", Sad One commented.
"You and me both, One-One. You and me both.", Pink Steven concurred.
"Hey! Who's side are you on?", Wilbur asked.
"None of us are helping you get down this tree until you pick a side!", Jack shouted as Mande shook her head for clarity.
"Will you just cram it down your little...?!", Pink Steven began before calming down in order to avoid another meltdown as he took deep breaths.
"Look. I'm not the kind of guy to pick sides, okay?", Pink Steven responded.
"Yeah. W-we don't...we don't want anybody to get mad at us.", Jesse added.
"Choose!", Leona pressured.
"Look, I understand that you both have reasons to dislike each other, but neither of you guys are perfect. You just gotta accept each other for the good and bad things. Like my dad always says, If every pork chop where perfect, we wouldn't h...", Pink Steven began before One-One interrupted.
"I don't see how pork chops could help.", Sad One interrupted.
"Oh, what if they served the kids pork chops at the party?", Glad One suggested.
"It wouldn't work, stores are too crowded to buy things nowadays.", Sad One objected.
"Then, we should put the Pork Chop Car next to this one.", Glad One suggested.
"Where is that one again?", Sad One puzzled.
"Next to the Apple Sauce Car, silly.", Glad One responded Mande angrily interrupted.
"Get off our branch!", Mande shouted before the branch shook, shaking Pink Steven, Jesse, and One-One off as the little conductor screamed.
Then, back with Tulip, Atticus, and M.T., they were still breaking the branches away when Jesse and Pink Steven landed with the latter catching One-One.
"Oh, great.", M.T. sighed.
"It's okay, One-One. I got you.", Pink Steven assured as One-One shuddered before he opened his eyes.
"Oh.", Glad One responded before climbing up to Steven's shoulder while laughing nervously.
Then, Jesse stood back up.
"Oh, uh, hi.", Jesse greeted.
"So, how'd it go?", Tulip asked.
"Not so great.", Pink Steven sighed.
"Yeah, trying to make everyone happy didn't work out. Looks like your breaking and punching isn't doing much good either.", Jesse spoke.
"I agree. I swear, those branches are growing faster than we can tear down.", Atticus agreed.
"You probably slowed us down too much. If we had gotten down here sooner, the branches wouldn't be this bad.", M.T. blamed, causing the branches to grow as only Pink Steven took notice of it.
"Uh, guys?", Pink Steven asked.
"You don't know that!", Jesse retorted.
"Hey, calm down, you two.", Atticus urged.
"Yeah? Well, you don't know anything and can't help anyone!", M.T. retorted.
"Whoa, now.", Tulip warmed.
"You can't even help yourself!", M.T. added.
"Ouch.", Sad One spoke.
"That's why passengers get on this train in the first place!", M.T. shouted, shoving Jesse.
"Hey, don't pu...", Jesse began before Pink Steven growled angrily for a brief moment and shouted.
"STOOOOOP!", Pink Steven shouted, unleashing a pink shockwave, his shout echoing while knocking Jesse and M.T. off the branch before the growing branches caught them, partly so that they wouldn't fall off before Pink Steven took a deep breaths and spoke.
"Look. Can't you guys see what's happening? Every time you guys fight, the branches grow. And to make matters worse...", Pink Steven spoke while getting down to Jesse, whose hands were now made out of wood as he held one of them out, frightening Jesse.
"Ah! It's changing me!", Jesse shouted.
"That's because you've been fighting with M.T. The more you do that, the more the tree could trap you here and make you a part of it.", Pink Steven added.
"Man. I'm gonna be made out of wood? Everybody at school will call me Pinocchio.", Jesse sighed sadly.
"They won't call you that. Okay, they'll probably call you that. If you ever get back to school.", M.T. responded.
"Why do you have to say that?", Jesse exclaimed before sighing in despair.
"Sorry.", M.T. sighed before the branches started loosening its grip around M.T. and Jesse, changing him back to normal as the latter did not notice.
"It's okay.", Jesse sighed.
"Wait, Jesse. They moved a little.", M.T. assured.
"You don't have to lie to me.", Jesse sighed.
"Jesse, really.", M.T. assured.
"She's telling the truth, Jesse.", Tulip assured.
"In fact, the branches are releasing you and M.T. as we speak.", Atticus added.
"I think those branches even like you.", Glad One added.
"When I become a tree, I want you to move on with your life. Find Alan Dracula! Be happy! And please know I don't blame you! Maybe this was fate. Fated...to be a tree boy.", Jesse spoke in despair before M.T. flicked him on the forehead.
"Ow! Why did you...?", Jesse began before he noticed that the branches were gone and that he was now back to normal.
"Oh...! I'm not a tree boy. What happened?", Jesse asked.
"We kept our eyes open during the scary parts.", M.T. responded.
"Oh, wow.", Jesse spoke before breathing in relief.
"Wait. That's it. If fighting makes the branches grow, then making up would make them shrink.", Pink Steven spoke.
"There must be some way to prove this.", Atticus puzzled.
"I can help.", M.T. assured before she knelt down and spoke to the branch.
"You're a terrible tree.", M.T. spoke.
"Hey, it's doing its best.", Jesse responded before a small leaf grew from it.
"Just kidding. You're a beautiful tree.", M.T. spoke before the leaf shrunk back down.
"See? The more we make up, the more branches would shrink.", Pink Steven grinned.
"Well, that's positivity for you, eh, Ms. Tulip?", Glad One spoke.
"Well, that's one way to put it.", Tulip agreed before M.T. stepped forward and spoke up.
"Pray, good sir. Wouldst thou care to follow me down to the bottom of this noble tree?", M.T., asked.
"Oh, uh..., I love to?", Jesse spoke before the branches shrunk down a little bit.
"Good. Keep going.", M.T. grinned.
"Ahem. Thank you for your generous offer.", Jesse spoke before the branches then shrunk down completely.
"Excellent. I believe it'll help much faster if we join in as well.", Atticus grinned.
"My thoughts exactly, Your Majesty.", M.T. curtseyed, causing the nearby branches to shrink.
Later, the group was passing by several arguing Gillicutties and Trundleshanks as they spoke several compliments.
"Lovely day, isn't it?", Jesse asked.
"Yes. Verily.", M.T. responded.
"I like how the light glistens off your hair, or what's left of it.", Tulip spoke.
"Yeah. Like shining stars in the sky.", Pink Steven added.
"And I like your hair, Tulip. It's long, pink, and would make a great mane.", M.T. responded.
"Thanks.", Tulip grinned.
"Shall I sing a song?", Jesse asked.
"Oh, no. Allow me.", Pink Steven spoke before he started singing.
🎵Here we are in the future🎵
Later, Tulip, Atticus, One-One, Pink Steven, Jesse, and M.T. decided to climb down while keeping up the compliments.
"Your metal skin is particularly shiny today. Especially when it shines as if it was groomed with the utmost of care.", Atticus complimented as Jesse helped M.T. down.
"Yeah. Just like a...super...huh! Shiny...", Jesse spoke before he and the others eventually climbed down and got to the bottom of the family tree.
"Hey, deer! Where are you?", M.T. shouted.
"Come out, come out wherever you are!", Pink Steven shouted.
"Alan Dracula!", Jesse shouted.
"Bleat once if you're okay! Twice if you're hurt!", M.T. shouted.
"Alan Dracula!", Tulip and Jesse shouted.
"Deer!", M.T. shouted before Tulip spotted him on the tree.
"Guys, look! He's up there!", Tulip spoke, pointing to Alan Dracula, whose hooves are now multi-colored plungers that can easily hold onto the wood.
"Unbelievable!", M.T. shouted in surprise and disbelief.
"Alan! A. Drac. Alan Dracula.", Jesse spoke.
"Hey, deer!", M.T. shouted as they tried to get back to him.
"Don't worry. I'll help climb you guys up.", Tulip offered.
As a matter of fact, Tulip was climbing up the tree alongside Alan Dracula with Pink Steven, Atticus, and One-One on top of her while M.T. and Jesse were resting on top of Alan Dracula's antlers.
"So..., look. I guess I shouldn't have yelled at you, so much, but only because it made this stupid tree grow.", M.T. spoke.
"Me, too. Sorry.", Jesse apologized.
"So, what are your plans now?", Pink Steven asked.
"I still want to be on my own with the deer. But...technically, we are both his friend. Not us, we're not friends, but we're friends with him separately. So..., here's the only solution I can think of. We'll travel with Jesse and help him get your number down?", M.T. spoke.
"Really?", Jesse asked in surprise.
"Yes, but only because then you'll get off the train and I'll get to stay with, for lack of a better name..., Alan Dracula.", M.T. spoke.
"Yes! Sorry...", Jesse apologized a bit sheepishly.
"I'm actually starting to like that name now.", Sad One grinned.
"All right. Let's do this. What's your number at?", Pink Steven asked.
"32.", Jesse spoke.
"Pssh. We'll get you home in no time.", M.T. assured.
"What was it when you got on the train?", Tulip asked.
"31.", Jesse responded.
"Your number has gone up?", M.T. asked one slight disbelief before flicking Jesse in the forehead again.
"Ow! I don't know if you know how much metal hurts. I'm soft, squishy, you're hard and mean!", Jesse grunted as a small branch grew before Alan Dracula stepped on it, breaking it apart.
Meanwhile, back in the Black Market car, the flecs, Bane included, were looking around for clues for possible reflections to go into in order to pop up elsewhere to locate M.T.
"All right, let's make this quick, Bane. We're only here because this sliver we're after has been giving us a hard time lately.", Shard explained.
"And what makes this sliver any differently than the others you've caught so far?", Bane asked.
"This sliver has been eluding us for two months on end! She even escaped our sanders, our men, our...everything! She's clearly even tougher than anything the other slivers had to offer. Why do you think I've enlisted your help in the first place?", Bane asked.
"That difficult, huh? I suppose that sliver may be worth my time, whether or not I capture my prey. Or should I say, challenge a worthy opponent?", Bane smirked.
"Can you just make sure you help Mace and Sieve get the job done?", Shard asked.
"Soon. But first, I'll need to know everything about this sliver, and not just the background checks. Based on what you've told me, this sliver might be a special case indeed. Who knows? Maybe even one that is worth my time. And on top of that, time to pay up, Shard. I don't work for free.", Bane responded.
A/N: Uh-oh. It looks like Bane's dead set on tracking M.T. down for sure. Looks like things are gonna get pretty rough from here on out. And for those waiting for the 2nd chapter of "Tom and Jerry: Shiver Me Whiskers", fret not, for the hiatus will soon be over on May 2nd. I would get it ready sooner, but I have to make sure Chapters 3 and/or 4 of the Magic Duel rewrite story from "My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic" are ready and posted on May 1st. :) In the meantime, feel free to leave a review for this story only if you have thoughts about this story and ideas for what could happen in its next chapter. Until next time. :)