A/N: Sorry for the lack of author's notes. I was in a bit of a rush. In any case, the eight chapter had to be a day late because I was being careful during the whole wifi data usage situation until then. Anywho, enjoy. :)
Infinity Train: Book Two: Return to the Beach City Car
Chapter 8: The Wasteland
Tulip, Pink Steven, Atticus, One-One, Alan Dracula, and evening Lena and Damien stood their ground, protecting a tearful M.T. as Pink Steven gave a tense glare as he growled while Atticus growled, too, but also while barking slightly.
"I can't believe he took the exit.", Grace commented.
"And I can't believe those two had the nerve to betray us like that. They're just like Jesse. He was weak.", Simon insulted.
"He wasn't weak. He was misled.", Grace retorted.
"For once, we can agree, Grace.", Damien responded.
"Like we said before, we still like you guys. We just don't like your way of doing things.", Lena responded.
"But he...", Simon began.
"We just lost another human, Simon, not to mention two of our best men. Have some respect.", Grace interrupted as she then walked away.
"One day, Simon, you and Grace will see why we had to leave like this.", Damien responded.
"And if what One-One says is true, once we do find Amelia, we'll come back here with her. I promise.", Lena responded.
"Let's just hope you don't stab them in the back again this time...", Sad One commented.
"Very funny.", Lena retorted.
"Jesse...", M.T. spoke sadly.
"It's okay. Knowing Jesse, he'll think of some way to come back for you.", Tulip assured.
"But for now...", Pink Steven began before Bane cocked his mirror shard pistols.
"We'd better book it out of here.", Pink Steven finished.
"You're not going anywhere.", Bane threatened.
"Oh, yeah? And what makes you think you can stop us?", Pink Steven asked.
Then, Mace started up his sander and tried to sand M.T. but failed twice and growled as she took off, grabbing the harpoon pack.
"How dare you? I never wanted another failure on my track record, but now, you brats have ruined it for me!", Officer Shard growled as he took off after M.T. and the others.
Then, as M.T. put on the harpoon pack with Alan Dracula catching up to her, Tulip, Pink Steven, Atticus, and One-One, Lena and Damien turned the knob together and pushed the door open.
"Move it, people! This is not a drill! I repeat, this is not a drill!", Lena shouted as Tulip, Pink Steven, Atticus, One-One, and Alan Dracula went through the exit with Lena following them before Damien and M.T. blocked the exit by moving the Sunglasses kiosk out of the car, closing the door, and then pressing it against the exit door on the other side, preventing them from escaping for the moment.
"There. That should hold them at least for a minute, but I don't think it'll hold up for long after that, so we better hurry.", Damien urged before he, Lena, and M.T. Noticed the sunglasses with the latter of the three gasping.
Then, M.T. tried to spray paint it only for Sieve's arm to pop through the glasses and crush the spray paint can.
"Wheel the glasses, quick!", Damien urged before Lena grabbed as many glasses and wheeled the glasses by tossing them out to the ground, getting them crushed by the wheel as Sieve and Mace popped out one at a time, practically backing M.T. into a corner as she tripped backwards and landed nearing Tulip, Pink Steven, Atticus, and One-One.
"No. Oh, no, no, no, no, no!", M.T. spoke frantically.
"If anyone has any ideas, now would be the time!", Pink Steven urged.
Then, Alan Dracula turned around and brayed before then turning his legs into springs and bouncing up to the top of the car.
"Huh?", M.T. puzzled.
"Everyone, follow that deer!", Damien urged before he, Lena, and M.T. used their harpoon packs to send themselves up across the car just as Tulip grabbed Atticus and Pink Steven held One-One before they both jumped up.
"Wheeeeeee!", Glad One shouted before Shard turned to Mace and shouted.
"Stop gawking and find something that can help us track them!", Shard urged before Mace found a pink bear face-like mirror and tossing it toward M.T.'s harpoon pack just as she stopped and hit the pack against the wall of the car a couple of times before climbing back up just after Lena and Damien.
However, that was when Sieve, Mace, Shard, and Bane both pooped out two at a time, causing M.T. to gasp.
"There's nowhere you can run now, sliver.", Bane smirked before M.T. and the others ran as fast as they could as Alan Dracula went on top of the the railing next to the floor with M.T. then crushing the mirror and then stopping abruptly alongside the others upon noticing an apparent drop if they get any closer.
"We're trapped!", Tulip exclaimed before she and the others turned back to notice the flecs closing in.
"Not yet we're not.", Damien assured before he took out his magnetic harpoon and fired it at Sieve, puzzling him while Lena fired two more at Bane and Shard, puzzling they as well before Lena and Damien pulled Sieve, Shard, and Bane away and had them land on the catwalk in-between the two cars.
"Nice shot, Lena.", Tulip grinned.
"Thanks.", Lena grinned.
"Now, if we can just take care of you...", M.T. spoke before she then tried to do what Lena and Damien did only for Mace to dodge the harpoon and cut off the rope for it, grabbing it before then pulling M.T. toward him.
"M.T.!", Tulip and Pink Steven shouted before Mace laughed as he pulled M.T. closer and closer to him with M.T. struggling and failing to get away.
"No!", M.T. shouted before Mace then handcuffed himself and M.T. to make sure she doesn't escape, making M.T. gasp.
"You probably shouldn't have done that.", Sad One warned, pointing toward the new car headed right for them on top, causing Mace to turn around and notice while the rest looked up.
"Everyone, run!", Pink Steven shouted as M.T. exclaimed before she, Mace, and the others ran as fast as they could as Pink Steven grabbed One-One.
"Try looking for Amelia in the number car! She might be in there looking after the machine!", Sad One urged.
"Got it!", Damien responded before he, Lena, and Atticus leapt off the car.
Then, just as Atticus, Lena, and Damien managed to catapult themselves toward another car just past the catwalk with Sieve, Shard, and Bane recovering as they turned around, Tulip, Pink Steven, One-One, and Sieve did jump off before Mace only fell down, having lost his legs due to the wheel grinding them off.
"No!", Atticus, Lena, and Damien shouted.
"No!", Shard shouted.
"Mace!", Sieve shouted at the same time Shard did.
Then, Lena began to shed tears and start crying as she pressed her hands against her face before Damien felt just as sad and hugged her for comfort.
"No...! How could this happen?! And she trusted us...!", Lena sobbed.
"I'm sorry, Lena. I hate to say it, but...there's nothing we can do for them now.", Damien apologized.
"And I don't think we need to, much less lose heart.", Atticus added, puzzling them.
"What?", Lena sniffled in puzzlement.
"Knowing Tulip and the others, I doubt that a fall like that could get rid of them. Not by a long shot.", Atticus responded.
"R-really?", Lena asked out of tearful hope.
"That's right. I know it. And more than that, I can feel it deep down in my gut.", Atticus responded.
"I hope you're right. But...if for some reason you're wrong...", Damien responded.
"Then I'll deal with it honorably.", Atticus responded in assurance.
"Either way, the best thing we can do for them right now is look for Amelia. One-One said that she might be in the number car, so with any luck, we might find her.", Damien responded.
"But are they really going to be okay out there?", Lena asked.
"If and when they did survive, they'll know where to find us. Even if it means taking Mace with them. If they can...", Damien responded just as meanwhile, Tulip and Pink Steven, holding One-One, slowly landed on the ground near M.T. and Mace before Alan Dracula then landed in the ground as a yellow life raft before changing back to normal.
M.T. groaned as she sat up before Tulip and Pink Steven helped her up.
"Easy does it. Are you okay, M.T.?", Tulip asked.
"Yeah. I think so.", M.T. responded before looking at the handcuff and remembering that she was handcuffed to Mace.
"No...!", M.T. spoke before moving away, inadvertently dragging Mace with her and trying to remove the handcuff with Mace groaning.
"M.T., Wait!", Pink Steven urged before Mace woke up with a groan and noticed a gray liquid on his two fingers.
"Ooh...", Mace groaned before laughing weakly and then tying up his waistcoat.
"You're hurt.", Pink Steven spoke worriedly.
"One might even say fatally injured.", Sad One added as Alan Dracula walked over and bent his neck down before licking the ground and then spitting out the dirt, sticking out his tongue, coated with rocks with M.T. getting out a patch of grass for Alan Dracula to eat.
"Hey, buddy. You guys okay?", M.T. asked as Alan Dracula ate the blades of grass.
"Yeah. We're okay.", Tulip assured.
"Right as rain.", Glad One added.
"But I'm not sure Mace is, though. Looks like half of his body got wheeled.", Pink Steven stated as Mace coughed.
Then, M.T. stood up and dragged Mace along with her near the train as Tulip, Pink Steven, and One-One followed before Mace laughed.
"That's right. Back to the train. Back to the train. Like a good girl.", Mace smirked.
"Geez. Sane much?", Pink Steven commented before M.T. stopped and then grabbed a rock to try to break the cuffs off herself as Mace eerily sang.
" I saw a train go racin' by on exit day, on exit day, I saw a train go racin' by it gave the boy an exit. What got left on the train that day on exit day, on exit day? A lonely little sliver girl on exit day in the morning. Or afternoon, maybe. Not a lot of clocks on the train, are there?", Mace asked.
"Well, there's one clock in the color clock car.", Glad One responded as M.T. only broke the rock instead.
"Look, we don't have time for this, Mace.", Pink Steven spoke.
"Yeah, so shut it, Skinsuit.", M.T. added.
"So, what's the plan now that your boyfriend is gone, little sliver girl?", Mace asked weakly.
"Hey. Her name is M.T. Not officially, but still. Use it!", Tulip retorted.
"And Jesse will come back for her the way Tulip did for me.", Pink Steven added.
"Ah, we'll see about that, won't we?", Mace retorted weakly.
"We might as well take a look around and think of something in the meantime as long as we're here.", Tulip responded as M.T. picked Mace up and set him on top of Alan Dracula.
"But what about the monsters out there?", Sad One asked.
"Don't worry, One-One. I learned from last time.", Tulip responded as she and the others set out into the wasteland for the time being.
Later, as thunder echoed among the clouds above, Mace looked up contemplatively.
"I didn't see myself going out this way. How about you, little sliver? Was this the way you say your 'glorious escape' goin'?", Mace asked.
"Seriously? Again with this?", Pink Steven asked, flustered.
"No matter. My job's done. Your friend's as good as sanded out here.", Mace discouraged.
"I don't think so, Mace. Not as long as Tulip, One-One, and I are right there with her.", Pink Steven retorted.
"This was never gonna end well for her. She should've followed mirror law and been recycled.", Mace commented.
"Don't talk about M.T. like that.", Pink Steven warned.
"I'd rather be my own person than be a disgusting flec like you. Coward.", M.T. added.
"What did you just say?", Mace asked.
"You're a coward! When your prime died, you chose to be a flec because you were afraid to let go of your identity!", M.T. responded.
"It wasn't about keeping my memories or identity. It was about respecting the balance our kind provides.", Mace retorted.
"Geez, was your last prime that much of a jerk? Or is this all you?", Pink Steven asked exasperatedly before Mace laughed a bit before then coughing as the others pressed on across the wasteland.
"You know, you should really try a lozenge for that throat of yours.", Glad One commented.
Later, as they advanced across the bleak landscape, Tulip spoke up.
"Honestly, I didn't think I'd get back here to that wasteland. To think the first time I wanted to get there because of what I saw happened to someone. Thinking back on it now, I guess it was a bit silly of me to run off into that wasteland like that.", Tulip commented.
"Well, you were just frightened back then.", Pink Steven assured.
"Yeah, but what really scared me is what roamed around this part of the wasteland.", Tulip responded just before Alan Dracula's hooves got heavier as did everyone else's feet except for Tulip's and One-One's as he rested on top of her head with Alan Dracula's head puffing up and then turning into a bird, then puffing up, then turning into a paper airplane, and then into a pterodactyl and then back to normal as the denizen's feet scraped backwards against the desert floor.
"Why can't I go forward?", M.T. grunted.
"It's...it's...it's the train.", Mace laughed weakly.
"Uh, One-One? What's going on?", Tulip asked.
"Maybe the train is pulling them back to get them safe.", Glad One guessed.
"And probably for good reason.", Sad One added before the ground started cracking and quaking near Tulip, M.T., Pink Steven, and Alan Dracula.
"Wait. Is that...?", Pink Steven puzzled.
"Steven, you and the others stay behind me.", Tulip urged.
Then, as expected, three Ghoms erupted from the ground head-first only for Tulip to give a sonic roar, blasting the Ghoms away before they recovered in midair via wings.
"Everyone, take cover!", Tulip urged before she, Pink Steven, M.T., and Alan Dracula ran as best they could with the Ghoms in the air zooming toward them like air jets and helicopters before M.T. hopped aboard the concerned Alan Dracula before another Ghom erupted from the desert floor only for Alan Dracula to convert his antlers into a sort of shield for him and the others with Alan Dracula residing on the top.
"Phew. Thanks, A.D.", Tulip sighed.
"Yeah. That was a big help.", Pink Steven added.
Outside, the four Ghoms were playing with the shield as Tulip, M.T., Pink Steven, and Alan Dracula watched.
"Aw. You know, if those things weren't attacking us, I'd say they're kinda cute.", Pink Steven commented.
"Still. I can't really wrap my head around what those creatures actually are. Were they passengers once? Or were they just born that way?", Tulip puzzled.
"Well, either way, I'd certainly like one of those as a pet.", Glad One commented.
"But then again, the potential risks could make it dicey.", Sad One added Before Mace laughed.
"Half gem children, sliver girl, little robot, human boy, corgi king, and super deer going through car to car, learning lessons, what an adventure. You really fancied yourself a regular passenger out there, didn't you?", Mace guessed.
"What's that supposed to mean?", Pink Steven asked.
"I've been exploring the train. Same as Tulip or Jesse.", M.T. spoke.
"Oh, sure. I mean, that must be why the train is so keen on gettin' you back. So it can help you get your shiny green number down, or, oh. That's right. Forgot. You don't have one.", Mace retorted.
"You don't know anything.", M.T. retorted.
Play MHA Music: "Might+U"
"What do you think would happen if you were allowed through the exit? You'd just go out into the world with your metal skin and your magic deer and what? High school? Prom? College? Job? You and your prime with parallel lives?", Mace asked.
"That's something she'll figure out herself.", Tulip responded before Mace laughed.
"Listen, the train isn't gonna let you exit.", Mace responded.
"And what makes you say that?", Tulip asked.
"Do you ever wonder why that car was there? The mirror car, the chrome car, whatever you wanna call it. You couldn't have gotten out of the car unless she switched. No one's prime could've. So, did the train make the car? So you could get out?", Mace asked.
"You're...trying to freak me out. It won't work.", M.T. spoke.
"Maybe the car was for her.", Mace added.
"For her? What do you mean?", Pink Steven puzzled.
"To use her to help Tulip learn. Just another creation of the train to help passengers.", Mace responded.
"I think you mean 'denizen'.", Sad One corrected.
"Yeah. That's the word.", Mace agreed.
"No. I'm a person. I was making my own choices.", M.T. responded.
"Oh, choices. And choices lead to lessons. Then, what were you learning, exactly? How to become what the boy needed you to be?", Mace guessed.
"It wasn't like that. We were friends. We are friends.", M.T. spoke up.
"But they all make friends, though, don't they? Companions?", Mace responded before laughing.
"Stop it. Stop laughing.", Tulip urged.
"Might even say you became his counterpart. Might say you became kind of a...reflection.", Mace spoke before M.T. growled angrily.
"I hate you!", M.T. shouted before grabbing Mace's jacket forcefully.
"I don't care. What, do you think you're free? That you escaped? You're stuck on the train now. You're just in another mirror.", Mace smirked.
"No. It's not like that.", M.T. responded, shedding tears herself.
"Yeah. You tell him, M.T.", Glad One agreed.
"Whose side are you on, anyway?", Mace laughed to One-One before turning to M.T. as Tulip's white sclerae turned purple.
"Face it. Being a reflection is all there is for you.", Mace smirked.
Tulip roared angrily and then pressed her hand on Mace by the chest, who only laughed.
"That's enough out of you, Mace!", Tulip threatened.
"Oh, really? What are you going to do now? Let me, let me guess. Kill me? You don't have the guts.", Mace asked before laughing.
"Only if I have to. Otherwise, no.", Tulip responded.
"The point is, M.T., reflection or not, denizen or passenger, you're still your own person. And more than that, we'll help you get your own number so that you can find Jesse and be with him like you deserve to.", Pink Steven assured, making M.T. grin as tears streamed down a little.
"And as for you, Mace, whether you like it or not, there is nothing you can say to convince her otherwise.", Pink Steven responded.
"Oh, yeah? Her and what number?", Mace asked.
"Wait a minute.", Tulip spoke as she realized something before her sclerae turned back to a normal white and loosened her grip on Mace.
"One-One, you said that Amelia's in the number car, right?", Tulip asked.
"Yeah. She's getting the pods ready for the new passengers for me as we speak while I'm away.", Glad One responded.
"And those pods...the ones that drop off new passengers. I'll find one, ride it back to that number car, and I'll make this train give me a number.", M.T. spoke before looking up at Alan Dracula.
"We're going, Alan Dracula!", M.T. urged as the deer hung from the top.
End MHA Music: "Might+U"
"Oh, I think we need to get this thing going.", Pink Steven guessed before he, Tulip, and M.T. started moving the shield forward with one of the Ghoms flying toward the top of the shield and then gently touch Alan Dracula, making him poof away in reaction, causing the shield of antlers to disappear.
"Alan Dracula, come on!", M.T. shouted.
"Uh, guys? We have Ghoms incoming!", Tulip urged before the group turned around and then noticed the Ghoms heading out after them and then tried to run away again with One-One singing the same getaway song from the last time a chase like that happened.
"What is that racket you're singing over there?!", Mace commented.
"Oh, that would be One-One's famous wacky getting-chased song.", Tulip responded.
"I made it up.", Glad One added.
However, when they started to slow down, one of the Ghoms were getting close and leapt up, about to pounce on Tulip and the others, only for Tulip, Pink Steven, and M.T. to jump up, ricocheting themselves along with One-One and Mace toward the train with M.T. using the harpoon pack to clasp onto one of the cars with Tulip, One-One, and Pink Steven in midair near M.T. and Mace, who crashed onto the walls as they dangled down before Mace grabbed M.T.'s wrist.
"What are you doing?!", M.T. exclaimed.
"I'm as good as dead, and if my last act is to bring you with me, Sliver, I can't imagine a better way to go!", Mace responded.
"Well, I can!", M.T. retorted.
"Yeah. If there's one thing the Apex did teach us that really stuck out, it's how to get things wheeled!", Pink Steven added before he and Tulip both pushed M.T. and Mace toward the wheel with M.T., Tulip, and Pink Steven pushing Mace against the wheel hard, making the metal liquid spurt out from both the mask and his body as the flec screamed while Tulip, M.T., and Pink Steven stared with a glare as Pink Steven created a pink shield to shield themselves from the metal liquid with Mace's hat getting blown across the wind.
Afterwards, Tulip, M.T., and Pink Steven climbed up across the car with One-One in tow.
"Nice use of the shield. Wouldn't want to get dirty, now would we?", Glad One commented.
"Uh, thanks, One-One.", Pink Steven responded as he and Tulip turned around with the two looking back sadly as M.T. sadly knelt down, looked at her hands and pressed her hands against her face.
"It didn't have to end like this, Mace. I just wish you understood better.", Pink Steven spoke sadly.
"Are you going to be okay?", Tulip asked.
"Yeah. I think so.", Pink Steven assured.
"Are you sure?", Tulip asked.
"Yes. We may have had to wheel him, but Mace practically did this to himself trying to go after her. The best we can do now is move forward.", Pink Steven responded as M.T. took a deep breath and gave a look of determination.
"Yeah. I guess you're right.", Tulip responded.
Then, suddenly, Tulip's number on her hand started glowing brightly before she looked at it in puzzlement and noticed that her number is now down to 250 as One-One grew excited before her body started shrinking down again, this time with her while body now back to normal, save for the glowing pink skin and gem on her belly button as Pink Steven and M.T. looked on in wonder.
"Whoa. Steven, I-I think we're getting really close.", Tulip grinned.
"Hooray! You and Steven will get to that Beach City car in no time.", Glad One cheered.
"Good. It means we're almost ready. But still, we're going to have to look for Amelia in the number car and the best way to do that is one of the pods en route for drop-off.", Pink Steven spoke as M.T. lent her patches of grass to Alan Dracula, who appeared and ate said patches.
"All right. Then, we'll wait for a pod.", M.T. responded.
A/N: And with that, Tulip and Steven get one step closer to going back to the Beach City Car. Well, after making sure the flecs won't bother anyone, that is. Until next time. :)