Still in the forest, Bars was following the three adults.
"Uhm… so… according to your crazy story: a man called for help and said that his wife was getting carried away by aliens…" He massages his chin, while looking up. "So, everyone in town rushed towards a small hill… and suddenly, you become little kids?"
"Yes, pretty much." The woman speaks. "However, our identity and personality changed as well. I felt to be like… a different person, with different memories."
"And you remember everything? I mean, if you were conscious all the time, shouldn't you snap to your old-self back, once you were small childs?"
Nobody said anything for a while…
"I… I don't know. I'm so clueless about it!" The woman replied, shrugging.
"Could there be some sort of ancient magic? You know, the ones coming from the legends…" The second man said.
"Don't be ridiculous! Those are just stories for the young!" The first man opens both his arms.
"But it could be… I can't see another way, to accomplish such task." The second man scratches his bottom.
Bars saw in front of him a gate with a big hole between the bars, on its lower part.
"Whoa, what happened to that gate?" He points its hole.
"Uhm… good question! I wonder why there is a hole, on it…" The first man looks at the other adults.
"Don't ask me! We need dad to answer all those questions. He still didn't say much…" The second man goes near the gate, pulling it.
"Maybe Jack can help us, with that…" The woman smiles, watching the boy. "After all, our parents really cared about him."
"We can only hope!" The first man turns his back, staring at Bars. "Now, I want you to look at this small we're about to venture."
The man indicates a little town, with a playground on its left. Bars goes ahead the group, exits from the forest and starts viewing the collection of small houses, in silence.
"So… do you remember something, now?" The second stood near the gate, while the other two adults pass him.
"… kinda… actually, it feels like I saw this back in my childhood…" He explains, while still watching the town.
"This is so insane… just, what happened to us?" The woman lowers her head, while shaking her head a little.
"We'll find out soon: that man has to talk, whether he likes it or not!" The first man shook his right fist.
"W-wait! Please, Kul… go easy on dad, ok?" The woman turns towards Kul, while grabbing both her hands and raising both her eyebrows, pulling them together.
"Dad? What are you mumbling about, Hilma?! He can't be our father!" Kul moves his hands up and down, with notable speed.
"But dude… you all kept calling this man, like that! Why would you turn 180° all the sudden?" Bars goes in front of the woman, staring at Kul.
"… what did you just said?" The man lowers his left eyebrow.
"I mean, why'd you call him dad if this guy isn't your father?"
"That is just a name, not a family role! We don't know anything about this old man." Kul goes near Bars and Hilma. "Now, let's get a move and reach him: I'm getting tired of this mystery."
The group starts walking towards the town, with the second man following and listening to the other's discussions. In no time, they reached a plaza with a long table on its center. A large group of adult and teenager Inklings were all around someone, situated at the head of the table.
The crowd looks at the 4 Inklings approaching and steps aside, without saying a word. Kul touches Bars's right shoulder and the boy turns his back, watching him. The man did a slight nod and pointed with his right hand, towards the table. Bars stood there, for a brief moment, looking at the table… then, he starts walking near it.
At his left, he could see a… very familiar old person, sitting on a chair, near an old woman. He was looking at the horizon, not paying attention to the boy. Bars's eyes start expanding a bit.
"But… YOU!" He tilted his back, backwards. "I KNOW WHO YOU'RE!"
"… tsk, tsk… kids, those days…" The old man was still watching the horizon.
"You're that crazy elder, that wanted to shoot me and Grina! Aren't I right?!" Bars starts clenching his fists, getting back his correct posture.
Suddenly, the crowd talks all together, saying something related to that previous phrase, in a loud voice.
SLAM!
"SILENCE!" The old man slammed the table, with his right fist.
Everyone was looking at the elder, stopping instantly their discussions. A big silence followed right after, that lasted for a while…
"… too long we waited for this moment… the plan was a success… nothing could go wrong… but we'd never guess to receive a visit, from those meddling kids… right when we were finishing the last touches…"
"What plan are you talking about?! You better try to explain everything… or else!" Kul menaces him.
"… you Farmies are always so kind. Ignorant, yes… but very kind. You didn't thought twice, when I was asking for help… and in no time, I got everyone from the town and the outskirts."
"We already knew that!" A male voice said that.
"Say something different, mister!" A female voice shouts.
"… bah, kids… always pretending the candies, but never work for them." The old man shakes his head.
"Get to the point, already!" Kul shouts, frowning.
"K-Kul! Please…" Hilma leans her right hand on his left shoulder.
"Ok... I could go into the technical argument… however, I'll keep it easy for all of you, considering your education levels. What it happened before… it was nothing more than an illusion." The elder clears his throat. "I used modern technology, to make you believe to be little kids and see us as your parents."
The crowd was in an uproar state again.
"Technology?! S-so he's a Technie?!"
"No way! His clothes are like ours!"
"Kick him out! Kick him out!"
SLAM!
"SILENCE!" The old man slammed the table, with his right fist.
The crowd is now quiet…
"Wait a second, pal… did you actually used something similar to Virtual Reality? Like those shenanigans you see on TV?!" Bars expanded his eyes again.
"I couldn't tell, kid… I don't have television in my house." The elder looks at Bars.
"You have a house here? It can't be! If that would be the case, we'd know your identity by now!" Kul spoke, tilting forward a bit.
"… eh eh… stupid kids… you couldn't know our existence, since you were seeing nothing but camouflage. Our home possesses a mechanism that allows such skill, bending completely on the background. Impressive, won't you say?"
"W-what's he talking about now?! Another trick for us?!" Kul looks around, seeing everyone's face.
"I know what games this dude, is cooking…" Bars frowns. "You brainwashed everyone with your technology, to test your contraptions. Yes… now it makes sense! Just admit it, past freak: you want to conquer the entire world with hypnosis!"
The crowd starts shouting and growling, in the direction of the old family.
"BE QUIET, CHILDREN!" The elder slammed the table, with his open right hand, multiple times.
"What do you have to say more now? Isn't pretty clear, at this point?!" Kul raises his fist, while Hilma was holding his shoulder.
"… no… no, it's not. The kid here is telling you, a really fat lie."
The crowd talked with each other, in a low voice…
"… and you all wanted to believe it, without listening to our story first. Hmpf… this generation…"
"N-no, dad!" Hilma goes in front of Kul. "I want to hear your motive! Do tell us…"
"Hilma!" Kul shouts.
"So… you really want to know?" The elder turns his back, looking at Hilma.
She nods, with a smile. The old man keeps looking at the woman, without saying anything… then he sighs loudly.
"… fine, I'll talk. But not because of your authority… since you are nothing more, than mere childs."
"We're adults, stranger! You can't deny that fact!" Kul complains.
"… tsk tsk… we'll see about that… once you're done listening to this bedtime story."
The elder coughs loudly.
It all happened long ago… when The Great Turf War was nothing more than a nightmare… when Inkopolis was a youngling full of expectations… when me and my wife were young scientists, with the fate of getting hit by that invisible, yet strong, lightning. This is where our lives changed completely.
Not just because of a divine sign… but also because of our own merits. We received praises, that day… right when I was grabbing my wife, with my strong and young hands… they shook our hands and said promises… we only needed to agree to become involved into Project Neo.
We worked on it, for a considerable amount of time… going around the world, to write down whenever important details we could find… and then use our notes, to create the prototype of Dream. That was our main role, in the team…
However, Dream wasn't the only project we were focusing on… every night, no matter the place or time… we always sat together and look at the Moon, holding our hands and talking about many things… we laughed together… we cried together… we dreamed together.
Life is such a wonderful event, in this natural wasteland… and we wanted to enjoy it, as much as we could. Unfortunately, we woke up at 6:00 AM and slept at 11:00 PM… there weren't any afternoon naps, in our young days… what a pity.
Despite that, our dream was strong… full of passion… nothing could destroy it. Not even science. And eventually, the world-trip ended… at first, I didn't notice it. It was my wife, that told me about the news… and suddenly, the future was very near us. The final phase of our long journey…
It started with a bright clear sky, with some fluffy clouds just passing by. I saw everyone smiling and laughing with each other. The birds were singing, the air smelled with a pleasant scent and the vegetation was more green and shiny, than usual.
My wife wrapped my right arm, laying her head on my shoulder. I knocked the door twice with my knuckles and in no time, the good doctor opened it.
"Ooh, good morning, Mr. and Mrs. Krakel! Please, go inside and take a seat."
"Good day, Doc! How are you in this fine day?"
"Heh… not bad, actually…"
The old man coughs loudly once again.
"Not bad? Then, let's go to the bar and take some nice coffee."
"No no, I wouldn't"
"I insist! I'm offering it, for you."
"No, really. I don't think this would be the time…"
"It can wait a little longer! We need to celebrate, and cheer for this life gift we're receiving!"
"… Mr. Krakel…"
"Yes? … why that gloomy face, all the sudden?"
"… I want you to read this paper…"
"Uhm? Let's see…"
The old woman was starting to sob, softly.
"… … … complications… … … internal damage to the Ovaries… … …"
"I'm sorry... I-it's a problem impossible to solve. T-there's nothing you can do about it."
"… why are we still waiting here…? … let's go to the bar…"
"M-Mr. Krakel! Why are you keep asking"
"Please, Doc… let's all go there… and take a nice coffee… to celebrate this life gift we're receiving…"
The elderly woman covered her face, with both her old hands: her sobbing grew suddenly louder. The old man hugs his wife, caressing her head.
"Ssssh, ssssh, don't cry Stella… that thing the doctor said was just an exaggeration! Don't believe his words… please…"
"… b-but, dear… w-why our family is composed by just us…? Sniff…! O-our dream… our beautiful dream…"
"Nooo, don't say such nonsense! We could still expand it! There are many ways, you know… for example, we could go to that Adoption Center…!"
"… you know, we can't go there… and it's all because of that incident."
"… after all those years… you had to remind me that, huh…"
"Who… who accused us… for betrayal? And why everyone believed in that…?"
"Those were just little kids, Stella! Kids never think in a clever way! They shouted so much madness, to fill the world with hate and despair…"
"… you call them kids… but they still forced us into exile, s-sob… in those forgotten lands. T-there aren't any Adoption Centers… or anything close to it."
"But, adorable wife…! Did you already forgot? We're not just any ordinary people: we're scientists! Do you remember that prototype… Dream? We can use that, to create the family we always wanted! Sure, it'll take a while to truly complete it… a very long while… but it's possible! Trust me, Stella… please…"
"Yes, my love! I trust you! I followed you, for many years… and even on this day, I'd do the same."
"… t-thank you…!" They both kissed on their lips. "We were almost close, to realize our wish… so close… we could almost feel it… but we were once again, far from it. Ruined by some kid, snooping around inside the machine… and outwitting my robotic-guard…"
The two elders stop talking, for a while…
"Dear… … there is something I wanted to tell you…"
"Stella…" The old man took her hand. "… I know what words you have in your mind, now..."
"Y-you do?!"
The elder nods.
"Actually… I was thinking the same, at this point… that wish is never going to happen, isn't it?"
"… yes… that's what I wanted to say." Stella starts to cry. "W-we are too old to chase that dream… s-sniff! W-we have to accept this f-fate… t-there's no way back…"
The old man begins sobbing and then, he quickly grabs Stella with both his arms. They both cried loudly.
"… dad… p-please stop crying…" Hilma was holding her tears.
"… … kid… what did you just called me?" The elder turns towards her.
"Dad… w-why the question?"
"… your jokes are not funny, little girl…"
"DAD!"
She hugs him, laying her face on his shoulder.
"What's the meaning of this?!" He shouts, while he dries his tears.
"Isn't pretty clear, at this point… dad?" Kul speaks.
The crowd starts talking together.
"Mommy, look at me!"
"Mom, please smile!"
"Your daughter is here, daddy!"
"I want to hug daddy, too!"
Suddenly, the elders got hugs from everyone and kisses on their cheeks, from everyone! Both expanded their eyes, staring at the masses doing those acts.
"HOOOOLD IIIIITT!"
Everybody stops, looking at the old man, which was coughing loudly.
"You kids… are you EVEN thinking about this?! We lured all of you here in this small town and use technology to manipulate your brains! We forced you to believe something that doesn't exist! How can you be so kind, after all those petty acts we did?!" He opens and closes his mouth, like he was eating.
"… what petty acts, dad?" Kul asks.
"Don't take us for fools! I told you the truth! No way, this was a nice thing to do…!" He shakes his right hand, with the forefinger pointing up.
"Are you sure, dad? I only remember you and mom, cuddling and playing with us… and you were younger too!" Hilma said.
"I remember the same!"
"I liked those moments!"
"Oooh, I wish to go back in the past…"
"… so… despite our actions… you really want to be our children?" The elder man said.
"Yes." Kul nods. "However, I think we generally would like to stay adults… if that's ok for you."
The old man watches everyone: they were all smiling at him and his wife.
"... Stella! Look at our kids! Look how much they grown, since they were little Squids!" He starts smiling, looking at his wife.
She too, watches everybody.
"Oooohh…! Dear, t-they are all young adults, now…" She smiles. "I'm so proud of them… I-I don't know what to say."
Stella cries a bit.
"… you don't need to say anything, wife…" He hugs her. "Let's just enjoy our dream, now…"
No one said anything after that phrase…
"Ehm… du-, I-I mean dad!" Bars said.
"Oh… what's it, son?" The old man turns looking at him.
"I… uhm, I have some questions for you, actually. Can I ask them…?" The boy lowers his head, a bit.
"Ha ha ha ha! Sure, my boy! What can this old man do for you?" He opens his arms.
"Ahem. Well… can you tell me, how in the world I got here in the first place?" He asks, lowering his right eyebrow.
"Aaah, right! Actually, we were the ones bringing you there. We feared you'd interfere with our plans, so my wife used the Hypno Gun to hypnotize you."
"The Hypno Gun? What's that?" Bars scratches the left side of his head.
"A weapon that can manipulate the person fired from it. However, it's rather limited… only simple commands can be given to the hypnotized living being. For example, in your case, I ordered to just follow us and you did that. Pretty neat, isn't it?"
"Whoa… that sounds awesome, dad!" Bars smiled, expanding his eyes a bit.
"Ha ha! Now that I remember, I wonder what that girl is doing…"
"… what girl?" He asked, surprised.
"Well… I remember that a short, blue Inkling girl was running around the forest. My wife shot her on the leg and I was almost ordering her, to reach this little town… but sadly, those creeps show up. We made a run for it, returning to our apartment."
"… waaaaiiittt… those creeps? Short, blue Inkling girl?" Bars asks.
"There is only to say, that they look like us."
"Those stingrays! Of course!" Bars thought.
"About the little lady… heh… she seemed pretty athletic, judging by her running skills! Very fit too…"
"That description… wait, could she be…?!"
"Something wrong, son?"
"Uh?! Oh, ehm… I have one last question! Did you see black trucks, around the area?"
"Trucks? Uhm… I don't think so…"
"I didn't saw one, either…" Stella adds.
"Wait, what's a truck?" Kul asks.
"I heard that is a different bus species…" Hilma grabs both her hands, while looking at him.
"T-the same kind, that took Hun into the big forest?!" He opens his arms, tilting them backwards.
Bars opens his mouth and turns his back towards Kul.
"Y-You are Hunter's parents?!" He points at them.
"Hunter? Who's this Hunter you're speaking of?" Kul tilted his head to the right.
"No, wait! I said his nickname, man! I meant to say Hun…"
Suddenly, Kul expanded his eyes, downturn his mouth and lower both his eyebrows.
"Y-YOU KNOW HIM?! WHERE IS HE?!" He grabs Bars by his shirt, shaking him back and forth.
"H-hey, chill out pal! I'm not his enemy!" The boy frees himself from Kul's grab. "I come here with my friend, to ask you something!"
Kul looks at Hilma: she was breathing loudly, while leaning her left hand on her chest.
"… before asking… you'd better start explaining many, many things… Jack."