Hattie walked out of her room, rubbing her eyes and wearing her new pajamas from Bow and her mother: purple with a corgi on the shirt. She had a busy day yesterday, helping both Grooves and the Conductor with their movies.

She wondered if she should call Bow and see if she had any tips as well. She'd probably know best about glitter and music for DJ Grooves.

But that was a thought for later. Right now, she was hungry for some good breakfast. Surely Cooking Cat was making something good right about now. She hasn't heard that she had any early plans.

She walked into the kitchen with a yawn. "Morning, Mama Cookie." She then sat down at the table. But when she heard no response, she turned to the kitchen counter, expecting to see her there. However, to her mild surprise, she wasn't there.

Hattie got out of her seat and walked over to find a note. But...everything was in place from last night and there was nothing new. No note. No signs of anyone else being here.

That's really strange. Usually Cookie had the time to at least leave a note for Hattie nowadays.

"Maybe it was something urgent in Mafia Town or the studio…," Hattie reassured herself. Cookie was usually a busy cat, since she was known as one of the greatest chefs on the planet.

Hattie peeked out of the kitchen to look in the Main Hub for Mu. Surely she would've shown up, right?

But no sign of her either. The burger cushion remains untouched. When Hattie checked in the kitchen, all cookies were accounted for. Even the new kitten-shaped ones she got.

Now Hattie seemed concerned. Mu always came to Hattie's ship in the morning. It's like a routine. She would find her asleep here most of the time, she'd say good morning to Hattie, they'd tell each other their plans, and go their separate ways. Sometimes they do so stuff together if Hattie had no major plans with any of her other friends.

Before Hattie could think more on what is going on and what she should do, the intruder alert went off. Hattie jolted and dashed out to the Main Hub, quietly hoping it was Mu or Cookie running late. To her surprise, no one was there.

Wait, how did her alarm go off without anyone coming through the one main entrance of the ship? Hattie hummed, frowning. Something's definitely off today. Maybe she should double check the maintenance on her ship. She headed to her room to change into her normal, and practically only, outfit. But once she entered the room, she found her intruder.

"Why hello there, kiddo! Nice place you've got here!" Snatcher was sitting over on the left side of her room on the walkway over her pillow pile. He had a book on hand with the title "How to Kill Kids" written on it.

"Snatcher?" Wait, now he's complimenting about her place? Hasn't he been here before? Huh...maybe he just never appreciated it before. She carefully approached as his eyes remained on her. Something about his expression felt wrong to her. He seemed...too happy to see her.

"What's up? Still alive and well, I see. What a shame."

"Yeah uh...what are you doing on my ship? Don't I usually visit you?"

"Thought I could change it up a bit today, kid! Cause I got something amazing planned for you! Well, amazing for me. As for you, well that's for you to find out." He let out a small chuckle after that statement. His grin remained wide and unchanging. This was actually pretty unnerving, even for Snatcher.

"BFF, if this is a prank, I swear I'll turn you blue and get you with my umbrella." Hattie showed a fed-up expression as she put her hands on her hips.

"Oh no, kid. I've got some fresh new contracts for you. If you do them for me, then I'll reward you handsomely. If you survive, that is."

Contracts? Again? He hasn't made her sign one since their fight. Why today? Why now?

Before Hattie could say anything, Snatcher opened up a scroll in front of her. It was a map of the planet, but it had a small purple mark in the middle of it near Mafia Town. He then explained, "I've got this little map for you. You'll notice I've only marked just one contract on it for now. You'll have to complete it before you unlock the rest. Checks and balances, you know."

Hattie glanced to Snatcher for a moment, then quietly took the map. He then held out the first contract scroll to her. Before she took it, he held it away from her and said, "And be careful, kid. These aren't your average everyday contracts. These are advanced contracts. Wouldn't want you to DIE on the job, right? HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

Hattie finally took the contract and looked it over. But before she finished reading it, she looked up at Snatcher. His eyes remained fixated on her with the same wide grin. Hattie now frowned with worry. This was so unlike her BFF.

"Snatcher...are you feeling okay?"

The moment she asked that question, Snatcher's smile disappeared as he twitched, dropping the book. He held his head with a small growl and glanced to Hattie with mild fear in his eyes. Hattie's own eyes widen with shock and worry.

But that fearful expression was gone as quick as it came. A sort of dark expression then showed as he sat back up straight, turning to Hattie. "Why does that matter?! I'm perfectly fine!" He then roughly shoved Hattie off the walkway and into her pillow pile, having her yelp.

...He pushed her. He actually physically shoved her. If it weren't for the pillows breaking her fall, that would've hurt. Snatcher's never done anything like that. Sure he'd pick her up by her cape and set her down or nudge her away. But he'd never shoved her like how he just did.

Hattie tumbled out of her pillow pile and looked up at Snatcher, who still showed his anger expression. "Now get going on that contract!" Hattie flinched. Did she really make him that mad by showing concern for her friend?

She looked down at the map and contract in her arms, then stood up. "No."

He seemed to have twitched, hearing that. He flew down in front of her, looming over her tiny form. "What?"

Hattie seemed to tremble a little. Why was she afraid of him? Surely he wouldn't actually try to kill her...right? Not her BFF…

"N-no. I don't want to do these. I don't care about some dumb rewards. I just want answers!"

Oh it took a lot of willpower on "Snatcher's" end to keep from strangling the kid. But no, he was going to have fun with this kid first. He took a breath and said, "Fine. I'll tell you what you want to know after you complete this contract. Deal?"

Hattie quietly nodded. Now we're getting somewhere. She opened up the first contract and signed her name. Surprisingly, this contract was different than his usual ones. Now there were no pictures, places that will be open in his forest or other areas, or "I'll be keeping the following" section. There was just the title, terms, and dotted line for her signature. It was very straightforward. Kinda dull too.

Once she signed it, Snatcher stamped it with his signature stamp. "Now get to it, kid." He then flew back up to his spot, picking up his book, twitching a little.

Hattie frowned, watching him do this. She then grabbed her normal outfit and top hat and headed out of the room to change. "I'll be back, Snatcher."

She glanced back, hoping for a response. But she didn't get one. He just looked back in his book, hardly acknowledging her now. She looked down for a moment, then quietly exited. Today was not starting off great.

Once Hattie left, a voice was heard within Snatcher's subconscious.

"Oh my dear puppet. Why did you try to fight? You know at your current strength, you had no chance."

Then, Moonjumper could be faintly seen transparent behind Snatcher. He had blue glowing strings coiled around his wrists tightly and red string around his whole body. Snatcher's expression then showed struggle, pain and exhaustion.

Moonjumper slowly floated in front of him with a calm dark smile. His voice was hauntingly gentle. "Don't think you can save her from her unavoidable fate, She will die and her soul and Time Pieces will be mine."

Snatcher struggled a little, giving Moonjumper a cold death glare. "If you think that, Moonboy, then you don't know the kiddo like I do! She's a lot tougher than you'll ever believe."

Moonjumper's expression immediately showed pure anger as the red strings around him tightened. Snatcher gasped in pain. He thought only blue attacks could really hurt him, but apparently the red strings can do a little damage. Not as harshly as a blue attack, but still extremely uncomfortable. He glanced to the blue ones around his wrists. ...He actually felt afraid of what Moonboy would do if he tightened those more.

Moonjumper then took a breath, calming his rage and allowing Snatcher to "breathe". He needed his puppet in one piece; otherwise, the hatted child was going to catch on. He feared she almost did when he lost control for a moment.

No matter. She will still do the tasks and she will die. He'll make sure of that with any obstacle that gets in her way.

Once Snatcher gathered enough energy to at least speak, he asked, "If you want to kill the kid so much, then why not just do it?"

Moonjumper's smile returned as he looked up at Snatcher. "Simple, my little puppet. I want to see how tough you say she is. I don't just want to kill her; I want to break her spirits. And who better to do the job than her dearest BFF?"

Snatcher's glare returned. "You're sick. Even for my level of tricks."

Moonjumper only showed a simple smirk and stated, "Surely you wouldn't have thought of doing the same. Didn't you try to get rid of her before through contracts?"

Shoot. Snatcher didn't have a counter for that. He did stop trying after his fight with the kid, but he did do it before.

Moonjumper then gently tilted his head up, keeping that smug grin showing. "You simply just didn't make them hard enough. Makes me wonder if you were holding back. No matter though. I doubt she will even make it past the first contract we gave her."

Snatcher showed a scowl as Moonjumper went back behind him. "As I said, Moonbrat. That kiddo's tougher than you think. And you better watch your back. Once I gain control again, you're gonna be sorry! Unless that kid beats you into commission first!"

He had faith in that kid. She's overcome a lot of obstacles to get where she is now. ...He'd never admit it outloud, but he was quietly proud of her.

Moonjumper's only reply before fading back within him was, "Tch. We'll just see about that, my little puppet."

Just before Moonjumper had complete control over him again, Snatcher managed to say one thing under his breath.

"Be careful, kid."

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All there is to say about what is to come is this: let the Death Wish games...begin.