In the Library, 7 was trying to force herself not to worry. She paced, bit her fingertips, tried to catch something in the irrigation tunnels of the gardens but nothing soothed her need. 0 spotted her first in the river, wrestling with a koi fish. The mother figure sighed and stepped into the water, taking her child by the shoulder. "Come on you, enough of that."

"Mom…" She told in a quiet and wanting tone. "I…I don't know what to do. This is so strange of me to do." The two walked from the waters to the island where 2 had proposed to 0 many years ago. The scarred stitchpunk handed her daughter a clean fabric strip to dry herself off with. The two sat down on top of the wire chairs and set their hands upon the wool spindle of a table. 7 sighed and held her head gently, "Oh mom." She whispered, "I can't stand the idea of our little Pi out there. Every time she leaves with that group, I get like this. And I'm anxious. It's their last time being out there."

0 nodded, trying to fit a thread through a needle. "Yes dearest but this feeling is not one you should let out with so much violence. You need to find an alternative way to express this much stress you've filled yourself with."

7 blinked to her, "But you heard what they said. They may actually find who's making all the machines and controlling them. What if 22 was right? What if humans are still out there? You saw the Creator 0. You remember how big they are. They never even cared for us, much less each other. What is going to happen if they encounter one with guns?"

A passing 5 overheard this and held his missing eye in memory. 0 stared over to her son and gave a long sigh. "Listen 7…" She gripped the white doll's hand. "Listen to me well. I know you are worried for her sake. But she is strong. She has always been strong. Pi is special. She has a good heart and a loving soul. She's a piece of the backbone that keeps that group together." She chuckled, "25 is the mind but the mind needs protection. That is why she picked Pi to be her co-captain along with 15. I've known them for a while. And even if so, I'll see to it they come home safely."

7 warmly smiled and rose up. Before dashing off she quickly turned and hugged her mother. "thank you." She told, setting her helmet down and running off to find her husband. 0 watched as 5 made his way over from the vines and huffed as he landed on his feet. "Hey mom. What's sis worried about?"

"She's…just very nervous. Think about it my son. She's a warrior. I made her as such. Trust me, when I started to become aged it was very, very difficult to adjust." She stood up and smirked. "How's 2 doing with the experimenting?"

"He needs more time. He called in 9…he's trying to be more of a help." 0 nodded and chuckled at this, "Come with me. I think we need a talk."

When 10 saw them go by, she wanted to call out to her husband but stopped seeing the mother. She smiled briefly, it had been a while since they had discussed anything together. The feline 13 and 1 were walking down the path together, the two chuckling at the flower petal stuck within his ponytail. 0 smiled, "Spring is a time for love."

"Yeah…" he told gently, holding his arm a bit. "I…I miss 15. She's such a good girl."

"Yes. I missed all of you when were separated." She hummed and stared about, seeing the green of her plants. "15 is a wonderful apprentice to me. I think that portion comes from you, my son."

He gave a tiny grin towards her, knowing where they were going. The grave of the Unnumbered child was in view but there were others here. 22 and 700 were silent, looking at the flowers they had laid around it. They started to shuffle out of the way as 0 and 5 made their way near to it. 0 was silent as a nun staring at the cross, patting it gently and kneeling on the dirt. "I…never imagined life would be like this. It's never been quite as hectic or worrisome."

5 chuckled, "Yeah but a lot of things have changed." 0 looked back to him with a forlorn expression. He rubbed the back of his head. "Not that it is a bad thing."

22 sighed as 700 held her shoulder. "Well you're getting better at this whole separation thing."

"Yeah but it still makes me nervous that she's with 24." 22 told holding her arm gently. 700 smirked and punched her lightly, "she'll be okay. Really. And if she comes home with little ones, well you'll be a grandma!"

"700!" 22 told, her optics becoming small, "Don't say that! I'm scared enough as it is!"

"Well guess what? 4's out there too. I'm sure that those two will meet. We have the birds too. You can always ask one to send a message." She gave her a tiny hug, "We're supposed to keep watch of our home here. That's where our duties lie."

"I know." "so stop being a worry wart! You're going to freak yourself out." 700 began to turn around but she got a slightly evil expression on her face. 22 started to relax as she left but with no warning, the orange stitchpunk twisted about and shouted, "BOO!"

"AUGH!" 22 yelped and fell flat backwards. But the two hadn't realized she sat on the edge of the river. The pinned doll fell back into the water. When she came back up, her hair sat wet in front of her optics. She growled toward 700 and soon the friend was dashing out of her angry path.

As the two chased one another, 3 managed to trip 22. Before she fell, he opened his arms and caught her by the waist. She was still wriggling but he flashed a few words that made her relax. "Okay fine. Hey 700!" She shouted. The sister-figure hummed and turned around, "Yes honey?" "I've got to get going. 3 wants to show me something."

700 chuckled, "Now don't you two crazy kids do anything silly!" She shouted and waved to her a bit. 22 agreed to follow her husband and the two traveled down a narrow path just behind a tiny waterfall. Their hands were tightly locked, smiles upon their faces. When he turned to look at her, there were brief kisses. But soon they traveled to the place full of memory and time spent together. It was the playground they had built before their proposal. When 25 was born, they had used it to entertain her. 22 sighed, looking at the memories before her. "Why did you have to bring me here of all places, darling? Why not just tear out my soul and…?"

He flashed his eyes at her a few times, holding her hand. She slumped over and gave a defeated smile. "Yeah that makes me feel a bit better. But you know.." She tossed down his hood and looked him in the eyes, "When I see you, I see her safety." 3 gave her a confident smile, the two shared a brief hug and kiss, then departed.

The blue male 13 was now speaking with 9. His zippered brother was very unconfident of his own abilities and grieving over Pi's fate. "Listen bro," 13 told gently, "My family is out there too. Hell, I'm scared for Walker even. Ever since he started getting on that cane, well it's been like watching a baby take its first steps." He felt the back of his head, "Look we're fine. They'll send us word. I guarantee it!"

9 felt his chin and closed his eyes, "Y-yeah you're right. I just wish 7 would stop trying to kill everything. She always gets like this when she gets nervous."

"She's a mother." 13 saw 0 passing by and gave a warm smile, "It's what they do."

Back at the camps, the light was dying from the fireplace. Miu noticed once again that her brother and 25 had disappeared from the camp site. She tapped her fingers along a metal rod in annoyance, "Those two are going to get in trouble…" She hummed, watching as Pi slept. Not far from her was the ever-persistent 37 reaching out for her body in his slumber. She giggled at this and watched the others. 15 was curled around a plant she had brought along, almost like it was a teddy bear. 32, the newest arrival, was clung tightly to her new parents.

999 and 1000 had the displeasure of listening and watching 24 and 25 talking to one another in slow, almost whispering voices. She was sitting atop his lap, the two young fiancés looking one another in the eyes. 25 was giggling, giving tiny moans as she was kissed. "St-stop that it tickles."

"I thought you said you weren't ticklish." He chuckled, moving his fingers gently along her back. He kissed her shoulder and softly preened her hair with his fingertips. She felt along his golden eye and took down her hood. He smiled at the way she seemed to glow against the moonlight. "Cr-creator 25…you're the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. Th-the gardens cannot even compare t-to you."

She held him tightly, the two starting to lie down. She placed a finger over his mouth and whispered, "Don't speak. You'll only stutter." He smirked at this but he felt unsure and welcoming at the same time. There was this new warmth added to all of this and he felt this need to kiss her. He managed to find her neck, making her grip him even more. All this time he thought he was a mistake, but seeing her and touching her…it made him seem more alive. 25 flashed her eyes a bit, holding him tightly and trying to sit up. She lied her head on his chest, listening to the gears tick within him. They were silent, staying with one another like that. There was an occasional kiss, the tiny flicker and the small nudge.

25 started to move her hands to his chest, gripping a material that patched him together. Her expression was calm, and in her mind she planned what to do. Just as she was getting up, she heard a rustling in the dying grass around them. Her body shot up, her knee going into his chest. He groaned and huffed in pain, sitting up as she jumped off his. The two were not armed so they would have to do with fists alone. Just as it stopped 25 cocked her head, "Wait…did you see that?"

"See what?" He questioned back, then suddenly there was a flash of bright light His inner optics shrunk and he held his eyes. "Augh! Owch what the heck was that for?"

25 giggled, "That wasn't me!" She spotted more flashes and then flickered a message back. Soon 4 came out of the bushes with another hooded stitchpunk. 25 squealed and ran over to them. "Auntie 4! 70! Oh Creator, I though you two had been gone forever."

"4? 70?" 24 was amazed and once the blur from his eyes parted, he saw the two standing and smiling. 25 was cuddling up to her aunt, the two parted briefly to talk through their flashes. She snickered, "Yeah dad's okay. Everything back home is just the way you left it."

24 looked a bit shocked. He was rudely interrupted, trying to spend time with his future bride. They may not get many opportunities as such. But seeing her talk and communicate with her aunt, a huge smile on her face, it made him not so upset.

Theta entered, confused. He adjusted his strings on his neck and cocked his head. "Wow 4. I'm surprised to see you okay." She gave a silent chuckle and gave him a hug. He blinked in a nervous way, holding her back gently. "I-I'm happy to see you too."

When the group headed back to the main campsite, the others were beginning to rise with the light of the sun. 115 and H1N1 looked briefly to one another and then to the ground. Neither said a word but 26 joked with 15 on the far side of the dying fire embers. 32 was in the arms of her new mother, smiling as she clung onto her rabbit. Walker groaned as he rose awake, using his cane. His leg was not so dependant on the cane itself, now he only used it to rise and sit or walk long distances.

999 and 1000 contemplated as the sun rose. "Should we really join up with them?" He asked in annoyance. His partner had been urging him to, seeing Kayia and Tobias in their bickering moments. "Well they need a good godmother to look after em." 1000 sighed, biting into his cigarette, "Well let's watch em beat up one more Beast, and in the haze afterwards we can go to em."

"Okay…" She told with worry, "But you better live up to your promise."

"Creator 70. Is that really you?" Jack told with enthusiasm as he adjusted his magnify-glass eye. 15 heard his tone and felt a bit heartbroken. She moved towards 26 who pat her on the back with a sad expression. 70 was his old friend but over the years they had been through a deeper relationship. When she had gone, it made 15 hopeful. She had a bit of a crush on Jack and wanted to get to be closer to him. The two began to talk as the supplies were all picked up and the embers tossed back into the dirt.

Slowly the group began to head out, with the newest members along for the ride. Once again their feet made the droned marching tone of stomping against the dry dirt.

From the shadows, there was the howling of wind. 26 hummed, shivering a bit. "Ugh something tells me that this isn't going to wind up pretty."

They all froze when there was a sound of chuckling. "Great." 25 told, "When will these clichéd villians stop ruining our progress?" 24 rolled his eyes and clutched her close. She wiggled a bit, trying to get her bows and arrows out. Theta and Walker were the first to prepare this time, the others slowly following as the figure stepped from his hiding area. It was the dastardly 57, who was the force tht had blinded 26's father, 13. She growled, trying to lunge at him but 37 and Pi held her back. "No, there's no use. He doesn't bear any arms." He explained.

As their leader, 25 stepped up with her chest extended. "So what the hell are you doing here?"

57 smirked, "Nothing my dear. I just wanted to give you all a chance to turn back."

"Turn back?" 26 challenged, "Or else what you coward?"

He laughed menically and gave a wide but stunning grin. "Oh I won't do anything." They stood their ground as a black shadow swooped over the sunlight. "But…that might."

When they looked up, fear and horror struck into their very souls. It was a massive Beast, pluming black smoke into the skies. It had the face of a robotic bat with wings to match. Pumping its elecrticty and helping it stay afloat was a large accordion bag that gave the exhaust to the air. It screeched, making their inner gears scratch and fuzz some of their vision. 25 flashed her eyes, trying to get information but it flew off towards the clouds, ready to make its next dive.

"Owl." She quietly told, seeing 57 had disappeared from the area, "Call the birds. This battle takes place in the air."