Day of the Departed: Chapter 4

Katherine led PJ into the Departed Carnival. She looked at him. "So what looks fun?" she asked him. PJ looked around, entirely uninterested in anything around. He looked back down at Katherine and shrugged. The black haired woman sighed at that. "Ok…how about we try a ride?" PJ nodded then and she pulled him along to the closest ride to them.

It made PJ nervous when he saw it. It was one that lifted riders up high and spun them around, slowly picking up speed the longer it went. Nonetheless, he didn't say anything against as the ride manager strapped them in. The man almost seemed apprehensive when he came up to PJ, when he went to strap the snake in, he made sure not to touch his scales. When he was safe enough, the man walked off to the next rider. PJ glared after the man, but turned his head to Katherine when he felt her touch his arm.

"Don't worry about him. He doesn't know you." She assured with a smile. PJ felt his heart start pounding. He swallowed and nodded, returning her smile. The ride started, lifting them into the air. PJ gulped and looked down, the height made him a bit woozy…and it only got worse when the ride started to spin. PJ leaned his head back and shut his eyes so his dizziness wouldn't worsen. Katherine, who was laughing, looked at him to see how he was doing. When she saw his eyes closed, she frowned and reached out to hold his hand. PJ opened his eyes and looked at her hand, then at her. "It won't last too much longer." She told him. Again, the snake was silent as he nodded and shut his eyes again until the ride ended.

As it lowered PJ opened his eyes. Again the Carni came and unstrapped all the riders. And again…he was cautious when he came to PJ, who decided now was a good time to mess with the man. After he had finished with Katherine, who was before the snake, PJ watched as the man unstrapped him…then he snapped at him with a "Boo!" The man jumped back suddenly with a fearful yelp. PJ laughed a bit as the man ran off, the manager of the ride running after him. Katherine gave PJ a scolding glare, he stopped laughing when he noticed it. "What? I was only having some fun." He defended.

"PJ…Don't scare the carnies, they really don't get paid enough for that." She said. But PJ only rolled his eyes. Katherine sighed. "OK…let's go try something else." She pulled him along again to a game. It was a basketball game. PJ, thanks to his ridiculous height, was able to shoot every single ball into the basket every single time perfectly, without so much as hitting the backboard or even the rim of the basket.

"Dang PJ, you could go pretty far on a basketball team." Katherine grinned, watching as he continued shooting. PJ only hummed in response at that, but in his chest his heart began pounding.

"Winner! Pick your prize sir!" announced the carni running the booth. PJ looked at the prizes with disinterest…then he looked at Katherine. "Which one do you want?" he asked. Katherine blinked at him in surprise.

"PJ you don't have to do-"
"Just pick one." He said with a slight eye roll. Katherine blushed lightly and pointed to the blue rabbit. The man took it off the shelf and handed it to her. The two then left the booth. "Are you having fun yet?" she asked. PJ only shrugged. "I suppose…" he said, which made Katherine frown.

"We'll try one more thing…" she told him. Again she took his hand and led him to the Ferris wheel. They got into their own cart and sat from across each other. PJ looked out the window with his chin in his palm. They were getting to the highest point and already the snake was getting nervous.

"You really aren't enjoying this are you?" Katherine asked. PJ glanced at her and sighed. "I'm just not used to any of this…" he muttered.

"What do you mean?"

"Serpentine living with humans, you being so kind to me…"

"Things have changed PJ…and for the better. Isn't that good?"

"….I suppose…" he said. Katherine sighed.

"Nothing seems to be good enough for you. Are you having fun? 'I suppose' isn't that good? 'I suppose' My Pythor was ecstatic when things truly started to change…" she said. PJ swallowed when he heard her say "My Pythor…" he went to say something until they both heard screaming. They looked out the window and saw the other villains terrorizing people. PJ growled getting Katherine's attention.

"Friends of yours?" she asked.

"More like people I can't stand whatsoever…" He hissed.

"Good." She said and climbed out of the car, surprising PJ.

"Katherine! What in the hell are you doing?!" he demanded.

"They'll hurt people! I've got to go help!" with that said she skillfully climbed down.

"KATHERINE!" he shouted. When she didn't respond or come back, PJ growled. "Ugh! Humans!" he snapped before climbing out of the car and coiling his tail around the bar and sliding down. When he reached the ground, however, Cryptor stopped him.

"Well well, if it isn't the snake who was tamed by a human girl…How's being a pet Pythor?" he asked tauntingly. PJ snarled at him threateningly.

"I am NO ONE"S pet you bucket of bolts!" he snapped.

"Oh really? Then answer me this, why were you letting a couple of human girls feed and pet you like you were some puppy dog?"

"…That is none of your business…Now get OUT of my way!"

"Don't think so. Instead, I think it's time to put you down PET!" Cryptor spat before attacking him. PJ narrowly dodged him and used his tail and grabbed a pole. He swung it at the nindroid who blocked it. The two were in a deadlock.

Katherine attacked Chen, knocking him out of his chair. "Should've known you'd be here…" she glowered. But Chen stared at her blankly. "…Xan?" he asked. Katherine tightened her grip on his robes. "Don't you dare call me that!" she snapped. That was when Clouse hit her with a magical attack, pushing her off his master. She got up from the ground transferring her glare to Clouse. "Of course you'd follow your precious master. Still jealous of me Clousey Cloo?" she taunted. Clouse growled channeling another spell.

"Clouse no!" Chen shouted stopping him. Clouse turned to him in shock.

"But master…She betrayed you!"

"Perhaps….But I believe she had good reason to do so…" Chen said staring at Katherine with soft eyes, which then surprised her. Clouse's face became dark.

"You are not my master…" he said. Chen looked at him in confusion.

"What are you talking about Clouse? I'm still myself." He said but Clouse shook his head.

"My master would never show any mercy, ESPECIALLY, to someone who BETRAYED him!" he shouted angrily as he started channeling another spell. Something possessed Katherine to run in front of Chen to protect him. PJ had knocked down Cryptor, who then turned into a ghost and floated up. Panting, the snake looked over and saw Katherine defending Chen. His eyes widened as he quickly slithered over.

"KAT!" he called. Clouse was about ready to finish them both off, Katherine and Chen shut their eyes tightly. But the blow never came…Katherine opened her eyes, only to see Clouse trapped under the massive paw of Najada the Rainbow Dragon. She smiled in relief. "Najada!"

The dragoness smiled at her and then glared down at Clouse. "You wizard…are going to be locked up for a very long time…"

Relieved that clouse was under control, Katherine turned to PJ…But he was staring solemnly up at the sky…and Katherine frowned.

"Najada…once that eclipse is over…PJ is going to go back to his statue form…he only had one night to live…is…is there any way you can fix that?" she asked the dragon. Najada looked at PJ, after a moment of thought she nodded.

"Unfortunately he cannot stay a serpentine…however, I can use my magic to turn him into a regular snake and you'll need to have someone take care of him…it's the only way for him to be able to stay since there's already a Pythor here." She explained. Katherine looked at PJ. "Is that ok with you?" She asked. PJ looked down in thought…then he nodded.

"Yes.." he answered. Najada smiled then and used her magic. PJ lost his arms and shrunk. He was then a regular python. Katherine smiled and picked him up. They both watched as the other ghosts disappeared into the dark. "Thank you Najada…"

"Of course…now I must take this hooligan back to prison." The dragoness than took off with clouse in her claws. Katherine smiled and took PJ back to the hotel. Marie sat outside and she blinked at the python around Katherine's shoulders.

"Is that…?"

"It is. Najada turned him into a regular snake. Now he just needs someone to take care of him."

"Can I…?"

"I couldn't think of anyone better Marie." Katherine told her with a smile. Marie returned it and gently took PJ from her. Both girls headed upstairs, wishing each other good night and heading into their separate rooms. Marie looked at Clancee, who was fast asleep in one bed. She smiled at him and laid in the other bed with PJ still in her arms. Gently, she rubbed under his chin. PJ smiled and purred at the feeling.

"You'll like it here PJ…I know you…"

"…Thank you Marie…" he said softly. Marie smiled again and lied on her side with her new python right beside her.

"Goodnight PJ…"

"Goodnight Marie…"

PJ slowly drifted off to sleep, knowing his new life started here…not as a pet, but as a companion.

And that is it for my version of Day of Departed! I hope you all enjoyed reading as much as I did writing! Thank you RubensLilium for letting me use your characters!

I only own my ocs.