The next morning after Parappa ate breakfast, he immediately hightailed it to PJ's to inform him on his idea who only replied with.
"You're right, that is the most idiotic idea I have ever heard, it's terrible and you'd break four hearts just by breaking one."
"I...had a feeling that'd be the end result."
"That being said carry it out."
"Yeah...wait what...but you just!-"
"I said the plan you brought up was terrible, what you're doing now is not."
"What I'm doing now?..."
"Being yourself. That's what won over Sunny in the end isn't? So don't force yourself to try and get something out if it. You'll just end up being an ass. Just be yourself and I'm sure you'll catch one of them." I mean that's how they fell in love with you to begin with! Just keep doing that and eventually one of them will crack and say they love you...or at the very least be more emotive to the point you can take a hint and ask her out. "After all, classic you is just the best guy to wanna be with period. No need to try and adjust to someone's liking to try and see if somethings there. Especially between four different girls."
"...You're right...I hadn't thought of it that way…"
Yeah no kidding, you almost did the exact opposite from your panic. "I noticed. But hey, at least you told me so you dodged that stupidity bullet!"
"Yeah...man I'm glad...if you hadn't reassured me yesterday over the fact that it was fine to talk to you over this kinda stuff...I would've done so many idiotic things…"
"I'm glad as well." More so than you can even imagine… "You still seemed stressed though...we have a few hours before our shift starts...wanna head back over to Leo's club to destress?"
"I dunno…"
"We'll be back before our job opens its doors, I promise you."
"...Alright, let's go."
"Hehehey if it ain't the men of the hour!...really...early? What's up with that?"
"Parappa needed to get stuff off his mind."
"Well i'm sorry to inform you that the club is kinda...closed today."
"What. Why?"
"Some weird guy's been spotted around kinda upbruting any source of music. Weird offers and whatnot? Anywho the police told me it'd be best if I keep it closed for a day or two till the aforementioned dude leaves. For my 'safety' or whatever. However you guys are still allowed in, I can spare the time to chat...actually I'd rather do that...I'm bored out of my mind...seeing as i'll be left without anything to do…"
"Well that's up to Parappa, I offered this to him in the first place."
'Actually...sure, I'd like more input on the stuff that's been in my head."
"Great! I'd be glad to listen! I'll get some drinks and snacks set! But come in come in! Don't just wait out here!" They follow him inside into his own personal area. Taking seats as they wait for him to return.
"Leo is such a strange dude don't you agree Parappa?"
"I mean kinda? But he's by no means a bad dude, just an awkward one. Besides he's trying to help me to."
"Yeah I guess…"
"I'm back! Not sure if you gentlemen enjoy the rather risque drinks or alcoholic beverages, so I just brought tea. And for snacks I bought a box of donuts, but I didn't plan to eat em all, so having you three here helps!"
"Did you plan for someone to come join you?"
"What? No don't be ridiculous...Who the heck can predict that? I just thought I'd make the most of my day since I'm gonna be bored out of my mind."
"Alright…" PJ drops the topic, but remains wary.
"So Parappa, what's bugging you?"
"Well see here...um...wait...aren't you gonna...take your helmet off? You know to eat?..."
"Oh uh...can't...do that with people around…"
"But it's just us…"
"Still someone."
"Uh huh...Just let him Parappa, keep going."
"Ok...well...I recently came to a mini conclusion with myself...and it's that I...may...have started seeing my four female friends in a different light…"
"Oh? Sounds like someone is in looooooooove!...with...four different women...huh...I see the conundrum…"
"Yeah...I just dunno if it is love...but the thing is...I may...want one of em to look at me in that manner...and...I dunno how so I thought up something that would involve me figuring that out...PJ shot down the idea…between the four of em...I can't exactly just ask one if that's the case, or all of them if multiple were to think of me as such...that'd make me feel terrible. I just wanna know if the answer I get is...something good you know? Something that just...works. Heck i'd even take a quadruple 'not interested' cuz at least that's SOMETHING to me...sure ends my confusion quicker...but yeah my original idea to do something with that was a bad one."
"Was it stupid?"
"It was beyond stupid, luckily I told him."
"Hm...you're single right?"
"Yeah...since last year…"
"And that's what caused you to...stay 'down low'? Correct?"
"Yes…"
"How...was that relationship?"
"How was it?...It was the best I ever had!...She was amazing...she was…" Parappa started getting lost in thoughts on explaining, however…
"She was just the best...she kept me in check...and all that...she was smooth in any conversation...yet fumbled from time to time...but still would try to get the point across. She was brash and in your face...thick headed just like me...yet also not entirely so as to keep me from doing stupid stuff...multi talented...groovin...headstrong...cool...can play anything...can sing heavenly...can dance to anything...can do just about anything...fiery...yet collected…she was everything in one...flawless...gorgeous...perfect..."
"Uh oh…" PJ took notice of something odd.
"I see. Well...she was quite the girl."
"She was…"
"Um...if I may interject...Dude...I think I see the problem…"
"What is it?..."
"Everything you described about Sunny...if you break it down...that's...qualities that the other four girls basically are...just seperated…"
"That's why you have attraction to the other four! Cuz together they remind you of her!...oh…oh dear that's...actually pretty bad…"
"I don't want to fall in love if it's cuz of that! I'd flat out feel like the most terrible person alive! I'd wanna fall in love with any other person for who THEY specifically are! Not for who they remind me of!...Aw man my stomach…" Parappa clenches his gut in pure disgust with himself.
"Well...now that you figured that out...how's your head?"
"Immediately ejected the thoughts...After one last overlook...you guys were right…I wanna be in a relationship again...fall in love again...but not like that..."
"Sorry man…"
"Don't be sorry! This is actually good!"
"And how is me being in complete and utter disgust with myself good?"
"You said it yourself! If you wanna fall in love with the girl, it's gotta be for who THEY are! So...do just that! If you truly wanna see if you can love again. Learn about the true girl! You still have the four options you know? But for now! Do what PJ told you! Being yourself! That alone will get you to see them for their true self as they gain attraction towards YOUR true self!"
"...You're right!"
"Wa-wa-wait now...I never told you I said that to him."
"Oh uh...well...it's rather obvious isn't it?...You're his best friend in probably the whole world! The stories of you two being near akin to brothers are rampant...I figure that's something you'd say!...wouldn't you?"
"...You may have a point there...still...that's to lucky a guess…"
"Lucky guess or not, he does have a point! I...might wanna hold back on the love for now...I thought I'd be done feeling hatred towards myself but now that resurfaced like I feared...but not like the magnitude as before! And once I shake it off...I'm gonna give it a shot. But the typical Parappa way. By seeing all she is for who she is, and if they enjoy me for all of me. Thanks Leo! Come on PJ let's go back!"
"Yeah...let's…"
"Well glad I could help you two! Come again if need be!"
"We will!" As the two leave the room, PJ stops Parappa once they're out of Leo's range of hearing "You go on ahead...I actually wanna talk to Leo abit more…"
"Hungry for those donuts huh man?"
"Yeah...that's it…"
"Alright just don't take to long! We still got work to think about."
"I won't I won't." As Parappa runs off, PJ sneaks back into the room, but Leo isn't in the main one "Hm...he wasted no time now did he…"
PJ begins sneaking around in order to find the club owner "Something about this guy just isn't right...he knew way to many proper answers...and to many lucky 'guesses' to have not planned for this…i'm gonna find out just what his deal is..."
After continued searching, PJ spots a slightly opened door with light peeking out. Upon pushing it slightly more open, he hears Leo on the other side eating, and then sees Leo's helmet on the ground right in reach "Hm...can't exactly get a good Look at you...and you'd probably cover yourself if I just went barging in...so let's get you to come out." He swipes the helmet and returns the door to its original position and then stands completely still by the side of the door.
"Huh?...the heck's my helmet? Could've sworn I left in here with me...did I leave outside the door?..." As Leo opens the door, PJ grabs him and pulls him out towards the main room "H-HEY! L-LET ME GO! P-PJ? WHAT THE HELL?..."
"Oh i'll let you go in just a bit…" Upon reaching the main room, he tosses Leo into the center onto the ground. The light now illuminating Leo, his appearance catching PJ off guard, even slightly creeping him out. Leo was a cat, a blue furred cat. He had blonde hair, the part on the back of his head was outfitted into a ponytail, but the part in front by the side of his face looked like dog ears. His hair was blonde, however the hair by the top of his head to the ponytail was a bit of a dark blonde shade, similar to Katy's hair color, but the base that made the pseudo ears were a lighter shade of blonde, matching Parappa's. Leo looked back at PJ, scowling. If PJ wasn't completely focused as to who he had thrown on the ground, he could swear he was staring directly at Katy "Dude I think taking the fanboy approach a bit to far don't you think?"
"What?..."
"Don't what me! What kind of sick appearance is this?!"
"Oh gee sorry I was born with this face and hair…"
"Born with it? Haha no, there's no way you'd be born with the near similar face as one of my best friends…"
"Whatever helps you sleep at night to believe...believe what you wish...you won't even be seeing this face for much longer anyway…"
"Pfft, like i'd just GIVE you your helmet back! You're gonna explain to me-" While PJ continues rambling on, Leo simply holds up three fingers, then two, then one. And once he puts down the final finger, his face and body start to fritz up exactly like television static, and suddenly his whole appearance changes. He is now a light orange fox. The pseudo ears are still there and blonde, but now the ponytail is gone, and the hair on the top half of his head was now pink. It was like looking at a mirror image of Paula. PJ was mortified. "What the absolute fu-..."
"Just give me my helmet...I won't put it on…" PJ warringly complies, and as Leo takes the helmet, he pulls out a photo from the inside "Before I show you this. I'm...gonna tell you my real name...and under no circumstances are you to tell ANYONE…"
"Why would I agree to that?..."
"Would people believe what you saw?"
"...fine…"
"Thanks….Uncle PJ…"
"I'm sorry did you just call me-"
"My name...is Europa Rappa…I am…" he sighs "As it should be obvious enough...Parappa's...son…"
"You've got to be kidding me."
"Thought you'd say that...here." He hands him the photo, the picture shocks him far more than Leo's face. In the photo he sees his entire group of friends...a tad older. He sees himself, sleeping on a chair with a title scribbled on above his head in the photo.
My Uncle PJ.
He quickly spotted a slightly older Matt, who also had the title of Uncle as well as Parappa's dad with the title Grandpa. Parappa himself was in the middle of the photo with the title.
My dad.
On his shoulders appears to be a smaller version of Leo. When it came to inspecting the girls of his friend group however...that's when things started getting weird...Sweety Bancha was right next to his sleeping counterpart in the photo with the title Auntie Sweety. Strangely enough, there's another girl he couldn't exactly recall. She looked like Lammy! But with all darker colors in body tone title Auntie...Rammy? Then when it came to review the others...everyone except Paula had the title Auntie as well. Paula however had the title.
My mom.
Then suddenly Leo held up three fingers again and began counting down once more. Upon hitting zero, he was now an orange sheep. The blonde part of his hair now engulfs a bit more of his head leaving the top half of his head with red hair rather short, resembling Lammy's style. Who he coincidentally looked like, down to the horns even!
As PJ looked down at the photo, he was now even more confused. The title for Paula was now, Auntie Paula as Lammy now held the title of My mom. Through his bewilderment, PJ recalls something both Matt and Leo said upon the night they first came here.
"You've had a streak as a singer, dancer and guitar player, but are no stranger to other instruments such as piano or drums! Not to mention you can remix like no other DJ from what they say! And you're even quite adept at soccer and basketball!"
"Oh that's just the tabloids...honestly I really only dabble in those things cuz of my family...hehe...they piled a lot on me growing up…"
My family...my family...my…family... The words echoed in PJ's head as he recalls each thing Leo was known for and matching it to one of his friends.
"You're not joking are you...but what the hell is with you?! Why are you just swapping species?!"
"Blame my dad."
"Blame Parappa?! For what? What does he hold responsible for you looking like each of the girls I know so faaaaaaaaaaack...I just caught on…"
"Mhm."
"...why...ugh...ok so why are you here to begin with?"
"Can't tell you, rules from time travelling."
"Says who?!"
"This book that Grandpa gave me for my sixth birthday, the pic you're looking at, this one right here." He pulls a book from a drawer nearby and hands it to him.
"Time paradoxes and you-" he tosses the book "Ok I am not finding this funny…who's your real, cemented mother?"
"Can't tell you."
"What CAN you tell me?"
"Nothing really...kinda...really limited...unless again...you don't tell anyone this and not attempt to get in the way…"
"You mean like what you're doing?..."
"Just promise…"
"Fine…"
"I...came here...on accident...kind of…" He sighs as he sits on a nearby chair "During my eighth birthday...My dad...just...entered a deep depression...over remembering something he couldn't stop...he thought he had gotten over it...but it just resurfaced...and it...affected the whole family...so...I ran from home...to try and fix it…"
"That explains nothing on how you got here."
"I"m getting to that...see before that, grandpa and dad were trying to invent a car that can traverse the galaxies...but...they failed...slightly...they instead made a car that can travel through time by accident!...that's...where I come in…I kinda...borrowed it...and took off...however being literally a small eight year old with no proper understanding of machinery, time travel or cars...I...missed my mark on the appropriate year...it's been twelve years now…I took the only car...and they founded time travel by ACCIDENT...so...there was no way for them to follow me..."
"So you being a child who thought they could fix everything...ended up stranding himself in the past…"
"Sheesh...I was eight...cut me some slack…"
"Whatever...from your explanation...you landed back when Parappa himself was eight."
"Correct. It was a long...painful...lonely...empty...twelve years...heh...you learn to keep a fake smile on twenty-four seven that way I'll tell you what...heh...but yeah...I waited...I waited so long that I forgot what It was that he failed to do…to try and prevent or fix it...and I broke the car I took so I couldn't just drive back..."
"It's a miracle you even LIVED this long...how the hell did you manage?..."
"I found help...some other people had my back growing up...helping me get off my feet...had to start up a music career with the skills you guys taught me...but that's not the point...what I DO remember is that the accident happened when he was about twenty."
"What?! So something's gonna happen or start happening now?!"
"From what I recall...yeah."
"WHY DIDN'T YOU JUST SHOW UP TO US AND TELL US?"
"A, I forgot what it was. B, oh yeah sure let me just walk up to the Rappa house, knock on the door, look at my father who's currently the same age as me and go "HI, I'M YOUR SON FROM THE FUTURE! I'M HERE TO TELL YOU THAT YOU'RE GONNA SUFFER SOMETHING AS YOU HIT TWENTY THAT WILL GIVE YOU CLINICAL DEPRESSION THAT WILL HAUNT YOU FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE!" He then stares at PJ "You see what I mean?"
"A little rude, but yes."
"Look, I came back here to help and help I will!"
"You...don't think it was the relationship thing was it?"
"Oh nonono, mom and aunties handled that with ease. It wasn't the Sunny thing either. They really did help him get over that...actually...I...am now the one that helped him get over it...whoops…"
"Oh boy...speaking about Sunny...does she come back?"
"Nope. I don't have an Auntie Sunny...don't...think i'd want one? Dad...seemed really bummed about the whole break up thing...I actually don't think he got full closure…luckily it seemed she never came back...maybe...that's the reason why he never got over it?...That's still not the reason for his depression and what not. No that was a BIG thing that he said affected everybody..."
"Hm...well...if you can't remember that...at least keep answering me a few other things."
"I'll do my best."
"Who's...Auntie Rammy?"
"Rammy, the uh...i'mma...say...twin as to not be rude to her origins…"
"Why I'm sure she won't mind…"
"She's...Lammy's doppelganger from hell…"
"I take it back, I'm pretty sure she would mind being called that."
"Ugh...but yes...she's just that…"
"So Lammy knows her...but how the heck does everyone else get to know her?"
"Oh! Dad met her at some nerd expo. I...don't really recall the story...from what I get...Rammy was I guess really mean at first, but...I dunno they never really explained the entire thing...just from that day on they became friends!...so much so that Rammy got a bit defensive over him for his well being and vice versa!"
"Well I mean it's nice that we all become friends but...still...that's...rather off putting…"
"Why's that?"
"You don't assume...she's gonna be another gal that'll affect his heart?"
"...oh...oh dear…"
"On that topic can you fully explain the species thing?"
"Ok… the full 'science' behind that is this...Dad's currently...excruciatingly confused...and thus...his heart's fickle...it keeps alternating between who he should give a chance to. And the reason for my constant species swap is that, of course, the girl he has in his hearts main sights will ultimately say yes obviously. Then it leads to love, then love leads to marriage, and then that leads into me within a snuggly baby carriage. And I keep swapping because of it!" As he finishes his sentence, he is now a yellow mouse, his size has diminished abit, but he is still quite tall. The hair on top of his head is black, complimenting the blonde half that makes up the fake dog ears style. His dynamite is orange, matching Parappa's beanie.
"I...gotta believe since I'm clearly seeing the end result…"
("Good! Now will you promise to keep it quiet?")
"Uh…yeah…"
("What?...oh…") He clears his throat "Good!..."
"Good isn't the word I'd use to describe any of this. First off I'm staring at my bud's future kid. Who is currently proving my fears true that Parappa is still quite incompetent when it comes to falling in love again. And second off, said future son informs me that something's gonna happen to my buddy that will negatively affect his life!..."
"That's not my fault! You and your nosiness happened!"
"You were the walking example of do not trust!"
"Sorrrrrryyyyyyyy…Look...Europa Rappa doesn't exist anymore...I'm Leo Steps…" He puts the helmet back on "And that's what I will be until I manage to help my dad. That still extends to you guys. Whether it's avoiding the big problem my dad will fail to stop. Or just other stuff. You guys are famous even when I'm from, but if you wanna get bigger, I can still help with that to. Just...don't be afraid to ask alright? But please don't give away who I am…"
"Ok...I accept your offers still and I promise I won't tell anyone about you...but I still will keep talking about things with you alright? Whenever I feel I want to."
"Sure as long as, again, you don't tell anyone else….mum's the word?"
"Mum's the word." They shake hands before PJ removes his helmet and delivers a punch straight to his face.
"OW...UNCLE PJ WHY...I THOUGHT I WAS YOUR FAVORITE…"
"First off, i'm not YOUR uncle, i'm the uncle of the Europa, the CURRENT Parappa will inevitably have. Second off. How dare you cause future me, Parappa, your mother and everyone else so much grief and heartbreak over what they probably believe is your demise."
"I-I'm sorry…"
"Eh...it's fine for me...but not future me...and third off, favorite? There's more kids?"
"Well yeah there's Uncle Matt's adopted daughter...You and Auntie's Sweety's daughter, Uncle Colonel Noodle's son...my...sisters…" He trails off. "Heh...I...missed the birth of my twin baby sisters...They...don't even know they have a big brother…"
"I am this close to punching you harder now that you told me that. Because that means Parappa and your mom probably suffered THRICE as hard. And considering they both hold special places in my heart...I'm mad. Real mad."
"Y-You wouldn't hurt your nephew over it would you…"
"No...cause he doesn't exist yet. You? You're now a grown adult who should have realized the consequences of his actions." As PJ rears his fist back, Leo simply recoils on the ground "There, that fear in you should be punishment enough."
"I...really hope past me doesn't do anything to upset you...you were always so jolly...and asleep…it's not fun seeing you angry..."
"Glad to see some things don't change with me. Well I'll be taking my leave, I'll be sure to call whenever I wanna chat…" As he walks off, he stops by the entrance. "By the way...think you can teach me how to drive?..."
"Oh um...are you sure?"
"That fancy car that's parked out there has to be yours, so that obviously means you learned how to drive."
"W-Well yeah…"
"Then teach me whenever I ask, I wanna drive without having to rely on him. Can't do that forever."
"O-Ok...see ya…" He puts his helmet back on and returns inside his room.
"The heck took you so long?" Parappa says as he sees PJ walk up and open the door.
"Eh...stuff. Don't worry about it." As he sits down and closes the door he takes a deep breath before speaking up again "You were right dude. Leo was by no means a bad guy...just an awkward...and stupid one."
"What did I miss…"
"Never you mind with that. Come on, we still have time to do stuff before our shift begins."
"Right. Let's go."
"Another day, another lunch rush."
"Yeah but at least we have Paula helping us now...speaking of which where is she? We open in twenty minutes!"
"Beats me dude."
"I'm here I'm here!"
"Oh finally, you almost had me worri-" Parappa was caught off guard by Paula's 'work uniform'. It was a uniform shirt and skirt that matched the color pallete of the cafe. Which consisted of Pink, Light blue and Dark blue.
"Tada! Whatcha boys think?"
"Wow that looks pretty, but also…"
"Beautiful…" Parappa says in a daze.
"Yeah that." PJ could tell that Leo would be looking like Paula for the remainder of the day.
Paula simply giggles "Thanks! That's what I was aiming for! Glad to see my natural style and charm still got it!"
"Did you make that yourself?"
"Yep! It's why I left early. To get started right away!"
"Wow that's some commitment, wouldn't you agree dude?...dude?"
Parappa stay in place, prompting PJ to slap the back of his head.
"OOF. uh...yeah yeah! I'm glad. I thought you just joined us here for the heck of it. Now I know it was silly of me to worry over such a thing!"
"How rude! You should know if I participate in something! I do it seriously!"
"If it's in the benefit for something you want…" PJ says as he rolls his eyes with a chuckle.
"What was that?"
"G-Guys! Come on now! We're fellow employees now! Let's not try to peeve one another off…"
"Fine...I apologize."
"Thank you." She sticks her tongue out at him before walking up to the counter with Parappa.
"So anything you'd like me to do in particular?"
"Well really you'll be on the front duty with me. PJ and Tamanegi get kitchen duty and behind the counter needs."
"I think I can handle that."
'Good to hear! Alright. Fifteen minutes till opening! Get ready guys!"
"Our stock is good to go."
"Hai! We are prepared in every front."
"Great! Paula you ready?"
"We're about to find out."
"I'm sure you'll do great!"
"And here's your coffee Miss with your croissant sandwich! Oh...I forgot the other order...my apologies I'll handle your order in a second other Miss!"
"No worries Paula, I have it right here."
"Oh phew...nice save. Thanks Parappa!"
"No problem! Already finished with the orders I had with me."
"All twenty two at once?"
"I hurried to see if you needed any help." The two women who they were attending simply released a "Awww~" in unison.
"It always is sweet when a couple helps one another~"
"W-Wait what do you m-mean c-couple?!"
"I almost didn't believe it when I heard the others talk about it, but now that I see it with my own eyes! It couldn't be anymore sweeter! Sweeter than this cake to! And that's already pretty sweet!"
"W-Wait! Y-You ladies have it all wrong!..." Both Parappa and Paula glow red as they begin trying to clear their names while PJ watches from the counter "Oh boy…"
"That shift was an utter nightmare...I'm sorry Paula…"
"Nono don't apologize! It's not your fault...just women who don't know when to NOT gossip…"
"And they still won't stop...cuz I still think they don't believe us when we say we're not a couple…"
"I wonder what sparked such out of the blue gossip" PJ says as he walks to them.
"Beats me! It wasn't like this yesterday…"
"...why not…"
"Why not what?..."
"Why not take advantage of it?..."
"W-What?!"
"Well...It clearly brought more people...and more people means more income for the cafe and us!"
"I feel like that's being a tad manipulative…"
"It is and I don't agree with it dude."
"PJ relax! Think of this way! You'd be able to finally afford that DJ mixer you've been eyeing for a long while!" A light glimmer sparkles in the corner of PJ's eyes.
"On second thought, I agree with this fully. And what a lovely couple you two make!"
"Seriously...it was that easy to win you over…" He simply crosses his arms "I really don't like lying to the people...but if it is for the benefit of the cafe...I can play along I guess..."
"Oh relax Parappa! It's not like we're actually dating, it'll be fine!"
"Ok ok! I take your word for it." as he finishes, Paula grabs his arm and nuzzles into him "Thanks hun~"
"Meep!...H-Hey! There's nobody here!..."
"Gotta get a head start!" She playfully winks to him as she keeps at it.
"H-Hey! P-PJ help!..."
"Sorry dude, you're on your own!" As PJ says this, he calls it a day and leaves.
"W-Wait don't go!...H-Help!..."
"Man...what a day…"
"Hey what's with you? I thought you said you were gonna be at ease with Paula there?"
"I thought I would be! But…"
"B-But what?"
"The customers started gossiping…"
("Oooh do tell!")
"That me and Paula were dating…"
"What?"
"W-What?..."
("Pfft oh is that all?")
"And then by the end of my shift, Paula decided to go along with it to attract more customers…"
"WHAT…"
"W-Wahuh…"
("You should've started with that!...")
"I guess...well anywho now we're a pretend couple all in the name of attracting more customers to the cafe. Lucky me…"
"Geez if only I could've pulled that kinda thing off while I still worked at Dot's Diner years ago."
"Don't be encouraged by her!..."
"Sorry sorry, you're right. Well it is just pretend after all, not like it'll go anywhere. Wait...why didn't PJ help you out?"
"He was won over by the prospects of upgrading his gear."
"Sell Out…"
"My thoughts exactly." Parappa slumps onto the floor prompting Katy to change the subject.
"Hey Parappa you never told me if you thought up anything?"
"Oh. I did. But the thing is what I planned for today was to finish off cleaning the pond...but I'm to exhausted...luckily tomorrow we have a day off. How about you?"
"We're free to! And how about anything else that doesn't require doing manual labor?"
"Hm...I was planning to visit Mushi, but I dunno, dudes been busy for a while. At least I think given how great the guy is!"
"Did you check?"
"Not really…"
"Then how can you be so sure! He's probably been there waiting for you to pop on by! After all you ARE his student!"
"I mean yeah but…"
"Not butt's except ours that have to head on over to Mushi's!" She picks up Parappa off the ground.
"H-Hey! We can't just drop in whenever we feel like it!..."
"Didn't he give you permission to specifically do that?"
"...he still might be busy…"
"You're afraid to visit him."
"Pffft, whaaaaaat."
"T-That's neglected fear a-alright."
("Big time.")
"Oh come on! I'm not scared!...much…"
"What's wrong…"
"I...haven't seen him in over a year thanks to you know what...he might be upset with me now over it…"
"Oh he won't! This is MC King Kong Mushi we're talking about! Ever since he upgraded out of Club Fun...which is probably the reason why it shut down now that I think about it...he's been doing loads of stuff with the masses, no person is to much of a hassle to spend time with! Guy's to jolly to be upset at anything!"
"Okok I get it! Fine we'll see him to see who's right."
"Great! You girls wanna join in?"
"I guess I w-will if it's not t-to much a hassle…"
("I'll pass, i'm to busy watching T.V.") A Joe Chin commercial then pops up prompting her to shut it off ("You know what T.V.'s lame, I don't know what got over me, let's go!") Causing the three to roll their eyes as she bolts out the door.
"You'd think a musician as famous as him would've decided to upgrade out of our quaint lil town but no. He's sticking to this town like a siamese twin!"
"Mushi wasn't really up for all that hussle and bussle of the bigger places...ironic considering his style would tell you otherwise...my mentor's weird...but that's what makes him so great and unique!"
"H-He is a rather fun chill guy."
("I severely find it hard to believe that a guy like that can be so jolly so often.")
"Mushi is the embodiment of jolly!"
"And we're nearing his studio- Wait...is that Leo?...The heck's he doing here?"
Leo was seen from the distance outside Mushi's new studio talking with the man himself, both seemed to be rather panicky from what they could tell.
"What's going on?"
"Hold on, I'm gonna park the van farther away so they don't see us."
"I-Isn't that a little ominous?"
"Well I wanna know what they're talking about!"
"Why?"
"Mushi's not jolly! Whatever Leo brought up, it got to Mushi's good mood! And that's clearly a big deal!"
The quartet exit the van and begin slowly walking towards the duo, with guilt immediately striking Parappa.
"I don't feel right eavesdropping on my mentor…"
"It's only bad if we get caught!"
"That...does not reassure me in the slightest…"
As they near Mushi and Leo, they can barely hear what they're conversing about.
"So what're you gonna do now that PJ knows?"
"Not much...he promised to not speak about it at the very least...And if I can recall what I know about him, he's not a liar…"
"This is all really giving me a headache…twelve years keeping you secretive so you could pop in when actually needed...only for that to go wrong in a matter of a few days…"
"I'm sorry...I got careless…"
"Naw it's good man! Maybe this might be a benefit!"
"I've already messed up enough as is! I already caused Tycoon SP to start moving earlier than he should've…now there's this...I fail to see how this will be a benefit.
"It's all gonna be alright man. We'll cross that hurdle when we get to it! For now how bout you come inside and relax man. You look like you're about to burst through your helmet."
The quartet can't make out what they're properly saying.
"They said something about being careless...and benefits...and Tycoon SP? The heck?...ugh...we need to get closer!"
"K-Katy wait!" Katy pushes forward causing the four of them to fall out into the open.
"W-Who's there!" Leo's helmet emits a security siren as it flashes red and white causing the four to be put under a spotlight.
"Oh! Cool your helmet man it's just Parappa!"
"O-Oh…" The siren cuts off.
"Hey Parappa! I haven't seen you in a year! A very long one at that! What happened man?..."
"Ah...some...things got me under the weather is all…"
"Was it your girl leaving you."
"...yeah…"
"Oof...yeah Leo here told me about it. But you should've still visited! I could've tried to have been of some help! You leaving me outta the loop makes me feel like I was of no help whatsoever."
"I-I didn't mean to come off as that way!"
"Yeah! Parappa just...locked himself away from everybody!" Katy said trying to help him explain.
"Re-lax! I know that now! Besides everyone needs their space when it comes to matters like this!"
"Thanks Mushi...by the way...why's Leo here?"
"I was um...teaching...PJ...how to drive...i'm thankful he's a fast learner…once we called it a day, I didn't go back immediately and decided to pay a visit to an old friend."
"And here we are! I was just inviting Leo inside so he can destress. But since you four are here, wanna join?"
"S-Sure!"
"O-Ok!"
"Fine by me!"
("Eh, why not.")
The six of them head inside Mushi's studio, as Leo is immediately asked.
"You were teaching PJ how to drive?..."
"Yeah...he...asked me to…"
"Why?"
"He wanted to learn…"
"Huh...He could've asked me...or at the very least contacted Mooselini…"
"I dunno, I felt obligated to after a little...chat we had…"
"Well at least you were there for him! Thanks Leo!"
"Yeahaha...no problem…"
"And here we are! My little private hideaway within my new studio, a little home away from home! Or it would be if my home wasn't so close to here to ruin the point of a home away from home." The place was a big, shiny and as luxurious as you expect. It was also littered with posters hung everywhere.
"Wow...look at this place…"
"C-Certainly has it's flare…"
("The acoustics here must be killer…")
"Wow Mushi, you certainly got it good here."
"I guess I do little man, but I can't help but miss Club Fun, of course I can't exactly go back seeing as the place has since closed down." he stays silent, causing Katy to pick up.
"By the way Mushi, what were you and Leo talking about? You two seemed real buggy back there!" Katy's question causes Leo's helmet screen to crack.
"Oh that! Well about that! Leo here is actually!..." Mushi takes a quick glance at Leo and sees that he rather not have them know "...He's actually...an old friend who helped me out of a bind...and we were reminiscing...nothing more. The memories got us both flustered." Leo heaved a sigh of relief.
"Oh so that's what happened...anywho wow Leo you really do know everything about the music industry…"
"Mama didn't raise no liar." He puts his arms at his hips as he scoffs, causing the five of them to roll their eyes and laugh at him. Mushi more so due to understanding the context more than the four of them.
Eventually Ma-san speaks up.
("Hey King Kong, what's with these old posters you have hanging around?")
"Oh those! Those are actually…" He trails off as he starts getting upset at remembering. "Those are just memories of times that used to be simple, but then bigger things get in the way…"
The five of them simply reply with a group "Huh?"
"You guys have time for a story? It's a bit long."
"Ooooh this oughta be fun to hear!"
"S-Sure!"
"Of course teach!"
"I might as well since I'm here."
("Well guess I don't have an option now.")
"Heh...well. First, what's music to all of you?" he crosses his arms as if expecting a correct answer.
("Music is the fire that burns within that you gotta let out to captivate the audience in a glorious blaze of rhythm as you vent out your own negativity and replace it with positivity that spreads to the crowd and makes them positive to!") Ma-san says as she twirls her drum sticks.
"Music is the guide to t-things you never thought c-capable or ever in r-reach." Lammy says as she clutches her guitar.
"Music is the flow that helps people get happy and enjoy themselves!" Katy says as she bounces in place.
"Music is the way of life that gets everyone to get along with one another hand in hand." Both Parappa and Leo state at the same time.
"All of those are the correct answer, music is all that shows who someone really is compared to someone else. One's individuality and yet at the same time their common ground! It's the emotions we feel, the driving force, the conclusion. The events after. Music itself is the essence of everyone's way of life!...So...what do you think happens when some people don't appreciate that and try to go out of their way to impede another's music. Whether it's by their own choice or prompted by another?"
"I know I wouldn't want anyone snuffing out my rhythm...I'd be sad…
("i'd get angry…")
"S-Scared…that's what i'd be..."
"I'd be disappointed in myself for letting it happen…"
"I'd be upset...super upset...I'd wanna…"
"Fight back?" Mushi says scratching his head.
"Yeah…" Is all the five say in unison.
"That's exactly what happened back then, back when you lot weren't even born yet! Originally there were four main groups of musical genius…'The Cruisin' Blues', 'Chivalry', 'Skyhigh' and 'Flambe'. That was their names they held with pride...now none of these guys really liked one another at first, but they all could respect one thing, the music they loved. However, one little thing goes wrong and then that mutual link becomes the driving force to better one another. Of course music wasn't meant for this kind of use. So none of them ever succeed, and that made them angry. What made them even angrier was the fact that their fights generated such great music, telling them that working together would beget better results, but they hated the thought."
"That's being petty, selfish and stubborn…"
"Right you are lil dude! Then one day another group appeared called 'Royal Rock' They managed to calm them down from fighting one another. But one man ruined it, just like how he got the four groups to fight in the first place. He made the four groups think Royal Rock were a threat to them, while making Royal believe that they were better than the rest and should be the ones to impede them…the fight began anew as they turned their instruments made for spreading joy into weapons meant on ending it."
"T-That's terrible…" Lammy simply shudders in fear.
("I thought I had a bad temper…") Ma-san shakes her head in disbelief.
"The four original groups united to take em down, but the Royal's were more composed and adept, they were newer compared to the four classics. The rampage of the Royal's had influenced more groups to have at them. Sub members of the four groups united to form 'Allies of the Funk'! These guys who were in charge of the machinery that helped musicians or made their instruments were now making the next stars and challengers to Royal Rock. This inspired an already existing group of the same type of engineers of music called the 'Groove Machine' Both these assisted in the warring."
"Wait wait...isn't it unfair for machines to join in?"
"Not exactly little dude, think of a DJ, or a guitarist that plays an electric keytar or just instruments in general, or even a synth machine. All their own actual source. And hey, you should be rooting for Groove Machine a bit since your dad, as a kid, was apart of the Groove Machine faction! While your Mom was part of Allies of the Funk! It was meant to be from what I see."
"R-Really?...Why'd they never tell me about it…"
"War of any kind is never a thing one wants to talk about little dude."
"Why even have a war over this kind of thing?"
"Again, sometimes some feel they're better than all the rest. And it costs people. In one retrospect, it got your parents to meet didn't it?"
"I guess…" He looks at a Poster of Groove Machine and Allies of the Funk! And like Mushi said, a really young version of his mother and father were in each of them!
The Royal's were adapting their music from each battle, to take advantage and strike them down. The influence of the Royals alerted a new group 'Garden Love'. In which your ex's dad was a part of! These guys HATED fighting of any kind and disliked how the music was being abused. They only took arms because they felt they needed to defend their way of life...and for some, it hardened them. They were close with the peace loving Groove Machines, who were on the same boat, so they weren't without allies. In fact, keeping their safety caused the Groove Machines to adapt into Soul Machine in order to protect them better!."
"That explains why Potter Funny ended up a war general...and how he was best friends with Mr. Rappa."
"Yep! Now they all started advancing and adapting as the Royal's did. Chivalry became 'Chivalry Down' after integrating the Royal's own style into theirs, while the other simply adapted in their own ways. The Skyhigh's couldn't handle working with people they didn't like, so they split. A heavy mistake that would've snuffed them out were it not for backup. A like minded group called 'Dragonhaven' and stuck with them. The Flambe's ended up stumbling upon the funkiest of groups 'Dino-Might' and managed to get their assistance! And Ma-san, this might be obvious, but…"
("With a name like that, I think I understand. Papa-ma was apart of it…")
"Yep. Anywho, Cruisin' Blues got help from one of their four founders. An icy witch siren, one of three, simply known as Babylon. The emotion in the blue's she could sing. The way she play that saxophone...it was not meant to be used as a weapon...But boy did it help."
"That's good right?..."
"Well no...as the Royal's grew in influence...they reached one of the founding father groups of music. 'The Ravens', a group of heavy metal heads. Now at first they did nothing. Rather, they wanted to watch...but eventually they started blindsiding the original four groups, and the other help groups, specifically Dino-Might. Eventually King Rock and Queen Roll of the Royal's started coming out to show they meant business...while Cruisin' Blue released the Second icy sistah...Gale. Her Blues could chill the very soul of any person who heard and her drums did a pretty good in increasing that mojo."
"E-Everyone was doing everything they could to outdo t-the others and take them down...but it just c-caused more pain and loss…"
("People can be incredibly stupid…")
"Then something happened, the Royals were betrayed by one of their own...and then...the massacre happened...but the Royals...they didn't go down like that...their anger didn't let them pass...And when a spirit should refuse to go to heaven or hell they just stay on land and wander...their souls merged with one another to become one massive entity of corrupted music...and were it not for your dad's idea to build a secret weapon...surely nobody would've lived to see the next day...The souls were ascended by force as now, and for a split second...you could almost believe the Royal's were happy...cuz they were finally free…"
"Some freedom…" Leo's helmet loads the phrase '100 % Sad' onto the screen.
"What was the weapon?..." Parappa asked, confused.
"Something he called the Magna Groove Cannon. The rhythm of everyone charged it up, and in one fell blast, the beast was blown away, as if it never existed. Dispersing the spirits and putting them to rest."
"Wow…" Parappa stays silent, unaware his father could've even made such a thing.
"The shock of seeing what misuse of music and fellowship could lead to made the rest unite for real as they wanted to stop the war then and there to avoid ruining what little they had left to love, but they still had an obstacle...The Ravens were the main enemy now and they were going at Dino-Might none stop. This prompted the groups, Soul Machine and Allies of Funk to merge and become Soul of the Funk to try and help Dino. Until Dino themselves did they unthinkable, they led the Ravens into a trap...and they did something that truly made the earn the name Dino-Might...they took down most of the Ravens at the cost of bringing themselves all down. A selfless sacrifice to stop a greater misuse of music."
("That's...what happened to Papa's family…") She looks at the poster involving the entire group of Dino-Might, and sees a younger Papa-Ma in the bottom corner. Looking exactly like her, down to the explosive temper in his facial expression. Minus the dress. Albeint, his suit was still red.
"Your dad was the only one who was told a different plan in order to ensure that not ALL of them would go boom. He...didn't enjoy it to say the least...Anyway, this act didn't go unnoticed...it reached the hearts of the Flambe who cried for their burning, explosive and emotional brothers and sisters selfless demise, so much so that they took their emotions that they couldn't release and took it upon themselves to do it in their honor. They became the Flambeyond and with their new head. The so called 'God of Dance', El Dorado."
"W-Wait...t-the golden one?...I-I know that name…"
"Makes sense, he WAS your grandad!"
"W-What!...I d-didn't know grandpa was in that war...mom never really told me anything about him...just that he died way before I was born…" Lammy simply looks at one poster involving a Sheep, cloaked in all black, red and gold flamenco suit and hat. He was also wearing a gold and black medieval opera mask. He was in front of a big group, no doubt Flambeyond. She just stays transfixed as she sighs sadly, wishing she would have met him at least once.
"Unfortunately he did meet with his end, but not here! He used his hard as diamond legs to stamp out any stragglers...very messy... Of course not all of the Ravens were down, and they were stubborn. Even outnumbered, they deployed constant hit and run tactics to peck off the remaining groups, one person at a time...and it worked. This forced Crusin's final act, call the last remaining sistah...Titania...This girl had the most influential voice for the blues...and with her acoustic guitar...man almighty was that just so much power...and to use it as a weapon...cruelty. See the cruisin's were at war with themselves over actually getting her to help! Half of them said it'd backfire, the other half said it'd be for the best."
"Let us guess...it backfired?..." They all say in unison.
"Bingo!" He snaps all four of his hands "Titania, Gale and Babylon all united their mighty siren voices. Being sea witches has it perks when you go power hungry. And they thought that everyone got into fighting from their inability to maintain their emotions, that they couldn't handle the music...and were classified as stepping stones for them...Now the trio were the final hurdle in true peace. So Cruisin' released Lupe, the queen of emotions, otherwise known as your good ol grandma miss no cuttin corners!"
"W-Wow...actually...Yeah...I recall my dad not being very found of his mom...now I see why..." She stares at the poster with Cruisin' Blues with a much much younger version of her father standing next to his mother, with great disdain on his face, while a way younger version of her mother stands not that far off. "Seems like he was part of the group that didn't want them to be called upon…?"
"Nope, your dad was the first to bring up the idea of them, he disliked the fact that they had to snuff that idea out. Same deal with your mom. He hated his mother for trying to stop the sistah's"
"O-Oh...I knew there was a reason why I could never connect with my mom OR dad well…"
"Carrying on, Lupe was meant to keep the trio in line. But they were ready and performed the cheapest tricks imaginable to take her down...just like that...but she did manage to inform the others to run. El Dorado, bought the groups that time to run, run far away to avoid the icy demise, but he knew he couldn't take the three on, and he went down like a trooper. And like that, the trio were free to put the world on ice...or they would be if it weren't for cruisin's last resort. An old man. The guy was the fourth of the founders and the oldest original one. He was fast for an old coot, and one more very important thing, he was also a surgeon with heavy knowledge on the body...with one attempt that cost the poor old guy his life...he took away the trio's vocal chords, never to sing again. Thus their icy emotional rampage...was finally put to rest. A siren without her voice is like a remote controlled toy robot without batteries...dead and motionless. And with that...the war was over...the remaining people were scared...what they loved so much had been used to cause all this pain...destruction...unhappiness...they were survivors with one thing in mind...run away from this, bury it in the past. Start a new life and avoid ever having this happening again."
"All of our families huh?..." Parappa says as he just glances at all the people who didn't end up as lucky "Were you apart of that Mushi?"
"Yes and no. I was apart of a different group that wasn't so keen on making their name known, they didn't wanna get dragged into that mess. I wanted to help them all, but I was to young at the time to help at all. What could one lone guy do to stop it?"
"But all this thanks to one guy…putting selfish ideas in all their heads..."
"Yeah...but he's not important now. He's pretty much faded into obscurity!" Until recently...but hopefully nothing will come from that… "Point is this."
"Huh?" The group say in unison as Mushi changes tones.
"Will you lot commit the same errors they did?"
"N-No!"
"Of course not!"
("We're not as dumb as they were!")
"It still makes no sense why people would fight over music like that…"
"Agreed…" Leo looks at the downtrodden Parappa "My...father had this one dream. To use the gift of music for the benefit and betterment of everyone!" They all look at Leo "He wanted to use everyone's love and companionship as a means to help improve daily life. People would be able to drive cars without the need of fuel. Have electricity, water, and other stuff in their households without much effort or worry about taxes! All that stuff! And all you had to do was just...love music and play as usual! But of course, it's a tall order. He and granddad worked when they could to see their progress grow bit by bit."
"And? How's it going!..." they shout nearly toppling the helmeted guy over.
"I...don't know...I ran away from home at a young age...it's been years now...heh...I think...that might've stunted the progress a little…"
("Why the heck would you run from home? And stay gone for so long?")
"Personal things...it's...very convoluted...best kept to myself." Ma-san shrugs in annoyance "But, I've been doing my part as well. I try to use music to power stuff...to...marginal success! Club Rainbow is living proof of that!" The other four simply stare at him wide-eyed.
"That TITAN sized thing is powered simply by music?!" Katy says as her tail wildly swipes to and fro.
"Yes! It's...a pain to manage...constant check ups and what not...but it works! What better way to generate enjoyment and music! None other than a club! Saves me from requiring to pay for the thing. Now I just need to pay for catering. Music can't fill a hungry stomach!...yet...still finding out ways to get that to work..."
"T-Think of the things you c-could do if you h-hit a proper breakthrough!"
"Unfortunately i'm not really...as tech savvy as dad or grandpa...they were gonna teach me...but again...kinda ran before they could…"
"Aw man...but hey! I myself am trying to be tech savvy like my dad! I may not look like the type, but I wanna be an inventor like him! And...funnily enough...your dad's dream sounds like something I had in my heart since I was a little pup!"
"A-Ahahaha...you don't say...what are the odds...h-heh…"
"So I wanna try as well! I'm going to an expo with him soon!...ish...I'm try to spark that fire in me to help get me building! And then I wanna try helping you out with your idea!"
"U-Uh...I'd suggest working on your own with that!...Truth be told with the club...I kinda...borrowed my dad's...knowledge...to get that up and running...so i'd be a liability in your future research!..."
"It'd be fine! Any help is good help!" His tail wags.
"H-Heh...yeah...that is true...I'll think about it!...first things first you get that spark in ya burnin'!"
"Right! But, first!...hey Mushi...if it's not to big a hassle...think...I could have these posters?..."
"Oh? Why's that little dude."
"I wanna look up stuff that these guys used to do. I wanna see what the music of before was! I...wanna imagine what it would've been like had these guys lived on to this day…"
"Haha, that's just like you man. Parappa you're free to take em. Truth be told I think it's for the better, I don't really want em cuz they just remind me of bad times, but you clearly see something better! You would honor these people and give them the one thing they so very crave now in the afterlife."
"What's that?"
"Being remembered." Mushi simply gives a sad laugh as he plucks down the posters and hands them to Parappa.
"M-Mind if I have the Flambeyond o-ones?"
"And Cruisin' for me!..."
("I'd...kinda like the Dino-Might one")
"Hahah! Ladies that's perfectly fine! Nothing wrong in wanting to see your family's roots! Just ask! The more people to honor those misled the better!" He hands over what they ask for as well as other ones involving them.
"Thanks for this Mushi!"
"Yeah! It's nice to look back at the artists of yesteryear and see where one can carry on or improve."
("Not how i'd put it, but yeah pretty much that.")
"T-Thanks Mr. King Kong Mushi!.."
"No problem Parappa! And to you three as well!" As the neatly hold onto the posters, Parappa notices an odd one still hung up.
"Hey...what's that one over there with the weird symbols?"
"Oh this? These are their group band symbols! See this big sword one was Chivalry. This snowflake over water was Cruisin' Blues! The tree is obviously Garden Love's-"
"Why do they look incomplete?"
"Oh! Well many reasons for that, the long winded philosophical one summarized is this, remember that everyone has their own individuality as well as unity with one another! The more straightforward answer is they adapted remember? Look closely at Soul Machine and Allies of the Funk symbols!"
"T-Those look like they could fit t-together."
"Right you are little lamb! Look here!" He points to a new symbol, having the previous two united together "Get it now?" They all reply with a nod "Good! Here, you can have this to lil man!"
"Thanks!...hm...Mushi you gave me a great idea!"
"Wazzat?"
"I've been thinking of what symbol to knit into my new beanie...and now I have it!"
"Which one would that be? Soul Machine? Allies of the Funk?"
"All of them!" Parappa's answer just gets Mushi to burst out into heavy jolly laughter.
"Man you are the SWEETEST guy alive!"
"Hehe...I just wanna keep these guys spirits alive somehow! As we carry them into a better future! One with no fighting!"
"I think they'd like that."
"Well we better be off!" Katy say once she notices the time.
"Oh! Ok then, later Mushi!"
"Later guys, and Parappa! Don't leave me hanging next time alright my man? Can't really be my student if you don't even check in on me!"
"E-Eep...sorry…"
"Don't worry! Just keep comin back!"
"Roger!"
As the four leave the room, Leo stays behind, prompting Mushi to talk to him "Well looks like he's still got the idea in his heart, and you were worried he'd not do it!"
"I'm just afraid of what I accidentally ended up changing…"
"Understandable, but man you worry to much! Whatever that little guy will go through, this time I'm sure he can handle it. And even if he can't, he has loads of people who'll help him through it. Even his own son went back in time to help him! That shows he'll be fine. Have more faith in your own, soon to be father."
"You're right…Mr. Mushi...do you regret helping me all those years ago?"
"Eh...at first I was skeptical, but then you proved me wrong! Just like Parappa himself did. And i'm glad. Helps me rest easy know that we currently have a go getter in Parappa, and will have one again in you in the future! And hey, I'm sure your dad's dream will be realized! It's a noble dream, but it will have to go hand in hand with regular stuff. Can't just selfishly rely on music alone! Lest we have a repeat of the first ever Music war."
"I'm not the one you should mention that to."
"I ain't telling him, that's on you. You are his son."
"Blegh...you got me…but not right now, right now he needs to get into the mojo."
"And he will! Dude never stops believing, it leads to some marvelous things...and I just know Bohemian S-P will take advantage of that…You say Tycoon was around your clubs area?"
"From what the officers told me…"
"Gah...just thinking about him makes me wanna punch his face in...because I know...I just know he wants to mess shit up again...just like with their lives…"
"And my soon to be family will pull through and kick his butt! Avoiding another war!"
"Yeah, but like you said, he started moving earlier than he did in your time…"
"I know I know...look I'll keep his eyes off of Parappa and the others for as long as I can alright?"
"Just...don't get yourself caught in the process…"
"I won't! I'm his son remember? If you can count on him to get by. Then you should know, I'll be able to so as well." he walks towards the exit "See ya Mr. Mushi, just alert me if you need to talk about other stuff."
"Can and will do. Just take care of yourself." as Leo leaves, Mushi simply rubs under his hat as he begins talking to himself "This is starting to really get under my skin...It's not like I don't believe he can do it…" He looks at a framed photo of Parappa and everyone else at Noodle's concert stadium five years ago "It's just...I don't want him to be the one to handle it…"
"Well...that was certainly quite the visit…" Parappa says as Katy drives them home.
"Yeah...I...did not expect to learn about my mom and dad...specifically how terrible they were and why I'm glad I moved out when I did…"
"I think now I u-understand my family's d-disdain over me trying to d-distance myself with music…they're worried I m-might end up like g-grandpa..."
("I need to slap my dad up the head for not telling me this stuff! Papa-ma was suffering for years and couldn't even bother letting his own daughter help him out!") Ma-san was absolutely livid, her fuse lit up like a firework, and what Parappa said right after didn't help.
"Ma-san, cut your dad some slack, he was basically lied to in order to run away rather than go BOOM like the rest of them...if anything you should be thanking the late members of Dino-Might!"
("WHY THE HELL SHOULD I MUTT?")
"...because without your dad...you wouldn't have existed…and I think he knew that to. I for one know that life wouldn't be the same without Ma-san in it." This not only caused her fuse to fizzle out, but for her to become flat out speechless.
("...") her only reply is chucking a drumstick at his head.
"Ow!..."
"That's her way of saying she's sorry. You kinda made her to embarrassed from your sweetness to speak up." Ma-san then chucks her other drumstick at Katy's head "OW- HEY!..." A red Ma-san simply looks out the side window and huffs in embarrassment.
"H-Hey Parappa, what will you do with the knowledge you l-learned?"
"Nothing much, my dad is still the same guy to me. Goofy, peaceful and a hectic inventor. And my mom is still the same to me to! Brave, protective and would only go down once she knew that everyone will be ok."
"Qualities that all got passed down to you! You're goofy yet brave."
"P-Peaceful and very p-protective!"
("And you certainly are hectic...and stubborn! You certainly won't quit till you get the job done! That's admirable at the very least.")
"Haha, thanks guys...hey. We may both be different musical icons...With me being a Rapper and you guys with MilkCan...but wanna be in our own Musical group? We ask PJ and that's all three of Parappa town's pride and joy right there in a group that loves music!"
"I'd love it that's for sure, but what would our name be?" Katy's reply forces the four of them stay stuck in deep thought.
"How about!...no that's dumb…"
("We could try...no that's to much…")
"Oh oh!...nah…"
"Hm...L-Leavin to believin..." Lammy says to herself, only to soon realize she said it out loud.
"That's a PERFECT name! Great thinking Lammy!"
"O-Oh! I-It was an accident! I-I was brainstorming and it kinda...s-slipped out of my mouth…"
"Well like Parappa said, it was a great thought! Accident or not."
"W-We don't have to pick it t-though…"
("You kidding? We'd be dumb not to pick it! It's that good!")
"E-Eep...o-ok…" Despite her embarrassment, she smiles, happy that her random choice did get picked.
"From now on, we're Leavin' to Believin'! Aside from our own things of course! We're still MilkCan and Parappa's still his own Rapper. I like it!" She smiles at the thought before realizing they arrived "Well we're back, Parappa your turn to help Lammy cook for our dinner tonight."
"Sure thing! I'll be following your lead Lammy."
"Uh...I don't think-.." Lammy stops herself and quickly takes a deep breath "Alrighty, follow my steps and we'll both be done in no time while also making a tasty meal in the process."
"Great! Let's go!" Parappa runs into the apartment before them.
"Lammy i'm impressed, you caught yourself from your stutter fest and managed to talk to him so calml- and she fainted…"
("Pffft, well at least it was something! Come on let's get her in and wake her up, she can't shirk off her turn that easily!")
"You were right Lammy! It was simple, quick and delicious!"
"Y-Yeah!..." thank god...I was a severe mess that I forgot a few steps...at least he caught on and helped me fix them... "With a g-great helper like you of course it'd be simple!..."
"Nawww, the teacher here was the real deal here!"
"A-Aw thank you! I-I uh...need to g-go splash my f-face with w-water!...I-I'll be right b-back!..."
As Parappa sees her run off, he takes off his hat "Well, I better get to sewing these symbols onto my hat! Probably gonna take all night, but I know it'll be worth it! Luckily I don't have work tomorrow…"
"Call us if you need help."
("Call me when you're sewing Dino's symbol, gotta make sure you get it right or I'll thwack ya with my drumsticks some more!") Parappa's reply is a heavy gulp.
"I'll m-make sure I'll get it exact…" Parappa books it into his room before opening his door "Uh...Katy...you wouldn't happen to have a sewing machine or thread and needle I could borrow?...eheh…"
Katy giggles at his overeagerness "Why did you think of sewing something, if you don't even have ANYTHING to sew with! You're lucky I do have a sewing machine!"
"Ok! Let's start with Chivalry's symbol...a sword...shouldn't be to hard…" As Parappa sews the symbol on, the room begins to rumble a bit "Man...this machine has some power if it's causing me to wobble...now let's see..the hilt looks like that...the blade has...sparkles? Huh...fancy…." The rumbling increases as the room window opens, with a heavy breeze blowing in "The heck? A storm happening today?! But it was nothing but clear skies!...whatever...I'll close the window in a bit...now there's indents on the side...the jewel on the handle has a little X on it...or is it a plus? Both?..." As Parappa finishes sewing the Symbol the wind knocks him onto the ground "OOF…ok...I probably should have closed the windo-" Upon looking up, he sees a tall wildebeest in glimmering white armor, having a sword in his hands, upon closer inspection, the sword was actually a microphone stand, turned into a sword. Parappa's next course of action was a simple one.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH" Parappa shuffles to the corner of his room screaming, once he gained a distance, he noticed that said wildebeest, was in fact a ghost.
"PARAPPA ARE YOU ALRIGHT?" The MilkCan trio burst in to see Parappa huddling with fear in the corner, were he simply points towards the ghost as it holds the sword as if it were prepared to strike. The sight causes Lammy to faint on the spot with Ma-san aggressively trying to take on the ghost, only to be stopped by Katy, who yanks the two of them back into the corner where Parappa was currently in.
"W-Who are you!..."
The ghost ignores Katy and simply looks at the beanie before speaking up "Is this yours?"
"N-No that's mine!...W-What of it?..."
"Did you add my old groups insignia on it?..."
"Y-Yeah...I'm s-sorry was I not supp-"
"Thank you…"
"C-Come again…" The trio look at the ghost who is now kneeling, or at least, attempting to as his legs are nonexistent in his ghostly form. He then looks up as if he were a knight in the old days bowing and watching to see if he had the right to get back up.
"Thank you for keeping our legacy alive..."
"W-What…"
Everyday, I swear I go more and more insane.