("So who the heck are the Tempo Tantrums and why the hell did you think I was one of them?")
("Ah...we'll we're rather destructively emotional,...and only speak this tongue. Plus the flame motif. Ye fit the bill quite nicely lass.")
("Well they did seem rather bipolar the lot of them...so it kinda bugs me that I'm so quickly lumped together with them...but they were decent, certainly my kind of people to hang with if they weren't soooo…")
("Annoyin?")
("Bingo") Ma-san rests her arms on her hips tapping her foot on the ground.
("Aye, that they are, but it's really the fault of-")
("Deto! There you are.")
("Oh just my luck…") A lava themed fox man in red and white armor walks up to Ma-san and the newly named Lumberjack
("Still trying to settle down while knowing we still have a battle to win.")
("Do we even need ta fend em off? The hard headed lads don't deserve this. They pose no real issue to us…")
("There you are again thinking 'Oh but why should we fight them, they're just minding their own business!' Deto, you know who we are, you know what we are! We have to snuff them out before they get any ideas to the same to us. Must you always think as passively as them?")
("These hard headed lads don't fight back unless provoked Ur...they'd never try to blindside us at all...truth be told they don't even seem competent enough to attempt it if they ever got the moxie…")
("You certainly are persistent…")
("Hey buddy, mind getting out of the way? We're kinda walkin here!") Ma-san says as she huffs from impatience.
("Eh? Hello. You're a new face…")
("Yeah I'm kinda finding my way around here, so if you don't mind. I'd like to keep moving!")
("But you already found your way! We're your destination right here!")
("Ur leave the lass out of this…")
("Why? You're doing nothing. Look here, what is it you're trying to do, I can guarantee I can help you Miss…")
("Ma-san, and why should I listen to you?")
("Ma...san? Huh...and why should you listen? Well do you really have any other helpful lead? What's old Deto here doing for ya.")
("More than you are you charcoal breathed freak that's for sure.")
("Oof. She certainly acts like a person who's been one of us for years...but is it that you're looking for people?")
("Lucky guess…")
("Well I just so happen to know where they are! And can easily help you reunite!")
("I'm reluctant to agree…")
("You'd be wise to lass! Ur has a bit of a bad lying streak!")
("Oh so your quarry doesn't consist of a dog in orange headwear, a blue cat, a pink and brown bear duo, an orange lamb or an orange fox?")
("...") Ma-san taps her chin as she thinks her answer over.
("Lass….")
("Alright. You've caught my interest.")
("Blasted all…")
("Excellent! All you have to do is follow me!") Ma-san obliges instantly leaving Deto alone.
("Ohhh...this does not bode well in the slightest…")
"Man...I hope Ma-sans alright at the very least…" Parappa says as he sits down on the ground, but before he can get more upset, someone changes the subject.
"Alright might as well look around here since we will be waiting for a while...not really much to see, just huts and torches everywhere, but I guess it was rather obvious for rock people…" Paula says as she rubs her injury.
"But it's still a nice quiet and calm place to just enjoy life in and of itself! These guys really live off of the meaning tranquility." Parappa says as he just takes in the grassy view.
"And hey look! They even haven a makeshift stage!"
"Well it would make sense seeing as they are a music group...but where are their instruments?..."
"Probably turned into weapons...you recall that guy that jumped Paula and Sweety? His gong and paddle were turned into his hatchet and shield!" Katy says kicking the dirt over the thought of it all.
"Man what a waste...the thought really stiffens me up...and I hate being stiff…" Parappa punches the ground then sighs "Look, we could potentially be the driving factor to stop all this for good! These two groups don't have to end up like these guys on my hat! I just hope we're up to it is all…"
"Well...at the very least, you and PJ are thanks to General Potter. So if PJ decides to help we have some reassurance…"
"I guess...I mean it's not like I don't already do my best to guard all of you!"
"You make it sound like all we do is just rely on you…"
"Ah...don't we though?...When it comes to action...the only two people who actually do something are him and Lammy...Sorry to say Katy but...we're basically just cheerleaders whenever stuff happens compared to those two…"
"Oh come on that's not true! You guys all do as much work as me and Lammy!..."
"No...Paula's right…" She looks down, but immediately looks back up with fire in her eyes "But it's not gonna stay that way!"
"It never was that way to begin with! But hey, at least you're motivated to not let it ever get to that point at all now!" He turns around "Now let's see what we have to see around here!" As he runs off he bumps into Cobalt "Whoops! Sorry sir!"
"Tis quite alright! Pray tell where did everyone go?"
"They're all heading to the planning grounds!"
"Oh why thank ye! Your allies have settled in that hut over yonder if you be needing to regroup yourselves! Now I must take my leave!" He runs off.
"Such a formal way of speaking…"
"Well recall these guys are kinda modeled to be knights! So it makes sense with the old timey speak."
"Yeah but Pallet doesn't speak that way."
"Beats me! Speaking of which, what do you think MADE these guys?!...People made of stone don't just pop up like a new species on their own otherwise we'd see them everywhere! And we don't! So clearly someone made these guys."
"Well they did bring up your grandmother in a formal matter so probably her and the rest?"
"Probably, but then they'd ALL be blue."
"Good point…" he scratches his head "Maybe they have something that can help us figure that out!" He runs off behind a few sheds, only to notice the two girls had not followed him, but upon him returning back, the duo notice that people had followed him, the line consisted of children made of rock "Hey what are you two doing just standing around? Come on!"
"Uh...Parappa…"
"What?"
"Turn around."
Parappa turns around, as he does, so does the line of kids following him, causing him to not see them "Ok so why did you want me to turn around?"
"No!...Didn't you see them?"
"See who?"
"Turn around again!" he does as instructed by Katy, but to the same result.
"Are you messing with me?..."
Katy stomps up to Parappa, picks him up and turns him around allowing him to see his tag alongs "See them now?"
"Oh...hi!" The children immediately disperse upon being seen by Parappa "Well...that was rude…"
"That's all you have to say about that?" She shakes him in place.
"Well they're kids! I'm sure they don't mean any harm."
"Katy has a right to worry though. We can't exactly be letting our guard down around here...You saw how they almost tried to execute you on the spot for speaking that language!"
"Well...you have a point there, but still it's too much to expect that the KIDS want to harm us…"
"They're still stone kids, so for all we know they could crush us like grapes!..." Paula says as she tries squeezing her head, only to flinch from the wound.
"You guys are being to paranoid!" He wriggles out of Katy's grip and runs up to where the kids are hiding behind "Hey there! You little guys don't mean any harm do you?" He extends his paw, which simply causes them to cower in fear of being attacked "Oh...they seem more scared of us then you do of them…"
Katy and Paula carefully walk up to the kids "Why would they be scared of us?...compared to them we're like twigs…" Paula says as she nears them with Katy a tad behind. Upon spotting Katy walking towards them, the children begin panicking.
"L-L-Lady Lupe please d-don't harm us…"
"W-We didn't mean to fight in your s-special home…"
"W-What?...I-I'm not my grandmother!...And she wouldn't hurt you over something out of your control!..."
"H-Her face usually says otherwise!..."
"A-Ah...well...you're not wrong…" she rubs the back of her head with guilt.
"I'm tired of being out of context…" Paula shakes her head and shrugs.
"I'll explain everything then!...Oh man it's gonna be a long story…"
"There...i've explained it for the third time...please tell me all of you understand now…"
"Well I do at least, don't know about the kids. It's amazing to think of what happened years and years ago...and that you lot are descendants of it!"
"Descendants?...but it's only been a year!" Once one of the kids says that, the trio tense up knowing they'll want an explanation, but immediately after both Katy and Paula shout in unison "NOT IT…" Parappa groans as he then proceeds to explain even more.
"I didn't know time went by faster out there…"
"Yeah...heh...it's as big of news to us than it is your...but we've only been here a couple of hours...you guys have just been here a year and it's already been many out there…but that's what we're gonna fix! Me and my two friends here are gonna go find a way to get you all outside again!" the group of children's eyes sparkle as they hear Parappa say this.
"Really?!" They beam in unison.
"Of course! It'll be easy!" Parappa is immediately yanked back by the duo as they begin whispering.
"Do not promise what you don't fully know!..."
"Yeah! We aren't exactly sure we can even handle this!..." Both begin waving their arms frantically in the air.
"Well I do know I'm gonna do my best to make sure I keep my word!" He heads back to the kids "It may not be entirely easy, but I do guarantee I'll get all of you out!" He gives them all a trademark smile and thumbs up which cause the kids to bounce out of their hiding spots and mimic him. Well the thumbs up at least as they couldn't mimic his smile as they had no visible mouths through their helmets "That's it! Keep that motivation high and everything will be alright! You just gotta believe and it will always help you pull through!" He crosses his arms and then solemnly nods "That's the Parappa way." Where'd all my doubt go? It's as if trying to motivate these kids up got my own fire burning again! the children waste no time mimicking him again.
"Paula do you think we should intervene?..."
"And appear as the bad guys to them? No thanks…"
("Lass there ya are! Quick! I gotta get ya out of here!")
("What for? I'm doing fine here and all I need to do is beat up some guys that are holding my buds captive.")
("Whether or not the others are holding your buds captive, I would be so raring for a fight...they may enforce the way of peaceful living but that doesn't mean they're completely helpless! They can pack a wallop to a girl of your size and statu-") Ma-san knocks him over with a mace, thanks to his body however, he's in no real pain ("GOHOOF...oh that smarts…")
("Had you finished that sentence it would've hurt a lot worse…")
("I believe ya...Ugh...stuck on my back like a wee turtle I am…")
("Yeah I've noticed you all suck at getting back up when you get tipped over. Super easy to do that thanks to these two maces.)
("We're made of fresh harden earth and are excruciatingly top heavy! Of course we topple like buffoons!...That's not our faults! And where did you get those bloody things anyway?!")
("Ur gave em to me. And man are they really nice, lightweight but strong handles with a nice bludgeoning object by the tip. It's like using drumsticks, but a heck of a lot more fun!")
("Oh please just help me up…")
("Yeah no, I feel if I were to touch you I'd probably lose my entire arm to disintegration.")
("Fair enough…") Deco struggles on the ground for a bit longer before beginning to whistle, and just like that a flurry of lava children rush up.
("Uncle Deco!")
("What happened!")
("Are you ok?")
("Oh I'm fine...I just fell over is all...please help me up…") the children immediately do as told ("Much better...Now you lass, please just follow me…")
("Fine…")
The trip wasn't that far as they were already rather close to the target destination. They arrive to a home akin to a log cabin. The children scatter and begin playing around.
("Huh, I thought it wouldn't be a stereotypical lumberjack home seeing as you are made of lava, but nope. You fit the stereotypical bill pretty on the nose.)
("Just because I'm a hulking mess of old crusty hardened magma, doesn't mean I'm not just a regular person like everyone else!")
("Could've fooled me! Now why are we here exactly? And who are the brats?")
("Oh they're just orphaned children who I've decided to take into my custody as to avoid Ur's massive bloodfrenzy…")
("Blood what now.")
("Ur has polluted the thoughts of the rest of the people to think that this is all we're capable of and worth doing...and they all believe him...it's why you find them all so…")
("Annoying?")
("Aye.")
("Heh...well i honestly don't really mind all that as long as I just get to regroup and just get out of here…")
("i was afraid ye would say that…You see...you're pretty much trapped here like us…")
("Explain. Now.")
("Cool it lassie! Look, the area we're in is rather...special. It will only let us out once EVERYONE in it decided to leave...You either unite together to choose to get out, or eliminate the opposition and be the only ones able to vote...Ur doesn't want to leave until he asserts supremacy...")
("Ok then, I'll just help him crack some skulls then. No biggie, the faster that happens the faster I leave…")
("Why with the- Holy mother of cinders...are you sure you aren't one of them?...The lads he's trying to do away with are against fighting! It's like punching a man in the face who has no limbs of which to defend said face!")
("Alright fine! I won't do it if it riles you up that badly…Why does it anyway?")
("Because I refuse to have that idiot make a mockery of who we are!...he took advantage of that war! They're probably still fightin out there and we're just here forced to listen to him! We were as much a peaceful music loving group as those rock boys!")
("War?...it wouldn't happen to be one against a group called Royal something or the Ravens?")
("Why yes, how'd ya know lass? Is it still ongoin?")
("Uh….no...it's been over and done with for at least two or three decades now.")
("WHAT?! BUT IT'S ONLY BEEN A YEAR HERE!...")
("Huh...guess things go by slowly in here...that sure seems dull.")
("HOW ARE YOU NOT FAZED BY THIS?!")
("Probably cuz I haven't lived here, sheltered away as the big stuff happened on the world outside.")
("BU-...ok that would be a fair assessment on the matter...especially seeing as you're not native...how did you end up here?") the two don't seem to notice that the kids huddled around them.
("Well we were cleaning up a pond two friends found and there was one thing one of said friends just couldn't leave alone. He wanted the place to be spotless...and once he started moving it...the water started sucking him in! And when we all tried to help...Me and another got into another yell fest and then long story short…")
("You got dragged into here...strange...only those with the queen of emotion's word can enter here...is she still kicking?")
("Kicking the bucket six feet under.")
("Oh that's depressin...then how'd you get in?")
("Dunno, she probably allowed the dumb mutt of a friend I have once he put their group symbol on his hat. Or because we have her granddaughter who is the other friend.")
("What the bloody 'ell have I missed?!")
("Loads of heavy stuff. In all honesty, hiding in here was probably the smartest choice. It's safe now though! But uh...everyone you used to know is kinda...dead.") Ma-san shrugs, showing the topic rarely fazed her.
("I can see why you're so nonchalant about it seeing as it was before your time...but still it's a bit much for someone who basically lived it…")
("So what's the future like miss mouse lady!") one small flame girl speaks up alerting that the two.
("Wow you came outta nowhere...and the names Ma-san! Anyway...well the future is nice and peaceful compared to what we learned about your time! No battles over music here! At least not in the ways you guys went through...are going through. And people generally get along fairly well with one another! Heck I'm even part of a band! I play a killer set of drums!") Upon uttering the phrase 'killer' the kids scream and hide behind Deto ("Wow...you guys really are old if you don't get that slang…") Ma-san rolls her eyes and walks up to the kids ("You know you little runts look like you could grow up to be the next big stars if you wanted to! Never know how these kinda things just happen…") She looks up as she reminisces about her and MilkCan's origins ("The people you meet and get to enjoy time with...the memories you create...it's all a beautiful experience…") The children simply stare at her with awe until three girls walk up, they appear to be sisters, and just begin staring at her in idolization and awe. Deto takes note and nods in happiness.
("I think I prefer you this way lass, all high off of happiness, suits you far better in my opinion!")
("Ah what do you know ya walkin brick!") She kneels down to the sisters ("You three seem to get me! Wanna hear more about the world out there or my own personal experiences in my band?")
("Your band!") They say in unison as the hop around her.
("You got it!")
The trio had regrouped in the hut where all their friends were attempting to relax, they simple try to make the most of their situation while taking watch over Lammy, while Parappa simply entertains the children who follow him like chicks to a mother hen.
"Man they mimic his every move and everything! I tell ya, only he could manage something this out of the blue!"
"Matt you say that as if you weren't the same when we first became friends years ago."
"Yeah well...that's different!"
"You're not exactly convincing me." PJ stares at him to see if he'd either explain or give in.
"Well I mean we hit it off rather easily and friendly over the fact that we had a thing in common that soon expanded to be many things. It was inspiring to hear from a guy who originally had it better than I! So I tagged along to see what I could learn for my-..." realization hits Matt like a truck.
"Mmmmhmmmmmmm?"
"...I wish THAT was something I could've picked up from you…" Matt simply reclines on a wall with his arms crossed, defeated.
PJ simply laughs as Katy and Paula look on from afar and talk amongst themselves.
"To think that's how they got to know each other, but with us, it was probably the most petty rivalry I could've been in." Paula says as she sheepishly scratches the side of her head.
"I mean rivalry is like the blood that runs in your veins, you never really lost it. But that's what makes you a fun friend...only wish it didn't trigger at crucial moments like today…"
"Yeah...about that...I'm...still unbelievably sorry over it…"
"Relax...I finally got it on my mind to blame Parappa instead of you two."
"Iffff….it makes you feel better I nearly cracked my skull during my arrival to this place…"
"Like that would make me feel any better! You're still my best friend! I mean yeah I was angry, but I'd feel awful if anything were to happen to you…"
"Heh...thanks for still caring."
"Of course!" They hug it out, ending the tension.
"I've got to apologize to Ma-san once we find her...hey by the by, how was your arrival here?"
"Oh you know, nearly suffocated to a point that I needed CPR to expel the water from my lungs, not much different from your arrival."
"Yeesh...you ok now?"
"Yeah thanks to Parappa, really wish the help wasn't needed...I feel like a burden to him at times."
"Katy you're anything BUT a burden, honestly back then Parappa, PJ and Matt were probably the biggest nuisances we could've handled! But they did come through in the end."
"That's for sure! I still can't believe I got the three of them to model the wedding dresses I made."
"Pfft...I still have a photo of that saved on my phone. Never getting rid of that!" They both share a hysteric laugh before looking towards Parappa as the kids simply mimic the kick punch style that he's showing off with.
"You little guys are pretty good! But this is still pretty simple! After all, ya just gotta kick and punch because it's all in the mind! If ya wanna test me, i'm sure y'all find, that the things I teach ya will be sure to beat ya, nevah da less you'll get a lesson from Parappa da teacha! Now Kick!"
"Kick!"
"Punch!"
"Punch!"
"Chop!"
"Chop!"
"And Block!"
"Block!" the little group laugh among themselves as they play along. Genuinely enjoying themselves.
Katy can't help but smile at the sight of it all "It's heartwarming to see he's enjoying himself again."
"I see what you mean. Such a sights been rare for a long while and it's always nice to see while we can." As they say this Sir Pallet walks into the shed, the children scatter when they see him.
"Oh hey Pallet! Do you have a working plan for us?"
"Why yes indeed dear allies! But we can't send you just yet!" He walks up to Parappa and motions Katy and Paula to join up. Once they do he begins measuring them."
"Uhh...sir?"
"What are you doing?..."
"This is really busting my comfort zone…"
"There we are! These measurements will do!"
"Do for what?"
"Your armor!"
"A-ARMOR?!" the three shout.
"Yes. To put it simply, we are preparing for every possible situation. A majority involve that outcome that you'll be forced into an unwanted meeting...so we are striving to prevent that! The armor will be as protective as our very bodies! That should keep the three of you safe to make your recon route and return unscathed!"
"Well when you put it that way i'm all for it! But uh...can I...help work on mine?" Katy says as she taps her index fingers together meekly.
"Yeah i'd...like to uh...s-stylize mine to if that's ok…" Paula tries to avoid making eye contact from embarrassment over wanting to decorate their armor.
"Trying to look nice even while on the battlefield. Not a conventional action, but not a bad choice either! If this is what you wish than follow me!" As he turns around he notices the children regroup around Parappa "Ah there you children are! Come along now we need to get you back to safety! Especially now that we escalate our plans for leaving!" The children simply latch onto Parappa, not wanting to budge "Well new friend! They seemed to have imprinted on you quite quickly it seems!"
"Yeah...I think that's because they're just happy that they'll finally be able to get out!"
"And that's all perfectly fine! But it is for the best that they do get to a safe place as everything goes down."
"Roger! Come on guys you gotta follow Sir Pallet now." The kids look down for abit before they nod and huddle around Pallet, all except for two. Two of the youngest children simply stay by Parappa, not wanting to go "Ah...hey, you two gotta go to!" They reply only by shaking their heads rapidly.
"Come along now you two!" They shake their heads harder "Oh dear...well I can't really do anything about that...friend can I trust that you keep these two safe under your watch?"
"You can count on me!"
"Good! Ok you two, I'm afraid you'll have to explain your armor choices to the others as i'll have to return to handle this once I take you there."
"That's fine Sir! We still get to decorate our gear in the end!"
"Yep!"
"Ok then! Onwards!" The group leave the shed while Parappa simply kneels to the two kids.
"Now why didn't you two wanna go?" They don't reply "Oh boy…" He just walks up to Matt and PJ with them following "Hey you two think you can help me?"
"Can't help with that! They're glued to you like a leech!"
"Matt's right, this is on you man." Their reply only earns them an aggravated sigh from Parappa.
"Fine! I'll manage this on my own!" As Parappa says this, Sweety pokes her head from the other room to alert them that Lammy was beginning to regain consciousness, to which Parappa immediately fades into the other room before the others can "Lammy! Oh man am I glad you're awake!"
"Augh...where am I?..."
"Currently? In a hut over at a place we're temporarily staying in."
"Hut?..."
"You heard him correctly, we're in a hut out in the middle of a decently big forest by a large field." PJ says as he walks in.
"W-Where are we?"
"Currently? Some weird little world inside the pond we got sucked into."
"And we can't exactly leave till we help the locals that live here, who are also generously letting us stay here as well as providing the means of helping you out while you were out of it!" Matt adds on as he joins the room, followed by the two little kids who latch back on to Parappa.
"Gotta thank Sweety for the help. She not only helped with the nursing, but also helped you get here."
"Oh I just did what I could to help!...Found you unconscious...so...I carried ya all….the way….h-here…" Sweety begins toppling over until PJ and Matt manage to catch her in her unconscious state.
"S-Sweety?!..."
"I thought she said she was only dizzy!..."
PJ places his hand over her head "Well this ain't good...she has quite the fever...guess she kinda undermined what her condition actually was and held it together until she was sure everything was fine...damn it...Matt help me lay her down on one of the beds…"
"You got it!..."
"And she held it together until I was fine…oh man I really am a burden..."
"Don't. Start, Lammy helping you was her top priority so the least you can do is not panic over her bluff on her own health. Instead you can help me nurse her back to health as she did for you."
"G-Got it!." Lammy hops off the bed she's on and wobbles over to PJ.
"Eh...on second thought you just woke up...I don't think you're still fully ok to-"
"I'm gonna h-help!...if she helped me out the least I can do is help back!..."
"Fine then, but don't overdo and go rest if you need to, don't need to keep this chain going."
"You can count on m-me!"
Parappa and Matt speak amongst themselves as they see this go down "Man we REALLY gotta get out of here now…"
"No kidding Matt...I might have to skip on their armor for me and just chance it…"
"NO! You are the LAST person that needs to be chancing it right about now!..."
"But you clearly see how fast this situation is clearly devolving into!"
"Yes, and it'll only get worse if you throw caution to the wind!"
"Then what do you suggest?" Matt simply looks at him with his arms crossed.
"I'll tell you what I suggest."
"I'll be joining you three out there!"
"M-Matt are you sure?"
"Hell yeah I am! Not gonna let myself sit idly by again! Lammy woke only for Sweety to go down! We clearly need to do something to get out as fast as we can manage! We still need to find Ma-san and convince the Tempo's to agree to comraderie! And I already told Pallet to get me an armor set to, so I'm already not stopping."
"Ugh...well another person will make this go a lot smoother…" Paula rubs her head "Well what did Parappa say?"
"Well he got a tad upset, but ultimately he was in no position to argue, especially since Pallet arrived to try and pry the other two kids off of him."
"Oh boy…I can only imagine how well that's going..." Katy rolls her eyes at the thought, already knowing the answer.
She was correct, Pallet tried everything, but the duo would not leave Parappa's side.
"I really can't seem to get them away from you…they really are to attached to you." Pallet says as he tries once more to grab them, only for them to hide behind Parappa.
"It's fine. I don't mind it, I just worry for their well being...who are they anyway? They refuse to speak to me. Only mimic me."
"Ah well these two, like the other children you saw, are all orphans who were left behind by more passive members of our safe group...they weren't as hardy as we knights...and so...well my friend you can fill the blanks. These girls since became friends with one another for the same reason. They don't really get along well with the other more...expressive children."
"Yikes…"
"So their first instinct was to join us and BECOME knights."
"Yik- I'm sorry what."
"You heard me correct my friend. They weren't going to handle all this by being introverted forever! Well that was how it happened at first...once they saw what it took and what one had to deal with whenever the threats came...they felt useless...due to their statue. And I assume that you're doing so much while being an equal size to them inspires them!"
"I...don't know whether to take that as a compliment or insult…I'm...twenty...it's not my fault I didn't grow that much…"
"But it shows that height doesn't matter! And that's why they stick with you!" the two little girls nod as if to agree with Pallet.
"I guess you're telling the truth there...and hey I did do a lot that can be thought as super amazing!"
"And you can tell these two about them! I really have to finish the armor for you! These two seem like they want to follow you in your mission and I really can't stop it...so what do you say?"
Parappa thinks it over until he comes with a conclusion "Only if you two tell me your names. I guarantee I keep my friends safe! But we can't be friends if I don't know who you two are!" One of the girls looks at her feet before looking back to him.
"I'm Dacite!" where she answered so quickly, the other still didn't speak up.
"Uh…" Parappa stares at the other girl
"Oh...she doesn't talk!"
"O-Oh...i'm sorry…" She simply shakes her head as if to say the apology wasn't warranted, she then grabs his hand and begins spelling her name on his hand by tracing her fingers 'M-I-C-A...Mica?" she nods "Ok! You can tag along, and I promise I'll keep you two safe!"
"Great! Well now i'm off! These two already have their own armor, but you four still need your own to be finished! I promise to not take long friend."
"Would you two try speaking with me now? We might as well get to be better friends while we wait!" They look at each other and thing for a bit, then they look back and nod "Great! The best part of making friends is to learn more about them!"
("Heh...I don't think I've had people have such interest in me! You three are real good kids! What are your names?")
("I'm Enya! The youngest sister!")
("I'm Arati the middle child!")
("I'm Vesta the oldest!")
("Fire based names, of course. But nice names nonetheless!") Ma-san shakes her head with a chuckle. The other kids just left once Deto told them to hide in the shed, but these three just stayed to hear more about me. Gah kids are weird… ("You kids sure you don't wanna hide with the rest?")
("No! I feel safest next to you Miss Ma-san! Uncle Deto is a bit to flabby to be defending anyone…")
("Pfffft...I didn't know that qualified as portly for lava rock dude!")
("IT'S NOT FAT, IT'S MUSCLE!") Deto says as he hobbles over.
("Sorry big guy, but if the kids you're fostering say you're chunky, then it's safe to say you're livin large!") Ma-san laughs in his face.
("Ugh...Look Arati, Enya, Vesta! Rush your tuchuses over to the hidin hole now! Any minute Ur will be stompin about looking for ya…") Their reply is simply huddling behind Ma-san.
("I think they gave you there answer.")
("Ohohoho this is so not kosher…") He rubs what would be the equivalent of his temples ("Look, they're not gonna budge and I know this, I have the other lot to keep a watch over. Can I count on you to at least keep and eye on them?")
Ma-san looks at the three girls hiding behind her then back to him ("Sure, if you don't want Ur to spot em then you got it. I take it you don't want them to end up like the rest.")
("Correct! Now I gotta go! Keep yer word!") He hobbles off.
("Man what a guy…") she turns to the trio ("Ok so i'm now a babysitter...well at the very least I like you guys! Much more tolerable. And hey, Ur might not even pop u-")
("Ma-san wasn't it? Are you around here? Answer me this instant!")
("Of course...quick! Scatter over there!...") the trio waste no time heeding her orders as Ur storms forth in front of her.
("There you are! What are you doing out in a isolated part of the area when you could be back there conversing with the lot of us!")
("There's only so much I can stomach and that was way beyond the limit!")
("Ohoh you're such a kidder!") She simply glares at him ("Feh...look we've found confirmation that your friends are being basically held prisoner over at the Mood Stones campgrounds! One even keeled over as soon as a red headed one woke up!")
("Oye vey they sound like they're in such a mess…how the heck do you know this?")
("With the help of these trickster fellows!") He holds out his hand, to which small flame sprites pop out snickering ("They hide as their torches! Perfect surveillance.")
("What an underhanded tactic...but at least it helps me I guess…")
("I'd launch for an all out raid to help you there, but currently. The rest of the heathens refuse to act unless they act. Seems Deto's been polluting their mind with thoughts of peace and harmony and whatever blazes he deems worthy to talk about. We're built for fighting! Can't do anything about that! But I can't do anything about this until they purposefully DO something, so for now we're at the beck and call. If you spot something, please be sure to alert us.") He walks off.
("Feh...will do...man what the hell are you guys getting yourselves into…") once the trio see Ur fully gone they return back at Ma-san's side.
("Miss Ma-san are you ok?") they say in unison as they huddle around her.
("Yeah i'm good...only worried...those knuckleheads have a habit of getting into trouble…") The mutt should keep em safe, but still… who'll keep HIM safe?...
("I'm sure your friends are ok Miss!") Enya says as she tugs on Ma-san's hands, earning a low chuckle from her.
("You certainly remind me of someone! Sure, I guess I should have more faith in them. After all it's not like this is the FIRST time this happened, and it certainly ain't gonna be the last knowing our history.") She smiles towards the three before looking towards the woods where the smile quickly fades. Who does he think he is...worrying over the world rather than his own damn self...why bother with others when you just suffer the worst by the end?...I'd never be like that...what would I get out of it?...what does he think HE gets out of it?... Ma-san stops and sighs as she punches herself in the chest around her heart. Was this the Mutt's plan all along?... and was that damn Paula apart of it?...feh… she growls as she looks away from the woods.
("Miss Ma-san are you sure you're ok?" You're rather...upset") Vesta says as tries to look at Ma-san directly as she keeps turning away ("Is one of them your special someone?")
("NO!") Her fuse returns to being a flame geyser like when she was stumbling around the forest a mere few hours ago, the trio flinch, but they still stay in place as the soon burst out in a giggle fit ("What's so funny?!")
("You're a bad liar Ma-san!")
"Matt you helped make THESE?!" Parappa says as he stares at the armor he's now wearing.
"I helped you and PJ engineer a rocket, armor's nothing to challenging for me." He puffs out his chest, which looked even bigger due to his own chestplate.
"Boasting aside, these not only help keep us safe, but also are rather slim and easy to maneuver in! And we managed to stylize them as we wanted! Thank you Matt!" Katy says as both her and Paula simply enjoy the armor they're adorned with.
"Weren't no thing!~"
"Alright, we have the area we need to go and our object and our defense." Parappa picks up a large shield he asked to have "Now come on you guys! Let's go!"
"So what is it we have to do? I know we're scouting but for what."
"Well it's mainly to scout what they do and if there's anything that can be used to take advantage."
"The Mood Stones already know that the guys are top heavy, but they also wanna see if there's anything else they can manage to either build a truce on...or if need be...use to get an upper hand...basically any gathered knowledge is SOMETHING. And these guys can use ANYTHING at this point." Matt shakes his head "That's why they wanted a strategist, in case recon failed...they'd have a guy who could coordinate them to snuff the Tempo's out. As the Tempo's are purely brute forcing their way, and a strategic assault would've been the end of them."
"Yeesh...talk about your last resorts…"
"Well now we're the last resort Katy. Well then... Matt, Parappa you guys ready to go?" The duo nod "Katy?" She also nods "And our two tagalongs?" Dacite and Mica poke their heads from behind a barrel after being found out "Parappa already explained. And while that adds an extra layer of caution and steps we gotta take, you two are more likely to handle yourselves better than us! Regardless, we'll keep you two safe as long as you help keep us safe!" the two girls nod "Great! Then let's do this!" She sets her fist forward, to which Parappa, Matt and Katy meet immediately, the four then look at the two kids signifying they were waiting for them as well. The two gleefully join in.
"Let's go!" Parappa runs off with the five of them right behind him.
"What are we scanning around for?" Paula says as she and the others sneak through the grove.
"Pallet says they have a remote hideaway around here...course he also said it looked like a log cabin so it was probably nothing...but he doesn't wanna risk it." Matt says as he looks carefully in every direction.
"Makes sense...it's usually the things you don't expect that have the biggest surprises…" Parappa says earning an autopilot reply from his three friends together.
"Boy you can say THAT again…"
"Uh...w-was it something I said?..." They ignore him and keep on moving, only for Mica to console him with a pat on the back "Thanks Mica…"
"Hey hey! I found it! Over here! Quickly and quietly!" Matt says as he waves his arm to draw the rest of them closer "It's just as he suspected! A log cabin! But I hear only kids playing?"
"Is that why it's so far from their main camp? Cuz it's basically to protect their own kids?..."
"Aw Pallet can't use that...he's doing the same thing...he'd be both a hypocrite for using this intel and hate himself for even daring to think of this as intel...actually...wait...He said the Tempo's were for war entirely...so why even bother protecting the young if they'd WANT to get into a fight to begin with if that's their way of life?..."
"Unless of course, they're not all like that and are trying to break away from them...and you know what that means!"
"Potential allies!" the four say in unison.
"Friends with the Tempo's…?" Dacite says as she tilts her head "Can that be possible?...They're all really mean and bad people…"
"But what if these kids aren't? As well as whoever is holding up these kids!" Parappa stating this simply causes Dacite to shake her head in massive confusion, unable to comprehend the otherwise.
"Exactly, for all we know these kids could be- M-Ma-san?!" Katy says as she quickly turns her head upon hearing a specific voice.
"These kids could be Ma-san?..." Matt says staring at Katy with a questioning gaze.
"No NO! Ma-sans here! Look! There with those three kids!..." She points towards their final missing friend.
"The hell? She's been HERE the entire time?"
"Well glad to see one of us had better luck…" Paula sighs as she facepalms from the disbelief.
"Well come on then? What're we standing around here for! Let's go get her!" Parappa without thinking, immediately dives outwards into the open.
"P-Parappa wait! NO!..." Dacite and Mica follow suit "N-NOT YOU TWO EITHER!...Oh this is going south fast…"
"Ma-san!"
("Huh?...Parappa?...")
"It is you!" He stops in front of her to catch his breath, while the three girls hide behind Ma-san while the two stone girls hide behind Parappa.
("Well I'll be Mutt, it IS you.") She stares at him in awe ("The heck are you wearing?!")
"Oh this?...uh...protection pretty much!"
("From what?!")
"The Tempo's! They're mindless killing machines so the Mood stones hooked me up with this in the hopes that I take as little a beating as possible from em!"
("You mean those guys didn't hold you hostage?")
"Of course not! They're chill dudes! I thought YOU were being held captive! But I trusted my gut through and through, you're too much tough gal to let yourself be someone's hostage!"
She snickers as an egotistical grin forms on her face ("Smart Mutt.") As she laughs, Parappa notices the trio behind her.
("Hello! Are you three friends of new pals of Ma-san?") they quickly leave their 'hiding' spot once Parappa speaks like that, staring at him in awe.
("You can talk like us!")
("But you're not us! You're something weird!")
("You're a Mood Stone!")
("Eheh…") Parappa rubs his head awkwardly. Kinda see how they got attached to Ma-san so easily. ("I guess to you I would be weird, but I'm not a Mood Stone. I'm just helping them! What are you three doin away from the rest of the Tempo's?")
("There so called 'Uncle' keeps em all stowed away to avoid being influenced by the leader here.")
("What? Why's that?...Wouldn't that normally be considered uh...traitorous to the group cause?")
("Yeah well, apparently Ur is the reason these guys are so destructive, being told they're only meant to do this sorta thing. I dunno propaganda or something like that. All I really know is, I frankly don't really care...well I didn't, then these three buttered me up to much.")
Parappa softly chuckles ("Well it's nice that they helped you avoid a rather bad situation! As well as helped you ease up!")
As the two spoke on, the remaining three stayed behind their cover.
"I'm starting to think we should pop out as well."
"Or at the very least drag Parappa back here."
"Then what? We'd give ourselves away and ruin everything! Nu uh. We're staying here till something big happens."
"Matt that does not seem-"
"Yes Katy! I know! It's just right now, trying to keep everyone safe is a bigger priority! Parappa can handle himself! We only go in when we see something we know he can't handle."
Katy and Paula look at each other uneasily "Alright…"
"If you say so Matt…"
"Good." I really hope there's SOME merit to my words…
The children behind Ma-san and Parappa huddle out form their cover and stare at each other. They soon try to get along like their 'bodyguards' are, and they hit it off quite well as they just play around the area. Said bodyguards simply laugh as they resume chatting with each other.
The girls all converse with each other themselves to see what there is to learn about one another...well at least attempting to, since the trio couldn't understand Dacite and the duo couldn't understand the three sisters, but a solution came quickly thanks to Mica and her form of talking that the remainder four quickly decided to use. And thus all sorts of stories began being spread between one another, there was no indication if this was a good thing which caused the hiding trio to panic until they five children began laughing with delight between each other.
"Oh thank god…"
"That could've been bad…"
"There's too much to deal with right now...but at least this went ok…"
They all sigh in rather forced relief, until…
("What do you mean by that?...")
Paula swallows roughly "Ooooh...that sounds like she's taking offense to whatever the heck he's talking about now...and judging by how 'well' that turned out with me...this won't end well…" They look onwards.
("I mean I'm just saying I'm glad there were people here to keep you calm when we were sorta...preoccupied...Normally you tend to go off when things start going south…especially when separated from Katy and Lammy...but you didn't now!")
("And just what do you mean by 'go off'...") She began tapping her foot on the ground rapidly as her fuse began flickering on and off.
"Choose your words wisely Parappa…" Katy says as she stares from afar.
("Well you're just as emotional as the rest of us when things start taking a turn for the worse...and that temper of yours sometimes can be a driving or adding factor in the long ru-") Parappa brings up his shield before the maces that Ma-san had could hit him ("H-HEY!...")
("Oh. I'm sorry, my temper is just becoming an adding factor. MY BAD.") She repeatedly strikes down on his shield aggressively from his poor choice of words while the five children try to stop her.
("I'm just saying I don't want a close friend to burn out!...I know from experience how badly rampart emotions can affect everything!...I would never want a best friend to suffer that!...")
("Like HELL i'd become like THAT! I'm not like you!") she keeps on beating down upon the shield ("I'M NOT A MESS LIKE YOU!...YOU WITH LETTING THINGS GO AND HAPPEN TO YOURSELF AND THEN SHRUG IT OFF? FOR WHAT?!")
("W-What? I didn't say you'd be like me…")
("SHUT UP SHUT UP…") she realizes what she said, but it only makes her more upset as she keeps on striking the shield.
"Oh nononono...C-COME ON! W-WE GOTTA BREAK THE FIGHT APART!" As Katy was about to spring into action, Matt drags her back to the ground "WHAT THE HELL MATT?"
"Shut up and look!..." Matt points towards a rustling group of trees.
("WHAT GOES ON OVER HERE?!") Ur storms forth to witness Ma-san trying to attack Parappa, as well as the five children ("Well...seems we have intruders...and hidden members of our own…")
Ma-san would've facepalmed at failing to guard the three kids were it not for her anger, she however does stop attempting to hit Parappa ("Feh…")
("Well I'll be! Isn't he one of the people you were looking for?") Ma-san looks to Ur then back to Parappa with a glare ("No...he's just an idiotic intruder…")
("M-Ma-san?...")
("Then you wouldn't mind us evicting him?~")
Ma-san simply turns her back ("...")
("Ma-san?...You're not...really gonna let him are you?...") Parappa stares at her genuinely afraid.
("Do whatever you want…I just don't want to look at him right now...")
("Gladly!") Ur lifts up his guitar built blade and attempts to slash down at Parappa, who simply lifts his shield, bracing for impact.
("HEY! I thought you were just gonna kick him out!") Ma-san attempts to get him to stop, however.
("Oh don't worry! I will! Once he can no longer-")
"MOVE!" Matt slides along the ground, dashing through Ur's legs, toppling him over backwards from his body weight and armor weight.
"M-Matt?! H-How did you?"
"Like I said, these suckers are top heavy, and thanks to this armor. I'm perfectly fine and not charred to a crisp!"
("GAH!...HOW DARE YOU!...EY YOU TWO! ATTACK!") Two other Tempo's hidden behind the trees lunge out, but rather than attacking, they simply pay attention to the five children cowering together, simply dumbfounded that they stay near one another at all ("What are you two oafs doing?! ATTACK...!") Ma-san takes the opportunity to help the three children she was guarding, get away, but they struggle in doing so.
("I don't want to leave my new friend behind! They'll be killed by them!")
("Would you rather die in their stead?!")
("If it keeps them safe then yes!")
("Deto will never shut up if I let that happen!...Now come on! Let's go!...") This all simply confuses the two other Tempo's as they drop their weapons and their guards, but before they can do another action, they are forced to the ground by Katy and Paula who do the same action Matt did to Ur.
"Timber!"
"Guess they go down real easy when they're bigger after all!"
("You brainless idiots really got distracted by that?!") Ur struggles to get up.
"And with that! We're out of here!" Katy dashes off as she picks up Dacite, while Paula yanks up Mica. Matt follows after as he picks up Parappa.
"Wait! M-Ma-san!..." Parappa shouts over Matt's shoulder as she runs in the opposite direction with the three fire girls.
As the three get far enough away they converse between one another in a panic. Beginning with Matt who simply berates Parappa "Why the hell did you feel the need to run out in the open?!"
"What do you mean why?! We finally found Ma-san! That means all of us ARE ok!...Why WOULDN'T I try to help get her back to safety?!"
"Well not really doing a good job are you then?"
"She just started attacking me!"
"You pressed the wrong buttons!"
"Matt I was just telling the truth over what I was thankful to avoid!"
"And then you cause the problem you ended up fearing."
"UNINTENTIONALLY!..."
"Guys, enough! We don't need more friendly fire…"
"Katy's right! For now we gotta regroup back with the Mood stones…,but oh man is this not gonna end well…Not only do we NOT have any info...but I think we may have provoked another forced confrontation with what we did…"
"It's not like we KILLED anyone Paula..."
"Yes, but do you really think THOSE guys will take that sitting down Matt?"
"...I refuse to say you're right."
"But you acknowledge that I am in general."
"ENOUGH! Besides, we do have something of value for Pallet. It seems the kids really got along well with Dacite and Mica. And not only that, but the adults, minus that big one that tried to off Parappa, also seem to take notice and may potentially have the same prefered thoughts in their heads!"
"That's a big if to go by…" Katy says as she marvels over the events that went down.
"With what we're going by, it's all we really have to work with…"
("What's with all the racket out he-")
("DETO!")
("Oh no…")
("You...YOU...First you are to help me and these idiots get back up, second YOU are bringing all the children you have held out from our lifestyle FRONT AND CENTER. And three...you are joining us as we take our final assault on the Mood stones.")
("And if I refuse?")
("We will get up, regardless of help or not, and when I do...I'll make sure those children pay for your ineptitude.")
("You killed off the following generation of our friends?!")
("You defied our ways, you poisoned the mind of the following generations from the truth! And therefore, must be terminated...but I am willing to look the other way if you comply…and friends? There's no need for friendship with us.")
Deto ponders his options, he knows what the only answer is, but can't help but want to find any GOOD outcome. There's no such outcome and thus with a heavy sigh ("...Very well…") agrees and begins helping the two up.
("Good man! Now, after we slaughter those damned walking statues, that is when you are to release the small ones to our custody. Including the three that…") He taps his chin ("Ma-san ran off with.")
("Oh did she?...")
("Yes, find her and escort her back, I need to persuade her to…join our cause...")
("I-")
("Or will you defy me...again?")
("On it…")
"I see….this is...a rather intriguing situation…" Pallet says as he clutches his head.
"We're...terribly sorry Pallet...for...causing another unneeded confrontation…"
"No it was rather inevitable...we're just glad you lot are safe. As well as giving us this information."
"But can you make anything happen from that?"
"Young Major, we will see if we can manage something! Ur seems to be rather...neglectful of his own brothers in arms...and they seem to be progressively going against him. If we can tip the scales a tad further then we may just have what we need to finally end this, but we'll need Ur out of the picture...easier said than done…"
"We can help!" Parappa says as he bumps Matt aside from his quick entrance.
"Unfortunately this I must decline. You got lucky in the confrontation, but I don't think you'll get lucky again."
"Pallet's right man, we did our part…"
"But Matt, I know we can do SOMETHING!"
"We managed because it was only three of them...I don't think we can muster the capability to go against an army…"
"But we haven't even given it a shot!..."
"I'm afraid I have to deny any shots my small friend."
"And I'm denying anything else. Dude our top priorities are getting Ma-san, making sure we're all ok, and that you don't get hurt again. I'm gonna make sure all of them, especially the third one, come to fruition!"
"ARGH…" Parappa storms out of the hut irritably as he tries to kick the dirt but fumbles and trips and falls onto his back "Ugh…" Mica and Dacite hover over him to see if he's alright.
"Are you ok Mister Parappa?..."
"Yeah...I just...want to help you all end this! But now it seems i'm benched from doing so…" He squishes his head in anger "I mean I know they're looking out for everyone and trying to prevent as many unneeded accidents, but it's not like we're useless or a liability...even my own friend thinks that way...or does he just think I am?..."
"You're not mister…"
"I'd hope not...but I don't think they agree with that…" he sits up "Hmm…" Parappa thinks up a way to sneak himself into battle to aide the rest, but stops once he notices the two staring at him as if something was on his face, prompting him to stop and rub the back of his head awkwardly.
Mica tilts her head as if to say 'What'.
"It's nothing...I just need you two to get to safety now...but actually...before that… What were you two talking about with the Tempo girls?"
"Oh! Just over how much we had in common! Especially our enjoyment over music! They can't really express it as much ever since the needless war began…" Mica nods to approve Dacite's words as the truth "Of course we're in the same boat...everyone used to sing all day whenever we felt like it!...and then we started fighting the Tempo's...it was...not fun…" Both look down.
"I bet it wasn't…" but it does help in finding out how to stop all this once and for all...neither side WANTS to do this...and would rather just play music...that won't really work here…instead how about we just get them to see that this is what they both want...and maybe more in common things will come to realization? "Well...for now you two get to safety...it's late anyway...I guess I'll just be sitting this one out…" Hell no I won't, but I can't tell them that.
"Ok...will we see you tomorrow to?"
"Of course!" He gives them his iconic thumbs up "You can believe in that!" And if my plan goes by accordingly, we'll be able to hang out in the outside world!
They nod and run off leaving Parappa to sigh in relief.
"This has got to work!'
"What has got to work?" Katy says as she hovers behind him.
"WAAAAAH! D-Don't sneak up on me like that!..."
"Don't change the topic...what are you planning?"
"If I tell you, you'll more than likely tell Pallet or Matt!"
"I can promise you I won't!" She smiles brightly and gives a single nod to reassure him, unbeknownst to him that her fingers were crossed.
"Well...currently...we're kinda benched as the Mood stones would rather handle everything themselves...but I offered to help and that even includes helping here! But with Pallet and Matt kind of against that...I decided I'd...sneak into the battle as a surprise ally assistance!"
"Uh-huh…"
"Yeah! All so I can get both groups to see that this is pointless as they both would be rather off doing something they both love! And I know I can help with that! Because they both just wanna play music again! And music is what I'll bring to the table!"
"Ok! That's good to hear!...now if you can excuse me…" She makes a beeline for the hut that Pallet and Matt are in, only for Parappa to dive tackle her into the ground.
"HEY!...YOU SAID YOU WOULDN'T!..."
"I WOULD RATHER YOU NOT ENDANGER YOURSELF FURTHER!..."
"But I won't be in any danger at all! I really believe this'll work! But they won't give it a shot!...So I will!..."
"I have great insight to know that this will not end well…" She simply shoves him off to stand up and dust herself off, but she does not attempt to alert the others to his plan.
"Come on...I thought you of all people would believe in me…"
"It's not that I don't...it's just that knowing our track record...something's gonna happen...I can feel it in my gut...and I would rather avoid it in general…"
"But we could be ending their pointless battlin' for good! Without ANY of them needing to get hurt…"
"And what about you?...Are you willing to get hurt yourself should something go amok?"
"If it guarantees EVERYONE'S happiness then getting a little roughed up isn't exactly bad…"
"You never change...and you know if things go south it won't be you getting just 'a little roughed up'..."
"Yeah...I know...but I just don't wanna see this carry on...you remember the story of how battling over music evolved into just being superior than the other, and how that ended the lives of so many!...and this is just happening again!...only now we're watching it live...and I gotta stop it while I can…" he pulls off his hat and runs his fingers along the sewn on insignias "I don't want them to end up like this…"
"Parappa…"
He simply looks at her with sad eyes.
"Parappa no..."
He gives her the equivalent of sad puppy dog eyes.
"Parappa no that's not fair...stop it…."
He starts to cry.
"Ohhhh" She punches the back of her head a few times for letting herself fall victim to this "OK OK OK OK...fine...I'll help you carry this out…" Parappa instantaneously regains his cheery composure.
"Thanks Katy! You're the best!"
"Yeah yeah…" Oh the perks of being an adorable dog… "So tell me the full plan…"
"Well first...I think we might need more help with this...so we're gonna be recruiting two more people!"
"Oh? Who and why?"
"PJ and Lammy! And as for why, I'll need PJ's help in building some things and Lammy's to help create some tools needed for you and her!" His answer simply confuses and worries her.
"You sure Matt won't catch on? And are you sure PJ and Lammy will be game for this?"
"Not if we play our cards right! And that all depends on what they're doing now...they still might be busy taking care of Sweety…" He places his hat back on his head "But we won't know for sure unless we check!"
"Oh boy...alright, let's go!"
As they run off to the medical hut that houses the others, Parappa immediately explains his plan to PJ and Lammy who simply give him mixed results in what he was hoping for in an answer.
"What do you mean no? We really need your help!"
"Look man, Sweety's fever may have gone down and she may be sleeping peacefully for now, but I'm not just gonna up and leave her alone to go along and help you with this. She might need me."
"I mean...h-he has a point Parappa...we really should have s-someone keeping an eye over her to help when n-needed…"
"I know...how about you Lammy? Will you help at the very least?"
"I...d-don't know if I c-could or should…" She rubs her arm "It's n-nice what you're trying to do...b-but what your d-describing seems like i-it has to be done perfectly, s-step by step in order for it to w-work...and I'm afraid I might be the w-weak link that will cause it all to go w-wrong…"
"That's not true! You'll be a great help Lammy! I know we can count on you!"
"When Parappa's right, he's right!" Katy says trying to help Parappa motivate Lammy, but she still stays rather indecisive "I know that you'd be a great help!"
"I...still d-don't think it'd be a g-good ide-" Parappa grabs her hands with his own as he gives her a pleading look.
"Please Lammy...I know we can make the plan a reality if you help us...it won't work if both of you are unable to help…"
"B-But…" She swallows roughly to try to keep her head together "I-I don't even have my guitar with me...I'm not sure I can...and there's nothing really here to make me believe it's in my mind…"
"That's what part of the plan is! I need your help to build two guitars! We both learned how to from Mr. Paul Chuck remember?" He wasn't lying as Lammy built hers when she ended up leaving her original one with Captain Fussenpepper, she still got it back by the end of the day however. And Parappa built one as well during the build up to said concert, but the whole idea of it wasn't exactly easy, they needed chainsaws in order to do so as an axe would take much longer and would most likely NOT give them the needed results for the guitar.
"But w-we need chainsaws don't we?..."
"I'm the son of the town's most…'creative' inventor! You just let me handle that!"
"Parappa you'll most likely end up cutting your hands clean off trying to make one." PJ says with his arms folded.
"Then why not help him in making them?" Paula says as she enters the hut.
"I can't do that, I need to be taking-"
"Yeah yeah you don't want to leave your girlfriend alone in case she's in need of something, but you got me to handle that for ya!"
"Oh that won't be necessar-"
"What's the matter, think I can't?"
"Well no it's just-"
"Don't like the idea of your ex helping your current girlfriend?"
"I uh…" PJ stays silent. PJ was never one to have the gift of gab, but whenever he did decide to speak, there was little anyone could do to shut him up. Unless you happen to be one of two people. Sweety Bancha, or Paula Fox "N-Nooooooo…" His eyes scatter from corner to corner, trying to avoid eye contact.
Paula can't help but giggle, barely holding back full on laughter "Oh my god...that's REALLY the reason as to why? I didn't take you to be the awkward type 'Mr. Smooth DJ'!" She begins laughing out fully "This is something I'd expect from Parappa or Matt! Not you!"
"Hey! That's!...very accurate to my persona...but that's still not funny to point out!" Parappa states as he flails his arms about.
"Ihihihi'm sohohohorry! It's just such a funny thing to worry over!"
Paula and PJ hooked up years ago. The whole thing began after Paula fell in love with a DJ at Club Fun. Lo and behold her surprise when PJ was said DJ she went gaga over. After a set up date to see if anything was there between them, the two kept the whole ordeal a secret as to whether or not they were a couple. Paula simply said they'd be better of as friends, and everyone chose to believe it. It wasn't until the very next year that the two decided to start dating after certain 'circumstances' came up. The couple only really lasted as far as a year when both of them realized they loved a different person altogether. And so the two decided to move on as friends, but it seems PJ still kept over a hint of awkward air even until now.
"Ugh...you know what, fine. You're right. This is a pointless thing to worry over, i'm not a fool! I trust that you can help my girlfriend out in case something comes up. I'm not worrying at all!" The four of them simply stare at PJ as his head turns blue with many many sweat drops ejecting out of his head, only to reply with an in unison.
"Uh-huh…sure…"
"OKAY! The plan is now underway!" PJ plucks up Parappa.
"Wah-hey!..." Parappa struggles in his grasp "Give a guy a warning first at the very least!"
PJ ignores him as he turns to Lammy "We'll be done and back before you know it."
The tinkering went on rather smoothly as with the resources they had, the two managed to make two fully working chainsaws...well..as effective as it can be with limited sources.
"You know, I was gonna say 'Why don't we just build a guitar', but now I see that it probably would've ended up as flimsy as these chainsaws...so...think these'll cut it?" PJ looks at Parappa fiddling with his chainsaw, his only reply is pulling on the cord to get the thing running.
"Oh they're work…can't say for sure for how long, but they'll get the job done...we just gotta be quick...or else they'll fall apart mid job…"
"If you say so, anything ELSE you want us to make?"
"Amps and speakers."
"Sheesh how the hell do you think we'll be able to make those?"
"See...here's the thing...I need YOU to go over to Matt and convince him to help you make em."
"This is a terrible idea."
"Let me finish! If he gets curious as to why...just tell him, I wanna sing to the kids. He'll believe it as he clearly SAW how attached I was to them."
"Hmmm. I still see flaws, but very well. How many of each?"
"Two Amps, eight speakers."
"Uh-huh...and what'll you be doing?"
"Gonna get started on the guitars! They'll be for Lammy and Katy! I'll handle the electrical bits when it comes to connecting them to the amps. Luckily Paul managed to teach me about that so it should be no biggie."
"Man you really thought this through...and after the amps and speakers are done with?"
"I'll explain when we get to that! For now get to making them with Matt! I gotta go!" he runs off with both chainsaws leaving PJ to just stare.
"I hope whatever it is you're trying to do works…" He heads off to the hut where Matt's at "Even with Matt's help, the amps and speakers won't really last long either...Your plan literally has to be flawless on the first go...no test or nothing...and on the last second as well." He chuckles "Glad to see somethings don't change with you!"
"Alright Lammy, you ready?"
"N-Not really, no…" she struggles to keep the chainsaw in her hands steady "Not only do we have to a-actually make the guitars...b-but we're on a TIMER?..." She struggles to imagine that the guitar is in her mind from all the stress.
"But you'll be fine on both records! You built a great guitar AND you did it in under a minute! This should be nothing to you!"
"I-I mean b-back then it was a d-different thing a-altogether..."
"Don't you believe in yourself?..."
"I-It's really hard to...especially in situations like this…"
"I believe in you…"
"And I still never understand why you do…"
"Because I know you can, guitar or not." He stares at the tree in front of him, then the tree in front of her, before looking back to her "I know that you'd never let anyone down. I think it's impossible for you to."
"You really love looking at me in t-that fake limelight h-huh?"
"Well yeah, but it's not a fake one. It's real just like the amazing talent you have. It certainly was an inspiration to me that's for sure!"
"R-Really?..."
"Of course! I can't think of the times I would've nearly messed something up were it not for the fact I just recall one of your accomplishments and the rest simply plays out flawlessly." he smiles "I feel like I could do a lot. If I just believe and think of some amazing thing you did...then I know I can do it. Heck, if I wanted to, I could even hit all the jackpots over at a casino!"
Casino...casino...casino… the last word he says as well as his little self inspirational banter strike in Lammy's head in constant echoes as she closes her eyes and shakes her head to clear the thoughts. Once she opens her eyes she sports a confident grin as she revs the chainsaw up.
"Let's make some guitars!~"
"There's our girl!" Parappa revs his up "Let's get to work!"
Katy simply smiles as she listens to the duo, hidden behind a tree that she's currently leaning on as she quietly sings to herself.
Where's that place that comes in pairs whenever I'm aware?
Casino here, Casino there, Casino in my hair~