Chapter 27: The Kind Called Stitchpunks
Author's Note: Timeline set in the 9 Universe...Somehow.
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Where is the Spirit with Soul and Fire?
Where is the Hope and Peace?
Where is the Chosen One with Soul and Fire?
Where is the Hope and Peace?
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To Protect Us
To Inspire Us
To Define Us
To Teach Us
To Guide Us
To Lead Us
To Defend Us
To Guard Us
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Those are the eight Guardians of the Old Future.
Ever since the Great War has started, a Scientist gave his creations faction of his Human Soul so they will give Hope of the battered World.
That is until he created the Ninth one, his Soul went to him that result to his death.
A Human can't run himself with just an Empty Shell after all, he have to give it away.
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Then there is a story about the Ninth saving the World, in exchange of the Fate of the five Guardians who are given an unacceptable death from a monster which he is the one who awakened it.
He and the last three are the only persons who are left.
Until he became the last of his own Kind.
He is succumbed by his own Guilt and Despair that leave him trapped in a Dark World that he is only one in there.
Alone.
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Of course, none of us want that to happened ever again. He suffered too much of his Despair that leave him in Purgatory.
If you have the power to change his Fate and the other Guardians, I hope you will have a good heart and willingness to change every obstacles of their Fate that will result of their Inevitable Deaths.
I wish you a good luck.
Now let's turn the Hourglass one last time.
Let's change their Fates.
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Shall we?
Inside of the library, Aliana is using her computer to search something very important to her. A small blinking green light is the only one who makes a noise all over the building. She is using a program that she mostly use this on her students just in case they ditch her, in this case...It's different.
It was him who was ditched by her.
Come on, please work...
She is waiting for one in a half days...Ever since the abandoned building has mysteriously disappeared and the only ones she know were her students and Laura Hamislton...Her new student.
He's got to be here somewhere...
Her monitor is currently on her search mode, there is a model of Earth which she can turn. If a student ever ditch her to a far away place, she can use the program to find them.
The program finally picked on to something, she look very closely to the monitor and slowly zoom in. She finally got the location that she wanted.
Luxembourg.
Aliana stands up and pulls out her phone from her pocket that reaches an unknown phone number.
On the other side of the phone, a 14 year old girl from a Police Office pick up. Her silky long hair covers her face for a while.
Unknown: Tion Council Police Department. Are you Aliana Divino?
Aliana: Yes, and you must be Homura Akemi. Am I right? I finally found him, meet me in Luxembourg tomorrow.
Homura: Why tomorrow?
Aliana: Because that's where their Inevitable Fate will start, and we have to be ready if that happens. You have to bring your companions also, just in case.
Homura: Mami Tomoe and Tintin, I see. If this happens again...
Aliana: Then you have to turn the Hourglass again.
And again
And
Again
In an unknown place in an unknown time, 9 is seen hanging from above by a single rope. He is still in his Vigilante form, which probably protected him from the blast. It seems that the blast sends him there in an impact, the rope that holds him for a long time almost going to snap.
That's when his weight can't seem to hold on to the rope anymore that it snap and falls down to the wooden floor. He stays in that state for a while until his consciousness has return. He open his eyes slowly as he rises up from his state, he's still glad that he is alive in one piece and not in pieces.
Something has sparked in front of him. Or I should have say it, something is calling him. In front of him is just a sight of a strange artifact, it has some electrical sparks for some reason.
He stumbles a bit when he stands up. Since when is the last time he slept again? I can't even remember it...
The artifact looks so nostalgic by the time he holds it, like he already saw it before. The artifact has three strange symbols in each three slots, which it's in dormant mode for a while.
He doesn't know where he is actually, the place looks like he's in an abandoned place. There were papers scattered around the old room, wooden floors were broken and it looks like the floors is going to collapse and there is a- OH MY FLIPPING GODDESS THERE IS A BODY LYING ON THE FLOOR! WHAT THE HECK?! That startles 9 a little, that body doesn't look like someone he know. The body looks old and it almost going to rot, he has a similar lab coat that 9 wears and there is a round eyeglasses lying on the floor. But it's not the only one that 9 was startle with, he is standing on a wooden table that is larger than him.
It is either he shrunk or the place got large, I have no idea what happened. Maybe we should take more peek of this strange place. 9 went to the books then to the window, it seems big and heavy but it can manage with upper arm strength. With a big push, 9 could see the whole WRECKED WORLD HE IS IN! I mean, look at this place! This has not came to my mind at all, houses were destroyed, bodies lying around, and...a strange creepy humming sound I hear? What kind of a world did he came in to?! This is not a Dream World, it's a NIGHTMARE WORLD! He could even remember this place in his dream, just a war and that's it. Maybe this is the aftermath or something.
He look down and see something moving from the ground, it looks like a strange person pulling a cart full of junk. For some reason it looks like him, or maybe it's one of him. He tried shouting to call the person, but he couldn't hear his own voice. What happened? That blast must have affect his voice circuitry that somehow broke, looks like he have to use some awkward BODY LANGUAGE. He jumps down to the large table then left the old building carefully until he went outside, it still looks like a wreck even down here. He could have sworn that the person is heading to the red car over there, what's in there anyway...GAH! NOOO! WHY THERE'S A BODY AGAIN?! Though this time, it was a mother and a boy. It seems like they were escaping the war via car, but they got crashed and possibly got shot or poisoned. The two lay there, this is horrible! He better look away for a while from that view, he can't see another dead person. Bridget and Dipper is enough...
The place is so strange, yet so insanely familiar that he couldn't put his tongue out of it. He could have sworn he visit this place, just 'When' is the question. When it happened? That is the one he wants to know besides all, for 52 years he sleep and this came into him. Even the body of someone who looks a lot like a Dictator, the eyes and mouth are quite creepy to him. He decided to look somewhere that is not a body, like a bright light that is heading to 9...Oh no.
He quickly went to somewhere to hide from the light while thinking of something that can defend by himself, like a strange metallic thing (Maybe a car door lock or something like that) that is right in from of him. He waits for the light to come closer as he grips the random weapon tightly...
Then he swings it to the enemy's face! You could even hear the clanging sound when the weapon collides with the enemy's face, though I hope he didn't mutilate it. When he take a peep, he could see the person more clearly. He is right all along.
The person looks like one of him! He looks like an old ragdoll who has a hat on his head made of a candle, a spoon, and something like a part of a doorknob or a doorbell, he is made of burlap that is fastened by leather 'vest'. His eyes are brass colored and has to wear a glass to see his vision clear since it's starting to get blurry in his year. Though his glass is seemed to have a crack, probably when 9 hit him. This makes him nervous in what he did, he is supposed to be leaving when a warm voice hears him out.
Wait!
I'm a friend.
Well, that's good for him then. At least he could get out of his hiding place and help the poor man he hit, it packed quite a punch. The man is quite surprised at 9, like he have never seen him before. He analyzed 9's appearance, including the mark on his arms which he seems that he didn't mind at all. Good thing 9 turned back to his original form instead of his Vigilante Form, his cover would be blown if it did.
Unknown: So much thought, the details...Carved wood, molded copper.
9: *thinking* How can I say to him that I can't speak?! I don't know where am I! *mouths out* I can't speak.
Unknown: You can't speak.
The man gestured him to open his zipper, which he hoped that he didn't see the artifact hidden inside him. Which is pretty awkward to have something bulky inside your body...
Unknown: My my...Looks like your voice box really have a nasty blow from the inside, like you've been struck by lightning or a bomb.
9: *thinking* You could say that.
Unknown: Oh, don't be sad. Well now, surely we can fix that. Come with me.
When he looked behind the man's back, it has a Marked Number '2' in it. So his name is 2?
The man, who is named 2, has his candle lit up by his match earlier just to find a spare voice box for 9 to replace his broken one. While 9 here is curiously looking at an active bullet that appears to be larger than his original size before he shrunk.
2: Here...
9: *thinking* What does this do? Maybe if I hit it-
2: Stop!
Well, that was a close call! That bullet would explode if he hit the bullet against something hard, goodbye for them if it ever happens. 2 places the voice box on his side while 9 gives the bullet for safety.
2: Some things in this world are...are better left where they lie. But if you know where to look...these ruins are full of riches.
9: *thinking* Those words...It sounds so familiar before...When was the last time I ever heard that...And his voice...He reminded me of someone...Maybe it's him...
Then there is a spark came from inside of him, 2 must have removed the broken voice box while placing the new one in 9's body. It did sting a little, like an electric shock. Try to test your voice out, 9.
Friend?
2: Wait, wait.
Friend?
2: Almost there...
Friend?
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Friend?
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9: Friend?
2: Friend.
He move his glass to his left side and smiles at 9 that everything is alright now that he could speak again. Though he saw something inside 9, something very familiar to him.
2: What's this?
9: *thinking, hands the artifact* Does he need this?
2: You found it! He's...He's always drawing this!
It sure seems that 2 is happy about the artifact, he's like a Treasure Hunter looking for junk as treasure. Yet why he needed it anyway? For what reason? And who exactly is the 'He' is her referring to?
What's that scary noise 9's hearing? It sounds like rusted gears in a screech with a howl of a lion, it can't be a monster or something!
9: A-a-are we alone?
2: *looks at 9 in dismay and worry (Somehow)* No...no.
There's that sound again, and it's coming closer to them. 2 lights out the candle from his hat while placing the artifact in a safe place, then he get's his own weapon a Two-Bladed Spear while guiding 9 a hiding place.
2: Go.
9: *thinking* Is he going to fight it alone?!
2: Get in the can. Go on.
Does he have any choice? While 9 is hiding to a can that is bigger than him, 2 is in his fighting stance just in case something will cause any danger. He could hear the noise is getting louder until he hears the noise BEHIND HIS BACK. He turned around and met a large, scary metal claw that is heading towards him. He stumbles from the ground and got pinned by a...Oh my Goddess, I don't even know what the heck am I seeing! It's a large beast machine that has a lightbulb in its right eye and a red eye on the left, and red means that machine is a bad guy. For some reason, it has the size of a Cat in Human Point of View.
That thing releases a horrifying roar while picking up the pinned ragdoll that is reaching for his spear. 2 tried to kill him by stabbing through the eye, but ended up being thrown and slammed for his cart that drops the artifact also. 9 is horrified by 2's state as the machine-beast-or-something the artifact. 9 hides in the can from the thing he saw, it's scary. Though he wasn't aware that he made a sound that startled the beast, which is heading to 9's hiding place! Slowly, the light of the beast is coming closer to him. He stay quiet until the light is gone, meaning the beast is leaving. He slowly takes a peek outside when a CLAW ALMOST LASHED HIM OUT IF HE DIDN'T DODGED! He tried to get away from the claws until he reached a dead end to him that the claw almost touched his zipper.
Not until someone throw a rock to the beast's head.
2: Here kitty, kitty.
9: What the-?!
He slowly take a slowly take a peek while moving to the other side without knowing that he moved to much that he tripped out with a sharp pain to his shoulder. When he look at his left shoulder, it's completely ripped. A piece of his burlap skin is left hanging to a sharp shard of the metal can, including his lab coat.
2: Why don't you finish what you started...With me...
He is shaking for some reason as the beast is staring at him mercilessly, but he have to set a good example to 9 that he have to be brave in this World. The beast just grabbed him by the jaw rudely and take a look from 9's hiding place, though 9 already escaped with an injury. Angered, the beast throw the can from a distance where 9 is hiding now while holding his injured shoulder. He came out of his hiding place meeting 2 in a dangerous situation that he got captured by the beast and taking away the artifact from it. 2 tries to reach out for him, but ended up losing his hat that is shattered from the rubble.
9 slowly walk out to the top of the rubble, seeing the cruel World that he is now. It's so horrible, everything is terribly wrong in here. What happened in here? How come it came to this situation? When did it happen? And also...Who is that person that looks like him or one of him?! He thought that he is the last of his kind! Maybe Aliana is lying to him that he is the last one...But it can't be...
He tried to reach out 2, but it's impossible from the pain that he has right now. Looks like he will have to walk instead with his arm hanging around in pain, how stupid...
Just from a far distance, you could see 9 walking in a telescopic Point of View. He is weakening from the pain he's receiving from his left arm, it really hurts. And he's so alone in this place, all he could see is dead people and some ruined buildings. It's so wrong...So...wrong...
He suddenly falls down from the ground from exhaustion, he can't see anymore. He's so weak to move on, maybe it's part of his punishment of being such an idiot from what he did in the school.
Maybe he deserve this punishment...
Outside from the telescope, you could see ANOTHER person that looks like 9. Only a bit tanner, and he has a leather patch on his left eye. He is staring at 9's state, he feel sorry for him...No...not sorry...It's something else. His face is plastered in a somehow determined state before going back to his pity state. That can't be right...Or is it? But it doesn't matter, he will save 9 from his state.
And...from his.
Here we go again.
This time, I will save you.
This time
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I WON'T FAIL EVER AGAIN!
It feels like 10 second ago before he blacked out, he was outside for a second and he ended up in a room with something like scissors hanging from the ceiling. What the heck?! He could hear some footsteps and meet with a person who has large scissors in his hands. It scared him that he grabs the scissors while the person is struggling until 9 throws it to the floor that he never noticed that he used his (Weak) powers to do that. He decided to run away from the one who is going to kill him, but he is still weak from his state.
The person, instead of restraining 9, he hugs him for some strange reason. He doesn't know why he would do that, but it helps him to calm down.
It's okay.
I'm not going to hurt you.
You're safe now.
That voice really calms him down, but...It sounds like he's saying those sentences all over again, and it got old to him. He take a good close of him that it shocks him that he really wasn't alone. The person looks like him, only his burlap skin is tanner and he is fastened by two buttons. What is most shocking is that he has an eyepatch on his left eye, possibly he lost it. When the person turns back to get the scissors that sticks to the ground, he could see a Marked Number '5'. So probably his name is 5.
For some odd reason, that person triggers 9 a strange flashback.
Get out of here! You fool! You idiot!
I don't want to see your face anymore!
You're not my brother anymore!
You don't BELONG here!
Why? Why does this happening to me?!
It can't be...
NO!
9: *moans* No...*rubs his head* Where am I?
5: With us, I never expected to see another one...There. That should hold.
No flipping wonder 5 has a scissors, he is actually cutting a lose thread on 9's now sewn shoulder. It was red and it almost now looks like his old shoulder before it's a blank. The eyepatched one places the scissors to a hanger while thinking of someone very important, though he always knew who it actually was...But he doesn't want 9 to notice that.
5: If 2 were here, he would've done a better job. *thinking* You've been gone through so much killing, 2...I have to be brave for you. I wonder where he's gone to?
9: *thinking* 2?! But- I was with him.
5: *thinking* As always, you were with him. Again, and again. 2? Where? Out there? *thinking* Here it goes...What was he-
Keeping secrets from me, I see.
From the red curtain of the room, there is an old man that has white skin that is fastened by two belts. He has a red cape fastened by a ruby brooch that almost look like 9's Vigilante Form, and a hat that has a coin which reads '1'. I presume his name is 1, am I right?
5: *thinking* This time, I am keeping a secret from you. I was coming to tell you that-
1: What's this?
The elder one pushed 5 aside while walking straight towards 9, and flips him to the side to see his Marked Number. He knew that his lab coat is removed for his 'Operation', it feels cold without it. This made 1 suspicious about 9, 52 years he is lost and now he is found.
5: *thinking* Don't you even dare hurt him. I found him...in the Emptiness.
1: *murmurs* What on- *turns to 5* What were you doing out there? You'll lead the beast straight back to us! How many times have I told you?!
9: The beast...That's what took 2! If we hurry, we can save him!
1: If the beast took him, that's the end of it.
9: But he was still alive!
1: No, we have rules!
He slams the cane that is on his hands quite hard that it hears almost outside of the room. Then there comes a big man that is possibly thirteen inches above 9's current size. He skin is fastened by (Somehow) clamps on his torso, though the other one has snapped. His armor is probably made of broken clock gears only put together with strong wires. His back has a magnet that has a broken piece of a scissor while he is holding a large knife in his hands. He also has a Marked Number '8', though it's on his right shoulder instead behind his back. He motions the two to get out of the room and follow 1. 5 seemed to obey 8 (Yet showing his irritating face unnoticeable to 8 and 9), while 9 is looking at 8 curiously at his structure. 8 is not impressed by it and responds 9 with a snort like a wild bull. It startles 9 but he didn't mind it, because he see the view outside of the room. It's actually an almost destroyed Cathedral, you could see from the part that an airplane crashed from the roof yet it didn't hit the ground.
5: *thinking* I have to check on him, just in case someone interrupts us later. It didn't kill him?
9: I-
8: Quiet!
5: *thinking* Do you really have to do that, Teddy Bear?
They ended up in a bucket elevator that has a manual lift that probably heads to the main room. 1 enters first (As always), then 5, then 9 who was pushed by 8.
5: Hold on.
9: Huh?
A move made him off balance a little before regaining in holding the edge of the lift. It takes a lot of time just to see the view of the bottom, the middle, and before to the top. For some reason, 1 is looking at 9 just as Jet doing that to him. 1 does reminds him of Jet, only older...and scarier to tell the truth. When they reached their destination, 9 could only see some eerie peace in this place. Yet he could sense another Spirit from a far distance before 1 hold his shoulders.
1: When we woke in this World, it was chaos. Man and Machine attacked each other with fire and metal.
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Where is the Spirit with Soul and Fire?
Where is the Hope and Peace?
Where is the one with Soul and Fire?
Where is the Hope and Peace?
After the story came, 1 ignited a match from a coal lamp on the corners of the Cathedral. The fire is slowly dimming from possibly the lack of Life Force, or the Oxygen that actually doesn't exist in this World.
1: The gas killed EVERYTHING. I lead us here, to Sanctuary. In here we waited for the War to end. Slowly, the World became silent. The only thing that remains now...Is the beast. So we stay hidden and wait for it, too, to sleep.
9: But where did it come from? Why is it hunting us?
1: Questions like that are pointless. We need to protect ourselves, keep ourselves out of danger. Too many of us had already been lost.
He crossed out a simple number 2 in a calendar that also have crossed out numbers like 7, 3, and 4. 1 became silent for the 'remorse' of 2, though 5 knew (For some reason) that 1 did something very bad. He just didn't move until 9 makes the move first.
9: But...He isn't lost.
1: *thinking* Für nichts gut Dummkopf Narr.
9: WHY AREN'T YOU LISTENING TO ME?!
1: 2 CHOSE HIS OWN PATH!
9: *thinking* What on Earth...
1: I suggest you avoid making the SAME MISTAKE.
5 came to 9 'In support' from his 1st argument from 1. Instead his face is on Innocence, 5 shows great dismay towards 1. Like he is saying "I already know"
1: Go to the watch tower, and take our 'Guest' with you.
5: *thinking* Will do, Verräter.
He leads 9 to a place called Watch Tower with his face came to a look saying "Alright, here it goes...Again". From a place that 9 is supposed to take a peek on, is another one of his. He has stripes all over his body yet partially covered in ink, his fingers are made of pen tips, his eyes are not accurately in an equal type, and he has hair on his head. He has a Marked Number '6' on his back, and he has a key on his neck. Mysteriously, it is unknown where it came from for now. He shown that he is drawing something very familiar to us (The Artifact) as he put the drawing to the wall.
But you only see a part of the wall.
On the other side, you could see some drawings that are not the symbols of the Artifact. There were objects, places, and people that are unfamiliar to us for now. There is also a writing on the wall saying.
"Speichern Sie die Retter"
In English, it means
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Save
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Savior
As the Sun rises in the Cathedral / Sanctuary, 5 is pulling a lift that leads to the Watch Tower. When they made it to the top, 9 could see the whole previous city from up here. 5 is walking to the telescope that if feels like it's someone dear to him, 9 knows who it is since he mentioned 2.
5: *thinking* I'm so nervous...I just hope he didn't know I'm doing this for him. This was the first thing we built together.
9: *thinking* He looks so sad. We could still go after him.
5: Us? But he could be anywhere. *thinking* Or he could be SOMEWHERE.
9: *sees something* That's where it took him! Out there those-
5: *interrupts* Three tall shapes?
9: *surprised* Yeah...
5: No...we can't...not there. We...We have rules.
That's weird, I never remember 5 interrupted what 9 said about 2's abduction. 9 noticed that 5 stumbles a bit from his words, like he's trying to memorize a script. Also, what's with the 'Rule' thing lately?
9: Why do you listen to 1?
5: *appears to be disgusted* A group must have a leader.
9: But what if he's wrong-
5: What if you're wrong? *wide eyed, thinking* Darn it, why did I say that?!
Yeah, why did you said that in front of him?
5: I...1 is the leader of the group, the oldest one. We can't protest to him since he has 8 right beside him like a Guard, you'll only end up beaten if you did...or sent you out to die.
9: Then come with me.
5: What?!
9: Come. With. Me. I can't rescue him alone.
5: But- I...I can't.
9: But...wouldn't he come for you?
5: *thinking* You don't understand, 9! You don't know how much I've been through! None of you understands me! I...
9: I understand.
He knew that 5 can't go out since he's either scared or he doesn't want to go. He pat 5's shoulder in comfort and apology and he went to the lift to rescue 2 from whatever his Fate will be.
But for 5...He touched his patched eye as a memory of what happened in the War before 9 woke up. He was at the helmet shelter until he tripped and ended up losing his eye during the run away from the machines before releasing the Chlorine Gas, which they are impervious to it. He appreciates 2 since he saved 5 from being crushed to death, he was like his Father. For this case, he helped 2 including giving him a hat so he can work easier. He thought that nightmare of losing his eye is bad but even a worse one came traumatized him for a couple of times since it repeats again and again and again.
When it did, 2 reminds him to be strong and try to save everyone from danger even you are the cost of the prize.
I have to be strong.
Not only for 2.
But for him also.
I can't let him die.
Not again.
5: Wait...We're going to need a map.
Why was he out here alone?
Actually, I don't mind having one eye.
It easier to me.
Allows me to concentrate one thing at a time, you know.
9: Is it hard to see in one eye?
5: At first, but you get used to it for a couple of years.
9: How many?
5: Uh...12 years? Why you ask me that?
9: My classmates sometimes tease me that I never took a 'Bath' in 52 years.
5: Try 64, they would faint from all the Chlorine in this World.
9: What happened here? Besides what 1 said.
5: I can't answer that *fingers crossed* You probably have to know more by you only.
A while there, they came to the location where 2 is abducted. 9 could see that 2's spear is partially damaged that one side of the blade is missing from the attack, probably 2's weapon is not that strong to penetrate any material. At the top, 5 picks up the damaged hat when it fell from 2's head. You could see that his face shows dismay somehow. 9 went to him in concern, but he knew that it was his fault why 2 was abducted. So they moved on to where the beast is carrying him.
In the vast part of the Emptiness, 9 and 5 met with a strong windstorm while heading to the tunnel which leads to the beast's hideout. Which is pretty hard when you are 6 inches tall, the two can't even see and their bodies feels like someone is pushing them out of the way. 5 can't even read his map when the wind gust is trying to snatch it away from him.
5: *thinking* Even after so many times, I still never get used to this!
9: Where's this tunnel?
5: I don't know!
That was cut off when his map was blown from the gusty winds, not as much as it expected to be but...what can you do? 5 follows the map with his face saying "Not again!" while 9 running behind him. When the map was stuck by a piece of wood, 5 tries his best in not falling from the broken wood but it kept on happening. And still his arms saved him from falling, including 9 helping him up. The same as always, 5's map finally escaped from the wood and it blows away from the wind.
5: *thinking* Oh great...We should go back! *thinking* Wait, why did I say that?! We-
9: We can't.
5: *thinking* Obviously the wind storm...
9 sees something from his left, he elbows 5's arm and gestures him to a location that is actually the tunnel. When they came from the entrance, 5 spots the beast's footprint. It leads to the tunnel of the main entrance of the 'Three tall shapes', there is just one problem though...
5: It's too dark.
9: *sees something from the near point* We could use that.
5: You mean that lightbulb?
9: How did you know?
5: ...I just know, I guess.
The lightbulb that 9 pointed at is actually in a broken car, 5 unscrews the lightbulb off and he let 9 do the job. He pulls out a single battery and put it on the bottom of the lightbulb while he activates it, making the light to spark. 9 seems to be happy with the results that gives him a good idea, he removes the dagger from 2's spear while putting the part from his hat to the rod. 5 lends the battery and put it on the slot while insert the lightbulb in that turned on. 5 is glad that 9 worked out on his weapon (Considered that since some were blinded from the light). Immediately, his smile fades into sadness for some reason. It really reminds him of 2 in the time they build the telescope together, his smile was the remaining Memory of his in this dark cruel World.
5: 2 would be impressed...*thinking* For so many times...
9: We'll find him, don't worry.
5: *thinking* And then he'll only end up as a limp ragdoll over and over again. You know, you're just like him. You forget to remember to be scared.
9: 2 must be very brave.
5: Yes...very brave.
9: You really missed him, do you?
5: He's like a Father to me, ever since Papa left just to save us.
9: Papa?
5: You never met your Papa, don't you?
That question made him think that he never had a 'Papa' 52 years ago, but maybe he did ever since his memory was erased. He never remember anything about his Papa but the present time and his own name, that only the ones who are like him called him by his real name. It's so Nostalgic yet so tragic.
9: I don't remember having a Papa 52 years back.
5: Maybe someday, you will.
9: I just hope so.
On the far outside of the tunnel, you could see 5's map laying on the wooden floorboards. There were three shadows came in, while someone removed the map from the broken floorboard. There is another one of 9's kind, only different that in fact that she is a girl. Behind her were two people, or I should say that it's actually Geronimo Stilton and Laura Hamilston. In his hand is a sheet of paper containing something that none of us know about it, possibly confidential. The ragdoll girl looks at the map, then to the tunnel. She knows that something is up in the 'Lair'.
Laura: This is where they went, the 'Three Tall Shapes'.
Unknown: If I went there, I could see them right?
Laura: You could say that. You just have to save them from the beast you will have to fight and the rest will continue.
Unknown: What will you do?
Geronimo: Laura and I will have to make sure that everything should be in the correct order, otherwise the cycle will end up destroyed again.
Unknown: I see, only if you promise that nothing will happen to us.
Geronimo: That's the thing that we can't do. We can't keep promises from a person whose Fate is already linked, we just have to pray for Mercy.
Laura: So, you think you can do it? There is no turning back if you say yes, 7.
7: Do I have any choice? If that's the way to save him...I'll do it.
Geronimo: You have a wise decision, 7. We wish you good luck.
Laura: Stilton, Elijah Oppeneimer and his friend are already in the entrance. 7, you have to stay natural to him that's the only way that he couldn't notice.
7: Got it.
Meanwhile, 5 helps 9 in climbing up on the wall. The two look up from the mysterious building, it looks old and somehow inactive. The most intriguing part is the middle that has a red eye, it looks so familiar yet 9 can't get his head on to it. 5, on the other hand, looked at the building in a mysterious manner like he already been here a long time ago. Maybe he went in here before 9 came or at the time of the War, it's scary yet 5 still pull his scared face.
5: Can I wait here?
9: Wha... *walks away*
5: *sighs* It's always the same.
Obviously, 9 didn't say 'Yes' to him. What's the point of can't do it alone when you are leaving him alone? 5 waits for 9 to enter the building while looking at the building in determination.
This time...
Inside of the building were numerous machines hanging above them, 5 could really recognize them ever since the War. Those were the machines that killed dozens of people, the guns were the most part including the Chlorine Gas that no one can escape from it. That Memory was terrible to remember that, so many of innocent people died.
9: Why would it bring him here?
5: I was thinking about the same thing. *thinking* Which is actually MY LINE! You think that the beast took 2 in here?
9: Yes, I'm sure of it.
5: You know, I would turn down the light if I were you.
He did follow his friend's advice, they could hear the sound of a screech from the downside of the factory. By the time they slid down from a strange passage, 9 can see 2 leaning on a cage limply. 5 could see that 2 is not moving at all, so he tries to shake him up.
5: 2? *thinking* Please... 2? Oh no...
9: *looks away* No...it can't be.
5: *thinking* Wake up, 2. Please, wake up. Please don't let anyone kill you this time.
2: I knew you would come.
5: *murmurs* Thank goodness. I thought-
2: Wait. *points upward* The beast.
5: I know...
9 went up while 5 is finding a way to free 2, he could see the beast scraping something out from a machine. The beast also has the Artifact on his neck that it's going to put to the machine.
But the beast hears something from the cell, he sees 5 and 9 unlocking the cage. He couldn't let them get away with it, so he launch an attack from them. That lightbulb of his startles the two and they run around the cage, it almost got 2 when the beast's claws went into the cage. When it fails, he threw the cage along with 2 screaming towards them followed by a lash to the two ragdolls that 5 fell down and 9 able to stand up to get his 'Weapon'. 9's Light Staff somehow distracted the beast, maybe it was programmed that way. Until he ended up in a plank with a beast swings the wooden plank and falls down to where 2 and 5 is.
Everything seems too quiet as 5 draws his crossbow just in case something bad happen, which it did when the beast came from behind. 5 shoots the arrow from his crossbow to the head that it doesn't work, he look at the beast in disbelief again. When they got cornered, the three hears a sound like someone is throwing so fast in the air. On their right was an unknown person who looks like them, she was throwing a sling to the beast that locks the mouth so there won't be any danger but the claws instead. The warrior jumps up to the beast though it was trying to shake her off his body, though she is very tricky to get his claws to her since she is quite 'small'.
He thought that he could kill her airborne, but he is caught by her killer move which it immediately slash his head clean with a spear. The whole head fell to the ground followed by the limp body, and then the warrior step out of the body mysteriously walking towards them. 9 is confused while 5 is keeping his cool down as the warrior calmly lifts the helmet up, which reveals soft smile on her face. 2 is quite surprised at the revelation that the warrior is his long lost 'daughter', well 'sister' in 5's Point of View.
5: 7?!
2: I don't believe it!
The Father and the Son stands up and went towards her in reunion. 9, for some reason, sees the warrior was actually a lady. You could see his face etched a smile of admiration to her. 2 surprisingly hugs 7 for not seeing her for quite a long time after the War, of course she hugs him back because she misses him though she wanted to hug him before something bad will happen to her or them.
5: You've come back!
7: I never left, you know. *chuckles, presents the map to 5 * You finally decided to join the fight.
5: The map! *sighs* I actually been thinking about joining in for a very long time.
7: What matters now is that all of us survives in this 'Fight' of yours.
5: You know what will happen next, right?
7: I know that.
9 went to 7 with a familiar object which is her shield that was sent away when the beast's claw caught her shield and threw it away to 9's direction, of course she knows that. It happen a lot. He looks shyly to her as he handed the shield to her, which she happily accepts.
9: You've dropped this.
7: Where have you been hiding, New One?
9: I gue-
2: Rusty, hacked together, shoddy pile of scrap!
5: *thinking* And there goes the kick, and the pain.
2 analyzes the body when all of the sudden he kicked the head which it was a silly move for someone like him, especially at his state. 9 smiles as he sees his other companions were having a reunion, he feels Out of Place though. As he watches his newfound friends chatting, he sense something weird like someone is calling for him. He turn around and see the Artifact on the rock. It was sitting there strangely ever since the beast placed the Artifact on the rock when they were caught saving 2. And there goes his Curiosity that came best to him, he remembers that the beast is inserting the Artifact to a slot of something like a machine. He wonders what does it do that is so important to 2. There is only way to find out, and that is inserting that to the slot.
Meanwhile, 7 is finishing unwrapping her sling that closes the beast's mouth while 2 is rejoicing the moment. 5 is standing besides 2 in not in a happy mood even though they defeated the feared beast that threatens them a long time ago, he has a VERY bad feeling about what will happen next.
5: *in a not so energetic voice* We did it.
2: Remarkable, I never thought I would never see you again. You know who am I talking to, 7.
7: *smiles* I know, I missed you.
5: All of us misses you.
7: So, what happens next?
5: I'm not sure exactly, but I know that this is not the end. 7, if anything bad happens in ten seconds you have to be ready.
7: What do you mean? What's going to happen?
5: It's 2, he's going to-
2: Wait!
He sees 9 inserting the Artifact to the slot which activates something very bad, there is something bad going to happen and 9 shouldn't have inserted it without asking what it does. 7 is quite shocked at what 9 did that in not good and even not using his head for it, 5 is staring at 9 angrily when 2 pushed him while trying to pull out the Artifact from the slot. What 2 didn't see is that the Artifact glows green, which means it was now activated to the machine whatever it is.
A strange force suddenly pushed 2 away and ended up landing to 9 when the two see the Artifact was now open, and this could get pretty bad. 2 pushes 9 out of the way, the Artifact now glows very brightly as green tendrils are coming out from each of the three slots of the artifact.
It all goes so fast that I didn't notice it.
It hit me in the eyes and mouth.
I could feel pain that I cannot explain it by words only.
I feel myself leaving from my own body.
And I can't remember what happens next.
All I know is that I'm dead.
But...
At least they're safe.
Is this his Fate?! What have I done?!
I must stop this!
9: No! 2!
5: 9, wait don't do it!
Too late, 9 threw himself in 2's path when the glowing tendrils were about to strike 2 and kill him. His arms are stretched forward and suddenly created a shield that shocks the three from his powers. Obviously 9 made a terrible mistake in showing his powers in front of them, especially he is slowly transforming into his Vigilante form. His ribbons are slowly showing from his arms and his ruined lab coat is transforming into his butterfly cloak.
From the surge of power from the Artifact, 9 is slowly weakening that he doesn't know why. He has the most powerful element of Life, why can an Artifact able to negate 9's powers. It's like his own Life Force is being sucked into the Artifact into the machine...whatever that is. He begins to cross his arms and thrust them forward to disable the shield, which it worked. Green mists are everywhere and were sucked to the Artifact that closes very fast, it appears that the Artifact sucks Life Forces. Which is a pretty bad thing for 9, ever since he was Inherited by Bridget his Spirit was two times powerful and active than an ordinary Human Spirit.
It all went silent as 9 kneels to the ground in peculiar exhaustion, it's impossible to negate 9's powers unless it's Natalie's powers that it almost destroyed his own Spirit. None of the three move from the shock they are seeing, there is not such thing as a person who can control his own Spirit just like that. 2 is shocked when 9 saves him, 7 is completely speechless that 2's Fate has changed and thought he is going to die, and 5 is staring at 9 bitterly for what he did but not because he inserted the Artifact to the slot.
Then all of a sudden, a laugh was heard from the whole building. It sounds very familiar that 9 summons his Spirit Wand while holding his lightstaff on his left hand.
9: *realization* Natalie.
7: Who?
9: Natalie Salvacion!
2: 9, who is Natalie Salvacion?
Unknown: That would be me, Old Man.
Suddenly, the place starts to rumble as the machine starts to activate from the Artifact that powers it. All of them starts to run to the conveyor belt until they stopped when they ended up at a pit. From the open roof of the building, the four sees a girl with long black hair and a sword in her hands. Natalie jumps up to the building and lands to the top of the machine that is slowly rising up. She seems to enjoy the game she made for the four, especially she has her eyes on 9 lately.
2: Who is this girl?!
7: And what is she doing in here? I thought Humans are extinct ever since the War.
9: I thought so too!
5: Then why is she here?!
9: I don't know.
Natalie: You know why I am here, Elijah Oppenheimer!
9: What do you want from me?!
Natalie: Take a good look of your mistake, Elijah Oppenheimer...FOR THE GREATEST SIN YOU HAVE EVER MADE!
She grabs a part of the ripped fabric and uses her magic to lift the big blanket which reveals the whole look of the machine, it was horrifying. There are nine arms around the triangular skeleton along with the main red eye on its center, it appears to be abandoned a long time ago until now. It screech from the long time hibernation to its activation period, now ready to kill whoever shut it down.
2: GOOD HEAVENS!
7: What the-
9: *eyes widened* Oh no...
5: *thinking* 9, you idiot.
Natalie: So what are you going to do?
9: I...I...
7: I know what to do.
5 was putting his grappling hook in his crossbow, but 7 snatches it before he could fire it to Natalie. She pressed the trigger which the grappling hook leads to a lever. She grabs 5, 2, and 9 then makes a big leap from the pit which 5 and 2 screams for 7's surprise jump while 9 kept his head up until he sees the lever went down that made them mislead to the jumping place. 5, 2, and 9 landed on the other side of the conveyor belt while 7 managed to grab on to a broken metal pole. The lever unfortunately activates the conveyor belt which separates them to 7, they see machine parts that almost crushed them. 9 pushed 5 and 2 out of the way that they fell to the edge of the conveyor belt and landed on the rubles below.
Meanwhile, 7 is hanging on the edge which she tried to climb up but couldn't. Natalie saw her, she went to her state and look at 7 mischievously. Like she wanted to do something to her very bad.
Natalie: I presume you are 7, right?
7: How did you know?
Natalie: Elijah Oppenheimer told me.
7: Elijah...Oppenheimer?
Natalie: Oh right...he is called 9 in this World. Sorry for the confusion, but now I'm going to kill you.
7: WHAT?!
Natalie snaps her fingers as if she is CONTROLLING the machine which it did obey Natalie's command to kill 7 while she's in the air. Slowly, it went to 7 willing to kill her by the Artifact. But before it could do that, from the far left, 9 accidentally turned on his lightstaff startles the machine. Natalie saw them with anger that she commands the machine to get them, she didn't need to kill 7 for it since she is just a "Wingless Bird" in her opinion.
5: Hurry! Quick!
Natalie: You know your Grandfather is too old to run, you know.
5: *screaming* HE'S NOT OLD!
9: *thinking* His voice...It sounds like he's fed up when he hears that.
2 was running with them luckily, he is in front of them since 5 kept on pushing him to run faster. It's weird that 5 acts so more mature than 9 is, even though he is older than him he's sure that 5 knows this place. By the time they reach a hole, 5 pushed 2 in great force as the machine and Natalie barged in to the wall until it comes to great silence when the dust settles.
Hiding in the gears, 5 and 9 were cowering together with 2 in the middle like a squished sandwich. They could hear the sounds of the machine and Natalie's humming of a song so nostalgic to 9 and so irritating to 5. The noise becomes louder and 5 knows that the machine is coming at them, he stayed calm and silent. The claw is slowly showing behind them as they hug tightly of what will happen. That is until they hear a sound which they know it was someone's weapon, the machine went to the place where 7 is which she is surprisingly disappeared.
The three take a peek on where the machine and Natalie is, until 7 jumps in behind them.
7: What are waiting for?
5: *sarcastically* To our death?
7: And since when you became cold all of a sudden?
5: I have no idea!
2: For Heavens sake, we must run! Now!
The four of them run to a pipe tunnel, Natalie almost caught 9 by the machine but it was too far. So she jumps off and lands to the top of the pipe tunnel. She uses her magic to cut of a portion that she wishes that 9 would fall, but it fail since she saws 5 nearly falling of the pipe tunnel and 9 was able to climb up. The machine is mad, but Natalie stays calm even though she failed to get 9 from her hands.
Outside of the factory, 7 leads 5, 2, and 9 to a safe place to calm down for a while. 2 is glad that he is safe from a horrible Fate that he is supposed to die from, but 9 saves him. 5, on the other hand, is rocking back and forth while his knees are near to his chest. He looks very stressed out from what happening right now, even 2 is there with him alive. He looks at 9 like he is mad at him because he activated the machine against 2's advice not to do it, even though it's already too late to say that. So he grabs 9's shoulders and shakes him violently, which startles 2 a lot lately from his strange actions.
5: I knew we shouldn't have come! WHY?! WHY DID YOU DO THAT?!
9: I didn't know! I'm-
5: *interrupts* Sorry? You're saying sorry from the mistake you've just made? WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?! We've been suffering in this World and now you just added ANOTHER ONE! Look at me! I'm sick and tired of seeing a SINGLE person who is doing mistakes always that I'm the one who gets the bad stuffs! Don't you want to suffer as I am? DO YOU?! I'm helping you not just to save him but to keep you alive because you don't know how dangerous that machine is! DO YOU WANT TO BE KILLED MERCILESSLY BY THAT CLAWS OF THAT MONSTER?! WHO IS ALWAYS BEING STOMPED AROUND EVERY SINGLE TIME?!
9: *shocked* I...I...
5: JUST ANSWER ME!
7: What the-?
2: 5, please calm down. I know you are terrified of what's happening right now, but you don't have to be very mad to the young boy. He was just new to this World and he didn't know the mistake he did. Look at the good side, I'm still alive.
5: But-
2: No buts, Son. Please, calm down. I forgive him for his mistake.
5: *sighs* The machine, what is it going to do?
7: I know where we can find answers. Follow me and I'll show you.
She pulls her helmet down and leads the three to whatever the place she will show to them, it seems that she knows the way. 5 helps 2, but not giving a look to someone.
9: I'm sorry.
5: You better be. Because if you did, I'll have no choice but to erase you AGAIN from my Memory.
9: Again? What do you mean "Again"?
But 5 ignored him along the way, he press his brooch to turn back to his Original Form and follows them. With the question in his mind that why 5 became strange for all of the sudden?
It seems so fast.
Why?
Inside of the now working factory, the machine (Which Natalie knew that it was named The Fabrication Machine by the time she got here) was working on a contraption that would get those Intruders for him since he is completely stuck in the factory. A Harpoon, a fan, and a human skeletal system?! For a machine, he is surely improvised with some junk inside of the factory.
While The Fabrication Machine is working on to the thing he will make, Natalie is looking at him analytically. From what she knows, The Fabrication Machine is the one who did this World into this state. She knew that thing is Evil, but she knows that there is something more. She even records it to her Tape Recorder just so she will never EVER forget it.
Natalie: The Fabrication Machine's mind is compatible to him that he also Inherits the ability to invent. As much as I know that his massive piece of Destruction will be one of my greatest things I will do to get Elijah Oppenheimer in my hands. I'm sure that 9 wouldn't do any harm to this machine.
After his last piece to the contraption he build, it rises up like a bird waking up on the nest and takes a big screech as his awakening.
He is going to get them.
After all...
How can he hurt his Big Brother?
End of Day 18
Welcome to The Dystopian Days