Not long after the souls were freed and rain dropped from the sky like gentle kisses onto their stitched sack-like bodies, the four surviving stitchpunks began their trek back toward the library from the graveyard. Without anyone to guide them, the world was now only what they made of it, and the best place to start was the place most full of ideas. Not only that, but the heavier that the rain dropped around them, the more necessary shelter appeared. At first the rain was kind, as if their old companions were thanking them for their freedom, but as it developed into a harsher downpour, they realized they were far too small, and just as vulnerable to this wondrous new natural world as they were to the mechanical beasts who'd been hunting them.
It was on this path that they passed the hill where 5 had been lost, and though 9 could hardly bear to look as they walked by, 7's gasp had his optics moving before he could will them not to.
There, on the top of the hill, sitting in a cd case next to the silent record player, head in his hands, was a one-eyed stitchpunk, looking blankly at the foggy sky above. 3 and 4 started buzzing excitedly, taking off while 7 and 9 froze in their tracks. It didn't seem possible, not when their souls seemed to have vanished into the sky above. But when the twins drew close enough to startle 5, making him yelp and fumble for a tool to protect himself, 9 knew it could be none other than his best friend.
He and 7 seemed to realize it simultaneously, but she was the one who broke into a laugh and ran forward to greet him first. 9 followed, allowing them all to exchange warm embraces before it was his turn. The guilt for not saving 5 was still eating him up, but when 5 broke away from 7's hug and his optics brightened at the sight of him, he knew he was forgiven.
"You did it!" 5 exclaimed, coming forward to wrap him up in a hug. 9 laughed and carefully held him around the shoulders, as if he'd collapse into dust with a harsh touch. But 5 was real, and alive, as if nothing had happened.
And that was when they realized, it could be the same for everyone.
Without stopping to even think, 7 encouraged them to follow her as she raced single-mindedly to the tunnel where they'd let 2's body drift. He must have figured things out before any of them, because he was already waiting at the edge of the water for them, chuckling as he tossed the stone that had been used to cover his eyes in the air.
"2!" 5 shouted, almost sending him right back into the water when he crashed into him.
"Careful now, I'm not as young as I used to be," 2 joked, patting him on the back with a smile.
"You're alive!"
"You're both alive," 9 said in wonder.
"Which means… the others are, too, right?" 5 asked hopefully.
7's face dropped. "Well… 6 took quite the fall…" The hope on 5's face crumbled, but after a pause he looked at her determinedly.
"Even so, he must be scared down there alone. We have to go find him."
7 exchanged a look with 9. They had been the only ones to see the enormous cliff 6's body had fallen into… But they also didn't want to leave him there, not if there was a chance he was still alive.
"Okay. But we'll need help, ideas, and a lot of rope," 9 replied. "And I think we know where we have to start."
7 huffed, but it was more so an act of amusement than actual annoyance. "Well, I suppose if we have to…"
With a little hesitation in their step, they made the journey to the factory where 8's body had been left. 5's feet came to a halt as they came closer and saw the charred remains of what it once was. In their excitement, they'd forgotten their attempt to blow up the machine – or, at least, that 8's body had been right there in the room with the explosives they'd left.
Exchanging worried glances, 9 took the staff with the light from 5, saying, "I'll go first, and see if he's…" He didn't finish his statement, staring instead at the tunnel that lay ahead of him. He shook his head. "You all stay here, out of the rain."
"No." 5 held his shoulder. "I'm coming with you."
"7, 2, keep a look out."
"For what?" she asked. "The machines are gone."
"As far as we know."
The twins crept cautiously toward 7 as 5 and 9 walked through the tunnel and into the factory, vigilant as they came closer to the place where 8's body had been left. The smoke in the air was still thick, the air still hot, and it seemed quiet at first. But then they could hear the sounds of shuffling as they approached the end, and what awaited them.
9 turned the corner and peered across the room. Still tied up and unable to move, a half-burnt 8 was trying to shuffle himself out of his bonds on the floor. His body was more black now than the tan it was before, but he seemed to have extinguished all of the tiny flickering flames from his body and surrounding area. He caught sight of 9 and froze. His expression shifted from startled to relieved to vaguely grumpy.
"You're alright," 9 said happily, coming forward to start cutting apart the bonds. 5 winced when he caught sight of their guardian.
"'Alright?' He looks almost like 6's ink!"
8 paused in his squirming. "6? Is he also…?"
"We don't know. We just got 5 and 2. 6… fell down a really tall cliff. We're not sure how to get him, but we're gonna need all of us to do it."
"And 1?"
"He's next." 9 finished cutting 8 free from the bonds and he stood up, soot falling off his body as he gave himself a shake. He reached behind him but his weapon and magnet were nowhere to be found; they'd been left at the library during his capture. It seemed to unnerve him to be so unprotected, and he fiddled with his hands nervously for the first half of their walk out of the tunnel, before he snatched the staff from 9, shooting him a threatening look. 5 jumped at the reaction, but 9 only rolled his eyes and kept on going.
7 had her arms crossed when they made their way back to her, looking as if she couldn't care less, but her glare softened at the sight of 8's burnt body. "Well, at least everyone's accounted for so far."
2 smiled and approached 8 with his hand up for a gentle pat, but 8 held his staff in front of him and took a quick step back.
"How do we know it's the real one?" he asked.
"Of course it's the real one. Does he look attached to the Seamstress to you?"
8 still looked skeptical, so 2 backed away, looking understanding.
"So… 1 and 6?"
"Yeah. We're not sure how we're going to get 6 back, but we'll probably need your strength to pull him up."
8 nodded, surprisingly agreeable. "But 1 first." 7 rolled her eyes.
"1 first," 9 agreed, and off they went.
It took them the better part of the day; it was getting darker and darker, and there was only light drizzling on and off around them. 9 took the lead again, seeming the most anxious to find their leader than the rest of them. 2, 3, and 4 were lagging behind, distracted and trying to observe or catalog every artifact from humanity that was abandoned in their path, from watch to doll to broken glasses. 7 tried to linger back with them, but 9 just called back for them to keep up.
"We're not in a rush, 9," 5 pointed out. 8 glared at him.
"I know, we have all the time in the world." 9 still examined the terrain carefully, intently focused.
"Then… why…?"
"He died for me, 5." 5 blinked twice.
"1? Really?" Even 8 looked surprised.
"Really. He didn't have to, but he did. And so the least I can do is thank him, and make sure he's not alone longer than he needs to be. None of us should be."
5 looked down, thinking of 6, and what he must be feeling right now.
"There." 9 came to a stop, waiting for the others to catch up. 1 was sitting out in the rain on a small piece of metal, staring down at his ruined hands wistfully. He looked soaked, yet he wasn't under cover.
"1!"
The eldest stitchpunk stood and turned just in time to find himself tackled by 2. It wasn't a very powerful jump, but the force of his hug still nearly swept 1 off his feet.
"I – 2, you –"
"You made me proud, old friend."
1 firmly pushed 2 away from him by the shoulders, looking flustered. "You're far too emotional, as always."
"And you're far too serious. I like the look, by the way. Without the hat?" His hand reached up, and it took 1 a second too long to realize what he was doing.
"Don't you dare–!" He squeaked, affronted, as 2 started playing with his poof. "I gave you no such permission–!" He stepped back to free himself and scoffed as he touched up his poof, before letting his eyes roam over the rest of the stitchpunks who were slowly gathering. He nodded to 9, a little distantly, and his eyes swept over the twins completely and stopped on the largest stitchpunk.
"8," 1 said, his voice shaken. His eyes softened.
"Boss?" 8 looked concerned. 1 stepped closer to 8, his movements slow and apprehensive, as if he knew every eye was curiously set on him. 8 stood there in confusion as 1 reached him and hesitantly placed a hand on 8's arm.
"It's - it's good to have you back."
"Uh, thanks?"
1 gazed around again, though pointedly not meeting anyone's eyes, then cleared his throat. "I see we've all made it – except for 6."
"We're going to get him back," 9 said firmly. 1 looked at him pointedly.
"And how do you presume to do that?"
"We'll find a way. Whatever it takes."
"We have all the time in the world," 7 reminded them.
"You'd need the world's longest rope – and sturdier hands than ours to manage it," 1 replied, showing off his damaged hands. 5 winced at the sight of them. "Besides, I doubt any of us, particularly 6, has the strength to climb up that far."
"Then what great plan do you have?" 7 sneered.
"A far better one. Go find those flying machines, bring them here, and figure out how to work them. Or, we build a parachute and find balloons, blow them up when we get down there. Or, we try to find an existing path down. There are plenty of options that aren't so silly as finding a neverending rope."
There was a small distant sound of something hitting metal, and everyone froze. 8 stepped forward, wielding the staff like a sword.
"Wh-Who's there?!" 1 called out into the emptiness, but there was no response.
"No one's out there but us," 7 told him, but her voice sounded unsteady.
"It must have been some rubble that just happened to fall now. I'm sure we're safe," 2 reassured them, but 8 crept forward anyway, eyes shifting back and forth. 7 followed him just to be sure, her hand on her own weapon. One by one, all the stitchpunks followed, feeling safer with their two strongest in the lead.
When 8 stopped, 7 had been looking off to the left, and she rammed her head right into his back. "Ouch! What're you–" her voice trailed off as she saw the Machine. "Oh."
It was still completely deactivated, just remains of what once was, but the sight of it still made them all freeze, just to be sure. 5 trembled, but 2 grabbed his hand and rubbed his arm gently to comfort him. 3 and 4 hid behind them. 1 and 9 exchanged glances, though 1 looked away first.
"It is done," he stated.
9 felt there was more to say. "Thank you. I never said it before, but–"
"Don't bother. It was what should have been done."
9 frowned, about to counter him, but the sound of the staff falling to the ground and 7's gentle voice drew his attention. "8? Are you alright?"
8 stared at the Machine, his breaths picking up unsteadily. They sounded hoarse, and too quick to be drawing in any air.
"8?" He flinched as a different voice came closer. "8. Are you alright?"
"What's wrong with him?"
"Stand back! Don't crowd him."
A hand squeezed his. "Listen to our voices."
"8. I want you to list five things that you can see."
"Wha-?"
"Five things."
"Metal – machine –"
"Four other things."
"Ground – rain –" He gasped.
"Two more."
"Feet –" he turned. "... Bridge."
"Good. Now, four things you can touch."
8 squeezed his eyes shut. "Stupid–"
"Just do it."
"You. Rain. Dirt. Metal."
"Three things you can hear."
"You. Rain. … Wind. This is stupid."
"But you're breathing better, aren't you?"
8 opened his eyes and realized that the person walking him through… whatever just happened was 1, but 2 had been the one holding his hand, and the last one to speak. They both were looking at him far too gently. 8 blinked twice. "What was that?"
"It's called a panic attack. It's a response to trauma – to seeing the Machine."
8 looked uncomfortable. 2 spoke up quickly, patting his arm as he did so, ignoring 8's offended attempt to pull away. "It's alright. It'll probably happen to all of us sooner or later. Even if we didn't die… Well, you four have seen it all, haven't you?" He smiled sadly towards 9, 7, and the twins. "It… hasn't been a pleasant life for us out here so far."
"But the danger is over," 5 said, confused. "Shouldn't we be okay now?"
"I don't think it'll be that simple. But if we all work together, I think we can make ourselves a better life here. Even if we still have some roadblocks along the way." 2 looked to 1. "What do you say?"
1, who had been looking reflective, scoffed. "What sort of idiotic question is that?"
5 looked toward the cliffside. "I sure hope 6 isn't panicking all alone down there…"
"I think 6 has the most patience of us all," 2 replied with a smile. "I think he'll be alright. I'm sure he even knows we're coming for him."
"He always did know what was going on before we did," 5 agreed with a laugh. Smiles flew across the other stitchpunks' faces, renewed hope flooding through them.
7 brushed against 9. "Look. You managed to save them all. Despite everything."
"Not yet," he replied. "But soon."
She hesitated. "And what then? Do we stay together, or…"
"We'll figure it out later. But for now, I think… I think we need each other."
7 nodded, and slipped her hand into his. He squeezed her hand, then turned and called out to the rest of the group.
"To 6?"
"To 6!" 2 and 5 cheered. 3 and 4's optics flickered wildly. 1 huffed, but it was an amused huff, and 8 picked up his staff from the ground, looking determined.
This new world might be too large for them and filled with frightful reminders of the past, but somehow, they had never felt more like they belonged here than they did now, safe at last, and together as they were meant to be.
